A new ad campaign on Toronto bus shelters confronts anti-black racism head-on with a series of posters that challenge viewers to question their potential racial bias. Part of a campaign commissioned by the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI) and the City of Toronto carried out by the firm Public Inc. the series is titled Toronto for All.

Some of the most striking posters feature black and white faces and are accompanied by a pointed directive like "Quick, hire one" or "Quick, rent to one" under which reads the tag "Anti-black racism happens here. Let's confront it." Others share prejudicial experiences that paint a picture of discrimination in Toronto. There are six posters in all, which have been installed around the city.

It's a simple but powerful campaign that's sure to produce a reaction from those who encounter it, be that defensiveness or (hopefully) self-reflection. OCASI's last ad campaign, which targeted anti-Muslim prejudice in Toronto, was subject to controversy when some argued that it was unfair to characterize Toronto (and the country at large) as an intolerant place.

This type of reaction is, of course, precisely what the campaign set out to elicit, and what those behind the new campaign surely hope will happen in turn. The polarizing nature of the ads is ultimately designed to foster discussion.

What do you think of the ad campaign? Let us know in the comments.

Toronto, well Canada, got its very first 4DX movie theatre today. It's located at Cineplex Cinemas Yonge-Dundas and starting this evening, it'll be showing Doctor Strange, the latest Marvel blockbuster starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tilda Swinton and Toronto's Rachel McAdams.

Cineplex revamped one of its existing auditoriums (number four, if you're wondering). It now features 80 specially-designed seats that shake, vibrate and move along with the action happening on screen.

The whole experience reminded me of an unrelenting trip to Wonderland's Action Theatre ride. And at the start of the film, my first thought was, "Oh no, I'm going to hurl!" Eventually, I got used to the moving seats, But if you're prone to getting motion sick, you might not fall in love with 4DX.

In certain moments, the multi-sensory experience was awesome - like when blasts of cool air seemed to lash my ankles.

Though at other points, the special effects seemed almost cheesy. When two characters were on Everest, for instance, snow fell at the front of the theatre. This was almost redundant and did little to enhance the film.

A movie like Doctor Strange lends itself perfectly to 4DX. It's visually stunning, with characters who manipulate matter and take, for lack of a better word, trippy journeys through multiple dimensions.

While I didn't catch any scents emanating from the sensors in front of my seat, the 4DX theatre has the capacity to whip up a slew of environmental effects. The technology, by the South Korean company CJ 4DPLEX, first debuted to the public in 2010. It's already in 42 countries around the world.

Is it worth the $24.99 price tag to see a 3D film in this format? Maybe. By watching a film in 4DX, it's more like you're on an amusement park ride. Perhaps it would elevate a mediocre movie, but Doctor Strange would have stood well on its own, without all the bells and whistles and fake snow.

Image via Cineplex.

Toronto car spotting culture is a thing. Since taking over the existing Facebook group in 2014, Nishaan Gill, along with co-administrators Gary Gill and Neal Chauhan, have seen a huge uptake in community membership and interest in hot or exotic cars around the city.

The community members are a tight, friendly, car-loving bunch who snap pictures of rare, expensive, unique and super cars around Toronto. In a big and affluent city like this one, there are a lot of exotic rides to be featured.

For the most part, car spotting confines itself to high end sports cars or luxury vehicles, but there is another side to the practice. When you spend enough time tracking automobiles, you're bound to see a few bizarre or unusual vehicles out there.

Thanks to the power of the crowd, cars that we'd hardly even imagine drive on our streets have a way of making it into the pool of Toronto car spotting photos. From the earliest automobiles to the Batmobile, there's a treasure trove of intriguing photos contained in the archives of this city's car spotters.

Here's a glimpse at the wacky and often wonderful world of Toronto car spotting.

For more photos, head to the Toronto Car Spotting Facebook group.

It's not easy to travel along Queen Street West these days. That's because there's been construction on this busy thoroughfare, between Spadina and Bathurst, since May 9. The city's replacing a water main, which has diverted the 501 and 301 streetcar routes until early December.

Originally, the mess was supposed to clear up on October 9, but as per usual, that date got pushed back due to delays. And along with transit-related woes, businesses on the usually busy stretch of Queen have been feeling the impact of this prolonged project.

Farshid Sahami, who runs the popular coffee shop Early Bird Espresso, says business is down about 25 to 30 per cent since this time last year. And instead of rolling out new initiatives at his cafe, he's changed is plans and intends to wait until the construction's done.

"We wanted to open our kitchen and we just got our liquor license too," he says. "But I think we're just going to wait for another month or so for them to finish and then we're going to start serving food and alcohol."

There are currently fences lining the south side of the street, the same side b.good's on. "We're into week four of it and I'd say it's probably cost us between 15 and 20 per cent of our business," says b.good Canada president Todd Brooks.

The construction, he notes, hurts foot traffic. But his business also relies a lot on delivery services like foodora and UberEATS. The fencing makes it difficult for these companies to pick up from the chain restaurant's Queen West location.

"The drivers used to be able to pull up right in front of the restaurant, run in and get food," says Brooks. "And it's much more difficult now."

Death in Venice is on the north side of the street. And while it's in the clear now, owner Kaya Ogruce feels for his neighbours across the road. He had fencing in front of his business for about four months this past summer.

"So throughout the summer, which is my golden time for selling gelato, there were moments when people couldn't walk in front of my store," he says. Dust and debris also made its way into his restaurant, clogging up two of his freezers.

Luckily, the construction's coming to an end soon, but then it'll be winter, a time when foot traffic's notoriously slow. But at least the streetcar will be running again.

It's easy to find a place to dance in Toronto. But it sucks when you can't find a bar that plays what you want. That's how a lot of the city's DJs start off: to give themselves, and the people around them, the music they want. But where the heck do you even start if you're trying to be a DJ in Toronto?

After speaking with a handful of some of the city's most respected talent, one answer resonates with everyone: be nice, and go out a lot.

"You want to know who is doing what out there, in what spaces," says Denise Benson. She's a legendary DJ at Cherry Bomb and an author in Toronto. "Go find your niche, community, sounds that you like, the people who are doing similar things to what you like so that you have some reference points."

Benson started her career at Ryerson's CKLN and was able to create a demo to hand out to bars and clubs. Eventually, by getting to know people at her favourite club (then called Showbiz), she landed a Tuesday night residency, which turned into a Thursday, and things took off from there.

"You have to hang out with them, know people, or build your own hype," says Francis Delage, manager of Moog Audio. "It's a numbers game sometimes. A lot of bars you need to bring a number of people to get booked. You could have the best mix, the best taste in music but if you bring two people and they don't drink..."

Delage, who matches gear to DJs' preferred music genre, skill level and budget, has a good point. If you want to start spinning somewhere, make sure you have a couple of friends who can back you up from time to time. And don't expect to make money starting out.

"It's about having no attitude and no ego," says Kaleb Robertson, a key player in Toronto's queer DJ and party community. "It's about finding friends that are doing stuff and asking to jump in and play for free sometimes."

There are DJ schools and lessons and places to learn if you're looking for a starting point. But beware, those lessons will only get a DJ so far. To understand basic techniques and technology is cool, but to understand music and yourself is way more important.

"There's a million DJs out there, so how are you different?" Benson says. What is your genre? Your edge? You need to answer these questions when you're getting started. "Think larger than the music, have some sense about how to promote yourself," she says.

Jesse Futerman is a producer and DJ who's making a lot of good noise in Toronto lately. He started off by making his own music and venturing out to Sex Laser on Dundas. After loving what he heard at Bambi's, he asked to play there until he finally got an opening gig at the Dundas Street crawl. It took him a while, but he proved himself and is now a regular.

"A guy came up to me after I played at Bambi's and said, 'Wow your song selection is incredible but you can't mix at all, and that's okay,'" he says. "So I started to practice diligently.

"What's also really important is you play music that makes you really happy and excited. Satisfy the crowd, but also satisfy yourself. If you can't mix, what's important is you dance around and get really excited because you trick people into thinking you're doing a far better job than you really are," he jokes (mostly).

If you're not obsessed with the songs you play and mix, chances are you won't love playing them all the time and the audience will feel it. On the other hand, they can feel when you do love it and that's what makes a successful DJ.

Nav Sangha, who owns Miss Thing's and is something of a DJ and party legend in the city, worked his way up by creating pause button mixtapes of his soul/funk 45 collection. He caught the right ears, cleared a few floors, but eventually worked his way to DJ all over the place.

"I think the most important thing to remember when it comes to DJ-ing is that you really need to get inside your music," he says." "You need to love it and learn how to share your love for it. It's easy to pick up on which DJs are truly devoted to listening and researching the music they share.

"They combine all these little references and musical nuances through their track selection and make the songs flow and make sense with one another, almost like storytelling."

A beautiful, glossy storybook will only get you so far, it's what's inside that will get people talking and reading it over and over.

Lead photo by Hanah Jor. Subsequent photos courtesy of the DJs featured.

Dutch food and drinks aren't commonly found in Toronto so if the craving strikes you're going to want to head here for a rijsttafel feast or any of their regular day-to-day offerings.

Read my profile of Noorden in the restaurants section.

We tend to take Toronto's downtown street grid for granted these days, perhaps paying attention when a key intersection is shut down or when the sun sets in perfect alignment with one of our east/west running streets, but this basic design is surely one of the city's most fascinating attributes.

Toronto was very deliberately plotted out in the late 18th century by Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe. Our oldest streets owe their routes and names to his vision and the work of the Queen's Rangers, who did much of the hard labour to lay them out.

While Yonge Street might be the oldest in the city and Queen Street served as the baseline around which the bulk of the early city was divided, the first linked community of streets that existed in the Town of York was a small grid to the southeast of where these two important streets would ultimately connect.

The earliest map of the Town of York dates back to 1793 and was charted by Alexander Aitken at the commission of Simcoe. It shows the humble beginnings out of which the City of Toronto would grow.

When it was first planned, York was merely referred to as the townsite or the town-plot, a 10-block grid bounded by on the west by George Street, on the east by Ontario Street, on the north by Duke Street (now Adelaide) and on the South by Palace Street (now Front).

As it was built, the grid would extend to Duchess Street (now Richmond) in the north and Berkeley Street to the east, after which the land was designated for military and governmental use. This is where Ontario's first parliament buildings were constructed after the legislature moved from Niagara-on-the-Lake due to concerns about its proximity to the United States.

Simcoe's loyalty to the crown was unmistakable in the naming of these early streets. While early routes like Yonge and Dundas were nominated after his friends, the townsite was all about the monarchy. A few of the names have since changed, but this early grid was almost entirely royal in affiliation.

George street honoured George, Prince of Wales while Caroline Street (now Sherbourne) was designated after his wife. The Duke of York received two shout-outs in the form of Duke and Frederick streets (his given name), and naturally his wife was commemorated with Duchess Street.

Intriguingly, it's Duke and Duchess streets that reveal just how this original street plan was connected to the rest of the city. While they are now called Adelaide and Richmond, this only happened after they were fused with the burgeoning street grid to the west, which grew from Yonge to meet the original townsite.

You've probably noticed that as you drive west on Richmond, the street does an obvious jog at Jarvis Street. The same holds for Adelaide when heading east. That's because Duke and Duchess street weren't actually aligned with Adelaide and Richmond when they finally were fused together in the 1960s. It took a bit of work to combine them.

A similar sort of messiness is seen in the way that Dundas Street twists and turns across the city given that it was a combination of many smaller routes. The original townsite grid, on the other hand, remains remarkably intact today, save for name changes. It's quite easy to spot on a map if you know where to look.

Photos from the Toronto Archives, Historical Maps of Toronto, and Goad's Atlas.

New food trends often take Toronto by storm, fuelling massive lineups at restaurants, food trucks and takeout counters as local eaters grab a bite, snap and Insta of whatever's hot at the moment.

This summer (and fall), for instance, it was all about epic cones, Thai rolled ice cream, sushi burritos and poke. It seemed like every time we announced a new raw fish-filled restaurant, another one would pop up. So why do restauranteurs play into these trends? Much of the time, it's a coincidence.

Johnny Chan, who's part of the team behind Poke Guys, says he and his business partners were thinking about starting a poke spot before Big Tuna - the city's first poke restaurant - announced it was opening in Koreatown. That pushed their plans forward.

Chan, who also runs Smash Kitchen in Markham, says he knew Poke Guys would get lots of hype when it first opened. And, in fact, in their first week, there were people queuing up outside the door around lunchtime.

Since then, it's been less busy. But Chan hopes to keep customers loyal by keeping prices competitive and portions big. "Yeah, there's a lot of competition," he says. "There are about 10 poke stores rights now, but the good thing is, they're all over the place."

Su & Bu also serves poke. But, it's primarily a sushi burrito spot. Co-founder Aaron Serruya says he and his cousin began launching their business last August. They were inspired by a sushi burrito joint on the west coast of the United States.

The two have lots of experience with restaurants, considering their fathers run Yogen Früz and Yogurtys - you could say they're no stranger to food trends.

But they plan to differentiate themselves from other poke and sushi burrito joints by serving a unique menu. Despite the proliferation of these types of restaurants, they're moving forward with their two locations - one that's in soft launch downtown and another in Thornhill.

"We've kind of stuck with our guns from the very beginning. We had a vision for what we wanted our brand to entail," says Serruya.

On the sweet side of Toronto's food scene, Fugo Desserts joined what felt like a host of new ice cream parlours this past summer. "We saw ice cream places up-and-coming, we're like hey, we can do something cool like this as well," says co-owner Jethro Kwan.

Fugo became Instagram famous for its Cookie Monster cone, and Kwan knows it'll tough to follow up with another smash success like that. He's also aware that he and his team need to branch out for the colder months.

"We love ice cream, and we know Toronto loves ice cream," he says. "But hey, I'm just not feeling ice cream in the wintertime."

That's why Fugo's rolling out a dessert menu, one that'll include gooey Japanese-style cheese tarts, or as Kwan calls them, lava tarts. They'll be available at Fugo before Japan's Pablo opens up next year.

And as Kwan notes, they've been on Bake Code's menu for the last little while. It looks like Toronto has something new to start lining up for.

Photos by Hector Vasquez and Jesse Milns.

Toronto at night can be a mesmerizing sight to see. From remaining neon signs to brightly illuminated landmarks, there's just something magical about our city after the sun sets that you can't appreciate at any other time of day. It's when the sky is dark that the visual splendour of the big city really shines.

Here are some spectacular photos of Toronto at night.

Photo by @mister.bae.

Photo by @jazzy.vibes.

Photo by @anetkaiwa.

Photo by @iamcolinclark.

Photo by @nnvv__.

Photo by @ericcfho.

Photo by @mindz.eye.

Photo by @phantamos.

Photo by @aimhernandez.

Photo by @stilez.

Photo by @aaartistry.

Photo by @giltaminphotog.

Photo by @juluminate.

Photo by @ryanbolton.

Photo by @arjsun.

Photo by @ashtontekno.

Lead photo by @see.toronto.

The Dark Horse many of us know and love here in Toronto is roaming wild and free, spreading the joy of beautifully made independent coffee. Wild dark horses couldn't drag me away from this sixth location.

Read my profile of the newest Dark Horse Espresso in the cafes section.

The top free events in Toronto this week will do nothing but improve your life and expand your mind. Each one will force you to get out of that fall bubble and try something new without spending a penny. There are loads of things to try throughout the entire month, but these events really take the cake.

Here's what to get up to this week if you're saving all your money for holiday shopping.

Bilingual Job Fair (Nov. 8, One King West)
If you're lucky/diligent enough to be bilingual, you've already got the one up on your competitors in Toronto. This massive, free fair is unique because it features jobs with companies and organizations you might never even have thought of. It's open from 1 to 4 p.m.

Free Comedy Class (Nov. 8-29, Sony Centre)
Every Tuesday evening in November, experts from Second City run comedy classes of all types to help you work up the nerve to perform at an open mike, or just tell a joke in public. Classes like punching up the punchline, comedy writing and improv are all on offer at no cost at all and begin at 5:30 p.m.

European Union Film Festival (Nov. 10-24, Royal Cinema)
The Royal Cinema hosts this great big film festival that highlights movies from the EU. The variety is astounding, and the quality is typically very high. Check out the official site to see the full schedule and get ready to line up as all films are free on a first come, first served basis.

Knife Throwing (Nov. 10, TKO)
Toronto Knife Throwing (TKO) offers free 90 minute intro classes. Each participant will receive one-on-one coaching to improve their skills and accuracy. Hurry up and register, there are only two sessions available on this evening.

Reykjavik Calling (Nov. 12, The Horseshoe)
The Taste of Iceland Festival is always a fun time, and the music portion of this fest is free! The show starts at 9:30 p.m. with performances from Axel Flóvent and Ceasetone, as well as Toronto-based collective Lal. It's first come, first served at this event as well, so don't wait too late to arrive.

Did I miss a free thing you're super excited about? Let us know in the comments and let's be broke and have fun together.

Photo from TKO.

With twinkly lights, the sweet and spicy scent of mulled wine, and vendors in little wooden stalls, the Toronto Christmas Market at the Distillery District harkens back to a bygone time - one that probably never existed in the first place.

Regardless, this nostalgic event - which runs from November 18 to December 22 - has become an annual Toronto tradition. It's so popular that organizers needed to implement an admission fee ($6) on weekends and a $20 skip-the-line option. Other markets in the same vein as this one pop up all over the city, giving locals a new way to shop for presents and celebrate the holiday season.

Mathew Rosenblatt, who's started the Toronto Christmas Market, thinks his event succeeds because it captures a distinct feeling for visitors. "Our mandate is really to create an atmosphere that would remind people of what Christmas felt like as a child," he says.

He and his team curate the entire experience, making sure that everything from the lighting, food and smell (yes, even scents) imbue the pedestrian-only neighbourhood with Christmas spirit.

But this year, the Toronto Christmas Market might have some competition. Epilepsy Toronto, which is also behind BuskerFest, will host a Holiday Fair in Nathan Phillips Square from December 8 to 23.

"The sort of vision behind it is this very traditional holiday market that is right downtown in the centre of Toronto at Nathan Phillips Square," says Drew Woodley, director of communications for Epilepsy Toronto.

The goal is to bring a festive atmosphere to the heart of the city, while also giving residents and tourists an opportunity to look for unique gifts in Toronto's retail epicentre. Along with shopping, the market will include a midway with rides, a food and drink tent as well as the chance to visit Santa.

Beyond these massive activations though, there are many smaller Christmas markets throughout the city.

Since 2014, artist and community organizer Nadia Lloyd has been hosting a holiday market. This year, hers is on November 20 at the Great Hall. It'll feature 95 artists and designers, free coffee and a cash bar. Lloyd, who also runs the Toronto Art Crawl, says this market is always busy.

"People love to give, they love to be generous and this really gives them a chance to hand something over and say, 'you know I met the artist who made it and here's the story,'" explains Lloyd about why she thinks her market is popular. She thinks gift-givers like to make connections with vendors.

The Union Station Holiday Market also lets shoppers connect with local vendors. This year, the market's running for 12 days. While it attracts a varied crowd, founder Melissa Zuker think it's a special treat for commuters.

While markets may never replace big box stores or malls when it comes to holiday shopping, these seasonal affairs let everyone feel like a kid on Christmas morning. There's just something so nostalgically appealing about them, even to this Jewish writer who's never celebrated Christmas before.

Photo by dstuff9 in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Dark sky areas for stargazing around Toronto are typically at least a two hour drive from the light of the city, but there are some options a little bit closer that are a vast improvement over downtown skies, and there's even a nearby telescope to try out. With a little effort, the wonders of the heavens above are actually quite easy to enjoy.

Here are 5 amazing places to go stargazing near Toronto.

Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Preserve
This is a magical place about two and half hours north of Toronto that's eerily dark, which makes it an excellent spot for stargazing. Situated on crown land, you can camp for free during a meteor shower or when the Northern Lights appear at sub-arctic altitudes (you can also stay in nearby Gravenhurst and drive the 20 minutes to the preserve).

Lennox & Addington Dark Sky Viewing Area
A rival to the Torrance Barrens, this dark sky viewing area at Lennox and Addington offers respite from light pollution typically experienced in places much further north. It features an observation pad that helps stargazers to navigate in the dark and for amateurs to set up lawn chairs. The drive from Toronto takes about three hours.

Long Point Observatory
Part of Long Point Eco Tours, this observatory features a 16" Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, which will let you see the storms on Jupiter as well as many other fascinating aspects of the night sky. The region isn't as dark as more northerly destinations, but light pollution is low enough that you can also do some decent unmagnified stargazing during your visit.

North Frontenac Dark Sky Preserve
Offering fantastically dark skies given its relative proximity to Toronto and Ottawa, this preserve has a few amenities to make stargazing a bit more comfortable (e.g. washrooms, and electrical hookups). There's also an observation pad and plenty of parking for star-chasers. Some claim this area to be the darkest skies in Southern Ontario.

Binbrook Conservation Area
If you can't make it further away from Toronto's light pollution footprint, this conservation area near Hamilton will work in a pinch. There's a clear view to the horizon in the south, which helps given the presence of light pollution-free Lake Erie in the distance. Numerous amateur astronomy events take place here as does an annual gathering for the Perseid meteor shower.

Did I miss a cool spot? Let us know in the comments.

Photo by Zens Lens.

Toronto is rarely thought of as a car manufacturing town. While there was plenty of heavy industry here at the turn of the 20th century, nearby cities like Oshawa (General Motors), Hamilton (Studebaker), and later Oakville (Ford) are far more tied to car-making. Beyond that, Windsor was the heart of the Canadian auto industry during its boom time.

Toronto did, however, have a small role to play in the rise of the motor vehicle in this country. Intriguingly, some of the evidence of this contribution survives today in two unlikely spots in the city.

The first of these is at Christie and Dupont. The building on the northwest corner was opened by the Ford Motor Company in 1915 as an assembly plant and showroom for its Model T cars. The five-floor structure, located right next to the CPR tracks, was divided according to the various production and retail needs of the company.

The ground floor, now occupied by Faema's cafe, served as the showroom, the second floor was for deliveries, the third and fourth were for assembly and repair, the fifth was for painting (black, of course), and the roof was used as a test drive area for Ford employees. Each floor was heavily reinforced to sustain the weight of the cars and parts being assembled.

Ford moved its operations away from Christie and Dupont in the mid 1920s to a factory near the Danforth. Less is know about this second plant, but the original building remains in remarkable condition thanks to Faema's ownership. Along with historical plaques, there's also a vintage Model T on display in the second floor showroom.

Right around the time that Ford was moving operations away from its first Toronto plant, another car company was starting major operations in Leaside. The Durant Motor Company was founded in 1921 by former General Motors CEO William Durant in the wake of his termination from the automobile giant he founded.

The company started operations at its Leaside plant, formerly a munitions factory in the early 1920s, and by 1924, it was the third largest car manufacturer in the country. At one point, the complex at Laird Drive and Wicksteed Avenue sprawled across 11 buildings and 20 acres, including its Deco-styled offices at 150 Laird, which survive to this day.

Despite its size (or, in fact, very much because of it), this was also a short-lived operation in Toronto. By the end of the decade, the American side of the business was nearing financial collapse due to weaker-than-expected sales and breadth of the company's holdings.

The parent company folded in 1931, but the Canadian plant continued operation for another year under the newly formed Dominion Motors. By 1932, the enterprise was dead, though the buildings were repurposed for other manufacturing uses and Imperial Oil acquired the offices.

Presently, 150 Laird Drive is the subject of a development proposal that would strip it down to its facade and then build a mid-rise condo and retirement complex above it. There's been much pushback from the community regarding the plans given the historical importance of the site, which played a massive role in Leaside's industrial past.

Those interested in the history of Durant Motors in Canada might be surprised to find that there's a restored 1928 car on display at the All Canadian Self-Storage at 1 Laird Drive, just a few blocks away from where the mighty factory once existed.

Photos via the Toronto Archives and the Globe and Mail.

Weekend road trips from Toronto to the USA are an obvious way to explore our southerly neighbour without committing to major travel plans or shelling out a ton of money. Fortunately, our city lies in close proximity to many cool destinations in New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. From rust belt cities on the rise to stunning natural wonders, American adventures are just a few hours away.

Here are the top weekend road trips to the USA from Toronto.

Pittsburgh
Depending on traffic, Pittsburgh should take about five (and change) hours to drive to. Once you get there, you can admire its multiple lush landscape and elevation changes via the Duquesne Incline, multiple bridges, visit the Andy Warhol Museum (or one of the Carnegie museums and galleries), have brunch in the Strip District, and sample what is one of the best craft beer scenes around.

Lake Placid
Site of the 1980 Winter Olympics, Lake Placid still bears the mark of this momentous occasion, but that's not the main reason to go here. It's the absolutely gorgeous landscape that's worth immersing yourself in. This is an amazing region for cyclists and hikers or merely those who like quaint inns and a rugged rural landscape. Make sure to drive up Mt. Whiteface for a spectacular view.

Buffalo
Buffalo is on the way back. This rust belt city was shelled out in the in 1970s and it's taken a long time to recover, but there's tons of life in the city right now, from start-up breweries to a burgeoning restaurant and bar scene and a revitalized waterfront. The architecture and shopping have always been there, but now there's reason to spend a few days exploring a city in the process of renewal.

The Finger Lakes
The Finger Lakes are what you'd get if you blended the Niagara region with Muskoka: a beautiful landscape but with the added pleasure of wineries and a more established food scene. There are loads of B&Bs spread around the area, as well as historic inns, and lakefront properties. As a longstanding tourist destination, there are also numerous museums and scenic lookouts to explore.

Detroit
Like Buffalo, the Motor City is also getting cool again, but given the depths to which it descended, the vibe is completely different here as a DIY entrepreneurial spirit as reanimated the city. Yes the industrial ruins are fascinating, but its the people who have committed to bringing Detroit back who have ushered in food, art, and music scenes worth checking out.

Cleveland
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame turned 50 this year, so you might as well visit it to celebrate its golden birthday. Beyond this musical pilgrimage, you can eat your heart out at the West Side Market, visit the otherGreat Lakes Brewing Company, tailgate at Muni parking lot before a Browns game, or visit the surprisingly great Cleveland Museum of Art.

Toronto (Ohio)
Did you know that there's another Toronto? Located just west of Pittsburgh, this picturesque city on the Ohio River is the ultimate destination for Toronto nerds and can be tacked on to other trips in this direction or be considered a part of a winder exploration of the Ohio Valley, which has a scenic ruggedness and intriguing history given its industrial past.

Did we miss a cool US destination within driving distance of Toronto? Let us know in the comments.

Photo by Jim Fotia.

Today in Toronto is a chance to slow down, relax, and listen to some new sounds to ease you into your week. The triple bill at Burdock is a good place to start for this. Toronto duo Koja will debut material from their new EP alongside New Chance and sci-fi turntablist SlowPitchSound. This is a laid back show, perfect for a Monday night chill session.

For more events, click on over to our events section.

• Koja, New Chance, SlowPitchSound (The Burdock)
• Foals (Rebel)
• Inceptio Runway (Super Wonder Gallery)
• Ossington Comedy presents: Election Special (The Ossington)
• Luis Jacob Wanda Nanibush in Conversation (The AGO)
• 8th Toronto Polish Film Festival (The Revue)
• Jagwar Ma (The Hoxton)
• French New Wave Films: Breathless (Toronto Reference Library)

Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO Toronto events section.

Photo of Burdock by Jesse Milns.

This menswear brand, previously available at select stores in Canada and the US, has just opened its flagship store in Toronto. Go here for lightweight waxed cotton jackets, sophisticated prints, and other accessories that might be the next timeless item in your fall wardrobe.

Read my profile of 18 Waits in the fashion section.

A new BBQ destination in Toronto is sending up signals from the smoker hand built by their chef, trained by Texas pitmasters in the subtle savoury art of smoking brisket, ribs, sausage, and even jackfruit.

Read my profile of Smoke Signals in the restaurants section.

What do you mean? Justin Bieber, you know, the pop music superstar from Stratford, Ontario, was in Toronto this past weekend and gave local audiences quite a show. No, he didn't get up to his usual antics, instead, he did what he does best and played sweet, sweet music to an appreciative crowd.

On Friday evening, Bieber stopped by the Fifth Pubhouse at Duncan and Richmond to watch the Raptors game. Eventually the inspiration to play a few tunes hit him, and started qan impromptu concert on the bar's piano, serenading the crowd with songs such as "Let It Be" and his very own "Sorry."

Bieber, who usually sells out stadium-sized shows in minutes, had a pretty successful weekend. Along with playing this random concert, he picked up two MTV European Music Awards.

Justin Bieber was spotted out in Toronto tonight. A fan who met him said "So I met Justin Bieber tonight. Randomly. What a gentle soul."

— JustinBieberCrew.com (@JBCrewdotcom) November 5, 2016

Photo by @patszac.

This week on DineSafe there are no restaurant closures to report. However, popular Latin spot La Cubana landed themselves eight infractions, including failure to maintain hazardous foods and adequate pest control.

See which other establishments got carded on DineSafe this week.

Fruitful Market (327 Carlaw Ave.)
Inspected on: October 31, 2016
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 2 (Significant: 1, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to maintain hazardous foods.

Thai Basil (467 Bloor St. West)
Inspected on: November 1, 2016
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 3 (Minor: 2, Significant: 1)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Ali Baba's (561 Bloor St. West)
Inspected on: November 2, 2016
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 4 (Minor: 2, Significant: 1, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to maintain hazardous foods.

Freshii (53 Bloor St. East)
Inspected on: November 2, 2016
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 3 (Minor: 1, Significant: 2)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Paramount Fine Foods (77 Adelaide St. West)
Inspected on: November 2, 2016
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 1 (Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to maintain hazardous foods.

Kawa Sushi (451 Church St.)
Inspected on: November 3, 2016
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 2 (Minor: 1, Significant: 1)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

La Cubana (392 Roncesvalles Ave.)
Inspected on: November 3, 2016
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 8 (Minor: 2, Significant: 5, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to maintain hazardous foods.

Note: The above businesses each received infractions from DineSafe as originally reported on the DineSafe site. This does not imply that any of these businesses have not subsequently corrected the issue and received a passing grade by DineSafe inspectors. For the latest status for each of the mentioned businesses, including details on any subsequent inspections, please be sure to check the DineSafe site.