Toronto ranked as having one of the best city brands in the world, according to a new report from Resonance Consulting, a company with headquarters in both New York and Vancouver.

The report looked at metropolitan areas with more than 2 million people and capital cities with a population of more than 1 million people. It used quantitative and qualitative data from both locals and tourists to determine its rankings, which were based on six core categories: place, programming, prosperity, product, people and promotion.

In the list of 100 cities, Toronto just cracked the top 10. Why did it rank so highly? Obviously, it had something to do with Drake (and more importantly, diversity).

"The city's open doors, combined with its financial density (with a Fortune 500 head office ranking of eighth) has resulted in unprecedented downtown density and local swagger, egged on by real estate wealth and whatever nickname Drake gives his beloved hometown this week," reads the report.

Here's the full top 10 list:

1. London
2. Singapore
3. New York
4. Paris
5. Sydney
6. Amsterdam
7. Los Angeles
8. Tokyo
9. San Francisco
10. Toronto

Photo by Michael Muraz.

Holiday craft shows and pop-ups in Toronto have officially invaded the city, and there's an abundance of studios and event spaces to make your holiday shopping easier. From big events like the One of Kind Show to the more localized City of Craft, this list will help you narrow down your gift giving journey.

Here are my picks for holiday craft shows, markets and pop-ups in Toronto this season.

BIG CRAFT SHOWS AND MARKETS

Toronto Christmas Market (Nov. 18-Dec. 22, Distillery District)
Get started on your Christmas shopping while sipping on mulled wine and listening to carollers in the Distillery District. The price of weekend tickets went up this year to $6 and there's also a new fast pass ticket option for $20.

Toronto Art Crawl and Christmas Market (Nov. 20, Great Hall)
The Great Hall will be transformed into a creative, holiday wonderland with 95 local designers, artisans and makers throughout the newly renovated building. Organizers promise there's stuff for your baby niece and your 95-year-old granny, and it'll cost you $8 at the door or $5 online.

One of a Kind Show (Nov. 24-Dec. 4, Enercare Centre)
The behemoth of all holiday shopping markets is the One of a Kind show, which features over 800 vendors. You know there'll be endless aisles of clothing, jewellery, food, visual art and toys ready for the plucking. Tickets are $15, and it's all happening inside the Enercare Centre at Exhibition Place.

Pink Market (Dec. 3, 519)
The second annual Pink Market is Toronto's only holiday market organized by the LGBT community. It's a diverse marketplace offering a variety of gifts, lifestyle goods, fashion decor and artisans. Admission is free, and it all happens in the ballroom at the 519 on Church Street.

Union Station Holiday Market (Dec. 5-16, Union Station)
Tucked away in the newly renovated Oak Room inside Union Station is this adorable holiday market packed with custom-built booths and local vendors. Everything from socks, fashion, food and health and beauty stuff will be for sale and admission is free.

Holiday Fair at Nathan Phillips Square (Dec. 8-23, Nathan Phillips Square)
This brand new, massive Christmas market at Nathan Phillips Square might give the Distillery District a run for its money. This event, inspired by European Christmas markets, will feature artisans, food vendors, rides and of course, Santa Claus.

401 Frolic and Artisan Marketplace (Dec. 8-11, 401 Richmond)
This building-wide holiday market takes place inside one of the city's most vibrant cultural centres. The art-centric space will host 30 vendors, selling everything from eco-conscious skincare to Japanese-inspired pottery. If you don't manage to find anything at the market, you can always try out the Spacing Store.

City of Craft (Dec. 9-11, Theatre Centre)
City of Craft celebrates 10 years this season with its popular annal craft extravaganza. It'll cost you $2 to get in, but it's worth every Toonie with over 60 of the city's coolest craft makers and artists on iste. Check out the vendor list; it's truly impressive.

Etsy Market at Evergreen Winter Village (Dec. 10-18, Evergreen Brick Works)
It doesn't get more Christmasy than the eight day Winter Village at Evergreen Brick Works. Shop the Makers Market and then stick around for the weekend Farmers' Market or outdoor activations happening all over the grounds.

POP-UPS

• Artisella Holiday Pop-Up Shop (Nov. 11-Dec. 27, Artisella)
• Craftadian Christmas Pop-Up (Nov. 12, First United Church)
• Inkbox Holiday Pop-Up (Nov. 12-26, 48 Charlotte St.)
• Yogamamas Holiday Shopping Social Pop-Up (Nov. 23, Toronto Yoga Mamas)
• Midnight MRKT (Nov. 25, 461 King St. W.)
• #BustyGirlGoals Holiday Pop-up Shop (Dec. 3, Broad Lingerie)
• Holiday Pop-Up Market (Dec. 4-7, Kingston Social House
• GAS Pop-Up Market (Dec. 10, Gerrard Art Space)

MORE MARKETS AND CRAFTS SHOWS

• We are all precious snowflakes Annual Holiday Art Sale (Nov. 11, Yellow House Gallery)
• Leslieville Wanderlust (Nov. 17-20)
• Markham Home for the Holidays (Nov. 18-20, Markham Fairgrounds)
• Roncesvalles United Church Christmas Arts and Craft Market (Nov.19, RUC United Church)
• Toronto Christmas Pet Show (Nov. 19, The International Centre)
• St. Olaves Christmas Craft Show and Coffee House (Nov. 19, St. Olaves Anglican Church)
• Swansea Craft Sale (Nov. 19, Swansea School and Community Centre)
• Swedish Christmas Fair (Nov. 19-20, Harbourfront Centre)
• Holy Name Christmas Bazaar (Nov. 26, Holy Name Church)
• Country Christmas Market (Nov. 26, Elgin West Community Centre)
• Winter Folk Fair (Nov. 26, St. Vladimir Institute)
• Leslieville Flea Holiday Market (Nov. 27, SH Armstrong Community Centre)
• Krampus Krafts Holiday Market (Dec. 1-2, Nanopod)
• Botanical Garden Holiday Market (Dec. 1, Botanical Garden)
• Santa in the Junction (Dec. 5)
• Toronto Green Market Holiday Edition (Dec. 11, The Great Hall)
• Trinity Bellwoods Flea Local Holiday Market (Dec. 17, Studio Bar)
• Bunz Flea Holiday Edition (Dec. 20, Gladstone Hotel)

Did I miss a Christmas or holiday market, craft sale or pop up you're excited about? Let us know in the comments.

Photo of last year's One of a Kind Show by Jesse Milns.

With contributions from Mallory Warren.

The red cups are here! That's right, it's officially the holiday season in Toronto because the Starbucks red cups have landed at cafes all across the city. Instead of the much-maligned simple design from last year, Starbucks has introduced 13 different cups designed by loyal customers from around the world, including two artists from the Toronto area.

Starbucks asked customers to share their cup designs on Instagram. The global coffee chain chose 13 from the 1,200 entries it received.

Anna Bucciarelli, from Toronto, created the so-called "Love and Joy" cup. It features a snow-covered village and leaping reindeer. According to Starbucks, Anna "was trained in petrykivka, an ancient Ukrainian decorative folk art, which influenced her design's intricate line work and details."

Erica, a new paralegal graduate from Markham, made the "Graphic Swirls" cup. She got started on it while helping her sister recover from knee surgery. "My sister was stuck on the couch for a month, so we spent a lot of time colouring together," she told Starbucks. "When I wanted to change it up, I switched to doodling on Starbucks cups!"

Anna and Erica's cups join 11 other festive creations by coffee drinkers from various countries, including Russia, Indonesia and the United States.

Photos via Starbucks.

Weekend events in Toronto include a chance to let loose and forget all the drama of the past week with a a swamp-themed warehouse dance party. If you're still not in a dancing mood, then the massive Quidditch tournament will definitely help lift your spirits.

Here are my top picks for events in Toronto this weekend.

EVENTS

Quidditch Canada's Eastern Regional Championship (Nov. 12, Iceland Arena)
Quidditch is a real life thing! It's a gender-integrated contact sport with a mix of elements from rugby, dodgeball, wrestling and flag football. A Quidditch team is made up of at least seven athletes who all play with brooms between their legs. Fourteen teams from across eastern Canada will be competing to be crowned champions of the East.

More Toronto Events

• Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Weekend (Nov. 11-14, Hockey Hall of Fame)
• Roald Dahl Day and Willy Wonka Screening (Hot Docs)
• Oh. So. TO (Nov. 12, YTB Gallery)
• Movember & Click Change (Nov. 12, Movember Headquarters)

REMEMBRANCE DAY

Toronto marks Remembrance Day with a number of beautiful ceremonies to honour fallen soldiers and veterans. Wherever you are in the city, take a moment at 11 a.m. and pause to pay tribute to all victims of war.

STAGE

Perfect 10 Comedy: The 8th Anniversary (Nov. 12, Comedy Bar)
One of the longest running monthly stand up shows at Comedy Bar turns eight with an impressive lineup of funny people, including Mini Holmes (Just For Laughs), Andre H Arruda (Vice TV), Keesha Brownie (Canadian Comedy Award) and Eric Johnston (Disney Channel) to name a few. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door.

More on stage

• Step to the Mic: 7th Annual Canadian Beatbox Championship (Lee's Palace)
• Tango Fest 8 (Nov. 11-13, Beverly Hall SPK)
• Constellations (Nov. 11-12, Bluma Appel Theatre)

SHOPPING

Flipside DJ & Collectors Vintage Vinyl Record Show (Nov. 13, Gladstone Hotel)
There's definitely smart ways to buy vinyl in Toronto, after all the record shop scene seems to be blooming, but this massive vintage record sale is a must-attend event for anyone looking to expand their collection.

Drop, Swap & Shop (Nov. 13, Evergreen Brick Works)
Try swapping instead of shopping at this market of clothing, jewelry, and, well, pretty much anything. For each item you your off, you will get one ticket in return, which you can swap for another item. You can leave that wallet at home.

MUSIC

Reykjavik Calling (Nov. 12, Horseshoe Tavern)
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, so don't wait too late to arrive.

More music in Toronto

• The Beatdown (Nov. 11, Velvet Underground)
• Day Wave (Nov. 11, The Garrison)
• Amanda Palmer (Nov. 11, Queen Elizabeth Theatre)
• Wild Nothing (Nov. 11, The Great Hall)
• NQ Arbuckle (Nov. 11, The Horseshoe Tavern)
• Pussy Riot (Nov. 12, Velvet Underground)
• Taylor Knox & The Acorn (Nov. 12, Burdock)
• SNBRN (Nov. 12, The Hoxton)
• Sailboats Are White (Nov. 13, Baby G)
• Got7 concert and fan meet (Nov. 13, Massey Hall)

DANCING & PARTIES

Rumpshakers present: The Swamp Party (Nov. 12, Keele Warehouse)
The Rumpshakers are part of a growing group of collectives throwing underground dance-music-focused parties in amazing spaces around the city. For this bash, they're taking over a warehouse on Keele and transforming it into a giant swamp via the brilliant mind of Noir Basteast. Dive in and dance until 4 a.m. to the sounds of UK dubstep and bass pioneer Loefah and guests.

More dance parties in Toronto

• Unknown Mobile & Roberto (Nov. 11, Holy Oak)
• Home Turf (Nov. 11, The Black Eagle)
• Drake hearts Rihanna Video Dance Party (Nov.11, The Gladstone)
• FML ROM: Tribute (Nov. 11, ROM)
• Hot Mess with DJ Kitty (Nov. 12, Wolf Like Me)
• Worst Behaviour (Nov. 12, Clinton's)
• Random Play retro dance party (Nov. 12, WAYLA)
• Beam Me Up: Disco Disco Disco (Nov. 12, The Piston)
• Miss Kittin (Nov. 12, Nest)
• Wax Museum (Nov. 12, Dundas Video)
• CLGA Flashback Gale: Electric Circus (Nov. 12, CLGA)

Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO Toronto events section and have a great weekend!

Photo from The Rumpshakers Facebook page.

What's open and closed Remembrance Day Toronto 2016.

CEREMONIES

• Check out our roundup of Remembrance Day events in Toronto

GENERAL

Closed

• Government offices and banks
• No mail delivery
• Toxic Taxi pick-up (other waste collection will operate as usual)

TRANSIT

• The TTC is operating on a regular weekday schedule, but will observe a moment of silence by bringing all of its vehicles to a standstill for two minutes at 11 a.m.

DRINK

• LCBO and Beer Store locations will open at noon.

Did I miss anything? Let us know in the comments.

Photo by David Timchuck in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Toronto didn't get the name Hollywood North for nothing. Our city's a hotspot for those working on both big budget and independent television and movie projects because it's cheaper to film here and it can easily stand in for places like New York, Chicago and Boston.

Earlier today, the Toronto Police Operations Twitter account warned Scarborough residents that there was a movie shoot going on at Kingston and Galloway Roads.

PUBLIC INFORMATION:
For residents of Scarborough, Kingston Rd + Galloway Rd area, there is a movie shoot where gunshots may be heard.
^dh

— Toronto Police OPS (@TPSOperations) November 9, 2016

The movie in question is Kin, a sci-fi thriller starring James Franco, Zoe Kravitz, Jack Reynor and Dennis Quaid. Jonathan and Josh Baker are directing.

The filming continues into early December.

Photo by dstuff9 via the blogTO Flickr pool.

If you're looking to own a condo walking distance to one of North America's coolest streets, you're in luck. This two-bedroom, two-bathroom corner unit is on the market for $769,000. The 2G condos are a development by Streetcar Developments, and the boutique building runs eight-storeys high with only 55 units.

The unit itself is just over 1,000 square feet, with a generously sized private patio complete with gas hookup. The living room boasts floor-to-ceiling windows with a southeast view, and patterned wallpaper that you'll either love or hate - but either way, it can be changed.

The sleek, modern kitchen features an island overlooking the living room, offering a good place to entertain before hitting the restaurants and bars of West Queen West or Parkdale. Concrete columns and ceilings add a soft-loft appeal, while the dark wooden flooring warms up the space.

SPECS

• Address: 2 Gladstone Avenue
• Price: $769,000
• Square Feet: 1,000 +/-
• Bedrooms: 2
• Bathrooms: 2
• Parking: 1
• Taxes: $3,843.96
• Maintenance Fee: $1,495.90
• Walk Score: 97
• Listing agent: Shane Carslake
• Listing ID: C3642328

NOTABLE FEATURES

• Corner unit
• Large, private terrace
• Brushed concrete ceilings
• Modern kitchen with island
• Parking spot and locker

GOOD FOR

Someone who is looking for close proximity to an active entertainment and nightlife scene. With the the Drake empire and The Gladstone Hotel within walking distance, you'll never miss a brunch or late-night dance party again.

MOVE ON IF

You're not jazzed about relying on the 501 streetcar or the Dufferin 29 bus. This condo is perched in between these routes, and you're a long way from the subway.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS
Will this soft-loft go for its asking price? Have your say in the comments.

Thanks to Bosley Real Estate Ltd, Brokerage for sponsoring our House of the Week. All content and editorial selected and written by blogTO.

The most romantic restaurants in Toronto by neighbourhood are adorable, cozy, welcoming, dimly-lit and delicious spots. They're located in every corner of the city and are ready when you want to take out a new date or an old flame.

Here are my picks for the most romantic restaurants in Toronto by neighbourhood.

ANNEX
Bar Begonia is Anthony Rose's Parisian-style cocktail bar on Dupont with a bit of a Brooklyn vibe. It features old-timey curved wooden benches reminiscent of the ones in classic train stations, marble tables and contoured drawings of naked ladies on the walls.

CABBAGETOWN
F'Amelia is a cute Italian restaurant in Cabbagetown that serves up fresh pasta, pizza, meat, fish and tasty desserts - all with a Northern Italian flare. Lots of small plates for sharing, half price bottles of wine on Wednesdays and a cozy European vibe make this a great spot for two.

CHINATOWN
If romance is defined by low ceilings, dim lights, cozy corner tables and plates for sharing, then People's Eatery is your spot. It gets lively with DJs and drinks if your date goes long.

CHURCH WELLESLEY VILLAGE
Smith carries a comfortable, sweet and classy country vibe throughout its entire three stories. The decor, wine list and menu all encourage you to stay a while, and slowly take it in.

DANFORTH
The aromas, ambiance and welcoming hosts are what make Rendez-Vous a great romantic dinner getaway. Ethiopian cuisine is this restaurant's specialty and it's important to remember utensils are entirely unwelcome here. Let your guard down and let the amazing food and vibe take over.

DUNDAS WEST
Campagnolo feels luxurious and a bit fancy, but the pricing and ambiance are not. This homey Italian restaurant will transport you out of Toronto into some European corner eatery, where you can lazily drink wine, eat bread and pasta with someone who makes your heart flutter.

EAST CHINATOWN
Saturday Dinette is a modern take on the classic diner - though here, the deep fryer has been retired, while hearty comfort food still reigns supreme. This place attracts a younger crowd and the kitchen is staffed by young women from YWCA training programs. Romance with real heart.

EGLINTON WEST
7 Numbers is small and there are no frills except for the service and the incredible food. Bring someone here if you want to impress with them with authentic Italian cuisine.

FINANCIAL DISTRICT
The Chase features a gorgeous 75-seat patio with sweeping views of the Financial District. It's a very impressive and romantic restaurant with a view and menu to die for. Not only is it a delicious spot to eat at, but you can also linger here with post-dinner cocktails and desserts.

JUNCTION TRIANGLE
Angolino is an intimate spot that's perfect for a romantic dinner. Angolino means little nook or corner in Italian, and this place really reflects its name. Head here for classic Italian specialties and yummy cocktails.

KENSINGTON MARKET
El Rey is a Grant van Gameren gem with raw brick, arched doorways and terracotta accents that contribute to the rustic vibe. Take a mezcal lover here, as well as someone who likes to share and sit close.

KING EAST
Pearl Diver is a seafood destination where cozy booths are made of repurposed old wooden church pews from the Anglican Diocese of Toronto across the street and there's a "hot tub" VIP table. Plus, what's more romantic than sharing a plate of fresh-shucked oysters?

KING WEST
This Lee family and Drake collaboration sports a hip lounge-like feel mixed with elements of whimsy and gothic chic. Fring's boasts lots of booths, dim-lights, creative cocktails and a menu packed with comfort food. Just beware of wait times and dress up.

LESLIEVILLE
Maple Leaf Tavern is an old bar with a contemporary finish. There's a wood fire grill, lots of wood detailing, deep, private booths and stained glass touches. This is a romantic spot for a quiet night out, free of annoying trends and crowds.

LITTLE ITALY
Amongst all the hoopla of this College and Bathurst intersection is one of Toronto's most delicious, consistent and best-kept secrets. Pomegranate is a hot little spot resplendent with all kinds of Iranian furnishings, from rugs to a tiled goldfish pool.

OSSINGTON
A bit of laid back romance is always needed and this cute Ossington spot will most definitely provide it. From the team behind Bar Fancy, Superpoint features lots of twinkling lights and beautiful brick walls. It's a playful spot for a light-hearted meet up.

PARKDALE
The Local is a tiny dining destination that's simple, rustic and warm. Lots of sharing options, a local wine menu and Parkdale-inspired decor all encourage lots of close talking and foot mingling.

QUEEN WEST
Alo Restaurant is on the third floor of the building at the southeast corner of Queen and Spadina. It's not the most romantic location in Toronto, until you make your way up the stairs to one of the best restaurants in the city right now.

RIVERSIDE
Local ingredients are the main focus of the well-known east side restaurant Ruby Watchco. It's a cozy spot and the food is served family-style. This is the place to impress a budding romance with some of the most delicious food in the city.

RONCESVALLES
The Ace is a Roncesvalles favourite that's a very tight fit, but if you can get in, you'll thank your lucky, romantic stars. It's the ultimate date spot with very close seating, extremely friendly staff and a menu filled with comfort food.

WEST QUEEN WEST
There is no cuter spot on West Queen West than Dandylion. There's just something about the narrow, sleek, rustic space that's inviting and classy, but never pretentious. It ain't cheap, but the 30-seat dining room is served from a gas-free kitchen and features a heavily curated menu and wine/beer list.

YONGE AND ST CLAIR
Cava is a great Spanish tapas spot for a quick and quaint night out; nothing too fancy or extravagant.

YORKVILLE
Brothers is a narrow restaurant that sits atop Bay subway station and serves a Mediterranean-influenced menu. It has an affordable wine list and small dishes on the menu.

Thanks to Baci Perugina for sponsoring this post

Photos by Jesse Milns and Hector Vasquez.

Who likes the Toronto Police Service's new monochromatic patrol cars? Not very many people, apparently. Yesterday, city council voted in favour of a motion asking TPS to keep its existing red, white and blue colour scheme in the wake of numerous residents voicing concern over the stealth-like vehicles.

The TPS seems to be listening. In a news statement this afternoon, Police Chief Mark Saunders says the force will be stopping the rollout of its new-look cars.

"As I meet with the people of the city at many events, including numerous town halls, among the subjects that are raised, the new look of our police cars has come up often. There are people who like them. There are people who don't like them," said Chief Saunders in a statement.

"The concern that has been expressed has convinced me that further work is necessary. I have decided to stop the rollout of the new-look police cars immediately. We will not be ordering any new gray police cars. We will set up opportunities for consultation, before we go any further," he continued.

Photo via the TPS.

Toronto's political map is about to look different thanks to the addition of three new wards approved by city council yesterday. The total number of Toronto wards will go up to 47 from the existing 44, though all the changes on the table at the council meeting were not approved.

One set of residents who will likely be pleased with how the debate shook out at city hall is those who like in Ward 32, part of which looked like it might combine with the neighbouring Scarborough Ward to the east, thereby breaking Victoria Park Avenue as a longstanding dividing line between the two areas.

Leading up to the city council meeting, a number of Ward 32 residents were vocal about their concerns regarding the prospect of joining Scarborough. Many of the arguments centred around the desire to maintain traditional neighbourhood boundary lines and the affiliation with the pre-amalgamation city of Toronto.

Jeez, where's the love for Scarbs? Toronto can be so old fashioned sometimes.

There were, however, some major changes made. Three new wards will be added in downtown Toronto and one in North York to balance out the population that each councillor represents. Ward 18 (Davenport) will be eliminated and incumbent councillors Cesar Palacio, Ana Bailao and Gord Perks will now have to battle for two wards.

You can check out the new ward boundary lines on this interactive map. City council's vote is still subject to approval from the OMB.

Photo by Lake4water in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Who's moving to Canada? While a lot of celebrities, including Snoop Dogg, said they'd head here if Donald Trump won the American presidential election, it doesn't look like any of them have followed through yet.

Still, Toronto Raptors' General Manager Masai Ujiri joked that this trend could bode well for our local sports teams.

#Raptors GM Masai Ujiri: "I want to thank Donald Trump for making Toronto an unbelievable sports destination."

— Neil Davidson (@NeilMDavidson) November 10, 2016

As Neil Davidson, senior sports writer at the Canadian Press tweeted, Ujiri said, "I want to thank Donald Trump for making Toronto an unbelievable sports destination," at the Sports Media Canada Achievement Awards.

Forward Patrick Paterson was a little more concise in his assessment of the election results.

Dual Citizenship. 💯

— Patrick Patterson (@pdpatt) November 9, 2016

Numerous other players tweeted out reaction with the election results too. Let's see if the Raptors picks up any more NBA free agents now.

Now I have to like Poutine ✌🏽️lol

— Delon Wright (@delonwright) November 9, 2016

Photo by Jesse Milns.

Toronto Food Events rounds up the most delicious festivals, pop-ups, winemaker dinners, supper clubs and other food related happenings in Toronto this week and next. You can find us here every Friday morning.

THIS WEEK

• The very first Bartender Atlas Tour goes from Nov. 13 to 16.
• Ess, ess! That's right, NoshFest, Toronto's first Jewish food festival, is on Sunday at Artscape Wychwood Barns.
• Spend An Evening In Iceland at Jump on Sunday night. This event costs $115 and will showcase Icelandic cuisine, music and drinks.
• The Chase and The Edible Story are pairing up to present a five-course dinner celebrating the apple harvest. This meal costs about $150.
• Head to Roselle Desserts on Nov. 14 for the Milk and Cookies Social in support of SickKids. Tickets are $25.
• The Italian Chamber of Commerce of Ontario (ICCO) and Centennial College present CENTITALIA: Gusto Cultura to educate Toronto about authentic Italian cuisine from Nov. 14 to 18.
• From Nov. 14 to 30, Cafe Boulud will serve up a festive rotisserie menu. This $95 meal is kind of like an upscale version of Swiss Chalet's epic festival special.
• From Nov. 14 to 17, Carters Landing will offer free entrees, but the restaurant wants you to donate to Camp BUCKO in exchange.
• Get your fill of fish-filled chowder at the annual Ocean Wise Chowder Chowdown at the Fermenting Cellar on Nov. 15.
• The massive Gourmet Food and Wine Expo runs from Nov. 17 to 20 at the Convention Centre.
• The Mill St. Brewpub Festive Brewmaster's Dinner is on Nov. 17. The meal clocks in at $70.
Uncork Untap Unwind is on Nov. 17 at Airship 37.
• @to_finest will start its latest $5 Food Crawl on Nov. 17. It runs until Dec. 17 and the $10 passport gives you access to $5 dishes at places like PG Cluck's, Sweet Jesus and North Poke.

  UPCOMING
  

  • Grand Trunk Road holds a pop-up at The Depanneur. Stop by for a vegetarian meal featuring Punjab dishes where apps are $5 and entrees are $8.
  • The Ethnic Aisle presents Will There Be Halo Halo? It's an event that looks at Filipino food and discusses what happens when certain types of cuisine go mainstream. Join the conversation on Nov. 22 at Super Wonder Gallery.
  • Peter Pan hosts Keeping it Veal on Nov. 24.
  • Feast on Brazilian food at Mata Petisco Bar on Dec. 1. This event will feature five different chefs from Brazil.
  • The Peter Pan Brewery Tour will bring live theatre into some of the city's best independent breweries from Dec. 2 to 10.

  Know of a Toronto food event coming up? Email editors@blogto.com.

  Photo from Schmaltz Appetizing by Jesse Milns.

Frybread, the food made from such scant rations as barely more than flour and water but fried to create a tasty and fulfilling snack, is being given the royal treatment at this just opened restaurant. Topped with beef or veggie chili, or jerk chicken or pork, humble frybread has become the new vehicle for the ever-beloved taco.

Read my profile of Pow Wow Cafe in the restaurants section.

After Donald Trump officially won the American election early on Wednesday morning, sticky notes starting popping up at New York City subway stations. They featured words of kindness, encouragement and hope to counter negativity and hatred.

And while many Canadian were feeling quite smug about living north of the 49th parallel, many also showed their support for their neighbours, especially those who passed through Dundas Station.

As City News reports, sticky notes surrounding a Love Trumps Hate sign started popping up at this busy TTC thoroughfare. They featured positive messages, like "Peace will win, fear will lose," and, "Don't give up, keep fighting for what's right."

In the coming months and years, it seems like we need as much positivity (and fighting words) as possible.

Photo via @waywardmermaid6.

Toronto's newest snack bar is changing up Italian classics on the daily with a different pasta and a dessert every 24 hours. Grab a bevvy and some charcuterie and cozy up in this new spot.

Read my profile of Moto Snack Bar in the restaurants section.

One of Toronto's favourite late night food purveyors is making its way to Queen St. West. Junked Food Co. will be opening a new flagship shop at 507 Queen St. West. While construction begins this weekend, their location on Dundas St. West remains open to fill cravings for epic soft serve, deep dish pizza and mac and cheese.

Their new restaurant will take over the space formally occupied by P&L Burger, which recently called it quits on Queen West. While their storefront may be closed, you can still get their burgers through apps like DoorDash, foodora and UberEATS.

We left our mark on Queen West. Thank you to all who passed through our shop doors at 507. Our burgers will be available again beginning Nov 2nd through @doordash @foodora_ca @UberEats #eatpnlburger

A photo posted by The P&L Burger (@thepnlburger) on Nov 1, 2016 at 8:34am PDT

Photo by Jesse Milns.

When Donald Trump won the American presidential election, many were - and still are - worried about what his leadership means for both the United States as well as countries around the world. There's lots of fear swirling about and people are reacting to it - and combatting it - in a myriad of ways.

Take, for instance, the sympathy cards that appeared in front of the US Consulate on University Avenue in Toronto.

It's unclear who started this memorial, but photos of it surfaced on Twitter, and later on Reddit and Instagram. "Sincere condolences on the death of medicaid, education and women's rights," reads the card.

A photo posted by Patricia Ess (@fierymuse) on Nov 9, 2016 at 7:33pm PST

It would seem Toronto is mourning right along with the blue states to the south.

Photo via @AlexanderGlista.

In cities all across the United States, citizens are banding together against hatred and bigotry to protest Donald Trump and the results of the American presidential election.

Torontonians have showed their support with silent tributes at Dundas Station as well as with sympathy cards outside of the US Consulate on University Avenue.

On Saturday, November 19, however, there's an anti-Trump rally happening right in the centre of the city.

"We will be gathering to peacefully protest Donald Trump's legitimacy as US President, and to demonstrate how his, and any hateful rhetoric is unacceptable today," reads the rally's Facebook event description.

"We as Canadians will help our neighbours by showing that misogyny, racism, homophobia, xenophobia, sexism, sexual assault, ableism, transphobia and violence are absolutely intolerable."

The rally starts at 1 p.m. in front of City Hall and participants will march towards Trump Tower at 2 p.m.

This weekend, on Sunday, November 13, there's a rally against hatred at home and abroad. Details for this event remain sparse, but will be released closer to the date. The rally will make itself "a safe space in which the voices of IBPOC (Indigenous, Black, People of Colour), LGBTQ+ folks, women, and non binary folks are centred."

Photo of the Union Square Park protests in Manhattan by @gretchenrobinette.

Except maybe PJ Phil on YTV's The Zone or Speakers Corner, Toronto has no greater icon of pure 1990s television culture than Electric Circus, the high energy dance show that aired on Citytv and MuchMusic between 1988 and 2003.

For the uninitiated, Electric Circus (or EC) chronicled 90 minutes in a sweaty television studio (used during the week by Dini Petty's CityLine) full of dancing people - some professional, some randoms off the street - featuring DJs, rappers, established and new artists and a rogues gallery of madcap fashion.

It was live, fresh, and voyeur friendly: born half-way between Citytv's commitment to innovative local programming and MuchMusic's slick hyper-expanding empire.

For its first few years in operation, MuchMusic was available only as part of an expensive cable package, and aside from the odd free weekends or bootleg cassettes from well-to-do friends, watching the latest music videos 24/7 on "the Nation's Music Station" was a luxury enjoyed by smallish minority.

Local shows on basic cable such as Video Singles (on CFMT, channel 47 cable 4), Video Hits and Good Rockin' Tonight (on CBC) and Toronto Rocks (on Citytv) filled the plebeian void for a short while.

In 1988 when Much became available as a "free" channel on all basic cable packages, these shows began to disappear. Toronto Rocks producer Joel Goldberg recalls that while Citytv's visionary man upstairs Moses Znaimer saw Toronto Rocks as superfluous in age of Much.

Instead, he was eager to replace it with another broad music narrowcast, a live dance show that would highlight the new space at 299 Queen Street West, in what he termed "the living movie". In its early days, Citytv had hosted the very popular disco dance show Boogie, and Znaimer was keen to revisit the dynamism such a show would generate.

Local dance shows had been successful since the 1960s - most famously with American Bandstand, playing a significant cultural role in breaking new sounds and genres to a wider audiences.

Also in the 60s, CBET (the CBC affiliate in Windsor), had its own dance show called Swingin' Time which regularly featured Motown artists such as The Supremes and Martha & The Vandellas from across the border in Detroit.

The series was notable for many things, including featuring a multi-racial group of dancing youth, something forbidden on television at the time in North America. Viewers in Detroit were able to receive the broadcast, and in addition to helping foster more interest in the Motown sound, the imagery aided in challenging Michigan's staid racist culture.

In his excellent new book about MuchMusic ("Is This Live? Inside The Wild Early Years of MuchMusic"), author and original Much VJ Christopher Ward details a covert meeting in a pub which included the likes of MuchMusic's director of programming John Martin, RockFlash host and VJ Kim Clarke Champniss, and producer Joel Goldberg.

After throwing around a bunch of ideas for the show (including possibly shooting it in an already established Toronto night club), they settled on rooting it firmly at 299 Queen Street West, where people on the street could watch.

As for what to call it, Champniss recalls suggesting the title "Electric Circus", which was also the name of an infamous nightclub that had existed at 99 Queen Street East (original home of Citytv and MuchMusic) in the 1960s. The trio all agreed that it was the perfect designation, as it would keep the spirit of 99 alive and well in the shiny new 299 environment.

Moses wanted it to run for 90 minutes on Saturday afternoon, live-to-air. He brought onboard Monika Deol, a spirited young entertainment reporter at Citytv who happened to also be a DJ and club kid who really understood the culture.

She co-hosted alongside Michael Williams, who had already established himself as a powerhouse VJ on MuchMusic and host of Much's first specialty shows like Power Hour and Soul in the City.

In its first year on TV, Electric Circus featured an eclectic mix of club cuts, hip-hop and rock anthems. So on any given Saturday you might hear a Public Enemy track mixed into AC/DC followed by a thumping Italo piano house song.

Behind the scenes, Deol was eager to cut out the rock stuff and pursue a more purist club approach, while the show was also attracting a lot of artists on the come up in the burgeoning Toronto hip-hop scene.

The Dream Warriors, Michie Mee, and Maestro Fresh Wes all famously did time at EC back in the day. In fact, Maestro's experience on the show was career defining - after being asked to appear on the merit of some tapes he had sent in, Wes was baffled by the attire of some EC dancers ("Soul Train meets Dukes of Hazard" is how he described it recently), and wasn't sold on a second appearance.

Fate would have it he did show up, and that same day Miami freestyler Stevie B was in the studio. Stevie B witnessed Maestro perform "Let Your Backbone Slide" for the very first time, and basically got his label to sign Wes on the spot. Toronto's role in future hip-hop greatness beckoned.

Michael Williams left to develop RapCity, and videographer George Lagogianes became the EC co-host, which also helped with Znaimer's edict for Citytv and Much to spotlight production "process": the show would cut from wide-shots of the dancers to George's POV, and then back to him talking with Monika.

The same revolutionary touches were applied across the board - whether it was for EC, CityPulse or The New Music.

As the '90s rolled on, even the O.G hip-hop started to get phased out. While Goldberg started to direct music videos for Maestro, The Dream Warriors and others, he passed EC producing duties onto Sharon Kavanaugh.

1992 proved to be a banner year, as the series as it moved from Citytv to MuchMusic, and more importantly from its early afternoon slot on Saturday to later at 7:00pm. Kavanaugh had convinced Znaimer that club kids needed a place to warm-up before heading out to the real clubs around 11:00 p.m., and EC was the perfect spot.

As the series started to blow up, so did the calibre of guests, and the volume of curious onlookers outside the windows of 299 Queen. For the first time EC went on the road (to Ottawa for Winterlude), and held a massive outdoor dance party in the 299 Queen parking lot.

Whether you were inside or outside, into the latest club sounds or just watching on TV to make fun of the dancing, EC became an essential weekend destination in T.O.

The show's success was predicated on many factors - Monika Deol (who was also doing time simultaneously on MuchMusic's RapidFax and Citytv's entertainment desk) was the breakaway cult star, but the EC dancers also became local heroes.

The series producers worked closely with record labels to break new acts, and promote dance events across Canada. The show explored club culture beyond just the music - fashion, health and lifestyle were covered - and as Deol put it the studio looked like the United Nations under one groove.

Most importantly, it was a lot of fun - a killer party that everyone was welcome at.

Deol left the show in 1996, but EC managed to survive into the early 2000s. Around that time there was a drastic sea change in club culture, as the scene which had gone main-stream in the lead up to the millennium fell victim to resurgence in guitar bands. Club culture went back underground, and while EC did manage a few one-off specials, it was mostly resigned to the retro '90s ephemera pile.

In recent years as EDM has once again risen to become a massive force, interest in EC has been rekindled both from a nostalgic perspective and a portent of new possibilities.

This weekend, the CLGA's gala event Flashback returns for a trip back to the '90s featuring an Electric Circus gala and a "re-creation of the spirit of the decade the fun, the fashion, the artistic expression, and the political and cultural turning points."

Monika Deol herself will be there, as will former New Music co-host and Fashion icon Jeanne Beker who "will be on location to fill the room with her inimitable style and grace."

So whether you lived through it or are experiencing it for the first time via washed out YouTube clips, there is no denying Electric Circus was a uniquely cool, uniquely Toronto institution.

Ed Conroy's Retrontario plumbs the seedy depths of Toronto flea markets, flooded basements, thrift shops and garage sales, mining old VHS and Betamax tapes that less than often contain incredible moments of history that were accidentally recorded but somehow survived the ravages of time. You can find more amazing discoveries at www.retrontario.com.

It's been a bad news week, but the death of Leonard Cohen is one event that hits close to home for Canadians.

In what is sure to be the first in a series of Leonard Cohen related events (hi Choir! Choir! Choir!), TIFF is screening the 1965 film by Don Owen and Donald Brittain - Ladies and Gentlemen... Mr. Leonard Cohen at the Lightbox on November 12.

This screening was planned before the singer and poet passed away last night at the age of 82. Cohen released his latest album You Want It Darker on October 21.

Ladies and Gentlemen is an informal look into Cohen's life at age 30 on a visit to his hometown of Montreal. He reads poetry live, walks the streets and then takes a bath. It's a film that shows off his craft and sense of humour.

Don Owen's Notes For a Film About Donna and Gail will play following the film and his son Andrew Owen will be on hand to introduce them. These screenings are completely free.

If you need more Leonard in your life right now, U of T's Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library has an impressive archive of Cohen's work dating back to when he was just 19 years old. There are manuscripts, letters, correspondences and mail. There's also a sealed box of letters in the collection that Cohen directed be opened only after his death.

Photo is a still from Ladies and Gentlemen... Mr. Leonard Cohen.