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House of the week: 115 Sylvan Avenue

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115 Sylvan Avenue TorontoYou can't get a much better location for a home than on the shores of Lake Ontario, situated atop the Scarborough Bluffs. 115 Sylvan Avenue, listed at $2,899,000, is the perfect retreat from downtown Toronto, even as the city is still very much accessible.

115 sylvan ave torontoThis home has the appearance of a penthouse on the inside, but with the square footage and lot of a mansion. The floor-to-ceiling windows provide a stunning view of Lake Ontario, with access from nearly every room. The open balcony in the centre of the living area overlooks the lower level and opens up the space, adding a loft-like feel to this family home.

115 sylvan ave torontoIf the views and endless light don't cut it, the master bedroom may. The ultra-modern ensuite with hard lines and huge windows will make you feel as though you're at a spa. With a private balcony overlooking the backyard and the lake, there's really not much need to go to a resort.

115 sylvan ave torontoSPECS

  • Address: 115 Sylvan Avenue
  • Price: $2,899,000
  • Lot Size: 60.00x191.33 FT
  • Bedrooms: 4 + 1
  • Bathrooms: 4
  • Parking: 6
  • Taxes: $8,357.00
  • Walk Score: 16
  • Listing agent: Allister John Sinclair
  • Listing ID: E3646556

115 sylvan ave torontoNOTABLE FEATURES

  • Floor-to-ceiling windows
  • Lake Ontario views in nearly every room
  • Large backyard
  • 3500-5000 sq ft
  • Walkout basement
  • Heated flooring in 2 bathrooms

115 sylvan ave torontoGOOD FOR

Those looking to entertain, enjoy nature and relax at home. With its stunning landscape and open concept living area (complete with a games room - with a view), this is the place to hunker down. Who wants to go to a crowded restaurant when you could bring the party to you?

115 sylvan ave torontoMOVE ON IF

Your idea of city living is in the thick of downtown, free of a car, and dependent on cabs and TTC. This abode is nestled well into the east end, and transit isn't the most accessible.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS
115 sylvan ave toronto115 sylvan ave toronto115 sylvan ave toronto115 sylvan ave toronto115 sylvan ave toronto115 sylvan ave toronto115 sylvan ave toronto115 sylvan ave torontoWould you buy this four bedroom Scarborough home if you had the dough? Let us know 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.


This town near Toronto is about to become a magical winter wonderland

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light show christmas torontoStart planning your holiday season road trip ASAP because there are lots of places to visit this year. From quaint Christmas markets to stunning big budget light shows, there's lots to see and do both in Toronto and all over southern Ontario.

If you want to get out of town for a little bit, consider heading to Cobourg. This town, located between Belleville and Oshawa, is right on the shores of Lake Ontario. And for the holiday season, it hosts Christmas Magic, which transforms its waterfront park into a winter wonderland with more than 100,000 LED lights.

This event runs from November 25, 2016 to January 4, 2017, so you have lots of time to check it out. There's lots to do in Cobourg if you decide to take the drive out, including craft breweries, restaurants and cute inns and hotels.

Photo via Cobourg Tourism.

Average rent for Toronto apartment continues to climb

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toronto apartment rentWe all know Toronto's real estate market is red hot. The price of a detached home in the city is well over the $1 million mark and condo prices are going up and up too. But what about those of us who choose to rent? Apparently, prices are going up too.

According to Padmapper, which tracks the rental markets in cities across the province, the median rent for a one bedroom in Toronto in October 2016 was $1,430 - that was up 4.4 per cent since September. For two bedrooms, the median price was up 3.4 per cent to $1,820 - or as Padmapper points out, the price of a one bedroom in Vancouver.

Vancouver, of course, has the most expensive rental market in Canada, though Toronto's not too far behind. Victoria comes next, followed by Calgary and Montreal, respectively.

If you're willing to spend a bit more than average, here's what kind of apartment you can get for $1,500 in Toronto.

Photo by Lunatic Desire via the blogTO Flickr pool.

There's now PRESTO in 50 TTC subway stations

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TTC PrestoDon't look now, but Toronto's subway system is creeping toward full PRESTO capability. There are now 50 TTC stations outfitted with PRESTO, and a host of fare gates expected to be installed later this year. While there's a ways to go before the entire system is converted to PRESTO, it's becoming significantly easier for users to ditch tokens in favour of the card.

To wit, there are also over 100 bus routes outfitted with PRESTO card readers. There have been some issues with reliability of the machines, but the rollout itself has now picked up steam. With the exception of the 502 Downtowner and 503 Kingston Rd., all streetcars are PRESTO enabled.

TTC Presto MapAs far a self-serve reload machines go, 35 stations have these right now. The TTC plans to add more as additional stations are outfitted with the fancy new fare gates. For now only a handful of station entrances have been converted to Metropass and PRESTO use only, but the plan is to phase out tickets, tokens and fare collectors sometime in 2017.

TTC fare rates for the Metropass will be available on PRESTO cards next year.

Photo via the TTC.

This is what condos should look like in Toronto

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75 Esplanade CondoToronto spends a lot of time complaining about condos - and for good reason. The height and density of many proposals being submitted to city planners are almost laughable. But there are good condos being built in this city as well.

They're not always the most architecturally innovative, but properly scaled buildings with obvious design merits do make a positive contribution to the city's skyline and streetscape. Take the 75 on Esplanade, for example. Despite the slightly annoying name, this is a development that gets a lot of things right, starting with the location.

75 Esplanade CondoThe site of the development is currently a surface parking lot at Church St. and the Esplanade. There's nothing being sacrificed for this building to go up. Moreover, this is an area that's well equipped to handle 29 storeys of density. There's already tall buildings in the vicinity and its near to both the Financial District and the St. Lawrence Market.

The initial height of this development was proposed at 34 storeys by Harhay and Carttera, but city planning staff thought that number was too high, both in terms of density for the area and the shadows the tower would cast. At just below 30 storeys, it's a more comfortable fit with the surrounding neighbourhood.

75 Esplanade CondoIt also doesn't seem that imposing thanks to the significant brick podium, which is meant to respect the historical character of existing buildings in the area. The tower is considerably set back from the podium, which helps to mitigate the monolithic appearance that many of our glass towers have. architectsAlliance have done a good job in designing a building that feels adequately human.

Also impressive is the plans for the unit types, which include 39 three bedrooms of the 302 that make up the total number. Toronto needs more family friendly condos, and these larger units will help to address that, at least as far as this development goes.

75 on Esplanade won't go down as one of Toronto's architectural monuments, but it serves as a good example of the type of buildings that improve the city's streetscape.

Is a pro-Trump rally really happening in Toronto?

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trump rally torontoYou may have heard by now that there's a giant anti-Trump rally happening in Toronto this weekend. It's a peaceful protest happening at Nathan Phillips Square, but there's a chance that peace might be disrupted with a mysterious pro-Trump rally being organized.

Organized by a group called Torontonians for Trump, it's unclear whether the Pro-Trump Rally Against "Rally Against Trump" is a farce or if it's a serious thing. Nonetheless, the group claims a group of pro-Trumpsters will show up at City Hall coinciding with the peaceful protest on Saturday, November 19.

The group will gather to celebrate "Trump's glorious victory," and "defending the principles of democratic elections, and attempting to trigger some SJWs!"

The Facebook group is a mix of some very right-wing pro-Trump messages and people laughing at the entire idea of it all, so it's hard to tell how legitimate the rallying of this group will be.

Today in Toronto: Raptors Drake Night, Choir! Choir! Choir! Leonard Cohen, Dollhouse, Gavin James

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drake night raptorsToday in Toronto it's the third annual Drake Night at the Air Canada Centre. In 2015, there was a Hotline Bling box, but there's still no word on what surprises are in store for fans this year when the Raptors take on the Golden State Warriors tonight at the ACC.

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

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

Photo by Ron Turenne/NBA photos

Taiwanese dessert chain opening first Toronto location

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Meet Fresh TorontoIf you're searching for a new dessert place to try, there's going to be a lot to choose from by the end of this year and into 2017. Along with a new spot for ooey, gooey cheese tarts, Toronto will soon be home to Canada's first Meet Fresh location.

Meet Fresh is a popular chain from Taiwan. It sells an impressive roster of sweet treats, including dessert bowls with fresh taro balls, herbal jellies and shaved ice.

With its tagline, " Exquisite treats, teas and desserts," Meet Fresh also fills its menu with different types of tea as well as the delicious-sounding whipped cream tea.

Meet Fresh already has outposts south of the border in California, but it'll open up in Toronto some time next month at 5315 Yonge Street, next to the Captain's Boil.

Photo via the Meet Fresh Facebook page.


Downtown Toronto gets a giant subterranean food hall

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Saks Food HallThe wait is over for downtown Toronto's first big food hall. Found across from the Eaton Centre underneath the Bay and Saks Fifth Avenue there's lots to indulge in here including pizza by the slice, salad, gluten free baked goods, fresh meat, cheese, fruit, vegetables, chocolate and more.

Read my profile of Saks Food Hall by Pusateri's in the grocery section.

Where NHL hockey players go to eat in Toronto

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e11even TorontoWant to eat where visiting and hometown hockey players hangout when they're not at the ACC? This restaurant caters to the sports crowd but also serves some surprisingly indulgent classic North American cuisine. Big juicy cheeseburgers topped with creamy coleslaw, maple sherry double cut bacon and cask cocktails reign supreme at this Toronto heavyweight.

Read my profile of e11even in the restaurants section.

This dazzling festival of lights is just 30 minutes north of Toronto

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uxbridge fantasy of lightsAs we inch closer and closer to holiday season, it seems like there are endless ways to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year. You can stay in the city and visit the Toronto Christmas Market or the Holiday Fair at Nathan Phillips Square, or do something more small-scale by checking out a local craft market.

But if you're looking to get away from the city, why not take a drive to one of the many festive light shows happening in towns - both big and small - all across southern Ontario? There's a massive one in Niagara Falls and one with 100,000 LED lights in Cobourg, but the closest of all is just north of the city in Uxbridge.

For the past nine years, the Optimist Club of Uxbridge has been putting on the Fantasy of Lights events. It works with community partners to transform beautiful Elgin Park into a winter wonderland. The first year there were only 12 light displays, but this year this will be well over 50.

The festival runs from December 10 to January 1 and you can see all of the twinkling displays either by car or on foot. Best of all, Fantasy of Lights is free to attend.

Photo via the Fantasy of Lights.

Giant hands to be installed on Toronto's waterfront

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waterfront art torontoIt may not be cold outside yet, but we all know, winter is coming. And while you might want to hibernate until at least the end of March, there are few reasons for you to step outside, like this brand new free art show happening on Toronto's waterfront.

Ice Breakers, by the Waterfront Business Improvement Area and the team behind the immensely popular Winter Stations, will run from January 21 to February 26, 2017. It'll include five art installations located at various points along the waterfront from Yonge to Bathurst.

"The Waterfront is one of Toronto's busiest communities in the summertime but, like The Beach, it can be under-appreciated as temperatures drop," says says Roland Rom Colthoff, principle at RAW design and a Winter Stations co-founder in a news release.

"Like Winter Stations, Ice Breakers is an interactive celebration of public art. We want to nudge Torontonians back outside and inspire them to keep engaging with the city."

The name Ice Breakers is a nod to the event's winter theme as well as the ships that used to break up the ice around the Toronto harbour. It also hints at the fact that like an ice breaker game, art can bring people together.

And if you want to get together to see even more art outside, you can head to the Beaches for Winter Stations, which transforms lifeguard stands, from February 20 to March 27, 2017.

As for Ice Breakers, along with the giants wooden hands (or "Tailored Twins") by Ferris + Associates stationed at the Peter Street Basin, here's what you can expect to see by the waterfront starting on January 21.

waterfront art toronto"Leeward Fleet" by RAW, Canada Square at Harbourfront Centre

waterfront art toronto"ICEBOX" by Polymetis at HTO Park

waterfront art toronto"Winter Diamonds" by Platant at Music Garden East

waterfront art toronto"Incognito" by Curio Art Consultancy and Jaspal Riyait at Rees Street Parkette

The 5 worst things about using PRESTO on the TTC

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Presto TTCThe PRESTO rollout has reached far and wide across the TTC system as the end of 2016 comes near. With card readers and fare gates available at over 50 subway stations and almost all surface routes, it's finally become possible to ditch tokens. But, the transition hasn't been without headaches. Glitchy machines and a slow online fare reloading process are common complaints for users.

Here are the five worst things about being a PRESTO user in Toronto right now.

1. Waiting for up to 24 hours when you've reloaded your card online. That's just too long in 2016 and a major inconvenience if you use a station entrance without reload machines.

2. Reliability! There's been well documented problems with PRESTO card readers on buses and elsewhere, which is a significant deterrent for many considering the switch to only the green card. Who wants to carry back-up fare?

3. Double billing! It's frustrating when glitches in the system don't allow you to use the card as a transfer when travelling from surface routes to stations without bus bays or streetcar platforms.

4. Negative balance fees. It's actually nice that you can use overdraft to make one last ride if your balance is too low, but the 25 cent fee just gets annoying after it happens a few times.

5. No fare passes or automatic caps. The good news is that this is on the way for 2017, when the Metropass discount plan will be available on PRESTO cards, but the delay in implementation means that heavy TTC users are penalized for using PRESTO right now.

Did we miss something? Add your frustrations in the comments.

Photo via PRESTO's Facebook page.

Massive new park at Ontario Place will open next summer

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Ontario PlaceThere's life at Ontario Place. Aside from the peek that we got at the dilapidated grounds for the in/future festival, there's been little news about the site's future outside of delays to the opening date of the urban park that will make up phase one of the revitalization efforts.

Ontario PlaceProvincial representatives gave tours of the construction site today, which is slowly starting to reveal the shape of the park to come. The new opening date is now pegged at next summer, a more realistic goal based on the amount of work that's been done thus far (the original target for phase one was 2015).

The 7.5 acre waterfront park will have a variety of features when it opens to the public, including granite rock faces that'll provide skyline views, a central fire pit, a waterfront trail, a boardwalk and an open-air pavilion. It all looks very promising, even as the rough outline is only coming into view now.

Ontario PlaceAbout 1,200 trees and plant species still need to be planted to fill the park in and to provide shade in the future. It will be sometime before the next phases of the revitalization effort take place, but it will certainly help when people can use this highly valuable waterfront site again. Ontario Place officially closed at the end of the 2012 season.

Drake freaks out over amazing David Blaine magic trick

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drake david blaineDo you believe in magic? Well, Drake and his friends might after seeing David Blaine perform up close and personal.

Blaine wowed (and also grossed out) Drake - along with a group that included superstar comedian Dave Chappelle and Golden State Warriors point guard Steph Curry - at the rapper's party during NBA All Star Weekend in Toronto earlier this year.

In this short video, which has finally seen light of day, the magician regurgitates three live frogs into champagne glasses; Drake looks nauseous throughout the entire trick - as do some of his party guests.

The clip was part of Blaine's latest television special Beyond Magic, which premiered last night.


Loblaws reducing food prices at Toronto stores

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Lobaws food prices torontoYou'd never call Toronto a cheap city, and grocery shopping isn't always easy here, especially since food prices seem to be climbing at stores across the city. But there's good news if you shop at places like Loblaws and Metro. That's because prices might be coming down.

Food prices haven't been growing as much, especially in comparison to last year. As the Canadian Press reports, inflation was particularly high in the third quarter of 2015 (nearly four per cent), and during that time, customers started reaching for cheaper products. So, the massive chains had to make some changes.

"We're reducing prices to see if we can draw the customer back in," said Galen G. Weston, the executive chairman and president of Loblaw Companies Ltd. Just how much of a discount consumers will see is unknown, but any decrease in prices will surely come as music to Toronto shoppers' ears at this point.

Will lower prices entice you to shop at Loblaws? Let us know in the comments.

Toronto panorama of 1910 reveals massive change

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panorama 1907 TorontoThe most famous panorama of Toronto was taken in 1856 by civil engineering firm Armstrong, Beere and Hime from atop the Rossin House hotel at King and York streets, but it's not the only image that offers a detailed snapshot of what the city was was like in the past.

In 1910, the photography firm known as the Panoramic View Company of Toronto ascended to the roof of the Trader's Bank Building at Yonge and Colborne streets, then the tallest building in the British Commonwealth, to capture the city's harbour. The resulting image is a wonderful visual document of Toronto just after the turn of the 20th century.

The Trader's Bank Building is visible in the far background of an earlier panorama from 1907 (top photo), which faces northeast and covers some of the same territory, though the view is not quite as wide.

1910 panorama TorontoYou could spend hours carefully identifying the various elements and buildings documented in the panorama (click the photo for a larger version), but a few things are particularly noteworthy. The first is where the inner harbour is located. There's not much land south of Front Street and the railway tracks. It will be another 15 years before the city does major work to fill in the harbour.

Speaking of the railway, the huge vacant lot at the centre-right of the photo awaits the construction of Toronto's third Union Station, the one we still use today. You can see Union Station II at the far right of the panorama with its distinctive domed towers. It would eventually be demolished when its replacement opened for business.

1910 panorama TorontoPanning over to the far left of the image, you can actually see the distinctive roof of the Trader's Bank Building. To the south of it are the Gooderham and Worts Distillery buildings, which are located right along the water. A bit further west, you can see the sprawling south building of the St. Lawrence Market, which had been rebuilt a few years earlier in 1904.

1910 panorama TorontoThe row buildings of Front Street then lead us to the centre of the image, where you can see the gorgeous roof of the Board of Trade Building, which used to serve as the TTC's headquarters, among other things. The steamships at the foot of the city are not ferries to Toronto Island, but rather ships destined to travel across Lake Ontario.

1910 panorama TorontoOn the right of the image, you can see some evidence of new buildings, which would have been erected following the Great Fire of 1904. Note the water towers above them, which were designed to be a fire prevention measure in the wake of the destruction just a few years earlier.

If you compare this panorama to the one taken in 1856, the amount of change is remarkable, to say nothing of how much the city has transformed since then. It would be amazing to have images like these from each decade of the city's past, but unfortunately they are few and far between. We should appreciate the ones that remain all the more based on this scarcity.

Panorama from the Library of Congress. Lead photo from the Toronto Public Library.

The top 21 walk-in clinics in Toronto by neighbourhood

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Walk in clinics TorontoToronto walk-in clinics can be hit or miss, so you need to know where to find a good one for when you'll need its services the most. Not all clinics are the same - some keep later hours, or are open weekends, while others specialize in certain types of conditions or treatments.

Here are my picks for the top walk-in clinics in Toronto by neighbourhood.

ANNEX
With services ranging from STD testing to treating minor emergencies, Downtown Doctors on Spadina is a reliable option. They also have an on-site lab to offer quick testing results and offer service in English, French and Spanish. They're open Monday to Saturday.

BEACHES
Services at the Beaches Family Practice include minor surgery, medical tests, flu shots, lab access and ear syringing. Hours range depending on physician availability so they suggest you call ahead to check availability and wait times.

BLOORDALE
RollCare Medical Services is located near Bloor and Lansdowne and offers walk-in service on weekdays only. They also have a pharmacy for any prescription needs.

CHURCH WELLESLEY VILLAGE
Carlton & Church Medical & Walk-In Clinic is located in the Loblaws at Maple Leaf Gardens and operates seven days a week. They provide a variety of services, including casting, allergy shots, and travel medicine.

CORKTOWN
Sumac Creek Health Centre is available for walk-in service six days of the week, with the off day being Saturdays. They're located just off of Dundas for convenient access to basic medical services.

THE DANFORTH
On top of conveniently being right next to Broadview station, Albany Medical Clinic is open every day of the week - including holidays. They provide x-ray services, physiotherapy, ultrasound, and have an on-site pharmacy.

EGLINTON WEST
Upper Village Walk In Medical Centre is a walk-in at Eglinton and Bathurst that's open Monday to Friday and offers general practitioner service whether you need help with an ear ache or a sore throat.

ETOBICOKE
Cloverdale Walk in and Pharmacy offers walk-in hours from Monday to Saturday and an on-site pharmacy. This is a great option in the west end for dealing with any minor injuries or illnesses and filling timely prescriptions.

FINANCIAL DISTRICT
Patient Networks' walk-in clinic is located near the Eaton Centre and many corporate offices. Their website is definitely helpful as they have a wait time indicator, so you can check ahead of time to know if you're in for a long wait.

HARBOURFRONT
You can walk into the WellOne walk-in clinic between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. during any weekday. You can also book an appointment at the clinic, although make sure you're on time or cancel well in advance to avoid any fees. They'll treat any acute conditions but will only address one concern per visit.

HIGH PARK
Just a few steps from Keele station, Keele Station Medical has newly opened and offers walk-in services Monday to Friday. If you don't have a family doctor, their doctor's office is also currently accepting new patients.

LEASIDE
You'll be able to receive treatment advice in a bunch of different languages at East York Medical Health Centre including Gujarati, Hindi, Persian, Spanish and Tamil, to name a few. They're open later than most clinics on weekdays (until 8 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays) and are also open on weekends.

LIBERTY VILLAGE
With no appointment necessary, East Liberty Medical Centre provides a walk-in service for all ages. They have an on-site lab for quick test results. This clinic is open every day of the week and is open late during weekdays.

LITTLE ITALY
College Care Medical Walk-in Clinic offers a walk-in service Monday to Saturday and can provide service in Portuguese for minor illnesses and injuries for all ages including youth and children.

MOUNT PLEASANT
The Mount Pleasant branch of MCI the Doctor's Office is open every day of the week and is part of a larger network of clinics all over the GTA. They're part of a larger web of medical services such as chiropractic care, naturopathy and physiotherapy if you need a referral for extra care.

NORTH YORK
Aside from general walk-in care, Northtown Medical also provides flu shots, sexual health counselling and testing as well as skin examines. Their walk-in hours are short though, and they're closed on Fridays and Sundays.

PARKDALE
The list of services at Parkdale Walk-In Clinic at Queen and Lansdowne is pretty lengthy. Some services include driver's physical exams, wounds and burn treatments and baby exams. They have walk-in hours seven days a week.

SCARBOROUGH
Markham McNicoll Urgent Care Centre offers services such as blood and urine tests, x-rays, and a range of treatment for minor injuries. The clinic is open every day as well as on holidays including Christmas and New Years Day.

ST. CLAIR WEST
Good Health Medical Walk-In Clinic is located at St. Clair and Dufferin and is open Monday to Friday. Call in or just walk in to receive treatment with no referral required.

YONGE AND DUNDAS
Appletree Medical Centre is located centrally in the heart of downtown, this clinic offers walk-in services for treatment of minor injuries and illnesses. Plan your visit by calling ahead as their hours vary.

YONGE AND EGLINTON
Eglinton Station Medical Centre is just a quick walk away from Eglinton station. This clinic is open Monday to Saturday and offers solutions for a range of medical conditions. They are currently accepting new patients at their family medical centre if you don't have a family doctor and they offer flu shots for prevention during this flu-filled time of year.

Did I miss one of the top walk-in clinics in your neighbourhood? Let us know in the comments.

The Best Izakaya Restaurants in Toronto

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izakaya torontoThe best izakaya restaurants in Toronto are places where booze and creative eats go hand in hand. These Japanese gastropubs offer sharable dishes that help soak up the sake and beer while also providing an inviting atmosphere to unwind.

Here are the best izakayas in Toronto.

Today in Toronto: Salon Of Inclusiveness, Lucas Di Pasquale, Human Rights Film Fest, Wanderlust

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Toronto EventsToday in Toronto there is a lot to get up to including the third annual Salon of Inclusiveness. It's an event where Black Cat Gallery takes in art from all types of artists for the most inclusive art show the year. Every inch of the gallery is covered with art and everything is for sale.

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

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

Thanks to First Canadian Place for sponsoring this post

Photo from the Black Cat Facebook page.

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