Niagara Falls, Ontario is just a short drive away from Toronto. But if you head down the QEW at this time of year, you'll be greeted by an epic holiday light show as well as the usual crowds at the casino and on Clifton Hill.

But starting this Thursday, the Falls themselves are going to get even more exciting. That's because they're getting new LED lights, which will make the Falls much brighter than the previous xenon spotlights, which had difficulty cutting through the mist.  

This upgrade cost $4 million and is supposed to transform the Falls into a "world-renowned multi-coloured water and light masterpiece." With a palette of 1,800 colour combinations - thanks to the LED lights - Canada's most famous waterfall should look pretty spectacular when set aglow.

This new lighting system will be unveiled on Thursday, December 1 at 6:10 p.m. And if you're looking to do more than just stare at the Falls, there's plenty to do in Niagara as well as in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Free things to do in Toronto this December will help you say goodbye to a very turbulent 2016 with lots of celebrations, music, gatherings and most importantly, skating.

If you’re looking to score a detached home at Dundas and Ossington, you’re in luck. 118 Givins Street is a 4-bedroom, 5-bathroom home that has undergone a stunning renovation, and listed at $3,199,000, it’s a good thing the reno backs it up. 

The interior is refreshingly large, and the natural light from windows on either side of the home is a Toronto rarity -- especially in this neighbourhood. While the walls are bright white, the wainscoting and unique finishes add a European feel to this home. Regal wallpaper and intricate doorways encapsulate that feel, with the side yard capping it off with a grape vine trellis, apple tree and pond.  

The third-floor master bedroom is a nice escape from the rest of the home, with a built-in sauna in the ensuite and private sitting room and patio to truly get away. And if you’re looking for even more privacy, there’s a self-contained unit in the basement -- complete with kitchen, patio and a walk-out entrance. 

SPECS

• Address: 118 Givins Street
• Price: $3,199,000
• Lot Size: 131.67 x 30.00
• Bedrooms: 4 + 1
• Bathrooms: 5
• Parking: 4
• Taxes: $7,271.88 (2016)
• Walk Score: 67
• Listing agent: Alex Brott, Heather Hadden
• Listing ID: C3662414

NOTABLE FEATURES

• 3-car heated garage 
• 4,600 square feet 
• Porcelain feature wall 
• Self- contained lower unit with walk-out
• 10-inch hardwood floors throughout 
• Private patio off master bedroom
• Ensuite with built-in sauna

GOOD FOR

Someone that’s looking to live within walking distance to the Ossington strip. With Get Well, Dakota Tavern and Baby Huey in your backyard, there will be no Uber’s needed when moving the pre-party to a night out.

That, and you’re looking for some help to support the massive mortgage you’ll be paying. With a fully functioning basement apartment, complete with larger than most windows, you can rent it out to your friends who’ll be joining you on your Ossington bar crawl. 

MOVE ON IF 

You’d rather a bit more privacy for a 3-million dollar home. With the row of townhouses overlooking the patio on the master bedroom and side yard, you may feel as though you’re living in condo land.

That, and there’s plenty of interesting finishes in this home. You’ll either love or hate the regal wallpaper, black and white striped patio off the master bedroom and intricate woodwork adorning all interior doors. 

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS 

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

If you're scared of heights, this video will probably give you the heebie-jeebies. That's because Russian YouTuber and freerunner OlegCricket (or Oleg Sherstyachenko) performs some pretty scary looking stunts while atop a building in Toronto.

The video's part of a promotional campaign for the Swiss watch company Bomberg and the whole thing happens in front of Metro Hall.

Along with rooftopping in Toronto, OlegCricket climbs to the top of buildings in cities around the world and posts photos of his feats on Instagram as well as on YouTube.

Sherstyachenko first gained prominence through a series of photos in which he was captured dangling from tall buildings holding on only to the hand of his friend Ilya Bagaev. 

A photo posted by THE ONE (@olegcricket) on Jul 16, 2016 at 6:20am PDT

His stunts have diversified since then, though they continue to push the envelope when it comes to death-defying antics. His Toronto video isn't quite as epic as some of the others production-wise, but the stunts are just as stomach-turning. 

A photo posted by THE ONE (@olegcricket) on Jun 1, 2016 at 3:21am PDT

Toronto has lots of holiday light shows and festive events but none are quite like this. A Canadian Pacific railway train decked out in Christmas lights chugged its way through Toronto last night creating something like a scene out of a movie.

Hundreds of people lined the tracks near Runnymede and St. Clair to catch a glimpse of the dazzling train. Not only was the train a show in itself but onlookers were also treated to live music as the train passed through.

If you weren't able to catch the festive train in action here's what you missed.

A photo posted by CNA Photography (@cna_photos) on Nov 29, 2016 at 4:58am PST

A photo posted by Andre von Nickisch (@vnr.photography) on Nov 28, 2016 at 10:30pm PST

A photo posted by CandidToronto.com (@candid_toronto_blog) on Nov 29, 2016 at 7:22am PST

A photo posted by Cristian Hdz (@cmhh11) on Nov 28, 2016 at 7:50pm PST

A photo posted by Heather (@heather_diann) on Nov 28, 2016 at 6:43pm PST

A photo posted by Sandy Costa (@sandymcosta) on Nov 28, 2016 at 5:57pm PST

A photo posted by @beerkahuna on Nov 29, 2016 at 5:10am PST

A photo posted by P (@_shunen) on Nov 28, 2016 at 11:01pm PST

A photo posted by Alex Coleman (@amc1458) on Nov 28, 2016 at 8:29pm PST

A photo posted by Katie G (@katiecrew) on Nov 28, 2016 at 5:52pm PST

Restaurants to take your best friend on their birthday range in price, food, neighbourhood and vibe, but they're all great spots to celebrate your everlasting friendship over drinks and snacks. Whether the night is on you, or you're spitting the bill these five spots could easily become a yearly tradition. BFF4LYFE!

Here are my picks for the top restaurants in Toronto to take your BFF on their birthday.

Mamakas

This Greek taverna on Ossington is perfect if you want your BF to feel classy without breaking the bank. Also make sure they haven't eaten before you go, you'll both want to eat every delicious morsel on the menu. Lots of fun apps, beer and colourful mains will have you stuffed, then head out onto Ossington for a nightcap afterwards.

Imanishi

Take your best bud out for some Japanese home-style cooking, share a bunch of plates, have a sake cocktail and stay for hours. This Dundas West restaurant is that comfortable, welcoming and one of the city's hottest right now. The perfect spot for catching up just the two of you or with a couple more pals in tow. 

Pai

Head down the stairs of this King West Thai restaurant and if you're lucky, have a seat on the floor. Sitting on pillows of course, it'll bring you and your BF back to good old slumber party days. There's a private dining room that seats 22 if you need to have a big party, but if it's just the two of you grab all the snacks and starters and start gabbing. 

Gusto 101

Gusto just won't quit, much like your friendship! The easy going Italian eatery inside an old car garage features simple country dishes, a great, affordable wine list, room for large-ish groups or perfect for smaller ones. The crowd is always happening, so you'll have lots to see and talk about over birthday drinks and their house-made bread.

Cafeteria

Best friends like to contrast, compare and come up with solutions to life's problems together, right? That's what this College street taco spot from the Playa Cabana empire does by way of tacos. They have a really fun variety on the menu, a great selection of tequilas and a fun, roomy spot to hang and talk for hours. 

Thanks to Baci Perugina for sponsoring this post

Toronto's a food delivery service hub. If you don't feel like cooking or leaving your apartment to grab a meal, you can easily get one delivered right to your doorstep. But there's one popular delivery service attracting a bit of controversity today.

On the r/Toronto subreddit, one Redditor posted that UberEATS was slashing payments for its couriers (or "partners") by 30 to 50 per cent. 

The thread gained substantial traction on Reddit as well as on other social media sites.

According to the Redditor, here's how payments are changing.

Old UberEATS payout terms: Time = $0 per km Distance = $1.80 per KM -35% Uber deduction Flat rate = $6.50 - 35% Uber deduction

New UberEATS payout terms: Time = $0 per km Distance = $1.05 per KM - 35% Uber deduction Pickup = $2.90 - 35% Uber deduction Drop off = $2.50 - 35% Uber deduction

The Redditor continues:

"Effectively if you as a partner got two delivery orders at one restaurant, you would be paid a flat rate fee each of them. Now you are only paid ONE pickup fee. That is a major part of the pay going down. Multiple pickups are common and it actually ends up costing customers time. Think of it like UberPool. I pick up two orders, I get told to dropoff whichever one is closest, and the second order arrives late and cold. So the general fee that someone can earn has gone down from $6.50 to $5.40 a reduction of about 16%.

"The amount you are paid for distance has gone down from $1.80/km to $1.05/km a reduction of more than 40%. Once you do the math over a whole bunch of orders and factoring in the losses from no longer getting paid for double orders it's about a 30-50% pay cut."

In a statement to the Canadian tech website BetaKit, Uber Canada confirmed it was introducing a new delivery fee boost system for UberEATS, writing that delivery fees are made up of three parts: a pickup fee, a drop off fee and distance fees.

"Uber will be introducing a ‘Boost’ function, which will see delivery partners’ fares multiply depending on when or where they deliver; when an Uber driver picks up an order at a restaurant, they receive a boost multiple for the zone that the restaurant is in," reads the statement. "Uber ridesharing services won’t be affected by the changes."

Photos showing purported UberEATS couriers standing outside of Uber's Toronto headquarters holding cardboard signs that say "Uber Cheats" have surfaced on Twitter. As Global News reports, some drivers are staging a small protest outside of the Adelaide Street West building.

Uber Eats drivers in #Toronto protest; say company has slashed their earnings overnight. Say service will suffer. pic.twitter.com/HNMfCOlOk0

— Seán O'SheaGLOBALTV (@ConsumerSOS) November 29, 2016

We've reached out to Uber for comment, but at press time, have yet to hear back. 

These reported changes come at a time when the food delivery market in Toronto is undergoing a bit of a shake up. Earlier this year, UberEATS stopped its instant delivery service and Feast - the independent fresh meal delivery company - pivoted and will soon offer its food in vending machines instead of bringing it directly to its customers. 

Toronto's early visual record is best known for the set of photographs taken by the firm of Armstrong, Beere, and Hime in 1856. They were taken to help showcase the city to Queen Victoria, who was set to choose the national capital. While she ultimately decided upon Ottawa, the photographs remain one of the most important pieces of our visual legacy.

They are not, however, entirely alone in depicting early colonial Toronto. One of the other key documentarians of Toronto in the 19th century was Ocatvius Thompson, a photographer who operated a studio in the city between 1864 and 1868. His book "Toronto in the Camera: a series of photographic views of the principal buildings in the city of Toronto" contains over 40 images of the fledging metropolis.

Octavius Thompson, Great Western Railway Station at Yonge and Esplanade, 1867

The book is primarly interested in capturing the city's architectural monuments of the time, most of which are churches and banks, schools, and government buildings. Collectively, they provide a superb view of what Toronto looked like 150 years ago. 

You'll notice a lack of people in the images. This was both intentional (the focus is one the buildings) and a result of the long shutter speeds required by early cameras and film. People who were moving along the street would disappear or "ghost" on the exposed film. 

Many of the buildings depicted in these photos have been lost over the years, but some important ones remain, like Osgoode Hall and University College at the U of T. If you squint your eyes, the streetcapes of Yonge, King and Wellington seem vaguely recognizable thanks to the few buildings that do remain. 

Toronto in the Camera is not readily available, though copies of it are held by the Toronto Public Library, the Archives of Ontario, and the Thomas Fisher Rare Books Library, who has taken the time to digitize the whole book on its Flickr page. You can view all the photos there.

Octavius Thompson, St. Lawrence Hall at King and Jarvis streets, 1867

Octavius Thompson, Osgoode Hall, 1867

Octavius Thompson, Trinity College, 1867

Octavius Thompson, Univeristy Buildings, 1867

Octavius Thompson, City Bank of Montreal at Bay and Wellington, 1867

Octavius Thompson, Rossin House Hotel at King and York streets, 1867

Octavius Thompson, Provincial Lunatic Asylum at 999 Queen St. West, 1867

Octavius Thompson, Richmond St. Methodist Church, 1867

Octavius Thompson, Wellington St. looking east from Leader Lane, 1867

Octavius Thompson, King St. looking east toward Victoria St., 1867

Octavius Thompson, College Gates at Queen and University, 1867

Octavius Thompson, St. Andrew's Presbytrian Church, 1867

Octavius Thompson, Upper Canada College, 1867

Metallica is in Toronto tonight to play a charity concert at the Opera House in support of the Daily Bread Foodbank. Tickets were nearly impossible to snatch up, but after-market tickets were surprisingly easy to get your hands on thanks to one web site.

When tickets went on sale last week, they were first available for $25 to members of the Metallica fan club and then $100 for the general public, but they sold out in minutes. So how is it that one web site, TheTorontoOperaHouse.com, was selling individual tickets - some for as much as $1,588?

Opera House general manager Athena Ellinas-Towers says she hopes fans didn't buy any tickets from the site.

The venue's been aware of the web site for some time, but if concert-goers show up to pick up tickets purchased from this site they'll be denied entry. 

The Opera House only honors tickets purchased through official ticket vendors like Ticketfly.

The Opera House has posted messages to their social media accounts trying to alert would-be ticket buyers of the situation.

NOTICE: OUR VENUE IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH https://t.co/vzGQMCeSvt THIS IS A FAKE SITE! https://t.co/51TRyz343Z

— THE OPERA HOUSE (@OPERAHOUSETO) November 23, 2016

We reached out to TheTorontoOperaHouse.com for comment but were unsuccessful. We'll update this article if we hear back.

The top events in Toronto this December will leave you dizzy because they're so big and all over our city's map. Everything from music festivals to Harry Potter on stage will keep you warm, entertained and Christmas-ified. Also, don't miss these free events.

Today in Toronto there are bunch of very good concerts; it’s a full Wednesday to turn it up to 11 if you want to. Most notably, Wintersleep makes a big return now that their album is due early 2017. The Nova Scotia rockers take over the Danforth Music Hall for one night only.

There's nothing like summer in Toronto. It's a time when things really heat up all over town, especially on TTC subway cars.

If you took Line 2 this past summer, you probably got into a sweltering car and schvitzed your way across the city. Things got so bad that Mayor John Tory even accepted a rider's challenge and rode the length of the line just to experience what it was like for daily commuters.

According to a new TTC report, there was a dip in customer satisfaction during the third quarter of the year, or between July and September. Customer satisfaction dropped to 70 per cent, down 10 per cent from the previous quarter. 

"The significant decrease in Q3 can be linked predominantly to the ‘hot subway car’ issue that affected around 20 per cent of subway cars this summer on Line 2. Customer satisfaction on Line 2 fell significantly," reads the report. 

As Metro writes, the TTC is working to fix these AC-related problems so that Line 2 isn't so sweltering next summer. 

The best seafood restaurants in Toronto are a testament to the eclectic wonders of marine protein and its myriad unique flavours and textures, whether poached, roasted, boiled, raw, or butchered or shucked right before your eyes. Humble fish and shellfish are transformed into indulgent masterpieces at these oyster bars, lobster houses, crab shacks and elegant eateries.

Here are the best seafood restaurants in Toronto.

You don't need many photos to demonstrate the dramatic change the Toronto shoreline has undergone over the last 200 years. Unlike the gradual development of the city's skyline, the expansion of Toronto's land mass into the lake has come in huge spurts.

Toronto Waterfront 1818.

Going back to the early 19th century, Toronto was every bit a waterfront community. You would have been able to see the lake from pretty much everywhere. As the 20th century neared, however, the first reclaimed land pushed the shoreline south as the city also grew north. Looking at images from 1818 to 1893, you can see that much of the land south of Front St. didn't exist when the city was first settled.

Toronto waterfront in 1893.

The big change, however, took place in the 1920s when the Harbour Commission actively filled in a huge chunk of the original harbour, creating much of the city that exists south of the Esplanade and Union Station. The difference between the shoreline in 1918 and 1938 is, in a word, remarkable. 

Toronto Waterfront 1918.

In the period of about a decade, the city had grown by 500 metres south. Much of this land was completely empty when it was first created, but it wouldn't take too long before the city grew upon it.

Toronto Waterfront 1938.

The primary change to the waterfront following this massive expansion is the gradual loss of the piers and ports in the 1960s and '70s. While development has occured at a fever pitch since then, the actual shape of the shoreline has remained mostly intact. 

Toronto waterfront in 1967.

There have been numerous wild plans to alter our waterfront even more, including the complete redevelopment of the Toronto Island into a residential community connected to the mainland. For better or worse, however, the footprint of the central part of city has remained consitent for the last few decades even as its gron vertically. Still, it's worth remembering just how much of it is built on reclaimed land.

Toronto waterfront 1990.

The top parties in Toronto for December will let you dance your way into the holidays, but they also make it easy for you to ignore them altogether. Tim McCready's giant house party and Gladstone Hotel takeover is definitely a highlight and something really different on the scene. 

The holiday season is fast approaching and we've teamed up with Samsung Canada to give one lucky reader the ultimate #GALAXYLIFE prize package. Want a chance to win it?

Check out all the contest details here.

Beer lovers in Toronto have a lot to be happy about this holiday season. All across the city, we've seen an influx of new breweries and bars and there are plenty more on the way. That means there are lots of great beer-related presents for you to choose from.

Here are 10 holiday gift ideas for the Toronto beer lover in your life.

Fancy bottle openers

These bottle openers by House Doctor from the Drake General Store are $24, but they'll elevate your loved one's drinking experience. Put away the red cups and plastic keychain openers and drink some beer in style.

Beer festival tickets

Beer festivals aren't just a summertime activity in Toronto. In fact, one of the most popular events happens outside in the dead of winter - pretty Canadian, eh? Tickets to Steam Whistle's Roundhouse Winter Craft Beer Festival, with 40 breweries and cideries, are $25 each.

Upcycled growler carrier

Let your favourite beer lover lug around their growlers in style with this industrial-looking carrier handmade by Toronto's Pipe and Wood Designs.

Nerdy giftcards

If you want to impress your favourite beer nerd, or nerdy beer lover, top off their gift with a card from the Chemist Tree - they'll definitely drink and beer merry with one of these.

The ultimate coffee table book

The 150 Years of Canadian Beer Labels book celebrates Canada's sesquicentennial (150th birthday) by highlighting our country's sudsy history. This one's for history and design buffs.

Seasonal home brew kit

If you know a homebrewer, let them whip up a seasonal batch of beer with this pumpkin beer recipe kit from Brooklyn Brewshop. You can grab it online from Toronto Brewing Home Supplies.

Beer soap

Aide Body Care makes beer soap, but don't worry, these products don't smell like a brewery. This handmade product comes infused with brews from either 5 Paddles Brewing Co. in Whitby or Manantler Craft Brewing Co. in Bowmanville.

Beer jelly

This beer jelly is vegan and apparently goes well with cheese, cured meat and smoked fish. There are a few flavours to choose from and it's all made with beer from local, Toronto-based craft brewers.

Beer tour

The Toronto Rail & Ale beer tour lets you explore the city's growing craft beer scene as well as its transit system. This excursion lets you taste and snack and you visit breweries in the centre of the city as well as in the Junction and the Junction triangle.

Commuter coasters

The TTC launched a new online shop just in time for Christmas and it's selling a set of 12 wayfinding coasters for $15.95. So be kind and let your beer loving friend set down their beer on a Toronto-themed coaster. 

Brought to you by Stella Artois, the perfect beer to serve your guests this holiday season.

Toronto really loves The Nutcracker. Not only has it been viewed by over one million people since 1995 at the National Ballet alone, but there are countless versions of it all over the city during December. From classical ballet to modern takes, there's a Nutcracker production out there for you, whatever your budget is. 

Toronto's slowly getting a new fleet of streetcars, and to match these swanky-looking vehicles, the city's new buses are getting a makeover too.

Earlier today, the TTC board approved the purchase of 285 new buses. The company Nova Bus will deliver 245 of them in 2017 and the remaining 40 in 2018.

As TTC spokesperson Brad Ross tweeted out, these buses - as well as rebuilt buses - will get a paint job that resembles the new generation of streetcars.

Meet your new bus livery. Matches new streetcar design. To be applied to new buses and rebuilds. pic.twitter.com/tnOjEKPQOA

— Brad Ross (@bradTTC) November 30, 2016

The new bus look, to be clear, will only be applied to newly-acquired buses and those buses that were rebuilt and needed a new paint job.

— Brad Ross (@bradTTC) November 30, 2016

In August, we reported that the buses were likely going to get a new, pared down design and colour scheme with deeper red tones. It looks like that's actually going to happen sooner than expected.

The $1000 apartment in Toronto can be an elusive standard. It wasn't so long ago that a prospective renter could feel confident that this number would secure a decent above ground apartment, typically a bachelor in amenity-rich neighbourhoods and often a one-bedroom away from the core. Those days have passed, but there are still pockets of the city where you might find such apartments if you have a little time to search.

Here are 5 Toronto neighbourhoods where you can still rent a decent apartment for $1000.

Davenport Village

Perhaps by virtue of its less-than-ideal transit situation (it'll take 15 minutes or more to walk to Line 2), rents in Davenport Village have remained mostly sane over the last decade. This bright bachelor is a decent indication of what's on offer here (a one bedroom in the same building is $1150) as is this nicely finished basement further west.

Pape Village

If you're the type that prefers a less hectic neighbourhood but still want to be close enough to the action of the Danforth, Pape Village is worth keeping tabs on. The neighbourhood is bustling with bakeries, cafes, and small businesses, and has excellent proximity to the Don Valley. One bedroom units in some of the brick apartment buildings in the area start at $850 and prices tend to climb as you head towards the Danforth, though are still decent listings to the south as well.

East Danforth

Those who like to be more proximate to a main drag would do well to check the listings that come up along the East Danforth. This up and coming neighbourhood has seen a nice increase in restaurants and small businesses over the past few years, but has remained atainable in terms of rent standards. Spacious bachelors can be found for well under $1000, while spending just a little over could get you a nice pad closer to Donlands.

The Upper Beaches

The real estate agents won on the naming of this neighbourhood, which is not particularly close to the beach, but it has a lot going for it, starting with reasonable rents. The stretch along Kingston Rd. is particularly lively, though it's getting more expensive as condos move in. For now you can rent a nice one bedroom here for a grand on the main strip. If you're willing to do the basement thing, you can get a bit closer to the Beaches.

Corso Italia

I love Corso Italia. It's far from the subway, sure, but the streetcar ROW is great (when it's not under construction) and the rent in this neighbourhood has yet to spike, despite all the amenties along St. Clair. If you're willing to head north towards Rogers Rd., you can rent a nice above ground spot for $1000, though a two bedroom basement closer to St. Clair can still be found for the same amount.