Plenty of holiday desserts and treats deserve of dollop of whipped cream. But you might need to forgo it this year thanks to a possible whipped cream shortage in North America.

"Whipped cream shortage looming just in time for holiday pie season"
The true tragedy of 2016.

— Kt ブラ (@kbrazz) December 21, 2016

As The Washington Post reports, two major companies - ConAgra (Reddi-wip) and Dean (which makes whipped cream for a number of labels) - expect that they won't be able to keep up with whipped cream demands this Christmas season due to a shortage of nitrous oxide (laughing gas) - it's the propellant that helps get the cream out of the can. 

There's a whipped cream shortage at Christmas? Damn it's also prime hot chocolate season.

— Robin Reeder (@robinreeder) December 21, 2016

Only two companies (Air Liquide and Matehson Tri-Gas), with multiple plants, supply nitrous oxide to the United States and Canada.

There was an explosion at the Air Liquide facility in Florida last August, which left one man dead and led to a federal investigation. Since then, that plant had to reduce its output, leading to shortages for food manufacturers.

As the Post writes, this issue is more widespread than just a lack of whipped cream. Instead, it points to the problems of concentration of power in food industry. 

On the bright side, it is possible to make your own!

The Toronto real estate market has already been deemed the hottest in the country, and now it's the least affordable too, having surpased Vancouver for the top spot according to RBC. 

According to the bank's "affordability measure," which takes into account a variety of factors like interest rates and housing inventory, the city hasn't seen a market this tough to buy in since early 1990, notes the Toronto Star.

At that time, interest rates were 14 per cent. Today they are 0.5 per cent. This affordability crisis, if you want to call it that, is all about housing scarcity. Skyrocketing prices based on low inventory, particularly for detached homes, is driving prices through the roof. 

RBC predicts that the trend will continue through next year, with housing prices continuing to rise. If there's a sliver of good news for would-be buyers, it's that the bank forecasts that the Toronto market will not match the 14 per cent price increase it anticipates will occur this year.

It's estimates that 2017 is more likely to witness a five to 10 per cent rise in prices. Don't get too excited. 

Free events on New Year's Eve are for those of us who don't feel like breaking the bank. They range from massive outdoor parties for big groups, to house party-style celebrations inside bars with no cover and cheap drinks.

located at Cineplex Cinemas Yonge-DundasWinter events and activities in Toronto prove we're a city that isn't afraid of the cold and despite this "hibernation" term floating around, there are a slew of major parties, events and festivals happening both inside and out.

Here are my picks for things to do this winter in Toronto.

Entertainment

Dance at the Solaris Music Festival

NYE has nothing on Solaris, a massive two-day electronic dance music mini-festival taking over the Rebel Complex on December 26 and 27.

Cheer on Team Canada 

The World Junior Hockey Championship is happening in Toronto from Dec 26 - Jan. 2 at the ACC and is a great chance to see some amazing up and coming talent for a fraction of the price of a Leafs game.

Go see a really good concert

Toronto is going to be spoiled with some pretty fantastic concerts in 2017, including big shows from The Flaming Lips, Kings of Leon, Ariana Grande and Bastille.

Check out a winter film festival

Since Hot Docs doesn't arrive until spring, why not see a flick at the Black Film Festival, 8Fest or CineFranco.

Have a night at the theatre

The Next Stage Theatre Festival runs from January 4 to 15 and celebrates 10 years of completely independent theatre getting to a bigger stage.

See the best bet bands of the new year

The Class Of ... music fest is so smart. They round up a bunch of bands set to makes waves in Toronto in 2017, all at The Silver Dollar from January 6 to 8.

See the top ten films in Canada

The 16th annual Top Ten Film Festival at TIFF celebrates and promotes contemporary Canadian cinema and screens the top films of last year from January 13 to 26.

Explore Toronto's coolest design event

The Toronto Design Offsite Festival takes over most of the city from January 16 to 22 and takes design and art out of the studio and into the streets and environments around us.

Check out a show at Toronto's newest theatre space

Crow's Theatre opens in January and it's the city's newest theatre space. You can find it at 345 Carlaw Ave., and catch a play, live poetry, a concert or an art show here. The schedule is already booked well into 2017, so pencil in this friend date now.

Party in a giant gallery

AGO's First Thursday parties take a break for the first couple months winter but come roaring back in February. Make sure to get tickets now.

Celebrate the year of the rooster with a symphony

TSO's annual Chinese New Year celebration pays tribute to the year of the Rooster in 2017 with Long Yu, artistic director of the China Philharmonic Orchestra and music director of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, leading the show on February 4.

See a show at an indie music fest

On Februay 18 and 19, Wavelength Music Festival fest takes over The Garrison for a Family Day weekend-long showcase of the coolest sounds from the underground.

Cozy up during a wintertime folk fest

The Winter Folk music festival runs February 17 to 19 and is a celebreation of blues and roots music at venues all over the city.

See a wild performance art show

The 37th annual Rhubarb Fest new works theatre festival at Buddies is always an extremely fun night out. From February 17 to 28, watch artists exploring new possibilities in theatre, dance, music and performance art.

Find your new favourite artist

The Artist Project Contemporary Art Fair is a good place to discover works of art from over 250 contemporary artists from Canada and abroad from February 24 to 26.

See some huge names in comedy

For some reason, Toronto struck gold with comedian bookings in 2017 as we welcome funny folks like Amy Schumer, Jerry Seinfield and Chris Tucker.

Binge watch the best docs

View some of the most buzzed-about documentaries during the Doc Soup series. There's also a special 8 hour screening on New Year's Day of the highly acclaimed O.J. Simpson documentary.

See a noisy concert inside Toronto's newest concert space

Baby G's is a grungy little rock club on Dundas West from the folks behind Sneaky Dee's and The Garrison and there's always something fun going on.

Learn what to wear in 2017

Toronto Men's Fashion Week returns March 3 to 8 at Maple Leaf Gardens so you can understand what wardrobe investments to make this year.

Outdoor Activities

Keep warm at Winter Stations

The weird and wonderful outdoor installation art project is back again this year to transform six lifeguard stands along Balmy, Kew and Ashbridges Bay beaches.

Improve your Instagram with giant outdoor art works

Stretching from Yonge Street to Bathurst, Ice Breakers is a series of giant art installations that'll be displayed along the waterfront from January 21 to February 26.

Rent a glorious chalet near Toronto

Need to get out of the city, but can't afford to take a flight? Rent one of these stunning winter chalets for you and your friends and relax in front of a roaring fireplace in the hills instead.

Go tobogganing and/or tubing with your pals

There are dozens of terrific toboggan hills downtown Toronto and seven amazing hills just outside of Toronto for tubing. What are you waiting for?

Party on the ice at DJ Skate Nights

The free skating nights at the Harbourfront actually have good DJs spinning different genres every Saturday night this winter.

Expand your mind and visit a surreal wonder

You don't need to drive half a day to experience a surreal wonder in Ontario. There are ice caves, frozen waterfalls and even a chance to see the Northern Lights nearby.

Go cross country skiing on a ghost island

Cross country skiing will let you explore the Islands without hoards of tourists. There are trails spread all across the Islands for cross country skiers so you can peacefully ignore the city for a couple of hours while working those glutes.

Have a weekend at a winter resort

Go beyond ski hills and hikes and spend the weekend at a full-out winter resort, some of which are near the slopes. Most have spa facilities and gourmet food options too.

Go ice fishing

Ice fishing destinations in Ontario can be found surprisingly close to Toronto, and it's a sport that's suddenly popular again. You can even rent a heated hut to upgrade your experience.

Take a walk in Toronto's national urban park

Hiking doesn't end in the fall, there's a whole other side of nature to see and you see it with guided walks in Rouge Park.

Take a cheap weekend getaway

Rent a yurt! Stay at a winter B&B! Go to a spa! There are all kinds of cheap winter getaways for you and your crew that are just outside of Toronto.

Indoor Activities

Practice at an indoor ski and snowboarding warehouse

Axis Freestyle Academy is Canada's first all-in-one, year-round Dryslope Freestyle Training Facility for Skiing and Snowboarding, so why not head over to the Vaughan location to practice before you hit the real hills?

Give your apartment a complete makeover

The 2017 Interior Design Show runs from January 19 to 22 and it's one of the country's top design fairs, packed with ideas on how to renovate or redecorate your life.

Quit everything and join a circus sideshow

Okay, maybe don't quit everything, but on January 21, you can head to the Mod Club for the Something Strange Circus Sideshow festival and live freak show and pretend for one night only.

Take a walk in a tropical paradise

If you're longing to see a bit of plant life, head to a place like Allan Gardens or the Centennial Park Conservatory to get your fill of flora and fauna.

Check out Toronto's fastest speed skaters

The Toronto regional speed skating meet on February 5 is a fast-paced day of amazing athleticism and competition and it's also totally free.

Smell a movie at Toronto's new 4D cinema
Located at Cineplex Cinemas Yonge-Dundas, this is the first of its kind in Canada and features 80 specially-designed seats that shake, vibrate and move along with the action happening on screen along with other sensory special effects.

Check out the hottest new cars on the market

From February 17 to 26, the Canadian International Autoshow happens at the Convention Centre where you can get up close and person with truck loads of cars that aren't even on the roads yet.

Hang out with your favourite superhero

Toronto Comicon 2017 runs from March 17 to 19, right before winter ends, and if it's anything like the last edition that happened at the Convention Centre, you're in for a wild weekend of nerdiness.

Food & Drink

Try all the city's best hot chocolate

There's the best hot chocolate in Toronto, and then there's epic hot chocolate. You're welcome.

Sip slowly at the Toronto Tea Festival

On January 28 and 29 float over to the second floor of the Toronto Reference Library and samples hundreds of teas at this fesival for tea lovers.

Try a new spot at Winterlicious

There are more than 220 restaurants to choose from and a bunch of new places this year at Toronto's annual prix fixe food festival happening from January 27 to February 9.

Drink beer in the great outdoors

The Roundhouse Winter Craft Beer Fest will not only be serving suds outside from February 10 to 11, but they'll also have a simulated curling rink, fire pits, local food trucks, ice carving, and an apres-ski dance party.

Sneak into one of Toronto's new hidden bars

Hidden bars and restaurants in Toronto are as elusive as ever, but they're out there just waiting for you to find them and make use of all the secret handshakes, coded knocks, and passwords.

Parties

Check out two major art openings

The Ryerson Image Centre (January 18) and The Power Plant (January 27) both launch their winter season and the former will unleash very cool shows all over Toronto exploring the ongoing struggles of people of colour.

Come up to my room and party

See how four floors of the Gladstone Hotel get transformed with site-specific, immersive art and design installations over four days at the Come Up To My Room art and design event from January 19 to 22.

Party in Long Winter's new home

Long Winter is a music party that's been running for five years and the Gladstone is its new home. On January 21, join dozens of musicians, artists and comedians for one big night of fun.

Celebrate Robbie Burns day in these pubs

Salute the Scottish poet and try out this dinner and scotch nosing, or this brewmasters dinner in his honour. Pubs all around the city pay tribute to the man on January 25, so stay tuned for way more listings.

Celebrate Chinese New Year

Lunar Fest on February 4 and the Bejing Symphony Orchestra performance on February 9 are two very public and colourful ways to celebrate the Year of the Rooster.

Get into Toronto's newest and largest party complex

RIP Sound Academy and hello Rebel, a new multi-room spot for massive concerts and even bigger dance parties with state of the art sound and visuals.

Say goodbye to Honest Ed's

The first, last and only event at Honest Ed's before it's demolished. This festival, which runs from February 23 to 26 will include a market, a dance party and a slew of multi-disciplinary programs

Today in Toronto everyone is getting into the festive spirit with holiday-themed dance parties and concerts, one of the biggest being a massive night of covers by some pretty great Toronto musicians at Lee's Palace. 

Toronto Restaurant Openings highlights the latest restaurant openings and closings in Toronto and also gives a preview of what's coming soon. Find us here every Thursday morning.

Open now

• Lake Inez, a new spot in Little India from the owners of The Wren, is now open at 1471 Gerrard St. E. It's serving up a menu of Asian-inspired sharing plates by chef Robbie Hojilla along with Ontario craft beers.
• Rollipub, the brick-and-mortar version of popular Asian fusion food truck Sushitto, has opened at 598 College St. in Little Italy. Along with sushi burritos, there are also sashimi nachos and kimchi poutine on the menu.
• The multicultural mosaic that is Kensington Market has added another cuisine to its fold: Persian kitchen Ashpazkhoune made its debut yesterday at 214 Augusta Ave.
• Paramount, the Lebanese franchise of restaurants that began in Mississauga, is rapidly expanding, having recently opened spots at 141 Spadina Ave. (at Richmond), in the FiDi at both Brookfield Place and First Canadian Place and with a Yonge & Eg outpost still to come.

Recently reviewed

• Hale Coffee
• Bodega Henriette
• Otto's Bierhalle
• Little Sito
• Hopper Coffee
• Homestand
• Lloyd's on Queen

Opening soon

• We already know The Halal Guysfranchise is coming to Toronto, but now we know exactly where and (approximately) when. The brand that originated as a popular NYC food cart will be opening at 563 Yonge St. (at Wellesley) early next year.

Closed

• French cafe and patisserie Le Neuf is no more.
• Japanese sandwich shop Teara Lab did not last long, and the space at 181 College St. looks like it will soon be replaced by a downtown location of Spicy Mafia.

Have you seen restaurants opening or closing in your neighbourhood? Email tips to editors@blogto.com

Toronto streets cleaned up a lot in the 1980s. At the outset of the decade, the seediness and soot that defined the 1960s and '70s was still readily apparent, but by its end the city seemed a whole lot more modern, thanks in no small part to the shiny new baseball stadium that appeared under the CN Tower.

In terms of visual icons, the 1980s marked the end of the line for the original red Gloucester subway cars (retired 1990) and the rise of the ALRV streetcars, which somehow remain a fixture on our streets today. The majority of cars were still as big as boats, but dimunitive models like the Chevy Citation and Toyota Tercel started to gain in popularity.  

One thing you'll notice about photos of Toronto during this period is that there are still large areas of industrial buildings and surface parking lots in areas that have now become densely populated areas.

It's almost shocking to see King Street West bereft of traffic until you realize that Liberty Village had yet to be developed and Massey Ferguson's factories still lined the street on either side of Shaw. When you add thousands upon thousands of people to these areas, it's not just the shape of the city that changes, but also the way it functions. 

The Toronto of the 1980s was an orderly place. Despite an early recession, it was a town where people were confident that they could buy a home. This was "the city that works" — a slogan that had a lot of truth to it.

It's as though Toronto had found a sweetspot in the 1980s. While it was a big city, it didn't face many of the growing pains we deal with today. The optimism and contentedness of the decade peeks through these photos.

Behold, the confident beauty of Toronto streets in the 1980s.

Yonge and Dundas. Avard Woolaver.

Queen and Shaw streets looking west. Unknown photographer. 

Looking toward Queen and Bay streets. Unknown photographer. 

World's Biggest Bookstore. Toronto Archives.

Kensington Market. Toronto Archives.

King and Spadina. Chuckman's Nostalgia. 

Dundas and Victoria streets. Avard Woolaver.

King near Shaw Street. Toronto Archives.

Looking across the Massey Ferguson lands on King West. Toronto Archives.

Liberty Village. Toronto Archives.

King looking west from Berkeley Street. Toronto Archives.

Dundas and Mavety streets. Avard Woolaver.

Traffic Jam on King west near Portland. Toronto Archives.

Looking east across King from Duncan St. Toronto Archives.

Keele just south of Dundas St. Avard Woolaver.

King and Simcoe streets. Toronto Archives.

Yonge and Temperance streets. Toronto Archives.

If you're one of the TTC riders who uses PRESTO to get around Toronto, you've probably had your fair share of problems with one of the reload machines located at various subway stations.

While Metrolinx previously announced it was investigating these faulty machines, the transit agency is now prepared to replace them.

Went to buy metropass; machine goes out of order as I'm using it. So I go to reload presto; machine also not working. #ttcpic.twitter.com/pKXIwxL8AH

— Candy Cane Ice Queen (@KristinEff) December 21, 2016

According to CBC News, Metrolinx is looking to patch up the software on the existing machines. If that doesn't work, it can roll out a fleet of second generation machines that are supposed to be a lot more reliable. 

There are currently 75 reload machines at Toronto subway stations. Metrolinx reportedly has 250 of these new generation machines and will be installing them at TTC subway stations next year.

The Toronto bar scene had a good year in 2016. While you may already be familiar with your new local watering hole, here's a guide to help you find someone else’s or simply catch up on these new additions.

Here are my picks for the top new bars in Toronto by neighbourhood.

Annex

One of the hottest new bars in the already booze-soaked Annex isn’t just a bar: Tilt is also an arcade. Play classic games like Asteroid or skee ball while downing a pint of local lager, and grab a vegetarian poutine to keep your energy up for all-night gaming.

Bloorcourt

What was once Wolf Like Me has now become Homestand, a bar but also an extension of Homestand Sports, a hip sports speaker series. Still run by the same folks as Tallboys and Wenona, local beers from Nickel Brook and Side Launch pair with fried mac n’ cheese, ribs, and sliders.

Bloordale

Brewery Blood Brothers exploded onto the scene not too long ago, and now they have their very own taproom on industrial Geary. Taps pour their own rich, smoky, funky, or refreshing beers such as Inner Eye IPA, and pepperoni sticks sell for a buck.

Church Wellesley Village

Striker Sports Bar sets itself apart not only by being an actively LGBTQ-friendly sports bar, something that shouldn't be as foreign a concept as it is, but also with a frost rail running the length of the bar that keeps your Coaches Corner maple bourbon cocktails cold all night.

Danforth East

The Dylan’s spirit-forward cocktails pay homage to Dylan Thomas and Bob Dylan. Scotch and whiskey lovers are sure to find something inspiring on the menu, and beer drinkers can ogle the giant beer fridge full of tall cans. Chow down on jerk wings and curry.

Dundas West

Every neighbourhood needs a good dive bar, and Swan Dive knows this so well they actually put the d-word in their name. Pool and straight-up drinks are on offer at this new hangout in an area known for its heavyweight bar scene.

East Chinatown

New bar Farside has less to do with Gary Larson and more to do with your perspective on life, or just your perspective on this place’s location if you’re on the other side of town. Chili Gonzalez and Forever 41 cocktails are served up along with pickled eggs and kimchi as well as birthday cake - even if it’s not the day you were born.

Harbourfront

Boxcar Social opened a new Harbourfront location this year, every bit as reliable and lovely as the original. This one has a huge number of beers, whopping capacity of 200, and a patio that overlooks the lake.

Junction

What goes better with booze than books? New Junction cocktail bar Famous Last Words not only has what is essentially a free library, a record player, and drinks named after your favourite titles, but went super hardcore with a menu that has a table of contents and a glossary.

Junction Triangle

Henderson Brewing is tucked away on Sterling, but Bloor West residents will know it well as a lifesaver of a bottle shop open late every day. They have an industrial taproom where you can see beer being made that smells delightfully of beer being brewed.

Kensington Market

El Rey Mezcal Bar is ready to school you on exactly what mezcal is and how to drink it. With this liquor gaining popularity fast, it’s a boon to Toronto drinkers, and it doesn’t hurt that you can chow down on ceviche and other high-end snack while you sample mezcal from one of over thirty-five on offer.

King East

Now I know some of you probably said, I know what goes better with booze than books: video games. Well, you’re not wrong, and this place is probably more your speed. Power Up Game Bar has an array of cocktails, beers, booths with consoles and an interactive dance game.

King West

Locals Only opened up below Home of the Brave this year, and while they don’t have a fried bologna sandwich, they are putting out an awesome menu of mini burritos, fried chicken bites and ceviche, as well as twists on Moscow Mules and Old Fashioneds.

Leslieville

Lloyd’s on Queen is named for the bartender from The Shining, and you can try a signature Jack Torrence cocktail here. Once you’ve downed a Jack-Nicholson-worthy number of those, you can crush a beef patty burger here too.

Little Italy

Though Little Italy is saturated with bars, they’re gonna have to move over for Birreria Volo, the new incarnation of Bar Volo which was forced to move out of its space recently. No sacrifices have been made, though, with an impressive bottle collection, alphabetic array of taps and modest snacks like sardines and lupini beans.

Ossington

Superpoint is the newest kid on the pizza joint block, but it has a whole other face in the form of SP184, a bar hidden in the back of the restaurant. You enter through the alleyway behind the place, and once inside you’ll be grooving to DJs and throwing back shots and cans of beer. On Fridays and Saturdays you can order from Superpoint’s menu.

Parkdale

Another bar on a mission to make mezcal your new favourite bevvy, Pretty Ugly is a mezcaleria in the front and a hip high-end cocktail bar in the back. Drinks like the Crystal Lake are topped with a stiff layer of foam and dried dame’s rocket, and their cocktail menu features ingredients that are foraged then carefully combined.

Port Lands

Port Lands’ largest venue has reinvented itself once again as Rebel, and it actually doesn’t suck. A Saturday club night lands you in a world of pricey bottle service and glass box dancers, but overall the powerhouse sound system, large capacity and several bars throughout the venue make it a fine place to take in a major act.

Queen West

Watson’s has it covered whether you want high-end scotch or a sugary cider, or whether you and a friend want to order from two different places on Foodora. They’ll let you get food delivered right to the restaurant, and provide sports on TV as well as board games.

Riverside

Apparently KT Bar was actually going to be named Kid’s Table, but they weren’t allowed to imply mixing bar service with minors. This sporty, casual spot serves frito pies along with draft beer.

Roncesvalles Village

New brewpub Bandit Brewery opened up this year, serving their own beers along with a menu of changing snacks and entrees. They host a ton of events designed to educate Torontonians on beer and food.

Rosedale

Clocktower Bar is another project from the folks behind Boxcar Social, boasting a chic cocktail menu of classics like Manhattans, New York Flips, and Negronis. A selection of cocktails is half-price every single day they’re open.

Upper Beaches

Bodega Henriette is a true bodega selling wholesome essentials like milk, eggs, and produce, as well as a combo cafe, restaurant and bar. They’re filling a lot of holes in the neighbourhood right now but they’re doing it well, even offering espresso Old Fashioneds that combine the best of both worlds.

Yonge and Eglinton

Good Fortune is the bar below La Carnita on Eglinton serving up drinks in a similarly brash style with names like Hella Fuego and one called Straight Flossin’ made with Dillon’s gin. 

Yonge and St. Clair

Don’t say we don’t take care of our gamers in this city: one more gaming bar takes the last spot on this list with eRaiders Sports Bar, where players of a slightly different nature can go to live it up. The huge number of TVs and PCs is the wow factor here rather than finicky cocktails or micro-brewed beer.

Toronto's bounty of themed bars will soon swell as Vancouver's so-called nerd bar mini-chain gets ready to expand eastward.

Storm Crow Tavern (and its sister spot Storm Crow Alehouse) describes itself as "the hottest nerd bar in Vancouver." It's dedicated to all things sci-fi and fantasy and features craft beer, a full menu and a giant Cthulhu sculpture.

We are looking to expand to the TORONTO AREA & we're looking for partners! Please get out the word to make it happen https://t.co/3w9jJe9D3E

— Storm Crow Tavern (@stormcrowtavern) December 22, 2016

On social media, Storm Crow recently announced it had its eyes set on Toronto and is currently looking for an investment partner. 

This partner would take up to a 49 per cent equity stake, be responsible for on-the-ground management and would ideally have experience in the hospitality industry. According to the posting, Storm Crow's also looking for someone who's, "dedicated to the nerd bar revolution! (card-carrying geeks preferred)."

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

In Vancouver, Storm Crow boasts an array of board games and hosts trivia, movie and TV nights, including popular Game of Thrones screenings where viewers all meow along to Ramin Djawadi's epic theme song.

It looks like winter is here, but Storm Crow is coming.

Weekend events in Toronto are a sign of hope that there's definitely something out there for everyone, no matter what time of the year it is. So don't feel alone, feel alive! Take yourself to the massive Gladstone Hotel culture explosion that is Tim McCready's House Party and you'll see what I mean.

There's a lot to be said for townhouse living in a city like Toronto. Not everyone enjoys the stacked experience of a condo tower, and multi-storey row houses almost invariably feel more homely than apartment-style units. 

Take, for instance, this townhouse at 570 Wellington St. It's not particularly remarkable from the outside, but an elegant interior design makes it a highly attractive alternative to a standard-issue condo in the heart of the city. 

It is, however, a bit quirky. Despite almost 1,500 square feet of space, it only has one bedroom. The area that would normally house a second bedroom has been converted to an open concept office, which positions this condo as an option for singles or a couple who isn't planning on reproducing anytime soon. 

There's not much outdoor space here — just a small deck — but given how gorgeous the kitchen and bathroom are, it's an alluring property. The wide angle photos here exaggerate the size of the towhnhouse, but given that it's targetted for one or two people, there's plenty of room to maneuver.  

SPECS

• Address: 570 Wellington St. #14A
• Price: $1,299,000
• Bedrooms: 1 (plus office)
• Bathrooms: 2
• Parking: 1 (underground)
• Maintenance Fees: $986.05
• Listing agent: Jesse Boyer and Amy Williamson
• Listing ID: C3673250

NOTEWORTHY FEATURES

• Walnut Millwork
• Steam room / hot tub
• Access to pool / gym
• Fireplace

GOOD FOR

An individual or couple who wants an urban paradise and isn't concerned about accommodating kids or visiting family members. This really is a gorgeous space, but it's not equipped to deal with overnight guests.

MOVE ON IF

You need more bedrooms. This is unique space given that there's only one sleeping area spread across three storeys. It'll be an ideal pad for some and not an option for others.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

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

The things that'll help you host an epic NYE party will make sure your event stands out from the rest. With these five ideas in action, your guests will throw your party all over social media, like confetti at midnight.

Fill your place with jumbo confetti balloons

Plain old balloons and handfuls of confetti won't cut it anymore. These giant balloons filled with confetti from Scout on Roncesvalles are made in Brooklyn and use high-quality latex and confetti inside. Pop the balloon to party!

Carve a custom ice sculpture

Don't just buy any old hunk of ice for your party, have Ice Boy carve a custom shape, person or message. Their in-house designer uses a 3D sculpting machine so it'll be accurate and as a bonus, they also make custom party luges if you need a clever shot dispenser.

Hire a pop-up food truck

Use this form at Torontofoodtrucks.ca to book a truck to come right to your front door, park outside and make sure your guests don't go hungry. There's a whole range of trucks to choose from depending on if you're in the mood for mac 'n cheese, fish tacos or poutine.

Have a serve-yourself cocktail fountain

Skip the counter filled with bottles and install a gold punch fountain. Instead of filling it with the regular stuff, spike it or serve endless gin and tonics. You can rent them for $75, but seem like a millionaire.

Create a personalized party poster

The print possibilities at Kid Icarus in Kensington are endless. You could print your very own NYE party poster, a postcard for everyone to leave with, or even a banner that says "get the hell out of my house at 12:01."

The top new Italian restaurants in Toronto uphold the reputation of the venerable cuisine that gives us some of our favourite comfort classics and upscale specialties such as airy thin-crust pizza, hearty handmade pasta, saucy meatballs, and meats, cheeses and olives for days.

Not to be confused with this pizza list, here are my picks for the top new Italian restaurants in Toronto.

Ufficio

Incredible Italian seafood like olive oil poached conserva di tonno and jalapeno and white wine glazed octopus stars at this refined eatery. Even their pastas incorporate ingredients like smoked trout roe. You know you can count on definitive Italian here with Craig Harding of powerhouse Italian spot Campagnolo as consulting chef.

Ardo

A family-driven restaurant that specializes in Sicilian cuisine, Ardo serves daily fresh meat and fish specials along with handmade gnocchi and pizzas topped with fior de latte, gorgonzola and wine-preserved peaches. Who could resist ordering a cocktail called Bison on a Vespa?

EVOO

Named for the extra virgin olive oil that many would likely agree is the backbone ingredient of Italian cooking, this place specializes in fine service and finer food. Start off with grilled salmon or sardine and move on to a menu of meat, fish and pasta in classic sauces, with beautiful seafood, or laden with slow-roasted leg of lamb.

Angolino

Translating literally to little corner or nook in Italian, this corner spot restaurant in the Junction Triangle near Dupont and Symington is bringing Michelin-tested Italian cooking to a slightly sleepier neighbourhood. Ragu pastas and classic spritzes come alive here.

Piano Piano

This chic new Italian restaurant wowed diners this year with a menu that’s just as epic as the classy and colourful design, featuring well-treated simple dishes like pizza, rapini and lamb. This is the newest project from the folks behind venerable Splendido, and so it makes sense that the name comes from an Italian phrase meaning “Slowly, slowly we go forward.”

It's supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year. But Grinder Coffee on Gerrard Street East hasn't exactly been reveling in the Christmas spirit.

That's because in the early hours of Saturday morning, the cafe was broken into. After a regular posted about the incident on the Facebook group I am a Leslievillian!, words of support started rolling in until last night, when a woman walked and offered to treat her neighbours to 100 free coffees.

“I nearly cried," says cafe owner Joelle Murray. "Especially after something like this happens, it’s an awful feeling." Along with paying for 100 coffees, the woman, who remains anonymous, also gave a large cash tip to the staff member who lost his shift because of the break in.

Since Grinder was about to close when this beverage benefactor walked in, it also gave out free coffee this morning and some customers continued to pay it forward.

"We were able to go almost even longer than the 100 cups of coffee," says Murray. While she's been frustrated dealing with insurance since the robbery, she's also trying to look on the bright side of this unfortunate scenario.

“We made the joke, we’re not going to let the bastards grind us down, pun intended," she says with a laugh.

And this random act of kindness certainly helped change the mood in her cafe. Each and every person who got a free coffee, she says, was genuinely surprised and many customers left tips for her employees. "No one took advantage of something that was easy to take advantage of."

One Toronto company is trying to revolutionize the way we move our stuff. This startup launched Fetchit, an on-demand service connecting those with vans and pickup trucks with users who have items to move.

CEO Matthew Karabela says he and his team came up with the idea last year because his co-founder used his pick-up truck to get part-time moving gigs via Kijiji.

“We’re like, you know what, there’s a market for this because looking at the moving section on Kijiji, you’ve got tons of pick-up truck and van drivers and you don’t know anything about them and the costs are all over the map. You never know what you’re going to get,” says Karabela.

Fetchit does criminal background checks on its drivers and has a structured rate system. Prices start at $39 and $49 for pick-up trucks and cargo vans. It's $2 per kilometre for the first 20 kilometres and $1.50 per kilometre for the next 20. Anything over 40 kilometres is $1 per kilometre. 

Each trips comes with 10 minutes of loading and unloading time - anything over that is $1 a minute. This means if you need to pick up and move a couch, you don't need to worry about schlepping it into your apartment yourself. 

You can schedule a move via the iPhone or Android app, but can also request a truck on demand. Karabela notes it's not "Uber-fast," but says Fetchit can usually provide someone within one hour and the company operates between Oshawa and Niagara Falls. Although Karabela notes most of the trips happen downtown.

Currently, Fetchit's looking to partner with SpaceIShare, another local startup that provides alternative storage solutions for Torononians. 

Florence Street is about 300 metres long, running from Dufferin to Brock just north of Queen. There's little remarkable about it at first glance, but if you stop to consider its odd hodgepodge of buildings and land uses, plus the sweeping northward curve near its western terminus, you get the sense that there's something intriguing about the place.

After you dig around and think about it for a while, you realize that this sensation derives from the fact that the street is a palimpsest of Toronto history. In that sense, it's like a living time capsule of the city's development, from a handful of workers cottages nestled beside the railway tracks to a new condo development that's on the way.

If you go back to 1884, Florence St. was half the length that it is now, ending just past Sheridan St. before it opened onto a plot of land facing Brock St. with a handful of buildings that would ultimately force the street to curve when it was extended west.

Where the street used to end is anything but arbitrary. When it was first laid out, Florence terminated at the westerly edge of park lot 29. The way in which neighbouring lot 30 was laid out didn't take into account the eventuality of the street running through it.

It looks quite strange now because the houses on the north side of the street west of Sheridan have way longer front yards than any of the others. After the street diverted north around the existing buildings, there just wasn't enough room to fit them next to the roadside, so they were set back by necessity. 

Little things like this remind us that the city's streetscape is always communicating its history so long as you know how to look for it. 

There's more to Florence St. than just its shape, though. Located, as it is, near the CPR tracks, the former industrial character of the south side of the street hasn't been completely wiped out. From parking lots filled with rusting cars to oddly placed buildings south of the street, this is a place that has yet to be entirely redeveloped and modernized.

Right now this gives the street a sort of forgotten quality, but that's going to change as Great Gulf moves forward with its Brockton Commons development, which will install 36 new townhouses on the street.

It's a development that fits well enough with the scale of other buildings in the area, but there's no doubt that it will alter the character of the street profoundly. There's already townhouses on the far west side of the street, but the section in question has offered a window to the industrial roots of the neighbourhood for decades. 

Still, even with the sanitization promised by these shiny new buildings, the presence of nearby 77 Florence ensures that the street won't all of a sudden become residential-only area. This lovely old warehouse-style building is home to an array of artist studios, small businesses, and lofts that add a diversity to the street that most lack. 

The upper floors here have a majestic view of the Toronto skyline hovering in the distance behind the messy railway lands in the foreground. It's a view from which someone could have watched the city's development boom grow outward. 

And now it's arrived here as well. 

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.

It's the most wonderful time of the year in Toornto to see big movies on big screens in big theatres, as they were meant to be seen. Put away your digital thingamajigs, tiny mobile screens, serial TV binges and pirated streams and reward your blessed gift of vision with a trip to the multiplex! 

Here are my picks for the top movies to see in Toronto theatres this holiday season.

LaLa Land

Jazzman (Ryan Gosling) and aspiring actress (Emma Stone) fall desperately in love in this lavish retrogression to the eye-popping studio spectacles of Hollywood’s glory days. The darling of this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, LaLa Land is pretty much laboratory engineered to be the most perfect Holiday movie ever.

Arrival

A linguistics professor (Amy Adams) races to crack the code of 12 gigantic spaceships which have landed on an Earth teetering towards global war. Esoteric Sci-Fi from red-hot Canadian director Denis Villeneuve who’s next film is a sequel to Blade Runner, and some deep issues to digest alongside your turkey and stuffing.

Moonlight

Three different eras of a man’s life growing up in the badlands of Miami are chronicled, defying all genre convention, including a bizarre but amazing soundtrack. Moonlight is the best kind of forward thinking, punch up the bracket cinema.  

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Rag-tag gang of rebels give their all to steal the plans for the Empire’s fierce new superweapon – the Death Star. Nothing new under the sun here, but the reality of a new Star Wars movie every Christmas is still a novelty, and Rogue One’s colorful narrative and visuals bode well for future spin-offs (plus it’s a masterclass in prequel etiquette.) 

Office Christmas Party

The brother (T.J Miller) of an uptight CEO (Jennifer Anniston) decides to throw a massive Christmas party in the hopes of landing a client, but the party soon spirals out of control. This season’s brainless yuk fest is sure to become a staple of every Christmas going forward, even though it out-grosses Bad Santa (literally and figuratively).

Manchester By the Sea

After his brother dies, Lee Chandler (Casey Affleck) must return to Manchester to look after his nephew while drudging up painful memories of why he left. Maudlin and sentimental but beautifully shot and performed, this one is sure to be on the Academy Awards short-list. 

Doctor Who: The Return of Doctor Mysterio

The Doctor (Peter Capaldi) must contend with a Superman-esq superhero that he encountered and influenced as a young child. This year’s Doctor Who Christmas special gets a rare big-screen outing for one night only, where there will no doubt be a festive mass of Doctor Who fans in costumes (Monday, December 26th at 7:00/9:30pm. Cineplex Cinemas Yonge-Dundas and VIP). 

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)

Captain James T Kirk (William Shatner) of the starship Enterprise must contend with a maniacal genetically modified soldier named Khan Noonien Singh (the unparalleled Ricardo Montalban) who is looking for revenge after being exiled to a dead planet. Still the best Trek film by a wide margin, and a stone cold classic of 80s Sci-Fi cinema. (Monday, December 26th at 9:00pm. Tiff Lightbox). 

Hockey Night (1984)

Girl power on ice! A brand new restoration of this local classic about a tough as nails female hockey player (played by Anne of Green Gables’ Megan Follows) who wants to join the boys team. Also stars Murdoch Mysteries’ Yanick Bisson, Rick Moranis, and the ever reliable Cancon doyen Maury Chaykin. (Thursday, December 29th at 12:00pm. The Revue).

The Poseidon Adventure (1972)

On New Year’s Eve, the passenger ship SS Poseidon is hit by a tidal wave at sea, and the survivors must journey through the flipped behemoth to escape. The grand-daddy of all disaster films is also the ultimate New Year’s Eve flick, best viewed with a rowdy crowd and a few seasonal cocktails. (Friday, December 30th at select Cineplex Cinemas). 

What did I miss? Please add your suggestions for new movies to see in the comments.

The top new Indian restaurants in Toronto have to contend with a lot of old standbys that aren’t likely to fall out of favour soon. But with inventive menus including creations like butter chicken mac n’ cheese and paneer lasagna as well as reliable favourites like coconut shrimp, curry and tandoori done excellently, these new restaurants are making a name for themselves.

Here are my picks for the top new Indian restaurants in Toronto.

Ji Restaurant

The same guys behind Pukka just down the road on St. Clair are also the people running Ji, a slightly more casual eatery that still serves Indian dishes but with some fusion twists like macaroni makhani and brisket poutine that edge the cuisine here into bar food. Local beers, great wines and cocktails like a tamarind margarita are also on offer.

Empire Grill

Not veering too far from the beaten path of Toronto Indian food, this is chef Balwant Rathour’s first restaurant of his own after working for many years in other Indian kitchens. Mouthwatering and mildly spicy butter chicken is a winner, and coconut shrimp and mango lassi are other typical knockouts.

Colaba Junction

This Bay and College spot is good for a grab-and-go or eat-in experience, a long communal table in the middle of the colourful space. Paneer lasagna is on the menu along with your thali, which is served on a beautifully unique crescent-shaped copper dish.

Lageez

This Scarborough joint uses their tandoor to cook some great breads and meats. They also do a creamy, luscious butter chicken, as well as saffron rice, samosas and spicy lamb vindaloo.

The Fat Beet

This new place combines Indian and Israeli cuisine with inventive dishes like pico flatbread sandwiches for lunch, quinoa salad and fluffy corn cakes.