MUSIC | X Avant VII: JP Carter and Andy Haas
The X Avant New Music Festival, which began on Friday evening, continues tonight, exploring the world of experimental music, with a specific focus this evening on the intersection of improvisation and electronic music. There is a relationship here that goes back several decades, and tonight's concert will investigate where things are at currently with two innovative artists: JP Carter and Andy Haas. Carter, a trumpet player who works extensively with electronics was the leader of The Millennium Project and a principal contributor to Dan Bejar's Destroyer, an album on the 2011 Polaris Prize Short List. Andy Haas, formerly a member of Martha and the Muffins, has been collaborating lately with John Zorn, Fred Frith, Thurston Moore, and other notables.
OCAD University (100 McCaul Street) 8PM $20 ($10 members/students)

BOOKS & LIT | The Democratic Imagination
This Is Not A Reading Series presents the launch of James Cairns and Alan Sears' "The Democratic Imagination" tonight at The Gladstone Hotel. This book traces the history of democracy, from ancient times to the present, and examines what the possibilities for "popular power" are in the future. Guest Ralph Benmurgui will join the authors in discussion, plus speakers John Grayson, Mary-Jo Nadeau, and Sedef Arat-Koc will share their views. Music will be provided at the event by DJ Peter Mitton.
The Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen Street West) 7PM $5 (free with book purchase)

FILM | Rue Morgue & Unstable Ground present LITTLE TERRORS short film event (Vol. 12)
Little Terrors is a monthly event presented by Rue Morgue & Unstable Ground where short horror films are screened. Tonight is the twelfth 'edition' of this series, and the theme is Brutal Visions. Attendees are promised two complete hours of gore, horror, and highly disturbing visuals, all delivered with the perfect economy that only a short film can provide. Films by Scott Hamilton, David Green, Ivan Villamel, Mac Eldridge, The Pierce Brothers, and many more will be shown, followed by a Q & A with some of the filmmakers.
MTL Carlton Cinema (20 Carlton Street) 9PM

BOOKS & LIT | Descant Magazine Fall 2012 Launch
Descant launches its Fall 2012 issue tonight at The Rochester. This quarterly literary journal has been around for over forty years, sharing the work of both Canadian and international writers and visual artists. The issue being launched tonight is Descant 158: Renovations, and this theme is explored in the physical world, and in the figurative sense with regard to the 'self.' This issue's contributors includes Catherine Graham, Cora Siré, Jessica Parkinson, and others, who will share some of their work with you at this event. Come out and enjoy this opportunity to support this important part of Toronto's literary scene and culture.
The Rochester (423 College Street) 7PM

OTHER EVENTS ON OUR RADAR

Mirabilia: 150th Anniversary Celebration - Forgotten Soundscapes Of The Group Of Seven
The Purple Party
projek: STANTON WARRIORS
Waka Flocka Flame @ Kool Haus

Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO Toronto events calendar or contact us directly.

For Toronto movie showtimes, view our Movie Listings section.

Photo by dzgnboy in the blogTO Flickr pool

Progressive Conservative leader Tim Hudak stopped by City Hall yesterday to try and reignite the LRTs vs subways debate (thanks Tim!) Hudak said a PC provincial government will build underground "where funds are available" but didn't mention where the bulk of the money will come from. Some of the cash, he said, would be diverted from the current light rail projects planned for the city.

Is Hudak's input helpful? Should Toronto's transit expansion be on the provincial agenda?

Rob Ford was probably glad councillor Ana Bailão bore the brunt of yesterday's local media attention with her impaired driving charge. The Ward 18 Davenport representative was stopped by police early yesterday morning near Harbord and Bathurst for driving without her lights on. Bailão called the incident "regrettable" in a statement.

Ford, on the other hand, is facing accusations he's lightened his itinerary by scheduling fewer interactions with local constituents compared to last year. In traditional fashion, Doug Ford defended his younger brother by claiming most meetings take place in secret to keep the media at bay.

The city's auditor general says Toronto's municipal golf courses could soon require a taxpayer bailout if things continue as they are. Net profits on the five courses are headed south and a new report blames a lack of business or marketing plan for the businesses. Right now visitors' maps don't show or mention the courses. Did you know Toronto had municipal golf courses?

Ever wanted to stick photoshopped characters all over design renders like the pros? Now you can!

Toronto's hookah lounges could soon require a license and face cleanliness inspections if a new report gets through the licensing committee Friday. The document recommends barring minors, providing proper air ventilation, and strict sanitization standards. Sound good?

Finally, here's local band Len (yep, they're still going!) with their new single "It's My Neighbourhood" featuring gratuitous aerial shots of Toronto and its neighbourhoods.

IN OTHER NEWS:

• MPP plans to reintroduce gas-and-dash bill [The Star]
• Diabetic man testifies he was yelling for food in jail cell when officer kicked him [The Star]

Photo: "Untitled" by Lisa on the Run in the blogTO Flickr pool.

This Week in Fashion rounds up the week's style news, store openings and closings, pop-up shops, sales and upcoming fashion and design events in Toronto. Find it here every Wednesday morning.

NEWS

World MasterCard Fashion Week is just around the corner, which means David Pecaut Square (221 King St W) will soon be littered with large white tents, flamboyantly-dressed men and women, big ol' cameras, and--of course--celebrated (or should-be-celebrated depending on how they do next week) Canadian designers. Expect this season's Toronto Fashion Week (running from October 22 until 26) to be immensely different; it's the first of its kind after being sold to IMG. Visit the website for a full list of designers.

EVENTS/PARTIES

Tonight (October 17) from 6 pm until 10 pm, Sauvage--an edgy womenswear shop--is celebrating the grand opening of their permanent location (644 Queen St W) with a bang. Not only will the party have the typical complimentary drinks and fabulous guest host Gracie Carroll, it'll also hold giveaways by skinnygrape, Mill St Brewery, Tealish, and Fresh. Plus, get 15% off your new Sauvage gear all night.

This past August, Uniiverse and the Touchstone Youth Centre hosted a clothing swap, promoting sustainable fashion and closet spring-cleaning for all. This time around, they want you to bring along any and all of your old Halloween costumes and accessories to The industREALarts Room (688 Richmond St W) tonight (October 17) at 6 pm--since dressing up as the same thing twice is lame and uncreative! The best part is you can take as many things as you've dropped off between 7 pm and 9 pm, meaning your next (or next few) Halloween costume plans are all set. Find out more and RSVP on the Uniiverse web site.

Support local brand OSC Cross by attending their fall/winter 2012 launch party, with $4 drinks and live music by Brendan Philip at The Mascot (1267 Queen St W) tomorrow (October 18) night from 8 pm until 11 pm. Then, take the opportunity to purchase the new collection of urban outerwear made especially for Toronto winters at the pop-up shop running all weekend (October 19 - 21)--they're handmade, weatherproof, down-filled, and come with a lifetime warranty.

On Friday (October 19), party in style at the Prps fashion show at Century Room (580 King St W). Not only will you be the first to see the luxury fall/winter 2012 menswear collection designed by former Nike designer Donwan Harrell, but you can also purchase booths with bottle service and rent a limo for the event. For VIP guest list, call or text 416-262-0897.

The Bombshelter (166A Spadina Ave) is graciously hosting a Martial Artistik Clothing "ninja party" extraordinaire this Saturday (October 20) complete with complimentary beer and live performances by a slew of funky musicians including Thrust, Que Rock, and Dusty Wallace. The event runs from noon until 10 pm, so that you have ample time to peruse the collection of limited edition hoodies, t-shirts, ninja masks, and more.

If you want to kill two birds with one stone, participate in the Evergreen Brick Works clothing and costume swap this Sunday (October 21)--a total closet overhaul for men, women, and children! Bring a maximum of 12 pieces (it can be any gently used clothing item or accessory with the one exception of undergarments) from noon until 4 pm to trade for the same amount of pieces at the swap. All extra garments will be donated to charity, and the entrance fee of $3 will go towards other events in the community.

We're already right smack in the middle of the-week-before-Fashion-Week, so the city is no doubt cluttered with informal fashion shows and events. Philip Sparks, Laura Siegel, Chloé Comme Parris, Label, Klaxon Howl, Sid Neigum, and Cara Cheung have already shown their spring/summer 2013 collections, but Paria Shirvani is slated to launch Zephyr--a live fashion installation inspired by movement--at Oz Studios (134 Ossington Ave) tomorrow (October 18) at 7:30 pm. RSVP to pr@pariashirvani.com.

Next Tuesday, Vintage's Night Out is back and ready for action under new handle Vintage Crawl Toronto. After a very successful turnout last year, the very same retailers will be a part of the city-wide vintage shopping experience, in addition to a flock of new participants including Bridge + Bardot, Anice Jewellery, and Rescue Vintage. Pick up a map at any of the listed boutiques to know exactly where to go for drinks, snacks, and sweet finds.

SALES

On Saturday (October 20), Pinewood Film Studio (255 Commissioner St) will be home to this year's CAFTCAD Movie Wardrobe Sale, where over 30 vendors will offer their outrageous and unique clothing from 9 am until 5 pm. It'll be a mix of high-end, classic, and vintage garments, plus a few wardrobe supplies here and there at discounted prices. The $5 admission will go to The Actors Fund of Canada.

Photo by Raissa Biscotti courtesy of Sauvage

Soon after we learned that the Bloor (Hot Docs) Cinema successfully applied for a liquor licence, there's news that Cineplex Odeon is looking to enrich your theatre-going experience. Coming to Toronto next year (and into 2014) are three new 19+ VIP theatres, the highlight of which will be a five-screen complex at the Shops at Don Mills. Other locations on the dockett right now include Yonge & Eglinton (already home to a Sliver City) and the Queensway Cineplex.

At present, Cineplex's only offering of this kind in Toronto is the Varsity VIP. Having watched my fair share of films there, I can assure you that this is most welcome news. While drinking isn't exactly a necessity at the movies, it sure does make it more fun — especially when the film is a total dud. Tickets for these VIP theatres will likely be a bit more expensive (as is the case at the Varsity), but when you factor in the more comfortable seats, the wonder of wine, and the in-seat food service, there's ample justification for the premium.

What do you think? Will the presence of booze woo you to the VIP movie-going experience?

Photo by sniderscion in the blogTO Flickr pool

Although he may be best known for his crusade to better school lunches, Jamie Oliver grew up in his parents' gastropub and is no stranger to the kind of comfort food classics that can warm your bones. His newest book, Jamie Oliver's Great Britain: 130 Of My Favorite British Recipes, From Comfort Food To New Classics brings him back to Toronto, and inspires his talk and Q&A at Massey Hall this Friday, October 19th. We had the chance to ask him a couple questions of our own - just to whet your appetites if you will.

What's the most challenging aspect of changing people's values towards food?
Getting people to try new things has been tough. Once you do though, most of them fall in love with fresh food. And once armed with just a few cooking skills, people really begin to enjoy food. The lack of food education in schools is so frustrating because with a little knowledge, comes big change.

How do you respond to cost concerns when advocating for healthy food?
I'm frustrated. First of all, healthy food is a bit of misunderstanding. I am talking about FRESH FOOD, not processed, not made with chemicals, grown or raised by someone who cares about what they are doing. I've done the math in your country and mine. If you are feeding one person, fast food is the cheaper option. It probably will ultimately kill you if you eat it every day, but it is a bit cheaper. But once you are serving more than one person, the economies work in your favor.

But the key is knowledge and cooking skills. If you don't know how to turn a big bag of lentils and rice into a delicious dish, then you don't have the cheap options. To this day, I've eaten the most delicious and lovely food in the poorest neighborhoods. The old ladies in Italy really know how to cook.

What can Toronto do better in terms of making fresh, healthy foods more accessible?
I'm not sure what specifically is holding Toronto back, but I can tell you that individuals can make better choices, and your mayor can take a look at what Mike Bloomberg is doing in New York City. The ban on super sized sodas may be controversial but it had to be done. If people aren't going to be sensible, then governments have to help them along. There's just too much at stake. More people are dying from obesity-related diseases than any other.

What food trends do you see happening in big cities (like ours) that you like?
I love that even the most humble of places are doing everything they can to serve the best possible ingredients to the public. There is so much love in food right now, that it's becoming hard to have a bad meal.

Toronto is about to embark on it's own revamp of school lunches, helmed by Susur Lee – what advice would you offer?
Stay strong brother. Roadblocks are going to be coming at you from all sides. Enlist the kids... they are going to be your best sales people. Think like the big food companies. You gotta make fresh food fun, and cool. Also, start with the primary schools if you can. The younger ones are really excited to try new things.

Where do you like to eat when you're in Toronto? What do you order?
I'm really lucky that I am usually in Toronto with my chef mate Derek, and he takes me to whatever place he Is excited about. We've been to the Black Hoof and Buca (I think that's the name) and had some really tasty food. The charcuterie were incredible.

Is there one food item that you would never eat?
I'm off genitalia. Whenever I travel the locals try to get me to eat their equivalent of Rocky Mountain Oysters, which, I was fed in Wyoming and Cod Sperm in Japan. That's enough.

I know Jamie's Italian has a few international locations, are there any aspirations to open a Toronto location?
We'll see. The people of Toronto are so supportive of me, and I'd love to have more time here. There are no plans as of now.

RAPID FIRE QUESTIONS

Most underrated ingredient? Lemon zest

Best culinary tool? Speed peeler

A chef that inspires you? My mentor, Gennaro Contaldo...still after all these years.

What would people be surprised to find in your fridge? Beer? No, I guess you would expect that--but really cool local English brews I am getting excited about.

On current food trends:

Donuts? What's not to like? Can't have them every day though. They are a treat.
Poutine? Never tasted it.
Food trucks? Depends on the truck.

Photo by Studio Gabe in the blogTO Flickr pool

Shop elsewhere David Beckham, Lance Armstrong, and any member of the MLSE enterprise. While not Soup Nazi-esque in enforcement (not at all, actually), this butcher shop proudly boasts a list of "welcome" and "not welcome" athletes, among its many other quirks. But the real draw, of course, is its lineup of marinated meats, dry-aged steaks, and fresh and locally sourced options.

Read my profile of The Meat Dept in the grocery stores section.

The best halloween costume stores in Toronto have a gaping, infected wound or intensely constricting corset (depending on your costume preference) waiting for you when you walk in the door. And yes, those are good things (around Halloween, at least). These stores boast ideas as much as costume options, and usually come with staff that are eager to help you craft your Halloween vision. As well as costumes right off the rack, a good number of these shops also design custom get-ups to suit your Halloween needs (though the final bill is usually far from a treat).

Here are the best Halloween costume stores in Toronto.

See also:

15 Halloween costume ideas for 2012
Haunted Halloween attractions in Toronto

Cask Days, a festival founded in 2005, started as a small but enthusiastic tribute to cask-conditioned ale-beer that's unfiltered and unpasteurized and allowed to mature via secondary fermentation in a cask. Now in their eighth year, Cask Days' organizers are ambitiously looking to build on what has arguably already become one of the Canadian craft beer industry's most popular events by hosting their homage to cask at a new and bigger venue, inviting a number of local artists, showcasing a handful of DJs, and serving food prepared by some of the city's most buzz-worthy chefs.

Tomas Morana, co-owner and creative director of Cask Days, is optimistic that the inclusion of artists this year will bring the event to another level. "We wanted to create a new vibe at a beer festival that's different from what you usually experience," he told me. "This year we are introducing a new gallery space within the festival which will run throughout all the sessions. It will showcase some of our favourite local visual artists (comic, typographic and graffiti based) alongside some beer-label artwork by Jordan Bamforth (from Beau's All Natural Brewing Company) and Yannick Brosseau (from Dieu Du Ciel brasserie). Elicser and Jimmy Chiale will also be doing some live painting which is going to be dope, and we're planning a silent auction for most of the work to help raise money for The Remix Project."

And naturally, when festivities kick off at the Evergreen Brickworks on Friday October 27th, the art, music, and food will be accompanied by an epic lineup of beers comprising 75 different brewers from across Canada pouring over 150 cask-conditioned ales, one-offs, and collaboration ales-including some gluten-free offerings and ciders.

The list of beers, which was just released on Monday, includes a few intriguing local offerings like:

• "Double Barrel Pumpkin Abbey," a belgian strong from Indie Alehouse;
• "Full City Tempest" an imperial coffee stout Amsterdam Brewing Company;
• "Hellwoods," a Russian imperial stout from Bellwoods Brewery;
• "Stalin's Choice," a bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout from Great Lakes Brewery;
• "Local Option Ale, " an American pale ale from Junction Craft Brewing;
• "Fisheye-Pa," an India Pale Ale from Kensington Brewing Company;
• "Paradise Pale Ale" an American pale ale from Mill Street; and
• "Top Hat Ale" a gluten-free English Amber Ale from Snowman Brewing.

And this is just a sample of some of the offerings from Toronto brewers. Rounding out the list are a number of Ontario micro-brewers as well as selections from British Columbia, Manitoba, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.

Accompanying the beer will be food selected by Guy Rawlings of Brockton General and Bellwoods Brewery fame; whose list of vendors already includes Grand Electric, who will be making their first appearance outside of their busy Parkdale restaurant.

The festival, running from 12pm Saturday until 5pm Sunday, is divided in three "sessions;" 12pm-5pm Saturday, 7pm-midnight Saturday, and 12pm-5pm Sunday. Attendance for each session will cost you $35.00 (tickets still available online or in person at barVolo) and while that $35 gets you a commemorative 8th Annual Cask Days 2012 souvenir pint glass and four beer sample tokens, you can probably plan on this being an expensive outing. The beer tokens are only good for a quarter of a pint and if you want extra ones (which you will), they'll run you $2.50 each, so bring your wallets. And while there is an ATM at the Brickworks, the event is cash only so hit the bank before you go--every minute spent waiting in line at the bank machine is a minute you could be drinking cask ale.

For more information on Cask Days, including a complete list of the beers that will be on hand, visit the Cask Days website.

Photo by keehotee on Flickr

Last year's Top Chef Canada winner Carl Heinrich has teamed up with Ryan Donovan of West Side Beef to open a slick but not overly formal new option in the Financial District. Characterized as a "neighbourhood restaurant" the vibe is surprisingly unpretentious given the location. And the food? Well, have a look.

Read my profile of Richmond Station in the restaurants section.

The shOws has returned to Toronto for another season. Kicking off last night at the Andrew Richard Designs space near Adelaide and Parliament, the two-day fashion series was the place to be to preview the Spring/Summer 2013 collections from Jean-Pierre Braganza and Tanya Taylor.

View and rate all the looks that graced the runway in our Style section:

Tanya Taylor Spring/Summer 2013
Jean-Pierre Braganza Spring/Summer 2013

Competing with the local fashion world's attention with The shOws yesterday was night one on the runway at the Burroughes Building for THE COLLECTIONS. We stopped by to check out what hot shot brands Chloe Comme Parris and Label have in store for Spring/Summer 2013.

View and rate all the looks that graced the runway in our Style section:

Label S/S 2013
Chloe Comme Parris S/S 2013

The AGO is on quite the run. From its Abstract Expressionist New York show last spring to major Chagall and Picasso exhibitions earlier this year, there's been no shortage of household names on display. Possibly outshining all of these is the soon-to-open Frida & Diego: Passion, Politics and Painting, a thoroughgoing show that celebrates and explores the life and work of two of the 20th century's most revered painters.

It's difficult to say much about either artist that hasn't been covered before. Although both painters were at the centre of Mexico City's art scene in the 1930s (and beyond), Frida Kahlo wouldn't receive the major international attention enjoyed by her husband throughout his career until 30 years or so after her death. Since that time, it might be fair to say that she's eclipsed even Rivera in terms of contemporary significance.

You don't review the work on display when it comes to exhibitions of this stature. Needless to say, it's as visually stimulating as it's politically charged and intensely emotional, particularly in the case of many of Kahlo's self-portraits. Given these two remarkable subjects, what interests me most from an evaluative standpoint is the job the curator has done in assembling the show.

Toward that end, Dot Tuer has made a number of thought-provoking decisions that are sure to pay dividends for viewers who are well acquainted with both painters' work and those who are not. The first of these worth noting is the integration of Rivera and Kahlo's work throughout the exhibition space. Although this may seem an obvious choice, it's not typically how their work is installed (most curators opt for separate rooms). The result is that a dialogue naturally arises between the artists' paintings, one that reveals their different aims, to be sure — but that also sheds light on how they evolved together.

This, in fact, is the strongest aspect of the exhibition. Coupled with a major photographic component, one gets a profound sense of how connected the two were to one another — in painting and politics — despite the often tumultuous nature of their marriage. While Rivera's work, particularly his murals, have a monumentalism that Kahlo's paintings lack, she was an intensely political figure during her time and a profund influence on her husband in this capacity.

Juxtaposed with such overtly political paintings, Kahlo's already haunting self-portraits somehow become even more intimate and revealing. I suspect that one of the reasons her work is as loved as it is today is its striking emotional availability, which, unlike many of Rivera's paintings, is not tied to a particular moment in time. Thankfully, however, this exhibition doesn't get caught up in such comparisons so much as explore the intertwined nature of their work. In doing so, one's understanding of and appreciation for both artists is enriched.

Additional Photos

Frida and Diego: Passion, Politics and Painting runs October 20th to January 20th

Photo by ~EvindencE~ in the blogTO Flickr pool

FILM | Toronto After Dark Film Festival
Returning to its home at the Bloor Cinema, one of Toronto's top-rated film festivals returns for the 7th year, opening today. Toronto After Dark Film Festival features nine days of sci-fi, horror, action and cult films, including Sundance hit and opening gala film Grabbers as well as the Toronto premiere of the Ron Perlman film Crave. 20 features and 29 shorts will be screened at this year's festival, which runs until October 26th. Check out our top film picks at the 2012 After Dark Festival.
Bloor Hot Docs Cinema (506 Bloor Street West) 6:45PM $14

MUSIC | Dragonette
Toronto electro band Dragonette returns home after a large North American tour for a show at Sound Academy tonight, playing songs from their recently released third album Bodyparts. Wrapping up the home leg of their tour, Dragonette are joined by Toronto haute rock band Young Empires, who have accompanied Dragonette as they crossed Canada during the month of October. Doors open at 7PM and tickets are still available through TicketWeb, Soundscapes and Rotate This.
Sound Academy (11 Polson Street) 7PM $20

INNOVATION | Speaker Series: Ray Kurzweil
Entrepreneur, genius and ultimate thinker Ray Kurzweil might make you feel like an underachiever when you list off his achievements but the National Inventor's Hall of Fame inductee and author of four bestselling novels has a lot to teach from a lifetime of developing world-renowned inventions. Speaking at The Danforth Music Hall tonight, Kurzweil will discuss innovation, science and philosophy and their ties to the development of technology while covering his work in creating many "world's firsts" like the CCD flat-bed scanner, text-to-speech synthesizer, and print-to-speech reading machine for the blind (and many more). An event that will interest anyone, regardless of their background, be forewarned that tickets are on the pricey side and are available through Ticketmaster.
The Danforth Music Hall (147 Danforth Avenue) 8PM $45-$60

THEATRE | Honesty
If you find yourself shopping at Honest Ed's tonight, look for the store's most honest employee, actor Virgilia Griffith. Griffith will be "working" throughout the store, portraying 10 different types of employees that have sustained the business since it opened in 1948. The performance unfolds in two acts: first "Honest Work" will show Griffith performing the real duties of employees from 5-6:30PM and at 7:30PM, she will perform "Honest Stories," a series of monologues as the employees that leads the audience through the store. Stop by to chat or watch Griffith work in Honesty, which runs alongside regular Honest Ed's operations until November 4th.
Honest Ed's (581 Bloor Street West) 5PM Free

DIGITAL | Digifest 2012
Digital media creatives interested in mobile media, gaming, art and design take note: Canada's largest innovation and digital festival launches at the Corus Quay today. If workshops, demos, and interactive exhibits don't satisfy your need for digital healing, presentations by keynote speakers like Shane Williamson of Williamson-Chong, Claire Boonstra of Layar, and video game designer and author Chris Solarski will fulfill this year's speech themes of feel.hack.play. respectively. Check out the full schedule on Digifest's website for a rundown of the many interesting folks from digital media, local start-ups and innovation firms who will be speaking about their successes in the digital field throughout the festival. Digifest runs packed full-day schedules until October 20th.
Corus Quay (25 Dockside Drive) 8:30AM $60

OTHER EVENTS ON OUR RADAR:

• Debra DiGiovanni, Fraser Young and Primo feat. Kathleen Phillips
• Brazil Film Fest
• Pomegranate Film Festival
• Kizmet Debut Solo Exhibit

Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO Toronto events calendar or contact us directly.

For Toronto movie showtimes, view our Movie Listings section.

Photo by syfractal in the blogTO Flickr pool

In an emotional press conference yesterday, city councillor Ana Bailao said she intends to plead not guilty to charges of impaired driving. Her voice quivering, the Ward 18 Davenport representative told reporters the court case won't affect her ability to serve her constituents. Shortly after she finished several other councillors publicly addd their support. Do you think members of council should be standing behind Bailao? A MADD executive doesn't think so.

A report headed to city hall's audit committee suggests several hundred taxi drivers could be playing the welfare system by claiming zero income while holding a valid business license. While there are those with legitimate reasons for their claims, councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong, a member of the committee, told the National Post cheaters are working the system to a tune of $20 million.

For anyone that wants to read in a transparent sealed capsule, five new study pods are coming to the Toronto Reference Library in the next two weeks with another 10 on the way. For inspiration, visit the centre's new Idea Gardens.

In other TRL news, they've got binders full of women too.

It was a pretty crappy day for inmates at the Don Jail. An out-of-service toilet erupted in a fury of poop yesterday and flooded a 50-bed section of the prison at Broadview and Gerrard. In places the raw sewage was up to five centimetres deep, contaminating eating surfaces and several beds in its path.

Finally, here's a terrifying PSA from the Heart and Stroke Foundation promoting their attempt to break the world record for the largest CPR training session at Canada's Wonderland next Thursday.

IN OTHER NEWS:

• Mayor Rob Ford wages weird war on section of planning act [Metro]
• Police hunting for two men after dead body discovered in Scarborough industrial unit [National Post]
• Does stalled Metrolinx need a boost? [The Star]
• Raptors top Wizards in Kyle Lowry's Toronto debut [CBC]

Photo: "Untitled" by krygene in the blogTO Flickr pool.

This Week in Film rounds up noteworthy new releases in theatres, as well as key DVD / Blu-Ray releases, festivals, and other cinema-related events happening in Toronto.

IN THEATRES

Paranormal Activity 4 (Carlton, Rainbow Market Sq., Cineplex Yonge & Dundas)

I never had much of an appetite for this franchise - by all signs just another dose of faux-found footage horror hackery stealing from The Blair Witch Project's innovations - until Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman signed on for Paranormal Activity 3. A pretty big fan of their out-of-nowhere debut 'doc' Catifsh, I checked out the third entry without seeing the first two, and was surprised to find it a pretty effective and - yep - innovative horror film, recalling the likes of Rosemary's Baby just as much is was Blair Witch. So you can imagine the reserved optimism I have going into this one, which the same duo will also helm. I'll be sure to bring a change of pants this time, just in case they bring back the fan cam.

The Paperboy (Varsity)

Here's a film that - not too surprising coming from Lee Daniels - is often mindblowingly trashy, yet it is a step up from Precious, if only because so much of it works as camp that it's easy to have a lot of fun with it. The well-documented highlight is absolutely the scene in which a ferocious Nicole Kidman pisses on Zac Efron's face after he's stung by jelly fish; but there are other wonderful segments, too - such as the rousing, tactile-less orgasms shared between Kidman and John Cusack in a prison visiting room - that fill you with such joy you forget that the overall filmmaking and narrative are totally inept.

Also in theatres this week:

• Alex Cross (Carlton, Rainbow Market Sq., Scotiabank)
• Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel (TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• Student of the Year (Cineplex Yonge & Dundas)
• Tai Chi Zero (Cineplex Yonge & Dundas)
• The Thieves (Cineplex Yonge & Dundas)

IN REP CINEMA

For recommendations on what to catch at Toronto's rep cinemas this week, check out This Week in Rep Cinema.

SPECIAL SCREENINGS

The Better Sex of Animation: Videos by Signe Baumane (Saturday, October 20 at 7PM; Cinecycle)
"Born in Latvia, educated in Moscow, Signe Baumane lives and works in Brooklyn, NY. Her 14 short films have been screened and received numerous awards at prestigious international film festivals including the Annecy, Tribeca, Sundance, Berlin, Ottawa, and Venice Film Festivals. Her films explore life's challenges, sexuality, myths and phobias." This screening, organized by the Toronto Animated Image Society, will feature Baumane's most celebrated shorts, including Birth, Teat Beat of Sex, Dentist, Love Story, as well as an early look at excerpts from her upcoming feature film Rocks In My Pockets. Signe will be present to present her films, and will answers questions after they've been shown.

The Free Screen - Jordan Belson: Films Sacred and Profane (Wednesday, October 24 at 7PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)

"Influenced by the abstract films of Oskar Fischinger, Norman McLaren and Hans Richter that he encountered at San Francisco's Art in Cinema series, [Jordan] Belson turned his attention from painting to film in the late 1940s...In the 1960s, [he] began making the films for which he is now best known. Re-Entry, inspired by John Glenn's space flight and Belson's readings about the Bardo Plane, introduced his signature brand of visual music.

With a home studio set-up that allowed him to capture the ethereal movement of light and smoke in real time, Belson created gaseous light sculptures, with mandalas and cascading lights evoking both solar and spiritual activity. This programme features a travelling retrospective of many rarely screened films, including Belson's last film, Epilogue, funded by the NASA Art Program and commissioned by the Hirshhorn Museum." Per usual, The Free Screen won't cost you a penny.

360 Screening (Wednesday, October 24 at 7PM; Venue to be announced 24 hours before event takes place)

FILM FESTIVALS

Toronto After Dark Film Festival (October 18-26 at Bloor Hot Docs Cinema)
Promised to be bigger, better, and bloodier than ever, one of Toronto's most popular film festivals is back for its seventh year (that all?). My personal pick goes to Quentin Dupieux's Wrong, which is a whole lot better than his previous cutesy and self-reflexive hit, Rubber. Check out our list of five recommendations for Toronto After Dark here. Buy tickets online here.

Pomegranate Film Festival (October 18-21 at the Armenian Youth Centre's Hamazkayin Theatre)
It's nice to be reminded of the many virtues of living in Toronto by the very fact that we have an entire film festival dedicated to Armenian cinema. That's precisely what the Pomegranate Film Festival is, which is now six years old and just as strong as ever. Among the big headlining presentations is their screening of Brave, the inclusion of which seems perplexing until you realize that it was produced by Armenian producer Katherine Sarafian. Check out our list of five recommendations for Pomegranate here, and purchase your tickets through their awkward online ordering process here.

DVD & BLU-RAY

• Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter [BLU-RAY]
• Escape from Women's Prison [DVD]
• The Invisible War [DVD]
• Magic Mike [BLU-RAY]
• Midnight FM [DVD]
• The Naked Peacock [DVD]
• The Penalty [BLU-RAY]
• Savages [BLU-RAY]
• Seeking a Friend at the End for the World [BLU-RAY]
• Slice [DVD]
• The Slut [DVD]
• Sunday Bloody Sunday [BLU-RAY]
• That Obscure Object of Desire [BLU-RAY]
• Tokyo Playboy Club [DVD]
• When Pigs Have Wings [DVD]
• Women Ordered to Love [AKA Ordered to Love] [DVD]

The Britt condo launch proves that the Sutton Place Hotel at Bay and Wellesley really is gone for good. Sorry nostalgia-fiends — but there's still time to pray (read: futilely lobby) for the salvation of the Princess of Wales Theatre! Anyway. The building that once played host to visiting starlets and swanky tourists will be scraped to its foundations and built anew, emerging as a British-inspired glass tower of urban elegance. Or so say Lanterra Developments. Equipped with a two-storey lobby, eight-storey podium, and yes, even a pet spa, The Britt makes it clear that sophistication isn't leaving this downtown address. Or hefty price tags, for that matter. Here is a closer look at The Britt.

SPECS

Address: 955 Bay Street

Exterior: Glass

Number of floors: 41

Number of elevators: 7

Number of units: 729

Type of units: Studio, 1 bedroom, 1 bedroom + den, 2 bedroom, 2 bedroom+ den, 3 bedroom

Unit sizes (in square feet): 339 - 844 (Executive suites, pending height approval, will be on levels 32 to 34, and range from 334 - 1190 s.f.)

Ceiling height: 9'

Price range: $274,900 - $651,900 (Executive suites priced over $1.1 million)

Parking: $45,000 (for suites 790 s.f. or larger)

Locker: Waiting list

Maintenance: $0.58/s.f.

Maintenance fees exclude: Hydro, water

Architect: Page + Steele / IBI Group Architects

Interior design: Munge Leung

Amenities: 24-hour concierge, lounge, meeting room, fitness centre, outdoor terrace, spa, theatre room, outdoor pool, pet spa, bicycle room, auto share program

Expected occupancy: Spring 2016

THE GOOD

Never overlook the small particulars. While many soon-to-be-homeowners blissfully squeal at one porcelain floor sample after another, they neglect to consider details such as garbage chute location and elevator activity under stress. This is a mistake. As someone who has lived beside a garbage chute and currently suffers in a building with only one elevator (first world problem, I know, whatever), I can't overstate just how awful it is to carry groceries up endless flights of stairs. The Britt will have seven elevators, which, simply, is awesome. Other, taller condo projects are planning to get away with just four or five, which seems meager in comparison to The Britt's generous seven. Scoff if you like, but it really does make a difference; if you plan your travel time close to the wire as I do, you know elevator-waiting-time can factor into your commute. And it's just plain shitty to have to wait around for an elevator after a long day of work.

If you're already sensing a theme, I'll confirm — The Britt seems to be all about luxury. Timeless, elegant luxury, that is, rather than the tired, minimalist "sophistication" that's prevalent in nearly all other new Toronto condo builds. The Britt has nixed the starkly modern in favour of marble floors and a fantastic grand staircase just waiting for your best take on Scarlett O'Hara. The lounge has a carved fireplace, old celeb photos from The Sutton Place's former glory days, and the feeling that you can actually get away with kicking off your shoes and curling up with a book. I'm not one to gush over amenities or aesthetics, but The Britt seems to have found that sweet spot between elegance and livability. You can even opt for marble flooring and/or finishes in your suite, just in case you want to carry that Scarlett O'Hara feeling to your unit (but only if you're equipped with that lush O'Hara capital).

Most units, too, come integrated dishwashers and refrigerators as well as generously sized balconies; the latter of which is good for when the pool, two hot tubs, fitness centre, party room, yoga studio, theatre room, and second- and ninth-floor lounging areas become just too crowded.

THE BAD

Luxury comes at a cost, however, and that cost is approximately $800 per square foot. Wait — what?! $800 Per square foot!? That's one hell of a going rate, and keep in mind that I'm citing just-launched, pre-construction, base-design-package prices. They'll only go up from here, most likely. Parking costs here, too, are on the higher end of downtown pricing at $45,000 per spot, along with maintenance fees starting at $0.58 per square foot. And with The Britt boasting everything from a pet spa, to an outdoor pool, to saunas and hot tubs and more (all of which demand regular upkeep), chances are those fees won't stay at that level for long. Thus, it seems The Britt is much better suited to a pair of wealthy downsizers than a lowly prospective first-time homeowner. I guess... I should just stop right here...

But let's say, for the sake of... I don't know... "trust fund babies" or something, that you decide to go with your basic one bedroom suite. Cool. Except your bedroom won't have a window, and it'll be closed off by a pair of sliding pseudo-doors. The bedroom probably won't be enough room for a dresser, and unless you snag one of the suites with a walk-in closet (which, granted, is a pretty nice perk), your room might feel more like a box than a living space. The layouts and limited square footage (under 500 square feet) of most of the one-bedroom units means you'll have to choose between a couch and a functional dining table, and counter space is confined to "that little square" beside the sink. Good thing the main floor lounge is so nice and comfy, because you'll have to saunter outside your door to get a feeling of a little more living space. Or you could just fork over an extra $50,000 or more for a larger unit — whatever works.

And brush this one off as silly nostalgia if you must, but it would've been nice to see a little more of the ol' Sutton in the new Britt after all is said and done. Yes, they're keeping the pictures of celebrity hotel guests, but would it have killed them to salvage an old mantle or the piano that went to auction? This is not a from-scratch build, after all, so a couple nods to its former days might have been nice. Then again, I guess I'm just an old softie.

THE VERDICT

Good for baby boomers with little patience for elevator waits, lots of money, and a fleeting sense of nostalgia.

What do you think? Would you live here? Add your comments to the thread below.

Read other posts in this series via our Toronto Condos and Lofts Pinterest board

The reigning king of genre fests is back as the 7th annual Toronto After Dark Film Festival gets under way tonight. Starting Thursday October18, this year there are nine days of insanity at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, which finally has a liquor license! Now that After Dark attendees can double fist tall cans of Big Wheel, I expect they'll be twice as rowdy as the Midnight Madness crowd.

Don't forget, Saturday October 20th is the Toronto Zombie Walk, so after you've eaten your fill of brains head straight to [REC] 3: Genesis and stay for Cockneys vs Zombies to take advantage of the discounts for those made up as zombies.

You've likely already seen our our top picks from the fest, including A Fantastic Fear of Everything featuring Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead), Wrong by Quentin Dupieux (Rubber), and Sushi Girl featuring Tony Todd (Candyman) / James Duval (Donnie Darko) / Mark Hamill (Star Wars). But what about some other gems that sit below the radar? Try these on for size.

Grabbers (Toronto Premiere)
A refreshingly Irish take on the classic creature feature, Grabbers takes place in a small Irish village where tentacled creatures attack, and getting drunk is the only way to defend against them. This hilariously original idea was a fan fave at Sundance, and is sure to be a hit with "boozethusiasts" like myself.

Crave (Toronto Premiere)
This edgy must-see thriller, with just a pinch of Fight Club, presents a mentally unstable crime scene photographer spiralling into the mouth of madness on the mean streets of Detroit. Is he simply imagining violent revenge fantasies, or is he committing them? Also featuring a great supporting cast including Edward Furlong (Terminator 2) and Ron Perlman (Sons of Anarchy).

In Their Skin (Toronto Premiere)
The home invasion genre can be a bit weak sometimes, but this film features the welcome twist that the invaders are not just there to rob the family that they are terrorizing, they want to become them. If you're hoping for an uncomfortably intense psychological thriller, this is it. If you just want to stare at Selma Blair (Hellboy) for 96 minutes, hell I can't blame ya, that works too. I would watch a BBC home dentistry video if it had her in it.

Cockneys vs. Zombies (Canadian Premiere)
Optimistically described as "one part Shaun of the Dead, one part Snatch," this guilty pleasure has a bunch of bank robbing gangsters pinned down in the middle of a zombie outbreak. When I saw an old man with a walker escaping a zombie at a snails pace in the trailer, I was sold. From screenwriter James Moran (Doctor Who) and featuring legendary british gangster Alan Ford (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels). Don't miss your chance to see this flick while dressed as, or at least surrounded by zombies!

Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning (Canadian Premiere)
Did I sneak this pick in because I'm an unabashed Jean-Claude Van Damme (JCVD) fan, or am I feeding the comment trolls? Both! The latest in the ultra-violent Universal Soldier franchise, this time a man named John (Scott Adkins) awakens from a coma to discover his wife and daughter were slaughtered, so he vows to kill the man he believes to be responsible: Luc Deveraux (Jean-Claude Van Damme). To complicate things, Deveraux and surviving UniSol Andrew Scott (Dolph Lundgren) are preparing to battle anarchy and build a new order ruled by UniSols without government oversight. The best action film about genetically enhanced warriors you'll see all year!

The Toronto After Dark Film Festival runs from October 18 - 26 at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema. Tickets and passes can be purchased online or at the theatre. Regular single ticket $14 or double feature tickets for $24. All Access pass $168 or Late Night Access pass for $84.

Still from Cockneys vs Zombies.

Often when we think about ethical eating, it lies somewhere in the spectrum of vegetarianism. We think about all the things we should be eating, like quinoa and almond milk. Rarely, do we think "conscious" and visualize eating a deer. The Feasting Room changes our preconceptions of eating, and does so in such an elegant way, you will wonder why we don't use more parts of an animal.

On the night we went to the Feasting Room, situated right in the Orbit Room and happily quiet at 7pm, we were ready to enjoy one of the last seven weeks of this pop-up restaurant. This is a six course extravaganza that cannot be rushed, and hence your reservation will not be later than 8pm. A couple who tried to come in for bar snacks were politely ushered to another restaurant.

As we were interested in exploring red meat, we decided to try "venison week." Mathieu Dutan, General Manager and self-proclaimed "wine dude" talked us through the process. Our menu was wrapped in brown paper, like a hunk of meat at a butcher's shop. It contained a picture of a deer. Each course was numbered with the part of the animal we were going to eat. I struggled to hold back from asking for crayons.

Before the six courses began, we had two snacks. Noah Goldberg, the chef and owner, butchers the meat himself on the premises to waste as little of the animal as possible. We began with dehydrated venison jerky, which gave our teeth a bit of a workout. The soy sauce and hoisin it was marinated in was suburb. We decided to splurge on the $35 per person wine tasting menu, in which every wine was brought out by Mathieu with each course. Either we got drunker, or the amazing wines got even better, course by course.

Snack two was venison scotch quail eggs with truffled aioli. When the very cultured Mathieu and Noah weren't looking, we may have licked the aioli from the plate. And this wasn't even our official eating time - this was the warm up.

Course one, according to our diagram, would involve liver. We were presented with venison liver pate in a mason jar with a sprinkling of sea salt and homemade blueberry compote. We hesitantly placed the pate on big hunks of toasted bread. The second piece was a different story, the sweet and subtle venison pate being fought over with tiny pate forks.

We were a little frightened about the second course, but life is about trying new things, and with Noah and Mathieu's international experiences, we were in good hands. Heart salad was presented with pickled walnut vinaigrette. The heart was so thinly sliced, I would dare anyone not to think it was the best steak salad of their lives.

The remaining parts were traditionally eaten from other animals, like the ribs, served with brussel sprouts and bacon infused cornbread. To anyone who complains of game meat always tasting "tough" this was an example of the opposite. So tender, so sweet, and we were only half-way through. I joked with Mathieu that we could take it; trying to man up in my stilettos.

Fourth course: leg of venison with seasonal squash: spaghetti and butternut. Microgreens, juniper sauce and more incredible wine that we couldn't pronounce. When we bathed the two men in compliments they would humbly speak about the next course to come. Each portion was small and appropriately spaced. We had time to digest, to talk, and to enjoy.

Fifth course was a puff pastry, venison pot pie with button mushrooms and red onions in a thick sauce. Without the bottom crust, it didn't feel too heavy, but it was easily the highlight of the night. Noah's cooking confidence shined in his food, showing his ability to transform any ingredient into someone's new favorite meal.

But a venison dessert - is it possible? Surprisingly, yes. Mincemeat and spice cake with a cheeky reference to the "meat" part. Like a beautiful warm Christmas cake, it was sopped up with a dessert wine that was slightly dry.

Easily, easily, one of the best meals of my entire life. There are seven weeks left, each week a different animal, and then afterwards the plan is for Noah and Mathieu to open their own place. This will be a popular restaurant, if anything is right in the world.

Writing by Courtney Sunday. Photos by Jesse Milns

I like my intersections like I like my eggs - scrambled. Now that's out of the way, it's been five years since the city introduced us to the wonders of the scramble intersection. Remember that initial hesitance, followed by that liberating feeling of the first time you walked diagonally across a busy intersection? It was a novelty in 2008, but five years into the pilot project is the love lost?

Three intersections across the city have already been pedestrianized: Bay/Bloor, Yonge/Dundas and Yonge/Bloor. So far these locations have been chosen to increase pedestrian safety be reducing crowding on busy street corners. On a typical weekday during an 8-hour period there are 68,600 pedestrian crossings at Yonge/Dundas, 59,000 at Yonge/Bloor, and 42,200 at Bay/Bloor, outstripping vehicle traffic through the lights.

It's disputed whether these intersections are a success, and that probably comes down to whether you are on foot or not - is the incrementally longer driving time worth it for the convenience of those on foot, or is the gridlock too dire?

So far Toronto's scramble intersections haven't reached any further north than Bloor St., but the City confirms that there has been some demand for a scramble at Yonge and Eglington. The Yonge and Eglington area has less foot traffic than the overflowing corners downtown and could pose some problems with timing. Currently all three scramble intersections run on a consistent 24-hour cycle with no changes to accommodate rush hour. The city has also received plenty of calls for a scramble intersection at Bay and Front, but this intersection is further complicated by already clogged rush hour car traffic and would also require some special timing considerations.

City of Toronto project officer Janet Lo maintains there are no plans to expand any more scramble intersections at this time. The current pilot project is still under review by the city with a report expected in early 2013. Additionally, last year Public Works chairman Denzil Minnan-Wong called into question how practical these crossings are and called for an additional outside consultant's review. Until these intersections are dissected and examined there won't be any more expansion, but public where do you think the city could use a scramble intersection most?

Correction:

An earlier version of this article stated that the outside consultant's review of scramble crossings cost $375,000. This number actually covers the entire Downtown Transportation Operations Study. Much of the review of scramble intersections is being conducted by city staff.

Writing by Matt Stephen / Photo by Roger Cullman