A major freezing rain storm is on the way to Toronto tonight, which could make for a devilish commute tomorrow morning. Environment Canada issued a warning this afternoon forecasting between five and 10mm of frozen accumulation. 

The freezing rain is expected to turn to rain at some point on Tuesday, possibly in the afternoon for the Toronto area. Some areas to the north of the city could experience greater ice accumulation as the conversion to rain is not expected until the evening.

"Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots will become icy, slippery and hazardous," reads the warning. "There may be a significant impact on rush hour traffic in urban areas."

Perhaps more troubling is the warning that "utility outages may occur" based on ice build up. This one has the potential to cause major disruptions, and people living throughout Southern Ontario have been asked to delay unnecessary travel during the storm.

Make sure to check the Toronto Hydro outages map if you experience lost power.

Stay safe out there, Toronto.

There are lots of storefronts sitting empty in Toronto, including many in the downtown core - just take a walk along Queen Street, east of Spadina and see for yourself.

Since the early 2000s, the city's been handing out property tax rebates to those who own vacant commercial and industrial properties. Apparently, Toronto's spent $367 million on this initiative between 2001 and 2013. 

But today, Mayor John Tory announced that he wants to scrap these rebates. "We are subsidizing people to keep space empty that is increasing, almost hourly, in value," said Mayor Tory at a press conference today, as CBC News reports. 

The city hopes to save $22 million a year by doing away with this program, but it needs approval from the provincial government before it goes through with the plan.

Beyond the savings affiliated with eliminating the pay out, landlords will now have greater incentive to lease their storefront spaces as quickly as possible. That could mean less vacant spots along busy corridors. 

You might never guess it to walk by, but inside 34 Isabella St., sits the world's largest independent LGBTQ archive. 

Built in 1858, the three-storey house that holds Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives is bursting at the seams with a mind-boggling number of collections. They also house some of their archival materials at Church and Wellesley and lesser-used materials in a larger storage facility outside of the city. But the real juicy stuff is in this downtown home.

"I think that people are kind of unaware of archives in general, not just the CLGA," says Raegan Swanson, the Archive's new executive director. "It’s one of those things that until you need to use one, you never realize how much they’re used."

All those historical images you see in magazines, newspapers articles or online pieces about LGBTQ happenings in Toronto? Yeah, they probably came from this archive.

A march during Toronto Gay Pride Week in 1973. Photo courtesy of the CLGA.

Founded in 1973, the CLGA is a treasure trove in the middle of the city, and one that's about to receive a $50,000 sum from the city thanks to a big push from councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam (the house is in her ward) to help make the house more accessible to users with ramps and a working elevator. 

The CLGA also survives thanks to the many donors who help keep it alive. And it needs these contributions to help support a full-time staff of three people, about 125 volunteers and seemingly endless amounts of material. 

The collections date back over 40 years and even though it's based in Toronto, it houses queer collections from across the country. "There’s diaries, t-shirt collections, matchbook collections, there’s a huge section of audio and visual material and amazing photographs as well as over 5,000 vertical files," says Swanson proudly.

"We get researchers coming in from all over the world," she continues. "Right now, there’s somebody who is a professor at a college in the United States and she’s sitting downstairs doing research. People travel from all over the world to come here and Toronto is lucky enough to have it in their backyard."

A collection of Against Racism Buttons. Photo courtesy of the CLGA.

Laurie Bertram teaches a fourth year seminar about the history of sex work in Canada at U of T says her students often use the archives, and that more folks should just pop in for fun to see what's up.

"What happened in Toronto was internationally significant. I always get the sense that [the students] reconnect with that history and that they’re always surprised and really excited to see what people in Toronto accomplished," says Bertram.

The CLGA is not only free to access, but it has its own fiction and non-fiction library and a gallery space.

A 2002 Archives retrospective poster. Photo courtesy of the CLGA.

Digging into vertical files like a detective in a thriller movie can be intimidating, but the gallery showcases some cool things Canadian queers have accomplished.

"One of our collections that is close to my heart is the Coming Out Radio Show, Canada’s first LGBT radio show. It was run out of B.C.," notes Bertram. 

But beyond the collections, it's the idea of the archive itself that's important to Toronto.

A shot from Hanlan's Point during a Toronto Pride meetup in 1986. Photo courtesy of the CLGA.

"There is some really old thinking that the only archives that really existed were the ones that were created by the government, the church  and by universities, and when people started realizing that their stories and their histories weren’t in those archives, that’s when you get this movement of people trying to save their own history," says Swanson.

"Not everybody was baptized, and smaller archives like the CLGA offer a place for people who feel like they’ve been left out of the mainstream narrative to make sure that their history is being put somewhere where people can have access to it."

It's the beginning of 2017 and already a number of local businesses have announced their plans to shut down. 

Furniture store Andrew Richards Designs at 571 Adelaide Street West, as well as its affiliated art gallery STRUCK Contemporary and its second floor event space, suddenly shut down this week.

According to a notice posted on the door, they were behind just under $60,000 in rent.

This afternoon, a bailiff was supervising as people cleared out what was left on site. Apparently, they're moving it all to another location, though we're unable to confirm where just yet.

STRUCK Contemporary, a commercial gallery, opened in fall 2015 and hosted a number of shows and exhibitions, mainly featuring pop art. It has another location in Rosedale, at 1066 Yonge Street, which is still open.

Andrew Richard Designs is a well-known, albeit pricey outdoor furniture brand. Since it opened, it built an impressive client list, with some of the world's biggest hotel chains and numerous corporate companies. 

Its event space, just upstairs from the retail store and gallery, was a popular option for weddings and corporate events.

Today in Toronto there's entertainment aplenty with magic shows, new theatre productions, the on-going Design Offsite festival, and a huge rock show from a very popular Japanese punk band making a stop at Rebel.

The most beautiful places in Toronto during the winter offer sweeping views of snow-covered trees and frozen lake vistas. Even if you've lived in the city all your life, it's still remarkable to consider how many places there are that allow us to soak up nature just minutes from densely populated urban areas.

Be amazed by Toronto in this photo gallery of the city's most beautiful places in the winter.

With the sheer number of food events in Toronto, it looks like organizers need to get creative to help new ones stand out. And while the latest food fest might sound gimmicky, it's focused on raising awareness about an important issues in the city. 

Food waste is a huge problem in Toronto. That's why numerous entrepreneurs and innovators have come up with creative solutions to keep good food out of dumpsters.

The latest initiative is Trashed & Wasted; it's a new food event happening at Artscape Wychwood Barns on March 1.

Trashed & Wasted aims to repurpose food waste and will feature cocktails as well as dishes made with ingredients that might've otherwise made their way to the trash can (or green bin).

The Trashed & Wasted team tells us additional details about the event will be made available soon.

Upcoming events for kids in Toronto might help you get organized for Family Day and March break, but there are actually so many family friendly festivals this winter that weekends should be a breeze to plan too. 

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

Bars for day drinking in Toronto are a special breed. It's not just about being open earlier than most other places — there's plenty of options in that regard — but rather a vibe that's conducive to whiling away the day over a few quiet pints or afternoon-appropriate cocktails. 

Here are my picks for the top bars for day drinking in Toronto.

Birreria Volo

This beer-focused bar opens at 2 p.m. each day its open so you can plan your session drinking. There's a dizzying array of options here from hard-to-find European offerings to local craft beer on tap and by the bottle. The growing natural wine list is also worth mentioning should you want to shake it up. The snack-y menu will keep you upright.

Bar Raval 

How many places in the city have a cocktail list partially designed to encourage day drinking? With its long hours (8 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily), Bar Raval offers numerous options that are heavy on flavour but light on pure booze. There's also craft beer, a smart wine list, and a Spanish-influenced menu that encourages nibbling.

Northwood

One of my favourite places to start early, Northwood allows you to begin with a coffee (they open at noon) and then transition into beer or booze. There's always a well chosen selection of craft beer, but it's the extensive cocktail list that spans classics to modern concoctions that gets me. Sister spot Northern Belle is also an option.

Sneaky Dee's

If it's nachos and cheap pitchers that you're after, Sneaky Dee's is the place. It opens at 9 a.m. on the weekend for brunch, but drinkers would be best advised to come after 1 p.m. when the crowd has thinned out a bit.

Ronnie's

Everyone's favourite Kensington Market watering hole does brisk business with a loyal day drinking crowd. The bar opens at 1 p.m. each day and slowly fills up in the hours before 5 p.m. with a crowd chattering over pints and cheap domestic bottles. In the summer, the patio is rammed from open to close.

Library Bar at the Royal York

Day drinking doesn't have to make you seem like a degenerate. On the contrary, the activity can be perfectly refined. For an upscale day-drinking experience head to the gorgeous Library Bar at the Royal York. The space is reserved for afternoon tea during weekends, but opens at 11:30 a.m. for your Mad Men-esque weekday drinking adventures.

Bar Hop Brewco

Bar Hop and sister location Bar Hop Brewco open at 12 p.m. on weekdays, while the later takes an extra hour of rest on weekends opening at 1 p.m. These spots are all about the beer, with over 35 options on tap along with frequent cask options. There's a full menu to keep your buzz under control.

Betty's

This King East spot is your classic unpretentious day-drinking spot where folks will generally grab a bite to eat, watch some soccer or other sports, and enjoy a few pints before the sun sets. The bar opens at 11 a.m. daily. 

Imperial Pub

For some of us, the day drinking experience should have a little bit of grit to it, which is what you get at the Imperial, which opens at 11 a.m. daily. The crowd is a mix of Ryerson students and more grizzled drinkers, but the room oozes Toronto character and the friendly staff have seen it all. 

Queen & Beaver

Day drinking is synonymous with the British pub experience, of which the Queen & Beaver is one of Toronto's best options. The pub opens at 10 a.m. on weekends and 11:30 a.m. the rest of the week. Sister pub the Wickson Social is also a good bet for an English breakfast and an afternoon of pints.

The top fast food restaurants in Toronto may have started right here in Hogtown, but in many case they've grown to expand their businesses within the city and beyond. Friendly service at lightning speed have become the hallmark of these places where Torontonians go to pick up quick eats.

Here are my picks for the top fast food restaurants in Toronto.

Smoke's Poutinerie

The best poutine you’ll ever eat out of a cardboard box, this Canadian chain has made a name for itself in Toronto and beyond. Gloppy, indulgent combos like veggie rainbow (guac, sour cream, sriracha, cheese sauce) and specials like breakfast poutines are all served over a base of fries, gravy, and way too many curds.

Burger's Priest 

Any burger fan in Toronto knows this place. With a myriad of crazy combos like chili cheese burgers with biblical names as well as veggie burgers that are cheese-stuffed mushrooms rather than compressed veggie patties, Burger’s Preists are performing service all over the place.

Burrito Boyz

Another heart, indulgent, and totally Canadian option, Burrito Boyz has been the late-night bastion of many a hungry city person. Fat burritos are served in a casual, fun environment.

Freshii

Not exactly what one tends to think of when thinking of fast food, this healthy purveyor will never the less whip you up a healthy bowl or wrap in no time. Packed with veggies and fruit, Freshii defies the concept that quick service equals eschewing vitamins.

Ma Ve Ma Kitchen Express

This is another place that doesn’t demand a compromise between nourishment and speed when it comes to food consumption. Mediterranean dishes such as shawarma on hummus, falafel, and laffa wraps along with mint lemonade are all on offer here.

The Chickery

Sick of KFC? Tired of Popeye’s? This Canadian chain is the answer to your prayers. Serving fried chicken and parmesan “feathers” with a variety of dipping sauces and a good array of sides, this place is revitalizing the fast food fried chicken game.

Paramount

With to-go and sit-down options available at its numerous locations, Paramount is defining the finest in fast Middle Eastern food. Saj bread, shawarma, and more locally inspired options like pizza are on the menu.

Pizzaiolo

It feels like there’s one of these every block in Toronto, and while it may not be the very best of what the city’s pizza has to offer, it’ll do in a pinch when one is looking to squelch a rumbling tummy on a day out without breaking the bank.

Ali Baba's

I’m pretty sure if you haven’t been to Ali Baba’s, you don’t really live in Toronto. The spots may not be the cleanest and the food might be dirt cheap, but man, you can’t beat those twofer daily specials and late hours. Major points for occasionally exceptional service and a huge range of drink options from strawberry milk to Sumol.

California Sandwiches

Toronto’s favourite Italian sandwich chain still has lineups out the door, especially at their original Little Italy location. Big, sloppy veal, chicken or eggplants sandwiches are loaded up with their signature red sauce, mushrooms and onions.

Laneway housing is often heralded as a way to help satisfy Toronto's voracious appetite for detached homes in densely populated areas. This example at 3265 Howland Avenue is a good example of why people get so excited about the idea.

While this isn't a big home, its unique design makes it feel larger than it is. It won't work for families with multiple kids running around on account of the one bedroom plus loft setup, but what a space it is for an individual or couple without little ones.

The master bedroom, for instance, is the showpiece of the home. It takes up the entire second floor, features a nice-looking staircase to the second bedroom loft, which in turn leads to a secluded upper deck that overlooks the Annex.

In general, the entire property seems wonderfully private compared to typical street-side houses in the city. Despite the small size of the home, there's actually lots of outdoor space in a tree-heavy location that adds to the sense that this is an urban retreat just steps from Dupont St. 

Specs

• Address: 3265 Howland Ave.
• Price: $1,089,000
• Lot Size: 58 x 30 feet
• Bedrooms: 2
• Bathrooms: 1
• Parking: 1 car garage
• Walk Score: 75
• Transit Score: 92
• Listing agent: Yvonne O'Hara
• Listing ID: C3683593

Noteworthy Features

• Wolf stove and high end appliances
• Wood burning stove
• Treetop patio
• Addition approved by city

Good For

Someone who can't decide whether or not to buy a house or a condo. This space feels like a bit of both given its size and design. You'll get the privacy of a detached home, and the architectural design of a new condo.

Move On If

You need more space. While the second floor loft bedroom could work for a family with young kids, this space isn't really built for a growing family. It's the perfect pad for a kid-free couple with a healthy appreciation for unique architecture.

Thank you to Bosley Real Estate Ltd, Brokerage for sponsoring or house of the week. All editorial written and selected by blogTO.

It's a great day to be a Toronto Blue Jays fan. 

According to several reports, Jose Bautista has agreed to a one-year contract with the Jays, with options that could keep him around for longer.

This comes after the Jays lost Edwin Encarnacion to a three-year deal to the Cleveland Indians earlier this off-season.

While the news about Edwin may have broke the hearts of die-hard fans, the city is freaking out today for the return of Joey Bats. Here are some of my favourite reactions on Twitter.

You might be hearing a lot about the Women's March on Washington, a rally happening on Saturday, January 21 (or Donald Trump's first day in office) that's expected to draw about 200,000 participants. 

For those who can't make it to D.C., there are satellite events happening all over North America, including here in Toronto.

Co-organizer Kavita Dogra says ten women, who were strangers until about eight weeks ago, came together to organize the Women's March on Washington: Toronto. 

She's running the event under the banner We Talk Women, the organization she founded to raise awareness about issues effecting women and girls.

March with us. https://t.co/foQBS6ouHG#WomensMarch#womensmarchTOpic.twitter.com/nFA0R9aq79

— We Talk Women (@WeTalkWomen) December 15, 2016

The rally will start at Queen's Park at noon, before it moves south towards the American Embassy. It'll end at Nathan Phillips Square.

On Facebook, nearly 6,000 people say they're attending, while 8,000 have indicated they're interested in the event.

“We obviously take those numbers with a grain of salt," says Dogra. "You know 7,000 people may not show up, but they might. We are kind of preparing for thousands of people to come.”

To help get ready for Saturday, Dogra and her team set up a GoFundMe page, which brought in more than $12,000.

That money will go towards making sure the rally's accessible, renting sound equipment and hiring ASL interpreters. There will be about 100 volunteer marshals on site as well as police.

At Queen's Park, and later, at Nathan Phillips Square, speakers will address the crowd, touching on a variety of issues relevant to those living and working in Toronto. Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam, for instance, will be speaking at the end of the march outside of City Hall.

"Although we certainly stand in solidarity with the women in Washington, our speakers will focus on issues that are impacting marginalized communities in Toronto," says Dogra.

Yay! Forecast for #Toronto#WomensMarch looks well above seasonal. Grab your mittens and join on in! @WeTalkWomen@CdnWomenMarchpic.twitter.com/jx6E3SRxX4

— Amanda St. Jean (@AmandaStJean) January 15, 2017

Ultimately, the march aims to stand up to hate and to do something active in what feels like a rapidly changing world.

"We come together to say we will not be silent in the face of the hate that has threatened, demonized and insulted so many of us – Muslims, Jews, racialized people, Indigenous people, migrants and those with precarious or no legal status, members of the LGBTTQQ2SI communities, disabled people and women," reads the Facebook event description.

And as Dogra iterates, it's about giving all people a chance to march right here at home. 

“It’s not in everybody’s capacity to be able to go to Washington, and I was in the same boat, which is why we decided to do something locally."

Could it be that one of the most exciting recently proposed condos in the Toronto area is located in Mississauga? It certainly looks that way.

Part of the M City development that marks the Rogers' family's entry into the real estate game, the eponymous central tower of will rise to 60 storeys and feature a zig-zag design that counters the curves of the nearby Absolute towers. Right now it's slated to be the tallest building in Mississauga.

The building looked promising when the project was first announced last fall, but a new rendering of the CORE Architects-designed tower reveals an even more impressive facade.

Given the size of the development, the slick-looking long podium also helps to give the site an urban vibe that could have been missed if the building had merely a vertical presence. 

Right now, the site is a huge empty field in the heart of a sprawling downtown Mississauga that's still defined by huge blocks that are anything but pedestrian friendly. The density of this development could begin to start changing the way that people experience the city. 

And the architecture on display here will certainly turn heads in Toronto.

Today in Toronto there's an impressive Janis Joplin tribute, a couple of important art shows and the Design Offsite Festival continues, but more importantly, there's a Shake Shack pop-up at Momofuku's Daishō. It's first come first serve, just sayin'.

At last night's Pride Toronto Annual General Meeting, Pride members voted to agree to all eight of the Black Lives Matter demands that were presented at the Pride parade last summer. 

A motion to address Black Lives Matter's demands came in early at yesterday's meeting, which Pride Toronto held inside a gymnasium on the Ryerson University campus.

The night's agenda was amended and a vote was struck. The majority of the room voted in favour of Pride Toronto agreeing to all eight of the demands, including the "removal of police floats in the Pride marches and parades."

The Pride Toronto General Meeting traditionally focuses on the past year's activities and finances as well as voting in new board of director members.

It quickly shifted to address community concerns over Black Lives Matter. Pride officially apologized to the group late last year. 

Five new board members were voted in at the end of the meeting. They are Sarah Cooper, Nicole Desnoyers,  Black Lives Matter organizer Akio Maroon, Elijah Monroe and Kevin Rambally.

What would stop you from taking the TTC? Sure, fares have gone up and sometimes, service is less than reliable, but many of us still need to hope of the Red Rocket to get around the city.

However, as CBC News reports, ridership numbers are down an estimated 15 million trips, which might cost the TTC $46 million. 

This issue, as well as others facing the transit agency will be discussed at today's TTC board meeting. 

TTC Chair Josh Colle tells CBC that year-over-year, the transit agency grew its ridership numbers by only 0.4 per cent since 2015.

It's unclear why the 2016 numbers seemed to stagnate, but some critics say they have to do with fare increases and inconsistent service.

Robbie Burns Day is January 25 and events in Toronto for 2017 range from Scotch egg tastings and brewmaster dinners to plain old drinking parties in honour of the late, great Scottish poet.

The TTC is slowly making the switch to the PRESTO fare card system, meaning it'll eventually phase out older forms of payment, such as Metropasses and tokens, likely sometime in 2018. But as it rolls out the new technology, the incoming system continues to experience problems.

The latest issue has to do with the new PRESTO fare gates. According to the Toronto Star, there are 376 new Presto gates at 41 different subway stations; however, at any given time, 12 per cent of them are down.

Anyone know whether #Metrolinx or the #TTC conducted any kind of user requirements/task analysis study for the #Presto gates? Of *any* kind?

— Jerzy Jarmasz (@jjarmasz) January 18, 2017

While the Star notes that this is an improvement since November - when 18 per cent of the gates were down - it still points to problems with the new system.

Along with the gates, there have been issues with the PRESTO Card auto reload machines. Metrolinx has said it's prepared to replace them.

The best new cheap eats in Toronto are a testament not only to our taste buds but also our thriftiness. We wily Torontonians know there doesn’t have to be a divide between the two, and rather that a low price and glorious taste can actually work in perfect harmony.

Here the best new cheap eats from 2016 in Toronto.