Toronto's been in a bit of fog lately. And if you feel like you haven't seen the sun in ages, you're probably not alone.

That's because, as Global News reports, January 2017 has been one of the darkest in years. As of Thursday the 26th, Toronto had experienced only four days that featured some sunshine.

By way of comparison, the average for January is 21 days when the sun pokes through the clouds at some point.

Put differently, we've only seen a paltry 12 total hours of sunshine this month. The average is 85.9 hours. It doesn't look like we'll be bridging that gap before the 31st.

So if you've been humming and hawing over buying a SAD light, now might be the time to pull the trigger.

There's an undeniable allure to elbow-bending at an old bar. You can imagine all those who've occupied the room before you doing pretty much the exact same thing, which turns the humble watering hole into a bridge that links the past and present together like a time machine.

The general consensus is that Toronto's oldest bar is the Wheat Sheaf Tavern, located at the southwest corner of King and Bathurst streets. Aside from an eight month blip in 1995, the bar's been operational since Bernard Short opened it in 1849.

The Black Bull on Queen West might have been founded earlier (1833 or 1838, depending on who you ask), but it went by the name Clifton House for decades before it reverted to its original moniker in the late 1970s, which some argue disqualifies it from the title.  

Wheat Sheaf Tavern in the 1970s. Photo via Chuckman's Nostalgia.

That, in fact, is one of the things that's most remarkable about the Wheat Sheaf. Despite a host of different proprietors in the 19th and early 20th centuries, it somehow retained its name and general identity. 

There have been changes along the way, though. The striking mansard roof that's arguably the building's calling card wasn't installed until a few decades after the tavern opened. The addition of the third storey occurred in 1905, following the popularity of the Second Empire architectural style. 

The Wheat Sheaf's ugly grey facade in 1981. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

For much of the 20th century, the building's original brick was painted over in an ugly off-white paint, representative of the general lack of care directed towards heritage buildings at the time. It actually took the closure of the business for the building to be restored.

A Globe and Mail article from 2001 tells the story of how Terry Tsianos spotted a for sale sign in the window of the shuttered tavern on the way home from a softball game and quickly moved with his partners in the Pegasus Group to purchase and restore the legendary tavern.

Wheat Sheaf Tavern in 1983. Photo by Patrick Cummins.

Architecturally speaking, it's actually easier to appreciate the history of the bar today than it was in the 1960s and '70s. The paint's finally been stripped and the old chimney stands out as an obvious feature on the east-facing side of the building.

As historian Doug Taylor has noted, this would have been the primary source of heat for the tavern in the early days. Eventually as the building expanded, so too did its heat sources, but it's fun to imagine soldiers from Fort York warming themselves with a drink by the fire some 150 years ago. 

Wheat Sheaf Tavern, 2011. Photo by Grant D.

Speaking of Fort York, the most persistent urban legend that surrounds the Wheat Sheaf involves a tunnel that apparently ran between the tavern and the military barracks.

Sadly, this is almost surely a bit of hopeful fiction, given that the distance between the bar and the Fort is about 500 metres. 

The engineering prowess to construct such a thing without detection is quite frankly unthinkable, particularly when you consider that soldiers were given a daily beer ration. 

Tunnel or no tunnel, the Wheat Sheaf is one of the city's most historically imbued places. If the walls could talk, the tale would be as epic a narrative as Toronto has to tell. 

In the latest bit of troubling news related to Toronto's real estate market comes a report from the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD), which suggests the city's soaring housing prices are a sign of trouble on the horizon.

"We have a shortage of housing supply in the GTA that is approaching crisis levels,” BILD President and CEO Bryan Tuckey said in a press release. 

This lack of inventory is driving prices to record highs with no let up in demand. The average price for a detached home in the GTA reached $1,264,604 at the end of 2016, marking an increase of $273,000 in the last 12 months according to BILD's figures. 

“Housing is selling as quickly as the industry can bring it to market and the lack of developable land that is serviced with infrastructure, excessive red tape, out-of-date zoning and NIMBYism are hindering our ability to bring more to the market.”

The numbers related to inventory are, indeed, scary. According to BILD, "at the end of December 2016 there were 13,670 new homes available for purchase, less than half of the 30,400 homes that were available in builders’ inventories a decade ago."

Much of the supply that is available comes in the form of condos, though unit availability reached a decade-long low at 11,792 units last month. Of the low-rise housing on the market, just 742 were single-family detached homes.

As these numbers continue to paint a picture of a market with prices spiraling out of control, some economists believe the government will intervene to cool the market. Until that happens, it appears more records are on track to be broken.

HMV Canada announced today that it will close all 102 of its remaining stores across Canada on April 30. After 30 years in the business the music retailer was put into receivership Friday and the majority of its head office staff was let go.

The stores, including the massive Toronto flagship store on Yonge Street which opened in 1991, will remain in operation until they sell off most of their merchandise at liquidated pricing. 

Last year, HMV closed both its Eaton Centre and Bloor St. stores. At the time, the president and CEO told us that the chain was still going to stick around in higher foot-traffic and less lease-onerous locations.

But, as the Financial Post reports, HMV owes music studios and labels around $56 million. Its creditors simply wouldn't let it continue any longer.

Wellington Street tends to get lost in historical overviews of Toronto, wedged as it is between Front and King streets. And yet, if you go far enough back, it's obvious that it was every bit as important to the burgeoning city, particularly as it plays a role in one of our most famous intersections. 

Is there a more iconic historical building in Toronto than the Gooderham Building, our own Flat Iron? It'd be tough to live in the city for too long without confronting this red brick marvel, constructed in 1892. Apparently George Gooderham Sr. could see to his distillery from the office on the top floor at the turn of the century.

It wasn't the first building at this intersection with such a footprint, though. The first three-storey iteration dates back to before 1838, and was called the Coffin Block. We live with the remainder of this idiosyncratic cartography and recognize it implicitly with things like the Berzcy Park revitalization. 

But, of course, Wellington's importance extends beyond this intersection. The street was one of the major victims of the Great Fire of 1904. The event would reduce the city rubble, and the street would never be the same through its central section.

Wellington was rebuilt through the core, but the biggest changes the street witnessed came decades later, when its western reaches were redeveloped as the density of downtown pushed westward. 

The view towards downtown in the 1970s and 1980s showed a parking lot-strewn path toward the Financial District that seems completely foreign now. This was before the CBC Building filled the souther part of the frame, and the eventual rise of South Core.

It's actually quite stunning, this empty Toronto along Wellington. What is this city with so much space? Let's remember the buildings that still remain.

Behold, what Wellington St. used to look like in Toronto.

The Bank of British North America, northeast corner of Yonge and Wellington, 1856. 

The Coffin Block (precursor to the Gooderham/Flat Iron Building), 1872.

Aftermath of the Great Toronto Fire of 1904, Wellington and Bay streets.

128 Wellington St., 1932.

Looking east from Church and Wellington, 1913.

Wellington and Windsor streets, 1950.

Wellington and Scott streets, 1960s.

Yonge and Wellington streets, 1960s.

Wellington and Bay streets, 1960s.

Wellington and Front streets nearing intersection at Church (pre-Berczy Park), 1960s.

Wellington and Leader Lane, early 1970s.

Looking north toward Wellington from Front. St., early 1970s.

Looking west along Wellington from Yonge St., 1970s.

The beginnings of Derek Michael Besant's mural at the rear of the Gooderham / Flat Iron Building, 1979.

A very different Toronto, looking east along Wellington from John, late 1970s.

Similar view, warehouse building on the left now demolished, 1980s.

Wellington looking toward Spadina, 1980s.

There aren't very many concerts in the winner's circle at the Woodbine Racetrack. But in May, a group of volunteers packed a school bus with music-loving Torontonians and treated them to a show there.

Sofar Sounds Toronto is a volunteer run organization that's part of the larger Sofar Sounds network, which runs secret and intimate concerts in 310 cities around the world. And now, the Toronto arm is slowly expanding. 

Jon Campbell, who helps runs Sofar Sounds Toronto, tells me that Toronto started hosting Sofar shows intermittently in 2011. But in late 2014, they rejigged their team and since early 2015, the group's run at least one show per month - they're now up to two per month with a third one on the way.

These concerts all happen in unconventional spaces, such as at Woodbine Racetrack. They've popped up in offices - like LinkedIn's Toronto headquarters - living rooms and backyards. Attendees don't find out the location until about 48 hours before show time.

Campbell thinks Sofar's a lesson in place-making. "In addition to being able to experience the musical landscape in all it’s glory, you also get to experience the city in a new and different way," he says.

While Sofar exists in pretty much every major city, Campbell wants to make the Toronto edition unique.

Part of that involves bringing in a diverse range of artists - from indie bands (such as the Great Lake Swimmers) to classical pianists, traditional Estonian folk groups and even a kamancello player.

"We have a captive audience that loves music and don’t realize they love all kinds of music until it’s thrust at them," says Campbell. "So we’re happy to be enabling that discovery ."

The newest Sofar Sounds Toronto show will be in Scarborough, a part of the city that's sorely lacking in contemporary music venues. “There a tons of people who are eager for shows to come to them," says Campbell.

Anyone can go to a Sofar show - all you have to do is go online and apply to attend. 

Since each concert is supposed to be intimate, not everyone will get to go to each one; that shouldn't stop you from trying. After all, it's the intimacy that makes Sofar so special.  

There was a dark day in Toronto when rep and indie cinemas were seemingly fading into the background of the city's cultural fabric. 

Thankfully things have changed, and now Toronto's smaller movie theatres seem to be more popular than ever. So what the heck happened?

"There are so many cool little collective bands of weirdos who have come together ... doing their part to make Toronto this really interesting vibrant scene," says Alan Smith, general manager at Carlton Cinema.

Though the Carlton is one of the lucky theatres that get to play first-run blockbuster films, its also hosts a small mountain of independent film festivals like Little Terrors, Wild Sound, the Muff Society and Shorts That Are Not Pants.

Rogue One feeds the bank account and the unique programming feeds the soul.

"We’ve developed a rabid fan base for some of these things, and it’s great," he says.

"A great amount of theatres closed because they weren’t doing anything [new], they were just playing movies you could see at 20 different places. Now we have to be the only place you can see Beetlejuice this month or a weird Turkish knock-off film."

Here's what happened: Festival Cinema Group was a conglomerate who owned The Revue, The Kingsway, The Paradise, Bloor Cinema, The Fox and The Royal. You could buy a $5 pass and see films at any of these theatres. It was a small and sturdy network that collapsed in 2006. 

Some theatres closed down because they didn't adapt quickly enough, but the ones that remain took another route and programmed unique films and worked with their communities to create neighbourhood cinemas.

Neighbourhood sign maker Lee Newman crafted Revue Cinema letters on the current facade. Photo by Michael Monastyrskyj.

"It’s definitely a good time to be doing event driven cinema," says Eric Veillette, program director at The Revue. "People want to leave the house, you’ll either come see a movie that’s curated for you or you’ll sit on your couch and go through through Netflix for 45 minutes and watch something you’ve seen 16 times."

Veillette believes that by giving moviegoers a more interactive and communal experience, or something they won't get at a big theatre, they'll come out.

And they have. The Revue is a not-for-profit, community-run theatre that continuously sells out.

"Anybody could have gone to see La La Land the weekend it opened but there’s a big chunk of the population that is waiting for The Revue to play it," he says. There's a deeper connection to these theatres.

Colin Geddes programs The Royal with his partner Katarina Gligorijevic and had to completely reinvent what the theatre was showing to survive.

The Royal exists in a part of the city that can't show blockbuster films at the same time as The Carlton and The Revue because they're just too close to one another.

There's a camaraderie between all the indie cinemas, but this geography is still a bummer for The Royal. But, its programmers them to get creative when they took it over three years ago.

The marquee at The Royal on College Street. The Royal

"One of our friends said that going to the Royal back then felt like doing homework. It wasn’t fun," says Geddes. "We wanted to reinvigorate it ... to make sure The Royal is not homework. How do you get people off their couches and into the theatre?"

The Royal, like many theatres, is now fully licensed, which is another helpful factor.

And its staff work alongside community members to curate popular nights like Drunk Feminist Film Club (which sells out in minutes), Screen Queens, and Band and a Movie. 

There are often talks and performances so "you see something before the film which is not ads about cars," says Geddes, who used to program Kung Fu Fridays at The Royal in its original days. The Royal is also home to a full post-production house in addition to the theatre itself. 

Toronto's independent cinemas are once again a community and thriving from east to west. They're places willing to take risks and see what sticks and to provide movie-goers with experiences that sterile, mega-plexes couldn't even dream of. 

Maria Rio only got into photography about one year ago. Over the past 12 months, she garnered more than 40,000 Instagram followers who like and comment on her photos that document Toronto.

Rio says she fell into photography almost by accident. While out for dinner one night, her friends were admiring a photo of a bench. Rio joked that anyone could take a picture like that. Her friends told her to prove it.

A photo posted by Maria Rio (@see.toronto) on Dec 25, 2016 at 6:12am PST

For her account @see.toronto, she uses a Motorala Hasselbad, but started out with a Samsung Galaxy 5S. She does everything on her phone, including editing via the Snapseed app.

A photo posted by Maria Rio (@see.toronto) on Nov 14, 2016 at 6:50am PST

Over the past year, she's connected with the local Instagram community and has learned a lot from other Toronto photographers. She also likes sharing her newfound passion with this crew.

A photo posted by Maria Rio (@see.toronto) on Dec 20, 2016 at 8:20am PST

“They understand when you want to go outside and it’s a blizzard and like negative 30 degrees,” she says.

A photo posted by Maria Rio (@see.toronto) on Apr 2, 2016 at 1:39pm PDT

Currently, Rio works fulltime in the non-profit sector and is finishing up a double degree in English and history at the University of Toronto - the on-campus architecture is one of her favourite subjects to shoot.

A photo posted by Maria Rio (@see.toronto) on Sep 19, 2016 at 10:09am PDT

She also likes going down to Polson Pier and frequents a hidden spot at Woodbine Beach.

A photo posted by Maria Rio (@see.toronto) on Oct 20, 2016 at 9:03am PDT

Rio came to Toronto when she was nine years old as a refugee from Mexico and now, she loves showing off the city via Instagram. She says she get encouraging messages from people located around the world.

A photo posted by Maria Rio (@see.toronto) on Nov 5, 2016 at 8:54am PDT

As she continues documenting life in Toronto, she hopes to improve her photography skills and is saving up to buy herself a DSLR camera.

A photo posted by Maria Rio (@see.toronto) on Dec 15, 2016 at 8:14am PST

“I started this with the intention of having a hobby and doing something new," she says. "And I’ve  met so many cool people along the way."

A photo posted by Maria Rio (@see.toronto) on Nov 10, 2016 at 8:56am PST

That's sentiment echoed by many local Instagram stars - even though they work online, they make meaningful and lasting connections IRL too. 

What do you want for dinner? If you don't feel like cooking, you can get a meal from nearly any restaurant in the city delivered straight to your door. 

“All of sudden everything is deliverable,” says Mark Kupfert, who co-owns popular vegan spot Kupfert & Kim. “Whereas before you’d think I want food delivery and you were limited to pizza.”

His restaurant has partnered with numerous delivery services, including foodora (formerly Hurrier) and UberEATS – the two most predominant players in Toronto’s food delivery market right now.

UberEATS has about 1,000 restaurant partners in the GTA and foodora has 550. And while these companies give local restaurants access to a broad range of customers, they also take a sizeable chunk off of each order.

“The argument is that these are sales we would have not normally achieved and so it’s worth paying these extra premiums,” says Kupfert about why restaurants tend to sign up with these companies.

Linda Dang, who runs North Poké in Kensington Market, says she signed up for UberEATS and foodora two weeks after opening her restaurant.

“We wanted the extra exposure to new customers seeing that we were a very small start up,” she says. “We definitely don't have the same marketing budget as other restaurants, so this was an easier way to gain new customers.”

On average, she gets about 20 to 30 orders through these services per day, but admits the commission foodora and UberEats takes can get expensive.

“We only make money when we send a restaurant an order,” says foodora’s general manager in Toronto David Albert. He confirms foodora takes roughly 30 per cent off of each order (along with charging a $4.50 delivery fee on the customer end).

With UberEATS, the commission ranges from 25 to 35 per cent, plus customers pay $4.99 for delivery. Customers can also get dinged with $7.49 busy area fee, which general manager Dan Park describes as sort of a surge charge.

On both platforms, this commission rate is flexible. To respond, some restaurants raise their prices—Kupfert and Kim increased its prices by about $1 per item and so did Nom Nom Nom Crepes.

This crepe poutine place, located in Market 707, relies heavily on delivery services in the winter months. “It really helped us, especially since we’re an outdoor market,” says owner Marc Perraut.

Perraut signed up with all of the major delivery players and has a wall of technology filled with iPads from each platform.

And although Perraut admits the commission fees are going up, for him, it’s worth it in the winter, even if it can get a little bit frustrating once he’s busier in the summertime. Ultimately, however, it just makes more sense to stay online for the extra business.

The Church-Wellesley Village held  a Community Safety Meeting on Thursday, January 26 hosted by Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam at the 519 in direct response to a growing concern over increasing violence and crime in the neighbourhood.

During the meeting, mini-groups were formed with specific topics for people to comment on. Wong-Tam, city councilor for Ward 27 was in attendance, and so was Danielle Bottineau, the Toronto Police Service LGBT Liaison Officer.

Residents discussing openly and honestly about substance abuse, mental health, poverty, safety concerns and police response @kristynwongtampic.twitter.com/eotR9ej01M

— Edward LaRusic (@EddieLaRusic) January 26, 2017

75 community members, business owners and city representatives gathered to talk about the alleged increase in violent behaviour and shoplifting on the strip.

"We were hearing concerns from community members about incidents they they're seeing and not knowing what to do with them," she says. "Sometimes people in the community don't reach out to the police because they don't feel safe, and sometimes the police are the problem.

"We feel like we've given up on the police because they just don't respond," was the clear message according to Wong-Tam. 

Many in the community are pointing to one culprit through complaints on Facebook, and it's Cannabis Culture at 461 Church Street. Staff from Cannabis Culture were in attendance.

"Establishments such as Cannabis Culture don't understand the nature of our community," Wong-Tam says. "So they are people who don't understand it's a gay village ... There are going to be transgender people, gender non-conforming people, people that they may not have experience interacting with."

Mark Emery, owner of Cannabis Culture, says he hasn't heard any complaints at the shop in person and no one complained at the Safety Meeting despite threats and having had paint thrown on their windows.

They have security outside seven days a week. They donate to community organizations and "deal with 1,500 - 700 people a day and at least 850 of whom are LGBT," he says. 

"I'm doing everything that's possible to a patrol [guard outside the shop], donating money, to making it gay friendly with murals inside, but I can't control behaviours beyond that.

There are a number of compassion clinics and dispensaries operating around the village that have operated without any trouble. 

"In no way is a few people smoking joints our problem," she says.  "Our problems are so much deeper and systemic and there has to be some community and government responses. Everyone has to work together."

Wong-Tam's office hopes to release a work plan for 2017 in the next month and a half. 

Brunch restaurant in Toronto for large groups are not as plentiful as you might think. Luckily, the city does boast a number of worthy spots that can accommodate you and your whole squad. These restaurants are spacious, often take reservations, and of course, serve up some the tastiest brunch fare the city has to offer. 

Here are my picks for the top brunch restaurants for large groups in Toronto.

Cluny

This French-inspired bistro in the Distillery District serves up delicious brunch classics like Eggs Benedict and french toast. The spacious restaurant comfortably accommodates larger groups, though it's best to call and make a reservation in advance.

Gusto 101

The popular Italian restaurant is boasts quite an extensive brunch menu. From omelettes to ricotta pancakes, there's something for everyone. If you're in a large group you can try your luck as a walk in or plan in advance by booking a reso.

Lena

Found inside Saks at the Eaton Centre is this massive and beautifully decorated restaurant. Head over for brunch and you and your party can dig into Latin-style morning meals which include options like breakfast empanadas and potato-egg tortillas. 

Maple Leaf Tavern

The east side institution comfortably seats over 130 patrons inside its tavern-style space. Their brunch menu features boozy cocktails, tasty toasts and buttermilk waffles.

Mildred’s Temple Kitchen

Serving up some of the city's best brunch, Mildred's massive location makes it a perfect destination for large groups. Blueberry pancakes, croissants topped with poached eggs, and hearty hashes grace the menu. 

Planta

If smoothies, cold-pressed juices, and clean plant-based eats are your squad's jam, this Yorkville spot is your ultimate destination. The massive space makes it ideal for large groups, and the stunning interior will certainly up your groups Instagram game. 

Skin + Bones

Grab a group of friends and head on over to Skin + Bones to indulge in a brunch menu filled with house-baked goods, breakfast burgers and eggs benny. Reservations aren't accepted for brunch but if you head there early enough, you'll secure a table.

Souk Tabule

This massive Middle Eastern restaurant is amping things up in the Canary District with their “souk” vibe and cafe. Their menu features turmeric lattes, harissa Caesars and hot pans of shakshuka.

The Drake Hotel

This popular west side spot is well loved for its lively atmosphere and delectable brunch offers offerings. Online reservations are accepted for groups up to eight. If your party is larger, give them a call.

The Westerly

French toast, frittata and bagels and lox are a few of the things you'll find on the brunch menu at this Roncesvalles restaurant. If you're planning an outing with a large group, they take brunch reservations for 10 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday. 

Toronto concerts this February pack in infectious pop, stadium (Arcadium!) rock stars, and politically incisive rap to help get you through these difficult times (you can take that to mean what’s currently in the news, or Valentine’s Day - many sources of dread to choose from).

And even though city officials - and/or 4chan? - seem firm on killing our joy, a.k.a DIY venues, there are still a few indie gems in the mix, at least for now. 

Before we get to the one-offs, note the festivals: Wavelength #17 and Winterfolk XV duke it out on the same weekend, Somewhere There is back at the Tranzac and Long Winter migrates to The Theatre Centre this month.

Otherwise, here are my picks for the top concerts in Toronto this February.

Free events this week in Toronto involve a lot of storytelling, and that includes the Kuumba festival at Harbourfront Centre, which runs over two weekends this month. There are loads of free things happening during this vibrant festival celebrating the African-Canadian community. 

Here are my picks for the top free things to do in Toronto this week.

Warehouse sales in Toronto this month aren't too plentiful, but the ones that are taking place are all good bets. They'll cover your bases if you're looking to stock your apartment with kitchen accessories, get a new work outfit, or spoil the kids in your life. 

In a real estate market like Toronto's, its common to see houses sell for over their asking price. There's just so little supply and so much demand. Some of the more outlandish examples of this, however, are merely the result of homes being listed well below their value in the first place.

This house at 41 Grandview Ave. in Riverdale is not an example of that. Listed at $1,349,000 earlier this month, it sold after less than two weeks on the market for just over $260,000 over its asking price. That's not an outlandish bidding war, but it marks a steep price for a semi-detached three bedroom. 

There are major selling points here, though. Perhaps the most obvious of these is the stellar kitchen designed by architect Donald Chong. The house dates back to 1909, but the much of the interior looks like a new build. 

The finished basement here is also noteworthy if only for the fact that it's so necessary given the underwhelming living room area on the first floor. You can bet that the new buyers will be spending some significant time downstairs watching TV and like.

The Essentials

• Address: 41 Grandview Ave.
• Listing price: $1,349,000
• Time on the market: 11 days
• Selling price: $1,610,000

Why it sold for the price it did

This house is move-in ready with a gorgeous kitchen, four total bedrooms (including the basement), and a decent outdoor space. The recent renovation makes it a hell of lot more attractive than it would have been previously, and is surely the chief factor in it selling for over-asking.

Was it worth it?

Sure. On the downside, the bedrooms are small, and the living room area isn't particularly useful. But there are pros outweigh the cons in the general context of a housing market with so little supply. If it was listed at $1,610,000 and went for asking, no one would have been surprised.

The Toronto Light Festival in the Distillery District opens today. The event, by the same folks who run the Toronto Christmas Market, is completely free to attend and there are loads of Instagrammable installations situated throughout the neighbourhood. 

The fest  will stay lit until March 12 and you can visit from sundown until 11 p.m.

Take a peek at the Toronto Light Festival in this photo gallery.

A Toronto protest is planned in the wake of President Donald Trump's executive order on immigration that bans citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries entry into the United States. 

Organizers call for the peaceful shutdown of the US Consulate in Toronto between 8 a.m. and noon on Monday, January 30. "We will shut down the building peacefully, sitting in silence, reads the event description on Facebook.  

On Saturday evening a federal judge in Brooklyn restricted Trump's order by preventing refugees being held at US airports and borders from being sent back to their countries of origin, but the executive order still prohibits their entry into the US. 

The call for the peaceful shutdown of the US Consulate in Toronto follows a weekend of chaos at American airports and public outcry across the globe.

"Donald Trump is passing the most racist Executive Orders the world has seen in decades," the organizers write. "For all those who believe in a compassionate world, the time to act is now.

The United States has just shut down their consulate in Toronto ahead of this morning's planned protest against Trump's immigration policies that have roiled the globe over the past 72 hours.

According to CityNews, the U.S. Consulate preemptively ceased operations today to avoid any conflict with the protesters. They will be rescheduling all appointments that were previously booked for today.

Security personnel inside the consulate told us it's not yet known whether they will be re-opening tomorrow.

Things to do this week in Toronto mark comebacks of the city's biggest monthly and weekly parties. FNL at the ROM returns with their annual Afro Fete event, which is always a great time. First Thursdays is back at the AGO, and there's a night market on King Street where you can shop and dance at the same time. 

Here are my picks for the top things to do this week in Toronto.

Torontonians will be seeing few miniature blue and white Smart cars zipping around the city starting this month.

Car sharing company Car2go has announced they'll be ditching Smart cars in Toronto in favour of Mercedes-Benz CLA and GLA 4-door vehicles. They won't be quite as easy to park, but the sightly larger, fancier cars will fit more people and feature more trunk space. 

The move comes after Car2go tested larger vehicles in other cities with a very positive response and audience growth.