Oh, to be Drake. On the heels of dropping his More Life playlist, the star of Toronto's favourite son has never blazed so brightly. And soon he'll boast what might be the most pimped out pad in Toronto.

In honour of More Life's release, Ferris Rafauli, Drizzy's go-to architect and designer, showed off the progress that's been made on the Bridle Path mansion that'll soon house the star and his entourage.

A post shared by Ferris Rafauli "FR" (@ferrisrafauli) on Mar 18, 2017 at 3:21pm PDT

It was already shaping up as a monument to decadence when Drake posted a photo about a month ago, but this new fly-over video just confirms what a monster this thing's going to be.

When complete, the compound will feature a basketball court, jersey museum, luxury pool, bar area, lower level spa, awards room, snack lounge, piano room, and something called the security suite. 

If there's one bit of sass to throw Drake's way about all this is, it's that the grounds appear to pale in size to the mansion. Oh well, I guess you win some and lose some. 

If you gotta' get back to Hogwarts, you might want to bypass Platform Nine and Three Quarters and head to the newest Harry Potter-themed escape room opening near Toronto.

Oshawa Escape Rooms, located just east of the city, will debut a new game called Escaping Hogwarts on April 15.

It announced its latest, most magical escape room earlier this month, and apparently time slots are already filling up.

As we know, Toronto's filled with devoted Potterheads, and this is just the latest addition to our local wizarding landscape.

If local producers and small businesses don't follow the federal laws regarding the distribution of maple syrup, they can find themselves in a sticky situation.

That's why, for the past few years, Forbes Wild Foods has been giving away its used maple syrup bottles for free. According to Canada's Maple Products Regulations every bottle of maple syrup that has a capacity of five litres (or less) has to be new.

Forbes Wild Foods' marketing manager Dyson Forbes says farmers' market customers regularly return their empty bottles once they're done eating up the sweet, sweet maple syrup inside. 

Forbes notes he used to give all of the empties to the Alchemy Pickle Company who would sanitize and re-fill them with kombucha. However, now that Alchemy's growing, it no longer needs the bottles.

"We’re hoping to find some other young entrepreneur or somebody that’s bottling things and could cut down on costs to use them," says Dyson.

Forbes Wild Foods appears at six farmers' markets - including the ones at Wychwood Barns, Evergreen Brick Works and Sorauren Park - and has about 12 boxes of empty one litre bottles and 15 boxes of empty 225 millilitre bottles every two weeks.

Dyson posted about the bottles on Facebook. Hopefully he and his team can continue recycling their empties while helping burgeoning businesses (and following the law!) at the same time.

People have been mixing beer with their favourite drinks for ages. Concoctions like the boilermaker and the summery shandy are nothing new, but one Toronto brewery is taking things a step further by creating the country's first official beer cocktail.

Henderson Brewing, home of the Honest Ed's beer and a host of other specialty cans, has teamed up with Toronto's Martini Club to brew Old Fashioned Premium Rye Ale.

So what makes a beer cocktail? According to Buffy Steringa, events manager at Henderson, rye was used in the brewing process, making it part of the body of the beer and not just an additive. Think of it as a classic old fashioned... beer.

At 10 percent alcohol by volume, this is a strong ale. It'll be available in 650 millilitre bottles for $10.95 in the brewery's bottle shop, as well as at the LCBO later this month.

The Old Fashioned Premium Rye Ale will officially launch at the Dominion Pub + Kitchen this Thursday with a ticketed sampling party, a six-course menu and a Henderson tap takeover.

It's not as easy to discern today, but there was a time when the TTC subway system was a masterpiece of clean design. Stations were practical, orderly, and even elegant if you were partial to the minimalism of what was called bathroom architecture. 

Perhaps it's because modernist architecture tends to be undervalued or because we're so often disgruntled by our commute, but it's rare to hear much gushing these days about the austere design of mid-century TTC stations. 

Another reason might be that the formal constraint employed in the original design of the Yonge, University and Bloor-Danforth lines has been disrupted by so many station upgrades and makeovers that the initial uniformity has been mostly lost. 

The original tile colour scheme on the Yonge Line. Image by John Chew and Justin Bur.

When the Yonge Line opened, on the other hand, this uniformity made the system a gestalt. There were only three colours of station titles (Primrose, English Egg Shell, and Pearl Grey) and four types of trim (red, green, blue, and black), but the very lack of variety lent an elegance to the system as a whole. 

Union Station, 1970s. Photo by Ben Mark Holzberg, Library and Archives Canada.

Try to bear in mind that the shiny surface of the Vitrolite tiles also made a difference, as their glass surface reflected back just enough light to make the stations appear brighter than they do in the same colours today. 

Alas, the Vitrolite proved too delicate to last over the long term. Today the original tiles remain only at Eglinton Station, though every once in a while they're exposed at other stations during various maintenance and upgrade work. The rest of the stations have been outfitted in a hodgepodge of colours and styles.

The original colour scheme for station tiles on the Bloor-Danforth Line. Image by John Chew and Justin Bur.

The University Line, the second in the subway system, was a hybrid. As we've seen recently, St. Andrew and Osgoode were fashioned out of the remaining stock of Vitrolite, St. Patrick and Queen's Park used curved panels that were painted green and grey, while Museum was the first station outfitted in ceramic.

When the Bloor-Danforth Line was built in the 1960s, the TTC opted to stick with these far more durable ceramic tiles and introduced a slightly more elaborate colour scheme. Five colours of tiles were now used with the same four options for trim. 

Jane Station in 1968. Photo by David Wilson.

Using Yonge Station as the dividing line, the east and west portions of the route are laid out in different orders. Heading east, the stations are grey, peach, white, and green. Going west, the order is white, green, yellow, grey, and peach. 

Based on the way that the scheme works, there are sister stations along the line that share the same colour combination. Of these, the strangest pair might be Yonge and Lansdowne, which appear quite different in real life based on the differing light levels in each station (Yonge is much brighter).

The TTC design scheme as of 2011. Image by Jose Ongpin.

Exceptions to the original Line 2 colour scheme arose early. Terminal stations Islington and Warden, for instance, use different tiles. But it wasn't until much needed makeovers to stations like Dufferin and Pape that the internal order was compromised.

Both of these stations look far better than they used to, but something was certainly lost when the original colour scheme was dispensed with. We tend to ignore the subtleties of TTC station design, but significant thought was put into crafting a system that was aesthetically pleasing and practical.

The ceramic tiles of Line 2 are occasionally described as dreary and uninspired these days, but have they ever stood the test of time. One day we'll likely lament dispensing with the original colour scheme.

Today in Toronto the streets are alive with the sound of music. There are some great concerts on tonight as well as a free documentary festival, if you need something a little quieter.

The TTC is facing a troubling trend to start the year. Ridership numbers were down across the board during the first two months of 2017.

In January and February 2017, as the Toronto Star reports, the TTC counted 80.6 million riders. That's 700,000 fewer passengers compared to January and February 2016 and 1.7 million less than what the TTC had budgeted for. 

According to the Star, if the TTC didn't adjust its data to account for discrepancies in certain dates and holidays between the first two months 2016 and 2017, the numbers would show ridership dropped by 3.3 million passengers year over year. 

This isn't the first news of TTC ridership dropping. Passenger growth has levelled off over the past couple of years.

The Sleeknd has been out in full force this week and have been spotted at a number of Toronto mainstays, like Ripley's Aquarium, the Thompson Diner and Harbour Sixty. So where are they going to go next?

Here are my picks for the top places the Weeknd should take Selena Gomez in Toronto.

The ROM

The ROM is a great pick for any date, but the Weeknd will get extra points for bringing Selena here since the James and Louise Temerty Galleries of the Age of Dinosaurs is sure to remind her of her humble beginnings with Barney Friends. Plus, the blue whale is a must-see show.

The ACC

The ACC is home to the Leafs and Raptors as well as Drake's exclusive lounge but that's not why they should go here. The real reason is because it's also the second most Instagrammed spot in Toronto, and Selena is the most followed person on Instagram. A classy Claredon-filtered pic is definitely in order.

The Lockhart

Though Selena never appeared in a Harry Potter movie, her breakout role was also as a child wizard on The Wizards of Waverly Place. The Lockhart maintains a good balance between cool and magical, with great cocktails and delicious food inspired by the wizarding world. 

Shopping on West Queen West

Selena has already shopped Yorkville (with the Weeknd) and the Eaton Centre (with this other guy) so it's time to take her to Vogue's favourite Toronto neighbourhood. Selena can spend her time getting custom, edible lipstick at Bite Lip Lab or unique finds at Tusk.

The Faculty Club at University of Toronto

The Weeknd recently made a big donation to U of T to back its Ethiopia Studies program. Having lunch at this members-only club would be a surefire way to subtly remind Selena that he's one of Canada’s special breed of celebrity handsome-yet-good-hearted dudes.

The Madison

The Maddy doesn’t usually top the list of places that are great for dates but taking Selena to a gross mansion overrun with frat boys and beer bongs demonstrate that the Weeknd does pay attention to her more recent movie roles (Spring Breakers! Neighbours 2!).

Book City

Selena recently had a big milestone when she was featured on the cover of American Vogue. If The Weeknd knows what he’s doing, he should take Selena to one of Toronto’s most loved bookstores. There, he can show off the issue and compare it to the cover of other publications for Selena’s enjoyment (take that, ScarJo).

Come & Get It

Come & Get It is the name of the lead single from Queen Sel’s first solo album. It's also the name of this restaurant on West Queen West. If the Weeknd doesn't take her here for poutine (or a quick laugh), he's totally missing out.

A Beyography class

Selena was in Toronto last May when a scheduling mishap put her concert head-to-head with Beyonce’s. Next time this happens, they might be quicker to just let fate take the wheel and do a duo show. But first things first in this fantasy world, Selena needs to learn some of Beyonce’s moves.

Fring’s

Whether you’re a casual Drake fan or maintain a close friendship while quietly telling yourself, Lion King-style, that one day all of Toronto will be yours, the Drake owned Fring’s is a classic choice. Plus, it will give the Weeknd something to talk about the next time he hangs out with him in Europe.

It might be spring in Toronto, but it certainly doesn't feel like it today. After temperatures climbed above 10 C yesterday, the mercury dropped more than 20 degrees - it's now sitting at about -9 C outside.

The city's medical officer of health issued a preemptive cold weather alert yesterday, which seemed strange given the relatively balmy weather. By this morning, however, the cold weather alert had ended.

And while you might want to bundle up today, warm weather is (thankfully) on the horizon.

Regardless, it's nice to be able to complain about the less than optimal weather at least one more time.

Toronto's rental market has transformed over the last decade with a dramatic rise in condo units. These spaces can make a lot of sense for young professionals who aren't ready/able to buy, but still want the amenities and design features of a newer building.

This unit in the Robert Watson Lofts on Sorauren is a good example of what the contemporary condo rental has to offer: an open concept space, new(ish) appliances, an in-suite washer/dryer and a balcony.

If you're lucky, amenities like a gym will also be part of the package, as is the case here. There's also a parking spot, which isn't always guaranteed.

If there's a downfall to renting condo units, it's the price. Not only are they typically more expensive than units of a similar size in older apartment buildings (not a surprise), but rent hikes are more common thanks to a lack of governmental regulation on post-1991 buildings.

At $2,200, this rental ain't cheap, but it's aesthetically pleasing, decently sized, and located in an attractive neighbourhood. That'll cost you a pretty penny these days.

Specs

• Address: 369 Sorauren Avenue
• Building type: Condo
• Rent: $2,200
• Bedrooms: 1
• Bathrooms: 1
• Parking: 1
• Laundry? Yes (in-suite)
• Outdoor space? Balcony
• Pet friendly? Not specified

Good For

A young professional who's not ready to buy but still likes the idea of living in an above average space.

Move On If

This won't appeal to those who dislike the unfinished look many soft lofts display these days. If that's not your style, you can get a big space in an older building.

Toronto might never get a bona fide Seinfeld pop-up bar, but that doesn't mean you won't be able to hang out with Jerry and the gang right here in the city.

If you missed Jerry Seinfeld's recent gig at the Sony Centre and are too chicken to try your hand at Seinfeld trivia, you might want to head to this more laid back event at D-Beatstro.

The vegan restaurant and venue will serve up a Seinfeld-themed dinner on March 29, featuring series favourites such as big salads, calzones, soup and black and white cookies.

Dinner starts at 5 p.m. and an hour later, D-Beatstro will start playing episodes of the now-classic sitcom.

D-Beatstro regularly marathons TV shows. Last year, it created vegan Krusty burgers and Flaming Moes for a Simpsons extravaganza and it's also screened Bob's Burgers, the OC, Buffy and the X-Files in the past. 

Toronto's home to a slew of food festivals that'll satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. From multiple rib fests to events dedicated solely to macaroni and cheese, there's no shortage of indulgent gatherings in and around the city.

And now there's one more. From June 9 to 11, the BBQ Eats Festival will make its debut at Ontario Place. 

According to its website, BBQ Eats "will feature ethnic BBQ flavours from around the world" as well as a competition where grill masters will vie for a $10,000 prize.

The festival's currently seeking vendors. Admission will be free, but you'll have to pay to eat. 

The Weeknd has been taking Selena Gomez all over Toronto, but now Toronto's Starboy has ventured underground to reportedly film a new music video.

TTC 🍁

A post shared by The Weeknd (@theweeknd) on Mar 21, 2017 at 2:37pm PDT

While The Sleeknd might not have traveled via the TTC, it looks like Abel Tesfaye and Future are shooting the video for "Coming Out Strong" in the abandoned Lower Bay Station.

A post shared by Future Hendrix (@future) on Mar 22, 2017 at 1:41pm PDT

Both artists started posting photos of the TTC on Instagram today, including one that Future captioned, "Still comin out strong."

Still comin out strong. @theweeknd

A post shared by Future Hendrix (@future) on Mar 22, 2017 at 12:49pm PDT

Lower Bay Station has appeared in countless movies and music videos, so it's no surprise it's getting a starring role in the upcoming project. But, boy oh boy, does it ever look intriguing with that Scorsese-style top-lighting.

Watch out Romantic Traffic!

abandoned territories || 📸 @lamarctaylor

A post shared by The Weeknd (@theweeknd) on Mar 22, 2017 at 10:26am PDT

The ever popular Snakes and Lattes might have brought the board game cafe craze to Toronto. But now the folks behind that success story have their sights set on a new project: Kū-kŭm.

Kū-kŭm is an Indigenous restaurant opening this month at 581 Mount Pleasant Rd., in the former Mogette Bistro space.

Chef Joseph Shawana, who grew up on the Wiikwemkoong Unceded Reserve located on Manitoulin Island, is behind this project. 

There will be two different tasting menus, as well as an a la carte menu, available.

Some of the items currently showing on the menu include a roasted rack of elk, poached pike, braised venison, smoked whitefish pate, pine needle and citrus sorbet and purple beet root ice cream.

A condo could be coming to a Beer Store near you. In a small, but growing trend, Brewer's Retail has been selling off some of its hyper-valuable property around Toronto to real estate developers.

One of the recent locations confirmed as the site of a future condo is the store at Gerrard and Logan. It will soon become the LoftHouse, a six storey condo from Grid Developments, who has been active with other projects in the area.

It's hardly a surprising turn of events. Not only is Gerrard East witnessing an upswing in local businesses moving in, but the ample parking lot next to the Beer Store gives the site an ideal footprint for redevelopment.

A rendering of the LoftHouse condos. Note the ample space devote to retail at grade. Image via Grid Developments.

A similar situation is playing out at other sites in Toronto. At Avenue Road and Bedford Park, there's plenty of condo pressure on the still predominantly low-rise retail strip north of Lawrence. A seven storey condo is set to replace the Beer Store/parking lot combo here.

Other Beer Stores that could be replaced with condos include 28 River St., 784 the Queensway and 1117 the Danforth. A proposal has also been submitted in regard to the site at 57 Brock St. (just north of Queen), though that's scheduled for an OMB hearing later this year.

With so many stores set to become condos, an obvious question is where are people going to get their beer? The answer, in many cases, is right where they always have.

"The Beer Store remains committed to remaining in the re-developed spaces/condos," explains spokesperson Bill Walker. "This is the plan for Gerrard as well as Avenue Road."

I suspect that such an outcome would please residents in both neighbourhoods.

The Beer Store at 1540 Avenue Rd. Image via Google Street View.

The Avenue Road Beer Store has long been a player in the unrealized potential of this stretch of the street, which is surprisingly suburban in design compared to the section north of Fairlawn Avenue.

The Gerrard and Logan store is also a waste of valuable space in a neighbourhood that's quickly changing and sure to draw new residents as more units become available.

You don't want to see retail wiped out for condos everywhere, but incorporating existing retail into denser developments fights sprawl and tends to animate the streetscape, which both of these sites could use.

There is a proviso, though. While the Beer Store would like to remain at these sites at the base of the residential towers, that outcome is not entirely in their hands.

"At the end of the day, whether a site we sell gets re-developed as a residential condominium (with retail on the ground floor), or remains as a Beer Store (as is), it's up to the purchaser/developer to decide what the best use is for the site," says Walker.

So far, it looks like the redevelopment of Beer Store locations could prove to be a net positive for Toronto's urban landscape, but we'll have to wait until a few of these condos are built to know for sure.

The jewel of Toronto's development frontier right now is the area stretching between the East Harbour and the Port Lands.

This prime stretch of land — much of it right on the water — is currently the site of numerous majordevelopment proposals, but one project just getting started might be the most exciting of them all. 

A 12 acre plot around the foot of Parliament Street has been dubbed Quayside. Controlled by Waterfront Toronto, there are big plans to transform what is currently a post-industrial wasteland into the city's most technologically advanced neighbourhood. 

Right now, the community is closer to the realm of dreams than it is to reality, but Waterfront Toronto is currently looking for an innovation partner to help them realize the project. 

To get an idea of what they're trying to build, consider the objectives that have been outlined. Quayside is meant to be a "globally significant" example of urban sustainability, a complete community with affordable housing and a technology hub, and an architectural destination.

Basically the idea is to raise the bar for waterfront planning at this crucial juncture in the redevelopment of the Port Lands and surrounding area. 

It all sounds wonderful. Let's just hope all this ambition comes to fruition.

Today in Toronto, local events get top marks for uniqueness. There's a launch party for Canada's first brewed beer cocktail, the world premiere of the Bunz documentary, a huge drag queen fundraiser, and a 1987-themed dance party to celebrate the Images Festival's 30th birthday.

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

Open now

• Apiecalypse Now! has opened FuBar, "an all vegan all hoser metal bar," above its Bloor St. vegan pizza shop in Koreatown.
• Alimentari, an Italian grocery store, deli and food shop with prepared foods, has just opened at 325 Roncesvalles Ave. in what was previously Hopgood's Foodliner.
• Under new ownership, Abbiocco has taken over Frank's Kitchen at 588 College St. in Little Italy. However, the team from the latter restaurant will still be cooking and operating in the space for the next couple of months until they find a new home.

Recently reviewed

• Chongqing Laojiumen
• High Street Fish and Chips
• Charidise
• Canoe
• Chez Nous Wine Bar
• Kairali
• Auberge du Pommier
• Hotmess Tex Mex
• Horseshoe Tavern

Opening soon

• Brickyard Bistro, paying homage to Brickyard Grounds, which previously occupied the space, will open soon at 1289 Gerrard St. E.
• Opening in April, Oak Island will be replacing The Well at 121 Ossington Ave.
• Mi'hito Sushi Laboratory, which originated in Mississauga, is opening a Toronto location soon at 293 College St. just north of Kensington Market.
• Something called Bacchanal Bistro looks to be taking over the short-lived and troubledRecess Diner/Fountain space at 60 Sudbury St.
• Wong's Ice Cream, an Asian-themed ice cream parlour that will offer gluten-free and vegan options, is opening this spring at 617 Gerrard St. E. in East Chinatown.

Closed

• Persian cafe and brunch spot Kadbanu on Dundas West is no more.
• King West's Hush has also shuttered.

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

Buck-a-shuck oyster deals in Toronto might not be as plentiful as cheap wing nights, but there's enough of them to keep any seafood lover well fed. While a portion of these specials are limited to happy hour, there are many that run throughout service for those who prefer to dine later.

Multi-Day

• Bar Neon offers buck-a-shuck everyday of the week from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Biff's Bistro will set you up with buck-a-shuck from 5 p.m. onwards on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
• East Thirty Six runs their buck-a-shuck deal Monday to Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Farmhouse Tavern runs there $1 oyster specials on Thursday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and on Sunday from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Hooked serves $1 oysters every Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Nome Izakaya does its dollar oysters on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 5 p.m. onwards.
• The Shore Club gets in on the fun Monday to Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Monday

• The Yukon offers buck-a-shuck on Mondays until 10 p.m.

Tuesday

• Bar Hop on King St. extends your oyster dollar on Tuesdays from 5 p.m. until close.
• Boehmer does buck-a-shuck, $22 full steamed lobsters and half-priced wine on Tuesdays starting at 5:30 p.m.
• Hole in The Wall does $1 oysters on Tuesdays starting at 5 p.m.
• Trinity Common in Kensington Market serves buck-a-shuck every Tuesday starting at 3 p.m.

Wednesday

• Batch has their special buck-a-shuck night on Wednesday starting at 5 p.m.
• Bestellen does buck-a-shuck all night long from 6 p.m. until close.
• Mr. Flamingo does dollar shuck oysters every Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
• Nuit Social offers $1 oysters every Hump Day starting at 5 p.m.
• Skwish in Leslieville dishes out $1 oysters on Wednesday 5 p.m onwards.

Thursday

• La Societe draws a crowd with its buck-a-shuck deal on Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the lounge.
• Mildred's Temple Kitchen has $1 oysters every Thursday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Pearl Diver does a rather special buck-a-shuck deal for those with big appetites. Every Thursday you can get 100 oysters for 100 bucks.
• Skwish in the Beaches offers $1 oysters every Thursday from 5 p.m. until they sell out.

Sunday

• Bar Hop Brewco on Peter is serving buck-a-shuck oysters starting at 5 p.m. on Sundays.
• Skin + Bones features $1 oysters and 1/2 price bottles of bubbly on Sundays starting at 5 p.m.

Specials are subject to change so we recommend calling ahead to confirm.

We don't have to wait for it any longer because Hamilton: An American musical is finally coming to Toronto.

That's right, Lin-Manuel Miranda's Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical will be part of Mirvish's 2019-2020 subscription package.

JUST GOT THE EMAIL FROM @Mirvish THAT HAMILTON IS COMING TO TORONTO 2019-2020 FREAKING OUT #hamilton#mirvish

— Bianca Estrela (@biancaxestrela) March 23, 2017

Okay, so we will have to wait a bit, but you can be satisfied knowing that it'll eventually play in a theatre near you.

The touring production of Hamilton, which will soon make its way around the United States, will stop in Toronto for a limited engagement.

You should probably start getting ready for tickets to go on sale; you don't want to throw away your shot to see this show.