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The Commodore abruptly shuts down

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Popular Parkdale seafood restaurant The Commodore abruptly shut down this week. Owners posted the news to their Instagram and Facebook on Wednesday citing an immediate and difficult decision "accelerated by some personal circumstances."

The small restaurant opened in 2015 to very favourable reviews. They were known for their seafood towers as well as their decadent brunch offering.

Customers were certainly caught off guard. Many had reservations lined up for the coming week and expressed their dismay on social media.

The official explanation by the restaurant blames the closure on the investment team. General Manager Jason Romanoff sent emails to those holding reservations informing them of the news.


Sold! What a $2 million bay-and-gable home looks like

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The bay-and-gable home is a Toronto staple. These Victorian-era structures can be found all around the city on side streets that retain the historical character of this place so many years later.

156 Macpherson Avenue TorontoOften tall and narrow, bay-and-gable homes mimicked the style of gothic mansions on the small row lots that defined Toronto near the end of the 19th century. While they were never designed to be workers' cottages, the prices they now fetch would likely floor their early owners.

156 Macpherson Avenue TorontoThis example at 156 Macpherson Ave. last sold in May 2015 for $1,825,000. It went back on the market about a week ago for $2,195,000, which seems about right given the ascent of the local real estate market.

After nine days on the market, the house sold for $2,338,000. You see, not everything goes for $300K+ over asking. This is a solid house that was listed fairly and went for about what you'd expect given its location and pedigree. 

156 Macpherson Avenue TorontoThe Essentials
  • Address: 156 Macpherson Ave.
  • Last known selling price: $1,825,000
  • Hit the market at: $2,195,000
  • Time on market: 9 days
  • Sold for: $2,338,000
156 Macpherson Avenue TorontoWhy it sold for what it did

This is a classic Toronto home in Summerhill. That fact that it sold for less than $2.5 million is almost surprising. That said, there are only three bedrooms, two of which are on the small side, so prospective buyers would have known that more space was available elsewhere.

156 Macpherson Avenue TorontoWas it worth it? 

Yup. No complaints about this one. The previous renovations still seem fresh, the area is excellent, and it's always nice to live in a bit of architecture that's unique to your city.

156 Macpherson Avenue Toronto156 Macpherson Avenue Toronto156 Macpherson Avenue Toronto

Uniqlo gives big boost to small Toronto brands

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Torontonians are a loyal bunch. And we take pride in our local stores and businesses. That’s why when one big box retailer moved into the city, it partnered up with a bunch of Toronto brands.

When Uniqlo opened at the Toronto Eaton Centre, it made its debut with a special Uniqlo Meets Toronto section.

There, it featured products from the Drake General Store, Souvenir Studios and Blacksmith Cycle. Since this unique initiative - which Uniqlo had never tried in any other market before - proved successful, the Japanese company plans to keep it going.

"One of our philosophies is to connect with locals with any market that we enter, so that was something that we wanted to do when we launched in Toronto back in the fall," says Han Hoang, Uniqlo's marketing manager.

About two weeks before it opened, Uniqlo held pop-ups at the four aforementioned stores. Afterwards, those retailers got to display their merchandise at Uniqlo.

Hoang says Uniqlo chooses its partners based on recommendation from employees as well as locally based friends and family members.

Mike Yakubowicz, who owns Blacksmith Cycle, said it was a great way for his high-end custom bike business to gain more exposure. While he didn't sell bikes at Uniqlo, he had shirts, caps and water bottles on display.

"We definitely noticed on social media people tagging us wearing the sweatshirts and caps who would not necessarily otherwise be our customers," he says.

Souvenir Studio's Danielle Suppa agrees. After shopping at Uniqlo, tourists would venture out towards her store in Brockton Village. "They would have never discovered the store otherwise," she says.

For its partnership progam, Uniqlo buys stock from participating local retailers, kind of like a wholesaler. Uniqlo did a reorder from both Souvenir and Blacksmith Cycle.

beguiling toronto

Books and comics on display from the Beguiling at Uniqlo's Eaton Centre Location. Photo courtesy Uniqlo Canada.

Now, Uniqlo's onto its second batch of partners and The Beguiling's in that sophomore class, along with the Cocktail Emporium, Soundscapes and Gravitypope. "It’s the kind of opportunity we’re not going to turn down, obviously," says The Beguiling's Peter Birkemoe.

Since he just moved his comic book store from Mirvish Village to College Street, this couldn't have come at a better time. Through it, he knows he can get more eyes on his business.

And by working with established Toronto brands, Uniqlo eased itself into the city, unlike some big, international brands who haven't fared as well here.

"I think this was them really trying to be a good citizen and a good neighbour," says Blacksmith's Yakubowicz, "and getting to know customers and kind of the local vibe rather than jumping in and ignoring what’s on the ground.”

Toronto photographer captures the dramatic beauty of the sky

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Toronto skyline shots are a dime a dozen, especially on Instagram. But one local photographer's doing them a little differently.

Holly Sisson, who's a professional photographer, is probably best known for @pitterpatterufurryfeet, the pet-friendly account she runs with her sister Monica.

That account features photos of their two cats (Alice and Finnegan) and their dog (Oliver). 

However, on her personal feed (which has more than 81,000 followers), Holly highlights the city along with her furry friends.

For the past few years, she's been creating time stack photos of dramatic sunsets, where she takes a series of photos and layers them together on Photoshop.

“You can end up with something unique that catches a half an hour, 45 minute period of time in one photo," she says.

One of her favourite places to shoot is on Ward's Island. She thinks it's one of the city's unique features and it provides an excellent vantage point for capturing the skyline at sunset; the sun sets behind the CN Tower, after all.

Last summer, however, she said the sky was less colourful than usual. “I hope we have better skies this summer. It seems like last summer we really had a lack of beautiful skies at sunset," she says.

As a photographer, she's obsessed with checking the forecast and doesn't mind shooting in inclement weather, especially if it yields an excellent shot or a particularly interesting looking sky. “It drives me crazy when I miss a good sky," she says.

Through Instagram, she explains, she's been able bring her work to a greater audience. Her joint pet account, for instance, has enabled her and her sister to travel. They even sold a few photos to a greeting card company.

And she appreciates the opportunity to learn about what other photographers are doing via this social media platform. “Instagram," she says, "really opens you to the world.”

The top 5 free events in Toronto this week

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Free events in Toronto this week include a scavenger hunt inside a great big heritage building, a punk film screening, and most importantly, a giant pillow fight at city hall. 

Events you might want to check out:

True Stories Toronto (March 28 @ Garrison)
Grab a drink and listen to other people telling true stories live.
Pussy Riot - A Punk Prayer (March 28 @ Toronto Reference Library)
Filmed over the course of six months, this film tells the incredible story of three young women: Nadia, Masha and Katia. It's the story of Pussy Riot and how one show lead to their arrest, trial, and worldwide headlines.
Spring Training ft. Peace Collective (March 29 @ Free Space)
A collaboration in photography, fashion, and sports, this is your first look at the Toronto Blue Jays' Off Field capsule collection from Peace Collective, featuring prints powered by Canon Canada.
401 Art Hunt (March 31 @ 401 Richmond)
From 4 to 8 p.m., watch the tenants of 401 Richmond paint, draw, print, design, and sculpt dozens of one-of-a-kind Artist Trading Cards, which will be hidden throughout the 200,000 square-foot heritage building. It's an art treasure hunt!
Pillow Fight Toronto 2017 (April 1 @ Toronto)
Pillows fly and teddies soar as you converge for a giant urban pillow fight. Swing and whack (lightly!) as you evade pillow-wielding assailants. Bring a soft pillow, remove your glasses and wait for the signal.

Toronto sign shows off how we really say our name

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For a brief moment this weekend, the Toronto sign at Nathan Phillips Square did something magical: it became the TORONO sign.

Normally you wouldn't think twice about the second T going dim, but given just how common it is to hear people pronounce the city's name this way, it immediately seemed like a serendipitous tribute.

Colloquial versions of Toronto range from Tarrona all the way to Chrawnah, but this was as close as the sign could get short of carting in a few different letters (someone on Reddit took the liberty of doing just that).

Start a discussion about how Toronto is pronounced by locals and you're bound to hear hundreds of variations, but common to almost all of them is the dropping of the hard T that marks the third syllable in the word. 

Welcome to Torono.

What the Esplanade looked like over the last 150 years

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The Esplanade is a strange street in Toronto these days. Where once it was a wide promenade adjacent to the lake, a century and a half of development has rendered it a narrow and mostly anonymous passageway from Yonge to Berkley St. 

Rewind 150 years, and you could throw a stone into the harbour from most places along this stretch. Back then, the street lived up to its name, which means a flat and open space beside a fortification or body of water. 

Toronto had numerous industrial hubs at the turn of the century, but few were as important as the area around the Esplanade thanks to its proximity to both the city's central railway corridor and the bustling harbour. 

The first railway arrived in Toronto in 1853. Over the years that followed, the harbour area to the southeast of where our current Union Station is located became heavily industrialized. It would continue in this vein through to the 1970s when the character of the Esplanade changed entirely. 

During the period, various in-fill efforts altered the street's relationship with the lake. By the time industrial activity was dying down in the mid 1960s, the area slowly started to look like a wasteland.

Once active industrial sites were replaced with a sea of surface parking lots. With much train activity diverted south beside Lake Shore Blvd., the railway area beside the Esplanade was mostly abandoned, save for a few stationary freight trains and rusting cars.

It's hard to imagine such prime real estate laying in ruin, even 40 years ago. Eventually Mayor David Crombie earmarked the area for renewal, and the modern day St. Lawrence neighbourhood was born. 

Determined not to design another Regent Park, this master planned community was meant to be integrated with the rest of the surrounding area and to invite a variety of income brackets through the inclusion of subsidized, cooperative, and market-priced housing. 

Lo and behold, it worked. The neighbourhood is often lauded as an urban planning success story, partially because it took an under-used area that was slipping away from the rest of the city, and made it a vibrant community. 

When you look at aerial views of the St. Lawrence neighbourhood, it's actually quite easy to see where the railway yards once were. They're now a series of parks that run immediately south of the Esplanade. Beside them is a variety of housing that sits on former industrial lands.

Gone is the view to the lake, but the residential streets that surround the Esplanade have a quiet vibrancy of their own that was almost unimaginable at the outset of the 1970s.

esplanade toronto

The Esplanade in 1854. Painting by John Howard via the City of Toronto Archives.

esplanade history toronto

The Esplanade in 1894, Toronto's industrial gateway.

esplanade history toronto

Aftermath of the Great Fire of 1904, near Bay and Esplanade.

esplanade history toronto

Laying brick on the Esplanade in 1905.

esplanade history toronto

Foot of Church St. at the Esplanade, 1905.

esplanade history torontoEarly industry on the Esplanade, 1914.

esplanade history toronto

Industry surrounded the railway lands throughout the early 20th century.

esplanade history torontoNear Bay and the Esplanade, 1925.

esplanade history toronto

Yonge and the Esplanade in 1928.

esplanade history toronto

Looking industrial and bleak in 1932.

esplanade history toronto

Campbell's Flour near the Esplanade and Sherbourne, 1954.

esplanade history toronto

The Esplanade and Sherbourne (different angle), 1954.

esplanade history toronto

Looking north up Scott St. from the Esplanade in 1959.

esplanade history toronto

Looking southwest from Jarvis and the Esplanade, 1972.

esplanade history toronto

Looking east from the Jarvis and the Esplande, 1972.

esplanade history toronto

St. Lawrence Market at Jarvis and the Esplanade, 1972.

esplanade history toronto

The Esplanade and George St., 1972.

esplanade history toronto

Looking south from Sherbourne St. at the Esplanade, 1972.

st lawrence torontoLooking down on the St. Lawrence Market area in the late ca. early 1970s.

esplanade history torontoEntrance to the Organ Grinder in 1975.

esplanade history toronto

Carriage House building prepared for Demolition, Frederick St. and the Esplanade.

esplanade history toronto

A new neighbourhood rises between the Esplanade and Front streets, 1970s.

esplanade history toronto

St. Lawrence neighbourhood under construction, 1970s.

esplanade history toronto

View of the CN Tower under construction from the Esplanade, 1975.

esplanade history toronto

Aerial view of St. Lawrence Market and surrounding neighbourhood, 1980s.

esplanade history toronto

View to the Spaghetti Factory in the early 1980s.

esplanade history toronto

St. Lawrence neighbourhood, ca. late 1970s.

esplanade history toronto

Looking west from Sherbourne and the Esplanade, 1990s.

esplanade history toronto

Here come the condos. 25 the Esplanade, 1998.

10 things to do in Toronto this week

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The top things to do in Toronto this week range from major shopping events to a couple of concerts, and a very important film festival. You can finish the week off with the House of Vans takeover, which will feature a marketplace and a skate park.

Events you might want to check out:

Sarah Polley on Away From Her (March 27 @ TIFF Bell Lightbox)
Sarah Polley revisits her celebrated adaptation of Alice Munro's short story "A Bear Came Over a Mountain."
Lambchop (March 27 @ The Great Hall Toronto)
The 1990s Nashville rockers make a big return and are touring their latest album FLOTUS with this one night stop in the city.
Classic Disney Pub Quiz (March 28 @ The Steady Cafe & Bar)
Win gadgets and gizmos at this pub quiz. What defines "Classic Disney"? It's all of the feature-length films created before 2000.
Human Rights Watch Film Festival (March 29 - April 6 @ TIFF Bell Lightbox)
Human Rights Watch is one of the world’s leading independent organizations dedicated to defending and protecting human rights. This film festival features eight movies and docs.
Prozzak (March 29 @ Danforth Music Hall)
The Canadian cartoon duo you have vague memories of bopping along to at a junior high MUCH video dance is back and it’s not weird at all.
One of a Kind Spring Show (March 29 - April 2 @ Enercare Centre - Exhibition Place)
This massive marketplace opens on March 29 and includes a fun late-night shopping event on the 30th.
2017 Toronto Yoga Conference and Show (March 30 @ Metro Toronto Convention Centre)
Yoga fans unite! This is an event for both teachers and students with classes and workshops from renowned yogis from across the country and the world.
401 Art Hunt (March 31 @ 401 Richmond)
The tenants of 401 Richmond will paint, draw, print, design and sculpt dozens of one-of-a-kind Artist Trading Cards, which will be hidden throughout the 200,000 square-foot heritage building.
Community Market (March 31 - April 2 @ 99 Sudbury)
The House of Vans returns to Toronto this week with a community market featuring everything from apparel and art to a stick n’ poke artist.
Said The Whale (March 31 - April 1 @ Lee's Palace)
When a band like Vancouver's Said The Whale plays Lee's Palace, you just have to go.

Toronto might make bid for 2022 Commonwealth Games

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Toronto might not bid for the summer Olympics, or even host a World Expo, anytime soon. We could, however, soon starting vying to bring the Commonwealth Games to the city.

According to CP24, Ward 10 Councillor James Pasternak will bring up a motion at next week's city council meeting regarding the possibility of submitting a bid for this major sporting event happening in 2022.

We, of course, already have a lot of sports-related infrastructure in place thanks to the 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games.

"The big opportunity for us is that we just hosted the Pam Am Games and the fact that we’ve invested $2.5 billion in athletic assets and arenas and fields means that we could host the games for little extra cost," said Pasternak to CP24.

Mayor John Tory doesn't seem too keen to put in a bid just yet.

"With respect to the motion urging consideration of a Toronto bid for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, I will be advocating for great caution.

"This is not as simple as saying we have all the right facilities so let's do it. It is a time consuming, complex undertaking requiring years of preparation and unknown expense," said Mayor Tory in a statement.

"I believe any move to proceed with a bid on these games will require great convincing," he continued.

Two weeks ago, Durban, South Africa, lost the right to hold the 2022 Commonwealth Games, so now the Commonwealth Games Federation is looking for a new host city.

This Week on DineSafe: Phipps, Casa Manila, AAA Public House, C'est Bon, La Tortilleria

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This week on DineSafe a popular Texas barbecue joint was inspected twice, landing conditional passes with each visit. Also inspected this past week was one of Toronto's best butter tart purveyors who landed seven infractions.

See which other establishments got dinged with yellow cards this week on DineSafe.

AAA Public House (598 Gerrard St. East)
  • Inspected on: March 20, 2017 and March 23, 2017
  • Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
  • Number of infractions: 4 (Minor: 1, Significant: 3)
  • Crucial infractions include: N/A
Casa Manila (879 York Mills Rd.)
  • Inspected on: March 20, 2017
  • Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
  • Number of infractions: 4 (Minor: 1, Significant: 2, Crucial: 1)
  • Crucial infractions include: Operator failed to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated.
La Tortilleria (1009 Dufferin St.)
  • Inspected on: March 20, 2017
  • Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
  • Number of infractions: 4 (Minor: 3, Significant: 1)
  • Crucial infractions include: N/A
Courense Bakery (1014 Bloor St. West)
  • Inspected on: March 21, 2017
  • Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
  • Number of infractions: 2 (Significant: 2)
  • Crucial infractions include: N/A
Times Square Diner (531 Wilson Heights Blvd.)
  • Inspected on: March 21, 2017
  • Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
  • Number of infractions: 9 (Minor:3 , Significant: 5, Crucial: 1)
  • Crucial infractions include: Operator failed to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated.
C'est Bon (2140 Yonge St.)
  • Inspected on: March 23, 2017
  • Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
  • Number of infractions: 5 (Minor: 1, Significant: 3, Crucial: 1)
  • Crucial infractions include: Operator failed to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated.
Hakka Garden (25 Overlea Blvd.)
  • Inspected on: March 23, 2017
  • Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
  • Number of infractions: 4 (Minor: 2, Significant: 2)
  • Crucial infractions include: N/A
Phipps Bakery Cafe (420 Eglinton Ave. East)
  • Inspected on: March 24, 2017
  • Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
  • Number of infractions: 7 (Minor: 3, Significant: 4)
  • Crucial infractions include: N/A
Sheba Ethiopian (418 College St.)
  • Inspected on: March 24, 2017
  • Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
  • Number of infractions: 7 (Minor: 3, Significant: 4)
  • Crucial infractions include: N/A

Note: The above businesses each received infractions from DineSafe as originally reported on the DineSafe site. This does not imply that any of these businesses have not subsequently corrected the issue and received a passing grade by DineSafe inspectors. For the latest status for each of the mentioned businesses, including details on any subsequent inspections, please be sure to check the DineSafe site.

The Best Steak Frites in Toronto

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The best steak frites in Toronto are needed in a city with long, cold winters and even longer nights of drinking, stick to our ribs meat and potatoes that offer the warmth and luxury Torontonians worship. What else but this French classic could satisfy us?

Here are the best steak frites in Toronto.

1 - Le Select Bistro

This Wellington St. mainstay does many French classics right, but their steak frites star in the $19.95 prix fixe dinner that's also available late night.
3 - Biff's Bistro

A seven ounce flatiron ($29) or six ounce beef tenderloin ($36) is available with frites and seasonal vegetables at this classic French bistro on Front St.
2 - Cluny

This Distillery District bistro serves locally raised beef and frites with lemon garlic aioli. Steaks range from an eight ounce hangar ($22.90) to a ten ounce striploin ($35.90).
4 - Jules Bistro (Queen Street)

This bistro with locations on Spadina and Queen does classic French right, with renditions of both cote de boeuf and steak frites. Like many of their standards, the flank steak comes with shoestring frites, ratatouille, and mixed greens.
6 - Beerbistro

This popular Financial District restaurant and bar does a steak frites ($28) served with beer braised mushrooms and shallots and tarragon anchovy butter.
5 - La Societe

On the Mink Mile on Bloor, this upscale bistro serves an eight ounce flatiron steak ($32) or a six ounce fillet ($42) with the usual sumptuous demi glace and pomme frites.
7 - Union

This small restaurant on Ossington serves steak frites regularly, doing a medium rare Scotch Mountain ribeye and topping off the whole plate with a portion of greens ($38).
8 - Le Paradis

This Bedford Road French restaurant serves an Artisan Farms ten ounce striploin ($30) with the classic French accompaniment of compound butter, with frites as a side options as well as haricot verts or mushrooms ($5).
9 - La Palette

AAAA Canadian beef from Alberta shines at this Queen West restaurant, $28 for six ounces or $32 for eight ounces, served with smoked tomato butter, demi-glace, and Yukon Gold frites.

10 must-see concerts in Toronto this April

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The must-see concerts in Toronto this April include a couple of high-profile rappers, an alt-rock icon we haven’t seen in 13 years and a ton of local talent, much of whom will help us bid adieu to one of the city’s most important music venues.

The month primarily belongs to Canadian Music Week, which happens April 18-23 with Earl Sweatshirt, Melissa Etheridge, Explosions in the Sky, Hollerado, Tanya Tagaq and hundreds more taking over clubs all over the city.

There’s also the annual Decibel Tour, John Mayer (who’s trying to stop being a punchline, but failing) and Papa Roach (who don’t mind being a punchline, and are succeeding).

Here are my top concert picks in Toronto for April.

Events you might want to check out:

Big Sean (April 2 @ REBEL)
The Detroit rapper continues to climb the superstar ladder with I Decided, his latest batch of hit-ready tracks that came out in February. The only Canadian stop on his current tour will be here at REBEL (he’ll also return for CMW’s iheartradio fest on the 21st).
Kate Tempest (April 5 @ Mod Club Theatre)
On the flip side of the rap coin, there’s Kate Tempest, a spoken-word Brit artist who’s not as known this side of the pond, but has won heaping acclaim for her well-read poetics (she’s the youngest person to have won a Ted Hughes award). Check out her unique skills at Mod Club.
Owen Pallett (April 8 @ The Great Hall Toronto)
This is an exclusive treat for Pallett fans, as the acclaimed art-pop performer/composer is debuting brand-new music in an intimate Toronto performance (and the night before in Hamilton). What to expect? “[A]lmost entirely new songs" and "sheets of distortion” according to Pallett on Twitter.
Bill & Joel Plaskett (April 8 @ Massey Hall)
East-Coaster Joel Plaskett has long been prolific in Canadian music, but his dad Bill also has a strong musical legacy. Father and son recently paired up for LP Solidarity, which pairs the younger’s trademark indie-rock with the elder’s celtic and folk roots.
PJ Harvey (April 13 @ Massey Hall)
It’s a rarity for the iconic UK artist to tour at all, let alone near us - the last time she played live in Canada was 2004, back when Facebook was just invented and Von Dutch hats ruled the Earth. She finally returns in honour of The Hope Six Demolition Project.
Dead Tired (April 14 @ Hard Luck)
While Alexisonfire continues with this “are they reuniting for real or what” dance, frontman George Pettit trucks on with his hardcore offshoot Dead Tired, who'll celebrate the release of their Vol. Two EP at Hard Luck Bar.
Bad Channels (April 18 @ The Baby G)
Buzz Records duo Bad Channels have forged most of their output for others as either track producers or remixers thus far, but are forging their own identity in lo-fi sad synthpop. Catch the sombre electro vibes at The Baby G.
Metz (and more) at The Silver Dollar (April 30 @ Silver Dollar)
In the final days before the historic Silver Dollar Room shuts down indefinitely, booker Dan Burke has organized a fantastic sendoff to the space as we know it. The final show features METZ, but the lead-up nights also include ATL punks The Coathangers, the last “Crazy Strings” bluegrass night, Suuns, Dilly Dally, Blood Ceremony plus tons more. R.I.P.
Lydia Ainsworth (April 26 @ The Garrison)
The TO-based songwriter has a knack for strange and ethereal pop, with influences that seemingly range from dramatic film scores to Kate Bush to contemporary R&B. Her sophomore album, Darling of the Afterglow, is out March 31.
Skepta (April 26 @ REBEL)
The UK grime originator put out his long-awaited, Mercury Prize-winning album last year, and most recently got a feature on Drake’s More Life. He’s now on his own “Banned from America” tour, which brings him to Drizzy’s hometown near month’s end.

10 new summer jobs in Toronto for 2017

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New summer jobs in Toronto include some pretty unique gigs. From water parks and swanky department stores to a massive sports hubs, there are lots of places hiring that might give the most popular summer jobs in the city a run for their money.

Here are 10 new summer jobs in Toronto for 2017.

The Rec Room 

Cineplex's new complex in Roundhouse Park, which is right across from the Rogers Centre, is hiring for all kinds of positions. The Rec Room is a 40,000 square-foot space that will include restaurants, a bar and lots of games.

Wet 'n' Wild

What better way to spend the summer than by the water? Brampton's Wet 'n' Wild water park is currently hiring for an impressive list of jobs like bartenders, mascots, lifeguards, zipline operators and dancers.

Drake Commissary

The Drake is opening a huge new bar, bakery and event space and it will most definitely be a new cultural and culinary hub. It's hiring for all kinds of positions at the moment, so get that resume in stat!

Jollibee Foods

This Filipino fast food chain is coming to Toronto and people are very excited about it. It's hiring right now, and wouldn't it be fun to be part of a new food wave in the city? Have a look at this careers page for the Toronto gigs up for grabs.

Saks Fifth Avenue

Saks Fifth Avenue's first Canadian location has taken over much of the Hudson Bay building at Yonge and Queen streets. It's Toronto's newest luxury shopping spot and it's hiring for the summer

Uniqlo

Uniqlo isn't only giving local businesses a boost; it's also hiring folks like you to work on this tightly run retail ship. This cool and calm clothing chain would make a cute, hip and air conditioned place to be this summer.

Nordstrom

You'll never feel cramped while working at one of Nordstrom's three-storey Toronto locations. The good news is they're hiring for a bunch of positions.

Blue Blood Steakhouse

You might have heard that Casa Loma is getting a new steak house. It'll be open just in time for summer and it's currently hiring. If you have experience in the restaurant and service industry, send a resume to hr@libertygroup.com

King Taps

This beer hall coming to First Canadian Place has done a massive hiring spree, but it's still looking for servers. You can apply via their website now.

MLSE Launchpad

Toronto's impressive new sports hub by MLSE is heaven for anyone that wants to be involved in the community. Keep an eye on their careers page. There aren't a ton of gigs at the moment, but they'll be doing a lot more hiring later this spring.

The end could be near for Toronto's bizarre cube house

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The cluster of three green cubes found at 1 Sumach St., might be Toronto's most interesting home. Based on Dutch architect Piet Blom's complex of Cubic Houses in Rotterdam, the UniTri structure dates back to 1996 and has long been a source of local architectural intrigue.

How long the cubes continue to bemuse drivers heading to and from the Don Valley Parkway is, however, now up in the air.

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Aerial view of the wedge-shaped property on which Toronto's cube house sits. Image via Google.

A for sale sign was place outside the wedge-shaped property at Sumach Street and Eastern Avenue last fall. It has remained there ever since, but you won't find the property on the MLS because it's an exclusive listing, something that hints at its unique status, according to the realtor.

"It's a landmark building," explains Arthur Crapopoulos, one of two agents listed on the sign outside the cube house. "The owner's in no rush to move it, but would if the right deal was found."

cube house toronto

North facing view of the UniTri cube complex. 

The owner in question is the other name on the sign out front, Tom Michalopoulos, who founded the Coffee Time chain. He purchased the cubes back in the early 2000s amidst a lengthy legal battle between the original landowner and their Canadian designer, Ben Kutner.

When Kutner and partner Jeff Brown installed the cubes at 1 Sumach, they didn't own the property. In response to the owner's decision to sell the land a few years later, Kutner argued that the cubes were chattel and could thus be moved from the site.

According to a 2011 article in the Globe and Mail, he ultimately lost that legal battle, which left the cubes squarely in the hands of Michalopoulos. Following his purchase of the cubes, Michalopoulos spruced them up for occupancy and adorned them with Coffee Time banners.

While the banners were ultimately removed, the tenant who took residence in the cubes is still there after all this time. Martin Trainor has called the novel complex home for 15 years, and has gradually become an advocate for the preservation of the structure. 

cube house toronto

Interior of the cube house. Despite sloped walls, there's tons of room. Photo by Martin Trainor.

"Living in the cubes, you get a sense for how special they are. The negative space is enormous, but they're also more practical than you'd think," Trainor explained during an impromptu tour he gave me last week. 

Measuring 42 feet by 42 feet, the cubes are divided into multiple levels, which are far more spacious than you'd guess having only peeked at them while driving by. Despite what looks like only a few windows, they're filled with natural light that Trainor's many plants soak up.

toronto cube house

Opposing view of the cube house interior. Photo by Derek Flack.

The CBC video producer isn't just an advocate of maintaining the three cubes that were built here, but believes that the site could actually thrive with the seven that were initially planned by Kutner and Brown.

"If there was a Save the Cubes campaign, I'd be front row and centre," Trainor tells me.

Even before the for sale signs went up, he started imagining possible new locations for the unique structure after his outdoor garden was bulldozed to create a temporary parking lot for the Pan Am Games in 2015.

"I've spoken with the Brick Works people about what their interest might be like, because I think they would work there, but it's all completely preliminary."

The problem is, of course, he doesn't own the property — so ultimately, he has little power over the fate of the cubes. Even if they can be moved, which seems to be the case, any future buyer will have the right to decide what to do with them.

toronto cube house

The cube house at night. Photo by Ben Lean.

While an iconic part of Toronto's architectural legacy, at just over 20 years old, the structure is likely too young to be considered for heritage protection. With no plans on the books for major renovation or additions to the site, for now the cubes remain in limbo.

"Should a potential deal be reached in the sale of 1 Sumach, the existing cube structure will be sold along with the property to the prospective buyer(s) in its current state," Crapopoulos confirms.

A future buyer could deem them valuable and keep them on the site, an arrangement could be made to move them, or they could be torn down.

The latter is a particularly troubling thought for fans of modern architecture, but it's worth recalling how much land values have climbed in the area since Michalopoulos bought the property. 

Once designed as an affordable housing alternative, can the cube home survive the condo boom?

For now we wait for an answer.

Toronto's new subway line is nearing completion

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Toronto's newest subway line, one that's been in the works for over a decade, is entering its final stages.

A news release from the TTC issued today notes that another major milestone has been reached in the construction process for the Spadina Extension: test trains are now running in the tunnels!

"The third rail on the TTC's Line 1 Yonge-University extension into York Region was powered up for the first time yesterday, allowing for testing of the Automatic Train Control (ATC) signal system and trial runs for trains," reads the release.

We've already seen how far along some of the stations are on the new line. Downsview Park, for instance, is virtually complete. Further north, York University is shaping up to be the nicest station in the entire system.

The TTC has pegged this December as the opening date for the new line. With infrastructure projects of this scale, there's lots that needs to fall into place during the final stages to meet opening dates, but on a visual level, it looks well within reach.


A skywatcher's guide to spring in Toronto

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Spring skywatching in and around Toronto is a lot more comfortable than during the winter months. Fortunately, as the weather begins to cooperate and draw us outdoors, there are plenty of celestial events to check out in the skies above the city and surrounding area. 

Here's a guide to what to look out for in the night sky this season.

The tiniest sliver moon (March 28)

We'll need perfect weather for this one, but if you gaze out above the sunset on the early evening, there's a chance you might see the brand new moon, which will appear as a paper thin sliver in sky. Use binoculars if you have them.

Mercury, Mars and the Moon (March 29)

These two planets will form a triangle with the moon (Mars up top and Mercury down low) for a dazzling display right at dusk. Look in the western sky.

Opposition of Jupiter (April onwards)

With the Earth passing between the sun and Jupiter, the solar system's biggest planet is easy to spot with the naked eye. It'll appear brighter than stars in the night sky, rising in the east and setting in the west. Jupiter is closest to earth this year on April 8 and right beside the moon on April 10.

Pink Moon (April 11)

It's just a regular full moon, but thanks to the close proximity of Jupiter and the romance of the name, this could be a good night to gaze at the night sky.

Lyrid Meteor Shower (April 21)

The first good chance to see meteors this spring, this shower might show off 15 or so an hour under ideal viewing conditions. The best part is its reputation for fireballs, which shoot across the sky with a colourful tail. The best time to watch this one is near dawn in the northeast sky.

Eta Aquariid Meteor Shower (May 5 and 6)

Even if this shower is better viewed in the Southern hemisphere, with two solid nights of activity just as temperatures tend to get comfortably warm, it's worth giving it a shot in the pre-dawn hours on either night. 

Opposition of Saturn (May 27 onwards)

Saturn creeps into the night sky in late May as it tracks to its opposition point on June 15. Through a decent amateur telescope, you can see the rings of the majestic planet, which should be well visible to the end of June.

A note about hiding from the light

Many of these events only require you to look to the night sky in order to appreciate their beauty, but meteor showers do not fall into this category. Instead, you'll want to consult a dark skies map to ensure that you're viewing from a location with limited light pollution.

8 things to do in Toronto today

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Today in Toronto there are three very different concerts happening and lovers of folk, punk and wild indie rock will be happy with the choices. If music isn't your thing, perhaps a highly entertaining Disney Quiz night is more up your alley.

Events you might want to check out:

Good Lovelies (March 28 @ Burdock)
The first show sold out, so they added a second one! Don't miss your chance to check out what this band has been working on in a studio in the forest.
Foxygen (March 28 @ The Opera House)
The Californian indie rock duo waltz into the Opera House for an unforgettable live show. You never know what you're gonna get when you see these two live.
True Stories Toronto (March 28 @ Garrison)
Each storyteller must share a personal tale without notes in less than 10 minutes.
Pussy Riot - A Punk Prayer (March 28 @ Toronto Reference Library)
This documentary tells the incredible story of Pussy Riot and their rise to fame after being arrested for playing a punk show inside Russia's main cathedral.
Women's Kickboxing Mega Class (March 28 @ Mattamy Athletic Centre)
Punch, kick, and sweat it out alongside 200 other women in a supportive and empowering environment. This workout is designed for all ability levels.
Classic Disney Pub Quiz (March 28 @ The Steady Cafe & Bar)
Win gadgets and gizmos at Classic Disney Pub Quiz. What's classic Disney? All feature-length Disney animated films created before 2000.
16th Annual Kalanidhi International Festival of Indian Dance (March 28 - April 2 @ Harbourfront Centre's Fleck Dance Theatre)
Head to the Harbourfront Centre’s Fleck Dance Theatre to see over 40 dancers from Canada, the U.S, and India.
The Memories / Goodbye Honolulu / Bald Britney (March 28 @ Smiling Buddha)
See this triple bill inside one of the west end's coolest music venues. This is a lot of loud and exciting music for a Tuesday. Get ready.

New video gets Blue Jays fans hyped for the season

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It'll start feeling a lot more like summer soon in Toronto. That's because the Blue Jays home opener against the Milwaukee Brewers is just a few weeks away on April 11.

If you're already getting excited to spend a long afternoon under the dome at the Rogers Centre, you should probably watch the Jays' latest video to kick things up a notch.

#LetsRise in 2017!

A post shared by Toronto Blue Jays (@bluejays) on

The video highlights how the Jays are Canada's team, which seems appropriate considering all of the hype around this year's sesquicentennial celebrations.

And the Blue Jays marketing team is still trying their best to get everyone on board with their new #LetsRise hashtag despite initial resistance to the idea.

The top wing night deals in Toronto by day of the week

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Chicken wing deals at Toronto pubs and restaurants dominate the early part of the week, offering the chance to get elbows-deep in the saucy, spicy pub grub at rock-bottom prices.

Here is a round-up of the best wing specials around town. Think of this as your wingman when you need a little help scoring wings on the cheap in Toronto.

Multi-Day
  • Bryden's serves wings for $7 all day Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday through Sunday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Crown & Dragon has half price wings on Tuesdays and Thursdays after 5 p.m. and all day on Sundays with the purchase of a beverage.
  • Duke of Gloucester has half price wings on Mondays and Wednesdays.
  • Gabby's offers 1/2 price wings every Monday and Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. at all of their locations across the GTA.
  • Hoops is serving up their jumbo wings for half price on Tuesdays and Thursday.
  • Hurricane's 2-4-1 wings are on sale every Monday and Tuesday.
  • Lou Dawg's serves 1/2 priced slow smoked wings every Monday and Wednesday.
  • My Place in the Beach does $5 a lbs. wings every Monday and Wednesday.
  • Orwell's Pub has a special for 89¢ wings everyday until 4 p.m. The deal extends into the evenings on Monday,Wednesday and Sunday.
  • Sloppy Joe's 70¢ wing specials are on every Tuesday and Thursday starting at 3 p.m.
  • The Court Jester has their wing nights on Wednesdays and Sundays. For 1 lbs. of wings and side it's $9.95 and for 2 lbs. $15.45.
  • The Roy has wing nights on Monday and Wednesday from 5 p.m. until close. When you purchase a bevy you can score a 1 lbs. of wings for $8.50.
  • The Wally does wing specials on Tuesday and Thursdays. With the purchase of a beverage get, 10 wings with fries or veggies for $9.29, 15 wings for $11.24 or 20 wings for $14.15.
  • Wheat Sheaf Tavern has 1/2 price wings on Monday, Tuesday and Sunday after 5 p.m.
Monday
  • Grace O'Malleys does half price wings.
  • Hong Shing is serving their off the menu wings until midnight. Enjoy six wings for $8.
  • Hooters offers AYCE wings.
  • Real Sports Bar is dishing out 1 lbs. of wings for $12.
  • Right Wing Pub has half price wings.
  • Sneaky Dee's has two wing deals on Monday nights. 10 wings with a 60 oz. pitcher will set you back $24 and 20 wings with a 60 oz. pitcher for $33.
  • St. Louis has boneless wings and a pint for $16.99.
  • Tara Inn offers buy 5 wings and get five free. Dine-in only.
  • The Dizzy after 5 p.m. on Mondays has nine wings for $9.
  • The Fill Station will fill you up with a pound of wings with carrots, celery and dip for just $6.99.
  • Wild Wing locations across Toronto offer $10 boneless wings.
  • Wingporium has a slew of wing specials during the week. On Mondays score AYCE wings for $24.
Tuesday
  • Duff's wing night features ten wings with celery and dip for $7.75 with a beverage purchase.
  • Squirly's wing night is on Tuesdays and features a pound of grilled wings, veggie sticks and blue cheese dip for $6.50.
  • St. Louis on Tuesdays offers 1/2 price wings starting at 4 p.m.
  • Wild Wing locations across Toronto offer 1/2 price wings on Tuesdays.
  • Wingporium on Tuesdays serves a 1 lbs. wings for $9.
Wednesday
  • Bistro 422 does half price wings every Wednesday.
  • Shark Club sells wings for 45¢ a pop on Wednesdays after 3 p.m. The only catch is wings are sold in 10's and must be accompanied by a beverage.
  • Striker Sports Bar has half price wings every Wednesday night.
  • Wingporium offers a pound and a half for the price of one.
Thursday
  • Boots 'N' Bourbon Saloon offers a pound of wings for $6 on Thursdays with a purchase of a drink.
  • Right Wing Pub dishes out a pint and pound of wings for $13.99 on Thursdays.
  • The Artful Dodger is serving 10 wings for $10 with a beverage purchase.
  • The Fill Station will fill you up with a pint and a pound of wings for $13.99.
  • The Office Pub offers 2 lbs. of wings sauced the way you like for $14.99 with purchase of beverage.
  • Wild Wing locations across Toronto offer $16 domestic pints and wings.
  • Wingporium offers 1 lbs. and pint for $14.
Friday
Saturday
  • Right Wing Pub sells 2 lbs. of wings for $19.99. 
  • Wingporium is cooking up 2 beef ribs and 1 lbs. of wings for $22 on.
Sunday
  • Hoops offers a pitcher of domestic beer and 3 pounds of wings for $44.95.
  • St. Louis dishes out a pint and pound for $16.99 on Sundays.
  • The Court Jester does a rib and wing combo for $12.75 after 5 p.m.

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

City council to look at limiting chain stores in Toronto

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It's not cheap to rent space in Toronto, especially for retailers in high-traffic areas, such as along Yonge and Queen streets. Perhaps that's why we're seeing more and more chain retailers in the city.

Councillor Mike Layton's motion at today's jam-packed city council meeting asks the city to look into creating a retail strategy that would enable a variety of retailers to thrive in Toronto and would also give neighbourhoods more ability to shape how they look.

The motion cites San Francisco's Formula Retail Strategy as an example. In San Francisco, formula retail refers to "retail stores with multiple locations and a recognizable 'look' or appearance."

This northern California city regulates where these stores can operate to preserve distinct areas and neighbourhood. 

"Of San Francisco’s 36 neighbourhoods, only three ban formula retail entirely, while the remaining 33 require new applications to undergo a conditional use process," reads the motion.

It's easy to see the retail landscape in Toronto changing. This spring, for instance, the Hard Rock Cafe will close to make way for a Shoppers Drug Mart and The Brunny is now a Rexall.

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