Toronto has a reputation for being conformist as compared with Montreal or even Vancouver, and to an extent the characterization is true: there are unwritten rules here that, if broken, can result in pain, embarrassment, or at least some serious eye rolling.

Here are 10 things you just don't do in Toronto.

Mix it up with streetcar tracks on a bike

Every frequent cyclist has a story, usually a painful one, about having a tire chomped by the streetcar tracks. Pro tip: cross the rails at 90 degrees, or as close to it as possible.

Go up the CN Tower

The tower might be an icon of the city, but everyone knows it's not meant for Torontonians to enjoy. Here's a bunch of reasons why your visit might not live up to expectations.

Expect the TTC to deliver you on time

Google says 30 minutes by transit? Better give it an hour, or two.

Say "world class city"

We are one, but those three words are enough to make anyone's eyes roll.

Believe the Raptors can beat the Cavaliers

Hope might spring eternal for Toronto sports fans at the outset of the season, but after consecutive play-off losses to LeBron James and Co., belief our team can come out of the east has faded. 

Trust that your Presto card will work

Even as more and more people start using Presto, the litany of problems that have plagued the transit smart card has meant that pretty much every user has had their commute delayed thanks to broken fare gate or re-load machine.

Bring wine to dinner and avoid paying corkage

Yeah, you can do it at some places on some nights, but it's just not part of our dining culture, and don't expect the wait staff not to make a face.

Buy a house for under $500K

There was a time not so long ago when decent $500K houses were readily listed in Toronto. Alas, the hope that you'll find an affordable home in this city is a thing of the past. 

Drink Coffee from Timothy's or La Prep

There are plenty of coffee drinking types in Toronto, from rabid Tim Hortons fans to those who refuse to go anywhere but indie cafes. Finding someone who sings the praises of Timothy's or La Prep, on the other hand, is worthy of a medal.

Hang out at Yonge-Dundas square

With the exception of loitering high school students and the occasional event, Yonge-Dundas Square remains a wasteland on inactivity even as the adjacent sidewalks brim with activity. Even the free screenings in the summer are killed by light pollution.

Newly built homes in the $3 million range have obvious allure for both their design and the fact that owners can put a personal stamp on these spaces. Case in point: this luxury offering near Bloor and Royal York, which just hit the market at $3.28 million.

This house has a lot going for it, something obviously reflected in the listing price. Ignoring the space itself for a moment, the neighbourhood is quiet and tree-lined, but it's also close to a bustling stretch of Bloor Street and the Line 2 subway.

While the exterior architecture is nothing to scoff at here, it's the interior that carries the wow factor. The Leprevo Custom Homes design is modern but warm thanks to a hefty dose of wood and a living wall. 

The basement features a theatre area and a wine cellar, so you don't have to trek too far when you want a refill. And, as the staging shows, this is also a house that's designed to be kid-friendly, which makes sense given the square footage. A big family wouldn't feel cramped here. 

Specs

• Address: 38 Van Dusen Blvd.
• Price: $3,280,000
• Lot Size: 52.58 x 110 feet
• Bedrooms: 4 + 1
• Bathrooms: 5
• Parking: 6
• Walk Score: 79
• Transit Score: 92
• Listing agent: David Anderson Oey
• Listing ID: W3787460

Good For

A family that likes the idea of living away from downtown, but wants easy access to the core and all of its cultural and entertainment offerings. The wine cellar will attract oenophiles. 

Move On If

There's not much to dislike here, but for this much money, someone might want a ravine lot or, alternately, to live in the heart of the action.

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

Today in Toronto there are some very exciting concerts in small spaces. Don't miss your chance to see Irish singer-songwriting Gavin James, Laura Marling and the first of a two-night party with The Black Lips. There's also a giant live-action Zelda game if you need to get your creative juices flowing.

The cladding outside of the Royal Ontario Museum's Queen's Park entrance will soon come down to reveal a revamped and fully-functional space ready to welcome visitors.

As the Toronto Star reports today, the Weston Entrance will be in service starting in September after being closed for about 10 years. Remember when this was how you entered the museum?

Hariri Pontarini Architects is giving the heritage space a makeover. Once complete, it'll feature limestone steps that are meant to be a hangout spot, much like at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan. Yes, this means you can finally live out your Gossip Girl dreams here in Toronto.

Like many upgrades happening in the city this year, this one's also tied into Canada's sesquicentennial. But the ROM's director and CEO tells the Star that the main entrance on Bloor was getting too crowded. 

While the new entrance won't be open this summer, get ready to hang out on the ROM steps come September.

One of Toronto's most popular summer music festivals is back for 2017. If Bud Light Dreams Festival sounds like your idea of the perfect weekend, you're not going to want to miss this. We've teamed up with LiveNation to give one lucky reader a chance to attend this year's festival.

Check out all the contest details here.

Meat Loaf always goes full out, and now that his huge hit musical Bat Out of Hell is coming to Toronto, you know he's going to make sure everyone knows about it. 

The American rock star will shut down Yonge Street, from Shuter to Dundas, on Monday May 15 at 7 p.m. to officially launch his show in North America.

The big rock 'n roll party will start off with a parade of Harley Davidsons that'll ride up Yonge to a custom built stage in the middle of the street.

Cast members Andrew Polec and Christina Bennington will be flying over from Manchester for the occasion, and they'll perform four songs from the show. Meat Loaf will be on hand to introduce them and talk about his role in the making of this musical from across the pond. 

Jim Steinman's Bat Out of Hell will start its run at the Ed Mirvish Theatre on October 17. Tickets go on sale on May 24.

After its sudden closure in December, the Parkdale No Frills reopened late last month, much to the delight of those who live and work in the neighbourhood.

The yellow-clad store has even inspired a new t-shirt line from one of Toronto's most popular satirical Instagram accounts @parkdalelife.

"The shirts were just made for fun and inspired by the account's love for No Frills and the importance of No Frills for Parkdale," says a rep from the anonymous Parkdale Life account via email.

SEE YOU TOMORROW! 4-9 or till we sell out. Thorburn + Tyndall. $25 and all profit to food bank. $20 for hats. Unisex. Grey and black. Wow. It's happening. #parkdalelife @thegeorgejetson @dontfeedtheunicorn

A post shared by Parkdale Life (@parkdalelife) on May 9, 2017 at 11:20am PDT

"There's something iconic about the logo, especially the old logo with these Fruit of the Loom-looking bananas."

Yet, the folks behind Parkdale Life are serious about selling these tees, which are available for purchase today at Thorburn and Tyndall from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. (here's a handy map if you want to buy one).  

A post shared by Parkdale Life (@parkdalelife) on Apr 25, 2017 at 9:27am PDT

Shirts are going for $25 and hats are $20. All proceeds will go towards the Parkdale Community Food Bank. Maintaining accessible sources of affordable food is crucial in the changing Parkdale neighbourhood, and this is just one initiative that seems raise awareness for local food security issues.

The best pubs in Scarborough are an evolving breed with newer spots competing with some long time classics. From wing destinations to places to watch the game, these pubs often pull double duty for lunch and dinners or a late night out.

Here are the best pubs in Scarborough.

The first stage of a massive transformation at the site of the former Globe and Mail building in Toronto gives a hint of what's in store for the neighbourhood in the coming years.

While the newspaper has relocated to a spiffy new building on King Street East, its old home at 444 Front St. W., now lies in ruins, as a tangled mess of concrete, rebar and bricks.

The demolition has been underway for a few months, though the shell of the main entrance is still intact for now. The doors, which came from the paper's old home at King and York streets, were always the prettiest part of a building that didn't hide its utilitarian nature. 

The factory-like structure got its start in 1963 as a new home for the Toronto Telegram, which had previously been based at Bay and Melinda streets. When the Telegram folded, the Globe eventually acquired the building in 1974.

Its printing presses were state of the art at the time, and while no one would have characterized the Globe's new home as architecturally superior to the its previous headquarters, there was a sense of importance conferred by the technology and newness of the building. 

This sentiment would be relatively short-lived. Some 20 years later, the printing presses were moved off site, and the building was on the verge of becoming an eyesore, a characterization that would become commonplace following the condo boom a decade later. 

Now, as the Globe takes up residence in its new home, one which speaks to the rise of digital publishing (you won't spot any signs of old printing presses here), Front Street West awaits an enormous makeover.

Once the old building has been razed, work will eventually commence on what's being called The Well, a sprawling mixed-use development from a team of three developers that'll marry retail, office space and residential towers. 

Even as CityPlace has risen across the railway corridor from the Globe and Mail over the last decade, the section of Front Street between Bathurst and Spadina has long maintained an austere character, which is sure to change with the addition of this new mini-neighbourhood. 

Toronto has been ranked the hottest real estate market in the world, according to Christie’s International Real Estate’s fifth annual luxury real estate report.

According to the report, the growth of the luxury real estate market was relatively flat in 2016, but many of the hottest, or fastest growing real estate markets in world, were in Canada. On average, Christie's defines luxury properties as homes with a starting price of $2.1 million.

In terms of the top performing luxury markets (the Luxury Index), Hong Kong took the number one spot, while Toronto ranked ninth. But we faired better on Christie's Luxury Thermometer. 

"In contrast to the Luxury Index, which evaluates overall prices and relative “luxuriousness” of a market, the Luxury Thermometer rankings evaluate both growth and demand, and answer the elusive question: 'Where is the world’s hottest luxury housing market?'" reads the report.

The answer: Toronto. "Already-hot prime property market Toronto soared to the top of this year’s Luxury Thermometer rankings, with almost double the number of million-dollar-plus sales recorded versus the previous year," says the report. Victoria ranked second

This shouldn't be too surprising considering the state of our local market in 2016. It'll be interesting to look at how we fair in next year's report once the Fair Housing Plan is in place.

From the rise of the Financial District to the birth of the condo tower, the degree to which Toronto has developed since the mid 1960s is nothing short of profound,  But what about before the rise of the modern skyscraper in Toronto?  

The growth this city has undergone each decade since the 1870s is actually remarkable. In an effort to visualize this, I've collected a series of bird's eye maps and photos of Toronto. They show a city constantly on the rise but with with some touchstones that remain the same.

1879

Highlights from one of our earliest bird's eye view of Toronto include a visible Garrison Creek, Union Station II, the Third Parliament Buildings (at Front and Simcoe), the early Distillery (District), and a burgeoning U of T campus amongst other things. View in high resolution here. 

1886

This map gives a good indication of the crucial importance of the harbour to 19th century Toronto, but also noteworthy is the fact that Yonge St. is the only thoroughfare that reaches significantly beyond Bloor St. View in high resolution version here.

1893

By 1893, Garrsion Creek is on its way to being buried altogether. Old City Hall makes an early appearance (it hadn't been built yet, but the mapmaker's often included future structures of note), and the Don River has already been significantly straightened. The city is becoming progressively more industrialized. View in high resolution here.

1904

The Great Fire of 1904 decimated the downtown core. Toronto spent the next decade rebuilding the Financial District.

1929

By 1929, the Royal York took its place as the centrepiece of the Toronto skyline. There's a new Union Station, and the land south of Front St. has expanded through various fill efforts.

1935

Here we're looking south across the U of T campus in the 1930s. The Canadian Bank of Commerce Building (now Commerce Court) has taken the crown as the tallest building in the city. 

1940s

By the 1940s, the Railway Lands have become enormous and the city has pushed almost as far south as it exists today. Toronto is still very much an industrial city, as demonstrated by the busy waterfront area.

1967

And then Toronto went modern. First with New City Hall (1965) and then the TD Centre. The black steel of the latter ushered in the rise of the modern Financial District. The rest of the city is starting to get denser as well.

1974

As the CN Tower rises above the city, Commerce Court West has been completed, First Canadian Place is on the way, and a population boom has lead to the rise of concrete apartment complexes across the city.

Mid 1980s

Here we're looking north toward Toronto across the Islands in the mid 1980s before the birth of the SkyDome. The skyline has taken its modern shape, but it still looks sparse, especially between the Financial District and the CN Tower. 

Early 1990s

Fast forward to the 1990s, and the waterfront is now home to condos, the SkyDome has arrived (ditto for Scotia Plaza in the 1980s), and the Railway Lands have been mostly razed to prepare for the massive CityPlace condo development.

Late 2000s

I took this photo during an approach to Pearson International in 2007. While Toronto might not be as dense as some cities megacities, you can trace an obvious Manhattan-like island of heavier development through the core.

2014

In this photo by Jimmy Wu from June 2014, we get an excellent look at the increasingly dense core of Toronto, featuring the Trump Tower, the rise of South Core, and the profound condo development along the waterfront.

2017

Finally, here's a photo by Ravi Pardesi taken high above the Toronto we know today, a city filled with skyscrapers and cranes. For all the development, it's still concentrated in the core. The east and west sides of Toronto are still predominantly low-rise, though a wider shot would reveal density in south Etobicoke.

It might not feel like summer yet in Toronto, but you know it's coming soon because construction is already starting to ramp up all over the city, including on the city's east side.

From May 15 until June 5, the Dundas-Parliament intersection will shut down in all directions. That's because the city's doing TTC track replacement work and sidewalk repairs.

Eastbound traffic on Dundas will be detoured at Sherbourne Street, while westbound traffic will get turned away at River Street. Northbound and southbound traffic will be rerouted at Gerrard and Shuter streets, respectively.

Don't expect traffic to flow as usual after June 5, either. From June 6 to 10, only one lane of traffic in each direction will open up as crews finish the remainder of the roadwork. 

For those who take public transit through this intersection, the 65 Parliament bus will divert around the closed intersection via Shuter, Sherbourne, and Gerrard streets.

According to the TTC, the 505 streetcar will be diverting from Broadview/Gerrard via Gerrard, Parliament, Carlton/College and Bay (to Bay/Dundas) to regular routing. Shuttle buses will also be operating along this route.

Stay patient, Toronto!

Toronto's harbour might be pretty, especially in the summertime, but it's certainly not the cleanest place in the city.

According to a new investigative report from the Toronto Star and the Ryerson School of Journalism, the amount of E.Coli in Toronto's harbour often exceeds safety standards.

That's because, according to the report, there isn't a single governmental entity responsible for testing the water in the harbour, even though it's a popular spot for canoeing, kayaking and other water sports.

The city, of course, tests the water at public beaches. The Star says the city is aware of the bacteria levels in the harbour, which often increase after heavy rains and storms thanks to sewage that seeps into the water. 

Speaking of which, recent reports from non-profit Lake Ontario Waterkeeper indicate that this month's heavy rains have pushed E. Coli levels to an all time high. 

Late last year the organization, which regularly tests water in the harbour, put out a report that points out nine spots along the harbour - between Bathurst and the Port Lands - with high levels of E.Coli.

As the Star writes, the city implemented the Wet Weather Flow Master Plan in 2003, which includes infrastructure to help eliminate storm-related pollution and runoff, though there remains significant room for improvement. 

Despite recent measures by the provincial government to dissuade house flipping by foreign investors, the rental market is still heavily populated with recently purchased homes used as income properties. With house prices this hot, everyone wants to get in on the action.

That can be a good thing for renters in the market for nicer apartments, particularly in the two-plus bedroom range. This Beaches rental is a prime example of this, having been purchased last year and listed for rent a few days ago. 

While your furniture may or may not be as nice as what's featured in the staged photos, it's obvious that this is a place made for professional types who've acquired enough stuff to fill a home (rather than a tiny apartment).

This place is well outfitted, with in-suite laundry, a spacious kitchen, a nice-looking deck and a private parking spot. Throw in the fact that it's a five minute walk to the beach, and you have a very attractive pad.

Specs

• Address: 27 Spruce Hill Rd.
• Apartment type: Semi-detached house
• Rent: $2,450
• Utilities: Not specified
• Bedrooms: 2 + 1
• Bathrooms: 1
• Parking: 1 private space
• Laundry? In-suite
• Outdoor space? Backyard and deck
• Pet friendly? Not specified

Good For

This would work well for 1) a couple with a decent income hoping to ride out the current state of the real estate market, 2) two professional roommates who love the proximity to the beach, or 3) a young family who needs ample space.

Move On If

You just don't need the space. This rental has two decent-sized bedrooms and a third room that could work as one. That's more than most people need.

Steve Aoki is in Toronto today, and he's here to make you dance like a wild animal before the weekend arrives. There's also an immersive art party in the basement of the Great Hall, and a film festival that runs all week.

If you're thinking about heading to zoo to check out the giant pandas or the new penguin chicks, you might want to save your trip for another day.

That's because at midnight, 400 zoo employees represented by CUPE Local 1600 went on strike. Workers are particularly concerned about issues related to job security and the two sides at the table failed to come to an agreement last night, as the Canadian Press writes.

Employees were asked to show up to the zoo today for picket duty, reports the Toronto Star. Zoo management will be caring for the animals.

The striking workers include zookeepers, gardeners, public relations and concessions staff.  

It's unclear how long the strike will last.

Mimosas have a way of making any brunch feel that much more special. While not all Toronto brunch restaurants are licensed, those that serve booze understand the necessity of a sparkling pick-me-up to celebrate a special occasion or even just to recover from the night before.

Here are my picks for where to get a mimosa at brunch in Toronto.

The Lakeview

One of the most dependable brunch spots in the city is just as consistent with their mimosa offering. Daily. $3. Mimosas. They're nothing fancy, but they're served quickly, constantly, and just right. 

Thompson Diner

The Weeknd's favourite weekend brunch spot pours five dollar mimosas all the way. We're not talking Bambino and Oasis OJ here: their mimosa is finished off with a generous splash of triple sec as well as an orange slice and maraschino cherry.

White Lily Diner

One of the best brunch stops in the city right now serves a deconstructed mimosa for $15. It's suitable for two (or one) and you get a mini bottle of Henkell Trocken served with a teeny carafe of orange juice.

Campo

This Baby Point restaurant has a Sunday brunch menu with a dangerously good morning cocktail list. Among them are their yummy $5 mimosas.

Big Crow

Weekend brunch at this permanent Dupont street meat-lovers spot serves something called Princess Juice. It's orange juice and grapefruit juice mixed with soda water. You can make it "sparkle" with Prosecco for $10.  

The Peasant Table

This Riverside restaurant has a tasty cocktail menu, but go for the weekend brunch and you can sip $5 Prosecco mimosas until 3 p.m.

Mildred’s Temple

Already famous for their lavish weekend brunch, the mimosa options at this popular Liberty Village hangout (which is also a great spot for large groups) serves a pink mimosa with fresh grapefruit juice for $9.95 or the classic Mimosa for $9.50.

Skin and Bones

This Leslieville wine bar and restaurant knows wine, so they don't fool around when it comes to their weekend brunch mimosas. They're made with a dry Cava and fresh orange juice from Pulp Kitchen down the street, all day for $10.

Beast

As a meat lovers paradise, this tucked-away bistro features freshly made doughnuts alongside Prosecco and orange juice mimosas for $8 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Farmhouse Tavern

This Dupont street brunch destination serves $11 mimosas Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. and from 3 p.m. until 4 p.m. They are $3 as part of their #fuckmondays special service. 

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

• Mi'hito Sushi Laboratory's first Toronto location has opened at 285 College St. (at Spadina Ave.), and as a grand opening promo, it's giving away free sushi burritos to those with social media savvy until Friday.
• Northern Italian restaurant Stelvio Toronto has reopened after a few months of renovations at 354 Queen St. W. (and now boasts a location in Milano as well).
• Bookworm Coffee, a "co-working space, cafe, sharing library and meeting place," has made its debut on the second floor of Tequila Bookworm at 512 Queen St. W.
• Momo San Aburi Sushi Bar is now open at 26 Baldwin St. in the former Bocca space.
• If you're craving Montreal-style bagels made fresh 24-7, Bagel Time is rolling 'em out at 582 Danforth Ave. in Greektown.
• Piccadilly Delicatessen has replaced Absolute Bakery at 547 Danforth Ave.
• Mr. Tonkatsu has opened another location in addition to the one in the Annex, this time at 548 Yonge (and Wellesley).
• Toro Wine Bar and Tapas has taken over the short-lived Bravo Restaurant space at 1588 Dundas St. W.
• Layalina Shisha and Coffee is now open at 225 Church St. (at Dundas St. E.), which was the former location of Sabai Sabai before it moved to Bloor St. E.

Recently reviewed

• NishDish
• Estia
• Eastbound Brewing Company
• Cherry Cola's
• Taj Restaurant
• Prohibition Gastrohouse (Eglinton)
• Pizza Shab

Opening soon

• Bunny's, chef Rodney Bowers's "neighbourhood bistro" that will replace his Hey Meatball at 912 Queen St. E. in Leslieville, is set to open soon.
• La Cubana already has a location on Roncesvalles and another on Ossington, and now it's set to open in the latest hot 'hood on Gerrard  St. E., setting up a third shop in what was the short-lived brunch spot Janie Jones.
• Food Society will be opening this month inside the BeSixFifty hotel at 650 Bay St.
• With locations in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Minneapolis (one of these is not like the others...), The Pint Public House will be adding a Toronto outpost soon at 277 Front St. W.
• In addition to its Yorkville location, Pi Co. looks to be expanding up to Yonge & Eg, with two new locations in the works there – one at 2177 Yonge St. and another at 8 Eglinton Ave. E.
• Something called Gyro Bar looks to be replacing the Eggsmart at 731 Broadview Ave. just south of the Danforth.
• Saturday Dinette will cease to offer dinner as of May 31, but has announced a new restaurant called Kid Chocolate Lunch Counter & Bar as well as a summer residency on the west side (details to come). 

Closed

• After 25 years, The Standard Pizza and Pasta in Little Italy has officially retired.
• King Rustic has closed at 926 King St. W. with plans to reopen in a new location nearby soon.
• Against the Grain in Leaside has closed, but its location at Corus Quay continues on. 
• Axis Gallery and Grill in the Junction is no more.
• Japanese fusion restaurant Kobo Nobu on Broadview just north of the Danforth has shuttered.
• Rione XI didn't last very long on St. Clair Ave. W.

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

Sporting Life 10K road closures will make travelling around the city a bit more challenging than normal on Sunday, May 14. The enormous event heads right down Yonge Street before heading along Richmond St. through the Entertainment District and finishing off near Fort York.

Whether you're looking to root on the runners or looking to avoid traffic, here's everything you need to know about this year's run.

Route
 

Road Closures

Due to the large scale of the event, there will be plenty of road closures. Allow additional travel time if you need to get across Yonge Street between Lawrence Avenue and Richmond Street. Here's a list of the affected streets:

• Yonge St. from Lawrence Ave. to Eglinton Ave. (4:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.)
• Fort York Blvd. from Bathurst St. to Lakeshore Blvd. (4:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.)
• Yonge St. between Eglinton Ave. and Richmond St. (7:15 a.m to 11:30 a.m)
• Richmond St. between Yonge St. and Peter St. (7:15 a.m to 11:30 a.m)
• Peter St./Blue Jays Way between Richmond St. and Front St. (7:15 a.m to 11:30 a.m)
• Westbound Front St. between Blue Jays Way and Bathurst St. (7:15 a.m to 11:30 a.m)
• Bathurst St. between Front St. and Lakeshore Blvd. (7:15 a.m to 11:30 a.m)
• Fleet St. from Strachan Ave. to Fort York Blvd. (7:15 a.m to 11:30 a.m)

TTC Diversions and Restrictions
 

TTC service on a total of 21 routes will be on diversion at various times on Sunday, May 14. Affected routes include:

• 5 Avenue Rd
• 11 Bayview
• 14 Glencairn
• 28 Bayview South
• 32 Eglinton West
• 34 Eglinton East
• 51 Leslie
• 54 Lawrence East
• 56 Leaside
• 61 Avenue Rd
• 94 Wellesley
• 97 Yonge
• 121 Fort York-Esplanade
• 300 Bloor-Danforth
• 307 Bathurst
• 320 Yonge
• 332 Eglinton West
• 334 Eglinton East
• 354 Lawrence East
• 509 Harbourfront
• 511 Bathurst

Toronto loves it summertime food markets. Once it gets warmer, these moveable feasts pop up all over the city, letting us stock up on fresh produce and dine al fresco.

The newest one to enter the fray will animate one of Toronto's newer parks, which could use a bit of action.

Social enterprise Aangen, which runs the shipping container cafe in McCormick Park, is organizing the Lisgar Park Market.

Aangen is currently seeking food and artisan vendors for this weekly event that's slated to run every Saturday from June 24 until October 28 beside West Queen West.

A post shared by 1LoveAangen (@1loveaangen) on May 10, 2017 at 12:51pm PDT

Aangen's executive director Gurbeen Bhasin says the market aims to launch with 20 to 30 vendors, and she hopes to eventually get that number up to 40 or 50 later in the season.

There are also plans in place to host holiday markets in the park in November and December.

Bhasin notes that the local businesses and residents who sit on Lisgar Park's stewardship council are excited about the market, which will serve to support the local economy.

"Rather than shopping at a big box store," says Bhasin, "come and spend your dollars locally."