Flower shops and specialized florists have sprouted in almost every neighbourhood in Toronto. Whether your need a quick pick-me-up, a little something to help get out of the dog house, or are planning an event and need to decorate, these flower stores are just the ticket.

Here are my picks for the top flower shops in Toronto by neighbourhood.

Annex

Flur near Bathurst and Dupont is a great destination for seasonal flowers, unique floral arrangements as well as potted plants. 

Bloor West Village

Budget friendly bouquets can be arranged by the friendly staff at Bloor Village Flowers, a neighbourhood stalwart for over 20 years.

Church Wellesley Village

Ladybug in The Village is stocked with fresh blooms brought in from local farmers and growers in Europe and South America. They employ their own drivers, so rest assured that bouquets and table arrangements will arrive looking their best.

Corktown

Eco Stems is a florist that prides itself on being an environmentally, and socially sustainable studio, meaning everything in the shop that has been sourced is local, organic or fair trade.

Corso Italia

Over half a century in business, San Remo Florist can happily accommodate everyday occasions, as well as, design for bridal and corporate events.

Danforth

Flox on Danforth is a rainbow wonderland of fresh cut stems, succulents and potted plants. Friendly staff will pull together bouquets on the fly or make themselves available for consults to plan custom orders.

Dundas West

Bohemian garden shop Stamen & Pistil Botanicals specializes in terrariums as well as unique plants that you won't find in your typical flower shop. 

Photo by Pistil Flowers.

Financial District

Two branches of Pistil can be found in the PATH, where the subterranean flower studio caters to corporate clients and the rush hour crowd heading home with a little something extra for their honey.

High Park

Hunt and Gather is a tiny flower shop sandwiched in between the restaurants and bars on Bloor. They do everything from everyday floral arrangements to flowers for an entire event. 

Junction

Martin's Flowers has been rooted in The Junction since 1899, sprouting a reputation as one of Toronto's longest lasting purveyors of top quality blooms.

Kensington Market

Wilbe Bloomin has been a staple in Kensington Market for a decade, brightening the streetscapes with buckets of fresh flowers in the summer months. Pre-made bouquets, orchids and potted petals are ready for grab and go.

King West

Classic arrangements and beautiful bouquets incorporating seasonal blooms like tulips, lilies and hydrangeas are in abundance at King West Flowers.

Leslieville

Florabunda well suits the neighbourhood as a charming independent, mom and pop flower shop. It's a local favourite for satisfying that weekly flower fix or picking up a last minute gift.

Liberty Village

Suzanne Gardner Flowers has been providing the city with exquisite hand-crafted floral arrangements for over 25 years. Arrangements here are simple and classic.

Photo by Candice M. at Pink Twig.

Little Italy

Floral boutique Pink Twig is a favourite in the area thanks to their fun and funky flower arrangements. 

Mount Pleasant

Summerhill Floral Boutique on Mount Pleasant stocks a high quality and vibrant assortment of seasonal blooms and cut flowers.

Parkdale

Crown Flora offers more than just custom terrariums. They also do custom floral arrangements for any occasion. You can pre-order them for in store pick up or get them delivered to your door. 

Riverside

Spruce up your home with soft-hued blooms or surprise your loved one with a lush hand-tied bouquets featuring beautiful and exotic flowers from Quince.

Roncesvalles Village

There's a lot to love about Sweetpea's, the eco-friendly floral studio on Roncesvalles. Not only does it fashion beautiful arrangements for any occasion, but it's a one-stop shop for giftwares and greeting cards too.

Rosedale

Bunches of blooms and French chocolates are the focus at The Chocolate Tulip - a one-stop source for wooing, celebrating or sympathizing.

St. Clair West

Fiori is a boutique florist with sophisticated taste and an eye for elegant designs. Their collections of seasonal bouquets are beautiful, even Martha-esque.

West Queen West

Spontaneous romantics can count on Poppies for hand-tied bouquets designed with a modern sensibility.

Yonge & Dundas

Tiny Flower on Bay is open evenings making it a real lifesaver when you really need to pick up a bouquet or an arrangement for a special someone or event. 

Yonge & Lawrence

For over 10 years Bayview Blossoms has been servicing the Yonge & Lawrence 'hood. They sell everyday arrangements and flowers but also can be trusted for large corporate events. 

Yorkville

Yang's Flower Market stands out in the Av and Dav neighbourhood that's lush with flower markets because of its vast assortment of fresh, budget-friendly blossoms.

Toronto's filled with over-the-top ice cream cones and long lineups for decadent ice cream sandwiches. But why stand outside when you can get the good stuff delivered right to your door?

There are few ice cream delivery services in Toronto, including a new one called Ruru Baked from pastry chef and Calgary expat Luanne Ronquillo.

Ronquillo launched Ruru Baked in December, a weird time, she admits, to start an ice cream business. Yet, even though she also makes handmade Twix-like chocolate bars, potato chip square (they're like a Rice Crispy square) and apple and cheddar pie, ice cream remains her bestseller.

A post shared by ruru baked (@rurubaked) on Apr 21, 2017 at 9:50am PDT

She plays with nostalgic flavours from her childhood and is also influenced by food she finds in the city. Take her sweet corn and lime, ice cream for instance, which she made after eating Mexican-style street corn.

After playing around in the kitchen, Ronquillo put freeze dried corn in the ice cream result in a flavour that's more like Corn Pops or cornbread that corn-on-the-cob.

A post shared by ruru baked (@rurubaked) on Apr 21, 2017 at 2:59pm PDT

Her other ice cream flavours include black sesame and milk tea and she's working on some vegan options too. All her treats are available for delivery on Saturdays in a large swath of mid and downtown Toronto.

Toronto is about to get its first French street food restaurant. The soon-to-open Mister Frenchy has signs up near the corner of Danforth and Pape promising a type of cuisine not yet found in our city.

So what is French street food? According to a Facebook posting from the restaurant, we can expect to find French tacos (whatever those are), French roule (a type of cheese) as well as the familiar French quiche.

An opening date is not yet confirmed but the restaurant seems to be well behind schedule from their initial target of mid April.

It's never been easier in Toronto to get food delivered straight to your door but not all restaurant owners choose to accept orders online or via an app.

That's why the owner of a popular vegan bakery was miffed when she saw her business appear on the American-based on-demand delivery service app DoorDash.

After receiving a promotional email from DoorDash, Through Being Cool Vegan Baking Co.'s Amanda Somerville decided to check out the app. 

"I wonder who actually uses these services, so I went to look," she says. "And I’m like, uh, that’s my business, no."

She eventually got her bakery de-listed, but was confused to see DoorDash using an old menu, offering to deliver items she hadn't sold for about three years.

Through Being Cool has never done delivery and Somerville hasn't considered signing up with a delivery app. "It would just complicate business more. We’re busy enough, luckily, that we don’t need to do that kind of thing," she says.

***DO NOT USE THE DOORDASH APP TO ORDER FROM US!***Remember when our friends over at @hogtownvegan were being scammed by @doordash ? Well now it's our turn! DoorDash has NO permission to have us on their app which is loaded full of things we don't even carry anymore (And missing a heck of a lot that we do 😏) It is simply not ok for doordash to be taking advantage of us or any other small hard working business. Please do not use this app to order our food. SHAME!

A post shared by tbcvegan (@tbcvegan) on May 9, 2017 at 1:29pm PDT

DoorDash's communications director confirmed that businesses can ask to not be listed, and pointed me to an online post explaining how the company works with restaurants. 

"One of our key principles is to provide customers with the very best selection of restaurants. We fulfill this promise by identifying the most popular restaurants that offer take-out in each city and connecting customers with Dashers who pick up orders from those restaurants and bring them to customers’ doors," reads the post.

"As a logistics company, DoorDash matches supply and demand across three different audiences: if a restaurant offers orders to go, and customers want it delivered, we’ll connect them with a Dasher to provide that service," it continues.

Don't use #DoorDash Extremely slow service and delivery. 90 minute wait #fail#starving this was my first and last time using them #toronto

— Derrick Branco (@DerrBranco31) November 12, 2016

Through Being Cool isn't the first popular vegan spot to unknowingly appear on DoorDash; Apiecalypse Now and Hogtown Vegan also found themselves in a similar situation.

Hey @doordash is it company policy to park in bike lanes? #Toronto#biketopic.twitter.com/EMUVPOBc6T

— Doug Howat (@DPHowat) March 18, 2017

When the Favour app first entered the Toronto market (it has since left the city), it came under fire after listing restaurants such as Khao San Road, Pizzeria Libretto and Porchetta and Co., without their permission.

Mega-mansions exist in Toronto, but they're much easier to find on the outskirts of the city. These plush and often extravagant homes comes with lots and lots of land and amenities that'll make you think you're at a luxury resort.

Here's what a $10 million house looks like in the Toronto suburbs.

$10,250,000 in Oakville

Live right by the lake in this plush Oakville pad with a gym/dance studio, 650 square feet pool house and outdoor salt water pool.

$10,500,000 in Brampton

This seems like a relatively modest, four-bedroom home, but it's on 24-acres of land that's prime for redevelopment.

$10,900,000 in Oakville

Throw a party to take advantage of the 15,000 square feet and acre of land at this house that also features a "great room," dedicated wine room and wet bar. 

$11,888,000 in King

Not only is this house huge, but it's on 110 acres of land. It also comes with a private lake and multiple hiking trails. Why would you ever leave?

$9,786,000 in Vaughan

If you need an indoor pool, an outdoor pool, three fire pits, an indoor basketball court, heated floors and 14 bathrooms, check out this quaint little pad.

$9,950,000 in Vaughan

Here's another house on the same street that also looks like an okay place to live. The living space is spread over 12,000 square feet and it features a soundproof theatre and an outdoor in-ground pool.

It's easy to think that we collectively know all there is to know about the TTC when we're stuck riding its trains and buses every day, but a transit system with such a long history has plenty of secrets and quirky stories that have built up over the years. 

Here are 10 quirky things you might not know about the TTC.

The TTC once had double decker buses

Back in the 1920s, the TTC fleet sported a few double decker buses, which made for quite the open-air experience on the top level. These buses never did catch on in any meaningful sense, and sightings of them vanish in the Toronto Archives by the 1930s.

The original plan for the subway called for three lines

Although Toronto didn't get a subway until 1954, there was already talk of building underground rail back in 1910. New York engineering firm Jacobs and Davies outlined a subway route for Toronto that consisted of three distinct lines: one in the west,  a central line up Yonge, and an eastern route. 

Yorkdale Station once had a rainbow roof

When the Spadina Line opened in 1978, public art was a major feature of the new subway stations, none more spectacular than Michael Hayden's Arc en ciel at Yorkdale, which erupted in a multicoloured pulse as trains entered the station. It was foolishly removed after water damage in the 1990s, but is set to make a remarkable return later this year.

The TTC planned to abandon streetcars in the 1970s

The TTC's streetcar abandonment policy, were it allowed to finish as planned in the 1970s and '80s, would have mothballed all of Toronto's surface rail routes. Sherbourne, Dovercourt, Lansdowne, Spadina, Rogers Road, Weston Road and Spadina (since revived) all had their tracks removed before Streetcars for Toronto managed to halt the plan.

North York Centre was added after Finch Station 

The thick support wall that separates the north and southbound platforms at North York Centre harks back to the time when the subway bypassed the area completely. The station was added 1987 more than a decade after the Yonge line reached its current terminus. While ugly, the wall keeps the odd station structure stable.

There used to be a garbage train

The least glamorous job on the subway once belonged to a little train nicknamed Tokyo Rose. The distinctive car with its circular windows was bought from Nippon Sharyo, a Japanese train manufacturer, in the 1960s and converted into a moving trashcan. The TTC halted its in-house collection in 2000 following a fire at Old Mill station.

The TTC had different names in mind for some stations

Dundas West was initially proposed as "Vincent" after a nearby street erased by The Crossways development and the northern portion of Spadina Station was almost a separate stopped named "Lowther." The TTC also seriously considered renaming St. Patrick "Art Gallery" after the nearby AGO. 

The TTC used to offer Christmas Light tours

Every festive season in the 60s and 70s crowds of passengers would gather at the coach terminal on Dundas for a tour of the city's Christmas lights. The two-hour special bus service took in the best of the downtown displays as well as those in residential neighbourhoods.

Etobicoke almost had its own RT line

Stand on the upper level of Kipling station opposite the bus bays and look out the window. If the TTC's expansion plans had panned out a little differently, a white ICTS train identical to the Scarborough RT might be arriving right now, releasing passengers from all over north Etobicoke into the subway. 

The origins of the term "Red Rocket"

Some trace the etymology to the introduction of the original red Gloucester subway cars in 1954, while others link it to the PCC streetcars. Thanks to Transit Toronto, we know for sure that the term was not officially adopted by the TTC in marketing materials until the 1980s.

Writing by Chris Bateman and Derek Flack

Hotel brunch in Toronto might conjure up visions of lacklustre continental breakfasts or rubbery scrambled eggs in warming trays - but such is not the case in a world class city like ours. Toronto hotels have seriously stepped up their hotel brunch game in recent years.

Here are my picks for the top hotels for brunch in Toronto.

Luckee

Start with a cup of tea at Susur Lee's SoHo restaurant, which does a dim sum brunch on weekends from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Order steamed dumplings, fried spring rolls, pot stickers and bao off the menu or wait around for cart service.

The Drake Hotel

Brunch at this West Queen West boutique hotel is served on weekends from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and features morning standards like breakfast burritos, pancakes and smoked salmon-stacked bagels, as well as some more unusual offerings. Their kitchen always keeps things interesting.

Thompson Diner

This classic diner inside the Thompson Hotel opens its doors bright and early at 6 a.m. Brunch here is anything but basic as the menu boasts items like brunch burgers and prosciutto benedicts.

Momofuku Daisho 

This restaurant on the third floor next to the Shangri-La Hotel serves brunch on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Expect breakfast steamed buns, eggs benny and bagel feasts.

Cafe Boulud

Make your way to the Four Seasons on Sundays to for some swanky brunch offerings. Kick it off with a peach bellini or mimosa and dig into their lemon ricotta pancakes or rotisserie chicken and waffles.

Colette

The diner isn't the only option at the Thompson Hotel. On Saturdays there's a special brunch menu at the more refined Colette with things like tartines and eggs. On Sundays they host a grand brunch buffet for $54 per person. 

Gladstone Hotel

Served Saturdays and Sundays, the brunch menu at this West Queen West boutique hotel offers a satisfying selection that includes granola and Greek yogurt bowls and hearty breakfast burgers with a fried egg.

TOCA Restaurant

Sunday brunch at the Ritz-Carlton hotel is a lavish, all-inclusive affair where even the mimosas and bellinis are bottomless. For the set price of $89, the market-style buffet is worth the splurge for a special occasion, featuring stations for eggs any way, hand-carved meats, chilled and raw seafood.

One Restaurant

Score brunch at the Hazelton Hotel in Yorkville on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Omelettes, eggs benedict, smoked salmon rosti, french toast and waffles all grace the menu.

Bosk

The main restaurant inside the Shangri-La Hotel offers a prix fixe brunch menu on weekends from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Two courses priced at $44 per person and for $68 access access to the mimosa trolley. 

The top photography rental studios in Toronto are ideally suited to photographers who find themselves in need of a space to do a staged shoot. Luckily, there are plenty of rental studios available for just such a scenario, and most won't put you severely in dept. 

Album Studio Rentals

If you're on the hunt for a more high-end studio space, check out this spot on Geary Ave near Dufferin and Dupont. It offers up no fewer than 4,800 square feet of space behind an unassuming exterior. Album Studio Rentals features two studio spaces in one, with the smaller going for $400 per day and the larger at $800 a pop.

Revprint Studio 205 

Revprint Studio at Kipling and Lake Shore Blvd. W. is the only studio in the GTA that includes a studio technician and Elinchrom equipment with every booking. If you just need half a day, you can rent space for four hours during the week for $145, or you can have the space for a full eight hours at $252. 

Working Proof Studios

Working Proof Studios is a shiny facility set up at Dundas and Carlaw. All studio equipment is included with a rental, including a hair and makeup area. Rates are $60 per hour, $220 for half a day and $350 for a full day.

Loft 302

Loft 302 is located in Leslieville, at Dundas and Carlaw. For decent rates, the boutique studio offers the gamut of extras, including dishes, a coffee press, makeup station, etc. The shooting area is 1,200 square feet of brightly lit space, and it can be rented for $35 an hour.

Studio 202

Studio 202 is one of the prettiest spaces on this list. It used to be a knitting factory, and the building was constructed in the 1940s. Given its quaintness and good energy, its rates are amazing: $150 for four hours, and $290 for the full day. Rates change on the weekend, though. They've got Wi-Fi, a full kitchen, and typical extras like a steamer and rolling rack.

Hello Studios

This studio at Queen and Dufferin in Parkdale doesn't have a lot of natural light, and is a pretty raw space, but is surrounded by other creative studios and is pretty affordable. There's a make-up area, Wi-Fi, and a comfy waiting area for clients. The space can be rented for $105 for a four hour session, and $180 for eight hours.

Neighbourhood Studio

Located at Lakeshore and Carlaw, this studio offers two massive, flexible spaces. If you need a great big blank canvas, this is the spot for you. They charge $450 for a full day and have an impressive equipment inventory list for you to rent from as well. It's a one stop shop. 

Silverline Studios

Silverline Studios includes a total of three studio spaces, all of which are pretty breathtaking, to be honest. They'll cost you, though. A day in Studio C goes for $700. But if you're a pro photographer working on a major project (there's loading dock access) in this specific type of space, this Leslieville studio at Eastern and Pape is worth checking out.

That Studio

A Leslieville photography and loft space that gives you access to photographers, makeup artists, hairstylists and more. Set in over 1,000 square feet, this studio also has wifi, Netflix, a huge TV, leather couches and all types of photography equipment. A full day will run you $180, and a half-day is $100.

V1 Studio

Renting at this studio near the Canary District gives you access to V1 a beautiful loft space, or V2, the lush Victorian space. They rent at $40 and $30 respectively and you also have access to paper backdrops, makeup areas, photo equipment and full kitchens. 

Social media lit up last night with sightings of a bear wandering around Scarborough. Yes, that's right, there was a black bear on the loose in Toronto, and apparently it didn't escape from the zoo.

After receiving multiple reports of a bear entering backyards in the area around Finch Avenue East and Markham Road, Toronto Police Operations took to Twitter to warn people of the ongoing situation.  

**300 lb bear*** reported by a callers in the Tapscott Rd and Finch Ave E area. We do not know its location now. If seen call 911 ^ma

— Toronto Police OPS (@TPSOperations) May 13, 2017

Not knowing where the bear came from or what it was after, police advised residents to secure their garbage. It was also confirmed that the Toronto zoo was not missing any of its group of bears. 

.@ONresources is advising that residents in the area should secure garbage and compost as the bear may be foraging for food ^ma @TPS42Div

— Toronto Police OPS (@TPSOperations) May 13, 2017

At this point, the whole affair was bizarre enough to warrant a series of humorous tweets making light of of the oddity of a 300 pound bear poking its way around Scarborough backyards. While not highly dense, the area in question is completely urbanized. 

In my mind, Toronto Police are currently rolling around north Scarborough in that armoured vehicle they got for the G20, looking for a bear.

— Rishi Maharaj (@9x19) May 13, 2017

John Tory's subway plans even took a hit as the bear hunt start to reach its peak yesterday night. This was the height of the lighthearted response to the situation.

@TorontoShare That was just John Tory looking for the Scarborough subway. #bear#hunt#Scarborough

— Calvin Swine (@CalvinSwine905) May 13, 2017

Things took a more serious turn when the police actually found the bear in someone's backyard after what was reportedly a three hour search. At this point it was about 1 a.m. and much of the social media attention quieted down.

.@ONresources@TPS42Div@TheTorontoZoo Our officers have advised that they located the bear in the McCowan Rd and Finch Ave E area and they are currently monitoring it ^ma

— Toronto Police OPS (@TPSOperations) May 13, 2017

Unfortunately many people woke to the news that the bear was ultimately shot by police when animal control services informed them that they were not adequately equipped to handle a situation involving a bear. 

Disappointing to hear that the bear in Scarborough was shot. due to animal control "not being equipped" to deal with it.
Seems senseless

— James (@sixteencylinder) May 13, 2017

It's still not known where the bear came from. The close proximity to the Toronto Zoo has been characterized as a coincidence given that all of its animals are accounted for.

While there have been some bear sightings in the broader GTA over the last little while, it's exceedingly rare to have a bear on the loose within the limits of the city of Toronto.

With so many house selling way over asking in Toronto these days, the tendency is to declare the expression meaningless. The value of a home, so the argument goes, is better judged by what nearby properties have sold for. 

That's mostly sound reasoning, but once in a while we get a bit of inside baseball from realtors about Toronto home sales, and this sheds some more insight on the wild prices that are being fetched of late. 

This elegant and well equipped home at 375 Glencairn Avenue, for instance, just sold for $1,165,000 over asking after being on the market for seven days. During that period realtor André Kutyan of Harvey Kalles tells us that 165 people came through the home.

Of the army of potential buyers who toured the property, nine made offers, which drove the price way up from its listing at $3,595,000. Worthy of note is that the listing price mostly reflects the sale prices of other nearby homes sold over the last 30 days.

The sample size might be too small for this to prove a trustworthy metric (only five other homes sold within 1,500 metres during this period), but one thing's for sure: there was a ton of interest in this property.

The Essentials

• Address: 375 Glencairn Ave.
• Type: Detached house
• Bedrooms: 4 + 1
• Bathrooms: 7
• Lot size: 50 x 219.66 feet
• Realtor: André Kutyan
• Hit the market at: $3,595,000
• Time on market: 7 days
• Sold for: $4,760,000

Why it sold for what it did

This house has a lot going for it. It's been recently renovated, the enormous basement features a wine cellar, games room, mini movie theatre, and sauna, multiple bedrooms feature en suite washrooms, and the finishes around the house are top of the line. 

Was it worth it?

There are plenty of very nice homes in Lytton Park, but this one stands out when compared to recent listings. That alone was likely enough to start the bidding war that drove the price up into the ultra luxury range. 

Free events in Toronto this week involve a lot of music. Meat Loaf shuts down Yonge street for a rock concert to help launch his new musical, and it's the free outdoor lunchtime concert series kick-off at Dundas Square. There's also a free film fest and a disco dance party down by the lake.

Lieutenant Governor of Ontario Elizabeth Dowdeswell is one of four Canadian viceregal representatives to be (officially) homeless. Toronto pulled down its last government house, an astonishingly opulent mansion even among its Rosedale neighbours, in 1959 in the name of cost saving.

Just over a century ago, on 15 November 1915, the first official guests were welcomed inside the grand hall of Ontario's million dollar palace. Twenty years later it was be derelict. Chorley Park is now largely forgotten, save for the small piece of it that remains on the edge of the Don Valley.

Ontario's first three official government houses were located outside the western boundary of the town of York, which was then largely clustered around Front Street, east of Yonge.

The first residence, a basic single-floor brick building near Fort York, was destroyed when British troops detonated the grand magazine, a giant weapons cache, while beating a hasty retreat out of town during the war of 1812.

As the city grew, Ontario's viceregal residence found its way to a mansion at the centre of a large plot of land on the southwest corner of King and Simcoe, where Roy Thomson Hall is now.

In the late 1800s, the four corners of that intersection were nicknamed "legislation," "education," "salvation," and "damnation," with Government House representing "legislation." Neighbours Upper Canada College, St. Andrew's Church, and the British Hotel represented the rest.

Elmsley House, the first of two government houses to occupy the King and Simcoe corner, stood among lush woodland west of the town. Built in 1798, the two-storey home would have been a short walk from the centre of commercial activity and was originally the private home of Chief Justice John Elmsley.

The province bought the building in 1815, and it was occupied by successive lieutenant-governors until 1841. In 1870 a purpose-built government house was built on the former site of Elmsley House and remained there until the arrival of factories and rail lines gave the area a distinctly industrial feel.

The land was sold to Canadian Pacific, which built a rail yard and freight office on the site.

(Interestingly, when the CP building was demolished in the 1970s a mysterious underground room containing a locked safe was revealed. The safe, hauled to the surface by the builders of Roy Thomson Hall, vanished shortly after its discovery.)

With the loss of Old Government House, as it came to be known, the province sought a location for a new residence, one that would outshine of its predecessors in grandeur, a "conspicuous ornament to the city," in the words of William Dendy, author of Lost Toronto.

The province bought a site on Bloor backing on to the Rosedale Ravine — where the Manufacturer's Life Building is now — and held an architectural competition that produced several viable designs. Several were given serious consideration but eventually rejected because of cost.

Fearing the Bloor site would become surrounded by heavy industry like King and Simcoe, the city decided to sell the land and use the proceeds for the purchase of a new location.

Into the search stepped William James Gage, a wealthy philanthropist and businessman. He offered to sell his estate at Bathurst and Davenport, just west of Casa Loma, for the same amount Ontario was willing to pay for a site in leafy Rosedale.

Gage also pledged to use the money he would earn from the land to establish a public botanical garden nearby.

The deal appeared to have the support of council and it was suggested the city buy the Rosedale land being eyed by the province, thereby seizing the chance to get two parks for the price of one.

The province, however, had other ideas. It rejected Gage's offer and forged ahead with the Rosedale site, known as Chorley Park, after the town of Chorley in Lancashire, England, the birthplace of Toronto alderman John Hallam.

The final design for the grand residence was drawn up by Francis R. Heakes - the province's official architect also responsible for the Whitney Block on Queen's Park Crescent - in the style of a French Loire Valley château.

Heakes' blueprint borrowed heavily from submissions to the 1911 design competition, including many of the exterior details and the floor plan, and was limited to a budget of $215,000.

What rose from the scrubby ground in east Rosedeale between 1911 and 1916 was unlike any other building in Canada. Grey Credit Valley stone exterior was worked into ornate detail; little tourelles — small pointy-roofed turrets — embellished the corners of the three-storey palace.

As Dendy writes, the château style was in vogue in Canada at the time due to its popularity in France. The railways would build the Château Frontenac, Banff Springs Hotel, Château Laurier, and the Royal York with the same look in the years to come.

Chorley Park's grey stone exterior was capped with red ceramic tile and surrounded by carefully landscaped gardens that included a large square forecourt for receiving official guests. The winding driveway reached the main entrance via arched concrete bridge that still stands today.

Inside, an imposing three-storey reception hall basked in sunlight from a massive rooftop window. Passageways led off to a ballroom with a domed glass ceiling, the official State Dining Room clad in carved fumed oak and Caen limestone, a suite of reception rooms, and a glass conservatory that overlooked the Don Valley.

Much of the interior design work was done by the T. Eaton Company. A photo taken in 1916 shows a full polar bear skin rug with the head still attached at the centre of the reception hall floor.

The bill, when it finally arrived, was more than $1 million - more than four time the original budget. It was deemed worthwhile, however, to secure such a stunning work of architecture. That feeling wouldn't last long.

The ongoing cost of maintaining the ostentatious mansion proved to be its eventual undoing. The Conservative provincial government found the cost even harder to justify as the Depression began to take hold in the 1920s.

Despite voices calling for the house to be abandoned, it lingered on as the official home of Ontario's lieutenant-governor until 1937 when the fine furnishings and fixtures were stripped out and sold at auction.

When world war two began, the gutted interior was converted into a military hospital for wounded soldiers.

Chorley Park met its eventual end in 1959 when, with the last of the patients gone and a brief period as a refuge for Hungarian immigrants fleeing the revolution over, the Metro government under Fred Gardiner ordered the building torn down.

All that remains today is the concrete arch bridge and square forecourt. The land is now a public park, as W. J. Gage once planned.

Ontario's official viceregal residence is currently located in the west wing of the legislature building.

Large wedding venues in Toronto will cater to your event, no matter what your definition of a 'large' wedding is - just cracking 100 guests or even upwards of 1,000. There are so many options in Toronto that you're sure to find something that works for your style and budget.

Here are my picks for the top venues for a large wedding in Toronto.

Berkeley Church and Berkeley Fieldhouse

Rent either the Church or Fieldhouse, or both for extra space. The Church space features 17 ft. stained glass windows and hardwood floors with a mezzanine and main floor, while the Fieldhouse features French glass doors and high ceilings, plus a wooden deck and patio area. 

Steam Whistle Brewery

The popular brewery features beautiful cityscape views and a rustic interior with plenty of exposed brick and wood beams. A variety of spaces can accommodate anywhere from 60 to 250 seated, or up to 500 for a standing reception. Rental costs vary based on the season and day.

Graydon Hall

The manor's sprawling gardens could play host to your ceremony, while the estate itself is perfect for an evening affair. The home features ornate moldings, bay windows, and wood-burning fireplaces. Rental fees vary depending on the time, date, and season requested.

Palais Royale

This beautiful venue features a plush interior with contemporary art deco furnishings, an original stone fireplace, hardwood dance floor and a 30-foot vaulted ceiling. The ballroom can host 350 people for a seated dinner or up to 800 for cocktails.

2nd Floor

This 3,000 square foot space on King West is open-concept with an industrial feel including exposed brick walls, large windows, and a 36-foot bar. The team can accommodate up to 180 people for a seated dinner or 350 for a cocktail party. 

The Carlu

Elegant and glamorous events are the best fit for this lavish Deco-styled space. The highly stylish site is located on the 7th floor of the College Park building. 

Evergreen Brick Works

This dynamic event space can host anywhere from 50 to 1,500 guests. Evergreen strives to mix nature with an urban setting, so it encourages sustainable practices in hosting any events. Their approved suppliers are in keeping with its sustainable goals.

Sunnyside Pavilion

This seasonal space provides an attractive waterside option. Sunnyside has long been a destination for sunbathing and relaxation, and the distinctly Mediterranean feel of the open-aired areas create an exceptional ceremony or reception space. 

The Burroughes Building

This event space was originally built as a department store in 1907. The venue has been renovated carefully to preserve its character. The 6th floor of the building can hold 280 standing and 200 seated. While the rooftop terrace holds 140 standing and 70 seated guests. 

Design Exchange

Originally built in 1937 as the home of the Toronto Stock Exchange, the Design Exchange now plays host to incredible exhibitions and a variety of events each year. Highlights of the space include wood finishes, marble details and incredibly high ceilings.

Hart House

Since its opening in 1919 this unique space in the heart of the University of Toronto campus has played host to numerous events. The grey stone walls, ivy-covered outdoor space, vaulted ceilings, and Gothic arches lend an old world feel. The quad and Great Hall hold up to 250 guests.

99 Sudbury

If you enjoy contemporary, minimalist spaces that work as a blank canvas you should consider this venue. The Glass Factory, The Lounge, and 99 Gallery can accommodate from 25 to 250 guests for seated dinners and 250 to 800 guests for cocktail receptions. 

Arcadian Court

The Court's most beautiful qualities are the grand arches and beautiful chandeliers. The space can accommodate up to 520 for a seated event or 1,200 for a standing reception. 

Eglinton Grand 

Ever wanted to see your name lit up on a marquee? Formerly The Eglinton Theatre, the historic landmark has been restored to its original 1936 form. The venue can host dinner from 50 to 550 and receptions for up to 1000. 

Artscape Wychwood Barns

With a long and narrow event space, Wychwood Barns offers the opportunity for a unique event layout. The venue features concrete floors, exposed brick walls, and 22-foot ceilings and windows that provide plenty of natural light. 

Fermenting Cellar

In the heart of the Distillery District lies this rustic space that is often transformed for the most chic and sophisticated events. The raw space lets you work with any theme you like all while hosting up to 300 people for a seated dinner or 600 for a stand-up reception. 

ROM

The ROM hosts everything from small events to gala receptions. The original stonework heritage building lives side-by-side with the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal, and events can be held in both. 

AGO

With a variety of spaces available for events, the AGO is an excellent choice for any admirer of the arts and lover of a luxurious event. Couples can celebrate in Walker Court, Galleria Italia, Sculpture Atrium, FRANK Restaurant or Baillie Court.

Casa Loma

Searching for an old castle in Ontario? This is likely the closest you'll get. The castle boasts architectural marvels as well as marble details and plenty of greenery on the premises.

Grande Luxe

This award winning event boutique will happily host the wedding of your dreams. Their Ballroom is complete with a 22ft custom marble wrapped bar and a black and white hardwood dance floor. The space is massive allowing for a 500 person seated dinner. 

Toronto Botanical Gardens

There are two primary event halls at the Toronto Botanical Gardens - the Floral Hall or the Garden Hall. Both spaces include stunning views of seasonal flowers and provide an excellent space for wedding photos.

Storys Building

Located on Duncan, this 170-year-old classic brick-and-beam building boasts over 14,000 square feet of event space over several floors, with each allowing for 150 seated guests or 225 for a stand-up reception. 

The Great Hall

The space was built in 1880 and has been restored to its former Victorian glory. The Main Hall includes a balcony, curved glass, wrought iron railings, and 40-foot ceilings. Capacity is 250 for seated guests and 500 for a cocktail reception.

Malaparte

This modern, chic space, located in the TIFF Bell Lightbox, is an upscale and stylish wedding spot, with breathtaking views of the city and an ornate and sloped ceiling. Accommodation is available for up to 150 seated or 200 for a cocktail reception. 

5 Brock Events

Placed in the centre of Parkdale down a quiet alley, this gallery, once a warehouse, has retained its original character and includes exposed brick, wood-beamed ceilings, and concrete floors. The space holds 150 for a seated affair or 250 for a cocktail reception.

Todmorden Mills

This Toronto heritage site is set in 15 hectares of green space in the Don Valley and the grounds contain several historic homes in which events can be held, including the Brewery Gallery, the Papermill Theatre, and the Papermill Event and Museum Gallery. 

Canada's National Ballet School

While there are several spaces available to the public for renting the Currie Hall is the most conducive to a wedding. It can accommodate up to 130 seated guests or 220 for a reception. The space includes a wood dance floor, high ceilings and a state-of-the-art kitchen.

The Estates of Sunnybrook

The Sunnybrook Hospital property has four spaces available for events. Spaces include hardwood floors and well-maintained rooms with simple but elegant décor. Capacity ranges from 40 to 160 for seated events or 60 to 200 for standing receptions. 

Gardiner Museum

Located at Bloor and University, this minimalist space features floor-to-ceiling windows and a contemporary design. The Terrace Room includes stunning views of Queen's Park and the Royal Ontario Museum, and couples can also rent the lobby.

Four Seasons

Found in Toronto's swankiest neighbourhood, the Four Seasons boasts a glamorous event space to host weddings of various sizes. This venue offers its own wedding planners and packages that can assist you with making your special day that much more special.

Events in Toronto this week will help us usher in the approaching days of summer with beer festivals, music festivals, a couple not-to-be-missed concerts, and another Rugby match from our brand new Wolfpack team. 

This week on DineSafe one of Toronto's most popular German restaurants was shut down by city health inspectors for failing to prevent a rodent and insect infestation. They have since cleaned up their act and reopened. 

Find out who else got in trouble with city health inspectors this week.

The Musket (40 Advance Rd.)

• Inspected on: May 8, 2017
• Inspection finding: Red (Closed)
• Number of infractions: 4 (Minor: 1, Crucial: 3)
• Crucial infractions include: Operator failed to prevent an insect infestation, operator failed to prevent a rodent infestation and operator failed to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated.

TLP Sandwich Co. (15 Elm St.)

• Inspected on: May 8, 2017
• Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
• Number of infractions: 3 (Significant: 3)
• Crucial infractions include: N/A

Old Nick (123 Danforth Ave.)

• Inspected on: May 9, 2017
• Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
• Number of infractions: 3 (Minor: 2, Crucial: 1)
• Crucial infractions include: Operator failed to maintain hazardous foods.

Sashimi Island (635 College St.)

• Inspected on: May 9, 2017
• Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
• Number of infractions: 3 (Minor: 2, Crucial: 1)
• Crucial infractions include: Operator failed to maintain hazardous foods.

Taco Del Mar (127 Bremner Blvd.)

• Inspected on: May 11, 2017
• Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
• Number of infractions: 3 (Significan: 2, Crucial: 1)
• Crucial infractions include: Operator failed to maintain hazardous foods.

Sultan of Samosas (1 Oak St.)

• Inspected on: May 12, 2017
• Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
• Number of infractions: 5 (Minor: 3, Significant: 2)
• Crucial infractions include: N/A

Coo Cafe Bread or Rice (1049 Bloor St. West)

• Inspected on: May 12, 2017
• Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
• Number of infractions: 5 (Minor: 3, Significant: 2)
• Crucial infractions include: N/A

Ding Dong Pastries & Cafe (321 Spadina Ave.)

• Inspected on: May 12, 2017
• Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
• Number of infractions: 5 (Minor: 2, Significant: 3)
• 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 24 Hour Grocery Stores in Toronto, whether they’re in the midst of a strip of bars on a busy street, out in the burbs or just on the way home, can be beacons on a dark night. From giant bags of chips to gourmet cheeses and meats, kebabs grilled to order to as many boxes of KD you can carry, these all-night supermarkets have your back.

Here are the best 24 hour grocery stores in Toronto.

Neighbourhood yard sales usually include friendly groups of people putting lost and forgotten treasures out on their lawns but they're rarely a monumental event. 

In comes the Danforth East Yard Sale, which might be Toronto's biggest yard sale ever. It spans an entire neighbourhood, creating an epic maze of endless front lawn yard sales.

On Saturday, June 10 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., the treasure hunt is on at over 250 separate yards selling their finest between Monarch Park Avenue to the West, Main Street to the East, Mortimer/Lumsden Avenues to the North, and the train tracks to the South.

Bruce Cooper, lead volunteer for the yard sale, is hoping for up to 300 sales to make this, their 5th year, the biggest one yet.

"The sales and are pretty impressive and pretty large," he says. "I can't think of any that are bigger, but challenge accepted if there are."

Cooper grew up with Ottawa's massive Great Glebe Garage Sale, a shockingly big yard sale event, and has high hopes for the Danforth East version.

"We're not there yet, that one is super dense, but we're getting there," Cooper says.  "We started with 120 sales and there's more interest every year."

They've partnered with charities this year to arrange for yard pick up at the end of the day, so nothing will go to waste. 

The 2016 Danforth East Yard Sale map created for the big day. 

What also makes this sale unique is the map, where all the sales and their items are listed and searchable, making navigating the huge sale like a treasure hunt. The final map will be released the Thursday before the sale and you can sign up to receive it via their official website. 

On top of all this, the Yard Sale is partnering with the BIA, who are hosting a sidewalk sale from Greenwood to Dawes, on the Danforth on the same day.

Downtown Toronto is getting a huge new sports bar, entertainment venue and gaming centre this summer and soon, Mississauga will have one too.

That's because Cineplex will open up its latest Rec Room at Square One Shopping Centre, the Mississauga super mall that seems to keep on expanding.

The Cineplex Rec Room will be spread out over two floors and 44,000 square feet of space. It'll feature multiple restaurants - including a poutinerie and doughnut bar - a sports bar, more than 100 arcade games, virtual reality simulators, bowling lanes and multiple performance venues.

Toronto's version of this fun factory is slated to open across from the Rogers Centre in Roundhouse Park this summer, so you can always check it out before the Mississauga one.

Getting to the gym can be challenging on most days, especially as a parent. Luckily, some gyms offer daycare and child-minding services for members, as well as special activities and events for the little ones. 

Here are my picks for the top gyms with childcare in Toronto.

Goodlife Liberty Village

There’s no shortage of Goodlife gyms in the city, and the Liberty Village location is amongst one of many locations in Toronto that offer the JUMP! Child care program. You can pay per drop-in, or add on to your regular membership. Available to kids six-weeks to 12-years-old.

Central YMCA

Toronto's largest YMCA offers child care services with licensed programs like Early Learning and Care for 0 to three-year-olds, and the Before and After School care for children four to 12-years-old.

Pure Fitness Canada

This gym near Queen’s Quay has a supervised area where children get to play while parents work out. Kids are encouraged to play with a variety of crafts, puzzles and participate in storytime. The space is open seven days a week.

LA Fitness Danforth

With locations around Toronto, the U.S. chain offers daycare services at its Danforth location. The Kids Club area is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the weekdays and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays

MOVE Fitness

The boutique women’s fitness club in Leslieville is run by one fit mom who made daycare a priority. The space is available for children six-weeks to five-years-old. There are two child minders and the daycare is open Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m and Saturday 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Miles Nadal JCC

The Jewish Community Centre in the Annex not only offers daycare services but a wide range of seasonal camps for kids. The daycare is available for children six-months to six -years-old. Camps are available during March break, Summer and after school.

YMCA Cooper Koo

The 82-000 square foot facility in the Canary District serves the community with activities for the whole family including after school programs, daycare and basketball courts. For a fee, the daycare is available for a two-hour stay while you work out. Childcare typically opens at 7 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m.

Striation 6

While this popular gym in Davisville doesn’t have a full-service daycare available, they host monthly themed “Kids Night Out” events for children 12 and under. The event encourages children to interact with others over pizza, healthy snacks, movies, crafting and games.

MayFair Club Lakeshore

The KidSpace zone at the MayFair club includes art and cooking classes, and movie nights supervised by qualified childcare staff. The space is open on weekends and weekdays from 8.30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Front & Centre Studio

Fitness and dance classes happen simultaneously for kids and adults at this Castlefield fitness centre so parents can enjoy a class without worry. You can also drop your kids off at KidZone for an hourly fee.

Put away your parka and start preparing for summer. That's because it's finally warming up in Toronto.

According to an Environment Canada forecast, temperatures are expected to soar up to 29 C by this Wednesday. Best of all, it's also supposed to be sunny.

Temperatures should stay in the double digits all week in the city, with just a 40 percent chance of rain on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Let's hope it stays dry for the Victoria Day long weekend, also known as the unofficial start to summer. 

Take advantage of the weather and hit up a patio (be sure to check our patio guide for options), or venture to one of the many outdoor festivals on this week.