A lot more Torontonians might start using Presto passes soon. That's because, starting in June, you'll be able to load monthly TTC passes onto these shiny green cards that are now accepted across our transit system.

While this is good news for would-be Presto users, this update comes with a caveat: right now, only a limited number of June TTC passes are at Prestocard.ca.

"We are limiting the number of passes during this phase to a few thousand to provide us and Metrolinx with the opportunity to evaluate the customer experience," reads a notes on the TTC website.

"This will ensure we can provide the best possible product once we roll it out to a wider audience. We will keep customers informed when the number of TTC Monthly Passes on PRESTO will be increased throughout 2017 and 2018."

These passes cost the same as a monthly metropass. They're $146.25 for adults and $$116.75 for seniors. 

Get ready for a scary commute home thanks to flooded roadways around Toronto. Parts of Lake Shore Boulevard were closed earlier today and the Bayview Extension remains shut down heading into the afternoon rush hour.

The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority has issued a flood watch for the city. We've already been hit with 45 millimetres of rain today, smashing a daily rainfall record set in 1953.

HAZARD
Lake Shore Blvd CLOSED from New Brunswick Dr to Ontario St due to flooding #922178 ^cb

— Toronto Police OPS (@TPSOperations) May 25, 2017

"Environment Canada has also forecasted another 10-20 mm of rain where it will then taper off this afternoon. Water levels within TRCA’s watercourses are rising due to the rainfall and there is the potential that water levels will exceed its riverbanks resulting in riverine flooding," reads the flood watch report.

HAZARD
Bayview Extension CLOSED south of River st due to flooding #922516

— Toronto Police OPS (@TPSOperations) May 25, 2017

As CP24, the Toronto Islands have seen up to 55 millimetres today. Forty percent of the Toronto Island Park is already under water.

The Bayview Extension is under water.

The 4:30 and 5:15 p.m. Richmond Hill GO trains are also being rerouted this afternoon. The Don Valley Parkway is already jammed, though it too is under a flood watch.  

One of the things that condo buyers often have to give up is outdoor space. There are plenty of lovely units around the city that feature only small balconies with claustrophobic views of other buildings rather than sweeping panoramas.

This two-storey penthouse at 38 Niagara St. in the Zed Lofts is the polar opposite of the above scenario. Not only does it feature a 700 square foot private terrace with a view of the CN Tower, but there's also a wraparound balcony on the main floor for a completely separate outdoor space.

Inside, the condo's a bit more conventional. It's a soft loft space with plenty of exposed concrete and floor-to-ceiling windows. It doesn't stand out for its design, but having two floors is a boon for those who like a bit of privacy from their partner/housemate.

Let's not get too picky, though. Having a pristine view of the skyline from pretty much every room in a condo shouldn't be scoffed at. I'd happily sign up for this space if I had a million and a half lying around.

Specs

• Address: 38 Niagara St. PH 1
• Price: $1,448,000
• Taxes: $5,579.47 (2016)
• Bedrooms: 1 + den
• Bathrooms: 2
• Parking: 1
• Maintenance Fees: $1,089.39
• Walk Score: 95
• Listing agent: Andrew Dunn

Good For

Folks who like to entertain. It'd be a waste not to invite lots of people over to share in the skyline view, and there's even a gas line for a barbecue out there. The interior is also spacious enough to encourage decent-sized dinner/cocktail parties.

Move On If

You hate sunlight. This condo wasn't built with goths in mind.

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

Summer is nearly upon us in Toronto, and late in the season, we should be getting another rooftop pool to lounge around in.

The Bisha Hotel (and Residences) is slated to open sometime this summer. It's currently accepting reservations starting on September 18. A night at this swanky hotel from ICONINK's Hanif Harji and Charles Khabouth starts at $449.

At Bisha, we know how to choose our friends wisely >> ProSnowboarder turned #IronChef warrior @chefakiraback will open his 1st Canadian restaurant here at @bishatoronto. Foodies prepare yourselves 🔜

A post shared by Bisha Hotel Toronto (@bishatoronto) on May 24, 2017 at 1:48pm PDT

The building, designed by Wallman Architects, tops out at 44 storeys. It includes a slew of amenities, including a rooftop infinity pool and four restaurants, including one from celebrity chef Akira Back. 

The American luxury hotel chain Loews will be managing the space at 80 Blue Jays Way along King West, an area getting saturated with rooftop watering holes. 

Toronto's after hours dance party institution is saying goodbye to its home of over 20 years this weekend.

The Comfort Zone, a legendary underground venue best known to have hosted some of the world's greatest DJs until the wee hours of the morning, is celebrating with a party on May 28.

FYI - Comfort Zone is closing at the end of the month and is moving to another downtown location (via @MizMegs)

— EDM Toronto (@edmtoronto) April 7, 2017

The stellar final lineup includes CZ favourites such as Deko-Ze, Ticky Ty, Matt C and Chicago's Anthony Attalla. 

Not all is lost for this club at Spadina and College because it's moving to a new location at 327 King St. W., on June 2.

Make sure to be at @CZ_Toronto for Closing party Sunday May 28 ft. @AnthonyAttalla ! I'm proud to be playing the Final set from Noon - 2pm! pic.twitter.com/zp2uPZ6qPQ

— Deko-ze (@Dekoze1) May 16, 2017

According to Torontoist, The Zone at King will be quite different because it'll have a liquor license. It'll also be in the Entertainment District, a much more club-heavy part of the city. 

For a club that's stood up to the police, and withstood the many hardships of surviving as a dance venue in Toronto, here's hoping CZ can make King West work. 

Weekend events in Toronto will get you outside and exploring the city. Not only is it time for the annual Doors Open extravaganza, but it's also the first Kensington Market Pedestrian Sunday of the season.

Toronto Food Events rounds up the most delicious festivals, pop-ups, wine maker dinners, supper clubs and other food related happenings in Toronto this week and next. You can find us here every Friday morning.

Toronto's bike lane network is getting another boost now that Kensington Market will become the latest neighbourhood to get a new batch of counterflow bike lanes.

According to Metro, the bike lanes will run from Queen Street to College Street using Denison Avenue and Bellevue Avenue.

City Council just unanimously approved our new bike lanes on Denison & Bellevue in Kensington Market and Queen W. Safer riding coming soon!

— Joe Cressy (@joe_cressy) May 24, 2017

Councillor Joe Cressy explained to Metro that these lanes are part of a bigger plan to connect College to Richmond and Simcoe, eventually connecting Bloor Street all the way to the waterfront.

This part of Toronto is one of the busiest areas for cyclists, with Kensington being a major zone for car, pedestrian and bike traffic. 

Push this one thru! New North-South Contraflow bike lanes proposed for Kensington Market. #BikeTO#minimumgrid@CycleToronto@CycleTO20pic.twitter.com/IveQXCgfGn

— SArmstrong (@hotelbaudin) November 26, 2016

Cressy says he hopes to see the lanes installed this summer. 

The best bibimbap in Toronto makes for a deeply satisfying classic Korean dish. This one-bowl wonder always includes veggies that you get to mix (bibim) in with the rice (bap) yourself. Often topped with an egg, just add some gochujang, and you’ve got yourself some comfort in a bowl.

Here's the best bibimbap in Toronto.

Toronto's craft cider industry is finally starting to blossom. We're now home to two cider bars, ciders festivals, and a dedicated Ontario Cider Week, which starts today and runs until June 4.

Bars and restaurants across the province will feature specials and events dedicated to fermented apple goodness, including one cidery that's blending its signature brew with locally made kombucha.

Sulker's Cider is the new kid on the cider block. It's run by two couples who started it nearly two years ago. They made their way into the industry by initially offering their cider up for free via Instagram and later ran a crowdfunding campaign, which brought in more than $12,000. 

A post shared by Sulker's Cider (@sulkerscider) on Nov 25, 2016 at 9:29am PST

Yesterday, they sold their very first keg to Her Father's Cider and for Cider Week, they'll be serving up cider blended with Toronto's Tonica Kombucha at Tequila Bookworm on Queen Street West.

How's that for the ultimate trendy patio drink?

Anyone who has biked along Martin Goodman Trail as it runs directly beside Lake Shore Boulevard  knows it can be a very intense part of the path to pedal along.

The trail basically runs beside a wide-open highway, and the high speed traffic zooming so close to the roadside paths can make cyclists feels quite exposed.

Councillor Mike Layton is pushing for a safety review of the bike lanes along Lake Shore Boulevard after a five-year-old boy was tragically killed there on Wednesday night. He was struck while riding and ending up on the road near Jameson Avenue. 

Get it done now, safe lives. No study, public consultation nor pilot project. Temp barriers on Lakeshore could be installed today #biketo

— ARC (@RespectTO) May 26, 2017

Toronto Star opinion editor Scott Colby was in the area at the time of the accident and wrote about his experience and the dangers of cycling along that stretch of Martin Goodman Trail. 

Lack of Infrastructure serious concern for #MartinGoodman and Lakeshore resulting in 5 year old boy losing his life https://t.co/0y8tsFmKxU

— Patrick Brown (@PatrickBrownLLB) May 25, 2017

According to the CBC, Layton is suggesting Ward 14 Councillor Gord Perks look into putting barriers, or some other form of guardrails, along the bike path to protect riders. 

@JohnTory install temp barriers on lakeshore bike lane now! How you response to tragedy = measure of your leadership. #bikeTO

— Zenbikerider (@bikewanker) May 26, 2017

"I don't know if it's barriers that are the best thing or if there's another option," Layton told the CBC, "but we do need to look at safety along that corridor."

Cottages near Toronto in the $5 million range feature beautiful lakefront properties, lots of acreage, and can sometimes be found on private islands. After peeking at these estates, you're sure to start fantasizing about the perfect summertime long weekend STAT.

Here's what a $5 million cottage near Toronto looks like.

$5,450,000 in Beaumaris

If you're looking for a rustic-looking property that still has luxurious vibes, this cottage in Muskoka might be dream property. It resembles a swanky retreat with just the right amount of lumberjack chic.

$4,800,000 for a private island on Georgian Bay

This property on the 36-acre Bigwood Island dates back to 1905, but this century-old property has been fully restored. It can house up to 20 people, making it a veritable backwoods retreat.

$4,995,000 in Port Carling

Frankly, the interior of this four bedroom cottage on the water looks more like a modern city home than a rustic country cabin, but that should make you feel right at home all summer long.

$4,990,000 in Haliburton

Find this 7,930 square-foot pad on Kennisis Lake. It has a private pond, a beach volleyball court and 777 feet of prime lakeside frontage.

$4,495,000 in Oro-Medonte

Whether you see this as a lakeside mansion or a cottage, it's irrelevant because this spot is sure to please - especially those who don't want to drive too far to WayHome or the Boots and Hearts Festival.

Toronto City Council is currently discussing whether or not it should withhold Pride's annual $260,000 grant since police aren't allowed to march in uniform during the widely attended parade.

Today, however, Metrolinx announced that GO Transit safety officers would not wear uniforms while participating in the parade to avoid being confused with police.

The fact that a single Toronto city councillor wants to withhold funding from Pride Toronto is an embarrassment to the city.

— Sarah Dasha (@heradasha) May 26, 2017

This was a safety decision born out "out of an abundance of caution," said Metrolinx spokesperson Anne Marie Aikins, reports CBC News.

@TorontoStar@PrideToronto Congratulations GO for understanding that Pride isn't all about you.

— Andy Buday (@Hurka) May 26, 2017

TTC officers won't be marching in uniform either, but they'll don plain clothes in solidarity with the police. As the Toronto Star writes, fare inspectors and special constables came to this decision themselves. 

After last year's parade, Pride and its members voted to accept all of Black Lives Matter Toronto's demands, which includes banning police from appearing in uniform at the parade. 

Pride months kicks off next week, on June 1.

Correction: An earlier version of this post indicated that TTC fare collectors won't march in uniform for Pride, when in fact it is fare inspectors who have made that decision.

As we reach the final weekend of May, there's another TTC subway closure to slog through. The central portion of Line 2 will be closed for maintenance on May 27 and 28.

There will be no subway service between St. George and Broadview stations as crews complete track work. Shuttle buses will operate between stations during the shutdown. 

While Bay Station will be completely closed over the weekend, other stations will remain open to sell fares and connect to surface routes.

The TTC recommends that riders headed downtown from the east side consider taking the 504 streetcar from Broadview as a way to bypass the closure.

Regularly scheduled subway service will resume when the system opens on Monday, May 29.

As Toronto continues to get bombarded with rain, the Toronto Island Park remains closed, much to the chagrin of those who live and work on the Islands. 

Water taxis, for instance, are usually bustling on weekends during this time of the year. But now they don't have much to do either. While some are still ferrying folks across the lake, most bring the same people right back to the mainland when they realize there's not much to do right now on the Islands.

One water taxi company, however, is turning this lemon into lemonade by offering flooded Island tours.

"The lake has never seen levels this high since record keeping began in 1918," says Priya Maclean of Water Taxi Now. "This has had a huge impact on our water taxi business."

Water Taxi Now, located beside the Marine Fire station near 339 Queens Quay West, is trying to let locals and visitors enjoy the Islands, despite the flood.

"[We would] normally transport people to the Island so that they can enjoy the beauty of its parkland and have a good time there. We set out to meet that same objective the best way we could," says Maclean.

Water Taxi Now takes people on 30 minutes tours to Ward's Island, Centre Island and Hanlan's Point. Photo by Vik Pahwa.

"We take you the entire breadth of the Island, from the eastern side all the way to the west," she says, explaining the gist of the tour. Regular taxi trips are $10, but Island tours are offered at a cheaper rate, depending on the weekend.

"You get to see the scenic beauty of the Island, the effects of the flooding, as well as a panoramic view of the city’s skyline," Maclean continues.

The return trips leave the mainland about every 30 minutes, and despite the taxi service remaining positive in these wet times, Maclean is adamant about not trying to profit from these unfortunate circumstances.

There are more than 20,000 sandbags on the Islands. Photo by Vik Pahwa.

"As a company, we can complain about the impact this has had on us. However, this pales in comparison to the adversity that the Island residents are facing."

Toronto bike maps tend to focus on one or two elements of the city's cycling infrastructure — like bike share stations or trails — but given that there are so many various resources out there, we thought we'd combine them into one master map.

This essential Toronto bike map pulls together info on bike paths and lanes, multi-use trails, bike share stations, public repair stops, and bike stores in an effort to provide a quick and handy guide for local cyclists out to discover the world of biking in this city. 

As numerous off-road trails are already marked on the base map, those have been left off here, thought it's worth consulting our guide to mountain biking in Toronto. It's also worth noting where all the steepest hills are.

You'll need to zoom in to get a good sense of what's been plotted out, but once you do, it quickly becomes clear that Toronto is very much a bike town.

Editor's Note: The info pertaining to bike lanes, multi-use trails, cycle tracks, and shared roadways stems from the City of Toronto's 2014 bike network map. We have added major examples of new infrastructure, though it's possible the map is missing some of the most recent bike lanes, sharrows, etc.

Modern day dance party culture in Toronto is all about spectacle, massive sounds, lights, and enormous groups of people letting loose.

That's why our city is so fortunate to have a party collective like Box of Kittens, made up of Jamie Kidd and Mike Gibbs, along with founders Hali and Fabio Palermo. They throw welcoming, inclusive dance parties that are all about bringing music and people together.

Box of Kittens from left to right, Mike Gibbs, Fabio Palermo, Hali and Jamie Kidd. Photo by Eugene Grishko.

"It’s about community and hanging out with people who are open and accepting...we strive to make them harassment free events without bros or creepers," says Jamie Kidd.

The off-the-beaten path parties aren't typically in clubs; they're in lofts, warehouses, art studios and places around the city you might not associate with dancing.

"For the first five years we were opposed to doing parties in clubs. The venues are important," says Kidd.

Inside the Sunday Social party inside Loft404 on Adelaide. Photo by Eugene Grishko.

When all four guys DJ'd a friend's birthday party nearly 10 years ago in an east end studio, they had no idea it would evolve into one of the most respected parties series in Toronto.

They came along at a time when Toronto needed them, and a decade later, it seems they're still needed today.

"Techno was very serious at that time, and this party was an antidote to that," says Kidd. "We always took pride in being deep diggers and cutting edge. But mainly we wanted to bring together good people and allow them to lose themselves in this music."

Just like the collective itself, the music they play, and the out-of-town guests they invite to spin, are hard to categorize.

You'll hear anything from classic house music to disco, techno and electro at a Box of Kittens party any month in Toronto. Photo by Eugene Grishko.

"House, techno, electro, experimental ... it’s just a matter of what’s appropriate for the event and in that moment," Kidd continues. 

Their monthly Sunday Social parties, in partnership with Justin Martins of alienInFlux, happen inside a loft space on Adelaide, for example. These events vary in vibe from an afternoon disco dance to a woozy rave. 

So how do they fit into Toronto's dance party scene after a decade of spinning? 

Box of Kittens helped throw the Sunnyside Pavillion season launch party in May 2017. Photo by Andre M.

Toronto has always had a vibrant dance music scene, especially today with a return to DIY rave culture and house party-style events. Techno, house and even disco have solid followings these days.

Kidd believes it's the human connection, often lost in the spectacle of the EDM world, that people always come back to. 

"At the end of it," he says, "you want to feel like you were actually part of something. A lot of people need that, especially in the bizarre times we live in."

Pride Toronto kicks off its highly anticipated Pride month in less than a week, and it looks like it'll be able to do so with its annual city grant.

After city councillors spent much of the day debating whom pride is for, they ultimately voted down the motion to make Pride's $260,000 grant conditional upon "reaffirming its core value of inclusivity by welcoming uniformed officers from Toronto Police to participate as they wish in the parade celebrations."

@torontocity Council defeats motion to defund Pride Toronto. Says yes to Pride. #TorontoforAll

— OCASI (@OCASI_Policy) May 26, 2017

The vote on Councillor John Campbell's motion, which he hinted at introducing a few weeks back, was actually pretty tight. But it was ultimately rejected 17 to 27. 

Coun. Campbell motion to make Pride funding contingent on cops in uniform marching FAILS 17-27. pic.twitter.com/9Q7jLEs4b9

— Matt Elliott (@GraphicMatt) May 26, 2017

Earlier today, Metrolinx announced that GO Transit safety officers wouldn't march in uniform at the Pride parade. TTC fare inspectors and transit officers also said they'd don plain clothes in solidarity with the police.

The Toronto real estate market might finally be showing signs of a cool down. Where once it seemed like pretty much every property sold for over asking, now we're starting to see a significant number of homes close under their list prices. 

Despite the trend, however, there are still some highly desirable listings that are under-priced, which inevitably lead to multiple bids and higher selling figures. Such is the case with this condo at 701 Dovercourt in the Church Lofts.

Spread across multiple levels in the roof space of the heritage buildings, this stunning unit features two large bedrooms, a den and two washrooms to go along with two outdoor spaces. In other words, this one was never going for $999K.

The Essentials

• Address: 701 Dovercourt Rd. #701
• Hit the market at: $999,000
• Time on market: 8 days
• Sold for: $1,400,000

Why it sold for what it did

This condo is big, has loads of character, and considerably more appeal than a glass box. Given that modern condos of roughly this size come in at around the million mark, it seems obvious that this one would attract higher bids.

Was it worth it?

Let's rephrase the question: would you want to live here? I suspect that many people will nod yes. There are a lot of nice features that set this one apart. Over and above the unique space, the large den/office, multiple floors, and rooftop deck are highly attractive. 

When D.W. Waterson was thinking about checking out the CNE last summer, she tried to plan her visit based on the musical acts slated to perform. But after scanning the Ex's two-week-long lineup, she noticed it was seriously lacking in female bands and artists.

She penned a letter to the CNE and posted it online where it went locally viral, likely because she highlighted that among the 82 acts scheduled to play across five stages, there was only one female band, eight bands featuring at least one female artist and seven female singer/songwriters on the docket.

At the start of each and every festival season, lineups inevitably get scrutinized along a number of metrics, and for the past few years, much of the conversation has focused around the lack of gender diversity at these events, a conversation, as Noisey pointed out after Canadian Music Week last year, that unfortunately never seems to go away.

So how do major Toronto festival lineups stack up in 2017?

When looking at six of Toronto's most prominent music festivals - Field Trip, NXNE at the Port Lands, WayHome, the new Big Feastival, Veld and the Bud Light Dreams Festival - female bands and artists (this includes bands with female-identified members) make up 24 percent of the advertised lineups.

This number, however, gets dragged down by the two electronic festivals, which each have only one female DJ on the roster. This is relatively unsurprising, considering the lack of female representation in mainstream EDM, a well-recognized phenomenon in the industry.

When just looking at the four multi-genre festivals (Field Trip, WayHome, NXNE at the Portlands and Big Feastival), this number jumps up to 35 percent.

And numbers fluctuate yearly, says Aaron Miller who programs Field Trip. Last year, Arts & Crafts' annual music and comedy festival featured 52 percent female musicians. This year, that number's down to 37 percent.

"It’s going to swing anywhere from 30 to 70 percent in any given year," he explains, based on myriad variables, including which bands and artists are actually touring and of course, budgetary restraints. But the festival has yet to reach the upper levels of that estimation.

"Feist comes back with a record every seven years, we don’t have an opportunity to have her headline every year," he jokes. Feist is headlining Field Trip this year.

Chvrches performing at WayHome 2016. Photo by Hector Vasquez.

Jacob Smid, who founded Fource Entertainment - the talent booking agency for major festivals like WayHome and NXNE - says there are numerous elements to consider when programming a festival.

The process can take up to two years, and bookers must consider all sorts of factors, such as maintaining a balance between well-known and up-and-coming acts and determining what time of day certain artists should play.

Judy Merry, the events director at IMG and the executive director of Big Feastival - a food and music fest - says creating a lineup takes time.

When the Big Feastival's roster was released, it was relatively diverse on the music side of things, but it was criticized for having only male chefs. "It takes time to release your full lineup, we’re still adding names as we go along," said Merry when we spoke.

To date, more women chefs and food personalities are participating. Promoters and programmers are quick to say they don't focus on quotas; instead they look at putting together the best possible lineups for their audiences. 

Music festival audiences are 51 percent women, according to a 2015 Nielson report, despite who might be performing on stage.

Though the inaugural Venus Fest in September might shake up this dynamic, considering the event strives to be "a celebration of feminism in the arts."

Santigold at Field Trip 2016. Photo by Jesse Milns.

Founder Aerin Fogel is committed to racial, gender and sexual diversity on her recently released lineup that includes Emel Mathlouthi, Grouper and Weaves. 

Like Venus Fest, folks in the music industry - including artists, radio personalities, promoters, event organizers and more - are speaking up about racial diversity and gender representation, especially when certain events regarding these issues appear rather tone deaf.

"A lot of the inspiration behind Venus Fest is just to have a different level of representation and there are so many incredible musicians, it’s not like there’s a lack of options there," she says. 

She's hosting it in the fully accessible Daniels Spectrum space and wants to appeal to music lovers of all ages.

It might be ironic that Venus Fest will launch on the 20th anniversary of Lilith Fair, a female-oriented festival that Sarah McLachlan started in response to the music industry boys club.

As D.W. Waterson and Fogel know, times might be changing, but slowly.