The rules of the Toronto bike lane are, let's face it, unclear. Most cyclists don't know which vehicles are legally allowed to be stopped or parked in the bike lane. Contrary to popular belief, even dedicated bike lanes aren't off-limits to all motorized vehicles.

The lack of clearly posted rules is coupled with a dearth of visible enforcement, but the biggest scofflaws — delivery van drivers and moving companies, judging from angry tweets — seem able to dodge enforcement officers with relative ease.

Coming straight from the City of Toronto bylaw, here are the rules of the Toronto bike lane. Note that the rules differ slightly for painted and separated bike lanes, like on Sherbourne and Wellesley.

Who can block painted bike lanes?

Only bicycles and e-bikes are permitted to use on-street, painted cycle lanes in Toronto, except for in a few unusual circumstances.

Ambulances, police or fire service vehicles, or any other vehicles actively engaged in responding to an emergency, are exempt from parking, driving, and operating rules, so are active city, TTC, and public utility  vehicles. Everyone else has to stay out.

At the approach to intersections, turning vehicles are permitted to move over and occupy the bike lane.

Who can stop in painted bike lanes?

Vehicles loading or unloading a person with a disability, school buses picking up or dropping off kids, and, yes, taxis collecting or depositing passengers are all allowed to stop in the bike lane. No vehicles are permitted to drive for more than 45 metres in these areas, however.

Who can block separated bike tracks?

Only pedal-powered bicycles are permitted to use separated bike lanes. Wheel-Trans vehicles operated or licensed by the TTC are allowed to use the track area for loading and unloading passengers. Emergency response vehicles, City of Toronto vehicles, or vehicles parked as part of public utility work are similarly exempt from the rules.

Who can stop in separated bike tracks?

No vehicle (except the ones listed above) is allowed to stop in a separated bike lane. Not taxis, not delivery vehicles, not moving vans. In fact, the only time a vehicle is allowed to pass through a separated lane is when the driver is accessing a driveway, parking lot, laneway, or side street.

Transit stops

On Sherbourne and Roncesvalles, the bike lane cuts directly in front of several TTC stops. When a bus or streetcar is waiting with its doors open, cyclists must wait at least two metres back from the rear doors and allow passengers to enter or exit.

Fines

Any person operating an unauthorized vehicle in the bike lane, contrary to the rules set out in the city bylaw, is subject to a fine of $150. Illegally parking or stopping in a bike lane or separated lane also attracts a fine of $150.

Mountain bike trail options in Toronto are actually more plentiful than the beginner rider might imagine. Likely a function of our plentiful ravines, it's possible to get surprisingly good hour-long rides in without leaving the city.

Offering a mix of single track, ridge trails, and even a few North Shore-style ramps, the Don Valley is the most popular option for those who live downtown, but the trails around Etobicoke Creek and the northern end of the Humber Valley are relatively short rides away.

Beyond the city, there's no shortage of more extensive trail systems — both public and private — within about a 45 minute drive or so. Many of these are located at skill hills or conservation areas and host Ontario Cycling Association (OCA) races throughout the year. 

IN THE CITY

The Don Valley (10 km)

Accessed from a variety of points, including the railway crossing at Pottery Road and the driveway south of Nesbitt on the Bayview Extension, this is a network of trails. Two longer ones do, however, stick out from the rest.

I've always called the more difficult one the "ridge trail" because it tracks across the ravine wall with lots of off-camber stuff and short, steep climbs. I'd peg the difficulty level at intermediate to expert, as there are a number of challenging technical sections but nothing too crazy.

The lower trail, which hugs the river and joins up with the railway tracks on a couple of occasions is super fast single track meant for hammering. One word of warning: every so often, CN officials crackdown on those using this trail because it's located primarily on railway lands.

The Don trails continue through Ernest Seaton Thompson Park to Sunnybrook. Just hook up with the trail right across the road from where the river trail terminates.

Taylor Creek (5km)

I've always though of the Taylor Creek trails as the extension of the Don Valley system. And although not quite as challenging, they're good to use if want to extend your ride. You can hook up with both just after the bridge near where the Don river trail terminates.

Moore Park Ravine (5km)

Enthusiasts might not include this recreational trail on the list, but there's few places better for beginners to get a handle on riding off-road. There's basically zero technical challenge here, but if you enter off Moore Park Rd., the first few kilometres are all downhill.

Etobicoke Creek Area (15km)

It's a bit tough to find, but once you do, there's lots of single track in the ravine near Centennial Park and Markland Woods. Not overly technical, it's worth the trip if you always find yourself returning to the Don Valley. Enter off Ponytail Drive on the southern end.

Humber Valley (25km)

Lots of trails, though only a few technical spots that I've found. The best options are up at Thackery Park, which is actually just north of Steeles Ave. near Kipling.

OUTSIDE THE CITY

Kelso Conservation Area (20km)

Not heavy on technical trails, there is nevertheless some great riding here, which even features a few "real" climbs (at least by Ontario standards). Gets very busy in the summer.

Durham Forest (20km)

Free network of trails with lots to choose from, including some moderately technical stuff. Makes for a great day trip, but be sure to bring lots of water; I've gotten lost here a couple of times. North of Pickering off Sideroad 7.

Ganaraska Forest (100km)

This one's a bit further of a drive, but well worth it if you're into epic days on the bike. With seemingly endless trails for bikers, horseback riders and four-wheelers, the forest is your kingdom. Near highway 115 and Northumblerland Rd. 9.

Glen Major (15km)

Again, it's pretty easy to get lost on these trails due to a lack of marking, but there's some good stuff out here if you're willing to explore. Head north on Brock Road (not street!) to one of several entrances. To get to the south entrance go east on Concession Road 9 to either Westney Road or Sideline road then go north to the trailhead parking lots.

Hardwood Hills (75km)

Well maintained system of trails that also features a bike shop and rentals. There a variety of difficulty levels, well-marked routes, and you're likely to see lots of fellow riders throughout the summer months. Check the website for location info and a trail map.

Free events in Toronto this week will keep you so busy and entertained, you'll forget the weekend ended! There's a full-moon beach gathering, a Manifesto house party, and concerts galore. 

Virtual reality lounges have been sprouting up in neighbourhoods across Toronto this year. Their immersive game play and unique films offer an escape from the real world, if just for a little while. 

Here's a round-up of virtual reality lounges in and around Toronto.

House of VR

Find this VR lounge at Queen and Bathurst in the old Nuvango space. It beckons you in with flashing pink lights and features lots of different options for groups and individuals looking to try VR.

Toronto VR Games

Kensington Market has gone high-tech with this VR lounge at the corner of Kensington Avenue and St. Andrew Street. If the market's too crowded, you can find some otherworldly reprieve here.

VR Playin

The Kensington Market area has not one, but two VR lounges thanks to this College Street destination.

Raiders eSports Centre

This eSports bar doesn't focus on VR, but it has some headsets if you're into playing video games in whole other dimension.

Virtual Sting

For all your virtual reality gaming needs, visit this spot in Richmond Hill that has affordable packages for up to 20 people. 

Reboot Reality

Prices start at $30 per 50 minutes of gameplay at this VR joint in Mississauga. There are 12 games on offer, so head here to challenge your friends to a virtual reality road race.

Viral Arcade

This Mississauga lounge has a space theme with lots of futuristic, sci-fi vibes. 

Cheap weekend escapes from Toronto are perfect for those of us with plenty of stress and not a lot of money. While nothing comes even near-free these days, if you've got a couple hundred bucks lying around, you too can be one of the privileged cavalry stuck on a 400 series highway on a Friday afternoon. Yippee!

Here are my picks for the top cheap weekend escapes from Toronto.

Go camping at a Provincial Park

This one is a no-brainer. Provincial parks are the poor person's cottage, and in many cases, every bit as fun. Prices typically range between $25 and $50 a night depending on the location of one's campground and what amenities it has to offer (showers, electricity, etc). Backcountry camping rates are much lower than car-camping rates.

Be in awe of Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is one of the best cheap weekend getaways in the province. Just over an hour away from Toronto, you can get there cheap if you hop on the Megabus and stay at one the city's many motels. Those with a car can explore the entire region in a weekend without breaking the bank, so long as you skip the casino. 

Rent a rustic cottage

There are plenty of inexpensive cottage rentals to be found on sites like Airbnb and VRBO. It takes some time to comb through the listings, but it helps to know what areas to start in. If you're looking to save, it's best to skip Muskoka and try other cottage regions.

Hit the beach at the Breakers

The Breakers is one of the resorts that you count yourself lucky to have come across. It's clean, the accommodations are nice (if basic), and it's located on one of Ontario's nicest beaches in Cobourg. The resort offers both motel-style rooms and housekeeping cottages.

Go camping but with a roof

You don't have to camp at provincial parks. The many cottages and cabins offered at Ontario campgrounds are a step above car camping that still won't blow the budget. Rates start at $55 for a ranger cabin in Algonquin Park and go up from there depending on how much space you need.

Try out an oTENTik

If you're not into the tent thing, but you also don't need much by way of amenities, another option is to try out one of Parks Canada's oTENTiks. These structures are a combination of a cabin and a tent, and make rainy days and snooping bears way more bearable than paltry tent. For now these hybrid structure can be found at Thousand Islands National Park.

Do Muskoka on the cheap

The rugged beauty of Muskoka will generally cost you an arm and a leg, but there are a few exceptions to this rule, one of which is Spring Lake Resort. Something between a motel and a bonafide lakeside resort, it's a way to partake in cottage country without going broke. Plus the lakeside setting is beautiful.

Hamilton Calling

The word might already be out that Steeltown is on the rise, but it's yet to be completely overrun by Toronto tourists. Over and above the many amazing waterfalls in the area, the food scene is booming and live music ain't no slouch either. You can rent a cheap motel or B&B in lieu of more expensive downtown accommodations.

Witness the rebirth of Buffalo

There's a ton of reasons to make the two hour drive to Buffalo these days. Beyond the burgeoning food scene on Ellicott St. and the charm of neighbourhoods like Elmwood Village and Allentown, the many adaptive re-use projects in the works reimagine the city's industrial past while putting its marvellous architecture back on display.

Explore Turkey Point

Consistently one of the best values when it comes to vacation regions within two hours of Toronto, Turkey Point cottages benefit from the warm temperatures of Lake Erie and the rural roads that near the beach make for great cycling. Head southwest!

Events in Toronto this week include a few small, but mighty film festivals, a couple of must see concerts as well as enough dance parties to break your Fitbit. 

Pride Month kicked off last week and events, including parties, exhibitions and human rights panels, dot the calendar before the annual Pride Parade on June 25.

Groups could sign up to march in the parade until May 20, but as the Toronto Star reports, it looks like Black Lives Matter Toronto missed this deadline.

One of the Black Lives Matter founders told CP24 that the group wouldn't be marching in the parade in order to participate with other organizations to ensure there's a Black queer and transgender presence throughout the parade.

Last year, Black Lives Matter participated as an honoured group and held a sit-in, stopping the parade until Pride Toronto's former executive director Mathieu Chantelois signed a paper, agreeing to their list of demands.

At Pride Toronto's annual general meeting, members voted to accept all of these demands, which included banning police floats from the parade.

Some city councillors tried to withhold Pride's annual $260,000 because of this decision, but their motion failed at last month's council meeting.

This week on DineSafe there are no restaurant closures to report. However, one of Toronto's best spots for late night Chinese food landed in some hot water when they received seven infractions from city health inspectors.

Discover what other local restaurants got busted by the food police this week on DineSafe.

Butter Chicken Factory (556 Parliament St.)

• Inspected on: May 29, 2017
• Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
• Number of infractions: 2 (Minor: 1, Crucial: 1)
• Crucial infractions include: Operator failed to maintain hazardous foods.

Crown Princess (1033 Bay St.)

• Inspected on: May 31, 2017
• Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
• Number of infractions: 6 (Minor: 3, Significant: 3)
• Crucial infractions include: N/A

Mr. Tonkatsu (520 Bloor St. West)

• Inspected on: May 31, 2017
• Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
• Number of infractions: 2 (Minor: 1, Crucial: 1)
• Crucial infractions include: Operator failed to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated.

Skwish (1192 Queen St. East)

• Inspected on: May 31, 2017
• Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
• Number of infractions: 5 (Minor: 1, Significant: 4)
• Crucial infractions include: N/A

Triple Triple Pizza & Chicken (2639 Eglinton Ave. West)

• Inspected on: May 31, 2017
• Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
• Number of infractions: 3 (Minor: 2, Significant: 1)
• Crucial infractions include: N/A

Canton Chilli (418 Spadina Ave.)

• Inspected on: June 1, 2017
• Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
• Number of infractions: 7 (Minor: 2, Significant: 3, Crucial: 2)
• Crucial infractions include: Operator failed to wash hands when required and operator failed to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated.

Green Beanery (565 Bloor St. West)

• Inspected on: June 1, 2017
• Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
• Number of infractions: 2 (Minor: 1, Significant: 1)
• Crucial infractions include: N/A

Kowloon Dim Sum Restaurant (5 Baldwin St.)

• Inspected on: June 1, 2017
• Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
• Number of infractions: 2 (Minor: 1, Significant: 1)
• 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.

Indoor fishing at the Scadding Court Community Centre is an annual tradition that returns to Toronto this weekend.

Gone Fishin' might sound kitschy, but Scadding Court - at Bathurst and Dundas - developed the program to educate the city about issues surrounding food security and to give all children access to life experiences that may otherwise be inaccessible. 

"If we can't take kids to a lake, we try to replicate that," said Alina Chatterjee, Scadding Court's senior director of redevelopment and innovations, before last year's event.

The program runs from June 10 to 17 at the Scadding Court Community Centre's indoor pool, and it costs $5 (or $3 if you're a SCCC member) - this includes a fish that you can get cleaned and cooked on site.

The third annual Mac and Cheese Festival returned to Ontario Place this weekend for three days and nights of cheesy goodness.

After logistical issues in its inaugural year, this food fest seems to have found its stride by delivering exactly what it promises - as much mac and cheese as any human being could reasonably want.

This year there were both traditional takes on this comfort food as well as more innovative offerings that saw mac and cheese incorporated into cakes, ice cream sandwiches and steamed buns.

A post shared by Jay (@tastesforthetummy) on Jun 3, 2017 at 10:28am PDT

Regardless of your mac and cheese preference there was no shortage of food to satiate the huge crowds that funneled through all weekend long.

Whether you missed it, or are still recovering from a mac and cheese hangover, here's just a sampling of some of the food served up at this year's Mac and Cheese Festival for your viewing pleasure.

A post shared by LiveForFoodToronto (@liveforfoodtoronto) on Jun 4, 2017 at 10:02am PDT

The 416 Food Truck Company was dishing out a butter chicken mac and cheese served on naan bread.

A post shared by Mac and Cheese Festival (@macandcheesefestival) on Jun 3, 2017 at 1:47pm PDT

Bobbie Sue's mac came with some lobster.

A post shared by Jenna Fitchett (@j.l.fitchett) on Jun 4, 2017 at 4:55am PDT

Steamed bun fans got to enjoy a macaroni and cheese version from Catelli pasta. Each bun was topped with a sriracha mayo and crispy onion.

A post shared by Elisa Angela (@elisaesky) on Jun 3, 2017 at 11:26am PDT

Macaroni and cheese stuffed samosas from The Chai House were a real hit over the weekend. 

A post shared by Agnes Chow (@achowa) on Jun 3, 2017 at 7:38pm PDT

Toppings of sour cream, cheese and green onion rested on top of beer battered mac and cheese balls. 

A post shared by Mac and Cheese Festival (@macandcheesefestival) on Jun 3, 2017 at 11:00am PDT

Soul2Go were winning crowds over with their mac n' queso taco bowls. Yes, the bowl was edible. 

A post shared by Foods From The GTA (@gtaeating) on Jun 3, 2017 at 12:44pm PDT

Fried chicken made for an excellent topping to this take on cold macaroni and cheese pasta salad made with penne noodles also from Soul2Go. 

A post shared by Mac and Cheese Festival (@macandcheesefestival) on Jun 3, 2017 at 3:32pm PDT

You can never have too much bacon with Bacon Nation as they made bacon wrapped grilled cheese sandwiches topped with creamy mac.

A post shared by Genevieve🍴 (@gen.eats) on Jun 3, 2017 at 6:20pm PDT

They also were making jerk chicken wrapped with bacon which rested on a bed of super cheesy mac.

A post shared by Erin O (@erinnno) on Jun 4, 2017 at 6:13am PDT

Mac and cheese was even served as a garnish for Caesars. 

A post shared by Joanna Sable (@joannasable) on Jun 3, 2017 at 12:51pm PDT

Bake Three Fifty served their famous ice cream sandwiches with a sweet version of mac and cheese.

A post shared by しぇりー (@shewwwiii) on Jun 3, 2017 at 7:46pm PDT

The macaroni sweets didn't end there. Two words, funnel cakes. 

A post shared by @hungry.jo @joannasable (@jojoinstameets) on Jun 3, 2017 at 8:11pm PDT

Junked Food Co. also took a sweet route and made a mac and cheese cake.

A post shared by Dani 🎀 (@dani_catlady) on Jun 4, 2017 at 6:19pm PDT

Along with the cake there were Doritos bags filled with the good stuff. 

A post shared by D.C. Foodies (@d.c.foodies) on Jun 3, 2017 at 7:21pm PDT

If all these epic takes on macaroni and cheese were too wild there was a more traditional version available from Soco Kitchen topped with truffle oil and panko bread crumbs.

Toronto's flush with outdoor food markets during the summer, but one of the city's most popular ones won't be returning this year.

Union Station's popular Union Summer market isn't happening thanks to the ongoing construction at this busy transportation hub. 

Due to construction in the coming months, the team at Union will not be hosting Union Summer this year
More details: https://t.co/xzAeWdyksfpic.twitter.com/wxrty730sE

— Union Station (@Torontounion) May 18, 2017

"Due to construction that will take place on the Sir John A. Macdonald plaza in the coming months, the team at Union will not be hosting Union Summer this year," reads a note on the Union Station website.

If you want to dine al fresco, you can always visit the nearby Adelaide Eats market at Adelaide Place (150 York St.).

Toronto's real estate market is still pretty hot, but the Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) just released its monthly report for May, which indicated that sales of detached homes in the GTA were down 26 percent in comparison to May 2016.

Condo sales, however, were down only by about 6 percent. 

While year over year prices were still well up across the city, when looking month to month, prices were down since April. The average price for a house in the GTA dropped from $919,614 to $863,910, writes CBC News. From March to April 2017, prices on detached and semi-detached homes also dipped. 

#TREB's latest Residential & Commercial Market Reports now posted! Get the update on May's market conditions here: https://t.co/9advjBRxOepic.twitter.com/5jLpY3UNuU

— TREB (@TREBhome) June 5, 2017

The TREB reports that listings were up more than 40 percent last month, which is a huge change from when we hit a historic low last year.

In April, the provincial government introduced the Fair Housing Act to reign in the real estate market, but as the TREB says, it's still too early to see the "actual or normalized," effect of these cooling measures.

"In the past, some housing policy changes have initially led to an overreaction on the part of homeowners and buyers, which later balanced out," said Jason Mercer, TREB’s director of market analysis in a news release.

This #Rosedale mansion sold for $2.6 million under asking https://t.co/hA9aH7BJpNpic.twitter.com/vY1UdU1mYg

— blogTO (@blogTO) June 3, 2017

"On the listings front, the increase in active listings suggests that homeowners, after a protracted delay, are starting to react to the strong price growth we’ve experienced over the past year by listing their home for sale to take advantage of these equity gains.”

The average price of a detached house in Toronto is still sitting at a whopping $1,503,868.

The best lasagna in Toronto is defined by layers of saucy and cheesy flat sheets of pasta cradling meat and veggies as if giving them a big hug, and molten, bubbling, perfectly caramelized and crispy top. These mostly Italian Toronto restaurants have mastered the classic comfort food combination.

Here's the best lasagna in Toronto.

Hidden places to visit in Toronto need not be illicit. On the contrary, many of them are merely off the beaten track and under-appreciated. From secret lookouts to secluded places to read, there's a whole other city waiting for you to explore.

Here are 10 hidden places to visit this summer in Toronto.

Osgoode Hall

One of Toronto's oldest buildings, Osgoode Hall hides in plain sight behind tall trees and an iron fence. But there are amazing things to find here. Intrepid explorers will want to seek out the stunning law library, while the less adventurous can admire the European-style courtyard. 

Chester Hill Lookout

Possibly the best place to view the Toronto skyline, the Chester Hill Lookout remains a hidden gem despite a bit more press in recent years. Head up Cambridge Ave. from the Danforth and hang a left at the eponymous street to see the skyline rise above the lush Don Valley. 

Craigleigh Gardens

Imposing gates welcome you to this pristine park located in the heart of Rosedale, which was once the property of Sir Edmund Osler, a wealthy businessman who helped build the area with Edgar Jarvis. This is the perfect place to escape city life for a few hours.

Redway Road staircase

This staircase near Millwood and Redway Rd. is actually designed as an escape route for employees of the North Toronto Sewage Treatment Plant. The Don Valley is a flood plain, and in the event of a dire situation, these stairs allow employees to get to higher ground. Despite their practical purpose, they offer a stunning view of the ravine. 

Wychwood Park

While this private neighbourhood might not be the most clandestine of its type in Toronto, it's surely the most rewarding to explore. From the pond that feeds Taddle Creek to the Arts and Crafts architecture of the various homes, this is an amazing place to walk around for an hour or two.

The hidden laneways of Kensington Market

Hidden just beyond the hustle and bustle of Kensington Market, Kensington Place is home to a series of eclectic houses that date back to the late 19th century. After exploring here, you can take a few minutes to walk over to the neighbourhing Fitzroy Terrace, where the oldest house in the neighbourhood is located. 

SP184

Secret spots are all the better if you can enjoy a drink or two while cultivating your anonymity. This hidden bar behind Superpoint Pizza is basically a glorified garage, but it has all the hallmarks of a modern speakeasy when it fills up on Friday and Saturday nights.

Weston Learning Centre AGO

This might sound like a strange reccommendation, but if you're looking for some quiet time in a calm setting, head down to the Weston Family Learning Centre at the AGO and head to the southwest corner. Adjacent to Beverley St. is an area with a few comfy chairs that offers a secluded place to read.

Crothers Woods lookout

Zig zag down the trail from the entrance at the Loblaws parking lot to the ridge that overlooks Sun Valley. Here you'll get a remarkable view of the valley that leads all the way to the CN Tower. You can walk along the ridge trail for different angles of the skyline.

Canadian Film Centre

If you want to have a huge park all to yourself in the middle of summer, head to the CFC on a weekend. Its picturesque grounds are typically deserted outside of working hours, which means you can have a secluded picnic in a wide open landscape, a surreal experience in the midst of a big city.

A slip and slide got a horror movie makeover in Toronto this weekend in honour of the fifth ever National Ketchup Day.

Pringles, which is introducing ketchup-flavoured chips, slathered sweet red sauce all over a slip and slide on June 3 at a parking lot by Front and Simcoe streets. 

A post shared by Vince Galluzzo (@vgalluzzo34) on Jun 3, 2017 at 2:30pm PDT

Participants had to suit up in yellow rain gear to try it out. Ketchup didn't look like it made for the slipperiest slide, but for fanatics this marketing stunt was probably a dream come true. 

A post shared by Deborah Weinstein (@deborahweinstein) on Jun 3, 2017 at 9:30am PDT

You can watch the sunset from almost anywhere in Toronto, but if you're looking for an epic viewing experience, you need to choose your location wisely. The key here is to find a west-facing perch that has lots of visual interest in the foreground, whether that be the skyline or the lake

Here are my picks for places to watch an epic sunset in Toronto.

Polson Pier

You might not want to run into Drake while snapping pics here, but this is surely the best vantage point in Toronto to see the sun go down on the city. If you head south along the boardwalk, you'll even find a few benches.

Colonel Sam Smith Park

Head to Etobicoke Point for a dramatic view of the sun setting across the lake. This park juts out into the water, so you can watch the day fade away over Mississauga with the Niagara Escarpment in the far distance. 

Riverdale Park East

What is already one of the best views of the city only gets better when the sun sets behind the skyline. I remember riding my bike up Broadview a few years back and seeing the sky so intensely pink that I almost crashed. The benches at the top of the hill are the best viewing spots.

Grenadier Pond (High Park)

Head to the east side of GrenadierPond for a tranquil sunset-viewing spot. If you want an elevated view, you can climb up the hill  and look upon the park and the lake all at once.

Sunnyside Bridge

Sunnyside itself doesn't really face the right way to catch the full splendour of the sunset, but the view from the bridge that spans the Gardiner and Lake Shore is a photographer's dream, as the sun dips below the gently pulsing highway.

Leslie Street Spit

You can catch good sunset views near the beginning of the Spit overlooking the marina, but the best vantage point comes when you trek all the way to the end, when you look northwest over Toronto and the Islands. It's stunning.

Marilyn Bell Park

This park provides some dramatic sights of the the sunset's effect over the lake, but you're not looking right at it. If, on the other hand, you head to the western edge of the park, there's a small view area pointed at Etobicoke (and beyond) which provides the angle that you need.

Canoe Restaurant

You'll have to pay a pretty penny for the privilege, but there aren't many places that provide a better view of the sunset over Toronto than Canoe's 54th floor dining room. I love grabbing a drink at the bar in lieu of shelling out too much for the view, but the best seats are on the west side of the restaurant.

Queens Quay parking garage

A favourite spot for photographers in the know, this parking structure at 208 and 218 Queens Quay offers a majestic view of the sunset straight along the Gardiner Expressway. You'll be an Instagram star if you manage to snap a memorable photo here.

Sugar Beach

You have to be careful where you sit at Sugar Beach if you want to catch the best part of the sunset. The neighbouring Redpath factory blocks out much of the west-facing view. But if you head to the southern-most tip of the beach, you can snag a lovely view of the sun as it sets over the Toronto harbour.

Walking trails in Toronto differ from hiking paths because less physically challenging and are easier to navigate. For the most part, these are nature trails with a wide berth that you can leisurely stroll along without breaking a sweat, though some are slightly more undulating than others.

Here are my picks for the top walking trails in Toronto.

Glen Stewart Ravine

This is already one of the prettiest places to walk in Toronto and extensive renovations to the site's infrastructure a few years ago have made it much easier to stroll under the remarkable tree canopy thanks to long boardwalk and improved pedestrian bridges. 

A post shared by blogTO (@blogto) on May 20, 2017 at 1:34pm PDT

Sherwood Park

One of Toronto's underrated valleys, this green space is lined with walking trails that generally see very limited bike use, which means you don't have to worry about sudden interactions with cyclists. If you're looking to extend your trip, you can cross Bayview Avenue and head to Sunnybrook Park.

Moccasin Trail Park

You can hear the gentle hum of the DVP as you explore this ravine near Lawrence and Don Mills, but you'll still feel far away from the city as you explore a lush landscape that even includes a beaver pond. Part of this trail leads to the iconic rainbow tunnel that thousands drive by every day.

The Beltline

Composed of three sections, the Beltline Trail stretches 9 kilometres in length, following a long-abandoned commuter rail line. It's mostly flat and feels adequately secluded in numerous sections despite its proximity to the developed urban environment that surrounds it. 

A post shared by Megan (@meganharper04) on May 24, 2017 at 5:46am PDT

High Park

There are lots of trails to explore in High Park, but my favourite one runs alongside the western edge of the park beside Ellis Park Avenue before pulling alongside Grenadier Pond, which it follows all the way to the south end of the park. Early mornings are particularly pretty here.

Sun Valley/Crothers Woods

The main difference between these two closely linked sets of trails is difficulty level. The Sun Valley loop is a double track path that's primarily flat once you get into the valley. It's an easy walk. For something more challenging, try the off camber trails of Crothers Woods. 

A post shared by Alfredo Flores (@alfredoflores) on May 24, 2016 at 12:36pm PDT

Humber River Recreational Trail

This largely paved multi-use path does have its fair share of bike traffic, but it's still worth exploring for its scenic route, which travels from the Humber Bay to the marshes around Old Mill and all the way up to Scarlett Woods.

East Don Parkland

If you're looking for urban solitude, you're likely to find it in this section of the Don Valley ravine system. You can go long stretches without seeing other people while following the trail that winds alongside the river. 

A post shared by Nano (@nooshinall) on May 14, 2016 at 7:43pm PDT

Moore Park Ravine

This wide ravine trail can get quite busy on summer weekends, and it's easy to understand why. With a lovely tree canopy and connections to the Don Valley Brick Works and David. A. Balfour Park, it's an ideally placed natural escape near the heart of the city. 

Leaside Spur Trail

The newest trail on this list is on the short side, but it's both paved and nicely secluded, so it makes for an excellent little walk. Formerly a CN Rail line, there are plenty of signs of its past life as you travel from York Mills almost to a point just north of Eglinton Avenue.

The Bier Markt on the Esplanade is currently closed for renovations. But when the restaurant and beer hall reopens this summer, it'll look a little different.

That's because the Toronto-based chain is partnering with Goose Island to open Chicago beer company's first Canadian brewhouse.

Renovating this 19,000 Sq.Ft. BEIR MARKET & GOOSE ISLAND BREWERY on the Esplanade in Toronto. Complete demolition & re-construction pic.twitter.com/RTLMSXyKuL

— PlatinumConstruction (@PlatinumConst1) February 11, 2017

The Goose Island Brewhouse will brew beer on site and it'll feature 12 taps, a menu created by Bier Markt chefs Kevin Maniaci and Shawn Jackson, a 60-person outdoor beer garden and a retail store selling growlers and other branded merchandise.

Toronto's latest brewhouse will open on July 17. 

For Drake fans, the original OVO Store on Dundas Street West is a must-visit destination.

Since opening in 2015, OVO Stores have popped up in Los Angeles and Manhattan, but one of Toronto's top shopping malls will be home to the mini-chain's second Toronto location.

As Retail Insider reports, there's an OVO Store opening up in Yorkdale Shopping Centre's newest wing - the same wing that's home to Nordstrom, Canada Goose and Uniqlo.

A post shared by October's Very Own (@welcomeovo) on Nov 25, 2016 at 12:24pm PST

The store  is expected to open this summer. 

For the fifth year in a row, the music festival that started out as a single day celebration of an anniversary of local record label Arts & Crafts hit Toronto. Taking over Fort York and the Garrison Commons, the two-day fest featured over twenty indie artists and dozens of food options.

Check out the highlights from Field Trip 2017 in this photo gallery