Did you know Toronto has a secret locomotive-themed bar tucked away on the mezzanine level at the Royal York Hotel?

Well it does, and if you want to check it out, you better catch a train over before it pulls out of the station for good.

The cozy York Station bar has been serving up classic cocktails since 1972. However, the 24-seat space will close for good after June 30. Bartender Alina Budzinski has acted as York Station's conductor since 1977 and she's set to retire this month too. 

"While currently under design review, the space York Station will become part of the expanded and renovated meeting rooms on the Main Mezzanine, which is part of the hotel's large-scale refurbishment scheduled for 2018/2019," reads press release from the Fairmount Royal York Hotel. 

The Royal York's lobby Library Bar will be sticking around. 

It's not unusual for ice cream shops to draw long lineups in Toronto. Queues regularly snake down Ossington by Bang Bang and on John Street as folks wait for Sweet Jesus.

The latest lineup-inducing ice cream parlour is ihalo Krunch, which sells black - or activated charcoal-infused - soft serve.

One person, according to a post on Instagram, drove for an hour, waited in line for an hour and a half (in the rain, no less), just to get some black ice cream.

One hour drive, 1,5 hr waiting in line under the rain, all just to get new #charcoal #icecream #toronto #weekend #ihalokrunch 👌🏼час езды, полтора в очереди, я просто мороженко захотела со вкусом угля 😂

A post shared by Oxana (@hazanox) on Jun 18, 2017 at 3:52pm PDT

According to a rep from ihalo Krunch, some customers waited for about 20 minutes, while others stood outside on Queen Street West for up to an hour and a half.

A post shared by rachel may (@rachie.liu) on Jun 17, 2017 at 11:11am PDT

The line grew when staff had to whip up more cones. "Ihalo Krunch makes all of the charcoal cones in house, and when supplies ran low, rather than turning people away, they continued to make cones to serve all their guests," said the rep via email.

One hour wait for an ice cream cone is perfectly justified when catching up with @trentslee 🤣 Oh and it's made of charcoal! #novelty #softserve #softicecream #icecream #sweets #foodie #foodporn #instafood #toronto #weekend #sunday #waitinggame #wait #friends #reunion #먹스타그램 #먹방

A post shared by teresa (@creativeleeme) on Jun 18, 2017 at 6:19pm PDT

Staff also gave queuing customers free water and handed out free gelato and sorbet to kids who were waiting in the line.

Activated charcoal, or goth, ice cream became popular on Instagram after appearing in Los Angeles and New York City. While it's aesthetically pleasing, its supposed detoxifying benefits are about as frothy as soft serve. 

Restaurants, bars and breweries from the west coast continue to take over Toronto. The latest import is The Pint Public House, which is slated to open soon right by the Rogers Centre.

The restaurant and bar, which got its start in Edmonton, will debut its first Toronto location on July 6. It's replacing the Baton Rouge at 277 Front St.

At 16,000 square feet, this massive sports bar will include 730 seats as well as a patio. The general manager says that along with showing games on its 90 or so television screens, it'll turn into a club of sorts later at night with a dance floor on each of its two floors.

The menu features pub grub, including 40 different flavours of wings. Big sellers at other locations include honey sriracha and a Kentucky bourbon dry rub.

Since the Pint has a thing for the number 40, it'll feature 40 beer taps with some local offerings from breweries like Left Field, Great Lakes, Lost Craft and Amsterdam. 

Sports bars near the Rogers Centre (and the ACC), such as Jack Astor's and Real Sports, usually fill up around game time, so an extra 730 seats in the area could be helpful. 

What's that giant red dome doing in Toronto? The inflatable building is currently stationed at 646 Dundas St. E. at Sumac St. in Regent Park.

Like most giant things appearing in Toronto this summer, it's here for our Canada 150 celebrations. It's part of a program called Sesqui (short for sesquicentennial) that aims to bring VR and immersive films all over Canada.

The dome will screen a 22 minute movie every half an hour between June 21 and 24 from noon until 10 p.m. On Sunday, June 25, the hours are 10 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. All screenings are completely free. 

Toronto loves to wait in line, especially if it's for ice cream. But sometimes, like the rest of the Kanye-loving world, we queue for shoes.

Today, hundreds stood in lineups at the Eaton Centre to be entered into a draw for their chance to purchase adidas YEEZY Boost 350 V2 “Zebra,” which go on sale on Saturday, June 24.

At the downtown mall, crowds formed in front of Foot Locker, where lucky winners would find out tomorrow or Wednesday if they'd get to own Yeezys.

Others waited in front of Adidas Collective at Footaction for their chance to snag the famous footwear.

Plenty of other Toronto retailers will also be stocking Yeezys this week. 

With the official opening of Trillium Park and the William G. Davis Trail at Ontario Place this morning, Toronto has itself a stunning new waterfront green space. This is exciting in general, but doubly so because the Islands are currently out of commission.

The entrance to Trillium Park and the William G. Davis Trail. Photo by Derek Flack.

It took a long time to bring this park to fruition, but a first visit reveals an impressive design that makes the most of its lakeside location with an undulating topography meant to offer plentiful views of the Toronto skyline. 

The trail overlaps at this bridge near the entrance. Photo by Derek Flack.

There's no beach here, but it's obvious that there isn't supposed to be. The rocky sections at the water's edge gently dissuade any swimming, which is smart given the general state of water quality near to Toronto's harbour. 

The stunning view of the harbour and skyline from the water's edge trail. Photo by Derek Flack.

While there isn't a ton of shade on offer at present, once the over 1,000 trees start to grow, you can expect this to change. For now, the pavilion offers welcome respite from the sun, while being right next to the water ensures that there's a nice breeze. 

The open air pavilion in all its glory. Photo by Derek Flack.

If there's an ultimate highlight for me, it's the large fire pit. What an amazing way to spend a summer evening in the city, sitting by a fire with a lakeside vista and the skyline just off to the side. More like this, please. 

The fire pit is sure to be a popular spot this summer. Photo by Derek Flack.

As much as Trillium Park is a great place to lounge, the William G. Davis Trail will satisfy those looking for a casual walk around the grounds or a diversion from their bike rides along the Martin Goodman Trail.

A view of the trail from atop the pedestrian bridge. Photo by Derek Flack.

The trail rises in sections in order to deliver sweeping waterfront views and meanders around just enough to keep things interesting. This will immediately become one of the nicest options for a lakeside walk in the city.

Looking across the top of the granite bluff feature. Photo by Derek Flack.

When I stopped by, the park was wonderfully quiet, but with 7.5 hectares of space, it seems as though it'll be able to handle an influx of people flocking here on weekends without feeling completely crammed.

There's quite a few grassy areas in this park, including this one in front of the pavilion. Photo by Derek Flack.

From the many benches to the strategically placed granite formations to the grassy mounds, there's plenty of places to sit for a while. For now, the park will be at its best when the sun is low on the horizon, but you could do a picnic here on if you're not averse to a little glare. 

One of the quieter spots to escape the bustle of city life. Photo by Derek Flack.

Or, if you just want to cultivate some time away from everything, there are a few little nooks here designed to offer a bit of solitude, including Hough's Glade, which is named after the original landscape architect at Ontario Place. 

Air traffic from Billy Bishop is a regular presence. Photo by Derek Flack.

The one element of the park that I suspect will be subject to mixed opinions is the proximity of the Toronto Island Airport. Plane-spotters will love the ability to watch the action on the tarmac from the park, but many will find the planes too noisy at times.

Heading towards the upper portion of the trail. Photo by Derek Flack.

Concerts at nearby Echo Beach will probably also spill over, but that might be a good thing. In any case, let's not complain too much. This used to be dreary parking lot, which was an utter waste of space that's now been remedied.

The CN Tower and skyline visible from much of the park. Photo by Derek Flack.

There's still a bit of work being done at the south end of the waterfront trail, which has resulted in a temporary fence going up, but everywhere else the park appears well finished and ready to take on visitors looking for a natural retreat near the heart of the city. 

The brand new public washroom complex. Photo by Derek Flack.

To get to the new park, just head south from the intersection of Lake Shore Boulevard West and Ontario Place Boulevard. The entrance is marked with a number kiosks, but the public washrooms are also an obvious marker to look for. 

It's a busy week in Toronto with Luminato, Pride and NXNE all in full force. If you need to start off your week on a quieter note, there's a fireside storytelling event and a free movie night in Trinity Bellwoods Park. 

Toronto's drugstore takeover continues as another historic building is poised to become a Rexall.

According to Metro News, the first floor of the building at the northeast corner of Dundas and Spadina will become another outpost for the expanding drugstore brand. An opening date has yet to be announced.

Victory Burlesque in the 1970s. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

The building was the first purpose-built Yiddish playhouse in Canada. The Standard Theatre, as it was known, later became a movie theatre and a scandalous burlesque theatre before it was used as a cinema once again.

More recently, it was an RBC bank, so Rexall won't be its first big-name tenant.

Victory Burlesque in 1968. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

Rexall, of course, took over the long-standing Brunswick House in the Annex and actually paid homage to the bar's history by integrating heritage elements throughout the space.

The now-shuttered Hard Rock Cafe by Yonge-Dundas Square, which also had a long, musical past, will become a Shoppers Drug Mart —because if there's one thing we can soon count on in Toronto, is that we'll never be far from a drugstore.

Bars with 4 a.m. last call in Toronto continue this week thanks to NXNE and Pride. Festivities are on in full force around the city making it the ultimate week to get out and party your night away until the wee hours. 

These are the bars with extended last call in Toronto this week for NXNE until June 25.

• The Baby G
• Bovine Sex Club
• Cameron House
• Cherry Cola's
• Comedy Bar
• Drake Hotel
• The Garrison
• Grace O'Malley's
• Hard Luck
• Horseshoe Tavern
• Monarch Tavern
• Nest
• Nocturne
• The Paddock
• The Painted Lady
• Rancho Relaxo
• Sneaky Dee's

And these are the bars with extended last call in Toronto this week for Pride from June 22 to June 24.

• EFS
• Woody's
• Oasis Aqualounge
• Zanzibar
• Remingtons Men of Steel
• Fly Nightclub 2.0
• Maison
• The Everleigh
• CODA
• Boutique Bar
• Mick E Fynn's
• Crews & Tangos
• Phoenix Concert Theatre
• Club 120
• Belfast Love
• Church Street Garage
• O'Grady's

Free events in Toronto this summer include a multitude of movie screenings, concerts, street festivals, night markets and a non-stop parade of events at Ontario place. They'll help you discover new neighbourhoods, parks and artists, all without touching your wallet. 

Summer always feels like the busiest season in Toronto with street festivals, outdoor concerts, and lots and lots of construction happening all over the city, but that's not the case when it comes to subway ridership.

Construction has already cut streetcar service along some routes, and now the TTC's summer service changes and improvements are in effect. The most noteworthy of these is a reduction of train frequency on Line 2 in keeping with seasonal ridership trends. 

Many #TTC routes operate with summer schedules, starting today. Generally that = less frequent rush-hour service. https://t.co/BfgoI1xi3T

— Transit Toronto (@transittoronto) June 19, 2017

It won't be too bad, but you should plan accordingly. The reductions on Line 2 are only during peak periods, and the TTC still commits to maintaining a train frequency of five minutes or better at all times. 

Other routes will actually see an increase in service. Frequency will be improved along routes like the 192 Airport Rocket to Pearson and the 509 Harbourfront thanks to the influx of people and events in the city.

These types of seasonal reductions and improvements happen yearly to reflect changing ridership patterns.

And regardless of when you take Line 2, trains shouldn't be as hot as last summer.

There’s no shortage of yoga studios in Toronto, but when the sun is out and the patios are open, Torontonians rush to be outdoors. With more yoga teachers branching out and hosting special yoga sessions across the city, there are plenty of options on how to get the most out of summer while enjoying a Vinyasa flow.

Here are my picks for the top outdoor yoga classes in Toronto.

1. Yoga in the Park with Kit and Ace

Kit and Ace’s West Queen West location hosts monthly yoga sessions in Trinity Bellwoods Park with yoga teacher Sikin Samji. To get an invite, head into the store or email the Queen St. location. You’ll meet at the store and walk to Trinity Bellwoods for a yoga flow from 6-7.30 p.m.

2. Yoga in the park with Afterglow Studios

Afterglow yoga studio is always up to something in the community. The Beaches location hosts free yoga in Kew Gardens Park on Wednesdays from 6.30-7.30 p.m. running until August 30th.

3. Yoga at The Addison’s Residence

Nike trainer and yoga teacher Irina Andreea hosts an evening yoga pop-up class on Mondays at The Addison’s backyard. The intimate space provides the perfect space for a gentle flow followed by restorative and deep relaxation. Class is by donation.

4. Acro Yoga with The Flying Yogi

The Flying Yogi studio hosts a pay what you can class Thursdays from 7-8 p.m. in Riverdale Park.

5. Park Yoga at Trinity Bellwoods

Park Yoga is hosted Mondays at 7 p.m. Meet at the gates of the park and get ready for an energetic flow. Entry is pay what you can.

6. Yoga Unplugged at the Thompson Hotel

Join 889 Yoga teachers and Lululemon Toronto on the rooftop of the Thompson Hotel for Yoga Unplugged every Saturday from 4-5p.m. It’s hosted all summer long with a live DJ.

7. Lululemon at Sheraton’s Waterfall Courtyard

On Tuesdays from 6-9.m. enjoy free yoga at the Sheraton Hotel’s Waterfall Courtyard hosted by Lululemon Eaton Centre and running until August 29th.

8. Liberty Life Yoga

Practice yoga in the park Sunday mornings at 10.30 a.m. in Liberty Village Park. Classes are hosted by Liberty Life Yoga and go until August 18th. Classes are free but donations are accepted for various charities.

9. Yoga at the Botanical Gardens

Reconnect with nature with a yoga practice at the Toronto Botanical Gardens on Wednesdays until August 2nd. There are two time slots starting at 4.30-6p.m or 6.30-8pm. Walk-in prices are $20 per class or a special bundle price for members for $80 for six classes

10. Tribe Yoga Jam

MEC Toronto has teamed up with Tribe Fitness to bring YogaJam, outdoor yoga in Cityplace’s Canoe Landing Park. Join the team on the lawn Sunday mornings starting July 2nd from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

When the weather gets warm, new restaurants sprout and bloom all over Toronto, and the variety in this crop seems particularly captivating. From French and Syrian street food to a steakhouse in a castle, there's a lot to look forward to.

Here are my picks for the most anticipated restaurant openings in Toronto this summer.

Bar Sybanne

Chef/restaurateur Howard Dubrowsky (L.A.B., ex-Fonda Lola) will soon open a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant on Ossington that'll serve up sharable mezzes and flatbreads along with handcrafted cocktails.

Blue Blood Steakhouse

What could be better than chowing down on some good ol' red meat inside a historic castle in the city? Liberty Entertainment Group is planning to open what promises to be "a modern twist on the classic steakhouse" (complete with a big patio!) at Casa Loma very soon.

Chubby’s Jamaican Kitchen

It's been a while in the making, but Gusto 54 Restaurant Group's (Kiin, Pai, Gusto 101) jerk chicken joint on Portland St. by Adelaide St. W. should finally be ready to make its debut by early September.

Chula

With not one, but two tiki bar patios (rooftop and backyard) at this Mexican restaurant that replaces McGugan's in Leslieville, east-siders have a lot to be excited about when this place opens in July.

Copetin

Local celeb chef Claudio Aprile is replacing his former Origin on King East with an eclectic new restaurant and bar that will serve "elevated food inspired by Toronto neighbourhoods" in an open kitchen with a chef's counter, private dining, plus a bar and patio.

Kid Chocolate

Described as Saturday Dinette's "li'l cousin," this lunch counter and bar should "be born this summer" just a few doors down from its already well-loved relative on Gerrard East.

King Taps

Expected to open at First Canadian Place in the Financial District in early July, this massive, two-level beer hall with ample seating, including patios (of course), will feature 50 local craft brews on tap and elevated pub grub.

Mister Frenchy

French street food? Yes, it's a thing, and it apparently comprises French tacos, roule cheese and croque-monsieur. It's set to open on the Danforth just east of Pape.

Skippa

This intriguing Japanese restaurant taking over the space that was formerly The Roxton will offer seasonal cuisine, which, one must reasonably presume, will include seafood (a "skippa" is a captain of the high seas) on Harbord St.

Soufi’s

Proclaiming to be Toronto's first authentic Syrian resto-cafe, this upcoming spot on Queen West will make traditional Syrian street food like manaeesh (Levantine flatbread) and knafeh (a sweet cheese pastry), and I can't wait to try it.

It's food truck season in Toronto and our favourite street food purveyors are back on the road. Past favourites are serving curb side along with a fleet of new trucks that are building up quite the fan base. 

Here are my picks for the most popular food trucks in Toronto right now.

Eva's Original Chimneys

The city went nuts when this food truck debuted its doughnut cones and the hype hasn't slowed down. People still hunt down this truck to lineup to get their hands on one of these coveted cones. Pro tip: Eva's has a bricks-and-mortar location in the Annex.

The Arepa Republic

Venezuelan arepas are one of the hottest street food eats of summer 2017 and lucky for us, this Toronto food truck has entire menu of them.

Sushitto on the Road

This truck was among the first to bring sushi burritos to Toronto. Now, the truck has a cult like following and this year it's debuting a phoritto that will be a surefire hit.

BeaverTails

You'll find Canadian classics at this truck that's constantly touring around to various festivals. It's present at almost every major event in the city, so it's no surprise this truck is amongst the most popular. 

ME.N.U Food Truck

A visit to this Asian fusion truck guarantees a wait in line. Just be patient. The rice balls, roti tacos and poutine are among some of the most delicious curbside eats you can find in the city.

Chimney Stax

Eva's isn't the only spot to get your chimney fix. This Toronto food truck also draws out crowds for its Hungarian chimneys. You can find a rotating menu of sandwiches, sundaes and cones.

feasTO

The city's first dumpling food truck always has hungry patrons eagerly lining up for its pho beef dumplings, shrimp wontons and banh mi sandwiches.

Fidel Gastro's

Matt Basile and his team have been slinging out-of-this-world sandwiches, tacos and pad Thai fries for years and the truck always boasts a hefty line.

Alijandro's Kitchen

Who says all cones need to be sweet? You can now eat falafel waffle cones courtesy of this Mediterranean Mexican fusion truck. You can often find it on your lunch hour at Roy Thomson Hall.  

Heirloom

Fried chicken sandwiches, duck poutine and cheesecake-on-a-stick  are what make this food truck stand out from the rest. Find its at events, concerts and festivals all summer long. 

Atlanta superstar Future is currently on his Nobody Safe Tour. He will be stopping in Las Vegas on June 30 at the T-Mobile Arena and we've teamed up with Sony Music Canada to give one lucky reader a chance to fly out to see the concert.

Check out all the contest details here. 

Luxury camping might be all the rage these days, but not every resort with prospector-style tents actually lives up to term "glamping." For that, a resort needs to offer exclusivity, seclusion, amazing food and accommodations that blend opulence with rustic charm. 

Outpost Co. is the quintessence of glamping in Ontario, and everything about it is over-the-top in a way that recalls how the ultra rich would have travelled over a century ago. There's no electricity and certainly no WiFi, but everything else is all about a pampered wilderness experience.

The resort is actually quite remote, located just outside of Temagami on Obabika Lake. It'd be an epic drive to get there, but most vacationers here fly in on a chartered seaplane from either of Toronto's airports, which takes about 90 minutes.

Once you've arrived (and by you, I mean a mythical hyper rich version of yourself), you'll be able to check out your tent, which was handcrafted with natural cotton and comes with wall-to-wall jute carpeting as well as tasteful throw rugs. 

Next you'll meet your private chef, who will fill you up with Canadian-inspired dishes over the course of the getaway, as well charcuterie plates and other luxury snacks. There will, of course, also be fine wine and spirits on offer. 

Dinner is cooked over an open flame to give you the whole Francis Mallmann-style experience, which as much as I might poke fun at the indulgence of this whole thing, I would actually love to take it in as a pure culinary spectacle. Charred Tomahawk steaks? Yes please. 

There are only eight people booked to stay here at any given time, so for all the rustic luxury, the idea really is to escape the city and soak up what is one of the most beautiful landscapes in the province. Guests are encouraged to go on guided hikes and canoe trips around the grounds.

What'll it all cost you? Outpost Co. quotes $440 per person per night, but that doesn't include transportation or extras like wine and massage therapy. To fly into camp is an additional $220 return per person, based on four people making the trip on the plane.

Food courts are out and food halls are in. Toronto's getting at least two of these upscale destinations, and one will focus exclusively on Spanish-style food. 

Chef Rob Bragagnolo, who lived in Spain for 12 years, was inspired by markets like La Boqueria in Barcelona and El Olivar in Palma de Mallorca and wanted to create a comfortable and vibrant space for people to grab food at all hours of the day.

A post shared by @hungry.jo @joannasable (@jojoinstameets) on Jun 20, 2017 at 6:06am PDT

Campo Food Hall will take up 3,500 space at 433 King St. W. by Spadina. It'll include grab-and-go options, some specialty groceries and prepared foodstuffs as well as a full service restaurant from Bragagnolo called Labora.

This food hall will feature a variety of vendors, including; Xarcuteria by the Cheese Boutique for cured meat and Spanish cheese; Panaderia, a bakery with fresh bread, pastries and empanadas; Ensalada, a build-your-own salad and grain bowl bar; and El Carro, a street-side food cart.

A post shared by Rob Bragagnolo (@robbragagnolo) on Mar 10, 2017 at 7:26am PST

The Drake General Store and Elxr Juice will also be on site.

Bragagnolo, who also runs Carver, says Campo should open this fall. The nearby Assembly Chef's Hall is slated for a summer opening, and the food hall that's poised to pop up at the Waterworks building will follow, albeit not for a while. 

Toronto Pride parades routes (yep, there are three parades) take over parts of Church, Yonge and Gerrard streets for pretty much the entire weekend, from June 23 to 25. Beware if that's where you regularly bike, bus, streetcar or drive. 

The streets become ground zero for protests, messages of love, loss, hope and frustration. The marches and parades are a chance to give voice to a community that still needs to be heard and understood. 

While there are a bunch of events, parties and gay and queer friendly bars swirling around them, these gatherings are still super important and we're lucky to have them 

Here's a roundup of key information about this weekend's Pride parade and marches. There's no word on Justin Trudeau's attendance yet. 

Trans March - Friday June 23

Following the same route as last year, this is one of the largest trans community gatherings in the world. It begins at Church and Hayden at 7 p.m., and makes its way along Bloor  starting at 8 p.m, south on Yonge and east on Carlton to Allan Gardens.

These streets will be closed for the duration of the march. There's a Trans community fair operating before and after the main event.

The 2016 Trans Narch makes its way down Yonge Street. Photo by Jesse Milns. 

Dyke March - Saturday June 24

The Dyke March begins with a rally at Church and Hayden at 1 p.m. and the march itself starts in the same spot an hour later. It moves down Bloor, to Yonge, across Carlton and into Allan Gardens, where things conclude with queer local artists, performers, poets, and activists.

Obviously Church is shut down all weekend, but Yonge and Carlton will only be closed for the duration of the parade.

Pride Parade - Sunday June 25

One of North America's largest pride parades starts at 2 p.m. with over 150 participating groups.

While last year's was historic and might have been the best one ever, the 2017 parade will also prove interesting after what happened between Pride, Black Lives Matter and the Toronto Police. It seems all three groups are still dealing with the events from one year ago.

The parade starts at Yonge and Bloor and ends at Yonge-Dundas Square. A large portion of Bloor Street, east of Bay will be closed as floats and marchers prepare to prance down Yonge Street.

The parade has known to run over three hours, so arrive early to get a good viewing spot. Artist Kent Monkman is the grand marshal this year. 

Toronto in the 1970s might look brown, orange and beige in photographs, but the decade was never anything less than electrifying. The city was dirty - still covered in a coat of industrial soot - and a majority of people smoked like chimneys. Bloody, bare knuckle brawls erupted regularly at most bars, and ugly bigotry was still rife.

Thankfully, the optimistic glow of the late 1960s shone through. Ontario Place brought a touch of Expo '67's magic to Toronto's shores, while the Metropolitan Zoo, the Eaton Centre, the CN Tower and the Blue Jays all delivered some much needed iconography to the city.

Disco begat punk, David Crombie was mayor, and Moses Znaimer started a televisual revolution at Queen & Church that still reverberates around the world. Everyone who grew up in Toronto in the 1970s will remember it slightly differently, but these are some of the retro ties which universally bind us.

Behold, 30 signs you grew up in Toronto in the '70s.

1. You treasured the arrival of the Toronto Blue Jays - the breathless reporting from training in Dunedin, the pre-game parade, the snow drenched opening game, the disastrous first season and their disco theme song: All of it, golden.

2. You and everyone you knew that had access to a TV set watched Baby Blue movies on Citytv, Channel 79 UHF.

3. You rode the Alpine Way at CNE as a way of not only getting around, but to also check out where the action was; You used the Bulova Tower as a meeting place if you got separated from your friends.

4. You were always enthralled at the Ontario Science Centre, whether you were there on school time or your own time.

5. You bought cheap books at Coles.

6. You remember where you were when the antenna was placed atop the CN Tower, and heard the urban legend about the workers who bolted it on urinating from its top over the city when they were done.

7. Because they were yellow, you could always spot Metropolitan Toronto Police cars a mile away.

8. You thought the only pizza that mattered was made by Frank Vetere's.

9. For holidays and birthday parties you braved sticky floors and visited the Pop Shoppe.

10. You roller skated at the Terrace.

11. Seeing double bills at local drive-ins was how you got lucky in the summer.

12. You wanted to get your hair cut at House of Lords.

13. You thought only cowards wore helmets.

14. When downtown with you often bought roasted chestnuts, candy apples or popcorn from the vendors on seemingly every corner.

15.The opening of the Eaton Centre was an incredibly exciting thing, especially if you lived in the suburbs as now you had a good reason to come downtown.

16. Your parents watched The King of Kensington.

17. You watched Uncle Bobby.

18. Binkley & Doinkel scared the shit out of you.

19. You went to the Zoo when it opened, and it pretty much blew your mind.

20. You took pride in the fact that your school flew the Elmer flag, signifying that no accidents had occurred there.

21. Your dad drank his beer out of stubby beer bottles.

22. You actually tried Grape, Orange or Cherry flavoured Hostess potato chips (and 40 years later still can't get the taste out of your mouth).

23. You were excited by the launch of Global TV because they showed The Love Boat every night.

24. You enjoyed family trips to Knob Hill Farms.

25. You were scared but curious of the Yonge Street "Sin Strip" which ran from Bloor to King, especially the grindhouse theatres like the Coronet, the Biltmore and of course the Rio. The death of Emmanuel Jacques shocked and saddened you and it was the first time you heard that it was no longer "Toronto the good."

26. Larry's Hideaway seemed like the coolest/scariest place in the city.

27. You stayed up to watch Night Music with Reiner Schwarz on TVOntario and it changed the way you thought about music.

28. You were awed by Ontario Place - the concerts, IMAX films at the Cinesphere, and Children's Village all became seminal Toronto experiences.

29. You knew all the words to Citytv's sign-off song, "Toronto - People City".

30. You respected the "no food or drinks allowed" rule on the TTC because it was clean and looked like this.

Retrontario plumbs the seedy depths of Toronto flea markets, flooded basements, thrift shops and garage sales, mining old VHS and Betamax tapes that less than often contain incredible moments of history that were accidentally recorded but somehow survived the ravages of time. You can find more amazing discoveries at www.retrontario.com.

Scroll through the MLS on a regular basis and you'll see plenty of nice homes for sale in Toronto. It's rare, however, to encounter properties worthy of the designation "special." This storefront-turned-residence on Dupont St. is a noteworthy exception.

Designed by Andrew Fee and Linda Corbett of SOMA Studio, 1587 Dupont St. doesn't reveal much from the street, but the interior is a light-filled contemporary space with soaring ceilings that seamlessly incorporates the rear garden into the character of the living area. 

Behind that garden is a two-car garage with a live/work space on the second floor that recalls what Lanescape has been pushing for with its Laneway Suites framework. This is an exemplary conversion of what had become a rundown property on a main street. 

The split between the main house and the laneway space won't appeal to everyone, but those in need of a studio will surely swoon over a set-up that features a work area distinct from the living quarters but still only seconds away.

There's an obvious attention to detail display in the design of this home, which features lots of white oak and walnut in addition to Carrara and Travertine marble. This one doesn't just look nice, it is nice.

Specs

• Address: 1587 Dupont St.
• Price: $2,395,000
• Lot Size: 24.42 x 120 feet
• Bedrooms: 2
• Bathrooms: 4
• Parking: 2
• Walk Score: 92
• Transit Score: 99
• Listing agent: Paul Johnston, Right At Home Realty
• Listing ID: W3847348

Good For

Someone passionate about design who believes that cities are made better by gentle density. It's not required, but it'd be nice to have an art collection to display in this show stopper of a space. 

Move On If

This unique urban space won't work for a growing family. You can stretch it to three bedrooms, but multiple little ones would prove a challenge here.