On Monday I showed you the top 10 looks from Toronto Fashion Week -- but for every action, there's always an equal and opposite reaction. Though I don't want to believe this side of fashion exists, it does (in the form of Snuggies and pink leopard print, no less), so here are my picks for the ten worst looks from the runways last week. Of course, "worst" is subjective, so feel free to disagree and maybe check out the other, more promising looks in our Style section.

Proof that if Coco Chanel and Sid Vicious had a baby, Joe Fresh (top photo) should not design her clothes. View and rate more looks from Joe Fresh's Fall 2013 collection here.

A Caitlin Power ensemble, designed for the local stripper transitioning to an office job. View and rate more looks from Caitlin's Power's Fall 2013 collection here.

Mackage's Canadian response to the American guido phenomenon. Hey, at least he's warm. View and rate more looks from Mackage's Fall 2013 collection here.

Korhani Home's loud attempt at a Nicki Minaj pajama set.

If you put this Sid Neigum look on your TV you'll get a much better signal. View and rate more looks from Sid Neigum's Fall 2013 collection here.

A Klaxon Howl outfit straight out of Duck Dynasty, and not even trying to be ironic about it. View and rate more looks from Klaxon Howl's Fall 2013 collection here.

I can barely accept this creepy print on a rug, but Korhani Home made damn sure it can walk (read: follow me around and give me nightmares) in the form of a dress.

The perfect Miz by Izzy Camilleri tin foil ensemble for your next "Anything But Clothes" party!

A Furby's wedding dress by DUY. View and rate more looks from DUY's Fall 2013 collection here.

The goth Snuggie by Sid Neigum keeps you warm, comfortable, and hating life.

What look or collection from Toronto Fashion Week failed to inspire you? Let us know in the comments below.

Photos by Dickson Ly and Jesse Milns

Once the address of the now extinct, experimental LAB Restaurant, this newly opened College Street bistro adapts the existing dining room but takes a very different approach with food. The new menu triumphs big portions, rich meat and potato mains, and old school French cookery.

Read my review of Darwin Bistro Bar in the restaurants section.

Chatting with a friend the other day, the subject of Toronto's unofficial borders came up. Although I can't remember what precipitated the debate, our discussion centred around whether the dividing line between midtown and uptown was Eglinton or Lawrence Avenue. In the absence of official boundaries, neither of us could lay claim to being right in the absence of additional input. So that's what Twitter is for, right?

Having put the question to our followers, a general trend was visible, but not so much so that the question could easily put to rest. The majority of folks who were kind enough to respond, suggested the following boundary lines:

Downtown: South of Bloor
Midtown: Between Bloor and Eglinton
Uptown: North of Eglinton

This, of course, leaves out east/west parameters, which is another story (but as far as downtown goes, most would say Bathurst to the west and Sherbourne/Parliament to the east, I suspect). So would that mean that the Annex (part of which is north of Bloor and part of which is south) is downtown or midtown? That's a tough one to answer. Perhaps even more interesting than the east/west question, however, are some of the alternate suggestions to the above north/south dividing lines.

Forgetting our initial Eglinton/Lawrence debate, the responses that most intrigued me suggested 1) that uptown ends at York Mills (at which point North York begins), 2) that downtown should really be considered as everything south of Dundas and 3) that everything north of Bloor should be considered uptown. I'm not sure that I agree with two and three, but I also wonder if I feel like I'm particularly downtown when standing at Yonge and College. As for the first point, I completely agree. Given the city's pre-amalgamation borders, it seems silly to refer to Yonge and Sheppard as uptown. That's North York, man!

Nevertheless, these designations are subject to change over time. Take the lead photo, for example. While you wouldn't want to put all your faith in the name of a movie theatre (especially considering that in the 1940s the Bloor Cinema was still called the Midtown), it's possible to imagine a time when there'd be little debate that Yonge and Bloor was uptown. As the city grows, borders change — but it's a slow process, so we have lots of time to engage in debates like these.

Weigh in with your suggested boundaries in the comments below.

Photo of the old Uptown Theatre from the Toronto Archives

The best late night Korean restaurants in Toronto can oblige any number of after hour cravings; fried chicken, tabletop BBQ or steaming bowls of pork bone soup. Korean kitchens spread out across the city (and a few cross cultural ones too) have it covered. These are places that often come into their element after dark, making them prime destinations for midnight feasts and post bar binges.

Here is where to find the best late night Korean restaurants in Toronto.

Want more late night eats? Download our Toronto bars, pubs & late night eats iPhone app.

See Also:

The Best Korean Restaurants in Toronto
The Best Korean BBQ in Toronto
The Best Bibimbap in Toronto

Bike theft in Toronto, is, unfortunately, one of many inherent risks associated with pedal-powered mobility: you might get squeezed to the curb by an aggressive driver, you might get a flat running over broken glass, but having your bicycle stolen (or partially swiped) really stings. As I found out three times in the last two years, sometimes even a solid lock and sturdy ring-and-post is no match for the dedicated crook.

These statistics are from 2011 - the most recent year the Toronto Police is able to offer a complete set of numbers. The cops caution that some of these results are based on their best estimates as it isn't their practice to keep official bicycle records beyond the number stolen each year.

3139 - Bikes reported stolen in 2011
8.6 - Bikes reported stolen each day (average)
864 - Bikes recovered by police in 2011
2275 - Bikes lost forever
27.5 - Percentage of bikes recovered*
170 - Bikes reclaimed by the owner
694 - Recovered bikes unclaimed and auctioned
22 - Percentage of stolen bikes auctioned
1 - Second to cut a cable lock with wire cutters

For some solid advice on how to completely secure your bike (or at least make it not worth a thief's time) check out this useful video by Hal Ruzal, New York City's dreadlocked bicycle guru. Registering your bike's serial number with police is also well worth your time. And please, don't rely on a cable lock to defend your steed against Toronto's crooks.

* Assuming the bikes recovered in 2011 were stolen in the same year.

Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.

Image: "Bike Warning" by jer1961/blogTO Flickr pool.

Toronto born cosmetics, skin care and beauty brands are few and far between when walking the aisles of Shoppers Drug Mart or Sephora. Why should the 100-mile diet end in your stomach? Take a trip off the beaten track and you'll find Toronto is brimming with locally produced brands that are as good for your skin as they are for your wallet. Cosmetics companies, big and small, have been popping up in Toronto, taking a direct approach to making our city just a little bit more beautiful. Not to say you can't look your best au natural (I sure as hell can't be bothered to make myself up on a daily basis), but why not indulge in something local when freshening up in the AM.

Here's a look at 5 Toronto beauty brands making their way into our makeup bags.

Bite Beauty (@bitebeauty)
"Edgy, edible, innovation for lips" is the mandate Susanne Lang, founder of Bite Beauty, lives by when crafting her wide range of completely organic and edible lip colors. Makes putting on lipstick in the morning a little less daunting when there's the possibility of it doubling as an afternoon snack, no? With a wide range of bold lipsticks ($24), luscious lacquers ($24) and even naturally-plumping cinnamon tinted lip oils ($22), Bite is just as chic as it is scrumptious. Available at Sephora .

LoveFresh (@LoveFresh)
Why lather yourself with chemicals to get clean and fresh when you can treat your body to a taste of what nature gave us. LoveFresh, the brainchild of Toronto native Stacey Davis, promises "a simple moment of luxury" with every application of her wide range of products. If you've stepped in a spa (Stillwater, The Ten Spot and Lux Spa to name a few) in Toronto in the past year or so, it's likely you've had the pleasure of trying some of Davis's products which range from body oils and lotions to liquid eyeliners and eau de parfums. A personal favorite is the LoveFresh Sugar Scrub ($30) which comes in a variety of scents and scrubbing of dead skin seem ultra-glam.

Rebels Refinery (@rebelsrefinery)
Who ever said skin care was just for the gals? It certainly wasn't Eric Fallon, founder of the brand new men's skin care line Rebels Refinery. Fallon, along with three good friends, decided to start the line when they took a look at the toll their lifestyle was having on their skin and realized it was time to put down the Irish Spring. Launching a simple skin care regime in January of this year (ranging from $13-$17 each or $57 for the full kit), Rebel Refinery seeks to ease the oft hesitant "manly man" into the wonderful world of clear, clean and smooth skin. Available at 889 Yoga and Wellness Spa and Jacob and Sebastian

Province Apothecary
I first discovered Province Apothecary while perusing the goodies at the Junction Flea one weekend, hosted at The Great Hall. Founder Julie Clark began her foray into natural skin care while studying Aromatherapy and Holistic Health in 2010. Certified as a Holistic Health Practitioner, Clark also offers skin consultations and custom organic aromatherapy facials. Find all of her products available on her website (ranging from $8 for lip balm to $80 for skin serums), or visit the studio in the heart of Little Portugal.

Crawford Street Skincare
Oftentimes the best things in life are born from unfortunate situations. Such is the case with Crawford Street Skin Care, the aptly titled line of organic and natural products from Gaelyne Leslie, who launched the line of skin care after experiencing a severe allergic reaction to store-bought cosmetics. Using fair trade or organic products when possible, Leslie aims to provide her customers with a healthy glow free of chemicals, artificial dyes and fragrances. Personally, I've been holding my Mint-Vanilla Lip Balm ($5) closely all winter to keep my lips pucker ready. Available at The Big Carrot or Ecotique.

Did we miss your favourite local beauty brand? Tell us about it in the comment thread below.

Toronto food trucks continue to grow beyond their four wheeled origins. Following in the footsteps of Fidel Gastro's Matt Basile who will be opening a restaurant called Lise Marie in the old Prague European space in the coming weeks, popular food truck Gourmet Gringos will soon be opening their very own place at 1384 Bathurst near St. Clair.

Taking on the same name as the food truck, the casual fast food style restaurant will serve up the full Gourmet Gringos menu as well as some new vegan and gluten-free options including gluten-free burritos (made with corn tortillas), salads and the option to get fish in the fish taco grilled instead of deep-fried.

There will be no booze on the menu so the concept will be more "high-end Chipotle" instead of, say, La Carnita. The new restaurant will also serve as the truck's catering and prep kitchen - a much needed space as the demand for their tasty Latin street food continues to grow.

There ain't nothing Bohemian going on at the now infamous development at 1171 Queen Street West, painfully dubbed, yep, that's right, The Bohemian Embassy Flats and Lofts. Sparking rage amongst local folk when it was first proposed in 2005 and finally broke ground in 2008, the uproar surrounding the project rivalled that of the redevelopment plans for the Drake Hotel. Often pegged as further evidence of the beginning of the demise of an artist-focused West Queen West, the building, which takes up nearly a full block across from the Gladstone Hotel, was even added to our list of the five ugliest buildings in Toronto last year.

All that being said, the units themselves aren't at all that bad. This corner penthouse, sprawling across 1,600+ square feet, is smartly laid out, features 10 foot ceilings, boasts amazing views of the city and a third bedroom (office/library/hot box). There's even floor-to-ceiling bookshelves to house your ultra-intellectual "boho" collection. Coming in just under $1million, this three-bedroom, three-bath condo in the centre of Toronto's most coveted neighborhood, (as much as I hate to admit) is pretty reasonable.

SPECS

Address: 1171 Queen Street W.
Price: $920,000
Square Footage: 1,640
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 3
Storeys: One
Parking Spaces: 2
Fireplaces: No
Monthly Maintenance: $984.04
Building Amenities: Rooftop sky lounge, Rooftop BBQ areas, 24-hour concierge, fitness centre, steam room, multi-media lounge, visitor's parking

NOTABLE FEATURES

Over-sized eat-in kitchen with massive island
Wrap-around terrace with NE views of the city
Custom built-in closets and bookshelves
Wall-to-wall mirrored walk-in closet
Wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows

GOOD FOR

Perfect if you wear a beret, perfect if you don't. Perfect if you are the only employee of your own company and happen to play the bongos. Perfect if you wear vintage clothing. Even more perfect if you own a cool car but choose to take the subway. Welcome to Bohemian Embassy

MOVE ON IF

The above qualities are ones you find in the people you'd like to kick in the face.

ADDITIONAL IMAGES

If you had the dough, would buy this home? Let us know where you stand in the comments below.

Read other posts in this series via our Toronto Condos and Lofts Pinterest board.

Photo by Natasha M in the blogTO Flickr pool

Toronto events on Thursday, March 28, 2013

MUSIC | Vice Media presents Downtown Sound TO
This Thursday is Friday and before you get stuck spending a long weekend with family, go all out at Wrongbar tonight. Vice Media hosts the epic and very free Downtown Sound party with performances by up-and-comers hip hop jazz trio Bad Bad Not Good, rapper Raz Fresco and DJ Cameron Reed. Come out to party and drink, just be sure to RSVP so you're guaranteed entry.
Wrongbar (1279 Queen Street West) 9PM Free (RSVP required)

BOOKS & LIT | What I LOVE About Being QUEER
Vivek Shraya's What I LOVE About Being QUEER project is one that began as a short film with 34 queer speakers talking about what they love most about their sexual identity. Designed to send a positive message about queer identity to young people struggling with their sexuality, this project operates in the same vein as Dan Savage's "It Gets Better" campaign. In conjunction with the screening of the film at Videofag tonight, Shraya will launch the book, which features international web submissions of regular folk's statements of what they love about being queer along with essays by queer scholars. This beautifully human and equality-promoting exhibit is free and open to the public.
Videofag (187 Augusta Avenue) 7PM Free

THEATRE | RENT
The Tony Award-winning rock musical RENT returns to the Lower Ossington Theatre tonight, bringing audiences back to the '90s when AIDS was still a shadow on the collective public consciousness. Following a group of young artists in New York City's Lower East Side as they struggle to survive amidst hunger, illness and poverty, RENT is based on Giacomo Puccini's La Boheme with original music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson. RENT runs at LOT until May 5th.
The Lower Ossington Theatre (100A Ossington Avenue) 8PM $49-$60

ART | Xpace presents: March 2013 Exhibitions
Xpace Cultural Centre has settled into its new Lansdowne address, so tonight the gallery celebrates its three inaugural shows. In the Window Space is Ella Dawn McGeough's Blinded By The Light, a series of collages that use holographic and mirrored vinyl with images of snakeskin and marble. In the Main Space is .site.specific., the FADO Emerging Artist Series featuring the works of four performance artists exploring spatial practices. Laura McCoy's hows the words opens in the Project Space, an examination of how words are used in the physical space around them. The projects will remain on display until the next round of works move in and all artists will be in attendance at tonight's party, where snacks and drinks will be provided.
Xpace Cultural Centre (303 Lansdowne Avenue, Unit 2) 7PM Free

MUSIC | Social Experiment | Art Department, Clive Henry, Shaun Reeves
Techno and dance junkies celebrate the release of Social Experiment, the new CD by Art Department, a house and electronica duo who will be performing tonight at Maison Mercer. Joining Art Department is underground DJs Clive Henry and Shaun Reeves along with electronica act Nitin. Early birds are sold out with only presale and general admission tickets left.
Maison Mercer (15 Mercer Street) 10PM $30-$40

ALSO OF NOTE:

• The Jump Off Battle 2.0
• Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story
• Chasing Ice
• Rue Morgue & Unstable Ground present LITTLE TERRORS - Vol. 17 - Twisted Tales

MORE EVENTS THIS WEEK

For more Toronto event suggestions, check out these posts:

• Toronto Food Events
• This week in fashion
• This week in film
• This week in theatre
• This week in comedy
• This week in music
• Toronto concerts, March 2013

Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO Toronto events calendar or contact us directly.

Lead photo of Rent

More councillors are piling on, urging Rob Ford to seek help for his alleged alcohol abuse. Speaking with CBC's Metro Morning, coun. Joe Mihevc said he'd seen Ford acting as though he's "not fully there". On Monday, coun. Sarah Doucette seconded claims that Ford's alcohol problems are widely known at city hall.

Meanwhile, coun. Paul Ainslie - the only member of council quoted in the Star's initial story and an organizer of the military gala at the centre of the controversy - has fleshed out his story, saying he was approached by at least 8 people about Ford's behaviour during the event. In an email leaked to the paper, Ainslie described Ford as "intoxicated" and "incoherent" and claimed he asked Ford's chief of staff Mark Towhey to remove the mayor.

The wife of fallen Toronto police officer Sgt. Ryan Russell says she's "heartbroken" over the jury's decision to find Richard Kachkar, the driver of the stolen snowplow that fatally struck her husband, not criminally responsible for his actions. Russell was killed on Jan. 12 2011. Christine Russell says she'll advocate for the Not Criminally Responsible Reform Act proposed by the federal government.

The CEO of OLG thinks Ontario's gambling regulator could fail to find a willing host for its proposed GTA casino. The corporation could add more cities to its list of candidates, as it did with Vaughan, to drum up more support. 39 Ontario communities have voted to talk about hosting a gaming resort, trouble is none of them are on the Toronto region. Does this lack of support mean a casino is doomed to fail?

Two men have been shot after an altercation outside a King Street West nightclub. One man was shot in the head, according to the CBC, near Portland Street around 2:30 am. So far no arrests have been made. Part of the intersection was sealed off and streetcars are diverting via Queen Street.

The TTC says there was no avoiding the higher-than-expected cost of installing a track connection to its new Leslie Barns facility in Leslieville. Weak sewers beneath the road need to be replaced and the Commisssion has decided to co-ordinate work with the City. The total cost is now expected to be around $105 million. The TTC originally budgeted $14 million.

A spectacular fire tore through a Kensington Market apartment yesterday afternoon, requiring the attention of 40 firefighters. The blaze at 34 St. Andrew St., a fruit shop with upstairs apartment next door to Moonbean Café, broke out around 12:20. Firefighters had to punch a hole in the roof to extinguish the flames. A gas leak was ruled out and there were no injuries.

IN BRIEF:

• Sunshine List shows 40 per cent of police employees earned $100,000-plus in 2012 [Toronto Star]
• Pedestrian killed by GO train on Stouffville line [Toronto Star]
• Convicted Maple Leaf Gardens abuser faces new charges [CBC]

Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.

Image: jamesbf/blogTO Flickr pool.

This Week in Film rounds up noteworthy new releases in theatres, rep cinema and avant-garde screenings, festivals, and other special cinema-related events happening in Toronto.

NEW RELEASES

Spring Breakers (Cineplex Yonge & Dundas)

The first two weeks of its American release have indicated what those of us who saw Harmony Korine's latest at TIFF last year suspected: most mainstream viewers are leaving the film feeling as those they've just been punk'd. Which isn't so surprising, really, as this is in many ways the same film as his previous provocation, Trash Humpers. Unlike Humpers, though, which was intentionally hideous, grating, and lo-fi, Spring Breakers has a surface as euphoric and gorgeous as anything movie theatres have seen since Michael Mann's Miami Vice, the visual palette drenched in an HD neon glow. Repetitive and blunt, this is as much as avant-garde work as it is a dip in the vernacular of MTV reality shows.

The central trio of former Disney girls form a Feuilladian gang of misfits who cheat, steal, and kill in order to attain their aspired state of permanent orgasm and bling. There's also James Franco, whose self-deprecating performance pretty much steals the show as a Riff Raff-esque character named Alien, who is by all turns embarrassing, riotous, and strangely poignant. More than anything, though, the film works because of Korine's ability to convey - emotionally when not literally - his general (albeit unsubtle) sentiment that Generation X is a defiled lot of violence and pop-obsessed hedonists. Finger-wagging aside, he also clearly loves these people, and sympathizes with their aspirations even as he shows how awful it is.

Beyond the Hills (TIFF Bell Lightbox)

Lover or not of 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days, Cristian Mungiu's sophomore film will likely clean the mat with you. Beyond the HIlls details an intense and tragic rejection of compromise between three parties: two girls, who appear to be lovers, and a Catholic Orthodox "papa." Basically, one of the girls, Alina, travels to a monastery to retrieve her (girl)friend, Voichita, who is stuck between her repressed love for Alina and her not-very-repressed love for The Almighty. The second half of the film in particular is just crescendo after crescendo of pure emotion that glides in direct parallel to the film's deliberate, visceral sense of inertia. Each individual's ideologies never budge, forcing the body to succumb. Far more of a 'roller coaster ride' than most Hollywood blockbusters.

Also opening in theatres this week:

• Birth Story: Ina May Gaskin and The Farm Midwives (Bloor Hot Docs Cinema)
• Emperor (Varsity)
• G.I. Joe: Retaliation (Carlton, Rainbow Market Sq., Scotiabank)
• Ginger and Rosa (Varsity)
• A Good Death (Cineplex Yonge & Dundas)
• Himmatwala (Cineplex Yonge & Dundas)
• The Host (Carlton, Rainbow Market Sq., Cineplex Yonge & Dundas)
• Mad Ship (Varsity)
• The Resurrection of Tony Gitone (The Royal)
• Tyler Perry's Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor (Scotiabank)

REP CINEMA

Wake in Fright [1971] and Miami Connection [1987] (opening March 29 at TIFF Bell Lightbox)

I'm not sure why these two films are having brief theatrical runs through North American theatres right now, but they're now arriving in Toronto courtesy of FilmsWeLike and you won't hear any complaining on my end, what with Ted Kotcheff's Wake in Fright being some kind of savage masterpiece (Miami Connection, not so much). Both films are very much products of their times (the 70's and 80's, respectively), and, despite Wake in fright sounding like a horror picture - it kind of is, but more in a Deliverance kind of way - they are correspondingly programmed to one showtime per day in their appropriate time slots (at 7PM and 9:30PM, also respectively).

More rep cinema this week:

• Flowing (Friday, March 29 at 6:30PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• Odd Obsession (Saturday, March 30 at 1PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• The Man Who Stole the Sun (Saturday, March 30 at 3:45PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• Late Autumn (Saturday, March 30 at 7PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• The Big Lebowski (Saturday, March 30 at 9:30PM; Bloor Hot Docs Cinema)
• Stray Cat Rock: Sex Hunter (Saturday, March 30 at 10PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• Farewell to the Land (Sunday, March 31 at 1PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• Mother (Sunday, March 31 at 5PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• Carmen Jones (Tuesday, April 2 at 6:30PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• Preparation for the Festival (Tuesday, April 2 at 9PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• Food on Film: David Chang on Eat Drink Man Woman (Wednesday, April 3 at 6:30PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)

SPECIAL SCREENINGS

Hot Docs 20 (March 24 - April 23; Bloor Hot Docs Cinema)

To celebrate their 20th Anniversary, Hot Docs are screening a collection of some of their best (okay...most well-known) documentaries from the past 20 years of programming, from audience favourites to awardees. For this little retrospective, which leads up to the festival at the end of April, they've chosen 19 films to screen in March and April, with festival fans and audience members being allowed to choose the 20th via a vote (there are only a handful to choose from). The final crowd-sourced film will screen Wednesday, April 24 at 6:30PM. For Torontonians who've supported Hot Docs over their two-decade rise to the summit of North American documentary venues, this ought to be quite the ride down memory lane.

Screening this week in Hot Docs 20:

• Kanehsatake: 270 Years Of Resistance (Friday, March 29 at 3PM)
• Grass (Friday, March 29 at 9PM)
• The English Surgeon (Saturday, March 30 at 3PM)
• Thunder Soul (Sunday, March 31 at 3:30PM)
• Street Fight (Sunday, March 31 at 8:30PM)
• Let It Come Down: The Life Of Paul Bowles (Monday, April 1 at 6:30PM)
• Waste Land (Tuesday, April 2 at 9:30PM)

FESTIVALS

Toronto Silent Film Festival (April 4-9)

Two years ago, The Artist recaptured the magic of silent cinema for mainstream audiences, and Blancanieves continued the rally with it's well-received bow at TIFF last September. Meanwhile, The Toronto Silent Film Festival allows for a moment - six days, to be exact - of the real thing; it's one of the city's most essential events, bringing us super rare and importance films that go right to the heart of the medium.

Featuring work by Carl Theodor Dreyer, King Vidor, Yasujiro Ozu, Buster Keaton, Sam Taylor, and more, it's a case of 'brilliant brevity' that the festival is less than a week, because everything here is unmissable. With the screenings sprawled out from The Revue to The Fox, from Innis Town Hall up to the gothic Casa Loma where the Mary Pickford vehicle My Best Girl (one of the first, and best, romantic comedies ever made) will be accompanied by a score performed on Toronto's largest theatre organ, TSFF touches all of the bases to ensure that as many cinephiles as possible have a nearby screening. Most of the films will be screened from 16mm prints with live piano accompaniment. Check the website for specific times, locations, and ticket prices, which range from $12 to 20.

CONTEST

The Place Beyond the Pines was the hottest ticket at TIFF 2012 so we're excited to announce that we've teamed up with eOne Films to give you a chance to be at an exclusive advance screening of the film for blogTO readers only! This riveting new movie from the director of Blue Valentine is a sweeping emotional drama, powerfully exploring the unbreakable bond between fathers and sons.

View all the contest details here for a chance to win passes to the screening as well as prizes courtesy of TIFF, the Trump Toronto and STOCK Restaurant.

Lead still from Spring Breakers.

Hard as it might be to believe, Toronto has come late to coffee culture, though you'd never be able to tell in a city where coffee chains are often mere blocks apart and an indie coffee shop or three is the mark of a hot neighbourhood. What's a decade old here is centuries old in places like Italy or Spain or Turkey, home of the thick, sweet coffee that was the inspiration for one Toronto cafe's twist on a latte.

CONCEPT
Traditional Turkish coffee is brewed in a pot on a stovetop, with coffee beans ground to a powder that sinks to the bottom of your cup. It's a sharp bean, so sugar is added in the brewing - a complicated ritual that involves a couple of boils and a sequence of taps and swirls that drinkers will argue about endlessly.

Peter Adamo of Sense Appeal, the cafe and roaster in Spadina's Fashion district, wanted a Turkish coffee on his shop's menu but didn't want to go through the time and trouble of brewing in pots or serving coffee with a sediment that would be a tough sell in almost any market. He came up with a simple but evocative way of putting a Turkish spin on a latte that involves sugar and spice and milk.

SCORE: 8/10

EXECUTION
Sense Appeal barista Fiorildo Tenace walks me through the prep of the Turkish latte, which begins with cane sugar and a mix of cardamom and cinnamon spooned into the bottom of a cup. Tenace says they use their best espresso bean for the drink - a Brazilian bean that doesn't have the floral overtones that would be lost in the drink.

It's a straightforward latte after the sugar and spice - a pull of espresso in the bottom of the cup and steamed and frothed milk on top, dusted with cinnamon and served as you'd expect.

SCORE: 7/10

VALUE
Sense Appeal's Turkish latte has a nice spicy finish all the way through - a mix of Indian food and Christmas that comes through both in the aroma and taste. It's a drink in the spirit if not the letter of its Anatolian inspiration, and at $4.05 makes a nice change from the regular latte if you're in the mood for something with just a dash of the exotic.

SCORE: 7/10

TOTAL SCORE: 22/30

Thanks to the New Listerine UltraClean for sponsoring our coffee-fueled adventures.

See all posts in this series via our Toronto Coffee Drinks Challenge Pinterest board

Have a suggestion for a unique coffee drink that should be part of this challenge? Send your tips to editors [at] blogto [dotcom]

Easter Brunch in Toronto is a great excuse to get together with friends and family for an elevated brunch experience. You know, something more than the standard bacon and eggs or the like. On this holiday, the idea is to take things slow, eat a bit more than usual and linger at the table after the meal. Secular or religious, it's a pretty good way to spend a day, especially if you add a few beverages to the mix.

Here's a selection of restaurants pulling out all the stops for Easter Brunch 2013.

Top Picks

Globe Bistro
Offering a $29 three course prix fixe menu highlighted by French toast and bone-in Berkshire ham, Globe's Easter brunch is available on Friday and Sunday. Reserve early as it's typically one of the busier spots this holiday.

Cafe Boulud
Almost all the major hotels do up something special for Easter brunch, but this year it might be particularly interesting to see what all the fuss is about when it comes to superstar chef Daniel Boulud's new space in the Four Seasons. Come for the decadent-sounding three course prix fixe menu ($65), stay for the Mr. Brainwash paintings.

Le Select
It ain't Paris, but brunch at Le Select feels just a bit like it, and that could make for a relaxing way to spend Easter Friday or Sunday. With a special three course prix menu ($35) and one of the city's best wine cellars, the idea is to settle in for the afternoon.

Le Papillon on the Park
Situated right beside Jonathan Ashbridge Park, Le Papillon on the Park is probably the ideal setting for an Easter brunch. The old building is quaint and the atmosphere begs for lingering at the table and/or making multiple trips to the buffet. At $29 per person, the brunch buffet is a steal. Highlights include honey glazed ham, coq au vin, steamed mussels and breakfast sausage.

Cafe Belong
I can think of worse ways to spend Easter then heading down to the Brick Works, stuffing my face with eggs Benedict and a Bloody Mary or two, and then hiking around the grounds in some half-assed effort to burn a few calories. Cafe Belong is open for brunch on Saturday, Sunday and Monday — full menu here.

Other options

• Toca at the Ritz Carlton (menu)
• Frank at the AGO (menu)
• Casa Loma (menu)
• Victoria's at the King Edward Hotel (menu)
• Earth - Bloor West&Rosedale (menu)

Want to add a spring in your step? Well, Kangoo lets you do just that. The crazy shoes are elevated about 10 cm off the ground and has bendable plastic that allows you to get more oomph in each step.

Dorina Rigo first saw them in Hungary where almost every gym offers Kangoo classes. "Right away, I knew we needed it in Canada," said Rigo, owner and founder of Kangoo club Canada.

The shoes reminded me of ski boots on drugs.

As soon as I buckled in, I realized they were easy to walk (and hop) in. Surprisingly, it was hard to simply stand still due to the balancing scheme; a sly way of forcing you to keep moving.

The session began and instructor Alejandra Layva had everyone jumping, dancing and spinning. According to Rigo, one Kangoo session burns 25% more calories than the average one-hour workout class. I believe it.

The classes take place at The Yonge Street Fitness Club at 7 Isabella Street.

In a few weeks Rigo will start offering boot camp classes outside in Toronto parks. She even plans to offer group runs down Yonge Street.

The Kangoo craze may be new to Toronto but Rigo said the shoes are popular worldwide -- especially in Brazil, Argentina and of course, Hungary.

"I love the energy in the room," she said. "As soon as people start jumping, they get a huge smile on their face because it brings back childhood memories."

If you have the urge to jump in, Rigo offers your first Kangoo class for free.

Photos by Jessica Goebell

Monday night at the Distillery District's Fermenting Cellar, put the best of Toronto's bartenders against each other in the Toronto final for Made With Love, the annual cocktail competition.

With a directive to create signature cocktails inspired by Toronto and some of its most popular neighbourhoods (Cabbagetown, Chinatown, College Street, High Park, and Liberty Village), bartenders were up for awards for both Public's Choice (from a throng of around 600 people), and that of the panel of judges. This year's panel included Kevin Brauch, of Food Network fame; Matt Jones, Ambassador for Maker's Mark Bourbon; Dave Mitton of The Harbord Room; and Priya Shah of Campari America.

16 bartenders had made it through the qualifying heat to Monday's final, with drinks showing off a wide range of styles and techniques.

The strangest drink of the night was a tough call between Adrian Stein's (Mistura/Sopra) bizarre pizza-in-a-glass concept, and Simon Hooper's (Nyood) dual sorbet drink in an ice-cream cone. Both were ambitious, but after being left with a burnt tongue from the nitrogen-dipped latter concoction, I felt better served by drinks that didn't resemble food.

Smoke featured heavily in the drinks, perhaps a nod to the nickname out-of-towners have christened the city with. Aaron Beaudoin's (Goods & Provisions) Pineapple Express, with tequila and smoked pineapple juice combining with vanilla hemp bitters, yuzu juice, and agave nectar, was heavy on the smoke, but otherwise a bright and fruity creation.

Veronica Saye (Harbord Room) also smoked juice. In her case, tequila was mixed with smoked lemon juice, Cherry Heering, and a cola/chili syrup (made by reducing cola down with chili flakes). Named the Heather Jean, it reminded me of a Cherry Coke, but with a well-balanced hint of smoke.

Japhet Bower (Soho House) surprised me with the Varanasi Sunrise. An unlikely grouping of bourbon, brown butter syrup, black pepper-infused lemon juice, carrot juice, and fresh sage came together as a beautiful, earthy, sour.

In contrast to the pleasant surprises at some of the levels of invention, I was a little astonished to see a fairly pedestrian mix of Campari, grapefruit juice, and grenadine (Neil Ramrattan's Penelope Cruz) being served up alongside cocktails that involved some serious thinking. However, once the crowds built, and the pressure to sling out drinks in the hundreds mounted, it was clear that he'd guaranteed himself a fairly easy night, in contrast to some of the teams that had to work at frantic levels to keep up with the demands of their complicated creations.

A clear example of this was Atsushi Suzuki's (Kanji) Mr. Redbean: a dizzying array of Canadian Club, Azuki redbean paste, Amaro Meletti, Ximenez Sherry, Teapot Bitters, Kinako, and Sesame Powder. With every drink being made to order, Atsushi and his team were pushed to their limits. The rewards, however, were obvious. A balance of sweet and savoury with a hint of bitterness. I was really impressed with this one.

My favourite of the evening, however, was Robin Kaufman's (Toronto Temperance Society) Apples to Ashes. With Appleton rum, cedar-infused rye, cedar-smoked apple syrup, Campari, and Unicum stirred and served on the rocks, Robin walked away with both Public and Judge's choices. The prize for each was a three-day, all expenses paid trip to Cancun to compete in the Made With Love Mexico Tour in August 2013. Given that he won both, I hope he gets a six-day stay instead...

Apples to Ashes

1.5oz Appleton rum
0.5oz cedar infused rye
0.5oz cedar smoked apple smoked apple syrup
0.25oz of Campari
0.250z Unicum
2 dashes of Angustura bitters
combine ingredients and stir, serve over ice
finish off with a Unicum spritz and a rosemary spring garnish

Additional Photos

Photos by Jesse Milns

Toronto Restaurant Openings highlights the latest restaurant openings and closings in Toronto and also gives a preview at some of the places coming soon. Find us here every Thursday morning.

OPEN NOW

• Côte de Boeuf is now open at 130 Ossington Avenue. The new butcher shop from the team behind nearby restaurant, Union offers a selection of meats from independent suppliers, prepared foods and pantry items.
• Deli Downstairs is now open at 167 Bathurst Street, the former site to the Burger Press. The new no-frills take out counter offers coffee, soups, salads and sandwiches.

COMING SOON

• Recently shuttered Centro will morph into casual Italian eatery, Vita Sociale set to open mid April at 2472 Yonge Street.
• Playa Cabana is slated to open a third location mere months after launching the still new Junction outpost. The new restaurant at 14 Dupont will go by Playa Cabana Hacienda and is hoping to open in May.
• New to Toronto's roster of food trucks, Nazca is set to hit the streets this spring with a modern Peruvian menu featuring ceviches and tiraditos (raw seafood preparations).
• The Candy Bar is set to open at 845 College Street the first week of April. The retail shop plans to offer chocolate bars from around the world as well as pick n' mix bulk selections.
• Petite & Sweet is soon to open a second location at 718 Queen Street East, the former address of LPK's Culinary Groove.
• The White Squrriel Coffee Shop is slated to expand with a new snack shop and breakfast/lunch kitchen at 507 Queen West (formerly Peach Bezerk).
• Ganzi Toronto announced it's long delayed opening at 504 Jarvis Street is now slated for April.

CLOSING

• As reported earlier this week, The Avro is shutting its doors at 750 Queen Street East after a three year run. The last, last call takes place April 26th.
• Ghazale at 661 College Street is papered shut suggesting that it's seen its last days in Little Italy.

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

More than two years after it shuttered its unpopular and largely despised Transit Stuff store at Union Station, the TTC is once again making a tentative foray into the potentially lucrative world of merchandise.

Two posters, one showing the original 1950s Eglinton-Union subway map and the other a scaled-up "transit goes where the action is" advertisement from 1966, are now on sale for a reasonable $15 (inc. tax) from the Commission's customer service centre at Davisville Station.

Copies of the subway map, the same one used inside trains, are still available for $10.

TTC spokesman Brad Ross says the new posters represent a slow exploration of new retail possibilities that could lead to a range of improved products and, maybe, an online store. Poorly designed t-shirts and other booty (which is still available from the manufacturer) was one of the main criticisms of the Transit Stuff store.

The posters target the "transit enthusiast," and the TTC is betting people will be willing to make the trip to its headquarters to snag a print.

Will you buy one of these posters? What else could the TTC sell? Could a attractive line of well-priced products be a money-maker? Tell us below.

For more vintage transit love, check out our TTC etiquette guide and this set of Christmas messages.

Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.

Images: TTC

The luxury condos at 181 Davenport Road not only come with an army of staff to take care of your every need — they also promise imminent serenity and an existence of perpetual zen bliss, all in the heart of Yorkville. Just watch this video and see for yourself. "Come into the neighbourhood where life as you want to live it now finds its perfect place...live in a place of ancient trees. The nexus of all the best of Toronto." Invite accepted! For Yorkville features khakied bums, waterfalls, and RAYBANS.

SPECS

Address: 181 Davenport Road
Floors: 12
Total number of units: 110
Elevators: Yes
Types of units: One bedroom, one bedroom plus den, two bedroom, two bedroom plus den,three bedroom, three bedroom plus den.
Unit sizes (in square feet): 624 to 7,400
Ceiling heights: 9' to 10'
Prices from (available units): $400,000
Maintenance fees: $0.63
Developer: Mizrahi Developments
Amenities/building features: Fitness centre, patio, valet parking, theatre room, party room with kitchen facilities, concierge, guest suite

THE GOOD

You'll feel like a bona fide gladiator romping around this coliseum-shaped property. It operates like a hotel. You don't have to park your own car, open your own doors, or really, be autonomous in any way! And you're just a stone's throw from Tiffany & Co. should a diamonds emergency arise.

The building also has a panoramic view of the city. The developers claim the balconies will be "similar to what you might find in a Parisian hotel," and that they will be ideal for enjoying a "morning coffee and croissant." Or, you know, showering the city with cash money from your $8 million penthouse.

THE BAD

Personality-wise, this neighbourhood is in need of a lobotomy — or has it already had one? OK, maybe that's not fair. Let me reword. Perhaps it'd be better to say that despite the central location, the demographic make-up of the neighbourhood is rather homogenous and this lacking vibrancy. Luxury is on offer, of course, but there's got to be...

And despite its otherwise light-friendly design, some suites have washrooms sans windows, which can be gloomy, especially considering the price point.

THE VERDICT

Living in a hotel-esque building with an unobstructed view of the city almost trumps my issues with the neighbourhood. The design of this place is insanely gorgeous. If you're a status type, this could be a very attractive destination.

What do you think? Would you live here? Add your comments to the thread below.

Read other posts in this series via our Toronto Condos and Lofts Pinterest board

Roncesvalles isn't exactly a hotbed for late night eats or, come to think of it, burger joints. So this new addition to the street is looking to do duble duty for the neighbourhood. With locally sourced beef (a good call when you're setting up shop on Roncy!) c/o Sanagan's Meat locker and many other house-made offerings, this place just might fill what's been a pretty substantial gap on the strip.

Read my review of The Rude Boy in the restaurants section.