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The top 45 concerts in Toronto this Fall

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Concerts in Toronto this fall range from local heroes like Daniel Caesar, Feist and Arcade Fire to massive names like Jay-Z, Katy Perry and Marilyn Manson. The fall music season this year does not disappoint, just don't forget those ear plugs.

Events you might want to check out:

Feist (September 24 @ Massey Hall)
Feist released a very subdued, but beautiful record this year. To hear it live in this venue will be nothing but a pleasure.
Metz (September 29-30 @ Lee's Palace)
Meetz plays two-very loud nights at this perfectly grimy live music spot.
The Kooks (October 2 @ The Danforth Music Hall)
The high energy rockers make a big return to the stage, and they just released a greatest hits record, so you're guaranteed to know all the words if you're a fan.
Thievery Corporation (October 3 @ REBEL)
The legendary electronic ensemble are getting rave reviews for their latest tour. They pretty much invented music to chill to.
Music of John Williams (October 3 @ Roy Thomson Hall)
The TSO celebrates the incredible catalogue of one of the most-honoured film composers of all time. Enjoy all your fave themes, including the Star Wars, E.T., Jaws, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jurassic Park, Schindlers List, and more.
Harry Styles world tour (October 4 @ Massey Hall)
The latest member of One Direction to go solo hits the road on a world tour, including this single, intimate stop in Toronto. 
Halsey (October 4 @ Air Canada Centre)
The pop sensation just dropped her latest album and stops in on Toronto. She'll be singing a lot more than that "Closer" song with the Chainsmokers, that's for sure.
Hanson (October 4 @ The Danforth Music Hall)
MmmmmmBop! One of the most adorable pop-brother-trio's of all time is celebrating their 25th anniversary with the Middle of Everywhere Tour.
Marilyn Manson (October 5 @ REBEL)
The king of doom, gloom, creepiness and goth rock is touring his latest record and pissing off Bieber fans wherever he goes.
Future Islands (October 6 @ Massey Hall & Roy Thomson Hall)
A night of dream-pop from the Baltimore electronic indie rockers.
Yelle (October 7 @ Adelaide Hall)
One of France's best exports since baguettes, it's Yelle! The pop thing is doing a fun club tour get to get intimate and dance-y with her fans.
Azealia Banks (October 8 @ The Opera House)
The New York "212" house diva lands in Toronto for a high energy night of dance music, vocals and attitude. 
Deadmau5 (October 8 @ Enercare Centre)
A huge EDM show to help you get ready for winter. Big lights, sounds, and a mouse head - all courtesy of the Lots of Shows in a Row: Pt. 2 tour.
Nicolas Jaar (October 11 @ Massey Hall & Roy Thomson Hall)
The legendary Chilean-American composer is respected around the globe for his soothing, woozy sounds, mixes and albums. Don't miss your chance to see him live.
Paramore (October 13 @ Massey Hall)
A night of massive pop songs infused with guitar, emotion, grit and sugary appeal unlike any band since No Doubt.
Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets (October 13 @ Sony Centre for the Performing Arts)
Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets In Concert with the TSO. Watch the movie live along with the band.
Enrique Iglesias & Pitbull Live! (October 15 @ Air Canada Centre)
These two buggers re-scheduled this show from earlier this summer, but it doesn't really matter because it's only going to feel like summer while you're dancing to all the hits at this big show.
Kesha (October 16 @ REBEL)
Kesha has had a very big year. The comeback of the year, maybe? She's got enough pop hits and new emotional songs to keep you dancing 'till the lights come on.
The Psychedelic Furs (October 16 @ The Danforth Music Hall)
The legendary English rock band have new material and plenty of back catalogue to present a memorable evening of music to their Toronto fans.
Foster The People (October 19 @ REBEL)
The California rockers who gave us "Pumped Up Kicks" have a new record and people are liking it. You might need to hear a lot of it until they play your favourite song towards the end.
Fall Out Boy (October 25 @ Air Canada Centre)
Yup, they're still around, people still love them, they've still got hits and enough energy to put together a new tour. Fans won't want to miss the M A N I A Tour.
Guns N' Roses (October 29 @ Air Canada Centre)
The North American leg of their massive Not In This Lifetime reunion tour will cover all your favourite hits and misses.
Tori Amos (October 30 @ Massey Hall)
The red headed queen of piano and poetry returns to Toronto on her Native Invader Tour to play songs from her latest record.
Katy Perry (October 31 @ ACC)
Katy Perry shows off her new album, hits and looks during the Witness World Tour. 
Janet Jackson (November 2 @ Air Canada Centre)
Janet had to take a break during her tour a couple years back to have a kid and divorce her husband. Now happier, in shape and richer than ever, she's touring all the hits on her State of the World Tour.
Arcade Fire (November 3 @ Air Canada Centre)
Did you get the memo about the dress code? Check the internet and see what's up. You'll be refused entry if you're dressed like an a-hole at the Infinite Content tour.
Syd (November 9 @ The Phoenix Concert Theatre)
Part of The Internet, Syd struck out on her own this year with amazing results. This show will be one for the books.
Timber Timbre (November 9 @ The Danforth Music Hall)
The Prince of Toronto gloom, darkness, and cemetery soundtracks made a move to a slightly more optimistic and electronic sound with his latest record. Don't miss this show.
Galantis (November 16 @ REBEL)
Giant screens, lasers, fire and two British electronic producers jumping around the stage with flags and club hits, is what you'll get with this show.
Crystal Castles (November 17 @ Danforth Music Hall)
Alice Glass is out, but Edith Frances is in and Crystal Castles continue their noise-y electronic explorations. 
Wannabe Spice Girls Tribute (November 17 @ The Phoenix Concert Theatre)
Toronto's very own Spice Girls tribute band not only play all the Spice hits, but all kinds of 90s pop gems with their live band.
Mura Masa (November 18 @ Danforth Music Hall)
Best known for his song "Lovesick," which reached number one on the Spotify Viral charts, this is one up and coming electronic man you do not want to miss seeing while you can.
Cut Copy (November 21 @ The Phoenix Concert Theatre)
Did you know Cut Copy came out with a record this year? It's true. There are no big hits yet, but these Aussies always put on a most excellent show.
Dua Lipa (November 22 @ REBEL)
One of the most interesting pop things to release music this year, Dua Lipa's "New Rules" is all over the radio and the internet right now. This will be a great night of pop.
Jay-Z (November 22 @ Air Canada Centre)
The 4:44 Tour will be a testament to the album of the same name released this year, and a guaranteed night hip hop entertainment.
Liam Gallagher Toronto (November 23 @ Rebel)
The Oasis man brother gone solo hits Toronto on his world tour. 
Grizzly Bear (November 27 @ Massey Hall)
Warm, fuzzy, furry indie rock from Brooklyn makes its way to Toronto for a night of favourites and new material from their brand new record.
Death From Above (December 2 @ The Phoenix Concert Theatre)
The boys of rock and electro make a grand return... with their new friend called techno to help push the dance party to intense new levels.
LCD Soundsystem (December 3 @ Air Canada Centre)
LCD Soundsystem's new album has been getting rave reviews, and now they're touring it with a giant rock and dance concert. Expect lots of sound and lights and hits.
Evanescence (December 8 @ Sony Centre for the Performing Arts)
One of the most emotional, pop-goth, over-the-top rock bands of our time are touring again.
The National (December 9 @ Sony Centre for the Performing Arts)
The American indie-rockers recently released their 7th studio album and are on this intimate tour in support of it.
Barenaked Ladies (December 9 @ Massey Hall)
If you had a million dollars, would you buy tickets for all your friends with bottle service to see the great return of the BNL? Good news! You don't have to pay THAT much.
Alvvays (December 13 @ Mod Club Theatre)
The much-loved Toronto indie-pop group does a four-night residency on the west side to make sure all their local friends and fans get a chance to hear their new stuff.
Daniel Caesar (December 16 @ The Danforth Music Hall)
Snoh Aalegra opens for one of the most buzzed-about artists in Toronto this year. This is the first of three sold-out shows, so good luck to you!
Serena Ryder (December 21 @ The Danforth Music Hall)
The stompa Canadian diva has had quite a year, and she caps it all with a final show in the city.

The top 10 Toronto food trends from summer 2017

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Toronto food trends this summer were cute, colourful, bizarre, and tasty. All cheese everything and all black everything dominated foodie Instagram posts. Unexpectedly healthy or wildly indulgent, these are the summer food trends that by turns enraged and delighted the city.

Here are my candidates for the top Toronto food trends this summer.

Charcoal

Perhaps the most controversial trend of the season, iHalo Krunch used charred coconut husk to flavour soft serve and cones, Jimmy’s Coffee introduced charcoal coffee like CutiePie Cupcakes who also dip ice cream cones in charcoal, and Death in Venice collabed with Kraken rum for their Summer Skream gelato.

Icha tea toronto

Creamy cheese foam at Icha Tea. Photo by Hector Vasquez.

Cheese foam

Tea shops Latea Era and Icha Tea opened up this summer in Scarborough and Chinatown respectively, selling many kinds of Asian tea with options with thick, creamy cheese foam on top. Matcha Tea & Dessert, also in Chinatown, introduced their cheese foam teas earlier in the year.

cookie dough toronto

Cookie dough in an ice cream cone at Junked Food Co. Photo by Hector Vasquez.

Cookie dough

Junked opened a new Queen St. location in the spring, just in time to hit the peak of this summer’s cookie dough trend, selling scoops in flavours like Golden Oreo and birthday cake garnished with Sweet Tarts. Cookie dough pop-up Dough T.O. sold their girly and Instagrammable vegan chocolate scoops with shots of milk.

shanee toronto

Thirsty yet? This is a butterfly pea flower cocktail at Shanee. Photo by Jesse Milns.

Butterfly pea flower

This vibrant ingredient has been sneaking its way into a ton of Thai dishes in new restaurants around Toronto, easily identified by its bright purple colour. Kiin, Si Lom and Shanee all incorporate it into drinks, the latter also using it to uniquely colour crispy rice balls.

planta toronto

Beet juice cocktails at Planta — healthy and fun. Photo by Jesse Milns.

Beet juice cocktails

Also known for its radiant colour, beet juice not only tastes great but is also good for you. For this reason it’s become a choice mix in cocktails at plant-based restaurants like Planta and District Eatery that are bending the rules about what eating vegetarian means.

si lom toronto

A giant slushie at Si Lom. Photo by Hector Vasquez.

Super sized drinks

Why order one drink when you could have six at once? Si Lom is serving boozy slushie buckets garnished with gummy bears or upside down beers and District Eatery has a 94-ounce Moscow Mule that will keep you from waving the bartender down all night.

planta burger

Almost as indulgent as the real thing, Planta Burger's vegan offering. Photo by Hector Vasquez.

Vegan cheat eats

Forget veggie juice cocktails, go all the way with your vegan indulgences and have a plant-based burger or donut. Planta Burger just opened up on Temperance St., serving remarkably convincing burgers and fish sandwiches, and Sweet Hart Kitchen does hazelnut vegan donuts and indulgent treats like Snickers cake and truffles.

nextdoor markham

Okonomoyaki at NextDoor. Photo by Hector Vasquez.

Japanese fusion brunch

Isabella’s Boutique Restaurant in the Beaches and NextDoor in Markham are both doing brunch influenced by Japanese cuisine. The former serves fluffy mochi mochi pancakes in flavours like mixed berry or Nutella, and the latter does pancakes topped with bonito, nori, kewpie mayo, and poached eggs.

fix ice cream toronto

Camp fire ice cream at the Fix. Photo by Hector Vasquez.

Burnt marshmallow

Nothing says summer more than roasted marshmallows, and Toronto’s ice cream purveyors latched onto that. The Fix does a campfire burnt marshmallow ice cream combo also rimmed and garnished with burnt marshmallow, and Baked on Brock filled Hong Kong waffles with marshmallow ice cream. 

pablo cheese tart

A cheese tart worth lining up for. Pablo arrived in Toronto this summer. Photo by Hector Vasquez.

Cheese pastries

Guschlbauer opened its first Toronto location on Yonge this summer selling their insanely puffy quarter cream cheese buns in mango, strawberry, ube and chocolate. Pablo did the same, retailing their famous super-gelid cheese tarts in classic matcha, chocolate and original flavours, stamped with their crisp logo Uncle Tetsu-style.

East Chinatown is Toronto’s next hot neighbourhood

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There’s a small stretch of Gerrard Street East that is home to perhaps the most diverse group of storefronts. Some are closed down, boarded up, and for sale, while others are successful businesses selling everything from ethically-sourced chocolate to Vietnamese produce to premium cheese. 

This section of Gerrard is home to East Chinatown, a neighbourhood that is seeing explosive growth and revitalization. While many Toronto citizens are familiar with so-called “regular” Chinatown, located along Spadina, many are unaware of this small but thriving community sandwiched between Riverdale and Riverside. 

The neighbourhood has seen many changes over the past few decades. It has gone from being the home of those moving away from rising rent prices in Spadina’s Chinatown, to a downturned, somewhat-abandoned street, and back into an up-and-coming new destination for those seeking something new. 

One familiar Toronto restaurant will soon be a new face to the East Chinatown community. Lady Marmalade, which has called Leslieville home for a few years is now moving to the area

good cheese toronto

Good Cheese is not only a cheese store but thanks to a liquor license also serves wine and drinks. Photo courtesy Good Cheese.

Megan Leahy is part of Lady Marmalade. She says that rent is much cheaper in East Chinatown, but the decision is a smart one for many reasons.

“East Chinatown is uniquely alive," she says, "It has so much potential. It's always fun to be a part of an evolving community." 

She notes that Leslieville is still nearby, so Lady Marmalade will still be part of the same community, but that the new location was “the perfect new home.” 

Luke Champion and Adrian Zgeb recently opened Good Cheese, a small establishment that sells premium cheese and other products. They also just received their liquor license and construct wine pairings for their products. 

“Now is the time for the East side,” Champion says, “the entire area has dramatically changed over the last few years.”

Zgeb and Champion say they were fearful that the community might not embrace a business that doesn’t quite fit in the traditional Asian community, especially since cheese is not a typical choice for many Chinese people who live in the area. 

“People around here have been really happy to see something new,” Zgeb says, “we’ve been very well-received.” 

paint cabin toronto

Paint Cabin opened in East Chinatown in 2015. They do painting classes but also serve food and drinks. Photo by Hector Vasquez.

Champion says people are excited to see “new life being breathed into the neighbourhood.” 

Andrea Mut agrees. She is the owner and founder of Andrea’s Gerrard Street Bakery, which opened in East Chinatown around five years ago. She was one of the first non-traditional businesses to open in the area. 

“I had lived in the area for a while, and there was nowhere to get a cup of coffee,” Mut says, when considering whether she wanted to open a bakery. 

“There was stigma around this neighbourhood, and people thought it was funny that we were considering it for the bakery.” 

However, Mut says she had fallen in love with the space, and opened her bakery to a flood of success from the neighbourhood. 

“The ‘localness’ of the neighbourhood is part of the appeal. It’s a real community of people,” she says fondly. “People have started clueing in that it’s a really nice, and really fun neighbourhood.”

Wongs ice cream

Wong's Ice cream is East Chinatown's first ice cream parlour. They've been a hit for their unique Asian flavours. Photo by Hector Vasquez.

A few doors down from Andrea’s Bakery is Wong’s Ice Cream. The small but very cozy ice creamery has been viral on Instagram over the past few months for its black sesame and salted duck egg ice cream. 

Owner Ed Wong is ecstatic that his shop has been so well-received by the neighbourhood. Part of his success, he says, is from the traditional Asian flavours he uses in his treats. 

Wong laughs, “I wanted to open my place in a sleepy neighbourhood, but it’s becoming quite the destination!”

He says he worried that people may not support him, Good Cheese, or Andrea’s Bakery out of fear of gentrification, but he has seen people saying the opposite now. They’re excited, he says, to have new places helping to make the community the place to be. 

“People just want to see their area succeed,” he says, “and I think that’s happening now.” 

Wong’s sentiments are easy to understand given the state of the neighbourhood. While many new businesses are coming, and established ones are thriving, there remain many empty storefronts. However, the community is doing all they can. 

farside toronto

Since opening in 2016, Farside has been a popular bar with locals and has brought some much needed nightlife to the area. Photo by Hector  Vasquez.

Valerie Mah is excited to do what she can. As the Vice President of Toronto’s Chinese Chamber of Commerce, she has worked to bring activity and life to East Chinatown. Some of her projects include helping to bring seven large murals to the sides of businesses, and her proudest achievement, the archway over the entrance to town. 

“The archway is something for people to be proud of,” she says, “it brings a sense of community and brings people together.” 

Mah was principal of the nearby high school for many years, and is thrilled to see the community picking up. She says she wants East Chinatown to be known as a neighbourhood worth visiting, specifically for the diversity and strong community. 

The next challenge for the neighbourhood, Mah says, is the formation of a BIA, which would help the area flourish even more than it already is. 

“We need to be inclusive here,” she argues, “the new businesses are bringing different types of people, and that’s really a good thing. We have a new cheese shop, and Chinese people don’t like cheese!” 

should chocolate toronto

Soul Chocolate makes all their own chocolate in the back of their espresso bar on Gerrard East. Photo by Jesse Milns.

With incredible smells coming from places like Andrea’s Bakery, newcomer Soul Chocolate, Rose’s Vietnamese, and AAA Public House, the street that his home to East Chinatown is changing rapidly.

Fresh new businesses bring different ideas to the neighbourhood in between traditional Asian staples. With the east end of Toronto quickly becoming the place to be, East Chinatown is a place to watch. 

The top 33 iconic buildings in Toronto by neighbourhood

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The most iconic buildings in Toronto aren't necessarily the oldest or the most architecturally significant, but instead the ones that we immediately think of when we call to mind a certain neighbourhood. These are the buildings that frame Toronto's psychogeography, and exist as touchstones that help us to navigate the place we call home.

Here are my picks for Toronto's most iconic buildings divided up by neighbourhood.

Robarts Library

Robarts Library, Butalist icon. Photo by Jared Krause.

The Annex

The Annex is home to plenty of lovely bay-and-gable homes, but the building that garners the most attention and discussion is surely Robarts Library. Built in 1973, the Brutalist giant is one of the most recognizable buildings in the city.

Fox Theatre

Vintage theatre charm in the Beaches. Photo by Ryan Couldrey.

The Beaches

The Fox Theatre is one of the oldest in the city, dating back to 1914. It exudes the type of charm that draws instant nostalgia from those who remember when Toronto was a city brimming with small neighbourhood movie houses

Art Gallery of Ontario

Frank Gehry's AGO renovation still shines on Dundas. Photo by Ferit Onurlu.

Chinatown

Prior to Frank Gehry's revamp of the AGO, the concrete building didn't attract many fans, but its now become an architectural centrepiece in the city, marked by the stunning Galleria Italia that faces Dundas St. West.

village green

The Village Green remains on of Toronto's nicest mid-century apartment towers. Photo by Rick McGinnis.

Church Wellesley Village

The Village Green is one of the nicest 1960s era apartment complexes in Toronto, but it's the circular centrepiece - often dubbed the "Vaseline Tower" - that warrants iconic status for its novel shape and important role in the history of the Village.

cube home toronto

Toronto's Cube House in all its glory. Photo by Derek Flack.

Corktown

Many passing by still wonder what the hell the strange structures near Eastern Ave. and Sumach are, but architecture buffs know that they're a Canadian version of Piet Blom's Cube Houses built by architect Ben Kutner and partner Jeff Brown in 1996. Yes, someone does indeed live there.

Danforth Music Hall

Once a theatre, now a live music venue. The Danforth Music Hall has stood the test of time. Photo by Dennis Marciniak.

The Danforth

Opened as Allen's Danforth Theatre in 1919 shortly after the construction of the Bloor Viaduct, the Danforth Music Hall become a live musical venue sometime in the 1970s, which gave the building a new lease on life that's lasted until today (despite a few hiccups along the way).

stone distillery toronto

Some of Toronto's oldest buildings can be found in the Distillery District. Photo by Benson Kua.

Distillery District

The whole district is a Toronto icon, but the Stone Distillery dates back to 1859 and is one of the oldest buildings in the entire city, so certainly worth an extra nod of attention. This building used to be right on the water when it was first built. It's incredible that it remains in such great condition.

Eglinton Theatre

It's no longer a cinema, but the Eglinton Theatre is still an icon on Eglinton West. Photo via the Ontario Archives.

Eglinton West

The Eglinton Theatre is an Art Deco gem from 1936 that's been preserved through its use as an event venue. While it no longer advertises movie titles, the outstanding marque is still a fixture of the building, as is the sign which can be seen for kilometres when traveling along Eglinton Ave.

Humber Bay Arch Bridge

Not a building, but the Humber Bay Arch Bridge is one of Toronto's most iconic structures. Photo by ~EvidencE.

Etobicoke

I'm going to cheat here a bit and nominate a structure rather than a building as Etobicoke's most iconic contribution to Toronto architecture. Why? Because the Humber Bay Arch Bridge is one of the most photographed places in the city and synonymous with the former borough. 

TD Centre

Mies van der Rohe's TD Centre is still Toronto's classiest building. Photo by Vik Pahwa.

Financial District

This area is filled with important skyscrapers, but none so much as the Mies van der Rohe-designed TD Centre, which helped to modernize Toronto architecture and gave birth to Financial District that we know today.

Harbour Commission Building

The Harbour Commission Building is being swallowed up by taller buildings, but it's still a beauty. Photo by George Socka.

Harbourfront

Amidst the wall of condos that lines the waterfront, the now-small seeming Harbour Commission Building is a throwback to the area's history. It's an elegant Beaux-Arts building that once sat at the end of a pier at the southern most tip of downtown Toronto, but which has now been subsumed by development.

campbell block

The Campbell Block has been restored to its old glory (mostly). Photo by Derek Flack.

The Junction

The Campbell Block serves as something of an entranceway to the Junction. Completed in 1888 to the designs of architect James Augustus Ellis the building had fallen into into disrepair until a recent restoration revealed its former glory (even if they got a few details wrong).

Tower Automotive Building

The Tower Automotive Building is as elegant as old factories come. Photo by Hector Vasquez.

Junction Triangle

Soon to be the future home of MOCA and the centrepiece of a burgeoning neighbourhood, the Tower Automotive Building hovers above the Lower Junction Triangle as a monument to our industrial past.

King Edward Hotel

The King Eddy is everything an old hotel should be. 

King East

A collaboration between Chicago architect Henry Ives Cobb and E.J. Lennox (of Old City Hall and Casa Loma fame), the King Edward Hotel opened in 1903 and has remained one of the most stately in Toronto. Originally opened with 400 rooms, an addition in 1922 brought the number up to over 500.

Roy Thomson Hall

Roy Thomson Hall is one of Toronto's best buildings from the 1980s. Photo by Ben Roffelsen.

King West

The Royal Alex Theatre gets the nod on King West for most iconic historical building, but it's the rounded Roy Thomson Hall that takes the cake here. Built in 1982, the Arthur Erickson-designed concert hall was an instant icon.

Wrigley Building Toronto

As far as loft conversions go, the Wrigley Lofts are heard to beat. Photo by Bryson Gilbert.

Leslieville

Once home to the Wrigley Chewing Gum company, this industrial-relic-turned-loft-space dates back to 1917. It's brick exterior still cuts an imposing figure on Carlaw Ave, though the interiors are chic as can be.

Carpet Factory Toronto

Warehouse architecture at its finest in Liberty Village. Photo by Frank Lemire.

Liberty Village

Dating back to the early 20th century, the Carpet Factory is the poster child for adaptive re-use in Liberty Village. The sprawling building covers 310,000 square feet, which is now used for modern offices. Walking alongside the exterior along Mowat Avenue can feel like you've entered a time warp (in a good way).

Royal Cinema

The marquee at the Royal is a reminder of an earlier time. Photo by William Kimber. .

Little Italy

The Royal Cinema is an excellent of Art Moderne design (i.e. late Art Deco). Opened in 1939, the cinema has had a variety of names, but its distinctive marquee has been a fixture on College St. for the long haul.

Mount pleasant cinema

The sign has seen its better days, but the Mount Pleasant Theatre is still a gem. Photo by Michael Newman.

Mount Pleasant

Mount Pleasant is home to two historic movie theatres, the Regent and the eponymous Mount Pleasant Cinema. The latter is the more recognizable of the two, however, thanks to its bright neon sign. It opened in 1926 as the Hudson and was subsequently renamed in 1951.

Bergeron Centre

The Bergeron Centre has helped to change York's architectural status. Photo via ZAS Architects.

North York

It's the youngest building on this list, but the ZAS Architects-designed Bergeron Centre at York University has already eclipsed the competition for most iconic building in North York. "The Cloud," as it is affectionately referred to, is a marvel of contemporary design.

Ocean House Hotel

Its current tenants notwithstanding, the beauty of the Ocean House Hotel building can still be seen if you squint. Photo via the Toronto Archives. 

Parkdale

The building is certainly worse for wear, but if you squint a little, you can still see signs of the former Ocean House Hotel's former glory at Queen/King and Roncesvalles. The building dates back to 1884 when it was an upscale inn for those entering Toronto from the west or inner city vacationers looking to take advantage of its proximity to the lake.

Hearn Generating Station

Regardless of when the public next gets inside the Hearn, it will always be a remarkable building. Photo by Andrew Williamson.

The Port Lands

The towering Hearn Generating Station has returned to the city's collective consciousness after playing host to this year's Luminato Festival. The hulking former power plant has returned to life as a film set, but there's still hope that it'll host future public events if fire code issues can be sorted out.

299 Queen Street West

299 Queen is one of the city's most culturally important buildings. Photo by William Kimber.

Queen West

 The most iconic building on the street named Queen West is undoubtedly Viljo Revell's City Hall, but if you're thinking of the neighbourhood's centrepiece rather than the city's as a whole, that would have to be 299 Queen Street West, former home of MuchMusic and Citytv.

broadview hotel

Immaculately restored, the Broadview Hotel is the centrepiece of Riverside. Photo by Hector Vasquez.

Riverside

It's currently in the midst of a transformation and major additions, but the Broadview Hotel remains the landmark building in this neighbourhood, and will likely only become better known as it begins its new life as a boutique hotel, venue, and restaurant destination.

revue cinema

The Revue is Toronto's oldest movie theatre.

Roncesvalles

Toronto's oldest cinema somewhat tragically lost its marquee in 2007, but more importantly the Revue managed to keeps its doors operating as the longest standing cinema in the city. Even without the marquee, the building is the neighbourhood gem.

north toronto railway station

One of Toronto's best adaptive re-use projects. Photo by Sean Go.

Rosedale

One of the most gorgeous buildings in the city, the former North Toronto Railway Station now serves as the LCBO's flagship location. The design is based on St Mark's Campanile in Venice and dates back to 1916. It only operated as a train station until 1930, though a restoration in 2004 preserved many of its original elements.

scarborough civic library

The Scarborough Library is Toronto's nicest new branch. Photo via Blackwell.

Scarborough

Not so long ago the Scarborough Civic Centre would have ranked as the former borough's most iconic building, but that title now goes to the adjacent library recently opened on the same site. The dramatic wood-framed building is a stunning bit of architecture that improbably complements the older Raymond Moriyama building.

Wychwood Barns

The Wychwood Barns are a major cultural hub. 

St. Clair West

Formerly a TTC streetcar maintenance facility, the Wychwood Barns helped to establish Artscape's reputation for artist-focused redevelopment. The complex blends historical and contemporary design to act as neighbourhood hub that's both practical and pleasing to the eye.

St Lawrence Market

Toronto wouldn't be the same without St. Lawrence Market. Photo by 

St. Lawrence Market

No surprises here. The St. Lawrence Market is the foundation upon which the surrounding neighbourhood is built. Established in the early 19th century, the current building dates back to 1904 and was renovated in the 1970s.

Gladstone Hotel

The Gladstone in the 1950s. Photo courtesy of the hotel.

West Queen West

The Drake Hotel might be the busier spot, but the Gladstone Hotel is the most iconic building along West Queen West for its longer history and Romanesque architectural legacy, which has been far less altered over its century plus existence than its neighbour.

Toronto Reference Library

Looking into the atrium of the Toronto Reference Library. Photo by photoanalysis.

Yonge and Bloor

Built in 1977, Raymond Moriyama's Toronto Reference Library has always been defined by its soaring atrium, but perhaps the greatest pleasure of the building is its northeast side, where (mostly) indirect sunlight pours in and vistors can gaze out upon lush Rosedale.

Maple Leaf Gardens

The re-created marquee at MLG. Photo by Derek Flack.

Yonge and College

The idea of opening a grocery store in Maple Leaf Gardens was cause for much controversy when it was first proposed, but the joint occupation of the building by Ryerson and Loblaws meant that the building would still be home to a hockey rink and the great cathedral-like ceiling would remain in place..

Ryerson Student Learning Centre

The Ryerson Student Learning Centre is a showstopper. Photo by Vik Pahwa.

Yonge and Dundas

The Eaton Centre is the old standby at Yonge and Dundas, but the new Ryerson Student Learning Centre has a much better relationship to the street, and for it will now wear the crown of most iconic building in the area, even if the title is a ad premature.

10 key Toronto intersections as they were 100 years ago

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A hundred years is a long time for a Toronto intersection to evolve. Streets get widened, buildings get knocked down, and in many cases rural idylls are replaced by urban hustle. Sometimes even major intersections are completely unrecognizable, while in other cases a key landmark stands the test of time.

Here's a look at a handful of key Toronto intersections as they were 100 years ago.

Bayview and Eglinton - 1910

toronto bayview eglinton

This is looking north up Bayview from Eglinton. Today, the Metro supermarket would be on the right side of the frame.

Bloor and Keele - 1915

toronto bloor keele

Looking east on Bloor from Keele during streetcar track construction in 1915.

College and Spadina - 1912

toronto college spadina

This view is looking south on Spadina from College in 1912. The El Mocambo building is on the right.

Danforth and Broadview - 1912

toronto broadview danforth

Here we're looking southeast across Broadview and Danforth in 1912. The building in the centre of the frame currently houses a Tim Hortons and a yoga studio.

Lawrence and Kennedy - 1904

toronto kennedy lawrence

It's all farmland as we looking south on Kennedy from near the present-day intersection with Lawrence in 1904.

Queen and Bay - 1911

toronto queen bay

Queen and Bay looking south from Old City Hall in 1911. Not many of the buildings in the frame remain standing.

King, Queen, and Roncesvalles - 1919

toronto queen roncesvalles

Looking across King, Queen, and Roncesvalles before the Gardiner Expressay was built and Sunnyside Amusement Park was razed. In this photo from 1919 you can see the bridge that delivered traffic to the popular attraction.

St. Clair and Yonge - 1911

toronto st clair yonge

This is the southwest corner of St. Clair and Yonge in 1911 prior to the street being widened. It's kinda bonkers. 

College and Yonge - 1912

toronto yonge college

We're looking south on Yonge from College before the intersection with Carlton street was created and before College Park was built. The streetcar on the far left is on Carlton.

5 small towns near Toronto to visit this fall

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Fall is likely the most beautiful time of year in the many small towns that surround Toronto. Drive an hour outside of the city, and the rural landscape comes alive with colour in late September and through October. Add to this events like antique markets and pumpkin fests, and you have a recipe for the ultimate scenic and quaint day trip.

Here are my picks for a host of small towns near Toronto to visit this fall.

Gravenhurst

There are few places in Ontario more beautiful than Muskoka in the fall, and Gravenhurst serves as the gateway to this rugged playground. Nestled on Lake Muskoka, this is where steamships like the Segwun depart to explore the pristine lakes of the region. It is absolutely stunning here in the fall.

Aberfoyle

The Antique Market in Aberfoyle is a vintage-lover's dream, and there's no better time to check it out than autumn, when the picturesque farmland around Wellington County turns orange and gold. Be sure to also make stops in quaint towns like Elora and Fergus while you're in the area.

Cambridge

For a serious European vibe, head to this small town on the Grand River. You can soak up the charm of the historic architecture, hit up the longstanding weekend market, and then make the short trip to Kitchener-Waterloo to indulge in Oktoberfest celebrations in early October. 

Wellington

Prince Edward County pretty much has it all in the fall. From gorgeous scenery to antique markets to wine tastings, the region is a veritable autumn wonderland. But don't forget the pumpkins. Wellington plays host to one of the biggest pumpkin fests of the year every fall, which means you should check it out as well as Picton.

Collingwood

The towering hills of Grey County are electric come the fall, offering stunning vistas above Georgian Bay. Along with the landscape, the area is packed with fall friendly activities, from outdoor spas, apple trails, to some of the best cycling in the province.

The top 8 free events in Toronto this week

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Free things to do in Toronto this week include some major, early-fall outdoor activities like a massive art crawl, the city's biggest book fair, and this month's Pedestrian Sunday. 

Events you might want to check out:

Free animated short film fest (September 18 @ Carlton Cinemas)
At 7 p.m. check out some of the best animated short films from around the world. There'll be 10 films from six countries, all animated and geared towards the whole fam.
Fireside Tales (September 19 @ Dufferin Grove Park)
This is an outdoor storytelling show at the Dufferin Grove fire pit. Hosts Rhiannon Archer and Helder Brum gather folks around the fire and bring together some of the best storytellers in the city. Bring your own blanket and snacks.
Buddies Season Launch Party (September 21 @ Buddies In Bad Times Theatre)
Any Buddies party is a good excuse to head to this theatre space, but the season opening bash is the best. Expect performances, DJs, and drag queens.
Simmer (September 21 @ 165 Geary Ave)
Check out this end of season group art show with a long list of lost artists in different disciplines. It's also a good excuse to head to Geary Ave. if you haven't been yet.
Queen West Art Crawl (September 23-24 @ Trinity Bellwoods Park)
This is a two-day art crawl in Bellwoods fills the lawn with booths showing off their finest works. There'll be 200 artists, a beer garden, interactive art, food trucks, and performances.
The Women Who Built Canada (September 23-24 @ Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto)
Take a tour of this beautiful cemetery and visit the grave stones of the women who spent their lives fighting for equality in Canada. The tour starts at 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Word on the Street Festival (September 24 @ Harbourfront Centre)
Take in hundreds of author readings, discussions, and activities, then browse a marketplace that boasts the best selection of Canadian books and magazines you’ll find anywhere. 
Pedestrian Sunday (September 24 @ Kensington Market)
It's a full day of car-free fun, music, food vendors, performances, shopping and all kinds of street-side surprises. Take the afternoon and check out a dance party, a band, a food stand, and more. 

The top 12 parties in Toronto this fall

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Now that the summer that never was is wrapping up, it's time to celebrate fall with a top-notch parties in warehouses, hotel, theatres, clubs, and museums. Oktoberfest and Halloween aren't the only games in town this time of year, so buckle up and get your dance card ready. 

Events you might want to check out:

The Big Sound (September 22 @ The Great Hall)
The city's biggest live Motown and classic soul concert (with 30 musicians on stage) and dance party (with DJ Wes Allen) will have you twisting from the second you walk in the door.
Fancy Footwork (September 23 @ The Piston)
What do you get when you mix Daft Punk with Blondie? AlunaGeorge with Duran Duran? You get this dance party that mixes indie dance, disco, funk and new wave in one night. DJs Mista Jiggz and Mike Don't play along with Mix Chopin.
High Power Pon Di Roof (September 24 @ Mascot Brewery)
Manifesto's monthly High Power dance party raises the roof this month for a party in the sky with resident DJs, Nino Brown, Dre Ngozi and special guests Coco Supreme and ChanlMarshl. It's hip hop, soca, dancehall, afrobeats, and house.
Soul Sunday street party (September 24 @ Trinity Common)
Kensington Market’s Pedestrian Sunday wouldn't be complete without this dance party in the street. Boogie down to soul, funk, disco, afro-beat and special live performances. There's also beer and snacks from 2 - 7 p.m.
Drag and Party (September 29 @ 99 Sudbury)
Kick-off your Nuit Blanche weekend with this giant dance, performance and drag party starring some of RuPaul Drag Race's finest: Sasha Velour, Kim Chi and Naomi Smalls. DJs Ticky Ti and John Caffery spin in the big warehouse space.
Big Fun (September 29 @ The Rec Room Toronto)
DJs! Queens! Projections! Dancing! And a massive room full of games behind the curtain. This is s dance party inside Toronto's newest games room, but at the back, behind a giant curtain with massive screens, lights, and sound.
It's Not U It's Me (October 7 @ Toronto, ON)
The one and only Ben UFO from the UK lands on earth to spin at the latest It's Not U It's Me bash. Nautiluss, Ciel and Yohei Saka with Daniel Raw will also spin side this warehouse rave party.
October First Thursday (October 5 @ AGO - Art Gallery of Ontario)
The Halloween edition of the AGO's monthly museum dance party is called: Enter Darkness and is inspired by Guillermo del Toro's At Home with Monsters macabre new exhibit. Peaches is the headlining performer.
FNL Wicked (October 27 @ Royal Ontario Museum)
The ROM's own Halloween inspired dance party gives you chance to see the Anishinaabeg: Art & Power, The Family Camera and The Evidence Room exhibits, while taking dance breaks with ESP and Craig Dominic.
Shea Coulee (October 27 @ Fly 2.0)
Rupaul drag race Season 9 Runner-up Shea Coulee lands in Toronto for a night of high drag. She'll perform twice. Local queens Sofonda and Jezebel Bardot will open up and you get to dance inside this huge club in between.
Dragonstone Hotel (October 28 @ Gladstone Hotel)
The Iron Throne is still up for grabs so gather your allies and don your finest furs because winter has come to this hotel-wide Game of Thrones-themed party.
Boombox (November 2 @ TIFF Bell Lightbox)
The annual building-wide, multi-sensory, dance and art party inside pretty much every corner of the Lightbox is always a fall highlight. This year's theme is fame.

A map of bitcoin ATM machines in Toronto

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Bitcoin ATM machines in Toronto have sprung up all over the place, further evidence that Toronto is becoming a starring player in the world-wide tech game.

Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency that functions like regular currency. For a long time it has been used online for payment and trading. It's slowing begun to gain mainstream popularity with Toronto readily embracing the new form of currency.

Bitcoin ATMs have been spotted across the city, allowing people to buy and sell them using the machines. Here's where you can find them.

The top 10 running events in Toronto this fall

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Running events in Toronto this fall are made for runners of all levels who prefer cooler temps and taking in the fall colours . From a marathon to a monster shuffle, there's lots of options to keep active over the coming months.

Events you might want to check out:

Oasis ZooRun (September 23 @ The Toronto Zoo)
Primates will be rooting you on while you chase that PB, and with the hilly legs of the zoo as your backdrop, this fun run may just have you feeling downright sloth like at the big finish.
Global Energy Race (September 24 @ Ashbridges Bay)
Fight hunger and carb load in a whole new way at this Ashbridges Bay race. Each K you crush nets two slices for the North York Harvest Food Bank, with three or 10K routes on deck.
Toronto Corporate Run (September 28 @ Hotel X Toronto by Library Hotel Collection)
Grab your fellow cubicle dwellers and set course for this Ontario Place area race, where charity and corporate responsibility are total besties. CAMH benefits from the donations, so invite the HR department too.
Run for the Cure (October 1 @ University of Toronto, St. George Campus)
Pink is really everyone’s colour, especially on this day, where thousands across Canada will raise funds for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.
2XU Toronto Women's 8k/5k (October 14 @ Sunnybrook Park)
Firefighters are ready to quench your thirst at Sunnybrook Park for the final race of the women’s run. 5 and 8K options mean there’s a little something for everyone.
Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, Half Marathon (October 22 @ Toronto Waterfront Marathon)
This beast of a race shuts downtown to a crawl, so if you’re not running it you may as well come cheer us on. The mostly downhill route makes it a perfect Boston qualifier.
Monster Dash Toronto (October 29 @ Ontario Science Centre)
Monsters of all shapes and sizes will trample the streets of Leaside for the 5 and 10K routes, this year weaving behind the Science Centre for that Frankenstein effect.
Holly Jolly Fun Run (November 19 @ Start line at Bloor Street West)
Naughty or nice, this race doesn’t judge. Kicking off the Santa Claus Parade each year, the Holly Jolly fun run is just that, with funds raised going toward the big fat man himself.
Santa Shuffle (December 2 @ Wilket Creek Pk. & Sunnybrook Pk.)
Silver bells and red noses are common themes at this Canadian race. 5K is all it takes to support the local Salvation Army.
Beaches Runners Club Tannenbaum (December 6 @ 3 Alfresco Lawn)
This neighbourhood race brings Beach dwellers together for a good cause, with a 10K race around the Martin Goodman Trail.

TIFF 2017 award winners

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The TIFF award winners for 2017 were anyone's guess going into the last day of the festival. There were several front runners for the People's Choice Award, but no sure bet like last year's La La Land.

But today we found out which film would walk away with the prestigious award: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. It was joined by several other great films that walked away with the festival's top awards. 

Here is the full list of TIFF 2017 award winners.

People's Choice Award: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

People's Choice Award Runner-Ups: I, Tonya and Call Me By Your Name

People's Choice Documentary Award: Faces Places

People's Choice Midnight Madness Award: Bodied

Toronto Platform Prize: Sweet Country

NETPAC Award for World or International Asian Film Premiere: The Great Buddha+

The FIPRESCI Prize for Special Presentations: The Motive

The FIPRESCI Prize for the Discovery Programme: Ava

Best Canadian Feature Film: Les Affamés

Best Canadian First Feature Film: Luk'Luk'I

Best Canadian Short Film: Pre-Drink

Best Short Film: The Burden

There will be a free screening of the Grolsch People's Choice Award Winner - Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri - at Roy Thomson Hall at 6 PM tonight. Tickets are first-come, first-served.

12 things to do in Toronto this week

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Things to do this week in Toronto include lots of LOL'ing as the JFL24 comedy festival arrives in the city. There's also some great concerts, a massive vintage sportswear warehouse sale, and soup festival. 

Events you might want to check out:

Polaris Music Prize Gala Official After-Party (September 18 @ The Drake Hotel)
Minutes after the annual Polaris Music Prize is announced, the after party starts at the Drake. Celebrate your favourite music of the year, winners, losers and Polaris people with DJ Trevor Risk..
Father John Misty (September 18 @ Massey Hall)
Weyes Blood opens for the infamous Father John Misty and his folk strummings at this intimate show. Nab yourself a ticket somewhere on the internet if you can.
Art Battle (September 19 @ The Great Hall Toronto)
Art Battle returns to the city after holding the Canada National Championships in July. Join the fun all over again as painters have 20 minutes to take their canvases from blank to beautiful, the audience votes to pick the winner.
The Toronto Palestine Film Festival (September 20-24 @ TIFF)
Celebrate the best in Palestinian films inside the Lightbox and catch some Canadian premieres you won't see anywhere else.
JFL42 (September 21-30 @ Sony Centre for the Performing Arts)
Toronto's mega comedy festival returns with headliners like Bill Burr, John Mulaney, Ali Wong, Janeane Garofalo and Tom Segura. There's also comedy happening in pretty much every club in the city.
Dwayne Gretzky does the 00s (September 22-24 @ The Opera House)
Re-live your fav tunes of the 00s without having to download them on Napster. Dwayne Gretsky play all the hits for two nights so you can go back for more.
Bi Arts Festival (September 22-24 @ Toronto)
Toronto's first-ever three-day celebration of bisexual arts and culture includes a pop-up market, a photography show, readings, comedy shows, and a film showcase.
Queen West Art Crawl (September 23-24 @ Trinity Bellwoods Park)
Take a stroll through Bellwoods as it's transformed into a great big outdoor art gallery for the weekend. From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. check out art of all kinds, food trucks, a beer garden, and entertainment in the park.
Deadstock Depot Flea Market (September 24 @ Deadstock Depot Flea Market)
Toronto's first vintage streetwear flea market features over 25 local and international vendors with a massive selection of handpicked garments catering to 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s street and sports wear styles.
Word on the Street Festival 2017 (September 24 @ Harbourfront Centre)
Take in hundreds of author readings, discussions, and activities, then browse a marketplace that boasts the best selection of Canadian books and magazines you’ll find anywhere. 
Soupalicious Toronto (September 24 @ Artscape Wychwood Barns)
Soup season has arrived whether you like it or not. Sip, slurp and savour culinary soup sensations from Toronto chefs, restaurants, and caterers from noon to 4 p.m.
High Power Pon Di Roof (September 24 @ Mascot Brewery)
Manifesto's monthly High Power dance party raises the roof this month and heads outside with resident DJs Nino Brown, Dre Ngozi and friends. It starts at 1 p.m. until the sun goes down.

This Week on DineSafe: Asian Legend, Denny's, Amsterdam BrewHouse, Starbucks

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This week on DineSafe popular international chains like Denny's and Starbucks got yellow carded by city health inspectors. Also on the naughty list was the Asian Legend at Leslie and Finch, where food was was found to be contaminated among other offences. 

See who else got in trouble this week on DineSafe.

Amsterdam BrewHouse (245 Queens Quay West)
  • Inspected on: September 12, 2017
  • Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
  • Number of infractions: 9 (Minor: 3, Significant: 5, Crucial: 1)
  • Crucial infractions include: Employee failed to wash hands when required.
Asian Legend (125 Ravel Rd.)
  • Inspected on: September 12, 2017
  • Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
  • Number of infractions: 13 (Minor: 5, Significant: 5, Crucial: 3)
  • Crucial infractions include: Employee failed to wash hands when required, operator failed to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated and operator failed to maintain hazardous foods.
Denny's (121 Dundas St. West)
  • Inspected on: September 12, 2017
  • Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
  • Number of infractions: 5 (Minor: 2, Significant: 3)
  • Crucial infractions include: N/A
AllStar Wings & Ribs (424 Danforth Ave.)
  • Inspected on: September 13, 2017
  • Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
  • Number of infractions: 2 (Minor: 1, Significant: 1)
  • Crucial infractions include: N/A
El Rinconcito Mexicano (636 Church St.)
  • Inspected on: September 13, 2017
  • Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
  • Number of infractions: 4 (Minor: 1, Significant: 3)
  • Crucial infractions include: N/A
Kayagum (5460 Yonge St.)
  • Inspected on: September 13, 2017
  • Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
  • Number of infractions: 3 (Minor: 1, Significant: 2)
  • Crucial infractions include: N/A
Starbucks Coffee (3671 Bathurst St.)
  • Inspected on: September 13, 2017
  • Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
  • Number of infractions: 2 (Significant: 2)
  • Crucial infractions include: N/A
Saigon Lotus (6 St. Andrew St.)
  • Inspected on: September 14, 2017
  • Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
  • Number of infractions: 3 (Minor: 1, Significant: 2)
  • Crucial infractions include: N/A

Note: The above businesses each received infractions from DineSafe as originally reported on the DineSafe site. This does not imply that any of these businesses have not subsequently corrected the issue and received a passing grade by DineSafe inspectors. For the latest status for each of the mentioned businesses, including details on any subsequent inspections, please be sure to check the DineSafe site.

The 5 worst movies at TIFF 2017

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Not everything can be a masterpiece at TIFF. And while my year was surprisingly light on really bad films, inevitably some movies will end up at the bottom of the heap.

These are the five worst movies I saw at TIFF 2017.

Breathe 

There’s a lot of good in Andy Serkis’ directorial debut (especially an emotionally rich performance from Claire Foy) but ultimately Breathe suffers a bit from “Inspiring Oscar Bait Syndrome” that sacrifices any kind of conflict or stakes that would create a fully rounded dramatic experience.

The Children Act

While The Children Act isn't lacking in dramatic gravitas – especially thanks to the great Emma Thompson – it often comes off cold and inaccessible. Largely because it approaches its themes in such an obtuse way, it becomes hard to connect with the film and figure out what it’s really about.

Suburbicon

The bad buzz for Suburbiconis entirely justified. Clooney's film is mean-spirited, derivative of better films, and clumsy in almost all parts of its execution. It’s the kind of unequivocal failure that makes you wonder how it all went wrong – especially given the talent involved.

The Ritual

The Ritualhas a promising first half, thanks to a great monster, an eerie setting, and a welcome pinch of horror genre self-awareness. But it also can’t escape similarities to the superior The Descentor a second half that peters out and never fully pays off on film's potential.

Valley of Shadows

There were over 30 walk outs in the screening I attended, and it's not hard to see why. A glacial pace, full of endless close-ups of a perpetually morose looking boy, makes patience an increasingly rare commodity while watching Valley of Shadows.

The 10 best movies at TIFF 2017

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It was another great year for movies at TIFF, and that means it was yet again no easy feat to narrow everything I saw down to a list of favourites. Nonetheless, there are always some films that linger in the mind and in the heart just a little bit more than others.

Here are my picks for the best movies I saw at TIFF 2017. 

The Breadwinner

The stunning animation in The Breadwinnerwould be enough to qualify the film for this list. But then there’s the powerful story about a young Afghani girl who has to dress as a boy to support her family. The film is a feat in every way: pitch perfect writing, characters, emotions, and themes.

Brawl in Cell Block 99

I don’t know how S. Craig Zahler (Bone Tomahawk) manages to make me love watching films where things happen to human bodies I never want to see. Brawl is Grindhouse-style filmmaking at its best. Its bursts of visceral violence kept my adrenaline pumping for days.

Call Me By Your Name

A beautiful ode to the aimless days of young summer love,Call Me By Your Nameis so emotionally rich, it’s like a cinematic pacemaker has attached itself to your heart and beats it for you throughout the film. For 132 minutes you live the movie in a way you can’t forget.

The Disaster Artist

I expected James Franco’s film about the making of the infamous The Roomto be funny. What I didn’t expect was the empathy and poignancy it brings to the misfits behind The Room. Here they're not (just) laughing stocks, but achievers of the ultimate Hollywood dream: making a beloved movie.

First Reformed

Ask yourself “What if the main character of Taxi Driverwere instead a Reverend suffering a crisis of faith” and you'll get an idea about what you’re in for with this captivating film, anchored by a dependably great Ethan Hawke. This was one of the festival’s genuine surprises.

The Florida Project

Sean Baker’s film accomplishes a rare feat: an honest and nuanced, but never patronizing or trite, look at those who live and struggle in the peripherals of America. Bonus: a lovely nice-guy performance from Willem Dafoe, and the most natural child actors you’ll ever see.

Indian Horse

This adaptation of the late Richard Wagamese’s novel is impossible to shake. Aside from being one of the most loving cinematic odes to the joys of hockey, more significantly it captures the important story of how the trauma of residential schools affected its victims for their whole lives.

Lady Bird

Film critic Noel Murray described Lady Birdas “the Frances Haversion of Edge of Seventeen” and that’s a perfect distillation of what makes the film great. Gerwig’s filmmaking and Soirsa Ronson’s performance combine to paint a captivating portrait of coming of age that rings free of cliché.  

Thelma

The supernatural can serve as a powerful metaphor to mirror the inner turmoil of a character and Joachim Trier’s Thelma does it right. A story about a new-to-college young girl, whose burgeoning feelings for another woman grate against her Christian upbringing, I was thinking about Thelma for days.

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri 

The People's Choice Award winner from Martin McDonagh (In Bruges) is darkly funny, but where it really packs a wallop is its exploration of the emotional black hole that is grief. That's wonderfully brought to life by year-best performances from Frances McDormand, Sam Rockwell, and Woody Harrelson.


Win a Toronto-themed book bundle

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This fall, Dundurn is releasing a whole slew of locally themed books. In celebration of the release, we've teamed up with them to give five lucky readers a chance to win the ultimate Toronto book bundle. 

Toronto celebrates after The Handmaid's Tale wins big at Emmys

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The Handmaid's Tale straight up crushed it at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday night, bringing home a total of eight awards for its writing, directing, acting, and general outstanding-ness.

Shot largely in and around Toronto, the chilling dystopian drama was one of summer 2017's most talked-about and widely-watched television debuts – if not the most critically-acclaimed TV show to air all year.

The Hulu and Bravo series is based on Canadian author Margaret Atwood's novel of the same name, but it boasts plenty of local connections beyond its author's origins and filming location. 

In a few episodes, Toronto is actually shown and referred to as Toronto – a departure from both Hollywood's usual way of doing things, and from the plot of Atwood's 1985 novel.

Thus, locals were happy to see The Handmaid's Tale clean up at the Emmys – and many were just as pleased to remind the world that our city is at the heart of it all.

The Toronto Christmas Market is coming back this winter

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The Distillery District will once again deck its halls this year with the giant holiday makeover that is known as the Toronto Christmas Market

Yup, it's already that time of year, and from November 16 to December 23 the neighbourhood will be completely transformed into a pseudo North Pole with food and drink stalls, art vendors, one of the city's biggest Christmas trees, over 350 shows, and of course, appearances from Santa. 

The cobblestone lanes and walkways will also be strewn with lights and plenty of Instagrammable ornaments, judging by last year's market

The winter wonderland will run every day from noon to 9 p.m. (10 p.m on Fridays and Saturdays). Admission is free on weekdays and $6 on weekends, which starts at 5 p.m. on Fridays. Express tickets to avoid lineups and spend even more money are $20.

Taiwanese fried chicken and seafood chain Cheers Cut opening in Toronto

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Toronto's range of international cuisine is nothing short of spectacular, and its newest addition is definitely something to get excited about.

Cheers Cut Fried Chicken and Seafood has joined the recent wave of Taiwanese fried chicken joints that have been rolling in like Monga Fried Chicken and the ever-popular Hot-Star Large Fried Chicken, which saw long lineups when it first opened its doors.

Like Hot-Star, Cheers Cut doesn't play around when it comes to huge, golden slabs of chicken. It boasts the "largest fried 12oz chicken," which is a nearly foot-long Samurai Crispy Chicken coated in a crispy blend of pepper and chili powder that looks like it could easily crush you.

And what would fried chicken be without a strong sauce game? This beast is best served with a range of sauces like plum, Sichuan chill, honey mustard, and sweet and sour.

The restaurant also has a few locations in New York, but stays true to its Yilan roots by keeping with traditional items like bento boxes, authentic noodle dishes, and enormous, one litre bubble tea made with fresh fruit.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, people have already started flocking to Cheers Cut for its soft opening at 372 Yonge Street. 

The Best Cookies in Toronto

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The best cookies in Toronto are melty, gooey, chewy, crispy around the edges and soft on the inside, best served warm fresh out of the oven. Often sweet but sometimes incorporating savoury elements, these round, flat treats are anything but two-dimensional, and come in as many varieties as there are different fantastic bakeries in this city.

Here are the best cookies in Toronto.

5 - Bakerbots

This shop right near the entrance to Ossington station off Delaware sells all the same varieties of cookies as Bang Bang and does the same ice cream sandwiches in the summer, which obviously results in the same lengthy lineups. Two words: worth it.
4 - Bang Bang Ice Cream and Bakery

This Ossington bakery is best known for sandwiching their own matcha, banana pudding or other delicious ice creams between decadently chewy and thin cookies in varieties like everything, “Cap’n Peanut,” and birthday cake.
6 - Bake Shoppe

The geometrically ideal cookies at this College St. bakery have crackly surfaces and come in a limited range of simple flavours of confetti, nutella brown butter, chocolate chip, oatmeal hemp and peanut butter.
10 - Almond Butterfly

This Harbord Village bakery specializes in baked goods free of soy, dairy and gluten. Flavours including double chocolate chunk, organic cane sugar, gingersnap, and vegan breakfast, peanut butter and pecan vary daily.
8 - Roselle Desserts

French-inspired desserts are the specialty at this King East bakery, where you can find some of the most amazing gingerbread and chocolate cookies in the city.
9 - Maman

With origins in NYC, you know these cookies have got to be epic, especially renowned for their nutty chocolate chunk. Our Toronto location is in First Canadian Place.
11 - Bake Sale

The handmade “Big Bite” cookies created with wholesome ingredients at this bakery’s three locations at Six Point Plaza, Kingsway and Bloor West Village come in flavours like funfetti, double chocolate, peanut butter, and a “monster” oatmeal cookie with M&M’s, peanuts and chocolate chips. Don’t miss their dense peanut butter melts.
7 - The Butternut Baking Co.

Sugar, grain, and gluten have no place in the cookies at this Junction bakery, but somehow their ginger, shortbread, thumbprint and buttercream-filled “sammie” cookies including a paleo version of an Oreo are still downright delicious.
3 - Le Gourmand

The melt-in-your-mouth chocolate walnut cookies that are often served warm at this Spadina cafe are favourites of cookies monsters in the city. The French cafe also has multiple other varieties, all thick and perfectly round with nicely crunchy charred edges.
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