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Toronto's poshest neighbourhood now has a teen gang problem

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Toronto police have issued a warning to residents of the Mount Pleasant Road and Roxborough Drive area about the emergence of dangerous "Rosedale jams."

It sounds like something your grandma would put on toast, but according to the TPS release these "jams" are of the party – not pantry – variety.

Police say that large gatherings of teenagers have resulted in multiple "swarming-style robberies, stabbings, and assaults" over the past few weeks. 

Three separate incidents were reported in the Rosedale Park area on Saturday night alone, according to the Wednesday news release; all of them involving victims between the ages of 14 and 16.

"These events are being advertised through social media sites such as Snapchat and various webpages," say the cops. "The boys and girls appear to be attending these locations for the sole purpose of carrying out robberies and other forms of criminal activity."

The events are said to happen on a weekly basis in public spaces and involve hundreds of teenagers.

Parents who spoke to CBC News about the situation say the parties have also been advertised on a popular "Gossip Girl"-style website that shares rumours about Toronto high school students.

This, combined with the fact that these "jams" take place in and are named after one of the city's wealthiest neighbourhoods, has provided some fodder for discussion about the rambunctious teens - some of it dating back to before the cops issued their Wednesday release.

"This is what I was doing when I was young," wrote someone else on Facebook, linking to a Smash Mouth-themed comedic video. "Never mind your Rosedale Jam."

It should be noted, however, that this isn't necessarily a joking matter.

One boy was reportedly stabbed and taken to hospital with non life-threatening injuries from the area on Saturday night, but aside from this, we don't know if any victims have been seriously injured or how many victims there have been.

Police do say that they're concerned about the number of medical calls they've received relating to unconscious and intoxicated youth - and as much as we can laugh at our own memories of getting drunk as teens, these kids could end up seriously hurt, which is definitely not funny.

In the wake of Saturday night's party, officers are looking for "approximately 8 to 10 boys and girls in their late teens, wearing hoodies and covering their faces with bandanas."

Best of luck to them.


10 must-see theatre shows in Toronto this fall

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Theatre shows in Toronto this fall don't disappoint with a roster of award-winning productions on multiple stages across the city. If you're looking for suspense, high drama, new takes on old classics or over the top musicals, you'll be a happy theatre-goer this season. 

Here are my picks for must-see theatre shows this fall in Toronto.

Waiting for Godot

There's lots of buzz around this production on until October 7. One of the most significant plays of the 20th century, it's a long one at over two hours, but Samuel Beckett's work on stage ponders some of life's deepest questions and might help you rethink your own existence. 

The Seat Next To The King

This play won the best new play at Fringe 2017 and runs until October 1. The play explores issues of race, sexuality, masculinity, all from behind the doors of a public washroom in a Washington D.C. park.

Lukumi

The latest production from Toronto treasure D'bi Young is a Afrofuturistic Dub Opera set in a postapocalyptic Toronto. Part play, part opera, part dub-poetry, it's a powerful and musical journey into the depths of humanity that runs from September 22 - October 9.

Asking for it

This documentary play at the east side's newest theatre looks at gender roles and sexual consent in a post-Ghomeshi scandal landscape. The play, which runs October 5-21 considers sexual consent in all its forms and how we understand it, like it or not. 

Curious incident of the Dog in the Nighttime

Running October 10 - November 19, this Olivier and Tony Award-winning production makes its Toronto debut on a Mirvish stage. Bringing the best selling novel to life, it's a mystery involving a dog, a young boy, and lots of suspense. 

Salt Water Moon

Award winning director Ravi Jain re-imagines David French’s beloved Canadian classic about love, loss, and reconciliation with magical results. This is the Factory Theatre’s critically acclaimed production is on stage for a quick run from October 12 - 29. 

Grease

The musical version of the classic tale of high-school love, that's basically a sing-a-long in itself, finally lands in Toronto. Expect lots of 50s inspired sets, dance numbers and all the songs you already know and love. It runs from November 1 - December 10.

Backbone

This is a new dance and live music show that explores the ‘spine’ of the continents by combining Indigenous dance with jaw-dropping athleticism.  Eight dancers bring to life "the electricity and impulses" of the country's rocky mountainous backbone with impressive  choreography from November 2 - 12.

Disgraced

This limited engagement of this smash hit play about a New York dinner party where conversations get very, very intense will appeal to those who are into heated debates around politics, money and religion. The show runs November 11 - 26 at the Panasonic Theatre. 

Cake

This is a new play written by Donna-Michelle St. Bernard who has won a Dora Award and is a Governor General award nominee. The piece, running November 17 - December 3, is like poetry on stage and is part of the playwright's commitment to create one performance work drawn from each country in Africa.

Map shows how much Toronto condo prices have gone up by TTC stop

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Earlier this week, we told you about a map that estimates the salary you'd need to pay rent on a one-bedroom apartment near a subway station in Toronto.

Today, we have a similar, but more detailed map for condo buyers, sellers and owners.

Realtor Davelle Morrison has been studying the value of both one and two bedroom condos along the subway line for more than a year to help answer the question: "which condos near TTC stations produce the biggest bang for your buck?"

In the case of this map, "along the subway line" means right along the subway line. The criteria for inclusion was that the condos were 0.3km (just 394 steps) from a station.

ttc subway map

Toronto realtor Davelle Morrison crunched the numbers on how solid an investment buying a one or two bedroom condo along the subway line was in 2016. Image by Bosley Real Estate.

As Morrison notes, "some stations don’t have any condos built within the 0.3 km distance." This would include Yorkdale, Dundas West, Queen's Park, Ellesmere, Donlands, and anything else on the map marked with "N/A."

As the map above shows, people who purchased a one-bedroom condo near Kennedy, Lawrence West, Christie, Victoria Park in 2016 fared exceptionally well with more than a 40 per cent return one year later.

Victoria Park was also good to two bedroom condo owners with an increase in value of 49 per cent. Two bedroom condos near Islington saw an even sharper increase of 55 per cent.

Lawrence station had the highest return on the entire subway line for one bedroom units, but Morrison cautions against reading into that number too much.

"The sample size is extremely small as one condo building in the area was just completed so for that reason, I would take this one with a grain of salt and look at the next station with the highest return," she says. "That would be Lawrence West.

Rosedale, Davisville and York Mills fared poorly for both condo sizes. Each saw a decrease in value between two and eleven per cent.

Check out the full map here and let us know if it checks out against your own experience in the comments.

UP Express will soon connect to the TTC at another station

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If you’re not really a fan of pushing luggage over streetcar tracks in the pouring rain for a quarter of a kilometre, you’re in luck.

According to the Toronto Star, Metrolinx will finally move forward with plans to connect the GO Transit/UP Express station with Dundas West TTC Station.

The lack of an indoor connection between the two transit hubs has long been a contentious (and confusing) issue for travellers. Those looking to transfer between the UP Express and the subway are forced to walk almost 270 metres, rain or shine.

Metrolinx’s Anne Marie Aikins noted that negotiations over property partially caused the holdup, but that those negotiations have now been finalized.

An opening date has not been released, but will be after Metrolinx finishes acquiring the property on which the $23-million passageway will be constructed.

Hopefully Metrolinx will be kind enough to build a moving sidewalk, otherwise it may be Spadina station(s) all over again.

Toronto doesn't like the new Shoppers Drug Mart automated checkouts

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You can take the cashier out of the snarky teen, but you can't take the snarky teen out of the cashier.

Shoppers Drug Mart announced this month that it would soon be changing the voice used for its recently-installed, automatic self-checkout machines after lots and lots of negative feedback.

Isn't "less attitude" one of the upsides to replacing people with robots? Like, aside from the fact that robots work for free?

Regardless, some Shoppers customers say they feel "judged" by the imaginary person inside their check-out machine.

Others find her voice "incredibly grating" and say the robot sounds "like a bored drunken teen."

 The most common criticism among customers is that it the checkout speaks with what's called "vocal fry" – a term that's inspired dozens of viral think pieces over the past few years.

Think young women who draw out the ends of words to sound sexyyyyy – or creaky, as some hear it. Think "valley girl." Think Kim Kardashian.

Shoppers has been receiving so many complaints online (and presumably through other means of communication) that the company recently sent the following public message to a customer:

"Thanks  for your tweet! We are currently working on new self-checkout prompts using Canadian talent. Watch out for this in the next month!"

It looks like robots aren't so perfect after all now, are they Shoppers? They may work for free, but they still hold the ability to alienate customers who "don't like [their] tone, young lady."

Ha. Humans: 1, Machines: everything else.

Toronto bar kicks out man for wearing Proud Boys shirt

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This week a Toronto bar kicked out a man for wearing a “Proud Boys” shirt. 

Unlovable, a popular bar on Dundas West, removed the individual last Saturday night after a customer complained about the shirt, which featured a Jack Daniels logo with the words “Proud Boys” in place of “Jack Daniels.”

proud boys jack daniels

The Proud Boys version of a Jack Daniels label, similar to the graphic on the t-shirt worn by the patron at Unlovable bar.

The Proud Boys are a far-right organization founded by Vice Media co-founder Gavin McInnes. While their mission, beliefs, and purpose are all notoriously unclear, they claim to be “pro-West,” and “pro-Trump,” and are often lumped together with the alt-right.

After posting about the incident on Facebook, Unlovable's page has also been flooded with dozens of comments and reviews; many giving one star to complain on behalf of the Proud Boys, and many more with five stars praising the establishment for their hard stance on bigotry and hatred.

Goldie Saljoughi is the bar manager at Unlovable, and the employee who removed the patron Saturday night. She says it was absolutely the right choice, and that she has no regrets.

“We don’t believe in that here,” she says, “my job is to make sure everyone is safe and having fun.”

Part of why the incident was shocking for her, she says, is because Unlovable is a “friendly, neighbourhood bar” that mostly serves a regular crowd.

Saljoughi has been criticized by the man’s girlfriend for throwing them out for being “an interracial couple,” using the shirt as an “excuse,” per her Facebook review. Saljoughi laughs at this and says, “I’m from Iran, I’m not really a racist.”

However, Saljoughi adds that amid the negative backlash, she’s mostly seen positive responses from regulars and those who agree with them.

“The response from our community and customers has been overwhelmingly positive so that has really taken the edge off of the bad reviews.”

Several five-star reviews are from people who have never been to the bar, but are planning to go because their support for Saljoughi and the bar's removal of the patron.

“You can call me rude until the sun comes up but at least you can’t call me a nazi,” Saljoughi says.

Weekend events in Toronto September 22-24 2017

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The first official days of fall arrive this weekend in Toronto and that means events, parties, concerts (like the huge Miguel show in the Port Lands), and markets are all ramping up their game to keep you distracted from summer's demise. 

Events you might want to check out:

Sundown Music Festival (September 22 @ 20 Polson Street)
Squeeze in one last festival before fall truly arrives. This is a 16+ music festival with very special guests The Sorority, Intrinity, Jayemkayem, Sean Leon, The Skins, Joey Badass and headliner, Miguel.
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.
The Drake x Henderson Brewing Block Party (September 24 @ Drake Commissary)
The Drake Commissary teams up with their neighbours for a block party. There will be pop-up artisans including Pixel & Bristle design market, food by Drake Commissary and fresh produce. There'll also be DJs and a bouncy castle.
Pedestrian Sunday September (September 24 @ Kensington Market)
This is 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. 
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.
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.
Feminist Live Reads Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion (September 22 @ TIFF)
A JFL42 collaboration, this is a staged reading of the Romy & Michelle's High School Reunion, with a dream team of Toronto comics, improvisers, writers, and actors at the helm.
TTC Streetcar Shop (September 23 @ 391 Alliance Ave)
The TTC's streetcar overhead shop and car show will feature TTC merch, guided tours, a silent auction, a BBQ and live entertainment. 
Luchafest (September 23 @ El Gordo Fine Foods)
Lucha Libre Wrestling from Mexico comes to Kensington Market so you can experience high-flying, over the top wrestling while enjoying cold drinks and tacos.
Gallery Day (September 23 @ Multiple Venues)
Join Canadian Art editors and contributors for a free day of talks and hour-long tours in galleries all over Toronto. The day kicks off at 1 p.m. at Mercer Union.
Arts of the East (September 23 - January 21 @ Aga Khan Museum)
From lavish textiles and intricately patterned carpets to colourful paintings, polychrome Iznik wares, and precious inlaid metalwork: this is the world premiere of one of the most important private collections of Islamic art.
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. 
13th Annual Stylegarage Sample Sale (September 23 @ 502 Adelaide Street West)
The 13th annual Sample Sale includes a huge assortment of samples, prototypes, scratch and dents, and discontinued beds, sofas, sectionals, chairs, dining, storage, accents, and way more from the local furniture store.
Fall High Park Record Garage Sale (September 23 @ High Park Record Garage Sale)
From 9 a.m. to noon (get there early to get the good stuff!) check out hundreds of records, crates upon crates of vinyl, including an expanded 45s section. Expect tons of indie rock, funk, soul, jazz, Motown and folk.
Etsy Made in Canada (September 23 @ MaRS Discovery District)
Check out 130 top handmade and vintage Canadian Etsy sellers in one place. There'll also be workshops and talks throughout the day.
For The Low Pop-Up Market (September 23 @ Blank Canvas Gallery)
This is a curated market of vintage and handmade clothing, accessories, art and housewares made by local designers. Check out all the quirky and unique items to freshen up your life and look. 
Geary Avenue Flea: Septmeber Edition (September 24 @ 34 Westmoreland Avenue)
Head to one of the coolest streets in TO for delicious eats, craft beers from Blood Brothers Brewing and artisan-made crafts. There'll also be plenty of vintage items from Eclectisaurus, BlackroseVintage, Studio 342 and more.
Food Truck'N Friday (September 22 @ Resurrection Road)
Find this outdoor food truck event just west of  Islington subway station and trucks like Pronto, Canadiana-a-go-go, FeasTO, Heirloom, Bestia and more. 
Get Skewered Pop-Up (September 22 @ Left Field Brewery)
From 4-9 p.m. the Get Skewered food truck parks at this brewery for an evening of tasty, healthy eats like grilled skewers, burgers and vegan burgers.
Urban Swine Sausage Pop-up (September 22 @ Churchill)
The Urban Swine are makers of hand-crafted sausages and they're popping up at Churchill for two nights. They're serving up beer and three flavours of sausage all made from ethically sourced meats and fresh, local ingredients.
The Aleyards Fall BBQ (September 23 @ Rainhard Brewing Co.)
Celebrate the end of Toronto Beer Week with some local food, music and beer from several much-buzzed about breweries.
Scarborough's Oktoberfest (September 23-24 @ Toronto Blue Danube)
Oktoberfest beer, traditional German food, best-dressed contests, games and all kinds of prizes make up this celebration that starts at 5 p.m. There will also be live shows and lots of free samples.
Fried pickle & grilled cheese pop up! (September 24 @ Halo Brewery)
Here you'll find fried pickles and triple decker grilled cheese, with a special guest, the fried pickle dog. Wash it all down with beer from Halo Noon until 7 p.m.
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.
Scorpions (September 22 @ Budweiser Stage)
Need a big night of metal music, lights, smoke and explosions under the stars? Then get to this show from the Scorpions with very special guest Megadeth.
The Crystal Method (September 22 @ The Phoenix Concert Theatre)
Meech & Rynecologist open for chillout electronic masters the Crystal Method.
Dwayne Gretzky does the 00s (September 22-24 @ The Opera House)
Is it Y2K? The launch of the Motorola Razr? Almost! Its Dwayne 2000! Re-live your fav tunes of the 00s without having to download them on Napster via this two-night Dwayne Gretzky extravaganza.
Birds of Bellwoods (September 23 @ Mod Club)
Toronto's Birds of Bellwoods celebrate their new album with an intimate show. The band's frontman also stars in Alias Grace! It's like a two for one deal!
Feist (September 24 @ Massey Hall)
This show is beyond sold out, but try the internet, call a friend, stand outside the venue and try to make it into what is sure to be a beautiful show from Feist.
Beam Me Up Disco Fridays! (September 22 @ The Piston)
Beam Me Up's disco parties now happen every Friday! If you need to dance and sweat it all out, The Patchouli Brothers and Cyclist are here for you with a night of deep disco cuts.
Rude presents ALT (September 22 @ Gladstone Hotel)
The RUDE collective feels it necessary to say and do something about the recent events in Charlottesville, so they're throwing this sick dance party to raise awareness, money and bring people together.
Fit (September 22 @ The Beaver)
A special Friday Night Fit means a good old sweaty dance party on one of the smallest but greatest dance floors in the West end. It's also a salute to all the sexy men of the film industry.
Saddle Up! (September 22-23 @ Owl's Club)
Dance to Dolly, Waylon, Shania and and the rest of your honky-tonk favourites at a legion hall at Dovercourt & Bloor. Featuring a 10:30 pm live set by Terry Savage & The Wonky Honkees.
The Big Sound (September 22 @ The Great Hall)
Toronto's biggest Motown and classic soul revue featuring a huge live band (30 musicians on stage!) and DJ Wes Allen during breaks. You won't dance this hard the rest of the year.
Wimmin queer rock and punk dance party (September 22 @ Less Bar)
To help celebrate the opening weekend of Less Bar: a queer-friendly, queer-run venue from local hero Carmen Elle, this is a heavy, queer rock n' roll dance party, featuring music by only female and gender-expansive rockers.
Jennifer Lopez Tribute (September 23 @ Glad Day Bookshop)
Calling All J LO Fans! It's a night dedicated to the Latin diva with Jennifer Lopez hits all night from DJ Crazygirl, Maggy and drag performances.
Fancy Footwork (September 23 @ The Piston)
Daft Punk vs Blondie, Chromeo vs Parliament and AlunaGeorge vs Duran Duran all clash during this party that celebrates indie dance, nu disco, funk and new wave. DJs Mista Jiggz and Mike Don't and Mix Chopin spin all night.
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.
JFL42 (September 21-30 @ Sony Centre for the Performing Arts)
The comedy festival runs all weekend with show from Ali Wong and a live reading of Romi and Michelle's High School reunion.
Toronto Beer Week (September 15-23 @ Multiple Venues)
TBW continues to invade pubs, bars and breweries around the city this weekend, include some tap takeovers and a beer and street food party in the Junction.
Toronto Palestine Film Festival (September 20-24 @ TIFF)
Catch some award-winning and Canadian premieres at this unique film fest taking over the Lightbox.

House of the week: 29 Blyth Dale Road

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The area around Sherwood Park is marked by some of Toronto's nicest homes. The streets that run south from Blythwood Rd. are particularly nice when it comes to residential architecture, as evidenced by this contemporary home found at 29 Blyth Dale Rd

29 Blyth Dale Road TorontoIt doesn't look particularly glamorous from the street, but once inside, the interior shines with open spaces and vertical corridors that cast light from the second floor to the basement. This is a well designed home if there ever was one.

29 Blyth Dale Road TorontoIn place of ostentatious luxury, you'll find features that are about livability, like en suites in multiple bedrooms, walk-out balconies, and a basement that feels like a main floor. There is, however, a backyard pool that totally vibes with the over $5 million price tag. 

29 Blyth Dale Road TorontoSpecs
  • Address: 29 Blyth Dale Rd.
  • Price: $5,250,000
  • Lot Size: 51 x 150 feet
  • Bedrooms: 4 + 1
  • Bathrooms: 5
  • Parking: 4
  • Walk Score: 47
  • Transit Score: 68
  • Listing agent: Barry Cohen
  • Listing ID: C3923624
29 Blyth Dale Road TorontoGood For

Someone who founded a company that just had an IPO. Lawrence Park real estate prices aren't for the faint of heart. A big family would really benefit from the design features here.

29 Blyth Dale Road TorontoMove On If

Transit access matters. The location has lots of upside, but walkability and proximity to the TTC aren't on the list.

29 Blyth Dale Road Toronto29 Blyth Dale Road Toronto29 Blyth Dale Road Toronto29 Blyth Dale Road Toronto29 Blyth Dale Road Toronto29 Blyth Dale Road Toronto29 Blyth Dale Road Toronto29 Blyth Dale Road Toronto29 Blyth Dale Road Toronto29 Blyth Dale Road Toronto29 Blyth Dale Road Toronto

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


A huge canoe museum is being built near Toronto

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The Canadian Canoe Museum has just announced plans for a stunning new location that's sure to prove a major tourist attraction. Currently located in downtown Peterborough, the museum will be moving near the famous lift locks on the Trent-Severn Waterway by Ashburnham Dr.

The new location will allow the museum to undergo a major expansion, which includes a beautiful architectural vision that'll integrate the museum with the waterway the river banks.

canadian canoe museum

A view from the lift locks shows the Museum's low height. Photo from The Canadian Canoe Museum.

The new design includes a green roof, a low profile to reduce environmental impact, and a walkway along the water. On the inside, the gallery will also include large public gathering spaces, with fare more room for cultural programming.

canadian canoe museum

A render shows the green roof of the Museum. Photo from The Canadian Canoe Museum.

Naturally, the riverfront location will also allow for on-water programming, something that very few museums will ever be able to offer. When it's up and running, you can bet it's going to be a popular day trip destination from Toronto.

The Canadian Canoe Museum is home to 600 canoes and kayaks, along with thousands of other artifacts that explore Canadian history.

Dancing cop now on Toronto Police's wanted list

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Video footage of a man dressed like a police officer dancing has been making the rounds in Toronto this week, and now it appears to have hit the real cops.

They are not pleased.

The video first surfaced on Monday in multiple Facebook groups. Filmed Saturday, it shows the man dancing in traffic at the intersection of Bloor and Christie.

A GIF made from the video was subsequently posted to Reddit, where the person who capture the scene asked for help in finding additional footage.

Fake Toronto Dancing Cop Causes Accident

According to OP, the "fake cop" caused a real accident between a taxi and an SUV driver "by motioning them to both proceed through the intersection."

The dancing man is said to have been accompanied by a film crew, which took off running with him when the crash happened.

Unfortunately for us, OP stopped filming just before the cars collided, "but there were soooo many people filming, someone had to have gotten the actual accident on camera."

The poster did get a photo of the immediate aftermath, though.

fake dancing cop

This person who posted this photo to Imgur says that it shows what happened after the fake dancing cop waved two vehicles through the intersection at once.

We don't know if additional footage has materialized, but Toronto Police are now seeking help in locating the man as part of an "impersonating peace officer investigation."

"On Saturday, September 16, 2017, at 6:15 p.m., police received a call for a Property Damage Collision in the Bloor Street West and Christie Street area," the release reads.

"It is reported that a man dressed in a police officer’s uniform was directing traffic while dancing," it continues. "Investigation has revealed that a collision which occurred between two vehicles was as a result of the man's attempt at directing traffic."

The police department's description of the man indicates that cops really don't like it when citizens bite their style.  

It states that, among other things, the man was wearing a police hat, a police uniform shirt and "a police vest with 'POLICE' written on the front."

Toronto food events: Drake Block Party, Oktoberfest, BBQ pop-ups

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Food events in Toronto this week include a handful of fun pop-up events, an underwater BBQ, and the beginning of Oktoberfest celebrations for the year. It might still be hot outside, but that's no reason to starve yourself. Eat up!

Events you might want to check out:

Food Truck'N Friday (September 22 @ Resurrection Road)
Find this outdoor food truck event just west of Islington subway station with trucks like Pronto, Canadiana-a-go-go, FeasTO, Heirloom, Bestia and more. 
Get Skewered Pop-Up (September 22 @ Left Field Brewery)
From 4-9 p.m. the Get Skewered food truck parks at this brewery for an evening of tasty, healthy eats like grilled skewers, burgers and vegan burgers.
Urban Swine Sausage Pop-up (September 22 @ Churchill)
The Urban Swine are makers of hand-crafted sausages, and they're popping up at Churchill for two nights. They're serving up beer and three flavours of sausage all made from ethically sourced meats and fresh, local ingredients.
The Aleyards Fall BBQ (September 23 @ Rainhard Brewing Co.)
Celebrate the end of Toronto Beer Week with some local food, music and beer from several much-buzzed about breweries.
Beer & Street Food (September 23 @ 3030 Dundas West)
This is a small batch beer Festival with 20 beers perfectly paired with food.
Scarborough's Oktoberfest (September 23-24 @ Toronto Blue Danube)
Oktoberfest beer, traditional German food, best-dressed contests, games and all kinds of prizes make up this celebration that starts at 5 p.m. There will also be live shows and lots of free samples.
Fried pickle & grilled cheese pop up! (September 24 @ Halo Brewery)
Here you'll find fried pickles and triple decker grilled cheese, with a special guest, the fried pickle dog. Wash it all down with beer from Halo Noon until 7 p.m.
The Drake x Henderson Brewing Block Party (September 24 @ Drake Commissary)
The Drake Commissary teams up with their neighbours for a block party. There will be pop-up artisans including Pixel & Bristle design market, food by Drake Commissary and fresh produce. There'll also be DJs and a bouncy castle.
Soupalicious Toronto (September 24 @ Artscape Wychwood Barns)
Sip, slurp and savour local harvests and culinary soup creations from Toronto chefs and restaurants from noon to 3 p.m.
Otto's Oktoberfest (September 25 - October 2 @ Otto's Bierhalle)
Check out a full lineup of Oktoberfest draft options with German and local craft breweries, and stein specials all week. There'll be DJ nights on weekends (more Berlin vibes, than traditional Bavarian).
Octo-berfest (September 28 @ Ripley's Aquarium of Canada)
Raise your stein under water for a night of live music, craft beer, sausages, pretzels and a lesson in drinking upside down with the Oktoberfest King, entertainer George Kash.
Oktoberfest (September 29 - October 10 @ Amsterdam BrewHouse)
This celebration runs over two weeks and each night will feature an authentic Oktoberfest menu and limited edition beer steins. There will be live music on the weekends.
Toronto Oktoberfest (September 29-30 @ Ontario Place)
Join 6,000 people at the city's largest Oktoberfest. This massive two-day party celebrates Bavarian heritage with food, beer, music, and a fun fair modelled after the original Munich event.
Gladstone Hotel Presents Oktoberfest! (September 29 @ Gladstone Hotel)
Dust off your dirndl or lederhosen as this hotel bar is transformed into an ole fashioned German beer hall featuring two performances by your favourite Bavarian Queens, other live music, and steins of beer.
Oktoberfest Party (September 30 @ Mill Street Beer Hall)
There will be 18 beers on tap including their signature Oktoberfest beer at this Mill Street event. Fill up on Bavarian fare with the one-night-only special menu. German-themed entertainment is also promised.

The Best Hotel Bars in Toronto

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The best hotel bars in Toronto definitely aren’t just for tourists. These spots have tons to offer locals as well, including excellent drinks and rare spirits, unique atmospheres for celebrating special occasions and even incredible views of the city that make us proud to call it home.

Here are the best hotel bars in Toronto.

10 - Roof Lounge

Found 18 floors above swank Yorkville, the Roof Lounge at the Park Hyatt offers luxe surrounds and well-made classic or custom cocktails to accompany the main attraction – possibly one of the city’s best lookouts. Long-time resident bartender Joe Gomes has retired, but the panoramic view of the Toronto skyline remains just as breathtaking as ever.
6 - Do Not Disturb

Blink and you might miss the Beverly Hotel on Queen West. Do Not Disturb, the casual-chic restaurant and bar on the lobby level, serves up delicious food and drink, but it’s also worth the hike up to the rooftop bar in the summer to enjoy expertly crafted drinks.
4 - The Rooftop at the Broadview Hotel

Props to the east side; the west may have The Drake, but Riverside has the Broadview. This historic, century-old building was transformed from an infamous strip club (RIP, Jilly’s) to a luxury boutique hotel, and the difference is astounding. The lobby bar is beautiful, but the rooftop bar is particularly stunning, with indoor and outdoor seating areas and gorgeous views of the skyline (and construction cranes).
9 - Ritz Bar

Having shifted from sushi to a modern Peruvian concept, the Ritz Bar at the Ritz Carlton on Wellington West offers elevated, tapas-style street food and pisco-based cocktails aplenty. If you’ve got a wad of Bordens to spend, then sip on The 6ix, touted as “Toronto’s most luxurious cocktail,” with Louix XIII cognac, Johnnie Walker Blue Label scotch and Antica Formula sweet vermouth, at $600 a pop.
5 - Thompson Hotel Toronto

Known for its iconic view of the CN Tower from its infinity pool in the summer and panoramic views of the city year-round, the exclusive Rooftop Lounge (access is for hotel guests and lounge members) at this boutique hotel at Wellington and Bathurst is well worth a visit. If you can’t make it to the rooftop, there’s always the Lobby Bar with daily drink specials or, on weekends, bottle service at the basement nightlife lounge Wildflower.
11 - The Lobby Bar at Bisha Hotel

This hotel-condo hybrid by nightclub impresario Charles Khabouth was a long time coming, but now that it’s here, it hasn’t failed to impress. A velvet-curtained lobby bar and lounge prove to be sleek and luxurious, but the main attraction is Kost, the Baja-inspired rooftop restaurant and bar that boasts an infinity pool and jaw-dropping views of the entire city.
3 - Drake Hotel

A genuine Toronto success story, this boutique hotel on West Queen West is a true original. There are a few bars in the building, from the subterranean Underground that hosts live music to the ground-floor Lounge with weekly themed events. The highlight, however, is the Sky Yard – a huge rooftop bar with top-notch cocktails and an artsy, party vibe.
7 - Library Bar

An old fashioned bar for an old fashioned hotel. Located inside the historic Fairmont Royal York across from Union Station, this quintessential hotel bar features a whisky library with a constantly evolving selection of rare single malt whiskies. They're also know for their martinis.
8 - Gladstone Melody Bar

Just down the street from The Drake is the equally artistic (but arguably more bohemian) Gladstone Hotel, with its unique, artist-designed rooms in a restored landmark Victorian building. Its Melody Bar hosts fun weekly events like music bingo, live music and legendary weekend karaoke nights.

Sold! Hyper modern Toronto mansion goes for $6.5 million

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You won't find many homes in Toronto nicer than 4 Shady Oaks Crescent, a modern masterpiece that sits just off the Bridle Path. While there might be more luxurious pads nearby, the architecture here puts most mega-houses to shame.

4 shady oaks crescentThe U-shape design essentially creates two wings, which offers plenty of opportunities for seclusion within the home, but also a significant amount of visual interest both inside and out. The central courtyard feels more like something you'd see on a campus than in a backyard.

4 shady oaks crescentI'm particularly fond of the massive cathedral ceiling that rises from the living room. It lends a completely airy vibe to both the first and second floors. Given that there's 8,000 square feet of space, I doubt there was much concern about sacrificing floor area on the second level.

4 shady oaks crescentThere are no less than three living spaces here, ranging form the more formal and dramatic first floor sitting area to the relaxed upstairs lounge. You could have a huge party here without even bothering somebody hanging out on the opposite side of the house.

4 shady oaks crescentThe long wine cellar might be the most overt sign of luxury here (though the pool would be a close second), but for my money it's the television in the closet off the master bedroom that underscores just how outlandish and unreachable homes like this are for most of us.

4 shady oaks crescentThe Essentials
4 shady oaks crescentWhy it sold for what it did

It sold for over $700K for under-asking, but that's not entirely surprising with a property like this one. It hit the market in June and was snatched up in September. That's not too bad for a house of this pedigree.

4 shady oaks crescent torontoWas it worth it?

Yes. The buyer took advantage of a real estate market that was losing steam right around the time that this house was listed. Given the status conferred by the location and the architectural merits here, this one might even be considered a deal.

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4 shady oaks crescent

Prince Harry has arrived in Toronto

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The royals have arrived in Toronto! Prince Harry was seen in the city early this morning for the beginning of the Invictus Games. He arrived in the Financial District surrounded by handlers and security, but those passing by spotting him and quickly yielded their phones.

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Harry created the games in 2014 and continues to be their biggest supporter, as a military veteran and as part of his work with wounded service members.

The games were founded as a sporting event to help rehabilitate and support sick, or injured service members from the militaries of 17 countries. Over 550 athletes are competing this year.

Speculation is mounting that Prince Harry will be set to make his first official public appearance with his girlfriend, Suits actress Meghan Markle, who lives in the city. The two have been dating for about a year or more, and many believe a marriage proposal is on the horizon.

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Part of Harry’s visit to Canada also includes a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Governor General David Johnston, and First Lady of the United States Melania Trump.

The Invictus games kick off Saturday and run until September 30.

That time when Toronto had the greatest playground ever

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Once upon a time, Toronto offered up a unique life experience for young people called Adventure Playground, the likes of which could never happen again. Perhaps you're old enough to remember it or know someone who's told tales about how amazing it was?

From 1974 until the mid-1980s, Adventure Playground (located at the foot of Bathurst Street on the grounds of Harbourfront) allowed children to build amazing structures restricted only by their own imagination.

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Used tires, plywood, cans of paint — just some of the things on offer on at Adventure Playground.

They were given hammers, nails, saws, assorted tools, metal shovels, and unlimited amounts of lumber to go hog-wild constructing buildings, bridges, forts, houses, dog houses, and whatever else they desired.

There was a garden, a fire-pit, and a water supply. It was a mini-civilization, a shanty town on Bathurst — devised, designed, constructed and lorded over by kids.

For children under six, there was a sister site called the Creative Playground which featured large building blocks, painting stations, costumes and crafts.

creative playground toronto

The Creative Playground wasn't quite as wild as its sibling, but it still offered a unique experience for kids under six.

So-called “Adventure Playgrounds” had been all the rage in Europe, dating back to the 1940s when Danish landscape designer C. Th. Sorensen envisioned and popularized a “junk playground in which children could create, shape, and dream and imagine a reality.” 

In 1974 upon the opening of Harbourfront, a professor of landscape design from the University of Toronto named Bill Rock had pitched the concept of a “Junk Playground” to be created at the bottom of Bathurst Street.

Michael Moffat, one of Rock’s students, took on the project and navigated it through completion, even starting a non-profit organization (“Adventure Education Concept”) to keep it properly staffed and funded.

Although the project was guided by a healthy dose of 1960s idealism, there was the very real challenge of maintaining law and order in a situation that might quickly dissolve into Lord of the Flies with shovels and hammers. Children were supervised, and their buildings were inspected regularly for safety codes (no doubt liberally applied).

adventure playground toronto

Those who visited Adventure Playground will remember how amazing some of the self-built structures were.

Guests of Adventure Playground were easily split into two tribes – the regulars, kids who lived nearby and attended the playground daily, and the visitors, usually school groups, Harbourfront day campers or daycare wards.

As you might imagine, tension often arose when the visitors interfered with anything created by the regulars (whose work usually included “KEEP OUT - REGULARS ONLY!” signage).

Most children who spent time at the Park recall the basic survival skills they learned, all the more amazing in an urban setting. Sure, there were fights, hurt feelings, cuts, and bruises but these were off-set by a strong feeling of independence and accomplishment. At the end of each summer, structures were judged and awards were doled out. 

Imagining such a place in today’s litigious and overprotective climate is simply beyond belief. While injuries were no doubt commonplace, they were accepted as part of the experience, just like rope burns or skinned knees at Ontario Place’s Children’s Village.

In the early 1980s, the Playground was forced to move from Bathurst to a space next to the Fort York Armory due to the construction of Little Norway Park. The new space was a paved parking lot, so many of Adventure Park’s lusher offerings were scrapped.

adventure playground torontoGone were the gardens, the water, and the fire-pit. While both Adventure Playground and Creative Playground were featured more prominently in Harbourfront’s marketing, truth be told it was never really the same.

Attitudes about safety and accountability were changing too, and as you might imagine there were a legion of legal entities salivating at the prospect of taking on this most dangerous playground. An unfortunate incident occurred in the 1980s when a child broke into the grounds late at night and injured himself.

His parents retained counsel, and the legal eagles descended like locusts. Not surprisingly, Adventure Playground was soon closed for good.

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The site of the original Adventure Playground as it looks today. Photo by William Kimber.

Anyone who ever attended Adventure Playground, albeit on a short or long visit, no doubt carries vivid memories of it through life. It was a fleeting moment of absolute freedom; to not only imagine and create physical structures, but to govern them as well.

Being handed a saw and a 2x4 was empowering, and while technology now allows young people to create and dominate virtual worlds, it’s not quite the same thrill.

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


Nathan Phillips Square just got tennis courts

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Nathan Phillips Square is currently being turned into a sports venue for tomorrow's Invictus Games. Two tennis courts have been constructed in place of the water feature that's best known as the city's busiest skating rink in the winter.

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The western court sits in front of the Toronto sign. Photo by blogTO.

The courts will be used for the wheelchair tennis games for Invictus. The tennis matches take place over the weekend, starting tomorrow and ending Monday with the finals. 

Wheelchair tennis functions similarly to regular standing tennis, but with one key difference. Players may allow the ball to bounce twice on their side before returning it to the opponent. 

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The easternmost court had Team Australia practising for tomorrow's preliminaries. Photo by blogTO. 

The Invictus organizers have also added the slogan of the games, "I AM" above the Toronto sign to form a new statement. You can bet that's going to be a popular spot for photo ops over the coming days.

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The Toronto sign receives a small addition. Photo by blogTO. 

Early this morning, Team Australia could be spotted practicing on the new courts. Wheelchair tennis preliminaries begin tomorrow at noon.

This unreal cliff system is just one hour from Toronto

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You could spend a lifetime in Southern Ontario and still not discover much less visit all of its various natural gems, but fall is the ideal time to make a go at knocking places off your provincial bucket list. 

Here's a suggestion for a place to add: Mono Cliffs Provincial Park. Located on the Niagara Escarpment, this series of rock faces, crags, trails, and lookouts is one of the best places near Toronto to take in the majesty of fall colours at their peak. 

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The vista from the viewing platform at the Cliff Top Trail is particularly memorable, as it juts out from the edge and offers a panoramic view of the dense foliage below. This is pretty much heaven for leaf peepers.

It's not all about the sweeping views, though. Another favourite spot in the park is the 100 foot stairway that snakes its way down the cliff to a wooden bridge that runs right through two rock faces. Both features are completely photo-worthy.

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Mono Cliffs is a day-use park only, so you don't need to worry about not getting a permit. The primary activities here are hiking and biking, which helps a bit with crowd control during peak foliage season. It's still busy, but not quite so hectic as other popular fall lookouts.

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All told, there are eight trails at the park, as well as connections to the larger Bruce Trail. The longest of these — the Walter Tovell Trail — is just shy of five kilometres. In other words, this isn't a place to engage in epic physical exertion. It's all about the natural landscape and the stunning views.

This 1km Ontario trail has thousands of elaborately carved pumpkins

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Get yourself ready for Halloween with this spooky yet beautiful display of over 7,000 hand-carved pumpkins. 

Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg, Ontario will be hosting their annual Pumpkinferno event starting next weekend. This year, the festivities will be themed around the Canada 150 celebrations. 

The walking path through the amazing jack-o'-lanterns is about one kilometre in length and takes about 40 minutes to explore, according to the event's organizers. This is nothing like your local pumpkin parade.

This year's exhibits will feature works showing the history of Canada, the country's natural beauty, and a replica of our solar system carved from pumpkins. Other must-see pieces include a dragon's lair and a tribute to Dia de los Muertos.

Pumpkinferno began in 2012 when a group of artists set out to showcase their work pumpkin-style. Since then, the exhibit has grown to the 7,000 pieces in the park today. 

If you're looking for some pumpkin carving ideas, or just to bask in the eye-catching glow of this massive display, a trip out of the city might be the perfect Halloween plan. The event runs until October 29. Admission is $15.95.

There's a huge butter tart festival near Toronto this weekend

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What better way to kick off the fall season than with an entire warehouse full of butter tarts?

This Saturday, you and your sweet tooth can taste up to 50 different kinds of the classic Canadian treat at the largest event of its kind in our province: The 2017 Kawarthas Northumberland Butter Tart Taste-Off.

Hosted at the Peterborough Farmer's Market, the annual event will see professional butter tart makers from all over Northumberland County and the Kawartha Lakes area compete to win the hearts of celebrity chefs – and the taste buds of tart fans like you.

"Our bakers are bringing MORE tarts than ever before!," reads a description of the event on Facebook."That means more space, fewer lines, and better access."

Food Network Chef David Adjey will be judging a competition for "the best up-and-coming chef's creation." A new category of specialty butter tarts called the "Canadiana Collection" will also be added to the taste-off this year.

The massive taste-off begins this Saturday at 9 a.m., but don't fret if you can't make it – the event is actually part of a year-round butter tart tour that you can take at your own pace, any time. And it's just one hour from Toronto.

butter tart tour

The Kawarthas Northumberland Butter Tart Tour bills itself as "Ontario’s largest immersion in the flaky goodness that is the iconic Canadian butter tart." Photo: buttertarttour.ca

"With over 50 stops on the Tour, there's dozens of different places to visit and as many versions to sample," reads the tour's website. "Really wish to sink your sweet tooth into it? We've designed the Butter Tart Tour into four tasty bite-size servings that can be easily done over two or three days."

The impressive, self-guided tour is offered year-round, with participating bakeries, cafes and restaurants baking up fresh tarts daily.

You can download the full tour map and brochure here, but I suggest you have something sweet in-hand while checking it out. Your mouth will water, no ifs ands or but(ter tart)s.

Win passes to an advance screening of Rebel In The Rye

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