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The best poutine in Toronto takes three basic ingredients – fries, cheese curds and gravy – and transforms them into a magical mess of savoury deliciousness. Whether it’s presented in its traditional form or embellished with other additional toppings, this quintessential Quebecois-Canadian dish is the ultimate comfort food.
Here is the best poutine in Toronto.
7 - Leslieville Pumps![]()
Famous for its BBQ sandwiches, this gas station stop at Queen & Carlaw also makes some mean poutine with hand-cut fries and orange-and-white Ontario curds topped with gravy and jus from the smoker. Get them loaded with pulled pork, beef brisket or baked beans.
10 - Knuckle Sandwich![]()
Specializing in flavourful gourmet sandwiches on Coxwell Ave. in East York, this casual place run by two childhood friends who live in the ‘hood offers up a classic poutine with fries and real cheese curds smothered in dark lager gravy that’s simple and straight-up tasty.
8 - Fresco's Fish and Chips (St. Clair)![]()
A wonderful fish & chip spot with two locations, the original in Kensington Market and the other on St. Clair West. Poutines come in the traditional Quebec style, or topped with meat or vegetarian chili. Eaters of all kinds are also accommodated with a choice of white cheddar cheese curds or Daiya cheese, which is dairy-, lactose-, gluten- and casein-free, along with the option of mushroom gravy for vegans.
9 - Sea Witch Fish and Chips![]()
In some ways, it makes sense that a fish & chip shop would make excellent poutine. This St. Clair West joint offers both regular poutine and a fish variation, which marries both traditional poutine with battered and deep-fried nuggets of haddock.
5 - Smoke's Poutinerie (Liberty Village)![]()
Variations and topping options are almost endless at this franchise’s many locations in the city. From butter or jerk chicken to Philly cheesesteak and even a handful of veggie poutines, you’ll definitely be tempted to stray from the traditional here.
6 - Holy Chuck Burgers![]()
This high-low burger joint at Yonge & St. Clair lives up to its reputation for mixing the simple with the obscenely indulgent by offering up a straightforward, classic poutine with crispy, hand-cut fries, real Quebec cheese curds and gravy alongside a baller’s version topped with fresh white truffles and foie gras. The latter may just be the city’s most expensive poutine.
11 - BQM Ossington![]()
An acronym for Beer & Quality Meats, this burger shoppe with locations on Ossington, King West and in Riverside makes a trio of poutines: the classic, with Quebec curds and house-made beef gravy, and meatier versions with caramelized onions and your choice of beef or bacon.
3 - Nom Nom Nom Poutine![]()
Squeaky, house-made cheese curds are an impressive part of the dozen or so types of poutine offered inside this small shipping container that's part of Market 707 on Dundas St. W. Along with vegetarian gravy imported from Quebec and red-potato fries, you can choose to get a “cheesy” version of the “traditional” with double the curds, or even go “half & half,” with half fries and half curds.
4 - Poutini's (King West)![]()
Both locations – one on West Queen West and the other on King West – of this house of poutine offer ample choices for this popular post-bar indulgence. Beef, veggie or gluten-free gravy is available to top over hand-cut, skin-on fries and fresh cheese curds, plus vegans can get in on the fun with Daiya cheese and vegan gravy. Bacon, pulled pork or smoked meat are tempting additions for the meat-inclined.
Remember when David Mirvish announced his plan to turn the Princess of Wales Theatre into a series of sky high, Frank Gehry-designed super condos on King Street West?
That's still happening – albeit on a smaller scale – but Mirvish himself is no longer at the helm.
The theatre tycoon and son of "Honest" Ed Mirvish announced this week that Great Gulf would be taking over his ambitious Mirvish+Gehry landmark project after purchasing the site for an undisclosed amount of money.
Big architectural and development news as @greatgulf acquires Mirvish + Gehry 92 & 82 story project in #Toronto https://t.co/L2uch2Gw0P pic.twitter.com/Ujd5ODADzq
— Mike CollinsWilliams (@mikejcw) October 2, 2017
"In Great Gulf we have selected a developer who is capable of executing Frank Gehry’s vision, and will work well with him to bring the project to realization," said Mirvish in a press release announcing the sale.
"I believe the project will do honour to the history of the people in the city who built it to what it is today and will continue to project Toronto’s possibilities onto the world stage."
With two condo towers ranging in height from 82 to 92 stories, the development at King and Duncan Streets will still feature the tallest residential structures in all of Canada.
Developers also say that Frank Gehry is still on board, which is great news for Toronto's entertainment district. Our city could definitely benefit from more of the celebrated Canadian architect's flourish.
The don't build homes like they used to in Toronto, and that's a very good thing when it comes to maximizing usable living space. This recent build at 34 Durie St. in Swansea is a good example of how a contemporary design gets to the most out of a modest plot size.
Listed at just under $2.1 million, the house seems a bit undersized for that price tag at first glance. The key here, however, is the way that the lower level works. In place of a full family room space on the main floor, the light-filled bottom floor adds loads of appealing living space.
This is no basement. On the contrary, it's designed to be one of the central gathering places in the home with sizeable sliding doors that directly access the backyard. This isn't just additional square footage, but an aesthetically pleasing space the looks like a main floor.
With the main family area on the lower level, the main floor is designed in a completely open manner than makes it feel entirely spacious. You could easily imagine hosting a sizeable party given all the open space.
Upstairs, the layout is predictable but smart with a moderately sized master bedroom opening up a bit more space for the other rooms. There's still a nice walk-in closet and slick en-suite to ensure that all the creature comforts are covered for someone shelling out $2+ million.
Specs
Address: 34 Durie St.
Price: 2,099,000
Lot Size: 25 x 90 feet
Bedrooms: 3 + 1
Bathrooms: 4
Parking: 2
Walk Score: 86
Transit Score: 86
Listing agent: Tatiana Sidorova
Listing ID: W3940696
Good For
This house will have wide appeal to anyone searching listings in this price bracket. It's nice to look at but also well designed enough to stand up to the practical needs of a family of five or more.
Move On If
Contemporary architecture isn't a priority. As much as the design is a good one, you're also paying for the look here, and not everyone will be as enamoured with the hyper modern, open concept design.
Thanks to Bosley Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage for sponsoring our house of the week. All editorial written and selected by blogTO.
As temperatures begin to cool off in Toronto many seasonal businesses - especially, ice cream related ones - are going into hibernation until the spring.
While some may be closing up shop, one Little Tokyo spot has decided to change things up for the colder months.
Fugo Desserts is already well known for over the top ice cream creations and churro loops but soon they'll be taking on mini donuts.
A post shared by Fugo Desserts (@fugodesserts) on Sep 25, 2017 at 7:52pm PDT
Last week they closed their doors to prepare for their menu. This means outfitting the store to crank out huge volumes of mini donuts.
Fugo plans to reopen sometime after Thanksgiving and when they do they'll be doing twists on the Tiny Tom's classic including cinnamon sugar coated, maple bacon, cookies and cream and even a Homer Simpson inspired mini donut decked out in pink frosting and sprinkles.
A post shared by Fugo Desserts (@fugodesserts) on Jan 28, 2017 at 12:56pm PST
In addition to mini donuts, Fugo will be serving brew by Propeller Coffee as well as many of their most popular menu offerings from the past.
It's that time of year again. We're opening the poll to 15 new best of categories including burgers, crepes, pasta, ramen, wine bars, spinning studios and more. Voting ends on Tuesday October 5 at midnight.
Take the poll here
Church Street is hands down the best place to celebrate Halloween in Toronto, especially if you want to show off a costume.
The massive, 100 per cent free block party is back again this year on Oct. 31st, and in honour of the occasion, The Village is shutting down six blocks of Church Street for a pedestrian-only boulevard of spooky fun.
Starting at 6:30 p.m., the block party is expecting thousands of Halloween revelers.
"Grab your friends, grab your costume and grab a spot in the action," reads an event listing for the party. "The Village’s shops, cafés and bars will be bumping all night long"
Interested? Get working on that costume and join in the fun. You'll find live DJs, tons of friendly people, and some seriously next-level Halloween attire.
As the seasons change from summer to fall for some it might be time for a career change as well. It's not always an easy task to switch careers, or find one in the first place. It's a good thing then that quite a few job fairs are taking place around the city this month. Here are some noteworthy ones.
Events you might want to check out:
Here's the thing about tipping: nobody is forced to do it unless they're eating at one of those "automatic gratuity added for large parties" restaurants.
If a law existed mandating that we tip our servers, hairdressers, cab drivers and delivery workers a certain amount of money, the point of throwing in a little something extra for excellent service would be lost.
But life would be so much easier.
Tipping comes as second nature to most people in Toronto. We don't think twice about tacking on some extra cash to our bills after dinner, but what about after a great massage? Or valet service? Or when an employee at your favourite burrito joint looks longingly at an empty tip jar on the counter in front of her and then sighs?
Deciding on how much to tip can be a challenge, too. If you found this article while frantically searching the web for tips on how much to tip the nail tech who gave you French tips, you know what I mean.
Here's a guide on giving gratuities in Toronto, from the everyday to the not-so-obvious.
Restaurant Servers
A lot of people hold firm that the universal standard is 15 per cent of one's bill, though some will argue that 20 per cent is more appropriate. A few restaurants have even experimented with forbidding tips altogether but this trend has largely fizzled out.
The riddle has become a bit easier to solve now that restaurants send debit and credit machines to tables with pre-determined tip options.
Generally, if the options are 15 per cent, 18 per cent and 20 per cent, the highest number means "excellent service." You can tip below 15 per cent "if you aren't particularly satisfied, or you thought the service was just ok," according to international travel database WhoToTip. "If the service is awful, talk to the manager."
Bartenders
"15 per cent for good service, more for excellent service - or what's easier is to just round up. A round of drinks $34? Round up to $40. Glass of wine $7? Leave a $10," says Karen Cleveland of Manners Are Sexy.
Depending on how much work went into the order, tossing a loonie on the bar "might be under-tipping, big time."
Takeout
There's no obligation to put cash in a tip jar, Cleveland confirms. "Table service, yup, you're tipping. Take out? Only if you're feeling it." And yes, that includes Starbucks and indie cafes.
Food delivery
Canadians are generally expected to tip between 5 per cent and 10 per cent for food delivery services, according to WhoToTip, but if an order arrives exceptionally quickly or the driver goes above and beyond, bumping it up to 15 per cent will be appreciated.
For pizza delivery, Emily Post's guidelines suggest $2-5, depending on order size and delivery difficulty.
Movers
Cleveland advocates a higher-than-average bracket of 20 per cent, as movers perform incredibly tough and labour-intensive work. If they take a chunk out of your armoire, however, that's a different story.
Cabs and Uber
Cleveland suggests sticking with the standard 15% - "an extra buck or two if they help you load your stuff in."
Valets
"If you choose to valet instead of parking your own car, you should absolutely tip a few dollars when you pick the car back up," writes finance guru Dave Ramsey. "Have you seen how fast those guys run?" Cleveland suggests between $2 and $5.
Hotel staff
Tracy Ford, director of public relations at the Chelsea Hotel, says that tipping isn't expected at hotels, but that there are certain conventions guests tend to follow.
For bellmen, doormen and valets, patrons usually give anywhere between $3 and $5. Cleveland says the accepted tip for housekeeping staff is about $2 to $5 per night, depending on their service.
Bathroom attendants
When visiting the bathroom in a fancy nightclub, it's customary to tip the person handing you towels – but only if you're comfortable doing so.
Bathroom attendants often have various toiletries on hand for guests to use. Tipping is definitely appreciated if you use some hairspray, pop a piece of gum or "borrow" a safety pin.
Estheticians
Somewhere between 10-20 per cent is typical for spa treatments like facials, though people often tend to tip better for waxing according to Saul's Beauty Shop owner Eliss Halina. If the owner is the one doing your services, however, she says you don't have to tip them; "that's the practice across the board."
Hair stylists
The 15 per cent rule applies here, too, though Cleveland stresses that if different people are doing your shampoo, cut and colour, they should each be tipped separately. Fodor's Travel suggests tipping up to 20% of the total bill for barbers and hairdressers.
Masseuses
The "15 per cent is standard, 20 per cent is generous" rule applies with masseuses as well, Halina says. She notes that registered massage therapists (RMTs) who work out of clinics don't accept tips, but those who work in spas are "not opposed".
Manicurists
Halina finds manicurists tend to be tipped less than other estheticians - but since manicures are often cheap, don't be afraid to go as high as 20 per cent.
When is tipping not necessary
There are some folks who generally aren't tipped day-to-day, including mail carriers and couriers, newspaper deliverers, tailors and dry cleaners, plumbers, painters or carpenters.
"A nice gift card or something during the holidays is lovely, but day-to-day, not expected," says Cleveland. "Though of course appreciated, I'm sure!"
A former One Direction member makes a pit stop in town tonight. If pop music isn't your thing, a new arts festival is kicking off and The North Face has a major sale on fall and winter outerwear. And don't forget to celebrate national taco day!
Events you might want to check out:
Did you happen to catch the moonrise in Toronto last night? Cresting the horizon more than a half an hour before sunset, it hovered in the eastern skies like giant before slowly ascending above the skyline and onward above the city.
It's only going to get better. The moon won't become entirely full until mid-afternoon on October 5, which means the moonrise on that day will be once of the most noteworthy lunar spectacles we've seen all year. It is, after all, the legendary harvest moon.
Technically speaking, the harvest moon is the full moon closest to the autumn equinox, which took place on September 22 in the northern hemisphere. That makes the moon of October 5 this year's official bearer of the title.
Much of the significance we attach to the harvest moon is steeped in centuries of folklore, but there's also a scientific reason why the full moons that occur around the autumn equinox are special.
Harvest Moon comes this week. Is it really bigger, oranger … more magical? https://t.co/Fy5Hztq6do
Photo: Dan Bush pic.twitter.com/vFQbyH8eGj
— EarthSky (@earthskyscience) October 4, 2017
According to EarthSky, "around the time of the autumn equinox, the ecliptic — or the path of the sun, moon, and planets — makes a narrow angle with the horizon at sunset."
In the most basic terms, this results in successive moonrises taking place near to sunset following the full moon. If moonrise typically takes place 50 minutes later each day following the full moon, in September and October, that number comes down to around 35 minutes.
The harvest moon isn't really a one day phenomenon, but rather a series of moonrises aligned with the sunset. Prior to agricultural mechanization, the lack of an interval between sunrise and moonrise aided in the harvest, allowing farmers to work late into the evening.
For the next few days, we'll witness awesome moonrises at sunset and be treated to full nights of the moon overhead. While this year's version of the harvest moon doesn't qualify for a "super" tag, it'll stick look positively huge if you catch it low on the horizon.
Tonight's moonrise (almost full) takes place at 6:41 p.m. and tomorrow's (full) at 7:13 p.m. Do keep an eye out on Friday as well. It'll rise at 8:21 p.m., when there's still a bit of residual sunlight on the horizon.
Happy harvest, everyone.
Ontario's government has some great news today for anyone who uses both GO Transit and the TTC during the course of their daily commutes.
Starting in December, riders who transfer from GO vehicles to subways, streetcars and busses in Toronto will only pay half of the TTC's regular fare – and vice versa, to an extent.
Amazing move. A commuter from #RichmondHill who uses GO and TTC now saves $60 a month, $720/yr. #onpoli https://t.co/h8let1bpuG
— Naheed Yaqubian (@yaqubian) October 4, 2017
The province has agreed to subsidize a co-fare agreement with both transit agencies that will take $1.50 off the price of a second ticket for passengers on a single trip, according to The Toronto Star.
The one catch is that you need a Presto card to get the discount.
This means that adults who transfer from say, a GO train to a TTC subway, will pay just $1.50 for the second leg of their journey. Right now, this would cost riders with a Presto card $3.
Not as generous as GO’s co-fares with 905’s agencies, but good step at making #GO/#TTC more attractive to some... https://t.co/SIqHzblGMm
— Jason Paris (@JasonParis) October 4, 2017
Passengers who transfer the other way - from TTC vehicles to GO Transit vehicles or to the UP Express – will also receive a $1.50 discount on secondary fares, which range in price based on distance travelled.
It might not sound like much, but for the estimated 50,000 people who commute using both systems every day, that $1.50 discount could really add up.
Passengers can expect to pay discounted transfer fares when the Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension opens on Dec. 17 of this year.
Home sales dropped significantly in Toronto last month, but the price of condos is still rising, according to the newest report from the Toronto Real Estate Board.
In year-over-year numbers, overall home sales fell a whopping 35 percent, but condo prices rose by more than 20 percent. The number of listings available also increased by 9.4 percent.
The average price of a home has inched up since August, rising 2.6 percent to $775,546. This is still well off its highest peak, which came in April when the average price of a Toronto area home hit $918,285.
TREB President, Jim Syrianos, says the heightened number of listings could suggest homeowners believe buyers are entering the market as autumn begins.
Jason Mercer, director of market analysis with the TREB, added that a trend towards condos was evident, given the results of a poll earlier this year. This may tell us why condo prices are rising.
The price of detached houses has remained relatively stable since September 2016. The average detached home in the GTA is selling for around $1,015,067. As you move into City of Toronto proper, that number rises to $1,355,234, again not a significant change from last year.
TREB expects buyers to enter the market and start purchasing new homes as supply increases.
"As we move through the fourth quarter we could see some buyers moving off the sidelines, taking advantage of a better-supplied marketplace,” Syrianos says.
So if you're looking to buy a home, now may be the time. Supply is up, and prices seem relatively stable outside of the condo market.
Ice wine and poutine and hot apple cider. Gift-wrapping workshops and cookie tutorials. A fire pit lounge where you can toast marshmallows. Food trucks, Santa, and a mother freaking carousel.
Everything you love about the holiday season is set to explode all over Milton for what's being billed as "the GTA’s biggest holiday market ever."
That's quite the promise, given how popular Christmas markets have become around these parts.
"This year, for the first time ever, Milton is launching a pop-up Holiday Street Market," reads a press release for the event. "There will be oodles of activities to suit a variety of tastes."
Presented in partnership with Philip Suos, founder and director of Toronto's Junk Food Festival and Mac and Cheese Festival, the market will feature an estimated 242 artisan vendors.
"It will become Ontario’s largest authentic outdoor holiday market," said Suos in the release. "We’re expecting between 20,000 to 30,000 shoppers overall."
You can be one of those shoppers if you so choose by checking out the market along Main St. in Milton on Dec. 2, Dec. 9, and Dec. 16 from noon until 7 p.m.
Admission is free.
Toronto's tallest condo tower may turn out to be its most extravagant as well.
One Bloor West, typically referred to as "The One," is slowly shaping up to be the peak of luxury in the city.
As the project nears its groundbreaking, a report from the Globe and Mail reveals some of the details surrounding the project, including a few hints at the sky-high prices and amenities that'll also call the building home.
Details show the price per square foot of condo units will range from $1,200 to $3,000, making it one of the priciest buildings in the city. This is significantly higher than the average price per square foot in the surrounding area, which can range from around $784 to $893.
The tower will be home to four three-storey penthouses. Each one is expected to be listed in excess of $20 million, making them some of the most expensive condo units in the country.
For those of us who aren't multimillionaires looking to purchase Drake-worthy penthouses, it'll still be able to get a look at this monster of a building.
A glimpse at the ground floor retail at The One. Image via Mizrahi Developments.
Its first 18 floors are planned to house retail, restaurants, event spaces, and a boutique hotel that might comprise as many as 11 floors. According to developer Sam Mizrahi, an "international anchor" store will be one of the tenants.
The speculation has long been that Apple is destined to to take a prominent place at One Bloor West, though at this point it remains unconfirmed.
On the condo side, Mizrahi told the Globe that there's currently a waiting list of over 7,000 people, who are vying for one of only 416 units.
When the roughly $1 billion project is finished, it will officially become the second tallest structure in the city, edging out First Canadian Place, which currently holds the spot behind the CN Tower.
A groundbreaking ceremony for The One will take place October 5, 2017.
With the official opening date slated for 2022/2023, there's still time to start saving up if you'd like to grab a unit. It might take a bit of extra frugality until then to afford a penthouse, though.
As the weather cools off, the hockey season starts to heat up. And the buzz this season in Toronto is about as frenzied as it's ever been with the likes of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander entering their sophomore seasons for the Maple Leafs.
What better occasion to throw a huge party to celebrate the return of NHL hockey for another season?
The Leafs are hosting their annual Home Opener Tailgate Party this weekend. It'll take place at Maple Leaf Square leading up to and during the Leafs' home opener on Saturday, October 7 against the New York Rangers.
Lucky fans who show up early for the pre-game festivities will be treated to an array of entertainment and may even win tickets to the night's game, season tickets for the year, or Maple Leafs merchandise.
Admission is free, and the party starts at 5 p.m. Consider it a dress rehearsal for the Stanley Cup parade that fans will surely start planning if the team gets off to a good start.
Hope springs eternal!
Sunday, Sunday, Sunday! Spinning meat! Shawarma power!
Next weekend, Toronto will play home to a brand new food festival dedicated exclusively to shawarma and falafel.
How has this not happened before, you ask? I don't know, but it feels long overdue.
The event, hosted by Gorilla Management, is slated to take place in the Canary District, directly across the street from Souk Tabule at 494 Front St. East, which gives a big hint to at least one of the vendors.
The full list of participants has yet to be released, but our appetites are already starting to grow.
"The event everyone has been waiting for... and admission is FREE," reads a description of the event on Facebook. "Let your taste buds do the talking to find who has the best Shawarmas and falafels in Toronto."
Fans of the meaty middle eastern food can get all the shawarma their hearts desire on Sunday, October 15 between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.
In the meantime, you can find these delicious, well-priced wraps and meals across Toronto.
October means fall colours, Halloween, and spooky photo ops. One place to check off a few of these seasonal goals in style is the Carbide Willson Ruins, which is a picturesque and very creepy spot in Gatineau Park.
Located a short trip north of Ottawa, the abandoned building stands forlorn in the midst of the forest, partially hidden by trees on the edge of a waterfall. The decrepit structure is straight out of your favourite horror film.
The ruins were built by Thomas "Carbide" Willson, who discovered a process for creating calcium carbide, which is an industrial chemical. He built the structure as a summer home and as a laboratory for his work.
A post shared by @caeli_photography on Sep 3, 2017 at 10:40pm PDT
Willson was allegedly paranoid that competitors would steal his ideas, and tried to isolate himself in the woods to continue his experiments away from watching eyes.
He also built a power station nearby, which the area's residents absolutely hated due to its tendency to change the water level of the nearby lake. After falling bankrupt and eventually dying in 1915, Willson's estate was left to ruin, where it stands today.
A post shared by Mel (@jodomelanie) on Sep 10, 2017 at 1:57pm PDT
The spooky structure stands amidst the foliage of Gatineau Park. Large sections of the building are completely eroded away, while others are stained by time. You can explore inside and out, but there's not real shelter here anymore.
While visiting the ruins, you can also catch sight of some of the many waterfalls that run through the area, some of which helped power the lab. The entire area is scenic, if not as spooky as the ruins themselves.
A post shared by Naïka (@naikastah) on Oct 3, 2017 at 12:53pm PDT
A visit to the abandoned Carbide laboratory is a decent drive from Toronto, but given how good the Gatineau area is for fall foliage, it's the perfect way to turn a scenic trip into something a bit more spooky just in time for Halloween.
The best poutine in Toronto takes three basic ingredients – fries, cheese curds and gravy – and transforms them into a magical mess of savoury deliciousness. Whether it’s presented in its traditional form or embellished with other additional toppings, this quintessential Quebecois-Canadian dish is the ultimate comfort food.
Here is the best poutine in Toronto.
7 - Leslieville Pumps
With Thanksgiving right around the corner, you'd expect to see some major signs of fall in the natural landscape around Toronto. Alas, that's not the case at this point in the season thanks to a blistering late September heatwave.
Areas to the north of the city like Muskoka are already reaching peak fall foliage right now, but Toronto's parks and ravines show little colour change. Part of this is because we lack an abundance of Sugar Maples, trees that are well known for early and fantastic autumn displays.
In their place, the city now has an over-supply of Norway Maples, which change colour later and tend to lack the saturated orange and red colours shown by their cousins.
The combination of hot weather and the makeup of Toronto's tree inventory means that peak fall colours are likely at least two weeks way (e.g. the weekend of October 21-22). Less optimistically, this could be a year in which there's not much of a peak at all.
The fall colour report for Darlington Provincial Park, one of the closet to Toronto is only reporting a 20 percent change as of today. To the west, Bronte Creek reports 50 percent, but notes that the predominant colour is yellow.
It's a bit too early to tell just how profound the effect of our early fall weather will be, but it's useful to recall that despite a brutally dry summer last year, the city's ravines still looked unmistakably beautiful come mid October.
The peak show will be at least a week later this year, but hopefully the display will stack up. Our trees were in excellent health in mid September, so fingers crossed that helped them to withstand the unfavourable conditions late last month. 
A section of Toronto's waterfront is about to undergo a major transformation. As work to rebuild the Gardiner Expressway's Lower Simcoe ramp enters its final phase, construction crews will begin to turn their attention to Harbour St.
The former spiral off-ramp has been torn down and slowly rebuilt over the past year. While it's not ready for service yet, the replacement ramp will take traffic directly onto Simcoe and Harbour streets, which will necessitate improvements to the streetscape.
The intersections of Harbour and York and Harbour and Simcoe will be opened up to increased sunlight, pedestrian and cycling traffic, and will eventually be home to new park space.
A rendering of the intersection at York and Harbour, looking south-east. This view used to look directly at the side of an off-ramp. Image from City of Toronto.
Harbour St. will grow to four lanes, feature improved sidewalks and landscaping as well as an updated multi-use trail. If the renderings are any indication, it's going to look at lot prettier than before.
As the project now focuses on Harbour Street and the areas around the new ramp, the intersection of Bay and Harbour will be closed this weekend to begin street improvements.
While work is currently behind schedule, this is the last stage of the construction process according to the city's schedule.
Do you have trouble getting to the nearest GO station? Perhaps you and your neighbours should consider crowdfunding your own bus service.
That's what the neighbourhood of Humber Bay Shores has decided to do.
A GoFundMe page started by the Parklawn Lakeshore Improvement Association is seeking to raise $50,000 for the purchase of shuttle buses and implementation of a new, self-made commuter route. The aim is to provide residents with transit access to Mimico GO Station nearby.
According to the organization, the goals are twofold. First, to connect residents with the GO station. But the second goal is important as well: to demonstrate the need for transit access from the TTC.
The proposed route for the shuttle. Photo from PLIA's GoFundMe.
The idea is to sell memberships for the proposed service, which would thus be a public/private hybrid. Membership would be open to neighbourhood residents, but the shuttle wouldn't be available on a per-ride basis.
You may remember a few years ago when Liberty Village attempted to create its own transit route. The route was ultimately shut down for violating city rules pertaining to the TTC's status as the city's transit provider.
The PLIA ensures that this won't happen with their new service because it's not selling individual ride tickets, which organizers believe is permitted under current city regulations.
If funding attempts are successful, the service will begin operation later this year. As of today, the group has raised $400, though the campaign has only just launched.
