The Shops at Aura have taken quite a blow this week.

The mall, known for its general unpleasantness and lack of many good stores (not to mention its location in the basement of a condo building) just lost one of its best tenants.

Kaiju, a fairly beloved Japanese fast-food stall, announced they are closing at the end of the month. The stop was known for its made-from-scratch Japanese curry blend and Kaiju poutine dish.

❤️♥️❤️It is with heavy hearts that we announce Kaiju Toronto is officially closing its doors on October 31st, 2017. We are currently searching for a new location and we promise to update you all as soon as we've found our next home. Thank you to our friends and loyal customers who have supported us over the years! We'll miss you and please continue to keep in touch ♥️❤️♥️

A post shared by Kaiju Toronto (@kaijutoronto) on Oct 10, 2017 at 6:11pm PDT

Lovers of the spot do, however, have reason for optimism. The Instagram post in which the closure was announced also states the owners will be looking for a new location.

If you’ve ever been to the Shops at Aura, you can probably imagine that the subterranean atmosphere may have served as inspiration for Kaiju to find somewhere new.

Toronto is getting a new Costco store – the fourth ever to grace our city – which should come as exciting news to value shoppers in and around Thorncliffe Park. 

The American membership-only warehouse club has long been rumoured to be taking over the site of Coca-Cola Canada's former headquarters on Overlea Boulevard.

Construction is now well underway on the RICE Group development, and with an expected completion date of February 2018, it looks like a sure thing.

COSTCO
==wholesale
Coming Soon
opening spring 2018#Thorncliffepic.twitter.com/Pvq0kAFtcW

— Rudy Limeback (@rudydotca) September 22, 2017

Still, some local residents have been raising concerns over how the big box store's existence could impact local business or, more recently, make traffic congestion in the area worse.

In order to address traffic concerns, the city ordered the project's developers to make some changes benefiting local roadways, such as modifying medians and traffic signals in the area. 

Will these measures prevent the expected problems? That remains to be seen – but I can say that residents of Thorncliffe Park will never have to buy overpriced batteries again. 

It's almost time to show off those Halloween costumes, Toronto – and thanks to some premium intel from local costume stores, I already know what you'll be wearing this weekend. Like, not actually, but I've got a pretty good data-backed hunch. 

Here are the most popular costumes you can expect to see this Halloween in Toronto.

Hugh Hefner and a Playboy bunny

You're practically guaranteed to see this couple's costume if you're headed to a house party. "A lot of guys have come in looking for Hugh Hefner this year," says Jamie DaSilva, purchasing manager at the Amazing Party & Costume store. "It's simple and it's timely."

Inflatable T-Rex

Yeah, this is still very much a thing.

Regular bananas

These are also still a thing, somehow, despite some legal drama between the costume's manufacturer and K-Mart. DaSilva confirmed that banana suits are once again flying off the shelves this year.

Old-timey soldiers and their dames

Gina Anki, who owns Theatrix Costume House in Parkdale, says that period military uniforms are proving incredibly popular for couples this year – the more authentic, the better. Think 1920s - 1940s era service coats, forage caps and a Great Gatsby look for the gals. 

Beauty and The Beast

Popular movie begets popular Halloween costume.

Pennywise the clown from 'It'

Popular movie begets popular Halloween costume, again – but this time it's scary.

Psychedelic retro partiers

"People this season are really keen on picking eras," says Anki. "I recently had a group come in looking for 1970s style evening wear – flashy suits, deep cut shirts, lots of colours." This is consistent with what I'm seeing all over the internet, for the record.

Harley Quinn

Yup, last year's Harley Quinn is this year's Harley Quinn. It seems weird, but sales numbers don't lie – nor does the recent onslaught of Harley Quinn makeup tutorials I've seen on YouTube. Suicide Squad is still relevant, guys – or maybe it's just Margot Robbie.

Handmaids

"Our Handmaid's Tale stuff is all gone," says Malabar's Josh Monge of the Emmy Award-winning TV series based on Margaret Atwood's book of the same name. Under his eye, Toronto. Under his eye.

Gord Downie

There's nothing like a celebrity death to make choosing your costume a cinch. Monge says fans have been clamouring anything that even looks like something Downie might wear in preparation for Halloween.

Wonder Woman

Again, popular movie – but DaSilva says this was already the case last year after Gal Gadot was introduced as the titular character. This year, Gadot appears in two differentmovies as Wonder Woman with two different costumes – both of which are selling like hot cakes.

Game of Thrones characters

Da Silva says this would would be an even more popular choice if the Game of Thrones would actually license some real costumes. In the meantime, there are knock-offs a plenty and many other ways to look like Westerosi royalty.

Star Wars characters

All of the costume store representatives I spoke with say that this is an evergreen costume category. Star Wars will be wildly popular this year, but it's never not popular.

Ride-on costumes

You know those costumes with little fake legs that make you look like you're riding a horse / shark / other person? They're big this year thanks to an influx of new styles spurred by public demand. "There's not one in particular," says DaSilva, "but they're huge as a group."

In what is a surprise to probably nobody, it turns out hotels can sell for a ton of money.

The newest mind-blowingly-large sale is the Sheraton Centre Hotel in Toronto. The iconic building was just bought by Brookfield Asset Management for a whopping $335 million.

According to BNN, the sale is a record for hotel sales in Canada. Who would have guessed that a third of a billion dollars would be record-breaking?

The deal is a short, vaguely-worded document that doesn’t give away too many details. However, it is known that Marriott, the current owner of the Sheraton, will retain the long-term land lease and management of the hotel.

What was also noticeably revealed is that the lobby will undergo a large renovation. That's good news for everybody, as the busy hub functions almost like a public space and is a great spot to work on the fly if you need a power outlet.

This comes on the heels of a $120-million renovation to the rooms and other areas just recently.

Many of the details are still under wraps, but it’ll be exciting to see what changes come to the lobby and other areas as the hotel gets a makeover.

The province of Ontario has announced its plans to source, vet and notify the public of stores that will (legally) sell marijuana next year.

As reported last month, Ontario's government will soon be rolling out approximately 150 standalone pot shops across the province.

This will no doubt bring many new options to people in Toronto who want to buy cannabis.

Of course, It'll also see the closure of every other dispensary that already exists in the city – and if you live downtown, I don't need to tell you how many highly-frequented but not-so-legal weed stores are thriving right now.

So Ontario plans to open 40 pot shops in 2018? There are 60 dispensaries in Toronto alone and mine is lined up half an hour deep most days.

— Benjamin Rayner (@IhateBenRayner) September 9, 2017

A news release issued this morning details how the process of switching things over, from independent pot businesses to LCBO-run retail stores, will work.

"Today, letters were sent to all municipalities in Ontario to share the next steps for establishing retail stores," reads the Ministry of Finance release. "The process will be led by the LCBO, working closely with the government and local communities."

Step number one involves choosing the municipalities where stores will be located. The province will determine this based on geographic distribution and the number of illegal dispensaries currently open in any given region.

The @LCBO is committed to keeping you informed with a new online destination for cannabis retail updates https://t.co/3cyASK7NoBpic.twitter.com/9f3F7HhsPI

— LCBONEWS (@LCBONEWS) October 27, 2017

Next, The LCBO will "identify specific store locations" with the goals of ensuring young people are protected (read: no pot stores near schools) and that the illegal market is impacted.

Once a potential store has been identified, the LCBO will post a notice online for locals to learn more, ask questions and provide feedback. 

All of this needs to happen before the federal government legalizes cannabis (as planned) in July of 2018, so expect to see a lot of NIMBYism hot takes this winter and spring.

Only 40 stores will be open to start, but the news release says that "online distribution will be available to service all regions of the province" as soon as pot becomes legal in Canada.

After 18 years in service, the Milestones in the Entertainment District is closing its doors.

The popular chain, nestled between the large, four-floor Michaels and Marshalls at Richmond and John will be officially closing on Sunday, October 29.

General Manager of the location, Samantha Duggan, said the location was competing with its own sister restaurant at Yonge and Dundas, so instead of splitting guest lists, the company has decided to downsize.

Dinner service is in effect (from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.) prior to the closing. 

Now we wait to see which restaurant chain will try its hand at the prime location. 

The University of Toronto will not go down quietly in its fight to tear down a 132-year-old retail store for a new high rise residence. 

Currently home to Ten Editions bookstore, the building at 698 Spadina was first opened in 1885 as the John James Funston grocery store.

Ten Editions, which itself has become an attraction for its charming, old-timey atmosphere and collection of rare titles, started operating out of the building in 1984.

today i spontaneously bought an old german literary magazine for $1

A post shared by @racheljriddell on Aug 1, 2017 at 6:56pm PDT

Is it worthy of a heritage building designation? Toronto City Council certainly thinks so, as do members of the Harbord Village Residents’ Association.

"The building has design value as an example of a late 19th century corner-store building type designed with a high degree of craftsmanship in the late Victorian style," reads a Notice of Intention to Designate on the city's website.

"The design value is evident in such elements as the characteristic recessed diagonal corner entry, the decorative wood elements of the shop front, window and door frames and in the variety of the brick cladding details on the east and south elevations."

Photograph of 698 Spadina Avenue taken in 1972, when the building's base served as a laundromat. Photo via The City of Toronto Archives.

U of T disagrees, and will be challenging the building's potential addition to the City of Toronto’s Heritage Register at the Conservation Review Board this November.

The University argues that the building doesn't "seem to contain enough design or contextual value to warrant the heritage designation." Also, there are already 80 listed heritage buildings on U of T's St. George campus.

Even if the building is torn down though, U of T's proposed 23-storey, 549 unit student residence might still not be able to go up. 

"The height far exceeds what is allowed in that area, so that’s a major concern,” said Trinity-Spadina Councillor Joe Cressy to Post City.

"It’s now a legal fight," Cressy continued. "My preference was always to find a way to build a more appropriate student residence."

For the second time this week, a successful Toronto band is making headlines linked to widespread topical controversy in the U.S.

Death from Above bassist Jesse F. Keeler was accused in a blog post yesterday of having connections to the alt-right movement via his friendship with Vice co-founder and outspoken right-wing pundit, Gavin McInnes.

"Why does DFA and Jesse Keeler get a pass from the music press and community about his blatant and obvious ties to Gavin McInnes, The Proud Boys and The Alt Right?" reads the Medium post, which was published under the name Kurt Schwitterz.

Apparently the bassist from Death From Above 1979 is a scumbag Proud Boy who chills with Gavin McInnes. Go figure.https://t.co/NvdcKL3ACU

— Alicia Elliott (@WordsandGuitar) October 27, 2017

The blogger highlighted a now-deleted online news article in which McInness claimed Keeler was one of his 'Proud Boys' – a men's only far-right organization known for being "pro-West" and "pro-Trump," among other things.

He also makes note of Keeler's appearances on The Gavin McInnes Podcast and their alleged personal friendship.

Keeler, who co-founded the rock duo DFA with drummer and vocalist Sebastien Grainger in 2004, denied the allegations in a lengthy Facebook post early Friday morning amidst a torrent of hateful tweets.

"This is completely false. I would never join that group," wrote Keeler of the Proud Boys. "My connection to Gavin however is real, but begs to be clarified."

Keeler says he met Gavin way back in 2003 when his band was signed to Vice's U.S. record label, but that they were only ever "loosely acquainted."

"Soon after the election, I began noticing that Gavin was promoting violence and a form of radical politics that I absolutely do not agree with," he continued. "I have always been anti-war and anti-violence. That is my baseline position."

The musician notes that he was "raised in Canada by my immigrant-Indian family who struggled to make it in a new country."

"I am so sorry for putting my family, friends and fans in this position," he said. I never wanted to talk about politics, I just wanted to make music and leave that stuff alone. Unfortunately, my actions have brought me here, and I am deeply heartbroken about it."

You can read Keeler's full statement on Death From Above's Facebook page right here.

Art Toronto, the city's massive multi-day art fair (Oct. 27-30), is back for another year with its dazzling array of works from some of the most exciting artists in the world. There's so much to see here that it can seem almost intimidating at times.

Fear not, fellow art lovers. While you can just glide around the various booths to see what catches your eye, there's also a few artists whose work shouldn't be missed. It's not everyday that so much talent is assembled in one place.

Here are my picks for the top artists to check out at Art Toronto this year.

Metis Atash

These glittering Buddhas just got a whole lot of attention when Ferris Rafouli gave one to Drake for his birthday. The camera doesn't do them justice, as they really twinkle when exposed to light. There's a number of them on display at Galerie de Bellefeuille.

Evan Penny

You might know if Evan Penny from his famous work "Stretch" at the AGO. Stunning new works that probe the physicality of the body in religious iconography can be found at TrépanierBaer Gallery.

Kent Monkman

There are a number of Monkman's works on display at Art Toronto this year. Look for the way that he deconstructs problematic narratives surrounding Canada's indigenous population in his stunning, large-scale paintings at Pierre-Franҫois Ouellette Art Contemporian.

Mark Clintberg

Also on display at Pierre-Franҫois Ouellette is Mark Clintberg's Not Over You light installation. There's lots of sign-based work at the fair this year, but this emotional register of this piece is the most memorable.

Michael Wolf

The German-born photographer first gained attention for his work capturing the density of Hong Kong, but his series in the Tokyo subway at Baux-Xi Photo will make you rethink your complaints about packed TTC commutes.

Judy Chicago

Northwest Coast Atmospheres (1970) is one of the iconic feminist artist's early series, which shows her coloured "earth works" that intervene in the natural landscape without damaging it. You can find them at Jessica Silverman Gallery.

Raymond Boisjoly

Get a head start on the Aimia AGO Photography Prize this year with a look Boisjoly's work at Catriona Jeffries. He's on the short list for the lucrative award thanks to his diverse practice, which includes distorted portraits of celebrities like D'Angelo. 

Damien Hirst

While there are no diamond skulls to be found at Art Toronto this year, you can still get your fill of Damien Hirst at his Other Criteria booth, which features these clever pill labels.

Greg Girard 

If you like grainy portraits of the North America roadside, make sure to check out Girard's photos of 1970s Vancouver at Monte Clark Gallery.

Esmaa Mohamoud

Mohamoud's incredible sculptures (and photos that depict them) challenge conventional conceptions of gender through the lens of professional sports, namely the NBA. You can find her work at ltd los angeles. 

Art Toronto runs from October 27-30. For information about tickets and hours, please visit the website.

Toronto’s furry friends really are ascending to new heights.

If you live in Toronto, you know all about our nemeses. Specifically, our raccoon overlords that secretly control the media, the financial sector, and all aspects of society. And now they’ve taken over the art world.

Constructed by Graeme Patterson for the small art space on the 68th floor of First Canadian Place, this multimedia, interactive set features a raccoon inside 1970s-style office, dedicated to the artist’s fascination with urban wildlife.

Titled “A Suitable Den,” the raccoon is controlled by random, computer-generated movements and on occasion remotely by the artist (though viewers don't know when the artist intervenes).

Over the duration of the performance, the raccoon becomes increasingly aware of his captive surroundings and begins to rip apart the room, which ultimately reveals its artificial basis. 

Hmmm, that kind of sounds like what a raccoon would do if it were caught in an office on the 68th floor of a skyscraper in real life. Who knew trash pandas could prove to be high art objects? In any case, it's amazing that such an exhibit exists in such an unlikely space. 

The exhibit runs until the end of November in the BMO Project Room, on the 68th floor of First Canadian Place. Viewings can be made by appointment. 

Free things to do in Toronto this November have a lot to do with the holidays, what with the Distillery's Christmas Market and the Cavalcade of Lights kicking off. There's also a Day of the Dead celebration and an Indie Horror Festival for those who can't get enough Halloween. 

If you’re looking for a weekend getaway from Toronto or even just a day trip, there are many quaint small towns that feel like an entirely different world than the big city.

A perfect example is Elora. Located just north of Guelph, this small town is known for its natural beauty and local charm.

The Elora Mill, which will reopen as a hotel and spa in the spring. Photo by alljengi.

One place you may already have heard of in Elora is the famous Elora Gorge.

Located on the western side of the city, this conservation area covers over 350 acres of natural land. The Grand River flows right through it, and provides countless opportunities for a great photograph or picnic lunch. A campground is also available if you want to stay the weekend.

Sections of the Gorge are stunningly beautiful. Photo by Grand River Conservation. 

If you like hiking or spending time on the water, the Gorge is an ideal destination. The limestone cliffs can reach up to 25 metres, and this particular section of the Grand River is perfect for tubing, swimming, and fishing.

Nearby is the former Elora limestone quarry, which is home to one of the province's best watering holes. The spot has become progressively more crowded during summer, but it's also a picturesque place to visit in the fall when it's not overrun by people. 

The Elora Quarry is a very popular swimming spot. Photo by Grand River Conservation.

Towering on top of the tall cliffs of the area is the Elora Mill Hotel and Spa. This historic spot is set to open at the beginning of 2018, and should have a lot to offer visitors.

The Elora Mill is placed on top of the huge cliffs by the Grand River. Photo by Mike Hewitt. 

Located inside an old, restored sawmill on the river’s edge, this full package will allow visitors to experience a ton of things in the city and the Gorge.

You can zipline over the river and go rock climbing up the cliffs. Or, stay in at the spa and try some of the cuisine options available.

Although the Mill is set to open after the snow has melted, when winter comes again you can also try your hand at snowshoeing or dog-sledding, both of which would be a ton of fun in the area.

The Grand River provides for picturesque spots all over the city. Photo by the Grand River Conservation Authority.

If you’re looking for something different, the Grand River Raceway is also a popular spot. The horse racing track and slots are popular destinations for those who like to gamble a little (or a lot).

And when you get hungry, Elora has a ton of options. The Elora Brewing Company is extremely popular. Try the Elora Borealis, Ladyfriend IPA, or one of their several options. The Shepherd's Pub and The Cellar are also good options.

The Bradley Bridge reaches over the Grand River. Photo by cmh2315fl.

Downtown, you can spot the seriously beautiful 19th century architecture that still dominates the town. Galleries, shops, and restaurants now call these historic buildings home. 

Many of the buildings still retain their historic roots from the 1800s. Photo by Bastian Sander.

If you’re looking for a getaway idea from Toronto, Elora should be on your list. It offers a great mix of natural attractions and quaint architecture. It's just over an hour from Toronto, but it feels like a different world.

When you think of Toronto's most expensive neighbourhoods, Rosedale and the Bridle Path immediately come to mind, but Teddington Park should always be a part of the conversation given some of the palaces found around here. 

Take this old Tudor mansion at 177 Teddington Park, which just went for $7.42 million. It's the type of place that screams "establishment Toronto" with its sprawling square footage, wood paneling, and general stateliness. 

If you include the basement, this house has around 10,000 square feet of space. the layout is perhaps a bit quirky at times (e.g. the kitchen), but I'd say that adds character more than it detracts from the home. 

You could make the argument that the decor is a tad dated, but that would miss the point of why someone would spend $7+ million on a house like this. The whole idea is to acquire something that shows off its pedigree. 

This is a place to host luxurious cocktail parties by the pool, before guests retire to the living room for a dose of brandy. It's elegant, established, and completely out of reach for the vast majority of us.

The Essentials

• Address: 177 Teddington Park Ave.
• Type: Detached house
• Bedrooms: 6
• Bathrooms: 7
• Lot size: 105 x 161 feet
• Realtor: Barry Cohen, Remax
• Hit the market at: $7,750,000
• Sold for: $7,420,000

Why it sold for what it did

Location, location, location. Teddington Park is one of Toronto's most desirable streets, and this house is one of its gems.

Was it worth it?

It went for just under the listing price, so I'd imagine everyone felt good about this sale. Seven and a half million is what you need to cough up to own a mansion in this high end neighbourhood.

There are cool houses scattered about Toronto, but to snack on a bunch of them at once there are a handful of streets with more than their fair share. Head out on your own architecture tour of Toronto and see some of the incredible contemporary homes that are scattered over the city.

Here's a roundup of Toronto streets with the coolest houses.

Roxborough Drive

Roxborough Drive would be worth the trip if only to catch a glimpse of Integral House (#194), one of Toronto's most astonishing examples of residential architecture. A stroll down this street also reveals gems like Barton Myers' "Wolf House" at #51 and this subtle gem at #177. Naturally there are other historic Rosedale homes along the way.

Heathdale Road

Cedarvale is chock full of mesmerizing architecture thanks to the presence of the ravine and some very attractive lots, but Heathdale Rd. takes the cake thanks in part to Atom Egoyan's movie Chloe, which prominently shows off both Ravine House (#24) and Heathdale House (#48) - the former was used for interiors and the latter for exteriors. 

The Bridle Path

Virtually every house on this street and in this area is stunning (or shocking). The downside is these properties are often set far back from the road and hard to see. One of my favourites is at #83, but the neighbourhood standout is 18 High Point Rd. Drake's new pad can be easily ogled from the street at 21 Park Lane Circle.

Draper Street

You won't find any modern houses on Draper Street, but this little thoroughfare that runs adjacent to Portland St. up from Front St. is like a time warp back to the 1880s in Toronto. These row houses were originally built for labourers, but now house residents with a fierce commitment to retain the historical character of the street.

Wychwood Park

Wychwood Park is fascinating for a whole bunch of reasons, not the least of which being that it's a gated community. The houses here are worth a visit too. Some of the best examples of Arts & Crafts architecture in Toronto can be found here, but also contemporary highlights like Ian MacDonald's residence at 4a.

This November the TIFF Bell Lightbox will be transformed into a modern school for the arts inspired by the 1980 film Fame for its annual TIFF boombox party. Want to attend the party? We've teamed up with TIFF to give readers a chance to win a pair of passes.

Check out all the contest details here.

Toronto Halloween parties always bring their A-game, and with events ranging from creepy club crawls to Game of Thrones themed, 2017 is no exception. While you worry about what to dress up as or where to buy your costume, we'll take care of your party plans. 

Cheap winter coats in Toronto, like in most cities, are generally the provenance of end-of-season sales at department stores and retail chains. But what if you don't want to wait around for Boxing Day? A little bit of digging will get you well on your way to a high-quality winter wardrobe without breaking the bank.

Here are my favourite places to score cheap (but solid) winter coats in Toronto.

Value Village 

Local thrift stores are a first stop for many a stylish bargain hunter, and each one has their own secret source. Outerwear selection and pricing vary widely, but the payoff can be insane. There are other thrift shops around the city, but VV boasts tons of stock.

Public Butter

This Parkdale mainstay stocks the closets of Toronto's savviest vintage style hounds, and for good reason. It's huge, it's cool, it's fun to shop in and, of course, it has some of the best vintage duds in town. You can check out a myriad of winter coats on Instagram before visiting the store near Dufferin and Queen.

Winners

Canada's favourite discount chain trucks in plenty of outerwear for the winter season. Not everything is crazy cheap, but you can find deeply discounted designer coats here if you're lucky and/or visit frequently. Check out our list of the best and worst Winners stores in Toronto as a starting point.

Black Market

You may not know what you're going to find, but I guarantee you'll be getting a deal on vintage threads in this dirt-cheat Queen West basement. Almost everything here - including winter coats - costs only $10. 

Costco

Believe it or not, the American warehouse club (which has several Toronto locations) boasts some very high-quality winter gear for much less than you'd pay at a regular athletic goods store. If you're looking for function over fashion, it's worth borrowing your mom's membership card to take a peek.

Kind Exchange

This wildly popular chain of Toronto consignment stores has steals on steals on steals – like mint-condition, brand name peacoats for around $50 a pop. You can also sell off your old clothes at one of KE's four shops across the city in exchange for cash or store credit.

Chinatown

Want the designer look without the designer price tag? You can find knock-off Canada Goose puffers at many of the markets on Spadina between Dundas and Queen. Some of them are dead ringers for the real thing – just don't expect designer quality.

Bungalow

This award-winning clothes / furniture store in Kensington Market is unique in that it sells new, used and their own "remade" fashions. You can find sportier vintage pieces and men's wool coats for around $60, but rarer finds will have a higher price tag.

Common Sort

With locations in Leslieville, Parkdale and The Annex, this classy-cool consignment shop keep things tightly edited (read: you won't have to spend hours rooting through racks.) Still, their prices are stunning for legit designer jackets – and they'll purchase your old ones, too.

Flashback 2

Like its sister stores Flashback and King of Kensington, this vintage shop is on Kensington Market's second main drag (the road that's actually named Kensington Ave.) You'll pay $50-100 for a winter coat here, but I'm talking about full-on real fur coats and Gloverall duffles that will last you for years to come. 

Markets and pop-ups in Toronto this November offer a pretty even split of annual classics like the Distillery's Christmas Market as well as newcomers like the city's first Filipino food and fashion pop-up. For food lovers, the St. Lawrence night market is as big as they come.

Grocery stores that sell beer in Toronto come in major handy when you can't make it to the LCBO, Beer Store or one of the many craft brewers that have bottle shops. While you won't find beer at every supermarket in the city, there are a number of options in downtown Toronto to have on your radar.

Here are some grocery stores that sell beer in downtown Toronto along with a map of their locations.

Sobeys (Green)

Multiple locations of this grocer sell beer across downtown Toronto. Find beer at their City Place, Yonge and St. Clair and Harbourfront locations.

Longos (Red)

To find beer at this grocery chain, you'll have to visit their location on York St. They are currently the only Longos location selling beer downtown.

Metro (Yellow)

If you find yourself doing a grocery run at either their Yonge and Dundas or West Queen West locations, you'll also be able to grab a six pack.

Loblaws (Orange)

Currently three locations of Loblaws sells beer downtown. Beer can purchased at their grocery stores in Leslieville, Queen West and at Christie and Dupont streets.

Food Basics (Blue)

If you're near Dupont and Lawnsdowne in need of some brews, this location of Food Basics can assist. 

Please note that the locations listed above have confirmed they are selling beer. Many locations may be licensed to sell but not all of them do.

Chocolate making classes in Toronto offer the rewarding experience of DIY confectionery making under the guidance of the experts. If you have a creative sprit and a sweet tooth, you're in luck because Toronto has a number of chocolatiers that offer workshops.

Here's a round-up of chocolate making classes you can take in Toronto.

Individual and group classes

Chocolateria

The Roncesvalles chocolate shop doesn't offer any regularly scheduled classed but will do private classes on truffle making, working with moulds, and tempering. One lesson rings in at $75 per person, and groups must be a minimum of six people. 

ChocoSol

The Corso Italia chocolate shop hosts artisanal chocolate workshops for both private groups and the general public in its kitchen. On-site private chocolate workshops last two hours and can accommodate up to 20 people for $700.

Chocolate Tales

There's a range of chocolate making classes available from this company, which are held at locations across the GTA like the Mad Bean. Prices are usually $82 a class. 

McCall's

This baking and decorating supply store near Kipling station hosts classes for professionals and hobbyists. Sign up for a $90 chocolate class on either traditional truffles, gourmet truffles or pure chocolate. 

Corporate events and parties

M Thompson

The chocolateria at Dundas and Carlaw in Leslieville hosts corporate chocolate making classes as well as parties. Everything (including prices) are customized depending on what you're looking for.

Succulent Chocolate and Sweets

This Woodbridge chocolate shop offers chocolate team building workshops. Choose between options like a 90 minute chocolate truffle making workshop or three hour artisan bon bon making workshop. Prices vary depending on group size.

Cooking and baking schools

George Brown Continuing Education

The Continuing Education stream at this local college offers a wide variety of cooking and baking classes including an Introduction to Chocolate course. Taking it requires a pre-requisite or an approved equivalent.