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The King of Dumplings comes to Chinatown

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Dumpling King TorontoThere's a new dumpling restaurant looking to battle it out with Mother's, Chinese Traditional Buns and the rest of the downtown dumpling circuit. Self-billed as the King of dumplings, this brightly lit spot near Dundas and Huron cooks up the tender little morsels steamed, fried or even the deep-fried variety.

Read my review of the Dumpling King in the restaurants section.


How to remove a bike that's locked to your frame

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Bike lock saw torontoCycle around in Toronto long enough, and you're likely to have some muppet lock his bike to yours either by accident or because he just couldn't be bothered to find a spot for himself. Few things are more annoying than strolling back to one's bike to encounter this sight. But what exactly do you do? I suspect most of us angrily wait for the perpetrator to return so that we 1) have the opportunity to express our annoyance and 2) don't have to come up with some DIY method to remove your bike.

That, however, is not the strategy adopted by all who have suffered this cruel fate. A reader recently shared with us the story of how a friend of his solved the problem. After taking in a flick at the Scotiabank Theatre, Jon Salvatore returned to find another bike locked to his. Here's what happened next:

"I was a little pissed to say the least. I left a note in the lock kindly asking the owner to call me when they were kind enough to unlo k my bike then walked home. On Monday after work I drove by hoping that they had been too nervous to call me or the note was gone, but I was still locked up.

I then went to my friend's bike shop for advice, thinking perhaps there was a legal way to deal with this. They suggested I cut the lock. I decided to give the person another day. On Tuesday some friends told me of scams where people stole bikes this way, which made me a little stressed so I called the police. I was informed that they could not recommend me cutting the lock, 'but if that is the thought you have, you should do it.' I then asked what I should do with the extra bike. 'Leave it on the street," they replied.

So I acquired an industrial angle grinder and a power cord, convinced a 16 year old working at the theatre that it was perfectly normal for me to walk in and use their power outlet in order to cut a bike lock at 5:30pm on a Tuesday."

Perhaps unsurprisingly a few people passing by inquired as to what Salvatore was up to. When informed of the situation, he reports that "most cursed the other biker." So, that brings me to the question, what is the best way to deal with this most unfortunate of situations. It seems to me that Salvatore was fair to leave a note and wait a few days. If you lock your bike up to someone else's, can you complain if he takes such action?

Bike sawWeigh in with your opinion in the comments.

Lucidly Transfixed

Radar: Craft Your Senses, Toronto Jewish Film Festival, Serena Ryder, Sagapool, Say Sneeze

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3030 Dundas WestToronto events on Thursday, April 11, 2013

FOOD & DRINK | Craft Your Senses: A Beer Tasting
Vision, smell, hearing and taste are combined at Craft Your Senses, an evening of craft brewing and taste tests at 3030. Benefitting the Canadian National Institute for the Blind and Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning scholarships, this student-run event will see Ontario craft brewers handing out samples and running blind taste tests for local beer lovers. Brail art will provide a guessing game and show for attendees and vinyl DJs will play music and give away prizes at this fundraiser, taking place tonight. Try 7 local brewers and drink for a cause at this 19+ event. Tickets are available through the event website.
3030 (3030 Dundas Street West) 7PM $15 standard, $25 VIP

FILM | Toronto Jewish Film Festival
Themes and identities of Jewish culture are explored in the Toronto Jewish Film Festival, which opens tonight with the festival opener, a documentary titled CowJews and Indians: How Hitler Scared My Relatives and I Woke Up in an Iroquois Longhouse--Owing the Mohawks Rent. Hundreds of films of all film genres will play over the ten-day festival at locations across the city. For a full screening guide and a list of free films showing at the festival, visit TJFF.com.
Various locations 8:30PM $8-$20

MUSIC | Serena Ryder
Folk artist Serena Ryder is everywhere this year so it is no surprise that she is leaving small venues behind to play The Danforth Music Hall tonight. Nominated for two Junos in 2013 and touring with her sixth studio album Harmony, Ryder is embarking on a cross-Canada tour starting in her home city with brief stops in New York City and L.A. Catch the raw-voiced up-and-coming Canadian singer-songwriter by visiting her website for more info on tickets.
The Danforth Music Hall (147 Danforth Avenue) 8PM $44.25

ART | Say Sneeze
Award-winning young artist Sarah Beattie has displayed at The Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art and has had her work highlighted at The Artist Project Toronto as part of the Untapped Emerging Artists Competition. Tonight, Beattie opens Say Sneeze, which includes components of these former shows. An exhibit of painted portraits referencing individuals in a pre-sneeze state, the show's intent is to highlight the contours of the face while the observer anticipates a climax that never arrives. The show runs at The Gladstone Hotel Art Bar until April 18th.
The Gladstone Hotel Art Bar (1214 Queen Street West) 7PM Free

THEATRE | Young Frankenstein
A new musical based on the Mel Brooks comedy, Young Frankenstein premieres at Al Green Theatre tonight. In a special preview presentation of the musical, Frederick, the black sheep of the Frankenstein family, inherits his grandfather's famed castle, where he begins to conduct experiments. Creating a monster of his own, Frederick finds himself surrounded with the same strange and eccentric cast of characters from his grandfather's days. Tickets are available by visiting the theatre's website or by e-mailing tickets@alexandershowcasetheatre.com.
Al Green Theatre (750 Spadina Avenue) 7:30PM $32 adult, $27 student/senior

ALSO OF NOTE:

MORE EVENTS THIS WEEK

For more Toronto event suggestions, check out these posts:

Photo of 3030 Dundas West

Morning Brew: Mammoliti out after emergency surgery, Fords tout runway expansion, David Miller speaks up, a city bike blitz, "positive tickets," and the DVP to close

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toronto st michael'sCoun. Giorgio Mammoliti says he's "dodged a bullet" over a recent health scare that could have resulted in a stroke. The York West councillor underwent four surgeries, including a procedure to widen constricted arteries, at St. Mike's hospital after being admitted for a potentially dangerous swelling behind his eye. Mammoliti says he's waiting for doctor's permission to return to City Hall.

As we heard yesterday, Porter has announced plans to purchase a new fleet of jet planes and extend the runway at Billy Bishop Airport to accommodate the aircraft. That raises the possibility of Toronto's lake shore becoming a busier aircraft corridor. Naturally, that's something Doug Ford can really get behind. He said without Porter's CEO "there'd be a corn field over at the airport right now." Would that be a bad thing?

Former mayor David Miller isn't so enthused, however. In an editorial for Huffington Post, Miller said the Toronto Islands are for people, not planes, calling the airport "a throwback to a time when Toronto had turned its back on the waterfront." Is he right?

Tonight's commute could be ugly if Environment Canada's predictions of a "major ice storm" and power outages are correct. Freezing rain this morning is expected to give way to difficult conditions later tonight. Some school buses have been cancelled and Pearson is telling customers to check with airlines before making the journey to the airport. Are you making any special preparations?

It's bike removal season in Toronto, so if you've left your steed on the street for the winter (and managed to keep it from being stolen) it's probably best to move it for a while. As part of annual Spring cleaning, the city will be cutting abandoned bikes from city-owned locks starting immediately. You can report abandoned bikes by calling 311.

As part of the same program of cleaning, repair, and maintenance, the Don Valley Parkway will be closed all weekend from the 401 to the Gardiner between 2am Saturday and 5am Monday for its annual inspection. It's also the perfect chance to snag a rare photo of an empty highway.

Cops are going to be handing out "positive tickets" to kindly citizens seen doing good deeds, helping officers, or assisting in an investigation. The citations are good for discounts at local restaurants, according to 680 News.

The TTC received an all-time high 45,408 customer complaints last year, up from 38,811 in 2011. Most of the issues revolve around delays and issues with TTC staff. The Commission said some of the additional gripes stem from longer customer service centre hours and services like Twitter that the TTC also uses. Compliments are also at their highest level, which is something.

Finally, among the used bikes and second-hand kitchen appliances, a Toronto man is looking for his birth mother on Kijiji. Dave Rogers, 37, knows the woman who put him up for adoption is from Nova Scotia and worked at a bank in Brampton, Ontario. The rest of the records are sealed. Ring any bells?

IN BRIEF:

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

Image: grecomic/blogTO Flickr pool.

This Week in Film: Like Someone in Love, Upstream Color, Images Festival, and Toronto Jewish Film Festival

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

NEW RELEASES

Like Someone in Love (TIFF Bell Lightbox)

In a way, Abbas Kiarostami's Like Someone in Love and his previous feature, Certified Copy, ought to swap titles. For his first film set in Japan (of all places), he sets his protagonist, Akiko, a female escort, through a hazy series of incidents that gradually escalates into the very first jump scare in his body of work. Along her journey to that point - always the meat of a Kiarsotami film - she is repeatedly told that she looks like someone else (the woman in a painting, the girl in her client's framed photograph (who I assume is someone he loves), and even the flyer for her escort service (which, of course, actually is her, though her boyfriend and grandmother merely think it's a look alike).

If I'm evading a plot description, it's because the film proceeds along a course of actions that could hardly be termed a plot (there is either only one act, or dozens); it's more a film about essences, to be vague yet accurate. Not to spoil the film in the least, it ends the moment an aged professor - a client, lover, grandfather, and protector in the film - becomes most inadequate in his responsibility to keep Akiko safe, and it might be the angriest ending to a film all year. Evoking the feeling of a dream that evolves into a nightmare over the course of a nice afternoon nap, Like Someone in Love is unlike anything movie theatres have seen in quite some time - a truly weird and often heavenly film.

Upstream Color (TIFF Bell Lightbox)

It really shouldn't have taken nine years for director Shane Carruth to follow-up Primer, the most realistic and therefore most alienating time travel film ever made, but that's the way the film economy works these days. After some false starts, etc., we have Upstream Color straight from Carruth himself (embodying a true indie spirit by literally making and distributing everything himself), a wonderful film best described briefly and elliptically: A thief, worms, indigo, Piglet, rivers, lovers, projectiong, Walden, sub-woofers. To fill in the blanks and find an order, you'll have to (or rather, get to) see the film.

Also opening in theatres this week:

  • 42 (Varsity, Rainbow Market Sq.)
  • In Your Dreams (TIFF Bell Lightbox)
  • Men at Lunch (Bloor Hot Docs Cinema)
  • Paris-Manhattan (Varsity)
  • The Place Beyond the Pines (Varsity, Rainbow Market Sq.)
  • Renoir (Varsity)
  • Revolution (Varsity, Cineplex Yonge & Dundas)
  • Scary Movie 5 (Scotiabank)
  • Tattoo Nation (Cineplex Yonge & Dundas)
  • Touch the Sound: A Sound Journey (Cineplex Yonge & Dundas)
  • Trance (Cineplex Yonge & Dundas)

REP CINEMA

No rep cinema this week, thanks to Images, TIFF Kids, Cinefranco, and Toronto Jewish Film Festival using all the screens in the city. Attend those awesome festivals and get back to the oldies in a few weeks.

FILM FESTIVALS

Images Festival (April 11-20)

Suitcase FilmImages Festival, North America's most expansive film/art event, returns for its 26th with a bang this weekend, kicking off with a collaboration so mind-blowing I'm still not entirely convinced it's actually happening (i.e. Tim Hecker + Robert Todd at St. Anne's Anglican Church, Thursday, April 11 at 8PM). And the embarrassment of riches only begin there. Other highlights include John Torres' new feature, Lukas the Strange (Sunday, April 14 at 9PM), which has drawn comparisons to Apichatpong Weerasethakul and Guy Maddin, and a retrospective of the works by Althea Thauberger (Friday, April 12 at 6:30PM).

There are plenty of shorts programs not to be missed, either, including mmNemonic DVices (Saturday, April 13 at 10:30PM), which I co-curated and features twelve shorts all by Toronto-based filmmakers, a program of student work titled Borders/Bodies (Monday, April 15 at 6:30PM), and Rhythm and Reflection (Monday, April 15 at 9PM), which includes stellar short by Scott Stark, Kevin Jerome Everson, and Elizabeth Price, among others.

Which doesn't even list a third of the On Screen programs, let alone all of the art installations happening all over the city, the artist talks and guest speakers, the live performances (Jodie Mack's got a great one called Dirty Stacks of Mom: The Poster Project happening at CineCycle on Friday, April 19 at 10:30PM), or the opportunities to screen your own videos and films at the Open Screening! Too much. All On Screen programs will take place at Jackman Hall, but check their website for specific information on art shows, etc.

Toronto Jewish Film Festival (April 11-21)

Is film what Jews do best? To find out, you'll have to attend the Toronto Jewish Film Festival, now in its 21st year and once again offering a fresh slew of films celebrating Jewish culture, politics, struggles, history and identity. With nearly 100 films from over a dozen different countries, TJFF has something for everyone - Jewish or otherwiseserving up a diversity of genres, content and styles from all over the world, including hot titles pulled from Cannes (Aliyah), last year's TIFF (Fill the Void) and the silent film archives (Oded the Wanderer, which will include live piano accompaniment!).

This is another festival that is spread out across various venues throughout the city, so check dates, times, titles, and locations on there website. Tickets can be purchased online here for a $1 convenience fee, or also at the venue on the day of the screenings.

Lead still from Like Someone in Love.

Street Style: 20 early spring looks in downtown Toronto

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Streetstyle springSpring has sprung in case you didn't notice with all the rain we've been having lately. Luckily, I managed to take some photos in between rain storms and captured those who had shed some winter layers to mark the change of seasons.

See all the looks in our Style section.

How to make a cocktail: The Boutique Negroni

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Boutique NegroniWhen it comes to quitting time after a hard night of service, a favourite order for many of the city's bartenders (aside from a massive pint of beer) is the classic Negroni cocktail. Refreshing, bittersweet, and containing plenty of booze, this drink has been soothing shattered nerves for years.

It is said to have been invented in the early 1900's by Italian aristocrat Count Camillo Negroni. As a regular customer at his local bar, his usual tipple was the hugely popular Americano (campari, vermouth and soda). After one day requesting that his bartender substitute his soda for gin, customers starting asking for the cocktail "the Negroni way."

Boutique NegroniTraditionally the Negroni is made with Campari, a bitter aperitif made by another Italian, Gaspare Campari. He created a formula that includes over 60 herbs and plants. The actual recipe is a closely guarded secret, although the drink is known for its flavour of bitter orange peel, rhubarb and quinine (a white powder from the Cinchona tree, also known for lending bitterness to tonic).

Boutique NegroniAt Boutique Bar, in the Village, French-born owner Julien Salomone has decided to use another aperitif in the Campari family for his version of the Negroni: Aperol. It has a dark orange colour, with aromas of spice and herbs, and a taste of rhubarb and sweet orange. Unlike Campari, it has only 11% ABV and a markedly less bitter finish. He then adds Beefeater gin and, in place of the sweet vermouth, Dubonnet (a wine based aperitif, also flavoured with herbs, plants bitter orange and quinine).

Boutique NegroniAlongside modern twists on classic drinks, Boutique Bar also creates originals, such as the St. Germain.

The St.-Germain is a 'martini' made with an Elderflower liqueur of the same name. Made with handpicked Elderflower blossoms grown in the French alps, it has a pale golden colour, and flavours of peach, pear, lemon, grapefruit and orange. Julien shakes it with lemon juice and Beefeater gin and tops the mixture with cava before being garnished with a lemon twist.

As with many of the bars in the Village, Julien's cocktails are designed to be made quickly and easily for serving the throngs that pack his place every night, making them great for replicating at home.

Boutique NegroniThe Boutique Negroni
3/4 oz of Aperol
3/4 oz of Dubonnet
3/4 of Beefeater Gin
Stir over ice

Boutique NegroniThe St. Germain
3/4oz of St. Gemain Liquer
1oz of Beefeater Gin
1/2oz of Lemon Juice
Shake over ice, double strain into a chilled martini glass.
Top with cava and garnish with a lemon twist

Photos by Morris Lum


Toronto Restaurant Openings: Takht-e Tavoos, Trinity, Drake 150, Tati Bistro to close

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

OPEN NOW

  • Takht-e Tavoos opened a couple weeks ago at 1120 College Street. The new Iranian eatery from the team behind Pomegranate and Sheherzade is currently focused on daytime offerings with dinner service to be added in the coming weeks.

COMING SOON

  • As previously reported, the newest Drake Hotel outfit, Drake 150 is slated to open this summer in the Financial District at 150 York Street.
  • Billing itself as a modern Greek taverna Trinity is set to open at the Boardwalk Place (1681 Lake Shore Boulevard East) in June.
  • Now Magazine reports that Jeff and Chef Nuit (Sabai Sabai, Sukhothai) have a new project in the works set for a late autumn launch. This time the focus is to be Thai take-out and delivery.
  • Hero Burger has won its bid (again) to operate in the newly renovated Nathan Phillips Square. Also planned for the same site, Cashew & Clive catering will offer seasonal concessions at the new skating rink-side snack bar.

CLOSING

  • Harbord Village French bistro Tati Bistro (124 Harbord) Street is set to close sometime next month, though the last service has yet to be announced.

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

New in Toronto Real Estate: 383 Sorauren

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383 Sorauren383 Sorauren Ave. is a condo development is basically still a fetus. The sales office just opened last weekend, and the condos themselves won't be ready for moving day until fall 2016. As the city expands ever outward, though, condo life is getting pushed farther west. Behold: condos in family-focused Roncesvalles.

383 SoraurenSPECS

Address: 383 Sorauren Ave.
Floors: 11
Total number of units: 161
Elevators: 2
Types of units: studio, one bedroom, one plus den, two bedroom, three plus den, townhouses on the first floor, penthouses.
Unit sizes (in square feet): 470 to 1500
Ceiling heights: 9'0" to 10'0"
Prices from (available units): $250,000
Maintenance fees: $0.48
Developer: Gairloch and Centrestone Urban Developments Inc.
Amenities/building features: Fitness room, outdoor lounge, guest suite

383 SoraurenTHE GOOD

The developers have paid attention to the importance of outdoor space here. Every unit will be equipped with a balcony of sorts, and there's a communal outdoor space as well. And while these condos are definitely, um, condo-sized, their stark whiteness comes off as more gallery-esque than boring and drab. There's also en-suite laundry, and en-suite baths off of the master bedrooms. Ceilings will be exposed concrete, and there's a choice of interior finishes.

As for the neighbourhood, it has most of the amenities of downtown living, minus a little noise, the hectic atmosphere and subways (do I sound like Rob Ford?). Mitzi's and Balluchon are just down the street for brunch and coffee dates. There are countless awesome fruit and veggie markets on Roncesvalles, just a main street over. Even with all of this, the area is quiet enough that you can hear birds singing and children playing other such things that make people feel happy and warm inside.

383 SoraurenTHE BAD

These condos run the risk of feeling very cell-like. The washrooms look like they belong in a middle-of-the-road hotel. The suite pictured goes for $391,900. If I'm spending $391,900, I don't want to feel like I'm chillin in a HoJo. The model kitchen is also rather anonymous (read: I almost walked through without noticing it). There are condo-sized appliances and very minimal counter space. In fairness, though, this is a pretty common issue when it comes to condo living, and unless cooking is a major hobby, the space is serviceable. But then there are the terribly teensy closets, and that, ladies and gentlemen, could be a deal-breaker for the fashion-inclined.

The model I toured is really light on storage. Other than the aforementioned narrow bedroom closets, there's a hall closet, and that's about it. (Again, a common hazard with condos, and could be remedied by vertical storage solutions). The gallery-esque appearence I refer to above also just might have something to do with the fact that the model suite I visited was fully outfitted by an interior designer. Your unit might not look so pretty.

For some, the family vibe of this neighbourhood might actually be a bad thing, as well. The 'hood is pretty tame. There are a few bars nearby on Roncesvalles, but most spots close pretty early, and the area can be pretty dead by 11 p.m. or so.

383 SoraurenOUR TAKE

If you want a relaxed space in a developing neighbourhood, and you're not an aspiring chef or a snob for lovely washrooms, then this place is..alright. It just depends on what you're after. Some people are into the plain Jane condo feel, but overall this place seems like it's coming up short of its potential.

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

Photos by Andrew Williamson.

Where not to eat Indian food on Yonge Street

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Indian food North YorkDespite the promising "the finest exotic Indian cuisine," this long-open North York restaurant couldn't seem to get anything right when I paid a visit last week. Despite the popularity of the lunch buffet, I suggest this is a place to skip.

Read my review of Tandoori House in the restaurants section.

Should Toronto raise the fine for blocking intersections?

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toronto intersectionAmber gamblers that block downtown intersections trying to make a left turn are a big problem for the TTC's surface routes, according Alan Heisey, one of the Commission's citizen board members. He says the existing fine of $40 should be raised to provide a better deterrent during busy rush-hour periods.

In a recommendation adopted at the last TTC board meeting, Heisey said the current fine is "trivial" compared to those in other cities and "has very little deterrence impact." Agency staff are now weighing whether to ask the city to implement a higher fee.

As the Heisey notes, Toronto relies heavily on surface transit through the core, making the problem worse when it occurs.

According to research, Boston tickets drivers $150.00 and other authorities charge double or triple Toronto's rate. The province of B.C., however, charges the same as Toronto. There are no laws outside of the city for this offense, however.

"One auto blocking an intersection can delay a full bus of passengers, affecting their trip plus that bus's schedule and, therefore, the entire route, impacting potentially hundreds of people," says the TTC's Brad Ross. "Anything that can be done to keep the flow of traffic moving benefits us all."

Ross says the problem is most noticeable downtown but isn't exclusively a problem associated with getting through the core.

Should Toronto get strict with drivers who cause transit delays or focus on other ways of making transit move better? Are permanent parking bans and dedicated rights-of-way a better option?

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

Image: Naveg/blogTO Flickr pool.

The great Toronto coffee drink challenge: The Shakerato

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ShakeratoIt might be hard to believe right now that winter will end and you'll be craving a cold drink on a hot day. For some of us that means a cold coffee. The Neapolitan shakerato is an espresso with a bit of sugar poured over ice and given a frothy top after a quick James Bond in a martini shaker. There was a craze for the shakerato in Europe a few years ago, and they've ended up as a standard on bar menus over there, though they're rarely spotted this side of the Atlantic.

anise syrupCONCEPT
Kirby Azuma of Noir Coffee & Tea on St. Clair West thought he needed to give a bit more depth to the Shakerato, and adopted another trademark of espresso bars in Italy - the bit of lemon peel that comes on the side of an espresso in Rome. He also thought that a simple sugar syrup might not be enough, so he threw in a handful of star anise to steep, hoping for a drink that would live up to Noir's motto: Luxury in every cup.

SCORE: 8/10

pulling a shotEXECUTION
Azuma shaves a bit of peel off a lemon and gives it a twist to release the essential oils before dropping it into the bottom of a short cocktail glass. He pours out a scant ounce of the anise syrup, and then fills a shaker with ice before pulling a two ounce espresso shot from the very lovely machine at the bar in Noir.

The shot and the syrup both go into the shaker, which he give a brisk bit of muscle to for about fifteen seconds and decants into the cocktail glass. The espresso settles at the bottom while a thick layer of froth separates into the top half, where a few big bubbles quickly pop, leaving a surface that resembles a coffee custard.

SCORE: 8/10

japanese coffee torontoVALUE
Azuma says that the drink's appeal falls on the near side of a divide that separates espresso drinkers from people who like tall lattes - people who essentially prefer milk to coffee. His staff loved it, and they sell a good number in the summer, though not always as the post-lunch/mid-afternoon pick-me-up that describes the drink in Italy.

It helps that Noir serves a really decent espresso, which is neatly infused with the lemon peel. The anise, on the other hand, is a bit harder to pick out, at least until you finish the espresso and get to the froth, which has a much bigger mouthful of the star anise and its liquorice. I drink it down to the last bit of froth, then shudder as I hear the hail tapping against the window outside Noir. Summer can't come soon enough.

SCORE: 9/10

TOTAL SCORE: 25/30

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

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

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

15 photos of Toronto at night on Instagram

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night photos TorontoSmartphone cameras tend to struggle with night photography. So often the images are grainy or blurry on account of the lack of manual settings or tripod stabilization. That said, the newest phones handle night shots far better than their predecessors and city folks benefit from the fact that there's typically lots of ambient light on downtown streets with which to work. So, given the popularity of our vintage roundup up of such photos, we challenged our Instagram followers to show off their favourite night shots of Toronto. Of the 250+ submissions, here are some of the best.

Lead photo by magidaetimani.

PHOTOS

night photos TorontoPhoto by salitabacchi

night photos TorontoPhoto by soteeoh

night photos Torontosoteeoh (rails)

night photos TorontoPhoto by teefan

night photos TorontoPhoto by dflack

night photos TorontoPhoto by nicholashapes

night photos TorontoPhoto by mariocardoso

night photos TorontoPhoto by jenna7788

night photos TorontoPhoto by mbtino

night photos Torontombtino

night photos TorontoPhoto by pervine

night photos TorontoPhoto by wesawithappen

night photos TorontoPhoto by cohengilad

night photos TorontoPhoto by s2murray

Fear turns to triumph


Morning Brew: Rob Ford was briefed on Porter's plans, weather is bad, more "no" casino votes, Wynne hints at transit tax preferences, and Toronto gets virtually nuked

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toronto toiletsRob Ford was briefed on Porter's airport expansion plans several months before this week's official announcement, but the meeting was not recorded on the lobbyist registry, according to the Globe and Mail. The "high level" meetings with Robert Deluce, the airline's CEO, in February and March covered the company's plan to run jets out of Billy Biship. Porter Airlines said the fact the meeting wasn't reported was an "administrative oversight."

The wild weather is here. Last night there were power outages in the northwest of the city between Bathurst and Keele and the Scarborough RT was temporarily closed (full service has now resumed.) The weather is expected to stay ugly through today but flights and schools are running as normal.

Coun. Gloria Lindsay Luby says she'll vote "no" on a Toronto casino, bringing the camp against a major gaming facility close to a majority. Luby, who represents Etobicoke Centre, says she's listening to the opinion of her constituents by throwing her support behind an expansion of the Woodbine Slots. Is there a chance some of the other Etobicoke councillors - the Fords, Doug Holyday - are ignoring some of their residents?

Though it might be moot, Oxford Properties has made its case for a casino at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The group delivered a presentation package to members of city council yesterday, outlining how their proposal is the best way for the city to add convention space, something it apparently lacks. The group also says its proposal will add more jobs than a casino at the CNE. Given the choice, is this the better option?

Premier Kathleen Wynne is hinting she might not be behind a property tax hike to pay for the $2 billion of new transit needed in the GTA. In an interview with the Canadian Press, Wynne said the property tax base cannot pay for all of the transit infrastructure that's needed in the GTHA ... we need a dedicated revenue stream other than that." Should transit taxes target road users only?

For the masochists among us, here's a chance to see the Toronto skyline getting nuked in simulated 8-bit glory courtesy of Ubisoft's new shooter Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon. The game, developed in Montreal, opens with a nuclear disaster befalling the continent with Hogtown firmly in the epicentre. Ouch, guys. [via Reddit]

Finally, the Toronto Sun's Mike Strobel isn't pleased about all those darn cyclists riding around the city now the weather's improving (today excluded.) He complains, trolling of course, that the city is building a "spa" for cyclists, later invoking George Orwell's 1984. The brainless rant caught the attention of UK Guardian writer Oliver Burkeman for its lack of original gripes. He's got a few new ones the anti-bike lobby can use.

IN BRIEF:

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

Image: Dan Cronin^/blogTO Flickr pool.

Bloorcourt gets a new (and familiar) coffee shop

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EspressoThis coffee shop has been providing the Dundas West folk with fresh baked goodies and smooth espresso for over seven years, long before the likes of Ezra's Pound or The Tampered Press moved in. Now making roots in the ever-growing, convenient Ossington and Bloor area, co-owners Michael Craig and Jennifer Hedley opened up the cafe's second location early last week. Offering up the same reliable goodness that built their reputation, the new location will have a focus on take-out, perfect for the morning commuters heading to Ossington Station.

Check out my review of the new Ella's Uncle in the Cafes section.

The photos of the week: April 5-12

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Toronto DensityThe photos of the week collect each of the editor-selected photos of the day into one post for a contest to be decided by our readers. Sponsored by Posterjack, the photographer whose image receives the most votes will be awarded with a voucher code for a 24"x36" poster print of their work.

All the rules and fine-print can be found in the original announcement post on the blogTO Flickr page. One thing to add, however, is that the voting period ends at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, after which the winner will be contacted with the good news.

For those photographers whose images are featured below, please feel free to give us a little information about your shot — i.e. where and when it was taken — in the comments section. Who knows? Maybe your description will sway voters in your favour!

Lead photo by Ronnie Yip

2.
RoftoppingPhoto by Neil Ta in the blogTO Flickr pool

3.
Spadina TTC StationPhoto by Kat NLM in the blogTO Flickr pool

4.
Enclosed Field Brookfield PlacePhoto by Nicky Jameson in the blogTO Flickr pool.

5.
Red-tailed hawkPhoto by Fryderyk Supinski in the blogTO Flickr pool

6.
Trout TorontoPhoto by Ben Roffelsen in the blogTO Flickr pool

7.
St. Michael's Hospital BridgePhoto by cookedphotos in the blogTO Flickr pool


That time when life in the city started at the Centre

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Eaton Centre 1970sThe Eaton Centre may fall in and out of fashion, but it has always enjoyed top tier status in the pantheon of Hogtown iconography for good reason. While the last decade or so may not have been so kind - last summer's Food Court shooting being a particularly barmy blight - there once was a time when the Centre was at the shining centre of Toronto's eyes wide open consumer optimism.

"Life in the City (Starts at the Centre)" was an inaugural song comissioned to celebrate the opening of Centre in 1977. Written by jingle master Terry Bush, the genius behind the infinitely indelible theme song for The Littlest Hobo and a million other jingles, "Life in the City" was even performed live on opening night at the Eaton Centre by Bush, as the event was breathlessly reported by all of Canada's major media outlets.

Here's a snippet from the early 80s TV commercials which ran under the "Life in the City" umbrella:

From the late 1970s until the early 1990s, Eaton Centre TV commercials dominated local channels, whether it was Citytv, CFTO or even independent Buffalo stations like WUTV 29. They celebrated the food, the clothes and the glass covered galleria itself. There was a tremendous pride in the Eaton Centre.

If you fondly recall Stitches, or Simpsons, or the old Mr. Green Jeans, or the Cineplex Odeon theatre with tiny screens and paper walls, some of these retro TV spots will probably stoke a warm nostalgic glow in your heart:



That's SCTV alum Tony Rosato in the last spot, unable to pick just one delicious dish circa 1986.

Of course, with the advent of online shopping and the fickle nature of brick and mortar retail, it ain't what it used to be. Is anything? But the dizzy heights and good times of flashy unfettered '80s consumerism are captured here, like Dinosaur DNA frozen in amber, for future generations to ponder.

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.

Toronto Food Events: Kensington Krawl, Future Food Salon, Slurp Noodlefest, Go Gourmet

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Toronto food eventsToronto Food Events rounds up the most delicious events: festivals, pop-ups, winemaker dinners, supper clubs and other food related happenings in Toronto this week and next. You can find us here every Friday morning.

THIS WEEK

  • Kensington Krawl makes its way through the market on Sunday, April 14th for a three hour tour presented by Savour Toronto. Tickets are $40 and include 6 tastings from a cheese shop, cannery and delicatessen, charcuterie, spice shop and other local eateries.
  • Luma (350 King Street West) presents A Sustainable Evening with Ocean Wise and Mission Hill Wines on Sunday, April 14th at 5pm. Tickets are $150 and include a pre-dinner reception and multi-course tasting dinner featuring sustainable seafood and wine pairings.
  • The Somewhereness Wine Dinner takes place at Mercatto MaRS (101 College Street) on Tuesday, April 16th. The $40 ticket covers the four course dinner with wine pairings and can be purchased online now.
  • Brewer's Plate Toronto offers unlimited tasting from 40+ chefs, artisans and Ontario craft breweries starting at 6:30pm on Wednesday, April 17th in the CBC Atrium (250 Front Street). Tickets are still available for $125.
  • Future Food Salon Series is back on Thursday, April 18th with an evening of art, music, talk and oh yeah, complimentary cricket canapés. The evening kicks off at 7pm at Gallery 345 (345 Sorauren Avenue). Tickets range from $18 to $25.

UPCOMING

OTHER NEWS

  • The Stop's Night Market has announced it's expanding to two days when it returns to the Honest Ed's parking lot and alleyway this June 18th and 19th. Tickets will go on sale at noon on May 22nd for the $50 all-you-can-eat AND drink event.

Photo by Nate Kogan

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