The top ski and snowboard shops in Toronto carry everything you need for a weekly jaunt to Blue Mountain, a shred session at the closest terrain park, or a longer trip to somewhere with actual powder. We may not have mountains, but Toronto has a robust retail scene when it comes to gearing up.

Here are my picks for the top ski and snowboard stores in Toronto.

So Hip It Hurts

If you want to look fly AF on the slopes this season, check out this Toronto institution. The selection isn't as wide as some of the larger shops on this list, but the expertise and passion on display here is unrivalled. You'll leave with great gear and dope threads.

Sporting Life

Sporting Life has long been a go-to for skis and ski-related outerwear. It retains its high-priced reputation, but you can snag great prices on close-out models of everything from snowboards to softshells if having gear from last season doesn't bug you.

Mountain Equipment Co-op

MEC has an enormous selection of back-country, cross-country, and downhill skis. You won't find as many boards, but they've got everything you need and more in terms of gear – from base layers and neck gaiters to avalanche safety kits. Staff here are friendly and knowledgeable.

Boardsports

An excellent place for snowboarders (and wakeboarders and kiteboarders,) this shop near Yonge and Davisville is staffed by experts. Brands include Burton, Arbor, K2, and Ride. The clothing and accessory selection is plentiful, plus they offer free shipping on orders over $99.99.

Corbett's

This 75-year-old business in Oakville is a hub for high-end snow gear. Along with skis and boards, the shop stocks plenty of outerwear from covetable brands like Volcom and Arc'teryx. It also hosts huge warehouse sales where you can get all types of equipment for up to 80% off.

Sanction

Sanction is a proudly Canadian skate and snowboard speciality shop in North York. These guys know their stuff, as evidenced by the quality of brands they sell – Union and Flux bindings, Gnu and Lib Tech boards, Thirtytwo and Burton boots. Get the perfect set-up for your needs here.

Skis and Bikes

The sprawling Don Mills location is as well stocked, one-stop type of place for all of one's downhill skiing and snowboarding needs. Staff tend to be well versed in the nuances of boot fit and ski/snowboard tuning, and the selection of brands is about as diverse as you'll find in Toronto.

Sign of the Skier

A Toronto retail institution since the 1960s, the perpetually busy shop is best known as that place that sells both skis and patio furniture – a seemingly strange combination, but one that works perfectly given its location between North Toronto and Lawrence Park. 

Salomon

If you're a fan of Salomon skis, this is the store for you. Part of a growing trend of brand-specific sports stores, what the shop lacks in diversity, it makes up for comprehensiveness and knowledge about every aspect of its products.

Sports Swap

One of the few places in Toronto outside of Craigslist where you might snag a decent set of used skis or a snowboard, this Leaside shop also sells new products and takes trade-ins. 

Bowling in Toronto is one of those cherished pastimes that always proves a good time even as the sport has waned in popularity. The unapologetically tacky shoes, old computers, and greasy food all spur nostalgia for simpler times when rolling a strike was the greatest thing ever.

Here's a handful of places where you can still go bowling in Toronto.

All-Star Interactive

All-Star Bowl on Eglinton East of Danforth Road has 24 lanes of 10-pin bowling and daily specials that make it one of the cheapest places in the city to bowl. They also offer cosmic bowling for $3 on Wednesday and boast a full food menu.

The Ballroom

The Ballroom at the corner of Richmond and John is the most modern of Toronto's bowling alleys. It has nine lanes of 10-pin surrounded by LED screens and a variety of arcade games, pool tables, a ping-pong lounge, and a huge sports bar.

Bathurst Bowlerama

Bathurst Bowlerama is the quintessential old school bowling alley. Unrepentant in its 90s technology and decor, it has 16 lanes of 5-pin and 16 lanes of 10-pin bowling, along with arcade games, a snack bar, and cosmic bowling on Friday and Saturday nights.

C4Centre Bowling

Also known as Brimley Bowl, this alley at Eglinton and Brimley Road has 16 lanes of 5-pin bowling, a snack bar, fully listened bar, and even offers bumper bowling.

Danforth Bowl

Danforth Bowl in East York offers six lanes of 5-pin bowling with lots of independently-run charm. It also boasts a fully licensed and well-stocked bar and even lets you bowl amid coloured lights and a disco ball.

Kennedy Bowl

Kennedy Bowl at Lawrence and Kennedy has 32 lanes of 10-pin bowling. It also has a licensed sports bar, snack bar, four dart boards, and cosmic bowling. Do check ahead for lane availability as weeknights are reserved for league use.

Newtonbrook Bowlerama

Located inside the Newtonbrook Plaza in North York, this alley has 12 5-pin lanes, 20 10-pin lanes, a snack bar, and cosmic bowling on weekends. Monday evenings are only $2 per person/per game after 9 p.m.

North Park Bowl

Another thrifty option, North Park Bowl at Lawrence and Keele has 16 lanes of 5-pin bowling available for $10 per lane per hour including shoes. There's also a snack bar to get your nibble on.

Parkway Bowl

Parkway Bowl at in the Parkway Mall at Victoria Park and Ellesmere has 24 lanes of 5-pin bowling, four of which can be turned into 10-pin lanes. Bowling is only $3.76 per game (plus $2.65 for shoes) for 5-pin and $3.98 for 10-pin.

Playtime Bowl

Playtime Bowl near Yorkdale Mall has 48 lanes of 10-pin regular and cosmic bowling with a live DJ on Friday and Saturday. It also has laser tag and a licensed bar and grill to fuel up after all the action.

Rexdale Bowlerama

Rexdale Bowlerama at Kipling and Rexdale has 16 5-pin and 16 10-pin lanes and all-you-can-bowl on Mondays and Tuesdays as well as cosmic bowling Friday and Saturday nights until close.

Shamrock Bowl

The recently restored 1950s-style bowling alley near Gerrard and Coxwell is one of oldest in the city, dating back to 1952. If nostalgia is your thing, it's available for private parties and corporate events but (alas) not open to the public.

West Bowlerama

West Bowlerama in Etobicoke is open until 3 a.m. most nights and has 32 lanes of 5-pin and 24 lanes of 10-pin bowling, cosmic bowling, games and a snack bar.

Ever noticed that photographs of Toronto from the 1970s tend to have a brown hue? Part of this has to do with faded film negatives, but it's more than that.

Thanks to the greater supply of old warehouse buildings and years upon years of burning coal as fuel, the city really was more brown back then. Throw in the curious preponderance of beige cars, and you have a distinct aesthetic that seems as distant as it is captivating.

Back in the 1950s, Toronto looked more orderly and less vibrant. The rise of neon signage took care of that with the cluttered beauty of the 1960s, which continued through the start of the 1970s with the addition of a bit of sleaze.

Looking north up the Yonge St. corridor in 1972. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

The cars were big, the signs were big, and Toronto's appetite for growth was big. Many of the stained brick warehouses of the previous era started to come down to make way for the modern city that was about to come.

By the time the 90s rolled around, the city was transforming rapidly, and brown was mercifully a less popular colour for cars. Toronto's post-industrial period was already on the wane. Glass and steel buildings began to tower over the old brick and stone.

I don't think you'd call the Toronto of the 1970s a particularly beautiful place. Our historic buildings really do look much nicer now that they've been cleaned up.

Nevertheless, there is something almost painterly about these photos, a quality that captures a city on the brink of massive change but still tethered to its weathered past. The effect is fascinating.

Behold, the brown-tinged grittiness of Toronto streets in the 1970s.

Looking south at Yonge and College. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

Looking east at Yonge and Gerrard. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

Looking east towards Beverley on Queen Street West. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

A rather filthy Union Station. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

College looking towards Yonge. Photo via Chuckman's Nostalgia. 

Aerial view of same area via Chuckman's Nostalgia.

219 Church Street when the mom and pop shop still reigned. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

Queen Street West and old Eaton's Complex. Photo via Chuckman's Nostalgia.

Same area post-demolition. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

Looking north on Yonge from College. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

Looking east along St. Clair West at Oakwood. Photo via Chuckman's Nostalgia.

Church and Dundas streets as First Canadian Place and the CN Tower rise in the background. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

King Street just west of Spadina. Photo via Chuckman's Nostalgia.

Postcard view of the Yonge Street Strip at dusk.

Yonge St. south of Dundas. The buildings on the right were raised for the Eaton Centre. Photo via the Toronto Archives.

More of Yonge Street's eclectic hodgepodge. Photo via the Toronto Archives. 

Dundas West and Roncesvalles. Photo via Chuckman's Nostalgia.

Getting the brown on at St. Clair West nearing Yonge Street. Photo via Chuckman's Nostalgia.

St. Clair West and Vaughan Road (note the movie theatre). Photo via Chuckman's Nostalgia.

McCaul looking north to College. Photo via Chuckman's Nostalgia.

Junction of King and Queen streets looking west as the modern skyline takes shape. Photo via Chuckman's Nostalgia.

Catering options in Toronto abound, whether you're looking for full-service party planners able to staff and decorate your next event, office lunch options, or pick-up platters of prepared food. There's something for everyone no matter their personal preference or dietary restrictions.

Here are my picks for the top catering options in Toronto.

Formal Functions
 

Daniel et Daniel

The off-site caterer has established itself as a pro at pulling off distinct weddings, corporate events and private functions. Use their services for planning, staffing, even locating a venue. They can accommodate everything from cocktail receptions to sit-down dinners or buffets.

Marigolds & Onions

In business since 1991, this experienced team of event planners boasts a portfolio of big corporate clients and successful 5,000-person events. They do it all, from weddings and special occasions to corporate orders for breakfasts, sandwich luncheons, or a la carte meals.

ProvisionsTO

This caterer is driven by seasonal and local ingredients. They provide clientele a unique experience, from creative passed-snacks to hand-crafted cocktails. They handle events both large and intimate with a range of menu styles. 

Elle Cuisine

Event coordinators here can help plan and execute weddings, parties, and sit down dinners, but most fun of all are interactive food stations that let guests build their own tacos or sundaes, and chow down on fun street foods like poutine or mac and cheese.

Citizen Catering

From small boutique gatherings to large-scale events, Citizen can take care of all of the event planning beyond the food. They also do corporate and wedding menus. 

A La Carte Kitchen

Since 1981, this catering company has amassed a reputation for its multi-course dinners, buffets, and passed hors d'oeuvres.

The Food Dudes

This large scale catering operation has the capacity for massive events and a proven track record for producing all types of functions from start to finish. They'll serve intimate sit down dinners, lavish weddings, and corporate events with panache.

Encore Catering

This full service catering company provides for weddings, galas, fundraisers, corporate functions, private events, and special occasions all over the city. 

Toben Food By Design

The team here produces corporate and private events and can look after everything from rentals to staffing. Whether the guest list is 10 to 1,000 strong, expect beautifully presented food be it breakfast, lunch, dinner or just cocktails and snacks.

Parts & Labour Catering

Expect a wide range of catering styles from this Parkdale restaurant (the catering kitchen is in the Junction Triangle), which can produce everything from casual street food stations to elegant canapé receptions and seated multi-course dinners.

CaterTrendz

This outfit is the preferred catering vendor at venues like York Mills Gallery, Miller Lash House, and Rebel. They have menus for any occasion whether it be a cocktail party or a sit down dinner. 

David Mintz Catering

For over 25 years, David Mintz has provided Toronto catering services for events ranging from corporate functions to in-home cocktail parties, upscale BBQs, and large scale events. 

Cafe Plenty will bring a selection of sandwiches to your next corporate function. Photo by Jesse Milns.

Working Lunches
 

Cafe Plenty

While pretty much every other place on this list will do lunch, Cafe Plenty makes it their niche. Group lunch orders feature scrupulously crafted sandwiches, salad, dessert and a drink for a set price.

McEwan

While McEwan will arrange for servers if necessary, what this catering operation does best is boardroom ready, self-serve platters piled with sandwiches, cheese and charcuterie boards, apps, and even large format entrees.

Pusateri's

The chain of fine foods shops will cater banquets complete with multi-course menus or food stations, but where they really excel is with their catalogue of easy-to-order catering options for the business set featuring continental breakfast platters and corporate lunches.

Art of Food

No matter the type of event or service style sought, this events caterer can deliver. Corporate clients looking to spice up the boardroom should look no further than the vast lunchtime offerings including boxed lunches, deli and antipasto platters, and hot seasonal entrees.

L-Eat

This catering company services weddings, social functions, and business clientele with custom menus. On their easy order menu you'll find a selection of platters, sandwiches, wraps, and pastas. 

The Edible Story

Found on Richmond St. East, this company does catering along with special events and privately booked cooking classes. Set up a team lunch at their location or have them come to you with a variety of sandwiches and salads. 

Rose Reisman Catering

Corporate catering is a speciality here, and the Toronto business community relies on this outfit to deliver top quality foods for corporate meetings and lunches. They offer an array of delicious prepared meals including salads and sandwiches. 

Corporate Crazy Catering

Specializing in office catering, this company has a variety of packages that go beyond basic sandwiches and salads. Find breakfast menus, hot buffets, and even dessert offerings. 

The Goods creates a variety of vegan salads and grain bowls to serve at your next special function. Photo by Jesse Milns.

Vegetarian
 

The Goods

The all-vegan, all-raw lunch delivery service based on Dundas West can easily cater groups of 10 to 500 people with its made-from-scratch menu featuring salads, grain bowls, smoothies, and soups.

Veggie D'Light

This meat-free caterer can accommodate orders for small group functions, up to 20 people with just 48 hours notice. Menus offer apps like lettuce wraps, spring rolls and samosas, and vegan entrees like lasagna or crispy Thai-style seitan.

Sonny Langer's

Established in 1985, Sonny Langer's is a dairy and vegetarian event caterer. They offer a selection of menus for any type of event whether it be a bridal tea, a high holiday, or even a funeral. 

Garden Gangsters

Beyond being a popular lunch destination in Liberty Village, this restaurant also offers catering services. All ordering can be done online and there's a selection of bowls, beverages and treats to choose from.

Flexitarion
 

Urban Acorn

Catering to dietary restrictions of all types, this catering company makes it their mission to accommodate meat-eaters, vegans, and gluten-free eaters all at once with farm to table fare. Corporate events, private functions, and weddings are all welcome.

Lisa Shamai Cuisinière

Parties of up to 1,000 can enlist this east-side kitchen to satisfy vegetarian, vegan and omnivore guests with diverse menus that offer a little something for everyone.

Leaf + Bone

Located at Dundas and Broadview, Leaf + Bone is a food catering and event company offering all natural flexitarian fare. Workshops are also offered here.

BBQ
 

Barque Smokehouse

Catering menus by this smokehouse on Roncy offer options for elegant full service meals including plated appetizers and meat carving stations. For corporate luncheons and casual events, opt for self-serve platters of appetizers or sandwiches, and piles of barbecued meats and sides.

Pig Roast Catering

If you're on the hunt for where to get a whole roast pig, look no further. This Toronto catering company is devoted entirely to rotisserie pigs. In addition to their pig roast menu, you can order from a selection of barbecue items. 

Uncle Smoke

This Toronto cookhouse is more than just a restaurant. They cater everything from corporate lunches to weddings. If you're looking to make your next event a meaty one, these are your guys. 

Kiss the Cook

While this Toronto caterer offers a variety of menu, it's their BBQ offerings that really stand out. They do everything from juicy steaks to fire-cooked burgers all prepared fresh and on-site.

Filipino
 

Tita Flips

The Market 707 vendor offers party trays of spring tools, noodles, rice, and crowd pleasing dishes like adobo pork or pata.

Casa Manila

This North York spot is one of the best Filipino restaurants in the city. In addition to offering dine-in and takeout, they also do catering. They offer a dinner menu along with the option for buffet-style or party platters.

Spanish 
 

Sabrosito

This catering company specializes in small in-home parties of up to 20 people, though they can cater larger affairs, including weddings, cocktail parties, and anniversaries. 

Italian
 

Calabria Bakery

Need a whole tray of veal cutlets, entire lasagnas, salads, pizzas or sandwiches? This Italian bakery offers homestyle favourites for parties of 10 or more.

La Cantina Catering

Select from their classic Italian menu and be mesmerized by options of antipasto platters, pastas, scaloppini, forno arrostita and contorini. 

Persian
 

Baran Catering

Based in Richmond Hill, this catering operation from chef Nader Taheri specializes in Persian and Mediterranean cuisine. Host your next event with platters of tahchin, lubiya polo, karafs, and much more.

Make your next event a shuckin' good time with Rodney's Oyster House. Photo by Hector Vasquez.

Seafood
 

Rodney's Oyster House

Along with fresh oysters, this seafood purveyor offers catering packages featuring lobster boils and clam bakes with salads, corn on the cob, and all the fixins.

Smoked & Cracked

The restaurant on Mount Pleasant has passionate seafood chefs that can turn an office party into an East Coast lobster shack or serve surf and turf dinners to 100 wedding guests.

Caribbean
 

King Catering

Personal chef services and corporate and event catering will satisfy guest appetites with diverse offerings from Trinidad and Tobago. Party menus feature braised jerk pork ravioli, deep fried breadfruit with spicy Trini meatballs, and a coconut sorrel mousse.

Jan's Catering Service

Since 1987, this family owned and operated catering company has specialized in Caribbean cuisine, which they bring to weddings, banquets, corporate events, and even private gatherings.

Sri Lankan
 

Babu Catering & Delivery

Spicy, exotic flavours including a wide assortment of authentic Indian, Sri Lankan, South Asian and Tamil foods are the specialty from this Scarborough takeout counter with the capacity to take large orders.

Nantha Caters

The Sri Lankan takeout shop in Scarborough deals in paruppu vadai, samosa, koththu roti, curries that can feed large groups at remarkable value.

Kosher
 

Zutcher Berk

Count on this kosher cater for any Jewish occasion. The company offers complete event planning for weddings and bar mitzvahs, plus shiva orders on short notice.

Ely's Fine Foods

This retail counter on Bathurst stocks a wide array of salads and dips along with traditional Jewish staples. It's easy to order pick-up meals for parties or shivas, while the full service caterer is happy to assist planning weddings and bar mitzvahs.

Milk N' Honey

The catering menu from this Kosher restaurant in North York boasts trays of cheese blintzes and platters packed with sandwiches, bagels, cheese, and smoked fish, plus a wide array of sharable salads.

Mitzuyan Kosher Catering

This strictly kosher mobile kitchen means any beautiful venue can be matched with freshly prepared kosher food cooked on site. They do multi course menus in a variety of styles, as well as interactive stations showcasing sushi boats and hot smoked meat carving stations.

Eco-Friendly
 

10tation Event Catering

This Etobicoke company is among the most experienced and most capable at handling large events. It also abides by its own green mandate that includes diverting and reducing waste, sourcing local food, and refusing to supply plastic water bottles.

Yorkshire Pudding

Guests tend to rave about the events this caterer puts on. Among their many merits is their sustainable initiatives, which include extensive recycling and composting programs, seasonal local menus, and reusable or biodegradable service pieces.

Vert Catering

Vert services corporate clients with breakfast buffets, sandwich platters and bistro menus, as well as weddings and private functions with passed apps, and sit-down or buffet dinners. They are committed to producing less landfill waste than any other caterer in Toronto.

Toronto soup kitchens and food banks are always a worthy cause, but they're especially busy during the holidays. If you have any spare time, these places always need donations and volunteers to ensure everyone in Toronto has access to basic food items and/or a warm meal. 

Here's a selection of soup kitchens and food banks in Toronto.

Good Shepherd Ministries

Good Shepherd Ministries offer food, shelter, clothing and more to anyone in need. Monetary donations make a big difference in keeping the programs running and the lights and heat on for the long Toronto winter.

North York Harvest Food Bank

This food bank usually hosts a winter food drive that accepts nutritious, non-perishable food items that can be dropped off at local fire halls and participating supermarkets in the former borough of North York. It's always in need of volunteers, if that's something you're interested in.

The Salvation Army

This organization's Christmas Kettles campaign is one of its most visible projects (aiming to raise $21 million), but it uses the proceeds to provide essential services throughout the year in the form of food banks and community meals that feed over a million people annually 

The Stop Community Food Centre

The Stop Community Food Centre offers a full spectrum of programs and services designed to increase food access and education, as well as a sense of community and civic engagement, including everything from cooking classes to community advocacy.

The Yonge Street Mission

The Yonge Street Mission has several different facilities to help those in need, from financially strapped families to newly arrived immigrants, seniors, socially marginalized adults, and homeless youth. No one is ever turned away. Food services is key component of outreach here.

Fort York Food Bank

The Fort York Food Bank has lots of volunteer opportunities on offer, from advocacy and counselling to graphic design and advertising. People can also aid with food sorting and community kitchen shifts, all in an effort to give everyone the chance to learn and grow.

Second Harvest

This not-for-profit has various initiatives and projects on the go all year round with proceeds directed toward feeding hungry children and families. Excess fresh food is delivered daily to hundreds of social service programs around the city.

Daily Bread Food Bank

The Daily Bread Food Bank is where many urgently needed food items can be found: baby food and formula, canned fish and meat, peanut butter, as well as canned fruits and vegetables. It will even help to arrange a pick-up if you have a contribution for their donation drives.

Winter weekend escapes from Toronto can provide the brief respite required to endure the long, hard season. Not all of us have the time or money to head to the tropics each winter, which is why it's so useful that Ontario is dotted with year round resorts, inns, and cabins that allow weary city folk take a load off for a few days.

Here are my picks for the top winter weekend escapes from Toronto.

Try out a yurt or cabin at a provincial park

Winter doesn't mean that our provincial parks shut down. One of your best bets for winter camping is a renting a yurt or heated cabin. They're cheap, warm, and there are more of them than you might think.  Rustic living doesn't get any more romantic than this. 

Hit up a snow-friendly resort

Some cottage country resorts close up shop after Thanksgiving, but those with indoor pools, spa services, and great dining options remain sanctuaries of calm throughout the winter months, when you can focus on pure relaxation beside a fire or over an amazing meal. 

Strap on your skis

The ultimate winter pastime still serves as one of the best getaways from Toronto with many resorts offering full-service ski experiences from mid December through March. Blue Mountain is the biggest, but Hockley Valley, Horseshoe, and Hidden Valley also make great weekend destinations. 

Stay at a country inn

I don't know about you, but my favourite winter getaways involve plenty of time curled up reading with a glass bottle of wine. Let the weather outside howl while enjoying the comforts of a historic or nouveaux inn outside of the city in small town Ontario.

Warm up at a spa

Hitting the spa is relaxing any time of year, but steam rooms and hot tubs take on an otherworldly quality in the dead of winter. The most alluring near Toronto is probably the indoor-outdoor experience at Scandinave, but others like St. Anne's are also prime unwinding zones.

Head to the Falls

Niagara tourism thins out a bit in the winter, which lets you soak up the kitsch of the place more fully. Hotel rooms are cheaper, it's easier to get reservations at the few decent restaurants, and wine tastings even run year-round at major producers. Bonus: the falls actually look even more majestic when surrounded by ice. 

Sequester yourself in a log cabin

Two words: wood fire. Nothing matches the ambiance of a constantly lit fireplace or wood burning oven at the centre of a secluded cabin in the northern wilderness. You can snowshoe and cross country ski by day, and lounge by the fire at night. Winter perfection. 

Escape to a winter wonderland near the city

The quaint lakeside town of Cobourg gets all dressed up for the holidays each year, but even when the hard months of winter set in, places like the Breakers and the Woodlawn Inn offer romantic cold weather getaways that won't break the bank. 

Try your hand at ice climbing

The Elora Gorge and Hamilton's waterfalls are some of the most popular summer day trips and weekend getaways from Toronto, but adventurous spirits know that the fun continues through winter with ice climbing at Tiffany Falls and Elora from the folks behind One Axe Pursuits.

Plan the ultimate skating trip

The Rideau Canal is the premier skating destination in this country, so head to Ottawa for a winter-themed weekend. This season, you'll also be able to don your blades at Parliament Hill (mind all those rules, though). While there, make sure to soak up the rest of the sights as well.

If there's only one play you're going to see in Toronto this year let it be A&R Angels. The new production that had its official debut at Crow's Theatre in Leslieville last night is an absurdly inventive, original and fun way to spend 90 minutes. 

It's a reminder of how enjoyable live theatre can be.

Already the production is getting a ton of well-deservedpress. A lot of this stems from the involvement of playwright and star Kevin Drew, of Broken Social Scene fame, and co-star Ben Kowalewicz of punk rock band Billy Talent.

Not known for their stage acting chops, their talents shine brightly here in a story that revolves around two bandmates - who also happen to be angels - sent to play songs to prevent people who are on the brink of suicide from taking their own lives.

There's a special place in heaven for directors of first-time playwrights. Congrats to @chrisjabraham on premier of A&R Angels @crowstheatre. Stunning & totally original play.

— Andrew Willis (@willis_andrew) November 24, 2017

Revealing more about the plot than this is probably a disservice but audiences do get treated to some live music which makes the $20-$50 price of admission worth it alone.

Must see play @crowstheatre until Dec 9, you’ll love it!

A perfect #TO night out, dinner @GDLBrasserie then A&R Angels play.

Bravo to first time playwright/actor @KevinSelection and first time actor @BenKowalewiczBT for hitting it out of the park.

— Leslie Ng (@Leslie_Ng) November 25, 2017

Drew's former bandmates Emily Haines and James Shaw as well as Billy Talent's Ian D'Sa were just some of the faces in the sold out crowd last night who gave the cast a well deserved standing ovation.

Great performance last night by @BenKowalewiczBT and @KevinSelection and the rest of the cast of A&R Angels. Proud of you guys! Check it out until Dec.9th https://t.co/U4SyfZJ9rQ

— Ian D'Sa (@DSaRemainsDSame) November 25, 2017

A&R Angels continues through December 9. It's likely headed to bigger pastures like New York so make sure to see it before it goes.

Furnished apartments in Toronto are dominated by Airbnb these days, but for business travellers and ex-pat workers, established rental agencies can provide reliability and peace of mind. Fortunately, the city has a robust range of options for those in need of a furnished space beyond the typical hotel stay. 

Here are my picks for the top furnished apartment options in Toronto.

Sky View Suites

The roster of apartment and condo rentals on offer from Sky View Suites is most noteworthy for its variety of prime locations around the city — think Yorkville, King West, South Core, and the lakeshore. Prices start at $2,200 (Jr. 1 bedroom) and go up from there depending on location, size and amenities. 

Toronto Luxury Rentals

Looking for a baller furnished rental? Discerning ex-pat workers and travelling business folk know that Toronto Luxury Rentals has some of the nicest apartments in the city, from slick downtown condo rentals to full houses in Rosedale and Lawrence Park. 

Toronto Boutique Apartments

With a roster that's heavy on units in Yorkville, this furnished apartment service is known for the chops of its interior designers, who outfit spaces in modern furnishings that depart from the bland conservatism of hotel design. These spaces are pared down, clean, and contemporary.

MAC Executive Suites

This company boasts a huge portfolio of furnished suites across Toronto and the surrounding region as well as Ottawa, areas in Quebec and BC, and even the Caribbean. Locations are chosen for their exclusivity, so expect commensurate prices (a one bedroom at the Four Seasons Residences comes in at $8,500 a month).

Minto

Minto has a variety of locations across the city where furnished rentals are made available from Yonge and Sheppard to Yorkville (and many neighbourhoods in between). Rentals are available for a minimum of 30 days, and tend to start at about $3,500 a month. Depending on the building, renters have access to pool and gym facilities. 

Glen Grove

One of Toronto's longest operating furnished rental companies, Glen Grove no longer boasts a location at its namesake street, but you will find rental options in a cluster of prime downtown locations as well as Empress Plaza in North York. Rates start at $119 a night, with a generous three night minimum stay.

Urban Flats Toronto

Business types looking for short term accommodation that extends beyond the standard hotel stay should have this rental agency on their radar. Four downtown locations boast a variety of suites ranging from studios to three bedrooms, starting at just $90 a night. 

Premium Suites

This Canada-wide agency offers rentals all over Toronto and the surrounding region. Downtown suites, which start at around $139 a night, can be found in major buildings like the Festival Tower and Ice Condos. The large roster of units ensures regular availability. Note well: there's a minimum 30 day stay policy. 

Lowther Suites

The problem with most furnished rentals in Toronto is that they tend to be located in condo corridors. If you're looking for an option that's in a quieter neighbourhood off of a main street, Lowther Suites is an option to consider. The furnishings might be a bit dated, but the location is A+.

Del Suites

Located in five Tridel-built condos, the aptly named Del Suites are clustered downtown in amenity-rich buildings. Rates start at $131 a night based on a minimum 30 night stay. Units range from one to three bedrooms and include parking.

Since its opening in 1954, numerous renovations and adaptations have altered the look of the Yonge line between Eglinton and Union as well as the stations on the lower portion of the University Line.

Gone is the uniform TTC font and original Vitriolite tiles - the reflective glass wall panels the system shared with the Woolworth Building in New York - and in their place is a mish-mash of typefaces and tiling jobs that give the system a strangely disconnected look.

A contemporary view of Eglinton Station. Photo by Roozbeh Rokni.

Eglinton Station is the only one of the original 12 stops that has largely retained its original aesthetic, at least at platform level. All the other stops south have had their tiles partially or entirely replaced with lime green (Dundas) and brown (King) textured wall decorations.

At Queen and other stations the original TTC font has been ditched for a tightly-spaced version, though you can occasionally see hints of the original in trim and other markings at these old stations. 

Turning up University, both St. Andrew and Osgoode have been made over with metal panels meant to reflect their original styling, a process which revealed the initial design imperatives at work when the subway was built. 

Concept sketch for Queen Station, early 1950s. Image via the Toronto Archives.

Photographs and concept drawings in the City of Toronto Archives show the stations as they were originally intended: minimalist, utilitarian, and clean.

The "bathroom modern" look, as it was derisively known, would be repeated in a slightly altered fashion on the Bloor-Danforth line a decade or so later, but nothing would ever touch the clean minimalism of the original Vitrolite tiles. 

With so little of the TTC's early design left on display, here's a trip back to the beginning of the subway system in Toronto just before the startlingly clean and modern stations were used by the public.

Union Station fare booth and turnstiles before service in 1953.

Union Station platform in 1954 just prior to public service.

A brand new King Station in 1954.

Putting the finishing touches on Queen Station in 1953.

Exiting platform level at Queen Station prior to the commencement of public service.

A gleaming Dundas Station in 1953.

Alternate view of Dundas Station platform.

The final stages of construction at Boor Station in 1953.

Clean lines to the horizon at St. Clair Station in 1954.

Eglinton Station looking bright, shiny, and new in 1954.

December warehouse sales in Toronto are all about two things: keeping warm and gift giving. On staying snug, you've got major sales on winter coats and scarves to help get you through the winter. For your gift giving needs, you'll find hot deals on electronics, cosmetics, and even Versace handbags. 

There's a saying that Toronto has two seasons: winter and construction. We spend the majority of the year either experiencing or mentally preparing for the cold weather. Thankfully the city offers plenty of ways to escape its treacherous grasp.

Here are my picks for the top ways to escape the cold in Toronto.

Try a Russian Bath

Russian and Turkish baths have been around for centuries and offer a unique refuge from the cold. Unwind in the dry heat of a real banya (or traditional steamhouse) at Banya or take dip in the pool at Sanduny Spa. Your body will thank you.

Join a hot yoga class

There are many places round the city that'll get the heat back into your frozen bones. Studios like Union Yoga offer a wide range of classes designed for all levels of expertise that'll get your body and mind ready for spring.

Head to the spa

Hot pools, saunas, steam rooms, even warm stone treatments will rejuvenate, like at Body Blitz or Elmwood Spa. Shake off the dead of winter and physically and mentally prepare yourself to be beach ready at any one of these tranquil places.

Check out a greenhouse

Allan Gardens is the most beautiful of Toronto's conservatories, with its multiple greenhouses of various climates, producing gorgeous flowers and greenery more akin to the subtropics than the city. Centennial Park Conservatory in Etobicoke is another gem, and there are a few others worth checking out.

Eat some hot pot

This classic Asian dish is offered at any of the speciality hot pot spots across the city and comes in an endless variety of flavours and ingredients all combined for the ultimate comfort food.

Go for some Turkish coffee

This particularly strong concoction of unfiltered coffee is sure to wake you from your winter slumber. Places worth checking out include Galata Cafe, Baklawa Queen, The Poet, Simit and Chai, and Istanbul Cafe.

Check out an absinthe bar

L'Absinthe Bar is recent addition to the city, and Bacchanal is worth checking out, too. Both offer the anise-infused liquor that's guaranteed to light a fire in your belly. Be sure to pace yourself, though, or else risk ending up face down in a snow bank.

Hit up a tiki bar

After suffering months of cabin fever, going out to a tropical spot can help break the spell. Why not grab a friend, or a few for that matter, and snap out of the blues and escape to the warmth of the islands at places like The Shore Leave and The Shameful Tiki Room right here in the city.

Get lost in a virtual reality arcade

If travelling to the real tropics just isn't feasible for you right now, one of the city's many virtual arcades is the next best thing. Travel anywhere you want — hot or cold — at places like Toronto VR Games in Kensington, and arrive back in time for dinner.

Visit a board game cafe

Board game cafes are one of the best ways to ward off the winter blues. Places like Snakes & Lattes offer a brunch and dinner menu, drinks, and snacks, making it the perfect place settle in for long haul required for classics like Risk and Monopoly.

Free events in Toronto this week offer something for everybody, from film festivals to light shows and, of course, plenty of holiday-themed activities to ring in the festive season. 

The best toy stores in Toronto are the ones that make kids’ jaws drop, eyes widen, and best of all, minds grow (maybe without them even knowing it). Heck, they might even inspire the same reaction in many adults.

Here are the best toy stores in Toronto.

This week a number of prolific figures visit Toronto, ranging from Michelle Obama to Goosebumps creator R.L. Stine. Elsewhere, holiday events press on with a big one at Casa Loma  There's even some high profile shows for live music fans to look forward to.

One of the biggest hits from this year's Toronto Film Festival, The Disaster Artist, is coming to theatres on December 1. Want to see the flick? We've teamed up with Elevation Pictures to give readers a chance to score the ultimate Disaster Artist prize pack.

Check out all the contest details here. 

The best card, paper and stationery stores in Toronto appreciate the lost art of the handwritten word. If you want a greeting card that goes way beyond Hallmark to express the true meaning of the occasion, are looking for the most beautiful wrapping paper or desperately need to pen the best sorry or thank you note ever, this is where to shop.

Here are the best card, paper and stationery stores in Toronto.

Toronto's market and pop-up offerings this December are understandably centred around the holidays, with dozens of festive craft shows popping up all across town. On top of those, there are a handful of non-festive events arriving this month.

This week on DineSafe it was a rough week for a lot of well known chains. The Pickle Barrel had two locations busted by city health inspectors with one managing to rack up a staggering 12 infractions. Yikes! I guess they really want The Cheesecake Factory to take all our money.

Find out what other Toronto restaurants landed in hot water this week on DineSafe.

Pickle Barrel Grand (1 Yorkdale Rd.)

• Inspected on: November 20, 2017
• Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
• Number of infractions: 1 (Significant: 1)
• Crucial infractions include: N/A

Aroma Espresso Bar (2300 Yonge St.)

• Inspected on: November 22, 2017
• Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
• Number of infractions: 7 (Minor: 1, Significant: 5, Crucial: 1)
• Crucial infractions include: Operator failed to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated.

Country Style (2929 Danforth Ave.)

• Inspected on: November 22, 2017
• Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
• Number of infractions: 6 (Minor: 3, Significant: 3)
• Crucial infractions include: N/A

Sanagan's Meat Locker (176 Baldwin St.)

• Inspected on: November 22, 2017
• Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
• Number of infractions: 2 (Minor: 1, Significant: 1)
• Crucial infractions include: N/A

Sashimi Island (635 College St.)

• Inspected on: November 22, 2017
• Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
• Number of infractions: 3 (Minor: 2, Significant: 1)
• Crucial infractions include: N/A

The Pickle Barrel (5941 Leslie St.)

• Inspected on: November 22, 2017
• Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
• Number of infractions: 12 (Minor: 5, Significant: 7)
• Crucial infractions include: N/A

Tim Hortons (5383 Yonge St.)

• Inspected on: November 22, 2017
• Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
• Number of infractions: 5 (Minor: 4, Crucial: 1)
• Crucial infractions include: Employee failed to wash hands when required.

ASAP City In & Out (213 Church St.)

• Inspected on: November 23, 2017
• Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
• Number of infractions: 5 (Minor: 3, Significant: 2)
• Crucial infractions include: N/A

Cherry Cola's (200 Bathurst St.)

• Inspected on: November 23, 2017
• Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
• Number of infractions: 2 (Significant: 2)
• Crucial infractions include: N/A

Coffee Time (1008 Wilson Ave.)

• Inspected on: November 23, 2017
• Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
• Number of infractions: 5 (Minor: 3, Significant: 2)
• Crucial infractions include: N/A

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

The TTC could soon be property of the Ontario government if a couple of major organizations have their way.

A report released by the Toronto Region Board of Trade and supported by PC candidate Patrick Brown outlines a plan to cut down on local-level squabbling over transit-related decisions.

Torontonians should not give up control over their city so easily. Moreover, paths that lead to the dissolution of unions and privatization are generally bad for the public.

— Kaveh (@KavehTO) November 27, 2017

The report suggests that a new legislative body, Superlix, should be formed. This would consist of independently-nominated business leaders, transit experts , one-third municipal and provincial appointees, and at least one citizen's or rider's advocacy group.

Under this new plan, the TTC would be regulated by Superlix.

Without interference from petty politics, the third-party body similar to Metrolinx could help the Ontario government take an "evidence‐based approach" to prioritizing transit spending and construction.

Even if the province did that its not going to get to the root of our transit problems when political interference, backroom dealings, constantly studying and delaying and NIMBYism are commonplace.

— Jackie Chan (@jackiechan511) November 27, 2017

But if the province's history of handling transit stuff has shown us anything, it's that maybe these things are best left to the experts.

The King Street Pilot Project has been generating plenty of buzz in Toronto since it launched two weeks ago, much of it falling on opposite ends of the good/bad spectrum.

Streetcar riders love the new traffic rules for shortening their commutes, while die-hard motorists (like mayoral candidate Doug Ford) say the project is a "disaster" that represents "a war on the car."

Now that we're half-a-month in, businesses along King West are starting to gauge how the project might impact sales figures – and some restaurant, bar and retail store owners say the numbers don't look good.

King St. had much less pedestrian traffic and restaurants/bars didn't have as many people last night- very noticeable. And that's the way it's been since the pilot started.

— Sgt. Pepper (@stgpeppers) November 24, 2017

Italian bakery Forno Cultura, located under WVRST at 609 King St. W, told the Toronto Star it has seen a 20 per cent drop in sales since the pilot project began.

"The truth is that at this rate our business that has been growing with be out of business within a year," said Laleh Larijani to The Star this weekend, noting that between 50-100 fewer customers per day have been coming in to Forno Cultura.

It should be noted, however, that the weather has also cooled down significantly in recent weeks – which never bodes well for the amount of foot traffic in our chilly city.

Plus, as some advocates argue, the number of pedestrians (and thus potential customers) using King Street could actually go up quite a bit in the long run.

Dan Gunam of Calii Love (on King near Peter) told The Star that he wishes the pilot project would have launched over the summer, when it was still warm enough to walk outside.

Gunam says that his restaurant's sales are down, particularly those made through delivery services like Uber Eats, and worries that a lack of parking along King West this winter will hinder people from stopping at local restaurants.

Larijani says she is attempting to resolve some of these issues by canvasing local businesses for support and communicating with city council. She is hoping to have a meeting with Mayor John Tory soon.