The ROM will be offering free admission to the museum next week in celebration of the grand reopening of the newly restored Weston Entrance to the public for the first time in over a decade.

The 84 year old entrance off of Queen's Park has undergone extensive cosmetic and structural restoration courtesy of Hariri Pontarini Architects, who have also refashioned its limestone steps into a hangout spot for patrons.

A post shared by Royal Ontario Museum (@romtoronto) on Sep 7, 2017 at 5:53am PDT

Visitors are encouraged drop by for the ribbon cutting ceremony on December 12 at noon, after which they can tour the beautiful entrance both inside and out.

Even better, you can also see the rest of the museum for free from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. that day.

The reopening of the east entrance is part of Canada 150 celebrations, but over the long term it'll help to lessen the load on the Bloor Street entrance, which itself might be in for a makeover in the future. 

While the skating trail at Arrowhead Provincial Park tends to get the lion's share of accolades and attention, it's not the only icy path that cuts through a forest Ontario. The MacGregor Point ice trail also offers the chance for a scenic trip through the woods on your blades.

MacGregor Point is located right on the edge of Lake Huron near Port Elgin, which makes it a bit closer than Arrowhead, but the best part is that it's far less busy than its more popular counterpart.

The 400 metre skating oval delivers big on intimacy and atmosphere, especially after the sun sets and the trail lights go on until 10 p.m. each and every day. Now that sounds like date material. 

You don't have to drive off right away either. The campground boasts 16 yurts and a heated fort station you can spend the night in.

The park also features a much longer (8 km) cross country skiing trail that travels through a variety of terrain, including hardwood forests and frozen wetlands.

And that's just what's in the park. The distance from any industrial pollution or bright lights makes for wonderfully clear skies to witness the immense beauty of a winter sunset.

A post shared by Jaina (@jainatown) on Jan 5, 2017 at 3:40pm PST

The opening date for the skating trail's 2017/2018 season has yet to be pinned down as it's weather permitting, but a good bet would be around the end of December. Check out the park's Twitter feed for updates.

Long before Toronto became a budding city of cyclists, there was the Community Bicycling Network working tirelessly to transform our streets into the far more bike-friendly ones that you see today.

Now, after 24 years of championing on behalf of cyclists, CBN is officially shutting down. A note issued today outlined the reasons for ending its tenure as one of Toronto's primary cycling advocacy collectives.

"With the success of pilot projects such as the cycle tracks of Richmond & Adelaide, the contra-flow lane on Shaw Street, the Bloor Street bike lanes... CBN can finally go to rest knowing that cycling advocacy and services are in good hands." 

To some degree, it would be fair to say that the CBN is retiring because it's accomplished what it needed to. Yes, bicycling advocates will (fairly) tell you that there's lots of work left to be done, but the Toronto of 2017 is far more invested in cycling than city of 1993. 

Few people recall that the first bike share program in Toronto was actually run by the CBN between 2001 and 2006. It featured around 150 bikes at its peak. Today's bike share network is obviously far more robust but credit goes to the originators.

Until 2015, the CBN occupied a space on Queen Street West that became a fixture in the neighbourhood, serving as community hub via DIY workshops and repair space.

Various initiatives like bike sharing, bike co-ops, new rules to help ensure cyclist safety, bike lanes, and most recently a huge provincial investment in cycling infrastructure have all contributed to Toronto's growing reputation as a cycling city.

The CBN will be hosting a farewell event on December 11 at La Socialite in Kensington Market to celebrate its many achievements in cycling advocacy over the years. 

Buying something for another person to wear can be tough, especially when that person considers themself stylish – and especially in an age where we're only as hot as put together as our last IG posts. Fortunately, I've done some of the legwork to find out what men might want this holiday season.

Here are some gift ideas for the stylish guy in Toronto.

A wool cap

Toques are timeless, but he has a ton. Man berets are in style (seriously) but they're not for everyone. Wool caps strike a nice balance between comfortable and fashion forward. This 6-panel cap from Yorkville's Uncle Otis is warm, waterproof and casually charming.

This wool cap from Wings+Horns is available at Yorkville retailer Uncle Otis.

The most comfortable sweatshirt ever

Give the gift of authentic Egyptian cotton this season courtesy of Toronto-based manufacturer and retailer, KOTN. It may look like a normal (albeit well-fitting) raglan sweatshirt, but it's purported to feel like "nothing less than a bear hug from a cumulonimbus cloud."

Sweatshirts from KOTN on West Queen West are made of Egyptian cotton.

A vintage Casio calculator watch

Hit up the Livestock store on Spadina or Roncy for a retro (and much cheaper) version of the Apple Watch. You might not remember these red hot wrist pieces from the 80's, but we can all get nostalgic about when American Apparel brought them back from the dead in the 00's.

The Casio Calculator watch might just be better looking than Apple's version. Available via Livestock.

A rugged apron

For the aspiring chef, seasoned baker or BBQ wizard in your life, consider one of these raw denim aprons from the West Queen West men's clothing brand 18 Waits. They're made from Japanese denims, quality crafted in Canada, and have plenty of pocket space.

This apron available at 18 Waits is perfect for men who also like to spend time in the kitchen.

Socks, ties and pocket squares all year long

Monthly subscription boxes are so hot right now and local company ESTBLSH is the one you want to get for the fashion lover in your life.  Sign your giftee up for one month, three months, or all 12 to get a new pocket square, neck tie and socks delivered to his doorstep every 30 days.

Toronto subscription delivery service ESTBLSH will send a surprise in the box every month.

An OVO tracksuit

Because everyone needs a tracksuit right now. Because everyone needs a tracksuit always. Because everyone wants to feel like Drake sometimes, and who's more deserving of that than Torontonians? These OVO jackets and pants come in black and white (when they're not sold out.)

Everyone can dress like Drake by shopping at the OVO Store. Image via @whowearsovo

An award-winning backpack

From office to gym to anywhere in the city, a solid bag is clutch for guys on the go. This pack from RYU Toronto has been named "best backpack" several times over, across multiple categories for a reason. It's durable, stylish, and built specifically for modern human life.

Backpacks don't get much more stylish than this one available at RYU.

Swim trunks

Remind the guys in your life that winter won't last forever with Bather's GQ-approved beachwear, designed and manufactured right here in Toronto. These suits are made to be worn on or off the beach, with reinforced side pockets and tons of cool patterns to choose from.

Bathing suits don't get much more stylish than the ones from Toronto company Bather.

Fine cashmere gloves

If you're buying for a Seinfeld fan, he'll appreciate these cashmere gloves from Neighbour. They're priced at $85, just like the marked down sweater George bought for Elaine. These don't have any red dots on them, and they're only part cashmere, but still. They're nice.

Stay warm while looking good thanks to these gloves from Neighbour.

A solid flannel shirt

Keep your guy warm, cozy and lookin' good with a more upscale twist on the classic flannel shirt. Outclass at College and Dufferin stocks a nice variety of prints and styles from its own, Canada-made clothing line, all of them made with double-needle seams and mother of pearl buttons.

There's lots of shirts to choose from at Outclass.

To tip, or not to tip? That is the question I ask myself pretty much every time I pick up lunch from a restaurant to-go.

Conventional wisdom used to hold that tipping was unnecessary on takeout orders. I mean, you're welcome to throw some bucks in the jar if you want to, but it isn't expected, and certainly won't affect your level of service.

Lately, though, it feels like every other restaurant has a tip prompt on its card reader. Most of these machines don't even ask if you'dlike to tip – only how much you'd like to tip; 15%, 18%, 20%, more?

When the only way out of that screen is to press "other" and type in a zero, the practice of tipping on takeout starts to feel... a little bit less optional.

So is it? A recent thread on this subject in the Food and Wine Navigator Industry Facebook group has many answers, but they're all different. 

Why do I️ feel judged for not tipping when I order food to-go?

— Curtis (@CurtisOwen) November 11, 2017

Some people say don't even bother, arguing that counter tips go directly into the pockets of business owners anyway – and we all know how Toronto feels about restaurant managers taking their employees' tips.

Others say yes, that cashiers have to tip out the kitchen or other staff from their total sales and need the extra money. 

I asked several restaurant owners and workers this week for their observations and opinions on the matter. As you might imagine, their answered varied – but not by much.

Impact Kitchen co-founder Josh Broun said that most people don't tip on orders that are strictly takeout, though it does happen sometimes.

Like many restaurants, Impact has an automatic tip prompt on its debit/credit machines – but it's important to note that those machines are also used by customers who dine in and have servers bring food to their tables.

It's second nature for people to tip in the latter scenario, and would be weird not to have a tip prompt when paying for sit down service.

We're not tipping on take out still, right? Am I being a jerk?

— Jay Fuller ☕ (@DepthDeception) December 5, 2017

The same can be said for Fresh, which has four locations in Toronto and does a considerable amount of both dine-in and takeout business.

"We use the same debit/credit machines for both dine-in and takeaway," says brand manager Tory Aston. Because of this, tip prompts are par for the course.

She says that people tip on takeout sometimes, but "it really depends on the person - our regulars tend to tip."

On average, people tip around $1 for take-out at Fresh but, again, these tips are not expected. They are appreciated, however, on bigger orders.

Forever tipping on to-go orders cause I don't know if it's expected or not....

— Brittani Jade (@brittanijadeh) October 19, 2017

Take-out customers at the Yonge and Dundas area sushi bar Japango are similarly free from the obligation of tipping, according to staff.

The restaurant's debit machines do prompt for tips, but a server I spoke with says that patrons usually don't tip, "unless it's a big order." In those cases, customers tack on about 10 per cent of their order as a gratuity.

The moral of the story? Cashiers aren't trying to pressure you into dishing out extra cash for them to hand you a bag – they simply don't have separate POS systems for dine in, takeout and delivery.

Tip if you think it's warranted, but don't stress over the decision - and if you're really struggling, err on the side of a small tip. The gesture is never not appreciated.

One of my favourite areas in the city is the southern tip of New Toronto, and in particular Lake Shore Drive and Lake Promenade, which run right along the waterfront. These streets feature a mix of early 20th century homes alongside contemporary architectural gems.

This house at 178 Lake Shore Dr. falls into the latter category. The lot used to look like this before the dilapidated old home was razed to make way for this hyper-modern structure that obviously makes way better use of the space.

You can only imagine what the previous sale price was before the new build, but it's worth noting that the current price is kept somewhat in check based on the property's location on the north side of the street.

There's no lake vista from the backyard, alas, but you can still gaze out at the water from the Twelfth Street Parkette, which is across the street. That still sounds like a pretty good deal to me. I'd image the breeze of the lake smells fabulous here in the spring and summer. 

Inside, there's little to complain about. While this isn't a spared-no-expense type of house, it does feature high end finishes and appliances, and the use of the 2,300 square feet is intelligent. This is a good one.

Specs

• Address:  178 Lake Shore Dr.
• Price: $1,499,000
• Lot Size: 27.5 x 120 feet
• Bedrooms: 4
• Bathrooms: 4
• Parking: 3
• Walk Score: 67
• Transit Score:80
• Listing agent: Arta Dawkins
• Listing ID: W3996029

Good For

Someone who loves the water. You might not be right on the lake, but this is the closest thing at a far more reasonable price tag. 

Move On If

Transit access matters to you. While this is a remarkable tranquil neighbourhood, commuting downtown is a major pain. 

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

Today in Toronto you can mingle with fashion industry icons, catch a number of Canadian musical acts under one roof, and get lost in a new interactive art exhibit. 

In the wake of rumours that the Rogers Centre naming rights might be for sale, news came yesterday that Rogers Communications is considering selling the Toronto Blue Jays.

Rogers has owned the Jays since 2000 when it acquired it for a now seemingly cheap price tag of $160 million. To put this in perspective, the hapless Miami Marlins recently sold for $1.2 billion and Forbes pegs the Blue Jays worth $1.3 billion.

According to Rogers chief financial officer Tony Staffieri, the sale is being explored in order to generate capital from some of the company's non-core assets. 

To all my tweeps - If you are thinking of buying me a Christmas Gift; the @BlueJays are for sale 😜#JustSayin#BlueJays#Live4BlueJays#KaBoom

— Jon Lee (@JonLeeOSC) December 6, 2017

While owning the Blue Jays was once seen as core to the company's content strategy it's now believed Rogers is looking at things differently, content to license sports programming rather than owning the teams themselves.

The best burgers in Toronto epitomize the rewarding feeling of comfort food. We may love our Big Macs, but we know that a burger can be so much more than that, made from a careful blend of beef often formed by hand into patties, with toppings that range from wholesome to downright outrageous.

Here are the best burgers in Toronto.

Good news for commuters! Six SmartTrack stations were approved by city council yesterday as Toronto continues to expand its transit network.

The six stations are 16 shy of the 22 originally proposed, but at least it's something.

We are working to get SmartTrack built. Since I took office, Council has approved the project, approved the locations and alignments, approved the funding agreement with the province to share the costs & approved fare integration so it will cost the same as the TTC. #getTOmovingpic.twitter.com/sEGgGf1Zm0

— John Tory (@JohnTory) December 5, 2017

The SmartTrack plan is meant to link Etobicoke-Downtown-Scarborough and will be built on existing transit corridors. The six approved stations include:

• St. Clair-Old Weston
• King-Liberty
• East Harbour
• Gerrard-Carlaw
• Lawrence-Kennedy
• Finch Kennedy

This handy map shows how much commute time could potentially be saved with SmartTrack compared with existing alternatives.

The top new restaurants in Toronto display the full spectrum of what’s edible in our fair city. Ornate small plates and mind-bending feasts, time-honoured traditions and unique new inventions, there’s something always amazing to discover in each of the neighbourhoods that make Toronto great.

Here are my picks for the top new restaurants in Toronto by neighbourhood.

Annex

Moroccan dishes of yogurt and beets, dips and tagines are elevated at Atlas. A menu of sherries, fine wines and even a cocktail made with ras el hanout (an African spice blend).

Baldwin Village

Aficionados of the humble hand roll need look no further than Omai for all their bar snack cravings. Temaki are made in front of your eyes and meant to be consumed instantly, with fillings of squash, egg and truffle, and salmon to name a few. They also craft inventive small plates of sunomono and soon sausage.

Bayview and Leaside

Traditional Armenian is what you’ll find at Mayrik. Cauliflower dripping with sumac garlic aioli and tahini, luscious lamb chops, manti dumplings and more are on the menu along with great wines and cocktails inspired by Armenian ingredients like jallab syrup.

Brockton Village

Korean bar snacks like deep fried kombu seaweed crisps, daikon potato salad, Korean-inspired orecchiette and smashed cucumber salad are on deck at Uncle Mikey’s, complemented by sake and draft Sapporo.

The Jjajang Orecchiette is just one of the things to get at Uncle Mikey's on Dundas West. Photo by Hector Vasquez.

Chinatown

You’ve likely never seen ribs like James Cheese Back Ribs, served on a sizzling plate with sides and draped in an elastic-y, gooey mess of cheese. Spicy meat and creamy cheese go surprisingly well together especially when washed down with lots of beer and if you have room, paired with some sides like sliders and wings.

Corso Italia

When Pork Ninjas moved out of Wenona Lodge recently, it meant the end of Pitmaster’s Platters and Memphis Peacemakers in the Annex. Fortunately, the Ninja himself now has Earlscourt BBQ, where he’s smoking all his brisket, pulled pork, ribs and chicken again and serving them with signature sides and sauces.

Danforth East

Displaced Dutch folks and those looking for a new watering hole alike will appreciate Borrel. Bitterballen, poffertjes, kaassouffle and other treats from the Netherlands can all be found here along with cocktails made with Ketel One and Advocaat.

Dundas West

All-day Italian spot La Palma impresses with their thousand-layer lasagna, artisanal pizzas, baked goods, cocktails, coffee and almost anything else you could want in a dreamy lunch spot.

La Palma's lasagne has already reached legendary status. Photo by Hector Vasquez.

Entertainment District

From the folks behind Sukhothai, Pai and Sabai Sabai comes Kiin, taking cues from royal cuisine and Chef Nuit Regular’s childhood. Intricate dumplings, technicolour salads, lettuce wraps and root chips radiate a passion for the history of Thai cooking.

Financial District

King Taps has two patios, over fifty beers on tap, tons of TVs, and a menu of pizzas, tacos, steak, burgers, and everything else a 9-to-5-er could ever ask for.

Harbord Village

If you’re looking for an authentic sushi experience in Toronto, look no further than Skippa. Small plates of seafood or veg present diners with individual nigiri or a scatter of excellently prepared maitake mushrooms.

Junction

Other Thai places in town have quietly been given a run for their money Isaan Der, which serves highly authentic papaya salads, pad thai, pad see ew, shrimp rolls, and khao soi.

Thai food doesn't get much better than what Isaan Der is serving up in the Junction. Photo by Hector Vasquez. 

Junction Triangle

Drake Commissary is a larder, bakery, restaurant, and cafe all in one. Sip a cortado, tequila caesar, Labatt 50 or nice wine, and feast on a menu focused on local healthy offerings of charcuterie, smoked fish, brisket, house pastas, pizzas and salads.

Kensington

Jen Agg has done it again with Grey Gardens, which serves beautiful, often changing dishes of pasta, sweetbreads, and fish like scallops with XO sauce and tuna with nori aioli. Some of the best wine and cocktails in the city underscore everything.

King East

Claudio Aprile has flipped his Origin restaurant into Copetin, a new hangout with a Botanist gin bar out on the patio and reinterpretations of bistro dishes like beef tartare.

Leslieville

French bistro classics like onion soup, mussels and steak hache topped with a fried egg and anchovy are all available in style at Gare de l’Est, located in the same building with Streetcar Crowsnest theatre.

All your broken egg yolk dreams will come true at Gare de L'Est in Leslieville. Photo by Hector Vasquez.

Little India

The notion of izakaya gets a brewpub twist at Godspeed Brewery. By the same person behind Dieu du Ciel!, find freshly made ales here as well as katsu sandwiches, rice balls, mushroom salad and braised beef stew.

Little Italy

A kitschy environment sets the stage for a night of feasting on beef and bone marrow, grilled squid and ceviche accompanied by fruit juice cocktails at Pinky’s Ca Phe.

Mount Pleasant

Indigenous cuisine stars on the menu at Ku-kum, which doesn’t shy away from traditional ingredients like seal meat, elk and sweetgrass. They also do foraged brunches.

North York

Fatty, crispy, tender lechon is the name of the game at Wilson’s Haus of Lechon. They do both chicken and pork lechon style, stuffing whole animals with lemongrass and other herbs, resulting in spectacular family style meals to eat in or take out.

The only thing more impressive than the chicken at Haus of Lechon is the lechon itself. Photo by Hector Vasquez.

Ossington

Lebanese, Moroccan and other influences are brought together at Bar Sybanne. Fun cocktails accompany dishes of lebneh, fried chicken with orange blossom honey, saffron rice and crudo.

Parkdale

Pierogies, cevapi, herring, goulash, sausage and schnitzel: it’s all here at Tennessee Tavern. Bring your appetite and down plate after plate of pierogies and beer after beer on their curated list, or try a stronger European-imported libation.

Queen West

Aloette, little sibling to Alo, isn’t far from the original restaurant and serves up fine-tuned classics like beef tartare, burgers and apple pie sundaes.

Riverside

Long-awaited boutique hotel Broadview has one of the most stunning views from its rooftop bar and restaurant which serves plays on bar food like ceviche, burgers, and jerk ribs.

Scarborough

Epic kebabs are grilled within view of diners at Barans. A seemingly endless list of hot and cold mezzes includes baba ghanoush, sarma, mint and garlic yogurt, fried cheese pastries, served with a cloud of house bread baked in a wood-burning oven.

It's all about the Turkish eats at Barans in Scarborough. Photo by Hector Vasquez.

St. Clair West

Peruvian street food is given new life at Kay Pacha. Pisco cocktails, beef heart skewers, and several kinds of ceviche are sure to delight diners whether familiar with Peruvian cuisine or not.

West Queen West

Pretty much everything is vegan at Hello 123, including cocktails made with ingredients like chaga and kombucha. Tempeh skewers, avocado veggie burgers, rutabaga fries and myriad colourful bowl options as well as brunches and smoothies all cater to hungry herbivores.

Yonge & Dundas

Dagu Rice Noodle bases the majority of their dishes on slurpable rice noodles and delicious pork bone broth. Get meals “Crossing the Bridge” style and combine ingredients in a DIY fashion.

Yonge & Wellesley

Persian food is represented at Tabriz. Authentic dips, sides of rice, and proteins like fall-apart tender braised lamb shank and specialties like saffron basmati rice tahchin.

Yorkville

Whole roasted fresh fish with signature sauces, breads cooked in house and meats cured in house are the specialty at Estia. Draped in velvet and soft tones with gigantic art pieces and a huge chandelier, it’s as swanky and romantic as it gets.

Discerning critics of neon turntables are saying "FU" to RU this week over how it handled the restoration of an iconic Toronto sign.

I'm not trying to be cute here, either – "FU RU" are the actual words (or acronyms, I guess) someone on Imgur used in reaction to the newly installed Sam The Record Man sign at Yonge-Dundas square.

And the reviews don't get much better from there.

Rendering vs. reality. pic.twitter.com/pEEqnc9g5s

— Jonathan Goldsbie (@goldsbie) December 5, 2017

Ryerson University finally finished installing both halves of the sign, best-known for its gigantic spinning discs, this weekend after nearly 10 years of holding it in storage.

Sitting high atop a city-owned building at 277 Victoria St., the sign now overlooks one of Toronto's busiest public spaces.

It can also be seen from the site of its original location, where it stood as a symbol of Toronto music history from 1961 until 2008. 

Many thought the relocation would make Sam's spinning discs more visible than ever before. This is not the case.

In case you can’t tell, the #SamTheRecordMan discs are spinning. This is the biggest piece of cow manure ever built. 🐮 Thanks for nothing Ryerson. 👎🏻pic.twitter.com/06nTI41O9M

— Pedro Marques (@MetroManTO) December 5, 2017

The sign is clearly a lot higher, and thus further away from the public than it used to be, but the visibility issues appear to stem from how it was mounted.

With nothing behind the discs, they look more like electric fans than they do records. You can see right through them during daylight hours.

Apparently, the translucency is a result of modifying Sam's discs for high winds in their new, rooftop location– though, as Toronto journalist Jonathan Goldsbie points out, they weren't supposed to be on a roof in the first place.

Ryerson's original contract with the City, signed after the university purchased the famous record store's former site to build a new student centre, shows that Ryerson had agreed to "the reinstallation of the signs on a vertical wall in an appropriate location."

Centre lines are hard. #SamTheRecordManpic.twitter.com/pquYopbsEg

— Joshua Hind (@joshuahind) December 5, 2017

Whatever the case, the sign looks little like any of the renderings released by Ryerson over the past three years.

Likeness aside, there's also the issue of design. 

The records themselves aren't centred in the middle of the building, which, as one Twitter user says,  "is ghastly and inexcusable."

Another keen eye takes up issue with the kerning of SAM in two different places.

All of that said, many people in the city are simply thrilled to see a temporarily missing piece of Toronto's cultural history restored into the public eye.

Toronto's ambitious new skating trail will finally open next month. Running between June Callwood Park to just east of the Fort York Visitor's Centre, skaters will soon be able to glide between the concrete pillars that hold up the Gardiner Expressway above.

The skate trail is part of a larger Public Work project to transform the corridor between Bathurst Street and Strachan Avenue into a sprawling park space in the heart of downtown.

The skating trail is really coming together! We can't wait to open and host exciting programming this winter. 📷@vikpahwa . . . . #bts #TorontoLife #Toronto #building #underconstruction #TheBentway #Urbanism #skating

A post shared by The Bentway 📍Toronto (@thebentway) on Oct 2, 2017 at 11:07am PDT

The grand opening of skating trail is set for January 6 at 11 a.m. with special events happening all weekend including live music, art installations, food and drink, pop-up curling and more.

The trail is expected to be open until sometime in March, weather permitting.

Even better, it's all going to be free.

Rail Deck Park is on like Donkey Kong!... Or a little bit closer to it, at least.

Toronto city council has voted to move forward with the planning phase of an ambitious, 21-acre green space that will blanket the CN rail corridor between Bathurst Street and Blue Jays Way.

A total of 35 councillors voted in favour of advancing "the Stage Two Work Plan for Rail Deck Park in 2018 and 2019" during yesterday's meeting, while four voted against the motion, including Giorgio Mammoliti and mayor candidate Doug Ford.

There it is! City Council just voted 35-4 to proceed with #RailDeckPark. pic.twitter.com/uhUMQtNsXG

— Joe Cressy (@joe_cressy) December 5, 2017

Critics of the move are raising concerns about how the city will pay for the park, which is already estimated to cost more than $1.6 billion.

According to yesterday's meeting agenda, city officials will further develop a "growth-focused financial strategy" to offset the expense.

Advocates like Councillor Joe Cressy say that enough money can be raised for the park through federal, provincial and commercial contributions, among other revenue sources.

I hope that, as the city of #Toronto moves ahead on the proposed #RailDeckPark, they are open to innovative funding options. Private donors and corporate dollars could go a long way. This is a game changing, city-building initiative and we need to get it right.

— Ben Mulroney (@BenMulroney) December 6, 2017

There was some debate during yesterday's meeting over how those funds could otherwise be spent, but, as acting chief planner Gregg Lintern pointed out, large swaths of land are increasingly rare downtown.

It's now or never, basically, and the vote reflected how most councillors seem to feel about building a "legacy park" downtown.

"The Rail Deck Park is one of the most visionary ideas to come out of City Hall in our lifetimes," wrote Alex Josephson and Nicola Spunt of PARTISANS after Mayor John Tory announced the project last year.

Today as City council voted to move forward with #RailDeckPark our Master of #architecture#landscapearchitecture& #urbandesign students presented ideas for this new public space. Watch for photos on our website tomorrow! #uoftpic.twitter.com/xd3nxwzWQm

— Daniels Faculty (@UofTDaniels) December 5, 2017

"This isn't an opportunity to build Toronto's Central Park," wrote the architecture experts. "It's an opportunity to harness the kind of audacious thinking that led to Central Park."

Mammoliti does not agree with this sentiment. He moved a (failed) motion yesterday asking the city to stop all spending towards Rail Deck Park until a full review of all city parks had been completed. 

He argued that the park's cost would far exceed current estimates, and even went so far as to promise his own resignation should the project's final price tag come in at less than $3 billion.

Councillor Mammoliti has moved a motion on Item EX29.2 https://t.co/UCZt7suPPz#tocouncilpic.twitter.com/N5PaxDXnsj

— Toronto City Clerk (@TorontoCouncil) December 5, 2017

"This is my guarantee to hardworking Toronto taxpayers," he later wrote on Twitter. 

This is my guarantee to hardworking Toronto taxpayers: I will resign if the #RailDeckPark comes under $3B by the time it’s all said and done. What about the legal implications of the development consortium competing for air rights? Where’s the $$ for deteriorating infrastructure?

— Giorgio Mammoliti (@mammolitiward7) December 5, 2017

Mammoliti also decried Rail Deck Park as a "$3 billion poodle park" – which to me sounds kind of delightful, but who knows? Maybe he's more of a cat person.

We finally know who snapped up the prime location left behind by Milestones after closing its restaurant at Richmond and John.

Get ready to welcome Zebu Steak + Bar, billed as a "unique fusion of North & South American Steakhouses featuring authentic Brazilian cuisine."

According to the brand new restaurant's Instagram account, Zebu will launch in Spring 2018 and have a capacity of 325 guests. 

The space is said to feature everything from private dining areas and a stunning patio to "the city's first true wine bar," all of which can be seen in detailed renderings from the company online.

Continuing with the exterior view of the future Zebu Steak + Bar downtown Toronto flagship location, the Zebu Patio’s stunning décor, large rectangle bar, fire pit and cabana & booth style seating will surely be a favourite hot spot next summer … be sure to make your reservations! #ZebuSteakBar #TheZebuStory #ZebuToronto #restaurant #steakhouse #steak #seafood #bar #wine #vegetarianfood #veganfood #SouthAmericanCuisine #BrazilianCuisine #churrasco #rodizio #YYZ #yyzeats #torontolife #downtowntoronto #the6ix #the6 #thesix #416 #tdot #streetsoftoronto #torontofood #wethenorth

A post shared by Zebu Steak + Bar (@zebusteakbar) on Sep 20, 2017 at 7:53am PDT

Judging by what's already been shared, Zebu won't be your typical big box steakhouse. 

Founder Michael Colangelo and executive chef Lilian Cardoso have been doing research and development in Brazil since at least April of 2016, building the entire menu and designing the venue from scratch.

A R&D trip to Brazil would not be complete without visiting several restaurants to sample their delicious foods. The inspirations from these foods will help influence the authentic cuisine we will be serving at Zebu Steak + Bar in 2018. #SaoPaulo #SaoPauloCity #TheZebuStory #ZebuSteakBar #ZebuMississauga #restaurant #steakhouse #grill #bar #churrasco #churrascaria #rodizio #Zebu #themakingof #Mississauga #YYZ #mississaugaeats #yyzeats #Brazil

A post shared by Zebu Steak + Bar (@zebusteakbar) on Apr 19, 2017 at 1:09pm PDT

Zebu, which is also coincidentally (or not?) the name of a hot weather cattle species native to the jungles of South Asia, hosted a series of tasting events over the summer.

No menu has been released at this point, but photos from the tastings show dishes such as pork ribs sous vide, tuna togarashi, coconut flan, bacon wrapped plantains and Bife e Ovos.

A very special thank you to our Executive Chef Lilian Cardoso! The dedication to her craft has allowed us to create a truly authentic Brazilian fusion menu, which we are looking forward to showing it off to the world come Spring 2018! Muito Obrigado Chef Lilian! @chef_liliancardoso #ZebuSteakBar #TheZebuStory #ZebuToronto #restaurant #steakhouse #steak #seafood #bar #wine #vegetarianfood #veganfood #SouthAmericanCuisine #BrazilianCuisine #churrasco #rodizio #YYZ #yyzeats #torontolife #downtowntoronto #the6ix #the6 #thesix #416 #tdot #streetsoftoronto #torontofood #wethenorth

A post shared by Zebu Steak + Bar (@zebusteakbar) on Aug 24, 2017 at 8:00am PDT

The restaurant's logo does resemble an actual zebu (which are also known as "humped cattle" due to a hump on their upper backs), but it remains to be seen if this place will actually serve exotic meats.

You can creep Zebu's Instagram account for more details. They've been documenting their progress everystepof the way, which not only builds hype, but shows customers and aspiring business owners how much work it actually takes to build something unique.

Commuting in Toronto won't get any easier this weekend as the TTC has decided to shut down parts of Line 1 all day Saturday and Sunday.

There will be no subway service between St. Clair and Lawrence stations on December 9 and 10. All trains on Line 1 will turn back northbound at Lawrence Station and southbound at St. Clair. Shuttle buses will operate between these stations during the closure.

The TTC is encouraging riders to use the University side of Line 1 when heading downtown during the closure period.

Subway service will resume on Monday morning. The next scheduled closure will result in a nightly closure of Queen’s Park Station on December 11 and 12 due to fare gate construction at the station.

We've all dreamed of someday having a massive walk in-closet, but if you're not quite there yet, Second Closet might be the next best thing.

Since the Toronto company began last year, it's quickly seized on the lack of space many of the city's newly built shoeboxes condos offer.

The concept is simple. For less than the cost of two coffees (less if you use your own boxes), it will pick up your stuff and take it to a warehouse for storage. 

There it sits in a temperature controlled space until you decide you need something and it'll be delivered right back to you.

It's ideal for those who are short on household space or don't want the fuss of an individualized storage unit.

The model of a storage delivery system has seen the company inch closer into the mainstream, even receiving a huge boost from corporate investors last summer to assist with further growth.

If the trend continues, this might just become the new norm.

Lots of good movies came out of Canada this year and now some of them are going to be recognized as TIFF just announced the films showing at its upcoming Canada's Top 10 Film Festival.

Here are the films you can expect to catch when they screen at the TIFF Bell Lightbox between January 12 to 21 next year.

Adventures in Public School 

Judy Greer is perfectly cast as the overprotective and quirky Claire in Kyle Rideout's hilarious rundown of high school etiquette as she prepares the home schooled Liam for a stint at *gasp* public school.

Allure

Montreal brothers and photographers-turned-directors Carlos Sanchez and Jason Sanchez chose Evan Rachel Wood to star in their psychological thriller that explores the dark and twisted story of a troubled relationship between two women.

Ava 

Iranian-Canadian Sadaf Foroughi writes and directs this telling glimpse into the strict intricacies of young Ava's world as she reaches adolescence. Despite all appearances, she's not alone in her experiences.

Les Affamés

In Les Affamés (French for the hungry), it's your classic apocalyptic scenario: a small Quebec village gets a gruesome reckoning in this arthouse slasher by acclaimed French-Canadian director Robin Aubert.

The Little Girl Who Was Too Fond of Matches 

Simon Lavoie's follow up to 2016's Those Who Make Revolution Halfway Only Dig Their Own Graves is for the cinema lovers out there, depicting the story of two children who discover their father's disturbing past in the most artful way one can.

Luk'Luk'I 

Winner of the City of Toronto Award for Best Canadian First Feature Film, Wayne Wapeemukwa's takes us back to Vancouver for the part of the 2010 Winter Olympics you didn't see, and maybe wish you hadn't.

Never Steady, Never Still 

Kathleen Hepburn's highly visceral capturing of the onset of Parkinson's disease is made possible in part by Shirley Henderson's incredible physical performance in this haunting film.

Our People Will Be Healed 

North of Winnipeg, 450 km to be exact, lies the Norway House Cree Nation, the largest First Nations community in Manitoba. Director Alanis Obomsawin takes us into the lives of its people and their efforts to reclaim their heritage.

RUMBLE: The Indians Who Rocked the World 

In director Catherine Bainbridge's latest in a series of documentaries that explore the influence of Native American's on music, RUMBLE looks at individuals who've helped shaped a number of musical genres.

Unarmed Verses 

Toronto directer Charles Officer lets the Villaways community in Bay View Village take the spotlight in this documentary about the effects that the city's fierce development has on the individuals who feel it the most.

Are you in the market for a cinema to call your own? Good news! The Regent Theatre on Mount Pleasant can be yours for just $9 million (plus applicable taxes.)

First opened in 1927 as 'The Belsize,' The Regent remains a fully operational movie theatre with regular screenings and events. Ed The Sock hosted the Beaver & Bacon Comedy Festival there just a few weeks ago.

Whoever buys the historic building could certainly choose to keep it running as a cinema. It's served as a movie theatre nearly all its life, save for a 20 year stretch beginning in the 1950's when it was used to foster Canadian stage talent.

A post shared by Kevin Burke Of The Internet (@kevinburke32) on Nov 27, 2017 at 2:54pm PST

While it's listed as a commercial property, the realtor selling this building does invite potential buyers to "explore the possibilities."

"Very unique opportunity to acquire an icon of Davisville Village," reads the listing. "Over 600 seats plus mezzanine level with administration offices."

That could make for one wicked place to live, but, more likely, it will make for another event venue and movie theatre. Or maybe condos.

You never know in this town.

YouTube just dropped its annual list of the year's most popular videos in our country, and it looks like we all really appreciate little kids messing with handsome princes.

The most-viewed video to come out of Toronto this year was footage from the Invictus Games, in which Prince Harry inadvertently shares his popcorn with a little girl in the stands at a volleyball game. 

Called "Sneaky toddler steals Prince Harry's popcorn," the video clip in question came in seventh on the list of Canada's most-watched videos with more than 17 million views.

Here's the ist of YouTube Canada's Top Trending Videos for 2017:

• Sea lion drags girl into Steveston waters
• Eminem Rips Donald Trump in BET Hip Hop Awards Freestyle Cypher
• Animal Adventure Park Giraffe Cam
• Ping Pong Trick Shots 3 | Dude Perfect
• Northern Ontario Moose vs Wolf
• Woman interrupted during BBC interview
• Sneaky toddler steals Prince Harry's popcorn

As you can see, three of the 5 most-viewed videos in Canada this year involved wildlife; a moose, a wolf, two giraffes and a sea lion, to be specific. 

The latter animal topped the list for 2017 with more than 30 million views after snatching a kid off a boat and pulling her into the water.

Eminem's beautifully vicious cypher about Donald Trump at the BET awards came in at spot number two for the year.

Of course, none of the above videos pulled even close to the number of views that Despacito did.

The music video for Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee's hit tops the list of most viewed music videos in Canada, and also around the world. It's currently the most-seen YouTube video of all time with 4.4 billion views.

You can see the full list of top music videos in Canada right here, as well as the most viewed movie trailer of 2017. Spoiler alert: It was Star Wars.