Streetcars have been moving faster and more reliably along King St. over the past month, according to newly-released data from the City of Toronto.

Rush hour travel times are, on average, between 40 seconds and 2.6 minutes shorter than they were before the launch of the King Street Pilot Project, and, despite what you might hear from some motorists, driving times have increased by less than a minute on neighbouring streets.

King Street is better when transit is prioritized, but more streetcars or busses NEED to be added ASAP if the #KingStreetPilot is to meet its full potential. I waited as 9 over capacity streetcars passed by this morn before starting my journey at King and Shaw #ttc#topoli

— Matthew Banninga (@BanningaMatt) December 13, 2017

As someone who rides the line twice a day, I can tell you that all of the above rings true. 

The streetcars do proceed more quickly through the downtown core without so many motorists clogging up the road, and there aren't as many clumps of five streetcars appearing at once after 40 minutes of crickets. 

But that doesn't necessarily mean passengers are getting to work any faster. Far from it.

#ttc#ffcfail Over a hundred people huddled in the cold on King street as packed streetcar after streetcar goes by without stopping. #TTChelps ? pic.twitter.com/vHszjDd4Fi

— Christian Weller (@christianweller) December 13, 2017

Toronto's busiest streetcar line has long been known for how crowded it can get. An estimated 65,000 people ride the King streetcar every single weekday, many of them around the same two periods of time. 

Riders have been complaining about how jam-packed the King cars are even more than usual since the start of the pilot project last month, and now that winter is really, really here, the problem is coming to a head.

If I would have walked to work this morning it would have taken me an hour. That’s less time than it took me to take one @TTCnotices streetcar across King St… and there’s no traffic but streetcars for 2/3’s of King St. UNBELIEVABLE!

— Sheldon Levine (@40deuce) December 13, 2017

Hundreds of people were left waiting in the blistering cold along King Street Tuesday morning as streetcar upon streetcar soared past with no room for anyone else to get on.

At least 80 people were waiting at King and Strachan this morning as seven full sardine cans TTC vehicles came by in a row, some of them literally pushing each other out of the way for a single spot on the streetcar stairs.

I waited approximately 45 minutes at that stop until I could squeeze onto one of the new, longer streetcars, where things only got worse in terms of human behaviour.

To the woman on the packed King streetcar who pushed me aside at 6 months pregnant so that she could sit down instead of me: may you have a wonderful day. I hope you enjoyed the ride. #karma#TTC#courtesy

— Gabriela Gonzalez (@GabrielaGS_) December 13, 2017

I haven't taken a ride on the 504 in weeks during which at least one passenger didn't push or yell at someone else for trying to come aboard.

Whether it's the weather, a lack of cabs that will drive near King, or all the positive attention the Pilot Project has brought to this already busy transit route, the overcrowding problem is getting worse. I mean, what good is a fast streetcar if you can never actually catch one?

The TTC is aware of the problem, and has been taking action to alleviate some of the congestion – but there's little the transit agency can do without more streetcars.

Fingers crossed that nobody seriously hurts another passenger – or freezes while waiting at a stop – before Bombardier finally delivers some.

If you've ever been floored by how quickly marquee concert tickets seem to sell out and what they end up costing on resale sites, the Ontario government now has your back. But today's passing of the Ticket Sales Act has online ticket retailer Stubhub seeing red.

The legislation is good news for event-goers who have been slighted by ticket re-sellers setting astronomically high prices, as it seeks to regulate online ticket sales and ensure they can be purchased at a fair value.

Stubhub, however, feels differently. 

The company issued an open letter saying that while it supports the driving idea behind the new legislation, it's not happy with the price caps that will now be imposed on resell tickets.

I am SHOCKED that @StubHub and other enablers of scalpers are upset that there's a cap on markup. Very. I would say this is the most shocking news I heard all year. Indubitably.

I'd say decrease cap to 10% over face value. Stubhub need not be greedy anymore. $400 tix? Ha!

— ⛓AstroCreepXL⛓ (@CreepyXL) December 13, 2017

"When it comes to price caps, StubHub joins the industry in opposing this measure," reads the release.

"Consumers benefit from a competitive ticket market where transactions occur through secure channels that prioritize fans. At the same time, it is important to incentivize and encourage this e-commerce to remain right here, in Ontario."

The regulations cap the sometimes outrageous ticket prices listed by re-sellers who use the platform by ensuring that they aren't sold for more than 50 per cent above face value.

Anyone who scalps or fux wit bass u ain't my fran. I'm about max access & inclusive community - do not sell my tickets above face value. 👹👺👽

— Bassnectar (@bassnectar) October 8, 2014

Stubhub's opposing argument goes like this. "If the established market rate exceeds the 50% cap established by government, those sales won't stop or adapt to reflect the price caps – they'll just occur at their true value through channels the government cannot regulate."

In addition to price caps, the new rules also ban tickets from being purchased automatically by bots and potentially scalped later on. Instead purchases must be made manually with key information provided by the buyer.

Earlier this year, the government initiated a public survey to generate feedback on ticket-purchasing experiences and factors like access, affordability, transparency, and enforcement surrounding online ticket sales.

#boycottstubhub

— Daniel Caesar (@DanielCaesar) November 1, 2017

Stubhub also criticizes the new regulations for not ensuring enough transparency in terms how many tickets are made available to the general public for large scale events, but if social media reaction is any indication, people aren't buying the company's take right now. 

New vegetarian restaurants in Toronto are giving herbivores more options than ever to fill their bellies. An increasing number of restaurants are now not only vegetarian but vegan, serving not only food but also cocktails and even wines that are entirely plant-based.

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

Mythology Diner

Meatloaf, Reuben sandwiches, fries and mac n’ cheese all get the vegan treatment at this new Parkdale spot. Tuck into a slushy vegan mezcal margarita with a spoon or sip on a steamy spiked cider.

Hello 123

From the folks behind Kupfert & Kim comes this sleek new operation near Queen and Dovercourt serving plant-based brunches and vibrantly healthy smoothies but also bar snacks and cocktails. The pulled pineapple sandwich is to die for, and drinks are made with ingredients like chaga and kombucha.

Hogtown Vegan

Southern soul food is now given vegan twists not only in Bloorcourt but now in Little Italy. Their new corner spot boasts a patio, and the same unchicken and waffles, pulled pork sammies and loaded fries you know and love are on the menu.

Awai

Wood-fired pizzas, upscale soups and salads and other elegant vegetarian eats are all elegantly presented in this hushed restaurant in Bloor West Village from the chef behind the Atlantic.

Planta Burger

Vegan fast food is the order of the day at this Financial District offshoot of the popular Planta. Vegan beet burgers with “queso” and “bacon” share the menu with “fish” sandwiches as well as vegan milkshakes and floats plus Ace Hill beer.

The best Chinese food delivery in Toronto is always there for you. Not only can you rely on these restaurants to bring you staples like General Tao piping hot and fresh, in this city you can also get a myriad of offerings like Chinese chicken, soup dumplings and congee delivered straight to your door.

This is the best Chinese food delivery in Toronto.

Kaboom Chicken's Instagram comments have blown up over the suggestion that Ontario premiere Kathleen Wynne is to blame for its higher fried chicken prices.

"Sorry guys, Starting tomorrow we will need to raise the prices on our menu," wrote the Riverside restaurant earlier this week on social media. "This is due to the 20% minimal [sic] wage increase coming in Jan."

The photo shared with that Instagram post shows a sign that reads  "Sorry price increase in effect =( Please blame K. Wynne."

A post shared by KABOOM Chicken ❤️🇰🇷🍗 (@kaboomchicken) on Dec 9, 2017 at 6:57pm PST

The Korean fried chicken joint's owners argue that, while fair wage is a positive thing, it "needs to be fair at a gradual rate."

This is in reference to the recently-passed Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, which will see minimum wage in Ontario rise to $15 an hour by 2019. The process starts by raising the rate from $11.60 to $14 in just a few weeks, on January 1, 2018.

"[Wynne] doesn't care that the restaurant industry already operates on very slim margins due to the raising cost of food, high rent, killer property taxes, employees wages & other factors," reads part of the restaurant's photo caption.

"Please note K. WYNNE & the provincial Liberal party is just trying to cover up all their scandals & this is their last play to get re-elected."

@KaboomChicken in #Toronto is ranting about the increase to min wage, and how it should be more gradual. If they'd gradually increased the wage they pay their staff over time, paying a $14 wage now wouldn't feel sudden or steep.

— CatrionaSilcock (@CatrionaSilcock) December 11, 2017

Some people commenting on Kaboom's Instagram post are saying that money is no object - their fried chicken is that good and will still be worth every penny.

"I somehow feel like throwing a tantrum is kind of a bad way to deal with a wage increase," wrote one of the first commenters on the post. "Not to mention that it’s pretty unprofessional."

"You should be ashamed to complain about paying your employees a living wage," wrote another. "The minimum wage increase will help some of them avoid living from one pay cheque to the next and even helps increase your customer base... Shame on you."

Dozens more criticized the company for its "public whining" and "tantrum."

A post shared by KABOOM Chicken ❤️🇰🇷🍗 (@kaboomchicken) on Dec 10, 2017 at 10:38am PST

"Wow. I am so embarrassed for you," wrote one commenter. "And your employees who are watching you throw a tantrum about paying them a living wage. Way to make them feel valued."

The whole thread is tense, with Kaboom jumping in to defend itself against what it calls "trolls" several times. 

Some customers are now even vowing to pull their business from the store, despite loving the food – and that's a pretty big sacrifice, given that the restaurant just added korean fried chicken cones to its winter menu.

Merry Christmas, Toronto. The new ice rink and skating trail at Riverdale Park East will finally open to the public this weekend, a full month earlier than originally expected.

Work on the outdoor athletic facilities is just about finished, according to the city's department of Parks, Forestry and Recreation, after nearly two years of being closed off for construction.

City councillor Paula Fletcher is scheduled to cut the ribbon on the new artificial rink at during a grand opening celebration this Saturday, December 16th at 11 a.m.

Residents will then be invited to lace up their skates and hit the ice. There will also be free hot chocolate.

Winter came early to Riverdale Park East this week - the #RiverdaleRink and skating trail was completed a month earlier than expected!

Let's lace up our skates, hit the fresh ice and enjoy a free hot chocolate this Saturday!https://t.co/swR94bttnD#TOrec#TOrinks#TOparkspic.twitter.com/sta5K64Vv4

— City of Toronto PF&R (@TorontoPFR) December 13, 2017

The new rink and trail are part of the city's North-East Quadrant revitalization project in Riverdale Park East.

The project, which began in 2015, includes not only the new skating trail and artificial ice rink, but a winter lounge, a Zamboni station, a new playground and new barrier-free accessible ramps among other features.

Food prices keep rising and Toronto grocery stores and restaurants are passing those increases onto consumers.

In fact, food prices at restaurants are expected to increase between four to six per cent next year according to the latest Canada's Food Price report.

At local restaurants and grocery stores, signs are being spotted that notify customers of impending price increases.

At Fruitful Market in Leslieville, owner Yannis Banks says price increases are "primarily ingredient driven," with certain items seeing a five to 10 per cent price increase.

"We have also had a step up in our rent and are also cognizant of the upcoming increase in the minimum wage which will have some effect on our labour costs."

Prices have also gone up at major chains like Tim Hortons, McDonalds and Starbucks.

Even local street meat has been affected. 

The street meat cart at Dundas and Uni went up to $3.50.

— Claire Rush (@clairerushh) December 13, 2017

Many restaurants are being proactive about explaining the changes to customers but sometimes that hasn't gone over so well.

Of course, price changes are nothing new to the food industry. Earlier this year a local pizza joint raised its prices after ingredient costs went up 2.6 per cent.

And Burrito Boyz famously started charging extra for guacamole after rising costs for avocado became unsustainable.

According to the Canada's Food Price report, the cost of vegetables and food purchased by restaurants will be effected most.

I guess it's another good reason to sign up for that cooking class while there's still room.

The Toronto Argos are joining the Maple Leafs, the Raptors and our newly-minted soccer champions, The Toronto FC, as subsidiaries of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment.

MLSE just announced that, subject to the approval of the Canadian Football League, it will be purchasing the Argos for an undisclosed sum of money in January 2018.

Like their BMO field stadium-mates, Toronto's football team just capped off 2017 with a major championship win.

The Argos brought home their league's most prestigious prize after winning the 105th Grey Cup game in Calgary on November 26, bringing the total number of all-time championships for the team up to 17. Shania Twain was there.

This is great news for #ArgosFootball. Now they can be given the marketing and PR they so badly deserve #CFLpic.twitter.com/zO2oKBA6bJ

— Canada Sports Betting 🍁 (@CANSportbetting) December 13, 2017

"On the heels of a stunning Grey Cup showdown with the Calgary Stampeders that highlighted the sheer excitement of Canadian football, we’re thrilled that the Argonauts will be joining the MLSE roster," said CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie in a statement released Wednesday.

"We welcome MLSE to the CFL and look forward to working with them to further enhance the experience for Canadian football fans."

The Argos are currently owned by Bell Canada and the Kilmer Group (MLSE chairman Larry Tanenbaum's holding company.)

Following the acquisition, the CFL team will be owned by MLSE – which is owned by Bell Canada, the Kilmer Group and Rogers. 

Today in Toronto you can finally enjoy Laduree's boutique macarons here in the city, catch screenings of standout New York Times documentaries, or start the weekend early with an EDM party. 

At -15 degrees Celsius, with a wind chill of -23, Toronto is currently experiencing its coldest morning of 2017. Yayyy.

Local meteorologist Jill Taylor says that these are, by far, the chilliest temperatures people have woken up to in the city all year.

The second-coldest morning of 2017 was back in March, according to Taylor, when thermometers hit -13.4 degrees Celsius mid-month.

Just looking through stats at #Toronto YYZ. It’s coldest morning(Dec 14)so far this year! Yesterday -12.9 in morning and then back in March -13.4C but as of 6am today at -15.6 Extra, extra layers needed this morning!

— Jill Taylor (@jilltaylor680) December 14, 2017

Toronto (obviously) remains under an extreme cold weather alert today. The city's public health department first issued the alert on Tuesday, based on Environment Canada's prediction that the wind chill would reach at least -20 overnight.

It got so cold in the city on Wednesday that officials temporarily shut down the holiday fair in Nathan Phillip's Square.

Good luck out there, morning commuters. Don't forget your hats. And scarves. And mitts. And boots. And long-johns. And thermals. And parkas. *sigh*

The hottest restaurants in Toronto right now are dishing out beef tartare and vegan meatloaf, Thai dumplings and thousand-layer lasagnas, and coveted bowls of ramen and rice noodles. To get into these places, you’re either going to need a reservation or a superhuman amount of patience, but just tell yourself: the cheesecake is worth it.

Here are my picks for the hottest restaurants in Toronto right now.

Cheesecake Factory

Chances are you’re reading this while standing in line for hours to get into the first Canadian location of the U.S. chain located inside Yorkdale Mall. Everything and Chicken Parm Pizza as well as Tex Mex and Avocado Egg Rolls await along with dozens of flavours of cheesecake: Oreo, red velvet, birthday, and strawberry, to name a few.

Mythology Diner

Vegan cocktails and wines accompany a menu of entirely plant-based burgers, sandwiches, poutine, mac n’ cheese and other diner classics from the chef behind Doug’s Public Kitchen in collaboration with the folks responsible for Doomie’s and The Imperative at this Parkdale restaurant. Hungry herbivores are beating down the door to give it a try.

La Palma

You’ll likely need a reservation for weekend brunch or dinner at this round-the-clock Italian spot on Dundas West, especially if you have a larger party. Booths and bar space where patrons devour pizza, pasta, grilled steak, cocktails, coffee and baked goods like grilled donuts are hotly contested.

Kiin

Torontonians are dying to try the lettuce wraps, intricate technicolour dumplings and rainbow salads at this elegant Thai spot in the Entertainment District from the people behind Sukhothai, Sabai Sabai and Pai.

Brothers

Space at this narrow restaurant is nearly as tight as the subway cars that pass through Bay Station directly below it. Precious plates on a perpetually changing menu rarely contain more than a few ingredients, but they’re impeccably prepared and are well accompanied by one of the city’s best wine lists.

Pinky’s Ca Phe

It’s been said the College and Clinton corner this place is near is cursed, but that doesn’t appear to be the case when it comes to the crowds that pack this dim, secretive, kitschy hangout serving Vietnamese bar food.

Konjiki Ramen

Ramen fans are salivating to get into the new North York location of this Japanese chain. The restaurant comes with a Michelin recommendation and fans line up in Tokyo for hours, so one can only imagine what wait times will be like in Toronto.

Chubby’s Jamaican Kitchen

By the beloved Gusto 54 restaurant group comes this King West establishment serving island classics like saltfish fritters, jerk chicken, slaw and other bar fare like burgers along with refreshing pineapple-carrot cocktails.

Dagu Rice Noodle

The Bay and Dundas location of this restaurant enjoys lineup only surpassed by The Cheesecake Factory. Find bowls of slippery, soupy rice noodles in prescribed combinations or put ingredients together yourself “Crossing The Bridge” style.

Aloette

This little sister restaurant to equally popular Alo upstairs at Queen and Spadina has already been featured in many an Instagram story, and more are clamouring to snap the beautifully presented burgers, beef tartare, sundaes and cocktails here.

Toronto restaurant openings highlights the latest food news in Toronto and gives a preview of what's coming soon. Find us here every Thursday morning.

Open now

• Assembly Chef's Hall has soft opened at 111 Richmond St. W. in the Financial District, with its grand opening to come in January.
• Long-awaited Chubby’s Jamaican Kitchen is now open at 104 Portland St. (just south of Adelaide St. W.)
• Parka Food Co. is serving up "vegetable-based comfort food" at 424 Queen St. W. in the space that was previously The Baro.
• Mos Mos now has a third location (its flagship), which can be found inside RBC WaterPark Place at Bay & Queens Quay.
• Antikka Cafe, a record store and coffee shop, has opened at 960 Queen St. W. (between Givins St. and Shaw St.)
• Islas Filipino BBQ & Bar is now open at 1690 Queen St. W. in Parkdale.
• Sidebar, The Danforth Music Hall's restaurant and bar, has opened at 161 Danforth Ave.
• The first overseas location of Tokyo's Konjiki Ramen and dessert cafe Saryo have soft opened at 5051 Yonge St. in North York.
• Alcove Coffee can now be found in the Junction at 34 Cawthra Ave.
• Fleur du Jour, a French patisserie and cafe, has opened at 603 St. Clair Ave. W. (between Wychwood Ave. and Kenwood Ave.)
• Cinco, a modern Mexican restaurant, is now open at 131 Roncesvalles Ave. 
• Korean-fried chicken joint Mymy Chicken has added a second location in the city, this one at 394 Bloor St. W. in the Annex.

Recently reviewed

• General Assembly Pizza
• Daan Go Cake Lab
• Craft Beer Market
• Campo Food Hall
• Mythology Diner

Opening soon

• Sri Lankan restaurant Rusi should be opening soon at 7 King St. E.
• Zebu Steak + Bar, a "unique fusion of North & South American Steakhouses featuring authentic Brazilian cuisine," will open at 132 John St. in 2018.
• Top Gun Steak will soon be opening a new location in Scarborough at Warden & Lawrence.

Closed

• Dundas West's Dundas General has been closed by the landlord for failure to pay rent.
• Indian restaurant Ji has closed on St. Clair West, but hints that it will be opening a new location somewhere downtown.
• Game of Cheese in Richmond Hill is no more. It's set to become another location for Dagu Rice Noodle.

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

Holt Renfrew has just announced that it'll close all of its in-store Holts Cafe locations. It's not all bad news, though. The shuttered cafes will be replaced with on-site versions of Colette Grand Cafe, the popular French concept from the Chase Hospitality Group.

The luxury retailer and Toronto-based hospitality group say that their "national culinary partnership" will result in five new Colette restaurants across the country: one in Vancouver, Edmonton, and Montreal, and at the Bloor Street and Yorkdale Holt Renfrew locations in Toronto.

The transitions are set to take place over the course of 2018, and are expected to "introduce a chic and sophisticated menu and atmosphere to complement the iconic retailer’s elevated offerings."

This is good news for fans of the Chase's existing restaurants, which include the Wellington location of Colette as well as The Chase, Planta, Planta Burger and Kasa Moto, among others. 

This partnership marks the Toronto hospitality company's first Canada-wide expansion. The restaurant group also recently announced that it will be opening up a Planta in Miami Beach this Spring.

"We are very happy to be partnering with such an iconic luxury brand as Holt Renfrew, and to be expanding Colette Grand Café across Canada," said CHG president Steven Salm in a press release on Thursday.

"The French-inspired aesthetic and menu are a natural fit for the stylish destination and we are so pleased to bring the two together."

The TTC board has approved pushing forward with a proposal to create discounted transit passes for post-secondary students in Toronto.

The so-called "U-Pass," pitched in September year by a coalition of student unions from U of T, Ryerson, OCAD and George Brown, would give all students at participating universities and colleges affordable, unlimited access to the TTC.

These discounted passes would be issued via Presto card, and come at a cost that student unions hope will be significantly cheaper than their current, slightly discounted $116.75 Metropass.

It might sound like a no-brainer, but rolling out such a program could prove controversial. You see, the pass would be mandatory with the cost included in every student's tuition, whether they ride the TTC or not.

The best news you've heard all day/month/year 🙏 The Toronto Transit Commission Board voted unanimously to begin price negotiation & research with RSU & the other U-Commute DT schools! Catch the live stream & our VP Education making moves @ 3:36:10 🙌https://t.co/lsAU5RFym9

— RSU (@RyeSU) December 12, 2017

Transit passes are already included in the tuition fees of some Ontario schools, including McMaster, Carleton and the University of Guelph.

Toronto has explored the idea before, but it's never quite panned out here, which makes it all the more noteworthy that TTC board members voted unanimously this week to move forward with the development of policy framework. 

TTC staff will report back to the board in early 2018 with a final version of the discounted transit pass proposal – though, at this point, it is still unknown how much the monthly pass would cost.

During Monday's TTC board meeting, city councillor Joe Mihevc said that he predicts the pass will cost between $80 and $100. Anything less than that, he said, would jeopardize the transit agency's ability to break even.

That's still a significant savings against the current rate, which would come as good news for transit-dependent students. Those who live on campus or commute by other means, maybe not so much.

Butter tarts are probably the most underrated Canadian delicacy, often overshadowed by other big-name baked goods like Nanaimo bars and beaver tails.

But next year the butter tart will truly get its due at the First Annual Bowmanville Butter Tart Festival, just east of Toronto along the 401. It all goes down on March 3 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

The festival is set to celebrate the tasty treat with an array of vendors serving up the best butter tarts the province has to offer. 

And what festival is complete without a good ol' fashion tart-off competition? There will be one during the event to decide who's worthy of being crowned the butter tart champion.

While this is the first Butter Tart Festival for Bowmanville, there are several others across the province, including Ontario's Best Butter Tart Festival in Midland, which draws big crowds each spring.

Better make sure you have appropriate eating pants.

Fare evasion has always been a problem for the TTC, but it might be even worse than once thought. According to a new report, it could be costing the transit agency around $50 million a year.

For the last few years, the TTC has officially maintained annual fare loss numbers of about 2 percent, which is roughly $20 million of its $1.9 billion operating budget.

But figures from an internal report obtained by the Toronto Star show that amount could be more than double, with an evasion percentage of 4.4 percent.

That would be, like... eight new streetcars worth of revenue each year.

The figures, calculated by a consulting firm, have not been endorsed by the TTC, which is unconvinced of their accuracy. 

As the Star notes, there's been considerable speculation that fare evasion rates are higher than the TTC projects, but the 2 percent figure remains the standard estimate in place.

Whatever the exact amount, fare evasion has very real economic consequences for the TTC. For its part, the Commission hopes the problem will be addressed with the full roll out of Presto across the system.

Laduree is officially open in Toronto. The new Boutique and Tea Salon opened at Yorkdale Shopping Centre at noon – just in time for lunch break!

I'm kidding (unless you can take, like, a four hour lunch break).

Torontonians are loving their shiny new Parisian macaron store, as evidenced by the long line running through Yorkdale's luxury wing right now.

A post shared by blogTO (@blogto) on Dec 14, 2017 at 9:07am PST

This should come as no surprise to those familiar with the kinds of things people flock to in Toronto.

Locals have lined up for hours at Yorkdale in recent months to enter Drake's flagship OVO store, for the new iPhone, and, of course, The Cheesecake Factory (which still actually has quite the waiting list.)

And that's only at Yorkdale – don't even get me started on the ice cream scene.

Laduree's new Toronto tea room boasts just 26 seats, so you might be waiting a while to sit down for a croque monsieur – but the attached boutique will, presumably, be more accessible.

You can buys various chocolates, jams, honeys, specialty teas, candles, room fragrances and accessories there, along with the world-renowned patisserie's famous macarons.

To celebrate its grand opening, Laduree Toronto will be serving an exclusive maple syrup macaron. That alone could be very well worth the wait, depending on your perspective.

Weekend events in Toronto include the first DJ skate party of the season, one of the biggest Choir! Choir! Choir! shows ever, a sneak peek at Finch West Station before the TTC's new line officially opens, and food and craft pop-ups aplenty.

Winterlicious has announced its 2018 restaurant list.

That's right, the City of Toronto has blessed its frozen citizens on this, the coldest day of the year so far, with a reminder that not everything about winter sucks.

The annual prix fixe food event will run from January 26 until February 8 this year (or next year, I guess), and feature more than 200 local restaurants.

It's the most wonderful time of the year - Winterlicious is back January 26 - February 6, 2018! This year, enjoy seven unique & delectable culinary events. For all Winterlicious and Culinary Event Series information, check out https://t.co/xPQnlHUytt#LiciousTOpic.twitter.com/xNtxYI2WYH

— Winter/Summerlicious (@LiciousTO) December 14, 2017

A full list of participating restaurants is available on the city's website, where you can sort them by cuisine, neighbourhood, price, accessibility and diet.

Each restaurant will be offering a three-course lunch menu for between $23 and $33. Dinner will cost between $33 and $53, depending on where you dine.

Restaurants will start accepting Winterlicious reservations on Jan 11, but tickets for any of the specialty Culinary Event Series events go on sale Dec. 14. That's today.

Tomorrow marks the premiere of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and to mark the occasion, Cineplex will try out a new ticketing model. The company is testing out a new form of reserved seating across select theatres in Canada, including Toronto.

Reserved seating is not new; it's been available in VIP Cinemas, IMAX and UltraAVX auditoriums for quite a while, but now it's being made available for regular theatres at some Star Wars screenings. The catch is that it'll cost movie-goers $1 to reserve seats of their choice.

Cineplex says that due to overwhelming demand for tickets, it's offering the new $1 reserved seating option.

"Movie-lovers can arrive at the theatre knowing that they don’t need to rush and that their seat is waiting for them," said Cineplex spokesperson Sarah Van Lange.

The latest in the Star Wars franchise has sparked an ongoing frenzy with tickets for advanced screenings being almost completely sold out since last October.

Cineplex has said that it hopes the reserved seating option will expedite entry and—get ready—reduce line ups. If the option proves popular for Star Wars screenings, there's a good chance we'll see it rolled out more widely across the company's theatres.