If you're cringing at the thought of what riding Line 2 this morning was like amidst total, power outage-induced chaos, you may also be frustrated with Uber right now. 

The popular ride-hailing app dissuaded many from using the service as an alternate to the chaos underground today with its infamous surge pricing.

So I'm stuck in Toronto right now durning rush hour and heavy snow. Ive been sitting in an office buildings food court for the past 2 hours waiting for the uber prices to go down. This is my morning. pic.twitter.com/8RY1uXuvfb

— Jake Williams (@datJakeWilliams) January 8, 2018

Uber has been know to jack up fares when demand is high on account of holidays, crazy weather or transit problems.

Many in the city have been burned by Uber surges before, which makes us all a bit more likely to double-check out estimated fares before hopping into someone's car-for-hire.

Was planning on taking an Uber instead of facing the shuttle buses but my $20 trip has become $65. see u soon buses 😎

— Bronte (@bronteisafinder) January 8, 2018

Monday morning's subway problems, combined with snow, an increase in post-holiday commuters, and general winter fatigue, resulted in fares higher than most people had seen in a while.

I’m paying $50 for an Uber on what usually is only $8 so I can take my mom to work https://t.co/Pp85WGOWdJ

— Mer. (@itsachillything) January 8, 2018

And riders using Lyft, Uber's new-to-Canada competitor, didn't seem to be faring much better.

@lyft@lyft_TOR, hiding surge pricing is unethical. I just paid $46 for a 3km ride that has been $10-12 every other time I've taken it. Super crappy way to treat your customers.

— Kim Lawless (@kklawless) January 8, 2018

Locals are calling the move "opportunistic AF," among other things, on behalf of both companies.

What a way to start the week. Sheesh.

Animal rights activists are speaking out this week against two GTA restaurants for allegedly "mutilating and serving live animals."

Marado Sushi in Thornhill and Gal's Sushi in Markham both feature a Korean octopus dish called sannakji on their menus.

You've likely seen video footage of this unique dish in action (and I do mean action) online at some point. If you haven't, here's one that PETA sent out with a press release on Monday morning.

"A new PETA video exposé shows a live octopus at Toronto restaurant Marado Sushi being pulled from a tank, flung onto a cutting board, and crudely hacked apart as the animal flails and struggles," reads the press release.

"Only after chopping off each of the octopus's tentacles—an act equivalent to chopping off a human being's limbs—does the chef dice up the animal's mantle, causing a slow, painful death," it continues.

"The squirming tentacles—whose multiple nerve endings cause the animal to continue writhing—are then served to patrons."

A post shared by Mark Melandeau (@melandeau) on Aug 1, 2016 at 7:02pm PDT

After a complaint from PETA, the Ontario SPCA notified Marado Sushi that the province's cruelty-to-animals laws protect octopuses.

The restaurant still serves sannakji, which is legal in Canada, but now decapitates the animals first.

PETA says that this still "likely causes immense suffering" as chopping off an octopus' head "does little to destroy the animal's brain and organs."

A post shared by Robin Choi (@rincode) on Dec 25, 2016 at 4:27pm PST

The animal rights group has also requested an investigation into Gal's Sushi and "a handful of restaurants in Toronto" that treat animals in a manner it considers unethical.

"With their sophisticated nervous systems, octopuses feel every cut of the chef's blade as they're hacked apart a diner's fleeting taste experience," said  PETA Senior Vice President of Cruelty Investigations Daphna Nachminovitch in the release. 

"PETA wants this grossly inhumane practice of butchering and serving up live, writhing, sensitive animals to stop."

A post shared by Rossetti Pong (@mrs_dimsum) on Mar 9, 2017 at 4:39am PST

Four other Toronto restaurants, which are not named, areaccusedby PETA of preparing "live shrimp and lobsters by cutting their tails off and serving them 'sashimi style' right next to their mutilated but still-living bodies, for the patrons' amusement."

One of the images featured in the organization's press materials can be sourced back to an online review of Hibiki Japanese Cuisine in Markham, though it's not identified in specifically in PETA's press materials. 

Toronto's public golf courses are in decline and now costing the city money. A new report up for debate by the city's government management committee puts it bluntly: "including overhead expenses, the golf operations incur a net loss on an annual basis."

Right now, private companies operate the pro shops as well as the food and beverage services at municipal golf courses while the city handles golf course assets and turf maintenance. 

In the short term, staff recommend that the city issue two-year extensions to the existing operators under the same service delivery model that's been used in previous years, but they warn that major changes are required to reverse the trend of declining revenues. 

"The participation for golf is declining across North America as well as in the city’s golf operations," the report notes. "It is anticipated that without significant investment in city-run golf courses, this downward trend in rounds is expected to continue."

As such, Parks and Recreation wants to solicit an external review and 20 year plan for the city's public golf courses. What a new service model might look like and what exactly Toronto does with each of its five golf courses is up in air.

The status quo, however, doesn't appear viable. 

"Over the past years, many Canadian municipalities have been exploring alternate service delivery and alternate use options for their golf operations as a result of similar pressures around operating municipal golf courses."

Some have suggested that under-used courses be turned into parks, while various private clubs around the GTA have been sold to real estate developers.

In the case of Oakville's Glen Abbey, which owner ClubLink proposed to redevelop into a housing community, there was considerable backlash from area residents, and the plan was ultimately rejected by the local city council.

The government management committee report doesn't hint at specifics related to the possible changes to come for Toronto's public golf courses, but it does make it clear that an overhaul of some kind is required. 

It's looking more and more like the "international anchor" store we've been promised at Yonge and Bloor will be a flagship Apple retail location - the first ever of its kind in Canada.

Rumours of a standalone Apple Store coming to Toronto have been swirling for years now, but the Cupertino, California tech company has yet to confirm anything.

Still, plenty of hints have been dropped by the developers and architects behind Toronto's forthcoming luxury tower "The One," which will be the city's tallest condo building upon completion at just over 306 metres.

MacRumors reports that the architecture firm Foster + Partners, which has worked with Apple in the past, recently updated its blueprints for The One to label Apple by name.

Image via MacRumors.com.

The plans appear to have been updated under the radar, long after architects submitted them to the City of Toronto in 2016.

This doesn't mean that Apple is coming to Yonge and Bloor for sure, but, as MacRumours notes, "The planning document is the first concrete evidence we've seen beyond subtle hints from builder Mizrahi Developments."

If Apple does open a new flagship store at the base of The One, it seems it would be triple-height, span more than 9,000 square feet and include space for a a cantilevered balcony like the giant Apple stores in San Francisco and New York

Toronto already has four Apple stores, but they're all inside local malls.

Should the store at Bloor and Yonge turn into an Apple flagship, its glass entrance would open up onto the sidewalk facing Bloor – but not until The One itself is finished, which should be sometime between 2020 and 2022. 

No matter how many albums, interviews, clothing lines, surprise shows or episodes of Degrassi he gives us, Drake fans always seem thirsty for more.

Fortunately, there's no shortage of Drake-related or Drake-created content coming out of this city. Or other cities. Ever. 

Toronto's golden boy will be starring in yetanotherdocumentary about (what else?) the rise of Drake this summer, according to entertainer and social media phenom MarQuis Trill.

A post shared by MarQuis Trill ™ (@marquistrill) on Jan 6, 2018 at 10:01pm PST

Called Toronto to Houston, the film will purportedly show "Drake like you've never seen him" – from his early days rapping at parties in Texas to the time he opened his own pop-up strip club, The Ballet.

"I'm talking 2009, as Drake was rising to the top of the music world," wrote Trill in a teaser video for the doc on Instagram. "He credits Houston for the culture and the impact it had on him with launching his career - specifically on May 8, 2009, the show at Warehouse Live." 

Trill says that the film will drop this summer after he edits in footage from the house warming party for Drake's new Toronto dream mansion (which has yet to happen, as the house is still being built).

The most beautiful places in Toronto during the winter offer sweeping views of snow-covered trees and frozen lake vistas. Even if you've lived in the city all your life, it's still remarkable to witness the beautiful transformation it undergoes when encased in ice and drench in snow.

Behold Toronto's stunning winter beauty in this photo gallery.

Heads up, piano fans: More than 30 highly diverse, internationally acclaimed musicians will be tickling the ivories later this month at Burdock in Bloordale Village.

A total of 16 concerts will be taking place at the brewery/restaurant/live music venue between Jan. 22 and Jan 29, according to Burdock, with an early show at 6:30 p.m. and a later show at 9 p.m. each evening.

It's all part of the Burdock Piano Festival, now in its third year.

"We're bringing back the baby grand for 16 great concerts featuring 30+ piantastic acts," wrote the venue on Facebook. "We're thrilled about the lineup, and there are still special guests to be announced."

The pianists selected for this year's festival are composers, songwriters, recording artists, award winners and multi-disciplinary musical artists whose styles run the gamut from classical and folk to jazz and super funky soul.

You can see the full lineup as it stands now, and purchase tickets in advance, on Burdock's website.

The City of Toronto is currently recruiting volunteers for something that like, 80 per cent of the people I know would probably pay to do: Cuddle with bunnies and kitties.

Now before you go storming the animal shelters, know that this isn't a new program. Toronto Animal Services volunteers have been playing and cuddling with cats and rabbits for years in an effort to help the animals with socialization.

"This is a rewarding experience for the volunteer," reads the city's website, "but also crucial to the physical and mental well-being of the animals in our care, and helps them get adopted."

Volunteer opportunity currently available in Toronto. https://t.co/CzSsihspJApic.twitter.com/A5eFrmqlDl

— Michael Hoffman (@michaelhoffman) January 6, 2018

A page for this particular volunteer opportunity was posted on Twitter over the weekend, however, which has many people in the city jazzed about cuddling cats today.

"Touch all the toe beans!" wrote someone on Reddit today, referring to the bean-like appearance of tiny, tender kittycat paws.

"I'll volunteer and end up with 8 new cats," wrote someone else, to which another Redditor replied "That's probably part of the plan." Touché.

Next time someone tries to tell you that Toronto is an emotionally cold city, remind them that the city is looking for official "Rabbit/Cat Cuddling Volunteers" https://t.co/9rXFPf4ABB

— Megan Jones (@MegjonesA) January 5, 2018

Volunteers are welcome to apply for a cat and rabbit cuddling role online or at any of the city's animal shelters, though a TAS rep said by email that "there are a lot of applications to go through" right now.

Should any spots open up, potential volunteers will need to attend an orientation, review the TAS Volunteer manual, commit to a consistent, weekly time period (like every Wednesday from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.) 

Worth it. So worth it.

After more than 25 years of serving as Toronto's preeminent Greek bakery and European market, Serano is expanding into the cafe business.

The company announced on Instagram over the weekend that it would soon be opening up a new location at the corner of Pape and Gamble, just up the street from its longstanding family-run bakery at 830 Pape.

Cafe Serano is slated to open this spring, according to an Instagram profile set up for the business.

The beginnings of something sweet!!! #chocolate#cake#chocolatelover#seranobakery#torontobakerypic.twitter.com/xwUFti56Ku

— Serano Bakery (@SeranoBakery) January 5, 2018

Few details have been announced aside from the store's location, but if the Cafe Serano is anything like Serano Bakery, you can expect a whole bunch of mindbogglingly good dessert options made from recipes straight out of Greece.

And also coffee. Cafes usually sell coffee.

Toronto-based musical artist Abel Tesfaye (a.k.a. The Weeknd) announced today that he will no longer be working with H&M after the Swedish retailer made a very, very stupid marketing move.

People around the world have been decrying H&M as racist since Sunday evening, when screenshots surfaced from its U.K. website of an African-American boy modelling a hoodie that reads "Coolest Monkey in the Jungle."

Yeah. I know.

Yo @HM you need to explain yourself. What the hell is this?https://t.co/YVAvjt0Nsdpic.twitter.com/jGGAPOLS6e

— alex medina (@mrmedina) January 8, 2018

"This is disgusting & irresponsible," wrote actor Kamaro Brown on Twitter of the product shot. "You know the history of racist using the term 'monkey' to demean people of African descent... and you put this on your website!"

"I was totally shocked, dismayed to say the very least to find this online imagine," wrote British labour MP Kate Osamor. "@hm do you think this imagery is an appropriate representation of a young black boy?"

After getting over the initial disbelief that this could even happen, despite so many people seeing the image, from stylist to editor to executives to printers, some on Twitter are now calling for a boycott of the fast fashion chain. 

H&M PROVES TO THE WORLD THAT THEY ARE RACIST...DONT SCREAM BLACK LIVES MATTER ...LETS SHOW THEM HOW BLACK DOLLARS MATTER #BoycottHandM#BoycottHM#HM#BlackDollarsMatter#BlackLivesMatterpic.twitter.com/Sxqbt4C99T

— Black GA Lobbyist (@SirMaejor) January 8, 2018

Celebrities, too, are weighing in on the controversy.

The Weeknd, who starred in several H&M campaigns and collaborated with the company on a merchandise line last spring, wrote on Twitter today that he was "deeply offended."

woke up this morning shocked and embarrassed by this photo. i’m deeply offended and will not be working with @hm anymore... pic.twitter.com/P3023iYzAb

— The Weeknd (@theweeknd) January 8, 2018

"This image has now been removed from all H&M channels and we apologise to anyone this may have offended," said an H&M spokesperson to The Guardian on Monday in light of the backlash.

Indeed, the offensive image of the child no longer appears anywhere on the retailer's website – but the shirt itself remains pictured with nobody wearing it.

Several other versions of the same shirt in different prints still feature images with little boys in them. All of the remaining children are white.

There are a ton of events in Toronto today that prove it's entirely possible to let loose on a Tuesday. Whether you want to dip your toe into the world of Bollywood dance, educate yourself on the history of Kensington Market, fill your belly with a huge bowl of ramen, or take part in buck wild bar trivia, the city has you covered. 

Porter is the subject of so much online hate this morning as a story spreads about one of the airline's employees and some customers holding camera phones.

Passengers on a Toronto-bound Porter Airlines flight say they were stranded in Boston on Friday evening after issues with a luggage door delayed the plane's takeoff.

Customers sat on the tarmac for two hours, according to Global News, before the airline brought them back inside to a terminal building.

"When it passed 10 o'clock apparently the crew couldn't fly anymore," said Toronto resident Kira Wegler to Global. "Because … in their words, they would turn into pumpkins."

@porterairlines Holy hell! Was the Porter employee in Boston fired for threatening passengers with arrest for video-taping (which is NOT illegal) their terrible customer service? I ask because an apology just doesn't seem to cut it! https://t.co/pzPaJKH1g1

— Peg Johnson (@PegEJohnson) January 9, 2018

The passengers say that they had to line up and learn, one by one, that their flight had been cancelled. An overhead PA system was apparently broken.

Those in the back of the line were frustrated, as they didn't know what was going on, and some pulled out their phones to start recording what they interpreted as bad service.

"At that point, the personnel came from behind the desk and started threatening us to call the police if we don't delete the videos off of our phones and show evidence that it's gone from our trash bin," said Wegler.

Other passengers who spoke to Global called the act "very aggressive" and "appalling."

Prime example of abuse of passengers by airline employees.

This must must stop. Canadians deserve better. #PassengerRighttshttps://t.co/3OkabVUpVq

— Air Passenger Rights (@AirPassRightsCA) January 9, 2018

As it turns out, the Porter employee in question had no legal or regulatory power to stop passengers from filming – let alone to demand they delete anything on their personal devices.

"In this particular case, there was a misunderstanding by the team member involved that taking video at this particular airport beyond the security checkpoint was not permitted," said a Porter Airlines spokesperson on Monday.

"We do not have any policy that would prevent people from taking video at airports."

Passengers on the cancelled flight were finally flown home on Monday afternoon. They were compensated for three days worth of hotels and food, but nothing else. 

Ah, the joys of living in Southern Ontario – where one day's snowman is the next day's puddle is the day after that's ice patch and nobody ever knows how to dress.

Temperatures shifted by more than 20 degrees this weekend, with Toronto reaching a high of 2 C (that's 2 degrees above zero) on Monday after hitting a record-breaking low of just -23 C (-40 C with the wind chill) Friday morning.

After a solid month of brutally cold winter weather, it almost feels like spring outside today at 1 C. In a few more days, Liberty Village bro bros will start busting out their shorts.

This week's forecast courtesy of Environment Canada.

Environment Canada forecasts a high of 6 C on Thursday. Six! But this is where the good news ends. 

Temperatures are expected to dip all the way back down to -14 C by Saturday night, with a low of just -15 C on Sunday. 

That's a downward shift of 21 degrees in just three days, only three days after an upward shift of 25 degrees in three days.

Confusing? Yup. That's exactly what Mother Nature seems to be going for.

Tuesday marks the launch of Toronto's Everyone is King design competition, which will eventually see a whole host of new, "vibrant, animated public spaces" installed along King Street between Bathurst and Jarvis.

The spaces, of which there are 19 in total, will be located in curb lanes where car traffic has already been restricted by the King Street Pilot Project.

Local businesses, professionals, students, community groups and other interested citizens are encouraged to submit their ideas for parklets and public installations along King Street to the city beginning today.

Today we launched the #EveryoneisKing Design Build Competition. The intent of the competition is to create a series of attractive curb lane public spaces within the #KingStreetPilot for all to enjoy! Learn more @ https://t.co/Ktnjt8d8Lt News Release @ https://t.co/2MipZfTWqUpic.twitter.com/tKPgOavPFp

— TO Transportation (@TO_Transport) January 9, 2018

The winning designs will launch this spring, according to The City of Toronto, but first, there will be fire.

"The city will also introduce warming stations, ice sculptures, fire performers and art installations in the short term," wrote Mayor John Tory and Ward 37 Councillor Michael Thompson in a Star editorial on Tuesday.

The short-term curb lane features are meant to "animate these spaces in the winter months," as well as promote local businesses along King Street throughout the pilot project.

One of the "warming stations" installed on King. These would've been really nice to have last week pic.twitter.com/YIAa19NUCT

— Oliver Moore (@moore_oliver) January 9, 2018

"While the pilot was an undeniably necessary step to try to introduce better transit on a busy route," wrote Tory and Thompson, "we have been hearing from some local businesses with concerns that these changes could be impacting their bottom line."

"The city is collecting data on sidewalk traffic, point of sale transactions and other metrics, but we must also do more to make sure everyone knows King St. is open for business."

Plans for the 19 new public spaces and design competition appeared on the city's website weeks ago, but Tory announced a new measure aimed at driving local business this morning.

Everyone is King. Toronto launches design competition for 15 new public spaces and 2 parkettes on King. @JohnToryhttps://t.co/dJLpgh1kGT

— Joe Cressy (@joe_cressy) January 9, 2018

A new program called "Eats on King" will promote local quick and full-service restaurants in and around the King Street Pilot, according to Tory, between Feb. 19 and March 29.

It'll be interesting to see how much of an impact warming stations alone have on King Street restaurants and stores during this painfully cold and relentless winter.

At the very least, they'll make waiting for streetcars on King more comfortable. Hurrah for that!

Next week at this time, the general public will be able to buy tickets for Yayoi Kusama's hotly anticipated Infinity Mirrors exhibit in Toronto.

Theoretically speaking, at least.

The AGO will, indeed, open up ticket sales beyond its own membership on Jan. 16 at 10 a.m – but that doesn't necessarily mean you'll be able to score any.

Demand for this exhibit has been outrageously high all over the world, and Toronto has been no exception. Hype started building for the celebrated Japanese artist's only Canadian tour stop last year, and has intensified rapidly as its March 3, 2018 unveiling draws closer. 

#AGOmembers: today at 10am, book your #InfiniteKusama tickets - booking continues until Jan 12 with tix released each day at 10am. Online only. If you booked in the previous booking, you won’t be able to book tix this time. Public tix go on sale Jan 16. https://t.co/gEDAd920aLpic.twitter.com/FeLIbPaTjH

— ArtGalleryofOntario (@agotoronto) January 9, 2018

A total of 14,000 people waited five or more hours last month to buy tickets when they went on sale to AGO members, prompting the art gallery to apologize and announce a second members-only sale on January 9 (today.)

Public tickets will go on sale next Tuesday with a maximum of four tickets per transaction. They can only be purchased online and there will most definitely be a queue.

"There will be a VERY limited number of same-day timed tickets available onsite," reads the AGO's website, "but they are expected to sell quickly."

Toronto is witnessing a rise in mega developments along under-utilized subway corridors along Yonge St. and Bloor St. West, but they're not the only two areas earmarked for major change. 

St. Clair and Bathurst has been the site of intensification over the last decade with condo projects at the southeast and northwest corners, but now an even bigger development is in the works for the northeast side of the intersection. 

The view looking north from the east side of Bathurst and St. Clair. Image via KingSett Capital/Quadrangle Architects/City of Toronto.

KingSett Capital has submitted documents with the city to build three 30-storey residential towers at 1467 Bathurst St., a site that's currently occupied by a surface parking lot and a brownfield that remains from a gas station and car wash that was razed over four years ago. 

The current plans call for 944 rental apartments to be built atop retail at grade, though as Urban Toronto notes, it's possible that KingSett could sell the project to another developer after the rezoning process is complete. 

New public space along St. Clair just east of Bathurst. Image via KingSett Capital/Quadrangle Architects/City of Toronto.

In its current iteration, the plans look quite promising. Anyone passing by this corner over the last few years has probably suspected a significant development was on the way, but rental units and the retail component could both be boons for the area. 

Given the numerous high rises in the immediate vicinity and the proximity to the Line 1 subway, the increased density here makes a lot of sense. Welcome to the new St. Clair West.

Momentos Nightclub is a Latin dance club hosted out of Fiction once a week. Open every Wednesday, this is the place to come for music, fun dancing and cheap drinks.

I visited Momentos on an especially cold winter night. As I walked the few blocks to the club feeling a bit like Laura Ingalls Wilder if she chose a coat for fashion instead of function, I wondered if the blistering cold would mean the club would be on the emptier side. It was not.

For every thinkpiece adding bars to the list of things millennials have ruined through their penchant for hygge and toast over high heels and traditional gender roles, Momentos begs to differ. The space was absolutely rammed with dancing twenty somethings.

It was so full that it was hard to walk through the space, taking me the the same amount of time to do a lap as it would to go from Yonge to Broadview on the King streetcar.

The space is pretty big, with steps to get inside, a desk to pay cover (free before 10 p.m. as long as you bring a flyer, $10 after 10 or without the flyer), and a small area to get patted down.

There's a raised bottle service area once you enter the club and another raised area for dancing at the very front, with the bar at the very back.

It's decorated with some nice couches, interesting wooden chandeliers, a huge metal horse roped off in the corner, and lots and lots of flashing lights.

As soon as we got there, I made my way to the bar. Twenty minutes, two pauses for the club photographer and one creepy dude putting his arms around my waist and then smiling sheepishly when I involuntarily shuddered and yelled "NO THANK YOU" later, I ordered a drink.

Momentos has a $4 tequila special, so I ordered a tequila-7 Up, as recommended by the bartender. It tasted pretty good, partially because it was strong, but mostly because it was a $4 drink in the Entertainment District which, to me, tastes like victory.

As I drank and quietly gaslit myself for going out to a bar and not expecting to be touched, the party raged on. People were having an incredible amount of fun. Though Momentos is a Latin dance club, they played a mixture of Latin music and Top 40 hits.

There was a group of girls Instagram Story-ing their every dance move. There was a dude who had somehow cleared a space around himself to break dance, but had seemingly only mastered the prance-y steps that come before the gymnastics.

There was a couple grinding in such a sexy way I haven’t seen since my entire Catholic university residence attended an all-ages night during frosh week and a bunch of virgins (all of us) dry-humped through their clothes after their very first taste of freedom and Smirnoff Ice.

The party continued late into the night, even though it was a Wednesday. As I left, new people were still coming in, anxious to get on that $4 tequila and bustling dance floor.

Momentos is a good choice if you’re looking for a mid-week dance session. With free cover before 10 p.m. (with the flyer, which are apparently all over campuses) and cheap drink specials, it's ideal if you’re a student or fiscally conservative. Just be prepared to be joined by hundreds of your closest friends.

Toronto's flourishing novelty ice cream scene will get a major boost this summer as not one, but five Cauldron Ice Cream stores pop up around the city.

Known for its rose-shaped, liquid nitrogen ice cream and OG Puffle Cones (of Instagram fame), Cauldron currently operates three incredibly popular dessert shops in Orange County.

A post shared by Cauldron Ice Cream (@cauldronicecream) on Nov 16, 2017 at 12:47pm PST

"Our goal is to reinvent ice cream in a way that is so good, it will make people fall in love with ice cream all over again," reads the growing chain's website.

"Luckily for us, liquid nitrogen + sweet creamy base are a match made in ice cream heaven," it continues. "Not only is it mesmerizing to watch foggy liquid nitrogen create ice cream in seconds flat, it also makes for the creamiest, freshest ice cream you will ever eat."

A post shared by Cauldron Ice Cream (@cauldronicecream) on Aug 22, 2017 at 12:48pm PDT

The shop's ice cream menu changes every month, but Toronto can look forward to flavours like milk & cereal, pineapple express, Earl Grey lavender, H20 rose and "the cauldron" (vanilla cinnamon ice cream with Oreo cookies).

Cauldron serves its all-natural ice cream in a variety of different ways, including "traditionally," in scoop form, and in the famous previously mentioned puffle cone; an egg-based waffle cone inspired by Hong Kong street snacks.

A post shared by Cauldron Ice Cream (@cauldronicecream) on Nov 30, 2017 at 12:46pm PST

Seven more Cauldron locations are on the way for California, but Toronto will be the company's first-ever expansion outside of its home state when they open later this year. Not even New York has one yet. 

Man is our city ever hotrightnow.

Toronto has its fair share of ravine houses thanks to our city's natural terrain, but few are built so directly into a sloping valley wall like this one at 168 Ellis Park Rd. in Swansea. 

According to a feature in the National Post, this property was designed by Altius Architecture principal Graham Smith as his family residence, which explains its unique design and elegant curb appeal. 

Built on what used to be a ski hill, this house is a marvel of engineering and and architectural design that makes ideal use of its sloped location with a multi-level layout that somewhat hides its sprawling size. It's over 5,000 square feet, but you wouldn't know it at first glance.

Unsurprisingly, one of the sheers joys of the house is its perspective on High Park. There might not be a better perch over the park than what's found from the rear terrace, which is outfitted with a hot tub from which to soak up the picturesque views.

On top of it all, the house also features a green roof and geothermal heating (if you're going to build a ravine house, why not make it environmentally friendly?). 

The term dream home is thrown around a bit too much, but I can't think of a more apt description for this one. 

Specs

• Address: 168 Ellis Park Rd.
• Price: $3,999,990
• Lot Size: 106.54 x 85 feet
• Bedrooms: 4
• Bathrooms: 6
• Parking: 7
• Walk Score: 89
• Transit Score: 87
• Listing agent: Pro Sarbadhikari
• Listing ID: W3959967

Good For

Someone of considerable wealth who has a deep appreciation for both architecture and nature. This house offers a chance to appreciate both.

Move On If

You have the money to have your own custom home designed. As amazing as this place is, its unique nature might not appeal to a family who wants to live in a place built specifically for them. If only we could all be so choosy. 

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

An emblematic building from 1977 will soon be razed for a new, 35,000 square foot premium retail space in the heart of Yorkville.

Located at 101 Yorkville Avenue, the half-level upstairs / half-level downstairs modernist-style building is currently home to designer denim store Over The Rainbow and tattoo parlour The Village Ink.

Greybrook Realty Partners Inc. and First Capital Realty announced in 2016 that they had partnered to transform the entire site into a luxury retail development.

A proposed internal courtyard from development plans submitted to the city on Dec. 20, 2017. Image via Neuf Architects / city of Toronto.

Now the investment firms, along with Montreal's Neuf Architects, have submitted a detailed development proposal to the City of Toronto.

Called "The Mews," the proposed development will replace what's already on the site with three new buildings.

The complex will have "contemporary features, and an accessible pedestrian walkway leading to a courtyard at the south end," according to Urban Toronto. "From there the mews will access a mid-block pedestrian connection to Cumberland Street."

Image via Neuf Architects / city of Toronto

Renderings show a series of second and third floor terraces and balconies fronting opaque glass boxes atop two of the buildings.

"The design expands the site's open space and walkway system," writes Urban Toronto, "enhancing one of the more 'celebrated urban design attributes of Yorkville.'"

Fortunately for denimistas, Over The Rainbow won't be closing – it's only moving. You'll be able to find your dream jeans at the Manulife Centre when OTR opens up a new location later this year.