The City of Toronto has big plans for the sprawling railway corridor between Bathurst St. and Blue Jays Way – and none them involve condo towers.

It should come as little surprise, then, that Toronto and East York community council voted against a private development today that would see a portion of the proposed Rail Deck Park space used for the construction of eight skyscrapers.

A final vote will come at the next city council meeting and the developers behind what's been dubbed the "ORCA" project can still appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board, but the municipal stance is not expected to change.

Further killing a plan that was dead on arrival, Toronto and East York community council has voted against the private developers bid to build towers over the rail corridor downtown. Still goes to council. Developers can still appeal to OMB. City has own plan for Rail Deck Park

— Jennifer Pagliaro (@jpags) January 16, 2018

Toronto wants to build an idyllic legacy park with 21 acres of green space downtown, and even as the ambitious project's funding is unclear, the vision is being fiercely protected.

P.I.T.S. Developments, on the other hand, wants to use the same site for eight mixed use buildings and 12.8 acres of privately-owned parkland. 

City council won't vote on the issue until the end of this month, but based on how much support councillors and other Toronto power brokers have shown for Rail Deck Park so far, it's very unlikely that they'll concede.

Plus, as the city's Community Planning Division noted in an agenda for today's Toronto and East York Community Council meeting, the P.I.T.S. application "does not conform to" many existing official city and provincial policies.

One issue that complicates the future the site (over and above the money to build the park) is the sticky issue of air rights. It's still unclear as to who actually owns the space in question. If P.I.T.S. can prove its claim, the fight is sure to be a long one. 

A hydro vault fire has shut down one of Toronto's most-travelled subway routes for more than two hours now – and it won't be up and running for some time yet.

TTC officials announced shortly after noon on Tuesday that service had been suspended on Line 1 from Spadina to Union Station for a fire investigation at Queen's Park.

Fun Toronto fact: At least a small part of the TTC is always one fire

— ugh (@baylyh) January 16, 2018

Trains started turning back at both Union and Spadina stations at that point due to what the TTC described as a "hydro vault fire" at University and College.

Even mid-day, when ridership on the subway is typically much lower than what we see during mornings, afternoons and evenings, passengers are lighting up Twitter with complaints about delays.

As usual, the @TTC finds new ways to frustrate and disappoint. It's not close to rush hour and Spadina station is a shitshow.

— Shannon Parks (@shannyp416) January 16, 2018

It's been a rough day overall for the TTC, and largely through no fault of its own. 

Service was suspended both ways at Warden Station earlier this morning due to a trespasser at track level, followed by a fire investigation at Jane Station, a medical emergency on a train near Summerhill Station and now the 512 St. Clair streetcar is turning back at St Clair West Station because of a collision.

Got stuck in this & now I'm sitting not moving on Line 2 westbound at High Park. What's going on with the TTC today? https://t.co/yTLEStp7Fv

— Dan Levy (@TheDanLevy) January 16, 2018

Subway service between Spadina and Union will be suspended "until at least 4 p.m.," according to City Councillor Michael Thompson. 

"Be sure to plan an alternate route," he suggests – especially heading into the afternoon rush hour, which could very well see a crush of commuters stopped up by a still suspended line. 

#TTC is currently flying at half mast @TTCwelps#TOpolipic.twitter.com/xHCF9mcCDr

— Norman Di Pasquale (@normsworld) January 16, 2018

In the meantime, TTC customers can hop aboard shuttle busses, hail cabs, call their moms, cry on Twitter, or walk a few blocks over to access stations on the adjacent Yonge Line.

Update: TTC officials announced just before 4 p.m. that the delay at Queens Park had been cleared and that subway service has now resumed on Line 1.

Anyone searching for an apartment in Toronto already knows just how expensive rent is in this city, but to start the year we've now reached a troubling milestone. When it comes to one-bedroom apartments, Toronto is now the most expensive city in the country. 

According to data collected by Padmapper, Vancouver previously held the title of most expensive city to rent in Canada, and still outpaces us when it comes to two-bedroom units, but a 2.5 per cent price bump in January has put Toronto in pole position in the most popular category.

Padmapper now lists the median price for a one-bedroom in Toronto at $2,020, with Vancouver just behind at $2,000. With two-bedrooms, on the other hand, Toronto comes in at $2,520 and Vancouver at a whopping $3,200.

This is the first time since Padmapper started to track rental prices in Canada that Toronto has surpassed Vancouver for the top spot in either the one- or two-bedroom category. In general, it's the price of the former that's used as the benchmark for gauging a city's rental market. 

If there's any light at the end of the tunnel, it's that there are numerous rental-focused developments in the works across the city. These could eventually help ease the supply issues that plague Toronto's rental market, which have result in a vacancy rate of just 1.4 per cent.

Toronto's night-time economy will be up for discussion this week during an Economic Development Committee meeting at city hall. What is the night-time economy? Well, for one, the city's music venues.

The Toronto Music Industry Advisory Council is asking councillors to consider a number of different measures aimed at "protecting live music venues in Toronto" from a report by its Music Venue Sustainability Working Group. 

The music council, which was established by the city "to provide recommendations and advice to enhance the attractiveness, competitiveness, and growth of Toronto's music industry," wants first and foremost to see tax benefits created for local live music venues.

Other recommended actions include creating a music venue certification program, providing financial support for a music passport event series and rolling out pilot programs "including ideas for artist tour bus parking, musician load in/out zones and artist poster zones."

If sent forward by the Economic Development Committee, the group's recommendations will be considered by City Council on January 31.

Tickets for Yayoi Kusama's hysteria-provokingly Infinity Mirrors exhibit in Toronto are now on sale to the general public, and the general public is here for it.

Nearly 20,000 people were already in the AGO's online queue to buy tickets this morning at 10:00 a.m. when they were released, and throughout the day that number ballooned to more than 40,000.

Longest queue of life #InfinityMirrors#worthitpic.twitter.com/oTPcUgOoLG

— ev Social (@ev_social) January 16, 2018

Some people got tired of waiting and gave up their spaces, but many more hung in there, based on the numbers, because it's easy to wait in line online.

When I see there's 17000+ people ahead of me in queue for tickets to the @agotoronto Kusama Infinity Mirrors exhibit. #AGO#InfiniteKUSAMApic.twitter.com/13voIcdv0L

— janreece cantos (@janreece) January 16, 2018

Heck, some of us are still waiting. As of Tuesday afternoon at 5:20 p.m., there are 10,391 people ahead of me in line to buy tickets for the popular exhibit– and that's after seven and a half hours of waiting.

A lot of people in Toronto were feeling AGO's online ticketing system, still, whether successful in their bids to buy tickets or not. 

Dawg, @adidas needs to get in touch w/ @agotoronto. Yeezy drops could steal a thing or 2 from this queue system for #InfinityMirrors.

— Vineeth S.K. (@vNsNk) January 16, 2018

Unlike waiting in person, stepping into the AGO's digital queue means that you can minimize (or even close) your browser window and simply go on about your day.

When your place in line comes up, the AGO will email you, at which point you have ten minutes to get back to the gallery's website before you're booted right back to the end of the line.

Well, I guess I will be spending the rest of eternity waiting in line for these #YayoiKusama#InfinityMirrors tickets.....

— Chaotic Good (@GrandDukeConnie) January 16, 2018

There are a limited number of tickets available each day between now and Friday, January 19, but an equal batch of tickets will continue to be released every day at 10 a.m.

When you FINALLY get tickets to Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors at @agotorontopic.twitter.com/lCDavbddLF

— Sarah Smart (@SarahPSmart) January 16, 2018

A maximum of four tickets are allowed per transaction, according to the AGO's website, and members aren't allowed to buy any this week.

They already had their own website-mobbing experience, anyway, and will have another when member's tickets go back on sale this Feb. 13.

Toronto streets cleaned up a lot in the 1980s. At the outset of the decade, the seediness and soot that defined the 1960s and '70s was still readily apparent, but by its end the city seemed a whole lot more modern, thanks in no small part to the shiny new baseball stadium that appeared under the CN Tower.

In terms of visual icons, the 1980s marked the end of the line for the original red Gloucester subway cars (retired 1990) and the rise of the ALRV streetcars, which somehow remain a fixture on our streets today. The majority of cars were still as big as boats, but dimunitive models like the Chevy Citation and Toyota Tercel started to gain in popularity.

One thing you'll notice about photos of Toronto during this period is that there are still large areas of industrial buildings and surface parking lots in areas that have now become densely populated areas.

It's almost shocking to see King Street West bereft of traffic until you realize that Liberty Village had yet to be developed and Massey Ferguson's factories still lined the street on either side of Shaw. When you add thousands upon thousands of people to these areas, it's not just the shape of the city that changes, but also the way it functions.

The Toronto of the 1980s was an orderly place. Despite an early recession, it was a town where people were confident that they could buy a home. This was "the city that works" — a slogan that had a lot of truth to it.

It's as though Toronto had found a sweetspot in the 1980s. While it was a big city, it didn't face many of the growing pains we deal with today. The optimism and contentedness of the decade peeks through these photos.

Behold, the confident beauty of Toronto streets in the 1980s.

Queen and Shaw streets looking west. 

Looking toward Queen and Bay streets.

World's Biggest Bookstore. Toronto Archives.

Kensington Market. Toronto Archives.

King and Spadina. Chuckman's Nostalgia.

Dundas and Victoria streets. Avard Woolaver.

King near Shaw Street. Toronto Archives.

Looking across the Massey Ferguson lands on King West. Toronto Archives.

Liberty Village. Toronto Archives.

King looking west from Berkeley Street. Toronto Archives.

Dundas and Mavety streets. Avard Woolaver.

Traffic Jam on King west near Portland. Toronto Archives.

Looking east across King from Duncan St. Toronto Archives.

Keele just south of Dundas St. Avard Woolaver.

King and Simcoe streets. Toronto Archives.

Yonge and Temperance streets. Toronto Archives.

Valecrest Drive is one of those Toronto streets with a mixture of mid-century homes and newly built mini-mansions that take advantage of the sprawling lots found in the Humber Valley Village neighbourhood. 

Of the latter group, this contemporary house is surely one of the nicest. Along with a grand stone fireplace that extends 20 feet above the open concept family room and kitchen, it also features a beautiful floating staircase and enormous dining area. 

The design obviously reflects current trends when it comes to ample open space, but I can't imagine anyone accusing it off cold minimalism. The wood floors and impeccable staging underscore how considerable warmth can be injected into the home.

Sheer opulence is sacrificed in favour of practicality when it comes to the bedrooms on the second floor, but the light-filled master bedroom that leads out the backyard is beautiful. 

It's a bit of a shame that this one hit the market in the dead of winter, as it appears the rear of the home is quite the summer fun zone. The pool is the most obvious attribute, but it's actually the covered back patio that catches my eye.

I've always fancied the idea of dining in a rain storm.  

Specs

• Address: 98 Valecrest Dr.
• Price: $5,398,000 
• Lot Size: 79.35 x 146 feet 
• Bedrooms: 4 + 1
• Bathrooms: 5
• Parking: 6
• Walk Score: 14
• Transit Score: 56
• Listing agent: Luana Colalillo 
• Listing ID: W4021000

Good For

Someone in the market for a brand new dream home. This house is big, beautiful, and very expensive.

Move On If

Walkability matters. This house features one of the lowest Walk Scores I've seen, so don't expect to head out on foot for a carton of milk. 

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 watch free comedy and drama short films, hear funny failure stories told live, dance at one of the week's best dance parties, and even catch a set from an eighteen year old French DJ making waves right now. 

The best new bars in Toronto manage to do the impossible: liquefy time travel and teleportation. One sip of the new cocktails that have hit this city and your instantly transported to Paris, Hong Kong, the seventies, eighties or your own childhood.

Here are the best new bars in Toronto that opened in 2017.

Anyone within a few hours of Detroit on Tuesday evening could see night turn into day for less than a second, though no one was expecting it to happen.

The U.S. Geological Survey confirmed early this morning that a meteor broke up over Michigan at around 8:05 p.m. on Tuesday night, causing a loud boom, a bright flash of light, and a minor, 2.0 earthquake in the Detroit area.

The USGS pinpoints the small village of New Haven in Macomb County, Mich. as the meteor's point of re-entry (read: explosion), but people all across the northern Midwest United States and Southwestern Ontario reported seeing the flash and / or hearing the boom.

Dozens of reports came in from Windsor, Ontario, which lies right next to Detroit across the Canada/U.S. border. It's about 3 and a half hours from Toronto by car.

So this just happened over Windsor...what just happened?? Felt like my whole house shook. #meteorpic.twitter.com/Ad8k434wln

— Katrine (@Katrina_Srour) January 17, 2018

The National Weather Service for Detroit/Pontiac confirmed around 11:18 p.m last night that the flash and shaking homes were, indeed, the result of a meteor – but prior to that, a lot of people were worried that it could have been something more nefarious.

So. Uhmmmmm
We sure it was a meteor?
Detroit is a little close to Toronto. https://t.co/UN5cPPWR60

— This Is Rochelle, I HATE Nazis (@RR416) January 17, 2018

"A meteor lit up Ohio over Toledo and Michigan and now everyone on social is hoping that's all it was and not the North Koreans," wrote one person on Twitter, summarizing what the atmosphere online was like for about an hour last night.

Multiple 911 calls are coming of a meteor fireball that passed overhead. There is no need to call 911. It's a natural meteor fireball.

— Lansing EM (@LansingEM) January 17, 2018

Worries about nukes and aliens aside, social media sites were filled with video footage.

Most people captured the meteor with dash cams or home security systems.

“When Armageddon is near, you better get out of of here. Looking like a Deep Impact. I ain’t afraid of no ‘stroid” #metrodetroitmeteorpic.twitter.com/MdibIt82TZ

— Topher No Grace (@topherlaine) January 17, 2018

Others simply shared stories of where they were when the sky lit up.

"I saw this last night!" wrote someone from Sarnia, Ontario, on Reddit. "In a hot tub sitting outside with some friends, we see a flash in the sky. Our first instinct was that it looked like lightning, but that didn't make any sense."

"Interesting thing is we live about 2 hours away on Lake Huron," the Redditor continued. "And it was still pretty bright!"

So far, it could have been a:

1. Meteor

2. Mothra returning to earth

3. The Tardis

4 Chinese Space Station Crap

I'm going with the Tardis.... pic.twitter.com/UofRJgEqIk

— Motor City 911 (@DetroitScanner) January 17, 2018

Crazy stuff. Very cool. We're all relieved it wasn't aliens or Kim Jong-un.

Two incredibly baller Forest Hill townhouses just hit the market in Toronto for $25 million a piece, which is the most expensive listing price in the city right now.

Sounding like something straight up out of MTV's Cribs, the attached homes are listed as "luxurious brownstone estates" with six floors, eight bathrooms and seven parking spaces each.

The rooftop alone has a glass pavilion, an outdoor kitchen, a sauna, a fire pit, a hot tub and a spacious terrace overlooking pristine parkland.

"The space is the tabula rasa for he or she who commands it," reads the real estate listing.

Here's what it looks like right now, via Google Maps:

That's right, you can buy half of this dilapidated apartment building at 469 Spadina Rd. for $25 million right now.

But the place will look just a bit different by the time you move in.

"New York meets Toronto at the brownstones of Forest Hill Village," reads the property's listing. "Over 11,277 square feet of living area and sleek design... Every aspect meticulously conceived. No detail overlooked."

The brownstones were conceived by architect Richard Wengle and his partners in the project, chef Mark McEwan, realtor Barry Cohen, and Neff Kitchens.

"This building was built in 1888," says Wengle on a website set up specifically for the listing. "Someone's going to think this was an original building that was here. That's where there's a difference. And that is the whole intent."

The units, of which there are only two, do look pretty dope – or at least they will, one day.

I mean, even the basement is insane. It's got a double car lift to store and exhibit four of one's "prized vehicles" behind floor-to-ceiling, illuminated walls. Residents can access it via "floating, cantilevered stairs mounted to concrete walls."

That's some Beverly Hills-type celebrity mansion stuff right there, if I've ever seen it. You can view the renderings for yourself online right now.

You can also drive past the abandoned apartment building at 469 Spadina and wonder how they're going to pull this off – and how long it's going to take.

It appears that Drake is getting closer to joining the ranks of Canada's uber-elite already situated on the Bridle Path as his new mansion takes shape on Park Lane Circle.

Drizzy was excited enough about the new pad to offer a sneak peek at the massive estate on Instagram yesterday, which he referred to as Embassy. 

Embassy

A post shared by champagnepapi (@champagnepapi) on Jan 16, 2018 at 3:57pm PST

Under construction for the last year, the three-storey mansion will feature 35,000 sq ft across a two acre lot designed by luxury architect Ferris Rafauli who is also the mastermind behind the Sher Club, a members-only space inside the ACC.

🥤 Juice

A post shared by champagnepapi (@champagnepapi) on Jan 16, 2018 at 3:57pm PST

Included in the plans are all the necessities one would expect of Drake's stature and tastes: a trophy room, a regulation-size basketball court, 10-car garage, a music and movie screening lounge, and a steam shower for crying washing away the stress.

Hot Steppa

A post shared by champagnepapi (@champagnepapi) on Jan 16, 2018 at 3:56pm PST

Drake's presence has become a fixture around the city, with OVO shops, Raptor's gear, two high-end restaurants (one of which is set to open within the coming weeks), all of which begs the question: what has Drake's soon-to-be new neighbour Conrad Black ever done for anyone?

For now, Drake remains camped out in a luxury condo at the Ritz Carlton, but the Embassy should be complete by summer. 

The Air Canada Centre is going to look rather different later this month when the Toronto Raptors unveil their new-look home court, which is inspired by none other than the team's global ambassador Drake. 

Marked by the black and gold colour scheme of the OVO brand, the new court design signals an expanded partnership between the team and the local hip hop star, which will take shape as a program dubbed "Welcome Toronto."

Welcome Toronto

Raps x OVO

More 👉🏾https://t.co/Hv94fzhFWHpic.twitter.com/koVunZtxSU

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) January 17, 2018

As part of the initiative, the Raptors will host six OVO-themed home games this season, beginning on January 26 against the Utah Jazz. At these games, both the court and team will be outfitted in black and gold.

But there's more to it than just the colour scheme. According to a press release from the team, "the Welcome Toronto program will also see Drake and the Raptors donate $1 million to refurbish local community basketball courts and another $2 million to Canada Basketball."

A post shared by champagnepapi (@champagnepapi) on Jan 12, 2018 at 4:57pm PST

The timelines on these investments range from three to five years, so you can expect OVO-inspired Raptors gear to be around for the long haul. 

Drake might not deserve much credit for his trash talk, but when it comes to garnering publicity for the Raptors, it would seem everyone's happy.

In heartbreaking news for bibliophiles everywhere, Dencan Books, one of the city's oldest remaining used bookstores, will be closing later this year.

The bookstore has been serving the Junction community at 3113 Dundas Street W for over 50 years with owner Eddie Roberts at the helm for the last 22 of them. Roberts announced the closure last week, giving book lovers until the end of July to pay their respects.

It saddens me to announce that the store will be closing(not my choice) in the next few months. As a result over the next few months there will be an ongoing sale of well over 100,000 items. Books, mags, lp's, and lots of vintage stuff. All paperbacks $2 - all hardcovers $5 or less. Come in and save big $$$ in Toronto's oldest remaining used bookstore - 50 + years. Thanks to all my customers /friends who over the years have made serving you one of my life's greatest experiences. #dencanbooks #torontousedbooks #JunctionTO #pulpfiction #vintagescifi #scifi #vintagemags #literature #laserdiscs #bookstoreclosing #usedbooks

A post shared by dencanbooks (@dencanbooks) on Jan 7, 2018 at 12:53pm PST

The announcement of Dencan's closure comes only a couple weeks after the shuttering of Eliot's Bookshop on Yonge Street, one of a few high profile closures in the wake of property tax increases across the city.

For its part, Dencan's currently having a huge sale with all paperbacks priced at $2 and hardcovers for $5 or less. Everything must go in an effort to clear out the space, which is set to be remodelled.

The bookstore carries a huge variety of genres and its large stock contains many rare and vintage titles. It also has a extensive music collection. Check it out before it's too late.

What some of us have always suspected has finally come true: Toronto has become a dystopian nightmare... as the Handmaid's Tale films inside Wychwood Barns!

Passerby's caught a glimpse of numerous handmaids in their signature scarlet capes and white bonnets milling about Artscape's Wychwood Barns this morning.

This is the Republic of Gilead's ride. pic.twitter.com/1WdEh6yK51

— Gil Meslin (@g_meslin) January 17, 2018

The series, based on Margret Atwood's bestselling book, is currently entering its second season and, like many other shows, is shot in and around the city.

A post shared by Jonathan Tan (@tanatomicallycorrect) on Jan 17, 2018 at 11:03am PST

The St. Clair West community hub now ranks among many Toronto locations used throughout the series, which include City Hall, Lower Bay, Bonjour Brioche, and a whole host of other spots around town. 

There's even a blog dedicated to keeping track of each one, accompanied by a detailed comparison showcasing how the city is successfully transformed into a desolate wasteland. 

I found the Republic of Gilead. It’s a few blocks from my house. Finally everything makes sense. pic.twitter.com/3l4X3fmUDn

— Claire Cameron (@clairecameron) January 17, 2018

The second season of the Handmaid's Tale is set to premiere in April, after which you may tour the various filming locations at your leisure. 

Toronto gyms keep growing in number. As more local upstarts and international chains realize there's room for a fitness experience beyond Goodlife or your local rec centre, we're continually presented with new options to motivate, sweat and inspire.

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

Annex

Miles Nadal JCC has it all. You can workout in the regular gym, or join one of the 75 group fitness classes. Apart from regular workouts, you can also jump in the salt-water pool.

Bayview & Leaside

Pure Fitness is a 30,000 square foot facility where you can take in one of the cardio or Pilates classes, or head to the Wellness Centre for a massage or chiropractic therapy.

Bloorcourt

It’s the “judgement free” gym with a goal to keep fitness on the cheap, Planet Fitness gives you all the gym essentials you need to get sweaty with its signature purple and yellow colours. At the end of your workout, stop by the smoothie bar.

Bloor West Village

Built as an eco-conscious space, Generate Fitness has bikes and ellipticals that convert the energy from the machines into an off-grid power for the studio. They also offer yoga, pilates and barre.

YMCA Cherry Street is equipped for any type of workout. Photo by Jesse Milns.

Canary District

YMCA Cherry Street is a 82,000 square foot open concept facility that has everything you need. Two pools, a basketball court, running track, full-service gym and a daycare centre.

Castlefield Design District

From spinning to TRX training and yoga, The Uptown Powerstation has something for everyone which also extends to cycling and an epic kettlebell station.

Corktown

Lift Crossfit is a spacious Crossfit studio that is all about getting results. The knowledgeable trainers are dedicated to the fundamentals of Crossfit with movements that are designed for high intensity.

Danforth

Orangetheory Fitness focuses on getting you motivated by rewarding you with points the harder you go. They switch between three circuits: treadmill, HIIT and rowing.

Entertainment District

With its cult-like following, Barry’s Bootcamp offers an intense workout that switches between strength exercises on the floor to running on the treadmill. Go for the workout and stay for the facilities, luxurious change rooms and refreshing fuel bar.

Etobicoke

At Xtreme Couture, you’ll find a combination of martial arts classes mixed with boxing, wrestling and kickboxing. The 33,000-square foot studio incorporates a small yoga studio, weight section and industrial crossfit area.

Financial District

Membership doesn't run cheap but the Toronto Athletic Club has all the cardio machines you need with an added bonus of cycling, squash, pilates and boxing areas as well as aquafit classes.

Crossfit Metric will get you fit just steps from Mount Pleasant and Eglinton. Photo by Jesse Milns.

Forest Hill Village

Track Fitness offers boxing, rowing, pilates and all sorts of group fitness classes in a light-filled space complete with weights, cardio equipments and a juice bar.

Harbourfront

Tribe Fitness offers three ways to get fit: yoga, cycling and running in a gender-neutral space. The classes run throughout the day, while a running group meets weekly.

Junction

From a basketball court to an indoor pool, LA Fitness has something for everyone. There’s a large spinning studio as well as group fitness classes like Pilates and yoga.

King West

Lagree is known as “Pilates on crack.” With its mega Pilates reformer, Studio Lagree will have you feeling the good type of sore long after the workout is done.

Liberty Village

The Goodlife location here has a great view of the city, friendly staff and the added bonus of staying open 24 hours a day.

Little Italy

Imported from Australia, F45 Training takes you through different exercise stations for a intense and fun 45-minute workout.

Motivation is even on the walls at One Academy in Leslieville. Photo by Jesse Milns.

Leslieville

Work all your muscles in a 10,000-square foot training playground that has every type of fitness equipment you could possibly need. Think of One Academy as an adult jungle gym in a sweaty 50-minutes of intense guided workouts.

Mount Pleasant

One of the most luxurious Crossfit training centres, CrossFit Metric is a large single room that trains you in all the techniques of Crossfit whether you’re a beginner or advanced athlete.

Ossington

An essential spot on Ossington, Academy of Lions pushes you to the limits in a two-level facility built for Crossfit, weightlifting and HIIT exercises. The Academy has brought together a community of fitness enthusiasts throughout the years.

Rosedale

The Rosedale Club is a massive gym with lavish marble change rooms, a steam room, and juice bar. At 18,000-square feet, the gym doesn’t feel crowded, and there’s ample room to work out, with a variety of cardio and weight machines available.

Roncesvalles Village

A space built for the community, Bloor St. Boxing and Fitness is a multi-level fully-equipped fitness centre. The space includes all the gym amenities, and the second floor holds one big boxing ring.

University of Toronto 

Goldring Centre for High Performance is a spacious facility that includes a state of the art fitness studio for strength and conditioning, as well as basketball and volleyball courts.

Equinox in Yorkville has almost all the amenities you could want in a gym. Photo by Jesse Milns.

Yonge & College

What’s more motivating than exercising inside an iconic landmark? Mattamy Athletic Centre, the athletic centre located in the transformed Maple Leaf Gardens, features a multi-purpose court, ice skating rink, and a high-performance gym.

Yonge & Eglinton

Ferris360 is a boutique-style gym that offers a combination of cardio, strength, power and core classes.

Yonge & Wellesley 

If you have a fitness goal, but want to stay on a budget, Hone Fitness is the right place for you. It’s a convenient gym with all the cardio and weight necessities, but for a low cost without all the fuss of regular gyms.

Yorkville

Equinox is a luxurious gym offering fitness options like Pilates and yoga along with one of a kind Pursuit spinning classes. Or simply lounge around the weight machines with your eucalyptus-infused towel.

Have you ever noticed there are almost no bike lanes on Yonge Street? That might be set to change as a key report on the future of Toronto's longest street goes before the Public Works committee this week.

Local councillor John Filion has been pressing for the stretch of Yonge St. between Sheppard and Finch avenues to be reduced from six to four lanes so as to accommodate bike lanes and increase sidewalk space.

City staff are recommending the "Transform Yonge" option for Yonge between Sheppard and Finch. Now the mayor and council need to support the vision of a North York Centre built around a main street rather than a 6 lane highway. #REimagineYonge#TOpolihttps://t.co/LI8VmumZHq

— John Filion (@JohnFilion23) January 12, 2018

The plan is part of the REimagining Yonge project that hopes to revitalize the densely populated portion of Yonge Street and see it converted into a more cyclist- and pedestrian-friendly space while bringing a more communal vibe to the busy area.

Tracing the roots of this plan would take us all the way back to the years when Mel Lastman was mayor of North York and envisioned a "downtown" corridor north of Sheppard. While the office towers and condos were eventually built, the wide central thoroughfare remains suburban in its configuration. 

In North York, trying to #REimagineyonge as a main street filled with people, instead of a car thoroughfare dividing Willowdale. @JohnTory and council, pls vote yes for the sake of ward 23 constituents of @JohnFilion23, for #biketo#walkto and #Toronto. @CycleToronto@Walk_TOpic.twitter.com/pCy0IeB8BY

— Sarah Climenhaga (@Stclimenhaga) January 14, 2018

As of now, however, Mayor John Tory has expressed concerns stemming from the potential for increased congestion should traffic lanes be reduced through this section of Yonge St.

He's requested that alternatives to the $51.1 million dollar proposal be explored before moving forward. There's always controversy when it comes to putting bike lanes on major streets in this city, but you can expect a particularly fierce debate on this one. 

The report goes to the Public Works and Infrastructure committee on Friday, January 19. 

Toronto might finally get an official city museum if a new staff report regarding the future of Old City Hall persuades council to revamp the building when the provincial and municipal courts vacate the building in 2021. 

There's long been talk of using the historic building to house an official city museum, but a series of staff recommendations might get the ball rolling on turning the idea into a reality. 

Our campaign to create a Museum of Toronto at Old City Hall has the support of City Staff! They are recommending moving forward to develop designs and plans. I want Toronto’s residents and visitors alike to learn about our city’s remarkable stories. https://t.co/nX0MsShtef

— Josh Matlow (@JoshMatlow) January 17, 2018

This report stems back to a city council decision in November 2015 tasking staff with a feasibility study on the future transformation of Old City Hall into a museum space. Such a use for the building — along with a few others — is now being endorsed in the long term. 

While by no means a fait accompli, there's already highly preliminary layout plans, which outline how this transformation might take shape. They are exciting to say the least. 

Preliminary floor plan for a City of Toronto Museum at Old City Hall.

The building would have a number of uses: as the city's official museum, a public library branch, and commercial space. There would also be a wedding chapel, which could be tied into its use an event space should the courtyard be covered.

The latter is perhaps the most noteworthy element of this plan from an architectural standpoint. The recommendation to enclose the interior courtyard of the building with a glass roof would make use of its sprawling 23,000 square feet of space.

A rough sketch of what the Old City Hall courtyard might look like with a glass roof. 

As the report puts it, "the courtyard has the potential to become a multi-use space by covering it with a glass roof. The consultant team have determined that the covered courtyard will be a highly desirable event space in a key location within the downtown core."

Take one look at what Buffalo has done with the Richardson Olmsted Campus, and you might be a bit more willing to dream of the possibilities offered by Old City Hall, particularly given its prime location. 

It'll take a bold financial commitment to transform Old City Hall into the hugely important municipal hub that it could be, but given our recent propensity to think big with projects like Rail Deck Park, perhaps the time has come to secure a bright future for this building.

Riverside is one of Toronto's most up and coming areas, and you—yes, you—could be a part of it.

Near the southeast corner of Broadview and Queen stands a bank-turned-weed dispensary that was recently purchased by a local entrepreneur, Dave, who has made himself available to field businesses ideas that could occupy the space and perhaps become the next big thing.

Have a great business idea? Dave is the new building owner for 711 Queen E, just steps from Queen East/Broadview in #RiversideTO#Toronto. He's inviting ideas and partnerships to make 711 Queen St East awesome: https://t.co/TqneE0SaX0pic.twitter.com/bf6NGEyGpl

— RiversideTO (@RiversideBIA) January 17, 2018

Cannabis Culture, the previous occupant at 711 Queen St. East, shut down after numerous raids last year. Now the building could be another element in the neighbourhood's tremendous development.

Dave launched a website that welcomes any and all business proposals in the hopes of turning the large space into something that can contribute to the growth of the community.

In addition to the recent overhaul of the Broadview Hotel, Riverside is set to undergo a major makeover via the Riverside Square development that will see the area transformed into Toronto's eastside urban epicentre.

It's been just over two months since the King Street Pilot project began and, holy macaroni, the drama just keeps on coming, this time in the form of complaints about complaining.

Several King Street restaurants like Porchetta & Co., Kit Kat, and the Office Pub, have been especially vocal about the effect they say the pilot has had on business.

You know what’s killing businesses along the #KingStreetPilot? Businesses fighting with their customers about the #KingStreetPilotpic.twitter.com/FCoHj4GCMo

— Pedro Marques (@MetroManTO) January 15, 2018

Recently icesculptures were erected outside of both Kit Kat and the Office Pub that served as a powerful signal of frustration toward the project, while Porchetta's social media account got into a heated argument with Twitter users in several now-deleted tweets.

Update: #TOpoli#KingStreetPilotpic.twitter.com/esx5QRa9RZ

— Matt Hilder (@mattyshakes) January 16, 2018

As a result, many people spoke out against the restaurants' venting, and, in no uncertain terms, shot back at the establishments for complaining.

So the owners of @KitKat_Toronto put up a middle finger ice sculpture pointing out to the street and streetcar commuters. As a frequent King Street commuter, same to you, pal. #KingStreetPilot

— Ryan (@RyanBlacq) January 16, 2018

Sentiments surrounding the pilot have been divided between commuters and business owners, with the former loving the reduced travel time, while the latter say that the decrease in vehicle traffic is having a detrimental effect.

What happens to all the complaining restaurants on #kingstreetpilot when Gehry towers start construction, the theatre crowd disappears, and construction hoarding spills out onto king street? If they can’t handle the streetcar, they won’t survive the years of construction. #topoli

— James Bradley Smith (@hibradleyjames) January 15, 2018

In response, the city has attempted to lure more pedestrians to the area with cute activities and free parking during off-peak times, but that clearly hasn't done much to soften the disdain felt by local merchants. 

I am NOT here for these King Street businesses complaining that the #KingStreetPilot is responsible for any decline in business. It has been colder than the North Pole out there and no one is driving to dinner in Toronto anyways! #SMH#Toronto

— Vanessa Stott (@StottVanessa) January 16, 2018

To be fair, operation and property costs for a downtown Toronto restaurant are astronomical, and any loss is a big loss. As the pilot continues, data is being collected to determine whether or not it will be made permanent.

If you can’t make a restaurant or bar viable in one of the densest, fastest growing neighbourhoods in the country, no amount of parking is going to save you. #KingStreetPilot

— Michael Poos (@michaelpoos) January 15, 2018

Stay tuned for the next episode of King Street Pilot.