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This is what the TTC's future transit map looks like

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Who doesn't love a fantasy transit map in Toronto? Seeing the possibility of future subway and LRT lines covering the city is particularly tantalizing when your current commute is marked by overcrowding and regular delays

Well, guess what? The TTC has its own fantasy transit map of sorts. It's probably more kind to call it a future transit map, but the former designation reflects the fact that not all of the infrastructure upgrades the TTC has prioritized are funded. 

As part of its recently released corporate report covering the next five years, the TTC has pulled together the various priority projects that are 1) in the works or 2) forecast over the next 25 years. 

ttc future mapSome of the highlights include the Eglinton Crosstown and Finch West LRT lines (both pegged to open by 2022), the South Relief Line (pegged to open between 2028 and 2032), and what it calls "Waterfront Transit" (which would be built by 2033-2037). 

There's also the Jane and Sheppard East LRT lines in addition to SmartTrack on here, plus some express bus routes and GO Transit lines.  Overall, the picture is impressively robust. If only all of this were funded, there'd be cause for celebration. 

There are big gaps, however, from a capital standpoint, the most crucial of which is the first portion of the Relief Line. It doesn't make much sense to further load the Yonge Line with another extension before that's built, so much hinges on the city's ability to get it funded. 

Still, if you're the glass half-full type, this picture of Toronto transit future might make you quite excited. 


This Nordic spa is the ultimate winter getaway from Toronto

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One of the most popular day trips from Toronto is the all-season Scandinave Spa near Blue Mountain, but those looking for the ultimate winter getaway might consider a more immersive experience.

There are plenty spas near Toronto that offer lodging, but if it's the Nordic experience that you're after, the best bet is a trip to the Ottawa/Gatineau area for a visit to Nordik Spa-Nature, one of Quebec's premier spa destinations. 

nordik spa natureIt's about a four and half hour drive from Toronto, but you won't find a comparable experience closer to home. This is the largest spa in North America with no less than seven outdoor baths and eight saunas.

nordik spa natureAlong with these more familiar spa offerings, Nordik Spa-Nature is probably best known for its Källa treatment. The floating salt water pool is said to mimic hours of sleep on account of the relaxing properties of floating in a high concentration of Epsom salts.

I'd take that with a grain of...well, you know. But in any case , it looks completely relaxing and unlike anything you can do in the Toronto area.

nordik spa natureIn addition to the novel treatment options and its sprawling size, Nordik Spa-Nature offers overnight stays in its lodges. These are best suited to larger groups with multiple bedrooms each, but there are also nearby hotels connected with the spa via package deals. 

nordik spa natureNordik Spa-Nature has had longstanding plans to open in Whitby, but until that happens, it'll take a bit of drive before entering into the ultimate relaxation zone. 

10 things to do in Toronto today

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Events in Toronto today include the opening of the Ryerson Image Centre's brand new photography exhibitions, a belated New Year's party for Toronto's LGBTQ community, and Star Wars pub trivia for fans who are strong with the force. 

Events you might want to check out:

RIC Winter Exhibitions Opening Party (January 24 @ Ryerson Image Centre)
Some of the best photography of 2017 opens with a free party at the Ryerson Image Centre. Check out four shows that each dive into the relationship between photographer, subject, and audience.
Star Wars Trivia (January 24 @ Hemingway's)
Hemingway's hosts a trivia night focused on the Star Wars franchise's original trilogy of films. Teams of two to six compete in three rounds, with a themed drink menu available all night.
Burdock's Piano Fest (January 24 @ Burdock)
Burdock Brewery hosts a week long music fest boasting over 30 acclaimed pianists. Tonight Declan O'Donovan, the Sun Harmonic, Kristin Fung and Kelsey McNulty are on deck.
Manic (January 24 @ Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema)
Hot Docs supports Bell Let's Talk and mental health awareness through a free screening of Kalina Bertin's Manic, a doc about her family's history of mental illness, aimed to break the stigma surrounding it.
HoliGAY Party (January 24 @ Rivoli)
The Rivoli hosts a belated New Year's party for Toronto's Queer community. With every possible family obligation out of the way, you can party hard with friends, celebrating yourself and each other.
Marc Mayer's Art in Canada (January 24 @ OCAD University)
The Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Gallery of Canada lectures on the future of art making in Canada and the future of museums. It's a must-catch talk for artists and art followers.
Resilience (January 24 @ Lula Lounge)
Do you bend or break at adversity? This is a dynamic speaker series where 10 powerful presenters recount and confront their most personal stories of resilience.Get inspired and re-energized for 2018.
TechMasters Social (January 24 @ Meltdown eSports Bar)
Head to Meltdown eSports Bar in Little Italy for a safe and inclusive night of relaxing and networking with peers in the tech industry. There's no cover fee, you only pay for your own bill.
Zine Library Intro to Self Publishing (January 24 @ OCAD U Learning Zone)
Whether you've never made a zine or you're a seasoned creator, go learn something new about the world of self-publishing at this workshop focused on planning, designing and publishing your own stories.
Animatic T.O. (January 24 @ Good Gorilla)
Animator Hector Herrera guides you through the challenges of running a boutique animation studio, and how he survives. Those interested in animation or simply success stories ought to catch this.

Toronto just got an etiquette guide for riding public transit

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Do you know the difference between a foot, a backpack, a cactus and a butt?

Because some people in this city don't – or, at the very least, they need some help figuring out which of these things go on the seat of a train, and which of these things do not.

Enter GO Transit with the next phase of its witty #EttiquetteFail campaign.

Go Transit etiquetteThe regional public transit service just released a comprehensive guide on how to ride its vehicles in the form of a 50-page-long e-book called Unwritten Rules of Public Transit Etiquette Written Down.

Packed with detailed illustrations and ultra-sarcastic "tips," the book is genuinely hilarious. Like, they could sell a hard copy version of this at Urban Outfitters for $30 no problem.

Instead, you can buy it at Union Station for $5 (while quantities last) or download the entire thing for free as a PDF, right here, to learn about such valuable life skills as "feet"...

Go Transit etiquetteDealing with noise...

Go Transit etiquetteAnd grooming (but not on public transit vehicles).

Go Transit etiquetteWhile produced by GO Transit, the book was written with the help of more than 130 "concerned GO riders" who participated in the agency's years-long #EtiquetteFail social media campaign.

You may have seen posters with similar messages and illustrations on GO Trains in recent months, though apparently the posters have done little to stop people from acting a fool so far.

"This book is the result of countless hours of research and analysis by our top etiquette scientists (aka our riders)," reads the tome's introduction. 

"Through carefully curated lessons and tutorials, it aims to inform and educate the public transit masses on the most pressing etiquette-related matters that matter."

Issues such as manspreading...

Go Transit etiquetteGarbage...

Go Transit etiquetteAnd smelly food.

Go Transit etiquette

Again, you can read the entire book for free right here. Your fellow public transit riders implore you to.

The Best New Restaurants in Toronto

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The best new restaurants in Toronto are usually packed and always delicious. In true Toronto fashion these great arrivals run the gamut from Korean to Thai, Armenian to Eastern European, Italian to Peruvian. These are ones for the to-do list.

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

5 - Kiin

Thai food fit for royalty such as technicolour salads mixed tableside is served at this elegant Entertainment District restaurant from the people behind Pai, Sukhothai and Sabai Sabai.
8 - La Palma

First class Italian is available all day in this breezy Dundas West restaurant. Pasta and pizza contend with grilled items that even include donuts.
3 - Pinky's Ca Phe

From the chef behind Hanmoto, this Little Italy no reservations spot with similar kitschy-cool decor is always packed with hungry diners enjoying Asian bar snacks til late.
4 - Aloette

The beef tartare, burgers and sundaes are already legendary at this little sibling of Alo at Queen and Spadina. The cozy spot looks sort of like a new age diner. Expect lineups for dinner as they don't take reservations.
6 - Mayrik

This is your mother’s Armenian cooking without your mother’s kitchen. This airy, glowing space on Mount Pleasant serves whole heads of roasted cauliflower, manti dumplings and lamb chops.
7 - Grey Gardens

Jen Agg has done it again with this Kensington Market restaurant where a menu of perpetually changing small plates are put together in an open kitchen. Flickering candlelight and delicate decor make this a place you want to while away the hours with cocktails and wine.
9 - Uncle Mikey's

Korean small plates are the order of the day at this hideout on Dundas West. Share smashed cucumber salad, peanut noodles, mapo tofu and draft Sapporo.
10 - Tennessee Tavern

Stick-to-your ribs Eastern European pub food like pierogies, schnitzel and goulash is offered at this Parkdale joint. You'll need it to soak up all the whiskey, Slivovitz and beer also on the menu.
11 - Kay Pacha

Peruvian is given an upscale, modern spin at this cozy restaurant on St. Clair West serving ceviche and skewers alongside pisco cocktails.

Toronto is getting two new waterfront parks

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The City of Toronto held its first public meeting this week for members of the waterfront community to weigh in on two new parks along Queens Quay West.

York Street Park and Rees Street Park will both be located on the North side of Queens Quay at their respective namesake intersections, with work on both parks expected to start this year.

The entire project is the result of a partnership between Waterfront Toronto and the city's department of Parks, Forestry and Recreation, though each agency will focus on building a specific park.

Waterfront Toronto will manage the construction of York Street Park, which will be found where the Gardiner Expressway's old, recently-removed York-Bay-Yonge off-ramp used to stand.

Parks, Forestry and Recreation will take on Rees Street Park, located right across the street from HTO park, directly south of the Rogers Centre.

york rees parkNothing concrete is known about how the parks will look or function at this point – officials are only at the design phase – but a number of interesting ideas were floated in a Design Review Panel document ahead of this week's meeting.

A site context slide for York Street Park, for example, highlights eight bents left behind by the former highway on-ramp. These bents, arranged in a spiral shape, could be incorporated into the new park's design, along with 12 trees preserved through the ramp's demolition.

Rees Street Park, which is currently just a parking lot, lies directly north of Toronto's iconic wavedecks, which could also somehow be incorporated into the park's general aesthetic. 

The goal, according to an invite for Monday's community consultation, is to make both of the new parks spaces "spectacular, unique and full of new year-round experiences."

February expected to be brutal for winter weather in Toronto

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Ladies and gentlemen, please return to your (heated) seats — the Wintermission is almost over. Blistering cold is expected to return to Toronto in approximately 10 days. 

I repeat: The arctic air mass is coming back.

Weather Network Meteorologist Doug Gillham says that round two of what's already been a cold winter for Toronto could be popping off sooner than previously anticipated.

We could see a rather "stormy transition back into winter" as early as February 2, in fact, which would keep local groundhogs in their burrows and force spring to come early (if you believe in that stuff.)

"February (and into March) has the potential to be similar to what we experienced during late December and early January," said Gillham earlier today, noting that next month could be "memorable" one in terms of winter weather.

Fortunately, we've got a few minutes left to enjoy the outdoors before extreme cold weather alerts rush back into our Twitter feeds.

It's really cold outside today, feeling like just -18 C with the windchill, but temperatures are expected to rise again one last time before Winter 2018 Part 2 begins. Toronto could get up to 6 C on Saturday and won't start dipping back down until Monday.

Meteorologists say that a warm, albeit rainy, weekend is on the way right now – but hey, I'll take warm and wet over cold and dry pretty much any day (between November and May).

New skating trail north of Toronto comes with a great view

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Ontario's most popular skating trails offer picturesque passage through thick forests, but there's a new option this season that takes the scenery to the next level. Set for its grand opening on January 25, the mountaintop skating loop at Blue Mountain is as pretty as they come.

Woodview Mountaintop Skating had been in soft launch as of late December last year, but warm temperatures over the last little while caused it to shut down temporarily. Now, thanks to a blast of cold weather, it's set for its official coming out party. 

woodview mountaintop skating

One of the open sections of the loop with a view down the Escarpment. Photo courtesy of Blue Mountain.

What makes the 1.1 kilometre loop unique is the sweeping views offered from its perch atop the Niagara Escarpment. Skaters wind through both a heavily wooded area and more open sections that offer sight lines down to Georgian Bay and the snow-covered countryside below. 

Also worth noting is that torchlit skating will be offered on weekend evenings between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. This activity has been wildly popular at the Arrowhead's trail, so you can expect the same here. 

Admission to Woodview Mountaintop Skating is $16 for adults, which gets you two hours of access. There are also skate rentals and a food stand at the trailhead with items like hot chocolate and gourmet hot dogs.


There's a slew of weekend TTC subway closures on the way

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It's been more than a month since Toronto had a proper subway closure, and weekend travelers have no doubt been thankful – but the gravy train of running trains has got to stop somewhere, folks.

TTC crews will be back in action early next month conducting repair programs, upgrades and inspections throughout Toronto's subway system.

Once the scheduled closures return in February, Toronto can expect eight straight weekends with service disruptions before a one week reprieve at the beginning of April, after which they start up again for multiple weekends in a row.

It all begins on Feb. 3 and 4 with the suspension of service on Line 1 between St. Clair West and Union Stations.

Dupont, Museum, Queen's Park, St Patrick, Osgoode and St Andrew stations will be closed that weekend, but shuttle busses will be operating between St. Clair and Spadina.

The following two weekends will see Line 1 shut down between Lawrence and St. Clair Stations for track work. That would be Feb. 10 and 11 and Feb. 17 and 18.

Line 1 will be closed the weekend after that, on Feb 24 and 25, from St Clair to Sheppard-Yonge stations for the same reason.

You can view details about what will be closed and when all the way up to April on the TTC's website now, and check out the transit agency's full forecast of subway closure for 2018 right here.

Toronto broke its all-time tourism record last year

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Nearly 44 million visitors spend almost $9 billion in Toronto last year – the highest number of tourists (and tourist dollars) ever to grace our city within a 12 month period.

Who's a world class city now, haters?

"More and more, world travellers are seeing Toronto as an exciting urban destination," said Tourism Toronto president Johanne Bélanger in a press release issued Wednesday. "We're seeing that with both a record number of visitors and visitor spending."

Bélanger credits at least some of that success to her association's gangbusting, 2017 tourism video, "The Views are Different Here."

I credit at least a bit more of that success to Degrassi kid-turned-rap superstar Drake, who popularized the term "views" (in relation to our city) in the first place. 

A spike in the number of international visitors was also highlighted in Tourism Toronto's press release. The city saw 5 million overseas tourists for the first time ever last year, with more than $2 billion being spent here by non-Canadians in 2017.

About 3 million of those visitors were from the U.S., followed by China and the U.K. at 319,000 and 263,000 respectively.

Canadians still make up the bulk of both overnight and same-day visits to the Toronto region, but people from Mexico are fast become some of the city's biggest fans.

Visits from Mexico rose by a whopping 72 per cent last year, likely because Mexican travelers no longer require a visa to visit our country.

Major tourist events like the Invictus Games, Caribana and Pride can't be overlooked, of course, nor can the 951 business meetings and conferences that were booked in Toronto last year. About 400,000 people from the latter category spend $634 million here in 2017 alone.

Analysts expect to see much of the same, if not more, business spending over the next few years.

"Now that 2018 is here, we can look forward to the 24 city-wide conferences and events taking place throughout the Toronto region, the most Toronto has hosted in a single year," said Bélanger.

"Future growth indicators for the visitor economy remain strong," she continued, "and that benefits Canada, Ontario, the greater Toronto region and the 329,000 people that work in tourism-related industries."

I'll admit that they can be annoying, but tourists do work wonders for any region's economy.

So, the next time you get miffed by all of the slow-walkers taking up sidewalk space downtown, just think of all their sweet, sweet cash.

Rental of the week: 183 Wellington Street West

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Attention Drake mega-fans. Now's your chance to live in the same building as Toronto's darling son — well, at least until he moves into his palatial estate on the Bridle Path

ritz carlton rental torontoThis luxury suite in the Ritz Carlton sits a few floors below Drizzy's pad, but it still features incredible views and all the pimp-appeal you could really ever wish for short of being a Billboard-topping artist yourself.

ritz carlton rental torontoYou've got a gas fireplace, herringbone wood and marble flooring, a Wolf range and Sub Zero wine fridge, not to mention a huge en suite and a full-blown laundry room that looks like it belongs in a house rather than a two-bedroom condo.

ritz carlton rental torontoAlas, there is no private elevator entrance to the unit, so you want be able to play reclusive millionaire, but the whole idea of living at this address is to show off — so, by all means, put on the ritz. 

ritz carlton rental torontoSpecs
  • Address: 183 Wellington St. W #4102
  • Apartment type: Condo
  • Rent: $7,500
  • Furnished? No
  • Air conditioning? Yes
  • Bedrooms: 2
  • Bathrooms: 2
  • Parking: Underground
  • Laundry? In suite
  • Pet friendly? Not specified
ritz carlton rental torontoGood For

Up and coming music stars who haven't quite made it to the top. You'll need a big bankroll to reside here, but there's loads of cachet in being able to say you live at the Ritz Carlton.

ritz carlton rental torontoMove On If

You can't afford to drop $7,500 a month of rent? Yeah, while lots of us would love to live here, it's pretty much a pipe dream. But, hey, you never know, it could happen to you. 

ritz carlton rental torontoritz carlton rental torontoritz carlton rental torontoritz carlton rental torontoritz carlton rental toronto

Campbell Soup is shutting down its Toronto factory

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The Campbell Soup Company has announced that it will soon be shutting down its Etobicoke manufacturing facility – the oldest plant in its thermal network – after almost 90 years.

Productivity improvements and "volume declines of canned soup in North America" are to blame, according to the company.

They've now got more production space than they need across the soup production network and must consolidate. The Toronto plant, which opened in 1931, is too old to retrofit "in a way that is competitively viable," and was thus earmarked for closure.

News of the closure comes on the heels of the demolition of the Mr. Christie factory, which was also a manufacturing landmark in South Etobicoke.

Campbell says it will operate the facility for up to 18 months longer, and that it will close it in phases. Approximately 380 manufacturing and manufacturing-related roles will be impacted.

The company says it will move its Canadian headquarters and commercial operations to a new location in the Greater Toronto Area, where it still plans to "make soup and broth recipes tailored to Canadian tastes.

"The decision to stop producing soup and broth in Canada was a difficult one," said Mark Alexander of Campbell Soup Company in a release. "This decision in no way reflects on the talent or dedication of our team at our Toronto facility."

It'll be 20 years until Toronto gets new waterfront transit

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There's good news and bad news today when it comes to the future of waterfront transit in Toronto. In terms of the former, the city's executive committee has voted in favour of an ambitious plan to improve transit along the lakeshore from Woodbine all the way to Long Branch.

The bad news, of course, is that the various upgrades aren't expected to open until 2033-2037 according to the TTC's recently published corporate report, which outlines a series of priority projects for the expansion of the city's transit network.

Yup, that's almost 20 years, and that's assuming the enormous project is funded in a timely manner and doesn't encounter any major delays. Given the rate of condo expansion along both the eastern and western waterfront, those timelines are downright scary. 

According to the staff report, the two most significant projects that make up the plan directly relate to the quickly growing residential clusters around Bayside and Humber Bay Shores.

These are "the westerly extension of a new exclusive Light Rail Transit right-of-way from Exhibition Place to serve the Humber Bay Shores area ("Humber Bay Link"), and improving the underground transit link from Union Station to Queens Quay, including the previously approved exclusive LRT right-of-way along Queens Quay East."

The problem is that even as the city and the TTC are able to identify the need for major transit upgrades along the waterfront, there are a host of other high priority projects that also require funding, not the least of which is the Relief Line, part of which is projected to open between 2028 and 2032. 

It's certainly possible that some improvements will come prior to the mid 2030s on the waterfront — like, say, a transit hub on the site of the old Mr. Christie factory— but as the report notes, until the main waterfront projects are completed, "the benefits of further transit improvements to the west and the east cannot be fully realized."

Kit Kat replaces middle finger sculpture with two thumbs up

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If there's one business benefiting from the King Street kerfuffle of 2018, it's got to be Ice Boy.

The Scarborough-based decorative ice firm has delivered roughly 10 different sculptures to restaurants along King over the past week or so, according to sculptor Danny Marchiori – at least four of them to the embattled Kit Kat restaurant.

Two of those sculptures arrived last night, replacing the contentious (and fast-melting) middle finger sculpture in front of Kit Kat with two more icy hands, both brandishing thumbs with the word "VICTORY" spelled out across their bases.

Kit Kat ice

What gives?

"Well, we proved our point," says owner Al Carbone. "City Hall isn’t listening and everybody knows that now. It was a good investment."

Earlier this week, Carbone held a press conference outside his restaurant to announce the launch of social media campaign against the King Street pilot project.

"We'd like the mayor to reverse it immediately. It's hurting too many businesses all at once," said Carbone of the pilot project, which restricts car traffic and eliminates parking on King between Bathurst and Jarvis.

Carbone and his supporters (which include city councillor Giorgio Mammoliti and mayoral hopeful Doug Ford) have been using the hashtag #ReverseKingCarBan to decry the pilot on Twitter all week.

Others, specifically transit riders who love their smoother, faster commutes along King Street, have been using it similarly to defend the project.

Internet drama aside, it's hard to deny that the ice sculptures have made an impact. 

Two smaller sculptures still sit outside Kit Kat alongside Carbone's new thumbs up gestures – one of them representing a small business, the other one showing the heads of Mayor John Tory, former city planner Jennifer Keesmat and city councillor Joe Cressy riding a streetcar.
Kit Kat ice

Actually, Tory's head seems to be driving the streetcar now that things are melting a little bit.

All the middle fingers on King are gone now, but dozens of news stories in local and national media outlets will live on forever – not to mention the hundreds, if not thousands of tweets and Facebook posts.

Carbone hopes that all of the press and attention will eventually work out in his favour, saving his nearly 30-year-old business along with other restaurants in the area.

"I hope we can get some action from city hall," he said today by phone. "Ya know?" 

9 things to do in Toronto today

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Today's events in Toronto include a free festival showing off the best in European filmmaking, a night time market for vinyl and music enthusiasts, and a live show exploring the science of Stranger Things. On top of all that, pubs across the city are celebrating Robbie Burns Day.

Events you might want to check out:

Robbie Burns Pop-up Snack & Dram Bar (January 25 @ 2nd Floor Events)
Dewar's celebrates Robbie Burns Day by opening a one day pop-up speakeasy and snack bar, featuring a mash-up of traditional Scottish and Canadian bar foods.
Free Best of European Short Film Fest (January 25 @ Carlton Cinemas)
Carlton Cinema's free festival series continues this week, with 12 of the best European short films being screened at no cost. Films from Belgium, Germany, Greece, Italy and more await.
Science of Stranger Things (January 25 @ Tranzac Club)
SciCommTO delves into the Upside Down for one night only to debunk the science of Stranger Things. They're also hosting trivia and party games based on everyone's favourite Netflix nostalgia well.
Night Time Record Show (January 25 @ Monarch Tavern)
The city's top vinyl dealers gather at Toronto's only night time record show to present you with their best LPs. They've even got a liqour license to serve you beer while you're perusing.
The God of Cookery (January 25 @ Revue Cinema)
Catch a film about a celebrity chef's fall from grace and quest for redemption, all while diving into delicious Chinese cuisine on site. The Revue hosts the flick while Revel Food provides pop-up eats.
Electrovelo (January 25 @ Handlebar)
A synth-pop, disco, electroclash dance party is heading to Handlebar tonight to help get your weekend started early. It's hosted by DJ Lana, with no cover fee to get in.
Techfest (January 25 @ Steam Whistle Brewing)
Canada's leading tech career event boasts 15 hiring companies offering more than 300 career opportunities. Past participants have included Amazon, Best Buy, Microsoft, Ubisoft, and more.
The Music of Bob Dylan (January 25 @ Lula Lounge)
Lula Lounge hosts the Bob Dylan tribute artist, Bobby Jones, and a handful of guest players for an evening of music exploring Dylan's nearly 60 year discography.
PitchItTO (January 25 @ The Lodge On Queen)
The 25th PitchItTO lands this Thursday, giving four startups the opportunity to pitch their companies' ideas - Dragon's Den style - to an audience. There'll be a Q&A and period for networking afterwards.

Patrick Brown resigns as PC leader after allegations of sexual misconduct

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Patrick Brown has resigned from his post as leader of Ontario's Progressive Conservative Party following allegations of sexual misconduct that, just hours earlier, he denied during a tearful press conference.

News of the allegations broke late Wednesday evening ahead of CTV reporting that two women had come forward with "graphic sexual misconduct allegations" against Brown.

Both allegations date back to Brown's time as a federal MP, one of them more than 10 years ago. 

The first woman says she was in high school when Brown met her at a bar in his native Barrie, Ontario.

She says that the politician, who was sober, invited her back to his home where he asked for oral sex. The woman, who says she was drunk at the time, says that she "kind of came to" after 5 to 10 minutes and left.

The second woman says she met Brown in 2012, when she was 18, on an Air Canada flight. Brown allegedly found her on Facebook later that night and gave her his phone number.

The woman eventually took a summer job in his constituency office. It was during this time that she says Brown assaulted her at his home, while she was drunk, following a party.

Brown denied the allegations as "false and defamatory" during a news conference at Queen's Park late Wednesday, in which he vowed to "defend myself as hard as I can."

Several of Brown's campaign staffers quit after learning of the allegations, but the Ontario PC leader initially refused to step down.

At 1:30 a.m. on Thursday morning, this changed.

MPPs reportedly demanded Brown's resignation during a late night conference call, during which he complied.

"These allegations are false and have been difficult to hear," said Brown in a statement on Thursday morning. "However, defeating Kathleen Wynne in 2018 is more important than one individual.  

"For this reason, after consulting with caucus, friends and family I have decided to step down as Leader of the Ontario PC Party," he continued. "I will remain on as a MPP while I definitively clear my name from these false allegations."

Toronto buys building in the Annex for homeless shelter

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In an effort to better protect Toronto's most vulnerable residents this winter, the city has purchased a commercial property on Davenport Road to use as respite centre starting immediately.

The building, located at 348 Davenport near Dupont, will eventually become a more permanent homeless shelter – a fact that some in the community are applauding.

Others... well, not so much.

You see, the shelter will be located in a rather wealthy stretch of the neighbourhood – close to the site of a proposed condo building that heavy hitters like Margaret Atwood and Galen Weston spoke out against a few months back.

Some in this area are now displeased with the idea of a homeless shelter in their backyards, and have sent a letter to city councillor Joe Cressy explaining their rationale.

“Our general objection is that The Annex has more than its share of 'social problem' housing," reads the letter, signed by the Davenport Triangle Residents Association's board of directors.

"It is time for the rest of the city to share the burden," the letter continues. "This seems to be a particular interest of yours, more than other councilors, so it all ends up in our back yard."

As news of the letter spreads, many on Twitter are pointing out that this is almost literal NIMBYism.

Cressy called the letter "heartbreaking" in an interview on CBC Radio's Metro Morning Thursday, noting that if the city had to get community approval for every new shelter "there would be no new shelters."

The councillor will be making a formal announcement with more details about the shelter today at noon. He will be joined by Governor General Adrienne Clarkson and members of the Annex Residents association.

"Together," wrote Cressy on Twitter this morning, "we will build an inclusive and welcoming Annex."

Hong Kong chain Smile Dessert opening first Toronto location

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A wildly popular international dessert chain, famous for its molecular creations, will be opening up shop in Toronto next month – just in time for Valentine's Day. How sweet!

China's Smile Dessert restaurant brand currently boasts more than 1500 locations in 300 countries around the world.

Its new, local store at the Finch Midland Plaza in Scarborough is set to open on Feb.2nd, 2018 - and you best believe it'll be packed from the get go.

A member of the International Molecular Studio of Molecular Cuisine (which exists, apparently), Smile has a menu that's as huge as it is beautiful.

The company's corporate website breaks things down into categories like 'Classic Hong Kong Style,' 'Magical Molecule,' 'Fine Pastry' and 'Ancient Health Regimen.'

The first category includes more traditional flavours in dishes like durian snow mountain ice cream, mango sago and coconut black glutinous rice.

The molecular section has creations you won't find anywhere else in Toronto, if not the entire planet. I'm talking edible, smoky Cohiba cigars, hemp black fire briquettes, something called "screws from the Titanic" and steaming fairy popcorn.

Looking for an Instagram-worthy birthday cake? They've got those too.

Hungry? Me too.

You can find the new Smile Desserts at 3262 Midland ave. when it opens to the public early next month.

The top 50 coffee shops in Toronto

Toronto Restaurant Openings: Pick 6ix, Il Covo, La Paella, Junction Craft Brewing

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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.

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  • Straight from chef Antonio Park's mouth: OVO and Drake's Pick 6ix officially opens on February 2.
  • Agenda, a cafe and snack bar from the owners of Field Trip Cafe, should be opening soon at 622 College St. in Little Italy.
  • Tacos Baos is set to open a location at 914 Bloor St. W. in Bloorcourt this spring, with two other locations elsewhere in the city to follow.
  • Winnipeg mini-chain Za Pizza Bistro will be opening its first Toronto location at 290 Adelaide St. W. (at John) in March.
  • Vancouver's build-your-own-salad and pizza chain Assembli is opening its first Toronto location at 373 Church St. (at Carlton) in April.
  • Dal Moro's Fresh Pasta To Go, a Venetian take-out pasta joint, should be opening its first North American location at 605 Yonge St. (north of Wellesley) next month.
  • Cafe Bon Bon is coming soon to 550 Highway 7 East in Markham.
  • Oliva is planning to open a second location at 3190 Yonge St. just north of Lawrence.
  • Cheese Garden is opening two more locations, with one in Scarborough's Skycity Shopping Centre and the other at Pacific Mall in Markham.
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Have you seen restaurants opening or closing in your neighbourhood? Email tips to editors@blogto.com.

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