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Toronto's most famous Coffee Time has closed

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Remember a few weeks ago when an entire neighbourhood was crushed to learn that its local Starbucks was closing?

This is not that kind of story. 

Junction Triangle and Wallace-Emerson residents seem straight up stoked right now by the news that a Coffee Time at Dupont and Lansdowne has closed for good (it was reported to have been sold last spring, but remained open until this week).

"I noticed a sign on the door this evening thanking all for their patronage over the years," wrote someone on Reddit last night of the longstanding coffee shop. "Anybody know what's in store for the site?"

"That's the greatest sign a neighbourhood could have," wrote one commenter, to which another replied "property value is gonna sky rocket now."

This particular coffee shop has not enjoyed the best reputation, to put it lightly. People online have associated it in recent years with drugs, prostitution and generally wild happenings at all hours of the night.

Canadian rapper D-Sisive wrote an entire song called Coffee Time At Dupont & Lansdowne in 2016, if you need more information on the mark that this place left.

Rumour has it that condos will be built where the Coffee Time stands now, at 1005 Lansdowne Ave., just across from Toronto's most controversial Food Basics location, though a development application has yet to be filed with the City of Toronto.

"Where will I get my meth cream donuts?" joked one person in the Reddit thread about the shop's closure. "Good riddance," wrote another.

"Honestly," concluded someone else, "every neighbourhood that doesn't have a Coffee Time should use that as their selling point."


Lyft offering $3.25 rides during TTC subway closures

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In a stroke of marketing genius, Lyft has decided to match TTC fares this weekend while portions of the subway system are closed for scheduled maintenance.

The popular U.S. ride-sharing company, which launched in Toronto less than two months ago, is set to announce a promotion on Thursday that will let customers pay a $3.25 flat rate, per ride, to or from any Line 1 subway station.

Lyft says it was inspired to launch the promo after learning that large stretches of Toronto's public transit system would be closed this weekend, and every other weekend in February.

Lyft TTC discountThe company also noted that, during its first month of operations in Toronto, more customers rode to Union Station than any other place.

"Since launching in Toronto, we've seen so many people use Lyft to get to different areas the city through making first-mile-last-mile connections with Toronto’s transit systems," said Lyft Toronto General Manager, Tim Houghton.

"With the TTC's Line 1 shut down for upgrades on weekends this month, we're eager to help Torontonians continue to get where they need to go safely, affordably, and reliably."

Lyft TTC discountPeople nearby any Line 1 subway station can enter the promo code TOTRANSITFEB18 into their Lyft app to get 10 rides at $3.25 each, to or from any Line 1 subway station, when regularly planned closures are in effect, according to the company.

That means that, between February 3rd through 26th, you can take a Lyft for $3.25 every Saturday from 6 a.m. until 12 a.m. and on Sunday from 8 a.m. until Monday at 1:30 a.m.

WestJet's new discount airline launches with ridiculously low fares

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We've reached a point in time, my friends, where you can buy a flight from Vancouver to Toronto for less than $8.

Well, sort of. As with all things related to discount carriers, there's a bit of a catch – though the deals are still outrageous. 

WestJet's new low-cost airline, Swoop, just started selling tickets for people looking to travel within Canada on the cheap.

The carrier only flies to five different cities so far, but you can get between some of them, on certain days, for less cash than it would take to ride a bus from here to Oshawa.

Halifax, Edmonton and Winnipeg are all on Swoop's route map right now, along with Hamilton, Ont. and Abbortford, B.C. – a city just slightly farther away from Vancouver than Hamilton is from Toronto.

Swoop flight dealsA one-way trip from Abbotsford to Hamilton on November 17, 2018, would cost a base fare of $7.49 if you booked it right now.

Sure, you'd have to drive an hour to hit your final destinations both ways (should you be heading to Toronto from Vancouver,) but the flight itself is roughly the price of two large coffees – taxes and fees included.

There are tons of other one-way flight deals on the company's website right now ranging in price from between $39 and $99, but they're selling like hotcakes, so act fast.

These special prices are related to the airline's launch and won't last forever, but even the company's regularly-priced tickets are pretty reasonable.

Flights from Hamilton to Abbotsford cost between $99 and $279 all summer right now.

Popular US ice cream brand Halo Top is coming to Toronto

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The ice cream brand of your #fitstagram dreams will finally be available in Toronto this spring after what feels like a million years of watching Americans enjoy Halo Top it from afar.

It's about time, eh?

Halo Top Creamery, if you haven't heard, is the best-selling pint of ice cream across the U.S. right now. It was recently named one of Time Magazine's Best Inventions of 2017 and has been hailed across the web as everything from "magical" to "life-changing."

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Does it taste good? Supposedly (I can't say for sure as a Canadian), but what set this product on fire is how low it is in sugar, fat and calories.

Halo Top is said to have only 80-100 calories per serving with just 6-8 grams of sugar. 

In fact, one of the brand's big draws is that customers feel they can eat an entire pint of it "guilt-free" – and actually enjoy it. A lot.

There's some debate over how "healthy" an ice cream can be, of course, but Halo Top is empirically less fattening than other brands in the same category, like Haagen Dazs and Ben & Jerry's.

I mean, at 240 calories, a pint of mint chip is equal to many protein bars in terms of how long it would take to burn off.

You can be the judge of how good it tastes this March, when 12 different Halo Top flavours hit the freezer aisles of select Loblaw, Metro, Whole Foods and other grocery stores nation-wide.

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The flavours available in our home and native land (at least to start) will be: Vanilla Bean, Chocolate, Peanut Butter Swirl, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Candy Bar, Caramel Macchiato, Sea Salt Caramel, Birthday Cake, Mint Chip, Pancakes & Waffles, Oatmeal Cookie and Cookies and Cream.

"Our No. 1 international request by far was to bring Halo Top to Canada," said Halo Top Creamery founder Justin Woolverton in a release announcing the expansion. "We're so excited to be able to share Halo Top with Canadians and hope they love it as much as we do."

We hope so too, Mr. Woolverton. Fingers crossed that this low-cal ice cream lives up to the hype.

The top 10 new restaurant openings in Toronto for January

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New restaurants in Toronto are right on their grind at the beginning of 2018. We’ve got new places that are open late, open early, and more spots than ever to get our favourites, like pizza, BBQ and sandwiches.

Here are my picks for the top restaurants that opened Toronto last month.

Tuk Tuk Canteen

Roncesvalles is salivating to get into its brand new Cambodian snack bar. When Rude Boy shuttered its doors in this location a while back, it brought a tear to the eyes of many a burger lover, but dumplings are a welcome replacement.

La Paella

This much anticipated corner spot in Leslieville serves up five types of paella along with a range of sharable plates like patatas bravas, Spanish omelettes and fried black rice sausage.

Il Covo

Little Italy now has a lush new spot serving elegantly presented salads, breads and desserts at this place that translates roughly to “The Hideout” in Italian.

Defina Woodfired

From the people who brought you Defina Pizzeria on Roncesvalles comes this new project right at Dupont and Symington. Expect the same beautiful handmade pies.

Rose and Sons Deli

The Dupont St. diner spot starts off 2018 by flipping its script, now offering more of a deli slant on its menu of pastrami sandwiches, inexpensive beers, dogs, and their matzoh ball soup.

Plancha

Mediterranean street food and coffee is freshly available to King Easters at this new spot serving healthy soups and salads.

Vit Beo

This unassuming little Vietnamese snack bar that took over a forgettable burger and wings spot has majorly transformed the late night eats game in Bloorcourt. From a former Civil Liberties bartender with a passion for Vietnamese food, night owls can find pho, congee, craft tall cans and tap cocktails here.

Beach Hill Smokehouse

Generous portions of BBQ can now be consumed in the Upper Beaches thanks to this spot serving ginormous beef ribs and the gooiest mac n’ cheese all on unassuming butcher paper accompanied by classic white bread.

Parallel

Though this place on Geary bills itself as a coffee shop, it’s much more, serving up Mediterranean cuisine like hummus and shakshuka as well as tahini cookies.

Woodfire Sandwich Co.

Meatball and roasted vegetable sammies are being pumped out along with breakfast bowls at this cute new Etobicoke sandwich shop.

Weekend events in Toronto February 2-4 2018

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Weekend events in Toronto include the return of the Toronto Tea Festival, the start of Harbourfront Centre's month long Black History Month celebrations, and some huge parties at nightclubs around town.

Events you might want to check out:

Beats and Bents (February 2 @ The Bentway)
Last Planet presents a line-up of world renowned musical artists to soundtrack your skating experience down at the Gardiner's Bentway and create the most memorable dance floor experience on ice.
Flashback Film Fest (February 2 @ Cineplex Cinemas Yonge-Dundas and VIP)
Canada's only coast to coast film festival brings classic favourites in action, sci-fi, and comedy back to the big screen from February 2-8. Expect gems like Back to the Future and The Big Lebowski.
Toronto Tea Festival (February 3-4 @ Toronto Reference Library)
Sample hundreds of the world's finest teas courtesy of over 40 exhibitors stationed at this two day love letter to tea. Last year's over 3000 people attended, so expect to connect with fellow tea lovers.
Soca on Ice (February 3 @ Harbourfront Centre)
The Harbourfront Centre is calling all lovers of soca and Caribbean music to attend this special edition of DJ Skate Nights. Dr. Jay de Soca Prince's beats will make this the hottest winter party on ice.
CODA 4 Year Anniversary (February 3 @ CODA)
Miss Honey Dijon is performing an open-to-close set in celebration of CODA's four year anniversary. Honey brings the best in house, disco, and more to this party on Bathurst.
Coldest Day of the Year Ride (February 3 @ Danforth Ave and Logan Ave)
For those who missed the Polar Bear Dip but want to embrace the freeze, take the Coldest Day of the Year Ride, which departs from Alexander the Great Parkette at 11:30 a.m. The ride is 7km. Bundle up!
Kuumba (February 3-24 @ Harbourfront Centre)
Harbourfront Centre celebrates Black History Month with Kuumba: a Journey to Black Liberation. Free art events happen all month, some gems being Journey Through Hip Hop and I Am For You Can Enjoy.
Rose McGowan In Conversation (February 4 @ Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema)
Writer, director, former actress, and proud feminist discusses her poignant memoir, Brave. It's a pull-no punches manifesto to dismantle systemic misogyny and empower people everywhere.
Kimbra (February 2 @ Mod Club Theatre)
Kimbra's forthcoming album may have been delayed a few months, but her visit to the Mod Club is right on schedule. If you're lucky, the Cameo Lover may debut some of those new songs live.
Zaki Ibrahim (February 2 @ Rivoli)
The South African-Canadian singer brings her blend of R&B, soul, and jazz to the Rivoli. The new LP The Secret Life of Planets just dropped two days ago, so expect to hear new material.
Dirty Talk (February 2 @ Unlovable)
DJ Pammm and DJ Diana McNally play music to transport you to the far reaches of Orion. Cosmic Disco, Montreal Sound, and 80s Euro synthpop await at this no cover show.
Y2K Party (February 2 @ Drake Underground)
Y2K Party sees DJ Starting From Scratch and Mensa spnning the best jams, one hit wonders and guilty pleasures of the early to mid 2000s.
Rock The Dragon (February 3 @ Raiders Esports Centre)
Anime fans are coming out of the woodwork to party hard with Pink City's 19+ Dragon Ball Z party. There's tons of buzz around this one, almost as much as last year's Sailor Moon Celebration.
Scott Disick (February 3 @ Rebel)
Longtime love interest of Kourtney Kardashian lands at Toronto's Rebel this Saturday to host a party with music by DJ Jed Harper and Scotty Scratch.
Made in Toronto (February 3 @ Nest)
The popular College Street nightclub located beside Sneaky Dee's is partying hard until 5 AM. There's free entry as long as you show up before midnight.
You Meme A Lot To Me (February 3 @ Rivoli)
Laugh at memes, play some games, and move to old school hip-hop, R&B, trap and more. It's a comedy Valentine's party with the internet generation at heart.
Theatresports (February 3 - March 31 @ Bad Dog Comedy Theatre)
For over 35 years, Bad Dog's flagship show has been making Toronto laugh. Theatresports mixing improv and shortform games in the style of Whose Line is It Anyway to great effect.
Perfect 10 Black History Showcase (February 3 @ Comedy Bar)
Comedy Bar and the Underground Comedy Railroad Tour are back to celebrate Black History Month with six stand-ups from across Canada taking the stage for only $15.
Global Boogie Banquet (February 2 @ Handlebar)
Handlebar's free music and food party returns to Kensington Market. DJ Oreku spins international grooves all night while Chef Jonas Linturn prepares meals inspired by cultures around the globe.
Sausage Party Veggie Pop-up (February 2 @ Left Field Brewery)
Delicious veggie sausage, mac and cheese, spicy kimchi and more vegetarian options land at Left Field Brewery on Saturday for this pop-up sausage party.
Feast In The East (February 3 @ Matt Durant Studio)
The bi-monthly east end music, food, and art series returns. Expect to hear hypnotic electronic music live from a handful of talented artists.
National Bridal Show (February 2-4 @ Enercare Centre)
This inclusive one stop shop for brides, grooms, plus their families and friends will give you an edge in planning any wedding type, be it budget or blowout. Plus, brides-to-be get in for free if they pre-register!
Clothing Swap For All (February 3 @ Unit 2)
No charge, no hassle, no drama. Just drop the clothes you don't need anymore and grab something new that speaks to you. Anything left over gets donated to OASIS.
LandMade (February 4 @ Gladstone Hotel)
10 farmers bring their farm fresh yarns, roving and fleece to the Gladstone for the second annual LandMADE market. Meet the Canadian farmers and pick up local fibers for your next art project.

Toronto's newest neighbourhood is getting a sports bar and brewery

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A huge new restaurant with lazy lawn games on a 130-seat wrap around patio will be opening in the Canary District this summer.

Ah, summer. Remember summer?

Called The Aviary (get it?), the brewery and sports bar will be the first of its kind in Toronto's youngest hood, which has sprung up in the West Don Lands around the site of 2015's Pan Am Games village.

It will have a "fun, community-friendly vibe, with a focus on craft beer, amazing food, and sports," according to Longslice Brewery, which collaborated with The Dock Ellis on this new space.

Longslice Brewery President Jimmy Peat says that the restaurant's menu will be inspired by their craft beer pairings and will focus on food made fresh in-house, including popular classics from The Dock Ellis' menu.

The Aviary is slated to open mid 2018, with the on-site Longslice Brewery brewhouse following in early 2019. 

Condo of the week: 125 Peter Street

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So you've got $400,000 to spend on a condo in Toronto. What can you buy? Thinking positively, that number will still get you a downtown location with a great view. Thinking more practically, there just won't be much space to live. 

tableau condosThis recently listed unit on the 14th floor at Tableau Condos offers a glimpse of what's on offer in the entry condo market in Toronto these days. While small, it features and open concept design, decent kitchen space, and an enviable balcony with a south-facing view. 

tableau condos torontoIt's more than adequate for one person who wants to be in proximity to both the Financial District and prime entertainment areas like King and Queen West, but a unit like this would feel relatively tight for a couple who didn't cite minimalism as one of their design tastes. 

tableau condos torontoLet's be clear, this isn't a micro-condo. There's a legitimate living space and you can even get a small dining room table up against the wall in the kitchen, but thank goodness there's a storage locker because otherwise it'd be a challenge not to overrun the place with stuff.

tableau condos torontoSpecs
tableau condos torontoGood For

Someone who wants to get into the market before prices inevitably increase further. For one person, the space is just fine.

tableau condos torontoMove On If

A couple looking for their first condo might want to seriously think about buildings outside of the core, where you can get a bit more space for your buck. There are plenty of neighbourhoods where you can get a 1 + 1 for $400K.

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


Toronto isn't liking the new PC Optimum program

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Hell hath no fury like a loyalty reward points collector scorned, as whoever runs the PC Optimum Twitter account surely knows right now.

Card-carrying Shoppers Optimum and PC Plus members were recently tasked with combining all of their precious points from both Loblaws-owned savings networks into one.

The merging process for the new network, called PC Optimum, went live today, and it seems as though many of the roughly 19 million combined members were eager to get started.

I mean, some people carry thousands of dollars worth of points on these cards. They're a pretty big deal, and card-holders are intent on seeing their points carry over safely from one system to the next.

Unfortunately for members of both systems (not to mention the people running PC Optimum's website), things got pretty hairy online just hours after the merge program went live.

The program's website has been experiencing problems and outages all day.

The app that customers were encouraged to download has been of little help, either.

Many are reporting that their hard earned points aren't showing up under the new system – which is probably every Optimum point collector's worst fear. 

The old Shoppers Drug Mart system was designed to encourage point hoarding, as the value of points went up based on how many you'd collected.

Hitting a reward level of $170 would mean that you had spent $9,500 at Shoppers. It can take years to hit that level, and only if you avoid "cashing out" early.

"We broke the Internet because of your love of loyalty programs!" PC Optimum wrote in a tweet that annoyed many early Thursday."We are currently above our expected volumes and are working to have our app back online shortly."

Customers are still able to swap their cards in store, according to Loblaw spokesperson Catherine Thomas, which might be a good option if you want to get your points secured like, yesterday.

As of 4 p.m., the PC Optimum program's website was still displaying watermelons of error.

Toronto's store for short men is closing

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One of the oldest retailers in Toronto will be closing its doors sometime over the next two months after nearly 90 years of business.

Brown's, a self-described "short man's store," has been serving men under 5 feet, 8 inches for almost a century at a now closed store near Queen and Spadina and the one remaining location at 1975 Avenue Road, just north of Lawrence.

Retail liquidation firm Danbury Global announced on Thursday that the Avenue Roads store would be closing due to the death of owner Lou Brown, who took over the family business from his father after years of working side-by-side.

A public, store-wide closing liquidation sale is already underway.

It will run until the shop closes for good, and feature menswear from designers like Bugatti, Samuelsohn, Hugo Boss, Allen Edmonds, Alberto and more.

Aritzia opening massive flagship location on Bloor St.

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Women's fashion retailer Aritzia, known for its primo parkas and presence in Meghan Markle's wardrobe, will soon be expanding its footprint on Toronto's Mink Mile.

Retail Insider reports that the Vancouver-based company, which has multiple in-house clothing brands under its title, will be taking over a space next to one of its already-active locations at 50 Bloor Street West. 

The store that once held BCBGMAXAZRIA will be merged with Aritzia at the Holt Renfew Centre to form a new, 11,440 square foot boutique more than double the original unit's size.

When it opens next year, in the spring of 2019, Bloor Street will be one of the largest Aritzia stores company-wide – and quite possibly the only one located directly across from an Apple flagship (fingers crossed) on the ground level of The One.

Aritzia already has more than 10 locations in malls around the GTA, including several standalone stores for its own brands TNA, Babaton and Wilfred.

The company has one other freestanding store at Queen West near Beverley right now, but when its Bloor West location expansion is complete, Toronto will have its own, undisputed flagship Aritzia – just like Chicago and L.A.

Toronto Food Events: Feast in the East, Recipe for Change, Winter Brewfest

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Upcoming food events in Toronto include a tea festival, a five-course meal inspired by the Sichuan pepper, and one of the biggest beer gatherings of the year. It's time to eat and drink to stay warm, my friends.  

Events you might want to check out:

Feast In The East 66 (February 3 @ Matt Durant Studio)
The February edition of this bi-monthly music, food & installation series in the east end will feature a dinner by Jonas Linturn, a.k.a., Chef Très Bohème, along with performances by Bonjay, Blunt Chunks, Foonyap and Benedicte. Dinner is included with an advanced ticket!
Toronto Tea Festival (February 3-4 @ Toronto Reference Library)
Now in its sixth year, this two-day weekend festival will celebrate all things tea, with tons of exhibitors showcasing anything and everything related to tea culture.
Macaron-Making Class (February 3-24 @ AG Macarons)
Here's your chance to learn how to make these delectable sweet treats, and the best part is that you get to take home and eat the final products!
A Sichuan-Inspired Anniversary Celebration (February 7 @ Loch and Quay)
Toronto Common is celebrating its fourth anniversary with a 5-course, Sichuan-inspired tasting by Loch and Quay's chef Devan Rajkumar. Be prepared for tongue-numbing spiciness that'll be sure to warm you up this winter.
Beer, Cheese & Chocolate Pop-Up with Sandy Aleksander (February 14 @ Saulter Street Brewery)
Pair Saulter Street Brewery's Pilsner, Golden Ale and Oyster Stout with cheese and chocolate from gourmet grocery shop Sandy Aleksander with your Valentine.
Recipe for Change 2018 (February 22 @ St Lawrence Temporary North Market)
It's an irresistible premise: an all-you-can-eat-and-drink event featuring 30 of the city's chefs, all in support of FoodShare's work promoting healthy food and food literacy in schools.
Toronto Winter Brewfest (March 2-4 @ Enercare Centre)
Toronto's biggest indoor beer festival is back for a third year, with more than 150 beers, food trucks, DJs, games and more to discover, all taking place over the course of two days.

10 notable Toronto businesses that closed in January

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Toronto businesses that closed in January comprised a wide range, from an iconic Queen West sex shop to a popular College Street deli. The city continues to change and evolve, even as there are casualties along the way.

Here are the most notable Toronto businesses that closed in January.

Amato Pizza (Leslieville)

This local pizza chain's Leslieville location decided to go through a total makeover and rebrand, and it's now called Queen City Pizza.

Bar Cru

This minimalist sushi, poke and ceviche joint succumbed to the curse of being so close to St. Lawrence Market and bit the dust less than a year after opening.

Bloke

After a seven-year run, this nightclub on King St. W. by Spadina had one final big bash on January 22. Its owners plan to renovate and rebrand the space into a new venue.

Caplansky’s on College

Many were sad to hear that the first location of this deli on College Street closed in early January. Luckily, its two other locations in Yorkville and at Pearson International Airport still exist.

Condom Shack

To the dismay of many, this Queen West sex shop that had been around for a quarter of a century closed at the end of January. High commercial rent, along with some other factors, were to blame.

Court Jester Pub

A mainstay on The Danforth for over 20 years, this pub announced its closure in early January due to the death of its beloved head chef. RIP, Steve Siuta.

Cafeteria

This member of the Playa Cabana family shuttered in mid January with a heartfelt note on Instagram

El Fogon

Fans of this Peruvian restaurant on St. Clair West mourned their loss when the place served its last ceviche on January 28. Its chef decided to semi-retire, while its owners wanted to focus more on family life.

The Chickery

All Toronto locations of the local chicken chain seem to have shuttered. The one near Spadina and Richmond has a Notice of Termination from the landlord with more than $40k owing on the rent.

Super Jet International

The coffee shop on Dupont is no more. It has been replaced by something called First & Last Coffee.

Toronto's Old City Hall to be transformed into museum and library

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Toronto city council just decided in a near unanimous vote that Old City Hall will be transformed into a museum, library, wedding chapel, gift shop and maybe also a restaurant. 

Nestled between (new) city hall and the Eaton Centre, the iconic, 129-year-old Romanesque Revival building at Queen and Bay Streets currently houses some courtrooms and holding cells.

Ontario's Court of Justice is set to vacate the space in three years, however, which councillor Josh Matlow, among others, sees as an opportunity "to return old city hall to the people."

"We have our moment to finally create this museum of Toronto," he said during Thursday's city council meeting, referencing an idea that's been floating around for years.

The museum would finally give a home to more than 150,000 historic objects and artworks owned by the city – almost all of which are currently stored in boxes.

Under the preliminary plan approved yesterday, Old City Hall will be revitalized to accommodate the Museum of Toronto, a Toronto Public Library branch, a wedding chamber, and "complementary commercial and institutional uses compatible with the museum."

This could include everything from gift shops, restaurants and lounges to office, incubator, academic and event spaces.

City staff will now further develop a design and plans for the new, Old City Hall and report back to council in mid-2019, but there could be some hurdles to jump in the process.

Old City Hall

Preliminary floor plans for a City of Toronto Museum at Old City Hall. Image via City of Toronto.

Cost is a concern for some parts of city council, which voted 35-3 for the museum at Thursday's meeting.

Even with admission fees at $16 per adult, staff say revenues from the museum wouldn't cover all the expensive renovations needed to execute this plan. 

Likely, some help would be needed in the form of subsidies from the provincial and/or federal governments.

"Any financial impacts, including updated operating revenues, costs and capital investments," reads the Old City Hall report for action, "will form part of the report back to Council in 2019 with the final recommendations."

Beer and wine coming to more Toronto grocery stores

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Ontario will be making it even easier to get a casual buzz on this spring by expanding beer and cider sales to 87 more grocery stores across the province – almost 40 of which are in the GTA.

These stores, selected through a competitive bidding process run by the LCBO, will be authorized to sell beer and cider as of April, 2018.

This will bring the total number of grocers authorized to sell these products in Ontario up to 370. The provincial government ultimately wants to see beer and cider in about 450 grocery stores, including 300 that will also sell wine.

Of the 87 stores selected this time around, 11 are independent grocery stores and 76 are owned by large chains like Loblaws, Metro and Walmart.

Here's where you can find the new beer and cider outposts in Toronto when April rolls around:


The Chickery has closed all of its Toronto locations

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The Chickery, a Toronto-based restaurant chain founded in 2012 by a group that included Food Network personality David Adjey, has flown the coop it seems.

A sign posted on the door at 130 Spadina Ave. on Thursday shows that the chicken joint's lease on its last remaining Toronto location has been terminated for non-payment of rent.

A statement of arrears, also posted on the door, says that the company owes approximately $42,868 to its landlord, The Fashion Building.

The Chickery closed

A notice of lease termination is currently posted on the door of The Chickery near Richmond and Spadina. Photo by Ryan Bolton.

Known for its "real tasty chicken and sides," The Chickery once had three locations across the city; one on Elm Street near Bay, one in the food court at Mt. Sinai hospital, and the aforementioned spot at Richmond and Spadina.

All three Toronto locations are now closed, though the brand still has a popular restaurant in Washington, D.C., as well as another, very recently-opened outpost in Dubai.

Regardless, this week's closure leaves The Chickery's local future uncertain – and Toronto without a current go-to restaurant for parmesan spiked, fried chicken feathers.

5 winter getaways for food lovers in Toronto

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There's no better time than winter for food-focused getaways from Toronto. While there's still plenty to do outside when the cold weather hits, for some of us the ideal winter escape involves cozying up by a fire and enjoying some excellent food and wine.

Here's a handful of awesome winter getaways for food lovers in Toronto.

Langdon Hall, Cambridge

Perhaps the ultimate in pampered culinary getaways, Langdon Hall takes its food and hospitality very seriously. You can relax in the country estate-style rooms and visit the spa by day, and have your senses dazzled in the dining room by night. The more cozy and casual Wilks' Bar is a great spot for lunch.

Cooking Schools in Prince Edward County

Here it's all about the DIY experience. The Waring House offers a variety of classes as well as overnight accommodations at its historic inn, while From the Farm Cookery School is devoted to showcasing the agricultural delights of the County by using local ingredients in its courses, which fittingly take place in an old farmhouse.

Eigensinn Farm and Collingwood

Michael Stadtlander's rustic dining experience in Singhampton has become a pilgrimage for food-obsessed Torontonians. Dinner is a hefty $300, but it's designed to be a memorable night. The nearby Pretty River Inn will arrange a taxi to the farm or you can stay in Collingwood and visit Haisai, the Stadtlander's restaurant in town.

Viamede, Kawarthas

Viamede is a historic resort property on Stony Lake that was given a major overhaul a few years ago. The Inn at Mt. Julian, its fine dining restaurant, offers five, seven, and nine-course tasting menus. They also have seasonal "Gathering" events, at which guests cook meals and join together at a long table for a feast and celebration of the area's bounty.

Niagara-on-the-Lake

It's hard to outdo Niagara-on-the-Lake for its culinary offerings. You can spend your days tasting wine across the region and nibbling on eats at places like Ravine Winery before heading into town to feast at TreadwellBackhouse, and even the Pillar & Post. Food lovers might also enjoy the cooking classes at the Good Earth

Residents of a Toronto apartment building are refusing to pay their rent

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A growing dearth of affordable housing in Parkdale is the subject of debate once again this week as more than 50 residents of a King West highrise refuse to pay their rent.

The tenants at 1251 King Street West have staged a rent strike for February after learning that their landlord, Nuspor Investments, would be hiking prices by 3.4 per cent– nearly double Ontario's 1.8 per cent guideline for 2018.

With the support of Parkdale Community Legal Services and the advocacy group Parkdale Organize, residents say they're standing up against what they see as a plot to push out lower-income tenants.

"In the summer of 2017, more than 300 Parkdale tenants in MetCap buildings went on strike against AGI's (Above Guideline Increases) and won," reads a resident info sheet from Parkdale Organize

"In the same way, the tenants at 1251 King can force Nuspor to withdraw its applications for the AGIs at their buildings," the note continues. "History shows us its the social and political struggles of working class people that bring about change in society."

And residents of the building are far from alone in fighting for the cause.

Teachers at the nearby Queen Victoria Public School in Parkdale protested in support of rent strikers at 1251 King on Thursday morning to support the parents of students and, earlier today, dozens of community members showed their support at a Landlord and Tenant Board meeting.

"Support your neighbours on rent strike!" reads an event invite for the rally. "Nuspor refuses to do repairs in units and has tried to intimidate tenants for organizing with their neighbours. It's time for Parkdale to stand up to Nuspor."

Indeed, it's not only the rent increase that residents are upset about – they're also protesting Nuspor over how it treats existing tenants.

A lack of heat, and general maintenance issues are ongoing headaches for long-time tenants, said Cole Webber with Parkdale Community Legal Services to CBC.

And yet, residents say that when a tenant moves out, Nusport completely remodels their old suites into open-concept condos with brand new kitchens and bathrooms.

The company also recently renovated the building's lobby at a cost of $296,935 – and yet, maintenance requests are said to go unanswered.

Members of the community have been concerned for years that gentrification will drive up home and rental prices in the area, which is slated to get a massive new condo development at Dufferin and King.

Parkdale Organize is optimistic that the rent strikers will emerge victorious from this particular battle.

"The rent strikers have strength in numbers and their neighbours in Parkdale's support," reads the group's Facebook page. "People across Canada are looking at the struggles being waged by tenants in Parkdale for hope and inspiration."

Caplansky's location in Yorkville is now closed

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Just one month after abruptly closing its flagship deli on College Street, Caplansky's has shut down in Yorkville as well.

The restaurant's lease at 56 Cumberland Ave was terminated on January 31, but not much else is known at this point.

Caplansky's Yorkville opened as a popular lunch spot just a few years ago, impressing many a diner with its all-you-can-eat pickle bar and Canada's first mustard fountain.

Who doesn't love a fountain that spews glorious ribbons of mustard directly onto whatever they're about to eat? And what will become of the fountain now?

In a note posted on the door of his now-closed original College Street deli last month, Caplansky had said that the company's Yorkville and Pearson Airport restaurants would remain open.

This appears to have changed, in terms of the former, but as far as we know, the Pearson location is still up and running. So too is Caplansky's deli truck, though it's unclear what the future holds for these other elements of the business. 

Toronto agrees to allow bars to serve drinks starting at 7am

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Waking up before sunrise to watch an Olympic Hockey Game at a local bar – in February – sounds rough. Hey, at least you can get drunk about it!

Our benevolent leaders have voted in favour of allowing licensed bars and restaurants to start serving alcohol at 7 a.m. during some parts (i.e. the hockey parts) of this year's Olympic Winter Games.

"Torontonians especially look forward to the culmination of the hockey tournament with a great deal of enthusiasm and always celebrate with vigor," read a members motion put forward by city councillor Mike Layton.

The motion, which was passed during yesterday's city council meeting, bills the forthcoming Olympic hockey finals "an opportunity for residents to come together to celebrate and cheer for their team and country."

Timing is a bit of an issue this year, however, as the Games are in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Some of the semi-final and final hockey matches are scheduled to take place as early as 7:10 a.m., when serving alcohol is usually off-limits in Toronto.

Layton argued that alcohol should be served earlier than the provincial standard during all men's and women's medal games for the sake of both fans and restaurant owners. Enough councillors agreed with him that the motion was passed.

Alcohol service hours will now be extended in The City of Toronto on February 19, 23 and 24 so that the public can "enjoy and benefit from the medal games" while drinking beer and, maybe, if Canada wins, some celebratory Moet.

Just kidding, hockey fans. I meant "more beer."

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