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Lindsay Lohan flick the Canyons builds buzz in Toronto

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Paul Schrader CanyonsPaul Schrader really wants to talk about The Canyons. The writer and/or director of Academy Award nominated (and winning) films like Raging Bull, Taxi Driver and American Gigolo sold out The Royal Cinema on Sunday night, where hundreds of Toronto cinephiles, gathered for a screening of a digitally restored copy of Taxi Driver, the Martin Scorsese film about a cabbie with more deep thoughts than customers in his backseat.

A reformed film critic who made the jump from nonfiction to fiction when he found himself drifting, Schrader wrote Taxi Driver because he felt like Robert De Niro's Travis Bickle himself--lonely, lost and trapped in a metal taxicab coffin. He used the character as his "exorcism voodoo doll" and three years later, after a game of chess with Scarface director Brian De Palma, he found himself a professional screenwriter.

Royal Cinema"Write the thing in order to be the thing," is the quick wisdom he offered up in the Q&A that followed the screening, pressing The Seventh Art moderator Chris Heron to move the conversation along in a way all of the audience felt. Schrader was anxious and excited because there were other things he wished to talk about. That's when the evening became, as film critic and author Richard Crouse tweeted, "Less a Q&A than a filibuster."

Because Schrader really, really just wanted to talk about The Canyons.

Heron, Schrader pointed out, was to be a potted plant, privy to the filmmaker's lecture in which he discussed his upcoming summer film. Buzzed about since it was confirmed that screenwriter Bret Easton Ellis had cast porn star James Deen as the male lead opposite Lindsay Lohan, Hollywood's most uninsurable actress, the story of the film remains vague--a contemporary noir film about glamorous 20-somethings living in Los Angeles' Laurel Canyons dangerously provoke one another's sexual obsessions.

Paul Schrader CanyonsVeering every question about Taxi Driver toward The Canyons, Schrader refused to miss an opportunity to promote his film, an indie that was crowdfunded and crewed up online (and which aslo features score from Brendan Canning). Now infamous for being the movie that The New York Times' Stephen Rodrick wrote about in "Here Is What Happens When You Cast Lindsay Lohan In Your Movie," the piece painted Schrader as a filmmaker desperately trying to salvage his floundering career to the point of tolerating high-maintenance behaviour from Lindsay Lohan. The review has been the curse and curiosity of the film since it came out in January.

Unfazed when Heron asked about the Times piece, Schrader shrugged off the bad press the film has been receiving with a piece of simple advice for filmmakers who may have been sitting in The Royal's reclining seats: "Bad behaviour is the least of many problems. Miscasting is worse. It's an imprint that can't be undone."

Paul Schrader DirectorDespite obvious issues with Lohan and Deen's abilities in the clip he's eager to show, Schrader remains positive. He has never lost sight of why he got into filmmaking, he tells the audience, to achieve something more substantial than fame or wealth. The filmmaker's dilemma is now getting bums in seats.

Regardless, he believes he's won the gamble. He shot on a shoestring budget, uninsured, with a crew making minimum wage. The film, he says, has been sold to IFC for $1 million.

And Schrader is damn proud of it.

Photos by Brad Freeman


Maylee Todd is about to explode (someone tell her ego)

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Maylee ToddListening to Maylee Todd's new record Escapology I feel secure in the future of music, or, at least, in the kind of music I love. Her songs rekindle a mostly dormant but favourite trend of mine: funky disco boogie. And yet, her music still acknowledges the last 30 years of music since those trends enjoyed popularity (unlike say, Daptone Records, which is too deeply nostalgic). With rousing instrumentation, great energy and a few oddball turns to keep one on his toes, it's fresh and a shit-ton of fun.

But who on earth would make this kind of music, particularly in Toronto of all places? Not to knock our fair city, but we're not that well known for our funk or disco output. Given this (sad) fact, I had to know who this Maylee Todd, this seemingly far out funky space lady, really is.

When I spoke to Todd a couple weeks ago, I was hoping for an outrageous character who spoke in a scream and was ready to talk over me with equal amounts of arrogance, flat sass and unearned world weariness. You know, like the divas you see on television. But during our conversation I was disappointed time and time again. It turns out she's just a super cool woman, down to earth and very accommodating. She lives in a normal apartment, has a been inside a Coffee Time and uses the slang word Jammers more than anyone I've ever met.

Maylee ToddMost shocking was in the fact that she has a day job, a few of them in fact. There's something decidedly unglamorous about a musician who is able to balance multiple jobs, a musical career and is able to be, well, a real person.

Not that I wanted her to be some sort of pill-popping maniac, but I mean, come on! She doesn't even smoke and her apartment was remarkably clean and tidy. Apparently, making music ain't what it used to be... I mean, intellectually I knew that, as every other piece of music journalism in the past 10 years has mentioned the slow erosion of the industry. And no, I don't really know any musicians who make a living exclusively off their art, but they haven't made the Tokio Hot 100 chart or the video below.

So instead of having to talk through a publicist or a through a bathroom door, instead I was treated to a normal conversation with a regular person, albeit one who can channel young Michael Jackson to an eerie degree. This conversation continued to shred my expectations as Todd outlined the enormous amount of work and time it took to get to the point where she could cover the Pinball Number Count song from Sesame Street (sacred material she totally nails).

It seems her ethos is defined by the following: a strong work ethic, balance between making money to eat and pursuing artistic endeavours and building relationships / friendships based on shared passions. Boring stuff.

Maylee ToddTo kill another expectation, she attributed her work ethic to comedians she observed while studying at Humber College. Apparently, comedians don't just wake up after a binge with fresh jokes written on toilet paper. Instead, they toil for hours working and always keep a notebook handy for when inspiration strikes. Adopting the same method, she's been producing, collaborating and performing with acts such as Henri Fabergé and the Adorables, Ark Analog and many, many others, slowing honing her craft and building a name for herself before putting out her first record Choose Your Own Adventure in 2010. Continuing to evolve, she expanded the sound found on that album's last track, "Aerobics in Space" and the 2012 single "Hieroglyphics" resulted in Esacapology. A record she's proud of and happy to promote.

Disgusted by my shattered expectations, I took off after the photo shoot — at which she was patient and helpful — hopeless as to what to write about her. I even stalled this in hopes she would send me a nasty email or something to let me make a Diana Ross comparison. Alas, no no luck. Fortunately, success for her seems imminent and hopefully that will warp her enough so that the next time I talk to her, she will at least be wearing sunglasses and referring to herself in the third person.

I doubt it though. Thanks for nothing, Maylee.

See Maylee Todd live this Thursday at her release party for Escapology.

Photos by Alejandro Santiago

The Best Custom and Road Bike Shops in Toronto

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custom road bike shops torontoThe best custom and road bike shops in Toronto are like candy stores for spandex-clad roadies who can be spotted in droves riding their $8000 Dura Ace-adorned rides throughout the summer months. With a few notable exceptions, these are typically places that deal exclusively in high end bikes of the type that would be just as at home on Alpe d'Huez as they are flying around local streets. Here you'll find brands like Look, BMC, Cervelo, Argon 18 and Passioni (to name only a few of the top flight manufacturers on offer), but also custom options that allow you to dictate how your bike fits, what components it comes with, and all sorts of other specifications that aren't an option on stock rides.

Speaking of fit, that's another key selling point for stores like this. If you're going to fork out the dough on a Tour de France worthy ride, it better be properly fitted. Fortunately, most of these places offer advanced fit services that should have you riding both quickly and comfortably on the dream bike of your choice.

Here are the best custom and road bike shops in Toronto.

See also:

The best bike stores in Toronto
The best bike repair shops in Toronto
Directory of Toronto bike stores

Call for Nominations: 20 Best of TO categories

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Today we're initiating a call for nominations for a number of Best of Toronto categories. From public libraries to banh mi to bicycle lanes there are plenty of different categories in which to nominate a favourite or two. The nomination period starts now and runs until 11:59pm this coming Sunday April 28th. Then, we'll open each category for voting.

Here are the categories:

  • Philly Cheesesteak
  • Low Calorie (Calorie-Wise) Restaurant
  • Banh Mi
  • Caesar Salad
  • Family Style Dinner
  • Private Dining
  • Nightclub
  • Lounge
  • Late Night Poutine
  • Cheap Wing Night
  • Sliders
  • Meal Delivery Service
  • Tailor
  • Seamstress
  • Used Bike Stores
  • Small Wedding Venue
  • Cheap/Budget Wedding Venues
  • Community Centre
  • Playground
  • Bicycle Lane
  • Toronto Public Library Branch

To nominate your favourite(s) in one or more of the above categories, simply place a comment below or email us your nominations to bestof [at] blogto [dotcom]. Note: once you see some thing/place nominated below, there's no need to nominate it again. All we need is one nomination per nominee in order for us to consider it for the voting round.

The nomination period ends this Sunday April 28, 2013.

Scanning the city

Radar: Loteria Jarocha, Killing Joke afterparty, Jim James, Donovan Woods CD launch

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Jim James Live TorontoToronto events on April 24th, 2013

CULTURE | Loteria Jarocha
An interesting evening of art, conversation, music, and Mexican culture tonight at Lula Lounge. Alec Dempster launches his book, Loteria Jarocha, a collection of linoleum-block prints he made when reconnecting with his roots on a trip to his birthplace, Mexico. There, he discovered the music called son jarocho, a folk genre native to the Vera Cruz region. The music inspired Dempster, and resulted in these prints. Tonight, Café Con Pan will give you a nice taste of this music which boasts a tradition going back several hundred years. You can also try your hand at a game of Loteria, and Grammy Award winning musicologist Rob Bowman will interview Dempster and shed some light on this interesting work.
Lula Lounge (1585 Dundas Street West) 6:30PM $5

MUSIC | Jim James @ Phoenix
Singer, songwriter, and guitarist Jim James, known best as the frontman for My Morning Jacket, plays The Phoenix tonight. This will be a well-attended show, as this man has a considerable following. (He wasn't on Rolling Stone's "20 New Guitar Gods" list for nothing). James has been exploring solo work since 2009, but not to worry: My Morning Jacket are still going strong, having just announced a tour this Summer with Wilco and Bob Dylan. James' Regions of Light and Sound of God was just released in February, and it's James' first genuine full-length solo album. Should be a good one!
Phoenix Concert Theatre (410 Sherbourne Street) 8PM $26

MUSIC | Killing Joke afterparty: Youth & Reza w/ special guest Acucrack!
Even if you don't manage to make it out to Killing Joke's show at Lee's tonight, the afterparty at The Rivoli will definitely be a happening shindig to check out. It's not every night you get two members of an iconic '80s post punk band manning the decks at a TO venue, and that's what Reza Udhin, and Youth (aka Martin Glover) will be doing. Youth has also produced the likes of The Orb, The Verve, Crowded House, and others. Acucrack will also be sharing some tunes tonight, along with DJs Jairus Khan and Edwin Somnambulist. This could be heavy!
The Rivoli (334 Queen Street West) 10PM $10

FILM | Rue Morgue & Unstable Ground present LITTLE TERRORS - Vol. 18 - Future Shock
Tonight, Rue Morgue and Unstable Ground deliver the goods once again with "Little Terrors". This monthly showcase of short horror films is a popular one with fans of the genre, and this month's edition, Future Shock will be sure to satisfy. The two hours of gore, thrills and craziness that make up tonight's screening will include work from directors Spencer Estabrooks, Todd Cobery, Paul Davis, The Santoro Brothers, and others. As usual, Little Terrors has a special bonus for attendees: the screening concludes, as usual, with a Q & A and meet-and-greet with some of the filmmakers.
MLT Carlton Cinema (20 Carlton Street) 9PM

Also Of Note

The Wolsak & Wynn Spring Poetry Launch in Toronto
Pivot Reading Series
DONOVAN WOODS DON'T GET TOO GRAND ALBUM RELEASE PARTY

For more Toronto event suggestions, check out these posts:

Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO Toronto events calendar or contact us directly.

Photo courtesy of wfuv via Flickr.

By the numbers: The Canary District development

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toronto canary districtNow in its second year of full-scale construction, the Canary District development on the West Don Lands is finally starting to move skyward. When it's finished, the land bound by Cherry Street, Eastern Avenue, the Don River and Union rail corridor will first be home to visiting athletes competing in the 2015 Pan Am Games before being tweaked for the housing market.

In addition to several low-rise apartment complexes, the site is also going to be home to a 500-bed George Brown College residence and a 51,000 square foot YMCA and community centre complete with an Olympic sized swimming pool. It's expected the first units will be occupied by 2016. The Don River Park - part downtown flood barrier, part recreation space we explored last year - is due to open this summer.

Here are the figures on Toronto's long-awaited West Don Lands housing development:

Concrete poured: 80,000 cubic metres
Workers on site: 365
Athletes expected for Pan Am Games: 10,000
Cranes on site: 8
New streetcar track on Cherry Street: 1.3 kilometres
New streets: 1.2 kilometres
New condos, townhomes, and lofts: 827
New parkland: 18 acres
Retail space: 40,000 square feet
Combined pool capacity: 19,9807 gallons
Total development size: 35 acres
Development cost per acre: $14.7 million
Total development cost: $514 million (fixed price contract)

MORE PHOTOS

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Image: Chris Bateman

BIXI Toronto is safe, for now at least

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toronto bixiIt might be wobbling a little, but Toronto's BIXI bike rental business looks like it could coast until the summer now that Rob Ford's executive committee has voted to alter the way it finances the project.

Under the terms of the existing agreement, the City of Toronto guarantees BIXI's $4.5 million start-up loan, meaning if the company ever became unable to pay back the principal taxpayers would be on the hook to cover the remaining balance. As of December, $3.9 million was still outstanding.

BIXI's predicament stems its diminutive size, according to Jared Kolb from Cycle Toronto. He says if the company was subsidized like the TTC and other transit systems then it could grow beyond its existing 80 stations and attract more users. Right now it has 4,630 paid subscribers.

The terms of the restructuring plan are private but it seems like there's some support on Rob Ford's executive committee - the closest thing the mayor has to a cabinet - for keeping the black and white rental bikes on Toronto's streets, even if the city's leader doesn't believe in spending the money himself.

Coun. Denzil Minnan-Wong said the in camera discussions hope to find a way to "maintain" BIXI and limit the city's financial liability should the Montreal-owned business fail. He also acknowledged that the general public see value in keeping the system operational.

A staff report containing the result of the new agreement is due on July 3, so at least there'll be a few months of summer riding if things go south.

Do you think BIXI can survive at its present size? Should the city have backed the initial loan? Will you miss BIXI if it does eventually close?

Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.

Image: ana_lee_smith/blogTO Flickr pool.


Sadly, the CN Tower won't become a giant goal light

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toronto cn tower leafsIt's been a nine years since the Maple Leafs hit the ice for a playoff game, so you'll forgive fans of the Buds for getting a little overexcited. One plan to celebrate this little taste of success is to turn the CN Tower into a giant goal light every time the team scores during the post season.

The concept stems from a petition by George Brown student Scott Booth, but it also ties in nicely with a hokey Budweiser promotion that involves the distribution of wireless goal lights to rabid hockey fans across the country.

There's some precedent for this: the CN Tower colours have changed to celebrate winning Grey Cup teams and the 553-metre beacon glowed orange during Jack Layton's funeral at Roy Thompson Hall.

It's certainly a cool idea, and the technology is there to make it happen, but Irene Knight, the tower's PR manager, says the idea is unlikely to happen exactly as Booth imagined.

"We're not planning to light for every goal ... we've planned a fitting tribute - to light blue when they play," she said in an email.

The complex LED lighting system, capable of being managed by a single remote computer, comprises 1,330 different fixtures and is capable of producing "infinite effects" in 16.7 million colours, according to the promotional material. Unfortunately, existing commitments stand in the way.

"We have to take a fair approach to all the other causes we light for," Knight says. The CN Tower doesn't permit lighting for "commercial" or "personal" events like birthdays and anniversaries, so support from Budweiser or other corporations won't be much help.

Migratory birds could be another snag. The tower is usually dimmed at night to limit fatalities among the 200 species of birds returning to their northern breeding grounds in Spring.

As it stands right now the CN Tower will go blue on game nights when there are no scheduling clashes. When there is a conflict, the hourly flashing light show will be replaced with a solid blue light display for 12 minutes.

Go, Leafs, Go?

Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.

Image: Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla/blogTO Flickr pool.

Toronto chefs duke it out for the title of noodle king

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Slurp NoodlefestAlmost 700 hungry noodle lovers packed the Glass Factory on Saturday as 11 restaurants came together for SLURP! Noodlefest, Part 2. Joined by a cafe and four local brewers and distillers, the sold-out event gathered some of the best names in the industry to celebrate the staple dish in all its starchy glory.

slurp noodlefestThe concept remained unchanged from its predecessor - each vendor brings a noodle dish ($5), and along with some sides (

Slurp NoodlefestDrawn by Kinton Ramen's reputation for long lines and excellent noodles, many attendees made a beeline for their stall first thing, and Kinton was happy to deliver on both fronts. Their staff was entertaining to watch as they recreated their signature Spicy Garlic Ramen, shouting loudly in Japanese and bending backwards to drop noodles into paper bowls as a chef seared pork slices with blow torches up front.

Slurp NoodlefestUnlike Kinton, many of the other vendors veered from their regular menu and created special dishes especially for this event. A clear crowd favourite emerged for Nota Bene's Wood-fire Bacon & Egg Ramen bowl with optional Pork-Truffle foam. The creamy soup base, springy noodles, perfectly done slice of thick bacon and souveed egg was well worth the almost 20-minute wait. Nota Bene also crafted a Hawaiian Pineapple-scented Kombucha, and Lemongrass, Ginger & Kaffir Lime Leaf Iced Tea, both well thought out complements to noodles-and-broth.

slurp noodlefestApart from ramen, there were many other types of noodles featured. Samuel J. Moore elevated the familiar chicken noodle soup with a delicious fried chicken skin topping, and Lamesa cheerfully explained Filipino culture as they served out Chicken & Shrimp Sotanghon.

slurp noodlefestMomofuku Toronto's Spicy Noodle with Schezhuan Pork Sausage Meatballs was chilled, a nice change-up, and their pork bun with hoisin sauce was filling, and so juicy that it made my hands oily. FeasTO's panfried "What the Pho?" dumplings were definitely inspired, a deconstructed bowl of pho wrapped in paper-thin dough with a cheeky name.

slurp noodlefestAlthough Pizzeria Libretto and The Drake both chose to use guanciale (pork cheek) and rapini in their Italian-styled noodles, their flavour profile was surprisingly different. Pizzeria Libretto used fatty cuts of guanciale, curing it so that its texture was almost like calamari, and starchier noodles made only from water and flour with a light pork bone and chicken broth.

The Drake's was more complex, starting with an earthy porcini broth, sous-vide guanciale, and topped with crunchy kale chips, shaved pecorino toscano cheese and balsamic pickled egg that was sat in a balsamic and red wine reduction. The burst of flavour from the egg gave the noodles a surprisingly delightful kick.

slurp noodlefestAnother lovely surprise was the Spinach Gomaae from Yours Truly, a traditional Japanese snack, but garnished with bacon and bacon powder. The powder was made in house by letting tapioca maltodextrin absorb oil from the cooked bacon, and utterly tasty. Their noodle dish was also a standout, topped with pork shoulder and belly, sous-vide and chopped into cubes, and accompanied by bamboo shoots and a tart, garlic and chive ponzu.

slurp noodlefestSeul Food Co. also used bacon in their fried noodles, but mixed it with kimchee. Bacon-flavoured kimchee sounded like an oxymoron, but the bacon grounded the usually light vegetable with a rich, smoky flavour that surpassed my initial reservations. The Gabardine used kimchee in their noodle dish too, providing a Mexican twist by marinating it in chili and lime. The meat in their noodles was also the most varied, combining beef tongue, tripe and pork hock.

slurp noodlefestDrinks rounded out the event, with caffeine fixes provided by Grind House, tequila from Tromba, wines from Chateau de Champs, spirits from Dillon's and the debut of a pilsner called Prison Break from Double Trouble.

slurp noodlefestAlthough event organizers Frank Kocis and Suresh Doss say they won't be doing another Noodlefest anytime soon ("We don't want noodles to become derivative"), there are other events in the works ("Maybe tapas, but you didn't hear it here"). In any case, Part 2 was a success and Noodlefest concluded with a satisfying slurp.

Photos by Morris Lum

Toronto filmmakers compete for shot at Cannes

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The B Side Movie TorontoTaking a quick look around Toronto, it wouldn't be far fetched to assume that the film industry in this city is booming. Sure, international film crews love coming to Toronto to shoot the city as a cheap stand-in for the likes of New York, Chicago and Boston. Sadly though, the roster of Toronto-made films is smaller than one might expect. With low government funding, pricey film sets and studios and a resources, young entrepreneurs are plagued with a lack of accessibility to the tools required to create and fund their ambitious projects.

These road blocks are what make duos like Ally Pankiw (director and writer) and Matt Folliott (writer, comedian and comedy coach) all the more exciting. The pair have been keeping busy working on their film The B Side, a coming of age comedy, straight from the streets of Toronto. The pair submitted their project to the Cinecoup Film Accelerator competition (part of the Cineplex Odeon group) which aims to help young filmmakers develop, market and finance their feature films.

Teams apply with a two-minute trailer and then advance through a series of weekly tasks, relying on public voting to choose who continues on in the competition. The top 10 will be optioned for development and packaged for meetings with international buyers and sales agents at the Cannes International Film Festival (Yes, that Cannes). The Final 5 then travel to the Banff World Media Festival to pitch to an industry panel at an official festival event on June 10, 2013. One project will be selected for up to $1 million in financing and guaranteed release in Cineplex theatres in 2014. So far, The B Side team has made it into the Top 40 across Canada, and the final 15 will be announced this coming Monday April 29th.

I caught up with the raucous duo over Gmail chat to talk business, crack jokes and find out why competitions like Cinecoup are so important to the Canadian film industry. The pair will be hosting a shin-dig at Comedy Bar on Bloor Street tomorrow night to support The B Side, featuring stand-up and improv sets from Toronto-based comedians and a performance by local band, Army Girls.

BWhy don't you tell us a little bit about yourselves? How did each of you find your way into the film and comedy scenes, and how did the two of you meet?

Ally: I'm Ally Pankiw and I'm a writer and director here in Toronto. I got my start in broadcast news and then worked in reality television for a while. About a year and a half ago, I decided it was unlikely that I'd get to work on my dream project by just waiting around, so I started to make my own opportunities in film. My first short is entering the festival circuit right now and I'm also developing a feature length documentary (about mental illness the professional comedy community).

Matt: Well, I'm Matt Folliott and I'm the best comedian that's ever existed. You just don't know it yet. Ally and I met through a mutual friend about five years ago. We really like our writing relationship because we both bring different things to the table. I've been doing comedy in Toronto for six years. I've travelled all over North America performing comedy in festivals like Edmonton's Improvaganza, Austin's The Out of Bounds Festival, and the Vancouver International Improv Festival. I also teach improv at Second City and the Impatient Theatre Company, and if you've seen me at a show it's probably been at Toronto's Comedy Bar.

Ally: Matt also voices a lot of Mr. Clean commercials. They've startled me out of many a make-out session.

Ally: Yeah, my girlfriend was like, "What??" And I was all, "I just can't with Matt in the room."

Matt: Story of my life.

How did the rest of the team that you work with on the B Side form?

Ally: I work for a interactive media production company called The Young Astronauts and we operate as a collective when it comes to video and film projects. So, as soon as Matt and I decided we wanted submit to Cinecoup, we had a lot of help from the whole team. I asked the producer of my short film, Kyle Bodanis, to come on as producer of The B Side. One of our actors, Alex Tindal, also helped us write the script.

Matt: Alex Tindal is ACTUALLY the best comedian in the world.

So tell me a little bit about the movie. What is The B Side all about?

Ally:The B Side is a character-driven indie comedy about a group of friends taking a road trip across Canada to get to a huge music festival to stop our main character's girlfriend from leaving him for a cool guitar player in her band. It's a pretty noble cause. It features really weird, well-developed characters, but it doesn't leave the realm of reality. We still make sure to put our characters in situations that will challenge them and allow their points of view to be explored.
 
Matt: Don't worry. It's still full of profanity and crude jokes.

Ally: Annnnd, we also want to incorporate real bands and musicians into our script. We already have a few cameos set up by notable Canadian musicians and hope to keep adding more.

Matt: We can't tell you who they are, but you'll like them.

BI've heard you mention that including the comedy community in the production of the film was important. What was the casting process like?

Matt: Well, you have just an untapped well of comedic talent in Canada, and specifically Toronto, that only gets used in commercial work.

Ally: A little bitter about that, Matt?

Matt: Some days I just want to give up and work at Leon's.

Ally: But yeah, Canadian comedy is amazing and we lose so many talented comics to the States every year because of all the work down there. We want to keep our hilarious comedians working in film and television roles here as long as we can.

Matt: We have a really rich comedy history in Canada.

Ally: And we want to showcase it. We knew immediately who would best portray the characters we created. It was more asking comedians to be involved, rather than doing a full casting call.

Matt: Separately, we are Ally and Matt. Together we are the Judd Apatow of Toronto.

Ally: More like Jan Apatow, but yeah.

So from start to finish, The B Side is really a collaborative community project.What has the reception been like so far in the comedy circuit?

Matt: I think the reception has been super positive. Most comedians know that they need to get behind these types of projects and move towards making our own opportunities in this country.

Ally: A huge supporter of ours has been Gary Rideout Jr., who is the owner of Comedy Bar and a comedian himself. He really understands the need to create your own work.

What made you decide to enter the Cinecoup competition? Aside from the $1 million pay day, of course.

Ally: Well, Cinecoup was appealing in that it was unlike anything I'd ever heard of before. I'm all for trying new ways of getting my work out to people and gaining exposure for what we're doing and this competition is really good at that - the traffic they're generating for all of the filmmakers is well worth the weekly challenges we have to submit.

Matt: And, a lot of the time, even if you get your film made in Canada, it's hard to get distribution.

Ally: Soooo.... a guaranteed release in Cineplex theatres really motivated me. I think Canada needs more disruptive models like Cinecoup because Canadians are talented and the more avenues we can find to fund our talent, the better.

Matt: Vote Cinecoup for Prime Minister!

What happens to The B Side, if the film doesn't make it to the finals? Is this a project that the two of you will continue to work on?

Ally: Absolutely. We really love the characters we've created and we want to see them come to life in some form. Even if we're not the final project that gets made, the Top 10 projects are being shopped at Cannes and the Top 5 get to present at The Banff World Media Festival in June, so hopefully that could lead to something great. (Disclaimer: we don't even know if we're in the Top 15 yet!)

Matt: Vote for us!

Have you had a chance to look at some of the competition coming out of Toronto?

Ally:  Ally: We've already started a diabolical campaign to sabotage their projects.

Matt: Because we feel threatened.

What can we expect to see from you in the future? Will you continue to work together on future projects?

Ally: Well, don't worry just yet. We'll keep harassing you on social media, asking you to vote for The B Side or any other number of projects we have going on. We'll definitely keep writing together. I can't get enough of this guy.

Matt: Ally's my muse.

Aw, that's a precious moment right there. So, what is tomorrow night's event all about?

Ally: Tomorrow we are having a live show at Comedy Bar to promote our project and raise awareness for our noble comedy cause.

Matt: We've got some great comedic talent including Tony Ho, and improvisers Alex Tindal, Kayla Lorette, and Thomas Rivas.

Ally: And the voice of Magic Erasers nation-wide, Matt Folliott! Army Girls is also going to be blessing our ears with beautiful music and we'll be showing our concept trailer.

Matt: We might even be giving away some prizes. Who wants to win a date with Folliott?

Ally: So, come have a beer with us and laugh your cares away.

B Side FilmVoting to qualify the Top 15 films starts tomorrow Thursday May 25

All photos by William Pelletier

The top 5 films to see at Hot Docs 2013

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Hot Docs TorontoThe 2013 Hot Docs Festival is finally here. Toronto's second-largest film event (behind TIFF), Hoc Docs runs for 11 days and contains a whopping 205 movies to choose from. If my math is correct, it's impossible to see them all, so we've put together this here post to help narrow down your schedule with some confidence that you'll be seeing the best films on offer.

On Monday we outlined the 10 films getting the biggest advance-buzz; these were recommendations dependent on the notoriety of their filmmakers, the intrigue of their subjects, and the hoopla they created at festivals like Sundance, Rotterdam, and SXSW. Now that we've had a chance to take a look at many of those titles (plus quite a few others), we're here to report on the docs we saw that, hyped or not, are among the very highest quality in the festival, and should not be missed.

THE MANOR

I've got to be honest: twenty minutes into this film I was ready to bail on it. A film by Shawney Cohen (he did some effects work for Cronenberg and Egoyan), it's all very banal in a uniquely Ontarian kind of way, lacking any sort of intrigue even as it fixates on a family-run strip club in Guelph. Worse, Cohen contributes one of the hammiest voice-over tracks in the history of Canadian filmmaking. But then we meet his mother, and Cohen finally stops yapping.

The adage "If you want something done right you have to do it yourself" is taken to task in this full, emotionally brutal assault on the idea of family. Cohen's gifts as a filmmaker are extremely limited, but he is perfectly suited for observing those closest to him without coming off as exploitative or intrusive, refusing to dilute the nature of their pathologies as they stumble toward a clear yet painfully unacknowledged vanishing point. Watching this film is a harrowing and devastating experience, though I still can't tell if I wish it'd been directed by someone other than Shawney.

THE GREAT NORTH KOREAN PICTURE SHOW

North Korean Picture ShowProbably helped by the recent onslaught of Kim Jong-un's nuclear threats, it's difficult to imagine a more important film in the festival this year, nor a more chilling one. This doc takes a look at North Korea's "film industry," the scare quotes an intent to ward off any misconception that this might resemble any other nation's model for movie-making. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this is less a film about how North Koreans put a film together (has anyone actually ever seen a North Korean film? I haven't...), and more a study on the claustrophobia induced by having your creativity placed under the complete control of someone else.

It isn't difficult to see the broad parallels when a director shouts to his actors, "I want to see resentment of the Japanese in your faces!" nor when certain innocuous shots of the national film museum are ordered to be filmed in the most uniform, precise way possible. Every piece of footage in this documentary was reviewed by North Korean officials before allowed out of the country, saying much about the degree of their oppression, as well as - considering the absurdity of the material - the delusions surrounding their own image.

THESE BIRDS WALK

Rare is the portrait of slums and homeless children as un-pornographic as in These Birds Walk, a remarkable and energetic odyssey through childhood that is equal parts Peter Pan and The 400 Blows. While the subject is bleak and upsetting - the film looks at a kind of shelter/foster home for children who either run away from home or aren't wanted by their parents anymore - the interest primarily lies in the way these kids behave with one another and engage with their own egos. With a roving camera that exhaustively tracks the whirling capsules of energy, it's a film that captures the experience of being young and alive, regardless of the circumstances.

NORTHERN LIGHT

Not many films have been made about Michigan's snowmobile racing culture - I dunno, maybe a lack of demand - but even if there were an entire genre devoted to nothing but such films, it's hard to imagine there being one better than this. By turns a thrilling sports film, an ethnographic portrait of Mid-West ruralites, and an essay on bodies and human ambition, Nick Bentgen's film would feel like a breakthrough even if one were only looking at its veiled observations of gender roles, with the women seemingly cast aside as workman's assistants and cheerleaders, until they aren't. The final shot, showing a basic workout routine, is a stunning image in its own right, and is as pointed and in-your-face as any closing statement I've seen all year, if only for the audacity of ending this film on that note.

TPB - AFK: THE PIRATE BAY AWAY FROM KEYBOARD

If you only see one documentary about the legal battles of a notorious piracy giant at this year's festival, make it this one. Tracking the case against the four creators and founders of The Pirate Bay, director Simon Klose is careful to make sure his film isn't just a recap of news headlines we've already read to death over the last few years. Instead, this is a carefully organized character study that illustrates Culture's inability to digest and allow change, damning new ideas to the margins and the underground. As a triptych, TPB - AFK, Downloaded, and Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer collectively form the year's most convincing case for why conservatism benefits no one.

Lead still from Northern Light.

Reflection

Radar: Out Of The Box, Cut & Paste, Play The Walk, Feelgoodery 2013, CN Tower Climb

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Denial GraffitiToronto events Thursday, April 25, 2013

FASHION | Out Of The Box: The Rise of Sneaker Culture
Sneakerheads are invited to an out-of-the-box kind of event, where dressing casually is perfectly acceptable. Bata Shoe Museum hosts the opening party to their latest exhibit, Out Of The Box: The Rise of Sneaker Culture tonight with New York City hip hop and sneaker icon DJ Bobbito Grcia aka Kool Bob Love. The biggest examination of sneaker culture — and the first of its kind in North America — Out Of The Box will display iconic running shoes and pieces from famous designers and collectors. The exhibit runs until March 30, 2014.
Bata Shoe Museum (327 Bloor Street West) 9PM $10 advance, $15 door

ART | CUT & PASTE
Graffiti and mixed media artist D3N!@L, the brains behind the DENIAL PROJECT, opens his latest exhibit at #Hashtag Gallery. Poking fun at messages that society is in denial about, the exhibit uses advertising politics and media messages to confront conspiracy theories and "marketing absurdism". Challenging preconceived ideas about graffiti, CUT & PASTE is an exciting new show that remains on display until May 12.
#Hashtag Gallery (801 Dundas Street West) 7PM Free

NEIGHBOURHOOD | Play the Walk
An interactive performance in which participants tell the story through a series of games, Play the Walk calls Queen Westers out to The Gladstone to explore the West Queen West Triangle. A project designed by Gelareh Saadatpajouh, designer and sound artist, and Talayeh Hamidya, architectural designer, each participant is given a map and encouraged to create their own story by interacting with the neighbourhood through a series of signs. Walks begin tonight outside of the Gladstone at 6 PM and will continue throughout the weekend. No need to register, just show up to play.
The Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen Street West) 6PM Free

MUSIC | Uzimon vs. Ford
Uzimon vs. Ford will be a whacko-dancehal-mania-mystery time for all. Held at Moskito + Bite, this event features the "mysterious" DJ Uzimon, who has performed alongside Ziggy Marley (not to mention several others) and has a record called "Pussy Weapon." Can you think of a reason not to hit this up? Me, neither.
Moskito + Bite (423 College Street) 8 PM $20

FUNDRAISER | WWF's 23rd Annual Canada Life CN Tower Climb
The CN Tower Climb returns for the 23rd year where hundreds of people will climb the 1,776 steps up to the tower's peak in order to raise money for World Wildlife Fund. The WWF's largest fundraiser takes place this evening, with a second climb happening on Saturday the 27th. Proceeds go toward helping animals and the earth as a whole. Register on the WWF website or show up to cheer climbers on from the foot of the CN Tower.
CN Tower (301 Front Street West) 5:30PM

PARTY | Feelgoodery 2013: Prohibition Edition
A Gatsby-esque prohibition party, Feelgoodery is an all-you-can-drink open bar soiree where Toronto will come out in masses dressed in fedoras and flapper dresses. Raising money for SPARK Initiative's School for Skills, the '20s theme party is part of Feelgoodery's mission to do good in fun ways. For discounted tickets, use the promo code BLOGTO and drink up—who knows when prohibition will cause the bar to dry up again.
Steamwhistle Brewery (255 Bremner Boulevard) 9PM $80

ALSO OF NOTE:

For more Toronto event suggestions, check out these posts:

Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO Toronto events calendar or contact us directly.

Photo from D3N!@L's website

Morning Brew: Stintz slams Ford's transit policies, TTC to close Pape station, transit riders still unhappy, letters from J. D. Salinger, cleaner air, and zombie commuters

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toronto lake shoreKaren Stintz has fighting words for Rob Ford. She says the mayor is "abdicating his responsibility" by shelving discussions about new transit taxes. The city will now miss its chance to provide input on the final list of taxes to be presented to Queen's Park in the summer. A group of councillors are gathering the signatures required to wrest the debate away from the executive committee either with a special meeting or forcing the item be added to the agenda next month.

The TTC will shut down Pape station for 12 days this summer in an attempt to finish long-awaited renovation work ahead of schedule. The building is getting a total overhaul, including a second exit, new platform design, and a revised street-level look. 52.3% preferred a total shutdown over a series of weekend closures. Is this the best solution?

Also in transit, new subway trains and other service improvements haven't brought a smile to the faces of most TTC riders. The latest customer satisfaction survey shows overcrowding and delays are still just as frustrating for riders, but staff expect things to improve soon. 90% said the system was good value for money. Do you agree?

A young J. D. Salinger, author of The Catcher in the Rye and Franny and Zooey, wrote a series of letters between 1941 and 1943 to a Toronto woman discussing the writing of his magnum opus, then titled "Slight Rebellion Off Madison." Marjorie Sheard had written to Salinger, or "Jerry S.," asking for writing advice and the pair struck up a correspondence. Sheard's family sold the nine letters to help pay for the 95-year-old's care costs.

Breathe it in. Toronto's air quality has been consistently improving over the last decade thanks in part to emission rules and the phasing out of coal-fired power plants. The recession also may have played a role by killing off industry. Carbon monoxide in the air fell 24%; other nasties like nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide dropped significantly too.

A piece in The Atlantic is discussing the role Toronto's Muslim community played in foiling the planned Via Rail terrorist attacks. Olga Khazan writes how the suspects were turned in by members of their own religious community after expressing extremist views. The RCMP said Chiheb Esseghaier and Raed Jaser, the two suspects, had the capacity to attack a train bound for Toronto from the US.

Kristyn Wong-Tam wants to teach Rob Ford a lesson about women in politics. The councillor held a spontaneous event with the group Women in Toronto Politics Wednesday night to discuss the barriers women face in political life. Rob Ford offered to "explain how politics work" to women over coffee during his radio show Sunday. "He can call me and I'll explain to him how politics works for women," she told Metro.

The commute in Toronto can sometimes feel like a living death, but this video takes that idea to new levels. In an effort to drum up support for new rapid transit in the GTHA, the Pembina Institute, an environmental advocacy group, has imagined drivers and bus riders as (surprisingly realistic) zombies. Check it out.

IN BRIEF:

Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.

Image: dunescape/blogTO Flickr pool.


This Week in Film: Pain & Gain, Tai Chi Hero, Upside Down, and Hot Docs 2013

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Pain and Gain filmThis Week in Film rounds up noteworthy new releases in theatres, rep cinema and avant-garde screenings, festivals, and other special cinema-related events happening in Toronto.

NEW RELEASES

Pain & Gain (Carlton, Cineplex Yonge & Dundas)

It's not every Friday that a Michael Bay picture is the most promising new release steamrolling into your local megaplex, but this Friday is indeed one of those Fridays. Now that #TeamBay have thoroughly argued and submitted their case for the Armageddon director's status as an auteur, we can anticipate each new zillion-dollar product as the next piece of evidence in the great 'what-the-hell-is-going-on-in-this-man's-mind' debate, and not worry about whether or not it's actually any good. As far as this one goes, it appears Bay has taken every adjective that's been used to describe his work in the past and written a script that materializes them in the most explicit manner possible. For better and worse.

Tai Chi Hero (Cineplex Yonge & Dundas)

Tai Chi Hero is actor/director Stephen Fung's second installment in his Tai Chi trilogy, coming on the heels of his Tai Chi 0, which screened at TIFF last September. Very much in the same vein as that film, this is a "Chinese steampunk martial arts blockbuster" that illustrates the early years of Tai Chi master Yang Luchan, the guy who founded Tai Chi in the 19th century. Anyone who practices or has an interest in Tai Chi, or who caught the impressive predessor last year, will definitely want to check this out.

Upside Down (Carlton)

Upside Down might just be the most blatant tent pole concept to ever get swept under a rug. Starring Jim Sturgess and Kirsten Dunst - as, egad, Adam and Eden - the film looks nothing short of Inception-grade sci-fi with Cloud Atlas-esque facepalm abandonment of logic, coherence, and self-awareness. Likely motivated by the awesome Melancholia, Dunst appears to already be getting typecast as "girl who loses her shit as another planet threatens to collide with the one she's on," and I think she should be careful of that in the future what with filmmakers only beginning to scratch the surface of the metaphorical weight inherent to that scenario.

Also opening in theatres this week:

  • Becoming Redwood (Cineplex Yonge & Dundas)
  • The Big Wedding (Cineplex Yonge & Dundas)
  • The Colony (Carlton, Scotiabank)
  • The Company You Keep (Varsity)

FILM FESTIVALS

Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival (April 25 - May 5)

We've already posted a preview showcasing the 10 films getting the biggest advance buzz at this year's Hot Docs festival, and soon we'll have a post up that highlights the best docs we were able to take an early look at. Everyone already knows what Hot Docs is and why it's awesome, so I won't spend too much time detailing why you should care that Toronto's second largest film festival (right behind TIFF) kicks off today and will run all day, every day for the next week and a half. It's as much a celebration of the best documentary filmmaking being made today as it is a spotlight on a less flashy side of cinema; one less focused on glitz and glam, and more engaged with, quite literally, reality. Many of the year's best films premiere here every year, so don't hesitate to dive in.

Lead still from Pain & Gain

Why is it so tough for local fashion labels to stay afloat?

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LABEL Clothing TorontoOver the past decade or so, Toronto has made a strong name for itself in the international market as a purveyor of incredibly talented fashion designers. Erdem Moralioglu's beautiful dresses can be seen on the backs of First Lady Michelle Obama and the Duchess of Cambridge herself, Kate Middleton.

Michael Fast made headlines years ago by sending full-figured models (like Canadian superstar Crystal Renn) down the runway alongside their usual emaciated subjects. Most recently, Jeremy Laing has been seeing an incredible amount of Stateside success, having shown his last three collections at New York Fashion Week. Why is it then, that incredible talents who choose to stay local (Evan Biddell, Arthur Mendonca, Ashley Rowe and Rita Liefhebber to name a few) struggle to stay afloat in a city meant to be a vanguard of contemporary fashion and style?

One of the labels sadly affected by the difficulties of the Canadian market is LABEL Clothing, a contemporary ready-to-wear line out of Toronto, with a focus on sustainability and ease. Since 2009, designers Shawna Robinson and Natalie Syorduk have been churning out collections that have received accolades from most if not all of the major fashion publications in Canada. On the eve of their final curtain (Robinson and Soryduk will be hosting a final sample sale and closing party tomorrow at Levack Block), I spoke with co-founder Shawna Robinson to get her take on what works and what needs some work in the Toronto fashion and retail industry.

Tell us a little bit about how LABEL first started, and what you and Natalie were hoping to achieve with your brand?

LABEL started when Natalie and I met while working part time at a clothing store on Queen St. Her modeling career was slowing down, and I was doing some freelance styling work but had always wanted to have my own brand. We started talking about what we thought was missing from the contemporary market, and how we wished that there were more quality garments available in the $60 - $250 price point that weren't made of polyester, or made overseas. Essentially, we were trying to create contemporary basics with a twist, but made in Canada and sustainably designed and manufactured.

What attracted you to starting your brand in Toronto? Was it simply a means of convenience, or is Toronto really a hub for independent fashion designers?

Well, starting in Toronto was mainly due to the fact that we both lived here and had no plans to move. I think there are actually limitations to building a business in Toronto. Rents are very expensive, the production facilities that exist are incredibly expensive (and not particularly high quality) and Toronto consumers tend to support big brand names and not smaller brands. Even if you go to Montreal you'll see a huge difference in terms of support for unknown brands. Here in Toronto it's all about international brands, which is why, from day one, we were pursuing the US market.

Can you explain why it is that you decided to shut LABEL down for good?

Shawna:  Without getting too much into the dirty details, we really felt that our product offering wasn't successfully competing with other brands with a similar price point and aesthetic. LABEL was not really 'designer', more 'contemporary', and larger companies can produce similar styles with retail prices way lower than what we were able to offer. The capital investment to start a brand like LABEL is really high, and when we started LABEL we were in our early 20s and we were completely self funded. For the brand to keep going we would have had to do a major overhaul, and I don't think that Natalie or I was willing to invest that much financially or personally. We are both just ready to go on separate paths.

LABEL Clothing TorontoIs the retail industry in Toronto a part of the problem? How does (or can) Toronto's retail industry play a role in helping to sustain born-in-toronto companies? Do you think there's a way for the retailers to shape the consumer trends?

I don't think so, actually. There are so many great independent boutiques in Toronto who carry smaller brands. I think it falls to the consumer market-they don't like spending a bit more to get something unique, which then creates a problem for the retailers who have taken a huge risk in the first place in purchasing a smaller label. Customers are very price-sensitive these days, and they prefer to buy three dresses from a chain like Zara, rather than one from say, Sid Neigum. It's mass consumption at it's worst.  Obviously, I'm generalizing.

You were heavily involved with organizations like The Collections and Toronto Fashion Incubator. What role do you think supportive, funding groups like these play in Toronto's fashion industry? Are companies like this unique to Toronto?

I'm not sure that they're unique, but they're very important! Like I mentioned earlier, when Natalie and I started our business we had no business plan, no studio, no idea what we were doing.  We had a strong sense of what type of garments we wanted to offer, and the type of branding that we wanted, but other than that, we were babes in the woods. We applied for the TFI designers residency and luckily were accepted. Susan Langdon (founder of TFI) was an amazing mentor, and the TFI program is so unbelievable when you think of all the things residents get access to.

Subsidized rents, mentorship, access to equipment, it's really great for start up brands. As for The Collections, Dwayne, Mel and Brian are definitely spreading the word in terms of emerging talent in this city.  The shows that they produce are flawless, and they curate a wonderful roster of talent every year. People are paying attention, which is great for the individual designers involved, as well as the city as a whole.

LABEL Clothing TorontoIt seems as though then, that there are so many programs out there meant to foster the talents themselves, but perhaps what Toronto is missing is a way of really educating the consumer, and fostering a community of shoppers who understand the merits of shopping local. Can you speak to that?

Yeah, I think you're right.  If you go to New York, consumers want to buy the most obscure brand, they want to be the first person to be wearing something.  But here, it's not like that. Most brands invest heavily in PR in order to get Canadian media talking, just to be able to compete with the international talent that is so widely represented here in our city. Then again, I don't think that consumers should feel like they have to buy something just because it's local.  They should also love it.  So I do think it's about the designers finding their market, and playing to it.  There are many very successful designers who are based here, but sell mostly overseas, or in the US.  At the end of the day it's up to you (as a designer) to figure out where your product fits in, and then offer it there.

Photos courtesy of LABEL clothing

Toronto Restaurant Openings: The Beer Hall, Prairie Girl Yorkville, Fika, Das Gasthaus, Pancho Y Emiliano

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Toronto restaurant openingsToronto Restaurant Openings highlights the latest restaurant openings and closings in Toronto and also gives a preview at some of the places coming soon. Find us here every Thursday morning.

OPEN NOW

  • The Beer Hall at theMill Street Brew Pub is now open at 21 Tank House Lane serving up its namesake beers, draught root beers and shots of bierschnaps that's distilled onsite.
  • Speaking of things German, Das Gasthaus is under construction in the short-lived Narin Pastry space at 107 Danforth. The restaurant promises contemporary Germany cuisine.
  • Prairie Girl Bakery celebrates the opening of it's third cupcakery tomorrow (Friday, April 26th) at 150 Bloor Street West in Yorkville. With plans to open Monday through Saturday, the new retail shop will offer its regular menu of favourites, baked in-house daily.
  • The second Banh Mi Boys location is now open for business at 399 Yonge Street. Currently, the menu of baos, banh mis and kimichi fries is the same as the flagship Queen Street outpost with some new additions to come.
  • TAT Burger is now open at 1118 College Street in the former site of Taurus Grill House. The new casual eatery does breakfast and burgers — though you might want to wait on trying it out while they work out some major kinks.
  • Pancho Y Emiliano is the latest and greatest Mexican restaurant to open in Toronto. Do yourself a favour and go get a fish ceviche tostada.

OPENING SOON
Fika is set to open at 28 Kensington Avenue towards the end of May. Chef Victor Barry (Splendido) and wife, Nikki Leigh McKean will offer a Scandinavian-style cafe complete with a menu of soups, sandwiches and sweets baked off-site daily in the Splendido kitchen.

CLOSING
Retail chocolatier, Xococava (1560 Yonge Street) is closing May 17th. Leading up to the last day, specials and parting gifts are being advertised on their facebook page daily.

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

New in Toronto Real Estate: 155 Redpath Condos

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155 Redpath CondosThe Yonge and Eglinton area is about to welcome yet another condo development. This one will land at 155 Redpath Ave, and while it's still on the mysterious side in that the developer has only released a handful of renderings, it looks like it might rate pretty well on that whole quality-of-life scale. Or whatever that's called. Anyway, this place has a boatload of amenities with comparatively low maintenance fees. Also, they seem to like yoga — a lot. Chill waves.

155 Redpath CondosSPECS

Address: 155 Redpath Ave.
Floors: 36
Total number of units: 470
Elevators: Yes
Types of units: Studio, one plus den, two plus den.
Unit sizes (in square feet): 377 to 1500
Ceiling heights: N/A
Prices from (available units): $229,900
Maintenance fees: $0.49
Developer: Freed Developments
Amenities/building features: Outdoor pool & hot tub, outdoor shower, poolside cabana lounge, sunbathing area, gas fire pit lounge and BBQ, outdoor dining area, floor amenity space complete with a pool table, kitchenette area, meeting lounge, indoor washrooms with changing area, sauna, multi-level fitness centre, indoor/outdoor yoga facility, gardens, party room, deck and lounge areas.

155 Redpath CondosTHE GOOD

Though I write about condos just about every week, and though I think they clearly make sense when it comes to fostering the kind of density we need in the city, I'm less than thrilled with many developments. I'm not going to lie, though. This place kind of makes me want to ditch my apartment and move on in.

The list of amenities that come with this property is actually shocking. It's madness. Poolside cabana lounges, fire pit lounges, multi-level fitness centre...I'm sorry? There are resorts in Toronto now, and you can live in one starting from the mid-200,000s? Correct me if that doesn't sound kind of amazing.

The layouts look pretty good, too, with proportional attention given to living space and bedrooms. There are large windows, and most units offer balconies of some sort, as well.

155 Redpath CondosTHE BAD

While this place seems like paradise, it has yet to be built. The maintenance fees seem a little on the low side to support such supposed grandeur, but innocent until proven guilty is the way it's gotta go.

The one other issue I take with this property is something that's cropped up many weeks in a row. I hate to belabour the issue, but there are rooms without windows. Clearly, I'm not an architect, but I can't help but think that windows are a particularly important design component.

155 Redpath CondosOUR TAKE

We have yet to see renderings that more specifically reveal what the suites will look like, and obviously that carries the most weight. But if they feature brightness and the same clean design as the rest of the building, it seems like an ideal spot, if you're cool with living at Yonge & Eligible. I feel gross even typing that.

A first look at the Massey Hall expansion plans

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toronto massey hallMassey Hall could be about to get its first major upgrade in more than a century if plans for a six-storey addition to the venerable music hall get the green light next month. The new structure will hug the Shuter Street building with two elevated glass walkways or "passerelles" that will provide circulation space for the sometimes crowded venue.

The upgrades come at the expense of an under-appreciated 119-year-old extension at to the rear of Massey Hall. The Albert Building, once the janitor's residence, now used as administrative space, will be knocked down in the earliest stages of construction, probably this July. "A necessary heritage impact," according the a recent staff report.

The new addition will be built on land gifted to Massey Hall by MOD Developments, the company building the colossal Massey Condo over one of the two heritage bank buildings on Yonge Street. In return, the ground floor of the proposed extension will be a drive-through access route to the parking area at the rear of the condos.

toronto massey hallFloors two through six will provide additional back-of-house space for performers, crew, and support staff. There will be new office space, an improved stage loading dock, washrooms, and lounge areas, too. The tight confines of the existing venue put backstage space at a premium.

Inside the auditorium, the Corporation of Massey Hall and Roy Thompson Hall plans to replace the existing seats and make other cosmetic improvements. "We are committed to a plan that addresses the state of the plaster ceilings; and to revealing the original stained glass windows where possible," says Charles S. Cutts, the hall's CEO in a letter to Heritage Preservation Services.

The famous fire escape - added to the front of the building in 1911 in response to safety concerns - will also be taken down as part of renovations to the brick exterior.

Massey Hall opened in 1894 and is "a rare surviving example of a building in Toronto designed as a concert hall with classical features associated with the early 19th century Palladian style," according to its official heritage designation. The building has a number of odd quirks, including a set of Moorish-inspired fireplaces at the back of the auditorium.

The 2,765-seater hall was commissioned by Hart A. Massey, the patriarch of Toronto's powerful Massey family, as a memorial to his eldest son at a cost of $152,390.75. The family built their fortune manufacturing agricultural equipment, founding the company now operating as Varity. Massey Hall has been a National Historic Site of Canada since 1981.

The proposal is currently awaiting final site plan approval but construction won't begin until the 60-storey Massey Tower is complete. Construction crews for that project require constant access to the rear of the old bank building and the two projects could potentially clash.

What do you think of Massey Hall's proposed extension? Will it improve the quality of the venue as expected? Is the design sensitive enough to the original concert hall?

MORE IMAGES:toronto massey halltoronto massey hallChris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.

Images: City of Toronto

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