EGLX, Canada’s largest gaming expo, is coming to the International Centre next month and we've teamed up with the expo to give you a chance to win a weekend pass for four plus a Nintendo Switch and games.

Check out all the contest details here.

The wait is (almost) over for Torontonian fans of the intensely popular, Ontario-based, fresh local food market chain Farm Boy.

Often hailed as Canada's answer to Trader Joe's (which, at this rate, might never make its way north of the border,) Farm Boy has exploded since 1981, from one humble produce stand in Cornwall, Ontario, to a massive, Whole Foods-style "shopping experience" with 24 stores across the province.

Most of those stores are in Eastern Ontario, though GTA residents have been known to frequent some of the newer Farm Boy locations in Whitby, Pickering, Kitchener and London.

Lucky for us, this won't be necessary as of March 1, 2018, when Farm Boy finally opens its first store (of many planned) in Toronto.

The new, 20,000 square foot fresh market in Etobicoke – Farm Boy's 25th location – will celebrate its grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 7:45 a.m. next Thursday. 

Eager beavers can show up to 841 Brown's Line (at the Shoppes of Alderwood) that morning for a chance to win a $20 Farm Boy gift card. Doors open at 8 a.m, and cards will be given out to the first 50 shoppers in line.

Also present will be the Farm Boy mascot, a (person in a) cow (costume) named Lulu.

The best bone marrow in Toronto takes a beautiful part of an animal that would otherwise go unused and turns it into something even more marvellous. Like a shareable ultra-fatty bone butter that comes in its own little organic trough, this delicacy is served in some of Toronto’s most luxurious restaurants that truly respect nose-to-tail cooking.

Here’s the best bone marrow in Toronto.

Ontario's Court of Justice is set to vacate Old City Hall in 2021, making way for the city to build a new, Toronto-centric museum inside its 129-year-old Romanesque Revival building.

This is exciting on many fronts, but the elimination of some very old courthouses should rank high up on the list for fans of energy efficiency, environmental sustainability and saving money all around.

A contract has just been awarded for the design and construction of what's being called "the new Toronto courthouse project" – a state-of-the-art facility planned for 10 Armoury Street, right next to new City Hall between Centre Avenue and Chestnut Street.

Screenshot via Google Maps.

The province announced this week that the new building will be both built and maintained by EllisDon Infrastructure – a team that includes world-renowned architectural firm Renzo Piano Building Workshop, as well as Toronto's own NORR Architects & Engineers Limited.

Construction is expected to start this spring, according to Infrastructure Ontario. If all goes well, the new complex will be finished in 2022.

"The new courthouse will bring together many of Toronto's Ontario Court of Justice criminal courts operating across the city," reads an announcement from the province. 

"Amalgamating several courts into one state-of-the-art facility will reduce costs, make operations more efficient and effective, provide for equal access to services, and will ensure the province's real estate portfolio is sustainable, accessible and efficient."

Interior rendering via Infrastructure Ontario.

EllisDon confirmed in a release of its own that the project will be designed to achieve an LEED Silver certification, with a focus on energy efficiency, healthy indoor environments, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. 

It won't have the old-school charm of its predecessor, but this new building will be leaps and bounds ahead in terms of tech and accessibility.

The new Toronto courthouse is expected to be a "barrier-free environment," with a single point of entry. Magnetometers, baggage scanners, video surveillance, and separate corridors will provide enhanced security to all who work in or visit this building.

Contextual rendering via Infrastructure Ontario.

Video conferencing facilities and closed-circuit TV systems will allow vulnerable witnesses, experts and and the accused to appear from remote locations. Attorneys will be able to display evidence using state-of-the-art courtroom video and audio systems. 

The project will also include the construction of a learning centre for students, justice workers and members of the public "to learn about Indigenous history and issues related to the justice system in Ontario."

It all sounds very fancy and, if the renderings are any indication, it'll look cool, too. Not as cool as Old City Hall, some might say, but certainly more in line with this century's aesthetic.

Courthouse rendering via Infrastructure Ontario.

Even cooler? The site for this new facility was excavated in 2015, unearthing tens of thousands of artifacts from the 19th century neighbourhood known as St. John's Ward.

That neighbourhood has been described by the city as a "place of refuge for Black settlers-including fugitive slaves and freed persons-as well as Irish, Italian, Jewish and later Chinese immigrants."

A selection of artifacts recovered from the excavation and archeological dig can be seen by the public now on the main floor of city hall.

The Artist Project fills the Better Living Centre at Exhibition Place with glitter, clay, balloons, wire, wood, wax, colour and pattern this weekend. The annual fair gives art lovers an opportunity to meet hundreds of the most fabulous artists working right here in Toronto and abroad and buy pieces directly from them. 

Check out this photo gallery of some of the artists to look for at the Toronto Artist Project.

The body count continues to rise this week in the case of suspected Toronto serial killer Bruce McArthur.

Homicide Detective Sergeant Hank Idsinga announced during a press conference at police headquarters this morning that McArthur, a 66-year-old landscaper arrested in connection with the deaths of two men roughly one month ago, has been charged with another count of First-Degree Murder. 

McArthur is "now alleged to have committed 6 murders in cases before the courts," said Idsinga, confirming that the remains of Skandaraj Navaratnam had just been identified as one of six bodies recovered from planters found at 53 Mallory Crescent.

Along with Navaratnam, McArthur is charged with the murders of Selim Esen, Soroush Mahmudi, Dean Lisowick, Andrew Kinsman and Majeed Kayhan.

Toronto Police Homicide Detective Sergeant Hank Idsinga announces to media Feb23/2018 alleged serial killer Bruce McArthur has been charged with a sixth murder charge for the alleged murder of victim Skandaraj Navaratnam pic.twitter.com/xgo9EDmy5p

— Homicide Squad (@TPSHomicide) February 23, 2018

Only Kinsman, Mahmudi and Navaratnam have been identified from the sets remains found in the planters. Police have yet to identify the remains of three more unknown individuals.

This means that as many as nine bodies could now be associated with the McArthur case.

When asked if police believe there could be more victims, Detective Sergeant Idsinga told reporters today that "We do, yes."

That said, police have "no idea" how many more victims there could be or how far back the killings go. Navaratnam, for instance, went missing from the Church and Wellesley area in 2010.

Police are still looking at several properties in connection with the case, and Idsinga says they're not yet finished with the Mallory Crescent site.

"We would like to go back there when the weather warms up a little bit," he told reporters, to see what police dogs can find.

Sales of newly-constructed houses and condos dropped a staggering 48 per cent in January of 2018 compared to what we saw (in an admittedly very hot market) last year at this time.

According to  Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD), the biggest decline related to new single family homes, for which sales across the GTA were lower this January than they have been since before 2000.

Only 365 were sold last month out of 1,251 units purchased overall. The other 886 units were condos in low, medium and high-rise buildings, stacked townhouses, and loft units.

"The January data continue a trend we have seen in the GTA," said BILD President David Wilkes in a release on Thursday. "Our industry wants to meet consumer demand in terms of the mix and type of homes available, but we are constrained by government policy."

Interestingly, given how much home prices have been dropping month over month, the benchmark price for single-family houses actually rose 19.6 per cent between January 2017 and January 2018. 

The BILD reports that the benchmark price for available new single-family homes was $1,229,454, last month. Condominiums, on the other hand, went for an average of $714,430 – 40.8 per cent above last January.

Patricia Arsenault of Altus Group, a data insights firm that's been tracking construction trends in the GTA for more than a decade, says that "new condos remain an attractive option for end-user buyers looking for more affordable homes."

Toronto might look like a soggy-bottomed mess of wet marshland right now, with humidity and rain sure to ruin any hair-conscious individual's day (read: I'm mad), but thankfully next week is expected to brighten up as Mr. Sun makes a brief but welcome return.

That's right, the Weather Network is predicting that not only will we get spring-like temperatures in the coming days, but next week we'll see at least two full days of vitamin D beamed down upon us. 

We can look forward to daytime highs that hover around the 10 degree mark, with Monday and Tuesday marked as the most promising in terms of the complete package of sun and warmth. 

We've already been treated to a brief winter reprieve this month, which with this latest batch of good news should make up for cold snaps and the odd snowfall.

With our weather, you really can never tell what's going to happen, but we'll take the warmth when we can get it.

Here's an interesting recent Toronto real estate sale. This nice-looking detached house on Douglas Drive in Rosedale was just snapped up for $3.78 million, a number which underscores the ever forward push home prices and the importance of good staging.

In late 2015, this same residence was on the market for $3,488,000. After sitting around for a while, the price was actually increased to $3,588,000 before it ultimately sold at $3.37 million in August 2016.

Come this January, it was back on the market at $3,888,000. This time it sold rather quickly for just a bit below asking, and a significant chunk above its last sale price. Not much about the house changed in the interval between, but the staging this time around was definitely better.

This is a very nice looking house, which now even comes with a recording studio in the back garage for musical hobbyists. Who knows if that survived the arrival of the new owner, but it does suggest that this heated secondary space could have plenty of uses. 

As pointed out on the Mash, neat freaks will probably develop OCD trying to keep finger print marks off all the stainless steel in the kitchen, but it's hard to argue that it doesn't look slick when it's freshly polished.

The Essentials

• Address: 166 Douglas Dr.
• Type: Detached
• Bedrooms: 4 + 1
• Bathrooms: 5
• Lot size: 40 x 138.16 feet
• Realtor: The Rose Team, Chestnut Park
• Hit the market at: $3,888,000
• Sold for: $3.78 million

Why it sold for what it did?

This is a big, recently renovated house in the heart of Rosedale. It appreciated in value by roughly $400K since its last sale in August 2016. That should leave some left to spare after the staging costs.

Was it worth it?

The price increase over the last sale roughly reflects market trends, so the easy answer is yes. Now all that's left is to get into the recording studio to jam.

Remember when Canadian rapper and aspiring saint Aubrey Graham gave away $996,631.90 in Miami? Of course you do. He made like, 500 Instagram Stories posts and an entire music video about it.

It was all a part of God's Plan.

The video for Drake's latest banger has now been viewed more than 15 million times on YouTube in less than a week – and its inspiring more than funny tweets about communist Champagne Papi.

so god's plan music video is basically 6 minutes of drake personally redistributing wealth across Miami??? interesting pic.twitter.com/b7NPl7CHwq

— glock🐛 (@Glock__Lesnar) February 16, 2018

Last night, Jimmy Kimmel and his gang of merry producers dropped their own, low-budget version of Drake's new video, starring the comedian's loveable longtime sidekick, Guillermo.

Unlike the million bucks that Drizzy had to work with, Guillermo went to a Los Angeles area dollar store with $100 and made it rain singles on bargain shoppers. 

If you scrubbed and missed it, you should know that Guillermo gave a gigantic cheque for just over $96 to one of the store's clerks at the end of the clip.

"What's this?" she asked Guillermo.

"It's for you," he replied. "It would be great if you cry and you would thank me."

Heartwarming.

For the second time in as many weeks, thousands of people are gathered across the country right now to protest a "not guilty" verdict in the slaying of a young Indigenous person.

#JusticeforTinaFontaine#fortyork no justice on stolen lands, end colonialism now! pic.twitter.com/2LZA7EJlJl

— BlackLivesMatter TO (@BLM_TO) February 23, 2018

Raymond Cormier, 56, was acquitted by a jury of second-degree murder on Thursday in the case Tina Fontaine, a 15-year-old girl from the Sagkeeng First Nation in Manitoba.

Fontaine's death made national headlines in 2014 after her body was found wrapped in a duvet cover, weighed down with rocks at the bottom of Winnipeg's Red River.

Ceremony for Tina Fontaine and her family has begun at the Toronto Harbourfront. #BlanketsforTina#JusticeforTinaFontaine#JusticeReform#MMIWG2Spic.twitter.com/6hoXWeYyap

— Chiefs of Ontario (@ChiefsofOntario) February 23, 2018

Cormier was charged in December of 2015. His trial, which lasted almost three weeks, saw Crown prosecutors play secretly recorded audio tapes of Cormier saying such things as "I drew the line, and that's why she got killed... She got killed because we found out, I found out she was 15 years old."

Indigenous leaders, politicians from every level of government, law enforcement officials, academics, activists, and more have widely decried the verdict as unjust.

Heading to the protest at Fort York in honour of Tina Fontaine, wrapped in a malong instead of a blanket. Your shock serves no one. Your shame serves no one. White supremacy is a real and ongoing force that kills. Every minute we are polite is one step closer to another murder. pic.twitter.com/s55zSIgKl7

— Catherine Hernandez (@theloudlady) February 23, 2018

"Tina's is a tragic story that demonstrates the failures of all the systems for Indigenous children and youth on every level," tweeted federal Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett following yesterday's verdict. 

"We need to do better – we need to fix this."

Solidarity is the only way. Injustice for one is injustice for all @therealzoeyroy#JusticeForTina#aswr#etfopic.twitter.com/AeMLmGINcr

— Kayla Thomas, OCT (@mllethomas1) February 23, 2018

Sheila North, grand chief of Manitoba Keewatinowi said that "the systems — everything — involved in Tina's life failed her."

"No one can be blind to the racial tensions in our country," said Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman in a statement following the verdict.

Blankets for Tina at Fort York. We gather once again to mourn the unjust system which continues to let the killers of Indigenous bodies go free. #JusticeforTinaFontaine#JusticeForColtenBoushie#ProtectOurYouthpic.twitter.com/22zWwcyxKP

— Jennifer J Sylvester (@JJSylvester04) February 23, 2018

"The work of the Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls is shedding light onto a dark past of violence and a history of racism in Canada," said Bowman.

"All of us have a responsibility to challenge racism and discrimination when we see it. And all of us need to work to repair the broken relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people."

In solidarity with #TinaFontaine. We mourn her loss & stand beside all of those affected by it. We hope this incident will tip the justice system to finally address systemic & systematic racism in Canada. #JusticeforTinaFontaine#LoveToTinaFontaine#JusticeForColtenpic.twitter.com/862FHtahBm

— KAIROS Canada (@kairoscanada) February 23, 2018

A host of memorial marches, protest rallies and shows of solidarity have been scheduled for Toronto in the coming days and weeks, including one at Nathan Philips Square on Saturday, March 3.

"Systematic colonial violence in Canada still remains rampant and we must take action in letting our governments and leaders know that we will not be silenced," reads the event's Facebook description. 

One of the most stunning geological attractions near Toronto is just about ready to reopen to public exploration after having been closed since 2015 for environmental protection. 

Located near Caledon, the Cheltenham Badlands were one of the most popular day trip destinations north of Toronto until concerns related to overuse and erosion of the distinctive red shale surface led to them being fenced off. 

There were also problems with traffic and people stopping at the side of the road in the area of the Badlands, which was further motivation to bar access to the natural attraction until a solution could be found. 

A new boardwalk should help to protect the red shale from erosion. Photo by Irina Souiki.

While a master plan for the site is being developed, thanks to the construction of a dedicated parking lot and boardwalk path, the Ontario Heritage Trust anticipates a summer opening for the Badlands.

There have been erroneous reports about a spring opening of late, but that timeline just isn't realistic given that there's work left to be done to prepare the site for the traffic it will witness once the fence is down.

"Trail improvements and maintenance works are currently underway, and will be ongoing through early summer," explains Ontario Heritage Trust spokesperson Catrina Colme.

The Ontario Heritage Trust is working on a master plan to protect the Badlands over the long term. Photo by iamcertifiedsweet.

"The Trust is working hard to ensure the site can re-open to visitors as soon as possible. It is anticipated that it will re-open in summer 2018, once the trail work has been completed."

As for the Badlands' future beyond this summer, the master plan will "outline the long-term vision for the site as well as identify major projects, new trails and other potential site enhancements to be implemented in phases," Colme continues.

Even though it's too early for an official opening date, it's all very good news. The Cheltenham Badlands are a unique natural treasure, and it will be amazing to be able to see them from up close once again. 

Waterfront Toronto is moving forward with its plans to re-naturalize the mouth of the Don River as part of an undertaking that's been labeled "one of the biggest infrastructure projects in Toronto’s history."

Known as the Port Lands Flood Protection program, this immense project is expected to take seven years (and just under two billion dollars) to complete.

When its done, Toronto will have more than 80 acres worth of new parks, roads, bridges and river valleys and an island (Seriously! We're getting a new island!) just east of the downtown core.

At the Spectrum for the unveiling of the Don River Park. Great moment for the city. pic.twitter.com/Raydj7qn3R

— Ken Greenberg (@KGreenbergTO) February 23, 2018

New renderings and models for the sprawling space were unveiled last night during a community consultation meeting for the Port Lands Flood Protection project.

The renderings, which show people playing beach volleyball, riding in canoes and lounging on rolling green hills are exciting – but this isn't about creating more space for people to play.

By naturalizing the mouth of the Don River, the city hopes to provide flood plain protection to the vulnerable Port Lands. With the flood risk stabilized, Toronto can finally proceed with the development of these former industrial lands.

The Globe and Mail reports that an additional 290 hectares of land can be developed in the area once the river has a second mouth and spillway.

Google's new, futuristic Sidewalk Labs neighbourhood (Quayside, as its being called now) will fall within this area, as will the Unilever site being pitched to Amazon for its HQ2 campus right now.

Excavation will begin this summer. The new riverside parks, designed by renowned landscape architecture firm Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, are expected to be complete sometime between 2021 and 2024.

"As the river runs south and then west, its banks will be lined largely with wetland and lawn – which can flood harmlessly if the river overflows its banks," reports The Globe.

"Then, as the river empties westward into Toronto harbour, it will culminate in what's called Promontory Park."

Expect slick sculpted landforms, playgrounds, dog runs, sports fields and what architects describe as an "urban promenade" along the water's edge. The dreamy Port Lands paradise we've been promised is now only 3-5 years away.

One of Toronto's most well-known burger joints is officially half a century old, and still going strong. 

For 50 years, Johnny's glowing orange exterior has burned bright at the corner of Sheppard and Victoria Park, serving banquet burgers and steaks on kaisers to a steady stream of locals and tourists alike.

The squat little burger spot – easily confused with a full service repair shop at first glance – has long played an integral part in the fabric of northwest Scarborough.

Former Scarberian Mike Myers loved it so much he'd talk about it on live television, and even drew inspiration from Johnny's (and Tim Hortons) for his fictional burger joint Stan Mikita's in the Wayne's World movies. 

Head here on a Saturday night and you'll still find staff dressed in their iconic orange polos, blue aprons and soda jerk hats, plus a lineup of the post-party crowd hankering for cheap patties and onion rings. 

Though it's now dwarfed by a newer tw0-storeyed Shoppers Drug Mart next to it, the restaurant still manages to hold its own. Johnny's takeout only policy often sees  tiny parking lot transform into a makeshift dining area for drivers to eat in their cars. 

As with any old establishment, there are claims that the burgers and fries are no longer as good as they used. To that it can be argued that perhaps you've just sobered up. 

The top restaurants for live music in Toronto provide amazing soundtracks for your dining experience. Nothing makes dinner better than some soulful crooning with your food and wine.

Here are my picks for the top restaurants for live music in Toronto.

King Taps

This massive two-tiered pub in the Financial District has live music every night, from singers and bands jamming out as you pig out on pizza and get drunk on one or more of their 50 plus beers on tap.

Hugh’s Room Live

A go-to joint for a throwback live music experience, this bar in Roncy reopened early 2017 after a brief hiatus and is now back with live acts most days of the week, accompanied by a dinner menu that includes hearty dishes like lamb shank and veal chops with wine.

Alchemy

Head to this Little Italy spot for acoustic shows and Wine and Jazz Wednesdays to pair with charcuterie boards, burgers and your favourite red. Keep an eye out for their occasional buck-a-shuck events featuring live music.

Lula Lounge

This incredible venue is a Brockton Village staple. With concerts, performances, and album releases happening almost daily, be sure to make reservations at this vibrant dance hall ahead of time, especially during their weekend dinners of Cuban fare with a live salsa band.

The Rex

An oldie but a goodie, this institution on Queen West has been the heart of Toronto’s jazz scene since the 80s. With performances happening at least twice every day, nestle into one of their intimate booths and enjoy some smooth jazz with wings and burgers.

The top squash courts and clubs in Toronto are an indoor getaway for sporty people. It’s the perfect place for releasing some pent up frustration, or for getting dramatically competitive with your partner, like they do in the movies.

Here are my picks for the top squash courts and clubs in Toronto.

Crescent Town Club

Two North American sized courts and no additioanal court fees make this club by Victoria Park station a great option. Dwellers of the Crescent Town condos have free access while non-residents pay $195 for an annual membership, or $25 for a single month.

St. Lawrence Community Recreation Centre

Just steps away from St. Lawrence Market, this community centre on the Esplanade has two squash courts available at $8 per person for 40 minute sessions.

University of Toronto Athletic Centre

If you’re not a U of T student or alumnus, a membership here is pricey at $850 for an upfront one-year fee (there's also an option to join in four month blocks). It will, however, grant you access to four international courts and five American sized courts.

Granite Club

Sip some fine wine after a squash session at this fancy North York establishment. With two double courts and five singles, you can join this club for a yearly membership that will set you back at least three figures.

YMCA

There are just a few YMCA locations that offer squash facilities: the North York YMCA at Sheppard and Bayview, the Central location near Wellesley station and the West End YMCA at College and Dovercourt. Try out their courts with a free two-week trial membership.

Toronto Racquet Club

This spot is boys-only (yes, those still exist), so no girls allowed at this Cabbagetown club. Facilities include two international singles courts, one hardball court and one doubles court, with annual membership prices varying by age group.

The Badminton and Racquet Club of Toronto

After a dramatic fire in 2017 that set this Yonge and St. Clair club ablaze, the club is back in full effect. With four international squash courts and one doubles court, a yearly membership plus initiation fees will set you back four digits.

Mayfair

All Mayfair locations have squash courts but the club’s Lakeshore spot has the mother load, with 13 singles glass-backed courts, while their West location only has one. The cost of a monthly membership depends on your court feeds and package deals, but can range between $100 and $200

Recreation and Athletics Centre (Ryerson)

Located in the original gym at Ryerson, the RAC may not be as shiny as the newer Mattamy Athletic Centre but it does have four squash courts, three which have glass backs. If you’re not a student or graduate, it’s $54.15 a month, or $7.08 for a day pass with a member.

LA Fitness

As their flagship location, LA’s gym in North York has four squash courts, which you can access for with a membership for $44.99 a month. Their Eglinton East location also has courts; memberships here are a little cheaper at $39.99 a month.

The Adelaide Club

As one of the Cambridge Group of Clubs’ three brands, this co-ed spot in First Canadian Place has squash courts, though to use them you’ll have to pay a bit extra on top of the basic membership fee, which costs upwards of $80.

Cambridge Club

If you’re a male corporate exec looking to have a little one-two with an old pal, check out this old school club right by Nathan Phillips Square. Boasting the only doubles court downtown, they also have to single courts, for an undisclosed – obviously pricey – fee.

Toronto Athletic Club

Tucked in the TD Centre, this club has four international singles courts and one doubles court is not cheap, with a registration fee that will set you back $1500 on top of monthly costs.

Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club

They go club by Wilson and Avenue is decked out with six singles courts and three doubles courts, with house leagues, camps, and lessons. If you don’t have a membership (which will cost you thousands a year) you can tag along with a friend who does for $10 an hour.

Goodlife Fitness

This giant workout brand has five club locations that offer squash. Its gyms at Square One Mall, Eglinton East, the DVP and Eglinton and Yonge and Finch are all equipped, with their only downtown location being on McCaul. Memberships vary but are comparatively affordable.

A massive revitalization project at Bloor and Dufferin is drawing outrage from residents who believe developers are shortchanging the Bloordale Village community for profit. 

The proposed development, which will span across a sprawling 7.3 acre site (some on former TDSB property) intends to add more than 2,200 residential condo units, 15,000 square metres of retail space, two new streets, and an estimated 3000 new residents to the area. 

It's a massive undertaking that will stretch across seven blocks, and the inevitable increase in density has current residents fearing for the future.

According to Erella Ganon, moderator of the Dufferin Grove listserv, rent hikes, loss of green spaces, and new retail businesses to the detriment of existing mom and pop shops will all drastically effect the local community, and not enough is being done to offset the damage.

"If the community is giving up sunlight space or green space, we should be getting something out of it," she says. 

Residents also claim that Capital Developments and Metropia reneged on their promise to build a 30,000 square foot community hub equipped with a daycare and community centre in the historic Kent Senior Public School.

Instead, the application now suggests a smaller community hub in the school's basement, with no daycare spaces.

"We're all angry about what is happening and how this development has changed," says Erella. "What is being proposed now is a joke, there's nothing about community building."

Liza Lukashevsky, Chair of the Bloordale Village BIA, has also voiced concerns about the project.

Working in tandem with ward councillor Ana Bailao to negotiate terms with the developers, she and the BIA are hopeful they can still work toward achieving the community hub the neighbourhood is asking for. 

"We agree that density is a good thing, especially on the subway line," she says. "It's the retail part of it that we're not crazy about." 

The new vision for the southwest corner of Bloor and Dufferin. Rendering via Capital Developments and Metropia.

According to Liza, the amount of new retail square footage exceeds the total amount of commercial space in the BIA right now, which puts local stores at a huge disadvantage. 

She also fears that the construction of new private roads will allow property owners the ability to deny locals access to what used to be public grounds.

There's also sustainability concerns. Glass towers – which, besides being notorious energy sucks, are so passé – built as high as 47 storeys in an area where most buildings average around three storeys has some residents worried about the precedent the development will set.

"It just doesn't seem forward-thinking," she says. 

Despite this, Liza think the condos might benefit young people looking for a place to live in an increasingly inflated market. 

"A lot of younger people are hopeful that there are apartments in there that they can afford," she says. "I'm hopeful."

The top cookie companies in Toronto take the simplest baked good in existence to new heights. Distributing their sweet creations across the city via your favourite cafes and even through the interwebs, these bakeries will have you cookie crazed.  

Here are my picks for the top cookie companies in Toronto. 

Circles and Squares

You can't adore cookies in this city and not know this Scarborough-based company. Famous for their salted chocolate chunk cookies, you can find their products at cafes all around the city like Bud's and Filosophy, just to name a few.  

Butternut Baking Co.

With a successful shop in the Junction, this healthy bakery has a variety of vegan and non-vegan cookies. Now you can get their breakfast and chocolate cookies at any of Boxcar Social's four locations. 

Robyn’s

For nearly ten years, this shop at Yonge and Lawrence has been baking up massive chocolate chip cookies and shortbread goods for special orders. You can find Robyn's creations at Summerhill Markets, Bruno Fine Foods and The Friendly Butcher. 

Mary Macleod's Shortbread

As the first bakery in Canada dedicated to hand-made shortbread cookies, you can bet your bottom dollar they're good. While you wait for them to open their new location by Pearson airport, you can grab these classics at Starbucks, Holt Renfrew, or Loblaw's. 

Cookie Scoop

This online bakery offers collections of cookies available for pickup at their storefront in the Castlefield Design District. Gift yourself a luxurious snack like their red velvet Lindt white cookie, or try their Oreogasm for a treat your sweet tooth will appreciate. 

The Night Baker

Bulky, plushy cookies are the specialty of this online shop. Order with the Night Baker and you can get their campfire s'mores cookies delivered to you for free anywhere in Toronto. Get lucky and you'll find their pop-up stall at markets like the Leslieville Flea Market. 

Craig’s Cookies

Toronto can't wait for this cookie brand's first brick and mortar shop to open on Queen this March. In the meantime, you can try Craig's smash hit confections like the peppermint patty or peanut M&M chocolate chip cookies at his pop up in Yorkdale's William Sonoma. 

Sweet Flour

Order any of their cookies online and pick them up (by appointment only) at this Stockyards kitchen. You can also find their delicious bites at Pusateris and Freshii, though I recommend visiting their web page just to order their frozen cookie dough. 

Leah’s

While this St. Clair West bakery is most popular wholesale-wise for their biscotti – especially among the likes of Pusateris, McEwans and Whole Foods –  you can get their delicious kitchen sink cookies and chocolate sandwich cookies catered to your party (of one). 

Desmond and Beatrice

Delivering seven days a week, this business operated exclusively as a wholesaler for cafes like Te Aro and Green Beanery before opening up a brick and mortar to serve their specialty cookies to the lucky folks in Leslieville. 

After a long and expensive legal battle with its landlords, arcade bar Tilt will be shutting its doors to the Annex tomorrow and moving to a new undisclosed location at Dundas and Bathurst. 

The new spot will be open to the public by mid March, and according to Tilt's co-owner Nathan Hunter, will have up to 30 percent more space and more games available. 

Still, it's a sad day for the most popular pinball bar in the city, which has only occupied the building since late 2016.  

 "We're obviously really disappointed," says Nathan. "We didn't want to move." 

For the last year, Tilt has been fighting the landlord's plans to turn the three-storey building at 296 Brunswick Avenue into a boutique hotel – a threat that has loomed over the property's business owners and residents since February, when the plans were announced.

Despite taking the case to court, Tilt's bid for the right to buy the building proved unsuccessful, even though a clause contained in their lease stated that they could propose a counter offer if the property were to go on sale. 

"I was shocked by the result," says Nathan, who says the process has left him deeply disappointed with the legal system. 

"As much of a bummer it was for us, I can only think about the people who lived above us," he says, referring to the 20 tenants, many low-income, who have been evicted after years of living at 296 Brunswick. 

In spite of this , there's little doubt that Tilt will find success in its bigger – albeit, pricier (rent-wise) – location, with loyal customers that will follow wherever the pinballs go. 

"We're going to miss the Annex," says Nathan. "But this could very well be for the best." 

Some of Toronto's newest cafes have some of the best interior design in Toronto right now. From the ultra-tiny and intricately detailed to the palatial and industrial, these cafes will not only provide your caffeine buzz but offer an environment that’s pleasing to the eye as well.

Here are some new cafes with stunning interior design in Toronto.

Alcove

This bright little corner jives with its Junction Triangle neighbourhood, a tiny slanted little cafe with a wall of imagistic penny tiling by a local artist. The surprise: there’s a 1500-square-foot photography studio hidden in the back.

Parallel

This massive industrial space on Geary is completely open concept so you can see and hear all aspects of cafe cooking and tahini production. That’s right, this cafe is also an operational tahini factory, outfitted with a shipping container table, windows facing train tracks, and an herb garden on top of the washroom.

The Library Specialty Coffee

Located smack dab in the middle of some of Toronto’s artsiest neighbourhoods near Baldwin Village, OCAD and the AGO, this cafe brings a bit of Australia to Toronto. Entryway tiling mimics Patricia in Melbourne, and the interior is every bit as minimalist and white as a true Aussie cafe.

Dineen Outpost

Previouslocations of this cafe have been known for impeccable design that hearkens to the history and architecture of Toronto, and this new Leslieville outpost is no different. Wraparound banquette seating, tiling around the bar and arching light fixtures are highlights.

Balzac’s Powerhouse

Actually housed in a former powerhouse in the Junction Triangle, this new Balzac’s location boasts custom wallpaper, hexagonal floor tiling, vintage artifacts from the building’s past, leafy plants and tall windows.