Another weekend, another TTC subway closure. This time the closure will be occurring on the Scarborough line. 

There will be no subway service on Line 3 from Kennedy to McCowan stations on March 17 and 18 due to track and infrastructure work. Shuttle buses will operate for the duration of the closure.

Shuttle buses will be running between Kennedy and McCowan stations.

Regular scheduled service will resume on Monday morning. The next scheduled closure will halt weekend service on Line 1 between Finch West and Wilson stations on March 30, March 31 and April 1 due to signal upgrades. 

The best Irish pubs in Toronto are great places to hit up on St. Patty’s Day, but they’re also reliable party spots year round as well. Be it green beer you’re after or just good old Guinness, a fabulous savoury pie or hours of lively Irish tunes, if rainbows really do have an end they probably lead to places like these.

Here are the best Irish pubs in Toronto.

Big ticket summer concerts in Toronto mean that, among the sunshine and ice cream, some of the hottest names in music are slated to drop into our fair city. Make sure to consult this list when it comes time to plan your summer music bucket list.

The TTC is recommending a program that would see students at local universities and colleges pay as little as $70 a month for unlimited access to subways, streetcars and buses.

That's less than half the price of a regular adult monthly pass, and significantly cheaper than the current post-secondary rate of $116.75.

It's also lower than what city councillors were expecting, based on predictions made during a TTC board meeting in December, where the long-fabled U-Pass was last discussed.

A report for action released this week ahead of the next TTC board meeting, details the transit agency's proposed U-pass policy framework.

If approved, $280 ($70 a month, based on 4 months per semester) would automatically be added to every individual student's regular student fees.

TTC moves forward with U-pass!
Reducing costs will help the more than 60% of the post-sec students that use TTC.

https://t.co/ZkEwkbN5Mn

— Mischa Young (@mischayoung) March 14, 2018

These fees would be mandatory for students at all eligible academic institutions, whether he or she intends to use it or not.

Students will not be able to opt-out of the pass unless it imposes a burden related to personal circumstances protected under the Ontario Human Rights Code.

The U-Pass would work for eligible students during all three semesters, including the summer semester, be available via PRESTO, and require students to carry "appropriate TTC Post-Secondary Photo ID."

City councillor Joe Mihevc said in December that charging students anything less than $80-100 per month would jeopardize the transit agency's ability to break even.

And yet, according to the TTC's recommended framework, overall revenues are expected to remain stable (that is, if the pass is adopted by the University of Toronto–St George, Ryerson University, OCAD
University and George Brown College, at minimum.) 

UTSG full-time undergraduates would pay $280 per semester — or, $70 per month — for a new U-Pass if the cost is approved by the TTC board on March 20, and if UTSG students vote in support of the U-Pass in its upcoming referendum. https://t.co/Y01wIQ78YD

— The Varsity (@TheVarsity) March 14, 2018

"If all 110,000 fulltime students attending these institutions pay $70 per month, the U-Pass will generate revenues of $66.4M1 annually," reads the report. "The additional $4.7M in revenues per semester are required to offset the additional service costs to support the forecast additional ridership from the U-Pass initiative."

"Based on a $70 U-Pass price, the TTC will remain cost and revenue neutral."

Transit passes are already included in the tuition fees of some Ontario schools, including McMaster, Carleton and the University of Guelph.

Toronto has explored the idea in the past, but it never quite panned out here before.

A coalition of student unions from U of T, Ryerson, OCAD and George Brown have been pushing for the TTC to revisit the idea of giving all students affordable, unlimited access to public transit since at least September.

Their efforts, cited in the transit agency's new framework policy report, suggest that 95% of approximately 16,000 respondents would vote in favour of a U-Pass being implemented.

Whether or not it comes to fruition is now up to the TTC board.

You Grade 6 boyfriend and Justin Timberlake kicked off his Man of The Woods tour in Toronto, of all places, last night – and the city was there for it.

The 37-year-old singer / actor / songwriter / producer / entrepreneur / SNL all-star / N*Sync alumn is now one show down at the Air Canada Centre, with one more to go on Thursday evening.

There's nothing better than watching your man do what they've been put on this earth to do. I’m so proud of you, man of the woods! #MOTWTOUR

A post shared by Jessica Biel (@jessicabiel) on Mar 13, 2018 at 9:08pm PDT

Rumour (and actress Jessica Biel's own Instagram channel) have it that Timberlake's wife was sitting front row and centre during last night's spectacular show.

She was far from the only person gushing over JT's performance, which was perfectly on point in terms of singing, dancing, wardrobe, stage presence and general level of outstanding attractiveness.

A post shared by Justin Timberlake Crew (@jtimberlakecrew) on Mar 13, 2018 at 7:05pm PDT

Audience members report that Timberlake passed out shots to everyone in his band, as well as some fans around the stage.

Video footage shows him toasting Toronto, the crowd, someone's unborn baby, and "motherf--king Drake."

"Here's to the wonderful city, I always have a blast here," he said, shot raised to the sky. "We're doing this to The 6ix! To the North!"

A post shared by @claim2fameofficial on Mar 13, 2018 at 7:33pm PDT

Timberlake, who headlined the 2018 Super Bowl halftime show last month, will be on tour promoting his Man Of the Woods album until January, 2019.

If you happened to miss him this time around, he'll be back in Toronto as part of the same tour on October 9.

The increasingly famous American co-working firm WeWork is expanding rapidly. Everywhere. All time time.

Some say the company is changing the very nature of work itself (for better or for worse) with it's trendy, laid back, collaborative vibe. Others say it's an overvalued, idealistic start-up fuelled by "Silicon Valley pixie dust" and the millennial id.

Whatever the case, Toronto is about to see a whole lot more of it.

A post shared by WeWork Canada (@weworkcanada) on Feb 7, 2018 at 2:17pm PST

WeWork is aiming to open up another 20 – yes 20 - coworking spaces in this city by 2020. Currently, there are three.

"The bottom line is, we don't see any limit to demand," said WeWork's Dave McLaughlin by phone to Bloomberg News in a recent interview. "We're definitely setting our sights high for the city and we think it is an amazing ecosystem for business."

He's right about demand for co-working space in Toronto, though it should be noted that WeWork is far from the only game in town. 

Heading over to @weworkcanada tonight for #InternationalWomensDay to listen to four female game changers 🙌🏽🙋🏽‍♀️ The event will highlight the ways women can become leaders within their organizations and strategies to help empower others ✨

A post shared by The Small Brunette (@thesmallbrunette) on Mar 8, 2018 at 5:57am PST

Both of the New York-based firm's first two locations here were 98 per cent occupied within a month after they opened up in 2017.

A third office at 1 University Ave., announced in January, is also seeing "really strong" demand, according to McLaughlin.

I guess office dogs, beer kegs and Drake art really do appeal to the modern, mobile, young professional.

Epic art at WweWork Richmond

A post shared by Tom Emrich 😎🤖🦄🇨🇦🏳️‍🌈 (@tomemrich) on Dec 30, 2017 at 7:56am PST

WeWork plans to open two additional locations this year, which sounds doable – but 18 news locations in less than two years sounds... optimistic. 

Then again, the SoftBank-backed company has money to throw around, which could help. Just a few months ago, WeWork bought the entire Lord & Taylor building in Manhattan from Canada's Hudson’s Bay Co. for $1 billion.

Under the terms of that deal, WeWork will be leasing space in Hudson's Bay department stores across Canada – including its flagship store at the Eaton Centre in Toronto.

From geeky calendar joke to played out internet trend to cheap pizza throw-down, Pi Day has evolved so much over the past 10 years. 

Celebrated annually on March 14 (3/14, like the mathematical constant – get it?), the day is perhaps best known around these parts for encouraging lots of restaurants to charge just $3.14 for an entire freaking pizza.

Lineups are inevitable, as this is Toronto.

Happy #PiDay, #Toronto! @pi_co_pizza is just one of the many places offering $3.14 pizzas today 🍕 #pizzaTO

A post shared by blogTO (@blogto) on Mar 14, 2018 at 10:02am PDT

Pi Co. is treating customers to personal, Neapolitan-style pizzas pizzas for the low, low price of $3.14 at all three of its locations between noon and 3:14 p.m.today.

#happy #nationalpiday - the #wait for a #personalpizza #314day @pi_co_pizza @blooryorkville #toronto #canada # #tofoodies #torontofoodie #torontofood #6 #416 #torontophoto #torontophotography #thesix #647 #the6ix #the6 #torontolife #torontoliving #torontolifestyle #yyz #tdot

A post shared by Kimberly Simmons (@canadiankas) on Mar 14, 2018 at 9:41am PDT

Blaze Pizza at Yonge and Dundas is similarly selling customized personal pies for $3.14, but their promotion lasts all day.

Customizable personal size pizzas for $3.14 at @BlazePizza today!🍕#PiDaypic.twitter.com/VuVPWmHlL6

— The Eyeopener (@theeyeopener) March 14, 2018

Pizza Pizza is also doing free small cheese or pepperoni pizzas for $3.14 at all of its locations.

$3.14 PIZZAS HAVE BEGUN! Use online code: PIDAY to redeem. Tag your #PiDay pizza bud for a chance to win a $50 Gift Card!

Pi Day Restrictions: Online/mobile app only. Limit one coupon per order. Valid 11:00AM-3:14PM March 14th only. pic.twitter.com/b7n2CeFzhQ

— Pizza Pizza (@PizzaPizzaLtd) March 14, 2018

Those who aren't into pizza (what?) can get cheap actual pies at places like Pie Squared, The Rolling Pin and Kanga.

The rest of us will have marinara sauce stains around our mouths all afternoon.

For all the conveniences of buying stuff in bulk, it's huge pain in the butt to buy stuff in bulk – especially when you don't have a car and very strong arms.

Costco is considering the roll out of its own, full, home delivery service in Canada after a successful run of non-perishable deliveries in the U.S., according to The Financial Post.

The company, which is Canada's largest warehouse retailer, has been on an aggressive expansion tear over the past few years with seven new brick-and-mortat stores opening last year in the GTA alone.

Fresh grocery delivery seems like a logical next step if Costco wants to keep up with competitors like Amazon, Loblaws and Walmart.

The latter two corporations currently offer home grocery delivery in Toronto through Instacart, as does Costco in some markets, but that service comes with what can be hefty fees of its own.

If Costco were to manage its own deliveries, like Amazon, it could beat Canada's major grocery retailers to the punch and lock in customers' business for years to come.

No word yet on whether or not you'll need a Costco card to use the service, but it's safe to say that aisle samples will not be provided.

In the meantime, a Toronto-based service called Comfort.to will deliver orders over $75 from the Costco in Etobicoke to houses south of Bloor, between Kipling and Woodbine, for around $10 a pop.

Warheads? Jellybellies? Giant freaking gumball machines? People in Toronto can finally feel like two kids in a cartoon candy store with the launch of Dylan's at Pearson International Airport.

Famously founded by fashion designer Ralph Lauren's daughter circa 2001, Dylan's Candy Bar has grown to become one of America's most popular sweet shop chains and Instagram backdrops.

The store has over 7,000 different confectionery products, life-size lollipop trees, sour patch kid cocktails, candy-themed accessories and colour-coded rows of goodies as far as the eye can see.

Its retro section alone is a freaking work of art.

Happy #TravelTuesday! We're excited to announce that we've officially made it to Canada! Check us out at @TorontoPearson, Terminal 1. #YYZ#sweetlife#ohcanadapic.twitter.com/JunHwdjync

— DylansCandyBar 🍭 (@DylansCandyBar) March 13, 2018

Now, they've got a location in Toronto, too – though you'll have to go into an airport to experience it.

Dylan's Candy Bar announced this week that its long-rumoured expansion into Canada was finally official after 16 years in business south of the border.

You can find the store in Terminal 1 at Pearson, near Gate D20 – and hopefully, in the future, elsewhere in Toronto. 

What better way to kill time while waiting for a plane, am I right?

It's not everyday you get to try the Japanese delicacy that is Wagyu beef, let alone fill up on it. That's about to change in the GTA, as an all-you-can-eat Wagyu restaurant is set to open later this month.

Richmond Hill's Shinta Japanese BBQ is planning to serve both Japanese A5 Wagyu and Australian M9 Wagyu premium beef cuts to hungry patrons—an unusual occurrence given the high-grade nature of Wagyu beef.

Shinta, a Japanese barbecue restaurant in Richmond Hill, serves a variety of different meats and vegetables that customers can cook to their liking at the table. (Photo via Shinta.)

Wagyu is a type of beef native to Japan that, along with Kobe beef, is currently enjoying a surge in popularity across North America.

Known for its buttery and tender taste, it's sourced from Japanese Wagyu cattle that naturally produce its signature marbled texture. Since only a handful of breeds produce the beef, a one pound steak can typically go for upwards of $60 or more.

Start saving now, as Shinta promises that only the highest grade Wagyu will be served all-you-can-eat style for around $80 when its location at 280 West Beaver Creek Road opens at the end of this month.

Could LeBron James ever be King in the North? Or will the moderate temperatures and glam surroundings of King's Landing Los Angeles prove irresistible to the handsome young basketball royal?

It's hard to say what will happen when the greatest active NBA player on Earth becomes a free agent.

James could be on the market in July after his contract expires with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and fans around the continent already have their fingers firmly crossed that maybe – just maybe – the King will join their team.

Three Billboards Outside Westwood, Los Angeles.#LABronpic.twitter.com/5T5VE7GlMp

— Jo "The Chaos" Oliva (@jo_oliva) March 7, 2018

An advertisement spotted on a TTC subway platform this morning suggests that someone wants BronBron on the Toronto Raptors so badly, he or she actually dug into their own pockets to publicly ask for his hand in basketball.

Nobody knows who designed or paid for the ad, as of yet, but its message is clear: #23TO416, The King in The 6ix.

Next time LeBron takes the subway in Toronto, I think this is totally going to work... pic.twitter.com/Fi2HfW4Owv

— Jay Satur (@jaysatur) March 14, 2018

It's unlikely that James will see the ad for himself while riding the TTC (though, to be fair, he's not averse to public transit,) but maybe he'll read about it in the news. Maybe he'll read these very words I'm writing right now OHMYGOD HELLO LEBRON I LOVE YOU. Probably not.

Regardless, Toronto joins a growing number of cities in which fans have taken it upon themselves to try and recruit James using billboards or ads like the ones above.

these appeared this morning in downtown cleveland 👀pic.twitter.com/tfoxHqPTER

— Drew Corrigan (@Dcorrigan50) February 26, 2018

Recruitment signs originating in Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Cleveland have all popped up in recent weeks (though the latter was more of an eff you from Cleveland to Philly.) 

Toronto isn't an obvious choice, but as the sports news site Bardown notes "Toronto has something those other destinations don't have, Drake."

"The global star is friends with LeBron and he could also help in the recruiting process if he wanted to it," reads a post published today. "That said, we still can't picture a world in which James decided to come play for the Raptors in the summer."

Let's make this happen! Imagine how many titles we'd win with him, DeMar, Lowry and that bench! #23To416https://t.co/8md9khTmV1

— Brody Hinz #23to416 (@HinzBrody) March 14, 2018

Some fans have been critical of the idea on Twitter, arguing that the baller's celebrity would be a distraction or that he would cost way too much to accommodate.

Others are either stoked to think about James coming to the Raptors or laughing at the idea that it could ever happen.

Having King James in Toronto would be awesome, obviously, but it's looking like The North will be more than fine, either way.

News that a co-owner of Little Italy's Smiling Buddha has been charged with sexual assault is throwing Toronto's music scene into a tizzy right now.

The longstanding indie rock venue on College Street was scheduled to host dozens of concerts over the next few months, but NOW Magazine reports that promoters are now furiously working to find new venues.

Several shows have already been relocated in light of the news, including those associated with Canadian Music Week, Collective Concerts and the feminist music festival Venus Fest.

Lead talent buyer / booking manager Matt Sandrin told NOW that he quit over the accusations against his boss.

"I'm out of a job right now and it sucks," he said, "but I believe I'm doing what's right."

Police confirmed this week that Smiling Buddha co-owner Lucan Wai was arrested in February and charged with one count of sexual assault.

Wai took over the established music venue about three and a half years ago. Previous to this, he owned The Central in what used to be Mirvish Village.

"An attempt was made to extort monies from me and the Smiling Buddha" said Wai in a statement shared with Exclaim! on Wednesday.

"No monies were paid and a cease and desist letter was sent to the individual," he continued. "Thereafter, the individual contacted police and I was charged. I am looking forward to clearing my name. Thank you."

Events in Toronto today show the start of a new season can mean opening yourself up to the unexpected. Treat yourself to some new-to-you books or check out some of the art happening all over the city.

Toronto restaurant openings highlights the latest food news in Toronto and gives a preview of what's coming soon. Find us here every Thursday morning.

Open now

• Greenhouse Juice has opened a new location on the Front Street Promenade at Union Station.
• Ristorante Rosina, an Italian restaurant from the same team/family behind Trattoria Taverniti in Little Italy, has opened at 740 King St. W. (by Tecumseth).
• Shunoko, a Japanese sushi bar from the family behind Sushi Nomi that recently closed on Roncesvalles, is now open at 1201 St. Clair Ave. W. (just west of Dufferin).
• Mum's the Word, a cafe by day and a cocktail and snack bar by night, is now open at 567 College St. (at Manning Ave.) in Little Italy, replacing what was once The Green Grind.
• Snow Lava, a shaved ice dessert spot, has opened at 413 Spadina Ave. in Chinatown.
• Casamiento, a "pupusadilla" (pupusa + quesadilla) stand, along with Ko'ox Hana, a place for "authentic Mayan food," are now open inside El Gordo's at 214 Augusta Ave. in Kensington Market.
• Khau Gully, an Indian restaurant named after small lanes in Mumbai filled with street eats, has opened uptown, north of Davisville Ave. at 1991 Yonge St.
• Mediterranean take-out joint 2 Bros Cuisine now has a new location at 1549 Bayview Ave. (at Belsize Dr.) in East York.

Recently reviewed

• The Six Brewing Co.
• Smile Dessert
• Paris Paris
• Brickworks Ciderhouse
• Agenda Cafe
• Laundry & Lattes
• Dumbo Snack Bar
• Labothery

Opening soon

• The much-anticipated downtown location of KaKa All You Can Eat at 655 Bay St. (at Elm St.) now has an official opening date: Monday, March 19.
• Egg Bae is set to take over the space that was formerly Banh Mi Bar at 189 Augusta Ave. in Kensington Market.
• Thor Espresso Bar will be opening a second location this spring at 180 John St. downtown.
• Bloor West Village vegan restaurant Awai will soon be opening a quick-service location at 680 College St. (at Euclid Ave.) in Little Italy (chef Nathan Isberg is no longer involved).
• Locals in Leslieville were sad to hear about Lil' Baci closing, but they'll be happy to learn that Frankies Italian, a new concept from the same owners behind Lil' Baci, will be taking over the space at 892 Queen St. E. It's set to open on March 23.
• Gazi MezeBar should be opening soon at 511 Danforth Ave. in Greektown.
• An "Opening Soon" sign has been spotted for a third location of popular Caribbean joint Allwyn's Bakery, this one at 976 The Queensway in Etobicoke.
• If you're into hot pot that's presented like high tea, then you will be very interested in the opening of J’adore Hot Pot at 8380 Kennedy Rd. in Markham on March 24. Bonus: chocolate fondue for dessert.

Closed

• Following some controversy, Green Republic Food Co. at University & Dundas has closed due to unpaid rent.
• Skin + Boneshas closed in Leslieville after a decline in business.

Other news

• While the third floor of Momofuku Toronto  transforms into a new restaurant, its chef, Paula Navarrete, and her team will be serving up Momofuku favourites at a pop-up at the Champagne Bar in Saks Food Hall by Pusateri's at the Eaton Centre beginning on March 19.

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

This spot has almost every feature a hard loft can possibly have. 68 Broadview Ave. was converted in 2006 from a Rexall pharmacy warehouse so the unit has preserved original wood ceilings, exposed beams, brick walls and polished concrete floors. The apartment is chocked full of character with a giant metal factory door as the piece de la resistance.

This corner unit is north-east facing so it’s bright even with the wood ceilings. The kitchen, dining area, and living space are all open concept, while the bedroom, bathroom, and laundry facilities are hidden behind curtains and doors.

The bedroom is unfortunately behind a curtain rather than a door, which means if you’re a couple with drastically different schedules you will likely be disrupting someone’s sleep.

This place also has some outdoor space in the form of a small balcony, unfortunately, it’s facing the brick wall of the opposite building, so it’s not winning any awards for picturesque views.

The loft is listed for $980,000, which seems a bit steep but this is a sought after building and it wouldn’t be surprising if the unit sells for well above asking price. A unit sold for over $231,000 it’s asking price last year. So prepare for a bidding war if this is the place of your dreams.

Specs

• Address: #414 - 68 Broadview Ave.
• Price: $980,000
• Bedrooms: 1
• Bathrooms: 1
• Parking: 1
• Walk Score: 86
• Transit Score: 97
• Maintenance Fees: $616.50
• Listing agent: Theresa Parkinson
• Listing ID: E4057022

Good For

Fans of the hard loft aesthetic. With all the all the brick, metal and wood it’s hard to ignore you're in an old warehouse.

Move On If

You want a bedroom with doors and real walls. Not everyone enjoys that much openness even if it looks cool.

Events in Toronto this weekend show that while the green beer-themed parties may be raging, there's still plenty of other things to do over the next three days.

In a move that's as smart as it is generous, the federal and provincial governments have together pledged nearly $9 billion over the next ten years for priority transit projects in Toronto.

Hello, downtown relief line.

The infrastructure ministers for both Canada and Ontario announced during a press conference yesterday that they had signed a "bilateral agreement" that will see the feds pump more than $11.8 billion into infrastructure projects across the province.

Very proud to join my provincial colleague @Bob_Chiarelli to announce we have reached an agreement that will see the #GOC invest over $11.8B in Ontario #infra over the next 10 years. pic.twitter.com/0FOVn5SfjE

— Amarjeet Sohi (@SohiAmarjeet) March 14, 2018

Toronto in particular will receive $4.9 billion of these federal funds, which is something we already knew would happen – but only if Ontario agreed to fundat least 33 per cent of the cost of eligible projects.

Premier Kathleen Wynne's Liberal government has, for many months, been hesitant to commit the necessary funds, despite Mayor John Tory's pleading. 

It came as a surprise (and relief) to some, then, when Ontario infrastructure minister Bob Chiarelli announced that the province is stepping up to the plate to nearly match Ottawa's investment. 

Government exists to do the things none of us can do alone. Together, we are investing in the type of projects that make our communities livable and help them thrive, including public transit, green, and recreational infrastructure. #onpolipic.twitter.com/I6HDlskLHC

— Bob Chiarelli (@Bob_Chiarelli) March 14, 2018

Of the $10 billion in new money from the province (previously pledged funds aren't included in this sum,) about $4 billion will go directly to Toronto. The rest will be spent on transit projects in other municipalities.

"For the first time, we now have all three governments dedicated to building the Relief Line, SmartTrack, the Scarborough Subway Extension, waterfront transit, and the Eglinton East LRT," said Tory in a statement following the news conference.

"After years of delays and divisive debates, we are finally getting on with expanding our transit system, we are getting on with working together to build up our cities."

Today is good news for transit in Toronto and for all of our residents. The federal and provincial government are pledging almost $9 billion for our priority transit projects. pic.twitter.com/M5AvJ3rqlY

— John Tory (@JohnTory) March 14, 2018

TTC Chair Josh Colle also praised both levels of government for allocating the funds on a per rider basis, "ensuring the TTC receives billions more than it would if allocated on a per capita basis."

"As I've said before, the TTC requires partnership, collaboration and innovation in order to be successful in delivering a world-class public transportation system that Toronto can be proud of," he said in a release of his own.

"This announcement is a huge step forward in achieving that goal."

As spring approaches, there's one thing Toronto can always expect: road closures. While the month of March isn't flush with weekend closures, there are still a few happening that drivers should be aware of.

Here's what you need to know to navigate the city by car this weekend.

Allen Road

All southbound lanes on Allen Road from Lawrence Avenue West to Eglinton Avenue West in Toronto will be closed beginning Friday at 11 p.m. and will reopen on Monday at 5 a.m. as a result of work by Crosslinx Transit Solutions.

St. Patrick's Day Run

The 5k run will close Wellington St. West from Clarence Square to Yonge St. on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

TTC Subway Closure

In addition to road closures, there will be no subway service on Line 3 from Kennedy to McCowan stations on March 17 and 18 due to track and infrastructure work.

We can never get enough new cafes for studying and free WiFi in Toronto, and this recent crop of coffee shops doesn’t disappoint. It’s now that much easier to indulge in a change of scenery during a work session and maybe a cup or three of joe and a sandwich, baked good or even a cocktail.

Here are some new cafes for studying and free WiFi in Toronto.

Dineen Outpost

The brand new Leslieville expansion of this mini cafe chain is just as Instagrammable as the original Yonge and Temperance location. Plus, here you can get cocktails and bites like meats, cheeses and olives in the evening.

Daily Grind

Though this Bloordale cafe is small and its menu is the same, the minimalist space is undistracting and a long wooden bench is comfy yet sturdy. They brew Hale coffee and provide scones and toffee muffins for fuel.

Antikka

Jazz up your work routine by replacing your boring old latte with an Armenian coffee and a study session in this West Queen West cafe that’s also a record shop.

Alcove Coffee

Due to its Junction Triangle location, this cafe is often quiet, and though it may be small its home to big, inspiring design with bold colours to get your creative juices flowing.

Filosophy

Bloorcourt replaced one student favourite with another when Pam’s Roti moved and the spot became home to a warm and friendly Greek cafe serving homemade Greek pies, loukoumades and baklava.

Tokyo Smoke on Broadview

This new location of Toronto’s mini cafe/head shop chain is actually inside an office building, so the ambience is already primed for getting stuff done. Forno Cultura snacks keep your work session going.

Bulldog Coffee

Part of the Financial District’s booming new mega-eatery Assembly Chef’s Hall, the signature Bulldog with four shots of espresso guarantees a jet-fueled work session. Tall bar stools keep you upright and focused, there are lots of options around for food, and reward yourself with a drink when this cafe becomes a wine bar at 5.

Balzac’s Powerhouse

Davenport Village now has this revamped historical building with tons of space, light, plants, tall ceilings and windows and cool design.

Agenda Cafe

Located in Little Italy and run by the same people behind popular Field Trip, their new spot is filled with light and plants and stocks the same sustaining Food Benders sandwiches.

Creeds Coffee Bar on Bayview

The second location of this cafe recently opened in the Leaside neighbourhood, brewing the same specialty coffee as well as serving vibrant juices and healthy snacks.

One of downtown Toronto's premier sushi and cocktail bars will close for good this weekend after more than 15 years of serving up dope spicy rock shrimp and ebi shooters.

It's a sad time for sake lovers in King West.

Blowfish, located at the corner of King and Bathurst, first announced on its Facebook page in late February that it would be closing its doors on March 18.

"We have so many incredible memories that we created with all of you," reads a note posted by Zark, Tak and the Blowfish team on Facebook a few days later. "Words cannot express our gratitude and appreciate for all your support."

Blowfish hasn't announced the reason behind its closure, but it sounds like the team might be going in a new direction.

"As they say, when one door closes, another one opens," reads the Facebook message. "On the the next chapter… We look forward to sharing our new dining concept with you in the near future."