Allowing developers to cut the number of parking spaces in new residential developments could save Toronto's ailing bike share program, says councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam. Current city rules allow builders to trade parking capacity for auto share spaces or ring-and-post locks, and Wong-Tam wants BIXI stands added to that list.

In a member's motion to be heard at city council next week, Wong-Tam will ask transportation services and city planners to investigate the feasibility of expanding BIXI using developer's money at zero cost to the city. The new stands could be funded out of a pool of money and placed where there's the most demand for bike infrastructure.

"I can see some suburban councillors saying 'well, how is this going to benefit me?'." Well, they also have development in their wards, so it's a conversation where we pool our resources together and make it right for everyone. This is not a downtown versus suburbs thing," Wong-Tam says.

"I don't think BIXI should be limited to the downtown core - I would love to be able to pick up my BIXI bike and ride it all the way to Etobicoke. I think that would be a great experience."

BIXI identified its inability to expand as one of the main reasons it has struggled to manage its debt repayments. Right now the system has 80 stands, mostly in the downtown core, and 4,630 paid subscribers. Earlier this week the Toronto Star reported that staff urged councillors to take on the struggling program. The result of their private vote on the matter isn't yet public.

As it stands, Toronto is on the hook for the $4.5 million loan the Montreal-based bike share company used to buy its equipment should the company fail. As of December, $3.9 million was still outstanding.

Wong-Tam says she's spoken with developers in her ward who are "open to any suggestion" about ways they can reduce the number of parking spaces they're required to build. Unlike some cities, Toronto sets parking minimums for all new developments. Being able to lose some parking presents a significant financial benefit on new buildings, the councillor says. Requiring a contribution to BIXI in exchange would benefit both sides.

"I think it's a worthy conversation. Is it going to solve every issue within BIXI? Probably not. But is it going to going to deal with their number one obstacle which they've identified as the biggest stumbling block to financial success? Then yes, I would say we've got game and we've got play."

"I tell you right now, with that small policy gesture we will have the largest bike share program in North America in a very short period of time."

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

Image: Jefferson Photography/blogTO Flickr pool.

The best tacos in Toronto are easy to take for granted. Tacos are cheap, delicious and seemingly everywhere these days — although many will remember this was not always the case. Once an underrepresented genre, Mexican and So-Cal street food has only recently caught on in Toronto. My own first taco experience was almost certainly out of an Old El Paso box or perhaps at a Chi Chi's. Anyone else remember that abomination?

Fortunately, an influx of new taquerias have bettered Toronto's taco landscape forever, and cultivated connoisseurs of glorious MexiCali-styled seafoods and mouthwatering carnitas, al pastors and lengua.

Here is where to find the best tacos in Toronto.

See also:

The Best Fish Tacos in Toronto
The Best Burritos in Toronto
The Best Mexican Restaurants in Toronto

Photo by Ronnie Yip in the blogTO Flickr pool

FASHION | Levi's x LB Global Style Party Toronto
Break out (or in) those 501s, because Levi's is hosting a party at the Drake in their honour. Celebrating classic denim, the Levi's x LB Global Style Party (with LB standing for the infamous streetstyle blog lookbook.nu) invites guests to get creative with their 501s by heading to the on-site tailoring and DIY stations where style expert Rachel-Marie Iwanyszyn and DIY expert Elle Frost will be doling out advice on how to wear and individualize denim. This Lookbook party is free but an RSVP is required through the event's SplashThat page.
The Drake Hotel (1150 Queen St. W.) 8PM RSVP required

PHOTOGRAPHY | Workman Arts' HERE IS WHERE
CAMH opens its doors to Workman Arts' artists for a pop-up gallery as part of the CONTACT Photography Festival. HERE IS WHERE is a show in which four artists uncover the secrets and stories of the historical building at 1001 Queen West. The space has treated mental illness for over 150 years within its 27-acre home. CAMH acts as a large canvas for artists Heather Fulton, Catherine Jones, Michael Mills and Annette Seip to present their interpretations of the events and stories that happened within its walls. The show is free as Workman Arts is working to promote and educate the public through art during Mental Health Week.
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (1001 Queen St. W.) 12PM Free

FILM | The Black Museum Presents: Raising Hell: Ken Russell and The Unmasking of The Devils
Host Richard Crouse lectures on his most recent book, "Raising Hell: Ken Russell and The Unmasking of The Devils", which is based off the 1971 film The Devils. The film, which tells the true story of a 17th century French priest and a group of sexually repressed nuns, delves into exorcisms and trials in a most provocative manner. The lecture expands on how the company that owns the film had it banned it to make it disappear, a topic which Crouse will cover in depth during his lecture. Clips from the film will be shown to accompany the talk at this Black Museum lecture at Big Picture Cinema tonight.
Big Picture Cinema (1035 Gerrard St. E.) 8PM $12 advance $15 door

MUSIC | Invasions/Michael Rault/Wicked Witches/Boxer the Horse
Michael Rault, the Edmonton pop blues musician, opens The Horseshoe's Thursday night line-up with a 9:45PM performance followed by a filthy, nasty, sweaty set by WickedWitches. If you want to experience a wide range of music this Thursday night so you can turn off your brain and dance, Toronto garage band Invasions follows the Witches along with a final set by Charlottetown rock group Boxer the Horse. Doors open at 8:30 for a DJ set by the bands before the schizophrenic line-up begins. Tickets will be available at the door.
Horseshoe Tavern (370 Queen Street West) 8:30PM $7

FOOD | Top Chef Canada's Steve Gonzalez at Brant House
Cinco de Mayo may land on a Sunday this year, but there's no reason not to start the celebrations on a little early. Tonight, Brant House does just that with a special Cinco de Mayo dinner consisting of a set menu cooked up by Top Chef Canada's Steve Gonzalez. The fiesta includes a four-course meal and specialty Latino-inspired cocktails just in time for the holiday. Three seatings will take place throughout the evening. Book ahead through UniqLifestyle.com.
Brant House (522 King St. W.) 6PM $65.50

ALSO OF NOTE:

• Cinco de Mayo Brewmaster Dinner
• DiscOh #1
• Dislocations
• Life x 3
• mother log

For more Toronto event suggestions, check out these posts:

• This week in fashion
• Toronto Food Events
• This week in Theatre
• This week in film
• This week in music
• Toronto Concerts, May 2013

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 Lookbook's Levis Contest

Rob Ford has called a special city council meeting for May 21 to debate whether or not to allow a Toronto casino. The discussion was originally scheduled for the meeting next week, and the change prompted some councillors to accuse Ford of stalling on the issue. OLG announced yesterday that it had completed its review of revenue sharing options but didn't release details. Can Rob Ford get the votes for a casino?

Plans to revive the Scarborough subway debate in conjunction with a conversation on transit taxes isn't going down to well at Metrolinx. The provincial transit agency has already agreed to build a light rail replacement for the aging SRT. Changing the plans at this stage would be "difficult" and "expensive" according to Metrolinx chairman Rob Prichard.

Meanwhile, new Ontario Transportation Minister Glen Murray says he's not convinced the next phase of Big Move projects, including the Downtown Relief Line and various light rail lines, are set and stone. Murray calls the projects which have cost the province millions of dollars and years of planning "placeholders" and open to tweaks. Bad idea?

Michael Sosedov is one of the TTC's new group station managers. He's also a Russian ex-pat who has had a remarkable life prior to being the Moscow region's deputy minster of transport. In one story recounted by the Toronto Star, his mother, who believed Sosedov's father had died in the second world war, was reunited with her husband by pure chance while the pair were recovering from amnesia at the same hospital. Wow.

Spring weather's here, and that means it's officially patio season. But not everyone is happy with the appearance of outdoor tables and chairs on Toronto's streets - illegal set-ups block the sidewalk and impede the flow of pedestrian traffic. Getting outdoor seating approved can be tricky, too, if the neighbours don't like it. The Toronto Star delves into Toronto's patio wars.

A Toronto Chinatown gateway arch is getting the Canada Post stamp treatment for Asian Heritage Month. The Zhong Hua Men Archway at Gerrard and Broadview joins 7 other paifangs (the Mandarin name) on the series issued yesterday.

Threats by Rob Ford on his weekly radio show to read out the names of councillors who vote in favour of transit taxes has prompted a complaint to the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council. Lawyer Viresh Fernando says he "crossed the line" with his promise. It's not clear how announcing a person's voting record could be grounds for legal action.

Police have arrested a man in connection with a $2.2 million pot bust yesterday. More than 2,200 plants and 20,250 grams of dried marijuana were seized in the raid on a property near Gerrard St E and Leslie. 44-year-old Ping Jiang faces numerous charges over the drugs.

The Maple Leafs first playoff game in almost a decade didn't entirely go to plan last night. The Buds took an early lead but were outplayed for the majority of the game by the Boston Bruins. Game 2 is Saturday night, and fans of the Leafs will be hoping their team can muster a response to the rampant home team.

Things didn't go much better in town either - the Jays were thrashed 10-1 by the Red Sox.

IN BRIEF:

• Toronto police launch 'hate' investigation after hijab-clad woman assaulted [National Post]
• Ornge sells 2 helicopters for $20 million [CBC]
• Boston mayor turns down Rob Ford's NHL playoff bet [National Post]

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

Image: Jack Landau/blogTO Flickr pool.

This 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

Iron Man 3 (Varsity, Scotiabank)

Gwyneth Paltrow says this is the last of the Iron Man films (at least until the inevitable reboot comes some 10 or so years from now; Taylor Lautner as Iron Man? Could happen...), so best we all get our fix of the sarcastic superhero now. The Iron Man franchise has always, thanks to Robert Downey Jr., stood out for being a genuinely funny comic book movie, allowing us to chuckle in between 'splosions; with Jr.'s return, this holds true for this entry, which might actually be the funniest one yet. Not much else to say; it's more of the same, and the same in this case is a rare case of a good thing.

Also opening in theatres this week:

• ChristCORE (The Royal)
• Kon-Tiki (Varsity)
• Shootout At Wadala (Cineplex Yonge & Dundas)
• Still Mine (Varsity)

REP CINEMA

Science on Film: Julie Payette on Apollo 13 (Wednesday, May 8 at 7PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)

We've all seen Apollo 13 before. It might be the defining outer space dramatization in the cinema history, and in retrospect it looks even more miraculous for the absence of sci-fi gimmicks and cheap thrills. I'm normally a bit wary of these Science on Film speaker-to-film pairings, but this one seems like it will be legitimately enlightening and inspired. Julie Payette is a Montreal engineer and astronaut who's completed two spaceflights, and has spent more than 25 days in space. Few have first-hand experience with the anxieties of space travel, so I'm excited to hear her experience watching this film, or really anything she has to say about NASA, the future of space programs, etc.

SPECIAL SCREENINGS

The Grub-Stake Revisited (Monday, May 6 at 7:30PM; TIFF Bell Lightbox)

This special live event recreates Bert Van Tuyle's classic 1923 melodrama The Grub Stake with a new musical score and dialogue derived from the works of William Shakespeare. Written by Canadian Nell Shipman, the film itself tells the tale of a spirited gal who journeys to the Klondike during the 1898 Gold rush to find love and prosperity, only to discover that greed and villainy rule the day in Dawson City. (This predates Greed, The Gold Rush, and By the Law, it should be noted.) Premiered to great acclaim at Whitehorse's Available Light Film Festival in 2012, this "Revisitation" is a wonderful opportunity to see a Canadian classic recontextualized into an exciting and imaginative new beast.

Love `Em or Hate `Em: 4 Controversial Directors in Nayman's Terms (Mondays at 7PM, May 6 - June 3; Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre)
+
Stanley Kubrick: A Lecture Series by Adam Nayman (Bi-weekly on Thursday at 7PM, May 9 - June 20; Revue Cinema)

Adam Nayman - the ubiquitous Toronto-based writer for publications such as Cinema Scope Magazine, Reverse Shot, The Globe and Mail, and The Grid - talks a lot. Fortunately for us, his thoughts on cinema and its history are some of the most erudite thoughts one can hope for on the medium. His successful lecture series on the Coen brothers' oeuvre has just recently wrapped up, and we're excited to learn that he's swiftly following it up with not one but two new lecture series.

One is an encore/update of one of his more popular series on controversial filmmakers (the first one on David Cronenberg (May 6) I'm particularly excited excited for, especially on the heels of TIFF's Fall retrospective of his work), and the other is on four late Kubrick masterpieces. Both promise to be more fun than film school, but at least as enlightening.

Lead still from Iron Man 3.

The cocktail has made a surge back into the mainstream in the last decade or so, and with particular speed in Toronto over the last two or three years. New specialty products are launched daily, an ever growing list of new and exciting bars continue to open and some even refer to bartenders as "mixologists" — everybody wants someone who cannot only execute a great drink, but also create an original one. Gone are the days when ordering a wine to accompany your meal seemed intimidating, it's now the cocktail that has certain mystique and lofty sophistication.

While history has given us classic pairings of bottles of wine, liquor, and beer with any given meal (think Chablis and oysters, vodka and caviar, or schnitzel with a German pilsner), the rise of the adventurous bartender foretold an inevitability that cocktails would someday take their place alongside the great products in the ritual of dining. The fusion of different cuisines requires new inventions to match the ingenuity of the food on offer. Just like the pairing of a fine wine with a dish, however, the central feature of building a complementary drink offering is about a marriage of flavours.

There are some places in the city that seem to be taking that mantra to heart, such as OddSeoul, the late night Korean/American fusion restaurant on the Ossington strip. Bartender John Macdonald and owner Leeto Han have put together a cocktail menu that complements the food on offer and that incorporates both classic and novel ingredients. Korean/American fusion seems a ripe playground for exploring the great American tradition of cocktail making with inspiration from the East.

A great example here is the Old Fashioned, made with chai tea-infused Crown Royal, whiskey bitters and maple sugar. But perhaps the drink that best encapsulates John and Leeto's mandate is the Snow White.

The ingredients include Beefeater Gin, Tozai unfiltered junmai sake, fresh squeezed lemon juice and Yuzu marmalade.

First John chills a coupe glass. In a Boston shaker he combines the gin, sake, and lemon juice. The marmalade is then added and stirred into the mixture. The mixture is shaken hard with ice for a good 20 seconds before being doubled strained into the coupe.
The end result is a harmonious blend; tangy citrus and floral notes are balanced with a hint of sweetness. A great accompaniment to the spicy and savoury Korean fare.

The Snow White

1½ oz Beefeater Gin
1oz of Tozai unfiltered junmai sake.
½oz of fresh lemon juice
1 hefty bar spoon of Yuzu Marmalade (available in many specialty Asian groceries around the city)
Combine ingredients in a boston shaker.
Shake hard with ice for 20 seconds.
Fine strain into a chilled coupe glass.

Read up on how to make other cocktails from Toronto's best bartenders via our cocktails Pinterest board.

Photos by Jesse Milns

Toronto 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

• Crossroads Diner is the newest food truck to hit the streets with a '50s inspired a look and mobile menu that riffs on diner classics. Burgers, soups and salads will be available alongside sandwiches like 'The Elvis,' a grilled peanut butter, banana and bacon sandwich on brioche.
• Ben & Izzy's Deli is now open at 3513 Bathurst Street. The beef-focused, kosher delicatessen is offering smoked meats like tongue and pastrami piled high onto rye bread.
• Montauk bar is now open week-round from 5pm at 765 Dundas Street West offering a menu focused on cocktails, local beers and wines.
• Butter Chicken Roti is now open at 398 College Street, and the scent of curry wafting out its doors is glorious.
• New Peruvian restaurant, Ardor Bistro (59 Ossington Avenue) is launching a soft opening phase this Saturday, May 4th.

OPENING SOON

• The Clubhouse Sandwich Shop is set to replace the recently shuttered Tandoori Flavour at 455 Spadina Avenue at College. The new take-away counter hopes to open by the end of May and will offer limited seating to tuck into sandwiches like oyster po' boys or fried tomatoes. Surprisingly there are no triple deckers on the menu.
• New Cabbagetown restaurant Fare Game, will focus on game meats like venison and rabbit when they take over in the site of the short lived Jam Cafe.
• Rock Lobster Food Co. is expanding with plans to open a second location on June 1st in the space currently occupied by Shanghai Cowgirl (538 Queen Street). The new, larger outpost will also expand the menu and hours of operation.
• Reds Wine Tavern is opening a second location early fall at the base of the Aura condo tower (382 Yonge Street). Like the first location, the menu will focus on shareable plates though their will be some variation to tailor it to the College Park neighbourhood.

CLOSINGS

• Etobicoke Italian eatery, Ristorante Pinocchio (4800 Dundas West) has closed for good.

OTHER NEWS

• The Happy Hooker is now doing desserts, appropriately dubbed 'happy endings.' The offerings include key lime pie, banana pudding and deep fried oreos.

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

Photo courtesy of Crossroads Diner

King West club the Century Room closed up shop at the end of last year and in its place has arisen a new night spot that mashes up street art, Canadiana and cocktails.

Find out more in my review of The Everleigh in the bars section.

The Madison is a behemoth condo complex under construction at Yonge and Eg. The development, due for completion in 2015, is composed of no fewer than three buildings, for a total of 644 units. And those don't seem to be 644 units of blase condo living, either. The amenities on this property are pretty decent, with a salt water pool, a sauna, a steam room, and a two-level gym.

There are few in-depth renderings of the actual suites at this point, but from what is available, they look to be reasonably bright and livable.

SPECS

Address: 101 Eglinton Ave. E.
Floors: 33, 30, 8
Total number of units: 260, 230, 154
Types of units: One bedroom, one plus den, two bedroom, two plus den.
Unit sizes (in square feet): 400 to 1,050
Ceiling heights: 9'
Prices from (available units): the mid-$200,000s
Maintenance fees: $0.54
Developer: Madison Homes
Amenities/building features: 24 hour concierge, fitness room, games room, roof deck, movie area, party room, swimming pool, sauna.

THE GOOD

Madison Homes appears to be paying close attention to the human need for outdoor air and greenery. They've included an egalitarian terrace on top of the smallest building, complete with barbeques and fire pits. Camping in the city? I think yes. It sounds like most units will have balconies as well, which is a bonus when your unit isn't sweeping in size.

THE BAD

It seems there are suspiciously few windows in some of the units. My best guess is the developers are trying to stun Torontonians into helpless lethargy. The city is growing all the time, and while that's totally awesome, the extra food has to come from somewhere. Some of the kitchen areas look fairly teensy according to the floor plans as well, but that's par for the course at most new developments.

And, as I said last week, Yonge and Eg. is already home to a staggering number of condo developments. So if you're looking for demographic diversity, this might not be the pocket of the city you're after.

OUR TAKE

In short, this does not look like a bad development. But it doesn't look especially stellar, either. This, alas, is true of so many new developments. The amenities are above average even as the units themselves are predictable. In other words, if you find the area appealing this is a project worth keeping an eye on.

What do you think? Is there anything special about this development?

Read other posts in this series via our Toronto Condos and Lofts Pinterest board

On Tuesday evening, brewers from across Ontario gathered at The Gladstone Hotel for the 10th Annual Ontario Brewing Awards, celebrating the best the province has to offer, as chosen by a panel of judges.

Beer makers who had entered their beers for consideration in 25 different categories milled about the Gladstone's event space, serenaded by a probably-a-bit-too-loud classic rock cover band, rubbing elbows with various beer drinkers and interested media, and anxiously waiting to see who would take home top honours in the field, which this year included a homebrewing category as well.

The awards were organized by by Beerlicious Inc. and Roger Mittag of Thirst for Knowledge and, as with previous years, beers were judged on their merits based on characteristics of that beer's typical style, as defined by the Ontario Brewing Awards. The judging was also conducted blind, so no beers were chosen based on anyone's philosophical opinions on craft beer vs. big beer or personal feelings about any one brewery. That is to say, the beer was judged, as it should always be, based entirely on taste.

Once again this year, a Toronto beer was named Beer of The Year as Amsterdam Brewery's Spring Bock ousted last year's choice, Mill Street Coffee Porter.

It was a big night in general for Amsterdam who took home five other awards, including Gold in the North American Lager Category, Gold in the Bock category and Gold in the Barrel Aged Category.

As for the city's other brewers, perennial favourite Mill Street took home seven newly redesigned Ontario Brewing Awards, including both Gold and Silver in the Honey/Maple Beer category, Gold in the British IPA Category, Gold in the Fruit Beer Category, and Gold in the Strong Beer Category.

The city's oldest craft brewers, Great Lakes Brewery, also took home some hardware, winning five awards including top honours for their "Harry Porter." While their neghbours at Cool Beer Brewing Company also took home a Silver and a Gold.

It was also a big night for Ottawa's Big Rig Brewery who took home three trophies, including top spot in the European-Style Pilsner Category, and earned the distinction of being named Newcomer of The Year.

It's also worth noting that the nano brewery at Get Well managed to take home Silver in two categories for their dark ale and their porter.

For the first time this year's awards also had a category to honour Gluten Free options and Toronto's own Snowman Brewing Company took home two of the three tops spots in that field.

The winners in each category were as follows:

North American Light Lager
Gold: Cool Brewing Company Stonewall Light
Silver: Laker Light
Bronze: Stonehammer Light

North American Lager
Gold: Amsterdam Natural Blonde
Silver: Muskoka Craft Lager
Bronze: Great Lakes Brewery Golden Horseshoe

European Style Lager (Pilsner)
Gold: Big Rig Champion Pilsner
Silver: King Pilsner
Bronze: Steam Whistle Pilsner

Amber Lager
Gold: Nickel Brook Marzenbier
Silver: Cool Millenium Buzz
Bronze: Hop City Barking Squirrel

Dark Lager
Gold: King Dark
Silver: Big Rig Schwarzbier
Bronze: Waterloo Dark

Bock
Gold: Amsterdam Springbock
Silver: Camerons Deviator
Bronze: Creemore Urbock

Honey/Maple Beer
Gold: Mill St Spring Thaw
Silver: Mill St Royal York Stinger
Bronze: Stonehammer Maple Red

German Style Wheat Beer
Gold: Muskoka Summer Weiss
Silver: Beer Academy Hefeweizen
Bronze: Denisons Weissbier

Belgian Style Wheat Beer
Gold: Labatt Shocktop
Silver: Mill St Belgian Witbier
Bronze: Black Oak Saison

Cream Ale
Gold: Clocktower West Brew
Silver: Camerons Cream Ale
Bronze: Big Rig Gold

British Pale Ale
Gold: Muskoka Cream Ale
Silver: Black Oak Pale Ale
Bronze: Grand River Plowman's Ale

North American Pale Ale
Gold: Nickel Brook Naughty Neighbour
Silver: Spearhead Hawaiian Pale
Bronze: GLB Crazy Canuck

British India Pale Ale
Gold: Mill Street IPA
Silver: Clocktower Wisharts ESB
Bronze: Grand River Curmudgeon

North American India Pale Ale
Gold: Nickelbrook Headstock
Silver: Flying Monkeys Smashbomb
Bronze: Muskoka Mad Tom

Amber Ale
Gold: Niagara's Butler's Bitter
Silver: Clocktower Red
Bronze: Camerons Auburn Ale

Dark Ale
Gold: Magnotta True North Copper
Silver: Get Well Fuggle It
Bronze: Stonehammer Dark Ale

Porter
Gold: Great Lakes Brewery Harry Porter
Silver: Get Well Porter
Bronze: Bellwoods Lost Porter

Stout
Gold: Railway City Black Coal Stout
Silver: Sawdust City Skinny Dipping Stout
Bronze: Spearhead Belgian Stout

Imperial Stout
Gold: Muskoka Winter Beard
Silver: Great Lakes Brewery Bourbon Aged Russian Imperial Stout
Bronze: Amsterdam Tempest

Fruit Beer
Gold: Mill Street Frambozen
Silver: Amsterdam KLB Raspberry Wheat
Bronze: Clocktower Raspberry Wheat

Flavoured Beer
Gold: Black Oak Double Chocolate Cherry Stout
Silver: Sawdust City Skinny Dipping with Friends
Bronze: Sawdust City Red Rocket

Strong Beer
Gold: Mill Street Barley Wine
Silver: Mill Street Ambre de la Chaudiere
Bronze: Wellington Iron Duke

Gluten Free
Gold: Nickel Brook Gluten Free
Silver: Snowman Top Hat
Bronze: Snowman Who's That Brown Ale

Barrel Aged
Gold: Amsterdam Order & Chaos
Silver: GLB 25th Anniversary Bourbon Aged
Bronze: Camerons VSPA

Homebrew IPA
Gold: Geoff Conway
Silver: Neal Fuller
Bronze: Steven Mills

Newcomer of the Year: Big Rig Brewing

Beer of the Year: Amsterdam Springbock

Ben Johnson also writes about beer over on Ben's Beer Blog.

Photographs by Paul Aihoshi.

Fashion Art Toronto ("|FAT|") Arts & Fashion Week returned last week for its eighth annual edition, transforming an industrial warehouse into an energetic environment filled with all things avant-garde. Running from April 23 to 27, the event showcased 50 highly conceptual runway shows by both local and international designers. This year, the theme was Fashion Therapy— designers and artists were challenged to integrate into their work a connection between the human psyche and fashion.

Hundreds of looks swept and sashayed past me all week, all with a very different response to the theme. Though many of these don't fit under similar categories, here are my picks for the top 10 looks from |FAT| Arts & Fashion Week based on creativity and construction.

This corseted look by Cinched Tight is equal parts rockabilly girl and cute cupcake. There's something really daring about a latex dress that isn't outerwear but doesn't quite work as underwear, either.

Niapsou is not one for blending in a crowd; with a loud head-to-toe print and matching bag, there's no doubt this look stands out.

Masha sent model after model down the runway in achromatic outfits, but who needs colour when you're an expert in form and texture? The neckline, drape, and chain details of this dress are flawless.

This Happy Andrada look is all about the details. The pleats on the quasi-peplum top, drapery on the pegged skirt, and beading on the tights (not to mention the fact that all of the pieces in her collection underwent similar treatments) blows my mind.

Exploring the crisis of identity, L'Uomo Strano's entire collection blurred lines between masculinity and femininity. This look in particular reminds me of a space age A$AP Rocky, hinting that progressive fashion as a norm is not as distant of a future as we think.

Dubbed The Mad Couture Catwalk, Workman Arts' wearable art pieces danced and dawdled down the runway to emanate distinct moments in mental illness. Though I can't be sure this hand-painted dress represents chaos or peace, I'm definitely sure it's enchanting.

Mitra Ghavamian's collection revolves around identity crises. This look - although lacking ambiguity with protruding heads depicting different emotions - features dramatic textures and an unconventional cut.

Inspired by food, this vivid bodysuit by Nazbash/Hasti looks suspiciously like spaghetti (which is totally awesome).

Although Pedram Karimi's black and off-white colour blocking stands out on its own, it's the structured silver jacket of this genderless look that caught my eye.

As one of the most alternatively styled collections, Y.D.N.A. wowed the audience with mask-hat hybrids that left trails of glitter on the catwalk. Though this long-sleeved dress is pretty standard, the high slit, blue velvet, and ultra shiny anklets give it a sparkling new dimension.

Photos by Jason Hargrove

Cinco de Mayo is widely touted as a Mexican festival celebrating heritage, culture and the arts.

It's also a close second to Saint Patrick's day when it comes to holidays most likely to be exploited via misappropriated cultural tropes and binge drinking. That aside, we're all looking for a reason to party at some point, and if you're looking for excuses to imbibe freaky amounts of tequila, this one's for you. Here's some funky pseudo-Mexican shiznit happening in Toronto this Cinco de Mayo.

RESTAURANTS & BARS TO HAVE ON YOUR RADAR

• The Best Mexican Restaurants in Toronto
• The Best Margaritas in Toronto

EVENTS

Cinco de Mayo at Steam Whistle
This event is happening on Friday as opposed to Cinco de Mayo proper, and it offers a side of altruism with your tequila. All proceeds of this early celebration will go to the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation's Ride to Conquer Cancer. Tickets are $10. Drink, be merry, and help people!

Cinco De Mayo: Drake's day of ¡Olé!
It appears that the Drake is going buck wild this Sunday. They're putting on all-day dance party on the roof, complete with DJ. A special Cinco de Mayo menu will be instated also, including the requisite cheap tacos and tequila.

Cinco de Mayo at the Monarch Tavern
If you live in the College or Dundas area, you might want to check out the Monarch. There'll be specials on food and margs all day, and there are a ton of beers on tap in case you want to expand beyond Corona and Dos Equis.

Cinco de Mayo Brewmaster Dinner
Mill Street's own brewmaster, Joel Manning, is getting the party started super early on Thursday, May 2. He's got five courses planned along with beer pairings. There are still limited spots available, but get em fast if you plan to hit this up tonight.

Cinco de Mayo at Kid Icarus
If you've got an interest in Mexican culture that runs beyond your interest in margaritas, you might want to pop by Kid Icarus in Kensington and check out their Mexican-themed screen print show. It appears the owners just spent a couple of weeks in Mexico City, and came home inspired. Original works and limited edition prints are on display in the shop on Saturday and Sunday.

Photo via Playa Cabana

Photo by Proletar1at in the blogTO Flickr pool

High-occupancy toll lanes will be coming to the GTA if the provincial Liberals can get their proposal through the legislature. Vehicles carrying two or more people will be allowed to use the lanes for free while solo drivers will be charged. It's calculated HOV lanes will bring in around $250 million each year in transit cash. One expert calls the lanes "training pants for road users" because they change the way people think about driving. Is this a good start?

Coun. Mark Grimes expensed drinks to his taxpayer funded-tab during a trip to Las Vegas last July. The Star found Grimes spent $2,318.81 during the five-day trip to research the Fremont Street Experience, a pedestrian mall he hopes to recreate at Exhibition Place. The tab was reported as $1,095 at the last executive committee meeting but did not include air fare. The omission was the result of an error by a staffer, according to the Exhibition Place chief executive.

A day after announcing a plan to save BIXI, coun. Kristyn Wong-Tam has more bright ideas to keep Toronto's cyclists safe. A member's motion due to be heard at the next council meeting proposes a provincial one-metre (three-foot) passing rule for cyclists. Wong-Tam says she was affected by the death of 38-year-old Jenna Morrison, who was pregnant with her second child when she was hit by a truck passing too close. Could this rule be properly enforced?

Jarvis and Gerrard is the heart attack capital of Toronto, according to researchers at the University of Toronto and St. Michael's Hospital. 11 people suffered cardiac arrest at the intersection in the last five years. Other "hot spots," identified as part of a study into the location of defibrillators, are Jarvis and Dundas, Jarvis and Adelaide, Danforth and Pape, Sherbourne and Queen, and Spadina and Dundas.

Ontario Transportation Minister Glen Murray has changed his mind - Metrolinx's Big Move plans aren't just "placeholders" that are open to tweaks. "There's not a single project we're revisiting," he said yesterday after a newspaper report suggested otherwise.

The heads of the 12 zodiac animals could find a home in the Nathan Phillips Square reflecting pool this summer. The bronze installation by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei called "Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads" will stand in the shallow water from June 10 to October 27 to promote an exhibit at the AGO if a motion by coun. Kristyn Wong-Tam passes. Cool idea?

A near-miss at St. Clair station is highlighting the need for greater awareness about the gap between the train and platform. Four-year-old Ava Buckareff fell through the gap up to her torso for a few terrifying seconds on Wednesday evening. The situation went unnoticed by the driver and could have resulted in serious injury had she not been rescued sooner.

Toronto is home to a mean whistler. Jeffrey Amos came second in this year's International Whistling Competition after taking up the musical habit seriously last year. "Basically, I've always been a pretty good whistler," he told the Star.

The University line (St. George to Union) will be closed this Saturday as part of ongoing signal upgrades by the TTC. There will be shuttle buses between St. George and King stations the entire day. The line is expected to re-open Sunday. The Yonge line will remain operational.

The top five Neighbourhood Gems have been announced in the American Express Canada Neighbourhood Gems Contest! Preloved, Butter Avenue, Florabunda, Fran's Restaurant and Mimi and Sheryl's Boutique have made the final cut. You can vote for them here once per day until midnight May 5th. Each vote earns you one entry for the chance to win a $50 American Express Gift Card. The contest is all part of celebrating the Shop Small program - a new movement focused on giving some thought to the importance of small, independent businesses and vibrancy and culture they bring to our neighbourhoods. That's definitely something we can get behind. #ShopSmall

IN BRIEF:

• Teacher arrested for punching female student in the face, grabbing her throat [National Post]
• Dunlap Observatory steps closer to being owned by Richmond Hill [Toronto Star]
• New age rubbernecking: drivers taking photos of crash scenes [Toronto Star]
• Ryan Dempster, Red Sox shut down Blue Jays [CBC]
• Lineup changes expected for Leafs ahead of Game 2 [CBC]

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

Image: Mary Crandall/blogTO Flickr pool.

The photos of the week collect each of the editor-selected photos of the day into one post for a contest to be decided by our readers. Sponsored by Posterjack, the photographer whose image receives the most votes will be awarded with a voucher code for a 24"x36" poster print of their work.

All the rules and fine-print can be found in the original announcement post on the blogTO Flickr page. One thing to add, however, is that the voting period ends at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, after which the winner will be contacted with the good news.

For those photographers whose images are featured below, please feel free to give us a little information about your shot — i.e. where and when it was taken — in the comments section. Who knows? Maybe your description will sway voters in your favour!

Lead photo by Sigma.

2.
Photo by Proletar1at

3.
Photo by Ronnie Yip

4.
Photo by Michael-Albert Herrera.

5.
Photo by Ben Roffelsen

6.
Photo by Alain Brouard

7.
Photo by Subjective Art

Toronto Food Events rounds up the most delicious events: festivals, pop-ups, winemaker dinners, supper clubs and other food related happenings in Toronto this week and next. You can find us here every Friday morning.

THIS WEEK

• The Toronto Underground Market returns to the Evergreen Brick Works (550 Bayview Avenue) on Saturday, May 4th. The May line-up includes new and returning vendors like Little Tomato Catering and Bam Bam Burrito.
• Sauce on the Danforth (1376 Danforth Avenue) hosts a Kentucky Derby hat party featuring tea sandwiches and mint juleps, starting 2pm on Saturday, May 4th.
• Tickets ($40) are still available for the next supper club at The Depanneur (1033 College Street) dubbed Voodoo + Haggis. Scottish and Haitian traditions provide inspiration for this fusion dinner happening Sunday, May 5th at 7pm.
• Asada Mexican Grill celebrates Cinco de Mayo with a live mariachi band and the launch of their newest secret menu item.
• Also in celebration of Cinco de Mayo, The Drake Hotel (1150 Queen Street West) is doing $5 tacos, tequila cocktails and a Sky Yard from noon until 6pm.
• For more Cinco de Mayo events, check out our roundup post
• The 1st ever Pogo Jump Up, Throwdown takes place this Sunday, May 5th at Rock Lobster Food Co. (110 Ossington Avenue). The sold-out competition will pit top Toronto kitchens against each other in a battle of sticks, proteins and batters.
• ChowBella is offering a tour of Liberty Village: Past and Present on Wednesday, May 8th. The four hour walking tour costs $65 per person and will stop in at 5+ local destinations including a Parisian-inspired bistro, a chocolate confectionary and local Ontario cheese shop.

UPCOMING

• The Group of 7 Chefs is taking the next installment of their popular dinner series out of town on Monday, May 27th. Guest chefs Tobey Nemeth and Michael Caballo (Edulis Restaurant) will join in to serve up a lamb and maple themed feast at the Mad Maple Country Inn in Creemore. Tickets are $145.
• Tickets are on sale now for the Arts & Crafts Field Trip, featuring culinary wonders curated by the Toronto Underground Market. The event takes place Saturday, June 8th starting at noon at Fort York (100 Garrison Road).
• Massimo Bruno presents a Southern Italy - Sicily Supper Club on Saturday, May 25th at Massimo's Kitchen Studio (507 King Street East) starting at 6:30pm. Tickets are $85, and in true Italian style feature courses of antipasti, primi, secondi, insalata and dessert.

Photos by Jesse Milns

So many galleries tout their commitment to the up and comers, but with the exception of a few true "incubators" — LE Gallery comes to mind — few make good on this commitment. Not so at this OCADU funded art space that was once located at the foot of Ossington. Forced westward by rising rents, the change in location hasn't altered the degree to which this gallery supports emerging artists.

Read my profile of XPACE (Lansdowne) in the galleries section.

Aja Sax is a fixture on the local bartending scene, and one of a number of prominent female cocktail specialists in the city. In the past few years Sax has been behind the bar at the Miller Tavern and the County General and now she is in charge of the bar program at The Emerson, a recent addition to ever-gentrifying Bloordale. We popped into The Emerson before service one afternoon to chat with Aja about her bartending history and her passion for cocktail service.

Are you from Toronto originally?

I am but I grew up in California. I lived there from the age of two until I was a teenager. My parents broke up a couple of years before and I moved here with my Mom when I was 16. I have American citizenship and often think about going back, but my friends are here and life is easy in Toronto. I like it here.

Where did you start bartending?

My first real bartending or serving job was at the Rivoli, which is where I met Dave Mitton. I was working downstairs and Dave was bartending upstairs. Later when Dave opened Czehoski I started working there. I learnt a lot from Dave at Czehoski. He's kinda like the Papa Bear of Toronto bartenders! [Laughs] He is though. I've worked in a bunch of places over the years, including Kalendar on College for a while too. At Kalendar they start you off serving then you graduate to bartending.

Running food definitely helps you be a better bartender. Then I worked at Swan. It wasn't as much about cocktails there, it's more about regulars coming for dinner and the owner is really great with selecting wine. I was serving there then I moved out West for a bit and then when I came back that's when I started at the Drake as a bartender for almost 3 years, which was fun but hard work too.

It seems like a lot of prominent Toronto bartenders honed their skills at the Drake.

Well, they've always had a pretty strong cocktail program even though it varies depending who's in charge. Over the course of me being there Christina Kuypers was there for a short period and she changed how it was being approached. She came fresh from BC full of cocktail ideas. It's hard to execute in that building. The volume alone is impressive. I give her a lot of credit for that, and I also give them a lot of credit now.

It's tough when you've got five bars in one building - you've got a lot of staff to train and to keep consistent. It's the same with food but even more so with cocktails — if they're not consistent it defeats the entire purpose. Every single person should be able to have something as simple as the same Mojito.

At The County General you got to showcase your own creations a bit more?

I knew it was management, which is something I felt I was ready to take on but the bar program kind of took over and that was really interesting. I had to come up with six original cocktails seasonally. In the time I was there I think I changed the menu five times, which was incredibly challenging and really interesting, and I was limited to the confines of using bourbon and rum, which is what we were focussing on there. Just in terms of space I didn't want to have every single liqueur and every single vermouth. I really wanted to show what you could do with what you've got.

Is that the same situation at The Emerson?

Yeah, I approach it the same way here. I have quite a few bottles to choose from but really only six or seven liqueurs as modifiers, so you're really relying on homemade ingredients like syrups, bitters and tinctures and I find that really fun. Conversely at the Miller Tavern I was like a kid in a candy shop.

They have a clientèle base there that really just sits down and asks you to make something, which you don't get in a lot of places. You have to stay on your toes as these guys are coming in three times a week and asking for four drinks while they're there. So making twelve drinks a week for one guest, you obviously want to keep it fresh. The first drink of the third visit can be the same as the last drink of the first because they don't necessarily remember that one! [Laughs].

What qualities would you say you needed to be a great bartender?

So often people have one skill set but not across the board. My strength is speed. I don't know as much as people like Sandy De Almeida, Dave Mitton or Christina Kuypers. I don't have that breadth of knowledge but my speed is why I'm good on a bar like this, which is a ton of service and eleven seats at the bar. It gets packed to the gills so you need to be fast and consistent.

Other people are far more charming than I am [Laughs]. You have to know your strengths and play to them and that's what makes finding a job so interesting and challenging. You spend so much of your time at a place. I'm here from between 9 and 13 hours a shift so I've gotta like what I'm doing and where I'm doing it. There are bartenders who have no interest in food so they shouldn't be working at a restaurant. I find myself more stimulated working in a restaurant-bar than just a bar. I do need to work with beer and wine and the whole nine yards.

Is The Emerson a restaurant first and bar second?

Well, the focus is on the food. Scott, one of the owners, used to work in Leslieville at Gio Rana's Really Really Nice Restaurant and Conor has worked with him over the years. They've worked in both fine-dining and more casual environments and they really want people to have a good time here. We get to do what we love within the confines of what their vision is. The food is very accessible but they are approaching it really beautifully. You should see these guys prep!

Your drinks at a restaurant, as opposed to a cocktail bar, have to be more accessible to more people and something they can move onto wine or beer during the meal. There's no snobbery or pretension here. I do love that people are thinking about their drinks more these days but if people want a vodka soda I'm happy to make that. It's your money and your taste. Ultimately it's about caring about what you're doing and not cutting corners. You can tell when your server wants you to have a great time or when your bartender wants you to enjoy your cocktail. No matter what your industry you should care about what you're doing.

RAPID FIRE QUESTIONS

Vodka-soda or gin and tonic? Neither! Gin and soda.

Red or white wine? I guess red... but that's a tough one. Maybe rosé! [Laughs]

Favourite shot? Jameson or if it's a shooter an Irish Car Bomb. I like really terrible drinks. [Laughs] It's not only politically incorrect but it's disgusting.

Favourite cocktail? Piña Colada. It's like pizza - even a really terrible one is still good!

Lemon or lime? Lemon

Rocks or neat? Rocks

Olives or a twist? Twist. I hate olives!

Photos by Jesse Milns

The best lobster roll in Toronto is at the luxe end of the fast food scale and typically comes in at a fraction of the cost of a lobster dinner. The proliferation of this iconic East coast treat can be credited to rich harvests in recent years that have translated into wider availability and lower costs for one of Canada's most prized (and sustainable) seafood stocks.

While purists might argue that the simple sandwich needs nothing more than fresh lobster, a toasted top-loading, buttered bun and only the slightest hint of mayo, I have personally never met a lobster roll I didn't like. Toronto kitchen's are quite respectful to the classic anyway, with only few added flourishes that let the sweet and succulent crustacean steal all the glory.

Here are the best lobster rolls in Toronto.

See also:

The best oysters in Toronto
The best seafood restaurants in Toronto