It's ownership change number nine (we think) for Toronto's storied music venue the El Mocambo. After less than a year at the helm, Sam Grosso, owner of the Cadillac Lounge, has decided to sell his stake in the business, calling it a "decision that has been weighing on me for some time" in a statement on Facebook.

The shake-up leaves Marco Petrucci, the owner of 99 Sudbury, the sole owner of the El Mo while major renovations take place. "I thought we'd be able to maintain three to four days a week booking bands or events and then renovating the second floor as we're operating on the ground floor," says Grosso, admitting the imrovements the pair promised when they took on the venue last summer will require a total shutdown, a move he can't personally afford.

"I didn't have the finances to pay a mortgage, insurance, property taxes, hydro, and gas bills, and then on top of that do major renovations," he says. Grosso will focus on running the Cadillac Lounge and spending more time with his children.

One estimate puts the closure at between eight and ten months, though it's not clear exactly how long it will take to carry out structural repairs, replace the stage, build a new rooftop patio, and make cosmetic improvements, including a new bar. Bands that were booked for the coming weeks will be accommodated at one of the pair's other venues, Grosso says, but there are no guarantees all of the acts will be flexible enough to move.

The El Mo opened in 1948 and established a reputation as a live music venue in the 60s and 70s. The Rolling Stones famously played there under the stage name The Cockroaches over two nights in March 1977. Debbie Harry and Blondie, The Ramones, U2 and Billy Idol have all packed out the two-floor Spadina Ave. building at the peak of their fame.

In recent years the space had fallen on hard times. Before Grosso and Petrucci took over, owner Abbas Jahangiri had tried to convert the upper floor into a dance studio. Before him, the Stones were famously prevented from reprising their famous appearance by the El Mo's strict indie-only policy.

One of the most noticeable changes made in the last 12 months was the $20,000 restoration of the famous tropical sign by local glass worker Grant Farrell, one of the few neon artists in the country.

"I'm very proud of the 10 months I was there - I think I put a little bit of a footprint on the place. I know everybody in the city was very, very excited about it. Every time I walked somewhere it was like 'Hey, how's the El Mocambo going? You're the guy that's going to do it!'."

"I felt like someone was putting another log on my shoulder," admits Grosso.

"As they say in the Italian culture, 'family first'."

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

Image: El Mocambo, Chris Luckhardt/blogTO Flickr pool.

Patrick Stickles, lead singer of Titus Andronicus, screamed "I'm going insane" over and over to close out the song. The crowd was going nuts and a crazed fan was being crowdsurfed across the little pit at Lee's Palace. As I watched, the fan got surfed a little too close to Stickles and locked his arms locked the singer's slender shoulders. He started pulling him down into the crowd.

Without missing a line, Stickles finished the song--screaming "I'm going insane" over and over and over right into the crowdsurfer's face--and then managed to extricate himself from the fan's grip.
Standing at the edge of the stage, he mopped his sweaty face with a towel and murmured, "Rock and roll shit, man" into the mic. Then they launched into the next song.

And so it goes with Titus Andronicus. Touring now on the backs of two critically acclaimed records, 2010's The Monitor and 2012's Local Business, this tour finds them playing rooms filled with die-hard fans, and I think they're still a little dazzled by it. Their sound is dynamite — if not Big Audio Dynamite (little Clash humor there).

With gritty, throat-wrecking punk giving way to an anthemic (dare we say, Springsteenesque?) grandstanding rock and roll sound repeatedly through each song, Titus Andronicus have made a career pitching their fans back and forth between those two extremes. This is what makes them one of the most interesting modern rock bands around — though their influences can seem disparate at times, everything they do is grounded in a sort of plain-spoken aesthetic that connects them with their audience in a powerful fashion.

But nobody wants to read about the tense sociopolitical landscape Titus Andronicus inhabits. How'd they play? Last night at Lee's Palace, Titus Andronicus friggin' BROUGHT IT.

Despite the club not being full, the audience (die-hard fans, as far as I could tell) jumped around in the pit and chanted various things throughout the night, showing an energy the band drew on and returned in more furious moments later on in the set.

They chanted throughout the show — band members' names, song titles, even at one point, "Chant! Chant! Chant! Chant!"

Before launching into "Four Score And Seven" from 2010's The Monitor, Stickles (the singer, remember?) had to ask the audience to quiet down.

"Okay, stop chanting; I've got to get sensitive and quiet up here," he quipped, and the crowd complied, even though they obviously wanted to be rowdy.

The band's drummer came up to sing the Guided-By-Voices-esque B-side to their Record Store Day release, "The Dog," but for me the high point of the night was an incredibly intense cover of Neil Young's "Powderfinger." With a long, extended preamble about playing a "certain Canadian artist" that involved the audience getting tense as they yelled out unsolicited guesses--"Summer of '69!"--when they finally kicked into the tune, it was almost cathartic.

The night was opened by Toronto indie punks PUP as well as longtime Andronicus tour mates The So So Glos, who played a furious set of tunes from their new record Blowout which was released on April 23rd. Fresh off of playing David Letterman last night, The So So Glos had enough buzz to get most of the crowd out early.

Titus Andronicus and The So So Glos continue their tour having wrapped up their Canadian leg, back down through the States and then to Europe in the summer. If you're interested, though, Titus released a great Record Store Day single you may still be able to find called--aptly--Record Store Day. And be sure to check out Titus' video for "In A Big City" below:

Photos by Irina No

With spring in the air, it's time to revisit the most important of questions — should drinking be allowed in Toronto parks?

Nothing kills one's buzz quite like relaxing over a nice brew in the park, only to be rudely awakened from a semi-drunken stupor by an angry cop perched atop a frighteningly large steed. But that is what happens in Trinity Bellwoods and other parks around the city. It happens to the best of us, though most often to the more lackadaisical among us. Because drinking in public in Toronto is illegal, dear friends. But what about elsewhere? Is this a case of Toronto the Good or is park-drinking generally frowned upon in major cities?

Here, a look at how other cities compare to us on the public drink front:

Montreal

Surprise! In the most major city of La Belle Province, it is perfectly legal to enjoy some beer or wine with a picnic in a public outdoor space. You can casually head to the depanneur and purchase drinks there til 11 p.m. (or much later, if you know where to go). The moral of the story is, French people are more civilized than the rest of us.

New York City

The city that never sleeps is, in some ways, just as prudish as TO when it comes to public consumption of booze. According to this lawyer, "drinking alcohol in public is the most frequently issued Criminal Court Summons in New York City." In 2010 alone, there were 140,000 of them issued. NYC Administrative Code 10-125 prescribes a $25 dollar fine for such reckless behaviour.

Vancouver

Perhaps surprisingly, there's not much tolerance for public drinking in beautiful B.C., either. Hippies roam the hills there smoking joints the size of a child's arm, and yet getting caught in the park with a beer could cost you $230.

Chicago

Chicago is having a serious tantrum about people who want to enjoy a beer or two in the sunshine. Mayor Rahm Emanuel hates the very idea of it, so the fine for public drinking and urination (because those are absolutely related) could double to $1,000. And those who throw caution to the wind and urinate (haha) or drink in public anyway face the possibility of six months in jail if they skip an administrative hearing.

Seattle

Seattle is also a horrible place to drink in public as far as legality is concerned. Having an outdoor beverage could cost you up to $1,000. Or at least, those are Washington State's laws.

Toronto

In Toronto the Good, drinking in public can earn you a $125 fine under Ontario's Liquor License Act, which stipulates, "No person shall be in an intoxicated condition in a place to which the general public is invited or permitted access." Pretty hefty rules. There's also a bylaw under the municipal code:

"While in a park, no person shall consume, serve or sell alcoholic beverages unless in designated areas, authorized by permit, and with the approval of the Liquor Licence Board of Ontario." Something about the language here tells me that approval will not extend to the hoards of hipsters in dire need of places to drink for free.

I get that (though some of these laws date back to Prohibition) the reason they're still in place is to protect the public from disorderly, and potentially dangerous, behaviour. But whatever happened to 'innocent until proven guilty,' hmm? One should be allowed to drink in a dignified manner and fined only if he/she crosses the boundaries of propriety by behaving in such a way as to adversely impact others. Or maybe I mean ANARCHY!!. I'm not sure.

In short, this summer, you might want to check out these handy guides from Slate and Grub Street on how to get ripped in public without anyone noticing. Or, just pull the hobo look (and my own personal favourite) and paper bag it. Covert and classic.

Do you think we should be able to drink alcoholic beverages in parks in the city? Or would it just cause total bedlam? Let us know in the comments.

Photo by M E Faulkner in the blogTO Flickr pool

Weekend events in Toronto is our guide to events happening this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Here's what's happening in Toronto this May 3-5, 2013.

FUNDRAISER

Cinco De Mayo at Steam Whistle
A special fundraiser happens tonight (Friday) at Steam Whistle. A Cinco de Mayo celebration is planned at the brewery with DJs, a raffle, the obligatory (and fun) pinatas, tequila, beer, and more. The Enbridge Ride To Conquer Cancer happens at the beginning of next month, and the goal of tonight's party is to raise dollars to pledge towards this June charity event. All proceeds from tonight's fiesta go to this worthy cause, which benefits Princess Margaret Hospital. Come on out and party like a philanthropist.
Steam Whistle Brewing (255 Bremner Blvd) 8PM $10 adv/$15 at the door

For more Cinco de Mayo events, check out our roundup post.

ART

Material Girls
Material Girls is an exhibition that begins Sunday at Creative Blueprint Gallery featuring the work of Femme Five Art Collective: five women who set out to utilize and engage with various media and the concept of "installation" in a unique and modern fashion. Combining various media, such as pairing encaustic and photography, gives these works a fresh look and approach. Sarah Tacoma, Aleks Rdest, Ann Shier, Suzanne Ernst, and Sarah Hillock make up this collective, with a mandate that returns to the roots of what inspires every artist to pursue their craft: "creative outcomes and fantastic adventures". Material Girls runs until May 15th.
Creative Blueprint Gallery (376 Bathurst Street) 12 PM to 6 PM

CONTACT Photography Festival
CONTACT is the world's largest photography festival, and an annual event in Toronto. The theme of this year's festival is Field of Vision, and it includes public installations on city streets and subway stations, as well as museums and galleries. You've got plenty of time to check it out, as the show runs until May 31.
Citywide May 1-31

MUSIC

The Lumineers @ Sound Academy
The Lumineers hit the Sound Academy tonight (Friday) for what should be a very well attended second show of a two-night run. This Denver-based folk rock band has been riding a wave of buzz for quite a while, and their recent performance at Coachella did nothing to put out that fire, but perhaps fanned its flames a bit. The Lumineers, along with Mumford and Sons and a few others, are certainly the most visible proponents of a long standing acoustic revival in the pop/rock world, and their live shows are known to be very engaging, with "singalongs" and plenty of audience participation. You Won't, a duo from Cambridge, Massachusetts, gets the ball rolling.
Sound Academy (11 Polson Street) 8 PM $35

Purity Ring at the Danforth Music Hall
Purity Ring plays an early show Sunday evening at The Danforth Music Hall. This duo, originally from Edmonton, and formed as a splinter project from the band Gobble Gobble, signed to 4AD/Last Gang last year. Their debut, Shrines was released last summer. Their sound could be described as "synthpop", but their unique production style often defies easy or simple categorization. Earlier in February, Purity Ring released a cover of Soulja Boy's Grammy as a free download, and demand for the track was so strong that their servers crashed. I think we can take this as a sign that Sunday's show could be pretty packed.
The Danforth Music Hall (147 Danforth Avenue) 7 PM $20-22.50

For more music listings, check out This week in music.

PARTIES

START! >> Retro & beyond: Indie • Synth Pop • Post Punk • Brit Pop • New Wave
The Velvet Underground is very proud of this new way to spend your Friday night. Start! is a club night with a retro slant, and yes, if the name already conjures late '70s/early '80s Brit pop in the vein of The Jam, then this is definitely your cup of tea. The "retro and beyond" tagline of this night of music promises that things will not rest in one particular era, and the promised highlights indicate that everything from PiL and The Gang Of Four to Crystal Castles and Blur will be coming at you on the dance floor. This is the kind of music history you can get behind.
Velvet Underground (510 Queen Street West) 10 PM $5

FASHION

Mondo Bazaar Spring craft market
Just in time to help you obtain that elusive but all-important Mothers' Day gift, Saturday's Mondo Bazaar craft market at The Gladstone Hotel could be the stop you make this weekend that keeps you on Mom's good side. This long-standing "pop up" craft sale has been a TO favourite for years, and will feature a great variety of crafters and goods: everything from eco-friendly jewelry and clothing to artwork, funky T-shirts, organic skincare products, textile crafts, and much more. Mondo Bazaar runs until 5 PM Saturday afternoon.
Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen Street West) 10 AM

For more fashion listings, check out This week in fashion.

FILM

Hot Docs 2013
Filmophiles can continue rejoicing for a bit longer at least, as Hot Docs extends to its final weekend. Films are showing at theatres across the city, but be sure to get tickets in advance if you can; line-ups and wait times can be pretty vicious.
Various Theatres until May 5

For more film listings, check out This week in film.

FOOD

501 Steetcar Food Tour
This Sunday, travel on the 501 Queen Streetcar, and connect with your inner foodie self! Foodies On Foot has put together a food tour with the beloved 501 as the centrepiece. For about four hours, this guided tour will travel almost 25 kilometres, and make six stops along the way in six unique neighbourhoods, where you will experience some great tastes of TO. It's hard to imagine a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon that Queen Street and Queen Street eats.
1730 Queen Street West 11am to 3:30pm $75 (includes ttc day pass)

For more food listings, check out Toronto food events.

BURLESQUE

BLACK EMERALD: Deep Inside the Wicked World of OZ!
A crazy evening of burlesque awaits you Sunday night at Revival Bar! "OZ" is the theme for the night, and the story here begins upon Dorothy's return to Kansas, and the events that take place in the Emerald City shortly thereafter. But really, this is all a premise to unleash some naughty and unchained theatrics that will have you both titillated and in stitches. Coco Framboise, who stars as the Wicked Witch of the West has brought together a very able cast of characters, including Dew Lily, Charlie Quinn, Percy Katt, Mahogany Storm, and others.
Revival Bar (783 College Street) 8:30 PM $25

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

Photo of James Nizam's Pyramid at BCE for the 2013 CONTACT Festival

Photo by Brian Labelle in the blogTO Flickr

Now that spring is upon us, you have absolutely no excuse to stay cooped up inside. So plug in those headphones, bump John Mayer's Live from LA or Kriss Kross' Alright, and talk a walk with me through This Week In Comedy...

SUN MAY 5 / STONER SUNDAYS / VAPOR CENTRAL / 667 YONGE #2 / 9PM / FREE

Mike Rita's show on Sunday is no doubt one of the best weekly events in Toronto, held at one of the best comedy bars in Toronto. Now, they didn't get their due in the recent user-voted list of Best Comedy Clubs In Toronto, but I can't be the only one who's not surprised about that. Heck, if my food tasted a million times better, I might not spend a lot of time completing online surveys, either! Props goes to Reets, who brings the ruckus every time he's on stage.

MON MAY 6 / ALTdot COMEDY LOUNGE / RIVOLI / 332 QUEEN W / 9PM / $5

Dude...Chris Locke's on fire right now. Now I know heavy-hitters like Rebecca Kohler, Matt O'Brien, and Mark Forward are on the line-up, but I have to make room for Chris on this edition. Do yourself a favour and check out this clip of him parodying Game of Thrones and just try and tell me that he isn't going to be following in Nathan Fielder's footsteps in the next year.

THURS MAY 9 / NEARLY ROBOTS / COMEDY BAR / 945 BLOOR W / 8PM / $10

Jacob Samuel is bringing his Nearly Robots show from Vancouver to the Comedy Bar mainstage. Your headliner, Ivan Decker, is steadily progressing through the Canadian comedy obstacle course. His exploits include Just For Laughs, a comedy special on CTV, multiple appearances of CBC's The Debaters, not to mention a win at the Vancouver Comedy Showdown.

SAT MAY 11 / WEST END GIRLS / COMEDY BAR / 945 BLOOR W / 7PM / $10 ADV $15 DOOR

Daniela Saioni's WEG always carries a heavy line-up, and this edition is no different. Your headliner, Michelle Shaughnessy, has done everything from The Comedy Network, Women's Network, and even made the finals of The Great Canadian Laugh Off. Pay special attention to Amber Harper-Young. I had a blast watching her set at Blair Streeter's Naughty Nads Comedy Competition a few month's ago. What stood out was her free spirit on stage. At one point in her set, she started kicking the air repeatedly, at first to chuckles, then to an applause break. Oh yeah, and some dude named Mark Little is your token boy. I heard he's aiite.

About the Author: This is Michael Jagdeo, and I refuse to write about myself in the third-person. My blog, Diary of a Stand-up Comedian, walks you through the up's and down's (they're mostly down's, really) in my quest to become a killer comic in Toronto.

Lead photo of Chris Locke

This Corktown dance studio specializes in ballet-based fitness, offering a variety of classes and training for those looking to up their dance game or to diversify their cardiovascular regimen. Located in a bright and airy warehouse, it's the perfect setting to train for your own Swan Lake.

Read my review of the Extension Room in the fitness section.

In the late summer of 1930 the people of Toronto saw something over the city not many could claim to have seen before. Humming like a giant insect, the dirigible R100 - an airship almost as long as Union Station - circled over the heads of thousands. Work stopped, traffic ground to a halt, and rooftops were packed as everyone strained to glimpse the pride of Great Britain.

It wouldn't stick around long, but the visit of the R100 represented a major milestone for Canada. It was the largest flying machine ever to visit Toronto, and one of the largest aircraft of any type in the world to date. Just months later, however, it was broken up for scrap in the wake of the terrible crash of its sister ship in France.

Toronto had never seen anything like it.

In the mid 1920s Britain was mired in a deep depression. The first world war had taken its financial toll and new technology was needed to kickstart a fresh period of growth. The British Empire was at its height but transport technology still prevented rapid links between its major centres.

It was at this time that dirigibles - large helium or hydrogen airships steered by gasoline engines - began to take shape as a viable means of transportation. The German, French, and Italian armies had used zeppelins as bombers during the war and the colossal vessels had the potential to be long-distance passenger carriers provided they could be operated safely.

1920's airplanes were small, cramped, and capable of only short flights. Dirigibles, by comparison, had the potential to fly for days without stopping for fuel.With this thought in mind, the UK government launched its Imperial Airship Scheme. Two vessels were to be built, one by a private company and another by the country's own engineers, to similar specifications. They were the R100 and R101, respectively.

The R100 was the first to be finished in Howden, Yorkshire in 1929. The airframe was made of duralumin, an early aluminum alloy, and covered with a giant 5-acre fabric coating stitched together in pieces and stretched into place. Inside the cavernous 146,000 cubic metre shell, 17 gas bags made from oxen intestines provided the all-important buoyancy.The bags were filled with a combined 500 million cubic feet of ultra-flammable hydrogen. The United States had a monopoly on helium, another lighter-than-air gas, and it wasn't available in the qualitities the UK required for their airship program.

In contradiction to the R100's basic construction, the crew and passenger quarters in the rough centre of the airship were luxuriously appointed. Passengers could expect to enjoy silver service dining in what was really a miniature hotel. On the R101, the sister ship, a former chief steward of the White Star Line's Olympic ocean liner watched over the comfort of every guest.There were guest rooms with portholes and balconies, a 30-seater dining room, a saloon, a kitchen, a 40-foot wide promenade deck, a lounge, and a grand double staircase all awaiting the green light for full-scale passenger service.

Perhaps most amazingly, the R101 even featured a smoking room despite the massive risk of a catastrophic explosion from even the smallest unconfined fire. Smoking was strictly prohibited on the ship that visited Toronto, however.

The Imperial Airship Scheme's first major test was an Atlantic crossing to be made by the R100. The dirigible was supposed to take its first long-distance trip to India, but concerns over the effects of humidity in the region lead officials to prove their design with a visit to North America.Naturally, giant hydrogen-filled blimps like the R100 typically didn't fare to well in inclement weather. To help the ship avoid dangerous storms the flight deck was equipped with machines capable of receiving transmissions of the latest weather maps from London. With an estimated top speed of just over 100 km/h, it didn't have the ability to outrun fast-moving weather for long.

To illustrate the maneuvering problems experienced by the pilots, the R101 airship was praised during early trials for dipping its nose in salute to England's King George V midway through a ceremonial flyover, but in fact the engineers were struggling to control the vessel and had to work feverishly to keep the nose level during almost every flight.The R100 departed for Canada on Monday July 28, 1930, at 9:45 in the evening. It made its way northwest from its hangar at Cardington, England, and passed over the northern tip of Ireland in the early hours of the next morning. 42 engineers, officers, and crew were aboard but only two passengers made the maiden trip.

The first and only stop would be a purpose built tethering mast 12 miles outside of Montreal at St. Hubert, Que. There, 250,000 excited spectators were expected to greet the ship amid a media frenzy. The CBC called in Foster Hewitt, a man famous for his sign-on that still graces the intro to Hockey Night in Canada, to host the live radio broadcast. 200 other writers and photographers were expected to pack the airfield.

In response, 300 soldiers, provincial police, and RCMP officers were called in for crowd control. The commotion was so great that it inspired La Bolduc, a folk singer considered to be one of Quebec's first singer/songwriters, to write "Toujours L'R-100" about the airship's arrival.

It was imperative the R100 be given a wide berth in Montreal, especially as it was difficult to control and had the potential to explode in spectacular and devastating fashion. A strict no-fly zone was established three miles around the airship and authorities on the ground were told to keep crowds strictly behind established barriers until it was safe.

The Toronto Star called the spectacle "one of the biggest news events in recent years in America."When the R100 docked safely in the early morning of Friday August 1, 1930, the crew were instant celebrities. The mayor of Montreal and other government officials were on hand to greet the Englishmen as they disembarked for the first time after their 5-day voyage. Wing Commander R. B. B. Colmore, a man "who ordinarily smokes 50 cigarettes per day," was finally allowed to light up, though he was reported rather cranky when the press pounced.

The highlight of the trip according to the crew, was a hair-raising moment in an active storm over the St. Lawrence River. The ship rose to try and clear a thunderhead but struck an air pocket and plunged over 2,000 feet "in as many seconds."

"Everybody was holding on to some part of the ship's structure," recalled an anonymous crew member (interviews were officially forbidden.) "There was a rattling of furniture and crockery all over the ship that overruled all other sounds" before it eventually righted itself.

The airship stayed in Quebec for 11 days for press tours and minor repairs. One of the fins at the back of the R100 was damaged as it passed through the storm and there was brief panic when it was reported the ship might not be able to visit Toronto as a result.

During its crossing it had burned more than 9,440 gallons of gasoline.Then, with its bodywork repaired, the R100 appeared on the horizon east of Toronto "like a vast nocturnal moth" in the early morning hours of Monday August 11 while much of the city was still asleep. The vessel droned overhead, waking many, and headed down to Niagara Falls before turning and returning for a second pass via Hamilton. This time the city was ready.

Citizens packed the rooftops and strained their eyes skyward to catch a glimpse of the behemoth as it approached from the south. Those without access to a high rooftop clambered up water towers, in to trees, and the tops of their homes. One boy had to be rescued by firefighters after becoming trapped on the roof of his family home, the Star reported.Traffic stopped in the streets and a "mass of humanity" was at the waterfront as the R100 passed over the Toronto Islands. Commander Booth ordered the nose of the craft dipped in salute, apparently intentionally, as it hummed its way back to the centre of the city.

"At one time she held her downward path toward the surface of the lake for so long that the crowd was audibly gasping, thinking the mighty giant had met with engine trouble or other difficulty and was being forced down into the water," one journalist wrote. "As she righted herself, pointed her nose upward, and soared off to the centre of the city a mighty cheer went up."

The Canadian Bank of Commerce, then the tallest building in the British Empire, provided a perfect backdrop to this advert for British crown. On the ship, the crew were close enough to be seen waving to the well-wishers on the ground and in their perches.

"From now on the population will be divided into two classes, those who saw her first by the light o' the moon and those who saw her full flushed by the risen of sun," declared the Star with just a touch of hyperbole.The R100 safely returned to its base in the United Kingdom but shortly after its arrival its sister ship, crashed and exploded en route to India after being caught in a downdraught at Beauvais Ridge in France, killing 48 of the 54 passengers and crew.

It was the biggest peacetime accident since the sinking of the Titanic. The tragic death of so many promising young engineers and crew shocked the Britain and ultimately lead to the end of the Imperial Airship Scheme. The bodies were buried with full military honours at Cardington and the R100 was broken up for scrap.

It would be decades before any passengers would have the chance to fly across the Atlantic again.

ADVERTS

The R100's visit to Toronto was an ideal occasion for companies to cash in on even the most tenuous association with the airship. Ads for everything from fountain pens to cigarettes and condensed milk ran in the Toronto Star and other papers in the days after the visit of the R100. Here are some of the best.

MORE PICTURES:

Inside the airship: the promenade deck.The lounge room aboard the R100.Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King (second from left) inspects the R100 at St. Hubert.The view from the ground of the airship tethered to its mast in the days after its arrival.Another view of the R100 as it passes over downtown Toronto

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

Image: Public Domain, City of Toronto Archives, /blogTO Flickr pool.

Photo by C P Bateman in the blogTO Flickr pool

This week in theatre rounds up the most noteworthy live theatre playing right now in Toronto. It includes just-opened shows as well as productions that are about to close.

Stopheart / Factory Theatre / 8:00pm/2:00pm / $22-$42
Amy Lee Lavoie burst onto the scene from the National Theatre School with Rabbit Rabbit, which was a smash hit in Montreal in 2009. Her second full-length play, Stopheart, considers the psychology of small-town living. Set in a Northern Ontario crossroads called South Porcupine, Elian and his best friend July confront death, love, and everything in between the only way they know how, together.

The Golden Mean / Bluma Appel Theatre / 8:00pm/2:00pm / $24-$99
Choreographer Marie Chouinard wowed audiences with 2011's bold and daring Orpheus and Eurydice. She returns to Canadian Stage with The Golden Mean, a dance that's part poetry, part journey. With a title that references the ratio describing both balance and beauty in the cosmos, expect design and aesthetic to complement an inventive series of steps from the choreographer.

John and Beatrice / Theatre Passe Muraille / 7:30pm/2:00pm / $20
In this modern take on a classic fairytale, playwright Carole Fréchette explores the more nuanced qualities of romantic relationships, what true love really means, and how expectations trip us up along the way. When John sees a poster announcing the affections of a well-to-do heiress are up for grabs to the most appropriate suitor, he climbs 33 flights to meet Beatrice and win her hand.

I Will Not Hatch! / Berkeley Street Theatre / 8:00pm/2:00pm / $15
If you aren't exactly a fan of flying you might want to avoid I Will Not Hatch! presented by the Steady State Theatre Project. The premise sees nine passengers on an ill-fated flight where oxygen bags may soon be released. If one of the characters cannot save the gang in time, a descent from thirty thousand seems imminent. The play is written and directed by Maya Rabinovitch.

The Mousetrap / Lower Ossington Theatre / 8:00pm/2:00pm / $49
Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap has the distinction of being the longest running play ever, having opened in the West End of London in 1952 and never having closed. Astonishingly, the play recently celebrated its 25,000th show. The well-made murder mystery with a twist ending will play at the Lower Ossington Theatre for a much shorter time.

Photo from the Golden Mean

Photo by Black_Tux in the blogTO Flickr pool

Toronto events on May 6th, 2013

BOOKS & LIT | BookThug Spring Book Launch
BookThug is a Toronto publisher of poetry, fiction, and criticism that leans toward the experimental side of things. Their mandate is both to provide emerging experimental writers with a voice in the literary scene, and also to give established poets and authors a venue for experimentation. Tonight at Supermarket, the spring launch for BookThug's new releases will go down, and works by Chris Eaton, Stephen Collis, Phil Hall, Shannon Maguire, Kim Minkus, Tim Atkins, and others will be shared through readings by the creators themselves. Books will be available for purchase at the venue.
Supermarket (268 Augusta Avenue) 7:30PM

MUSIC | Ghost B.C. + Ides Of Gemini at the Opera House
Linköping, Sweden's Ghost B.C. hits The Opera House tonight for an over-the-top throwdown of heavy metal sounds. These guys definitely have their own remarkable onstage identity, with each member wearing dark robes with hoods, and the lead singer wearing a distinctive skull mask. Offstage, their identities are also kept under wraps. Ghost B.C. just released their second full-length album, Infestissumam, last month, produced by Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Rush, Danzig), so you can expect to hear some of that material showcased tonight. LA-based metal outfit Ides Of Gemini, open the show.
Opera House (735 Queen Street East) 8PM $20

BOOKS & LIT | AUTHORS: Kenneth Bonert, Lewis DeSoto, Claire Messud
An excellent evening of readings tonight, as part of the Authors at Harbourfront Centre series. Kenneth Bonert shares his first novel, The Lion Seeker tonight. This work has come about after a prolific stretch of writing short fiction. Lewis DeSoto, biographer and author of the international bestseller, A Blade of Grass will read tonight from his latest work, The Restoration Artist. Also appearing tonight is Claire Messud, whose novel The Emperor's Children was cited as "Best Book Of The Year" by publications like the New York Times and the Washington Post. She will read tonight from her most recent book, The Woman Upstairs. Grace O'Connell is this evening's host.
Harbourfront Centre (235 Queens Quay West) 7:30PM $10 (free members/students/youth)

Also Of Note

• Guacamole Smack Down
• Elvis Monday
• Playwrights Canada Press Spring Book Launch
• Scabble with the Stars

For more Toronto event suggestions, check out these posts:

• This week in music
• This week in fashion
• This week in film
• Toronto food events
• This week in theatre
• This week in comedy
• 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 of Ghost B.C. by Stubblemusiczine.

Karen Stintz says she'll motion for a report on whether the TTC could take over Toronto's struggling BIXI system. She says if the transit system ran the bike share scheme we could expect more stations at bus stops, streetcar shelters, and subway stations. Last week coun. Kristyn Wong-Tam proposed tethering BIXI to parking space negotiations in new construction projects. Which sounds better?

Rob Ford wants a provincial election, and he's calling on the NDP to help. Speaking on his weekly radio show Ford urged MPPs to "just say no" to the Liberal budget and trigger a vote. "Taxpayers want an election," he said, and presumably so does his brother coun. Doug Ford who's planning a run for office. The NDP need to support the proposed budget to prevent the province going to the polls.

Yesterday's Toronto marathon turned tragic close to the finish line. An 18-year-old woman from Cape Breton collapsed and died after suffering an undisclosed medical problem while running the race. Elsewhere, a police officer from the city's 54 Division was found without vital signs close but was resuscitated.

An Ossington Ave. house that was the scene of a 2011 murder has sold for $900,000, just $50,000 short of the asking price. The sale proves not everyone is squeamish about living in a house that's seen violence, especially if it's in a good location. Would you have a problem owning a former crime scene?

Rob Ford is going to be immortalized in an oil painting by artist/councillor Gary Crawford. Ford's mother, Diane, told Crawford she wanted him to paint her son a few years ago but he's only now found the time. No word whether we'll get a chance to see the finished product, but there's a chance Doug Ford could get the same treatment. Crawford also says he's considering reworking Da Vinci's Last Supper for City Council.

Pedestrians are getting longer to cross the road thanks to traffic signals tweaks around the city. Crossings used to allow for a person walking 1.2 metres a second but now it's being reduced to allow for the elderly and people with mobility difficulties. The difference adds up to about 5 extra seconds per crossing.

Finally, Toronto is inching closer to a discussion on switching to a ranked ballot system for municipal elections. The Ranked Ballot Initiative of Toronto, lead by civic activist Dave Meslin, hopes votes for mayors and councillors will be ranked in order of preference in future. The system eliminates vote-splitting and strategic voting. It's possible the discussion could land on the government management committee agenda in May. Sound good?

FROM THE WEEKEND:

• This Week in Comedy
• This Week in Theatre
• Where to channel your inner Baryshnikov in Toronto
• That time a giant airship darkened Toronto's skies

IN BRIEF:

• Leafs fans embrace 'blue and white day' [CBC]
• Runner, 18, dies at Toronto marathon [CBC]
• Woman in hospital after stove explodes in apartment [Toronto Star]
• Blue Jays pound out win over Mariners [CBC]

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

Image: Jesse Herzog/blogTO Flickr pool.

This Week in Music rounds up the latest news, releases and concerts coming to Toronto.

IN THE NEWS

Swing by the Mad Decent Block Party

Fans of EDM will be pleased about this one. Diplo's Mad Decent label has revealed the lineup for its annual Mad Decent Block Party, which will be hitting Toronto's Fort York Garrison Common on July 20. While there are a few acts yet to be announced, Major Lazer will headline, and Zeds Dead, RiFF RAFF, Grandtheft, and Thugli will offer support. More artists are expected to be announced closer to the date. Check out the party's official site for more info.

Sound in Motion Festival Returns

While we're on the topic of EDM, the Sound in Motion Festival will make its return to Toronto from July 11 to 13 at various venues across the city. The festival, which is a not-for-profit event, will present a two-room main event and several outdoor shows, in addition to panels, a short film showcase, and more. Performers confirmed for the festival thus far include Marcus Visionary, Deepchord, Kode9, Basic Soul Unit, Daniel Bell, and more. The lineup will be expanded on June 11, so expect many more names. Head over to the festival's official site for all the particulars.

THIS WEEK'S HOT TICKETS

THURSDAY MAY 9 / BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB / THE KOOL HAUS / 132 QUEEN QUAY E / $25 / ALL AGES

For 25 bucks, you'd be a sucker not to check out this dark trio from San Francisco. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's music can best be described as garage rock with a hint of psychedelia infused into it. They released their seventh album, Specter at the Feast, back in March, so you can expect to hear a fair bit of new material.

SATURDAY MAY 11 / DOLDRUMS / HORSESHOE TAVERN / 370 QUEEN W / $10 ADVANCE, $12 AT THE DOOR / 19+

Feel like checking out something a little different on a Saturday night? Head on down to the Horseshoe, where Doldrums will be taking the stage. Doldrums is a project conceived by Toronto native Airick Woodhead, and his first full length album, Lesser Evil, was released back in February. He's currently on tour with Crystal Castles, but he'll be making a special stop at the Horseshoe. If you're a fan of darker music, you won't want to miss this one.

RECENTLY ANNOUNCED CONCERTS

• PS I LOVE YOU / THE DRAKE HOTEL / MAY 9 / 10PM
• THE SHEEPDOGS / THE DRAKE HOTEL / MAY 23 / 10PM
• ADRIAN LUX / THE HOXTON / JULY 6 / 10PM
• PET SHOP BOYS / SONY CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS / SEPTEMBER 25 / 8PM

WHAT WE GOT UP TO LAST WEEK

• Titus Andronicus stir up a frenzy at Lee's Palace
• El Mocambo set to close for the summer (or longer)
• New in Toronto Music: Lights, Still Life Still, Ania Soul, 4th Pyramid, Hugs Not Drugs
• New book documents the '90s Jungle Scene in Toronto
• Toronto Concerts, May 2013

Photo of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club courtesy of The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on Flickr.

Trey Parker and Matt Stone have made a career out of jaw-dropping satire that explodes beyond the boundaries of "taste" offering a wildly comedic take on the stranger qualities of human behaviour. Organized religion, particularly the American founded Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has always been a target at the top of the list. Thankfully for theatre audiences, the mischievous twosome is enamoured with sharing their observations through music.

While admittedly preened with hype, The Book of Mormon fulfills its mission, delivering hilarious and clever commentary through songs that exude mirth and merriment. It's soon to convert an army of devoted doorbell ringers during its short six week run in Toronto.

After completing three months of Missionary Training School in Utah (where else?), Elder Price (Mark Evans) and Elder Cunningham (Christopher John O'Neill) are paired together and shipped to Uganda to spread the word about the all-American Big-Box Christ, Mormonism. It's an odd couple scenario, where Price is the shiny, wholesome son and Cunningham is the goofy, friendless buffoon with an over-active imagination.

Upon arrival, the eager disciples learn that Ugandans are much too burdened by a disease called AIDS and a local warlord threatening female circumcision to concern themselves with the story of Joseph Smith and the golden book.

Parker and Stone, along with Robert Lopez of Avenue Q fame, prove masters at manipulating the musical medium. It's a format they've dabbled in and screwed with before on both television and the big screen in South Park and Team America.

Here, there's no screen to hide behind. But they don't need it. The songs, full of stinging satire and lacking a PC filter, nail their target. It helps that they're supported by inspired choreography from Casey Nicholaw (who directed alongside Parker). There's a freshness to the steps buoyed by that Mormon get up and go energy.

The combination of musical theatre conventions and a no-holds-barred characterization of religious naivety and repression is the intersection that gives the musical liftoff. The numbers that penetrate most strike to the heart of Mormon contradictions — a chorus of missionaries praise the benefits of knowing how to "Turn It Off" when contentious thoughts boil to the surface (especially of the guy on guy variety), and the "Spooky Mormon Hell Dream," the real winner, plays on all-consuming guilt and features cameos from Jeffrey Dahmer and Johnnie Cochrane.

The Ugandan characters are sadly underdeveloped alongside their Mormon counterparts, although we are privy time and time again to a certain private problem one of the men is suffering. As an ensemble though their "Hasa Diga Eebowai," a phrase which, when translated, would make any Mormon faint, is the highlight of act one. Additionally, their holy theatre take on the Book of Mormon a la Cunningham, "Joseph Smith American Moses," is the triumphant moment towards which the musical builds.

Samantha Marie Ware makes Nabulungi a memorable character; even though it's problematic her difficult to pronounce name and her ignorance to metaphor become her defining traits. Evans and O'Neill are a strong pair, each exuding the qualities the other lacks. Cunningham specifically is a captivating comedian.

The musical is undeniably fun. It's undeniable...who wouldn't have fun? OK, maybe Mormons and Ugandans, but for everyone else, it's a contemporary, politically-infused satire by a team that's practically writing the book, their own book, on how it should be done.

—

The Book of Mormon, by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone, runs at the Princess of Wales Theatre until June 9.

The 2013 Toronto Comic Arts Festival, or TCAF as it's more commonly referred to, is about to get underway, so hitch up the buggy and get ready to head over to the Toronto Reference Library and other event venues around the city. As always, there will be some surprises and great access to some of the biggest names in the business.

Here's what to expect.

EVENTS, PART ONE: THE ROAD TO TCAF

TCAF officially starts on the weekend of May 10th, but it technically begins on May the first. The Steam Whistle Roundhouse will be hosting the Toronto Strip Show: The TCAF Tenth Anniversary Art Show, a celebration of comic art from its inception to the modern age. Don't worry about missing the opening night, as the event will run from May 1st to May 31st. Meanwhile, Church on Church will be hosting the Maurice Vellekoop and Gengoroh Tagame's joint gallery LEGENDS from May 4th to the 12th, and p|m (which wins the award for Weirdest Venue Name Ever) will have Anna Sailama's Comics & Drawings from the 1st to the 12th. Other big events and galleries, from mixers to screenings, will also be happening between now and the big day.

EVENTS, PART TWO: REVENGE OF THE EVENTS

During the fated weekend, we can expect way more excitement. Down the street from TCAF, The Japan Foundation will hold the World of Taiyo Matsumoto Gallery, an exhibition of the famed manga-ka's works. There will also be the Bit Bazaar, a celebration of crafting video games, at the Bento Miso on Richmond Street West; Vellekoop and Tagame will have a Saturday night queer mixer during their LEGENDS show; and the Doug Wright Awards will be hosted on the Saturday evening at Marriott Hotel on Bloor East. Finally, on the Sunday evening, Israeli comic artist Rutu Modan will have a special presentation at the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre about her newest work, The Property.

EXHIBITORS

Just when you thought it was safe to leave your mom's house! No TCAF is complete without some of the biggest names and rising stars of the comic world showing up, so let me put it thusly. Ever wanted to be in the same building as Art Spiegelman, Bryan Lee O'Malley, Hope Larson, Faith Erin Hicks, KC Green, Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez, Ulli Lust, Adam Warren, Meredith Gran, and scores more talented artists and writers for two whole days? Then you're at the right place. CHECK OUT THE GUEST LIST.

DEBUTING BOOKS

Said artists will be showing off their latest works and books during the weekend, so if you wanted to grab the latest anything then this is the place for it. The extensive list published on the TCAF website pretty much lets us know what to expect, but keep your eyes open for such works as Joe Ollman's "Science Fiction," Prudence Shen and Faith Erin Hicks' "Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong," and Art Spiegelman's "Co-Mix."

TCAF is free and runs from May 11th from 9 AM to 5 PM, and May 12th from 11 AM to 5 PM.

Photo by Paul Tichonczuk in the blogTO Flickr pool

It's not unusual to find pork hearts or beef tongue on Basilio Pesce's menu. The chef (formerly of both the McEwan and O&B empires), says he's constantly driven by new ideas and certainly isn't short of novel approaches to food at his Parkdale restaurant, Porzia. Pesce talks about developing an interest in the profession, keeping his culinary curiosity alive, and working with one very notable ingredient.

What's new at the restaurant?

We started doing a Sunday day service as our next focal point. I find that brunch has a certain connotation to it and people have their own versions of what it is. I just don't want people to come in here thinking it's three eggs any style with your choice of ham, sausage or bacon. We make everything in-house including our yogurt, granola and preserves. We also do all of our baking including savory and sweet breads. We do frittatas, a riff on a carbonara, pork belly ... basically it's the philosophies and ideas of what the restaurant is at night, only Sunday during the day.

Why did you decide to do brunch and not just dinner?

We thought we could add to the day culture of the area. Parkdale is very dynamic in that sense where every hour of the day is something new. I've been hanging out at this restaurant quite extensively for over a year, and you kind of notice certain nuances of the neighbourhood. I've noticed there really isn't a day culture here. You do have small little places that are open, and now that Grand Electric is open [during the day], they kind of add to the whole scene, you know, not just people roaming the street, but people coming down to eat during the day. At night, it's a different story. Once it hits six o'clock, it's total mayhem.

When I first opened the restaurant I was dead against it. I was the first person to stand on my soapbox and say, 'We're not going to do this, this is not what we're about.' But very quickly I realized how wrong I was. Ultimately, we just thought we could provide something great, and that's been our number one motivation.

Why set up shop in Parkdale?

I think it's such a great neighbourhood. It seems to be one of the last raw and very real neighbourhoods in the city. Every neighbourhood, regardless of what it was five or six years ago will always kind of end up being something else. I remember Ossington when you just drove through it and you never went anywhere there. Once they had a huge explosion of restaurants, it's turned into the Ossington that everyone knows now.

Parkdale's a little bit of a harder sell because there's such a huge, tight-knit community within the neighbourhood itself; not just with the BIA, but there's a huge resident association as well. Everyone just wants what's best for Parkdale so you'll get a lot of no's before you get a lot of yes's. The neighbourhood is such an eclectic mix, there's such a great energy, and the people here are fantastic. I think the restaurants that are here completely fit. And you have to, because it's almost like they can smell your bullshit from a mile away.

Did you always want to be a chef?

Absolutely not. I think it was my third choice in life that I fell into it by accident. I needed a job, and that's how I think most people fall into their careers or try figure out what it is they like. My first kitchen job was in a Kelsey's. My younger sister was working there and it was just one of those days where three guys in the kitchen never showed up. I just got destroyed the first night, burnt my hand, and stood there like a deer in headlights. But I kept going back. After about a year, I got pretty good and I kind of realized that I liked cooking, but not there. I felt like there had to be more and I decided to go to cooking school. So I went out to the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts in Vancouver, did really well, and never looked back.

I was very lucky that I grew up in a very food-rich family. My parents are both Italian and for me growing up, some of my early memories are centered around Sunday dinners or some sort of event where there was way too much food. I've always liked to eat and I've always had a very good appetite. I was always the kid who would pick the weirdest thing on the menu. I wondered what rabbit or shark tastes like. Half of it was just to fulfill this curiosity I had about food, the other half was just to freak out my sisters.

Was culinary school where you really learned to cook?

That's a loaded question. I think doing what we do, you never really learn how to cook. You're always teaching yourself new things. Do I know how to cook? I can probably piece together a breakfast and if you want me to make you a pasta, sure. In terms of learning, I know for myself that you never stop. And that's the one thing I like about dealing with food: it's always something new. Even when you think you know how to do something, it's always different, and you just have to learn how to adapt. And I think that's what makes good cooks or chefs.

You have some pretty adventurous things on your menu. How have you fostered that curiosity as a chef?

I honestly don't think I'm a creative person. I don't think of myself as an artist, and I know that gets thrown around a lot. I just like making good food, and that's what my motivation is. I find that motivation drives you to work with really good ingredients and try to get things to 100% per cent, even if that doesn't exist. I came from a very structured kitchen environment from the jobs I had before, and not that there's anything wrong with it, but just knowing my personality, I like doing different things.

A lot of it is for funny, stupid, and selfish reasons, like if I have to roll out the same pasta for seven straight months, I'm not going to be very happy. We'll run something for two or three days, and we do have staples on the menu, but I find that that the curiosity fuels the menu. I think it's important for the other chefs who work here as well because it gets you constantly thinking about how we can make things better.

We don't have people leaving because we have horse on the menu, we don't have people freaked out because we do bone marrow. The only chicken dish we have is chicken livers. I think we've gotten a very good response with the food that we've put out. We provide something different and I'm not saying that it's so unique that we're redefining the food scene in Toronto, but I think we put out food that we like to eat. We're not fueled by egos, we're fueled by ideas.

What's so great about horse?

I've grown up eating it. My parents are southern Italian, so for me it's not something that's uncommon. The meat's a little sweet, it's super lean, and if you know how to treat it, it's amazing. We've had some sort of dish on the menu with horse in it right from the opening. We've gotten a lot of good feedback and we've only had about one person questioning our intentions. I think if you respect your product and you buy from a very reputable source, that's what I think it comes down to: respect. It has a certain connotation here because it's not something that's common, but if you go to Quebec and Europe it's a different story. I know it's a very touchy subject, but it's delicious...it's so good.

What's your favourite offal to work with?

I like chicken livers and bone marrow a lot. I think those are probably the two that have been very constant on the menu. Chicken livers just taste good as simple as they are. And bone marrow is like an oyster; it's almost the perfect food. You just throw bone marrow in the oven with salt and a little piece of bread and you can't get any better. It's like meat butter.

What's the biggest lesson you've learned as a chef?

You have to be patient. Patience is the best characteristic a chef can have. I taught two semesters at George Brown and my students would always ask for that one piece of advice. If you work hard and you listen and you're willing to learn, then you're going to get rewarded. If you think that you should be given more than what you've worked for, you're just going to crash and burn.

What's next for you?

I want to expand, but I don't know when because we're only three months in. I want to start opening other restaurants that would be very different to this concept. I want to do it as fast as I can because I'm not getting any younger. I have a few ideas of what I want to start working towards, but I need to deal with this first, obviously.

RAPID FIRE QUESTIONS

Most underrated ingredient? Artichokes

Best culinary tool? Hands

A chef that inspires you? Mark McEwan, Anthony Walsh and Jason Carter

Favourite Toronto restaurant? Mi Mi on Gerrard

What's one dish you can live without? Bread or pasta

What would people be surprised to find in your fridge? Minigo for my son

What's one food trend that needs to end? It's like fashion; there always needs to be something new coming in.

Read more Toronto chef profiles on our Pinterest board.

Photos by Morris Lum

Recently opened at the podium of a still expanding condo development, this new drinking hall combined with the original Brew Pub means that Mill St. Brewery can now accomodate almost 1000 diners in the Distillery District. Fostering the boisterous sprit of communal dining, the focus at this space is on big sharable plates that go best with beer and big groups of friends.

Read my profile of the Mill Street Beer Hall in the restaurants section.

The High Park cherry blossoms are in bloom, which you probably already know — because it seemed like half of Toronto descended on the park this weekend. As beautiful as the trees are (and they really are stunning), their annual blossoming has become as much a people watching event as anything else. Witnessing the photographic impulse on display is nothing short of remarkable, whether it be the pros out with their tripods or the tourist-types with their iPads/tablets (memory would probably preserve the image better than these cameras). And the froth-mouthed frenzy over cherry trees isn't limited to Toronto, either. The hashtag #cherryblossom on Instagram yields a whopping 218,000+ photographs.

A gift from the Japanese Ambassador to Canada in 1959, High Park's sakura trees have never been more popular, so be prepared to battle the crowds. Midweek visits are sure to be less of a mob scene, but if you plan to take it all in, it's probably a good idea to avoid driving/parking in High Park unless you plan to arrive early in the morning. It was gridlock on Saturday and Sunday, and nothing screams bucolic more than a line of cars searching (in vain) for precious parking spots. Given its proximity to the subway and easy accessibility by bike, those are your best bets.

Given the snap-happy frenzy, we asked our Instagram followers to share their favourite photos of the cherry blossoms using the hashtag #cherryblossomTO. Here are some of the best pics.

Photo by eleanor19.

Photo by mc_dor.

Photo by blogTO.

Photo by gurdishgill.

Photo by braejade.

Photo by owenmccabe.

Photo by jetsuka.

Photo by todreamsproject.

Photo by nickkopa.

Photo by davidgtran.

Photo by chinpua.

Photo by kimetwell.

Photo by saradeenap.

Photo by mike_bizz.

Don't forget the cherry blossoms at Robarts Library. Photo by adamclutch.

While it may seem as though new cafes are popping up in Toronto on a daily basis, few of them are true show stoppers. Not so here. Housed in the historic Dineen Building at Yonge and Temperance, this new cafe features a gorgeous interior and some impressively well crafted coffee.

Read my review of Dineen Coffee Co. in the cafes section.