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Toronto is finally filling the gap on its waterfront

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Cyclists and pedestrians will soon be able to travel along the shores of Lake Ontario, from one end of Toronto to the other, without ever coming into contact with motor vehicles.

That's right — no more competing for space with trucks between Cherry Beach and the Leslie Street Spit.

Toronto is finally filling in the only remaining gap in its beloved Martin Goodman Trail, a multi-use recreational path that spans all the way from Humber Bay Arch Bridge in the west to Rouge River in the east.

Martin Goodman Trail

The new trail link will be located along the south side of Unwin Avenue, north of Tommy Thompson Park, in an area known as the Baselands. Image via City of Toronto.

"Once the missing link is completed, it will move trail users off a dangerous road full of large trucks and onto a beautiful and safe passage," said Ward 30 Councillor Paula Fletcher during a press conference this weekend.

"The Martin Goodman Trail connects people to vibrant neighbourhoods and parks along our city’s waterfront," said Mayor John Tory similarly. "This construction will complete the trail giving pedestrians and cyclists a safe option to access our waterfront."

The project has been dubbed the "Unwin Avenue Connection" and is scheduled to be completed by this fall. Construction will begin in mid-July.

A barrier fence will be installed along the entire length of the trail to maintain Tommy Thompsons Park's dog-free status, according to the City, and "eco-passages" will be spaced every 20 metres to allow for the natural movement of wildlife.


How to spend 48 hours in Guelph

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Guelph is a city with a lot to offer. A less than two hour drive from Toronto, it's proximity makes it a quick and accessible weekend trip. Here you'll find the comfort of a quaint city, combined with a lively up and coming social scene.

Here’s how to spend 48 hours in Guelph.

Friday
3 p.m. - Check into the Western Hotel

Built in 1881, this hotel in downtown Guelph has been restored and emits a historical-chic vibe. All the suites have equipped kitchens and the hotel also has a restaurant and bar in case you have cravings and don’t feel like stepping out.

3:30 p.m. - Lunch at Crafty Ramen

Nothing hits the spot better than a bowl of ramen and this restaurant is just minutes away from the hotel. They make their own noodles and have everything from the Meat Lovers bowl to a vegan ramen, so there’s something for everyone. 

4:30 p.m. - Tour downtown Guelph

After lunch, walk around and discover downtown Guelph: it’s filled with Victorian-inspired buildings and historical sites, such as Basilica of our Lady Immaculate, Old Quebec Street mall and Guelph Market Square.

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5:30 p.m. - Shop local

Guelph is all about supporting local businesses and there’s a variety of boutiques on Wyndham Street, Quebec Street and Carden Street. Some retail favourites include Blush, Pod and Grey Rock Clothing.

6:30 p.m. - Dinner at Miijidaa

The menu at Miijidaa draws influences from First Nations, French and British cuisines. They have a modern take on some classic favourites such as corn bread and Mac & Cheese, as well as unique menu items like elk scotch egg, hay smoked duck breast and seasonally inspired dishes. 

8:30 p.m. - Drinks and live music at The Albion Hotel

From an affordable, yet extensive, drinks menu to weekly lineups of local bands and performers, this is the perfect place to end a fun evening and unwind. The building’s historical architecture — dating back to 1856 — really makes it stand out. 

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Saturday

9 a.m. - Breakfast at 39 Carden Street Bistro

Get ready for the day at this local favourite decorated with minimalist chandeliers, white brick walls and chalkboard menus that perfectly encompass Guelph’s charm. Their dishes are also made from fresh local ingredients. 

10:30 a.m. - Visit the Guelph Farmers Market

The Guelph Farmers Market is open all year round on Saturdays and features a variety of local vendors. It’s been around for more than 180 years, making it a city favourite. You’ll be able to find everything from fresh produce to baked goods to arts and crafts.

12 p.m. - Indulge your sweet tooth at Killer Cupcakes

This downtown bakery has a rotating menu of cupcake flavours but also does cheesecake and slices of cake. They’re open until all their cupcakes sell out, so make sure to stop by before it’s too late.

1 p.m. - Discover the water at The Boathouse Tea Room

If it's the perfect weather to enjoy the outdoors, what better way to do it than boating? At The Boathouse it's not just about tea, you can rent out canoes and kayaks and go boating down Speed River where you’ll be surrounded by nature and get a chance to appreciate it. 

3 p.m. - Lunch at Earth to Table: Bread Bar

Just minutes away from The Boathouse, this place has the perfect patio for eating outside. Try their bread plate, which comes with lemon ricotta, vadouvan spiced butter and green garlic tapenade.

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4:30 p.m. - Get competitive at The Round Table

This board game café decorated like a medieval tavern pairs snacks and cocktails along with a huge assortment of games. It has a fun and lively atmosphere where you can get super competitive playing Coup.

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6 p.m. - Dinner at Buon Gusto

If you’re a fan of Italian, Buon Gusto is one of the best Guelph has to offer. They’re known for their wood-fired pizza and pasta - make sure to order the Quattro Formaggi.

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8 p.m. - Drinks at Sip Club

Sip Club has an extensive drinks menu, including 15 beers on tap, cocktails and more. They also have a sweet patio, live music and karaoke nights.

Sunday

9 a.m. - Coffee at Cornerstone

Go for a quick coffee run at Cornerstone for an energetic start to your day. This small café offers a cozy environment with wooden furniture and chalkboard menus. For those craving something sweet, they also make an amazing hot chocolate.

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Eggcetra is where to go for huge breakfast platters, perfect for sharing. Try their Spanish omelette or their skillets but prepare to wait in line if you don't get there early.

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11:30 a.m. - Visit the Arboretum

The University of Guelph Arboretum is filled with different varieties of plants and flowers, walking trails and gardens. It’s free, open to the public and also a great place for photography. Check out their trails for an early afternoon walk to fully immerse yourself in nature.

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1 p.m. - Go axe throwing at Riot Axe

Just like BATL and Bad Axe Throwing in Toronto, Riot Axe is where to go for the sport that sounds like a stereotypical Canadian pastime. The best part is they take walk-ins so you don’t have to make a reservation ahead of time.

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2 p.m. - Lunch at Cherry Blossom Sushi Bar

For an AYCE raw fish fix, this sushi joint covers all the basics and is decorated with huge wooden arcs and glowing spherical lighting. Order the Guelph roll made with shrimp tempura, fake crabmeat, BBQ eel, avocado and cream cheese.

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3:30 - Indulge in a sweet ending at Chocolats Favoris

Just like Vaughan, Guelph is also home to this rapidly growing Quebec-based dessert chain. They're known for their soft-serve ice creams dipped in ganache, as well as chocolates, milkshakes and ice cream floats. There’s no better way to end your sweet trip to Guelph than this.

The Best Sports Bars in Toronto

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The best sports bars in Toronto cater to all the diverse kinds of sports fans we have in this city. Huddled over a pint with your eyes glued to the screen in a hushed, dim dive or cheering with friends by a jumbotron-sized HDTV, these are the places to root for our Jays, Raptors or Leafs.

Here are the best sports bars in Toronto.

5 - Dog & Bear

The people behind Parts & Labour also have this West Queen West pub where you can take in the game while chowing down on an English breakfast.
3 - Real Sports Bar

Toronto’s largest sports bar is located in the South Core right next to the ACC. Go here for giant screens, a seasonal menu and draft beer to gorge on as you take in the action.
9 - McSorley's Saloon

The kitchen is open until 2 a.m. every night of the week at this Bayview Avenue hangout, perfect for celebrating overtime wins.
4 - The Dock Ellis

Hometown spirit is in no short supply at this Dundas West bar with an accessible price point that also makes incredible fried chicken sandwiches and burgers.
6 - Hurricane's

Watching the game is easy-breezy at this super casual Bloorcourt sports bar with an awesome patio, wings and brunch.
8 - Striker Sports Bar

Sports fans need not adhere to the hetero jock stereotype at this pub in the Church Wellesley Village that boasts being Toronto’s only gay sports bar as well as having Canada’s first Frost Rail to keep drinks cold.
11 - Round the Horn

This Roncesvalles Village watering hole is known amongst sports fans. Not the biggest or flashiest spot, but one of the most down-home enthusiastic.
7 - The Loose Moose

Just steps from Union Station, this sprawling sports pub that's been around for over 30 years has over 65 beers on tap.
10 - Rally Sports Bar & Smokehouse

East York has this bar has over 7000 square feet of space and 40 big screen HDTVs, so you’re guaranteed a good view of the game.

Thieves stealing laptop from Toronto bar caught on video

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A Toronto woman whose laptop was stolen knows who took it, when, where and how — but a face doesn't help much without any names.

Farra Kay, who works at Belfast Love, shared footage on Facebook this weekend from two different security cameras at the King West bar.

In the first video, a man and woman are seen chatting for about a minute while glancing over at Kay's laptop in the DJ Booth.

The computer, a Mac, was behind a counter at the time, but that didn't stop the man from reaching over to grab it. He swiftly pulled the laptop across the bar, handed it to the woman, and kept a lookout while she tucked it into her jacket.

The second video provides a much clearer view of the couple, in colour, as they walk through the bar with their faces well-lit.

"Attention Facebook," wrote Kay in her post. "This couple flat out stole my laptop, Saturday May 12 at 9:36 p.m. from Belfast Love. If you know them, please message me. Please share."

Kay blames herself for leaving the computer, which she had been using to work, unattended for so long. Commenters on the post are blaming the couple, which they have deemed everything from "scumbags" to "pieces of garbage."

Couple steals laptop from customers inside restaurant on York Lanes Mall from r/toronto.

Interestingly, this isn't the first time a couple has been caught on camera stealing a laptop in Toronto this year.

Just two weeks ago, somebody else shared security footage of a man and woman swiping someone's computer while sitting in a restaurant at York Lanes Mall.

Like the people seen in Kay's videos from Belfast Love, the woman at York Lanes had long hair and the man had short dark hair.

Kay, for her part, isn't looking to spark a mob.

"I just want these people to know what they did was wrong," she said. "And maybe, just maybe, I get it back."

10 things to do in Toronto today

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Events in Toronto today see some of the city's most iconic structures made out of canned goods, a performance by Margaret Glaspy and a ladies'-only beer party at one of Toronto's smallest breweries.

Events you might want to check out:

Pittsburgh Trilogy (May 15 @ TIFF Bell Lightbox)
This free screening includes three films by director Stan Brakhage, including Eyes, Deus Ex and The Act of Seeing With One's Own Eyes.
Beer. (May 15 @ Laylow)
The city's smallest brewery is throwing a big, ladies'-only jam with fresh brews and traditional Trinidadian dishes with a French and Italian twist.
Gilmore Girl's Pub Quiz (May 15 @ Beaver Cafe)
Notorious for its fast-paced and witty banter, this is your chance to show just how well you understand Rory and Lorelai's lives inside and out.
Margaret Glaspy (May 15 @ The Drake Hotel)
Former Fundies member Margaret Glaspy has been enjoying a successful solo career and is here in anticipation of her debut album Emotions and Math.
The Museum of Lost Art (May 15 @ Royal Ontario Museum)
How did the Mona Lisa become so famous? It was stolen. Art historian Noah Charney talks about the many artworks that have gone missing.
Spark After Dark (May 15 @ Burdock)
Combining science with creativity, the show will bring together seemingly different worlds to create a unique experience through storytelling.
Fireside Tales (May 15 @ Dufferin Grove Park)
Outside is the best side and Rhiannon Archer and Helder Brumbring host a group of storytellers to share their stuff among the great outdoors.
Canstruction (May 15 @ Design Exchange)
This annual design and build competition will see architects and engineers create structures made entirely from canned foods.
Magical Thinking (May 15-16 @ Weird Things)
Self-taught animator, performer and Toronto native Jesi Jordan debuts new, psychic paintings inspired by the inner workings of the mind.
Tinder Tales (May 15-29 @ Comedy Bar)
Romance in all its forms gets tabled at the May deFlowers edition of Tinder Tales, where local comics share stories about their first time.

Win tickets to SING!

House of the week: 112 Ridley Boulevard

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When a listing starts off by describing the home as evoking the pedigree of an 18th-century European chateau my curiosity gets the better of me.

112 ridley blvd toronto

In Bedford Park, this new build does give off European vibes with the gold accents, walnut wood and rex Italian floor, but I wouldn't say chateau. The outside is a bit too plain for that. Where are the turrets?

112 ridley blvd torontoThe main floor is open concept with soaring ceilings, making it seem grand and spacious.

112 ridley blvd torontoFor such a large house the kitchen seems kind of like an afterthought. It’s still pretty, but it's relegated to this narrow strip in the living room.

112 ridley blvd torontoThere are five bedrooms so there’s plenty of room for a family or guests. 

112 ridley blvd toronto The master bedroom is roomy and walks out onto a balcony. I'm really liking the chandelier as a bedroom light fixture. It's so much more interesting than the usual boring pot lights.  

112 ridley blvd torontoThe bathrooms are heavy on the marble and granite and that adds to the European charm.

112 ridley blvd torontoThe basement has a gym (read: glass box), sauna (read: wood box) and theater room. It also the standard rec room, extra bedroom, laundry room and mud room.

112 ridley blvd torontoI think the biggest let down is the landscaping. I know it’s a new build so stuff hasn't had time to grow into itself, but the front yard has this weird tree garden patch happening and I don’t know how that’s going to work as time goes on. Is it a survival of the fittest tree death match?

112 ridley blvd torontoSpecs
  • Address: 112 Ridley Blvd.
  • Price: $5,998,800
  • Lot Size: 55 x 140.67 feet
  • Bedrooms: 5 +1
  • Bathrooms: 9
  • Parking: 8
  • Walk Score: 46
  • Transit Score: 82
  • Listing agent: Drita Bruci
  • Listing ID: C4122486
112 ridley blvd torontoGood For

Anyone who hates shoveling snow with a fiery passion. The driveway is heated and, honestly, never having to shovel your driveway again is worth the almost $6 million price tag. 

112 ridley blvd torontoMove On If

You want some grass in your yards. While the backyard does have some greenery, it's so dinky in comparison to the rest of the house. For more than $5 million I’d want enough room to think about putting in a pool or at least room to run through a sprinkler.112 ridley blvd toronto

Victoria Day fireworks in Toronto for 2018

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Victoria Day fireworks in Toronto for 2018 look to celebrate the annual tradition with a mesmerizing display of shimmering colours splattered across the night sky.

The biggest display, accessible from the downtown core, remains the Ashbridges Bay yearly fireworks in the Beaches, with over 2,000 fireworks blasted off over a 14 minute period. 

The spectacle is set for May 21 starting at 9:45 p.m. and can be viewed from the comfort of the sand anywhere along the shoreline.

Almost immediately afterwards, you can catch another, slightly smaller display on at Boardwalk Place at Woodbine Beach beginning at 10 p.m.

Away from the lights of the city, Canada's Wonderland has the pyrotechnics ready to roll in honour of Queen V's birthday on May 20 at 10 p.m.

And it wouldn't be a fireworks weekend without some DIY action in Toronto's bigger parks like Christie Pits and Trinity Bellwoods.

Among the dazzlingly displays, expect a whole lot of burning schoolhouse whistles, sparkler Instas and barking puppers.


These epic ruins are just one hour from Toronto

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If you’re looking for your next road trip destination, the Rockwood Conservation Area is a must. Not only does this 194-acre park have great hiking trails, boardwalks and idyllic beaches, it also houses some epic castle-like ruins where you can live out your Game of Thrones fantasies.

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Just an hour outside Toronto in the town of Rockwood, this conservation area has become one of the hottest parks to visit in the summer. Its accessibility and proximity to major highways like the 401 make it an easy city escape.

What makes Rockwood Conservation Area unique from most parks is the sheer amount of activities it boasts and its rich geological aspects. A few environmental features it’s known for are the glacier bluffs, extensive cave systems (12 in total) and some of the oldest dated trees in Ontario.

Even with Rockwood being a nature lovers paradise, it seems over the years the biggest tourist draw has been the stunning Harris Woolen Mill ruins, the remnants of an ancient textile mill.

Built in the mid 1880s, the mill was forced to shut down during the Depression and has remained vacant since.

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Over the past decade, the mill had gone through almost a million-dollar renovation to preserve its history and make it safe for visitors to walk through and appreciate.

The site is part of the Grand River Conservation Authority, and is an extremely popular spot for picnics, hikes, photography shoots and weddings.

If you want to spend more than a day inside the park, there are over 120 campsites on four main campgrounds. Fill your entire weekend up with swimming, fishing, canoeing, hiking, spelunking and even paddle boarding — which you can rent in the summer.

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The conservation area is open year-round and camping is available from May to October.

The TTC is rolling out a new type of streetcar technology

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Toronto's transit system is in the midst of a transformation that will make our streetcars more powerful, agile and reliable — but you won't be able to see a difference unless you look up.

As the TTC rolls out more and more of its new Flexity Outlook streetcars, the agency is also upgrading the technology used to power its vehicles from overhead.

Say goodbye to elaborate "crossing frogs" over major intersections, and wave hello to pantographs (but only on Harbourfront and Spadina. For now.)

Most Toronto streetcars currently have a "trolley pole" — a long, straight rod that sticks out from the top of the car and connects it to power lines above.

This is considered old school and less effective when using cars as long as the new Bombardier Flexity. 

Streetcars with trolley poles are more prone to "dewiring" (aka breaking down) and more complicated to make turns with than their more-modern counterparts, according to experts. They also lead to gross, oily build-up on the back windows of new streetcars.

Pantographs, on the other hand, can maintain contact with overhead wires even when they're not perfectly centred, as well as during ice storms and under low-clearance bridges. They also pull in a lot more power, allowing for higher speeds.

The new Bombardier streetcars all come equipped with these roof-mounted, spring-loaded pantographs, but Toronto's overhead wire network isn't quite ready for all of them yet.

This will change, slowly but surely, as the TTC works to convert its overhead contact system and carhouses to accommodate the new technology.

You may already have seen some pantographs in action on the 509 Harbourfront route, where they've been powering cars since September. 

Now, as of Monday, you can see them on the 510 Spadina route as well.

"Indeed, Spadina is the next route being converted followed by other lines in the network," wrote TTC spokesperson Stuart Green on Twitter in response to local transit buff David Lussier.

"This is so exciting," said Lussier. "Pantographs are MUCH sexier and they don't get the rear of streetcar all greasy."

True say!

Toronto bar becomes ground zero for Winnipeg Jets fans

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Today I learned that Toronto has it's own "Little Winnipeg" — all of it located entirely within one dimly-lit, 800-square-foot bar in Parkdale.

#WhiteOut conditions in Toronto! 🏒✈️ #Toronto #Winnipeg #GoJetsGo @nhljets

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Motel on West Queen West has become a home base, of sorts, for Manitoban ex-pats living in The 6ix, mostly on account of its reputation for playing Winnipeg Jets games.

Owned by Winnipeg native Daniel Greaves (of Canadian rock band The Watchmen), Motel has become known as the place for local Jets fans in recent years — and you best believe the place is bumping now that their beloved team is in the Western Conference final.

The bar was actually lined up on Saturday, before noon, with people wearing Jets jerseys to view Game 1 against the Vegas Golden Knights.

And these aren't just fair-weather "I'll root for whatever Canadian hockey team is left" sports fans. Roger Petersen of City News reports that almost everyone in the bar for Game 2 last night had originally come from Manitoba.

Glad I wore my Canadian tuxedo for this Buff Sandwich #gojetsgo #WPGwhiteout

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"Another Jets game at my 'Hoser Hut'!" wrote a recent transplant on Instagram earlier this month, sharing a photo of herself watching a Jets game at Motel.

"A year ago today I made my big move. It's been hard to be so far and miss all the Winnipeg fun... but this move was/is the best decision I've made."

Heck, Jets fans in Toronto are tagging Motel as their location on Instagram even when they're nowhere near the bar itself.

The series between the Jets and Golden Knights is now tied at 1-1, which should make for some intense viewing on Wednesday night during Game 3.

Round 2 Game 1 #WPGWhiteout @motelparkdale #gojetsgo

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You can watch it live, surrounded by real Winnipeggers, at 1235 Queen Street West in Parkdale around 9 p.m. tomorrow — if you're able to get a seat, that is.

Here are all the free movies at Christie Pits this summer

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Summertime in Toronto is almost here and that means the return of free outdoor movie screenings in Christie Pits.

The Christie Pits Film Festival has announced its 2018 season with the theme of Cinematic Cities, a collection of films that aim to bring urban landscapes from all over the world to Toronto for the summer.

Get ready to cozy up under the few stars we can see and take a trip to Baltimore during the 1960's with the season opener of John Waters' iconic Hairspray on June 24.

Each film will be paired with a short from a local film maker that explores the inner workings of Toronto itself.

Screenings are free to attend and there will be food and drinks served starting at 6 p.m., before the movie starts at sundown.

Here's a list of the films screening at Christie Pits this summer.

Sunday, June 24

Short film: Take a Walk on the Wildside
Feature film: Hairspray

Sunday, July 1

Short films: Whatever Happened to Jackie Shane? and Bickford Park
Feature film: Porch Stories

Sunday, July 8

Short film: The Good Escape
Feature film: Casablanca

Sunday, July 15

Short films: NumbersWelcome to YesterdayQueen's Quay and This Town of Toronto...
Feature film: In the Mood for Love

Sunday, July 22

Short film: Model
Feature film: Ocean's Eleven

Sunday, July 29

Short films: What Remains and Bird
Feature film: Waste Land

Sunday, August 5

Short films: Cheese and I Am Not a Weird Person
Feature film: Amélie

Sunday, August 12

Short films: Night Owl and The Foreigner
Feature film: Before Sunrise

Royal Wedding to hit the big screen in Toronto

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Looking for a place to watch the royal wedding in Toronto? Assuming your invitation also got lost in the mail?

Don't let your cat be the only one to see that new weird, ugly hat thing fascinator on your heard — there's room for 2,000 people to view the nuptials of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in style this Saturday at the (fittingly-named) Princess of Wales Theatre.

Canadian theatre mogul David Mirvish is hosting, what he bills as, "Toronto's Biggest Royal Wedding Viewing Party" on May 19 from 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. (England is five hours ahead of Toronto, remember?)

The event, which promises free breakfast and "special onstage celebrity surprise guests," will broadcast the royal wedding live on a big screen "in the plush comfort of the only venue in the world named after [Harry's] mother, Lady Diana, the Princess of Wales."

Princess of Wales Toronto

The Princess of Wales Theatre, named for Prince's Harry's late mother, opened at 300 King Street West in 1993. Image via voyagacanada.

Admission is completely free, though tickets must be booked in advance. Mirvish subscribers will have first dibs and, if anything is left, the general public can register beginning May 16 at 9 a.m.

Attendees are advised to prep for commercial break trivia contests and dress up in their "finest finery." Whoever is deemed to have the best costume will be eligible to win a trip for two to London. 

Parking is also free for the first 220 cars at the Princess of Wales underground garage, which is pretty nuts in downtown Toronto even for 5:30 a.m.

Like the royal wedding itself, only e-tickets will be issued for the event and seating will be determined on a first-come, first-served basis, no savesies.

Dead mouse found on seat at Mandarin restaurant in Toronto

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The human population has mixed feelings when it comes to mice: some of us are terrified, some of us think they're cute (hi), and some of us use them as free labour to design and construct ball gowns.

One thing almost everyone can agree on, however, is that rodents have no place at the dinner table — least of all dead ones.

Photos posted to Facebook this week by a recent customer at the Mandarin Restaurant on Yonge proves this in spades, as evidenced by hundreds of grossed out reactions.

Lauren DP Ferreira wrote on Sunday that her Mother's Day dinner at the all-you-can-eat Chinese Canadian restaurant chain was "RUINED by actual MOUSE at our table!"

"I understand that restaurants have rodent problems, although they usually aren't out in the open like this one," she wrote, sharing two photos of the mouse. "However the problem I have is with how this was handled."

Ferreira says that nobody at the restaurant apologized to her family or even acknowledged the mouse.

"They just rushed around to grab it (I think it was dead) and hide it before other diners saw," she said. "Mandarin wanted to ensure no one would notice the mouse so I figured I'd post it here."

Burn!

They may have "brushed it under the carpet" on May 13, by Ferreira's account, but the Mandarin is definitely addressing the mouse on Facebook today as photos of it go viral.

"We sincerely apologize for the experience you and your Mom had at our Location. We are taking this matter very seriously and are currently investigating this with the Location," wrote the restaurant in a comment thread on Tuesday after someone shared Ferreira's post.

"We would like to speak with you and gain more details as part of our continuing investigation," it continued.

"Please send us a private message with your contact information and a member of our team will be in touch promptly... Lauren, we sincerely apologize again for this experience."

Something tells me she'll be getting at least a few comped meals — if she can ever stomach eating at the same place again.

Wave inspired condo coming to Toronto's waterfront

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First came Aqualina, then came Aquavista and Aquabella. Now, at long last, Toronto is getting a glimpse of Aqualuna — the curviest and most beautiful "Aqua" to grace our city yet.

Their names may sound like they belong to mermaids, but I promise you I'm not listing off King Triton's daughters.

The aforementioned Aquas are all condo projects in the fast-developing Bayside neighbourhood near Queens Quay and Lower Sherbourne.

Aqualuna Toronto BaysideTridel and real estate firm Hines announced on Tuesday morning that they had landed on an architectural vision for the fourth and final phase of their 13-acre, master-planned community along Toronto's eastern waterfront.

Judging by the renderings, their vision is wild — and pretty sick, if it's completed as planned.

Aqualuna Toronto BaysideDenmark's 3XN Architects has been selected as the design architect for Aqualuna, according to a press release from Hines and Tridel, as it was for Aquabella during Phase 3. Aqualina and Aquavista, both of which are already sold out, were designed by the Miami-based firm Arquitectonica. 

Architect Kim Herforth Nielsen says that 3XN’s intention with the design of this last and final development (previously thought to be called Waves at Bayside) is to create "a landscape with two high points and a valley in between."Aqualuna Toronto BaysideOn the ground level, developers hope to incorporate various public functions, such as retail and restaurants, into the building complex. This, in an effort to create a "lively urban environment" for the adjacent Waters Edge Promenade.

A total of 225 residential suites are incorporated into this design, ranging in size from 821-square-feet to an absolutely ginormous 4,622-square-feet.

Nielsen says that the 16-storey building's unique "valley" design will maximize waterfront views from each and every suite.

Aqualuna Toronto BaysideToronto's own Kirkor Architects, II BY IV DESIGN and Janet Rosenberg & Studio will work with 3XN to create a series of interactive spaces "in which the indoor amenities, such as community rooms and lounges, will interact with the expansive outdoor amenities."

I don't know how they plan to do this, but I can't wait to find out... in like, five years. A tentative occupancy date is set for Spring of 2023.


Outdoor market coming back to Union Station this summer

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After a hiatus last year due to construction, one of Toronto's most popular outdoor markets is returning. 

That's right, Union Summer — the outdoor market in front of Union station — is back and it kicks off on July 1.   

The Twitter account for Union Station posted an odious message earlier today about the return of the market with the #UnionSummer.

 Does this mean we can hope to look forward to the return of the instagrammable sign? 

In 2016 the market was home to a wide range of food vendors including favourites like Momofuku Milk Bar and Eva's Original Chimneys, so it'll be super exciting to see what's in store for us this year. 

While full details are not yet announced, the market will be open daily and hanging around for a good month-and-a-half: it's scheduled to pack up on August 19. 

Toronto cyclists fear for their lives in messy construction zones

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Biking to work in Toronto is awesome, unless you get killed in the process — and that's not a joke: it happens all the time.

Spring is now in full swing, bringing both cyclists and construction crews out into the streets en masse for the first time since October.

As is usually the case, conflicts have emerged in the few short weeks since most people started cycling and jackhammering again. As a result, construction-related danger is high on the list of concerns for many.

Some of Toronto's busiest bike paths feel significantly more dangerous than usual this year

Richmond Street just east of Peter is a mess, for example, with motorists, cyclists and pedestrians alike forced to compete with each other to get past cement trucks during rush hour.

The same bike path is similarly scary coming up to the intersection at Richmond and Bathurst where, once again, no clear paths are marked and construction blockades push all commuters into one narrow lane.

Another incredibly busy east-west bike lane — the one on Adelaide — is even sketchier between Duncan and Simcoe streets, where cyclists are forced to cross over an unused streetcar track to balance on a narrow strip next to construction fencing before crossing back into a real bike lane.

Turning north on Simcoe from there brings cyclists face-to-face with a bike path that's been split into two lanes — one side for bikes, one for pedestrians — leaving both sides so narrow that a simple slip would spell disaster.

Construction has been going on for some time in this area and has only gotten worse since fall.

On Bloor Street obstructions are abound, too many (in my opinion) to feel safe for some, and way worse than it was last year.

Whether it be for hydro work, infrastructure improvements or condo development (who am I kidding? It's always for condos), construction is taking up a lot of bike lane space in Toronto this spring — and few if any crews appear to be getting dinged for rule violations.

It's fun and it's freeing and it's cheaper than public transit, but commuting by bike in Toronto has become somewhat of a gamble on some routes right now.

"Cycling on Toronto streets is outright dangerous if not suicidal," wrote one person on Twitter last week. "You got potholes, streetcar tracks, motorists opening their car door without looking. The hassles and risks are simply too great."

"I broke my wrist cycling in May 2016 when construction pylons blocked the edge of the road," wrote another. "They were out of view until I turned, forced me into car lane and my wheel slid in the metal streetcar tracks."

"Toronto construction season is stupid dangerous."

This is what Toronto looks like as a dark and moody alternate universe

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Moody, mysterious, dark and kind of dangerous. Like Gotham City without all the villains. A place where fantasy collides with reality, but doesn't exactly replace it outright.

This is Toronto as portrayed by Simon Matthews on Instagram — or one interpretation of it, at least.

Matthews has raked up tens, if not hundreds of thousands of likes across the surreal edits on his simonmxtthews account, with followers praising his work as everything from "dreamy" to "so fresh."

I bet you've never seen Old City Hall like this before.

Or St. James Cathedral...

How about Union Station?

Or the ROM?

Or Royal Bank Plaza?

Ascend💭 (guess the spot)

A post shared by Simøn Matthews 🌎 (@simonmxtthews) on

There are just a few of the many wicked images Matthews has produced in recent months using a combination of photography and creative editing. 

Even the stuff that isn't fantastical is pretty dope.

Well worth a follow, if you ask me. I thought you guys should know.

10 things to do in Toronto today

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Events in Toronto today have legendary designer Manolo Blahnik in for the start of an exhibition, while a Harry Potter score gets a live performance. Basil Box is also giving away free boxes. Yum!

Events you might want to check out:

In Conversation with Manolo Blahnik (May 16 @ Bata Shoe Museum)
Legendary designer Manolo Blahnik drops by for the opening of an exhibition centred on his stunning shoes-as-art.
The Bronze (May 16 @ Horseshoe Tavern)
This Buffy the Vampire tribute night will see local musicians cover songs from bands like The Cranberries, Hole, Treble Charger and Mazzy Star.
Andrew W.K. (May 16 @ The Opera House)
You're in for a thrashing with Andrew W.K.'s brand of sweat-soaked party rock, heavy metal mashups — also featuring The Maysides.
Dissonance (May 16 @ Queen Gallery)
It's the opening night reception for the exhibition from Ottawa-based collective Studio Zone V whose work touches on gender, violence and the treatment of Indigenous people.
Free Boxes at Basil Box (May 16 @ Basil Box)
Basil Box is celebrating the grand opening of its North York location by giving away free boxes to the first 200 people in line.
From Here to There (May 16 @ Ben McNally Books)
Authors Melissa Kuipers, Sue Bedford and Shekhar Paleja share stories that will transport you from Ontario to the Himalayas and Bombay.
Night Shift (May 16 @ Bambi's)
Wednesdays need not be boring with MC Flipside, Jules Bangsworth and Eddie Roy playing house and techno late into the night.
Off The Rails Comedy Competition (May 16 @ Comedy Bar)
This interactive and improvised stand up competition sees Toronto's bravest comics make up their acts based on audience suggestions.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban In Concert (May 16-18 @ Sony Centre for the Performing Arts)
Prisoner of Azkaban is definitely up there on the list of top Harry Potter books and it's getting the live orchestral treatment it deserves.
La Bete (May 16 - June 22 @ Young Centre for the Performing Arts)
This modern comedy of insanity sees theatre actors square off with ego in a riotous theatrical showdown for the ages.

Rental of the week: 20 Blue Jays Way

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The best part of this whole apartment is the unobstructed view of the CN Tower and the Rogers Centre. 20 blue jays way toronto

And it’s even better because this unit is a semi-circle with expansive windows, you have this amazing view from just about every point in the suite.

20 blue jays way toronto The downside to the semi-circle shape is there’s definitely some unconventionally-shaped rooms. If you were looking for four straight walls you’re going to have to compromise in some places.

20 blue jays way toronto As with any apartment that costs $8,000 a month, it comes with top of the line kitchen appliances and is fully furnished with some high-end furniture. In this case, the furniture is lovely, but if you’re renting long-term you have the option of doing it up in your own style.

20 blue jays way toronto The master bedroom is spacious. It has an en suite bathroom, walk-in closet and a walk-out balcony.

20 blue jays way toronto The second bedroom isn’t great if I’m brutally honest. While I think the idea of a Murphy bed is really cool, the reality is always a bit of a let down. That being said the second bedroom could easily be made into an epic home office.

20 blue jays way toronto As for outdoor space you have not one but two balconies that look out onto a great view of downtown Toronto.

20 blue jays way torontoSpecs
  • Address: #2401 - 20 Blue Jays Way
  • Type: Penthouse Apartment
  • Rent: $8,000 / month
  • Listing agent: Cristina Osorio
  • Furnished? Yes
  • Utilities: No
  • Air conditioning? Yes
  • Bedrooms: 2
  • Bathrooms: 3
  • Parking: 2
  • Laundry? In suite
  • Outdoor space? Balcony
  • Pet friendly? No
20 blue jays way toronto Good For

An expat couple who doesn't want to move furniture and has the luxury of a company paying the rent. This place definitely isn’t cheap at $8,000 a month.

20 blue jays way toronto Move On If

You don’t want the view out your window to be only buildings and cranes. While the view of the city is stunning there’s not a whole lot of nature when you’re smack downtown, so if you want to look at a tree try somewhere else.

20 blue jays way toronto

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