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NXNE releases its 2018 lineup

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NXNE has announced its lineup for this year's festival and it's staked with both local and international talent set to perform at venues across Toronto.

Jazz Cartier, Azealia Banks and Big Freedia are among the headliners set to drop by Toronto for the week-and-a-half-long festival on from June 8 to 17.

This year's NXNE is packed with music, special programming, comedy and installations. Image courtesy of NXNE.

The festival is back to taking place in bars and venues all over the city, with a notable return to Yonge-Dundas Square after a disastrous two-year trial in the Port Lands.

The last three days of the festival includes a free concert in the square with performances from U.S. Girls, Torres, Yungblud and Sean Leon, to name a few.

New this year is the Club Land series that will see Canadian musicians like Ace Dillinger, Saya, Phèdre curating parties and introducing new music inside clubs around the city.

Meanwhile, Game Land is back for a second year and includes eSport competitions among elite gamers from across the country.

TTC is no longer closing the subway on weekends

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All weekend subway closures in Toronto have been cancelled in the near future due to a lack of workers who can operate shuttle buses.

The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113, which represents nearly 11,000 TTC employees, said last month that it would not be renewing a contract agreement in which members are allowed to work well beyond the 48 hours recommended in Ontario's Employment Standards Act.

This means that that TTC must either hire at least 100 new operators — immediately — or convince existing workers to put in up to 64 hours per week this summer.

TTC spokesperson Brad Ross confirmed to The Star this week that the closure on Line 1 between St. Clair and Lawrence stations this holiday weekend would not be taking place as scheduled.

As it stands now, all planned weekend closures will likely be postponed until at least July, when Ross says the TTC will have hired enough workers to bridge the gap.

Including last week's postponed service suspension on the same line, this would spell a total of at least seven cancelled service jobs for Toronto's subway system.

Awesome as that might sound to subway riders in the short term, postponing all this essential work will very likely lead to even bigger headaches down the road — including new, unplanned service suspensions and delays in finishing the Eglinton Crosstown LRT.

Ross says that the TTC is making decisions about the closure postponements on a week-by-week basis, but it looks unlikely that we'll see much work being done on the system this month or next — unless a whole bunch of shuttle bus drivers materialize, and soon.

Etsy is opening an artificial intelligence centre in Toronto

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As if Google's waterfront takeover didn't already cement our reputation as Silicon Valley North, another tech giant now has its sights set on The 6ix — and this time, it's not speculative.

Etsy is opening up an artificial intelligence centre in Toronto, as confirmed by none other than Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Twitter Wednesday night.

The Brooklyn-based e-commerce website, known for brokering handmade and vintage goods, had yet to announce anything officially on its own prior to this week — but job postings on the company's website suggest that a local AI office had been in the works for some time.

Etsy is currently looking to hire machine learning engineers, machine learning infrastructure engineers, search infrastructure engineers and software engineers. 

Expired listings show that the company was also recently hiring for sales, growth, PR and marketing specialists in the GTA.

An active job post for a Senior Software Engineer, Structured Data, states that the full-time role will be "located in our Toronto, Ontario offices with occasional travel to both Brooklyn, NY and San Francisco, CA."

Etsys job Toronto

Etsy is looking for top tech talent in Toronto right now, according to the Brooklyn-based company's careers site. Screenshot via Etsy.com.

"Etsy has chosen Toronto as the location for its newest Machine Learning Center of Excellence," wrote the company in a press release issued Thursday afternoon, noting that it expects to open the centre "in early Fall."

"Attracted by Toronto's deep pool of world-class machine learning talent, leading universities feeding a robust tech pipeline and vibrant maker culture, the city was a natural choice."

Indeed, Canada is already known as a world leader in machine learning, and Toronto is at the centre of that, so it's a logical move for Etsy to set up here.

It's also another feather in Toronto's hat — and more evidence of how explosive our tech industry is.

This will be the company's third office dedicated to Artificial Intelligence, according to Trudeau, after acquiring the AI startup Blackbird Technologies in 2016. The other two centres are in San Francisco and at Etsy's headquarters in Brooklyn.

You can no longer drive away from parking tickets in Toronto

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Today I learned that, up until recently, you could totally drive away from a parking enforcement officer while he was ticketing your car, without any kind of consequence — as long as he hadn't placed anything on your windshield yet.

This little life hack could have saved me some cash, had I known about it prior to August of 2017. Now, it means nothing, because the rule has been scrapped.

Thousands of drivers have been learning this the hard way in recent months.

CityNews reports that parking officials have been dishing out "drive away" tickets to people who, well, drive away from them on the street.

The tickets, which arrive via snail mail, come with an additional $10 charge tacked on atop the regular parking violation fee. All an officer needs to ding you with one is a licence plate and the model of your vehicle.

Apparently they've been sending out 4,000 to 5,000 of these puppies a month and, despite the objections of drivers who like the old way, they're not going to stop.

The City of Toronto says that they tickets are meant to protect parking enforcement officers from "being clipped by cars that try and drive away." It expects about 60,000 of them to be issued by the end of this year, bringing in roughly $3.1 million in extra fines.

This Toronto neighbourhood is a total mess right now

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The City of Toronto is currently doing some pretty intense road work near Gerrard and Parliament streets, where just last week city councillor Jaye Robinson held a press conference to proclaim the beginning of "construction season."

Public officials might be stoked about forthcoming infrastructure improvements, but those who own businesses in the area? They're just hoping to survive the process.

cabbagetown torontoCabbagetown is a complete mess right now thanks to the replacement of some TTC tracks, and it will be until at least June 4.

That's only a few weeks, but for small, independent businesses that's a significant chunk of potential income lost. Enough to sink the ship, if (a much smaller version of) what we saw happen on Roncy is any indication.

cabbagetown toronto

In an effort to minimize any financial damage, the Cabbagetown Business Association is trying to remind people that local shops, restaurants and service providers remain open — even if it looks like they're blocked off by orange construction fencing.

"On May 14th, Cabbagetown awoke to TTC track work at Gerrard and Parliament," reads a press release from the BIA. "For many it meant adjusting their commute, but for business owners the impact of construction directly hits their livelihood."

cabbagetown torontoThe BIA's Executive Director, Stephen-Thomas Maciejowski, says that it's easy to understand why people avoid construction zones.

I mean, they're noisy, they're dusty, they're impossible to park around and they're absolutely infuriating for cyclists and pedestrians.

"The problem is," says Maciejowski. "If during construction you avoid supporting the area you normally rely on, parts of it might not be there when it is all over."

cabbagetown toronto"Many of our shops, restaurants and service providers in Cabbagetown are independently owned by hardworking Torontonians," he continues. "All we are asking at this time is that Toronto comes out and supports by shopping local in Cabbagetown."

cabbagetown torontoWhen all is said and done, TTC streetcars will better be able to move through the historic Toronto neighbourhood for many years to come. Silver linings, right?

cabbagetown toronto

Popular sandwich shop Meat & Bread is opening a Toronto location

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Do you like meat? And also bread? Do you like meat and bread together with various sauces and sometimes cheese? You will like Meat & Bread.

A Vancouver-based sandwich chain with what might be the most appropriate name ever is expanding to Toronto, according to a listing from commercial real estate brokerage The Behar Group.

Meat & Bread, which you may recognize from The Food Network, is currently seeking a 1,000 to 1,500-square-foot space in downtown Toronto with "strong daytime and lunch traffic."

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The company's stated areas of interest include Liberty Village, King and Bathurst, Queen and Spadina, Front and Jarvis, as well as a whole bunch of intersections along Yonge.

Whichever hood gets the honour, locals can expect a "changing menu comprised of three meat-focused options such as lamb, beef, veal or bison that are slow braised or roasted, always organic and carved to order."

The chain's signature offering of porchetta rubbed fennel, chilli salt and garlic, is available every day, as is something called a "souped-up cheese toastie."

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They also sometimes tweet out code words that customers can use in store to order exclusive secret sandwiches, which is pretty cool, and are known to draw huge lineups for turkducken.

According to the Meat & Bread website, simplicity is key when it comes to making high quality sandwiches fast (though, as they also note, "we're not 'sandwich artists,' we're chefs.") 

Whatever the chefs are up to, it's working. The chain, which opened in 2010, has already expanded into both Seattle and Calgary. Knowing how much Toronto loves meat, bread and anything new or trendy, it's safe to say they'll be a hit here too.

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To quote Guy Fieri for the first and last time ever in my life, "Who would have thunk? Meat and bread... what a concept."

TTC accordion players are back but not playing Despacito

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The saga of two Italian brothers and their love for playing a song called "Despacito" on the accordion continues this week, minus the part about "Despacito."

As it turns out, the young men who've been delighting and infuriating Toronto subway riders for more than a month now by looping the 2017 Luis Fonsi track can play another song: "Havana" by Camilla Cabello.

So there, haters.

As you can see, the Despacito guys now play accordion together sometimes.

Previous to this, they were most often spotted on different subway lines, presumably to fill as much space on the TTC as possible with accordion music at all times.

One of the brothers — the one who wears black — was very publicly fined a few weeks ago for unauthorized busking on a train. He and his brother had been previously warned that their behaviour was forbidden, and yet they persisted.

Whether they simply don't care about the $235 fine, or genuinely think that officers don't want them playing "Despacito" specifically, they continue to play the accordion throughout Toronto's subway system.

TTC officials are not pleased about this.

"Not only is it disruptive to the expectation our customers have for a relatively peaceful ride," said TTC spokesperson Stuart Green on Thursday, "it can prevent those with sight loss, and who may rely on the audible stop announcements, from navigating the subway system."

The men have already been issued one ticket and two summonses compelling them to appear before a justice of the peace, according to Green. 

Amusing as the situation may be to some, playing an accordion on the subway is against TTC bylaws. It's also really effing annoying to about half the people who've weighed in.

"To be clear, the TTC is a big supporter of local musical talent done right," said Green by email a few weeks ago. "Aspiring Weird Als and other musicians must restrict their public transit performances to the authorized subway musicians program, Underground Sounds."


The top 15 patio furniture stores in Toronto

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The top patio furniture stores in Toronto go beyond Canadian Tire, Ikea and Home Depot. Scattered across the city are stores that range from the highly-affordable to the high-end. No matter what your style is, there's a shop nearby to assist. 

Here are my picks for the top stores for patio and outdoor furniture in Toronto. Check out these cheaper options too.

West Elm

With two locations, in Midtown and Liberty Village, this store sells all of the standard outdoor patio furnishings, as well as a few fancy extras. Shop items like outdoor rugs, outdoor stemware, lanterns and various planters and lounge chairs.

RH Yorkdale

The popular chain sitting in a massive four-level space at Yorkdale Shopping Centre deals in patio furniture of many different backgrounds, including wicker, teak, fabric and metal.

InsideOut

This Castlefield Design District store sells all kinds of outdoor items, like barbecues and accessories, gazebos, bar stools, porch swings and fire pits. Be sure to check out the sale section — they have one online — because the regular priced items can be a bit pricey. 

Fresh Home & Garden

Just on the south end of Corktown is where you'll find this shop that sells all things outdoor and garden. Here they sell some very pretty patio furniture, like outdoor bar carts, tables and seating, but these items also come at a higher cost.

Design Within Reach

At the corner of King East and Sherbourne you can shop different outdoor collections at this designer store, but it's important to keep in mind that this store does come with a pretty hefty price tag. 

Moss

Near Danforth and Pape is where you'll find full-on outdoor bar setups. This store also provides the standard giant sectional couches, daybeds and chairs, as well as a series of umbrellas and fire pits. During the spring they run a sale on garden furniture so get the best price and check the deals before you dive in. 

Hauser

Lounge seating, sectionals, chaise lounges, benches and fire pits are just a small fraction of the designer outdoor patio furniture available at this store just southeast of Davisville station. Shop here if you're looking to spend some coin on a statement piece. 

Jardin de Ville

The three-storey showroom near King and Sherbourne showcases its various outdoor collections. This high-end store runs on the pricier side, so if you're willing to spend some dough this is a good place for you.

Urban Barn

This chain of furniture shops has many locations in the GTA and a wide selection of outdoor furniture options that are both great looking and reasonably priced.

Kiosk

If you have an unlimited budget, this pricey King East shop, near Parliament, carries everything you need to construct a full-on outdoor living room. Aside from the regular seating and dining tables, they sell lighting, coffee tables and rugs.

CB2

The Crate and Barrel offshoot at Queen and Bathurst has a small but mighty selection of outdoor patio furniture options. Here you'll find sectionals, hammocks and umbrellas for reasonable prices. 

Studio B

At this King East store, you'll find giant sectionals, side tables, coffee tables and all-weather cushions in a variety of neutrals. Prices are steep, so might want to hold off until they have sales on the floor models.

Southport Outdoor Living

Outdoor furniture is what this shop in the Castlefield Design District specializes in. Shop their lounging collections, fire pits, dining sets and much more. They have a deals tab on their website, so check that before buying to get the best price. 

Urban Mode

This Queen and Tecumseth furniture store has an expansive patio furniture selection of modern goods and they seem to run the occasional inventory clearance sale. If you're looking for bright and colourful statement pieces, this is a good place.

Kitchen Stuff Plus

This kitchen friendly chain store has three locations in the GTA and goes beyond cabinet accessories. They have a whole outdoor collection for the summer which includes sofas, deck chairs, BBQ accessories and even tiki torches.

Casualife Outdoor Living 

Markham and Mississauga locations both stock pricey-but-trendy outdoor furniture. Along with a variety of outdoor collections, they offer design tips and services.

10 things to do in Toronto today

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Events in Toronto today include the kick off of Kpop Con and a chef's showcase with Tastemaker. There's also free Japanese soufflé pancakes to be had and a German-style techno party.

Events you might want to check out:

Key to the City (May 18 @ The Great Hall)
Superkick'd Pro is taking over the Great Hall with a huge wrestling rock show and party extravaganza for the ages.
Barnburner (May 18 @ Bovine Sex Club)
A metal, trash can core, loud punk and thrash metal show is going down with Barnburner, Sago, Royal Red Brigade and Satanic Genocide.
The Boxing Loft (May 18 @ The Boxing Loft)
Like the techno lofts of Berlin, this travelling party series transforms spaces into raw and vibrant experiences through music, art and culture.
Next Music from Tokyo (May 18 @ Rivoli)
This annual two-day tour brings bands from Japan’s indie and underground music scene to Canada — including The Taupe, Yubisaki Nohaku and Bakyun the everyday.
Frog Eyes (May 18 @ The Garrison)
After 17 years of music, BC indie rock band Frog Eyes is calling it quits with a cross-county farewell tour alongside Hello Blue Roses.
Tastemaker (May 18-19 @ Evergreen Brick Works)
A curated selection of Toronto chefs, restaurants and artisans collaborate for a huge, immersive food hall-style feast.
Free Japanese Souffle Pancakes (May 18-19 @ Fuwa Fuwa Pancakes)
The grand opening of Fuwa Fuwa in the Annex will see some bouncy Japanese soufflé pancakes served up totally free.
Toronto Kpop Con (May 18-20 @ Metro Toronto Convention Centre)
It's a huge gathering of all things Kpop with performances, speakers, meet-and-greets, special guests and exhibitions all weekend long.
Boom for Real (May 18-20 @ Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema)
Sara Driver's intimate documentary explores the formative years of legendary painter Jean-Michel Basquiat before his meteoric rise to fame.
Binge (May 18-25 @ Bad Dog Comedy Theatre)
Comedians Leigh Cameron and Kirsten Rasmussen rip into the binge culture that so often sees us doing nothing more than watching Riverdale all day.

Toronto Food Events: Taste of Lawrence, Taiwanfest, Cheese Night Market, Summerlicious

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Foods events in Toronto this week see free Japanese soufflé pancakes in the Annex, while Hemingway's in Yorkville is celebrating a 38 year anniversary. It's also the time of year for brews with Spring Beerfest.

Events you might want to check out:

Tastemaker (May 18-19 @ Evergreen Brick Works)
A curated showcase of Toronto chefs, restaurants and artisans collaborate for a huge, immersive food hall-style feast.
Free Japanese Souffle Pancakes (May 18-19 @ Fuwa Fuwa Pancakes)
The grand opening of Fuwa Fuwa in the Annex will see some bouncy Japanese soufflé pancakes served up totally free.
Rib Fest (May 18-20 @ Yonge and Dundas Square)
Bibs and ribs are on all weekend, alongside barbecue chicken, desserts, roasted veggies, music and drinks. And, yes, blooming onions.
Get Your Own Taters Pop-Up (May 18-27 @ Poetry Jazz Cafe)
Taters with a soulful twist are on deck, along with live music, drinks, art, gourmet toppings and signature sauces.
Royal Breakfast (May 19 @ Windsor Arms)
Celebrate Harry and Meghan's nuptials with a royal spread of loose leaf teas, scones, crumpets, traditional English bubble and squeak and lemon elderflower wedding cake.
Baha's Gourmet Samosas Pop-Up (May 19 @ Steam Whistle Brewing)
Steamy samosa's in a range of flavours get served up inside of Steam Whistle, courtesy of Baha's, plus biscuits n' curry and hot sauces to boot.
Spring Beerfest TO (May 19-20 @ Fort York: Garrison Common)
Pour some out for the historic homies at Fort York and enjoy brews, food trucks, roasted 'mellows and games in celebration of the long weekend.
Brewer's Backyard (May 21 @ Evergreen Brick Works)
Ontario breweries gather in celebration of Victoria Day to feature locally made beer alongside a solid lineup of food vendors.
Hemingway's Anniversary Party (May 23 @ Hemingway's)
This Yorkville mainstay celebrates its 38th birthday with a huge barbecue of lamb chops, burgers, sausages and more.
Poutine Fest (May 24-27 @ Yonge–Dundas Square)
Canada's national food gets a big festival in the heart of the city, with over 50 combinations of gravy, cheese curds and fries.
Kampai Festival of Sake (May 31 @ The Fermenting Cellar)
Kampai is one giant sake festival featuring both local and international breweries, gourmet food and an outdoor market.
Artisan Cheese Night Market (June 7 @ St Lawrence Market, North Hall)
Cheese and charcuterie from award-winning Toronto, Ontario and Québec artisan cheese makers is on, plus wine and beer samplings and live music.
Taste of Lawrence (July 6-8 @ Wexford Heights)
The neighbourhood of Wexford Heights gets overtaken by local vendors serving up flavours that represent the culture and community.
Summerlicious (July 6-22 @ Multiple Venues)
Summerlicious is back! The city-wide culinary experience has a diverse range of restaurants offering prix fixe options and special menus.
Taiwanfest (August 24-26 @ Harbourfront Centre)
Harbourfront is playing host to this festival of all things Taiwan with food, art, shopping and programming.

Sold! Toronto home goes for $220K above asking

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The Annex is full of beautiful old homes and this one is no exception. This six-bedroom semi-detached house is loaded with character and charm.

7 wells street toronto

My favourite part is the exposed brick wall in the dining room.

7 wells street toronto I’m not a huge fan of the kitchen or the three types of flooring between the kitchen, breakfast area and dining room on the main floor. I personally prefer a bit uniformity.

7 wells street toronto The house is split over three storeys. The second level has the master bedroom, a family room and another bedroom that opens into a sun room, which they’ve turned into a gym.

7 wells street toronto The master bedroom is massive and they’ve turned what used to be a sitting area into a huge walk-in closet.

7 wells street torontoThe en suite bathroom off the master bedroom is lovely, with a claw foot tub that I would spend hours soaking in.

7 wells street toronto While there are six-bedrooms they are definitely not created equal. The ones on the third floor look a bit cramped. So if you have kids picking their rooms prepare for some Battle Royale-style fights over who gets what.

7 wells street torontoThe third-floor bedrooms can just fit a double bed and not much else so they might be better off as offices than bedrooms.

7 wells street torontoThe backyard is truly stunning in the summer. The little stone path that leads through the garden makes it seem like a magical place to spend the day or evening lounging about.

7 wells street torontoProbably the biggest detractor of this house would be the unfinished basement. That being said who really likes spending time in a basement anyway?

7 wells street toronto The Essentials
  • Address: 7 Wells Street
  • Type: Semi-detached house
  • Bedrooms: 6
  • Bathrooms: 4
  • Size: 26.67 x 128.2 feet
  • Realtor: Sutton Group
  • Hit the market at: $2,290,000
  • Sold for: $2,510,000
7 wells street toronto Why it sold for what it did?

It’s a beautiful six-bedroom house in the Annex. You’d have to have a terrible real estate agent to get this place to sell below $2 million.

7 wells street toronto Was it worth it?

Probably. That being said there’s still a fair bit of work that needs to go into the house. The basement isn’t finished and there are a couple of bathrooms that are in need of an upgrade. But that's nothing out of the ordinary for an old house.

7 wells street toronto

This epic Ontario biking trail takes you past hundreds of parks and beaches

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What the CN Tower is to great views, the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail (GWLT) is to great cycling. This gigantic biking trail stretches over 3000 km throughout Ontario, with access points in major cities like Kingston, Toronto and Hamilton. 

You can also access this trail in over 140 other communities. 

Whether you’re looking for just an hour-long bike ride or want to plan a multi-day cycling trip with friends, the GWLT comes with great views, accessible routes and well-maintained trails for easy riding.

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20 years ago, the GLWT was created to celebrate and reconnect people to Canada’s Great Lakes: the largest group of freshwater lakes on earth. Back then, it ran just under 300 km from Hamilton to Trenton, along Lake Ontario’s northern shoreline.

Today, the trail continues to expand and now begins just north of Cornwall. It continues along the waterfront of Durham, Toronto and around the bend of Lake Ontario to Niagara-on-the-Lake.

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From there, the trail continues along the shores of Lake Eerie to Point Pelee and along the waterfront of Lake Huron.

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One of the best things about the trail is that no two areas are the same. One day you’ll be biking through wetlands, forests and beaches. On other days, you’ll find yourself in the middle of wine country, among the vines — a pit stop you need to take.

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This enormous trail hits hundreds of notable destinations along the route including 23 provincial parks, 3 national parks, 65 conservation areas, 125 beaches and 3 major wine regions.

With so much to do on (and off) your bike, you’ll easily be able to fill an entire day, or an entire week, this summer.

The Black Hoof is closing after 10 years

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One of Toronto's most impactful and, dare I say, important modern restaurants is calling it quits this summer after 10 years of elevating our city's charcuterie game.

Say goodbye to the Black Hoof, friends, and say it before August 20, when the popular meat-centric Dundas West spot closes up forever. Sorry Anthony Bourdain — no more bone marrow luge for you.

Restauranteur and author Jen Agg, who also created Cocktail Bar, Rhum Corner and Grey Gardens, announced the closure of her flagship restaurant on Thursday night via Instagram, because "what's the point of a press release when I can just do this?"

"The Hoof (now in its 10th year) is so special to me — it’s where I learned how to do what I do (so often the hard way)," she wrote, "But it's time."

"I've never approved of closing a busy restaurant, (seems crazy, tbh) but we've said all we have to, and ten years in this business is a LONG FUCKING TIME," she continued.

"I'm so proud of what this place was and what it has become. Totally without hubris, it was a turning point for the restaurant scene in our town... We'll be going hard 'til August 20th. Come say hi/bye!"

Agg later wrote on Twitter that it had always been her intent to close the Hoof after a solid 10 years.

"There've even been clues!" she wrote, pointing out that she is "literally walking away from" the restaurant on the cover of her 2017 memoir I Hear She's A Real Bitch.

Well played!

Agg hasn't yet specified what she'll get up to after the Hoof is closed, aside from running the rest of her restaurant empire and eloquently taking down jerks on Twitter.

That said, she will be holding on to the space.

"TRULY no plans for it for now," she wrote in response to a question on Twitter. "Focused elsewhere, gonna let it lie fallow til the thing good enough to fill the shoes comes along."

Here's to hoping she writes another book in the meantime, because watching old ladies react to the first one was a riot.

Bizarre interaction between Toronto police and pedestrian caught on video

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Toronto Police say they're conducting an internal investigation after video footage surfaced of a traffic officer screaming loudly in the face of a woman who was clearly distressed.

The video, captured by tech entrepreneur Affan Imran, shows a woman attempting to cross Front Street at University Avenue during rush hour on Tuesday evening.

"Hey @TorontoPolice @TPSOperations, your traffic officer at Front And University needs to calm down and not scare this poor woman trying to cross a street," wrote Imran when posting the clip to Twitter.

The video itself is only 10 seconds long, and it begins mid-altercation, but what can be seen is serious enough that Toronto Police Service took notice.

"This officer has been identified and his Unit Commander has started an internal investigation," reads a message from an official Toronto Police account in response to Imran's tweet.

Many online are speculating that the woman had been trying to cross the street with zero seconds left on the blinking pedestrian timer.

"The sign says don’t walk. The officer says don't walk. She's in the wrong and he is providing her with correction in lieu of a violation ticket," commented one Twitter user."Not worthy of a complaint, although everything is in this new society of entitled brats we have."

"Even if she were," noted someone else, "there is no excuse for abusing her like this. None. Ever."

Imran, who was actually there, later noted that the officer was "completely out of line and being predatory and intimidating to the woman."

"Keep the peace and move people along if you’re going to be a traffic cop," he wrote. "Escalating the issue to aggressive commands was unnecessary."

I suppose we'll have to wait and see if TPS agrees.


Huge new Costco opening in midtown Toronto next month

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Ready thy hatchbacks, midtown Toronto: the city's newest Costco is coming up fast.

The American membership-only warehouse club has confirmed that its long-rumoured Thorncliffe Park location, built on the site of Coca-Cola Canada's former headquarters, will be launching in June.

While originally meant to open in February of this year, the project was delayed by what appeared to be weather-related construction woes.

I mean, the place is still in the process of being completed as of mid-May.

Still, locals can sign up as members ahead of the big box retailer's launch by visiting a white trailer in the parking lot of 42 Overlea Boulevard.

The South Bayview Bulldog reports that signs went up just yesterday inviting the public to "avoid the rush" by registering early. While they can't go inside the store itself just yet, employees on site are said to be happily signing up anyone who comes through.

The top 5 chicken wings in Buffalo

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The top chicken wings in Buffalo are worth the short trip to the town of their invention. Called chicken wings or wings, but never Buffalo wings, they're served by the number rather than the pound and ideally accompanied with a bleu cheese dip.

Here are my picks for some of the top wings in Buffalo.

Gabriel’s Gate

The wings at this place are more accessible and the spot itself has a ton of old school charm, complete with a darling patio. The sauce on BBQ and hot wings here stick to the chicken, unlike Anchor or McCarthy’s where it creates a pool on the plate.

Anchor Bar

Reputed as the birthplace of the original hot wings when a group of late night snackers demanded eats in the 60s, this place oozes history — from the license plates to the motorcycles that deck out the walls. Medium isn’t too spicy so you’ll want to bump it up to hot for some real kick, but the suicidal just might have you crying for mercy after one.

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Gene McCarthy’s

Named for the original Irish proprietor, eat wings in view of Buffalo’s famous Old First Ward silos here. This place also functions as a craft brewery and those in the know order their wings McCarthy style: sauced with a third hot, third BBQ and third blue cheese mixture and topped with crumbled bleu cheese.

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Lenox Grill

Taxidermy on the walls completes the atmosphere at this former men’s club in a basement under residences. Try outside the box wing flavours here, like sweet but creepingly spicy Sriracha honey or a delectable Korean BBQ.

Big Ditch

This craft brewery gets a mention for bringing together two of Buffalo’s passions: wings and beer. The hot sauce here is actually made with the brewery’s Hayburner IPA, which is thin, bright orange and buttery.

Toronto is getting a pizza eating competition

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Have you ever wished that "eating pizza" was a valid career choice? Well Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo, betches.

Major League Eating— an international organization that supervises and regulates eating competitions across the globe (the IOC of hot dog contests, basically) — just added a new event to its slate of sanctioned eating championships for 2018.

Lucky for us, it's taking place in Vaughan during the city's annual Pizza Festival.

"Behold, the Vaughan Pizza Fest International Pizza-Eating Championship!" reads a post on MLE's website. "Major League Eaters from near and far are warmly encouraged to sign up for the chance to compete in this history-making event!"

Taking place on July 15, the event will "pit man versus woman versus pizza" in a 10-minute-long eat-off to set a new world record in the small, eight-inch pizza discipline.

Whoever can eat the most pizza will walk away not only with a world record, but $2,000 in cash. Second place will win $1,000, third will win $600, fourth will win $300 and fifth will score $100.

Naturally, all contestants will receive as much free cheese pizza as they can eat in 10 minutes from PIE Wood Fired Pizza Joint in Woodbridge.

I know for a fact that MLE's international hot dog eating contests are broadcast on ESPN, which lends further credence to the fact that this a very legit and real sport.

If you're serious about getting into the game as a professional, this would be an excellent opportunity to meet reps from the world's biggest major eating league right here in the GTA.

MLE also regulates the annual World Poutine Eating Championship at Yonge-Dundas Square, if you'd rather down fries and gravy

The Best Bulk Food Stores in Toronto

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The best bulk food stores in Toronto are alternatives to the ubiquitous Bulk Barn and serve as wonderlands of a wide variety of candy, dried fruit, nuts, spices, herbs, coffee and more, all priced cheaply and conveniently by weight. Lose yourself not only in the selection but the bargains, and remember, no sampling (wink wink).

Here are the best bulk food stores in Toronto.

4 - Domino's Foods

This basement bulk store in the St. Lawrence Market is where to go for great prices on colourful candy beyond the corner store rack, spices, nuts, pasta, olive oil and more.
3 - Johnvince Foods

This store near Finch and Allen Road offers a true mom-and-pop bulk experience with all the candy, cake decorations and other dry goods you can handle.
10 - Nuthouse

Specialty health foods and spices of all kinds can be found at this sweet little neighbourhood shop in Bloordale noticeable for its giant walnut sign.
9 - Bulk Heaven (Danforth)

Competition to Strictly Bulk on the Danforth, this spot across the street is a reliable option for bulk spices, seeds, coffee, tea, spices, seasonings and even soaps as prices that are sometimes cheaper.
11 - Moberly Natural Foods

This Danforth East shop provides the community with bulk cooking and baking supplies, and offers a ton of special monthly deals on prices.
5 - Tavazo Dried Nuts and Fruits

This Thornhill destination is like a Persian version of Bulk Barn, even with special displays of seasonally appropriate mixes for upcoming cultural celebrations. Find rare items like dried mulberries and Middle Eastern candy here.
8 - Strictly Bulk

The name says it all when it comes to this store on the Danforth for bulk nuts, seeds, and a host of organic items.
6 - House of Spice

Head to Kensington Market for rare spices that are a struggle to find at Loblaws, as well as other pantry items like hot sauces and oils.
7 - Tutti Frutti

Those in need of their all-natural cereals, granolas, nuts and flours can depend on this Kensington spot where such staples can be bought in bulk.

Toronto's billboards just got more interesting

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Ads can often look like art, but it's rare to see art that looks like an ad (unless it's been bankrolled by Coke or whatever).

A series of unusual billboards installed around Toronto earlier this month may appear to be promoting something, at first glance, because... well, they're billboards.

In some ways, they are promoting messages, but they're not commercial ones; they're about stuff like the profusion of cultural appropriation in Western art history and challenging static visualizations of womanhood.

I can think of very few brands who'd touch either of those topics without effing up big time.

contact festival billboards

Awol Erizku's 'Say Less' as displayed in Toronto during the 2018 CONTACT Photography Festival. Photo via CONTACT.

Fortunately, despite the platform used to display them, these works don't come from brands. They're public art installations.

About 10 Pattison billboards were outfitted with prints by three leading contemporary artists as part of Scotiabank's annual CONTACT Photography Festival, which "presents lens-based works by acclaimed and emerging artists, documentary photographers, and photojournalists" in and around Toronto.

CONTACT only runs until the end of May, but the billboards will remain on display until June 3 and if you have yet to notice one, look up. They're dope.

Charlie Engman Toronto

Charlie Engman's 'Mom' as displayed in Toronto during the 2018 CONTACT Photography Festival. Photo via Charlie Engman.

The first set of billboards comes to us via Charlie Engman's ongoing, long-standing project Mom — a groundbreaking series in which the artist uses his own mother as subject, muse and vehicle for exploring the identity of middle-aged American women.

Engman's work can currently be seen high above the sidewalk flanking a one-time industrial building at Dovercourt Rd and Dupont St.

Kent Monkman billboard

Kent Monkman worked with Toronto-based photographer Chris Chapman to produce this portrait of Miss Chief Eagle Testickle and Jean Paul Gaultier. Image via CONTACT.

The second set, by Canadian artist Kent Monkman in collaboration with Chris Chapman, is called United In Love and features a portrait of French fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier with Monkman's two-spirit alter ego Miss Chief Eagle Testickle.

It portrays an "artistic union and aesthetic alliance founded on mutual respect and cultural understanding" in the style of a 19th century keepsake cabinet card.

You can see it at Dundas Street West and Glenlake Ave.Awol Erizku Toronto

Awol Erizku's compositions punctuate sculptural pieces with arrangements of flowers that recall a style of painting popular in 17th-century Europe. Photo via CONTACT.

Last but not least is Say Less, which comes to us from the mind of Ethipoian-American multimedia artist Awol Erizku (he took that record-breaking pregnancy portrait of Beyoncé in 2017).

Erizku's work focuses on black invisibility and the artist's own observation of whitewashing in classical Western art, according to CONTACT's exhibit description.

"Reclaiming artifacts and iconographies to critique the museum and speak about Black cultural history and identity," it reads, "he bridges the gap between 'high art' and 'the street' to question connotations of race and class."

You can find Erizku's billboards on Lansdowne Avenue at both Dundas Street West and College Street, as well in eight other cities across Canada.

All three sets of the billboards featured in the CONTACT exhibition will be available for public viewing any time until June 3.

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