After having occupied the downstairs Black Box Theatre for a raucous Doldrums-led dance party the night prior, Wavelength brought the party upstairs into the main room of the Great Hall for the third night of Wavelength 13. There was a logical structure to the selection of the five bands on the bill, but it was tough to argue against the sheer amount diversity between them as being the evening's defining aspect.

Understated r'n'b'ers Bernice, fronted by the enchanting Robin Dann, kicked the night off, but transit woes meant I unfortunately missed the majority of their all-too-short set.

Arriving in time for their last few songs, the band's atmospheric songs straddled the line between ambiance and allure perfectly, drawing you in with their intuitive pop sensibilities while somehow remaining elusive in the process. They've only currently got one album to their name, 2011's What Was That, but hopefully there's more on the way soon.

Doom Squad was on next. The band is made up of Montreal siblings Trevor, Jaclyn, and Allie Blumas, and while they created some interesting rhythmic soundscapes, the set began to drag slightly as their four or five songs proved particularly lengthy and offered little in the way of dynamics.

That said, they closed with one of the best covers I've heard in some time, a blissed-out, claustrophobic take on the Doors' "Riders on the Storm." Their formula of shared vocals and sparse electronic arrangements is one that I could see translating well in the studio; we'll find out when their debut LP Kallaboogie comes out this spring.

Up until this point, the vibe in the room was not dissimilar to your conventional rock club, albeit equipped with some hypnotizing projections and featuring the most enthused emceeing this side of late night television. The mood was celebratory and the crowd was talkative as a result, so one could be forgiven for wondering what would hold for Sarah Neufeld's set.

Known for her role as violinist in the Arcade Fire (maybe you've heard of them), the night's set found her previewing material from her upcoming debut album, which will consist of mostly solo violin compositions.

She seemed to be fairly far ahead in the game, as she shared the titles of each of her instrumental songs, most featuring an immediately distinct structure with no shortage of standout melodies. Joined near the end of her set by Geordie Gordon on keys and partner Colin Stetson on his trademark bass saxophone, their final song served as the highlight to the set, suggesting that, as captivating of a figure that Neufeld cuts on stage alone with her violin, her arrangements flourish in collaboration.

Appearing again in six-piece configuration as they had in August for their SummerWorks Spectral Dusk record release, Jonas Bonnetta's Evening Hymns were in fine form to hold the appreciative crowd's attention rapt. Despite the stateliness added by his tasteful backing band, the highlight of the set may well have been opening song "Arrows," here pared-down with only Bonnetta and bassist Sylvie Smith harmonizing over the former's spare electric guitar.

As had been the case for Neufeld's set, Evening Hymns were able to engross by nature of their subtlety - Spectral Dusk's slow, intense ruminations on the passing of Bonnetta's father juxtaposed against the comparatively jaunty songs from debut album Spirit Guides made for a set that benefitted from its changing mood.

Bonnetta has grown into an affable yet intense frontman, despite the fact that their style of nuanced folk not necessarily implying engaged showmanship. During songs, he seemed to fully inhabit his speakers as he jabbed towards the microphone and rarely remained still. In addressing the audience, he took the time to offer some pretty hilarious stories of his winter up north, concluding with finding a particularly great parking spot on Queen Street earlier in the day upon his return to Toronto. Kudos, Jonas, it's a savage world out there and success begins with where you park the van!

It was getting late, but that didn't mean the Great Hall was emptying out. Palpable excitement was mounting for the night's headliners, Toronto's own Do Make Say Think, and deservedly so - the band have long stood at the forefront of what is often termed post-rock (which ostensibly only entails lengthy, jazzy songs borne by complex structures). Hitting the stage just after 1:00 as a five-piece, the band would stay in this (comparatively) lean formation for their exhaustive, near 90 minute set.

Ohad Benchetrit, Charles Spearin, and Justin Small alternated between guitar, bass, and keys, all the while anchored by the explosive duo of James Payment and David Mitchell on drums. Small, who headlined the first night of the festival as part of Lullabye Arkestra, was the de facto communiqué between the band and crowd, and it was hard not to be charmed when he offered some wise advice on prepping for a late night rock show: don't forget about the mid-afternoon rock and roll nap.

Do Make were relentless throughout as they ran through a comprehensive stretch of their material, airing out a fair share from earlier albums Goodbye Enemy Airship the Landlord is Dead and & Yet & Yet, while also including later fan favourites such as "Fredericia." Returning to the stage for an incendiary one-song encore of "Do" that took them past 2:30, one couldn't help but wish for some news on a new album - what would be their first since 2009's Other Truths. Even if that's a ways off, though, at least we've got one of our best local bands on semi-active duty, and here's to hoping they're not going anywhere.

Wavelength 13 concludes tonight with two events. First, at 4pm, there's a free instore performance by the Soupcans and a talk by Sam Sutherland, author of the excellent Perfect Youth: The Birth of Canadian Punk, at Grasshopper Records (1167 Dundas St West). Afterwards, just down the street at the Garrison (1197 Dundas St West), there's one final blowout with Dusted, Cookie Duster, the Magic, Henri Faberge & the Adorables, and Legato Vipers. That's $13 and begins at 9pm.

Writing by Adam Kamin/Photos by Hannah Jor

Photo by Tony Wei-Han Chen in the blogTO Flickr pool

Family Day 2013 events in Toronto. For even more family day events check out this post.

FILM | Early Monthly Segments #48 - ANDY WARHOL'S "KITCHEN"
Toronto's monthly screening of both old and new underground and experimental films, Early Monthly Segments, returns tonight with an excellent selection: Andy Warhol's 1965 film, Kitchen. This film stars Edie Sedgwick, one of Warhol's most celebrated "superstars," and one whose tragic end has made her a cult figure and the subject of several biographies. This film is one of her more well-known collaborations with Warhol, and comes from the most prolific period in their working relationship, and definitely the peak of Sedgwick's career.
Gladstone Hotel, Ballroom (1214 Queen Street West) 8PM pwyc ($5 - $10 suggested donation)

MUSIC | The Radiohead Jazz Project 3
The Radiohead Jazz Project brings together two different jazz ensembles in one show, both paying tribute to the music of (you guessed it) Radiohead. The Toronto Jazz Orchestra will deliver a set of big band arrangements of Radiohead tunes, with arrangements by Chris Hunt, Christian Overton, Mike Downes, Tara Davidson and Josh Grossman. Singer Alex Samaras will front the ensemble, which features pianist Ian Sinclair, and vibraphonist Carissa Neufeld. The second ensemble, Idioteque, prides itself on performing "note-for-note" version of selections from the Radiohead repertoire, and features both Don Scott and Jessica Stuart on guitar and vocals. Radiohead fans looking for a new spin on these classic tunes should definitely check this event out.
The Rex Hotel (194 Queen Street West) 8:30PM $10

BOOKS & LIT | Nigella Lawson Book Signing
Nigella hits TO today for a book signing at Indigo on Bloor Street. Since her first cook book, How To Eat, was published in 1998, Lawson has gone on to international fame. This well known culinary enthusiast, writer, and television personality will be promoting and signing her latest, entitled Nigellissima. The assertion that "Italian food has colonized the world" is a clever and largely accurate one. Nigellissima contains over 100 recipes, both traditional and modern, and some featuring Lawson's own "twists," and there's a BBC series to accompany the book, too.
Indigo Bay & Bloor (55 Bloor Street West) 1PM

FAMILY | Family Day Winter Picnic at Evergreen Brick Works
What better way to celebrate a day off with your family than with a picnic, chilly weather be damned? Head over to the Brick Works with a picnic for a day of music, guided walks, and enjoying some snacks by the campfire. The day is run in collaboration with the CBC's Live Right Now campaign.
Evergreen Brick Works (550 Bayview Avenue) 11AM Free Admission

MORE EVENTS THIS WEEK

For more Toronto event suggestions, check out these posts:

• Family Day events & activities in Toronto 2013
• This week in food
• This week in fashion
• This week in film
• This week in theatre
• This week in comedy
• This week in music
• Toronto concerts, February 2013

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

Photo by Chromewaves in the blogTO Flickr pool

Coun. Giorgio Mammoliti says the $200,000 loan he received from real-estate investors did not conflict with his role as a councillor. Mammoliti pushed for billboard approvals for the company's involved before the transaction. The North York rep called the CBC story "in bad taste" for discussing his business dealings and ex-wife. Does he have a point or should our elected officials expect to be scrutinized?

Fake Metropasses and tokens cost the Toronto Transit Commission $2 million last year, according to the latest figures released by its enforcement unit. Counterfeiters have cracked the company's hologram security and managed to forge the size, weight, and appearance of tokens. Fraudulent fares aren't new, the FBI busted an even bigger token racket based Stateside in 2006.

The news is a little old but we haven't had a chance to discuss it here yet. Rob Ford says he's adamantly against new taxes or tolls of any kind to pay for new transit, and he's shared that opinion with new Premier Kathleen Wynne. The mayor made the remarks at the Canadian Auto Show on Friday, where he posed for the cameras inside a McLaren sportscar. Should Ford be more flexible if he wants new subways?

A baby born on a freezing sidewalk over the weekend and pronounced dead at Humber River Hospital is now feeling much better. Medical staff worked on the child, who was taken to the emergency room by ambulance, but were unable to detect vital signs. With the coroner en route, staff noticed the baby was moving under a sheet. The lazarus child is in now listed a stable condition.

Two Air Canada flights were stranded on the tarmac at Pearson for over 8 hours this weekend. A plane bound for Cancun waited hours for a gate to unload a disruptive passenger while another ran dangerously low on fuel in the long de-icing line up. A separate Lufthansa flight had to be evacuated after smoke was spotted by ground crew.

Plans to bring a Loblaws supermarket to the Kensington Market neighbourhood were met with protest this weekend. The company wants to open an food outlet on the second floor of a condo in development at College and Spadina. Are concerns the company will drive out local business justified?

If the giant asteroid that narrowly missed the Earth Friday had slammed into Toronto, the fallout would have, like, totally made a mess of Ontario. Just for the masochists, the National Post has a map with a big red death circle on it.

IN BRIEF:

• Boy, 15, dies in west-end shooting [CBC]
• Police called in to shift protesters camped out in front of Mayor Rob Ford's office [Toronto Star]
• Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne thanks historic gay-positive church [Toronto Star]
• Jays batting practice cap features jumbo Maple Leaf [CTV]

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

Image: "Snow" by AshtonPal/blogTO Flickr pool.

Bon Jovi's "Because We Can World Tour" kicked off earlier this week and stopped by the Air Canada Centre for a two night stand starting last night. It's the American rock band's 15th outing and marks the first time they're starting a tour before putting out new music. Their new disc, "What About Now," is out March 12.

Moment Factory - the team behind Madonna's #1 selling tour in 2012 - worked closely with the tour's production designer Doug "Spike" Brandt and the band to produce video content to animate the show. "The show is cutting edge and it's one of the most ambitious scenography (lighting, sound and set design) you'll ever see. There is a lot of movement and it really pushes boundaries," says producer Daniel Jean.

As the band celebrates its 30th anniversary, Jean says the tour will deliver the classics that fans love - including "You Give Love A Bad Name" - and juxtaposes them with state-of-the-art scenography, which consists of 42 columns moving in synch with the video content.

The band was hands-on and offered feedback directly. "Jon and the band don't like to be too literal. They like fresh ideas," says Jean. "Some songs are more than 20 years old, so they wanted to see (how they could be refreshed) with today's technology - but in a way that doesn't upstage the artist, but rather, magnifies them."

During an intense 13-week period, Moment Factory organized four video shoots in Montreal and the content includes a moody desert scene, a factory scene for "It's My Life", and a backdrop featuring a soldier for "Army of One," a song from the new album. The team also played with 3D optical illusions and effects.

Because the setlist will change each show - there's reportedly a pool of 50+ songs that the band will pick from - the Moment Factory content has to be adaptable. "The set allows infinite possibilities of looks."

Since opening shop in 2001, the Montreal-based Moment Factory has made a name for itself internationally, working with veteran acts like Nine Inch Nails and Celine Dion, and today's superstars like Usher.

They're also the team who made it rain at last week's Grammys during Fun.'s scene-stealing performance of their hit "Carry On." Jean was working at the side of stage, watching the performance unfold. On his wish list of artists to work with next? U2 and The Rolling Stones.

As live performances evolve, the use of technology will only become more sophisticated in its mixture of technology and set architecture. Crowd participation will also increase. "Now it's more simple to merge all the media together. So I think it's the use of these different elements and putting them together to make a more seamless show."

It's therefore essential to manage the risks. "To be innovative and to push the boundaries, you need to task some risks. But they need to be calculated risks. For example, there are a lot of backups in the Bon Jovi show. So if something goes wrong, we can modify the show on the spot."

The "Because We Can World Tour" dropped by Montreal on February 13 and 14. It was Jean's first time seeing a Bon Jovi concert live. "I liked the whole show. There are highs, there are lows. I liked when it's minimal but I also liked when there is the big video wall."

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

IN THE NEWS

Prism Music Prize releases shortlist of nominees

Whereas the Polaris Music Prize recognized the best full-length Canadian album released in a given year, the brand-spanking new Prism Music Prize describes itself as "a national juried award recognizing the artistry of the modern music video in Canada." It's about time that an award like this was created - the music video, long thought to be a dead art form, has seen a resurgence over the last few years. Two Toronto-based artists have been nominated: Maylee Todd, for "Baby's Got It," and Drake (ugh), for "HYFR (Hell Ya Fucking Right)." The winner will be announced on March 24, which is the last day of Canadian Music Week. A full list of nominees can be found here.

Patti Smith adds show at Queen Elizabeth Theatre

A few weeks ago, it was announced Patti Smith would be promoting her photography exhibition at the AGO on March 7 and 8. Last week, a third show was added for March 9 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Billed as "an evening of words of music," Smith will be joined by her children, Jackson and Jesse, as well as Tony Shanahan. Tickets are on sale today and range in price from $29.50 to $49.50 - very reasonable, I'd say.

THIS WEEK'S HOT TICKETS

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 20 / BENJAMIN FRANCIS LEFTWICH / THE RIVOLI / 332-334 QUEEN W / $15 / 19+

If you haven't checked out the music of 23-year-old UK artist Benjamin Francis Leftwich, you owe it to yourself to give this kid a listen. While he's only released one full-length album in his young career, 2011's Last Smoke Before the Snowstorm, he's released a number of EP's, including In the Open, which came out last October. What you'll notice above all else is Leftwich's voice - it's extremely beautiful and haunting, and lends itself well to the folky sound that he's adopted.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 23 / BOSNIAN RAINBOWS / THE MOD CLUB / 722 COLLEGE / $20 / ALL AGES

When the Mars Volta officially broke up last month, frontman Cedric Bixler-Zavala suggested that it was due to lead guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez devoting all of his time to his new project, Bosnian Rainbows. While it remains to be seen whether this project will even come close to the success and fame that the Volta achieved, the opportunity to see Rodriguez-Lopez, long considered to be one of the best guitarists in the world, should be reason enough to check this show out.

RECENTLY ANNOUNCED CONCERTS

• THE SPHINXS / PARTS & LABOUR/THE SHOP / FEBRUARY 22 / 9 PM
• RAEKWON / SOUND ACADEMY / MARCH 20 / 8 PM
• TYLER, THE CREATOR / THE OPERA HOUSE / MARCH 22 / 8 PM
• MILK CARTON KIDS / THE DRAKE HOTEL / APRIL 27 / 8 PM
• JAYMAY / THE DRAKE HOTEL / APRIL 28 / 8 PM
• EMPTY MANSIONS / THE GARRISON / APRIL 30 / 8 PM

WHAT WE GOT UP TO LAST WEEK

• New in Toronto Music: Orchards, Os Tropies, Fort York, Thomas D'arcy, Chloe Charles
• Wavelength 13 Night Three: Do Make Say Think, Evening Hymns, Sarah Neufeld, Doom Squad, Bernice
• Wavelength 13 Night Two: Doldrums, Cadence Weapon, Blue Hawaii, Blonde Elvis & Thighs
• Wavelength 13 Night One: This Mess, Fresh Snow, Ell V Gore, Lullabye Arkestra
• The Tragically Hip still put on one hell of a show
• Wavelength Music Festival 13 preview
• 5 reasons why Foundry will change Toronto's electronic scene
• Album Review: Hayden, Us Alone
• Advance Base wants to be your post-Valentine

Photo of Bosnian Rainbows courtesy of badjonni on Flickr.

Over the last few weeks, our photo of the week winners from 2012 have competed against each other for inclusion in the final round of voting, which will ultimately determine the photo of the year. The top three photos from each previous round are collected below for readers to vote on. Unlike last year, however, the ultimate on the top three photos will be made by blogTO's editors. We will, of course, rely heavily (if not completely) on the reader vote, but feel it necessary to reserve the right to make the final decision lest this contest become more about social media savvy than the photographs themselves.

As is the case with our weekly contests, the photos of the year are sponsored by Posterjack. Here are the prizes that the winners will be eligible for:

• 1st Place - 36x48 Metal Print ($400 value)
• 2nd Place - 24x36 Acrylic Print ($200 value)
• 3rd Place - 16x24 Canvas Print ($100 value)

Following the publication of this post, voting will be open until 11:59 p.m. on Thursday night (February 22, 2013).

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

Previously:

• Round One
• Round Two
• Round Three
• Round Four

Lead photo by Alejandro Santiago.

2.
Photo by Yedman

3.
Photo by Vic Gedris

4.
Photo by Empty Quarter

5.
Photo by James Gonneau

6.
Photo by Jim U

7.
Photo by MrEllis

8.
Photo by jonathan.mastrella

9.
Photo by Michael Mitchener

10.
Photo by Neil Ta

11.
Photo by Jefferson Photography

12.
Photo by micho.ho

Though he's just turned 30, chef Adisa Glasgow says he feels like an old soul. But his menu at 3030 Dundas West in the Junction isn't sticking to the classics. Glasgow wins over crowds with creative dishes that pay homage to his heritage and other culinary influences. The Trinidad native talks about his vision for bringing Caribbean food to Toronto, surprising his diners with unexpected ingredients, and one dish he's currently obsessed with.

Did you always want to be a chef?

Everyone in my family cooks, and I screwed up a lot trying to help out in the kitchen when I was younger, but I always wanted to be a chef. We always had huge meals; Thanksgiving at home was not like here. If you had a decent year as far as money was concerned, you fed the neighbourhood, so that was a lot of fun.

Where did you grow up and what brought you here?

Half in Trinidad and half in Vancouver. I came to Canada when I was 12, and I moved to Toronto about a year ago. I was chasing a woman, who was Italian, so I wanted to move to England to move closer to her. But being Trinidadian and getting a work visa there is pretty impossible, so then I decided instead of coming back to Vancouver, I might as well try out Toronto and see what the scene is like here.

How would you describe the food scene in Toronto?

It's exciting. There are a lot of hungry, young chefs, and a lot of new restaurants. I just felt like everyone out here was trying to really push the envelope. It's competitive as hell, and it's hard to try and come up with some really innovative stuff.

Where did you learn to cook?

I started as a dishwasher in a restaurant. I never went to school; I just started washing dishes, then started prepping. From there I moved to garde manger, then sauces, then eventually moved through the whole thing. I even took a hiatus for a year and worked in the front end, just so that I could get a good grasp on what's going on. Then I did my tour around Vancouver, working at different restaurants. I decided to settle down in an Italian restaurant, Quattro, and the chef, Bradford Ellis was very good. He's a pretty jovial guy, but he taught me a lot.

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

Probably just to put your ego aside and learn from the people you've hired. Just in the short time that I've worked with other chefs in this city, I've noticed there's a little bit of arrogance and I'm not sure where it comes from. Maybe it's because of the press they've gotten, that they think they're rockstars, but I've learned to keep the ego in check. Also, just to be able to do what I want, because honestly, I just put stuff together hoping it tastes good. Don't stop making something because you feel like the crowd's not going to love it. I had to stand through a lot of things on this menu to let it shine and give everybody a chance to try it.

How did you end up at 3030?

Craigslist. I quit Grand Electric, and I was going to move to Winnipeg because my dad was really sick. Then I got a phone call from him saying the cancer was in recession and he was doing well, so I decided to stay here. I was looking through the classifieds, and my girlfriend found this head chef position so I figured why not. I came in and they picked me, so I guess I got lucky.

You have some pretty adventurous items on your menu. How do you feel the food works with the bar crowd?

I do get a little roadblock with people sometimes, they don't know about eating beef cheeks, dandelion greens, or that black cod is worth $26. People come in and see pinball tables, brick walls, and they kind of get thrown off a little bit. But once they relax, they realize that you don't need to be on King Street or have white tablecloths to enjoy a good meal.

People really grew on a lot of stuff; the pigtail torta was tough to sell for a while, then all of a sudden we're flying through them. So they're opening up to me, and slowly but surely they're giving me a chance. The goat wellington is the only thing I'm really surprised about with people. Typically when you see goat, it's probably inside a roti, but I find that people are just blowing through goat right now, and it's kind of strange.

Is the Goat Wellington your Trinidadian roots coming through?

There's that and the bread with the pigtail torta, that's called a fry bake, from Trinidad. It's a little puffier the way we do it in Trinidad; we add more water, stretch it, and fry it so it puffs up, I just use less water here so it's flatter. It rises a little bit, but it still has that flakiness, almost like puff pastry. The hot sauce that I put on it is my mom's recipe, and she actually emailed that to me.

Any other cuisines you're currently obsessed with that influence your menu?

The butter chicken wings is from me growing up in Vancouver eating tons of East Indian food and loving it. With the next menu, I'll probably do a lot more Trinidadian-influenced stuff. I didn't want to label this place with a cuisine, because then you're limited by that. But I feel that in this city, there really aren't any great Trinidadian restaurants. There's lots of shops with lions painted on the walls, with an old lady in the back pumping out rotis, which is great, but I'm really going to try and find some classic Trinidadian recipes and kind of meld it with my cooking background, and see what I can do with that.

How do you keep pushing yourself creatively?

That has a lot to do with me just trying to impress my boys back in Vancouver. I'm trying to get them all to come out here, and really see the scene. For myself, it might sound a little cheesy, but it's all about my mom. She shipped me off here, and I just want to show everybody back in Trinidad that the boy is doing it up and taking some of our culture and throwing it out there. I came to Canada to do something and hopefully take it back to Trinidad, hopefully open up a restaurant there.

What's next for you and the restaurant?

I definitely want to start experimenting more with food. I love the egg; I'm working on the egg right now and doing this crazy thing with a tartare. This place has its niche, but it can only go so far with what I have going on. Friday and Saturday nights it's chaos, and I don't think anybody's tasting my food; it's just fuel for the madness. Eventually, I do want to open my own place--a small restaurant--and do some intricate stuff. Hopefully I can get that done later than sooner, because I don't want to rush into anything. I know the city's getting hit hard with any chef that's seen some sort of success opening their own place within a year or two. I want to take my time.

What do you do when you're not in the kitchen?

I have this sweet motorcycle that I like to rip around. I collect records; I used to be a DJ when I was younger, so I still have a lot of them. I play hockey, though a lot of people can't believe that I skate quite fast. And just going over to 416 Snack Bar and tear apart their steam bun. I stroll in there all grimy and shady, ask for a steam bun and a double scotch, and then I'm out in 10 minutes.

RAPID FIRE QUESTIONS

Most underrated ingredient? Maggi Seasoning

Best culinary tool? Kunz spoon

A chef that inspires you?Mark Ota

What's one dish you can't live without? My mom's tomato sauce or fried okra

Favourite Toronto restaurant?416 Snack Bar

What would people be surprised to find in your fridge? Something

One food trend that needs to end? Tacos

For more chef profiles, visit our Toronto Chefs Pinterest board.

Photos by Jesse Milns

In the lead-up to Wavelength 13's final night at the Garrison, a rather heated Facebook exchange took place on the Wavelength 13 event page. Accumulating fifty-six comments in less than 24 hours, the post complained about the technical difficulties on Friday night during Doldrums's set, placing the blame on the Wavelength crew and arguing that $18 is much too high a price for a show that had sound problems during the headliner (despite the fact that $18 for five excellent bands is, I would say, a steal).

Wavelength fans, music-lovers, and even a member of one of the bands who played that night did not take this criticism lying down, however. Without devolving into too much trolling, they argued about the strengths and weaknesses of the Great Hall, "fraud in the cesspool of the music industry," and general impressions of the night. Definitely check out the post if you want a laugh.

After so much controversy, I was looking forward to hearing the bands at Sunday's fourth and final night of Wavelength 13. It was a stacked line-up, and accounting for six different bands' sound would be understandably difficult. I'm happy to report, though, that each band was taken care of and sounded fantastic.

Cell Memory & Castle If opened the night with an undulating, sometimes creepy, electro-drone mystique. The krautrock and New Wave influences were palpable and oftentimes explicit - German lyrics and track names came as a matter of course. Their dark themes and atmospheric noise stood in major contrast, however, to the second band of the night - the Legato Vipers, a surf-rock band.

Who knew surf-rock paired so well with burlesque? As an additional treat for the final night, Wavelength brought in The Harlettes to dance to the catchy riffs and groovy, pulsing tunes of the Legato Vipers, whose five-man band sported the slicked-back hair and leather jackets typical of '60s.

Henri Fabergé and the Adorables - a high-showmanship, yet ironically-minded band - came on towards the midpoint of the night to inject some much needed dance energy into the crowd. While the band sometimes holds upwards of eight members, Sunday's show featured Toronto-based favourites Maylee Todd and Laura Barrett among others, who tore through Henri's lyrically-driven, genre-juggling pop songs. During the set, Henri asked sarcastically about the sound quality: "Is the sound okay out there? You never know with these Wavelength shows." The sound was just fine, Henri, thanks for checking.

The final three bands took the night into overdrive. Guelph-based band, The Magic, took a cue from Henri and skimmed through different genres, moving from rock and roll tunes to disco pieces, dancing along the way to the bouncy, pop-rock feel.

Then came the most anticipated band of the night - and MC Doc Pickles' special favourites - Cookie Duster. The band features many acclaimed musicians from Toronto's local scene, including members of Broken Social Scene, Change of Heart, and The Super Friendz.

A special addition on Sunday night was bass player and Toronto institution Rob Higgins (Change of Heart), whose obvious talent only added to the all-star band's comfortable stage presence and obvious musical ease. Their synth-laden, alternative pop and rock brought the audience to its feet, and they were the obvious winners of that night's popularity contest.

Ending the show, after half the audience had left, was Dusted, an 11-month-old band by duo Brian Borcherdt and Leon Taheny. They managed to take a guitar, a drum kit, and some synthesizers, and translate them into an incredibly full sound. Harkening to Daniel Johnston and Delta Spirit, the duo played a soulful, steady alternative rock set to close the night.

It was a wild and wonderful weekend showcasing some of the best and brightest of Toronto's independent music scene. As Doc Pickles said toward the end of the show: "This weekend has given me some civic pride." I completely agree.

Writing by Lori Steuart. Photos by Christian Bobak

Photo by kaeko in the blogTO Flickr pool

Toronto events on February 19, 2013

CRAFTS | Etsy Craftathon: 3-in-1 Jewelry Workshop
Things are getting crafty at Uniiverse's headquarters this week. The top Etsy sellers of Toronto play host in a series of craft workshops in the week-long Etsy Craftathon. Tonight, Etsy's Justyna Z. offers a course in 3-in-1 jewelry making, leading participants in making their own creations by teaching them about braiding, colour blocking, and making statement pieces. The two-hour workshop will give crafters time to create 3 pieces, with materials all included in the price. Get crafting!
Uniiverse HQ (111 Jarvis Street) 6:30PM $25

MUSIC | Adrienne Pierce CD Release
Vancouver singer-songwriter Adrienne Pierce celebrates the release of her fourth full-length album My Heavens tonight at The Central by performing with her more musically-inclined friends. Based out of New York City and L.A., Pierce brings her Grammy-nominated husband and fellow songwriter Ari Shine to the stages of her native land while on tour, adding local musicians like vocalist Sandra Bouza and folk artist Courtney Lynn to tonight's set list. The album will be on sale at The Central with all proceeds going directly to the musicians.
The Central (603 Markham Street) 9:30PM Free

THEATRE | The Glory of Living
A troubled teen runs away with an older man, hoping to finally have the normal life she has always hoped for but is instead pulled into a gruesome world of prostitution and murder. This Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Rebecca Gilman premieres at Sterling Studio Theatre tonight under the direction of Sophie Ann Rooney for a two-week run. The Glory of Living was chosen as the SST's February performance to open discussion about crime and gun control in North America, with its eerie similarities to the true story of Alvin and Judith Neelley, a serial killing couple from Georgia, the latter of whom is up for parole this month.
Sterling Studio Theatre (163 Sterling Road) 8PM $20

ALSO OF NOTE:

• Table Hockey Night in Toronto
• PechaKucha Night Toronto Vol. 21

MORE EVENTS THIS WEEK

For more Toronto event suggestions, check out these posts:

• This week in food
• This week in fashion
• This week in film
• This week in theatre
• This week in comedy
• This week in music
• Toronto concerts, February 2013

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

Photo by C P Bateman in the blogTO Flickr pool

City council will discuss whether or not to fight for its shark fin ban later this week. A court ruled the law was invalid and sent it back to the city for revision. Deputy mayor Doug Holyday said there isn't an appetite for a expensive legal challenge to the decision. Should the city fight to ban shark fin products within its borders?

Speculation is rife about what caused a newborn girl to apparently come back to life after being declared dead in the early hours of Sunday morning. One theory is the girl entered a deep state of hypothermia, making her already tiny pulse practically undetectable. The hospital isn't releasing any further information other than confirming it's conducting a review and the baby is resting in a stable condition.

The Toronto Stargot the full OLG treatment overnight. The provincial lottery and gaming group ran a full wrap of the newspaper's website, suggesting it's making a not-so-subliminal push for support in the city. The ads carried the tagline "bet you'll have fun" but were removed by this morning.

Things are looking up for cash-strapped Riverdale Farm. The W. Garfield Weston Foundation, a charitable group connected to the Loblaws and Weston baking companies, has pledged to match donations of up to $25,000 from the community. A report in 2011 identified the $500,000 a year cost of running the attraction as something city council might consider cutting.

Arthur Bishop, the son of first world war flying ace Billy Bishop, died late last week aged 89. Though his father held the family record for shooting down planes, Bishop was also a skilled pilot active during the second world war. The Toronto Star has his full obituary.

Finally, freezing rain and snow flurries are making for a sloppy start to the working week. Environment Canada has issued severe weather warnings for parts of the GTA, though not Toronto, warning of tricky driving conditions. Take care if you're on the road this morning.

IN BRIEF:

• Toronto police to discuss slaying of 15-year-old boy [CP24]
• Man's head clipped by TTC train [Toronto Star]
• Toronto considers giving underground migrants access to services without fear [Toronto Star]
• Ontario's Wynne to reveal governing plan in throne speech [CBC]
• Scrivens gets shutout as Leafs beat Panthers 3-0 [CBC]

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

Image: "Sugar Beach (Winter) - 1" by Subjective Art/blogTO Flickr pool.

Now in its 10th year, the Toronto Human Rights Watch Film Festival returns with a ten film lineup of politically charged, inspiring stories covering themes of oppression, violent struggle and resilient humanity.

Co-presented with TIFF, the festival opens at TIFF Bell Lightbox next Tuesday (February 26th) with films that highlight human rights issues around the world, from North Korea to Northern Ontario, and telling many empowering stories in the process.

Here are five films not to miss.

Tall as the Baobab Tree (Senegal - 2012)
Amongst a selection of bleak and often disturbing films, Tall as the Baobab Tree stands out for its themes of peace and hope. A beautiful window into a kind of life in Africa, a young girl hatches a secret plan to save her kid sister from an arranged marriage, while trying to cope with a changing landscape and rapidly evolving culture. An honest, and somewhat innocent look at a culture that is completely alien to me, I found this film "based on true stories" to be gripping.

The Act of Killing (Denmark / Norway / UK - 2012)
This is a frightening but inventive documentary featuring unrepentant former members of Indonesian death squads, challenged to re-live their "gangster" lives and re-enact some of their many murders in the style of American movies they love. Warning, this film was difficult to sit through. These "men" (it would be insulting to animals to even call them that) brag about brutally murdering communists as members of government sponsored death squads. There seems to be no redemption for these monsters as they walk around free and laughing while they recall treating human beings like dogs. They also enjoy a kind of celebrity, known as patriotic heroes, which is mind-boggling.

Camp 14: Total Control Zone (Germany - 2012)
A powerful documentary telling the tale of Shin Dong-hyuk whose escape from a North Korean labour camp propelled him into a strange new world he was unprepared for. After his entire youth was wasted in the camp, Shin has to learn how survive in an entirely different way. This documentary features intimate interviews and animated sequences to tell Shin's dramatic story. The partial English narration was a nice break from a marathon of subtitled films.

No (Chile - 2011)
Gael Garcia Bernal (Motorcycle Diaries) stars as a fresh faced ad exec in Chile during the late 80's who is recruited to craft the political opposition's publicity campaign when the rule of oppressive dictator Augusto Pinochet faced increasing international pressure to legitimize. The government forced a referendum where the people would vote whether or not to keep him in power. Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language film, No is about selling democracy as "a happy product" to older people who feared change, and to the younger generation who would embrace it.

The People of the Kattawapiskak River (Canada - 2012)
A timely look at human rights violations in our own backyard. Brilliant filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin offers a scalding look at the Attawapiskat First Nation community in Northern Ontario where shamefully low living standards -- and the irresponsible mismanagement by the Canadian government -- compelled Chief Theresa Spence to declare a state of emergency, and later famously begin a hunger strike.

Tickets to the Human Rights Watch Film Festival are currently on sale now. Tickets are $12 ($5 for students). Discounts apply for seniors/members. Tickets can be purchased online at tiff.net, by phone 416-599-TIFF(8433) and 1-888-599-8433 or in person at the Steve & Rashmi Gupta Box Office, Reitman Square, 350 King Street West, Toronto.

Shopping in Chinatown is about dim sum — and then some. There's a lot more on offer than just dumplings and bedazzled Hello Kitty iPhone cases.The neighbourhood is actually a magic wonderland of incredible items, most of which cost $10 or less. A short trip to the spangley enclave can solve virtually any shopping need, with the added bonus of making it possible to avoid the Walmarts and Dollaramas of the world.

Nestled between the area's many fruit stands and restaurants, there are shops specializing in everything at once. From cookware to underwear, there's array of items is, in a word, dazzling. So much so that any attempt at an overview would have to be virtually encyclopedic. Let's not do that. Instead allow me to share 10 random discoveries from last visit to the dollar stores of Chinatown.

Panties (with extras!)
Pocketed panties. Panties with pockets. The ultimate in stealth undergarments for only $1.50. Use it for keys! Condoms! Contraband! Coins! Whatever! Available at Chinatown Dollar Mart, 490 Dundas St W.

Durian
Fresh durians can be had for a mere $5.99. Beware though — these hedgehoggy fruits smell like death. They smell so bad, in fact, that they've been outlawed from public transit in Singapore. (You may want to avoid indulging on the TTC.) Available at Lily Fruits Market, 300 Spadina Ave.

Paper products
Pretty paper. Use it to wrap a gift, and the recipient can recycle it into wall art. This stuff is far cheaper than what you'll find at The Paper Place and other similar shops. Available at B&J Trading, 378 Spadina Ave.

Incense galore
This is the place to go if you need copious amounts of incense sticks for very little money (read: a few dollars). Potheads, yogis, New Age types, take note! Available at Chinatown Dollar Mart, 490 Dundas St W.

Japanese Dolls
These Japanese dolls are painfully adorable. That is all. Available at B&J Trading, 378 Spadina Ave.

Hula hoops
Available in either stripey-shiny or floral-shiny, there are hula hoops aplenty in this little shop just east of Spadina. Hooping is a summer staple activity, especially in the park (they also make great fort frames, just FYI). Available at Chinatown Dollar Mart, 490 Dundas St W.

Little bottles
Amazingly tiny bottles. Tiny. Amazing. Starting at $0.59. Make a necklace! Insert a miniscule message! The possibilities are endless. Available at B&J Trading, 378 Spadina Ave.

T-shirts
Neon + snarling wild animals = optimally ferocious T-shirt. And there's plenty more like this to choose from. Available at S&H T's Inc., 380 Spadina Ave.

Buddha heads
You can spread the zen in a multitude of colours by purchasing a porcelain Buddha head. Not to mention the lanterns. Available at B&J Trading, 378 Spadina Ave.

Backpacks
This backpack is the kind of thing Urban Outfitters consistently tries to rip off, but is actually authentic (and at a fraction of the cost). Available at B&J Trading, 378 Spadina Ave.

Got a Chinatown dollar store find to share? Let us know in the comments.

Writing and photography by Sarah Ratchford

This week on DineSafe, MBCo in Yorkville found itself on the conditional pass list yet again. The Montreal import is no stranger to the DineSafe low list, usually garnering itself a green pass after at least one yellow flag. Also nabbed by the DineSafe police this week were a couple of places on Eglinton West, including Spence's Bakery and Rap's Caribbean by Oakwood Ave, and Nikko Sushi by Avenue Road. Here's a look at DineSafe this week.

Fenmar Cafe (120 Fenmar Drive)
Inspected on: February 13
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional Pass)
Number of infractions: 4 (Minor: 2, Significant: 2, Crucial: 0)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Mahalkita Restaurant (29 Howard St)
Inspected on: February 12
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional Pass)
Number of infractions: 6 (Minor: 0, Significant: 3, Crucial: 3)
Crucial infractions include: Failure to ensure/provide for proper employee hygiene/handwashing, failure to protect food from contamination, inadequate food temperature control

MBCo (100 Bloor St W)
Inspected on: February 12
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional Pass)
Number of infractions: 3 (Minor: 2, Significant: 0, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Inadequate food temperature control

Melewa Bakery (21 Trojan Gt)
Inspected on: February 13
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional Pass)
Number of infractions: 10 (Minor: 5, Significant: 4, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Failure to protect food from contamination

Nikko Sushi (376 Eglinton Ave W)
Inspected on: February 13
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional Pass)
Number of infractions: 6 (Minor: 3, Significant: 3, Crucial: 0)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Rap's (1541 Eglinton Ave W)
Inspected on: February 11
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional Pass)
Number of infractions: 9 (Minor: 5, Significant: 2, Crucial: 2)
Crucial infractions include: Inadequate food temperature control, failure to protect food from contamination

Spence's Bakery (1539 Eglinton Ave W)
Inspected on: February 12
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional Pass)
Number of infractions: 7 (Minor: 3, Significant: 3, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Inadequate food temperature control

The Friendly Thai (1218 Queen St E)
Inspected on: February 12
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional Pass)
Number of infractions: 4 (Minor: 1, Significant: 3, Crucial: 0)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

A modern Victorian with the possibility of even more "modern" alongside. This house includes an adjacent lot with plans for a home next door, allowing would-be purchasers the urban treat of ultimate NIMBY discretion. Located a couple of blocks from Trinity Bellwoods, this Victorian rises three storeys tall, merging throwback clawfoot features with shiny contemporary appliances and a pretty spectacular master suite.

SPECS:

Address: 54 Stanley Terrace
Price: $1,049,000
Lot size: 33.73 x 64.70 ft
Storeys: 3
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2
Ceiling height: 10.5 ft
Parking spaces: 2
Exterior: Brick

NOTABLE FEATURES:

• Viking gas range
• Farmhouse sink and Bosch dishwasher
• Restored hardwood floors
• Clawfoot bathtub
• Fireplaces (not working)
• High efficiency gas furnace and humidifier
• Third floor master with skylights and walkout
• Views of Stanley Park

GOOD FOR:

Mixing new and old, steel and brick, making use of those reclaimed Victorian cast iron register grates cluttering antique stores. Good for those who plan to build next door and/or want to prevent others from building next door. Good also for Stanley Park dog enthusiasts.

MOVE ON IF:

You hate scrubbing graffiti off your garage door. You want a little open-concept for your million dollars. You think tiles should be on floors, not walls.

Additional photos:If you had the dough, would you buy this home? Let us know where you stand in the comments below.

Geary Avenue has a little bit of everything. From auto body shops to hydroponic outfits to restaurants to recording studios, as far as Toronto streets go, this is as diverse as it gets. Although it stretches just a short kilometre and a half west from Ossington Avenue before dead-ending somewhere between Dufferin Street and Lansdowne Avenue, in that span over 50 some odd business dot the street.

In the past I've characterized the strange makeup of Geary as representative of an identity crisis, but this is anything but a bad thing. It's a street in transition — and despite recent additions, it's far too early to consider gentrification as a fait accompli. Perhaps the first signs of such a process are visible, but things move slowly here. Don't hold your breath for the collective exodus of the autoshops, but in the meantime, there's plenty to explore.

Geary can be broken into three parts: 1) the stretch between Ossington and Dovercourt, which features a mix of residential and commercial properties, 2) the main retail / commercial drag between Dovercourt and Dufferin, and 3) a semi-industrial section to the west of Dufferin. As such, the majority of the businesses highlighted below can be found between Dovercourt and Dufferin.

Riders Cycle and Board (80 Geary)
I'm completely biased given that I live around the corner, but this might just be be the friendliest bike store in Toronto. Geared to commuter cyclists first and foremost, don't let that fool you into thinking they can't do just about anything here. I won't take my bike to be serviced anywhere else. From a sales standpoint, look for a variety of used bikes but no beater death-traps. Also worthy of note is the espresso bar. Valentine pulls a pretty good shot.

Album Studio Rentals (92 Geary)
Photographers looking for high-end studio space might consider this sprawling 4800 square foot space tucked behind a nondescript facade just west of Dovercourt. Divided into two studio spaces (the smaller one starts at $350 per day while the larger space is $650), it probably won't attract too many starving OCAD students, but if you've got the coin, the light is fantastic.

Auxiliary CrossFit (346 Westmoreland)
Auxiliary CrossFit is located in a 5,000 sq. ft., second-floor space just north of Geary. The gym is on the bare bones side, as you'd expect from a CrossFit gym, but it can easily accommodate up to 15 people per class. Membership rates start at $90/month for two classes per week.

Toronto Airsoft (136 Geary, unit 109)
Virtually hidden within the warehouse-like building at 136 Geary is a hub for Toronto's airsoft community. What's that? Airsoft guns are kind of like BB guns, but use small plastic pellets instead. As the only retail store of its kind in the province, it's become a gathering place for enthusiasts, who liken airsoft to paintball (though obviously without the tell-tale sign that one's been hit).

Theatrix Costume House(165 Geary, 2nd floor)
This ain't your average costume shop. Over and above the sheer variety of items on offer (the space is huge), Theatrix also does custom work, make-up service, and prides itself on going beyond Halloween cliches. A go-to for Toronto theatre productions, this place takes its costumes very seriously.

Grow It All Hydroponics (165 Geary)
Insert stoner joke here — but really you shouldn't as that's just way to predictable. What's not predictable, on the other hand, is the variety of environments in which you can get plants to grow provided that they're give the right nutrients and light. It's with the latter two that Grow It All specializes. It goes without saying that the staff are extremely knowledgeable.

Newport Fish Importers (181 Geary)
Newport Fish Importers sounds very much like a wholesale operation, but this Portugese fishmonger and grocery store is also oriented toward walk-in traffic. A relatively recent addition to the neighbourhood, it provides a welcome alternative to the seafood department at nearby Sobey's, which always sends me into a sort of depression when I pass by.

Paris Bakery (191 Geary)
Don't let the name or the Eiffel Tower on the sign fool you, Paris Bakery does Portuguese-style bread and treats the best. As much as I'm faithful to Nova Era, which is basically across the street, every time I try a loaf from Paris I tell myself I should stop in more often than I do. Try the pastel de nata (Portuguese custard tarts) — so good.

Nova Era (192 Geary)
One of a number of Nova Era's scattered about the city, this location acts as a hub of activity on Geary as locals stop in for baked goods and coffee. Perhaps the best part about Nova Era is the lunch counter where you can grab excellent toasta mista and other sandwiches. The sugar-coated doughnuts are to die for.

The Monkey Vault (213 Geary)
The Monkey Vault is precisely the type of place that makes Geary Avenue a unique street. After all, where else are you going to go for parkour and street acrobatics training? One of the coolest "gyms" you'll find, the vault has some conventional strength and conditioning machines, but the fun part is the DIY foam pit and rock climbing wall. A variety of classes (for a variety of levels) are offered.

Issie Cycling (225 Geary)
Issie Cycling, named after its owner Issie Chackowicz, is a hole in the wall bike shop that's open irregular hours, but worth the visit if you're looking for qualified repair work and decently priced new bikes and accessories.

Kitch (229 Geary)
Ah Kitch, if there's one place on here that would lead one to mutter the word gentrification this is it. With a room that'd be just as home on West Queen West, this hip restaurant-bar is exactly the type of establishment that gets buzz words like that rolling off people's tongues. And, to be fair, owner Bryan Jackson has put a lot of faith in the idea that this is a neighbourhood on the rise, so maybe there's something to such talk anyway. For now, this is by far the coolest bar/restaurant in the vicinity.

Rehearsal Factory (330 Geary)
Tucked away on the quieter side of the street beyond Dufferin, the Geary location of the Rehearsal Factory is a favourite jamming space for up and coming Toronto musicians. Rehearsal areas include the requisite amps and drum sets, while on-site equipment rentals are an option as well. Production facilities are also on offer. Sometimes it's cool to stand outside the place and listen to the bands work on their stuff.

Get to know more Toronto streets via our Toronto Streets Pinterest board.

Every neighbourhood needs its own standing-room-only espresso bar, and this new space looks like it might fit that bill for Wallace and Lansdowne. Opened by a pair of hospitality industry veterans, this menu-free, seating-limited cafe is perfectly suited to your morning grab-and-go. And that's about it.

Read my profile of Wallace Espresso in the cafes section.

You may not have noticed that Motel, the cute speakeasy-looking spot opposite Grand Electric in Parkdale, changed hands a year back, but step inside and order an old fashioned and you'll instantly know. Instead of being met with a blank stare, you'll be treated to one of Ryan McVittie's grapefruit old fashioneds, or one of his custom drinks with fresh basil and star-anise or lemongrass-infused simple syrups.

I popped in to meet Ryan one day before service to chat about his bartending history, his clientele, and his plan to open up a second Motel at Dufferin and Dundas this spring.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Guelph. When I was growing up there it was a much smaller town than it is now. I go back to visit my parents and it's much more of a sprawling suburbia than it was. Where I grew up it was big trees, out in the country, but now it's been annexed to the highway so there's not much countryside left. I moved to Toronto in '89. It was this huge epiphany that the world was much larger and more cosmopolitan that Guelph, Ontario.

Did you start bartending in Guelph?

I'd worked in a country club and that sort of thing, but I moved out of Guelph when I was 18, so I didn't bartend there. I think I was in my second year of university when I took a year off and decided I needed to put some money together. It was hard to do that doing construction work, so I was really keen to get into the bar business. It was something I was very drawn to but it's particularly difficult in smaller towns to find work in the service industry; especially a bar job, which is highly coveted because there can be a lot of money in it.

My first job bartending, I had to drive from Guelph to out in the countryside near Hamilton to Flamborough Downs horse race track; back in '91, I think. That was my baptism by fire - there was high volume, it was all cash, and there were no cash tills, so you were doing the math in your head and carrying trays. It was kind of a stressful job, but it was fun. It was a rough joint, too. This is the other thing with being in the country - there were some knock-down, drag-out fights there.

Did it ever get out of hand in there?

I remember during the L.A. Riots, you'd be watching the violence on TV and at times you could turn around and tables were getting flipped; it was the wild west out there! They had a security force at Flamborough Downs that was rumoured to consist of a bunch of retired police officers. The average age must have been about 75 years old, so they just sat in their office drinking out of their filing cabinet and ignored any cries for help from the rest of us when things were going terribly awry.

You're pretty much on your own and if you had to call the police, heaven forbid, it was the O.P.P., so they may or may not show up as they're within 50 kilometres of where you are. It was a white-knuckle experience. I lasted about a year before I was able to secure a job at Pauper's Pub here in Toronto.

That must have been quite a change of scene.

Yeah, that was '92-'93 and I was coming from a very small market where my customer base was a very particular type of person; in that way a lot of my regulars were sort of closed off from me. Pauper's was the polar opposite, especially in those early years back when people could smoke. I don't smoke, nor am I championing the return of smoking in bars or restaurants, but it certainly had a real feel to it when you walked in off the street.

Back then Bloor Street was completely different. There wasn't a lot of competition. You walked into work as the sun's going down, and already it would be 3 or 4 people deep. People from all walks of life - contractors, a lot of lawyers, a lot of professor types from the university, and a lot of artists. It really was an awesome mishmash of people standing around smoking and drinking right after work. I just don't think you see that much anymore.

It's a generational thing, I guess. The energy was palpable. I walked into it and I was like "This is the place where I wanna be," and I thrived there. I got very good at what little there was to do in terms of customer service.

What kind of drinks were you serving there back then?

There wasn't a whole lot of cocktailing in the '90s; you were dealing with martinis and the sweet syrupy cocktails like Long Island Ice Teas and Killer Kool-Aids, and using powdered bar mix for Tom Collins and Margaritas. Sickeningly syrupy sweet stuff. My focus at the time was fresh beers, particularly microbrews. I was very interested in that and just trying to set the mood. There are a lot of places that you can go to, and not just in Toronto, where you can go and get a really great cocktail, and they'll walk away from you, stand in a corner, and leave you to drink that $15 by yourself.

Not that I feel like you need to do a song and dance but you do need to engage, and that's part of the job. I wouldn't wanna be here if all I did was shake drinks and pass them across the bar. I guess what I mean to say is that what I learned from Pauper's in my formative years was how to really make customers feel at home. You never want to be at the front door having a discussion as to whether you want to stay there or not. You don't ever want anyone doing that when they come into your bar, especially if you own it or if you're running the bar; this is your livelihood.

You are sort of throwing a party every night and part of that is just creating the whole environment and paying attention to the people that are here, through the drinks, the food, and the music.

How long did you work at Pauper's?

I left there at the end of the summer in 2000. I worked there on and off during that time, taking the odd summer off to work at Le Meridien hotel in Vancouver for a year, and stuff like that. I was trying to make a living as an actor and a writer for a long time, and it came to a point where I realised I'm no longer in love with this and I'm bartending more than I'm acting. I was reading a lot about cocktails and got very interested in the history and origins of cocktails. I had an opportunity to go in with some partners and we opened The Comrade. The intention was to open a classy cocktail lounge and that's what we did.

It really became my opportunity to have a laboratory and try out new things, and really craft the cocktails that I had really only been making for myself up until that point. The Manhattans I made in 10 years in a pub were few and far between, and the people that appreciated them were a handful a year. I wanted to work with fresh ingredients, have some creative license, and make my own cocktail list. That's what I did there and that lasted a couple of years before I left. It's a beautiful space.

So you came from there to Motel?

No, after that I had to have heart surgery - which was a life-changing experience I can tell you, as it came out of nowhere - and then I took a job as manager at the Lakeview Diner. It's definitely not a place where you do a lot of cocktailing, but I got to a lot of stuff I never did anywhere else - with ice cream, put it that way. Then I was the general manager at the Great Hall; 6 or 7 months into that I realized it wasn't the right fit for a 41-year-old man - to be doing a job that would run a 20-year-old ragged - so I left and Danny who owns Motel wanted me to come here.

When I first came here there was hardly any liqueurs and there wasn't much in the way of fruit or anything, so I started bringing in my own stuff. I eventually narrowed it down to a few tried and true cocktails that worked with the stuff we have here and also worked well with the customers that came in here. It's a big whiskey bar, so we stick to whiskey-based things a lot of the time. Gin cocktails are easy - there's great classic ones for that - but bourbon and scotch are fun to work with and they're certainly in vogue. I've been here about a year.

What attracted you to Motel?

When I went travelling, the experiences I kept with me were walking into small village pubs in England where you walk in and part of it's the building - they've had to excavate the floor because people were about 4 feet tall when the place was built - but you can get a pint of XXX Bitter or whatever that was brewed down the road. I don't like the whole streamlined corporate approach to bars where everywhere you go it's gonna be the same.

Motel is where I found myself after 20 years in the business. These are the places I like. The 30-40 seat venues where you can control it with two people and over-deliver on everything, as opposed to looking half-empty or elitist. It doesn't take much to bring some warmth to it.

How does Toronto measure up to other places you've been?

Well, I was just in New York recently and it's amazing. You can have a place that can fit maybe 10 people, and all they do is specialize in bitters, so there's no juice at all. Everything's just made with bitters. I don't know if that could survive at this point in Toronto, but I love the attention to detail and the passion that people have for that sort of thing. Now that cocktail culture has come back with such a violent return, my complaint is that that we're not keeping up.

Even though we now have a number of new bourbons in the LCBO, whereas before we had maybe five, you still can't get American rye whiskey or a number of the different types of gins, like sloe gin or genever, and I have to drive all around Toronto trying to find a bottle of Maraschino liqueur which is something that should be available anywhere as it's prevalent in so many classic cocktails. We don't get a lot of vermouth either - we're married to Martini & Rossi which serves a purpose, but it would nice to have a selection. I hate the term 'dive bar,' but it I guess it really fits the types places that I like.

I don't want to walk into a place and look at what I'm wearing and go "Oh," but I also don't wanna walk into a place and look at what I'm wearing and look at the couch and think "I don't wanna sit on that couch." The place should be super-clean and super-comfortable, but you should be as comfortable in a suit as in a pair of track pants.

How have cocktail tastes changed in the two decades you've been bartending?

Well, nowadays it's abundantly clear that the martini has gone the way of the dodo and has been replaced by Manhattans, sours and old fashioneds. It's strange to me that it's limited at those two, as there are so many other similar but just as good cocktails. Brown liquor seems to be the cool thing right now, and I get girls as much as guys asking for these drinks. Actually, I get more women than men asking me for bourbon and scotch cocktails.

I vary things to keep my own interest and I find a little twist on things that make things better. It's important to pay attention to the flavour profile - whether it has a lot of vanilla or apple, or it's very woody - of the various bourbons so you can accent that and riff off it.

And it doesn't have to be with brown liquor at all. There are a lot of great gin cocktails.

Vodka surpassed gin in terms of clear liquor sales as of the '60s - when the martini started to become associated with vodka. Gin is a much more flavourful drink. I've worked in vodka bars and I have respect for certain ones, but if someone comes up and asks me for a vodka cocktail, my heart sinks a little bit, I have to say. There's not a lot you can do to enhance the flavours, or non-flavours, of a vodka without covering it up. With vodka you're trying to distill all the congeners and impurities out of it, but a lot of those impurities are what adds to the flavour of it so, apart from Żubrówka which is lovely, it doesn't have a whole lot of flavour.

How do you feel about the explosion in the bar scene in Toronto in recent years?

With the hip new places to go to, I fear that the idea behind them is to get as much money in your pocket as quickly possible before people grow tired of the place; that's a poor business philosophy in my opinion. I'm in it for the long haul. I don't want to be associated with the most expensive pint on the strip. I want it to be fresh, of good quality, and at a reasonable price. I'd rather sell 10 than sell 1, and never see that person again. It's a fashion cycle, you know: "We're doing fish tacos, computer games, and pork jowl - only the dirty parts of the pig." What else is big now? "We only do bone marrow and everything infused with bacon."

You make a lot of your own syrups and ingredients.

Yeah, I haven't gotten into making my own bitters yet, but that's my intention, especially with the new place because we have a little kitchen in the back so I'll actually have a place to do this instead of carting it from home and bringing it in. My girlfriend gets a bit crazy when my tiny condo turns into a laboratory. Mason jars everywhere!

So you guys are opening up a second Motel?

Yeah. We're quite happy with what we're doing here so it'll be similar - very music focused - but because we're gutting it and renovating it, it will be a lot closer to what we want, with a better designed bar. We'll have a small kitchen there, so we'll have a small menu of delicious snacks. It's all very new so we won't be open until at least April, but it's exciting, and I love that neighbourhood.

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Photos by Jesse Milns

The best late night breakfast in Toronto offers the furthest thing from fine dining. It seems the later it gets, the greasier these plates become — which is just what you're looking for after 1 a.m. And though your recollection of said breakfasts may be groggy at best, your full (probably too-full) stomach will usually tell you you had a good time.

Here is the list of the best late night breakfast in Toronto.

Want more late night eats? Download our Toronto bars, pubs & late night eats iPhone app.

See also:

The best 24 hour restaurants in Toronto
The best cheap breakfast in Toronto
The best all day breakfast in Toronto

Photo of the Thompson Diner by PJMixer in the blogTO Flickr pool. Top photo of The Grille by Brian Chambers.