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Radar: 6th Annual Erotic Arts and Crafts Fair, SHAG, City and Colour, Bob Marley Tribute, Fright Nights, Will You Be My Valentine?, Sunday Scene, ORGANized

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 03:00:00 -0500

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11TH

ART | Sixth Annual Erotic Arts and Craft Fair
Come As You Are, TO's favourite sex shop, is holding its 6th Annual Erotic Arts and Crafts Fair, today at the Gladstone! Valentine's Day isn't just about the heart, after all. As you will discover at this show, the are a few other organs and body parts of note involved as well! Crafters, zine publishers, artists, card makers and more will be displaying their work for sale. A quick glance at the event's website will reveal that this is one craft show that isn't for the faint of heart or the 'prudish' in nature: these artists are celebrating sexuality in big way! You might just find a special gift for someone that could make your Valentine's Day a very happy one!
The Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen Street West) 12PM to 8PM

PARTY | cirQlar & Cherry Bomb present "SHAG" featuring The Funk Hunters!
A meeting of different worlds? Possibly. Tonight's "Shag" event at The Great Hall is being put together by a few different camps: a TO funk contingent, Cherry Bomb (known as a "[l]egendary queer-friendly dance party"), and CirQlar - producers of regular Burningman-esque circus oriented "happenings." Tonight, you will enjoy DJ General Eclectic, live music from local eight-piece band The Soul Motivators, Farbsie Funk, The Funk Hunters, and Skank Honto. They will occupy the main space, and a special Cherry Bomb room will feature sets from Denise Benson, Cozmic Cat, and more! This one could be Shagadelic.
The Great Hall (1087 Queen West) 9PM $25

MUSIC | Bob Marley Tribute w/ Kidd Rasta, I-Sax, Chocolate & Roots
The sixth annual Bob Marley Tribute goes down tonight at the Elmo! February 6th was BM's official B-day, but that date always brings about a stretch of celebration, and since this is the first weekend after the fact... We be jammin'! Tonight you can groove with Kidd Rasta & The Peacemakers, I-Sax, High Plains Drifter, and some special guests. DJ Chocolate and Patrick Roots (both of CIUT-FM) will be in the house. In the spirit of the occasion, everyone is encouraged to bring a canned food donation for reduced cover at the door.
El Mocambo (464 Spadina Avenue) 9PM $15 ($10 w/ canned food donation)

FILM | Fright Nights: Karloff vs Lugosi "The Black Cat"
"Fright Nights" is a monthly film series at The Projection Booth East, with a focus on the macabre, screening both vintage and new horror films. Tonight, two short films will begin the festivities: Yaz Rabadi's "Inside" an 'internal' psychodrama that was screened at Cannes, and Syl Disjonk's "Ethereal Chrysalis," a short film featured at last year's Toronto After Dark festival. The main feature is "The Black Cat", a 1934 horror classic starring two masters of the genre: Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff. Tonight's host will be local film writer, Kelly Stewart.
Projection Booth - East (1035 Gerrard Street East) 8:30PM

OTHER EVENTS ON OUR SATURDAY RADAR

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12TH

MUSIC | FWB Presents: Will You Be My Valentine?
Friends With Benefits brings you a Valentine's Day show a few days before the fact. This three band lineup promises to be interesting indeed. The Holy Gasp is a percussion driven group featuring beatnik-style poetry, to help you get your Kerouac on! Also on the bill: Rambunctious, a nine-piece horn ensemble that will surprise you! Their dark groove will get people dancing, truly evoking both a New Orleans voodoo and party vibe - things can go from hypnotic to celebratory! Jumple complete the lineup here with their eclectic sound, including Eastern European gypsy sounds and rock energy. Should be fun!
Lula Lounge (1585 Dundas West) 8PM $8

ART | Sunday Scene with David Balzer
If you have never been to a Sunday Scene at The Power Plant, it's a chance to get a different take on the the gallery's current offerings from someone knowledgeable in the art world. Today's speaker is David Balzer, a Toronto writer who specializes in art and film. His writing has appeared on Artforum.com, The Globe and Mail, and other places of note. There is no better way to compliment and enhance your visit to the gallery's current exhibitions than an informative talk like this. Sunday Scene is always free with gallery admission.
The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery ((231 Queens Quay West) 1:30PM

MUSIC | Don't Touch That Dial Presents: Crooked Hill, Patti Cake and Mittenz
Don't Touch That Dial has a happening lineup of music for you this evening at The Garrison! It's a triple-bill, with the angsty and edgy, female fronted Crooked Hill headlining. Also on the bill is Patty Cake, a band with a total throwback vibe reminiscent of VU or Shocking Blue. The opening slot tonight goes to Mittenz. As a special bonus, those who RSVP via the Facebook event will have a personalized Valentine waiting for them at the venue containing a download code for a special "loving mixtape". Now that's good 2012 music marketing!
The Garrison (1197 Dundas Street West) 7:30PM $7

MUSIC | Continuum presents ORGANized
Tonight's concert finds Continuum's ensemble working with pieces by Richard Marsella, Petar Klanac, and Michael Oesterle. This concert intends to explore music in a 'mechanized' setting: self-driven devices, and even those with a degree of human interaction, such as the 'crank organ' will be taken into consideration here. Both Ligeti's Continuum and a commissioned by Brian Current will complete the concert's program.
The Music Gallery (197 John Street) 8PM $25 / $15 seniors-students-members

OTHER EVENTS ON OUR SUNDAY RADAR

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

For Toronto movie showtimes, view our Movie Listings section.

Photo by Dimitri Karakostas in the blogTO Flickr pool

Geometry in the Lobby

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:11:00 -0500

Photo by jamesbf in the blogTO Flickr pool

The Eaton Centre turns 35 years old

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:00:00 -0500

The Eaton Centre, everyone's favourite urban eyesore, has reached the ripe old age of 35. That might be a harsh way to start off an anniversary toast — particularly given all the efforts to make our monumental downtown shopping mall more friendly to the street — but it comes from an affectionate place. Even if the idea to plop down a massive, inward-oriented shopping mall in the heart of the city seems strange today, back in the 1970s this type of planning was all the rage — and that gives the place a certain historical quality that's survived the numerous changes to its facade.

Beyond that, the Eaton Centre has always been a rather fabulous building on the inside. With its vaulted glass ceiling and multiple levels, it's always struck me as a futuristic version of the long-lost Yonge Street Arcade, which was located down the street at Temperance until its demolition in the mid 1950s. In this regard the building has in fact aged quite well. Scrolling through photos of the galleria, only the retail signage distinguishes between the contemporary and vintage images. Well, that and the fact that Eaton's itself no longer exists.

We've already written about how the mall came to be, what it might have looked like if the Eaton family's original plans came to be and about the snazzy new food court, so today let's keep it light and celebratory. Unlike Ontario place, Eberhard Zeidler's downtown shopping mall is still going strong at 35. Here's a little collection of photos and videos of the Eaton Centre over the years. Suffice it to say, the building has aged more gracefully than its representation in television commercials.

PHOTOS

Yonge Street before the Eaton Centre

At night, late 1970s (via Damon Schreiber)

Postcard 1970s (via Chuckman's blog)

Yonge & Queen 1980s (via Canada Good)

1990s (via the Toronto Archives)

VIDEOS (via Retronatrio)

Eaton Centre 1983

Food Court commercial 1984

Fashion in 1984

More fashion, this time in 1986

The Centre of it all 1989

Lead image from the Ontario Archives

Beloved Leslieville coffee shop returns

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:44:00 -0500

It's back. Sort of. And residents didn't have too much time to mourn. After picking up and moving north following a five-year go in Leslieville, this coffee shop is back in a new space on Dundas East. And it's pretty much just how you remember it (but with more flowers).

Read my profile of Red Rock (Logan) in the cafes section.

Street Style: In honour of National Sweater Day

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:07:00 -0500

Name: Patrick
Occupation: Student
My Style: Whatever is around.
Favourite Item: My Shoes.

Name: Brian
Occupation: Student
My Style: Urban, I guess.
Favourite Item: My chain.

Name: Molly
Occupation: History Student
My Style: Uh, like this.
Favourite Item: These pants from Topshop.

Name: Andrew
Occupation: Hospitality
My Style: I'm not too sure... causal.
Favourite Item: I would say the blazer.

Name: David
Occupation: Shipper and Receiver
My Style: Comfortable.
Favourite Item: I really like this sweater.

Name: Mat
Occupation: Student
My Style: I just wear what I like.
Favourite Item: The shoes. They're really comfortable.

Name: Ryan
Occupation: Student
My Style: I don't know.
Favourite Item: Probably this jacket.

Name: Susan
Occupation: Student
My Style: Whatever I like.
Favourite Item: My sweater.

This Street Style was compiled in honour of National Sweater Day, though — in fairness — not everyone was aware of the festivities.

A new candidate for best delivery pizza in Toronto

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:27:15 -0500

Toronto is blessed with many things, consensus on transit planning and a wealth of quality pizza delivery options are not among them. But there is hope — at least in the latter category. Recently opened in Mimico, this delivery-focused restaurant bridges the gap between super thin-crusted Neapolitan offerings and the dough-bombs that many parlours pawn off as pizza.

Read my review of FBI Pizza in the restaurants section.

What do you think of the redesign plans for John St?

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:32:00 -0500

The John Street revitalization project has been in the works for years and with a great deal of recent Toronto news devoted to the transit planning war, the final staff recommendations have flown a bit under the radar. On February 6, the finished study put forward a list of recommendations for the "cultural corridor" between Queen and Front streets.

The stated priority of the nearly $30 million redevelopment effort is to beautify the street and to improve pedestrian accessibility by way of widened sidewalks and urban design elements like removable bollards for event-based closures of the street to vehicular traffic.

Bike lanes are not recommended as part of the redesign — an absence that some will find dissatisfactory. Staff argue that the mountable curb — a key component of the redesign — will get delivery trucks out of the way and that traffic calming measures will reduce speeds on the street, but it remains to be seen whether or not John will actually be cycling-friendly if the recommended plans are adopted.

Highlights of the proposed plan can be found below (for the full report, check here). The Public Works and Infrastructure Committee will meet on Feb. 15 to consider the study. Should it ultimately be endorsed, the makeover would be completed in time for the Pan Am Games. What do you think of the designs?

Key recommendations from the staff report:

The narrowing of the road pavement in order to provide significantly wider sidewalks
Exclusive right turning lanes northbound at Adelaide Street West and at Wellington Street West and a southbound left turn lane at Wellington Street West in order to maintain an adequate level of traffic service
A continuous "mountable" curb on both sides of the street to enable a seamless transition into a pedestrian-only space for events, for vehicles to mount the flexible boulevard for deliveries or drop-offs, and to accommodate additional vehicular and cycling manoeuvring on either side of the road in emergencies
The widening of the east side boulevard between Front Street West and Stephanie Street to provide a 2.5 metre wide flexible space (defined by bollards) to accommodate deliveries and, when not used for vehicular loading/unloading, for pedestrians
The provision of urban design elements which consist of a double row of trees where feasible, removable bollards, infrastructure to support special events and distinctive paving materials and patterns.

Lead image from the City's staff report

A brief history of the Rossin House Hotel

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:21:00 -0500

In the 1850s, despite two brief terms as capital of the Province of Canada, the fledgling town of York was really just a collection of medium-sized businesses and homes with big ambitions. What many felt the community lacked at this stage in its development was a first class, luxury hotel to cater for visitors with money to spare.

Often described as "palace hotels", most North American cities had at least one well appointed, oppulant accommodation decked out with the latest comforts. At the time, the Sword's Hotel and American Hotel on Front Street were the most popular choice for visitors with the money to be looked after.

In February 1855, Charles and Marcus Rossin, successful jewellers and land speculators, bought a plot of land on the southeast corner of King and York with plans to build a truly palatial hotel worthy of the town's up and coming status.

When York's official surveyor and engineer, John George Howard, declined to design the building the Rossins held a competition to find a stylish look for their new business. Open to American and Canadian architects, designs were submitted from as far away as New York and Baltimore but the winning entry came from Buffalo and a Mr. Otis.Started during a building boom, construction began slowly on the Rossin House Hotel due to a lack of builders in the city. By the time shovels broke ground a new designer, William Kauffman of Rochester, had taken over the project and added many fire safety features to the plans. Kauffman had included cast iron exterior details and a special load bearing system to the building when the hotel was completed and opened in May 1857.

Built to include an interior courtyard with lush gardens and a babbling fountain, the hotel's main rooms with tall windows and nineteen-foot ceilings were on the second floor above the stores facing King and York streets. Several deluxe suites and drawing rooms were also included in the floor plan for society's crème de la crème to entertain.

All guests of the Rossin House Hotel, deluxe suite or otherwise, could expect to sleep in well-ventilated, heated comfort with access to both hot and cold water (it's amazing what constituted luxury back in the day). In the dining room, thanks to a surviving menu, we know hearty staples like cold tongue, corned beef, ham and mutton were on offer alongside more exotic dishes like "Oyster Patties-French Style" and "Veal Currie-East India Style."

The wine and spirit list boasted pricey bottles of Moët & Chandon Green Seal and Roederer's Carte Blanche for guests prepared to splash the cash.Prior to its completion, the hotel, one of the tallest in York, was used to take the first panoramic photograph of the city. The low-rise, residential community in the pictures is practically unrecognisable as Toronto save for the presence of Osgoode and St. Lawrence Halls. For this reason the series, taken by Armstrong, Beere and Hime, provides one of the best glimpses at our humble beginnings and is available in its entirety in the City of Toronto Archives.

In November 1862, just five years after the hotel's grand opening, William Kauffman's fire safety additions paid dividends when the building was completely gutted, leaving only the exterior walls standing. All but one of the guests and staff managed to escape the building safely, a testimony to the multitude of stairways and dedicated cold water supply for firefighters available on the site.

With the Rossin House a smouldering wreck, the Rossins abandoned their hotel business and ownership of the site fell to James G. Chewett who embarked on a slow rebuilding process through 1863 and 1864. William Kauffman, who was retained as the designer, made very few changes to his original plans and the restored hotel opened again on the 1st August, 1867.Over the next sixty years the Rossin House gradually lost its appeal as a luxury destination, slowly falling behind the times in terms of features compared to the newer Royal York and King Edward hotels.

In the early 1900s the Rossin House was sold and renamed the Prince George. It saw various uses until it was demolished in 1969. Were it still standing today, the Rossin House would be on the site of the Standard Life Centre opposite Exchange Tower.

For more on the Rossin House Hotel and the panorama photographs, see William Dendy's Lost Toronto.

Lead Rossin House Drawing, 1870, Archives of Ontario. Rossin House Postcard, 1910, and Burning of the Rossin House, 1890, Toronto Public Library.
Rossin House Advert and all other images City of Toronto Archives.

This Week in Comedy: Don't Get Bored Of Us And Leave, Jason Laurans, Chris Molineux, Laugh Sabbath, and Touch My Stereotype's Roast Of Dan Ramos

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:11:00 -0500

Light rail, subway...whatever man. Let's put our differences aside and have fun! And by fun I mean watch a slew of comedians roast their friend who's just trying to make his dreams come true.

TUES FEB 21 / DON'T GET BORED OF US AND LEAVE / THE OSSINGTON / 61 OSSINGTON AVE / 9PM / FREE

Sara Hennessy (Much Music), Adam Christie (Yuk Yuk's), Mark Little (PicnicFace on Comedy Network)...wowzers. I adore this tight-knit group because they're not your typical premise-punchline-tag comedians. Sara Hennessy's energy is infectious. Adam Christie isn't himself until he turns his back on the crowd mid-performance. Mark Little's digressions will kill you everytime. Look, if you aren't captivated by Kathleen Philip's subtle facial quirks (see above clip), we can't be friends anymore.

WED FEB 14 - SUN FEB 19 / JASON LAURANS feat. MARTHA O'NEILL / ABSOLUTE COMEDY / 2335 YONGE STREET / 8PM / $6-15

Jason Laurans owns the Absolute Comedy bar in Ottawa. The club has gotten so popular that up and coming Toronto comedians have been visiting Ottawa on a regular basis to do open mic spots - that's saying something considering four and a half out of every five comedians in Toronto don't drive. Opening for Jason is Martha O'Neill, who's been everywhere from Q107's, 'Funniest Comedian With A Day Job' to Slice Network, CBC, and even BBC.

WED FEB 15 - SUN FEB 19 / CHRISTOPHER MOLINEUX / YUK YUK'S / 224 RICHMOND W / 8PM / $11.50-20

Let's change gears here a bit. And by change gears, I mean take a look at a show that doesn't involve comedians coughing to start their set, troupes that make viral videos spoofing The Human Centipede, or making fun of a guy as he's about to pursue his dreams. Chris Molineux has seemingly done it all, from sharing the stage with Jerry Seinfeld to appearing on Just for Laughs.

THURS FEB 16 / CBC'S LOL: GILSON LUBIN AND DAVE MERHEJE feat. ALI HASSAN / GLENN GOULD STUDIO / $250 Front W / 8pm / $25

CBC's LOL has a powerhouse line-up for us. Gilson Lubin has opened for Dave freakin' Chappelle. Dave Merheje was 2011's Just For Laugh's Homegrown Winner. Ali Hassan's no slouch either, having graced the stage in Canada, the US, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Each comedian on this bill has a style and story of their own. Gilson chauffeurs his dates on the TTC. Dave Merheje's staccato style leaves you breathless. Heck, Ali's a chef with stepkids. What more do you want?

SAT FEB 18 / THE ROAST OF DAN RAMOS / COMEDY BAR / 945 BLOOR W / 10:30PM / $10

I dare you to watch the entire clip. This is a special show for the featured comedy troupe, 'Touch My Stereotype.' Dan Ramos, an original member, is leaving for New York to pursue his dreams of making it big in stand-up comedy. So how do they send him off? A roast, naturally. Believe me when I say this: there's NOTHING more entertaining for an audience than seeing comedians roast their friends. They've seen each other's acts, know each other's tendencies, and that makes the roasting atmosphere electric.

About the Author: This is Michael Jagdeo, and I refuse to write about myself in the third-person. I blog regularly about trials and tribulations of passing the just noticeable difference threshold in Toronto's comedy scene.

Morning Brew: Provincial leaders won't defy council on transit, another embarrassing NOW photoshop job, the pandas are coming, and the City and CUPE reach settlement

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:03:00 -0500

Premier Dalton McGuinty is denied Rob Ford's claim that the province wants subways in spite of city council's wishes. McGuinty, along with Ontario's Transportation Minister, Bob Chiarelli, said he felt compelled to comment after hearing Ford claims that the province would ignore Wednesday's council's vote and proceed with the mayor's transit plans anyway.

Oh, NOW. Sure, Rob Ford doesn't seem to be winning any popularity contests right now (except, perhaps, on late night subway rides, but photoshopping a gun to his head? Even Adam Giambrone distanced himself from the image that accompanied his article. Note well: poor taste ≠ "fierce independence."

That baby polar bear should enjoy all the attention while it lasts because next year he'll be old news once panda-monium hits the zoo. Yes, that's right, the Toronto Zoo will welcome two Chinese panda bears in 2013 for a five-year stay and apparently tax payers won't be on the hook for their sabbatical either since officials predict a minimum $5-million profit from the attraction.

And, according to a press release, "The City of Toronto and Toronto Civic Employees' Union Local 416 (CUPE), which represents the City's 6,000 outside workers and paramedics, signed a Memorandum of Settlement today at 3:15 p.m. confirming the terms of the tentative agreement announced by the parties on February 5." A ratification vote is scheduled for February 13th.

So it looks like a server at Bloorcourt's Three Speed might have had a little fun when writing up a check. Unless their baked eggs really are that fucking great. Are they?

IN BRIEF:

Photo by APTA_2050 in the blogTO Flickr pool

Radar: King Street Alt Film Festival, "Maybe" Chapbook Launch, Know Love, ElektroTank, Wendy Versus, Julian Hacquebard, Jon Epworth

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:00:00 -0500

FILM | King Street Alt Film Festival
Just when you thought Toronto had its fill of film festivals, the King Street Alt Film Festival comes along. This small grassroots filmfest will focus on short narrative and experimental films by local artists and in honour of its inaugural year, the Audience Favourite winner from the 2011 Toronto Spring 24 Hour Film Challenge, The Trial, will be screened. The festival is one night only and it will all take place in Corktown on, as its name suggests, King East.
Betty's (240 King Street East) 8PM Free

LITERATURE | "Maybe" by Jacqueline Valencia Chapbook Launch
Maybe: A simple word that can have so many underlying meanings when spoken. What does it mean when someone responds with a "Maybe"? Local editor Jacqueline Valencia has compiled a collection of short stories, poetry and images that address this presumably effortless word and its many contexts and she invites the public to join in on an evening where artists will gather to read, share and discuss her work. Taking place at College Street's latest coffee shop, Playful Grounds, any writers or poets in attendance are encouraged to share their latest works to add to the discussion of the many facets of one small word. "Maybe" is free to download from the author's website but hard copies will be available at the event.
Playful Grounds (605 College Street) 6:30PM Free

LITERATURE | KNOW LOVE Book Launch
Even street artists need love and with Valentine's Day just a week away, LE Gallery will play host to the book launch of KNOW LOVE in honour of the day o'love. Written and illustrated by acclaimed Toronto street artist Elicser, who goes by the name of Elicser Elliott by day, this children's book contains a collection of the artist's images matched with words about the sweet simplicity of love. Wine will be served to guests who come out for the launch and copies will be available for purchase.
LE Gallery (1183 Dundas West) 7PM Free

MUSIC | TWM: ElektroTank, Wendy Versus, Julian Hacquebard, Jon Epworth
It's Friday at the Rancho and a line-up of local music has been arranged for your listening pleasure. The night will start out with Halifax native Jon Epworth, an indie folksy type who will play an acoustic set of his self-written, produced and engineered music for his first performance at the Rancho. Julian Hacquebard will follow with some psych-folk experimental sounds with the debut show of pop act Wendy Versus immediately after. ElektroTank, the brainchild of musical genius Eytan Tobin, will close out the show with a triple threat act of dubstep, electronica and trip-hop music. As always, the show is $7 at the door with music starting at 10PM.
Rancho Relaxo (300 College Street) 9PM $7

OTHER EVENTS ON OUR RADAR:

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

For Toronto movie showtimes, view our Movie Listings section.

Photo by greyvdm in the blogTO Flickr pool

Subway Entry

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:57:00 -0500

Photo by tapesonthefloor in the blogTO Flickr pool

Where to get decent AYCE sushi in Little Italy

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:53:00 -0500

This sushi joint has taken up residence in the space that formerly housed both Sushi Haru and Asa Sushi. Subjected to the sophisticated series of tests that I conduct whenever I visit an AYCE joint, I'm pleased to report that the latest incarnation of the restaurant passed with good marks.

Read my review of Sashimi Island in the restaurants section.

How to lease a car in Toronto

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:40:00 -0500

Leasing a car in Toronto is perhaps the best option for those who can't stand the idea of sticking with the same car for more than four years. You can generally forget about the cost of general maintenance repairs, as most warranties provide coverage for the duration of the lease, though you'll never really own the car outright (unless, of course, you choose to buy the car after the term ends). Leasing can also come with certain restrictions, such as the number of kilometres you can drive each year, though the zero down payment does allow for a certain, lots-of-new-tech-toys-type of freedom in its own right. Here are the steps to finding a lease that works for you:

Decide on the length of your lease

Generally speaking, the longer the lease, the lower the monthly payments. The trouble with signing on for a longer lease, however, is should you would want to terminate early, you may be faced with costly penalties. Most leases in Toronto are generally between two to four years.

Estimate your costs

There's the pen and paper method for those who remember their sixth grade math, though an expedited option is to use an online lease calculator. There are plenty of resources to tap on the web, including this tool by Drive.ca, and many car manufacturer as well offer their own calculators right on their websites. Once you have a better idea of cost, you can decide on the precise type of car you want to lease.

Shop around

Just like when buying a new car, you might get a different offer from one dealership to the next. (Or else, you might decide to bypass the dealerships altogether and head straight to a broker or smaller leasing operation.) It's best to visit various dealerships to get a feel for your options before making a commitment or composing a short list. Get your paperwork in order (gap insurance, license, etc.) before heading to the dealership for a test drive.

Test drive and negotiate

Try not to swoon at the smell of your new car. Work to get the best rate possible before signing the lease contract, after which you'll be locked in. Keep in mind potential additional (hidden) costs such as acquisition fees.

Keep it beautiful

Eventually, you will have to return the car to the dealer (again, unless you decide to buy) so try to keep the car in the best shape possible. That means taking it in for regular maintenance and adequately prepping for winter. Still, if you do want to give up your lease early, there are a variety of companies that work in the GTA (Lease Busters, Lease Experts, Easy Release, etc.) to free you from your lease before the end of your term, usually by finding a new lessee. Of course, there's always the option of you yourself becoming that lessee, which is an especially attractive opportunity for those looking for the shortest lease term possible.

A big thanks to the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic for sponsoring the blood, sweat, tears and elbow grease that went into writing this post.

Photo by Benson Kua in the blogTO Flickr pool

Toronto office buildings set to get local food markets

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:34:00 -0500

The Toronto Office Markets are a recent project by Alimentary Initiatives designed to bring locally grown food to the lobbies of office buildings. Artisan market in style, different vendors will sell their goods to the employees and guests of the office. Offering a range of freshly baked breads, cheeses, produce, and ready-to-eat items like samosas and raw pizza, the concept offers food for now and later.

In other words, you can grab something for lunch as well as some bread, soup, veggies and cheese for dinner tonight. "We don't want people to be 'food sleuths,'" Aruna Handa, the head of Alimentary Initiatives tells me, "we want to bring food to where people already go. We're trying to make local, organic food convenient."

Currently, the project is still in its pilot stage at the Center for Social Innovation's Spadina and Bathurst locations, but on March 8th, the farm fresh markets will make their first office lobby debut at ING Direct — in the heart of the financial district. Handa sees the project as "win-win-win" and it's hard not to agree with her: since AI does not charge for the service, offices get the market with no financial investment, the employees gain convenient access to local food, and the vendors have to opportunity to increase their sales and profile.

The group is serious about reducing the "triple bottom line" (environmental, social and economic costs) that large chains like Loblaw's ignore by using single providers, thereby cutting out local growers. And while Toronto-grown garlic, for example, might be priced higher than garlic from overseas, most of us are now aware that the difference is usually paid with the cost of emissions.

Handa believes that through initiatives like the Toronto Office Markets, the local food economy can be transformed into a more sustainable model in which residents have easier access to fresh food from nearby farmers and proprietors. While that plan is rather ambitious in its goals, the drive to bring these products directly to consumers is surely a good start.

Additional Photos:

Photos taken at the Centre for Social Innovation's Bathurst location