Canada

Apple continues to update Apple Maps with additional 3D flyover support for various cities in Canada. Back in March we reported on the addition of 3D flyover for Metro Vancouver and now it appears a recent update has added support for th...
Apple continues to update Apple Maps with additional 3D flyover support for various cities in Canada. Back in March we reported on the addition of 3D flyover for Metro Vancouver and now it appears a recent update has added support for the following cities in Ontario: Richmond Hill Markham Vaughan Woodbridge Mississauga Brampton All of Toronto including Etobicoke and Scarborough There are most likely more cities than this–check your home area and let us know if you see 3D flyover support, then share it with us in the comments. How to test this? Zoom into your city in satellite view, tap the 3D icon and keep zooming–it should turn to a building icon if flyover is available. Thanks Nick! Apple Maps Adds 3D Flyover to Additional Cities in Ontario [LIST] is a post from: iPhone in Canada Blog - Canada's #1 iPhone Resource
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It's been exactly a week since Toronto woke up to the Rob Ford crack cocaine scandal, and so far the mayor has kept his mouth tightly sealed. This morning the Globe and Mail is reporting the mayor's executive committee - the closest thin...
It's been exactly a week since Toronto woke up to the Rob Ford crack cocaine scandal, and so far the mayor has kept his mouth tightly sealed. This morning the Globe and Mail is reporting the mayor's executive committee - the closest thing he has to a cabinet - will release a statement urging him to seek help for his alleged drug addiction while reassuring the public someone is still in charge. "He has a problem, he needs to go get help with it," their source said. Even the Toronto Sun is urging Ford to quit and seek assistance. Can Ford stay silent any longer? Meanwhile, Coun. Paul Ainslie has admitted he was given a formal warning after being stopped at a RIDE checkpoint at Kingston Rd. and Midland Ave. earlier this month. No charges were laid, but Ainslie was required to hand over his license for three days as a result. The councillor admitted the incident at a press conference at City Hall yesterday morning, saying he was drinking wine with dinner. Crackstarter, Gawker's attempt to crowdfund the money to purchase the alleged Rob Ford crack tape, has hit $160,000, just $40,000 shy of the goal amount. In the last day or so someone has pledged a whopping ten grand to the campaign, a donation that Gawker says it will reward with the iPhone that shot the video, if it gets it. In an update on their site, Gawker said it hadn't been in contact with the person who holds possibly the most valuable few seconds of film in the city since Sunday. They say there's a chance the owner has gone to ground due to the intense interest in the story. Do you think the video, if there is one, will ever surface? Presumably not wanting to be outdone in the controversy department, coun. Giorgio Mammoliti has run himself a nice deep bath of hot water. CBC News is reporting he organized a $5,000-a-table fundraiser in Woodbridge on Tuesday night, in apparent breach of city rules about fundraising outside election periods. The funds were sought so he could "keep up the good fight" at City Hall. Mammoliti denies the event was a fundraiser. The light array on atop the Canada Life building on University Ave. is a convenient way of finding out what the weather is doing (or about to do) in Toronto. Most people know the about the weather vein but here's a beautiful old card published by Reddit user oneyeartrip that explains the entire thing. Finally, a minor scuffle between a cellphone user and a moviegoer at Varsity Cinema near Bay and Bloor lead the police getting involved recently. Lani Selick says she told a texter sitting next to her to stop. When he didn't, she put her hand over the screen, an action that lead to the police being called. Neither party decided to press charges. IN BRIEF: No charges as police identify woman who took purse from subway suicide [Toronto Star]Toronto police investigating sexual assault at York University [Toronto Star]Edwin Encarnacion hits grand slam as Toronto Blue Jays beat Orioles [Metro] Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman. Image: Ramith_M/blogTO Flickr pool.
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Photo credit: kandyjaxx | Flickr Once upon a time, city tours highlighted all that was picture perfect about Vancouver: parks and beaches, bustling streets and vibrant shopping, museums and more. But it turns out that showing off the cit...
Photo credit: kandyjaxx | Flickr Once upon a time, city tours highlighted all that was picture perfect about Vancouver: parks and beaches, bustling streets and vibrant shopping, museums and more. But it turns out that showing off the city’s bad side can be just as fun. Over the last few years, a bevy of tours have cropped up that focus on exploring Vancouver’s dark and often tawdry past.  For anyone interested in learning a bit about the city’s dirty laundry, these five tours are wicked good fun: Lost Souls of Gastown: This tour from Forbidden Vancouver harkens back to the late 1800s, when Vancouver was still a violent frontier town.  Guests walk Vancouver’s oldest streets while trained actors in historical dress evoke the chaos of the early city, plagued by cataclysmic fires, smallpox outbreaks, filthy brothels and thuggish gold prospectors.  Learn more.  Vice, Dice and Opium Pipes:  Accompanied by a guide, guests troll the mean streets of Gastown and Chinatown, exploring the one-time opium dens and brothels of Shanghai Alley, learning about daylight murders and uncovering the police corruption scandals of the 1920s.  (This tour is the second coming of the Vancouver Police Museum‘s Sins of the City, which started the “bad” tour craze years ago.)  Learn more.  Prohibition City Tour: On this tour, guests are pressed into service as undercover newspaper reporters in  prohibition-era Vancouver.  When the province officially went dry back in 1917, organized crime and corruption exploded.  While peeking into some of the city’s iconic heritage buildings, visitors are called upon to track down Vancouver’s most infamous mayor, most exotic showgirl and most prolific rum-runner.  Learn more. Secrets of the Penthouse: Ready to venture inside of one of Vancouver’s oldest and most notorious gentlemen’s clubs?  Forbidden Vancouver takes visitors backstage at the Penthouse to hear stories from the club’s longtime owner and even sit in on a live burlesque show.  Since 1947, the club has seen more than its share of drama – from murders and robberies to fires, police raids and even a few visits from Frank Sinatra.  Learn more.   Gastown Craft Beer ‘n Bites Tour: OK, this last tour isn’t quite as dark and sinister as the rest, but it’s still pretty decadent.  In the company of a “passionate beer educator” from Vancouver Food Tours, guests pop into three of Gastown’s finest pubs for samplings of craft beers from Vancouver and beyond.  Drinks are paired with modern gastropub snacks and ample attention is given to the lurid secrets of craft brewing.  Learn more.  Did I miss any other sinful tours of Vancouver? Let me know below.  For more updates on Vancouver and beyond, follow me on Twitter @RemyScalza.
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Summer beer festivals in Toronto present only one problem — because there are so many to choose from, keeping track of them all actually becomes difficult. And, let's face it, you've already got enough on your plate — what wi...
Summer beer festivals in Toronto present only one problem — because there are so many to choose from, keeping track of them all actually becomes difficult. And, let's face it, you've already got enough on your plate — what with picking out the the right tank top and sunglasses to wear while you patio-hop to kill the time between beer festivals. So, to take some of the stress out of our collective beer-drinking schedules this summer, I've compiled a list of the various beer festivals happening in the city so that the biggest decision one has to make is whether or not those slick Wayfarers clash with flip flops. Toronto's Festival of Beer What: The big one. Canada's largest annual beer festival will feature beer from over 60 different worldwide brewers featuring over 200 different brands, in addition to wine, cider, and "ready-to-drink" beverages (i.e. coolers and pre-made cocktails). The event also features a "World of Beer Pavillion" featuring food and beer from one region. Last year the pavillion featured Quebec and this year the pavillion will feature beer from the West Coast of North America, i.e beers from British Columbia, Washington State, California and Oregon (can you say IPA?). When: July 26 - 28 Where: Bandshell Park at The Exhibition Centre How much: $39.50 for each day. Includes five drink tickets, a glass stein, and a guide to the events. (The Saturday event is already sold out, likely because the Spin Doctors will be on the main stage that night. No, seriously.) Pro: There will be thousands of people there to party and drink beer over the three day event. Con: There will be thousands of people there to party and drink beer over the three day event. Toronto Beer Week What: By their own admission, the organizers of Toronto Beer Week are "dedicated to the celebration and advancement of the craft beer movement" so don't expect too much Bud Light or Stella. Instead, the week is actually hundreds of events related to locally made craft beer ranging from beer dinners, tasting events, and homebrew competitions. As the week approaches be sure to check their website for an updated list of events and participating venues. When: September 13 - 21 Where: Various venues across the city. How much: Costs vary per event Pro: There are multiple events happening each night of the week so you're sure to find something going on nearby. Con: There's so many events to choose from it can actually be overwhelming deciding which to attend (We've got you covered though. BlogTO will share our picks for the best bets as TBW approaches). Beach BBQ & Brews Festival What: A ribfest featuring BBQ, live blues, rock, and reggae, kid friendly rides, and a beer garden featuring beverages from Kensington Brewing Company, Beau's All Natural Brewing Co., Black Oak, Flying Monkeys, Mill St. Brewery, Nickel Brook, Great Lakes Brewery, Left Field Brewery, and Hogtown. When: June 14 - 16 Where: Woodbine Park, Coxwell & Lakeshore East How much: Free Pro: For those with kids, a day in the park drinking beer and eating barbecue seems like an ideal way to spend father's day weekend. Con: If you don't live in the Beaches, you're likely looking at least a 30 minute sleepy, beer and rib filled trip back to the nearest subway station. Ontario Craft Beer Week What: The fourth annual tribute to Ontario's independent brewers now features over 30 Ontario Craft Breweries pouring local brew at 150 events in over 50 different Ontario communities. Festivities will include food and beer collaborations, tap takeovers, tasting events, brewery tours, cooking demonstrations, beer dinners, contests and more. The week prior to the festival, we'll feature a comprehensive guide to the events occurring right here in Toronto during the week. When: June 16 - 23 Where: All across Ontario How much: The cost of events varies. Pro: It's 150 beer events across the province! There's going to be at least a few you're interested in.
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Toronto Food Events rounds up the most delicious events: festivals, pop-ups, winemaker dinners, supper clubs and other food related happenings in Toronto this week and next. You can find us here every Friday morning. THIS WEEK Doors ...
Toronto Food Events rounds up the most delicious events: festivals, pop-ups, winemaker dinners, supper clubs and other food related happenings in Toronto this week and next. You can find us here every Friday morning. THIS WEEK Doors open at 5pm at CraveTO happening tonight, Friday, May 24th at the Evergreen Brick Works (550 Bayview Avenue). Tickets are $16.75 if bought by 1pm today and $25 at the door.The Taste of the Food Terminal (165 The Queensway) takes place this Saturday, May 25th from 11am to 3pm. Admission is $10 and offers the chance to tour the terminal and pop-up neighbourhood featuring independent grocers and restaurateurs. Lunch from Food Share is included in the ticket price.Fans of reality television series like Chopped and Iron chef will be interested in Abbey's Kitchen Stadium, the inaugural event of which takes place on Sunday, May 26th and features chefs like Matt Basile of Lisa Marie & Fidel Gastros and Rocco Agostino of Enoteca Sociale & Pizzeria Libretto with James Cunningham of Eat St. playing judge (along with others). Support the Cardiac Health Foundation of Canada's Walk of Life on Sunday, May 26th. Heart Healthy snack options will be provided at the post-walk celebrations by food trucks and a select group of TUM food vendors at Evergreen Brick Works (550 Bayview Avenue) UPCOMING The Depanneur will host an Intro to Cheesemaking with Brad Kurtenbach on Monday, June 3rd at 6:30pm. Tickets are $40 for this hands-on workshop that will demonstrate the fundamentals of cheese making and offer ample opportunity for sampling.Toronto Urban Adventures presents When Pigs Fry, a pork-themed food tour that's set to depart from the steps of Gooderham Flatiron Building (49 Wellington Street East) at 2pm on Sunday, June 2nd. Tickets for the three hour walking tour are $59 and will include stops at 3 local, pork-loving eateries.Tickets for The Stop's Big Night at the Green Barn are on sale now. The event happening Wednesday, June 5th will feature a four-course meal served family style prepared by Toronto chefs. Proceeds from the $200 ticket price support sustainable food production and education programs year round at the Green Barn (601 Christie Street).Tickets are available for the next installment of Jamie Kennedy's Culinary Series happening Friday, June 7th at the Gardiner Museum (111 Queens Park). The Italian themed evening will offer a passed hors d'oeuvre reception and 4-course meal for $150 a head.Tickets are on sale now for The Stop Night Market happening from 7 to 11pm on June 18th and 19th in the Honest Ed's alley (581 Bloor Street). The all-you-can-eat AND drink event will feature different a line-up of vendors each night of this two night event.The Kensington Market Brewing Company celebrates its second anniversary on June 2nd at the Rhino.The Toronto Fringe Festival is hosting a Kitchen Party Fundraiser in support of the 25th running of the fest. You can find details at the main website.Although the full vendor list has yet to be released, TO Food Fest returns on June 23. Keep this one on your radar. Photo of Rome'n Chariot
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This new clothing boutique on Dundas West is filled to the brim with high quality Japanese goods. But, instead of the loud, youthful side of this fashion set that we all know and (subjectively) love, they carry an impressive collection o...
This new clothing boutique on Dundas West is filled to the brim with high quality Japanese goods. But, instead of the loud, youthful side of this fashion set that we all know and (subjectively) love, they carry an impressive collection of sophisticated brands that both look and feel — as the owner describes — like happiness. Read my profile of Blue Button Shop in the fashion section.
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John Malkovich is coming to Toronto. Taking the stage at the Elgin Theatre from June 7th to 9th, Malkovich will be starring in the Giacomo Variations as master scoundrel and seducer Giacomo Casanova. And lucky for you, we want to set you...
John Malkovich is coming to Toronto. Taking the stage at the Elgin Theatre from June 7th to 9th, Malkovich will be starring in the Giacomo Variations as master scoundrel and seducer Giacomo Casanova. And lucky for you, we want to set you up with VIP tickets to the show as well as a private session backstage with Malkovich himself. Get all the contest details and enter here.
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The photos of the week collect each of the editor-selected photos of the day into one post for a contest to be decided by our readers. Sponsored by Posterjack, the photographer whose image receives the most votes will be awarded with a v...
The photos of the week collect each of the editor-selected photos of the day into one post for a contest to be decided by our readers. Sponsored by Posterjack, the photographer whose image receives the most votes will be awarded with a voucher code for a 24"x36" poster print of their work. All the rules and fine-print can be found in the original announcement post on the blogTO Flickr page. One thing to add, however, is that the voting period ends at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, after which the winner will be contacted with the good news. 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! SPECIAL NOTE Due to a repeated photo, last week's poll has been reset to zero and opened for another week of voting. Although there was a landslide victor, the playing field wasn't even based on error that I made, so I'd ask you to take a second and re-vote. Thank you. Also noteworthy is that I'm currently working through backlog of voucher codes. If you've yet to receive your prize, you should by Monday. Lead photo by James Napier 2. Photo by Javin Lau in the blogTO Flickr pool 3. Photo by Acid_Punk in the blogTO Flickr pool 4. Photo by mcdux in the blogTO Flickr pool 5. Photo by .enKay in the blogTO Flickr pool 6. Photo by Scott Irving in the blogTO Flickr pool. 7. Photo by Jack Landau in the blogTO Flickr pool
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Things seem to be going from bad to worse inside Rob Ford's house of cards. News broke yesterday that the mayor had abruptly fired loyal ally and chief of staff Mark Towhey, and now we might know why. Towhey had the gall to ask Ford to "...
Things seem to be going from bad to worse inside Rob Ford's house of cards. News broke yesterday that the mayor had abruptly fired loyal ally and chief of staff Mark Towhey, and now we might know why. Towhey had the gall to ask Ford to "'go away and get help." According to both the CBC and the Toronto Sun, the mayor's former right hand man urged him to seek help. Towhey reportedly called a meeting of the mayor's inner circle after Friday's PFLAG raising to present several options for a way forward, including what could be interpreted as a call for his resignation and entry into a drug rehabilitation program. Ford "laughed off" the idea, according to anonymous sources. Things apparently boiled over yesterday when Towhey told the mayor to abandon plans for a farewell pizza party aimed at the Don Bosco Eagles squad because it risked bringing the kids into the scandal and consuming staff resources. On his way out of City Hall, Towhey told reporters he wouldn't speak as to what he had told Rob Ford or the details of his dismissal. Ford also declined to give a reason in the statement announcing the departure of his top aide. Can Ford continue when even those close to him appear to be urging him to step down? Will Towhey's departure stabilize the ship? Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman. Photo by BruceK in the blogTO Flickr pool
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Well, that was some week in city politics, huh? In the news: Towhey fired for urging Rob Ford to go to rehab; Gawker's Crackstarter campaign hits a significant snag; the mayor's executive committee apparently has a plan; gay-straight all...
Well, that was some week in city politics, huh? In the news: Towhey fired for urging Rob Ford to go to rehab; Gawker's Crackstarter campaign hits a significant snag; the mayor's executive committee apparently has a plan; gay-straight alliances are still allowed at Catholic schools; and another councillor cops to impaired driving. According to multiple reports, Mayor Rob Ford surprise firing of chief of staff Mark Towhey came because Towhey had been advising him to go to rehab and “get help.” Things came to a head on Wednesday night, as Towhey refused the mayor’s request to organize a party for the Don Bosco football team, just after Ford was fired as that team’s coach. Urging the mayor not to involve others in this situation, Towhey allegedly told Ford “You need to go away, you need to deal with your problem.” At that point Ford reportedly became irate and told his advisor to leave, confirming his dismissal on Thursday afternoon. Meanwhile, Gawker posted an update last night on its Crackstarter campaign, which aims to raise $200,000 to purchase the video it says shows Mayor Ford smoking crack cocaine. The first item of note is that the campaign has now raised more than $160,000, including a single donation of $10,000. The second is that Gawker has not heard from the men offering the video for sale since Sunday, and editor John Cook is now concerned that the footage may no longer be attainable. If that weren’t enough news on this whole matter, the Globe and Mail reports that the mayor’s executive committee is preparing to intervene and publicly call on Ford to address the allegations. Ford’s closest allies are preparing a statement that is expected to be released today—in addition to asking the mayor to speak, it will attempt to reassure Torontonians that City Hall business is proceeding despite the situation with Ford. Now, on to different news! Yes, there are other things happening in the city right now. For example, Toronto Catholic District School Board trustees rejected a motion yesterday to ban gay-straight alliances in their schools. The motion was put forward by trustee Garry Tanuan, who argued that the constitution protects the right of Catholic schools to ban the clubs—this even though Ontario law says that the alliances must be allowed. The motion was rejected by a vote of seven to four. Finally, news that another Toronto politician dealt with an impairment-related incident recently, though this one is likely to garner far less U.S. media attention: Councillor Paul Ainslie (Ward 43, Scarborough East) told reporters at a press conference yesterday that he was stopped by police three weeks ago at a RIDE spot check and given a warning over the level of alcohol in his blood. His license was automatically suspended for three days, but he isn’t facing any charges.
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