Photo by aardvark from the Torontoist Flickr Pool. Transit vehicles are being diverted and streets have been closed near Queen and Bathurst as firefighters battle a six-alarm blaze this morning. The fire broke out about 5 a.m. and spread through eight low-rise buildings on the south side of Queen, consisting of fourteen addresses between Bathurst and Portland. The destroyed block contained commercial properties Suspect Video, Duke's Cycle, National Sound, Preloved, the Jupiter head shop,......

Torontoist Environment Editor Chris Tindal is currently engaged in a federal by-election campaign. This weekly column is an attempt to offer a behind the scenes glimpse into what it's like to be that mysterious Other: a politician. Last night was our first public all-candidates debate in this campaign. Hosted by the Bay Corridor Community Association in the Sutton Place Hotel, it was extremely well attended by an engaged audience. For those of us who recognize......

Does the image at right strike fear into your soul? You may be in luck, because this weekend local activists The Fat Femme Mafia host Dunk Your Chunk, a fat-positive swim event. The duo, comprised of Chelsey Lichtman and Liz Brockest, have hosted other fat-related events, including dance performances, workshops, and a fat cabaret that featured only performers of size. They've also been known to do some tagging from time to time. The event is......

Toronto councillor Paula Fletcher wants Toronto Public Health to officially categorize bedbugs as a "health hazard," as opposed to their current status, "nuisance,"—that's not a joke; "nuisance" is apparently the official term—after our dear city has seen a recent upsurge in the pests. And for all you folks living in highrises, don't get too smug, because it seems "there is no community that hasn't been affected." Fletcher is also urging officials to implement a bedbug......

From mid-September through year-end, all City Community Centres will be closed on Mondays. Skating rinks won't open until January. Fewer potholes will be repaired. Snow won't be cleared unless there is at least 15 cm of it (the current minimum is 8 cm). New materials from Public Health will only be available in English. Welcome to the new Toronto, where you get what you (and the provincial and federal governments) pay for—or won't get what......

This Sunday is the third annual St. James Town Festival, which begins at 10 a.m. outside of the Wellesley Community Centre at the corner of Wellesley and Sherbourne. At least, it's supposed to. But festival organizers claim that an unexpected and hefty bill from the city has left the event in jeopardy. For those of you unfamiliar with St. James Town, it's home to approximately 19,000 people living in a four-block radius, and is Canada's......

Each week, Torontoist chooses the most interesting cases from the Toronto Police Service crime blotter. All charges are alleged until proven under law. • An investigation is underway about a man posing as a police officer who is allegedly stealing personal belongings in the Entertainment District. The guy apparently uses imitation police equipment to gain entry into clubs, then steals unattended purses and mobile phones. Real cops are mandated to carry specific identification, which they......

Happy December Torontoist readers! The LCBO will start charging an extra 10- or 20-cent deposit on wine and spirit bottles in February in order to encourage recycling. Bottles can be returned to The Beer Store along with your Red Cap empties. Save up enough of them and those bottles can be recycled right back into your hand, chilled and containing a delicious elixer of satisfaction that you are doing your part for the environment. A......

Okay Adbusters, we get that it's Buy Nothing Day, but what's the harm in supporting some local designers and craftistas who make their own merchandise from the comfort of their hip Cabbagetown apartments? This evening from 7-10 PM, Six Shooter Gallery is hosting the launch of Twitch Design's winter line. Designer Sarah Doucet isn't just sister to alt-country rocker Luke Doucet, but a jewelry maven whose creations are best described as "handcrafted art pieces-de-resistance". And......

Here we go. The biggest week of the year for book lovers, the International Festival of Authors, is upon us. Torontoist will have extensive coverage of this year’s IFOA. For now, here are a few non-IFOA events taking place this week. Monday Tonight, you have the choice of heading over to the Smiling Buddha Bar – 961 College – for this week’s Freedom Readings, starting at 6pm (and free) or checking out Margaret MacMillan......

Tsk, tsk. Late two weeks in a row. Someone needs a good spanking. Next week we'll get our act together and put Torontoist before busy schedules and get this puppy out on time. Pinky swear. As always, let us know in the comments section if you're heading to any good shows that we missed. Particularly for this Thursday...we need some hot action that night. Recently Announced Sept. 11 - M Ward @ Mod Club, $16.50......

Free food, Prizes PEACE PROJECT SHOWCASE Date: August 18, 2006 Time: 4pm - 8pm Where: Eastview Community Centre KEEP THE PEACE NOT THE HEAT For more information call The Students Commission at 416.597.8297 PEACE Public Education And Crime Eradication Free food, Prizes This is layered. The P.E.A.C.E. Project is an initiative of the Toronto Police Service and is supported by funding from the provincial government. From the Peace Project website: This comprehensive initiative targets gun......

We here at Torontoist support live independent music wherever and whenever it's being played (well almost). We feel incredibly blessed to live in a city with so many cheap and bookable live venues and great bands to fill those said venues. So when we heard that the poor kids in Brantford might be losing the Ford Plant, one of that town's better spaces, we were a bit dismayed. In a bit of scene solidarity a......

Although this past Wednesday was officially International Women's Day, the city will be celebrating it in style this Saturday (presumably to cash in on the sunny weather). The International Women's Day rally begins at 11 am at the OISE building, 252 Bloor W. and will include music, speakers and entertainment. The march itself, beginning at 1pm, is being led by UNITE HERE Hotel Worker's Rising (T.Oist posted about their feminist rally earlier this week.......