Your reaction to snow depends on the circumstances. The frequency of dumps the city has received so far this year has caused grumbling about blocked streets, dirty mounds higher than the average citizen and many a wish for spring to speed up its arrival. Conversely, as long as the roads outside the city are passable, lovebirds, families and outdoor enthusiasts looking for an escape from the city have headed up to Muskoka resorts like......

Happy Family Day! Happy, that is, unless you're part of the seemingly endless parade of business owners, executives, police officers, parents, people who have to work today, cynics, bitter old men, or plain old ne'er-do-wells in general who believe that Family Day is going to ruin life—and, more importantly, the economy—as we know it. Well, buck up, kiddo. It's just not that bad. Just how curmudgeonly do you have to be to focus your......

Torontoist is ending the year by naming our Heroes and Villains of 2007––the people, places, and things that we've either fallen head over heels in love with or developed uncontrollable rage towards over the past twelve months. Get your dose, starting Boxing Day and running into the new year, three times a day––sunrise, noon, and sunset. Is there anything as satisfying as waking up to that little dancing alarm clock every morning on Breakfast Television?......

All photos by Kristin Foster. After a blur of relatives, feasts, and gift wrap, some of us have returned to the confines of the office for peace and quiet while others are on the couch. Welcome to the Holiday Hangover! Torontoist told you what was going on for Christmas Day, now we've found a great way of avoiding Boxing Week in the comfort of your own neighbourhood. With 49 outdoor rinks maintained by the......

It’s that time of year again: the time when ironic bloggers across the world post links to the Star Wars Holiday Special, quip about how terrible it is, and boast about not being able to watch it all the way through (usually linking to the five-minute-long version of it on YouTube). However! We here at Torontoist are bucking that trend. Yes, we can sneer at things as well as anyone, but we’re not going......

Each week, Torontoist shows off the most interesting, creative, and cool submissions to our Torontoist Flickr Pool. We're especially partial to photos that show our city in a new light, highlight a recent event, and remind us why we live here. Join the Flickr pool and show us what you've got. UntitledBY SQUEAKYRAT Ring Of FireBY DOSHA City Hall at NightBY ARIEHSINGER FrostyBY SWILTON 50%BY REBOOTYOURCOMPUTER hibernateBY jasfitz Harbord St., snowBY ANDYSCAMERA miniBY JORDANBOWER Creepy......

Each week, Torontoist shows off the most interesting, creative, and cool submissions to our Torontoist Flickr Pool. We're especially partial to photos that show our city in a new light, highlight a recent event, and remind us why we live here. Join the Flickr pool and show us what you've got. The Wolf and FirkinBY TAYLOR ZHOU UntitledBY COTROPITOR BMO DomeBY sevennine LulaBY TOM.COMET Dressed to the k9sBY TAYLOR ZHOU SunriseBY SALTYSEADOG Cloudy cellBY CHRISJACKSON......

The holiday season is a tribute to excess. We gorge ourselves on a lot of fatty food and we fill up on fruitcake. We make sure to drink copious amounts of wine, enjoy our rum and eggnog, sip a snifter of brandy, or even down a nice cup of Manischewitz. Beer, however, often gets the short shrift during the holidays. Some find it too filling for a post-turkey nightcap; others think that beer should......

We’ve mentioned the Bicycle Film Festival a few times before, but we’re going to give special mention to it again today because tonight at 7 p.m. is the screening of the festival’s first shorts programme, featuring Warriors: The Bike Race. The Warriors is basically one of the most excellent films ever, and in August of 2002, 89 gangs of bicycle riders took an all-night race from the Bronx to Coney Island in a sort......

Downtown Toronto experienced a hotel boom during the first half of the 1970s as modern skyscrapers and buildings like the new City Hall changed the face of the core. Among those that made their debut: the Sheraton Centre (1972), the Holiday Inn on Chestnut (1972), the Chelsea (1975), the Harbour Castle (1975) and, opening its doors 32-years ago this week, the Hotel Toronto. Western International Hotels traced its roots to the early 1930s, when......

Thinking of getting a tattoo? Great idea! (Unless you’re thinking of getting a Chinese character and you’re not Chinese. In that case, please don’t. First, you will look like a walking cliché. Second, you will probably end up with something like “horse penis” when you meant to get “passion and love.” Kind of like these people.) As fun as tattoos are though, they’re also not a decision to be taken lightly. An excellent place......

Torontoist would like to take a moment to wish all of our readers a very happy Festivus. Since the Seinfeld episode “The Strike” first aired on December 18, 1997, thousands of fans from all over the world have taken it upon themselves to establish their own annual Festivus celebrations, mostly happening on December 23. And yes, while the recent Michael Richards spat may have made it difficult to remain a Seinfeld fan, let’s not allow......

As the countdown to Christmas kicks into high gear (only seven more days to go!), it's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season. Between shopping for presents, visiting with friends and family, and waging a pathetic battle over pine trees, many of us forget to consider those in need. While donations and contributions are needed year-round, many charities and non-profit organizations rely on generosity shown during the holiday season......

Parents watch their kids toboggan in High Park on Christmas Day, 1910. Photo courtesy of William James/The Toronto Archives. That little weather icon above our logo is starting to get pretty depressing. With 8 days left until Christmas, there's still no snow on the ground, and with the exception of the few centimeters that we had just over a week ago that quickly melted, there's barely been a speck in the sky since last......

For every subway car you have partied on, for every flag you have captured, for every bubble you have blown and for every pillow you have fought with, Newmindspace invites you to celebrate the year 2006 with a massive party in Union Station.Jingle Bell Rock: A Holiday BallFriday, December 15th 2006Union Station (upstairs)Press play at 9:09 PMTomorrow night, participants are asked to bring a personal music player loaded with their favourite tunes, a costume......

It seems to be the week of Alexisonfire, who are playing just about every venue in the city over the next 7 days, starting on Thursday. We predict a few bruised ribs and black eyes just in time for Christmas...so kids, if you're going to the show(s), be a little gentler to each other knowing that your parents will be pissed if you're posing for the holiday photos with a shiner. This public service......

Can you believe that Unaccompanied Minors features three out of five Kids in the Hall? Neither can we! Or that the film is directed by Freaks and Geeks creator Paul Feig and features lots of other excellent folks such as The Office’s BJ Novak. We can still believe it sucks, though. Which, apparently, it does. Called “a generally lousy movie” by Now’s Deirdre Swain, she notes, oddly, that Tyler James Williams is a “particular standout,......

Here at Torontoist, it is no secret that we love trains. A lot. This is why we are so excited that tomorrow evening, a super trippy lit-up train will roll into the Distillery District at 8:15 PM. The Canadian Holiday Train embarked on its two-week journey across the north on the first of this month and will be stopping in our fair city tomorrow evening, raising money and collecting food donations for Toronto's local......

It's that time of the year--benefit concert season. There are a number of them coming up in the next few weeks, including The Holiday Jam (Sick Kids), Jason Collett & The Constantines (CARE Canada), and Bedouin Soundclash (Doctors Without Borders/War Child), so if you're in a giving mood, this may be a good way to do it while also catching some great music. Best bets for this week include Tenacious D tonight (love/hate...always entertaining),......

Jagshemash! Borat is a hit. It's getting rave reviews, grossing millions, and definitely the most quotable thing we've seen in ages. But Borat seems to have missed most of the -ist cities, and we were all wondering how the film would have been different if he'd made his way around the world on the -ist tour. In Shanghai, Borat would be observing Inane Learnings of Penis Photos for Make Benefit Glorious Flat World of......

Somehow, the world of -ists managed to make it through the week despite news that Jen & Vince broke up. Chicagoist had fall on their mind as they made squash and fudge, read "House of Leaves" and ">tried to figure out what's next for the Cubs. Not fall related, but still of utmost concern, the whole skinny black pants thing. Torontoist fought off an evil scourge of raccoons and went to go see who would......

Yesterday, the wrecking ball had its way with the last vestiges of the landmark Inn On The Park. Once run as an upscale Four Seasons hotel, then as a Holiday Inn, and finally as the bland Don Mills Hotel, the demolition was viewed by many as another of Toronto's development tragedies despite having fallen into disrepair. The renowned modernist architect behind the Inn On The Park is familiar for his buildings but less so......

So, we’ve been busy enough with Hot Docs to almost forget that they, you know, are releasing films which aren’t documentaries this week (madness!) Indeed, craziness of craziness, they’re even holding other festivals this week! So we’d feel terrible if we forgot to mention the Toronto Jewish Film Festival, opening tomorrow night with a showing of Jesus is Magic, Sarah Silverman’s concert film which, to our memory, did rather well as a Midnight Madness showing......

Right, Torontoist isn’t going to mess about with today’s Film Friday, because there are more important things to be talking about than what’s on at the multiplex. First! Tristan and Isolde is the cinematic version of the Celtic folklore/Wagner opera, which the trailers have made a big deal about predating Romeo and Juliet, as if that actually meant anything. Eye’s Adam Nayman brings up the interesting note that this was, for years, the dream......

Two more chances to see the much talked about Laura Barrett before the year is up: She'll be playing/baking at the Rancho Relaxo for the Band Bake-Off tonight and playing only at a Amazing confluence of Music and Funny! Holiday Fundraiser at the Silver Dollar on Thursday. In our experiences, Ms Barrett cooks up a worth-while show and will add you as a MySpace friend if you ask nicely. Torontoist-favourite Henri Faberge and his self-contained......

This Thursday night newmindspace prove their organizing might with a Holiday Subway Party. Aside from the TTC fare, attendance is free. Meet at the west end of the Kipling station platform to catch the 11:11pm train eastbound along the Bloor-Danforth line. Although these events aren't sanctioned by the TTC, in the past they've watched closely, but haven't halted the party. What To Do: * dress up in a fancy costume or silly hat *......

Free North By Northeast stuff for everyone! Earplugs, CDs, thousands of magazines/promo junk and a mini flashlight in these neon green NXNE bags. Picture taken at the Holiday Inn swag fest.......

When Adrian the Adorable Sports Writer shouts out the words, "I got 99 problems but a bitch ain't one," he isn't only singing along to Jay-Z's recent hit "99 Problems" but also assessing his own Valentine's day fortunes. The guy is a lover, not a hater. Similarly, when Paige Six microwaves her underwear before going a formal, she isn't bemoaning her own romantic luck as much as looking for dry under garments. Like cleanliness, she......

Streeter from TOist Molly: The blessed return to work after the holidays. Like returning to school after a summer, the small talk is usually predictable and redundant: You: How was your Christmas/Holiday? Coworker: Great thanks, how was yours? You: Great as well, ate too much turkey, drank too much eggnog. You know, the usual. Perhaps you'll move on to what you got for Christmas, perhaps it will end there. In consideration of the recent natural......

Holiday season is more than just eggnog lattés and snowflake donut-of-the-months. It's also about top ten lists, year-end compilations of the good, the bad and the ugly. Torontoist thoroughly enjoyed contributor Frank Yang's musical ten. But in the land of movies, we simply cannot condone any list that includes the treacly Sideways among the year's top ten. Thankfully, there's a tenner that Sideways does not qualify for - A Canadian ten, as curated by TIFF.......