All pubs in England have a fireplace. It's the law. That's because an evil witch has made it winter all year round, so it's important to keep warm while getting sloshed. Our fair city can also get pretty cold – witch or no witch – so this Ist List is dedicated to Toronto's coziest places to curl up with a few pints of holiday cheer. The criteria? Maybe a fireplace and good strong ales. We......

Given the variety of costumes we witnessed at the World RPS Championships this weekend and Sunday's Zombie Walk, it seems that Torontonians are hip to celebrating Hallowe'en all week. We can't possibly beat a band of 100 zombies marching across the city, so we're joining 'em by bringing the Ist List back from the dead. All week we'll be sharing our favourite stories about local ghosties. This one is gloriously fangorious, and was brought......

If you aren't already head over heels for the deliciously intriguing flavours of the Kensington Market Organic Ice Cream Shop (Ist List's #3 choice!), then take the opportunity to try out Rosepetal and Chocolate Ginger when the little ice cream shop that could crams twenty-two pieces of savoury art onto its walls. We don't know if any of the piece are lickable, but learn for yourself at tonight's opening. There will be works by......

Burritos, pitas and seafood sausage will all come in and out of favour with the after bar/fast food crowd, but it’s pizzas that will always have a place in the hearts of the trans-fat scenesters. As if we were a Ninja Turtle, Torontoist grabs a slice from the five best pizza restaurants in the city this week for the Ist List: Best Slice. 5. Big Slice (385 Yonge St) "What’s the Big Slice like?" "Big!"......

If you've ever felt the urge to bump uglies at one of the city's fine outdoor love venues, the second installment of our Ist List this week should be a good fit. 4. The Front Street Fountain (behind the Gooderham Flatiron building) It started out with some playful splashing; just frivolous flicking of fountain water when no one was looking. But when the water went down the back of his shirt it made him shiver,......

Torontoist knows how summer operates. It encourages all sorts of things, and we're not just talking about the recent popularity of mint juleps at bars and the fabulous boho skirted look for girls. Summertime is just like your favourite rich friend who doesn't have to work: he shows up and uses his sweet influence to enforce a two-month long sexy party. It always works, especially because the warmth makes us feel extra racy and free......

Seriously, the heat has been so intense it caused us to forget to post yesterday's entry for the top cool places to stay cool. So today Toronto is lucky; not only do you get a double Ist List entry, but also a little bit of a breeze and cool rain to clear the air. 2. Your Parent's House (Wherever they live) They've been calling you every day since the heat wave started. Thinking, in that......

Torontoist understands that it has been somewhat painfully hot recently in the city, but quite frankly, we're sick of all the complaining. Yes, you might not have A/C, and yes, your fan's oscillating feature might not work properly. But before you shake your fist at the sun again, think about how annoying your huge winter parka is when you're drinking at a bar without coat check. Okay, so maybe memories of shoveling snow and......

1. La Paloma Gelateria (1357 St. Clair W., with locations in Woodbridge and at Vaughan Mills mall.) Those more inclined to artisanal gelato know the Corso Italia has the best scoop in town. It's traditional gelato, at a premium price: about $4.50 for a large cup. Thumbnail history: 'the window' - as it was long known on the Corso - was started by Sicilian immigrant friends Salvatore Giannone and Vincenzo Ciarlandini in 1967. Amusing anecdote:......

Two scoops of Mayor this morning, and both of them nearly as awesome as the Ist List's Number One Gelato Emporium (see above). - First, theatre eater JKelly tells us that Mayor Dave fringed it up at the beer tent last night, chatting with Fringe honcho Derrick Chua, and giving money to those who needed it. - And second, Royson James reports that Mayor Miller agrees that the Toronto Unlimited campaign is an embarrassment to......

On with the Ist List of Toronto's Best Cones! 3. Kensington Market Organic Ice Cream (66 Kensington Ave) A medium cone here is $4.25, but it's an organic $4.25. According to the CBC's Beyond Burgers: No growth hormones, no antibiotics, no genetic modifications, and no pesticides. Kensington Market Organic Ice Cream is the only organic home made ice cream shop in the city. No antibiotics? Bad news for anyone trying to cure a urinary tract......

If the selection of Jack Layton as yesterday's number five Parliamentary hottie wasn't music to your dance, please refer to the first female selection to this week's Ist List... 4. Ruby Dhalla Liberal, Brampton-Springdale A-hem. That's Dr Ruby Dhalla to you. Not only is this Manitoban a Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine, but she's also a former Bollywood actress and runner-up in 2003's Miss India pageant. And if that wasn't enough, she is rumoured to be......

Around the time Belinda Stronach kartwheeled over to the Liberals, former eye Editor Bert Archer was noting the lack of attractiveness of our current crop of MP's. Although Torontoist was vocal in our objections to the exclusivitey of the Archer list, we did notice a similarly shallow pool of honeys in the Hill Times Sexiest MP's poll. But now that it's summer, and the ties are loosened and underwear left in the top drawer, Torontoist......

Why is it that best of lists are reserved solely for the end of the year? There is obviously a demand for them - the lists keep coming for a few months after the end of the year lists come out. And how accurate can an end-of-the-whatever list even be? (Trick question: the Torontoist end-of-the-year lists were dead-on.) So, to avoid the caged-in feelings of compiling one all-encompassing list every December, Torontoist presents THE -IST......