15 bone-chilling photos of the annual Polar Bear Dip

A couple hundred brave souls rang in the new year at Sunnyside Beach yesterday morning by going for one frigid swim as part of the 10th annual Polar Bear Dip. The temperature outdoors at start time was -2 Celsius while the water was estimated at skin-stinging 3 degrees. Lest you think participants are completely whacked, it's worth noting that $70,000 was raised for Habitat for Humanity in conjunction with this year's event. That's pretty good for what tends to amount to a 30 second swim.

Check out all the frigid action in this photo gallery .

by Derek Flack via blogTO

The top 5 winter music festivals in Toronto for 2015

Winter music festivals in Toronto won't be quite as chilly as previous years, what with outdoor Brrrrr Fest not returning to Echo Beach, but that might be for the best. Live music is best kept as an indoor affair during the frozen months, especially since this summer looks like it will be flooded with outdoor festivals. While it's great to see Toronto's annual fests return, extra points go to Toronto's newest winter music series, which will bridge concerts with delicious food.

Here are my picks for the top winter music festivals in Toronto this year.

Class of 2015 (January 3-30, Silver Dollar)

No need to mope around after the NYE fuss is over - starting this weekend live music fans will have more fun launching 2015 with the New Year's Indie Music Honour Roll series at Silver Dollar. On weekends in January catch seven different line ups including Pet Sun, CROSSS, Mimico, Pistol George Warren, New Fries, CHOBO, and Bile Sister. Check out the line ups here.

Eat and Greet the Band (Starts January 24, Various Venues)

Dinner and a show? Collective Concerts and Rose & Son's is kicking off a series of pre-show dinners where fans will have the chance to mingle and munch with their favourite musical acts. The first event happening Saturday January 24 at the Phoenix will feature a menu from Big Crow tailored to the tastes of Canadian alt-country trio, Elliott Brood. LI

Long Winter (Monthly, Great Hall)

It definitely is a long winter (this annual series typically starts up in fall and stretches a bit into spring), but you wouldn't know it was freezing outside at these sweatboxes. When they're not programming events at the AGO with First Thursday, find this monthly series at Great Hall as music, art, installations, performance, and more collide into one carnivalesque night of local fun. The next session is January 9.

Winterfolk Music Festival (February 13-15, The Danforth)

Winterfolk's 13th will give Toronto's down home music fans the chance to see 150 urban, blues, rock, jazz, country, folk and roots music artists performing on multiple stages in the Danforth and Broadview area. Get a preview of the performers on their website.

Wavelength 15 (February 13-15, TBA)

Get in the know with Toronto's weird scene at Wavelength. For the first time ever the fest will stretch across multiple venues as it celebrates its 15th year with a theme of Past, Present and Future. The line up is TBA, but expect some local favourites and a lot of up and coming talent. If you can't wait, check out their Class of 2014 show at Silver Dollar.

Did we miss any exciting winter music festivals? Let us know in the comments.

Contributions by Liora Ipsum

Photo of TOPS at Wavelength 14 by Matt Forsythe

by Aubrey Jax via blogTO

Arrival at Museum Station

Photo by [EyetheNorth] in the blogTO Flickr pool.

by Derek Flack via blogTO

Ivey MBA Information Session - Toronto

Begins: 17 February 2015 at 5:30 PM Ends: 17 February 2015 at 6:30 PM Where: 130 King St W Organized by: Ivey MBA Program, Ivey Business School

by via Toronto Networking Events

Take a look at what's open today in Toronto:

Take a look at what's open today in Toronto:





What\'s Open and Closed New Year\'s Day in Toronto

www.toronto.com

What's open and closed on New Year's Day 2015 in Toronto.

by torontodotcom via torontodotcom's Facebook Wall

The top weekend events in Toronto: Jan 2-4 2015

Weekend events in Toronto should help put off the ennui you feel as reality bridges with the dreamworld that was your perfect 2015. Laundry's piled up and masses of strange, unwanted foods are spoiling in the fridge, so why not go out to laugh it off at a comedy festival, have a meal while watching live bands, grab free art, or see one of 2014's best Canadian films.

Here are my picks for the top events happening in Toronto January 2-4, 2014.

Feast in the East (January 3, Jam Factory)

A ticket to the first Feast in the East of the year includes a free Dutch dinner by Justin Go, and performances by stellar and spooky Toronto psych acts Doomsquad, Zones, Matrox, and Barbara. The gang are starting the year off right in the east end. All ages.

PARTY & MUSIC

Class of 2015 (January 3, SIlver Dollar)

No need to mope around after the NYE fuss is over - live music fans will have more fun launching 2015 with the New Year's Indie Music Honour Roll series at Silver Dollar. Running weekends from January 3 - 30 catch seven different line ups. Saturday's includes Only Yours, Wax Atlantic, the Holy Gasp, and Fever City.

FILM

Canada's Top Ten (January 2-11, TIFF)

TIFF excites the city each year, but it's our homegrown talent that fills our hearts with pride the most. The nominees for best Canadian picture are Denis Villeneuve's Enemy, Michael Dowse's The F Word, and Xavier Dolan's Mommy. In addition to these major films, the festival will Canadian docs and feature interviews with Naomi Klein, Avi Lewis, and Agent Johnny Utah (you know, Keenu Reeves). DF

ART

Take Home a Piece of Clare Twomey: Piece by Piece (Jan 4, Gardiner Museum)

If you've been admiring Clare Twomey 2,000 piece installation of dainty figurines at the Gardiner, this is your chance to the artists' work home - for free. For the price of admission ($15) this could stand as your best chance to be a fancy art collector on a shoestring budget this year.

THEATRE

Cinderella (Elgin Theatre, until January 4)

You can say this about the annual Ross Petty pantomime - you certainly won't be bored. Questionable taste level and overt corporate sponsorship aside (be ready for commercials at the theatre), Petty has a way of cramming each production chock full of local commentary, sight gags, and the year's pop hits. Check out our review from seasons past. $27-$93 KB

COMEDY

Festival of New Formats (Jan 1-5, Comedy Bar)

This free multi-day festival at Comedy Bar will have you laughing your way into the new year. The shows start on Thursday night and carry on over the weekend to Monday - check out some of the line ups here.

For more events this weekend click on over to our Events section. Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit it for free using this form.

Contributions by Keith Bennie

Photos by Kat Rizza

by Aubrey Jax via blogTO

The top 25 restaurants for New Year's Day brunch in Toronto

Whether you think New Year's Day in Toronto is best spent recovering from the night of partying, or clinking mimosas as you keep the festivities going, tons of brunch-friendly spots will be happy to oblige you. It might be a stat holiday, but there are still plenty of dining possibilities, from greasy, hangover-crushing breakfasts to celebratory bottle-popping buffets.

Here, in no particular order, are 25 restaurants serving brunch on New Year's Day in Toronto.

The County General

The good people at The County General will help you recover from NYE revelry from 11am to 4:30pm. Expect the brunch menu to feature things like brisket Benedicts smothered in maple hollandaise.

Me & Mine

From 10am onward on New Year's Day, this College Street restaurant will be dishing out all-day brunch from their regular menu, along with features like carrot loaf Benedicts or poached eggs over pork and wild rice sausages in house-made English muffins. Expect hair of the dog drink specials too.

MoRoCo Chocolat

Reservations for brunch at this Yorkville chocolatier are available between 11am and 6pm. Sweet tooths will of course be sated with goodies like brunch fondue, but savoury options like truffled eggs and lobster bennies should not be overlooked.

Lisa Marie

Skip the lineups with brunch reservations via OpenTable for the sky-high piled peameal bacon sandwiches and double pancake pork burgers at this Queen West restaurant. Brunch is served New Year's Day from noon to 5pm.

416 Snack Bar

Normally an evening destination, this snack bar on Bathurst at Queen is opening early - from noon to 8pm - to serve up hangover snacks from a special one-day-only brunch menu.

Beast Restaurant

Chef Scott Vivan's Tecumseth St. restaurant will be serving brunch New Year's Day from 11am to 3pm. Spend the first day of 2015 indulging on doughnuts, grilled pork belly breakfast sandwiches or crab cake bennies.

Wind Up Bird Cafe

Hearty hot stone pot bibim-brunch topped with choices of veg and tofu, pulled pork, ribeye or garlic shrimp are the stars on the brunch menu at this College Street cafe. They'll be serving New Year's Day brunch from 11am onward.

Harvest Kitchen

The two-storey restaurant in Harbord Village will open for brunch from 10am to 4pm on New Year's Day. Kickstart the year to come with a two-egg power breakfast or give in to hangover-induced hunger pains with the French fry mushroom Benedict.

Sneaky Dee's

Hangover relief can be found at this College Street stalwart from 10am to 4pm. On the menu: greasy Mexican style breakfasts like egg burritos and huevos rancheros.

TOCA

Toast the new year over a brunch buffet at this restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton. Expect breakfast stations, meat carving stations, salad bar and a festive sweets table from 11am to 3pm, priced at $98 per adult and $45 per child.

Frank

The restaurant at the AGO rings in the new year with a brunch buffet from 11am to 3pm. For $75 per person ($20 for children under 10), enjoy an all you can eat feast including pastries, the gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, seafoods, fresh carved roasts, sushi, salads, desserts and more.

The Drake Hotel

Let the Queen West hotel nurse holiday hangovers with caesar cocktails spiked with gin and cucumber, and decadent brunch fare like bennies on buttermilk biscuits, or cinnamon french toast with thick-cut bacon and maple cream.

Colette Grand Cafe

Welcome the new year with mimosas and a grand buffet featuring an omelette station, seafood towers, carving station and more at this Parisian restaurant at the base of the Thompson Hotel. Reservations advised.

Ceili Cottage

Open for brunch at 11am, this Irish pub in Leslieville will be serving up full Irish breakfasts complete with fried eggs, sausage, rashers, black and white pudding, potato farl, beans and tomato.

Swan Restaurant

12 days of Christmas brunch commenced Boxing Day at this Queen West eatery and continues into the new year, with options like the huevos rancheros and steak and eggs on offer daily from 10:30am.

Hello Darling

Open New Year's Day from 11am to 4pm, this charming daytime destination in the Junction Triangle will be serving up brunchy fare like fluffy pancakes and egg dishes.

Destingo

Get a head start this new year with brunch for early birds starting at 9am and running until 3pm. Try the panettone French toast, start healthy with grapefruit brûlée, or indulge post-party cravings with porchetta pancakes doused in Jack Daniel's syrup.

Hunters Landing

Condo dwellers at Cityplace need not look any further than this big eatery, where the regular brunch menu will be served 10am to 3pm. The Landing Cure Caesar might be just the answer to your hangover woes - the cocktail is garnished with a lobster tail, slider, bacon strips, smoked cheese and pickles.

Lady Marmalade

This east side brunch destination is open 10am to 3pm on New Year's Day serving up the usual roster of customizable bennies, buckwheat crepes and cheddar spinach waffles.

Prohibition

Big breakfasts including duck confit bennies, steak and eggs, and breakfast poutine will be on offer from 10am to 3pm on New Year's Day at this Riverside gastropub.

Luckee

Start the new year with celebratory dim sum platters laced with black truffles at Susur Lee's restaurant at the SoHo Metropolitan Hotel. Served 11:30am to 2:30pm, the special six-piece assortment os priced at $32 while other features include a Cantonese drunken lobster ($48).

La Societe

Open 11am to 3pm for brunch on New Year's Day, this restaurant in Yorkville will be serving up the classics including options like seafood towers, butter poached lobster Benedicts and blueberry ricotta pancakes.

Cafe Boulud

Two courses for $42 offer selections like viennoiserie baskets or cheese and charcuterie to start, followed by delectable options including lemon ricotta hot cakes or duck confit hash. The tempting dessert course for $8 more offers treats like warm madeleines or apple Napoleon to finish.

Fat Pasha

The Middle Eastern eatery on Dupont is open to help alleviate hangovers from 11am to 3pm should your brunch cravings run to shakshuka or milk and honey pudding.

Farmer's Daughter

Hangover brunch on New Year's Day will be served at this Junction Triangle eatery from 11am to 2pm.

Did I miss any? Leave your picks for New Year's Day brunch in Toronto.

by Liora Ipsum via blogTO