5 things Toronto was supposed to get by 2015 but didn't

Oh, what a city Toronto might have been by now if major infrastructure projects were completed on time. Rush hour service on the subway would be immaculate, there'd be an LRT along Finch Ave. West, and Union Station would be a world class transportation hub. Alas, for all our optimism, none of these projects have been completed by their initial target dates.

Here are 5 things Toronto was supposed to get by 2015 but didn't.

Spadina Subway Extension
The groundbreaking ceremony for the Spadina Subway Extension (PDF) took place in 2009, but as seems always to be the case with major infrastructure projects, the initial completion date was pushed back after numerous delays. The original target was December 2015, which was then altered to autumn 2016 before yet another year was added to the project.

Union Station Renovations
When work commenced on the Union Station revitalization, the initial completion date was pegged at 2015, but numerous delays have pushed the target back to 2017 at the earliest. Fortunately, we got a peek at what it'll look like when finished via the already-opened York GO Concourse.

Finch West LRT
Part of former mayor David Miller's Transit City project, the Finch West LRT was once scheduled to open in 2013. When Rob Ford took office back in 2010, he immediately cancelled plans for the line. When city council eventually restored the project, the completion date was pushed back to 2018. It's now projected to open in 2020. Think about that the next time you're riding the Finch bus.

A fleet of new streetcars
There should be over 65 new low-floor streetcars on Toronto's rails by now, but production problems at Bombardier have resulted in a mere 10 being delivered to the TTC. As a consequence, the TTC is suing the manufacturer for the delayed deliveries.

A new subway signal system
It's not the sexiest infrastructure project but the replacement of the TTC's dated subway signal system will improve the efficiency of rush hour service, which will have a significant impact on commuters' lives. When the TTC started the project, it estimated a completion date in 2012. This was then pushed back to 2016. The current target is 2020. Yikes.

Photo by Ilia Alshanetsky in the blogTO Flickr pool.

by Derek Flack via blogTO

Vote: best of 2015 in Toronto

Today we're opening up voting in our end of year Best Of poll. Now you can have your say in 8 categories including the best new restaurant, bar, brunch, cafe, bakery, cheap eats, fashion and design store.

Take the best of poll here

Voting in the poll ends at 11:45 p.m. on Monday January 4.

by Staff via blogTO

The 10 most anticipated Toronto restaurant openings in 2016

Restaurant openings in Toronto are full of promise for 2016. The city is due for an influx of new eateries ranging from AYCE Italian and porchetta sandwich shops to upscale new steakhouses, Hungarian eats, and Thai street food. This city's food scene is a train with no brakes (well, kind of).

Here are my picks for the most anticipated restaurant openings in 2016.

Carver
The burgeoning eatery from Robert Bragagnolo has been operating as a lunch delivery service since summer but will open as a bricks and mortar sandwich shop at 101 Peter Street later this year.

Cafeteria
The newest addition to the Playa Cabana family of restaurants comes in the form of this diner at 974 College St. Expect all day service for brunch, lunch and dinner including tacos and tortas served in a no-reservations bar area and an expanded menu available in the reservations-required back room.

Bangkok Buri
The owner of Khao San Road has teamed up with the folks that grew Burger's Priest into a city-wide sensation to open what will be a chain of quick service, Thai street food joints. The first location will open at Union Station, but you should expect a scattering of outlets to follow.

Palinka Bar & Bisztro
Coming to 585 College St. this February, this 90-seat Hungarian bar and restaurant will specialize in fruit brandy, hard-to-find wines, and shareable dishes from Central Europe.

The Chicago Don
All you can eat Italian food will take over 901 Bloor Street West this April. The restaurant isn't your typical Italian buffet, but rather a Chicago-style tapas joint where servers will come around with a different main course every 10 minutes.

Recess
The massive project from Brad Moore (of Old School) has been in the works for nearly two years now. Due to open in early 2016 at the base of the the ART condos at Sudbury and Dovercourt, the project will include the 24-hour Recess Diner, Bar Bronson, the Oven Bakery, a grocery story, mini bar and more.

Gusto 501
Another project long in the works is this sister restaurant to Gusto 101. Slated to open at 501 King Street East, the much-hyped Italian restaurant promises dishes from a Tuscan grill, rotisserie spit, and a wood fired pizza oven.

STK Steakhouse
The chain of chop houses based in the U.S. is set to arrive in Toronto this year. Coming soon to 155 Yorkville Avenue, the massive restaurant will boast 8,880 square feet and uphold a strict dress code. In other words, no plaid - please.

Jen Agg's new wine bar
Few details are available now, but there's good reason to get excited about a new Kensington Market wine and cider bar from the restaurateur behind Black Hoof and Rhum Corner.

Whatever GVG does next
Finally on our radar, the Globe writes that Grant van Gameren (of Bar Isabel and Bar Raval) is set to open a Latin American cocktail bar.

Did I miss any? Add your suggestions to the comments.

Photo of STK.

by Liora Ipsum via blogTO

5 lasting memories in Toronto from 2015

What will you remember as the defining moment of 2015? Were you swept up in the Pan Am Pandamonium? Did you catch Blue Jays fever? Are you mourning the loss of a notable restaurant or bar?

Here are my lasting Toronto memories from 2015.

Panamania enchants the city
With the incessant complaining and an apparent lack of ticket sales, it came as a surprise that many of us actually embraced the summer-long Panamania arts and cultural programming that brought free (and top-notch) concerts to public spaces such as Nathan Phillips Square. Let's hope these types of events become the norm and not the exception.

Toronto swells with Blue Jays pride
We made the playoffs for the first time in 22 years and it felt like the entire city jumped on the Jays bandwagon. From watching games in the Bird's Nest to sharing memes of Jose Bautista's bat flip, Toronto truly came together to rally behind our boys in blue.

Toronto artists top popular music charts
Some are calling 2015 the year of Drake, but many other local musicians made waves both in Toronto and around the world. From Alessia Cara's breakout hit "Here" to the Weeknd's stunning Beauty Behind the Madness Album, artists from the GTA reigned supreme on the charts and also racked up numerous Grammy nominations.

Another member of city council makes international headlines
If 2015 wasn't Drake's year, it was definitely Norm Kelly's. The Ward 40 city councillor became famous locally for his dad-joke-style tweets and gained worldwide attention after involving himself in the Drake versus Meek Mill feud.

New international-calibre music fest makes its debut
WayHome, though located outside of Toronto, was filled with urbanites who escaped the city for a magical weekend away. The inaugural festival went off seemingly without a hitch and included a three hour set from Neil Young and a Broken Social Scene reunion.

What are your lasting memories? Add them to the comments.

Photo of WayHome by Jesse Milns.

by Amy Grief via blogTO

The Best Schnitzel in Toronto

The best schnitzel in Toronto doesn't discriminate between pork, chicken or veal. These beautifully breaded and fried specimens can be found at European eateries and bars, and while they're delicious plain, they're better still on a bun or dressed up with things like sauteed onions, mushrooms, cheese, or, of course, sauerkraut.

This is the best schnitzel in Toronto.

Some photos by Rick McGinnis and Hector Vasquez.

by Liora Ipsum via blogTO

18 new and soon-to-open craft breweries in Toronto

2015 was a big year for the local craft beer scene. Craft beer is now available in grocery stores. Mill Street was bought by Labatt. And a slew of Toronto beer entrepreneurs opened bottle shops, breweries and brewpubs.

Here's a round-up of new and soon-to-open craft breweries in Toronto.

Burdock
Operating out of a brew pub and music hall in Bloordale Village, this brewery triumphs old world recipes and new world techniques. On site you'll find them pouring pints of Belgian Farmhouse Stout, Bloor Lager, and North East Brown Ale with a rotating selection of 500ml bottles.

Blood Brothers Brewing
Located in an industrial warehouse just north of Geary Avenue, this new micro brewery offers signature ales like Inner IPA and Shumei year round, plus freshly bottled seasonal features like Cocoa Woman, Paradise Lost and Hail Saison.

Rainhard
Located in The Stockyards, this small batch brewery sells signature suds and one-off brews including Kapow!, Armed N' Citrus, True Grit and Bock That! On site, beer is available in 6oz and 12oz pours, bottles and growlers.

Lost Craft Beer
Marketing itself as "4 the 6," and accompanied by a clothing line, this new beer company swells with local pride. The label is currently working out Cool Beer but hopes to move to its own Scarborough-based brewery in the near future. Revivale, based on a Kölsch-style beer, is Lost's signature brew.

Folly
Habits Gastropub in Little Italy morphed into this nano-brewery this past year and has added house-made Belgian-style brews to its bar menu. Find a rotating selection of straight-from-the-source suds including the Farmhouse Bruin, Inkhorn and Flemish Cap, Old World Saison.

Left Field
The baseball-themed brewery and tap room on the east side is home to a lineup of brews including Eephus, Oatmeal Brown Ale, and the Grandstand, a hoppy wheat beer.

High Park
This beer company was founded last year, but only debuted at street festivals this summer. The beers have yet to hit LCBO shelves, but intrepid local beer drinkers should keep an eye out for its Across the Pond English Ale and the Off the Leash American IPA.

Longslice Brewery
Since delivering their first keg to Monarch Tavern back in May 2014, the Longslice team has expanded their presence, reaching bars and restaurants near Dundas and Lansdowne. This year their Hopsta La Vista won a gold medal in the British IPA category at the Ontario Brewing Awards and has started to gain shelf space at the LCBO.

Mascot Brewery
The beers served at this rooftop beer garden on Mercer Street are currently being brewed in partnership with Parkdale's Duggan's Brewery, though operations are set to move on site at some point. The focus is on traditional German techniques, and currently includes a German Pilsner and a German Hefeweizen.

People's Pint
While technically not a brewery, this brewing collective has made a splash in the local beer scene by hosting events and spotlighting suds from hobbyists around Toronto.

COMING 2016

Lansdowne Brewery
Already operating at a pub, we're looking forward to onsite brewing starting up in the new year.

Bellwoods Brewery
The long awaited second location from one of Toronto's premier craft breweries is expected to open on Dupont in the new year.

Bandit Brewing Co.
Expect a 2016 launch of this brewery in the Roncesvalles-area. The new brewery is under construction in a former mechanic shop next to the beer store on Dundas West.

Big Rock Brewery
The Calgary-based brewing company is set to open two new facilities in Toronto this year. The brewery is already in the works in Etobicoke, and there's a brewpub planned for Liberty Village that will be a joint venture with Oliver & Bonacini.

Halo Brewery
Aiming for a spring opening on Wallace Avenue, this brewery, bottle shop and taproom founded by a pair of home brewers will function as Canada's first open-source brewery meaning recipes will be made public, and the tweaks and changes are encourages so long as they're shared publicly as well.

Danforth Brewery
This two-man brewing company is set to launch soon, rolling out a line-up of brews including a west-coast style IPA called Danforth West.

Henderson Brewing Co.
Set to launch in spring 2016 at the bottom of the Junction Triangle, this brewery will specialize in traditional and creative beers that "capture the spirit and history of Toronto and the good people who make the city what it is."

TBA
Helmed by Luc "Bim" Lafontaine (formerly of the Montreal-based microbrewery Dieu du Ciel), this 6,000 square foot brewery, 140-seat restaurant and bottle shop is going in on Coxwell Avenue in Little India.

by Liora Ipsum via blogTO

How to beat a hangover in Toronto's suburbs

If you wake up in your childhood bedroom with a pounding headache, dry mouth and unsettled stomach, you know you're home in the suburbs for the holidays. Instead of starting your new year off alone in your twin-size bed, why not step outside and kick your hangover to the curb? While many places are closed on January 1, there are plenty of quality places still open - beyond Tim Horton's - on New Year's Day.

Wake yourself up
Cold water is the greatest hangover remedy, so go full out and plunge into Lake Ontario. The Polar Bear Dip in support of Habitat for Humanity happens annually at the Sunnyside Beach Pavilion. That's not so suburban, but there's another massive Polar Bear swim happening further west in Oakville. This one is at 2 p.m., giving you plenty of time to roll yourself out of bed after last night's festivities.

Sweat it out at a Russian-style banya
North of the 401, you'll find a myriad of public steam rooms and saunas. Unfortunately, many aren't open on New Year's Day, but Vladimirskie Bani is. It's hosting a family day from 3 p.m. until midnight, giving you plenty of time to sleep in, grab brunch and spend the rest of your day relaxing at this Vaughan-area spa.

Grab brunch
For those on the east side, the good-old Markham Station is a no brainer for a greasy meal at any time of the day. If you live north of the city, you can head to the classic Three Coins Open Kitchen at Yonge and Major Mackenzie or the newly opened kosher Famous Laffa inside the Promenade Mall. Dim sum, at somewhere like Mississauga's Emerald Chinese Restaurant, is always a great option whilst in the 'burbs.

Work it off
Start your New Year's resolution off early and begin 2016 with some mindful stretching at Branch Yoga in Etobicoke, Yoga Tree in Vaughan or Richmond Hill or Moksha Yoga North York. If you're looking for something a little more extreme, consider the 36th annual Hair of the Dog Run or challenge yourself to scale a wall at Markham's Hub Climbing.

Re-Hydrate
Truthfully, there's no cure for a hangover, but consuming lots of fluids always helps. Forgo your regular double double and grab a fresh juice or calming milk tea from some of the GTA's best Bubble Tea shops, like CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice and Gong Cha.

Know of a suburban hangover helper? Add your suggestions to the comments.

Photo by Javin Lau

by Amy Grief via blogTO