Ontario's lakes and waterways are being taken over by all sorts of alien-like species that look like they were ripped straight from a horror flick, from self-cloning crayfish to parasitic blood-sucking lamprey, and even tiny little predators known as 'water fleas' that are devastating local ecosystems. Two invasive species of small predatory planktonic crustaceans known as spiny and fishhook waterfleas (Bythotrephes longimanus and Cercopagis pengoi) can be found in Ontario waters, present since the late 20th century and now considered the greatest threat to zooplankton biodiversity in the Can ..read more

If you're a millennial and grew up in the '90s, you'll probably remember a fair amount of '90s home decor trends that might still haunt you to this day.  There were sponge-painted walls, all-beige everything, wallpaper borders, oak cabinets, carpets in places where there shouldn't be carpets, bedroom sets from big-box stores, Southwestern or Tuscan decor in homes that weren't in Arizona or Italy, and the list goes on.  We thought we'd left those troubling times in the past, but 39 Hatherley Rd. really brings back all those memories.  The front porch.  Somehow this two-bed ..read more

Things to do in Toronto this weekend include an elegant celebration of spring (that features a fashion show), a massive neighbourhood yard sale and a huge viewing party for one of the biggest games of the Leafs season so far. Here's our roundup of things to do in Toronto this weekend. For more ideas, check out our previous roundup for the week and be sure to head over to our events section for complete listings.  Events you might want to check out: The Snatch Game! (April 26 @ Comedy Bar East) Based on the fan-favourite segment from RuPaul's Drag Race, join comedians ..read more

In the midst of all the ruckus about the Gardiner Expressway lane closures that just took effect and are due to mess up commutes for the next three years, drivers in and around Toronto will not be pleased to find out that another local highway is about to be plagued with similar slowdowns. Starting on Wednesday, those travelling on Highway 401 will likewise be met with blocked-off lanes as the Ministry of Transportation starts necessary rehabilitation work. Gardiner Expressway lane closures are already causing gridlock on other Toronto roads https://t.co/wOGdeWTRYQ — blogTO (@blogT ..read more

An Instagram video in which a man explains how he "saves hundreds of bucks" on grocery bills each month by using food banks in Ontario has the internet quite understandably up in arms this week amid sky-high demand for the charitable service. The individual, who speaks to the camera while wearing a Wilfred Laurier University sweatshirt, explains how he gets free grocery hauls from food banks on the school's campus, which he says are "for everyone, for all the students." He goes on to tell his audience — ostensibly, other post-secondary students — that h ..read more

Customers at a Toronto restaurant were allegedly warned by their server not to leave a tip during a recent visit, claiming that the restaurant's management have been pocketing their tips. There's been a steady buzz around Scarborough's Ishq Veg, an all-vegetarian restaurant, since they first opened this past January. Not all news is good news, though, it seems, as one patron reports an allegedly disappointing — if not shocking — experience. "I went with a friend on Saturday and noticed the staff seemed extremely burnt out, and stressed," the person claims in an email sent to blogTO. The ..read more

A pesky invasive plant species is wreaking havoc across Ontario lakes, and aquatic experts say its complete eradication is unlikely.  Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) — also known as the "zombie plant" — gets its nickname from its ability to come back to life even after being severed from its root.  The plant was first found in Ontario in Lake Erie in 1961 and has since spread throughout all of the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence River, as well as the inland lakes throughout the province.  The presence of the troublesome plant has only grown stronger, as ev ..read more

Tim Hortons rolled out a new hot beverage lid in parts of Ontario in April, the latest in a series of nationwide trials of its new plastic-free design. But not everyone is happy with this environmentally-friendly offering. The new plastic-free hot beverage lids first appeared in the province in Ottawa and neighbouring Gatineau, QC, in mid-April as part of Tim Hortons' five-year project to develop new greener packaging options. Similar trials have already been carried out in Vancouver and P.E.I. Made of plant-based materials, these lids come with some obvious benefits for t ..read more

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