Toronto concerts worth knowing about in April, 2013.

Happy Easter Monday! I spent my weekend in Bruce County cross-country skiing, happy to return to a snow-less city. There's lot of shows this month, as bands are fully out of hibernation now. 1970s "power band" Yes (according to my mom) is playing April 11th at Massey Hall, freaking Fleetwood Mac is in town, something called "Pagan Fest IV" in on tap and Alicia Keys too — so sumthin fer errrrybody. As always, feel free to share concerts not included on our list in the comments. But do play nice, please.

Roncesvalles isn't exactly a hotbed for late night eats or, come to think of it, burger joints. So this new addition to the street is looking to do duble duty for the neighbourhood. With locally sourced beef (a good call when you're setting up shop on Roncy!) c/o Sanagan's Meat locker and many other house-made offerings, this place just might fill what's been a pretty substantial gap on the strip.

Read my review of The Rude Boy in the restaurants section.

Spurred on by a friend that promised me this restaurant serves one of the best bowls of soon tofu in Koreatown, I paid a visit to see if her taste was to be trusted. Well, we're probably going to get into a fight now — because while I'll freely admit that the portion sizes are generous and the prices fair, I'm not sure it beats out similar options in the same neighbourhood.

Read my review of Tofu Village in the restaurants section.

Toronto concerts worth knowing about in March, 2013.

March is maybe the grossest month. Pretty white snow has inevitably melted (yay!) and turned to grey muck (boo), which your cat drags in through your basement window if you can't catch him in time with a towel (universally speaking, here). Random MARCH! fact you didn't ask for: from the Greek Martius, after Mars, the Greek God of war — but no fighting please (Marching allowed....hehheh ehhhhh.) Musically speaking, March is about Canadian Music Week which runs from the 19-24th this year. We've highlighted some of the artists in town for that below but please stay tuned for dedicated CMW previews (free shows! Toronto bands! etc!).

After establishing itself on Dupont as one of the better Mexican restaurants in the city, Playa Cabana has done itself one better with its new location in the Junction. While the food menu at this two month old spot doesn't stray too far from the original, there's no denying the decor, ambiance and the cocktails have received a much welcome boot.

Find out more in my review of Playa Cabana Cantina in the restaurants section.

Toronto concerts worth knowing about in February, 2013.

I know these things about February: 1) it's the month of purification (that's why Purity Ring are coming through town), 2) SAD reaches its peak, 3) Valentine's Day is a Hallmark holiday and thus a complete waste of time, and 4) "leaplings" are the luckiest people around as they age far more slowly than the rest of us. Man, who wouldn't want to be a leapling? Doesn't it just sound so cool?

Anyway, here's what else I know. February is not the greatest month for live music in Toronto. While not as sparse as January, we're not totally out of the rut yet. That'll have to wait until CMW arrives in March. Can somebody wake me up when it's spring? Thanks!