The 12th annual Scotiabank BuskerFest took place this weekend in the St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood with an almost entirely new cast of diverse international performers. The event, once again in support of Epilepsy Toronto, featured youth bands, chalk artists, mimes, a silver Elvis, and whip-cracking sword-swallower Space Cowboy, among other talented performers. Familiar faces from last year's event included the Stunt Double Circus and living statue Kate Mior, but otherwise, I didn't see many returning acts.

The addition of the BIXI bike-sharing program to our streets has changed Toronto cycling in the short time since its launch. Even before BIXI was a part of Toronto, there was an independent cycling culture defined by sustainability and community, all thanks to the fierce loyalty of commuters to their two-wheeled steeds. BIXI has since become a symbol for a more bike-friendly city, and it's not surprising that the back end of the program follows the same grassroots, people-oriented and eco-friendly values.

The 2011 Honda Indy was the expected show of speed race fans were promised, with 26 drivers from across the globe competing at breathtaking velocities for the Toronto title. But an unusual amount of aggression surfaced as the day wore on, and the 240 km Lake Shore West racetrack was soon marked by a slew of collisions.

The 2011 Pride Parade in Toronto transformed Yonge into a rainbow-coloured street party as members and supporters of Toronto's queer community marched, danced, and showered onlookers with whistles, condoms, tote bags, and Mardi Gras beads.

Toronto's BIXI bike share program kicked off today at Yonge and Gould with a group of prominent members of the cycling community, city councillors, and sponsors TELUS and Desjardins rolling into the launch on their shiny new steeds. The program will provide Torontonians with year-round access to 1,000 bikes located at 80 stations in the downtown core.

The Public Bike System Company (PBSC) is the organization behind BIXI, the first large-scale bike sharing system in North America. Users borrow a bike from a BIXI station and return the bike to any station in the network. PBSC's bike sharing system has already been implemented in various cities, including Montreal, Washington, and London.

The best florists in Toronto are troves for nature's living treasures, readily providing that little something special for that special someone. They're bursting with all sorts of colourful, sweet-smelling treats, with everything from the locally-grown and fair-traded to the unexpected and exotic.

Walking into any flower shop is usually an explosion of stimulation -- if the colours don't hit you first, then the warm, intoxicating perfume of myriad fresh blooms will. Buying from a flower shop provides the extra simple pleasure of taking some of that colour and life home with you to enjoy. And then there are Toronto's floral designers themselves, who skillfully pair textures and colours within your budget, crafting their medium into unique works of art.