The popular Roncesvalles Polish Festival officially kicked off with a harvest celebration this afternoon and is expecting 100,000 visitors from all over Toronto today and tomorrow. Although the weather isn't ideal for the outdoor fun and food, Roncesvalles Ave is closed down and the festival mood has taken hold of the neighbourhood.

Polish food and musical tastes are on fine display, and a number of non-Polish businesses from Roncesvalles and beyond comprised a surprisingly large portion of the vendors. The festival offers the chance to see Chicago band Freeze Dried, described as "a polka band backed by the Supremes," while eating Malaysian murtabak (think roti) alongside pierogies, 'kraut and sausage.

Lit Espresso Bar opened its doors a week ago, but is already finding that their fine coffees and range of panini are just what Roncesvalles residents wanted. I visited the new spot on their opening weekend and my first look at Lit is in the cafes section.

After weeks of speculation and posturing, Prime Minister Stephen Harper called an election this morning, officially kicking of the campaigning that will culminate in Canadians going to the polls on October 14.

The election call comes on the heels of a new CBC poll indicating that 38 percent of Canadians would vote Conservative if the election were held today, enough to retain power, and that both Stephen Harper and Jack Layton, NDP leader, are viewed as better possible PMs than liberal leader Stéphane Dion (polling of blogTO readers is so far telling a very different story - see still active poll below). The Green Party and Bloc poll at similar levels, well below the other three parties, with Elizabeth May's strength in Ontario.

Each party is pushing hard for GTA votes, traditionally a left-wing stronghold but more in play for the Conservatives than years past, according to the poll.

The Junction Arts Festival, in it's 16th year and running through Sunday, showcased Junction native Justin Rutledge Friday night and welcomes multi award winner David Usher tonight. Galleries are set up in local businesses throughout the one kilometre stretch of Dundas between Keele and Quebec.

The arts programming features Canadians and Torontonians alike, and is worth a visit on its own. The festival, expanded to five days this year with art, music, movies and more, showcases a variety of homegrown - Junction - musicians.

Friday night's headliner Justin Rutledge drew both locals and loyal followers alike, and the free David Usher show tonight promises to bring an even fuller house.

Several hundred supporters at the Empire Lounge in Toronto cheered loudly last night, as Barack Obama delivered a powerful speech from Invesco Field in Denver. As 80,000 gathered around Obama, Democrats Abroad in Toronto joined countless thousands around the world to watch the speech live, cheering and applauding as if Obama could hear them.

Obama earned rousing cheers from the crowd repeatedly, perhaps none more loud than after blasting opponent John McCain for being out of touch with everyday Americans. "It's not because John McCain doesn't care," Obama said. "It's because John McCain doesn't get it."

In their effort to equip 100% of Toronto's buses with bike racks by 2010, the TTC has announced that beginning Sunday, 19 more bus routes will become bicycle friendly. This will bring the fleet of bike rack equipped buses to 43.

What started as a pilot project a couple years ago, with just a few select (mostly north-south) routes, is now expanding to be an option accessible to riders in many parts of the city, heading in any direction. Although bikes are allowed on all TTC vehicles, the bus bicycle racks are the only option during the rush periods.