Happy Birthday, Toronto!

Yes, Toronto is looking at itself a little blurrily today . . . Why is that? Well, last night the city went drinking to celebrate its 173rd birthday and went a little overboard. It was back on March 6, 1834, that the town of York doffed the "Little York" moniker and restored its original name.

Just as everyone's birth is glazed with the haze of romanticized memory, so is Toronto's: "Municipal incorporation came about in 1834 because the structures and laws in place to govern York were inadequate to meet the needs of a growing community for public services, such as sewers, improving the farmers' market, and otherwise creating urban amenities." Hmm. Maybe that's not so romantic after all . . . Either way, if you're looking for an excuse to party on a Tuesday night, go raise a Mill St. or Steamwhistle and celebrate Toronto's birthday. The least we can do for our gracious host is share its hangover.

Image by Derek Flack from the blogTO flickr pool.