The big display of Victoria Day fireworks at Ashbridge's Bay this year finished up just before the skies opened and drenched those who lingered by the lakefront. So good. To be honest, the timing of the rain was kind of perfect because my neighbourhood sounded like an absolute war zone prior to its arrival. As usual, I sound like a dink — but when all you're treated to is the sound of fireworks, it's anything but appealing. I like the idea of neighbours getting together and putting on a little show, but in practice, I was annoyed more than anything else.

Shoot me. Or maybe just look at these pretty photos.

This dwelling at 87 Forest Heights Blvd. will require a little bit of imagination to seem fabulous, but it can easily be done. Just mentally Photoshop out the heinous...what are those, foam safety squares for children? Yeah, Photoshop those on out of there. And the matching rug, and...just about all of the other furniture and textiles. This place looks like whoever bought it became immediately bankrupt post-purchase and had to furnish the place through trips to Ikea and the now-defunct Zellers. (And trust me, I know first hand what that looks like, people).

Anyway, clear all the crap out of here and you've got an incredible, loft-like gallery space/living area for just a mere $5.5 million.

Toronto Zoo might get the pandas nowadays, but the land now occupied by Riverdale Farm used to be the city's premier animal watching institution. For 75 years Riverdale Zoo was home to a bizarre menagerie of wild and exotic creatures, including elephants, hippopotamuses, monkeys, and sea lions.

The historic Cabbagetown attraction closed for good and was partially demolished when the Metropolitan Toronto Zoo opened in 1975. Today, all that's left of the once thriving Victorian wildlife park with its decidedly dubious animal care policies is a scattering of historic buildings and a landscaped green space.

As you've likely heard — unless you've been living under an, ahem, rock — Mayor Rob Ford has been accused of being an actual crack user. It is alleged that a gang of drug dealers has video footage that could smudge the otherwise spotless reputation of our mayor. It has been reported that Gawker's editor, as well as two Toronto Star scribes, have seen said footage, and the video is now for sale. Needless to say, the Twitterati have had a field day with the story.

The intersection of Queen and Yonge has largely escaped the recent condo boom, thanks in part to the presence of heritage buildings on three of its four corners. However, that could all be about to change if a giant new 65-storey, 220-metre condominium just proposed by Cadillac Fairview makes it through the city's approval process.

If allowed, the historic Philip Jamieson Building with its rounded corner, currently home to sportswear company Atmosphere, would become the base of the new residential tower. The store's 117-year-old heritage protected interior would become the podium for the building known as the "Residences at the Toronto Eaton Centre" in the document currently on file with the city.

Toronto just had an earthquake. Yup, the news surrounding Rob Ford isn't the only earth-moving event of the day. Two earthquakes, a 5.2-magnitude tremor and a 4.1 aftershock, were reported by Earthquakes Canada 18-20 kms northeast of Shawville, Quebec, a town close to Ottawa.

The rumble, reportedly 10 seconds long, was felt here in Toronto and as far away as Cleveland around 9:43 AM but no property damage has been reported. Several buildings were evacuated in Toronto as a result of the earthquake.