What do you get when you mix smutty writing and extreme cupcake enthusiasm? You get Rachel Bussel (renowned erotica author and cupcake connoisseur), who was recently in Toronto promoting all of sex, sugar highs and buttercream frosting.

Over the past weekend Ms. Bussel hosted both a 'cakehead' meetup at the Drake and a writers' workshop at sex shop institution Come As You Are.

Located behind the Winchester Hotel, our latest essential bar embodies old-world Russian glamour. One of the must-do drinking experiences here is to enter the large, wood-lined freezer behind the bar where you'll be provided with fur coats and hats and served food and vodka a la Russe.

Today's bar: Samovar Room

The 50's-themed Chocolate Ball held at the Palais Royale on Friday was the final event of a week of activities in conjunction with the 4th annual Toronto ChocolateFest.

From savoury to sweet, liquids to frozen treats, the ball was a deliciously indulgent evening. Foodies and adventurous eaters satisfied their taste buds while raising money for a charitable cause. All food stations were sponsored and all funds raised from tickets ($150) to the silent auction were donated to the Ava Rose Fund, a chairty supporting neurosurgery research at Sick Kids Hospital.

I drink a lot of coffee. Not as much, I'm sure, as my wife, and nowhere near as much as fellow Canadians, whose thirst for java in all its forms means that major coffee franchisees can open on competing corners from each other, and no up-and-coming urban neighbourhood has truly arrived until it has at least one stylish, serious shop selling latte with artful little swirls etched in foam.

Te Aro opened last spring in a former garage in Leslieville, a neighbourhood with no shortage of coffee shops. Given this saturation, owners Jessie and Andy Wilkin decided to offer coffee tastings to educate their customers on what goes into a cup - and showcase their beans. I managed an invite to the first test run of the tasting - or "cupping," as it would more properly be called - as a way of addressing the fact that, for all of the java I down, I don't really know much about the stuff.

Our latest essential bar only opened in August but already it has carved out a niche as a quieter alternative to The Drake, The Gladstone and other nearby watering holes. There's no live music here and no bouncer. But there are 12 beers on tap, good snacks and a dive-bar-chic vibe.

Today's bar: Double Deuce Saloon

Located above a pet supply store in Leslieville, this essential bar is secretive, unusual and classy. One of the true delights here is the menu. Operating without a kitchen, the chef has created a selection of pates, spreads, and even desserts that are stored and served in tiny Mason jars, available for $6 each.

Today's bar: Swirl Wine Bar