Morning Brew: Rob Ford caught reading at the wheel, new LRVs to debut at CNE, TTC prepares for busking tryouts, topless events are now OK, and rocking Union

In his latest blunder, Rob Ford was photographed reading at the wheel of his Cadillac Escalade on the Gardiner Expressway yesterday. Despite previously speaking out against subway and streetcar operators caught distracted at the helm, Ford shrugged off the incident as symptomatic of his busy schedule. Toronto police say the mayor should hire a driver if his schedule is leading to dangerous behaviour, though they say reading at the wheel isn't technically against the law.

The original photo was posted to Twitter by @ryanghaughton who said Ford was heading east past Jameson Avenue at roughly 70 km/h around 10am when he was seen. The account was later deleted. Ford called questions about the incident "ridiculous." An inconsistent member of his fan-base agrees (via Reddit.)

In other Ford news, the mayor plans to trade crime fighting advice with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel when he visits the city for a trade trip next month. "[Chicago's] crime has gone up a little bit and we're going to try to combat that," he told the press yesterday.

Continuing its tradition of providing first glimpses at new Toronto transit, the CNE will host an exhibit of the new LRV trains expected to run on the Eglinton-Scarborough Crosstown line and the Finch and Sheppard routes. The full train won't be there - just the lead car and one section from the middle - but the display outside the Direct Energy Centre that starts Friday will be the first chance for many to get up close and personal with the new vehicles.

Instruments at the ready, gang! Auditions for TTC busking spots start this Friday. Up to 200 people are expected to try out at the CNE for one of 74 coveted licenses.

Toronto's Parks department says it will issue a license to any group wanting to hold a topless event in one of the city's green spaces this summer over concerns about a legal challenge. GoTopless, a U.S. group of religious adherents, were denied a license last year over a bylaw that requires "appropriate bathing attire."

Wanted: Minecraft builder to create replica of the Toronto waterfront. Think you've got the chops? Apply here.

Finally, here's everyone's favourite gypsy-party-punk musicians Lemon Bucket Orkestra whipping up the main ticket hall at Union Station during a 10th anniversary celebration for the Toronto blackout. Earlier this year, the band pulled out the brass on-board a delayed flight at Pearson (also via Reddit.)

IN BRIEF:

• White Sox's 3-run inning enough to defeat Blue Jays [CBC]
• Mayor Ford's policy guru is his new chief of staff [The Globe and Mail]
• Towing companies snub Toronto's low-tow zone [The Star]

Photo: "Osgoode Station" by Dominic Bugatto in the blogTO Flickr pool.