The Drake Hotel is getting into the ice cream business. In a move that continues their expansion east along Queen, the Drake will be taking over the space currently occupied by Median Contemporary and opening an ice cream shop called Drake Scoops + Tees. The first day of business is slated for June 12th.

And why Scoops + Tees? That's because the Drake is once again collaborating with the team behind the Shared clothing brand and will be selling their t-shirts in the new shop. So, go for ice cream and buy a t-shirt. Get it? Not sure I do either but they'll be serving Metropolitan (a local brand) so we know that at least there's a local theme tying the two things together.

April brings showers but it also brings lots of business openings as entrepreneurs are looking to cash in on the always important summer months. On Roncesvalles, in the old Boho location that didn't survive the construction, a new restaurant called Blue Plate is set to open soon. The owners are posting updates and photos to their blog, Facebook and Twitter and promise that things are on track to meet their planned April 20th opening.

Something strange is happening on Gerrard between Marjory and Jones. This derelict part of the street near Gerrard Square Mall was best known for not having anything worth visiting with plenty of vacant storefronts and the shuttered Gerrard Cinema among its non-existent tenants. But now the whiff of gentrification is in the air with Great Burger Kitchen scheduled to open this week and a sign in the old cybercafe announcing that Grinder Cafe won't just be on Main anymore.

As we head into the last week of the worst month of the year there are plenty of bars, restaurants and other business about to open in Toronto. In Little Italy, the lactose friendly Korova Milkbar currently under renovations in the space formerly home to Ku (and before that, Pony). Fans of a Clockwork Orange will recognize the name but no word yet whether the drinks here will be laced with opiates.

You'd think the cold weather would slow construction but the minus twenty degree temperatures aren't stopping entrepreneurs from opening some intriguing new restaurants and cafes in the coming months. On Gerrard East near Jones, in an area where there's nothing good to eat except for a Peach Garden, a new spot looks to further the gourmet burger trend in Toronto. Called the Great Burger Kitchen, the soon to open restaurant promises naturally raised, locally sourced and free range meat plus fine poutines.

In my final opening soon round-up of 2009, I cross the city to get a glimpse of four places that will have some construction to do before welcoming their first customer. In Leslieville, next to Red Rocket, a Napoletana pizza joint is expected to open in the long vacant space previously occupied by furniture store Karl Ciesluk and the Mango event space. Details of the new restaurant are scant but it may or may not be called East Ender and no word whether the goods here will rival Libretto, or even Lil' Baci down the street.