Photo: "Carpet of Fallen Leaves" by Bobcatnorth, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.

What's happening in the GTA (and sometimes beyond):

Given our dire financial state, should Toronto introduce a municipal sales tax? Other large cities in North America do it, so perhaps we should consider it. The idea of paying more taxes for goods and services when we're already taxed to the extent we are really hurts, but it could be a solution to some of our biggest problems (like our grossly underfunded transit system).

We expected a TTC fare hike to be proposed, but I don't think anyone thought that the monthly Metropass would go from $109 to $126 (an almost 16% hike). Doing the math reveals that Metropass holders would have to ride the rocket a minimum of twice daily on 6 days of the week, in order to make the per ride fare less than the cost of tokens. Where's the savings for the most frequent transit users?

Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors players got H1N! flu vaccinations from their team doctors. But are they in high risk groups? (I know they're high risk for not making the playoffs again, but that doesn't count.) Should they have had to wait like the rest of us, especially given the inevitable shortage of vaccine supply?

Facing another operating deficit, the TTC has predicted a $100 million shortfall for 2010. Nine city councillors are set to discuss the matter in a meeting now scheduled for Nov. 17. The remaining six-week period would give the commission just enough time to implement a fare hike for the New Year.

For every $0.25 increase in fare, the TTC raises roughly $45 million. TTC Chairman, Councillor Adam Giambrone, says that the current fare of $2.75 won't be increased to four or five dollars because that would "not [be] good for riders". But, I won't be surprised if I find myself throwing a Toonie, Loonie, and maybe even a quarter in the fare box in the near future.

Monsters of Folk headlined Massey Hall on Monday evening, dishing out a 29-song set showcasing their self-titled debut, intermixed with fan favourites by My Morning Jacket, Bright Eyes, M. Ward and even Conor Oberst's recent stint with the Mystic Valley Band.

Monsters of Folk (MOF) is made up of four prominent US musicians - Jim James (of My Morning Jacket), Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes, Mystic Valley Band), Matt Ward (She & Him, M. Ward) and Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes, Lullaby For the Working Class). Several decades of accumulated experience and creativity coming together to form one supergroup brings a classic debate to the forefront of my mind: the whole versus the sum of its parts. Having seen each of the parts individually before, I was brimming with anticipation for a glimpse of the whole.

The fight to save Toronto's architectural heritage is a bitter one; passion is often the sole remaining motivation for so many fighters on the front line of this endless battle. This is a good thing, because it quickly becomes plain that reason and common sense don't stand a chance, especially in a system that's become increasingly stacked against them.

Over two years ago, a notice was put up in the window of a building on King Street East in Toronto's old downtown that a developer was seeking city permission to erect a condo on the site. This was the beginning of a battle for Robert Cishecki that continues to this day. A real estate broker and local resident, he's collected signatures and started a website to publicize the cause of forcing the city to enforce its own bylaws.

The best all day breakfast in Toronto is a scramble. Making a solid breakfast strikes me as an easy (and fun!) task. It can't be too difficult to make breakfast spectacular, because it's so basic and inherently beautiful: Bread, bacon and eggs! (Or your choice of a vegetarian alternative!) It's so pure and... historical.

Simon's Wok is in East Chinatown, but this vegetarian Chinese eatery is worth seeking out. (There's much more to Toronto Chinese food than BBQ Pork on the Spadina strip, west-enders!)

Simon's conveys a different perspective on vegetarian food, with a whopping 111 menu items to choose from, including a wide range of hearty "fake meat" options. And trust me... earnestly-named dishes like "Assorted Wheat Gluten" are a lot more delicious than they sound.

See my review of Simon's Wok in the restaurant section.