Valentine's Day 2012 is almost upon Toronto, which means a few particular conditions are poised to set in place. Many women, attached or otherwise, are getting their hopes up while watching YouTube videos of proposals on repeat; many men, attached or otherwise, haven't yet realized it's almost Valentine's Day; and singles of all creeds are starting to band together in callous, cliché rebuff of a day they deem "too commercial." Aren't holidays fun!?

Leasing a car in Toronto is perhaps the best option for those who can't stand the idea of sticking with the same car for more than four years. You can generally forget about the cost of general maintenance repairs, as most warranties provide coverage for the duration of the lease, though you'll never really own the car outright (unless, of course, you choose to buy the car after the term ends). Leasing can also come with certain restrictions, such as the number of kilometres you can drive each year, though the zero down payment does allow for a certain, lots-of-new-tech-toys-type of freedom in its own right. Here are the steps to finding a lease that works for you:

How to buy a car in Toronto is something that has surely crossed every 5 p.m. College Station commuter's mind. The logistics of owning a new or used vehicle — buying plates, getting registration, paying sales tax, obtaining Drive Clean and Safety Standards certifications (if not already acquired) — seem suddenly less daunting with a fellow commuter's elbow pressed squarely into your kidney. Obviously the first step is to decide what make and model of car you want to buy, followed by how, exactly, you want to make your purchase. It's also a good idea to look into insurance beforehand since the annual costs can fluctuate based on the type of car you buy.

Outdoor ice skating in Toronto is one of those activities that makes urban-dwelling seem a little less metropolitan. That is, unless you opt for the often-overcrowded rink at Nathan Phillips Square or another overly saturated outdoor spot. For the most part, though, these rinks seem to connect us a little better bit nature; be it through a lakeside view, a nature-immersed trail, or the windburn we inevitably get from spending too much time outside. While Toronto's natural ice rinks offer the best back-to-nature experience, they are, of course, weather contingent. So when the winter is a mild one like we're having this year, it might be better to check out some of outdoor ice skating rinks, open throughout winter in Toronto.

Road salt and slush are two reasons why Toronto will probably never have the almost venerable custom car culture that you see in the United States. A tour through the industrial parks and main drags in the far suburbs will reveal, however, that it still thrives here, despite the long winters that send these chopped, dropped, flame-covered, bass-pumping labours of love under tarps and into garages for at least four months of the year.

Where to play pinball in Toronto might change in the coming weeks as Toronto's first pinball cafe prepares to open its doors. Yet those who are content with the odd table or two still have plenty of options, even as concentrated sources of pinball machines continue to 'drain' (A little pinball lingo there, for those not in the know). While devoted players have been manning the playfield since before it went out of style and back, many Toronto bars of late have realized they can up their ironic/retro/cool factor by offering a vintage pinball machine or two. And there's always the Toronto Pinball League, which often gathers in members' homes to battle competitively on privately owned machines. For everyone else, here are a few places to play pinball in Toronto.