There are plenty of private ways to spend the day with your beloved — perhaps making the most of Toronto's top makeout spots — but those who like a little extra company might want to take in some of these events around the city. Here's what's going on around Valentine's Day in Toronto.

Parties

RED Masquerade Party
The second annual RED Masquerade Party is taking over the Gladstone this year, allowing for Valentine's Day necking with a hint of anonymity. The event includes live music and "mystery," which might simply refer to who goes home with whom at the end of the night. Held on Tuesday, February 14, tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.

Valentine's Fetish Ball
What is Valentine's Day without rope bondage, alas? The Opera House's Valentine's Fetish Ball will be held Saturday February 11th, enough time to recoup from the "dungeon play area" activities for the actual day. The evening starts at 10 p.m., and fetish wear is mandatory. Tickets are $20 at the door.

La Tease 2012
This three hour event is actually more of a workshop — a workshop in lovin', that is. Hosted by Atelier Cafe Lounge on King, La Tease features live burlesque entertainers, a "sexy dance" workshop, relationship and dating advice and more. The event is being held from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Monday, February 13, and tickets are $15 in advance.

Love Near Bellwoods: Valentine's Day Showcase
Complete with a Valentine-making station and free paper mailboxes for the first 50 guests, Love Near Bellwoods features music of the likes of Dave Monks of Tokyo Police Club, Chris White of Bellewoods, and Luke Lalonde from Born Ruffians, among others. Swooning yet? Hosted February 14 at Oz studio, the night starts at 10 p.m. and tickets are $7.

Food and Events

Toronto Love Sauna
A room at the Gladstone will be transformed into a bona fide sauna Friday, February 10, to Sunday, February 12, only lacking in authenticity in the form of an old, hairy man in a towel. Since the event is "family-friendly," birthday suits are discouraged, but those looking to take part can break out the summer shorts and t-shirts early. How romantic, right? By appointment.

Chocolate Truffle Do-It-Yourself Workshop
Buying chocolate for your Valentine is one thing, but making it yourself is entirely another. This two-hour truffle workshop teaches the basics from start to finish, and needless to say, you won't leave empty handed. Held Sunday, February 12 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Riverdale Hub. $25 Per person.

Erotic Arts and Crafts Fair
Handmade nipple tassels? Upcycled undergarments? Erotic illustrations? These are the gems of the Erotic Arts and Crafts Fair, the place where you can pick up some fellacio-themed gifts for your partner on Valentine's Day. Held at the Gladstone, this year's fair is Saturday, February 11 from noon until 8 p.m. and admission is free.

Short & Sweet - Valentine's Love-In
A regular short film event at No One Writes to the Colonel, but this time the night is Valentine's Day-themed (though helpfully, organizers have made note to say that 'no love is required'). The films featured include those by Brooks Hunter, ab cd cd, Ettore Nicoletti, and admission is free. Monday, February 13, starting at 8 p.m.

Chocolate: The Super Food
Chocolate: The Super Food — need I say more? The George Brown Chef School is hosting a special chocolate-themed event just in time for Valentine's Day. Hosted by food writer Marilyn Smith, this learn and taste event (hopefully, emphasis on the latter) is being held Monday, February 13 from 6:30 p.m. onward. RSVP by email.

Les Coquettes Present Speakeasy
For those who think the perfect Valentine's night out should include high kicks and organic salmon fillets. Les Coquettes are kicking off their 2012 season with a burlesque dinner cabaret on the evening of February 14. At Revival at College and Ossington with executive chef Christopher Woods overseeing the dinner, the event promises sizzling, not-for-kids entertainment that is as "sumptuous as the menu." Tickets are $85 (or $35 for just the show) and doors open at 6 p.m.

Anti-Valentine's Day

Bloody Valentine Massacre
More "zombie walk" than Valentine's Day, this... uh... "atypical" Valentine's Day party encourages blood, guts, and gore, with prizes to be awarded for most appalling costume. Tuesday, February 14 at SPiN Toronto, the evening includes drinks, a photo booth, and free ping pong after 9 p.m.

Sick of Love Soiree
Now in its third year, this anti-Valentine's Day bash not only allows you to network with other cupid-haters, but a portion of all proceeds from drink sales will be donated to the Heart & Stroke Foundation. Hosted at Libra Lounge, the event kicks off at 10 p.m. on Saturday, February 11, and there is no cover (though donations are welcome).

Singles Anti-Valentine's Day Party
Toted as Toronto's largest singles anti-Valentine's Day Party, this event at C-Lounge is expected to attract upwards of 400 people. Complete with door prizes, a grand prize draw, drink specials and more, the night starts at 8 p.m. on Saturday, February 11, and tickets are $20 in advance, $30 at the door.

Photo by Jesse Milns

Decide on the length of your lease

Generally speaking, the longer the lease, the lower the monthly payments. The trouble with signing on for a longer lease, however, is should you would want to terminate early, you may be faced with costly penalties. Most leases in Toronto are generally between two to four years.

Estimate your costs

There's the pen and paper method for those who remember their sixth grade math, though an expedited option is to use an online lease calculator. There are plenty of resources to tap on the web, including this tool by Drive.ca, and many car manufacturer as well offer their own calculators right on their websites. Once you have a better idea of cost, you can decide on the precise type of car you want to lease.

Shop around

Just like when buying a new car, you might get a different offer from one dealership to the next. (Or else, you might decide to bypass the dealerships altogether and head straight to a broker or smaller leasing operation.) It's best to visit various dealerships to get a feel for your options before making a commitment or composing a short list. Get your paperwork in order (gap insurance, license, etc.) before heading to the dealership for a test drive.

Test drive and negotiate

Try not to swoon at the smell of your new car. Work to get the best rate possible before signing the lease contract, after which you'll be locked in. Keep in mind potential additional (hidden) costs such as acquisition fees.

Keep it beautiful

Eventually, you will have to return the car to the dealer (again, unless you decide to buy) so try to keep the car in the best shape possible. That means taking it in for regular maintenance and adequately prepping for winter. Still, if you do want to give up your lease early, there are a variety of companies that work in the GTA (Lease Busters, Lease Experts, Easy Release, etc.) to free you from your lease before the end of your term, usually by finding a new lessee. Of course, there's always the option of you yourself becoming that lessee, which is an especially attractive opportunity for those looking for the shortest lease term possible.

A big thanks to the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic for sponsoring the blood, sweat, tears and elbow grease that went into writing this post.

Photo by Benson Kua in the blogTO Flickr pool

New or Used?

Whether you decide to buy new or used determines where you go looking to find your next vehicle. Buying new has its perks, of course, including the manufacturer's warranty, low or no interest rates, and that new-car smell that pine-shaped air fresheners just can't replicate. But a used vehicle is clearly a more affordable choice (as long as you don't buy a lemon), any becomes a little more desirable once you realize that your "new" car essentially becomes "used" the moment you drive it off the lot. If you're buying new your first and last stop will generally just be the dealership, but if you've decided to go used, you have a few more options in terms of where to look.

Private Sale or Dealership?

Some of the top places to list a used car for sale are also the places to buy, including general classifieds such as Kijiji and Craigslist and Auto Classifieds such as Auto Trader and Car Pages. Dealerships might offer better piece of mind for some when buying a used vehicle, but they also usually come with higher price tags. For those with the number of a trusty mechanic, a private sale can offer the same type of assurance. Then there's the option of buying a Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle, which might cost a little more than the average used, but comes with a manufacturer's warranty.

Buy or Lease?

The decision of whether to lease or buy a new car depends on a variety of factors, all of which, likely, trace back to one — money. If you can spring for a cash deal (I'll send you my number in a private message) all the power to you. If not, you might want to consider leasing. You'll probably pay more in the long run, but it has certain advantages (i.e. a new car every few years) And then, of course, there's always the option of a purchase loan. Your monthly payments for a lease will likely be lower than those for a purchase loan, but with the latter, the regular monthly expense will eventually stop. An owned car, however, will undoubtedly incur maintenance costs in the long-term, whereas leased cars are often covered under warranty for all or the majority of the term (two to four years, generally). That doesn't mean you're off the hook on maintenance, but there's some protection there.

Useful Links:

• Ministry of Transportation
• Canadian Black Book of Car Values
• Auto Trader
• Lease vs. Buy calculator
• Non-comprehensive list of used car dealers in Toronto

A big thanks to the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic for sponsoring the blood, sweat, tears and elbow grease that went into writing this post.

Photo by DdotG in the blogTO Flickr pool

Sherbourne Common
This rink offers a simply stunning view of the city, as well a rink guard (occasionally) with whom you can enjoy the scene. While official skating hours are from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., the rink is not fenced in, and thus, technically accessible at all hours. No rentals or changerooms—just washrooms.

Lake Devo
Ryerson students know it as the sometimes-functioning fountain and pond where Tim Hortons cups float astray in the summertime. Come winter, however, the pond is frozen over and the public can come skate from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Occasionally, you'll come across members of the Ryerson figure skating team practicing their axels, and members of Ryerson's freshman community practicing frozen funneling.

Colonel Sam Smith Park
Colonel Sam Smith Park is the only place in Toronto with an official ice skating trail. Though not great for shinny (at around 4.5m wide) the 250m trail has a bit of a respite feel to it (as it should, being in Etobicoke), with a washroom and changing area nearby.

Campbell Park
Tucked away in the Dupont and Lansdowne area, Campbell Park is a great place to hit up midday, when the rink is quite and you can work on your hockey skills. Come afternoon, things get busier with the local shinny crowd. They also have a hot chocolate stand and $2 skate rentals.

Christie Pits
Vintage swimming trunks are swapped salvage leather ice skates in the wintertime when the crowd shifts from the pool to Christie Pitts' outdoor rink. The rink has designated free skate times, as well as a shinny schedule for kids, youths, adults, avoiding that annoying puck/skate clash. Christie Pitts also has a pretty decent change area (with skate-friendly rubber floors).

Brick Works Ice Trail
While not an official City trail, the Brick Works' free ice trail is not one to overlook. Under old industrial rafters, the Brick Works trail is open weekends 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Thursday evenings from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Skate rentals are available for $5 (or PWYC) and good food, of course, is available nearby at the farmers' market.

Kew Gardens
Like Christie Pitts, Kew Gardens' outdoor rink has designated times for free skate and shinny hockey. Though small, the change area actually has lockers for public use, meaning you don't have to worry about your boots sitting lonely by the side of the rink. Kew Gardens is one of the longest-open City rinks, available for use until March 11.

Trinity Bellwoods
Not exactly the place for a quiet, leisurely skate, but Trinity Bellwoods' rink does offer plenty of room for laps or a game of shinny. The fenced-in rink is one Toronto's few outdoor rinks that has designated shinny times for women's hockey, scheduled here this winter on Monday evenings. No rentals, but there is a nearby changing area.

High Park
High Park has two outdoor rink pads and its own zamboni onsite for regular maintenance. The rink is open as early at 9 a.m. on some days, and closed as late at 9:45 p.m., depending on whether free skate or shinny is on the roster. No rentals here either, though there is a changeroom for lacing up.

Dufferin Grove
Dufferin Grove is another spot for women's shinny and also one with two full-sized pads. This rinks is one of the best in Toronto in terms of amenities, with a $2 skate-lending program, a kitchen with fresh snacks, lockers, changerooms, organic coffee and hot chocolate, and (best of all) occasional live music.

Habourfront
Harbourfront skating is especially jolly during the holidays when it's drenched with music and cheer, though skating at the lakeside rink continues through the rest of the winter. Pleasure skating is free from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays) with rentals available onsite and plenty of hot drinks and snacks. DJ skate night is held every Saturday night, testing our collective ability to grind while on blades.

Wallace Emerson
Wallace Emerson's double-pad rink is available for shinny and pleasure skates. One pad is left unfenced for the season, meaning skaters can take to the ice after the designated 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. close. The change area has skates and helmets to lend out for a nominal cost, as well as a snack bar and some books and games.

College Park
Right in the middle of all the action and unfenced — not great from nearby condo-dwellers, but idea for those keen on midnight skates. The rink at College Park is designated for pleasure skating only (though occasionally the young and restless will tote along a puck), and perhaps for that reason, often seems to be in pretty good condition. Changerooms and lockers onsite, though no rentals.

For a full list of City-owned ice rinks in Toronto, check out this website.

Note: This list was originally compiled in 2010, but was in need of an update due to new rink opening since then. We've purposely kept most of the archived comments here because we believe they (mostly) add value to this topic. If you don't want to have to wade through all of them, simply hit the "sort by newest first" link at the top of the thread.

Photos by Jackman Chiu, Chewie2008, and hogtown_blues.

Pimping out your car will probably send you to a place like Toryork Road, which runs through the industrial parks that sit between York University and Pearson Airport. It's also the area where you'll go if you get into an accident - the street is home to a Collision Reporting Centre, as well as countless auto body and collision centres, their parking lots full of damaged rides missing bumpers and grills, while tow trucks make their way along the long curve of Toryork.

The tiny and cave-like showroom at TeamSLS is overwhelming at first, and proof that there's almost no part of your car that can't be replaced, rebuilt or otherwise improved. Besides the inevitable rims, the walls are covered with almost every kind of car part you can carry with one hand. There are wheel locks, racing nuts, starters, shocks, grills, lights, gear knobs, pedals, mats and badges, some of them quite striking - a display case contains blinged out badges for BMWs and Hummer H3s, as well as luxury pickups like the Tahoe, Yukon and Denali. Pride of place, however, goes to a big GMC name plate, the interior of the initials picked out in red rhinestones.

Improving your auto can start simply: SLS sells a dizzying range of car air fresheners on several shelves behind the counter, and $20 will get you a decent replacement bulb for your headlight, to give that cool blue cast that's popular nowadays. After that the options are virtually limitless, and cost ultimately beyond belief. Harry is working behind the counter on the day I drop by, and he tells me that a few years ago the car of choice for their (largely young and male) clientele was the Honda Civic or Acura CSX, while today they're seeing a lot of entry-level BMWs and Mazda 3s.

Improving on a stock car, new or used, usually starts with a basic package — lights and wheels are improved, a new keyless starter and alarm is installed, and suspension is lowered by at least an inch. In a city full of potholes and "traffic calming" obstacles this might seem reckless, but it improves handling at speed, although it begs the question of how often you'll find yourself shifting into fifth before your muffler and transmission are torn apart by the speed bumps on the street where your nona lives.

The SLS website features a gallery of finished jobs, ranging from remarkably tasteful and restrained reupholstery jobs to an interior redone in pink and white, and another in Gucci-print leather. Exterior restyling ranges from two-tone paint jobs to bumpers and side panels that hug the pavement, and a Hummer H2 fitted with "lambo doors" that scissor upwards. Harry tells me that except for Bentleys or high-end vintage collectible cars, there's almost nothing that that can't, or won't, customize, though he says that sometimes customers have an agenda that defies financial common sense.

Harry tells me about a customer who came in with a 1990 Nissan Sentra that he describes as a "rust bucket on wheels." He was willing to pay for an ambitious rebuild that would, among other things, involve swapping out the original motor and automatic transmission for a 280hp high performance one with a manual shift, but they told him that they'd need a whole other "parts car" to cannibalize, assuming that would be the end of it. He ended up coming in with another Sentra that was in better shape than the original, but insisted that he wanted his original auto redone, even if going with the parts car would have saved him money, so deep was the emotional investment he had in his Sentra, which Harry presumed was probably the first car he ever owned.

Car stereos are probably the subject of a whole other post, but there's one sonic upgrade you can do to your car that doesn't involve subwoofers. Out in far Scarberia, in a little hub of auto shops, NoyzBoyz Performance Exhaust is in the business of updating mufflers and exhaust systems to give customers the throaty roar or threatening rumble that drivers imagine suits their car's self-image.

Looked at simply, a car's air intake and exhaust system isn't very different from a musical instrument — for their LFA supercar, Lexus hired Yamaha's musical instrument division to tune their engine. John Hopkins, the floor manager at Noyzboyz, describes how the shop will take customers into the garage, jack their car up and let them see the work they'll have to do, and even do a free "test fit" of a muffler system to let them hear what they'll get.

It's a courtesy Hopkins says is actually essential for customer satisfaction: "Some cars you can only be in them for a half hour or so and your head is ringing." There is, of course, a physical aesthetic to their work, though, and Hopkins shows me shelves of mufflers fitted with different shapes of exhaust pipes or "tips," which he describes as the "jewellery" of the outtake system.

It all sounds about as green as a smelting oven, but John says that they try to recycle parts as often as they can to save customers money, and insists that improving your car's intake and exhaust can help both performance and fuel economy. He also says that they've done work on hybrids, which might run green part of the time, but still have an exhaust system for their gasoline assist engines.

The cost can run from a few hundred dollars for a new muffler up to $16,000 for a supercharged system, but like Harry at TeamSLS, John insists that you should never let an amateur or well-intentioned friend do the work for you. John says he's seen mufflers held on with bungee cords, aluminum tape and muffler cement, while Harry says that, with the complicated electronics in new cars, you absolutely need a 310k certified electrician to make sure your starter or GPS is wired into the right power supply. And since there are a lot of dodgy parts suppliers out there, working from unlicensed factories all over the world, Harry adds a bit of advice that will make sure you never go wrong: "Buy American."

Custom car photos courtesy TeamSLS.

A big thanks to the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic for sponsoring the blood, sweat, tears and elbow grease that went into writing this post.

BARS

The Port
Paying heed to its past life as a hub for watching World Cup games, The Port opened last year with a World Cup Soccer pinball machine. A Pac-Man arcade game only enhances the experience.

Unloveable
Unloveable offers two aces when it comes to pinball; the machine is Star Wars-themed, and it's free to play. Musicians are thus likely used to distracted audiences.

Black Dice Cafe
Black Dice Cafe offers a 1950's theme with a 1970's Surf Chance Pinball machine and a smattering of Japanese influence.

Ted's Collision
Ted's is the opposite of pretension with cheap drinks, a mild crowd, and legends that describe the remarkable conditions of its apparently still-functioning washrooms. A Spiderman pinball machine, naturally, fits right in.

Crawford
Another Star Wars table, offered with Mr. Freeze cocktails on Fridays and Saturdays. Watch out, ladies.

OTHER OPTIONS

Community 54
There are all sorts of vintage games at this retail shop and arcade, including Galactica, Terminator, Pac-Man, and NBA Jam. But what would a throwback arcade really be without a tilt-sensitive pinball machine? Here, it's all about Street Fighter II.

The Ballroom
In the spirit of making things cool again, the guys behind The Ballroom decided to throw a pinball machine in the arcade to go along with their new, hip, bowling alley. Games on this Roller Coaster Tycoon machine are $1.

California Sandwiches
Classic veal sandwiches, spicy meatballs, and kids fighting over the pinball machine— just as every nonna's house should be. The original California Sandwiches has two pinball machines; a Rolling Stones machine and a Batman machine, both $1 per game.

Church of the Silver Ball (Mississauga)
The holy grail, if you will, of vintage pinball machines outside of Toronto proper. This church hosts pinball nights a few times a month with unlimited play for $10. Machines include everything from The Simpsons to Baywatch, The Twilight Zone and Slick Chick.

The Playdium Store
To play or buy, and home to the Canadian Pinball Championship.

Know of a good spot for pinball not on our list? Let us know in the comments.

Photo by David Gallagher on Flickr

Axe Throwing
The Backyard Axe Throwing League offers just what it sounds. Axe hurling, the act traditionally exercised by enraged lovers who catch their partners in bed with someone else, is performed competitively and recreationally at The Backyard Axe Throwing League in the Junction Triangle. Think of the game sort of like darts, except you could lose an arm, rather than an eye. Axes are thrown at four by four foot wooden targets from 15 feet away, and points are tallied to determine the winner. And yes, the league boasts playoffs and all. Not for children's birthday parties.

Bike Polo
This is polo without ostentatious floppy hats and cashmere sweaters. Bike Polo is sort of a mix of polo, hockey, and cycling, and it's played in teams on a hockey rink (minus the ice, of course). The Toronto club meets as many as four times per week, usually at either Dufferin Grove or Scadding Court shinny rinks. BPTO, as it calls itself, generally offers a beginner night once a week, with extra mallets on hand to lend out to new players.

Disc Golf
The object of disc golf is unsurprisingly similar to golf, in that you want to get your disc to the final target in the fewest number of throws possible. The Toronto Island Park has its own basket-adorned disc golf course, which is officially recognized by the Professional Disc Golf Association. Since anyone can play (after fronting the cost of the ferry), disc golf is a cheap take on golf that hasn't yet been tarnished by a major player's sex scandal.

Unicycle Hockey
The Toronto Unicycle Club meets regularly at a couple of high schools in Toronto (generally in the west end) to practice their peddling (a nice change from the political kind) or pick up a game of hockey. The game is usually played with five players on each team and an obvious lack of full body contact. It might be offensive to picture the game played to the soundtrack of circus music, but I can't help but do it anyway. Open to new players.

Pillow Fighting
What was the Pillow Fight League is now Bedlam Pillow Fighting. The all girl league held tryouts this past September, and is hosting them again near the end of January. In short, pillows are used to execute moves with the intention of winning my pinfall or surrender. Profession pillow fighting has an attitude akin to roller derby, so if you're expecting nighties and giggles, best to look elsewhere.

Table Hockey
Not just for kids whose moms think real hockey is too dangerous! (Or maybe it is, just for when they grow up.) The Toronto STIGA Table Hockey League (TSTHL) plays on STIGA hockey tables (think little plastic men who spin), which is the official table used for the table hockey world championships. The Toronto league meets at a downtown loft for 82 regular season games plus playoffs. Watch out for concussions, and by that I mean thumb sprains.

Know of an unconventional sport in Toronto that's worthy of note. Let's us know in the comments.

Here's what to do.

• Order a Used Vehicle Information Package from any licensing issuing office or online. It costs about $20 and is your way of verifying that the car is indeed yours, and it also contains forms detailing the car's condition and description, includes lien information, registration history, forms for bills of sale, and other necessary documents.
• Find a buyer. Easier said than done, right? You'll need to come up with a fair price for your car by looking at ads for similar vehicles online or by using a value calculator such as the Canadian Black Book tool (see below).
• Fill out the "Bill of Sale" form that comes in the Used Vehicle Information Package. This basically just entails writing down your name, the buyer's name, the sale price, date, and signature.
• The registration permit has an "Application for Transfer" at the back of the vehicle portion of the permit. The page must be completed and signed before given to the buyer.
• Hand the Used Vehicle Information Package to the buyer, as well as the vehicle portion of the registration permit as mentioned above.
• Keep your plates (can be used for your next car) and the plate portion of the registration permit. The plates are still yours, and stick with you.

You can sell your car without taking it for a safety inspection or Drive Clean test, but the buyer can't drive it until he/she gets the pass and certification. A better option is to take your car for the tests prior to sale and simply tack on the extra cost of the inspections to your listing price. Most buyers — smart ones, anyway — won't want to buy a car without the assurance that it won't need expensive repairs.

WHERE TO SELL YOUR CAR

General Online Classifieds
These are the obvious options like as Kijiji, Craigslist, and Ebay. Basically, it's up to you to create a description of your vehicle with whatever details you deem necessary. There are some online tools, such as the Canadian Black Book's value calculator, that can help you figure out how much your used car is worth, guiding you to an appropriate listing price.

Auto Classifieds
AutoTrader.ca is probably one of the best-known sites for selling a car online in the GTA, followed by others such as Carpages.ca and MonsterAuto.ca. These pages generally require you to fill in standard information on the car's specs and details, and usually offer their own car value calculator and, in the case of AutoTrader, mobile app.

Dedicated Buyers
If you don't want to deal with potential lookie loos or difficult buyers, go can always go the route of places such as SellMyCar.ca and YourCar4Cash.ca. Nevermind the alphanumeric integration, these companies simply require you to fill out an online form with information on your car, and they'll come back with an offer. If you choose to accept, they will generally offer you cash or cheque, and some will even pick up the vehicle.

Scrap Collectors
For those vehicles damaged beyond repair or simply past their prime. There are plenty of options in the GTA — businesses such as Car Removal, Scrap Car Removal Toronto, Junk Car Disposal, and Scrap Cars for Cash — that will pick up your car and tow it away, leaving you with cash. Albeit, not a lot. The real benefit to selling this way is convenience, not money.

Sell on Consignment
Perfect for those with limited time, energy, or experience to spend on selling a car themselves. (Shrinking violets, I'm looking at you). Some dealerships will take your car and sell it on your behalf (for a cut, of course) eliminating some of the hassle. There are typically more options for those looking to sell exotic or luxury cars on consignment, though there are dealerships that will take on more. Bulletproof Auto Sales & Brokerage is just one example in the GTA.

Sell to a Dealership
You can sell your old car to a registered dealership in exchange for some cash off your new car, or else give it up to one of the privately owned used dealerships around Toronto. Auto123.com has a pretty comprehensive list of the businesses around the GTA. While the hassle may be less than with a one-on-one private sale, the dealer will generally offer you no more than the auction price of the vehicle. To maximize money in your pocket, you'll probably want to go with a classified ad and wait for the buyers to come to you.

A big thanks to the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic for sponsoring the blood, sweat, tears and elbow grease that went into writing this post.

Aerial Yoga is pretty much just what it sounds like — practicing yoga in the air — thanks to a fabric trapeze (also known as a silk). The silk, which is suspended from the ceiling, aids in the performance of traditional yoga postures on the ground or allows the more brave among us to get off the floor and even inverted.

bspoke athletics started offering the program about nine months ago, after owner Jonathan Farber discovered it — by accident, no less — during a trip to New York City. "For me, fun has never been a word I'd use for Yoga," he laughed, acknowledging that while many people do enjoy yoga, it's just not his cup of tea. "But when I saw this postcard I stopped and thought, wow, this looks really fun."

Inspired, Farber began to work to bring the practice to Toronto.

Last weekend I got a chance to stop by and check a class out, and I was pleasantly surprised by how challenging the class really was (though not-so-pleasantly surprised by how sore I was the day after!).

The session began with some stretching, using the silks in a very basic way for stability and balance. Within minutes, however (at least it felt that way!), we were gearing up to try our first inverted pose. Sitting on the edge of the silk, instructor and self-proclaimed yogi Jennifer Adinolfi instructed us to lean back, wrap our legs around the front of the silk and lock our ankles in; effectively leaving all eight of us giggling and hanging upside down, hands firmly planted on the floor.

"Now lift your hands off the ground, and hang," she said. Eyes wide, I look around and see everyone else tentatively moving one hand, than the other. It took me a few tries to work up the nerve to remove my hands, but once I did it felt great to hang suspended in the air like that, feeling almost as if I was floating.

Later on in the class, we did a shoulder stand — our entire bodies were wrapped in the silk as we hung straight legged, upside down, with nothing but our shoulders dug into the silk for support.

Even the normal yoga postures involved the silk in some way, and I found it much easier to flex, bend, and hold some of the more traditional poses with the aid of the silk.

I was a bit disappointed we didn't do more inversions during the class, but with a group of mostly beginners — some even to yoga — and an older women who was giving it a whirl, I can understand why Jennifer stuck to more grounded, traditional poses, and it just made me want to go back and work to become more advanced so I can get to the really fun stuff.

Right now, bspoke athletics offers beginner classes a few times a week. If the diversity of my group both in age and experience is any testament, anyone and everyone is capable of giving aerial yoga a try.

Photos by Stephani Buchman, courtesy of bspoke athletics.

The evening's entertainment incorporated a stand-up comedy act, a burlesque act or two and a fabulous drag queen in between bouts of girl-on-girl pillow fight action. In other words, it was an eventful night.

Here's how it played out.

Crystal Clear (in the orange hair) MC'd the night and did well to egg on the crowd.

The first bout pitted Cami Flauge against Lynn Tendo, who won by a pin submission.

Mysterion the Mind Reader did his schtick in between bouts.

Attendees were treated to some twirling pasties on stage, courtesy of a couple of burlesque dancers.

The main action took place on a large pink mat in the middle of the venue below the stage, surrounded by two rows of chairs, allowing die-hard fans to get close to the action.

One of my favourite pillow fighters was Elle Cappitan, who played her drunken pirate role really well.

Kitty Barnum, in her circus-inspired stripes and polkadots, wasn't afraid to tumble around the ring with her. We also got to meet her sister, Bailey Rena (together they're Barnum and Bailey). Anne Force Her did a good job as referee. Although I really would've liked to see her use those handcuffs.

If you're into vampires or the goth scene, or perhaps even Twilight or Bauhaus, you'd get a kick out of Stella Lugosi. She's a force to be reckoned with in the ring. But Cookie Crumbles managed to do a reversal move the last minute for a come-from-behind win in their bout.

I found the most entertaining act of the night to be Lady Scarlet, a fierce drag queen who knows how to burst more than just balloons. At the end of her act, she almost got into fisticuffs with one of the pillow fight girls.

The main event pitted a hillbilly Shania Paine against the feisty little Pummelina. This whack-fest ended with a pin and Paine was victorious. All in all, an enjoyable night of fun.

—

Think you've got what it takes to learn the "delicate art of professional pillow fighting" and join the ring with these girls? The Bedlam Pillow Fight Revue is holding tryouts this Sunday.

Photos by Roger Cullman Photography.

In the interest of full disclosure, let me start off by saying that I don't know a whole lot about hockey. To me, icing comes on top of a cupcake, Face/Off is a John Woo movie (and an excellent one at that!), and hooking is the oldest profession in the world.

It's damn near impossible to avoid hockey in Toronto. Despite limited exposure prior to my arrival in this city, I've learned a few things about the sport in my two plus years here and have had numerous debates with Torontonians on both the Leafs and hockey in general.

Here's my thing: Torontonians are so into their beloved Maple Leafs that it completely turns me off. I just can't get into it. Hockey, and the Maple Leafs are tantamount to religion here. It's just too much. Now, don't get me wrong — I've been to a lot of live sporting events, and hockey is up there with the most exciting of them. It's great to watch, and the level of skill and athleticism is extremely impressive. I just can't get behind the Leafs.

The problem is that the rampant fandom is just too much. During the NHL season all you see on sports channels is hockey. During off-season, all you see is... hockey. You can't avoid it. It's an assault on the senses. It even takes precedent over other sports that are in season!

I find it quite astounding that there is such a strong following for a team that, let's face it, has been terrible for 40+ years. When was the last time they won anything? I lived in Cleveland for a year and that's the most depressing sporting city in North America, but at least the people there are realistic! They know their teams are useless. It's actually impressive that there is such a loyal fan base here. That's one thing that I like about it. It shows true love!

Or madness. Don't get me wrong — I'd love to see the Leafs do really well. I think it would be great for the city, and that Brian Burke chap seems like a great guy.

The apartment I live in is occupied by three Irish guys and one poor chap from Canada. Let's just say that if he wants to watch hockey on TV, there's a sports bar down the street. As a group we've adopted much of the so-called Canadian way of life, but hockey hasn't been a big part of this. I think we can share the blame — we could have done more to get into it, but have been completely turned off by the saturation of hockey in the city.

And that's not to mention the pragmatics. Leafs tickets are expensive and hard to get. Plus as a team, they're not that good (current four game win streak aside!) and don't have any bona fide superstars (sorry, Phil — score 50 and we'll talk). Where's the incentive for us? Granted Toronto is the biggest hockey market in North America, and I'm sure the franchsie could care less about trying to get me and my kind to go to games, which is absolutely fine.

I'd like to think that one day I'll be a Leafs fan. In an effort to sway me, my roommate (the Canadian one) bought me a Maple Leafs cap, t-shirt and mug for secret santa this Christmas. He even wrote a nice Christmas card with a message saying that this is the year they win it all... and that hopefully we'll be able to watch some more hockey on TV.

See what I mean...

Guest contribution from Ian Byrne.

Ian moved to Toronto from Ireland just over two years ago and loves the city (if not the Leafs). He's here as a temporary resident and hopes to make it permanent sometime in the near future.

Below are some places to play shinny in Toronto. Some of these are personal favourites while others come recommended by fellow shinny-lover friends. For a full list of rinks offering shinny this winter, visit City Rinks Toronto or the City of Toronto website.

TORONTO NORTH

Otter Creek
Located south-east of Lawrence and Avenue Road, Otter Creek offers two ice pads, an on-site zamboni, and a busy rink house. Due to its convenient distance from Lawrence Parke Collegiate Institute, many students frequent the ice after school hours. Open December 3, 2011 until February 26, 2012, shinny runs Wednesday through Saturday. Child, Youth, and Adult shinny are available.

Hours (Adult Shinny):
Wednesday: 8:45-10pm
Thursday: 8:45-10pm
Friday: 8:30-10pm
Saturday: 10:15-11:30am & 4:30-5:45pm & 6:30-7:30pm

North Toronto Memorial Rink
Located north-east of Eglinton and Avenue Road, North Toronto Memorial Rink is equipped with two rinks in spectacular condition. The change-room may be out of the way, but the rink maintenance is second to none. Open December 3, 2011 until February 26, 2012, shinny runs every day of the week. Child, Youth, Adult, and Women's shinny are available.

Hours (Adult Shinny):
Monday - Friday: 9:30am-3:30pm

TORONTO CENTRAL

Alexandra Park
Located at Bathurst and Dundas, Alexandra Park offers two rinks, a rink house (with a window to the rink, for spectators), and an on-site zamboni. Running from December 3, 2011 until February 26, 2012, all-ages shinny is available every day of the week, and child, youth, and adult shinny is also available.

Hours (All-Ages Shinny):
Monday-Friday, Sunday: 10am-3pm
Saturday: 12-6pm

Rosedale Park
Located north-east of Bloor and Mt. Pleasant, Rosedale Park hosts one ice pad and separate men's and women's change-rooms. Open December 7, 2011 until February 26, 2012, shinny runs every day of the week. Child, Youth, Adult, and Women's shinny are available.

Hours (Adult Shinny):
Monday: 1:30-3pm & 9-10pm
Tuesday: 8-10pm
Wednesday: 11:30am-1:30pm
Thursday: 11:30am-1:30pm
Friday: 1:30-3pm & 8-10pm
Saturday: 8-10am & 8-10pm
Sunday: 9-11am

Ramsden Park
Located a stone's throw from the Rosedale subway station, the location of this two-pad rink can't be beat. Running from December 10, 2011 until February 26, 2012, Adult shinny is available Thursday through Sunday. Child, Youth, and Women's shinny are also offered.

Hours (Adult Shinny):
Thursday: 7-8:45pm
Friday: 8:15-10pm
Saturday: 10am-12pm & 1:30-3:45pm & 6:15-8pm
Sunday: 10am-12pm & 7:45-10pm

TORONTO EAST

Greenwood Park
Located at Greenwood and Dundas, Greenwood Park features two outdoor rinks, and a large rink house. Running from December 3, 2011 until February 26, 2012, adult shinny is available every day of the week, with spots also open for Child, Youth, and Women's shinny.

Hours (Adult Shinny):
Monday: 1-4pm & 6-8pm
Tuesday: 1-4pm
Wednesday: 1-4pm & 6-8pm
Thursday: 1-4pm
Friday: 1-4pm
Saturday: 7-10pm
Sunday: 11am-2pm

Monarch Park
Located south-east of the Danforth and Coxwell, Monarch Park offers two ice pads and a bright rink house with lockers. Running from December 10, 2011 until February 26, 2012, adult shinny is available every day of the week. Child, Youth, and Women's shinny is also offered.

Hours (Adult Shinny):
Monday: 8-9pm
Tuesday: 1-3:30pm
Wednesday: 8-10pm
Thursday: 1-3:30pm & 8-10pm
Friday: 8-10pm
Saturday: 9-11am & 8-10pm
Sunday: 10am-12pm

TORONTO WEST

Dufferin Grove
Located south of Bloor on Dufferin, Dufferin Grove is equipped with two rinks, a clubhouse, a wood stove, and a snack bar. The ice is maintained at regular intervals and adult shinny is offered from Monday to Saturday, running from November 19, 2011 until March 11, 2012. Child, Youth, and Women's shinny is also available.

Hours (Adult Shinny):
Monday - Saturday: 7:15-8:55pm

High Park
Located near High Park subway station, High Park features two ice pads,change-rooms, and an on-site zamboni. Running from December 3, 2011 until February 26, 2012, adult shinny is available from Monday to Saturday. Child and Youth shinny are also offered.

Hours (Adult Shinny):
Monday - Friday: 9-11am & 11:30am-3:30pm
Saturday: 8:30-10am

Writing by Mel Brown. Photo by Nick Kozak in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Doiron has been practicing Ashtanga yoga for 9 years. After receiving her teachers certificate this fall she began teaching two regular classes every Monday; one at a new studio called Bohemian Palace ($16, 9am) in Roncesvalles and another at Twisted Yoga Studio (PWYC, 7:30pm) in the Annex.

Doiron started doing yoga on a whim in Montreal when a friend invited her to a class she taught. The class was way above her skill level and Doiron got really ill that night from over-exertion. But Doiron kept at it when she saw the benefits of the practice; bringing the versatile exercise on the road with her during lengthy tour stints.

Which begs the question, how closely related are music and yoga?

"Music is a way of expressing myself. While yoga is a way to ground myself and remain positive on a day when I may otherwise not be." says Doiron. She describes making music as "inevitable, even when [she] tried to quit. Music just seemed to keep happening."

Yoga, on the other hand, is more of a therapeutic choice for her to coincide with the sometimes trying times of being a musician.

As a beginner to yoga, I found that Doiron's class provides a great foundation while allowing me to progress at my own pace. What I found most rewarding was Doiron's attention to each student. Taking the time to correct and modify each pose and really break them down. The class is 75 to 90 minutes with a nice shavasana at the end; at which time Doiron usually comes around and 'tucks us in' with blankets. Adorable.

Doiron will be the guest teacher this Friday at Downward Dog studio 735 Queen St. West, 2nd Floor (3pm, free).

Photo by Nick Warzin.

The temperature hovered at around -3C, but a nasty wind from the west ensured that the participants had to deal with at least a little discomfort. But it was all for a good cause. This was the run's seventh year in support of the Hospital for Sick Children, over which time it's raised $180,000 for holiday gifts for kids who are confined to the hospital.

Here's what it looked like. Lead photo by dtstuff

PHOTOS

PLTam

dtstuff

Noah Markus

dtstuff

dtstuff

emaninTdot

Noah Markus

dtstuff

grieve2011

For more photos, including those from runs in other cities, check out this search on Flickr.

Who are you guys?

We are Jason and Rachel Hazzard. Husband and wife team with a combined 40 years in the hospitality industry. My resume includes Fairmont Hotels and Resorts as well as Oliver & Bonacini here in Toronto. I am currently the owner/operator at Rent-A-Buddy Moving, a residential moving company in the city. Rachel is working as a server/bartender/manager at Mark McEwan's North 44. My background in pinball comes the same way as most people my age - long hours in smoky video arcades and pool halls back in the 80's.

Why have you decided to open a pinball-themed cafe?

Pinball has been without a home in Toronto for too long. There are places with one or two machines tucked in a corner - bars, pool halls, even laundromats - but the city was ready for a pinball hub. I also wanted to get these beautiful machines out of the collectors' basements and back into the world where they belong.

Many great tables have gone underground - into private collections or cottage game rooms. Pinball was built and developed for public spaces and I want to give people the chance to play great vintage games either for the first time or that they remember from their youth.

We opted for a cafe rather than a bar because pinball is for all ages, young people should be able to play with their parents. Combined with great coffee, classic retro candy, fresh baked cookies, cakes and squares served up in a bright and lively cafe atmosphere we are not your fathers pinball arcade.

The history of pinball is often associated with "the rebel" played in sleazy beer joints and smoky arcades, heck, the game was illegal in most American big cities until the mid Seventies! These machines are interactive works of art for the eyes and the ears and we want to give them a space where everyone can come and play without being intimidated by their surroundings.

What can you tell us about what the cafe will be like?

Some decisions are still being made, but I can tell you that opening hours are planned for 11 am - midnight seven days a week. We will have 8-10 pinballs in operation at all times and these will rotate and change regularly. Machines will range from the 1960's electromechanical classics, through the start of the solid state electronics games in the seventies and one or two "heavy hitters" from the modern era. Right now we are not quite ready to publish a full opening day game list. We have to keep some secrets so you will need to come out and see in February.

Coffee supplier is also in the taste test, decision phase. Classic retro candy from the states is already in stock and discussions are being held with our neighbours at Yummy Stuff to provide a unique menu of fresh baked treats daily. We will also feature a premium quality milkshake bar and aim to be Toronto's Best Milkshake. 40oz milkshake for two anyone?

Why did you choose the location at 1662 Queen West?

Our spot on Queen West was the only real choice. This area, much like the game of pinball, has a bit of a checkered past but is quickly developing as Roncesvalles Village moves south and the old image of a dirty, gritty Parkdale is just no longer the case. Queen Street is where the cool kids hang out and pinball is very cool again.

What makes a good pinball game?

Now that's a loaded question. There are a lot of passionate opinions out there about pinball and what makes a great game. For me it is about the whole experience - artwork, sound, good solid gameplay with good targets and goals to achieve. I love the classic tables - with chiming bells and a gentler pace as much as I love the sensory overload of the new fast paced, over the top machines. Looking on the side of a 1970's machine and seeing a very faint scratch mark where a teenager carved his personal high score in the side of the box and added the date 1981? That's as good for me as any number of multi-balls and flashing lights.

Photo by Bob Jagendorf on Flickr