Are e-scooters ruining Toronto streets?

Good afternoon — The CNE wants you to eat dinner dangling 150 feet in the air, Pizza Pizza wants $60 for a pizza at Wonderland, and Ricky Gervais wants you to know he loves this ONE thing about Toronto.

Also: A housing plan that could reshape the city, disappearing beach birds, and posters telling e-scooter & e-bike riders to stop terrorizing sidewalks.

Let’s get into it.

THE DIGEST: 7 Handpicked Stories

🎡 CNE Takes Dining to New Heights — This year’s fair introduces “Dinner in the Sky,” where 22 guests are strapped into a table lifted 150 feet in the air. With 360° views, packages range from $110–$345. Runs daily from Aug. 15–Sept. 1.

🚨 Jet Skiing Across U.S. Border: Sarnia police say a 40-year-old Toronto man rented a Sea-Doo, never returned it, and is believed to have illegally crossed the St. Clair River into Michigan. The jet ski was later found on the U.S. shore.

🎢 $60 Pizza: Visitors are blasting Wonderland after a viral TikTok showed Pizza Pizza charging $55 for an extra-large pizza, nearly 3x the regular $19.99 price outside the gates.

🎭 Ricky Gervais Loves the Islands: Ahead of his sold-out Mortality tour stop at Scotiabank Arena, comedian Ricky Gervais spent his day off exploring the Toronto Islands, calling them one of his “favourite places in the world.”

🚇 Ontario Line Milestone: Crews have broken ground on a new tunnel launch shaft at the future Gerrard Station, marking a key step in the project. The 15.6 km subway, set to open in 2031 with 15 stops, is expected to handle nearly 388,000 daily riders.

🦆 Where Did the Birds Go?: City data shows waterfowl counts on Toronto beaches dropped 73% from 2008 to 2024, with Sunnyside and Centre Island seeing the steepest declines. Officials say fewer birds mean cleaner swimming water, but experts worry about possible habitat loss.

🚲 E-scooter Etiquette: The city is rolling out colourful posters with catchy lines like “You’ve got wheels, they’ve got heels” to remind riders to stay off sidewalks and out of pedestrian space. The campaign targets rising conflicts from e-bikes and scooters.

MORE YOU NEED TO KNOW

⚓ Yacht Club Battle: The Toronto Humber Yacht Club faces backlash as its 20-year lease renewal nears. A petition with nearly 2,000 signatures accuses the club of environmental harm: citing 60 gazebos, a gas dock, and jet ski use. A counter-petition defends the club as a “quiet steward” of the river. City council will decide this fall.

🐞 Invasive Red Firebugs: Clusters of red-and-black firebugs are popping up across the GTA. Harmless to people and plants, they feed on seeds but can stink and stain if crushed. Experts say prevention is key: seal gaps, fix screens, or vacuum them up.

🏗️ Ontario Housing Near Transit: The province has approved changes to Toronto’s official plan allowing taller, denser buildings within 800m of 120 transit stations. Housing Minister Rob Flack says it could add 1.5M new homes in 25 years, tripling the scale of a previous plan.

LOST TORONTO:
Yonge & Bloor NW Corner

Then: From 1944 to 1972, The Pilot Tavern sat at 800 Yonge Street, flanked by two CIBC branches—its name a tribute to WWII RCAF pilots.

Now: The tavern was relocated to 22 Cumberland Street, and the original site is now home to the 34-storey Two Bloor West tower.

THINGS TO DO IN TORONTO: THE ‘INSIDER’ SCOOP

The Origin of Light Drone Show - History and technology collide at The Origin of Light, Toronto’s first-ever cinematic drone show, happening at Fort York on August 19. Witness hundreds of choreographed drones lighting up the sky in perfect sync with a live 15-piece orchestra—all set against the backdrop of the city’s most historic battlefield.
August 19 | 6:30 PM
Location: Fort York National Historic Site

Editor’s Pick! Canary District: Movement and Migration Walking Tour - Step back into the stories of immigration, transit, and transformation on the Canary District: Movement and Migration Walking Tour. Once home to Irish immigrants and railway travellers, this tour explores the area’s 19th-century landmarks—like the Cherry Hotel and Palace Street School—and uncovers the histories of movement that shaped this evolving Toronto neighbourhood.
August 23 | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Location: 409 Front St. E

Doggie Fest Summer Carnival - Paws up! The Doggie Fest Summer Carnival returns to Roundhouse Park for Toronto’s biggest dog celebration of the summer. With over 30 pet-friendly vendors, free activities, live entertainment, and tasty treats for both humans and pups, this free event is the ultimate Saturday outing for dog lovers.
August 23 | 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: Roundhouse Park, 255 Bremner Blvd

Oyster and Wagyu Hotpot Dinner for One Night Only - Aburi Sushi’s cult-favourite hotpot series returns for one night only with a luxurious Oyster and Wagyu Shabu Shabu Dinner. Hosted at Waterworks Food Hall, this exclusive 9-course tasting menu features A5 Miyazaki wagyu, fresh oysters, and bold, seasonal Japanese flavours. August 19 | 6:00 PM & 8:00 PM
Location: Waterworks Food Hall, 50 Brant St

2025 Toronto TAIWANfest - 2025 Toronto TAIWANfest sails into Harbourfront Centre with “Echoes of the Ocean”—a moving celebration of migration, memory, and multiculturalism. Explore the shared stories of Taiwan, Portugal, and Canada through live performance and interactive exhibits.
Location: Harbourfront Centre

August Home Jays Games (schedule):
⚾️ Jays vs. Rangers | Aug 15 - 17
⚾️ Jays vs. Twins | Aug 25 - 27
⚾️ Jays vs. Brewers | Aug 29 - 31

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VIDEO OF THE WEEK

The history behind this century-old building is fascinating!

Here is the link: Click here to watch

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