The first round of news focuses on bars and restaurants, reflecting where Torontonians spend their time in the winter.

We may have been the first to note the opening of restaurant Yours Truly, but we are not the last. Many are lauding the food and the men behind it, and liking the bar scene – check it out yourself at 229 Ossington.

Singer Emily Haines listed The Dakota Tavern as her favorite go-to for live music in Toronto.

Blogto has been profiling bartenders, starting in our area with The Garrison and The Ossington.

We were there when they were, and now you can read and watch a behind-the-scenes look at new GlobalTV series Bomb Girls when they were on location at The Dakota Tavern last fall.

Soon-to-open new restaurant The Grove, next to Churchill on Dundas at Lakeview, is already getting preview attention for its English menu.

The local art scene is also getting some coverage, starting with a story about art which mentions some street art on Queen near Ossington. It’s a cool picture – definitely want to check it out!

Liss Platt’s exhibit at MKG127 just opened and received a nice write-up for her photography in constant.

Last week, Toronto Life recommended Pinkalicious, the children-targeted musical which has been running every Sunday at Lower Ossington Theatre.

 Did we miss any news about the neighborhood? Let us know in the comments.

More than Pasta opened it’s doors officially at 121 Ossington in March 2011, but we got an advance look at the delicious pastas, sauces and prepared foods they make in-house.

Fishbar opened in May, serving happy hour and dinner at 217 Ossington Ave, and since then they’ve added a lunch menu for all the fish lovers around. Also in May, the Lakeview Storehouse opened, selling produce and groceries, along with poutine, adjacent to the Lakeview Restaurant on Dundas.

Just in time for summer, Eagle’s Nest Espresso and Ice Cream opened at 1199 Dundas Street West.

November was a busy month for openings: we noted the return of Lennox Contemporary, now at 44 Ossington, and the opening of The Dog Bowl at 984 Dundas West. Also new is G Gallery in the back at 134 Ossington.

In December we welcomed two of the newest businesses on the street: Yours Truly is now open 6 nights a week (closed Tuesday) for dinner at 229 Ossington, and Don’t Tell Mama is a gallery and art space.

There are also a lot of places we’ve been talking about opening but are still waiting for - like Amaya, The Saint and Bellwoods Brewery. More to look forward to in the new year!

We like their new sign and storefront on the street, although we haven’t yet found their website or other social media to keep us in the loop on what’s coming up. Let us know if you come across them.

The year in festivals kicked off in January with a dance festival called Connect TO at Lower Ossington Theatre, which is a prime festival location.

The music festival season began with the Canadian Music Festival in March. Musicians and bands performed at local venues including The Painted Lady, The Garrison and The Dakota Tavern.  Juno Fest also hit Toronto, and Ossington, in March, with Canadian musicians featured at The Garrison and The Dakota Tavern.

The music came back with the return of NXNE in June, and we saw some amazing shows right here in Ossington Village. This July, the Painted Lady created a new festival to coincide with the Toronto Jazz and Fringe Festivals. Maybe next year, we’ll see more venues join the fun.

The Contact Photography Festival covered art galleries for the entire month of May, and didn’t miss Ossington, with exhibits at The Painted Lady, Angell Gallery, Brockton General and Levack Block.

Jane’s Walks, which take place all over the globe on a May weekend, were also led in our neighborhood. Maybe next year you’ll see an Ossington Village Jane’s Walk instead of “the Hipster’s Guide to Ossington!”

Summerworks returned in August, bringing music and theatre to Lower Ossington Theatre and other local venues. The hugely popular Havana Cultura returned for it’s second year in August, with Cuban music, art and food on offer at almost every spot on the street. Who can forget the cigar roller surrounded by scantily clad women? Another returning event was Queen West Music Fest, which celebrated it’s third year this summer in Trinity Bellwoods Park.

Some was sipped, and some was likely chugged, but either way, Toronto Beer Week also returned to Ossington in 2011, with tastings and pairings at local restaurants and bars. Ossington also saw the return of TO Sketch Fest, with lots of comedic troupes taking to the stage at LOT this past November.

The gift: Theatre tickets. With a focus on delivering the arts to the community, LOT offers entertainment throughout the year. Seats are on sale in 2012 for Avenue Q for the adults, or, for the little ones, Pinkalicious.

Where to get it: Lower Ossington Theatre, 100 A Ossington Avenue

Price range: $30 – $60

Who would like it: People who like the theatre, or just a nice night out. Young kids who would be enchanted by a Sunday matinee (and their parents, who would love it if you’d take them off their hands for an afternoon)!

G Gallery has been open at least a month, and will be open Friday-Sunday from 12-5pm. This is a not a new gallery, having moved from Queen and Sherbourne to Ossington in October. According to their website, G Gallery is a collaboration between John Goodwin, the School of Fine Art and Music at the University of Guelph.  The gallery is run by Guelph alumni, with assistance from advisors from Guelph faculty and SOFAM.

The current exhibition, called Calculus of Forms, is an examination of urban forms, with a look at architecture, history and politics through models of 7 public housing sites on The Great Lakes. The next exhibit launches Nov. 18 and features work by Miles Collyer.

 How did you get involved with the Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival?

We’ve been performing in various venues around Chicago for the past year, and really wanted to get some experience on the road – we did some research and the Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival seemed like a great place to start. Everyone we know that’s been to Toronto describes it as a nicer, cleaner Chicago, so we’ll probably just end up leasing an apartment when the trip is over.

 What other troupe’s show at this year’s Festival do you most want to see?

Obviously we are extremely excited for ‘Two Kids, One Hall’, but we’re also looking forward to seeing fellow Chicago sketch-guys “Kerpatty“!

Why should we come to see your show?

It’s pure sketch, straight-up, no gimmicks. Does that sound arrogant? Oh, I forgot to mention, we’re also arrogant. (Only joking – my actual answer would be: “Come see our show because we are EXTREMELY not-arrogant!”)

What is your favourite place on Ossington? If you haven’t been to Ossington, where do you most want to go?

We’ve never been there and literally know nothing about it, but to avoid being rude we did a Google Maps (TM) search for “Ossington Street, Toronto”. Then Google corrected it to “Ossington Avenue, Toronto”, and we street-viewed the randomly-generated “A” location to get an idea of that classic “Ossington Flavor” (TM). It seemed to be a residential area, but I have to say we are now very excited about visiting the boarded-up and possibly condemned storefront at 648 Ossington Avenue.

 Before you see their show, here’s a sneak peek:

How did you get involved with the Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival?

Although this is our first year performing in the Toronto Sketch Festival, we have previously performed in Toronto as part of the 2010 Fringe Festival. That was a qualified success, but an unqualified great experience. When it was over, we knew that we wanted to make some major improvements to our show, and we also knew that we wanted to return. Toronto is a great comedy town, and we’re excited to see old friends and show off new material. We also just really enjoy the hassle of bringing six foot rubber snakes through customs.

What other troupe’s show at this year’s Festival do you most want to see?

Seeing Uncalled For‘s Hypnogogic Logic the last time we were in Toronto was a major inspiration for where we wanted our comedy to go. We had a similarly enlightening experience when we saw Peter N’ Chris at Seattle SketchFest this year. We’re obviously pumped to see those groups again, but we’re also hoping that a new Canadian sketch group will expand our ideas of what can be done on stage. The Really Good Show sounds promising.

Why should we come to see your show?

We were called “fresh-faced” by NOW Magazine. Of course that was more than a year ago, so we might be “old hat” at this point. Assuming you are the writer from NOW Magazine who wrote that, you should probably come see for yourself if it needs to be updated. In the unlikely event that you are not that writer, perhaps a description of our comedy as “hyperliterate, design-savvy…hip and dilettante in the best possible way” by CultureVultureVictoria.com will persuade you to come out. And just in case you’re wary of the dots in that quote or the dot com in its source, the last thing we will say is that we are performing with Uncalled For, so you should probably buy your tickets in advance.

What is your favourite place on Ossington? If you haven’t been to Ossington, where do you most want to go?

It’s hard to say. From looking at Google Maps, there are a number of martini glass icons that look like they represent swanky lounges. We’ve always wanted to be permitted into one of those.

How did you get involved with the Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival?

We’ve been hustlin’ our sketches around Toronto for about a year, and we decided it was time to get festive wit’ y’all.

Picnicface. Haircut, because we both think Pat is hot, and Allie is our homegurl. The Imponderables. Vest of Friends – we love their veeeeeeeests! Fratwurst. Jape.

Because WE’LL be there! And so will our friends – they’re hot and SINGLE. (We do comedy for the sex)

That Portuguese bakery across from the furniture store and beside the Lower Ossington Theatre. You know the one. Prosciutto sandwiches for 3 dollars, yo!