Huge credit to HiMY SYeD for capturing video of the mayor’s entrance. You can view more footage of the event on his website.

Mon., March 5, 5:30 p.m. Council Chambers, City Hall. Mayor Rob Ford Returns to the floor of Council looking “very unhappy,” after stepping out to take a brief phone call. He appeared confused about the nature of the call when the phone had been handed to him, says man-about-town and former mayoral candidate Himy Syed, but Ford answered it in an upbeat manner. Syed says that he heard the mayor and his staff repeatedly refer to the call as coming from the Premier’s Office, but a spokesperson for Premier McGuinty denies that he contacted Mayor Ford that afternoon.

By Derek Flack, blogTO
So yesterday’s vote to return to an LRT-based transit strategy for Toronto (one that looks a lot like the former phase one Transit City plans) was kind of a big deal — regardless of which of the competing plans you hoped would win the day. Ranging from elation to frustration, there’s been no shortage of reaction to the events at city hall. Here’s a quick roundup of what’s being said in the aftermath of one the most significant city council decisions in …

Mayor Rob Ford: “I never supported #Jarvis Bike Lanes…only rumour I want ‘em removed..not a priority” #bikeTO #TOcouncil

By Derek Flack, blogTO
Shortly after Toronto City Council passed the 2011 budget by a vote of 31-14, Rob Ford proclaimed that it was a “great day for Toronto residents.” Although major questions loom on account of the $774-million hole facing the City in 2012 — a subject bizarrely decried off-limits by Speaker Frances Nunziata — as promised, there will be no property tax increase this year. And while Ford and his supporters claim that there were no major service cuts associated with the …

First Broadcast on Radio-Canada’s Infoman with Jean-René Dufort
October 21, 2010, 7:30 p.m.
Interview with Jean-René Dufort of the CBC Radio-Canada weekly show Infoman.

By Steve Kupferman, Torontoist
Every weekday’s end, Extra, Extra collects just about everything you ought to care about or ought not miss.

Photo by Remi Carreiro/Torontoist.

The CNE opened today, and it’s the perfect place to meet your future spouse, apparently. Consider taking advantage of this year’s speed dating services to expedite the process.
Birdnappers are striking fear into the hearts of Toronto’s parrot enthusiasts.

Such outlandish crimes against avian-kind would have been unthinkable in the 1950s, when these two ditties about life in Toronto on Sunday and the annoyances associated with subway construction, respectively, were written. [via F___Yeah Toronto!]
But Toronto’s innocence …

By Jonathan Goldsbie, Torontoist
At approximately 5:45 p.m. on December 21st, 2008, Torontoist received a phone call from Boy Reporter. “The parade’s been cancelled.” “What?” “It’s been cancelled. Because of the wind.”
A quick trip to the Red Pepper Spectacle Arts website bore this out; the 20th Annual Kensington Market Festival of Lights, aka the crazy solstice parade, had been called off: “Due to high winds, we regret that tonight’s parade has been canceled. Giant puppets, parade lanterns, shadow screens and a 16′ tall fire sculpture are a risky endeavour in these conditions. At this time …