One minute, the Thursday night crowd at the Sony Centre was casually chatting and running to get that last beer before the main act. The next, they watched open-mouthed as the diminutive figure of Regina Spektor silently and swiftly took to the stage to deliver an acapella opener.

That old adage that “homemade is always better” is pretty much undebatable when it comes to food. But what about booze? Although not the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of liquid happiness, the practise, nay, the art of homemade brews has been around for ages. In fact, if hooch-making was an actual occupation, it could probably best prostitution in terms of career longevity. The following is a collection of homemade liquors, varying by nation, process and sheer bad-assery.

The ice wine makers of the fabled Niagara region have had some interesting weather to deal with this past winter. With one of the warmest winters in recent memory, temperatures were well above seasonal averages.

The gluten-free diet has gained a lot of footing in recent months, winning over celebrities like tennis pro Novak Djokovic and actress Gwyneth Paltrow. Although a sort of fad diet for the rich and the famous, gluten-free eating is an actual necessity for people suffering from celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder that is caused by a reaction to gluten protein found in wheat, barley and rye. People with celiac stick to gluten-free diets out of necessity, and although the diet has positive effects such as increased energy and healthy weight loss, the restrictions can often be daunting.

The brothers of the Delta Lambda Phi fraternity at McGill University are just a bunch of guys who like to go out, grab a beer, and play the occasional game of laser tag. So, what is it about the group that has thrust them into the headlines in recent days? The members of Delta Lambda Phi - DLP for short - are all part of the first gay fraternity in Canada.

“Give me a kiss to build a dream on,” crooned Louis Armstrong. But how about a kiss to build an adorable website on? Chris Kay Fraser, creative writing teacher and founder of the Firefly Creative Writing workshop, became inspired to try to map kiss landmarks across Toronto after a particularly irritating streetcar ride that was brightened by the memory of a great kiss.

As Valentine’s Day approaches, some people feel the pressure to come up with the best Valentine’s gift ever. Others, not so much. If you find yourself in the group of people who are scrambling to end a crumbling relationship, read on. These five gift ideas are the beginning of the end.