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| - Finally made it into the Mugshot. Quite an improvement over the former Mackenzies (this should read "pseudo-Mackenzies" as the real owners of the Mackenzies brand moved west and opened a great bar next to the High Park subway station,, selling the original location to someone not quite up to their standards and who used their name in an unlicensed manner).
The Mugshot staff was attentive and turned out to be the owners. They remodelled the place with great mugshots of famous people like Bill Gates (arrested in 1975), Jimi Hendrix (arrested in Toronto in May 1969), and would you believe, Larry King (arrested in December 1971).
There is one main widescreen 42" HDTV with an HD source behind the main bar, and a secondary screen with music videos from the pay-for-music juke-box on the back wall. One of the bar owners/bartenders, Scott, is in a band, and plays eclectic mixes when people are not using the jukebox. They also have FREE WiFi. The remodelling included getting rid of the high-table and stools that were the main tables near the bar. Instead, they created intimate booths that are more appropriate, and likely seat more people, more comfortably. Scott also mentioned that they spent almost four-months fixing and cleaning up the place, and I can believe it. I think they did a great job. Good atmosphere, great roof-top patio -- when the temperature isn't 37 degrees Celsius like it was when I visited.
The Bar specializes in independent micro-brew beers, so don't ask for a Labatts or Molsons product. Local brews like Steam Whistle and Mill Street dominate the selection. I personally prefer micro-brewed beer as it tastes more like the specific styles of beer that they claim to be: like a pilsner or stout for instance. Arrived too late to try out the kitchen, but they do have weekend brunch starting at 11 in the morning on Saturday and Sunday.
Looks to be a promising addition to the Bloor by the Park BIA, and I'll certainly be back for more.
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