Photo: "the darkness of november days" by-stacey-, member of theblogTO Flickr pool.

What's happening in the GTA (and a POLL!):

Either you knew about it and avoided it like the plague, or you raced over early to be sure you and your crew got a front row vantage point. The104th annual Santa Claus parade(the largest of its kind in the world) brought smiles to the faces of kids and Christmas enthusiasts and brought a patience test to drivers trying to get to their destinations.

The money is in the bank, and ready to be used to hire a selection of international hot shot architects, whose jobs will be tomake the new subway stations on the forthcoming Spadina extension pleasant to use. Bringing light and fresh air underground are a priority for Will Alsop (of Dalmatian-spotted-tissue-box-on-pencil-stilts fame).

iPods are the new Nikes - at least when it comes to what's commonly getting Torontonians rolled on the streets. Since late October, 9 people in the city have reported是ing robbed of their iPods, including one mugging victim who was beaten with a meat tenderizer.

School uniforms add to the collective spirit of students and contribute to an inherent sense of belonging... but they also allow teachers and police to quickly identify those who belong and those who don't. One school trustee wants to makegetting the required 80% of parents approval easier, with security in mind.

And David Miller's performance asthe Mayor of Toronto has been put under the spotlight. Do you think he's done a great/good/fair/poor/terrible job during his term?