Photo: "Biking in High Park" by thru the night, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.

What's happening in the GTA (and sometimes beyond):

The garbage strike created a big mess (collection resumes today!) but perhaps even messier is the implementation of the Green Bin program. According to workers and managers, they have routinely been mixing green bin "compost" with garbage trucked to a Michigan landfill. The workers, fresh off their new deal, seem to blame the quantity of green bin material collected while admitting it's wrong to send it with regular garbage. Maybe the mayor needs to refocus his attention, clearing his mind of vacation banks.

The not-so-new New Democratic Party may soon simply be the Democratic Party. DP doesn't roll off the tongue like NDP but as part of an effort to rebrand the party, dropping the "New" from a nearly half century old name (and party) makes some sense. But are they trying to channel Obama and his Democratic Party? Safe to say there won't be a donkey - or blue - in any new look Dems.

Is Maple Leaf Foods becoming synonymous with Listeria? Nine wiener products (can't we just call a hot dog a hot dog?) are being recalled as a precaution. Safe to say Maple Leaf Foods knows how to handle a Listeria outbreak, but also safe to say they don't want to go through another outbreak like the one nearly a year ago.

Eating turkey at Thanksgiving, no. Cruise around in a 59-metre megayacht, yes. Life seems good for Wendy McCaw, but she's got a helipad and knows how to use it. As quick as her ship docked along Queen's Quay she was airlifted to Pearson, where she flew... somewhere. But really, we just care about the boat.

Soccer megastars Ronaldo and Kaka - not to mention the rest of their Real Madrid teammates - are headed to Toronto's own BMO Field for a friendly Friday night. It took some serious negotiation, and $1.1 million, to lure one of the world's premiere soccer clubs to face off against the Toronto FC. Especially since playing BMO Field would be like U2 playing Roy Thompson Hall.