Better TTC

The Toronto Transit Commission is offering to play designated driver to the city’s New Year’s Eve revellers, letting passengers ride for no cost starting one minute following midnight until extended services stop running at 4 a.m.

Saturday and Sunday TTC trains and buses will operate on the Sunday schedule, with subways and most bus routes beginning at 9 a.m.

Go Transit will run an early rush-hour schedule and extend its late-night service on New Year’s Eve. Saturday services will be on the regular vacation schedule.

“It could be that Toronto will be the warmest spot in Canada this New Year’s,” Atmosphere Canada climatologist and spokesman David Phillips says.

It could also be wet. The forecast calls for a balmy 8 degrees having a 60 per cent chance of showers.

Most Toronto retail stores stay closed for New Year’s Day. Exceptions are within the tourist-frequented areas of Yorkville, the Distillery District, Queens Quay W., along with the downtown Yonge St. strip, including the Eaton Centre as well as the Bay.

Banks and government offices will observe the vacation on Monday.

All LCBO stores will likely be closed New Year’s Day. The Beer Store outlets remain open till 6 p.m. New Year’s Eve, close for New Year’s Day and reopen for normal hours on Sunday.

All Toronto Public Library branches will close early at 1 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and stay closed Saturday and Sunday.

The Royal Ontario Museum remains open with extended holiday hours, 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday.

The Art Gallery of Ontario will likely be closed Monday but is open the rest of the weekend - Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

And you will find some unique New Year’s Day events:

• Lieutenant Governor David Onley hosts a new Year’s Day levee at Fort York, near the foot of Bathurst St., noon to 2 p.m.

• Toronto Mayor Rob Ford invites the public to a levee in the City Hall rotunda, 2-4 p.m.