Dear reader,

Torontonians have never been so crazy for basketball. The Raptors are now by far the most valuable sports franchise in Canada, Larry Tanenbaum is a front runner to land a WNBA team and, most importantly, people are shooting hoops all over the city—in parks, condo gyms, driveways and laneways.

The classic downtown sport has even taken over some of Toronto’s wealthiest uptown zip codes. Where once you’d have expected to see a lavish wine cellar or a pristine tennis court, today you might find a shrine to basketball. Case in point: Curb Appeal’s top post this week—an old-world manor in Armour Heights with two courts, a LeBron-James-themed weight room and an arcade with a Space Jam pinball machine.

The juxtaposition of aesthetics (a backboard crowned by vaulted ceilings, a blacktop flanked by Parisian-style planters) is as absurd as it is awesome. And it’s certainly not hurting property values.

Also in today’s newsletter: a levitating laneway suite in Blake-Jones and a Rosedale home dripping in custom millwork. Visit torontolife.com for all our real estate coverage. 

What Armour Heights manor would be complete without eight bathrooms, two basketball courts, an arcade, heaps of gold, a movie theatre, a grotto, soaring arches, planters imported from Europe and a French gas oven?

For $325,000, this east-end family built an environmentally friendly home with one bedroom, a nautical bathroom, maple floors, plenty of natural light and a dramatic carport. Take the tour now.

This 2,300-square-foot Georgian in Rosedale comes with four bedrooms, millwork all over, cathedral ceilings, heated floors, automated lights and a backyard sanctuary. And it’s currently on the market for $4 million. 

In the latest issue: an optimist’s guide to surviving every doomsday scenario imaginable. Plus, obsessed with Barbie (and other weird collections), a harrowing memoir about postpartum psychosis, the best places to eat in the burbs, and more. Still not receiving Toronto Life at home? Subscribe today.