Quantcast
Channel: blogTO
Viewing all 47884 articles
Browse latest View live

Morning Brew: Ford backs tax hike for new subway, east end fire causes streetcar woes, in praise of the Don River flood bank, tracing the Pan Am Trail, and big heat looms

0
0

toronto billboardIn something of a reversal from his previous positions, Rob Ford now says he's open to a small tax hike in order to pay for an extension of the Bloor-Danforth line to Scarborough centre. The mayor says a 0.5% property tax increase would cost each home about $5 a year provided the province and TTC chips in as well. Could it work?

"I'm pretty sure we've got a deal going," Ford declared on his weekly radio show regarding the subway. The mayor and his brother called extending the subway east from Kennedy an investment, saying the impetus to get it built came from the people of Scarborough. Will the subway become a key byelection issue?

The 504, 505 and 506 streetcars remain on diversion this morning after Saturday's two-alarm fire at Broadview and Gerrard. The overhead wires at the intersection will need to be completely renovated once the gutted building is demolished. Until then, the King, Dundas, and College cars will be replaced by buses beyond Broadview.

Not many know it, but a giant, $130-million, highly-complex pile of dirt shields much of the east downtown from flooding. Built during work on the Canary District, the West Don Lands housing development, the flood barrier sits beneath Corktown Common guarding against a sudden rise in the Don River's waters - a disaster that could flood as far as Bay Street.

Now that Toronto is (hopefully) getting a multi-purpose trail that will cross the city from the airport to the zoo, the Globe and Mail has traced the route the $1.9-million Pan Am Games legacy project will take. Most of the trails exist and most of the construction will involve connecting the disjointed pieces. It's expected to be done around 2015.

The Centre Island maze could be about to return after its demolition in 2011. This week, city council will discuss replanting the some 5,000 White Highland cedars that once confounded visitors and locals alike. The Star has some history on the maze, which opened in 1967. Should the city help fund the project?

Today is going to be another scorcher. The City of Toronto has issued a heat alert, warning that temperatures could reach 33 C with humidex values making it feel closer to 40 C. The hot weather is expected to linger until the weekend.

FROM THE WEEKEND:

IN BRIEF:

Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.

Image: Neil Ta/blogTO Flickr pool.


This Week in Music: Marc De Pape's "The Chime," Bjork at Echo Beach, Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z kick off summer tour

0
0

BjorkThis Week in Music rounds up the latest news, releases and concerts coming to Toronto.

IN THE NEWS

Marc De Pape unveils "The Chime"

This is one of the cooler stories that I've come across in the last while. Marc De Pape, the Toronto-based artist who previously played guitar for Reverie Sound Revue, has unveiled a unique new project - The Chime: Scoring The City. By placing 18 wind chime-inspired sensors at various locations throughout Toronto, De Pape has taken the ever-present city sounds and converted them into ambient music. The project consists of 14 different tracks, and it's rather remarkable to hear what can be done with the everyday sounds that we often take for granted. Head on over to De Pape's official site to see and hear the performances in video and audio form (which can also be heard above).

THIS WEEK'S HOT TICKETS

TUESDAY JULY 16 / BJORK / ECHO BEACH / 909 LAKESHORE W / $81.50 - $104 / ALL AGES

For her first appearance in Toronto in over five years, Icelandic artist Bjork is bringing her groundbreaking multimedia project/album Biophilia to Echo Beach. The album, which came out in late 2011, was released as a series of iPad apps which coincide with the live tour. Bjork describes it as a project that "encompasses music, apps, Internet, installations, and live shows." Very 21st century of her. In all seriousness, though, this is your opportunity to see a truly unique artist at a great outdoor venue. Give it a look.

WEDNESDAY JULY 17 / JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE AND JAY-Z / ROGERS CENTRE / 1 BLUE JAYS WAY / $53.85 - $297.60 / ALL AGES

Love them or hate them, you'd be hard-pressed to find bigger artists in pop/hip-hop than Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z. This is the kick-off show for their "Legends of Summer Tour," and you can expect an absolutely huge and lively crowd. Insane ticket prices and poor venue aside, this will be one of the biggest concerts of the summer.

RECENTLY ANNOUNCED CONCERTS

WHAT WE GOT UP TO LAST WEEK

Photo of Bjork courtesy of Guido A.J. Stevens on Flickr.

New midtown spot a destination for Peruvian eats

0
0

Pisco restaurant torontoNew on Yonge Street, north of Lawrence, this restaurant offers a modern take on authentic Peruvian dishes and aspires to become Toronto's top purveyor of premium pisco (Peru's national liquor). I paid a visit to try out the ceviche and some of the meaty mains.

Read my profile of Pisco in the restaurants section.

What does it take to be a Raptors cheerleader?

0
0

raptors dance pak torontoThe third floor concourse of the Air Canada Centre is packed with about 200 long-haired, superfit women doing the splits. They're clad in sneakers, black booty shorts, and sports bras in many different shades of neon. They are surrounded by brightly-coloured gym bags, water bottles, and the slightly frantic energy of their own nerves. Of the 200 or so women present, only 18 will land a coveted seasonal position.

raptors dance pak torontoThey're here to try out for the Toronto Raptors Dance Pak, which, I'm told, is not to be thought of as traditional cheerleading. This is much more about dance, and less about stunting and jumps. Amberley Waddell is the coordinator and choreographer for the team, as well as one of the judges who will decide the fate of the women who are spending their hot, sunny Toronto Saturday here in the gym. Waddell tells me there's a range of dancers trying out today, from those who do it professionally to ladies who just like to dance in the club.

raptors dance pak torontoAs auditions begin, I start to feel like I'm watching contestants vie for a role on a reality TV show. I half expect Tyra Banks to step out and say "I have only 18 photos, in my hands." Women go in to dance in front of the judges in groups of 50. Long hair swishes through the air in circles. Bodies roll. Legs kick. "I'm Out" by Ciara f. Nicki Minaj blares on repeat. The dancers are learning four eight counts of moves they've never seen before. They have to memorize the short sequence and present it to the judges all in one go. Then, they're broken down into smaller groups so the judges can decide who makes call backs, and the ones who make it will learn another series of eight counts. If they make the team, they'll get to dance and greet fans at each Toronto Raptors home game, and they'll rehearse from mid-August onward.

raptors dance pak torontoMany people who lack a personal familiarity with the world of this kind of dance tend to assume the women are silly and frivolous, and not especially brainy. That's absolutely not the case. These women are objectively hot, yes. But they're also smart. They're true athletes, and, in many cases, dance is just one aspect of their lives. I get a chance to speak to a few of them, and I find that they're here for a number of reasons. Alexis Dwyer, for example, got into step dancing while going to university at York, where she studies social work. But now, she's more interested in getting involved with drama and dance professionally.

raptors dance pak torontoAnd for Kelsi Wighton, this is a calculated career move. She's just returned from working on a cruise ship, and she wants to run her own studio one day. This is a step in that direction and, in the meantime, she's studying psychology at Western. Monique Jones has yet another outlook altogether. She's in her second year of a degree in Humanities at York University, and she's always been into different kinds of dance, including cheerleading. "I'm just open to new experiences," she tells me. "I want to expand my options, and I'm open if things go down this path."

raptors dance pak torontoWaddell says she's looking for the "total package" in the dancers, which includes "looks, personality and talent." They'll have frequent contact with fans, so it's important that they're well-spoken as ambassadors of the team, she says. From what I've seen, lots of these women have it.

raptors dance pak torontoThe other thing to keep in mind, aside from the fact that dancers can also be intellectually well-rounded, is that to be a dancer is to have a very specific kind of intelligence in itself. It requires, of course, a kinetic wherewithal, a connection to one's own body in order to do things like hands-free cartwheels or double back handsprings. But it also takes an immense amount of patience and strength just to listen to the same song over and over again without going completely insane. As they practice, most of the women get the hang of the steps right away. Very few flub the steps; these women know what they're doing. It takes all of about 20 minutes for them to put the steps to music.

raptors dance pak torontoLast year's captain, Ashley Hoy, is there to help teach the moves, and she confirms my suspicion that the judges will have a difficult time choosing this season's team. "There's a lot of potential here, a lot of talented girls," she says, eyes on the court. "It's going to be hard."

Photos by Javin Lau

Loblaw and Shoppers Drug Mart set to merge

0
0

Loblaw Shoppers DrugmartIn a blockbuster deal, Loblaw Companies is set to acquire Shoppers Drug Mart to the tune of $12.4 billion. Although Shoppers will retain its name and much of its brand identity, one can expect the food offerings at the drugstore to increase as part of the merger. Although many Shoppers locations already have small grocery sections, the plan is to transform the pharmacies into small scale grocery stores to compete with stores like Sobey's Urban Fresh and Rabba. Likewise, one can expect beefed up pharmacies in Loblaw grocery stores.

Should the merger go through, one of the first changes customers will notice is the presence of PC food items on Shoppers shelves. Shoppers' shareholders will vote on the deal in September, with two thirds approval required to cement the acquisition. What do you think? Does the customer win in this deal, given the increased offerings promised at both the existing grocery and drugstores?

12 hot and sweaty moments from Salsa on St. Clair

What about a "surface subway" in Toronto?

0
0

GO Transit Surface SubwayThe Scarborough transit debate just won't die — is it going to be subways or LRT? It sure looked like that latter for a while, but when city council gathers this week to discuss the future of transit in the area, you can bet you'll hear the word subway on repeat. But what if there was a third option? And not just for Scarborough. Transport Action Ontario, a rail advocacy group, thinks that an aggressive plan to electrify the GO network around the GTA could be the answer to our transit woes.

According the Star, who's read through a two year study commissioned by the group, they're proposing what they term a Regional Rapid Rail system to the tune of $24.8 billion. The network would run on GO rail lines and add 56 stations as well as a signal system that would allow trains to run in closer proximity to one another.

Is this a better option than a Downtown Relief Line? One suspects it will be even harder to sell give that it's more expensive, and that calls for electrification of GO lines have met with little success so far. Advocates of the plan tout lower per-kilometre capital costs and annual operating costs, and the network would cover more overall territory, but station frequency and capacity would be significantly lower than an actual subway. As such, it's fair to question if this would — even on paper — pose a viable alternative to a DRL or whatever ends up happening in Scarborough. Share your thoughts in the comment section.

Photo by Still the Oldie in the blogTO Flickr pool

28 things you ate at the Asian night market in Markham

0
0

Markham Night MarketMarkham's annual Asian night market is now a wrap for another year. On Saturday we posted some of our highlights from the festival but today it's time to look at photos that you took at the 3 day food fest. Here's a photo round-up of the most unique, tasty and photogenic finds at the 2013 edition of Night It Up!. For even more photos from the event browse on over to the Night It Up! stream.

BEST OF SHOW

Menu food truckThe stuffed rice balls from upcoming food truck on the block Menu Food Truck. Photo by justolidee

Japanese hot dogsJapanese style hot dogs. Photo by gallantkarl

TakoyakiTakoyaki. Photo by alisa9825

Stinky tofuStinky tofu. Photo by typj

SEAFOOD

Squid teppanyakiSquid teppanyaki. Photo by druie

Scallop with potatoScallop with potato. Photo by raritsvic

Oyster OmeletOyster omelet. Photo by marzipanlove

Grilled lobsterGrilled lobster. Photo by l_nguy3n

Dianas Seafood oystersOysters from Diana's Seafood. Photo by evaetcetera

Cripsy squidCrispy squid. Photo by sallyoung10

FRIES AND POUTINE

Kimchi friesKimchi fries with pulled pork from Mashi Catering. Photo by gallantkarl

Korean Pulled pork poutineKorean pulled pork poutine from Asian Poutine. Photo by elistephen

Lobster PoutineLobster poutine from Buster's Sea Cove food truck. Photo by limberry

Kimchi with beef bulgogi poutineKimchi with beef bulgogi poutine from the Cooking Mamas. Photo by sallyoung10

Lobster and Shrimp PoutineLobster and shrimp poutine from Asian Poutine. Photo by teefee

DESSERTS

Deep fried mochi with sesame ice creamDeep fried mochi with sesame ice cream. Photo by misschrisdeen

Black sesame macaronA black sesame macaron. Photo by rmlai

Mango shaved ice and condensed milkMango shaved ice and condensed milk from Chilly Ribbons. Photo by alwaysxo

Strawberry, mango yo-yogurtStrawberry, mango yo-yogurt. Photo by dtwj

Shaved IceShaved ice. Photo by dzcheung

taiyakiTaiyaki, a Japanese fish-shaped cake with chocolate and red bean. Photo by zeavenevan

ColabombA colabomb, one of the modernist desserts from Gusta Haus. Photo by tfortails

Hong Kong style eggetteKing of Alps, a Hong Kong style eggette. Photo by riseaghdha

Deep fried ice cream topped with maple bacoDeep fried ice cream topped with maple bacon. Photo by evelynheatherchin

ice cream made with liquid nitrogenOreo cookie ice cream made with liquid nitrogen. Photo by djtommyc07

BeavertailsBeavertails from the BeaverTail food truck. Photo by mynameiskathy

Black sesame ice cream with deep fried mochi filled with black sesame pasteBlack sesame ice cream with deep fried mochi filled with black sesame paste. Photo by littlebuddyrabbit

What was your favourite find at this year's Night It Up!? Let us know in the comments below.

Top photo by tpyj


The Best Delis in Toronto

0
0

deli in TorontoThe best delis in Toronto (Jewish style delis that is) are temples to time-tested traditions of meat and mustard stacked on rye bread. They are casual places devoted to towering heaps of briney, smoked beef served with ritualistic sides of pickles, coleslaw and soul-warming classics like matzah ball soup. While many line the Bathurst Street borscht belt, there are at least a couple nosh-worthy destinations elsewhere in the GTA.

Here are the best delis in Toronto.

See also:

The Best Sandwiches in Toronto
The Best Bagels in Toronto

Caplansky's photo from L.Richarz in the blogTO flickr pool.

We're hiring! Join our team as a Community Manager

0
0


With multiple mobile apps, a growing web site and hundreds of thousands of followers on social media we've decided now is the time to bring on board a dedicated Community Manager. As the Community Manager for blogTO you'll be responsible for overseeing all communications with the site's community of readers, social media followers, mobile users, email subscribers and other key stakeholders. Specific responsibilities may include:

  • Social media management
  • Comment and Photo monitoring and moderation
  • Web, mobile and social media reporting and analytics
  • Internal and external marketing and promotions of site/app features and initiatives
  • Contest administration
  • Writing and editing email newsletters

And that's just scratching the surface.

The ideal candidate will be someone with previous experience as a Community Manager and is able to demonstrate the following skills and abilities:

  • Strong interpersonal and written communication skills
  • Excellent organizational skills
  • Detail oriented
  • Ability to consistently meet deadlines
  • Background or experience with web or social media analytics
  • High usage of all relevant social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook and Instagram a must) and local/social mobile apps
  • Expert knowledge, passion and desire for all things Toronto
  • High familiarity with blogTO's online product offering and mobile apps

Does this sound like your kind of gig? Read on for some handy FAQs.

Is this a paid position? Yes. Compensation is suitable for someone with 1-3 years of relevant experience in the work force and with an undergraduate education.

Is this a full time role? Yes. It's our preference to hire someone in a full time capacity but since we're looking for the candidate with the best fit we are willing to look at those seeking part-time positions (20+ hours a week) if that better suits your situation.

Will I be working in an office? Our office is located in a beautiful, historical building in Toronto's Financial District. You will be based here but we offer the flexibility to work remotely as necessary.

How do I apply? Email jobs [at] blogto [dotcom] and explain why you'd be the perfect candidate for this role. Please highlight any skills and experience that aligns with the posting details indicated above. We can't wait to hear from you!

Morning fog

Radar: Audiopollination #8, Collectively Speaking, Toronto Summer Music Festival, Bjork, Summer Swap

0
0

Koerner HallToronto events on July 16th, 2013

MUSIC | Audiopollination #8
Audiopollination is a monthly musical presentation by TO's most active, and genuinely underground experimental music organization, Somewhere There. Tonight's Audiopollination takes place at Array Music, and features guitarist Ken Aldcroft in a series of short duet performances with a wide variety of music partners. Aldcroft is member of a number of TO musical ensembles, including Alaniaris, Hat And Beard, his own Convergence Ensemble, and many others. Tonight's collaborators include Tiina Kiik, on accordion, saxophonist Paul Newman, percussionist Raphael Roter, Bob Vespaziani playing wave drum, pianist Avesta Nakhaei, and several others. There will an additional dimension to this collaboration, as well, with Adam Rosen and John Creson (aka. SOAR) providing visuals throughout the evening.
Array Music (155 Walnut Avenue) 8PM, PWYC

CULTURE | Collectively Speaking: Take Shelter
Tonight, Collectively Speaking brings together three different TO collectives, each based in the art and design spheres, to put their heads together and brainstorm in a competitive setting, in an attempt to come up with solutions to the long-standing and important Toronto challenge of housing. The Project Gallery, The Hashtag Gallery, and 185 Augusta will converge at this event, and harness their creative talents around this issue, and possibly deliver something unexpected and innovative. Collectively Speaking considers this an "alternative town hall meeting" of sorts and encourages you to add your voice to the conversation tonight. Kaleb Robertson hosts.
The Gladstone Hotel, Melody Bar (1214 Queen Street West) 7PM

MUSIC | Paris La Belle Epoque - Opening Night!
The Toronto Summer Music Festival opens tonight at Koerner Hall. An important theme of this year's festival is the music and culture of Paris at the beginning of the 20th Century, thought to be the "artistic centre of the world" at this time. Tonight's opening night performances reflect this focus strongly with a performance by Trio Pasquier Pidoux Pennetier, playing Gabriel Fauré's Trio in D Minor, Maurice Ravel's Trio for piano, violin, and cello, and Sergei Rachmaninoff's Elegiac Trio in D Minor, Op. 9. A champagne reception for the entire audience takes place following this concert. The Toronto Summer Music Festival runs until August 3rd.
Koerner Hall (273 Bloor Street West) 7:30PM $35 - 69

FILM | Free Classic Anime Screening: Chibi Maruko-chan
Another classic Anime screening tonight, courtesy of The Japan Foundation, and the Toronto Animation Arts Festival International. This evenings feature is Chibi Maruko-chan, a 1990 film directed by Tsutomu Shibayama, about school life seen through the eyes of protagonist Sakura Momoko, whose nickname is the film's title. Two of her classmates who are longtime friends are in an argument and have stopped talking to one another, and time is running out to reconcile things before one of the battling friends must transfer schools.
Innis Town Hall (2 Sussex Avenue) 6:30PM

MUSIC | Bjork @ Echo Beach - Biophilia live
Tonight, Bjork hits TO for the first time in several years as part of here Biophilia Live tour, one of just a handful of North Amercian tour dates this Summer. Although released in 2011, Biophilia is still going strong, and proving to be very much ahead of its time. This is more than an album, Biophilia is the first "app album" that was released in conjunction with Apple, and also exists as a "multimedia" project, with online, live, and installation elements. Tonight's show at Echo Beach also includes Mykki Bianco and Death Grips on the bill.
Echo Beach at Molson Amphitheatre (909 Lakeshore Blvd. West) 6PM $81.50 - $104

Also Of Note

Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO Toronto events calendar or contact us directly.

Photo of Koerner Hall by Kaeko in the blogTO Flickr pool

Morning Brew: Council ready for subway debate, heat alert turns extreme, electrifying the GO, King Edward Hotel gets a new name, and the Sun's "City Hall hotties"

0
0

toronto cn towerThe stars appear to be aligned for city council to approve an eastward extension of the Bloor-Danforth line later today (or possibly tomorrow.) The provincial and federal governments appear ready to back the project, though its not how much money is on the table, providing the extension gets the green light.

Ditching the planned LRT and opting for a subway will cost in excess of $1.1 billion more then what's already been budgeted and Rob Ford seems happy with a small property tax hike. Could this project blaze a trail for a Yonge relief line or it a byelection ploy?

The City of Toronto has just declared an extreme heat alert, meaning temperatures are expected to rise to dangerous levels by the end of the day. The forecast calls for temperatures of 33 C but the humidex will make it feel closer to 43 C. Additional cooling centres are open around the city.

Could Toronto's new subways be ready and waiting on GO Train corridors? An advocacy group is hoping the provincial government will back a sweeping plan to adapt and electrify the existing diesel train routes in the form of "surface subways." Are the city's existing rail lines underused?

The famous King Edward Hotel on King East is getting a new name. When new operators take control of the building it will become The Omni King Edward Hotel (officially at least). Omni Hotels and Resorts is taking over running the historic property from the current group of operators. Omni also runs Montreal's Mount Royal Hotel.

Yesterday was a slow news day, no doubt, but it certainly wasn't enough to excuse the Toronto Sun's cringingly awkward "City Hall hotties" poll, which is exactly what it sounds like. At time of writing chief planner Jennifer Keesmaat was leading the women's vote while Rob Ford was top man with more than three times as many votes as his nearest competitor, Cllr. Josh Colle. Yikes.

Finally, some dubious posters at the Front St. customs office have been removed after complaints from the public. The pictures, accompanied by sweary messages like "Offended you are? I a shit I do not give" and "Everyone calm the fuck down," were quietly removed after an enquiry by the Toronto Star.

IN BRIEF:

Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.

Image: Marika van Velsen/blogTO Flickr pool.

This Week in Home Video: 42, Evil Dead, Stallone and Lord of the Flies

0
0

42 filmThis Week in Home Video previews all the latest Blu-ray, DVD and on-demand titles hitting the street this week, plus lost gems, crazed Cancon, outrageous cult titles and the best places to rent or buy movies in Toronto.

42 (Warner Bros.)

The powerful and moving story of Jackie Robinson comes alive in this gussy biopic which manages to be engrossing while glossing over some of the darker elements of his fascinating story. As has been the case a lot recently in Hollywood, Canada's contribution to the legend gets nary a mention, and some of the more obvious moments of Oscar bait overstay their welcome just a smidge. Nitpickings aside, this is a great sports movie, something we haven't had in a while, well, at least since GOON.

Extras include "The Legacy of Number 42," a great look at Baseball in the 1940s and 50s, and a stirring look at the life of Jackie Robinson entitled "Stepping Into History".

ALSO OUT THIS WEEK

Evil Dead (Sony)

Unnecessary but effective remake of Sam Raimi's horror classic lacks the comedic force of nature that inhibited the original, thanks to a certain Bruce Campbell, but instead delivers lashings of intense gore and ADD editing. Since Joss Whedon's masterful CABIN IN THE WOODS took the genre to its absolute limits and (then nuked it to be sure), it is hard to take these hokey set-ups seriously, but this will probably play better in the autumnal lead up to Halloween than it does in the blazing hot summer. Extras include Director Fede Alvarez qualifying his directorial decisions, and a look at the intense and "physically exhausting creation of the film".

Bullet to the Head (eOne)

Gramps Stallone can still kick more ass than most young Hollywood pretties, so he's back in his annual retro 80s action movie geared to aging action fans. BULLET TO THE HEAD also witnessed the return of maestro director Walter Hill, he of the amazingly epic THE WARRIORS, SOUTHERN COMFORT, and 48 HOURS, pretty much all made out of tough guy sandwiches. Sadly this vehicle does not approach either man's finest hour, but with proper stunts and realistic gunplay, it's more entertaining than most CGI-heavy limp wristed tat that passes for "action" these days.

Lord of the Flies (Criterion Collection)

The original HUNGER GAMES finds a motley crew of marooned British school lads going native on their hapless bespectacled chum, a fatty named Piggy. Based on William Golding's classic lit that is still required reading in most civilized countries, this story has no doubt influenced vast swathes of popular culture and this original film adaption remains the best of many attempts. Criterion have delivered another stunning package, including audio recordings of William Golding reading from his novel Lord of the Flies, accompanied by the corresponding scenes from the film, a deleted scene, with optional commentary and Golding reading, and a collection of behind-the-scenes material, including home movies, screen tests, outtakes, and stills

Heavy Traffic (Shout! Factory)

Legendary rude animation guru Ralph Bakshi followed up his hugely popular adults-only cartoon Fritz the Cat with this counter culture kaleidoscope using a grotty pinball machine as a metaphor for 70s decay: sex, drugs, races and urban living all get a proper look-in using his unique style. Not for all tastes, but an invaluable postcard from the darkside of the disco decade.

Battle Creek Brawl/City Hunter (Shout!Factory)

Two freshly transferred HD slabs of rarely seen Jackie Chan sui generis mayhem to headline your next beer and popcorn basement party. BATTLE CREEK BRAWL is the superior film as it plays the action strait, although CITY HUNTER is more comedic it also ventures into leftfield territory not usually associated with Jackie's style. Another winning combo pack from the Shout Factory boffins!

STILL FRESH

RIP TORONTO VIDEO RENTAL STORES

There was a time when almost every neighborhood in Toronto had several competing video stores - now there are none, bar a few specialist movie loving shops in the trendy parts of the city, or a Mom & Pop convenience stores with a paltry Blu-Ray section where the jazz mags used to be.

Here's a list of a few of the more fondly remembered outlets from the video stores boom of the 1980s and 90s:

Film still from 42

New west end shop sells drool-worthy fountain pens

0
0

pens torontoAn ex-school teacher has given up her old career in order to open a store dedicated to fountain pens and stationery with her partner. The new Dundas West shop sells an extraordinary variety of pens, as well as specialized notepads to meet the needs of different artists and designers. If you're a geek (and I mean that in a good way), this is your spot.

Read my full review of Wonder Pens in the design section.


This week on DineSafe: Church Bistro, Coffee Time, Lahore Tikka House, The Thompson Diner, Tim Hortons

0
0

DineSafe TorontoWe've got ourselves a closure in Toronto this week. A popular spot in Little India has 13 infractions, with the most worrisome being its failure to "prevent gross unsanitary conditions." Sounds gross, alright.

Also, your Timbits may be tainted. Yup, Tim Hortons at Lake Shore and Kipling got a conditional pass, including a crucial infraction in the form of failure to ensure food is not contaminated. Unfortunately, they're not the only ones with that violation. Take a look at the rest of the weekly roundup.

Church Bistro (555 Church Street)
Inspected on: July 11
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional Pass)
Number of Infractions: 5 (Minor: 1, Significant: 4)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Coffee Time Donuts (796 Sheppard Ave E)
Inspected on: July 8
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional Pass)
Number of infractions: 5 (Minor: 3, Significant: 1, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to maintain hazardous food(s) at 4C (40F) or colder

Lahore Tikka and Boti House - (1330 Gerrard St. East)
Inspected on: July 19
Inspection finding: Red (Closed)
Number of infractions: 13 (Minor: 2, Significant: 8, Crucial: 3)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to prevent gross unsanitary conditions, operator fail to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated, operator fail to maintain hazardous food(s) at 4C (40F) or colder

ND Sushi & Grill (3 Baldwin Street)
Inspected on: July 11
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional Pass)
Number of infractions: 3 (Minor: 1, Significant: 2)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Scarborough Convention Centre (20 Torham Place)
Inspected on: July 11
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional Pass)
Number of infractions: 5 (Minor: 2, Significant: 3)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

St. Louis Bar & Grill (808 York Mills Road)
Inspected on: July 11
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional Pass)
Number of infractions: 8 (Minor: 2, Significant: 4, Crucial: 2)
Crucial infractions include: Operator failed to maintain hazardous food(s) at 4C (40F) or colder, operator fail to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated

The Thompson Diner (550 Wellington Street W)
Inspected on: July 10
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional Pass)
Number of infractions: 4 (Minor: 2, Significant: 2)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Tim Hortons (3316 Lake Shore Blvd. W)
Inspected on: July 12
Inspections finding: Yellow (Conditional Pass)
Number of infractions: 6 (Minor: 1, Significant: 3, Crucial: 2)
Crucial infractions include: Operator failed to maintain hazardous food(s) at 4C (40F) or colder, operator fail to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated

Correction: An earlier version of this post contained an erroneous link to Lahore Tikka House at 1365 Gerrard, which was not cited by DineSafe. The link has now been removed.

Get to know a street: Northtown Way

0
0

Northtown Way TorontoNorthtown Way is the street that nobody knows about. Occupying a space not quite 300 feet across between Yonge Street and Doris Avenue in North York, this road is so small that its name doesn't even show up on Google Maps. In fact, many who have passed by may not even recognize it as a distinct street, instead assuming that it's little more than dead space between several sprawling condominium spaces.

Buried deep (well, as deep as 300 feet can get) inside this street, are a significant number of independent businesses that are impressive in both their diversity and quality. It may fly under the radar, but I personally love Northtown Way. In addition to the interesting points of diversion, this miniscule street also has a roundabout framed by small park benches and plenty of greener in the middle of the street. Nice touch.

Here are some of the places you can check out in Northtown Way:

Sushi Bong
Sushi Bong is extremely well-known around this neighbourhood as the go-to place for cheap and delicious sushi. Despite a name that conjures up activities of questionable legality, it's actually full of G-rated fun for the whole family, and is probably one of the most popular take-out sushi joint around the Yonge and Finch area. Granted, the presentation and quality of ingredients aren't going to win any Michelin awards, but when you can stuff your face with humongous Dynamite Rolls for $10, what else can you ask for?

Kung Fu DuckKung Fu Duck
No, Disney hasn't released a new martial arts animal movie. Despite its quirky name, this (extremely) small place doesn't have anything to do with self-defense and intense training. It is, in fact, a takeout place to get one of the most popular mainland Chinese snacks: duck neck and duck tongue. They're surprisingly delicious and have a very rich taste, not to mention rather a rare find in Toronto, making this place a must visit, despite its rather odd evening-only hours. From the regular to the spicy variety, these little munchies are consumed en masse with a side of cold beer during picnics and sporting events. A bit like how we view chicken wings in Canada, then.

Domi CafeDomi Cafe
If you're ever in the mood for an authentic Japanese dessert cafe experience, then pay this tiny spot a visit. Specializing in those cute Japanese fish-shaped hot cakes (don't worry, it doesn't contain seafood) and iced treats, this cafe is a great place to munch on some delicious red bean and cream cheese hot cake, topped with their refreshing azuki bean sherbet. Personally speaking, the best part is that these sweet treats do not leave you feeling really heavy, as you probably would following more conventional Western desserts such as cheesecakes or chocolate sundaes. Service is friendly and prompt, and each fish-shaped delicacy will only cost you around $3.

Baharan Pizza and SandwichesBaharan Pizza and Sandwiches
Bored of Subway's sandwiches and annoyed at the company's ridiculous adverts that feature people saying stuff like "Thank God It's Tuna Day"? Then give Baharan a try. While the name certainly isn't as catchy as its larger sandwich store counterpart, the deals over here are positively drool-worthy. Featuring large sandwiches with a Middle-Eastern twist, it's hard not to love their daily deals, such as the fearsome veal tongue sandwich combo, offered on Tuesdays for under $8. Or a hamburger supreme that positively oozes with cheese for 6 bucks on Wednesdays. The only downside is that it's really mostly a cramped takeout joint

Puppy Chappy
A great place to stop by for dog lovers, this all-in-one dog salon and store provides everything you want to spoil your furry friend. The most interesting part of the store is its half-and-half setup: half of the store is dedicated for the aforementioned grooming services (don't forget the pedicures!), while the other half is where you go to grab various accessories and other doggy goods, ranging from treats to adorable coats and boots. Service is friendly and attentive, assuring you that your best friend is in good hands.

Roll.com TorontoRoll.com
Calling itself a Korean fusion restaurant, this rather spacious (by Northtown Way's standards) restaurant specializes in tteokbokki. Funny spelling and consonant overload aside, this rice cake dish is extremely popular in Korea, and Roll's offering does not disappoint, with its smooth taste, strong flavour, and burning hot spice (should you be a little brave in your dining). The service is pleasant, and the place also serves up a nice assortment of kimbap (Korean sushi rolls) which uniquely different than its Japanese counterpart. The restaurant's name doesn't have anything to do with having their own website, unfortunately, but I'll let that one pass (seriously, try typing it in to your browser).

Wiki StarWiki Star
This small (and I mean TINY) food stall is a microcosm of Northtown Way: diminutive in size yet densely packed with awesomeness. What may at first glance looks like a cheerful bubble tea place turns out to be a very impressive Taiwanese takeout joint. The food is freshly made to order, and the service is friendly and cheerful. Try the cheap but delicious san bei ji (Taiwanese style chicken on rice), along with the spicy barbeque chicken, each at a paltry sum of $5.99.

Dumpling King
Despite a rather odd-looking logo featuring a mysteriously long-necked Jackie Chan lookalike, there's nothing else puzzling about this small restaurant. A branch of the popular local chain, the restaurant specializes in authentic Chinese dumplings, with more varieties than you can shake a stick at. My personal favourite is the pork and chive dumplings, along with the fragrant lamb and carrot ones. And you can get these tasty morsels in the boiled, steamed, or deep-fried variety, at no more than $6-$7 a pop. What more could you ask for?

Haida Sandwich TorontoHaida Sandwich
Proudly calling itself "the biggest fast food franchise in the Middle East", Haida Sandwich offers you a cacophony of delicious hot sandwiches, pizza, and pizza sandwiches (!) in a cheerful and welcoming atmosphere. Try the Haida Hot sandwich (the secrets in the special sauce) for a satisfying foot-long sandwich resplendent with chicken, beef, and delightful morsels of potato sticks. The only downside is that when it gets busy (and it will), service can be a bit slow. On the flip side, it's open until 4 am on weekends.

Get to know more Toronto streets via our Toronto Streets Pinterest board.

Posted by Darren "DKLo" Susilo. He hangs out on the twitter and his own mansion.

House of the Week: 899 Dundas Street West

0
0

899 Dundas West TorontoSituated near the northwest corner of Trinity Bellwoods Park, this three-storey building was designed by Kohn Shnier architects (also co-designer of the flagship Umbra store near Queen West) and has been home to R.A.D and its owners since it was constructed five years ago. This stretch of road in the Dundas West neighbourhood was once a bit more rundown, but has seen many shops and restaurants like Bent move into the area while long-time residents like Barbarella and Magpie continue to be local favourites.

This place is actually pretty cool with an empty retail space (R.A.D. is now deadpool) occupying the ground level, but there's also space in the basement that could be used for a multitude of uses ranging from storage to design space. The second floor living-dining room is open concept with a walkout to a south-facing balcony with a nice view of the city while the bedrooms comprise the third floor with a separate balcony off the master suite.

This is definitely a neighbourhood that could see immense change if, or when, Nero Condos goes up across the street.

899 Dundas WestSPECS:

  • Address: 899 Dundas Street West
  • Price: $1,869,000
  • Sq Ft: 2000
  • Bedrooms: 2
  • Bathrooms: 3
  • Parking: 1 carport
  • Taxes: $16,920(2013)

899 Dundas WestNOTABLE FEATURES:

  • Green roof
  • Dual furnaces

899 Dundas West TorontoGOOD FOR:

Someone looking for an investment property in an ever-changing neighbourhood. On the flip side this space would be great for an established entrepreneur who's grown out of their small home business and is looking for a bigger space.

899 Dundas WestMOVE ON IF:

You just looked at the taxes and did the math on what it would cost you to own this place if you're a bourgeoning entrepreneur.

899 Dundas WestRead other posts in this series via our Toronto Condos and Lofts Pinterest board.

Honest Ed's on the market for $100 million

0
0

toronto honest ed'sHonest Ed's, the luminous Toronto discount store famous for its wheeler dealer attitude and bargain basement prices, is being quietly shopped to property buyers with some of its surrounding land for a cool $100 million, reports the National Post.

If sold, and this is looking some way down the road, the prime location on a thriving commercial street in the Annex will likely attract plenty of attention from developers interested in building a mix of retail, residential, and office space on the site.

The three-storey building is not listed on the city's inventory of heritage properties.

honest ed's archiveHonest Ed's opened in 1948 and made a local hero of Ed Mirvish, its founder. The store's eclectic interior, goofy sense of humour, and hand-painted signs have defined its image for almost 65 years.

The wildly successful business allowed Mirvish to establish a significant theatre empire, Mirvish Productions.

Today, the sprawling site that encompasses several labyrinthine buildings sells everything from discount winter coats to cheap ceramic mugs.

According to the Post, the 160,000 square foot store and an additional 190,000 sq. ft. of surrounding property is up for grabs. David Mirvish, Ed Mirvish's son, says nothing has been sold yet but the prime location, close to the subway, is likely to attract plenty of attention.

Property guru Brad Lamb says, if sold, the site will likely be zoned for a building of around 10 and 12 storeys.

Does the sale mean the end for Honest Ed's? Could we really expect anyone but condo developers to bid on the prime location? Is it time the neighbourhood moved on from the days of Honest Ed's?

Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.

Image: Derek Flack/blogTO Flickr pool, City of Toronto Archives.

25 reasons to check out Toronto's Festival of Beer

0
0

toronto beer festival 2012Toronto's Festival of Beer might just be the city's biggest annual tribute to everyone's favourite adult beverage. But just how big is it? To get some sense of its scope, and to make sure you've got all the information you'll need to make the most of the brew-guzzling affair, here are some of the facts and figures related to this year's event.

30,000 - Amount of expected attendees at this year's event.

11 - Per cent increase that number represents from last year's attendance total.

19 - The number of years that Toronto's festival of beer has been around.

$39.50 - Cost of general admission.

5 - Number of drink tokens included with general admission.

$75.00 - Cost of a VIP ticket.

5 - Number of extra drink tokens a VIP ticket gets you (although VIP access also includes an express entrance, a catered meal, and access to the VIP area).

6 - Number of minutes I estimate you'll spend in the VIP area before you question whether or not the VIP pass was worth the extra $35 that could have been spent on additional beer tokens.

72 - The number of beer vendors on hand, including not only local favourites Black Oak Brewery, Cool, Great Lakes, Kensington Brewing Company, Left Field Brewing, Mill Street, and Steam Whistle, but also the big guys and a handful of international brands.

toronto beer fest 2012120,000 - Estimated number of litres of beer those vendors will pour over the weekend.

1/2 - Level to which that much beer would fill a standard Olympic-sized swimming pool.

20 - Food vendors who will be there serving grub to soak up all that beer. Confirmed vendors include Pizzeria Libretto, Campagnolo, Fidel Gastro's, Rock Lobster, Oyster Boy, Southstreet Burger, Teds World Famous BBQ, and Sully's Dawgs.

16,472 - Estimated number of Instagram pictures of lobster rolls, sloppy Joes, and burgers that will be uploaded as a result of the festival.


3 - Days that the beer fest will run, beginning Friday July 26 and wrapping Sunday July 28.

0 - Amount of tickets still available for Saturday's festivities. In fact, the Saturday session of the event has been sold out since March. You can, however, still get tickets online for Friday and Sunday — although you can expect Friday to sell out this week too — and, providing there are some left, you can tickets at the door Sunday.

4,431 - Estimated amount of tank-top-wearing dudes you can expect at the festival. The event is somewhat notorious for a certain frat boy element which may or may not detract from your beer festival experience; however, it's not all that hard to avoid this scene if you want (read: steer clear of the Budweiser and Coors Light areas).

toronto festival of beer1936 - Year that the Hollywood Bowl-inspired Bandshell at Exhibition Park was constructed. The art deco structure, which will serve as a central point to the festival activities, has hosted the likes of Louis Armstrong and The Guess Who and once played host to the World's Largest Hokey Pokey (Thanks, Wikipedia!)

2 - Number of princes who kneel before you, that's what I said now, as per the 1993 hit by the Spin Doctors, the Saturday night headliner who will take stage in the aforementioned Bandshell. Friday night will see De La Soul and Escort take the stage and, on Sunday, music will be provided by Big Sugar and Easy Star All-Stars. Just go ahead now.

511 - The streetcar that will get you closest to the event. Take it to its last stop at Exhibition Loop then walk southwest to the festival grounds.

toronto beer festival 20120 - Amount of pets and children allowed.

14 - Beer education events that will occur over the weekend under the guise of the event's Brewmaster Series, wherein experts will attempt to teach you a thing or two about the liquid you're blindly pouring down your throat. Events will include Homebrewing 101 with Doug Appledoorn of Brauhaus and a discussion on the importance of proper glassware with Justin LaMontagne of the Six Pints Beer Academy.

10 - West Coast breweries that will be featured in the World of Beer Pavilion, an area of the festival featuring beers from a specific geographical region. This year it seems likely that hops will be on the menu when brewers Sierra Nevada, Rogue, Phillips and more bring some offerings from North America's left coast.

7 - Months that the version of the Flying Monkeys' beer "The Matador" that will be at the event is aged in bourbon barrels, Spanish Brandy barrels, and white wine barrels from the Niagara Peninsula--in addition to the aging that beer already does on Spanish Cedar. Expect all that extra aging to add new levels of complexity to the beer's already citrusy, hoppy profile and awesome leathery, cedar smoothness. The Matador will be among a handful of wine, bourbon, and whiskey barrel-aged goodies on hand for festival-goers to try.

60, 20, and 0 - Percentage chance of participation for the festival's Friday, Saturday, and Sunday run, respectively.

15 - Minimum recommended SPF for your broad spectrum sunscreen as recommended by Health Canada. Come prepared, beer drinkers. No one wants their good time ruined by a sunburn.

Photos by Natta Summerky

Ben Johnson also writes about beer over on Ben's Beer Blog.

Viewing all 47884 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images