Quantcast
Channel: blogTO
Viewing all 47914 articles
Browse latest View live

Radar: Holiday Art Bash, Christmas at the Garrison, Colin Mochrie, Still Moving Movie Poster Show

0
0

Art Battle Art Bomb Holiday Art BashToronto events on December 18th, 2013

PARTY | Art Battle Art Bomb Holiday Art Bash
Tonight, both Art Battle and Art Bomb join forces to colour your world in a big way at a special Holiday Art Party at Steam Whistle Brewery. There will be the cutthroat live painting competition that Art Battle is known for, plus an auction of studio works, and a festive "Secret Santa" for 100 paintings that can be seen online, but they will be wrapped up before you arrive for the event. If all of this hasn't closed you, free poutine from Poutini's and the sounds of the DJ duo We Were Born Electric should seal the deal. Steam Whistle Brewery, The Roundhouse (255 Bremner Blvd) 7PM $45 ($70 includes a Secret Santa painting).

MUSIC | Christmas at the Garrison
Even the Scroogiest among us are bound to still feel those warm and fuzzy festive feelings when we see the charitable efforts in our community at this time of year. The third annual Christmas At The Garrison continues this noble mission in the name of the Daily Bread Food Bank tonight, hosted by PJ Phil Guerrero with Wax Mannequin and Buffalo performing live. There will also be some burlesque action to spice up your egg nog (or whatever you're imbibing) courtesy of Bunny Angora, Chow Mein, and Maria Juana of The Harlettes. The Garrison (1197 Dundas Street West).

COMEDY | Colin Mochrie
Actor and comedian, Colin Mochrie, will be at Indigo Books at the First Canadian Place tonight to promote his book, Not Quite The Classics. Mochrie is known for his improvisational skills as a comedian, and he has made his name as a vital part of both Whose Line Is It, Anyway? and This Hour Has 22 Minutes. His playful book, Not Quite The Classics, finds him taking the first and last line from great works of literature, and making up the 'middle bits'. Indigospirit, First Canadian Place (King and Bay).

ART | Still Moving Movie Poster Show
Tonight, Hunt Club brings you the Still Moving Movie Poster show, and if it's still moving, it isn't dead yet - every hunter knows that! Hunt Club is a multidisciplinary gallery and studio space in Little Italy that considers itself more of a community and "hub" for artistic activity than a commercial enterprise. A roundup of Hunt Club's preferred TO artists will be displaying their interpretations of classic film scenes from the works of Spielberg, Kubrick, and the Andersons (Wes and PT). Featured artists include Broadbent Sisters, Paul Jackson, Kathryn Macnaughton, Amina Moon, Dave Murray, and Lauren Pirie. Hunt Club (709 College Street West) 8PM.

CONTINUING

THEATRE | Elizabeth - Darcy
This happens to be the only play on the list that isn't holiday focused. Nevertheless, Elizabeth - Darcy features the cozy and familiar characters of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Hallie Burt and Kate Werneburg play the title characters, giving the adaptation an innovative gender bend through which to view the classic tale. The Campbell House, which is fast becoming a theatre outpost for sight-specific period pieces, serves as the backdrop. Campbell House Museum (160 Queen St W), until December 29th, tonight at 8pm, $20.

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 via Facebook


Morning Brew: Daniel Dale libel suit to proceed despite apology, communication system hobbled TTC Monday, more snow is due, and Ford (plus council) dances again

0
0

toronto snowDaniel Dale will proceed with his libel suit against Rob Ford despite the mayor offering an apology of sorts yesterday. Ford said he was sorry for how the media had interpreted his "taking pictures of little kids" comment and said he never "personally" saw Dale over his garden fence. "His statement today didn't come close. I'm proceeding with a defamation lawsuit," Dale wrote on Twitter.

Several city councillors believe Dale is justified in pursuing legal action against the mayor. Councillor Peter Milczyn said the "horrible innuendo" was "one of the worst things anybody could be accused of." Councillor James Pasternak said Dale "has clearly been unfairly maligned." Ford critic Adam Vaughan said Dale "deserves a much more serious apology."

Ford was clearly in an apologetic mood yesterday. The mayor also said he was "super, super, super, super sorry" for calling his fellow councillors corrupt during a fraught ending to Monday's session.

TTC CEO Andy Byford says an "archaic" communication system played a role in Monday morning's chaotic commute. Central control uses a text-based system that is only capable of contacting 10 vehicles at a time; messages have to be acknowledged before more can be sent, he said. The system led to delays communicating with bus and streetcar drivers.

The Maple Leafs' agonizing defeat to the Boston Bruins during last season's Stanley Cup playoffs has made Sports Illustrated stars out of several beleaguered fans. The magazine shot pictures of Windsor social worker Mark Micelli and his friends, who filmed themselves reacting to the loss on a GOPro camera and uploaded it to YouTube last Spring. More than 500,000 people watched the joy slip from their faces, one goal at a time.

Batten down the hatches - there's more snow in the forecast. Environment Canada says the GTA could get hit with a mix of rain and snow Thursday night into Friday morning that will continue through the weekend. Forecasters say 20 cms of snow could fall by late Sunday.

Finally, look away if this weekend's video of Rob Ford dancing in a church was just too awkward. Yep, the mayor (with the rest of city council) was at it again yesterday, jamming along to jazz group Jay Douglas And The All Stars. The group was were in council to perform Bob Marley's One Love and an original called Christmas Carol Blues. Horrifying.

IN BRIEF:

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

Image: Ben Roffelsen/blogTO Flickr pool.

This Week in Fashion: Square One expansions, Young & Tae opens on Queen, last-minute holiday pop-ups

0
0

Holt RenfrewThis Week in Fashion rounds up the week's style news, store openings and closings, pop-up shops, sales and upcoming fashion and design events in Toronto. Find it here every Wednesday morning.

NEWS

Square One (100 City Centre Dr) may already be smack in the middle of an expansion, but that doesn't stop Oxford Properties from planning yet another $320 million mall facelift - this time anchored by a 120,000 square foot Holt Renfrew store. Renderings released last week by architecture firm Janson Goldstein show a honkin' glass exterior and a reworked road map.

Young & Tae, a Seoul-based shoe brand owned and operated by power couple Jenny and David Kim, opened its first brick-and-mortar store right here in Toronto last week. The minimalistic Queen Street boutique (630A Queen St W) offers a wide range of fashion-forward footwear for women, including red leather riding boots and ultra-sleek slingbacks.

Gravity Pope (1010 Queen St W) recently opened up their basement to house a pop-up teeming with potential gifts for everyone on your list. Running through to the New Year, the one-stop shop has all the fancy doodads one could ever desire, like Quill & Tine touchscreen leather gloves, Santa Maria Novella apothecary, and - best of all - Cubebots!

Until the end of December, get your hands on Lucian Matis' newly launched home decor collection at Shops at Don Mills. The pop-up shop - located at 23 Karl Fraser Road - will be filled to the brim with discounted lavish fur pillows and trash bins, as well as clothing from his eponymous haute couture line and lifestyle collection.

EVENTS/PARTIES

If you're nowhere near finishing your holiday shopping, don't stress! Oz Studios (134 Ossington Ave) is throwing a shopping party/pop-up shop tomorrow (December 19) from 6 pm until 9 pm so you can get your groove on while stocking up on Dylanium Knits, Skinny Sweats, Laborde Jewellery, and Homegrown Boutique's Canadian fashions. If you can't make it out to the launch, the pop-up shop will be open through the weekend to fulfill all your last-minute shopping needs.

You can also check out our round up of holiday craft shows and events here.

Headmistress, a local brand offering headdresses ranging from floral crowns to feather headbands, is hosting their second annual holiday pop-up shop tomorrow (December 19) from 7 pm until 11 pm. For one night only, head over to Hermann & Audrey (1506 Dundas St W) for a drink, a treat, a visit from Santa, and 10% off all of the accessories you'd need to stand out in a crowd or stuff in somebody's stocking. RSVP to RSVP@loveheadmistress.com.

What we got up to this week

Lead image: Janson Goldstein LLP

Where to score a decent burger in Scarborough

0
0

burger scarboroughBlending into its industrial neighbourhood, this east end diner has good food at fair prices. With a solid all day breakfast, a good looking (and tasting) burger), and hot daily specials, this is a safe bet for those sick of the golden arches.

Read my review of Railee's Diner in the restaurants section.

20 frozen photos of the ice storm aftermath in Toronto

0
0

Toronto ice stormThe ice storm might be over in Toronto, but the damage it's left in its wake continues to plague a city in the midst of a major cleanup effort. Hundreds of thousands still lack power, and downed tree branches litter the streets. We've already shared a selection of photos from our Instagram followers, but because there's some many awesome shots on Flickr, it's only fair to shine a light on the work of photographers who captured the storm with more than just their cell phone. The ensuing images are as stunning as they are disconcerting.

Check out all the photos in our ice storm aftermath gallery.

Ice Bell

10 fiery photos of the Winter Solstice in Toronto

0
0

Kensington Market Winter SolsticeThe 24th annual Kensington Market Winter Solstice filled Augusta Avenue with night-defying antics and entertainment, complete with a healthy dose of pyrotechnics. Giant puppets on stilts featuring performers from Shadowland Theatre and Clay & Paper Theatre got things started, followed by short musical performances by Spirit Wind & Eagle Women Singerz (Traditional First Nations Women's hand drummers) and Samba Squad led by Rick Lazar. Next, Richard Underhill from the Shuffle Demons climbed a tall ladder placed in the middle of the street while playing a Lukeman horn, until one of the other performers lit it on fire. The parade eventually made its way to Alexandra Park, where the fire jugglers stole the scene.

Check out how it played out in this photo gallery of the Kensington Market Winter Solstice.

Rob Ford is now an action figure (kind of)

0
0

Rob Ford action figureHere's hoping you don't find this under your tree - especially if you're under the age of, I don't know, 13. Joke/art site Masatoys is selling (but not really selling) a Rob Ford action figure called Ruling Force, complete with drug paraphernalia, a "racial slurry," and - off brand for Ford - anti-perspirants. The likeness is pretty good, but the "ages 5 and up" might be the most disturbing part.

Would you buy it if it was real? Would you line up to buy it? The never endingparade of RobFordmerch stretches far into the imagination. We should gaze at these mock-ups and ask ourselves if we want more of this memorabilia to exist. Somewhere out in the Pacific a majestic blue whale is swimming past a discarded bobblehead, oblivious. The bobblehead becomes lodged in the whale's blowhole and the whale suffers a slow death. At least fantasy toys are (relatively) harmless.


This week on DineSafe: Le Paradis, O.Noir, House of Wong, Inakaya, Marrakech Restaurant

0
0

DineSafe TorontoDining in the dark got a little, er, more interesting this week on DineSafe as O.Noir restaurant was served with a yellow card. If you can't see your contaminated food, does that make it less gross? A question for the ages. On the bright side, there were no closures this week or last, and the overall number of restaurants being written up is well lower than usual. This, no doubt, is a by-product of the holiday inspection schedule, but why not get into the spirit and just think that everyone's trying just a little harder to keep things spick and span. Here are this week's misfits.

O.Noir (620 Church St.)
Inspected on: December 18
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional Pass)
Number of infractions: 7 (Minor: 2, Significant: 3, Crucial: 2)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to ensure food is not contaminated, inadequate temperature control.

Le Paradis (166 Bedford Rd.)
Inspected on: December 13
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional Pass)
Number of infractions: 4 (Minor: 3, Significant: 1)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Dragon House Chinese Food (243 Sheppard Ave E)
Inspected on: December 18
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional Pass)
Number of infractions: 5 (Minor: 1, Significant: 3, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to maintain hazardous food(s) at 4C (40F) or colder.

House of Wong (4601 Kingston Rd)
Inspected on: December 19
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional Pass)
Number of infractions: 8 (Minor: 2, Significant: 6)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Inakaya (126 Willowdale Ave)
Inspected on: December 18
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional Pass)
Number of infractions: 6 (Minor: 1, Significant: 5)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Marrakech Restaurant (1450 Danforth Ave)
Inspected on: December 17
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional Pass)
Number of infractions: 5 (Minor: 1, Significant: 4)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

115,000 without power in Toronto as temperature dips

0
0

Toronto ice storm power outOver a hundred thousand homes in Toronto are still without power as temperatures have plummeted, leading the City to issue an extreme cold weather alert. With winds in excess of 30 km/h in the forecast, Hydro officials worry that more trees and power lines could come down as they slowly get a handle on the situation. "We'll see new damage," Toronto Hydro CEO Anthony Haines told the Toronto Star. "We're getting new outage calls. Many of your were out with us yesterday and saw trees raining from the sky. It's a dangerous circumstance."

Transit in the city is mostly back to normal, though service on the Sheppard Subway Line is currently suspended. The TTC hopes to have it back up and running by this afternoon. There are also a variety of roads that remain closed in Scarborough, including sections of Old Kingston Road and Military Trail.

It is a certainty that thousands of homes will remain without power through Christmas day, and perhaps quite a bit longer. Although crews work to address issues with some 40 odd feeder lines, Mayor Ford noted at a press conference this morning that there are many "one-off" outages, such that when power returns to certain sections of the grid, there will still be homes left in the cold and dark.

For the City of Toronto's full update from this morning, check here.

Photo by 899lo in the blogTO Flickr pool.

House of the Week: 66 St. Germain Avenue

0
0

66 St. Germain AvenueYou won't be able to miss this house: a tall, geometric, pristine rebuild plunked down on a Lawrence Park street lined with traditional brick houses. 66 St. Germain towers over its closest neighbours, although there are a few similarly modern houses nearby. In the back, floor-to-ceiling windows provide a treetop view from the master penthouse. If items like "penthouse," "upstairs laundry room" and "3-storey skylight" fill your list of real estate wants, this house is definitely worth a look.

The new and modern 66 St. Germain offers four floors' worth of living space, including a fully finished basement and two laundry rooms. The house is white and bright thanks in large part to a skylight that shines down onto the kitchen. The massive kitchen is designed for entertaining - you could fit a boatload around that marble island - and the front room comes with an entire wall of built-in shelves. The long backyard with raised deck is pretty great, but the rooftop "sky garden" is even better. The roof deck does face the street, but at this height privacy shouldn't be an issue.

66 St. Germain AvenueSPECS

  • Address: 66 St Germain Ave
  • Price: $2,049,000.00
  • Lot Size: 25 x 150 ft.
  • Bedrooms: 4 + 1
  • Bathrooms: 5
  • Parking: 2 spaces
  • Taxes: $4,000.00 (2013)
  • Walk Score: 83

66 St. Germain AvenueNOTABLE FEATURES

  • top floor penthouse master with ensuite bathroom and access to rooftop deck
  • 2 laundry rooms (both upstairs and down)
  • gourmet kitchen
  • open concept main floor
  • wooden ceiling beams

66 St. Germain AvenueGOOD FOR

Someone who wants a house that has the look of a condo in the sky but is planted firmly on the ground. Anyone who doesn't mind living in a place that stands out from the other houses on the street. If you're looking for high-end finishings, high ceilings, and a high spot to sit above the neighbourhood.

66 St. Germain AvenueMOVE ON IF

If the floor-to-ceiling windows make you feel a little uncomfortable, this probably isn't the right house for you. Although the dual laundry rooms are designed for convenience, some might still find the glass railings, huge backyard and sparkling bathrooms a little too high maintenance.

MORE PHOTOS66 St. Germain Avenue66 St. Germain Avenue66 St. Germain Avenue66 St. Germain Avenue66 St. Germain Avenue66 St. Germain Avenue66 St. Germain Avenue66 St. Germain Avenue66 St. Germain Avenue66 St. Germain Avenue66 St. Germain Avenue66 St. Germain Avenue66 St. Germain AvenueRead other posts in this series via our House of the Week Pinterest board.

The top 10 restaurants open Christmas Day in Markham and Scarborough

0
0

Christmas restaurants MarkhamMarkham and Scarborough restaurants do brisk business on Christmas Day. From dim sum to dinner or something in between, here are some of the best bets for eating out on December 25th 2013.

Gourmet Malaysia
If there's an Asian restaurant that gets points for effort in trying to liven up the Christmas Day experience, Gourmet Malaysia would be it. Not only are they open from 11am, they also offer an impressive Christmas menu for 10 people ($368) featuring ginger onion lobster and crispy shredded garlic beef. Don't forget to wash it down with a comforting hot teh tarik ($1.50), a sweet milky tea that beats the stuffing out of eggnog any day.

Phoenix Restaurant
Phoenix doesn't offer any specials on Christmas Day (though this may change) but they are open spectacularly early at 8am, perfect for a delicious brunch of Canto-Western cuisine goodies like the delicious ham and egg pineapple bun ($4.75).

Hohomi Rice and Noodle House
Found in the far eastern reaches of Markham in a nondescript residential plaza, this new Vietnamese fusion restaurant offers up interesting dishes that you normally wouldn't find in a typical southeast Asian establishment. The best part? They offer both a lunch special menu for $6.95 (my favourite is the Hohomi Chicken Wings) and a dinner special menu for $7.95 (try the spicy green chili chicken). Fresh food and a refined atmosphere make this place great value. Open starting at 11am.

Chung King
Quite possibly the loudest place on this list, this is one of the best places in Toronto to get the Chinese equivalent of the Christmas turkey: the large Peking duck (approx. $40). Coupled with the ridiculously delicious crispy beef ($13.95) and you have a fearsome feast on a cold Christmas day. Imagine the loud noises of chatter and utensils clinking against the bowls as Christmas carols and you're good to go.

Dragon Legend
If all you want for Christmas is all you can eat (see what I did there), then pay a visit to this brand-new buffet place just south of Highway 7. Unique among many of the bland buildings you see in Markham, this restaurant's exterior is eye-catching, while the splendour inside is worth the admission fee alone. Prices are a bit steep, though at least they are charging the weekday price of $29.99 even on Christmas Day (open at 9:30am) as part of their special promotion. As an added bonus: they're promising roast turkey as part of their December 25th menu. Win-win.

Yang's Fine Chinese Cuisine
Yang's is on the list of best dim sum places in the GTA and I see no reason not to include them on this list. You can start your post-unwrapping activities with a big dim sum meal here. The sweet egg yolk buns are (almost) to die for, while the shrimps used in their har gow dumplings are some of the freshest and largest you will ever experience. They open at 10am, and you better come early as it gets busy. If you can book early enough, try to get a space in one of their private VIP rooms.

Yoko Japanese Restaurant
If you're looking for a quiet, low-key meal that satisfies, look no further than Yoko. This oft-overlooked place in an industrial corner of Scarborough offers large bento boxes along with rotating daily specials. The majority of the patrons are lunchtime office workers (during dinnertime I can practically hear crickets chirping), which could make for a peaceful meal on the 25th. The Green Dragon Roll ($15) is a good bet along with their fresh sushi and sashimi boats. Definitely a place to come on an empty stomach. Open starting at 11am.

Ding Tai Fung
Another carryover from the best dim sum list, this place has become synonymous with soup-filled dumplings (xiaolongbao), and the fact that they're open from 11am on Christmas Day practically guarantees that there'll be quite a crowd of dumpling lovers ready to scoop up their Shanghai-style dim sum offerings. The crab xiaolongbao is a particular highlight here, and you can munch on these while watching the chefs hand-make your little morsels of delight through a large glass window.

Asian Legend
A staple among Chinese food favourites, Asian Legend (in particular the wonderfully spacious Scarborough location on Sheppard Ave) is a place you can't go wrong. Many a conversation regarding where to eat has ended with Asian Legend when nobody can agree on where to go - largely based on the diversity of their offerings. Open at 11am. Be sure to sample their Szechuan smoked duck ($13.95) and the variety of casserole/claypot dishes such as the 3-cup chicken ($10.95)

Sagano
If you've decided that only a high-class meal would do, then don't overlook Sagano. Overlooking the 401 (which is a lot prettier than you think at night), this rooftop Japanese restaurant at the top of the Delta Toronto East features a special 5-course Christmas menu featuring sparkling wine, lobster tail, and beef teriyaki along with appetizer and dessert ($69.99). The service is top notch and they'll validate your parking, too. Open from 6 pm.

What did I miss? Add your Scarborough and Markham restaurant picks in the comments below.

Writing by Darren "DKLo" Susilo. He hangs out on the twitter and his own mansion / Photo by Sebastian Ip from Ding Tai Fung

Restaurants open on Christmas Day 2013 in Toronto

0
0

Restaurants open Christmas Day TorontoRestaurants open on Christmas Day in Toronto give holiday diners plenty of options. The most popular ones tend to fall into a few basic categories: 24-hour diners, Chinese restaurants, Jewish eateries, and upscale hotel dining. Some of the spots on this list are even feeling the holiday cheer enough to whip up turkey dinner specials for diners.

Whether you're looking for a healthy helping of stuffing or just looking to stuff yourself, here are restaurants open on Christmas Day where you can eat, drink and be merry.

Lakeview Restaurant
Dundas and Ossington's perennial late-night favourite is open 24 hours a day year-round, and Christmas Day's no exception. They'll be bringing back their deep fried turkey dinner, which includes stuffing, cranberry sauce and butternut squash (11 a.m. onward).

Thompson Diner
The Thompson will be serving up diner favourites all day. Night owls, take note: Their last seating is at 10 p.m.

Trattoria Vaticano
In the mood for some fine Italian dining? Head out to this Yorkville trattoria -- but call ahead for a reservation, because they're filling up fast.

Cafe Boulud
The Four Seasons' restaurant will feature a three-course Christmas menu ($85 per person) from 12 to 8:30 p.m. The offerings range from holiday-style fare, like roasted turkey with chipolata and bourbon dressing, to non-traditional (but no less delicious) selections like Nova Scotia Lobster salad and grilled B.C. spring salmon.

7 West
7 West is an always-open, inexpensive safe haven for Yorkville diners; on Christmas Day, in addition to sandwiches and pita pizzas, you'll be able to nosh on a turkey dinner with stuffing, mashed potatoes and veggies.

Stock
The Trump Hotel's steakhouse will host a Christmas edition of their Sunday brunch between 11 and 3, with a few more 'festive' menu items added into the buffet. They'll also be serving a turkey dinner later in the evening.

Caplansky's
It'll be business as usual at Caplansky's . They'll be slinging smoked meat from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., though they won't be delivering. The staff warn diners to expect lines - they're typically rammed on Christmas Day.

United Bakers
This 'dairy restaurant' (in keeping with kosher tradition, there's no poultry or meat to be found on the menu) at Lawrence and Bathurst is open on all public holidays, including Christmas. Stop in for some lox and cream cheese or potato latkes.

Noka
Nothing says 'holiday' like a crap-ton of sushi. Noka in the Annex will be serving all day, starting at 11 a.m., though they'll be charging the dinner menu prices for the entire day.

Clinton's Tavern
It'll be business as usual at this Christie Pits bar, though if you're looking to eat your dirty breakfast before evening, you're out of luck -- they won't be open til 4 p.m.

Destingo
In addition to their regular menu of homey Italian food, this brand-new West Queen West spot will be offering a $35 set menu featuring holiday classics like turkey and pumpkin pie.

Lai Wah Heen
There's plenty of Christmas Day dim sum to be had in Toronto, but if you're looking for a meal worthy of a special occasion, the Metropolitan Hotel's upscale flagship restaurant will be open all day.

Pho Pasteur
Pho may be the ultimate cold-weather comfort food, and Pho Pasteur dishes it out 24 hours a day, 365 days a year including Dec. 25.

Dhaba
A little vindaloo ought to warm you up. King West's Dhaba will be serving up Indian favourites all day, including their usual lunch buffet from noon to 3 p.m.

Toca
The Ritz-Carlton's resto is doing both brunch and lunch but call ahead; brunch is currently wait-listed and dinner is filling up fast.

Bosk
The Shangri-La's non-Momofuku restaurant will be offering a special brunch menu at $55 per person. (They're nearly booked up, though, and the dinner schedule is packed -- call ahead!)

Hemingway's
This Yorkville mainstay is also open every day of the year. On Christmas Day, they'll be observing their usual opening hours (11 a.m. to 3 a.m.) and dishing out a turkey dinner with stuffing, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie.

Fran's
If you ever see a Fran's location closed, it's safe to assume the apocalypse is nigh. On Wednesday, all three locations in the T.O. diner chain will be open for business, with the addition of a roast turkey dinner for $24.99.

It's worth noting that the hotel restaurants on this list are filling up mighty fast with those choosing to outsource the cooking of their holiday spreads; call ahead for reservations to make sure you won't be turned away.

Photo from our review of Destingo

Ice as far as the eye can see

Toronto filmmaker turns the ice storm into art

0
0

ice storm toronto artAs destructive as the Toronto Ice Storm has been (thousands still lack power), most will agree that the scene it left in its wake has been nothing short of beautiful. This was particularly the case this afternoon, when the clouds lifted and the new-seeming sun rendered our ice-encased tree limbs as cold bundles of glitter. But what does all this ice look like when it melts? Toronto filmmaker Tony Round combines the power of time lapse photography with still life compositions to reveal just how much an inch-thick layer of ice changes the nature of, well, ordinary things. Watch as things like bark, berries and tree branches come to life in reverse melt.

ice storm from tony round on Vimeo.


That time Toronto built a giant bridge in record time

0
0

toronto leaside bridgeThe Leaside Viaduct doesn't get nearly the attention it deserves. Needlessly dwarfed in terms of fame and stature by its slightly older cousin to the south, the Prince Edward Viaduct, the Leaside bridge is worthy of celebration all by itself.

The simple, utilitarian superstructure and basic concrete piers were built in world record time using construction techniques never before seen in Canada. It took barely 10 months to connect the top of Pape Ave. with the burgeoning community of Leaside and its thrumming racetrack.

For comparison, the Bloor Viaduct, which was rewarded with an official royal title and featured as the central location for the popular novel In the Skin of a Lion, took almost five times as long to build.

toronto leaside bridgeThe need for a second road bridge to span the Don Valley became apparent in the late 1920s as the little neighbourhood of Leaside, a planned community partially laid out to plans by Frederick Gage Todd for the Canadian Northern Railway, was threatening to boom into a fully-fledged town.

Leaside is named for John Lea, an early farm owner in the area. "Leaside" was the name John's son, William, gave to a brick farmhouse he built on the property, which was then acres of apple orchard and pasture, in the 1850s. CNR entered the Leaside story in 1912 when William Lea sold part of his property to allow for a rail right of way an repair shops.

CNR upped the ante by promising an entire new model town for its Leaside workers. Early plans called for a tidy collection of winding residential streets and wider arterial avenues dotted with parks and commercial strips. As Jamie Bradburn notes over at Torontoist, the town was designed to be home to at least 30,000 residents with an eye to being annexed by the City of Toronto.

Unfortunately, it didn't entirely go to plan. Leaside was built partially to Todd's blueprint but the predicted population growth was slow to materialize. In 1927, more than 15 years after its creation, the Toronto Star was still predicting that Leaside would become "in the near future a thriving town of 25,000 population, not the product of a hysterical real estate boom, but the natural corollary of civic development."

One of the issues holding Leaside back was its location. The town was in a "condition of splendid isolation" on the far side of the Don Valley, largely cut off from major roads. If the fledgling town was to realize its potential, it needed a link to the outside world.

toronto leaside bridgeUnlike the Prince Edward Viaduct, the Leaside Viaduct didn't need a series of referendums to gain final approval. A link to the rabidly popular Thorncliffe Park Raceway, a mecca for thoroughbred and harness racing and the spiritual home of the Prince of Wales Stakes, was enough, it seems.

Construction began in earnest on Jan. 2, 1927, a few weeks after the official groundbreaking on Dec. 13, 1926. The earth on the south side of the valley was already frozen in an unyielding mass so a fire was burned over the ceremonial first patch of sod, which was turned by East York Reeve Robert Henry McGregor using a miniature silver shovel.

In the valley below, amid eight centimetres of snow, workmen were laying the tracks for the temporary railway that would haul concrete and metalwork for the new bridge. It was the first time a major construction project had commenced in Toronto with snow on the ground, and more in the forecast.

toronto leaside bridgeThe construction schedule was ambitions. Designer and lead engineer Frank Barber pledged to deliver the $150,000 concrete and steel structure, substantially different to the one initially approved by the local councils, within a year - an unprecedented timeframe.

Several new innovations made the goal achievable. Barber and his team would measure the dry ingredients for the concrete supports by weight, reducing waste, while the steel superstructure would be built between the concrete piers without scaffolds or temporary supports, borrowing a system used during construction of the Quebec Bridge.

Barber's teams worked 24 hours January to March through bitter cold, wind, and snow. Massive searchlights on the valley floor bathed the gigantic structure in brilliant light after dark. An average of 4 metres of concrete was laid every four hours, Roger Miller and Sons, the contractors, told the papers.

toronto leaside bridgeThe extreme haste had consequences. Three men died while working on the bridge, but Barber believed a few mishaps were to be expected. "This is not an usual number because you cannot get a gang of several hundred men working on a construction of such a size without an occasional accident happening," he said.

With few setbacks (apart from the occasional low-profile personal tragedy,) the Leaside Viaduct was complete by late October 1927, barely 10 months after the groundbreaking ceremony. The speed of construction set a world record and the final bill came in slightly over budget at $975,000 - about $13 million in today's money.

The Star called 427-metre long structure "one of the greatest links that has been forged for the development of the Queen City and suburbs in the last score of years." Leaside and East York decided to name the span, decorated with few architectural flourishes, Confederation Viaduct. It was 60 years since the founding of Canada.

At exactly 3 p.m. on Oct. 29, 1927, William Donald Ross, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, cut the ribbon strung across the entrance to the south side of the bridge using a pair of specially engraved scissors. The band of the Mississauga Horse played God Save the King and a score of dignitaries gave speeches.

toronto leaside bridgeThe first vehicles to cross the concrete surface were a TTC bus, the first on the new Pape route, and a bread wagon bound for Leaside. "The East York-Leaside Viaduct changes the whole strategical position of Leaside," The Star wrote. "It centralizes the town and puts it on one of the most important highways in the metropolitan district of Toronto."

The deck was widened to support six lanes of vehicle traffic in 1969 as the city mulled extending Leslie St. south across the bridge. A major facelift and heritage status arrived in 2004.

Like its cousin to the south, the height of the Leaside Viaduct has made it a magnet for suicide since at least the 1930s. It lacks the protection provided by the Luminous Veil on the Bloor Viaduct and as Graeme Bayliss writes in his excellent and powerful story on the subject in the Fall issue of Spacing, there are no plans to build a barrier.

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

Image: City of Toronto Archives

Toronto restaurants aim to "rescue Christmas"

0
0

Restaurant rescue ChristmasIn the face of widespread power outages across Toronto lasting through Christmas Day, The Real Jerk wants to "rescue Christmas" by offering free food for those displaced by the ice storm. Rather than merely a PR move -- which it surely is, too (sorry, the Grinch lives on in my tender heart) -- the initiative is worth noting for its tempered altruism. As of last check, over a hundred thousand people still lacked power in Toronto (and possibly many more depending on whose estimates you believe), and a free meal isn't something to crap on. Better still, it seems other restaurants are feeling the charitable holiday spirit.

Along with The Real Jerk's offer of free lunch between 12pm and 2pm, The Emmet Ray has stepped up with a complimentary buffet starting at 5pm. It remains to be seen if other establishments will get on board, and the Real Jerk is capping their offer at 1000 people (no modest number), but if you're missing the community of a holiday dinner table, this could be a good way to spend Christmas day (or night).

If free isn't your thing (what?), and you still want to get out of the house today, check out our list of restaurants open on Christmas Day in Toronto. And for those to the north and the east, here's where to eat in Scarborough and Markham on December 25th.

Regent Park gets an influx of samosas

0
0

SamosasSome of the best samosas in Toronto are now more accessible to downtown dwellers. Occupying a large corner lot just north of Dundas and Parliament, this much-loved purveyor of samosas and dipping sauces has finally opened in Regent Park after an extensive period of construction.

Read my review of the new location of Sultan of Samosas in the restaurants section.

Boxing Day Sales in Toronto 2013

0
0

Boxing day sales torontoBoxing Day Sales in Toronto are the best way to remedy whatever bad gifts you found under the tree today. And, really, it's a day when almost everyone in the city is scattered inside malls and on the streets trying to score a deal, whether they celebrated Christmas or otherwise. Though December 26th usually involves crowds, panicked frenzies, parking wars, and general discomfort, it's worth it when you walk away with a great deal.

So, whether it's clothing, electronics, or a little something for your home, here are some limited time Boxing Day sales going on in Toronto for 2013.

FASHION

Working Title
This new sister store to Ossington's Engineered Garments or Patrik Ervell fix at up to half off! The boutique is open from 10 am until 7 pm on Boxing Day. If you can't make it, don't fret! The sale continues throughout the week (while quantities last).

TNT
TNT wants to be off to a fresh start in the New Year! That's a good thing for everyone - they're pushing all their sale merchandise out at an additional 50% - 70% off tomorrow! All locations are offering the insane deal, so head over to Hazelton Lanes (87 Avenue Rd), Eglinton (390 - 394 Eglinton Ave W), or Bayview Village (2901 Bayview Ave) to get your luxury/designer fix for less.

Uncle Otis
Uncle Otis - a.k.a. one of the best places to find menswear in Toronto - is having a super impressive Boxing Day sale! They're offering up to 60% off on clothing and footwear - including treasures by Oliver Spencer, Fjall Raven, Wings & Horns, and Creep. The doors will be open from 10 am until 7 pm.

Over the Rainbow
Over The Rainbow isn't taking Boxing Day lightly! They'll be offering 50% off all seasonal denim, 30% off all fall fashion gear, and 20% off select denim and fashion items. Plus - on top of the all - they'll have a handful of door crasher discount items marked under $50!

Homegrown
Homegrown - the best place to get Canadian fashion all in one place - has everything marked at up to 75% off. This means you have absolutely no excuse not to support amazing local designers like Emily Woudenberg and Greta Constantine! I know I'm already eyeing a Dylanium Knits oversized wool scarf ($179) in both colours!

  • Blue Button Shop: Up to 60% off Fall/Winter items, including high quality Japanese denim at 25% off.
  • Bridge + Bardot: All items marked at 40 - 50% off
  • a href="http://www.blogto.com/fashion/bicyclette-toronto">Bicyclette: Take 40% off all regular priced items and an additional 20% off on already reduced merchandise
  • Annie Amie: Everything marked up to 70% off. Door open at 12.
  • Soop Soop: A mark-down triple threat! Print/magazines at 10% off, new clothing/accessories at 20% off, and vintage clothing/accessories at 30% off!
  • Lost and Found: 20 - 50% off, with the exception of select footwear and accessories.
  • John Fluevog: For the first time ever, John Fluevog's kicking off their big sale on boxing day! Select footwear will be marked up to 60% off.
  • Sylvie & Shimmy: 30 - 50% off everything in store - a perfect excuse to stock up on cute Korean garb!
  • Elevator: 75% off silk and cashmere scarves, men's and women's gloves, and leather goods, as well as 20% off select jewelry pieces.
  • VSP Consignment: All fall/winter clothing is 70% off, and shoes/accessories are individually reduced.

ELECTRONICS

Future Shop
Tons of items will be marked to lower price points both in stores and online. Meet your New Year resolutions with a new, high resolution LG LCD TV for $599 or capture every waking moment with a Canon 60D DSLR for $799.

Best Buy
Best Buy's bringing their merchandise to the lowest of low prices. Every deal is different, but just to give you an idea, you can get a Sony DVD player for just $39 - and do it justice with Precision Acoustics tower speakers for $299.

HOME

West Elm
West Elm's been marking things down for the whole week - expect new things at up to 70% off tomorrow! Snag a deal on an organic cotton bed set or an ultra-modern vanity. The sale runs until quantities last, so hurry over and don't let the chance slip by!

Haveli Home
Haveli Home - a furniture and home décor shop filled to the brim with old and new goods from India - is giving you an opportunity to redecorate for less! Take 40% off furniture, including their stunning upholster items, as well as 30% off quilts/blankets and 20% off pillows. The sale runs until January 5th.

Gilt
Take advantage of Gilt's free shipping by snagging designer labels and colourful home décor at up to 80% off! With an exclusive membership, you'll have access to steals like cashmere throws at $180 (original retail price $435) and novelty lamps at $107 (original retail price $235).

Photo by Anna Sakin in the blogTO Flickr pool

Zig zag ice

Viewing all 47914 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images