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New in Toronto real estate: Monde Condominiums

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monde condos torontoMonde Condominiums is an absolutely huge new Great Gulf build, optimally slated for right beside Sherbourne Common Park. Yes, a downtown high rise that actually comes with a little green (and I'm not talking about money — well, maybe that too). This condo will rise a full 40 storeys tall, with a 12-storey "podium," and retail at ground level. Plus a laundry list of amenities, two green roofs, and more than 500 units. To reiterate: huge. Here's a closer look at Monde Condominiums.

monde condos torontoSPECS

Address:5 Lower Sherbourne Street

Number of floors: 40

Number of elevators: 5

Total number of units: 516

Type of units: One bedroom, one plus den, two bedroom, two plus den

Unit sizes (in square feet): 483 - 1253

Ceiling height: 9'

Prices from (available suites): ~$350,000

Parking: $42,500 (for suites 675 sf or larger)

Maintenance: $0.50/sf

Maintenance fees exclude: Hydro, water, gas

Locker: $4,500

Architect:Safdie Architects, Quadrangle Architects

Interior design:Cecconi Simone

Amenities: Negative-edge outdoor pool, sauna, garden, yoga studio, billiard room, gym, outdoor terrace, 24/7 concierge, guest suites (2), resident superintendent

Expected occupancy: April 2016

monde condo torontoTHE GOOD

It doesn't get much better than a park right outside your door. And a new one, to boot (meaning Toronto's Sharpie-equipped punks probably haven't even gotten to these benches yet). Sherbourne Common is right next to the Monde Condos site, meaning residents will be privy to its green space, playground, skating rink, and other amenities right when they step outside the building. And all for the low price of $650 (give or take) per square foot! In all seriousness, it is somewhat of a rarity to find a new high rise in downtown Toronto with a park right next door ("parkettes" don't count — sorry, Financial District), and it doesn't get much better (or newer, at least) than Sherbourne Common. This is a perk that resonates especially with pet parents, who know that their puppies deserve more than a little plot of grass or two. Bitches know what I'm talking about.

But onto the building itself. I'm glad to see that Monde has done away with the pitiful 300-something-square-foot bachelor, perhaps recognizing that we humans tend to share our living spaces with other physical objects. Of course, I'm referring to items such as beds, tables, and perhaps an item of clothing or two — items otherwise known as "superfluous non-necessities" to developers touting "condominiums" of parking space square footage. The smallest suite in Monde is a still-livable 483 square feet (plus 55 square feet of balcony), which is not huge by any means, but does offer some room to breathe.

monde condos torontoThe quality of layout in Monde depends largely on the suite, but it is worth noting that all units come with a standard kitchen island/dining table combination — a definite bonus considering many condo kitchens can be hard to outfit. As well, some one-plus-den units come with a powder room and a full bathroom, and most layouts include bedrooms with actual windows.

And obligatory nerd remark: Monde will be situated in the "Intelligent Community" of Waterfront Toronto, meaning residents will have access to internet speeds up to 100 times faster than me. And you. And everyone else in the city. Damn.

THE BAD

I don't get it, Lower Sherbourne. What's with you and gargantuan structures that occupy and dominate full city blocks? It's a little...off-putting. Sure, it looks great from a bird's-eye rendering, but what about from the sidewalk when all of these log podiums are actually built? Monde is guilty of the city-block-base (does someone need to take a look at zoning here, or what?) with its hefty 12-storey podium at its foot. Not exactly a scenic view for those looking out from Sherbourne Common.

Now, every developer likes to tout its supposedly "groundbreaking" design, and in this case Great Gulf is no exception. I believe the big talking point here is the cantilevered balconies on the tower's odd floors. And yes, they are quite interesting-looking, but they strike me more as ejected stapler trays than breathtaking examples architectural innovation. Or maybe I should just stop staring at my desk. But I wonder, too, about the functionality; if two people want to sit out on the balcony at the same time, must they sit front seat/back seat? Or can they squeeze side by side?

monde condo torontoSpeaking of squeezing, let's talk about density. Lower Sherbourne is poised to receive a considerable influx of new residents in the next few years, due mostly to the completion of this and other condo projects in the area. Now, the same increase in density could be said of many other neighbourhoods in Toronto, the exception being that Lower Sherbourne will be going from relative desolation (relative — I said relative!) to thousands upon thousands of new residents in a relatively short period of time.

That's not necessarily a bad thing, mind you, but it is likely that there will be at least a few growing pains. Plus, the building itself is a mini-neighbourhood in the sky (and yet, only three of Monde's five elevators are designated for the tower), and with so many people sharing a few common elements, wear and tear on the structure will inevitably get pricey. Add up the (ever-rising, most likely) cost of monthly maintenance fees, plus hydro, plus water, plus gas, plus property taxes, plus interest, and let's hope you have enough left over for that pesky "principle" or whatever it is. Living here will not be cheap, but then again, where is?

monde condo torontoTHE VERDICT

The view from the inside isn't half bad. Let's just hope Sherbourne Common visitors like shade.

What do you think? Would you live here? Add your comments to the thread below.

Read other posts in this series via our Toronto Condos and Lofts Pinterest board


Contest: Win passes to screening of Killing Them Softly

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killing them softly torontoNew Orleans continues to fascinate authors and filmmakers--particularly its seedy underbelly. The upcoming film Killing Them Softly takes a look at gambling, the mob, and other activities necessitating grim black leather jackets. Starring a particularly hirsute Brad Pitt and directed by Andrew Dominik (The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford), the film debuted at Cannes earlier this year to good reviews, and looks to be primed for holiday box office gold.

Want to see the film before it hits Toronto theatres? Here's how.

THE PRIZE

10 lucky readers will receive double passes (good for 2 people) to see a screening of Killing Them Softly on November 29 at 7 pm at Cineplex Yonge and Dundas (10 Dundas Street East, Suite 402).

HOW TO WIN

To win, just answer the following question: Which 1974 novel is Killing Them Softly based on?

The first 10 correct commenters win the tickets. Please make sure to include a valid email address in the comment form "Email Address" field so that we can contact you if you're a winner.

FINE PRINT

You must be a Toronto-area resident to win. Only one comment and answer per person. If you include multiple answers or post multiple comments you will be disqualified, and the winner must pick up their own tickets.

Party Style: Zareinu Fashion Show

Fare Game, Life in Toronto's Taxis a didactic ride

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fare game theatre torontoThis year, Theatre Passe Muraille has made it its mission to present the defining stories of our city. They've produced shows that consider Toronto's most iconic structure, The CN Tower Show, and turned to the geography of downtown to tell us more about the people who live there, as in The Four Corners, and the Queen West Project. Their latest crop of shows, Fare Game and the upcoming 501 consider the most controversial of city services: public transit.

Fare Game: Life in Toronto's Taxis sets out to accomplish a noble and important aim — to bring awareness to the exploitation of Toronto's taxi drivers and to humanize those behind the wheel. As an instructive guide to the labour issues facing drivers and about the current campaign for better working conditions at Toronto City Hall, the play presents an overwhelmingly compelling case for taxi reform.

As a theatre piece, however, the play reads more like a disjointed public lecture featuring historical facts and testimonials. The performance lacks polish and direction, but most importantly the qualities of entertainment needed to balance all the instruction.

The play could be considered a verbatim theatre piece that incorporates ethnographic findings from research and interviews conducted by the three performers: Marjorie Chan, Ruth Madoc-Jones, and Alex Williams.

The collective weaves together first-hand accounts of conditions on the job with the history of Toronto's two-tiered taxi system, and the case before city council for equitable pay and improved working conditions.

Taxi drivers who speak on camera argue passionately on behalf of their peers. Khalil Talke, an Eritrean taxi driver who was viciously stabbed in his cab on Valentine's Day of last year, is a compelling figure helping lead the charge. These personal stories from hard-working and under-appreciated Torontonians go a long way in humanizing the ignored workforce.

A brush up on Toronto's taxi history, the first companies in Toronto, and how exactly to get a license in the city, are less exciting. While the facts and figures are no doubt important context, the presentation style falls flat. Further, while the city council proceedings tie in the current and pressing political agenda, the footage is dry and often ends abruptly.

The lack of a director may inevitably be at the root of some of these dramaturgical missteps. While the large-scale projections of Toronto streets through the taxi windshield provide a beautiful and flickering backdrop, the performances at the forefront lack energy and cohesion.

The highlight of opening night was when Artistic Director Andy McKim acknowledged the taxi drivers in attendance who offer their services to Toronto patrons. The play goes a long way to recognizing their efforts, but doesn't drive beyond its didactic starting point.

Fare Game: Life in Toronto's Taxis, presented by Marjorie Chan, Ruth Madoc-Jones and Alex Williams, runs at Theatre Passe Muraille until December 8.

Photo by Aviva Armour Ostroff

Is new ramen joint worth the long waits?

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santouka ramen torontoRamen joins in Toronto are a dime a dozen these days (or so it seems) with almost a new one opening each week. One of the newest to grace our city comes by way of Japan and already has Ryerson students and others near Church and Dundas lining up to sample what it has to offer.

Read my review of Santouka Ramen in the restaurants section.

Food meets science at Sense Appeal

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sense appealAm I on Spadina or in 10th Grade chemistry class? While most cafes have, say, a plate of muffins by their front counter, Sense Appeal has a giant rotary evaporator spinning rum to maximum concentration. The cafe is working on creating "super-intense flavour droplets of rum," says owner Peter Adamo, droplets that will be used to make the cafe's own take on an eggnog latte. Coffee, alcohol and science experiments? I guess this is just like high school after all.

sense appeal toronto soupThe rum-infused eggnog latte is just one of the usual new pursuits by Peter and his team. While the cafe's lunch and drink menus have been around for some time, Peter tells me he's increasingly looking at new and unique ways of getting items to cup or plate. Those ways include pulling soups through espresso machines, pickling vegetables in ways to promote salivation, and running chocolate through a centrifuge for optimal texture. Consider it mad scientist meets espresso bar.

"Honestly, it's all self-taught," Peter says when I ask him about just how he conceives these sorts of ideas. "There are so many variables in food, and it's worth exploring the effects that a few changes can make."

sense appeal soup torontoPeter says he draws inspiration from UK chef Heston Blumenthal, who he says went against the rules and laws of French cuisine with great results. "There's plenty of innovation on the culinary end," Peter says, "but I also wanted to look at innovation in coffee."

And so, Peter experimented with espresso and his rotary evaporator, removing 80 per cent of its water at 45 degrees. "It allows you to remove liquid at a low temperature," he says. "Typically, when you boil something down, you're losing some of that flavour as vapour. This allows you to remove the water and also to maintain the flavour." Espresso aside, the earlier-mentioned rum-infused latte should arrive on Sense Appeal's menu in the coming weeks.

sense appeal science torontoWhat he hasn't yet boiled down (excuse the pun) is how, exactly, to extract soups using an espresso machine. "I wanted to incorporate our baristas in the lunchtime rush," he explains when I ask why he thought of the idea in the first place. "What we have to do is create a sort of soup 'puck' from which we can pull out the oils, in a way that's identical to coffee."

The soups, most likely, will be milk-based, and something in the realm of butternut squash should be the first variety to arrive in the cafe. After a little more tweaking, that is. Also on the roster is something Peter calls the "Triple Addiction," which is made with chocolate that is run through a centrifuge. "Essentially, you're separating the solids from the liquids, and the grittiness is removed, leaving an incredibly soft texture," Peter says. That super-smooth chocolate will be mixed with wine and espresso — indeed, a few of my favourite things. The Triple Addiction is expected in December.

sense appeal cafe torontoIn the meantime, customers and/or science fiends can revel in some of Sense Appeal's already available curious options, including falafel made from chickpeas in a sous-vide chilled slowly on ice, and coffee smoked chicken wings prepared with a salt, sugar, and coffee brine. Figure those out, 10th Graders.

Photos by Morris Lum

Man in street

TO Ceviche Bar is Toronto's new Peruvian pop-up

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TO Ceviche BarThe TO Ceviche Bar aims to bring a bit of Peru to Toronto, if only in the form of the country's famous lime-marinated dish. Earlier this year, Sean Lacey, along with friend Arlevo Valencia, launched the semi-regular pop-up and plan to host events on a monthly basis through the end of next summer. Based on customer feedback and attendance, they'll decide whether to move forward with a stand-alone restaurant once their pop-up run is over.

So far they've held one pop-up but plans for the next one are already confirmed for early next month. On offer at the second tasting menu will be tilapia ceviche ($14), clam and mussel chupe (akin to clam chowder, $9), an array of side dishes, and--pending a liquor license--Pisco sours ($12). Personally, I'm not sure tilapia is the type of fish I'd want to have as ceviche (see the sushi fiasco for reference) but I suppose it's all part of learning what the audience wants.

TO Ceviche Bar's next pop-up will take place at Voulez-Vous Cafe on December 8th, with 3 seatings (6:30pm, 7:45pm or 8:30pm) on offer at this cash-only dinner. Call 647.719.3499 or e-mail (TOCevicheBar@gmail.com) for reservations.

Photo courtesy of TO Ceviche Bar


This Week in Food: Archive Wine Bar, The Jerk Joint, Karelia Kitchen, Food Trucks for Charity, The 12 Beers of Christmas, Bloor Street Entertains

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toronto food eventsThis Week in Food rounds up the week's food news, restaurants openings and closings, chef movements and upcoming food events in Toronto. Find us here every Friday morning.

OPENINGS & CLOSINGS

  • New wine and tapas bar, Archive is now open next to Saving Grace at 909 Dundas West.
  • The Queen Street Market (238 Queen Street West) continues its transformation into a healthy food hub with the opening of its first new stall, The Jerk Joint.
  • Karelia Kitchen is set to offer Scandinavian cuisine when it opens next month at 1194 Bloor Street West.
  • LPK's Culinary Groove is closing at the end of December citing mounting costs for continuing their local, organic, and fair trade practices.

UPCOMING EVENTS

  • Fortylicious and sommelier Matt James host a wine tasting and discussion at the Foodies on Foot Studio (75 Portland) on Wednesday, November 28th from 7pm to 9pm. The evening will focus on tasting methods, how to take wine notes, and food matching.
  • Food Trucks for Charity will take over 99 Sudbury on Sunday, November 25th from 11am to 5pm. Eight of Toronto's best gourmet food trucks will be on hand with all proceeds from the $10 ticket going to Movember.
  • CANFAR marks its 25th anniversary with Bloor Street Entertains on Wednesday, November 28th. The fundraiser event kicks off with the Twilight Party at the Royal Ontario Museum (100 Queen's Park) at 6:15pm followed by dinners at 8pm hosted at various Bloor-Yorkville retail locations turned elegant dining venues for one night only.
  • The Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen Street West) features The 12 Beers of Christmas on Friday November 30th in the Melody Bar from 6pm to 9pm. This free beer tasting event offers each guest the chance to sample 5 complimentary beers, with additional samples available for purchase.

OTHER NEWS

  • Tutti Matti (364 Adelaide Street West) celebrates its 10 year anniversary with a month long family-style prix fixe menu starting Thursday, November 29th.
  • Tori's Bakeshop (2188 Queen Street East) is offering festive DIY Vegan Gingerbread House workshops every Sunday from now until Christmas.

Photo from our profile of Tori's Bakeshop

That time when the TTC was an Entertainment Network

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Vintage TTC ads commercialsThe 1980s were a gloriously excessive period for commercializing Toronto, as new and old institutions sexed themselves up and marketed their vibrancy with big, lush broad neon strokes that proclaimed we were a world class city, and dammit we were proud of it. The TTC got in on the act with a variety of amusing TV commercials that spanned the decade and put to shame almost all of their marketing adventures since.

In early 1982 the TTC began running "The Better Way" campaign, which used minor celebrities like Vic Cummings (who at the time played a peripheral part on soapy juggernaut The Young & The Restless, hilariously tagged here as a "soap opera broadcaster"), piano wizard Hagood Hardy and consumer advocate Lynne Gordon to espouse the no-brainer advantages of using public transport in a busy city. These spots introduced sterling TTC slogan "The Better Way" into the public consciousness, where it has remained and today still serves as a glass jaw for those wishing to heap any kind of ridicule onto the TTC.

TTC student cards and fairness was the subject of this 1983 TV spot, featuring two actors (Michael Dwyer and Lydia Zajc) from TVOntario's then contemporary Sci-Fi edutainment spook show Read All About It!, which many younger viewers were familiar with thanks to in-class curriculum screenings. Young heartbreaker Zajc's appearance created a (false) hope amongst her adolescent fan base that one might actually bump into her while riding the TTC, natch. The voice over work here was done by none other than Toronto Rocks host and golden throated CHUM radio legend John Majhor.

"Toronto's Entertainment Network" campaign appeared in the mid-80s encompassing print, radio and TV, tying transit service to Toronto's many vaunted cultural hot spots (CN Tower, Chinatown, Science Centre, beef that's rare, even). The memorable jingle still brings a smile ("we got friends to see, all on the TTC"), and for a while anyway the ultra-positive messaging resonated with the city.

The apex of gussy and glossy '80s style can be viewed in the "Metro Moves on TTC" spots from 1987, which seem to have been produced, directed and performed by a friendly neighborhood avant-garde theatre troupe. Another boppy jingle, this time focusing on TTC drivers as well as passengers ("Time to go, got a job to do, we're on a roll, Metro moves on TTC...") and not a million miles away from the current ATU Local 113 campaign which ruffled so many feathers recently (although granted those don't feature headbands or shoulder pads). These spots ended with what would become the TTC's tagline for the remainder of the decade - "We've Got A Good Thing Going", and with these commercials they undeniably did.

With a light touch and voice work from the ubiquitous Don Lake, the "We've Got A Good Thing Going" spots were reminiscent of "Toronto's Entertainment Network", once again equating the service with having a social life, and getting great deals on shoes. Trainspotters will note the subway car used here is an H5 with original seats, and marvel at the sound of the old-school whistle from a time before the three note chime alerted riders the doors were closing.

As the decade closed out, so did apparently the TTC's investment in imagination when it came to marketing their crumbling service. "A Fare That Moves You" premiered in early 1990 and was a classy ode to foreign films which probably broke the bank and resulted in the dearth of TTC commercials in the years that followed (The ill-fated "Ride the Rocket" campaign debuted in the late 1990s). Still, gotta love that they went out on a romantic high note like this, even if it has all the grace of a pig adorned with lipstick.

With even more grumbling about fare increases, cancelled bus routes, delays, 501 Queen streetcars becoming as rare as Giant Pandas, rude and hygienically challenged passengers, even more delays and bold but schizophrenic plans which seemingly never come to pass, the TTC could sure benefit from some positive and fun messaging these days. These commercials highlight an era when the TTC brand was something Torontonians were proud of, and it was not out of the ordinary to see people wearing sweaters, shirts or baseball hats embossed with the TTC logo on them (Could you imagine wearing that now? You'd be in danger of a beat down at the hands of Def-Con 4 level furious denizens awaiting lost-in-the-ether 501 Queen streetcars).

The TTC store at Union closed down over 2 years ago, and there seems to have been no attempt at making merchandising hay from "The Better Way" in the lucrative style that London or New York does (New York's Metropolitan Transit Authority pulls in $60,000 annually marketing everything from dinner mats to cufflinks.

We can only hope that maybe one day when other wounds have healed, the TTC may wish to revisit some of the marketing magic that brought us so much merriment in the 1980s and bigged the rep of the better way - "Toronto's Entertainment Network".

Retrontario plumbs the seedy depths of Toronto flea markets, flooded basements, thrift shops and garage sales, mining old VHS and Betamax tapes that less than often contain incredible moments of history that were accidentally recorded but somehow survived the ravages of time. You can find more amazing discoveries at www.retrontario.com.

New wing joint promises to blow your face off

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Drums N Flats torontoThis new wing joint melds tasty food with sports and live music, and finally lets you settle for yourself which is better--wings or flats--with the option of full orders of either. With 12 flavours ranging from mild to "burn your face off", there are more choices here than you can shake a (drum)stick at.

Read my review of Drums N Flats in the restaurants section.

The photos of the week: November 17-23

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Sunrise TorontoThe photos of the week collect each of the editor-selected photos of the day into one post for a contest to be decided by our readers. Sponsored by Posterjack, the photographer whose image receives the most votes will be awarded with a voucher code for a 24"x36" poster print of their work.

All the rules and fine-print can be found in the original announcement post on the blogTO Flickr page. One thing to add, however, is that the voting period ends at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, after which the winner will be contacted with the good news (We're still in the process of contacting past winners).

For those photographers whose images are featured below, please feel free to give us a little information about your shot — i.e. where and when it was taken — in the comments section. Who knows? Maybe your description will sway voters in your favour!

Lead photo by Dan Armishaw.

2.
Toronto Skyline IslandPhoto by DMVPhotography

3.
Cavalcade of Lights 2012Photo by suesthegrl

4.
DragonettePhoto by Ben Roffelsen

5.
CAMH TorontoPhoto by KatGatti

6.
Winter FunPhoto by woodrow walden

7.
Man in streetPhoto by Richard Rhyme


The Best Baby Stores in Toronto

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best baby stores torontoThe best baby stores in Toronto make for an impressive list. It wasn't too long ago that you went to Macklem's for your stroller and a department store for everything else, but Toronto is a city of neighbourhoods, and a lot of those neighbourhoods (Leslieville, Roncy) are full of young families, and they don't just want another vividly-coloured blob of extruded plastic from a Southeast Asian factory in their nursery.

The overwhelming fact for first-time parents is just how much stuff you're going to need to get your offspring from delivery room to kindergarten, and the modern urban parent has proved to be a very discriminating and conscientious consumer of baby goods - no Bisphenol A for our future Nobel Peace Prize winners, nosirree Bob. The result is that, once a neighbourhood has passed from its bars-and-bistros phase, the next stage of gentrification usually involves a lovely little shop with limewashed floors selling wooden toys from Norway and baby carriers in fetching shades of heather.

There's a lot to buy when you're a parent, but thankfully there are a lot of places in Toronto willing to sell them to you, in practically every area where someone is currently turning their guest room or study into a nursery as you read this.

Here is the list of the best baby stores in Toronto.

See also:

The best kid (family) friendly restaurants in Toronto

20 essential beauty shops and salons in Toronto

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beauty torontoThe most essential beauty shops and salons in Toronto offer products and services you can't find at your corner barber, never mind at your corner store. These are places you'll find that cruelty- paraben- and sulphate-free shampoo to which you've grown loyal, that essential oil bubble bath to help you escape your day, and where you'll find the only person in the world you'll trust to mend your broken (read: over-plucked) eyebrows.

These essential beauty spots include hair salons, body shops, beauty bars, and green-minded spas, all of which share share the characteristic of leaving you feeling great (unfortunately, the same usually can't be said for your wallet).

Here's my list of 20 essential beauty shops and salons in Toronto.

Art.27
Beauty without unnecessary chemicals, additives, or guilty labour practices. The body essentials you'll find at this shop may come with a bit of a higher price than most mainstream options, but such is the cost of donkey's milk lotion from Switzerland and premium anti-aging serum from France.

The Brow House
If you want a makeover that's limited to just above the eyes, this is your spot. We've all done terrible things with tweezers in our teens, and this is the spot to get it fixed. Brow shaping is done with tweezing, not waxing, and regulars swear by The Brow House's maintenance program.

Jacob & Sebastian
Jacob & Sebastian is all about pampering with bubble baths, aromatherapy candles, treatment oils, and countless lotions and potions. The Queen West shop has a healthy assortment of natural and cruelty-free products, with options such as Rahua hair products and Sprout skincare.

Fuzz Wax Bar
No nails, no makeup, no blow-dries, no blush. Fuzz Wax Bar is waxing, and waxing only. The shop offers maintenance packages for the gifted hair-grower, and welcomes walk-ins for a last-minute groom. Plenty of products, too, to "soothe" your visit.

Demo Soap
Soaps that smell (and some that look) good enough to eat; but please don't. Handmade from vegetable oil glycerin, Demo Soap has everything from Patchouli & Blood Orange soap, to Avocado Mint, to Cinnamon Roll soap, to Toronto Maple Leaf soap (despite the lockout). The Liberty Village shop also offers a line of certified organic soaps and oils.

Body Blitz
Um, this place has its own Dead Sea salt pool. Do I really need to say anything else? Well, in any case, the Blitz full body scrub is definitely a fan favourite, along with the spa's acclaimed lineup of sweet ginger and moroccan spice body glows. But the therapeutic waters definitely top the Blitz experience.

Doll Bar Inc.
As long as women love long hair (and don't have the patience to grow it out) Doll Bar will thrive. This salon is about extensions first and foremost, offering full head hair extensions, micro links, micro loc weaves, and customized clip-ins. Stylists will also apply hair that you bring in yourself, and help with the inevitable time-consuming extension removal.

bodyFood Aromatherapy Boutique
Using pure essential oils, bodyFood offers its own line of aromatherapy and natural body care products. The Liberty Village shop is your source for bodyFood jojoba bead face scrum and lemongrass foaming body butter, plus personal consultations and seminars for the enthused essential-oil shopper.

6 by Gee Beauty
The only place in the city (or country, for that matter) with its own Le Labo fragrance bar to custom-create your own perfume. Because who buys a bottle off the shelf these days? For a quick grab-and-go, however, 6 by Gee Beauty has plenty of shower gels, massage oils, body lotions and bath oils by Le Labo ready to take home.

Cooney for Hair
For those who look east (yes, past Leslieville) for hair inspiration, Cooney for Hair specializes in cuts, styles, and colours from Japan, plus products you can't find just anywhere. This salon is pretty unique in that you'll often find men in the salon chairs — notably those men, however, who like to keep a little length.

Colour Lab 12
A salon that's strictly all about colour. Tint, highlight, tone or treat — anything that pretty much doesn't involve scissors. And a lineup of iPads to play with while the colour sets.

Elixir Spa
Organic everything. That includes organic facials, organic manicures, organic pedicures, organic wraps (the spa kind, not the lunch kind) and more. Elixir offers spa parties for similarly minded groups of eco-friends, and quick on-your-lunch break spa options, including express facials and mini-makeovers.

Pinky's Nails
For the ostentatiously painted nail, few do it better than Pinky's Nails. This Richmond Street "professional nail art studio" does every type of intricate design, from holiday-inspired nail prints to custom thumb to pinky creation. Matte colour? Pft.

Blo
Not an obscure name, by any means, but still one of the best. Blo is your off-the-menu, quick dry and style boutique, with several additional services including extensions, treatments, and up-do's. But for a reliable and consistent "Wash Blow Go," Blo is it.

Eye Love Brow and Beauty Bar
Eyebrow aid for the west end. Operated by a former Brow House employee, Eye Love Brow and Beauty Bar offers brow shaping, tinting, shaping, and general rescue, plus full face makeup and application tutorials. Manscaping is also available to the overly-browed gent.

Lush & Lavish
A certified Eminence Green spa with waxing, nails, and hair all on the roster. The shampoos and conditioners here are all paraben- and sulphate-free, with eco-friendly nail polishes and lotions that are natural enough to eat. Not that ingestion is recommended, mind you.

Navigate Space
A pretty run-of-the-mill salon by all accounts, but I have to ask one question: is there anyone who has ever uttered a bad word about this place?! Anyone? John Taccone and his team seem to elicit nothing but positive reviews for their cuts, blow outs, and styles, justifying their slightly higher-priced service list. Is it something in the water down on The Esplanade?

The Ten Spot
The Ten Spot is your answer to no-fuss beauty. This spa caters to the active woman who just wants to get her nails done, rather than waste away the afternoon looking at floating rose petals by her feet. The Ten Spot does express facials, waxing, nails, and the works.

Pure + Simple
The name pretty such says it all. Well — maybe just the "pure" part. It does get a little complicated when you start digging into the science of "Aquabrasion" or "Pine Resin" waxing, but just know the Pure + Simple spas are focused on clean, natural, and holistic. Most offer the house line of products, as well as other natural beauty items to take home.

MYNC Lash Lounge & Brow Bar
Lash tints, lash falsies, lash perms, and individual applications. MYNC does all sorts of lash makeovers, including its "Pretty In Mink" lash overhaul with 60 lashes per eye and semi-permanent upper and lower lash mascara, because morning-after raccoon eyes is out (not that it was ever in). Brow shaping and body waxing too.

These are my essential Toronto beauty spots. What are yours? Add your favourites to the comment thread below.

Weekend events in Toronto: November 23-25, 2012

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toronto weekend eventsWeekend events in Toronto is our guide to events happening this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Here's what's happening in Toronto this November 23-25, 2012.

HOLIDAYS

Annex Mistletoe Kissing Stations
Let's get romantic, Toronto! Bloor Street will be decorated with mistletoe from Spadina to Bathurst beginning this Saturday so be sure to bring along the one you love to steal a kiss. The mistletoe will remain in the designated Annex kissing stations until January 3rd. Look for the signs and try to keep the PDA to a minimum for all our sakes.
Bloor Street (between Spadina Avenue and Bathurst Street), November 24, 2012, Free

Winterfest
The weather outside is not yet frightful, but the Toronto Waterfront BIA is making the Queen's Quay Terminal festive nonetheless. Setting up shop--as in Santa's workshop--this Saturday, children are invited to meet the grandfather of the North Pole and participate in arts and crafts workshops with the elves. Winterfest continues every Saturday and Sunday until December 16th.
Queen's Quay Terminal (207 Queen's Quay West), November 24, 2012, 12PM Free

FASHION

WORN Fashion Journal Issue 13 Launch: The Black Cat Ball
With the release of lucky issue number 13, WORN Fashion Journal is throwing a ball! Guests are encouraged to dress in black and white and participate in the raffle while oldies play. Drinks will be sold so partygoers can gather the courage to take photos in the famous (infamous?) WORN photo booth after sitting down for cat face with a face-painting artist. Cover includes a copy of the magazine and a good time at this Saturday night Black Cat Ball.
Dovercourt House (805 Dovercourt Road), November 24, 2012, 9PM $12 door, $10 advance

For more fashion listings, check out our This Week in Fashion post

ART

Smashing Event
Saturdays are for getting smashed, which is why Estonian/NYC performance group Non Grata will be destroy cars in a performance art piece on Sterling Road on Saturday afternoon. Taking place in the empty lot next to 163 Sterling, cars will be smashed in this controversial piece co-presented with the Dundas West store and gallery SMASH. Local artists like Noise Band, Wesley Rickert, Kathleen Reichelt, Jubal Brown and more will participate in the destruction, all for the sake of art. An indoor event will take place afterwards at The Theatre Centre Pop Up (1095 Queen Street West) at 7PM, followed by a reception.
Lot next to 163 Sterling Road, November 24, 2012, 3PM Free

COMEDY

FunnyMan Fridays Live Comedy Show
A group of men who think they're funny (not totally uncommon) band together for a Friday night of stand-up comedy in Richmond Hill (somewhat more uncommon). Fellow Canadian talents Jack Dani, Lars Classington, Matt O'Brien and Anthony Ciardulli join headliner Jeff Leeson in an evening that is all about wise guys. Marc-Anthony Sinagoga hosts this second show of the FunnyMan series, now in its second season. Tickets are available online and at the door.
Richmond Hill Centre for Performing Arts (10268 Yonge Street), November 23, 2012, 8PM $15

For more comedy listings, check out our This Week in Comedy post

MUSIC

Metric
Metric has been releasing full-length albums for nearly a decade and are currently on tour with their fifth studio album, Synthetica, out on their independent label this year. The new wave indie rockers play the ACC this Saturday night and tickets are surprisingly reasonable, considering the band's current reach. The band will play their "classics" along with the new stuff that has already experienced considerable radio play in Canada. But is there any better reason to go than to see Canadian darling Emily Haines tear up an entire arena of fans? Didn't think so.
Air Canada Centre (50 Bay Street), November 24, 2012, 8PM $49.50-$64.50

The Who
Let's talk about real classics for a second--British hard rock band The Who is back on tour, stopping in Toronto on Friday night for a show at the ACC. The band has been active since the mid-60s, having recorded 11 studio albums (1969's rock opera soundtrack Tommy arguably being their most popular). On the 2012 tour, however, the band is scheduled for 35 dates in which 1973's Quadrophenia album will be played its entirety. Tickets to the show range in price but if you aren't a die-hard fan, stick to the semi-affordable nosebleeds to save yourself some cash.
Air Canada Centre (500 Bay Street), November 23, 2012, 7:30PM $53.25-$143.25

100th Grey Cup Festival--Molson Canadian House Concert Series
With the NHL lockout still going strong, this city is now a football town. The 100th Grey Cup Festival is in full swing, celebrating 100 years of Canadian football, and this weekend, Molson Canadian sponsors a nightly concert series at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The event begins Friday night with Sam Roberts, Matthew Good and Treblecharger performing. Saturday and Sunday also feature special sets by artists like Kim Mitchell, Kathleen Edwards and Burton Cummings. Even if you don't understand the rules of football, get into it for the music, and check out our Grey Cup event preview.
Metro Toronto Convention Centre (255 Front Street West), November 23, 2012, 6PM $55.50

Cuff the Duke & Jenn Grant
Oshawa country folk five-piece Cuff the Duke join ethereal folk singer-songwriter Jenn Grant to play the Winter Garden Theatre this Saturday night. Cuff the Duke, whose former members include The Sadies' Paul Aucoin, are on tour with their recent album, Union, released in October of this year on Paper Bag Records. Grant joins the Ontario leg of the tour with several successes already under her belt (she has collaborated with Canadian acts like Ron Sexsmith and Buck 65). Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.
Winter Garden Theatre (189 Yonge Street), November 24, 2012, 8PM $25-$50

For more music listings, check out our Hot Ticket and November Concerts posts

toronto weekend eventsPHOTOGRAPHY

20 Years of Lomography
Twos can be terrible, except when it comes to parties. The Lomography Gallery Store celebrates its 2nd year anniversary, nestled in at Queen and Bathurst, while throwing a party in recognition of 20 years of the art of lomography photography. The store will house performances by bands, music by DJs and, yes, there will be cake. Break out your lomography camera and bring your friends who are down with the analog way of doing things.
Lomography Gallery Store (536 Queen Street West), November 23, 2012, 7PM Free

FOOD

Food Trucks For Charity
99 Sudbury transforms into a parking lot of gourmet food with eight food trucks pulling up to serve crowds in support of Movember. Raising funds to fight prostate cancer, Toronto's best gourmet food trucks will serve up their famous eats from morning to early evening on Sunday. Live music and a moustache competition will be part of the day's festivities, with all money going to the cause. Tickets are available in advance through TO Food Trucks website.
99 Sudbury Event Venue (99 Sudbury Street), November 25, 2012, 11AM $10

For more food listings, check out our This Week in Food post

FILM

Film Fatale: Blood Simple
The Coen Bros. directorial debut Blood Simple, a 1984 film about misunderstandings, deceit and extramarital affairs, screens at the Dominion on Queen this Friday evening. Presented by the Toronto Film Noir Syndicate, the film stars Coen-favourite Frances McDormand along with John Getz and Dan Hedaya. Tickets can be purchased at the door to the back room of the Dominion and will cover the price of the feature along with several shorts playing beforehand.
Dominion on Queen, Back Room (500 Queen Street East), November 23, 2012, 8PM $5

For more film listings, check out our This Week in Film post

THEATRE

Tagged and It's Complicated
The perils of dating in a time of social media are explored in Tagged and It's Complicated, a musical about Tim and Katherine, two lonely young people in the throes of quarter-life crises, who turn to social networking and dating sites to find mates. Set in Toronto, the play focuses on the hilarious shortcomings of the online dating world and the e-personas that we create to make social media bearable. All performances take place at The Palmerston Theatre with tickets on sale at Out of Reach Theatre.
The Palmerston Theatre (560 Palmerston Avenue), November 24, 2012, 8PM $15 door, $12 advance

For more theatre listings, check out our This Week in Theatre post

BOOKS & LIT

Final Notice Zine Fair
With XPACE Cultural Centre closing the doors on its current location soon, they are throwing a Final Notice Zine Fair to shut the place down properly. Over 30 vendors will be selling their small press publications--from comics to zines to poetry books--with handmade goods like t-shirts, notebooks and posters also available. Absolutely Free is scheduled to perform along with DJ sets by Mama Knows and Dirty Blue Gene. Take notice of the final zine fair within XPACE before it's gone!
XPACE Cultural Centre (58 Ossington Avenue), November 24, 2012, 12PM Free

CONVENTION

Star Trek Day Toronto
This one's for the Trekkies: Star Trek Day Toronto kicks off its second annual event by showcasing fan-created content surrounding themes and characters from Gene Roddenberry's franchise. Participate in Star Trek Jeopardy to show off your knowledge of the Klingon dictionary (or the Star Trek Encyclopedia, you know have a copy) and play card and board games based on the various series. Star Trek collecitbles and toys will also be for sale so be sure to stop by the vendor booths for souvenirs. Tickets are available to Star Trek Day Toronto through eventbrite.
Tranzac Club (292 Brunswick Avenue), November 24, 2012, 7PM $18 door, $15 presale

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

For Toronto movie showtimes, view our Movie Listings section.


Beauty and the Beast

Nik Powell imparts wisdom on Toronto film community

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nik powell torontoWhen Nik Powell talks about Toronto and London (where he lives), he's quick to note how similar the two cities are, in terms of weather, the cosmopolitan nature of both, and their diversity. In fact, you could say he's right at home here, because the first thing he did the morning after he arrived in the city was find the nearest pub to watch his favourite soccer team play their latest game (it's Arsenal, and yes, they won).

But when it comes to film culture, he could easily be talking about the same thing.
In Toronto for the 8th edition of the European Union Film Festival, where he was on the schedule to present two masterclasses on film, Powell can make these comparisons because in his day job (he heads up Britain's National Film and Television School).

The cultural makeup of Toronto's film and film festival scene pretty much mirrors what he sees every day while teaching at the NFTS. "We may be the British National Film and Television School, but we have about 45 per cent of our students that are not from the UK," he says. "So we have films from Estonia here - we have students from Estonia. Films from Slovakia? Students from Slovakia. We have films from German, and we obviously have students from Germany, and so on. Every single country that is in the [festival] program, we have students from. It's kind of cool."

So when the renowned producer (Calendar Girls, Little Voice, The Crying Game) was invited to participate in the EU Toronto Film Fest this year, it was easy to say yes.

"I knew the director, Thea, and I thought, obviously, there's the big Toronto film festival I've been to many times, and she set up this smaller festival with free screenings. I thought that was kind of a cool idea which would showcase the smaller films that won't necessarily make it into the main festival," he says.

Powell introduced the UK's contributions to this year's festival--1992's The Crying Game and Byzantium (2012), both by filmmaker and one-time collaborator Neil Jordan. He also conducted two free masterclasses on Sunday afternoon at Ryerson's School of Image Arts, on Screenwriting and Producing respectively.

And while Toronto's film festival culture is alive and thriving - with TIFF and the TIFF Bell Lightbox serving as shining beacons of this - Powell says that the existence of a smaller festival in a metropolitan city like Toronto that showcases the best work out of Europe is particularly important.

He adds that the best part of this festival, and what may be key to its success after 8 years, is that the screenings are free. This is what he feels will encourage festival-goers to be adventurous in their film choices.

"That's a very unusual opportunity to have, and it means they can take a bigger risk," he notes. "'Well, we've never heard anything about this film but it looks interesting, and the story looks interesting', or 'I like the country it's made in, so I'm going to go see it'. But if they had to part with ten bucks, or fifteen bucks, then it's a different story. It's like, 'Someone tell me, is it worth parting with ten bucks for?' I think it's a terrific thing."

Powell, who is Chairman of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Film Committee, is also Vice-Chair of the European Film Academy, overseeing the European Film Awards (the European equivalent to the Oscars) to be handed out this year on December 1. So in this capacity he also has a vested interest in supporting the spread of European films to a wider audience.

But that's not to say that he limits himself to watching films under his aegis. When asked what film-related happening interested him the most this year, he replied with "P.T Anderson making The Master and it opening. Because he's a genius; he's a young genius, which makes a change! I say 'young-ish'. And the film is a piece of major art, plus it's vastly entertaining: totally brilliant."

And in a recent TORO interview, when asked where the most compelling films are coming from at the moment, his response was to point at Mexico and Korea as current sources of innovation in film.

Despite working in and around film day in day out, Powell, who came to film after co-founding Virgin Records with Richard Branson, still relishes the chance to relax by watching even more films.

"I love watching movies. Never feels like work. As long as I don't have to analyze them or anything, I love watching movies. I hate answering questions about them, but I think it's fantastic to watch great movies!"

You can still catch some of these great films, as the EU Toronto Film Fest goes on until November 27, with all screenings taking place at the Royal Cinema, at 608 College St.

Writing by Gesilayefa Azorbo

This Week In Comedy: Nonna's Party, Derick Lengwenus ft. Nathan Macintosh, Nick Beaton, Mike Epps, Laughstache

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toronto comedy eventsGerman fathers, Italian parents, ghetto Power Rangers, TTC admonishers and Caucasian battle rappers. Follow me into the comedy melting pot as I walk you through This Week In Comedy...

WED NOV 28 / NONNA'S PARTY / GLADSTONE HOTEL / 1214 QUEEN W / 745PM / $35 ($55 FOR ANTIPASTO AT 630PM)

This show is a tribute to Ashley Burton's mother and grandparents. In her one-woman show, you'll see a mix of dance, comedy, film, and music. I know: it sounds like a lot for one person to handle, but Ashley Burton's up to the task. Heck, she's been part of the Oakville Canadian Dance Company, studied musical theatre at the Randolph Academy of the Performing Arts, and played Lisa in some show called Mamma Mia! In my opinion, this one was made by Italians, for Italians. Why? Because I didn't get most of the jokes in the trailer, in stark contrast with the fans in attendance who were visibly dying of laughter. But hey, that's ok. After all, they say that it's better to be a meaningful specific than a wandering generality. But I digress.

WED NOV 28 / LAUGHSTACHE:  A COMEDY FUNDRAISER / COMEDY BAR / 945 BLOOR W / 9PM / $15

Last week, Pat Thornton and friends did an absolutely stunning job of raising over $25,000 to fight AIDS in Africa, and this week a stellar line-up bands together to raise money to battle prostate cancer. Darrin Rose (NBC's Last Comic Standing), Ben Miner (Yuk's), and Debra DiGiovanni (toured with Russell Peters) will be your stand-ups. There will also be sketch comedy provided by Vest of Friends and Falcon Powder, with the event being hosted by Rob Baker and Carmine Lucarelli.

WED NOV 28 - DEC 2 / DERICK LENGWENUS feat. NATHAN MACINTOSH / 2335 YONGE / 8PM / $6-15

Winning both the Audience Choice Award at Just For Laughs AND Best Comedy at the Montreal Fringe? Wowzers. Hold on...you haven't seen his German Father bit? Stop right now and jump to 1:57.

WED NOV 28 - DEC 1 / NICK BEATON / YUK YUK'S / 224 RICHMOND W / 8PM / $11-20

Nick Beaton's thoughts on the TTC pleading with their customers to refrain from abusing their staff? "If you get spit on enough to warrant an ad campaign, you probably deserve to get spit on" Love it. I'm a particular fan of his delivery, too. I get the impression that his words are well-measured and precise, but he somehow makes them come off very casually, which is no simple feat. What about his opinion on bus drivers admonishing us to keep moving to the back of the bus? "I don't expect you to be a physics major but I can't occupy the same space as this guy; I'm not negative space, I'm reality."

FRI NOV 30 / MIKE EPPS / SONY CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS / 1 FRONT E / 8PM / $57-97

Having grown up in Malvern, I enjoyed a steady diet of Martin Lawrence, Chris Rock, Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, and Paul Mooney. Everyone laughed at their jokes, but I laughed harder because I could relate to a lot of the things they'd talk about. Mike Epps (Next Friday, The Hangover) is another guy that's not afraid to spit that real-ish. I recognize that not everyone is going to get Mike's stuff, but I do, and it's gold to me. Skip to 7:46 to see if you can relate.

FRI NOV 30 / RAPP BATTLEZ / COMEDY BAR / 945 BLOOR W / 1030PM / $10 

In 2003, Smack DVD introduced us to Jae Millz and Murda Mook, rappers who would insult each other poetically until one of them finally ran out of steam. The producers of, Rap Battlez have run with this idea but have also added a twist: they've opted to hold these lyrical face-offs in the Comedy Bar, rather than in a barber shop or a children's parkette. I'm shaking my head because, well...it's such a great idea. Watch the video and you'll see what I mean.

About the Author: This is Michael Jagdeo, and I refuse to write about myself in the third-person. My blog, Diary of a Stand-up Comedian, teaches you how to be - and how not to be - a comedian in Toronto. 

6 Toronto buildings with LEED Platinum certification

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toronto leed platinumThey don't build office towers like they used to--and that's a good thing. Nowadays, they're built with sustainability in mind, and here in Toronto, there are hundreds of projects with LEED certification--which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

Although the program isn't perfect, it's a step in the right direction, and while the lower levels of certification may not be exceedingly difficult to attain, Platinum certification, the pinnacle of green construction seals of approval, only goes to projects that score above 80 on the LEED scorecard. There are five categories on the scorecard, so there are many ways to go about achieving the approval.

Here's how some of our local environmental champions have done it.

TD Centre Tower
TD is the green bank, after all, so why not have a green public image? The TD Centre Tower at 100 Wellington is the first office complex in Toronto to achieve platinum level certification under the Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance Program. They set up a Green Portal which displays the real time energy usage stats of all six TD Centre towers; the Wellington tower currently has the lowest energy usage of the bunch, with 739,362 kwh used between August 19 and November 19.

RBC WaterPark
Construction of the 900,000 square foot RBC WaterPark tower won't be complete until 2014, but it too will boast a bevy of environmental features elevating it to platinum level. It utilizes a deep lake water cooling system which sucks in chilly lake water to cool the air, and most of the windows have glazing which provides better insulation and brighter natural light. An outdoor air system will keep warm and cool air separated, generating a cleaner indoor atmosphere.

Chapelview Apartments
This Brampton apartment building is the first affordable housing unit in Canada to reach platinum status. The 200-unit building uses 50 per cent less power and 46 per cent less water than a regular apartment of similar size. It has a trash sorting system with separate chutes for different types of waste. Double glazed, argon-filled windows minimize heat loss, and individual ventilation ducts in each unit stop odours from drifting over from other units. New tenants even receive a care package upon moving in which contains low VOC cleaning products.

Archetype Sustainable House
This model house uses enough sustainable building practises to rack up a solid 92 out of 100 on the LEED checklist. The Archetype model home is on display at the Living City Campus at Kortright in Vaughan if you care to take a peek at it. It contains so many environmentally friendly features that listing them all would make this article a mile long. To name a few: a micro-cogenerating station produces heat, A/C, electricity, and hot water, cisterns capture and store rain water, and low flow plumbing reduces water usage.

Knoll Toronto Showroom
Since 1938, Knoll has crafted intelligent office furnishings and has been regarded internationally as a leader in design. They consider themselves pioneers in clean technology and all Knoll architecture is required to be LEED certified. So, in 2009, Knoll upgraded their Toronto showroom to platinum specs. They built their showroom with low-VOC paints, carpeting made from post-consumer materials, big windows for loads of natural light, Energy Star-rated appliances, and locally-sourced wood. Oh yeah, and all their products are made out of sustainably sourced materials.

Enermodal Toronto Office
Enermodal Engineering is a design firm focused on developing sustainable buildings. They have overseen 250 LEED projects in North America, with a third of those being in Canada. Naturally, they build their own offices with environmental standards in mind. The Toronto office saw significant reduction in water usage, construction waste, and VOC emitting paints to gain its platinum seal. With a specialty in environmental design, it's only fitting to lead by example.

Writing by Chris Riddell. Photo of RBC WaterPark.

A brief history of the Ford Hotel's fall from grace

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toronto ford hotelIn the early 1920s, R.T. Ford & Company was busily building near-identical hotel buildings in the state of New York and here in Ontario. The company's founder and president Richard T. Ford clearly believed in his business model: he named the luxury chain and every hotel in his empire after himself.

In Toronto, the Ford Hotel was finished in 1929, a year before the Royal York, on the northeast corner of Bay and Dundas at a cost of $2 million, including land. Its location on the site of a former church next to the open-air bus terminal made it extremely convenient for inbound visitors to the city. Unfortunately, the owners' dedication to low prices didn't translate into a glamourous reputation. When it was eventually demolished in 1973, The Star rightly crowned it the "Queen of Dumps." Its story might be sleazy and blighted by horrific violence and terrible sadness but the history of the Ford Hotel is anything but boring.

toronto street agnes churchWhen the Old National Theater was gutted by fire in the winter of 1924, the former Agnus St. Church building it was housed inside gave up a 51-year-old secret. A copy of The Globe, tucked inside the cornerstone of the building, dryly discussed economic news from England and the benefits of a new municipal waterworks. The building that would replace the church would make headlines for entirely different reasons.

toronto globe paperIn 1928, the 12-storey Ford Hotel became the latest in an expanding empire of near-identical buildings popping up in the Lake Ontario and Erie region. The chain was headquartered in Rochester, NY.

James Suydam, a director of the Toronto hotel, hoped to have a portion of the brick building open for a race weekend that was expected to draw a big out-of-town crowd. In the restaurant downstairs, Lou Scholes, champion rower and part-owner of the old Scholes Hotel on Yonge Street, feverishly prepped the kitchen and dining room. Construction also hadn't gone entirely to plan: a worker, Jack Holton, accidentally got banana oil (a common ingredient in varnishes and lacquers) in his eyes. Half blind, he had to be escorted to the hospital but was able to return to work a few days later.

toronto ford hotelThe opening reception on May 31st 1928 featured Toronto mayor Sam McBride, Ontario Premier Howard Ferguson, a delegation of MPPs, and a group of the company's top brass from Buffalo. McBride was given a golden key that he used to ceremonially unlock the hotel doors and register as the first official guest. According to The Star, "the rotunda of the hotel was profuse with flowers, gifts of local and international hotel associations, and private well-wishers."

The 500 guests ate in the main dining room and toasted the city, Buffalo, and Lou Scholes, a man still held in high regard for his victory in the prestigious Diamond Challenge Sculls at the Henley Royal Regatta in England. Scholes became the first Canadian to win the men's singles event when he beat Arthur Cloutte to victory in 1904. Cloutte would be sentenced to hard labour in 1913 for stealing from his employer, Barings Bank.

On its first day, the Ford Hotel advertised rooms for between $1.50 and $3.50 and boasted a valet, barber, cigar store, newsstand, public stenographer, and laundry service. Guests had access to circulating iced water and reading lamps. The beds, apparently, induced "vigor, ambition, and charm." It wouldn't last.

toronto ford hotelDown on Front Street, the Royal York hotel was opened on the site of the old Queen's Hotel - a former employer of manager Scholes - in 1929 and immediately snatched the title of Toronto's most luxurious hotel from the Ford. Despite the competition, the hotel at Bay and Dundas continued to peddle affordable splendor.

All manner of dances, dinners and galas were held in the restaurant space in the lower levels. Ironically, one of the early conventions was put on by Seventh Day Adventists who railed against modern evils to a group of young women. "Young people were urged to eschew erotic literature and to shun the evils of stage, film, and dancehall," according to newspaper reports.

toronto ford hotelIn what appears to be the first in a series of tragic events, a 30-year-old Montreal woman, "Mrs. Richie," dressed in a red dress, fur hat, and fawn coloured coat, requested a room with a view at the Ford. Once inside, at 11:40 am precisely, she pushed a chair against the window, opened it wide, and jumped to her death onto the roof of the second-floor restaurant. Her fair hair was gently blowing in the late summer breeze when police reached her lifeless body minutes later.

The Ford's decent into seediness was gradual. Attempts at reworking the venue into a swinging performance venue were optimistic but never gained traction. Various themed rooms, hopelessly tacky by today's standards, and a reworking of the existing bar were in place when it was taken over by group from New York in 1954.

toronto city hallIn 1955, all hell broke lose. Zarano Borg, an itinerant Maltese laborer, checked into the Ford Hotel claiming he wanted to be closer to the hustle and bustle of the city. His old place on Broadview Avenue was too quiet.

Clearly unstable, Borg paced the hotel wrapped in a bedsheet until management ordered him back to his room. In the confined space, Borg became increasingly agitated and distressed. Then things took a nasty turn. The laborer pulled a 12-gauge shotgun from his suitcase and began firing shots into the walls. The night manager, who believed Borg had firecrackers, had to jump out of the way when the door to the room exploded into splinters as he arrived to investigate.

Police quickly commandeered a nearby room, which, thanks to the design of the hotel, had a window facing Borg's. In a moment, after a brief scare, cops tossed a tear gas capsule inside the room to temporarily blind the crazed man. When the gas cleared and Borg appeared to be still, police ventured inside to find his lifeless body slumped on the bed. He had shot himself.

toronto ford hotelDespite minor renovations during its brief spell in the Sheraton chain, the Ford Toronto was increasingly dilapidated in its final decades. Not only were some of the old fixtures defective, one would prove deadly.

A serious fire killed one man, Edwin Paterson, and injured three others on the seventh floor in 1969. Paterson, a 77-year-old resident of the hotel, died from his injuries in the fire which started in the room of another elderly resident, C. H. Villiers. The damage to the building was around $16,000.

The next year, Mohammad Ashraf, a 34-year-old engineer recently arrived from Pakistan, left his 12th floor room to explore the city and called an elevator. When the doors opened, Ashraf, without thinking, stepped through. He fell to his death down the empty lift shaft and crashed through the roof of the car, which was still at the lobby.

toronto ford hotelThe final chapter in the Ford Hotel's history was similarly tragic. On July 26th, 1973 the lifeless, mutilated body of 9-year-old Kirkland Deasley was found on the bed of a ninth floor room by Nabir Cassir, a clerk. Deasley had left home that day to earn money carrying groceries at a Parliament Street supermarket and had seemingly been lured inside by a man later identified as John McBeth Finlayson, a 37-year-old drifter and part-time baker. He had been sexually assaulted, bitten, and strangled.

As police released details of the shocking crime, vigilante groups began roaming the east end where men matching Finlayson's description had been seen. Meanwhile, Cassir, the clerk who made the gruesome discovery, received threatening calls telling him to keep quiet about the crime. He said an anonymous caller to the hotel has asked room 955 to be locked prior to the child's body being found. Kirk Deasley was buried in his baseball uniform along with his catching glove, ball, and prized hockey trophy on July 31, 1973.

toronto ford hotelThe day before, a man wearing blue workpants and shirt was spotted walking along a highway feeder road west of Burlington, his thumb out for a ride. A suspicious driver called phoned in a report and that afternoon cops picked up the wanted man and returned him to Toronto.

At his trial, John McBeth Finlayson pleaded not guilty but admitted he was responsible for the death of Deasley. The court heard how Finlayson attacked his sisters as a child and would watch them dress. In separate incidents, the troubled man attempted to throttle his older sister and bludgeon his younger sibling with a wrench. His family life was defined by fights, alcohol abuse, and screaming matches.

As an adult, he would regularly beat his wife and spend several months in the Don Jail for attacking the four-year-old son of a friend. In 1969, he lured two young girls to his apartment on Parkwood Village Drive. He was sentenced to Millbrook Correctional Centre but later moved to a facility for alcoholics and sexual deviants. 12-person jury found Finlayson not guilty by reason of insanity and he was admitted to a high-security psychiatric hospital.

toronto ford hotelThe case likely finished off the Ford Hotel's reputation. The business announced it would close in 1973 and workers would soon begin demolishing the building. Bar and bedroom furniture, TVs, pictures, and furnishings were snapped up by nostalgia buffs. Various grubby signs, bottles of bear oil, and even a barber's chair were hot ticket items at the sale.

Various papers eulogized the hotel but none seemed to believe it would be missed. "The Big F," as it had came to be known, was "a haven for prostitutes and homosexuals, a place for one-night stands, a hideout for cheating wives and husbands," according to The Star. A few indignant former customers sent letters to the editor in its defense, but when the Ford finally came down in October 1973, no-one really cared.

Photos: City of Toronto Archives, Wikimedia Commons, Bob Whalen, Robert Taylor, and Steve Munro

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