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Toronto Restaurant Openings: Norling, Blackbird Bistro, The Dirtybird, Roses New York, Jatujak, Old School

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toronto restaurant openingsToronto Restaurant Openings highlights the latest restaurant openings and closings in Toronto and also gives a preview of what's coming soon. Find us here every Thursday morning.

OPEN NOW

  • The Vegan Duchess, a new raw organic quickserve concept, is now open at 2354 Yonge St.
  • Tacorrito has opened the doors to its first location at 320 Richmond St. East, Unit 107 (on Sherbourne).
  • Schnitzel Queen is now open in its new home at 211 Queen St. East after a successful crowdfunding campaign to fund the upgrade.
  • Norling, a Tibetan restaurant, is now open at 1512 Queen St. West in Parkdale. The new eatery specializes in Tibetan and Hakka cuisine.
  • Cuban brunch destination La Cubana has finally opened its second location at 82 Ossington Ave.
  • Blackbird Bistro has transitioned from the Rustic Owl Cafe (993 Bloor St. West) to a destination for casual daytime and dinnertime menus.

RECENTLY REVIEWED

OPENING SOON

  • The Dirtybird, a new fried chicken and waffle outfit is in the works at 79 Kensington Ave. and is advertising its opening on March 4.
  • Kupfert & Kim is opening in the former Quiznos space at 140 Spadina Ave. at Richmond, and while you can expect their signature food boxes and burgers, they're also toying the possibility of a sit-down dinner service. Expect an early May opening.
  • Roses New York Pizza & Sandwiches, the longstanding Persian eatery in North York, is expanding with a second location coming to 135 Fort York Blvd. The downtown location is aiming for an April opening.
  • Jatujak, Scarborough's street-style Thai food eatery, is opening a second full-service, licensed location in North York at 1744 Victoria Park Ave. where Bamboo Garden Chinese used to be.
  • Old School, a casual new eatery with retail component from Brad Moore and Ian Kaptain of School Bakery & Cafe in Liberty Village, is slated to take over the recently vacated site of Hudson Kitchen at 800 Dundas West. [Now Toronto]

Have you seen restaurants opening or closing in your neighbourhood? Email tips to liora@blogto.com

Photo of Norling via Facebook.


New condo will restore historic clock tower in Toronto

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toronto 484 yongeA proposed 45-storey residential tower planned for the corner of Yonge and Grosvenor could include a restored former fire hall clock tower, if plans released this month come to fruition.

The 484 Yonge Street project, which is being developed to designs by Quadrangle Architects, would extensively alter the west side of the street just north of College. Almost all of the existing structures would be torn down, save for the 144-year-old timepiece that juts bizarrely out the roof of a music store.

toronto 484 yongeThe clock tower dates back to 1870 when it was part of Toronto Fire Hall No. 3. The building stopped housing firefighters in 1929 and was converted into the St. Charles Tavern in 1951. The bar, named after owner Charles H. Hemstead, became a mecca for Toronto's fledgling gay community, hosting bawdy drag shows as early as the 1960s. Its slogan was "meet me under the clock."

toronto 484 yongeAs Alan Parker writes at the Toronto Sun, the St. Charles began to struggle in the 1970s as the local gay scene began to grow. It closed for good in 1981, by which time much of the original fire hall structure had been demolished.

toronto 484 yongeIf Quadrangle Architects' plans go ahead, the fire hall tower would be worked into the podium of the new building, though it's not clear how much of the structure remains below roof level. The project would also involve demolishing all of the existing stores at the southwest corner of Yonge and Grosvenor to make way for a public plaza and an entrance for the new tower.

The residential component will be in the region of 153-metres tall and contain 423 residential units, according to the most recent information available on the city's planning site.

What do you think of the plans?

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

Images: Quadrangle Architects, City of Toronto Archives.

How's the new Kid Icarus store in Parkdale?

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parkdale design shopAfter spending several years as Kensington Market's favourite purveyor of cards, art, and quirky local gifts, the team behind this local boutique set its sights on a new challenge and opened a western outpost in Parkdale. Expect more of the whimsical handmade items you know and love, including jewelry, plushies, and their own posters and stationery, all printed in-house.

Read my profile of the Parkdale location of Kid Icarus in the design section.

The top 10 fusion poutine in Toronto

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poutine torontoMy recent survey of fusion poutine in Toronto has turned up some unique specimens that meld the Canadian experience with pretty much every other culture on the globe. As if poutine wasn't already a caloric atrocity on its own, here are all 10 of Toronto's most gluttonous poutine, ranked for taste and all-around shock value.

Jerk chicken shawarma poutine ($6.95), Chris Jerk
This was great - the only thing that could have made it better is if Chris Jerk subbed out the shredded cheese for proper curds. On the merits of the rich jerk-spiced gravy and the awesomeness of shaved jerk shawarma, this is one poutine I'm still raving about.

fusion poutine torontoGyro poutine ($12.50), The Original Gyro Grill
This monstrously sloppy mess featured a winning combination of gyro meat, fried spuds and gravy. If anything, this poutine could be dialled back a bit by ordering just one type of meat at a time.

fusion poutine torontoButter chicken poutine ($9), Newab Fusion Grill and Indian Gastropub
Curry and fries isn't exactly groundbreaking, but it certainly is tasty. The rich, aromatic gravy does its job thoroughly melting the grated cheese over top of the fries so that it oozes and pulls into strings as the dish is eaten. Chopped bits of chicken are an excellent addition.

fusion poutine torontoSouth American poutine ($14), Mata Petisco Bar
This Latin-inflected poutine, topped with tenderly-braised beef cheek and rich gravy, is a thoughtful interpretation of the iconic comfort food. The South American snack bar takes liberties, using cassava instead of potato, but also shows respect by sticking to proper squeaky curds. The resulting dish is hearty and satisfying,

fusion poutine torontoPoutine pizza (prices vary), Mr. Mike's
Mr. Mike's poutine pizza is exactly what it sounds like. And that is very good thing depending on how drunk you are.

fusion poutine torontoChicken wing poutine ($13), Poutineville
Poutineville, being a Quebec import, naturally has this schtick down. The fries are on point, the curds are squeaky, and the gravy is ladled on so uniformly that it truly smothers the whole pile and melts into every nook. The spicy gravy is a nice little twist, but chicken wings on top detract from what is otherwise just really good, classic poutine.

fusion poutine torontoPoutine soup ($7.50), Bampot House of Tea & Board Games
In appearance, this dish least resembles poutine and yet, it's tasty and somehow manages to capture the iconic flavours. Potatoes covered in cheese and swimming in 'gravy' can't be a bad thing - even if you have to eat it with a spoon.

fusion poutine torontoItaliano poutine ($6.75), San Francesco Foods
Substitute meaty tomato sauce instead of gravy, ladle it over a classic base of fries and curds, and voila.

fusion poutine torontoAcadian poutine po'boy ($9.95/6", or $11.95/8"), Billy Jack's
This was literally carbs on carbs with a side of carbs. The poutine itself is actually delicious, especially the Cajun spiced gravy, but it's perhaps better ordered au natural (as in, not on a bun) as an accompaniment to any of Billy Jack's many other delicious menu options.

fusion poutine torontoJapanese poutine ($3.95/small, or, $5.95/large), Ramen Raijin
The poutine served up by this Japanese pub veers from the tradition by dousing fries and cheese curds in a choice of tangy teriyaki mayo or a butter soy sauce. Unfortunately, this leaves the curds relying on the heat of the fries alone to melt ... which means, of course, they don't melt at all.

Thanks to IBM for sponsoring this post. IBM Watson's cognitive system helps chefs create new recipes and helps businesses cook up new ideas.

Know of any Toronto restaurants doing interesting takes on poutine? Let us know in the comments.

Photos by Jesse Milns

New Toronto nightclub has DJs to spare

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toronto nightclubThis new nightclub boasts an intense audio system with multiple dance floors and impressive lighting. It also has more DJs than you ever thought possible. I'm not sure if the team approach to the music necessarily helped things, but the vibe is a pretty good one here.

Read my review of RED Nightclub in the bars section.

The Best Salvage and Reclaimed Furniture in Toronto

New bill proposes craft beer store for Ontario

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craft beer store ontarioWhat if Ontario's craft brewers, winemakers and distillers could band together and create their own retail outlets? It's an idea that would likely appeal to many of the smaller beer and booze-makers who feel poorly represented by The Beer Store and LCBO. Customers, one suspects, would also like such an option given the dubious selection of craft beer on offer under the current system.

Conservative MP Todd Smith is set to reintroduce a private member's bill calling for changes to provincial liquor laws that would allow such a store to exist. The bill would do is enable producers of similar alcoholic products to join together and share the costs of shipping, storing, and marketing their products. From a consumer standpoint, it would put a diverse range of craft products under one roof.

Before we get too hopeful about the prospects of such a bill being passed, it's useful to recall that the provincial Liberals are currently conducting a review of how alcohol is sold in Ontario, so any changes will almost surely be tabled until the budget is revealed this spring. Still, it's an intriguing idea that might put some pressure on the government to improve the current system.

The top 5 dance parties in Toronto March 2015

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toronto dance partiesYou can feel Toronto's collective winter cabin fever in the air, but March means it's warming up any minute now, so soon enough all the party people are going to be worrying about getting sunburned at festivals, instead of standing in line for coat check.

March can be a bit of a quiet month for music in town, as the combination of SXSW in Austin and the WMC in Miami pulls a lot of tours south of the border before they swing back up north. Nevertheless, there are so many great parties on March 14 alone that this whole list could have been just for events that day, and Bassweek is bringing in more drum'n'bass talent than many cities see all year.

Danny Krivit (March 7, Revival)
For the 17th anniversary of the Solid Garage parties, the soulful house promoters have booked NYC dance music pioneer Danny Krivit. A true underground icon, Krivit has a expert touch that reflects his 45 years of DJing, and he's sure to bring a huge selection of his acclaimed personal re-edits and remixes. 10 pm.

Hyperdub Tour w/ Kode9 and Ikonika (March 12, Coda)
Hyperdub is indisputably one of the most important UK dance labels of the past ten years, and they continue to lead the way in pushing the boundaries of bass and dub influenced music. Label head and founder Kode9 is joined by rising post-dubstep artist Ikonika for this showcase night, which is sure to test the limits of Coda's bass bins. 10 pm, $15.

Len Faki (March 14, Ryze)
Berlin's notoriously debauched techno palace Berghain is considered by many to be the top underground club in the world right now, so there's lots of anticipation for the Toronto appearance of one of their longtime resident DJs Len Faki. With releases on labels like Ostgut Ton, Figure, and Podium, Faki is almost as well respected for his productions as for his epic DJ sets. 10 pm, $25.

Andrés (Wrongbar, March 14)
Dez Andrés is known to some for his work as the former DJ for underground hip-hop legends Slum Village, but to others for the gritty Detroit house he's released on Moodymann's Mahogani label. As you might guess from the background, his DJ sets bounce around freely between those approaches, as well as dipping deeply into his collection of rare soul and disco classics. 10 pm, $25.

Bassweek (March 20-29, various venues)
The fifth annual Bassweek returns to Toronto for five nights of drum'n'bass madness (and a sprinkling of other bass-related genres), with events at the Hoxton, the Phoenix, and Tota. The lineup is full of veterans and superstars of the genre, including Drumsound & Bassline Smith, DJ SS, Micki Finn, Metrik, Delta Heavy, and many more.10 pm, $89 wristband.

Photo via Bassweek


The top weekend events in Toronto: Feb 27 - March 1 2015

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weekend events torontoWeekend events in Toronto will let us give our space heaters a welcome break - who knows, if you don't turn the dial down to go out to watch a drag battle, shop at a pop up market at a soon-to-open DIY venue, or catch some burgeoning NYC hip hop, the whole block could go up in smoke by Monday.

Here are my picks for the top events happening in Toronto February 27 - March 1, 2015.

Ru Paul's Drag Race: Battle of the Seasons (February 27, The Danforth Music Hall)
The glitz of Ru Paul's touring battle will land in Toronto during somber times for the city and the queer community. Nothing can stop Michelle Visage, Alaksa 5000, Jiggly Caliente, Ivy Winters, Jinx Monsoon, Pandora Boxx, Bendelacreme, and Darienne Lake. Check out our review from last year here.

PARTY & MUSIC

Young Paris (February 27, Rivoli)
Rap N' Roll is putting on the most exciting show of the weekend with NYC's Young Paris, plus performances from Bonjay, Bakers Club, Junia T & Juice Money Collective, Phoenix Pagliacci, DJ 8AM811, and more - you'll have to be there fo find out. Watch below.

Punks Is Covers Vol. 6 (February 28, Coalition)
If you've been wondering what will go into Bike Pirates' old Bloor Street location, the answer is exciting: new Toronto venue and cafe D-Beatstro will be carrying on the DIY bike shop's punk spirit in Bloordale Village. This edition of Punks is Covers is a fundraiser concert to help them open their doors. See info about their weekend Pop Up Market below.

ART

weekend events torontoBasquiat Idea Bar: Justice (February 27, AGO)
Included with your admission to the AGO, the Idea Bar early Friday evening will feature Noa Mendelsohn Aviv (Canadian Civil Liberties Association) speaking about the racial and social justice issues raised in Basquiat's artwork.

SHOPPING & LIFESTYLE

Toronto Men's Fashion Week (Until March 3, 444 Yonge)
Toronto Men's Fashion Week is giving it another go until March 3. Could be drama, but I predict beards. Watch for our lumbercurious picks from the shows next week.

4 Day Pop Up Market at D-Beatstro (Feb 26 - March 1, D-Beatstro)
From Thursday February 26th - Sunday March 1st you can check out D-Beatstro (mentioned above), a new DIY venue and vegan cafe opening soon in the old Bike Pirates space, at this pop up market for local artisans. Read more here.

FILM

Free movies at TIFF (February 27-28, TIFF)
TIFF can be your cozy hideout this weekend. On Friday, see the world premiere of Patricia Rozema's Women Who Act, and on Saturday see Canadian Screen Awards faves Mommy and Maps to the Stars.

The Room (February 28, Carlton Cinema)
Every last Saturday of the month, the Carlton shows the so-awful-its-good cult classic The Room. It's a particularly worthwhile outing in February because the Rocky Horror Picture Show- like style interactive crowd enthusiasm (for the uninitiated: bring plastic spoons) is just the perfect cure for winter doldrums. AH

THEATRE & PERFORMANCE

The Wild Party (Feb 20 - March 8, Berkeley Street Theatre)
This musical will transport you to Manhattan in the roaring '20s where the gin and jazz are flowing. You'll be in the front seats watching as the reckless relationship between a Vaudevillian clown and dancer spirals out of control. The Tony-nominated musical is produced in association with Obsidian Theatre Company who are known for their award-winning work featuring the black voice. SSZ

For more events this weekend click on over to our Events section. Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit it for free using this form.

Contributions by Alexander Huls, Sima Sahar Zerehi

Battle of the Season 2014 photo by Alejandro Santiago, Basquiat photo by Andrew Williamson

Toronto's Wattpad launches app for steamy romances

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wattpad after darkToronto's Wattpad launched After Dark today, an app that lets you read all kinds of smutty romances. Regardless of what gets you hot and heavy, from Fanfiction to LGBTQ themed tales, this app promises to have a story that will turn you on.

After Dark, gets rid of the search, by giving you a handy choice of channels that curate your reading list. You can pick from themes such as Dangerous bad Boys, Paranormal Romance, or Panty Droppers to name a few.

The release is timed to bank off the hype from the Fifty Shades of Grey film release.

"Interest in mature stories has spiked," says Melissa Shapiro, Wattpad's head of global marketing, "Last year, mature stories had over 3.5 billion reads on Wattpad. Romance is one of our most popular categories with 23 million uploads shared."

The idea for After Dark actually started during one of Wattpad's monthly hack-a-thon events. "With Romance being one of the most popular categories on Wattpad, a few members of our team wanted to explore what it might look like to offer an app with hand-picked story recommendations for romance readers," says Shapiro.

By reading with After Dark you can also interact with some of the writers and readers, and comment and vote on stories just like on Wattpad. The main difference between the two apps is that After Dark is designed as a reading-only app and has no writing features.

This interactive features are what has led to Wattpad's popularity with more than 40 million people using the app each month.

Wattpad has attracted many writers as well, with more than 100 million pieces being shared on Wattpad. This is likely due to the loyal community of readers on the app, people who spend about 11 billion minutes on Wattpad each month.

With so much traffic, more than 24 hours of reading material posted to Wattpad every minute, it's easy for a reader to get lost. Making an app like After Dark a useful addition for those interested in a more curated reading experience.

Currently the company has no plans to introduce additional apps catering to other literary genres. "We'll evaluate After Dark to determine if it makes sense to offer curated experiences in other categories," says Shapiro.

Wattpad is a Toronto success story. "We're proud to have built a global community of readers and writers right here, from the city we call home. From concept to launch After Dark was a two-week passion product at Wattpad. I think it underscores the world-class tech and startup community that's growing in Toronto," says Shapiro.

After Dark, only available for iOS devices, is free.

Have you tried Wattpad's After Dark? Let us know about your experience with the app in the comments.

Follow Sima Sahar Zerehi on Twitter @SimaSaharZerehi.

Demolition of Guvernment complex gets underway

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guvernment demolitionThe Guverment is coming down. Just a few weeks after its three-night closing party, the venue is already being demolished to make way for the coming condo development from Daniels Corp. This doesn't come as a surprise, of course, but even as we knew about the planned demo, seeing the Kool Haus cut virtually in half is just strange. The timeline in this development boomtown is very fast.

The building that housed the Guvernment itself is still intact, as wrecking crews have attacked the structure from behind, focusing on the Kool Haus first. One doesn't, however, expect that the any of the complex will remain standing for too long. Demolition started yesterday, and as we saw with the World's Biggest Bookstore, the process of razing a low rise building like this isn't altogether that time consuming.

If you want a last look at the building, now would be the time. The warehouse-style structure (no major loss of architecture here) was first used as a venue back in 1984, when Fresh Restaurant and Nightclub opened in the space. RPM followed a year or so later, before the Guvernment eventually opened its doors in 1996.

guvernment demolitionguvernment demolitionguvernment demolitionguvernment demolitionguvernment demolitionPhotos by Matt Forsythe

Pencil

Where to find homestyle Caribbean eats in Toronto

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simones torontoIf the bitter cold is getting to you, and there's no vacation in sight, this Caribbean restaurant on the Danforth may just have the cure to what ails you. The interior is quaint and homey, and dishes like roti and jerk chicken come in massive and beautifully-spiced portions.

Read my review of Simone's in the restaurants section.

The top 10 events in Toronto for March 2015

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toronto events marchThe top events in Toronto this March feature the first annual Sushi Fest, but we're still curious about how the clicking of the chopsticks will go down March 5-6. If you want to dance and you can still walk after St Patrick's Day, don't forget Bassweek; if you want to laugh, there's the Sketch Comedy Fest. Film Fans can also look forward to the Reel Artists Film Fest and I for Iran.

From comic conventions to cocktail showdowns, here are my picks for March's top events.

Vintage Clothing & Antique Show (March 7-8, Exhibition Place)
Want to "shop like it's 1969"? The Toronto Vintage Clothing Show and the Toronto Antique & Vintage Market are both included with admission to The Queen Elizabeth Building, so you can grab a vintage designer handbag and a tastefully weathered hook to hang it on.

New Ideas Festival (March 11-29, Alumnae Theatre Studio)
This juried theatre fest runs for three weeks, with the program of new and experimental plays and performances changing each week. There will also be PWYC weekend readings on stage each Saturday at noon.

Sound Image Photo Show (March 12-29, Analogue Gallery)
This voter-curated exhibit shows submissions from Toronto's best music photographers. The opening is March 12 at the Queen Street gallery from 6-10pm. Full disclosure: our own music photogs' works make an appearance every year.

7th Annual Totally Fabulous Vegan Bake-Off (March 15, Daniel's Spectrum)
Over 40 of Toronto's best vegan bakers are busy preparing for the annual east side showdown, including last year's winner Through Being Cool. Admission buys you at least two sampling plates. Check out our slideshow of goodies from last year here.

ComicCon (March 20-22, Metro Toronto Convention Centre)
Hobby Star's Toronto Comicon is baby brother to Fan Expo, but it's one of the year's biggest fan events. The schedule is TBA, but eager geeks should expect entertainment, vendors, speakers, and much more.

Curryfest (March 22, 2nd Floor Events)
Toronto's first Curry Fest comes from the same folks behind Yum Cha. Find authentic dishes rooted in Southern and South East Asian cuisines, along with variations popularized in the UK - plus some modern interpretations from Toronto chefs experimenting outside of their comfort zones. LI

Fashion Week Fall and Winter (March 23 - 27, David Pecaut Square)
It's easy to forget Fashion Week, and hard to imagine wanting to check out designers' fall and winter wear just as the city begins to warm up. But the perfectly coiffed will be at David Pecaut Square, and we'll be there to street style them. The cycle of life goes on. See our guide to doing Fashion Week without an invite here.

The 2015 Canadian Film Fest (March 25 - 28, The Royal)
Not every Canadian filmmaker can be a Xavier Dolan or David Cronenberg and have their films easily shown in theatres. Thankfully we have the good people at CFF to make sure a wide range of Canadian filmmakers get the chance to have their films -- usually low-budget features and shorts -- get the chance to be seen, enjoyed, and loved. AH

Old Book and Paper Show (March 29, Wychwood Barns)
If you missed the Antique Book Show and the PostcardShow, Wychwood Barns will combine some diamonds in the rough from both worlds. Hit up one of Toronto's best markets for old tomes, vintage ephemera, and oddities.

Made with Love (March 30, Liberty Grand)
March is a month of delicious battles: a few weeks after the vegan bake-off, watch the city's bartenders showdown at Made with Love's cocktail championship. No matter how you feel about the word "mixologist," there's no denying these barkeeps know their dainty craft. Check out the participating bartenders here and peek at our slideshow from last year here.

What did I miss? Leave the March events you're looking forward to in the comments.

Contributions by Alexander Huls, Natalia Manzocco

Photo of Made with Love by Jesse Milns

Toronto Food Events: Chip & Dip Battle, Toronto Sushi Fest, Brewers Feast, Totally Fabulous Vegan Bake-Off

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toronto food eventsToronto Food Events rounds up the most delicious events, festivals, pop-ups, winemaker dinners, supper clubs and other food related happenings in Toronto this week and next. You can find us here every Friday morning.

THIS WEEK

UPCOMING

  • Brewers Feast featuring $35 prix fixe menu paired with Muskoka beers is on on offer for the first couple weeks of March, running from March 2 to 15 from 4pm daily at O&B Canteen (330 King St. West).
  • Tickets are on sale now for the 7th Annual Totally Fabulous Vegan Bake-Off taking place on Sunday, March 15, from 2pm to 5pm at Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas St. East). General admission is $10 and includes two vouchers for sample plates.
  • Mill St. Brew Pub (55 Mill St.) is selling advance tickets now ($59.99) for its St. Patrick's Day Brewmaster Dinner. The celebration takes place Tuesday, March 17 and will featuring a five course dinner with beer pairings.

OTHER NEWS

  • Fidel Gastro is offering a chance to win one of three private dinners cooked by Matt Basile at your own home. Visit the LCBO at 2625 Weston Rd. from 4pm to 8pm this Saturday, February 28 and purchase a bottle of Open Wine to enter.


Wrigley to leave Toronto with plenty of memories

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toronto wrigley gumWrigley chewing gum might be most commonly associated with America (in particular Chicago--think Wrigley Field), but the company has deep roots in Toronto. This city was the first place its founder William Wrigley Jr. opened a factory outside the U.S., and for the last 108 years, this city has been producing several of the company's most recognizable brands.

That will all come to an end in a year from now when the company closes its Toronto plant. Given the longstanding relationship, here's a look at the local history of Wrigley's, one of the city's surprising manufacturing players for over a century.

William Wrigley Jr. was born in Philadelphia in 1861. A natural if initially wayward salesman, he ran away at age 11 and briefly sold newspapers in New York City before returning home and being expelled from school for pulling pranks. As a teenager he worked as a travelling salesman for his father's soap company.

toronto wrigley gumThe William Wrigley Jr. Company was founded in Chicago in 1891 a few years after an unsuccessful attempt at selling rubber stamps. At first Wrigley sold soap and baking soda, offering incentive gifts to customers who bought in bulk.

As Daniel J. Robinson wrote in his essay Marketing Gum, Making Meanings: Wrigley in North America, 1890-1930, giving away free prizes occasionally backfired. "A batch of umbrellas oozed red dye when exposed to rain [and] a silver-plated cologne bottle tarnished quickly and confused consumers, with some mistaking it for a handle-less syrup jug." Giving away free packs of chewing gum proved to be much more successful.

Early on, Wrigley paid candy maker Zeno Manufacturing Company to produce two products he helped develop: Juicy Fruit and Spearmint. Juicy Fruit was Wrigley's first product with Spearmint following a few months later. In 1893, the former travelling salesman who was now quickly becoming established in Chicago, bought Zeno and rebranded it as the William Wrigley Jr. Company.

toronto wrigley gumIn 1907, Wrigley made his first foray outside the U.S., opening a small factory at 7 Scott St. in Toronto--now the site of the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts--with $50,000 of his own money. The 5-storey building was in the heart of the city's manufacturing district, but the location was only temporary. By 1917, the company was operating out of a purpose built 11,892 square metre plant on Carlaw Ave., between Dundas and Queen.

The products made in Toronto for the Canadian market during the 1910s included Doublemint, Spearmint, and Juicy Fruit. As he had when he was selling soap and baking soda, Wrigley offered wholesale customers a dizzying array of free gifts, including a 16-inch talking doll, watches, electric irons, Kodak cameras, even filing cabinets and oak tables. The more gum they bought, the better the gifts.

toronto wrigley gumThe company was also a prolific advertiser on both sides of the board. Most ads printed in the Toronto papers centred on gum's purported health benefits. Chewers could expect more energy, better digestion, even reduced thirst. "Wrigley's Spearmint lets you smoke all day - no bad effects," said one print ad that ran in the Toronto Star.

toronto wrigley gumWrigley Jr. was also an early adopter of electronic billboard advertising. Times Square in New York glowed from the light of a massive 1,337.8 square metre neon sign, and 117 contiguous billboards lined the tracks of the rail line between Atlantic City and Trenton, New Jersey, making one giant, multi-state ad.

In addition, Wrigley bought a stake in the Chicago Cubs (later claiming the naming rights to their ball park) and the entire Californian island of Catalina, which he developed into a resort, in 1919. Daniel J. Robinson writes that the company signed a multi-year contract in 1922 for billboard, poster, subway, and street car advertising that was among the most valuable in the world at the time.

In the 1930s, a giant neon Spearmint sign was located on the roof of the Stollery's building at Yonge and Bloor and there were ads across the TTC. "Spearman," a sort of half-man, half-arrow creature, became the company mascot, appearing in countless promotional situations--even a version of the Mother Goose fairy tales that was handed out in schools in Toronto.

toronto wrigley gumWrigley moved from its Carlaw Ave. plant in 1963, eventually landing on Leslie St. north of Eglinton Ave. The old building was converted into lofts in 1998.

Wrigley Jr. died in 1932 and the company was passed to his son, Philip K. Wrigley.

When the Leslie St. plant closes next year, it will be the first time in more than a century that Wrigley chewing gum has been absent from the city. And that's a real shame.

MORE ADS:

toronto wrigley gumUK advert for Wrigley's Spearmint.

toronto wrigley gum"Fine for digestion, fine for teeth." A U.S. poster for Spearmint.

toronto wrigley gumDon't forget to tune into the Wrigley Review on NBC nationwide.

toronto wrigley gumThe packaging for Spearmint, Doublemint, and Juicy Fruit have remained relatively unchanged for more than a century.

toronto wrigley gumThe sugar-coated P.K. gum appears not to have survived to the modern day.

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

Images: City of Toronto Archives, public domain.

The 10 oldest breweries in Toronto

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oldest breweries torontoThe history of Toronto is actually closely tied to beer, and while, sadly, the rise of large-scale brewing in Canada saw Toronto's original breweries bought up and consolidated, one might say we're currently experiencing a renaissance in beer-making in the Big Smoke.

And so, with new breweries seemingly popping up every week, it's important to remember the pioneers of this renaissance. Here are the 10 oldest breweries in Toronto sill making beer.

Amsterdam Brewing Co. (est. 1986)
Founded as The Amsterdam Brasserie and Brewpub on John Street and joined by The Rotterdam on King Street West, a second brewpub with a larger capacity in 1988, Amsterdam eventually consolidated to one location on Bathurst, and now operates both a large brewery in Leaside and a massive waterfront brewpub.

Beers to try: Boneshaker Unfiltered IPA, anything from their ongoing Adventure Brews series.

Great Lakes Brewery (est. 1987)
Founded in 1987 and family run since 1990, Great Lakes Brewery in Etobicoke has evolved from its lager-hawking origins to become one of the country's best craft brewers. With an eye toward experimentation that largely began with their first seasonal offerings back in 2006, GLB is inarguably the master of all things hoppy and is helping lead Ontario's ongoing craft beer revolution.

Beers to try: Karma Citra IPA, Lake Effect IPA, Miami Weiss

Granite Brewery and Restaurant (est. 1991)
Specializing in hand-made, open-fermented beers, the family-run Granite Brewpub has never really been in a rush to be in line with trends. Recent years have seen them add things like Hopping Mad to their lineup, but they specialize in English style ales and even with added capacity in 2012, cans added to lineup, and an LCBO launch, they still take a pretty low-key approach.

Beers to try: Hopping Mad, Peculiar Strong Ale, Galactic Pale Ale

Black Oak Brewery (est. 1999)
Originally founded in Oakville, Black Oak settled into their current 20-hectolitre brew house in Etobicoke in 2008. For a long time known as something like a best kept secret for their consistently good beer but quiet marketing presence, Black Oak has upped their game a bit as of late, embracing social media and adding an experimental "Epiphany" series to their strong core lineup.

Beers to try: Triple Chocolate Cherry Stout, Nutcracker Porter, Ten Bitter Years

Steam Whistle Brewing (est. 2000)
Famously founded by three guys who got fired from the Upper Canada Brewing Company, Steam Whistle pilsner and its iconic green bottle have grown to become intrinsically associated with Toronto--and not just the beer scene. Active in Toronto charities and sports and supportive of the arts in the city, Steam Whistle does just make one beer, but as they like to tell folks, they do it really well.

Beers to try: In keeping with their "we do one thing" motto, you won't see it available very often, but if you get a chance, try the unfiltered version of Steam Whistle that their brewers may or may not prefer to take home in growlers.

Mill Street Brewery (est. 2002)
Now the city's biggest craft brewer, Mill Street handles their large scale production at a facility in Scarborough, but they've maintained a presence in the distillery district with their brew pub. They've added a Beer Hall next door, a second pub in Ottawa, and a bar at Pearson airport. Their knack for expansion is matched only by their ongoing desire to try new things.

Beers to try: Bob's Bearded Red, Coffee Porter, Cobblestone Stout

The Three Brewers (est. 2009)
Sadly, the Yonge Street installment of this franchise brew pub is technically one of the city's oldest breweries. Presumably kept afloat by hapless tourists and people who simply don't know any better, the establishment features middle of the road beer paired with profoundly bad food and indifferent service.

Beers to try: Another brewpub

Black Creek Historic Brewery (est. 2009)
Possibly Toronto's most overlooked brewery, the brewing facility at the city's pioneer village actually makes beer using techniques, tools, and recipes used by brewers in 1860s Ontario. They typically have four styles of beer to offer as well as a rotating cast of seasonals and one offs. All the fun of early Toronto without the typhoid.

Beers to try: The Rifleman's Ration, Dray Horse Ale

Duggan's (est. 2009)
Inaugurated as a brewpub at the now-clearly-cursed 75 Victoria Street location, Duggan's founder--who also co-founded Mill Street--went the contract brewing route when his landlord gave him the boot and kept a few of his brands alive in the interim. Now back in the brew pub game, Duggan's is enjoying something of a second life with a location in Parkdale.

Beers to try: The No. 13 Hefewizen, the No. 9 IPA, whatever experimental offering is currently on hand

House Ales (est. 2010)
Launched with a one-barrel pilot system in the kitchen of barVolo, five years ago, House Ales has since grown to become one of the city's better, albeit smaller, nano-brewing enterprises. Thanks to the street cred garnered through Volo's always exceptional beer lineup, the House Ales folks have been afforded opportunities to collaborate with some of the best brewers from Ontario and Quebec.

Beers to try: Fermium, Tu-hop, anything they make with Great Lakes or Amsterdam

Ben Johnson also writes about beer over on Ben's Beer Blog. Follow him on twitter @Ben_T_Johnson.

Where to get a leg of house-cured wild boar in Toronto

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Speducci MercattoThis butcher and grocery store might be tucked away in a mostly industrial area, but once you step inside it's like discovering a wonderland of Italian delicacies, include whole legs of wild boar that you can buy and keep at the store for regular shavings of meat each time you visit.

Read my profile of Speducci Mercatto in the grocery section.

Is the Annex ready for a condo boom?

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Annex CondoThe Annex is about to get significantly more dense. Already a neighbourhood with significant mid-size apartment structures (many of which are bunched near U of T), the condo era got underway with the arrival of B. Streets at Bloor and Bathurst back in 2013. Now redevelopment is set to take off with major changes in store on the current Honest Ed's site and a new 42-storey tower planned for Madision and Bloor.

What exactly is in store at the southwest corner of Bloor and Bathurst has yet to be revealed (an open house is scheduled for March 3), but preliminary renderings of the latter condo have been filed with the city. It will be way taller than anything in the immediate vicinity, with closest neighbours like Tartu and the old Rochdale College building just shy of 20-storeys.

Is 40+ storeys too high for the Annex? One suspects that some neighbourhood residents will make this claim, but given the proximity to both Line 1 and 2, it's difficult to make a disinterested argument that tall buildings like this don't belong on this stretch of Bloor. As for the design, this isn't exactly going to be an architectural gem.

The proposal has yet to be approved, but you can bet that it won't be the last one to target the Annex for large scale condo development. It's coming. The only question is what it will ultimately look like.

The Best Shawarma in Toronto

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Best Shawarma TorontoThe best shawarma in Toronto is a product of patience - meat is built on a spit, then marinated at length and finally slowly roasted as juices drip down to coat and caramelize its exterior. Whether you get your shawarma piled into a platter or wrapped up into a sandwich is your call, but of course it's the meat that makes this dish, no matter how many pickled turnips or squirts of garlic sauce are applied to accentuate it.

Here are the best restaurants for shawarma in Toronto.

See also:

The top 25 falafel in Toronto by neighbourhood
The best falafel in Toronto
The best hummus in Toronto
The best late night falafel and shawarma in Toronto

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