This new eatery from the owners of Yours Truly brings Queen Street diners a menu of Asian-inspired bar snacks including house-made ramen and Korean fried chicken wings. And unlike its Ossington sibling, it's super-casual and easy on the wallet.
Read my review of A-OK Foods in the restaurants section.
2012 was a big year for Toronto beer. A number of new players emerged on the scene and the conversation about brewing and drinking brews seemed to enjoy a broader stage than ever before in the city. There are already indications that 2013 is going to be an even bigger year for beer fans and beer makers in Toronto, but until then, here are some highlights for everyone's favourite golden beverage in 2012.
Amsterdam Brewery makes a big move
As early as July, rumours swirled about the fate of Amsterdam Brewery as the lease for their space at 21 Bathurst was due to expire. In September, the Toronto brewers put the speculation to rest and revealed that not only were they moving the bulk of their brewing operations to a space in Leaside, but they also revealed ambitious plans for a 900-seat waterfront brewpub. The restaurant, slated to open in May 2013, will feature a 300 seat patio and expansive retail operations, and seems poised to change the city's craft beer scene dramatically.
Hudak talks LCBO privatization
Long the subject of disdain among the province's alcohol enthusiasts, Ontario's archaic alcohol legislation has seen many pissy op-ed pieces over the years and is once again in the news thanks to Tim Hudak. The Progressive Conservative leader has become the most recent politician to dangle the prospect of privatized liquor sales as part of his bid to one day become premier. Hudak, at a press conference held in early December, said "It's time to end the LCBO and Beer Store monopolies." It remains to be seen if anything will actually come of Hudak's posturing and his justification for privatization as a way to save money seems vaguely insane, but it's always nice to see the conversation getting a bigger stage than the comment sections of beer and booze blogs.
Voters choose their favourtive Ontario beer
In response to the LCBO's Brewmaster's Cup, earlier this year, four Toronto beer writers (yes, I am shameless) created the Ontario Brewmaster's Cup, pitting sixteen Ontario beers against each other to determine the best the province had to offer. Over two rounds of voting, over 1,000 people cast their votes, ultimately naming Steam Whistle the champion of the inaugural edition of the competition.
Pearson Airport gets crafty
Opting to buck the trend of lacklustre airport food, in April of this year Pearson International Airport announced plans to revamp their food services with a dozen new bars and restaurants, including a pair of bars called Apropos which will feature a craft beer menu curated by Burger Bar owner and Kensington Brewing Company proprietor, Brock Shepherd. This news followed quickly on the heels of the opening of the Mill Street Airport Pub, offering travellers 10 different Mill Street brews. The transformation is expected to continue until the Summer of 2013, but you can already get a final taste of Ontario craft beer before you head off to chug Tecate over Spring break, and travelers with a layover at Pearson will now have more pleasant memories of Toronto than an unremarkable lager.
Bring on the brewpubs
Since the lamentable loss of Duggan's brewpub last year, the city hasn't seen much progress in the way of places to enjoy food and beer that were both prepared on-site. Thankfully, this year saw two fantastic additions to the city's small but awesome collection of brewpubs with the opening of Bellwoods Brewery on Ossington and the Indie Alehouse in the Junction. Both have already done much to advance the enjoyment of two of my favourite complementary pursuits--eating and drinking--and with Amsterdam slated to join them, along with the likes of the existing Mill Street and Granite Brewpubs, the city is becoming an increasingly easy place to enjoy a meal and a pint crafted under one roof.
Toronto bars embrace craft beer
2012 saw a great growth in the number of bars, both new and old, that seem to be embracing a craft-beer-slanted tap list. This year alone has seen the opening of 3030, Get Well, Thirsty and Miserable, and Tallboys, not to mention my personal favourite, Bar Hop, a craft beer oasis in the desert of King West douchery. The options for beer fans were pretty good before, but if this new school of watering holes is a taste of things to come, it's a good time to be a fan of craft beer in Toronto.
Westvleteran sells out in minutes
Often touted as the world's best beer, Westvleteran XII recently enjoyed its first (and likely last) retail release owing to the fact that the monks who brew it need to put a new roof on their monastery (sure beats a bake sale). The LCBO received 1,404 cases of the Westy six packs, which retailed for $76.85 and sold out in mere minutes. Reports indicated that Torontonians lined up as early as 7am for local LCBOs to open.
Cask Days blows up
Originally a fairly beer-nerd-centric event for a small but dedicated following of local cask beer fans, Cask Days officially got mainstream this year. 2012 saw the event balloon into a two day festival featuring 75 different brewers from across Canada paired with food from buzzworthy local vendors, as well as music from Canadian DJs and a gallery of art for sale. Throngs of beer enthusiasts took shuttle buses to the Evergreen Brickworks and braved the cold to enjoy rare and one-off cask conditioned ale in a weekend that seemed so successful that the only question that remains for 2013 is whether or not they can book the ACC.
More Toronto brewers
This year saw the opening of Junction Craft Brewing's nano-brewery on Cawthra, meaning the formerly contract-only brewers are now actually making beer in their namesake neighbourhood. We've also seen the arrival of new Toronto contract brewers, Hogtown Brewery, and the fledgling Liberty Village Brewing Company also tested the waters this year by hosting public tastings of their beer.
2012 also saw the introdcution of Heady Brew Company which joined Snowman Brewing Company to become the city's second gluten free beverage makers.
Beer nerd cynicism aside, the city has also benefited from the opening of the Beer Academy, headquarters for Molson's craft beer division, Six Pints. They've turned the space at 75 Victoria street into a place dedicated to all things brewing, they host tastings and even sell brewery-fresh beer in their retail space--which can really never be a bad thing.
Considering all this has occurred in a year where we marked the 25th anniversary of Great Lakes Brewing Company, Toronto's oldest craft brewer, it is becoming increasingly difficult to deny that this city is coming into its own in terms of our beer scene. It's been slow going, but we are making leaps and bounds.
Photographs by Paul Aihoshi
This 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
UPCOMING EVENTS
OTHER NEWS
VIDEO
The Toronto edition of The Layover is now online. Watch it here.
Mike Holmes and the team at SlingRide aim to make the lives of Toronto's commuters a little less excruciating. Working out of the MaRS Discovery District as part of the JOLT accelerator, Mike and his team have launched a ridesharing community that is fully integrated into a user's social network. The site focuses on connecting people who are commuting in the same general direction and maps thousands of nearby coffee shops that allow drivers and passengers the ability to safely meet and coordinate rides in a simple and social way.
Here's what Mike and the team at SlingRide had to say about how they are re-thinking the Toronto transportation and ridesharing community.
How does SlingRide actually work?
SlingRide is first and foremost a ridesharing community for those who want a convenient way to travel while saving money and making new friends along the way. In order to use SlingRide, you must register using your email address and a social media account.
Once logged in to SlingRide, drivers can offer up seats in their vehicle, and passengers can submit ride requests. SlingRide makes use of thousands of Tim Horton's coffee shops across Canada as the pickup and drop off locations. Users select the closest Tim's to their starting and ending points using a simple map and their rides get saved into the system. These rides are then easily searchable by drivers and passengers who are looking for a match.
How does SlingRide differentiate itself from the other carpooling services out there like zimride?
There are several key differences between SlingRide and other ridesharing services. SlingRide focuses on the overall ridesharing experience - not just simply the initial matching. For example, when two people are exploring if they would like to ride together, they must coordinate or negotiate a place to pick and drop one another off along with the pricing.
By using coffee shops as the designated meetup points, SlingRide takes the meetup location out of the equation and simplifies the process. When a driver posts their ride, they specify how far they're willing to drive off their route and this information is easily searchable by passengers - the pricing, as set by the driver, automatically adjusts depending on pickup and drop of locations chosen by the passenger.
Personally, I still view SlingRide's main competition as the traditional motor coach and passenger train operators.
How are you addressing some of the most common safety and insurance concerns?
Driver and passenger safety is a huge concern and the research has shown that it's a major reason why more people don't rideshare. Simply put, the average person is afraid of getting into car with a complete stranger.
At SlingRide we have designed the entire experience with safety in mind. The first layer of safety comes from the fact that SlingRide doesn't allow anonymous users. Unlike sites such as Craigslist or Kijiji, all SlingRide members must provide a verifiable email address from an approved institution such as a university, college, or employer as well as a linked social media account.
Other site features were designed as a result of getting direct feedback from potential users. For example, when talking with female drivers and passengers, it became clear that many would feel more comfortable riding only with people of their own gender - so we built this capability into our search and ride posting filters.
With the legal headaches Uber is encountering in Toronto, are there any laws in Ontario that SlingRide might have to deal with?
It is always important to understand the laws in the geography where you're launching. In the past, there have been several Canadian ridesharing companies that have faced the threat of legal action -these small companies were usually strong armed by lawyers from the large motor coach operators.
Specifically for SlingRide's operations in Ontario, the Countering Distracted Driving and Promoting Green Transportation Act of 2009 provides a broad enough definition of carpooling/ridesharing for us to stay in the clear. It's important to note that SlingRide isn't actually providing transportation - in a way we are not much different than an old-school ride-board where people put up information. The difference is that SlingRide is leveraging social media and advanced mapping technology to provide a far better platform to find people heading in the same direction.
Tell me about the business side of SlingRide. Is there a cost to the consumer? Where does your revenue come from?
It's pretty straight forward, drivers set the price for the space in their vehicles, and passengers are able to pay drivers online using their credit card via paypal. In the process of transferring these funds SlingRide takes a small service fee for providing matching services. Later on, once the SlingRide network is built up, we will explore charging companies in order to provide their employees with access to the SlingRide platform.
What are the next steps for SlingRide?
The initial market we want to focus on is the university and college segment (as well as recent grads). This segment understands technology, spends their money wisely, and is environmentally aware.
As far as news, I am really excited this January to be launching at Brock University with the Brock University Student Union during their annual 'Frost Week' .The BUSU is a forward thinking student organization and committed to providing their 18,000+ students with environmentally friendly and affordable transportation options. I believe the fit between the BUSU and a service like SlingRide is excellent and look forward to working with Brock's student leaders.
As clocks tick hurriedly towards the big day, and shoppers across the city scramble to find perfect gifts, ample food and tasty drink for houses full of hungry and thirsty family and friends, let's spill some spiked eggnog out for our favorite departed retailers from Christmas' past, and for one who is about to join their ranks after bidding adieu this shopping season.
Goodbye Zellers, we probably won't ever forget you and your laws of toyland!
And many happy returns to the holiday-glo memories of Eatons, Simpsons, Towers, Boots, WHSmith, Woolco, HiWay Markets, I.D.A, Miracle Foodmart, K-Mart, Knob Hill Farms, Dominion and of course the Rainbow Centre in Niagara Falls.
Merry Christmas!
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.
Sidewalks in the Annex and along the Mink Mile are rarely deprived of shoppers and this holiday season has been no exception. Here's a selection of looks that caught our eye as we walked along Bloor from Bathurst to Parliament St.
Check out all the looks in our Style section.
The 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 ronnie.yip.
This new spot at the corner of Dundas and Dufferin aims to be a one-stop-shop for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Calling itself a "deli cafe," it offers deli meats and cheeses, coffees and pastries, as well as a small menu of hot and pre-prepared sandwiches for eat-in or take-out.
Read my profile of The Hogtown Cure in the cafes section.
The top 10 albums from Toronto bands in 2012
At the risk of making a grand statement about "the state of the Toronto music scene," it's safe to say that the material being produced by local bands is as strong as it's ever been. And while there's some familiar names on this year-end list, it'd be pretty easy to argue that the bands who released their first LPs this year deserve the highest praise (I'm thinking of METZ and Dusted in particular). On the other side of the spectrum, I'm disappointed to report that Rush's Clockwork Angels— their 19th LP — didn't make the final cut. Sorry Dad!
Below are our picks for the top Toronto albums of the year, but as always, please share your suggestions in the comments section.
Dusted — Total Dust (Hand Drawn Dracula)
This is what a guitar should sound like. Dusted is the beautiful child of Brian Borcherdt (Holy Fuck, LIDS, founder of Dependent Records) and Leon Taheny (Bruce Peninsula, Rituals and co-owner of Candle Recording Studio) and I hope they stay a family forever. Their pared down recording is gutsy because there's not much to hide behind and everything that is there needs to be. Correct! Borcherdt is from Nova Scotia and Taheny is from fucking Ireland but guess what they are living and working here now so get over it.
Cold Specks — I Predict a Graceful Expulsion (Arts & Crafts)
Cold Specks aka Al Spx (real name — we don't know — she's invented the second pseudonym to "protect" a disapproving family) has the voice and wisdom of an ancient soul-singing prophet. The bones of the album bend and creak like an old house in a windstorm and it's not clear if you'll all make it out ok.
Crystal Castles — Crystal Castles III (Fiction/Polydor)
The duo's third full-length is darker and moodier than ever — Alice Glass is pissed at the world and rightfully so. The thing sounds so sorrowful that I get a pang in my stomach and want to vomit and cry. That a couple of spoiled brats from Toronto are able to evoke such a response is, well, impressive.
Trust — TRST (Arts & Crafts)
OK, the voice — Kermit-like, wanting, disinterested — that's not why you listen to Trust. Or maybe you do, but, you shouldn't — this is well-crafted electro music that somehow overcomes its vocals by getting into that space that exists between trance and pop. Listen, this is 1) dark 2) not that dark 3) perfectly safe music to maybe, just maybe dance to. That's worthy of kudos, isn't it?
METZ — METZ (Sub Pop)
Their first full-length happens in approximately the blink of an eye, or, just shy of half an hour. The brevity combined with the powerful assault of what-seems-like one rockmonstermachine spins head and leaves one feeling disoriented. "Wet Blanket" in particular is the perfect song for something.
BADBADNOTGOOD — BBNG2 (Self-released)
It's very hard to find approachable jazz to hump to — dig? But what if there were some really groovy cats who had just the right balm for the rash that is the lack of proper tunes for such times. Of course, I'm addressing BADBADNOTGOOD and their second album BBNG2, which includes jazzy takes on some of your favourite pop and rap hits. It bridges the gulf between uptown and downtown, if you catch my sound. So next time you find yourself on the coital cusp of beboppin' but feel that Mingus is too much for your dingus and Kanye makes the mood go away, find some middle, jazzy, ground with BBNG and let the sweat stains begin.
Evening Hymns — Spectral Dusk (Outside Music)
Taken as whole, the 10 songs that compose Spektral Dusk, the second LP from Evening Hymns, are somehow both immediate and muted all at once — the perfect sonic representation of mourning. Sparse and haunting, the album is less about catharsis as something that eventually happens and more about the ongoing process whereby we make sense of loss. As emotional and nostalgic as these songs are — the title track and "Asleep in the Pews" are particularly charged — the controlling narrative is one of self-discovery rather than grief-stricken paralysis.
Jason Collett — Reckon (Arts & Crafts)
Collett's latest showcases his masterful storytelling ability as he paints a picture of political unrest while never becoming preachy or obvious. Nevertheless he's ambitious in his reach on Reckon— using 2008's financial meltdown to frame a consideration of loss in general, which paves the way for his most insightful observations. "Pacific Blue" is the standout track for me.
Toronto's favourite storyteller was back this year with another full-length (his 8th) and his writing is stronger than ever.
Diamond Rings — Free Dimensional (Secret City Records)
John O'Regan has carefully crafted his glam-inspired identity as Diamond Rings — so much so that one wonders if the music isn't just a vehicle for his persona. And if one were to go on Free Dimensional's mostly hollow, me-me-me lyrics alone, it'd be tough to ward off such suspicions, but then there's the hooks. It's kind of a shame that this album wasn't released earlier in the year, because what it does best is offer inoffensive, catchy electro-pop tunes that sound like they were made for the summer. It's anything but complicated, but that's not a bad thing.
The Weeknd — Trilogy (Republic Records)
Despite the fact that it sounds as though Abel Tefsaye just discovered the words "fuck" and "fucking" on the wildly popular "Wicked Games," it's easy to get past this once you dig into the remaining two and half hours of music that make up Trilogy. Sure, fans have already heard almost all of it before (via previous releases House of Balloons, Thursday, and Echoes of Silence), but brought together as one album, the pace slows, and the storytelling is cast under the spotlight. What emerges is a portrait of an artist struggling with his own ambition and, ultimately, success.
OTHER STAFF PICKS
AUBREY JAX'S PICKS
Trust — TRST
Crystal Castles — Crystal Castles III
Sins — Murmur EP
ADAM BRADY'S PICKS
Dusted — Total Dust
Cold Specks — I Predict a Graceful Expulsion
Whitehorse — The Fate Of The World Depends On This Kiss
ADAM KAMIN'S PICKS
METZ — METZ
Evening Hymns — Spectral Dusk
BADBADNOTGOOD — BBNG2
Weekend events in Toronto is our guide to events happening this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Here's what's happening in Toronto this December 21-23, 2012.
END OF THE WORLD
End of the World Toronto
Well, even if it isn't the "End of the World," we know that the end of 2012 is near, and it's the Holiday season, so it's definitely time to let loose. What's being billed as "the biggest end of year College/University party in Ontario" goes down tonight at The Government/KoolHaus compound, and it's bound to be an adrenaline-fueled and sweaty affair, with high sound pressure levels and smiles all around. Featured DJs include: Flipside, Joe Ghost, 4Korners, DJ Couture, Sean Stealth, DJ Medz, DJ Pxl, Argent, DJ Faded and more. A happening mix of electronic, hip hop, mashup, and other styles is promised.
Guvernment (132 Queen's Quay East) December 21, 2012 10PM $25
For other "end of the world" events, check out our round-up of Mayan Apocalypse celebrations happening tonight around Toronto.
PARTY
Winter Prom
Now for something completely different. Forget your winter blahs and holiday blues, and dress up in your finest frocks for Cinecycle's Winter Prom. There'll be live music, dancing, drinks, prizes, and like every good prom, voting for the prom king and queen. Best of all, proceeds go to Horizon Children's Center.
Cinecycle (Coach House at 401 Richmond Street) December 22, 2012 8PM $15
Kensington Winter Solstice
The Kensington Winter Solstice has been a tradition for over two decades, and is now in its 23rd year. It begins as a lantern-touting parade then winds through to Alexandra Park for its big finale. Expect fire, costumes, music, and the burning of an effigy--all to welcome the onset of yet another winter.
Oxford St. and Augusta Ave. December 21, 2012, parade starts assembling at 6PM
MUSIC
UK Underground 10th Annual Santa Party
When something's been running for 10 years, you know it's a good party. Join resident DJS Tigerblood and MRK, as well as guests Parallels and Viva Mars for a night of holiday dancing cheer. There'll be cheap drinks, and those who get festive (by dressing up as Santa or some approximation thereof) will get in free before midnight.
Virgin Mobile Mod Club (722 College St.) December 22, 2012 10PM $10
Afrika Bambaataa w/ Soul Motivators
The man known as "the Godfather of Hip Hop," Afrika Bambaataa, hits Revival tonight. This man has been at it for decades, and has collabed with everyone from James Brown, to John Lydon, to the cast of the famous 1985 anti-apartheid "Sun City" project, and was nominated for Rock 'n' Roll Hall Of Fame induction a few years back. One of his first hits, Planet Rock, combined an original melody with hip hop breaks and passages from a Kraftwerk tune to create a new genre known as 'electro funk.' Tonight at Revival, fans can anticipate a packed house and solid beats, with Soul Motivators, and MC K-Swift opening, and support from DJs Farbsie Funk, Tasc, and others.
Revival (783 College Street) December 21, 2012 9:30PM $25
Canadian Brass Christmas
A Christmas concert with The Canadian Brass is a Toronto tradition that continues Sunday afternoon at Koerner Hall. This ensemble was established in 1970, and founding member Dr. Charles Daellenbach's tuba still anchors the group's great sound and arrangements. This afternoon concert promises to be a good one, with an excellent program consisting of everything from Bach and Brahms, to Glenn Miller and Vince Gueraldi, with some traditional holiday fare added as well. As an added bonus, The Canadian Brass will be supported by students from the U of T Faculty of Music and the Conservatory's Glenn Gould School on a few tunes.
Koerner Hall (273 Bloor Street West) December 23, 2012 3PM $45
For more music listings, check out our weekly Hot Ticket.
COMEDY
BeerProv - Christmas Sweater Edition
It's all about spontaneity, and no one knows that better than the folks at The Comedy Bar. Tonight's edition of BeerProv has a special holiday theme: Christmas sweaters. Yes, the comedic talent in the house are being encouraged to wear their fuzziest, and ugliest. An all-star cast should make this a great one: Dave Babin, Evan Arppe, and others will perform, Chris New will be manning the piano, and tonight's host is Jim Robinson.
Comedy Bar (945 Bloor Street West) December 21, 2012 10:30PM $12
For more comedy listings, check out This Week in Comedy.
FILM
Gregory Crewdson: Brief Encounters
Tonight, Ben Shapiro's Gregory Crewdson: Brief Encounters premieres at the Bloor Cinema. This film was a New York Times Critics' Pick, and follows Crewdson, a well known photographer and educator (currently a professor at Yale) as he captures suburban American life from a unique and dramatic perspective. His work is influenced strongly by people outside of his medium like Hitchcock and David Lynch, and he relies on an extensive crew similar to that used for shooting a film. A decade of "embedded" filmmaking went into this documentary, and it reveals an artistic process that is meticulous and extravagant in the world of photography, with results to match. Gregory Crewdson: Brief Encounters will be playing until January 3rd.
Bloor Cinema (506 Bloor Street West) December 21, 2012 9:30PM $11
For more film listings, check out This Week in Film.
OUTDOOR
1 LOVE T.O. Holiday Ice Skating Party
There is truly no better way to celebrate the holiday season than ice skating, which makes Harbourfront Centre the place to be on Saturday evening. The third annual 1 LOVE T.O. Holiday Ice Skating Party will be in full swing, and that means a great night of exercise, music, drinks, hot chocolate, and everything you love about winter. This year the event has teamed up with Skate To Great, a non-profit organization that provides access to skating for every Canadian child. They will be collecting your used skates and hockey equipment at the event, so please bring whatever used gear you are able to donate. Hosting the event is T-rexxx, and music will be provided by DJ DLux.
Harbourfront Centre (235 Queens Quay West) December 22, 2012 8PM
THEATRE
Nutcracker
The Nutcracker is a long-standing Christmas tradition, and while the National Ballet of Canada's production is recognized for being among the most lavish, there are other local companies that put on an equally good show. The Pia Bouman School of Ballet's production sees some of the most promising students of the program gliding, jete-ing, and otherwise twinkle-toeing across the stage.
Lismer Hall, Humberside Collegiate Institute (280 Quebec Avenue) December 21 7:30 PM, December 22 and 23rd 2PM $15-$40
BOOKS & LIT
Toronto Poetry Slam
The regular and raucous poetry series, the Toronto Poetry Slam, goes down at The Drake Hotel Saturday night. If you've never been to a "slam" before, you should know that this ain't your grandmother's poetry reading night! A poetry slam is essentially a competitive poetry reading, and the origin of this type of event goes back to the jazz scene in mid '80s Chicago, where poetry nights were given more exposure by adopting this competitive edge and the audience participates as judges. Tonight's prize is $75 - if you think your words have what it takes, arrive early and sign up!
The Drake Hotel (1150 Queen Street West) December 22, 2012 7PM $5
FESTIVAL/MARKETPLACE
The Dark Of The Moon Festival
The second Dark Of The Moon Festival takes place tonight. This is a very interesting marketplace-style event with psychics, tarot card readers, holistic health practitioners, artisans, and others set up and displaying their wares for your persual and purchase. There will also be entertainment in the form of live music, speakers on various subjects (including ayurvedic medicine and meditation), bellydancing, live art, and much more. This is a special Winter Solstice edition of this festival, and admission is free. An afterparty follows at 9pm.
The Back Lot Film Studios (40 Butterick Road) December 21, 2012 12PM to 9PM
OTHER WEEKEND EVENTS ON OUR RADAR
JUMPLE'S END OF THE WORLD PARTY
Pat Mahoney (DFA Records/ LCD Soundsystem) @ Wrongbar
Zeds Dead with ︻ ƱZ ︻ + more
Dub Connection Soundsystem Launch Party!
PARALLELS live @ The UK Underground : Holiday Edition
NOZO TORONTO LAUNCH PARTY @ THE HOXTON W/ COMEBACK SEASON KIDS hosted by KENNY HOTZ
Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO Toronto events calendar or contact us directly.
Photos by Will Ohare and MichaelTutton in the blogTO Flickr pool
This new Kensington Market comics emporium from the owner of Parkdale's The Hot 'n' Dog is poised to become a mecca for collectors. It has no discernible methods of organization, a huge stock of vintage single issue, and a cost that can't be beat--namely, $0.50.
Read my profile of Kensington Comics in the book store section.
Over the past couple of years there's been heated competition in the online restaurant delivery space in Toronto. Two main competitors - Just Eat and OrderIt - have been blanketing the city, signing up restaurants to help them reach hungry diners everywhere. Now, there's a new player in town. TasteAway launched earlier this fall and is starting to create some inroads with restaurants such as Amaya Express, Thai Room and Ginger among its current crop of customers.
Earlier this week I connected with founder Constantine Daicos who told me he's been in the industry for three years after stating a site called MenuBaby in Oakville. What he hopes to create with TasteAway is (in his words) a better, more visual marketplace for customers to..."eat with their eyes" and he wants to offer restaurant customers better tools than the competition.
For now, better tools mean restaurants can set delivery zones that don't force them into servicing an entire postal-code, the ability to accept orders from their own website without paying a high commission and the ability to update their own menu whenever they feel like it. They're also mobile-friendly right out of the box with native apps launching in the new year.
What do you think? Will you give TasteAway a try? Do you think they can succeed in what is already a hotly-contested market?
E.T.A. Hoffmann's story of The Nutcracker has become a holiday classic, one of the few that embodies the modest values of the season. Over the years, the National Ballet's adaptation, with choreography and libretto by James Kudelka, has also established itself as a celebration of family, togetherness, and Tchaikovsky's inspired music, while at the same time becoming a Toronto theatre tradition.
After over fifteen years, the ballet hasn't missed a step. The Nutcracker is still a wildly imaginative journey through the decadent and playful sights and sounds of the Christmas season. Like a richly detailed picture book come to life, the production is full of magic and humour, which all the while encourages audiences to contemplate the true themes of the holiday.
It's the night before Christmas and siblings Marie (Rebekah Bloomfield) and Misha (Simon McNally) are squabbling over a very special gift; a Nutcracker in the shape of a noble soldier from their Uncle Nikolai (Jiří Jelinek). After placing the gift under the Christmas tree, the two fall asleep and dream of journeying with the Nutcracker (Guillaume Côté) to the golden palace of the Sugar Plum Fairy (Heather Ogden). The dream culminates in a banquet in their honour, where they witness a collection of fantastical dances.
The transitional moment between reality and fantasy, when the children's Christmas tree seemingly explodes beyond the confines of the stage revealing the life-sized Nutcracker, is full of wonder. Set and costume designs from the incomparable Santo Loquasto continue to set this production apart.
Kudelka's libretto places an emphasis on the closeness of extended family. Baba, the nanny (Alejandra Perez-Gomez), and Peter, the stable boy (also Côté), all feature prominently in the children's dream. His interpretation on the courses of the banquet scene — chocolate, coffee, poultry, and the themes of the changing seasons — are incredibly clever and playful.
Côté once again brings style and charm to the lead male figure. It's an obviously more subtle performance than previous turns as Hamlet and Romeo, but he still commands the stage. Set against an icy winter setting, Xiao Nan Yu is incredibly majestic as the Snow Queen, and Jelinek finds a larger-than-life persona for Uncle Nikolai that matches the towering sets. But it's Ogden who leaves the lasting impression. Her Sugar Plum Fairy is dazzling, completing the most exciting movements of the show during the banquet scene.
The full National Ballet company and their younger counterparts from Canada's National Ballet School and schools throughout the GTA are effortlessly graceful. The dancers, young and old, who inhabit the production's many animals — mice, bears, sheep, and an energetic horse — are a definite highlight.
With Kudelka's incredible vision, Tchaikovsky's timeless music, and the efforts of world class dancers and students, The Nutcracker continues to be Toronto's most treasured holiday tradition.
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The Nutcracker, by The National Ballet of Canada, runs at the Four Seasons Centre until January 5.
Lead photo by Bruce Zinger
The top 20 Toronto deadpool from 2012 just goes to show that this year was not all noodle-bar fun. Just as each year brings new culinary and retail loves, it too marks the loss of venerable (or else, predictably short-lived) institutions. This year was no exception. This is a nod to some of those we'll miss (and probably crave) the most.
South of Temperance
If you noticed hoards of suits wandering wearily around the Financial District, this closure might be the reason. Once among the more popular patios and after-work haunts for the Bay Street crowd, South of Temperance closed its doors at the end of October to make way for a sprawling new office tower. But while it's gone for now, South of Temperance owners insist they are planning on a comeback.
European Quality Meats
After five decades in Kensington Market, European Quality Meats and Sausages finally made the decision to leave Baldwin Street back in April. Citing rising property values and shifting demographics, the family behind the shop sold off their last sausage to concentrate on operations outside of the downtown core. The space left behind didn't go meatless for long, however, as Sanagan's soon opened a shiny new 5000-square-foot in its stead.
Reither's Fine Food International
The Village lost its top spot for quality goulash with the closure of Reither's Fine Food International in March. Owner Paul Reither boarded up the food shop after nearly a quarter decade in the neighbourhood and is now enjoying the sweet taste of retirement. Doesn't compare to some of those Reither cheeses, however.
The Real Jerk
The Real Jerk wins for most prolonged closure saga, with news breaking back in January that the Riverside restaurant would be headed for the deadpool. But after a protest and injunction, and several more jerk chicken orders, it wasn't until the end of May that The Real Jerk actually closed up shop. No word yet on where (or if?) we can expect its resurrection.
Captain John's Seafood
It seems Captain John had a little issue with paying his taxes, and thus, his seafood restaurant finally sank over the summer of 2012. A waterfront fixture since 1975, Captain John's was apparently drowning in more than $500,000 of money owed — a debt that couldn't be repaid with the odd king crab platter sale. Farewell, Captain.
Sun Valley Fine Foods
What is Greektown without Sun Valley!? Store and building owner Gerry Aravantinos shuttered his independent shop after 29 years on the Danforth, succumbing to leasing incentives and citing the drought of parking in the area. Greek olive oil connoisseurs must now look elsewhere for their fix.
Marky's Deli & Restaurant
The plotzing began in July when news broke the Marky's up at Bathurst and Wilson would soon be serving its final plate of liver and onions. The restaurant had been serving traditional European kosher fare for 43 years, eventually finding itself in tough economic conditions and exasperated by the changing demographic in the area. The last bowl of borscht was served July 18.
Senior's Steak House and Restaurant
After half a century of great steaks and power breakfasts, residents left behind at Yonge and St. Clair are now forced to ask, "Where's the beef?" Owners Eddie and Cathy Marlett decided to retire in 2012, thus shuttering Senior's Steak House and Restaurant for good. Neighbours are still lamenting the loss of the great mom and pop vibe.
People's Foods
Sigh. One fewer Annex brunch spot. The charm of People's Foods was undeniable (eroded sign, jukebox on every table, stellar onion rings), but alas, the rising rent just proved too much. Owner Kathy Tsatsanis, however, has vowed to come back in a nearby location.
Mitzi's on College
What's up, College? No love for the oatmeal buttermilk pancake? Well, maybe it just wasn't enough love for the oatmeal buttermilk pancake. Owner Lesli Gaynor decided to pack in this Mitzi's at the beginning of 2012, focusing her funds and attention on the other restaurants in the mini Mitzi empire.
Bistro 990
This 23-year-old French country restaurant closed its doors to make way for — can you guess? — a massive new condo. What is this, King Street? In any case, owners Tom and Christine Kristenbrun also cited their age as a reason for closing up shop, leaving their famous roast chicken but a fond memory for loyal patrons.
Zelda's
Zelda's just couldn't come back after an electrical fire left the space gutted. First opening on Church and later moving to Yonge, Zelda's was known for its indulgent comfort foods, great patio, and exhilarating dirty bingo events. I think the whole community raised a boozy pink martini for this place when it finally closed its doors.
Cool Hand Luc
Uncool. With the sale of the King Street building from which Luc doles out his soups and scoops, Cool Hand Luc has been forced to put away the cones. Closing just before the end of the year, owner Luc Essiambreis is now on the hunt for a nearby space.
Stampede Bison Grill
So long, bison burgers. After a few years of pretty delicious bison burger and incredible poutine, Stampede Bison Grill will go out with the end of the year. Hopefully "so long" really means "see you later."
Pinball Cafe
Blame it on a bylaw? Or lack of business license? Or zoning prohibition? Councillor Gord Perks? Whatever the reason, all we really know for certain is that Toronto's first pinball cafe closed its doors after less than one year in operation, forcing pinball-fanatics to again retreat to the sanctity of the dimly lit residential arcade basement. It was nice to know you, natural sunlight.
Hits & Misses
Hits & Misses put up a great fight. The store had served the punk record scene for a total of 20 years, closing fairly abruptly this past fall after falling behind on rent. One more loss for the independent record community, I suppose.
Toronto Women's Bookstore
And speaking of struggling communities, the independent bookstore scene in Toronto suffered a massive loss with the closure of the Toronto Women's Bookstore in November. The store, which also played host to many community workshops and events, had been to the deadpool and back a couple of times throughout its 39-year history, but now it seems it's gone for good.
The Barn
The party, unfortunately, finally did stop at The Barn this summer when it ceased operations due to depleting profits. The Barn wasn't exactly the most popular club in the Village come Friday or Saturday night over the past few years, but the loss of the 20-year business was felt in the community nonetheless.
Agave y Aguacate
It was a brief, albeit, tasty run for owner and chef Francisco Alejandri. Franciso ran Agave y Aguacate for about one year out of the Kensington Market food court at 214 Augusta, eventually leaving due to operating issues regarding cleanliness and organization of the market. Franciso has since offered his cooking at various pop-ups around Toronto.
Reggie's Old Fashioned Sandwiches
Deep fried mac and cheese, Philly cheese steak, chicken club — they're all no more. Known for its super-thick, super-terrible-for-your-diet sandwiches, Reggie's was boarded up in September to make way for neighbour 2Cats Cocktail Lounge 's expansion. Guess you'll have to make that deep fried mac and cheese at home. Keep an extinguisher on hand.
Honourable Mentions:
What did I miss? Add your top deadpool to the comments below.
Rock and roll was, apparently, dead by the end of the '60s. So much so that legendary performers like John Lennon, Alice Cooper, The Doors, Chuck Berry, and Little Richard needed a special benefit concert to boost its fortunes. Enter "Rock and Roll Revival," a special one-day concert held at Varsity Stadium in the late summer heat of 1969.
The 14-hour extravaganza would see the first public performance by the Plastic Ono Band in the turbulent wake of the Beatles break-up earlier that year. Backed by 1950s-style performances by some of music's biggest names, the concert would generate several live albums, a concert tape by D. A. Pennebaker, the film-maker behind Bob Dylan doc Don't Look Back, and go down as a defining moment in popular culture.
The concert was conceived by promoters John Brower and Ken Walker with financial backing from top brass from Eaton's department store, but stymied by poor ticket sales, the venture began to lose support. On a recomendation, Brower called Apple Records in the UK to ask John Lennon to emcee the concert, knowing the ex-Beatle would be tempted by the names of several classic rock and roll performers on the bill.
In something of a curveball, Lennon agreed to appear on the condition he be allowed to perform. "It was late, about 11 o'clock one Friday night, I was in my office at Apple, when we got a phone call from this guy saying, 'Come to Toronto'," he's quoted as recalling on a fan site. "They really were inviting us as King and Queen to preside over the concert and not to play. But I didn't hear that part and I said, 'OK. OK. Just give me time to get a band together.' So, I thought, 'Who could I get to come and play with me?' We left the next morning."
Just like that the Rock and Roll Revival had scored a major coup. Lennon hadn't performed in a large venue since his days with the Beatles and had no established backing band. Eric Clapton, Klaus Voormann, bass player and designer of the Revolver album cover, future Yes drummer Alan White, and, of course, Yoko Ono at the height of her divisive powers made the trip from London to Toronto a few short months after the famous Give Peace a Chance recording in a Montreal hotel room.
It was such an unbelievable scoop that radio stations in Toronto refused to believe the promoters had landed the band, further stymieing ticket sales. Confirmation shortly after from Ono's assistant to a Detroit radio station caused a stampede for the concert's roughly 20,000 tickets. When wire services confirmed the band had boarded a trans-Atlantic jet, the rush for Revival passes went wild. The tiny sports stadium was sold out in just a few hours.
Meanwhile, in a jet over the ocean, Lennon was having second thoughts. "John was sick from nerves most of the way across the Atlantic," journalist Ritchie Yorke would recall. "'Nerves?' I asked. 'Hell yes,' Lennon replied. 'My God, I haven't performed before a large audience for four years. I mean, I did the Rolling Stones' Circus film with a small audience, and I did the Cambridge '69 gig; but they didn't even know I was coming. So we didn't sleep at all on Friday night, and I was nervous all the way across.'"
Upon landing in Toronto, the band was escorted from the airport by an 80-strong motorcade of bikers from the Vagabonds to Bloor Street. The leather-clad riders had just missed the Doors, who weren't aware they were to be escorted, earlier that day.
At Varsity Stadium, legendary music journalist Robert Christgau was casting his critical eye on the stage set-up. "A bush operation," he called the shabby performance area and stadium floodlights used to provide illumination. Christgau was there to observe D. A. Pennebaker's filming for Show magazine. "Pennebaker is forty-four but looks about thirty-five," the author wrote, "he has recently grown a full red beard and has on an old sweater and his sailing jeans, which are worn to proper sun-bleached blue. Although the natural affability of his boyish face is virtually unchanged, he does appear startled."
Mid-afternoon, as Little Richard jangled away at his piano, The Plastic Ono Band were in a tiny dressing room worrying that this could all be a serious disaster. "I threw up for hours until I went on," remembered Lennon. Eric Clapton told the press later that "John just stood in the dressing room, which was admittedly rather tatty, beforehand saying, 'What am I doing here? I could have gone to Brighton!' After all, it was a long way to go for just one concert."
The group had reached Varsity Stadium earlier that day to an army of flashbulbs and screaming fans as Cat Mother and the All Night Newsboys performed "Good Old Rock and Roll." Kids tried to hop the fence for a better view while police fought to keep the way clear.
After dark, a characteristically wild Alice Cooper set screeched on stage. After a short, heavy intro, the set broke down into mock fighting and drum smashing as Cooper hammered away at a watermelon and tore apart a down pillow in a moment of climax. The most famous chicken in music history appeared from who-knows-where among feathers and fire extinguishing foam for Cooper to toss into the crowd, creating a legend that follows him to this day (the moment is visible for a brief second at 11:37 in the video above.)
And then the band took the stage. The stage announcer ordered that the stadium lights be turned down, and asked the crowd to light a match. A sea of little candles and sparklers filled the playing surface as Lennon and his band emerged on stage. "OK, we're just going to do numbers we know because we've never played before," he told the crowd, launching into a surprisingly lifeless version of Elvis' "Blue Suede Shoes."
It might not have been the barnstorming start the crowd expected but the band soon found their feet. Yoko Ono, dividing her time between backing vocals and music stand duties for Lennon, periodically disappeared into a sack while Clapton and the rest of the band provided a solid backing for the pair.
Versions of "Dizzy Miss Lizzy," "Yer Blues," and "Cold Turkey" followed. Several solo Ono numbers didn't go down so well. "Get the fuck off the stage," called one member of the audience. But that was before the concert's most memorable song, "Give Peace a Chance."
In July of that year Lennon and Ono had recorded the song live in during their Bed-in at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal. The second of two sensational peace protests, an impromptu band featuring Allen Ginsberg, Timothy Leary, Petula Clark, numerous journalists, and well-wishers chanted the now legendary one-line mantra while Lennon egged the crowd on in the background. The piece is still capable of producing chills 43 years later.
The Varisty Stadium version ditched the acoustic guitar in favor of a choppy, improvised riff by Lennon. Clapton, usually a force with the axe, offered little in the background; it was a one man show. When the song closed, so did the group. Lennon apparently comforted a distressed Ono as they left.
The Doors followed with a headline set just after midnight, closing with "The End" around 3am. In the Monday papers, music critics focused on the still controversial presence of certain members of the band. "They revived rock 'n' roll despite John Lennon's wife," wrote Jack Batten in the Toronto Star, calling Ono "excruciating." Painful or not, the concert was ranked "the second most important event in rock history," for Lennon's first major performance since the Beatles.
Thanks to the wonders of YouTube, you too can share in the magic of that night.
Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons.
When you think about it, it's really quite amazing what The Basement Revue has become. With just one really cool idea and a few (admittedly very accomplished) friends, it's blossomed into one of Toronto's most interesting live residencies. Secret performers, sometimes-bizarre song choices and, of course, poetry readings all make an appearance.
We sat down with Collett earlier this month to talk about his annual December series. On Thursday night, the Revue, now in its sixth year, moved for the first time away from The Dakota Tavern in favour of the higher capacity Great Hall. The change of venue only served to prove that has grown into something amazing.
Flat out, I'll admit I don't think I can properly do the night proper justice, but I'll try. If I forget or miss anything noteworthy, please mention it in the comments below. There was so much going on, I'm not sure anyone could keep it all straight.
Everything opened with Collett playing "Black Diamond Girl" from his new album, Reckon. After that, he sort of segued into hosting duties, and didn't perform again until the end of the show. While I would've loved to have heard more from him, Collett showed a lot of strength as an emcee; his manner onstage perfectly suited the feel of the evening, straddling a line between indulging the performers or bantering with the audience and keeping the evening moving forward.
After that, it was a constant stream of people up and down the stage. Snowblink, Jeramy Dodds, Chris Murphy from Sloan, Hayden, Karen Solie, Andy Kim, Kevin Drew, Michael Ondaatje and Feist...
And Rich Terfry (Buck 65) read an excerpt from his forthcoming memoir.
Seriously — who doesn't fucking love Rich Terfry?
The musical acts of the evening were uniformly amazing. Andrew Whiteman's new project AroarA played a set rich with a subtle complexity, with lyrics cribbed from Alice Notley's famous book In The Pines, programmed drums and cigar-box guitars crashing through the venue.
Kevin Drew got up with his band and played a new song called "Good Sex." Then, when he finished, he turned around and played it again.
Snowblink played throughout the night. Singer Daniela Gesundheit and guitarist Dan Goldman made some waves this year; the tracks they played from their new release Inner Classics really suited the evening: loose and dreamy and drenched in reverb.
Andy Kim led the entire audience in a singalong of 'Sugar, Sugar' with Chris Murphy strumming an acoustic guitar.
Hayden played from his new record Us Alone, and it was a shame he only got to play three or four songs because they were pretty much brilliant.
I can imagine the whole vibe be very different at the Dakota, where The Basement Revue is normally held. The atmosphere at the Great Hall was maybe not perfect for the more literary portions of the Revue. It became fairly obvious during the poetry readings that the level of ambient noise in the room was just too much at times. It's a shame, really; even for those who didn't come to see poetry, the writers Collett managed to bring onstage are some of the best in the country, easily equivalent to the musical acts he booked for the Revue.
During Karen Solie's reading in particular, even the light chatter of people at the bar detracted from the magic of her work. Jeramy Dodds read as well, and his uniquely humorous poems really went over with the crowd. I'd never seen him read, and to finally hear his own cadences applied to his poems really made me want to revisit Crabwise to the Hounds, his Trillium Book Award-winning collection.
The last poet of the evening was none other than Michael Ondaatje; he got up and read a poem as well as an excerpt from his latest book, The Cat's Table.
But as if that wasn't enough, Leslie Feist came out and backed him up.
The crowd walked in with pretty high expectations, I think; the stellar reputation of The Basement Revue demanded no less than something amazing for its move to The Great Hall, but I don't think anyone was prepared for just how good it was.
That would be the highlight of the evening, I think. Feist, along with the rest of the musicians, dubbed 'Sno-Roar-Eist' played a mishmash set of songs including "The Bad In Each Other," which was great — but I don't think anything tops Michael Ondaatje doing a reading with Feist on guitar, improvising accompaniment.
With a few minor complaints (ambient noise during the poetry, some weird breaks as people soundchecked, set up, tore down and set up again) I think it's safe to say that The Basement Revue's move to The Great Hall was a great success. Jason Collett's shown us again that his perseverance, determination and above all, his vision, for this series, is stronger than ever, and hopefully, he'll keep going and take it even further.
The Basement Revue has its last show of the year on December 27th at the Dakota. Tickets are currently sold out, but last-minute blocks have been known to open up, so keep your eyes on the Twitter pages of Rotate This, Soundscapes, Arts & Crafts, and the Dakota for any updates
More photos:
Words by Adam Brady / Photos by Bruce Emberley
Look out Glory Hole; you've got some competition. At least when it comes to concerned-parent-rousing nomenclature, that is. This new cupcake shop on St. Clair West offers Twisted Bitch, Naughty Nuts, and Pop My Cherry cupcakes, all of which come only in bite-sized cakes because, in its words, "Nothing this small has ever been so satisfying." Let the outrage begin.
Read my profile of Bite Me Bakery in the bakery section.
What's open and closed Christmas Day in Toronto 2012:
CLOSED
OPEN
RESTAURANTS
Many restaurants will be closed, but some, like Lakeview Restaurant, will remain open.
TTC
The TTC and GO Transit will operate on a Sunday schedule.
