Taking over for the defunct Strada 241, this new pan-Asian restaurant is the dream child of MasterChef Canada judge Alvin Leung and season one winner Eric Chong. On the menu you'll find dishes like twice-fried sweet breads, fusion poutine, and Peking duck (both to eat and drink).
Read my profile of R&D in the restaurant section.
Toronto is a mecca for great burgers - and that isn't just in reference to restaurant-grade gourmet varieties you'll find stuffed with foie gras or stacked onto house-baked buns. There are great burgers to be had in fast food outlets in this city - chains that are flipping burgers day and night.
Now, not all fast food outlets are not made equal. There's our relatively young, locally-based burger game, and then there are big American franchises with global followings. Here's a look at how the recently arrived American burger chains are in Toronto.
BEST
Five Guys
U.S-based burger chain Five Guys don't advertise any gimmicks - they don't do much else besides hamburgers, and their fluorescent-lit locations are about as bare-bones as can be. What I like most about Five Guys is their unwavering focus on burgers: seasoned meat smashed into a flat top until thin and thoroughly seared, then dressed with a basic array of toppings (including fried onions).
b.good
With a mission of making fast food more healthy and wholesome, this new-to-Toronto franchise has yet to really prove itself, though first impressions have been positive. Patties here are all natural, house ground and hand-formed - and tasty to boot.
Bareburger
Originating in New York City, this chain of organic burger bars opened its first outpost outside of the U.S. on Dundas St. West at Bay St. earlier this year. The place isn't a fast food counter like the rest, but rather a sit-down restaurant equally focused on burgers as it is local craft beers. Basic burgers start at $9.80 while pre-set creations range from $11.15 to $14.55 and reflect the commitment to using pasture raised, antibiotic, gluten, and hormone-free meats.
THE WORST
Carl's Jr.
Carl's Jr. now operates two Toronto locations, both of which have lots of positive attributes. The fast food outlets are sparkling new and furnished with comfortable booths, the staff are friendly and will run your order over to your table. The burgers themselves look great and are sandwiched between light, airy housemade buns - the only let down is the dry, flavourless beef patty.
Wahlburgers
The sole Toronto outpost from the famous Wahlburg family can be found at the base of the Soho Metropolitan Hotel. It's a beacon for tourists, fans of the A&E reality show and positioned perfectly to attract Jays fans, which I guess gives them license to sell burgers a la carte for $10 and up.
Fatburger
This California-based chain boasts only a single location in the GTA, and while they've built their reputation on thick, juicy burgers, it's hard to feel like anyone involved in the Thornhill franchise is confident that burgers are the star. Ask "what's good in the menu?" and the staff are likely to push chicken fingers over the signature offerings. I tried the burger anyway, and it's true: the chicken fingers are better.
Photo of a burger from b.good
There's a new site on the market that wants to take money from the pockets of artists in exchange for success. Reciever, now on Indiegogo, at first looked like a pretty cool concept when it was featured on Thump - a way for fans to streamline streaming across platform and devices.
But while Receiver's website still links to this previous coverage, the concept they're crowdfunding for has nothing to do with helping fans streamline their streams. Rather, the new idea is for artists to buy in for a flat yearly rate for a ready-made website that promises to build their online following. So, what happened to Receiver, and is the new product worth it for musicians?
I asked co-founder David King about the transition over the phone. "It's one of those things that happens" he explains, citing that he and Blake Edwards (Earmilk) found "bigger problems to solve in market" while building the original platform. Both came from artist management backgrounds, and the new concept took shape organically.
For $72 for a year via Indiegogo or $10 a month regular price, Receiver will supply an easy-to-use website platform, though artists still have to pay a site like GoDaddy for their URL. King is confident that the simple tool is exactly what artists, desperately struggling to reach new fans (I'll give him that), need to get their music heard.
Artists using Receiver are expected to drive fans to their websites, where, King tells me, Soundcloud content, for instance, can be downloaded in exchange for fans' email addresses and/or social media shares.
"It's kind of like Buzzfeed," King says of the relationship between bands' social media and the Receiver pages, "they're active on Facebook in order to drive [users] to their website."
King says that bands are currently forced to spend money on Facebook to reach fans, while email campaigns are (according to Receiver's indiegogo) "5x more likely to be seen than social posts." Receiver's option to grab email addresses in exchange for downloads is one of its major features. But doesn't Bandcamp do that already for free?
"Artists are moving away from Bandcamp," King is quick to tell me. "Major labels aren't on Bandcamp... Bandcamp doesn't drive fans to iTunes." King's right that major label artists typically stick to Soundcloud - but major record deals also lead to unique, label-funded webpages. Isn't this a service for up and coming artists?
like Bandcamp, Receiver only collects email addresses - for email campaigns artists still have to figure out a third party like MailChimp.
Receiver also boasts "analytics specific to artists" in their promo. King admits to me that they're still working out what analytics they'll be offering, but that the stats will lead to artists "knowing where conversations are happening about [their] music to help allocate resources."
He cites an example of a band's video getting more plays on blogTO than a competitor website, and thus, the band choosing to pursue more coverage on blogTO.
King sends me two examples of Receiver pages that are up and running: Hunter Siegel and Jessy Aarons. Both have unique URLs but look almost identical, and as a listener, I'm not sure exactly what to do when I land on the pages. (To be fair, I remember when Soundcloud and Bandcamp were new and foreign platforms too.)
I click the download link in the corner of the box for Siegel's "Let Me Love You Right" ft. Kai (Official Video)." A song plays with a still image, but there's no link to watch the video. I wonder why it says "Video" and I'm curious enough to click "Buy" to find out. I'm taken to a Beatport page for the song, not the video ($1.49).
I click "Share on Facebook" and the page reloads. A video starts to play. I wonder if the video has automatically posted to my Facebook wall - but no, a code has generated on the page. I could click "Share" again to post it, but the video is already playing. I don't bother to share it.
Due to no fault of his own, Siegel's Receiver site is clunky. I try out Aarons' page and find Receiver will, conveniently, let me stream his songs one after the other, just like on Soundcloud. I share "Beverly" to Facebook and a pop-up launches, showing me a tiny version of Receiver's website.
I don't get a download, or a thank you for sharing. I "x" out of the song's page. If I want to know anything about Aarons, I'll have to click a link up to to check out a Facebook bio. I've never heard Aarons' music before, but even if I was his biggest fan the experience would leave me more alienated than connected.
King tells me Receiver is "planning to do a bit of tweaking and refining to [Receiver's] campaign and homepage based on feedback from friends in the industry over the next few days before actively pursuing press." I'm not sure the campaign and homepage should be their immediate focus.
Back on Receiver's Indiegogo page, $20k will buy me production for a 3 track EP by a "record producer who was nominated for a 2015 Grammy" (55% discount!) and a Receiver website.
I notice sample artist Viceroy's link leads to tracks.viceroymusic.com, while viceroymusic.com is a separate entity featuring a Soundcloud embed from a month ago. The bew track isn't on Viceroy's Receiver page, so I leave my email to download the first track, a remix from 2012. A link to an mp3 on Mediafire (remember Mediafire?) arrives in my inbox a few minutes later.
That Receiver continues to link to press for their previous concept is more than questionable, but is it as evil as Sonicbids? Definitely not. It may, however, never live up to the tempting promises it makes to artists struggling to know when to hold on to their money, and when to pay up for marketing services.
In the meantime, remember to double check that you've marked "Following" the artists pages you've liked on Facebook - sadly, that might still be the easiest way to stay connected to indie music online for now.
The newest stores and restaurants in Parkdale are as authentic, diverse, and exciting as the neighbourhood itself. The businesses that have popped up over the past year reflect a culture of urban cycling and vintage shopping, as well as an appreciation for high quality products and cultural foods in the most modest of settings.
Here are my picks of 10 new stores and restaurants in Parkdale.
Loga's Corner
Tucked just off the Queen West strip, the tiny, simple restaurant owned and operated by a Tibetan couple has three tables, five framed photos of the Dalai Lama, and no menus. They sell three things: beef momos, veggie momos, (both 10 for $6) and deep-fried potato momos ($1 each). Loga has an equally modest café two doors down.
Bike Pirates
Having recently moved from Bloor and Lansdowne, the DIY shop teaches cyclists how to fix and maintain their own bikes. It's funded completely by donations - use of the space, old parts, and tools are all pay what you can - and run by volunteers, who share their time and expertise out of a love for cycling.
Duggan's Brewery
The 100% Ontario-made beer is brewed on-site at Duggan's, which currently has eight beers on tap and the capacity to double that amount. The Parkdale Bomber - a 7% malt liquor-style lager - is the most popular in the 64oz 'growler' size. With an emphasis on quality and local foods, their menu includes items like Jerk Fried Chicken, Beer Candied Bacon, and Grilled Cauliflower.
Mankind Parkdale
The new Parkdale location of the male grooming salon doesn't offer esthetic services, but they provide other favourites like stache and beard trimming (The Gandalf, $15), grey hair touch-up (Camoflage, $25), and a cut and style, which includes a scalp massage and paraffin hand treatment (The Alpha Male, $45). The space is stylish and inviting with its exposed brick, wooden beams, big screen tv, and leather armchairs.
Glory of India
It doesn't look like much from the outside (or the inside, really), but the small, friendly restaurant is sure to become a neighbourhood favourite. Serving excellent, flavourful Indian food for a decent price, Glory's top-sellers include their dosas, butter chicken roti, and generous combo platters.
The Tempered Room
The patisserie carries essentials like croissants, baguettes, and a good cup of coffee, but what really catches your eye are the rows of beautiful mini-cakes and pastries. A taste of Paris right here in Parkdale.
Norling
Opened with the local Tibetan community in mind, Norling has quickly attracted many non-Tibetan diners as well. Serving both Tibetan favourites like gyuma (Tibetan sausage), gyathuk (Chinese-inspired noodles), and of course momos (dumplings), they also have an impressive Hakka menu, including the popular Manchurian dishes.
Kid Icarus
Unlike the Kensington Market flagship, the small Parkdale shop doesn't have a studio or offer services (like poster printing or wedding design), but it carries a charming selection of unique and beautiful items. With a focus on handmade, their cards, notebooks, ceramics, screen prints, and jewelry are worth checking out.
96 Tears Vintage
The bright and tidy store features a well-curated collection of vintage clothing, shoes, accessories, and a handful of home wares. Partners Chris Koyionis and Collette Todoroff are welcoming, describing their shop as fun, lighthearted, and "not stuffy." A Parkdale resident, Todoroff loves the neighbourhood "for its authentic grit."
MetroCycle
After two years fixing bikes out of his Parkdale home, Gordon Robb has opened a small workshop amidst artists at 1266 Queen Street West, the same building that hosts the Parkdale Flea Market. Friendly, enthusiastic, and with a background in engineering, Robb offers by-appointment service out of his shop or - if you can't get to him because, you know, your bike is broken - he will come out to your GTA location.
What did I miss? Add your suggestions for new stores and restaurants in Parkdale in the comments.
The top music video directors from Toronto hail from a beautiful city full of beautiful people making beautiful music. But what's a song without a video to go along? Although there's no lack of creative types in the city, there are a certain few that rise above the rest when it comes to providing unique and unforgettable visuals for music.
Here are my picks for the top ten music video directors in Toronto right now.
Natalie Rae Robison
This Toronto-via-Vancouver director's fast-paced transitions might make your head spin with multiple perspectives and beautiful set design. She's made videos for Serena Ryder and Tegan and Sara. When she's not working her craft creating brilliant music videos, find her working on ads for the likes of Air Canada, Bud, and Holt Renfrew.
Scott Cudmore
Remember "normcore"? Remember "vaporwave"? Trends come and go, but aesthetic is forever. Cudmore combines nostalgia with modern high def to highlight the banalities of modern living via signature shaky still frames, gloomy lighting and artifact compression. Cudmore proves his flexibility working with everyone from Timber Timbre to Metz.
Director X
Prodigy under big-budget rap video virtuoso Hype Williams, Brampton native Director X has made a name for himself working with Nicki Minaj, Kanye West, Justin Bieber, and even The Boy himself. His trademark split letterbox openings, colour co-ordinated props and environmental portraits has made him one of the industry's most in-demand directors.
Floria Sigismondi
Hamilton-raised Sigismondi creates mysteriously unfolding settings as a foundation for her twisting fantasy worlds full of of flamboyant costumes, top-of-the-line special effects and feminist undertones. Directing everyone from Katy Perry to David Bowie to Sigur Rós, Sigismondi was presented a lifetime achievement Prism Prize last year.
Michael Leblanc
What is a shot without vibe? Just another clip in the digital trash. Leblanc's dreamy style has led to projects including Belle and Sebastien's "The Party Line", where he employs witty use of the Ken Burns effect. With partner Scott Cudmore, Leblanc has also shot videos for The New Pornographers and Alt-J.
Reynard Li
Calgary transplant Reynard Li could be Toronto's most fun director. His subjects are cheeky and smiley, from Harrison's "City Lights" to Maylee Todd's "Baby's Got It." Li's fascination with 80s hi-fi translates seamlessly from creative to corporate, landing him gigs with Nike and Design Exchange.
Jared Raab
Raab leaves synchronized stage shots in the past for slurry bokeh shots, crisp titles, clever metafiction, and candid conversations. One of Raab's greatest charms is his ability to capture the personal aura of each band member - highlights include Arkells, Born Ruffians, and Tokyo Police Club.
Sean Getti
Photographer/director Sean Getti's shaky hand is doing him just fine. Slow moving b&w shots, nerve-wrackingly thick plots, and jittery camerawork help illustrate the lives of artists in Toronto's stifling concrete jungle. Working JD Era, Tre Mission, and early Drake affiliate Big Page, Getti's style is more and more refined by the video.
RT!
Raised in Calgary, Randall "RT!" Thorne isthe most awarded Canadian music video director to date, winning trophies with Kardinal Offishall, Simple Plan, Joel Plaskett, and Snoop Dogg. RT! shows his set design mastery in Rich Kidd's haunting single "The Valley."
Norman Wong
No matter what Wong is doing, he is doing it precisely. From Lowell's "The Bells" four-minute long take to taking timeless studio photos of David Cronenberg, Emily Haines, or Noah "40" Shebib to turning Trust's "Dressed For Space" into a wavy psychedelic experience, Norman Wong is in a league of his own.
See also
The top 10 music video directors to watch in Toronto
Who did I miss? Leave your favourite Toronto music video directors in the comments.
Writing by L-SPEX
Lead image: Floria Sigismondi: David Bowie - "The Next Day"
The Toronto Blue Jays were not Toronto's first professional baseball team, oh no. That honour goes to the "Torontos," later the Maple Leafs, who set up shop east of the Don River in a ball park near the southwest corner of Queen and Broadview in 1886. It was there, in just their second season, their big hitter, Ned "Cannonball" Crane, slugged the team into the history books.
It started with a meeting at the Rossin House hotel in downtown Toronto. A group of local businessmen, led by former city alderman Thomas Hunter, formed a company that would field a baseball team in the 1885 Canadian League, a competition between teams from London, Guelph, and two in Hamilton.
"If a club which can hold its own against any in Canada can be formed, and the general public begin to understand the points in baseball (which comparatively few in the city do as yet) then the attendance at the games will equal that of first class lacrosse matches," writer Louis Cauz recalls the founders remarking in his book Baseball's Back in Town.
The Torontos played their first match, a 3-2 loss to the Guelph Maple Leafs, at the Lacrosse Grounds on Jarvis St. (now the site of Barbara Hall Park) on June 5, 1885. Their first win came against the Hamilton Primroses at Dundurn Park, but lasting success was hard to come by during the team's inaugural season. The Torontos eventually finished third in the league of five teams.
Despite early mediocrity, the owners of the Torontos quickly set their sights on tougher, more lucrative competition. A plan to join the National League, the decade-old home of the New York Gothams (now San Francisco Giants,) Philadelphia Quakers (Phillies,) and Pittsburgh Alleghenys (Pirates,) was considered, but ultimately never seriously pursued. Instead, the Torontos, with teams from Syracuse, Rochester, Binghampton, Buffalo, Utica, and Oswego, founded the International League.
To mark their improved status, the Torontos quit the Lacrosse Grounds for a $7,000 purpose built stadium on the east bank of the Don River. In the Spring of 1886 on an eight acre field freshly cleared of trees near Queen and Broadview rose a half-hexagon covered wooden grandstand with room for 2,000 spectators. The seats were cushioned, there were generous arm rests, and a wire mesh behind home plate prevented stray balls reaching the crowd.
A second seating area with 1,000 additional seats was built along the right field boundary so that "no one needs stand, unless he prefers it," the Globe reported. A high wood fence enclosed the property, keeping out local children and obscuring views from surrounding buildings. The fence around the field of play was kept low enough for fans viewing from private carriages, however.
General admission to the Toronto Baseball Grounds was 25 cents, plus 10 cents to enter the grandstand--securing a seat cost another 10 cents.
In a bizarre interview prior to the start of the season, Torontos' player/manager John Humphries assured readers of the Globe that he would accept no bribes to throw a game, apparently unprompted. "I have been offered $600 to 'queer' a game," he said "But even if I were inclined I dare not do it."
"I am going to bring a well-behaved set of ball players to Toronto, you can depend on that."
The inaugural game at the stadium in 1886 was a sell-out. The home team took to the field in striped red and purple shirts and caps, white duck pants, and red stockings. The Globe called the uniform "bright and pretty," a drastic improvement on the previous season's "dull grey costume."
Ontario Lieutenant-Governor John Beverley Robinson threw the ceremonial first ball to the umpire before the start of the game while the Torontos' mascot, a "very small and very fat coloured boy" frolicked on the sidelines. Little Willie Hume, who traveled with the team as a good luck charm, often dressed in flamboyant uniforms, including one with thick gold trim.
The Torontos that year included Jay Fattz, the "elongated first baseman who could take them out of the clouds," and Jon Morrison, the league's leading hitter who would go on to record a .353 batting average and 107 RBIs.
The team inaugurated the new stadium with a decisive 10-3 victory over the Rochester Hop Bitters. "Every point of the game was watched, appreciated, and applauded with an understanding that was surprising considering the short time that has elapsed since baseball first became a popular sport in Toronto," wrote the Globe. The rest of the season wasn't so great, however, and the team again finished third in the standings behind Utica and Rochester. It wasn't until 1887 that things finally began to click.
Newly-acquired slugger Ned "Cannonball" Crane (who had previously played for the National League New York Giants and would go on to play for the Cincinnati Reds) was the team's not-so-secret weapon that year. His powerful swing was effective all season and his .428 average is still a league record. He could pitch, too. Crane's trademark unpredictable drop ball frequently confounded batters.
Best of all, Cannonball's remarkable play was a vital component in the 16-game win streak that clinched the 1887 championship. There were no playoffs, so Toronto took the pennant by virtue of building an unassailable lead at the top of the standings.
The Globe, which carried florid game reports in the sports section all season, was strangely restrained about the team capturing the title. "They have played good ball all summer and have managed to keep dangerously near the front," the paper wrote following the clinching game, an 8-5 win over Scranton. "The boys deserve [the pennant] too," wrote the Peterborough Times. "A more conscientious lot of players never handled a ball."
The Torontos stayed at the Baseball Grounds until 1896 when a larger stadium was completed at Hanlan's Point on the Toronto Island. (A 19-year-old rookie Babe Ruth would hit his first pro home run there, igniting a legend, in 1914.)
With the old grandstand demolished, the field at Queen and Broadview became popular with amateur local teams. It was nicknamed Sunlight Park after the nearby Sunlight soap factory and demolished by 1913. Today, the former site is bisected by the Eastern Avenue highway ramps and mostly occupied by a Toyota dealership.
Big changes are on the horizon in the form of a massive planned redevelopment of the area.
The remnants of the old ball park are subtle. Baseball Place, a short laneway to the west of the Toyota property near, and Sunlight Park Road off Eastern Avenue are nods to the former location of the field. A silver plaque placed in 1999 on Queen Street tells the story of the team.
Heritage Toronto (which, full disclosure, employs me part time) is planning to unveil a new plaque--complete with a photo of Torontos and Ned "Cannonball" Crane--in the summer of 2016, 130 years after the team's debut.
The Torontos were later renamed the Maple Leafs (they had the name first) and played out of a waterfront stadium near the foot of Bathurst from 1926 until 1968, when the team went out of business for the last time.
It would take until 1977 for the Blue Jays to arrive on the scene. They play their home opener tomorrow.
Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.
Images: 1886 team photo: Mike Filey collection; Goad's 1899 Fire Insurance Plan of Toronto: City of Toronto Archives, via Nathan Ng; Ned "Cannonball" Crane baseball card: United States Library of Congress, 2007686566.
Free events in Toronto this week let you climb to the highest arts and burrow to the sexiest ones. Images Fest continues for fans of film, performance, and visual art, and the Feminist Porn Awards mean that spring fever is in full fling in the city this week. They say you don't need money for love - unless that's your thing. Record Store Day will also mean a ton of free concerts - stay tuned.
Here's what to do to in Toronto this week if you can't afford silk covers to stay under.
Images Festival (April 9-18)
Images may be the world's most wide reaching film and media event. Much closer a bedfellow to art than a mega film fests like TIFF, the experimental finds a home here with screenings joined by installations, performance, art exhibits, and more - many of which are free. Check out their website for programming.
Tell Me Something Good: April Sexy Storytelling (April 14, Gladstone)
The stories, the podcast, the legend - and it's the week of the Feminist Porn Awards. This edition of Toronto's erotic story-telling competition will be red hot.
Record Store Day (April 18)
While it's become increasinglycontroversial over the years, RDS does, in theory, help get non-crate diggers out buying vinyl: and it always means a smattering of free live in-store concerts around the city. So far Sonic Boom has announced Comet Control, Mimico, Harrison, Anamai, and Carl Didur.
Repair Cafe (April 18, Toronto Reference Library)
Got broken stuff that you can't afford to have fixed? Whether it's ripped jeans, a Goodwill lamp that need wiring, or a broken blender, bring it to the library this Saturday to learn hands on how to fix it yourself - for free.
Audiopollination (April 19, Array Space)
While Toronto's most steady experimental and new music night hopes you can donate a tenner to the cause, the Somewhere There hosted show at Array Space is PWYC. This editions will feature John Oswald, John Kamevaar, and Germaine Liu in one session, and Michael Snow, Paul Dutton, Glen Hall and Mani Mazinani on another.
BONUS
How Many Performance Artists Does it Take to Change a Light Bulb For Martha Wilson (April 16, Enoch Turner Schoolhouse)
If performance art is what you're after, don't miss Jess Dobkin's performance piece about performance (as part of Images Fest). Before you turn up your nose - the press release contains art jokes. ("Q: How Many Performance Artists Does it Take to Change a Light Bulb? A: I don't know. I left after 4 hours.") It's $10 or PWYC - amazing.
Also check out these regular free events
Elvis Mondays (Mondays, The Drake)
Toronto's longest running indie showcase, William New's free show has put thousands of bands on stage. It's at the Drake Underground every Monday.
Free Nights at the Horseshoe (Monday/Tuesday, The Horseshoe)
The Legendary Horseshoe has a storied history, and hosts free indie rock shows in the early week with Shoeless Mondays and Dave Bookman's Nu Music Night on Tuesdays.
AGO Free Evening (Wednesday, AGO)
The Art Gallery of Ontario's free evening runs from 6-8:30pm. It can be a little crowded, but sometimes the people watching is as good as the art (sometimes).
Aga Khan Free Evening (Wednesday, Aga Khan Museum)
The brand new Aga Khan Museum for Islamic art has launched Free Wednesdays from 4-8pm.
CINSSU's Free Friday Films (Fridays)
The Innis Town Hall is back with free movies every Friday. Follow the Cinema Studies Student Union or check out our event section.
Canadian Opera Company (Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre)
September through to early June, catch free classical shows at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts "most Tuesdays and Thursdays at noon, and some Wednesdays at noon or 5:30 p.m."
MOCCA (Tuesday - Sunday)
While nearly all art galleries in the city are free to enter, it's worth noting The Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (MOCCA) is always PWYC.
Have a free event you'd like to plug? Submit it using this form.
The changing face of Toronto's tattoo scene shows in one of the city's newest shops, which aims for an inviting, family-friendly aura in a neighbourhood known more for double strollers than Harleys. While he comes from a more "traditional" background, one of Toronto's top tattoo artists is now charming clientele with smooth jazz and the kind of shop you could step into post-yoga: namaste indeed.
Read my profile of Lewis Family Tattoo Company in the services section.
The top places to pick your own fruits and veggies in Toronto will give you a true farm to table food experience. Picking your own veggies isn't just a family activity anymore -- city-dwellers love it for its healthier, cheaper, more economically friendly and overall less dreadful experience than that of a crowded grocery store.
By making a trip to a local farm, you're not only supporting the families that run them, you're treating yourself to bushels of homegrown goodness (and to a few relaxing hours outside of the city's smog). So skip the trip to FreshCo. and make a day of heading to these nearby fruit and veggie havens to do it like our ancestors did, sort of.
Here are the top places to pick your own fruits and veggies around Toronto.
Whittamore's Farm
It's just a quick drive or TTC ride north of the city to get to Whittamore's Farm in Markham, where the PYO season begins in mid-June. From strawberries and raspberries to green peas, snow peas, sugar snaps, beets and other veggies, this day trip will get you tons of homegrown goodness for as little as $1.25 a pound. Fun fact: Katie Holmes was once spotted berry picking here, so it's gotta be good.
Applewood Farm Winery
For the "DIY sangria" type of people, this family-owned farm is a better place to grab your ingredients. Actually better known for its apples and wine- and cider-making, Applewood is also open for PYO strawberry picking from mid-June to mid-July. For a true country experience, a wagon ride takes you to and from the strawberry bushes -- and after you've taken your pick, I suggest you sip on the farm's famous strawberry cider.
Reesor's Farm Market
Strawberries and sweet corn are the specialties of this little market, with the berries ripe for the picking during June and July. Be sure to stop and chat with one of the owners and take notes on their berry expertise -- they might even share a recipe or two. Pumpkins are, of course, also ripe for the picking come fall.
Farintosh Farms
Hidden in a little hamlet just northeast of the city is Farintosh Farms, where local-loving shoppers flock to hand-select fresh beans, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and more. The start of the farm's season depends on the weather, usually opening their PYO fields in mid- to late summer (but trust us -- it's worth the wait).
Organics Family Farm
Adding to the PYO fun, this local farm has been organic since 2001, growing their produce without pesticides, non-organic fertilizers or reliance on fossil fuels. Even their meat is raised naturally. Visit this family-run spot to pick your strawberries and raspberries in the summer and your apples in the fall.
Hutchinson Farm
It's really not that far a drive to Burlington, where this quirky farm offers pick-your-own raspberries, red currants and black currants all summer. Check off the rest of your shopping list while you're there, too -- they sell the rest of their field crops and flowers ready-picked, and you can bring home some herbs to plant in your own garden.
Wilmot Blueberries
This farm holds over 20 acres of blueberries (antioxidants everywhere!) that you can enjoy picking through old-fashioned style -- with the help of a small wagon. You can even refresh after a long PYO spell at their in-house Appleberries Cafe, which sells fresh baked treats and drinks sporting the fruit (blueberry tea, blueberry cupcakes, blueberry mousse cream puffs...). Caution: You may leave looking like Violet Beauregarde.
Downey's Farm Market
Pick your own strawberries, raspberries, peas and beans here in the summer, your pumpkins in the fall and Christmas trees (we know this doesn't really count) in the winter at Downey's, which is as much a fun fair as it is a farm. Ride a wagon, get your face painted, get jostled on the "jumping pillows" or, if you enjoy getting lost, give their corn maze a try. For the avid pickers, you can purchase a season's pass to the farm for $25.
Trapper Bob Farm
Strawberries and sweet corn are the crops you can pick at this interestingly-named but charming farm in Newmarket. Call them to verify PYO availability before trekking up there. And if you actually are wondering about the name, it's because the owner doubles as a raccoon trapper. We're not kidding.
Andrew's Scenic Acres
Whoever Andrew is, he's the king of pick-your-own. Starting in May with rhubarb and asparagus and running all summer and fall long with PYO apples, asparagus, blueberries, cherries, currants, elderberries, flowers, gooseberries, grapes, Indian corn, plums, raspberries and gourds, you'd think it doesn't get much better than this -- until you discover they also have an in-house winery. Cheers!
What did I miss? Add your suggestions in the comments.
Writing by Amanda Storey / Photo of Whittamore's Farm
The axe just fell in Leafland. After a dismal season, team President Brendan Shanahan cleaned house by letting go of GM Dave Nonis, head coach Peter Horachek, and the rest of the coaching staff. The move doesn't exactly come as surprise given the depths to which the team has sunk. Clearly, Shanahan wants to show he means business about righting the ship.
GM duties will be split between Assistant GM Kyle Dubas and Director of Player Personnel Mark Hunter for the time being, though one has to imagine that the club will look to name a new GM sooner rather than later. The draft is still months away, but there is obviously a ton of work to do.
What do you think? Who's your dream candidate for a new Toronto Maple Leafs GM?
Photo via the NHL
Cheap wedding invitations in Toronto prove that beautiful, elegant design doesn't always have to cost an arm and a leg. (That's something of a foreign concept, where weddings are concerned.) Indie designers and smaller shops can offer on-trend, wallet-friendly options, and there are tons of adorable customizable templates and print-it-yourself designs available, too. Is fussy embossed paper your style, anyway? Didn't think so.
Here are my picks for the top places to score cheap wedding invitations in Toronto.
DESIGN AND PRINT
Esco Invitations
This North York-based online mega-retailer has a huge range of customizable catalog designs available. Pretty much every style and price point is represented, and most designs come with optional response cards and other add-ons, so you can get as simple or as complex as your taste and budget allows.
Kid Icarus
This Kensington Market print shop, known for its bright wares and colourful custom prints for the likes of Bellwoods Brewery, will inject plenty of personality into your invites. One-colour postcard invitations start at $2.05, while folded invites with an RSVP postcard are $3.95 (but get cheaper with larger orders).
Cry If I Want To
Tree-hugging brides and grooms to be will dig this Leslieville shop's array of postcard-sized, plantable invitations ($2.50-$3.50 depending on order size), printed on seed-infused paper, so guests will have a lovely pot of wildflowers to remember your wedding by. (The designs are pretty cute, too.)
Print and Paper
This Yorkville copy shop does all kinds of projects, but wedding invites are among their specialties. They'll either design your invites with you, or print up your existing design, with lots of paper and cardstock options to make your design ideas a reality. Less-complicated invites start at about $3 each and can go as high as $10.
Koket Design
Designer Sandy Wang specializes in custom design - there are so many folks doing stock designs, she explains, that many clients come to her wanting something special (though her templates are no slouch, either). For small orders, she'll handle the printing herself. Invites start at about $5 for a set with envelopes and an RSVP card.
Papier Lapin
Hop on over to Etsy to check out this eco-friendly wedding stationer, which uses only FSC certified recycled paper. Basic invitations with envelopes start at around $2.50, but the slightly more premium options - like this wedding blogger-approved vintage postcard-style design, at $4.50 - are worth a look.
PRINTABLES
Sweet Pea Paper Co.
Toronto designer Sophie McNabb has a suite of adorable pre-designed wedding templates for the customizing. The design fee is just $12.91; after that, you can either get your invite file digitally to print at home or your fave copy shop, or ask her to handle the printing ($2.50 per invitation and $3.75 for an invite with thank-you card).
Protea Press
This Toronto-based husband-and-wife team offers printed, customizable invitation designs, as well as DIY printables (but seriously, just look at their Etsy store and try to resist those glittery envelopes). Printable PDF sets start at $35, basic invitation-only sets are just $2.50 each, while sets with RSVP cards and matching envelopes will set you back $3.50.
Compass & Canvas
Another Etsy-based shop, Compass & Canvas offers some printable designs (at $15-$22 to download). The real standout here is the value in their printed invitation suites, which start at just $3.30 for a whopping six pieces (invitation, RSVP card, save the dates, and corresponding envelopes).
LETTERPRESS
Silverplate Press
Opting for letterpress jacks up the cost considerably, but if you can't get the thought of hefty paper stock and stamped lettering out of your head, Silverplate might be the city's most budget-friendly option. One-colour invites top out at $6 a pop (even cheaper for larger quantities), and they've got plenty of gorgeous templates for you to customize.
Did I miss any? Leave your favourite options for cheap wedding invitations in Toronto in the comments.
Photo via Kid Icarus
Today in Toronto head to the east side to drink and be merry at the Riverside Winefest from April 13 - 19, or get to Bloor West for Gilmore Girls themed laughs and live comedy. For film lovers, the Toronto Silent Film Festival and Toronto Theatre Organ Society will screen The Penalty at Casa Loma - with Canada's largest Wurlitzer Theatre Organ. Books on Film at TIFF will feature Lynn Barber on An Education. For more events, click on over to our events section.
Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO Toronto events calendar or contact us directly.
The 2015 Hot Docs festival is the place to be if you're a fan of great documentary films. From April 23 to May 3, Hot Docs will showcase over 200 documentaries from around the world. The films range from must-see classics to experimental projects using new media tools.
Here are my top picks of what to see at Hot Docs 2015.
POP CULTURE FLICKS
It's me Hilary: The Man who Drew Eloise
Ever wonder about Lena Dubham's tattoo of Eloise? Illustrator Hilary Knight is the artist who brought this character with messy hair and a pink bow to life. In this film, premiering internationally at Hot Docs, director Matt Wolk, uses the friendship between Dunham and Knight as a window into the illustrator's life and art.
Raiders!
In 1982 three 11-year-old boys saw Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark and decided that they were going to create a shot-for-shot remake of the film. After seven years, they finished all but one scene - now 25 years later a jaw-dropping twist of fate reunites them for a final take.
Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck
In this first fully authorized portrait of music legend Kurt Cobain, director Brett Morgen, uses never-before-seen home movies, concert footage, notebook excerpts, animation and interviews to chronicle the life, career and psychological struggles of this reluctant icon.
COMEDY
Live from New York!
After 40 years on television it's hard to imagine that Lorne Michael had no idea his sketch comedy experiment would become America's most popular comedy show. In this doc, director Bao Nguyen, talks to SLN alumni like Chevy Chase and Amy Poehler to reflect on how this show broke so many of comedy's ground rules.
Monty Python: The Meaning of Live
Directors Roger Graef and James Rogan take you backstage with the Python troupe as they prepare for their first live performance in 35 years. This Canadian Premiere will be a treat for fans who crave never-before-seen-footage, candid backstage interviews, and new musical numbers from the British comedy giants who changed what funny means.
CURRENT EVENTS
Deep Web
Deep web is the dark shadowy corner of the internet inhabited by those who refuse to play by the rules. From the cypherpunks in the 90s who started a movement for internet protection and freedom to 3D printable hand guns, to the recent court case of the alleged founder of the online market Silk Road, Alex Winter's doc looks at the places on the internet hidden in your average Google search.
Rolling Papers
We have restaurant reviews and wine reviews but what to do when your city's main draw is its marijuana business? Director Mitch Dickman's film looks at how the Denver Post hired the world's first weed editor to compile reviews from 'high' mommy bloggers and grass-preneurs on Denver's new canni-business.
Frame by Frame
In some places journalism is dangerous business. Mo Scarpelli and Alexandria Bombach's film tells the story of four Afghan photojournalists who risk their lives to build a free national press. The film, premiering internationally in Toronto, documents what it means for these journalists to tell their country's stories after years of war and oppression under a Taliban regime that banned all photography.
Attacking the Devil: Harold Evans and the Last Nazi War Crime
Sir Harold Evans, long-time editor of the Sunday Times, was a man determined to use the power of journalism to change the world. The film looks at many of Evan's investigations to hold truth to power, featuring interviews with those still grappling with these issues in modern journalism like politician and activist Ralph Nader and Nick Davies, who broke the recent phone hacking scandal.
CANADIAN FILMS
How to Change the World
In the early 1970s Vancouver was a hotbed of activism with a huge population of tree huggers, draft dodgers, shit disturbing unionists, and radical students. This is the setting that inspired a group of young Canadians to come together to create Greenpeace and the face of environmental activism. Jerry Rthwell's film tells the story of these friends using never before seen footage of the early days of Greenpeace.
Lowdown Tracks
You've seen them on street corners and subway platforms, the often-unknown musicians that lay the soundtrack to our city. In this film Toronto filmmaker Shelley Saywell and The Parachute Club's Lorraine Segato look at five transient musicians who busk for change. This is a story about survival and the connections that art creates.
The Amina Profile
Sophia Deraspe's The Amina Profile explores how lesbian eroticism, the Arab Spring and a suspicious abduction, turn an online love affair between a Montreal woman and the writer of the blog A Gay Girl in Damascus, into an international mystery.
HORROR & SCI-FI
The Nightmare
Director Rodney Ascher;s has created a real-life documentary horror film that asks viewers to drift off into the phenomenon of sleep paralysis. The condition, which inspired A Nightmare on Elm Street, leaves dreamers feeling awake while seemingly paralyzed. This is a scary one, so be warned.
The Visit
What happens if intelligent alien life lands on earth? Well, the United Nation's Office for Outer Space Affairs has a team ready to deal with the situation. This documentary shows a rare simulation of their response scenario to the arrival of extraterrestrial life on earth.
FILMS ABOUT FAMILIES
The Wolfpack
Crystal Moselle's acclaimed documentary is about six inseparable brothers isolated from the world in their family's Lower East Side Manhattan apartment. Locked in by their father for years, the brothers are homeschooled and only have movies to feed their imaginations.
Warriors from the North
This film that seems to jump out of today's headlines, is the story of a father desperately trying to make contact with his son who has joined al-Shabaab, an extremist Islamic terrorist group in Somalia. Nasib Farah's and Soren Steen Jespersen's film offers chilling insight into what fuels the trend of Western Muslim youth joining radical groups abroad.
Mom and Me
This is a very personal story about the director, Lena Macdonald's complicated relationship with her mom who is homeless, an addict, and prostitute on the streets of Toronto. The film is ultimately about hope and the power of family.
3D, INTERACTIVE & VIRTUAL REALITY
Highrise: Universe Within, Live
This one-night-only participatory live performance is the final chapter of the acclaimed Highrise digital documentary project. Katerina Cizek takes audiences on a journey from Brooklyn to Mumbai to Guangzhou by painting portraits of highrise residents and their digital lives. Mixing live and recorded images, documentaries and music, this performance is navigated by a live host in conversation with the audience.
DocX Virtual Reality Showcase
This is the best place to see films that telegraph the future of documentaries. Take a voyage through the Northwest Passage in Thomas Wallner's The Polar Sea 360; or behind the scenes with Montreal singer Patrick Watson as he works on his music at home in his studio loft in Strangers with Patrick Watson.
What films are you hoping to catch at Hot Docs this year. Share your picks in the comments below.
Follow Sima Sahar Zerehi on Twitter @SimaSaharZerehi
Still from How to Change the World
Dining out on a budget in Toronto can be challenging, but it doesn't mean you have to limit yourself to fast food. Whether you're craving staples like BBQ, pizza, or Mexican, or hoping to fill-up on roti and dumplings, this wallet friendly list is for you.
Here are my picks for the top new restaurants where you can fill up for $10 or less.
Norling
This restaurant in Parkdale serves up Tibetan and Hakka specialties at excellent value. Steamed amdo momo dumplings and spicy Jasha Khatsa chicken are on the menu, along with ultra filling thali combos served at lunch time for around $7.
Pig Out BBQ
On Spadina, this budget barbecue joint dishes out a whole lot of soul. Find pulled pork sandwiches for $6 on the regular menu while daily promos like a brisket sandwich with fries on Thursdays or pulled chicken and fries on Monday come in at $6.95.
Curry & Co.
Wraps ($6.79), naan pizzas ($4.99), and thali combos ($7.49-$8.79) with rice or naan are on the menu at this newly opened vendor in the food court at 10 Dundas St. East. Customize your order with a dozen hearty options including tandoori chicken, lamb curry or chana masala.
Glory of India
Find this eatery in Parkdale dishing out dosas, samosas, and Indian-style rumali roti packed with curried meats, butter chicken or saag paneer. Combo platters served with rice, roti, daal curry, pakoras and rice pudding start at $9.
The Real Jerk
The newest location on Kingston Road joins the outpost on Gerrard to double the availability of delicious cheap eats on the east side. This Caribbean restaurant offers ultra cheap snack foods like dumplings with gravy for $4, and patties for $2, while big appetites can enjoy roti packed with potatoes, lentils, or goat from $8 and up.
Mama Bear Taiwanese Cuisine
Most of the a la carte menu items at this Richmond Hill restaurant come in under $10, but single diners looking for a little variety can opt instead for combos served with three side dishes, soup and fruit. The minced pork and rice combo costs $8.99 while the braised pork belly with bamboo rice combo costs $9.99.
Atsa Matta For You?
This casual new pizza joint on Dundas St. West makes it easy to fill up for cheap. Order signature stone baked pizzas like the Sora with pesto, prosciutto and goat cheese for $10 for a 10 inch pie, or opt for sandwiches ($7-$8) or daily pasta specials or lasagna priced between $6 and $9.
Pam Court
The three-month old Caribbean eatery on Brimley Rd. in Scarborough is dishing out massive chicken roti for $7.50, and dinners with shrimp curry for $8 or goat for $7.50 with rice and roti.
Loga's Corner
Cheap Tibetan food in Parkdale is abundant these days. At this new eatery, you'll find steamed momos filled beef or veggies served ten at a time for $6, or have 'em fried for $7, while parathas stuffed with curried potatoes are sold in pairs for $5.
Maja Indian Cuisine
Quarter chicken dinners done tandoori style with salad, raita and rice or naan for $4.99, plus thali combos starting at $8 are just a couple examples of the cheap thrills found at this casual lunch counter near Sherbourne station. 345 Bloor St. East. 647.350.7876.
What else would you add to the list? Let us know in the comments.
Photo by Jesse Milns from Loga's Corner.
The heritage structure that sits at the southeast corner of Duncan and Adelaide could be in store for a major facelift should a new proposal from developers Westbank and Allied meet approval from the city, reports Urban Toronto. The mixed use development at 19 Duncan St. would also include a 57 storey tower split between office space and condo units.
The project is an interesting one in that it accomplishes a number of goals. There's a significant boost to downtown office space (around a quarter of the square footage of the development), the overlooked heritage property will be revitalized (think of what this did for the Dineen Building), and the condos will be perfectly situated in a highly dense area.
From a visual standpoint, not everyone will be in love with the tower portion of the project, but taken as a whole, it's rather stunning. The addition of two storeys to the historical building is an appealing combination of old and new, and the way the tower is set back allows the original structure to remain the centre of attention at street level.
A formal application still has to be submitted to the city, but this one looks very promising.
Do you hope the proposed tower becomes reality? Let us know in the comments.
The best Sri Lankan restaurants in Toronto are often overshadowed by those serving up food from its neighbour to the north - though India's island neighbour is home to its own delicious culinary traditions that should not be overlooked. At these restaurants, you'll find Sri Lankan specialties like curries and rice wrapped in banana leaves, string hoppers, roti, pittu, and Kothu roti - a seasoned blend of thinly sliced roti with chicken, mutton or vegetables.
Here are the best Sri Lankan restaurants in Toronto.
See also:
The best Indian restaurants in Toronto
The best Indian buffet in Toronto
The best samosa in Toronto
The Best Dosa in Toronto
150 years ago Toronto had only been Toronto for a little over three decades. Originally Dublin, then York, the bulk of the town was still mostly clustered along the waterfront between Parliament and Bathurst streets. The tallest structures were church spires and factory chimneys and large parts of present day downtown were reserved for industrial use.
Not many photos survive from this period (camera technology was still in its infancy) but thanks to careful preservation, and a little luck, it's still possible to get a sense of what Toronto looked like when the horse and cart was king of road.
Here are 5 Toronto intersections as they were 150 years ago.
Queen and University
Chestnut trees as far as the eye can see at the corner of Queen and University in 1868. 147 years ago, the north-south street was called College Ave. (it originally provided access to the grounds of King's College at the University of Toronto) and was gated at its south end. Queen's Park had yet to be built and University ended at Queen St. Today, the trees and grassy central strip is gone and the view is dominated by the Boer War memorial.
Adelaide and Victoria
Viewed from the top of the Rossin House hotel in 1856, the intersection of Adelaide and Victoria was home to Booth & Son painters and glazers, who, among other things, appear to have worked on Post Offices in Toronto. The image was taken by Armstrong, Beere and Hime as part of a panorama meant to advertise the city as a potential site for the national capital. Today, the corner is occupied by an office building.
King and York
The Rossin House at the southeast corner of King and York streets was Toronto's first major luxury hotel. It boasted hot and cold water, baths and closets on each floor, and large ventilated bedrooms. Cold tongue, corned beef, ham, and mutton were offered alongside more exotic dishes like "Oyster Patties--French Style" and "Veal Currie--East India Style." The building survived until the 1960s and construction of the Toronto-Dominion Centre. Now, its former lot is occupied by the tower at 121 King St. W.
Yonge and Wellington
The northeast corner of Yonge and Wellington is home to a historic branch of the former Bank of British North America, inside of which is the Irish Embassy bar. In 1856, the corner was still occupied by the same bank in a somewhat smaller building. The BBNA, like other Canadian chartered banks, used to issue its own paper currency prior to the formation of the Bank of Canada. The Bank of British North America was merged into the Bank of Montreal in 1918.
Wellington and Front
Before the famous Gooderham "flatiron" at the corner of Wellington and Front there was the "Coffin Block" a wedge-shaped building named for its resemblance to a burial box. Constructed in the 1830s, it was home to the Wellington Hotel (its sign is still just about readable at the top of the picture) and a small booking office for William Weller's stagecoach lines--the tiny nook on the right. The Coffin Block was demolished in 1891 to make way for Gooderham's famous building.
Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.
Images: City of Toronto Archives.
Toronto summers are notoriously power hungry. As soon as the warm weather begins to bite, air conditioners and other power-hungry appliances come online, putting a massive strain on the province's power network.
In 2013, the last year for which detailed statistics are available, demand peaked on July 17. That day the Honda Indy was making a racket at Exhibition Place, the discussion around converting the Scarborough RT was approaching a farce, and the temperature peaked at 35.4 degrees--a scorcher.
As a result of all those people firing up fans and other cooling devices, Toronto Hydro reported a peak load of 4,907 megawatts. To put that in perspective, the peak load for the entire Republic of Ireland in 2008 was also exactly 4,907 megawatts.
That massive amount of power comes from a variety of sources, including the nuclear plants at Pickering, Darlington, and Bruce County. Combined, these three generating stations account for about 60 percent of the electricity available on the grid in Ontario.
A small amount also comes from a natural gas plant in the Port Lands that is activated during morning and evening peak periods. Sometimes Ontario buys power from other jurisdictions, when it has too much, it sells the excess.
Toronto Hydro, the company responsible for the infrastructure within the City of Toronto, says there are about 730,000 customers connected to its network ("customers" is a somewhat misleading term--high-rise apartment buildings and detached homes both count as one customer,) or about 2.4 million people.
Getting high voltage power to from the generating station to customers in a format suitable for domestic devices and appliances requires about 15,000 kms of overhead wires, 11,200 kms of underground wire, and 175,400 hydro poles.
There are at least 60,560 distribution transformers--the devices which convert high voltage electricity from the power lines to a level safe for use in the home--dotted throughout the city, some of which exist as camouflaged substations.
Laid out in a straight line, the city's overhead and underground power cables could reach the city of Perth on the west coast of Australia 18,143 kms away with more than 7,000 kms to spare.
The Independent Electricity System Operator, the Ontario body that oversees the electrical market in the province, has a neat dashboard on its website that displays real-time usage information for the province. At time of writing, Ontario was using about 14,890 megawatts of electricity, the bulk of which (62 percent) was coming from nuclear sites. Hydro (19.3 percent,) wind (13.5,) and gas (4.6) were the next biggest sources of electricity.
Power sourced from solar panels and biofuel made up less than one percent of the power on the grid. Demand was expected to peak around 6 p.m., with somewhere in the region of 17,000 megawatts being sucked from outlets and high-voltage hook-ups across the province.
Toronto, give or take a few thousand megawatts, will probably account for about a third of that usage--about 4,100 mws.
Hogtown, indeed.
Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.
Image: Mitchel Gerskup /blogTO Flickr pool.
