This small new wine bar features Ontario wines not found at the LCBO and carefully assembled platters of meats, cheeses and veggies that highlight local produce. The owner pretty much built the entire place herself, and she boasts she has the best bathroom in the neighbourhood.
Check out my profile of Corks & Platters in the restaurants section.
Hip-hop used to be more of a team sport. While now most acts are soloists loosely connected to a collective they can lean on for feature verses or co-signs, there was a time the rap group flourished -- and Toronto produced its fair share.
Here are five Toronto rap groups whose life spans were too short.
Ghetto Concept
Rexdale's Kwajo Cinqo, Dolo and early member Infinite took home back-to-back Junos in 1995 and 1996 for a pair of street smashes, "Certified" and "E-Z on the Motion." A solid but too-late self-titled full album didn't arrive until 1998 and output petered off after 2002's 7 Bill$ All-Stars crew effort. There was magic in those broke-but-hungry, mid-'90s records.
Nefarius
Bubbling with a raw blend of wit, honesty and wildness, the trio of Kwesro (RIP), DJ Don D & M.C. Collizhun dropped a mini bomb in the late-'90s with their Tough Dumplin' (Foundation for better Beats) EP. Though their unpolished battle-rap stylings never crossed over, that was never the M.O. of Collizhun & Co. Nefarius was more concerned with calling out phoniness in the city and in the industry.
Main Source
Those stuck-in-the'90s diehards at the Opera House on a cold December night in 2002 won't forget the Main Source 10-year reunion, as New York's Large Professor ripped rhymes over beats and scratches by T.O.'s K-Cut and Sir Scratch. Though Large Pro would go on to more success after the trio split, 1991's Breaking Atoms remains one of the most perfect East Coast rap albums.
Redlife
The mid-'90s Rexdale duo of Cryp2nite (a.k.a. Action) and Remey stirred noise with a string of undeniable singles, such as "Yagga Yaw Yaw" (featuring Saukrates), "Ya Done Know" and "Who's Talking Weight." But shortly after their one-and-done album, 1999's Exodus Prt. II, they essentially vanished. We're still wanting more.
Da Grassroots
The three-headed beat factory of Mr. Attic, Mr. Murray and Swiff pursued solo endeavours after contributing production to almost every significant Toronto hip-hop act of the '90s (Maestro, Choclair, Dream Warriors, Ghetto Concept, more). Before splitting, however, they treated underground heads to their impeccable Passage Through Time LP.
Who did I miss? Add your favourite lost Toronto rap groups in the comments.
The Toronto Sign is staying put announced Mayor John Tory earlier today. The popular fixture in front of City Hall was thought to be on the move from Nathan Phillips square next year but now it's staying where it is - at least until the end of 2016.
The announcement came on the same day that City Hall turned 50 (Here's what it almost looked like).
And on this special day, I'm proud to announce that our beloved #TORONTOsign will be staying at @npstoronto. #topolipic.twitter.com/MevThPxkZH
— John Tory (@JohnTory) September 13, 2015The waterfront, Riverdale Park and Union Station were some of the suggestions floated when the city previously debated where the sign should go to next. Now, Tory says it will be less costly to keep the sign where it currently sits. He also said the city is toying with the idea of having smaller versions of the sign built and that those signs could ultimately be placed around Toronto.
Is leaving the Toronto Sign at Nathan Phillips Square the right move? Let us know in the comments.
Photo by Andrei P in the blogTO Flickr pool.
Today in Toronto will have you hitting up two film festivals. TIFF is in its second week and there's still plenty of flicks to be seen and stars to be spotted. If you're not into waiting in line to catch a glimpse of Natalie Portman but still want to see a film, try the CaribbeanTales International Film Festival at the Royal Cinema.
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 section.
Before the Prince Edward Viaduct linked the city's east and west ends in 1918, Broadview and Danforth was far from the major intersection it is today. In 1903, the Danforth marked Toronto's northern city limit. Maps made at the time show just one building at the corner of a quiet rural outpost that was only accessible on unpaved, rutted roads, or by riding the streetcar to the end of the line.
A little less than two decades later, following the arrival of one of Toronto's most famous structures, the east was ready to rise.
Here's a look back at Broadview and Danforth during its formative years.
Looking east from the edge of the Don Valley before the beginning of viaduct construction. Playter's Hall with the rounded front at the southeast corner is still standing. The New York Cafe Restaurant and a Tim Hortons currently share the ground floor.
Playter's Hall was the first commercial building at Broadview and Danforth. When it opened in 1911, there was space for stores on the ground floor, a doctor and dentist's office on the second floor, and a meeting space on the upper level. The name of the building came from Albert Edward and William Ellerbeck Playter, members of a prominent local family who co-financed its construction.
East along the Danforth from Broadview during streetcar track construction in 1912. The road had yet to be widened and it was still lined with trees and homes.
When this photo was taken in October 1912, the northbound streetcar tracks curved west and ended at Danforth Ave. The bank building on the right with the columned entrance has since been replaced by a squat structure housing a Pizza Pizza.
Northwest from the southeast corner in 1912. The wooden advertisement panels on the right of the frame shield the future home of a Canadian Bank of Commerce branch, which is there today.
East on the Danforth from Broadview in 1914. In order to cross the Don Valley, vehicles would have used Winchester Dr., which roughly followed the path of the Don Valley Parkway access ramp southwest to the river. A bridge just north of the present day location of the Riverdale Park footbridge connected with Winchester St. in Cabbagetown, completing the crossing.
The superstructure of the Don section of the viaduct was built starting at the valley walls and working inwards toward the middle. This section, under construction in 1916, originally spanned the Canadian Pacific main line. Today, the Don Valley Parkway passes underneath.
Even though the viaduct was built with a ready-to-use subway deck beneath the roadway, the city still had no way to fund a subterranean rapid transit line. Until the arrival of the Bloor-Danforth line in the 1960s, streetcars shared the centre lanes with autos.
Viaduct opening day on October 18, 1918. The crowd has gathered on the east side of the bridge, just west of Broadview and Danforth. An apartment block now occupies the northwest corner in the background of the photo.
The viaduct has been altered several times over the last 97 years. The streetcar tracks are gone, so too are the pretty light standards. In 1965 the dormant subway deck saw its first train and in 2003 the Luminous Veil, minus its signature lights, was added to the concrete balustrades on both sides.
Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.
Images: City of Toronto Archives (as marked,) Toronto Public Library, 976-17-10.
The 2015 Manifesto Festival is set to get underway in Toronto this week, taking over a host of venues across the city. Entering its ninth year, the arts and music fest will showcase a lot of Toronto-based talent with a focus on hip hop and youth culture. From September 16-20 you'll be able to catch some of the top homegrown musicians, dancers, and artists showing off their skills.
Here's what to expect at the 2015 Manifesto Festival in Toronto.
TORONTO FT. GOLDLINK (September 16)
Manifesto kicks off with a show at The Hoxton on Wednesday night. Emerging local artists GoldLink, Keita Juma, and AKUA will take to the stage for a night of performances. If you RSVP early, it'll only cost you $3 to get in. Those that don't will have to shell out $10 at the door.
RUMBLE AT THE ROUNDHOUSE (September 17)
Head to Steam Whistle Brewing this Thursday for one of the most anticipated events of the festival. Canadian DJs and dance crews will battle it out for the chance to be crowned the best of the best by DMC judges. Tickets will put you back $20.
FUTURE SOUNDS (September 18)
Want to see some up-and-comers before they make it big? FUTURE SOUNDS is bringing the best new local talent in hip hop and soul to Daniels Spectrum this Friday. Catch performances by a lineup of Toronto-based artists including Adria Kain, Spek Won w/ DJ Soulchild, Clairmont II, and Birthday Boy. Tickets are $20.
LAST STYLE STANDING (September 19)
Dancers will go head to head this Friday at Dundas Square, bringing the best moves they've got to the Red Bull Dance Floor. The competition is broken down into four categories: hip hop, popping, breaking, and experimental. After winners have been crowned in each category, champions will face off to win the title of best overall. And, good news, watching the show won't cost you a penny.
LIVE AT THE SQUARE (September 19)
Manifesto will bring a host of entertainers and vendors to Dundas Square on September 19th. Expect a musical lineup overflowing with Canadian talent, featuring artists like Melanie Fiona, Pluto, Airplane Boys, John River, and many more. The best part? The event is free, so you won't have to spend any of your hard earned cash to get in.
COMMON GROUND (September 20)
The sole art exhibition of Manifesto, COMMON GROUND, will show off the work of some of Toronto's most followed social media photogs. Six Instagrammers will have their pics exhibited at Super Wonder Gallery. Expect to see snaps from soteeoh, jayscale, ellenaturel, and more. DJs and and other performers will also be doing their thing. Tickets will only set you back $5.
What did I miss? Let us know what Manifesto acts you're excited for in the comments. Photo by Irina No
After setting Instagram aglow over the weekend a trip to Toronto's newest soft serve emporium was in order. Tricked-out treats are available in a dozen flavours along with espresso based drinks, churros, and Mexican popsicles.
Read my profile of Sweet Jesus in the restaurants section.
Do you want to dine on top notch fare free of charge? Well now's your chance. Far Niente is marking its 20th birthday by giving 2 lucky winners $250 gift cards to spend at the restaurant. That's enough to have you and a friend dining on braised shortrib risotto and seared scallops, plus a glass or two of fine wine.
Get all the contest details here.
Hunting for psych LPs is no easy task. Hunting for rare psych LPs from Toronto (and its surrounding regions) is an even more challenging task. But, if there's any place to do it, it's here where someone just might be deciding it's time to unload their long cherished, mildew scented record collection (ahh, mildew).
Or you can avoid the mildew part, and, thanks to a spate of modern day pastiche fiends, get your hands on one of the more reasonably priced reissues out there. Whatever you so choose, here's a list of records to guide you in your search through the far out sounds of Toronto's (and its surrounding regions') psychedelic past.
Good luck hunting. You'll need it.
Plastic Cloud - s/t (1968)
Hailing from good ol' Bay Ridges, Ontario, Plastic Cloud put out a lone stunner of a psychedelic LP on Allied Records back in '67. Reminiscent of the West Coast sound of the time, the self titled album is considered by many to be one of the greatest Canadian psych records ever produced. Copies of the LP wound up fetching as much as $1000 before a couple of reissues brought it back to Earth.
Kensington Market - Avenue Road (1968)
Everyone Toronto record collector should own both records, but especially the first, Avenue Road, by Toronto psych-pop band Kensington Market if only so you can say to your guests, "Hey, you know there's a band called Kensington Market right? Let me play them for you!" Minimal weirdness here, but nice catchy tunes with tight horn lines.
Brazda Brothers - s/t (1973)
Slovakia-born brothers Bystrik and Andy Brazda relocated to Galt, Ontario in the early '70s and cut one of the best Canadian psych records of all time. Inspired by the natural landscape, it's been said that they recorded the album in a single six hour session. Songs like "Walking Into The Sun" make for a perfect soundtrack to the pastoral lands that surround our city. A true lost classic.
Mashmakhan - s/t (1970)
A strong debut from the semi-well known Montreal-based group. Named after their dealer's goods, they turned in a mind-expanding debut for Columbia in late 1969. Not as rare as others on the list, an original can be easily found and will set you back no more than $25-30.
Riverson (1973)
Riverson are from Montreal, but, technically, since the album was recorded in Toronto, this is a Toronto psych LP--and it's great. Featuring two of the members from Mashmakhan, the group were a short-lived psych-folk act with duelling male and female vocalists and roaring fuzz guitars. This record is extremely rare has not been reissued. Originals go for around $300.
Bent Wind - Sussex (1969)
Before being reissued, this was one of the rarest and most sought after Canadian psych LPs out there. With legendary tales of the band's drug-addled trips, candle hawking at the notorious Rochdale College, and raucous U of T frat parties, Bent Wind are probably the greatest heavy stoner psych Toronto has ever known.
Reign Ghost - s/t (1969)
Oshawa's Reign Ghost, made up of two popular area bands at the time, put out their 1968 self-titled debut for the fledgling Allied Records. Recorded in the label owner's basement, the album's Jefferson Airplane-influenced sound benefits from Lynda Squires operatic tenor and the band's organ driven sound. The original goes for $600+ but a band authorized re-pressing can be had for much less.
Perth County Conspiracy - Does Not Exist (1970)
Stratford, Ontario's Perth County Conspiracy were a fixture on the hippie folk scene back in the late '60s and early '70s in Southern Ontario. Comparable to the Canadian version of the Incredible String Band, the group's collective centred around the Black Swan Coffee House in their hometown, where they would gather nightly and play till the wee hours of the morning.
Ugly Ducklings - Somewhere Outside (1966)
Toronto's major contribution to the Nuggets-era garage sound. The Ugly Ducklings, originally called The Strolling Bones, began as a mere Stones knockoff band, but later went on to become hugely influential on the local scene in their own right. In 1966, they landed the gig opening for the Stones at Maple Leaf Gardens and put out their lone LP Somewhere Outside shortly after.
Christmas - Heritage (1970)
Christmas, formed by Reign Ghost's Bob Bryden after he left the group, was made up of the very best musicians he could find in the Oshawa area. Recorded when he was just 18, "Heritage" combines the prog tendencies of early Nektar with the youthful aggression of early Bob Seger. Originals, which are very hard to come by, sell for around $200. There has been an (unofficial) reissue by Italy's Akarma Records.
What did we miss? Add your essential Toronto-ish psych albums in the comments.
Writing by Sam Davis and David Sampson.
Sam Davis is the host of Dog Gone Radio, a radio show on the Toronto Radio Project taking listeners on a trip through the sounds of psych, folk, obscure vinyl, and strange music from faraway lands (2-4PM, bi-monthly). David Sampson is a local musicologist and expert record collector who contributes to Dog Gone Radio's programming.
Britophiles take note, there's a new destination for big English breakfasts, comforting pub grub, and watching Premier League football matches. Davy Love formerly of The Bristol has taken over Rancho Relaxo and is having some fun on the menu while indulging his love for rock and roll music, and rooting on Liverpool.
Read my profile of The Old Laurel in the restaurants section.
Want to grab a drink with a Ryerson professor? There are plenty of nearby bars that will help you get to know your instructors outside of the classroom setting because everyone knows that the best, and most innovative ideas can arise from spirited conversations over a round of beer.
Here are my picks for the top places to grab a drink with Ryerson professor.
The Imperial Pub
This watering hole at Dundas and Victoria is popular with Ryerson students and professors alike. Order a drink at the upstairs Library Lounge where there's plenty of couches as well as a patio.
The Senator
Toronto's "oldest restaurant" (not sure about that claim, but it makes the list), which lies just south of campus on Victoria St., serves up classic comfort food and is an ideal spot for a burger and a pint of Ontario craft beer.
Hair of the Dog
Located on Church Street near Maple Leaf Gardens, this cozy spot has a lengthy beer list, a menu filled with upscale pub fare as well as a relatively quiet patio.
Queen and Beaver
This multi-storey, British-style public house on Elm Street lets you pretend you're stepping back in time. But, with a diverse menu as well as a large selection of cocktails and beer, this modern-day bar makes it easy to discuss current events and theories outside of the lecture hall.
Ram in the Rye
Perhaps The Ram is an obvious choice, but along with its large patio, this campus bar offers drinks at reasonable prices and has daily food specials that are difficult to pass up on.
Thanks to 3 Brewers for sponsoring this post.
What did we miss? Add more suggestions to the comments.
Toronto Blue Jays gear goes beyond the tees, hats and shirts you can buy at the Rogers Centre. If you want to show your home team pride while wearing something a bit more unique than the average fan you're not short on options.
Here's a round-up of my favourite Blue Jays clothing you can buy in Toronto right now.
Japanese Blue Jay Tee (Drake General Store)
If your love of the Blue Jays transcends language barriers, try this Japanese Blue Jays Tee. Featuring the beloved logo of the Jays and Japanese translated text, this is the perfect off-the-beaten trail option for baseball enthusiasts. It'll cost you $38, making it a more fiscally responsible option than an official jersey.
Toronto Jay T-shirt (Crywolf Clothing)
These screen-printed tees are a far cry from traditional Jays shirts. Crywolf has altered the logo to fit the fashion-forward vibe of the store's overall aesthetic. The classic unisex shirt will set you back $30, but if that style doesn't fit your wardrobe, there are also baseball shirts, tanks and sweaters available.
Toronto Blue Jays New Era "MLB Diamond Era 59FIFTY Cap" (Lids)
Instead of showing your love for the Jays with the classic logo baseball cap, opt for the MLB Diamond Era edition. As a bonus, the lack of a giant Jays logo means it won't be a faux pas to wear it even when the season is over. You can get your hands on one for $39.99.
WAMCO Shirt (teespring)
If you're feeling nostalgic for seasons past, this is the shirt for you. The tee pays homage to the lineup responsible for bringing home the team's 1990s World Series glories: Devon White, Roberto Alomar, Paul Molitor, Joe Carter and John Olerud. It goes for $21.76 - $24.18, depending on fit.
Turonno Baseball Tee (The Button Machine)
Wear the true spelling of the city on your chest with this Button Machine baseball tee. The $32 shirt will help you boast your love of "Turonno" and it's favourite team even after baseball season wraps.
Shared Pixel Blue Jay Tee (Drake General Store)
Another option on the more subtle side of fan merch is this tee from the Drake General Store. The pixelated bird emblazoned on the front will help you show your pride while making you look a little more stylish than those donning "I love BJs" tees. They do, however, come in at a hefty $48.
Osuna Matata
The Jays' rookie star closer reportedly wears this tee under his jersey every game. Show the world who deserves to be the American League Rookie of the Year by donning this $25 shirt (comes in a variety of colours) from Athlete Orginals.
6ctober (6ctober.com)
Looking for a way to flaunt your love of the 6 and the Jays simultaneously? Look no further than the 6ctober tee. Plus, you don't have to feel bad about shelling out the $20, as a portion of the profits goes toward Covenant House.
416 Snapback (Waves Apparel)
Affiliated with the Jays strictly by colour, this snapback will have you wearing your love for the 6 (and its athletes) even outside of the Rogers Centre. Because it doesn't rock a giant logo, it's perfectly acceptable to repurpose this during hockey season. Plus, it's only $29.
Jays Buttons (The Button Machine)
If you aren't bold enough to walk around in full Blue Jays gear, give a subtle nod to your favourite players with these handcrafted buttons. With a few options on hand, you can give a shout out to players like Donaldson, Dickey, Encarnacion, and Tulowitzki. A huge bonus, they only cost a toonie, making them ideal for the fans on a budget.
Photos from Button Machine, Crywolf Clothing, jatram99, Drake General Store, maijahoggett, 6ctober, and waves_apparel.
What did I miss? Add your favourite piece of Blue Jays gear to the comments.
Toronto's Vegetarian food festival held court at the Harbourfront this past weekend, offering up a dizzying array of animal-free eats from vendors across the city and province. The weather was decidedly fall-like, which had patrons seeking out hearty comfort foods before sampling the various frozen treats on offer, but if anyone's appetite was diminished by the cool air, it was sure hard to tell.
Check out some of our favourite eats from Veg Fest 2015 in this photo gallery.
Would you pay to use the Gardiner Expressway and the DVP? You may just have to in the future because the city is looking at implementing tolls to cover costs related to operating and maintaining both roadways.
A report (PDF) delivered to the city's executive committee outlines two potential options for a tolling system. One would require drivers to pay a flat-fee, between $1.25-$3.25 to use the roads, while the other would be distance-based, like the 407, according to the Toronto Star. This one would cost drivers between 10 to 35 cents per kilometre; in both scenarios, trucks would pay more.
Earlier this year, city staff started looking at tolls after city council approved the pricey "hybrid" option for the East Gardiner. The report suggests that the Gardiner will cost the city $3.8 billion over the next 30 years - it estimates the DVP will ring in at $200 million over the same amount of time.
The flat-fee, or open, tolling system would set the city back around $28 million while the distance-based, or closed, system would cost $20 million more. They'd each cost around $31 to $37 million per year.
However, as City News reports, council would need to look into this matter further if it were to seriously consider adding tolls to these two major roads.
Do you think the city should add tolls to the DVP and Gardiner? Let us know in the comment.
Photo by Stephen Gardiner in the blogTO Flickr pool.
Today, students at all three of Toronto's major universities found "White Students Union" posters littering their campuses. These signs featured two young men in winter coats, with the CN Tower in background, as well as a web address.
The posters have appeared at York, Ryerson and the University of Toronto. The group in question, also known online as the Students for Western Civilization, isn't registered at any of these schools.
Officials at both York and Ryerson pulled down the flyers. "I can confirm they're not a sanctioned club. We don't condone this sort of thing," Ryerson spokesperson Michael Forbes told the National Post.
While information about this so-called organization is relatively sparse, its Facebook page includes nearly 450 members and its website says it's based in the city and is made up of students and alumni from Toronto's universities.
Toronto will not submit a bid for the 2024 Olympics, according to a report in the Toronto Star ahead of Mayor John Tory's scheduled formal announcement tomorrow morning.
In the days following the Pan Am Games, it seemed like the success of that event had Toronto's municipal leaders revved up to try to go after the big fish, but tonight it sounds like mayor and his advisors determined that the risks outweighed the rewards.
Members of the city's budget committee cited low hopes of submitting the winning bid and warned against the potential negative financial impact of hosting the Games in late August, which seemed to take the wind out of the sails of those who initially supported a bid.
Toronto has, of course, gone after the Olympics on five separate occasions, each time coming up short. That track record no doubt gave John Tory pause when contemplating a sixth try.
Are you relieved Toronto will not go after the Olympics? Let us know in the comments.
Photo by Harvey K
Today in Toronto it's time to head to the movies because TIFF is in full swing. If you can't make it to a screening, and lurking outside Soho House or Adelaide Hall isn't your idea of a good time, there's plenty more to do aside from the festival. Janet Jackson will be at the Air Canada Centre, street food will be served up in the John Fluevog lot and more.
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 section.
This week on DineSafe there are no closures to report. Inspectors did, however, handout yellow cards to a couple of chains including Pizzaville and La Prep. Bloorcourt butcher Vince Gasparro's also got in hot water for improper temperature control.
See which other establishments landed on DineSafe this week.
Krepesz (253 Augusta Ave.)
Inspected on: September 8, 2015
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 3 (Minor: 1, Significant: 1, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to maintain hazardous food(s) at 4C (40F) or colder.
La Prep (1 Queen St.)
Inspected on: September 8, 2015
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 1 (Significant: 1)
Crucial infractions include: N/A
Pizzaville (635 Markham St.)
Inspected on: September 8, 2015
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 1 (Significant: 1)
Crucial infractions include: N/A
Aunty Mary's Fish & Chips (3750 Lawrence Ave. East)
Inspected on: September 9, 2015
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 2 (Minor: 1, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated.
Ital Vital (741 Pharmacy Ave.)
Inspected on: September 10, 2015
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 3 (Significant: 2, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated.
Vince Gasparro's Meat Market (857 Bloor St.West)
Inspected on: September 10, 2015
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 6 (Minor: 3, Significant: 2, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to maintain hazardous food(s) at 4C (40F) or colder.
Note: The above businesses each received infractions from DineSafe as originally reported on the DineSafe site. This does not imply that any of these businesses have not subsequently corrected the issue and received a passing grade by DineSafe inspectors. For the latest status for each of the mentioned businesses, including details on any subsequent inspections, please be sure to check the DineSafe site.
The detached two-storey at 156 Roslin Avenue is a former bungalow transformed into a modern glass box situated on a corner lot near Yonge and Lawrence. The house, priced at $1,966,600, is everything you'd expect from a multi-million dollar architect designed rebuild.
Open, airy and glowing with natural light, the space is glossier than a magazine cover, in a good way. The main floor flows from the front living room to the back sitting area, lit up by LED lights and a glass staircase. The gas fireplace and heated floors on the main and lower levels are a nice feature and will add warmth when the cold weather hits.
For those who entertain, the basement is a main sitting (or dancing) area. There's a bright red full-sized wet bar, drink fridge and bar stools. Add a disco ball and you're set. If you don't like visitors, hide away in the wraparound second floor walkout attached to the master bedroom.
Wanless Park is one of Toronto's affluent communities with an enclave of upscale properties and nearby green space and private tennis courts. Agree or disagree, this posh neighbourhood is the geographic centre of Toronto, according to Google and a map librarian at the University of Toronto.
SPECS
NOTABLE FEATURES
GOOD FOR
Someone who doesn't want to renovate. It's move-in ready with upgraded bells and whistles. There's also an attached garage that can be accessed through the home---a rare feature if you live midtown or unheard of downtown. The garage will prove useful for avoiding those pesky nighttime raccoons.
MOVE ON IF
You need more privacy. The floor-to-ceiling windows facing the street act as a transparent wall but without a fence, it's not conducive for those who like privacy or wish to parade around in the nude. Custom blinds are available but will limit the sun exposure and all that natural light. Still, it's your house, do as you please.
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS
Read other posts in this series via our House of the Week Pinterest board.
One of Toronto's high-end French restaurants has switched focus from fine dining to that of a Parisian-style brasserie. Expect a balance of traditional French food peppered with international influences.
Read my profile of Cafe Boulud in the restaurants section.
