The best bubble tea in Toronto shows how much the landscape in the city has changed when it comes to this Taiwanese favourite. Once dominated by local chains like 168 and a slew of mom and pop stores, recent years have seen an explosion of new tea chains from Asia, each with its own unique take on this popular beverage.
Here is the best bubble tea in Toronto.
Posted by Darren "DKLo" Susilo. When not writing for BlogTO he can usually be found tweeting here or pressing words into this blog.
Today we're opening up voting in our latest Best Of poll. Now you can have your say in 10 categories including burgers, pizza delivery, veal sandwiches, pet stores, museums and more.
Voting in the poll ends at 1 p.m. on Sunday November 8.
From greeting cards to jewellery to quirky gifts this east side gift and design shop seems to have it all. And now that it's moved across the street into a new, larger space there's even more room to show it.
Read my profile of Labour of Love in the design section.
Canada's first arepa food truck has officially hit the streets of Toronto. The Arepa Republic debuted last month and has been serving up handmade Venezuelan cornmeal sandwiches curbside.
While some food trucks have already packed it in for the season, The Arepa Republic has been a regular presence on the streets this fall and plans to continue service for the foreseeable future.
So what can you expect from an arepa truck? The truck's menu boats a whopping nine arepas to choose from. The Rumbera is a cornmeal sandwich stuffed with Venezuelan pulled pork, cheddar cheese and garlic mayo.
Additional arepas include the Reina Pepiada which is a sandwich filled with a chicken avocado cream salad and a veggie option, the Pabellon Veggie, which is stuffed with black beans, sweet plantain, avocado and mozzarella cheese.
Beyond arepas there's also tequeños (cheese sticks), cachapas (corn pancake) and empanadas.
You can typically find The Arepa Republic parked at University and Dundas or Church and Bloor throughout the week during the lunch hour. To find out their exact location visit Toronto Food Trucks or download the Food Trucks iPhone or Android app.
Photos by Natta Summerky.
The best baby stores in Toronto stock more than just cribs. They aim to pacify anxious new parents and offer sage advice on every stage of childhood, from maternity to preschool. Sprinkled throughout Toronto, these shops run the gamut, from high end gift destinations to discount depots for newbie parents.
Here are the best baby stores in Toronto.
Toronto has no shortage of quality workshop studios and many of them are relatively new. These creative spaces will help you embrace your inner Martha Stewart and harness your crafting abilities. If you spend your down time flagging DIY Pinterest pages, favouriting YouTube how-to videos, or dog-earring Better Homes and Gardens, these are for you.
Here are a few new places to take workshops in Toronto.
Pitchfork Company
If you consider yourself hopeless in the kitchen, or just need to brush up on your skills, Pitchfork Company could teach you a thing or two. This Little India culinary studio offers classes on how to craft everything from vegan appetizers to homemade pasta. There are also a few workshops unrelated to cooking, like cold process soap making, if you're already confident at baking and basting.
Rowan Homespun
Skip spending heaps of money on expensive body care from health stores and make your own instead. Rowan offers classes on how to create everything from raw honey lip balm to natural soaps. Outside the realm of beauty, the shop hosts workshops on mandala drawing, fermenting, and other niche interests. The roster of classes is ever-changing so keep your eye on the website.
RAWspace
RAWspace specializes in jewelry forging, hosting workshops on how to make rings, earrings, pendants and more from scratch. You won't need any silversmithing knowledge to partake - each class covers the basics of measuring, cutting, forging, soldering, cleaning and polishing sterling silver. If you don't want to delve into the world of jewellery making, the studio occasionally offers weaving workshops.
BrainStation
The BrainStation's classes will help you become more tech savvy than you ever dreamed. It offers workshops like Intro to Digital Marketing, Growing Your Digital Brand Identity, and Intro to SEO & Analytics. Though they embrace hobbyists, this is definitely where to go if your looking to do some online business and don't want to commit to taking on a full computer science degree.
The Kingston Social
The Kingston Social offers a smorgasbord of workshops, with everything from painting classes to cooking demos happening in the Scarborough studio. During holidays, the shop tends to host themed classes, for example it did a calavera painting event for the Day of the Dead. You'll want to check their event calendar, as new options are added fairly frequently.
What did I miss? Add your favourite spots to take workshops in the comments.
Photo via BrainStation's Facebook page.
Downtown Toronto is filled with places suitable for hosting swanky events. But a brand new one is appropriate for both exclusive soirees and grassroots theatrical productions. That's because Artscape has now opened up its fifth location in Toronto.
Artscape Sandbox, as it's called, is located right beside Montecito at the base of the Daniels Cinema Tower on Adelaide. Event and sales manager Jason Chellew describes the 6,000 square-foot, fully-accessible space as a blank canvas.
Chellew takes me on a behind-the-scenes tour; he estimates that he's done nearly 750 thus far. As we stroll, he tells me that Artscape Sandbox is zoned as a theatre.
Fittingly, the 4,800 square-foot backspace can be transformed into a full black box theatre with a plethora of lighting and sound equipment. It also works for weddings, galas, product launches and other corporate events - Chellew's already accepting bookings into 2017.
Since Artscape is a social enterprise, it's those big events that let artists access Sandbox at more affordable rates. "This place is for artists," says Chellew. "The majority of what we do is performance-based here."
As part of its Creative Initiative, for instance, five artists will get to rent the space for just $1 each. There are a total of 34 days blocked off in 2016 for those participants.
Currently, the space is living up to its playful name. Director Michael Wheeler is occupying it for the next two weeks. He's putting on a production of Caryl Churchill's Objections to Sex and Violence and he and his team have filled their make-shift theatre with fake sand.
Back stage, there's a small green room with makeup stations as well an industrial fridge. There's also a permanent back bar, but to use it, clients will need to secure their own Special Occassion Permit. As a perk though, there's no corkage fee. Chellew notes that anyone who rents Sandbox gets it from 6 a.m. until 2 a.m. the next day.
Unlike other Artscape facilities, such as Artscape Youngplace, this one is rather sparse. That's because it can change depending on who's renting it. "It's so adaptable," says Chellew. He sees people coming up with fantastical ways to transform it. The bathrooms, however, are always whimsical because they're filled with original art.
Sandbox is Artscape's fifth space. It joins Artscape Youngplace, Artscape Gibraltar Point, Artscape Wychwood Barns and Daniels Spectrum. Other Artscape properties provide artists with affordable live-work space.
Photos by Garrison McArthur Photographers
Located just steps beneath one of Toronto's primary commercial corridors, The Shops at Aura is a strange beast of a mall that offers a warning against the way that retail is incorporated into condo developments. Despite its location, this shopping centre completely fails to thrive.
Almost half the allotted retail spaces are vacant, there are only a handful of vendors in the abandoned-looking food court, and the whole place feels like an anxiety-inducing maze in which the more turns you take, the further you get from an exit.
The main problem is the design. Each unit is very small, and thus not remotely attractive to big name retailers. Sold as "retail condos," each space has an individual owner, which also complicates the process of securing tenants down here. For a particularly depressing tour, check out this video.
There's a Marshall's and a Bed Bath and Beyond in the podium of the tower, but that feels like a different world from the underground retail. Having a mom and pop-type market would actually be great if it was at all viable, but since opening in 2012, the mall has never gotten its legs.
Of the 130 retail spaces available, it seems like only slightly more than half are occupied. There's a lesson in here given the radical amount of development taking place along Yonge St. "If you build it, they will come" does not hold true for shopping malls that look like afterthoughts. One has to take care when fostering retail communities, especially underneath Yonge St.
Galleria Mall at Dupont and Dufferin takes its fair share of knocks, but it's so much better than the Shops at Aura (for as long as it lasts). The Galleria is anchored by a major grocery store, large-scale gym, and an LCBO. This ensures constant activity for the mom and pop shops. At Aura, the little vendors have to fend for themselves.
Photos by the author
Navigating the Toronto subway at the height of rush hour is a major headache, but the TTC has a few weapons in its arsenal designed to manage the crowds. Among them: plastic barriers, megaphones, and reversible escalators.
TTC spokesman Brad Ross says many of the escalators from the Bloor-Danforth platforms at Bloor-Yonge station run up to the Yonge platforms during the morning rush and down in the evening.
"Depending on the time and day and the station, escalator direction is changed," he explains. "Bloor-Yonge and St. George are our two busiest stations where you would see that."
The TTC even has a crowd control room at Bloor-Yonge station where staff coordinate their efforts to corral the daily crush of riders.
Part of the reason why additional crowd control is needed at Bloor-Yonge is the T shaped alignment of the platforms, Ross says, with the Bloor-Danforth line intersecting with the Yonge line at the north end of the station.
Riders coming up from the Bloor-Danforth line tend to bunch near the north end of the Yonge platform, so workers armed with plastic barriers and loud voices must work to redress the balance.
In future, with ridership projected to keep growing, the TTC might have to resort to more drastic measures in order to keep people moving.
"There's a study we're looking at with respect to Bloor-Yonge station and some engineering type options," Ross says. "A second platform for example ... that requires funding. There are some engineering options available, but nothing in the capital budget at this time."
Thankfully, no-one's thinking of employing pushers -- yet.
Follow Chris Bateman on Twitter at @chrisbateman.
Photos by MrDanMofo in the blogTO Flickr pool.
There's a new destination for lunch in Toronto and while it might look like a diner on the outside, inside the concise menu offers anything but greasy spoon-type fare. Expect to find eclectic, fresh dishes including daily soups, sandwiches, jerk wings and shrimp tostadas.
Read my profile of Royale's Luncheonette in the restaurants section.
Toronto is filled with talented photographers who capture all aspects of our city; from architecture and cityscapes to food and fashion. After last weekend's Global Meet Toronto, we reached out to event organizers Eric Mark Do and Sanjay Chauhan (both of whom are worth a follow) and our Twitter community for help spotlighting 10 artists currently making waves on the photo-sharing platform.
Here are 10 more Toronto photographers to follow on Instagram.
@boro.vs.bora
If you ever pretend Toronto is Gotham City, check out this photographer who edits his images to create surreal and often post-apocolyptic scenes. He has more than 100,000 followers and it's easy to see why. He can also count #6Dad Norm Kelly as a fan.
@punkodelish
Kael Rebick amazes her hundreds of thousands of followers with colourful shots from Toronto as well as from cities around the world. She'll help you see Toronto as a magical place -- she's even made the Eaton Centre look exciting.
@visionelie
From portraits of the Weeknd to rooftop photos, Elie Jonathan's (aka @visionelie) feed includes a wide range of photos from Toronto and other international locations. His series from Havana, Cuba is particularly poignant.
@hagow
This iPhone-only account features dreamy images of urban life. It captures hidden Toronto spots and makes city life appear rather idyllic.
@brxson
Toronto rooftoppers have attracted lots of attention and @brxson is no different. He has more than 30,000 followers and a feed full of dizzying shots that leave you amazed, albeit with a bout of vertigo.
@hollysisson
According to her bio, Holly Sisson specializes in time stack and natural light photography. Her Instagram is filled with Toronto streetscapes, brilliant sunsets and a bevy of adorable animal photos.
@phraction
While our city is known for its daredevil rooftoppers, @phraction seems content with his feet firmly planted on the ground. And we're lucky he is because he highlights Toronto's diversity with his intimate street photography.
@ledavolli
This Brazilian expat showcases Toronto's various Instagrammable cafes as well as pretty streetscapes and familiar storefronts. Follow her if you'd like to add some more whimsy in your life.
@cosmocalisse
When you think of Toronto rooftoppers, you likely think of @roof_topper. Since we've written about him before, check out Giulio Calisse. As someone who gets nervous on balconies, I find Calisse's photos anxiety-provoking, but also incredibly intriguing.
@jazzy.vibes
Here's another roof-topper. As Chauhan notes, however, @jazzy.vibes includes lots of vibrant colours in his photos unlike many of his peers who go for a much starker aesthetic.
Who did we miss? Let us know who your favourite Toronto Instagram shooters are in the comments.
The top free events in Toronto this week offer a healthy dose of live music. On Monday the Horseshoe Tavern will host three bands for their weekly Shoeless Monday event. If that's not enough, Great Lake Swimmers will also play a free set on the east side on Sunday. Rather skip concerts all together? There's plenty of window shopping to be done and a comedy show.
Here's what to do if your saving up for a much deserved vacation.
Shoeless Monday (November 9)
Kick off your week with a free live show. This Monday, Ned & The Dirt, Cat and the Queen, and Geary St. Groove Band will take to the stage at the Horseshoe Tavern. If you can't make it out on Monday, the venue also hosts Dave Bookman's Nu Music Night every Tuesday, which is also a no cover event.
MEGA CRAZY CRAZY FRENZY (November 10)
Head to The Garrison on Tuesday for a cost-free comedy show. Quinn C. Martin, Massimo, Aisha Brown, Asaf Gerchak, Meg Mackay, Kelly De Hoop, and Brian Ward will be providing the laughs for the evening.
Bellwoods Flea (November 14)
This Saturday, the Bellwoods Flea is back and promises a bevy of art, fashion, food and more from its vendors. If you're not in the mood to window shop, there will be classic film screenings all day long and retro video games. Dogs are welcome, so feel free to bring your four-legged friend along.
2015 Indie Literary Market (November 14)
Indie publishers and authors will congregate at the Tranzac Club on Saturday, selling chapbooks, magazines and broadsheets that you won't be able to get your hands on in stores. If you don't feel like dropping any cash, it makes for a much more interesting day of window shopping than heading to the Eaton Centre.
Great Lake Swimmers (November 15)
If you're a fan of Great Lake Swimmers , you'll want to be at the Leslieville Common Sort this Sunday. The band released their newest album, A Forest Of Arms earlier this year and will be playing through their new material. Make sure you arrive early, as the shop is smaller than your average venue.
Have a free event you'd like to plug? Submit it to our Toronto events calendar using this form.
Photo of Great Lake Swimmers by Doug Springer.
If there was a decade in which Toronto was at its most rough around the edges and gritty, it was the 1970s. And if there was a place where this stood out more than any other, it was the Yonge Street corridor between Dundas and Gerrard.
The arrival of the Eaton Centre in 1977 would have the effect of at least slightly sanitizing the street south of Dundas, but that incredible hodgepodge of movie theatres, fast food joints, record stores, arcades and bars was in its heyday to the north and would remain so into the next decade before this character almost imperceptibly started to fade.
By the time Yonge-Dundas Square was built at the outset of the 2000s, however, this was a completely different place, even as you can still find evidence of old Yonge St. mixed in with the new buildings and corporate branding that glows from the majority of storefronts. The condos are on their way here, too, but the intersection itself is safe given its current retail/municipal makeup.
It's somewhat interesting to note that our current Yonge-Dundas Square was not the first iteration of such a place. In the 1970s and '80s you had "dundas square," which was a retail plaza. In the 1990s, the city would expropriate this block to bring the square to life, though the retail complexion had already changed a few times from these photos.
If you're the type to get nostalgic about this seedier version of Toronto, then Yonge and Dundas is a place that probably sparks strong feelings in you. Yes, Toronto has become a wildly better city than it was in these photos, but the streetscape in this area has done the opposite. It's just not as visually interesting anymore.
Photos from the Toronto Archives, except for the last which is by Damon Schreiber.
Tech accelerators in Toronto offer programs in which entrepreneurs develop their companies while receiving mentorship, guidance and often seed investment. These programs have grown in number rapidly over the past five years as the city's startup community has developed, and have played a significant role in the early stage growth of some of Canada's most buzzworthy startups.
Here, in no particular order, are my picks for the top tech accelerators in Toronto.
TheNext36
TheNext36, founded in 2010, is open to students under 30 and brands itself a "people's accelerator." It's seven months in duration, and produces one cohort a year. The participants are supported by a network of over 300 mentors and all qualify for seed funding of up to $50,000 in return for 4% equity. Notable alumni include wearable tech company Thalmic Labs and remote interviewing app Kira Talent.
INcubes
Founded in 2011, INcubes is a highly customizable program in which the amount of investment differs between teams, as does the timeline. As an added benefit, the accelerator has created a global network of similar locations where participants can work abroad. Notable alumni include Hovr.it, an image recognition technology that made its exit to Calgary-based Slyce, and digital analytics company Qoints.
Creative Destruction
Housed at U of T, Creative Destruction is known for powerhouse mentors such as WIND Mobile founder Tony Lacavera and Kik founder Ted Livingston. The nine-month program was inaugurated three years ago, and its combined ventures total a reported $180M in equity value. Notable examples include heartbeat authenticator Nymi and medicine discovery tool Atomwise. The program does not provide investment.
The DMZ
The DMZ, run by Ryerson University, houses 450 individuals working for 80 companies. Founded in 2010, it's open for public application and has produced such notable alumni as medical photo sharing app Figure1 and receipt management platform Sensibill. Ryerson Futures has been set up by the university to provide seed funding to select startups of between $50,000 and $80,000.
Highline
Highline has a robust list of successful portfolio companies such as social media advertising platform FameBit and education tech startup Andela. Highline has raised over $88M in follow-up funding for the startups involved and created over $180M in equity value. The program offers investment of up to $200,000 and entrepreneurs have access to a network of over 100 mentors.
Hacking Health
In 2012 Hacking Health hosted its first hackathons and has since become a global network that spans 28 cities, 12 countries and five continents. The organization's new accelerator program, launched this October, will consist of a five week bootcamp (held twice yearly), followed by a commercialization period of nine months. Hacking Health will offer up to $50,000 in funding in return for 7% equity.
UTest
UTest, a collaboration between U of T and MaRs Innovation, is in its fourth year of operation with 15 teams. The program is one year in length and is only available to current students, recent grads and university faculty. UTest invests $30,000 in its companies in return for 5% equity. Two notable alumni are scholarly content recommendation engine TrendMD and mobile keyboard creator Whirlscape.
Impact Centre
The Impact Centre at U of T offers a yearly accelerator program called 'Techno,' which targets scientists and engineers. It offers a one-month intensive program followed by a long-term support period called 'Business a la Carte.' Founded in 2010, Techno's alumni include industrial automation maker Encedalus Imaging and wearable vision aid iMerciv. The program does not offer direct investment.
ideaBOOST
IdeaBOOST, founded in 2012 by the Canadian Film Centre, focuses on digital innovation in media. The acceleration process begins with a period of mentorship before moving on to a four-month bootcamp, after which they graduate to become a portfolio company. The amount of investment varies. Among the alumni are 360 degree camera maker Bubl and video advertising company SlimCut Media.
DCS Innovation Lab
This accelerator, created by U of T's department of computer science this March, has already guided startups like AI legal expert ROSS Intelligence and data analytics platform Kaypok. The program is class-driven and is open for public application. The length is 12 weeks, or a standard semester, and runs year-round, producing three cohorts. DCSIL does not invest in its companies.
Writing by Rose Behar. Photo of DMZ by Clifton Lee.
This newly opened Polish restaurant isn't just loading novel toppings onto your standard dumplings. The house-made pierogi here are made from scratch with traditional techniques, though you'll find the flavours draw on cross-cultural inspirations ranging from classic potato and bacon varieties to jerk chicken and pulled pork.
Read my profile of The Saucy Pierogi in the restaurants section.
Toronto is filled with nostalgia-inducing hand-lettered signs. And one local artist is responsible for lots of them.
Rcade Wizard, or Andrew Kidder, is a full-time sign painter. He uses a variety of techniques including hand-lettering and water-gilding (gold-leafing) on signs and menus across the city. "The good thing about sign painting is that it's out there to be seen," says Kidder who doesn't do much marketing.
According to Maclean's, many small businesses and corporations (including Starbucks, Chipotle and Toronto Hydro One) use hand-lettering in order to evoke a personal and authentic aesthetic. This down-home style may be ubiquitous in Toronto, but it's keeping Kidder busy.
If you've ever left your house and walked around the city, you've likely seen his work. Kidder's clients include La Carnita, Home of the Brave, Bar Volo, The Drake and La Cubana.
You can also spot his work at Okey Doke Tattoo Shop, Community 54, Nomad, Furlough, The Yukon, Chantecler, The Federal and Miss Things among many others.
As the featured artists at the 11th annual Cask Days, he created all of the branded artwork for the festival and even painted a massive piece on site."Everybody was basically carrying a glass with my artwork, so that was kind of neat to see," he says.
Kidder says he adopted his Rcade Wizard moniker during his "graffiti days" in the 1990s. While he'll occasionally paint walls for fun, you can see the majority of his work in storefront windows.
Interested in more Toronto creators? Check out our profile of the guy behind many of Toronto's most recognizable restaurant signs.
Photo by Jesse Milns, Natta Summerky and Ryan Bolton.
There are cool houses scattered about Toronto, but to snack on a bunch of them at once there are a handful of streets with more than their fair share.
Here's a round-up of Toronto streets with the coolest houses.
Roxborough Drive
Roxborough Drive would be worth the trip if only to catch a glimpse of Integral House, one of Toronto's most astonishing examples of residential architecture. A stroll down this street also reveals gems like Barton Myers' "Wolf House" at #51 and this subtle gem at #177. Naturally there are other historic Rosedale homes along the way.
Heathdale Road
Cedarvale is chock full of mesmerizing architecture thanks to the presence of the ravine and some very attractive lots, but Heathdale Rd. takes the cake thanks in part to Atom Egoyan's movie Chloe, which prominently shows off both Ravine House (#24) and Heathdale House (#48) - the former was used for interiors and the latter for exteriors. Don't miss 207 Ava Rd. in the same area.
The Bridle Path
Where to begin? Aside from a few 1970s throwbacks virtually every house on this street and in this area is stunning (or shocking). The downside is these properties are often set far back from the road and hard to see. One of my favourites is at #83, but the neighbourhood standout is 18 High Point Rd.
Draper Street
You won't find any modern houses on Draper Street, but this little thoroughfare that runs adjacent to Portland St. up from Front St. is like a time warp back to the 1880s in Toronto. These row houses were originally built for labourers, but now house residents whose commitment to retain the historical character of the street could be described as fierce.
Wychwood Park
Wychwood Park is fascinating for a whole bunch of reasons, not the least of which being that it's a gated community. The houses here are worth a visit too. Some of the best examples of Arts & Crafts architecture in Toronto can be found here, but also contemporary highlights like Ian MacDonald's residence at 4a.
What did I miss? Add your favourite streets with cool houses in the comments.
Toronto has a new microbrewery and beer store which is a good thing - if you can find it. Hidden inside an industrial warehouse near rapidly transforming Geary Avenue this month old operation sells bottles and kegs five days a week and is quickly making a name for itself in the local beer scene.
Find out more in my profile of Blood Brothers Brewing.
Today in Toronto music lovers are in luck. The Sheepdogs are playing a free show at the Mill Street Beer Hall, which means if you spent all your cash on Halloweekend or are saving up for the holidays, you can still have fun. Not your thing? No worries, some of November's top film festivals are in action today.
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.
Photo of the Sheepdogs
Lunch options in Toronto's Financial Districtcontinue to abound for Bay Street bankers and busybodies. A few new eateries are particularly noteworthy, offering even more excuses to get away from the office around noon. Whether you're in need of a more upscale place to negotiate a business merger or a speedy grab and go option, there's something for you.
Here's where to go for your next midday meal in the Financial District.
Maman
If you're tired of lacklustre paninis from Starbucks and Subway's soggy creations, opt for a quiche or sandwich with more flavour for a similar price ($6-$8) from Maman. The bakery/cafe hybrid offers Parisian-inspired fare and an atmosphere much more inviting than a stuffy office or cubicle.
Mcewan
Mcewan is where to go if you like to have a wide array of options. The fine food haven has all your typical grocery goods (wheels of brie, loaves of bread, etc.) plus a generous selection of grab and go meals. Its readymade items range from butter chicken to sushi to octopus salad, all better than what you'll encounter at the standard grocery counter.
Cactus Club
Looking for something on the swankier side? Forget navigating your way around the PATH and head to The Cactus Club - the latest west coast chain to open in Toronto. The upscale eatery features sleek decor with artwork by Mr. Brainwash and Andy Warhol. The menu flaunting dishes like duck confit and albacore tuna tataki alongside baller dry-aged steaks.
Picnic
Picnic is a healthy alternative to all the greasy fast food joints in the area. The menu is filled with tons of guilt-free eats like salads, wraps, and sandwiches. If you want to indulge a little, there are a few more calorie-rich options like mac 'n' cheese or BBQ pulled pork.
3 Brewers
The office can sometimes get you down, so why not use your lunch break for a little R&R. Instead of standing in line at a food stand in First Canadian Place, head to the 3 Brewers for a pint of house brewed beer and some elevated pub grub. If the weather is nice, you can take advantage of the expansive patio that looks out onto Adelaide.
What did I miss? Add your new go-to lunch spot in the Financial District in the comments.
Photo of Maman by Jesse Milns
