The best new fashion stores in Toronto for 2015 upped the city's fashion game by offering new streetwear styles, fashion-forward basics, on-trend accessories and more. Some of Toronto's most beloved clothing havens spawned new stores and a few new kids on the block popped up giving Toronto's style-savvy shoppers alternatives to their regular haunts.
Here are the best new fashion stores that opened in Toronto in 2015.
Campsites near Toronto get booked fast -- especially at those parks within easy driving distance. If you want to ensure that you get a spot at a provincial park on a busy weekend in the summer, you'll have to book well in advance. That said, many of these parks have ample campsites available during the week and in the spring and fall for those who haven't made an early reservation.
Here are my picks for the top campsites near Toronto.
Balsam Lake
Balsam Lake is about an hour and a half drive from Toronto in the Kawarthas. It's one of the province's best campgrounds on account of its sandy beach, ample shady campsites, and the presence of an on-site laundromat for those staying more than a weekend. On the whole, this is a well-maintained and picturesque park that's easy to access from the big city.
Sand Banks
Sand Banks has become an increasingly attractive campsite with the rise of Prince Edward County as a wine destination, and it was already pretty great before this added bonus. The beach area is excellent (even if the water is a bit cool for much of the year), cycling in the area is superb, and there's even a restaurant on site.
Bon Echo
Bon Echo is consistently ranked among the top provincial parks on account of its stunning terrain, aboriginal petroglyphs, hiking trails, and high number of secluded campsites. There are even walk-in campsites for those who prefer to get as far away from it all as possible.
Killbear
Located on Georgian Bay, Killbear's rugged terrain has been a hit with Ontario campers for decades. It's a longer drive from Toronto than, say, Balsam Lake, but the reward is more scenic campsites, better hiking trails, and the feeling that you're in the Canadian north.
Algonquin
Algonquin is the ultimate provincial park, with a host of different camping options from portage trips to rustic ranger cabins to car access sites. It's also one of the most gorgeous places in Ontario, and well equipped with various outfitters and supply shops. The park is a must-visit place for those who aren't lucky enough to own a cottage.
What's your favourite campsite within a few hours of Toronto? Let us know in the comments. Photo by Bastian Sander
Old school steakhouses in Toronto deal in time-honoured traditions as much as they do in delicious aged beef. Rich with character, these restaurants share common traits: they boast brooding interiors and menus that feature broiled meat, chilled seafood, Caesar salads made table-side and a la carte options like creamed spinach and sautéed mushrooms.
Here's a round-up of old school steakhouses in Toronto.
See also:The Best Steakhouses in Toronto.
Barberians
Opened in 1959, the legendary chop house on Elm Street isn't just a steakhouse; it's more like a rite of passage. Top-grade steaks, dry-aged and butchered in-house are a point of pride for the restaurant and a major draw for diners. The menu sticks to the classics including quintessential apps like escargot and jumbo shrimp cocktails, and an assortment of surf and turf options.
Bardi's
This Toronto institution on York Street dates back to 1966. The bone-in rib steak is the house specialty while the top sirloin, filet mignon and New York strip round out the menu along with surf and turf selections and classic accoutrements like sautéed mushrooms, spinach and onion rings.
Carmen's
The recently revived restaurant on Alexander Street used be called Carman's, and while the name has changed (slightly), the menu and decor are as old school as ever. The wood panelled dining room is furnished with tufted leather chairs, while the menu features essential steakhouse fare including a proper Caesar salad, steak tartare, and pricey cuts of prime beef.
Tom Jones
Established in 1966, this old guard steakhouse in the Financial District is a bastion of fine dining in a low lit, wood-panelled dining room where hand trimmed, charbroiled steaks are the house specialty while the deep wine cellar is stocked with thousands of vintages.
The Tulip
The Queen East diner has been in business since 1929 serving up massive slabs meat in an informal setting. Skip the pomp and ceremony here for a menu of steaks and chops served with a tossed salad, veggies, and a choice of potatoes or spaghetti.
The Octagon
Stained glass windows, hand carved wood panelling and white linens give this landmark in Thornhill a regal feel. French onion soup, chilled seafood, and garlicky escargot are fixtures on the menu along with a list of entrees including a juicy ribeye, broiled lobster tails and filet of sole Almondine.
The Steak Pit
Since 1948, this steakhouse on Avenue Road has been a top choice for beefsteak, ribs and seafood. The menu opens with iconic apps including French onion soup, shrimp cocktails and escargot, plus flame-grilled specialties including prime rib, boneless rib steak, and filet mignon.
House of Chan
Recently relocated to a new address on Eglinton West, this restaurant has been in business for over 50 years, specializing in USDA steaks and Chinese food. Here you'll find U.S. prime New York Sirloin alongside breaded chicken balls - all to be enjoyed in a classic bright red Chinoiserie room.
Black Angus Steakhouse
Established in 1964, this Etobicoke steakhouse is known for its curried Caesar salad, oysters Rockefeller and tender cuts of aged beef grilled over hardwood charcoal.
Blackhorn Steakhouse
Since 1969, this restaurant in Scarborough has been offering a meaty menu featuring steakhouse staples and an eclectic list of Greek foods. New York striploins and filet mignon top the list of specialties from the broiler. It's hard to go wrong with such cuts when paired with lobster for under $50.
Photo of The Octagon by Libby Roach.
It's a new year in Toronto, and with it a crop of neighbourhoods will rise the ranks as various forces of revitalization come to fruition across the city. Truth be told, these processes always take longer than a year, so our 2015 list of rising neighbourhoods remains relevant as ever. But, in the spirit of new beginning, let us look ahead at those neighbourhoods due for their time in the spotlight this year.
Here are my picks for 5 Toronto neighbourhoods on the rise in 2016.
Davenport Village
Last year we picked Dovercourt Village as a neighbourhood on the rise, but this year the forecast heads north to Davenport where there's been a slew of activity over the last few months with much more in store. Along with the opening of a second Sovereign location, Seesaw Cafe, and Dante's Inferno, 2016 promises the arrival of Lil Baci and a renewed Power House.
Canary District
This will finally be the year that the Canary District becomes a neighbourhood. With the Pan Am Games in the rear view mirror, the former Athletes' Village has been converted to condos and apartments, the fitness centre is set to become a YMCA, and retail and food options are about to open en masse.
Willowdale
What used to be one of Toronto's sleepy suburbs is now bustling with activity, and the real estate market has taken notice. Home prices are soaring in Willowdale, which only makes sense when you think about its solid transit options (you have the subway and the 401 at your doorstep), the influx of young condo owners, and a slew of cafes and restaurants.
Riverside
Riverside has been a neighbourhood on the rise for quite some time, but 2016 promises to witness its ascent as one of the city's hottest hoods with the opening of the restored Broadview Hotel. With the Riverside Square development set to rise, by the time 2018 rolls around, Vogue might crown this east side neighbourhood as one of the world's coolest.
East Danforth
The East Danforth has been steadily rising for years, but 2016 might mark the occasion when the neighbourhood discards its formerly sketchy reputation. The independent business keep flocking here - Press Books and Vinyl, Hollandaise Diner, and Forth Avenue are noteworthy recent additions - and real estate values are on the incline. Its also highly walkable and has excellent TTC access.
What would you nominate as Toronto's most up and coming neighbourhoods? Let us know in the comments.
Photo of Seesaw Cafe.
Newly imported from Tokyo, this noodle house slings hearty, comforting fast food including donburi bowls, wings, and, of course, steaming bowls of ramen. Expect to find the shop serving up three main varieties: shio, shoyu, and the namesake Kyouka-style, which features a complex broth made of sea kelp, chicken and pork.
Read my profile of Kyouka Ramen in the restaurant section.
Cirque du Soleil is back in Toronto this week with an Avatar inspired production at the ACC. Running now through January 10, Toruk is less about the extreme acrobatics we've come to expect from the world-renowned troupe and instead excels as a visual feast for the senses.
The set design steals the show here with its use of light, motion and music to fool the audience into believing we're witnessing extreme weather, lava flows, avalanches and waves crashing on a beach.
Check out our photo gallery from Cirque du Soleil's Toruk here.
Toronto's beloved drop-in glee club Choir! Choir! Choir! has performed at TURF and once opened for Jay Leno at Massey Hall, among its many other achievements. Now, its latest triumph comes in an unlikely form: a Justin Bieber cover.
This past week, a slew of singers packed into the back room at Clinton's where they gave Bieber's bouncy pop hit "Sorry" a makeover and transformed it into a dreamy, acoustic lullaby.
This rendition might be even better than the original. Listen for yourself below.
Find out what Choir! Choir! Choir! is up to next here.
This small cafe near the lake caters towards student budgets with affordable drinks and eats (nothing is over $6). Try one of the specialty drinks like the Vietnamese cafe sua da or Hong Kong Milk Tea, and make sure you don't miss out on the best deal here: the $5 pulled pork sandwich.
Read my profile of Black Goat Cafe in the cafes section.
Toronto hotel lobbies are typically beautiful spaces that tend to be ignored by residents with little reason to use them, but for those of us who find ourselves needing to do a little bit of work on the fly, they're surprisingly welcoming. Anonymity is the key for this semi-covert activity, which many bigger spaces provide so long as you look like you belong.
Here are my picks for the top hotel lobbies to work or study in Toronto
Sheraton Centre
It's unlikely you'll ever get hassled at the sprawling lobby at the Sheraton Centre. There's ample seating and a bustling atmosphere that allows you to blend in with the crowd easily. It's also integrated with the PATH system.
The Royal York
The stately Royal York offers numerous areas to camp out for a bit in a stunning setting. Given its sheer size, the ground floor and the mezzanine at the hotel are ideal for those looking to kill some time without the annoyance of having to interact with hotel staff.
One King West
The location of the check-in desk and the general busyness of the space makes it a cinch to stride in and take a seat without appearing out of place. Located in the heritage section of the building, it's also a particularly nice place to take a breather.
Shangri-La
The Shangri-La's lobby is a modern space with plenty of room to hang out, whether you're staying at the hotel or not. Here you're typically in view of the check-in staff, but when the place is busy - which is quite often - it's easy enough to pose as someone staying at the hotel or awaiting an important meeting with someone who is.
The King Edward
This is another of Toronto's old-guard hotels where the high-ceilinged lobby makes an ideal place to spend some time soaking up Toronto's history while catching up on email or just playing the role of a tired flaneur. Your best bet here is to take a few photos of the majestic space before plopping down for a rest. You'll blend right in with all the other tourists.
What did I miss? Add your suggestions in the comments.
Photo of the lobby at The Sheraton.
While it seems like a number of local businesses are fleeing the West Queen West neighbourhood, Girl Friday fashion boutique owner Rebecca Nixon isn't leaving because she's disenfranchised with the area.
"It's just time for me to do something different," says Nixon. "Owning Girl Friday was always a dream of mine, but it's not my only dream."
Nixon opened Girl Friday 14 years ago; she has been at her Queen Street location for 12 years. Now, as she gets ready to close for good at the end of the month, she's holding a massive sale, which includes not only clothing, but also furniture and store fixtures.
This may be the end of Girl Friday, but Nixon, who's also a designer, is looking to remain in the fashion industry.
For her loyal customers, closing is bitter sweet. "We've had so many people come into the store and they're like, 'good luck!'" says Nixon. "They're sad, but at the same time, I think people understand."
Brunch is a sacred ritual in Toronto and we're blessed with a bevy of options to satisfy even the pickiest of eater. But sometimes, a plate filled with hand-poached free-run eggs and house-smoked bacon just doesn't cut it. If you're looking mix-up your brunch routine, consider introducing an new element to this weekly event.
Here are my picks for the top themed brunch in Toronto.
Bella? Did Ya Eat?
Klezmer and brunch go together like bagel and lox at Free Times Cafe. The Sunday brunch buffet features classic Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine - including blintzes, latkes and gefilte fish -as well as live Yiddish and/or klezmer music.
Black Metal Brunch
Wake yourself with the city's most hard-core morning meal. Head to Kensington Market in and bask in the glory of Graffiti Bar & Grill's Black Metal Brunch, which features food and drink specials as well as, of course, plenty of metal.
Psychic Brunch
Break up your eggs benny routine with some mysticism and clairvoyant activity. Find the Psychic Brunch at the Cranberries restaurant on the third Sunday of every month. Sceptics take note: 100 percents of the net proceeds from this monthly event go directly towards the Rainbow Association of Canadian Artists, a local non-profit.
Hip Hop Breakfast
Nest is a sprawling nightclub and music venue at College and Bathurst. But, on some mornings, it's transformed into a family-friendly brunch spot that showcases both local and international hip hop artists. Along with the music, there's an all-you-can-eat buffet of a.m. essentials.
Bluegrass Brunch
The Dakota Tavern at Dundas and Ossington serves up an all-you-can-eat feast of scrambled eggs, pancakes, potatoes, fruit and sausages for its weekly Bluegrass Brunch.
Photo of Psychic Brunch by Aubrey Jax.
The top winter music festivals may not boast the same star-studded lineups as summer events, but they'll keep you going until WAYHOME and Riot Fest return. With everything from rap battles to indie shows on tap, you have more than a few reasons to brave the cold this season.
Here are my picks for the top winter music festivals in Toronto.
Class of 2016 (January 9, 16, 22, 29, 30)
Get your fill of indie music this winter by heading to the Silver Dollar for the venue's annual music honour roll series. The event is already in full swing, but there are still five dates left in January. You can catch sets by Fake Palms, Casper Skull, Germaphobes, Goodbye Honolulu and many more. All nights ring in under $10, so it's budget-friendly.
Long Winter (January 16, 30 and February 17, 18)
Long Winter is a seasonal staple. This year it'll kick off with an all-ages show at The Great Hall featuring acts like Vallens, BOSSIE, and loom (to name just a few). New this year is the art show/concert hybrid at the Galleria Mall. Long Winter will close off in February with a giant maze and audio-visual experience at Artscape Sandbox. Tickets for all events are under the $20 mark.
Wavelength (February 12-14)
Instead of spending your Valentine's Day weekend stocking up on SOMA chocolate and trying to nail down reservations at Canoe, why not hit up a music festival? Wavelength is bringing Calvin Love, She-Devils, Soupcans, Duchess Says and more to the Garrison and the Markham House City Building Lab for three nights of shows. All-access passes cost $39.
Winterfolk Music Festival (February 12-14)
The Winterfolk Music Festival returns to the Danforth in mid-February, bringing with it a handful of free and paid shows worth checking out. This year's lineup is filled with urban, blues, rock, jazz, country, folk and roots bands. You can catch sets by Alana & Leigh Cline, Danny Marks, DRUMHAND, The O'Pears, and many more. A three-day wrist band will set you back $15.
Blackout 6 Rap Battle (February 19-20)
Venture to 99 Sudbury on February 19 and 20 to watch the lyrically gifted go head-to-head in the city's biggest rap battle event. If you want a taste of what's in store, check out the KOTD event trailer here. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like Drake will be making an appearance this year. Tickets will set you back $55 for a two-day GA pass.
What did I miss? Add more winter music fests to the comments.
Photo of Long Winter by Jesse Milns.
Toronto is in the midst of a tall building boom. In fact, the tallest building currently under construction (One Bloor East) will be eclipsed by at least nine other super-towers over the next decade if developers get their way. Four buildings slated for development in Toronto over the next few years top off at beyond 300 metres, the benchmark for the term "super-tall" to come into effect.
These are the 10 tallest buildings that will transform the Toronto skyline over the next decade.
Oxford Place I and II - 326 metres (proposed)
Part of a massive redevelopment proposal involving the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and a possible casino, the main stars of Oxford Place would be two duelling towers each at 326 metres. The City of Toronto has yet to approve the plans.
The One - 340.6 metres (proposed)
And you thought One Bloor East was a monolith at 257 metres, its neighbour across the street is proposed to come in over 80 metres taller. The One was originally pitched at 329.5 metres before new designs added even more skyward sprawl to the building.
Mirvish+Gehry West Tower - 304 metres (approved)
The taller of the two Mirvish+Gehry towers might just be the first building in Canada to break 300 metres if you don't include the antennae at First Canadian Place (it's 298 metres without it).
Pinnacle One Yonge - 293 metres (proposed)
The lead tower in another massive redevelopment scheme, this time on the land currently occupied by the Toronto Star Building at the foot of Yonge St, Pinnacle One Yonge comes in at just below the 300 benchmark.
50 Bloor Street West - 277 metres (approved)
Set to be built atop the current site of Holt Renfrew, this monster condo will soar above Bloor St. and provide sweeping views of downtown Toronto (and a many of the other towers on this list).
Mirvish+Gehry East Tower - 274 metres (approved)
The smaller of the two Mirvish+Gehry towers is 30 metres shorter than its neighbour, but still taller than Toronto's tallest condo at present, beating out Aura by one metre.
One Yonge Street Tower 2 - 267 metres (proposed)
The One Yonge Street development is composed of a host of monster towers, of which this is one. If it existed now, it would be the fifth tallest building in Toronto.
156/160 Front - 265 metres (approved)
This one isn't a condo! 156/160 Front will be the tallest new office tower in Toronto, coming in just a few metres higher than Brookfield Place, which was built in 1990 and registers at 261 metres. The latter was the tallest building constructed in the 1990s in Toronto. Onward and upward, so they say.
One Yonge Street Tower 3 - 262 metres (proposed)
Not much to say here. This is the third tallest building proposed in this complex at the foot of Yonge St. It's still huge even if its closest neighbours edge it out in height.
One Bloor - 257 metres (under construction)
One Bloor is the tallest building currently under construction in Toronto, though that's only good for 10th spot on this list. Next time you're out and about in the area, take a peek at it for some context as to how tall these other towers are going to be.
Is all this density a good thing? Let us know in the comments.
With the Canadian dollar tanking, it may not be wise to venture far from Toronto this winter. And, why would you want to leave? Toronto cracked the top 10 in the New York Times' "52 Places to go in 2016" list, so instead of shelling out the big bucks to travel, stay home and explore more of what makes this city awesome.
Here's a round-up of staycation ideas for Toronto this winter.
LODGING
Cross the lake to stay at a Toronto Island B&B
While only a quick ferry ride away, the Toronto Islands feel far away from the city thanks to their natural charm. Venture across Lake Ontario and book a night (or two) at one of the local Bed and Breakfasts, many of which are quaint little cottages.
Stay in someone else's home
Check yourself into one of Toronto's drool-worthy Airbnb properties, like a cozy cottage in Kensington Market or a three-storey loft in Little Italy. If you put your own pad up for a night, you might even be able to pay for your entire staycation; it's truly a win-win situation.
Splurge on a room at a boutique hotel
Forgo the massive chains in favour of a more intimate boutique hotel. For art and design lovers there's The Gladstone and foodies should consider The Templar, if only to dine at Parcae. There's also The Drake, of course, as well as the Ivy at Verity near the downtown core.
EAT & DRINK
Wine and dine like you're in Paris
Anthony Rose modeled Bar Begonia, his fifth Dupont Street restaurant, off a Parisian bistro. With dim lighting and French-style cuisine, you'll feel like you've been whisked out of Toronto to somewhere decidedly more European.
Escape to the tropics in a tiki room
Parkdale's Shameful Tiki Room aims to bring an "authentic" Tiki experience to Toronto, complete with rum-filled cocktails, Polynesian-inspired fare and kitschy pufferfish lamps. Escape from the cold and head to the tropics, if only for a few hours.
Eat and drink like a Spaniard
Pretend you're in Barcelona and grab tapas and a glass of cava as you stand around at Bar Raval, this tiny yet beautifully designed bar. If you can snag a space, you can even take advantage of Bar Raval's winterized patio.
Dine on sushi like you're in Tokyo
Take of your shoes and dangle your feet over a bed of river rocks at Shoushin, which serves up Tokyo-style sushi. There are omakase set menus at three price points, which feature market fresh fish and other high-quality ingredients such as wagyu beef and caviar.
ACTIVITIES
Do a gallery crawl
Check out our local art scene and choose one part of the city to explore. A number of contemporary galleries recently moved to Dupont Street, so spend a day wandering through the various installations and exhibitions. Or, head to a major institutions, like the ROM, which you might usually skip.
Head out on a winter hike
Take an urban hike through the Don Valley and kick off your journey at the Ever Green Brickworks. It hosts a winter village all season long, complete with a public skating rink and Sunday farmer's market.
Go to the theatre
You can certainly shell out hundreds of dollars to see a splashy Mirvish musical, but luckily, Toronto is blessed with a thriving theatre scene filled with high-quality shows that won't break your budget. See what's playing at the Factory Theatre, Theatre Passe Murraille, Soulpepper, Coal Mine Theatre or Tarragon, for instance.
Root for the home team
Tickets to sporting events in Toronto are generally quite expensive, but you can generally find cheap nosebleeds for Raptors games on sites such as StubHub. If that doesn't work out, considering a Marlies game. Or, head to the most Canadian of museums: the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Catch a documentary
The Hot Docs festival - north America's largest documentary film festival - happens but once a year. However, the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema has a full roster of non-fiction programming for whenever you happen to stop by. Best of all, you can walk around the Annex, and Honest Ed's, before or after your movie.
Visit a local brewery
Instead of just sipping on pints of your favourite local brews at the bar, head directly to the source. You can buy bottles at the new Blood Brother's Brewing, grab a live show and a meal at the hybrid space Burdock or drink and talk Blue Jays at Left Field.
What would you do on a Toronto staycation? Let us know in the comments.
Top photo by Sam Javanrouh in the blogTO Flickr pool.
Multiple offers were made on the Hells Angels' shuttered and run-down clubhouse in Leslieville, a sign that Toronto's housing market isn't slowing down anytime soon.
The Globe and Mail reported that the property, at 498 Eastern Ave., sold for "well over" the $649,900 asking price, according to local realtor Desmond Brown.
The federal government has been in possession of the property after police raided the clubhouse in 2007.
As Brown told the Globe, inside the building there's a bar on each of the two floors, a meeting room and, oddly enough, an aquarium.
It's unclear at the moment what will become of the space.
What do you think the buyer should do with the Hells Angels' clubhouse? Let us know in the comments.
Toronto's newest cafe is all about small batch baked goods, flavour-infused coffee and rural charm. With a focus on rotating lunch items like sandwiches, two hand pies and snacks made from scratch, this little piece of the countryside is a darling new addition to Toronto's cafe scene.
Read my review of The Strong One in the cafes section.
The top free events in Toronto cater to fans of the arts. On Wednesday the AGO is hosting a cost-free talk by MOCCA's newly-appointed CEO, Chantal Pontbriand. If you'd rather just kick back and watch a movie, no worries - Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World is playing for free at The Royal (you'll also be able to snag free popcorn if you show up early).
Here's a roundup of free events in Toronto this week.
Free Flick Mondays: Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (Jan. 11)
Whether you're in the market for a cheap date idea or are just jonesing for a movie night, this one's for you. Head to the Royal Cinema on Monday night for a free screening of Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World. Plan to arrive a little earlier than usual as the first 100 guests will be treated to free popcorn.
Chantal Pontbriand at the AGO (Jan. 13)
MOCCA's just appointed CEO will be appearing at the AGO mid-January to discuss the future of Toronto's favourite contemporary art gallery. Tickets have been in such demand for this one that it's already been moved to a larger location.
Higher Learning: First Things First - Coming of Age in Canadian Film (Jan. 15)
Instead of staring blankly at a screen, why not give yourself a bit of an education? As part of Canada's Top Ten Film Festival TIFF is offering a free panel discussion on a few of the coming-of-age flicks screened at this year's fest. It'll be moderated by Toronto Star film critic Jason Anderson, so the talk is in more than capable hands.
DJ Skate Nights: Wavelength x Synthesexer (Jan. 16)
Head to the Harbourfront Centre on the night of the 16th for another DJ Skate Night. The music for this week's installment will be brought to you by Wavelength and Synthesexer. You may not be downing shots on the dancefloor, but it's much more cost effective and probably just as fun.
Wood Job! (Jan. 17)
Bloor Hot Docs Cinema is hosting free screenings of Japanese films throughout January. If you're not fluent in Japanese, no worries, all flicks will feature English subtitles. The series is currently in full swing, and this Sunday you can catch indie comedy/drama Wood Job! without dropping a dime.
Have a free event you'd like to plug? Submit it to our Toronto events calendar using this form.
Photo by Sam Javanrouh.
Ever wanted a bagel that can tell time? Thanks to Toronto artist Charlotte Ficek, you can now add a Bagel-O-Clock to your collection of kitschy items.
The clocks are made of wood and hand-painted by Ficek. Each order is customizable; you get to choose the type of bagel - which can either be closed or open-faced - and three toppings.
Ficek is the brains behind two other food-related art projects: Sad Food and The Diner Series. The latter includes paintings of table settings from Fran's and the now-closed Sadie's Diner.
You can order your bagel clock online. Each clock goes for $60.
Film events in Toronto this winter will shelter you from the cold and transport you to other worlds. On now, there's still time to check out Canada's Top 10 Film Festival at the TIFF Bell Lightbox but if you miss it, don't fret - there are still plenty of upcoming and ongoing film events to keep you on the edge of your seat.
Here are my picks for the top film events in Toronto this winter.
Doc Soup at the Bloor
This annual series, showcasing "the world's hottest docs," screens at the Bloor Cinema until mid-April starting with the Fear of 13 on Feb 3 and 4. Screenings take place on the first Wednesdays and Thursdays of each month, and are often followed by Q&As with special guests. Also check out Doc Soup Sundays (runs until June), a spin-off of the regular series featuring docs about art, culture and design.
Canadaland at the Movies
Podcaster Jesse Brown of Canadaland is teaming up with the Revue Cinema to launch the inaugural series. The programming will consist of news- and media-focused films. The first film on the roster is Deadline-U.S.A. starring Humphrey Bogart, which will screen on January 27. Check out The Revue's schedule for more details.
The Great Digital Film Festival
Taking place at the Scotiabank Theatre and the Cineplex Cinemas Scarborough (and at other select Cineplex theatres across Canada), from February 5 to 11 this festival will screen both recent and older sci-fi, fantasy and cult films. Titles include Dirty Harry, True Romance and Star Trek: Into Darkness.
Toronto Black Film Festival
TBFF will take place from February 10 to 14. Now in its fourth year, the festival will showcase films about black people's experiences and perspectives from around the world. The opening film will be Thina Sobabili, which is South Africa's submission to the upcoming Academy Awards in the bid for Best Foreign-Language Film nomination.
Food on Film
TIFF Bell Lightbox will host its fifth season of Food on Film, which starts in March and runs until the end of June. The screenings will give film buffs and food lovers the chance to come together to enjoy "the best in culinary cinema."
What did I miss? Add more film events to the comments.
Image via Thina Sobabili.
Rebelling against cookie-cutter outposts like Starbucks, Tim Horton's (God bless Canada) and Coffee Time, locally-owned coffee shops are elevating the stakes with homemade baked goods, hybrid offerings and baristas doubling as mad scientists.
Here are some trends coming to a Toronto cafe near you in 2016.
Coffee shops go beyond coffee
Goodbye drink-only coffee shops. There's a new wave of hybrid cafes offering everything from hand-crafted wood pieces, cannabis paraphernalia, clothing, comics, board games, video games, painting workshops and cocktail bars.
Independent cafes will go mainstream
Open one coffee shop, and then two, three, four and five; build an empire! With cafes multiplying by the year, local coffee owners are finding new neighbourhoods to infiltrate with coffee and one-of-a-kind concepts. Just last year, Café Neon opened its third location on Queen, Jimmy's opened its fourth on Ossington, and Pilot opened its fourth at Union Station.
Brunch will be served
"We serve brunch now!" says every coffee shop in 2016. Not surprisingly, coffee shops will roll out brunch menus to cater to the hungover late-morning crowds craving coffee and gourmet whatever. Eat brunch, stay for the coffee, spend more money. Everybody is winning, I think?
Pet-friendly cafes (and cat themes) will flourish
With Toronto's latest TOT The Cat Café, there's new hope for pet owners looking to grab a quick coffee with furry friends. Safe to say, Toronto's weird obsession with cat-themed décor will never die; special shout out to Grey Tiger's cat-themed bathroom wallpaper.
Roasters outside of Toronto will try to steal the spotlight
With locals brands like Pilot, Propeller, Cut and Social becoming ubiquitous at Toronto coffee shops, cafes will continue to try to differentiate their offerings by featuring beans from roasters like Calgary's Phil & Sebastian and Nova Scotia's Anchored Coffee.
Pour-over stations will become standard
Last year, Quantum Coffee purchased Canada's first-ever automatic Pour Steady machine, a $12,000 pour-over station serving 5 cups of coffee simultaneously. Other cafes like Clockwork Coffee focus exclusively on pour-over to serve customers who don't mind waiting a few minutes for the bolder flavour.
Carbonated cold brew will take over
Station Cold Brew leads the way for cold brew coffee with a wholesale distribution model that's landed them in every shelf in the city. Now with the lead up to summer, coffee shop owners are brewing signature cold-brew blends (watch out for Tucana Coffee), many of which will be carbonated to give cold-brew a creamy flavour like a Guinness Stout.
Everything will be made from scratch
Many Toronto cafes will return to old-school baking with a whole new menu of savoury and sweet pastries, muffins, croissants, pies, sandwiches and more, all made from scratch. Taste the magic of homemade baked goods at Fool Coffee, Empire Espresso, Manic Coffee and Neo Coffee Bar.
What coffee trends did I miss? Add your suggestions to the comments.
Photo of Neo Coffee Bar by Morris Lum.
