The best late night burritos in Toronto will surely hit the spot after last call - which is likely why many are concentrated around Toronto's Club District. Consider these blissful bundles of rice, cheese and beans as hand-held forms of hangover prevention that are perfect for satisfying hunger pangs when cravings flare up in the middle of the night.
Here are the best late night burritos in Toronto.
In addition to being a fully accessible and inclusive cafe, art space and live music and events venue, this newish Toronto spot also serves up a mean vegan brunch. Meat- and dairy-free versions of huevos rancheros and red velvet waffles are on offer, along with gluten-free options.
Read my profile of D-Beatstro in the restaurants section.
The adult colouring book craze may seem a little frivolous at first glance. But not always. That's because a group of Torontonians is using it for a great cause - to help newcomers get acquainted with this city.
The book, which costs $20, features work by 25 local artists and designers. And it's meant to help introduce children to Toronto. Along with original illustrations, it includes pieces of text in both English and Arabic.
You can grab your colouring book online at Keep 6 or at the Spacing Store. All proceeds will go towards printing additional copies for Syrian families that are settling in Toronto as well as to refugee services.
Organizers Nicole Baillargeon, Andrea Pearce and Rafi Ghanaghounian are hosting a launch party this Sunday, February 28 at the Gladstone Hotel. Naturally, there will be books for sale as well as live music by local group NOMADICA.
Middle Eastern restaurants in Toronto share similar ingredients and sometimes dishes (though the spelling can be wildly divergent). These are restaurants where mezze, falafel and kebabs are stars, and sharing around a big table is encouraged.
Here are my picks for the top Middle Eastern restaurants in Toronto by neighbourhood.
ANNEX
The menu is always changing at Fat Pasha on Dupont, but count on falafel, fattoush salad and za'atar fried chicken to all make appearances.
CHURCH & WELLESLEY VILLAGE
As far as fast food goes, Ghazale is hard to beat. Falafel and shawarma sandwiches are light on the wallet while hearty stewed okra and lima beans are excellent accompaniments.
THE DANFORTH
Kabsa Mandi deals in Yemeni and Arab Gulf cuisines including kabsa (a mixed rice dish), mandi (tandoor-cooked meat on rice), masoob (bananas and ground flatbread), and more.
DUNDAS WEST
Sip pomegranate wine accompanied by khorak e zaban (braised beef tongue) at Kadbanu. The Iranian cafe and bar is open for lunch as well, offering a menu of sandwiches like the Nan o Paneer featuring sheep's milk cheese with mint, tomato and cucumber on barbari bread.
DON MILLS
Chef Mark McEwan oversees the menu at Diwan at the Aga Khan Museum. Expect a lineup that draws influence from Middle Eastern, North African, and South Asian cuisines set in the Damascus Room, a place designed to evoke the luxury of a 19th century Syrian home.
EAST YORK
Pasha's Authentic Turkish Cuisine is the place to go for sigara boregi (cigar rolls), hot and cold dips, pide, and grilled meats.
EGLINTON WEST
Jerusalem Restaurant has been a staple on this stretch of Eglinton for over three decades. Combination dinners are the way to go here and offer three skewers from a choice of chicken, beef, lamb, kefta or liver accompanied by an array of dips, mixed pickles, sautéed tomatoes or fried eggplant and rice, salad and pita.
ETOBICOKE
Anatolia is a Turkish restaurant near Kipling Station where the walls are adorned with colourful tapestries and live entertainment (musicians, belly dancers and fortune tellers) goes down on the first Friday of each month. Open with an order of lentil soup and a spread of mezze before moving on to traditional dishes like izgara kofte (ground beef patties) and shish kebab.
FINANCIAL DISTRICT
Rose City Kitchen on Toronto Street keeps the Financial District stuffed with fresh baked pita pockets loaded with falafel, halloumi, chicken or steak available in five styles channeling flavours from across the Middle East.
FOREST HILL VILLAGE
Mashu Mashu is a Mediterranean grill where the thing to get is the appetizer combo and mixed grill, which optimizes the number of meats and mezze on the table.
KING WEST
Start with mint tea or fragrant cocktails at Byblos before ordering a selection of traditional mezze. Highlights include the house labneh with fennel and honey, smokey eggplant manti dumplings, and a jewelled saffron rice dish studded with carrots, barberries and almonds.
LITTLE INDIA
For a taste of Egypt, head to Maha's where the menu features sunny eggs and foole, falafels stuffed with eggs, and the Pharaoh's po' boy sandwich.
LITTLE ITALY
Start with yogurt dips like the maast-o khiar served with barbari bread at The Pomegranate. When it comes to entrees, you're going to want one of the braised lamb dishes like the morasa polo with jewelled rice and braised lamb shank.
MARKHAM
Bamiyan Kabob on Markham Road is one of six GTA outposts from this chain of Afghan eateries. Kebab wraps and dinners packed with rice and salad are the thing to get, and come in choices like barg (skewered filet mignon), kofta (minced meat), and choppan (lamb chops).
NORTH YORK
Dr. Laffa is a popular Israeli-Iraqi eatery where the menu features shawarma, falafel and sabich sandwiches loaded onto fresh, puffy laffa bread. Other highlights include the hummus with beans and hard boiled eggs, and whole grilled eggplant doused in tahini.
QUEEN WEST
Me Va Me offers a fast casual dining experience featuring shawarma platters, skewered meats on salad and falafels nestled into warm laffa baked onsite in taboon ovens.
RICHMOND HILL
Hanna's Shawarma does takeout and dine-in. The namesake shawarma is a menu highlight. It comes in a choice of chicken or mixed veal and lamb, which are best accompanied by an array of salad and hot and cold apps.
RIVERSIDE
A vibrant spread of mezze and grilled meats are a delight to enjoy at Tabule. The beautiful space decorated in geometric patterns and gilded accents is almost as nice as the colourful plates of tabbouleh, fried eggplant and kefta banadura featuring minced lamb and beef sizzling in a garlicky tomato sauce.
ST. CLAIR WEST
As you might guess from its name, Mezzetta is all about small plates offered for $3.75 each or in mix-and-match combinations starting at $36 for 10 selections. Options are plentiful and include highlights like Moroccan carrots with chick peas, dill and a minty vinaigrette, and baba ganoush made with pureed eggplant and tahini.
SCARBOROUGH
Mamajoun is an informal Armenian pizzeria where the house specialty is lahmajoun. Here, the traditional flat bread is topped with a mix of minced meat and red pepper paste, and can be had folded into sandwiches or topped with extra cheese and soujouk that does indeed resemble a pizza.
THORNHILL
Sababa isn't fancy or cool, but it doesn't matter because it's so incredibly delicious. Among its many strengths is the pita (baked fresh on site) which can be had accompanying an array of dips or as the vessel for falafel or shawarma sandwiches.
WEST QUEEN WEST
Iranian food food is the specialty at Banu where starters include olive tapenade and smoked eggplant with egg. Yogurts and a shirazi salad are smart orders too, especially before tucking into meaty flame grilled specialties including delicacies like del (cow heart) or don balan (lamb testicles).
YONGE & DUNDAS
Paramount Fine Foods across from the Eaton Centre can be a chaotic and loud dining experience, but just take that as a sign of it's enduring popularity. Standouts on the menu include the hummus piled with shawarma, fresh baked manakeesh slathered with labneh and sprinkled with za'atar, and the vast assortment of sticky baklawa.
YONGE & EGLINTON
Istanbul Cafe isn't so much a restaurant as it is a coffee house. Even still, you'll find an array of sweet and savoury fare including pastries like sari burma and baklava and lunch-time favourites like spinach borek at lentil soup.
YORKVILLE
70 Down is an upscale restaurant boasting a striking interior design and menu featuring North African and Middle Eastern cuisines. On the menu, you'll find ashak (leek and onion dumplings), chargrilled Joojeh (lemon saffron chicken) and ferni (a rose water scented rice pudding).
What did I miss? Disagree with my selections in the comments.
Lead photo of Tabule by Jesse Milns.
Today in Toronto Yukon Blonde are hitting Lee's Palace to perform their latest and greatest. If indie rock shows aren't your scene, head to Carlton Cinema instead to catch screenings of horror and thriller shorts. The event is cost-free so you won't have to dig through your sofa cushions for change if you want to attend.
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 Yukon Blonde.
Toronto Restaurant Openings highlights the latest restaurant openings and closings in Toronto and also gives a preview of what's coming soon. Find us here every Thursday morning.
OPEN NOW
RECENTLY REVIEWED
OPENING SOON
CLOSED
Have you seen restaurants opening or closing in your neighbourhood? Email tips to liora@blogto.com
Photo from @beaumontsherway on Instagram.
The Bloor-Danforth subway, or Line 2 as we now tend to call it, turned 50 today. I can't tell if that makes it old or if it's noteworthy that Toronto has only had an east-west subway line since the mid-1960s. I'm going to go with the latter, if only because the idea of building subways in this city dates back to 1910.
In any case, Bloor-Danforth changed everything. For years the plan had been to build something akin to modern conceptions of the Downtown Relief Line, which would service midtown before dipping down along Queen St. Former TTC Chair Allen Lamport eventually convinced the city to build in a (mostly) straight line further north, which has shaped Toronto's development greatly.
One of the advantages of this plan was the TTC could finally put to use the oldest bit of infrastructure it had access to, namely the Bloor Viaduct (completed in 1918). Can you imagine what a kick it would have been to ride across the bridge in a subway car for the first time?
When the line first opened in 1966, it extended only between Keele and Woodbine stations, though extensions two years later would bring it to its current length at just over 26 kilometres. In other words, it was a massive undertaking -- one that has yet to be matched by transit expansion projects since.
Looking back at photos when Bloor-Danforth first opened, one notices how sparklingly clean the stations were, how well dressed riders tended to be, and the fact that the current green colour-scheme was yet to be put in place (it was originally yellow, to the Yonge Line's red). It was a different time, marked, if nothing else, by the fact that back then Toronto could get huge subway projects built.
Check out more photos of what Line 2 looked like when it was brand new.
Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson takes a first ride.
Inaugural ride along the Bloor-Danforth Line.
Entrance to Yonge Station.
Sherbourne Station looking remarkably bright.
A subway car passes along the Rosedale Valley Bridge towards Castle Frank Station.
Aerial view of the Rosedale Valley Bridge, designed by John B. Parkin.
A TTC driver tests out the new line.
Bay Station in 1966.
Christie Station looking anything but drab.
Photos via the Toronto Archives.
Target may not have lasted long in Toronto - and Canada for that matter - but it definitely left its mark on this city and our retail landscape.
So much so, as Maclean's reports, that you'll soon be able to watch a play about the company from inside an old Target store.
Community Target, by Oshawa's Robert Motum, won't open for previeww until August. The show is part of Toronto's Outside the March Theatre Company's Forward March program.
Outside the March focuses on producing site-specific, immersive productions, and according to Maclean's, Community Target will fit that bill as it examines the rise and fall of the retail giant in Canada.
Damn Dupont! The west-side street is back at it again as the latest incarnation of the House of Vans gets ready to move into the Hamilton Gears warehouse.
Located at 950 Dupont St., this massive warehouse will eventually become the next Bellwoods Brewery outpost. Before then, the House of Vans will set up shop temporarily, from March 16 to April 2.
This branded mega-facility will feature a skatepark, art gallery and musical performances, though the lineup hasn't been released yet.
Photo via Paul Gallagher on Twitter.
If you love chicken wings you're going to love Toronto's newest food truck. But these aren't just any old wings. Fully Loaded T.O is bringing stuffed chicken wings (yes, you read that right) to the city's streets.
Soon you'll be able to get stuffed by their rotating menu of wings stuffed with mac and cheese, kimchi fried rice, chicken and waffles, pepperoni pizza and much more. Also on the menu are sides of slow cooked baked beans, tangy apple slaw and crispy mashed potato balls.
The truck is expected to hit the streets next month so keep your eyes peeled to Toronto Food Trucks to find out their exact location.
Photo via Fully Loaded T.O Facebook.
Southeast Asian food gets the fast food treatment at this newly opened eatery in Toronto. The restaurant is all about boxes built on a base of salad, rice or noodles and customized with a choice of protein, sauces and garnishes.
Read my profile of The Basil Box in the restaurants section.
Winter Brewfest held its inaugural event in Toronto this past weekend. And while the festival featured an array of hard-to-find craft beers, not everyone was happy with the experience.
Winter Brewfest, however, has responded to these disgruntled festival-goers. "Unfortunately, some of you didn't have such a great time with us," read a statement on the company's website.
"We wanted to reach out and let you know that we take our event, and your feedback, very seriously. We have read every comment, review and tweet, all of which are going to help us make adjustments for next year. Thank you for your honesty."
According to the statement, Winter Brewfest will be forming a committee made up of micro-brewers, cicerones (beer sommeliers) and previous attendees to make next year's event better.
Photo by Hector Vasquez.
Toronto's been trying to revitalize the Port Lands for years now. And soon this formerly industrial area on our waterfront will get the Hollywood treatment as Pinewood Toronto Studios continues to expand.
Pinewood - Canada's biggest film and television studio - already has a 300,000 square-foot campus at 225 Commissioners St., but eventually wants to double its foot-print. To begin that process, it announced today it'd be leasing additional land from the Toronto Port Lands Company to create a 125,000 square-foot "film and television support facility," according to a news release.
"This expansion builds our capacity to host additional productions simultaneously on our lot. This means more films for Toronto which is good for the whole film industry, the whole city," says Pinewood Toronto Studio president Blake Steels.
Currently, Pinewood sits on 14 acres of land, but has options to expand to 30. Eventually this expansion could include parks, retail space and a hotel.
Numerous high-profile movies and TV shows are shot at Pinewood, including the Oscar-nominated Room and the highly-anticipated anti-superhero movie Suicide Squad.
Photo via by Stephanie Fysh in the blogTO Flickr pool.
It's cruel to think about what the TTC might look like today had previous municipal and provincial leaders stuck to a coherent vision when it comes to transit planning. Current planners have released a series of maps detailing what might be done in the next 15 years, which looks as promising as it does unlikely to happen in the allotted timeline.
Yes, Toronto is good at imagining new transit futures, but not at making them happen. This has been happening since 1910, when the first meandering subway was proposed for Toronto. If only we had really started building underground transit that long ago. We might even have a Queen subway and the Bloor-Danforth Line.
The grandaddy of all of these visions would be five years old now had the political will existed to push it through to realization. Conceived in 1985 when the city realized that it was falling behind in transit infrastructure growth, Network 2011 would shuttle Toronto into the future with no less than three new subway lines.
Whenever Network 2011 comes up, the project that gets the most focus is the Downtown Relief Line (DRL), but in fact this was a comprehensive package meant to help Toronto meet the transportation needs of its rapidly swelling population across the entire city. Along with a DRL, significant commitments were made away from the core.
Here's the plan in a nutshell: The YUS Line would be extended to Downsview, A Sheppard Line would be built from Downsview to Scarborough Town Centre, Bloor-Danforth would be extended to Sherway Gardens, an Eglinton West Line would be built to the airport, the Scarborough RT would be extended to Malvern, and a DRL would be built from Union to Pape.
Nowadays this is all sounds like the stuff of a TTC fantasy map, and yet it was very real when it was brought to the table. Yes, there was some controversy at city level, but it was changes at the provincial level that ultimately destroyed the plans.
Premier Bill Davis was on board with the plan, but trouble started when he retired in 1985. The provincial Conservatives would lose the next election to the Liberals, who quickly put Network 2011 up for review. It would never look the same after that.
Some of the plan stuck around over subsequent governments, namely the YUS extension to Downsview and a version of the Sheppard Subway. We would also have an Eglinton West subway today if Mike Harris hadn't killed that almost immediately after taking office from Bob Rae.
In other words, Network 2011 wasn't the only plan that was scrapped along the way. In fact, each time a new provincial government was elected, Toronto's transit future was reimagined. The end result, however, was that not much of anything ever got built.
What particularly stung about Rob Ford's attempt to kill the Transit City plan in 2010 is that support from the provincial government was strong. Metrolinx was founded in 2006 in part to provide greater stability in long term transit planning across the region, and the project was safe from a funding standpoint.
With a whole new round of transit expansion plans in the works, at least we can take solace in the fact that projects like the Spadina Extension and the Crosstown LRT are too far along to kill.
Network 2011 map via Wikipedia, 1910 and Queen St. subway maps via the Toronto Archives, fantasy map by Bryan Bonnici, Transit City plan via the City of Toronto.
This week is the perfect time to drink all night. If you're the type of person who thinks that last call should be extended until 4 a.m. in Toronto, now you can live your dreams as eight Toronto bars and clubs will be serving booze two hours later than usual through March 1. It's all in honour of Toronto Men's Fashion Week, happening at the Carlu.
Here are eight bars and clubs with 4 a.m. extended last call in Toronto this week.
Note: This list reflects those bars that have been granted the right to sell alcohol until 4am. They don't have to exercise that right, so always call ahead.
Photo of Same by Jesse Milns.
Weekend events in Toronto will have you dancing to Bieber and heading to Academy Awards parties. On Friday, Studio Bar will host another artist-themed jam, this time honouring the Canadian bad boy - don't forget to brush up on his pre-Purpose hits like Baby and One Time. When Sunday rolls around, dress to the nines and head to one of the many Oscar jams around the city.
For more events this weekend click on over to our events section.
MUSIC
Idée Fixe's 5th Anniversary (Feb. 25-26)
This TO-based record label celebrates a milestone over two nights, with its past and present roster turning out to perform. On night one, Jennifer Castle, Fiver, Alex Lukashevsky and Bry Webb take turns fronting the house band, while night two offers The Highest Order, Bart and more.
Troye Sivan (Feb. 26)
YouTuber-turned-musician Troye Sivan hits the Danforth Music Hall on Friday. He'll be crooning Taylor Swift approved hits from his EPs and studio album Blue Neighbourhood. The show's sold out, but you can still grab pretty reasonably priced tickets on StubHub.
Somewhere There Creative Music Festival (Feb. 26-28)
This three-day fest celebrates the city's creative music scene. You'll be able to catch sets by more than 60 performers and composers, including SlowPitchSound, Ronley Teper's Lipliners and the Ugly Beauties. There's also a speaker series that features homegrown thinkers, educators, and music presenters.
Inertia XX (Feb. 27)
Speaking of milestones, concert promoter Noel Peters (the man behind Inertia Entertainment) is marking an impressive 20 years of bringing Toronto the loudest and heaviest bands. The bash is fittingly at the Opera House, headlined by Scarborough metal icons Sacrifice, plus Macabre, Goatwhore and Panzerfaust.
FILM
The Slumber Party Massacre Movie Drinking Game (Feb. 27)
The folks behind Drunken Cinema and The MUFF Society are teaming up to show The Slumber Party Massacre at The Steady this Saturday. Sip cocktails, play drinking games and watch the 1980's cinematic gem.
Cinema Kabuki (Feb. 27)
TIFF has teamed up with The Japan Foundation to showcase Kabuki theatre films. This Saturday you can catch screenings of Lion Dance, Three Thieves Named Kichisa, Kumagai's Camp and Kagotsurube, the Haunted Sword.
Oscar Parties (Feb. 28)
Skip stressing about crafting perfect hors d'oeuvres and buying champagne and head to an Oscar party at one of Toronto's theatres or event venues instead. With everything from prix fixe dinners to steampunk bashes, there's plenty to choose from.
ART
Winter Stations (Feb. 15-Mar. 20)
If you spent October 1st fawning over outdoor exhibitions at Nuit Blanche and the end of January at Toronto Design Offsite, Winter Stations will be right up your alley. The competition has turned several life guard stations in the Beaches into works of art up until March 20.
ENTERTAINMENT
Rhubarb Festival (Feb. 17-28)
It's the final weekend of the Rhubarb Festival at Buddies in Bad Times. The annual experimental art fest still has a few theatre, dance, music, and performance art shows left to check out, but you'll want to get your tickets ASAP.
Sorry Not Sorry Bieber Dance Party (Feb. 26)
Studio Bar is hosting a Justin Bieber themed bash this Friday for all you unapologetic fans. Spend the evening with Toronto Beliebers screaming along to songs by one of Canada's most controversial treasures.
Toronto Poetry Slam Finals (Feb. 27)
If you prefer poetry to three-pointers, this event will be right up your alley. The city's top wordsmiths will take the stage at Bloor Hot Docs Cinema on the 27th for the most eloquent throwdown of the year. Bonus: American hip-hop great Sage Francis will be making an appearance.
Yoga Untapped at Steam Whistle Brewing (Feb. 28)
In need of some R&R this weekend? Head to Steam Whistle Brewing this Sunday to get your vinyasa on. You'll get to follow up your practice with a complimentary pilsner from the brewery, and nothing goes together quite like beer and bridge poses.
For more events this weekend click on over to our events section. Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit it for free using this form.
With contributions by Shazia Khan.
Photo of Winter Stations by BruceK in the blogTO Flickr pool.
Toronto's flagship H&M revealed its new look at a swanky party last night, featuring Alessia Cara and DJ Taryn Manning (a.k.a. Pennsatucky from Orange is the New Black) before opening for the public this morning.
Along with clothing for all ages, this recently renovated H&M outpost, which is among the top ten largest H&Ms in the world, features affordable (and adorable) homeware, making it a sort of fast-fashion department store.
Last night, OITNB fans lucked out because Manning played a two-hour set as partygoers milled about shopping and sipping on pear-flavoured vodka cocktails. At one point, she gave a shout out to the late Brittany Murphy, her friend and 8 Mile co-star (before all of her equipment turned off -- no joke).
Afterwards, Cara took to the stage and played an acoustic version of "Wild Thing" and her hit single "Here," all while wearing a sequin black and yellow H&M bomber, of course.
Beyond the pomp and circumstance, however, this location is still an H&M - albeit with more merchandise and much better lighting than before.
H&M Home, located on the second floor, showcases trendy pieces that'll probably help make your Pinterest-inspired dreams a reality.
Right now, it features a rather tropical motif. And despite our unfortunate February weather, I couldn't help but to start daydreaming about a patio party after spotting kitschy items such as Warhol-esque banana-printed serviettes, pineapple trays and palm tree bottle openers.
Along with the various seasonal knick-knacks, I also spotted bedding, including a particularly cozy-looking, and massive, grey blanket priced at only $39.99. In general, I didn't experience any sticker-shock while browsing around this department.
Homeware aside, the store hasn't changed too much, although there's now a much larger men's section, as well as a decent selection of lingerie, athletic-ware and shoes.
The bottom floor is dedicated to H&M's children line, which along with clothing for kids and babies, it features decorative items and plush toys.
You can shop it for yourself now because after much hype, this H&M is finally open. And it's probably a good thing too, considering this downtown mall will soon be bookended by two luxury (and expensive) department stores.
Photos by Hector Vasquez.
With an asking price of almost $2 million, the main foyer of this chic three-level suite near Bathurst and King could double as a lavish hotel lobby. Located at 20 Niagara Street, the impressive loft space was built back in the 1990s, just before the condo boom and massive developments shadowed the streets in the King West hub.
The glass suite with massive 16 foot ceilings and wall-to-wall windows is impressive - along with its killer view of the city skyline and CN Tower. A two bedroom plus den, the stainless steel/marble slab interior is finished and decorated with expensive taste. The Scavolini Kitchen features built-in appliances like a wine fridge and expresso maker for the coffee drinker(s) in the family.
The floating staircase leads to a second floor master bedroom and a fully exposed glass ensuite - heated floors, body jets and a sexy transparent wall for showering. There are two terraces, one on the main floor and a private rooftop beside the third floor library.
SPECS
NOTABLE FEATURES
GOOD FOR
You can't beat the view in this place. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer spectacular cityscapes, and there's also an expansive rooftop deck with barbecue hookup.
MOVE ON IF
You need additional privacy. This suite features a very open and somewhat odd layout. The second bedroom is on the main level and the master lacks a bedroom door and features an open plan bathroom with the sink and glass shower next to the bed. It's definitely sexy, as long as you don't mind onlookers.
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS
Is this condo worth the almost $2 million asking price? Have your say in the comments.
Caplansky's Delicatessen already has a bricks-and-mortar shop on College Street, a popular food truck known as Thunderin' Thelma and a snack bar in Terminals 1 and 3 at Pearson International Airport.
Now, Zane Caplansky wants to take his namesake deli across the country, reports marketing trade publication Strategy today.
As Strategy writes, Caplansky is working to create "Canada's first fast casual deli franchise system" with locally based management consulting firm Jackman Reinvents. Caplansky also posted a photo to his personal Instagram, with the caption: "Going national. Whew!"
There are no firm details about possible locations yet, although Strategy notes that along with sit-down restaurants, these incoming Caplansky's franchises could pop up in places such as stadiums and on university campuses.
Before that though, Yorkville will become home to a Caplansky's franchise this May.
Photo by Natta Summerky.
There's big news brewing at the LCBO, even if it's buried deep in the recently unveiled 2016 Ontario Budget. The primary source for wine and booze in Toronto (and the rest of the province) is set to introduce online sales complete with home delivery later this year, reports MobileSyrup.
While the introduction of wine sales in grocery stores might be grabbing all of the attention, this too is a long overdue update to liquor retail system that's behind the times. The LCBO should have introduced online sales a decade ago, but at least they're trying to catch up now.
The details are yet to be revealed, but the broad strokes of the plan are laid out in the Liberal budget (PDF), including the timeline:
"The LCBO is moving forward by creating a best-in-class e-commerce open marketplace.... It will provide consumers with access to a wider variety of products, as well as the flexibility to order online and pick up products in store or have them delivered to their home. This new platform will be operational by mid-2016."
There are other booze delivery services in Toronto and an existing deal with Grocery Gateway, but being able to buy directly from the LCBO in this manner will be very appealing to some, including those who competitively hunt down hard-to-find vintages and items with limited stock.
It's about time.
Photo via the LCBO.
