Hair has no gender. It's a completely neutral body part as much as a knee or a shoulder...so how come, for decades, women have been charged more for a quality cuts? One homey studio run by two women wants to change all that, by charging purely based on hair length and particular services.
Read my profile of The Monarch Hair Studio in the fashion section.
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
Have you seen restaurants opening or closing in your neighbourhood? Email tips to liora@blogto.com
Photo from Rolltation on Instagram.
From the guys who brought you one of life's necessities comes a new pizza place serving upscale pies at takeout prices. Never be forced to choose between cardboard-y options for takeout again. And as for dining in, whiskey and pizza, together at last? Yes please.
Read my profile of Village Pizza in the restaurants section.
Hair has no gender. It's a completely neutral body part as much as a knee or a shoulder...so how come, for decades, women have been charged more for a quality cut? One homey studio run by two women wants to change all that, by charging purely based on hair length and particular services.
Read my profile of The Monarch Hair Studio in the fashion section.
Essential Toronto bars are places you would tell your very best friend to go if they needed to drink STAT. Or maybe the type of place you'd tell an out of town buddy to check out. These bars are a bunch of establishments that consistently add flavour to the city and we're thankful they're here to do so.
Here are my picks for the most essential bars in Toronto.
Sneaky Dee's
We once described this place as "a longtime institution of Toronto's downtown core that caters to the young and cash-strapped." Covered in graffiti, smothered with massive plates of nachos and spilling over with well-priced pints, this punk dive bar is a must.
Communist's Daughter
This bar is the size of a large walk-in closet, but instead of amazing pieces of clothing and shoes, it's packed with extremely friendly neighbourhood drinkers. There's often a show in the front window.
Woody's
This is the ultimate starting point for gay Toronto. Lots of friendly men (and some women) gather there on any given night of the week for good drag shows, cheap pints and of course, the best ass contest every Saturday night.
Cold Tea
Head straight through Kensington Mall, down the hallway, past the friendly woman selling dumplings and into this cozy dive bar. The bar itself is tiny, but it's the lively back patio that has all the kids talking. Lots of seating, special guest DJs and sunny afternoon jams.
3 Speed
We once described the look of this Bloordale bar as blending "the chic look of exposed brick wall and fancy art pieces with comfortable retro-basement touches like faux wood paneling and tacky lamps." I'll also mention the friendly neighbourhood back patio, 30-something crowd of calm drinkers and a reliable menu.
Get Well
This Dundas West favourite is co-owned by Al (you may recognize him from Victory Café) and Jeff and Tim from Sonic Boom. They have a commendable craft beer selection, lots of seating, the crowd is anything but boring or obnoxious and the music selection is always entertaining.
Done Right Inn
An extremely low key bar near Trinity Bellwoods that you've probably walked by hundreds of times. It's very unassuming but very charming and the perfectly tree-covered patio out back is a warm neighbourly hug just when you need it. It's like a miniature legion, frequented by West Queen West's most non-pretentious.
Track and Field
The youngest bar on this list has fast become a Toronto bar staple. It's our city's first ever lawn games bar! Bringing summer sports indoors, all year long on College Street, the bar is mostly made up of room to stand or sit and drink, but with a bocce ball and shuffleboard bonus.
The Drake
The bar that changed Toronto's west side forever made this list because patrons showing up on any night of week (full-disclosure, weekends are nuts, so enter at your own risk) will find a well-made drink and something to do, if they want. The Sky Yard is a TO summer-must and cocktails on the main floor are great for people watching.
The Only
Holding fort for the east side, the essential drinking hole has hundreds of bottles of beer to chose from, a great selection of micro-breweries and dozens of stuff on tap. It's a neighbourhood gem that patrons swear by and a must-sit-and-drink spot on the Danforth.
Thanks to Moosehead for sponsoring this post.
Did I miss your essential Toronto bar? Let us know where you think we absolutely must have a beverage. Cheers!
Photo of Cold Tea by Jesse Milns.
Toronto's been heating up this summer. And it doesn't look like the 6ix is going to cool down any time soon, especially when you look at the forecast for the next few days.
There's currently a heat warning in effect because it's going to be 33C today, but with the humidex it's supposed to feel like 38C. And tomorrow, the thermometer is expected to hit 34C, though the humidex will make it more like 43C.
Find an air conditioned space, drink lots and lots of water, take a dip at your local public pool and treat yourself to an ice cream (or two) - all in the name of keeping cool, right?
How will you beat the heat in Toronto? Let us know in the comments.
Photo by Antoine Deme the blogTO Flickr pool.
Either everyone's losing sleep from ghosts or a 1900's renovated church is just too much for certain buyers. Another multi million dollar church-loft conversion at 40 Westmoreland is up for grabs (and #2 is also on the market if you're interested in original religious stained glass windows in your nursery).
If you're looking for a unique pad, this heritage home is sure to do the trick. With a strikingly beautiful balance of glass banisters and original century old neo-gothic church architecture, you'll want to show this place off to your crew.
The space - designed by Architect Asen Vitko and built by Dog Day Developers - is one of 17 lofts tucked inside this revamped church built in 1914, and is officially designated under the Ontario Heritage Act.
With cathedral ceilings and a master bedroom/bathroom (complete with soaker tub) that'll make you want to stay in every weekend, this space is really stepping it up in a city that's getting a bit too friendly to boxy glass condos.
SPECS
NOTABLE FEATURES
GOOD FOR
Low maintenance fees in an architectural dream. Plus, you're minutes away from the subway and tucked away from the busyness of downtown.
MOVE ON IF
You're looking for outdoor space. While the interior is impressive, there's no terrace or balcony to store a barbecue and throw an epic outdoor church party.
Weekend events in Toronto lean heavily on amazing food experiences like the T&T Night Market and KothuFest. If all else fails head to the brand new OssFest or Big on Bloor to walk it off. Have a great, sunny weekend everyone!
Here are my top picks for weekend events in Toronto.
FOOD & DRINK
Lakeshore Rib Fest (Fort York)
Fort York gets its very own Rib Fest! Part of the Northern Heat Rib Series, expect a whole lotta meat grilling, competitions, prizes and (duh) beer.
Homegrown Pizza in the Park (July 22, Christie Pits)
A community pizza night at the wood-burning oven at Christie Pits Park. For $5 you get half a pizza, served by a Homegrown Park Ranger and cooked up by the people at Pizzeria Libretto and A3 Napoli.
Toronto's Festival Of Beer (July 22-24, Bandshell Park, Exhibition Place)
Saturday is sold out, but Friday and Sunday are still calling your name down at the Ex grounds. 333 brews spread out over the property. Buy some tokens and try as many as you can handle. There are also concerts, one of which is House of Pain on Friday.
T&T Night Market (July 22-24, T&T Market)
The night market of all night markets, the T&T parking lot is taken over by hundreds of food stalls, two stages of entertainment and one of the the best summer sunset views of the city skyline you'll ever see.
Momo Crawl (July 24, Little Tibet, Parkdale)
Did you know Little Tibet is in Parkdale? It's true! And this means Momo's! Momos are delicious Tibetan dumplings (meat or veg) mixed with herbs and spices. $20 gets you a passport to 10 momos at resto's all around the area.
KothuFest (Scarborough Civic Centre)
Kothu Roti is one of the greatest dishes on planet earth. It's a Sri Lankan streetfood made up of chopped up roti and a small mountain of other delicious ingredients. This Fest also features music and games... but mostly the gift to your mouth and belly called Kothu.
FESTIVALS
Wayhome Festival (July 22-24, Oro Medonte)
The massive, out of town but worth the trek art and culture fest is finally here! The second edition of the laid-back music and camping extravaganza (you don't have to camp if you don't want to, but it makes things way easier) features headliners LCD Soundsystem, Arcade Fire and The Killers. Also so many other bands, both local and international. Have fun!
OssFest (July 23, Ossington Ave)
Ossington finally gets a street fest of their very own! This one has a twist though, it's centered around a Crit Bike race most of the day, and then fun restaurant and shop activities on the street.
Big on Bloor (July 23-24, Bloor Street West)
Look forward to two days of shopping and entertainment when BIG on Bloor closes the street off to cars between Lansdowne and Dufferin. The event boasts a lengthy list of vendors, entertainers, and more. Best part? It's open 'till midnight on Saturday! Full list of fun here.
Figment (July 23-24, Olympic Island)
Redefining how you interact with art, this little festival on Toronto Island (Gibraltar Point to be exact) will feature many large scale interactive artworks. Seriously, just show up with zero expectations and let your mind run free. Last year's fest included a giant fish, forest sound loops, and an intergalactic garden.
Rogers Cup (July 23-31, Aviva Centre, York University)
Stacks of amazing Canadian talent this year on the courts of this ultra important tennis tournament happening in the Northern reaches of the city. We've made a list describing everything you need to know about the tournament, so get your cutest tennis gear on and grab a seat.
Toronto International BrazilFest (July 24, Earlscourt Park)
If you can't make it down to Rio de Janeiro for the summer 2016 Olympics, you can always celebrate Brazil right here in Toronto thanks to the 13th annual BrazilFest. The all-day event runs from noon until 10 p.m and features loads of entertainment, drinks and food.
MARKETS
Summer Post Market (July 24, Steam Whistle Brewery)
From 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. shop vintage, handmade and new clothing and projects from an impressive list of vendors spread out all around the Steam Whistle Brewery.
POKEMON GO
Toronto Gaymers Pokemon Go Village crawl (July 23, Riddle Room)
Gay gamers unite at the Riddle Room! The group will leave around 6 p.m. to stroll the village, get some items via Pokestops, and "possibly some gym takeovers, depending what team you're on." The purpose of this meet up is to promote safe Pokemon hunting.
Pokemon Go Lure Party (July 23, Jack Layton ferry terminal)
Catch them all starting at 6 p.m. right on the water. This might be the nicest Lure Party venues the city has hosted so far. Bring friends, a full battery, and most importantly, lucky eggs.
MUSIC
Black Mountain (July 23, Lee's Palace)
There are a bunch of great shows this weekend, but Black Mountain is one of our country's most underrated treasures. This is a show to see. With their current Polaris Prize buzz and new record praises, grab our ear plugs and see this Vancouver quintet.
DANCING
Edition Special: Disco Disco (July 23,The Piston)
If you've never attended a Disco Disco bash at The Piston, their Edition Special parties are the perfect introduction. The boys of A Digital Needle know disco like no one else in Toronto and they make it easy to reach euphoric levels of dance freedom on the floor with this party.
Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO Toronto events section and have a great weekend!
Thanks to the Northern Heat Rib Series for sponsoring this post
Photo by Jesse Milns.
ZARA and its parent company Inditex have been under fire lately for allegedly copying independent designers and artists, including one design duo in Toronto.
Crywolf, a boutique at 91 Ossington Ave., posted a note on Facebook and Instagram yesterday detailing how Bershka (an Inditex brand) sold a pin that looked eerily similar to its own Healing Cloud pin (pictured above).
"This is not the first time it's happened to us. We have witnessed other large companies - specifically Forever21 and Urban Outfitters do the same thing to us, and other indie designers," Crywolf co-founders Rose Chang and Stephanie Drabik tell me via email.
"We did not get any resolution, as their design turnover is so frantic and fast, it was futile for us to try and pursue legal action. Big companies know this, and take full advantage of the little guy. The upside to this is that with all of the designers they ripped off in this case, we have now garnered a collective voice and Zara is getting terrible negative media attention. That is more than we could have wished for."
Earlier this week, Los Angeles-based artist Tuesday Bassen took to Instagram, claiming that ZARA had ripped off many of her designs over the past year.
Other artists have spoken out too, including New York's Adam J. Kurtz. He created the website shoparttheft.com, which catalogues the various pieces (usually pins) that ZARA has allegedly reproduced without permission. Crywolf's Healing Cloud was included in this roundup.
Chang and Drabik are now speaking to lawyers to decide what to do next.
We have reach out to Inditex for comment, but at press time, have yet to hear back.
Apparently Niantic sees Toronto as a sleepy city. And perhaps the company behind Pokemon Go still thinks of us as Toronto the Good - that's why it filled Hogtown with a slew of long-nosed, yellow Drowzees.
Now you can show your love for this psychic Pokemon with a t-shirt - created by Will O'Neill on the website Design by Humans - that riffs on Peace Collective's popular Toronto vs Everybody line.
The design is distinctly summer '16 - I mean, you're going to need a souvenir to remember this already outrageous year.
If you've been spending lots of time catching Drowzees, you can grab a shirt online. Tees start at $24, while sweatshirts and long sleeves are a bit more expensive.
When I arrive at the Hearn Generating Station to inquire about its future following this year's Luminato Festival on a sunny Friday afternoon, the old power plant is alive with activity. Signs of the two and half week arts festival are gone, but the enormous building hardly seems abandoned.
An NBC work crew is preparing the space to film scenes of the upcoming Taken television adaptation, Studios of America President Paul Vaughan is on the phone discussing an upcoming Guillermo del Toro feature, and outgoing Luminato director Jörn Weisbrodt is preparing to tow his Airstream trailer away from Toronto for the next stage in his life.
It's an intriguing moment to be at the Hearn, one that gestures to the future of the hulking industrial complex. No one knows if Luminato will be back next year, but even as Weisbrodt sails off into the sunset, it seems sure that we haven't seen the last of major public events here, though it might take some time before the scale of this year's festival is reproduced.
"I've had some completely off the wall proposals," Vaughan tells me as we stroll around the space. "I can't get into the specifics on account of confidentiality, but I'm getting a lot of calls." His company, Studios of America, owns the lease on the Hearn, which could run until 2041 if various extensions are exercised.
According to Vaughan, the popularity of the video capturing the Rufus Wainright and Choir! Choir! Choir! collaboration at the Hearn has generated significant interest in the decommissioned power plant from groups beyond the film industry, though he characterizes many of the inquiries he's received as "pie in the sky."
For now, the future of the Hearn is to continue on as one of Toronto's primary film locations. There were 17 major shoots at the former industrial site last year, and with the Canadian dollar where it's at, there's no sign of its waning popularity with American film crews.
If anything, the success of Luminato this year has complicated the long term future of the building. Over the last decade there have been various musings about re-purposing the site as an arena complex or, more dramatically, as the the future home of an NFL stadium. Now, however, the viability of the site as a cultural hub can't be brushed aside.
In any case, grand scale ideas for the redevelopment of the Hearn have gone quiet. Studios of America's lease of the property is surely part of this - any proposal would have to involve the company for next quarter century - but it's also because the Port Lands itself still remains a big question mark.
How and when the area will be redeveloped isn't known at present.
While the only part of the complex that enjoys heritage protection is the towering smokestack, there doesn't appear to be any immediate danger of the building being lost to demolition. At present, it's too valuable as it is.
Studios of America sought and received a demolition permit in December 2010, which the city granted, but no action was taken. A demolition for demolition's sake scenario is highly unlikely to play out here because the structure is just too valuable as a shooting location.
"You can't reproduce the Hearn on a soundstage," Vaughan explains.
As to the company's willingness to host another Luminato or cultural programming of its ilk at the Hearn, Studios of America is open to the possibilities, but it has to make sense financially. Vaughan speaks with pride about what the festival was able to do with the space this year, but notes that proposals for use of the space must be economically viable.
In that sense, a return of Luminato to the Hearn is very much in the hands of the festival itself. It's too early for the recently appointed artistic director Josephine Ridge to disclose her plans for the 2017 edition of the event, but even if Luminato moves on, the city has now seen what can be done when the space is opened to the public.
The gauntlet has been been thrown down, and what becomes of the Hearn prior to full scale redevelopment of the Port Lands is very much much a matter of how creative would-be users of the space can get with their proposals.
Photos by Jonathan Castellino, Andrew Williamson, and Derek Flack.
Toronto is an expensive city, especially when it comes to real estate. For many of us, buying a home is a pipe dream considering the average price of detached house is sitting at just over $1 million. But not all neighbourhoods are that exorbitant.
Sky View Suites charts the average sales prices of homes (and their equivalent condos, or units with three-plus bedrooms) from June 2015 to June 2016 (here's the high-res version). It places its results on a handy TTC subway map so you can compare and contrast each stop - well, except those with insufficient data, like St. Patrick and Museum.
But the results aren't all that surprising. Prices go up to more than $2 million near Summerhill, Rosedale and Castle Frank and they fall as you travel east along the Bloor-Danforth Line.
As we said with Sky View's rental map, take these numbers with a grain of salt and instead use the map as a guide to help illustrate real estate trends in Toronto - it's pricey to be in the core.
Map via Sky View Suites.
The top patios in Parkdale perfectly match the vibe of the neighbourhood. They're casual spots that have opted to keep things simple and relaxed, skipping swanky patio decor and opting for a less-is-more approach. If you're on the hunt for a place to kick back outdoors on the west side, try one of these.
Here are my picks for the top patios in Parkdale.
Cadillac Lounge
This hidden backyard gem has room for 200, making it a favourite for large groups. While the food here may not exactly be Michelin Star quality, the space is well worth a trip on a sweaty streetcar - there's a pay-per-use pool table, an eclectic mix of patrons to mingle with and coverings and heating for when the weather starts acting up.
Electric Mud BBQ
If you don't mind sharing a bit of your personal space, Electric Mud's patio is a good time. The compact sidewalk space is decked out with standard patio decor: picnic tables, branded umbrellas and strings of hanging lights. The music is loud, the BBQ is on point and the space is usually jam-packed.
Tibet Kitchen
Parkdale is home to Toronto's Tibetan community so why not kick back on the backyard patio at Tibet Kitchen. The space has enough room for 40 drinkers and diners and flaunts flower baskets, trees and a few lanterns for good measure.
Mezzrow's
The backyard patio at Mezzrow's is about as casual as they come. The epitome of unpretentiousness, it features picnic tables, worn fences and good times. If you think outdoor sofas, swanky decor accessories and big screens are overrated, you'll be into this.
Raca Cafe
Raca Cafe boasts a sweet rooftop space that's been prettied-up with hanging lights, wood furnishings and Buddhist murals. If you're looking for a bit of privacy, it's surrounded by a high fence, making it even more of an escape from the hustle and bustle happening at street level.
Thanks to Strongbow for sponsoring our 2016 Patio Guide
What did I miss? Add your favourite patio in Parkdale in the comments.
There's a new Thai restaurant in town and while it has traditional dishes on the menu, there's also a whole lineup of novel fusion food, like khao soi poutine, ramen tom yum, satay tacos, and my personal fave, green curry spaghetti.
Read my profile of Eat BKK in the restaurants section.
Summer is here and the time is right for dancing in the streets so it's good news that Toronto will be getting more pedestrian-only streets this August and September. It's all thanks to Open Streets TO, Toronto's annual festival that is expanding its footprint for 2016.
Open Streets TO is all about getting people walking, running and biking on our roadways. And for the upcoming pedestrian takeovers, scheduled for August 21 and September 18, the city's car-free network will be expanding east of the DVP.
On both days, Yonge Street will shut from Bloor to Queen, while on on August 21, Bloor will be closed to cars from Parliament to Dufferin. On September 18, this east-west pedestrian-only thoroughfare will run along the Danforth from Hampton Avenue all the way to Dufferin.
That gives you lots of ground to cover as you set out to explore the city on foot.
Photo by Marcanadian via the blogTO Flickr pool.
Guu is back in Toronto! The menu is the same one you know and love, featuring raw seafood, jazzed up bar food and beer-friendly bowls of ramen.
Read my profile of the new Guu in the restaurants section.
We told you last month that Glad Day Bookshop, Toronto's oldest bookstore and the world's oldest LGBT bookstore as well, was moving. They've now announced the street level location.
In a statement released on Facebook by lead co-owner Michael Erickson, he excitedly announced that the shop will be moving to 499 Church Street, otherwise known as Byzantium.
Glad Day will take occupancy mid-August and hope to open the fully-renovated space by fall.
The shop will add a few more pages to it's already impressive resume with a daytime coffee shop in the front space, and a bar at night featuring party programming on weekends.
Other features of the new space includes a small performance space for readings, a licensed back patio, accessible washrooms and entrance, as well as over 2000 square feet of bookshop glory.
There's no solid opening date, which depends on renovations, which depends on fundraising and crowd sourcing currently going on.
"Byzantium has been a successful Church Street business for the last 19 years. Working with the current owners to make this happen has been a positive, reciprocal experience and we wish them all the best with their other projects," Erickson says in the statement.
While everyone was paying attention to the debate about subways vs. LRTs in Scarborough at Toronto's last city council meeting, a separate item on the agenda with more significant bearing on the city's transit future passed mostly without notice.
Perhaps this was because the motion merely called for further study of long-promised project or perhaps it's because the city's transit priorities are askew. In any case, plans for rapid transit along Toronto's rapidly intensifying waterfront are hopelessly behind the rate of development we've witnessed over the last decade.
Back in 2007, there were approved plans for a Waterfront West LRT as part of the Transit City proposal. The line was scrapped as part of Rob Ford's subway-focused agenda in 2010, but unlike some of the other LRT lines that were part of the initial master plan (e.g. the Eglinton Crosstown and Finch West LRT), it was never re-approved and funded when council changed tack in 2012.
In summer of 2014, the Waterfront LRT was back on the radar thanks to a scheme from TTC CEO Andy Byford and then City Manager Joe Pennachetti to approach the provincial government directly for funding, bypassing the dithering that's characterized much of the debate at city council. That helped draw attention to the languishing transit line, but there remain no concrete plans.
What's happened since then is what's being termed the "Waterfront Transit Reset." Basically planning for the Toronto waterfront's transit needs was so neglected, that the city decided to start over with new studies and consultations regarding future infrastructure along the lakefront.
There are a lot of options on the table right now, but it will be many years before shovels are in the ground on an integrated transit plan for Toronto's waterfront.
Before work can get underway, the city needs to decide what makes the most sense in terms of building a continuous east-west connection at the foot of the city and, of course, how to fund the whole thing.
Eventually, we could see a dedicated LRT along the route of the 501 streetcar from the Humber River to Long Branch, a connection between the streetcar ROW on the Queensway and Exhibition Place leading into the core, and a new tunnel underneath Bay St. linking a potential East Bayfront LRT with the existing streetcar passage connecting Queens Quay and Union.
That's just a few highlights from a myriad of scenarios that planners have laid out, which also include more humble options like increased streetcar service along the western stretch of the 501 and the conversion of the Union-Queens Quay tunnel to a pedestrian walkway.
In other words, planners aren't short of ideas, but we're a long way from any of them coming to reality at present.
The mostly unnoticed transit item on city council's last meeting agenda was Phase 2 of the "Waterfront Transit Reset," which involves a closer study of alignment options and the creation of a business case for an integrated vision for transit in this segment of the city.
It was passed with amendments stipulating that the city should begin an immediate dialogue with the owners of the former Mr. Christie's site at Park Lawn and Lake Shore in the hopes of it housing a transit hub in the future and that the city recognize the immediate need for improved transit around the Humber Bay Shores area.
The problem is, of course, that having neglected waterfront transit for so long, there's no way for Toronto to address the needs of this area with any immediacy at all. The results of Phase 2 of the study are due in the second quarter of 2017. Only after that can one begin to dream of funding for any of these projects.
In other words, it's likely to be more than a decade until there's a light at the end of the tunnel for waterfront transit in Toronto.
Photo by Natta Summerky.
The $1 million condo in Toronto ain't what it used to be. You'd think this benchmark price would get you boast-worthy pad with lots of luxury features and amenities, but some of the listing out there are downright pedestrian, particularly those located in high demand neighbourhoods. Read it and weep, Toronto.
Here's what a $1 million condo looks like in Toronto.
$959,000 in Liberty Village
Coming in at under the $1 million mark, this Toy Factory loft is actually one of the nicest on the market in this price range. With two bedrooms spread over two storeys and a 17 foot ceiling atop the living room, the unit feels wonderfully spacious. The exposed concrete won't be for everybody, but it suits the loft aesthetic. Maintenance fees come in at $580.84 a month.
$999,999 in Sunnybrook
Once you hit the million mark in Toronto's condo market, you see more and more townhouses. This one can be found across from Sunnybrook Hospital proximate to Lawrence Park and Leaside, a location that will cost you. This unit features three bedrooms, but the living space is relatively small and the design is rather conservative.
$1,039,888 on the waterfront
This building located on the waterfront, though the view from the unit in question mostly faces towards the Financial District. I'm not sure if that's a bad thing, as the view is still incredible and there are some lake view vantage points. There are three bedrooms and an open-concept living and eating space plus building amenities like a sweet indoor pool and exercise room.
$1,048,000 at Humber Bay Shores
If it's sweeping waterfront views you're after, then this Humber Bay Shores condo is a good representative of what a million bucks gets you west of downtown Toronto. The 1594 square foot unit has three bedrooms and 10 foot ceilings throughout. Maintenance fees ring up at $1,075 a month, but you'll get a rooftop terrace, indoor pool and sauna, gym and a mini theatre.
$1,079,000 at Richmond and Spadina
This pimped out unit only features one bedroom, but it's got a billiard area and a novel design that'll appeal to young professionals who are earning big without the financial demands of a family. This custom loft was achieved by joining two existing units, which gives it tons of character, but be prepared to fork out on the maintenance fees, which come in at $1,121.40 a month.
Would you buy any of these condos if you were in the market? Let us know in the comments.
It feels like a raging inferno in Toronto today. Temperatures are currently sitting at around 35 C, but it feels closer to 38 C with the humidex. Thankfully, there's a bit of a breeze so it's somewhat bearable outside.
As 680 News reported, Pearson Airport is recording the highest temperatures in the country right now, making Toronto the hottest city in Canada (but we already knew that, right?).
There's currently a heat warning in effect, so drink lots of water, find a place with good AC and try to keep cool. It's also the perfect day for some soft serve or a dip in a local pool.
It's supposed to be hot and sunny all weekend, so you can blame this heatwave on the slew of Charizards running through the 6ix right now.
Photo by Nicoli OZ Mathews in the blogTO Flickr pool.
