The best cafes in Toronto for free WiFi are excellent settings to recharge both your laptop and yourself. Top notch coffee, a selection of snacks, ample table space and plenty of power outlets are essential to help get your mental juices flowing.
Here are the best cafes in Toronto for free WiFi.
Toronto's 23rd annual Taste of the Danforth was this past weekend. A hungry crowd made its way east of the DVP to Greektown to fill up on food from local vendors. While only a smattering of the participating restaurants dished out Greek-style eats, there was still plenty to munch on at this massive street festival.
Check out this photo gallery of our favourite food from Taste of the Danforth 2016.
Toronto's Market 707 is filled with a wide variety of vendors serving up delicious food from around the world. And soon, these converted shipping containers will get a new tenant who's going to be feeding the Dundas and Bathurst area Zimbabwean-style meat pies.
Mnandi Pies is slated to have its grand opening on August 20 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. This local food startup specializes in flaky, Zimbabwean-style meat pies stuffed with items such as beef, chicken and kale.
Prior to finding a permanent home at Market 707, Mnandi Pies appeared at farmers's markets and events across the city, including the Junction Market and Friday Night Live at the ROM.
Now, you'll be able to get your pie fix whenever you want.
Photo via ZimArt Rice Lake Gallery on Facebook.
If you've walked by the Drake Hotel lately, you might have spotted signage announcing Toronto's newest pizza joint. And while this incoming restaurant might sound tantalizing, don't ever expect it to open.
That's because it's a promo for SiriusXM Canada's Top Comic Standing. The competition, which is on now, pits standup comedians against one another and asks the public to vote for their favourite performers.
The finalists will get to perform during JFL24 (that's the Toronto edition of the Just For Laughs comedy festival) at SiriusXM Top Comic Comedy Gala Finale on September 29th. A panel of judges with crown one winner who'll get $25,000.
Are you disappointed that Dick's won't be opening? Let us know in the comments.
If the Game of Thrones theme song gives you the chills, you should probably mark your calendar for March 4, 2017 - that's when the GoT concert flies into the Air Canada Centre.
The show's composer, Ramin Djawadi, will transport fans to the Seven Kingdoms using sound - including an orchestra and choir - and visual elements. Yes, this means you'll get to travel to Westeros, Essos and beyond as the HBO show comes to life in arenas and stadiums across North America.
"The GoT Concert Experience will be unique in the history of concert tours, an eye-popping, ear-splitting, phantasmagoric blend of the show's visuals and Ramin's powerful compositions. We are more excited for it than anyone," say GoT creators/executive producers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss in a news release today.
While (spoiler alert) it may not be as epic as Kristian Nairn's (aka Hodor, RIP) Rave of Thrones, The Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience should keep you happy until season 7 airs next spring.
Tickets go on sale on Saturday, August 13 at 10 a.m., but the pre-sale starts tomorrow.
One of West Queen West's most iconic landmarks in the late 2000s was Thrush Holmes' neon-adorned gallery and studio space. Located just west of Dovercourt Rd. beside what would become the sales office for the Bohemian Embassy, it was a symbol of a neighbourhood defined by a creative spirit that had emerged from its industrial past.
When Holmes relocated in 2011 after five years, the character of the street and surrounding neighbourhood had changed immensely. The arts hub that was 48 Abell was gone, the Mercer Union moved north to Bloor, and the area had become the city's hallmark of hip living, complete with a roster of new condos and bars.
This isn't a sad story. Or at least it doesn't have to be. Toronto needs place likes the West Queen West we have today, but it also needs areas that will serve as breeding grounds for artistic endeavours, new ideas, and cultural experimentation. For now, the city still has such places in steady supply.
Where did Thrush Holmes go when he left West Queen West?
Geary Avenue, of course. That strange hybrid of a street where you're just as likely to find an auto body shop as you are a jam space, a brewery, an architecture firm, or an artist studio. In a city that's growing as rapidly as Toronto, it's places like Geary where you might take our cultural temperature.
Part of the reason for this is the zoning of the street. Geary Avenue is predominantly zoned as Employment Industrial lands, which permits a wide variety of uses but precludes two rather significant ones: residential developments and entertainment facilities, a.k.a. nightclubs and live music venues.
There was considerable disappointment in the music community when DIY venues that had popped up on the street were served with zoning violation notices late last winter, but in the aftermath, it appears that Geary's diverse and highly creative character is protected by its zoning status rather than the other other way around.
Venues like Geary Lane and 76A continue to be successful because they're multifaceted and not merely live music spaces or businesses that might be confused as nightclubs. These places are studios before they're venues.
Amidst all the attention the street received last year, there were several misguided attempts to characterize it and the surrounding area as "the next Ossington," a reductive label that fails to grasp the manner in which Geary has developed. The entrepreneurial character here has given rise to a commercial upswing, but it's hardly a shopping or entertainment destination.
While recently opened bar The Greater Good has proved a popular successor to the rarely populated KITCH, it's the only bit of official and consistent nightlife that Geary currently sustains. On the contrary, most of the action here takes place during the day, from tastings at Blood Brothers Brewing and Yongehurst Distillery to caffeine fixes at Dark Horse Espresso.
All three of these businesses are good examples of what makes Geary so fascinating. This Dark Horse isn't just a cafe; it's a bakery that supplies all the other locations with their sandwiches and treats. Blood Brothers and Yongehurst, meanwhile, are primarily focused on making beer/booze, and the tasting component naturally follows.
In other words, businesses on Geary aren't looking to capitalize on some distant possibility that the street will boast a party scene, but on the productive vibe that it cultivates right now. Take, for example, the street's newest tenant, an architecture and design firm that's making waves for its innovative approach to both disciplines.
"PARTISANS needed to go big," co-founder Alex Josephson tells me about the firm's recent relocation to Geary Ave. "We scoured the city for interesting locations and looked at this 5,500-square-foot space in The Artisan Factory... Geary is one of the last industrial manufacturing pockets in downtown Toronto. We love to find new synergies, so being close to other makers and fabricators was a priority."
Space isn't an ancillary consideration here. The industrial character of the street is why such studios exist. "The studio is big enough to build and showcase all of the models and prototypes we make," Josephson continues. "It doesn't hurt that some cool breweries and bars have opened up, too. Also, if you replace the "a" in Geary with an 'h,' you've got a great architectural omen!'"
The Artisan Factory itself is a microcosm of the street. The former textile printing factory's brick exterior is as bland as they come, like much of the architecture on Geary. And yet inside you'll find a futuristic condominium concept model at PARTISANS just a door away from the enticing neon that marks Holmes' studio, which is itself just a few paces away from a workshop from which gorgeous guitars derive.
Claudio, the current owner of the building acquired the space in 2004 when the area was, as he says, "very sketchy." The renewal started with wood working studios and other soft industrial uses before more creative and hospitality-oriented businesses moved in. It's been a slow process, but "now's the fun time," he says in regard to the current mix of tenants in the building.
"I think people like how adaptable we are to their needs, but the building is also attractive because it has three loading docks," he says in underscoring the importance that utility plays in drawing people to the building and Geary in general. "It's also a place where collaboration between tenants is commonplace, even if it's just cutting a piece of wood."
Geary remains such a profoundly interesting part of Toronto because it somehow manages to ride the line between an insular work zone and a burgeoning commercial strip where neither of these distinct uses overrides the other.
That's a rare thing in this city.
Photos by Jesse Milns, Derek Flack, Matt Forsythe, Hector Vasquez, and via PARTISANS and the Artisan Factory.
Today in Toronto there's a pop up night market in the Financial District, a tiki night in the Junction and a boat cruise with the folks from Spacing. It's also the perfect night to catch a cheap Tuesday movie and head out into the night for a spontaneous cocktail.
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 via the River Gambler Facebook page.
Detached new builds aren't a commonality in Toronto, and 90 Mcgillivray Avenue just happens to offer both. Located just south of Bathurst and Wilson, this new home listed at $2,300,000 is a breath of fresh air from the other homes listed at that price needing renovations.
Built in 2015, this modern dwelling comes with a layout and design that older homes just don't offer. The kitchen is made for entertaining with a spacious layout, a massive island, and working space for a serious home chef, while the open concept living and dining room can accommodate a huge dinner party.
The master bedroom on the second floor comes equipped with a drool worthy walk-in closet along with a high-end ensuite bathroom, complete with soaker tub and two sinks. The second bedroom comes with another spacious ensuite, and there's even a third bathroom on the floor for the two remaining bedrooms.
With a finished lower level and walkout to an extra large fenced in backyard, this spot is ideal for a family. It may not be the most accessible for running errands on foot, but it's just shy of the 401 should commuting be in the job description.
SPECS
NOTABLE FEATURES
GOOD FOR
Someone who doesn't want to deal with the stresses of old Toronto homes. This new build should come without need for renos for many years.
MOVE ON IF
You want to ditch your wheels and get around on foot. While transit is close-by, there isn't enough amenities within walking distance to comfortably sacrifice the car.
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS
What do you think of this new build? Let us know in the comments.
You'll soon be able to avoid the highway if you need to get from Toronto to Niagara super, super quickly. That's because Greater Toronto Airways will start offering daily flights between these two southern Ontario cities, as CBC News reports.
Instead of sitting in traffic, you'll be able to take a 12 minute flight on an eight seat plane from Billy Bishop to the Niagara District Airport, which is located in St. Catharines.
You won't exactly land by the falls, but St. Catharines is pretty close to all the Clifton Hill action.
According to CBC, a one way flight will start at $85, while it'll be around $159 for a round-trip. Greater Toronto Airways will also start flying to other nearby destinations, such as Collingwood.
Photo by kaeko via the blogTO Flickr pool.
The newest location of this popular local cafe mini-chain is now open by the lake and along with a patio and great espresso-based drinks there's also whisky and craft beer available here.
Read my profile of Boxcar Social in the cafes section.
Toronto fans who couldn't get tickets to one of the Tragically Hip concerts, take note. The Canadian National Exhibition will be broadcasting the band's final show at the Bandshell Stage on August 20 starting at 8:30 p.m.
Once you pay the price of admission, this live broadcast - like most shows at The Ex - will be free to attend.
"This concert is destined to be one of those great Canadian music moments in time. It's going to be a monumental event to watch and be a part of a national celebration," says the CNE's General Manager Virginia Ludy in a news release.
The Hip will cap off their farewell tour in Kingston, Ontario on August 20. They embarked on this cross-Canada journey after front man Gord Downie announced he had been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.
And if you can't make it to the CNE, plenty of other Toronto-area venues and bars will be screening the concert too.
Photo via the Tragically Hip / Mike Homer
A new place for creativity in Toronto is a playground for your artistic abilities, kind of like Paintlounge...but with cocktails. A little liquid inspiration always helps the creative juices flow, right? At least if you overindulge, you'll wake up the next morning with your own masterpiece and not just a hangover.
Read my profile of Pinot's Palette in the design section.
American politics are making their way north. As the presidential election drama rages on, former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Newt Gingrich, will make his way to Toronto for the next Munk Debate.
The debate, scheduled for September 30 at Roy Thomson Hall, will move the motion: be it resolved, Donald Trump can make America great again.
Gingrich, along with radio host Laura Ingraham, will be arguing for the resolution (or on the pro side of the debate). They'll be facing Robert Reich and the former governor of Michigan Jennifer Granholm, who will on the con side of things.
This isn't the first time Trumpisms have made their way north of the border. One local retailer started selling anti-Trump ties and numerous celebrities have vowed to move to Canada if Trump gets elected.
If you want to see Gingrich and co., in action, you can buy your ticket to the Munk Debate starting on September 1. They'll range from $30 to $95 each.
Photo via the Munk Debates.
Your favourite found footage thriller will be making an appearance at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival. Get ready to venture back into Burkittsville, Maryland's Black Hills because the Blair Witch Project sequel will have its world premiere at TIFF.
The Blair Witch, directed by Adam Wingard, joins the Midnight Madness lineup. This scary movie series will also include Kōji Shiraishi's Sadako vs. Kayako (a Ring-Ju-on crossover), Morgan Spurlock's Rats and André Øvredal's The Autopsy of Jane Doe starring Emile Hirsch.
Midnight Madness, arguably one of the best parts of TIFF, shows horror films by directors from around the world. Today, TIFF also announced its full roster of documentaries. These include Amanda Knox and Leonardo Dicaprio's The Turning Point, which focuses on climate change.
Pokemon Go is still as popular as ever in Toronto. And if you can tear yourself away from catching Drowzees, Pidgies and Rattatas for a moment, you might want to check out this comic titled "Rare Pokemon in Toronto."
No, it won't lead you to a Snorlax. Instead, Jennifer Herd's adorable web comic introduces some local characters into the popular Niantic game.
Each of her imaginary Pokemon riff on a Toronto-related social media sensation, like the missing High Park capybaras, the infamous white squirrel and of course, the 6 god himself, Drake.
Check out more of her work at her online portfolio and website. She regularly updates it with more comics, illustrations and other Torontoisms.
The Tragically Hip will play their first of three shows in Toronto tomorrow, and to honour the occasion, Mayor John Tory will declare August 10 as The Tragically Hip Day.
The mayor's expected to make the announcement in Maple Leaf Square at around 8:45 a.m. He'll unveil a new tribute booth that Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) built outside of gate 6 at the Air Canada Centre.
Fans and concertgoers can use the booth to record 30 second video clips about their Hip-related memories.
Earlier this summer, the Hip embarked on their farewell "Man Machine Poem" tour after front man Gord Downie announced he'd been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. The band's three night stay in Toronto starts tomorrow night and there are also shows on August 12 and 14.
If you didn't get tickets to the ACC, numerous bars and venues - including the CNE - will be broadcasting the Hip's final concert in Kingston on August 20.
Photo via the Tragically Hip / Mike Homer
The Bloor Street bike lanes are almost fully installed, drawing cyclists to try the new infrastructure out on their way to and from work. Part of a pilot project, the lanes currently run between Shaw St. and Avenue Rd., cutting through the heart of the Annex and across the top of U of T's campus.
Given that my commute takes me from Bloordale to Queen West, I decided to forego my usual trip along Harbord to check out the lanes and chat up my fellow riders about riding on the new Bloor.
"This is a kind of a dream come true," a rider named Janet tells me. "I never thought the political climate would exist in Toronto for bike lanes to be built on Bloor. Let's see if they remain beyond the pilot [project]."
While there's still work left to complete on the lanes (most notably the installation of barrier poles), cyclists have been using the designated space for a few days now, and those I spoke with were optimistic about the extra safety offered by the lanes.
"I've had some problems with parked cars since I tried them out, but the barriers aren't up yet," explains Matt Park, who commutes from Lansdowne and Davenport to Church and Wellesley daily. "Even with a few obstacles, I think this stretch is vastly improved because Bloor could get really hairy before."
My experience is similar. The section of Bloor St. between Spadina and Bathurst used to be quite unpredictable due to an increase in traffic through the Annex, which always required riders to be on the lookout for turning vehicles and suddenly opening doors.
It's not perfect, of course. The lanes still need appropriate signage added to help both drivers and cyclists to know where the bike lanes end and beginning, which is a bit confusing at times right now. At Bloor and Bathurst, for instance, riders are directed away from the curb to aid vehicles in turning right, but few knew to do this today.
And what about overall traffic levels? These will be tracked as part of the pilot project, but anecdotally, there was a bit more clustering at intersections during my ride, which took place outside of rush hour. It will be intriguing to track how this plays out once appropriate signage is up and all road users are directed to their appropriate places.
In the meantime, a major stretch of Bloor has finally become bike-friendly. "I used to avoid Bloor St. like the plague," Janet confesses. "I'd take this really convoluted route through the side streets, but now my commute is a few minutes faster by avoiding this."
Have you tried the new Bloor bike lanes? Let us know about your experience in the comments.
You know when you just need a nap? Like a mid-day shut-down to even comprehend how you're going to get through the rest of your work day? Three lucky Toronto neighbourhoods are going to make that dreamy fantasy a reality.
Snooze Stations will be set up in Yorkville, Liberty Village and the Fashion District for the month of August, ready to welcome your sleepy self.
From Monday to Friday, 11a.m. - 7p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to 8p.m. you'll be able to hop into bed in a life-size bedroom and take a test nap.
Full disclosure, this is a marketing activation from the folks as Casper mattresses who we are not affiliated with, but like, who cares? Any excuse to shut your eyes mid-day and not be judged is a welcome idea to me.
What's even better is you can book a nap in advance. So now you can stealthily step out of your office at 3 p.m., catch some Z's, then grab your coffee and head back to work completely refreshed.
Check the official website for exact dates of the various locations.
Today in Toronto is for sitting back and watching cool things. There are several outdoor movies, a handful of concerts, and beauty experts wanting to play with your feet and hands.
Check out all the deets in my top event picks for today.
For more events, click on over to our events section.
Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO Toronto events section.
Image from the 99 Sudbury Instagram page.
To walk by the Powerhouse Building near Davenport and Lansdowne, you wouldn't imagine that at some point it will be a bustling cafe, but that's exactly the plan for this remnant of Edwardian industrial architecture.
Rumours that the heritage building would become a Balzac's Coffee Shop have been whispered for a while, but the company confirmed its plans with a rare interior shot of the building recently. There's a heap of work to be done before the cafe opens, but the glimpse of the space confirms just how unique it's likely to be.
At present, the building is something of a shell, which those passing by can look into via the large gaps where the windows used to be. Davenport Village residents shouldn't expect the imminent arrival of this new cafe (perhaps spring would be realistic), but it's exciting to see that progress is being made.
Balzac's, of course, is no stranger to operating out of restored industrial heritage buildings, having opened its first Toronto location in the Distillery District way back in 2002. If the raw materials are any indication, the Powerhouse cafe could be every bit as stunning.
