Feist just released her highly anticipated album Pleasure. It's her first album in six years and in celebration of the album's release we've teamed up with Universal Music Canada to give a Pleasure Deluxe Boxset to one lucky winner.
Check out all the contest details here.
Prepared meal delivery options in Toronto will save you from ordering pizza time after time. The city is now home to multiple food delivery services, making it easier than ever to get a gourmet meal without ever having to put pants on.
Here are my picks for the top prepared meal delivery options in Toronto.
This weekly meal subscription service offers healthy meals by local chefs for $7.99. There's 16 meal options to choose from and everything is delivered to your home or office.
This healthy food delivery service does standard vegan meal plans starting from $132 a week to more customized plans starting at $204 a week.
This service offers pre-cooked meals that you can heat and serve at home. The service includes a variety of options including vegetarian and gluten-free meals.
Here's a food delivery service that offers both fresh and frozen delivery plans for weight loss and healthy living. There is even a juice cleanse option for those in need of a detox and a corporate plan for busy professionals who want food delivered to their office.
If you crave hearty comfort food like the ones served on a retro family show from the '50s, this food delivery service has you covered. The meals start as low as $4.99 per serving but there's a $9.99 sign-up fee as well as a delivery charge.
Before opening a brick and mortar location in Liberty Village, Athlete's Kitchen was a meal prep service. Thankfully, they haven't given up their meal plan services and still deliver food right to your door. Visit their website to start crafting your own meal plan.
If you're looking for non-allergenic, healthy meals this is your best bet. Meals for the day are delivered in reusable bags each morning between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. A week of meals will set you back around $300.
In addition to delivering organic produce this popular service also delivers ready to eat meals. Meals cost from $10 to $14 and include offerings like balsamic veggie spaghetti, masaman curry shrimp and tempeh buddha bowls.
While many of the prepared meal delivery services focus on meals that meet certain dietary requirements, Mutfak distinguishes itself with its Turkish fare. There's no subscriptions, no minimum order limits required.
The weekly meal service offers meals that are gluten, soy, dairy and refined sugar free. How it works is your first 6 meals are delivered on Sunday and the final four on Wednesday. Weekly meal plans range from $140 to $155.
Hat stores in Toronto can transform the staunchest of headwear naysayers into true believers or dare I say mad-hatters. These shops carry head wear that will suit any individual's style and can assist in the completion of any outfit.
Here are my picks for the top hat stores in Toronto.
This hat company has several locations across the U.S. and Canada including one on Queen West. The big name brand sells men's and women's hats for everyday wear and special occasions.
The Queen West shop stocks a wide range of snapbacks, beanies and bucket hats, along with a handful of classic shapes.
The family run hat shop near Avenue and Lawrence carries a whole slew of men's and women's hats including newsboys, fedoras and sun hats.
This Little Italy boutique sells a mix of ready-to-wear hats and couture custom creations. Their romantic, bridal, cocktail, casual, and men's hats are mostly one-of-a-kind designs.
This studio and shop near Bathurst and Dupont is the place to go for couture bridal pieces and fascinators for the ladies, along with fedoras, boaters and even bow ties.
The streetwear store near Adelaide and Spadina sells caps and toques that will show off your local pride.
The second level shop near Queen and Bathurst sells funky custom hats for women.
The Toronto hat chain with locations in Etobicoke, the Eaton Centre and Square One carries popular brands in an array of styles that cover everything from men's and women's fedoras to nautical caps.
For something from another era, this Leslieville vintage emporium is worth a visit. Sift through racks of men's and women's hats to find a buried treasure.
This West Queen West vintage shop has hats old and new including stylish fedoras, visors and snapbacks.
Late night eats in Toronto are almost as plentiful and diverse as our daytime dining scene. Burgers, falafel, dim sum and jerk chicken are just some of what you'll find at these after hours haunts.
Here are my picks for the top late night eats in Toronto by neighbourhood.
When it comes to late night eats Vesta Lunch checks off all the boxes. It's open 24 hours, it's greasy and it's cheap. From classic breakfast staples to Greek dishes, this spot does it all.
Fresh Montreal-style bagels and sandwiches are for sale at any hour from Bagel House.
Geary Avenue bar The Greater Good comes with a North of Brooklyn pizza which means you can grab a slice or a whole pie until 2 a.m.
The 47 serves small plates like socca and gnocchi until 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday.
Express Pizza in The Village is the go-to spot to fill up on pizza after the bars let out.
Commisso Bros. has a well-stocked Italian hot table that serves up veal sandwiches and cannoli 24/7.
Rol San serves up late night dim sum every night of the week. Photo by Hector Vasquez.
There are plenty of late night options in Chinatown, but Rol San has always been my go-to, and I'm not alone. Find tables packed in the wee hours of the morning.
Dairy Freeze keeps the grill hot until 4 a.m. on weekends and 3 a.m. otherwise. The old school fast food joint specializes in flame-broiled burgers, steak sandwiches and souvlaki.
One of Toronto's best souvlaki and gyro purveyor Alexandros Take-Out serves up their no frills Greek food until 5 a.m. on weekend and 4 a.m. on weeknights.
Just steps from Woodbine station is late night food purveyor ASAP City. Find epic sandwiches, burgers and poutine until 2 a.m. on weekends.
The popular nightlife area is ground zero for late night eats with a number of joints all jostling for your business. My favourite in this 'hood has got to be old reliable the Lakeview Restaurant.
Rap's is a Caribbean restaurant on Eglinton near Oakwood that makes great jerk well into the night. They're open until 4 a.m. during the week and 6 a.m. on weekends.
The Grille is a diner where the late night menu features all day breakfast platters, burgers, poutine, souvlaki and ribs. It's open 24 hours on weekends.
Earls near King and York stays open until 2 a.m. to serve up its extensive menu of pizza, pasta, burgers, sandwiches and other pub like fare.
Roywoods is walking distance from the club district and is open wee into the night to satisfy all your post bar needs. Jerk chicken sandwiches and plates are offered until 12 a.m. during the week and 4 a.m. on Friday and Saturdays.
Open until 2 a.m. Monday to Saturday, Jumbo Burgers is a retro fast food joint where burgers, souvlaki dinners and fish and chips are all on the menu.
Truffle mac and cheese is just one of the many stand-outs on the late night menu at Thompson Diner. Photo by Hector Vasquez.
The Thompson Diner is open for business until 4 a.m. serving an elevated diner menu of all day breakfast, burgers and hearty comfort foods.
The 24 hour Owl of Minerva on Bloor is a popular place for spicy rice cakes and pork bone soup no matter what the time of day.
The kitchen at Leslieville Pumps closes at 9:30 p.m., but after that you'll find chicken curry and butter chicken with rice up for grabs until it sells out.
Stave off a hangover with fries smothered in cheese curds and gravy at Smoke's Poutinerie, open on Thursdays until 3 a.m,, and on Fridays and Saturdays until 4 a.m.
Nachos get piled at high at Sneaky Dee's. Photo by Matt Forsythe.
Sneaky Dee's is famous for their nachos which always make for a reliable and sharable snack after a few drinks.
Satisfy late night hunger pangs at Zet's, a 24 hour diner near the airport where you can dine on souvlaki dinners and all day breakfasts in the company of flight attendants and pilots.
Hankering for some Korean BBQ in the middle of the night? Huh Ga Ne can satisfy all cravings as it's open 24 hour seven days a week.
Open until last call on Friday and Saturday nights, Hawker Bar slings Singapore street foods plus a line-up of scrupulously crafted cocktails.
Across the street from Pape Station, Souv Like wins over late night diners with souvlaki dinners and gyros until 4 a.m. on weekends and 1 a.m. the rest of the week.
Food & Liquor is open week-round until 2 a.m. with an eclectic array of small plates including dumplings, steak tartare and Miami short ribs.
Chimac is a fun spot where you can dine on a huge portion of Korean fried chicken as late as 2:30 a.m.
Perfect Chinese Restaurant is a 24-hour source for dim sum that's still popular after all these years.
Find Jerk chicken dinners and roti at Albert's Real Jamaican until 2:30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
You can never got wrong with a classic poutine at Poutini's House of Poutine. Photo by Hector Vasquez.
Open until 3:30 a.m on weekends, Poutini's House of Poutine caters to a drunken clientele with a menu of fries, cheese curds and gravy.
7 West is open around the clock for breakfast, pita pizzas, sandwiches, pasta and slices of cake.
When hunger strikes in the middle of the night - or after the bar - Fran's is always ready to serve. They're open 24 hours after all.
Open nightly until 4:30 a.m., Hong Shing is a great destination for northern Szechwan and southern Cantonese dishes including traditional BBQ meats.
Belly Buster's turkey bacon sub really shines after last call and a few too many drinks. Open until 2:30 am or later Monday through Saturday.
Hemingway's keep their kitchen open until 2 a.m. every night of the week. Get selections off their late night menu like burgers, pizza and nachos.
The top beaches in Toronto may not rival those to be found at more southerly destinations around the globe, but throughout the summer months they're a more than adequate substitute for those who find themselves city-bound and in need of a little sand and sunshine.
Here are my picks for the top five beaches in Toronto.
Volleyball at Woodbine Beach. Photo by scott3eh.
Although technically different beaches, I group these three together based on their close proximity. Woodbine is the city's best spot for beach volleyball and people watching. Kew takes some of the overflow and rewards those looking for a more serene experience, while Balmy is the quietest of the three, and thus ideal for those seeking seclusion.
Toronto's only nude beach — Hanlan's Point. Photo by karin!
Notorious for its clothing optional area, Hanlan's Point also has a side for the less adventurous, even if it's generally far less populated than its nude-friendly neighbour (only the second of its kind in Canada). This is surely the most fun beach in Toronto.
People have flocked to Sunnyside to swim for well over a century. Photo by Deep-Fried Goodness.
Not the best beach when it comes to water quality, Sunnyside is nevertheless deemed safe to swim most of the time. Perhaps due to the proximity of Gus Ryder pool, the beach itself never seems to get altogether that packed (and certainly not like it used to), so it's a good spot to chill with bit of privacy.
The iconic lifeguard station at Cherry Beach. Photo by Still the Oldie.
A popular spot for kite-boarding and surfboarding, Cherry Beach has a decidedly laid back atmosphere. The smell of charcoal barbecues often wafts over the beach from the small wooded area to the north. At night, the parking lot serves as one of the city's best-loved makeout areas.
Bluffer's Park can look almost tropical in the summer. Photo by dtstuff9.
Located at the bottom of Brimely Road (one of the steepest hills in the city), the beach at Bluffer's Park is one of the nicest in the city. Bounded by the Scarborough Bluffs to the north, the park is both scenic and well-manicured (as far as Toronto beaches go). Arrive early on summer weekends if hoping for a parking spot.
There are few truly secret places in a city the size of Toronto, but we nevertheless remain fascinated by that which is under the radar, under appreciated or just out of plain sight. It's hard to stay hidden in a city this size, but a few things manage to go mostly unexplored.
Here are 10 secret things that you might not know existed in Toronto.
Hidden just to the west of the mouth of the Humber River, the austere Air India Memorial can be one of the most tranquil places in the city. The memorial features a sundial pointed at Ahakista, Ireland, where the plane went down, as well as the names of the 329 victims on board.
A staircase to nowhere or an escape route? Photo by Derek Flack.
This staircase to nowhere is actually designed as an escape route for employees of the North Toronto Sewage Treatment Plant. The Don Valley is still a flood plain, and in the event of a dire situation, these stairs are there to get to higher ground. They're also an amazing place to take in the fall colours in the valley.
Opened in 1890, most of the Kivas Tully-designed buildings from the Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital remain standing at the edge of Mimico where the institution operated until 1979. Ghost stories abound on account of their Gothic Revival architecture and the fact that many of the were uninhabited before being taken over by Humber College.
Quite possibly the coolest lookout in the city. Photo by Jesse Milns.
You'd probably never come across the Chester Hill Lookout unless someone told you exactly what it is. But once you get there, it starts to make sense. This is one of the most beautiful views of the city, stretching across the lush Don Valley before the skyline rises atop the Bloor Viaduct.
There's an extensive series of underground tunnels that pump water deep from Lake Ontario to cool major office buildings. The system draws water from the depths of the lake, which is then pumped as far north as Queen's Park. Notable buildings that derive cooling from the system include the TD Centre, the Air Canada Centre and the Royal Bank Plaza.
Melbourne Place, one of Toronto's private streets. Photo by Derek Flack.
Most people are vaguely aware that Toronto has private streets or have heard of Wychwood Park, the best known of these types of enclaves. What fewer people know is that there are actually lots of private streets in Toronto. From the insular Percy St. in Corktown to Melbourne Place (one of my personal favourites) to the mansions of Elmsley Place.
One of those places that likely gets a little less attention than it deserves because it's not located downtown, the Centennial Park Conservatory is a sprawling 12,000 foot greenhouse that feels like a natural paradise when you step inside. Featuring both a tropical house and an arid house, it's a stunning spot to escape to on a cold winter day.
One of Toronto's strangest houses at 20 Jerome St. Photo by Chris Bateman.
Located at 20 Jerome St. at the eastern edge of the Junction (sometimes referred to as West Bend), this house is covered in mismatched terracotta tiles. Built by J. Turner Sr. in 1905, the story is that the tiles were used as a sort of advertisement for his building company, which was had a surplus of terracotta after the material went out of fashion.
The clock at the top of the Old City Hall tower. Photo by Derek Flack.
Few people think about what powers the great chimes that ring out from Old City Hall every 15 minutes, but if they knew it was a clock that was activated on December 31, 1899 to ring in the new century, the sound might have even more gravitas.
St. Michael's Cemetery is completely obscured from the street, yet at 10 acres, it's not exactly small. Dating back to 1855, it's the city's oldest Catholic cemetery, and a remarkably serene place to quietly explore. Alas, these days the gates are almost always locked on account of misuse and vandalism.
Brisket in Toronto can be found at some of the city's best barbecue joints. These tender slabs of meat are cooked with care for hours at a time and don't need to be devoured on a bun.
Whether you like it sauced up or au natural, these are the spots to visit for your brisket fix.
This BBQ joint in Leaside serves up their brisket ($25 lbs.) encrusted in salt and spices. Open lunch only. Expect lineups.
Roncesvalles favourite smokehouse does their brisket for 12 hours. It will run you $9 to $14 depending on the size. It's also available as part of what they call their ultimate BBQ meat experience.
This Southern-inspired restaurant near Queen and Church serves up USDA Prime Beef Brisket ($23) on its own or in their Pit Master Platter ($30 per person) accompanied by pork ribs, buttermilk fried chicken, pickles and fries.
This Beaches restaurant does a lot of things well, but their signature smoked brisket sandwich ($15) is a must-try. Brisket gets sliced, chopped and piled high on a freshly made bun.
This West Queen West barbecue joint serves up a delectable beef brisket ($11.90/18.90) that gets smoked 18 hours and served with braised cabbage.
This Dundas West destination serves southern BBQ standards cooked from a smoker including a brisket platter ($22) that comes with potato salad, coleslaw, pickles and bread.
Online dating sites and apps in Toronto give those of us looking for love a chance to see what's out there beyond the other places you meet people in the city. These websites aren't always Toronto-specific, but they're popular amongst local singles.
Here are my picks for the top dating sites and apps in Toronto.
Match.com is an oldie and a goodie, at least according to its alleged 20 million or so members. There are well over 4,000 people between 18 and 35 registered on the site in the Toronto area, including those looking for same sex partnerships.
OKCupid, in many Toronto circles, is known as the site to tap if you're looking for someone to accompany you to Trinity Bellwoods Park, followed by brunch at the Drake and lots of conversation.
Over 1,500,000 daters visit this free dating website every day, but don't worry, you can narrow your search down to any city or town in the GTA.
Homegrown in Toronto, Lavalife has expanded throughout North America and Australia. Once you find a match, this site even suggests things to do in the city that correspond with your common interests.
Shaadi is an Indian dating site or matrimonial service provider. Just in case there was any further doubt as to its intention, your search consists of looking for a life partner, not simply an online match, and there's wedding information right on the site.
The Jewish dating site gives singles the opportunity to find matches based on a variety of characteristics. It also works for same sex matches.
On this app, the woman always makes the first move. If she doesn't say something to a new match within 24 hours, that connection disappears forever. For same sex connections, or friendships, either person has 24 hours to make the first move before the interaction vanishes.
Yup, this is the world's largest gay social network app. Let's be honest, more hookups than long-lasting relationships spawn from Grindr, but it has its own xxx-rated emoji keyboard and its party calendar makes it super easy to find LGBT events happening in Toronto.
Shmear the love! with this dating app. This one is great for Jewish and non-Jewish guys and gals, straight and gay, looking for a Jewish partner. It's basically the Jewish Tindr.
Good luck not getting caught in a Tinder spiral and swiping left or right for hours. It's no joke, there are 1.6 billion swipes a day in the world, including plenty right here in Toronto.
Burgers in Toronto run the gamut from old school to over-the-top but sometimes the best option is simply the one that's closest. Luckily, Toronto is a city where burgers are prevalent in almost every neighbourhood.
Here are my picks for the top burgers in Toronto by neighbourhood.
Insomnia does a burger for $10 that features 6oz ground chuck patty and comes topped with cheddar, lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickle and garlic aioli on a milk bun.
Woody's Burgers on Jane does wood-fired burgers including a Coronary one stuffed with cheese.
Five Guys on Laird does flat-top seared burgers that are greasy in all the right ways. Bonus points for the oh-so generous side of fries.
The Burger's Priest does their own version of the Big Mac dubbed the High Priest. Photo by Jesse Milns.
It's no contest which burger outfit rules the Beaches. The original Burger's Priest on Queen East is the one that spurred a citywide obsession.
The next time you find yourself in The Village craving a burger make your way to Fresh Burger. They boast a spacious patio and grind their beef on-site daily.
The brisket cheese burger at The Carbon Bar is an awesome feat of smokehouse prowess, stacked with smoked beef brisket, American cheese, chili peppers and burnt onion aioli.
The most popular burger on the Danforth is easily Allen's, where they butcher and grind their own meat. The hand-formed patties find their way into basic burgers ($14.95) or cheeseburgers ($15.95) topped with aged Ontario cheddar, swiss or Danish blue.
The Wren serves up some pretty epic burgers. Every Monday be sure to visit their Instagram to see what's the special for the evening.
Lakeview Restaurant doesn't skimp on toppings when it comes to their burgers. Photo by Hector Vasquez.
Lakeview Restaurant takes top spot not just because it's available 24 hours a day. It also packs a flavour punch with toppings like pulled pork and fried eggs.
Neon signage lights the way to Apache Burger in Etobicoke, where the kitsched-out institution is locally - and rightly famous for greasy old school-style cheeseburgers bursting with charbroiled flavour.
The maple burger at E11even is the way to go when dining in South Core. Sure, it's $26, but it's also about as gourmet as burgers get. This burger is seared to perfection and dressed up with Guinness cheddar, double smoked bacon and roasted garlic aioli.
The arsenal of burgers at The Burgernator on Augusta Ave. run the gamut of classic to crazy - seriously, why would anyone want buffalo chicken as a topping?
The Home of the Brave Burger at Home of the Brave comes with a house ground AAA ribeye patty topped with simple and classic ingredients.
Great Burger Kitchen is a dedicated burger shop on Gerrard East where burgers feature all-beef patties as well chicken and lamb.
Mildred's Temple Kitchen may be famous for its brunch classics but if you've never tried their MTK Burger you're missing out. This handcrafted burger is topped with tobacco onions, aioli and an apple-tomato relish.
You can never go wrong with doubling up the patty at Rudy. Photo by Hector Vasquez.
This neighbourhood has welcomed some great new burger joints over the last couple of years and one of the best to enter the area is Rudy. It might be the closest thing you'll get to Shake Shack in Toronto.
Golden Star is still my top pick when dining in Thornhill. The place has been in business since 1964 and hasn't lost its touch.
Parts & Labour's P&L burger beat out the Priest to take home the title of best burger at the CMT Burger Wars. It's topped with bacon-onion jam, Monterrey Jack cheese and dill-mayo.
Cramming Cherry Street Bar-B-Que's double patty burger into your mouth is always a pleasure. Photo by Jesse Milns.
Cherry Street Bar-B-Que may specialize in Southern-style BBQ but they're also doing burgers justice. Their Double Stack Cherry Mac Burger is essentially a Big Mac on steroids.
There are multiple solid contenders in this neighbourhood but Lisa Marie takes top spot with it's delectable brunch burgers and evenings devoted to beers, burgers and bingo.
Rude Boy on Roncey does its signature burger with artisanal, house made ingredients. It starts with fresh ground beef and is topped with house cured peameal, maple whiskey double smoked bacon, a fried egg, pickled onions, garlic aioli and house-made mustard.
Sorry if my affinity for old-school burgers is showing, but Johnny's charbroiled cheeseburgers on smooshy white buns slapped with American cheese are worth every cent of their budget friendly price tag.
Burgers at The Stockyards are griddle smashed to perfection. Photo by Hector Vasquez.
The Stockyards on St. Clair can seemingly do no wrong - every item on its menu is among the best in class. The griddle-smashed burgers are deserving of all the praise, especially their green chili pimento cheeseburger.
If you're hankering for burgers with fancy toppings a visit to Toma Burger Addiction is in order. Here you'll find burgers topped with everything from foie gras to spicy soppressata to caramelized onions flambeed Jack Daniel’s.
Big Moe's on Yonge is popular for its Juicy Lucy stuffed with cheese just right so it oozes out as it's eaten.
Popular New York burger chain Bareburger does organic, all natural ingredients with local sourcing. They have a ton of gluten-free options as well.
You'll find no frills or fancy toppings at Burger Shack. Photo by Jesse Milns.
Burger Shack has been serving up homemade burgers and unreal onion rings for over 30 years.
The Burger Cellar does a namesake burger with triple-A Angus beef, prime or bison and comes topped with smoked cheddar, apple cider bacon, mushrooms and chipotle BBQ sauce.
Holy Chuck Burgers offers 30 different burgers like the house double cheeseburger that comes loaded with bacon and caramelized onions might be the one to get.
The Prime Beef Double Cheeseburger at Museum Tavern proves that sometimes simple is best. Comprised of American cheese, lettuce, onion, pickle and sauce it's dangerously delicious.
The architecture and design of the TTC is often overlooked whether on account of its fundamentally utilitarian purpose or because the aesthetic trends of the 1950s and 1970s don't tend to resonate with us to the same degree that they once did.
Nevertheless, there are some real gems in the subway network and, alas, a few duds too. Here are my picks for the best and worst TTC subway stations.
Opened in 1978, Dupont is a perennial favourite of TTC riders for its mosaic tiles, dome entrances, and built-in benches. The attention to detail here is far greater than at the vast majority of stations on the line, for which kudos should go to Dunlop-Farrow Architects.
Stop and consider how well Rosedale Station is integrated with the natural landscape in which it sits the next time you pass through. Its rounded entrance has an understated mid-century elegance, which was even more apparent with its original Vitrolite tiles.
Many would argue that Old Mill is the fairest TTC subway station of them all on account of its predominantly glass walls that look out over the Humber Valley. Unlike Rosedale, there's some protection from the elements at platform level, but you still feel outdoors.
The nicest of the newer TTC stations until the Spadina Extension opens, Sheppard West (previously Downsview) was designed by Adamson Associates Architects and Stevens Group Architects and opened in 1996. I've always loved the way that that ceiling is rounded at platform level before opening into a multi-storey atrium on the way to the bus bays.
This Arthur Erickson-designed station might be chilly in the winter, but its glass arcade aesthetic is bright and airy in a way that so few TTC stops are. It'll be even better when Michael Hayden's Arc en ciel light sculpture returns to the ceiling later this year.
The closest you'll get to riding the London Tube in Toronto is Queen's Park and its sister station St. Patrick, both of which were hollowed out using a tunnel boring machine so as to lessen the impact of construction on the nearby hospitals. Which station you prefers is usually a matter of colour preference.
Oh, Museum. Sure to be the most divisive entry on this list, some love the themed design while others lament the loss of a near perfectly preserved 1960s subway station. For my part, I think the novelty of the design is worth kudos even if the budget never allowed for the work to seem entirely finished.
Be careful how you enter Dundas Station. Photo by Chewie.
Aside from the mucus-green tile, Dundas has a crucial design flaw that nails tourists visiting the Eaton Centre on an everyday basis. You can't change platforms without leaving the paid-fare zone. Locals might know that presenting a transfer to the opposite fare collector would work, but most people who make the mistake don't know to do that.
There are a few problems to note here, the first and most obvious being that the station needs an easterly exit, which will probably come way down the line when Metrolinx tries to better integrate the UP Express. Beyond that, the platform level of the station is just ugly with a mix-match of tiles at the escalators heading up to the mezzanine.
Once the terminus of the Spadina Line, Wilson is the TTC station time forgot. Ignoring the fact that the platform acts as a sort of wind tunnel in the winter, it's one of the less intuitive stations to navigate, and its elevated position in the median of Allen Rd. makes it feel something like a giant concrete coffin.
Bessarion is actually a rather nice-looking and accessible TTC station. The question is merely why it exists in the first place.
A note on criteria: This list aims to take stock of the architectural and aesthetic merits of various TTC stations. Construction at stations has not been factored into this list as it's a temporary condition. It should be noted that accessibility is an important design feature as well, though the TTC is currently expanding the number of accessible stations as part of long term plans to improve the system.
Free events in Toronto this week will get you back outside and moving, starting with a city-wide bike ride to work that culminates with a pancake breakfast at City Hall. Don't worry, there's some story telling and music if you need to give your legs a rest.
Events you might want to check out:Weekend getaways from Toronto in the one hour driving range are perfect for when you want to maximize your R&R time. There are tons of places just outside the city where you can kick back at an old inn before exploring the delights of small town Ontario.
Here are my picks for the top weekend getaways one hour from Toronto.
The Hammer is gaining more and more love from Torontonians these days, not only for its growing culinary and arts scenes, but also for its breathtaking waterfalls. A perfect way to escape the Toronto bustle for a weekend is a quick drive out to Hamilton for a self-guided waterfall tour. Totally Instagram-worthy.
An antiquer's dream getaway is a weekend in Aberfoyle. Famous for its Antique Market, this is a great place to stock up on one-of-a-kind finds for your home while enjoying the old-timey feel of the town itself. After your vintage hunt, refuel at the Aberfoyle Mill Restaurant, check out the farmers' market, and crash at a hotel in nearby Guelph.
Perched on the edge of a gorge and settled next to the Grand & Irvine River is Elora, this village looks like something out of an L.M. Montgomery novel. As quaint as it is, this tiny town is pretty extreme, offering tourists adventures like ziplining, tree hopping, rock climbing, ice climbing, tubing, caving and hot air balloon rides.
Just 100 km from Toronto lies this historic little gem. Port Hope provides a scenic spot to unwind in a small town setting. The Carlyle Inn & Bistro is just one place worth a visit in this quaint town with a nice waterfront. The Scottish-inspired building and its in-house spa and eatery are basically an incubator of calm.
Caledon, Dufferin County and Erin all make up Headwaters, a rural area northwest of Toronto. Headwaters offers tourists quirky activities to keep them endlessly occupied. After dropping off your bags at the Top of the Hill Bed & Breakfast, go horseback riding, take a plane ride, see a play or take a glass-blowing class.
The must-see concerts in Toronto this June contain unexpected reunions, exciting pair-ups and summery jams to welcome the warmest season.
You probably already know about some big ones: U2 brings The Joshua Tree tour to the Rogers Centre; Thursday reunites at the Danforth; New Kids on the Block, Paula Abdul and Boyz II Men resurrect the 90s at ACC; Rise Against, Deftones and Thrice angst up Budweiser Stage.
Though festivals aren’t as heavily saturated as last year, we’ve still got Luminato, TD Jazz Festival, Field Trip and NXNE, the latter of which is smarting from a dropped headliner and unfortunate automated email, but can hopefully recover with a better shindig than last year.
Aside from those, here are the concerts that need to be on your radar for June.
Events you might want to check out:Events in Toronto this week will let you indulge in both music and food. The Mac and Cheese Festival returns to Ontario Place and there's a few must-see concerts as well. If you want to get outdoors, check out Dundas West Fest, which takes over an entire neighbourhood.
Events you might want to check out:The Four Seasons might be one of the swankiest hotels in Toronto, but not everyone's a fan of this luxurious Yorkville spot, including one Jaden Smith.
Will Smith's son, who's in town filming the teen flick Life In A Year with Cara Delevingne, fired off a series of tweets on Saturday, writing, "The Four Seasons In Toronto Just Made Me Want to Throw Up On MySelf."
The Four Seasons In Toronto Just Made Me Want to Throw Up On MySelf.
— Jaden Smith (@officialjaden) May 27, 2017
The actor, who's apparently vegan, said his pancakes were spiked with cheese.
I Hope The Four Seasons In Toronto Puts Me On The No Stay List.
— Jaden Smith (@officialjaden) May 27, 2017
Cafe Boulud does serve lemon ricotta hotcakes, but it's unclear if these were part of Smith's offensive breakfast dish.
The Four Seasons In Toronto Spiked My Pancakes With Cheese, I'm Surprised I'm Still Alive.
— Jaden Smith (@officialjaden) May 27, 2017
After sharing his displeasure with the hotel's pancake, Smith also claimed he was kicked out of his room.
After They Kicked Me Out Of My Room
— Jaden Smith (@officialjaden) May 27, 2017
Earlier on during Smith's stay in Toronto, he caused quite a stir when he tweeted, "I Need Someone Who Shoots Music Videos In Toronto This Is Your Shot."
Never a dull moment.
This week on DineSafe I can happily announce that no Toronto restaurants received red cards from city health inspectors. This was not, however, the case when it came to yellow cards. A number of restaurants were hit with infractions including one of Toronto's top hot dog purveyors, Fancy Franks.
Discover which other restaurants landed in hot water with city health inspectors this week.
Note: The above businesses each received infractions from DineSafe as originally reported on the DineSafe site. This does not imply that any of these businesses have not subsequently corrected the issue and received a passing grade by DineSafe inspectors. For the latest status for each of the mentioned businesses, including details on any subsequent inspections, please be sure to check the DineSafe site.
The first PS Kensington of the season brought out big crowds on a sunny Sunday afternoon in Kensington Market. There was music, an art fair and lots of great food as neighbourhood restaurants spilled onto the streets with makeshift stands to feed the throngs of festival-goers.
Take a look at some of the PS Kensington highlights in this photo gallery.
It was a sad weekend for burger lovers in Toronto because Riverside staple Dangerous Dan's closed its doors after spending 18 years at the corner of Queen and Broadview.
The restaurant flipped its final patty on national burger day, a fitting farewell for this much loved greasy spoon.
Plenty of well wishers stopped by for last chance to indulge one last time on massive burgers and deep friend Mars bars.
Pizza Nova bought the building at Queen and Broadview in 2015 and now, DD's lease is up. "I could have renewed but I don't think I would have made any money," chef and owner James McKinnon told us back in February.
"Basically they wanted an 80 percent rent increase and repairs. I've renewed my lease four times before and I can tell the difference when a landlord wants you to renew and when they don't."
Meanwhile, across the street, the revamped Broadview Hotel readies for its big reveal. It's a major period of change in this neighbourhood.
The Weeknd's been jetting around the globe on his Starboy: Legend of the Fall Tour, but for his stop at the Air Canada Centre, he had to make his concert extra special.
During the first show on his two-night run, he brought out Drake, much to the delight of the hometown crowd.
The two performed "Crew Love" together before Drake took over the stage for a few minutes and shared the Toronto (er, 6ix) love with the jam-packed stadium on Friday evening.
While the Toronto Zoo might have an influx of baby animals, including cheetah and leopard cubs, its doors remain closed to the public because about 400 zoo employees have been on strike for nearly three weeks now.
The employees, who are represented by CUPE Local 1600, are fighting for issues surrounding job security.
They're bringing attention to the strike via picket signs filled with groan-inducing (yet adorable) animal puns.
While fluffy and cute, the signs reveal the seriousness of the situation, especially since contract talks between staff and management broke down last week.
That means the zoo likely won't reopen any time soon.
