Quantcast
Channel: blogTO
Viewing all 47899 articles
Browse latest View live

King St. is starting to look a lot different

0
0

The King Street Transit Pilot gets underway this weekend, but the street has already started to transform in anticipation of its new configuration between Bathurst and Jarvis streets.

You might not notice it at first glance, but a closer look reveals a number of signs that foretell the changes in store on November 12. Of these, the pavement markings in the left lane at major intersections are the most obvious. 

king street transit pilot

Cars have already started to avoid the left lane in accordance with new street markings. 

Car's aren't just forbidden to make left hand turns at key intersections, but they are funnelled into the right lane and forced to turn off the street to reduce traffic congestion. 

While the rules have yet to go into effect, you could already see drivers acknowledge the lines today as they moved to the right lane at intersections like Spadina Ave. and Peter St. / Blue Jays Way. 

king street transit pilot

The new signs forbidding traffic to turn onto King St. are hidden under plastic right now.

That's as far as it drivers took it today because the new street signs that prohibit through traffic have yet to be revealed. Most of them are already installed, but they lay in wait under plastic covers until Sunday.

king street transit pilot

Road crews swapping out parking signs today.

The same holds true for parking signs in the pilot area. Crews were busy installing new signs near York St. this afternoon, though many are already up and waiting to be uncovered.

king street transit pilot

New signs that prohibit parking and designate specific loading zones have been installed by remain covered.

Most of these signs will make parking illegal (which will extend throughout the pilot zone), but there are also markers indicating designated loading areas and taxi stands between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.

king street transit pilot

You can just see the no left hand turn symbol underneath the covering King and Blue Jays Way.

For now the new King Street hides in plain sight, with much of the unveiling work set to be done on November 10, when the eastbound and westbound curb lanes will be closed for road work. The following day, traffic signals will be readjusted for the pilot project.

It doesn't look like much so far, but the changes coming to King St. are designed to alter its identity completely. Just think about how much can be done with some paint and road signs. Well, that and a new transit-first philosophy.


Condo of the week: 530 Indian Grove

0
0

Duke Condos is one of a number of developments that's reshaping the Junction. Located right on Dundas West at Indian Grove, it's midsize building that sticks out amongst the turn of the century storefronts that surround it. 

530 indian grove torontoI'm actually quite fond of the exterior design of this building — it seems just the right scale for its location — so it's intriguing to get a look inside via a two bedroom unit that's just been listed at $849,000. 

Spread across two floors, the split level layout allows for impressive ceiling height, which gives the main living area the feel of an industrial loft (the floor-to-ceiling windows leading to the balcony don't hurt here). 

It's not a huge unit, which is most apparent based on the size of the bedrooms, but it's laid out in such a way that a young family could get a number of years here before wanting to upgrade. A single person or kid-free couple could easily use the small second bedroom as a home office.

Bonus points if you like to drink! The LCBO is located at street-level in the building. 

Specs
Good For

Someone who wants a soft loft that offers enough space to accommodate the possibility of a growing family. The Junction isn't the best neighbourhood for transit, but with ample park space, restaurants, and cafes, it's more livable than condo-saturated downtown areas.

530 indian grove torontoMove On If

You want more outdoor space than just a balcony. At this price point, some condos will offer decent-sized terraces. Plus, there's the whole Junction 40 bus route. No one wants to have to rely on that every day. 

530 indian grove toronto530 indian grove toronto530 indian grove toronto530 indian grove toronto530 indian grove toronto530 indian grove torontoThanks to Bosley Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage for sponsoring our condo of the week. All editorial written and selected by blogTO.

Toronto food events: Free ice cream, Food & Wine Expo, Cheesecake Factory opening

0
0

Toronto's upcoming food events include free ice cream, topoki, and even fried chicken. All three of those lines combined probably won't rival what goes down when the Cheesecake Factory opens, though. For more refined fare, don't forget the Food and Wine Expo.

Events you might want to check out:

Free Fried Chicken: Hot Star's 2nd Anniversary (November 11-12 @ Hot Star Fried Chicken)
The first 50 people to swing by on Saturday or Sunday will receive free fried chicken meals. For everyone else, there will be 20% off all orders.
Free Topoki: Go Topoki Grand Opening (November 11 @ Go Topoki)
Servings of the popular Korean dish will be given out to the first 100 people for free to celebrate Go Topoki's grand opening.
Apple Pie Contest (November 12 @ Fort York Food Bank)
Whether you're a baker or just enjoy a good slice of pie, the Apple Pie Contest is the place to be. Three winners will be decided, and pie will be served to the public from 2-4 p.m.
Seasonal Cocktail Tasting (November 12 - January 14 @ Do Not Disturb)
The Beverley Hotel's new restaurant bar, Do Not Disturb, invites you to try their seasonal cocktails and a food menu as diverse as Toronto itself.
Festive Winemaker's Dinner (November 12 @ Adamo Estate Winery)
You can expect four seasonally inspired courses expertly prepared by a culinary team of experts, with wine introductions by house winemaker Shauna White.
Taste of Iceland (November 12 @ Leña)
Enjoy a live show by Icelandic/Canadian singer-songwrites Sigrún Stella Bessason during the a multi-dish reception, followed by the opportunity to meet and hear the chefs speak to the features and ingredients of each dish.
Phancy Brunch Pop-up at Left Field Brewery (November 12 @ Left Field Brewery)
Left Field Brewery and Phancy Food & Catering are uniting to deliver their take on the best meal of the day. Enjoy a beer-infused brunch snack menu and start your Sunday right.
Toronto Chowder Chowdown (November 14 @ The Fermenting Cellar)
Come cast your vote as top ocean wise chefs compete for the title of Toronto's Chowder Champion as you taste test the delectable chowders of each competitor along with local craft beer, spirits and ciders.
Gourmet Food & Wine Expo (November 16-19 @ Metro Toronto Convention Centre)
Four days of wine producers, importers, exporters, wholesalers, and more showcasing their best and latest products. Bakers, butchers, ice cream outlets and more will be on site, too.
Toronto Christmas Market (November 16 - December 23 @ Distillery District)
The Distillery District is transformed into a winter wonderland leading up to Christmas with food and drinks vendors, carollers, elves, lights, and one of the city's largest Christmas trees.
Lady Beer Fest (November 18 @ Peace and Cotton Warehouse)
The society of Beer Drinking Ladies presents Canada's all ladies craft beer festival. Tickets include four drink tokens, a commemorative sample glass, and a "morning after" gift bag.
Filipino Holiday Pop-up (November 18-19 @ Second Level King West Pop Up)
Celebrate the holidays Filipino-style with Toronto's first fair trade fashion and Filipino fusion snack bar.
Roncesvalles Food Nook Tour (November 19 - December 17 @ Meeting spot)
Start your holiday shopping and uncover amazing food shops and restaurants along Toronto's trendy and locally-loved west end neighbourhood.
The Cheesecake Factory grand opening (November 21 @ The Cheesecake Factory)
Famed American restaurant The Cheescake Factory will continue its worldwide expansion this year by opening its first location in Toronto at Yorkdale Shopping Centre. Expect a frenzy.
Free Ice Cream at Sweet Jesus (November 11 @ Sweet Jesus)
Sweet Jesus is opening a new Annex location and are giving away free ice cream to the first 75 folks in line.

The Best Martial Arts in Toronto

0
0

The best martial arts gyms in Toronto is where you need to go if you want to train like a UFC fighter, get into Jiu Jitsu, karate or Muay Thai. This is where you can learn skills for self-defence and fighting techniques from across the world. 

Here are the best martial arts gyms in Toronto.

9 - Krav Maga Toronto

This Dundas West gym teaches self-defence in unarmed combat that has increased in popularity over the years. Designed for men and women, the body goes through exhausting and demanding conditions in this military defence tactic that was originally developed in Israel. Memberships range from $125 to $159 monthly.
10 - Warrior Muay Thai (Railside Road)

A combat sports and fitness school in Don Mills, this gym offers kickboxing and regular boxing. There’s also strength ad conditioning classes along with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with separate programs for men, women and kids.
3 - Siam No. 1 Muay Thai

Canada's first Muay Thai Academy was founded by Ajahn Suchart who teaches traditional Muay Thai techniques. Suchart and his team of instructors offer quality workout classes and personal training in the Bloordale area. The Academy focuses on Muay Thai training and fitness.
4 - Axe Capoeira

This Afro-Brazilian martial arts studio in Corso Italia combines martial arts, acrobatics, music and dance. The combination of martial arts creates a full body workout. Rates start at $85 per month for unlimited monthly training and classes.
5 - Elite Martial Arts

The training centre is certified by the Krav Maga Association of Canada and owned by head instructor Dan Novak. With locations near St.Lawrence Market and North York, Elite also offers a free women’s self-defence course. Membership is $115 to $129 per month and gives you access to all locations.
6 - Toronto BJJ

This studio has trained multiple MMA champions through its academy. It's a 9000-square-foot facility near Christie Pits specializing in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai kickboxing and has trained over 600 students.
7 - FightClub (Donlands)

This East York studio's classes are based on the Russian martial arts system of hand-to-hand fighting aptly named Systema. The military-based system currently used by the Russian Armed Forces is a function of modern martial arts taught in a gym setting. Rates vary at $100-$125 per month.
8 - Krudar Muay Thai

With locations in Kensington Market and Don Mills, Krudar is a Muay Thai kickboxing community. Muay Thai is an ancient art that uses punches, kicks, elbows and knee strikes and Krudar combines this with spinning, bootcamp and stretch classes along with private training. Your first class is only $10.
11 - DeSantos Premier Martial Arts

With two east side locations, this training facility was founded by Grandmaster Veronica DeSantos, an inductee into the Canadian Black Belt Hall of Fame. They offer self discipline and self-defence, teaching basic techniques and applications as well as kick classes and martial arts for kids, teens and adults.

Toronto can't believe it actually snowed

0
0

We knew the snow was coming. We've known about it for weeks. It's all we've been small-talking about with our neighbours and friends in elevators since news of last night's winter blast dropped.

And yet, the citizens of Toronto were absolutely shocked to see – wait for it – SNOW on the ground outside this morning.

It is our way. 

Approximately 2 to 4 cm of snow was expected to fall in the city this morning, though some areas of the GTA were hit harder than others.

Most of Toronto woke up to temperatures of about -7 degrees Celsius on Friday, according to Environment Canada, with a wind-chill of -16.

Temperatures are expected to climb throughout the day, but as of this morning's commute it was cold and white, which was apparently quite surprising to a surprising number of people.

As is often the case, Toronto's first blast winter weather coincided with a slough of troubles on local roads. CTV News reports that police responded to a total of 63 collisions over a 12-hour period overnight, 45 of them involving property damage and 18 resulting in injuries.

It's not at all uncommon for Toronto to see flurries or a thin blanket of snow around this time of November, but it feels particularly jarring this year given how hot the city was for most of autumn.

Just over one month ago, Toronto Public Health was issuing extreme heat alerts.

Last night, when we got our city's first extreme cold weather alert, a lot of people were rocked by how fast the temperatures had turned.

The extreme cold weather alert has been terminated, but it'll be at least a few hours before it warms up in Toronto. Saturday is predicted to be 1 degrees Celsuis with a mix of sun and cloud.

Yay?

Sold! Bizarre mansion goes for $4.6 million in Toronto

0
0

Quirky homes in Toronto can be fun to gawk at, but the intrigue level is bumped up a notch when the residence in question is Bridle Path-area mansion. You're unlikely to find many houses with more contemporary kitsch than this recently sold property at 5 Shady Oaks Crescent.

5 shady oaks crescent toronto The street is known for its architectural daring. A hyper-modern mansion across the street sold for $6.5 million earlier this year, but the design on display here is far more bold. 

5 shady oaks crescent torontoWhile the house is austere from the outside, its defining architectural characteristic is an octagonal courtyard/garden space at its centre out of which grows a large tree that just peeks over the roof. Viewing areas can be found on multiple levels.

5 shady oaks crescent torontoThe rest of the home  features sweeping sloped ceilings, lots of exposed brick, and even a mini spa on the lower level. There are elements reminiscent of mid-century Modern architecture, but collectively the style is difficult to pin down. 

5 shady oaks crescent torontoIt's certainly unique, a trait that the buyer(s) must have liked when they paid over asking for the property. The large lot has plenty of value on its own, but there's something special about this house that I can see appealing to someone inspired by the challenge of redecorating it. 

5 shady oaks crescent torontoBesides, how often can you say that you have a tree growing at the centre of your home?

5 shady oaks crescent torontoThe Essentials
5 shady oaks crescent torontoWhy it sold for what it did

It's worth noting that the real estate listing wasn't shy about advertising the possibility of a tear down and rebuild ("build your dream home up to 6100 square feet"). The existing house is entirely novel, but the property is of the utmost value here.

5 shady oaks crescent torontoWas it worth it?

Definitely. While a few hundred grand over asking isn't a huge deal with a house in this price range, it underscores the interest in acquiring the property. Personally, I've love a scenario in which this house was renovated (kitchens and bathrooms) and redecorated. It's one of a kind.

5 shady oaks crescent toronto5 shady oaks crescent toronto5 shady oaks crescent toronto5 shady oaks crescent toronto5 shady oaks crescent toronto

5 shady oaks crescent toronto5 shady oaks crescent toronto5 shady oaks crescent toronto5 shady oaks crescent toronto5 shady oaks crescent toronto5 shady oaks crescent toronto5 shady oaks crescent toronto

Free skating at Nathan Phillips Square starts this month

0
0

Sharpen those skates, Toronto – and clear off some camera space while you're at it.

Toronto's largest (and most photographed) outdoor ice rink is set to open at Nathan Phillips Square in just a few weeks for The Cavalcade of Lights.

City Hall's annual holiday kick-off event takes place this year on Saturday, Nov. 25. 

Featuring fireworks, live musical performances and, of course, the lighting of Toronto's official 60-foot-tall Christmas Tree, this year's Cavalcade of Lights also includes two different "skating parties" on the iconic outdoor NPS rink.

Toronto DJs Fawn Big Canoe and MelBoogie, both considered pioneers in their respective fields, will be spinning at 6 p.m. and 9:40 p.m. respectively for our skate-dancing (or cautious wobbling) pleasure.

As usual, the entire event is 100 per cent free – though I recommend bringing a few bucks for hot chocolate. Because what's ice skating without hot chocolate, really?

Toronto just shattered a 44-year-old temperature record

0
0

Brrrrrrr! Toronto might have exaggerated the impact of a little snow overnight, but the temperature is a whole different story. That frigid blast of air across your face this morning actually smashed a 44-year-old record. 

When the temperature dipped to -9.8C this morning, it officially became the coldest November 10 on record in Toronto. The previous cold mark was set at -8.9C in 1973. 

Back then the windchill peaked at -14C, which also trails behind today's index, which hovered around -19C at its worst. Um, that's really, really cold for early November. 

It's hard to believe that it was only a month and a half ago that the city was burning up under a late fall heatwave that smashed records of its own.  But, hey, now it feels a whole lot more fair to be thinking of holiday light displays, Christmas markets, and outdoor ice skating!


This town near Toronto has an epic 25km holiday lights trail

0
0

Winter light festivals have been getting hotter, bigger and more elaborate in recent years thanks (in part) to how incredible they look on Instagram.

But, while there are some really cool-looking new illuminations planned in and around Toronto this year, "newer" doesn't always mean "better."

Case in point: the Festival of Northern Lights in Owen Sound.

Singing snowmen. - - - #festivalofnorthernlights #singing #christmaslights #simplyhavingawonderfulchristmastime

A post shared by Jody Johnson Pettit (@jodyjp) on

Created all the way back in 1987, this impressive holiday lights event has grown from an annual community tradition into a must-see spectacle of next-level illuminated art.

Hundreds of local volunteers come together each year, according to the event's website, to set up nearly 400 displays and 25+ kilometres of lights to illuminate the city's harbour, riverbanks, downtown core, and Harrison Park.

They've got everything from horse-drawn sleigh rides and skiing santas to gigantic dragons made of light.

This year, the Festival of Northern Lights is celebrating its 30th anniversary with an opening celebration on Sat., Nov. 18 starting at 3 p.m. ET.

The lights will go on at 7 p.m. sharp and remain on daily between 5 and 10 p.m. until Sunday Jan. 7.

You can enjoy the beauty of the light festival as well as Owen Sound itself. It's two a half hours north of Toronto, but given its proximity to Blue Mountain and Grey County, it's the prefect destination for a cold weather getaway.

Toronto to build park celebrating indigenous culture

0
0

New details have been released about a forthcoming 1.6-acre public park in downtown Toronto, and they're inspiring a justifiable amount of enthusiasm over the future of park design at city hall right now.

Dr. Lillian McGregor Park, planned alongside Lanterra's Wellesley on the Park development, will be located along Wellesley Street between Bay and Yonge.

Lillian MGregor Park

An overhead view of the park layout.

The project was first presented to the Toronto Design Review Panel about a year and a half ago, but there wasn't much to fawn over at the time.

Since then, the award winning architecture, landscape and urban design firm DTAH has fleshed out a more solid theme and layout for the space based on Dr. McGregor herself, a now-deceased, longtime community leader known for promoting Indigenous culture and education.

Lillian McGregor Park

Rendering depicts some of the park features and public art we can expect.

Métis artist Kenneth Lavallee was brought on to create the park's public art component, according to Urban Toronto, "lending to a strong Indigenous thematic approach this time around."

The park's new site plan, presented to the review panel last week, includes a central gathering space, a continuous bench running alongside one path, a new 'Discovery Walk, an off-leash dog park, a sloping lawn, tree groves, and plaza with seating areas for retail stores, among other features.

Lillian McGregor Park

Rendering of Dr. Lillian McGregor Park as it might look when completed.

"The Indigenous theme is carried through several features across the park, aided by the designs of Lavallee,"  wrote Urban Toronto, noting that "the central gathering place is proposed to have a medicine wheel embedded at its centre."

Four cranes will also be positioned around the space according to the current plan. The birds will serve as a direct tribute to McGregor, who was reportedly part of the crane clan within her tribe.

Toronto to use drones to check passenger numbers in HOV lanes

0
0

First they came for our delivery jobs. Then they started cultivating crops, filming movies, forecasting weather and performing various other formerly human roles.

Now, the drones want to be cops, too – but can they tell the difference between a real person and a hoodie stuffed with wood? Or a mannequin decked out for the Pan Am Games?

We'll soon find out, I suppose, when Ontario sics its new fleet of AI-enabled traffic drones on local drivers.

Our province's Ministry of Transportation has reportedly teamed up with IBM, The University of Toronto, Oakville's The Sky Guys and Silicon Valley tech firm Nvidia to better enforce high-occupancy vehicle (i.e. carpool lane) rules on 400-series highways.

Ontario currently uses manned aircraft to measure speeding on certain stretches of road, according to Techvibes, but the process is clunky and inefficient.

To monitor HOV lanes for cars that don't have the requisite number of passengers, the province had been looking for something automated, secure, convenient and safe that could integrate with already existing government technologies.

This is what the teams mentioned above hope to deliver over the next two years in the form of an unmanned aerial drone system.

"The idea is that the drone is flying just off the side of the highway. It has an onboard camera and snaps pictures from the front, side and back views of each car," Sky Guys CTO Jeremy Wang told the Sun on Thursday. 

"Basically we have our own proprietary software that can count the number of people inside and then a report gets sent to police if there’s less people than there should be," he explained. "A ticket is linked to your licence plate."

So there you have it. In two years, intelligent robots will be watching us all from the sky and – hopefully, for the sake of tax money well spent – they won't be fooled by our unmoving plastic friends.

Union Station Holiday Market not coming back this year

0
0

Don't bank on getting last-minute Christmas presents for all your out-of-town relatives before hopping on a train this year.

The bustling Union Station Holiday Market will not be back for 2017 – at least not in the same form.

"We will not be having a traditional holiday market like we have had in the past with Toronto Market Company," said Union Station brand and communications rep Vanessa McDonald by email.

"Rather, we will be highlighting our new retail openings with holiday décor around the station and daily music performances between December 1st and December 22nd."

A preview into #WhereTorontoisGoing. Link in bio for full video.

A post shared by Union Station (@torontounion) on

There will also be food. Lots and lots of really good food (which, come to think of it, could make a great gift if you're not travelling super far.)

Both Amano, a pasta concept restaurant, and Union Chicken will open within Union Station's York Street Promenade before the new year.

The Front Street Promenade will also have a slough of casual dining options, as well as new local and independent retail offerings that "represent the spirit of Toronto," according to McDonald.

Those retailers are expected to be open between the end of November and early January.

We're not yet sure which specific retailers we'll see at Union Station in the new year, but it's certainly worth paying attention to. At least we're guaranteed some holiday music.

What a $1,000 apartment looks like in Toronto right now

0
0

There was a time when $1,000 secured you a one bedroom apartment in high rises across Toronto. Now you're lucky if you can find a relatively central basement at this price. It's scary out there. Still, even if the new $1K normal is subterranean spaces, some are much nicer than others.

Here's what a $1,000 apartment looks like in Toronto right now.

$1,000 for an open concept studio on the East Danforth

toronto apartment

There's over 800 square feet of space on offer at this studio apartment near Woodbine and Danforth, but there's no dedicated bedroom area, which will be a deal breaker for some. I could see this as a solid live/work studio for an artist who needs to keep rent costs under control.

$1000 for a garden walk-out in Forest Hill Village

toronto apartmentAs the listing says, location, location, location. In this case, we're talking about Forest Hill Village, which means $1,000 gets you a cozy basement near the main drag. The bonus here is the backyard space, which looks like a great warm weather hangout.

$980 for a reasonably bright basement on the Queensway

toronto apartmentYou might not find many above-ground apartments for $1,000 in Toronto, but not all basements are created equally. This Queensway apartment gets lots of light and has been recently renovated, but really needs a few carpets to warm up the cold tiles that comprise the floor.

$1,000 to get almost above ground near South Humber Park

toronto apartment

Here's a one bedroom apartment that's about as close to above ground as you're going to get for this price in today's market. Located in South Etobicoke, it's not very friendly to non-drivers, but with lots of green space nearby and limited furnishings already in place, it could work for some students.   

$950 for a renovated basement near Eglinton West

toronto apartmentThis is one of those basements that's hard to slag on, especially for the price. It's been recently renovated, features nice appliances, a huge shower, lots of space, and good subway proximity. This is about as good as you can do for under $1K in Toronto these days.

Toronto perplexed by new structure on top of downtown skyscraper

0
0

Have you recently seen that huge thing on top of the tower at 20 Queen Street West and thought to yourself, "hey – what's that huge thing on top of the tower at 20 Queen Street West?"

You're not alone, my friends.

We've been curious about it for months, as have Torontonians on Reddit and the Urban Toronto forums.

People had been speculating that the scaffolding atop the tower next to Toronto's Eaton Centre was indicative of an impending marketing stunt; a rooftop hockey rink, maybe, or some type of a promo for the Cadillac Fairview-sponsored Team Canada ahead of 2018's Olympic Games.

Others thought that the skyscraper, built in 1979, might be undergoing some routine maintenance.

As it turns out, neither of those theories appear to be true.

Based on a building permit application found by Urban Toronto forum user TheTigerMaster, we now know that all that dramatic-looking construction activity will result in *drumroll please*... some signs.

"In conjunction with a multi-storey building on the premises, proposal to erect and display four illuminated wall signs located on the uppermost storey and second storey of the building," reads the permit application.

"Two uppermost storey logo wall signs are erected on the southeast and northeast elevations."

We don't know yet what these illuminated signs will be advertising – or if they're meant to advertise anything at all. What we do know is that they're going to be huge.

Both of the rooftop signs will measure 5.2 metres vertically by 10.74 metres horizontally, according to the permit, "at a height of 149.7 metres above grade."

We've reached out to Cadillac Fairview for more information, and will keep you posted as details are offered.

Toronto is getting a new public square in the heart of Chinatown

0
0

The Chinatown Toronto BIA, in collaboration with the City of Toronto, has just announced the construction of a beautiful-sounding new public square on Huron Street.

Appropriately named "Huron Street Square," the outdoor space just north of Dundas Street West will including unique seating, lighting, a bronze Qilin and decorative pavers, among other features.

Chinatown TorontoThe design has already been approved by the BIA board and the project is set to launch sometime in 2017, according to the Chinatown BIA.

It's purpose is to "enrich cultural experiences in the neighbourhood," but it'll also inject some welcome new life into a somewhat drab intersection.

Chinatown is a hub of retail and cultural activity, and place for both respite and public gathering will be most welcome here. 


The top 10 stores to buy winter boots in Toronto

0
0

Winter boots in Toronto are a must if you want to navigate our city's annual lakes of evil black slush. With five months of the year spent in salt-encrusted, snowy darkness, it's important to be practical with your footwear – but that doesn't mean you have to settle for bulky nylon lace-ups.

Here are my picks for the top places to buy winter boots in Toronto.

Sporting Life

Toronto's original sporting-goods store has six locations within the GTA, and they all come well-stocked with performance-oriented footwear from brands like Columbia, Merrell and The North Face. Most of the boots here are hardcore functional, but a lot of them are stylish as well – perfect for tolerating a Polar Vortex (#NeverForget.)

Nordstrom

This relative newcomer to the Canadian market lives up to the hype with its 220,000 square foot store at Toronto's Eaton Centre. Whether you're looking for thigh-high, blue suede Stuart Wetizmans or insulated JOG DOG booties, this is your best bet on finding designer boots you've seen online but can't get shipped to our country. *grumble grumble*

Get Outside

Sprawling across two storefronts, this Queen West favourite divides its winter boot selection into "city" and "snow," which makes picking out the right pair a bit easier. You'll find trendy and practical brands here like Cougar, Kodiak, and Timberland for men and women alike, as well as harder-to-find cult favourites like Native Shoes and Frye. 

Mark's

Canada's favourite place to buy industrial wear has really stepped up its game in recent years when it comes to dressing regular consumers (hence the removal of "Work Wearhouse" from its name.) You'll find a wide variety of boots for both men and women here, all of it hardcore functional, much of it also stylish.

Gravitypope

If fashion is your top priority, this huge Queen and Ossington boutique is where you want to be. Sure, they sell functional, cold weather footwear brands like Cougar, Kodiak and Sorel – but you'll likely be tempted to blow your rent on designer boots from the likes of Alexander Wang, Isabel Marant and Acne Studios instead.

Australian Boot Company

Maybe you're the type to buy one pair of boots and kick the daylights out of them year-round. Your first stop should be ABC, which specializes in all-season Blundstone boots. They offer fully winterized models with fleece insoles if you want to be extra, and have locations in both Queen West and near Yonge and Eg.

Hudson's Bay

Yeah, it's a department store, but I'd be remiss to not mention the shoe floor at the Bay's Eaton Centre flagship, which bills itself as the largest shoe section in all of Canada. The selection of both heavy-duty and fashion brands is unmatched here - as are their insane Bay Days sales.

Heel Boy

The original location of this iconic shoe store has been a fixture on West Queen West between Bathurst and Bellwoods for years. Known for its friendly staff and trendy selection, Heel Boy now boasts a second store in the Distillery District plus ,a robust online shop with fashionable winter boot options from brands like Cougar, Franco Sarto and Lemon Jelly.

The Shoe Company

TSC and its subsidiaries, Town Shoes and Designer Shoe Warehouse, prides itself on offering "great brands" at "smart prices." Again, you'll find a wide selection of winter boot styles here, from "cold rated" galoshes to "waterproof fashion boots," and their prices are quite good for brand name stuff.

Mountain Equipment Co-op

MEC is the place to be if you want high-quality performance wear for active things like backwoods camping and / or traversing the slushy streets of Toronto during rush hour. The retail co-op, which can be found at 400 King West and in North York, maintains a strong focus gear that's eco-friendly, sustainable and well-constructed.

The top 5 vegan poutine in Toronto

0
0

Vegan poutine in Toronto means everyone can partake in one of Canada's most iconic snacks. These restaurants have swapped cheese curds and beef or chicken gravy for meatless and dairy-free alternatives that don't disappoint.

Here are my picks for the top vegan poutine in Toronto.

Fresh

While poutine is usually an indulgent affair stacked with artery-clogging ingredients, this Toronto chain's rendition includes plenty of veggies. Fries are topped with steamed baby bok choy, kale, swiss chard, mushroom gravy, faux cheese sauce, green onions and sunflower seeds.

Apiecalypse Now!

This Koreatown pizzeria is known for making some of the best vegan pizza in town. If you look past the vast array of pies on the menu, you'll find a selection of poutine. There's both a traditional take on the dish and supreme version stacked with add-ons like pineapple.

Disgraceland

This Bloorcourt restaurant and bar is known for their comfort food. Their poutine comes regular or veganized with mushroom gravy and Daiya cheese.

Hogtown Vegan

Poutine is on the menu on at both the Bloorcourt and Little Italy locations of this vegan favourite. Fries here get topped with "cheese" and mushroom-beer gravy.

Poutini's House of Poutine

Poutine gets topped with gluten-free vegetable gravy and Daiya cheese shreds at this poutine purveyor. And good news for all you vegans sad about not being able to indulge in late night "drunk food," both the King West and West Queen West locations are open until 3:30 a.m. on weekends.

What the TTC looked like in the 1960s and '70s

0
0

The TTC of the 1960s and '70s witnessed great change. While the original 12-stop subway had opened in 1954, it was the following decades that would see the system take its modern shape, first with the opening of the University line in 1963, then with Bloor-Danforth in 1966, and finally with the Spadina Line in 1978

The fascinating thing about photos of the subway from this era is the profound familiarity they evoke, even as the stations and vehicles look very different. In the 1960s, Vitrolite tiles ruled the system, giving it an aesthetic that's been described as "bathroom architecture."

The most iconic feature of the old TTC, however, must surely be the red G-series cars. They have stiff competition from PCC streetcars, which are likely the source of the red rocket moniker, but in the end civic pride rooted in the first subway cars give them the edge.

Well, that and the fact that the lights used to always flicker out, which brought a certain allure to even the most mundane subway trip.

In some sense, these were the glory years for the TTC. The system was well equipped to deal with the population of the city, and overcrowding wasn't a constant problem.

The stations themselves also had a remarkably clean appeal during this period, representative of a Toronto that was known as "the city that works."

Here's what the TTC looked like in the 1960s and '70s.

ttc 1960s

Bloor Station streetcar platform pre-Line 2 (Bloor-Danforth). Photo by John Bromley.

ttc 1960s

Gloucester Car in Davisville Yards, 1960s. Photo via Chuckman's Nostalgia.

ttc 1960s

Davisville Station looking south, 1969. Photo by NE2 3PN.

ttc 1960s

St. Clair Station, 1960s.

ttc 1970s

St. Andrew Station, late 1960s. Note original Vitrolite tiles. Photo via Transit Toronto.

ttc 1960s

Looking north up Lansdowne at Bloor. Photo via John Bromley's archives.

ttc 1960s

TTC route map, early 1970s (before Spadina Extension).

ttc 1970s

Union Station, late 1970s. Photo by Ben Mark Holzberg, Library and Archives Canada.

ttc 1970s

Queen Station, 1975.

ttc 1960s

Davisville Station, early 1970s.

ttc 1970s

Rosedale Station, late 1970s. Photo by Ben Mark Holzberg, Library and Archives Canada.

ttc 1970s

Presidents Conference Committee streetcar on King near Church, 1970s. Photo via John Bromley's archives.

ttc 1970s

Interior of subway train, 1975. 

ttc 1970s

Opening Day of Spadina Line at St. Clair West Station, 1978. Photo via Robert Lubinski.

ttc 1970s

Wilson Station, late 1970s. Photo by Ben Mark Holzberg, Library and Archives Canada.

ttc 1970s

Spadina Station moving sidewalk, late 1970s. Photo by Ben Mark Holzberg, Library and Archives Canada.

ttc 1970s

Eglinton Station, late 1970s. Photo by Ben Mark Holzberg, Library and Archives Canada.

This unreal riverside lights festival is two hours from Toronto

0
0

Holiday lights season is just a few weeks away. Soon Toronto will explode with festive displays across the city, from public squares to residential streets. Some of the biggest events, however, are found outside the city in towns across the province. 

These days there are dozens of incredible holiday lights festivals within a couple hours of Toronto, but the one that started the trend is the Simcoe Christmas Panorama, which was founded all the way back in 1958.

Dubbed the River of Lights, the festival now involves thousands of lights and over 60 displays spread across the town's downtown parks beside the Lynn River. It doesn't get much more scenic than this. 

A good way to to think of the Simcoe Christmas Panorama as a Santa Claus parade in suspended animation — because to a great degree that's what it is.

The festival was born when parade floats were abandoned in Wellington Park after a rained out event. The following year, organizers decided to take the rest of the floats and install them in the park for the town to enjoy over the entire festive season.  

A full tour of the displays lasts about 45 minutes. For those who really want to dial up the festive charm, there are also horse-drawn trolley tours on weekends throughout December. 

The opening night event for the Panorama this year takes place on November 25 at 6 p.m. After that, the lights are on each day between 5:30 and 11:30 p.m. The festival concludes on December 31.

The 7 most romantic getaways near Toronto

0
0

Romantic getaways near Toronto are the perfect way to ditch the city for some much needed r&r with your significant other. There are a host of gorgeous inns and secluded spots within a short drive of the city where you can dial the romance up while getting cozy by a fire, luxuriating in spa services, or just soaking up the atmosphere of small town Ontario.

Here are my picks for the most romantic getaways near Toronto.

Soak up Prince Edward County in style

The Drake Devonshire brings the vibe of the Drake Hotel to the County with dramatic results. You can do wine tastings by day before settling in for dinner in the stunning lakeside restaurant. Other options include a charmingly revamped motel, an old carriage house or a heritage home.

millcroft inn

The Millcroft Inn can be like a winter oasis. Photo courtesy of Vintage Inns.

Pamper yourself in Caledon

Located just a short drive from Toronto, Caledon's stunning Millcroft Inn is nestled right beside Shaw's Creek in a former textile mill. The town is artsy while the inn itself is memorable for its unique setting within the creek, its cozy rooms, and spa services. 

Pillar and Post

The beautiful lobby at the Pillar and Post. Photo courtesy of Vintage Inns.

Luxuriate in the quaintness of Niagara-on-the-Lake

There are a number of old hotels in this scenic town, all of which offer romance-ripe rooms surrounded by wineries. Harbour House and the Prince of Wales are excellent, but I'm partial to the Pillar and Post for the rustic charm of its lobby, its warm restaurant, and indoor pool. 

treehouse cabin near toronto

Few things are more romantic than a secluded treehouse cabin. Photo via Airbnb.

Rent a secluded treehouse

If it's seclusion that you're after, there's nothing better than an isolated tree-house style cabin. This cabin-loft near Port Perry looks out on 300 acres of land, while this nearby treehouse really is nestled in the forest. There's also an array of cozy cabins to rent outside the city.

woodlawn inn

You can step back in time at the Woodlawn Inn.

Enjoy the charms of Cobourg in a historic inn

The Woodlawn Inn is a stately old hotel dating back to the 19th century. It's a bit more reasonable price-wise than inns to the west of Toronto (rooms start at $99), but it's still outfitted with charming decor and boasts the best dining experience in the town. 

galt ontario

The Galt area of Cambridge is one of the prettiest small towns in Ontario. Photo by Christine Smeath.

Take a trip to Europe without forking out for air fare

Most of us lack the time and money to run away to Europe for a week when we want to spend some quality time with our partners. Instead, travel back in time in the Galt section of Cambridge. For a special occasion, stay at Langdon Hall and head into town during the day.

mount julian

One of the nine course on Mount Julian's epic tasting menu.

Feast on local cuisine at Stoney Lake

Sometimes the most romantic getaways are those with the best food. You can dine on a locally inspired tasting menu in a cozy 19th century inn at Viamede Resort's  beautiful Mount Julian restaurant while enjoying the calming vista of Stoney Lake. Instant relaxation.  

Viewing all 47899 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images