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Toronto's famous terracotta house is about to be demolished

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Yes, the rumours are true. This old wonder that has brazenly stood at 20 Jerome Street near the Junction Triangle for 113 years is being demolished. 

This is very interesting move because the property itself is a heritage property and has been listed as such since 1979. Last year it went on sale for around $1 million. 

“The building is not structurally sound. If you sneeze too hard, it’s going to fall down,” said Councillor Gord Perks, in an interview with the Toronto Star.

New owners of the property apparently began construction last month and are now finally getting around to levelling the property.

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Although some neighbours have been very vocal about their concerns over levelling this Toronto marvel, any concerns they raise — they have this week to do so — will not impact the demolition of the house.  

The house,  built by west-end Toronto builder J. Turner Sr. in 1905, is covered in weathered terracotta tiles. Turner Sr. used terracotta tiles because, at one point, they were super cheap and plentiful in Ontario


These ancient caves near Toronto are a camping paradise

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If you’re a fan of canoeing, swimming, fishing, hiking, caving, camping and, well, basically everything — this might be the perfect park for a day trip or weekend adventure.

Less than two hours from Toronto is the Warsaw Caves Conservation Area (WCCA) that is surrounded by natural beauty. I mean, doesn’t this look like an enchanted forest?

The WWCA has a little bit of everything, but what really drives people to check out this spot are the epic caves in the park that are perfectly safe for spelunking — no experience necessary!

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There are seven caves inside the park, which were formed thousands of years ago at the end of the last ice age by the rushing melt of water from glaciers that covered Ontario.

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There are a number of insanely cool potholes and round depressions (called kettles) in the bedrock that were formed when the granite stones trapped in the current were spun around in place, grinding their way into underlying limestone.

The kettles are some of the most Insta-worthy spots in the entire park and are popular to climb into.

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If you’re up for exploring these natural jungle gyms, it’s recommended you bring a flashlight and wear clothes you won’t mind getting dirty. Good footwear is an absolute must!

Once you emerge from the caves, there is a scenic lookout nearby and 15 km of gorgeous hiking trails along Indian River. Trail maps are available at the gatehouse, so you can easily explore without getting lost.

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With Indian River running through the park, swimming is a no-brainer. Canoes are also available to rent if you don’t have your own boat to bring. A trip to the village of Warsaw by canoe is just two hours and makes a great day trip — or you can just float along the river at your leisure.

For camping enthusiasts, there are 52 camp sites inside the park which are fully-equipped with washrooms, showers, and even laundry rooms. Camping is available from mid-May to Thanksgiving.

To get into the park, it’s only $16 per vehicle. All the other fees like canoe rentals and camping are listed on the Warsaw Caves web site.

A guide to Toronto night markets for summer 2018

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Night markets are back in Toronto this summer and with them come the excitement of cheap and sometimes unusual street food with the sights and sounds of summer. Eating, drinking and dancing is all going down at these many night markets worth checking out.

Events you might want to check out:

Artisan Cheese Night Market (June 7 @ St Lawrence Market, North Hall)
The first of its kind in Canada, this night market promises cheese and charcuterie from artisan cheese makers, plus drinks and live music.
The Stop’s Night Market (June 12-13 @ The Stop Community Food Centre)
Back again is this huge night market featuring tons of food, performances, design and art, all in support of The Stop Community Food Centre.
Night Market 6ix (June 15 @ Canoe Landing Park)
Art and food come together for this new night market in one of the city's newest parks with all proceeds going to charity.
Junction Night Market (July 7 @ The Junction)
Music, activities and food make up this yearly neighbourhood street festival with an environmentally-friendly focus.
Night It Up! (July 13-15 @ Markham Civic Centre)
Markham's annual outdoor festival is back, showcasing Asian street foods and nightly performances.
Waterfront Night Market (August 10-12 @ Ontario Place)
Back after last year's venue debacle, this night market is known for a huge selection of Asian street food.

This area of Toronto is becoming a land of condos

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As Toronto's population explodes, so too must the number of places for people to live — hence the inclination of developers to build high-rise residential buildings pretty muchanywherethey canmanage to.

Sometimes this manifests in the form of a densely-packed urban mega-development, like City Place, Liberty Village, or one of the many forthcoming master-planned communities around the city.

Other times they come up insidiously, one demolishedwarehouse and mini-mall at a time.

Dufferin Jog condos

Boarded up buildings slated for demolition on Gladstone Avenue.

A new seven-storey condo development has been proposed for the space directly north of FreshCo at Gladstone Avenue and Queen Street West, where currently stands some vacant, boarded-up houses and an old automobile collision centre.

Gladstone new condos

The Bianchi Collision Centre on Gladstone Avenue.

Condoman Development Inc. is asking the city to amend a zoning bylaw so that two vacant properties with three addresses (31, 33 and 37 Gladstone) can be amalgamated into one building with 58 dwelling units, not too far from the Gladstone Hotel.

31 gladstone development

Rendering of the proposed new building at 31 Gladstone via City of Toronto submission.

Once the buildings are demolished to make way for this new development, Gladstone between Queen and Peel Avenue will be almost entirely unrecognizable compared to itself just five years ago.

In fact, the entirety of what we once had to call the "Dufferin Jog" (grumble grumble) is now almost entirely flanked by either condo buildings, or condos-to-be, which shouldn't be surprising given the great location.

Dufferin Jog condos

The row of condos on the west side of Gladstone Avenue.

Still, it's quite the change. The run-down rowhouses that once stood adjacent to the Price Chopper are long gone, as is another auto body shop and literally everything else between Peel and Queen on the west side of Gladstone.

A mega-development called The Carnaby (that big gray building with a Metro at the base) sprawls all the way over from Gladstone to Dufferin.

Carnaby Toronto

The Carnaby condo on the south side of Queen near Gladstone Avenue.

Both the north and south sides of Peel also now hold condos very similar to the one proposed last week with gradually ascending setbacks.

Carnaby lofts Toronto

Condos on Peel between Gladstone and Dufferin.

Heading west on Peel, the old artist and startup warehouse at 442 Dufferin is now completely razed and ready to become (what else?) a condo complex.

The site of the former warehouse at 442 Dufferin.

But that's technically on the Parkdale side of Dufferin, which is already a known hot spot for new developments and/or gentrification, depending on how you feel about it.

Ditto for the nearby Q Loft, which made waves of its own upon popping up in 2014.

Q Loft Toronto

The Q Loft on the northwest corner of Queen and Dufferin.

As far as the Dufferin Jog goes, only a handful of mismatched homes remain along the east side of Gladstone, just before Peel.

Dufferin Jog 2018

Gladstone Avenue looking north.

Based on what's been happening with real estate in the area lately, I'd reckon their days are numbered. For better or for worse, they're the only things standing in the way of a perfectly condo-lined former Jog.

10 things to do in Toronto today

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Events in Toronto today spell good news for anyone who has ever sung in the shower as Sing! kicks off with concerts and programming all over the city. There's also a big birthday bash happening for Hemingway's as it celebrates 38 glorious years.

Events you might want to check out:

Hereditary (May 23 @ TIFF Bell Lightbox)
Director Ari Aster is on hand to discuss his supernatural horror film that has been getting buzz at both Sundance and SXSW.
ImaginePeace (May 23 @ Gardiner Museum)
Inspired by Yoko Ono’s activism, this series pairs artists with academics to discuss how people are shaping the future in the digital space.
King Tuff (May 23 @ Horseshoe Tavern)
Always working to take indie pop and garage rock to strange, new places: King Tuff is here with Cut Worms to bring on the tripped-out vibes.
Hollywood Rectangles (May 23 @ Comedy Bar)
The classic game show of Hollywood Squares sees comedians impersonating celebrities and stretching the definition of the word itself.
Hemingway's Anniversary Party (May 23 @ Hemingway's)
This Yorkville mainstay is celebrating 38 years with a big birthday bash featuring tons of barbecue, giveaways and prizes.
Emmure (May 23 @ Mod Club Theatre)
The self-proclaimed cult of Emmure arrives with their slow-roasted brand of metal core for only the bravest of souls.
On The Rise (May 23 @ Free Space)
Five creators share their experiences of growing as visual storytellers through relationships and skill building, moderated by writer Monica Heisey.
Spacing Mag and Book Release Party (May 23 @ 401 Richmond)
Toronto's urbanism and architecture mag is set to release its spring 2018 edition with a focus on Toronto at night.
Satyricon (May 23 @ The Opera House)
Longtime sweethearts of the Norwegian black metal scene, Satyricon is here alongside Panzerfaust and Blood of Christ.
Sing! (May 23 - June 3 @ Multiple Venues)
The best in a cappella gets a week-long celebration, featuring local and international performers, concerts, workshops and free events.

Rental of the week: 436 Wellington Street West

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Located in the historic Monarch Building, this hard loft is divine and is in such a great neighbourhood. Sitting in the King West neighbourhood, you’ll never be bored here. 436 wellington street west toronto The 1,700 square foot open concept loft was recently renovated and has a direct elevator. You no longer have to make awkward chit-chat with your neighbours! Ah, the dream!

436 wellington street west torontoAs it’s a hard loft, the unit is full of character in the form of wood ceilings, an exposed brick wall, steel posts and exposed beams.

436 wellington street west torontoWhile the unit is advertised as open-concept, there is a weird wall with windows in the middle of the living and dining area. I’m kinda in to it as it makes the space seem like a house inside an apartment and helps break up what could be a cavernous room.

436 wellington street west torontoThe bedroom is spacious and has a modern en suite bathroom. There is no bathtub though, so if you’re a fan of those you’re out of luck.

436 wellington street west torontoThere is an odd layout design in which to access the closet you need to either go through the front hallway or through the bathroom. I could see this getting annoying, but it is a walk-in closet so it can’t be all bad.

436 wellington street west torontoAs for outdoor space, there's a balcony — an absolute luxury when it comes to old factory buildings. It does look out onto a parking lot so… not the best view.  

436 wellington street west toronto Specs
  • Address: #205 - 436 Wellington Street West
  • Type: Loft
  • Rent: $6,000 / month
  • Listing agent: Ben Higgs
  • Furnished? No
  • Utilities: No
  • Air conditioning? Yes
  • Bedrooms: 2
  • Bathrooms: 2
  • Parking: 1
  • Laundry? In suite
  • Outdoor space? Balcony
  • Pet friendly? No
436 wellington street west toronto Good For

A professional couple or bachelor who wants to be smack downtown, but not live in a condo that’s your stereotypical glass box in the sky.

436 wellington street west torontoMove On If

You don’t want to traipse through your bathroom or walk around your entire apartment every time you want to make an outfit change.  

436 wellington street west toronto

Tweet to TTC helps woman recover AirPods from subway tracks

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The TTC takes a lot flak over service delays and subway crowding — so much so that it's easy to forget how much the transit agency really does care about customer service.

A quick scroll through the @TTCHelps reply column on Twitter should remedy that, and fast.

The Toronto Transit Commission is killing it, as far as brands on social media go, with consistently helpful and timely responses to every complaint or question that comes in.

Streetcar too hot? The TTC's got you. Presto card glitching? The TTC's got you. Want Morgan Freeman to read transit announcements? The TTC's got... well, they've got an answer for you (and also a GIF.)

And this helpful spirit goes far beyond the confines of our phones and computers.

Just ask Areti Tzanetakis, or anyone else who's dropped something valuable down the subway tracks, only to have it miraculously re-surfaced by a TTC station staffer.

"I lost my new apple earbuds today at Yonge and Dundas station," said Tzanetakis by email on Tuesday. "TTC was amazing at receiving them within the same day I dropped them onto the tracks.... Please give some love to TTC."

The entire situation played out live via Twitter thanks to a friend of Tzanetakis, who reached out to the @TTCHelps account on the off-chance that maybe they could, ya know, help.

As it turns out, they definitely could — and did.

Within half an hour of the original tweet, the TTC was already working to locate the lost item.

"Whereabouts on the tracks? In the middle etc? Also what colour are they?" asked the @TTCHelps account, to which Tzanetakis' friend replied with a photo.

Less than 15 minutes after that reply, the TTC asked if they come and pick up the AirPod following peak service.

By 9 p.m., Tzanetakis was reunited with her brand new AirPod, relieved that she wouldn't have to go shell out $100 for a simple, accidental drop.

Now that's some award-winning customer service magic, right there — and it happens all the time.

Good looking out, TTC Twitter.

Video surfaces of fireworks fight in a Toronto park

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At least one teen was seriously injured this week while participating in what's being described as a "fireworks fight" at Christie Pits Park.

Essentially, a bunch of people decided to shoot roman candles at each other while running around in the dark on Victoria Day — one of several Canadian holidays that revolve exclusively around alcohol and fireworks.

A Toronto woman who was in the area (but not fighting with fireworks) was concerned by what she saw and started filming the encounter.

"Fire works turned into shooting works with teenagers going crazy on Victoria Day," she wrote on Twitter when publishing the video around 11 p.m. on Monday night. "One injured in the eye!"

Nadia Jaber, the woman who posted the video, told CBC that she had gone to the park with her husband and daughter for what she thought was a regular fireworks show.

Instead, she saw "kids running around everywhere, rounds of shooting at each other."

"At a certain point it became really, really intense," she said, noting that nobody was there to supervise the teens — not parents, the city, nor anyone from the community.

Jaber called the police herself after one boy was struck in the eye by fireworks. Paramedics took him to hospital with a "serious injury" around 9:30 p.m. that night, but no arrests were made in connection with the fireworks fight.

Apparently, fireworks fights like this one are not all that uncommon.

"Dumb teenagers (and not so teenagers) have been doing this forever," wrote one person in response to Jaber's tweet on Reddit. "I recall this exact activity occurring when I was a teen in the 90's. Idiots gonna idiot."

"The cops should be there early and stop this before it happens," wrote someone else. "It's been going on for years and frankly is getting worse. (shakes fist at sky)"

Toronto Police Const. David Hopkinson told The Sun that, while police "did respond to a call to a large group of people in Christie Pits shooting fireworks at each other," the incident is not actively being investigated.

"Of course, the Toronto Police would want to discourage anyone from firing fireworks at each other," he said, "because it can cause serious injury."


Free outdoor movies near St. Lawrence Market this summer

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A park just steps from the bustling St. Lawrence Market will once again be screening free outdoor movies this summer. There is literally nothing better. 

It's BYOBlankie and picnic dinner at St. James Park near King and Jarvis for this movie night series under the stars. 

Here are the movies playing this summer:

Thursday, June 21, 2018

8:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Special Pride community event with a live drag show at 8 p.m. at the gazebo stage, followed by screening of Kissing Jessica Stein at 9 p.m.

Thursday, July 26, 2018

9:00 PM – 11:00 PM
The screening of Coco begins at 9:00 p.m.

Thursday, August 23, 2018

9:00 PM – 11:00 PM
The screening of Breaking Away begins at 9:00 p.m.

The 10 hottest restaurants in Toronto right now

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The hottest restaurants in Toronto right now are going strong. Italian, dumplings, pizza, sushi, falafel and hummus, wine, Jamaican: these are no-fail offerings, and at the fashionable joints below they’re selling like hotcakes.

Here are my picks for the hottest restaurants in Toronto right now.

Giulietta

Sharing is caring at this pretty little new Italian kid on the block where Bestellen used to reside in Brockton Village. An open kitchen led by Rob Rossi turns out pasta, seafood and wood-fired pizza.

Constantine

On the bottom floor of the new Anndore House boutique hotel near Yonge and Bloor, dine surrounded by blown-glass vases and watch as a kitchen in the centre of the dining room prepares Mediterranean-Italian pasta dishes, crostini and intricate desserts.

Parallel

This tahini factory on Geary makes their own hummus, falafel, and other Middle Eastern classics, and Toronto is clamouring for them.

Mira

The chocolate bomb at this semi-hidden Peruvian restaurant in the King West neighbourhood has become something of an Instagram star, but make no mistake, the ceviche and cocktails are impeccable too.

Il Covo

When a chef from Buca broke off to create this new Little Italy project, the results were nothing short of stunning, with handmade fresh pasta in the spotlight.

Rosalinda

Vegan meets Mexican at this new venture from Toronto’s golden boy restaurateur, Grant van Gameren. Expect beautiful plating and a lush, smartly designed environment.

Kaka AYCE

Some of the best AYCE sushi in the city has made its way downtown with a fresh spot on Bay packed with raw fish lovers.

Paris Paris

You’ll find everything that goes great with wine at this adored all-day bar on Dundas West: meats, cheeses, mussels, fries, and even Portuguese chicken. 

Chubby’s Jamaican

It’s no surprise in Toronto that a Jamaican concept would be popular, especially one located in a charming converted boarding house near King and Portland. Throw in pit cooking and rum punch, and the reservations book themselves.

Tuk Tuk Canteen

Weekends are slammed at this dimly lit restaurant on Roncesvalles, Cambodian cooking wholeheartedly embraced by the community.

The Best Cooking Classes in Toronto

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The best cooking classes in Toronto can take you from watching Chopped on the couch to actually, you know, chopping something. Start from scratch with 101 courses on the basics or add more skills to your repertoire with specific workshops in sushi, macarons, biscotti, or anything else you’ve always dreamed of being able to whip up yourself.

Here are the best cooking classes in Toronto.

George Brown College

It only makes sense that you’d head to one of the campuses in Toronto known for turning out great chefs to learn how to cook. Mark McEwan himself is on the board of directors.

Dish Cafe

This chic cooking school in Little Italy has a clear calendar on their site full of opportunities to learn how to make dumplings, pasta, date night dishes, tacos and more.

The Depanneur

Food is brought to life at this quirky Little Italy corner spot where workshops are held on diverse topics like knife skills, macarons and Mexican cooking.

Cookery

This Roncesvalles Village kitchen shop offers 101, gourmet, seasonal, and global cooking classes — as well as courses for kids.

Hooked

Spots in popular classes held at the Leslieville location of this renowned seafood shop are often quickly snapped up. You might learn how to fillet fish, or include it in Asian cooking.

The Chef Upstairs

It’s all about interactive classes at this Mount Pleasant space, including a huge range of programs for kids and teens. Learn to cook Japanese, Italian, Mexican or Caribbean cuisine.

Nella Cucina

Learn everything from basic skills to how to make pasta, pizza, biscotti and macarons at this Annex restaurant supply giant.

Sushi Making for the Soul

Learn how to make favourites like makimono, nigiri and sashimi from these workshops that take place in the Stockyards Village area.

Cirillo's Culinary Academy

Knife skills courses and couples cooking classes are the tip of the iceberg at this Etobicoke cooking school near the intersection of Dundas West and Burnhamthorpe Road.

The top 10 buildings to see at Doors Open Toronto 2018

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Doors Open Toronto 2018, the city's annual, two-day-long celebration of architecture and snooping, returns this weekend with more than 50 new spaces (out of a total 134) for the public to explore, many of them centred around this year's theme of "Film: The Great Romance."

From can't-miss favourites to exciting new additions, here are my picks for the top buildings to check out at Doors Open Toronto in 2018.

Bay Lower Station

You've likely heard that there's a secret, unused TTC subway station beneath Bay — and that it's nearly impossible to visit without being on some sort of film crew. That changes this weekend, when the TTC opens up Bay Lower to the public after years of reserving it for productions like Resident Evil and The Handmaid's Tale.

Toronto Reference Library

If you think that the first five floors of Toronto's biggest library are spectacular, wait until you see the other five — the ones that are usually off-limits to the public. This architectural and cultural landmark houses a lot more than books. Doors Open visitors can expect to see everything from the Arthur Conan Doyle Room to TPL's own Conservation Lab.

Toronto Reference Library

The stunning Toronto Reference Library was designed by architect Raymond Moriyama and completed in 1977. Photo by Jack Landau.

Humber Lakeshore Campus

Like Bay Station, something old, cool and definitely haunted lies beneath the brick "cottage" buildings at Humber College's Lakeshore campus. Built in 1888 by patients at the Mimico Branch Asylum, the psychiatric hospital-turned-learning centre is connected by a series of historic underground tunnels that you can walk through this weekend.

Malabar Ltd. Costume Warehouse

Theatre, film, TV and fashion fans alike will have the rare opportunity this weekend to see Malabar's sprawling Brockton Village warehouse — home to more than 30,000 historical costumes dating back to 1923. Experts in makeup, design and costumes ranging from the Medieval to Edwardian periods will be on hand to help you explore.

Malabar costumes Toronto

The costumes in Malabar's warehouse at 122 Brock Avenue are rented throughout North America for opera and theatre productions, as well as for film and television shows. Image via City of Toronto.
 

PARTISANS

Doors Open purists will be thrilled to note that one of Toronto's most-renowned architecture studios will be welcoming guests into its open-concept creative hub in Dovercourt Village — a space that has severed as everything from a textile factory to a practice space for musicians like Drake and The Weeknd early in their careers.

Ubisoft Toronto

This video game industry giant will be opening its doors to the public on May 26 for the first time since it was established in 2010. Guests can look forward to experiencing Ubisoft's "Performance Capture studio," which uses 80 VICON cameras to produce the highest-quality performance capture for games, film and TV.

Ubisoft Toronto

Ubisoft Toronto is located in the the former General Electric factory, a four-storey industrial building located in the Junction Triangle.

University of Toronto: McLennan Physical Labs

Another new addition to this year's program is home to some of Canada's most cutting-edge research in psychics, astrophysics and astronomy. It's also where Good Will Hunting was filmed. Doors Open visitors should be sure to check out this building's huge, 16th floor telescopes for a chance to safely view the sun.

MOCA (Tower Automotive Building)

One of Toronto's coolest depression-era industrial towers is fast-transforming into the the Museum of Contemporary Art's new home in the Junction Triangle. Get a sneak preview of how MOCA is using the Tower Automotive Building before everyone else does: the space won't officially open until September.

MOCA Tower Automotive

The Tower Automotive Building, build for the Northern Aluminum Company in 1919, has been sitting vacant since its closure in 2006. Image by Hector Vasquez.

Shaftesbury

Located in the heart of Toronto's Studio District, this 10,000 square foot media production space features an indoor park, among other cool filming spaces. Visitors for Doors Open will get to dress up in costumes and take pictures with larger-than-life props from shows like Carmilla and Murdoch Mysteries.

St. John's Convent

This actual convent in North York, near the intersection at Cummer and Maxome avenues, is described as a "contemporary expression of monasticism" for the Anglican Sisterhood of St. John the Divine. Guests are invited to explore spectacular architectural details, like a high-vaulted chapel with 100-year-old carvings and an outdoor labyrinth.

Photo Challenge

Submit your photos of this year's Doors Open Toronto and you could win one of three gift certificates for Henry's Canada. Just tag your photos of Doors Open Toronto with #blogTOdot18 on Instagram to enter the challenge. The deadline to submit is May 27 at 11:59 pm.

We will select our 10 favourite photos from those submitted, and then the public will have a chance to vote for their favourite between May 28 and June 3, 2018. The winners will be announced on June 4, 2018.

Popeyes is taking over in downtown Toronto

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Have you noticed a lot of Popeyes in Toronto lately? Not the vitamin store (or the Sailor Man, for that matter), but the fried chicken joint, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen.

New locations of the 45-year-old American multinational fast food chain are popping up downtown with some regularity these days, leading both lovers and haters in Toronto to question why. 

Is fried chicken on the up and up? Was it ever on the down and down? Is everyone sick of KFC? It's those catchy commercials, right? Are buttermilk biscuits actually addictive?

Yes, no, yes, maybe, and I don't think so, but anything's possible.

Most likely, the fast Canadian expansion has something to do with Restaurant Brands International — the Oakville-based parent company of Burger King and Tim Hortons.

You see, RBI acquired Popeyes last year for US$1.8 billion, hinting at the time that it was interested in the franchise-based business' "international prospects for growth."

"Popeyes currently has more than 2,600 restaurants, with 621 international locations," reported the Canadian Press in March of 2017 when the deal closed.

"RBI has said it plans to accelerate Popeyes' growth in the U.S. and beyond, using an approach used by Burger King."

With about 50 Popeyes locations now open in Toronto, and more on the way — including one opening soon across the street from St. Lawrence Market at Front and Jarvis — it's safe to say that Lousiana could soon be the new Kentucky. At least when it comes to fried chicken in Canada.

New report says half of Toronto can barely afford to pay rent

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If you rent a place in Toronto and make less than $24 an hour, you could be just one missed paycheque away from making some seriously tough choices about food and shelter.

As many as 46.9 per cent of households are in this exact position, according to a newly-released study from the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario, and the numbers are only going up.

The study, called Where Will We Live? Ontario’s Affordable Rental Housing Crisis, reveals that nearly half of all renters in Ontario are dealing with "unaffordable housing costs."

What this means is that those renters are spending more than 30 per cent of their total income on rent, leaving less and less money for things like medicine and childcare — or far more hours are spent working to make ends meet.

In Toronto, where nearly half of all households are rented and the cost of living continues to skyrocket, that's a precarious place to be.

"A significant percentage of renters across Ontario and in Toronto are facing unaffordable housing costs that limit their ability to spend money on other life necessities," reads the ACTO report.

"Many facing rising rents are being displaced from their communities and many more are commuting longer hours between home and work."

We know that a lack of affordable housing is hurting people in Toronto, particularly those in low-income households — but what's the solution? How can a city ensure families aren't booted from their rental homes due to rising rents and stagnating incomes?

Especially in a market with a roughly one per cent vacancy rate, where landlords can charge exorbitant amounts for empty units? Where the average cost of a one-bedroom rental unit is now well above $2,000 a month?

"As rental housing costs continue to rise, all levels of government must focus on alleviating the burden of unaffordable housing, especially for low-income renters," suggests the ACTO in its Tuesday report. 

"We know for a fact that our affordable rental housing crisis will not be solved by building more condominiums or luxury purpose-built rentals."

"We need a combination of targeted policies and investments including funding for social housing, government support for non-profit housing, and strong protections in place for tenants," the report continues.

"Preserving the status-quo is no longer an option for the hundreds of thousands of renters struggling every day to keep a roof over their head."

Little Tehran is Toronto's hotbed for Iranian food and culture

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If you're looking for a taste of Persian culture, look no further than a small strip of Yonge Street – nicknamed Little Tehran – which offers everything from juicy kebabs to pomegranate ice cream within a 900-metre radius. 

Stretching towards Steeles and beginning just north of Finch, it's hard to tell where Little Tehran begins and its southerly neighbour, Koreatown North, ends.

little tehran toronto

Little Tehran stretches on Yonge between Finch and Steeles, blending closely with Koreatown North. 

Walking this part of Yonge can seem bewildering at first: everything from the sidewalks to the plazas seem far apart, and traffic here tends to zoom by at alarming speeds. The food, however, makes this 10-minute walk from Finch station totally worth it. 

little tehran toronto

You'll notice a number of currency exchange stores marking the area. 

There are three major things to note in Little Tehran: phenomenal kebab joints, delicious pastries shops, and currency exchange stores, the latter of which there are plenty. 

little tehran toronto

The Toronto Iranian Plaza is the central hub of the Persian community here. 

The Toronto Iranian Plaza is the central hub of Little Tehran. Open for over 20 years, this little strip mall at 6075 Yonge Street has evolved over the years to become the one-stop shop for the massive Persian community in the Willowdale neighbourhood. 

If you don't have much time to explore, this small collection of markets and bakeries should be your one and only destination. 

little tehran toronto

Open 24 hours, Arzon Supermarket sells imported Iranian goods and groceries. 

Start off at Super Arzon, the beating heart of the Iranian Plaza. Opened by Kiekavoss "Carl" Hosseinzadeh, this 24-hour supermarket was the first mainstay to transform the plaza into the Iranian-centric community mall it is today. 

little tehran toronto

Super Arzon also has a hot table with Iranian cuisine favourites for order. 

Enter through either of Arzon's doorways to access the grocery store or to head straight to the hot table area, where staff offer combos of gourmeh sabzi (the quintessential Iranian green stew) or bamieh (okra stew) for $9.99, plus skewers of delicious kebabs, made to order. 

little tehran toronto

Altona Kabob is open every day until 4 a.m. 

Just next door is another dinner go-to, Altona Kabob, which serves a full menu of kebab varieties with heaping piles of rice, paired with a duo of roasted tomatoes. 

little tehran toronto

You can get a variety of kebobs at Altona, which come in huge portions for reasonable prices. 

There's ample seating in this low-key takeout spot and it's open until 4 a.m. daily, making Altona an ideal nighttime spot to satisfy those late kebab cravings. 

little tehran toronto

BB Cafe is a cafe where you can order desserts to dine-in or for takeout.

Steps down is BB Cafe, a sophisticated yet homey little place that's been serving pastries and coffee since 2007. With another location in Richmond Hill, you can dine-in or take an assortment of pistachio'd, rosewatery desserts or custom cakes to-go. 

little tehran toronto

BB Cafe has a selection of delicious ice cream that come in flavours like pistachio and pomegranate. 

If you're looking for something quick on a hot day, BB has a small ice cream counter of mind blowingly delicious flavours like pomegranate and their signature pistachio-saffron; even their vanilla tastes better than average. They're generous with their samples so don't be shy. 

little tehran toronto

You can get an ice cream waffle sandwich featuring their signature pistachio-saffron ice cream. 

They even offer tubs of their ice cream and their pocket-sized portions of their pistachio-saffron ice cream sandwiched between two waffles. 

little tehran toronto

The pink exterior of Papa Cafe is hard to miss. 

Hard to miss is the newer pastry shop Papa Cafe, a bright pink shop with an even pinker interior where they serve their house-made sweets. 

little tehran toronto

All of Papa Cafe's pastries and cakes are made in-house. 

Open since 2013, this bakery cafe gives a distinctly different vibe than BB Cafe but is a strong confectionery contender: a second floor boasts a spacious and elegant eating area with a little patio that gives a great view of the neighbouring Centre Park. 

little tehran toronto

You can grab a cup of saffron tea, which comes with rock candy, to drink on their upper level seating area.

You can grab a cup of hot saffron tea to enjoy in all the store's pink glory, served with some rock candy for an extra sweet experience. 

little tehran toronto

Shabestan Cafe is a regular restaurant as well as a private party venue for large get togethers.

If you head outside the plaza and round the corner, you'll find Shabestan Cafe, which sits facing the more tranquil Centre Avenue. A lush walkway leads you to the entrance of this restaurant and humble banquet hall, with a small outdoor patio lined with flowers. 

little tehran toronto

Khorak Supermarket is the city's most famous supermarket for Persian goods. 

Cross the street to leave the Iranian Plaza and head toward Khorak Supermarket directly across from it. The most well-known Persian grocery store in the city, it has everything from imported Iranian honey comb to a delectable lunch counter. 

little tehran toronto

Khorak's open bakery is situated one floor below ground level. 

To witness something totally unique, head to the back of store to watch as staff toss huge loaves of fresh-baked barbari flatbread from the subterraneous bakery. Grab one hot and bag it yourself for $1.99.

little tehran toronto

Zaffron is a popular sit-down option for diners who want something more formal than a hot table. 

While Little Tehran isn't solely comprised of the Iranian Plaza and Super Khorak, those two destinations are undoubtedly the major attractions.

There are, however, plenty of restaurants that will provide a more formal sit-down experience, like Zaffron just north of Khorak, and Red Rose Patisserie with cases full of sharini tar and sharini khoshk: moist and dry sweet. 

little tehran toronto

North Restaurant is one of the city's more popular Persian dining destinations. 

Continue past the bustling Centrepoint Mall to dine at North Restaurant or Shomal in Farsi, one of the best Persian restaurants in the city located in a plaza of mostly Korean restaurants, marking the unofficial edge of Little Tehran. 

little tehran toronto


Toronto's popular indoor obstacle course has a new home

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Canada's largest indoor obstacle course is finally getting a new location after their old one was demolished to make room for condos.

They're also fundraising to help turn the 30,000-square-foot warehouse into an even better version of the adult playground we know and love. 

Soon to open near Highway 27 and Finch, across the street from Humber College, the new space for Pursuit OCR will be three times bigger than their old location at 444 Dufferin Street.

The new Pursuit, Pursuit OCR 2.0 if you will, promises a bigger obstacle course and a ball pit that's four times larger than before - they're really operating by the moto that bigger is better here. 

They're also redesigning their obstacle courses to be "more accessible to different fitness levels and all abilities." 

But, and there's always a 'but', they need help to do all this. Currently Pursuit OCR is running an Indiegogo campaign to raise $50,000 to make this space a reality. The campaign currently has one month left to hit its goal. 

A post shared by Pursuit OCR (@pursuitocr) on

"We need your help to fund the building of these new things and get open sooner so you can get playing faster! By reaching our goals we can make this place the kind of place that our childhood selves would lose their minds over," reads the campaign site.

"Every dollar we get is going right into construction and purchasing all the parts we need to get you to the starting line. We already have the space and the team. We've got designs in hand and we're ready to build."

Other new things (hopefully) coming include a Super Mario Kart-styled race track, where you can race big trikes round and round, Nerf Wars, Lightsaber battles and a new escape room-type situation called "Call To Arms" where you solve puzzles to escape from a 7,000-square-foot space station.

Not to mention an aquaponics farm — essentially a "living garden" — that's 100 feet long and 10 feet high to help filter the air and produce greens. 

According to their Facebook, they're aiming to re-open at this new location late summer or early in the fall. 

10 things to do in Toronto today

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Events in Toronto today look to celebrate Canada's proudest achievement in food with Poutine Fest. Inside Out launches with a showcasing of queer cinema and the Budweiser Stage opens for the season.

Events you might want to check out:

BSS and Portugal. The Man (May 24 @ Budweiser Stage)
Budweiser Stage kicks off a season of performances from national and international stars, like Broken Social Scene and Portugal. The Man.
Whiskey Kisses (May 24 @ Nightowl)
Local and upcoming R&B artists show off their stuff at this live showcase that just so happens to double as an Usher tribute night.
Inanna Toronto Spring Book Launch (May 24 @ Supermarket)
It's an evening of reading and revelry from three authors, and jazz pianist Patrick Hewan, as Inanna launches its newest collection of feminist literature.
Dinner at Eight (May 24 @ Revue Cinema)
Designing the Movies hosts give a rundown of just what makes the 1933 ensemble comedy classic Dinner at Eight's aesthetic so enduring.
Working Women (May 24 @ The Beaver)
She works hard for the money and so do the comedians featured in this queer comedy stand up showcase for the working girl.
Winter Island (May 24 @ Artscape Youngplace)
Five artists from different parts of Canada and Ontario use a range of media to create new artworks inspired by the landscapes of the Toronto Islands.
Fierce! (May 24-27 @ Buddies in Bad Times)
All things queer burlesque come to Toronto from around the world with five shows stacked with talented performers, and finish with a dance party.
Toronto Poutine Fest (May 24-27 @ Yonge–Dundas Square)
Canada's national food gets a big festival in the heart of the city with over 50 combinations of gravy, cheese curds and fries.
The Princess Bride (May 24 - June 2 @ The Redwood Theatre)
The classic Princess Bride comes to life with the fusing of live theatre, film screening and an interactive audience experience.
Inside Out (May 24 - June 3 @ TIFF Bell Lightbox)
Filmmakers from the LGBTQ+ community and beyond come together in celebration of the best queer films from Canada and around the world.

Toronto Restaurant Openings: Founder Bar, Sang Ji Bao, Backyard Japanese, Miya Bhai

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Toronto restaurant openings highlights the latest food news in Toronto and gives a preview of what's coming soon. Find us here every Thursday morning.

Open now
Recently reviewed
Opening soon
  • Narami Sushi is set to open on July 1 at 119 Ossington Ave. on the ground level of the 109Oz condos.
  • Paradice Shaved Ice should be opening soon at 792 College St. (at Roxton Rd.) in Little Italy.
  • Miya Bhai is taking over The Tiffin Box space at 938 Bathurst St. (at Follis Ave.) in Seaton Village.
  • Rag Doll Eatery will be opening soon at 185 Danforth Ave. (at Broadview Ave.)
  • Bex Espresso looks to be opening at 711 Queen St. E. (at Broadview Ave.), in Riverside.
  • Chocollata Gourmet, specializing in handcrafted Brazilian brigadeiros (a chocolate sweet that's a cross between truffles, caramels and fudge), is opening soon at 986A Kingston Rd. (at Kingswood Rd.) in the Upper Beaches.
  • Patisserie Kirin officially opens on June 2 in what was the former space for Tendou Matcha and Desserts at 3621 Hwy 7 in Markham.

Condo of the week: 25 Stafford Street

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Sometimes it sucks living in a condo in the middle of the city because Toronto doesn't have a ton of green space, but with this townhouse you don’t have to worry about that: it’s right across from Stanley Park!

24 stafford street torontoThis two bedroom, two bathroom place is just under 1,000 square feet, so it’s pretty spacious.

25 stafford street torontoMany of the walls and ceilings throughout the home are concrete, which is kind of a cool twist on your bog-standard plaster walls.

25 stafford street torontoThe place is pretty open-plan and the master bedroom looks over the living room. It looks really awesome, but it could become a nuisance if someone is banging about downstairs. Concrete walls and 18-foot ceilings mean sound will reverberate pretty loudly.

25 stafford street torontoThe kitchen is sleek and modern, as are the bathrooms.

25 stafford street torontoAnd you do get some private outdoor space with a terrace that looks out onto the park. I can just picture how great this would be in the summer. The grass might just be greener here...

Specs
  • Address: TH4 - 25 Stafford Street
  • Price: $869,000
  • Bedrooms: 1+1
  • Bathrooms: 2
  • Parking: Underground, visitor parking
  • Walk Score: 91
  • Transit Score: 100
  • Maintenance Fees: $600.49 monthly
  • Listing agent: Heather Hadden
  • Listing ID: C4114806
25 stafford street torontoGood For

A couple with a dog. You’ll never have to worry about your dog not having enough space to run around anymore with Stanley Park right on your doorstep.

25 stafford street torontoMove On If

You don’t like concrete walls and ceilings. The cold grey material can make a place feel a bit like a jail cell if not done right.

25 stafford street toronto

Blue Jays game vs Angels is a live stream on Facebook

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Not really feeling like buying cheap nosebleed tickets to watch today's Toronto Blue Jays game vs the Angels? Can't get out of the office for an extra long lunch break? It's all good, MLB Live on Facebook has you covered once again

At 12:20 p.m. ET — when the stream goes live — tune into the MLB matchup as the Jays take on the Los Angeles Angels. First pitch is 17 minutes later at 12:37 p.m. ET.

Facebook even has a handy notification feature where you can set up a reminder to do so. Pre-plan your escape from the Thursday meeting that always seems to go in to lunch. 

On their instructions for how to tune in, the Jays even advise hiding the screen from your boss. 

Unfortunately (for you) if you deleted Facebook in wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal, you have limited options of catching the game. This service is only available to those logged into the social network.

This is one of 25 "digital-only broadcasts" scheduled for 2018, made possible by a deal between MLB and Facebook.

That's right: you can't watch this game on TV, so if you want to catch the action live you have the option of buying tickets or re-activating Facebook: they have exclusive rights to broadcast the 25 games. Tricky, tricky. 

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