Along with the latest movie releases and cult flicks, The Film Buff has been doling out coffee, ice cream and baked treats for years. But times are changing at the Roncesvalles shop, and the film offerings have been condensed slightly to make way for an expanded cafe. With more room for cozy chairs and tables, it looks like a Roncy community hub just got a whole lot more welcoming.
Read my profile of Local Hero in the cafes section.
As 2014 starts to wind down, restaurant openings in Toronto are still pushing forward full throttle. November turned out to be a banner month, with new Mexican, Italian and vegetarian eateries opening citywide.
Here are my picks for the top new restaurant openings in Toronto for November 2014.
Pizzeria Libretto (University)
The third location of of this popular pizzeria landed in the Financial District this month. Fans of the other locations will be pleased to find their tried-and-true menu of signature VPN-approved pies
Ovest Cucina
Inventive seasonal fare and an all-Italian list of vino 120 labels strong are at the heart of this sprawling Italian restaurant on King West. Expect to find a lineup of pizzas and pastas, plus signature dishes like smoked swordfish carpaccio or tuna tartare over whipped buffalo mozzarella.
Dandylion
The laid-back one-room bistro on West Queen West is offering a concise but interesting array of dishes, including a peppery bavette steak with caramelized shallots, and an earthy vegetarian dish with crunchy granola, mixed mushrooms and egg.
K&K Food Stand
The second outpost from Kupfert & Kim debuted this month in the PATH under the Standard Life tower. Instead of replicating the already-established meatless, wheatless menu, the newly minted take-away counter is dishing up gluten-free waffles, vegan burgers and taco trios.
Wilbur Mexicana
King West gained a new fast casual eatery this fall with the opening of this new taqueria, where classics like chicken tinga and carne asada mix on the menu with baja fish and bulgogi. Highlights include an astounding array of hot sauces and a salsa bar - and, best of all, it's licensed.
Bar Fancy
Chef Jonathan Poon of Chantecler has opened this second effort on Queen West, where the menu focuses on snack foods like szechuan-spiced wings, nacho supreme platters and ultra-crispy fried chicken.
Queen Margherita Pizza
The long-awaited third location of this popular Leslieville-born pizza parlour launched this month on Dundas West at Bathurst. Just a stone's throw from the original Libretto, it looks like the turf war in pizzadom is just heating up.
Baju
Zane Caplansky has taken up residence at the Monarch Tavern again. The same kitchen that first incubated what is now a deli empire is the new home of a Southern smokehouse menu featuring brisket, pulled pork, hot links and ribs.
Veghed
This new smoothie bar and vegetarian takeout counter at Dundas and Ossington is serving up hearty meat-free meals. Look forward to a revolving lineup of soups and daily specials like lobster mushroom carbonara.
Loaded Pierogi
This irreverent dumpling house in the St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood is where pockets of mashed potato and onion get piled with delicious goodies like wild mushrooms and truffles, lobster and hollandaise, or butter chicken.
Photo of Queen Margherita Pizza (Dundas West) by Jesse Milns.
Coach House Sound is already doing big things in Parkdale. A small group of experienced Toronto engineers and producers have come together to lay the foundation of a DIY studio that fills a need in the music scene "between a big budget space and recording in your bedroom."
While the self funded/scrounged project is already coming along quickly, they've set up an Indiegogo to help with studio expenses and, perhaps most interestingly, a high def web series on how to build a DIY recording studio. Rather than hoarding info, Coach House is hoping to inspire new endeavours worldwide.
In just a short time, Coach House have already reached their initial Indiegogo funding goal of $6000, meaning Building Sound, the web series, is a go, and a considerable chunk of reno and audio costs are covered. They estimate, though, that they'll need a total of $12,000 ($6000 more) to make the Parkdale studio slash community hub happen.
With strong ties to Toronto's music scene, the group have plans to host fundraisers including live events to cover the remaining costs, but clearly every donation will help Coach House's dreams - which include not just a studio but a rehearsal space for touring artists and an event space for live shows, film screenings, art exhibits, and workshops - come true.
Learn more on Coach House Sound's Indiegogo page here.
The TTC rolled out two key additions this weekend in the form of a third Bombardier streetcar and the updated Presto fare payment system. The latter is currently limited to just two of the now three new streetcars, but the third vehicle is expected to be back on the rails in a few days after it too is upgraded with Presto capabilities.
At some point, we'll probably lose our excitement about the new streetcars, but for now they mark such an improvement over other surface vehicles, it's difficult not to perk up at the thought of an increase in the fleet-size. Part of that is related to Presto. The card-payment system is so much better than the outdated model in use throughout the network that it's nice to see its newest version go live.
On the flip side (there's always a flip side, isn't there?), it's also frustrating to note that a widespread rollout of Presto across the TTC is still years away. So while one can get a glimpse of the future right now on the new streetcars, it's best not to hold one's breath in anticipation of the TTC catching up to other transit providers payment systems anytime soon.
In other TTC news, the Commission announced on Friday that free WiFi is now available at Union, King, Queen and Dundas subway stations. This is more progress, to be sure, but also an area in which the TTC lags behind other major transit systems around the world.
Photo by JoshuaKG in the blogTO Flickr pool.
Rob Ford's mayoralty came to end at midnight, drawing to a close four tumultuous years of political office in Toronto. Mayor-elect John Tory will officially take over tomorrow after an inauguration ceremony at city hall.
At the peak of the crack cocaine scandal, it seemed like Rob Ford's time as mayor was about to come to an explosive end. Surely a politician as controversial and divisive as Ford would be felled by police confirmation that he had smoked drugs on camera. Even if the conflict of interest dismissal hadn't stuck, Bill Blair had surely opened a trapdoor the mayor would be unable to sidestep.
But, somehow, Ford continued to run the gauntlet. Without any legal mechanism for his removal (short of a jail sentence,) the onus was on Ford to quit out of embarrassment, and that just wasn't going to happen. This was a man who, after all, felt it appropriate to be openly mocked on a U.S. late night talk show ostensibly to promote tourism to the city.
Ford clung to his mayoralty for another 13 months after Blair outed him as a drug user. Though stripped of his powers, he continued to blunder ahead, getting "enough to eat at home,"libelling Star reporter Daniel Dale, appearing drunk and rambling in Jamaican patois, and reportedly drinking late into the night at a Coquitlam, B.C. pub.
Then there was the shirtless jogger incident, the bizarre episode where Ford's SUV was impounded near the GreenStone rehab facility in Muskoka, and finally, when it seemed the headlines would surely be running short, the cancer diagnosis.
In a statement released on the eve of his move back to city councillor, Ford returned to his favourite talking point: claims of financial savings. "Just four short years ago, City Hall was filled with examples of extravagance, wastefulness, and a general disrespect for both the taxpayers and their hard earned dollars. My administration brought that to an end," he said.
Ford vowed to keep finding efficiencies, promising, without any apparent sense of irony, "accountable and transparent government." (This from a politician who steadfastly refused to release his itinerary and was frequently AWOL.)
If there's one gift the bombastic politician gave to the city, it's a greater awareness of city hall and its municipal function. By being a controversial mayor, Ford likely inspired more activism than if he had quietly got on with his work instead of constantly dabbling in extracurricular activities.
When midnight arrived on Sunday evening and the era of John Tory began, there were no fireworks, no last-minute revelations, just a quiet sense of relief across most of the city.
Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.
Image: BruceK /blogTO Flickr pool.
The Canadian Artisan Tasting Fair returned for its second year, taking over Wychwood Barns on Sunday. The event brought together an impressive roster of butchers, bakers, brewers and cheesemakers for a one-day market that delivered plenty of sampling opportunities.
Here are 25 of my favourite items from the Canadian Artisan Tasting Fair.
Touring mega party (don't call it a rave) Sensation returned to Toronto this weekend with the rather uninspired tagline "into the wild." Maybe some pockets of the teaming sea of dancers at Rogers Centre got a little ferocious, but overall the lion of a dance party was was quieter than last year, with less pyrotechnics and fireworks, and, it seemed, less people - getting less rowdy, even in VIP. More than the white-clad dancers or, indeed, the music, the set up's unreal stage was the true star of the show.
Check out 20 bejeweled memories of fall's most surreal dance party in our photo gallery.
Winter activities for kids in Toronto, predictably, revolve around how many layers are required to enjoy it - or if it can be somehow, someway be accessed exclusively by the PATH. Inevitably, you and your team are going to have to come up for some fresh air and embrace the best of the season. Some of Toronto's best attractions become almost ghost towns during the wintertime so bundle up, knock a few of these off your list and make the most of it.
Here are my picks for the top things to do with kids this winter in Toronto.
Go tobogganing at Riverdale Park
With panoramic views of the city, this is Toronto's top choice for tobogganing hills. Kids (and adults) alike will like the straight path down at pretty steep speeds, no Griswold magic potion required. Kids will tire themselves out trekking back up the hill and you'll no doubt get a decent glute workout in pulling them back up when they get stuck halfway. Go to nearby Rooster Coffee for a warm-up after, just leave the GT snow racers outside.
Hang out at the Art Gallery of Ontario
Tthe AGO keeps little hands busy with their steady line of programming aimed at babies and up. Head to the concourse centre and check out The Dr. Mariano Elia Hands-On Centre for puppets, rotating crafts and storytime. Bigger kids can grab an activity bag (free) on the way in. Drawing stations are dotted throughout, so if inspiration strikes, kids can do their best Colville copy. If you have bigger kids, cough up $2.99 for their new Time Tremors app, an interactive mystery based game. Peckish little ones (5 and under) score free food at the café.
Hit the ice
Whether you're looking for a local skating rink, an outdoor game for shinny or a plush locker room, there's a lsomething for everyone in Toronto. Skating at Maple Leaf Gardens (sorry, Mattamy Athletic Centre doesn't have the same ring) isn't always open to the public, so check their website for new dates and times. Eglinton Park has a quality rink with boards and lights for northern night time access, as does Greenwood, with their weather resistant roof and open air trail. Harbourfront has excellent programming for kids (or parents) learning to skate. Check City Rinks Toronto for a rink near you.
Score some points at the Hockey Hall of Fame
If you haven't taken your kids to the Hockey Hall of Fame yet, maybe you need to check your passport. If it still says "Canadian", then head down to the HHOF, test your reflexes at the hands on exhibits where you can take a shot at a goalie, see the Stanley Cup and drool over all the best hockey hardware this country (ahem, world) has to offer.
Get up and close with a croc at Reptilia
Creep your kids out with a visit to Reptilia's collection of over 250 things that I wouldn't want as a pet. If you come on a good day (or bad, depending on your gag reflex) you could witness the giant python at Reptilia eating his lunch, a 50lb euthanized goat. Reptilia functions like an indoor zoo just for scaly gross amphibians and reptiles, so spend a few hours slithering through to see all the creatures, and the obligatory exiting through the gift shop.
Go fish
If Shark Week has you and your brood hungry for more, than a trip to Ripley's Aquarium is definitely in order. The best time to go to avoid the crowds is 9 or 10am, before the legions of school buses choke the sightlines out and you're stuck bottlenecked around a double stroller. After 3pm is also relatively empty, and if your kids can stay up late without turning into pumpkins, then book in for a night when the aquarium is open until 11pm.
Get a dose of science
The Ontario Science Centre is a perfect way to blow through a freezing cold day, with four floors to dazzle even the most fickle youngster. There's loads of hands on exhibits including KidSpark, almost a full floor dedicated to kids under eight including a makeshift grocery store, water lab, music maker and full on foam castle. Live demos explain the science behind electricity, physics, space and more, so you can feel smug about educating your kid, while secretly getting a little refresher.
Read at a local library
Toronto's libraries have your best bet for boredom busters, but it doesn't stop with the latest Captain Underpants novel. With matinee movie features, hands on science fun with drop-in experts and an ongoing roster of story time classes, your local libraries has the cure for the winter blues, even if it's just for a silent game of hide and seek. Check their website for deluxe new classes on everything from 3D printing to video editing, or learn how to write workshops for kids led by published authors.
Play at a kid friendly cafe
The best way to ease into your twelve hour (give or take) shift with your kid is to fuel the day with caffeine. Baby breeding 'hoods like Roncesvalles score with Smock, who cater to the babes-in-arms crowd and offer classes for kids up to 10. Red Fish Blue Fish is a stone's throw from Spadina station and across town is Play Creative Cafe, located on Bayview between Eglinton and Davisville.
Eat and dance at the same time
Musical brunch is a great outing for any age, but toddlers and preschoolers who are generally loud and lack any form of table manners should have their outside voices drowned out with some of the city's best musical meals. On Sundays, Lula Lounge on Dundas West serves their eggs up with a side of salsa, with their Latin themed breakfast and dance lessons. Nearby Dakota Tavern has their popular Bluegrass Brunch on both Saturday and Sunday and Free Times Cafe has their usual "Bella did you eat" Jewish Sunday brunch with live music.
Go beyond dinos at the ROM
The ROM is the ultimate mash up of art, animals, sculptures and history. The first stop should always be to the corpse mummy on the third floor, just to make sure she's still not breathing. Explore the world through their many galleries, or just hang out in the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal and wonder if this is what Superman's house looks like. Sign up for ongoing classes (ROM Moms or Tiny Tots) or drop in for one of their stellar exhibits like the upcoming Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
Jump in the pool
Swimming in winter seems like a contradiction, but at the sparkly new Regent Park Aquatic Centre a warm water pool promises to keep you and your tot toasty while you splash around. If bigger kids are in tow, the Tarzan rope and water slide should add a degree of adventure. Universal change rooms allow diaper doting dads a turn at the change, and drop-in classes keep things light and breezy.
Get musical with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Bring your kids down to take in the sights of Roy Thompson Hall and the beautiful sounds of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. The TSO has special Young People's Concerts programming just for kids - shows are lively, encouraging lots of laughs and hopefully a love of music that doesn't involve auto-tune.
Play indoors
Indoor playgrounds are a perfect fit for an energetic kid on a cold day. While some city-run locations like Playground Paradise are cheap and easy, you can break the bank (and the rut) and front up the cash for a membership to a place like Sproutkids, TimBUKtu or Amazon Indoor Playground or Planet Fun. Kidville offers classes geared towards promoting independence and helping you survive separation anxiety on a more scheduled basis and Playloft has play based learning classes year round. For wee ones, check out your local Early Years Centres for free play and drop-ins.
Get a Rocky Mountain high
If you're stuck between a rock and a hard place, then you're likely trying to coax your kid (6 and up) off a wall at one of Toronto's indoor rock climbing gyms. Popular picks are Rock Oasis in Leslieville, Joe Rockheads in Liberty Village, Climbing Academy around St Clair and O'Connor and my fave - True North Climbing at Downsview Park, located in an old airplane hangar.
Visit Toronto's Hogwarts
Casa Loma has four floors of Toronto history, and winter is a great time to scope them all out. The historic home soon will undergo a massive transformation by Liberty Entertainment Group, so check it out before it becomes too modern. Originally built by Sir Henry Pellatt, this was once the largest private house in Canada, so kids will get a kick out of seeing all the massive rooms - and if that doesn't work, tell them it's haunted.
Get starry eyes
Winter night skies offer a stream of interstellar opportunities, and if lugging a giant telescope up to a frozen farm patch sounds like your idea of a good time, then you're probably reading this wearing a tin foil cap. For everyone else, there's the David Dunlap Observatory. Check their website for the latest news on comets, meteor showers and special family nights for Major Toms aged 7 and up.
See some live theatre
Solar Stage Kids Theatre is a mere underground pathway away from Sheppard station, so if the polar vortex is too much to tolerate take the kids uptown for a good dose of live theatre. New plays pop up throughout the year, all based on family favourites like Robert Munsch books or classics like Peter Pan. Skip the cash-grab raffle tickets during the pre-show and promise them a trip to the proper book store after.
Bounce up and down
Kids are super bouncy by nature, making jumping a pretty universal sport for any age group. Springy Leasiders rely on Sky Zone, a massive warehouse-style jumping gym slathered in padded walls designed to get you moving. Starting at $9 for half an hour, jumpers of all shapes and sizes can throw down at one of Sky Zone's trampoline rooms, like the popular foam pit or channel your inner Raptor and hit the SkySlam court.
Clown around
See how many clowns you can fit in your minivan and ramble up to Downsview Park for the Toronto School of Circus Arts. While art seems like a loose term here, there certainly is a gracefulness required to execute some of these intense moves like the daunting trapeze or aerial floor work. There's lots of space in this 15,000 square foot facility, so you can spend a day soaring to new heights.
Pretend it's August and you're at the CNE
Fantasy Fair Woodbine Centre is open year-round, but winter is a great time to check out the antique carousel, bumper cars or indoor Ferris wheel. After your kids are all puked out, settle them in for a free magic show, or hit the midway.
Take them for a memorable meal
Where else but Medieval Times can you get a dose of historical inaccuracies combined with the joys of eating a full four course meal with only your bare hands? Kids will get a kick out of cheering on their favourite knights, and you can "pfft" your way through all the over-choreographed fighting scenes while imbibing your favourite mead (OK, domestic beer). For something similar, Famous People Players Dinner Theatre is also dinner and a show, or just hit up one of Toronto's best kid and family friendly restaurants.
Show them the other Gardiner
Gardiner Museum has some serious competition from that other museum across the street so odds are your kids will light up when they're actually allowed to touch stuff while taking part in one of their many hands-on pottery and clay classes. Cruise around the gallery itself and take in the sights of some very cool ceramic collections. Then tuck in for lunch at the nifty Gardiner Bistro. Sundays are family days, so admission is free for kids.
Get political at Queen's Park and City Hall
The dust has settled and the scandals are now safely at bay, so if your kids were asking about subways, subways, subways, then a self-guided trip to city hall may be in order. You can download a pretty sweet map (PDF) containing lots of educational info from their website, or just bust in there after an afternoon of skating to warm up. Queen's Park may be less of a lowbrow affair, depending on what's on the agenda that day. You can check in with the Special Constable at the main entrance to see what's open when you visit.
Take a trip to the island
While most people populate the island during the summer, this is the exact reason why it's such a great place to check out in winter, without the crowds and packed ferries. Ward's Island is business as usual, with Far Enough Farm open 365 days a year and nearby Rectory Cafe churning out the hot chocolates. If you're in a sporting mood, pack your skis and hit the trails - there are no cars on the island, so you can rule the roads. If skating is more your game then check the ice conditions in the harbour, it reliably freezes every year and the views of the city can't be rivaled.
Dash through the snow
There's nothing that screams winter more than dog sledding, but let's face it, your bichon ain't up for the task. Book in for the real deal: just north of Barrie there's an outfitter who will tow you and your family around, doggy style (wait, er...). Huskies are the preferred mutt of transportation, and you can choose from anywhere from 30 minutes up to a full day adventure, no poop-and-scoop required.
Cheer on the other local teams
While We the North is a common chorus in Toronto, other teams still have tickets for sale that won't make you choose between eating this month or entertaining your kids for a night. Toronto Rock games are some of the liveliest matches; even if they're losing, the crowd doesn't really show it. Tickets start at a slim $15 for upper bowl and with ballsy proclamations like 'guaranteed win nights' you may be able to convert this to a 2 for 1 deal. Cheering on the boys in blue (farm team) start at a svelte $13, so you can see the latest Leafs acquisitions before they get ruined by the media circus.
Hit the slopes
Skiing in Toronto may sound like a contradiction, but Centennial and Earl Bales parks run some cute hills that will still prove to be slightly daunting to the novice skier. Private course Uplands is a quick jaunt north of Finch station and offers some decent runs as well. Choose between skiing or snowboarding and sign your kids (or you) up for lessons with a pro, or meander down the bunny hill at your own pace. Buy a season pass for only a few hundred bucks, or pay per go at pretty accessible prices.
Give them the sound of music
Toronto Institute for the Enjoyment of Music, located practically in Trinity-Bellwoods makes music fun, offering lessons for pretty much any instrument you can imagine, and super accessible drop in classes (starting at $15) for the commitment-shy. The Royal Conservatory on Bloor is a beautiful building with music for any age group and interest too, including parent and tot classes for wee ones.
Perfect that forehand smash
With the city sprinkling ping pong tables throughout parks all around our city, table tennis is certainly becoming more accessible - but when the sunny skies turn bleak, you'll lose your precious ping pong ball pretty quick in a pile of snow. Bring the game ind oors at Top Spin - they'll teach kids (and you) the finer points of the game.
Go bowling
Five-pin bowling gives kids the challenge of throwing a ball that's bigger than their hands, and bumpers will keep the game action-packed. Cosmic bowling with black lights adds that disco feel, and coming up with names for the big screen that don't have "butt" in them will only add to the challenge. Most five-pin locations will feel like you stepped back in high school, with Newtonbrook, Bathurst Bowlerama, Danforth Bowl and Thorncliffe Bowlerama seemingly unchanged since they opened decades ago.
Indulge their sweet tooth at the Sugarbush Maple Syrup Festival
Not to be missed is the Sugarbush Maple Syrup Festival, replete with wagon rides, arts and crafts and long walks in the cold woods. Head up to Kortright or Bruce's Mill conservation areas for top notch kids' activities, a solid education on the production of maple syrup, and of course, the nectar of the gods itself. No need to smuggle pancakes in your pockets, flapjacks are for sale onsite.
Get flexible at kids yoga
Kids dig yoga - not only do they get to roll around on the floor or hoist their butts in the air, but phrases like "downward dog" and the chorus of "ommmmm" are guaranteed giggle-inducers. What kids don't know is how yoga is a stress buster and sadly our kids carry more weight around (literally and figuratively) than they should. Many studios now offer some scheduling time for tykes; Stellar Kids Yoga offers storybook-led yoga, where kids use their imagination to bring the story to life through movement, while YogaBuds at Bathurst and Eglinton has a slew of programming for kids up to teens, including parent and child yoga classes.
Discover their inner Van Gogh
With three locations (in Little Italy, Leslieville and Markham), Paintlounge offers not only kiddie classes for your mini Monet, but the superb concept of actually (gasp!) creating art together. Paintlounge has a few different motifs for you to attempt, like Kandinsky Circles, Birds on a Wire and Drip art. Prices run cheaper than a canvas and paint, with no mess to clean up after.
Get artistic at 4Cats
With 4 locations scattered around the GTA, 4Cats art studio specializes in kid's art - and not just gluing some googly eyes to some paper, either. Careful attention is paid to their creative line of classes, including artist focus series where kids recreate work from the masters like Emily Carr, Andy Warhol or Renoir. Other inspired choices include Magna, graffiti and drawing classes.
Crack a spine or two
Exploring your local bookstore is the perfect way to get kids addicted to a lifetime of reading. Mables Fables has two storeys of books tucked into every nook and cranny, making it a great place to hunker in during snowmaggedon. Ella Minnow in the Beach is also a top choice, with nearby Dufflet being a logical stop after to grab a hot chocolate. While not technically a bookstore, Treasure Island Toys on the Danforth has a decent selection of books for babies and up.
Mix up some fun at Action Potential Lab
This Christie St. spot bills itself as "Toronto's first science and art lab for kids and adults".
While the adult classes have a slight advantage (molecular gastronomy, lectures and cocktails), the kids' classes allow young ones to explore the universe around them in a hands-on lab. Upcoming classes, which cater to six-year-olds up to high schoolers, include cow eyeball dissection (insert the requisite "eeewwww" here).
Dinner and dancing for the whole family
If your idea of dining out comes with a good dose of whining then switch things up with a family dinner in a fun party atmosphere. Lazy Daisy's Café is once again hosting their family dance parties for an evening of frolicking fun. No one puts baby in the corner; here kids are the centre of attention while the DJ plays music that doesn't suck (sorry Raffi). So far, there are plans for a Valentine's-themed dance, check their website for more dates.
Take in culture at TIFF Kids
While most of the weekday programming is geared towards adults, TIFF reels the kids in every Friday for their family movie programming, (upcoming picks include the Japanese animated movie Ponyo). Workshops and camps run throughout the year with this winter's Holiday Camps offering sought-after skills like 'Prosthetics and Special Effects Make-Up' or the more traditional 'How to Make a Film in a Day'.
Make magic at Toronto's oldest magic shop
Mini magicians in training should check out Browsers Den, a Yorkdale-area shop that's been pulling bunnies out of hats since 1975. On the first Saturday of every month they host a free magic meet up for wannabe magicians and experts alike to show off their tricks and share magical tips.
Do some fantastic gymnastics
Padded walls and floors make natural surfaces for precocious kids defying gravity and physics, and Kidnasium on Mount Pleasant has a well-stocked variety of obstacles to keep your kids active during the sloth-like winter months. The Danforth is home to Mini-nastics, who follow a similar approach and program with classes for wee ones aged 6 months up to seven-year-olds.
Choo-choo-choose a model train exhibit
Model trains and their collectors are a strange breed; it's equally as fun checking out the choo-choo's as it is the conductors. There are a few model train events each year, including open houses at Scarborough Model Railroaders -check their website for dates and times. If mini ain't cutting it then up the game and take them to a real train museum - the Toronto Railway Museum also has a miniature train ride operating on weekends ($3 for adults and $2 for kids).
Go on an indoor cycling Joyride
If the training wheels have long been taken off then maybe it's time for your kid to up the ante with a trip to Joyride, a massive 102,000-square-foot indoor biking facility in Markham. Joyride has something for everyone, with half-pipes, jump lines, dirt jumps and pump tracks (plus gear rentals if you don't want to truck your own up there). Working on new skills always gains more traction if you're actually doing it with them, so instead of hovering over them like a soccer mom, show them your best Hoffman air.
Be an escape artist
While most parents would balk at paying money to get trapped in a room with their kids, escape room games are a worthwhile experiment. Parents learn kids can problem solve without relying on Google and kids realize that their parents aren't as stupid as they thought. (Hopefully.) At Escape on Sheppard even has a 'Toy Room' geared at mini problem solvers, while the straightforward Mystery Room has a good beginner option in the Prison Break room. A few new options have recently opened downtown.
Check out the Aga Khan Museum
A glimmering thing of beauty shimmering off the DVP, the Aga Khan Museum opened in the fall after dropping $300 million on the build-out of their 10,000-square-foot museum. With rotating displays of their extensive collection of Islamic art, the Aga Khan also hosts concerts and movies in their jewel-like auditorium, so plan ahead and make a day of it.
Knit up a storm
If your crafty kid has expressed an interested in woolen arts and your knitting skills resemble a game of cats cradle, hook them up with some pro knitters like the staff at The Knit Café in Roncesvalles. A four-week scarf-making class is $76, and classes progress from there. If you're in the market to learn at the same time then try The Purple Purl's private lessons. For $32 an hour you and your kid will learn from the pros - they can teach you pretty much any project you want to learn.
Kid-friendly karaoke
While you really wouldn't want to take your toddler to most karaoke joints (think of the time of day), many private karaoke bars welcome kids and even host birthday parties for your wannabe Katy Perry types. Kids get a soundproof room to torture and test their vocal skills and you can serenade them with your favourite rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody. Call ahead to book a private room and then brush up on the latest pop songs to impress your little diva in training.
Go indoor skydiving
Daredevils 4 years old and up can take in the thrills of skydiving, without the splat, at iFly Toronto (technically located in Oakville). Prices are a little steep, but so is the experience of freefalling for 60 seconds. Instructors show you the ropes and then you leap into a tube that's 45 feet tall. You'll need the goggles for this one - the wind whips you around at 175km an hour. Book ahead for this one, as they often sell out on weekends.
Fly a plane (sort of)
Threshold Aviation lets kids 10 and up get behind the wheel, with younger siblings free to kick their chair from behind, just like in real life. Sitting in the actual nose of a Boeing 737, a brief tutorial gets you wheels up using a B737NG simulator, leaving 30 minutes to perform three takeoffs and three landings at an airport of your choosing. Located by the airport for that extra dose of realism, packages start at $123 and go up from there.
Take a trip to the theatre
Musical theatre is a hit with most kids, and this winter, Toronto has some fun picks that don't involve a Disney princess. Fun to say and even more fun to see is the Dr. Seuss inspired Seussical the Musical playing at Lower Ossington Theatre. Roald Dahl fans should check out Yonge People's Theatre production of James and the Giant Peach, playing only until the end of the year, while everybody's favourite crossdresser Ross Petty has a good one for little drama queens, with his version of Cinderella playing at the Elgin.
What did I miss? Add more things to do with kids to the comments.
Photos by Jesse Milns, Jason Cook, Jackman Chu. Andrew Williamson, Jim U, Kat Rizza, Brian Morton, Tony Mo, Irina No, Riley Snelling and Martyn from the blogTO Flickr Pool.
The best meatball sandwiches in Toronto can be found at Italian hot tables and paninotecas. They're sandwiches that are bursting with flavour, not to mention dripping with sauce - these meatball sandwiches are ultra-messy, but totally worth the extra napkins.
Here are the best meatball sandwiches in Toronto.
See also:The best veal sandwich in Toronto.
Today in Toronto Cinema Politica is screening Gulabi Gang at Bloor Hot Docs. The documentary follows a pink sari gang of women in India who combat gender violence. At Array Space take in experimental ("scorching free jazz," etc) music from Gravitons with Brodie West and Steve Kado. If you're in the market for crafts, both the One of a Kind Show (check out our slideshow here) and the Union Station Holiday pop up are on now. For more events, click on over to our events section.
Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO Toronto events calendar or contact us directly.
Photo: Gulabi Gang
This week's DineSafe reports feel a little like déjà vu. While there are no closure to report, you'll find a troubling number of repeat offenders; O&B, The Spotted Dick and Moe Pancer's Deli have all failed their last three consecutive inspections.
Here are the rest of this week's worst on DineSafe.
Oliver & Bonacini (2901 Bayview Ave.)
Inspected on: November 24, 2014
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 3 (Minor: 2, Significant: 1)
Crucial infractions include: N/A
Freshii (130 King St. West)
Inspected on: November 24, 2014
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 4 (Minor: 1, Significant: 2, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to maintain hazardous food(s) at 4C (40F) or colder.
Shishawarma (599 Yonge St.)
Inspected on: November 25, 2014
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 8 (Minor: 3, Significant: 5)
Crucial infractions include: N/A
DT Bistro (169 Brunswick Ave.)
Inspected on: November 26, 2014
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 3 (Minor: 1, Significant: 1, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated.
Golden Wheat (652 College St.)
Inspected on: November 26, 2014
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 5 (Significant: 4, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to maintain hazardous food(s) at 4C (40F) or colder.
Moe Pancer's Deli (3856 Bathurst St.)
Inspected on: November 26, 2014
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 3 (Minor: 1, Significant:1, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to maintain hazardous food(s) at 60C (140F) or hotter.
The Spotted Dick (598 College St.)
Inspected on: November 26, 2014
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 6 (Minor: 1, Significant: 4, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Fail to protect food from contamination or adulteration.
King West's newest fitness facility, a transplant from the Yonge and Wellesley area, specializes in hardcore boot camps - complete with a former U.S. Marine drill sergeant who calls all the shots. Depending on your outlook, that's either hugely motivating or off-putting.
Read my review of Fit Factory Fitness in the fitness section.
TIFF has released the 2014 edition of its annual list of the best Canadian films, highlighting the standout cinema this country has to offer in both the feature and short categories. Many of the films to make the year-end list screened at TIFF, with notable features including David Cronenberg's Maps to the Stars and Maxime Giroux's Félix & Meira, which already took home the best Canadian Film award earlier this year.
Two notable absences, at least in terms of name-recognition, are Atom Egoyan and Denys Arcand for their respective films The Captive and An Eye For Beauty. I suppose, however, that the integrity of the top 10 list would be compromised if status was an automatic ticket to inclusion (which in some years it has seemed like).
Along with the features, Canada's Top Ten Film Festival serves as a chance to put the focus on homegrown shorts that don't typically receive as much attention. It's nice to see Slater Jewell-Kemker's Still on this list not just because it's a smart bit of filmmaking but because it's an endorsement for the CFC's Directors' Lab.
Have a look at all the nominees below.
Canada's Top Ten Film Festival features for 2014
Canada's Top Ten Film Festival shorts for 2014
The above films will show at the TIFF Lightbox between January 2nd and 11th. In addition to the main screenings, Canada's Top Ten Festival will include a special portion devoted to student shorts, as well as guest speakers (highlighted by Naomi Klein and Avi Lewis), and an interview with Keanu Reeves.
Tickets and ticket packages for Canada's Top Ten Film Festival events go on sale December 3 for TIFF Members and December 10 for the public. They can be purchased online at tiff.net, by phone from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET at 416.599.TIFF and 1.888.599.8433, or in person at the TIFF Bell Lightbox box office from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET.
Pricing as follows: standard screening ticket is $10 (feature film or shorts programmes); purchase a six-pack for $50 and get six tickets for the price of five; tickets for In Conversation With... Keanu Reeves and In Conversation With...Naomi Klein and Avi Lewis are $20 each; tickets to the Canada Cocktail Party are $15 for TIFF Members and $20 for public (19+ ID required). Canadian Open Vault and Higher Learning events are free.
Still from Maps to the Stars
The top contemporary homes in Toronto serve as a reminder that fans of modern architecture are spoiled for choice in this city. Take a stroll around neighbourhoods like Rosedale and Cedarvale (two areas with residents rich enough to hire a designer and build their own homes) will reveal a dramatic modular home that overlooks a steep ravine, a Mad Men-era mansion, a $30 million palace with a 150 seat concert venue, even a home that looks suspiciously like an iPhone.
Here are my picks for the top contemporary homes in Toronto.
194 Roxborough Drive - Integral House
No list of modern Toronto homes would be complete without a mention of the Integral House, concert violinist and mathematics whizz James Stewart's massive Rosedale mansion. It has five floors, a 150-person indoor music hall, numerous gadgets, and reportedly cost in the region of $30 million. The best features, however, are on the outside. The curving glass and wood exterior blends nicely with its bucolic surroundings.
18 Thelma Avenue (iPhone house)
Ever thought how great it would to live inside a house that looked sort of like a smartphone? It will cost you $3.2 million, but there is an option in Toronto. 18 Thelma Ave., just north of Spadina and St. Clair, is the iPhone house. Its glossy back exterior and window arrangement make the home look like a giant Apple product poking out of the ground.
95 Ardwold Gate - Richard G.W. Mauran House
One of Toronto classic single dwelling examples of modernist architecture, The Richard G.W. Mauran House at 95 Ardwold Gate was built in 1968 for the founder of restaurant chain Harvey's on the site of an Eaton family mansion. It still manages to look futuristic at almost 50.
207 Ava Road - Cedarvale Ravine House
A descendent of the Richard G. W. Mauran House, 207 Ava Road has a similar appearance to its 1960s counterpart, but with more glass. Built in 2012 out of impressive cantilevering blocks, this house features polished concrete floors and ceiling-height windows that look out over the Cedarvale Ravine. Architecture critic John Bentley Mays calls it "intelligent, deft and refined."
48 Heathdale Road
Another modern Cedarvale abode, 48 Heathdale Rd. appears relatively rustic compared to its stark neighbours. Exterior wood paneling, an earth-toned frame, and an uneven roof line lend the two-storey home, which was completed in 2005, a hint of nature. Like the Ravine House, below, 48 Heathdale appeared in the movie Chloe.
375 Shaw Street
The exterior of 375 Shaw St., located a short walk north of Trinity-Bellwoods Park, gives away little of the strangeness within. When it was last on the market in April this year, prospective buyers were no doubt confused by the substantial swimming pool that dominates the kitchen and living area. Step straight from the stove to the giant tub, if that's what you're in to.
40R Shaftesbury Avenue - The Laneway House
That any house has been built on a laneway in Toronto is something of a planning miracle, let alone one as aesthetically refined as the Superkül Inc. house. The former blacksmiths workshop on Shaftesbury Ave. has an exterior of artfully rusted metal, a little rooftop patio, and numerous skylights. Amazingly, the footprint is just 83.6 square metres. Perfect for fans of micro living.
24 Heathdale Road - Ravine House
The impressively sectional Ravine House is one of two homes on this list to have appeared in a Hollywood movie, Atom Egoyan's Chloe. The home, built overlooking the Cedarvale Ravine to designs by Drew Mandel Architects, looks like a space ship that could take off into the night sky at a moment's notice. Inside, the property is lined with mahogany panels and glass walls. There's even a rear terrace and "lookout pavilion."
22 Grange Ave - Pachter Residence
Artist and real estate speculator Charles Pachter's house on Grange Ave. stands out among its Victorian neighbours like a spacesuited Neil Armstrong would in a line of chimney sweeps. Built in 2005 in place of a funeral home, the combined residence, gallery, and studio space is a neighbourhood landmark. Pachter described in the Star as "clean, elegant and quiet ... it is an oasis. It's a joyful place -- a serious Pee-wee's Playhouse."
108 Crescent Road
It takes guts and determination to drop an modern home like 108 Crescent Rd. into a notoriously conservative Victorian neighbourhood like Rosedale. The two-storey brick and wood box wasn't easy to build; neighbourhood and city groups had to be convinced the home would respect its surroundings and, as a result, numerous nods were made to the Rosedale aesthetic, including dark wood cladding and several brick exteriors.
What did I miss? Share your favourite examples of contemporary single-dwelling architecture in the comments.
Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.
Images: livinginacity/blogTO Flickr pool, Forest Hill Real Estate Inc., Modern Toronto: 95 Ardwold Gate, Scott Norsworthy, Cedarvale Ravine House and Integral House, Rick McGinnis/blogTO, 375 Shaw Street, Teeple Architects, Tom Arban, Modern Toronto: Crescent Road.
The Union Station Holiday Market pulled into Toronto's grandest downtown terminal this week, bringing two dozen local vendors under the domed roof of the Great Hall for some holiday shopping. The brand-new event, which runs until December 7 puts Toronto vendors at the fingertips of throngs of daily downtown commuters; if you pause upstairs for a browse instead of dashing to your next train, you just might be able to pick up a gift for anyone on your list.
Check out our slideshow of opening day at the Union Station Holiday Market.
The worst thing about the Toronto Comic Arts Festival is that it only comes once a year. If you, like me, feel that the Toronto Reference Library is way more fun when it's packed with visiting indie-comix personalities, tables full of graphic novels, and stacks of novelty plushies, you'll be thrilled to learn that TCAF (and its parent comic-book store, The Beguiling) are set to open a brand-new, permanent gift shop inside the Reference Library.
The store will begin life as a pop-up over the holidays, featuring comics, graphic novels, and other goods by Canadian and international artists; they'll open the evening of December 3 as part of a launch event for Chip Zdarsky and Matt Fraction's Just The Tips.
After the holidays, the shop will be expanding and evolving into its final form - Beguiling staff say an expanded roster of TCAF-themed products will begin rolling into the space in 2015. On top of that, the library has plans to develop and sell branded merch of their own. (There's room in your life for another tote bag, right?)
Photo by PLTam in the blogTO Flickr pool.
Late night skating is a Toronto tradition, whether it be in the form of an energetic game of shiny or a romantic twirl on an abandoned rink. While the majority of Toronto's artificial outdoor rinks are locked down after 9pm or so, there are a host of exceptions spread across the city that are easy to access in the wee hours.
One should bear in mind a few things before embarking on a late night skate or shiny run. Firstly, try to keep the noise down. There's nothing less considerate than slamming a puck against the boards at 3am in the vicinity of high rise apartment buildings. Secondly, try to factor in the amount of streetlight that will get to the ice surface because the dedicated lights will likely be off.
Here are my picks for the top rinks for late night skating in Toronto.
Nathan Phillips Square
The most obvious rink for late night skating in Toronto is still its best. The backdrop of city hall and the Financial District make up for the snowy ice and the likelihood that you'll be accompanied by other people with the same romantic idea as you.
Harbourfront Rink
Late night skates at Harbourfront can be chilly affairs on windy nights, but the view of the black lake to the south of the rink is worth the extra layer of clothing you'll inevitably have to wear. The late night lighting conditions are such that it's easy to navigate without ruining the mood.
Gould St / Ryerson
This used to be my favourite late night ice rink, but maintenance hasn't been so good in recent years. Nevertheless, when the ice is skate-able, it's a great place for impromptu games of shiny after midnight. Do mind the boulders, please.
Mel Lastman Square
One of the best bets for those who live north of the 401, the centrally located Mel Lastman Square often plays host to a small contingent of post-midnight skaters. If you head there late enough (say after 2am), you might just get the entire pad to yourself.
Harry Gairey/Alexandra/Scadding
Like a number of other rinks on this list, the hockey side of the double pad at Bathurst and Dundas is protected by a fence and not easily accessible after hours. The pleasure skating side is, however, one of the nicer sheets of ice to hit late at night thanks to then end of day Zamboni treatment.
Ledbury
Ledbury is also a quiet rink, though you might occasionally find a few North Toronto kids out for game of shiny in the wee hours. The rink is, however, long enough to accommodate hockey players at one end pleasure skaters at the other. The bridge that crosses over top adds a romantic element if that's what you're after.
Wallace-Emerson Rink
The hockey rink side of Wallace-Emerson is fenced-in (though sometimes you might get lucky and find it unlocked), but the pleasure skating pad is accessible at all hours, which attracts both late night pleasure skaters and shiny types.
Sherbourne Common
You will be cold at Sherbourne Common, but the view of the skyline to the west and the near guarantee that the rink will be abandoned should prove a draw for those after some quiet one on one time. Shiny is rare here.
Colonel Sam Smith
Toronto's skating trail is unsurprisingly accessible at all hours of the day. The lighting is a bit low late at night and the snow buildup can be a bit annoying, but it's still one of the prettier places to skate in the dark.
Rennie
Rennie is another double pad rink in which the hockey area is protected by a fence, and thus typically inaccessible after hours. The pleasure skating pad is, however, unique for its central tree, which serves as a natural focal point for folks to skate around. This isn't the best spot for late night shiny, but makes for a nice quiet spot to do a few stick-free loops.
Photo by chris cachia in the blogTO Flickr pool.
The Annex has always been an affluent area. Shortly after the neighbourhood officially became part of Toronto in the 1880s, department store magnate Timothy Eaton and distillery president George Gooderham, lured by the semi-rural privacy and large plots of land, built mansions along its tree-lined streets. Today, the Annex is home to numerous well-kept Victorian bay-and-gable homes and grand mansions built in the "Annex style"--large arches, corner turrets, and big attics.
Apart from architecture, the Annex has a history that includes abandoned expressway plans, an alternative free university, and even a lost river. Here are 10 quirky things to know about the Annex.
The Annex was established as a semi-rural retreat for Toronto's rich
The old City of Toronto began expanding beyond its downtown borders in the 1880s, annexing the independent town of Yorkville and absorbing two more subdivisions, the Toronto Annex and Seaton Village. The Annex was subdivided by Simeon Herman Janes, a land speculator who gambled on the idea that large homes on tree-lined streets away from the centre of the city would be popular with the Toronto's wealthy elite. He was right, of course, and the sale of the Annex land made him a fortune.
You are probably pronouncing Spadina wrong
Spadina Road and Avenue are named after Spadina House, the home of Dr. William Baldwin (of Baldwin Street,) which sits atop a ridge at Davenport Road. Baldwin used an anglicized version of the Ojibway word "espadinong," which means hill, and the property's long driveway took on the name, too. The word is pronounced closer to "spadeena" than "spadinah," but over the centuries, for reasons that will probably never be entirely clear, the latter prevailed.
The Annex is a haven for fans of the space age architecture of Uno Prii
Fans of space age modernist architecture are spoiled for choice in the Annex. Estonian-born architect Uno Prii, famous for his high-rise apartment buildings, designed 11, 35, and 44 Walmer Road, 485 Huron Street, and my personal favourite, 20 Prince Arthur Avenue (pictured,) a building that looks capable of space flight.
Spadina station could have been called Lowther
Spadina station, as any regular TTC rider knows, is really two separate entities: the Spadina line platforms and the Bloor-Danforth platforms. When the Spadina subway was still in the planning phase, the northern platforms were envisioned as a separate station, to be called Lowther. The two were later merged and a moving walkway installed to ease the arduous connection. It has since been removed.
The Annex could have been cleaved in half by the Spadina Expressway
There was a time when Metropolitan Toronto, the now defunct senior level of government above city council, seriously considered running an expressway from the 401 south to the Cedarvale Ravine then down Spadina Ave. to the waterfront. Had it been built, the Annex would have been torn in half. Allen Road and the Spadina subway line were the only pieces of the project ever built.
Lee's Palace used to be a movie theatre
When 782-seat Allen's Bloor Theatre opened in 1919, it was "one of the most luxurious suburban movie houses Toronto had to offer," according Silent Toronto, an online archive of local cinema information. The building reopened as the Blue Orchid, a restaurant that featured live burlesque shows, before becoming Lee's Palace in 1985.
There used to be an experimental university and housing co-op on Bloor
The sign on the outside of 341 Bloor Street West says Senator David A. Croll Apartments, but in 1968 the apartment towers near St. George Street were home to a pioneering student-run educational facility and housing co-op. Learning at Rochdale College was offered for free and there were no structured courses, curriculum, exams, or formal degrees, and students and teachers lived together. Rochdale closed in 1975 due to financial troubles and complaints that the school had become a haven for drug users.
Jean Sibelius Square Park is named for a Finnish classical composer
Jean Sibelius is most famous for his series of seven symphonies, which include Finlandia and Karelia Suite, but in the Annex, his name graces a public park. The green space was known as Kendal Square, but it was renamed at the request of one "B. O. Sundman" of Helsinki, according to the Globe and Mail, in 1956 to mark the composer's 90th birthday.
One of Toronto's most famous lost rivers flowed through the Annex
Taddle Creek rose outside the neighbourhood in present day Wychwood Park. From there, it flowed for 4 kms southeast through the Annex to its mouth near the Distillery. The river is now confined to the sewers, but Philosopher's Walk and the noticeable kink on the west side of Queen's Park Cres. are evidence of its existence.
The Annex has a lane named for a horse who helped cure diphtheria
Previously City Lane #2303, Crestfallen Lane is named for a sad-eyed horse owned by John "Gerry" FitzGerald, a young doctor who purchased nags destined for the glue factory and built up their immunities to diseases like rabies and diphtheria. FitzGerald distributed vaccines created using Crestfallen and other horses to the poor of Toronto as a public service. He killed himself in 1940. Frederick Banting and Charles Best, the developers of insulin, were among his pallbearers.
Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.
Image: Matt, livinginacity/blogTO Flickr pool; Toronto Telegram fonds, F0433, ASC05298, Dick Loek.
Toronto's photographers and filmmakers have given us countless gorgeous views of the city, including some jaw-dropping time-lapse clips that breathe new life into our most beloved landmarks. The latest comes courtesy of French photographer Stephane Legrand, who's been living in Toronto for the past several years.
His film Hello Toronto is a hyper-realistic look at the city, from the grandeur of City Hall and U of T to the streetscapes of Parkdale; the smooth camera motion and careful focus makes Legrand's video look almost look like a CGI flyover or a tiny model city instead of a real-world timelapse (but, nope, we really do just look that good). Check out the full video below.
Hello Toronto from Stéphane Legrand on Vimeo.
