Katy Perry gives fans a new peek at Justin Trudeau in latest Instagram photo dump

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2:14 pm

Katy Perry is giving fans another peek at her relationship with Justin Trudeau, this time through a playful Instagram carousel. On Tuesday, the Firework singer, 41, shared a post that included a photo of the former Canadian prime minister, 54, alongside a mix of more intimate snapshots from her life. Perry captioned the carousel, “Never knew karma could be so rewarding.”

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Also tucked into the carousel were pics of a teacup goldendoodle sitting in a hat, behind-the-scenes tour moments, a sweet photo with her daughter, a video of Perry riding a bike along the beach and a few silly snapshots, all very demure, very cutesy.

But it’s her relationship with Trudeau that has everyone talking.

“I love your love with Justin,” one stan wrote, while another joked, “When “taking Canada” has a completely different meaning.”

The pair were first spotted dining together at the upscale Montreal restaurant Le Violon in July 2025 during a period of transition for both. Trudeau had separated from his wife of 18 years, Sophie, in 2023, and stepped down as Liberal leader and Prime Minister in early 2025, while Perry had ended a nearly decade-long relationship with actor Orlando Bloom.

The couple made their relationship Instagram official in December and have since appeared in a series of increasingly personal posts, including a March carousel where Perry joked about their age gap after the two compared their “biological age” results on date night (Katy’s biological age is 33.1 while Trudeau’s is 43).

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According to PEOPLE, the two are navigating a long-distance dynamic while balancing their schedules. In March, a source told the publication that “the priority for both of them is stability for the kids,” noting that they travel whenever they can to spend time together. “Katy and Justin have had to be flexible to make the relationship work.”

KitKat truck and security convoy wheel sweet treats through Toronto following robbery

By

Ron Johnson

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1:34 pm

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KitKat truck convoy Torotno — Photo: Courage

Last month, 410,000 KitKat chocolate bars were stolen in Italy. But, the chocolate brand knew the old adage about life and lemons, and flipped the script making news for a marketing stunt hiring a security convoy for its KitKat truck in Toronto.

If you spotted a convoy of black SUVs escorting a transport truck through downtown Toronto this week, it wasn’t a political motorcade — just a top secret chocolate delivery.

The sweet stunt was complete with flashing lights, suited guards, and a truck rolling along Yonge Street and the Gardiner.

The campaign was created by Toronto advertising agency Courage.

“Rather than relying on heavy messaging, we tapped into a distinctly Canadian sensibility, an inside joke audiences could immediately understand and participate in. No explanation needed: just a KitKat delivery truck, fully escorted as if it were high-value cargo.” said Joel Holtby, founder and co-CCO, Courage.

In addition to the convoy, KitKat also posted a tongue-in-cheek job notice on social media seeking security guards with “big break energy” to protect “high-value, high-profile assets.”

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As a result of the events, a social media video showed a chocolate truck under heavy guard, flanked by presidential-style SUVs, making its way through Toronto traffic went viral.

Rather than issuing a dry corporate statement about the robbery, KitKat’s Canadian team opted for something clever: a joke, and a spectacle on the streets of Toronto.

The stunt made headlines around the world.

Toronto is literally losing it over the mapo tofu pasta at this new Little Italy wine bar

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Megan Gallant

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1:04 pm

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SnapInsta Ai 3868005627779401965 — @chez.wa/Instagram

A new wine and sake bar has only just soft launched in Little Italy but it already has the city buzzing with excitement.

That’s because Chez Wa —recognizable by its playful logo of a frog balancing a wine glass on its head — has already been serving up good drinks and good bites on the streets of Toronto. The brand was born out of Wine Pairing Company, which was founded by Tia Zhang with the goal of pairing Asian ingredients with quality wines.

SnapInsta Ai 3557896575248951605 — Tia Zhang @tianchen_zh/Instagram

When she joined forces with Kevin Guo, who saw her vision and held a similar passion for drink, they began doing pop-up events and concepts. Stints at Another Land Coffee in North York and another at Lost in Tokyo downtown last year encouraged Zhang and Guo to see there was a desire for Chez Wa’s unique experiences.

“We were seeing that a lot of people are enjoying this concept and are interested to see how wine and sake or different beverages could pair with Asian-inspired cuisine,” Guo says, noting they were ready for their own permanent location. “We want to make it more continuous, we want to have our own space and our own aesthetic and we just want to be out there.”

SnapInsta Ai 3868005620523259446 — @chez.wa/Instagram

Inside the space on College Street, a clean minimalist design takes over, boasting whites with walnut and stainless steel that Guo says was inspired by European bars. If you look carefully, though, you’ll find little figurines of the signature frog mascot throughout the cozy space.

“We go out a lot and a lot of times we ended up on College Street. We love Suite 115, we love [Birreria] Volo, we love Pompette — and now we’re neighbours with them. It’s where we always wanted to end up,” says Guo, pointing to the diversity of the restaurants on the street. “It’s good to see there is some representation of Asian culture in the same neighbourhood, and people have been super welcoming. We really love it here.”

On the menu, Chez Wa focuses on introducing Asian culture by adding twists to traditional tapas. A creamy pasta with mapo tofu — a spicy Chinese dish — and shaojiao beef tartare are highlights for its soft open. The bar program focuses on low-intervention and new-generation wine and sake, with some natural bottles.

“We really value this pairing aspect so the foods are designed to pair with the drinks and the drinks are designed to pair with the food,” says Guo. “We believe that’s what makes us stand out.”

As for the goals of Chez Wa, Guo says it’s all in the name. While “Wa” means frog in Chinese, the “Chez” represents the goal of turning the bar into a place of comfort.

“We wanted to it to feel like a cozy drinking space for people, and I wanted it to feel like our home,” says Guo. “Chez Wa rhymes with “Chez moi” (“My home” in French) so we want it to bring some of those homey vibes.”

Chez Wa is located at 617 College Street.

One of Toronto’s biggest music festivals announces lineup including a rock symphony at Casa Loma

By

Ron Johnson

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11:34 am

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The Departure Festival and Conference, formerly Canadian Music Week, is back in 2026 and set to takeover the city May 4-10. With its return comes a week of music, media, sports, and digital culture.

This year Departure offers up its Summits series, single-day sessions hosted at Departure House (58 Berkeley St.) that are designed to foster dialogue, networking, and brand collaborations. Panels include the likes of Nick Storch, veteran rock agent for Disturbed and Limp Bizkit, and Mary Ramos, the award-winning music supervisor behind numerous Quentin Tarantino films.

Award-winning entertainer Lilly Singh, who also serves as Chief Hype Officer and owner of Toronto’s first WNBA team, the Toronto Tempo, will lead the Sports Summit on May 8. The popular YouTube star and CBC game show host will also be recognized with the Trailblazer Award at Departure Honours on May 7 at Koerner Hall.

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Departure continues to blend live experiences with educational programming. The SOCAN Songwriters Series at the Jane Mallett Theatre will feature masterclasses with Grammy-nominated songwriter Jenna Andrews (BTS, Netflix’s Hitmakers) and composer Peter Peter, who recently scored the hit series Heated Rivalry.

Fans of immersive musical experiences will also want to catch Choir! Choir! Choir! Angel: An Epic Sing-a-Long on May 6 at Massey Hall, featuring a surprise set and culminating in a performance of “Angel” with Sarah McLachlan. Proceeds support the Sarah McLachlan School of Music, providing free music education to youth facing barriers.

The festival’s film programming expands with an advanced screening of Boots Riley’s new film I Love Boosters, starring Keke Palmer and Naomi Ackie, on May 7 at the Paradise Theatre.

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The festival also activates Toronto streets with live music takeovers, including Geary Avenue from May 8–10, Casa Feston May 9 at CityView Lot, and the Rock Symphony at Casa Loma.

Of course, Departure also features a massive music festival showcasing up-and-coming bands from around the world at downtown Toronto bars and venues such as the Baby G, Cassette, Painted Lady and many more.

The full schedule of Departure Festival + Conference, including conference panels, summits, performances, and activations, is available at departureto.com.

Where to find the best breakfast at Union Station Toronto

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Nistha Chaudhary

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9:47 am

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SnapInsta Ai 3626585019083828261 — @eggclub.official/Instagram

Union Station is one of the busiest spots in the city. And if you’re there every week — commuting, heading to school, or just passing through — you know the routine. You need something quick, but still worth eating.

The good news is that there’s more here than the usual grab-and-go. Think good coffee, fresh pastries, proper breakfast sandwiches and a few options that will actually keep you going through the morning. So whether you’ve got five minutes or a bit of time to spare, you can find a breakfast that fits your routine and feels like a real start to the day.

Here are the best spots to grab some breakfast at Union Station.

Egg Club

Egg Club is the best reason to actually look forward to the Union Station shuffle. Their Japanese egg sandwiches use toasted shokupan, which is basically the softest milk bread ever. You get a thick, folded omelet that’s way more satisfying than a typical fried egg. Throwing a hash brown inside is the smartest thing you’ll do all morning. The crew is fast enough to handle the rush, so you won’t be late for your first call.

Harvest Clean Eats

Harvest Clean Eats is basically a wellness intervention for your morning commute. It’s the go-to spot for when you want to feel like a functioning adult who eats actual greens instead of someone just surviving on caffeine. They swap the usual not-so-healthy fare for high-protein, scratch-made meals that won’t require a mid-morning nap. Options include sourdough avocado toast and breakfast burritos packed with fresh house-made sauces. Even the plant-based crowd is covered with a delicious tofu scramble.

WVRST

If a croissant feels a bit too polite for a Tuesday morning, WVRST is the unconventional saviour of the Union Station commute. It isn’t a traditional breakfast spot, which is exactly the point. Instead of the usual muffin-and-coffee routine, you’re grabbing a sausage on a bun or a warm, salty soft pretzel. With options ranging from pork to vegetarian, it’s a filling way to start the day.

Hazukido

Hazukido makes a strong case for skipping breakfast and just getting a croissant. The bakery turns out pastries built on a 72-hour process — crisp, flaky, and airy in all the right ways. The lineup covers the classics, but it’s the less-expected flavours like truffle or salted egg yolk, that keep things interesting. There are croissant sandwiches if you’re craving something more substantial, but we suggest keeping things simple.

Pilot Coffee Roasters

If you actually care about your caffeine, skip the generic cups and head to Pilot Coffee Roasters They roast their own beans, which means your latte or Nitro Cold Brew will actually taste like coffee. The cheddar and herb scone is the standout if you need a quick snack. The real pro move is using the app to order ahead so you can grab your drink and keep moving without the wait.

Paramount Fine Food

Paramount is the best detour for anyone bored of the usual breakfast options. Forget the bagels; go for the manakeesh—flatbreads topped with zaatar or cheese. If you want to avoid a sugar crash, the labneh and fava beans are the savory heroes of the food court. The pita is fresh and the service is fast, making it an easy win when you’re in a hurry.

Biscotteria Forno Cultura

furno culture — @biscotteriafornocultura/ instagram

Forno Cultura is the stylish shortcut that makes a morning trek feel much more civilized. Their version of ham and cheese is a total upgrade, using prosciutto cotto and emmental on soft olive oil brioche. If you’re already reading emails on your phone, the Treccia Salata is the perfect handheld, salty braid for the walk. Those sourdough focaccine Barrese are also a great savoury antidote to the usual station sugar rush.

The best tulip fields and farms to visit in Ontario during peak bloom in 2026

By

Keena Al-Wahaidi

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5:47 am

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tulip farm experience — Courtesy JP Niagara Tulip Experience/Facebook

Spring has just about sprung in Toronto, which means outdoor fields and other nature gems will soon be warm enough to visit once more. With all of spring’s promises, the best one might just be the joy of seeing flowers in bloom again. And, by late April to early May in Ontario, tulip season hits peak bloom, offering the perfect adventure for those who want to explore colourful fields and celebrate the season of florals.

With all the tulip farms that Ontario has to offer, here are some of the best ones you can visit in and around Toronto this spring.

TASC Tulip Festival at TASC Tulip Farm

Location: 1173 Line 3 Rd., Niagara-on-the-Lake

Not only does this farm offer a huge variety of tulips to stroll through, but did you know that it’s one of the most visited tulip farms in the province? Just under a two hour drive from downtown Toronto, this Niagara-on-the-Lake farm offers up their annual TASC Tulip Festival, with opportunities to take photos and pick the colourful flowers. With a tentative opening date of April 24, this farm has millions of tulips to peek through this season, a perfect opportunity for a spring road trip. You can book your ticket here.

Tulip Days at Pingle’s Farm

pingles tulips — Courtesy Leah Jones/Facebook

Location: 1805 Taunton Rd., Hampton

Pingle’s Farm is celebrating spring this year by doubling their planted tulip count this year to a million — which they say will turn the farm into the GTA’s largest pick-your-own tulip experience. Join this Hampton-area farm and market for a tulip celebration of a lifetime for Tulip Days at Pingle’s. Not only can you pick your own tulips but the experience of visiting this quaint countryside farm is packed with other fun stuff, like a cozy bakery and opportunities to pick your own locally grown fruit around the farm. Plus, it’s only an hour and a half drive from the city, all starting May 9. Book your spot here.

JP Niagara Tulip Experience

jp tulip experience — Courtesy jpniagaratulipexperience.com

Location: 230 A Tice Rd., Pelham

With a tulip selection of over two million, this landscape provides viewers with a unique visit to some of the most beautiful floral colours this season. The tulip festival offered by JP Niagara Tulip Experience has limited capacity though, so make sure to secure your ticket online here first. In the heart of Pelham, the farm stresses this is a “nature-dependent” event — meaning peak bloom is weather dependent. Tickets are available here and the fun begins April 24.

Roadside Flower Market

roadside tulip market — Courtesy Roadside Flower Market/Facebook

Location: 1923 Seventh Street Louth, St. Catherine’s

The only thing better than hanging around wine country is being surrounded by beautiful florals — especially 1.2 million of them. Your ticket includes 10 stems to pick, with a $1.50 charge for each additional picked tulip. This family farm, under a two hour drive from Toronto, embraces rows of colour this season with their Tulip U-Pick event. There’s also an especially fun bonus: dogs are welcomed and encouraged to come, just in case you want to bring your fluffy friends along with you starting April 17. As of right now, the tulip experience runs until May 18, but that could change depending on weather and picking conditions.

Hat Trick Farms

Location: 18971 Fargo Rd., Blenheim

This tulip field is a little over a three-hour drive from the city and is anticipated to open in late spring, depending on the farm’s bloom this season. There are some visiting dates available to see the tulips for May, and more will be added as soon as the blooms become more prominent (the farm opens their fields for visits once the tulips reach 50 per cent bloom). You can also take your visit to the next level by joining the Beyond the Vase: Tulip Experience — a two-hour experience where guests can walk through the field and take part in other unique opportunities such as a scavenger-hunt style game and a pressed flower workshop. Tickets aren’t sold on location so you’ll have to snag yours online here.

For the best lavender field experiences to visit during peak bloom, click here.

Toronto’s spring forecast is in for 2026 and here’s when the weather will finally warm up

By

Nisean Lorde

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5:35 pm

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torontoskyline — Photo by Diwei Zhu/Unsplash

Toronto’s latest dose of cold feels kind of unfair for April, after a wintry start to the week dragged temperatures down to a forecast high of just 2 C on Tuesday, with a low of -5 C overnight. Thankfully, this stretch doesn’t look like it’ll overstay its welcome! Toronto is expected to climb back into double digits weather this Thursday, April 9, with a high of 18 C. And soon (but maybe not soon enough), the city will finally warm up for good.

Still, because it’s Toronto in April, this warm rebound will be a bit all over the place. Friday is expected to dip back down to 5 C with a 60 per cent chance of rain or snow, before temperatures rise again to 12 C on Saturday, 13 C on Sunday and 19 C on Monday.

With seasonal norms for this stretch sitting at about 10 C for the daytime high and 2 C for the overnight low, the weekend should finally feel a bit more in line with what mid-April in Toronto is supposed to be.

Beyond this week, spring temps will run a bit cooler and wetter than usual. According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac’s 60-day outlook for Toronto, April will have a run of showers, sunnier breaks and a bit of a chill, with “showers, then sunny and cold” from April 9 to 15, followed by “rain and snow showers, then sunny and chilly” from April 16 to 25, and “a few showers and cool” to close out the month. The Almanac’s monthly summary predicts April will average about 5 C overall in Toronto, which is 1 C below normal, with 75 mm of precipitation, or about 5 mm above average.

May looks somewhat milder, starting off cool with some sun and showers before turning warmer later in the month, including the chance of scattered thunderstorms. The Almanac estimates May will average 11 C overall, which is also 1 C below normal, with 90 mm of precipitation.

In the Almanac’s 12-month outlook, summer looks like it’ll be slightly cooler than normal in the east and warmer in the west, with the hottest periods in late June and early July and above-normal precipitation overall.

The longer-range Toronto outlook doesn’t necessarily mean the year will be cool overall, at least globally! In January, Environment and Climate Change Canada said 2026 is likely to rank among the hottest years on record globally, with the global mean temperature projected to land between 1.35 C and 1.53 C above pre-industrial levels, with a 12 per cent chance of exceeding 1.5 C in a single year. The department also said that the 2026 to 2030 period is expected to be the hottest five-year stretch on record. We’ll just have to deal with some local weather mood swings in the meantime.

Toronto to Muskoka train picks up steam after latest test

By

Nisean Lorde

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3:59 pm

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northlander train — Courtesy FordNation/Facebook

Ontario’s soon-to-be Toronto-to-Muskoka train was just spotted on the tracks! The Northlander, i.e., the legendary passenger rail service that’s been paused for more than a decade, is back on the move. The blue and yellow train was spotted pulling into Ontario Northland Train Station in North Bay last week after passing through towns such as Washago and Gravenhurst, apparently in another test run. The train will be running along the full corridor to test for safety and performance standards.

Premier Doug Ford posted about the Northlander on social media, noting, “If you’re travelling between Toronto and Timmins in the next few months, keep an eye out as all three trainsets undergo rigorous testing ahead of a return to service later this year.”

This isn’t the first time the Northlander has been tested out on the tracks ahead of a planned 2026 return to service. In January, in a video uploaded by Ontario Rails, a brand-new Northlander trainset was seen arriving at CN’s Aldershot Yard in Burlington, before continuing to VIA Rail’s Maintenance Centre in Etobicoke.

The original Northlander once connected Toronto with Northeast communities, running as far as Cochrane and Timmins. After it was discontinued in 2012, many Ontarians lamented the loss of what was both a vital transportation link and a nostalgic part of travelling to cottage country. With the provincial government’s commitment to reinstate the service, that nostalgia is shifting quickly toward reality!

“I’d happily leave a vehicle up there and take the train to the cottage,” one user wrote in a Reddit thread about the upcoming service. “The horrid drive really affects my mental health.”

The revamped Northlander route is set to run from Toronto’s Union Station northward, through Muskoka towns like Huntsville, Bracebridge, and Gravenhurst, before continuing to North Bay and South River and ultimately reaching Timmins, with a rail connection to Cochrane. In total, 16 stops are planned.

The new trainsets will have major upgrades and modern amenities, including accessible onboard seating, Wi-Fi, and energy-efficient designs, making them far more comfortable than the old Northlander. Meanwhile, infrastructure upgrades like the North Bay Rail Bypass (completed in fall 2025) will help improve travel times and reliability when the service launches. Passenger shelters will be modernized too, with real-time train arrival updates, tons of ample lighting, reliable heating and CCTV security cameras.

We’re still waiting on an official launch date and ticket prices, but by 2041, the Northlander’s annual ridership is estimated to be between approximately 40,000 and 60,000. If progress continues, the Northlander is expected to return to full operation sometime in 2026, potentially by mid-year.

Canada’s Wonderland is reopening for 2026 with a reimagined coaster and brand new food

By

Nisean Lorde

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2:07 pm

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Canada’s Wonderland is kicking off its 2026 season this May with news of a major nostalgia play. The inverted roller coaster long known as Flight Deck (originally introduced as Top Gun in 1995) is being reimagined as The DareDeviler, a newly themed ride tied to the park’s Grande World Expo area and a turn-of-the-century aviation backstory! Riders can literally relive the spirit of early aviation as they soar, dive and twist their way through the legacy of a legendary stunt plane. Expect the ride to have new trains, targeted track refinements, improved seating and open vest-style restraints for greater comfort and visibility, all without losing that old-school Top Gun intensity.

“We’re excited to breathe new life into one of our classic roller coasters,” Heather Hill, park manager at Canada’s Wonderland, said, adding that The DareDeviler is elevating the thrill experience with a “smoother, more comfortable ride.”

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Riders will have to wait a little longer to check it out, though, as the The DareDeviler isn’t slated to debut until early summer. Thankfully, there’ll be tons of other things to do when the theme park opens May 3! Wonderland has more than 200 attractions, including 18 roller coasters and the 20-acre Splash Works water park (opening May 23).

And fans will definitely be keeping an eye on AlpenFury. The coaster debuted last year and is Canada’s longest, tallest and fastest launch coaster, holding the world record for the most inversions (nine) on a launch coaster!

Another classic Wonderland ride is also getting a revamp: Minebuster has been around for 45 years, and it’s well-known for its extremely bumpy ride. This year, though, that may be changing; 980 feet of the track will be retracked, replacing old wood with new to “keep the ride running smooth.”

New food and entertainment at Canada’s Wonderland for 2026

Canada’s Wonderland is leaning hard into food in 2026, launching totally new snacks and treats for refuelling after a roller coaster run. Among the additions are a Choco Crispy Bites Funnel Cake, Donair Kabobs at Lazy Bear Lodge, and a new Wonder Rush Coca-Cola Freestyle drink inspired by AlpenFury’s vertical launch. The former Sweet Shoppe on International Street has been redone as The Sweet Spot, with an even bigger sweets menu that includes tanghulu (think glossy sugar-coated fruit skewers).

And, tied to the launch of the reimagined roller coaster, this year guests can enjoy The DareDeviler IPA: a bold, craft‑inspired beer with bright citrus aromas, inspired by the popular beer styles of the Grande World Expo era (so, perfect for a high‑energy park exploration!).

Live entertainment is getting a huge push this year, too. Visitors can also expect three new shows: Retrospect, a high-energy music production at International Showplace; The King’s Banquet, a cirque-and-acrobatics-heavy fantasy spectacle at Canterbury Theatre; and Watchtower, a stunt-dive comedy show in Arthur’s Baye. And of course, there will be the return of the Victoria Falls High Divers and performances with Snoopy and the PEANUTS gang!

As for events, Brew & BBQ returns on June 6–7, 13–14 and 20–21, with smoked pork ribs, wood-fired chicken legs, smoked beef brisket flatbreads, and more than 50 craft beers, ciders and seltzers. The seasonal calendar also includes summer fireworks on May 17, July 1 and Sept. 6, Celebration Canada over the Canada Day stretch weekend, KidZfest from July 22 to Aug. 2, Oktoberfest in September, as well as the usual themed heavy hitters: Tricks & Treats (select dates, Sept. 26–Nov. 1), Halloween Haunt (select nights Sept. 25–Nov. 1) and WinterFest (select dates, starting Nov. 21).

Canada’s Wonderland is reopening to the public on Sunday, May 3, with a Season Passholder Preview set for May 1 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Is the ‘BYOF’ (Bring Your Own Food) bar the only sane way to drink in Toronto right now?

By

Jennifer Schembri

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2:05 pm

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There are several bars in Toronto that don’t have kitchens, which means they actually want you to bring your own food. It’s a total loophole that lets you skip the $18 appetizer and eat exactly what you’re craving while you grab a drink. Most people call it BYOF (Bring Your Own Food) and it’s a brilliant way to have a night out without the massive bill.

Here is the deal on where to go and what to bring.

The Only Café

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This is a Danforth staple for a reason. They have one of the best craft beer lists in the city, but they don’t serve food. Because of that, the staff is completely fine with you walking in with a bag of takeout. Grab a massive gyro from Messini or something from The Wood Owl and head to their mismatched back patio. It feels like a backyard party where you brought the best snacks. 972 Danforth Ave.

Handlebar

Located right in the middle of Kensington Market, Handlebar is a cozy indie spot that acts like the neighbourhood’s communal living room. Since they focus on live music and drinks, they welcome outside food with open arms. And since you’re surrounded by world-class cheap eats, pick up Baja tacos from El Trompo or a burger from Ozzy’s and snag a booth inside. It’s way more relaxed than trying to eat on the crowded sidewalk. 159 Augusta Ave.

Bangarang

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If you want to play cornhole while you eat, go here. This Little Italy bar has a great cocktail menu but no kitchen of its own. They are totally cool with you turning your table into a dining room between rounds of games. So what can you bring, you might ask? You’re on College Street, so walk two minutes to Bitondo’s for a panzo or Danny’s Pizza Tavern for a pie. It’s a high-energy spot, so a greasy pizza box fits the vibe perfectly. 552 College St.

Sweaty Betty’s

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This is the ultimate Ossington dive bar — red lights, zero pretension and a legendary back patio. They’ve never bothered with a kitchen because they know they’re surrounded by some of the best takeout in the West End. Hit up PG Clucks for fried chicken or grab the Badiali x Shake Shack collab burger if you’re coming from downtown. Nobody is going to judge you for eating a messy sandwich at the bar here. 13 Ossington Ave.

Done Right Inn

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Commonly known as The Dunnie, this Queen West staple is exactly what a dive bar should be. It’s got a bit of everything — mismatched decor, a small working TV and some of the friendliest, most unpretentious staff in the city. The real draw, though, is the secluded back patio shaded by massive trees. It feels like a secret garden where the beer is cheap and the vibes are steady. Since you’re right across from Trinity Bellwoods, grab a burger from The Burger’s Priest or a slice from North of Brooklyn and settle in under the leaves. It’s the perfect spot for an inexpensive, all-night catch-up. 861 Queen St. W.

The most exclusive omakase in Toronto right now is actually a dessert flight

By

Nisean Lorde

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2:02 pm

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Toronto has no shortage of omakase experiences, but Denovia is taking the Japanese chef’s-choice dining style in a much sweeter direction. Traditionally, omakase refers to a fixed-price, chef’s-choice meal where diners leave the selection up to the chef. But at Denovia, that idea shows up as a monthly Dessert Omakase, so guests can indulge in an intimate, multi-course dessert experience that swaps sushi for plated sweets and drink pairings.

Each Dessert Omakase includes three dessert courses, all crafted with seasonal inspiration, and three non-alcoholic drink pairings designed to complement and elevate each bite. The menu changes each month, like this month’s Sake Dessert Omakase, with sake infused into the desserts themselves rather than simply served alongside them! Every gathering feels intimate, exclusive and deeply immersive (rather than just an excuse to indulge in sugary treats).

Seats are limited, so it’s probably a good idea to book as early as possible. The experience goes for $60 plus a 20 per cent service charge, with a $30 deposit required. April’s omakase experience sold out within six hours, but guests are invited to join the waitlist for a private booking link before reservations are released publicly.

And Denovia is more than just a spot for dessert omakase! The Yonge Street space is Toronto’s premier holistic space that blends café service with treatments and modern wellness. In addition to omakase, it also hosts a guided sound bath experience where guests can simply lie down, breathe and let the harmonic Himalayan singing bowl frequencies do the work. The space offers non-invasive radiofrequency therapy, which is said to support pain relief and overall body vitality, as well as targeted IV drips, non-invasive scans to reveal stress, and different forms of therapy, like wave activation, deep thermal therapy, and moxibustion (this is a traditional healing method that uses the warmth of high-quality mugwort (Ai Ye) to stimulate meridians and acupuncture points!).

Denovia Canada is located at 2656 Yonge St.

The Leafs are the NHL’s most valuable team — and they’re charging kids $38 for a fist bump

By

Nisean Lorde

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11:52 am

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Watching the Toronto Maple Leafs play at Scotiabank Arena is one of the most expensive game-day experiences in the NHL, and despite the team generating hundreds of millions in revenue each year, the franchise has somehow found yet another way to monetize fandom. This goes well beyond ticket prices and overpriced beer — the club is offering fan add-on experiences that aren’t exactly cheap, many of which are aimed specifically at kids.

For roughly $38 to more than $956 per person (excluding game tickets), fans can buy small pre-game and post-game experiences through the team’s “Game Day Plus Ups”. For about $63.79 per person, you can sound the goal horn 2.5 hours before puck drop (which is affordable enough, although pretty pricey for vibrating the eardrums of every Leafs fan) or pose for a photo on the bench ($127.58) or on the ice after the final buzzer ($95.68 per person).

If you’ve got deeper pockets, you can opt to get sent to the penalty box during a pre-game warm-up ($637.89 per person) or, according to The Athletic, go all out for a sit-down dinner in the team dressing room ($1,000 per person)!

One of the most interesting options is aimed at kids, though. The “Hoist The Maple Leafs Flag” add-on is an on-ice pre-game role specifically for kids aged 8 to 12, letting them stand “proudly on the ice” as the Leafs take the ice. “With Leafs Nation roaring behind you, this unforgettable moment puts you in the heart of the action – and requires more heart than upper-body strength,” the description states. Still, it’ll set you back about $956.83 per kid.

Forbes valued the Leafs at $4.4 billion, making it the most valuable club in the NHL, so charging nearly a thousand dollars for a child to wave a flag around before puck drop is rubbing some fans the wrong way.

“I understand people want to see the top league, but I for one don’t support this franchise with my wallet. To each their own though,” one Redditor said about the add-ons in a recent thread.

“[N]ot a good long term plan when kids are priced out of being fans. A team needs fans to last,” another Reddit user wrote, while others reminisced about a time when these kinds of fan experiences felt more special.

“About 10 years or so my son was lucky enough to have his name drawn to skate the flag out before a Senators game. We were treated like VIPs. No cost. Free 100 level seats and while he was out on the ice I got to watch from the Zamboni area standing right near where David Amber was doing the pre game broadcast rink side. This was [while] notorious penny pincher Eugene Melnyk was the owner. This just reflects so poorly on the [L]eafs and one of the reasons to add to the list I’ve why I’ve stopped watching this year. Who knows if I’ll tune in next year.”

If you can’t fork out a few hundred dollars for flag-waving, then the simple fist-bump add-on ($38.27) allows Leafs fans (aged 12 and under) to get up close and fist-bump the team as they prepare to take the ice for the third period; unsurprisingly, this option seems to sell out the fastest.

But even with all the fancy add-ons, it’s still debatable whether Leafs fans are getting the best return on their money.