Without seeing him play live, you really wouldn’t know what Tony Price looks like — there are maybe three pictures of him floating around the Internet. And even when you do see him in person behind the decks at a club cool enough that you will finally be free of men dressed in Essentials hoodies, it’s dark, the music is blaring, and it doesn’t register that at that moment he’s realistically the most powerful person in the room. He’s conducting the way your night will go. And if it’s up to him, you’re not going home early.
I first heard of Tony Price when Toronto podcast host Josh McIntyre mentioned him on an episode of Cold Pod. “He’s truly the best in the city,” he said. The best? In Toronto? Must be a hyperbole.
For people like me in their early twenties in a transitional time in their life, nights out look and sound a lot like this: gather at a friend’s apartment, get moderately drunk, go to a sweaty bar meant for recent grads, dance to an awful mix of throwbacks relying too much on nostalgia, go home. The monotony is grating. The soundtrack of your nightlife gets suddenly tiresome. My friends and I struggled to find somewhere we could go where we could actually have fun and where the experience could somehow be new.
After listening to Price’s latest album, Hit Piece, I followed Tony on Instagram, saw he was playing at Juice on a Friday and took my friends to it that night. I was astounded. Tony pulled from a collection of vinyl sitting in boxes. I didn’t know a single song he played except his own. The bass vibrated in the air, it was almost tactile. It was funky. It was new. It was different. Was McIntyre right? Is Tony Price really the best DJ in the city?
Price, whose real name is Anthony Nemet, has long been a fixture in Toronto’s music scene. After finding moderate success with his band Actual Water, Nemet fell out of love with the guitar and began the Tony Price project. After long stints in London and New York City, Tony returned to Toronto during the pandemic. Hit Piece is fun and sexy, with ridiculous bass lines that can make even the most mundane acts feel cinematic. Since his return, he’s released a handful of albums and has been playing the DJ circuit at the likes of Juice, Standard Time, and as well as many other clubs and venues — just check his Instagram.
Well, not his, exactly, but his label’s, Maximum Exposure. “I started Maximum Exposure to create a way to exist on the Internet that’s kind of removed and kind of taking the piss out of it, making fun of it and critiquing it and at the same time using it to promote myself and being the person that I’m critiquing,” he says. His lack of personal presence online is just as interesting as a well-curated Instagram feed.
Price taught himself how to use music production software Ableton at 24.
“I just started making electronic music only because I was living in London in a small apartment. I didn’t have anything with me,” he says, though he concedes that this wasn’t a totally random development. He started recording a friend’s band as a teenager, later teaching himself without the aid of YouTube how to use GarageBand and Logic. Price taught himself to play guitar too, buying his first guitar at a flea market near Scarborough Town Centre.
“I just had to buy it. $15 [for] this guitar. It was really bad, too,” he says. Before long, he was selling CDs of his own music in Little Italy, where he’d frequent Soundscapes, a record store that closed in 2021 after 22 years of business. Starting from when he was a teenager, he’d pop by “just to see what was up, to see what was new.”
Over the years, Price has developed a reputation of being somewhat of a sound maverick: he makes his own (very good) music, he’s produced and mixed records for U.S. Girls and Young Guv, DJs from a funky collection of vinyl, and still somehow has time to revamp the Cash Man jingle.
These days, it’s projects like the last one I’ve listed that he gravitates to most. “I honestly find that a lot of those jobs asked me to go way further out in terms of getting creative than any artist was asking me. Some of the craziest sound design and avant-garde production stuff I’ve ever done was for Pat McGrath for a Christmas ad.”
He can trace this interest back to his childhood.
“I grew up on MuchMusic — all of us in the city did — and I can remember distinctly when something interesting would sneak into an ad or a segment musically or aesthetically and it would blow my mind as a child.”
Price prefers listening to music on his wired headphones to being at a concert, to even playing live. He recognizes that it’s a necessary evil. Music is created to be consumed, and house music is especially meant to be heard in a live space, where you can dance and drink and find someone to sleep with. It’s the sonic background to having fun, out in public, unlike most other genres of music. This is why it’s fascinating that he’s so allergic to it.
“I don’t like being looked at. It comes back to that. But this is just a personal opinion. I think that live music should always exist,” he says. “Music now exists to support an identity brand that you show off online. People like to say they were at an event. They like to say, ‘I support this artist and what they stand for or their aesthetics,’” he says.
We need to ask ourselves: What is music used for?
Price’s answer: “It’s not used to be listened to. Your music, if you’re speaking from the perspective of an artist, is now about way more than how it sounds. It’s about what it looks like. It’s about how people could associate themselves with something on a digital platform.”
Price knows what his music is for. He envisions bigger things for Maximum Exposure.
“I want it to be a production company that’s more about that space between art and commerce rather than just a music company.”
But at its core, it’s all about the music. Nothing is more apparent than when you see him live. As much as he hates it, he has to admit he’s really good at it. “I want to keep house music alive in some kind of form that is pure to what it is about. It’s just about drawing lines from the past into the future. It’s important to me, because I’m from here, and I want Toronto to be a destination city for dance music.”
From a Wonderland-inspired cocktail lounge to a tasting-menu offered in a hidden, underground cave, And/Ore, Queen Street’s newest restaurant, offers a dining experience like no other in the city — and it’s entirely female-owned and led.
“I spent a whole career working with men and I think women are undercapitalized and underrepresented in most industries,” says Jaimie Donovan, one of the four partners.
New to hospitality, Donovan was very intentional in enlisting women to help bring to life the concept of And/Ore, which was shaped by her own background in mining. Joining the ownership team is business operations manager Kailey DeRubeis, general manager Abigail Rubiales, and chef Missy Hui.
Photo: Rick O’Brien (@rickettes)
“I loved the concept and this idea that seemed so unique and bold,” says DeRubeis. “It captivated me from the start.”
And/Ore has two separate dining areas with different vibes. The main floor and mezzanine, known as the “Above” space, offer a laid-back atmosphere for after-work drinks and casual hangouts. They serve signature cocktails and share plates. The underground dining room provides a more intimate experience.
“We call it the fun, lively, whimsical garden party where you can just come in and relax and enjoy yourself, no commitment to anything more than just a drink, a mocktail or whatever else you fancy,” says DeRubeis.
“We wanted it to feel like you’d stepped out of the city and into this eclectic garden party,” adds Donovan.
Photo: Rick O’Brien (@rickettes)
The space truly feels like an escape into fantasy, adorned with hand-painted murals inspired by the famous 18th-century oil painting, “The Swing.” Executed by New Love Collective, formed by artists Jack Phelps and Tisha Myles, the walls depict enchanting scenes reminiscent of fog-covered forests and the vibrant green and blue hues reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland.
The decor compliments the painting with Renaissance-inspired refurbished furniture, mirrors and grand chandeliers decorating the mezzanine that overlooks the dining room. Vast ceilings and skylights compensate for the subdued lighting from the blacked-out windows, creating an elegant, intimate, and exclusive ambiance at And/Ore that feels like falling into the rabbit hole.
“The Above” menu complements the décor with picnic-inspired share plates, including the King Oyster Mushroom Katsu Sandwich, reminiscent of a tea sandwich for light consumption. Other popular items include a devilled egg dish with soy, chili, cilantro, scallion and wonton, as well as the Hamachi tiradito and roasted chicken. These share plates contribute to the laid-back atmosphere of the lounge, making it a preferred choice for group hangouts.
“It was really important that we designed venues in the space that were equal and opposite and that you could dine in either space and have a completely different plating and service experience, but never feel that one was of more value than the other,” explains DeRubeis.
Photo: Rick O’Brien (@rickettes)
Downstairs provides an entirely different experience, embodying the “Ore” side of the restaurant’s name. Delicate lights encircle the “cave,” casting a soft and mysterious glow, creating an intimate ambiance despite being underground. The standout feature is the six-course secret tasting menu, priced at $150 per person with wine pairing, where Chef Hui excels. This menu showcases seasonal flavours and dishes that are both familiar yet uniquely infused with the distinctive flair of And/Ore.
“We’re about presenting food that is new and exciting, but nothing intentionally super challenging. Even if it’s very different than anything you’ve eaten before, the hesitancy to try something new isn’t present,” says Hui, adding that it’s also about keeping the pacing of the courses enough to keep diners satisfied. “It’s taking into consideration all these other little things within the dining space aside from the food that might influence how somebody enjoys a dish.”
Similarly, the cocktail menu adheres to the same approach, presenting a blend of familiarity and uniqueness. It includes a concise classic cocktail menu alongside a signature menu that puts a small twist on each offered classics. For instance, a signature negroni is made with Empress Gin, Aperol substituted for campari, and white Vermouth in place of red. Garnished with rosemary and grapefruit, the drink is visually stunning with layers of purple and orange
Photo: Rick O’Brien (@rickettes)
A completely original twist on the cocktail menu involves substituting simple syrup in the Old Fashioned with cotton candy. The inspiration for this unique idea came when the general manager, Abigail Rubiales’ nine-year-old daughter, watched a viral video of a raccoon attempting to clean a piece of cotton candy. The resulting drink provides an interactive experience for guests, allowing them to stir the drink with an orange peel, causing the cotton candy to dissolve into the beverage.
“We really wanted to lean into the playful aspect for the above ground part of the restaurant,” says Rubiales.
Every item on the menu comes with a story, including the mocktails, which are intentionally crafted to be just as enticing and interesting as the cocktails. Each mocktail is named after one of Donavon’s three young daughters and is made with their favorite flavours, tastes and colours. The mocktails are truly show-stoppers; for example, the Mae features a vibrant pink drink with pear, grapefruit, pink pitaya, black goji berries, thyme, and, likely approved by the drink’s namesake herself, edible glitter.
“We love that it looks like a little wildflower garden,” says Rubiales. “It was important to us to put as much thought and design into the mocktails as we did the cocktail program.”
Renowned for its iconic stone mill and the freshly crafted tahini it yields, top Middle Eastern restaurant Parallel has expanded with sister location Parallel Basta. Situated in Kensington Market, the spacious 7,000-square-foot venue introduces new menu items prepared in a visible open kitchen, with the mill rightfully reclaiming the spotlight.
Anticipating it would evolve into the Middle Eastern dining destination it is today. Their initial goal was simple – to have a space where they could transform sesame seeds into tahini using their very own in-house mill.
“The Geary location was chosen for its suitability in an industrial area,” explains Alon Ozery, one of the partners. “Initially, the restaurant was intended to educate and complement our tahini production. However, over time, the restaurant flourished, and Geary has transformed into the popular destination it is today, far exceeding its popularity from six years ago.”
parallel_basta/Instagram
Alon and his brothers, Aharon, Shira, Hadas, and Guy, along with business partner and chef George Grabsky, recognized the growing demand for Parallel’s products in various restaurants and cafes across the city. Understanding the need to expand the kitchen, the team, given the spatial constraints of the Geary location, actively sought out a new building to accommodate the necessary growth.
“We love Geary because of its industrial, artsy feeling. It’s a hub for art and music, and we really liked that, and I’d say the other area in the city that matched that vibe and feel of non-conformity is Kensington,” says Alon, adding that he visits Kensington almost every week. “It has this association of artisanal manufacturers where it has always surrounded food, and while it’s changing, our concept fits the market as we make our own food and then we have this restaurant that supports it.”
Late last year, Parallel Basta made its debut just off the bustling Kensington strip on Augusta Avenue, nearer to Dundas. Within the multi-storey building, half is dedicated to the production facility, where the meticulous crafting of tahini, halva, and spreads takes place using the massive stone mill. The emphasis on freshness is evident, with all spreads carefully prepared in small batches.
@parallel_basta/Instagram
“It’s very important for us to have fresh tahini,” says Alon. “Most nut butters and seed butters are made in large batches, but then the oil separation happens when a product sits on the shelf for too long—that’s natural but we don’t want that. If you have a fresh tahini, you get this beautiful, silky texture.”
The restaurant’s pitas and bread, including the beloved house bread, are all handmade in the new kitchen. The popular house bread, crafted from a 72-hour fermented dough, is freshly baked in the fire oven. The spacious new kitchen not only caters to the needs of both restaurants but also accommodates wholesale and catering demands, with ample room for future expansion.
A sizable window offers a glimpse into the kitchen, dividing it from the remaining half of the new space. This section comprises a 55-seat restaurant and a retail area featuring Parallel’s complete range of wholesale items, such as spreads, granola, spice blends and crackers. The restaurant is versatile, transforming into a convenient grab-and-go lunch spot (complete with a handy take-out window on the side of the building!) for salads and sandwiches during the day and transitioning into a more refined dining area in the evening.
Parallel, known for its signature falafel, Parallel salad and chicken shawarmas, has Chef George Grabsky introducing fresh and exciting items at Parallel Basta infused with a Mediterranean touch.
@parallel_basta/Instagram
The recently unveiled menu features enticing additions, including a belated lettuce chicken wrap with a hint of pomegranate molasses, a flavourful deep-dish dolma, a fresh sabich hummus crafted with fried eggplant, and an innovative arais taco—a half pita brimming with savoury beef.
“It’s a homage to the market,” says Alon. “There’s a huge Latin influence and there are a lot of tacos, so we said, ‘let’s combine the Middle East with tacos.”
With Chef Michael Semidotski leading the new location, while Chef Elias Hashem remains at the original restaurant, even the most popular items are sure to have something different.
“We allow artistic freedom there and really encourage the influence of both chefs,” says Alon.
If you love to eat and you love to laugh, a new dining experience coming to Toronto in just a few months just might be the laugh-out-loud experience you’ve been craving.
Inspired by one of Britain’s greatest ever comedy series, Fawlty Towers, the two hour interactive production is set in a restaurant where the audience are the diners. Even after almost fifty years since its premiere in 1975, Fawlty Towers remains a standout sitcom, known for its mix of slapstick and clever writing packed into a compact half-hour format.
Transforming Toronto’s Lighthouse ArtSpace from March 6 to 17, this experience promises guests an evening filled with non-stop laughs and chaos from the moment they take their seats. Forget about your typical “dinner theatre” – according to the press release, this is a whole new level of entertainment.
Once the show begins, the audience isn’t merely spectators; they become part of the hilarious chaos orchestrated by pushy owner Basil his sharp-tongued wife Sybil and the perennially befuddled Spanish waiter Manuel, whose comically disastrous service steals the spotlight. Along with a groovy 70s-inspired three-course meal, the two-hour show is 70 per cent improvised, so anything is possible!
Faulty Towers The Dining Experience has taken its comedic charm to more than 1,000 venues, delivering approximately 400 shows annually across the UK. Recently celebrating its tenth year in London, it proudly holds the title of London’s longest-running immersive experience.
Making a comeback to Toronto for the first time since 2015, the dining experience captures the essence of the TV characters and the unique atmosphere they bring. It’s important to note, however, that the performers are impersonators, and the show is not affiliated with stars John Cleese and Connie Booth, their original scripts, or the BBC.
“We’re thrilled to bring Faulty Towers The Dining Experience back to Toronto for the first time since 2015,” said Corey Ross, Founder and CEO, Starvox Entertainment. “The success of our most recent presentations — the hilarious send-ups of two popular North American television shows Buffy Revamped and FRIEND The One with Gunther. We knew this was the moment to bring back the iconic BBC show.”
Faulty Towers The Dining Experience kicks off on Wednesday, March 6, at the Lighthouse ArtSpace and runs until Sunday, March 17, 2024, with performances on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 7 pm. Weekends offer extra fun with a Saturday and Sunday matinee at 1 pm and a dinner service at 7 pm. Tickets are priced between $119.99 and $159.99.
Red Barrinuevo is the Principal Designer at Redesign4More and an award-winning property stylist and interior decorator based in Toronto.
Canada is a country of four seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and at long last, summer. I’m kidding of course, but there’s some truth to my humour. Winter can be long and gruelling, and summers always end too quickly. But there’s so much to love about the cooler months of the year.
Snow swirling outside and the image of family and friends gathered indoors around a crackling fireplace with steaming cups of cocoa and blankets piled high. It’s almost Norman Rockwell-esque.
Get inspired by this beautiful season and warm up your world, from the inside out. Here are some of my favourite tips to keep handy — because you never know when those flurries may start to fly!
Layer up
You probably remember your mom telling your younger self to, “Layer up. You never know what nature has in store.” Well, mother knows best and this principle applies to decorating your home, too.
Let’s start with the obvious — textiles. Fabrics and soft elements such as blankets, pillows and throws add physical warmth while creating a casual, cozy aesthetic. Look for rich fabrics and colours. Focus on rooms like the living area, den and bedroom, and dress them up in heavier materials such as wool, velvet, fleece and faux fur. Layer an extra area rug or two to create warmth and softness underfoot. On the walls, consider hanging a traditional (and temporary) tapestry to add vibrancy. Then, add heavier window drapes to enhance privacy and hold warm air in while keeping cold air out.
These simple design additions won’t cost you an arm and a leg, and at the earliest sign of spring, just pack up these winter wares and replace them with lighter linens, cottons and sheets.
Accessorize
Mix materials to cozy up your space.
No, I don’t mean a hat and mittens. Look to decor to create a cozy ambiance. This temperature tactic is purely aesthetic, but highly effective nonetheless. Crank up the eclectic vibe in your home by mixing materials such as natural wood, a variety of metals and add some shimmer. Mirrors reflecting a simple string of white lights and flickering candlelight go a long way!
On the move
Reposition your existing items. I really love this because it can be done without spending a dime on design or leaving your house — which bodes well, come the wicked winter weather! Re-evaluate your home and take stock of your inventory. Can you move furniture around to refresh the space for the season? Consider relocating seating, side tables, art and accessories. Focus some extra seating near the fireplace to draw the eye and welcome visitors to this cold-weather comfort. Then, light it up!
As the song goes, winter is (arguably) the most wonderful time of the year — provided you have a warm place to cozy up in and loved ones to cozy up to. Let the snowflakes, long nights and below zero temperatures inspire a space that serves not only as home, but as a warm and welcoming escape.
This year, Toronto welcomed numerous amazing new restaurants, making it a challenge to pick the best among them. With ongoing exciting developments, including notable moves from big names, the city’s dining scene is reaching new heights. It’s an exciting time to eat out in Toronto, and we’ve got the proof.
These are Toronto’s 23 best new restaurants of 2023.
Bar Prima
@barprima.to/Instagram
Craig Harding and Julian D’Ippolito have joined forces to bring a unique blend of old-world charm and modern flair to the city’s dining scene. Bar Prima is more than a restaurant; it’s an expression of the chefs’ love for the art of dining. Inspired by their globetrotting adventures, Harding and D’Ippolito wanted to create an exclusive yet timeless setting, a place where you feel undeniably special. Under the expert guidance of chef de cuisine Nicholas Iaboni, Bar Prima’s kitchen promises a polished journey through Italian classics with cheeky yet calculated twists. The menu takes a modern/minimal approach to Italian cuisine, focusing on handmade pasta and carefully curated mains. Be prepared for a tantalizing “Rockefeller,” featuring East Coast Diver Scallops and other modern takes on Italian American classics.
Ristorante Sociale
@alinamariex/Instagram
Get transported back to a time of elegant dinner parties and secret rendez-vous with the opening of Ristorante Sociale. A King West convivial experience, at Ristorante Sociale, guests can enjoy authentic Italian cuisine in an elevated setting before the venue turns into a vibrant space of immersive entertainment from dining room dancers and DJs who spin well into the night. The upscale dining and entertainment space is the latest venture from the team behind the Michelin Bib Goumand award recipient Enoteca Sociale. Roman tastes and Tuscan influences combine for an abundant menu of fresh pastas, seafood, meats and steaks that pair perfectly with Italian wines and signature cocktails.
DaNico
@danico.to/Instagram
Located in a heritage bank building at 440 College St., DaNico is a nod to Michelin styled cuisine, service and award-winning design. The restaurant showcases the talent of executive chef Daniele Corona of Don Alfonso 1890 Toronto, and was created in partnership with international hospitality icon, Nick Di Donato of Liberty Group, multi-starred chef Ernesto Iaccarino of the Don Alfonso 1890 Group, and chef Corona. The eight course signature tasting menu of distinctively crafted dishes — produced with chef’s expert precision juxtaposing premium ingredients — is plated on one-of-a-kind serving vessels, designed to tell his story of the food in a presentation that stimulates all senses.
Miss Aida
@missaidato/Instagram
Miss Aida reimagines Lebanese cuisine, uniting local ingredients into a shared culinary experience. From the minds behind J’s Steak Frites, try dishes like the Whole Sea Bass, topped with spinach, toasted almonds, and a touch of harissa, or the Knafeh —melding akkawi and mozzarella, baked in semolina, adorned with pistachios. Sip on the Stardust cocktail, a pink-hued blend of tequila, St. Germain, hibiscus, lemon, and lime.
Kissa
@santravelz/Instagram
Imagine an exclusive atmospheric haven where you can indulge in hand-crafted cocktails and savour seasonal flavours, all while a curated collection of timeless tracks sets the mood throughout the night. This is the experience awaiting you at Kissa, Toronto’s first Japanese-inspired vinyl-only listening lounge, located on King Street West. The restaurant’s name comes from “kissaten,” the name given to the 1920s Japanese teahouse speakeasies where people escaped to listen to American records at a time when it wasn’t allowed. The emphasis is on shared experiences, and every item on the menu has been give a Japanese touch. The extremely knowledgeable servers, impress guests with their knowledge behind each element, be it the origins of tequila or the rich tapestry of Japanese traditions.
Restaurant Lucie
Lucie Restaurant
Lucie’s menu is curated by executive chef Arnaud Bloquel, a globally experienced, award-winning French chef. Open for both lunch and dinner, diners at Lucie can choose between the three-course Table d’Hôte menu, featuring an appetizer, main course, and dessert, or opt for the seven-course tasting menu. Appetizers include a unique twist on a classic French dish with foie gras served alongside Ontario sour cherry gelée and smoked eel. Another popular choice is Les Gambas, a fresh prawn dish elevated with champagne sabayon. Highlights of the main course menu include the Nova Scotia lobster, made with an Armagnac and arabica sauce, which gives it a coffee-flavour
Casa Paco
Casa Paco/Instagram
Little Italy’s new spot, Casa Paco, backed by Chef Rob Bragagnolo of Labora, Carver and Marben is a haven for Mediterranean cuisine influence by the tastes of Spain and Italy. Come for the extensive seafood options, like prawns in sherry and olive oil or opt for a warm and hearty paella. Or try Chef Bragagnolo’s Pasticcio di Funghi, a family recipe passed down for generations that features a delicate layering of crêpes, seasonal mushrooms, porcini béchamel & black truffle. Wash it down with expertly crafted drinks, like “Death In Exile,” a refreshing mix of Brandy, mint liqueur, absinthe, sparkling wine and lime.
St. Thomas
Toronto’s Yorkville neighborhood is now home to St. Thomas, a new Spanish-inspired restaurant and wine bar led by Michelin-starred chef Quinton Bennett (Enigma Yorkville). Staying true to the culinary traditions of northern Spain’s Basque Country, the restaurant embraces simplicity and robust flavours. It sources high-quality, local ingredients to craft a menu that authentically captures the essence of the region. The seasonal A la Carte menu at St. Thomas highlights a carefully selected variety of fresh, seasonally changing dishes. Crafted by a Michelin-trained team, the menu offers small plates that are served when ready, creating a quick and relaxed shared dining experience. Diners can expect a selection of hot and cold dishes ranging from Hamachi crudo with mandarin jelly and pickled ginger to slow cooked Iberic pork neck with peach mint chilli jam and smoked aubergine chamoli.
Conjeo Negro
Braised beef cheek, collard greens and cheddar grits
On College Street, a new restaurant, Conjeo Negro, draws inspiration from Caribbean, Creole and Latin American flavours. These diverse culinary influences shape the space’s menu, offering a fusion of spices and ingredients that marry all three cultures into tantalizing food and drinks. The food menu, curated by Wahn, features dishes like Brazilian Cheese Puffs made with tapioca flour (gluten-free), Caribbean-style braised beef with cheddar grits, squash dumplings, gumbo, and more. For dessert, guests can order a flourless chocolate torte, with a chocolate ganache, maldon salt, and mango and lime coulis.
Aera
@aera.restaurant/Instagram
High above The Well, on the 38th floor, Aera has entered Toronto’s dining scene.The city’s latest spot for fine dining, pays homage to 21st-century American cuisine. Perched 38 floors high, it effortlessly combines elevated classics, raw bar delights and steakhouse favourites. The result is a menu that beautifully captures the essence of modern American flavours, all while offering stunning views of the city. For those with a taste for seafood, Hamachi Sashimi and Broiled Maritime Lobster are clear standouts. The Hamachi Sashimi combines yellowtail, ponzu, pumpkin and maitake mushrooms for a burst of flavours. As for the Broiled Maritime Lobster, it’s a pure indulgence served with drawn butter. There’s also a lobster and scallop agnolotti served with bisque cream, tarragon, kale and crème fraîche.
MSSM Yorkville
@achi_toronto/yorkville
Toronto’s sole two-Michelin-starred chef, Masaki Saito’s new restaurant, MSSM Yorkville, is a labour of love, aimed to introduce Toronto’s foodies to his cherished Edomae sushi traditions. The new restaurant offers a unique 14-course omakase menu incorporating appetizers, nigiri, soup and desserts for a fraction of the price at $98 per person. In contrast to Sushi Masaki Saito, which imports all its ingredients from top-tier sources in Japan, MSSM Yorkville adopts a different approach. By incorporating local and European ingredients along-side Japanese ones, the restaurant aims to provide a more accessible price point. Chef Saito guarantees that the utilization of Edomae style and technique brings out the “best in each piece of fish.”
Chantecler
@chanteclerto/Instagram
In November of 2019, the stylish restaurant, which first opened in Parkdale in 2012, was closed down after a three-alarm fire left the space unusable. Now it has rebuilt and is topping the best new restaurants list. Chantecler currently serves seafood, and large and small plates that all focus on French tradition, including a squash vol-au-vent, and steak tartar. With the expanded kitchen, Chantecler now serves baked bread and brioche and a full list of dessert items all made in-house.
A few months ago, Victor Ugwuek took his eatery from a pop-up to a brick-and-mortar restaurant in the west end. Now, Parkdale is home to some of the best West African eats in the city, thanks to Afrobeat Kitchen. Ugwuek’s widely popular recipes range from Nigerian jollof to Buka beef to oxtail pepper soup, each crafted with a fusion twist, which is inspired by his own upbringing in Lagos, Nigeria, where his mother owned restaurants. Afrobeat Kitchen‘s cuisine is inspired by part sauce part stew dishes, which are colloquially called soups in Ugeuek’s native Nigeria.
Contrada
@contrada.to/Instagram
Patrick Groves, Jessie Mak and Mike Vieira are set to make waves in Toronto’s culinary scene with the launch of Contrada, an Italian restaurant that recently opened its doors in Little Italy. Chef de Cuisine Mike Vieira curates a menu that reflects his passion for Italian cuisine and Toronto’s unique culinary vibe. Sous Chef Lif Kalikutty, fresh from Giulietta, adds pasta-making expertise to the mix. The bar, managed by Kevin Nitcheu, introduces imaginative cocktails, with the Nitro Garibaldi leading the charge — a modern take on the classic Campari and orange juice blend. Whether you’re indulging in crostini and marinated olives at the bar or savouring house-made pasta and indulgent mains like veal sweetbreads Marsala in the dining room, Contrada promises an authentic and elevated Toronto dining experience.
Chill Thai Bar
dobbernation Chill Thai Bar
With a diverse culinary background that includes Thailand, Maldavia and Australia, CHILL’s Chef V has developed a tapas-style menu that combines elements of Thai and French cuisine, enhanced by molecular gastronomy techniques and focused on fried rice mains, red curry, seafood and Pad Thai dishes. Every detail of the restaurant—which will have you feeling like you’re drinking your Thai martini while lounging on a Malivian beach—were deliberately chosen to provide this sense of relaxation to their guests. From the wood-panelled walls and countertop awning, to the grass wall and floral decorations, the space depicts a natural comfort that’ll have you thinking your on vacation, right from Ossington Avenue.
Barkat
@barkatcanada/Instagram
Step inside, take a seat in a plush, green velvet chair, and prepare to indulge in a gastronomic journey through India’s culinary history like no other. Run by chef and owner, Ravneet Singh, Barkat is a modern, Indian restaurant that showcases traditional cooking methods and techniques, flavours and presentation. The menu is packed with comfort foods including Mom’s Chicken Curry, which uses Singh’s mother’s recipe. Other must-try dishes include the amritsari fish tikka, which takes traditional fried fish marinated with beautiful Indian spices served on a bed of spicy mango salsa and topped with kaffir lime foam instead of lemons, and the palak patta chaat, a deep fried baby spinach tossed in sweet yogurt and housemade tamarind and mint sauce.
Savor Thai Toronto
@savorthaito/Instagram
Make way foodies, because a new restaurant has just brought a whole new Thai cuisine experience to Toronto and they’re calling it ARTisan gastronomy — named for the Iron Chef who runs the kitchen. Savor was created by Chef Art – Prasopchok Trakulphat, the former Iron Chef of Thailand known for adding a modern twist on traditional Thai cuisine. That’s exactly what he brings to his new location, using 13th century traditions and flavours and blending it with Western techniques to bring it to his new Toronto audience.
Bar Bowie
Bar Bowie was opened by Adrian Juan Jose Joaquin, who is also behind Toronto’s iconic Lakeview Diner, Better Gift Shop and French bistro Milou. On the menu, which was designed by Michael Kim (Milou, and previously Uncle Mikey’s Inc.) you’ll find drinks and eats reminiscent of a no frills snack bar — beer choice is limited to a house Bowie lager, Stella Artois and a cider, and guests can have their pick of one red, white, rose, sparkling or skin contact wine by the glass or bottle. The food menu is broken down into bar snacks and small plates that range in price from $8 to $15, which include things like a classic charcuterie board, garlic prawns, sea bream crudo, cucumber salad, hot crab dip and more. A sole dessert, the pistachio tiramisu, can also be added for $8.
Astoria
@aerinbchomps/Instagram
There’s a new French-American bistro and cocktail bar in town, and it comes courtesy of the people behind one of the most popular spots in the city. Astoria is located inside The Great Hall on Queen Street West, and just opened to the public earlier this month. The details are distinctly French, with dainty, decorated plate ware and hand-drawn placemats that double as menus. One of the most popular dishes on offer is the braised short ribs, which is served with shallots and super-creamy mashed potatoes. Other dishes include a French dip sandwich which is served with a savoury consume. The restaurant also offers oysters, a brunch menu (which includes options for bubbly drinks), both mussels and steak served with frites, and a pappardelle ragu among more American-inspired options like a burger and shareable appetizers.
Som Tum Jinda
@somtumjinda/Instagram
This Northern Thai restaurant is Michelin-recognized and the newest spot to hit Gerrard Street East. The sister (and next door) restaurant of Plearn Cafe, the speciality here is the Tum dishes, including the famous shredded green papaya salad found in central Thailand that has become synonymous with the term “som tam.” Chef and owner Jinda has been making mouth-watering Thai dishes since 1974 and on the menu you can find an abundance of rice and noodle dishes, soups and grilled dishes like pork sausage and chicken.
Black+Blue
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A celebrated, upscale steak house opens in Toronto today by way of Vancouver, with plans to “bring excitement” to the downtown core. Black+Blue is a hip and bustling restaurant on Alberni Street, considered to be the Rodeo Drive of Vancouver, and is owned by the Glowbal Restaurant Group. Known for its modern takes on the classic steak house, chic carnivores have continued to descend upon the three-level space since it first opened more than a decade ago. The 9,000-square-foot two-storey space will also include a 2,000-square-foot patio.The menu features the crème de la crème of meats in- cluding A5 and Miyazaki wagyu, certified Kobe beef, as well as a premium selection of steaks that are aged in Black+Blue’s salt cooler — the only restaurant in Canada that treats its meat in this style. Chef curated seafood options are also in abundance including selections of sushi.
Ultra
Photo: Joel Esposito
INK Entertainment Group and Harlo Entertainment have joined forces to open a new luxurious supper club just in time for the summer. Guests can dine in the main seating area called the Ochre Room, and sip cocktails on cozy chairs and sofas, while surrounded by dramatic gold décor and a custom-made, chainlink chandelier that expands the entire ceiling above. Or, diners can alternatively order a cocktail from the dimly lit cove of the Onyx Bar or enjoy their drinks al fresco from the New York-esque terrace that offers views of the city. Ultra opens on June 6.
Laylak
@laylak.toronto/Instagram
Laylak is a newly opened restaurant in downtown Toronto that emphasizes expert culinary techniques and authentic Lebanese dishes. Executive Chef Hazem Al Hamwi has created a menu that offers a range of authentic and Halal dishes from classic mezze plates to succulent grilled meats and seafoods. In addition, the menu features a selection of signature cocktails and an extensive wine list spotlighting both Lebanese and international brands.
Lao Lao Bar
Head downtown to Lao Lao Bar for authentic Lao hospitality in a vibrant and transformative environment serving delicious small plates. The shareable menu is designed to reinterpret the owner’s memories of home by providing a Toronto spin. Bold flavours and unique flavour combinations are the focus here with fresh and exciting dishes up for grabs including Som Tum Tod, a fried papaya salad with palm sugar, fish sauce, chili pepper, lime, mint, peanuts, shallots and bell peppers or Satay Chicken made flavourful with turmeric, coconut milk, served with peanut sauce, and a shallot cucumber vinaigrette.
Sandwiches hold a special place in our hearts, with the perfect blend of bread, cheese, flavourful condiments and, of course, the savoury meat—a combination that satisfies our deepest cravings. So, when a new sandwich shop pops up in Toronto, it’s always a reason to get excited. Earlier this year, GianPaolo Testa bought a Toronto storefront on a whim inspired by a visit to a unique spot in Rome.
Toronto, being a multicultural city that loves to party, created quite a buzz when news broke about two new Brazilian restaurants opening. Everyone was eager to find out what the fuss was all about! These Brazilian establishments in the city’s midtown area offered a fresh take on the country’s cuisine.
Toronto was abuzz when news spread about the city’s lone 2-starred Michelin chef opening a more budget-friendly restaurant in Yorkville. With a 14-course dinner menu priced under $100, the upscale spot quickly became one of the hottest dinner reservations in town.
In today’s economy, with everyone looking to save some cash, taking advantage of free meals for kids just makes sense. Fortunately, there are plenty of restaurants offering complimentary kids’ meals, and some even throw in magical entertainment for an extra treat!
Toronto (and the world) can’t get enough of Matty Matheson! Thanks to the success of The Bear and all of his fantastic restaurants, the love affair shows no signs of slowing down.
With the end of the year upon us, we’re taking the time to honour some of the most inspiring women of 2023. The city has been filled with incredible artists this year, whether it was groundbreaking playwrights or influential musicians — here are the most inspiring women in the arts, from performers to designers, in Toronto. You can find the rest of the list of Toronto’s most inspiring women of 2023 here.
Fatuma Adar
Courtesy fatumaadar.com
The Somali-Canadian playwright received plenty of love for her musical inspired by the Dixon Road community back in 2022, and this year, her spectacular solo show She’s Not Special made headlines for, among other things, the Black Out Night she organised for one of the nights of her almost week-long run.
Lauren Chan
@lcchan/Instagram
The model made headlines this year, when she became the first queer, plus-size Sports Illustrated rookie in history, and decided to publicly come out as a lesbian in her cover story.
Emefa Kuadey
The British-Ghanian, Toronto-based designer behind fashion label israella KOBLA has received recognition after recognition for her architectural and sustainable designs. She won the Bay Fashion Fund Award in 2022 and the Amazon Black Fashion Innovators Award, and has clearly put the funds to good use — she recently announced that in spring of 2024, her label’s designs will be available in Nordstrom stores across the U.S.
Former artistic director of the National Ballet of Canada and beloved dancer, her final oeuvre and directorial debut Swan Lake received the attention it deserved as the star of Chelsea McMullan’s documentary film Swan Song at TIFF this year.
Dorian Who
The Toronto designer has garnered plenty of attention for her genderless avant-garde streetwear, and this year she received the award for emerging talent in fashion at the Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards after an inspiring collection highlighting the fight for freedom for women in her home country, Iran.
Domanique Grant
Courtesy domaniquegrant.com
A singer, songwriter and speaker, the artist was named a Women in Music Canada Honouree presented by Spotify Canada, was included on the 2023 WXN Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 list as a Woman of Courage and was chosen to perform for Prime Minister of Canada and the United Nations after her advocacy for education and housing rights for children without access.
Jael Richardson
Children’s book The Hockey Sweater has inspired generations of young Canadian athletes — so this author and decided to create a new book, The Hockey Jersey, that young readers of all backgrounds could relate to. The heartwarming story helped kids see themselves represented in the game — and she also received recognition this year for founding the FOLD (Festival of Literary Diversity) when she received the Professional Association of Canadian Literary Agents’s (PACLA) inaugural Publishing Professional of the Year Award.
WondaGurl
@wondagurl/Instagram
Also known as Ebony Naomi Oshunrinde, the Toronto-based producer is behind some of the biggest songs and artists in the world, and she was everywhere this year — heavily featuring on Lil Uzi Vert’s newest album, collaborating with up-and-coming Canadian artists Chris LaRocca and JUGGER, presenting Rosalía with the Producer of the Year Award at Billboard 2023 Women In Music Awards and more.
Daniela Agostino
Now a professional opera singer, she reconnected with her childhood hero Shania Twain onstage more than 20 years after Twain brought the aspiring artist onstage to sing with her.
Jully Black
When the Toronto artist walked onto the court at an NBA all-star game this year to sing the national anthem, she made the choice to change up the lyrics to “our home on native land,” inspiring a conversation about Canada’s history of colonization and earning resounding praise from Indigenous communities across the country.
Toronto’s love affair with pizza continues to thrive, and 2023 has proven to be a landmark year with a flurry of new pizza joints popping up across the city. From cosy neighbourhood spots to trendy downtown establishments, Toronto’s pizza scene is evolving and expanding, offering pizza enthusiasts an array of exciting options to indulge in.
Here are Toronto’s 10 best new pizza places of 2023.
Prince Street Pizza
Prince Street Pizza
Renowned for its signature “spicy pepperoni squares,” this iconic pizzeria currently calls The Well at 472 Front St. West home, marking its first-ever location in Canada. As a family-run establishment, Prince Street Pizza gained its pizza royalty status since its inception in 2012 in New York’s Nolita neighbourhood. The secret behind their success lies in the use of quality ingredients, including homemade mozzarella and sauces crafted from authentic Sicilian recipes. Their delicious square slices, also known as the Original Soho Squares, are topped with crispy pepperoni and thick crusts and have become a symbol of pizza perfection.
Oswald’s Pizza
@oswaldspizza/Instagram
Oswald’s Pizza has opened its first downtown location at Chef’s Hall in the Financial District, following its pandemic debut in the city’s north end. Renowned for their Detroit-style pizza, the menu highlights innovative options like the Mac Daddy, a flavourful combination of focaccia dough, mozza-cheddar blend, ground beef, onions, lettuce, pickles, special sauce and toasted sesame seeds. Savour the ‘za by the slice or as a small or large pie, and be sure to leave room for dessert — Oswald’s colossal trash cookies are the perfect conclusion to your feast, featuring mini Rolos, dark chocolate, pretzel sticks, and crushed potato sticks.
Zula Pizza & Burger
@zulaburgerpizza/Instagram
Craving delicious wood-fired pizza that’s also halal? Look no further than Zula, the newest spot in Etobicoke offering scrumptious burgers as well. The menu boasts options like pesto chicken, Greek pesto and unique deluxe choices such as the Sojouk Alaturca pizza, featuring San Marzano tomato sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, roasted peppers, mushrooms and roasted tomato.
Burning Pizza
Situated at 335 Yonge St., inside World Food Market, right next to TMU, this wallet-friendly pizza joint caters to students. Apart from offering fluffy dough and toppings like creamy cheese, they specialize in unique pies, such as the Tandoori Paneer. This original creation features homemade curry sauce, tandoori paneer, bell pepper, zucchini, cheese, red onion, jalapeños and is topped with fresh coriander.
Big Trouble Pizza
@bigtroublepizza/Instagram
Resurfacing a year and a half after bidding farewell to its Chinatown location, Big Trouble Pizza has reemerged at 191 Geary Ave. Now, they’re back in action, dishing out their signature ‘za and smash burgers. If you’re a fan of delicious pizza with a light and airy crust paired with the perfect combination of toppings, a visit to Big Trouble Pizza is a must!
Pizza North
@pizza_north_toronto/Instagram
From the creators of the beloved brunch spot Nord Lyon comes Pizza North, serving up authentic Italian pizza with halal meats on Queen West. Don’t miss the chance to savour the distinct flavours of the Salmon North or the Calzone pizza. We especially like the Quatro Stagioni topped with roasted eggplant, slice olive, roast beef with baby arugula, champignons, parmigiano and mozzarella.
DoughBox Wood Fired Pizza & Pasta
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Discover DoughBox Wood-Fired Pizza & Pasta near Union Station, where Tony Visca and Fern Colavecchia, proud Niagara residents, bring decades of experience to their culinary venture. With a focus on community and a passion for artisanal wood-fired pizza and pasta, they offer a quick-service environment with signature freshly stretched dough, homemade sauces, and premium ingredients.
Afro’s Pizza
afrospizza/Instagram
Located at Jarvis and Dundas, Afro’s Pizza is the newest destination for satisfying your Detroit-style pizza cravings. Paying homage to iconic Black musicians and entertainers, their menu boasts creative selections like the Davis Jr., featuring cup and char pepperoni, house-cured sausage, pickled jalapeño, hot honey, Afro’s sugo and crispy basil. Another standout is the Hendrix Experience, a playful twist on chicken and waffles, topped with fried chicken, toasted pecans, compressed watermelon with tequila, maple habanero and fresh cilantro.
Renaissance Pizza
@renaissancepizzato/Instagram
Experience the excellence of Renaissance Pizza, where they specialize in crafting “Artisanal Detroit-Style Pizza” using high-quality ingredients and inventive recipes. Explore unique creations like the Ontario raised duck confit with caramelized onions, goat cheese, balsamic aioli glaze and fresh chives. For a dangerously good flavour fusion, try their Indian-inspired option featuring Tandoori paneer, pickled mango chutney, red onion, scallions and cilantro aioli.
Diavola Pizza
@diavolapizza.ca/Instagram
Diavola Pizza in midtown is already gaining acclaim for its delicious Roman-style pizza, just weeks after opening. Led by owner Fabiana, whose Brazilian-Italian roots inspire her pizza passion, Diavola is committed to delivering top-quality pizzas with a perfect blend of tradition and innovation. As a sister restaurant to Slayer Burger next door, Diavola brings a rock and roll spirit to the pizza scene, aiming to provide mind-blowing flavours for pizza enthusiasts.
As the countdown to the new year begins, prepare to say goodbye to 2023 in style. From immersive experiences to lively parties and cultural celebrations, as always, Toronto is offering an array of options to say hello to 2024. We’ve got a roundup of some of the most exciting New Year’s Eve plans in Toronto if you’re looking for a last-minute, final hurrah.
Travel to Tokyo while staying in Toronto
Party in Tokyo without the plane ride! Illuminarium at The Distillery District brings the best of a Tokyo nightclub experience to Toronto with their one-night-only immersive NYE celebration. Jump from tachinomi bar in Shibuya to a cozy izakaya in Ginza, venture into the district of Shinjuku or Kabukicho and dance until 2 a.m. Celebrate amid the sights and sounds of Tokyo at midnight without leaving the city. Get tickets here.
Forget a plunge, do a polar bear skate
Courtesy The Bentway
Prepare to embrace Toronto’s boldest winter tradition once again at The Bentway. Strip down to your skivvies and glide across the ice for a great cause during the annual Polar Bear Skate. Entry is free, so just grab your skates, and you’re all set to join the fun! But, if you don’t have your own skates there will be rentals on site.
Get your mask and join Kissa’s inaugural New Year’s Eve Party
It’s Kissa’s first-ever New Year’s Eve party, so you won’t want to miss this! Put on a mask and dance the night away at this masquerade party filled with allure and intrigue. And don’t worry, unlike Cinderella you can stay past midnight. You can buy your tickets here.
Dance the night away at W Hotel
@wtoronto/Instagram
Welcome 2024 in style at W Toronto’s electrifying NYE Party starring Frank Walker. The party kicks off early with Flight School spinning at 9 p.m. Guests can indulge in specially curated W cocktails, enjoy stunning illuminated backdrops, and savour Toronto-inspired street food served by the 416 Night Market. Tickets to the event can be found here and will give you one free welcome cocktail and two food tickets.
Don’t miss the ball at Toronto Beach Club
End the year with opulence!Toronto Beach Club is hosting a Black & White Ball, featuring three enchanting rooms, multiple DJs, delectable floating canapés and a midnight toast with bubbly. Tickets can be found here.
Play and party at Rec Room’s New Year’s Eve Bash
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For a fun-filled evening of games, entertainment and festivities, head to The Rec Room’s New Year’s Eve Bash. Enjoy arcade games, virtual reality and live entertainment to ring in the New Year. Tickets are sold in three tiers, but regardless of each tier tickets will give each guest a complimentary glass of champagne for the countdown, as well as party favours to ring in 2024.
Laugh your way into 2024 at Massey Hall
Welcome the New Year with laughter at Massey Hall’s comedy extravaganza! Delight in the wit and humour of top Canadian comedians, headlined by the fantastic Ron Josol. It’s a great choice for those looking to enjoy side-splitting performances for a memorable night of laughter and fun.
Enjoy a night at the opera
Courtesy Roy Thomson Hall
Experience the grandeur of opera at Bravissimo! New Year’s at the Opera at Roy Thomson Hall. Enjoy world-class opera stars including Mané Galoyan, Carolyn Sproule, Matthew Cairns and Vito Priante, performing opera’s greatest hits from renowned classics. Indulge in the grandeur of opera and end your year on a high note — quite literally.
Enjoy a taste of Las Vegas in Toronto
Experience the glamour and excitement of Las Vegas right in Toronto at Isabelle’s. Indulge in a night of entertainment, live performances and a Vegas-style celebration in this Brooklyn loft-style venue. Tickets are available and include a complimentary glass of bubbly.
Explore a museum after dark
Courtesy rom.on.ca
The 19+ event is back for an unforgettable night. Expect a night of non-stop fun with live music, DJs, thrilling performances and access to all museum exhibitions. Each ticket grants entry to diverse food stations, a complimentary drink ticket, free coat check and full museum access — making it the ultimate way to ring in the New Year!
Whisk yourself away to the Caribbean with Miss Likklemore’s
Join this dining and dance affair hosted by Tyrone Edwards. For an exclusive island-style prix fixe feast, it’s $95. Or opt for the dinner and after-party combo at $125. Alternatively, grab online tickets for $40 to revel in the after-party, featuring the electrifying beats of DJ Flash Gordon.
There’s just something about winter that makes you feel like you need a vacation from your vacation. If you’re looking for some much-needed solo relaxation, a cozy romantic reset or just a great seasonal trip, Ontario is home to some amazing isolated retreats and private cabins that are very winter-friendly. We rounded up some of the best getaways within a three-hour drive from Toronto. Find a wellness retreat to reset before spring, relax at a winter spa or partake in all of winter’s best activities at a picturesque resort.
A wellness sanctuary
Bancroft | 3 hours
What better place for a wellness retreat than in Bancroft, Ont., the mineral capital of Canada. Grail Springs has been a leading retreat for well-being for more than 25 years and was founded by Madeleine Marentette. The sanctuary is located on 100 acres of forested trails where deposits of magnetite, marble, granite, sodalite and quartz crystal reside. These gems and minerals literally lay the groundwork for an environment of health and healing. Starting Feb. 1, the Winter Spa Fest event kicks off and features an artisan ice sculpture, mini spa tastings, an ice path around the lake and hot chili chocolate by the campfire. Grail Springs is an adult-only retreat for individuals, couples or family members to focus on self-care and self -nurturing. Plant-based meals are served along with herbal teas and health elixirs. Guests can participate in yoga, meditation, hiking and take trips to the saunas and mineral tubs. Spa therapies are available as well as endless mindfulness activities, from forest bathing to a volcanic ash healing bed and a crystal mound meditation area.
Three getaways in ski town
Scandinave Spa
Collingwood | 2 hours
One of Ontario’s most popular winter getaways is to Collingwood, and for good reason. The area is full of luxury accommodations, endless winter activities and, of course, the Blue Mountain ski hills. For those heading to the hills this winter, skip the resort accommodation and hunker down in the Vandermarck boutique hotel. The historic property was built in 1912 for the town doctor and has now been transformed into eight luxury suites. After sleeping in the lap of luxury, head to the Scandinave Spa for some rejuvenation in their hydrotherapy pools. Hydrotherapy is an ancient practice where you cycle through hot, cold and relaxing pools to release tension. The pools, sauna and steam room are all set in the outdoors, so you’ll truly feel winter’s fresh air as you complete the cycle. After a day of relaxation, get your adrenaline rushing on the seven glade runs and three terrain parks atBlue Mountain. And when you’re done on the hills, you can warm up in any of the bars, restaurants and shops.
Fun for the whole family
Huntsville | 2.5 hours
Take a trip to cottage country this winter and see just how much fun it is when it’s snow-covered. Deerhurst Resorthas put together a fun-filled Family Day package for those looking to take the kids out of the city. The little ones will be busy with cross-country skiing, ice skating and an indoor area with giant inflatables. Once the sun goes down, get the family together for the starlight snowshoe trail and take a nighttime trek around the bay. The winter fun doesn’t stop there — the resort has also added kick sledding to its activities, which is essentially a self-propelled dogsled, as well as snowmobiles and fat bikes to take out on the trails. For families making the trip in March, the maple sugar shack is a must. Syrup from approximately 2,000 maple taps up in the highlands area of the resort feed down sap lines to the sugar shack where it is reduced to make pure maple syrup. While the kids are busy, parents can also enjoy Beerhurst-at-Deerhurst from March 1 to 3. The annual craft beer event at Deerhurst will include live music performances.
The elegant countryside
Caledon | 1 hour
The Millcroft Inn and Spa is just over an hour away from the city, but it sure doesn’t feel that way. Nothing could be further away than the busy streets of Toronto when you’re surrounded by trees and sleeping in an old knitting mill that was built in 1881. When you’re not curled up in your cosy accommodations or dining at the Headwaters Restaurant, you should be experiencing the winter spa services. Complete with 17 treatment areas, indoor and outdoor pools, sauna, steam room and a lounge with fireside seating, nothing could be more relaxing. The hydrotherapy pools are open year-round and include two hot spring pools and one polar plunge pool. The Millcroft has getaway packages perfect for the winter months. February visitors can embark on the chocolate lover’s getaway, which includes a chilled chocolate martini and chocolate-tasting platter. Or head to the inn during March for the magic of maple, and celebrate the maple syrup harvest. Take a walking tour of the sugar bush, make some taffy and take home some locally produced syrup and maple-flavoured treats.
In the heart of Toronto’s Annex neighborhood, nestled at the corner of Spadina and Lowther, stands its oldest apartment known as Spadina Gardens. Alluding to Toronto’s original architecture, the complex was built in the early 20th century, boasting high ceilings, intricate stained-glass designs, and naturally lit apartments.
But while such a historical building has been around for decades, its fate has become a focal point of contention between conservationists and developers. And it’s a battle that has been vividly captured in Jamie Kastner’s latest documentary, Charlotte’s Castle.
The film follows the passionate fight led by long-standing residents, like Charlotte Mickie—who has lived in Spadina Gardens since 1993—against the plans of the new owners, a Dutch company that aims to renovate the space with more 21st century styles.
Kastner and Mickie, who have known each other as acquaintances over the years, connected over this documentary when Kastner’s own building received a heritage destination—leading him to uncover an even more historical jewel: the Spadina Gardens.
“This building was a kind of fascinating slice of Toronto’s culture and was tied to so many remarkable people,” he says. That’s why, during the documentary, Kastner carefully sets the scene, taking viewers into the apartments, rich with art, books, and other intricate décor.
“I guess I had an aim for what I wanted to accomplish with this film in terms of capturing the cultural heart of it that was in danger of disappearing, but I had no idea how I was going to do that,” he says. “But through [the people who live at Spadina Gardens], their stories of this amazing building, the visuals, and discovering all the history, we got to share a linchpin story.”
For Mickie and her allies in the preservation battle, the fight is about protecting a home that has meant so much to them and is considered an architectural gem in Toronto’s history.
Spadina Gardens is a mid-rise apartment located at Spadina and Lowther in downtown Toronto built in 1904.
“The tenants in the building like to entertain. There are so many really wonderful, memorable moments in this space that have involved bringing community together,” she said. Another fond memory? For Mickie, it’s the occasional burst of sunlight that hits her apartment, that inspires her to constantly snap photos throughout the day.
Kastner also features many photographs from over the years, in the documentary, to emphasize the vital place Spadina Gardens has on Toronto’s cultural and architectural history.
The building, in fact, has a rich history, with notable residents including Sir Henry Pellatt, the original owner of Casa Loma, and opera singer Maureen Forrester. The building has also hosted renowned authors such as Ian McEwan, Kazuo Ishiguro, and Gabriel García Márquez at literary gatherings. And, as Kastner mentions, it even provided shelter to Salman Rushdie after the Ayatollah’s fatwa.
While many tenants were interviewed for the piece, what also makes Charlotte’s Castle interesting is hearing from the perspectives of the new building owners. A feat, Kastner says, wasn’t too difficult to incorporate.
“I always approach stories with a journalistic base and believe in talking to both sides of a story and giving each their fair say,” he says. “It was a long conversation with the landlord. I initially I started out with a notion of looking at heritage, but once the focus became clear that it was going to be on this building, they were happy to participate.”
But while the documentary focuses heavily on Toronto housing and history, it is a story that Kastner says, can resonate with all.
“I believe that this is a story that speaks to many people in a number of ways: both in terms of people’s feeling about their homes and about their relationships to the culture their city,” he says.“It is a housing crisis story and that is a global story. I’ve often shied away from topics that seem too Canadian, but this film has been taken up in France by an agency and has found fans in New York and elsewhere—where people can relate what is going on in their city and what is at risk of being lost.”
As for the fate of Spadina Gardens? The documentary alludes to the proceedings of the Toronto’s Heritage Board and that the building is still at risk.
