Here are Toronto’s 5 best new burgers spots of 2023

By

-

2:20 pm

The Toronto burger scene is sizzling! A plethora of new burger joints has emerged in the city over the past year, offering a wealth of gourmet and budget-friendly options.

From mouthwatering smash burgers to delicious vegan patties, here are Toronto’s five best new burgers spots of 2023.

Fatburger

Earlier this year, Fatburger kicked off its Toronto journey at the bustling intersection of Bloor and Bathurst. This burger joint is known about town for crafting big and juicy burgers. The Cali original also boasts fresh, never frozen, Alberta Angus beef. With roots dating back to 1947 and a Los Angeles origin in 1952, this fast-food favorite hit Canadian turf in 2005 in Vancouver. Now, Toronto gets a taste of the deliciousness! .565 Bloor St. W.

Crazy Burger

On Danforth Ave., Crazy Burger & Bar offers a delicious menu filled with yummy burgers, fire fried chicken and monster potatoes. The Folly, with double 7oz patties, bacon, and an array of cheeses, is a must-try. Plus, enjoy a side of fun with beer, wine, and cocktails. 980 Danforth Ave.

Friday Burger Company

After tasting more than 700 burgers worldwide, Chef Joe Friday decided it was time to put that knowledge to the test and create his own masterpiece. The celeb chef is making waves in Toronto with his newest venture, Friday Burger Company. With two locations, one already open at TABLE Fare + Social on Bay Street, and another set to open on Danforth Avenue soon, this gourmet comfort food restaurant is creating buzz. The star of the show is Chef Friday’s signature burger, a labour of love that took him 20 years to perfect. Alongside this mouthwatering creation, the menu boasts a variety of homemade dishes, including chicken sandwiches, salads, sides, milkshakes and more. 2162 Danforth Ave.

Firefly Burger

Direct from the Middle East, Firefly Burger has arrived in Toronto, bringing with them mouthwatering burgers crafted from the freshest ingredients. Founded in 2012 in Amman, Jordan, by three engineers who mastered the art of burger-making during their U.S. studies, Firefly has expanded its passion for burgers to the Canadian scene. With over 50 branches worldwide, patrons can now customize their burgers in Toronto with extra cheese or a smoky flavours for an even more enjoyable experience. 355 Yonge St.

Grub Shack

Get ready for delicious halal burgers that pack a punch! Using top-notch halal-certified ingredients, each burger is cooked to perfection and loaded with tasty toppings. They’re all about quality and inclusivity, inviting everyone to enjoy these awesome halal burgers in a chill setting. 675 Danforth Ave.

Toronto’s most anticipated restaurant openings of 2024

By

Jennifer Schembri

-

1:24 pm

0

Snapinsta.app_347318153_790922899262255_4398392610870946410_n_1080 — @mott32van/Instagram

In 2024, Toronto’s restaurant scene is buzzing with anticipation as chefs and restaurateurs prepare to launch their ambitious projects. With numerous exciting eateries on the horizon, here’s a roundup of 2024’s five most anticipated restaurant openings.

L’Avenue

Since 1994, award-winning L’Avenue has been the go-to destination for brunch and breakfast enthusiasts in Montreal, and now it is set to arrive in Toronto. Known for its eccentric plates, generous portions, festive atmosphere and exceptional service, we can’t confirm if the Toronto menu will replicate the original’s French-inspired offerings — like duck Benedict, the Sugar Shack plate and breakfast poutine, but we can anticipate those infamous long queues.

Blue Bovine Steak + Sushi House

Set to open in February, this much-anticipated addition from Liberty Entertainment Group (known for Don Alfonso 1890 and Cibo Wine Bar) offers a contemporary twist on the classic steak house. In a sleek modern space at the northwest corner of Union Station, patrons can indulge in quality meats, fresh daily seafood and premium-grade sushi, all while enjoying expansive windows overlooking the lively downtown core.

Nobu

The highly anticipated Nobu Hotel and Suites is set to open in Toronto’s entertainment district this year. Featuring two sleek towers with luxury residences and hotel suites, the development stands on the historic Pilkington Glass Factory site. On the ground floor, the iconic Nobu Restaurant, co-founded by chef Nobu Matsuhisa, Robert De Niro and Meir Teper, will occupy 15,000 square feet across two levels.

Shake Shack

Shake Shack is finally coming to Canada, with the first Toronto location set to open in 2024. The iconic burger joint plans to collaborate with local producers, offering a menu featuring its famous burgers, crinkle-cut fries, Chicken Shack and hand-spun shakes. Teaming up with Toronto-based firms Osmington Inc. and Harlo Entertainment Inc., Shake Shack aims to open up to 35 locations across Canada by 2035.

Mott 32

Get ready for a taste bud adventure as a chic Chinese eatery takes over 190 University Ave., filling Momofuku Noodle Bar’s void at the Shangri-La Hotel. Meet Mott 32, your new go-to for upscale Chinese cuisine infused with modern flair. With the success of its Vancouver sibling, renowned for both flavour and stylish interiors, Toronto’s Mott 32 is set to dazzle.

Our top five fashion stories of 2023

By

Julia Mastroianni

-

10:15 am

0

It’s been quite the year of fashion trends in Toronto and beyond. From blokecore to balletcore, we’ve seen it all — and worn it all. There have also been so many great new shops opening in the city, amazing secondhand markets and exciting new innovations from local designers. This year, our top five list shows that Torontonians want only the best when it comes to fashion. Here are the top five style stories that caught your eye in 2023.

5. The best thrift stores in Toronto

Here in Toronto, we’re big on thrifting — so it’s no surprise that this post made the top five. Featuring the classics including Goodwill and Value Village along with a few sleeper hits such as Market by the Pound and Double Take, this story is the go-to guide for thrifting in Toronto. And with prices going up in every industry, even vintage shopping is pricey these days, so it’s clear thrifting became even more of a trend in 2023.

4. Casey Bannerman’s Raptors-inspired designs

It turns out that in Toronto, we don’t just like fashion — we like fashion about Toronto! Designer Casey Bannerman has been going viral for his sports-focused designs, drawing inspiration from Raptors jerseys and even from specific NBA stars. When we profiled him in November, everyone wanted to know more about this designer and his unconventional designs — including the knit, retro logo-inspired Raptors jersey you’ve probably seen on your Instagram scroll.

3. The best clothing stores in Toronto

So readers not only wanted to know the best thrift stores in Toronto, they also wanted to know all the best clothing stores too! This post, part of our Best Of Toronto 2023 series, detailed our top 30 choices for the best clothing stores in the GTA, with a winner (or two) in every category — from the best New York-style department store to our favourite streetwear boutique.

2. The best sunglasses in Toronto

Was it particularly sunny in Toronto this year? Our post on the trendiest places to buy sunglasses in Toronto almost topped the list this year. We did have some gems on it — including Vijan Vision, a brand which you might recognize from their work on custom Cartier sunglasses worn by your favourite Toronto rapper.

1. The other Drakes

Is it a top five list without a bit of Drake influence? Readers were fascinated to find out exactly who the other Drake(s) is, and they would have been anything but disappointed reading this story. Designer Drakes’ namesake label, worn by the likes of Sean Paul, has created some show-stopping pieces, including a middle finger vest and a hoodie engineered to be so warm Torontonians could wear it as a single layer in the winter.

How Letterkenny star K. Trevor Wilson met his wife thanks to standup comedy

By

Julia Mastroianni

-

11:03 am

0

K. Trevor Wilson has been doing standup comedy for over a decade, appearing in the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal, JFL42, Jimmy Kimmel Live and even his own comedy special on The Comedy Network. His work earned him a spot as a judge on 2021’s Roast Battle Canada alongside comedy heavyweights Russell Peters and Sabrina Jalees — but even with this laundry list of accomplishments, it might still be his breakout role on Letterkenny that he’s most known for. Playing the lovable Squirrely Dan, Wilson plays up the contrast between the character’s small-town Canada exterior and at times philosophical and progressive interior perfectly, and he even received a Canadian Screen Awards nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2018. Now, with the show’s 12th and final season premiering on Dec. 25, we caught up with Wilson to hear the story of how his standup led him to his wife, Maresa.

How they met

My joke in my act is that she stalked me on the Internet, a description my wife doesn’t fully agree with. The full story is she saw me open for my buddy Ron Funches at JFL42 and thought I was cute and seemed cool, so she started following me on all my socials. She actually sent me a bunch of DMs [direct messages] I didn’t see until we were together because I didn’t know how Instagram worked. One day I went on the ’gram, and saw that this pretty girl had spam liked all my photos, so I checked out her profile. I thought she was pretty cool, so I followed her back, and then she added me on Facebook, and we started talking; she asked me out; and the rest is history.

The first date

Our first date was Oct. 16, 2016. We met for drinks at the Crown & Dragon Pub on Yonge. We had some drinks and chicken wings and talked.

The courtship

After a month we were an official couple. I accidentally told her I loved her on the third date, when I was putting her in an Uber. We clicked, we got along with each other’s families and friends. It was really easy. We were both at a time in our lives when we were ready for a relationship.

The proposal

We were at Disney World in Florida, and I’d asked for her parents’ blessing the week before. I knew she was going to say yes because she had picked out the ring. I had strict instructions not to propose in front of a crowd, so after a dinner at the Yacht Club resort, we walked around the boardwalk and found a gazebo, and when we were alone, I popped the question.

The wedding and honeymoon

We were married last August in Toronto at the Pop-up Chapel at the Evergreen Brick Works. It was small and intimate, only 20 people allowed. Ceremony and reception was one hour altogether. We took our honeymoon this year in Maui.

Balancing careers and marriage

We work together: she helps me run my career and write my material, so in a way we have a business together.

Shared hobbies and interests

We both love baking, we play a lot of video games together, and we love comedy and Disney.

The secret to success

We’ve always been very clear about our expectations as a couple: what we can tolerate and what we can’t. We have open, honest discussions and have promised each other to always give each other the benefit of the doubt.

The future

I hope it will be very similar to what it is now. We have bought a house together and are hoping to expand our family, but we have struck a very reasonable balance between work and personal life. We want to travel more, which my standup allows us to do. We are also working on some projects together. Maybe in a few years we will look into finding our dream home. She’s my best friend and the love of my life, so as long as I’m with her, I’ll be right where I want to be.

10 restaurants where you can pop the bubbly on New Year’s Eve in Toronto

By

Megan Gallant

-

11:35 am

0

What better way to honour 2023 and welcome 2024 than with a grand feast? Restaurants across Toronto have big plans for ringing in the new year, with prix fixe menus crafted specially for the occasion. Some are throwing parties and galas, while others are adding new menu items, but they are all promising the same things—to end the year on a bang.

Here are the top restaurants in Toronto for New Year’s Eve dinner.

Black + Blue Toronto

Instead of looking too far into the future, head back in time to a masquerade gala at Black + Blue. A red carpet entrance, black and gold décor, a “smart and elegant” dress code, and a sea of guests donning masks (which are available for purchase) means this will be one of the most sumptuous evenings in the city. After the a la carte seating from 4 to 7 p.m., the Gala dinner commences from 8pm onwards. For $195 per guest, the Gala menu lets diners choose from three options for each course, including bison tartare, sushi, roasted sea bass, and beef tenderloin, as well as vegetarian-friendly dishes.

Minami Toronto

The Offbeat Jazz trio will provide the soundtrack for a New Year’s Eve spent at Minami Toronto. For $150, guests can indulge in A5 Japanese wagyu tartare, Hokkaido uni & scallop, and signature Aburi sushi, with a baked matcha fondant for dessert. The restaurant has also launched new cocktails just in time for 2024, including a take on an espresso martini, with St. Remy VSOP, salted caramel liqueur and white miso.

Miku Toronto

Similarly, Minami’s sister restaurant has big plans to welcome the new year, though in a more traditional style. Miku will be serving a Japanese multi-course dinner called Kaiseki. The first course, Osechi Oju, features an assortment of dishes with Japanese ingredients and flavours representing good luck, prosperity, and happiness. What more could you ask for to start the year? The $230 six-course menu includes signature Aburi sushi and a Miyazaki & Awaji wagyu duo. Miku has also launched a new cocktail menu for the event— you know the saying: new year, new…cocktails.

Daphne

If you didn’t get a chance to check out one of the Financial District’s hottest restaurant and lounge openings this year, make sure it’s the first thing you do in 2024. For New Year’s Eve, Daphne is serving up a decadent four-course dinner while live DJs spin tracks in the high-end atmosphere. Choices on the menu include bone marrow, a steak tartar, egg yolk ravioli and beef fillet. Daphne is charging $165 per person for the New Year’s Eve dinner.

Reign

Reign supreme over house parties and nights on the town by indulging in a four- or six-course prix fixe menu crafted with French technique. Chicken liver mousse, a beef wellington, wild mushroom risotto and sea salt caramel crunch are menu highlights for both menus, while the six-course offers an additional scallop crudo, venison tartare, cape d’or salmon, and more. The four-course is in the first seating beginning at 5pm for $109 per adult, while the second, six-course dining begins at 7:30pm for $179 per person. You can start the new year off just as well—and maybe recover from the night before—with a New Year’s Day brunch at Reign for $99.

Epoch

Cocktails and snacks kick off the celebrations at an extravagant gala held at Epoch in The Ritz-Carlton. For $120, the earlier three-course meal are available for seating at 5pm or 7pm, with Chu Toro Tuna Tartare, Nova Scotia Lobster or Wagyu Short Rib, and Ice Wine Poached Pear on the menu. Then the grand evening even kicks off with the evening gala, where the five-course meal follows a mingling of cocktails and select snacks, while a saxophonist joins the DJ with joyous, relaxing backdrop to the evening. The night turns into an evening of luxury with a campaign toast and lively social scene. Gala reservations cost $175.

The Drake Hotel

The Drake Hotel is serving up dinner and a party to ring in 2024. The multi-course menu for the night includes oysters, shrimp and sorrel, lobster thermidor, beef wellington and opera cake, among many other items. For $125, the dinner reservation includes access to the iconic party in The Underground, featuring live DJs and special guests.

Wynona

East enders of the cities might prefer to stay a bit closer to home this New Year’s by getting a taste from a Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand restaurant. Wynona’s five-course New Year’s menu includes a venison carpaccio, cappellacci, beef striploin, smoked oxtail, crispy lobster, trifle and peanut butter mousse. The dinner costs $120 per person.

Chotto Matte

Glitter and gold are taking over the dining room at Chotto Matte this New Year’s Eve. Unlike anywhere in the city, the Bay Street restaurant is serving up an exquisite Japanese-Peruvian feast with exclusive New Year’s Eve dishes. Three sharing menu options, including one that is vegetarian-friendly, range from $120 to $180 (with an additional $55 for wine pairing). The first menu serves a yellowtail sashimi, baby back ribs, and squid, while the second adds a wagyu striploin, black cod aji miso and tentaculos de pulpo. Corn ribs, king oyster mushroom tostada, and nasu miso are the vegetarian plate highlights.

Skylight

Toast to the new year from Yorkville rooftop hideaway at the Taste and Toast dinner at Skylight. The two dinner seatings will provide a Mediterranean dining experience, complete with live music, a champaign toast and a five-course prix fixe menu. For $175, the meal kicks off with a hummus, haidacore tuna, and wagyu souvlaki skewer, and launching into a choice of harissa lamb saddle or ora king salmon with a delicious dessert to finish 2023. Add a wine pairing with each course for $60.

Here are Toronto’s most inspiring women of 2023 in sports

By

Julia Mastroianni

-

3:48 pm

0

Fay Ebert — Fay DeFazio Ebert (photo: COC & @juliodetefon)

With the end of the year upon us, we’re taking the time to honour some of the most inspiring women of 2023. Toronto has been well-represented on the national and international courts and fields this year — here are the most inspiring women in sports, from coaches to record-breaking swimmers, in Toronto. You can find the rest of the list of Toronto’s most inspiring women of 2023 here.

Fay DeFazio Ebert

At just 13 years old, the skateboarder was the youngest athlete at the Pan Am Games and became the youngest gold medallist on Team Canada after her triumphant win.

Marina Stakusic

The 18-year-old made her mark on the tennis world when her breakout performance helped Team Canada clinch their first Billie Jean King Cup, the most prestigious tennis title in women’s international team play.

Summer McIntosh

At the World Aquatics Championship this summer, the 16-year-old became the only Canadian swimmer with four world titles (and broke two world records earlier in April).

Stephanie Fauquier

The Torontonian completed 10 triathlons in 10 provinces this year for her mother, after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, raising over $300,000 to go toward research on the disease.

Saroya Tinker

The founder of Black Girl Hockey Club Canada and professional hockey player went out with a bang before retiring at 25 — Toronto Six won the first ever Isobel cup this March.

Angela James

An icon of women’s hockey in Canada who was a trailblazer from the start when she was named the first and only Black woman to captain Canada’s national team, and was later the first openly gay player inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. And now the inspiration continues — as the new general manager and co-owner of the Toronto Six, she was there to support the team in making history as the first Canadian team in the Premier Hockey Federation to win the league’s Isobel Cup.

Lucia Stafford

The Toronto runner started off 2023 with a bang when she shattered records for the indoor 1,000 metres, clocking in at 2 minutes, 33.75 seconds and marking the fastest indoors 1,000 metres by any North American woman in history and ninth fastest in world history.

Maggie Mac Neil

The swimmer became Canada’s most decorated athlete in Pan Am history after winning five gold medals and seven total at the Games, and was subsequently named the best female athlete at the 2023 Panam Sports Awards.

Jane Roos

A former track athlete herself, after experiencing a devastating accident that ended her career, she turned her focus onto helping future Canadian athletes with the Canadian Athletes Now (CAN) Fund. The organisation, which provides funds for elite athletes representing Canada on the world stage, has raised over $40 million for Canadian athletes since 2003 and has financially supported some of our top athletes.

For Toronto’s most inspiring women in film in TV of 2023, click here.

This breathtaking banquet facility just won one of Toronto’s biggest awards

By

Jennifer Schembri

-

11:41 am

0

The people have spoken. Liberty Grand, a Toronto event industry mainstay, recently clinched the prestigious Diamond Award for Best Banquet Facility at the 2023 Toronto Star >Readers’ Choice Awards.>

Recognizing excellence across categories including entertainment, health and wellness and shopping, awards were presented in each, distinguishing Diamond, Platinum and Gold winners.>

Established in 1926 and meticulously revitalized in 2001 under the guidance of the Liberty Entertainment Group, the Liberty Grand stands as a historical and architectural gem.This esteemed venue caters to a diverse clientele, hosting events for A-list celebrities, sports personalities and industry leaders.>

Under the guidance of industry veteran Nick Di Donato, the Liberty Entertainment Group has continually transformed Toronto’s hospitality scene. With iconic venues such as Casa Loma, >BlueBlood Steakhouse> and the Michelin-starred >Don Alfonso 1890> in their diverse portfolio, their banquet facility, featuring four grand ballrooms, rightly deserves its acclaim.>

Liberty Grand’s latest win cements its status as an industry leader, extending beyond its impressive architecture and historical significance.This accolade speaks volumes about the venue’s commitment to excellence and enduring popularity among Toronto residents, who play a crucial role in choosing award winners through the Toronto Star Readers’ Choice Awards.>

Liberty Grand is more than just an award-winning venue; it’s the preferred choice for a variety of events, ranging from weddings to corporate functions. With its regal ambiance and top-notch hospitality, it stands out as a sought-after location. Partnering with Liberty Entertainment Group’s acclaimed restaurants ensures a culinary experience that is both sophisticated and delicious.>

Liberty Grand’s standing as the preferred choice for the elite in the entertainment world speaks volumes about its enduring legacy. For more than three decades, it has been the go-to venue for individuals seeking an exclusive and sophisticated atmosphere for their events.>

Curious to see what the excitement is about? Save the date for January 21, 2024. >Liberty Grand >is hosting an open house, welcoming the public to explore the venue’s grandeur, culinary excellence and historical charm. It’s a unique chance for potential clients and event planners to experience it firsthand.>

The best Yule logs in Toronto

By

Jennifer Schembri

-

11:13 am

0

almond butterfly cafe1 — @almondbutterflycafe/Instagram

The festive Yule log tradition began with burning a log on the hearth during the first twelve days of Christmas. Today, the yule log takes the form of a delicious chocolate-flavoured cake decorated to resemble tree bark. Known as the “bûche de Noël” in French, it’s the crown jewel of the Christmas table, impressing and delighting guests as the perfect sweet ending to the meal.

Here are the best Yule logs in Toronto.

Charmaine Sweets Studio

Charmaine Sweets offers festive Yule Logs in Dark Chocolate and Vanilla Caramel options, both featuring handcrafted hot chocolate or vanilla cake, ganache or buttercream, and unique toppings like Large Macarons and meringue mushrooms. Priced at $38, each serves 8

Steven Tran

Former Four Seasons pastry chef Steven Tran presents his festive Yule Log featuring spiced port soaked cherries, dark chocolate mousse, sour cherry compote, pistachio sponge and spruce tip cream. Not only does this dessert look stunning, the unique textures and flavours are sure to be the talk to the table.

Almond Butterfly

Almond Butterfly‘s Yule Log is a delectable chocolate treat with vanilla frosting, a raspberry jam filling and candied pecan toppings. A perfect combination of flavours for a festive indulgence.

Bomou

Bomouo Artisanal Bakery offers a $80 Yule log serving 10, boasting a Black Forest flavour. This indulgent treat features a decadent brownie base topped with cream Brule and griot gel, all enveloped in a creamy chocolate mousse.

Duo Patisserie

Among the lineup of Yule logs at Duo Patisserie, the star is the infamous Rouge. While the Santa belt cake may look familiar, this year brings a delightful twist with revamped components. This beautiful log cake is filled with earl grey mousse, vanilla sponge soaked in strawberry essence, red berry cream, raspberry gelee and an almond shortbread crust,

San Remo

SanRemo Bakery’s festive Yule log lineup is a delicious addition to their Christmas dessert menu. The Yule logs include three options: Milk Chocolate Dulce de Leche, White Chocolate Cranberry and Cherry Cream Cheese Chocolate.

Gouter

At Goûter Patisserie, the Bûche de Noël lineup is a delightful treat for the taste buds. Featuring the “Fantastique” (Lotus Biscoff Cookie or Speculaas), Classic Chocolate and Traditional Mocha, each log is a masterpiece of layers. Creamy whipped ganache is expertly rolled into a soft sponge cake, then covered and adorned with buttercream for a deliciously festive touch

Dr. Jess on Sex: A holiday survival guide for couples

By

Broadstreet Support

-

2:58 pm

0

Fighting with your partner over the holidays isn’t uncommon, as the season of joy and cheer is also fraught with stress, exhaustion and irritability for couples and families. During this busy time of year, insignificant disagreements often snowball into full-fledged squabbles as your regular routine is disrupted by parties, house guests and seasonal chores.

You might blame 45 days of incessant Christmas carols, but experts believe that relationship strife is tied to issues of family, health, intimacy and money.

If you have a history of fighting over the holidays, let 2023 be the year you break your bad habits and plan for success with the guidance of Toronto experts.

Family can often be the largest source of friction. Brandie Weikle, founder of thenewfamily.com, believes that our unrealistic expectations may be to blame. We won’t all have a Norman Rockwell holiday season — and that’s perfectly fine.

For blended families, the holidays can present some practical challenges related to time, gifts and events.

“How do you split the kids’ time between exes? Who gets to give kids the item at the top of their lists? Who pays for the gift from Santa? How will exes and new spouses interact at a school concert?” says Weikle of the questions that will typically arise.

She reminds separated parents that flexibility and compromise are of paramount importance to ensure that your kids’ happiness takes precedence over your feelings toward one another.

If you’re part of a blended family and want to have a harmonious holiday season with your current partner, be sure to include your partner in the planning whenever possible.

Even if he or she is not comfortable sitting down with your ex to discuss schedules and logistics, ask for your partner’s input and acknowledge his or her feelings before you confirm plans.

You must also remember to focus on yourself and your personal health this time of year.

Jane Clapp, holistic personal trainer in Toronto, believes that fitness is essential to holiday harmony.

“Movement makes us feel more mojo, and where there’s more mojo, there’s more play, connection and an ability to bounce back from disagreements. We need to move for a minimum of 30 minutes a day. It doesn’t have to be at a gym or a yoga studio. Go out for a walk or do an online yoga class (try doyogawithme.com) and use the holidays as an opportunity to create new habits,” says Clapp.

Research shows that couples who exercise together are not only more likely to stick to their fitness routine, but exercise also boosts mood, improves sleep quality and leads to more frequent and satisfying sex.

If you feel the tension mounting in December, I suggest you clear your mind with the Scientific 7 Minute Workout from FitnessBlender.com. This is my go-to tension reliever (and my husband’s too!), and it amounts to less than one per cent of our day in terms of time commitment.

If, despite making healthy choices, sex is the last thing on your mind during the festive season, give yourself a break.

Instead, prioritize your intimate connection by taking a few minutes to make your partner feel special each day: serve him or her first at dinner and cocktail parties (we often cater to our guests at the expense of our partners), warm up your partner’s socks or shoes with a hair dryer in the morning, squeeze a fresh glass of orange juice, pick up breakfast sandwiches, book a mid-day coffee date or massage his or her feet for two minutes before bed.

A dip in libido is perfectly normal over the holidays, and if you cultivate your connection in other ways, it’s likely to re-emerge once the in-laws vacate the guest suite.

Another contentious area is gift giving and budgets. Shannon Lee Simmons, founder of the New School of Finance and the Budgeting With Your Boo online course for couples, knows that the holidays can bring added financial stress and bickering. She connects our financial expectations to our most intimate feelings and reminds us that our values are often reflected in our spending habits.

“When one partner wants to spend more on gifts, it’s likely because gifts also make them feel important. When the other person doesn’t feel the same way, their intended financial responsibility can be misconstrued as a attack on their partner’s values,” says Lee Simmons.

She suggests that couples plan for success by sitting down at the beginning of the season and writing a holiday spending plan.

“Once you’re both on the same page as to where the spending is going this season, then the hard part is done! All you have to do is stick to the plan,” she says.

Happy holidays and all the best for 2024!

T.O. artist’s wacky creations like crochet hot dog bags sell out in minutes

By

Julia Mastroianni

-

2:45 pm

0

knottedneonlunch — @knottedneon/Instagram

You’ve heard about eating your greens, but what about wearing them? Aynsley Grealis is a Toronto artist who creates elaborate crochet garments and accessories — like bags shaped like hotdogs and avocado toast and embellished balaclavas, as well as patterns to teach you how to make your own designs. Her wearable art brand Knotted Neon has gone viral on TikTok and Instagram, receiving upwards of 200,000 likes on posts showcasing items such as her pizza rat bag (a rat hanging onto a pizza-shaped bag by its teeth) and her cow balaclava, complete with cute ears and pink trim.

It’s her food-shaped accessories collections that really take the cake (no pun intended), evoking a maximalist aesthetic that has grown in popularity.

It was the pandemic that influenced Grealis to pick up crocheting, which she hadn’t done since childhood. She was set to graduate from OCAD University’s drawing and painting program in spring of 2020, but lockdown meant the cancellation of her final showcase and without the momentum of presentation, her excitement for painting dissolved.

Scrolling on Instagram one day, she came across people crocheting and remembered the little creatures she used to make when she was 12. It occurred to her that she craved an art form she could play with.

So she bought crochet hooks and a few yards of material, and immediately fell in love with the process. She has always lived in Toronto — first in the east end, then Kensington Market — and has a determined love for the city.

“It has so much to offer, and I feel like I pull inspiration from all sorts of places,” she says, recalling memories of all the artists she’s met in the community and the galleries she visited as a child.

Grealis hunkered down and spent her time experimenting and pushing the boundaries of her new craft. Now 25, though it has taken time to figure out how, she has managed to make crocheting her full-time pursuit — a balance of making custom pieces, selling her own designs and making patterns.

Much of this can be attributed to the popular social media identity she has created, which also shares the name of her business, Knotted Neon. It’s the same Instagram account that she’s had since 2013, she admitted, now with 173K followers. Up until 2020, she’d used the account to share her finished paintings with friends, but one of the first crochet pieces she made drew unusual attention on the app: a sweater adorned by cows getting abducted by an alien (“because people were really into cows in 2020,” she says).

From there, her following slowly began to grow into a community of crochet enthusiasts, and it motivated her to keep going. She stuck to clothing at first, pulling her love of fashion into her craft through tapestry jackets, dresses and sweaters often colourful and adorned with the likes of cows and dinosaurs. In her first year someone dubbed her designs kidult fashion, children’s clothes for adults. Her next evolution was balaclavas, elaborate designs covered in flowers and mushrooms or insects, then sculpture-esque accessories like bags and headwear.

“I can work with them in a more playful way,” she says. “When I was painting, I was so fixated on what things meant, but when I got into crochet I approached it all from a perspective of fun.”

Her accessory collections have varied widely in theme, from animals to food. Typically they sell out five to 10 minutes after she releases them, like her recent pizza rat bag, and anybody who still wants one goes on a waitlist.

“I think the food bags have had the most positive response so far. They encapsulate everything that I enjoy, like humour and quirky, maximalist style,” Grealis says. Customers also request very personalized customs, like at Taco Bell Baja Blast bag which she is presently making. “It’s fun to be able to take people’s own interests and the things that bring them joy and replicate that for them,” she says.

Though Grealis had never contemplated writing her own book, she was pleasantly surprised when the publisher Abrams Books reached out to her with a proposal. The idea was a sort of choose your own adventure crochet manual, with patterns for balaclavas and hats, as well as additional patterns for embellishments such as flowers, and bees and mushrooms. “You have all of these pieces that you can bring together however you would like, which I enjoyed because that’s sort of my own creative process,” she says. Ahead of the April 16 publishing date, you can preorder Grealis’ book, Mad Hatter, through Abrams Books.

If her comment section is any indication, the book will be a hit — every new creation Grealis makes has followers clamouring to her page to ask for a pattern so they can try to recreate it themselves.

Going forward, she’s excited to make more patterns. “I think as much as there are a lot of people who want to purchase my pieces, there’s a lot of people who actually crochet themselves and want to learn,” she says.

Where to find your own ugly Christmas sweater in Toronto

By

Julia Mastroianni

-

2:54 pm

0

Ugly Christmas Sweaters — Unsplash/Vitaliy Rigalovsky

Every year, the clock barely strikes midnight on Oct. 31 before stores are dusting off their holiday decor, stringing lights and hanging ornaments to signify the start to the holiday season. Maybe you very quickly follow suit, barely out of your own spooky costume before you drag your Christmas tree out of storage and artfully arranging shiny baubles and string lights on the branches, softly playing carols as you decorate your space. For many, the “most wonderful time of the year” can’t come soon enough.

And with the famously corny Hallmark movies, cheery tunes and overall festive spirit settling like a blanket across the world comes another marker of the season: the ugly Christmas sweater.

You know the kind. Typically a woolly crewneck, ugly Christmas sweaters often feature any number of holiday motifs like snowmen, Santa Claus and reindeer – all in the brash colour palette of Christmas.

But when did the ugly Christmas sweater become so ubiquitous? They first came on the scene in the 1950s right as the holiday began to commercialize. Originally called Jingle Bell sweaters, it was a slow crawl to the trend’s current status as a sort of silly tradition. They became more mainstream in the ’80s, with cult classic movies like National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, bringing the goofy and endearing look to the big screen.

It was actually two Canadians, Chris Boyd and Jordan Birch, who established the first ever ugly Christmas party in 2002 in Vancouver.

Nowadays, ugly Christmas sweater parties dominate office holiday events and Secret Santa potlucks. You’ve likely been to one yourself – where the tackiest reigns supreme, with friends and colleagues donning chunky, scratchy synthetic wools in chaotic patterns, jazzed up with sequins, jingling bells and baubles stitched on for maximum holiday cheer. At a certain point, the ugly Christmas sweater became less something to recoil at, and took on a life of its own as the uniquely self-aware, overtly corny way to spread a little magic.

With the ubiquity of ugly Christmas sweaters, high fashion brands decided to contribute as well; in 2011, Dolce & Gabbana released a line of eye-catching (in more ways than one) holiday sweaters for their fall collection. Even celebrities like 2 Chainz joined in on the fun with his own ugly Christmas sweater with a hefty $90k price tag (proceeds were donated to charity).

An “ugly” Christmas sweater on the runway in 2007 from designer Stella McCartney. Photo Credit: Marcio Madeira

Ugly Christmas sweaters have been a mainstay in novelty fashion for years, fuelled by pop culture, in the same way visibility onscreen originally made them a hot commodity in the first place. Take for example the Emmy award-winning smash hit Schitt’s Creek. Fans of the heartwarming Canadian TV comedy can snag their own Schitt’s-inspired merch for the holidays, with sweaters like this one, featuring Moira Rose and the saying, “Bebe, it’s cold outside.” Not a Schitt’s Creek fan? You can find an ugly Christmas sweater spin-off of almost any TV show, music or movie you love, from The Office to Biggie Smalls.

Everywhere, from fast-fashion outlets like H&M to The Bay have joined in on the ugly Christmas sweater craze too, to offer shoppers a variety of options at various price points and levels of gaudiness. People looking for something a little more unique can also scour vintage shops and larger used clothing retailers like Value Village to find a festive gem.

Maybe your goal is to deck yourself out in something as outrageous as possible. The Tipsy Elves, popularized on Shark Tank, sells a wide range of holiday-themed apparel from cute to downright wacky.

Still too kitsch for your tastes? That doesn’t mean you need to go all Ebenezer Scrooge on us. Tons of well-known brands have jumped on the proverbial ugly Christmas sweater wagon – maybe it’s ‘sleigh’ in this case? – to deliver some festive-wear that foregoes cliches entirely, striking a balance between understated and jolly.

Opt for a chunky cable knit sweater in bright red or forest green or a classic Ragg Wool sweater, like this one from L.L. Bean or this oversized wool blend version from Rag & Bone. These looks may not be ‘ugly’ in the traditional sense, but they’ll allow you to blend in seamlessly among your other Christmas-clad friends and colleagues.

The lasting appeal of the ugly Christmas sweater is the ways in which it tries so hard to be festive, becoming a sort of parody of the season itself. It’s no secret that holidays can be really stressful with people often feeling a ton of pressure for things to be perfect. Novelty Christmas sweaters have the potential to inject a little lighthearted satire, reminding everyone that Christmas is so much more than the pomp and circumstance that can sometimes dull the season’s sparkle.

Want to secure your own jovial jumper in time for Christmas? You’re in luck! Here are three local shops selling the most Christmassy pullovers around.

Black Market Vintage

They just did ugly Christmas sweaters better in the ’90s. Black Market offers a whole warehouse of second-hand finds. Get ready to dig to find the perfect pullover! Shop here or visit 347 Queen St. W.

Good Market Thrift Store

Newer to the Leslieville area, this thrift shop has been kind enough to set aside a few racks of solely holiday sweaters (some ugly, some super cute) for your last minute holiday party needs. You can shop the selection online here or at 912 Queen St. E.

Ferda Apparel Shop

For sweaters with pop culture references from The Office to Drake to Buddy the Elf, look no further than this Toronto Etsy shop. Shop here.

Polomocha

This Toronto-based vintage shop offers everything from hand-embroidered sweaters to ’80s vests complete with a 3D Santa. Shop here.

Good Juice Box Vintage

With a location on the east side and the west side, everyone can enjoy this affordably-priced vintage shop — and you can thank the staff for setting aside a rack of holiday sweater gems so you don’t have to dig for them! Shop at 706 Bloor St. W. or 768 Queen St. E.

Four essential items for snowmobile safety

By

Jarrod Daley

-

11:08 am

0

See all posts by Diamond and Diamond Lawyers

As winter blankets the Canadian landscape in a pristine layer of snow, snowmobiling enthusiasts gear up for thrilling rides through trails around Canada. For many Canadians, this activity is a cherished pastime, offering a unique way to experience the beauty of the season. However, as the largest personal injury law firm in Canada, Diamond and Diamond recognizes the importance of taking proper safety precautions to ensure maximum safety while out on a snowmobile.

Jeremy Diamond, a Partner at Diamond and Diamond Lawyers, draws upon the firm’s extensive experience in handling snowmobiling-related cases to shed light on four essential items for snowmobile safety. Whether you’re a seasoned rider or a beginner, these items are crucial for a safe and enjoyable winter ride.

1. An Approved Helmet/Headwear

First and foremost, make sure that you always wear a helmet! Head injuries are a significant risk in snowmobiling accidents, making a high-quality helmet a non-negotiable item for riders. As Jeremy Diamond says, “Helmets are not only a safety device that will help prevent serious head injuries, but they’re also required by law.” It is essential to select a helmet that meets safety standards to ensure optimal protection in the event of an accident.

2. Warm Outdoor Clothing

As temperatures drop during winter rides, staying warm and comfortable is essential. Wearing warm outdoor clothing such as a winter jacket, toque, scarf, gloves, and boots is not just recommended – it’s a necessity. Proper attire not only shields riders from the biting cold but also provides protection against the elements, enhancing overall safety and comfort during the trip.

3. First Aid Kit & Cell Phone

“As always, it’s recommended to be prepared in the event of an accident. We recommend to everyone heading out on a snowmobile to carry a first aid kit with them at all times,” says Jeremy Diamond. Accidents can happen unexpectedly, so it’s crucial to have precautionary measures in place should the unexpected arise. While having a first aid kit is a great start when it comes to being prepared for the unexpected, it’s equally as important to have a cell phone on hand should you need to call for help.

4. PPE For Your Ears and Eyes

Protecting your ears and eyes is vital during snowmobiling adventures. The roar of the engine and the reflection of the sun on the snow can pose challenges to both hearing and vision. “Proper PPE for your eyes and ears is essential, and being on the snowmobile trails is no exception. We would recommend having this equipment on hand at all times so riders have a safe and more enjoyable experience on the snowmobile trails,” says Jeremy Diamond.

While these items are all crucial aspects of being safe on the trail, so too is your ability to follow all signage and driving rules outlined by the authorities in your area. If you’ve been involved in an accident on the trails, it’s important to speak with a personal injury lawyer to learn more about your rights. Get in touch with Diamond and Diamond today at 1-800-567-HURT.

About Jeremy Diamond

Jeremy Diamond is a lawyer and member of both Ontario and Florida Bars. Jeremy practices in the area of Plaintiff personal injury litigation. Click here to learn more about Jeremy Diamond.