Jeanne Beker on the best balletcore fashion finds in the city for spring

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While none of us ever envision getting into an automobile accident, it’s important to remember that these things can happen. Darryl Singer, leading Personal Injury Lawyer at Diamond and Diamond alongside Jeremy Diamond and Sandra Zisckind, shares insights on what to expect if you are in a car crash with an uninsured driver:

If you’re hit by a car and the driver who hits you does not have insurance, you are still protected. Here’s why:

The first place that you go for recovery is your own insurer; as long as you’re insured, you can claim ‘no fault’ or accident benefits. This will cover a small amount of lost income (up to ~$400/week) and will pay for treatments that are not covered by OHIP – like chiropractor, physiotherapy, massage therapy, social work, psychology, etc. When we sue the other driver for pain and suffering, this means going after the other driver’s insurance for “tort” or “bodily injury”. You can also sue for the additional lost income that’s not covered by the accident benefits as well as other out-of-pocket expenses that you’ve incurred.

Further, you can sue for additional future medical rehab that isn’t covered by accident benefits, as well as the cost of hiring people to care for your house (e.g. a housekeeper, lawn maintenance, etc.) in the tort case. When we sue the at-fault driver, we name that driver as the defendant in the lawsuit, but really it’s the driver’s insurance who’s responding.

Because of the insurance law in Ontario, every automobile insurance policy in the province has uninsured/under-insured coverage. This means that if you’re hit by somebody at fault and they don’t have insurance, then in addition to suing that driver, you also sue your own insurance and your own insurer now stands in place of what would be that driver’s policy.

There’s also an underinsured provision. This provision means that your own insurance company kicks in to fill the gap if your case is worth more than what the at-fault driver’s insurance can pay. For example, Let’s say you are hit by a drunk driver and your case is worth $500,000. The drunk driver’s insurance may take an off coverage position where their policy maximum is decreased to $200,000. Your insurance will step in to bridge the $300,000 gap.

If you or a loved one have been involved in a motor vehicle accident, it’s important to speak with a lawyer to understand your rights. Don’t hesitate to reach out to Diamond and Diamond at 1-800-567-HURT to schedule a free consultation.

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.

Two classic Toronto “Kens” set to square off in new Barbie movie

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11:19 am

A new Barbie trailer is out for what is shaping up to be the hottest movie of the summer and with it, a new rivalry is set to play out between two Kens with deep Toronto connections pitted against each other.

Now that more trailers and clips have been revealed it looks like Toronto superhero actor Simu Liu is starring in the new Barbie movie as Ken opposite what appears to be the über-Ken in Ryan Gosling.

Michael Cera, another local actor, also appears in the film, but as a character named Allen, which seems about right for him.

The movie stars Margot Robbie as, apparently, one of many Barbies. It is directed by Oscar-nominated writer/director Greta Gerwig (Little Women, Lady Bird).

Gosling, who grew up in nearby London, Ontario, has spent much time in Toronto especially when he was dating fellow actor Rachel McAdams, who was living in the city at the time.

A Ken-type icon since forever, Gosling’s dream-guy bona fides date back to the early days of his career as a member of the Mickey Mouse Club television series to his breakout role in the romantic film The Notebook. He’s been nominated for two Academy Awards for his work in La La Land and Half Nelson.

Gosling told Bustle magazine that he connected instantly with the character, and that Ken vibe has stayed with him.

“I have that Ken-ergy, that you can feel, obviously,” he told Bustle. “I still feel like the Ken-ergy is alive. You know what I mean, no?”

Of course, Liu is no slouch when it comes to Ken-ergy.

Liu was born in China but was raised and still lives in Toronto. He has his own Ken bona fides having started his career as a catalogue model and as a stuntman. He starred in the long-running CBC-TV comedy Kim’s Convenience before landing his breakthrough role in the Marvel movie Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

Should there be even more Toronto Kens? Celebrity chef and actor Matty Matheson seems to think so and he took to social media to make his pitch.

BARBIE CALL ME pic.twitter.com/iUZJUBuidS

— MATTY MATHESON (@mattymatheson) April 4, 2023

Who will prevail in the great battle of the Kens? Will Matty get his shot? We will have to wait until the movie release on July 21 to find out.

Watch the Jays from the only hotel in North America in a baseball stadium

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8:30 am

Yes, the Rogers Centre now boasts a funky new outfield standing area for Jays games, but one of the most unique locations to watch the game is still from the only hotel in North America located inside a major league stadium.

With the Toronto Blue Jays home opener just around the corner on April 11, Marriott City Centre is unveiling its lineup of unique amenities for the ultimate baseball experience.

First, the views. It is hard to beat the view from the hotel overlooking everything happening at Rogers Centre. The hotel offers in-stadium open-air Skyboxes that can accommodate 25-30 guests, including 18 seated; exceptional “in action” field-view rooms and suites so guests can take in the sights and sounds of the game happening right below them.

The hotel is also home to the Sportsnet Grill, located just inside the main entrance of the hotel, which offers one of the city’s best restaurant and bar experiences with live field action in addition to multiple big screen televisions. Reserve a window table for just $10 per person.

“It’s always an exciting time as the Blue Jays return home,” said Ryan Soderberg, general manager. “This is the only place in North America where guests can enjoy a live baseball game from the comfort of their rooms or experience the thrill of victory with other fans in the hotel’s multiple field-view locations.”

This season, the hotel is offering a new Big League Menu as well as with what is described as “over-the-top” eats and special cocktails available on game days.

Rates for a standard field-view room begin at $621 and $710 for split level field-view rooms.

Big Mac served up as light sculpture at Union Station

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3:17 pm

McDonald’s has partnered with DoorDash Canada and unveiled a zippy new ad campaign that brings new meaning to the term “fast food.”

The campaign entitled “Faster Food” highlights the beauty of speedy delivery and features a few of McDonald’s famous staples turned into a series of horizontal stripes.

Developed by Toronto-based creative agency No Fixed Address, the campaign achieves a blurring effect by turning the components of each sandwich — in this case the Big Mac and the Egg McMuffin — into something that resembles abstract art.

‘With McDelivery on DoorDash, Canadians can get their cravings delivered faster than ever,” said a representative from No Fixed Address in a press release. “These posters evoke movement and a feeling of rushing bye but each poster is grounded in the icon colours of its hero offering.”

Alexis Bronstorph, co-chief creative officer at No Fixed Address explained in an interview with The Message, that McDonald’s menu items are globally recognized, so there’s no need to say a lot in order to tell the story.

“The visuals were vector illustrated by the team, with senior art director Reid Plaxton colour-picking all the shadows and highlights of all the different layers of the food,” she said.

You can check out the campaign around the city including at Union Station and Yonge-Dundas Square.

Toronto’s best fish and chip spots for fin-tastic takeaway

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1:05 pm

Taste Test judge Anthony Rose samples the city’s most bountiful catch —fish and chips — the perfect dish to ring in spring.

Winner (Traditional): Sea Witch

“This is light and crispy, and I love the addition of the pickerel. I never order pickerel or halibut. I usually go for cod or haddock because I want two pieces, and it’s very expensive, but this is amazing. The fries are really good too. Everything tastes fresh and homemade.” Sea Witch Fish & Chips,636 St. Clair Ave. W., $19

Winner (new take on fish and chips): Miznon

“This is a good-looking sandwich. I like it quite a bit. It’s so great. It’s very well done, simple, delicious, totally different from anything else. I like their take on the chips with the addition of he fingerling potatoes, and the branzino is a nice change from the usual fish options.” Miznon, 1235 Bay St., $18

Off the Hook Fishbar

The is certainly different! I’ve never had a vegan take on fish and chips. The banana blossom is a really cool idea and tastes unlike anything I’ve had before.
The onion rings and fries are nice and crispy, and the tartar sauce, which is vegan as well, has a nice acidity to it.” Off the Hook Fishbar, 749 Broadview Ave., $18

High Street Fish and Chips

“This tastes like it might be frozen — which isn’t a bad thing. I’m not against frozen in general. The hake is firm and flaky and an unconventional choice. The batter is a little on the soggy side, but it still holds together really well. The tartar sauce is heavy on the mayonnaise, which I enjoy, and the fries are just OK.” High Street Fish and Chips, 55 Underhill Dr., $11.45

Old Yorke Fish and Chips

“This tastes very old school. The batter is quite good, crispy, delicious and thin. The halibut is meaty and much richer and healthier than the other options, which I appreciate. I like these fries; they’re kind of on the sweet side.” Olde Yorke Fish & Chips, 96 Laird Dr., $21.50

Smash Bar & Kitchen

“Very crunchy, and the haddock tastes fresh. The batter is very aromatic, and there’s not too much of it — it’s nice and thin. The fries are really good too — crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Nothing here is overly greasy, which I appreciate.” Smash Kitchen & Bar, 4261 Hwy. 7 E., Unionville, $20.50

Fresco’s Fish and Chips

“This is pretty! The Miss Vickie’s batter is crispy, super crunchy and very delicious. I love the co- leslaw and the creaminess of it. Overall this is a solid dish. It’s really flavourful and hearty, and the halibut is perfectly cooked.” Fresco’s Fish & Chips, 201 Augusta Ave., $25

Toronto’s top shows including the queen drag queen and the incredible Cirque du Soleil

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lindsaylow

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12:03 pm

violet — Drag queen extraordinaire Violet Chachki

This month’s top stage shows include a classic April Fool, a gathering of drag queens, murder, and, of course, the circus. Here are this month’s big tickets.

1. Go to Steve Patterson

Most Canadian comedy fans know and love comic Steve Patterson for his role as the host of hit radio show The Debaters on the CBC. But Patterson has also been a touring standup, and he’s celebrating 25 years in the biz with a special live album recording at Toronto’s Paradise Theatre on Saturday, April 29.

Patterson will record two shows, at 4 and 8 p.m., promising his multitude of multi-generational fans the opportunity to enjoy his latest material as well as a few classic favourites from years past.

When asked why the comedy matinee instead of a late show, Patterson pronounces, “I know a lot of people that don’t want to see a live comedy show that starts late at night anymore. And I am one of them.”

For the past 16 years, Patterson has helmed the hit radio show and podcast The Debaters, as well as the special touring edition that plays at locations across the country.

Kooza returns to Toronto this month in a new location

2. See Kooza

The iconic Cirque du Soleil big top will be back in Toronto this month with the show Kooza, running April 7 to June 18, at 2150 Lakeshore Blvd. W.

Following its launch in 2022, Kooza has played around the world to close to eight million spectators with more than 4,000 performances in 65 cities across 22 countries.

“Kooza evokes the yesteryear of traditional circus with a timeless wonder. It is an emotional roller coaster ride that will make you laugh out loud in one breath, and gasp in awe and anticipation in the next breath,” said Mike Newquist, President, Touring Shows Division, Cirque du Soleil. “Last year the world was rebuilding, and now is a time to have fun again, to laugh again, and to believe in the possibilities — which is what Kooza encapsulates.”

3. Go to Violet Chachki

Probably the biggest and best drag queen on the planet, Violet Chachki (pictured above) is hitting Toronto and bringing her bestie GOTTMIK along with her. Fresh off a performance at the Grammys, the duo is set to light the Danforth Music Hall on fire with their No Gorge Tour, featuring stunning performances of their favourite tunes. The performance is scheduled for April 27.

4. Go to Macbeth

The Canadian Opera Company’s latest production is that most-classic tale of ambition, obsession and tragedy, which form the heart of Verdi’s take on Macbeth. The classic murder rampage in the Scottish highlands hits the Four Seasons Centre on April 28 and runs until May 20.

This premiere production is directed by Sir David McVicar and stars Quinn Kelsey as Macbeth.

Canadian Opera Company set to premiere new production of ‘Macbeth’

5. See The Simon & Garfunkel Story

The Simon & Garfunkel Story is an acclaimed concert-style theatre show that has played in 50 countries around the world. The show follows two young boys from Queens, New York, who went on to become the world’s most successful music duo of all time. Using state of the art video projection, incredible lighting and a full live band, The Simon & Garfunkel Story is a moving and powerful concert featuring all the hits such as “Mrs Robinson,” “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” “Homeward Bound,” “Scarborough Fair,” “The Boxer,” “The Sound Of Silence” and many more. The show runs April 11 to 16 at the CAA Theatre.

6. See Vierge

Factory Theatre will play host to the world premiere of Rachel Mutombo’s new work Vierge running April 8 to 30.

Directed by Natasha Mumba, the play Vierge tells the story of 16-year-old Divine, who doesn’t really fit in anywhere, and her only real friend is Jesus (Christ). That all changes when her family joins a new church, and through the other girls in her youth group she discovers the world around her is not as it seems. Vierge follows four Congolese Canadian teenage girls as they journey to navigate between the pressures of Christianity, virginity and teenage hormones in this new work about faith, community and sex.

Vintage concert T-shirt prices have skyrocketed and T.O. sellers think they know why

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Julia Mastroianni

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12:30 pm

josh roter — Josh Roter of In Vintage We Trust

Shoppers in Toronto are in for an unsettling discovery when they check the tags of concert T-shirts from local vintage shops.

During the pandemic, prices rose to astronomical heights. And although the pandemic boom has since calmed down, prices show no signs of a return to affordability.

With fashion sustainability a hot topic on people’s social media feeds, the explosion of vintage shopping was imminent.

Josh Roter is the co-owner of In Vintage We Trust, a store located on Queen Street West, which benefited from the pandemic price increase. Although Roter gives credit to the pandemic for its most recent rise, he believes that its real increase predates it by a few years.

“The T-shirt boom really started in 2017. Everything was still fresh and new to the customer base and the concert T-shirt became very popular by 2020. I think books that highlighted the wave really had something to do with that, like Ross One’s Rap Tees,” he says. “If people didn’t know about hip hop concert Ts before, they certainly did afterwards. That and the sheer amount of eyes on platforms like Instagram everyday, just digesting it.”

For the casual vintage shopper, this price increase was detrimental to their bank accounts or aspiring concert T-shirt collection. But for those who saw themselves as collectors, the price increase meant being forced to ask themselves — to collect or not to collect?

Roter recalls a specific Nirvana T-shirt that blew him away. In 1993, Nirvana recorded and released In Utero, an album that included “Heart-Shaped Box.” The band’s T-shirt featured an all over black and red print with an acid wash finish, finished with a graphic from the band’s famous song.

“I can remember when they maxed out at 110 bucks. And now that all over print costs as much as a used car,” Roter says.

Nick Marian from Expo Vintage Clothing saw an increase just as exponential, saying, “I saw a huge jump in 2020. It seems like overnight they went from $80 to $100 to $1,500 to $2,000 and in some cases even higher.”

Ebay’s long list of sold vintage shows that these prices increased during the pandemic, a time that Fruit Market’s Taylor Abela calls a bubble in the market.

“The price of vintage shirts hiked during COVID, which was also the time when the Instagram live and virtual flea era started,” says Abela.

However, Abela was swift to dispute the claim that vintage T-shirt prices are still high. “The price hike was during COVID. You’re late,” he said.

Marian also believes that to be true. “They’ve come down quite a bit since mid-pandemic.”

But a quick search on Ebay would elicit a gasp or two as authentic shirts are still priced anywhere from $1,500 to upwards of $5,500 — not exactly a steal.

Although spending a small fortune on an old T-shirt might seem bizarre, there’s certainly still demand. “The super rare ones are for true enthusiasts looking for something special. Maybe a show they went to back in the day or an artist they love,” Abela says.

Today, lovers of vintage clothing are shopping with prices at a premium. It might not be as bad as it was a few years ago, but it looks like we’re never going back to the old days. Music lovers, beware. And concert-goers from the ’80s and ’90s, you’re in luck — the T-shirt sitting at the back of your closet might be sending you on vacation this year!

Canada’s Wonderland teases new stomach-churning 360-degree ride set to debut

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12:25 pm

One rite of spring in the GTA is the opening of Canada’s Wonderland amusement park, and this year there is a new ride that will have even the bravest of thrill seekers re-evaluating their life choices.

The Tundra Twister is a giant 360-degree spinning swing ride slated to open in the Frontier Canada portion of the park. According to Canada’s Wonderland, Tundra Twister will have guests spinning, twisting and twirling upside-down at heights of 47 metres (154 feet) and speeds of 75 km/h.

“Tundra Twister is a looping ride with rotating gondola arms that will spin and twirl riders in a full 360 degrees and upside-down,” reads a news release from the park.

According to the amusement park website, the ride is “the only attraction of its kind in the world and promises a unique thrill experience unlike any other.”

Looking for something a bit less of everything, the other new ride coming to the park this season is Snoopy’s Racing Railway, a launch coaster coming to Planet Snoopy that will accelerate from zero to 50 km/h in a matter of seconds before taking guests through the dips and turns of a wild railway adventure.

“We’re proud to offer such a diversity of experiences to our guests,” said Norm Pirtovshek, general manager. “Through four seasons we have more than 200 attractions at the park, rides for guests of all ages and world-class events and entertainment that can’t be missed.”

Canada’s Wonderland opens May 5 and has released the full lineup of exciting events and entertainment in store for the 2023 season, including a number of new food festivals, spectacular long weekend fireworks, and more.

New to the food festival line-up is Taste of Brazil scheduled for Aug. 19 and 20, described as “fresh Latin American flavours of Brazil, including grilled meats and chimichurri, bolinho de bacalhau (salt cod fritters), crispy pastel de carne (meat-filled
pastries) and feijoada (Brazilian black bean stew). As you peruse the food stalls for your next dish or drink, enjoy the styles, colours and music of traditional Brazilian performers.”

Our recommendation is to consider carefully food choices combined with the Tundra Twister. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Leaside teenager turned NCAA phenom Zach Edey named Player of the Year

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10:47 am

Although Zach Edey’s season didn’t end the way he wanted, with his Purdue Boilermakers exciting the March Madness NCAA Tournament in the first round, the friendly giant from Toronto’s Leaside neighbourhood was just named the Associated Press men’s college basketball player of the year. And that’s gotta take some of the sting away.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Edey said winning the award does help, to some degree.

“The season ended in disappointment, which really sucks, but it’s always nice to win individual accolades,” Edey told AP. “It kind of validates your work a little bit. The last three years I’ve played here, I’ve seen my game grow every year. AP player of the year is a great feeling, it just kind of stinks the way the season ended.”

Edey, despite his size, resisted basketball at first, instead opting to play hockey and baseball, but eventually he made the move.

“It was something I kind avoided all my life,” Edey told AP. “I didn’t like people telling me what I should be doing with my life and it felt like that’s what people were doing with basketball. When I started playing competitively, that’s when I really fell in love with the sport.”

In Grade 10 at Leaside High School, Edey shifted focus away from baseball and started playing basketball with the Northern Kings basketball program and then onto the vaunted IMG Academy program in Florida and then to Purdue University.

Edey is 7’4″ and weighs in at more than 300 pounds. He is the tallest person to play in the NCAA’s Big Ten conference, and is the most dominant player in college basketball.

In the March Madness tournament, Purdue was a number one seed but lost in a historic upset to the 16th-seeded team from Fairleigh Dickinson, a small private university in New Jersey. It’s only the second time in the history of the tournament that has happened.

Edey just finished his junior year, and it is so far unclear whether or not he will declare himself eligible for the next NBA draft. He still has two years of college eligibility remaining, and could head back to Purdue to try to make a run for a national championship again in 2024.

He has also committed to playing for the Canadian men’s national basketball team for three years leading up to the Olympic Games in Paris, France.

Where Toronto’s Michelin-recognized chefs eat cheap: Jeffrey Bovis of Wynona

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1:22 pm

Although inflation has caused the cost of dining out to soar, there are many standout restaurants in the city with quality food at reasonable prices. And when it comes to restaurant recommendations, who better to trust than a chef — and a Michelin chef to boot!

Chef Jeffrey Bovis, recently awarded a Bib Gourmand for Wynona— a neighbourhood bistro serving up mouthwatering house-made pasta — recently shared his favourite affordable restaurant in Toronto where two can dine with wine for under $100. Read on to find out which spot he selected.

Chef Bovis wants to eat at: Magic Noodle

“They have several locations, but the quality of the locations can vary a lot. The one up by Willowdale (North York) is good,” he recently told us. “The lamb soup with hand-pulled noodles is good, and they also do a rolled onion pancake with sliced beef.”

Magic Noodle

Authentic hand-pulled noodles are made fresh daily at all four Magic Noodle locations. The no-frills Chinese eatery offers bouncy, chewy, customizable noodles, which are then served in a savoury slow-cooked stock that’s different from Japanese ramen. Thirteen varieties of soup noodles, including customer favourite, Magic beef, is topped with slices of braised beef shank that has been slow-cooked to perfection in their specialty marinade. A number of stir-fried and dry noodle dishes round out the menu, which also includes savoury snacks and small plates, like fresh squid that’s served sizzling, and, for the more adventurous, Chinese delicacy haggis soup is made with slow-cooked lamb organ meats, which give the stock a rich and fragrant flavour. It’s a prime spot for students, thanks to the generous portions and casual vibe. 93 Harbord St; 1383 16th Ave., Richmond Hill; 2190 McNicoll Ave., Scarborough; 5453 Yonge St., North York

If you want to know where chef Steven Molnar of Quetzal eats cheap, click here, for Rob Rossi of Osteria Guilia click here. And to find out where chefs Kate Chomyshyn and Julio Guajardo of Fonda Balam get an affordable meal, click here.

Here are the 11 Toronto eateries participating in Filipino Restaurant Month

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