One of the largest Saint Laurent stores in the world is opening on Bloor Street next year
Known as Toronto’s Mink Mile, the stretch of Bloor Street bordering Yorkville has long been the city’s answer to New York City’s Fifth Avenue. So it’s no surprise that Saint Laurent has chosen a highly coveted spot along the street for their new flagship location in Toronto next year.
According to Retail Insider, the location will be one of the largest in the world for the brand, and certainly the largest in Canada — it’s set to cover 10,400 square feet in the street level space, more than double the 4,800 two-level Saint Laurent storefront in Vancouver.
The 110 Bloor St. W. location was previously occupied by J. Crew and Brooks Brothers, so the space is arguably getting an upgrade — brands including Alexander Wang and Anne Fontaine are also planning on moving in, along with wellness brand Othership, which will be opening below the new flagship.
Currently, there are two other Saint Laurent locations in Toronto, both coming in at around 3,000 square feet. Not too far down the road from where the flagship is set to open, Holt Renfrew houses a Saint Laurent concession featuring men’s and women’s fashion along with accessories. There’s also a standalone Saint Laurent store in Yorkdale.
There used to be a bags and accessories concession and ready-to-wear space in the downtown Saks Fifth Avenue, but earlier this year, Saint Laurent was one of four luxury brands to exit the Queen Street department store. The other brands to leave the store, Dior, Louis Vuitton and Burberry, each have their own standalone storefronts on Bloor Street, so perhaps it’s a smart move for the brand to join the club.
While the Mink Mile is already renowned for its luxury offerings, with neighbours such as Saint Laurent moving in, the hope is that even more high-end brands will make the decision to join on Bloor Street.
Toronto designer Christopher Bates on his new The Godfather tribute collection
Last year, designer Christopher Bates put down his fashion roots in Toronto, opening a multi-purpose office, showroom and content studio in the Eaton Centre. The designer, who has built up quite the reputation landing partnerships with the likes of Harry Rosen and Nordstrom, trained at the legendary Istituto Marangoni in Milan and made a name for himself in the menswear world before recently expanding into womenswear. Now, he’s taking that Italian influence to create a capsule collection in tribute to the 50th anniversary of legendary film The Godfather. He shares the details of his new designs, some trends he’s loving right now and his favourite places to go in Toronto.
What drew you to this collection?
The Godfather is widely regarded as one of the best films in history for good reason. The story, the acting, the direction, the costumes — it’s all brilliant. Sartorially, it really is a period piece, set in New York in 1945, so the influence is very classic: suits, waistcoats, topcoats. But it’s hard to sell tailored clothes off the rack, so the core of the collection is elevated basics — T-shirts, hoodies, bomber jackets.
And then we did one very special Don Vito Corleone tuxedo, where I remade the one he wore in the film. It features custom Leone family crest lining, a Don Vito Corleone label on the inside, tone-on-tone satin trim and even a rose lapel pin with each jacket.
What current fashion trends are you loving?
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but the ’90s style is back, and I’m actually feeling it. Oversized track jackets, sheer and mesh for women especially under a blazer — it’s all a really cool look. Bomber jackets are totally in. They’re almost always in, but I’m seeing a lot of different silhouettes, fabrics and styles now.
Two that you aren’t a fan of?
I don’t like the really wide leg pant trend we’re seeing right now. I also don’t like loud logos — a lot of high-end designer brands are putting way too many logos on their clothes right now, and it’s just distracting.
Your favourite Toronto store?
I love George C. in Yorkville, and Gotstyle in the Distillery — the owner gave me my first purchase order back in 2009!
Here’s where to find the best Nashville hot chicken in Toronto
If you like your chicken deep fried with an extra spicy punch, Nashville hot chicken just might be your new favourite bird. Perfectly crispy with a super fiery kick, the number of places to grab this dish in the city is growing exponentially. Here’s where to find the best Nashville hot chicken in Toronto.
Chica’s Chicken
Husband-and-wife team, Carolyn and Matthew Pelechaty love friend chicken. So much so that after a trip to Nashville they opened Chica’s Chicken in the Junction to immediate success. Incorporating their own ideas and flavours, Chica’s has created a unique version of Nashiville hot chicken with each piece dry-brined with a blend of their own in-house spices — even their Carolina reapers and ghost peppers are blended by hand to ensure they are using the hottest peppers possible! Choose from six heat levels that range from plain to hot af (extremely hot) and delicious options that include sandwiches like the OG
Chen Chen’s Nashville Hot Chicken
For a delicious dose of Southern comfort food, head to Chen Chen’s Nashville Hot Chicken located on Queen West First starting as a pop-up, the chicken used here is certified halal from Ontario’s Sargent Farms and is available to order in five different heat levels. On the menu are sandwiches and tenders as well as fixins’ and shareables like mac n’ cheese, creamy potato salad and sweet chili cauliflower. 1184 Queen St. W.
Porchetta & Co.
Did you know that along with their delicious namesake porchetta sandwich, Porchetta and Co. also makes a killer Nashville hot chicken sandwich too? Made from a buttermilk fried chicken thigh, it’s topped with lettuce, bread and butter pickles, mayo and served on a Martin’s potato roll. Sides include rapini, french fries, creamy coleslaw and roasted potatoes. 545 King St. W.
Frankie’s Nashville Hot Chicken
The folks at Frankie’s Nashville Hot Chicken are so serious about fried chicken that they’ve pledged to push the limits on heat and flavour when it comes to their sandwiches and chicken strips. Marinating their chicken for 36 hours, choose from traditional ‘Nashville Hot’ or you can kick it up a few notches to ‘Hot AF’ (as Frankie!). You can make it a platter with the resto’s house-made Dill With it pickle coleslaw and curly fries. 930 Dixon Rd.
THG’s Hot Chicken
After serving the community for more than a decade from his beloved food truck, Le Cordon Bleu trained chef Aleem Syed opened the first brick-and-mortar location of THG’s Hot Chicken earlier this year. The Nashville hot chicken sandwich is made with two jumbo tenders and then topped with cheese, pickles, slaw and their signature Comeback sauce. The menu also includes burgers and a handful of sides like dirty mac and cheese topped with tenders and green onions as well as slaw and hot fries. 4830 Sheppard Ave. E.
Here’s where you can buy TikTok’s most popular houseplants in Toronto
In recent years, having houseplants has become a personality type, with people of all ages embracing their green thumb and filling their spaces with air purifying, aesthetically pleasing plants of all kinds. So it’s no surprise that indoor plants are all over TikTok, whether they’re featured in envy-worthy lifestyle videos or the main star in creators’ “plant baby” tours.
Now, a new study conducted by Allaboutgardening.com has identified the most aesthetically pleasing houseplants based on video views.
The cactus-like succulent aloe vera has earned the top spot, amassing over 2.3 billion views on the platform. In addition to sitting pretty on a shelf or desk, the plant produces a gel-like substance, aloe, which can be squeezed out and applied topically to skin ailments like sunburns.
Interested in hopping on the trend and filling your space with TikTok’s favourite plant? You’re in luck! Aloe vera is known to be relatively easy to maintain, thriving well in direct sunlight and warmer temperatures.
The second most popular houseplant on TikTok is the pothos plant, more commonly known as Devil’s ivy. Between the scientific name and the nickname, Devil’s ivy has amassed 312.4 million views on TikTok.
In third place is the Swiss cheese plant, known by its scientific name as Monstera deliciosa. There have been 242 million views under TikTok hashtags related to the plant. The plant is incredibly popular mainly due to the fact that it’s relatively easy to take care of and rarely gets any diseases – ideal for anyone wanting to try their hand at plant parenthood.
The Sansevieria, more commonly known as the snake plant, is the fourth most popular houseplant, according to TikTok. The plant is said to have toxin-absorbing properties, evident in much of the TikTok content if you take a quick scroll through the hashtag and earning 161.9 million views.
Rounding out the top five is the fiddle-leaf fig, known scientifically as Ficus lyrata. The hashtag “fiddle-leaf fig” has amassed 94 million views, while its scientific name has garnered 15.6 million views. The fiddle-leaf fig is a popular indoor tree featuring very large, heavily veined and glossy violin-shaped leaves that grow upright on a sleek trunk. This plant makes an ideal statement plant in a room that has space for it to grow tall — sometimes up to ten feet!
Want to hop on the trend and adorn your home, apartment or office with TikTok’s hottest greenery? We’ve rounded up some local Toronto shops where you can score your next plant baby.
Chive Inc.
Chive has made its recent Queen West storefront its Canadian headquarters. You won’t be able to resist stepping into the shop after passing by the floor-to-ceiling windows displaying some of the store’s coolest greenery, including tiny succulents and massive monsteras. 837 Queen St. W.
Dynasty Plant Shop
This Dupont Street plant shop specializes in high quality tropical plants and cacti. Not only that, but the plant parlour is well versed in how botanicals and interior design go hand in hand, so it’s the place to go for newbies trying to fiture out what plants will fit where in their home space. 1250 Dupont St., Unit 1
Davenport Garden Centre
Though this garden centre used to have three locations, they’ve since shuttered their Bayview Avenue and Danforth Avenue locations. But the remaining one, at Davenport Road and Dupont Street, is pretty great! Visit for a stellar selection of potted indoor plants, including all five of TikTok’s hottest plants. 368 Davenport Rd.
Promise Supply Plants at stackt
Located within the stackt market, this plant shop is pretty cool. Specializing in indoor plants and featuring everything from a teeny six-inch cactus to a towering six-foot lime tree, they really do have it all! 28 Bathurst St.
Beech Nursery
This garden centre right in the heart of the Toronto Port Lands is a true delight for any passionate plant parents. Explore your options, from A (the Aglaonema plant) to Z (the ZZ plant or Zanzibar gem), and know that you’ll want to return in April to explore their stunning collection of outdoor plants! 4 Carlaw Ave.
Authentic Texas BBQ blows into the GTA
This BBQ spot provides patrons with a pseudo-religious experience outside of church, proving you don’t have to have faith to get holy. Look no further than Holy Smoke, Thornhill’s latest in boldly flavoured BBQ.
Opening up shop in the GTA this past summer, the spot is true to its name, welcoming diners with kitschy-cool decor, including an image of Moses holding up a brisket, Noah and Angel motifs and some eye-catching neon signs. Backing up the immaculate vibes is the food, which boasts a menu that stays true to central Texas BBQ.
“Texas is huge. So our food is focused around central Texas: Austin, Lexington and Taylor. Barbecue sauce is served on the side of all our meats. We don’t sauce any of our meats, nor do we offer all the trimmings you often
find at other barbecue restaurants,” says Dino Pantelidis, co-owner and pitmaster of Holy Smoke.
Instead, he prefers to focus on what really matters, the “Texas trinity,” which includes brisket (USDA prime), turkey and pork ribs in addition to jalapeno sausage and pulled pork. Pantelidis has spent over a decade honing his craft, learning from the best in BBQ across the USA, including award-winning pitmasters like the late Mike Mills and Dan Hixon, who have over 700 awards and three world championships between the two of them. This mentorship, coupled with years in the food industry working on the breakfast, brunch and catering scene, led Pantelidis to open Holy Smoke (with co-owners Michael Dimitrievski and George Sterjovski), combining his experience in the food industry and passion for BBQ and central Texas eats.
“While meat is definitely the star of the show, a ton of love goes into our side dishes too,” Pantelidis adds. In addition to all the Texas classics, diners can get mac and cheese, coleslaw, creamy dill potato salad, macaroni salad, Holy Smoke baked beans and fresh-made jalapeno cheddar cornbread to round out any meal.
Holy Smoke is located at 8123 Yonge St. spot and is open Tuesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (or until sold out).
Jeanne Beker’s festive family T.O. fashion guide
One of C
anada’s most trusted authorities on style and fashion, Jeanne Beker has covered the industry for more than 30 years. Now watch her in her current style editor role on TSC’s Style Matters with Jeanne Beker or tune into her new podcast Beyond Style Matters, available wherever you get your podcasts.
The perfect thing for everyone from moms and grandmas to kids and pets (and even your bestie!): Jeanne has selected the city’s best gift-ready finds from this season’s biggest fashion trends.
FOR MOM
“Plaid is huge this season, and this is a beautiful colour combination. It’s huge and could be worn almost as a shawl! It looks absolutely sumptuous and I love the coloration in it.” TNT, $410, 394 Eglinton Ave. W.
FOR GRANDMA
“This is beautiful. It’s got a bold graphic design, really luxurious. And it just looks comfy, cosy and really chic. Any stylish grandma would love that, I’m sure!” Freda’s, $430, 45 Elm St.
FOR DAD
“This spiderweb design is really unusual and different from a typical puffer. You know you’re getting incredible quality with Moncler. If you’re going for a high-end jacket that can be worn skiing, this is the one.” Moncler via Holt Renfrew, $2,240, 50 Bloor St. W.
FOR YOUR BESTIE
“It looks absolutely cosy and is a timeless piece that you will always have in your wardrobe. Sweater vests might be a trend, but this doesn’t look trendy. It’s a classic with this fine merino wool.” Judith & Charles via Nordstrom, $484, 260 Yonge St.
FOR THE DOG
“It’s classic chunky knit, like the old sweaters that your mom or your grandmother used to make — a real homemade feel. With the reindeer on it, it’s so seasonal. I just think it’s adorable.” Dogfather & Co., $56, 1007 Yonge St.
FOR THE KIDS
“This is great to wear après-ski or just hanging out. It’s a pullover and it’s fleece, so it’s nice and cuddly. I love this gorgeous, dreamy graphic scene with all those great colours in it.” H&M, $32.99, 1 Bass Pro Mills Dr.
Award-winning immersive art walk returns to The Junction
Window Wonderland—Toronto’s award-winning immersive urban art walk—returns for its third year, now until January 1st, 2023.
The streets of the Junction have once again transformed into a magical outdoor gallery featuring 24 augmented reality (AR) installations. Presented by The Junction BIA and Isaan Der Authentic Thai Kitchen, the free exhibition showcases local and international artists who have come together to create an immersive experience uniquely connecting the Junction neighbourhood over the holiday season.
Carol Jolly, Executive Director of The Junction BIA, says, “Window Wonderland is our signature event that provides patrons with a free, unique, accessible, and fun way to engage with public art and support local businesses while spending quality time with family and friends.”
Jolly continues, “We hope to introduce visitors to a type of art they may not have seen before while inspiring future artists! Now, more than ever, we must contribute to these initiatives that make Toronto special.”
Her animator counterpart Benjamin Mitchley from South Africa adds, “The event has provided me with a platform to showcase my work internationally. With The Junction BIA’s generous support to local and international creators, an interactive exhibition like Window Wonderland can only grow in strength.”
In addition to the art installations, every Saturday between 2 PM and 4 PM, from December 3rd until 24th, visitors to the Junction can enjoy a FREE street performance produced by the award-winning, world-renowned dance company CORPUS. “The Alpine Merry Sheep Choir” will take over the streets of the Junction and provide a family-friendly performance of funny, heart-warming sheep singing Christmas carols.
For more information on this year’s exhibition and artists, please visit torontojunction.ca.
[Featured Image Courtesy: Jae Yang Photography – Business: Evangeline Residence, Muralist: Poonam Sharma, Animator: Sara Santos]
North of Brooklyn takes on Maker in midtown: new location opens January
Beloved Toronto pizzeria North of Brooklyn is expanding yet again. Not long after opening Better Half Bar on the Danforth, they’ve announced that their sixth location will open midtown at 1728 Avenue Rd., in January — just a few blocks away from another Toronto pie fave, Maker Pizza.
“We’ve been hearing, ‘When are you coming North?’ from customers from years now,” said Josh Spatz, co-owner of North of Brooklyn. “We found a location we liked, and decided to make it happen!”
The new spot will have a 25-seat dining room, making it larger than many of North of Brooklyn’s other locations. Along with an array of delicious pizza options and menu favourites like The Killer Bee, topped with mozzarella, Calabrese sausage, jalapeños, pickled red onions, oregano and honey, the menu at the North York location will also include oven baked chicken wings (dine-in only) which they introduced at their 663 Greenwood Ave. location last year.
Spatz said that there will also be craft beer by the can and bottle and a selection of wines that pair well with pizza.
North of Brooklyn is not just a local fave; earlier in the year, Barstool president and One Bite pizza reviewer, Dave Portnoy visited Toronto to rank the city’s pies and was so impressed he gave North of Brooklyn his highest score of 8.4 — one of the highest rankings Portnoy has ever given.
“This can go basically toe to toe with any pizza I’ve ever eaten, it’s that good,” he said.
The new location of North of Brooklyn will open on January 3.
