Five spring safety tips for motorcycle riders

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3:58 pm

See all posts by Diamond and Diamond Lawyers

Spring marks the beginning of the motorcycle season, which means there is no better time for drivers and motorcyclists to brush up on their roadway safety tips.

“Unfortunately, fatality rates in motorcycle accidents are much higher than automobile accidents. As a result, it’s extremely important for motorcyclists to brush up on rules and safety precautions before hitting the roads this season,” says Diamond & Diamond’s Managing Partner, Sandra Zisckind.

Being Canada’s largest personal injury law firm, Diamond and Diamond is no stranger to the perils of motorcycle accidents. The firm’s dynamic leadership team, Sandra Zisckind, Isaac Zisckind and Jeremy Diamond, have broken down some important tips to consider this motorcycling season.

Dress for Your Ride

“You wouldn’t attempt to drive your car barefoot or shovel snow out of your driveway without a coat, so don’t jump on your motorcycle until you are properly dressed for the ride,” says Senior Partner, Jeremy Diamond.

It’s easy to get lost in the moment, grab your keys, and ride, but you will have a much safer trip if you take a minute to grab the proper outerwear. Motorcycles do not offer the same protection as enclosed vehicles, so it’s essential to wear a host of protective equipment, including a helmet, coat, pants, and gloves. Additionally, it’s important to wear eye protection when operating a motorcycle. Eye protection is essential when driving a motorcycle because it can help prevent bugs from impeding your vision when it matters most.

Always Check the Weather

The weather plays a significant role in road safety for all motorcyclists. Snow and rain can easily make it hard to see other vehicles and can dramatically reduce visibility in extreme conditions. Reflective clothing is a smart choice in all conditions, as it helps other drivers see you on the road. A quick flash of light against a reflective strip is the best way to alert drivers of your presence. While we recommend wearing reflective clothing at all times, it is absolutely essential for evening and night time rides.

Match Your Bike to Your Skill

It can be tempting to get on a big bike or a high-performance motorcycle when offered the chance because of the thrill and adrenaline rush, but it might not always be the wisest decision. Drivers of all vehicle types can get into trouble when biting off more than they can handle. Always make sure that you match your bike to your skill level.

Consider Enrolling in a Motorcycle Education Course

Government-approved motorcycle education courses are a great way to improve your road safety. “Motorcycle education courses are an essential element to remaining safe on the roads. Not only do these courses provide you up-to-date info on how to stay safe, but they also provide you with practical tips on how to avoid an accident on the roads,” says Diamond & Diamond Senior Partner, Isaac Ziskind.

Know What to Do if You Are Involved in an Accident

Accidents can happen – even to the best riders. You cannot predict what other drivers will do on the road, so knowing what actions to take after an accident is vital. If you can move, your first goal should be to move to safety and call 9-1-1. Additionally, it’s important to resist the urge to remove protective gear, as it may help bind injuries that you’re unaware of due to rushing adrenaline. After completing a medical examination, contact Diamond and Diamond Lawyers to discuss your case. Our lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call us anytime 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.

These are the best patios in Toronto’s Rosedale neighbourhood

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Megan Gallant

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This new midtown Toronto restaurant offers gems from under the sea

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Erica Commisso

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3:12 pm

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If you’re in the Midtown area and looking for the finest in food from the land and the sea, OysterMine should be next on your list. Think upscale dining without the stuffy, uptight atmosphere where you can sample a rotating oyster menu and food from all over the globe in a relaxed, modern interior.

Choose from classic freshly shucked oysters with all the fixings: cocktail sauce, mignonette and horseradish or switch things up and opt for loaded oysters chock-full of flavour in your choice of beet mignonette and pickled jalapeno, Thai mignonette and pickled Thai chili or Caesar mignonette and cherry tomato.

Looking to sample a little bit of everything from under the sea? The ultra-shareable OysterMine seafood platter might be a good choice. Ideal for larger groups of seafood lovers, the platter comes complete with oysters, cocktail shrimp, marinated mussels, seared ahi tuna, steamed half lobster, grilled baby octopus, crostini, lemon, warm butter, ponzu sauce, tartar sauce, sauce Vierge (a French sauce made from olive oil, lemon juice, chopped tomato and chopped basil) and offers the option to add snow crab legs for a little extra crunch.

Have someone in the group who doesn’t love seafood? Despite its moniker, OysterMine ensures that preference for something else won’t sacrifice flavour or options. Try the pan-seared quail drizzled in yuzu sauce with pickled ginger, potato salad topped with potato haystack or go simple and order chicken wings tossed in your choice of signature garlic pepper sauce, honey garlic, spicy sriracha or BBQ. If you’re already salivating, we haven’t even gotten to the entrees yet.

A long list of mains are up for grabs, anything from spicy mac and cheese to seafood paella, crab-stuffed lobster with caviar to steak and fries. At OysterMine, there’s something to please every palate.

Brunch is available on weekends and features all the breakfast menu favourites with a few seafood-inspired spins, like the Truffled Lobster Benedict (two poached eggs on toasted English muffins with a truffle and lobster country-style gravy) or your choice of a crab or shrimp omelet.

Swing by OysterMine at 2035 Yonge St. Tuesdays through Fridays for a sampling from under the sea.

The coolest cars on the planet are converging in Yorkville for Gumball rally

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Ron Johnson

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3:11 pm

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Over 100 high-speed and colourful cars will roll along Bay Street to Yonge and Dundas Square on May 27, starting off this year’s Gumball 3000 motor rally.

Founded by British entrepreneur Maximillion Cooper in 1999, the 2022 rally will travel from Toronto to Miami in seven days, from May 27 to June 2.

Toronto native and legendary music producer Deadmau5, who has participated in the rally over the years, and American rapper Bun B will kick off the event with a concert on Yonge Dundas Square on Friday, May 27 from 6 pm to 11 pm.

Gumball Rally — Deadmau5 (left) participating in 2014 (Photo: Gumball 3000)

The rally will officially begin on Saturday, May 28. Starting at 11 am, the cars will parade from Bay Street into Yonge-Dundas Square for the Gumball Flag drop. The last car is expected to leave at around 3 pm.

Gumball 3000 put out the celebrity line-up for the rally on its Instagram page. CeeLo Green, baseball star Ken Griffey Jr and American actor David Hasselhoff are among those expected to be there.

Attendants can nominate and donate to their favourite team through Gumball’s Charity Grid now live on their website. All donations will go to The Gumball 3000 Foundation, a nonprofit organization supporting underprivileged youth, according to their page.

Visit the website for more information about the 2022 Gumball rally.

This ice cream shop is so popular it attracted a line up for 10 hours straight

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Erica Commisso

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3:10 pm

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Summer temperatures are here, and with higher temperatures comes the desire to cool down with a sweet treat.

Ice Creamonology is the new kid on the block this year, with the lineups to prove it! Having taken over the space formerly occupied by Lick It Gelato, Ice Creamonology officially opened at 250 Queen’s Quay W. in March, having launched last year as a pop-up.

The 500-square-foot ice cream shop is run by owner Onur Yilmaz, who trained and worked as a chef in Turkey before immigrating to Canada and studying culinary management at George Brown College.

“My wife and I come from southern Turkey, where we have at least eight months of summer, and ice cream is one thing you need to eat every day or you’ll never cool down!” Yilmaz says with a laugh. “We have so many good memories of eating ice cream and I love to make it. I combine my culinary skills with making ice cream, and that’s one of the reasons it’s pretty popular – my flavour combinations are unique. Last weekend, we served 800 people and there was a constant line for 10 hours!”

All of the flavours are made in small batches using premium ingredients and are free from artificial colours and flavours. And, if you’re bored of plain flavours like strawberry and chocolate, you’re in luck – using fresh ingredients means the flavours at Ice Creamonology rotate with the seasons, so you’ll see unconventional scoops like southern banana pudding and sea salt with caramel ribbons. There are eight classic flavours that are a permanent fixture, including Turkish coffee, Turkish pistachio, roasted hazelnut, chocolate fudge brownies, Tahitian vanilla, blueberry and white chocolate cheesecake, coconut cream and mango sorbet (which are both vegan) and the most popular flavour, Black Sea tea, which packs an aromatic punch that’s quite similar to Earl Grey.

Plenty of refreshing sorbets are also available, including kiwi, mango, strawberry and a never-before-seen cucumber sorbet sprinkled with Mexican Tajin spice infused with lemon juice. All of the sorbets are vegan-friendly, and there is always at least one coconut cream-based option, too.

The best part? Ice Creamonology makes fresh waffle cones daily, and they’re free of charge. “We sell our ice cream in cups or by the cone, but even if you want a waffle cone, we can stick it on top,” Yilmaz says. “It doesn’t cost extra, and once you smell them, you’ll want one anyway!”

There are four available sizes which include a kiddy scoop ($4.5), a single scoop ($6), a double-kiddy scoop ($7) and a double scoop ($8.50), “which is actually more like a lunch,” Yilmaz jokes. Take-home pints are available for $12, as are a selection of lunch bags for $10. Available in a range of cute patterns, like avocado or lemon, each lunch bag can fit between two and three pints, making any one of them the perfect addition to your picnic. They’re also the perfect solution for those who don’t want their pints to melt on the way home to the freezer.

Ice Creamonology is currently open Tuesday to Sunday from 12 to 8 p.m.

From Black Lives Matter to a new dance work, artist Rodney Diverlus continues to inspire

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Ron Johnson

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2:43 pm

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After the pandemic pulled the plug on live performance over the past two years, Haitian-Canadian artist Rodney Diverlus is welcoming audiences back into “the joy and the magic of dance” with their new production.

“We’re presenting a simple and evocative and exciting group of comrades, a tribe of characters that have one mission in mind and it’s to welcome you into the space through a series of dance, movement, text, and physical theatre explorations,” Diverlus said.

Welcome, we’ve been waiting is set to take place at the Winchester Street Theatre, from May 19 to May 28, starting at 7:30 pm.

This work evolved from Diverlus’s residency through the RBC Pilot Episodes series at the Toronto Dance Theatre (TDT) last January. The residency program gives choreographers the chance to work with TDT company’s dancers for the first time.

“We use the chance also to ask ourselves, ‘How do we want to work? What has changed? What do moving and dancing look like and feel like in this new world?’” Diverlus said.

Featuring original music by 2022 Canadian Screen Award Winner TiKA, welcome marries different styles of dance such as lindy hop, kizomba, jazz and contemporary queer performance.

“I’ve always been interested in putting on stage the different aesthetics and the different styles that I’ve had the pleasure of training in,” Diverlus said.

Andrew Tay, TDT’s artistic director, said the production team has had to adapt to challenges caused by the many phases of COVID-19. Some rehearsals had been postponed, classes switched to zoom.

“Acceptance has become a major thing both on a philosophical and spiritual level,” Tay said about working during the pandemic. “Otherwise, we’re just going to be constantly frustrated and mad all the time.”

Described by Toronto Star’s Michael Crabb as one of the city’s fastest-rising dance talents, Diverlus is a graduate of Ryerson’s dance programme, and while at Ryerson, he became interested in student politics, which laid the groundwork for his work as an activist — later becoming the co-founder of Black Lives Matter Canada and the Wildseed Centre for Activism and Art co-creator.

Diverlus described this work as a milestone in their career. Although they’ve created works for Art Gallery of Ontario, Canadian Opera Company and more, welcome is their first full-length commission by a dance company.

“It was new territory for me. I had never worked with dancers that I hadn’t cast before,” they said. “It was exciting to also get a chance to learn.”

While choreographing this work, Diverlus said they moved at a slower pace. “We really have been really cautious to not overwork, to take ample breaks, to talk about things, to process things.”

Diverlus encouraged those who don’t go to live performances often to give the show a chance.

“With all that we’ve gone through with all that we still are going through, I think the antidote to a lot of our issues now is live performance,” Diverlus said.

Tickets ($20- $30) must be purchased in advance here.

TDT also offers tickets for a Livestream performance on May 20, as well as a Deaf/ASL interpretation of the performance on May 26.

A Pay-What-You-Can Night is available on May 25, which gives people a range of affordable prices to choose from with access to the entire performance.

9 amazing things to do this long weekend in Toronto

By

Julia Mastroianni

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1:24 pm

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electric-island-to — @electricislandto/Instagram

The Victoria Day long weekend is upon us, which means there’s lots happening across Toronto, from food and drink festivals to markets and live music. there’s bound to be an event (or two) that piques your interest.

Have a drink at FizzFest

What better way to celebrate the long weekend in Toronto than with a fizzy beverage or two? Happening Saturday and Sunday at Fort York Garrison Commons is FizzFest Toronto, Canada’s first event dedicated to premixed cocktails, hard sodas, seltzers, ciders, mixed drinks, wines and more. In addition to all the bubbly booze on offer there will also be live entertainment both days and food on site courtesy of Poutine Supreme, Hotdog Al, Meltwich and Oyster Boy.

Enjoy some ribs and craft beer

Make your way to Yonge-Dundas Square this weekend (Friday through Sunday) for the chance to fill up good old fashioned BBQ and craft beer. When you’re not sampling your way through the ribs and other grilled goodies, make your way to the Beer Market featuring local top brewers from across Ontario. There will also be live entertainment all three days of the festival, as well as giant yard games and classic carnival treats.

Shop the Asian Heritage Night Market

If you’re looking for something to do on Friday, Stackt Market will be hosting their very own Asian night market to celebrate Asian Heritage Month. The entire site will be filled with an Asian-owned small business vendor market, food and beverage specials, games and a lineup of DJs. The market is free to attend and runs from 4 to 11 p.m.

See some fireworks at Wonderland

If you happen to be at Canada’s Wonderland on Sunday, you can cap off your day of rides and roller coasters with a massive fireworks display. Weather permitting, when the park closes at 10 p.m., the 15-minute show begins featuring more than 6,000 colourful explosions that reach heights of over 800 feet. If you’re looking for fireworks closer to the city, you can head to Ashbridges Bay for 10 p.m.

Head to the Street Eats Festival in Scarborough

Hungry and looking for a fun place to fill up? Head to Scarborough for the Street Eats Festival happening May 20 to 23 at Scarborough Town Centre from noon to 8 p.m. Take your pick from over 150 menu items from local vendors including Rebozos Taqueria, Jerk Brothers, Beignet Shoppe, Ihalo Krunch, Made By Fire Pizza and many more. There will also be activities for kids like free face painting and a bouncy castle.

Check out Electric Island

You can celebrate 10 years of Electric Island on Sunday at Ontario Place on the west island. There will be music to groove to on three stages featuring international house and techno artists, along with some of Canada’s top electronic music talent. When you need to refuel, there will be a variety of food trucks to choose from on site.

Dance the night away at Sunnyside

Back after more than two years, the summertime staple of Sunnyside Pavilion’s roster of music events is back with Sunnyside 24. The fun is happening on Sunday from 5 to 11 p.m. and the star of the night is Derrick Carter, known for house music as well as soul, jazz and old-school disco. So don your best dancing shoes and get moving by the lake.

See a baseball movie classic

Any fans of the 1992 classic A League of Their Own starring Geena Davis, Tom Hanks, Madonna, Lori Petty and more can catch a celebratory screening of the iconic film this long weekend at Toronto’s Paradise Theatre on Sunday at 7 p.m.

Hit up a farmers’ market

This Monday, May 23 marks the first outdoor Sorauren Farmers’ Market, running from 3 to 7 p.m. Pack a reusable shopping bag or two and cap off your long weekend by stocking up on some mid-spring produce and locally made goodies.

Star chef Matty Matheson opens new restaurant he’s been planning in secret for six years

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Erica Commisso

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10:04 am

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There is no quit in Matty Matheson. After launching a collaboration with A&W recently, in addition to a slew of other projects including his own line of cookware (pictured above), he set his sights back on the one he’s been quietly working on for six years. Its name, we now know, is Prime Seafood Palace and it’s been in soft opening to family and friends this week.

Prime Seafood Palace is different from Matheson’s other ventures in that it appears to be a high-end space centred on unique takes on seafood. Shrimp, caviar, raw fish and more dot the Queen West restaurant’s menu, according to the Instagram posts of those who were lucky enough to be invited into the space.

Lobster and ricotta dumplings join Matheson’s molasses bread on the appetizer menu, rounding out a list of hearty meat and fish dishes (it wouldn’t be a Matty Matheson venture without some meat, after all), vegetable sides and a huge selection of sauces.

In terms of decor, Prime Seafood Palace appears to be a modern, clean and sophisticated design, with wooden details and a bathroom that made Toronto food stylist Michelle Rabin rave. “Oh and truly the nicest bathroom I’ve ever been in,” she wrote in her Instagram post.

Of course, Matheson has won international acclaim from his YouTube channel and television appearances, alongside skateboarding partnerships and operating some of Toronto’s most beloved food hotspots, including Fonda Balam and Maker Pizza.

His latest venture, Prime Seafood Palace, will officially open to the public on May 25. It’s located at 944 Queen St. W.

Yes, acclaimed rapper J Cole is playing pro basketball in Scarborough this year

By

Ron Johnson

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9:36 am

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Rapper J Cole is an icon, a chart-topper, a Grammy Award winner, and is now set to add to his extensive resume by signing on to play pro basketball with the Scarbrough Shooting Stars of the CEBL. No, it’s not the NBA, it’s not even the G-League, it’s one of many minor pro leagues throughout North America.

J Cole, born Jermaine Cole is a 37-year-old musician who has done everything as a rapper since his debut mixtape, The Come Up, was released in 2007. But, during his high school years in North Carolina, he was apparently a pretty fierce baller. He even made the St. John’s University team in college as a walk-on. That’s Division 1 NCAA basketball.

BREAKING: @sss_cebl have signed 6’3 guard, @JColeNC. He last played professionally in @theBAL. #LetsBall #OurGame pic.twitter.com/se2kb1ExJJ

— CEBL (@CEBLeague) May 20, 2022

It’s not a first for Cole, who played a season with the Patriots BBC of the Basketball Africa League in 2021.

Other roster signings include a mix of NCAA Division 1 players such as Kyle Alexander of the University of Tennessee Volunteers and others who have played in minor pro leagues as well as young Canadian university players including Aaron Rhooms who starred at Ryerson University.

The Canadian Elite Basketball League was founded in 2017 with six teams and has grown to 10 teams in six provinces including five teams in Ontario. This year, the Shooting Stars franchise was awarded a CEBL team after the league’s latest expansion. It is the CEBL’s first Toronto outpost.

Former NBA player and current Toronto Raptors staffer Jamaal Magloire serves as the Shooting Stars’ vice-president and senior adviser. Magloire was born in Toronto and played basketball at Eastern Commerce Collegiate in East Toronto on his way to the NCAA and NBA.

The club also signed on another well-known Canadian basketball player and Oakville native Brady Heslip as general manager this year.

The CEBL season kicks off on May 25 with playoffs set to begin on Aug. 4.

IKEA is finally opening its first downtown Toronto location this week

By

Nikki Gill

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2:49 pm

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Next week, residents living downtown won’t need to trek to North York or Etobicoke when trying to furnish their houses or condos because IKEA is finally opening a location in the heart of the city.

The new IKEA is opening on the northwest corner of Yonge Street and Gerrard Street in the Aura retail podium at 382 Yonge St. on May 25. Grand opening celebrations begin at 9 a.m., with the famous meatballs becoming available at 10 a.m.

“IKEA Canada is committed to becoming more accessible by bringing our stores closer to where Canadians live, work and socialize,” says Michael Ward, CEO and chief sustainability officer at IKEA Canada. “As one of the fastest growing cities in North America with a vibrant and diverse community, Toronto was a natural choice for us to launch our first downtown store.”

Of course the downtown location won’t be as expansive as the locations in the GTA, but it will take up the ground and second floor of the retail podium encompassing more than 66,000 square feet.

IKEA has slowly been expanding into more urban areas with smaller stores in major cities such as Paris, Moscow, Shanghai and more recently one in Queens, New York.

The smaller IKEA store in the Paris city centre

The downtown Toronto location will have a selection of more than 2,000 products that can be purchased immediately, with larger furniture items as display only and purchases of those pieces will be available for home delivery. This location will also focus on affordable, sustainable and small-space living solutions that are more friendly and useful for downtown dwellers.

And of course, there’s the food hall offerings as well. No IKEA trip is complete without a hot dog, pizza slice or some Swedish meatballs. The new location will feature a new food concept called the Swedish Deli.

Lugging a bed frame down the streets of Toronto just got a whole lot easier!

Join the ‘Friends’ at Central Perk in Toronto this summer

By

Nisean Lorde

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12:48 pm

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central perk from friends — The Central Perk

The Friends Experience is coming to Toronto this July (and Torontonians couldn’t be more excited). Fans of the classic ’90s sitcom can step inside the shoes of their fav characters by exploring set recreations and viewing original props and costumes.

The experience features 12 nostalgia-packed rooms and activations, including Monica’s kitchen, the Las Vegas wedding chapel where Ross and Rachel tied the knot, and the iconic Friends fountain.

Wearing ALL the clothes at the Friends Experience

The interactive space also provides opportunities to explore the show’s history, so you and your friends could recreate your favourite moments, including peeking around Rachel and Monica’s purple door, relaxing in Chandler and Joey’s recliner, helping Ross with the infamous sofa pivot, or even supping coffee at a recreated Central Perk (with the legendary orange couch)

An onsite retail store will feature exclusive products so you could get your fix of Friends paraphernalia (who wouldn’t want their own Friends Monopoly board?)

The experience will run from July 14, 2022 to January 2, 2023 in Toronto (click here for hours). Timed entry tickets are available starting at $34.50 plus taxes and fees.

Private access tickets are also available for groups of up to six or 10 guests (these tickets allow fans to visit the space in the morning before general ticketholders arrive as well as ensure maximum social distancing between groups for a more private experience).

This Toronto burger spot comes with a side of Persian home cooking

By

Erica Commisso

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10:43 am

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Burger Delicious is the latest in the city’s love affair with grab-and-go comfort foods. This new spot, just east of Yorkville on Church Street is offering up the typical burger joint menu items like juicy beef patties layered with cheese and veggies alongside chicken burgers and French fries cooked to crispy perfection. Opt for the Burger Delicious, the spot’s namesake burger, which features a beef patty, gooey melted cheese, fresh tomato, lettuce, onion, pickles, mushrooms and a house-made “special” sauce.

An eye-catching black and white sign welcomes you into the bright, airy space where you can dine in or order to go.

Burger Delicious is helmed by Mohammed Azizi, who is no stranger to the Toronto/GTA food scene. For years he owned and operated Vida Café and Lounge in Richmond Hill. At Vida, Mohammed served Persian food like kebab, Persian chicken and burgers and he’s brought some of that fresh, flavourful flair to his new venture. Vida Café is still operating, offering traditional dishes like the Fattoush salad, a Levantine salad made from toasted or fried pieces of khubz (Arabic flatbread) combined with mixed greens and other vegetables, like radishes and tomatoes.

What sets Burger Delicious apart from other tried-and-true burger joints in the city? In addition to fresh ingredients, a succinct menu that focuses on quality over quantity and a background in Persian home-cooking that brings items like a fatosh salad to the menu, the convenience that Azizi is particularly excited to offer reigns supreme.

“We have a parking lot,” says Azizi with a laugh. “We know how important that is for our downtown customers.”

Swing by the 820 Church St. spot starting next Tuesday, May 24 to dine in and try for yourself.