This west-end neighbourhood was just named Canada’s fastest-growing centre of new music

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11:38 am

New music at Burdock concert hall — Burdock Music Hall, Shannon Dooks Instagram

The Dufferin–Dovercourt Village neighbourhood was Canada’s fastest-growing area for new music creators in 2021, according to data collected by the Society of Composers, Authors, and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN).

The list was determined by analyzing the number of songwriters, composers, and music publishers who became SOCAN members in 2021 per sortation area, according to the first three characters of Canadian postal codes, with populations of 20,000 or more.

Dufferin-Dovercourt Village had the highest concentration of new SOCAN members, while Brampton had substantial growth in the number of new songwriters and composers registering new memberships with SOCAN in 2021, with three regions featured on the list. For example, drop into the Common coffee shop on Bloor on any given afternoon chances are high you’ll find a musician or two. Just saying.

Canada’s Fastest-Growing Centre of New Music Creators: Toronto’s Dufferin-Dovercourt Village: https://t.co/erhwWObilW pic.twitter.com/ni16aPoAL4

— SOCAN (@SOCANmusic) April 20, 2022

Two other Toronto neighborhoods appeared on the list: downtown Toronto CN Tower/King & Spadina/Harbourfront West/Bathurst Quay (M5V) and Brockton-Parkdale Village/Exhibition Place (M6K). The list also includes four Montreal neighbourhoods, although clearly not as high up on the list as Toronto so:

Dufferin-Dovercourt Village, Toronto (postal code prefix M6H)
Brampton North, Ontario (L6P)
Downtown Toronto CN Tower/King & Spadina/Harbourfront West/Bathurst Quay (M5V)
Brampton West, Ontario (L7A)
Outremont, Montréal (H2V)
Brampton Northwest, Ontario (L6R)
Brockton-Parkdale Village/Exhibition Place, Toronto (M6K)
Hochelaga, Montréal (H1W)
Centre-Sud North, Montréal (H2K), Petite-Patrie Southwest, Montréal (H2S)

SOCAN also identified Canadian neighbourhoods with the highest rates of successful music creators per capita, based on total performing rights and reproduction rights royalties earned via SOCAN in the calendar year — six Toronto neighborhoods made this list:

Petite-Patrie Southwest, Montréal (H2S)
India Bazaar/The Beaches West, Toronto (M4L)
Davisville North, Toronto (M4P)
The Annex-North Midtown-Yorkville, Toronto (M5R)
Christie, Toronto (M6G)
Studio District, Toronto (M4M)
Dufferin-Dovercourt Village, Toronto (M6H)
Plateau Mont-Royal North Central, Montréal (H2J)
Amherstburg, Ontario (N9V)
Centre-Sud South, Montréal (H2L)

In terms of the total number of new songs and compositions registered with SOCAN by members in 2021, 7 Toronto regions are included in the top 10:

West Applewood/West Dixie/NW Lakeview, Mississauga, Ontario (L4Y)
Dufferin-Dovercourt Village, Toronto (M6H)
Kamloops Northwest, British Columbia (V2B)
Petite-Patrie Southwest, Montréal (H2S)
CN Tower/King and Spadina/Harbourfront West/Bathurst Quay, Toronto (M5V)
Regent Park/Port of Toronto (M5A)
India Bazaar/The Beaches West, Toronto (M4L)
Brockton-Parkdale Village/Exhibition Place, Toronto (M6K)
Woodbine Heights, Toronto (M4C)
Rua Aþores/Trinity, Toronto (M6J)

“Canada’s songwriters and composers are your next-door neighbours,” said SOCAN CEO Jennifer Brown. “They live and work among all of us, helping to drive our economy with their incredible talent. Canadians might not realize that music creation is all around every one of us and, even through the pandemic, they’ve been working to elevate our local and national culture and identity with their invaluable work, amplifying Canada’s global reputation for creativity.”

Toronto’s Russian tea room closes for rebranding

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Julia Mastroianni

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10:35 am

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A photo of three Moscow Tea Room signs pasted along the front window of 161 Yorkville Ave.

UPDATE: The first Russian tea room in Toronto will be no more. The team behind the Yorkville space announced that Moscow Tea Room is permanently closing on April 24, and will rebrand. Removing all traces of Russia (as the Toronto bar opened during the pandemic and just before Russia attacked Ukraine) is the key message from the operating group. The bar will become JOI on Avenue.

The tea room will be located at the corner of Yorkville Ave. and Avenue Rd.

Moscow Tea Room is moving in at 161 Yorkville Ave. The location is the second of its kind in Canada, with the original Moscow Tea Room located in Byward Market in Ottawa. Toronto’s tea room is projected to open by mid-August, though a representative from the company couldn’t confirm an exact date.

The original tea room has a long history of hosting all kinds of high-profile guests, including federal ministers, mayors and entertainment industry moguls. The new location in Yorkville is likely to attract a similar clientele.

Abbis Mahmoud, the mastermind behind Moscow Tea Room, previously launched other well-known venues in the city, including Orchid Nightclub, Tequila Jacks, the Brunswick House and Lobby.

A rendering of the proposed design for the exterior of the location. Credit: Bukhari Design Build

Toronto’s Moscow Tea Room will be filling a hole in the market left behind by location’s previous occupants, Sorelle and Co., which offered an allergen-free high tea service and closed its doors in 2018. The spot has been vacant since then.

The Russian-style tea room in Ottawa offers an elevated menu of appetizers, seafood, champagne and more, including fresh oysters, braised short ribs and the Moscow special: a seafood platter for $90 including Atlantic lobster, shrimp cocktail, mixed sashimi and salmon tartare. Ilon Tyan, director of marketing with Dreammind Group, the team behind the new launch, says the Toronto location will offer high tea, dinner and late night menu options to choose from.

Tyan says the design is inspired by Russian opulence, art and adventure. “This is a true four wall experience venue, as if you have just stepped foot into a private salon of Russian royalty.”

A proposed rendering for the design of the interior of the tea room. Credit: Bukhari Design Build

Toronto’s tea room follows in the footsteps of the iconic Russian Tea Room in New York City. The restaurant has been around for over 90 years, and is a globally-renowned institution in the city famous for its luxe décor and fine dining.

“Yorkville is one of the most prestigious locations possibly in the country, a perfect home for this elegant and breathtaking concept,” Tyan says.

Go back in time to the Roaring Twenties at this new afternoon tea

By

Erica Commisso

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9:27 am

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St. Regis prohibition — St. Regis on Instagram

This summer just got a whole lot more Instagrammable, thanks to the St. Regis Toronto. The launch of its Rhythm & Blooms pop-up will feature springy twists on the hotel’s ‘signature rituals’ like afternoon tea, live music and a brand new seasonal cocktail program.

Swing by the hotel from April 22nd through to July 31st for a variety of signature events inspired by the Astors, The St. Regis founding family, who practiced these same traditions for centuries and, through time, have come to define the hotel collection.

St. Regis prohibition tea — St. Regis on Instagram

Join the St. Regis for Prohibition Afternoon Tea, taking place in the swanky Astor room decorated with blooming cherry blossom trees, shareable prohibition-era style ‘iced’ teapot cocktails, as well as a reimagined menu of spring-inspired sweet and savoury bites. The hotel’s lobby-lounge will also feature exquisite signature gin cocktails in partnership with Whitley Neill Gin, the UK’s #1 Selling Premium Gin, live jazz music on Fridays and Saturdays from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and the daily champagne sabering ritual at 6:00 p.m.

Afternoon Tea is available for $77 per person and takes place in Astor Lounge, located lobby-level, on Saturdays and Sundays. Prohibition Afternoon Tea is an add-on for $20 per teapot (serves two cocktails).

Prohibition Tea — St. Regis on Instagram

Another St. Regis signature ritual, The Evening Ritual, has been given a special twist for spring. Along with the dramatic pop of the daily champagne sabering, Astor Lounge will offer signature gin and tonic cocktails inspired by cities around the world, from Whitley Neill Gin. The pop-up will also feature a new cocktail menu with fresh libations such as the Toronto 75 and the Caroline Sour, named after the Astor family matriarch, Caroline Astor, and featuring the hotel’s signature tea blend, Midnight Blossom tea-infused syrup. You can take part in The Evening Ritual seven days a week at 6:00 p.m. in the Astor Lounge.

Space is limited for both events, and reservations must be booked in advance directly via OpenTable.

What is Matty Matheson up to?

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Erica Commisso

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5:16 pm

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Matty Matheson A&W — CNW Group/A&W Food Services of Canada Inc.

If you travel across the United States, Matty Matheson’s name is one of the most recognized in the Canadian food scene. He’s known for his YouTube channel and frequent appearances on Vice’s show Munchies. He also has a partnership with a skateboard company, and his eccentric personality has made him wildly popular.

His recent partnership, though, is somewhat puzzling. Reminiscent of Snoop Dogg’s partnership with Skip The Dishes. A&W x Matty Matheson is a limited-run collaboration that revealed the “Best-Burger-Ever Burger,” a 4oz grass-fed, prime rib patty, real cheddar cheese, fried pickles, grilled onions, and garlic aioli on a buttery brioche bun.

“This is the burger collaboration Canada has been waiting for!” Matheson says in a press release. “A&W asked me to help make the best-tasting burger ever—and I totally nailed it. Starting with the best ever cut of the best ever grass-fed beef made simple.”

The burger will be available at select A&W locations across Canada, beginning April 25. It’s a great campaign for A&W, which has attached a big name in Matheson to a kind of traditional burger. He knows his meat, though, so the idea that many will flock to try it is not an unreasonable one.

“Brand collaborations are popping up everywhere these days – but we were on the lookout for a true burger fan, who knows their beef, to partner with,” says Julia Cutt, director of brand communications and digital marketing at A&W Canada. “Matty is the perfect fit for A&W, and we’ve teamed up to take our grass-fed beef to the next level. We can’t wait for Canadians to try what we’ve created together!”

But, it seems strange that Matheson, who has a reputable name and many meat-oriented restaurants under his belt, including Maker Pizza, Matty’s Patty’s (another burger joint), and Matty Matheson’s Meat + Three in Fort Erie, where he grew up. It’s certainly an interesting choice to partner with A&W for a new venture, and maybe a decision that Matheson did not need to make.

Nonetheless, the A&W collab will run from April 25 for a limited, but not specified, time.

How CBC’s Andrew Chang met the love of his life at a chemistry party

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lindsaylow

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3:48 pm

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Andrew Chang moved to Toronto, when he became the co-host of CBC’s The National, and brought his wife Caro and two kids along with him. After bouncing around a few ’hoods, they chose Yonge and Eglinton as their own. Here he dishes on how their love story began.

How they met

Caro and I met at a chemistry party — no joke! She was pursuing her master’s in chemistry. I was a junior reporter at CBC Montreal. Not exactly overlapping social circles, but we had a mutual friend. That night, I remember plopping down on the couch, joining a game of cards and sharing my hand with a woman whose smile could fill a room. We were scooched in nice and tight.

The first date

Our first date was later that night: we ducked out to shoot some pool. She grew up speaking French at home, so I spent a good chunk of the night trying to impress her with my own French. Except I was running a big bluff. My vocabulary was terrible back then, but I have an absolutely impeccable accent when speaking in short bursts. “Oui, bien sûr, j’chouis à l’aise en français!” Needless to say, she was very impressed (and my French eventually got much better).

Memorable moments

One of our more ambitious camping trips was a three-day portage in the Adirondacks. The problem: a couple of days earlier, I contracted a nasty stomach bug in hospital, which only started to hit me after we’d already crossed a few lakes. I was completely incapacitated. She managed to get us back to civilization virtually on her own — setting up and tearing down camp, making meals, lugging gear and all that paddling! I still think of her as my superhero.

The proposal

I wanted to propose by a small lake at Mont Tremblant, except I was so nervous we ended up walking the entire circumference of the lake. Like we actually ran out of lake. I think at this point she wanted to head back to the village and get on with our day, but I insisted we keep walking. She must have been so confused. Fortunately for the both of us, I eventually summoned the courage to drop to one knee and ask the most important question of my life. Her answer was perfect.

The wedding and honeymoon

Our wedding was in Montreal at the Museum of Fine Arts, in a beautiful glass room overlooking the city — and was more of a party than a wedding. We honeymooned in Hawaii: (on) Big Island and Maui. It was the best trip of our lives. We swam in the ocean with dolphins, hiked for hours to roast marshmallows on flowing lava and almost got swallowed whole by manta rays. The mai tais and pineapple were pretty good too.

The kids

Two smart, beautiful, devilish little girls: Arianna and Chloé. I think of them as my little ninjas: I encourage them to climb and jump on almost anything and everything in our home. Life’s just one big obstacle course anyway, no?

Balancing careers and marriage

My days are pretty long — my first meeting is at 9:45 a.m. and I don’t get home until close to midnight — so we find time where we can. It helps that we share so many interests and friends, but I think a good rule of thumb is to always be thinking of the other person first. Be understanding. Everybody wins.

Shared hobbies

Everything! And the interests we don’t share we usually end up sharing eventually. We try to have an open mind that way: camping, canoeing, hiking, snowboarding, music, gaming, you name it.

The home

We just bought a two-bedroom condo near Yonge and Eglinton. Yonge and Eg just seemed like the perfect mix of hustle and bustle, interesting places, great eating and family friendliness.

Life after retirement

Probably doing a lot of hiking or doting on grandkids or playing board games or snuggling in a log cabin somewhere. Or all of the above.

Catch Andrew Chang on The National weeknights at 10 p.m. on CBC.

A fine Nigerian cuisine pop up is happening in Toronto for one night only

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Erica Commisso

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9:23 am

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Chef Adetomi “Imoteda” Aladeokomo is back again, bringing her wildly successful fine Nigerian cuisine pop up, called Oremi, to Toronto for a second straight month.

In Yoruba, a language spoken in Nigeria and other parts of West Africa, Oremi means friend. And, as the event postings reveal, Chef Imoteda thinks of all of her guests as friends, cooking a five course meal that would indicate she actually thinks of them as best friends. To start, a welcome glass of prosecco greets the chef’s friends for the evening, followed by a dinner and cocktail experience that’s sure to impress and appease the senses.

The first course features small chops, or Nigerian finger foods, including a roasted pepper sauce served with green pea akara (similar to a fritter) and mosa, which is a snack made from over-ripe, deep fried plantains. Pepper soup, oseoji (seared duck breast with eggplant and spiced peanut butter), asari (braised lamb, yam porridge, goat cheese and salad) and a banana bread dessert called emeka round out the experience. The emeka is served a la mode, with yaji vanilla ice cream, chocolate mousse and topped with a salted caramel. Each dish is served with one of the chef’s signature cocktails.

The first Oremi pop up, was held on March 27. It was so successful that Chef Imoteda, who is an expat from Lagos, Nigeria, decided to host a second event on April 24. She has culinary training from Le Cordon Bleu, and has been showing off her skills across Toronto ever since she relocated to the GTA.

The pop up event will be held at Le Dolci in the Junction, at 12 Sousa Mendes Street.

How to start roller skating in Toronto this season

By

Megan Gallant

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3:05 pm

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Michka in Motion — Michka by Genesis Anne of @visuallygenesis

A stylish new hobby is hitting the streets of Toronto and it’s giving us flashbacks to the 1970s. In the early months of lockdown in 2020, roller skates were rolling off the shelves. Now with the success of downtown’s Retro Rolla and the opening of Nitro Skate, roller skating is becoming even more trendy.

To fully release your inner roller skater, we’ve consulted with one of the city’s top aficionados.

Michka is a roller-skating enthusiast who found a love for the sport in 2018 after spending a day renting at Scooter’s Roller Palace. Now Michka is showing off her newfound talent online with over 42K Instagram followers and 187K TikTok followers.

The Torontonian was kind enough to sit down with us and offer up some beginner tips for learning to skate like a pro.

Buying roller skates and equipment

A quick internet search for skates will have you shocked at the number of styles available. But the best for beginners is the quad skate, which is the original style with two wheels at the front and two at the back. This is easier to balance on than the inline skates, which have the wheels lined up in a row. These ones (which are often called rollerblades) are better for roller hockey or speed skating rather than for recreational use.

More importantly, the quads are the trendier ones!

“I would definitely recommend Riedell to any beginner,” says Michka.

Riedell is an ice and roller skate brand and is the maker of the Moxi skates, which are the brightly coloured retro style skates that you’ve probably seen all over Instagram the last few months. Michka likes the high-cut, heeled boots as they’re easier to balance on. Roller skates should fit snug and typically match your regular shoe size.

The next piece of equipment you’ll need is padding. “Safety gear is very important,” says Michka, “especially when you’re starting out. I have my knee pads, elbow pads, wrist pads.”

For extra precaution, helmets are a good idea too. With all the protective gear, you won’t be afraid of getting hurt and will be able to skate more freely.

You can get all this protective gear in the groovy colours that match your roller skates at a new shop that just opened its first physical location in East York this past weekend. Nitro Skates is run by two members of the Toronto Roller Derby League including skating sensation, Nitro Gena. While selling everything you’ll need to get started, Nitro Skates additionally runs group and one-on-one lessons for those in need of basic skating skills or those looking to learn to street skate.

Balancing on skates

For people who aren’t familiar with ice skating already, the best way to learn to stand on skates is to get on all fours with your hands and knees on the ground. Then, very carefully, bend one knee so you’re resting on one skate and have the other knee on the ground still. Put all your weight on one thigh and slowly push yourself up.

Now that you’re in standing position, Michka says to waddle like a duck.

“Your back should be straight with your chin up. It’s okay to bring your torso forward a little bit so that you can have balance. Arms out also helps to keep your balance and make your core tight.”

When Michka was just learning, she relied on YouTube tutorials to help her master the sport.

“There are a lot of roller skaters out there that are professionals, and they offer a lot of great tips. And YouTube is a great resource for how to get started and how to get moving.”

Falling, tricks, and feeling the music

When you begin any sport or activity, it’s common to feel anxious or worried about falling. Nobody wants to get hurt! The best way to protect yourself when roller skating is to practice the cannonball technique. This, Michka explains, means getting into a squatting position and wrapping your arms around your knees. If you do this when you feel like you might be about to fall, it will help you regain your balance and you can get back to skating!

Once you’re balanced and gliding away, why not try some fun tricks? Michka’s favourites for beginners include Shoot The Duck, which involves squatting down and sticking out one of your legs, Dribbling which is essentially just moonwalking, and Silly Legs, which involves making an S-shape with your legs.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CRo2YlJjMk7/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading

Check out Michka’s Many Minute Moves series on Instagram and IGTV for tutorials on some of her favourite tricks.

From the videos on her social media channels, it’s obvious that for Michka, roller skating isn’t just a sport. It’s a lifestyle and a way for her to have fun and be creative. She often dances and creates roller skating videos with music supporting and promoting young new artists. For Michka, the important thing is to have fun and enjoy the experience.

“It’s all about the music and feeling the music for me.”

Where to skate in Toronto

Toronto got it’s first outdoor roller skate rental pop-up last year that’s operating out of a refurbished shipping container at The Bentway. An instant hit, Retro Rolla provides you with colourful skates and matching protective gear for hours of old-school fun.

After a year of demands, the City of Toronto provided leisure skate times at parks and community centres across the city. They provide free forty-five minute sessions at locations including Trinity Bellwoods Park and Riverdale Park East.

Michka’s favourite beginner rinks are at College Park and Greenwood Park. At College Park, roller skate enthusiasts often gather in groups to learn from each other, while Greenwood Park has a covered rink, making it perfect for all weather.

With over 3,000 members, the Roller Skate Toronto Facebook group is a platform for skaters across the GTA to meet, interact, learn from each other and plan skating activities and events. It’s worth checking out to interact with the community in a fun way.

Chef Mark McEwan picks Toronto’s best lobster rolls

By

Jessica Huras

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3:02 pm

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New Music Wednesdays: The power and presence of Teagan Johnston

By

Ron Johnson

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2:58 pm

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Toronto-based singer-songwriter, Teagan Johnston (formerly known as Little Coyote) is set to release her debut full-length record Sentimental Ballad on April 29.

The songs found on Sentimental Ballad are described as “strong and powerful while also holding space for softness and vulnerability. Combining Teagan’s delicately detailed piano playing with lyrics full of love and longing, she seeks to explore human darkness and the fabric of our dreams.”

Following a showcase at SXSW earlier this year, Johnston, who has been compared to the stylings of Fiona Apple, Regina Spektor, and Nick Cave,

Let’s meet Teagan Johnston.

How has it been for you as a musician trying to find a way through this pandemic?

Dealing with the pandemic as a musician has been challenging. Like any good challenge though, it has offered me a lot of growth. Although it was very difficult to not be able to engage in music and my career in the way I was used to, the time I spent away from touring and playing shows allowed me a lot of wonderful space to explore my creativity. Because of this I was able to try a lot of new things that I don’t think I otherwise would have tried and for that I feel very grateful.

Tell us about the new Teagan Johnston project.

This album is the first full-length album I’ve released under my given name Teagan Johnston. I feel it is the most honest and personal record I’ve been able to put out to date in that I played all of the parts on the record so it is mostly based on my natural wheelhouse which is piano and vocals. The subject matter of the album itself is also probably the most vulnerable I have allowed myself to be in a piece of work I’ve put out. I wrote it while I was going through a heavy heartache and I found myself so thankful for other records where the artist allowed themselves to share their sadness with the listener without agenda. This record was my best attempt at exploring my heartache inspired by the sharing of honest feelings by other artists that I have benefited from.

How would you describe your music?

My music is mainly piano-based with vocals and some exploration of electronic elements. It is mainly quite contemplative and sad, some people have described it as dark but I think I would just describe it as emotional.

How has the pandemic influenced your music?

During the pandemic, I found myself not playing shows and touring for the first time in about five years. Because of this forced space and rest, I found myself able to go through a deeper exploration of what music, my career, and my creativity mean to me. I spent time with new artistic mediums like acting, modelling, and writing Op-Eds for the Toronto Star. I think this time spent diversifying has had a big effect on me and will continue to influence how I approach music and my career.

What are you hoping people take from the new album?

I hope that someone is able to find solace in it, or maybe even see themselves represented in some of the situations and feelings I describe in this record. I am so grateful for the ways other artists have been able to help me identify and process my own feelings so it is my hope to be able to do that for someone else.

What is your background in music and when did you decide to pursue it?

I started playing piano at age five and continued to study piano through the Royal Conservatory of Music until age 14. When I was 14 I started to feel dissatisfied with classical and began writing my own music. I was about 16 when writing, practicing, and playing shows was inarguably taking up all of my time so I decided that was what I wanted to commit myself to and pursue.

What keeps you motivated to create?

Creating is very much a coping mechanism for me. It is the only way I know how to process things I feel and the experiences I have. Motivation to create for me is just a product of motivation to keep living, trying to be happy and trying to understand the world around me.

Where is your favourite place to play live?

I am not sure I currently have one because it has been so long since I have been actively playing live. Back when I was playing a lot with a band my favourite place in the city to play live was The Silver Dollar Room.

What message do you have to those eager to check out the new Teagan Johnston album and see you live when possible?

Listen to it alone, maybe on a long walk or lying in bed with a whiskey or a cup of tea. I hope you enjoy it and I hope I am able to share it live with you soon.

New Music Wednesdays is a new Streets of Toronto series dedicated to shining a light on local artists creating music in our city despite a pandemic. Our artists need our support.

This secondhand shop might have the largest collection of vintage tees in Toronto

By

Julia Mastroianni

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2:54 pm

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There may be plenty of vintage streetwear– and sports- focused shops to go around in Toronto, but there’ something special about In Vintage We Trust, Parkdale’s one-stop-shop for everything from sports jerseys to well-priced Levi’s from all eras. It might be its online-first roots that make the shop stand out – there’s nothing quite like the store’s bright and loud Instagram presence, full of eye-catching photos of products and flashy videos.

Josh Roter and Chantal Varela are the founders of the dynamic vintage store. In 2010, the pair started the brand as an online shop, choosing eBay as their platform. Just four years later, the duo would open their first brick-and-mortar location at 1580 Queen St. W. Roter says it was a “low key dream to own a vintage shop with a Queen West address.”

With the influx of vintage shops in Toronto, the pair needed to find a way to set themselves apart from their competition. For Roter, it all boils down to having a recipe for success. Their secret ingredient? Genuine love for what they do.

“Experience, authenticity and an undying appreciation for vintage clothing. Pair that with an extremely deep and cohesive selection, insane merchandising by brand or commodity like a shop would be in a department store in the mid-’90s. Add the social, which we try to make sure is always blasting, and that’s the recipe!” Roter says over Instagram.

Both Roter and Varela have been entrenched in Toronto’s vintage scene since the late ’90s and 2000s. Roter vividly remembers the Kensington Market in all of its glory. Here is where he attributes receiving his Jedi-Padawan like training. Not only would he learn about the history of garments themselves, but he would slowly pick up the tricks of the trade which led to the eventual opening of his store.

This background knowledge and genuine appreciation for the clothing is what makes In Vintage We Trust special, along with this is the store’s focused approach to marketing. On their Instagram, viewers are treated to multi-post stories on particular items, brands and general time periods which are crucial to vintage history. The emoji-heavy captions are an added bonus.

For Roter, his intense passion for clothing is his unique, personal quality which he enjoys honing in on daily. “With our business model, Chantal’s detailed way of merchandising the shop and telling stories through clothing, plus my ability to take social to the next level, I think we help sell the shop’s overall brand and what we provide to the end-user.”

The product which the end-user receives is rare among other shops in Toronto. The pair pride themselves on their work ethic and general die-hard devotion toward their store. Roter says that “many owners, as soon as a retail shop gets a bit of juice, just coast and feel that working retail is beneath them.”

Not them, however. The pair spend every possible minute in the store, soaking up all of the information they can. They hope customers can do the same. “If every customer leaves with just one tidbit of info about a garment they didn’t know and uses that info to stunt on a friend or foe, we did our job,” he says.

A quick scroll through the store’s Instagram page will demonstrate the pair’s devotion to the craft; Roter will frequently post TikTok-style videos exploring everything from the history of souvenir jackets to a guide to buying vintage shorts.

As Roter puts it, the store is full of “bare heat, helpful hints about where to find the sauce and authentic Toronto indie business owners.” Among that heat was, at one point, a game-worn Mickie Mantle Yankees Jacket from 1963. However, Roter says customers usually go “ballistic on our tee selection.”

Varela and Roter have undeniably curated a vintage shopping experience for all. Through its trials and tribulations, In Vintage We Trust has managed to mature into a force to be reckoned with on Toronto’s fashion scene.

HGTV’s resident property stylist on the top design trends for spring

By

Julia Mastroianni

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12:10 pm

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Green accents are a spring design trend that's been getting popular

Red Barrinuevo is the Principal Designer at Redesign4More and an award-winning property stylist and interior decorator based in Toronto.

What’s in store for spring 2022? Well, that’s a loaded question, given the events of the last two years. But interestingly, it’s these events that are shaping the design trends of spring. Here’s how they are translating into our interiors and some easy styling tips to get the look in your own home.

Vintage vibes

For some practical reasons, vintage pieces are making a comeback. If you’ve tried to order anything new recently, you’ll have noticed the lag in delivery time, attributed to material and staffing shortages worldwide. If you place an order, you could wait anywhere from three to six months for furniture or up to a year for appliances and specialty items. For this reason alone, many will be looking to second-hand and antique stores to fill the gap.

Additionally, vintage pieces often come with a lower price tag and have longevity, meaning they won’t quickly get dated. Here’s my tip: Combine different types of wood with earth tones and mixed metals such as copper, antique brass and matte gold finishes. This creates a calming, organic ambience, particularly in the living and dining room areas.

Black accents

A popular home trend we’ll see is black accents — whether it be in art, hardware or decor. It’s a great way to add some edge and depth to more minimalist spaces, using light, neutral colours for the main elements of your space, like paint colours and large sofas and incorporating black accents for contrast.

Trending hues

The world’s colour authorities have shared their forecasts for trending hues, and there’s a common theme for the 2022 colour of the year — green shades, from forest to sage green. Colour has been shown to impact mood, and green is associated with stability, serenity, growth and nature — something we can all likely use a little more of following the last two years!

Tip: Try incorporating plants as a non-committal way to green up your space. And aside from a pop of colour and freshness, plants work wonders for the soul!

Versatile spaces

The pandemic led us to acknowledge the importance of our homes. I believe we will continue to see the demand for versatility, where one space can be transformed and moulded for different activities: a dining table or kitchen island can double as a desk, for example.

Textured fabrics

My final spring design trend is rooted in the concept of home as a cocoon, and textured fabrics are a great way to create the depth and comfort your space craves. Light, neutral spaces are also a popular look this year, so textured textiles can bring balance to this simple backdrop. Opt for rich textures such as wool, boucle, knits and velvet for your pillows and throws, upholstery, window treatments and area rugs.

This year promises to be action-packed, and all of the above trends contribute to a home that is a warm and welcoming refuge from the outside world.

The people behind Terroni are opening a new spot in Toronto’s west end

By

Erica Commisso

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11:59 am

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Night in and night out, people flock to Terroni to enjoy the restaurant’s hearty Italian eats and luxe ambiance, making it one of the most reputable restaurants in Toronto. Now, the group behind the successful eatery is expanding again, opening Spaccio in one of the city’s quickly developing neighbourhoods.

The Spaccio concept is already a successful one, with the massive flagship spot located on Sackville St. in Corktown. There, it offers visitors traditional Italian fare, as well as a grocery section, wine, and even ready-made food for grab and go options. It originally opened in early 2020.

Spaccio is now expanding its reach, taking over the former Drake Commissary space on Sterling Rd. to bring the same goodness to the quickly developing west end. The new space will be even bigger and provide more eat-in restaurant space, while the central kitchen and commissary space work to create the same vibe as the original location. The new space will also offer guests an outdoor dining space, to enjoy pasta and more Italian eats while basking in the sunshine in the summer months.

In fact, the new Spaccio is slated to open right as patio season is in full swing, in the summer of this year. No exact date has been specified of yet, so Terroni and Spaccio fans alike will have to stay glued to the restaurants’ social pages for more information.

Spaccio’s new west end outpost is located at 128 Sterling Rd., next to the Museum of Contemporary Art.