Just west of King and Bathurst, Beast Restaurant held court as one of the best bistros in the city garnering critical acclaim for its farm-to-table cuisine, amazing brunch, as well as the use of exotic cuts of meat under the creative eye of chef Scott Vivian. Now, it’s time for a new Beast to emerge, and this one is going Italian.
Beast Restaurant on Instagram
The restaurant has transformed, launching a pizza program that began with an opening last night. Vivian and partner Nathan Middleton have long been planning Beast Pizza following their wildly successful, 10-year run with Beast Restaurant. But, it was time for a change.
The pandemic saw the transformation begin, with the restaurant shifting to Beast Bodega to accommodate restrictions, but this is a whole new passion project for Scott Vivian. According to press reports, he felt he got everything he could out of the former space, and wanted to pivot to an entirely new concept.
Now, the Tecumseh Street space has been entirely reimagined, completely renovated to accommodate a new look, a new kitchen, and, of course, a new menu. There’s a bar with six barstools, a flat-screen TV, and outdoor speakers, so that the place takes on more of a traditional pizza parlour vibe, while still incorporating the ambiance of Beast Restaurant.
The pizza joint offers its guests thin crust, New York-style pizza that will, naturally, be topped with Beast Restaurant game meat staples such as boar and rabbit. When things get a little more settled, the famous whole animal dinners will be back, too.
Beast Pizza on Instagram
The pies come in a variety of sizes and there are also fresh pasta, salads, appetizers, and house-made desserts on the menu, as well as soft-serve ice cream and gelato.
By day Sara Camposarcone is a full-time fashion marketer for the Canadian brand Cake Worthy, and a full-time lover of clothes (preferably layered and colourful). By night, Camposarcone is a content producer for her personal TikTok (@saracampz) and Instagram (@saracamposarcone) accounts, which feature shots of her eclectic, maximalist outfits.
Well, I shop here a lot online through their Instagram and everything that they post is so beautiful. I’d say that my favourite eras for shopping are ’60s, ’70s, ’80s – I like the ’90s too, but I find they have a lot of older vintage here, which I love.
What has it felt like to be receiving so much media attention recently?
It’s been great, I mean I love it, but it’s definitely different for me – a lot happens at once. TikTok specifically is interesting to me because you can grow pretty quickly once you get something going. I have a few collaborations coming up that I’m really excited for, which I can’t quite share yet. I actually recently signed with a management company to help with collaborations, brand deals, media coverage and hopefully some fashion week stuff.
I loved seeing your New York Fashion Week content this year. How many times have you been?
Just this last time I went – and it was crazy! I was only there for four days but I packed as much in as possible. I was Uber-ing around everywhere trying to fit everything in. I also got to meet up with a lot of my friends through TikTok and Instagram who I hadn’t met yet. We had a dress up hangout, and I got to try on my friends’ clothes. I got invited to a few shows also, through [local internet friends]. I did a few interviews and meetups as well. Just being there while there was so much going on was just the best thing.
I bet! I saw you featured on the Instagram account @thepeoplegallery_ which features interviews with fashionable New Yorkers on the street.
Yeah, he just came up to me on the street. It was really cool because obviously I started following him after, and he gets so many cool people on his page. I love Instagrams and TikTok pages like that – seeing what people are wearing is so cool.
Did you go with anybody on your trip to New York?
I went with my sister. It was actually my birthday weekend so we made a whole trip out of it. I was like, “Okay, we need to plan a trip back immediately!” I love New York even more now than when I went 10 years ago. I’ve always loved fashion but I wasn’t as much about producing content back then. To the extent where I’m able to appreciate fashion and street style now, it amplifies the New York experience so much.
Speaking of your sister @hancampz, she produces fashion content as well!
Yeah it’s really cool because I feel like she’s come out of her shell even more so since I’ve started posting more content. And I think her content really resonates with the younger generation – she’s only two years younger than me (she’s 24 and I just turned 26).
So, what do you look for when you go thrifting – are there any staples you’re on the watch for, or anything you’re seeking right now?
I always have the things that I love in mind when I’m thrifting – like I love a good puffy sleeve, anything with a special neckline because I feel like that really adds detail to an outfit. Generally I look for things that are unique and colourful – patchwork I love, anything with beading. I’m just all about the details.
You mentioned observing that your sister’s style is growing in confidence. What advice would you give to somebody who’s trying to establish their personal style?
Camposarcone’s eclectic and maximalist personal style.
I always tell people that shopping second-hand or vintage is a lot different than shopping fast fashion. I feel like it’s a whole other world where you’re really fed the current trends, and feel dictated to dress a certain way. That’s how stores style their mannequins and those are the clothes that are in right now. I suggest to people, walk into a local thrift store and browse through everything on the rack. Really think about what you’re drawn to, and what you actually like. That’s how I figured out my own style too, by shopping at my local Value Village and picking up a bunch of random stuff that spoke to me, then going from there to building outfits.
It’s good to know that you have staple pieces that are versatile too. I never buy anything that I can’t automatically associate with a few outfits in my closet. Even online shopping: I do a lot of searching on Poshmark, Ebay, and others, even to gain inspiration and check out brands I might want to keep up with. I really love Pinterest for inspiration. I always tell younger people who ask how to get into styling yourself – PINTEREST. It uses keywords, so I tell people to try searching by era, or trends you’re interested in. Ultimately, figuring out your personal style takes time. It has taken me years to build a wardrobe in which I really feel like I love everything I have. Now when I put together an outfit, even if it’s a little bit mismatched, I love it because I love all its components.
What would you consider your favourite pieces in your wardrobe?
I’m a big sucker for vintage designer bag – so I’ll say most of my bags are the pieces I’ll keep forever. But in terms of pieces I’ve found thrifting, one time I found a 1980s Gunne Sax dress for $5 [pictured in the lead image], it was silver with lace all around the neckline. [These vintage dresses can range between $75 and $400 on Ebay and Etsy, though Camposarcone noted her find at well above $500 after researching]. I’ve only worn it a few times but I know I’ll probably keep it forever because it’s one of my favorites. They get a few of that brand in this store actually.
How would you describe your personal style?
Camposarcone’s eclectic and maximalist personal style.
I would describe it as colourful most of the time – I do love black and white but I’m mostly attracted to colour. I like to pull a lot of inspiration from my childhood keepsakes so I find I dress very youthful, and fun. There’s a lot of pattern clashing and mismatching.
Another aspect of your fashion branding is sustainability. What information do you hope to share with your audience about sustainable fashion choices?
Again, I will always say that shopping second hand is a way to reduce your consumer style. Recently I’ve also been doing a lot of clothing swaps, which is a cool way to recycle unworn pieces. I’ve been participating in a swap over Instagram with some of my friends from the U.S., and we’ve been sending each other different items from our own closets. We pick out items for each other that we think suit our respective styles, and then we select our favourites [from the mailed selection]. This way we get to try new things without having to buy anything.
I saw that you also started a business, can you tell us about that?
Yeah! I started a side business making resin jewelry at the start of COVID, and have kept it up ever since. I sell them online from my website as well as in a local store called Landing & Co. My jewelry is all inspired by fun, playful things from my childhood, like candy or gummy bears! They’re all handmade by me and each one is unique. I really love being able to express my creativity and ideas through clothing, but I also love to create things with my own hands.
As someone with over 44,000 followers on Instagram and over 350,000 on TikTok, what advice do you have for growing a social following?
The number one thing I have always [prioritized] is staying genuine. I almost don’t really like the word “influencer.” I love feeling like I’m inspiring people but I never want to feel like I’m pushing products that I don’t believe in or clothes that I wouldn’t wear myself. I love sharing creative designers that I find, and I’m always impressed by what they’re doing in terms of sustainability. As for advice: be true to yourself and stay active.
Last season was a big one for Jordan Romano, who began establishing himself as a dominant relief pitcher and won the closer role for the Blue Jays recording 23 saves on 24 opportunities. Now, heading into a new season, he’s one of the bullpen leaders on a team expected to compete for a championship.
Here is our interview with Romano from last spring about his roots in Markham, his fave Blue Jays pitchers growing up, and expectations.
How’s spring training going for you so far?
It’s been going great so far, you know. I have a couple of outings under my belt and it’s going well. I have to just get the timing and everything down. But my body feels good.
Do you know your role yet this season? I know the closer role is a question mark.
You know, I’m not sure. They haven’t talked about defined roles yet. But I’m just hoping to be used in some high-leverage spots, wherever they may be.
You guys are one of the teams to beat in the East going into the season. What are the expectations around the clubhouse?
Definitely some big names have been added, you know. All the guys here were super excited when we saw these guys that we signed, and, yeah, with that I think the expectations are a little bit higher. You know, we made the playoffs last year. And I think this year, a goal would be to get a lot deeper in the playoffs with the new guys we have.
Who do you think will have the biggest impact this year?
We got a lot of great players, but one that sticks out is George Springer who has been, over the past five, six years or so, one of the best players in the league. So I’m just really happy he’s on our side now.
How does it feel playing for the hometown team, but being stuck in Florida to start the season?
Growing up in Markham, I was obviously a big fan of the Blue Jays. It is a little different not playing in front of the Toronto fans, definitely gonna miss that. But it’s the situation we’re in. So we’re gonna make do and try to make the best of it.
Tell me about your first major league appearance.
It was a pretty exciting moment. That was like my fifth or sixth season, just trying to work up to that goal to finally get the call up. The first thing that stands out was how nice hotels were compared to the minor leagues. And it honestly felt like a movie almost. When I got out there, it didn’t feel like it was real. I was super nervous, super anxious but really excited and I felt pretty prepared. But yeah, I almost blacked out. That’s kind of how it felt.
And who is the toughest batter you’ve faced?
You know, I would have to say Mike Trout. He’s a pretty great player that I had to face when the Angels came to town. I got him that day. But I’d say Mike Trout is probably the toughest hitter I’ve ever met.
So you grew up in Markham. Tell me about your introduction to baseball and what it was about the sport that clicked for you.
Growing up in Markham, or Canada in general, hockey is, you know, the big sport. So I was playing hockey and baseball. And you know what, with baseball, I always wanted to go to practice. I always wanted to stay late. I always wanted to play baseball with my friends instead of hockey. Growing up, you always dream about playing for the Blue Jays. But there is such a small possibility. So I’m pretty fortunate to get this far.
Who were some of your favourite players growing up?
Roy Halladay was a big one for sure. Ricky Romero. Even guys like Brett Lawrie and J.P.Arencibia. They were getting big when I was in college. So that was pretty exciting. Vernon Wells was another big one. We all liked Vernon when he was out in centrefield.
Was it pretty special to play your first home game at the Rogers Centre?
Yeah, just going to the Rogers Centre and I’m getting ready to play a big league game, instead of going to be a fan in the stands. Just walking through the tunnel and then on the field and kind of looking around the stadium at field level. It was so cool.
Did you have some family there?
Oh, yeah, pretty much all my home games I’d have my mom, dad, sisters and cousins out there. And uncles. They’re all really big fans as well. So they would come to pretty much every home game I played.
What do you miss most being away so much?
I think first and foremost just seeing my parents and family. When I was playing in Toronto, I was living at home and got Mom’s home cooking. That’s one thing that I miss and especially even my parents. This is the first spring training that they’ve missed.
How’s it been under the pandemic and having your parents up here?
It’s tough, right. But it’s tough on everyone. Hopefully things clear up and they can come to games or when we play up there.
What does it mean for you to be the only Canadian on the team?
It makes me take a little more pride in the situation I’m in. I’m Canadian playing for the Canadian team, and I have to try to represent myself in a good way.
There’s a new market for freshly frozen dumplings and wontons on the Toronto food scene. But, they’re not just any dumplings and wontons. They’re made by Chef Ken Yau, who shot to local popularity with his k. Dinners, an exclusive supper club with a blind tasting menu.
Now, though, he’s taking his coveted eats to the masses, opening up k. Market, an online delivery service and takeout spot that allows fans to pick up bigger quantities of Yau’s cuisine, including pork and chive dumplings, mapo tofu dumplings, char siu pork wontons and red thai prawn curry wontons.
k. Dinners on Instagram
Pantry items are also available at Yau’s k. Market, including yuzu ponzu sauce, Yau’s everything seasoning and Yau’s everything sauce. Also in the pantry selection is Papa Yau’s chicken fried rice and the vegan option, shiitake fried rice.
One of his most famous creations, Mama Yau’s big zongzi, is also available on the k. Market website. The delicacy is crafted with big meat chunks that are wrapped in bamboo leaves, and the website boasts that they’re “made with lots of love.” They’re so popular (thanks, in part, to a feature on CBC News) that k. Market had to limit the ordering to four per customer, to allow for more people to have access to them.
k. Dinners on Instagram
Yau, a Thornhill native, launched k. Market last year, and recently moved to a space at 463 Danforth Ave. Chef Yau is a well-trained expert, and has worked in restaurants all over the world, including a restaurant with three Michelin stars in the U.K., Australia and Hong Kong.
To celebrate the one year anniversary of k. Market, Yau even launched handmade, two-pound pork dumplings. He made five to be purchased, which were only available for 24 hours.
Pick up is unavailable for now, but k. Market’s goods are available for local delivery.
Lindsey Deluce, the news anchor on CTV’s breakfast show Your Morning, met her now husband, Andrew “Drew” Ball, 18 years ago. Now the two are married with two children and share a home that they bought in the Wychwood neighbourhood. Deluce dishes the details on how they met and their venture as business partners.
How they met
Well, funny you should ask. Our siblings were dating. Drew’s brother was dating my sister. But I didn’t properly meet Drew until years into their relationship. My sister invited Drew up to our cottage in 2004. We ended up talking all night until the sun came up. He left at 7 a.m., and I couldn’t stop thinking about him.
The first date
Our first official date was about a month later. We decided it would be fun to go to the Toronto Zoo. We spent the whole day walking around, getting to know each other. We had lunch with the orangutans.
The courtship
We kept our relationship a secret for several months because we understood the unusual situation we found ourselves in — siblings dating siblings. We heard every joke in the book.
The proposal
The proposal was beautiful. It was just the two of us in our condo on my 30th birthday. After Drew got down on one knee and I said, “Yes!” we headed out to celebrate. My family and friends had organized a catered dinner at a flower shop on Yonge Street. It was perfect!
The wedding
Our wedding day was Oct. 16, 2010. Drew and I love the outdoors, and we have a connection to the Creemore area. It turned out we both used to ski at the same ski club when we were younger. So it seemed like a perfect fit. We held our reception at the Devil’s Glen Country Club. The next day we flew out to Bora Bora for our honeymoon. I still daydream about that trip.
The kids
We have two beautiful children. Our daughter, Brooklyn, will be four years old in July. Our son, Walker, will be two years old in September. They are two of the funniest people we’ve ever met.
Balancing work and marriage
It’s tough with the hours I work. I go to bed at the same time as my four-year-old. Drew and I often carve time out during the week to have lunch. We also talk on the phone 15 times a day.
Shared hobbies
Drew and I love real estate. Recently, we started to work together in a professional capacity. We have been buying homes (“fixer uppers”), renovating and selling properties in Toronto. It was a natural progression for Drew because he co-owns a contracting company. We bought our own fixer upper last year. It’s a work-in-progress.
Secret of success
We’re best friends.
Announcements
Lexie Siganevich & Arthur Taycher
On July 17, 2016, Thornhillers Lexie and Arthur tied the knot at La Primavera. Lexie, who is the daughter of Anna and Dmitry Siganevich, met Arthur, son of Svetlana and Zinovy Taycher, when they were 16 years old. After losing touch, they reconnected while studying at York University. The pair travelled to South Korea and hung a love lock at the Seoul Tower and promised to throw the keys into Niagara Falls. On Sept. 20, 2015, the pair decided to fulfill that promise. As they strolled along the falls searching for a spot to drop the keys, Arthur proposed to Lexie as their friends hid behind a nearby tree capturing the special moment.
One of Toronto’s most prestigious restaurants, Don Alfonso 1890, is already known for being one of the city’s most internationally acclaimed restaurants. The international concept is helmed by two Michelin-starred chefs, Alfonso and Ernesto Iaccarino, with locations in Italy, New Zealand and China. The Toronto location is the pair’s only North American outpost. Now, the restaurant has received more worldwide recognition, in the form of the Prosecco DOC Award.
Don Alfonso 1890 on Instagram
The prestigious honour is presented by the 50 Top Italy guide, and basically signifies that the Casa Loma eatery has the best Italian food in the world outside of Italy. That means it beat out major culinary cities like New York City and London, which is a pretty big deal. In fact, most of the other restaurants awarded are in the United States and France, but Cioppino’s in Vancouver cracked the list, too, grabbing the 49th spot.
Don Alfonso also received the Meal of the Year Award, which was given to the restaurant’s multi-course, prix fixe tasting menu. The experience is a mouthwatering, modern Mediterranean masterpiece that, naturally, transports diners to Italy with fresh ingredients and luxe European decor. The menu includes dishes like organic seasonal vegetables, risotto, wagyu beef, Nova Scotia lobster and traditional Italian desserts.
Don Alfonso 1890 on Instagram
Don Alfonso is open as a limited run pop up inside Casa Loma, and it originally started as a small engagement inside the same space. In its short, sporadic tenure, Don Alfonso has received multiple awards and recognitions, making it an international food destination and, of course, one of the best restaurants in Canada.
Don Alfonso 1890 on Instagram
Authentic to its core, Don Alfonso 1890 has locations in Italy, including Sant’Agata on the Amalfi Coast and Levello in Basilicata, as well as outposts in New Zealand and China. The Toronto location is tucked inside Casa Loma at 1 Austin Terrace, and reservations for dining in are encouraged.
Cowboy Junkies are a legendary Toronto band that has been crafting a long and enchanting musical legacy that dates back to the early ’80s when Michael Timmins and Alan Anton convinced fellow Timmins siblings Margo and Pete to join their fledgling band. Now, 17 original albums later, the band just released Songs of the Recollection.
The new Cowboy Junkies album features the band covering everyone from Neil Young and the Rolling Stones to the Cure and Vic Chesnutt.
“Long before we were musicians, we were music fans,” says Michael Timmins. “We didn’t grow up sitting around the kitchen table playing instruments and harmonizing. We grew up sitting around the record player listening to each other’s record collections and having our minds blown. This was the passion that we shared.”
Cowboy Junkies plays Massey Hall on April 7.
But, what albums really inspired the masterful musical mind of Michael Timmins? Well, we asked. So here they are, complete with Timmins’ thoughts on each recording. You’re welcome.
Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here
When this album was released in 1975 the great CHOM-FM in Montreal decided to introduce it to their listeners by playing the whole thing from start to finish without a break. It was nighttime and Al and I were cruising across the mountain heading downtown when they dropped the needle. When we reached our destination the album wasn’t finished so we turned around and retraced our route, a few times, until the last track, “Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” faded into the night. Minds blown. Lives Changed.
The Velvet Underground – White Light, White Heat
When the Velvet Underground was releasing albums I was too young to understand the music, it was too sophisticated for my young brain. Lou Reed’s Transformer was a gateway for me into Reed’s music. One night, when I was around 16, after listening to Transformer I put on White Light, White Heat and listened to the brilliant cacophony that is Sister Ray and suddenly I “got it.” Minds blown. Lives changed.
Joy Division – Unknown Pleasures
When Alan and I started playing music together we formed a band called Hunger Project. We were inspired to pick up instruments by the punk scene that was happening in the late 70s in New York, Toronto, and London (UK and Ontario), but we found our focus when we heard the music of post-punk bands like Joy Division and The Cure. The darkness and the use of space and atmosphere were something that we carried with us into Cowboy Junkies.
Muddy Waters – Folk Singer
When we first formed Cowboy Junkies we were listening to a lot of blues music. Our idea, like so many white-suburban youngsters that had come before us, was to take these influences and use them to develop our sound. This album with its whispered intensity, where every note meant something and every note not played meant something more, was our bible.
Dave Brubeck – Time Out
I was a latecomer to this album, but the sound of it was what Peter Moore was searching for when he suggested The Church of the Holy Trinity as the recording location for our second album. When I hear the drum intro to “Take Five” I hear The Trinity Session. Whenever I lose faith in the power of recorded music I put on something recorded in the CBS 30th Street Studio, known as “The Church” — Time Out, Kind of Blue, Duke Ellington’s Masterpieces, Mingus’s Ah Um and the list goes on. The studio was demolished and turned into an apartment building in 1985.
As we transition into spring, many aspects of our lives are bound to change. Our wardrobes will receive some necessary sprucing up, we’ll put on sunglasses before a pair of gloves and we can finally enjoy a few outdoor adventures without toques. Speaking of which, here are four treetop trekking and zip lining trails that you need to experience as the weather warms up.
Located in Hamilton, the Binbrook Conservation Area features a five course, 80-element zipline and aerial game park. Guests ages nine and above have the chance to climb across trees on an array of walkways, bridges and zip lines. For those five and older, there are two discovery courses ready for adventure! Both courses entail the same amount of fun, although the discovery courses are designed for younger explorers. To conclude all of the aerial fun, the Treewalk Village is a network of 10 colourful trees for all ages. They are connected by enclosed walkways, bridges and other forest activities.
The treetop trekking path in Haliburton Forest claims to be the longest canopy walkway in the world. This tour is a little more immersive than some other treetop adventures – you’ll start with a scenic drive through the forest, followed by a canoe trip across the lake and a guided walk along the rapids before arriving at the canopy tour. You’ll be 10 to 20 metres off the ground for this over 0.5 km trail, where you’ll be able to enjoy panoramic views of the Haliburton Forest.
Fly with the birds at Ganaraska! Placed between Port Hope and Peterborough, this multi-dimensional park features six impressive courses with over 70 innovative aerial games. Within the park is Timberwolf, a course that is known for being the most challenging course in the entire province. But don’t sweat – Ganaraska offers five other courses at various difficulty levels. Plus, you can feed your adrenaline cravings with 10 zip lines which are spread across the various courses. Make sure you bring your steering wheel because these zip lines reach speeds close to 45 km/hr!
You’ll have to wait a few weeks for this treetop adventure to open, but it will be worth it. Boler Mountain, located in London, offers a treetop adventure park with a junior course, family course and a regular park with different zip lines according to experience level. Enjoy rope courses, swinging bridges, Tarzan swings and pirate nets throughout each course, all of which finish with the 11,000 foot “big zip finish.”
Horseshoe Resort in Barrie is home to Ontario’s original zip line and aerial games park. Back in 2015, the park was voted Ontario’s Top Outdoor Attraction by Ontario’s Choice Awards. Since then, the park has added kid-specific discovery courses to its long list of aerial endeavours. The course uses a new continuous lifeline system which is strung along a course ranging from two to four feet off the ground. This system has been put in place specifically for children and those with disabilities. This course is great for those who aren’t able to operate carabiners or those who have a bit of a fear of heights.
Right off of Highway 60 in Huntsville is a flurry of trees that holds zip lines, swinging bridges, monkey cables and Tarzan swings! Experiencing everything the park has to offer should take around three hours. During that time, everyone ages nine and up are welcome to enjoy the park’s amenities. One drawing factor for Hunstville is their night trek. If you’re bold enough to discover the trails under a starry night, beware that the North Star and a headlamp are your only source of light. Are you up for the challenge?
While speakeasies may be all the rage with the cocktail crowd now, the Reservoir Lounge was giving Toronto a Prohibition-era experience well before it became a trend.
The speakeasy opened in 1997, and has hosted many award-winning Canadian musicians in its underground, exposed brick space. Michael Bublé even honed his buttery smooth voice at the Reservoir Lounge before making it big. The venue celebrated its lasting legacy on Monday, April 4, with an live-shucking oyster bar, champagne and cocktails circulating the space, and live music from Tyler Yarema.
Reservoir Lounge on Facebook
Inside the historic space, there’s a regular menu of tapas-style plates made with ethical ingredients, including Reservoir sliders alongside a selection of pizzas and salads, among others.
Finely-crafted cocktails include a wide selection of martinis, a drink called the North of the Border (made with Volcan Blanco, vermouth, jalapeno syrup, bitters and an orange twist), and cocktails such as the Pomme de Henny (made with Hennessy, fresh apple, Demerara and lime) and the Twisted Peach (a mixture of Absolut Raspberry, peach puree, house sour mix and ginger ale).
Of course, the festivities played up the dimly-lit, 1920’s style vibe of the space, which is decorated with black and white photos of the jazz greats that have played the Reservoir Lounge, and a centrally-located bar surrounded by round, tablecloth-adorned tables that go back to the original, now famous speakeasies of the Prohibition era.
Reservoir Lounge on Facebook
Regular programming, the stuff that’s made them last for over two decades, includes live music with a jazz, swing and blues-heavy schedule posted on the Reservoir Lounge website. It’s so successful, in fact, that it’s been recognized as one of Toronto’s best, and even the world’s best, bars. The Reservoir Lounge is located at 52 Wellington St. E., in the St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood.
There’s a thriving streetwear culture in Toronto, and sneakerheads certainly lead the way. The resale sneaker industry has strong roots in the city, and Out This World (OTW) is one of the most popular consignment sneaker stores for fashion lovers looking for a pristine pair of Jordan 1s. With locations in Brampton, Scarborough, Montreal and now Yorkville right next door to some of the biggest luxury brands on the Mink Mile, owner Julian Artjukow talks starting out on eBay and blending streetwear with designer wear.
Why did you start Out This World?
In the mid to late 2000s, I used to purchase and curate what I thought was “hype” at local stores and I would resell on eBay. With that experience on hand, I decided to open up OTW in the heart of Mississauga in 2018, as I realized there was a demand for hype sneakers and streetwear. I started with roughly 50 pairs of sneakers, and within a few months, we had over 1,000 pairs as we started to do consignment. At the time, I had a monopoly on the west end market and had no competition, which helped me grow so quickly.
Founder Julian Artjukow. Courtesy otwshop.ca
You recently opened a new location in Yorkville. How did you decide on that spot?
OTW’s new Yorkville store
As fashion trends constantly change, I noticed many people starting to blend designer and streetwear together. I was offered a unit in between Prada, Coach and Dior, which was a no-brainer! Many of our customers will stop by to match their outfit with a pair of sneakers. Even though COVID has been a difficult time for business, it was a blessing in disguise in terms of looking for locations as there are many more options. Yorkville is one of the prime locations in Canada for fashion, and I always wanted to have a store within the area.
Where do you source your items from?
We have several consignors who bring in pairs of shoes as well as clothing and, when the items are sold, we charge a standard 20 per cent fee. We have connections that we have built up over time with others in the city and the country who continue to sell us sneakers. We also have several of our clients sell us their personal collections, from $160 to $8,500 finds. Right now, I would say the most popular sneaker is the Jordan 1. Whether it is the original high top, mid or low, it is our number one bestseller brand-wide. You can wear a Jordan 1 to any type of event, whether it is casual or formal. The versatility and the amount of colourways released in this silhouette makes it stand out!
What changes do you see happening in the streetwear industry?
Trends change everyday and I really feel like we live in a world where social media plays a large part in what is considered “hype.” Whether it is a celebrity or fashion influencer, it seems like everyone wants to have the same pair. Due to the growth of streetwear, we now see many more brands thriving and not just the big players like Nike.
How has the streetwear world grown in Toronto since you started OTW?
As people express their styles through clothing and sneakers, curated fashion is becoming more popular. Many people like to feel unique and express it through that special pair or piece of clothing. The streetwear world has become generational. When I first started there were only male teenagers entering my store. Now we have teenagers, parents and even grandparents that shop with us. It is amazing to see how quickly it has grown. Something special in the sneaker/streetwear community is how it brings people together, no matter what background or heritage they are from.
Open Fire hosts Chefs Rob Rossi and Craig Harding.
What better time to fire up the grill with family and friends with spring right around the corner. A family-run business for over 75 years that is renowned as the destination for delivering dream kitchens – both indoor and outdoors – Caplan’s has sponsored a new cooking series that focuses on cooking simple and delicious recipes outdoors. Hosted by acclaimed chefs Rob Rossi and Craig Harding, Open Fire creates delicious, innovative dishes, and one of their favourite recipes is shared below.
This recipe features sumac spice, which is amazing and is a staple in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine. Prized for its unique tangy flavour, it pairs exceptionally well with trout as it adds fresh notes of citrus and a wonderful colour from its deep burgundy berries.
The crisp and bitter radicchio goes perfectly with the fattiness of the trout, while fresh dill and sherry vinegar bring the whole dish together.
Sumac Trout a la Plancha
Sumac Trout a la Plancha
• Source a boneless filet of rainbow trout ideally from a sustainable fishery
• Lightly season with salt, pepper and sumac (Middle Eastern spice)
• Preheat a grill or griddle pan and once it’s almost smoking, turn down to low heat
• Cook skin side down for 5-7 minutes until skin is crispy and browned and the flesh is almost cooked through on top. Keeping a touch of pink is the key to keeping it moist.
• To garnish, add radicchio, Belgian endive and chopped fresh dill. Season with olive oil a splash of sherry vinegar and a touch more salt and pepper.
Be sure to tune in to Open Fire, launching April 19th at 9:30pm on TLN, for more recipes.
