If you’ve ever watched Family Feud and thought, “My family could do that,” now is your chance! Family Feud Canada is getting ready for its fourth season, and applications are now open for you and your family to audition virtually.
The show, which launched the Canadian version in 2019 and is hosted by Toronto comedian Gerry Dee, offers those 18 and older a chance to win up to $30,000 – the Fast Play prize is $10,000, but those who win can come back on the show up to three times. This season will be filmed at CBC’s studios in Toronto.
Virtual auditions means that you need to really make your family stand out in the allotted three to five minutes.
“Record a video showing or telling us about your family team members and make sure you STAND OUT!” the application link reads. “Entertain us by showing your energy and enthusiasm!”
You’ll need five members on your team to audition, and if your team can’t be together for the video, make sure to tell the show about everyone on the team.
The competition for Family Feud Canada is fierce, and families have gone to extreme lengths to make themselves stand out in the past. From photoshop to scripted skits and costumes, families definitely get creative, so you’ll want to make sure you pulling out all the stops for this audition.
As the weather continues to slowly warm up and we switch gears from winter to spring, the city comes more alive, something reflected in the array of events and activities on offer. If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, there are plenty of events covering a variety of interests across Toronto – and here are six of your best bets.
Attend the St. Patrick’s Day Parade
On Sunday at noon, don some green gear and celebrate all things Irish when the St. Patrick’s Day Parade rolls into town. The fun starts on the corner of St. George and Bloor Street West (near St. George subway station) and heads east on Bloor Street, turning south on Yonge Street and west on Queen Street, finishing up at Nathan Phillips Square.
Sample some craft beers
Photo Courtesy: craftbeerfest.ca
Bundle up and get ready to sample some beers from over 40 breweries this Saturday at the Winter Craft Beer Festival outside Steam Whistle Brewing in Roundhouse Park. In addition to a wide array of beers to try, you can also expect campfires and marshmallows, a photo station, DJ and dance party, several food trucks, games and more.
Check out Toronto Comicon
Any fans of comics, sci-fi, horror, cosplay, anime and gaming will want to make their way to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre this weekend for Toronto Comicon. Celebrities, voice actors and comic creators will be on hand to sign autographs and take photos with fans. In addition, there will be panels, workshops and seminars, as well as lots of costumed fun to be had throughout the three-day event.
Celebrate Persian New Year
This Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. you can celebrate the Persian New Year with New Year, New Bloom at Aga Khan Park. The festivities are set to include live music, exhibitions, activities, refreshments, a scavenger hunt and more. While you’re there, make time to visit the Silk Road: A Living History photo exhibition also taking place at the park.
Watch a Leonard Cohen documentary
Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema will be showing a special re-release of the 1965 film, Ladies and Gentleman, Mr. Leonard Cohen. You can catch the intimate black-and-white portrait of Cohen on Sunday either at the theatre itself, or you can stream it online from home.
De-stress with some forest bathing
Forest bathing is the practice of connecting with nature as a way to de-stress and recharge. Whether you’re in need of some nature-focused relaxation or you’re just looking for a unique outdoor activity, the Toronto Botanical Garden is hosting its very own forest bathing session on Saturday. From 1 to 4 p.m. you can join Certified Forest Therapy Guide Emma Rooney on a guided walk through the gardens that ends with a seasonal tea.
It’s no secret that Italians use food as a form of expression, showing love through feeding family and friends in celebration. At Nodo, that mentality is carried into the restaurant, with fresh, approachable dishes from a wide range of Italian dishes on the menu.
A new location of the Italian eatery is on the way, coming to Liberty Village. The location at 120 Lynn Williams St. joins a group of Nodo outposts across the city, with spots in the Junction, Leslieville and Hillcrest.
Everything on Nodo’s menu is house-made from scratch, with pizza and pasta as the focal point of the offerings. They are complimented by traditional appetizers, entrees and desserts, that are all inspired by Italian recipes passed down through generations. Find spiducci (lamb skewers), burrata, rigatoni and various meat-oriented and vegetarian pizzas on the menu, allowing guests to share food, Italian family-style, or select their own portions.
Nodo on Instagram
Even the beer and wine program is authentic, transporting guests to Italy with a menu of only Italian options, including Perroni and Via di Birrai ‘Admiral’.
Nodo Liberty Village is taking over the former Williams Landing space, which includes a massive patio that overlooks a mini parkette in Liberty Village. The space is perched over a CIBC branch and an Aroma Espresso Bar, with stairs that lead up to the restaurant serving as an entryway. It joins a huge selection of bars and restaurants in the area, including a Local Liberty Village outpost.
While Nodo posted that construction of the newest location is underway, an opening date has not yet been revealed. But, they responded to someone on their post, noting that more details would be announced soon, so fans of their casual, traditional Italian fare should keep an eye out on the restaurant’s Instagram page, as well as the website, for more details.
The culinary mastermind behind Joybird Fried Chicken, Trevor Lui, is back with a new idea.
This time, he’s serving up bao sandwiches and build-your-own rice bowls at BaoBowl, a temporary pop up inside Stackt Market that will only last a couple of weeks.
The announcement came via Instagram, where Lui revealed the project last week. “We will be launching our 1 month pop-up in our temporary Bathurst St store front,” the post reads, noting that it will close before BaoBowl moves to a permanent location in April.
Trevor Lui on Instagram
Rice bowl options include chicken, pork belly, beef and tofu, in flavours like kung pao, adobo, gochuchang and mapo, and toppings that Lui’s Instagram post described as “crazy,” including Taiwanese pickles, Crazy Rich Chili and a poached egg.
Guests can also buy grocery items to try their hand at cooking bao and rice bowls at home, as BaoBowl offers take-home options of Ho Mei Foods’ Crazy Rich Chili, Joyspice, and Gluten Free Batter.
Trevor Lui on Instagram
Each of the creations is available to pick up at BaoBowl’s pop-up at Stackt Market, located at 28 Bathurst St. Unit 1-103, in a space shared with Belgian Moon’s bottle shop. Delivery through third party apps is also available. The pop up is open at noon on Tuesdays through Saturdays, and the permanent location is coming soon.
If you’re a fan of college basketball, it’s probably your favourite time of year.
March Madness is the NCAA’s biggest tournament, essentially the playoffs of college basketball. And, this year, a record-breaking 30 Canadians, 20 of whom are from the GTA, will participate in the prestigious event, where some of the best American schools in the league face off to find the ultimate champion.
Toronto-born sophomore center Zach Edey, who stands at an impressive 7’4″, will represent the Purdue Boilermakers, and is deemed one of the most electric, tough-to-guard players in the league. His play is a major reason that the Boilermakers achieved the top spot in the United States for the first time in the history of the school’s basketball program.
Toronto is also well-represented in Texas, with city boy Marcus Carr playing for Texas University, Brampton’s Jasman Sangha suiting up for Texas A&M Corpus Christi, and Scarborough’s Emanuel Miller on Texas Christian’s roster.
A pair of locals are teammates in Alabama, as Brampton’s Charles Bediako and Toronto’s Keon Ambrose-Hylton will take the court together to compete. March Madness will even seen Aurora-born brothers compete against each other, with Ryan Nembhard representing Creighton and Andrew Nembhard playing for Gonzaga.
Añejo Toronto boasts that the restaurant brings contemporary Mexican cuisine–and the city’s best margaritas–to King Street.
With over 100 kinds of tequila, the basement eatery is brimming with Mexican culture, including colourful folk art and a fresh menu. The website says Añejo brings “the magic of old Mexico north of the 49th parallel,” thanks to dishes like ceviche, mezcal adobo mussels, molcajete (grilled cactus), and tres leches cake.
Añejo on Instagram
Now, Añejo is expanding to a second Toronto location on the east end, adding to a roster that includes a Calgary outpost.
The eatery applied for a new liquor license at 7 Marie Labatte Rd., unit E1, with the intention of expanding into the Don Mills area. The space formerly housed Glow Fresh Grill and Wine Bar, which closed its doors in the summer of 2021. Glow Fresh was helmed by Pickle Barrel CEO Peter Higley and celebrated health-focused catering company Rose Reisman Catering.
A representative from Añejo confirmed the expansion, noting that east side fans can expect the restaurant to open in August. No exact date has been set for the opening just yet, but foodies can keep an eye out on Añejo’s website and Instagram page for more information.
Getting tired of March and looking for something to brighten your weeks? Add Streets Of Toronto’s new weekly Toronto quiz, Do You Know T.O.?, to your schedule! Each Wednesday, we’ll be sharing five Toronto-based trivia questions for you to answer, from history to sports to current events. Try to guess the answers to these questions after your daily Wordle fix for an extra boost of excitement.
United by friendship and the need to bring awareness to the war in Ukraine, Ukrainian chef Olia Hercules and Russian chef Alissa Timoshkina began the (now trending) #cookforukraine movement.
The global initiative raises funds for organizations involved in providing aid to the people of Ukraine. The premise behind the movement is to make traditional Ukrainian foods, share those foods with friends, and discuss the current conflict.
The hope is that participants will donate to organizations raising funds to help war victims by enjoying foods common to Ukrainian culture. Several celebrity chefs have participated in the movement, and home chefs are encouraged to bake for Ukraine. So far, #cookforukraine has amassed over 5,000 supporters.
Chefs inspired by Ukraine’s vast array of traditional treats can donate directly to the Cook for Ukraine fund or sell homemade items and donate proceeds to the charity. All money raised is sent to UNICEF to support children caught in the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
The Cook for Ukraine website lists many popular Ukrainian dishes you can prepare at home. A similar effort, #bakeforukraine, is also trending on social media and includes several professional bakers and home bakers selling items to support various charities, including Natasha Kravchuk of @natashaskitchen. Toronto-based Mari Loewen, cookbook writer and founder of ANNA Magazine, is even hosting a 90-minute virtual cooking class in collaboration with #cookforukraine, with proceeds going to Jose Andres’ non-profit World Central Kitchen.
Barrel House Korchma on Instagram
Toronto restaurants are getting involved, too. Family-owned Ukrainian restaurant Barrel House Korchma also set up a donation box in the restaurant for donations to the Friends of Ukraine Defense Forces Fund (FUDF), and Ration: Beverley has created a special campaign, Latkes for Ukraine, with proceeds from the latke with beets dish going to the Canadian Red Cross Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal fund.
If you like to cook or bake and want to help the people of Ukraine, it’s as simple as using the hashtag #bakeforukraine or #cookforukraine to craft traditional dishes like syrniki (cheese pancakes) and borscht. No celebrity chef skills are required, but pulling inspiration from them for a good cause is certainly welcome.
Shopping for a high end wardrobe on a budget? Here’s a list of the most affordable finds you can buy at the most expensive clothing stores across Toronto. From casual retail to designer consignment to luxury retail, you can build an Anna Delvey-worthy wardrobe without breaking the bank.
Luxury Retail
Gucci
130 Bloor St. W. Suite 102
Photo Courtesy: Gucci.com
The price range at Gucci in Yorkville is $500-$17,000. At this high end brand, your options for affordable couture may be limited to sunglasses ($475) or else jewelry like this leather Gucci necklace for $640.
The price range at Versace has a little more range, from $75- $8000. As is typical of high end retail, your most affordable option is luxury underwear. Fancy a pair of Versace logo briefs for $75, or a logo sports bra for $100? After that you’re looking at socks, tights, swimwear, and then eventually athletic staples like this Versace tank for $500.
You’e looking at a price range from $300- $10,000 at this store on the Mink Mile. Amidst the Spring-Summer 2022 Collection, your cheapest option is a swimsuit top for $335 or a staple t-shirt for $395. However, if you’re in the market for a more classic Hermès item, their nano scarves (perfect as a wrist or bag accessory) sell for a cool $145.
Louis Vuitton
150 Bloor St. W.
Photo Courtesy: Louisvuitton.com
Here, you’re looking at a price range of $500- $10,000. Options under $1,000 are particularly limited for this brand, but you can find underwear and swimwear within a $500 range. After that, one of your cheapest finds will be these sports leggings for $605.
Burberry
144 Bloor St. W.
Photo Courtesy: Burberry.com
This British brand is known for its trench coats, cashmere scarves and iconic check print. The price range here is $500 – $16,000. Your lowest purchase option at this luxury brand is a skinny silk printed scarf for $220, next to card cases at $260 and $320. For under $500, you can also buy hats, sunglasses and sandals.
Designer Consignment
VSP Consignment
1410 Dundas St. W.
Photo Courtesy: Vspconsignment.com
VSP Consignment sells lightly used luxury clothes by brands like Bottega Veneta, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Alexander Wang, and less expensive quality brands like Acne studios and Reformation. The overall price range starts at $50 and reaches a whopping $17,000 because of rare collectibles and extremely desirable pieces. Some of the most affordable options here include this Reformation blouse for $75, these sandals by Chloe for $50 and this Alexander Wang t-shirt for $60.
Fitzroy Rental
225 Sterling Rd.
Photo Courtesy: Fitzroyrentals.com
Fitzroy Rentals is a formal dress rental service that carries brands like Gemy Maalouf, Elle Zeitoune, Theia Couture, Bariano and Reformation. The one-time rental deal that Fitzroy offers makes it so that you can indulge in an expensive gown for a special night out without breaking the bank or storing a dress in your closet that you will never wear again. While a Gemy Maalouf gown could easily cost you up to $2,000 new, you can wear it for one glorious evening for only $120 when you rent it from Fitzroy.
Fashionably Yours
707 Queen St. W.
Photo Courtesy: Fashionablyyours.com
Fashionably Yours is another designer consignment store that sells brands like Givenchy, Jimmy Choo, Valentino, Gucci and Marc Jacobs, but also less expensive brands like Rag & Bone. Their prices range from $100-$5500. Some of your cheapest options are this Marc Jacobs top for $30 and this Louis Vuitton luggage handle strip for $45.
Location: 707 Queen St W, Toronto
Garb
1046 Queen. St. W.
Photo Courtesy: Garb.ca
Garb is a luxury consignment store that offers sought-after brands and collectible designer vintage pieces ranging in price from $100-$3,000. The selection includes brands like Christian Louboutin, Chanel, Gucci, Valentino and less expensive brands like Kate Spade and Rag & Bone. While you can easily spend $1,000 on a new pair of Christian Louboutin pumps, you can find them at Garb for as low as $300-$400. And if you’re looking for something even cheaper, you can find things like this Kate Spade denim jacket for only $80.
I Miss You Vintage
63 Ossington Ave. Unit K
Photo Courtesy: Imissyouvintage.com
I Miss You Vintage is a luxury consignment store that sells brands like Chanel, Balenciaga, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana and Canada Goose. Price range is $200-$2,000. Some of your affordable options include this Moschino jacket which might have cost up to $2,000 at full price. You can buy it here for $160.
This funky designer shoe shop ranges in price from $24 (limited to socks) to $750 with the exception of one pair of boots at $1,200. Your MOST affordable option is funky socks at $24. This is a great way to participate in adorning the brand if you can’t afford a pair of shoes. That being said, your most affordable option for shoes here are this pair of vintage oxford style Fluevogs for $139.
KOTN
754 Queen St. W.
Photo Courtesy: Kotn.com
KOTN is a staple Toronto brand that produces high quality outfit basics. The price range is $10-$220. As is always the case, your most affordable options are socks and underwear. After that, the lowest priced items include simple crew necks at $17.50.
“I was out there donating burgers kind of blindly, not knowing whether my business was even going to be alive in a month or six months,” says Johnny Prassoulis, the mastermind behind Holy Chuck Burgers.
When the pandemic began, Prassoulis’ giving nature kicked in, and he knew that he wanted to step in and help front-line workers in the best way he could. So, he packed up his trunk with his hand-rolled burgers–often with his 12 year old daughter, Venus, in tow–and drove around the city, giving out Holy Chuck burgers to grocery store workers, mechanics, nail salon staff, hospitals, and anyone he felt compelled to help. “There was a lot of people out there struggling or, I mean, there’s a lot of people that I believe that needed to kind of get recognized as well,” he says.
Johnny Prassoulis
It started with an inspirational story, and grew from there. “I started going around to hospitals. I did everything from Markham Stouffville Hospital, I even did SickKids Hospital,” he says. “I saw on Instagram, one of the parents, her son has had a heart problem. He’s doing amazing now, but he was in SickKids for a couple of years, and he was only a year and a half, two years. So I reached out and donated to the entire floor of her son’s ward. And it just started just just going from there.”
But, his mission wasn’t always an easy one, as pandemic protocols made visiting certain places a bit of a struggle. No matter for Prassoulis though, who trudged on, unsure how long the pandemic would last, unsure if restaurants would remain closed, unsure if it would cost him more than he made during the lockdowns. “Sometimes it took us a month to get into a hospital. We would call, and then it was a lot of a lot of red tape involved, calling us back and trying to figure out what’s going on, is everything individually packed, and stuff like that,” he says. “So just going back and forth and finding times and everything. It was a lot. But it was worth it, seeing it and getting emails back and the looks on their faces when we’d show up, especially as a surprise.”
All in all, Prassoulis estimates he donated about 2,000 Holy Chuck burgers to front line workers and community members during the pandemic. It was well worth it, he says, as many of the places he donates to have a personal connection. He donated to the entire floor of the hospital where his aunt passed away from cancer, and hosts a yearly golf tournament with some of his friends in honour of a pair of brothers in their friend group–one of whom was once his partner at Holy Chuck’s Yonge and St. Clair location. Every year, Prassoulis and Holy Chuck donate all of the food. And, he has an ongoing relationship with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) in honour of his friend George, who committed suicide about two years ago.
In his friend’s honour, Prassoulis put the Uncle Georgie Porgy on the Holy Chuck menu, a fried chicken, beef and lamb sandwich with all of George’s favourite toppings. And, $1 of every sale goes to CMHA Ontario to further awareness and funding for mental health efforts in the country. “I think the meaning of life is pretty much service to other people,” he says. “And I think that’s what makes me happy.”
Johnny Prassoulis isn’t the kind of guy to show his efforts off to the world, though. You have to know him, to have a conversation with him, to know about his service. But, he hopes telling his story and his motivation will inspire others to put kindness into the world. “I mean, the biggest reason why I do want to publicize it, even though I haven’t, is so that maybe others can kind of say, you know what, look at what that guy’s doing. Maybe we can do it. Let’s do it,” he says. “And I know, maybe everybody isn’t in the same situation, and maybe they can’t do it. But there’s always a way to do stuff. Go donate some of your time. I mean, you don’t have to donate burgers. You don’t have to donate food. You don’t have to donate money. I mean, just go help somebody an hour a week or something.”
Black+Blue Steakhouse is heading east and opening a new spot inside the space that once housed the Toronto Stock Exchange. The award-winning, Vancouver-based restaurant has earned a variety of accolades, including TripAdvisor’s Traveller’s Choice Distinction, which ranks it in the top 10 percent of restaurants worldwide. And, soon, its swanky vibe and high-quality menu will touch down in Toronto.
Patrons can expect to order from a menu featuring all the typical steakhouse haunts like steak, a variety of soups, salads and appetizers, caviar, chilled seafood and more.
Black+Blue on Instagram.
Looking for something distinctly Black+Blue? Go for the steakhouse’s signature onion rings, or opt for the melt-in-your-mouth Japanese Kobe Beef. Black+Blue takes great pride in being one of the select few that offer certified Kobe Beef Rib Eye and Striploin. The secret behind this prestige cut of meat? The umami flavour that’s embedded in the “shimofuri” marbling. The fatty “sashi” content dissolves at low temperatures leading it to literally melt in your mouth, according to the Black+Blue website.
The spot will span two levels, with indoor dining taking up an expansive 9,000 square feet with an additional 2,000 square foot garden patio for dining out during warmer months.
Black+Blue on Instagram
Black+Blue is in good company, rubbing shoulders with Cactus Club and King Taps in the financial district neighbourhood – two spots that also have West Coast origins, alongside other favourites like Earls. While no official dates have been set yet, keep an eye on the Glowbal Restaurant Group’s Instagram page for updates on when the Toronto location is set to officially open its doors.
When Alleycatz closed down in the summer of 2020, it left a gaping hole in the Yonge and Eglinton live music scene. But, now, a new locally-owned restaurant, Benny’s Barbecue is giving the space some life again.
Benny’s Barbecue
On Wednesdays through Sundays, the craft smokehouse serves up carefully smoked goodness from 11:30 to 8:30, or until the restaurant runs out of meat. Menu options include barbecue platters, brisket (both lean and fatty), pulled pork, smoked turkey breast, ribs and more. And, each order comes with a side of pickles, coleslaw and fresh buns, with all Texas barbecue recipes crafted by Chef Ben Slan himself, with assistant pitmaster Andrew Golden helping to manage the barbecue reins.
In May 2021, Benny’s Barbecue started as a catering and delivery business with weekly pickups out of Slan’s parents’ basement. But, with success, it has expanded to include a dine-in and take out option at the new 2409 Yonge Street space, where the building is tucked into an alley and surrounded by other eateries (of course, this setup is where Alleycatz got the name). The new space officially openedon March 9 (after a soft launch about a week earlier), and will feature rotating dine-in specials as time goes on.
For savoury sweet treats, Benny’s Barbecue hired a baker, who’s expertise brings goods like cheesy jalapeno cornbread and s’mores pie to the Benny’s menu, adding a decadent finish to Texas barbecue.
To turn Alleycatz into Benny’s Barbecue, the space underwent some renovations, including changing the flooring and adding some bright paint colours to the walls to create a more open space. But, odes to the Mediterranean eatery and live jazz club still remain in the new barbecue restaurant, like the massive wood bar and the stone wall.
