Gokui pizza, healthier Boba, and mini bites of Chengdu-style street food await foodies at Bold Food Hub, a new food mecca at 5 Baldwin Street. The multi-concept Chinese food centre is a far-cry from spare ribs and moo-shoo pork, in the best possible way.
Maybe the most intriguing of the three is Three Kingdoms Pizza. The pizza restaurant has more than 5,000 locations worldwide and serves Guokui – a large hand-held, stuffed flatbread pizza that’s both chewy and crispy. Three Kingdoms has multiple pizza flavours, including BBQ mushroom, pork and vegetable, and spicy beef. The face-sized pizzas are well-known in Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, China, and elsewhere in the world, but are a first for the GTA.
But you can’t stop at pizza when you visit Bold Food Hub. You’ll need to wash away your carb sins, and Fortune Tea is there to help with a less sugary version of Boba tea. Fortune Tea’s drinks claim to have less sugar and more real tea than most artificially-flavoured Boba tea options and can be topped with the restaurant’s handmade whipped cream.
Post-tea can only mean more food, which will inevitably lead you to A Bite of Sichuan and its bite-sized snacks meant for sharing (or excessive snacking). With more than 500 locations in China, A Bite of Sichuan is a well-oiled machine that aims to deliver Sichuan street food to the GTA. Braised Quail Eggs, Spicy Dried Wonton, Langya Spicy Fries, Sichuan Crispy Pork, and Mom’s Best Pig’s Trotter’s Soup are some of the dishes you can add to your Signature Nine Dishes platter.
A Bite of Sichuan on Instagram.
Bold Food Hubs is open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. The food is available for delivery through Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Facedrive or dine-in, perfect for relaxing and absorbing the custom artwork and colourful decor.
Graham Pratt and Anthony Rose have been fans of each other for a long time. When Graham and his wife ran The Gabardine, a popular brunch spot that closed just as the pandemic hit, Rose struck a friendship, rooted in respect, with Pratt.
“We have always had a mutual admiration for each other,” Rose says. “I think the city was bummed when they had to close that spot.”
After a few missed opportunities and bad timing situations, Rose asked Pratt to helm the kitchen at his two eateries, Rose & Sons and The Big Crow.
“I’ve been a fan of both of these restaurants for a long time. I love barbecuing, and I remember when Anthony was building this place I was like, this is so cool,” Pratt says. “This is kind of amazing that I can get both of these spaces as mine, and the timing just feels really good.”
Texas style chick beef chili.
As Pratt makes the menu more his own, he’s created two distinct menus for both Rose & Sons and The Big Crow, with the front, Rose & Sons space taking on a more traditional, deli-inspired feel, and The Big Crow exuding a cottage-like vibe with a more smoke-focused menu.
““In differentiating the two places, what we’re looking to do is have some crossover items for sure, as it’s one team and one chef,” Pratt says. “But we’re driving The Big Crow to be more bbq focused, and then we’re going to go more classic deli/diner and a bit of Tex Mex influences in the back as well.”
Smoked shrimp and pork sausage with grits and gumbo.
New dishes include beet root and potato salad with horseradish, crema and dill, smoked bbq brisket with handmade flour tortillas and fire roasted salsa, a smoked pork and shrimp chorizo, and Texas-style chuck beef chili.
While The Big Crow is currently open for dine in, takeout and delivery, Rose & Sons will open to the public soon, complete with Graham Pratt’s new, revamped menu.
Is your calendar looking wide open? We’ve got you covered with all the happenings across Toronto this weekend so round up your friends and family – or go solo – and have a little fun outside the house.
The Toronto Black Film Festival has been around since 2013, and it’s dedicated to celebrating the very best in cinematic work from Black filmmakers and artists around the country and beyond. Check out the full schedule and decide which films, live performances or Q&As you’d like to attend this weekend.
One of pop culture’s longest simmering feuds finally comes to a head in this comedy roast battle featuring Canada’s most vicious comedians dressed up as characters from both franchises, duking it out with verbal violence. Marvel or DC. Who will it be?
Come out and feel the energy of a stadium, cheering on your favourite team on Monday afternoon – the perfect activity for your hockey-obsessed family and friends.
Bring the whole family to this all-ages immersive experience which launches you into the streets of Imperial Vienna to the natural world of water lilies, vibrant blooms and mermaids and more. Lose yourself in the vivid imagery and bold colours of Immersive Klimt.
What better way to warm up this weekend then at Stackt Market’s Hot Chocolate Fest, a 10-day festival that celebrates chocolate, love and everything sweet. The event will take over all of Stackt Market and feature chocolate pop ups, musical performances, s’mores kits, drink specials, workshops and more.
Experience a family-friendly outdoor festival as you celebrate the magic of winter with ice sculptures, snow carvings, illuminated structures, life-size snow globes, performers and more with a light show synchronized to music! A 1.8 km forested trail through Black Creek Pioneer Village will be transformed into a magical winter wonderland.
David Suzuki is the host of the CBC’s The Nature of Things and author of more than 30 books on ecology (with files from Boreal Project Manager Rachel Plotkin).
When people do things they shouldn’t, they often try to distract attention from their actions. Guardian writer George Monbiot notes that many corporations fuelling the planet’s destruction spend significant resources to shift attention away from themselves and onto us.
Corporations benefit from blame-shifting to the individual
“The deliberate effort to stop us seeing the bigger picture began in 1953 with a campaign called Keep America Beautiful. It was founded by packaging manufacturers, motivated by the profits they could make by replacing reusable containers with disposable plastic,” he writes. “In 2004, the advertising company Ogilvy & Mather, working for the oil giant BP, took this blame-shifting a step further by inventing the personal carbon footprint. It was a useful innovation, but it also had the effect of diverting political pressure from the producers of fossil fuels to consumers.”
“Greenwashing” is another way corporations divert attention from their true ecological impacts. As British psychology professor Steven Reicher points out, “One recent McDonald’s spot boasts of the way the company is recycling cooking oil into truck fuel, coffee cups into greetings cards, and plastic toys into children’s playgrounds. The problem is that it makes no mention of the fact that McDonald’s beef footprint alone constitutes 22m metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions a year.”
Facing the real issues often leaves us feeling anger, anxiety and despair. While these are reasonable responses to the environmental crises engulfing us, the multi-billion-dollar self-help industry has profited enormously by convincing us that fixing ourselves is the priority.
Personal changes can still make a difference
How do we balance the need for personal change with systemic change, when both are necessary?
Personal actions can create consumer demand for sustainably made products, model greener behaviours and foster empowerment. But focusing on the personal runs the risk of eclipsing our responsibility to also marshal systemic change.
As Reichler notes, “McDonald’s advertising approach is emblematic of the way in which companies seek to continue with business as usual, by distracting us from where the real problems lie. One of the most common methods is to turn the climate crisis from a systemic into an individual issue.”
It’s hard to take on systems, but until we do, they’ll continue to grind up nature and spit out profit where rivers, forests and meadows once stood.
Financial and racial inequity further unbalance the scales
Systemic racism provides advantages (and inheritances), privileging white people in employment, education, justice and social standing. It enabled the mandate under which colonizers have invaded lands, occupied Indigenous territories and exploited nature for financial gain.
As a result of environmental racism, Indigenous and racialized communities have been placed at greater risk of living adjacent to land degradation and pollution from industrial activities and waste disposal.
Our economic system also results in gross inequities. It’s possible for one person to make $36 billion in a day — more than the yearly gross domestic product of some countries. As Monbiot writes, “The richest 1 per cent of the world’s people (those earning more than $172,000 a year) produce 15 per cent of the world’s carbon emissions: twice the combined impact of the poorest 50 per cent.” He proposes “a new system, in which there is ‘private sufficiency and public luxury.’”
In his words, “While there is not enough ecological or even physical space on Earth for everyone to enjoy private luxury, there is enough to provide everyone with public luxury: magnificent parks, hospitals, swimming pools, art galleries, tennis courts and transport systems, playgrounds and community centres.”
It’s a lot to take on, and it’s good to check out at times — to find respite in binge-watching, books, self-care routines or nature — as long as we check back in. Change won’t happen until we demand it, and unless we face the flames (metaphorically and, increasingly, literally), there is little chance we’ll be sufficiently motivated to put them out.
It’s not all work. Joy can be found in dreaming up creative responses (think of the many clever protest signs!) and joining in community. To paraphrase Joan Baez, activism is the best antidote to despair.
Whenever I watch Olympic speed skaters skate, I’m always mesmerized by how graceful they look while going upwards of 35 miles per hour – or faster. But, to be entirely honest, I always thought: if I can skate, I can definitely speed skate.
Oh man, I was ever so humbled when I stepped onto the ice with those long bladed skates on.
Thankfully, the great coaches at the Toronto Speed Skating Club helped me catch my footing and, by the end of the hour, learn how to gain some speed and almost turn properly.
It’s a whole different game learning to balance on these skates, perfect your form and learn the different skills required to excel at this sport – or any sport for that manner. But, it was one of the most fun hours I’ve had in a long time.
Learning a new skill – whether as a hobby or otherwise – is always a rewarding new challenge and something I love doing both solo and with friends.
Keep reading to find out the clubs where you can learn the different Winter Olympic sports in and around Toronto.
Speed Skating
Toronto Speed Skating Club
The Toronto Speed Skating Club offers an Intro to Speed Skating program. Individuals who have completed an Intro to Speed Skate session will be invited to join the club and participate in their weekly practices for the remainder of the season.
What you’ll need
Helmet (bike or hockey)
Gloves (ideally cut proof; leather or hockey gloves work)
Neck guard (bib style)
Knee pads (inline skating or volleyball)
Shin guards (soccer style and preferably without the under-foot strap)
Clear lens eye protection, with a strap (recommended)
Skates (rentals available)
Where
Ford Performance Centre, Rink 1 at 400 Kipling Ave., Etobicoke
Curling
Leaside Curling Club
The Leaside Curling Club offers 2 Learn to Curl clinics each spring, in addition to their different league memberships, which offer open ice sessions and more.
What you’ll need
Hat
Stretchy jacket or sweater
Stretchy pants (jeans are not recommended)
Leather or synthetic Gloves or Mitts (wool is not recommended)
Rubber sole shoes or running shoes (no outdoor shoes allowed on the ice)
Where
Leaside Curling Club, 1075 Millwood Rd., Toronto
Biathlon
Hardwood Ski and Bike
Hardwood Ski and Bike offers beginner classes and adult programs for those who want to learn to the dual skills of shooting and skiing.
[Photo Courtesy: Hardwood Ski & Bike]
What you’ll need
Cross country Skate Skis and poles (rentals available)
Biathlon rifle with harness, ammunition and case (rentals available/ provided with lessons)
Cross country eye goggles (rentals available)
Special biathlon gloves which securely grip the firearm and with trigger sensitive finger parts (rentals available)
Lycra wear and ski waxes (recommended)
Where
Hardwood Ski and Bike, 402 Old Barrie Rd. W., Oro-Medonte
Cross-Country Skiing
High Park Ski Club
High Park Ski Club is a cross-country skiing school offering free classic and skate ski lessons for members. With the membership, you’ll be able to explore snowy trails and serene landscapes.
What you’ll need
Cross country skis and poles [rentals available]
Warm winter clothing [weatherproof jackets and snow pants recommended]
Cross country eye goggles [recommended, rentals available]
Thermal Wear [recommended]
Where
High Park Ski Club, 2100 Bloor St. W, #6-149, Toronto
Walking up to the converted townhouse that now houses Little Sister‘s Portland location, there’s a small stairway that leads to a basement. The only indicator that there’s something down there is a bright neon sign bearing three Xs.
It’s the entrance to Little Sister‘s new bar, XXX Speakeasy, which is only accessible by asking the host at the upstairs restaurant for a playing card. Guests can then bring the playing card back downstairs, knock on the industrial door, and hold it up to the peep hole to be granted entrance.
A huge cocktail menu, dreamed up and put together by general manager and industry vet Robin Wynne, is designed to appease both cocktail drinkers and beverage newbies alike. “We wanted to have a creative environment that would challenge people’s perception of what ingredients you can and can’t use,” Wynne says.
To push their boundaries, they created the “Ants on a Log,” a pisco-based and South American-inspired beverage with imported ants floating in it. “They basically taste like lemon,” Wynne says. “If I had known that before, I would have put them in my caesar salad.”
The 20-seat space was designed to mimic a hole-in-the-wall basement bar commonly found in Amsterdam and other major European cities. Originally, the landlords wanted to use the basement room for something else, like a small kitchen for a takeout-only pizza joint, but agreed to allow Little Sister to use it to create XXX Speakeasy.
XXX Speakeasy
The menu boasts modern classics, picked from bar menus across the city that Wynne says were selected to honour Toronto, an array of new drinks specifically designed for XXX Speakeasy, and simpler, tried-and-true basics that can make a non-cocktail expert feel comfortable.
Wynne notes that he selected a bunch of spirits from ethical and sustainable brands, hoping to create an environment that will combine a passion for drinks with strong values. “We are almost zero waste,” he says.
XXX Speakeasy is located inside Little Sister at 102 Portland Street, and closed on Sundays and Mondays. It opens at 7pm Wednesdays through Saturdays.
While motor vehicle accidents are an unexpected outcome of driving, the reality is that they can happen. Diamond and Diamond lawyers is a personal injury law firm with multiple offices across Canada and Florida, USA. The firm’s leader and senior Partner, Jeremy Diamond, discusses what to do if you are injured in a motor vehicle accident.
Canada and Florida are both known for inclement weather conditions, which can make travel dangerous on the best of days. As Jeremy Diamond says, “Being aware of conditions when accidents are most likely to happen and using defensive driving techniques can help reduce the likelihood of an accident.”
Check Your Surroundings
If an accident occurs, it’s important to assess your situation and move your car off to the side of the road, if possible. Additionally, it’s important to make sure that you turn on your hazard lights to alert other drivers. It’s also important to check on the condition of any passengers in your vehicle. Furthermore, you should avoid moving someone who is visibly injured until the paramedics arrive.
Call 911 For Police and Emergency Services
Even if you don’t feel hurt, you should always call emergency services after an accident. “Soft tissue injuries or neck and spine injuries are very common after a car wreck. It’s best to have a professional diagnose these types of injuries because they can help you get the treatment you need in a timely manner,” cautions Jeremy Diamond.
Collect the Other Driver’s Information
If possible, the police will collect witness statements and add them to the police report. However, you should still get the other driver’s name, contact information, driver’s license and insurance information. Additionally, it’s also very important to get the name and contact info of any other passengers in the other driver’s car.
File a Police Report
Even if you think that there’s no damage to either car, it’s always better to have the police come and file a report. “If the other party contests an insurance claim or accuses you of causing the accident, a police report will help protect you,” stresses Jeremy Diamond.
Seek Immediate Medical Treatment
After an accident, you may be full of adrenaline and your body may not feel hurt. However, you may still require immediate medical attention. EMS workers are trained to spot injuries that you may not realize. Furthermore, the medical report ascertains that the crash caused your injuries.
Keep a Detailed Record Of Any Issues From Your Injuries
Healing from a car accident can involve ongoing physical or occupational therapy. Keep logs of how you feel after the incident and records from your healthcare providers about any ongoing issues with your injuries. The at-fault driver may be responsible for the costs of all of your medical treatment.
Call an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney like Diamond & Diamond Immediately
If you’ve been hurt in a motor vehicle accident, you may be entitled to compensation or damages. Contact Diamond and Diamond at 1-800-567-HURT for a free consultation today.
About Jeremy Diamond
Jeremy Diamond is a lawyer and member of both Ontario and Florida Bars. Jeremy practices in the area of Plaintiff personal injury litigation. Click here to learn more about Jeremy Diamond.
Long Range Hustle is a five-piece indie rock band based in Toronto. On Feb. 25, the band is set to release its third studio album, I am alive, but only if you say I am.
Reuniting with acclaimed Scottish producer, Tony Doogan, Long Range Hustle recorded the album in the tumultuous summer of 2020 at the storied Bathouse studio in Kingston, Ont.
The band is playing Lee’s Palace in Toronto on Feb. 25 for their album release show. Let’s meet Long Range Hustle.
How has it been for you as a musician trying to find a way through this pandemic?
The pandemic has existed in two halves for us. In the early days of the pandemic, when everything felt upside down, we tried to maintain some routine by doing daily lunch-time live-streams over Instagram live, and hosting occasional Zoom trivia nights for our fans. Anything to keep a semblance of community going.
Through 2020, we were actively working on writing and recording our new album. That goal served as a guiding light in an otherwise very difficult time. The forward momentum of creating new music was able to curtail a great deal of the sense of listlessness that was otherwise ever-present.
After the album was done (c. end of 2020) is when we then had to grapple with the fact that our greatest skill set — live performance — was no longer useful. Over the past year, we shifted our focus to producing video content. Our drummer (AJ Fisico), has been a bit of an aspiring director for a few years now, and this concert-less world we found ourselves in gave him the perfect opportunity to develop those skills.
Tell us about your new project.
Our upcoming album “I am alive, but only if you say I am” is a serious evolution for the sound of Long Range Hustle. The recording process was a little more drawn out than usual (more on that later), and it gave us the chance to explore some different sounds. The songs on the album are, as is typical for us, very distinct from one another. At times we draw on our heavy roots, and layer up the distorted guitars. Other times we pull from our penchant for sparser arrangements and let a few longing piano chords stand up on their own. In particular, we’ve incorporated a greater degree of electronics into this album. Almost every track has a couple synthesizers layered into it; a few songs are even built around pulsing sequencers and hypnotic arpeggiators. Because our recording schedule was delayed (we’d originally been slated to record in May 2020), we ended up with extra time to hone in this set of songs. The result is a tighter, more deliberate sound that we are honestly really proud of.
How would you describe your music?
You could probably boil down the Long Range Hustle sound as a blend of old-school Canadiana (think The Band, The Hip), and more recent indie influences (Ben Howard, Car Seat Headrest, Old Sea Brigade). But we try to incorporate small nods to our myriad influences, whether it be traditional folk music, ambient electronica, or even prog metal. We try to balance surprising and exciting instrumental arrangements with catchy melodies and meaningful lyricism.
It’s worth noting, however, that a long long time ago at a community battle-of-the-bands an audience member suggested LRH sounded like Dave Matthews Band meets System of a Down. We should probably put that on a business card.
How has the pandemic influenced your work and music?
The pandemic made some pretty significant impacts in the way we produced our new album. The pre-production process was entirely remote, with each band-member recording demo takes from their own home, and assembling them a-synchronously. This was a bizarre change in approach for us, but it gave us more time to consider the details of what we were playing. This is a big reason why “I am alive…” has a much tighter feel than our last album, Town, which had a largely live-of-the-floor pre-production process.
While the band was able to get together in person at The Bathouse studio near Kingston, our Glaswegian producer Tony Doogan was not able to join us. Instead, we linked the control room of his studio in Scotland directly to The Bathouse over the internet. We kept Tony’s video feed on a tablet that we could take from room to room with us. While the time-difference was an interesting hurdle to jump, we were able to record a high-quality album with a great deal of real-time interaction with Tony.
More recently, it has also had the unintended effect of pushing us to start songs in a softer, more muted space. Because there have been fewer chances to gather for a raucous jam session, some of our recent proto-songs are more evocative of the quiet living-rooms in which they were written. It will be interesting to see how this affects the direction of our next album.
What are you hoping people take from the new Long Range Hustle album?
The new album touches on memory, and how you change and re-evaluate your past experiences as you grow and change in the present. Inevitably, you will learn to live with your mistakes. And how you grapple with those mistakes helps define who you are. Those mistakes might be in romantic relationships, family relationships, or your relationship with yourself (all things covered in “I am alive…”). But they pass, and you’ll learn to look at them like a stack of old photographs that show a distant version of yourself that you mostly remember.
What is your background in music and when did you decide to pursue it?
The five of us all come from different backgrounds from being self taught musicians to having a post-secondary degree in music. However, the common trait among us is our desire to perform and write original music.
Paul and Jay both started playing live music in high school coffee houses, where they became friends and developed a mutual admiration for each other’s playing style and obvious proclivity for live performance. For Jay’s 18th birthday, Paul bought tickets to see The Tragically Hip’s show in Kingston. At that point they’d been playing together for a few months, but it was on the drive home, in the afterglow of the magic that is a Hip show, the two decided: Let’s be a real band.
The two went to University of Waterloo together, found a group of friends who played bass, guitar and drums and started playing as much as possible and in as many places as possible across Ontario. Through the years of University the current band lineup fluctuated with some great friends deciding to move onto other non-musical pursuits and the band’s lineup eventually solidified. By the time AJ, Mike and Ryan had all joined, we were ready to record our album Town at The Tragically Hip’s Studio, the Bathouse, in Bath, ON. Inside there a poster was hung for the Tragically Hip show that Paul and Jay went to in highschool that sparked the band’s origin. While there are many points in the journey through which commitment to the pursuit is tested, but it was in discovering that poster upon arrival to the studio that we knew we were in the right place.
What keeps you motivated to create?
For us, songwriting is a crucial tool for processing emotion. Good songs are written while you’re still figuring out how you feel about a subject. And that process of piecing together the words and melodies mirrors the way you piece together your own emotions into a cohesive feeling. As long as you are still learning, changing, and growing, there will be new experiences to process and new songs to write.
Where is your favourite place to play live?
We have a handful of haunts that we like coming back to again and again: The Mansion in Kingston, The Horseshoe in Toronto, The Casbah in Hamilton, just to name a few. Over the years, we’ve found ourselves in all kinds of places though. We’ve played on some big festival stages, but also in bizarre and sometimes DIY venues. We once played in a windowless building that was clearly a former strip club. Or there was the time we set up in our friends loft apartment and had the police called on us, only to have them watch the rest of the show along with everyone there.
What message do you have to those eager to check out Long Range Hustle and see you live when possible?
For us, this is a very unique album cycle. Traditionally, we road-test our new material extensively before we go to the studio. But this set of songs was produced entirely within the pandemic, and we have no idea how they will hold up in a live setting. When we do get on the road, these songs will be just as fresh for us as they will be for the audience. That is a slightly scary proposition, but it is also exhilarating in its own way.
If you’re thinking of coming to an LRH show, this will be a special opportunity to share that emotion with us. There is a lot of pent up energy behind this release as it has been delayed along with the limited ability to play live shows and see friends and family, so these shows will be intensely cathartic.
Let’s share a moment together, it’s been too long.
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.
A photo of Toronto trailblazer Anderson Ruffin Abbott.
This month, we wanted to highlight a few Toronto heroes who broke down barriers to pave the way for the next generations of Black Canadians. From trailblazing doctors to history-making politicians, learn about some of the amazing Torontonians who have made their mark in their industries and beyond.
A) Annamie Paul
Annamie Paul started her involvement with politics early, working as a page in the Ontario Legislature at age 12. She is a Canadian activist, lawyer and former politician who was the first Black Canadian to be elected leader of a federal party in Canada, in October 2020.
B) William Peyton Hubbard
Born in Toronto in 1842, William Peyton Hubbard was a Toronto alderman from 1894 to 1914. A popular and influential politician, nicknamed Cicero for his oratory, Hubbard was one of the first politicians of African descent elected to office in Canada.
C) Portia White
Born in Nova Scotia in 1911, Portia White began singing in the church choir under her mother’s direction at age six. She would go on to become the first Black Canadian concert singer to achieve international fame and was considered one of the best classical singers of the 20th century.
D) AndersonRuffin Abbott
Born in Toronto in 1837, AndersonRuffin Abbott became the first Canadian-born person of colour to graduate from medical school, and heeventually became the first Canadian-born Black doctor in Canada. He studied at the Toronto School of Medicine, which later became affiliated with the University of Toronto.
E) Addie Aylestock
Born in Ontario in 1909, Rev. Addie Aylestock was the first Black woman to be ordained in Canada. As a minister of the British Methodist Episcopal Church in Toronto, Aylestock helped organize congregations in several communities in Ontario, as well as in Quebec and Nova Scotia.
F) Robert Sutherland
Born in Jamaica, Robert Sutherland came to Canada to study at Queen’s University. Graduating with honours in 1852, he was the first university student and graduate of colour in Canada. He went on to become the country’s first Black lawyer when he was called to the bar in 1855.
Neon Demon Studio is closing their doors on March 20 after almost five years of success in Toronto.
The film and photo studio has become a Toronto classic for photographers, musicians and creatives alike.
With over 50 neon signs, a colourful aesthetic and various scenes to utilize, Neon Demon Studio grew quite the reputation within the creative community – both in Toronto and around the world. “When I spoke of the studio to other photographers during my time visiting South Korea, they already knew all about it,” recounts the owner, Jon Simo, on their website.
Photo Courtesy: Neon Demon Studio
Simo is making the move out of Toronto all the way out to the west coast in British Columbia, pursuing his passion of helping creators grow in their trade – something he certainly knows a lot about. Simo found Neon Demon’s studio space in 2018, and spent six months transforming it into what it is now. He scoured Craigslist, estate sales, eBay and junkyards for neon signs. “I would even walk into storefronts and ask if their neon was for sale,” Simo said.
As a whole, the collection screams cyberpunk and dystopian, carrying a certain vibrancy within the darkness. When all but one set of lights are turned off in the studio, it’s incredible to see just how illuminating each set of signs are on their own. Props including a variety of crystal prisms allow photographers and videographers to really tap into their creativity and achieve their vision for whatever project it is they’re working on.
Various pieces have come to the studio since their launch in 2018 and were from iconic signs around the city. Most notably, the giant “F” and “U” neon signs originate from Dundas Square’s old Future Shop sign.
The studio has been the backdrop for countless artists, including Toronto artist Sickick’s 2018 video for the release of No Games and a special promo video for Shawn Mendes’ performance at the MMVAs, where you can see neon signs glowing behind him.
Photo Courtesy: neondemonstudio.com
Simo and his team are hoping to sell the collection as a whole. To inquire about the collection or book in one last session, visit neondemonstudio.com.
A popular fried chicken spot hailing from Japan is travelling across the world, opening its first Canadian location later this year. Headquartered in Osaka, the country’s street food capital, Torisho is known for its super crispy and flavourful takeout karaage chicken. Over the years, it has been rapidly expanding across the globe with over 300 locations in its native Japan, and additional locations in Taiwan, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Ukraine, China and the United States.
The word Torisho translates to “laughing with chicken,” which is meant to inspire patrons to “eat our chicken and be happy,” and a quick peruse of Torisho’s menu proves that pure joy shouldn’t be hard to find. The menu boasts chicken six different creations, with your choice of chicken breast, legs and wings. The takeout spot also offers family pack meal deals, bento boxes and a popular Western style Japanese dish called chicken nanban, which consists of chicken thighs coated in egg and potato starch, deep fried and then coated in a tangy, sweet “nanban” sauce.
Karaage (pronounced kah-la-ah-geh) is a Japanese frying method that involves lightly coating the ingredients–in this case, chicken–in flour, potato or corn starch, and then deep frying it lightly in oil. Technically, the word karaage is typically used for lightly breaded thigh, and the breast option at Torisho is chicken mune, which is a yakitori dish involving skewered, grilled chicken thigh.
Image via Torisho USA on Instagram.
The award-winning restaurant is opening up later this year at 1940 Queen Street East (though they have been teasing it for almost a year), and will offer pick-up and delivery. In the meantime, keep tabs on their grand opening plans by following their Instagram.
Jeremy Diamond is a lawyer and member of both Ontario and Florida Bars. Jeremy practices in the area of Plaintiff personal injury litigation. Click here to learn more about 
