King West awash in caviar and wedge salad as highly anticipated VELA restaurant opens

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1:50 pm

Vela wedge salad — Vela's wedge salad (photo by Rick O'Brien)

Portland St.’s latest haunt for cocktails and caviar sandwiches has finally opened after a long year of pandemic-related stalls. Inspired by the chic ambiance of hotel lobby bars, VELA is serving up classics like a wedge salad, shrimp cocktail, steak, and of course, lots of cocktails and champagne.

The restaurant is the work of the co-owner of Bar Raval Robin Goodfellow, co-creator and former general manager of Alo Amanda Bradley and Jeffrey Lapointe of Soho House, Piano Piano, and Splendido. Goodfellow originally spotted the space back in 2018, admiring its prime location and old-world feel. He says Bradley immediately came to mind, and although they were only acquaintances at the time, he called her up for a coffee chat to discuss the project.

“I gave him a bit of hesitation at first, but I thought about it and decided it would be a great project to work on,” Bradley says. “We signed a 15-year lease, so we’re in it for the long haul.”

Vela banquettes (photo by Jonathan Friedman / PARTISANS)

After bringing on Lapointe as head chef, the team set to work preparing for an opening date of May 2020, which was ultimately derailed by the pandemic. Since opening earlier this week, the team at VELA says the response has been overwhelmingly positive.

“We’ve been anticipating this time for over two years, and we’ve just waited so long to get to this point,” Bradley says. “It’s been incredible, the guests are really enjoying everything and we’re learning as we go.”

Although guests can only dine on the patio for now due to pandemic restrictions, the team is patiently awaiting the day they can welcome people inside to show off the space. Currently cordoned off by curtains, the inside of the restaurant offers guests nine different experiences including a champagne bar, cocktail counter, chef counter and a large banquette area, all surrounding what will eventually become a live music venue.

With a robust menu of wines, pasta, steak, and seafood to match, VELA’s design emerged from the elegance of international hotel lobby bars. Bradley and Goodfellow say they wanted to recreate some of the inviting experiences they’ve had in hotels around the world.

“We love the ambiance in a hotel lobby, where there’s something for everyone and you can wear your socks and sandals or a Prada evening gown and spend $30 or $3,000 and you’re treated the same,” Bradley says. “We wanted to bring that welcoming hospitality to this neighbourhood.”

Bringing a sense of community back to the area is part of the team’s aim, and with this in mind, the name of the restaurant couldn’t be more fitting. It comes from the constellation of stars Vela, which is Latin for the sails of a ship.

“The design has a lot to do with togetherness and combatting this idea that we’re all in our own boats, our own islands,” Goodfellow says. “But we’re quite connected and all in this together, which couldn’t be more true now.”

The ultimate neighbourhood guide to Little Ethiopia

By

Dorothy Chudzinski

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12:31 pm

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Little Ethiopia has been largely overlooked in Toronto during the last few years, but it is a neighbourhood that is not to be missed, despite its small proportions. Little Ethiopia represents a small stretch of Danforth East, roughly mapped out as the five-minute stretch between Greenwood and Monarch Park Avenues. Although Greek and various other cultures are still scattered throughout the area, there’s a predominately Ethiopian community here. Little Ethiopia is well-connected by public transit, with the easiest way of getting here being by taking the Bloor-Danforth subway and exiting at Greenwood Station.

Eat

A handful of Ethiopian restaurants have made their homes here, including the Rendez-Vous, which was one of Toronto’s very first Ethiopian restaurants back when it opened in 2001. Rendez-Vous specializes in authentic Ethiopian and Eritrean fare, like injera (sour, fermented flatbread) served with spicy lentils or couscous stewed with onions, garlic, spices and peppers.

Opened in 2008, the Blue Nile is the area’s second-oldest Ethiopian restaurant and serves a mix of traditional meat and vegan dishes in a brightly decorated setting, making this the perfect spot to celebrate an event, big or small. Much of Ethiopia’s traditional diet is vegetarian and all of the restaurants in Little Ethiopia provide vegetarian and vegan-friendly options, making this neighbourhood an ideal destination for foodies who do not consume meat for dietary or religious reasons.

Savoury bites aside, Ethiopia is a country that’s known for its coffee beans and no visit to Little Ethiopia would be complete without a steaming cup of java. Mofer Coffee on the Danforth is a great spot to try a cup. This cafe uses premium single-origin Ethiopian coffee beans that are air roasted in small batches right here in Toronto. Nearly 15 Ethiopian blends can also be purchased as whole beans or ground, making it easy to enjoy the coffee at home, too.

Celebrate

Walking along this strip in pre-COVID-19 days, it wouldn’t be uncommon to hear a roaring crowd coming from inside a flag-draped sports bar, where the latest game has gathered a crowd of fans.

As well as incredible restaurants, Little Ethiopia is home to many lounges and restaurants, like the Wazema and the Merhaba Bar and Cafe, which runs as a restaurant and a bar and operates out of a former shisha house.

Entertainment

Nearby, the Riverdale area, including the beloved Riverdale Farm, provides a year-round source of entertainment and endless activities surrounding Little Ethiopia. The Cabbagetown Farmers Market runs from June through October in Riverdale Park West and is flanked by many vendors selling everything from clothing and jewellery to fresh produce.

The next time you head down the Danforth, make sure you make a point to check out Little Ethiopia, a cultural gem that’s quickly making a name for itself in the city’s east end.

Fuwa Fuwa Toronto’s pint-sized Toronto pancake purveyor set for global expansion

By

Ron Johnson

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9:48 am

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Fuwa Fuwa Pancakes is gearing up to expand internationally with new locations in Xiamen, China and Manchester, UK just three years after opening its first location in Toronto. The restaurant will also be expanding across the country with locations in Edmonton and Calgary, as well as doubling the number of its locations within the GTA from four to eight.

After leaving his career at a multinational company, the founder and business development director of Fuwa Fuwa Pancakes Benson Lau studied to become a pastry chef in Japan with the goal of one day opening his own bakery. He launched Fuwa Fuwa not long after moving to Toronto in 2017, applying his newly acquired skills to create something locals would love while bringing back a taste of Tokyo.

With a name translating to “fluffy fluffy,” it’s not hard to imagine the delectable, airy softness of the pancakes. Lau says the pastries are a blend between a French soufflé and a traditional pancake, combining flavours and textures drawn from diverse cultures. He says he feels fortunate to have been so welcomed and supported by the diverse communities of Toronto, and that Fuwa Fuwa’s expansion is a testament to the power of globalization and the common desire to explore different cultures, no matter where you are on the globe.

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“It’s interesting because it’s globalization—so here, we are influenced by Asian cultures, and in other parts of the world, they’re influenced by western cultures, so I think it’s human nature to want to explore other countries,” Lau says. “People in China have the same curiosity and they would love to explore what’s popular and trendy in Toronto, and different Canadian flavours like maple syrup. As a local business from Toronto, we are happy to introduce this culture to the people in Asia.”

With international travel less accessible due to the pandemic, Lau says the company’s expansion into Asia will allow people to have a taste of Toronto without leaving home. Combining flavours like white chocolate and matcha while incorporating ingredients that may be more common in Canada like blueberries, raspberries and maple syrup, Fuwa Fuwa’s pancakes fuse east and west in a way that’s balanced yet unexpected.

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The brand also recently launched a line-up of “fatcarons” (fat macarons), Asian-twisted basque burnt cheesecake, crepes and waffles. To celebrate the launch of the new locations, Fuwa Fuwa has also come up with a new and limited-time Maple Brûlée Pancake made with ingredients sourced from Ontario suppliers, which will be available at all locations for the month of July.

“We have been very lucky that our community is supporting us and that they love our pancakes,” Lau says. “We’re excited to bring this beloved Canadian staple to Asia and continue spreading happiness through food.”

Yesterday was the soft launch of the pancake purveyor’s first location in China, and the team is hard at work getting ready to open the other new locations later this year. For more information, visit fuwafuwapancakes.com.

Toronto Vintage Finds: Soft silhouettes and statement pieces at CHOSEN Vintage

By

Julia Mastroianni

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5:08 pm

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A photo of an 80s pink and white summer cotton dress. — Photo CHOSEN Vintage

For the owner of Dundas West boutique CHOSEN Vintage Melissa Ball, scouring the racks for the best vintage pieces was a passion long before it was considered “cool.” Growing up in Vancouver, she and her friends made a hobby of digging up the most unique vintage finds, and her interest in the pastime hasn’t waned since.

“Vintage clothing was something my friends and I embraced,” Ball says. “We were into dressing grunge and wearing things like Power Rangers t-shirts with my dad’s golf pants. Our money went a long way so that sparked my interest, and then I eventually started working at a vintage store in Vancouver.”

During her twenties, Ball worked other jobs in restaurants and offices, but the vintage fashion world was always in the back of her mind. After moving to Toronto, she landed a job at the Black Market as a buyer, which helped her refine her personal style and learn the tricks of the trade.

“Eventually, I kind of saw what I liked and didn’t like, and I started fine tuning and growing my collection,” she says.

Later, Ball opened her first pop-up shop in a gallery at Shaw and Queen Streets near OddFellows, the restaurant chef Matty Matheson helped to open early on in his career. Amidst the local art, music and food scene, the area was ripe with creative activity, contributing to a sense of community for Ball and the shop.

“It was like a little hub, there were bands playing and art galleries opening all the time,” she says. “That’s what started me on my journey. I thought, ‘I could do this on my own, and I have an idea of what I’d want for a vintage store.’”

Through her work at the gallery, Ball met other vintage shop owners who encouraged her to continue expanding her business. A series of baby steps eventually led her to open her own store on Queen St. W., where she stayed for years until the area began to gentrify and she was ultimately forced to find a new location.

“When Queen West was declared one of the hippest areas in the world, I knew that was the kiss of death,” Ball says.

Since 2016, CHOSEN has been located on Dundas West between Brock Avenue and Sheridan Avenue. Ball says she’s amped up her online presence since the move, and she’s glad to see vintage fashion becoming more of a staple in people’s wardrobes, especially among younger generations.

“People are starting to see the value and the quality of vintage fashion as well as its environmental impact, so that’s been an amazing change in past few years,” Ball says. “It’s been a positive reinforcement especially during COVID, just realizing that what I’m doing is relevant and appreciated.”

Here are five unique pieces up for grabs at CHOSEN Vintage:

1980s cotton dress

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Channel your inner candy striper with this cotton dress from the 1980s.

Red romper

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Get reddy to rock in this fabulous crimson number.

1960s Peignoir

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This ethereal peignoir from the 1960s can be worn around the house as a lounge piece or over a summer dress for a feminine touch.

1970s Day Dress

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With its ruched neckline, yellow bow and dainty floral pattern, this 1970s midi sun dress is as sweet as can be.

Lime Prairie Dress

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Go green with this lace-trimmed frock perfect for frolicking in the garden.

Inside this renovated modern Annex home with two decks for $2.75 million

By

Julia Mastroianni

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4:27 pm

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A photo of the front of this Annex neighbourhood three-storey home — Photo: Leading Image

With a brick clad exterior and sprawling designer interior, 54 Dupont St. in the Annex is about as move-in ready as a home can be. This detached listing was thoughtfully redone by JCI Architects. Its three storeys are defined with an open concept floorplan, hardwood flooring and oversized windows throughout.

Along with four bedrooms and four bathrooms, the three-storey home comes with two decks and a finished lower level. It’s a short walk away from Avenue Rd. in the Annex neighbourhood and listed for $2.75 million

You’re met with immediate access to the powder room, living room and staircase as you step through the wooden front door.

A floor-to-ceiling picture window in the living room brings in natural light and provides a nice view of Dupont St.

It’s completely open to the dining room, which features a showstopping chandelier. A modern glass wall separates the living space from the staircase.

The luxe kitchen is completely custom. It’s designed with a waterfall island, minimalistic cabinetry, and silver finishes.

Full height windows with a wooden frame open to the backyard.

The wooden deck has everything you need for outdoor entertaining. There’s more than enough space for barbecuing and a dining set.

The fenced in space is surrounded by mature greenery. It comes with an easy to manage grassy area and shed.

The entire third level is dedicated to the primary suite. There’s a skylight at the top of the staircase and an abundance of closet space.

It connects to a spa-like ensuite bathroom with marble flooring.

The five-piece bathroom features a glass shower, double vanity and soaker bathtub. There’s even a chic bench next to the window.

This bedroom also comes with its own private deck that overlooks the backyard.

There are three additional bedrooms on the second level, one of them has its own private balcony.

There is also a laundry room with a built in ironing and folding table.

All of the bedrooms share this elegant five-piece bathroom.

Two of the bedrooms have direct access to this L-shaped outdoor deck. It’s enclosed with glass barriers.

There’s lots more living space downstairs in the lower level, which comes with pot lighting and a three-piece bathroom.

54 Dupont St. is listed with Gillian Oxley of Royal LePage Terrequity Oxley Real Estate, Brokerage.

New Middle8 restaurant and live music venue taps into Yorkville history

By

Ron Johnson

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1:53 pm

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Named after the British term for the bridge of a song, Middle8 is the latest restaurant and soon-to-be live music venue to hit Yorkville. Chef Andrew Carter quietly opened the restaurant in the former Amber nightclub on Yorkville Ave. on June 16 after patiently waiting over a year for pandemic restrictions to ease.

Carter, a British native and the owner of gastropub the Oxley and Italian-inspired SALVO, said he chose to forego advertising and social media efforts for the launch in favour of engaging passersby in real-time. So far, he says, the community response has been excellent.

“People have enjoyed everything we’re been offering—cocktails, the wine list, our craft beer selection,” Carter says. “Anything and everything on the menu are things that I love. All the dishes are spot on.”

The menu focuses on oysters and charcuterie as well as seasonal produce and small plates.

The chef and restaurateur says he had been eyeing the space for years, and when the lease finally became available, he jumped at the chance to start something new there. As its name suggests, Middle8 hearkens back to the folk music era of the ’60s and ’70s, when greats such as Joni Mitchell, Neil Young and Gordon Lightfoot honed their craft in the Yorkville neighbourhood.

“Middle8 is going to be a live music venue, so I wanted a name that had a British connotation and a musical connotation, and it all flowed together,” Carter says. “We’re hearkening back to the ’60s and ’70s of Yorkville when it was the pinnacle of music, so it’s a small, very intimate cocktail bar where you can listen to great music. I basically built the bar I want to drink in.”

The restaurant will have a similar feel to the Oxley, only slightly edgier and with elements of a speakeasy.

“It’s sort of a speakeasy meets gentleman’s club,” Carter says. “There’s lots of leather, mirrors, wood, handcrafted furniture—it’s a beautiful vibe down there. You’ll probably want to drink a martini.”

Carter has assembled a dream team for Middle8 including Chef Chris Wilkinson of Sofia and the Broadview Hotel, Aleks Russell at the bar and sommelier Julie Garton, wine director at the Four Seasons Toronto. He says the menu has come together seamlessly, and all the dishes have been thoughtfully curated to create a consistent flow.

Featuring a selection of small plates, the menu includes highlights like a black mushroom dish with portobello mushroom braised for four hours then sliced like carpaccio and paired with pecorino cheese. The wines can be paired with each dish or sipped on their own, while the liquor-forward sipping cocktails bring a prohibition-era feel to the bar.

“It’s almost like grazing menu, there are only a few dishes, which you can combine together,” Carter says. “I said from the beginning every dish has to taste really well and have a punch to it because with the small plates you only have a moment to impress people so everything has to be really well executed but flavourful.”

Middle8 will make for a lively new addition to the Yorkville area, and Carter says he’s looking forward to continuing to serve the community that’s become like family over the years.

“I’ve gotten to know the people who live in Yorkville, they’re my neighbours, so when I told them about Middle8, they said ‘this is fantastic because we don’t have anything like this,’ so I think it will really add to the neighbourhood,” Carter says.

Middle8 is located at 119 Yorkville Ave.

The ultimate neighbourhood guide to J-Town

By

Dorothy Chudzinski

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11:54 am

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Located at the intersection of Steeles and Woodbine Avenues is Toronto’s largest Japanese shopping centre. J-Town can be most easily accessed by car via Highway 404 and taking the Woodbine exit. However, you can also visit the district by taking public transit and getting off the bus at Steeles and Victoria Park.

Despite being somewhat of an undiscovered, hidden Toronto gem, J-Town is quite popular and always busy. From the outside, J-Town looks like any other industrial strip mall off of the highway, but inside, adventure awaits, with 10 Japanese restaurants and cafes including a butcher, a grocer and a ramen restaurant, as well as a selection of bookstores, homeware and kitchenwares, cosmetic shops and clothing boutiques, all family-run or independently owned.

Explore

J-Town originally opened in 1998 with just three businesses, and a goal of creating a hub for Japanese locals to come together. Heisi Mart, J-Town’s grocery store, is one of the original three and specializes in Japanese products, including imported goods, as well as grab-and-go options like the bento boxes. Now, J-Town continues to expand, and one of the most recent additions to the strip is Tanuki restaurant.

Eat

Unlike a typical shopping mall food court, the food options in J-Town are far from greasy fast food joints or chain restaurants. Tanuki is an eatery that takes an elevated approach to modern Japanese comfort food, including a special rotating brunch menu on weekends. Toronto’s first-ever Japanese bakery, Bakery Nakamura, can also be found inside J-Town, and has been serving a variety of freshly-baked loaves, buns, danishes and cakes, like the velvety tofu cheesecake, since 1993. More sweet treats can also be found at Sasaki Fine Pastry, which specializes in creating dainty, pastel-coloured mochis (sweet soft and chewy rice cakes pounded flat). Check out their Instagram page for the latest flavours and updates.

Those craving the comfort of a warm bowl of spicy ramen will find it at the Green Tea Lounge, which specializes in homemade Japanese eats. Ten different kinds of ramen can be ordered here, including vegetarian miso ramen. Other dishes include soba noodles and hearty curry dishes served with steaming piles of rice.

Shop

Food and drink aside, one of J-Town’s most popular shops is Yamachu, which specializes in high-end Japanese tableware, accessories and gifts. The ceramics are one of their most sought-after items. Canada’s only online Japanese bookstore, Blue Tree books, can also be found inside J-Town, and sells everything from manga comics to textbooks. Canada’s only Japanese butcher shop, Famu, is another treasure hidden inside J-Town. Here, shoppers can choose from a wide selection of cuts, including Japanese, U.S. and Australian Waygu, one of the most expensive cuts of beef you can buy, which is sometimes sold for hundreds of dollars in restaurants throughout Toronto. One of Toronto’s largest seafood markets, By the Sea, carries fresh sashimi-grade selections of Uni, Maguro, Sake and Saba. Sushi restaurant Tora rounds out the restaurant offerings. J-Town, with its mix of Japanese food, drink, homeware and boutique experiences, is guaranteed to have something for everyone.

Casa Loma is getting Medieval on Toronto with Imagine Dragons

By

Ron Johnson

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10:19 am

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The Imagine Dragons immersive theatre experience will transform Casa Loma, Toronto’s iconic mansion, into a fairy-tale castle complete with dragons, fairies, and fair maidens.

Liberty Entertainment Group is announcing the opening of Imagine Dragons – Light Forest with tickets going on sale today and is currently scheduled to premiere July 21 in accordance with the province’s Stage Three re-opening plan.

The event will run 5 days a week from Wednesday to Sunday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. (last admission) through the end of August.

“Imagine Dragons at Casa Loma will leave guests of all ages breathless with excitement, feeling like they’ve travelled to another place and time,” explained Nick DiDonato, CEO of Liberty Group, in a press release.

“It’s the perfect summer fantasy adventure and antidote to staying at home for the entire family, designed safely with all protocols in place. We’re expecting a fantastic response to what will surely be one of the greatest experiential events of the season in our city.”

According to a press release, the experience features a lighting and laser show, and a slew of Medieval displays around the Casa Loma grounds, historic tunnels, and stables. There will also be interactive live performances by costumed characters.

Imagine Dragons is designed as a self-guided walk along a 2-km trail and appropriate for the entire family. All current protocols are in place. The event entrance is on the southwest corner of the property at Davenport Rd. and Walmer Rd.

Sharing the road with pedestrians and cyclists

By

Jarrod Daley

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1:23 pm

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As the weather gets warmer and more people are out and about, due to Covid-19 restrictions being lifted, we can anticipate seeing greater numbers of cyclists and pedestrians on the sidewalks and roads. As a car or truck driver, it’s vital that you’re careful and aware of your surroundings at all times, to avoid accidents that could hurt pedestrians and cyclists.

Toronto Personal Injury law firm Diamond and Diamond Lawyers are big proponents of road safety. Their three leaders, Jeremy Diamond, Sandra Zisckind and Isaac Zisckind share tips and advice to allow for everyone to share the road, including safety tips for bikers and pedestrians as well.

How Can Bicyclists Share the Road With Cars?

Some areas may have dedicated bike lanes, although you should still be aware of your surroundings when using these. Other communities may have signs that allow bikes to use a full care lane. Regardless of which lanes you’re operating a bike, there are a few rules of the road for cyclists:

Follow all traffic signs
Go with the flow of traffic
Use proper arm turn signals and turn lanes to signal your intentions
Use lights when cycling at night or in bad weather
Yield right of way when you’re entering the roadway
Avoid aggressive driving

If there is a bike lane, always stay in that bike lane. Otherwise, try to stay closer to the side of the road, and in the far right lane unless you’re turning left. This gives you a better “bubble” for passing cars. “If you’re biking past cars parked on the side of the road, be extra attentive and watch for people opening their car doors! We see many car and bicycle accidents can be saved by a high attentiveness,” shares Jeremy Diamond. Finally, pay close attention to the condition of the road. Potholes or cracks in the asphalt can be dangerous for cyclists.

Cars Sharing the Road With Cyclists

If there is a bike lane on the road you’re traveling, make sure you stay out of it. This is not a turn lane and is reserved for cyclists only – no motorcycles, either. “Cycling can look different across neighbourhoods and cities. Be aware of the cycling culture in your community – especially if there are a lot of people that bike,” shares Isaac Zisckind.

Here are some tips for car drivers sharing the road with cyclists:
Keep at least three feet of space between you and the bike – more if possible
Pass on the left
Be patient. Cyclists can only go so fast, and they’re entitled to the bike lane or a full lane, just like cars
Always check blind spots when changing lanes or merging, being on the lookout for cyclists

Sharing the Road With Pedestrians

Both car drivers and cyclists should be aware of pedestrians. If you’re biking on a trail with someone, always pass on the left. “When I’m driving, I always try to roll down my window and say ‘on your left’ when I’m passing,” shares Sandra Zisckind. Pay special attention to crosswalks at all times, following the right of way for those, too.

Enjoy yourself this summer, and make sure that everyone else does, too, with careful attention to everyone on the road, whether you’re on two wheels, four wheels, or afoot. Share the road, and be sure not to operate a vehicle or go walking if you’re intoxicated. Plus, stay off your phone for greater safety.

About Sandra Zisckind

Sandra Zisckind is a lawyer who was called to the Bar in 2003 and practices in the area of Plaintiff personal injury litigation in Toronto.

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Mamakas’s delish Greek street food pop-up running all summer

By

Megan Gallant

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12:31 pm

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Mamakas souvla — Mamakas's souvla pop-up

This weekend, Mamakas Food Group fired up the charcoal grill for a new street food pop-up. Named Souvla for the authentic Greek skewers being served, this summer patio is open every weekend to add to Mamaka’s lineup of Aegean-inspired restaurants.

Souvla is operating out of the House of Harvath parking lot across the street from Mamakas Taverna on Ossington Avenue. The pop-up was created to serve the most popular item at Agora, the Greek Market from Mamakas. Souvla is prepared with meat cooked by spit over a charcoal grill similar to souvlaki but with larger cuts of meat that are slow-cooked.

“It’s the traditional way of doing it in Greece,” says owner Thanos Tripi.

The pop-up’s concept began last summer while under provincial lockdowns. With Agora shut and Mamaka’s third location, Bar Koukla, open just as a bottle shop, Tripi wanted to do something more with the space available at the cigar shop across the street.

“We built a really great relationship with the neighbours,” he says. “We had asked if we could use it and rented from them to activate a traditional, Greek street food pop-up.” Unfortunately, Tripi was unable to move forward with the plan due to regulations around licensing.

But, earlier this Spring, the barbecue was brought out to the street corner between Mamakas and Bar Koukla.

“We’re known for doing that sort of thing,” Tripi says, stating they had received immediate demand for the product. Now that patios are open again, the barbecue has been moved across the street to fit more diners.

Everything about this pop-up is authentically Greek with a menu of chicken and pork souvla wraps with feta fries and Greek salad on the side. Offerings, including octopus, calamari, and lamb, will change weekly. For refreshingly sweet desserts, customers can order donut balls called Loukoumades served with ice cream. Beverages include Fix Greek beer and Thalia wine from the Greek island of Crete.

The 60-seat picnic table patio is available by walk-in only, with guests able to order for takeout online. Souvla is open Friday through Sunday rain or shine all summer long at 77 Ossington Ave. in the House of Horvath parking lot across from Mamakas Taverna.

The ultimate neighbourhood guide to Corso Italia

By

Dorothy Chudzinski

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11:44 am

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Often considered the city’s other Little Italy (besides actual Little Italy), Corso Italia has got a lot of Italian character, from the food to the generations of families that live along St. Clair Avenue West, from Lansdowne to Westmount, many of whom settled here in the 1950s.

In fact, more than 80 per cent of the neighbourhood are first- or second-generation immigrants and their passion runs strong. To paint a picture, the area is notorious for a raucous 1982 street party that took place after Italy won the World Cup, and thousands of soccer fans paraded down the street – just in case you’re wondering what kind of spirit Corso Italia harbours – and that comes alive any time Italy wins big on the field.

Eat

With a touch of Latin American and Portuguese presence, too, Corso Italia has some enviable spots to stop for a bite. Most especially Tre Mari Bakery, which is part-bakery and part-hot table, and has been a member of the community since 1960. Now in its third generation of family ownership, it’s a Corso Italia institution with a loyal customer base that’s always keen for the best biscotti, fresh bread and hot eggplant parmigiana in the city.

Shop

Food is a key feature of the neighbourhood, with family-run local market Diana Grocery being a necessary stop, offering everything from fresh produce to an incomparable meat selection. After loading up on all you can eat, swing by Christian Boutique for a bougie shop sesh. Yet another family business on the strip – which gives you a sense of the heart of this community – this fashion hotspot is run by Nello and Rita Bianco, and their daughters. Nello previously studied fashion and tailoring in Italy, and brought that know-how to Toronto, offering his own custom designs. The boutique, founded in 1974, also offers tons of designer labels, from its handbags to shoes.

Explore

For a night out, though, you’ll want to hit up De Sotos, a popular spot in the neighbourhood thanks to its sidewalk patio and live jazz performances on the weekends. But if you’re a sports fan – which you’re likely to be if you live here – you’ll want to visit the Cat’s Cradle, a sports bar that’s never without a game on its screens (and Italian sausage cooking in the kitchen), and where a sense of community and everybody actually knowing your name is the vibe.

Just to add one more touch of romance, the area’s BIA has been known to attach speakers to the street’s lamp posts to play smooth jazz and dance music along St. Clair West, all day, to set a score to your day in the neighbourhood. What could be more picturesque?

When to give inheritance money to your children

By

Marlene Mendonca

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8:48 am

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Warren Buffet, who along with his investing prowess has a gift for a turn of phrase, once told an interviewer that he wanted to give his children enough money so that they would feel they could do anything, but not so much that they could do nothing.

That encapsulates the ﬁrst challenge when giving money to one’s children: ensuring that it actually helps them to live their best lives. The second is one of real and perceived fairness among your various progeny. You don’t want gifts bestowed with the best of intentions to end up being a source of family discord now and after you’re gone.

WHERE DO YOU START?

Judicious planning, good communication and professional help can all help you meet both challenges, Nicola Wealth ﬁnancial advisors Ron Haik and Ethan Astaneh assured clients in a recent instalment of the Wealth Exchange podcast.

As with other forms of ﬁnancial planning, transferring wealth between generations is governed by a hierarchy of needs and a life cycle as both you and your children age. It typically begins with registered education savings plans (RESPs), which have both government assistance – up to $7,200 per child and – tax efficiency to recommend them.

But there are other vehicles that can be put to more uses, such as trusts, contributions to the child’s tax-free savings account (TFSA) and transferable life insurance policies. Many parents seek to impart ﬁnancial habits and skills along with the money itself, by creating a series of incentives to, for example, ﬁnish school and strive for long-term goals.

What’s equal is not fair and what’s fair is not equal

If you have more than one child, though, very quickly the issue of fairness raises its head as their needs and opportunities diverge. One child may receive a post-secondary scholarship while another may enrol in a particularly costly program. That’s without even considering risks such as addiction or long-term health problems.

“Every parent is likely to want to root their gift ing in the principles of equality and fairness,” said Astoneh, host of the podcast series. “Often what’s equal is not fair and what’s fair is not equal,” added Haik, a senior ﬁnancial planner and the Ontario Regional Manager in the Nicola Wealty’s Toronto office.

It gets more complicated still when adult children enter their nest-building years. They might begin cohabiting with a partner before marriage or before you even know about it, which can give the partner a claim on some of their assets. You may welcome the addition to your family or you may distrust them and anticipate an eventual breakdown of the relationship.

Depending on where they live, this may be your children’s time of greatest ﬁnancial need, as they attempt to get a foot hold in a rapidly inﬂated housing market; you can provide a down payment for a home purchase that they’d never raise on their own. If you’re wary of your son- or daughter-in-law’s motives, however, you may wish to call it a loan rather than a gift, Astaneh suggested. You can structure it as a promissory note that carries no interest payments and need not be reported on taxes, yet still have a claim on it should the relationship go south.

Whether you dole out inheritances while you are still alive or from your estate after death, there is always the risk of resentment among survivors over their comparative treatment. “Being the recipient of a gift is inherently subjective,” Astaneh observed. “Subjectively, it almost always feels like you were treated unfairly.”

Often, it’s not the money left over that causes the rift, Haik pointed out. “It’s that $50 painting that everyone grew up with. It’s the one piano that three kids learned to play on.”

Communicating long before your passing your intentions for these so-called material non-ﬁnancial assets can go a long way to avoiding conﬂict. So can having professional estate planners, whether to run interference or to take emotion out of the process and replace it with standard practice and experience. Still, “sometimes the solution is not going to be a technical one,” Astaneh said. “This is not a scientiﬁc exercise.”

Giving to your children (and possibly grandchildren too) involves not just good investment management and tax planning, then, but also soft skills such as empathy and good communication. Moreover, your family’s intergenerational wealth transfer plan has to be continually revisited, Haik said, as circumstances change. “You can’t just set it and forget it.”

PASS IT ON

Are you thinking about giving money to a child or adult children? If so, ask yourself the following 5 questions to test your preparedness.

Have you identiﬁed the amount you can comfortably give to your children without impacting your own ﬁnancial security?
Have you identiﬁed how to structure the gift and the best place to source it from to protect the gift?
Have you thought through how to communicate the gift to family such that adverse relationship outcomes are avoided?
When is the best time to provide a gift commensurate with your family’s values?
Is there a more tax effective way to effect that gift?

If you don’t have a ﬁrm grasp of these key elements, talk to an advisor who is experienced in intergenerational wealth transfers.