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ET Canada reporter Sangita Patel on finding the perfect home

By
Dorothy Chudzinski
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Sangita Patel is in the process of building her dream home

ET Canada entertainment reporter Sangita Patel is also a real estate buff, a member of our Post City Rotman Real Estate Roundtable and former host of HGTV Canada’s Home To Win. She is currently overseeing the construction of her dream home while living in rental accommodations with her family. Here, Patel answers our questions on the move and the market.

How is the dream home coming along?

What a year! We are currently still living in a rental while our new home is being built. We’re hoping it will be finished by the end of the year. It was challenging for us to sell a home in the beginning of the pandemic while we already owned another property. But the rental is fine for now!

Are you surprised by how quickly and thoroughly the real estate market marched on this year?

It’s pretty incredible. Many people are moving in with family members, and with more time at home, people are wanting to buy places with more space. I was surprised how many people are willing to make such big life decisions and major moves during this time, but it’s great for them, and the market is hot!

During the pandemic many people left town and worked virtually. How has that been for you?

Yes, the silver lining of this time is learning what is most important, and for me it’s my family. Having this time with the kids and my hubby has been a blessing. Routines have changed, and I am learning more about self-care: things don’t always have to be “go, go, go!” If there is a way to create a hybrid of this world of working from home and going to the office, I think that would be a good thing.

What were a few things learned about renovating your dream home?

Creating our dream home has been such a unique experience but also very overwhelming. When you see the blueprints for a house, it’s one thing, but when we were able to see 3D graphics of the house, our minds were blown! Such a game changer. There have been little changes we have needed to deal with along the way, but I would just tell people to be open to the process. I can’t wait to see the final product!

How long did it take to find that perfect home?

It’s been about a year. Everything has been slower with the current climate. We originally found the lot after a drive with our realtor, and the property actually wasn’t for sale at the time. But I kept asking about it, and our realtor kept following up, telling us they might be selling, and now here we are.

Did you apply any tips gleaned from Home To Win?

Yes! For four seasons I was able to give away a dream home, and now I get to build our own. It’s pretty amazing that I was fortunate enough to learn so much from some of the best in the biz! One of my fave tips was not to be afraid of black paint!

What would you say to those out trying to find a home these days?

It’s an interesting time right now, so many people are buying, taking advantage of low mortgage rates, but the housing prices are insane! We bought at the right time, and we did it for our kids, so they can attend the high school in this neighbourhood. Anything for the kids!

What are the advantages of finding a nice spot with room outside the city?

I was brought up in the city, and I moved when I was ready to have my first child. I wanted to be able to leave the chaos of downtown and live in a more serene space. We love having the extra space for the kids to run around and for us to spend time as a family in the backyard. It feels like a getaway!

A popular pizzeria is popping up in the Harbourfront

By
Jessica Huras
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General Assmebly

General Assembly is bringing a pizza pop-up to Harbourfront’s lakeside patio the Slip. The partnership blossomed after Slip manager and VP Gerardo Diaz reached out to GA to see if they’d be open to selling their frozen pizzas at one of Boxcar Social‘s numerous GTA locations.

You can now sit and enjoy a fresh General Assembly pizza on the Slip’s newly opened patio, or take one of seven available kinds to go, including pepperoni, mushroom, Margarita, vegan Margarita, Sweet Heat, and the vegan-friendly Impossible Meat pizza.

 

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General Assembly uses naturally leavened dough and hand-crushed sauce to make all of their pizzas. They’ll be able to maintain the texture of their signature crust thanks to the Slips’ outdoor wood-burning oven. Their popular Sweet Heat pizza features tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, pecorino, hot salami, chili, honey and basil, while the Loving Cup is made from tomato sauce, grass-fed mozzarella, parmesan, ezzo natural pepperoni and wild oregano.

In addition to their partnership with General Assembly, the Slip is set for a major expansion this summer. Socially distanced picnic tables have replaced the banquette seating on the Harbourfront concert stage, leaving a capacity of 400, which will double to 800 as restrictions loosen.

The Slip will also be expanding their beverage offerings to include a spritz cocktail menu, as well as a curated offering of low intervention wines imported by Context Wines.

With patio reservations around the GTA filling up due to capacity restrictions, the Slip is set to be a popular destination for those wanting to cool off with a drink and a slice next to the water this summer. Don’t forget your sunscreen!

Yonge Street looking to the future with newly minted community-centred strip

By
Dorothy Chudzinski
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cafeTO

Changes to design and regulation are taking place along Yonge Street in Willowdale as health restrictions loosen and CaféTO returns for a second summer.

The CaféTO program aims to provide expanded outdoor dining space for restaurants and bars impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic who still can’t provide indoor dining. The program is returning for a second year after city council approved an expanded version of the program, before the second patio season of the pandemic.

On June 8, city council adopted a speed limit amendment for the stretch of Yonge between Sheppard and Finch. On the recommendation of transportation services, which was requested by the local city councillor to investigate the feasibility of a reduction, the speed limit will be changed from 50 kilometres an hour to 40 kilometres an hour. This stretch of Yonge will be reduced from six lanes to four for the length of the CaféTO program, which is due to run until November.

“This regulatory reduction will allow a means of enforcement, if necessary, while also promoting reduced travel speed and additional comfort and safety of those utilizing the cafés, parklets and short-term parking on Yonge Street,” reads a report from Roger Browne, acting director of traffic management, to North York Community Council, who approved the reduction before it was sent to city council.

Laura Burnham, executive director of the Willowdale BIA, said about 40 restaurants in the area have been approved to participate in CaféTO and more are expected to become a part of the project soon.

“It will be one of the longest stretches of patios in Toronto. There are also many popular destination eateries offering takeout. New parklets will provide additional public seating,” said Burnham, who added that CaféTO will be a big boost to Willowdale’s restaurants as well as many others across the city.

“One hundred flower boxes have been installed to beautify the patios, and many of the Willowdale restaurants have additional plans to enhance their patio spaces,” Burnham said.

She anticipates the economic recovery period in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic will take time, and hopes the program will become an annual city initiative.

According to the report by Browne, although the CaféTO installations are temporary, the street will be reviewed later in the year to determine the appropriate speed limit, taking into consideration the conditions on this section of road.

How Toronto grads are commemorating an unforgettable year

By
Megan Gallant
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toronto graduates
Graduate ceremony held on campus at Royal St. George's College

Cue Alice Cooper because school’s out for summer. Maybe that’s an outdated reference for the high school graduates of 2021, but unfortunately maybe so are large, indoor graduations. Although just a few weeks ago Premier Doug Ford encouraged schools in Ontario to hold in-person graduations, the Toronto District School Board and the Toronto Catholic District School Board both announced they would stick to virtual ceremonies. Other schools, however, are finding ways to get creative in their celebrations. 2021 Toronto graduates may not be celebrating the usual way, but that won’t stop them from going out with a bang.

To mark the grand occasion, Toronto Prep School is going all out with drive-in commencement ceremonies at Toronto’s waterfront City View Drive-in on June 29. Not only will the private school be celebrating their 2021 elementary and high school graduates at the presentation but, in the morning, they will host a commencement for all 2020 graduates who were unable to get their deserved moment of fame due to last year’s COVID-19 restrictions. The city skylines will provide a breathtaking backdrop to commemorate the magical moment as students see their names light up the big screen. For the full star-studded treatment, the school is also providing hot meals for guests delivered straight to each car.

Following suit, Royal St. George’s College, a leading Toronto all-boys school, will also be hosting a graduation ceremony at City View Drive-In on July 7. The plans were put in place after feedback showed that the graduating class had a strong desire to be together in some capacity and retain as much of the tradition as possible. The venue will allow for 200 cars of graduates, families and guests to attend. Alongside the full ceremony, Royal St. George already hosted an intimate celebration on campus with just the graduating class.

City View isn’t the only drive-in venue providing a stage for students to celebrate from the safety of their own vehicles. The new Markham Fairgrounds welcomed Stouffville Secondary School’s graduating class last week with an unforgettable night. Vehicles were decorated with balloons, streamers and banners to support the celebrated graduates.

For many, a high school graduation is a milestone that marks the massive jump from being a teenager to being a young adult. That’s why the main priority for Toronto schools was to get the students to not only celebrate safely but to allow them to celebrate their achievement with the classmates who were by their side for the last four years.

For this reason, Havergal College hosted a small graduation featuring all 125 grads at an in-person full ceremony on school grounds. The girls were divided by houses for extra distancing and no guests were allowed at the event. Family members and friends were able to be present by watching the ceremony virtually. The girls were able to interact together for the first time in months, dressed in their angelic caps and gowns, and, of course, green masks to match their sashes.

 

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Many other schools across the city have similarly mastered this hybrid approach to celebrating the milestone with a combination of in-person and virtual celebrations. Several have opted for a drive-by/clap out style of celebration, allowing students to pick up their diplomas, photos and gifts. Like everything over the past year, these graduations are sure to go unforgotten.

Mirror extension of iconic Yorkville park will be a cause for celebration

By
Dorothy Chudzinski
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Yorkville Park
Iconic Village of Yorkville Park

Yorkville is a vibe, and it is growing.

To counter densification, Toronto has plans for a “network” of parks that could spread Yorkville’s culture further east. Some of the green spaces will be significant, such as an extension of the Village of Yorkville Park, and a new park that will “mirror” it running between Bloor Street West and Cumberland Street, where Cumberland Terrace currently resides.

“It is quite striking when you look at just how much new green space is going to be added,” local councillor Mike Layton said. “It’s a whole network.”

The new green spaces, including one between 33 and 11 Yorkville Ave., are being built in conjunction with new developments and have all been approved by the city.

According to the city, the subject parkland is located along the western side of the site and will be nine metres wide and 51 metres deep. It is adjacent to another future public space at 27-37 Yorkville Avenue, and will create a combined park size of approximately 1,040 square metres.

Layton said it is necessary to include public space in development plans, as once the land is gone, it is hard to come by again because it is “so bloody expensive.”

The city requires developments to include public space, but Layton said some of the projects in Yorkville have gone above and beyond what is required.

“I think we’ve done pretty well in recent developments to see more green space,” he said. “We’re never going to have enough green space, but it’ll certainly help because there’s a lot more people coming [to Yorkville].”

The “mirror” of Yorkville Park will be around 1,500 square meters and will connect to the new green space north of Cumberland, which will then link to the existing Town Hall Square and Mist Garden on the north side of Yorkville Avenue. “It’s a neat little corridor of parks up and around the east side of Bay,” Layton said.

The same landscape architect, Janet Rosenberg & Studio, will be designing both parks on either side of Cumberland, so they can “integrate” with each other, according to Layton. There is also the chance Cumberland could be closed off to cars so the parks could “spill out into the street.”

In all, Layton sees the new green spaces as a way to extend the culture of Yorkville further east, which currently is centred near the Village of Yorkville Park.

“It’ll make it a destination,” he said.

Rendering of new public space

Meanwhile, the Village of Yorkville Park extension will increase its size by about a third and replace the building currently at 1240 Bay St., according to ABC Residents Association co-president John Caliendo.

The extension, which was originally thought to be a long shot, will likely include a water feature, programming for Yorkville’s jazz festival and the return of a skating rink to the neighbourhood, according to Caliendo.

“It will be something for the next 100 years,” he said. “It’s going to be a very significant park.”

The movement to create more public space in the area began about 10 years ago, Caliendo said, after the “floodgates” opened to tall towers with the 55-storey and 30- storey Four Seasons Hotel.

With the help of urban designer Ken Greenberg, who has since worked on the Bentway revitalization, the city developed a plan for Yorkville to create pockets of public space that connect with each other, inspired by the design of Rome, Italy.

“The seed for all of this was done 10 years ago, and now it’s coming to fruition,” Caliendo said.

This Toronto landmark is now offering a magical garden dining experience

By
Jessica Huras
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The Gardens at Casa Loma

After a long winter of lockdown, it’s feeling pretty magical to be emerging from the confines of our homes to enjoy food and drink under the summer sun on restaurant patios. One Toronto restaurant group is taking this enchanting experience to the next level with an outdoor dining experience set at the foot of Toronto’s own fairytale castle.

The Gardens at Casa Loma is a new outdoor dining experience from Liberty Entertainment Group (who also run the castle’s other onsite restaurants). The new dining space is set amid the castle’s stunning gardens, offering sweeping views of the Toronto skyline and the historic castle itself.

The Gardens at Casa Loma

“The beauty is: while you’re on the patio, you’re in the lower gardens with a backdrop of the castle so you see the exterior of the castle and then we have a beautiful view of the city as well,” says Nick DiDonato, president and CEO of Liberty Group. He says the space also features some tented areas to accommodate diners on rainy days.

Although the gardens have been used as a wedding venue in the past, this new project represents the first time they’ve been opened to the public as a dining venue. Working out of a pop-up kitchen in the gardens, Liberty Entertainment’s culinary team has created what DiDonato describes as a “global” menu.

The Gardens at Casa Loma
Mixed Grill platter

The approachable menu spans from Mediterranean-influenced appetizers like grilled octopus and chips and dips platter with hummus and tzatziki; to classic mains like steak frites and lobster ravioli. The Gardens at Casa Loma also offers a sizeable selection of wines by the glass and bottle, cocktails and easy-drinking beers. “It gives people an opportunity to get outside, experience some wonderful dining and experience one of Canada’s most iconic historical sites,” says DiDonato.

The Gardens are currently expected to remain open until early September. Bookings can be made online.

“We’re really pleased with the response we’ve been getting. Our first three weeks were sold out every night of the week,” says DiDonato. “We’re thinking, ‘we should have done this years ago.’ You look at the pandemic and the things that have happened in the past year and it’s a learning curve. You learn and do a lot of things you may never have [otherwise] done.”

Toronto Vintage Finds: Unique summer staples at Odd Finds General

By
Julia Mastroianni
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A photo of an outfit from Odd Finds General in Toronto.

Odd Finds General first began as a project between sisters Danielle and Stacey Collrin in 2013. The space originally housed a café and tea shop, but the sisters discontinued that element around the same time Stacey branched off to open her own shop, Siberia Vintage.

Odd Finds quickly took off, evolving organically over nearly a decade of being in business. Collrin has worked with dozens of vendors, consigners and artists over the years, each contributing to the shop in their own unique way.

“I’ve definitely learned a lot along the way,” she says. “I appreciate the recycling aspect of the vintage world. The idea of being part of something sustainable and eco-friendly really piqued my interest.”

Collrin describes Odd Finds’ style as feminine, bright and vibrant with a slight penchant for florals. She carries everything from casual, everyday wear to evening gowns, but the underlying thread uniting it all is the abundance of rich colours, eclectic prints and retro patterns reflected in each piece.

Now that retail is once again open for business in Toronto, Collrin says she couldn’t be more excited to welcome customers back and feel the city coming alive for the summer. Here are four looks from Odd Finds to inspire your summer wardrobe:

70s handmade tangerine velvet tank and 60s handmade skirt

A photo of an outfit at Odd Finds General in Toronto.

This jaunty and subtly retro duo should get you in the mood for a spring fling. Both pieces could easily transition into fall, and you could also try swapping the skirt for a pair of jeans for a more casual look.

90s aqua satin robe

Channel your inner minx with this romantic aqua satin robe. With its soft material, it’s perfect for lounging around the house or for throwing on while you do your makeup.

80s pure silk long sleeve blouse and 90s high-waisted denim shorts with fringe

A photo of an outfit from Odd Finds General in Toronto.

High-waisted jorts go with everything, but they look especially sweet with this floral blouse and pair of dramatic statement earrings. Finish off the look with a pair of leather booties and you’ll be ready for patio season.

80s denim vest

Top off any summer look with this on-trend denim vest from the decade of shoulder pads and punk rock.

Odd Finds General is located at 1178 Bloor St. W.

Using AI to create music from Hendrix, Cobain and more

By
Dorothy Chudzinski
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Ace Piva, co-founder of Over the Bridge

Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and Amy Winehouse are all members of the 27 Club, meaning they all died at the age of 27 due to drug and alcohol abuse or suicide. Now, a Toronto-based non-profit is using artificial intelligence to create what sounds like new music from these great artists while changing the conversation around mental health in the music industry.

Over the Bridge, an online peer support community offering musicians mental health and addiction recovery education, harm reduction training and long-term support services, is using an AI algorithm to isolate hooks, rhythms, melodies and lyrics from these musicians to compose new songs that were put together by a vocalist and an audio engineer.

The album, Lost Tapes of the 27 Club, was released earlier this year as an ode to the music lost to the mental health crisis.

Ace Piva, co-founder of Over the Bridge, says once Rolling Stone and New Music Express (NME) shared the initiative, the non-profit saw membership and support rise, which is their ultimate goal.

Piva, who has worked as a drummer and tour manager, started Over the Bridge in 2017 after working with a hip-hop artist who relapsed a few weeks into his tour after being in addiction recovery for nearly four years.

“Management didn’t care that he had relapsed as long as he made it to the stage,” recalls Piva. “That was their only priority and that they got paid. How he got up there was none of their concern.”

After meeting a fan on the tour who expressed how this artist saved his life with the way he spoke about addiction recovery in a song, Piva was blown away.

That meeting motivated Piva to become an addictions counsellor where he worked at a number of programs in the GTA and led group after-care meetings. It was during those meetings that he saw the profound connection made between people in recovery.

That’s why he decided to create Over the Bridge — a safe space that promotes recovery goals for musicians, road crews, technicians, managers, agents, promoters, record labels, live music venues and festival workers.

Since its inception, the non-profit has supported more than 2,000 members of the music industry, and Piva says the community has been a particular salve since the pandemic began. Twice weekly online sessions jumped from four to six people a week up to 20 to 25 people.

“It’s been a great little community we’ve built during COVID and there’s still going to be a lot of people who are going to need those supports when it’s over,” says Piva.

He says Over the Bridge places a big importance on peer support.

“While we do recognize that professional support and therapy are incredibly valuable, not everyone has access to it,” says Piva. “By asking people to step up and join our community, they’ve been able to connect and, in some instances, have actually been able to jump on the same tours and feel more comfortable knowing that they have the support on those days that they’re struggling.”

The program has been a big breakthrough in changing the conversation in the music industry where mental illness and addiction were glamorized for decades.

Canada Goose is ending the use of fur in all products by 2022

By
Julia Mastroianni
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A photo of a Canada Goose jacket

Canada Goose will no longer be using fur in any of its products, the company announced Thursday. The company will end the purchase of fur by the end of this year and stop all manufacturing with the material by the end of 2022.

The announcement comes as part of the company’s platform HUMANATURE, a project dedicated to reducing their carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality by 2025. Canada Goose says they will be introducing reclaimed fur into their supply chain in 2022.

“Our focus has always been on making products that deliver exceptional quality, protection from the elements, and perform the way consumers need them to; this decision transforms how we will continue to do just that,” says Dani Reiss, president and CEO of Canada Goose. “We continue to expand – across geographies and climates – launching new categories and products designed with intention, purpose and functionality. At the same time, we are accelerating the sustainable evolution of our designs.”

Earlier this year, Canada Goose launched the Standard Expedition Parka, which uses 65 per cent less water during production and generates 30 per cent less carbon than the in-line Expedition Parka. They also released a new category of down jackets made with recycled nylon.

In addition to achieving carbon neutrality by 2025, Canada Goose plans to transition 90 per cent of its materials to sustainable alternatives and integrate sustainable packaging by 2025. The move to ban fur completely from its products has been praised by several environmental organizations including Humane Canada.

“This is a significant step forward toward building a more humane and sustainable world,” says Barbara Cartwright, CEO of Humane Canada. “We applaud Canada Goose’s commitment to end the use of all fur by late 2022 and the leadership position they are taking in their industry.”

Canadian retailer Holt Renfrew also recently announced its plans to ban fur and exotic skins by the end of 2021 in an effort to be a more sustainable organization. The brand’s sustainability commitments also include sourcing denim from sustainable sources by 2025 and banning plastic glitter from its cosmetics.

In response to Canada Goose’s decision, PETA will be placing a moratorium on its campaign against the company, and will now focus on pressuring the brand to end the use of down feathers.

Watch the Euro Cup in Toronto this weekend 

By
Ron Johnson
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Cafe Diplomatico for Euro Cup
Cafe Diplomatico Instagram

As the competition at Euro 2020 heats up, so do Toronto’s patios. With the Round of 16 set to kick off this weekend, here are the patios that you need to know about if you’re looking to catch some football.

Café Diplomatico

 

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Located in the heart of Little Italy, Café Diplomatico is a magnet for Italian soccer supporters. Their patio at 594 College St. is packed with TVs during matches, and their expansive menu of pizzas and pastas is sure to transport you from the chaotic streets of Toronto to an Italian village. On the pitch, Italy are in form, having won all three of their group stage matches without conceding a goal. There’s never been a better time to hop on the Azzurri bandwagon, as Italy takes on Austria on Saturday at 3 p.m. Reservations are required for gamedays, but seating is first-come, first-serve at all other times.

Amsterdam BrewHouse

 

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If you’re looking to put a Dutch bent on your Euro 2020 watch party, there’s no better place to go than Harbourfront’s Amsterdam BrewHouse. Started by a Dutch ex-pat in 1986, Amsterdam BrewHouse will be showing tons of Euro 2020 action, with a keen eye on how the Oranje are performing. Thus far, it’s been nothing short of perfection from the Netherlands, who won all three of their group games en route to topping Group C. The Netherlands faces the Czech Republic on Sunday at 12 p.m.

Duke of Cornwall

 

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While England’s form thus far at the tournament has been a little shaky, you’ll be sure to find the Three Lions on TV at the Duke of Cornwall. Their patio on University Avenue will be jumping for England’s Round of 16 tilt against Germany on Tuesday at 12 p.m., as well as for the other games over the course of the weekend.

Rendezviews

 

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Rendezviews made a name for themselves hosting socially distanced viewing parties for the Raptors during their 2020 playoff run and are back at it again with screens set up for the Euros. The partnership between The Fifth and The Ballroom has produced one of the largest patios in the city. While they won’t be showing every game, they’ll have Wales vs. Denmark at 12 p.m. and Italy vs. Austria at 3 p.m. on Saturday from their parking lot-turned-patio location at 229 Richmond St. W.

Bottom Line

Owned and operated by former NHL goalie Wayne Cowley, Bottom Line is known as one of the premier hockey bars in the city. As well as being a go-to place for the NHL playoffs, The Bottom Line will also be showing Euro games on their patio all weekend.

Brazen Head Irish Pub

 

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A hot spot for Toronto FC supporters for pre- and post-match celebrations/sorrow drownings, Brazen Head will be showing games out on their patio this weekend, even though the Irish won’t be factoring into the competition.

Shoeless Joe’s

Quickly becoming a go-to spot on the Harbourfront for every major sporting event, Shoeless Joe’s is a one-stop-shop for everything Euros. According to Gourmandee, they’ll have two large TVs fired up that can be seen easily from the patio.

Jack Astor’s

Every Torontonian ends up on Jack Astor’s Front Street patio at least once per summer; why not make it your plans for the Euros this weekend? Enjoy one of the most accessible patios in the city, as it is an easy commute from anywhere in the GTA thanks to its proximity to Union Station.

The Queen Anne

There’s no better place to watch soccer than in a classic English pub, and the Queen Anne at Richmond and Peter Streets will be serving up footy (and wings, and sliders) all weekend long.

La Latina

 

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If you’re looking for Copa America coverage, La Latina is the place to be. According to Gourmandee, they’ll be serving up all of the action from South America’s biggest soccer tournament, which is going on simultaneously alongside the Euros this year.

Here are 7 things to do in Toronto this weekend

By
Julia Mastroianni
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A photo of a person in roller skates
Quinton Coetzee/Unsplash

Summer, and good weather, is here to stay, and the city is filled with fun activities to try. Whether you’re newly-vaccinated and looking for something to do with friends you haven’t seen in a year or just on the hunt for an adventure to kick of the summer, here are seven COVID-safe things to do this week in Toronto and the GTA.

Go to a drive-in movie theatre

Indoor movie theatres might not be open just yet, but drive-in theatres are arguably an even better option. Pop open your trunk, get some popcorn and enjoy new releases or old classics with friends and family. Check out the Ontario Place drive-in or Stardust Drive-in Theatre in Newmarket for a full list of movies available to watch.
Price: Starting from $10

Pick your own berries

Craving a fresh summer pie or some locally grown produce? Bring along some friends for a physical distancing-safe pick-your-own-berries experience at nearby farms. Strawberries are currently in season at Robintide Farms in Maple or Reesor’s Farm in Markham.
Price: Starting from $10

Try outdoor roller skating


Retro Rolla is Toronto’s first roller skate rental pop-up for adults ages 18 and older. Roller skate under The Bentway with friends, a date or on your own for a solitary excursion in the city! Book an hour-long time slot at retrorolla.com.
Price: $18 for the first hour, $10 for additional hours

Host your own backyard movie night

Planning on having an outdoor gathering but not sure what to do? Check out Tiny TOPS, a Toronto Backyard Picture Show rental kit brought to you by the Toronto Outdoor Picture Show. You can book the kits for a three- or four- day rental, and it’ll come with everything you need to set up the projector and connect the audio in your own backyard – you just need to bring the movie and the device you play it on! Book your kit for this week at topictureshow.com/tinytops.
Price: $175-$205

Visit an outdoor art fair


The Kensington Market Art Fair is running this weekend again, featuring artwork from professional and student artists. Visit 77 Nassau Street on Sunday June 27 to from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. to see a curated selection of 2D and 3D art, including ceramics, jewelry, sculpture and prints. Check out the featured artists here!
Price: Free

Attend a drive-in drag concert

Tickets are still available for tonight’s Drive ‘N Queens Summer Series show hosted by Toronto’s own Tynomi Banks and featuring some of Canada’s favourite drag performers! You don’t want to miss this must-see event, but if you do, check back for tickets in a few weeks for the next show on July 10.
Price: Starting at $139

Drop by the farmers’ market


This Sunday, June 27, stop by The Met Farmers’ Market at the corner of Queen St. E. and Church St.to pick up some fresh produce, flowers, prepared foods, and more!
Price: Free

Toronto restaurant openings and coming soons: June 19 – June 25

By
Jessica Huras
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toronto restaurant openings egg club
Image via Egg Club

Toronto restaurants that opened this week

Egg Club has opened a second Toronto location at 531 Yonge Street, near Wellesley Station. The restaurant specializes in eggs folded between shokupan, or Japanese milk bread. The dish is finished with toppings including avocado, smoked sausage, thick-cut bacon, creamy chili sauce, balsamic onion and homemade corn salsa.

Fahmee Bakery has found a new home at 222 Lansdowne. Known for their Jamaican patties, and for serving ravenous commuters at the Warden, Bathurst and Islington subway stations, Fahmee is offering $1 patties all at their new location this weekend to celebrate. Just don’t ask if they have ‘mild.’

Sammy’s has moved their pop-up to the Grape Crush patio at 1166 Dundas West. Their simple but incredibly popular menu consists of smash burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, fries and onion rings. Grape Crush, which boasts more than 200 wine offerings and a $20 corkage fee, is located minutes from Trinity Bellwoods.

Solato has opened its first Toronto location at Stackt Market. This eco-friendly Israeli company serves frozen yogurt, which is only chilled right before serving, saving up to 25 per cent of the energy needed to prepare a traditional pint of ice cream. Gelato, sorbet or frozen yogurt is made to order in a recyclable pod, allowing customers to mix flavours and add toppings at will.

Toronto restaurants opening soon

Chadon Beni is taking over the County General’s old space at 936 Queen West. This Caribbean fusion concept specializes in small plates and cocktails. Think coconut curry crab dumplings, mango chow and plantain chips and tempura lobster tacos with grilled pineapple salsa. No official opening date has been announced.

Hazukido is opening their second Toronto location on the concourse level of First Canadian Place. Hazukido uses a combination of Japanese and French traditions and ingredients, including French Elle and Vire butter and Japanese Century flour, to achieve their signature fluffy croissants. Croissants are baked on-site daily, with flavours including salted egg yolk, hazelnut chocolate, truffle crab, caramel almond and custard and butter garlic.

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