This mid-winter Toronto beach event will feel like stepping into an optical illusion

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Aerial view of the Winter Stations 2022 exhibition, including The Hive by Will Cuthbert and Kathleen Dogantzis. Photo credit: Jonathan Sabeniano

Winter Stations just gave you the perfect reason to head to the beach in February! The Toronto public-art exhibition is returning for its twelfth year, and the 2026 winners have officially been announced!

This year’s theme is Mirage, and it’s all about playing with the boundary between what’s seen and what’s real, specifically in the age of AI, while reimagining public art as a kind of “infrastructure” that gathers people in a shared reality.

The exhibition launches on Family Day (Feb. 16, 2026) and runs until March 30, 2026, at Woodbine Beach. As always, the installations will transform the shoreline around the beach’s lifeguard stations, turning those familiar structures into the anchor point for temporary, interactive builds!

Anyway, here are the 2026 Winter Stations winners (and what’s coming to the shoreline this winter):

Embrace: Will Cuthbert (Canada)

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If you want something more uplifting (and super photo-friendly), Embrace consists of two shimmering shapes that resolve into colossal hands (a.k.a. an invitation to “change your point of view” and catch a prismatic reflection of warmth and light!) The project was made in partnership with Northcrest Developments.

“Will’s art embodies the playful and uplifting warm embrace that people crave during the winter months,” Northcrest Developments’ programming-and-placemaking director Alana Mercury said. “We were delighted to premiere his piece at YZD, as part of our annual Hangar Skate, and to see thousands of people experience the optical illusion in motion as they skated around the colourful hands.”

Chimera: Denys Horodnyak (Ukraine) and Enzo Zak Lux (Germany)

Chimera is a reflection on the fragmentation of physical and digital realities! It uses mirrored elements to distort perception. From afar, it blends into the beach, and up close, it becomes a shifting encounter with one’s own reflection. The installation was made in partnership with the Mechanical Contractors Association of Ontario, with fabrication led by pipe welder and metal artist Courtney Chard.

CHIMERA by Denys Horodnyak (Ukraine) & Enzo Zak Lux (Germany)

Specularia: Tornado Soup: Andrew Clark (USA)

This one is all about perception tricks: five framed openings face the lake, but only one reveals the “truth”; the others show context-stripped fragments through periscope-like mirrors, confusing direction and distance until the real view resolves. Clark’s art installation is being fabricated with MicroPro Sienna-treated lumber.

Also, look out for the two university installations joining the winners:

Crest (The University of Waterloo)

The installation is described as a sweeping wave “paused” just before breaking, one that’s designed to look like driftwood from afar, then reveal its geometry as you approach.

Glaciate (Collab between Toronto Metropolitan University and Taiwan’s Ming Chuan University)

Expect a corridor of vertical panels filled with nearby lake water, creating “ice lenses” that shift through transparency and opacity as freezing and thawing cycles change what you can see (it’ll look like a literal mirage!)

Since 2015, the exhibition has helped launch new public-art ideas, supporting winners with materials, fabrication labour, and a $2000 CAD honorarium. This year, the exhibition will unveil three winning designs (from Canada, the U.S. and Germany-Ukraine) selected from 300 submissions worldwide, alongside two university entries.

A Toronto-heavy jury selected the projects, including City of Toronto Chief Planner Jason Thorne, public art curator Katriina Campitelli, Harbourfront Centre craft-and-design leader Janna Hiemstra, UKAI Projects studio director Luisa Ji, and Northcrest Developments’ programming-and-placemaking director Alana Mercury.

Follow @winter.stations for updates.

Solidarity through music as Neil Young offers Greenland entire catalogue for one year

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Ron Johnson

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No stranger to political outrage, Toronto music icon Neil Young has taken a shot at the United States, and Donald Trump in particular, by allowing Greenland free access to his entire music catalogue for one year.

Born in Toronto in 1945, the independent singer-songwriter has spent more than six decades using his music and his voice to take political positions, often loudly and unapologetically.

In a post published Jan. 26 on the Neil Young Archives website, the Toronto musician said the offer was intended to “ease some of the unwarranted stress and threats you are experiencing,” following recent comments by U.S. President Donald Trump about asserting control over Greenland and the broader Arctic region.

“I’m honored to give a free year’s access to neilyoungarchives.com to all of our friends in Greenland,” Young wrote. “I hope my Music and Music Films will ease some of the unwarranted stress and threats you are experiencing from our unpopular and hopefully temporary government. It is my sincere wish for you to be able to enjoy all of my music in your beautiful Greenland home, in its highest quality. This is an offer of Peace and Love.”

Though Young spent parts of his childhood in Winnipeg and later moved to California, his Toronto roots have always remained central to his identity. He was born at Toronto General Hospital, returned repeatedly to the city throughout his career, and cemented his Canadian legacy with the legendary 1971 Massey Hall concert.

Young has been especially vocal in recent weeks, publishing frequent op-eds criticizing Trump and U.S. government agencies. Earlier this month, he called U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement the “new American thug police” following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good.

“Donald Trump is destroying America bit by bit,” Young wrote in a separate post, accusing the administration of incompetence, dishonesty and moral failure.

The Toronto-born rocker has also reaffirmed his decision to keep his music off Amazon, citing CEO Jeff Bezos’s political alignment and the company’s perceived support of Trump-era policies. Young removed his catalogue from Amazon Music in October 2025, continuing a long-standing pattern of putting principles ahead of platform reach.

Offering his catalogue to Greenland, Young framed the act not as a political strategy but as something simpler — music as solidarity.

From a Toronto-born artist who has spent a lifetime pushing back against authority, it was a gesture entirely on brand.

Chef Brandon Olsen is building a national chocolate brand in Toronto

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Nisean Lorde

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1:42 pm

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SnapInsta Ai 1673404489414864377 — Brandon Olsen @cxbo_chocolates/Instagram

Canada’s chocolate appetite is huge. But a lot of what we eat (and what chefs cook with) is still produced elsewhere. So, Toronto chef and chocolatier Brandon Olsen and entrepreneur Michael Held are stepping into that gap with a new venture: As We Do Chocolate Company, a chef-led brand that serves both premium retail shoppers and the foodservice and hospitality industry at a national scale!

Expect bean-to-chocolate production made in formats that work for both home kitchens and professional ones (think retail bars, as well as chocolate pellets and chips for baking programs, restaurants and hotels). And unlike many small-batch chocolate startups, As We Do is a business built by chefs, for chefs.

If the owners’ names ring a bell, it’s likely because they’ve been part of Toronto’s conversation for years. Chef Olsen (a.k.a. Instagram’s King of Ginger) is the chocolatier behind CXBO Chocolates and a former chef at Bar Isabel and The Black Hoof. But Torontonians will most likely recognize him as a co-founder of Toronto’s French brasserie La Banane on Ossington. The menu at the Michelin-recommended restaurant changes at whim, but depending on the night you go, Salt Spring Island mussels meet crème fraîche and Normandy cider; omelettes get caviar treatment; and seared foie gras is gussied up with roasted pineapple and sweet spice!

Held comes from a very different lane: business-building at scale. He founded LifeSpeak in 2004 and helped grow it from a startup to a publicly traded company.

And ‘As We Do’ couldn’t come at a better time: even though Canada’s chocolate market could reach $7.2B by 2030, every cocoa bean used in Canadian chocolate must be imported, according to Statistics Canada, showing how global the supply chain is, even when the finished product is made here.

The company is launching via a Kickstarter pre-sale campaign (and the full digital platform/e-commerce site is scheduled to go live on Feb 24, so keep an eye out!)

Toronto’s cookie scene is packed, but this new shop is bringing soft, gooey perfection to the city

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Jennifer Schembri

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675A8741 2 2 — Cookey's owner and chef Anastasiia Ochynnikova

Toronto’s cookie scene is notoriously crowded, but Anastasiia Ovchynnikova isn’t interested in the usual over-the-top gimmicks or viral bait. This month, she is launching Cookeys at Yonge and St. Clair, a project that swaps flashy toppings for serious technical chops and a “built from zero” approach.

A former lawyer, Ovchynnikova moved to Canada and decided to turn a deep-seated pastry obsession into a physical storefront. The inspiration for Cookeys didn’t come from a business plan, but from a life-changing bite during a trip in 2017.

“That was the first time I felt that a cookie could be more than just an addition — it could be a stand-alone dessert with character,” she says.

To get there, she traded legal briefs for pastry academies and masterclasses with French chefs. She is obsessed with the “why” behind the bake — the logic of fat content, moisture and density.

“A cookie is not improvisation and not something made ‘by eye.’ It’s a precise formula — the balance of sweetness, fat, moisture, texture and flavour,” she says. “Every batch is held to a strict personal standard: “Would I give this cookie to my children? That’s my internal reference point.”

Choosing a neighbourhood was less about data and more about a gut feeling.

“You walk into a space, and either you feel nothing or something responds inside. For me, it felt like choosing a home,” she says. The shop is designed with an open kitchen because transparency is the goal. “A sense of trust and transparency is essential here,” she notes.

In a city that appreciates independent spots, she is betting on quality over volume, noting that “growth doesn’t have to come from loud statements … but from quality and consistency.”

Whether you are after a classic chocolate chip or a double chocolate hit, Ovchynnikova believes the right cookie finds you.

“When a product is made with care and attention, it finds its person on its own.”

Cookeys is located at 1430 Yonge St.

Toronto is getting a new summer festival celebrating meat and drink

By

Ron Johnson

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Toronto’s packed summer festival calendar is getting a hot and smoky new addition. This July, Brewery & the Beast, a popular celebration of live-fire cooking, chef-driven cuisine, and craft beverages from out west, makes its Toronto debut. Think all-you-can-enjoy food, drink, and music in the city’s west end.

The festival lands on July 26, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., at Henderson Brewing on Sterling Road. First launched in Victoria, B.C., in 2012, Brewery & the Beast has become a beloved summer event in Vancouver and Calgary, where it regularly sells out. N

At its core, Brewery & the Beast is built around a simple premise: gather top chefs, give them live fire, great ingredients, and creative freedom, and let guests roam, eat, and drink as much as they like for a single ticket price.

But it does come at a steep price. Toronto tickets are priced at $149.95 plus HST, with all food and beverages included.

The Toronto edition features a mix of fine dining, neighbourhood favourites, and chef-driven institutions. Confirmed participants include Alder, Antler, DaiLo, Enoteca Sociale, GEORGE Restaurant, Canoe, Cherry Street BBQ, Piano Piano, Pizzeria Libretto, Little Sister, Oliver & Bonacini Hospitality, and Bar Mordecai, among many others.

Slow-Roasted Rotisserie of Tomahawk Steaks from Two Rivers Meats in Victoria, BC

Several well-known steakhouse and grill-focused restaurants are also on board, including Black and Blue Steakhouse, Iron Cow Public House, and South Fire.

Each chef will prepare a signature dish cooked over live fire, with menus expected to have a wide range of style united by a focus on meat and seafood.

On the drinks side, guests can expect craft beer, cocktails, wine, hard teas, seltzers, and zero-proof options, as well as live DJ sets throughout the afternoon.

According to organizers, 100 percent of the proteins served at the event are sourced from Canadian farms and ranches, with an emphasis on ethical and responsible practices. Sustainability extends beyond the plate as well: food is served on reusable wooden b

Founder Scott Gurney originally drew inspiration from Southern U.S. barbecue festivals, imagining a Canadian version that could highlight regional ingredients, global influences, and the social experience of eating together outdoors. Since its debut, Brewery & the Beast has grown steadily, drawing more than 60,000 attendees across Western Canada.

9 of the best events in Toronto to celebrate Black History Month

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Julia Mastroianni

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5:47 am

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This story was last updated: Jan. 27, 2026

February marks Black History Month and Black Futures Month, a forward-looking celebration that focuses on present-day accomplishments and contributions within the Black community, especially when it comes to the arts. Toronto is filled with exciting events and experiences created by some of the city’s top Black artists. From music to shopping to theatre, enjoy these nine events happening in Toronto this month celebrating Black history and futures.

KUUMBA

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When: All month

Known as Toronto’s largest and longest-running Black Futures Month celebration, Kuumba is all about supporting Black artists and Black culture. Enjoy dance, music, workshops and literary events highlighting contemporary, award-winning Afro-Caribbean and Canadian artists. And with the third edition of KUUMBA 365 beginning Feb. 1, expect a focus on music this year, with artists such as Dennis Passley, Larnell Lewis and Dwight Jones.

Toronto Black Film Festival

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When: Feb. 11–16

Featuring over 65 films from 15 countries (including 22 world premieres), the Toronto Black Film Festival is dedicated to showcasing outstanding Black films while also celebrating Black History Month. Along with plenty of screenings of incredible new movies, the festival also features live performances and panels on everything from diversity in the industry to crafting strong characters for budding screenwriters alongside film screenings. This year, a tribute to award-winning director and Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Stanley Nelson will kick off the festival.

Black History Month pop-up market

When: Feb. 20–22, Feb. 27–March 1

The Trending Table Inc. is celebrating Black History Month through two separate pop-up markets dedicated to honouring Black history and culture! Shop from local Black-owned and BIPOC-owned businesses, including handcrafted skincare, locally-made jewelry, arts, fashion and more at Square One and Scarborough Town Centre.

Black History Month at The Pilot

When: All month

For the fourth year in a row, The Pilot is using the month of February to celebrate Black History Month by spotlighting Black-led jazz groups. Each Saturday and Sunday of the month, expect themed performances and shows featuring Black artists — including a poetry night, a history presentation on the stories of Black Canadian artists and DJ sets. Check out the full schedule here!

Celebration of Black Classical Music

When: Feb. 20

Untitled Ensemble is bringing back their Celebration of Black Classical Music for the second year! Featuring works by Shanyse Strickland, Dr. Adolphus Hailstork, Valerie Coleman, Florence Price and more, there will also be a talk by author and academic, Dr. Cheryl Thompson.

The Underground Comedy Railroad

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When: Feb. 15

The Underground Comedy Railroad is bringing back its annual Black History Month tour across Canada this month, and Toronto is one of their stops! The group features Black comedians from across the country, including tour co-founder Daniel Woodrow and Winnipeg Comedy Festival’s Keesha Brownie, and is known for being the first ever all black comedy tour in the country. This year, they’ll be performing a second annual Black Valentine’s Day Special — but rest assured, the organizers note the show is for both couples and the un-coupled.

BLACK GRAPES

When: Feb. 27

Taste wines from Canada, the United States, South Africa and more on this self-guided walk around Waterworks Food Hall to celebrate Black winemakers! Black Grapes, hosted by The Spice Food and Wine Group, s a Black History Month celebration, so expect an evening of celebrating Black winemakers and agents from around the world. The organizers note that while the term black grapes is used to describe the grapes that go into making red wine in the wine industry, they’re using it to celebrate wines made with contributions from the Black community.

The Black Diamond Ball

When: Feb. 28

Celebrating its 11th year this year, The Black Diamond Ball has brought together the Black community and supporters to celebrate the community’s accomplishments and honour individuals who have excelled in their respective fields. This year, the event will be in-person at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel and, with a theme of “Level Up,” there will be plenty of events leading up to the ball to inspire individuals and communities to embrace innovation and grow together through mentorship and financial empowerment. Check out a vocalist competition on Feb. 5 to offer a space for networking ahead of the ball.

Black History Month Showcase

When: Feb. 5

The Canada Black Music Archives is back for their annual Black History Month Showcase, happening at the City of Toronto Archives. Expect incredible performances by veteran and emerging Black Canadian musicians, including Jully Black, Liberty Silver, Divine Brown, Dru (In Essence) and Tanika Charles, as well as mixes by DJ Carl Allen and hosting duties by Mel Boogie.

Remember 2016? Here are Toronto’s biggest moments from a decade ago

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Nisean Lorde

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4:42 pm

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honest eds — Courtesy Mike W./flickr, via Wikimedia Commons

If you’ve been scrolling through social media lately, you might have noticed your feed flooded with content from 2016! The nostalgic wave has us all recalling our fave trends, tracks and looks from a decade ago, so Streets of Toronto decided to jump in. Here are 13 moments from 2016 that basically defined the city’s group chats that year, from sports and pop culture to a little bit of politics.

Toronto hosted NBA All-Star weekend (and made history doing it)

Best Dunk contest. Ever!!!

— DeMar DeRozan (@DeMar_DeRozan) February 14, 2016

The 65th All-Star Weekend landed at the Air Canada Centre in February 2016! It was the first time the NBA All-Star Game was held outside the U.S., and it ended as the highest-scoring All-Star Game in history. Raptors star DeMar DeRozan summed up the vibe best: “Best Dunk contest. Ever!!!” after Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon’s now-legendary duel.

Drake dropped Views

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Drake’s massively successful fourth studio album Views dropped on April 29, 2016, eventually surpassing 10 billion streams on Spotify and becoming one of the Toronto rapper’s most successful albums. But more importantly, that year, “the 6ix” may have already been in Drake’s orbit, but Views (originally teased as Views From the 6) helped cement “the 6ix” as Toronto’s global nickname!

Toronto approved the Bloor Street West bike-lane pilot

OK, so this was genuinely a city-shaping moment: In May 2016, Toronto City Council approved the Bloor Street bike-lane pilot, and cycle tracks were installed by late August from Shaw Street to Avenue Road (cycling volumes on Bloor went way up after installation). As of 2026, the original segment was made permanent, and the corridor has expanded in phases. Now, parts of the network have been caught up in a province-city legal fight, but the lanes remain in place while the appeal plays out.

Former Toronto Mayor Rob Ford passed away

Whatever your politics were, Ford’s passing in March 2016 was a defining Toronto news moment that year. The former Toronto mayor, who gained global notoriety after he admitted to smoking crack while in office, died after an 18-month battle with cancer at the age of 46.

**TIFF crowned La La Land with the People’s Choice Award**

Perhaps TIFF’s 2016 People’s Choice Award doubled as an Oscars crystal ball? In September 2016, it went to La La Land, generating major global buzz. Damien Chazelle’s flick eventually went on to win six awards at the 89th Academy Awards.

Toronto hosted the World Cup of Hockey (and Canada won it at the ACC)

The 2016 World Cup of Hockey took place in Toronto in late September. Canada clinched the title at Air Canada Centre after Brad Marchand scored shorthanded with 44 seconds left in the third period, defeating Team Europe 2-1.

The Blue Jays delivered an all-time Wild Card walk-off

In October 2016, Edwin Encarnación’s three-run 11th-inning homer sent the Jays to a 5-2 victory over the Orioles in the AL Wild Card Game at the Rogers Centre! If nothing else, it became one of those “where were you when” Toronto sports memories. Imagine what fans at that game would think if they saw where the Jays ended up in 2025!

Auston Matthews’ Toronto Maple Leafs debut made history

Also in October 2016: Auston Matthews made history, becoming the first player ever to score four goals in the modern era in his NHL debut!

Toronto FC became the first Canadian team to reach the MLS Cup

Another famous sports moment: Toronto FC made history in 2016 as the first Canadian club to reach the MLS Cup final (and Toronto hosted the final at BMO Field on Dec. 10, 2016!)

Two capybaras caused a frenzy after escaping High Park Zoo

You might have forgotten about this one — but for a time in 2016, it was all anyone could talk about. Two capybaras (animals that happen to look like giant guinea pigs) escaped from High Park Zoo, making international headlines and evading capture for a full month before they were discovered safe and sound, and returned to the zoo. Go Bonnie and Clyde!

Honest Ed’s closed for good

Toronto ended 2016 by saying goodbye to an iconic landmark. Honest Ed’s, the Toronto discount store at Bloor and Bathurst, closed permanently on Dec. 31, ending a 68-year run that helped define the neighbourhood’s neon-lit charm.

Big box stores hit Toronto

It’s strange to think that just 10 years ago, U.S. department stores Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue launched in Toronto. Popular at first, the success didn’t last — Saks Fifth Avenue closed all its Canadian locations in 2025 after its parent company, Hudson’s Bay, began liquidations, and Nordstrom exited Canada in 2023. But there’s one big store opening from 2016 that’s still going strong: Uniqlo! The Japanese clothing brand attracted huge lineups when it opened, and still seems to be thriving in Toronto today.

History-making at the Rio 2016 Olympics

Olympic hopeful Andre De Grasse — Andre De Grasse celebrates winning bronze in the men’s 100m dash in 2016 © Mark Blinch/COC

While summer Olympics aren’t always Canada’s thing, Toronto helped make some major moments happen at the Games in Rio in 2016. GTA sprinter Andre de Grasse had an iconic Olympic debut, winning bronze in the 100-metre, just behind Usain Bolt in first place — and the pair shared a viral “bromance” moment in the semi-finals for the 200-metre, smiling at each other as they crossed the finish line almost simultaneously. And of course, we can’t forget Penny Oleksiak‘s historic wins at age 16: she became Canada’s first athlete to win four medals at a single summer Olympic Games and Canada’s youngest ever gold medal winner.

This Hong Kong-inspired Lunar New Year pop-up is taking over a Toronto bar next month

By

Nisean Lorde

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1:17 pm

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Toronto’s about to experience a fiery new Lunar New Year event. Fire Horse Club is a free five-day art-and-culture pop-up landing at Cry Baby Gallery next month, featuring a preview of new work from a local artist and some major prizes.

Fire Horse is an aptly named event: it’s a rare zodiac alignment that occurs once every 60 years, symbolizing independence, confidence, passion and momentum. According to Fire Horse Club, it’s a year for bold beginnings and decisive action, when art, fashion, travel and culture surge forward with renewed intensity.

The experience is presented by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, and is designed to channel the creative energy associated with Hong Kong’s Lunar New Year celebrations, so expect tons of contemporary art, cocktails and a chance at major prizes!

At the centre of Fire Horse Club is a spotlight on new work by Toronto-based artist Peter Chan, whose practice draws on Hong Kong visual culture, calligraphy and symbolism. Organizers say the pop-up will preview works headed for Art Basel Week in Hong Kong this March, so Torontonians can get an early look before the pieces head overseas.

The venue is also a big part of the appeal. Cry Baby Gallery is an art space up front with a cocktail-bar energy that kicks in hard once you’re inside. For the pop-up, guests can enjoy a Lucky 3-4-9 cocktail menu, inspired by Hong Kong flavours and numerology.

As a bonus, Fire Horse Club is running a contest connected to the pop-up, with a grand prize that includes a coveted Hermès 2011 Red Clemence Leather Birkin 35 handbag, as well as a trip to Hong Kong that includes two premium economy round-trip flights from Toronto, a four-night hotel stay and two Go City attraction passes.

Best of all, the event is free! Celebrate the Year of the Fire Horse Feb 17–22, 2026 at Cry Baby Gallery (1468 Dundas St. W.). Click here for more info.

10 best ways to spend a snow day in Toronto

By

Julia Mastroianni

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10:50 am

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Snow days: they only come a few times a year, but when they do, you’ve got to take advantage of this underrated perk of the winter season in Toronto. This weekend, a polar vortex and snowstorm took over Ontario — Toronto saw a record 46 cm of snow, the snowiest day in history for the city. Schools have been cancelled (including all schools in the Toronto District School Board and Toronto Catholic District School Board) and offices closed. Don’t want to waste away these peak winter days? Here are 10 ways to spend a snow day in Toronto.

Explore an indoor garden

Get a major serotonin boost by taking refuge from the cold at an indoor garden. There are a few amazing spots in Toronto to do so, from greenhouses bursting with palm trees to peaceful and relaxing bamboo gardens. If your ideal way to spend a snow day is by forgetting snow even exists, this is your best bet. Check out the Bamboo Garden at U of T’s Terrence Donnelly Centre, the Allen Gardens Conservatory and more amazing spots.

Go tobogganing

Once the snow stops falling, Toronto will be blanketed in the perfect powder for racing down the city’s best hills. Grab a sled and go on the perfect winter adventure — tobogganing isn’t just for kids, after all! There are so many great hills in Toronto; Riverdale Park features two epic slopes, while Cedarvale Park is great if you also want to tack on some skating to your tobogganing.

Get competitive at a board game café

Stay safe inside from the cold and get your temperature up a different way: competition. Toronto is home to so many fun board game cafés, such as Snakes & Lattes and Twilight Cafe & Bar, with many offering unlimited use of their extensive game libraries for a set fee. Bring your friends, bring your family and settle in for an evening of winning (or being a gracious loser).

Go curling

Curling at Toronto's Ace Hotel — Curling at Toronto’s Ace Hotel (photo: Daniel Neuhaus)

Embrace all things Canadian by trying out one of the country’s most popular sports: curling. You may think this sport, which requires artificial ice, curling stones and more to practice, isn’t accessible, but Toronto has quite a few amazing spots where you can try sweeping for the first time. Check out Leaside Curling Club for beginners or Ace Hotel Toronto’s Winter Chalet program for great vibes.

Go on a winter walk

Sometimes, the best way to beat the cold is by fully giving in to it. Bundle up and get some fresh air on a super scenic winter walk through the city. There’s arguably no better time to go for a walk this season than right after a fresh snowfall. Trees will be sparkling, winter critters will be out scavenging and you’ll gain a newfound appreciation for the season. Check out Roncesvalles Village, Martin Goodman Trail, Crothers Woods and more for a scenic stroll.

Stay toasty in Toronto’s new floating sauna

Combat the cold at a sauna — but not just any sauna. Toronto only recently got a floating sauna on the waterfront, complete with a handcrafted cedar sauna overlooking the water and a few cold plunge pools (but we don’t blame you if you skip out on those). Löyly Floating Sauna is inspired by Finnish traditions, and you can book a private or community session until as late as 8:30 p.m. Time your booking to correspond with the sunset for an extra scenic treat!

Relax in a saltwater cave

Lean into the wellness trend by exploring a saltwater experience right in Toronto. Body Blitz Spa offers a warm Dead Sea salt pool and a hot Epsom salt pool while the Windsor Arms Hotel Spa boasts a salt cave therapy that mimics the microclimate of a Himalayan salt cave. With so many great spas in Toronto with their own saltwater experiences, you can stay inside all day and forget about the cold.

Swim (indoors)

We may live in a city with four seasons, but swimming doesn’t have to be reserved for the cold months. We’re lucky to have an abundance of excellent indoor pools in Toronto, so if you want to get a little bit of exercise and relaxation in (or just hibernate from the cold in a place where you can pretend it’s summer), stop by an indoor pool, like the Pam McConnell Aquatic Centre or North Toronto Memorial Community Centre.

Binge watch Canada’s most popular (and steamy) show

Everyone is talking about Heated Rivalry these days, and we Canadians get to claim it as our own. The queer hockey show — which was directed by Letterkenny‘s Jacob Tierney, stars Canadian Hudson Williams, was filmed all over Toronto and Ontario and was based on a book by Canadian author Rachel Reid — has taken the world by storm, travelling all the way to the Golden Globes. If you somehow missed this piece of pop culture gold, get cozy inside for the day and binge watch all six episodes of this super steamy show.

Practice your golf swing

Dreaming of getting on the green on the summer? Take your mind off the snow outside by practicing your golf swing — inside. The indoor golf trend has totally taken off in Toronto, and there are so many spots across the city to enjoy this peaceful pastime even when the weather is rough. Check out The Sand Trap, 6ix Indoor Iron Golf and more.

After 8 years, one of Toronto’s most popular pizza spots is closing

By

Nisean Lorde

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10:44 am

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Big Trouble Pizza is getting ready to serve its last slice in Toronto.

The popular Geary Avenue restaurant, which is known for its cheesy, signature pies and gooey smash burgers, announced that it’ll be closing at the end of the month.

“After 8 years, Big Trouble Pizza will be serving its last slice on Saturday January 31st, 2026. We wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for all the support, thank you for all the enthusiasm for pizzas like our Butter Jam Jam and Kung Funghi since our days in Chinatown, through our time at the Annex Hotel and now on Geary,” the post states, nodding to the shop’s earlier era in Chinatown before it closed that location in summer 2021 and resurfaced about a year and a half later in Toronto’s coolest neighbourhood.

But all isn’t lost. The team also hinted at what’s next, noting they’ve been working on something new! It’s part of a familiar Toronto restaurant trend: closing one chapter while teasing a creative reboot.

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“With that being said, we are working on a new project. It’s something we’ve been focusing more and more on over the last couple months. What’s coming is something we’re very enthusiastic and passionate about,” the team wrote on Instagram.

“We will share more with you in time, but we hope to keep having your continued support as we enter our new chapter. We hope you’ll be able to come down to Geary on our final week for some of your favourites, and share some stories and some laughs. Be
excited for the new adventure ahead! Thank you again to everyone for all your
support through the years.”

The news landed hard with longtime regulars.

“Thank you for being the only spot to get a wicked burger and a delicious slice all under one roof,” one Instagram user wrote, adding that Big Trouble had been their “fave part of living near Geary.”

“Where am I going to take my 2 young kids now. Heart broken,” another user posted, while another summed up the mood in a single vibe: “just fell to my knees on the street car.”

Even people outside Toronto chimed in with kind words: “I’ll never forget flying back to MTL with 3 big trouble pizzas on the plane… everyone was so jelly.”

Big Trouble Pizza is located at 191 Geary Ave. Head over before Saturday to grab one last slice!

Las Vegas casinos luring Canadian travellers with money at par deals

By

Ron Johnson

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5:30 am

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For Toronto travellers desperate to break free from the Polar vortex, the much-maligned and much-warmer United States just got a little friendlier to the loonie. Las Vegas casinos, at least three so far, are offering “Canadian at Par” promotions, and given the Canadian dollar is worth only .73 cents south of the border, it adds up to significant savings.

Las Vegas, located in the dessert (yes, warm) state of Nevada, has average February temperatures of 19-degrees celsius.

Circa Resort and Casino, the D Las Vegas, and Golden Gate Hotel and Casino are the three casinos that have so far been accepting Canadian dollars at equal value to the U.S. dollar for hotel stays, drinks, and, of course, all that wonderful gaming. The program runs through Aug. 31, and includes up to $500 in slot promotional play.

Derek Stevens, CEO of the three hotels, who apparently has ties to Canada, which according to a CTV article, inspired the promotion. “I grew up right across the lake from Windsor,” he said. “I spent a lot of my late teens visiting great places in Windsor, and I want to invite Canada back to Las Vegas.”

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And Vegas isn’t the only American tourist area missing that influx of loonies this time of year.

For Torontonians craving winter adventures, several Vermont ski resorts offer similar perks. Jay Peak Resort, Burke Mountain Resort, and occasionally Smugglers’ Notch Resort are rolling out “Canadian at Par” or equivalent deals, letting you pay with Canadian cash for lift tickets or lodging at 1:1 value.

Pro tip: cash is king. Most of these deals require physical Canadian paper money or bags full of waterfowl-covered gold coins to unlock the full benefit.

Toronto’s newest sandwich spot serves beef dip with homemade jus and truffle melts done right

By

Nisean Lorde

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4:49 pm

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A new sandwich shop just opened up in Toronto’s east end, and it’s quickly becoming the go-to spot for big, messy bites loaded with house-made extras. Hot Mess is the first permanent venture from If I May Hospitality, helmed by sommelier Lee Stein, with Chef Steven Kasprowicz (best known for The Eat Locker).

The menu boasts a craveable lineup of sandwiches and melts, as well as salads and rotating soups. Early standouts include the all-day breakfast sandwich, stacked with peameal, fried egg, banana peppers and Polish mustard (the resto sources its main proteins from Upper Cuts at St. Lawrence Market).

“We loved their peameal so much, we built a whole sandwich around it, inspired by the forever-iconic market peameal,” Hot Mess said in a recent Instagram post. “It’s tasty… and a real mess!”

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The Beef Dip, featuring whole cuts butchered in-house, tied, seasoned, seared and slow-roasted for hours, is also a hit! It’s complemented with pickles, horseradish mayo and grilled onion. The restaurant notes it’s been going through an average of 20 to 25 lbs of beef a day (so, it’s safe to say it’s a labour of love!)

“The jus, you ask? Also made 100% in-house! Bones roasted, veggies caramelized, wine splashed, for a jus that simmers for a full day (and then some).”

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For lunch, munch on a deli sandwich filled with Polish meats, Emmentaler, marinated tomato, pickles and mustard, or if you’re into seafood, try the jerk fish sandwich: crispy basa with mango chow salsa, jerk mayo and sliced avocado. Cheese lovers can dig into the truffle mushroom melt (with cremini, Emmentaler cheese, truffle mayo and grilled onion) or the classic grilled cheese, with three types of gooey cheese and grilled onions.

And don’t sleep on the sides. Try the soup of the day or a salad with tons of texture. The beet-and-goat cheese salad pairs roasted (and lightly pickled) beets with fluffy couscous, goat cheese, crunchy pecans, and fresh parsley, all tossed in a bright apple cider vinaigrette.

It’s still early days, but the comment section is already doing what it does best! Among the first-wave feedback, one customer called the beef dip “one of the best roast beef sandwiches” they’ve had, while another raved that the sandwiches are “suuuuuper legit” and that the staff/owners are the nicest people!

Hot Mess Sandwiches & Pantry is located at 1027 Gerrard St. E. It’s open Mon-Fri, 11 a.m. to 7 pm | Sat and Sun 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Prices range between $5 and $15.