After a cancelled 2020 production, Nightwood Theatre’s annual Lawyer Show is returning with a first ever digital, audio performance of the new musical The Stars of Mars. The unique 12th annual show stars over 40 lawyers and is directed by Andrea Donaldson with music direction by Paul Moody. The Stars of Mars is a hilarious feminist musical about the first human colony on Mars from Ashley Botting (Second City Toronto) and Daniel Abrahamson (Boy Falls from the Sky). When the first human born on Mars asks about Earth, those around her put on a performance of the planet they once called home. Nightwood Theatre’s productions of the Lawyer Show is one of the largest in Canada and helps to raise funds for the country’s leading feminist theatre. Those who purchase tickets will have access to the recording between June 12 and June 30, www.nightwoodtheatre.net.
2. Winter Stations (in the spring!)
Toronto’s annual Winter Stations exhibition is running a little differently this year. The exhibits will be open to the public as Spring Stations at the Distillery and 33 Parliament St. from May 21 until the end of June. Dates and locations for the Summer Stations are still to be announced. This year’s theme for the competition was “refuge” as a way to reflect on the events of the past year. Founded as a collaboration between Raw Designs, Ferris + Associates and Curio, Winter Stations began as an initiative to gain attraction to the beaches in the winter by redesigning the lifeguard stations along Toronto’s east beaches.
Opera Atelier presents Handel’s ‘The Resurrection’
3. Handel’s The Resurrection, Opera Atelier
Originally set to be staged in April 2020, Opera Atelier’s production of Handel’s The Resurrection is finally premiering on film May 27. The production will mark Canada’s premiere of Handel’s masterpiece with The Resurrection telling the story of the events that unfolded between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. It is performed in Italian and will feature English subtitles. Fully staged and filmed at St. Lawrence Hall, the production features Colin Ainsworth, Carla Huhtanen, Maghan Lindsay, Allyson McHardy and Douglas Williams with Artists of the Artelier Ballet and musicians from Tafelmusik. The production marks the end of Opera Atelier’s 2020–2021 35th anniversary season and can be purchased for streaming until June 10, www.operaatelier.com.
4. SING! The Toronto Vocal Arts Festival
Marking its 10th anniversary, SING! The Toronto Vocal Arts Festival will be running virtually from May 27 to June 6. As Canada’s premier a cappella festival, SING! presents over 20 hours of virtual content with a concert lineup of various musical styles and performers from across the globe. The world’s best a cappella performers additionally host interactive educational workshops with topics from song writing to improv. The festival’s highlights include internationally renowned groups’ performances, Aca-Night in Canada showcasing the country’s own best talent, and the Collegiate A Cappella Competition featuring up-and-coming talented university groups, www.singtoronto.com.
5. CityView Drive ‘N Queens
CityView Drive-In is bringing back a safe and live entertainment experience for the summer with the Drive ‘N Queens series. Viewers enjoy the high-energy performance from Canada’s top queens from the comfort of their own cars, with the option of snacks delivered straight to their doors. Favourite performing queens include Tynomi Banks, Lemon, Jimbo, Juiceboxx, Ivory Towers and more, all on a large stage with the Toronto skyline in the background. The Drive ‘N Queens series will have two performances, June 12 and July 10, located in the parking lot at 20 Polson St, www.cityviewdrivein.com.
6. Julian Taylor
Fresh from his first Juno Award nomination (and possible win, who knows!?), Julian Taylor performs a live-stream concert from the legendary stage of venerable Queen West institution the Horseshoe Tavern on June 25. Taylor had a breakthrough year in 2020, thanks to the release of his stunning new album The Ridge. This Toronto singer-songwriter is not to be missed, www.horseshoetavern.com.
Dr. Sender Deutsch is a well-respected Toronto Chiropractor, Sports Therapist, Personal Fitness Trainer and co-founder of SHAPE Health & Wellness Centres Toronto.
Ever wonder if there are negatives associated with the growing Peloton and at-home cycling revolution? I have seen more of my patients coming in with acute and chronic injuries as a result of spinning out of control.
Our bodies were meant to move but not be fixated on a bike that goes nowhere.As the pandemic has grown, I have seen an increase in patients with painful conditions from cycling too much at home. Not enough focus has been spent on balancing out their bodies with other strength training exercises such as walking lunges, reverse lunges, chin-ups, dumbbell rows, etc. that focus on improving the posterior chain muscles that are often neglected from cycling and cause imbalances in the body.
Unless you are living under a rock, you know that people across the world are obsessed with Peloton and other indoor cycling programs. With limited access to gyms and fitness studios coupled with people feeling unsafe, this has been the ideal time for at-home exercise platforms to flourish.
Peloton is great, I love that they are dominating the pandemic and I respect the community vibes, but let’s not forget the importance of other forms of exercise too.
People are focussed on pedaling in endless circles, staring at a screen, getting “shout outs”, and burning calories while hitting personal bests, but they may not realize the potential painful injuries they are creating by this repetitive motion where their bodies are locked into a machine rather than training through natural human movements. There are lots of positives, but the problem with being hooked on indoor cycling is that most of us already sit and stare at a screen way too much throughout the day.Thus, this has led to an increase of patients that are seeing repetitive stress injuries such as neck and low back pain.
Ask any health professional and they will agree that cycling should not be your only form of exercise. Why do you think Peloton also offers strength, yoga, meditation, stretching, Pilates and barre classes on their platform? It is crucial for both men and women to incorporate strength training a minimum of twice a week and ideally three times a week to maintain and enhance muscle mass and bone density. Cycling will burn calories, but the repeated pattern of pedalling can do harm on your posture and back, plus it will not help with your muscle mass, balance, and stability while sitting on a bike.
Cycling, just like anything has both positives and negatives, there are good and bad results.The repetitive motion of cycling can contribute and cause painful and overuse injuries including:
Low Back Pain from prolonged sitting on the bike can cause compression and overuses your hip flexors, specifically your psoas muscle which attaches to your low back. As well, many indoor cyclists don’t take enough breaks to stand up on the bike and take micro-breaks as you would when outdoors cycling. Furthermore, sitting on the bike that is not specifically tailored to your body measurements like purchasing an outdoor road bike may cause you to be hunched over which will further stress the muscles and ligaments of your low back. A recent research paper further concluded that sitting for prolonged periods of time increase your risk of low back pain. To avoid developing back pain make sure to start and finish your ride with a series of walking lunges 20 or more to open up your hips and stretch your low back and make sure to do this daily. Stand every 5 minutes on the bike to break up the repetitive motion for 10-20 seconds at minimum.
Knee Pain can result from overdeveloping your quadricep muscles and causing stiffness in your IT band which will pull the patella (knee cap) laterally. Cycling can also create friction from the tension and compression of the IT band leading to knee pain and inflammation. Make sure to strengthen your hamstrings, posterior chain and stretch your quads on alternating cycling days to balance out your body.
Neck Pain can result from your neck going into extension so often from being hunched over on the handlebars and looking up at the screen. This posture can cause compression of your cervical vertebrae which can often lead to a pinched nerve. To prevent this injury, make sure your head remains neutral and stretch your trapezius muscles after your ride. On your strength days, work to build up your mid-back muscles which help to support your head and neck.
Wrist Pain can result from overuse in one position while riding. It is recommended to alternate different hand positions on the handlebars. Take breaks from and sit up without holding on every 15 to 20 minutes and stretch your wrists and try to reduce the grip when riding. You could also use gel padded gloves as you would outdoors.
Pelvic Pain can be caused from not having a proper fit to bike, saddle that is not the right size for your pelvis and of course from sitting too long. Make sure to have a thorough assessment of your bike fit and invest in a properly fitted seat that is best for you and your body. Don’t just use the seat that comes with the bike. Wear padded cycling shorts to reduce irritation, change your position often on the seat like you would outdoors, and take the time to stand up like you would on your bike outdoors when doing your class.
To prevent potential injuries associated with indoor cycling, add more variety to your workouts. Stand more throughout the day. Add some resistance training. Take 10 minutes to stretch daily and foam roll your back and quadricep muscles. Include weight training and strengthen your posterior chain, back, and hamstring muscles. Skip rope. The next time you go for a walk, add some lunges.
Much respect to Peloton and other indoor cycling programs, love the growing fitness communities motivating people to exercise and feel empowered. Nothing makes me happier than seeing the world embrace fitness and want to improve their overall health. Ask any health professional about the key to healthy eating and exercise, they would agree “use common sense and moderation”. That’s right, burn some calories on the Peloton, cycle away, but also lift some weights, skip some rope, and go for a walk.
Curator Ashley McKenzie-Barnes with Nina Chanel Abney mural in Yorkville
American artist Nina Chanel Abney and Toronto curator Ashley McKenzie-Barnes are set to unveil a new 120-foot mural on Bellair St. in the Yorkville area Wednesday morning. With both women identifying as black queer females, the mural explores themes of social justice, humanity and spreading love, not hate.
Coinciding with the beginning of Pride Month in June, the mural incorporates words and phrases like “love,” “stop” and “don’t kill” in acknowledgement of the acts of hatred and racism happening at home and around the world. The artists hope the street art gives passersby pause and a chance to reflect on the racial, cultural and gender-based violence occurring regularly on a global scale, and how people can come together to overcome these acts of hate.
Titled “Generally Speaking,” the mural is also designed to engender hope and joy in the Yorkville community as the city works towards recovering from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It seeks to remind people of the need for social justice and reform in all areas, while highlighting themes of alliance, humanity and togetherness.
With the aim of uniting the community and sparking thoughtful contemplation through art, the mural is located close to Pink Tartan and Café Nervosa near Yorkville Ave., and will serve as a welcome addition to the streetscape. Combining bright colours like pink, green and blue with abstract geometrical shapes, the artwork draws the eye and sparks the imagination upon first glance.
Abney’s past works touch on a broad range of topics including race, celebrity, religion, sex and politics. Hailing from Chicago originally and now living in New York, her work is featured in collections around the world including the Brooklyn Museum and Hong Kong’s Burger Collection.
McKenzie-Barnes has worked in Toronto as a creative director and design lead for upwards of a decade, conceptualizing and executing multiplatform campaigns for major brands. Most recently, she worked with musician Lauryn Hill on her new fashion collection celebrating the 20-year anniversary of her album the Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
The mural on Bellair St. is a partnership with Yorkville Murals, and ArtworxTO: Toronto’s Year of Public Art 2021–2022, a year-long celebration of Toronto’s exceptional public art collection and the artists behind it.
Crescent school and the Rumball property to the left (north) of the sports field
Crescent School, an all-boys private school in Toronto, purchased the Rumball Centre on May 26 for approximately $42 million.
This purchase comes after a donation of $12 million from alumni Ming Wai Lau, a Hong Kong–based philanthropist and businessman.
“The Rumball Centre property unleashes the enormous potential for Crescent School,” said Lau in a press release. “It opens unimagined opportunities for future generations of students who I hope will benefit from the school in similar ways that I have.”
The rest of the cost will be subsidized with other donations and financing.
The school plans to pay off the financing, describing it as similar to a mortgage, in 20 years.
“The acquisition of the Bob Rumball Centre property is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will forever shape the future of Crescent School,” said Michael Fellin, Crescent School headmaster.
The Bob Rumball Centre is the current site of the Bob Rumball Canadian Centre of Excellence for the Deaf and sits on a seven-acre property beside Crescent School.
Fellin said he is excited for the school’s future and grateful for the relationship with the school’s neighbours at the Bob Rumball Centre.
“We’re really grateful for the relationship that we have with our neighbours at the Rumball Centre and what this means for them and equally for our school and what it means for the legacy of our school and community.”
The acquisition outlined that the Bob Rumball Centre would remain on the property for three to five years while relocating its facilities and residents.
Derek Rumball, the president of the Bob Rumball Centre, said the centre has outgrown the space and that they are very happy that Crescent School was successful in acquiring the property.
“Crescent School’s motive is to educate young men and make them better men. It’s a perfect match for us. Their philosophies and their programs line up very well with our organization.”
Rumball said.
Running out of dinner ideas? Have no fear—the Danforth has just welcomed a new butcher to the area, marking the city’s second location of Stock-in-Trade. Officially open as of Monday, the new shop is located inside the popular southern Italian restaurant 7 Numbers on Danforth Ave., accessible through a side entrance.
Founded by chef and butcher Jason Becker in 2014, Stock-in-Trade prides itself on its selection of healthy, affordable and sustainable meats. Since the opening of its first location on Gerrard St. E., Stock-in-Trade has made it a priority to provide ethically and locally sourced meats to the community.
Tony Marinuzzi, son of the head chef and matriarch of 7 Numbers restaurant Rosa Marinuzzi, is heading up the new butcher shop. He says the community has already been overwhelmingly supportive of the new venture.
“Without a doubt, the area has been very nice and supportive. It’s been good,” he says. “We’re going to be doing cooked foods and sandwiches every day, so that’s a big draw. People in the area have been stopping in even just to say hello.”
The new location of Stock-in-Trade is offering up all kinds of Ontario hormone and antibiotic-free meats including sausages, salamis and dry aged beef. They’re also selling pre-made meals like pot pies, sandwiches and more.
“One of the highlights will be the smoked Danforth style pastrami sandwiches, it’s a classic deli sandwich but we’re actually doing a halal version,” Marinuzzi says. “And then of course we have steaks, bacon and everything.”
Naturally, the opening of the new butcher shop has been a family affair, with his mother Rosa and brother Vito all pitching in to help out. Marinuzzi says the team is focused on getting the new location up and running before patio seasons kicks into high gear once restrictions are lifted.
“We’re looking forward to adding our spice to the area,” he adds.
The new Stock-in-Trade location inside 7 Numbers restaurant is open for business at 307 Danforth Ave. Visit them at stock-in-trade.myshopify.com.
One of the city’s top restaurateurs is set to tackle one of the most promising but also problematic locations in the city with a new beach club.
Scale Hospitality, led by acclaimed restaurateur Hanif Harji (Shook, Lapinou, The Wheatsheaf Tavern, Patria, Byblos, FIGO ) is set to open Toronto Beach Club on June 21.
The Mediterranean-inspired restaurant will be located at Ashbridge’s Bay with a massive beach and Lake Ontario as a backdrop.
Toronto Beach Club is part of a trio of new operations at the location adding to the newly opened casual restaurant GG’s Burgers and the Marketplace Café, which is coming soon.
“After the crazy year that it’s been, I can’t think of anything I’d rather do than enjoy a great meal and relax at the beach,” said Hanif Harji. “These three venues each have a different spirit, but together embody the coastal lifestyle that we all love. We’re really thrilled that Ted Corrado is on board to make our boardwalk sisters really special destinations.”
The restaurant is helmed by one of the city’s top chefs in Corrado, who most recently headed up the Drake’s culinary operations as corporate executive chef.
Prior to the Toronto Beach Club, the space was home to an Argentinian steakhouse, a Carter’s Landing outpost, and a high-end seafood restaurant. None succeeded for one reason or another including reported disputes with the property leaseholder and the seasonality.
In addition to a Mediterranean restaurant, the new spot will also offer something new to the mix for this location: live entertainment. According to press information, Toronto Beach Club will offer musicians, dancers, performers, and DJs on Friday and Saturday nights.
Scale’s restaurants are some of the finest Mediterranean-inspired eateries in the city, and one should expect something similar here where the focus will be on share-style plates.
Men highlights including mezze such as Avocado Labneh with mint, Aleppo chili & grilled pita and Clams with Merguez, saffron, sherry, bay leaf & grilled bread.
Main dishes on offer include a daily catch (priced per pound) grilled simply with sea salt, tximitxurri and lemon; Cavatelli with Merguez ragu, harissa, red onion, feta & preserved lemon; Bone In Smoked Beef Short Rib with coriander seed dukkah crusted & served with green chili zhug yogurt; and Jumbo Prawns A La Plancha with mojo verde & lemon.
According to a press release, the space has undergone a massive renovation to accommodate a more open floor plan focussing on an indoor-outdoor vibe and functionality including a wrap-around patio with fire pits, floor-to-ceiling windows and plenty of space for lounging.
Like gluten-free dishes, vegan baked goods sometimes get a bad rep. How do you make a delicious cake without eggs, whole milk or butter, anyways? Fortunately, thanks in part to innovative recipe development by some of the city’s most renowned pastry chefs and bakers, excellent vegan bakeries are popping up all over Toronto, selling everything from vegan-friendly doughnuts to dairy-free cream cheese frosted cinnamon buns. Here are our top picks for the best vegan bakeries in Toronto.
Known for their fancy doughnuts, like the campfire s’mores and the strawberry shortcake, Bloomer’s is a small family-run bakery that has been making handcrafted goodies for the Toronto community since 2014. Some of the most popular items on the menu include the cinnamon buns, the three-bite dark chocolate brownie, the peanut butter stout cookies and the blueberry oat muffins. Bloomer’s also has a selection of gluten-free goodies, including cupcakes, carrot loaf with cream cheese icing and a selection of cookies, like sprinkle and chocolate chip. The bakery makes all of its vegan doughnuts and baked goods using unbleached flour, organic non-dairy milk and organic cane sugar, plus uses certified organic and non-GMO products.
Bunner’s Bakeshop, which has two locations in the Junction and Kensington Market neighbourhoods, has been known as one of the best vegan bakeries in Toronto since 2010. The treats here, like the freshly-baked and sticky cinnamon buns, are so good that if you didn’t know any better, you’d never think twice about the dairy-free buttercream frosting. Alongside being vegan-friendly, Bunner’s is one hundred per cent gluten-free, too, so those with gluten intolerance don’t have to sacrifice their sweet tooth. Bunner’s sells a wide range of cakes—including wedding cakes, celebration cakes, cupcakes and cheesecakes—as well as traditional bakery items like cookies, tarts and pies, muffins, brownies, scones and bread.
What started as a way to bridge the gap between plant-based foods and a craving for sweets from childhood has blossomed into one of Toronto’s most beloved vegan and gluten-free bakeries. Sweet Hart Kitchen sweetens all of its baked goods naturally, using real whole ingredients. All of the treats promise to be free from animal products, gluten, refined sweeteners, palm oil, artificial flavours and artificial colours. Sweet Hart’s menu includes raw or baked cakes and cupcakes, a selection of keto-friendly items like the fudge brownies or cinnamon buns, raw bars, like the chocolate raspberry wheel and even savoury items, like pizza buns and veggie quiche. The majority of the items all range in price from $3-$5 with the exception of whole cakes, making this one of the most affordable, healthy bakeries in Toronto’s Kensington Market neighbourhood.
The Butternut Baking Co takes a modern approach to classic baked goods, using a combination of gluten-free, low-carb and naturally-sweetened recipes. Although the bakery is currently closed for walk-in service, those seeking paleo, vegan or gluten-free goodies can still order everything online for weekly pick-up or delivery from Thursday through Saturday. Currently, the menu at the Butternut Baking Co. includes a series of mini doughnuts, a variety of yummy grain-free and gluten-free cookies, lemon tarts, mini cinnamon buns, cupcakes and Nanaimo bars.
After opening in 2012 as Toronto’s first-ever plant-based cafe, Tori’s is now a household name for vegan treats that taste like the real deal. All of their baked goods are made using natural, local and seasonal ingredients. While the robust menu features bakery staples like biscotti, an assortment of cookies, loaves and tarts, as well as cinnamon buns, donuts, squares, scones and cupcakes, Tori’s is best known for its exceptional cakes. Alongside more classic cakes like the chocolate fudge brownie cake, not to be missed are stunning creations like the Margarita cake, which features three layers of vanilla cake with lime buttercream frosting and stovetop lime curd filling, finished with toasted coconut, lime zest and a sprinkle of Vancouver Island flaked sea salt.
“As soon as we took possession of Melrose On Adelaide, we dreamed of being able to get the downstairs patio for another concept,” says Brian Donnelly, the owner of Melrose on Adelaide. Until recently, the lower level of the building at 270 Adelaide St. But, after the tenant left, Donnelly and his staff saw their chance. Now, Piccolo Caffe e Vino is set to open in the next few days.
Piccolo Caffe e Vino will be a community-based coffee shop that transforms into a snack bar in the evening.
Donnelly and the Melrose on Adelaide management are using the time spent in lockdown to turn the space into a casual and community-based cafe and snack bar dubbed Piccolo Caffe e Vino.
“We’ll have coffee and pastry service all day, and takeout coffee for those who are on the go. In the evening, our food menu comes out and so does the wine,” Donnelly says.
As well as an extensive wine list available for dine-in, Piccolo will be hopping on the bodega and bottle shop trend that has become more popular during the lockdown.
“We will have a permanent bodega and bottle shop inside, as we want to create a space where locals can try amazing, new, funky, organic wines and spirits along with a small selection of other locally made goods,” he says. “A lot of these products aren’t available through the LCBO, so we’re working with distributors to have some new and exciting products — especially in this area. Curating this program has been a lot of fun.”
The idea of community was an important aspect for Donnelly when considering Piccolo’s place in the Adelaide and John area.
“We’ve noticed a small gap that exists in this area where a true local community feel is being missed,” he says. “Most of the surrounding businesses are a little more on the ‘big’ side of things and focus on their everyday hustle.”
Melrose on Adelaide has been open since mid-2018, and Donnelly describes it as “primarily a cocktail bar with a nice old world wine program, that serves Mediterranean-inspired share plates and charcuterie.”
The space features menu items such as beef tartare, mussels, edamame, and a hummus and pita plate, as well as entrées such as ceviche and fried burrata.
The drink menu offers twists on classics such as espresso martinis and margaritas combined with unique cocktail creations. But, the team has a different idea and concept in mind for their new venture, though it will be just downstairs.
Piccolo Caffe e Vino, though, will offer sous-vide pork belly with a pomegranate reduction, slaw-shaved Brussels sprouts with fennel and sunflower seeds, and other dishes that complement the wine offerings.
“Piccolo Caffe offers a more casual and everyday feel, whereas Melrose is a little more intimate,” says Donnelly, but there will be a certain level of cohesiveness within the spaces. “Both are complementary and both are approachable.”
Alex Rei dos Leitões, sister restaurant to the recently closed Moliceiro, has also closed up shop. Open since 1977, the Portuguese restaurant and caterer was known for its traditional suckling pig on a spit.
Qi Sushi is closing after almost a decade in Cabbagetown. Owner Jenny Park posted a heartfelt goodbye on Facebook, writing “I want to thank everyone in this community for nothing but 10 years of love and support. You will all forever be in my heart, and I’m sorry that this is happening. Thank you for an amazing 10-year chapter in my life.”
After only three months in business, Leslieville’s True Flavours has closed. The future of the space that once housed the organic, vegan restaurant is still unclear.
The Dundas West location of Village Pizza has permanently closed, but you can still visit their Bloor and Dovercourt location.
Toronto restaurants that opened this week
Chinese franchise Bingz has opened its first Toronto location at 3229 Hwy 7 E. Bingz specializes in crispy pork burgers, known as rou jia mo. The menu also features a spicy cumin pork and black pepper beef burger, plus wonton soup, hot and sour glass noodle soup and liangpi with sesame sauce.
CB Bottega has opened down the street from its sister shop, Cheese Boutique. CB is a café and bakery (with gelato just in time for summer), and also offers a selection of high-end kitchenware.
3250 Midland Avenue is now home to South Korean chain Chicken Plus’ first GTA location. The insanely popular franchise uses a “build your own chicken” approach. Customers choose their cut (breast, wing, thigh or leg), flavour (basakan, yang-nyuem, sweet garlic, soy sauce, snowing cheese, hot shocking, creamy onion or hell spicy) and an add-on (rice cake, seaweed rolls or dumplings).
Madras Kaapi will be running a pop-up in Kensington Market on May 29th and June 20th. Kaapi is a popular drink in Southern India, which is stronger than typical coffee or espresso and made by infusing ground coffee in a mixture of frothed and boiled milk.
Southern Crown Caribbean Smokehouse is now operating a pop-up out of Lob Toronto. The small but flavourful menu includes jerk chicken, bourbon brined turkey and smoked cola braised beef, plus a vegetarian chickpea curry.
True to its namesake, Mama Loves You Vintage is owned by a passionate mother-daughter duo with a shared love for rare vintage pieces. Melo and Mahro Anfield first launched the shop in 2012 with a somewhat minimalist, conservative approach, but have since evolved to display the bright and fanciful esthetic they both gravitate towards naturally.
“We’re both maximalists,” Mahro says. “We have the same taste — more is more. I think when we first opened, we weren’t sure if that was what people wanted, so we took a more minimalist approach. Then as the years went by, we started making the shop more of a reflection of our styles, so it’s fun and pink and there’s more of a sense of humour to it.”
With Melo living in Vancouver and Mahro running the shop in Toronto at 541 Queen St. W., their shared vision ties them together while on opposite sides of the country. Mahro says they don’t typically source pieces with brand names as a top concern, instead prioritizing cut and quality, as well as the story behind an item.
“I definitely love the history of fashion, I’m a big history nerd,” she says. “There’s so much to learn, just when I think I know a little bit I’ll find a piece and get sucked into a wormhole. I love what the clothes teach me.”
Each piece Melo and Mahro select for the shop is unique, one-of-a-kind and speaks volumes about the era from which it originates. Here are five recent standout pieces from Mama Loves You Vintage.
Looking for the perfect cottagecore getup that would make Queen Victoria herself green with envy? Look no further than this skirt and top set dating back to the nineteenth century, complete with feminine details like a dainty floral pattern and puffed shoulders. It is available for $750.
With its colourful stitch work and “Class of ‘75” emblem on the back, this embroidered denim jacket from early 1971 perfectly encapsulates the hippie era. Pair it with your favourite summer mini dress for a groovy look. It is available for $200.
This colourful number was sourced from a film set warehouse, Mahro says. With its intricate detailing and bright hues, this beautiful, printed skirt would make for the ideal statement piece this summer.
Dating back to the 1950s, the cut of this swimsuit and the subtle gingham detailing will help you channel your inner Marilyn Monroe and stand out from the crowd on the beach this summer. It is available for $125.
This rare four-piece summer set dating back to the late 30s/early 40s is Mahro’s favourite piece on the shop’s website currently. Purchased from a costume house, the set comes with a teddy, skirt, jacket and a belt all in the same jaunty striped pattern.
Husband and wife duo Marshall Pynkoski and Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg founded Opera Atelier 35 years ago and have brought award-winning opera and ballet productions to Toronto audiences and beyond. When the pandemic hit last year, their planned presentation of The Resurrection for April 2020 was cancelled, and now after overcoming many obstacles and adhering to COVID safety protocols, the production will finally hit the stage on May 27 at 7 p.m.
The fully-staged production was filmed at St. Lawrence Hall and will be the Canadian premiere of the Handel operatic piece. The film will be available to stream from May 27 to June 10 and tickets can be purchased at OperaAtelier.com for $25. The production features choreography by co-artistic director Lajeunesse Zingg. Here, she and Pynkoski share the story of how they fell in love.
How they met
Marshall: We met each other in ballet class. I was chosen to partner Jeannette for pas de deux – being an ideal height to partner her effectively when she was en pointe. When we first met, Jeannette was still in high school and we were taking classes in the studio of our much loved ballet teacher – Florentina Lojekova, who was master artist of the Czech Republic.
The first date
Jeannette: It would be difficult to say when Marshall and I had our first date. We were in class constantly and saw each other on a regular basis. Because we had so many interests in common, we often went to the ballet together – to exhibits at the art gallery, and special concerts by ensembles such as Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra. Marshall often attended family events with me and was on excellent terms with my parents. The relationship grew very naturally from friendship to something more.
Pynkoski and Lajeunesse Zingg in a dance class
The courtship
Marshall: We decided to audition as a couple for one of the major cabarets in Paris – our height being a tremendous advantage, and we vacillated between auditions for the Moulin Rouge, the Lido, the Folies Bergere, and the Crazy Horse. While we were en route to Zurich, we discovered that the Moulin Rouge was holding auditions for their new season, and it seemed meant to be. We auditioned and were accepted at once – our working papers were looked after by the Moulin Rouge and we found ourselves living just outside of Montmartre the next year. It was an extraordinary way for us to experience living together in extremely close quarters and working together seven days a week. It served only to deepen our relationship.
Jeannette: Our courtship took place primarily in Paris, where we were perpetually exhausted, but happy. We danced two shows nightly, seven nights a week, but had our days to ourselves. We practically lived in the Louvre and other smaller, but significant galleries. We also used this opportunity to deepen our knowledge of Baroque opera and ballet. Happily, we had letters of introduction from curators from the Royal Ontario Museum, and this allowed us access to important theatre archives and the Bibliotheque Nationale. It was a period of extraordinary discovery and excitement in the most romantic city in the world.
The proposal
Marshall: I asked Jeannette to marry me while we were visiting the Sully Gallery of the Musée du Louvre. This is the wing that contains the most beautiful paintings by Jean-Antoine Watteau in the world and it seemed a fitting location for the event to take place. Consequently, Watteau’s miniature masterpieces such as L’indifferent and La finette have always played an important part in our lives. When visiting these same paintings almost three years ago, Jeannette and I received a phone call from the Governor General’s office telling us we had both been awarded the Order of Canada. We felt that our lives had gone full circle.
The wedding
Jeannette: Marshall and I were married in St. James Cathedral in downtown Toronto. The organist Giles Bryant planned an all-Bach program of music and we were joined by our dearest friends, teachers and relatives from Switzerland. My wedding gown was created by one of the designers for the National Ballet named Angela Arana, and for our honeymoon, I surprised Marshall with a trip to New York and tickets for two special exhibitions at the Metropolitan Museum and the Frick. It also provided us with our first opportunity to see New York City Ballet live – an unforgettable experience we try to repeat as often as possible.
Balancing careers and marriage
Jeannette: There is nothing to balance – our careers and our marriages are inextricably tied up with each other. We have never wished for an instant to draw a line between our personal lives and our professional lives!
The home
Jeannette: We live close to Avenue Road and Eglinton Avenue, in the house where I first lived when I came to Canada from Zurich. Consequently, I now live in what is very much a family home, and Marshall and I have lived here ourselves since 1995.
When it comes to the growth and success of the Diamond & Diamond Lawyers, one word pops to the forefront of our mind: “remarkable.” In a few short years, Jeremy Diamond, along with his wife Sandra Zisckind and brother-in-law Isaac Zisckind, has grown a single office personal injury firm to one of the largest law firms in the country.
Along the way, they’ve racked up seven Reader’s Choice awards, multiple Consumer’s Choice awards, dozens of radio and TV commercials, and what might best be described as “rock star status” in the personal injury law field.
Despite his law firm’s phenomenal growth and significant success in recent years, Jeremy Diamond remains a dedicated fighter for personal injury causes. And while Diamond & Diamond may now be a giant in personal injury law, Jeremy’s approach to cases remains personal and laser-focused.
Let’s take a look at just how Jeremy Diamond grew his firm into the household name that it is today.
Diamond & Diamond Law’s Beginnings
Diamond & Diamond Lawyers may be one of the largest personal injury law firms in Canada, employing dozens of lawyers and paralegals, but it’s a family-run business. The law firm is quickly on its way to becoming as recognizable as Tim Hortons and Molson Brewing.
The firm was founded by Jeremy’s uncle, David Diamond over 30 years ago. Prior to 2012, though, Diamond & Diamond was a relatively small firm. Chances are you wouldn’t have even known about it unless you were looking for a personal injury lawyer in the phonebook.
Of course, most personal injury firms a decade ago in Canada didn’t have an image that was well-known to the public. In fact, only a handful of firms had offices in more than one Canadian province.
What was holding many law firms back from outgrowing their pond, was simply a lack of advertising. Most law firms were traditional when it came to marketing their services and launching an aggressive marketing campaign across numerous mediums and markets just wasn’t in the game plan. The Law Society of Upper Canada had changed its rules regarding advertising in 1987 and despite Ontario lawyers being able to advertise on any medium of their choice, few took the opportunity to do so.
“There is a stereotype that law firms are stodgy and old-fashioned but we are the opposite,” Jeremy said. “I wanted our brand to go beyond the status quo, so we took advantage of multiple marketing techniques and communicated directly to our target market.”
If we’re honest, it’s pretty incredible how well Jeremy Diamond has executed Diamond & Diamond’s marketing strategy — first through radio, then TV, and the web. More on that in a minute though…
The Leadership of Jeremy Diamond
Building a law empire doesn’t happen by accident and it doesn’t happen without strong leadership. A clear vision of where one wants to go, and the necessary calculated decisions to get there, is paramount. It’s obvious to us that Jeremy Diamond, together with his wife, and brother-in-law are a well-oiled machine that are equipped to build and lead a team to new heights of success.
Jeremy Diamond, Senior Partner, Diamond and Diamond Lawyers
So how did this diehard NHL fan — Diamond & Diamond have worked with numerous hockey teams — end up building an office of five people into one of over 200 and one of Canada’s fastest growing personal injury law firms?
The short answer would, of course, be a lot of hard work when Jeremy, Sandra, and Isaac became part owners of Diamond & Diamond in 2012. We think it’s worth going back a bit further into Jeremy’s story, though.
Jeremy obtained his Bachelor of Arts Degree from York University in 1995 with a focus on psychology. A few years later, he received his Juris Doctor at the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 2001 and also attended Osgoode Hall Law School. Even before earning his law degree, however, Jeremy had been working at his uncle’s law firm in various capacities since graduating college.
“Growing up, my whole family was in personal injury, so it was natural that I’d end up in personal injury as well,” Jeremy said. This allowed him to get his feet wet and see first-hand the attention and care that a good lawyer show’s their clients. “I was always interested in the business and helping victims. It’s important victims know their rights,” Jeremy added.
In 2008, Jeremy was called to the Bar and today, is a member of both the Ontario and Florida Bars. As for his experience in personal injury law? Jeremy has an incredibly wide reach and has helped clients regarding injuries related to car accidents, slips and falls, animal bites, work related injuries, wrongful deaths, and long-term disability.
Diamond & Diamond Law’s Ascent
As we touched upon earlier, a decade ago, the overwhelming majority of personal injury law firms were a bit reluctant to think outside the box when it came to marketing. At the time, Diamond & Diamond had just one Toronto office. Jeremy and his team knew that if they were going to really go up against the high-powered counsel of insurance companies, as well as their own competitors, they’d have to take the family firm in a new direction.
According to Ian Chamandy, partner at Toronto’s Blueprint Strategic Planning consulting firm, it’s Diamond & Diamond’s willingness to be “bold” that has helped them grow so quickly. “Jeremy Diamond is blazing the trail and showing others how it needs to be done,” Chamandy said.
Jeremy Diamond and Sandra Zisckind started with a single radio station, Toronto’s Z103.5. The advert was nothing too grand — not compared to today’s marketing strategy at least — but it got the ball rolling. From there, came TV commercials, and in 2017, a focus on Adwords and SEO in the digital space. Jeremy Diamond’s well researched and SEO digital strategy has obviously paid off. A high search visibility has allowed Diamond and his team to take command of the thousands of search engine queries for personal injury lawyers. The proof is in the pudding, too. A 2016 poll revealed that 70 percent of residents in the greater Toronto area knew of Diamond & Diamond, but only 3 percent could name a competitor.
Good marketing will only take a company so far, though, and it has to be backed up by extraordinary service. The firm’s slogan of “Nothing is Tougher than a Diamond” applies to the team’s dedication to go up against insurance companies in order to get justice for their clients. Perhaps equally as important as the skill behind the work, is the trust and communication built between the team and those they represent.
“We learned early on that people want a firm who speaks to them and not above them,” Jeremy said. “We give out our personal cell phone. We’re a family owned firm and it’s important that every client feels that we are a part of theirs.”
Backing Their Campaign With Successful Cases
It’s pretty impressive just how successful Diamond & Diamond has been in the last several years. Jeremy and the rest of his team have handled hundreds of high-profile legal cases with poise, proficiency, and success.
One of the earlier cases that directed the spotlight on the firm was a 2014 case involving York University when a shooting took place in the school’s food court. Multiple students suffered injuries and the team stepped into action. “We are alleging a pattern of negligence, we’re alleging that security has been overlooked and our allegation is that steps could have been taken and measures could have been taken,” firm partner Sandra Zisckind said at the time. The firm sued for $20.5 million.
Two of the most recent high-profile cases that demonstrate Diamond & Diamond’s commitment to fighting the good fight for their clients are the Jasper bus crash and wave of COVID-19 deaths at nursing homes.
In July 2020, “a glacier sightseeing vehicle belonging to Pursuit Banff Jasper collection was involved in a rollover crash on the Columbia Icefield.” Three people were killed in the horrific accident and numerous others were seriously injured. Currently, Jeremy Diamond and his team are fighting for $17 million in damages for the victims.
“Our law firm believes that this crash was preventable and that it occurred as a result of a variety of failings by the parent company,” Basil Bansal, a lawyer with Diamond & Diamond, told the press.
COVID-19 has brought unprecedented hardship on many families who have suffered the loss of loved ones. Diamond & Diamond were already involved in the Nursing Home Coalition prior to the pandemic, but stepped in to seek justice for dozens of clients who had family members who died at two long-term care facilities because of alleged negligence. Jeremy and his team are fighting for $100 million in damages in what Diamond & Diamond lawyer Darryl Singer called “a horrible situation.”
Aggressive Expansion in Ontario and Beyond
Diamond & Diamond’s ability to handle numerous high-profile cases with millions of dollars on the line isn’t merely attributed to the skill of the lawyers, but the firm’s remarkable growth. After all, two heads are better than one and in the last half-decade, Jeremy Diamond has aggressively expanded his personal injury law team.
“I’ve learned a lot after seven years of growing Diamond & Diamond from five people in one office to a team of over 200 across Canada,” Jeremy said. In just a few years, the firm has expanded beyond Toronto to encompass all of Ontario with multiple law offices and consultation offices across several cities, municipalities, and communities in the province.
Jeremy has hardly limited his firm’s reach to Ontario though. In fact, in the last several years the firm has crossed the entire country reaching as far as British Columbia, and in 2019, the 20th consultation office was opened in Calgary. A new office is obviously big news, but we’d be lying if we didn’t admit the coolest part of the business expansion was the firm’s partnership with the Calgary Flames. “Calgary marks an incredibly exciting new chapter for our firm, especially as big hockey fans,” Jeremy said in a press release at the time.
More Than Just a Personal Injury Law Firm
Whereas other law firms might pump the brakes after such rapid growth and success, the partners of Diamond & Diamond are on a roll and are not about to slow down now. In 2017, the firm took what has arguably been its biggest step to date and expanded into a full-service law enterprise. This marked a revolutionary shakeup for the legal industry in Canada, as the fastest growing personal injury firm had now branched out into other areas of law. It was a total gamechanger.
This wasn’t part of the plan, but the firm’s personal injury clients began to inquire about other areas of law including family law, real estate, corporate law, and estate-planning. It was a natural progression that the team took careful consideration with before moving forward.
“It wasn’t always our goal to move to full service,” Jeremy Diamond said. “We listened to what our client base was demanding and we noticed that many were intimidated by corporate law firms and daunting retainers.”
Diamond & Diamond was now truly “The People’s Law Firm” and could offer a full range of legal services to Canadians. The expansion also marked the firm’s move into its new headquarters, a 30,000-square-foot facility in North Toronto.
While personal injury law will always be Diamond & Diamond’s “bread and butter” and Jeremy’s passion, the firm can now apply that same attention to detail in other areas of the legal field. “We believe in access to justice for all our clients and we will continue to fight for them, regardless of which type of legal service they require,” Jeremy said.
About Jeremy Diamond
Jeremy Diamond is a lawyer and member of both Ontario and Florida Bars. Jeremy practices in the area of Plaintiff personal injury litigation. Click here to learn more about Jeremy Diamond.
Jeremy Diamond is a lawyer and member of both Ontario and Florida Bars. Jeremy practices in the area of Plaintiff personal injury litigation. Click here to learn more about 