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Takeout review: Auberge avec Canoe

By
Jessica Huras
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auberge avec canoe panna cotta

About the meal

Auberge avec Canoe is a collaboration between two well-known Toronto restaurants: Auberge du Pommier and Canoe. The joint effort sees Canoe’s chef Ron McKinlay and Auberge’s chef Tim Schulte teaming up to create a multi-course tasting menu that changes each week. 

Both restaurants are owned by the Oliver and Bonacini restaurant group, with the new partnership between the two restaurants serving as a way to keep both teams working amid the pandemic. Initially launched for takeout only, the tasting menu can now also be ordered on Auberge du Pommier’s pretty garden terrace, which recently began serving dine-in guests again when Toronto moved into phase two of reopening a few weeks ago.

 

auberge avec canoe takeout

 

We sampled the takeout version of the tasting menu, which sees a five-course meal packaged up to reheat and enjoy at home. Available on Fridays and Saturdays only, the tasting menu can be pre-ordered online (from either restaurant’s site) and picked-up at Auberge du Pommier. There’s also the option to order a la carte dishes, which are available from Thursday to Saturday. 

The food

Priced at $70 per person for five courses, the tasting menu comes packaged in biodegradable containers. The dishes are fully prepared, with a small amount of assembling and reheating required to get everything ready at home. 

 

auberge avec canoe takeout

The takeout package includes a traditional menu outlining the ingredients in each dish, as well as a secondary menu with preparation instructions. All of the containers are lettered and numbered, making it easy to follow along with the steps of putting your meal together.

auberge avec canoe takeout

The containers are also oven-safe, so you can pop them in the oven without needing to transfer the food to another dish.

Auberge avec Canoe brings together Canoe’s emphasis on local ingredients with Auberge’s French culinary approach. Although the tasting menu changes each week, you can expect homegrown ingredients prepared with traditional European techniques. 

auberge avec canoe pain au lait

Most meals begin with pain au lait, which comes with a savoury fennel pork butter and briney fennel piccalilli.

auberge avec canoe green bean salad

Highlights from our menu included the green bean salad, which saw the punchy flavour of a lobster vinaigrette softened by sweet green strawberries.

auberge avec canoe lamb duo

 

The main was the Tamarack Farms Lamb Duo with ratatouille ragout, herb polenta, amaranth, and ras el hanout jus. The lamb was tender with a nice crispy exterior. The polenta, too, had just the right amount of bite.

Of course, takeout can never fully replicate the experience of dining at a restaurant but Auberge avec Canoe’s heat-at-home menu manages to sidestep the soggy, lukewarm food experiences you might have had in the past with takeout. The textures are remarkably just-right once everything is assembled, and they’ve also replicated the artful plating that both restaurants are known for. 

The drinks

There’s an extensive selection of sparkling, white, rose, and red wines that you can order for pick-up with your meal. Bottles are mainly French and Italian, plus plenty of local options from wineries like Tawse and Rosehall Run. 

Prices range from about $20 to $200 for full bottles, but they also offer a sizeable selection of half bottles. 

Toronto wine bar and flower shop Miss Pippa’s reopens

By
Jessica Huras
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miss pippa's

With so many restaurants and local businesses struggling or closing amid the pandemic, it’s heartening to see that others are managing to adapt to the new normal and finding ways to thrive.

One such spot is Brockton Village’s Miss Pippa’s, which is reopening its storefront this week after four months of closure due to COVID-19.

Initially opened as a wine bar and gift shop in the summer of 2019, Miss Pippa’s shifted its business online in April in response to the restrictions imposed by the pandemic. Now, they’re relaunching their brick-and-mortar shop with a new street front patio and an added café.

 

 

“After only eight months of operation and temporarily closing down due to COVID-19 in March 2020, we pivoted our business online and took the free time to make changes by adding coffee to the space,” wrote co-owner Adam Moco in a press release. “We are so proud to bring back our vision and reopen our queer-owned business where everyone is welcome.”

The revamped Miss Pippa’s is offering coffee, baked goods, and housemade sandwiches served grilled or cold on Portuguese buns. Wine, including a number of organic options, is available by the glass or bottle, or in the form of sangria.

Customers have the option to dine on the restaurant’s new CaféTO patio on College Street, or takeout is also offered.

Miss Pippa’s online shop continues to operate, selling Swedish candies, locally-made gifts ranging from candles to stained glass creations, as well as seasonal floral arrangements designed by co-owner Anton Levin. Orders can be picked up at the shop or those over $100 ship for free.

TIFF announces David Byrne concert documentary ‘American Utopia’ directed by Spike Lee will open festival

By
Ron Johnson
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American Utopia to open TIFF

The 45th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is still slated to run Sept. 10-19 and now it has an opening night film. Today, the festival announced that the Spike Lee-directed film version of David Byrne’s American Utopia concert will kick off the festivities on Sept. 10.

The film documents former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne’s Broadway show, where he performs on stage and shares the spotlight with 11 musicians from around the world, including Toronto’s own Jacquelene Acevedo.

“This joyful film takes audiences on a musical journey about openness, optimism, and faith in humanity,” says Joana Vicente, executive director and co-head of TIFF, who made the announcement today alongside Cameron Bailey, the festival’s other co-head and artistic director. “This is especially poignant at a time of great uncertainty around the world. We’re eager to share the excitement of opening night with audiences.”

American Utopia played at Broadway’s Hudson Theatre in New York City from October 2019 to February 2020. And it is actually scheduled to return to Broadway this fall/winter.

The New York Stage Review, like most others, gave the production a glowing review.

“Life-affirming isn’t a term that should be thrown around casually, but it’s the first one that came to mind as I left a performance of David Byrne’s American Utopia that was interrupted by several spontaneous standing ovations — not to mention audience members dancing at their seats, with the titular singer/songwriter’s encouragement,” writes Elysa Gardner.

Byrne, who has done many spectacular things as a musician with Talking Heads and since the band broke up, is also the subject of another concert documentary that is considered by many to be one of, if not the best ever made in the Jonathan Demme-directed classic Stop Making Sense.

With award-winning filmmaker Spike Lee in the mix alongside creative juggernaut Byrne, American Utopia will certainly have a chance to be in the conversation as well.

“Spike Lee has somehow always been exactly of his moment and ahead of his time,” says Bailey. “With David Byrne’s American Utopia, he brings Byrne’s classic songs and joyous stagecraft to the screen just when we need it. Spike’s latest joint is a call to connect with one another, to protest injustice, and, above all, to celebrate life.”

There was, of course, a warning regarding COVID-19 pandemic and its potential impact on TIFF.
“TIFF continues to work closely with the Province of Ontario, the City of Toronto, and public health officials on the safe execution of the Festival, with its number-one priority being the health and well-being of both Festival filmgoers and the residents of the entire community,” the statement read, in part. “The presentation of TIFF’s traditional in-person film festival will be contingent on the province’s reopening framework to ensure that festival venues and workplace practices meet and exceed public health guidelines.”

Earlier this summer, TIFF announced the 10-day event that would have a lineup that would include both physical and digital screenings of 50 new feature films, five programs of shorts and an online industry conference as well as interactive talks, film cast reunions, and Q&As with cast and filmmakers.

Quarantine reads: Five great books from acclaimed musician Kathleen Edwards

By
Ron Johnson
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kathleen edwards

At long last, acclaimed Canadian singer and songwriter Kathleen Edwards is set to return from what she calls a “working sabbatical.” Her new album Total Freedom is set for release Aug. 14 and her new single “Options Open” is out now. 

The new album is her first since 2012’s Voyageur, after which she announced a break from the music biz and opened Quitters Coffee in the small town of Stittsville, Ont. 

“I had no desire to write, no desire to play,” she says, of the time.“It allowed me all the time and space I needed to even just enjoy listening to music again.”

On the new album, Edwards revisits past relationships from a new perspective, one of resilience and optimism. “I don’t want to write songs that are going to keep me in a dark place for two years,” she says.

Edwards, a five-time Juno Award nominee, offers her list of five great books to read this summer. 

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, Ocean Vuong 

 In December, I was flying home from Nashville having just finished my new album the night before and stumbled into the airport bookshop. I purchased this book on a whim and not 20 minutes later received a text from a close friend in Toronto, saying, “You have to read this book, I just finished reading it, it’s beautiful and devastating.” It’s the story of a Vietnamese boy and his immigrant family who come to the U.S. A raw and tragic story of coming of age, beautifully written from a poet-turned novelist. It served as a wonderful cultural thread for my overseas trip over the winter to see my brother and his family living in Vientiane, Laos, and our travels into Hanoi and some southern Vietnamese towns. It gave context to the human cost of Vietnam’s difficult history, and spoke of the beautiful resilience and fragility of people, scarred by war.  

The Stationery Shop, Marjan Kamali

This novel is set in Tehran during the brink of the revolution and tells the story of young love. I adored this novel, as it so wonderfully described a pre-revolution Iran full of vibrant colour, books, young women thriving intellectually, mentorship, food, culture. How the memory of first love never leaves us, and how the chance to replay painful moments that shape our lives offers us healing and closure. 

Dare to Lead, Brene Brown

I know, I know. You’re tired of the Brene Brown fan club culture. But, good advice and the work her team does to find sociological research and statistical solutions to human conflicts and misunderstandings, unhappiness, and resentments are worth reading about — especially if you’re someone’s boss or a leader in any capacity. This won’t spoil anything, but her message, “Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind,” has been my mantra the last five months. It has helped guide some tough choices and conversations I needed to have, personally and professionally. It helped me re-visit and re-organize my goals and take ownership of what I wanted to change, to frame how I want to grow as a businesswoman and employer.  

Fall, Colin McAdam

Full disclosure: I fell in love with this author’s brother only months before the COVID shutdown, during which we discovered a social connection from each of our pasts. People and places we both knew were the basis of this work of fiction, and it made this read a page-turner of epic proportions. It’s dark, set in Ottawa, involves the diplomatic community, and a private school I grew up hearing about. For all these reasons, I found it eerily familiar. When you fall into the web of a sociopath in your adult life and wonder how those people go undetected, hidden in their communities, books like these always remind you you never really know someone, especially when they’re hiding behind the mask of privilege.  

Such A Fun Age, Kiley Reid

I only just started this book, after hearing her interview on CBC radio. This book will put a spotlight directly on our uncomfortable truths regarding racism, especially when talking about the “but I’m not racist!” white do-gooders, who fundamentally don’t see their own missteps. I’ve been told it’s got people talking and even yelling, in debating the characters who struggle to overcome an incident involving a demoralizing mischaracterization and racist profiling of young Black women. 

How Yorkville and the rest of Toronto’s retail real estate is faring during these times

By
Marlene Mendonca
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Yorkville streetscape

After one full quarter fully under the effects of COVID-19, how did the Toronto retail and commercial real estate market fare? Actually not as bad as may have been predicted. Sales volumes are down, likely not unexpected, and the number of high dollar sales is way down as well. What we do not see this quarter is a drop off on the value of deals from a price-per-square-foot perspective. Good news for vendors, not so good news for investors. Overall, regardless of what team you are on, the fact that Toronto commercial real estate remains strong, so far, should make all participants breathe easier.

It is noteworthy to mention that that this quarter’s results include transactions likely gone firm prior to March 16, the “D-Day” on which most of Canada shut down. There is no record of how many firm deals were dropped after this date, but there are a number of deals that were under contract that were terminated at this point.

What was interesting to watch was the listing of 1 Niagara St., the former Toronto office for the fashion retailer Nygard. The New York-based lender wanted the property sold and it was the first major listing that came to market during the pandemic. So, this became a good Netflix-like series to monitor. How did they fare? At the time of writing, the property is sold firm but not closed, but it did attract more than 10 offers during the 30-day marketing process. In discussion with the listing agent, he did confirm offers that spread a wide gamut of value. The listing price for this vacant, 25,500-square-foot office building was $23 million or $900 per square foot.

Retail Sales

Well, not bad results for this sector which is getting hammered by bankruptcies especially in the restaurant industry, but others too are falling by the wayside including Hertz which has filed for Chapter 11 in the U.S. As the city begins to reopen it will still be hard for many restaurants to survive with only patio service being offered and at reduced capacity. How does a restaurant survive when they can only serve two tables on their minimal patio area? 

One of the high dollar sales was located in the Yorkville neighbourhood at 126 Scollard St. at the corner of Hazelton Avenue. This 22,000-square-foot building sold for $19 million or $864 per square foot. The buyer, LDC Logistics Development Corporation acquired the building at an occupancy level of 70 per cent at the time of sale. The vendor, a private, numbered company, took back a five-year mortgage at 3.25 per cent to close the sale.

Closing Observations

Although this report is somewhat truncated from previous reports, it at least confirms that the sky hasn’t fallen suggesting that the market will be more like 2008 than it was in 1990 when the market imploded. The only caveat is that — like the prediction of a second wave of a COVID-19 outbreak — these are early times operating under these conditions. Money has not dried up but the most important result this past quarter was the nature of the buyer — as it is clear that there were not a lot of name brand players in the results.

In conversation with both brokers and investors, the sentiment suggested that the big names are preferring to sit on the sidelines at the moment to see how things shake out. Many are using this downtime to do renovations that may have been in the budget but had not been tendered. With most buildings being vacant, it is an excellent time to do upgrades which can be undertaken during daytime hours as opposed to after hours at, assumed, higher hourly rates.   

The outlook for now is to remain cautiously optimistic for the next quarter, as no one wants to have a second wave of COVID-19 as it would certainly take away any momentum. We all want to go back to normal or an adjusted normal that allows us to return to work and maybe shake someone’s hand again. Stay healthy, everyone.

This Canadian designer is making sustainable and ethically-made reusable face masks

By
Nikki Gill
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0
Nonie reusable face masks
Nonie's summer collection of reusable face masks

Canadian womenswear brand Nonie has added sustainable and ethically-made reusable face masks to its summer collection. The masks are Canadian-made with 100 per cent upcycled cotton. The new collection was just released and includes light pink, bright pink and an army green option to fit with the current season.

“As masks become a daily part of our routine, I wanted to introduce more bright summer colours to give consumers more choice in their protective wear,” says Nina Kharey, the creative director behind Nonie, adding that the masks use medical fabrics.

Each mask is lined with a certified SMS fabric, which offers a 99.9 per cent barrier protection, and has a pouch on the inside that can hold a filter to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. The lining is made of synthetic fibres that fight airborne and waterborne ingression, and Nonie also has carbon filter inserts for the masks available for purchase on the website.

It was important to Kharey that the masks be sustainable because sustainability is a large part of the Nonie brand.

“We have been a business focused on environmental sustainability and ethical treatment of our workers, from the very beginning,” says Kharey. “This is also one of the biggest reasons I really wanted to supply masks — I wanted to reduce the dependability of disposable masks. I think this is going to be the next big problem in waste.”

Kharey and the Nonie team have also been updating the design and specifications of the masks as they receive feedback from customers. The masks retail for $33 each or $55 for two and are part of a buy one, donate one initiative. For each mask purchased, Nonie will donate a mask to organizations such as the Red Cross and various women’s shelters across Canada.

“In the beginning, we were focused on getting masks to the hospitals, but then we started getting requests from nurses all over North America who couldn’t afford a mask for themselves or loved ones. We started sending them out to any nurse that would contact us — no questions asked,” she says. “We’re now looking at donating to food banks and meal providers for front line workers.”

Condo of the Week: $680K for a modern one-bedroom flat inside the King Edward Hotel

By
Samantha Peksa
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0
22 Leader Ln.

Suite 539 at 22 Leader Ln. is proof you shouldn’t have to spend millions on a home to enjoy modern upgrades, even in Toronto. This one-bedroom and one-bathroom condo spans 675 square feet of living space. Located inside the historic King Edward Hotel, it’s listed for $679,000 and boasts more amenities than your average condominium.

This luxury hotel opened in 1903 and gives residents full access to its services. This includes valet parking, a fitness centre, spa and room service. Its prime location near the Financial District make it a short walk away to downtown restaurants and nightlife.

22 Leader Ln.

The condo’s open floorplan makes the most of its modest square footage, with 10-foot ceilings greatly opening up the space.

22 Leader Ln.

All kitchen appliances are integrated and the fridge discreetly blends in with the cabinetry. A marble backsplash pops from the room’s cream colour palette.

22 Leader Ln.

The island doubles as a breakfast bar and eliminates the need for a formal dining set.

22 Leader Ln.

An entire wall in the living room is dedicated to spacious closets. Pot lighting borders the ceiling and brightens up the space.

22 Leader Ln.

The bedroom has a nifty built-in that not only provides lots of storage, but also an office area. Crown moulding and a padded headboard give the room some style points.

22 Leader Ln.

It comes with an updated five-piece ensuite bathroom, complete with marble flooring and a bathtub.

The condo is listed with Andre Kutyan and Robert Greenberg of Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage.

Anthony Rose brings back his BBQ joint Big Crow to Toronto

By
Jessica Huras
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0
Anthony Rose

Anthony Rose has revived his restaurant Big Crow, which reopened last week for takeout and patio dining. The restaurateur and chef had previously shut down Big Crow and adjoining restaurant Rose and Sons last fall to make way for a new concept called the Grand Elvis.

The Grand Elvis opened in December 2019 to widespread positive reviews. The restaurant became known for its Brindle Room banquet burger, which was developed with chef Jeremy Spector of New York’s Brindle Room, a restaurant famed for its own list-topping burger.

The Grand Elvis has been quiet over the past few months, however, after temporarily closing in mid-March when COVID hit.

In his monthly newsletter, Rose describes finding himself turning to comfort foods when cooking at home with his son amid the pandemic. “I was cooking what I love; what my mother cooked when I was a kid,” wrote Rose.

 

 

According to the newsletter, this experience helped him to embrace his nickname as “the king of comfort food,” and inspired his decision to bring back Big Crow. “So here we are. Big Crow is back. It is exactly the same as it used to be. The menu is familiar and delicious and it is all mine,” wrote Rose.

As promised, the reincarnated Big Crow menu is packed with fan favourites, including poke nachos and smoked, grilled baby back ribs.

Diners can order prepared BBQ for takeout or dine-in on the restaurant’s small patio; but they’ve also added the option to order dishes cooked and ready-to-reheat at home, or raw and seasoned for home grilling.

 

 

Rose’s other restaurants Fat Pasha, Fet Zun, and Madame Boeuf continue to offer takeout and patio eats. Schmaltz Appetizing is open for curbside pick-up, while Gordy Smiles is closed for the time being.

In his newsletter, Rose hinted that the return of Big Crow could be a precursor to the resurrection of his restaurant Rose and Sons as well.

“Who knows, we might even bring back the true Phoenix rising from the ashes: Rose and Sons. Stay tuned,” he wrote.

Eight-storey development could replace beloved grocery store in Toronto neighbourhood

By
Ron Johnson
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0

A new rental building will soon be proposed for Bayview and Millwood, adding another development to the area that is already seeing a major uptick in interest from developers.

The application for 1466-1500 is planned to be submitted to the City of Toronto’s planning department by the end of August by developer Medallion Corp.

It is planned to be at least an eight-storey building consisting of one- to three-bedroom rental units with retail on the bottom floor and architecture by Quadrangle. It would include public and private underground parking.

“This mid-rise development will assist with increasing the diversity of housing options in the neighbourhood,” the building’s website said. “This proposal will allow for a broad range of people, including families, to live along Bayview.”

While proposing a rental building among Toronto’s sea of condos is a step in a different direction, Medallion notes that rental buildings have “evolved from their dated reputation.”

“They now offer many of the same amenities and services as condominiums,” the website said. “This new development will bring a new type of rental living with high-quality and long-lasting finishes as well as modern and new amenities, for future tenants’ use and enjoyment.”

The area is currently the site of a neighbourhood-coveted Valu-mart grocery store that anchors the south end of the Bayview Avenue main street strip. 

The developer has promised it will bring back a “medium-sized” grocery store as the “anchor retailer,” but did not say whether or not it would be the Valu-mart. 

Medallion chose not to comment to TRNTO on the development before its proposal to the city.

While the building remains within the eight-storey limit set in planning guidelines set by the city and province, it joins a number of other developments in the area that are going beyond the current two-storey makeup.

“This is the fourth development that we are aware of on the west side of Bayview,” said Geoff Kettel, Leaside Residents Association Co-President, noting that so far they have been in the west part of the neighbourhood and on its outskirts.

Kettel said the character of the neighbourhood is changing in the taller direction, but that it can have a positive impact on the area by bringing in more customers for businesses, as long as a vibrant street character is preserved.

Kettel joined other members of the community at a meeting held last week by Medallion to discuss the proposal. He said the building had design cues from the Brickworks, but residents found it “strange.”

“We suggested they consider taking design cues more from the neighbourhood,” he said. “Leaside is not about individually prominent buildings. It’s more about fitting in.”

Another storied live music venue shutting down in Toronto due to the pandemic

By
Ron Johnson
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0
LMT Connection at the Orbit Room
LMT Connection at the Orbit Room (Facebook)

The Orbit Room on College Street in Little Italy has announced via social media that it will not reopen following an extended closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The news comes on the heels of the closure announcement for midtown’s Alleycatz as well as Queen West’s Rivoli being put up for sale.

It is not good.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by The Orbit Room (@orbitroomto) on

 

The Orbit Room was one of the city’s smallest live music venues, but pound for pound it was also one of the best. It was a launching pad for new musicians, but also an outlet for some of the city’s best session musicians.

If there is any sliver of a silver lining, it is that the announcement indicates a possibility that shows will continue, just not at the current address.

“Dear fans of the Orbit Room and live music, it has been four months since all live music shows and venues were closed due to the pandemic,” read the statement, in part. “It pains me to have to announce that the club at 580a College St. will remain closed. This doesn’t mean that we are out of the live music business, it just means that our shows will no longer be at that address. For 22 of the last 25 years, we have had a band play every night of the week. Like everyone else, we will have to wait and see how the business reopens and what it will look like before we can make any plans for the future. ”

 

 

The Orbit Room featured regular weekly shows from cover bands such as glorious funk and soul outfit LMT Connection, which has played together for more than three decades, Toronto reggae legends the Sattalites as well as Pretzel Logic — a beloved and incredibly talented band specializing in the music of Steely Dan.

If the city is still contemplating the whole Music City concept for Toronto, it might be time to circle the wagons and protect the remaining live music venues while we still can.

Brian Gluckstein on how to staycation in style at home this summer

By
Nikki Gill
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0
Gluckstein staycation
Hudson's Bay

Catch Brian Gluckstein on Cityline, where he is a regular guest expert, shop his collection, GlucksteinHome, at Hudson’s Bay and follow him @briangluckstein on Instagram.

This summer, instead of vacationing or visiting friends and family abroad, many of us will be spending our time off in the comfort of our home — a “staycation” as one might call it. And while it may not exactly be the summer getaway we envisioned for ourselves, there’s no reason it can’t be incredibly relaxing and enjoyable all the same.

Actually, without the detailed itineraries that often come along with meticulously planned vacations abroad, spending your vacation at home could mean an opportunity to truly unwind and decompress from a hectic schedule in a way that you wouldn’t with a typical vacation. The key to a satisfying staycation is in making your time at home feel special and absolutely nothing like your usual routine.

Here are my tips for making your staycation one for the books.

Make it about indulgence

Take advantage of all that extra “me time” and make a point of indulging by setting aside plenty of time to pamper yourself. Set yourself up for days of relaxation with hydrating face masks, bath salts, scented candles, and anything else you love to have on hand for a soak in the tub or a skincare ritual. Especially since you won’t be investing in an expensive trip, it’s a good idea to gather a few little luxuries sure to bring you some joy during your time at home. Consider investing in some fluffy new bath towels or a white robe to feel like you’re staying at an expensive hotel.

Gluckstein staycation
Credit: A Plus Creative

Experiment with new flavours

Test out new recipes for dinner each night or order take-out from a locale you’ve always wanted to visit or relive memories of one of your all-time favourite trip’s cuisines. Have fun accenting the table with décor inspired by the location the food is from and make a signature drink to go along with the meal. Staying home doesn’t mean you can’t experience something new.

Swap things out to make your space feel new

A few simple décor changes could help trick your mind into thinking you’re somewhere other than home. Swap out your bedding for something summery and light — like French linen or a fresh floral pattern on silky Tencel — and rearrange the décor for a new look and feel. If you’ve been dreaming of a new piece of furniture for your space, it could be a good idea to divert that vacation money and invest in something new that you can enjoy during your time off. At least you know you’ll be home for the delivery!

Gluckstein staycation
Credit: Hudson’s Bay

Take a break from technology

Do as you normally would on vacation and take a break from your usual screen time. Binging on movies and series can be fun, but make a point of taking time for those tech-free activities, like reading great books, going on bike rides, gardening, or redecorating. It’s also the perfect time to consider taking up a new hobby, if there’s something you’ve been meaning to try for a few years but haven’t quite gotten around to yet.

Lounge outdoors

If you’re used to lounging at the beach or on a terrace on vacation, why not do the same in your own backyard? Enjoy breakfast on the patio with the morning paper, a picnic on the grass, or cool off with an afternoon drink on a comfortable lounge set. Soak in the beautiful weather and spend as much time as possible outside, just as you normally would on vacation.

Six Toronto artists make the Polaris Music Prize shortlist for 2020

By
Nikki Gill
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0
polaris music prize
Jessie Reyez and Junia-T (Credit: Facebook/JuniaTofSB)

The 10 albums shortlisted for the 2020 Polaris Music Prize were announced last night, and six of the artists hail from right here in Toronto. The nominated artists are Jessie Reyez, Junia-T, Witch Prophet, U.S. Girls, musical quintet Pantayo and 2017 winner Lido Pimienta.

“Canadian music has a vast and vibrant spectrum. This year’s short list features a blend of exciting emerging voices and celebrated Polaris Prize winners,” said Polaris jury foreperson Melissa Vincent in a statement. “Now and forever, thank you to our jury for devoting their time and energy to crafting this list and continuing to champion the music of Canadian artists.”

The jury consists of 196 members of local and national media professionals from organizations such as CBC Music, radio stations and freelance journalists.

Jessie Reyez is nominated for her album, Before Love Came To Kill Us, and Junia-T (who is also Reyez’s tour DJ) is nominated for his album Studio Monk. Lido Pimienta’s nomination is for her album Miss Colombia and she took to Twitter to point out that she is one of two Colombian women on this year’s shortlist.

 

 

Toronto-based Filipino-Canadian musical quintet Pantayo also took to Twitter to announce their excitement for being shortlisted.

 

 

Ayo Leilani, the artist behind Witch Prophet, was nominated for the album DNA Activation. She said she pitched the album to several labels and was turned down until she decided to release it herself under Heart Lake Records. The label focuses on supporting and promoting women, non-binary and gender non-conforming artists and allies.

 

 

The winner will be announced on Oct. 19 and will receive the $50,000 award. The other nine nominated artists will receive $3,000 each courtesy of Slaight Music. Last year’s winner was Toronto rapper Haviah Mighty.

“I’d like to invite everyone to carve out some time to settle in with each of these very deserving albums. You’ll be glad you did,” said Vincent.

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