Toronto musician grandson nominated for a Juno

4:50 pm

Musician Jordan Benjamin, known more commonly by his stage name, grandson, was nominated for his first Juno this year for Breakthrough Artist of the Year. Benjamin started his career in music after he dropped out of McGill University to invest his time and energy in the things he cared about.

“My logic was that I have this opportunity and if I don’t see this thing through when I’m 20 years old, I might always regret it. But if I do this thing, and in a couple years I’m still making no money and don’t have anything to show for it, then I could always go back to school,” Benjamin says.

He says it was also his experiences at Northern Secondary School that helped him find his passion.

“I was surrounded by so many different kinds of people and so many different kinds of music. I think, because Northern was such a big school, it was really difficult to carve out your sense of identity in it. So music and writing became my kind of outlet,” he says.

A music video Benjamin created while still at McGill is what he says caught the attention of some people in Los Angeles, where he now lives. He was invited out there by a management and production company to learn about songwriting for other artists, and when Benjamin was offered an opportunity to relocate there full-time, he took it.

“I get an hour a night to stomp my feet and grieve and sweat.”

He did as many things as possible to get to know the industry, writing for everyone from rappers to folksingers — all while living on Toronto band Magic!’s couch.

His first two songs, “Bills” and “Bury Me Face Down,” came out in 2016, and by 2018 he released his first EP, a modern tragedy vol. 1.

For some artists, politics is a contentious subject and one that stays separate from their music. But Benjamin has intertwined his music with politics from the beginning.

“I think we are in an era, especially within the context of rock and roll music, where your silence or your apathy is in itself a statement,” he says.

He says his music is part of his own way of dealing with what’s going on in the world as well.

“When I go on tour, I get an hour a night to stomp my feet and grieve and sweat. I get a lot of cathartic relief from making the kind of angry congregational music I make,” Benjamin says. “I take a lot of solace in knowing that, whether or not I’m going to change things, the next generation that will change things will do so with my music in their headphones.”

Benjamin says he was excited to be nominated for a Juno and that he’s grateful for the opportunity to speak to young people and remind them: “When we stand together collectively, there’s nothing we can’t accomplish.”

Benjamin’s second EP, a modern tragedy vol. 2, came out on Feb. 22, and grandson performed in Toronto at the Opera House on March 1.

Insights from Toronto’s real estate insiders

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2:21 am

ROYAL LEPAGE REAL ESTATE SERVICES LTD., BROKERAGE
Elli Davis, Sales Representative

What’s your #1 tip for selling your property quickly (and for the right price)?
My #1 tip is to hire an experienced, full-time r eal estate sales r epresentative. Your agent is your guide and advocate; take their advice and make the most of their experience. My real estate career has spanned 36 successful years, trading better than the top 1% of TREB agents, and the knowledge gained during this time is a huge asset for my clients.

What’s the best/worst month of the year to buy a house?
Properties are purchased and sold all year round, hence there are no “bad” months. My experience has shown me that the most optimal times for serious b uyers are in August and December when most people are in holiday mode.

Where do you think the market is headed?
The Toronto market is a more balanced, realistic market where supply is close to meeting the demand. The central core will remain in high demand. Condominiums are continuing to sell very well in all price ranges. The luxury real estate market is holding strong as real estate continues to be a solid investment. More specifically, I believe Toronto properties will continue to maintain value.

Why should someone list their property with you this spring?
Springtime is when a property looks its best with longer days, blossoming trees and flowers. This time of the year brings a sense of renewal and most people are ready to take action. My multi-tiered personal service and marketing plan is customized for every property and provides maximum exposure. My clients and their needs are my top priority, whether buying or selling.

Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Brokerage, 416-921-1112

LIVING REALTY INC., BROKERAGE
Wins Lai, Real Estate Broker

Where do you think the market is headed?
We will continue to see demand in the condo market as affordability of freehold homes has diminished, and the gap between condo and freehold pricing expands. Larger two- and three- bedroom condos are becoming more popular as buyers move away from the core in search of more square footage.

What is the most undervalued area in Toronto?
Riverdale! It’s walkable, bike-able and transit is easily accessible. Riverdale Park offers a postcard view of the city and it’s minutes away from the financial core, U nion S tation, distillery district and the beach. The area’s coffee shops, organic butchers and thriving restaurant scene are key indications of continued gentrification.

What is your biggest real estate regret?
Not buying more properties at a very young age. I look at real estate investments as my savings account. I know first time buyers often find the task daunting but I’ve learned from some of the most seasoned investors that you should always check your emotions at the door.

Why should people hire you?
I’ve been in the business for over a decade. I have assisted many builders, local and international investors buy and sell property. My local and international network has proven to be a huge asset as the demand coming out of Asia still proves to be robust. With over 600 transactions during my career I have gained valuable exposure to some of the most complex situations. I also pride myself on exceptional service for which my online reviews will confirm. This is a one-stop real estate shop!

Living Realty Inc., Brokerage, 416-903-7032

CHESNUT PARK REAL ESTATE LIMITED
Eileen Farrow, Sales Representative

Where do you think the market is headed?
Toronto is a major player on the world stage for many industries. As people move to the city each year and the population increases, the Toronto market keeps growing along with it. Whether detached, semi-detached, triplex or condo, Toronto’s market is booming in all sectors. As Canada’s largest city, Toronto is a beacon to the world. I see nothing but continued growth in this great city. The condo market alone also exploded exponentially each year for the past two decades.

What’s your #1 tip for selling your property quickly (and for the right price)?
We have created an amazing team to help carry out our goal of selling your property quickly and for the best price. Part of the team is a fabulous stager and a sensational photographer. We strive to capture the unique charms of each property we sell. Buyers view our properties and can feel the difference. “Best foot forward” is our mantra. Often one only gets one chance to show a property so it needs to present at its very best.

Why should someone list their property with you this spring?
Spring is a fabulous time to list a property. The long winter has finally come to an end and people start feeling like it’s time for a change. Warmer winds and greener gardens are so positive to one’s mindset. Whether one is buying, selling or both, this is an excellent time to get the ball rolling! My team and I have been extremely busy all winter long, and look forward to keeping this momentum going into the spring.

Chestnut Park Real Estate Limited, 416-275-1415

PSR, BROKERAGE – FOREST HILL
Zack Fenwick, Sales Representative

Where do you think the market is headed?
I think the market is definitely headed in the right direction. With a slow start in 2019, I can definitely say that I have seen an increasing amount of new listing inventory hitting the market daily. Some properties are being sold quickly with multiple offers, while other properties are sitting on the market. Feel free to contact me to learn why.

What’s the best/worst month of the year to buy a house?
From a price perspective, the best time to buy a house is in the winter. Some houses may be sitting on the market and you may be able to find a good deal. From an inventory perspective I think the best time to buy would be in the Spring. When the Spring Market takes flight you will see plenty of new inventory hitting the market. Keep a close watch & be ready to act quickly! If you have any questions about bidding wars, let me know!

What’s your #1 tip for selling your property quickly (and for the right price)?
My #1 tip would be to stage the property. Staging is the best way to show the true potential of what your home can look like and it will appeal to all buyers. My clients and I have had incredible results when investing in staging our listings!

Why should someone list their property with you this spring?
I know that buying or selling a property is an enormous decision and I will be there for you every step of the way. As your real estate agent, I promise that you will be able to trust and lean on me throughout the entire process. I am transparent and always available for my clients. My negotiation and marketing skills have been proven time and time again, and I promise to get you the best price on your property, whether you are buying or selling! I look forward to working with you!

PSR, Brokerage – Forest Hill, 416-567-7747

JOHNSTON AND DANIEL, A DIVISION OF ROYAL LEPAGE
Leeanne Weld, Sales Representative

Where do you think the market is headed?
At the moment I think the market seems to have plateaued, particularly at the high end, but we will really get a better sense of things later in the spring. Toronto is still a very desirable city to live in and people are still coming in droves.

What is the most undervalued area in Toronto?
Due to our lack of inventory which we’ve been experiencing for a really long time, there aren’t really any areas in my estimation that are undervalued. I still say that there is good opportunity in some urban neighbourhoods like Corso Italia and Dufferin Grove.

What is your biggest real estate regret?
Not having bought more Toronto real estate myself!

What’s the best/worst month of the year to buy a house?
There is the least to choose from at the end of December or early January, as the holidays have kicked in and inventory is the lowest.

What’s your #1 tip for selling your property quickly (and for the right price)?
All the effort you put into readying your house for sale comes back to you, preparation is really most of the battle, as it’s better to make the best first impression you can on potential buyers.

Why should someone list their property with you this spring?
If you want me, you got me! I’ll be with you every step of the way in preparing the house, marketing it to a successful sale and seeing it through for the duration. I like what I do, I like houses and the spring is a great time to sell (with me)!

Johnston and Daniel, A Division of Royal LePage, 416-489-2121

OXLEYROBERT REAL ESTATE
Gillian Oxley & Joseph Robert, Sales Representative and Broker

Where do you think the market is headed?
Over the next year or two, we continue to be positive about the strength of the Toronto market in the core. The access to Downtown, combined with relatively low housing prices compared to other major city centres, continues to drive our marketplace. We believe Downtown condo sales will again lead the
market in terms of price increases as there is a continued pent-up demand for units and limited supply.

What is the most undervalued area in Toronto?
Leslieville. This is a fantastic area with restaurants, shops, walkability and access to both Downtown as well as The Beach. Homes continue to increase in value. We have done a lot of business in the area and absolutely love it!

What’s your #1 tip for selling your property quickly (and for the right price)?
Understanding the market and how to prepare and present a home is key. We have staff on our team whose sole focus is to prep, style and stage homes because first impressions are everything. Our strategic analysis and intelligent pricing combined with our strong marketing materials are the recipe for a successful sale.

Why should someone list their property with you this Spring?
Our business has been built on repeat and referral clients which speaks volumes. Our breadth of experience combined with our in-depth industry knowledge ensures unrivalled results. Ultimately, it’s all about a connection both professionally and personally. Knowing you have the strength of an experienced, dedicated team is key to achieving the best results.

OxleyRobert Real Estate, 416-495-2939

HARVEY KALLES REAL ESTATE BROKERAGE
Andre Kutyan, Sales Representative

What is the most undervalued area in Toronto?
Bathurst Manor is one of the most undervalued areas in Toronto. It is a relatively central neighbourhood situated west of Bathurst St to Dufferin St between Finch Ave W and Sheppard Ave W. The average lot size is 52′ x 115′ and there is a lot of infill development occurring. The close proximity to Sheppard West subway station, the Allen Rd (and thus HWY 401) make it very accessible. You can purchase a 50′ lot for 20-25% less than what it costs for a 25′ lot at Avenue Rd & Lawrence!

What’s the best/worst month of the year to buy a house?
There’s no worst month to buy real estate; it’s always a good time to buy! As for the best time to buy a house, it would be the spring. Most sellers have the common misconception that it’s the best time to sell a home since their homes/gardens show best and they believe there are more buyers searching at that time. I find the number of buyers remain relatively comparable year round, while the inventory of available homes fluctuate greatly. Spring equals more listings, therefore more choice!

Why should someone list their property with you this spring?
I’m not just a familiar face on a billboard or bus shelter… I am a r ealtor and resident with a vested interest in your neighbourhood. I live and breathe Central and North Toronto real estate. I have a proven track record coupled with an aggressive marketing strategy that will sell your home quickly and for top dollar, regardless of market conditions.

Harvey Kalles Real Estate Brokerage, 416-451-2642

A tale of love and very lusty mannequins

Andrew Mannsbach

12:07 pm

TOSketchfest is back from March 7 to 17 for its 14th year, and of the many acts scheduled at various venues, The Lusty Mannequins will be at Streetcar Crowsnest. The four-person troupe includes Ashley Comeau and Connor Thompson. It turns out this comedic pair is more than just troupe-mates.

How they met
Connor: We met at the Second City training centre in the conservatory program.

The first date
Ashley: We went to a super religious wedding. Trying to show off, I wore my favourite dress — a red satin number with a plummeting neckline — to a dry, super conservative wedding. We were the harlot table.

Connor: We thought we were going to hell, but we were already in Chatham, so.…
Ashley: Afterwards, we drove three hours home and ended up smooching in Connor’s single bed, his Rothko poster and Band of Brothers DVD collection staring at me the entire time.

Memorable moments
Ashley: The entire front of house staff at Second City witnessed us kiss. We were sitting on top of my red Hyundai, and when we smooched, 15 people burst out the front doors of 51 Mercer Street giggling and cheering. We’ve also lived on a cruise ship together for four months and adopted a rescue dog.

The proposal
Ashley: It was our anniversary and we had just come back from a trip to the aquarium.

Connor: It was on our back porch in the summertime, with a ring that belonged to my grandmother.

“We figured that jail and insanity best represented our love.”

The wedding
Ashley: We married in May of 2018 in the Asylum Chapel in London, U.K. Then we had lunch in a former jail in Southwark. We figured that jail and insanity best represented our love. It was a surprise wedding and the best day of my life.

Connor: Like all good weddings, it was an exercise in lies and deceit. We tricked a bunch of our friends into coming under false pretenses. Our pal and troupe-mate Alastair Forbes wore dirty shorts, a T-shirt and a baseball cap to our wedding. That’s how he’ll be remembered forever in our wedding photos. His mother was mortified. Our honeymoon was an improv festival in Athens, Greece.

The offspring
Connor: We have a dog named Toby who is three, and Ashley treats him like a kid, which worries me.

Ashley: To be fair, he looks like us — my jet black hair, Connor’s big, furrowed brows.

Shared hobbies
Ashley: Travel, gardening, reading, comedy, eating carbs, doing funny voices for the dog.

Connor: Right now, Toby is a Québécois director.

The home
Connor: We live near Dupont and Dovercourt. We’ve been here around five years. Our favourite places include South Pacific Takeout for all of your home-cooked, pan-Asian cuisine needs; the Hub for a dynamite breakfast sandwich; the Gem for a hidden spot to go and drink; Blood Brothers for a good, local craft beer; and Frank Custom Tailors for good old-fashioned dry cleaning.

Ashley: Bloorcourt village is a great neighbourhood — tons of hidden gems and local establishments that have been here for ages.

Secret to success
Ashley: Addressing things with humour, patience and grace when you’re at a “three” instead of letting things fester to a “10.” Also knowing each other’s preferred presents for when we’ve really cooked it up.

Connor: Retaining independence, allowing for space and alone time, sharing in both successes and failures.

Life after retirement
Ashley: Living next to the sea on Crete, with a bunch of dogs — including Toby who will still be alive. Either that or a tiny house community with all of our friends.

Vinessa Antoine is breaking barriers with new CBC drama ‘Diggstown’

Andrew Mannsbach

12:17 pm

When she signed on to the leading role in CBC’s new drama Diggstown, Vinessa Antoine knew that she’d be breaking down barriers and exposing a new side of Canada. She had no idea that just her presence as a person of colour leading a dramatic series would be a Canadian first.

“It’s great. It is, absolutely I would say, long overdue but great we are now making some changes,” says the Scarborough native.

“It is nice to see people like me represented on TV. It was a big moment for me to realize that I would be the first.”

Diggstown is a legal drama in which Antoine plays Marcia Diggs, a corporate lawyer who changes career aspirations after a beloved aunt’s suspicious suicide. Alongside a crack team of do-gooders, she ends up fighting for a diverse crowd of margin dwellers in and around Halifax, N.S.

The show explores issues of racism, poverty and gender bias but also a little-known part of Halifax: North Preston, home to Canada’s largest and oldest black community.

“The show delves into this very interesting, diverse world,” says Antoine. “I was under the assumption that maybe Toronto had the largest black community.”

With her new role, Antoine also got the opportunity to return to the sport of surfing, which she took up after moving to California.

“I started surfing years ago, and then I put it away because it’s just, quite honestly, too difficult,” she says. “But also I felt like I didn’t see people like me out in the ocean, to be honest. It’s just a true fact to this day, and I got a little discouraged.”

Since her character also has a love of the ocean and the swells, she’s back in the water.

“It’s nice to be able to go back to the ocean now,” she says. “The ocean is a beautiful gift available and free to anyone who wants it.”

Although it sounds like an easy decision to sign on to such a groundbreaking show, Antoine was sitting pretty in La-La Land starring in fabled soap opera General Hospital for the past four and a half years.

When she announced that she was leaving the show, it did not go over well with the soap-loving faithful.

“To this day, they are very vocal,” she says. “There is nothing like a soap opera fan for sure. They are diehard loyal fans and insanely supportive. Most comments were like that’s great and everything, but when are you coming back to General Hospital?”

Antoine grew up in Scarborough, a performer from a young age, and got into dance during high school, moving herself to New York City to join the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. But before long, her love of acting took over, and she made the decision to head to Los Angeles to pursue her dream.

Although she still lives in and loves California, the opportunity to work back north of the border has her thinking.

“It is something I have to really think about,” she explains.

“I love being home. I love being in Canada. But my kids are rooted there [in L.A.]. Hopefully I’ll be spending more time here.”

Sook-Yin Lee is playing it dangerous in 'Unsafe'

11:22 am

Sook-Yin Lee explores complex and provocative questions in her latest project, Unsafe, a “meta-theatrical documentary performance” that blends genres and pushes boundaries.

The show was developed by Lee during a residency with Canadian Stage and is an exploration of censorship in the arts in Canada, performed by Lee and collaborator Christo Graham. Lee’s time in broadcasting, film, music and theatre informs her work on this issue — she has experienced various forms of censorship throughout a career, that has seen her go from VJing with MuchMusic to walking the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival, where she had a starring role in the daring feature Shortbus.

“Unsafe is dangerous because it reveals the personal cost and consequences of opening up a difficult conversation,” says Lee. Part of that conversation is conducted through the show’s various documentary-style video interviews with big-name Canadian artists who have experienced silencing and/or censorship, including singer Jeremy Dutcher and playwright George Elliott Clarke.

“Unsafe is grounded in the broadcast interview form, which I consider to be one of my artistic practices,” Lee says. “It delves into the tension between our desire for freedom and the need to control.”

Unsafe is at the Berkeley Street Theatre, March 12 to 31.

Dear Evan Hansen
A smash hit on Broadway, this new musical is making its international debut at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. Dear Evan Hansen is the dark, offbeat story of a lonely teen who tells a life-changing lie about a deceased classmate that both revives and ensnares him.

Written by musical wunderkinds Pasek and Paul, who already have an Oscar, a Grammy and a Golden Globe to their names, this acclaimed show won the Tony Award for Best Musical, along with five more Tonys (one of which went, of course, to Pasek and Paul).

In Toronto, the lead role will be played by Vancouver native Robert Markus, who recently finished a stint as Riff Raff in a Stratford production of The Rocky Horror Show, so popular that it was extended until it became the festival’s longest-running show ever.

Markus competed with more than 800 hopefuls to score the part of Evan, so his take on the character is sure to be worth seeing.

Dear Evan Hansen runs from March 5 to June 30.

Swedish pop star Robyn

Robyn
This Swedish chanteuse has held on to pop superstardom since first breaking out in the ’90s. If you don’t recall her early hits — “Show Me Love,” “Do You Know (What It Takes)” — you’ve at the very least probably been exposed to the video for “Call Your Girlfriend,” in which she gyrates wildly in a massive abandoned warehouse. The video spawned a number of spoofs, including a viral take by the Saturday Night Live cast.

In Toronto as part of her tour for Honey, released last year, Robyn brings her eminently danceable songs to the Rebel, and we predict one-of-a-kind costumes and glorious, spoof-worthy dance moves.

Robyn will be at the Rebel on March 14.

The Second City Guide to the Symphony
The symphony is serious business, no? Well, it depends on who you ask. If you’d like the opinion of, say, Colin Mochrie, you might find a few cracks in the solemnity of this treasured musical institution.

Mochrie, of Whose Line Is It Anyway? fame, is leading a troupe of Second City players in The Second City Guide to the Symphony at Roy Thomson Hall, with TSO conductor Steven Reineke as their straight man.

The show blends sketch comedy with classical music in a satirical assessment of all things symphonic. When it debuted in 2014, it earned a rave review from the Toronto Star, where the theatre critic called it “The funniest two hours I spent in a theatre this year.”

The show runs from March 5 to 7.

Comedian Shaun Majumder is laughing at hate

Andrew Mannsbach

4:24 pm

When it comes to hate, comedian Shaun Majumder wants everyone to see it for what it really is: a joke. The Canadian comic will be in Toronto this month to talk about that very subject when he brings his Hate Tour to the Danforth Music Hall on Feb. 24.

“It’s been going really good,” says Majumder of his act, on the phone from his home in Los Angeles. “I’ve kind of been nurturing it over the last few months.”

Majumder spent the last 17 years or so with CBC’s popular comedy show This Hour Has 22 Minutes, and although there were numerous controversial sketches over many seasons, few could compare to the two minutes of satirical oomph packed into the alt-right diss sketch dubbed “Beige Power.”

A controversy erupted with all manner of white supremacists losing what little was left of their minds over social media.

Even former Rebel Media–cum–Toronto fringe mayoral candidate Faith Goldy dedicated a video clip to attacking him. Looking back, Majumder can understand what all the fuss was about.

“I can see why white supremacists were losing their minds,” he says. “I actually like it more now than when I wrote it because it is so direct and so on point.”

The sketch got so much attention that even the grand pooh-bah of white supremacists himself, David Duke (recently lampooned in the Spike Lee movie BlackKkKlansman) got in on the action.

Majumder, while revelling in the chaos of social media and perhaps stoking the troll fire on occasion, also took the opportunity to begin work on what would become the Hate Tour.

“It was intense. It got really intense,” he says. “I was really shocked at it, because I was so naive, but at the same time, I was doing lots of standup, and I had this idea to create different themed shows, and all this hate just sort of fell in my lap.”

In the show, Majumder does what he does better than most, which is make people laugh. But there are also a few moments of sincerity as he recalls some of what he’s learned over the past few years and about pushing the buttons of a few people in the process.

“It’s shaping up to be a really fun show,” he says. “It’s a combination of standup with serious moments, but really, it’s a comedy show. “

Majumder was born in Newfoundland. His mother was a European-Canadian and his father was from West Bengal in India. He moved to the GTA as a teenager and got his first acting gig on YTV’s Brain Wash.

Following his departure from CBC last fall, he’s been in California preparing for pilot season.

Majumder has always been a double threat. In Canada, he’s a comic. South of the border, he isn’t typecast as funny and has starred in police and legal dramas over the years. But it has been challenging to maintain that balance given the demands (and success) of his show on the CBC.

“The thing about 22 Minutes is that it was a velvet noose,” he says. “Now I have to re-establish those relationships.”

Catch Shaun Majumder’s Hate Tour at the Danforth Music Hall, Feb. 24.

Hereditary chiefs disagree with elected councils

3:40 pm

Recent controversy over a natural gas pipeline blockade and the differing priorities of hereditary chiefs and elected band councillors illustrates a fundamental problem with our systems of governance and economics.

Elected councils for the Wet’suwet’en and other Indigenous bands have signed lucrative “impact benefit agreements” with TransCanada (now called TC Energy), builder of the Coastal GasLink pipeline that would bring fracked gas 670 kilometres from Dawson Creek, B.C., to an LNG Canada liquefaction plant at Kitimat, B.C. (A consortium that includes Malaysian, Chinese and Korean companies owns LNG Canada.) Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs oppose pipeline projects that threaten the health and well-being of people who live in the territory, which they have never ceded or surrendered.

Governments of B.C. and Canada claim agreements with elected band councils constitute consent, even though Supreme Court cases, including 1997’s Delgamuukw v. the Queen, which involved the Gitxsan and Wet’suwet’en, have recognized traditional governance forms, including the hereditary chief and clan system, on traditional territories. Elected band councils are more like municipal councils that have limited jurisdiction only over reserve lands.

The hereditary chief system was in place long before settlers and colonizers arrived. Chiefs, clans and house groups are responsible to the land and the people, and chiefs can be removed if they fail to fulfill their duties. The band council system is a product of the Indian Act, which also gave us residential schools.

The councils can’t be faulted for signing the agreements. Money and jobs are needed to support communities that struggle under the current economic system. But pipelines and other fossil fuel projects provide mostly short-term jobs and economic benefits, mainly related to pipeline construction. As with many elected bodies, it’s difficult for the councils to look beyond immediate priorities and election-cycle timelines.

The hereditary chiefs’ and land defenders’ world view goes beyond this pipeline and Indigenous issues. Neskonlith First Nation Chief Judy Wilson, of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, told news magazine the Tyee that defenders are standing up for everyone in the face of global warming.

“That’s what the Indigenous land defenders are talking about when they say we need to protect the land and the water,” she said. “It’s critical and crucial to every Canadian. Not only in B.C. and Canada, but globally there has to be an awakening now.”

New boba shop spills the (nitro) tea in North York

Andrew Mannsbach

11:55 am

Yang Teashop has opened its North York location in time for those frigid winter months, It offers customized premium tea lattes, special nitro tea lattes (which are infused with nitrogen gas through a pressurized valve) and fresh fruit blends, and you can customize your own favourite cuppa of boba from a variety of globally sourced leaves and ingredients on offer at the shop. It’s also a great spot for refreshing iced teas when those warm summer days finally arrive (5295 Yonge St. 647-352-8840).

Fill up on super-fresh seafood and tiny, warm cups of sake at Mikaku Izakaya, a sleek new izakaya and sake bar tucked away on Yonge Street, just south of Steeles. This modern and cosy spot opened just before Christmas and already has fans coming back for fresh oysters, uni and beef tartare and the generous selection of premium sakes. Is there any better place to while away a chilly night? (6180 Yonge St., 647-748-2340).

Yorkdale has given fashion worshippers another excuse to hit the mall. Over the holiday season, the 5,719-square-foot Michael Kors Flagship was unveiled. It’s the largest Michael Kors store in Canada and the first to carry the Michael Kors Collection for women. Men can also get runway ready with the menswear line (3401 Dufferin St., Suite 158, 416-907-7871).

After noting the dearth of cosy brunch spots in the 905, the owners of Elephant Grind Coffee decided to open one in Richmond Hill. With a menu balancing comfort with some Asian-inspired eclecticism (yuzu avocado spread on a vegetarian frittata, for example, and lap cheong hash topped with gochujang and two poached eggs), and a focus on fine gourmet coffee, this place might just be an instant hit with the locals (10 East Wilmot St., Unit 7, 905-597-6880).

Owner and head chef Matthew Fatouhi has opened Kansas Kings Chicken N’ Ribs. It serves Kansas City–style barbecue, specializing in slow-cooked meats that are tender and fall off the bone. A variety of mouth-watering sides is also available, and the gravy is homemade, making it the closest you are likely to get to Kansas City, Mo., without crossing the border (10447 Yonge St., 905-780-6265).

Lace up your skates and unleash your inner Tessa and Scott at the Shops at Don Mills Skating Oval, which is open to the public Jan. 16 to March 31. The oval will operate within mall hours and will feature firepits, events hosted by mall retailers, like Murale by Shoppers Drug Mart, and even Friday night skates hosted by an emcee (1090 Don Mills Rd.).

F45, the Australia-based fitness studio that’s used by Hugh Jackman to get into Wolverine shape has opened a location in Empress Walk. It uses high-intensity interval training with a series of 45-second workouts, followed by 15-second rest periods, for 45 minutes. It’s done in a group setting for those looking for a social atmosphere while they get in shape (5095 Yonge St., 416-742-7771).

Alobar is a must-visit — but good luck getting a table

Andrew Mannsbach

10:00 am

Do I seem like a whiner to you? A passive sort of person, who lets life pass her by or allows people — both personal and professional — to ignore her? Really? Guess again. If anything, my personal growth goals would have more to do with becoming less of a control freak.

So when I complain about how hard it is to score a hot table in Toronto, bear my machismo in mind. I am no shrinking violet. And yet I am struggling terribly with the Toronto restaurant reservation madness.

It’s been that way in New York for decades. Maybe they just have more practice. It’s frustrating there, but at least it’s pretty easy when you know the ground rules. For example, my favourite NYC resto, Esca (Italian seafood), says this on their Reservations page: “Reservations are accepted up to one month in advance to the numerical date.” Fair enough. I don’t like it, but I can work with it.

Try getting a table at Alobar Yorkville, the Alo people’s third resto. I spent a month trying to get a res, and finally copped one for a Tuesday at 5:45 p.m. Nothing later available, and no mention on the site of when they release a new batch. But they did say on the site that they hold a few tables for walk-ins. So we walked in at 5:50. Now here’s the part they don’t tell you. When we walked in, they said it’d be about an hour to get a table, and they’d text us when it came up. That worked. Woulda been nice to know up front.

It’s a smooth glam room down a little Yorkville lane, all clean lines and shades of brown and black, with undulating neon light fixtures in amber, and clever bevelled wood-grain tables. The ceiling is low and most surfaces hard, so expect noise. That is, if you score a table.

Nova Scotia lobster with ginger and coriander

Like chef Patrick Kriss’s masterwork, Alo, and his informal little opus Aloette, Alobar is a triumph of gastronomy. It’s obviously less formal than the prix fixe Alo, and more so than the burger ’n’ frites Aloette. Alobar’s lineage traces right back to Roger Vergé and Georges Blanc, two of the great Michelin three-star chefs of France. This thanks to Patrick Kriss’s three years as chef de partie at Daniel, chef Daniel Boulud’s flagship in New York. And who trained Boulud? Vergé and Blanc.

I’ve eaten both Vergé’s and Blanc’s food: Sublime. To weep for. Butter? Truckloads!

So we know where Kriss gets it. And we love it. His shrimp and grits is a magnificent throwback to Acadia, where he cooked the food of the low country. Cheddar melting with buttery silken grits and lightly charred shrimp: Heaven! His raw sea bream is melt-in-the-mouth, its sweetness cut by yuzu and tempura. This is almost as good as the (much more expensive) sea bass crudo at Buca Yorkville. Smearing whipped roasted garlic butter on warm Parker House dinner rolls goes with the sea bream like a Maserati goes with a pair of Manolos.

They make clever reference to the duck a l’orange of yesteryear: Red juicy duck breast scattered with little cubes of foie gras, tart orange segments and two sauces — brown with a hint of star anise and pale orange-inflected beurre blanc. Similarly elaborate and buttery are big fat scallops with chanterelles and saffron-scented beurre blanc. Vive la France!

The Mille feuille raspberry chantilly

Small dessert menu, one standout: Mille feuille raspberry chantilly. Dinner composed of the raw sea bream and this extravaganza would be as good as it gets. Constructed at the last minute to prevent sogginess, it is super-crisp puff pastry layered with pretty-as-a-picture fluted balls of whipped cream and raspberry-flavoured whipped cream with a layer of just-melting unsweetened frozen raspberries for cool tang.

Alobar: Go!

Alobar, 162 Cumberland St., 416-961-1222

The modern librarian is equal parts caregiver, local hero and geek squad member

Andrew Mannsbach

2:56 pm

The library, more than ever, is a true community centre for all Torontonians, from families to those dealing with homelessness. The Toronto Public Library (TPL) has responded to this need and opportunity with a diverse set of innovative programs.

This year, the TPL hired its first full-time social worker, in response to the increase in the number of homeless people using libraries, as a warm space with Internet and community.

The library’s decision to bring in a social worker demonstrates its commitment to being not only a place to get and consume media, but to support and serve all Torontonians.

In response to the rising demand for technological programs are the digital innovation hubs, located at eight library branches, including the Toronto Reference Library and the newly renovated North York Central Library.

“The innovation hubs are amazing spaces for any project you need, ranging from something fun to your business,” says Fiona O’Connor, a senior services specialist, innovation, who previously managed a branch with a digital innovation hub.

“They offer people the space and opportunity to use these tools without incurring the costs.”

Fiona noted that the TPL’s goal is to introduce people to these tools and get them started. Then, it’s up to the patron to take the spark and run with it.

I asked her about the most enthusiastic users of the innovation hubs, and the answer surprised me. “Seniors!” she says.

“[Seniors are] interested in everything. They have the time, and they’re not fearful.”

“They’re interested in everything. They have the time, and they’re not fearful.”

She recounted a story of an older gentleman who had a window blind with a broken part.

When he contacted the company, he was told that they don’t make those parts anymore, and that he would have to buy a whole new set of blinds. Instead, he came to the library, learned coding design, and created a new part with the library’s 3D printers.

Another set of seniors would film themselves doing standup on the hub’s green screen, with the ringleader declaring that they would put the videos up on their blog.

Many of the core and flagship library programs, like the popular mini makers program, a low-tech STEM program for children four to eight years and their caregivers, are evidence-based programming choices based on extensive research by the TPL.

Other branch-specific offerings are based on listening to the community and getting their input on what kind of programs they would like. Some are just the sheer ingenuity of the librarians themselves.

On a Friday afternoon at the Bloor Gladstone library, I watched a bingo session led by children’s librarian Lynn McDonald.

She had a warm friendly voice that was able to carry above the din of excited kids and their parents, the kids largely unaware that they were improving their numerical literacy while having fun.

They echoed the numbers in high pitched voices, followed by triumphant declarations: “Yes, I have it, I do, I really do!” exclaimed a young child, no older than six. “We both have it mummy,” they added, spotting the number on their mother’s card. Their mother smiled.

I myself am a lifelong learner, and the library has a wealth of offerings to meet that need. I decided to take in some of the library’s new programs to test them out.

LEARN HOW TO MAKE MUSIC
I made my way to the Toronto Reference Library, home of one of the TPL’s five audio/video studios. The studio spaces provide all you need to do a number of tasks, from filming a movie or short film in front of a green screen, to creating your own podcast. Here, I took a class on using Ableton Live, a music-making software program that I own but have yet to master. I left with more knowledge than I had going in and excitement to put into practice.

MAKE CLOTHING
Although I know how to darn a sock, the last time I touched a sewing machine was in junior high. I looked at my pile of clothing that needed repairs and also found out about the library’s fabrication studio, which has machines for sewing, surging and machine embroidery and holds introductory classes in these techniques.

Each of these studios and spaces has a digital technician who is well versed in the subject matter — the fabrication studio classes are led by a tech with a background in fashion design, his particular strength. I resolved to sign up for the next available class on EventBrite, but it fills up fast.

3D PRINTING
I hopped on a subway up to the North York branch on a Wednesday afternoon to take one of the library’s core tech classes, introduction to 3D printing. Andrew, a digital design technician, led us through the basics of design in Tinkercad, constructing a rudimentary doghouse and showing us how to access the thousands of free available designs that we can modify and print. Once we have our final model, printers can be reserved for two hours a day, up to three days in advance.

DIAL-A-STORY
At night, in need of a calm voice at the end of the day, I called Dial-A-Story, a dial in service that allows you to get a story read to you, in one of 16 languages. Around since 1989, it’s had a bit of resurgence since being featured in the TPL’s social media. I got “Snow White” on my first listen — it’s been a long time since I heard the original tale!

In the next few months, I’ll be signing up for an adult robotics class, fixing a skirt at the fabrication studio, going to drag queen story time and 3D printing a cookie cutter shaped like the Starship Enterprise.

I’m hoping that the library will run another session of the two-part series called Learn to DJ.

I urge you to check out the library’s offerings. You’ll learn, meet new people, and become part of a warm and welcoming community.

Dr. Jess on Sex: The connection between tidying up and turn-ons

Andrew Mannsbach

12:32 pm

Doing the dishes can lead to more sex.

“If he makes dinner, cleans up or helps with laundry, I’m more likely to be in the mood,” explains Wanless Park resident Sheree, who has been married 12 years.

“It’s not that I’m turned on when he does chores, but when he pulls his weight, I’m not as exhausted and I like him more. I work long hours too, and when we first had kids, I felt pressure to do everything around the house because that’s what my mom did when we were growing up. But she didn’t work outside the home, and I ended up worn out and resentful.”

Sheree confirms what the research says: how you divide chores can affect the outcome of your relationship.

A study from the University of Western Ontario suggests that couples who share responsibility for paid and unpaid work report higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction. And couples who share chores have 20 per cent more sex than those who divide tasks unevenly.

This may be owing to the fact that they have more energy and less conflict and are therefore more open to sex including “maintenance sex” — the type of sex you have when you’re busy and perhaps not spontaneously in the mood but want to stay connected and reap the benefits of intimacy, stress relief and pleasure.

Resentment reduces the likelihood of sex but may play a more significant role in stymying maintenance sex since it often requires that you work together to get in the mood.

Gender certainly plays a role in expectations of both household labour and sexual relationships, and although our attitudes have shifted significantly, in heterosexual relationships, women still perform a disproportionate share of household and family chores even when they work longer hours and earn more money.

This uneven division of labour may put your marriage at risk, as conflict and resentment increase, along with the risk of divorce.

One representative study reports that 30 per cent of divorcees cite “disagreements about housework” as the number one reason for splitting up — almost as common as infidelity and drifting apart.

Conflict related to housework, however, is manageable if you’re both open to making adjustments and willing to acknowledge that your perception of how much you do may not be accurate.

You can set yourself on the right path by making a list of tasks (from cleaning and picking up the kids to helping with parents and buying groceries) with estimates of how long each one takes to complete.

You may opt to divide the list into daily, weekly and monthly undertakings and rank them in order of personal preference. Apps like Chore Pad and Trello can also help — the former offers a “parent mode,” which is helpful if you’re getting the kids involved in sharing tasks.

Share and review your lists and see if you can trade, rearrange, take turns or reassign chores so that you both perceive your responsibilities as fair.

You’ll likely want to consider how much time you each have for the “second shift” after work and rid yourselves of the notion that your partner should be expected to perform a task simply because they’re better at it. Anyone can learn to dust, cook or fold laundry — if you can hold down a full-time job, run a company and/or raise a child, you can plan and make meals without your partner’s coaching.

Dividing tasks via a list or app does not amount to keeping score, but instead can make you more aware of discrepancies so that you can adjust your behaviour to be a better partner. This isn’t a one-time conversation, as the list of tasks will change over time and you’ll need to make adjustments.

Once you have your list of chores, you may also want to consider outsourcing some of the lower ranked and/or time consuming tasks if you have the resources to do so.

Research suggests that you may be able to buy marital bliss, as couples who spend money on time-saving purchases (e.g., hiring a cleaner or having groceries delivered) report higher relationship satisfaction: they have more time to spend together, less conflict and lower stress levels.

Check out Toronto-based app, Adam Helps, which allows you to hire local community members to help with all sorts of chores from pet walking to painting.

Finally, if you find your household conflicts are related to clutter or cleanliness, you may want to consider the Marie Kondo approach and purge those items that don’t bring you joy. Paring down may be just what you need to reduce clutter in the home and spark more joy in your partner.

Cardinal’s Jessica Rose on acting’s ups and downs

Broadstreet Support

5:03 pm

Jessica Rose — actor, producer and now Margaret Murphy on the TV show Cardinal — is one of the lucky ones who became exactly what she wanted to be as a kid.

“I knew from a really young age. I was that girl getting up in front of her family with a toy microphone trying to entertain them for hours,” Rose says. “My mother was a little bit resistant. She put me in drama camp and some acting courses for kids, but I think she was worried about pushing me into it when I wasn’t ready.”

But when her Grade 3 teacher recommended that she audition for Claude Watson School for the Arts, Rose says her path became very clear.

For starters, she did audition for a spot in the arts school, and she was accepted.

“Acting was just everything to me,” Rose says. She went to Earl Haig Secondary School as a drama major and then received a bachelor of fine arts in acting from the University of Windsor.

Rose says it was after she graduated that she realized the impact of attending art school.

“Being a kid in an arts school surrounded by lots of young actors who were hitting success really, really early didn’t totally emotionally prepare me for what the real-world experience would be like,” she says.

“I was that girl getting up in front of her family with a toy microphone.”

Rose says she gained some real-life experience and had to overcome a lot of fear in her first few years out of school.

“I used to be so afraid of going to auditions just because the thought of the rejection was really intense for me. Becoming willing to be seen and put myself out there and fall on my face was a huge thing that I had to come to in my own growth.”

Rose started making her own work, which she says was instrumental in getting her more roles and making her more visible in the industry. She wrote, produced, edited and starred in a short film called Alison, which was selected as a Vimeo staff pick.

Rose also landed a role on the Canadian TV series Cardinal.

“That was a really special part for me and a really special time in my life, and it was really the point where I started to feel like I had a career,” she says.

Rose says she’s had moments where she has questioned her choice to pursue this career, but she also knows that she wouldn’t be this happy doing anything else.

“I think that we pick the thing that we want badly enough in order to learn all the lessons that we have to learn in our lives because otherwise we would never see the journey through,” Rose says.

Although she hopes to continue acting, she also is looking forward to doing more producing, directing and writing her own material.

“I really recommend all actors sit in the editing room or learn how to edit because that definitely gave me an eye for what works and what were the most effective takes.”

The season three premiere of Cardinal airs Jan. 24.

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