If you were walking the streets of Toronto this Friday, you might have come across a strange sight: a dinosaur fleeing his shift at a Subway restaurant, and igniting sports fans everywhere.
The Raptors made their triumphant return to Toronto for their official home opener this week, and to celebrate the occasion, a Subway Sandwich Artist turned rogue Raptors superfan was leaning in hard on his love for the Raptors to bring big game-day energy to the streets.
The Dino character was seen leaving his shift from a nearby Subway restaurant on the day of the home opener. He brought the vibes to Jurassic Park and Union Station, hyping up Toronto sports fans and surprising them with gift cards.
That’s not all — inside Scotiabank Arena, the Dino snagged a seat to watch the tip-off and see the Toronto Raptors face off against the Milwaukee Bucks.
As a long-standing partner with NBA Canada and the Toronto Raptors, Subway Canada is once again — with the help of the superfan Dino — fueling the passion and energy of the sport across the country.
The Subway Sandwich Artist-turned-rex transformed from edible engineer to a dino-mite hype machine dedicated to bringing Canadian basketball lovers even closer to the court. With the help of the Dino, Toronto fans are fired up for a full season of rooting for the Raptors!
A celebration of all things Toronto, hoops, and Raptors, this latest moment makes one thing clear: Subway Canada is the number one place to be for basketball fans across Canada, whether it’s for a courtside snack, watching the game during a night in or fueling up for a night of cheering on the Raps from Jurassic Park.
With Halloween fast approaching, it’s time to soak in all the magical and haunted things you can before the season is over! For your goblin- and ghost- loving kids, here are 9 bewitching and spine-tingling Halloween things to do in Toronto.
For the nature-lovers at home, on Oct. 25, High Park’s Not So Spooky Nature Walk will take you through the woods to learn all about the animals that go bump in the night. 440 Parkside Dr.
The historic Markham Museum is getting a ghostly transformation from Oct. 25–26! At Scaryfest, walk the plank at pirate paradise, witness a mad scientist show, find out your fortune in a crystal ball and enjoy the monster mash bash! 9350 Markham Rd., Markham
Head to Sherway Gardens until Nov. 1 for Halloween Nights of Lights, an immersive light show featuring Mini Milo, a new 22-foot-tall light-up jack-o’-lantern. Then stop by the Pumpkinville fall fair (home to 15,000 pumpkins).
On Oct. 25, Toronto Public Library is hosting a legendary Halloween magic show with The Amazing Magic Mel! Come in costume and prepare for an interactive (and comedic!) spectacular. 1806 Islington Ave.
There’s a Halloween party on Oct. 25 — but it’s just for dogs! At Howl’oween, enter your pet in a costume contest (with some four-legged celebrity judges), enjoy the costumed pup parade take them trick-or-treating (emphasis on treat) and, of course, snap a pic together at the pet photo booth. Don’t forget the themed music, photo station, cozy drinks and plenty of local vendors to make it a party for the humans too!
An immersive storytelling boat cruise that takes you through the Toronto Islands, past the Gibraltar Point lighthouse and through the city’s creepiest buildings, Haunted Harbour will tell you spooky stories of phantom ghost ships, lost lighthouse keepers and more! 1 Queens Quay E. @ TDot Water Taxi
Prepare yourself for some hair-raising happenings at the Village this Halloween. Take part in ghastly activities and enjoy a spooky spectacle on Oct. 25 and 26, such as the Slimy Science Show – using gooey concoctions to try to bring a pumpkin to life – and learning the wicked skills of witchcraft and wizardry, including the recipe for concocting a powerful witches’ brew.
Animal lovers rejoice at the return of Boo at the Zoo — perfect for kids who like their Halloween magic with a side of furry creatures, from wolves to werewolves. The Toronto Zoo is hosting the event from Oct. 18–19 and Oct. 25-26, which features a pumpkin patch, a limited time virtual reality experience featuring a spooky fun fair, a visit from special superhero guests, and the opportunity to adopt an arctic wolf! And the best part — kids in costume get 50 per cent off.
On Oct. 26, Dogsview Park will transform into Howl-O-Ween Unleashed: a fun-filled vendor market where your pup can unleash the inner beast (or pumpkin). Show off your pet’s costume, shop the market by Toronto Dog Moms and snag some treats!
If you love a good brunch, as well as supporting life-changing medical research, you’ll want to check out this ultimate brunch fundraiser coming to Toronto next month. Porridge for Parkinson’s Toronto returns on Sun, Nov 9, 2025, at 11 am at the Evergreen Brick Works, with local chefs and businesses serving up a brunch-forward feast.
The event was founded in Vancouver in 2001 by the late Marg Meikle, a CBC radio host who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at 43. Since her symptoms were least active in the morning, she started a low-key breakfast at her home to raise money for Parkinson’s research. The Toronto brunch launched in 2007 and has run every two years since, now surpassing $2.2 million raised for research!
This year’s program features an elegant brunch party, a silent auction, and special guest speakers, including boxing coaches Martin Szajer and Chris Cook. There will also be live music: the popular jazz quintet Fifth Element Jazz returns, with the event hosted by fashion icon Jeanne Beker.
For the brunch portion of the event, look out for familiar culinary names cooking behind the scenes. Founding chefs Jamie Kennedy and Joanne Yolles remain closely tied to the event, and despite the event’s name, chefs will serve far more than porridge.
Primrose Bagel owner Sam Davis called Porridge for Parkinson’s “one of the most special events in Toronto,” recently teasing an open-faced lox-and-cream-cheese bagel with capers, red onion, olive oil, dill and salt and pepper for this year’s spread.
Other amazing chefs and businesses taking part include Romi’s, Walt Hospitality, Chef Anthony Rose, and Nut Bar.
Proceeds will support world-class Parkinson’s research at the Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson’s Disease, based at the Krembil Brain Institute, Toronto Western Hospital (UHN). Funds will go toward UHN’s movement disorders training and research. This is especially important, as the centre is one of the largest in North America, serving over 10,000 patients each year (and is recognized as a Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence).
Porridge for Parkinson’s Toronto takes place Sun, Nov 9, 2025, 11 am, at Evergreen Brick Works, 550 Bayview Ave. Tickets are priced at $200. Follow @porridgeforparkinsons for updates.
For the first time in over three decades, the Toronto Blue Jays are heading to the World Series! The Jays will face the LA Dodgers in a best-of-seven showdown beginning this Fri, Oct 24, at Rogers Centre. If you didn’t snag tickets, there are a few big screens to catch the series across the city.
The Sportsnet Grill and private Legends Lounge serve elevated gastropub fare with wall-to-wall windows and unobstructed field views! It’s the closest thing to sitting in the dugout (but with a cocktail in hand), and you can actually hear the live game from the stadium in the restaurant. You don’t need a ticket (just the viewing fee and the minimum food & beverage spend). All window tables at Sportsnet Grill are sold out for Games 1 and 2, so consider them for any later home games (if the series returns to Toronto, Games 6 and 7 take place Oct 31-Nov 1). Just keep in mind that there are charges for a window table during the World Series games: viewing fee = $250 per person (all ages) + minimum food & beverage spend = $50 per person (all ages). You can also reserve a window table to watch batting practice (for the World Series games, there’s a $10 viewing fee).
Look out for Game Day Deals, like all-you-can-eat wings ($29.99) served with fries and your choice of sauce and local draft beer, 20 oz ($8). When the Jays are away, deals are also available during Leafs, Raptors and NFL games. 1 Blue Jays Way, Rogers Centre.
This is the go-to bar for Toronto sports, and it’s just a few minutes away from Rogers Centre! Expect classic comfort foods prepped with seasonal ingredients and a cinema-style 39-foot HD screen with wall-to-wall sightlines (perfect for watching the first pitch). The 100-foot bar and elevated food will make you feel like you’re actually at the game. The World Series games are on its live events slate this weekend, so head over early. 15 York St.
The Roundhouse has transformed into a Jays hub with tailgates before home games and indoor watch-party zones, aka, The Bird’s Nest. It’s the perfect spot if you want crowd energy without heading into the stadium! Tailgates start three hours before the first pitch. Expect a full bar and food menu, including ballpark staples like hot dogs, burgers, chips, peanuts, as well as vegan options. Enjoy $5 first-inning pints during the first inning of all Jays home games! The tailgate schedule for the World Series will drop soon, so follow them on Instagram for updates. Roundhouse, 255 Bremner Blvd.
Head to Front & University to enjoy the World Series at this 2nd-floor bar! The Loose Moose has 50+ taps and wall-to-wall TVs, plus tasty ballpark-style bites like burgers and snacks. Expect a slew of World Series traffic (they’ve paused reservations during games, so it’s first-come, first-served). Great spot if you’re looking for a lively room within 10 minutes of the ballpark. 146 Front St W.
Left Field Brewery (Liberty Village)
Toronto’s baseball-themed craft brewery is rolling out a VIP Game Experience for the World Series at its Liberty Village location. Sip on IPAs like Eephus and enjoy the game in a nice space with huge screens and a room full of diehard fans! Pitchers of ice-cold beer start at $24. Reservations for Games 1 and 2 are fully booked (but contact them to be placed on a waitlist). Reservations are still available for Oct 31 and Nov 1 (potentially Games 6 and 7), so book ahead. 40 Hanna Ave, Suite G1.
The Pint is in a central spot and built for game nights! Reservations are full for the World Series opening games on Friday and Saturday, but they set aside plenty of space for walk-ins (if you’re aiming for a seat before first pitch, arrive well before 8 pm!) On Fridays, you can also indulge in $14 pizzas + 50% off bottles of wine. 277 Front St W.
This baseball-savvy sports bar is far enough from the downtown core to avoid crowds but a perfect spot to cheer on the Jays (it opens early for big games!) Pair your outing with some solid pub food: try their beef empanadas, 5-oz burgers or cheese & beef sliders and down your meal with an Irish mule. 1280 Dundas St W.
As the Toronto Blue Jays face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series, fans will be able to watch the game at Rogers Centre to cheer on the team during Games 3 and 4 in Los Angeles on Monday, Oct. 27 and Tuesday, Oct. 28.
Fans can catch the Sportsnet broadcast live on the stadium’s videoboard, with the full ballpark atmosphere — free popcorn, concessions, fanfare, and access to the Jays Shop. Tickets go on sale Friday, Oct. 24 at 10 a.m. for $15 at bluejays.com/watchparties, with proceeds supporting Jays Care Foundation. Gates open at 7 p.m., and first pitch is at 8 p.m.
Rogers customers can also win free entry through the Rogers Beyond the Seat program, which offers preferred seating and food vouchers to 1,000 fans.
In addition, the company that owns the team will give away 500 free tickets to each World Series home game, starting Friday during Game One. Ten extra pairs will also be given away on the Rogers Instagram account.
From period pieces to pop culture replicas and more — Toronto has a massive selection of frightfully cool Halloween costumes that will have you celebrating this spooky season in style. Here are six of the best Halloween costume stores in Toronto. Remember to get those costumes sorted out right away to avoid the letdown that comes with being a ghost in a sheet one more time.
This is T.O.’s top shop for Halloween garb. It boasts costumes for kids, adults, plus sizes and couples, as well as amazing decorations and animatronics for a spooky home. Hot new arrivals include costumes from Wicked and Fantastic Four.
This midtown shop offers period pieces, horror, occupation, plus-size options, couples’ outfits and humorous attire (i.e., stand out in an “upside down dude” costume complete with a dangling head or turn heads in a dinosaur inflatable suit).
You don’t have to drop a ton of cash to get dressed up for Halloween — thrift stores are perfect options to put together DIY outfits. Value Village offers brand new and gently-loved Halloween costumes, as well as a treasure trove of wigs, makeup and accessories.
This appointment-only costume rental shop does a lot of business with the movie and film industry in Toronto, but this time of year it also rents out an awesome selection of one-of-a-kind costumes to discerning Halloween enthusiasts. Here, the early trick-or-treater gets the best costume, so don’t delay.
This family-run business boasts a wide variety of masks, masquerade items, and wigs (they also have amazing cosplay selections). Packed from wall to wall with all the accessories and unique finds you need to create a killer costume for Halloween night.
That spooky feeling when… you realize there are only 95 days until Halloween and you have no idea what your costume should be. ? ? pic.twitter.com/7vSIxXn31a
They offer a huge selection of styles, characters, and accessories for you to nail your next Halloween look. Trending looks include superheroes (hello, Deadpool), Disney characters and all the most gory, blood-stained costumes of your nightmares. They also offer an array of plus-sized costumes.
For the first time in over three decades, the Toronto Blue Jays are back in the World Series, and Rogers Centre is ready to feed the entire bandwagon with everything from loaded hot dogs to Oreo-flavoured mini pancakes. So, if you’ve scored tickets (lucky you), here’s a guide for eating your way through the ballpark. Bonus: Check out the MLB’s Food Finder for the exact concession locations.
At Friday’s game, you’ll definitely want to munch on some fries. Fry Days with McCain is back for City Connect Fridays, with a new loaded-fries recipe for every Friday home game. You’ll even be able to take home a souvenir as the fries are served in a reusable Blue Jays vessel and themed to different Toronto neighbourhoods!
@mccainglobal/Instagram
If you prefer your fries on the sweeter side, then try cotton candy fries. Yup, it’s exactly what it sounds like: salty fries topped with a cloud of cotton candy! For more stunt-worthy snacks, head to TD Park Social to indulge in mini pancakes, available in Oreo and blueberry flavours, as well as Crush and Dr. Pepper Floats.
For a one-hand food + drink combo, try the Grub Tub! It stacks a snack on top of your drink so, you know, you can still try for a foul ball. Grub Tub offerings include Janes chicken tenders with fries or brisket sliders with kettle chips.
As it’s a Jays game, one of your main food staples should be a footlong hot dog. Specialty dogs are a whole thing this season: Both the Mojo Hot Dog (think mojo pork, cilantro crema and pineapple pico) and the Crunchy Pickle Hot Dog (pretzel pieces, ballpark mustard and shoestring pickles) are available at Schneider’s Porch and TD Park Social. The fan-fave Hot Maple & Bacon Hot Dog is also back this year at The Stop, WestJet Flight Deck and TD Park Social.
Korean rice dogs have returned this season at Chungchun (Section 110). Try the Gamsung (potato), mozzarella and chicken dogs.
If you’re looking for an actual meal, aim for skewers, baos and bowls! The Plakata Skewer (chicken with sazon, ancho chipotle aioli and pico de gallo) and Jerk Chicken Skewer (with pineapple pico) are available on the Corona Rooftop Patio. The Stop offers mix-and-match bao or rice bowls with crispy pork belly, lemongrass chicken, soy-marinated beef and smoked tempeh.
For wings, dumplings, and burgers, head to the concession stands and munch on Korean fried chicken wings (available in sweet and spicy or soy garlic sauce), chicken gyozas, Smash Hit Burgers (as well as their vegan counterparts) and crispy chicken mash bowls.
For the classics: Mary Brown’s Chicken (sections 140 and 511) is back this season with the Big Mary and tenders-and-taters. Pizza Nova is the exclusive stadium slice (you’ll spot multiple kiosks around the stadium) and Planters Peanuts is the Jays’ official peanut partner for 2025, so you’ll see them stocked at all concessions!
Complement your meal with the ultimate dessert: a giant ice-cream sundae laden with sprinkles in a reusable souvenir helmet!
Of course, you’ll have to wash down all that food with a few drinks. To keep your head in the game, there are some good non-alcoholic options, like the Low & Away Mocktail (a sweet take on a strawberry and dragon fruit lemonade), sparkling water (including flavours like Clearly Sparkling and Mountain Black Cherry), Atypique ready-to-drink mocktails (try two classic options: Sangria and Mojito) and Corona Sunbrew 0.0% available on the Corona Rooftop Patio.
Cocktails include Touch Em’ All Joe (Aperol spritz riff), Mango Spritz, Black & Blue Margarita (exclusive to The Catch Bar), Big Leagues Stone Fruit Bourbon and OK Blue Jays Rum Punch.
New on the field level is Club 328! This is a premium, members-only hangout with a BBQ-driven menu (think maple-glazed smoked pork ribs with cornbread and slaw, smoked brisket and Ontario chicken, jalapeno cheddar sausages and giant pretzels. This is an Insta flex, whether you’re going with a membership or an invite.
If you’re in a rush to get back to your seat, check out the Tap N’ Go automated market across from section 104. Just tap on entry, grab what you want and get auto-charged on exit (perfect to head to between innings).
The Blue Jays will play the Dodgers in the World Series home opener this Friday, Oct 24, at 8 pm. Click here for everything you need to know before the game.
The stage at Dina's Tavern. Photo courtesy Daniel Neuhaus
If you’ve missed the days when Toronto’s nightlife had a bit more grit, a bit more groove, and a whole lot more heart, Dina’s Tavern might be your new favourite spot. The newly opened live music bar at 486 Spadina Ave. occupies hallowed ground — once home to the legendary Silver Dollar Room, a cornerstone of Toronto’s rock and blues scene from 1958 to 2017.
Back then, the Silver Dollar Room sat beside the old Hotel Waverly and hosted generations of rockabilly, punk and indie artists. Its glowing neon sign became synonymous with late-night jams and underground culture. When the venue closed in 2017 and was demolished the following year, many thought its era had ended for good.
Now, that legacy has found a new life.
From the team behind Track & Field, Bangarang and Hail Mary, Dina’s Tavern reimagines the spirit of the Silver Dollar for a new generation. For owner Nickie Minshall, it’s a full-circle moment. “I sang in a rock band for years and our Silver Dollar Room shows are some of my favourite memories,” she says. “The opportunity to bring live music back to 486 Spadina was too exciting to pass up.”
Minshall first broke into Toronto’s nightlife scene “on a wing and a prayer” when she opened Track & Field. “It seems totally insane now, looking back,” she laughs. A few years later she teamed up with Jesse Borg and Tasha Potter, and together the trio opened Bangarang and then Hail Mary. Dina’s is their latest collaboration.
The name itself was born on a patio over drinks. “At some point, I said the name ‘Dina’s,’ and then Jesse said ‘Dina’s Tavern,’ and then Tasha said ‘and what if Dina was a rat smoking a cigarette?’ — and it just stuck!” Minshall says. Today, that rat — complete with sunglasses and attitude — serves as the bar’s unofficial mascot, scrawled across the website in jazzy orange and black doodles that say, “Sup, check out my tavern!”
The Dina’s Tavern logo. Photo courtesy Daniel Neuhaus
Walking into Dina’s feels like stepping into a 1970s fever dream. “We were going for a warm, ’70s dive bar kind of feel— a little cluttered, a little mismatched, toeing the line between a feminine ’70s bombshell and the gritty edge of the space’s rock ’n’ roll roots,” Minshall explains.
The look was realized by designer Bree from Darling, a Toronto-based design company, whose very first renderings “needed almost no edits.”
The back bar — built by Garland Millwork — is a standout feature, stacked with tchotchkes from the team’s personal collections: a vintage Ouija board, VHS box sets of Rocky and Indiana Jones, a Phantom of the Opera novel, and even a photo of Rod Stewart cuddling a golden retriever. “It was the most fun part of the whole build,” Minshall says. “There are also lots of references to rats throughout the space — rat stickers, rat paintings, rat figurines — we call it the rat bar, for better or for worse.”
The bar at Dina’s Tavern. Photo courtesy Daniel Neuhaus
True to its roots, Dina’s is bringing live music back to Spadina Avenue. “Dina’s 165-person capacity keeps it flexible,” Minshall says. “Larger acts can create an intimate experience, and newer acts can develop and hone their craft with a low barrier to entry.”
Expect groovy weekend bands with DJs to follow and mid-week sets that swing from jazz trios to folk singers to psych rock.
Music booker Nick McKinlay, who has been performing in Toronto for 17 years (including in this very room), sums up their mission: “Toronto is sorely lacking smaller-capacity venues — places where musicians, both new and seasoned, can develop and work. The goal at Dina’s is to provide a low-barrier live-music experience for audiences and artists alike. Keep the town vibrant and keep the town rockin’, y’know?”
The cocktail list plays with nostalgia. Monday’s Jazz Rat Nights feature live jazz and $10 martinis, while Thursday’s $5 Dina’s Golden Ale keeps things casual. Highlights include the Tomato Martini — a black-peppercorn-gin, tomato-water, basil-oil twist on a classic — and the Strawberry & Coconut Daiquiri, already a fan favourite.
“The idea was to have something for everyone — you can order a nice martini, a cheap pitcher of beer, or one of Dina’s Classics like the Diner Coffee Negroni or the Dive Bar Whisky Sour,” Minshall says. “We were worried everyone would be too afraid to order the Tomato Martini, but people are loving it so far!”
For longtime Torontonians, Dina’s Tavern occupies sacred ground — home to decades of legendary Silver Dollar shows. Minshall and her team are mindful of that history. “There are aspects of the space people will recognize — the layout, the bar, the stage, the murals,” she says. “We also have plans to maintain a weekly bluegrass show, like the Dollar had for decades. That said, the intention with Dina’s isn’t to replicate or replace the Historic Silver Dollar. We’re just happy to turn the space back into a place where you can hear some good music, have a good time. Feels like a victory.”
Whether you’re here for a jazz night martini, a sweaty weekend set, or just to spot another hidden rat figurine, Dina’s is sure to be a new staple in Toronto’s live music scene.
Toronto’s pop-up scene and food events are in full peak mode this fall! From secret alleyway bakeries selling small batches to cocktail crawls and chocolate-flavoured challenges, we’ve rounded up seven fresh arrivals that are worth a detour.
Head to this micro-bakery’s pop-up for delicious croissants, pain suisse, chocolatine and custardy flans, all baked in small batches. Expect more unique items and products you can’t find at a farmers market, like Poached Pear Osmanthus Danishes and Black Garlic Miso Cronuts! Pastries will likely sell out fast, so pre-order your items to avoid disappointment. Takes place Sun, Oct 26, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. or until sold out. Location: 904 Dundas St W (backdoor). If pre-ordering, orders must be picked up before 2 p.m.
From now until Nov 2, indulge in limited-time beefy creations and signature burger faves from select restaurants and vendors at The Well (perfect for sharing flights of sliders with friends between market laps)! At Aera, indulge in a dry-aged beef burger topped with cheddar, tomato, pickles and caramelized onion, or try L’Avenue’s bold morning twist on a classic Manila Burger: a juicy longanisa patty topped with a fluffy French omelette, melted cheddar cheese, and a crunchy layer of smoky hickory sticks, all stacked on a soft St. Martin’s potato bun. With each purchase, $1 will be donated to Second Harvest, supporting the fight against food insecurity in Toronto. Click here for all participating restaurants.
This Fri, Oct 24, eat soft-baked, nostalgia-loaded cookies at Tiny’s General Store (80 Barton Ave) as part of a collab with Cold Milk Cookies. Cookie lovers will likely devour items from Cold Milk’s fall menu, like classic chocolate chunk, salted double chocolate and oatmeal salted toffee. Pair your cookie with a cold glass of milk, and you’re good to go! Cookies will be sold from 11 a.m. until sold out, so line up early if you want that still-warm, gooey experience.
Head to this part-brunch, part-day party at Soluna Toronto (314 Queen St W), which is generally considered one of the sexiest venues in the city! Expect an amazing meal followed by DJ-driven vibes laced with cool activations and Instagrammable moments. Of course, drinks will be flowing throughout the rosé-themed event. Ticket prices are tiered ($22.63+). Takes place Sun, Nov. 16. Brunch Seating: 12:30 p.m. | Day Party: 2 pm-8 pm.
Sip your way through Little Italy on this guided cocktail crawl! You’ll visit posh bars like Bar Pompette, Suite 115 and Lonely Diner while tasting inventive Bearface Whisky cocktails and curated bites at each stop. Expect bold spirits, distinctive atmospheres and a taste of one of Toronto’s most iconic neighbourhoods. It’s a perfect after-work plan. Thurs, Oct 23, 4:30 pm-7:30 pm. Tickets: $99.55/person. Meet at Bar Pompette (607 College St) at 4:30 pm.
What better way to end an evening than with pizza and wine? This monthly event allows you to immerse yourself in a 2-hour+ interactive seminar led by an expert sommelier, where you’ll gain valuable insights to elevate your wine game (everything from wine basics to in-depth knowledge of grape varietals, regions, and the winemaking process). Throughout the evening, you’ll enjoy four glasses of carefully selected wine to showcase the diversity of the grapes of the world. Bonus: Complimentary pizza and snacks will be provided! Ballyhoo Public House (526 Danforth Ave). Next event: Wed, Nov 5, 6 p.m.-8 p.m.
Chocolate Tasting Party: Not Your Grandma’s Sweets
Head to this no-snob chocolate tasting party in Liberty Village for bold flavours, sweet surprises and plenty of “you gotta try this” moments! It’s a 90-minute event, so it makes for a perfect solo outing, date, or night out with a group of friends. Your ticket includes four curated samples from a handcrafted chocolate bar lineup (no basic squares here, and it’s enough to leave most people seriously full). Tickets: $31.64+. QUEST XO Chocolate Lab, 25 Liberty St, Yellow Door on Atlantic. Fri, Nov 14, 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Doors at 6:30 pm.
Toronto Blue Jays fans have waited 32 years for this moment. For the first time since the early ’90s, the Blue Jays are headed to the World Series. During this historic playoff run, fans fell in love with so many aspects of the team. Individual players. The storylines. Great moments. But one quote has mobilised Blue Jays fans, and they’re immortalising it on a t-shirt.
During the Blue Jays’ run to the World Series, we’ve had countless exciting highlights. George Springer running back onto the field in just gym shorts after clinching a playoff spot. Ernie Clement and Nathan Lukes putting their bodies on the line to beat the New York Yankees. Circling back to Springer, who hit a home run to put the Blue Jays ahead in the bottom of the seventh in game 7 against the Seattle Mariners.
As the post season played out, Toronto fans stuck to a few quotes in support of the team. “Why not us?” was a prominent one on social media. So was, “Da Yankees Lose,” a playful joke former Boston Red Sox All-Star David Ortiz would spout following a New York Yankees loss. However, after winning game six, which forced a game seven in the American League Championship Series, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. told sports reporter Hazel Mae the following:
“You asked me if I’m ready. I’m born ready. And I want it all for this city,” said Guerrero Jr.
The “I was born ready,” aspect of this quote is what drew in so many Toronto sports fans. Because in reality, they were too. It’s been 32 years since the Blue Jays won the world series. The Maple Leafs have been in a championship drought since 1967. Since the 2000s, the only big three franchise to give Toronto fans anything to cheer about were the Raptors. And we had to sacrifice longstanding Toronto favourite Demar DeRozan in order to accomplish this feat.
Guerrero Jr. was speaking from the heart in this interview. And it resonated with so many locals. Competing with the soon to be released World Series cap, T-shirts with Vladdy’s quote have been flying off the shelves. Barstool Sports sells one, along with a company called Teeslocal. Even Fanatics has slapped the quote on a T-shirt below a photo of Vladdy on the field as a toddler, alongside his father. TeePublic is selling their own graphic design featuring the slogan.
If you’re looking to remember this historic moment with physical memorabilia, then an “I was born ready” shirt is your best bet. Toronto hasn’t been sport-radicalized like this since the Raptors went with “We The North” during the 2014 season. These shirts represent more than a playoff run. It shows the resilience of Toronto sports fans, and why we deserve this success.
It’s Blue Jays playoff season in Toronto, and for the first time in three decades, the Jays are heading to the World Series! After beating the Seattle Mariners 4–3, they’ll be facing off against the reigning champs, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Lucky for us, the start of the World Series will take place on home turf — tickets are steep, no surprise, but there are plenty of watch parties happening across the city to cheer on the Jays among fans. Ahead of the action, get to know a little bit more about the history behind everyone’s favourite baseball team.
The Toronto Blue Jays could have been the Hogtowners, Dingbats or Towers, but in 1976 a name-the-team contest was held and a board of 14 judges decided on “Blue Jays” as the name for Toronto’s MLB expansion team.
On the surface, the process looked like a perfectly Canadian way to name a team. Torontonians were invited to submit suggestions to the board, who would then make a decision. All told, over 30,000 entries flooded the mailbox of the team’s majority owners, Labatt Brewing Company.
Now it gets a little tricky: while some sources say that the board was made up mostly of local media members, others say that it was heavily infused with voices from Labatt, who wanted to tie the brand’s most popular beer, Labatt Blue, into the name.
An entirely separate story behind the name comes from the former Premier of Ontario, John Robarts, who sat on the panel that decided the name.
The story goes that Robarts saw a blue jay outside his window the morning of decision day, and put forth the idea upon arrival at the meeting.
On the Blue Jays’ official website, however, no mention is made of Labatt or Robarts, nor their potential influence over the name. It simply states that ‘Blue Jays’ was “selected by Directors.”
In reality, it looks like it was simply a win-win for both Labatt and the fans. Former Blue Jays PR chief Howard Starkman shed some light on the issue in 2014, saying to the National Post that “the board liked the name for a combination of reasons. It was a bird, like the Cardinals and Orioles, and it tied in with Labatt’s Blue too.”
At the time, the name didn’t sit well with at least one Pulitzer-winning sportswriter, Red Smith who ranted in the New York Times that “the Blue Jay is a raucous, obstreperous, thieving cannibal who robs the nest of smaller birds, eats the eggs, devours the young and then comes around bragging about it.”
Clearly, board chairman R. Howard Webster didn’t see it that way. “It is strong, aggressive and inquisitive,” said Webster. “It dares to take on all comers, yet it is down-to-earth, gutsy and good-looking.”
Regardless of its origin, the name has become synonymous with the team and the city.
At 1111 Queen Street East, the hum of nostalgia meets the thrill of the new. Fangio Trattoria, the latest addition to Leslieville’s dining scene, is both a love letter to the neighbourhood and a respectful nod to the space’s storied past.
“The concept is, an Italian restaurant, casual like a true trattoria is,” says owner Adam Dolley.“But our menu has hints of Argentinian flair, in respect to Fangio himself.” That namesake, Juan Manuel Fangio, was the legendary Argentinian Formula 1 driver — a fitting homage to Ascari, the beloved Italian spot that was home to this location before, itself named for another racing great.
“As a regular at Ascari, we went with the same idea and named it Fangio out of respect for what was previously here.” Though the name carries forward the racing spirit, Fangio Trattoria is fully Dolley’s vision. “I’ve been in the restaurant game for almost 30 years now,” he says. “I started when I was 12 years old, as a dishwasher working at a lion’s hall, where my grandpa was a member of the lion’s club.” From fine dining to food trucks, he’s done it all, before taking over this Queen East address.
Inside, the space has been subtly reimagined. “We did a minor renovation to it,” Dolley explains. One stand out new feature being the addition of the garage door. “It gives it that open feel. Here we want the customers to be part of the experience.” And experience it is. Walk past the open kitchen, glowing banquettes and intimate bar, and you’ll feel the 39-seat room come alive after dark. “It’s a small space, so it’s got this sexy, cool atmosphere to it in the evening. It’s hard to describe it — you almost have to see it to feel it.”
On the menu, Italian classics meet subtle Argentinian touches: handmade pasta, bistecca with chimichurri and the house favourite, the “Fangio-masu,” a playful fusion of tiramisu and an Argentinian cake. “It’s been selling well beyond what I ever thought it would do,” says Doley.
The kitchen is helmed by two co-chefs — one a returning Ascari veteran, the other a longtime colleague who worked for Dolley fifteen years prior — creating what he calls “yin and yang… you put two great chefs, each with their own vision, with me, being a chef by trade as the third, and you create magic.”
Fangio’s new cocktail program — a fresh addition to Ascari’s former wine-centric offerings — brings a lively finish to the experience, blending Italian elegance with playful modern twists. Among the standouts are the house-made Fangio Negroni, the “Toronto,” a bold mix of Red Bank Whiskey, Fernet, maple syrup and bitters, and the El Diablo, a nod to the bar’s spirited edge. As Leslieville locals fill the small space and chatter bounces off the open kitchen, Fangio Trattoria feels less like a replacement and more like a revival — a continuation of a story that’s still being written.
“We wanted to create a space that carries on what Ascari brought to this community,” Dolley says. “That local spot for the people of Leslieville that they loved forever — just give them that back but try to grow it as best we could.”
