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The Rise of E-Scooters on Toronto Sidewalks: Who is Liable?

By
Jarrod Daley
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scooter
Photo: chanakon laorob

See all posts by Diamond and Diamond Lawyers

Darryl Singer leads Diamond & Diamond’s Commercial and Civil Litigation Practice Group, bringing nearly 25 years of trial experience across personal injury, business disputes, employment law, and professional negligence matters.

E-scooters are popping up all over Toronto, on sidewalks, in bike lanes, weaving through the downtown core. They’re fun, they’re convenient, and they come with a whole set of legal questions that most riders and pedestrians haven’t thought about yet. And with warmer weather bringing even more scooters onto city streets, it’s worth understanding where you stand if something goes wrong.

You Can Buy One, But You Can’t Ride One

Here’s the thing most people don’t realize: the City of Toronto has officially opted out of Ontario’s provincial e-scooter pilot project. That means while you can walk into a store and purchase an e-scooter, riding one on any public road, sidewalk, bike lane, or park trail in the city is actually illegal.

So what happens when a rider on an e-scooter hits a pedestrian on a sidewalk? Because they weren’t supposed to be riding there in the first place, the rider starts off in a tough legal position. A court is going to take that illegal operation seriously when figuring out who was at fault. It’s one of the first things that will come up in any personal injury claim, and it puts the rider at a real disadvantage right out of the gate.

It’s Not Always Clear Who’s At Fault

Darryl Singer, Lawyer and Partner at Diamond and Diamond, shares, “these micro-mobility options are growing fast, and the legal landscape is trying to keep up.” Unlike a typical car accident, an e-scooter incident can involve a mix of municipal bylaws, provincial regulations, and private insurance. Sorting out who’s responsible takes some digging, and the answer isn’t always obvious.

  • The Rider: If they were speeding on a crowded sidewalk or ignoring traffic signals, they can be held liable for injuries caused to pedestrians.
  • The City: Poor road maintenance or lack of clear signage about where e-scooters are permitted can bring municipal liability into question.
  • The Rental Company: Mechanical failures or lack of proper maintenance on rental units can shift the focus to the companies providing the service.

In many cases, liability doesn’t fall squarely on just one party. “We’re seeing situations where multiple factors contribute to an accident, and that means multiple parties could share responsibility,” says Singer. That’s what makes these cases particularly tricky to navigate without legal guidance.

What To Do If You’ve Been Hurt

“It can be difficult, especially right after an accident, to understand your rights without feeling overwhelmed,” says Darryl Singer. Because e-scooters often fall into a grey area when it comes to insurance, victims can find themselves fighting for coverage that isn’t as clearly defined as a standard auto policy. Many people don’t realize that their own home or auto insurance may or may not cover an e-scooter related injury, which only adds to the confusion.

The bottom line is that e-scooter laws and insurance rules in Toronto are a patchwork right now. If you’ve been injured, a pedestrian accident lawyer can help you understand how strong your claim is and fight to get you compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

If you or a loved one has been involved in an e-scooter incident, contact Diamond and Diamond at 1-800-567-HURT for a free, no-obligation consultation.

About Jeremy Diamond

Jeremy Diamond is a lawyer and member of both Ontario and Florida Bars. Jeremy practices in the area of Plaintiff personal injury litigation. Click here to learn more about Jeremy Diamond.

8 of the best new restaurants to check out in Toronto this week

By
Nisean Lorde
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SnapInsta Ai 3847159869237886810

Looking for the best new restaurants in Toronto this week? The city’s dining scene keeps growing, and this week there are eight spots worth checking out. From an Indian Hakka newcomer in the Village to a covert Leslieville pie shop serving proper London-style comfort food, there are plenty of excuses to eat your way across the city! Here are the best new restaurants to check out in Toronto this week.

1. HES Lounge

What could be better than dining on Persian food by the waterfront? HES Lounge took over the former Blonboom Bar & Restaurant space on Queens Quay, and serves Iranian comfort food (think fragrant rice dishes, rich herb-forward stews, smoky eggplant and grilled meats) as well as generic burgers and pasta. Start with the mirza ghasemi, then go for either the cholo ghormesabzi or cholo gheyme for a rich stew-and-rice plate. If you’re in a celebratory mood, the lobio polo is a vibrant Persian dish served with green beans, spiced meat and saffron. 550 Queen Quay W, Unit 12.

2. Hakka + Co

Haaka + Co

If you’re craving wok-tossed Indo-Chinese comfort food, head to Church and Wellesley. Hakka + Co only opened in February and is already making an impression for classics like momos, noodles, fried rice and saucy wok mains! Start with the House Special Steamed Momos, available with veg, paneer or chicken, then add the Honey Chilli Potatoes for something crispy, sweet and spicy. For mains, the Desi Hakka & Co. Chow Mein is one of the menu’s standout signatures: think smoky, saucy noodles tossed with cabbage, onions, capsicum and green chillies in a spicy desi soy masala. Pair that with either the Burnt Garlic Noodles if you want something more aromatic and garlicky, or the Creamy Garlic Butter Noodles if you’re after a richer comfort-food pick. Oh, and if you like some serious heat, there’s even a wok main called Demonic – Hot as Hell! 555 Church St.

3. Koh Rawi

King West has no shortage of Thai food, but Koh Rawi stands out with richer noodle dishes and seafood-heavy starters. For your first visit, order a bit of everything across the menu. The Fried Chicken Laab is one of the more distinctive appetizers on offer: think crispy fried chicken tossed with mint, shallots, toasted rice, coriander, citrus and chilli. The noodle section is where Koh Rawi gets especially tempting: The Khao Soi features fresh egg noodles in a golden curry sauce layered with garlic, lemongrass, wild ginger, onions, coriander, pickles, crispy noodles and a hard-boiled egg, while the Pad Ki Maw, Guay Tiew Tom Yum and even the curry-laced Curry Pad Thai are perfect choices if you want to try something beyond the usual. 934 King St W.

4. Eastend Pie & Mash

 

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You can now indulge in authentic London-style pie and mash behind a fake storefront in Toronto! Eastend Pie & Mash hides in plain sight, disguised as Martian Business System Consulting Inc. on Gerrard St E, but it delivers one of the city’s most transportive dining experiences. This is the place to go when you want a proper meat pie with mash and parsley liquor, as well as British snack-shop classics like sausage rolls, Scotch eggs, Cornish pasties and sticky toffee pudding tart! The menu is also a nod to the multicultural influences that shape British cuisine, with options like chicken tikka masala pies, doner kebab pies and mac and cheese pasties. Open Friday to Sunday, 11 a.m. until sold out. 1031 Gerrard E.

5. VBOW Pho Mi & More 

 

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A post shared by VBOW Pho Mi & More (@vbowpho)

VBOW Pho Mi & More is more than just a standard Vietnamese stop. The fast-casual spot opened earlier this month on College and serves the most comforting lineup of pho, banh mi, noodle bowls and rice plates, along with specialty cocktails, matcha drinks and Vietnamese coffee! The perfect first order here is the VBOW Bone Marrow Royale pho, which comes with bone marrow, ribeye, brisket and beef balls. Make room for salad rolls, papaya salad and banh mi in pork, beef, lemongrass chicken or tofu. 650 College St.

6. The Dialog Cafe

 

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A post shared by The Dialog Cafe (@thedialogcafe)

Dialog opened earlier this month with a tempting menu filled with specialty coffees and Mediterranean eats, so perfect if you’re looking beyond the usual drip-and-latte setup. Try a signature drink like Vanilla Raf, Espresso Tonic, Affogato, or the Saffron Honey Iced Latte! Food-wise, the menu includes meze like hummus, labneh and babaganoush, as well as salads and hot brunch dishes with some strong Middle Eastern and Mediterranean touches. And don’t ignore the pastry case. The café offers tasty butter, chocolate, almond and pistachio croissants, chocolate or cinnamon babka and potato burekas. 106 Mutual St.

7. Chaatokri

 

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A post shared by chaatokri (@chaatokri_etobicoke_)

This Etobicoke Chaat spot is already drawing customers in for full chatpata street-food energy! Start with the pani puri, one of Chaatokri’s signature cravings, and pair that with the dahi puri for contrast: one crisp and punchy, the other creamy and chutney-heavy. The Amul Cheese-Loaded Cheese Puri is the perfect fusion snack if you’re craving something creamy, salty and savoury. For a fuller spread, add Indian chaats like bhel and dahi bhalla. 6628 Finch Ave W, Unit 1, Etobicoke.

8. Hinode Udon and Tempura

Hinode is nestled in Richmond Hill, but its dishes justify the detour! The restaurant makes its noodles in-house, with broth made fresh with dried fish imported from Japan. Keep it simple with kake or zaru udon, or go straight to the signatures like nikutama udon with beef and hot spring egg, duck meat udon, or curry udon. Or indulge in the Mapo udon with a spicy sauce that coats the soft cubes of silken tofu, with tasty bits of ground pork and scallion! Add an assorted tempura platter, shrimp tempura or takoyaki on the side, and pair it with a delicious strawberry matcha, and you’ll have the most comforting meal. 324 Hwy 7 #3, Richmond Hill.

A college kid is going viral for ranking all the best places in Toronto to take a poop

By
Erica Commisso
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toilet guy
Courtesy @thetoiletguyy/Instagram

Almost overnight, out of nowhere, an Instagram page popped up. As they often do. But this one, for some reason, went viral. Almost immediately. And it’s dedicated to one thing: the toilets of Toronto. Seriously.

The page, dubbed @thetoiletguyy on Instagram (and @findmytoilet on TikTok), is run by a college student who prefers to remain anonymous. He started posting videos in between exams, and says the whole thing started as a sort of joke.

“To be honest, my friend called me while I was taking a dump and asked me what I was doing and how the toilet was,” the student says. “He proceeded to ask me how the bathroom was. I found the premise of the question hilarious, so I decided to create a video about it. And it went crazy.” 

At the time of writing, the Instagram account has just eight videos but over 4,500 followers. Some videos have over 300,000 views, and the account has accumulated thousands of likes and hundreds of comments across TikTok and Instagram. If it feels ridiculous, that’s because it is. And that’s exactly what the Toilet Guy thinks makes it so popular.

“I think it’s just different and interesting, also the comedy within my videos makes people enjoy seeing the city through a different lens,” he says, adding that he gets flooded with direct messages regularly. 

As for the future, the Toilet Guy may take his show on the road, but he doesn’t have his proverbial butt firmly planted on that plan yet. “I might visit some cities but, to be honest, I’m not too sure what to do. I’m just doing this for fun and to make people smile.” 

And make people smile he has: the Toilet Guy regularly interacts with commenters on the page, asking for suggestions and input into where he’ll film next. And he loves the praise he’s getting. His favourite comment so far, he says, came from user @SammyG, who wrote: “As a gastroenterologist this is officially my favourite channel.” 

And now that exams are done, we’ll see what (wash)rooms he gets into next.

Why Toronto’s new Arthur’s Snackette is the only place worth standing in line for this Saturday

By
Megan Gallant
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Arthur's Snackette brings Montreal-style bagels to Toronto
@arthurssnackette/Instagram

Following Toronto’s excessive obsession with gourmet sandwiches last summer, it’s looking like summer 2026 is all about premium bagels. That’s what it would appear, anyway, if the sold-out opening weekend of Arthur’s Snackette is any indication.

Tucked in a laneway off St. Clair Avenue West, Arthur’s Snackette gets its roots from Montréal’s Arthur’s Nosh Bar. Celebrating its 10-year anniversary this year, the traditional Jewish deli and brunch spot was opened by Raegan Steinberg and Alex Cohen in honour of the former’s father, Arthur Steinberg. Though it has built a loyal following in Montréal, Steinberg says they always had the vision of bringing it to Toronto.

“We just love Toronto,” she says. “Some of my very dearest friends are from Toronto and we just always felt that it was a little New York inside this Canadian country of ours. We just loved the possibility of bringing something that we felt passionate about to a whole new place.”

Enter Dara Gallinger, co-founder and former partner of Toronto’s Brodflour. Gallinger has been friends with Steinberg for two decades since she attended school in Montréal. Joined by Ari Zuckerbrot, the old friends decided it was finally time to join forces and bring a version of Arthur’s to Toronto.

“When we started, we were really looking for a full restaurant to bring Arthur’s (Nosh Bar), as it is now, here, but as we went on that journey, it occurred to all of us to think, ‘how can we do it in a way that is really doable, really scalable, and would make sense for starting fresh in a new market,” Gallinger says. “With my background in bakery and with us really loving what’s happening in the sourdough bagel world in New York and L.A., we thought this sounds great. This works with the Arthur’s brand and it’s a great segue into the Toronto market.

Arthur's Snackette

The sourdough bagels at Arthur’s Snackette are 100 per cent naturally leavened with a sourdough starter instead of commercial yeast. Taking place over three days, the long-term fermentation results in what Gallinger says is the “best parts of sourdough bread but in the format of a bagel.” And, with high hydration, the bagels are lighter and healthier.

At Arthur’s Snackette, the bagels are served open-faced and topped with classics like butter, homemade egg salad, and, of course, lox and cream cheese. Arthur’s also serves cookies and coffee.

While some of the bagels come with a price tag — the smoked salmon is $22 — they are generously topped and, with its tartine-like plating, designed to be shared.

“When you come here, you could literally come with a friend and share one of our bagels and each take half and walk away super fulfilled,” she Gallinger. “We know there’s sensitivity to price, especially now, but we’re working with some of the best food producers in the city and we’re supporting artisanal suppliers and small businesses. We’re really featuring the best of whatever you could imagine on a bagel, on the bagel. We’re really proud of that and we want people to walk away saying that was an amazing bite of food.”

Though for now Arthur’s Snackette is only open Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. until sold out, the team will soon be opening on Fridays, as well, and continuing to respond as needed. They hope to soon have additional space to serve up even more premium bagels.

“We’re just trying to do it slowly so that we do it right and so that the product is good,” Gallinger says. “Our goal is to make as many bagels a day as there are people who want to buy them and we don’t want to turn people away.”

The best Raptors playoff watch parties in Toronto

By
Erica Commisso
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0
raptors playoffs
@raptors/Instagram
Our very own Toronto Raptors are in the NBA playoffs again, and the city is more than ready to celebrate. From drink deals to giant screens and on-theme decor, there are watch parties all over the city ready to fit every vibe. Here are some of our favourites.

Jurassic Park

Where: 15 York St.
The most obvious playoff watch party is the one held as close as you can get to the stadium without being inside. Giant screens and diehard fans take over the circle just outside of Scotiabank Arena to form some of the most epic Raptors watch parties in the city for both home and away games. The thunderous roars and cheers are so loud they can be heard in every direction with every jump shot or big three-pointer. Here’s how you can score free tickets to the watch party for Game 3. 

The Fox on John

foxonjohn
Courtesy foxonjohn.ca
Where: 106 John St.
For a relaxed, pub-style atmosphere, the Fox on John is serving up game day platters, a huge selection of beers, and only the best vibes. The game will be streamed on the big screens throughout the English restaurant, and espresso martinis are half price to keep your energy up for the entire game.

Real Sports

Where: 15 York St.
Real Sports has watch parties for virtually every major sporting event and, obviously, a Raptors playoff game is no exception. This time, Ford Fanatics is hosting an exclusive VIP Raptors watch party in the space, and they’re giving everyone a chance to win tickets to the event. Not much has been revealed about what the party will entail, but you can expect big screens, great eats and serious fan energy.

The Rec Room 

Where: 255 Bremner Blvd.
What’s better than a watch party with games to play? At The Rec Room, you can watch the game on one of the giant screens throughout the arcade and shoot hoops while you’re at it, so you can feel right in the action alongside Scottie Barnes and the Raptors crew. On Thursday, April 23 for Game 3, two basketball podcasts, Hello and Welcome and Inside the Green Room, are hosting a live show and Raptors watch party (tickets available here).

NBA Courtside Restaurant

NBA Courtside Restaurant/Instagram
Where: 15 Queens Quay E.
For those who love a good theme, NBA Courtside Restaurant is the perfect place for a watch party: What could be more immersive than watching basketball in a basketball-themed bar? During commercial breaks, you can even peek around at all of the merch and artwork from the time the Raptors won it all. What more could you ask for?

Blue Bovine 

Where: 65 Front St. W.
 
Game-day specials at Blue Bovine take watch parties to the next level. From short rib ravioli to a seafood tower to A5 Wagyu maki, there’s no shortage of decadence in every bite. It’s also one of the most convenient locations in the city, located within Union Station. With 12 TVs throughout the space, there’s no bad seat in the house to catch the game.

Petty Cash

Where: 487 Adelaide St. W.
Petty Cash will play all of the Raptors playoff games with sound, and offers a wallet-friendly special for watch parties: if you purchase a pitcher of beer during the games, you’ll get a free pound of chicken wings. And with happy hour running from 5–8 p.m. every day, featuring $7 drinks and half-priced appetizers, this watch party won’t break the bank.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac says Toronto could be in for a wetter-than-usual summer

By
Nisean Lorde
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0
Toronto rain
Toronto

It’s been a bit rainy this week, so everyone’s wondering whether summer will be prime for patio outings. The answer is yes, for the most part, though maybe not without a few soggy interruptions.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts a hotter-than-normal summer across much of the country, including southern Quebec, the Prairies and southern British Columbia. Northern regions, including Yukon and the Northwest Territories, are also likely to see above-average warmth, with the most widespread heat expected in July and August.

Unfortunately, this doesn’t necessarily mean one long, dry stretch of beach weather for Toronto. While the Almanac says Southern Ontario will see a split between cooler conditions in the east and warmer temperatures in the west, Toronto appears to fall closer to the warmer western side of that regional outlook, but with wetter-than-normal conditions also expected. So, enjoy your cottage getaways and patio drinks this summer, just keep an umbrella close by.

And we also have to get through a few more weeks of spring! Expect “rain and showers, then sunny and chilly” from April 16 to 25, and “a few showers and cool” to close out the month. The Almanac’s monthly summary predicts that April will average about 5 C in Toronto overall, which is about 1 C below normal, with 75 mm of precipitation, or about 5 mm above average.

May looks a bit milder, starting cool with some sun and showers before turning warmer later in the month, including the chance of scattered thunderstorms. The Almanac estimates that May will average 11 C overall, which is also 1 C below normal, with 90 mm of precipitation.

Looking ahead, the Almanac’s long-range forecasts for both Toronto and Southern Ontario expect September and October to be cooler than normal, with above-normal precipitation still hanging around.

Still, the longer-range Toronto outlook doesn’t necessarily mean the year will be cool overall, at least globally. In January, Environment and Climate Change Canada said 2026 is likely to rank among the hottest years on record globally, with the 2026 to 2030 period expected to be the hottest five-year stretch on record.

Toronto Raptors get huge boost heading into playoffs as Brandon Ingram named Player of the Week

By
Ron Johnson
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Brandon Ingram, Toronto Raptors
Instagram: @Raptors

Toronto Raptors got a boost of confidence heading into the team’s first playoff series in years as Brandon Ingram was named the NBA’s Player of the Week for the Eastern Conference.

Ingram led the team to a crucial 3-1 record down the stretch securing the Raptor’s the fifth seed in the playoffs.

The seven-foot forward who joined the team last season from the New Orleans Pelicans average 25.5 points and 6.5 rebounds over that four-game period.

The team is headed to Cleveland for a first round match-up versus the fourth seed Cavaliers, which is set to begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 18.

Cleveland is heavily favoured to win the series, but the Raptors did sweep the season series against them. But, a lot has changed since November when the two Eastern Conference foes last clashed, most importantly the addition of future Hall of Fame guard James Harden.

Ingram shared Player of the Week honours with LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Toronto’s new year-round waterfront music venue will host Imagine Dragons as opening act

By
Keena Al-Wahaidi
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imagine dragons
Courtesy @imaginedragons/Instagram

As Toronto’s RBC Amphitheatre, a soon-to-be year-round music venue on the waterfront formerly known as the Budweiser Stage, prepares for its much-anticipated opening night, their headliner is certainly making waves in the music world. 

On Wednesday, the popular Lakeshore venue announced that Grammy award-winning rock group Imagine Dragons will be performing May 21 for an opening night hosted with Live Nation. It’ll be the first headliner for the newly named amphitheater. 

Early last fall, Budweiser Stage announced it would be expanding as a year-round venue on Toronto’s waterfront by 2030. The location is still at the old Ontario Place grounds, and opened as the Molson Amphitheatre in 1991 before getting a name change to Budweiser Stage in 2017. 

The renaming to RBC Amphitheatre comes with major renovations that’ll start in fall of 2027 and reopen in summer 2029. It’ll introduce full year-round elements by the following year. 

The opening night will be “an exciting milestone,” according to Live Nation Canada’s president of music Erik Hoffman said in a press release, adding that this will be the only amphitheater performance that Imagine Dragons will be playing in North America this year. 

Imagine Dragons have sold over 74 million albums through the 2010s and 2020s. They’re best known for their hit songs like “Radioactive” and “Demons,” topping 100 billion streams and breaking the Billboard Hot 100 charts. 

“We’re proud to partner with RBC to bring a stadium-level act like Imagine Dragons to kick-off another record-breaking season,” Hoffman said. 

How to get tickets to Imagine Dragons in Toronto

General public tickets to see Imagine Dragons at the RBC Amphitheatre will be available on April 17 at 10 a.m. on Ticketmaster.ca. Presales for the show opened on April 15.

A guide to the most pet-friendly places to go in Toronto for 2026

By
Lauren DiBenedetto
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2026 03 18
Courtesy Wonder Pet Cafe

Toronto isn’t just for humans — it’s for the animals who live here, too! You may not be able to bring your dog with you everywhere, but you might be surprised by how many places in the city are seriously pet-friendly. Whether your pet is the cafe-hopping, serious snacking kind, or just in need of a spa day, Toronto is a city that wants to make your pets a part of your weekend plans. Here are some of the best ways to spice up your pet’s routine.

Wonder Pet Cafe

wonderpetcafe
Courtesy Wonder Pet Cafe

If your party plans aren’t complete without your pup by your side, Wonder Pet Cafe is the place to be. Despite its name, this cafe is a hub for much more than coffee and snacks. It can serve as an adoption centre, a home for rescue animals, a safe space to heal when in need of a “sip and snuggle,” and a place to enrich your pets’ lives by offering opportunities to socialize. Whether you want to spend the day with your pet, meet a new one or get your cuteness fix, this is the place to do it. 

The Drake Hotel

If you and your unemployed roommate could use a little relaxation and reset (because really, who doesn’t?), Toronto’s pet-friendly hotels are celebrating this holiday the right way. 

At The Drake Hotel, pets are treated like actual guests, not just add-ons. With their “Best Friends Welcome” package, you and your plus one will be greeted with local treats, in-room beds and bowls, and a photobooth coupon so you and your mini-me can leave with something more than just a cluttered camera roll. 

Coffee shops

I don’t know what your dream Saturday morning looks like, but mine has an iced coffee in one hand and a breakfast sandwich in the other, while I’m walking in Toronto, sunglasses on. The only thing that could make that better is struggling to hold my leash and my iced coffee in the same hand. 

With these Toronto cafes, there’s no reason this dream couldn’t become a reality. Downtown, De Mello Coffee (located within The Well) makes it easy to stop in with your dog thanks to its no-kitchen setup and open-air layout. 

For my working dog-moms on the go, Bevy Coffee has built a reputation as a go-to WFH spot in the city, but did you know you could bring your built-in, in-house co-worker with you? Dogs are permitted (and encouraged!) inside this spacious coffee shop. 

In the east end, Sumach Espresso leans fully into being pet-friendly, with plenty of dog-approved outdoor seating and even offering treats (for pets, not humans) upon entry. Dark Horse Espresso Bar remains a reliable option with six locations across the city; dogs are welcome on the patio here. 

Sarang Kitchen

 Forget dinner for one — this neurodiversity-friendly restaurant lets your pet join in on the fun. At Sarang Kitchen on the Danforth, their patio doubles as a full-on pet-friendly dining experience for non-verbal friends and their owners alike. While you order Korean fried chicken and cocktails, your sidekick can order from their pet-friendly menu, complete with a Korean Bark-B-Q set, Puppuccinos and even a Pawgarita.

The Scent Den 

Located inside The Wholesome Canine Clinic at 2096 Dundas St. W. is a way to spend your day that’s unlike anything you or your pet have seen before. Toronto’s first and only indoor sensory zone for dogs is exactly what you’d imagine — it’s designed to bring out your dog’s inner wolf. Set their natural instincts free through scent, texture and exploration by encouraging sniffing, foraging and exploring, all ways to naturally calm their nervous system. With this 50-minute session, enrichment therapy becomes a bonding experience between you and your pet. 

Escape the Pound at Trivia Escape Rooms

escaperoomdog
Courtesy triviaescaperooms.com

Escape the pound alongside your furry friend with Trivia Escape Rooms. Located at 1615 Dupont St. is the escape room that turns a normal afternoon with your best friend into a top secret mission. With anywhere from two to six players, this family-friendly challenge is perhaps the one activity in Toronto where a pet isn’t just encouraged, but required! While you and your team solve the puzzles, your sidekick will sniff for treats all the way out the door. 

The Petninsula — Lavakan Pet Spa

The Petninsula is the proper way to end the weekend on a high note. Tucked away on the ground floor of 2010 Queen St. E. is The Lavakan Pet Spa. This self-serve wash experience turns every pet’s nightmare into a spa day with their best friend. With controlled temperature, massage jets, and ozone therapy this is the Othership of wash days. 

Berczy Park Dog Fountain

berczyfountain
Berczy Park Dog Fountain. Courtesy rom.on.ca

Sure, there are plenty of dog parks in the city — but this downtown park is the only one that truly celebrates dogs. Featuring a three-tier fountain decorated by actual dog sculptures of all breeds and sizes, Berczy Park is full of whimsy. With tables and benches sprinkled throughout and even some green space for your dog to do their business, you can sit and soak in the sun while your dog takes in the magnificent sight of a fountain honouring their species! And don’t worry about disappointing your furry friend when they inevitably try to play with one of the sculptures; the park is usually teeming with real-life dogs on a walk.

Black Lab Brewing

black lab brewing
Courtesy R H/Google Photos

The dog theme here extends well past the logo and the beer — Black Lab Brewery is completely pet-friendly, meaning you can meet your friends for a drink inside or outside with your furry friend in tow. Have a beer in honour of Snoopy, the owner’s Labrador, who was the inspiration for the brewery and sadly passed away in 2023.

A Nova Scotia golf resort is cheekily trolling Leafs fans after the team’s playoff miss

By
Nisean Lorde
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0
Fox Harb'r Resort
Photo: Fox Harb'r Resort

The Toronto Maple Leafs are limping toward the end of a season that few fans saw coming, and one East Coast golf resort has decided that the timing is simply too perfect not to say something. With the Leafs missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in a decade, following a 4-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks earlier this month, Nova Scotia’s Fox Harb’r Golf Resort is reminding heartbroken Toronto fans that even if playoffs are off the table, golf season is right on time.

The resort launched a playful ad campaign in Toronto ahead of the Leafs’ final home game against the Dallas Stars on Monday, taking over digital boards throughout Union Station and the downtown PATH.

 The campaign paired glossy images of Fox Harb’r’s coastal championship course with captions like: “Don’t worry, we have 18 cups waiting for you here” and “A short season just means more time for the short game.”

And yes, the stunt turned Toronto’s sports heartbreak into spring travel marketing, but Fox Harb’r told the publication that the campaign was never meant to be cruel. Resort president Kevin Toth described it more like a warm invitation, telling the outlet, “This is just your East Coast family saying: come home for a few days. We’ll feed you, we’ll get you on the course, and we won’t talk about the playoffs unless you want to.”

The resort even carried the joke onto its website. Fox Harb’r created a getaway package called the Rink to the Links Escape, “for fans who gave everything to hockey season and got nothing back.” It’s being touted as a sort of recovery plan: a few days on Nova Scotia’s Northumberland shore with world-class golf, dinner and a couple of cocktails. So, no hard feelings, I guess?

This former Toronto pizza spot appears to be making a comeback with burgers

By
Nisean Lorde
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0
bigtroublepizza
Courtesy @bigtroublepizza

A few months after Big Trouble served its final slice of pizza at its popular Geary Ave. location, the Toronto restaurant appears to be heading into its next chapter.

In January, the restaurant announced that it would close after eight years in business, ending a run that took it from Chinatown to the Annex Hotel and, most recently, in one of Toronto’s coolest neighbourhoods. At the time, the team said it was already working on a new project it felt especially passionate about, and looking at a series of recent Instagram posts, this next move appears rooted in the team’s long-running burger identity!

This shift isn’t coming out of nowhere. Even before the pizza shop closed, burgers had already become a big part of Big Trouble’s menu, with options ranging from the OG smash burger to the Kwispy Wanch Burger, made with quality beef from The Butcher’s Son, and layered with American cheese, crispy onion, ranch sauce, jalapeño and pickled red onions on a potato roll.

We still don’t have exact confirmation that the space will be a burger spot. The Big Trouble Pizza logo is still on the Instagram account, but the name has been changed to @mista.boiga (and there’s also a Mista Boiga Burgers Facebook page, though it doesn’t offer much info yet). One big hint about the new direction is that all the recent Instagram posts feature smash burgers (not to mention, the team’s latest Insta reel shows Big Trouble co-founder Eddie Chan holding a plate of burgers, with the caption “Day 1 Burgers”)!

This transformation is part of a familiar Toronto restaurant trend: closing one chapter while teasing a creative reboot. But for anyone who was already making the trip to Geary for smash burgers, this next step will feel right at home.

“That’s the way to do it! Inspiring, man. Can’t wait to check it out!” one Instagram user said about the upcoming spot. “Can’t wait to visit!” another wrote.

The new joint launches April 24, 2026, at 191 Geary Ave, in the same space Big Trouble previously occupied. Follow @mista.boiga for updates.

Toronto Fringe unveils 38th festival venues, including a condo and a retail store

By
Ron Johnson
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0
Don Valley Girls at Toronto Fringe 2025
Don Valley Girls at Toronto Fringe 2025

What do iconic Canadian theatrical works Kim’s Convenience, The Drowsy Chaperone and The Drawer Boy have in common? They all started as very small, very indie productions at the Toronto Fringe performing arts festival.

The 38th annual Toronto Fringe is set to return this year running June 30 to July 12 with more than 120 independent productions spread across an array of venues, from bona fide soft seat theatres to churches, cabarets, and pop-up performance spaces.

At the centre of it all is Soulpepper Theatre, which returns as the festival hub. The Distillery District venue will house four performance spaces under one roof—Michael Young Theatre, Weyni Mengesha Theatre, the Kevin and Roger Garland Cabaret, and the RBC Studio—while also anchoring a wider centre of activity that spills out into the surrounding laneways. There are free events and informal gatherings in the Studio Lounge, plus additional programming nearby at Old Flame Brewing Co., the Distillery Stage, and Spirit of York Distillery.

Across the city, Fringe will feature a number of returning and new venues. Regular Fringe haunts include Tarragon Theatre, Factory Theatre, and Native Earth Performing Arts are back. Native Earth will activate both Aki Studio and the Minogitoon Workspace Giizis Studio as satellite venues deepening the festival’s connection to Indigenous performance.

This year’s Fringe will also use the Alumnae Theatre, VideoCabaret’s Deanne Taylor Theatre, and Sweet Action Theatre. More unexpected venues include the College Street United Church, Arts & Letters Club, Ollie Quinn, Jamii Hub, Studio 162, CineCycle, The Geary Avenue Warehouse, Cake Cabaret, BirdHaus, Society Clubhouse, BeBloor Condos Party Room, B Street Arts Hub, and Atlantic Avenue Athletic Club.

One big more this year is the pause of the Next Stage Series, a post-Fringe platform for standout productions. In its place is the new Fringe Encore Series,  which is a curated fall showcase running Sept. 26 to Oct. 11 at Soulpepper. The Encore Series is hoping to extend the life of the festival’s best works, offering a second run—and a bigger spotlight.

As always, awards and artist development remain central to the Fringe.

Toronto Fringe will also feature performances from its 2026 award recipients: This year’s New Play Contest winner, Danse Macabre by Rhoma Spencer, joins Olivia O, The Musical by Diane Currie and Jessica Carmona (recipient of the Adams Prize for Musical Theatre) and Tango After Midnight by Erin Scott-Kafadar and Alexander Richardson (B Street Collaborative Award for Dance) among the highlighted productions. Meanwhile, the TENT (Theatre Entrepreneurs’ Network and Training) Program continues its track record of nurturing emerging talent, with its 2025 cohort returning to produce Snacey! by Priscila Gonzalez.

Full programming and ticket details arrive June 3.

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