One of Thailand’s most iconic dining formats has officially reached Toronto, where tabletop grilling and hot pot come together in one interactive experience known as mookata. Osha Mookata just soft-opened in early April, and it’s already a hit with locals. The restaurant features a two-in-one setup where meats, seafood and veggies are seared on a central, domed tabletop grill while noodles and veggies simmer in the surrounding aromatic broth, picking up all the smoky drippings as the meal goes on.
For your first visit, skip the guesswork and go straight for the Osha Premium Set. It’s a bit pricey at $139.95 for the signature combo, but it bundles a rich mix of cuts and seafood, including pork jowl, pork belly, beef short ribs, ribeye, jumbo shrimp, squid, scallops, a large veggie platter and two orders of garlic fried rice! You’ll get the full mookata effect in one shot: grill the richer meats on top, then let all that rendered fat and flavour work its way into the broth below.
Beyond the grill itself, the Crab Rangoon is perfect if you want something creamy and crisp, while the Som Tum Tod Salad is a more playful type of Thai snack: think crispy fried papaya fritters topped with classic som tum. For a more balanced dish, try the Pork Jowl Salad; it pairs grilled pork jowl with a spicy lime dressing that cuts through all the smoke and richness coming off the grill.
To complement your meal, the cooling slushies make sense beside all that heat and char. Sip on a creamy, tea-based slushy or a fruity watermelon slushy before wrapping things up with complimentary Thai tea ice cream, which makes for a pretty charming ending after a long session of grilling and simmering.
Osha Mookata is located at 390 Silver Star Blvd., Unit 119-122, Scarborough.
L–R: Type Books, courtesy typebooks.ca; the Toronto Silent Book Club, courtesy @torontosilentbookclub/Instagram
Pub crawls are pretty common in Toronto, but for those who are into more lowkey events that omit the next day hangover, a new crawl happening in the city this month is an introvert’s dream.
On May 2, Toronto Silent Book Club will be hosting their second bookstore crawl of the year. It’s “a pub crawl, but for books,” according to their description on Instagram.
The book club will meet near Trinity Bellwoods at 1 p.m., and then make stops into various bookstores around Toronto until 2:30 p.m.
Bookstores included on the crawl schedule will include a first stop to Type Books, then Hopeless Romantic Books and then end at Glad Day Lit.
The crawl will eventually meet at Danu Social House for their usual Silent Book Club event. That includes bringing your own book to read and sitting down for an hour of silent reading, of whatever medium of literature you choose to bring.
You’ll also be able to order food and drinks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic. At the end of the hour, you can socialize with other book readers and talk about all things books.
Toronto Silent Book Club has been hosting their silent reading events at Danu Social Club every other Saturday since 2024. They’ve also started hosting events elsewhere, such as the Silent Book Club event at The Well in early April.
The allure of the club is mainly rooted in the fact that there’s no assigned reading like other book clubs require. Plus, it first began as a way to “provide an opportunity for readers to meet in an alternative manner to the more formalized structure of a traditional book club,” according to Danu Social Club’s event description.
There’s no registration fee for this event. Just show up with your current book and a thirst for exploring different bookstores in the neighbourhood.
Brittney Sykes, Toronto Tempo (photo: Instagram @TorontoTempo)
The Toronto Tempo will tip off their WNBA debut Wednesday evening with a preseason home game against the Connecticut Sun, before officially opening their inaugural regular season on May 8 against the Washington Mystics at Coca-Cola Coliseum! This is the league’s first Canadian franchise, giving Toronto its first full-time women’s professional basketball team on the sport’s biggest stage. So, before you head over, here’s everything you need to know about the team.
Where will the Toronto Tempo play?
The Tempo’s main home court is Coca-Cola Coliseum at Exhibition Place, but the team is also taking four regular-season home games to other Canadian cities as part of its Cross-Canada Series! The 2026 schedule includes regular-season home dates in Montreal on July 10 against Dallas and July 12 against New York, then in Vancouver on August 21 against Portland and August 23 against Las Vegas.
Who’s on the team?
Expect a mix of WNBA vets, international talent and young prospects. The official 2026 roster currently includes Brittney Sykes, Kiki Rice, Kia Nurse, Julie Allemand, Maria Conde, Nyara Sabally, Lexi Held, Nikolina Milic, Dara Mabrey, Aaliyah Nye, Laura Juskaite, Maddison Rocci, Teonni Key, Kristy Wallace, Kitija Laksa, Marina Mabrey, Elizabeth Balogun, Temi Fagbenle and Isabelle Harrison (to name a few).
As we previously reported, Canadian fans will have a familiar name to watch in Nurse! The Hamilton-born guard has seven years of WNBA experience, with career averages of 8.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists through 245 games with the New York Liberty, Phoenix Mercury, Seattle Storm and Chicago Sky.
Other headliners to keep an eye on: Mabrey will be one of Toronto’s biggest offensive pieces after averaging 14.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4 assists last season with Connecticut. Sykes brings All-Star experience, defence and scoring after averaging 14.1 points, 4 assists and 3.2 rebounds last season, while Allemand is an experienced point guard, averaging 5 assists with the L.A. Sparks.
Sandy Brondello is head coach, with Brian Lankton and Ciara Carl among the assistant coaches.
If you can’t score tickets, some Tempo games will air on Sportsnet, TSN, Prime Video and NBA TV Canada (just check out the Tempo’s official schedule and it’ll tell you where each game is streaming). You can also stream the Tempo’s April 29 preseason game against the Connecticut Sun for free on the WNBA App.
Toronto Tempo Fan Zone, tickets and merch
So, we get it. The season hasn’t even officially begun, and you’re already a Tempo superfan. Membership in the official Tempo Fan Club will give you early access to Tempo events, exclusive collectibles, giveaways, behind-the-scenes content, merch discounts, partner offers and access to buy tickets in a dedicated Fan Club section at home games. And you can grab a whole bunch of merch from the Tempo’s online store, everything from player jerseys to draft hats and Tempo tees.
Inaugural season tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster, so you can buy everything from single-game tickets to premium seats and suites. You can even place a deposit for season ticket memberships, where you get guaranteed seats to every home game.
Theme nights
Fan experience is huge for the team, so expect a full lineup of theme nights featuring fan traditions, limited giveaways and Insta-worthy moments across Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver! Look out for Asian Heritage Night on May 23, Indigenous Heritage Night on June 25, Play with Pride Night on June 27, Homegrown Hoops Night on July 17, the Carnival Celebration Game on July 30, and Fan Celebration Night on September 20.
What’s next for the Tempo?
The Tempo are already looking beyond their inaugural season, with a dedicated performance centre at Exhibition Place, just steps from Coca-Cola Coliseum, set to open in 2028! The facility will include two WNBA regulation courts, player training and recovery spaces, and community recreation access.
One of Toronto’s most beloved and enduring record stores is getting ready to celebrate a major milestone.
After 25 years at the centre of the city’s music scene, Sonic Boom Music is marking its silver anniversary by throwing a concert of its own—fitting for a shop that has long blurred the line between retail space and cultural institution.
Set for May 9 at St. Anne’s Parish Hall, the celebration will feature two floors of programming and a lineup that includes The Sadies, Kiwi Jr., Badge Époque Ensemble and several other acts. The concert is co-presented with Wavelength Music.
For Toronto, Sonic Boom is more than just a record store—it’s considered one of the best and most popular places in the city to discover music. And, it has become Canada’s largest independent record shop.
Courtesy Sonic Boom
Founder Jeff Barber says that sense of energy and unpredictability has been there from the start.
“Almost 20 years ago, we had a punk band from the Middle East, The Monotonix, play at the store,” Barber recalls. “They kept playing as they — along with the crowd — spilled out into the street, stopping traffic and climbing onto the hoods of cars. It was ‘thriving on chaos’, and in some ways, that’s what we’ve been doing for the last quarter century.”
Moments like that have become part of the store’s lore. Over the years, Sonic Boom has hosted in-store performances and appearances from a wide range of artists, from cult favourites to major names, including Dinosaur Jr., METZ, Sloan and Orville Peck.
From its early days in the Annex to its current high-profile location on Spadina Avenue, Sonic Boom has grown alongside the city, and their customer base has gone international.
Phono-Mat in Sonic Boom
“At our current location, we welcome visitors from across Canada and around the world, especially with so many sports and concert venues just steps away,” Barber says. “It’s become a gathering place for music lovers.”
That role feels especially significant in an era dominated by streaming services such as Spotify. While digital platforms have changed how people consume music, Sonic Boom has doubled down on that beloved tactile, in-person experience—offering rows of new and used vinyl, CDs and cassettes, along with turntables, merchandise and a steady flow of new arrivals that keep collectors coming back.
Barber describes it as a “thrill-of-the-hunt” atmosphere—something algorithms can’t replicate.
Just as important are the human connections formed in the space. From spontaneous in-store sets to autograph signings, the shop has built a reputation for creating intimate moments between artists and fans.
Sonic Boom on Spadina Avenue
“These events create opportunities for artistes and fans to connect in a way that’s entirely unique to a space like ours,” Barber says. “That connection is paramount to our identity.”
Now, as Sonic Boom reaches the 25-year mark, the anniversary offers both a celebration and a moment of reflection for a business that has outlasted industry upheaval and changing trends.
“It may be an overused term, but this anniversary carries a real sense of gratitude,” Barber says. “I never could have imagined where we’d be today, so I can’t claim to know what tomorrow holds — but I’m excited for whatever comes next.”
For Toronto’s music community, the feeling is mutual.
With the arrival of the Toronto Tempo and its first-ever home game on May 8, the WNBA has officially landed in the city. For Kia Nurse, it’s more than just another chapter in her career. The Hamilton native returns home as part of the franchise’s inaugural roster, bringing veteran leadership and a deep sense of what this moment means for basketball in the country.
How does it feel to finally have a WNBA team in Toronto — and to be on it?
Awesome. Honestly, I’m really excited for the opportunity to be at home this season. To see how Canada’s already embracing this team, and we haven’t even really played a real game yet, has been so awesome. So I think it’s gonna be really exciting, and I know it’s gonna have such a great impact for years to come on Canadian basketball, for sure.
Tell me about how the opportunity came about.
I was a free agent, so I could go anywhere, and obviously, once the CBA got finalized, it was a sprint to the finish and getting to this date and getting everything signed. And so with conversations with my agent and taking a free agency meeting here in Toronto, it just felt right.
What kind of role do you see for yourself?
I think, for me, it’s just bringing my ability to space the floor and knock down the three ball and then my toughness and kind of getting after it while I’m out there.
How do you think the Tempo will carve out kind of an identity in the league right away?
I think it’s going to be on the defensive end and with toughness. I think we’ve got some really good length, especially in the wing position and on the interior as well. So, I mean, we all understand that this is a great opportunity to build something from the ground up, and we’ve got great leadership in coach Sandy and her staff, and a good mix of what I would say are veterans and young players. So, really excited as we more build chemistry with one another.
Sandy Brondello seems a perfect coach for this team.
I had the opportunity to play with Sandy in Phoenix, and I think she does a really good job of being a players-first coach. She does a really good job of building relationships with players, and that’s a really important part of what we’re trying to do.
Who in the WNBA inspired you when you were coming up?
I don’t think I got to watch very many WNBA games growing up. It just wasn’t as visible here in Canada. I really was a big Maya Moore fan, and that was from her days at UConn, and then when she transitioned into the league, and I started to figure out what the league was, it was more of an understanding of that. But I think it’s such a unique opportunity now to be able to be in a position where we are getting more and more WNBA games on live stream TV here. TSN has worked really hard putting out those games, and now it’s going to be like every single WNBA game for the Toronto Tempo will be on TV here. And I think that’s huge for the young women who can see us in person, but also for the young women who are going to have the ability to just see somebody that they relate to.
It’s been huge growth and a ton of momentum. And I think that’s something that’s been really exciting, just filling out arenas and the following on social media, the followings and excitement around the league itself. It’s been really fun to be a part of.
What are the biggest differences from early in your career?
The arenas that we are selling out now, and the size and the desire and hunger for tickets has definitely changed. I mean, I flew commercial for the first six years of my career, so now having private planes is really important for us to be able to get to and from different places with rest and recovery and not having to get up for the 6 a.m, commercial flight. Just in terms of the security that we have around players is massive. The followings are huge now.
How is first-ever draft pick Kiki Rice looking?
Kiki’s been awesome. Honestly, she’s having a great training camp, and I think she’s coming in with this experience and obviously coming off of a national championship. And knowing what it takes to get there and how hard it is, she’s already a natural hard worker.
What will that first WNBA home game feel like for Kia Nurse, after such a long wait?
Honestly, it will feel like a full circle moment. I think it’ll be hard to put into words as I’m going through it, but just having put so much into basketball and being a role model and trying to help grow the game in this country, and having to do that from not inside the country a lot of the times has been really difficult. So it’ll be nice to know that when I am running out there, my family will be in the stands, my nephews will be there to watch. And to me, that’s the ultimate thank you to my parents and everything that they sacrificed, and ultimately my whole village, which is all the players I’ve played with and coaches that I’ve played for, a lot of them will be in the building, so it’ll be really fun to be able to run out on that court.
Ste. Anne’s Spa Resort is an OG on the health and wellness scene in Ontario, and we wanted to find out why. Here’s what happened.
Located just 90 minutes northwest of Toronto in the Haldimand Hills, the Ste. Anne’s spa site dates back to 1858 and the Massey family. Yes, those Masseys. A direct line between the spa and the city of Toronto.
Turning off the dreaded Hwy. 401 and making our way north, the big city melts away. It’s shoulder season, the weather is, ahem, tempestuous, but the spa shines in the distance like an essential-oil laden oasis.
Ste. Anne’s Spa retains the character of a 19th-century stone estate, with warm rose-toned fieldstone walls, gabled roofs, and symmetrical Georgian details that evoke a refined country manor. Expanded over time with Cotswold-inspired touches, it now feels like a small storybook castle—blending historic elegance with cozy, old-world charm.
Ste. Anne’s Spa Resort
Checking in is easy and professional without a care, which would end up being the theme of the visit. There is nothing much to decide here, everything is built-in and programmed as an inclusive experience, including every snack and meal. The hardest decision I made during the stay was just how wrinkly my skin should get before I decide to finally leave the pool.
We stay in one of many cottages on the property, a short walk from the main buildings and spa, although there is also a shuttle service at the ready should it be required. It features a massive and decadent king-sized bed, an electric fireplace, a stunning view and absolutely no television. Bless. Talk about a mood setter.
Ste. Anne’s plans everything out including all meals, spa visits, treatments such as massages, which are in abundance and wonderful, but there is so much more including free or paid classes, a fitness centre, hiking trails on the grounds and an array of nooks and crannies in which to chill and meditate the day away.
First, the spa.
This is the well-lubricated hub of operations. Visitors pick up their robes and are shuffled down to the locker rooms to change and begin an immersive relaxation experience that is hard to match.
There are a series of wonderfully warm and relaxing pools into which we plunk our overly stressed city bods—some warm, some hot, some with waterfalls, some with features that allow for a full recline.
Ste. Anne’s Spa Resort pools
Is this the sprawling Nordic spa of your dreams? Maybe not. But it’s sizeable and uncrowded and decidedly relaxing.
In addition, there is a cold plunge and a dry sauna for those who love a good circuit.
There is more to uncover here, including sitting areas around open fires and warming rooms and a variety of other spaces.
From here, a massage.
Wellness is front and centre at Ste. Anne’s. There are numerous waiting rooms that offer a wonderfully chill and satisfying vibe as we await practitioners who come to escort clients to treatment areas.
Offerings range from a number of skin-focussed wraps and scrubs to esthetic and body treatments including a myriad of massage options from relaxation-style to stone to full RMT.
Generally, massage treatments allow for clients to select certain scents, a nice touch and yes love the lemongrass, and practitioners are thoughtful and attentive.
Depending on how the day is structured there is an afternoon tea service that can, and should, break up spa going and treatment.
As part of this rare immersive experience, the afternoon tea rolls around at just the right time. Tea selections are made in addition to choosing a number of savoury and sweet nibbles for our midday tower. Think selections such as house salmon gravlox, blueberry & brie, and, of course, cucumber. Lots of cucumber.
This is the first experience in quite a stunning culinary journey. This is a spa resort that puts food front and centre.
Everything is thoughtfully prepared. Beef comes from Ste. Anne’s own cattle. There is a seasonal focus but such a wide range of selections than even the pickiest of palates would be pleased. And, attentive servers do a great job of guiding.
Word to the wise, after tea, and before a class or another dip, is a great time to sneak off to one of many domes sparkling in the afternoon sun around the property. Our fave came outfitted with very comfortable lounge chairs, and an electric wood stove, although give it was sunny out, it wasn’t needed. In fact, the dome was basically another sauna, even though there was still snow scattered about. And each dome is different. One has bean bag chairs, for example.
After that, it’s time to meditate (or sleep as some call it).
Ste. Anne’s offers classes from yoga to TRX training, although most are comfortably nestled into the yoga and meditation world.
We sampled a sound bath meditation class, which was something we hadn’t explored. It was mostly meditation though guided by a series of sounds, instruments, voice to facilitate deep rest. The practitioner is highly skilled and if you get the chance to check out one of these classes, it is highly recommended.
Now, the only thing left to do was to, well, eat more.
Ste. Anne’s Spa tea service
After a short break at the cottage we headed in for dinner. And, it is about this time that I offer probably the single greatest slice of Ste. Anne’s insight I can offer. The restaurant is BYOB.
That being said, there are plenty of drink options and speciality cocktails of the non-alcoholic variety. But, a nice bottle of wine would probably hit all the right notes with such a wonderful menu.
Another tidbit, most experiences here are all-inclusive, and that means if you want two appetizers because they just look so delicious, well, you get two appetizers.
Dining highlights include Ste. Anne’s Beef Wellington, featuring aforementioned local herd. And an impeccably prepared and glistening halibut.
How could one not drift off to sleep after such a wonderful day.
And, the culinary adventures start again in the morning with breakfast and then lunch, interrupted by more hot tubbing and exercising and wellness-ing.
One could spend 24 hours at Ste. Anne’s and feel as though it was a much longer getaway. In the end, that’s really the magic of Ste. Anne’s—it quietly resets your sense of time. What feels like a single day stretches into something deeper, softer, more restorative. You arrive carrying the weight of schedules, screens, and city noise, and leave wondering why you ever thought constant motion was necessary.
Whatever it is, Ste. Anne’s doesn’t just offer an escape—it reminds you how good it feels to truly slow down, and how badly you probably needed it.
If there’s any sign that summer is just around the corner, it’s the return of Toronto’s free Underground Night Market! The second annual budget-friendly event, hosted by Street Eats Market, will bring 20 nights of low-cost eats, shopping and free activities to Bathurst Quay Common from June 12 to July 19. Bonus: admission is free, with every food and drink item priced at $10 or less!
“Yes, we’re bringing back FREE salsa dance classes, FREE games, FREE face painting, and so much more!” Street Eats wrote in a recent Instagram post.
This year, the market will be held at Bathurst Quay Common: the 4,000-square-metre waterfront space sits next to Billy Bishop Airport, right at the foot of the Malting Silos, so visitors can wander the market under gorgeous skyline views while taking in all the FIFA World Cup buzz.
And the city has tons of other Street Eats Market events to look forward to in the coming months, too, including an open-air Street Eats food park at Evergreen Brick Works (May-October), followed by Festival of Flavours at Sugar Beach (May 16-18), the Longest Dinner Table at Bathurst Quay Common (select dates from June 13 to July 18), and, later in the year, the Fall Harvest Market dates (late September and early October)!
For now, if you want to plan a summer night out that doesn’t blow through your entire budget, Toronto’s Underground Night Market takes place June 12-13, 17-20, 23-24, 26-27; July 1-4, 14-19 at Bathurst Quay Common, 1 Eireann Quay. Follow @streeteatsmarket for more info.
At Mahaya, everything goes back to one thing: community.
Located in the heart of Little Italy, Mahaya aims to redefine wellness by bringing people together over shared rituals, including tea. Which is why the tea lounge, in particular, was vital to the space.
“Mahaya Tea Lounge features a rotating selection of teas that reflects seasonality and distinctive character,” says owner Zach Olesinski. “Our aim is to create a tea experience that is both diverse in flavour and rich in sensory experience. The current menu includes a curated range of pu-erh, oolong, and floral teas, such as osmanthus and chrysanthemum.”
And while the tea selection may change, the inspiration behind the concept stays the same. Bringing people together remains paramount to the idea, and it prompted the owners to make the tea lounge a late-night spot.
“The idea of a late night tea lounge was rooted in community. We envisioned a space where discovery meets chance encounters — where tea becomes a unifying medium that invites people to slow down, connect and cultivate a deeper sense of belonging,” Olesinski says. “The Mahaya Tea Lounge is centered around a communal tea table beneath a beautiful skylight. It’s a space shaped by light, simplicity, and balance — designed for quiet connection and intentional gathering.”
And while tea is the only thing on the menu right now, Oleniski says he hopes that the future of the tea lounge involves food menus created in collaboration with local chefs, furthering the sense of togetherness among both Mahaya’s visitors and the neighbourhood businesses. The idea is that, regardless relationship you’re looking to strengthen – the one with yourself, with your community, or with your peers — you can do it at Mahaya.
“The hope is that, after your time in the tea lounge, you leave feeling more connected to yourself,” Oleniski says. “And with a deeper sense of community, shaped through quiet presence, shared space, and meaningful exchanges.”
Mahaya Health Services, including the tea lounge, is located at 637 College Street, unit 200.
Canada’s Wonderland is set to open its gates for the 2026 season on May 3, and there is a full slate of fun things to do, new and reimagined rides and entertainment offerings designed to draw thrill-seekers and families from across the Greater Toronto Area and beyond.
Among the most exciting changes is the transformation of the legendary inverted roller coaster Flight Deck, which will reopen early this summer as The DareDeviler. Originally introduced in 1995 as Top Gun, the ride has been re-themed to evoke the spirit of aviation in the park’s Grande World Expo area.
Behemoth roller coaster at Canada’s Wonderland
According to Canada’s Wonderland, the coaster has undergone track work and received updated trains with new seating and vest-style safety restraints, which are said to deliver a smoother and more comfortable ride while maintaining its, ahem, intensity.
“We’re excited to breathe new life into one of our classic roller coasters,” said Heather Hill, park manager. “With The DareDeviler, we’re elevating the thrill experience with a smoother, more comfortable ride.”
The announcement builds on the continued popularity of AlpenFury, which debuted last year and remains a headline attraction. The coaster holds records as Canada’s longest, tallest and fastest launch coaster, with nine inversions.
Beyond rides, the 2026 season also features a calendar of festivals and themed events. Opening weekend includes a season passholder preview on May 1, followed by the official park opening May 3.
Fireworks nights are scheduled for May 17, July 1 and Sept. 6, while Splash Works opens May 23 with all its watery goodness.
Returning events include Brew & BBQ in June showcasing craft beers and smoked meats as well as live entertainment, and Oktoberfest in September, bringing German-inspired food, drinks and performances to the park.
There will be a Canada Day event dubbed Celebration Canada from July 1–5, while families can expect KidZfest in late July and early August.
SplashWorks at Canada’s Wonderland opens May 23
As Halloween approaches, the park shifts gears with Halloween Haunt and Tricks & Treats, running through late September into early November, before closing the year with WinterFest, featuring holiday lights, seasonal food and winter-themed entertainment.
There are also three new live productions this year including theatre and stunt performances:
Retrospect, a musical production with current and throwback hits
The King’s Banquet, a fantasy-themed cirque show with acrobatics, fire performance and storytelling
Watchtower, a fun stunt-diving extravaganza set in a mythical seaside village
Canada’s Wonderland will also implement a new chaperone policy starting May 1. Guests aged 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult-type person aged 21 or older after 4 p.m., with one adult permitted per group of up to 10 minors.
The park officially opens for the 2026 season on May 3.
If you’ve been trying to make the pilgrimage to Crystal Beach to experience Rizzo’s House of Parm but your gas tank or your schedule says otherwise, Matty Matheson just dropped the best news of the spring. The celebrity chef and The Bear star, is officially bringing his love story to the Italian family to Toronto. For a limited time this May, the saucy, cheese-covered goodness of Rizzo’s is setting up shop right here in the city.
This isn’t a permanent move just yet, so you’ll need to move fast. Rizzo’s is operating as a long-term pop-up from May 7 to May 31. Delivery runs Thursday through Sunday starting at 5 p.m. until they sell out, exclusively via Uber Eats. For those who like to plan ahead, pickup pre-orders are live right now via the link in their Instagram bio. If we know anything about Matty’s pop-ups, these slots will vanish faster than a plate of mozzarella sticks.
Rizzo’s House of Parm on Instagram
Named after his eldest daughter and inspired by his wife Patricia’s heritage, the experience is designed as a complete “House of Parm” dinner for two for $140, serving up the full red-goodness Rizzo’s is known for. You’ll get to choose two parms — selecting from the classic chicken or the tender eggplant — paired with your choice of either the creamy penne alla vodka or the purist’s spaghetti pomodoro. But it doesn’t stop at the mains. Every order comes fully loaded with Rizzo’s signature meatballs, a delicious Caesar salad and a finish of their fan-favorite tiramisu.
Because this is a high-volume pop-up, the kitchen is keeping things strictly traditional meaning they can’t accommodate dietary requirements, so expect plenty of dairy, gluten and allium.
Toronto has had its fair share of internationally successful brands making their way into its shopping sphere, from Chinese retailer Miniso to the colourful racks of clothes at Mango from Spain. The city is getting just one more addition this year, and it’s one of Europe’s coolest gift shops.
Danish chain Flying Tiger, originally from Copenhagen, is finally landing at the CF Eaton Centre this summer. It’ll be the retailer’s first Canadian location, marking the first in a large expansion across the country.
Some of the store’s first locations are replacing the recently shuttered Fox Home stores in major malls. This launch is further being executed throughout a global expansion that will stretch across North America as well as Southeast Asia.
According to a 2025 LinkedIn post from the company, it was stated that nearly 50 Flying Tiger stores would be opening across Canada by 2030. Currently, the retailer has over 1000 stores across 40 countries around the world.
Courtesy Flying Tiger Copenhagen
Flying Tiger is known for its affordability across tons of unique gift ideas, as well as super fun stationery. Scandinavian design enthusiasts will find a ton to shop for, as the store offers products that lean into its roots and are exclusively designed in Denmark. Quirky items in this category include products like plush fastelavns buns and Danish butter cookies.
The store is also just generally a retail haven for creatives and artists, offering sections in arts and crafts, homewares, DIY gifts and so much more.
According to signage within the Eaton Centre (which also bids “Halløj” to Toronto), the new store will open its doors in June 2026.
Niagara Parks Floral Showcase, courtesy @cameronexplores/Instagram
For most people, spring is all about cherry blossoms, but magnolias deserve their own day trip moment (and arguably, they make for an even more beautiful, less crowded spring outing)! According to the Weather Network, it’s not uncommon to mix up the two flowers, but there are a few noticeable differences: magnolias are large and cup-shaped, and come in shades of white, pink, purple and even yellow, while cherry blossoms are smaller, thin-petaled flowers that are often found in clustered bundles, in shades of white, light pink and dark pink.
Ontario’s best magnolia displays tend to hit from mid-April into early May, depending on the weather, which is also when High Park’s famous sakura steal the show! Magnolias bloom there too, but we left the park off this list because cherry blossoms are still the main event. So, if you’re in the mood for peak pink beyond a cherry blossom outing, here are some of the best spots in Ontario to catch magnolia trees at their prettiest.
Royal Botanical Gardens: Arboretum and Rock Garden, Hamilton
Royal Botanical Gardens is home to the largest and oldest collection of both star and saucer magnolia trees, making it one of the province’s most reliable spring flower pilgrimages. Peak bloom usually lands in late April and early May and, as of publication, the star magnolias are already at peak bloom, while most saucer magnolias are still on the way. At the Arboretum, you’ll find a range of colours, everything from white and cream to pale and deep pink, purple, rose and (less commonly) soft yellow, while a select number of magnolia trees can also be found throughout the Rock Garden. This year, look out for cultivars of Magnolia salicifolia: they have an unusual licorice-like fragrance! 16 Old Guelph Rd., Hamilton
Toronto Botanical Garden and Edwards Gardens, Toronto
You don’t have to leave the city to spot beautiful magnolias: they’re in bloom this April at the Toronto Botanical Garden, alongside hellebores, iris, crocus, daffodils and tulips. Edwards Gardens sits adjacent to the Toronto Botanical Garden, and previous years have seen gorgeous magnolias there as well! 777 Lawrence Ave. E.
Kariya Park is a charming Japanese garden nestled in downtown Mississauga, with one of Canada’s most stunning displays of cherry blossoms — but soft pink magnolias also bloom here each spring. It makes for the perfect zen-like escape in the middle of the city. Beyond the pretty flowers, you can enjoy the view of the pond with its resident birds, fish and turtles, the statues nestled throughout the park and the pedestrian bridge across the pond (according to Visit Mississauga, it’s the perfect spot for selfies). For unobstructed views of the flowers, the best time to visit is early in the day (the park is open daily from dawn until 11 p.m.). If you’re after the best photos, head over at sunrise or golden hour, or just opt for a late-night stroll to avoid the crowds. 3620 Kariya Dr., Mississauga
Magnolia Allée, Niagara Falls
Courtesy Niagara Falls Tourism/Facebook
This might be the most cinematic magnolia spot on the list! Magnolia Allée is located just outside the Floral Showhouse along the Niagara River Parkway, and features more than 50 saucer magnolias, with tulip-shaped blossoms in pink and white arching over the pathway. They don’t last long (about two weeks in late April to early May), but while in bloom, the Allée transforms into one of the most beautiful sites in Queen Victoria Park. While in the region, also look out for several large magnolia specimens on the grounds of the 90-acre Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens. 7145 Niagara River Pkwy., Niagara Falls
Dominion Arboretum at the Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa
For eastern Ontario, this is the sleeper pick. The Dominion Arboretum is about a 4.5-hour drive from Toronto (or a quick train ride) and, according to Friends of the Central Experimental Farm, magnolia flowers are among the first to burst into bloom in the spring. They’re also part of the Farm’s heritage, with the first magnolia tree having been planted in 1897! The Arboretum boasts a magnolia-rich northeast corner where a warmer microclimate helps the flowers bloom, so you’ll spot historic groupings like mature kobus, star and saucer magnolias, as well as later-blooming hybrids near Dow’s Lake. Spring displays from many species of magnolia can also be seen at other parts around the Farm. Arboretum, Ottawa
