Smoke’s Poutinerie announces four new Toronto locations; city’s flab quotient rises significantly

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12:30 pm

Great news for Toronto’s drunk-food fiends: our favourite artery-clogging, gravy-slathered national snack is coming soon to a street near you — probably. Smoke’s Poutinerie, the burgeoning Canadian franchise that offers 20-plus variants of the iconic dish, has announced four brand spanking new Toronto locations slated to open in the coming months.

Joining Smoke’s current locations will be new outposts in Little Italy (at Shaw and College) Liberty Village and Yonge and Eglinton — all of which should be open by fall — plus an additional location at Yonge and Sheppard slated to open next year (a specific site in that neighbourhood is still in the works).

According to Eunice Chan, marketing manager for Smoke’s, the poutinerie is continuing its nationwide expansion as well, with new locations opening in Newfoundland, Vancouver and elsewhere.

With the total number of Smoke’s locations in the city soon to hit the double digits, Torontonians will have no shortage of hearty, greasy fare to keep them warm during the long, cold winter months (don't let the tropical weather fool you — winter is coming).

And that’s called labour, honey

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12:29 pm

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I was expecting, but I wasn’t expecting to go to North York General Hospital and leave with a baby.

That’s what happens when nobody believes you are, um, in labour! And no one did.

Since I had a C-section with my daughter, Rowan, almost nine years ago, I didn’t have to go through labour pains. So when, a week before my second scheduled C-section, I could barely stand up, I didn’t know what was happening.

Here’s what I did know: I was surrounded by a bunch of people who were NOT listening to me, the pregnant one.

This was the scene at my house: There was my father, who got on his iPad trying desperately to search “What does labour feel like?” even though he had four children with my mother. Then there was my fiancé, who was on his iPhone, typing in “What do contractions feel like?” even though he has two children from a previous marriage; my mother, who was asking, of all questions, if I felt like “cleaning the floors?”; and me making my daughter cry, by hugging her too tightly.

No, I didn’t feel like cleaning the floors (I’m still wondering why she asked that question), but I did feel like strangling someone.

I didn’t care about what “labour” felt like or what “contractions” felt like. I only cared about getting to the hospital, and yet no one could hear my sad pleas of “Please, please just take me to the hospital.”

No one was listening to me because they were all acting like pretend doctors searching the Internet for sage advice from blogger gurus as I slumped crying to the floor.

Finally, my fiancé said, “OK, I’ll take you, but they are just going to send you back.”

Now, everyone it seems has a labour story, but no one actually can tell you what contractions feel like.

I know my OB said, “You’ll know when you feel them,” but how could I know if I’ve never felt them?

Even in the midst of squeezing my fiancé’s chest hair and begging for him to drive faster as we were stuck on the Allen, I wasn’t even sure that I was in labour.

It was only when I got to the hospital and cried to the nurse that I was in so much pain, and she responded with “That’s called labour, honey,” that I, and everyone else, finally believed that I was in fact getting ready to give birth to my son.

Now, I’m sorry if you were in the bed next to me, at North York General, on the obstetrics floor, while I was waiting to be seen by the doctor on the night of June 3. I’m also very grateful — and sorry — if you were working that night.

I am, by far, the worst patient when it comes to pain.

I also laugh hysterically when I’m in pain. That’s right. When I’m in pain — or nervous — I laugh like some people do watching the movie Bridesmaids for the first time.

So every few minutes, I’d be yelling and laughing, “It hurts! It hurts! How do women do this for more than 15 minutes?”

I literally grabbed the arms of every staff at North York General that came near me (sorry if you were bruised).

This was the scene in the hospital: My fiancé was screaming, “Stop pulling my chest hair!” I was laughing hysterically, and the doctors and nurses were telling me that I was going to be having my C-section in an hour. Which would have been fine if I was actually prepared to have a baby, which I was most definitely not.

We didn’t have a baby bag packed, nor an overnight bag for me packed. I hadn’t done anything on my list of “Things to do before the baby comes.”

I saw Toronto health care at its best and worst that night and the following day. For example, all the nurses and staff and doctors performing my C-section were extremely nice, caring and efficient.

But then I had the baby, and no formula (yes, yes, I’m formula feeding, deal with it) or diapers, and that poses a little problem when the hospital tells you they’ll give you two diapers and then you have to get your own, especially if your baby is born 10 minutes to midnight and the pharmacy at the hospital is closed.

It turns out nowadays, you have to bring everything to the hospital. Who knew?

Baby Holt Samuel was born at 11:48 p.m. on the night of June 3. His father lost a lot of chest hair in the process. His mother is still traumatized after people heard her hysterical laugh-screaming episode.

And, surprisingly, she STILL doesn’t feel like cleaning the floors.

Post City Magazines’ columnist Rebecca Eckler is the author of Knocked Up, Wiped!, and her latest books, How to Raise a Boyfriend and The Lucky Sperm Club.

Grab of the Week: a friendship bracelet with a cause

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11:14 am

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Talking about the “birds and the bees” isn’t normally associated with saving the planet, but this time around it is. Did you know that the value of pollinators — such as bees, butterflies and hummingbirds — to Canadian food crops is around $1.2 billion per year? These are species that help our crops grow, and many of them, especially bees, are diminishing globally at an alarming rate.

To help, Toronto-based indie-luxe jewellery designer Jenny Bird has teamed up with Burt’s Bees to create a meaningful friendship bracelet to add to your arm party. All of the proceeds from each bracelet sold will go to the Pollinator Partnership, a not-for-profit organization that works to protect and restore the populations of pollinator species like bees.

Only 1,200 limited edition bracelets have been produced, so we say get your hands on one as soon as you can, and help the bees stick around.

$24. Available at Narwhal Boutique, online and at other Toronto retailers

Grace Carroll is a Toronto-based freelance writer whose work has appeared in ELLE UK, ELLEcanada.com, Plaid magazine and FILLER magazine. Keep up with her daily blog at www.graciecarroll.com.

Hooked is coming to Kensington Market

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10:12 am

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When it was announced in February that European Quality Meats and Sausages would be closing its Kensington Market location, the obvious concern was that a big-box chain of some sort would open in its place. But the news has been only good since then: Sanagan’s Meat Locker is moving into European’s old spot, and now Leslieville’s much-lauded Hooked is opening a second fish store in Sanagan’s former digs.

“Kensington Market really makes sense,” says Hooked co-owner Kristin Donovan. “We love the idea of having a very small second store.”

Hooked has been a favourite of Toronto chefs since its opening in the east end last year, particularly for its steadfast dedication to sustainable fishing. Its second location will certainly make things interesting for Kensington, which is already rife with independent fishmongers.

Donovan says that Hooked’s second location should be open by September.

[h/t Toronto Life]

What I Wore: Jessica Mary Clayton, Rodebjer and Giancarlo Paoli for a chic office look

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2:00 pm

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Despite my love for tailoring, dressing “for the office” can still be a bit of a challenge. Being a freelancer, by “for the office” I of course mean dressing appropriately for a meeting, wherever that might take place. What I find tricky is dressing professionally while still allowing my personal style to shine through, as it can be so easy to get lost in a sea of conservative.

Outfits are always all about the details, but they really come into play in a look like this. A simple blouse can be made that much more special with the right fabric, buttons, cut and neckline, while the difference in how “fresh” a pair of trousers look depends on the length and cut.

For this outfit, I took a printed silk top from local designer Jessica Mary Clayton, normally reserved for a pair of shorts, and tucked it into a pair of high-waist viscose trousers by Rodebjer. Aside from the light weight of both fabrics, the fact that neither piece contains black contributes to the overall lighter feel of the look — perfect for mid-summer dressing, day or night.

Of course, I don’t mean to sound like someone who eschews black; after all, it is generally my colour of choice. Here it appears in my shoes, grounding the whole look. But what did I say about the details? I love that the backs of these shoes hint at something a little more fun than your average pump.

What I Wore: top by Jessica Mary Clayton at Fawn Boutique, trousers by Rodebjer at Rac Boutique, shoes by Giancarlo Paoli, bag by Be&D.

Grace Carroll is a Toronto-based freelance writer whose work has appeared in ELLE UK, ELLEcanada.com, Plaid magazine and FILLER magazine. Keep up with her daily blog at www.graciecarroll.com.

Krispy Kreme wants to take Toronto by storm — again

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11:29 am

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Perhaps LL Cool J said it best: “Don’t call it a comeback, I’ve been here for years.” The sentiment holds true for Krispy Kreme, particularly regarding its position in the Toronto market. Thought to be long gone after a 2005 company restructuring took away locations throughout the city, the maker of unapologetically calorie-rich doughnuts has kept factories going throughout Ontario and has even maintained a tiny shop at Bathurst and Harbord.

Now, Krispy Kreme is ready to once again make a splash in Canada’s biggest city with the opening of Krispy Kreme Doughnut Café, a new 600 square-foot flagship at 162 McCaul Street.

With the opening of a new Krispy Kreme location also comes the unveiling of a new direction for the chain, which aims to enhance menu options and offer more of a “café” experience.

“We want Krispy Kreme to be known for more than just our doughnuts and coffee,” says franchisee Chris Lindsay. “We have muffins and croissants, but also new signature items like our pull-aparts and kruffins.”

The kruffin ($2.50) is simply Krispy Kreme’s take on the muffin — that is, an icing-infused pastry that comes in a wide variety of different flavors (the banana walnut kruffin is currently the most popular). The pull-apart ($3), meanwhile, represents the company’s foray into more lunch-based fare. It’s a pastry baked with substantial, filling ingredients like bacon, sausage or egg and sprinkled with spices and other flavouring.

The McCaul Street location, which celebrated its grand opening in style — including free doughnuts for a year for the first 12 customers in line (they were lined up well before the 7 a.m. opening) — has been designed with a café feel. In addition to bench seating along the front window, the store boasts a cozier back room with tables and cushy furniture.

But even with all the additional bells and whistles, Krispy Kreme’s central appeal remains the same. The doughnuts are still fresh and utterly decadent (the original glazed remains our personal favorite, harkening back to the chain’s glory days when it burst onto the Toronto scene to high demand almost a decade ago).

The new doughnut café could bring about a new era for Krispy Kreme, which is actively searching for new locations in Toronto and other Canadian cities.

Krispy Kreme Doughnut Café, 162 McCaul St., 647-345-4439

Yorkville’s The Coveterie hosts a one-day private sale (don’t worry, everyone’s invited)

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10:31 am

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Nestled away in a restored Victorian mansion near Yorkville, The Coveterie is a high-end fashion showroom created by Holt Renfrew buying-team alum and retail goddess Natasha Geddes. A veritable fashionista’s mecca, The Coveterie showcases established designers as well as up-and-coming labels.

Usually, the exclusive showroom runs on a look-but-don’t-touch policy. But praise the Gods of fashion: The Coveretie is hosting a one-day “private sale” today from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (the word “private” is apparently just for show, since everyone’s welcome).

On her Twitter account and Facebook page, Geddes showcases some of the items on offer. We’re salivating over a cobalt Maurie & Eve dress and a boho-chic pair of Wren suede fringe shorts, as well as a plethora of other goodies by designers like Nanushka, Jenny Bird, Ann & Arayata and more.

We suggest heading there early. Following Geddes’ recent Twitter announcement that nothing would be priced over $150, not to mention a number of picks under $35, we suspect the fashion-hungry masses will tear the place apart pretty quick.

Run, shopaholics, run!

The Coveterie, 12 Irwin Ave., 647-678-4717. Private sale is July 4, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m

Ontario follows feds with bill that abandons wildlife protection

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9:52 am

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Canada’s environmental laws are under attack by both the federal and Ontario governments. In Ottawa, the government introduced Bill C-38 to implement far-reaching measures announced in its budget. The 420-page bill will gut a raft of federal laws passed over the years to ensure that our air, water and most vulnerable wildlife populations are protected. Casualties include the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, Fisheries Act, Species at Risk Act, National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy Act and the Kyoto Implementation Act.

In a surprisingly similar action, the government of Ontario recently introduced Bill 55, which seriously affects no less than six important resource and wildlife laws, with amendments that strike at the heart of Ontario’s Endangered Species Act.

When Ontario introduced the act in 2007, legal experts and advocates lauded it as one of the strongest environmental laws in North America. Ontario’s leadership was commendable, as it established a strong legal benchmark to protect wildlife at risk in the province, such as caribou, snapping turtles and rare Carolinian forests.

Although biodiversity loss receives less attention than issues such as climate change, it threatens the very life-support systems of our planet: clear air, clean water and productive soil. This is not a problem of some far-off tropical rain forest nation. Scientists say Ontario is particularly vulnerable to biodiversity decline and has a global responsibility for stewardship. A study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences identified the boreal forest (which makes up more than 40 per cent of Ontario) as the biome on the planet most vulnerable to damage from industrial activities and the effects of human-caused global warming.

By weakening its Endangered Species Act — eliminating legal timelines for the development of species recovery strategies, creating loopholes for resource industries like forestry and mining, and further limiting legal protection of endangered wildlife on private lands — Ontario will be unprepared to cope with ongoing threats to its precious ecosystems and biodiversity.

The federal government has justified its efforts to eviscerate environmental laws by cynically claiming that caring for nature is a barrier to economic prosperity. But this ideologically driven agenda will harm our nation and undermine the future for our children. We can’t hope to have healthy economies and communities in Ontario or the rest of Canada without healthy ecosystems and species diversity.

A recent study by the David Suzuki Foundation found that biodiversity in Ontario’s Greenbelt alone helps to filter, store and regulate drinking water for millions of people in the Greater Toronto Area — a service worth over $1 billion a year that saves cash-strapped municipalities hundreds of millions in capital costs just to upgrade water infrastructure.

The environment can’t simply be a fair-weather friend for politicians running for election. True leadership means committing to the long haul and ensuring that air, water, land and wildlife are protected now and into the future in Ontario and across Canada.

David Suzuki is the host of the CBC’s The Nature of Things and author of more than 30 books on ecology.

Funny man flips for the Fringe

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9:52 am

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The Toronto Fringe Festival is back this month, and among the familiar faces returning to the 11-day theatre extravaganza is Canadian performer Patrick McKenna.

McKenna is a well-known actor thanks to his starring roles on the TV series The Red Green Show and Traders. Though he’s known for stealing the show (he made television history by being awarded Geminis in the Lead Actor category for both comedic and dramatic performances on the same night for the two shows), McKenna is staying safely behind the scenes at this year’s Fringe, directing musical comedian George Westerholm’s new production, It’s My Show: I Don’t Care.

“George and I have known each other for 20-odd years,” McKenna says, referring to how he got the gig. “He contacted me to direct it, and I had experience with directing the Second City mainstage show, and I’d performed some of George’s material, so it was a great fit.”

The one-man show, described as “one man’s enduring triumph of shallowness and vanity through music,” evolved from Westerholm’s own music.

“We looked through his catalogue of his songs, and he started to see a theme in his writing, and we just put together the best ones that illuminate his life articulated by his music,” says McKenna.

From there, a premise was born: “It’s George’s birthday, and he’s doing a show, and he’s haunted … by the choices he made in his life, from his clothing to his music to his hair.”

McKenna knows a thing or two about making big choices. It was just after completing his business studies at Sheridan College that he spontaneously chose to attend an open call for the Second City. It was a life-changing decision, which paved the way for his future success in comedy and performing.

From Second City, he toured North America as a stand-up comedian for five years, opening for acts such as Dionne Warwick and Smokey Robinson.

“I loved doing stand-up,” says McKenna, chuckling. “[I was] young enough to do the work. There’s a lot of road travelling. You’ve got to work hard.”

But soon the Second City came calling again, plucking him from his stand-up circuit and hoisting him to its latest mainstage show. Not long afterward, he was cast on CBC’s The Red Green Show as Harold Green, the title character’s nephew and trusty sidekick. The show ran for 15 seasons, from 1991 to 2006.

“The Harold character [is my favourite role]. He was everything personified. I was improvising, he was ADHD. I was memorizing 56 pages of script. It was demanding to be that silly.”

But McKenna seems to thrive on challenges. During his stint on Red Green, McKenna was also cast on Global TV’s hit drama series Traders, in 1996, as ambitious head trader, Marty Stephens. The show ended in 2000 with McKenna juggling the two distinct acting roles, working seven days a week for five years.

Not surprisingly, “it was exhausting,” admits McKenna. “I have ADHD, so it fit because it kept my synapses firing. I was always looking for some drama. That [experience] seemed to work very well.”

If McKenna seems to mention ADHD a lot, it’s not by accident. The actor was diagnosed with it in 2009, a detail that was revealed during the documentary ADD and Loving It, and he has since become a vocal advocate for the often misunderstood disorder.
“I’ve been touring universities and training centres, talking about how I grew up with it,” says McKenna. “I talk to teachers and psychologists. It’s probably the most rewarding thing I’ve done. People know who they are now .…but it’s creating that communication. It’s a very difficult hurdle.”

But it’s one that McKenna now has the time to tackle since he decided to take a semi-retirement from acting after the swan song of The Red Green Show.

“I was pretty much kaput after the five years [of doing both Red Green and Traders]. I was busy for 15 years. It was a great opportunity to act different, read differently, the interaction, studio versus audience. It was a great school of opportunity.”

When he is not touring to speak about ADHD, McKenna is now mostly lending his voice to animated series or doing the odd TV guest appearance.

“I am happy to do different things,” McKenna says. “Most Canadians don’t have this opportunity, so I’m taking full advantage of it. It gave me the chance to do [It’s My Show: I Don’t Care].”

Being a part of a Fringe show seemed like the most fitting next step for McKenna.

“A lot of my community works with the Fringe, and it forced me to jump back into the community…There’s a lot of real art being created, and that’s what I love about the Fringe.”

As for his advice to the emerging artists who are coming up through this year’s festival: “Keep it simple. One thought. One message. Complete the message. Usually I see the first and second acts, but they don’t wrap up.”

It’s My Show: I Don’t Care plays July 4 – July 15. Check www.fringetoronto.com

Kitchen Confidential: Does half toppings equal half fat?

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9:52 am

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Customizing your meal is a trick many health-conscious diners try. But is it a real calorie saver? We sent a regular pizza and a light-toppings version from Lil’ Baci, which has just opened a new midtown location, to the lab to find out.

Lil’ baci fiamma pizza

Lil’ Baci is known for serving up pizzas inspired by the cuisine of southern Italy. Topped with tomato, mozzarella, sausage, chilies and basil, the fiamma is a classic pizza for a big appetite — and it shows in its fat and sodium content.

      Nutrition Facts
    • Serving size: 1 pizza (493.9 g)
    • Calories 1501
    • Total Fat 67.2 g (103% Daily Value*)
    • Sodium 3097 mg (129% Daily Value*)
    • Carbohydrates 109.2 g (36% Daily Value*
    • Protein 114.6 g

Lil’ baci custom fiamma pizza

We asked for a fiamma with half the sausage and half the mozzarella of the standard version. By going easy with the toppings, over 450 calories were cut out and the fat was almost halved. The sodium content was down by about a quarter.

      Nutrition Facts
• Serving size: 1 pizza (351.4 g)
• Calories 1033
    • Total Fat 36.2 g (56% Daily Value*)
    • Sodium 2316 mg (96% Daily Value*)
    • Carbohydrates 136.7 g (46% Daily Value*)
    • Protein 40.4 g

Address: 892 Queen St. E. and 2013 Yonge St.

TEST PARAMETERS: Results relate only to the items tested. A standard margin of error applies for each item. *DAILY VALUE PERCENTAGES: Health Canada uses a 2,000-calorie diet as the benchmark for nutritional labelling, and so did we. Subsequent values for total fat and carbohydrates are derived as a percentage of that diet.

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Revival Hour: The Sadies, Devin Cuddy, Diamond Rings, Evening Hymns and more

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4:49 pm

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The Sadies take a ride with Neil Young & Crazy Horse

Venerable Toronto roots-rock outfit The Sadies are hitting the road for a Canadian tour with Neil Young and Crazy Horse, who are touring in support of their phenomenal new Americana album. The bands will be making a stop in Toronto at the Air Canada Centre on Nov. 19, and Los Lobos is also on the bill. The Sadies — guitarists/vocalists Dallas and Travis Good, drummer Mike Belitsky and upright bassist Sean Dean — recently released a new album with Andre Williams dubbed Night & Day.

Here is the band during the recent North by Northeast Music Festival playing at the Horseshoe Tavern with Andre Williams:

Another Cuddy arrives on Queen West

When Blue Rodeo and their lead singer Jim Cuddy started making music in Toronto, it was on the cusp of the Queen West scene. Life revolved around a few key bars and restaurants of that era, and one of the most important was The Cameron House. Fast forward a few decades and The Cameron is still a great place to listen to live music. And, this July and August, a Cuddy will once again be involved. This time, however, it is Devin Cuddy stepping to the mic just like his old man Jim did many years ago. The young Cuddy, who plays piano and sings in a four-person outfit, has a new album on the way this year, and should garner significant attention over the summer as he begins his two-month Wednesday-night residency.

The love child of Ziggy Stardust and Lady Gaga

Diamond Rings was back in the game last month when he released the first single and video for "I'm Just Me," the first song off his forthcoming album slated for release this fall. John O'Regan, former frontman for indie rock band The D'Ubervilles, has obviously invested a significant amount of time in the production of his new disc that is co-produced by Grammy-nominated Damian Taylor (Björk, The Killers) and it shows on the first track — a seriously full-on, explosive synth-dance tune that offers up a fuller mix without sacrificing O'Regan's characteristic vocals. It's a winner; check it out below.

Going to church

Evening Hymns also announced the date for their release show in Toronto to celebrate their new album, Spectral Dusk. The band, fronted by songwriter Jonas Bonnetta, plays the Great Hall Lower Theatre on Aug. 17 as part of the SummerWorks Music Series. According to a press release, the album was recorded in the "woods northeast of Perth, Ontario in January 2011 and at the Glen Gordon in Toronto, Ontario throughout 2011." Spectral Dusk is the follow-up to their well-received debut album Spirit Guides. The album is said to be a "reflection, a study of loss, pain, and hope" stemming, at least in part, from the death of Bonnetta's father in 2009.

Here is the first track, "Arrows," off the new album:

First Albums

What is the first record Konrad Commisso of Toronto band Poor Young Things bought?

"The first album I clearly remember buying (on cassette, actually) was Our Lady Peace's Clumsy. Walkmans were still huge and I was right around the age where kids would start buying their own music to listen to through headphones. If you were 11 years old back in 1997 (ed. note: I was most definitely not), and had a TV with MuchMusic, you knew who Our Lady Peace was, it was that simple. In retrospect, the album was one of the best out of a crop of really solid '90s alt-rock albums that came out of the Canadian music industry. I wouldn't be so into OLP after that (much like anything you really hold on to and identify with as a kid), but listening back I realize how much that album is remembered as one that sort of defined itself as an introduction to fresh and exciting rock music for a whole lot of Canadian kids."

Poor Young Things' debut EP, Let It Sleep, was released earlier this year with a full-length release to follow later this year.

Here is the title track from the landmark OLP album (FYI, Our Lady Peace play Echo Beach at Molson Canadian Ampitheatre on Aug. 19):

For five days only, Ossington is getting a pop-up general store (complete with ice cream bars)

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4:10 pm

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If you’ve been hoping for more shops like the Drake General Store in Toronto, you’re in luck. This Wednesday, the girls behind unisex label Muttonhead (who have also created a name for themselves with some of the best pop-up shops this city has to offer) have pulled together an assortment of Canadian goods in order to set up the Mutts & Co. Variety Store.

From clothing to accessories, housewares to food, the shop will be a one-stop destination for homegrown and local-loving shoppers over the course of its five-day run. Items we’ve already added to our shopping list include: ice cream bars made with Sam James coffee by Brandon Olsen of The Black Hoof, a gold-studded iPhone case by Felony Case, illustrated tea towels by Jim Mezei and summer jerseys by Krane.

It’s as though gifting yourself for Christmas came early! Don’t worry, credit cards are accepted.

Mutts & Co. Variety Store, 94 Ossington Ave., July 4 – July 8