C O M P L I M E N TA R Y • INSIDE ❯ THE NEIGHBOURHOODS • THE FOOD • THE DESIGN • THE SHOPPING • THE CULTURE • THE PEOPLE
2015
|
BEST OF THE CITY
COSMOPOLITAN COLOUR
YOUR FRONT ROW TO TOP FESTIVALS, THEATRE, MUSIC, SPORTS & MORE
EXPERIENCE THE 2015 PAN AM GAMES MORE TO EXPLORE MISSISSAUGA, BRAMPTON & NIAGARA
YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND IN TORONTO • Located in the hear t of downtown Toronto within walking distance of prime retail districts and colourful local neighbourhoods • A variety of guest rooms ranging from comfor table Deluxe rooms to spacious Kitchenettes and Suites • Relax in our lobby T|Bar with a signature homemade Caesar or listen to the best live music in the city at Monarchs Pub. For diners with little time to spare enjoy Market Garden including express|o coffee and wine bar • Exclusive attraction, theatre and spa discounts through our Show Your Key and Save program • Separate adult and family recreation areas including 2 indoor pools and the 130-foot “Corkscrew” waterslide • Complimentar y basic Wi-Fi • Underground hotel parking available
33 Gerrard Street West. Toronto, ON M5G IZ4 chelseatoronto.com / 1-800-CHELSEA (243-5732)
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e’re proud to present the latest edition of Toronto magazine, featuring inspiration from across our great region and all the practical information you’ll need to craft your own unique adventure. You’ll find a cosmopolitan city with a style that is authentically Toronto and distinctly Canadian. Walk the streets by day and by night. Savour the sights, sounds and diverse tastes of every café, restaurant, market and festival. Throughout the seasons, our streets are alive with entertainment and the excitement of major-league sporting events, premier shopping and renowned hotels. The region is booming, and it shows in our growth and the revitalization of such marquee visitor areas as the Toronto Waterfront, the new South Core district and Union Station, which is now directly connected to Toronto Pearson International Airport by a rail link, UP (Union-Pearson) Express, opening this year. In 2015, the province of Ontario is excited and proud to be hosting the Pan American/Parapan American Games. Thousands of athletes from 41 countries will come together while public squares and arts venues will be bursting with performances, exhibitions and festivals celebrating the Americas and the Caribbean. An intimate yet vibrant downtown core is the gateway to extraordinary neighbourhood experiences found around every corner. Beyond the downtown core, endless opportunities await you in Brampton and Mississauga. The entire region boasts some of the finest attractions, golf courses, parks, trails, racetracks and shopping centres for you to explore. Venture outside the Greater Toronto Area to see the breathtaking wilderness of Ontario’s famed cottage country, or head around Lake Ontario to the Niagara region for some of the world’s finest wineries. You’ll quickly discover why Ontario is not just a place to see but also a place to experience. Visit SeeTorontoNow.com to get up-to-the-minute event listings. While here, be sure to pick up your copy of the 2015 Toronto Visitor Guide. In it, you’ll find all the information you’ll need to explore one of the most exciting and unique cities you’ve ever visited. More than 315,000 dedicated individuals are working in tourism and hospitality in Toronto, and we’re all here to welcome you and make your visit one you’ll remember for a long time. On behalf of all of us, welcome to Toronto! Ontario is truly yours to discover.
To download our free See Toronto app, visit SeeTorontoNow.com Follow us: @SeeTorontoNow
Michael Coteau
David Whitaker
Ontario Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport
President and CEO, Tourism Toronto
VisitToronto
@SeeTorontoNow l
VisitToronto
TORONTO 2015 • 3
TORONTO MAGAZINE 2015, VOLUME 8, ISSUE 1
CONTENTS
31
Departments
Upfront
3 Welcome
City Confidential
11 Arts, culture, etc.
8 Contributors 12 New in 2015 What’s generating buzz in our city right now.
From insider-secret shopping tips to the hottest gallery scenes, find out where to get your culture on.
88 Finding your feet How to get around town.
92 2015 events 94 Last word Colin Boyd Shafer’s Cosmopolis Toronto tells global stories filtered through a single lens.
23
28 Hot tickets Your guide to getting tickets to 10 must-see citywide events. By Amber Dowling
31 Celebrar Panamericana! It may be the first time we’ve hosted the Pan Am Games, but Toronto has long been home to a rich mix of Latin American and Caribbean cultures. By Eva Salinas
31 22
36 Fostering innovation Toronto is home to a who’s who of industry giants who’ve invested their time, talent and dollars in the city. Proof positive that the city has evolved into a global innovation powerhouse. By Linda Dunlop
Enjoy the live-music scene—your way. By Jamie Noguchi
48 Family fun Gather the family and explore city highlights from A to Z. By Yuki Hayashi
50 Winter magic
38 True sports Four cheers to the pride of Toronto—the Jays, Leafs, Argos and Raptors. Here, a replay of their greatest and most significant moments. By Jamie Bradburn
40 Insider style Whether you’re looking for a casual weekend piece or the perfect accessory for a big night out, we’ve rounded up stylish personalities to share their favourite shopping hot spots. By Vanessa Taylor
50
4 • TORONTO 2015 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com
44 Beat seekers
Embrace winter with a dozen sparkling seasonal activities. By Kat Tancock
48
DRESS BETTER. DO BETTER.
AWARD WINNING
MENS FASHION
Voted Top 10 Menswear Store In Canada
Voted Best Menswear Store In Toronto 8X
Voted Top 10 Menswear Store In Canada
CONTENTS
54
76
Compass
Food & Drink
Toronto restaurant listings are like the flight board at an airport— take your pick of round-the-world options, traditional or served with a contemporary twist. By Amy Rosen
62 Urban escapes
57 Drink it in
54 Our roots are showing
The city’s best getaway plans, whether you’re between meetings, catching up with friends or looking for an outdoor adventure.
From pre-theatre tipples to great acts in gastronomy, here’s a scene-by-scene guide to finding your new favourite drink in our fair city. By Jamie Noguchi
By Yuki Hayashi
66 Walk on
59 Craft crawl
Here’s our essential neighbourhood guide (along with photo tips to nail those Instagram moments).
Taste Toronto in five beers. Follow this treasure map to find gold along with amber, stout and so many more craft brews to choose from.
By Jane L. Thompson
76 Stars in the west By Sarah B. Hood
79 City of Villages Mississauga is a grown-up metropolis with small-town charm. By Janelle Reed
82 Destination: Niagara Plan a day trip and seize the day, your way. By Yuki Hayashi
86 Great drives
By Crystal Luxmore
62
Discover southern Ontario’s favourite getaways. By Aliyah Shamsher
59 86 54
C O M P L I M E N TA R Y • INSIDE ❯ THE NEIGHBOURHOODS • THE FOOD • THE DESIGN • THE SHOPPING • THE CULTURE • THE PEOPLE
2015
|
BEST OF THE CITY
COSMOPOLITAN COLOUR
YOUR FRONT ROW TO TOP FESTIVALS, THEATRE, MUSIC, SPORTS & MORE
EXPERIENCE THE 2015 PAN AM GAMES MORE TO EXPLORE MISSISSAUGA, BRAMPTON & NIAGARA
ON THE COVER Shot on location at Commerce Court in the heart of Toronto’s Financial District. A stunning example of beaux-arts architecture set like a jewel between modernist towers of glass and steel. commercecourt.ca Photography: Sian Richards Stylist: Ingrie Williams Hair and makeup: David Goveia for MAC Cosmetics/judyinc.com Models: Caroline Torti, Da Costa Talent Management, Maneli Jamal
6 • TORONTO 2015 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com
79
Movie and TV celebrities call Brampton home.
82
FAIRMONT LUXURY ROOM
Modern Luxury at The Fairmont Royal York Last year, The Fairmont Royal York unveiled its newly renovated Fairmont Luxury Rooms; a fresh, modern addition to the regal elegance that is synonymous with the hotel. Our newly renovated rooms have been designed by Jinnie Kim Design, a Boston based group of architects and interior design professionals specializing in hotels with over 20 years of experience. For information visit www.fairmont.com/royal-york-toronto or call 1 800 441 1414.
\fairmontroyalyork
@fairmontRYH
@royalyorkhotel
CONTRIBUTORS Vanessa Taylor “Fashion central” (page 22) and “Insider style” (page 40) Vanessa has been reporting on fashion, beauty and red-carpet trends for women’s publications and websites such as Chatelaine, The Kit, Wedding Bells, Today’s Parent and Glow for more than 10 years. She is a regular on-air style expert on CBC’s Steven & Chris and has worked with clients like Gap, Revlon and L’Oréal. Find her on Twitter @vanessa_tweets or at vanessataylor.ca. Her favourite late-night spots: “I have a soft spot for the Cadillac Lounge in Parkdale. And the Park Hyatt Toronto rooftop bar has the best view of the city.”
Remie Geoffroi “Family fun” (page 48) Remie’s illustrations regularly appear in many award-winning publications, including Canadian Business, New York magazine, ESPN, The Hollywood Reporter and Wired. His restaurant recommendations: “The inexpensive, humble vegan Chinese restaurant Buddha’s on Dundas, Mother’s Dumplings on Spadina and the not-to-be-missed experimental Japanese restaurant Guu on Church.”
Tourism Toronto Chair of the Board Heather McCrory President & CEO David Whitaker Editorial Director: Executive Vice President Andrew Weir Managing Editor: Corporate Communications Manager Cathy Riches Director, Creative Services Bridget LeGrow Director, Industry Relations Pamela Laite Member Care Director Denise Belgrove Spafax Canada Inc. spafax.com
Eva Salinas “Celebrar Panamericana!” (page 32) Eva has worked as a writer and editor in Canada and Latin America over the past 10 years. She was a reporter for the Globe and Mail’s Vancouver bureau, and the editorin-chief of the Santiago Times in Chile. She has contributed to the National Post, the London Times, the CBC, BBC and more. She is also the author of Latin Americans Thought of It, an educational book for children, published by Annick Press. She is currently the managing editor of the foreign policy site OpenCanada.org. Where she likes to meet up with friends: “Trinity Bellwoods Park, for most days of the year.”
Sarah B. Hood “Boomtown” (page 15) and “Stars in the west” (page 76) Sarah B. Hood is the author of Toronto: The Unknown City and writes about the city for such periodicals as Spacing, Yonge Street and Toronto Home. Her work has been shortlisted for Canada’s National Magazine Awards, the Kenneth R. Wilson Awards for business writing and Taste Canada— The Food Writing Awards. Her favourite new development in the city: “Corktown Common is such an amazing park!”
Editorial Executive Editor Amanda Eaton Deputy Editor Karen Eull Copy Editor Debbie Madsen Villamere Art Art Director Gordon Alexander Designer Claire Zidar-Triassi Operations Production Director Joelle Irvine Acting Production Director Maureen Veilly
Production Manager Andréanne Lafond Ad Production Manager Mary Shaw Ad Production Coordinator Anne-Marie Nguyen Proofreaders Jennifer Krissilas Jacob Sheen Sales Media Director Laura Maurice National Sales Manager Tracy Miller Account Manager Marjorie Callaghan Account Management Director, Brand Alliances, Marketing & PR Courtney MacNeil Senior Strategist, Luxury and Lifestyle Brands Christal Agostino Account Manager, Luxury and Lifestyle Brands Celyn Harding-Jones Chief Executive Officer Niall McBain President, Content Marketing Raymond Girard Executive Vice President, Content Marketing Nino DiCara Senior Vice President, Content Strategy Arjun Basu Vice President, Finance & Operations Paula Pergantis
Geoff Fitzgerald “Celebrar Panamericana!” (page 32) and “Our roots are showing” (page 54) After studying photography at Sheridan College, Geoff immediately moved to Toronto to pursue his two passions: photography and music. He shoots live music for publications such as A Music Blog, Yea? and Exclaim! His work can also be seen in publications like Cottage Life, MoneySense, Canadian Wildlife and many more. His favourite hangout: “Get Well bar at Dundas and Ossington. I have always loved video games, and there are free-to-play arcade machines in the back, along with a handful of pinball tables.”
Amy Rosen “Our roots are showing” (page 54) One of the country’s leading tastemakers and an award-winning journalist, Amy is the author of the bestselling Toronto Cooks: 100 Signature Recipes from the City’s Best Restaurants and a regular contributor to enRoute, Food & Wine, Food & Drink and the National Post and Globe and Mail newspapers. Her favourite festival: “Nuit Blanche. I love the communal vibe and how contemporary art absolutely takes over the city, all over the city. It’s an interactive celebration of creativity that everyone can enjoy.”
8 • TORONTO 2015 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com
Membership enquiries: 647-202-3042 Ad sales (Spafax Canada): 416-350-2425 Circulation: 300,000 Published by Tourism Toronto Queen’s Quay Terminal, Suite 405, 207 Queens Quay West, Toronto, ON Canada M5J 1A7 Tel: 416-203-2600 Fax: 416-203-6753 Printed in Canada Toronto Magazine © 2015. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. All information is current as of press time. The publisher cannot and does not guarantee the accuracy of all information and will not be responsible for errors, changes or omissions.
This publication is printed on stock FSC certified and is 100% recyclable. ®
WHAT’S NEXT. The latest arrivals. The most sought-after labels. The ultimate destination. 2 5 0 S TO R E S | WO R L D - C L A S S FA S H I O N & LU X U RY B R A N D S | DI S C OV E R YO R K DA L E . C O M
Pearson Airport to downtown Toronto in 25 minutes, every 15 minutes. Get there fast. Not furious.
In Spring 2015, Union Pearson Express will change the way you look at travelling. UP Express is your direct link between Toronto Pearson International Airport and Union Station in the heart of downtown Toronto, with only two quick stops, a comfortable, spacious interior, overhead luggage racks, airline check-in, and on-board amenities like Wi-Fi and flight information screens. Whether you’re in Toronto for a short visit or an extended stay, we can’t wait to welcome you aboard. UPexpress.com
Pride In June 2014, Toronto hosted WorldPride, a true honour for the city and the first time this event has been hosted in North America. This vibrant celebration gave the world a chance to see how the city welcomes LGBT* people from all nations. Toronto was also the first jurisdiction in North America to perform legal same-sex marriage and has long been a destination for some of the world’s largest Pride events. Learn more at pridetoronto.com.
UPFRONT *Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
What’s generating buzz in and around Toronto right now. By Celyn Harding-Jones
Travelling to and from the airport?
Union Pearson Express: UP Express beginning Spring 2015 Getting to and from Toronto’s Union Station downtown, regional hubs and Toronto Pearson International Airport is now even easier. The Union Pearson (UP) Express connection is a dedicated airport-train station express rail service. Designed with busy travellers in mind, UP Express provides a quick, dependable service between the two busiest transportation hubs in Canada. Trains depart every 15 minutes, with a total ride time of 25 minutes door to door. Link up to Wi-Fi, download the See Toronto app and enjoy the ride! UPexpress.com
UP Express
Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport tunnel
Walk to Billy Bishop Airport! Visitors and locals alike rave about the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport for its ultra-convenient location in downtown Toronto—and now you can walk to the airport in minutes via a new tunnel that connects the island airport to downtown. In about six minutes, travellers can stroll from city street to runway on moving sidewalks, commuting under Lake Ontario. (Construction is set to be complete in early 2015.) Passengers who prefer crossing by ferry to enjoy breathtaking views of the skyline en route will still be able to do so.
12 • TORONTO 2015 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com
Pompeii: In the Shadow of the Volcano Royal Ontario Museum October 6, 2015 to January 3, 2016 View more than 200 artifacts that provide insight into the daily life of the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, buried under metres of volcanic ash nearly 2,000 years ago by the eruption of Vesuvius. Pompeii was hidden for almost 1,700 years, until archaeological excavations uncovered the city frozen in time. rom.on.ca From the Forest to the Sea: Emily Carr in British Columbia The Art Gallery of Ontario April 11 to July 12, 2015 London Dulwich Picture Gallery and Toronto’s Art Gallery of Ontario present the works of Emily Carr, one of Canada’s most beloved and esteemed artists. The exhibition will include key major works and historic indigenous artifacts from the Pacific Northwest Coast, including masks, baskets and ceremonial objects by Haida, Kwakwaka’wakw, Nuu-chah-nulth, Salish, Tsimshian and Tlingit makers. ago.net Mythbusters: The Explosive Exhibition Ontario Science Centre June to September, 2015 Join Discovery Channel’s Mythbusters to debunk myths and expose truths for yourself through explosive live demonstrations. It’s sure to be a blast. Plus, from solar observing, giant IMAX films and the Rock Band Experience to the hair-raising Electricity Demo, the Ontario Science Centre has got having fun nailed down to a science. ontariosciencecentre.ca Kent Monkman: The Rise and Fall of Civilization The Gardiner Museum October 6, 2015 to January 3, 2016 Canadian First Nations artist Kent Monkman’s latest installation, The Rise and Fall of Civilization explores the extermination of the American bison in the 1800s. This specific installation piece was created in response to the Gardiner Museum’s permanent collection. Monkman’s internationally acclaimed multidisciplinary works challenge images of First Nations and indigenous Americans throughout history. gardinermuseum.on.ca Dressed to Win Design Exchange July 8 to November 15, 2015 Find out how sportswear has interwoven layers of ethnographics, nature, fashion and performance over its history as a fashion item. Dive into the performance-enhancing, sharkskin-inspired swimsuits, see how major fashion brands play with sportswear, or find out how the iconic parka was influenced by First Nations kamleikas. dx.org
Photography: Emily Carr, Indian Church © 2006 Art Gallery of Ontario
New in 2015
What’s on!
UPFRONT
New Fort York Visitor Centre Commemorate and celebrate the site of the Battle of York during the War of 1812, where Canadian militia and First Nations fought side by side with British troops against the invading Americans in what is now downtown Toronto. And this fall, the stunning new Visitor Centre will host the Magna Carta. fortyorkfoundation.ca
Brampton Square Beautification
The new Garden Square in downtown Brampton is planning upgrades to make it even more inviting to the community. The current plan for the beautification of Garden Square includes two stages for concerts, an LED screen to broadcast live events like sports, movies, concert nights and farmers’ markets. Walk Brampton’s new Arts Walk of Fame, which recognizes Bramptonian stars like actors Michael Cera and Scott Thompson, and author Rohinton Mistry.
Streetsville Village Square
Photography: Stephanie Calvet (Fort York), Salim Nensi (Aga Khan Museum), The Mississauga News/ Jason Spencer (Streetsville)
This community hot spot in Mississauga is back in action after a major revamp. The space now boasts a covered stage, sound system and new lighting. The focal point is the fully restored Streetsville Cenotaph, constructed in 1926 to commemorate local veterans who died during World War I. The cenotaph, a historical landmark, has long been an important centre for community gatherings and ceremonies.
Fort York Visitor Centre
DID YOU KNOW?•
Accessibility is a prime objective of business establishments, sporting events, entertainment venues and public transportation. For the full story, visit seetorontonow.com/ accessibility.
Streetsville Village Square
Garden Square, Brampton
Aga Khan Museum and Ismaili Centre The Aga Khan Museum, which opened in the fall of 2014, is the first museum in North America dedicated to presenting an overview of the artistic, intellectual and scientific contribution that Muslim civilizations have made to world heritage. The museum will present its more than 1,000-item collection of metalwork, ceramics, textiles, paintings, Koran manuscripts, ivory and other significant artifacts. Educational and inspiring, the museum connects cultures through Islamic art. Stroll the beautiful grounds and admire this impressive new structure created by renowned architect Fumihiko Maki to house generous gallery spaces, areas for art conservation, and a 350-seat theatre. agakhanmuseum.org
Aga Khan Museum
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TORONTO 2015 • 13
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UPFRONT Union Station and South Core The venerable transportation temple that is Union Station is partway through a $640-million metamorphosis that’s creating glass-covered walkways, new transit concourses and retail levels, a brand-new TTC subway platform, expanded GO train and bus facilities, a redeveloped VIA Rail station, and both the Ontario Travel Information Centre and the Union Station Tourist Information Centre. South of Front Street, a cluster of glittering towers for banks, tech firms, hotels and condo dwellers—more than seven million square feet of new real estate—is springing up, all connected to the PATH walkway network and the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Visitors are discovering the South Core’s recreational amenities, which include The Air Canada Centre (theaircanadacentre.com), Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada (ripleyaquariums.com/canada), Rogers Centre (rogerscentre.com), CN Tower (cntower.ca), Toronto Railway Museum (trha.ca/museum.html) and a wealth of restaurants and craft breweries such as Steam Whistle.
Boomtown The downtown waterfront gets a bold makeover. By Sarah B. Hood
Photography: Zeidler Partnership Architects (Union Station), Waterfront Toronto (Waterfront)
Every year, wider swaths of the lovely Lake Ontario shoreline are opening up for strolling, cycling and dining as the puzzle pieces of Toronto’s award-winning, multi-year waterfront makeover are put into place.
Queens Quay East and Donlands Between Bay and Parliament streets, the promenade-in-progress connects Sugar Beach, Corus Quay and the inventive Sherbourne Common. Beyond, from Parliament to the Don River, 32 hectares (80 acres) of underused space are blossoming into a new residential district around the site of the Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Athletes’ Village. Tiny Underpass Park, with its play structures and mini skate park right under the Gardiner Expressway, is already popular, but its brilliantly designed neighbour, the 7.3-hectare (18-acre) Corktown Common, is the main attraction, with its boardwalk through a stunning naturalized marshland, sensational downtown vistas and a playground slide that’s as irresistible to grown-ups as it is to toddlers. The waterfront revitalization will continue for several years as the Lower Don River is redirected to form a new neighbourhood crossed by canals. The final result will be a major area for enjoyment by residents and visitors alike.
Corktown Common
Waterfront Promenade The entire urban landscape south of Front Street, between Exhibition Place in the west end of the downtown core and the Don Valley in the east, is being reshaped. Already, visitors to Queens Quay are enjoying sections of a sweeping scenic pedestrian promenade that follows the shoreline throughout the entire area. Recent additions connected the all-season beauty of the Toronto Music Garden to the new Ontario Square, Canada Square and Exhibition Common at Harbourfront Centre (harbourfrontcentre.com), the quirky, photogenic WaveDecks and HTO Park (waterfronttoronto.ca), and the pet-centred fun of PawsWay (pawsway.ca). The newest section, at Portland Slip, runs south from Queens Quay along Bathurst Street, past the historic Canada Malting silos to the haunting sculptures of Ireland Park, which commemorate the hardships of the 38,560 refugees of the Great Famine who came to Toronto in 1847. In June 2015, a completely reimagined central section of Queens Quay, from Yo-Yo Ma Lane to Bay Street, will be unveiled. The astonishing redesign transforms one of the most visited areas of the city, Toronto’s central downtown waterfront and the gateway to the Toronto Islands, with walking and cycling routes, new trees and decorative mosaic paving.
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TORONTO 2015 • 15
Inside track
If you’re looking to venture out of the city centre, you don’t have to go far. Hop off the TTC at one of these subway stops to experience these vibrant neighbourhoods, each with so much to offer within walking distance. By Aileen Brabazon
SATURDAY ALONG THE DANFORTH AND IN GREEKTOWN GreekTown is more multicultural than it sounds. In among the well-established Greek restaurants and shops are health-food stores, Thai and Japanese eateries, pubs and boutiques. And the bordering Danforth area is home to 350-plus shops, restaurants and services. They’re dynamic areas that’ll keep you going from morning to night. Taste of the Danforth
The Big Carrot Juice Bar
RISE AND SHINE Start your morning with a gourmet meal at Globe Bistro (124 Danforth Ave.). Meat lovers, you must try the weekend-brunch Swine and Dine plate. Prefer lighter fare? Get fresh organic juice and a muffin at The Big Carrot Juice Bar (348 Danforth Ave.) or locally made snacks from the farmers’ market at Withrow Park (725 Logan Ave.).
Globe Bistro
HIT THE SQUARE Just steps from the station, Mel Lastman Square (5100 Yonge St.) features 20,000 square feet of open space, a garden, an amphitheatre, fountains and more. There’s always something going on, such as music, art, dancing or cultural events. Local-food lovers should drop by the North York Farmers’ Market.
QUICK STOP•
Lots to see and do? No need to break your stride just to get a bite. Track down nearby delicious street eats using the map at Torontofoodtrucks.ca.
Try jajangmyun, a traditional Korean dish
CHOW DOWN “My current go-to spot for Korean food is Han Ba Tang (4862 Yonge St.),” says Doug O’Neill, a travel blogger for Canadian Living magazine. “I’ve had some of the tastiest eel bits there.” For a casual meal, try the bibimbap from M2M’s (4885 Yonge St.) cafeteria.
TAKE A HIKE Lace up your sneakers
See llamas at the High Park Zoo
A DAY IN THE PARK Across
the street from the subway station is Toronto’s largest park, which boasts 161 hectares (399 acres) of green space. Step off the concrete and lose yourself in the trees for a while.
and explore High Park (1873 Bloor St. W.). “It has an incredibly diverse range of species, like beavers, snapping turtles and owls,” says Natalie Harder, the executive director at the High Park Nature Centre. Wander the park’s small but historic zoo with kids to see deer, llamas, peacocks and more. In spring, don’t miss the fragrant and beautiful display of cherry blossoms, which draws people from across the city. In summertime, cool off in the park’s public pool, and in winter, lace up your skates and visit the rink.
High Park Photography: Spacing magazine (TTC buttons), Danielle Scott (GreekTown), Juice Bar (The Big Carrot), Foodtrucks.ca (food truck), Benson Kua (High Park)
16 • TORONTO 2015 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com
Cherry blossoms
UPFRONT
MIDDAY RETAIL THERAPY Browse the wide range of boutiques along the Danforth. Check out environmental goods at Grassroots (372 Danforth Ave.), kids’ delights at Treasure Island Toys (581 Danforth Ave.) and décor at Moss (544 Danforth Ave.). After shopping, get a pedicure at Urban Nails (179 Danforth Ave.) or a massage at Shiatsu Guy (286A Danforth Ave.). Or both.
TEA AND TOUR On Sunday afternoons in the winter, enjoy a hot brew and cookies in the Gibson House Museum’s (5172 Yonge St.) historic kitchen. Follow up with a tour of the 1850s property to learn about the neighbourhood’s roots.
LIGHT UP THE NIGHT Have a pre-dinner pint at Dora Keogh (141 Danforth Ave.), where there’s live traditional Irish music. Then, dine at one of the many Greek restaurants. “My favourite is Pantheon (407 Danforth Ave.), because I’ve found it to offer the most authentic family-style Greek experience. It has great food, particularly the sea bass,” says Michael Cayley, the chief blogger for riverdalerapids.ca. End the night with a concert at The Danforth Music Hall (147 Danforth Ave.).
The chicken pita at Pantheon
Toronto Centre for the Arts
BE ENTERTAINED Forget the movies; instead, take the kids to the Solar Stage Children’s Theatre (4950 Yonge St.) to see a live play or concert. Not with wee ones? You’ll find more sophisticated symphonies, musicals and theatre nearby at the Toronto Centre for the Arts (5040 Yonge St.).
Sweet treats from the Gibson House Museum’s kitchen
PARK IT Grab grub at The Grenadier Restaurant, which is in the middle of High Park and boasts a patio with a stellar view of the gardens. At sundown, stretch out on a blanket and watch a Canadian Stage Shakespeare in High Park theatre performance. Shakespeare in High Park
All-day breakfast at The Grenadier Restaurant
HIT THE PAVEMENT There’s more to experience past the park’s perimeter. Caffeinate at Café Novo (1986 Bloor St. W.) before walking to Bloor West Village, where there’s a lot of eating, drinking and shopping to be had. Dine at The Good Fork (2432 Bloor St. W.), have craft beer at Bryden’s (2455 Bloor St. W.) and try on dresses at Trove (2264 Bloor St. W.). Photography: Seek New Travel (Greek food), Joan Marcus (Toronto Centre for the Arts), Shakes (shakespeare)
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TORONTO 2015 • 17
Elevate your viewpoint at the city’s not-to-miss arts venues and attractions. By Jane L. Thompson
Ryerson Image Centre
NICHE MUSEUMS
The Bata Shoe Museum
Luxury brands and major museums dot the Bloor Street Culture Corridor. At The Bata Shoe Museum (327 Bloor St. W.), patrons learn that men wore high heels first. Over at the Gardiner Museum (111 Queen’s Park), find 200 BC earthenware and quirky Shary Boyle ceramics. Just steps from the Art Gallery of Ontario is the Textile Museum of Canada (55 Centre Ave.), featuring traditional fabrics, garments, carpets and more from around the globe—a must for those who love fashion and culture. Learn about the rich artistic traditions of the North at the Museum of Inuit Art (207 Queen’s Quay W.). Art created by Inuit artists and craftspeople is displayed in a setting designed to evoke the Arctic landscape of ice and snow. Have an eye for photography? Be sure
FILM
Whatever mood you’re in, there’s a film festival for that.
TIFF tiff.net September 10 to 20, 2015 With red carpets, movie stars, paparazzi, gossip and fans, this festival can make a film an Oscar contender.
to check out the Ryerson Image Centre (33 Gould St.), a hub for learning, research and exhibiting works of photography, installation, film and new media. Visit an archive that houses almost every key moment of Canada’s history—at least since broadcast began in 1936. The CBC Museum (250 Front St. W.) is free for all, and features interactive exhibits where visitors can view highlights of history and entertainment and see sneak peeks at upcoming CBC programming. Those devoted to Canada’s favourite sport flock to the Hockey Hall of Fame (30 Yonge St.) to see the largest collection of hockey memorabilia in the world, including the hallowed Stanley Cup. Experience Toronto’s pastoral past in the west end at two museums situated in charming 19th-century buildings: Montgomery’s Inn (4709 Dundas St. W.) and Colborne Lodge (11 Colborne Lodge Dr.). Farther east, enter a 19th-century time machine again at the Scarborough Museum (1007 Brimley Rd.), with its log cabin, farmhouse and gardens in Thomson Memorial Park. History lovers will also want to visit Fort York, The Toronto Railway Museum, The McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Spadina House, Campbell House, Black Creek Pioneer Village and MacKenzie House.
GREAT GALLERIES Re-enter industrial reality at the Olga Korper Gallery (17 Morrow Ave.), which showcases contemporary art, including Robert Mapplethorpe and Lynne Cohen, then visit the Christopher Cutts Gallery (21 Morrow Ave.) for established artists like Michael Snow or emerging ones such as Xiao Guo Hui. The east end’s Leslieville is filled with hipsters, foodies and a burgeoning art scene. Parts Gallery (1150 Queen St. E.) has new and mid-career artists such as Jennifer Sanchez, and Project Gallery (1109 Queen St. E.) shows up-and-comers such as Tony Taylor.
TIFF Kids International Film Festival tiff.net April 7 to 19, 2015 Open your kid’s eyes to films from as far away as Australia and Uruguay.
Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival hotdocs.ca April 23 to May 3, 2015
North America’s largest documentary festival has almost 200 films and intimate Q & As with filmmakers.
Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival
reelasian.com November 2015 Venture beyond Hollywood flicks and check out films unspooled from more than 14 countries.
18 • TORONTO 2015 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com
Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival scotiabankcontactphoto.com May 1 to 31, 2015 At one of the world’s largest photography festivals, exhibits run everywhere, including billboards, subway stations, an airport and, of course, galleries.
Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival
Art Toronto: Toronto International Art Fair arttoronto.ca October 23 to 26, 2015 More than 100 galleries from around the world attract interior designers, art consultants and art lovers searching for investment pieces.
Love Art Fair
loveartfair.com/toronto April 16 to 19, 2015 Linked to the U.K.’s Affordable Art Fair, this event presents emerging artists from 60 galleries. Pieces range from $100 to $10,000.
Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition torontooutdoorart.org June 13 to 14, 2015 An outdoor maze for art lovers, browsers and bargain hunters. Yes, you can negotiate with the artists selling ceramics, paintings and jewellery.
Queen West Art Crawl
queenwestartcrawl.com September 11 to 13, 2015 More than 250 returning and emerging artists fill booths at popular hangout Trinity Bellwoods Park. There’s also music, fun in the Kids Zone and much more.
Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival Insideout.ca May 21 to 31, 2015 One of the top LGBT film festivals in the world, this event includes over 200 films and videos from Canada and around the world, along with artist talks, panel discussions and, naturally, plenty of parties.
Photography: Matthew Plexman (Bata shoe Museum), Richard Renaldi (Contact), Bloor Hot Docs Cinema
Culture club
On the Calendar
upfront
High Note Molly Johnson is Toronto’s most beloved jazz star. Here, she explains why the feeling is mutual. By Amber Dowling Born and raised in Toronto, songstress, philanthropist and mother Molly Johnson has never had any desire to live elsewhere. In fact, she has lived with her family in the same Annex neighbourhood home for close to two decades, with a view of the hospital where she was born. At four years old, she was discovered by Ed Mirvish himself, and has shared her many talents in venues across the city—at the ballet, in galleries and on radio and television. She’s best known for her signature jazz vocals, which earned her a Juno Award in 2009 and the appointment of Officer of the Order of Canada in 2007.
What drives the arts community in Toronto?
As big a city as this is, it’s really just a small town in that the communities are small and tightly woven together and incredibly supportive. There are these kinds of mash-ups of bands and music. The diversity of the city lends itself to the music culture here. I think when you listen to our rap artists, they’re much closer to spoken word artists than they are to American rap. I find that our rap artists are more political, more sensitive—they use more colours. What’s it like to be a woman and an artist in this city?
Let’s talk about how many women writers come out of here—not just Toronto, but all of Canada. And not just in lit but music. To me, it says we have a country that listens to women. Honestly, I’m sitting here trying to think of a single Canadian woman musician that doesn’t write her own stuff, and I’m at a bit of a loss.
Photography: Chris Nichols
What sparks your creativity?
I can walk to the corner and eat food from any continent on the planet without leaving my neighbourhood. And I think that’s true of many, many neighbourhoods in Toronto. I love to walk by the schoolyard in our city and look at the rainbow of culture and colour.
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TORONTO 2015 2014 • 19
Name game By Jamie Bradburn
“Street names provide a highly visible record of Toronto’s history,” observe Leonard Wise and Allan Gould in their book Toronto Street Names. Our roads honour early settlers, fine homes, scandalous figures, imaginative children, and trailblazers among our diverse cultures. Here are some of the stories that live on in our streets.
Hubbard Boulevard This boulevard, which faces the boardwalk in The Beach, was named after Frederick Langdon Hubbard, who served as the first black chairman of the Transit Commission from 1929 to 1930. His father, William Peyton Hubbard, was Toronto’s first black alderman and had also served as acting mayor.
Bloor Street
Meeting friends for a beer on Bloor Street? Raise a glass to the street’s namesake, Joseph Bloore, a mid-19th-century innkeeper, brewer and well-respected philanthropist. He co-founded the Village of Yorkville.
Avenue Road
This odd name has inspired several stories about its origins. The silliest one claims an early engineer exclaimed, “Let’s ’ave a new road here!” More likely, it was named for the trees that line it (French avenues, or allées, are typically treed).
Yonge Street No, Toronto’s most famous street is not a misspelled celebration of youth. It honours Sir George Yonge, who was Great Britain’s Secretary at War from 1782 to 1794.
Toronto Street
The name “Toronto” may derive from the Huron word for “meeting place,” or it may be from the Mohawk “tkaronto,” meaning “where there are trees standing in the water.” The street debuted on maps of York circa 1797 as an extension of Yonge Street south of Queen.
De Grassi Street
This street has never lacked for teen angst—even before the Canadian TV shows that bear its name. Its namesakes, sisters Charlotte and Cornelia De Grassi, at the tender ages of 15 and 13, respectively, served as government spies during the Rebellion of 1837.
St. Clair Avenue
This avenue owes its name to Albert Grainger, who as a child gave himself the middle name “St. Clair,” perhaps a misspelling of “St. Clare,” a character in his favourite book, Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Grainger reputedly painted the name on a sign and nailed it to a tree, which surveyors noted while passing the family farm.
Alexander Street
Alexander Wood was an early-19th-century public servant who was publicly shamed because of a homosexual scandal. He owned property that eventually formed the south end of ChurchWellesley Village. In 2005, the neighbourhood commissioned a statue of him to celebrate his achievements as a municipal official and forefather of Toronto’s gay community.
20 • TORONTO 2015 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com
“Spadina” is an indigenous word for “hill.” It’s pronounced “Spa-dee-na,” however most Torontonians call this street “Spa-dye-na.” The street honours the politically prominent Baldwin family, who called their hilltop home Spadina because it offered a view of the city below.
Danforth Avenue
Asa Danforth Jr. was a route land speculator who built a road between York and the mouth of the Trent River. Although completed in 1800, the road caused him financial problems during construction and quickly fell into disuse. Embittered by the experience, Danforth moved to the United States, vowing never to return.
Photography: Peter Gaffney
Spadina Avenue
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Designer profile:
Paul Rowan By Natalie DiScala
They say that necessity is the mother of invention, so when, as a college student, Paul Rowan faced a design challenge, he perhaps unwittingly embarked on what would soon become an illustrious design career. The challenge: a window treatment that suited his practical and aesthetic needs. His solution: a printed-paper window shade that inspired Rowan to launch Umbra, which means “shade” in Latin.
Want to get design advice, décor tips and see the latest home products all in one place? Plan a visit to the Interior Design Show at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from January 22 to 25, 2015, or the National Home Show at the Direct Energy Centre from March 13 to 22, 2015. Your National Home Show ticket also gives you access to Canada Blooms: The Flower and Garden Festival to help make your home look its best, from gables to garden. interiordesignshow.com, nationalhomeshow.com, canadablooms.com
What stands out about Toronto’s design scene? I love the diversity of design in Toronto. I’ve travelled around the world, visiting stores and galleries, and we have a fresh, international look. What would you tell a Toronto visitor to expect from the city’s design scene? Toronto is so diverse. It looks like a big city, but people are friendly like in a small town. We also have a sophisticated cultural scene. There are lots of people taking risks and doing innovative work. What are your favourite “not-to-miss” design events in Toronto? Nuit Blanche and Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival. I love the installations and the great energy these events bring to the city.
Curated design at Mjölk
Bergo Designs in The Distillery Historic District
Machine Age Modern
Umbra’s Shift collection
Biltmore Domicile
Contemporary finds at Klaus by Neinkamper
PAUL ROWAN’S TOP PICKS FOR SHOPPING IN THE CITY. Vintage finds “There are some great stores in The Distillery Historic District (thedistillerydistrict. com), and St. Lawrence Market (stlawrencemarket.com) is fun. I like mixing contemporary design with vintage.” Mid-century modern “Machine Age Modern (machineagemodern.com) on Queen Street East. They’re great curators of what’s happening in modern design worldwide. I love Phil’z on Dundas West, too. The owner, Phil Markowitz, has
mid-century originals and reproductions. You could furnish your whole loft completely at Phil’z.” Contemporary finds “Bergo Designs (bergo.ca) in The Distillery Historic District. Robyn Berman has the largest collection of contemporary in Toronto, including Umbra!” “Klaus by Neinkamper (klausn.com) on King Street East. At Klaus, you’ll find all the most contemporary and high-level furniture and object design. This is a world-class store.”
22 • TORONTO 2015 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com
Antiques “Biltmore Domicile (biltmorecustomsofa. com) in The Distillery Historic District. Gary Groszman has some of the most interesting furniture and décor finds.” His very favourite design place in Toronto “Mjölk (store.mjolk.ca) on Dundas Street West is a truly curated collection by the owner-operators, John Baker and Juli Daoust (Juli worked at Umbra for a while). I think it’s a perfect store for Umbra’s new Shift collection.”
Photography: Renaud Klong (Mjölk), Victoria and Albert Divano (Neinkamper)
QUICK STOP•
Fast-forward 30 years, and Rowan, recently inducted into the Canadian Marketing Hall of Legends as a visionary, is the vice-president of inspiration and founding partner at Umbra, a Torontobased company known for its innovative and iconic designs. What does this living legend and visionary think of Toronto’s design scene, and where does he shop? We checked in with Rowan to find out.
UPFRONT
Fashion central By Vanessa Taylor
Every March and October, Toronto kicks into high gear for World MasterCard Fashion Week, where Canada’s most iconic labels and promising up-and-comers debut their latest collections to the city’s fashion pack. Whether you’re heading to the tents to see a show or are tracking the latest trends, we’ve rounded up the top designers to watch. Mikael D
Malorie Urbanovitch: Fall 2014 Fashion Week
Mikael D: Fall/Winter 2014/2015
The newbie: Malorie Urbanovitch As a follow-up to her Spring 2014 collection, which won the coveted Mercedes-Benz Start Up award, a program designed to discover and support emerging Canadian fashion talent, Malorie Urbanovitch debuted her Spring 2015 collection at World MasterCard Fashion Week last fall. “I love the entertainment aspect of a runway show, creating a mood and feeling the energy and excitement when the show is finished,” says Urbanovitch. The look: Her womenswear line focuses on classic silhouettes with a modern twist, such as chic shift dresses with figureflattering darting, and cozy knit sweaters in pops of colour. Check out her latest collection and Toronto boutiques that carry her line at malorie.ca. The rising star: Mikael D When it comes to serious eye candy during Fashion Week, Mikael D’s runway show is one of the must-see off-site shows. Between the jawdropping gowns, the intricate lace detailing and the ornate embellishment, it’s no surprise these confections have caught the attention of celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez and Julia Roberts. “There’s nothing more gratifying for me as a Canadian designer than to show at home,” says designer Mikael Derderian. The look: For Spring 2015, Derderian chose a modern focus in a new colour palette that includes both soft pastels and saturated neon hues. With a slew of fresh hues being released, his designs never stray from a delicate balance of historical inspirations with contemporary silhouettes.
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The veteran: Pink Tartan Considered one of the most sought-after tickets during Fashion Week, Pink Tartan has every editor, buyer and Toronto tastemaker vying for a front-row seat. Adding to the anticipation, the label is known to fly in a Canadian model du jour to walk the runway. “As a Canadian designer, I’m proud to share my point of view each season to the very market that inspires me every day,” says Kimberley Newport-Mimran, the president and creative director. The look: Regardless of the season, Pink Tartan’s design DNA subscribes to easy, timeless pieces that are always on point—think feminine skirts, tailored dresses and lustworthy coats. The wild card: Sid Neigum When it comes to truly unexpected shows, Sid Neigum’s collection stands out. He melds experimental silhouettes with complicated techno fabrics such as voluminous cloaks and draped asymmetrical hems. The result? The go-to label for the downtown set. From a live string quartet that has accompanied Neigum’s models on the runway to his signature head-to-toe monochromatic looks, his show is not to be missed. The look: “The inspiration for Spring 2015 was modular origami. My favourite piece is a vest made up of 250 little lasercut bonded nylon modules, which are then ‘woven’ together and fastened with handmade staples,” says Neigum. Going forward, Neigum plans to further explore and incorporate industrial-design technologies such as 3-D printing and CAD software in his garments.
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TORONTO 2015 • 23
Pink Tartan: Holiday 2014
Sid Neigum: Fall/Winter 2014/2015
upfront
Relax, Recharge, Renew
Photography: Paula Wilson
What busy parent isn’t in need of a mini-vacation? For the Tanalgos, the parents of a child with autism, it had been years since their last break. As part of its Relax, Recharge, Renew program, Tourism Toronto treated them to a weekend away from it all. By Aileen Brabazon
“Sometimes, the best way to help a specialneeds child is to give Mom and Dad a break.”
In August 2014, Raymund and Ann Tanalgo experienced an unforgettable weekend, complete with limo service, hotel and dinner. “It was the first time we had quality time alone together in eight years,” says the Toronto-based couple. It’s been hard for the couple to go on dates, because they’re completely focused on caring for their eight-year-old son, Andrei. “Raising a child with special needs is rewarding but difficult,” says Raymund. “It’s twice the effort because his comprehension—and everything else—is different from typically developing children.” Tourism Toronto’s award-winning Relax, Recharge, Renew program— the first of its kind in the world—has been providing weekend breaks to parents like the Tanalgos almost every week since its inception in 2008. Each week, a family from the Greater Toronto Area with a specialneeds child is treated to a break with limo service to and from home, a two-night stay at a quality hotel, delicious dinners, breakfasts and lunches, and passes to local attractions. The program has served 450 families and has been recognized with many prestigious awards, prompting other cities to ask advice on how to create something similar. “You always want to do something for the kids, and you can never do enough to support kids with complex medical needs,” says David Whitaker, president and CEO of Tourism Toronto. “Sometimes, the best way to help a special-needs child is to give Mom and Dad a break.”
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Tourism Toronto works closely with respiteservices.com and Peel Regional Respite Planning Group, which identifies and selects qualifying families for Relax, Recharge, Renew weekends. While caregivers are treated to a break, they can relax knowing that their child is being cared for by one of the region’s provincially funded respite centres. “We couldn’t do this without the partnership of the hotels, restaurants, attractions and limousine companies,” says Whitaker. To date, about 250 tourism businesses have participated, including the Eaton Chelsea hotel in Toronto. A few times a year, the hotel contributes deluxe rooms with breakfast. “We got involved when the program first started,” says Josef Ebner, Regional Vice President – Canada and Managing Director, Eaton Chelsea, Toronto. “Like many hotels, we have a number of ways to support the community, but when we were made aware of this unique program, we wanted to get on board immediately.” Another highlight for the Tanalgos was their dinner at Quinn’s Steakhouse, where they soaked up the peaceful ambience and the delicious food. The establishment has also been a dedicated program participant since its inception. The Tanalgos truly savoured the good food, their quiet time at the hotel and the fun they had at the Canadian National Exhibition. “It was a wonderful weekend. We felt fully recharged!”
TORONTO 2015 • 25
ELEGANT Accents &
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225 FRONT STREET WEST, TORONTO, ON CANADA M5V 2X3 416 597 1400 • WWW.TORONTOCENTRE.INTERCONTINENTAL.COM
Tower Above
Photography: Thomas Guignard
Toronto-Dominion Centre’s six towers sit at the heart of the Financial District, icons of industry and a mecca for design lovers. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s original 1967 TD Bank Tower, a modernist masterpiece, raised the bar for Canadian architecture, and it continues to evolve.
City Confidential
28 • TORONTO 2015 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com
Log on to jfl42.com to pick from several innovative digital pass options.
How to get tickets:
Various stages across the city, including the Sony Centre, the historic Queen Elizabeth Theatre and the intimate Comedy Bar.
The venues:
featured such headliners as Seth Myers, Lena Dunham, Wanda Sykes (right) and Nick Offerman.
Photography: David Leyes (Luminato), BlogTO (Benedict Cumberbatch)
Funny faces, the deadpan and sketch geniuses come together for this 10-day televised festival, where they perform in front of packed audiences. This laugh fest recently
The scene:
The annual event put on by Just For Laughs welcomes 42 of the funniest acts on the planet in addition to a handful of headliners.
The players:
September 24 to October 3, various locations
IF I LOVED YOU: Rufus Wainwright performing with Brent Carver
1.
Visit luminato.com.
The outdoor tented parking lot at Bell Media headquarters allows some breathing room for the many partygoers packed into the tight space, and the long red carpet provides plenty of room to spot celebs
The venue:
Teens and super-fans push their way to centre stage in hopes of a glimpse of Ariana Grande or Kiesza during the packed, internationally televised show.
The scene:
A-list musicians, artists, performers and personalities such as Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus grace the MuchMusic Video Awards stage to accept awards and belt out smash hits.
The players:
June, 299 Queen St. W.
Fans camp out for days along Queen Street West in an attempt to score a coveted wristband which allows them access on the big day.
How to get tickets:
Single tickets and packages are sold through tiff.net.
How to get tickets:
The chic TIFF Bell Lightbox movie theatre is TIFF’s main hub, however various theatres across the city boast screenings throughout the festival.
The venues:
events attended by mega-celebrities and filmmakers.
before the show. Crowds gather at the intersection of Queen and John streets, which are closed to traffic to make way for this must-see event.
Movie lovers and cinematic connoisseurs congregate for this 11-day onslaught of screenings and
The scene:
Renowned and upcoming artists, directors, producers and writers from across the globe screen their latest projects at TIFF, from indie films to star-studded blockbusters.
The players:
September 10 to 20, TIFF Bell Lightbox
TORONTO INTERNATIONAL
2. FILM FESTIVAL
4. MMVAS
How to get tickets:
From subway stops and theatres to public parks and squares, the entire city is a canvas for international artists flocking to Toronto.
The venues:
Creativity seekers unite for this ninth annual 10-day celebration that sprawls across the city, with art installations, performances and readings designed to spark your imagination.
The scene:
Artists and entertainers from a wide range of disciplines, including fine arts, theatre, dance and music, come from around the world to show their work in venues across the city.
The players:
June 19 to 28, various locations across the city
LUMINATO
Your guide to getting tickets to 10 must-see events in 2015. By Amber Dowling
HOT TICKETS
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TORONTO 2015 • 29
Composer and lyricist Maury Yeston set this tragic and timeless tale to music that celebrates the strength of love and the human spirit. This is a London revival of the original Broadway production that won five Tony Awards, including best musical.
The players:
May 20 to June 21, Princess of Wales Theatre
Visit hhof.com.
How to get tickets:
Visit mirvish.com.
How to get tickets:
Most events, including the induction ceremony, take place at the Hockey Hall of Fame, a vast museum of hockey memorabilia dating all the way back to the dawn of the game.
The venue:
Fan-targeted events all weekend long include panels with NHL superstars, signing booths and the annual Legends Classic game. It all leads up to the renowned induction ceremony.
The scene:
Hockey legends and honoured members who have contributed to Canada’s favourite sport join the list of prestigious honourees.
The players:
November, Hockey Hall of Fame
Visit rogerscup.com.
How to get tickets:
The year-round tennis training centre and stadium cost over $45 million to build and were designed with spectator sightlines in mind to ensure the best possible view of the action. The spacious, park-like setting includes shopping, four public restaurants and plenty of concession stands.
The venue:
The blood, sweat and tears are palpable as over 12,000 fans cheer on their favourite players in the main stadium.
The scene:
The best in women’s tennis come out to compete in the annual tournament, while the men head to Montreal (they alternate locations each year).
The players:
August 8 to 16, Rexall Centre
10.
ROGERS CUP TENNIS
The red carpet is open to the public; tickets to the nationally broadcasted show are available at canadaswalkoffame.com.
How to get tickets:
The famous walk is on King Street West, between John and Simcoe streets, and along Simcoe Street. Celebrations occur on the walk but also at a glitzy ticketed awards event.
The venue:
Stargazers and proud Canadians crane their necks to see some of their favourite personalities accept their spot on the memorable walk and jam to musical performances.
The scene:
A-list Canadian actors, musicians, athletes and newsmakers populate Hollywood North for the annual awards show to celebrate a new crop of inductees. Recent honourees include Rachel McAdams (left), Ryan Reynolds and The Band.
The players:
October, Canada’s Walk of Fame
HOCKEY HALL OF FAME INDUCTION
9.
6. CANADA’S WALK OF FAME AWARDS SHOW
The Princess of Wales Theatre, named in honour of Princess Diana, is a glittering jewel box of a theatre, with a spacious domed auditorium. It has housed mega-musicals such as The Lion King, Les Miserables, The Phantom of the Opera and War Horse.
The venue:
Toronto audiences will be the only North American city to experience the launch of this production. Dress up for a night on the town or bring the family out for an afternoon matinee. Most importantly, bring your box of tissues.
The scene:
8.
Wristbands and badges are available at nxne.com.
How to get tickets:
Headliners crowd the open space at Yonge-Dundas Square. Expect venues to pop up all over the city. More than 1,000 bands set up everywhere from airports and boats to parks and stages.
The venues:
For five days, this festival will take over the city to celebrate music along with film, comedy and art for the 19-plus crowd.
The scene:
At North by Northeast, emerging indie musicians and performers showcase their goods in front of intimate audiences.
The players:
TITANIC THE MUSICAL
5.
June 17 to 21, various locations
NXNE
Photography: Bowman/flickr.com (NXNE), James Hum (Titanic)
Visit toronto2015.org/tickets.
How to get tickets:
With the Rogers Centre’s capacity for 55,000 attendees and a giant screen to highlight the stage, the opening ceremonies will be electric, particularly if the giant retractable dome ceiling is open that day. Events will be held at over 30 venues throughout the city and in municipalities across southern Ontario. Athletes will be housed at the brand-new CIBC Pan Am/ Parapan Am Athletes’ Village along the waterfront in downtown Toronto.
The venues:
Expect arenas to be full as athletes, sponsors and spectators of all ages celebrate the Games.
The scene:
Canada’s world-renowned Cirque du Soleil headlines the festivities for the opening ceremonies with a performance created especially for the event that embraces the values of the Games, including collaboration, joy and inclusiveness. For more about the Games, see page 35.
The players:
August 7 to 15
(Pan Am ceremonies venue) Pan Am Games: July 10 to 26 Parapan Am Games:
Opening ceremonies: July 10, Rogers Centre
PAN AM & PARAPAN AM GAMES
7.
FIND OUT WHAT’S ON NOW
NIGHTLIFE • CULTURE • SHOPPING • ART • CUISINE • FESTIVALS • NEIGHBOURHOODS • THEATRE • SPORTS • SPECIAL EVENTS • DAY TRIPS • ATTRACTIONS
FIND IT ALL AT
SeeTorontoNow.com
Photo by Ronnie Yip
It may be the first time Toronto has hosted the Pan Am Games, but it has long been home to a rich mix of Latin American and Caribbean cultures.
Photography: Doug Brown
By Eva Salinas
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TORONTO 2015 • 31
Food & Drink Fat Pasha
A
s athletes and fans arrive for the Pan American and Parapan American Games this summer—from 41 countries across North, Central and South America and the Caribbean— they will not only be embraced but they’ll also likely find a little piece of home. Communities from across the Americas have settled throughout Toronto, where they’ve been infusing the city with colour, sounds, tastes and ideas for decades.
Kensington Market
Salsa on St. Clair
Emporium Latino
When I moved to the city from rural Ontario in 2002, my own journey to get to know my Latin American roots began in earnest. For a taste of my Chilean heritage, I tried a steamed corn pie called pastel de choclo at Jumbo Empanadas in Kensington Market. And to experience the regional influence at large, I watched, in awe, a performance of Luis Fuentes and his indigenous Aztec dance troupe, which pops up regularly on street corners, and found the bust of Simón Bolívar, who led the independence movement in South America, tucked away in Trinity Bellwoods Park. Signs of Pan-American cultures are everywhere here, from the heady cheers in any College Street bar after a big World Cup win to the depth and range of Latin-inspired flavours that spice up restaurants across the city. Choose from one of hundreds of roti shops around the Greater Toronto Area, sip a traditional maté drink at El Almacen or try the Venezuelan sandwiches at Arepa Café. And there’s always music: catch Latininfused jazz at Latinada on Bloor Street West or one of the many Pan-American bands and festivals that Harbourfront Centre hosts all year long. A shining example of Caribbean culture happens every summer at the Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival—one of the biggest festivals in the city. With events over several weeks throughout the summer, its crown jewel is the parade, usually held on the first weekend of August, that turns Lake Shore Boulevard into a glittery, featherfilled massive street party. “Caribana is entirely its own event; it’s from Carnival, but it’s not Carnival,” says Andil Gosine, a York University professor who started the country’s first course on
Photography: BlogTO (salsa dancers), Geoff Fitzgerald (Emporium Latino)
LATIN-INSPIRED FLAVOUR
city confidential Get a taste Arepa Café
490 Queen St. W. arepacafe.ca
Le Ti Colibri
291 Augusta Ave. leticolibri.com
Ali’s Roti
1446 Queen St. W. alisroti.ca
Copacabana
230 Adelaide St. W. thecopa.ca
Jumbo Empanadas 245 Augusta Ave. 416-977-0056
Frida Restaurant and Bar 999 Eglinton Ave. W. fridarestaurant.ca
Los Colibris
222 King St. W. loscolibris.ca
Drink it in
El Almacen Yerba Mate Café 1078 Queen St. W. 416-516-2898
Rhum Corner
926 Dundas St. W. 647-346-9356
Harlem Underground 745 Queen St. W. harlemrestaurant.com
Latinada
1671 Bloor St. W. latinada.com
El Caballito Tequila Bar 222 King St. W. elcaballito.ca
Photography: Anna Encheva (Lula Lounge), Geoff Fitzgerald (Rhum Corner)
Music at Lula Lounge
contemporary Caribbean-Canadian culture. “The mix of cultures always produces new and exciting things that are both part of where they come from and entirely new.” STEADY GROWTH
In the 1960s, changes to the Immigration Act made it easier for people to immigrate to Canada from the Caribbean. Around that time, there was also a wave of immigration from Cuba as people fled from Castro’s revolution. Another wave of citizens from other Latin American countries, including Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, came in the 1970s and ’80s as refugees. Neighbourhoods in Toronto sprouted: Little Jamaica on Eglinton West, Little Brazil on Dundas West, and many Latin American businesses and families found a home on St. Clair West.
Rhum Corner
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TORONTO 2015 • 33
Le Ti Colibri
Jose Ortega
Experience the culture
Latin American-Canadian Art Projects (LACAP) 601 Christie St., suite 158 lacap.ca
Small World Music Centre 180 Shaw St., studio 101 smallworldmusic.com
Alameda Theatre Company 601 Christie St., suite 255 alamedatheatre.com
Join the celebration
Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival torontocaribbeancarnival.com
Salsa on St. Clair salsaintoronto.com/ salsa-on-st-clair
aluCine
alucinefestival.com
Brazilfest
brazilfest.ca
TD Irie Music Festival iriemusicfestival.com
Hot & Spicy Food Festival harbourfrontcentre.com
Kensington Market has a bit of everything: Le Ti Colibri is a restaurant with traditions from Guadeloupe and Martinique, and the grocery store Emporium Latino cooks up hot cheese-stuffed tortillas (called pupusas) at the back. A few minutes’ walk west on Dundas is a Haitian bar called Rhum Corner. More recently, a newer wave of educated and creative professionals has migrated to the city. Some, such as the famed Mexican film director Guillermo del Toro, have brought projects here and made Toronto a temporary home. Others, like Jose Ortega, end up staying. Though Ortega spent much of his life in New York City, the Ecuadorian moved to Toronto in 1997, bringing his passion for public art, culture and the Latin community with him. He began hosting impromptu salsa lessons, potlucks and art shows out of his loft apartment near Dufferin and Dundas, and when the events outgrew his space, he and a partner opened Lula Lounge in 2002. Today, it is without a doubt the city’s top venue for world music, hosting regular salsa nights and concerts by the best local and international world musicians. “I feel like I got here in the middle of the story or the later part of the Latin immigration to Toronto,” says Ortega. “The Mexican immigration that’s happening to Toronto has been very influential for the city’s culture and the arts; more professional Cuban musicians have made Toronto their home, and that’s made a big impact, and also young people coming for university, or professionals. You see cross-pollination with jazz, Brazilian and Latin. There are the influences and the collaborations. That’s when you start to get a Toronto story.”
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Garvia Bailey, a radio personality, has been sharing this Toronto story for years. The Jamaican-born senior arts editor for Jazz FM 91—and the former host of CBC’s Big City, Small World and Canada Live—Bailey has been an influential cheerleader of the Pan-American community. “I’m kind of drawn to the ‘excellent underdog,’ and there’s a lot of that here,” she says. “I don’t think there are enough people telling our stories that are complimentary and celebratory, so I’m drawn to that.” Likewise, Tamara Toledo is drawn to those in the city who are politically, socially and professionally engaged. She and her partner, Rodrigo Barreda, started the Latin American-Canadian Art Projects (LACAP) more than 10 years ago to give a platform to the ideas that Toronto was incubating. LACAP ran the Allende Arts Festival for eight years, inspired by Toledo’s Chilean roots (she came to Canada as a baby), and more recently has focused on its Latin American Speaker Series, finding a local audience for international guests. Its Art of the Americas initiative, meanwhile, involves local artists giving workshops and lectures to children and youth, like, for example, on the history of capoeira from Brazil. The project has received a grant to expand in the community. LACAP has recently been chosen as one of a handful of organizations to form the Pan Am Path, connecting community groups to trails throughout the city. Toledo says the journey to embrace all of these particular groups, while not over, is much further along than before she began as a community organizer 10 years ago. “There’s a whole generation of artists that have grown and developed their careers here,” she says. “And that’s what makes this city unique, rich and culturally vibrant.”
Photography: Geoff Fitzgerald (Le Ti Colibri), Anna Encheva (Jose Ortega)
Tamara Toledo
city confidential
Let the Games
begin! With passionate athletes and fans from 41 countries of the Americas, Toronto is in for an exciting ride in 2015. PanAm Games July 10 to 26 and Parapan Am Games August 7 to 15 Catch the sport!
More than 10,000 athletes, coaches and officials from 41 countries will participate in the Pan Am and Parapan Am Games this summer in Toronto and throughout southern Ontario. It’s the largest multi-sport games ever held in Canada, with more athletes and events than even the Vancouver Olympics. The Games feature 51 different events at dozens of venues, including 10 new and expanded facilities for high-level sport. Expect to see the highest level of competition as most of the Pan Am and Parapan Am events in Toronto 2015 will be qualifying events for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Tickets are easily accessible, with 75% of tickets under $45 and half price for kids and seniors. Catch a wide range of events from the Opening Ceremonies featuring Cirque du Soleil to the highly anticipated competition in track and field, swimming, gymnastics, volleyball, beach volleyball, rugby, baseball, basketball, karate, wrestling, tennis, wakeboard and more.
Did you know?
The official mascot for the Games is Pachi the porcupine, but don’t worry, those colourful spikes don’t hurt. Pachi was designed by four Grade 8 students from Markham, Ont. They submitted him as one of more than 4,000 contest entries from children across Canada. Though porcupines normally have thousands of quills, Pachi only has 41—one for each participating country.
Around 10,000 athletes, coaches and officials from 41 countries will participate, playing 51 different sports at dozens of venues around the Greater Toronto Area.
Catch the spirit!
The excitement and energy of the Games goes beyond the stadiums and pools. Throughout the region fans will gather and celebrate the spirit of sport and of the diverse cultures of South, Central and North America and the Caribbean. Make sure to stop by these special fan zones ❯ Panamania Live at Nathan Phillips Square Join thousands of fans to watch the day’s sporting events live on the giant screen and catch nightly medal ceremonies and concerts. Check listings for the full Panamania lineup of cultural events, concerts, theatre and exhibitions. ❯ Ontario Celebration Zone at Harbourfront Centre Experience Toronto’s new Waterfront promenade, watch live sports events on the big screens and savour the best of Ontario food, wine and beer while enjoying some of Ontario’s top musical talents. ❯ PrideHouse Celebrates on Church Street Making these the most inclusive games ever, PrideHouse celebrates diversity with a special weekend festival each weekend of the Games. ❯ Celebration Square Mississauga Step into the celebration with live viewing on the big screens and a full fiesta of music, food and events.
Don’t miss:
Ten new large sporting venues were built for the Games, including the CIBC Pan Am/Parapan Am Aquatics Centre and Field House, the Cisco Milton Pan Am/Parapan Am Velodrome, the CIBC Hamilton Pan Am Soccer Stadium and the Welland Pan Am Flatwater Centre.
Many of Toronto’s famous summer festivals take on spicy PanAmerican flavours this year from the Redpath Toronto Waterfront Festival, Beaches International Jazz Festival, Salsa on St. Clair and Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival.
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Organizers say this will be the largest multi-sport Games held in Canada (surpassing Vancouver’s 2010 Winter Olympics by the number of participants, sports and venues).
TORONTO 2015 • 35
Microsoft Canada’s head office
Fostering innovation Toronto is home to a who’s who of industry giants who’ve invested their time, talent and dollars in the city. Proof positive that Toronto has evolved into a global innovation powerhouse. By Linda Dunlop
T
he creative-cities guru Richard Florida famously wrote about the three Ts of economic growth: technology, talent and tolerance. Then, as if to underscore his point, he moved with his wife to Toronto. That was back in 2007. The city has continued to transform from a promising technology hub into a global innovation powerhouse, with many of the world’s high-tech giants feeding the flames. The Cisco Internet of Everything (IoE) Innovation Center, opening this fall at RBC WaterPark Place, promises to bring together startups, established businesses and technology-thought leaders of all stripes to explore what is possible with Cisco technologies and new ways of Internet-
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based connecting. Tellingly, Cisco chose Toronto for this North American hub—one of only four such centres scheduled to launch around the globe. “I think the time was just right to move fast on Toronto,” says Mark Collins, the vice-president of marketing at Cisco Canada, of the decision to invest $100 million into the project over the next 10 years. “Toronto has such a strong reputation for being a centre of excellence worldwide.” Collins cites the high concentration of public- and private-sector brainpower, all within commuting distance of the city, not to mention the region’s myriad colleges, universities and research institutions churning out smart graduates. With
City Confidential “a healthy investor community” and “stable and technology-forward-thinking governments in both the city and the province, it all just supports that Toronto is a great place” to do business, he says. Valerie Fox, the executive director of Digital Media Zone (DMZ) at Ryerson University—an incubator for aspiring startups—would agree. “We’re easy to work with, we’re collaborative, and we have the desire to make it happen,” she says of the cooperation between industry, academe and government. Factor in the lowest total tax rate among the 51 major international cities reviewed—about half the tax burden of New York City, according to a 2014 KPMG special report—and it makes sense that the big firms would shift their gaze toward Toronto. “People come through our doors all the time to see what’s going on,” says Fox of the surge in multinational business interest she’s witnessed since the incubator first set up shop in 2010. Accenture, Cisco and The Home Depot are among a slew of companies that have approached Ryerson asking, “What are you doing now? Is there something we can use to help our company?” Fox describes an innovation ecosystem in which established industries draw on entrepreneurial talent pools “to fill the gaps in the new digital economy.” Toronto’s innovation scene—a jam-packed roster of digital hack-a-thons, investor forums and business accelerators—provides precisely the kind of fuel that the big firms are after. In 2014, Ryerson’s DMZ was ranked the top university business incubator in Canada, and fifth in the world by the University Business Incubator Index, while the MaRS Discovery District, another celebrated innovation hub, has reported that its startup clients have created more than 6,500 jobs since its launch in 2005. Recently, MaRS-supported ventures have raised more than $1 billion in capital and earned $500 million in revenue, and they’ve done so partially with the support of the world’s technology juggernauts. “We really want to help the next big companies grow and start in Canada,” says Janet Kennedy, the president of Microsoft Canada. Through its BizSpark program, the tech giant provides free cloud hosting, software and more to tech entrepreneurs. “I see the future of technology happening here,” says the recent Chicago expat. “It’s always fun in my industry to be at the leading edge.” Microsoft recently opened two gleaming futuristc stores in the city: one at Square One Shopping Centre in Mississauga; another at Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto. Microsoft also held the prestigious Microsoft Worldwide Partner meeting in Toronto in 2012 and hosted its first-ever pop-up Surface Café here in 2014. This three-day series of hands-on workshops invited the city’s brightest creative minds to connect and collaborate using the company’s Surface Pro 3 tablets. “We’re trying new things here that we haven’t tried anywhere else in North America,” says Kennedy. “It’s really interesting to be part of that ride.” Microsoft Canada’s head office is in Mississauga, with another office in downtown Toronto. Google Canada also recently opened a satellite office in Toronto’s bustling Financial District, complete with a music room for impromptu jam sessions and a rooftop mini-putt. Proximity to Bay Street, the epicentre of Canada’s banking and financial sectors, is inevitably a huge draw.
Google Canada’s rooftop mini-putt
As the second-largest financial centre in North America, Toronto was also an obvious choice to host last spring’s SWIFT Business Forum Canada, an annual daylong conference examining technology issues in the financialservices industries. SWIFT planners, who represent more than 10,500 financial institutions in 215 countries, now have their sights set on 2017, when Toronto will again host Sibos, the world’s premier financial-services operations conference. The catalyst that’s attracting all this biz-tech activity to the city: diversity. “Toronto has demonstrated that you can bring a wide variety of people, ideas, backgrounds and capabilities together in one place and make it work extraordinarily well,” says Collins. “We’re a microcosm of what’s possible.”
2015 Toronto Conferences Technology and business connect in Canada’s largest city. Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) Convention
March 1 to 4, Metro Toronto Convention Centre
PDAC organizes the world’s leading convention for companies and organizations connected with mineral exploration. Some 25,000 attendees come to Toronto every year from more than 100 countries to network and attend technical sessions and courses. DX3
March 11 and 12, Metro Toronto Convention Centre
April 28 and 29, Metro Toronto Convention Centre This annual two-day event, featuring a packed roster of keynote speakers and plenty of breakout sessions, helps Canadian companies harness the power of innovation and accelerate their success. Big Data Innovation Summit Toronto The largest gathering of Fortune 500 business executives leading big-data initiatives in Canada.
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ICIMT 2015: XIII International Conference on Innovation, Management and Technology
June 15 and 16, University of Toronto Chestnut Residence and Conference Centre
This is Canada’s largest conference and trade show devoted to digital marketing. Attendees get to interact with the technologies that are revolutionizing the way brands do business. Business Innovation Summit
June 3 and 4,
DX3 Toronto
The World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology convenes scientists and scholars to discuss recent trends and challenges in the fields of innovation, management and technology. Intelligent Community Forum Summit & Awards
June 9 to 11,
This summit is an international gathering of several hundred mayors, public officers, educators and the private sector to promote prosperous and healthy communities. Hosted by the newly formed ICF Canada and Waterfront Toronto, this is the first time the summit has been held outside New York City.
TORONTO 2015 • 37
True sports By Jamie Bradburn
Toronto Maple Leafs 1927: Conn Smythe buys the flailing St. Patricks and renames the team. “The Maple Leaf,” he observed, “was the badge of courage.” The team fulfilled that promise, winning 11 Stanley Cups over the next 40 years (the prior three wins occurred under previous team names). 1933: The NHL’s first (unofficial) all-star game, held at Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens, raises $20,909 to benefit injured star Ace Bailey. The first official annual NHL All-Star Game was also held there in 1947. 1951: Bill Barilko scores the Stanley Cup winning goal, then dies in a plane crash four months later. The Leafs don’t win another championship until 1962, the same year Barilko’s remains are found. 1964: Despite a fractured ankle, Bob Baun scores the winning overtime goal in Game 6 of the Cup final. Baun joked, “It was the best break I ever had.” 1999: The Leafs say goodbye to the aging Maple Leaf Gardens and drop the puck at a brand-new venue—The Air Canada Centre—in a game versus the Montreal Canadiens. 2014: Forbes declares the Leafs the most valuable team in the NHL (and 26th overall in the world) at $1.15 billion US.
QUICK STOP•
Want to pick up a jersey or a hat to support your favourite Toronto team? Stop by Real Sports Apparel inside The Air Canada Centre for Maple Leafs, Raptors, TFC and Marlies licensed gear. If you’re a baseball fan, hit the Jays Shop at Rogers Centre.
Maple Leaf Square
Stanley Cup 1967
Joe Barnes 1983
Toronto Argonauts 1873: The Argonaut Rowing Club forms a football team to keep members busy after rowing season. 1914: Defeating the University of Toronto, the Argos win their first of 16 Grey Cups. 1950: Bad weather turns Varsity Stadium into a bog for the Grey Cup. The Argos triumph 13-0 over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in a match dubbed “The Mud Bowl.” 1980: Willie Wood becomes the CFL’s first black head coach. 1983: A late fourth-quarter touchdown toss by backup quarterback Joe Barnes nets the Argos their first Grey Cup in 31 years. 1989: American import Michael Clemons earns the nickname “Pinball” for his knack for bouncing off would-be tacklers, beginning an association with the team that has lasted more than 25 years. 2012: The 100th Grey Cup game is played at Rogers Centre in Toronto. The Argos defeat the Calgary Stampeders to win their 16th Grey Cup title.
Stanley Cup 1949
Grey Cup 2012
Mats Sundin
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Michael “Pinball” Clemons
Photography: Lucas Oleniuk (Grey Cup), Mark Spowart (Toronto Maple Leafs), Katie Thebeau (Maple Leaf Square)
We’ve raised the Stanley Cup 14 times, earned 16 Grey Cups and won the World Series twice. Here are some highlights from nearly a century and a half of thrills, heartbreak, milestones and oddities in Toronto sports.
City Confidential Toronto Blue Jays 1977: The Jays debut in front of 44,649 at Exhibition Stadium with a 9-5 win over the Chicago White Sox. 1982: A provincial ban on beer sales at games is lifted. Fans rejoice while temperance activists stew. 1983: During a game against the New York Yankees, future Blue Jay Dave Winfield accidentally kills a seagull while tossing a ball between innings. 1989: The Jays get a new home at the SkyDome (now Rogers Centre), the world’s first stadium with a motorized, fully retractable roof. 1992: For the first time ever, the World Series (Toronto Blue Jays versus Atlanta Braves) is won by a team based outside the United States. 1993: Down 6-5 in the ninth inning of Game 6 of the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, Joe Carter hits a three-run homer, and the Jays win their second consecutive championship. As the Toronto Star put it, “All of Canada—all of the baseball world— stood up and screamed.” 2011: Roberto Alomar becomes the first player inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame as a Blue Jay.
Photography: Rick Madonik (Kyle Lowry), Brace Hemmelgarn (Bautista), Christian Bobak (Maple Leaf Square)
José Bautista
Jays debut 1977
Hall of Famer Roberto Alomar
Joe Carter wins the 1993 World Series
Toronto Raptors 1946: Before the Raptors, there were the Huskies. Lasting one season, they participate in the Basketball Association of America’s (later, the NBA) first game, held at Maple Leaf Gardens. 1995: In the Raptors’ debut, top draft pick Damon Stoudamire scores 10 points in a 94-79 win over the New Jersey Nets. Stoudamire received that season’s NBA Rookie of the Year Award. 1999: Vince Carter becomes the franchise’s second Rookie of the Year Award honouree. 2001: The Raptors suffer a heartbreaking loss to Philadelphia in the final seconds of Game 7 in the conference semifinal. 2013: The singer-actor Drake is named the team’s “global ambassador.” 2014: The Raptors are awarded the 2016 NBA All-Star Game, and also win their second Atlantic Division title. Vince Carter
Maple Leaf Square
Tracy McGrady
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Kyle Lowry
TORONTO 2015 • 39
City Confidential Whether you’re looking for a casual weekend piece or the perfect accessory for a big night out, we’ve rounded up some of Toronto’s most stylish personalities to share their favourite shopping hot spots. By Vanessa Taylor Photography by Angela Lewis
With a career that requires him to eat at about 12 restaurants a week, Doss splits his time between meetings, wine tastings, photo shoots and dining at new restaurants, sometimes travelling from one end of the city to the other before the day is done. The Wardrobe: “Since I’m constantly on the go and usually carrying camera gear, I dress for comfort when possible. A pair of jeans and dress shoes set the tone depending on what’s on the agenda.” MORE WAYS TO SHOP THE LOOK:
❯ Check out the Toronto Eaton Centre
(torontoeatoncentre.com), Yorkdale Shopping Centre (yorkdale.com), Shops at Don Mills (shopsatdonmills.ca) and Sherway Gardens (sherwaygardens.ca), as well as Mississauga’s Square One (shopsquareone.com) and Brampton’s Bramalea City Centre (bramaleacitycentre.ca). Just beyond these lies the vast new Toronto Premium Outlets (torontopremiumoutlets.com), with 85 brand-name stores, in Halton Hills. ❯ Canadian shoe stores like Browns (brownsshoes.com), Aldo (aldoshoes.com) and Town Shoes (townshoes.com) offer the latest in designer and private-label shoes and accessories. ❯ Founded in Toronto, Club Monaco (clubmonaco.ca) has a modern-classic fashion aesthetic with broad appeal. ❯ Topshop (topshop.com), with its shop-in-shop locations for men and women in Hudson’s Bay Company (thebay.com), provides affordably priced fast fashion for the trendy and budget conscious. ❯ Roots (canada.roots.com) has been rocking a sporty urban style for over four decades. Its quintessentially Canadian look straddles the city and the great outdoors. ❯ Yorkdale Shopping Centre has expanded and now includes over 250 stores and services, creating one of the most fashion-oriented mall destinations, with its heady mix of premium and luxury brands. Find AllSaints (allsaints.com), London’s Ted Baker (tedbaker.com), Italian luxury brand Salvatore Ferragamo (ferragamo.com), the U.S. menswear designer John Varvatos (johnvarvatos.com), trend-driven lifestyle brand Vince Camuto (vincecamuto.com), Michael Kors (michaelkors.com) and jewellery designer David Yurman (davidyurman.com) all under one roof.
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As the founder of Preloved (getpreloved. com), a line dedicated to incorporating reclaimed vintage fabrics into every new design, Grieve runs her clothing line (along with exclusive collaborations with Roots, Anthropologie and Indigo) as well as making regular television appearances on series like Canadian Living and CBC’s Steven and Chris. The Wardrobe: “I’m obsessed with distressed denim at the moment. My favourite jeans are my Current/Elliott pair with a Preloved top under a great blazer.” MORE WAYS TO SHOP THE LOOK: ❯ Fans of sustainable shopping should head to Kensington Market for an array of vintage shops, including jewellery mecca Courage My Love (couragemylove.ca), Fresh Collective, which focuses on independent Toronto designers, and Exile (exilevintage.com) for offbeat one-of-a-kind finds. ❯ Queen Street West is home to a variety of shops specializing in heritage labels and independent brands. Sydney’s (shopsydneys.com) champions European labels like Marni and Jil Sander and is the place to order bespoke jeans. Nearby, you’ll find Ben Sherman (bensherman.com), Oliver Spencer (oliverspencer.co.uk) and Fred Perry (fredperry.com). ❯ Gaspard (gaspardshop.com) stocks coveted European fashion and accessories from Les Prairies de Paris, Carré Royal, Jamin Puech and Iosselliani. ❯ In the trendy Queen Street West and Ossington Avenue neighbourhood, peruse street-style faves at Gravitypope (gravitypope.com) and Tiger of Sweden (tigerofsweden.com). Local hot spot Jonathan+Olivia (jonathanandolivia.com) offers a well-edited selection of designer labels for men and women, such as Alexander Wang Rag & Bone, Opening Ceremony and Isabel Marant. ❯ Shop local at Philip Sparks Tailored Goods Inc. (philipsparks.com) for Toronto-made heritage-inspired fashion, shoes and accessories for the dapper gentleman and woman. ❯ For luxury consignment boutiques, hit Fashionably Yours (fashionablyyours.com) and REmix (remixclothing.ca) on Queen Street West. ❯ A few blocks north of Bloor Street on Yonge Street, Want Apothecary (wantapothecary.com) has opened its only Toronto stand-alone store. The airy boutique stocks hard-to-find labels like Filippa K, Nudie Jeans, Maison Kitsuné, and the store's sought-after in-house brand, WANT Les Essentiels de la Vie.
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TORONTO 2015 • 41
City Confidential
With a busy schedule of fashionrelated events and parties (she also holds down a day job), Belkova spends her time crafting online posts and editing photos of the latest shows and new trends that she’s spotted on her travels.
MORE WAYS TO SHOP THE LOOK: ❯ Hazelton Lanes (hazeltonlanes.com), Yorkville’s indoor mall, is home to luxe plus-size retailer Marina Rinaldi (world.marinarinaldi.com); Andrew’s (andrewsco.com), which houses brand-name favourites like Joie, Max Mara Studio, Clover Canyon and Nicole Miller, as well as a lingerie department; and TNT (tntfashion.ca), which carries top-tier designers like A.L.C., Haute Hippie, L’Agence and Comme des Garçons. ❯ Bloor-Yorkville (bloor-yorkville.com) is also home to Diesel (diesel.com) and Anthropologie (anthropologie.com) locations. ❯ 119 Corbo (119corbo.com) offers women’s designer fashion, shoes and accessories from the likes of Stella McCartney, Céline, Ann Demeulemeester and Dries Van Noten. ❯ Uncle Otis (uncleotis.com) features menswear with a downtown-cool sensibility. ❯ Toronto’s Mink Mile—the stretch of Bloor Street West from Yonge Street to Avenue Road—showcases the flagships of Louis Vuitton (louisvuitton.com), Hermès (hermes .com), Prada (prada.com), Tiffany & Co. (tiffany.ca), Cartier (cartier.com), Chanel (chanel.com), Burberry (ca.burberry.com) and Mulberry (mulberry.com). ❯ The Hudson’s Bay Company flagship location on Queen Street carries contemporary labels for men and women in its White Space. For the crème de la crème—think Balmain, Lanvin, Jason Wu, Proenza Schouler—visit Hudson’s Bay’s fabled The Room. Don’t miss the shoe studio boasting the likes of Nicholas Kirkwood, Sophia Webster and Brian Atwood. ❯ Over in The Distillery Historic District, find night-out looks at lifestyle store Lileo (lileo.ca) and Gotstyle (gotstylemenswear.com). Browse hard-to-find fine-jewellery brands at Gilding the Lily (gildingthelily.com).
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Hair and Makeup: Samantha Pickles
The Wardrobe: “I am a lover of quirky accoutrements. I like to add interesting details to my evening looks. My favourites include a Cookie Monster Prada clutch and any shoe by Charlotte Olympia.”
Whether he’s creating made-to-measure suits for Toronto’s sporting elite (he dressed the Toronto FC soccer team) or taking care of busy Bay Street businessmen, Nguyen’s modern approach to tailoring has won him a legion of fans. The Wardrobe: “My track suit is something we developed at Garrison that’s made of stretch wool and cotton. It’s just as comfortable in a meeting as when I’m driving or running on a track.” MORE WAYS TO SHOP THE LOOK: ❯ For sharp career wear with plenty of options, Yorkdale Shopping Centre and the Toronto Eaton Centre are home to brand names like Banana Republic (bananarepublic.ca), Club Monaco (clubmonaco.ca), J.Crew (jcrew.com) and Zara (zara.com). ❯ Visit Harry Rosen (harryrosen.com) for a full selection of casual and formal suits, shoes and accessories from designer brands such as Dolce & Gabbana, Lanvin and Tom Ford. Luxury department store Holt Renfrew Men (holtrenfrewmen.com) boasts an array of designer labels along with perks like on-site monogramming and complimentary shoe shining. ❯ Canadian designer Kimberley NewportMimran’s Pink Tartan (pinktartan.com) feminine career wear can be found at Holt Renfrew, Hudson’s Bay Company and its namesake boutique in Yorkville. ❯ Leatherfoot (leatherfoot.com) in Yorkville purveys handcrafted men’s shoes, including heritage brands like Saint Crispin’s, John Lobb, Gaziano & Girling, Carmina Shoemaker and a made-to-order shoe service. ❯ The Bloor-Yorkville (bloor-yorkville.com) area houses an array of quaint boutiques, including Kate Spade (katespade.com) and Augustina (augustinaboutiques.com). ❯ Venture just north of the city to Vaughan Mills (vaughanmills.com), Canada’s premier outlet mall, which carries an unrivalled selection of discount designer stores like Michael Kors, Lacoste, Calvin Klein and BCBG Max Azria.
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TORONTO 2015 • 43
city confidential
NXNE
Enjoy Toronto’s live-music scene your way.
Festivals Canada’s biggest new-music festival, Canadian Music Week (May 1 to 10, 2015, cmw.net) slides into its 34th year, hosting 1,000 Canadian and global acts (including comedy and music films and documentaries) in more than 60 venues.
By Jamie Noguchi
TD Toronto Jazz Festival
M
usic lovers get their toes tapping (or fists pumping) in a variety of concert venues in this city. But who doesn’t have one beloved venue of choice? For some, it’s a festival, with its righthere-right-now hive mind meld. For others, it’s concert halls, with their impeccable acoustics and intimacy. Or nightclubs, with their late-night party vibe. Or, finally, those unique small venues—cafés, lounges, hotel bars, et al.—with eclectic lineups for discerning devotees. Here’s where to get your live-music fix at your fave kind of place.
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For diehard electronic-music fans, Digital Dreams (June 27 and 28, 2015, digitaldreamsfest.ca) is a must-attend event located at The Flats at Molson Canadian Amphitheatre, a semi-enclosed outdoor venue on the waterfront. Now in its 28th year, the TD Toronto Jazz Festival (June 18 to 27, 2015, torontojazz. com) is one of North America’s premier jazz fests, boasting 350-plus performances across town, indoors and out. Past performers have included Keith Jarrett, Kurt Elling and surprise crossover artists Willie Nelson and Melissa Etheridge. OVO Fest (August 3 and 4, 2015, octobersveryown.com/ovo-fest) is T.O. booster Drake’s hip-hop lovefest. Last year’s surprise headline guests included OutKast, Lauryn Hill and Usher—expect this year’s to be similarly A-list.
Photography: Daniel Taub (TD Toronto Jazz Festival), Phil Brennan (NXNE)
NXNE (June 17 to 21, 2015, nxne.com) features marquee names and up-andcomers (covering rock, hip hop, punk, indie, folk and more), as well as art, film, comedy and a speaker series.
city confidential
Photography: Ian Muttoo (Massey Hall), Benson Kua (Roy Thomson Hall), Naomi Lir (Roy Thomson Hall, Evanescence), Sam Javanrouh (Four Seasons), Ryan Tir (Sound Academy), Sara Marlowe (Lula Lounge)
Concert Halls Expect magnificent acoustics in the Canadian Opera Company’s home, the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts (coc.ca). Catch the COC’s production of Rossini’s The Barber of Seville (April 17 to May 22, 2015) or Béla Bartók’s Bluebeard’s Castle, along with Schönberg’s Erwartung (May 6 to 23, 2015). Roy Thomson Hall (roythomsonhall.com) is an architectural icon and a hub for Toronto arts and culture. The venue seats more than 2,500 and is home to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. It’s also the host for a variety of concerts and Toronto International Film Festival screenings.
Living Arts Centre
Although it’s gone through some name changes (first, O’Keefe Centre, then Hummingbird Centre), the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts (sonycentre.ca) remains one of the city’s landmark concert halls. Eclectic programming covers all the bases, from rock to orchestra to kids’ shows.
Roy Thomson Hall
Enjoy the strains of Tafelmusik (tafelmusik.org), Canada’s award-winning baroque orchestra featuring period instruments in Jeanne Lamon Hall in Trinity-St. Paul’s United Church, a historic landmark built by architect Edmund Burke. Innumerable greats from all genres have graced Massey Hall’s (masseyhall.com) legendary stage. The 1953 performance featuring Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Charles Mingus, Bud Powell and Max Roach is still spoken of in reverential tones among jazz aficionados. This year’s Jazz at Massey Hall series has Wynton Marsalis leading the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (February 11, 2015), and the dynamic duo of Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock (April 14, 2015).
Gaze up at the elegant floating wooden ceiling canopy built to maximize the acoustics in Koerner Hall (performance.rcmusic.ca/venues/ koerner-hall) as you take in classical, jazz, pop, opera and world music at this venue for The Royal Conservatory of Music. Home to the Mississauga Symphony Orchestra, Hammerson Hall in the Living Arts Centre (livingartscentre.ca) is also a venue for classic musicals and Canadian music icons such as Jann Arden, Kim Mitchell and Platinum Blonde in 2015.
Nightclubs A dramatically high-tech-looking dance cave, the Entertainment District’s UNIUN (uniun.com) is the place to get your party on to the latest in electronic dance music, as presented by resident and guest international DJs. Part of the waterfront’s Polson Pier entertainment complex, Sound Academy (sound-academy.com) is a concert venue/ nightclub known for a bangin’ sound system and great stage sightlines. Rock, pop, soca, dance—it’s all good here.
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
Music Meets World: 4479, named after Toronto’s latitude and longitude, is a grassroots campaign to celebrate and promote Toronto’s diverse sounds and eclectic venues. On any given night, you can see amazing bands featuring top talent from this city. Visit 4479toronto.ca to join the social media campaign, buy merchandise, check concert listings and enter for a chance to win free concert tickets.
Looking for a more old-school definition of nightclubbing? Start the evening with cocktails and dinner, then light up the night dancing to global grooves at Lula Lounge (lula.ca). Salsa, jazz, Brazilian, African and world beats are mainstays, but punk, funk and opera have been known to happen. Lula Lounge is also home to the city’s only Sunday brunch that features not just a live Cuban band but also free salsa lessons, to boot.
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Sound Academy
city confidential
Dakota Tavern
Intimate Venues Ossington Village’s Dakota Tavern (thedakotatavern.com) is the place to go for Bluegrass Brunch on Saturdays and Sundays (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.). A live roster of bluegrass, country and folk fills out most evenings.
The Rex Jazz & Blues Bar
Right in the heart of the Queen Street West bustle, The Rex Jazz & Blues Bar (therex.ca) has been featuring live music seven nights a week, and afternoons on weekends, for more than 40 years. It’s the go-to for locals and visitors interested in a pint and a great band.
Trackspotting Do you know what Toronto tavern The Tragically Hip referenced in “Bobcaygeon”? Or what Toronto bar inspired a Leonard Cohen song? Visit Track Toronto (listentotrack.ca) for a map flagging the city’s musical landmarks. Look for Track Toronto signs that provide info at select sites, along with QR codes linking to audio tracks of featured songs.
Just two blocks from one another, Parkdale’s The Drake Hotel (thedrakehotel.ca) and Gladstone Hotel (gladstonehotel.com) are local-arts-and-community-focused properties with intimately scaled live-music venues. The Drake features local indie bands and DJ-curated dance music, while the Gladstone’s Art Bar, Melody Bar and Ballroom play host to a variety of acts, from jazz, pop and indie rock to Brazilian beats, folk and the odd live 1950s revival act.
For roots, blues, rockabilly or alternative tunes, try the Horseshoe Tavern (horseshoetavern.com) on Queen Street West, where music has been playing and drinks have been flowing since 1947. Many iconic Canadian bands have taken the stage, including The Tragically Hip, The Watchmen, Blue Rodeo and The Sheepdogs. It’s always a great place to check out new talent. Looking for some good and gritty alternative rock? Head to Lee’s Palace (leespalace.com) on Bloor Street West for live music nearly every night of the week. Or venture into The Dance Cave on the second floor, where they play tunes that’ll move you if you’re into rock, retro, mod, indie or Britpop. Once a movie theatre, The Danforth Music Hall (thedanforth.com) was transformed into a music venue in the late 1970s. It has also been used as a rep cinema. This intimate venue is a gem for indie favourites. Don’t expect concerts every night, but whatever is there is sure to be interesting. Despite the name, you’ll see a range of bands ranging from folk to metal to rap at the historic Opera House (theoperahousetoronto.com) in Riverside. The location used to be a vaudeville theatre in the 1900s and still retains some of its original architectural features. It’s now a great place to catch stars on the rise (Eminem and Rage Against the Machine once played here).
The South Core Entertainment District is home to two of the city’s biggest stadiums, where the heavy hitters come to play. The Air Canada Centre (theaircanadacentre .com) stages shows for the likes of Cher, Jack White, The Black Keys and 19,800 of their fans. Rogers Centre (rogerscentre.com) converts between an intimate 10,000-seat venue and a 55,000 seat mega-venue under a retractable roof worthy of mega-bands like One Direction and U2, who both launched North American tours here.
Lady Gaga at The Air Canada Centre
Enjoy lakefront breezes and a terrific view of the waterline at The Molson Canadian Amphitheatre (canadianamphitheatre.net), a semi-enclosed outdoor venue that hosts hot-ticket bands and heavy-hitting headliners. Choose seats sheltered by the roof or sit under the open sky on the surrounding grass for a more casual experience.
Drake
Rogers Centre
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Photography: Stephen Chanasyk (Dakota Tavern), Erik Parker (Lee’s Palace), Doug Brown (Drake), Alfred Hermida (Rogers Centre), Tara Salt (Lady Gaga)
Stadiums
Family fun Gather the family and explore Toronto from A to Z. By Yuki Hayashi
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is for bouncing! Kids will jump for joy at Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park, where they can bounce across wall-to-wall trampolines, play dodge ball and more. skyzone.com
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is for dragon! Enter the lair at the 4-D Wonder Mountain’s Guardian ride at Canada’s Wonderland, where you’ll also find more than 200 attractions, including a variety of roller coasters.
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is for the Toronto Islands, a short ferry ride away. Visit Centre Island’s Franklin Children’s Garden and Centreville Amusement Park, then have a picnic on the beach. No time to cross over? Lounge at Sugar Beach on the mainland. toronto.ca
is for lots and lots of Lego (plus, a 4-D cinema and rides)! Have a blast at the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, any LEGOmaniac’s dream destination. legolanddiscoverycentre.ca
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is for Evergreen Brick Works. Check out the farmers’ market, roll some clay or hike a hill. On Wednesday, nosh on pizza fresh from the wood-fire oven. evergreen.ca
is for the Group of Seven, Canada’s most iconic painters. Look for their masterpieces in the Art Gallery of Ontario’s Canadian Collection gallery and at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection. ago.net,
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is for Casa Loma, a real-life fairy-tale castle with towers, secret passages and a 244-metre (800-foot) underground tunnel. casaloma.org
is for film fest! Catch a screening of 100-plus familyfriendly movies, docs and short films at the TIFF Kids International Film Festival, April 7 to 19, 2015. tiff.net
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Catch a wild and wonderful glow-in-the-dark black-light performance by musical-theatre-meisters the Famous People Players. fpp.org
is for jousting. Cheer on your knight at Medieval Times! Horsemanship, falconry, a four-course meal and pageantry galore— everything you need for an epic evening. medievaltimes.com
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QUICK STOP•
Does your family include furry friends? Check out Purina PawsWay, a one-ofa-kind pet centre where pet lovers can stroll through exhibits and learn more about the world of cats and dogs. pawsway.ca
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is for the Hockey Hall of Fame, where you can visit the Stanley Cup. Fact: T The he Toronto Maple Leafs have won the Cup 11 times, second only to the Montreal Canadiens. hhof.com
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is for kamiks, just one of the 12,500-plus shoes, moccasins, boots, padukas, sandals, mukluks, slippers and more in The Bata Shoe Museum’s collection. batashoemuseum.ca
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is for mummies at the Royal Ontario Museum. And when you’re done exploring the mysteries of ancient Egypt, be sure to visit the dinosaurs and the bat cave, too. rom.on.ca
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Illustration: Remie Geoffroi
is for Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, where guests come face to face with sharks, stingrays and sea turtles.
is for nature. Explore High Park, Toronto’s largest public park, featuring forest-lined hiking trails, playgrounds, a zoo, greenhouses and the picturesque Grenadier Pond. highparktoronto.com
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is for Playdium, Mississauga’s interactive arcade extravaganza. With 40,000 square feet of indoor games, simulators and rides, it can’t be beat for rainy-day fun. Or head for the batting cages, bumper cars and one of Canada’s longest go-kart tracks. playdium.com
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is for sheep, cows, pigs, donkeys, horses, goats, ducks, geese and chickens. Riverdale Farm is a three-hectare (7.5-acre) oasis on the east side of downtown, recreating life on an earlyOntario farm. toronto.ca
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is for exploring underground. Descend beneath the city to the 30-km (19-mile) long PATH—Toronto’s Downtown Underground Pedestrian Walkway, the world’s largest underground shopping complex, which connects the Hockey Hall of Fame, Rogers Centre, CN Tower and much more.
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is for the Ontario Science Centre, with something for all ages. KidSpark brings hands-on fun to the eight-and-under set, while the Planetarium and the Amateur Radio Station will get teens thinking. ontariosciencecentre.ca
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is for Queen’s Park, where you can take a free tour of the historic Ontario Legislative Building. ontla.on.ca
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is for the Red Rocket. Jump onto one of our world-famous streetcars! ttc.ca
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is for Treetop Trekking, Brampton’s six-aerialcourse, c ourse, seven-zipline adventure. Soar over Heart Lake on a 305-metre (1,000-foot) zipline!
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TIP: Travelbug Baby rents strollers, car seats, baby gates and anything else you might need to make the most of your family vacation in the city. travelbugbaby.com
is for an awesome 160-km (100-mile) view! Soak in the city from the heights of the iconic CN Tower. cntower.ca
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is for the War of 1812. Visit the Fort York National Historic Site and its brand-new Visitor Centre to see Canada’s largest collection of War of 1812 buildings and an actual 1813 battleground. fortyork.ca
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is for the Ex! The Canadian National Exhibition is eagerly awaited by locals each year for its midway rides, games, entertainment and amazing animal shows —not to mention culinary marvels, including deep-fried butter and Mars Bars. theex.com
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is for the Toronto Zoo, home to visiting giant pandas Er Shun and Da Mao as well as more than 5,000 animals from around the world! Must-visits include the two-hectare (five-acre) polar bear habitat and the Gorilla Rainforest, which houses a troop of western lowland gorillas, including juvenile Nassir. torontozoo.com
is for yay team! Cheer on on the Toronto Blue Jays, two-time World Series champs, at Rogers Centre.
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Embrace winter with a dozen sparkling seasonal activities. By Kat Tancock Lettering by Katy Dockrill
’Tis the season for Christmas cheer, and where better to find it than in the European-style Toronto Christmas Market (torontochristmas market.com) in The Distillery Historic District? Enjoy the festivities, hear musicians, carollers and choirs perform, sample mulled wine and shop the stands for locally handcrafted products.
Brush up on your hockey-hero trivia, practise your slap shot or test your play-by-play skills behind the mic with a visit to the Hockey Hall of Fame (hhof.com). Follow it up with the real thing: tickets to see the Toronto Marlies (marlies.ca), the Mississauga Steelheads (mississaugasteelheads.com) and, of course, the Toronto Maple Leafs (mapleleafs.com).
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Celebrate Ontario’s heritage at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (royalfair.org), which takes place every November. Top attractions include equestrian shows, a chef competition, a petting farm complete with baby goats and mini-donkeys, and a butter-sculpting competition featuring work by local art students.
Pack your red nose and join in welcoming Saint Nick at the 110th annual Santa Claus Parade (thesantaclausparade.ca), whose route weaves through several downtown neighbourhoods every November.
City confidential
Watch some of Canada’s premier dancers in The National Ballet of Canada’s (national.ballet.ca) mesmerizing and perennially popular interpretation of the classic Christmas tale The Nutcracker, often featuring top Toronto personalities in the role of the Cannon Doll who begins the battle scene; past participants have included comedian Rick Mercer and former Leafs star Mats Sundin. Come early to enjoy a pre-show glass of Ontario bubbly in the stylish Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.
Embrace your inner Joannie Rochette or Patrick Chan with a tour around Toronto’s many outdoor skating rinks. Four of the most popular spots, offering rentals and lockers, are Nathan Phillips Square (toronto.ca), the Natrel Rink at Harbourfront Centre (harbourfrontcentre .com), Celebration Square in Mississauga (mississauga.ca) and Gage Park in Brampton (brampton.ca).
Book a table during Winterlicious (toronto.ca/ winterlicious) to fill your belly for less with prix-fixe lunches and dinners at some of Toronto’s top restaurants.
Get in the holiday spirit by admiring the creativity of window-display designers at the Queen and Yonge flagship store of classic Canadian retailer Hudson’s Bay Company (thebay.com), where seasonal vignettes are unveiled every year. Check a few items off your gift list and support local artisans with a pre-holiday shopping trip to the One of a Kind Christmas Show and Sale (oneofakindshow.com), with stalls from more than 800 North American craftspeople, artists and designers.
Celebrate the Year of the Sheep with New Year festivities in Chinatown. Get an insider’s view of the celebration and food with a Chinatown walking tour from fascinating guide Shirley Lum of A Taste of the World (torontowalksbikes.com).
Join local residents at Nathan Phillips Square in front of City Hall for the Cavalcade of Lights (toronto.ca), the lighting of Toronto’s official Christmas tree, accompanied by a dance party, live-music performances and a blowout fireworks display that draws upward of 10,000 people.
Marvel at the artists’ skills at Icefest (bloor-yorkville .com/icefest), Yorkville’s ice-sculpture festival. Watch ice-carving demonstrations and an on-street ice-skating performance, and vote for your favourite sculpture.
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food+drink Truly Local
The phrase “locally sourced” is almost as common to see on menus as the words “appetizers,” “mains” and “dessert”—which is a good thing. In Toronto, just look for the Feast ON designation. The Feast ON program identifies establishments that support local producers whenever possible and that raise awareness about the many fresh flavours Ontario has to offer. Find a list of certified Feast ON businesses at feaston.ontarioculinary.com.
Don’t miss this delicious grilled cheese sandwich, a local specialty at Cheesewerks (cheesewerks.com), a downtown favourite that crafts its dishes around a range of unique melty local cheeses and artisanal products.
Food & Drink
Our roots are showing Dining out in Toronto offers up a wealth of internationally inspired options, whether you prefer your food traditional or served with a contemporary twist. By Amy Rosen
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Luckee
Photography: Geoff Fitzgerald
T’S NO SECRET THAT ETHNIC DIVERSITY IS ONE OF THE great strengths of Toronto’s food scene, though it may surprise you to learn that just a few decades ago, dining out here meant meat loaf, mashed potatoes and canned green beans. So how did we come so far in such a short amount of time? I believe our meteoric rise can be traced back to our proud heritage of immigration, for sure, but also to where food and travel intersect. Travel opened our eyes and made us want more. More spices, better bread and butter, more authentic ways of preparing food—the way it tasted that time in that place. Of course, Toronto chefs took note, because the trickle-down effect in terms of food trends always starts and ends with them. But culinary travel was no fleeting trend. This was the way things were going to be from now on. We had tasted the good stuff, and there was no going back. Witness the new spins on tradition at some of the best new restaurants in town, like El Catrin (Mexican), Shibui (Japanese), Bindia (Indian) and chef Susur Lee’s Luckee (luckeerestaurant.com), a 2.0 take on nouvelle chinoise, where classic dishes sport a Susur twist, including crispy house-made spinach tofu and char siu brisket, in an urban-sleek Far East room. So, too, tender bundles of traditional dim sum, inspired by the chef ’s travels throughout Guangdong, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing and Singapore. Think pork soup dumplings, and scallop and pea-shoot dumplings, but whatever you do, don’t miss the chicken cheung fun rice roll. At College Street’s Persian outpost, Takht-e-Tavoos, the cheery tiled room sports a Bedouin-esque lounging area for sipping Persian chai and catching up with friends. An appetizer of creamy feta is topped with black nigella seeds and sided by hot-from-the-oven Barbari flatbread, plus walnuts and olives and a green bounty of fresh herbs for making Takht-e-Tavoos open-faced sandwiches.
Susur Lee’s Luckee is a 2.0 take on nouvelle chinoise, where classic dishes sport a Susur twist.
Timeless Tradition If you’re looking for mama-approved mains (minus the modern interpretation), look no further than these Toronto classics.
tk tk
Eastern European: United Bakers Dairy Restaurant Try family fare at Toronto’s oldest family restaurant, in business for more than a century. Pizza: Bitondo’s For when you’re craving a huge slice of pizza, classic panzerotti or a juicy veal sandwich. Ethiopian: Addis Ababa Shared vegetarian or spiced-meat platters. Don’t miss the aromatic fresh-roasted coffee. Halal Pakistani: Lahore Tikka House Enjoy sizzling BBQ and spicy karahi (Pakistani curries). Tapas: Tapas at Embrujo A truly authentic Spanish tapas restaurant. Middle Eastern: Tabülè Savoury and hearty Middle Eastern classics along with fresh juices and loose-leaf teas. Indian: 309 Dhaba Indian Excellence Named for traditional Indian roadside restaurants that serve travellers and local communities.
Susur Lee
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Food & Drink Fat Pasha
Shibui
Rob Gentile
Another winner sees fat green olives tossed in a miraculous sauce of ground walnuts and pomegranate reduction, while the so-called “Serious Lunch” is a two-parter comprising a deeply lamby broth, followed by a tall stone pot with a heavy pestle for pounding the meat-and-bean stew (strained from the aforementioned broth) into a main that’s scooped onto bread. It’s the kind of restaurant that washes over you like an exotic breeze. Toronto is also experiencing a mini-trend of new-wave Middle Eastern outposts (read: Byblos, Cleo), which includes chef Anthony Rose’s Fat Pasha (fatpasha.com), a bold new boîte dishing out eastern European Jewish food with a Mideast mindset. There’s showy tableside chopped liver, latke platters with smoked fish, Ontario rack of lamb with green tahini, and a great roasted head of cauliflower. So, this is what Toronto’s dining scene looks like today: perfectly casual, imbued with the spirit of mamas from afar and cooked with honesty. It’s also flat-out delicious. Executive chef Rob Gentile’s Bar Buca (barbuca.com), is a petite spinoff of Buca and is the spot for four-star Italian bar food, plus a morning espresso layered with dulce de leche, and decadent pastries such as Nutella-fuelled cornetti. It’s tea time in Tuscany! The ever-changing menu has included such tasty items as bruschetta with oozing duck yolk, mushrooms and truffle, rock shrimp with n’duja and rosemary ash, and porchetta, mascarpone and mostar-
Fat Pasha
da-stuffed focaccia. The amount of thought, labour and precision that goes into these so-called “bar bites” is just incredible. Our final 2.0 stop is the rustic cantina Fonda Lola (fondalola.ca), where owners Ernesto Rodriguez, Andrés Márquez and chef Howard Dubrovsky are young, talented and happy to see you, routinely popping by tables on bended knee to do a shot of quality tequila with guests. It’s modern Mexican with a healthier twist (there’s kombucha on tap) and arriba! flavour profiles. It’s veggie friendly, too. Come for the chayote and aguachile, and stay for the queso panela and churros. Toronto is getting more notice as a full-fledged dining destination where one can travel the globe within the city limits—and never eat the same delectable bite twice. The only problem is, you’ll totally want to.
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Bar Buca
El Catrin
Photography: Geoff Fitzgerald (Bar Buca), Vickie Cheung (Fat Pasha), Liora Ipsum (Shibui), Tasting Toronto (El Catrin)
Food & Drink
Drink it in Whether you’re looking for a pre-theatre tipple or a gastronomical wonder, here’s a scene-byscene, drink-by-drink guide to finding your new favourite in our fair city. By Jamie Noguchi
CASUAL COOL Gather your clan at The Ceili Cottage (1301 Queen St. E., ceilicottage.com), an Irish local and centre for Celtic culture in Leslieville. The cozy interior is an intimate place to raise a glass and tap your feet to live fiddles and flutes. Peruse the extensive whisky menu, which is updated seasonally and features selections from around the world. Say cheers to: An Irishman in New York ($12), an Irish manhattan made with Bushmills infused with vanilla beans.
Photography: Paula Wilson
ARTISAN HIPSTER House-made bitters and syrups? Check. Hand-chipped ice? Check. Molecular gastronomy-inspired drink menu? Ditto. If you’re looking for a cocktail that amazes as much as it tantalizes, look no further than Queen Street West’s BarChef (472 Queen St. W., barcheftoronto.com). Say cheers to: The sailor’s mojito ($25), with its “mojito ravioli,” gelatinous little pearls that pop in your mouth, releasing Sailor Jerry rum, fresh lime, mint and vanilla, presented alongside aromatic “beach essence” and “vanilla air.”
OLD SCHOOL Yesterday’s classics get new-found respect at SpiritHouse (487 Adelaide St. W., spirithousetoronto.com), located in the heart of downtown’s Fashion District. Natty vest-and-tie-clad bartenders work their magic in what could be the city’s beststocked bar, with 100-plus whiskies, plus house-blended, house-aged whiskies and bottled cocktails. Say cheers to: The summery Honey Ryder ($14), featuring tequila (choose from more than 20 options), Cointreau, honey syrup and a palate-teasing blend of cayenne and freshly puréed mango, plus lime and cilantro.
BELLE ÉPOQUE Feel transported to another era at La Société (131 Bloor St. W., lasociete.ca). This Yorkville classic is billed as a “petit piece of Paris,” where you can enjoy modern French bistro fare or lounge at the dark panelled bar to discuss poetry, gossip or the issues du jour. Say cheers to: The caesar ($10) is an upscale twist on a Canadian classic. A caesar resembles a spicy Bloody Mary that’s made with Clamato juice.
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WHERE LOCALLY CRAFTED BEER MEETS FRESH ARTISAN FOOD THE BEST PATIO IN THE CITY 350 Seats right on Lake Ontario! 500 SEAT DINING ROOM FREE BREWERY TOURS CONDUCTED EVERY DAY BEER TO GO FROM OUR RETAIL STORE Open late every day!
Reserve today! 416.504.1020, AMSTERDAMBREWHOUSE.COM
245 QUEENS QUAY W.
Just south of the Rogers Centre
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Food & Drink
Craft crawl Taste the city in five beers. Here’s where to sample some must-try local brews, plus a step-by-step guide to getting there by TTC or on foot. By Crystal Luxmore Breweries are popping up in neighbourhoods all over the city. And the outfits that started the city’s craft-beer boom are opening newer, bigger hubs, too. Take our crawl to sample the wares in a range of settings, from brewery tours to waterfront views to cozy pubs where rarities and one-offs are always flowing.
ROUND 1 BAR HOP
From Bar Hop, walk south on Spadina, then go east on Bremner, past the CN Tower, to Steam Whistle Brewing (a 15-minute walk).
391 King St. W., barhopbar.com With 36 everchanging taps and two casks, this friendly hipster haunt serves up refined pub fare and curates the best beers from Ontario. TRY: Sample a seasonal brew from Toronto’s Bellwoods, Left Field or Kensington breweries.
ROUND 3
ROUND 2
AMSTERDAM BREWHOUSE 245 Queens Quay W., amsterdambrewhouse.com Take a seat on a Muskoka chair on the lakefront patio, order a pizza to soak up those suds, and gaze out at the Toronto Islands. This location holds a large brewpub, a small on-site craft brewery and a retail beer store. This fairly new brewpub was opened by Toronto’s original microbrewer. Tours and tastings three times daily on weekends.
From Steam Whistle, walk east on Bremner, go south on Lower Simcoe Street toward the lake, then walk west on Queens Quay to Amsterdam BrewHouse (a 10-minute walk).
TRY: Testify Brett Pale Ale, refreshing and tart, made with a different type of hop every time.
From Amsterdam BrewHouse, take the 509 Harbourfront East streetcar and get off at Union Station. Walk east on Front to C’est What? (a 15-minute ride and walk).
From C’est What? walk half a block east on Front to the LCBO (a five-minute walk).
ROUND 4 C’EST WHAT? 67 Front St. E., cestwhat.com Serving nothing but craft beers and global pub grub, this cozy subterranean craft-beer hub has been in business for 26 years. It boasts 57 taps from breweries across Ontario and Quebec. TRY: Venture outside Toronto to try some killer ales from Ontario breweries such as Gravenhurst’s Sawdust City and Collingwood’s Side Launch.
STEAM WHISTLE BREWING 255 Bremner Blvd., steamwhistle.ca Housed in a former railway roundhouse, this indie brewer has been perfecting its Pilsner since 2000. Take a brewery tour to see how the barley gets from the sacks to the trademark green bottle. Tours start at $10, scheduled every half-hour daily; reserve online. TRY: Unfiltered Steam Whistle is Pilsner taken before the full process is completed. It’s a superfresh lager that’s only available at the brewery.
LCBO 87 Front St. E., lcbo.com This craft beer-rich liquor store is a great place to pick up a few souvenir bottles. Look for T.O.’s Junction Craft Brewing and Great Lakes Brewery selections.
QUICK STOP
ROUND 5 From LCBO, walk east on Front to Parliament, go south on Parliament to Mill Street, then walk east to The Distillery Historic District. Go south on Trinity, then east on Tank House Lane to Mill St. Brew Pub (a 15-minute walk).
The TTC has a “Trip at can Planner” th ch hi show you w .ca . ttc route to take
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THE BEER HALL AT MILL ST. BREW PUB 21 Tank House Lane, beerhall.millstreetbrewpub.ca With two or more taps dedicated to Beer Hall-only brews, this modern take on a German beer hall also boasts one of the best patios and the biggest, juiciest duck wings in the city. TRY: Hopfenschnaps. The Beer Hall is the only place in Canada that makes its own version of bierschnaps, a traditional German-style dry spirit distilled from beer.
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Photography: Clive Barber
compass Golf City Take advantage of great golfing in the Toronto region. The city is a hotbed for both casual and avid players alike and home to five municipal, quality-driven and affordable 18-hole golf courses (open from mid-April through November) well suited to meet your golfing needs (toronto.ca/parks/golf). Don Valley Golf Course (donvalleyproshop.com), the oldest and most esteemed municipal course, is located steps away from York Mills subway station. Or, if you’re up for a road trip, venture outside the city to enjoy a round at some of the country’s top greens—a region known for the highest concentration of public courses anywhere in North America. Walk the same fairways as the pros at Oakville’s Glen Abbey Golf Club (glenabbey.clublink.ca), home of this year’s RBC Canadian Open. Try your hand at championship-quality courses such as Caledon’s Osprey Valley Golf (ospreyvalleygolf.com), The Royal Ashburn Golf Club (royalashburngolfclub.com) in Whitby and the Pan Am Games golfing venue, the legendary Angus Glen Golf Club (angusglen.com) in Markham.
Glen Abbey Golf Club
Urban escapes
The city’s best getaway plans, whether you’re taking a break from business, catching up with friends or looking to lace up and get moving. By Yuki Hayashi
GIRLFRIENDS’ GETAWAY
Here with your bestie or bridesmaids or enjoying a mother-daughter weekend? You can’t go wrong with the Toronto trifecta: shopping, spa-ing and dining. SHOP For a long list of coveted brands (over 240 and growing), visit Yorkdale Shopping Centre (yorkdale.com). Downtown’s Toronto Eaton Centre (torontoeatoncentre.com) is the city centre’s largest mall, with 230-plus shops, services and restaurants. It’s also next door to the Hudson’s Bay department store’s flagship, the exclusive home to Canada’s only Kleinfeld Bridal, where brides and bridesmaids can “say yes to the dress” in a 20,000-square-foot luxury atelier. If you’re looking to browse boutiques, hit the Queen West Fashion District or The Beaches. UNWIND Work out the kinks after a power-shopping session. Depending on your preferred massage style, consider these two options, a short walk or subway ride from the city core. For those who like invigorating massage therapy, hit Urban Nirvana Thai
Massage & Yoga Spa (urbannirvana.ca), where a practitioner kneads, pummels, pushes and stretches you into a state of unknotted-ness. (Yes, you will get walked on.) Seeking something a bit more gentle? The Elmwood Spa’s (elmwoodspa.com) signature Lava Shell Massage consists of a full-body polish, followed by a massage with heated seashells, using a muscle- and skin-pampering seaweed-infused oil. Afterward, enjoy a three-course lunch in your spa robe on the Elmwood’s private patio. Or luxuriate in the saltwater pool at the Spa at Windsor Arms (windsorarmshotel.com/ spa), preferably after indulging in one of the establishment’s many treatments. The Chocolate and Coffee Body Wrap is truly a treat for the whole body: cocoa is a natural antioxidant; and caffeine helps tone and firm skin as the coffee exfoliates. DINE In the Entertainment District, Nota Bene (notabenerestaurant.com) is considered one of the country’s best for its eclectic regional-inflected menu. Or enjoy oysters, dinner and dessert over a great bottle (or two) at CRUSH Wine Bar + Kitchen (crushwinebar.com).
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Kleinfeld Bridal
COMPASS
SPORT SEEKERS
Looking to pick up the pace? This city delivers, with active tours and all-season activities for every taste. GET MOVING Toronto Bicycle Tours (torontobicycletours.com) equips you with wheels, helmet and a guide; most tours are for all activity levels, but speedsters can book a faster, harder fitness ride. Or hit Wheel Excitement (wheelexcitement.com) to rent mountain bikes, hybrids or in-line skates. Pedal along the Scarborough Bluffs and visit Guild Park & Gardens (guildpark.ca)—don’t miss the sculpture garden featuring works by many notable Canadian artists. Toronto Guided Runs (torontoguidedruns.com) explores Toronto’s most scenic neighbourhoods. Or make your way down to the Harbourfront Canoe & Kayak Centre (paddletoronto.com) for a guided kayak tour of the channels, lagoons and bird sanctuaries of the idyllic Toronto Islands (toronto.ca). Try stand-up paddle boarding (SUP) at Cherry Beach; rentals and lessons are available through Surf Ontario (surfontario.ca). COOL DOWN For a relaxed pace, rent a bike from a Bike Share Toronto (bikesharetoronto .com) stand, and tool around at your leisure, returning the bike to any of the city’s 80 locations. Bike or stroll to the city’s famed downtown parks. Grab a coffee at the Rooster Coffee House on Broadview and stroll through Riverdale Park for a great view of the city skyline. Visit historic Queen’s Park, nestled in the heart of downtown and within walking distance of the Royal Ontario Museum. About a 30-minute drive from downtown, near the Toronto Zoo, you’ll find Rouge National Park; guided walks (rougepark.com/hike) are the best way to navigate Canada’s premier urban wilderness park. ADD ADRENALIN For thrills and chills, don’t forget the bucket-list-friendly CN Tower EdgeWalk (edgewalkcntower.ca) or Canada’s Wonderland amusement park (canadaswonderland.com) for Canada’s highest roller coasters.
Bike Share Toronto
Spa at Windsor Arms
Stand-up paddle boarding
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TORONTO 2015 • 63
COMPASS
BUSINESS CLASS
Killing time between meetings? Schedule in some of the exemplary dining, stellar shopping and cultural attractions this city has to offer. TOUR City Sightseeing Toronto’s (citysightseeingtoronto.com) British-style double-decker tour buses are a ubiquitous travel-must for good reason: They’re an ideal way to cram the most sightseeing, guided touring and convenience into a short stay. Hop on for a guide-narrated tour of the city (the complete route takes about two hours), then hop off wherever you want to shop or explore, whether it’s at the Royal Ontario Museum (rom.on.ca) or downtown’s Theatre District, where you can catch a fresh-from-Broadway (or often pre-Broadway) production at the Royal Alexandra or Princess of Wales theatres (mirvish.com).
City Sightseeing
SHOP Bloor-Yorkville (bloor-yorkville .com), a.k.a. the Mink Mile, is known for its Hermès, Chanel, Prada, Gucci and other designer boutiques, plus high-end department store Holt Renfrew (holtrenfrew.com) and men’s clothier Harry Rosen (harryrosen.com). Downtown, the underground PATH shopping complex (torontopath.com) connects 1,200 shops and services over 30 kilometres of retail walkways. DINE Home to some of the city’s best bars and restos, the Financial District is the place to eat, drink and talk business. Seal the deal at Canoe Restaurant and Bar (oliverbonacini.com/canoe) on the 54th floor of the TD Bank Tower, or over modern Japanese at Ki (kijapanese.com), another hot spot that combines business with pleasure. If all you want is a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, Dineen Coffee Co. (dineencoffee.com) has brews to get you alert and back to business.
Royal Ontario Museum
TAKE THE TOWER HOME WITH YOU Commemorate your trip with cool and chic CN Tower paraphernalia.
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1 Dress up in sky-high fashion. Designed by young textile artist and fashion designer Anu Raina, the Toronto skyline dress fits to perfection. $300, Distill Gallery, distillgallery.com 2 Your very own glass tower. Toronto jeweller Leila Cools celebrates iconic Toronto buildings by reproducing their images on kiln-fired glass pendants strung onto a sterling silver chain. $29, Made You Look madeyoulook.ca 3 Drink up. Take home this stackable mug set and enjoy your brew with a view. $20, CN Tower gift store, cntower.ca.
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Canoe Restaurant and Bar
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3
Photography: Daninelle Petti (ROM)
Bloor-Yorkville
360 Restaurant is one of Toronto’s finest dining destinations located atop Toronto’s most famous landmark, the CN Tower. Offering a spectacular 360-degree view of the city, an inventive, locally sourced, seasonal menu and an award-winning wine cellar, 360 Restaurant is an inspiring gastronomic experience in an unsurpassed setting. To book the ultimate dining experience, call 416-362-5411 or visit cntower.ca Complimentary elevation with the purchase of a main course or prix fixe. Gift certificates available.
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3 GREAT 416-323-3282 MUSEUMS FOR ONLY $20
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Walk on Explore Toronto’s neighbourhoods
As any seasoned traveller knows, great cities demand more from their visitors than a handful of standard-issue skyline snaps. To delve deeply, you need to tour micro: sussing out the neighbourhoods that form the whole by eating, drinking, shopping, relaxing and taking in the city one streetscape at a time. Here’s our essential neighbourhood guide (along with photo tips to nail those Instagram moments). By Jane L. Thompson With notes by Sarah Hood
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As fans of four-legged friends, the city is equipped to show your pet a good time. From parks with off-leash areas (Trinity Bellwoods and High Park, to name a couple) to pet-friendly events, visit SeeTorontoNow.com for details.
SHOP Lilliput Hats Find stylish hand-blocked hats for women and men at this favourite haunt of Toronto actor Rachel McAdams. 462 College St., 416-536-5933, lilliputhats.com Getoutside The source for boots and classic kicks including Converse, Hunter, Frye and more. 437 Queen St. W., 416-593-5598, getoutsideshoes.com
EAT Nota Bene This fine-dining spot is renowned for its fresh take on Canadian cuisine, with many international influences. 180 Queen St. W., 416-977-6400, notabenerestaurant.com
Queen West + King West + Liberty Village
Smoke’s Poutinerie The place for poutine—the popular FrenchCanadian dish of fries topped with gravy and cheese curds—at 3 a.m. 578 Queen St. W., 416-366-CURD (2873), smokespoutinerie.com
MEET THE NEIGHBOURS Change is a constant in this area. Part of the Fort York military garrison in the late 1700s and the centre of manufacturing in the 1800s, this is where people have long embraced living and working. From Little Italy and Trinity Bellwoods to Ossington, Little Portugal and Liberty Village, quirky commercial districts satisfy local desires. Trend alert! Young urban professionals, many in the media, design and high-tech sectors, come here to enjoy hip hotels, brunch queues, art galleries and industrial-chic décor stores. It’s no surprise that Vogue magazine ranked West Queen Street West as the second-hippest district in the world. For home furnishings and indie boutiques, wander Queen Street West between Bathurst Street and Ossington Avenue. Or head south to The Shops at Liberty Market in Liberty Village on Hanna Avenue, south of King Street West. Best routes: Start at College and Bathurst in Little Italy, then head south down Grace Street, which will enter Trinity Bellwoods Park. Stroll through the park to exit onto Queen Street West. Two options: Walk east toward Spadina or head southwest to Liberty Village (King Street West and Atlantic Avenue).
The Citizen Eclectic comfort-food snacks, sandwiches and shareables such as lobster rolls and Cubano sandwiches accompany house cocktails that echo the manly ’30s décor. 522 King St. W., 416-703-2800, thecitizento.com Cheesewerks All about cheese, the menu includes everything from fondue to cheesy comfort foods such as mac and cheese. Enjoy with wine or a small-batch artisan brew. 56 Bathurst St., 416-243-3327, cheesewerks.com
Liberty St.
East Liberty St.
Spadina Ave.
Manning Ave.
Bathurst St.
King West
Portland St.
Queen St. W.
SEE MuchMusic A cultural hub for Toronto, the broadcasting centre attracts crowds waiting to see megastars like Madonna and One Direction. Peek inside to see who’s being interviewed on Much or look up at the building’s east wall, where a CP24 Breaking News van can be seen “crashing” through the edifice a few storeys up. 299 Queen St. W., muchmusic.com War of 1812 Memorial This 1906 sculpture of a veteran missing an arm, made by the Canadian sculptor Walter Seymour Allward, shows the horrors of war. Victoria Memorial Park, Portland and Niagara streets, northwest corner
Dundas St. W.
Niagara St.
Strachan Ave.
Liberty Village
Atlantic Ave.
King St. W.
Grace St.
Crawford Ave.
Trinity Bellwooods Park
Ossington Ave.
Dovercourt Rd.
Gladstone Ave.
Photography: Gary J. (Queen west), Chris Chueng (dog)
Queen West
Queen St. W.
Spacing Store Spacing, a magazine that promotes the merits of public spaces, has opened a retail outlet offering all kinds of items celebrating Toronto and other Canadian cities. 401 Richmond St. W., 416-644-1017, spacing.com Jonathan+Olivia Runway looks for men and women from contemporary international designers. 49 Ossington Ave., 416-849-5956, jonathanandolivia.com
Mildred’s Temple Kitchen Upscale comfort food and a commitment to local producers draw families for brunch, and friends and colleagues for dinner and lunch. 85 Hanna Ave., Unit 104, 416-588-5695, templekitchen.com
College St.
Argyle St.
Drake General Store The Drake Hotel’s shop carries all sorts of oddities, including Brooklyn Brine pickles and the P’tite Poutine bowl by Henri Hubert. 1144 Queen St. W., 416-531-5042, ext. 101, drakegeneralstore.ca
Niagara St.
SNAP THIS Graffiti Alley Treat your eyes to the visual splendour of Graffiti Alley, where colourful street-art murals flourish in this back lane behind Queen West. Rush Lane, known as Graffiti Alley, is the backdrop to Rick Mercer’s streetside rants on The Mercer Report.
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MOCCA The Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (MOCCA) is a not-for-profit contemporary gallery exhibiting art that addresses challenging issues and themes. 952 Queen St. W., 416-395-0067, mocca.ca Perpetual Motion sculpture This giant corkscrew-like sculpture by the Chilean artist Francisco Gazitua was inspired by machines that reflect Liberty Village’s industrial heritage. Liberty Park at 70 East Liberty St.
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SNAP THIS Commerce Court The architect I.M. Pei’s celebrated complex is a photographer’s playground: an alluring juxtaposition of modernist glass and steel with dignified art deco limestone, plus a reflecting pool and three life-sized bronze elephants.
Downtown Core MEET THE NEIGHBOURS
High finance and overtime may drive this area, but many think of it as the heart of Toronto. City Hall, the Financial District, the Yonge Street strip, Yonge-Dundas Square and Union Station are all anchors to the downtown core. Brokers, bankers, lawyers, students and thousands of office workers keep this district hopping during daylight hours, while singles and couples are active at night, taking in movies, theatre and shopping. The Toronto Eaton Centre is the country’s best-known mall, but equally impressive is the PATH system, the world’s largest underground shopping complex that connects most of the downtown towers with more than 1,200 shops and services.
SHOP Toronto Eaton Centre Shopaholics, unite! Here, you’ll find more than 210 stores and services, including Williams-Sonoma, Michael Kors, Stuart Weitzman and J.Crew. 220 Yonge St., 416-598-8560, torontoeatoncentre.com
Best routes: Begin at Yonge-Dundas Square and head south on Yonge Street, then walk west on Queen to University Avenue. Walk south on University to King Street West and finish at Yonge. denotes subway station
Hudson’s Bay Queen Street The iconic and eclectic multi-level department store with roots in the fur trade boasts the first Canadian location for the opulent Brooklyn wedding shop Kleinfeld Bridal (of Say Yes to the Dress fame) and a Saks Fifth Avenue store opening in late 2015. 176 Yonge St., 416-861-9111, thebay.com
SEE Shibui Robata Bar Robatayaki (charcoal-barbecued seafood, meat and veggies) and a serious sake selection distinguish this stylishly authentic Japanese restaurant. 230 Adelaide St. W., 647-748-3211, shibuirobatabar.com Copacabana Traditional Brazilian rodizio: an unlimited selection of grilled meats, salad, pasta and bread bars; live weekend entertainment. 230 Adelaide St. W., 647-748-3211, thecopa.ca The Senator Restaurant Classic diner serving locally raised beef burgers, house-smoked salmon, handmade sauces and signature crab cakes. 249 Victoria St., 416-364-7517, thesenator.com
DID YOU KNOW…
The Canada Life building’s illuminated tower is a weather vane. It’s green when fair weather is forecast, white for snow and red for rain. The lights flash in sequence to show a slowly rising, fast-rising, slowly dropping or rapidly dropping temperature. 330 University Ave.
Joey Eaton Centre Excitement bubbles at this downtown hub, with its tempting international dishes, a notable by-the-glass wine service and fresh cocktails. 1 Dundas St. W., 647-352-5639, joeyrestaurants.com Paramount Fine Foods Bustling, pocket-friendly, two-storey eatery with fresh Middle Eastern foods. 253 Yonge St., 416-366-3600, paramountfinefoods.com Oro Restaurant Everything from the fireplace to the fittings glitters with warm opulence. Italiancountryside venison, veal, chicken and catfish. Italian and Ontario wines. 45 Elm St., 416-597-0155, ororestaurant.com Drake One Fifty An offshoot of The Drake Hotel, the mecca for artsy scenesters, this splurgy business venue channels old-school charm (subway tiles, oysters) with postmodern verve. 150 York St., 416-363-6150, drakeonefifty.ca
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Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts The architect Jack Diamond’s visually and acoustically magnificent arts centre is home to the Canadian Opera Company and The National Ballet of Canada. The glassand-brick stunner changes hues depending on the light and is Canada’s first purposebuilt opera house. 145 Queen St. W., 416363-6671, coc.ca, national.ballet.ca Hockey Hall of Fame At this shrine to Canada’s national sport, interactive exhibits let users experience being both a player and a broadcaster. 30 Yonge St., 416-360-7765, hhof.com The Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre Built in 1913, this architectural gem is the only remaining stacked theatre in the world: a double-decker complex with the spectacular Winter Garden Theatre constructed seven storeys above The Elgin (formerly the Loew’s Yonge Street Theatre). 189 Yonge St., 416-314-2901, heritagetrust.on.ca/EWG
Photography: Rémy Carreiro (downtown)
EAT
Yonge-Dundas Square This public square is busy all day thanks to its free Wi-Fi, tables and umbrellas. It’s also home to free concerts, films and special events. Southeast corner of Yonge and Dundas streets
compass EAT Blowfish Restaurant & Sake Bar The club crowd congregates for luxe sushi and cocktails at this tony restolounge. 668 King St. W., 416-860-0606, blowfishrestaurant.com
SEE
Luma The allure of film-festival royalty lingers year-round in this airy room serving upmarket ingredients such as piglet, rabbit and truffles. TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King St. E., 647-288-4715, oliverbonacini.com/luma.aspx
TIFF Bell Lightbox Home to the Toronto International Film Festival, it also has five cinemas and two casual restaurants. 350 King St. W., 416-968-3456, tiff.net
Michael’s on Simcoe The business-suits’ steak house reimagined, with Italian-inspired seafood, salads, house pastas and vegetable side dishes in gleaming contemporary surroundings. 100 Simcoe St., 416-260-5100, michaelsonsimcoe.com
Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada The new aquarium houses a 660,000gallon shark tank in the Dangerous Lagoon, bringing you nose to gill with incredible 12-foot-long sand tiger sharks. 288 Bremner Blvd., 647-351-FISH (3474), ripleyaquariums.com/canada
CRUSH Wine Bar + Kitchen Sample world wines or Ontario’s local VQA designation. 455 King St. W., 416-977-1234, crushwinebar.com
The Second City If you’re looking for sketch comedy, improv and lots of drinks to help keep the laughs coming, you’re in the right place. 51 Mercer St., 416-343-0011, secondcity.com
Wayne Gretzky’s Toronto The grand palace of Toronto sports bars, with a rooftop patio, sports memorabilia galore and even vegan menu options. 99 Blue Jays Way, 416-348-0099, gretzkys.com
CN Tower Go straight to the top for one of the best views of the city; hang over it in a harness on EdgeWalk or dine at the rotating 360 Restaurant. 301 Front St. W., 416-868-6937, cntower.ca
El Caballito Tequila y Tacos Choose from a list of 50 tequilas, creative cocktails and a Mexican menu featuring house-made tortillas. 220 King St. W., 416-628-9838, elcaballito.ca
Entertainment District
SHOP
MEET THE NEIGHBOURS Nightclubs, theatres, sports venues and cinemas make this area jump. Now, loft and condo dwellers are interspersed with people who frequent the CN Tower, Steam Whistle Brewing, Rogers Centre, The Air Canada Centre, Roy Thomson Hall and Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada. Adrenalin junkies, sports fans, concert-goers and film aficionados set the pulse of the Entertainment District.
Front St. W.
Best routes: King Street West between University Avenue and Spadina Avenue for theatres and restaurants; Richmond Street West between Spadina Avenue and Simcoe Street for nightclubs. Church St.
King St. W. Bay St.
Simcoe St.
Entertainment District
Richmond St. W. University Ave.
John St.
Peter St.
Spadina Ave.
Queen St. W.
Real Sports Apparel This 10,000-square-foot shrine to sports offers jerseys, caps, jackets and more. The Air Canada Centre, 40 Bay St., 416-815-5746, realsports.ca
CN Tower Gift Shop Souvenirs from classic to clever, including clothing, jewellery, crafts and edibles, with a few of Canada’s favourite furry creatures standing guard. 301 Front St. W., 416-8686937, cntower.ca Toronto Antiques on King Unique discoveries from Victoriana to midcentury modern at this 6,000-square-foot temple of vintage charm. 284 King St. W., 416-260-9057, torontoantiquesonking.com
Canada’s Walk of Fame Stroll Canada’s Walk of Fame and snap photos of tiles dedicated to Canadian pioneers from all walks of life, from heroes like Terry Fox to music legends like Oscar Peterson to pop culture stars like Pamela Anderson and Sandra Oh. Along King between John and Simcoe Steam Whistle Brewing and Roundhouse Park A former railway roundhouse hosts the Toronto Railway Museum, with full-sized rail cars, a mini-railway and a preserved CPR station, as well as Steam Whistle Brewing, where you can sample organic beer and tour the brewery. 255 Bremner Blvd., 416-214-9229, 416-362-2337, trha.ca
SNAP THIS Roy Thomson Hall The iconic building is an expected stop on any photographer’s list. Its glass dome is the mood ring of photo ops, so try shooting it under blue skies and clouds and at dusk during your trip for different effects.
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compass DID YOU KNOW… The stretch of Bloor Street West between University Avenue and Yonge Street is known as the Mink Mile for its high-end luxury shopping. Boutiques calling the Mink Mile home include Tiffany & Co., Gucci, Hermès, Chanel and Louis Vuitton.
SHOP Mayberry Fine Art For more than 40 years, this has become the place to view and shop for important historical and contemporary Canadian art. 110 Yorkville Ave., 416-923-9275, mayberryfineart.com
Yorkville + The Annex Dupont Ave.
Hazelton Ave.
Avenue Rd.
St. George St.
Spadina Ave.
Yorkville Yorkville Ave. Cumberland St.
Bloor St. W.
Bloor St. E.
U of T
Yonge St.
College St.
Charles St.
Bay St.
Harbord St.
Queen's Park
Bathurst St.
Brunswick Ave.
This is where you’ll find not only power shoppers, flashy cars and visiting celebs but also PR types, public-sector workers, academics and writers (the author Margaret Atwood lives in The Annex). For luxury shopping, visit Bay and Bloor, Holt Renfrew, Hazelton Lanes and the boutiques of Yorkville; Mirvish Village on Markham is known for one-of-a-kind specialty stores, art galleries, jewellery, DVDs and comics.
Davenport Rd.
The Annex Markham St.
Home to the elite of the 1870s and the hippies of the 1960s, this area encompasses The Annex, Yorkville, the University of Toronto and the Mink Mile. It’s known for its museums and Victorian homes, as well as commercial office towers, luxury hotels and condos.
Best routes: Start strolling at Bloor and Bay’s Mink Mile; turn north, heading toward Cumberland and Yorkville for shopping. To visit The Annex and the University of Toronto, head back to Bloor, walking west toward St. George and beyond to Spadina. Continue to Bathurst and Bloor for Mirvish Village.
EAT La Société Fine French cuisine— bouillabaisse, steak frites, beef bourguignon—amid sumptuous Parisian-bistro décor. 131 Bloor St. W., 416-551-9929, lasociete.ca Bloor Street Diner The casual café patio is a mainstay for brunch, while the chic dining room is the place to be for cocktails or steak. Manulife Centre, 55 Bloor St. W., 416-928-3105, bloorstreetdiner.com
Sassafraz Restaurant This cornerstone of ritzy Yorkville is a top celeb-spotting venue, but the Canadian cheese selection is also swoon-worthy. 100 Cumberland St., 416-964-2222, sassafraz.ca Southern Accent Cajun, Creole and Soul Restaurant Andouille sausage and jambalaya rule at this New Orleans-style restaurant that’s so authentic it has its own in-house psychics. 595 Markham St., 416-536-3211, southernaccent.com Mistura Chef Massimo Capra of TV’s Restaurant Makeover oversees this fine Italian kitchen (Mistura) with an event space (Sopra) upstairs. 265 Davenport Rd., 416-515-0009, mistura.ca
SNAP THIS Royal Ontario Museum Stand on Bloor Street West to capture the natural history museum’s Michael Lee-Chin Crystal facade, designed by Daniel Libeskind. The deconstructivist beauty juts dramatically above the street-level action on Bloor.
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Jeanne Lottie Fashion Inc. The pink Victorian house showcases designer Jane Ip’s colourful, affordable original handbags. 32 Scollard St., 416-975-5115, jeannelottie.com Shops at Hazelton Lanes Stroll and shop this tranquil, airy and lightfilled upscale mall for high-end clothing and housewares. 87 Avenue Rd., 416-968-8680, hazeltonlanes.com
SEE Gardiner Museum Unveiled for the 30th anniversary of Toronto’s ceramics museum, the bold stripes of Jun Keneko’s gigantic head sculpture make a striking juxtaposition with nearby buildings. Gardiner Museum, 111 Queen’s Park Cres., 416-586-8080, gardinermuseum.com Queen’s Park The parkland and grounds surrounding the Ontario Legislative Building house more than a dozen historical statues and monuments. Avenue Road at Queen’s Park Circle north The Bata Shoe Museum This well-heeled museum features special exhibitions, plus a permanent collection with 13,000 artifacts detailing the history of footwear. 327 Bloor St. W., 416-979-7799, batashoemuseum.ca Honest Ed’s The late beloved Toronto businessman “Honest Ed” Mirvish opened his iconic bargain warehouse, festooned with lights and humorous sayings, in 1948. “Honest Ed attracts squirrels! At these prices they think he’s nuts!” 581 Bloor St. W., 416537-1574, honesteds.sites.toronto.com
Photography: Felipe Maranhao (Yorkville)
MEET THE NEIGHBOURS
L’Occitane en Provence An exquisite boutique from a French company that formulates its delicious soaps, creams and scents from flawless rose petals, wild juniper and other precious herbals. 102 Bloor St. W., 416-413-4899, ca.loccitane.com
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EAT Rosewood Chinese Cuisine Above Chinatown’s bustle, the hearty dim sum dumplings circulated on trolleys please big groups on a budget. 463 Dundas St. W., 416-593-9988, rosewoodchinesecuisine.com Taste of China Seafood Restaurant Seafood (crab, scallops, lobster, eel) is the specialty. Open until about 4 a.m. 338 Spadina Ave., 416-348-8828, tasteofchinarestaurant.ca
SHOP
Shop AGO Take home a piece of the Art Gallery of Ontario: stationery, clothing, innovative design and original artwork to rent or buy. 317 Dundas St. W., 416-979-6610, ago.net
Art Gallery of Ontario
Chinatown + Kensington Market + AGO District
Blue Banana Market Crafts, fashion and food at an indoor bazaar infused with Kensington Market’s quirky homegrown creativity and zesty cultural diversity. 250 Augusta Ave., 416-594-6600, bluebananamarket.com
Best routes: This vital commercial district is where you’ll find artsy university students, plus expats stocking up on foods from home, as well as townhouse, loft and apartment dwellers. For inexpensive shopping, head to Dundas and Spadina, and Kensington Market; for funky boutiques, check out Queen West at McCaul.
SEE
Baldwin St.
Chinatown
Dundas St. W. Sullivan St.
McCaul St.
Kensington Ave.
Baldwin St.
Beverley St.
Kensington Market
Huron St.
College St.
Spadina Ave.
Over the decades, culturally dynamic Chinatown has been home to generations of Chinese, eastern European Jewish, Caribbean and Vietnamese immigrants—essentially, the people who transformed Toronto into the diverse city it is today. Encompassing Kensington Market, Chinatown and Queen Street West, this area is known for everything from exotic produce and discount goods to cutting-edge clothes and blue-chip art. A bounty of restaurants and multiple streetcar lines add undeniable flavour.
Augusta Ave.
Photography: John Vetterli (OCAD), Alexa Clark (Rosewood), Jenny Rotten (Grange)
MEET THE NEIGHBOURS
AGO
Phoebe St.
Queen St. W.
Kensington Market This historic neighbourhood is still an eclectic shopping and dining zone, but it’s also a vibrant bohemian culture magnet, especially during its weekly summertime Pedestrian Sundays and the December Winter Solstice Festival. West of Spadina Avenue between College Street and Dundas Street West, kensington-market.ca Grange Park Located in Toronto’s first elite neighbourhood in the early 1800s, the park and its manor are now part of the AGO, following the gallery’s dramatic expansion designed by Frank Gehry. Beverley Street south of Dundas Street West, grangeparktoronto.ca Gateway sculptures The artist Millie Chen created towering red poles with a qilin (which resembles a unicorn), a dragon, a phoenix and a Monkey King to represent the Chinese character for “gateway.” Spadina Avenue just north of Dundas Street West
SNAP THIS The architect Will Alsop’s exuberantly in-your-face Sharp Centre is OCAD (Ontario College of Art and Design) University’s unmistakable extension. Straddling the older art-school buildings atop angled candy-coloured pillars, the black-andwhite box is a bracing hit of contemporary architecture. For the best effect, pick a vantage point—shooting from the north gives you the CN Tower in the frame as well—and snap a set of shots over the course of your trip. Its mien changes against white clouds or bluebird skies and at night.
George Brown House A great example of Ontario’s Second Empire-style architecture and home to a father of Canadian Confederation and a newspaper editor. 186 Beverley St., heritagetrust.on.ca
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SHOP Soma Chocolate These exquisite handmade chocolates make great gifts or necessary indulgences. 32 Tank House Lane, in The Distillery Historic District at 55 Mill St., 416-815-7662, somachocolate.com Gotstyle The Menswear Store These hip clothiers are casual downstairs; upstairs, a high-style men’s wedding boutique. 21 Trinity St., in The Distillery Historic District at 55 Mill St., 416-260-9696, gotstylemenswear.com
SEE St. Lawrence Market Named the world’s best food market by National Geographic, it has more than 100 food vendors, a Saturday farmers’ market and a Sunday antiques market in the north building. 92–95 Front St. E., 416-392-7219, stlawrencemarket.com Inuit Art – The Eskimo Art Gallery A showcase for the work of fine Inuit printmakers and sculptors from Northern Canada. 8 Case Goods Lane, Suite 220, in The Distillery Historic District at 55 Mill St., 416-366-3000, inuitart.com
Old Town + The Distillery Historic District MEET THE NEIGHBOURS
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Many of Toronto’s historic buildings remain, but they now accommodate the needs of urban sophisticates. Union Station, St. Lawrence Market, The Esplanade and The Distillery Historic District cater to lovers of food and culture. For condo-sized furniture or more elaborate, ornate furnishings, King and Sherbourne is the centre for décor. The Distillery has art galleries, restaurants, chocolate, clothes and more.
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Best routes: Begin at St. Lawrence Market (Front Street East at Jarvis), then stroll east to Parliament before turning south toward Mill Street and The Distillery Historic District.
EAT Biagio Ristorante Exemplary formal Italian dining in a charming room with an attractive back patio. 155 King St. E., 416-366-4040, biagioristorante.ca Cluny Bistro A playful take on classic French cuisine, where you can order truffle sliced at the table, in artfully redesigned historic surroundings. 35 Tank House Lane, in The Distillery Historic District at 55 Mill St., 416-203-2632, clunybistro.com Pure Spirits Oyster House and Grill A celebrated fresh fish-and-seafood restaurant that boasts a raw bar and a spectacular patio. 17 Tank House Lane, in The Distillery Historic District at 55 Mill St., 416-361-5859, purespirits.ca Pravda Vodka House Sample from a list of more than 70 world vodkas while noshing on cheese, charcuterie and, of course, caviar. 44 Wellington St. E., 416-366-0303, pravdavodkabar.com The Sultan’s Tent & Café Moroc The scents and spices of North African cuisine served amid decorative opulence that evokes Berber splendour. 49 Front St. E., 416-961-0601, thesultanstent.com
St. Lawrence Hall This ornate 1850-vintage gathering place, illuminated by exterior gas lamps at night, is a grand treasure of old Toronto. 157 King St. E., 416-392-7809, stlawrencemarket.com Young People’s Theatre Enjoy award-winning children’s productions in a converted historic streetcar stable. 165 Front St. E., 416-862-2222, youngpeoplestheatre.ca
SNAP THIS Flatiron Building Stand on the traffic island at the intersection of Front Street East and Church Street to catch the building’s narrow end dead centre and to include the two skyscrapers directly behind it. Then, walk behind the building to Berczy Park and shoot the building’s wider end, with its multi-storey trompe l’oeil mural.
Photography: Ian Muttoo (St. Lawrence Market), Jara Mae (Sonoma chocolate), Jackman Chiu (St. Lawrence Hall), S. Rae (Flatiron)
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EAT Allen’s Savour exceptional whisky (choose from over 330 varieties) at this ageless classic. 143 Danforth Ave., 416-463-3086, allens.to BQM Burger Shoppe Top-quality hormone- and antibiotic-free local beef, ground in-house, endears this local joint to gourmet-burger aficionados. 688 Queen St. E., 417-792-7792, burgershoppe.com
Cabbagetown
Whistler’s Grille This spacious, laid-back corner restaurant fuels family celebrations, business lunches and neighbourhood sports teams with pasta, pizza, wings and rings. Upstairs, The McNeil Room caters to private functions. 995 Broadview Ave., 416-421-1344, whistlers.ca
East Side + The Beaches MEET THE NEIGHBOURS
Photography: Geoffrey Gilmour (Viaduct), Sean Marshall (Boardwalk)
Negash Beautiful colourful leather handbags and accessories handcrafted by a third-generation artisan are top sellers at this unique shop. 905 Danforth Ave., 416-516-4545, negashdesign.com Olive & Olives Foodies should visit this culinary boutique specializing in olive oils, aged vinegars, spices and pantry goods. 779 Queen St. E., 416-551-8181, oliveolives.com Arts Market Browse the wares of more than 50 local indie artists, artisans and craftspeople from Wednesday to Sunday, all under one roof. 1114 Queen St. E., 416-546-8464, artsmarket.ca
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Pan on the Danforth A bustling GreekTown staple, serving classic lamb, chicken, moussaka and meze. Live weekend music and belly dancers. 516 Danforth Ave., 416-4668158, panonthedanforth.com
The Leslieville Flea Big-city market, small-town vibe. Vendors offer antique furniture, vintage fashion, upcycled treasures and unique finds on the third Sunday of each month. Summer: Ashbridge Estate, 1444 Queen St. E.; winter: Jimmy Simpson Recreation Centre, 870 Queen St. E., leslievilleflea.com
the proximity to movie studios and downtown has film-industry types and professionals clamouring to live there. Shopping is central to each enclave. Carrot Common on the Danforth (a.k.a. GreekTown) anchors boutiques and restaurants. Queen Street East at Pape has collectibles and retro clothes, while Queen Street East at Kew Gardens has cozy, kitschy storefronts.
The long-established neighbourhoods of Cabbagetown, GreekTown, Riverdale, Riverside, Leslieville and The Beach have become familynesting destinations for a new generation that appreciates the blend of heritage residential and commercial and repurposed industrial architecture. Beaches, parks and ravines attract runners, cyclists and yoga and tai chi practitioners. And
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Paralía A high-end taverna with a lake view that flies in its fresh seafood from Greece. 1681 Lake Shore Blvd. E., 416-698-3456, paralia.ca
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Best routes: From Broadview and Danforth east to Carlaw, then south to Withrow Park for Riverdale; Broadview and Queen East to Jones for Leslieville; the boardwalk in The Beach, beginning at Kew Gardens, shouldn’t be missed.
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SEE Danforth Music Hall Established in 1919, this beautifully restored GreekTown concert hall is an entertainment staple. 147 Danforth Ave., 416-778-8163, thedanforth.com Alexander the Great fountain The tiny square is a social focal point in the middle of GreekTown. Danforth and Logan avenues, northeast corner Bloor Street Viaduct Built in 1918. Michael Ondaatje portrayed its immigrant workers’ experiences in his novel In the Skin of a Lion. Bloor Street East near Broadview Avenue
Beach Boardwalk The boardwalk provides many photo ops, but one of our favourites is the white clapboard lifeguard station and tower at Kew-Balmy Beach. Beautiful when captured on a sunny summer day with the city skyline in the distance, it’s even more so with the nostalgia-infused longing of a winter shot, against wind-carved drifts of icy sand and snow. The Queen Street Viaduct This historical bridge was built in 1911 and renovated in the 1990s when it was also embellished with a work of art by famed Canadian artist Eldon Garnet. His piece includes a banner that tops the bridge, reading “This river I step in is not the river I stand in.”
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Waterfront + Islands MEET THE NEIGHBOURS Once a bustling industrial Great Lakes port, Toronto’s waterfront has evolved into a vibrant mixed-use community with condos, recreational attractions and dining, linked by the stunning new Water’s Edge Promenade. Young singles, couples and empty nesters are snapping up addresses along here. Queen’s Quay Terminal is the central shopping destination in this area, along with Canadian handicrafts at the Centre Shop in Harbourfront Centre. People also head to the Toronto Islands and Sugar Beach to escape the confines of the city. Pursuing a different lifestyle altogether, the Toronto Islands’ 650 residents include independent-minded families who forgo a car for a ferry and live a cottage-like existence.
Open all year (check seasonal hours), the quaint island café is known for its fantastic tea menu, plus sandwiches, daily soups and salads. Ward’s Island, 102 Lakeshore Ave., 416-203-2152, therectorycafe.com Amsterdam BrewHouse In the ’80s, Amsterdam helped pioneer Ontario’s craft-brewing industry. Its newest outlet serves tried-and-true favourites and seasonal novelties to complement a beer-themed menu. And yes, you can buy beer to take away. 245 Queens Quay W., 416-504-1020, amsterdambrewhouse.com
DID YOU KNOW… The Toronto Music Garden was designed by the internationally acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma and the landscape designer Julie Moir Messerv to be a “landscape reflection” of Bach’s “Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007.” 479 Queens Quay W., harbourfrontcentre.com
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SEE PawsWay This unique free-admission recreation space for people and their pets offers classes, contests, a pet park and animal-friendly exhibits such as the Purina Animal Hall of Fame, which honours hero pets and service animals. Closed on Tuesdays. 245 Queens Quay W., North Building, 416-360-PAWS (7297), pawsway.ca Hanlan’s Point Beach One of the many Blue Flag beaches in the city, there’s a clothing-optional area. Access to Hanlan’s Point, Toronto Islands, via ferry docks at 9 Queens Quay W., 416-397-2628 Mariposa Cruises Six vessels ply the lake with harbour tours and dinner cruises. 207 Queens Quay, Pier 6, 416-203-0178, mariposacruises.com
Photography: Sun Brockie (HTO park), Mary (The Rectory Café), Tim Fraser (pawsway)
The Rectory Café
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Joe Fresh Stylish men’s and women’s clothing that are on trend and really affordable—and Canadian—from the founder of Club Monaco, Joseph Mimran. 10 Lower Jarvis St., 416-703-4865, joefresh.com The Power Plant Devoted exclusively to contemporary visual art, this gallery commissions major new works by leading-edge Canadian and international artists. Harbourfront Centre, 231 Queens Quay W., 416-973-4949, thepowerplant.org
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Pearl Harbourfront Restaurant Find great Chinese food here, especially the Peking duck, and enjoy the large round tables for groups. Queen’s Quay Terminal, 207 Queens Quay W., Second Floor, 416-203-1233, pearlharbourfront.ca
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Carousel Café & Shopsy’s Island Deli Bar & Grill The licensed café serves seasonal sit-down fare; Shopsy’s is a famous local deli. Centre Island, Carousel Café, 416-203-0405, Shopsy’s, 416-234-2345, centreisland.ca
The Centre Shop Browse this shop for unique and surprising contemporary craft and design, including items for creative kids. Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W., 416-973-4993, thecentreshop.com
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Cabana Pool Bar Beautiful bathers soak in the Miami vibe while playing volleyball, dancing, dining or sunbathing. Private cabanas with bottle service attract celebs such as Justin Bieber and Deadmau5. 11 Polson St., 416-479-7645, cabanapoolbar.com
The Wine Shop Looking to experience the best of Ontario’s terroir? Sign up for a tasting or shop for a range of awardwinning wines, including exquisite ice wines—a local specialty. 228 Queens Quay West, 1-800-230-4321, thewineshops.com
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Aria Ristorante Exceptional wines and fine Italian fare abound in an elegant contemporary urban setting. 25 York St., 416-363-2742, ariaristorante.ca
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Best routes: Walk or bike the Martin Goodman Trail; go from the Humber Bridge in the west to the Rouge River in the east. Or head to Centre Island, with its grassy parkland, marinas and rental kayaks. To get away from it all, hit sleepy Ward’s Island.
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EAT Duke of Kent A comfortable traditional-style English pub populated by locals, rugby players and English expats, with local draft beers. 2315 Yonge St., 416-485-9507, kent.thedukepubs.ca Tabülè Middle Eastern Cuisine This bright, relaxed Lebanese restaurant is named for a signature salad of parsley and bulgur wheat. Elegant Middle Eastern décor touches and nourishing vegetarian options. 2009 Yonge St., 416-483-3747, tabule.ca Mandarin Restaurant A 35-year-old local institution with an all-youcan-eat Chinese, Japanese and Canadian buffet, a salad bar and a sundae bar: truly something for everyone! 2200 Yonge St., 416-486-2222, mandarinrestaurant.com
SHOP Shops at Don Mills
Mysteriously Yours Dinner Theatre The dinner audience helps unravel a murder mystery enacted before their eyes while dining on a three-course meal. 2026 Yonge St., 416-486-7469, 1-800-NOTDEAD (668-3323), mysteriouslyyours.com
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A must for exquisite food is the Markets at Summerhill, which locals call The Five Thieves. Yonge Street from the Rosedale subway north to Woodlawn Avenue is filled with home décor and clothing boutiques. Cozy Mount Pleasant at Belsize has collectibles (antique strip) and home décor, plus costumes, chocolates and children’s books. Eglinton Ave. Belsize Dr.
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Casa Loma Secret passages, a 244-metre (800foot) tunnel, towers, stables and sumptuous suites and ballrooms fill the majestic castle built by the financier and philanthropist Sir Henry Pellatt in the early 1900s. The two-hectare (five-acre) public estate is home to gardens and terraces designed in the French and English styles. 1 Austin Ter., 416-923-1171, casaloma.org
Downtown financial titans and successful professionals retreat to these comfortable neighbourhoods. Home to the elite since the 1800s, today Rosedale, Summerhill, Deer Park and Davisville Village are aspirational addresses.
Yonge St.
Summer Hill Coach House In the mid-1800s, Summerhill had only one house and coach house. Now, pricey homes, including the film director Atom Egoyan’s, dominate. The original coach house still stands. 36 Summerhill Gardens (rear)
MEET THE NEIGHBOURS
Woodlawn Ave. Summerhill Ave.
Dupont St. Crescent Rd.
Midtown
Cluny Dr.
Photography: Ryan (mount pleasant), Howi (Don Mills) Wolf Max (Casaloma)
Mount Pleasant Cemetery There’s nothing morbid about strolling this historic cemetery’s leafy, winding trails, a favourite among in-the-know dog lovers, cyclists and runners. In fact, one of the city’s popular Discovery Trails wends right through it. It’s perfect for autumn leaf photos as well as local colour: headstones are a multi-ethnic mix of motifs such as crosses, Stars of David, dragons and modern art.
LCBO Summerhill A former train station built in the 1920s as a replica of St. Mark’s in Venice, complete with clock tower, it’s now one of the city’s best-stocked liquor stores, ornamented by a new fountain. 10 Scrivener Sq., 416-922-0403, lcbo.com
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Spoiled Baby Creative baby furniture, unusual toddler toys, bombproof bibs and the cutest-ever togs for rainy days. 2 Davisville Ave., 416-484-0470, spoiledbaby.supersites.ca
Casa Loma
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Browse international names such as Michael Kors and Coach, graze at Joey Don Mills or P.F. Chang’s China Bistro or pick up sushi to go at foodie mecca McEwan in this Californiastyle open-air mall. 1090 Don Mills Rd., 416-447-6087, shopsatdonmills.ca
Bloor St.
Best routes: Yonge Street at Crescent Road, walking north to St. Clair. Also wander along Mount Pleasant from Davisville to Eglinton. To view majestic homes, stroll Crescent Road and Cluny.
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Stars in the west
Movie and TV celebrities call Brampton home. By Sarah B. Hood
Rose Theatre Brampton
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Photography: John Ryan (Rose Theatre), Ryan McGilchrist (Treetop Trekking)
Visit tourismbrampton.ca for more information and attractions.
E
ven if you’ve never been to Brampton, you may already have visited “Flower City” via one of your favourite films or television series. Brampton provided locations for the acclaimed director Deepa Mehta’s latest film, Inland, including Lionhead Golf & Country Club and Gurdwara Sahib Dasmesh Darbar, a local Sikh place of worship. Eldorado Park (brampton.ca) is popular for its outdoor swimming pool and picnic areas; it also attracted Laurence Fishburne, Hugh Dancy and former Brampton resident Scott Thompson for the filming of the gripping TV crime drama Hannibal.
Claireville Conservation Area
Claireville Conservation Area is as popular with filmmakers as it is with birdwatchers and horseback riders. Helen Mirren and Bruce Willis were there to shoot the action film Red. The series Hemlock Grove, with Famke Janssen and Bill Skarsgård, has shot there, as have Nikita and Covert Affairs. “We have not only a diversity of culture in Brampton but also a diversity of film locations,” says Sharon Wilcox, Brampton’s manager of tourism and film services. “There’s Bruce Willis everything from dense forest to metropolitan city locations— we’ve got it all, really!” LOCAL HEROES
Brampton inaugurated an Arts Walk of Fame last year at downtown Garden Square to honour homegrown stars such as Russell Peters, whose comedy tours draw record-breaking crowds around the world. Like about 30 per cent of Brampton Russell Peters residents, Peters is of South Asian heritage, and he often jokes about his cultural roots. He maintains a close connection with his hometown, generously supporting Brampton Civic Hospital and his high school, Judith Nyman Secondary School, among other local causes.
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Additional Arts Walk of Fame inductees include actor-comedian Scott Thompson (see “No Place Like Home” on page 78), novelist Rohinton Mistry, singer-songwriter Keshia Chanté, actors Michael Cera and Scott Lale and painter Jack Reid. HEART OF FLOWER CITY
Besides the Arts Walk of Fame, Garden Square is the site of year-round activities, from summer’s Shakespeare in the Square and open-air movies to New Year’s Eve celebrations. On Saturday mornings, Main Street at Queen becomes a farmers’ market. It’s also the epicentre for the annual CeleBRAMPTON and the Flower City Parade (June 13, 2015, brampton. ca) and Brampton’s own take on the Santa Claus Parade, a sparkling nighttime affair (November 21, 2015). The adjacent Rose Theatre Brampton (rosetheatre.ca) presents an eclectic roster of local and international talent including Natalie MacMaster and the Vienna Boys’ Choir. The Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives (pama.peelregion.ca)— known as PAMA—shows cultural and historical exhibits, including works on paper, sculpture and textiles. Housed in historic buildings that once served as a courthouse, registry office and jail, PAMA is a unique space that celebrates both heritage and contemporary culture.
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PARK PLACE
TOP FIVE CAN’T-MISS BRAMPTON ATTRACTIONS 1. Ziplines and treetop climbs are in order at Treetop Trekking (treetoptrekking .com) in the lovely Heart Lake Conservation Area. Treetop
2. A 19th-century Trekking farmhouse is preserved as a fascinating museum at Historic Bovaird House (bovairdhouse.ca)— with a haunted nursery! The gift shop offers an enticing selection of handmade craftworks; locals eagerly await December’s Victorian Christmas Tea and Craft Sale. 3. There’s always time for shopping, and Bramalea City Centre (bramaleacitycentre. ca) is one of Canada’s largest malls, with more than 300 shops and services, anchored by Sears, Hudson’s Bay and Target. The mall offers a free electric vehicle charging station. 4. For three days, the city’s diverse communitiesgoallouttoimpress“passport”holding visitors at pavilions representing international food, culture, music and dance at Carabram (July 10 to 12, 2015, carabram.org). 5. Splash down between late May and early Wild Water September at Wild Kingdom Water Kingdom (wildwaterkingdom.com), with its thrilling waterslides and giant wave pool, or drift the day away at Lazy River. At Dolphin Bay Water Playground, kids won’t want to come out of the water.
You don’t have to go far afield to enjoy nature in Flower City: just try a local park (brampton.ca)! Brampton’s winter wonderland is Gage Park, located at Gage and Wellington, where you can skate on an ice path through mature trees, delight in a holiday light show and enjoy a free New Year’s Eve concert. It’s also the home of annual events such as the Rotary Rib ’n’ Roll (May 22 to 24, 2015, ribnroll.com), a weekend of sizzling BBQ and family entertainment. Donald M. Gordon Chinguacousy Park, in the middle of town, offers an astonishing array of facilities for active fun: year-round tennis, beach volleyball, a snow hill for skiing, snowboarding and inner tubing, mini-putt golf, formal gardens, paddle boats, a petting zoo and a skate park— just to name a few. Professor’s Lake, a former quarry, is now a spring-fed lake where you can rent canoes, kayaks and other watercraft. It’s a favourite with training triathletes. TIME FOR TEE!
Golfers have an embarrassment of riches around Brampton. Lionhead Golf & Country Club (golflionhead.com) has two courses:
Turnberry Golf Club
the tricky Masters and the downright difficult Legends. The clubhouse at Lionhead is undergoing a $4-million renovation in 2015; both courses will remain open. The 18 holes at Turnberry Golf Club (turnberrygolf.ca), once a gravel quarry, boast uniquely undulating terrain. Castlemore Golf & Country Club (castlemore.com) presents a deceptively challenging nine holes. Parkshore Golf Club (parkshoregolf.ca) is Ontario’s longest nine-hole course, with six large ponds and a winding creek. Another nine-hole course is Peel Village Golf Course (brampton.ca), located in an award-winning wildlife sanctuary.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME Scott Thompson’s own private Brampton. By Sarah B. Hood Actor and Kids in the Hall star Scott Thompson is an apt choice among this year’s inaugural Arts Walk of Fame honourees, because he’s such an enthusiastic rooter for his hometown of Brampton. “My parents still live there, so I go there all the time,” he says. His tailor-made Thompson tour of the town would have to include all the places he loved as a teenager, like the iconic burger spot known as Sonny’s Drive-In. “I’d probably go to Shoppers World [mall], Memorial Arena, the old stone bridge over Fletcher’s Creek and my old high school,” says Thompson. “And the big library where I spent most of my childhood, on Main Street, and Christ Church. Those are my haunts.” Some fondly remembered landmarks have vanished, such as the giant Dixie Cup–shaped water tower that once marked the Dixie factory. “When I was a kid, that was a big deal,” he says. Thompson recalls working with his brother as a lifeguard at Eldorado Park, where they’d sometimes have a little fun when they closed the pool: “We would actually float down the Credit River on flutter boards.”
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Recently, in his role as the forensics specialist Jimmy Price on the crime series Hannibal, Thompson revisited Eldorado Park. “We filmed there,” he recalls, “and it was really cool because we ‘found’ a dead body right where we used to work!” Thompson says his star on Brampton’s new Arts Walk of Fame is “quite an honour; I’m very thrilled.” It’s one more landmark to add to his hometown tour.
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City of Villages Mississauga is a grown-up metropolis with small-town charm. Photography: Bastian Sander
By Janelle Reed With additional research by Sarah B. Hood & Hilary Marchildon
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ississauga is Canada’s sixthlargest city, with a population of about 750,000. Residential enclaves include a mix of mature family homes and glittering condos geared to the youngprofessional set. Lively shops and restaurants flourish, along with unique arts and multicultural events, while the region’s lovely lakefront and rivers offer boating, fishing and nature activities.
HEART OF THE NEW CITY
Mississauga Visit discovermississauga.com for more information and attractions.
Early settlement hugged the lakeshore, but today Mississauga is centred at Burnhamthorpe Road East between Hurontario Street and Confederation Parkway, with a cluster of key destinations: the postmodern
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Mississauga Civic Centre, a performing arts centre, a public square, an art gallery and the massive Square One Shopping Centre, all within sight of Absolute World, the eye-catching condos nicknamed the Marilyn Monroe Towers for their curvy forms. Here, the beautifully revitalized 2.7-hectare (6.6-acre) Mississauga Celebration Square (mississauga.ca/ celebrationsquare) hosts hundreds of free public performances and activities annually. This state-of-theart multimedia destination includes an amphitheatre and an interactive water fountain that becomes the city’s largest skating rink each winter. The multidisciplinary Mosaic: The South Asian Heritage Festival of Mississauga (August 14 and 15, 2015, cre8iv80studio.com) brings a glittering
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roster of arts and entertainment superstars to the city centre and has featured such headliners as Bollywood heavyweight Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan and Britain’s Stereo Nation. Dance, food, arts, film and music permeate this all-ages celebration of cultural diversity, with representation from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The Art Gallery of Mississauga (artgalleryofmississauga.com) is a free-admission public gallery across from Mississauga Celebration Square. Exhibitions range from historic to contemporary art, photography, design and crafts. The Living Arts Centre (livingartscentre.ca) features performance venues, studio spaces and exhibit display areas. It’s a hub for all things creative, where you might catch a performance by the likes of singer Jully Black or the Mississauga Symphony Orchestra, or improve your flame-working skills at a glassmaking workshop. Topping any shopaholic’s mustvisit list is Square One Shopping Centre (shopsquareone.com): with more than 360 retailers, it’s Ontario’s biggest mall. Square One has recently undergone an $84-million renovation; download the Square One Shopping Centre app so you can map routes
between Topshop, Michael Kors and Lacoste just like a local. STREETSVILLE
For an old-fashioned Ontario mainstreet experience, stroll through historic Streetsville, known as The Village in the City, where you can relax in a tea room or browse charming boutiques. Streetsville has a new focal point at Streetsville Village Square on Main Street, which provides an improved pedestrian promenade with new paving, trees and flowers, as well as a canopied space for public celebrations. For more than 40 years, the Streetsville Founders’ Bread & Honey Festival (June 5 to 7, 2015, breadandhoney.ca), named in honour of the local mills and apiaries, has been the community’s benchmark family outing, well loved for its petting zoo, musical performances, carnival rides and popular Bread & Honey Parade. PORT CREDIT
The lakefront village of Port Credit (portcredit.com) is a relaxing retreat within the city, a pedestrian-friendly enclave of restaurants, boutiques and a scenic boardwalk. Cool off with a scoop of greenapple sorbetto or a taste of dark chocolate gelato, a couple of the 20-odd flavours on offer at Port 1 Café and Gelateria (port1cafe.com) on Hurontario.
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The Credit River is known for its excellent catch-and-release opps, for Chinook salmon, plus rainbow (steelhead), brook and brown trout, and more, thanks to the conservation work of local anglers. The stretch of river between Norval and Streetsville is legendary for non-stop steelie strikes during the month of May. Check online for current fishing regulations (craa.on.ca). At Port Credit Memorial Park, the annual Mississauga Waterfront Festival (June 12 to 14, 2015, themwf. com) draws more than 65,000 people to enjoy live performances by Canadian stars such as Sam Roberts, Jann Arden and Chantal Kreviazuk. In September, the park hosts Tim Hortons Southside Shuffle (September 11 to 13, 2015, southsideshuffle.com), Port Credit’s weekend jazz and blues festival, which unites the likes of Dr. Hook, Elvin Bishop and Mavis Staples on multiple stages. Don’t miss the food trucks, the beer gardens or the Saturday street party. BREATH OF FRESH AIR
Mississauga’s lakefront and parkland retreats (mississauga.ca) present diverting possibilities for cyclists, birdwatchers and other outdoor aficionados. Lakefront Promenade Park blends protected natural areas and space for outdoor recreation,
Photography: Benny Lin (Port Credit)
Port Credit
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Photography: Michael Lemiski (Living Arts Centre)
Mississauga Marathon
including boating at the Mississauga Sailing Club, the Port Credit Yacht Club and the Lakefront Promenade Marina. BraeBen Golf Course, designed in the style of a traditional Scottish Highlands course, is home to a rich variety of wildlife and located on the city’s highest point of land. It boasts a green energy system capable of generating enough renewable energy to power more than 5,000 Mississauga homes. Play 18 holes at Lakeview Golf Course, twice home of the Canadian Open golf tourney. The more than 100year-old parkland-style public course is an official Ontario Heritage Site.
Sherway Gardens (sherwaygardens .ca), at Highway 427 and the QEW, is adding retail space, a new ceiling, a parkade and more shops, including an expanded 1,765-square-metre (19,000-square-foot) Harry Rosen, a new Sporting Life in the expansion area, Saks Fifth Avenue (2016) and Nordstrom (2017), in its $350-million expansion and makeover. Bargain hunters will delight in the Dixie Outlet Mall (dixieoutletmall.com) at the QEW and Dixie Road, home to more than 135 stores, including brandname outlets such as Tommy Hilfiger, Levi’s and Bombay & Co. The farmers’-market boom has swept Mississauga, with local apples, berries, corn, honey and baking among the enticements throughout the summer. Mississauga Central Lions Club’s Farmers Markets (lionscentral.com) operate on Sundays near Square One and on Wednesdays at Mississauga Celebration Square. Both Port Credit (portcredit.com/ farmers-market) and Streetsville (streetsvillelionsclub.ca/ FarmersMarket.htm) hold Saturday-morning markets. Oakville Place Farmers’ Markets
(oakvilleplacefarmersmarkets.com) run on Thursdays and Saturdays. TAKE IN THE TOWN
On May 2 and 3, 2015, the Mississauga Marathon (mississaugamarathon.com) welcomes runners who’ll test their mettle on a course that runs from Square One to Lakefront Promenade Park. More than 72 different countries show off their food and culture at 30 pavilions across Mississauga during Carassauga (May 22 to 24, 2015, carassauga.com), a festival that tips its hat to the area’s ethnic diversity. Culture Days Doors Open (September 25 to 27, 2015) celebrates Mississauga with three days of free events across the city. It represents Mississauga’s participation in Culture Days, a national series of local arts festivals, and Doors Open, which gives the general public access to the area’s heritage treasures, many of which are unsung. Tour historic houses, museums, art galleries, churches, cultural centres, gardens and more, and participate in 70plus arts-related events. Past highlights have included performances by The National Ballet of Canada and movie nights under the stars.
Canada Day at Living Arts Centre
BROWSING AND GRAZING
Major international retail brands and farm-fresh country fare are all to be found within a single day trip around Mississauga. When the weather isn’t cooperating, just one mall like Square One can fill the bill on its own. The busy Erin Mills Town Centre (erinmills.ca) is in the midst of a $100-million nip and tuck. Don’t worry, though: all 180 stores and food-court restaurants remain open to cover your retail-therapy needs! Pick up shoes at Aldo or Walking on a Cloud, browse the jewels at Rainbow Jade or perk yourself up with a froyo sundae at Menchie’s.
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Destination:
Niagara Plan a day trip and seize the day, your way. By Yuki Hayashi
Niagara’s wine country
82 • TORONTO 2015 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com
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Niagara Region 130 km (80 miles), approximately 90 minutes from downtown Toronto. Visit tourismniagara.com for more information and attractions.
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bout a 90-minute drive from downtown Toronto, the Niagara Region has epic adventures to suit all travellers. From the awe-inspiring power of Niagara Falls to the quaint, rustic charm of Niagara’s wine country, there’s so much to see and do on a jam-packed day trip. Here’s what we suggest for three traveller types likely to go gaga over Niagara.
WINE LOVERS
Blessed with rich soils and unique microclimates, Niagara’s wine country is Canada’s largest, best known and most prestigious (hello icewine!). With more than 80 wineries spread across the region, touring by car—or, better yet, bike—is an enjoyable way to pass the day.
Zoom Leisure Bikes (zoomleisure. com) offers a relaxed three-and-ahalf-hour bike tour along meandering bike-safe country roads, with stops for winery tours and tastings along the way. Everything you need is included: bike, helmet and tour guide. For those who want their wine without exercise, Niagara Vintage Wine Tours (niagaravintagewinetours.com) provides group and customized private tours with a driver and a guide. Prefer to head out on your own? Vineland’s Tawse Winery (tawsewinery. ca) has become well know for its organic and biodynamically produced Riesling, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Nearby Vineland Estates Winery (vineland.com) boasts incredible vineyard views and award-winning Riesling and Cabernet Franc. A short drive away, in Jordan Village, Cave Spring Cellars (cavespring.ca), with a barrel room, a wine-and-gourmet shop and a fine-dining restaurant, sits on the quaint Main Street. Both Vineland Estates and Cave Spring’s On the Twenty winery restaurants
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have made names for themselves with their hyper-regional, hyperseasonal cuisine, and they’re well worth splurging on for a special meal. Want to put together your own custom wine-tour itinerary? Visit winecountryontario.ca for its Wine Route Planner. No wine tour is complete without a few bottles for the cellar. Niagara’s world-famous icewine and lateharvest Riesling are souvenirs you can savour long after you return home. THRILL-SEEKERS
Ever since Annie Edson Taylor made her successful barrel ride over Niagara Falls in 1901, thrill-seekers have visited looking for white-knuckle adventures of their own. Luckily, a number of tour providers offer opportunities galore. Catch an adrenalin rush riding the Class 5 rapids of the Niagara River; Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours (whirlpooljet.com) offers two options: a dry cruise in the Jet Dome boat and the get-stoked-and-soaked Wet Jet ride.
TORONTO 2015 • 83
at Niagara’s Fury: The Creation of the Falls (niagarasfury.com). This immersive big-screen multisensory infotainment experience takes place on a moving platform as you watch water spray and splash. Feel the temperature drop as snow begins to fall, all explaining the Falls’ formation. For those who haven’t had enough watery fun, the Fallsview Indoor Waterpark (fallsviewwaterpark.com) beckons. At more than a hectare (three acres), it’s one of North America’s largest indoor water park and resorts, with 16 waterslides, a massive wave pool, a ginormous tipping bucket and an outdoor rooftop pool with basketball nets and an all-season sundeck. The water park’s resort has its own games arcade, but for more arcade action (with prizes, too!), walk to the Great Canadian Midway (cliftonhill.com) for its 300-plus games including a haunted-house ride, located within a 6,500-squareNiagara SkyWheel metre (70,000-square-foot) entertainat simulated speeds of about 225 km/h If you want the sights and sounds ment complex. A few paces away, (140 m.p.h.). For those looking for a of the river but from a higher vantage Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium more vérité experience, Niagara point, choose Hornblower Niagara (ripleys.com/niagarafalls) offers Skydive Centre (niagaraskydive. Cruises (niagaracruises.com). oddball feats, facts and artifacts, com)—at Niagara Central The state-of-the-art catamaincluding the world’s rarest egg and Airport in Pelham, about half ran tours bring you to the a variety of two-headed animals. an hour from Niagara Falls— heart of the action, just with You can also visit the nearby Ripley’s does things the old-fashioned less whitewater. An on-board Moving Theatre and Louis Tussaud’s Syndicate way: from up to 3,810 metres bar opens for nighttime Waxworks. Restaurant & Brewery (12,500 feet). cruises. By now, you’ve probably worked up Regroup, recover and refuel at For a higher, dryer, but equally an appetite. The kid-fave Rainforest Niagara Falls’ Syndicate Restaurant breathtaking tour, try a helicopter Cafe (niagarafallsrainforestcafe.com) & Brewery (syndicatebrewery.ca), ride. Niagara Helicopters (niagarahas an outpost on Clifton Hill, as where pub comfort food such as helicopters.com) flies passengers close does Hard Rock Cafe (hardrockcafe. chicken pot pie and lobster po’ boys enough to feel the power of the falls com). Skip dessert and walk over to go down easy with local wines as more than 168,000 cubic metres of the famed Hershey’s Chocolate and craft beers. water per minute spill over the edge. World (hersheys.com) for Want some human-powered freshly made fudge, freshly Niagara action? Just a short jaunt FAMILY-FUN FANATICS baked chocolate-chip cookfrom the Falls, you can cycle the For multigenerational ies, hand-dipped chocolate Upper Canada Heritage Trail, family excitement, Niagara pretzels and strawberries, and Rainforest Cafe a converted rail line along the Falls can’t be beat. Between souvenir Hershey products. Niagara Escarpment. Mountain bikes the Falls and the adjacent ClifFinally, catch your breath are best for the 14-km gravel trail, ton Hill entertainment district, an and enjoy the view from the Niagara which wends its way past farms, fruit action-packed day is guaranteed. SkyWheel (cliftonhill.com). The orchards and wineries. The Falls themselves are an obviclimate-controlled enclosed-gondola Or cross another item off your ous starting point, offering loads of Ferris wheel offers a 53-metre-high bucket list and skydive. Niagara offers oohing, aahing and great family photo (175-foot) vantage point to the Horseoptions for all levels of daredevil. At ops. Intrepid kids and parents will love shoe Falls, American Falls, Niagara Niagara Freefall & Interactive Center standing behind the massive sheets of River and surrounding areas. At dusk, (niagarafreefall.com/freefall), your water of the Horseshoe Falls at Jourit’s a beautiful sight as twinkling lights skydiving experience is simulated in an ney Behind the Falls (niagaraparks come alive on Clifton Hill and the indoor vertical wind tunnel. Skydivers of .com). You’ll be awed at how loud it is! Niagara skyline and light displays all ages can experience the thrill of flying Gain a deeper insight of the spectacle showcase the wonder of the Falls.
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Photography: SkyWheel; Syndicate Restaurant & Brewery; Rainforest Cafe
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Day tripper Discover southern Ontario’s favourite getaways. By Aliyah Shamsher With additional research by Sarah B. Hood
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1. MANITOULIN ISLAND The drive and ferry ride: 558 km (346 miles); approximately seven hours from Toronto. What we love: With its status as the largest freshwater island in the world, Manitoulin Island attracts adventure enthusiasts year-round for such outdoor fun as hiking and biking in summer and ice fishing and snowmobiling in winter. Eat local: A flowerbedecked farmhouse turned local eatery, The Garden’s Gate (manitoulin-island.com/gardensgate) is known for its creative use of local ingredients.
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The drive: 297 km (184 miles); approximately four hours from Toronto. What we love: Calling all divers, hikers, kayakers, golfers and art lovers: hike the majestic cliffs of the Niagara Escarpment or scuba dive in Fathom Five National Marine Park. Eat local: Try the Georgian Bay whitefish prepared four ways at the Grandview Dining Room (grandview-tobermory.com), overlooking the bay. For a more casual atmosphere, follow the locals to The Fish & Chip Place (thefishandchipplace.com).
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3. BLUE MOUNTAIN The drive: 160 km (99 miles); approximately two hours from Toronto. What we love: Nestled between Georgian Bay and the Niagara Escarpment, Blue Mountain (bluemountain.ca) is a ski and snowboard mega-resort destination. But it also has plenty of green-season sports to keep fitness freaks happy: a mountain-bike park, an indoor-outdoor aquatic park and an adventure park with a Timber Challenge high-ropes course. Eat local: Blue Mountain Village’s Canadathemed Kaytoo (kaytoo.ca) offers representative dishes from across Canada: B.C. salmon, Alberta beef, saskatoon-berry pie, Manitoba bison, Ontario pork, Montreal smoked meat and East Coast lobster. Canadian campfire-cooked s’mores end winter meals on a sweet note.
4. WASAGA BEACH The drive: 133 km (83 miles); approximately two hours from Toronto. What we love: With its 14 kilometres of white sand, Wasaga Beach has drawn summer visitors to the shores of Nottawasaga Bay for more than a century. Nearby golf courses, bike paths, hiking trails and cross-country skiing and snowmobile routes keep people busy year-round. Eat local: Catch 22 Fresh Market Grill (catch22grill.com) is a TripAdvisor favourite. Locally farmed ingredients pepper a menu heavy on populist hits: steak, pasta, seafood, and a different burger featured every day.
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3 5 5. MUSKOKA The drive: 165 km (102 miles); approximately two hours from Toronto. What we love: National Geographic Traveler editors recently chose Muskoka as the No. 1 summer destination in the world for its 1,600 lakes, granite cliffs carved out of the Canadian Shield, and artistically gnarled pine trees. Eat local: Rub shoulders with such high-profile guests as Goldie Hawn and Kate Hudson at The Rosseau Grill at Windermere House (windermerehouse.com).
6. OTTAWA The drive: 450 km (280 miles); approximately four hours from Toronto. What we love: As Canada’s capital, this dynamic city with more than one million residents is always buzzing. Visit Parliament Hill or one of the many national museums, galleries and theatre companies or take in the Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Eat local: The finest French culinary techniques marry with Canadian ingredients at Le Cordon Bleu Bistro @ Signatures (bistroatsignatures.com), the North American HQ for the famous cooking academy. Head to Chinatown for locally grown fruits and vegetables in the endlessly creative dishes of ZenKitchen (zenkitchen.ca). Or explore the Ottawa region’s impressive craft-beer scene at a brewpub.
Photography: Shogunangel (Niagara)
7. PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY The drive: 216 km (134 miles); approximately three hours from Toronto. What we love: Ontario’s newest wine region makes a great excursion, with award-winning wineries, Chowhound-pleasing eateries and artisan food producers. The Globe and Mail newspaper recently named the region the gastronomic capital of Canada. Eat local: East & Main Bistro (eastandmain .ca), a top choice among Toronto chefs, had the smart idea to combine luxury comfort food with fresh local ingredients, paired with an outstanding selection of County wines.
8. NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE The drive: 133 km (83 miles); approximately two hours from Toronto. What we love: Take a carriage ride through the Old Town or a boat up the Niagara River. Then, golf, sip and shop your way through what is often referred to as the loveliest town in Ontario. Eat local: Executive chef Jason Parsons, who works with winemaker Katie Dickieson to showcase wines in his seasonal menus, leads Zagat winner Peller Estates Winery Restaurant (peller.com).
9. NIAGARA FALLS The drive: 129 km (80 miles); approximately two hours from Toronto. What we love: Hornblower Canadian Falls tours; dining on board is now an option! Ride the jet boat, tour at the whirlpool or stroll through Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens. Eat local: Casually upscale, newly opened Weinkeller (weinkeller.ca) is Niagara Falls’ first winery-restaurant. Sip your way through the offerings and enjoy a glass with fresh oysters. For best value, it’s tough to beat the $20 Grand Buffet at Fallsview Casino (fallsviewcasino resort.com).
Eat local: At Rundles (rundlesrestaurant .com), a favourite pre-theatre spot among locals, choose the River Room for formal dining or the Garden Room to try chef Neil Baxter’s take on casual French haute cuisine. The Chocolate Trail (visitstratford.ca/chocolatetrail)—20 shops offering everything chocolate, from biscotti to chocolate mint tea—provides the ultimate sweet finish.
11. POINT PELEE The drive: 360 km (224 miles); approximately four hours from Toronto. What we love: As Canada’s southernmost tip, Point Pelee is celebrated for its world-renowned bird sanctuary and has captivated visitors who marvel at the migration of birds and butterflies. Eat local: First sip, then dine at Pelee Island Winery (peleeisland.com), known for its Pinot Noir, where an in-depth look at the winemaking process is followed by a how-to session on wine-and-food pairing.
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10. STRATFORD The drive: 149 km (92 miles); approximately two hours from Toronto. What we love: The town’s architecture reflects its Victorian past, but many come for the Justin Bieber hometown tour (visitstratford.ca/justin). The Stratford Shakespeare Festival (stratfordfestival.ca) enjoys international acclaim.
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TORONTO 2015 • 87
Finding your feet How to get around town.
Toronto Pearson International Airport (code YYZ) is the main point of landing for most domestic and international flights. Toronto Pearson is 27 km (17 miles) west of downtown (about a half-hour drive). To get from the airport to downtown, you can: 1. Take the UP (Union Pearson) Express, a brand-new dedicated express rail service connecting Union station to Toronto Pearson, departing every 15 minutes. Fares cost up to $27.50 depending on destination and type of pass, go to UPExpress.com to find out more. 2. Hire a taxi or an airport limo: Look for the lineup signs for taxis. The average cost into the city is about $50. 3. Catch a shuttle bus: Many hotels offer airport shuttles, so check whether yours does. 4. Rent a car: You’ll find major car-rental outfits at both Terminal 1 and Terminal 3. Most are open daily from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. ❯ Alamo, 1-800-GO-ALAMO ❯ Avis, 1-800-TRY-AVIS ❯ Budget, 1-800-268-8900 ❯ Dollar, 1-800-800-4000 ❯ Enterprise, 1-800-261-7331 ❯ Hertz, 1-800-263-0600 ❯ National, 1-800-CAR-RENT ❯ Thrifty, 1-800-THRIFTY Find detailed directions to the city at torontopearson.com. 5. Take public transit: You’ll save money if you take the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). Catch the 192 Airport Rocket bus to Kipling subway station, or take the 52A Lawrence West bus to Lawrence West subway station. Both stations are on subway lines servicing the downtown core. Visit ttc.ca.
IMPORTANT FYIs
Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (code YTZ), located on the Toronto Islands, services domestic, chartered and select U.S. flights. Billy Bishop is a short ferry ride from Toronto’s Harbourfront district, then mere minutes from downtown’s taxis and public transit. A tunnel is being built and will make the connection even faster (anticipated completion is early 2015).
TRAVELLING BY BUS Toronto Coach Terminal is the main intercity bus depot, located downtown at 610 Bay St. GO Transit buses service inter-region travel in and around the Greater Toronto Area. The GO Transit bus hub is located at 140 Bay St. (at Front Street, just east of Union Station). Call 416-869-3200 for more information or visit gotransit.com.
TRAVELLING BY TRAIN All trains arrive and depart from Union Station (65 Front St. W.). VIA Rail handles most of Canada’s intercity routes and connects to the U.S. via Amtrak. The Amtrak/VIA Maple Leaf route runs between New York City and Toronto daily and takes around 12 hours, depending on the border wait. For more information: 1-888-VIA-RAIL and viarail.ca; 1-800-USARAIL and amtrak.com. GO Transit trains service inter-region travel in and around the Greater Toronto Area. The green-andwhite trains operate from Union Station. Call 416-869-3200 for more information or visit gotransit.com. For general station information, call the Travellers’ Aid Society of Toronto at 416-366-7788.
❯ The legal drinking age is 19. Licensed establishments serve alcohol between 11 a.m. and 2 a.m. ❯ To get married in Ontario, consenting partners aged 18 and older must first obtain a marriage licence.
If you submit the application (available online) with two pieces of valid ID, along with the $140 fee, the licence can generally be processed within a day, after which it’s valid for 90 days. Same-sex marriage has been legal here since 2003. Find more info (including the application form) at settlement.org. ❯ General retail hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., with some malls offering extended hours and some smaller boutiques closing earlier. Most shops and malls close earlier on Sundays.
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Photography: Sam Javanrouh
AIRPORT 411
Photo by Gregg (Scooter) Korek
2015
21 7
TORONTO CANADA
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EXPLORING THE CITY ❯ By Toronto Transit Commission (TTC): With four lines and
DID YOU KNOW? There’s a brand-new way to get from the waterfront to Union Station. A sparkling clear-glass pedestrian bridge installed over Lake Shore Boulevard connects the downtown core to RBC WaterPark Place and The Air Canada Centre.
TOURIST INFO + SERVICES FIND INFO: Visit the Ontario Travel Information Centre at the west end of Union Station (65 Front St. W.) in the Main Hall, near the Skywalk. Visit the Toronto desk in the centre for information to help you get the most out of your visit to Toronto. GET INSIDER ADVICE: The Toronto Greeter program (TAP into TO!) will send a volunteer to welcome visitors. By pairing guests and greeters with similar interests, the program offers newcomers a chance to connect with Toronto—and Torontonians—on a personal level and tap into the pulse of the city. Call 416-33-TAPTO for more info. MORE QUESTIONS? Call 311 Toronto at 416-392-CITY (2489), or dial 311 within city limits, from Monday to Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
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Confused? Need assistance? ❯ Travellers’ Aid Society of Toronto (TAS) at Union Station provides information on local transportation, attractions, current and future events and accommodations, as well as emergency assistance in travel-crisis situations. You can also call 416-366-7788 or visit travellersaid.ca. ❯ Travellers Assistance Services of Toronto is a non-profit volunteer organization providing free tourist and referral information and assistance to Toronto visitors. Booths are run by volunteers at Toronto Coach Terminal and Toronto Pearson International Airport. Call 647-808-0098 (info) or 905-676-2868 (Airport Terminal 1), or visit travellersassistance.ca.
90 • TORONTO 2015 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com
Photography: WZMH Architects
69 stops, Toronto’s subway system is easy to navigate. Maps are displayed on all subway cars and are available at station ticket booths. Subway stops connect to streetcar or bus routes that weave throughout the city and extend to the GTA (hold on to your paper transfer for free connections). Single fare is $3 for adults, $2 for students/seniors and 75 cents for children; keep in mind that drivers don’t provide change. You can save money by buying multiple tokens or tickets or a one-day or one-week transit pass. Single-day passes cost $11 and allow unlimited rides from the start of service until 5:30 the following morning. On weekends and statutory holidays, the $11 day pass provides unlimited travel for a group of up to six people, with a maximum of two adults. Weekly passes, valid from Monday to Sunday, cost $39.25 for adults and $31.25 for students/seniors. Visit ttc.ca or call 416-393-INFO for more information. ❯ By GO Transit: For routes out of Toronto into neighbouring suburbs, check GO Transit bus and train schedules at gotransit.com. ❯ By regional transit: Visiting Mississauga? Go to the Click n’ Ride route planner on mississauga.ca, type in your origin and destination, and the website will map out your best route. For route information in Brampton, visit Brampton Transit at brampton.ca. ❯ By taxi: Toronto has numerous cab companies, and all charge the same base rate of $4.25, plus $1.75 per kilometre ($1.09 per mile) or 52 cents a minute. The easiest cab number to remember is 416-TAXICAB, which connects you to all taxi and airport-limo companies. ❯ By bike: Renting a bike is easy. Keep an eye peeled for automated bike stands throughout the city. Bike rentals are ideal for shorter rides and are a great alternative to taxi jaunts. Grab a bike at one stand, then return it to another. Visit toronto.ca for a Toronto cycling map. ❯ By foot: Toronto is a safe and walkable city. Look for trails throughout the parks, gardens and beaches; routes are outlined at toronto.ca. Explore the PATH (torontopath.com), an easy-to-navigate system of underground walkways and shopping arcades that runs beneath the downtown core. The 30-km (19-mile) PATH connects six subway stations, major hotels and several attractions, including Union Station, Roy Thomson Hall, The Air Canada Centre, CN Tower, Toronto Eaton Centre, Queens Quay and City Hall. Maps are available at toronto.ca.
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January
April
Toronto International Boat Show January 9 –18 torontoboatshow.com
TIFF Kids International Film Festival April 7 – 19 tiff.net
CeleBRAMPTON and the Flower City Parade June 13 brampton.ca
Winterlicious January 20 – February 12 toronto.ca
Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival April 23 – May 3 hotdocs.ca
Interior Design Show January 22 – 25 interiordesignshow.com February Toronto Sportsmen’s Show February 5 – 8 torontosportshow.ca Canadian International AutoShow February 13 – 22 autoshow.ca Beach Village BIA’s Family Sunday in the Beach February 15 thebeachvillage.com Bloor-Yorkville Icefest February 21 – 22 bloor-yorkville.com March Canada Blooms: The Flower and Garden Festival March 13 – 22 canadablooms.com National Home Show March 13 – 22 nationalhomeshow.com St. Patrick’s Day Parade March 15 topatrick.com One of a Kind Spring Show & Sale March 25 – 29 oneofakindshow.com
Creativ Festival April 24 – 25 csnf.com Toronto Jewish Film Festival April 30 – May 10 tjff.com May Canadian Music Week May 1 – 10 cmw.net Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival May 1 – 31 scotiabank contactphoto.com Mississauga Marathon May 2 – 3 mississauga marathon.com
Streetsville Founders’ Bread & Honey Festival June 5 – 7 breadandhoney.com Honda Indy Toronto June 12 – 14 hondaindytoronto.com Mississauga Waterfront Festival June 12 – 14 themwf.com
Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition June 13 – 14 torontooutdoorart.org Ideacity June 17–19 ideacityonline.com North by Northeast June 17 – 21 nxne.com TD Toronto Jazz Festival June 18 – 27 torontojazz.com Barilla Taste of Little Italy June 19 – 21 tasteoflittleitaly.ca Luminato Festival June 19 – 28 luminatofestival.com Redpath Waterfront Festival June 19 – 21 towaterfrontfest.com Toronto Pride Week June 19 – 28 pridetoronto.com
GoodLife Fitness Toronto Marathon May 3 torontomarathon.com
Digital Dreams Music Festival June 27 – 28 digitaldreamsfest.ca
Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival May 21– 31 insideout.ca
Ontario Craft Beer Week June ocbweek.ca
Carassauga: Mississauga’s Festival of Cultures May 22 – 24 carassauga.com Doors Open Toronto May 23 – 24 toronto.ca Woofstock May 23 – 24 woofstock.ca
The Pepsi North America Cup Horse Race June woodbine entertainment.com July Brampton Chinguacousy Park’s Canada Day July 1 brampton.ca
Canada Day July 1 toronto.ca Mississauga Celebration Square’s Canada Day July 1 mississaugacelebration square.ca Toronto Fringe Festival July 1 – 12 fringetoronto.com Taste of Toronto July 2 – 5 tasteoftoronto.com Summerlicious July 3 – 19 toronto.ca Salsa on St. Clair July 4 – 5 salsaintoronto.com Beaches International Jazz Festival July 10 – 26 beachesjazz.com Pan Am Games July 10 – 26 toronto2015.org Toronto Urban Roots Festival July 10 – 12 torontourban rootsfest.com Toronto International Flamenco Festival July 16 – 19 torontoflamenco festival.com RBC Canadian Open July 20 – 26 rbccanadianopen.com Toronto’s Festival of Beer July 24 – 26 beerfestival.ca Corso Italia Toronto Fiesta July torontofiesta.com Queen’s Plate July woodbine entertainment.com
Krinos Taste of the Danforth August 7 – 9 tasteofthedanforth.com
International Festival of Authors October 22 – November 1 ifoa.org
Parapan Am Games August 7 – 15 toronto2015.org
Art Toronto: Toronto International Art Fair October 23 – 26 tiafair.com
Rogers Cup Tennis August 8 – 16 rogerscup.com TD Mosaic South Asian Heritage Festival of Mississauga August 14 – 15 mosaicfest.com Canadian National Exhibition August 21 – September 7 theex.com Scotiabank BuskerFest August 27 – 30 torontobuskerfest.com
Hallowe’en on Church October 31 churchwellesleyvillage.ca November Royal Agricultural Winter Fair November 6 – 15 royalfair.org The Santa Claus Parade November 15 thesantaclausparade.ca
September
Inspire! Toronto International Book Fair November 20 – 22 torontobookfair.ca
Tim Hortons Southside Shuffle Blues & Jazz Festival September 4 – 6 southsideshuffle.com
Planet in Focus Environmental Film Festival November 25 – 29 planetinfocus.org
Toronto International Film Festival September 10 – 20 tiff.net
One of a Kind Christmas Show & Sale November 26 – December 6 oneofakindshow.com
Toronto Food & Wine Festival September 18 – 20 torontofoodandwine.com Toronto Craft Beer Week September 18 – 26 torontobeerweek.com JFL42 September 24 – October 3 jfl42.com The Word on the Street September 27 thewordonthestreet.ca October
Cavalcade of Lights November 28 toronto.ca Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Weekend Celebration November hhof.com December Toronto Christmas Market November 27 – December 20 (closed Mondays) torontochristmas market.com
August
Scotiabank Nuit Blanche October 3 scotiabanknuit blanche.ca
New Year’s Eve at Nathan Phillips Square December 31 toronto.ca
Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival Toronto August 1 torontocaribbean carnival.com
Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon October 18 torontowaterfront marathon.com
Please note: Dates subject to change without notice. Please consult websites. For a complete calendar, visit:
VELD Music Festival August 1 – 2 veldmusicfestival.com
Buffer Festival October 22 – 25 bufferfestival.com
92 • TORONTO 2015 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com
SeeTorontoNow.com
calendar
Digital Dreams
Krinos Taste of the Danforth
New Year’s Eve at Nathan Phillips Square Pride Parade
Honda Indy Toronto
CNE
Pride week Toronto International Film Festival
Photography:
BuskerFest
New Year’s Eve at Nathan Phillips Square
Luminato Festival
Beaches International Jazz Festival @SeeTorontoNow l
Canada Day VisitToronto
TORONTO 2015 • 93
last word
The world in one city Colin Boyd Shafer’s Cosmopolis Toronto tells global stories filtered through a single lens. By Sarah B. Hood
THE MANY FACES OF TORONTO Boyd Shafer’s award-winning project, Cosmopolis Toronto includes portraits of people from close to 200 places, including a few, such as Hong Kong, not officially designated as independent countries. At last count, he was only missing representatives for East Timor, Monaco, Africa’s Comoros islands and a few South Pacific nations with tiny populations, such as Nauru, Vanuatu and the Marshall Islands. “I wouldn’t bet my money that I’m going to find anyone,” he says. “That being said, I did manage to find someone from Tuvalu, which is one of the least populated countries.” cosmopolistoronto.com
EXPLORING OUR NEIGHBOURHOODS Boyd Shafer’s research led him to get to know Toronto’s diverse communities in intimate detail. He discovered the Nicaraguan restaurant La Bella Managua on Bloor Street West and explored the city’s newest ethnic neighbourhoods, such as the burgeoning Filipino community around Bathurst and Wilson, serving the city’s more than 170,000 Filipinos, and the Little Ethiopia that has developed along the Danforth between Greenwood and Monarch Park, a destination for the GTA’s 50,000 Ethiopians. “That’s the beauty of Toronto: you can engage with any community you want to,” says Boyd Shafer.
94 • TORONTO 2015 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com
HOME AWAY FROM HOME Asked to choose a photo location where they felt comfortable and at “home,” many of his subjects named the eclectic and welcoming Kensington Market. Also, “the lake is really an important part of life in Toronto, and green space—so many people chose parks!” says Boyd Shafer. “To imagine Toronto without this diversity is to imagine something that wouldn’t be Toronto. If I’d grown up in New York or London, I still would choose Toronto for this project because I think I’d have the best chance.”
Photography: Paula Wilson
One out of every two Torontonians was born outside Canada and collectively speak more than 140 languages. Our city’s diversity became a source of inspiration for documentary photographer Colin Boyd Shafer. His goal: to find and shoot a portrait of a Torontonian from every country in the world—and he’s almost succeeded!
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