WORD ON THE STREET
Legalize It?
KW hits the BONG STREET to weed out the pros and cons BY ELI YARHI If pot was legal it would take the trade away from the dangerous people who control it. It would also bring down the crime rate and the amount of our taxes that are spent on a court system that has to deal with charges that go nowhere. People wouldn’t just start smoking up because it’s legal. Would you shoot heroin or smoke crack if it was legal?
The worst side effects you can get from smoking pot are being hungry, lazy and having short-term memory loss. If it were legal it would cause less fighting and drug wars. They could make it like cigarettes, where you have to be a certain age to smoke it. They wouldn’t have to worry if teens got hold of it, which they already do, because it would be more controlled.
The only pot that I think should be legalized already is. People with serious health problems like cancer and epilepsy can get relief from safe places and live their lives. I think that’s an important thing for people to have access to. But otherwise I think it’s enough.
A lot of pro-legalization ideas in Canada are pretty straightforward: Make it legal but control it like other substances. Don’t let people smoke it out in the street and don’t let people drive high. So long as a person’s weed use doesn’t hurt or get in the way of others, I can’t see anything wrong with legal marijuana.
The laws for pot use are so flawed. Just look at how they’re carried out. Middle-class kids don’t get arrested for smoking pot, but people in poorer areas do. I don’t want to sound controversial, but I think it’s true. Laws are supposed to be equal and that’s not what we see.
Everything in moderation. Things shouldn’t be too strict and they shouldn’t be too relaxed either. We don’t have it so bad here. Tons of people smoke weed and are able to do it with no problem. Legalizing it wouldn’t change anything for anybody who wants to smoke it.
I smoked the first joint I’ve had in something like 15 years with a few friends a while ago and what scares me about legalizing it is that I couldn’t even call a cab after a few puffs. I’m not kidding, it blew me away. What are people smoking these days?
A huge percentage of Canadians have smoked pot at least once. How can something that so many people do be illegal? It’s like jaywalking—every once in a while they crack down and hand out tickets, but it doesn’t stop people from doing it.
—Melissa J., 37, financial planner
—Sarah H., 62, retired
—David V., 50, project manager
I just don’t want my kids to be able to get it at the corner store. As a parent—and I know this sounds hypocritical because I’ve done it—I don’t want them to end up like some of the friends I left behind because they couldn’t get off the couch. If it’s harder to get, then so be it. I think it would be too readily available if it were legalized, age restrictions or not.
—Ken U., 42, trader
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—Darrah F., 34, server
—Yasmeen G., 25, student
—Erin A., 29, musician
—Brent C., 32, designer
PHOTO: ADRIAN ARMSTRONG
—Samir R., 28, teaching assistant
Meet the professor.
@WILBURMEXICANA
552 KING ST. WEST
SOCIAL
KINGSTA Glen Baxter shoots KW @glenbaxterto
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Welcome to Muskoka Bay Club. Featuring a breathtaking 17,000 sq.ft. Clifftop Clubhouse and an awardwinning Doug Carrick golf course.
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Prizes, sizes and specifications subject to change without notice. E. & O.E. Illustrations are artist’s impression.
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REAL ESTATE
THE DEAL
After 10 years in the hood, King West serial investor Jeffrey Anderson moves on
KW: This is amazing. Love the views! I know. The windows are floor to ceiling and with these little Victorian streets like Draper Street down below you have these huge uninterrupted views of practically the whole downtown core. Plus, the ceilings are 10 feet high! At night, it’s like they light up the whole city for me, it’s amazing. I can have my dinner up here by myself at my dining table and it’s like all of downtown Toronto is just lit up at my feet. KW: Last time we caught up with you (in KW issue #3), you were living at the Thompson and this building was still a hole in the ground. How have you enjoyed the shift to Wellington? Wellington’s a bit of a step up—a lot more mature, with a really established, high-end crowd. The people who live here are really cool and style conscious. It’s a little quieter, maybe not quite as much of a party scene as some of the other parts of King West I’ve lived in over the years. But then maybe that’s me, and the neighbourhood, getting older. This is the seventh place I’ve lived in around the area over the past 10 years! KW: At the Thompson, you put two units together to create this sense of openness. What did you do here to make the space your own? I put in a fireplace, which divides the living and dining spaces and works as a sort of centrepiece. Instead of marble floors like I had at my last place, I put in wide-plank oak floors. They add a lot more warmth and are way easier to take care of but I kind of miss the marble. The kitchen is ultrasleek with everything super minimal, flush and tucked away, including the fridge, which is so hidden nobody knows where it is. But the biggest deal is the master bedroom. Ever since I was a kid, I’d heard about walk-in closets and how great they are, but who wants to walk into some small square room to change their clothes? I decided to just take a whole wall of the bedroom, devote it to really nice looking closets and let them open right into the room. Same goes for the tub. You see that freestanding tub a lot in Europe.
THE LOWDOWN • 2,440-square-foot, 2-bedroom, 3-bathroom unit with private elevator at 500 Wellington West • 675-square-foot west-facing terrace • Bought pre-construction in 2011 for $735/square foot • Currently on the market
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PHOTOS: ARASH MOALLEMI
“if a real designer walked in here I’m sure they would say I’m all over the place.”
REAL ESTATE
KW: You have a lot of contemporary finishes but you seem to like classical touches, too. If a real designer walked in here I’m sure they would say I’m all over the place. But I like the way the white steel dining table mixes with classical French chairs, and how the super-clean black kitchen looks with the formal damask wallpaper in the entrance. I think it adds a bit of humour to put up a fancy gilded frame around a chalkboard or to use it to frame a mirror above a tub in your bedroom. KW: That’s one colossal coffee table. A buddy of mine who’s a welder made it out of sheet metal so that it would look like old airplane fuselage. It’s so big that it’s great for entertaining. Everybody can fit their drinks on it, and there’s still room for the girls to get up on it and dance! KW: Who’s your new roommate? Chewie is an Irish Wheaton terrier. He starts out dark haired and when he’s all grown up he’ll be a sort of dirty blonde. I’ve only had him for about six weeks and it’s the best thing—even though it’s a drag to have to walk him all the time, he’s like a hairy stress reducer. KW: So you’re on the move again? I’m the VP of sales for a digital ad firm called Acuity. When I joined them they were just a start-up but business has been amazing and they have asked me to move down to LA to open up an office there. Of course, I’m looking forward to the weather and the palm trees and the whole California thing, but I really wonder if I will ever find anywhere to live there that’s as much fun as King West. We are so spoiled here—everything now is literally on our doorsteps. I walk to work, meet friends after at the best bars and restaurants. I mean, I rarely ever leave this neighbourhood. It’s going to be a big change.
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Two Offices now Serving the Downtown Core
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Advertorial
The Ever-Evolving, Preservation-Loving, Roots-Up Architecture of
Toronto’s Neighbourhoods
Advertorial
“We’re proud to be a part of Toronto’s ever-evolving history.” Eric Kuzuian
Honest Ed’s, Central West, recently sold for redevelopment
Revitalizing old buildings and neighbourhoods is at the core of Toronto’s architectural style, if not the greatest symbol of its longevity. By Lonelle Selbo From the repurposed factories of Liberty Village to the galleried
PSR’s King West and Central West offices are situated in neighbourhoods
entertainment conversion of The Distillery District, much of our
that have certainly evolved, but preserved the feel of the original area.
architecture over the past decades have adapted older neighbourhoods to
It’s about making our home base in a neighbourhood that just feels
our contemporary tastes by retaining various aspects of the
right, and sets the scene for a different mindset. One that reflects our
architecture, while providing the updates necessary to make
team personality.” He elaborates that PSR typically gravitates towards
these developments usable, livable, and comfortable.
areas that retain an overall sensibility that’s true to their roots. While both of PSR’s offices are uber modern —with glass interior walls, white marble
For those who follow history (or hockey), it’s easy to identify ‘the original
surfaces, and chrome and steel accessories—the buildings that
six’ North American cities of influence. From day one, the core centres of
house them are authentic to period and specific neighbourhood.
commerce and culture in North America were Chicago, New York,
For example, PSR’s Central West location on Dupont (at Christie)
Boston, Montreal, Detroit, and Toronto. Original urban design in these
is housed in Toronto’s original Ford Factory.
cities had a very different focus than today: access to water, control over trade, and defensibility. At one point, this was the obvious and intelligent
When Ford of Canada opened its doors in 1915, its purpose was
approach, but now these features have actually penned us in and forced
to assemble the company’s cars from kits that were brought in by railway.
us to rethink how we use our most limited resource—land.
Today, the main floor area reflects PSR’s signature ‘open office’ look and feel, but the exterior is authentic and original. The building still contains
Traditionally developing cities in North America involve ‘greenfield’ sites
the skeleton of the Ford test track on the roof and an elevator to raise
(never before built on) and ‘brownfield’ sites (demolished and rebuilt), so
and lower cars from the ground floor—which once also served as the
it’s a relatively new concept to preserve architecture. But today, Toronto’s
showroom.
geographical limitations mean that our real estate is precious and while we could reinvent ourselves every 100 years—leveling our buildings and
“We’re proud to be a part of Toronto’s ever-evolving history,” says
beginning anew—we choose instead to retain the glory from the
Kuzuian, “and whereas other great industrial areas have sometimes
generations before. We refuse to destroy the architecture that still stands
tended towards oversaturating the neighbourhood—diminishing their
as a testimony to our endurance and longevity. Many in Toronto loudly
integrity, both the King West and Central West neighbourhoods have
declare the builder’s mantra: reclaim, restore, revitalize.
retained their overall feel, which suits our purposes as a company.”
This widespread obsession with preservation is realized across the city in
Neighbourhoods where this hasn’t been the case, would arguably include
different ways, with builders and architects applying different
the Distillery District and Liberty Village, where oversaturation of condo
approaches to each neighbourhood. This treatment ranges from
development has all but overwhelmed the former historical beauty of
low-preservation ‘symbolic shout outs’ (Candy Factory Lofts) to
these areas. This approach has resulted in an oasis of tall towers and
structures left almost untouched save water-blasting the exposed brick
day-to-day amenities (supermarkets, gyms, fast food restaurants),
and buffing down the scuffed wood floors, like much of
dotted with examples of maintained architecture and complemented by
King West Village.
a façade here and there, a cobbled street or two.
For tourists and locals alike, these attempts to conserve bricks and
Despite PSR’s personal choice, Kuzuian insists that these other
nostalgia are the building blocks of Toronto’s history. For residents,
approaches to restoration and development still serve an important
it means homes with character and rustic cool. For a generation of
purpose in the city. “Torontonians aren’t a one-size-fits-all market,” he
workers who represent “the creative class” it means an inspirational and
says. “While some buyers prefer a heavy architectural hand, there will
decidedly non-sterile environment to work in.
always be others who prefer a light touch.” In a city where our real estate offering has physical limitations, we’ve managed to create a varied
Eric Kuzuian, Broker of Record and President at PSR Brokerage,
approach to suit a variety of our citizens, while preserving varied notes
believes that an authentic environment makes for the best workplace for
of the city’s heritage—from nostalgic sentiment down to the actual
his team. “An office highrise just won’t do for us” he explains “both
brick.
Advertorial
PSR’s Favourite Landmarks In The City Steam whistle brewery
TiFF Bell lightbox
Sam Park
Philip Lago
Sales Representative
Constructed in 1929 by the Canadian Pacific Railway, the Roundhouse originally functioned as a steam locomotion facility and lodged passenger trains to and from Union Station. Today, the Roundhouse is home to Steam Whistle Brewing—a Canadian brewery producing pilsner beer. I particularly love the architecture, original brickwork, douglas fir framing, and 30-foot ceilings. Located steps from the Rogers Centre, I always head over to the brewery after Jays games for a pint of my favourite beer. Cheers!
St. Lawrence market
Kate Matheson Broker
Originally the home of Toronto’s first permanent City Hall in the mid-1800s, the St. Lawrence Market was converted in 1899 to a community marketplace. More than a century later the building is home to one of the most famous and vibrant food markets in North America. I love the history and evolution of the building, as well as the life it gives to my favourite neighbourhood in the city. Not to mention, it has some of the best crab cakes in Toronto!
416 360 0688 | psrbrokerage.com
Sales Representative TIFF Bell Lightbox is my favourite landmark building in Toronto. Its metal soffits, LED lights, and seasonal red carpets bring glamour to the city during our world famous film festival and all year round. Volunteering at TIFF allowed me to become especially familiar with the festival headquarters. Inside the 5-storey podium building are cinemas, exhibits and office spaces that promote movement, open space, and excitement. Another great design by KPMB architects.
Honest Ed’s
Josh Jean-Baptiste Sales Representative
Situated at the edge of the Annex stands one of the most memorable and important Toronto landmarks, Honest Ed’s. Launched in 1948 to great fanfare as one of the city’s first large scale discount retailers, the building dominates the streetscape with its vibrant, over-the-top signage. Sitting on 1.8 hectares of prime downtown real estate, the property was recently sold to an investment group with plans to redevelop the site. Many Torontonians have expressed their hope that architectural details of the original building will be preserved.
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F E AT U R E D L I S T I N G S
60 Niagara ST #101 $689,000
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53 Castlewood rd $949,000
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Superb 3 Br Home In The Heart Of Allenby, A Well Designed And Updated Home Featuring An Open Concept Kit W/ Redone Sunlit Breakfast Area,Hrwd Flrs,Woodburning F/Place, Private Backyard With Deck. Legal Front Pad Parking & Unparalleled Location, Walk To Shops, Restaurants.
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F E AT U R E D L I S T I N G S
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Beautifully Updated House In The Centre Of King West. Boasts Nearly 4000Sqft Of Space Dispersed Over Four Floors. Zoned Commercial/Residential. Each Floor Has A Full Bathroom. Second Floor Walk Out To A Large South Facing Deck.
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650 King St w #105 $669,900
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360 Degree View Of South Rosedale Atop Heritage 7 Unit Building. 1886Sf Interior With Open Concept Living/Dining/Kitchen Area. 568Sf Exterior Terrace Space With Gas Bbq Line. Located Close To Summerhill Shopping, Parks, And Transit.
Brandon Ware
Jamie Sarner
FEA TU R E D L I S T I NG S
499 Adelaide St w $1,499,900 Kimberly Mardell
320 Indian Rd $1,750,000 David Shirazi-Rad
Beautifully Updated House In The Centre Of King West. Boasts Nearly 4000Sqft Of Space Dispersed Over Four Floors. Zoned Commercial/Residential. Each Floor Has A Full Bathroom. Second Floor Walk Out To A Large South Facing Deck.
Amazing development opportunity at 320 Indian Road in the High Park area. Beautiful lot on Indian road off of Bloor West with Lane way to the side. Lot dimensions are 52’ by 130’. Property can be severed into 2 lots to build 2 semi detached properties each 2500Sf.
650 King St w #105 $669,900
34 Rowanwood Ave #PH $1,999,000
Close To Victoria Memorial Park, Public Transportation, The Financial District & More. Interior Finishes Include Pre-Engineered Wood Floors, Stone Kitchen Counters With Island, Floor-To-Ceiling Windows. Parking & Locker Included.
360 Degree View Of South Rosedale Atop Heritage 7 Unit Building. 1886Sf Interior With Open Concept Living/Dining/Kitchen Area. 568Sf Exterior Terrace Space With Gas Bbq Line. Located Close To Summerhill Shopping, Parks, And Transit.
Brandon Ware
Jamie Sarner
PUBLISHER KING WEST MEDIA LTD. PRESIDENT PETER FREED EDITOR-IN-CHIEF KAREN VON HAHN CREATIVE AGENCY portland stewart CREATIVE DIRECTOR alice unger MANAGING EDITOR RONNILYN PUSTIL Art Director MIKE BOZ ASSOCIATE EDITOR DIANE PETERS CONTRIBUTORS ADRIAN ARMSTRONG LORETTA CHIN CHRISTA CONNELL LEANNE DELAP CAROLYN DREBIN NAOMI FINLAY ROBERT GRAVELLE MATTHEW HAGUE JOE HOWELL CHRISTOPHER HUME CHRIS JOHNS BETTY ANN JORDAN JOHN BENTLEY MAYS ARASH MOALLEMI MARILISA RACCO RUSSELL SMITH ANDREW SOULE MURRAY WHYTE SAMANTHA YAFFE SHE DOES THE CITY ELI YARHI DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MORAD REID AFFIFI
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it. it. it. it. it. it. it. it!
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You can have it all in the Toronto Entertainment District.
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Jelani Remy as “Simba” and the ensemble in “He Lives in You” from THE LION KING National Tour. ©Disney. Photo Credits: *George Pimentel WireImage/Getty for TIFF **Property of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment ***Joan Marcus †Christopher Cypert Cypert
Visionary BARBARA HALL
122
Thanks to the vision of former Toronto Mayor Barbara Hall, King West is now a vibrant neighbourhood where people live, work and play. She is now chief commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission.
PHOTO: arash moallemi
In many ways, I was a privileged child. My dad was in the navy and we moved a lot. We lived in Halifax and Victoria, and also England in the mid ’50s, which was still in the postwar era. That really gave me a graphic illustration of society’s inequities—but also the possibilities of this big, teeming centre with its vigorous cultural life. We came back to Canada in 1956 on a ship from Venice full of young men from small villages near Palermo and Lisbon who came to build subways in Toronto. I remember these men saying goodbye to their families who had come to see them off on the dock and there was this enormous emotion. It was almost overwhelming for me. Most of the things I’ve done in my adult life—from being mayor of Toronto to the Human Rights Commission, where am I now— are really related. It’s about the issues of the city, people’s respect for one another and how we live together in a community. I loved being mayor. I originally got into politics because of my work with homelessness and the lack of affordable housing. But the best part of it was being able to connect with everyone in the city. You come from a high-level meeting in a big tower on Bay Street and a homeless guy on the street outside calls out, “Hey, Barb, how’s it going?” The homeless guys all still know me. I think the TV in the shelters is tuned to CP24. Back in the ’70s I worked as a waitress at Second City. One big Second City anniversary during my term as mayor, Andrew Alexander and the SCTV gang came to my office and Eugene Levy made me mayor of Melonville. The gem of the idea for changing the zoning of King Street came from walking the streets of Paris, seeing all these wonderful old buildings and peeking inside and seeing a real mix of uses—clearly uses that had changed to meet the needs of the community—shoemakers and cultural institutes all jumbled up side by side but they allowed for the maintenance of these old beautiful buildings. So many old industrial buildings in downtown Toronto back then were derelict and empty. They weren’t the right size or proportion for 20th-century uses, but the zoning said you couldn’t do anything else with them. It was cheaper for their owners to just tear them down and rent the vacant lots as parking space. I was terrified that the downtown was going to turn into a dangerous wasteland, which had happened to a lot of American cities. It’s really wonderful to walk around King Street today and see people of all ages, from every kind of background and discipline, enjoying their city. I still have a lot of people stop me and thank me for what we did. They always say, “We got rid of our car, we walk to the symphony now,” and it’s just great seeing that enthusiasm for downtown life. Seeing the vitality now in spaces that were empty at night and on weekends really is amazing. I think it’s a good time for a municipal election. As always, we need someone who understands the city in all its complexities. Even as I opposed amalgamation at the time, there is no going back now. As a region we need to benefit from regional development. At the same time, I don’t believe that the GTA has fully become a unified city. I’m still an urban junkie. I watch with interest.
CONTENTS 14 Editor’s Letter 16 Contributors 23 Proclaimer
Micro-Trend: Snackdown, The List: From Burning Man to Wimbledon, Mr. Smith’s Good Times Guide by Russell Smith
38 Building Blocks
John Bentley Mays and developer Peter Freed talk towers
44 Battle Ground
Christopher Hume on Fort York’s revival
49 walk this way
Betty Ann Jordan takes us for a guided tour of public art in the hood
54 local talent
The Assembler: Georgia Dickie by Murray Whyte
58 wild side
Taking it to the streets Photography by Andrew Soule
71 cut a rug
5 TO designers take to the floor by Matthew Hague
74 DECKED OUT
The latest for your urban retreat by Loretta Chin
78 The tastemakers
Chris Johns on how the Buca boys are changing the way we eat
82 the pour
Summer Reds by Robert Gravelle
84 train of thought
Leanne Delap rides the Orient Express
88 when pigs fly
Trufflepig takes travel to another level by Marilisa Racco
93 On the Town
ON THE COVER EMILY VAN RAAY OF ANITA NORRIS MODELS PHOTOGRAPHED BY ANDREW SOULE STYLIST: RANDY SMITH HAIR & MAKEUP: BLAIR PETTY FOR TRESEMME HAIR CARE / JUDYINC.COM OUTFIT HERE: ACNE JACKET, ALEXANDER WANG SHIRT, PRADA SHOES, ALL HOLTRENFREW.COM; SUNO SKIRT, THEBAY.COM COVER: SEE PAGE 59
Nights in KW, The Playing Field by Marilisa Racco, Test Drive: Barbershops, Word on the Street: Legalize It?, Kingstagram by Glen Baxter, Real Estate: Jeffrey Anderson is on the move
122 Visionary
Q&A with former TO mayor Barbara Hall
CONTENTS 14 Editor’s Letter 16 Contributors 23 Proclaimer
Micro-Trend: Snackdown, The List: From Burning Man to Wimbledon, Mr. Smith’s Good Times Guide by Russell Smith
38 Building Blocks
John Bentley Mays and developer Peter Freed talk towers
44 Battle Ground
Christopher Hume on Fort York’s revival
49 walk this way
Betty Ann Jordan takes us for a guided tour of public art in the hood
54 local talent
The Assembler: Georgia Dickie by Murray Whyte
58 wild side
Taking it to the streets Photography by Andrew Soule
71 cut a rug
5 TO designers take to the floor by Matthew Hague
74 DECKED OUT
The latest for your urban retreat by Loretta Chin
78 The tastemakers
Chris Johns on how the Buca boys are changing the way we eat
82 the pour
Summer Reds by Robert Gravelle
84 train of thought
Leanne Delap rides the Orient Express
88 when pigs fly
Trufflepig takes travel to another level by Marilisa Racco
93 On the Town
ON THE COVER EMILY VAN RAAY OF ANITA NORRIS MODELS PHOTOGRAPHED BY ANDREW SOULE STYLIST: RANDY SMITH HAIR & MAKEUP: BLAIR PETTY FOR TRESEMME HAIR CARE / JUDYINC.COM
Nights in KW, The Playing Field by Marilisa Racco, Test Drive: Barbershops, Word on the Street: Legalize It?, Kingstagram by Glen Baxter, Real Estate: Jeffrey Anderson is on the move
122 Visionary
Q&A with former TO mayor Barbara Hall
OUTFIT HERE: ACNE JACKET, ALEXANDER WANG SHIRT, PRADA SHOES, ALL HOLTRENFREW.COM; SUNO SKIRT, THEBAY.COM COVER: SEE PAGE 61
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Over the past five years of chronicling the development of King West for this magazine, I have come to see the dynamic and emerging urban neighbourhood we celebrate in these pages as part of a 21st-century movement just as much as it is a place. In cities all over the world—from London’s Shoreditch to Berlin’s Prenzlauer Berg to New York’s SoHo—formerly industrial wastelands are being reclaimed from ruin and obscurity by a new global generation of city dwellers who share the same fashion, design and culture-driven mindset as in Toronto’s King West neighbourhood. The successful transformation of these urban areas into vibrant communities is a result of several factors converging at just the right moment: the imaginative efforts of forward-thinking political leaders like former Toronto mayor Barbara Hall (celebrated as our “Visionary” in this issue, page 122), without whose groundbreaking re-zoning efforts King West as we know it today would simply not exist; the hard-nosed, little-celebrated determination of developers to make a lasting and significant architectural contribution to the cityscape (as discussed by developer and KW publisher Peter Freed and architectural critic John Bentley Mays in “Building Blocks,” page 38); and the emergence of what the celebrated designer Philippe Starck calls a “global tribe” of like-minded people who want to be a part of the change. Less a specific demographic than a mindset, what the new residents of all of these emerging urban neighbourhoods share is an openness to the creative potential inherent in revisiting our cities and rebuilding them to suit the way we want to live now. It is what the urban theorist Richard Florida has dubbed the “creative class” that is transforming these neighbourhoods, and the outpouring of creativity unleashed by this transformation is nothing less than stunning. The city’s starting point—if not the entire country’s—at Fort York is in the midst of a longoverdue and highly promising re-invention, as Christopher Hume reports in “Battle Ground” (page 44). As food writer Chris Johns explores in his profile of the expanding Buca empire in “The Tastemakers” (page 78), the epicurial experimentalists behind the brand aim for nothing less than a taste revolution. And King West has become such an epicentre for exciting public art projects that it deserves its own foldout guide, exclusively curated for KW readers by art world insider Betty Ann Jordan to take along as you explore the cultural riches at your own front door. As we discovered while shooting our fashion story “Wild Side” (page 58) right on the busy streets of King West, the formerly ghostly neighbourhood is now so very vibrant during the day that our intrepid photographer Andrew Soule had to dodge strollers and shoppers and bikers and dog walkers—and not all that many gawkers—to capture our lovely model decked to the nines in the latest looks for spring. Because, apparently, such moments of beauty and creativity are the kind of thing that now happen here on these streets every day.
Karen von Hahn
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Naomi Finlay
Joe Howell
Carolyn Drebin
Australian-born, Torontobased Naomi Finlay has been photographing great people, places and objects around the world for the past nine years. Her work has appeared in such publications as Designlines and Dwell. For this issue, she set her sights on several KW hotspots, most notably Buca Bar. Fave TO building: The Gladstone Library. “It’s a testament to a great architect and creative brain to incorporate the old with the new. It should be done more in this city rather than knocking down these great old buildings.”
has been working in bars for over 11 years, at The Spoke Club for six of them. An English major, writing about drinks conveniently combines his two passions in life. Who better to pen the Libations column in every issue of KW ? Howell’s proudest moment behind the bar was representing Canada at a cocktail competition in Mexico City. Fave TO building: Robarts Library. “Is it a giant concrete peacock, or a brutalist turkey? Is it actually sinking under the weight of all those words? Did the architect really kill himself because everyone kept making fun of it? The place harbours almost as many legends as books.”
a screenwriter by profession, currently works for her kids. A pop-culture obsessive and big-time foodie, she is a contributor to numerous websites and magazines, including Rotman Magazine, Mrs. Robinson and motherofallmavens.com. As KW ’s intrepid MicroTrend reporter, for this issue Drebin snacked her way through the hood to dish about the latest food trend. Fave TO building: “The one piece of architecture that screams ‘Toronto’ is City Hall. It’s such an iconic building, but it reminds me of Justice League Headquarters.”
Murray Whyte is the art critic for the Toronto Star. He’s also written about art for such publications as The New York Times and Canadian Art magazine. For this issue, Whyte profiles up-and-coming 24-yearold Toronto sculptor Georgia Dickie for Local Talent. Fave TO building: “For pure proportional perfection, nothing comes close to Mies’ banking pavilion at Bay and King.”
Christopher Hume is the architecture critic and urban affairs columnist at the Toronto Star. His work has won numerous honours, including a 2009 National Newspaper Award. This June, Ryerson University named him a recipient of an honorary doctorate. Hume reported on the makeover of Fort York for this issue of KW. Fave TO building: Daniel Libeskind’s L Tower. “Despite that unfortunate blue cladding—what were they thinking?—the tower is a landmark. The bulging north facade makes it not just unique but striking.”
PHOTOS: (Finlay) jason hennesey, (Whyte) sian richards, (howell) joanna balcerak, (drebin) david benoliel
contri
butors
stylefish LO CAT E D D OW NSTA I R S F R O M
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INTO THE DREAM
SPIRIT OF LIBERTY
AUTOMATIC SWISS MADE
ROGER FEDERER ARTIST Enjoy responsibly – www.moet.com
Relaxed after work Refined after dark
Open 5pm, Wednesday to Saturday Kitchen open late 510 King St W / 416.504.WEST / enjoy@westbar.ca westbar.ca
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/westbarTO
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1010 QUEEN STREET WEST www.gravitypope.com
FEATURING TRIPPEN FIORENTINI + BAKER MARNI SOFIE D’HOORE PAUL SMITH CHURCH’S CHIE MIHARA COMME DES GARÇONS JIL SANDER NAVY FRYE MOMA CAMPER RED WING STEPHAN SCHNEIDER CARVEN
A DIVINE FOOD & COCKTAIL EXPERIENCE DINNER AND BOTTLE SERVICE AVAILABLE
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PHOTOS: (Lotion, pouf, bag, plate, tea, glasses, lanternS) ADRIAN ARMSTRONG
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tile one on 1 Orange blossom argan lotion, $15, leavesoftrees.com 2 Leather poof from Petit Souk, $250, 550 College St. 3 Perforated metal lanterns, from $10, eq3.com 4 Bornos artwork (45x30), $480, parveztaj.com 5 Mosaic tile cosmetic bag, $26, stelladot.com 6 Ceramic serving plate from Petit Souk, $120, 550 College St. 7 Mosaic-tiled table, $454, westelm.ca 8 Marrakesh Mint tea, $18, sloanetea.com 9 Tia Cibani bolero, $750, and shorts, $495, tiacibani.com 10 Tile print plastic glasses, $4 each, realcanadiansuperstore.ca 11 Jonathan Adler for TOMS Dark Geo Classics, $59, toms.ca 12 Jali rug, from $588, avenue-road.com
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PHOTOS: (LOTION, POUF, BAG, PLATE, TEA, GLASSES, LANTERNS) ADRIAN ARMSTRONG
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TILE ONE ON 1 Orange blossom argan lotion, $15, leavesoftrees.com 2 Leather poof from Petit Souk, $250, 550 College St. 3 Perforated metal lanterns, from $10, eq3.com 4 Bornos artwork (45x30), $480, parveztaj.com 5 Mosaic tile cosmetic bag, $26, stelladot.com 6 Ceramic serving plate from Petit Souk, $120, 550 College St. 7 Mosaic-tiled table, $454, westelm.ca 8 Marrakesh Mint tea, $18, sloanetea.com 9 Tia Cibani bolero, $750, and shorts, $495, tiacibani.com 10 Tile print plastic glasses, $4 each, realcanadiansuperstore.ca 11 Jonathan Adler for TOMS Dark Geo Classics, $59, toms.ca 12 Jali rug, from $588, avenue-road.com
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PROCLAIMER
THE BOMB
Homebase / 11 Camden St. 647.352.2271 / homebasetoronto.com The exterior of Homebase is expertly tagged by its owner, “SKAM,” a vet of Toronto’s graffiti scene who has been bombing his name on freight trains and warehouses for over 20 years. Part spray paint supply store, part clothing boutique, Homebase—which caters mainly to those in the know—has had its home base in the hood since 2010. But like the art form it supports, you might stroll right past it. Inside, the walls are a rainbow of stacked spray cans, making it easy to track down imported MTN and Kobra paints in well over 200 hues in a range of applications: matte or glossy finishes, low or higher aerosol pressures, wide or narrowed streams. And the colours are spot on too, from “chewing gum pink” to “guacamole green.” With its stock of snap-back New Era caps from the ’90s and tees tagged by local graffiti artists, the shop also brings some street to your closet. —Eli Yarhi
THE RUNDOWN
A subungual hematoma, or runner’s toe, is an ugly little problem common among hardcore runners. Mike and Maya Anderson offer it as a cheeky homage in the name of their extra-wide storefront at King and Bathurst—just a 900-metre jog from the waterfront trail. Cleverly designed by +tongtong, Black Toe celebrates the urban runner with all the essentials for the hitting the pavement in style. Try on shoes on mini bleachers modeled after those at popular training spot Central Tech. The walls are blanketed in chain-link, a salute to the rail path. Then there are the shoe ramps surfaced in concrete imprinted with the treads of actual local runners. Products range from New Balance and Adidas to elite brands such Altra, Sunski and Trigger Point. As for the store’s training sessions, simply show up for any of the four free weekly runs or sign up for privates with 2012 Canadian marathon champ Rejean Chiasson. “There’s nothing worse than walking into a running store and feeling like crap because of the way the person is talking to you,” says Mike, a perennial black toe sufferer himself. “Running can be intimidating. We’re very much about building a community.” To prove that they walk the walk, the Andersons provide a cubby for runners to store day clothes and keep a well-stocked beer fridge for après-run. —Diane Peters
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PHOTOS: (HOMEBASE) naomi finlay, (black toe) colin faulkner photography, (DA ZOO°) courtesy of DA Zoo°, (SADIE’S) NAOMI FINLAY
Black Toe Running / 95 Bathurst St. 416.792.7223 / blacktoerunning.com
THE IT BOUTIQUE DA ZOO° / 613 King St. W. 416.792.5050 / da-zooo.com
After a five-year hiatus, retail pioneer Peter Halpin returns to the business of style with Da ZoO°, a new boutique aiming for that unquantifiable “It” store status. The destination shop is a siren call to flush indie fashion geeks, style cognoscenti and Bay Street barons in a hood that Halpin describes as “the new Greenwich Village.” Partners Michael Wekerle, a Dragon’s Den host, and Jakub Szczepaniak, a Gucci alumnus, embrace the concept of fashion as art. An homage to luxe, not-so-run-of-the mill labels—Balmain Paris, Undercover by Jun Takahashi, Rick Owens, Maison Martin Margiela, the sublimely exclusive Geoffrey B—the boutique also has its own small house line, 613 King, which draws inspiration from this rarified world of design. Housed in a former antique store, Da-ZoO° is a conceptual work in progress with a flair for fashion’s dark side: Bell jars showcase substantial gothic jewelry, a display of Linda Farrow sunglasses sits amid a horse’s skull and expired incandescent light bulbs, a taxidermied leopard on the wall bagged by Timothy Eaton silently surveys the proceedings. Come fall, the second floor will open with a new complement of experimental designers—ever Halpin’s signature. —Loretta Chin
THE KITSCHEN
Sadie’s Diner and Juice Bar 504 Adelaide St. W. / 416.777.2343 sadiesdiner.com Serving up purely delicious veggie fare to hipsters and local foodies since 2007, Sadie’s may be the most enduring and authentic diner in the hood. Inside this malt-shop-meets-new-age-greasy-spoon, everything but the menu is a throwback to a bygone era (1950s or bust!), drawing nostalgic weekday lunchers for the best huevos rancheros in town. Visiting celebs like Katie Perry, Mike Myers and Rachel McAdams and customers willing to brave weekend brunch lineups seek comfort among wobbly tables and well-worn red vinyl banquettes abutting egg-shell walls adorned with chalkware plaques of bright fruit and kittens, mid-century movie posters, and the great wall of Pez—owner Al Ridley’s impressive 30-year collection. Continuing to breathe new life into the corner of Adelaide and Portland with its recently awarded liquor license, Sadie’s will see the opening of a new rear outdoor patio this spring. Extra points for: downtown delivery, glutenfree alternatives and 25¢ coffee on Wednesdays before noon. —Samantha Yaffe
PROCLAIMER
WHAT’S THE
THE FARM LOT
What: City meets farm at this urban pop-up vegetable garden smack-dab in the middle of the theatre district. Last year’s herbs will give way this summer to fast-growing salad greens (with the surrounding buildings, it is one shady plot). Besides sprouting greenery, this paved paradise offers the fresh stuff for sale via farmers-market-style vendors in a leafy place to hang out. Green thumbs up to urban sustainability group About Face Collective for its eye-catching mural. Where: Wedged in a 500-square-foot vacant lot at 369 King West Who: Fresh City Farms, an urban farming company that grows produce at Downsview Park and offers organic food delivery across the city. Fresh City partnered with TAS Design Build, which owns the lot, as well as nextdoor neighbour The Detox Market, which helps with events and tending to the garden. When: Things got growing last July, with a launch party in August. Fresh City Farms founder Ran Goel says come June dirt will be flying, along with events and regular vendors selling produce, prepared foods and preserves. WHY: “We think of this space as a living billboard to promote our organic food delivery but also to remind people that it’s important to get involved in how your food is grown.” —Diane Peters
NEWS FOR FOODIES KW is feeling Luckee as our favourite master chef Susur Lee expands his empire with a new haute Chinese resto featuring dim sum in the SoHo Metropolitan…Say ciao to Scarpetta and bienvenue to Colette and Colette Grand Café & Bakery! Chase Hospitality Group is bringing its luxe touch to a new double venture featuring upscale contempo-French as well as a patisserie at the Thompson…Wilbur Mexicana, named for the hombre who invented a chile-heat measuring scale, is set to open its doors at the newly built Fashion House this summer, promising to bring even more spice to the hood...Sit back on a Muskoka chair and enjoy lake views and a crisp pint brewed onsite at Amsterdam Brewing Company’s new Amsterdam BrewHouse On the Lake…Porchetta & Co and Pizzeria Libretto are rumoured to be KW neighbours by year’s end. For those who can’t wait, the famous Libretto pizza is coming to King and University this fall...The cute scaffolding is already up at King and Portland for Milton Nunes of Le Gourmand’s new Portland Variety, which will be a bakery/cafe in the morning, a mid-day lunch spot and a tapas bar at night. Look out for the $20,000 Modbar espresso system and Le Gourmand’s famous cookies...Top Chef Dustin Gallagher joins forces with 416 Snack Bar to completely revamp what was People’s Eatery
in Chinatown. Expect inventive snacks as well as a dining room featuring dishes inspired by Spadina’s storied history…Down the street, Trevor Wilkinson leaves fine dining to his eponymous Kitchen on Wellington and relaxes at The Tavern by Trevor, where he and co-owner Michael Yaworski of Wide Open offer up pub-inspired grub with a cultivated edge…1930s-inspired resto-bar The Citizen takes over former hot spot Brant House. With chef Amanda Walti at the helm, expect homemade comfort food, sophisticated bar snacks and craft cocktails with an old-school, retro-cool vibe…Hollywood North gets a taste of Montecito, director Ivan Reitman’s new venture coming to Cinema Tower later this year—another contender for TIFF foodies… While tacos and tequila reign supreme at El Caballito, upstairs at Los Colibris, a more formal room with a traditional Mexican menu will feature recipes handed down from chef Elia Herrera’s mother and grandmother. This is high-end Mexican food the likes of which TO hasn’t seen…Chef Nuit and Jeff Regular, of Sukhothai and Sabai Sabai fame, are bringing more Thailand to town. Named for the hippie border town from where Nuit hails, Pai Northern Thai Kitchen will open in partnership with the folks behind Gusto 101 later this year. The queue starts here! —Carolyn Drebin
PHOTOS: (farm lot) natasha basacchi, (LUCKee) COURTESY OF soho metropolitan hotel, (byblos) renee rodenkirchen
DEAL
PROCLAIMER
THE DISH
Byblos / 11 Duncan St. / 647.660.0909 / byblostoronto.com
Everything old is new again. Byblos is the legendary Mediterranean city that dates back to 5,000 BC, reputedly the oldest in the world. It’s also the name of impresario Charles Khabouth’s latest venture with partner Hanif Harji—and the city’s first haute restaurant that takes Eastern Mediterranean cuisine to the next level. Ancient as the cuisines of Greece, Morocco, Israel, Lebanon and Turkey may be, thanks to the likes of celebrity chef Yotam Ottolenghi, Mediterranean fusion is the flavour of the moment on tables from London to New York and now King West. The first thing that hits you when you enter the Storys Building is the exotic perfume of that region’s aromatic cooking, deftly executed by chef Stuart Cameron. Here in full force in an open geometrically tiled kitchen that exudes the warmth of that sun-baked region are the spices of the Silk Route reinterpreted for modern tastes. Under the soft, spare glow of a contemporary olive branch chandelier, olives are served three ways:
with preserved lemon, harissa and fel fel (a chile breadcrumb marinade). House-made Labneh colourfully dusted with olive oil, honey, fennel pollen and paprika is so killer that we ordered seconds. Seared cauliflower is served with tahini, sesame and coriander. Slivers of Spanish octopus rest on a bed of pomegranate seeds and are strewn with chiles and sprouts. All are served on traditional rustic mezze plates and are meant for sharing. The showstopper was jeweled rice, a dish of basmati baked and served in an earthenware pot with pomegranate seeds, almonds, fried carrot zest and scented with saffron. The Barbari flatbread, baked on premises in a wood oven, was so delicious that it sold out before we finished our Labneh. TMI warning: Rustic and simple though this cuisine may be, the menu comes with its own glossary of terms and your waiter will offer detailed instructions. —KVH & RLP
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PROCLAIMER
WHAT’S THE
DEAL
ASCENDING GIANTS WHAT: Two seven-metre Tyvek sculptures sewn up by Toronto-based artist Max Streicher. The inflatable duo was kept fully rotund by a powerful carpet blower (think Big Boy). WHERE: Perched atop The Spoke Club at King and Portland like blow-up visitors from another planet, the Giants garnered cell-phone shots, neck cricks and social media mentions. WHY: For it’s 10-year anniversary, The Spoke Club is feting a different arts and culture genre each month. “We wanted to give back to the community around us that has inspired and supported us so much,” says club president Pierre Jutras. WHEN: The Giants loomed for just 72 hours starting on January 22, after which they were taken down due to high winds. A few days later, the boys went back up but lasted just 48 hours before a snowstorm rolled in. Sister work Giant Babies lounged in the club’s gallery for a week before Spoke Club cultural curator Raji Aujla returned them to Streicher. “I was worried someone would spill wine on them.” —Diane Peters
THE DRINK WEST / 510 King St. W.
Former Fashion Television reporter and KW veteran Glen Baxter has just opened his very own hotspot in the hood—WEST. “The space is called WEST because it’s located west of what was once ‘club land’ in the Richmond/Peter corridor,” says the newly minted impresario, whose partners include former designer Mark Kyriacou and Steve Doussis. The revamped 4,500square-foot space boasts an outdoor patio, wait staff dressed by Joeffer Caoc and Bazuul, and beats courtesy of Manchester-born Simon Allen (aka DJ Lapelle). “To use a fashion analogy: Many designers started out by designing and making outfits for themselves. We decided to design and create a bar for ourselves and our friends,” Baxter says. “We may be of a certain age, but we still like to go out. And there aren’t that many options out there for us.” Until now.
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LIBATIONS THE PERFECT 10
It’s the 10-year anniversary of The Spoke Club, and we’re celebrating. It’s been an incredible run here on King Street and we’ve grown up with the neighborhood. We’re commemorating with a year’s worth of festivities—and with this simple but elegant twist on a classic drink, the Negroni. We hope you’ll join us in raising a glass to 10 more years in this vibrant part of town. Here’s to all that is King West.
¾ oz Tanqueray No. Ten ¾ oz Campari ½ oz Taylor Fladgate 10-Year-Old Tawny Port ¼ oz X-Rated Fusion Liqueur 2 drops Bittered Sling Kensington Dry Aromatic Bitters Splash of dry sparkling wine
Shake and strain everything but the bubbly, and then add a touch of sparkling wine.
Joe Howell is the head bartender at the members-only Spoke Club. thespokeclub.com
FORNO CULTURA
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Tues to Sat 7.30am to 9.30pm & Sun 8am to 6pm 609 King Street West Toronto, ON M5V1M5 416.603.8305 TF 855.603.8305 fornocultura.com Photography tonylanzphoto.com FORNO CULTURA
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MICROTREND
El Caballito
220 King St. W. / 416.628.9838 elcaballito.ca / @elcaballito220
SNACKDOWN!
Manager and tequila expert Manny Contreras wants to be clear: El Caballito is not a restaurant. It’s a tequila bar. Judging by the packed crowd practically inhaling the food, it’s a tequila bar that serves the best Mexican street snacks this side of the Rio Grande. Inspired by her family’s recipes, executive chef Elia Herrera turns out truly authentic antojitos, or “little cravings.” Traditional Panucho Pibil (pulled chicken and black beans) arrives nestled in a corn tortilla. Molote de Tinga, an inside-out empanada, is also the real deal, each bite “seasoned with love,” as Contreras says. Alitas (chicken wings) can be ordered four different ways: sweet and smoky, citrus, spicy, or extremely spicy. Tamarind ceviche is refreshing, featuring cod and mango afloat on a sliver of jicama. Guac and salsas are served with housemade plantain, sweet potato and taro chips, a far cry from anything that comes in a bag. Tortillas, both corn and flour, are made to order. And when the clock strikes 12, the secret special Midnight Taco becomes available. Until then, toppers include flank steak and salsa verde; baked fish, salsa cruda and crispy leeks; or Al Pastor, pork, pineapple, salsa verde and coriander. For vegetarians, the spicy Champinones al Ajillo, mushrooms with chili, is a surefire hit. Come for the drinks but stay for the snacks.
The humble snack has come a long way, baby! Trendsetter 416 Snack Bar got the ball rolling in 2011 with its local take on street food with style. Hardcore foodies and off-work chefs kept the place packed. Now the street-snack craze is official. From the spice bazaars and alleys of the Middle East and Greece to the roadside carts and markets of Mexico and South America, here in the core it’s nothing less than a neighbourhood snackdown. —Carolyn Drebin
Rose City Kitchen
406 Queen St. W. / 416.603.8102 rosecitykitchen.com / @RoseCityKitchen If you haven’t noticed, Middle Eastern food is taking over Toronto. At Rose City Kitchen it’s all about what’s in the (pita) pocket, with gourmet adaptations of authentic fillings inspired by the tastes of Morocco, Egypt, Lebanon and Greece. Named for Petra, the ancient pink-hued spice capital of Jordan, Rose City’s Shontelle Pinch, of Gourmet Bitches food-truck fame, and partner Nipun Sharma are behind this “Middleterranean”inspired counter. The bestselling RCK Original starts with a base of hummus, tabouleh, home fries, carrots, lettuce, garlic oil and cherry harissa dressing. Choose from grilled chicken shawarma, steak made from fresh-ground, secretly seasoned chuck, halloumi cheese or old-style falafel—and top it with some homemade rose petal hot sauce. Pinch’s fave is the Lebanese, seemingly simple with garlic sauce, lettuce, pickles plus protein choice. RCK Poutine is also a winner, fusing a Canuck fave with Jordanian-style hummus plus any protein option. Can’t decide? The menu suggests “1 for a snack, 2 for a meal and 3 if you’re starving.”
Falafel balls at Rose City Kitchen
PHOTOS: (el caballito) Laura vandenbrook, (rose city kitchen) steve dolson, (the greek) william holmes, (valdez) rick o’brien
El Caballito’s flank steak taco
PROCLAIMER
The Greek
567 King St. W. / 416.546.1378 thegreektoronto.com / @TheGreekToronto Yes, there is authentic, delicious Greek food west of the Don in Toronto. Under the direction of brothers Michael and Andrew Ullman and Gani Shqueir—all veterans of the restaurant scene, having honed their chops at EFS, Bloke & 4th and Camp 4—the original chef raided his yaya’s repertoire, finely tuning her family recipes and giving them a multi-culti-twist. Much tastetesting and R&D resulted in snacks with delightful twists, like spanakopuffs and fried halloumi dusted with cinnamon sugar and served with honey. A true snack bar, with a three-to-five-minute turnover on ordering, The Greek’s spare and nofrills environs reflect the simple deliciousness coming from the kitchen. The all-white-meat chicken pita is the bestseller, while Greek Poutine, made up of 12-hour braised pulled pork, feta, oregano and tzatziki, is a satisfying innovation. The window sign proclaims “always fresh, never frozen” and it looks to be true—there’s not a microwave or freezer in sight. Given the rate at which the skewered goodness is flying out the doors, there’s likely no need.
The Greek’s fried halloumi with cinnamon and honey
Valdez
606 King St. W. / 416.363.8388 valdezrestaurant.com / @thevaldezTO Owner Steve Gonzalez, of Top Chef Canada fame, serves Latino tastes with flair at Valdez, the latest incarnation of 606 King West, named after Gonzalez’s madre. In the open kitchen, chefs whip up street snacks inspired by the cuisines of countries “south of Mexico” for a rapt audience of diners. TV fame aside, Gonzalez is the reigning king of guacamole, having won big at The Drake’s Holy Guacamole Smackdown last summer. Another hit is the ceviche: Also known as the People’s Champ for the cured seafood treat, Gonzalez dishes out five different types in full servings or “tastes.” Other “Stuff,” as described on the menu, includes such street classics of the Southern hemisphere as empanadas stuffed with pork and potatoes, and Chuzos al Plancha, beef skewers served with mini arepa and chimichurri—which arrive at the table authentically brown-bagged. For foodies looking for something more substantial, Chaufa, or Peruvian fried rice, is served family style. With a heated patio and DJs spinning Top 40 and Latin grooves on weekends, this Latino street party is just getting started.
Chuzos al Plancha at Valdez
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Catch Snoop Dogg at the Montreal Jazz Festival.
THE LIST
Heads up on what not to miss May 29 – Sept 1
Camp Fires / Gardiner Museum, Toronto
THE READ
Type Books’ well-read Joanne Saul shares some hot new summer page-turners for devouring on a patio near you
May 31 – Sept 1
June 6 – 15
Luminato / Toronto
The blazing world
by Siri Husvedt (Simon & Schuster)
June 19 – 22 Art Basel / Switzerland
Harriet Burden, a feminist artist and widow of a well-known art dealer, creates a scheme to trick the male-dominated New York art world by disguising her own work as that of her male contemporaries. Although damning, her project backfires. The novel tells Burden’s story through a fictionalized academic exercise that investigates what happened through journal entries, interviews and first-person accounts. Intellectually challenging yet highly readable, the book examines the blatantly sexist and pretentious New York art scene while offering a fascinating study of how we remember.
June 20 – 29 WorldPride / Toronto
Every Day is for the Thief
June 12 – July 13
FIFA World Cup / Rio
June 23 – July 6
Wimbledon / London
by Teju Cole (Random House)
july 5 – july 27
First published in Nigeria in 2007 and now revised and released in the U.K., U.S. and Canada, this genre-defying novel is a mix of memoir, travelogue and essay. Like Cole’s celebrated novel Open City, it is a moving meditation on place, home, family, art and belonging. The narrator returns to Lagos, Nigeria, after a 15-year absence only to discover a sense of profound unbelonging. This is a compelling and contradictory portrait of a city, interspersed with the author’s own photographs and sprinkled with inter-textual references literary, musical and philosophical.
July 9
Can’t and Won’t
June 26 – July 6 35th Festival International de Jazz de Montreal
101st tour de france Lady Gaga / Air Canada Centre, Toronto Aug 25 – Sept 1
Burning Man / Black Rock Desert, Nevada Sept 4 – 14
Toronto International Film Festival / Bell Lightbox
by Lydia Davis (Farrar, Straus & Giroux) It’s difficult to know how to classify these short, smart, erudite pieces. Some of them are very short stories indeed—a few are only a line long. Others are dreams captured by the author’s compact prose, and others are translations of Flaubert’s writings from a selection of his letters. Lastly, there are a number of funny and wise “letters to.” Some stories are beautifully touching, others are hilariously funny. Each word seems carefully chosen and each sentence expertly constructed. Joanne Saul is co-owner of Type Books / 883 Queen St. W. and 427 Spadina Rd. typebooks.ca
PHOTOS: (SNOOP) COURTESY OF MONTREAL JAZZ FESTIVAL, (BOOKS) ADRIAN ARMSTRONG, (PIN) COURTESY OF HOOK AND FURL
Douglas Coupland Vancouver Art Gallery
Mr. Smith’s Good Times Guide
PROCLAIMER
5 Things Making Me Happy Right Now 1
Hook and Furl. Flowers in the buttonhole are nice, but other decorative lapel options are rare in the hidebound world of menswear—subtle and masculine ones even more so. This new Toronto company hand-makes whimsical lapel flourishes out of leather buttons and feathers; at once rustic and sophisticated, they look like a cross between a fishing fly and the sign of a military order. Worn on suit or overcoat, they draw attention to the artistic wearer in a world of sober grey and navy. Stylists are grabbing them for photo shoots and handing them out to the celebrities they dress—rapper Aion Clarke, Maple Leaf Frazer McLaren and TV host Ben Mulroney have all sported them. The feathery pins have taken off in the city’s fashionable men’s shops too, on offer at Gotstyle, Garrison Bespoke, Room 2046 (and on Etsy), from $45. hookandfurl.com
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Suitsupply. This international chain’s uninspiring name is deceptive: Its mission is to bring colourful, up-to-date and elegant men’s clothing to the masses. It just opened a branch in Yorkville, and a luxurious place it is: suits, sport jackets, shirts, ties, shoes and a tailor shop. The cuts are slim but conservative; their draw is the surprising prices—suits start at $429. I tried on a perfectly respectable grey wool number priced at $525. The summer selection is particularly adventurous, with double-breasted brown linen suits, bold windowpanes; it aims for an English-gentleman-at-a-regatta look—but at undercutting prices that may prove devastating to local competition. You can also shop online at suitsupply.com (check out their 1950’s Rat Pack tuxedos). 9 Hazelton Ave.
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Geraldine. This cozy Parkdale resto-bar resembles a French private dining room from the late 19th century. The tile floors, marble bar and oyster towers are alarmingly luxurious in this bearded, sneakered zone. It’s the kind of setting Edward Gorey would love to dine in. For dinner, it’s intimate; late night, it’s fashionable, turning into a cocktail bar with an excellent bartender/customer ratio and a pleasing supply of attractive young people. The bar snacks are some of the most sophisticated nibbles in the city, including house-smoked sardines with horseradish crème fraîche and venison with cranberries. 1564 Queen St. W.
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Malarky, by Anakana Schofield. If you had told me I would be blown away by a Canadian first novel about a rural woman slowly going a bit nuts, I might have rolled my eyes a bit. But the sparky style of this writing— an Irish vernacular and a fragmented narrative—is exciting and original. The book’s heroine is also an unusual creature: Distraught from loss, she develops strange sexual obsessions. Of course, this clever and moving book was passed over for any major literary awards, because this vast stodgy country—and its literary guardians—simply aren’t interested in the clever, the amusing or the daring. This book probably was deemed to have a low broccoli content—smart, but not virtuous enough. Anyway, read it before you try edifying yourself with any of the Canada Reads choices, aka the Broccoli Awards.
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Roast duck with apples. You may, like me, have had bad experiences cooking duck in the past—it may exude a gallon of grease and leave little meat. I think I was overcomplicating it. Duck is very simple: Stuff it full of apple chunks, stick it in the oven. The prep time is 15 minutes max. Roast at a very high heat for 10 minutes, then turn it down to 350°F and leave it for two hours. Baste it every now and then with the delicious liquid fat. The apples come out soft and soaked in glorious duck juice, and they imbue the dark gamey meat with sweetness. This is the way the Poles do it, and it’s easier and quicker than messing around with an orange sauce like the fussy French. Don’t think it’s just a winter dish: Pair it with rosé and asparagus on a rainy spring evening.
Russell Smith writes novels set in Toronto. His latest is Girl Crazy. He also writes two weekly columns for The Globe and Mail, one on style and one on culture, and is one of the founders of the online men’s magazine DailyXY.com
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Lanehomes in a turn of the century building with private rooftops in Bloordale. From $819,900 lanehouse50.com
Townhomes perched atop a 1950s building with private rooftops in College West. From $649,900 dovercourt455.com
All renderings are artist’s impression. Specifications and materials are subject to change. All dimensions, if any, are approximate. Usable floor space may vary from the stated floor area, if so stated. Subject to E. O. & E. 2014.
ARCHITECTURE
By John Bentley Mays photography by arash moallemi
Peter Freed and John Bentley Mays talk towers
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ith Toronto’s inner-city condo boom well into its third decade, and no end of this phenomenon in sight, Peter Freed has been thinking about what it all means. Many Torontonians, of course, have been giving serious thought to the same thing—wondering about the architectural quality of the towers and the mid-rise structures that are getting built, pondering the effects of so much intensification on the quality of urban life. Very few other people, however, approach the topic from a vantage-point quite like Freed’s. A downtown developer with more than a dozen residential stacks to his credit, and the publisher of this magazine about a district he has done much to transform, Freed is certainly no dispassionate observer. His decade-long rough-and-tumble engagement with municipal politics, public criticism and the forces of finance has left him with strong opinions about Toronto’s architecture and urbanism—opinions that deserve an airing, if only because they come from an unusually close-up experience of the realestate situation. So it was that I recently met Peter Freed in his office atop the Thompson Hotel and sounded him out. Though the weather outside was still cold, he was optimistically clad in a light summer shirt. I found him enthusiastic about some of Toronto’s new edifices, disappointed by others and, generally speaking, inclined to think the citizens do not appreciate, nearly enough, the efforts of developers. “People don’t celebrate the accomplishments of buildings when they go up,” he said. “So much goes into creating a building. Take Daniel Libeskind’s L Tower. Some people may like it, some people may not like it,
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and it has changed a lot from its original look, but it’s a spectacular addition to our skyline. It makes other buildings seem so square and grey. Or take the Shangri-La [hotel and condo complex]. A company and a whole lot of individuals put their intellectual and financial capital together to raise a half-billion-dollar structure in the city. But we don’t celebrate them at all.” Freed’s comments bring counter-examples quickly to mind. There are the Pug Awards, handed out each year to realized designs that win an effective online popularity contest. There are the municipality’s juried urban design prizes, and other tributes. And new structures are continually showcased and appraised in Toronto’s daily press and on several websites. We could always do more, of course. Hogtown is overdue, for instance, for an annual jamboree of architecture akin, in flash and dazzle, to the Toronto International Film Festival. In Freed’s view, however, none of this recognition compensates for officialdom’s sullen attitude. “City Hall is very critical of every application that comes in; they are very quick to tell you it’s too tall, too wide, too something. I’ve walked into City Hall dozens of times with different visions, and many of these applications have had brilliant people attached to them. But [officials] have never once commented in any positive way about even one component of any of these projects. That’s a void in the process, at beginning and end, and it would be wonderful if that could change.” The political and bureaucratic opposition that has greeted developer David Mirvish’s very tall, three-tower scheme (by architect Frank Gehry) on King Street West is, in Freed’s view, a symptom of the malaise now afflicting Toronto’s cultural heart.
“We should be stimulating creativity, not shooting it out of the sky.”
LEFT: Architects Alliance’s 18 Yorkville RIGHT: Daniel Libeskind’s L Tower BELOW: Shangi-La Toronto by James K.M. Cheng and Hariri Pontarini Architects
“I am very excited about the proposal,” he said. “It has the potential to be a true standout, and I commend Mirvish for dreaming big. We need people to make a bet on the city, to stick their necks out. I hope [the project] doesn’t get a haircut to bring it back into the normal, since [height] is what will make it pop.” The planners should allow “super-height” in this instance, he added, given that the Mirvish plan is an “investment in spectacular design and programming on the bottom that will be an overall benefit to the city. We should be stimulating creativity, not shooting it out of the sky.” To critics who argue that the Mirvish idea and other tower proposals are bringing too much intensification to the downtown area, Freed has a ready response, based on his sojourns in other places. “Most of the largest, greatest cities in the world are a lot more dense than Toronto. I gauge things by pedestrian flow. You look at New York, you see large streams of people on the street. We are so far away from that. Certainly, we have an infrastructure problem. With growth we have challenges. But to say we don’t want to promote exciting, extra-tall projects is short-sighted. We should continue working hard to figure it out, but we should not hold back. I think that, by nature, our city is very conservative. Doing different things is very difficult. But in New York and other places in the world, they let the extreme happen. It makes the city more exciting, spectacular.” One place not far from Toronto where something “extreme” did happen is Mississauga, the home of Beijing architect Yansong Ma’s controversial Absolute Towers. When it was unveiled a few years ago, the first of these two residential schemes was immediately nicknamed “Marilyn” in a nod to its sensuous curves. A high success with both condo buyers and architectural
critics in Canada and abroad, Absolute embodies the kind of artistic risktaking Freed would like to see in downtown Toronto. “The Absolute Towers are great examples, real standouts,” he said. “They are wildly different but commercially viable. There were additional costs in rounding out the structure, but it fell within a price point that is viable in Mississauga. That’s the kind of creativity we need more of.” While no Toronto developer (including Freed) has put up a tall or midrise condo stack with Absolute’s powerful originality and exuberant flair, several companies have hired beyond-average international and local architects to fashion residential stacks for them—with interesting, notable results. Freed especially likes One St. Thomas, a neo–Art Deco luxury condo block by the well-known contemporary American architect Robert A. M. Stern. “It stands out in the city in a very positive way,” Freed said. “It doesn’t look like every other tall building.” He also admires the highrise and mid-rise work of hometown talents such as Peter Clewes, David Pontarini, Richard Witt, Charles Gane and Stephen Teeple. “We are very lucky,” Freed remarked, “to have an incredible stable of world-class architects here, and we have enjoyed working with some of them. Toronto is the busiest [high-rise] market in North America, so they have hung out their shingles in the right place. But we need a more global mix, more participation from international minds, aesthetics, styles. We have not made tall buildings exciting enough, we have not explored the possibilities.” So what is keeping architects from doing so? Freed lays the blame squarely (and perhaps lopsidedly) on his favourite bête noire: City Hall.
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“We are very lucky to have an incredible stable of world-class architects here.”
ARCHITECTURE
The skyscraper guidelines created by the planners and put into force by the councillors last year, in his view, are straitjackets on the imagination. Their routine use means, in practice, that every high-rise presented for approval by wary developers will fit a certain comfortable, tried-and-true formula. Each will have a podium, a slender shaft, a series of set-backs making it look like a wedding cake, and other cookie-cutter characteristics. Something podium-free, buxom and slinky like Mississauga’s Marilyn would never make it to the floor of the council chamber. “It wouldn’t be allowed,” Freed said. “Under the current guidelines, you just wouldn’t be permitted to do that, and that’s a shame. Our system is wrong. Hopefully, it will change. We will never have great architecture until they relax these rules.” But the industry itself is surely responsible, in part, for the tepid quality of Toronto’s boom-time buildings. The official playbook will change only if developers insistently bring forward innovative, groundbreaking design proposals. Though it will always be cautious, the development community, in Freed’s opinion (and in mine), could be more adventurous—and still make money.
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BELOW: One St. Thomas by Robert A.M. Stern RIGHT: The Absolute Towers, aka “Marilyn,” by Yansong Ma
“It’s not an easy thing to do—most people are not capable or don’t have the energy to even try,” he said. “It’s risky to be different. But you can do spectacular things within a tight cost structure. When someone is willing to do something different, we should figure out how to empower them.” Meanwhile, Peter Freed isn’t holding his breath and waiting for the dawn to break over either public agencies or the business he is very much a part of. He continues to press on with his own developments in the King West neighbourhood and elsewhere. And though critical of many aspects of Toronto’s architectural fabric and political culture, he is not giving up on his town just yet. “I remember, 12 years ago and beyond,” he remarked, “when condo towers were brick buildings with small windows. There were certain developers who created tens of thousands of units with that design, and they had a very successful business in doing that. That wouldn’t fly today. If you put one of those forward to the public, some people would even be shocked at this point. And that’s a sign of progress. There is certainly hope.” John Bentley Mays is an award-winning Toronto writer on art and architecture.
Building a Fort York for the 21st century By Christopher Hume
PHOTOS: (PAINTING) Courtesy of City of Toronto Museum Services, (RENDERINGs) Courtesy of Patkau Architects Inc. / Kearns Mancini Architects Inc., (Barracks) Courtesy of Tom Ridout
CULTURE
Before there was Canada, there was Upper Canada. Before there was Toronto, there was Fort York. Constructed by order of Lieutenant-Governor James Simcoe, the garrison was built in 1793. The city wouldn’t be incorporated for another four decades. But if Toronto felt any need, or sense of obligation, to honour its birthplace, you’d never know it. Though Fort York ranks as one of the most significant historic locations in the country, its own history has not been a happy one. Despite the seminal role it played in the formation of Toronto, Ontario and Canada, it has never really been part of the collective consciousness of the community it made possible. The city has grown up all around the fort, leaving it in the shadow of a growing condo thicket, an elevated highway and the general messiness of the urban jumble. Visiting the fort has tended to be a good deed, a guilt trip; it has been one of those places kids are taken on school trips then never see again. That’s all about to change. To begin with, whole new neighbourhoods have filled in much of the empty space around the site and, more important perhaps, the Fort York Visitor Centre will open in September. Designed by celebrated Vancouver firm Patkau Architects, with Toronto’s Kearns Mancini Architects, the new facility should go a long way to giving the fort visibility and reconnecting it to the city. As well as being a designated historic site, the garrison and surrounding land—all 43 acres— has become a neighbourhood park for more than 50,000 people who live in the fast-growing area. As Fort York manager David O’Hara points out, “We have to deal with all sorts of competing uses.” That means everything from dog walkers from Liberty Village to local families, tourists, school kids and the growing number of festivals and events held onsite. O’Hara notes that in June 2013, upwards of 10,000 showed up for Arts & Crafts’ Field Trip, an outdoor concert at Garrison Common, the former municipal tree nursery directly west of the fort. “The condos have had a huge impact,” O’Hara says. “The city is filling in. But the people who move here find that they don’t have much in the way of regular amenities. Now they’re oriented toward Liberty Village. In the Fort York neighbourhood, the buildings are pretty dead at street level. It’s pretty well all residential.” Like many others, O’Hara wants to see more mixed-use development in the area; that translates into retail, restaurants and the like at grade level and within walking distance for local residents. This, of course, is the new urban model that many cities around the world have adopted. Given that automobile use has peaked, that younger people are getting their licenses later and driving less, transit is the new priority. For Fort York, however, which has suffered at the hands of the private car and public transit, both can be a threat. Who remembers, for example, that there were plans in the early years of the last century to run a streetcar line through the fort? Though the city objected, a line was built along the north ramparts. It was removed in 1929-30, but then came the Gardiner Expressway. Originally, its route ran right through the fort, which would have been a fatal blow to the site. Planners proposed the fort be moved south to Coronation Park. They wanted the buildings relocated and re-erected by the shore of Lake Ontario. The reason? Experts were fearful that curving the Gardiner to avoid the fort would slow traffic and lead to cars flying off the expressway!
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CULTURE
While the Visitor Centre has yet to be unveiled, you can get your groove on at Fort York this summer at these events. June 7 – 8 Field Trip 2014
July 4 – 6 Toronto Urban Roots Fest (TURF)
July 19 TIME Festival
July 24 – 27 Taste of Toronto
But as Stephen Otto, Toronto historian and founder of Friends of Fort York, says, “You don’t move a place.” Fort York, he insists, is more than just the largest collection of early 19thcentury military buildings; it is also an archeological site and “the founding place of this city.” “There are very few North American cities that can point to one spot and say this is where the city started,” he adds. “It’s remarkable the place is still here at all; there have been so many plans that threatened it.” When Otto helped found Friends of Fort York in 1994, the site was once again endangered, this time by the prospect of runaway development. The railway lands were being rezoned from industrial to residential and suddenly a large swath of land was in play. CityPlace, the huge high-rise residential enclave extending west from Simcoe to Bathurst Street south of Wellington, is the most obvious result. “In the tradition of many such organizations, the Friends formed to protect the fort,” Otto explains. “But we’ve turned the corner on this one. The city has been pretty good to the fort. The Visitor Centre is an example.” No doubt about that. The $25-million structure, which won a Canadian Architect Award of Excellence in 2011, will include galleries, permanent displays, a theatre, as well as numerous “immersive exhibits.” The striking new building, which is low, sleek and largely glass, is situated south and slightly west of the fort in the shadow of the Gardiner. As well as being the new main entrance to the fort, it will serve as a counterpoint to the jewel-like Fort York Library now under construction on the east side of Bathurst. With its unusual sloping roof, fully green, of course, it will also devote space to the fort and its history. More important, the library, which comes with a still unfinished park, will enable the site to straddle Bathurst and connect it directly to the downtown core. The three levels of government have committed $19 million; the rest is being raised by the Fort York Foundation under chair Andrew Stewart and director Susan Perren. Wandering the site today it’s hard to believe it was the location of a battle that changed the course of Canadian history. The barracks that once housed soldiers are cleaned up and restored. Where once there was blood and violence, there’s now order and quiet. Who could have foreseen that a fort built because of a long-forgotten war would become a peaceful city widely celebrated for its tolerance and diversity? We call it Toronto.
PHOTOS: (Gardiner) Courtesy of Tom Ridout, (CONCERT) Courtesy of Lucia Graca Photography
“This is where the city started. It’s remarkable the place is still here at all; there have been so many plans that threatened it.”
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WALK THIS WAY A tour of Toronto’s eclectic outdoor sculptures By Betty Ann Jordan
HIGH SUMMER 2014
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Emblematic of good corporate citizenship, many large-scale works have been commissioned by developers to comply with the City of Toronto’s Percent for Public Art Program. On the ground, the first challenge is actually finding the art and taking a moment to enjoy it as opposed to stumbling upon it and vowing to pay it some attention next time. Enter “Walk This Way,” KW’s guide to public art in the hood. Bonus.
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Scan this QR code to open a digital version you can navigate using your mobile device
Street furniture for everyone to enjoy, public art joyously signals “you are here.” Soulful, site-specific, at times enigmatic, such proudly democratic work as sculpture and artist-designed fences, friezes and walkways are abundant in King West. Animating parks, plazas and street corners, outdoor art has broad appeal, especially when rooted in local history. When done really well, outdoor art can put your town on the international art map. Arguably Canoe Landing Park at CityPlace is Toronto’s funkier answer to Chicago’s celebrated Millennium Park. Tweets and photo-ops will tell.
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1 - Monoceros, 2013 Fastwurms @ The Tower at King West, 125 Western Battery Rd. A towering unicorn horn bursts through the cement of the condo forecourt, the startling incursion witnessed by a frog big enough to straddle. According to the artists, these beings—one mythical, one muddy—signify protection, good health, prosperity and wealth: “Invest in natural wealth…and the gyre of good fortune is yours to share.” 2 - Guardians, 2013 Olaf Breuning @ King West Life, 85 East Liberty St. Brown and hard like a meteorite, these crystalline sentinels evoke humanoid stone markers such as those found on Easter Island or in the Arctic. Breuning, who lives in NYC’s East Village, may be longing for the barrens. But his site is far from barren, and the sentinels’ dun coloration blends in rather too well with the greys and browns of the environs. 3 - Perpetual Motion, 2011 Francisco Gazitua @ Liberty Village Park, 70 East Liberty St. Big as a boulder, this mechanical-looking sculpture was inspired by the washing machines once manufactured nearby. A way-finding marker, Perpetual Motion is certainly handsome, but there is a sense of déjà vu: Formally it echoes the artist’s earlier Sun Wheel (2010), also in Liberty Village. 4 - Fence on the Loose, 2012 Vito Acconci Studio @ 219 + 231 Fort York Blvd. and Fleet St. Performance-art pioneer turned public-art impresario, NY-based Acconci has masterminded the most magical building in the hood. His Gaudi-like black metal curvilinear fencing and entrance canopy flow like a river over rapids around WaterParkCity, slowing to form frond-like seating at the southeast corner. Recalls Public Art Management’s Karen Mills: “Vito literally started by scribbling loops, which were then translated into a fence that looped around the site and up the walls and over the entrance.” 5 - Marais, 2011 Carlo Cesta @ Sloping Sky Mews and Grand Magazine St. Meant to accentuate the art-deco references in the architecture, a little bit of Paris has come to Toronto. Exquisitely proportioned, Cesta’s cut-metal railings form a type of “Juliette balcony” beneath the condo’s French windows. Their delicate fronds also evoke marsh grasses and subtly play off the water lilies in the Kruger friezes next door. 6 - Wave Side, 2011 Jennifer Marman and Daniel Borins @ 21 Grand Magazine St. Imagine that the condo is a large ship and the silvery-grey metal contour cutouts of curling Hokusai-style waves at the base of the façade are the ship’s wake. But look sharp because the waves, tucked into a recess, are most visible from the eastern angle. 7 - Monument to the War of 1812, 2008 Douglas Coupland @ 600 Fleet St. Overgrown toy soldiers reenact the conflict with a fourmetre-tall gold soldier representing the victorious British forces standing triumphant over a prone oversized silver U.S. infantryman—just one block south of Fort York.
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8 - Mitosis Courtyard, 2010 Pierre Poussin @ Panorama, 38 Dan Leckie Way Luminous and refreshing in the dim space beneath the Gardiner Expressway, Poussin’s freestanding cobalt-blue cylindrical forms with white spots suggest cellular forms; flowing watery patterns on the concrete surface beneath the columns evoke blood flowing through veins, water through narrows or traffic through a bottleneck.
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9 - Canoe Landing Park, 2009, Douglas Coupland @ 95 Fort York Blvd. Coupland’s suite of sculptures relates to the life and times of the Group of Seven landscape painters and includes Bobber Plaza, Beaver Dam and Tom Thomson’s Canoe (an empty red canoe that juts out over the Gardiner, recalling Thomson’s death by drowning). Around the perimeter of the central green space is a series of photographic billboards inspired by the late long-distance runner and national hero Terry Fox. Instead of reliquary pieces of the True Cross, on this pilgrim route we contemplate large photos of Fox’s running shorts, his prosthetic leg and, most poignantly, the tattered lucky sock that covered the tip of his artificial limb. 10 - Gardiner Streams, 2014 Katharine Harvey @ Quartz, 10 Housey St. When looking at Mitosis Courtyard, pivot to the northwest and look up the south face of a tower still under construction to see this vivid, striped 75-foot-wide digital photo montage of car headlights streaming by on the Gardiner at night. The images are printed on film and sandwiched between glass on the façade that shelters a swimming pool on the other side.
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Culture
15 - Rosa Nautica, 2007 Francisco Gazitua @ 11 Brunel Court One of several sharp-edged nautical metal sculptures in CityPlace east of Spadina that evoke sailing ships that once would have “navigated under the night sky, below the Southern Cross.” 16 - Light CANOES, 2010 Maha Mustafa @ Spadina Ave. south of Front St. W. The pedestrian underpass on the south side of the Spadina Ave. bridge is a well-kept secret known mostly to intrepid cyclists. It would be spooky dim if not for Mustafa’s series of blue-glass ovoid light-fixtures set in the walls to create a moonlit glow, even in the day.
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17 - Ballast, 2013 Jed Lind @ Charlie Condos, 430 King St. W. The vestigial prow of a gun-metal-grey ship modeled on a Great Lakes vessel noses up from a concrete forecourt. “It’s a nod to the blue-collar working class that used to occupy the now-vacated commercial and industrial spaces,” says Lind, “while the geodesic pattern refers to Buckminster Fuller, who inspired youths to transform their existing circumstances through architecture.”
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11 - Approaching Red, 2013 Maha Mustafa @ 15 Iceboat Terrace and 151 Dan Leckie Way Two sweeping curves of candy-apple-red coated steel are so glossy that viewers are reflected in their seductive surfaces, even at night. The Iraqi-Swedish artist brings swift joy to the conversation about the real and metaphorical weight of steel started years ago by Richard Serra. Do slip through the narrow channel between them for a unique spatial and acoustic experience. 12 - Puente de Luz (Bridge of Light), 2012 Francisco Gazitua @ 524 Front St. W. This is one of a series of sculptures by this Chilean artist as part of a larger commission for Concord Adex. A survivor of Pinochet’s regime, the artist, a dedicated humanist, inclines toward large metal sculptures suggesting mechanical devices such as cogs, wheels and levers—aids for traversing gaps in time and space. Says Gazitua: “A feather is a bridge between the wind and flight, but the internal structure of a feather has its interior, arches, saw blades and swords.”
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13 - Stardust & Time, 2009 John McEwen @ 8 Telegram Mews A sculpture of a bear stands atop a 14-foot-high pedestal—a three-dimensional Ursa Major—with stars cut out of the metal base at his feet where blue light beams forth at night. On the courtyard wall behind is a scrim of weathered steel pierced by myriad stars and directional arrows signifying celestial bodies on the move. 14 - Flower Power, 1967 (restored in 2010) Mark di Suvero @ 175 Dan Leckie Way Near the bridge, this fire-engine-red angular steel sculpture by a 1960s art honcho has art-historical bona fides. Many subsequent “plop artists” have imitated di Suvero’s magisterial if austere aesthetic but few have achieved his trademark equipoise between heaviness and lightness, tension and ease.
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18 - Thing’s End, 2012 James Carl @ Festival Tower, 80 John St. Meant to evoke the coiled loops of a giant rubber band, the illusionistic blue sculpture is by an esteemed local artist who has made a career of elevating the mundane. (His earlier eye-fooling—and heavy—white marble carvings of Styrofoam takeout-food containers are cases in point.) 19 - Rising, 2012 Zhang Huan @ Shangri-La Hotel, 180 University Ave. A silver headless dragon explodes upwards from the hotel/ condo’s reflecting pool, propelled by a flurry of glittering wings that also suggest frantically flapping hands. Created by a Chinese art-star, the stunning work resembles the river-spirit cum dragon in Hayao Miyazaki’s anime-film Spirited Away. As in the film, fugitive glittering wings take on a life of their own, adhering like magnetic filings higher up the 66-storey tower. 20 - Crystalline Interpretation, Jack Pine and Crystalline Interpretation, Mist Fantasy, 2013 Douglas Coupland @ Citygroup Place, 123 Front St. W. Prodigiously gifted Canadian artist Douglas Coupland makes art the way most of us make excuses, with 17 pieces in downtown Toronto alone. A noted social commentator and author (Generation X, Souvenir of Canada), Coupland’s emotionally charged works are grounded in baby-boomer experiences, seasoned with millennial wit and executed with visual panache. In the lobby, visible from the street, his pair of wall-reliefs is an homage to the colour sensibilities of the Group of Seven. 21 - Lake Light Threshold, 2012 James Carpenter @ 18 York St. This illuminated glass walkway above York St. is part of the PATH that links Telus House to the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Tower. A sublime experience as passersthrough are bathed in waves of vivifying coloured light generated by prisms embedded in the glass. 22 - 3D Pixel Cube, 2009 Michael Awad and David Rokeby @ Telus House, 25 York St. A disco cube suspended inside the lobby of the building on the north side of Maple Leaf Square. While it can be glimpsed, just barely, from outside, go in to be wowed by the pixel-matrix light show that morphs through myriad optical and colour effects. 23 - Union Station, 2013 Michael Awad @ Telus House, 25 York St. This 20-metre-long photo mural on the lobby wall documents life-size pedestrians in hectic profusion photographed in front of the nearby commuter terminus. Made using a oneminute-long exposure with a specially rigged camera, Union Station is but one entry in the Toronto artist’s encyclopedic The Entire City Project. 24 - Canopy, 2010 United Visual Artists @ Maple Leaf Square, 15 York St. Faceted light modules on the underside of a 90-metrelong overhang are programmed to create non-repeating light effects, using artificial and natural illumination to simulate the dappled play of sunlight bleeding through a forest canopy. Best at night. Betty Ann Jordan leads art tours through art in site. artinsite.net
THe AsSemBLeR:
Georgia Dickie stands in her sun-filled studio on Dupont Street, surrounded by the tools of her particular trade. A sheaf of crumpled steel sheeting here, a pair of rough semicircles of banged-together wood there, a delicate curl of steel tubing off to one side. Clumped amid a tangle of other such objects stands a tall black obelisk—of sorts—with a rubbery prosthetic ear pinned to its dark hide. “Everyone hates that one,” Dickie smiles, more amused than bothered by the declaration. You can’t please everyone, and Dickie isn’t trying. She has a hard enough time pleasing herself: Her works, which comprise a recombinant oeuvre of castoffs—put together, taken apart, matched and mismatched, and often started from scratch multiple times—share a vexing perpetuity, at least as long as they’re at arm’s length of their creator. Is she ever finished? “No. Not really,” Dickie says. “Really, they just have to leave.” Looking at her recent exhibition schedule, that’s becoming less of a problem. Over the past two years, Dickie has shown more than a dozen times, testament to both her restless nature and growing profile. A good handful of those were at museum venues—the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, The Power Plant, Oakville Galleries—underscoring the 24-year-old artist’s status as a bona fide up-and-comer in the city’s cultural pecking order.
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PHOTOS: ERIKA JACOBS
GEORGIA DICKIE
LOCAL TALENT
But balance that with the fact that more than half of those showings were pop-up DIY grassroots affairs, springing up in off-kilter, highly unofficial locations (senior artist Ian Carr-Harris’ kitchen, for one) for a week, a day, or even a single night, and it’s easy to see that Dickie is far from subsumed by the institutional culture machinery. She works, reworks and works again partly to tap into the deep well of nervous energy (“I’m never really at home in my studio,” she says, “there’s something about being surrounded by your own work that’s kind of unnerving”) but also with broader purpose. Dickie works with found objects, throwaway things, condemned to death as trash. Re-animating them only to freeze them in amber as a static object is both an old idea (see early ’60s Minimalism, with Carl Andre’s firebrick sculptures or Dan Flavin’s repurposed fluorescent tubes) and 50 years on, one Dickie can’t take at face value. Objects imbued with a specific purpose, in this throwaway world, can have generations of use. Dickie embraces them less as material than as evolutionary DNA for her hectic imagination. Even the works that find their way out the door have restless bones. One remarkable piece shown at Oakville Galleries’ 2012 show Freedom of Assembly made its way to a Montreal industrialist’s office. Because it was never put together (“I kind of have an aversion to glue,” Dickie says), it
traveled in pieces: A huge industrial spring served as its base, with a chunky wood block balanced on top. The crowning glory: a dynamic wing of crumpled metal wrapped in plastic, perched precariously at the peak. Dickie assembled it in the office and washed her hands of it. “I just sort of said, ‘OK, watch out,’” she smiles. She’s since learned that one of the office’s cleaning staff has become expert at dissembling, dusting and re-balancing it, just so. “I really love that,” she says. “It’s almost like some Georgia Dickie will be showing kind of long-distance collaboration.” And just maybe, new work at Cooper Cole Gallery it might also mean that even though it’s gone, it’s in September 2014. never really done? “Exactly,” she laughs. “It’s perfect.” coopercolegallery.com —Murray Whyte
Murray Whyte is the Toronto Star’s art critic. He has written about art (and other things) for The New York Times, Details, The Walrus, Canadian Art, ARTNews and a bunch of other publications.
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5 Toronto designers take to the floor
by matthew hague
From Left: Kate Thornley-Hall, Shan Shrestha, Nico Soule and Janna Watson, Bev Hisey
DESIGN
Fine art is normally whispered around, not trod ON. TODAY’S designers are upending the equation WITH painterly tapestries THAT TURN a bare-bones floor INTO a gallery wall. Kate Thornley-Hall is from Toronto but spent 20-odd years as an interior designer in London, England (she started out at Ralph Lauren before launching her namesake company). When she moved home in 2007, she noticed there was a dearth of locally designed, highly creative cushions and carpets. So she got entrepreneurial. Now, she collaborates with the city’s design luminaries—Virginia Johnson, for example, and the Smythe girls—on a line of tapestries that is eclectic, contemporary and elegant. Swirl was co-created with fashion designer Izzy Camilleri (notable clients include Jennifer Lopez and Nicole Kidman). The wool rug—handwoven in Nepal—has the spontaneous lines and effortless fluidity of an ink wash painting. Impeccable in black and white, it is also available in a variety of other colour combinations.
From $35 per square foot katethornleyhall.com
Shan Shrestha, co-owner of Amala Carpets & Rugs, is a sixth-generation wool trader and weaver (her business partner is her mom, Ganchen). She was born in Nepal, raised in Canada and currently splits her life between both countries. She spends six months of the year in Toronto, where she designs and sells her rugs. The rest of the time she’s in Kathmandu, working with local craftspeople to hand-produce each piece. Gundum, a Nepali a word that means grape, was inspired by a mid-winter trip that Shrestha took to Niagara’s winemaking region. It depicts three ice-encrusted berries glistening in the sunlight. The colours are both spectacular and eco-friendly, all derived from plants like indigo and tea leaves.
From $5,146 for 6 x 8 feet amalacarpets.com
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DESIGN
Matthew Hague writes about interior design, architecture and furniture. He contributes regularly to Toronto Life and The Globe and Mail.
Janna Watson and Nico Soule are unquestionably dedicated to the art of carpet making. Not only do they design their tapestries at their Richmond Street studio (Watson Soule), they also hand-make each tapestry in-house (whereas most others manufacture abroad). The friends, both OCAD grads, were inspired to create carpets by Watson’s grandfather, an industrial designer who turned to rug-making in his retirement years. Their line reflects their aesthetic sensibilities: Watson is also a successful oil painter; Soule, a product designer, adds a 3D sensibility. Shallow Waters reflects the duo’s enthusiasm for colour and composition. Though bold, the vibrant blue isn’t dominating, so it won’t fight for attention with an accompanying sofa or coffee table.
From $2,670 for 6 x 4 feet watsonsoule.com
Bev Hisey started her career as a fashion designer (her brand was simply called Ha Ha Ha, reflecting her effervescent sense of humour) but switched to cushions and carpets after her first daughter was born. She draws on both personal experiences and current events to create tapestries that are idiosyncratic, quirky and cool. No subject matter is too precious. Images from Grey’s Anatomy and deadly virus cells have all marked her work. In the Woods echoes a Group of Seven forest scene but was actually transposed from a painting done by Hisey’s grandmother. To pick up all the contours and each fiery hue, it is hand-knotted, a painstaking monthslong process where every strand of New Zealand wool is individually fixed into place.
From $120 square foot bevhisey.com
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PHOTOS: (birdfeeder, speaker, table tray, water cooler, tumblers, plate) adrian armstrong
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the tastemakers
FOOD
buca has made satisfying our hunger for authentic italian its business by chris johns photographs by naomi finley
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www.lightform.ca LIGHTFORM | 267 Niagara St. Toronto, ON M6J 2L7 | Canada | T 416 745 5656 | toronto@lightform.ca
group of elegant women is perched at one of the tall marble tables at Bar Buca. Amid animated conversation they devour sandwiches filled with lampredotto (cow’s fourth stomach), crostini dressed with fermented immature smelts and a Sicilian salad of fennel, red onion and puffed veal tendon. Such feasting might be normal in traditional restaurants in Testaccio, on the streets of Palermo or at patios along the Amalfi Coast—all locations where the menu takes its inspiration— but in more conservative Toronto, it represents nothing less than a sea change in the way we eat. Bar Buca is the latest offering from King Street Food Company, a restaurant group that has influenced Toronto palates since before it even officially existed. Founding partners Peter Tsebelis and Gus Giazitzidis met at Myth, the brash, modern Greek restaurant that helped anchor the Danforth strip through the ’90s. After working together for several years, the two became partners in that venture in 1997. Three years later they decided to sell Myth in order to open Brassaii in the neighbourhood that would eventually inspire their company. “We first saw the space in June of 2000,” Tsebelis recalls. “Allied Properties, the big landlord on King Street, was just getting its start, as well. At the time anyone who lived in the city probably couldn’t tell you what was west of King and Spadina. Once you crossed Spadina it was as if the sun went out.” The area was part of the old garment district and many of the buildings were dilapidated and worse: “That whole floor where Brassaii is now was a sweat shop,” Tsebelis says. “And I mean full-on sweat shop. There were hundreds of sewing machines in a row making knockoffs. There were rows of textiles flowing down the walls and in between those rolls there were people sleeping! I couldn’t believe it. Upstairs were real bona fide crack houses.” By the time Tsebelis and Giazitzidis were ready to open Brassaii in 2003, however, the Cossette agency was moving in across the street, Crush had just opened and the neighbourhood’s transformation had begun. “Toronto was definitely changing,” Tsebelis says, “and King Street seemed to be very reflective of where the city was going. You were starting to see real urban living—working and living in the same neighbourhood.” With Brassaii, the partners attempted to redefine what a neighbourhood restaurant could be and the concept was an almost immediate success. Soon the pair began overseeing the food program at Brant House. In 2006, they signed leases within months of each other on what would eventually become Jacobs & Co. Steakhouse and Buca. That same year King Street Food Company was born. “We thought we should form something that would represent a brand identity,” Tsebelis says, “to speak to what it is we’re trying to do here—be known for the individual restaurants, obviously, but know that King Street stands behind it and there’s a common thread and an idea behind what we’re trying to do.” In a city known for its steakhouses, Jacobs was a game changer. It seems hard to believe now, but in 2006 the idea of a restaurant bringing in prime cuts of beef and aging them in-house was almost unheard of. Today, under the direction of chef Danny McCallum, Jacobs routinely ranks among the best steakhouses in the city. For all of Jacobs’ success, Buca was the restaurant that would both become synonymous with King Street Food Company and introduce Tsebelis and Giazitzidis to Rob Gentile, the young chef who would become the driving culinary force behind the organization. Gentile, a 10-year veteran of Mark McEwan’s restaurants, says the relationship with King Street happened very organically. “We just had casual talks about the idea of the restaurant before I came here,” he recalls. “We wanted to offer something based around ingredients and seasons and the real way Italians eat. From the beginning my partners were on the same page as me.” In a city swimming in red sauce restaurants and upscale pasta purveyors, Buca was another animal altogether. Focusing on hyper-local, traditional dishes with an emphasis on all things pork, the subterranean restaurant in
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an old boiler factory had Torontonians happily munching away on pigs’ ears, lambs’ brains and pork blood pasta. With Buca on target, the team decided to expand beyond the confines of King Street to Ossington with The Saint Tavern. After a three-year delay owing to a drawn-out licensing battle with the city, and some initial hiccups in their first months after opening, the restaurant finally found its stride under chef Jesse Vallins, who tweaked the gastropub-inspired food to include lighter, more refined dishes—beet and verjus salad, roasted cauliflower with brown butter and almonds—alongside the roasted pork collar and a burger dressed with bone marrow aioli. Next up for the King Street Food Company was to create the kind of bar the partners had experienced in Italy. “In Italy a bar is not the same as a North American bar where you go to drink beer, eat wings and get smashed,” Gentile explains. “A bar in Italy is a place where you go in the morning before work to have something sweet for breakfast and an espresso. You go back at lunchtime for a panino and maybe a glass of wine. After work you go for aperitivo with your colleagues and maybe you take a date there later at night. That’s the kind of bar we’re trying to bring to Toronto.” To that end, Bar Buca serves food throughout the day, starting with pastries and espresso in the morning—a bombolone filled with spiced apple butter and whipped mascarpone and a cafe bombon, a shot of espresso with dolce de leche, might be the most decadent way to start the day in the city. Brunch is a weekend-only affair and features more substantial dishes like the already much-Instagrammed Ammazza Fegato, a Tuscan offal sausage atop tender farro with black kale, porcini mushrooms and a bright egg. Lunch and dinner share a menu of small plates inspired primarily by street food found throughout Italy. Gentile discovered panino bagnato, an offal sandwich with salsa verde and peperoncini, at a vendor outside of the market in Florence. Stigghiole, lamb intestines wrapped with scallions and caul are, according to Gentile, “pure street food. You’re talking under a bridge on the side of the road and there’s a dude with a steel drum that’s cut open, charcoal and a grill and he’s got a sack of intestines.” Sicilian-style goat and ricotta meatballs rest in a simple tomato sauce studded with raisins and pine nuts. There are also dishes of utter simplicity like the Carciofi Crudo, raw artichokes with a touch of buffalo yogurt and shaved bottarga (dried roe). “I first experienced raw artichokes in Tuscany,” Gentile says. “It was one of the best things I’ve ever eaten.” The group’s next project, set to open this summer, is also its most ambitious. But for all of the anticipation surrounding it, Buca Yorkville, in the residential building of the new Four Seasons, was never supposed to happen. “We said we’d never do another Buca,” Tsebelis says. “We’d do a Bar Buca or another concept, but we’d never do another Buca itself. Four Seasons approached with an offer, and, one, it was an honour and, two, if there was going to be an exception, it was going to be there.” Although the concept takes its inspiration from Buca and the menu layout will be similar, the culinary approach is completely different. Where the original Buca focuses on meat and pork, Buca Yorkville will concentrate on seafood. “We go to Italy a lot for developmental and educational purposes,” Gentile says. “On a few trips we learned of salume di mare, treating fish the same way you treat meat. So, if there’s a cut of tuna, you do it like prosciutto; if there’s a swordfish, you do it like bresaola. This is where we came across this concept. I couldn’t believe it and I’m really excited about bringing it here.” Despite its many success stories, Buca Yorkville represents the crowning achievement of the group so far. The challenge for a company that began as a group of neighbourhood restaurants is to bring that same level of intimacy to one of Canada’s toniest neighbourhoods. For his part, Tsebelis says, “We worked very hard to get past the stigma of what’s hot and what’s trendy. We want to feel like we’ve been there forever and you can see that in the food concepts that we’ve taken. They’re steeped in a bit of history from the culture to how the food is served to the idea of hospitality. We’ve always gravitated to concepts that have legs, some integrity, some sustainability and, frankly, that’s been a good business model.” Chris Johns is an award-winning food and travel writer. Based in Toronto, he is a regular contributor to enRoute, Globe Style Advisor, Toronto Life, Men’s Fashion and a host of other publications.
“We wanted to offer something based around ingredients and seasons and the real way Italians eat.�
DRINK
THE POUR
Summer Reds By Robert Gravelle
I enjoy red wine all year round, but in the summer the reds I tend to prefer are lighter, less tannic and more refreshing. Pinot Noir is the obvious grape of choice. With so many styles available, there’s ample variety for our fleeting few months of heat. La Crema Pinot Noir 2012
Leaning Post Pinot Noir 2010
Sonoma Coast, California $30.95 Available from B&W Wines / bwwines.com Generous black cherry fruit and spice with a full mouth feel. Attention all Merlot lovers: This could be your “breakout” Pinot Noir.
St. David’s Bench, Niagara Peninsula $32.95 Available from Nicholas Pearce / npwines.com The quality of wines now produced in our own backyard (Niagara, that is) is astounding. Leaning Post is a relative newcomer but is getting results like an old pro. The 2010 Pinot Noir is super ripe without losing balance and elegance. Some subtle earthy/savoury notes add depth and class to the flavour profile.
Pipers River, Tasmania $42.95 Available from B&W Wines / bwwines.com The land Down Under is proving to be a great source of ripe and juicy Pinot Noir. Long hours of daylight give ample ripeness while the chilly breezes from Antarctica preserve the freshness. A unique and delicious expression indeed.
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Maison Roche de Bellene Beaune “Les Grèves” 2010
Pojer e Sandri Pinot Nero 2012
Burgundy, France $46.95 Available from Nicholas Pearce / npwines.com What would a list of Pinot recommendations be without a keen example from the spiritual home of the variety: Burgundy. Raspberry verging on cranberry flavours peppered with hints of mineral and barnyard. A wine worthy of some contemplation.
Trentino, Italy Available exclusively at Jacobs & Co. Steakhouse, Buca Osteria and Enoteca and The Saint Tavern Pinot Nero (Italian for Pinot Noir) is perfectly at home in this northerly region of Italy. Ripe raspberry and black cherry flavours with supple tannins, firm acidity and a light, refreshing mouthfeel.
Robert Gravelle is the general manager and wine director for Jacobs and Co. Steakhouse and an instructor for the International Sommelier Guild.
PHOTO: ADRIAN ARMSTRONG
Dalrymple Pinot Noir 2011
TRAIN OF THOUGHT Leanne Delap takes a ride on the legendary Orient Express
ESCAPE
The Kansan bottle-blonde Lurched from window to wall all the way down the marquetry paneled corridor. In defiance of the vagaries of the Malaysian train tracks, she had developed an invisible tightrope technique to stay upright on her scarlet-bottomed Louboutins. Her tuxedoed partner, a good ole boy a quarter-century her senior, tottered closely behind, gin-soaked grin on his face, using her swaying ass as his compass. The nightly corridor press in fancy dress was my favourite part of the Eastern and Oriental Express classic journey, a four-day, three-night Pullman super-luxury sleeper ride from Bangkok to Singapore. The trip back to your compartment from the piano bar was like being plunged, Woody Allen–style, into a musical movie set in the ’20s; the illusion aided by everyone decked out in finery and convivial from a bellyful of whiskey sours—a cinematic effect that invited Agatha Christie and murder mystery jokes, however lame. The very grandly appointed train runs 22 cars long, so you came to know the slender corridors well, feeling your way from one of three dining cars (tricked out in elegant woods, with Thai carvings and little shaded lamps affixed to each table) to the piano bar at one end or the open-air observation car at the caboose. It’s single file, so there is a great deal of pausing between cars. Add alcohol to this dance and, needless to say, it’s one to remember. So who, exactly, spends $2,660 (US) on the train trip of a lifetime? (The base rate is for shared Pullman cabins with upper/lower pullout beds and a private bathroom with, incredibly, a very good and hot shower. Presidential berths run up to 10 times that.) I had worried the passenger manifest might hew to older European couples, and there were some. But there were also some very attractive younger international types—expat Brits in Asian postings who liked to talk about wine—who improved the overall people-watching satisfaction rating. The call for formal dress for dinner also made a huge difference. A tuxedo can be depended upon to make life into a party. To wit, the two jolly British gents of shiny pate, who were dead-ringers for Statler and Waldorf, the opera-box hecklers of the Muppets. Though one hailed from Hong Kong and the other from Sheffield, the bow-tied six-and-a-half-footers could have been separated-at-birth twins. A French guy, an IT professional in real life, tapped his inner Billy Joel and nominated himself the lounge singer for the duration, donning Bono sunglasses at night to effect his transformation. (He did a mean “Yesterday” but was a little flat on the chorus of “Roxanne.” In his defense, it is one of the trickier selections of the oeuvre.)
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ESCAPE
“To travel by train is to see nature and human beings, towns and churches and rivers— in fact, to see life.”
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railway lines and hotels is now called Belmond (belmond.com). The train I took runs down that peninsula between the Malacca Strait and the South China Sea that we heard so much about this spring with the crash of Malaysian Airlines flight 370. It is a very cool way to see a place, but perhaps the most moving thing is to see people stop their work in the fields and pause at crossings on bikes and mopeds piled impossibly high with packages: Everyone’s mouth falls agape watching the gleaming green and beige train with the grand and fabled insignia roll past. Catching a glimpse of the train is an event for everyone who encounters it, as much at the crisply efficient Singapore station as it is deep in the jungle of Thailand. The real pleasure on this train is its total immersion. There was absolutely no cell-phone service, and it very much heightened the real-time experience. You don’t realize till they are rendered useless how much our smartphones suck the life out of life. You stop to appreciate the Thai butler juggling steaming hot liquids on the bouncy ride (everyone has one, to deliver beautiful silver trays of coffee in the morning, to set up and take down the bedding, to negotiate customs for you, to organize your dinner seating with little oldfashioned bookings cards). I slept beautifully with the rocking of the train (quite unlike Canadian or European trains, some of the track is quite rough, but I liked that part). I also took the time to just watch the world go by, which is a real luxury. As was sitting in the observation car and feeling the tropical air in your hair, and one glorious early morning feeling the horizontal tropical rain on my face. Travelling this way gives you space to tally things up. This is from the book I was reading on the train, by a guy who was taking the Orient Express in Agatha Christie’s footsteps. Called The 8:55 to Baghdad, the writer is Andrew Eames, who writes on travel and self-discovery: “When you are young, you tend to be centred—some would say self-centred—with a firm idea, however realistic, of where it is you want to go. As you get older, other priorities fight for the helm, and what lies at the centre becomes less clear. You’ve probably got less selfish, but life-control has been handed over to fate.” Taking a train gives you back that control, if only for a few days. And sometimes that is enough to change your route in life.
Former FASHION editor and gal about town Leanne Delap writes about everything from beauty to fashion to food for the Toronto Star and magazines across the country.
Where to stay off the tracks Asian luxury hotels are places of wonder and well worth the investment. The continent is wired for business: A great tip is to book a room on the business floor of a Shangri-La, where you get access to a private skyscraper-level lounge stocked with booze and hot nibbles through the day; happy hour at one of these sees a chic turnout of posh international types. The extras also include hotel buffet breakfasts with literally hundreds of options—Thai, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, traditional English bangers and mash, a flotilla of fruit plus champers and OJ—and made-to-order food stations. I think I remember the Shangri-La buffet breakfasts more vividly than the entire train trip (shangri-la.com).
1 Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok Stunning views of the cacophonous Chao Phraya and a private launch to temples and shopping districts.
2 Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore There are three wings: The Garden Wing’s open concept provides maximum exposure to the tropical rainforest climate and the most glamorous pool steps from Orchard Road. Take a tour of the Tower Wing, rigged with killer art for international heads of state—and state-of-the-art security.
3 Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong Right at the steps of Hong Kong Park in Admiralty, this property has sweeping views of the harbour. The famous lobby is great for watching the comings and goings of highpowered Chinese wives-who-lunch in tweedy Chanel suits with sculptural hairdos.
PHOTOS: Courtesy OF belmond
My companion for the trip, a gossip columnist by trade, had the train and all its residents immediately wired and kept me up to speed on goings-on from the comfort of my reading chair in the observation car. I can’t recommend this travelling-with-a-congenialpal scenario highly enough: All of the companionship, and none of the pressure and bickering that can accompany travel with your significant other. Jetlagged and want to watch the moonlight bouncing over Thai rice fields all night out your window? Beer for breakfast? Your pal isn’t there to chide you. What you miss in sexual acrobatics you more than make up for in reading time. Every single person onboard cited the legend of the name as the reason for their ticket purchase. Indeed “The Orient Express” exists in the imagination as a connection to a more exotic and exciting and elegant era. In Agatha’s own words, from her autobiography: “All my life I had wanted to travel the Orient Express… What can beat a train? To travel by train is to see nature and human beings, towns and churches and rivers—in fact, to see life.” Of course, the storied Venice-Simplon Orient Express, where Agatha starts her Poirot mystery, runs an abbreviated version today of the service from Paris to Constantinople launched in 1883. Railway mania had infected Asia in the 19th century, and much of the region was inaccessible before the Sultan of Johor connected British Malay with the mysterious, independent Kingdom of Siam. Unfortunately, the Sultan’s line was made entirely from wood, which was quickly devoured by ants. The Orient Express, however, operated with brief interruptions for the world wars (the surrender of Germany was signed aboard a wagon-lit car) until 1970. It was the 1974 film version of Christie’s famous murder mystery, starring Albert Finney, Lauren Bacall and Sean Connery, that ultimately saved the legend. When the individual train cars were auctioned at Sotheby’s in 1977, the few that weren’t snapped up by royalty were bought by a millionaire named James Sherwood, who re-launched the service in 1982 as a sort of a cruise on land between London and Venice. The Far Eastern leg of the route, dubbed the Eastern & Oriental Express, made its modern debut in 1993. Essentially a brand extension of the original, the seasonal route, which was created with luxury trains built in the 1970s in Japan that were refurbished by the same team that created the Venice-Simplon décor, is now the only train on the 2,030 kilometres of track between Bangkok and Singapore. The whole connection became more complicated at the beginning of this year, with a name change: The entire organization of Orient-Express
WHEN PIGS
For travelers who want the best hidden treasures rooted out for them, there’s Trufflepig
By Marilisa Racco
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PHOTOS: Courtesy of trufflepig
FLY
ESCAPE
LEFT: Trufflepig’s Gregory Sacks gets up and close with our ancestors in Rwanda; various Trufflepig destinations
You love to be in the know. To be able to name-drop up-and-coming chefs the way most quote sports statistics, dissect the hidden meaning in a sleeper stage hit or spot a burgeoning designer’s clothes. To imbibe at the hot bars, shop at the cool stores and be primped by celebrity fave beauticians. Keeping on top of all that is exhausting even for the most plugged-in cool cat in Toronto. But what about when you travel to London, Paris or São Paolo? It would take years of research to amass that kind of information. Lucky for globetrotting cool-hunters like you, there’s Trufflepig. A full-service trip-planning company, Trufflepig digs up the most unique and brag-worthy experiences for the exotic traveler who’s weary of the world of all-inclusive. Founded in 2005 by Greg Sacks, Jack Dancy and Charlie Scott, all of whom cut their teeth as guides for stylish adventure-travel company Butterfield & Robinson in France, Trufflepig takes their years of expertise and applies it to custom-built travel experiences that would make Jules Verne jealous. Think kite skiing in Antarctica, sandboarding in Chile, rickshaw running in India, farming tea in Vietnam, and yes, truffle digging in Italy. All trips are organized with exacting detail and up-to-theminute information, thanks to their vast connection of local guides (how about exploring the African bush with a traditional Samburu warrior?). And Trufflepig covers every aspect of your adventure, from the everyday bother of flight transfers and hotel reservations to suggestions on where to eat the best cicchetti in Venice. “We like to think of ourselves as travel mechanics,” Sacks says. “We’re trustworthy, reliable, and our name was probably passed to you like a secret piece of information from someone you respect. We’re like a secret handshake.” But this cachet doesn’t mean they’re a hipster operation that runs exclusively on cool factor. They do their homework, and then some. “We won’t use the ingredients unless we know them: We’ve slept in the beds, met the chefs, eaten the food,” he says. “Our agents have been to the place we’re sending you and go back at least twice a year, so their knowledge is very current.” Despite the high-stakes trips they plan—Sacks says they’ve run the gamut from $6,000 up to $1 million—their beginnings were humble. Literally run out of a beat-up Saab that they would drive through Toronto until they could find an unprotected Wi-Fi to latch on to, in 2004 they stumbled across a sweet loft in King West and immediately knew they were home. “We sanded the floors and built and painted the walls ourselves,” Sacks says of the vintage space that’s peppered with treasures accumulated from their travels. Today, the fourth-floor walk-up has expanded to include the space across the hall and boasts two full kitchens, a conference room and a nap room (Sacks quickly points out that it’s mostly used to house associates who come to town for extended stays). Though charming, the space is undeniably rustic; one wonders if moneyed clients aren’t a little deterred by its rough edges, and if Manolos don’t get somewhat scuffed in the four-flight climb. “When people come here you can tell by their reaction that it’s unexpected, because King has a lot of bling,” Sacks says. “But this is our sensibility; we’ve got a quirky personality. We don’t sell five-star vanilla luxury.” Don’t take that to mean that Trufflepig doesn’t dot all of its proverbial “i”s when it comes to five-star service. Between the trip organizer and the local guide, clients are typically contacted two to three times daily to ensure everything is to their satisfaction, and there’s a 24-hour helpline for any unforeseen bumps or swerves in the road. Sacks likes to throw in some luxe surprises, too: “For a client who was on a trip in South Africa, we dropped off a vintage Jaguar programmed with directions to take them to a winery, with details on where to eat.” At an average planning fee of $1,700 for a two-week trip, it goes without saying that the Trufflepig client is of considerable means—they company has organized trips for captains of industry, trust-funders, A-list celebs they are too discreet to name and royalty—but it’s not a service for the overly precious. “We try to keep people honest,” Sacks says. “We once sent a really high-end couple on a very expensive trip to Africa, and sent them to a safari camp with no electricity for a couple of nights. It was out of their comfort zone but they loved it. Our clients have money, but they don’t need to be coddled. They can just as easily sleep under the stars as at a five-star property.” Sounds like no matter where you go with Trufflepig, you’re bound to end up happy as a pig in, well, you know.
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DINNER · COCKTAILS · LUNCH · BRUNCH · EVENTS
Like many Canadians, Marben has a story — and it begins somewhere else. June, 1973: recently married couple Mary and John Benstead — Ben to his friends — are overseeing the construction of their first house. It’s located in Stonham Aspal, a quiet 14th century English countryside village, the kind of place where streets aren’t marked and numberless houses have names like ‘Bramley Hedge’ and ‘Garden Cottage.’ It didn’t take long for Mary and Ben’s house to become a home — a home they called Marben. I grew up in this home and it’s where I learned that hospitality is a feeling, an affinity between guest and host. Memorable experiences become possible when hosts genuinely and sincerely care about the needs of their guests. I grew to love the mesmerizing buzz of friends and family gathering around a table with food and drink, creating memories, laughing and sharing stories. There were always lots of candles and the right song to create that special feeling in the room. My family and I draw tremendous pride and satisfaction from Marben and we couldn’t do it without your patronage and support. Thank you.
Sincerely, Simon Benstead Proprietor
W: MARBENRESTAURANT.COM · T: 416.979.1990 · 488 WELLINGTON ST W · TORONTO CREATING MEMORIES SINCE 1973
ICON LEGACY H O S P I TA L I T Y
ON THE TOWN
NIGHTS iN KW: As seen by she does the city
PHOTOs: BECCA LEMIRE
FASHION WEEK
(Clockwise from top left) Sebastian Blagdon; tartan-clad guest; Beckerman sisters; Veronica Chu, guest, Liz Trinnear; Myles Sexton; Stacey McKenzie; Tony Pham, guest, Jay Strut and Tran Pham; April Wozny and Barbora Simkova; Amy Burstyn-Fritz; Emmanuel Kabongo; Bianca Venerayan and Danielle Roche; floral guest; Barbora Simkova; Joe Mimran and models; Junior Sealy and friends; Buck 65 and friend.
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ON THE TOWN
AGO MASSIVE
ROM PROM
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(Clockwise from left) Nikki Overholt; Marsha Scanlan, Biko Beauttah and Shannon Mitchell; Davindra Singh and Jerrod Kent; Chris Amoah and friend; Caroline Levin and Max Kopanygin; Emily Gove and Sara Nickleson; Christina Garland and Tamara Glick; Gordon Cheung, Mark Phong and Shawn Marq.
PHOTOs: BECCA LEMIRE
(Clockwise from top left) Joy Broadbent and Meg Bolohan; Brad Keast, Martin Reader and Daren Tung; Jessica Helps and Celine Williams; Gary Rugula and Erin Davis; Renata Kaveh, Dwayne Kennedy and Mel Ashcroft; Kyle Kofsky, David Vella and Honor Humphreys; Talwst Santiago and pal; Mike Bickerton, John Tory, Jim Warren and Erin Busey; Laura Banks and Nathan Chong.
ON THE TOWN
MotionbALL
(Clockwise from top left) Guest and Marissa Olivia; Danielle Edwards, Claudia Morrison-Downer and Simone O’Mathuna; Vanessa Ortali; Cabral “Cabbie” Richards, Aliya-Jasmine Sovani and Mike Bradwell; Riley Horne and Ashley Rowe; fun-loving guests; Carmen Electra; groovin’ guest; ladies in red; Tanner Kidd and friends.
416.939.9545 • 101 SPADINA AVENUE, SUITE 103, TORONTO, M5V 2K2 • IMPRINTPILATES.COM
Pilates | Yoga | Private & Semi-Private | Small Group Classes
PLAYING FIELD
No Tips, Please
When relationship advice kills any desire to date by marilisa racco
1 My best friend told me to lie about myself. She didn’t call it lying, per se; she would say things like, “you gotta play the game” and “just let him think that you’re willing to [fill in the blank]” and “hide your crazy.” This last one confused me at first, since I assumed she was referring to my great-aunt Emily, but she quickly explained that she meant my own kooky idiosyncrasies. In my opinion, there are three fatal flaws to this logic: a) perpetuating a game means there will always be a winner and a loser, b) lying about your amenability usually leads to babysitting someone’s bratty niece and/or anal
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sex, and c) there is nothing crazy about drawing a diagram illustrating which fork is used for which course. Nothing. 2 My mother told me that he should love me more. To this day, my mother maintains that my father loves her more than she loves him, and that this unspoken truth is the bedrock of their marriage. Personally, I think the bedrock of their marriage is the fact that they spend six months of the year living on different continents, but don’t tell her I said that. I did end up dating guys who loved me more for a while, and their sycophantic eagerness to please made me drunk with power. I took advantage of their kindness and ended up hating myself afterwards. Then I ended up in therapy. Because of my mother. Go figure. 3 My aunt told me to just settle down already. This is probably one of the worst/best and most disseminated pieces of relationship advice in history. It’s right up there with people who, upon learning that journalism is a low-paying field, say to me with sudden great enthusiasm, “You should write a book!” Because that is both super easy to do and very well remunerated. While I’m at it I might as well close the gender wage gap or open a movie rental store. The added exasperation with which this tidbit is normally delivered also doesn’t help matters. If it did, it would alter the landscape of child-rearing, I’m sure. But just as a toddler doesn’t respond well to being told to settle down, nor do I. 4 My colleague told me to “just get pregnant.” Worst. Advice. Ever. It’s a miracle I’ve managed to make it this far in my relationship—and in life, frankly—when these are the lessons being lobbed at me. I don’t want to sound ungrateful, because I know that they come from a good place and are meant to guide me to an even better place (presumably one ruled over by a deceitful matriarch who writes Danielle Steel novels). But I would implore anyone guilty of doling out unsolicited relationship advice to stop. Please, tip your waitress, not your friends. Marilisa Racco is a freelance writer who still thinks that her dog, Floyd, is the coolest guy around.
PHOTO: naomi finlay
My dating management skills are known to be somewhat subpar. Although I’ve been in a successful relationship for the last two years (successful = he still opens the car door for me/I still shower for him), much of that is attributed to Boyfriend’s endless patience. Prior to meeting someone who not only allows me to fly my freak flag but also washes and irons it when it gets covered in silly string, I was single for a long time. A long. Time. And despite being steadily engulfed by a growing number of couples in my social set, I nurtured and protected my singledom like a mama bird does her hatchlings. I was single and content, and not at all ashamed to be found in my nest on a Saturday night, unwashed with an X-Men movie playing on the TV and splitting a bag of Ruffles with my dog. You might even say I reveled in it. But you know who couldn’t accept my marital status? Other people. There seemed to be widespread concern that I had purchased a one-way ticket to Spinsterville and a timeshare in Lonely Town. Friends and family members started pelting me with unsolicited dating advice. At first it was just a casual “you should smile more often” here and a flippant “let him do most of the talking” there. But before long it was a strategy session the likes of which haven’t been seen outside of The Situation Room. There were tips on how to act (“when you see a cute guy, lock eyes with him for five seconds then look away”), what to do (“play with your hair and laugh”) and, most importantly, what to say (“nothing controversial!”). Despite being surrounded by mostly progressive women, when it came to men, it was like they were all graduates of the Helen Gurley Brown School of Sexual Politics. They say that free advice is often overpriced; if that’s true, I was being metaphorically bankrupted.
TEST DRIVE
razor’s edge Mankind Grooming Studio for Men 477 Richmond St. W., #103 / mankindgrooming.com
Vibe: Vintage meets rock-n-roll-inspired man-cave—classic rock and power ballads on the speakers and soccer matches on the flat-screens. But despite the masculinity of the black leather chairs and reclaimed barnboard trim, the place is all about getting pampered. The only things served up at the rec room-style bar are manicures and skincare tips. Services: Everything from shaves and haircuts to mankini waxes and facials. The shave: I was pretty excited when I heard I was getting shaved by “Sapphire.” I imagined a busty blonde supplementing her job at the Brass Rail by doing men’s shaves. But when a guy named Saffa came and introduced himself, I realized I had misheard the name. After lowering me into recline position in the retro barber chair, he applied a series of hot towels to open the pores and soften the hair follicles. Then came the classic lather applied with a brush. First he shaved with the grain, going at it carefully inch by inch with a straight razor. Then he repeated the hot towel and lather process, this time shaving against the grain. The whole shave took about 45 minutes. He told me not to touch my skin after the shave because the pores were open and prone to infection. My skin felt a bit itchy and hot but it was definitely relaxing and a super-tight shave.
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cost: Gentlemen’s Refinery Straight Razor Shave, $55 BONUS: Before the shave my hands were dipped in hot paraffin wax that hardened almost immediately and remained on for the duration of the shave. Then these plasticized mitts were peeled off, followed by a hand massage. And since I’m on the bushier side, they couldn’t resist shaping and plucking my eyebrows. Products: They used an antibacterial lotion before the paraffin wax and then a deep moisturizer on my hands. For the shave, generous amounts of oil were rubbed into my skin to soften up the follicles, followed by aftershave to disinfect the open pores and seal things up. Clientele: I was informed of an 80 percent straight to 20 percent gay ratio. I would have thought it would be the other way around because of the extra dolled-up services they offer. But maybe I’m just behind the growing trends in man maintenance. There was one guy in his mid-’50s getting a “camouflage,” where they match your grey areas to the rest of your hair. Takeaway: Lots of skincare tips, like the importance of moisturizing and keeping the skin hydrated and choosing products based on your skin type. Post-shave feeling: Refreshed but a little raw.
PHOTOS: NAOMI FINLAY
KW ’s Mike Boz cuts it close
Original Grooming Experts
477 Richmond St. W. / originalgrooming.com Vibe: Décor-wise you’d have a tough time telling this place apart from its neighbouring Mankind—it too features a combination of reclaimed barnboard, leather seating and one iconic barber chair to create a man-friendly hangout. Immediately after stepping inside I could tell I was in more of a stylish hair salon than a place to get pampered. All the chairs were full—everyone was getting haircuts, some guys were getting their beards trimmed. This was not a place to get moisturized and waxed. Services: Haircuts and styling, shaves and facial grooming. The shave: Hands-down the best shave I got. Connie nailed it. She was super gentle but still managed to get very close. After sitting me down she did the same routine as they did at Mankind—a series of flawlessly applied hot towels and softening agents, brushed lather and a straight razor with the grain, and once more against the grain. I’m not an expert on the topic but this is what a good shave is supposed to feel like—close, accurate, with minimal irritation and visibly younger-looking skin. cost: Straight Razor Shave, $55 bonus: Connie was very knowledgeable about general skincare and did a bit of a background check to make sure she was approaching my skin in the right way. Clientele: Guys in their late 20s to 30s mostly getting haircuts. Takeaway: For my skin type I should use products that are water, not oil, based. Post-shave feeling: Super relaxed. My face felt fresh and my skin felt tight for a number of days after. Friends even complimented my skin, saying that I looked five years younger!
Garrison’s by the Park Barbershop 907 Queen St. W. / garrisons.ca
I was excited when I heard I was getting shaved by “Sapphire.” I imaged a busty Blonde supplementing her job at the brass rail by doing men’s shaves.
Vibe: For someone who hangs out in the west end a lot, I felt most at home at this understated shop. Situated on top of the White Squirrel, it had a sweet view of Trinity Bellwoods and an eclectic mix of magazines to pass the time. Despite being less than half the size of the other places (just five barber chairs), Garrison’s had a ton of energy. No awkward silences and chitchat about the weather—all the barbers and stylists were unique characters with engaging personalities. Services: Shaves and haircuts. The shave: They did the same pre-shave warm up—hot towels to prep the skin and soften the facial hair followed by brushedon shaving foam. The main difference here was that they only shaved with the grain—an approach rooted in the philosophy that going against the grain is irritating and causes too much skin damage. It might be easier on the face, but the trade-off was a looser shave with a few strays. cost: $40, which is relatively cheap. bonus: Jesse cleaned up the back of my neck with a trimmer. He thought it was looking a bit grisly. He was a super-nice guy with a total West Coast vibe. Following in his uncle’s trade, he took a shining to the dying art and practiced on his buddies and bandmates. The weekend after my shave I ran into him at a bar on Queen West. Overheard: References from the ’80s, jokes from old movies and jabs at vulnerable celebrities. Clientele: Guys in their mid-’20s to early 30s getting haircuts. Post-shave feeling: I felt like I made new friends. I discovered a new spot I’d definitely go back to and recommend to others for a haircut or a beard trim.
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Original Grooming Experts
477 Richmond St. W. / originalgrooming.com Vibe: Décor-wise you’d have a tough time telling this place apart from its neighbouring Mankind—it too features a combination of reclaimed barnboard, leather seating and one iconic barber chair to create a man-friendly hangout. Immediately after stepping inside I could tell I was in more of a stylish hair salon than a place to get pampered. All the chairs were full—everyone was getting haircuts, some guys were getting their beards trimmed. This was not a place to get moisturized and waxed. Services: Haircuts and styling, shaves and facial grooming. The shave: Hands-down the best shave I got. Connie nailed it. She was super gentle but still managed to get very close. After sitting me down she did the same routine as they did at Mankind—a series of flawlessly applied hot towels and softening agents, brushed lather and a straight razor with the grain, and once more against the grain. I’m not an expert on the topic but this is what a good shave is supposed to feel like—close, accurate, with minimal irritation and visibly younger-looking skin. cost: Straight Razor Shave, $55 bonus: Connie was very knowledgeable about general skincare and did a bit of a background check to make sure she was approaching my skin in the right way. Clientele: Guys in their late 20s to 30s mostly getting haircuts. Takeaway: For my skin type I should use products that are water, not oil, based. Post-shave feeling: Super relaxed. My face felt fresh and my skin felt tight for a number of days after. Friends even complimented my skin, saying that I looked five years younger!
Garrison’s by the Park Barbershop 907 Queen St. W. / garrisons.ca
I was excited when I heard I was getting shaved by “Sapphire.” I imagined a busty Blonde supplementing her job at the brass rail by doing men’s shaves.
Vibe: For someone who hangs out in the west end a lot, I felt most at home at this understated shop. Situated on top of the White Squirrel, it had a sweet view of Trinity Bellwoods and an eclectic mix of magazines to pass the time. Despite being less than half the size of the other places (just five barber chairs), Garrison’s had a ton of energy. No awkward silences and chitchat about the weather—all the barbers and stylists were unique characters with engaging personalities. Services: Shaves and haircuts. The shave: They did the same pre-shave warm up—hot towels to prep the skin and soften the facial hair followed by brushedon shaving foam. The main difference here was that they only shaved with the grain—an approach rooted in the philosophy that going against the grain is irritating and causes too much skin damage. It might be easier on the face, but the trade-off was a looser shave with a few strays. cost: $40, which is relatively cheap. bonus: Jesse cleaned up the back of my neck with a trimmer. He thought it was looking a bit grisly. He was a super-nice guy with a total West Coast vibe. Following in his uncle’s trade, he took a shining to the dying art and practiced on his buddies and bandmates. The weekend after my shave I ran into him at a bar on Queen West. Overheard: References from the ’80s, jokes from old movies and jabs at vulnerable celebrities. Clientele: Guys in their mid-’20s to early 30s getting haircuts. Post-shave feeling: I felt like I made new friends. I discovered a new spot I’d definitely go back to and recommend to others for a haircut or a beard trim.
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2014-06-11 2:58 PM