Annex Post March 2021 by Post City Magazines

AX-MAR-21-OFC_Layout 1 2021-02-17 1:44 PM Page 1

SWEET FIFTEEN MARK MCEWAN BITES INTO THE CITY’S YUMMIEST CUPCAKES

TRNTO.COM

GREAT SCHOOLS

BIG YARDS

CRAFT BREWERIES

QUAINT BOUTIQUES

DOG PARKS

COOL CAFES

Where to Live Next T H E H O T T E S T S M A L L T O W N S & T. O . M I C R O N E I G H B O U R H O O D S PICTURED · BACON, POSSIBLY T.O.’S CUTEST DOG

MARCH 2021 · VOLUME 4 · ISSUE 3

AX-MAR-2021-IFC_IFC 2021-02-17 10:59 AM Page 1

$06/5 0/ -"* 3% 40/ 8F 1S PW J EF & T T FOU J B M )FB U J OH 4 FS W J D FT 8* 5 ) 4 5 3* $5 $07* % 10* $* & 4 * / 1"$&

'".* -: "-8":4 $0.&4 '* 345

CONTENTS MARCH 2021

HAUTE CUISINE CONDOS Four luxury suites with the ultimate chef’s kitchens

LOVE ACROSS THE KITCHEN PASS Chef Craig Harding on meeting his wife while working as a sous-chef

SWEET FIFTEEN Chef Mark McEwan bites into the city’s yummiest cupcakes

JEANNE BEKER ON KITCHEN CHIC Our fashion expert on the most stylish aprons and mitts in town

| POST |

MARCH 2021

WHERE TO LIVE NEXT The hottest small towns and Toronto micro neighbourhoods

(7:45am - 5:30pm)

At The BEEZ KNEEZ (416) 487 8847

OFFERING MORNING, FULL DAY, & EXTENDED PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN 18 MONTHS - 4 YEARS

PUBLISHER

Lorne London

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER-IT

Ron Johnson Jarrod Daley

EDITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR FOOD EDITOR MANAGER, DIGITAL STRATEGY & PARTNERSHIPS

Nikki Gill Jessica Huras Marlene Mendonca

ART MANAGING ART DIRECTOR SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER GRAPHIC DESIGNER/ PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR

Lindsay Low Erin Neilly Kristine Hughes

SALES VP OF SALES DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING MEDIA ADVISORS

Lisa London Lynne London

ACCOUNT CO-ORDINATORS

Carly Roebuck George Redak

Chris Orrego Clara Strebel Rachel Roth Jo-Anne Craine

ADMINISTRATION CONTROLLER GENERAL MANAGER OFFICE MANAGER/ CLASSIFIED MEDIA ADVISOR PROOFREADER PHOTOGRAPHER EDITOR EMERITUS

Tina Trevellin Laurie McGillivray Robert Fama

Sarah Ives Cheol Joon Baek Paula Torneck-Richie

BAYVIEW

DUFFERIN

ON THE COVER: BACON THE DOGGERS FOLLOW HIM ON INSTAGRAM @BACONTHEDOGGERS AND ONLINE AT BACONTHEDOGGERS.COM

Thornhill Post

LESLIE

YONGE ST

Bayview Post

AVENUE

North York Post

IVE

NR DO

DUFFERIN

STEELES

DAVENPORT

North Toronto Post

DON VALLEY

EGLINTON

YONGE

ALLEN ROAD

LAWRENCE

Village Post

BLOOR

| POST | M A R C H 2 0 2 1

COLLEGE

Yorkville Post

YONGE

MARLBOROUGH

AVENUE RD

Annex Post

AVENUE RD

DUFFERIN

YORKVILLE POST (CONDO EDITION)

BLOOR

1256 YONGE ST., TORONTO, ON M4T 1W5 TEL 416.250.7979 WEB POSTCITY.COM FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION PLEASE EMAIL advertising@postcity.com

The Fine Print: The contents of Post City Magazines Inc. are copyright 2021, all rights reserved, and may not be reproduced in part or in whole without the written permission of the Publisher. The contents of all ads are subject to the discretion of the Publisher.

CITYSCAPE

THE POST INTERVIEW

Made-in-Toronto vaccine coming soon?

NEWS

BY THE NUMBERS

Post City spoke with Brad Sorenson, CEO of Providence Therapeutics, about what his vaccine breakthrough means now and in the coming years. The company’s clinical study is underway and will be carried out in Toronto with 60 volunteers. by Ron Johnson

5 Images © Providence Therapeutics

The date in March when a number of GTA drive-in movie theatres are hoping to open for business.

6.4 L-R: Providence Therapeutics lab, a vial of the vaccine and Brad Sorenson

It was a big day for Providence and, I believe, for Canada. We’ve started dosing patients [with Providence’s COVID-19 vaccine]. We’ve already dosed five patients, they’re all doing very well. And we’re actively screening and recruiting to complete our Phase 1 trial. And we should have that done in the coming months and be ready to go into Phase 2 and 3, beginning as early as May. It’s significant, because this is the first vaccine that was designed, developed, manufactured all in Canada and now running a clinical trial in Canada. When did you start working on the vaccine?

We designed it in March of 2020. We spent a number of months trying to convince the federal government to support the solution in Canada. It took a lot more time and effort than we had hoped, to be candid. But, ultimately, we did get some support from the National Research Council, which we really appreciate. And we hope that, having now followed through and we’ve done what we said we could do, the federal government will see that and recognize that it’s important to support this program. Phase 1, in and of itself, isn’t the solution. We’ve gotta get through Phase 2, Phase 3. There’s work that needs to be done to get this across the finish line. Where does that put Providence on the timeline?

If everything goes well, we should be completing our clinical trials at the end of this year and be rolling out commercially early in 2022. And so, we plan on building a stockpile of vaccines throughout 2021 so that, when we do receive approval, you know, we’ll be able to push those out the door quickly. I hope Canada can follow through and get the vaccines that they’re talking about getting. If they can’t, we’re prepared to prioritize Canadians. If they do, I can tell you there’s a lot of people in this world that are still going to need a vaccine. So we can export whatever supply we’ve got.

We can’t really rush the clinical trial process. If everything goes smoothly, we could be done by the fall. That’s with all the stars aligning. We want to make sure we run a very strong clinical program and we demonstrate it is safe and effective and build up that confidence in the public that they’ll want to take our vaccine. So that’s important to us. Where we can get help is Canada seems to be open to the idea of prepurchasing vaccines. They’ve done it with a number of companies outside of Canada. If we could convince the Canadian government to put in an order to purchase some vaccines from us, then we have the ability to go out and raise funds and begin manufacturing on spec. We can make over 100 million doses this year, that wouldn’t be a problem. But we can’t do that on spec without having some type of commitment from a buyer.

$29.99 The starting price for pieces from the Toronto Raptors Black Lives Matter clothing line that will raise money for local charities.

What does it mean in the greater scheme of things that we have this homegrown vaccine with this new technology?

Well — and that’s where you really hit the nail on the head there — it’s a statistics game, right? It’s a math problem. If you’ve got a billion people in the world that are infected and organs that get infected, you think about how many divisions of that virus as it multiplies. It gets pretty high. When you get to some big numbers, each time there’s a division, there’s a chance that a new mutation or variant could come out. And we’re starting to see that now. That’s not going to go less, it’s going to go more.… We want to be able to respond to that, but they’ll be more. And so having that ability to respond quickly if there’s a new variant, not waiting for the international community to bail us out as Canadians, is important.

14 The height, in feet, of a snowman constructed by a Toronto dad for his daughter, that local social media obsessed over last month.

You mentioned this South African variant. Have you mapped that one out as well?

Yes, we did that weeks ago. We’re a little company, but, we know what we’re doing. We’ve already designed that vaccine. We’ve already done it in — they call it in vitro, or cellular tests — and now we’re going to be looking at advancing that to what they call the in vivo or animal testing. It’s amazing how quickly with mRNA technology we can respond and be ready to make something, and I hope somebody in the government is listening because this is important. This is an important ability for Canada to have. And we’re demonstrating again that we can do what we say we can do.

29 The date, in March, of the Toronto Blue Jays’ final spring training game before embarking on a muchhyped new season.

MARCH 2021

What trials did you begin recently?

Is there a way to advance your timeline at all, if the government chooses to help in any way?

| POST |

Providence Therapeutics, based in Toronto and Calgary, is a Canadian biotechnology company founded in 2015 to work in cancer research. When COVID-19 hit, the company pivoted and quickly designed a vaccine. Without any domestic facilities, Canada is having to rely on foreign companies for its current vaccine requirements. And we are seeing what’s happened with that strategy. But that is changing. Providence could start distributing its vaccines this year if the federal government commits to an order. Manitoba became the first province to place an order with Providence when it bought two million doses in February.

The length, in kilometres, of the Scarborough rapid transit raised track that a local business association is hoping to turn into an elevated park and trail system.

NEWS

NEIGHBOURHOOD

New cultural centre coming to the Annex Development integrates century-old heritage building

| POST | M A R C H 2 0 2 1

Construction of the new Estonian Centre will begin as soon as COVID-19 protocol allows

by Eric Stober

Toronto’s Estonian community will soon have a new cultural centre in the Annex that residents say is a welcome addition to the neighbourhood. The International Estonian Centre is set for construction between 9 and 11 Madison Ave., a little north of Bloor Street West. It will integrate and restore a heritage building that dates back to 1891, and a new modern structure will replace the Green P parking lot. The three-storey building designed by Alar Kongats Architects will include an Estonian and Latvian credit union, bistro, music performance space, classrooms, rooftop green space and a business accelerator, according to Ellen Valter, the board chair of the Estonian Credit Union. Valter said that the area is a perfect fit for the centre, given its proximity to the Tartu College student residence, which is also owned by Estonian organizations. The centre will replace the community’s current hub on Broadview Avenue. “It made a lot of sense to consolidate all of our activities into this one area,” Valter said. “It’s an opportunity for us to reflect on what Estonia is today and who we are as a community in Toronto.” Councillor Mike Layton is in favour of the project and said it works well within the context of the neighbourhood, given the street already hosts a number of institutions, such as the University of

Toronto. “It’ll be a big facelift to an area that hasn’t seen much development,” he said, “but in a relatively attractive way.” Layton said that the development will also include a cut through to Huron Street that will link the centre’s publicly accessible courtyard to another redevelopment at 300 Bloor St. W. Residents are also pleased with the project. “We’re just thrilled,” Annex Residents’

“It’ll be a big facelift to an area that hasn’t seen much development.” Association (ARA) director Sandra Shaul said. “It will be a nice addition to the end of the street.” Shaul said she likes how the structure’s height fits in with the rest of the street and will provide a “beautiful” transition to a taller building on Bloor. “We’re happy to have them,” she said. Valter said construction will begin as soon as possible once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, and she hopes the $25 million centre will be completed in 2022.

NEIGHBOURHOOD

NEWS

– WE RE OPEN – With Safe Options to Serve You

Coyotes are becoming a common sight around Cedarvale Park during the winter

Coyote activity rattles Cedarvale

Easy, fun, online classes from the comfort of your home.

Wildlife advocates say mating season is the big reason

“There’s inadvertent ways you could be potentially drawing coyotes to your property with a food reward.” petrified as there were a number of people around. “You don’t expect it when there are so many people. Early in the morning I would have expected it,” she said. Bar-Ziv turned to avoid running into the coyote but ended up walking by another one, which she said was eating a squirrel. On her way home, she ran into a third coyote lying under a tree. Half-laughing Bar-Ziv said, “I thought, ‘Oh my God, I’m not walking my dogs in my neighbourhood anymore.’ ” A recent City of Toronto news release advisted residents living near coyote habitats, such as

“Interestingly, I’ve hardly seen them this year,” she said, remarking that in previous years the coyotes have come as close as getting within a metre of the house. However, Szonyi is not concerned: “They don’t appear to be doing any harm.” Nathalie Karvonen, executive director of the Toronto Wildlife Centre, said there is a lot of misinformation going around and some of the misconceptions are that coyotes have rabies or are a threat to humans. Karvonen said coyotes may have a lot of fur, but they typically weigh around 30 pounds, are usually terrified of people, and rabies is virtually non-existent in

coyotes. She said reports of coyote encounters increase in the winter months and this is in part due to mating season making the coyotes more active, scarcity of food, meaning they have to do a bit more work to find meals, and there is less foliage for coyotes to hide behind. “There’s many instances in the summertime when a coyote could be 10 feet away from you, just lying in the tall grass and you’d never know because they’re camouflaged,” she said. As for pets, Karvonen said a chain-link fence will do little to protect them from many predators, as coyotes and foxes are great climbers. She said a wooden fence is difficult to climb but best practice is just to keep pets on a leash or closely supervised, as a fence poses no security from birds of prey. Karvonen is concerned if there are signs of coyotes becoming complacent around people because she said that usually means someone is feeding them. According to Karvonen, it’s usually an issue of city residents unintentionally feeding coyotes; although she has heard of people trying to call over a coyote and feed it. “There’s inadvertent ways you could be potentially drawing coyotes to your property with a food reward you may not be aware of,” she said. Aside from making noise, if you do run into a coyote, Karvonen said to just walk away slowly. — Clare Shrybman

One-on-One or Private Groups of 2 or more Beginner to Advanced

Nelly Aguilera ONLINE SPANISH TEACHER

www.holanelly.com | holanelly@gmail.com | 647-522-5003

New Store Hours: 11am - 5pm 110 Yorkville Ave. 416 961 9589

opticaloutlook

www.opticaloutlook.ca • opticaloutlooktoronto@gmail.com

MARCH 2021

green spaces, ravines and trails, to expect to see more coyotes this time of year. The release stated residents in these areas should only take their pets outside while supervised as, “it is not uncommon for coyotes to injure or kill cats and small dogs.” According to the release, the city is aware of two incidents in January of dogs being taken from backyards and killed by coyotes. Liz Szonyi has lived on the edge of the Cedarvale Ravine for about two and a half years and said she’s been seeing coyotes in her backyard, which opens onto the ravine, since she moved in.

| POST |

Stacey Bar-Ziv has walked her dog daily in her midtown neighbourhood for years and had never seen a coyote, until recently. Bar-Ziv had her first sighting in late January while walking her two dogs near Cedarvale Ravine. She spotted a coyote ahead while on a residential street just north of the ravine and changed route to avoid crossing paths. She said she was shocked to spot the animal just walking around her neighbourhood, but within a day, she had spotted others. On a walk later that week, BarZiv said she had multiple coyote sightings. Bar-Ziv said she was

NEWS

STINTZ ON MIDTOWN

City could go after luxury homes to make up budget shortfall Buying and selling real estate in Toronto shouldn’t be considered easy pickings for taxation

| POST | M A R C H 2 0 2 1

The best taxes are the ones that someone else has to pay. That is why increasing property tax is so controversial, whereas a newly proposed increase to the Municipal Land Transfer Tax on so-called “luxury” homes valued at more than $2.5 million barely made the news. At the time the Municipal Land Transfer Tax (MLTT) was first introduced in 2007, it was quite controversial. The logic was that it would bring in hundreds of millions of dollars to support the municipal budget while only impacting the small percentage of homebuyers. The argument was that a MLTT was preferable to a double-digit increase in property taxes that would impact more people. After fierce debate, the tax was narrowly approved. After a little dip in 2008, housing prices weren’t significantly impacted and people adjusted. Fast forward to 2021. The city budget is under extreme pressure due to the pandemic. Since municipalities cannot run

65 per cent of Paris residents own a home

operational deficits, Toronto City Council is once again eyeing the MLTT as a way to balance the books. The proposal is to increase it to 3 to 3.5 per cent on the sale of homes over $2.5 million. For the homebuyer, this would be in addition to the provincial municipal land tax of 2.5 per cent. The proposal is estimated to bring in $18 million a year.

Instead of the uproar in 2007, this proposal barely gets a shrug. The housing market is on fire, and it will likely be this way for years to come. Supposedly, the logic now is that those who can buy a house over $2.5 million can afford to contribute a little more. Although the city debates the merits of increasing taxes when buying a home, the federal

government is debating the merits of implementing a capital gains tax on the sale of an individual’s principal residence, which does not exist in Canada right now. Many cities have capital gains tax on properties and high transfer taxes. Both New York and Paris have capital gains taxes and high transfer taxes on the sale of properties, and each has very low property tax rates. Home ownership in N.Y.C. is 33 per cent and 65 per cent in Paris. Governments, however, should not seek to implement the tax that is the least controversial. In my opinion, fundamentally, tax policy should have the objective to either create incentives for one choice over another or it should be fairly distributed. It is not clear how the proposal to increase the MLTT

fits either of these objectives. I believe that, at some point, taxing the buying and selling of homes will prove to be a disincentive for buying and selling homes. Toronto’s current home ownership is 67 per cent, which is slightly lower than the national average. Any increase in the cost of buying and selling of homes via taxation will likely have a direct impact on home ownership. There is also the issue of incenting home ownership and whether that is something the government should care about. Buying and selling a home should not be considered easy pickings for the tax people. Another question is one of fairness. Should a few people pay a great deal so that others can pay a little for the services we all enjoy?

KAREN STINTZ Karen Stintz is a former city councillor, elected in 2003, and was a chair of the TTC. She lives in Ward 8.

excellent results

CRIME

NEWS

AREA BREAK-INS FEBRUARY 2021 - TORONTO WHERE

WHEN

TIME OFOF DAY TIME DAY

DOLOMITE DR. AND MAGNETIC DR.

FEB. 3

5 A.M.

YONGE ST. AND GIBSON AVE.

FEB. 3

3 P.M.

YONGE ST. AND HELENDALE AVE.

FEB. 4

3 A.M.

YONGE ST. AND YORKVILLE AVE.

FEB. 4

12 P.M.

BAYVIEW AVE. AND BAYTREE CRES.

FEB. 4

2 P.M.

ALNESS ST. AND MARTIN ROSS AVE.

FEB. 6

11 P.M.

EGLINTON AVE. W. AND CHAPLIN CRES.

FEB. 7

4 A.M.

DALE AVE. AND POWELL AVE.

FEB. 8

1 A.M.

YONGE ST. AND CUMMER AVE.

FEB. 8

6 A.M.

SHEPPARD AVE. E. AND HYCREST AVE

FEB. 9

1 A.M.

CLAYBORN RD. AND FASHION ROSEWAY

FEB. 9

2 A.M.

SOUDAN AVE. AND BROWNLOW AVE.

FEB. 10

8 P.M.

BEDFORD RD. AND BERNARD AVE.

FEB. 11

5 P.M.

ERSKINE AVE. AND REDPATH AVE.

FEB. 11

5 P.M.

CRIME BRIEFS

Hold Up Squad has made an arrest in relation to two retail robberies commit-

Toronto Police Service’s

ted in the areas of Wilson Avenue and Dufferin Street as well as Dupont Street and Spadina Avenue. The incidents tooks place on Jan. 28 and Feb. 9. It is alleged that in each incident a male suspect entered a store wearing a mask, selected merchandise from the store shelves and attempted to leave without paying. When approached by security, the suspect threatened them with a weapon. In one incident a hammer was used, whereas in the other the suspect smashed a bottle and used the broken portion as a weapon. A 45-year-old male suspect, of no fixed address, was arrested on Feb. 11. He faces 19 charges, including two counts of robbery and eight counts of failing to comply with probation. public assistance in a robbery investigation after a 70-year-old female victim was assaulted and robbed. On Feb. 9, at approximately 7:30 a.m., police responded to a report of a robbery in the area of Yonge Street and Finch Avenue. It is alleged the victim was approached by a male suspect while inside a building. The suspect forced the victim into an elevator, assaulted her and obtained a quantity of cash. The victim did not sustain any injuries. Police have released an image of the suspect.

MARCH 2021

Police are seeking

| POST |

Three male suspects and a female suspect have been arrested, as well as a firearm and ammunition seized, in connection with a homicide investigation after a shooting in the area of Lawrence Avenue West and Sage Avenue. On Feb. 8, at 9:47 p.m., police responded to a radio call for the sound of gunshots in the area. It is reported that two people were in a vehicle, one of them, a 23-year-old male victim from Brampton, was suffering from gunshot wounds. He was transported to a trauma centre and pronounced deceased. Multiple gunshots were heard and a vehicle was seen fleeing the area at a high speed. On Feb. 13, three male suspects of Toronto, one 24 years old and the others 21, were arrested and charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder and discharging a firearm with intent. As a result of the arrests various search warrants were executed, including one on Feb. 14 at a residence in the area of Kipling Avenue and Steeles Avenue West, where officers found a loaded AK-47 rifle and ammunition. A 20-year-old female suspect of Toronto was arrested and faces several charges, including unauthorized possession of a firearm and three counts of careless storage of ammunition.

NEWS

NEIGHBOURHOOD BUSINESS

Charming and traditional Indian cuisine comes to midtown Plus a new bagel shop from a familiar face opens in Forest Hill Aafrien (55 Eglinton Ave. E.) is new to the North

Pizzeria Da Mario (253 Augusta Ave.) just opened

Toronto neighbourhood. The owner, Pratik Parmar, and head chef Dinesh Sharma joined hands with a vision of providing an authentic Indian dining experience during the pandemic. The restaurant recreates traditional indian cuisine using the charm of the clay oven tandoor. The menu includes an extensive selection of colourful dishes that use the traditional tandoor, including tandoor-cooked kebabs, curries, vegetables and hot naans.

in Kensington Market and specializes in Northern Italian–style pizza, which is cooked in a Moretti pizza oven imported from Italy. Pies come in 12inch or 16-inch sizes and are designed to be enjoyed by the slice. The restaurant’s signature pie is its namesake, the Da Mario, which is topped with multi-coloured cherry tomatoes, tomato sauce, sweet salami, pancetta and a trio of mozzarella, ricotta and grana padano cheeses.

Forest Hill now has a new bagel shop run by a man with a very familiar face. Aba — also known as Arie Gershon — has just opened Aba’s Bagel Company (884A Eglinton Ave. W.) after running one of the area’s most popular bagel shops. After 16 years at What A Bagel, Gershon has opened a shop of his own complete with all the bagels and schmear you’ll need to get through this winter (and then some). He is also providing catering options, including a lox platter, dairy platter, sandwich platter, veggie platter, fruit platter, sandwiches, pastries and more.

Rock ’N Karma (789 Queen St. W.) is combining

Chelsea and Me Dog Mom Apparel creates

The Aba's Bagel team on Eglinton Avenue West

personalized dog-inspired fashion for pups and dogparents. The Toronto-based online retail shop at www.chelseaandme.com makes matching with your pup easy with a large selection of hoodies.

haute couture with comfort and has created streetwear that is chic and stands out. The Torontobased designers are donating all proceeds for their Women That Rock limited edition collection to Gilda’s Club Greater Toronto, a cancer support organization. King Street Food Company’s (KSFC) future has been uncertain, with the company filing for insolvency in November 2020. As part of the debt restructuring process, Buca on St. Clair (2 St. Clair Ave. W., Suite 100) is offering takeout and delivery. The restaurant’s takeout and delivery options include pizza and pasta, as well as meal and drink kits. The location is also offering a selection of grocery items.

2021 SALES SO FAR... ROSEDALE 15 GREGORY AVE

1/3 of an acre with exceptional table land. Elegant & grand 5 bdrm home w large principal rooms o/l park like setting. Artisit studio. Single car garage.

Fully renovated 4 Bdrm (all with ensuites) stunner ! Chef’s kitchen, Gym, Family rm w walk out to side gdn. SO

MOORE PARK 130 INGLEWOOD DR

MOORE PARK 63 CLIFTON ROAD

DEER PARK 5 BAKER AVE Garage, chef’s kitchen, 3 bdrms,

height ceiling. 5 bdrms with third

| POST | M A R C H 2 0 2 1

bsmt w playroom & spa area w sauna. Steps to TTC.

EILEEN FARROW, SALES REPRESENTATIVE eileenfarrow@chestnutpark.com | 416.925.9191 | www.chestnutpark.com CHESTNUT PARK REAL ESTATE LIMITED, BROKERAGE | 1300 YONGE STREET, SUITE 100 TORONTO, ON M4T 1X3 THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO SOLICIT BUYERS OR SELLERS CURRENTLY UNDER CONTRACTWITH A BROKERAGE.

bright & charming. Steps to St.Clair/Yonge shops, restaurants & TTC.

Former mayor gives the city a high-five for helping the homeless during the pandemic Rapid housing program and other initiatives succeed despite next to no help from the province The good news is that city hall has responded well to the challenge of housing the homeless. This is not the story we hear. The voices of the advocates for the homeless are loud – thank goodness – and since the media loves to report conflict, most of the news is about city officials trying to argue that they are responding well, while the advocates are saying that not enough is being done. There is also the news about how local residents complain about steps taken to house the homeless, such as in hotels in residential areas. The concern is understandable, but so is the city response in a situation where the provincial and federal governments have shown little interest in funding affordable housing over the past 30 years. The city does not have the revenue to support new affordable housing: 90 per cent of the taxes raised in the city via HST, income, corporate and property taxes are directed to those other governments. Given these limitations, what the city has accomplished in the past year is admirable.

The city has moved 3,000 homeless people from shelters into permanent housing, that is, apartments of their own. Some of these apartments were vacant Toronto Community Housing units, which the city owns. Some were in private rental buildings with rent subsidies. About 100 were in the new modular housing the city has recently built. The federal government has been

per night per resident. That cost involves the rental as well as three meals a day and personal support for residents. Personal support is absolutely necessary for this group. “Working out these rental arrangements is complicated,” notes city councillor Gord Perks. “It’s not just a matter of giving people the keys. They need support, and the provincial

“It’s not just a matter of giving people the keys.” financially supportive of these endeavours, the province not so much, according to city councillor Joe Cressy. City hall has also had to find temporary housing to provide physical distancing for those in shelters to minimize spread of the pandemic. For that it has repurposed some city buildings to become places where people live, and it has also rented some 20 hotels, the latest being the Novotel on the Esplanade, where up to 250 rooms have been rented at $220

government refuses to give a commitment for ongoing housing support. It is abrogating its responsibility for mental health and housing support.” I was surprised at the cost of the Novotel arrangement. A cost of $220 per day works out to more than $6,000 per person every month. Renting an apartment, providing living expenses and support services might cost $2,500 or $3,000 a month, a substantial saving. Councillor Joe Cressy doesn’t

disagree but says the hotel arrangements are part of a rapid housing program to quickly provide social distancing for shelter residents. Finding individual units would take some time and negotiation. More importantly, Cressy notes that all of the arrangements with hotels are based on “lease to own.” The city has the right to purchase the hotel at the end of the lease period. Some are redevelopment sites, although that will take a number of years before housing can be created. Some can become permanent housing if the city decides to proceed with the purchase. Cressy says the city has a plan to create 3,000 additional new permanent housing units for the homeless, of which at least onethird would be supportive housing. The cost is estimated at $1 billion, money the city certainly does not

have. The city has submitted an application to the federal government’s acquisition program for housing the homeless with a list of buildings and several redevelopment sites it wishes to acquire to meet this target. Cressy expects the federal government to respond in a few weeks to the city’s application. But the provincial government is not very interested in providing the money needed for the supportive aspect of housing the homeless, funds absolutely critical to the program’s success. The province did (finally) provide the money needed for 2020, but Cressy is not optimistic about the funds for 2021. The province generally has been opposed to helping people in the lower section of the economic strata: no sick leave benefit, no increase to the minimum wage, no protection for tenants from economic evictions during the pandemic, no continuing program to reduce the overcrowding in jails, not enough support for those in long-term care homes and so on. Not committing to fund supportive housing is part of the Ford government’s modus operandi. Nevertheless, the city is putting its own money into supportive housing and crafting an operating budget on the assumption that the provincial government will finally come through. The hole in the 2021 operating budget because of housing the homeless is about $200 million. Since the city is required by law to balance its operating budget, it is doing so this year by simply putting in a figure to cover that cost, as well as at least that amount for the public transit deficit. No one would claim that what the city has done about housing the homeless during the pandemic is perfect, but it is pretty good. It has taken the lead when the other governments that have the resources not available to the city have kept their distance. The homelessness problem has been festering for three decades since the other governments generally withdrew from providing the supply of affordable housing, and city hall has responded quickly and relatively well. I don’t do this often, but this time I give city hall a high-five for its actions.

JOHN SEWELL Post City Magazines’ columnist John Sewell is a former mayor of Toronto and the author of a number of urban planning books, including The Shape of the Suburbs.

MARCH 2021

Clockwise from left: Roehampton Hotel in midtown turned homeless shelter, city councillor Joe Cressy and a homeless encampment in Trinity Bellwoods Park

NEWS

| POST |

SEWELL ON CITY HALL

| POST | M A R C H 2 0 2 1

REAL ESTATE

DOWNTOWN

NEWS

CHINATOWN

A SUB-PENTHOUSE SUITE IN THE SHANGRI-LA

Residence 6402 at 180 University Ave. in the Shangri-La Hotel is five-star living. The two-bedroom plus den suite features a luxury kitchen with a massive island. It is listed for $6.198 million with Re/Max Hallmark Realty Ltd.

A BRAND NEW GRAND PENTHOUSE IN THE FORM BUILDING

GPH08 at 50 McCaul St. has a never-been-used kitchen featuring grey quartz counters and backsplash. The three-bedroom, three-bathroom plus den unit is listed for $2.188 million with Chestnut Park Real Estate Ltd.

HAUTE CUISINE CONDOS

Living in a suite in the sky doesn’t mean you can’t have the chef’s kitchen of your dreams. Here are four luxury units complete with custom cabinetry, top-of-the-line finishes and gourmet appliances to die for.

A PERFECT PENTHOUSE IN THE OLD CHUM RADIO BUILDING

Lower penthouse 01 at 6 Jackes Ave. is luxury all the way. It has two bedrooms, three bathrooms, a den and a contemporary kitchen and is listed for $3.595 million with Slavens & Associates Real Estate Inc.

Unit 1101 at 150 Heath St. W. is a sprawling suite with two bedrooms and three bathrooms. The white and black kitchen extends into a custom emerald and gold bar. It is listed for $2.399 million with Sutton Group-Admiral Realty Inc.

| POST |

A DESIGNER CONDO WITH CHARACTER

MARCH 2021

CASA LOMA

ROSEDALE

Where to Live Next THE HOTTEST SMALL TOWNS & T.O. MICRO NEIGHBOURHOODS

BEACH HILL O’NEILL, OSHAWA

For lakeside charm

For the value

It’s not quite the Beach and it’s not quite the Danforth. Beach Hill is tucked in between, and this established community offers a bit of everything including charm, location and a smattering of new restaurants and shops in the up-and-coming strip along Gerrard Street East and Woodbine Avenue. Here, you’ll find tree-lined streets, an eclectic mix of housing and really some fantastic commuting options including access to the subway at Danforth, new separated bike lanes on Woodbine and the streetcar on Gerrard.

There is no region in the GTA that is hotter than the ’Shwa. It’s an actual small town with a main street, easy access to the lake and very affordable housing prices. At least for now. The top neighbourhood is still O’Neill, one of the city’s oldest and best neighbourhoods with plenty of estate homes and large lots for privacy. The area is in the centre of town, just north of the core and close to all the important amenities including the Oshawa Golf and Curling Club, galleries and shopping with many schools and parks nearby. The housing stock is a mixture of Edwardian, Tudor and Arts and Crafts houses. If you’re looking for a picture-perfect older and stately family neighbourhood with access to green space and country drives, this could be the spot.

PRICE TAG: Expect to pay more than $1

PRICE TAG: A large detached four-bedroom century

home on a sought-after street can still be had for $600K to $800K. Modern rebuilds for $1.2 million. Bungalows for less than $600K.

million for a renovated semi, of which there are plenty, and a detached home will run $1.5 million and up. There are also new condos springing up, especially at a new building at Gerrard and Woodbine.

BOTTOM LINE: Oshawa is one of the hottest areas in the GTA because you can get a lot more house for your money, but it’s not simply a suburban cookie-cutter enclave. This is an actual town with a proud working-class history and charming upscale neighbourhoods waiting to be discovered. Don’t sleep on the ’Shwa.

BOTTOM LINE: This is a fantastic pocket

of homes, which is quiet and family-focused but with enough transit options and local restaurants, such as Bodega Henriette, Beach Hill Smokehouse and Blue River Pizza, to attract young families to keep the area vibrant. And it’s a downhill walk or bike ride directly to the beach or north to the subway and Danforth’s nightlife.

• Downtown Oshawa

THE JUNCTION TRIANGLE • Cassels Avenue dog park

For the artsy cyclist

| POST | M A R C H 2 0 2 1

This little sliver of west end hipness runs south of Dupont and west of Lansdowne along the West Toronto Railpath down to Dundas. It’s one of the most exciting areas of the city with a burgeoning arts scene and plenty of cool new restaurants. If one is taken with city biking, this is a dream neighbourhood. The Bloor bike lanes will arrive in due course. The West Toronto Railpath runs through the western edge of the neighbourhood and the entire area is very cycle forward.

PRICE TAG: Most of the housing stock available will be condos, but there are serviceable semi-detached homes that come up on the market and run around $1.25 to $1.5 million. As this area is still on the rise, there are fixer-upper opportunities if one is willing to invest in a home in poor condition. A nice two-bedroom loft condo could be had for under $700K. BOTTOM LINE: This is a neighbourhood that still boasts some urban

grit, some artsy underbelly, thanks to the arrival of the Museum of Contemporary Art and other small galleries nearby, and offers a taste of what true urban living in Toronto looks like.

• Henderson Brewery

EARLSCOURT

For the young foodie family St. Clair West is hot hot hot from Bathurst all the way west as far as one can travel, and Earlscourt, between Dufferin and Old Weston Road, and neighbouring Corso Italia are at the top of the temperature gauge. One of the centres of the city’s Italian community (yes, the food is incredible pretty much anywhere you look), the neighbourhood is filled with solid brick family homes dating back from 50 to 100 years with a good mix of detached, semis and bungalows, which means young families are keen to get in here and enjoy all the area has to offer. PRICE TAG: There is still a chance to nab a home here for under $1 million, but they are few and far between. Expect to pay more than $1.5 million for a detached home. Condos, of which there are many coming online, can be had for $600K to $800K, providing an entry point for first-time homebuyers. BOTTOM LINE: This is such a vibrant area with a bit of

• Mercado Negro’s colourful patio

everything, including a dash of urban grit combined with suburban quiet. It has culture, nightlife, parks. It’s great for cycling. It’s close to downtown but not too close. People in this area are family forward and look out for one another. And the St. Clair streetcar is fantastic.

BOWMANVILLE

ALDERWOOD

For the urban wilds Located between the QEW and Long Branch and bordering Etobicoke Creek, Alderwood has a long history in the city dating back more than 150 years and was originally planned to be called New Toronto Heights. It has continued to be a fantastic little pocket for years with large lots and plenty of privacy and it is finally getting noticed as young families get priced out of Long Branch and other nearby communities on the rise. Still, it is a relatively undiscovered territory by Toronto standards especially considering the fantastic location near transportation corridors, GO, burgeoning Long Branch, the lakeside amenities and a slew of gorgeous parks, such as Etobicoke Creek and Marie Curtis, not to mention the fantastic restaurants and shopping along Lake Shore. PRICE TAG: Most of the homes are post-

war construction with a good mix of styles. Yes, homes are being torn down or renovated completely, and the price point has seen quite the uptick of late. Bungalows for land value can still be had for around $1 million to allow homebuyers to create their own dream homes, whereas a renovated and detached home will run $1.5 to $2 million. There is still good value here. Life south of the QEW is just fine for so many Torontonians who are discovering the sweet gems like Mimico and Long Branch along with the quaint pocket of Alderwood. The area has a bit of an industrial history that has shielded it from major price increases, but now is the time.

BOTTOM LINE:

For the history buffs Bowmanville is the historic urban centre to greater Clarington. It’s got history, it’s got a vibe, and it’s redhot right now. If you like grand Victorian homes, this could be the place for you. Although all of Clarington is garnering significant attention, Bowmanville is the prize. It is here in a fairly small district that one can find the quiet, tree-lined streets, in walking distance to the historic Victorian centre of town with its shops and restaurants. PRICE TAG: Large Victorian homes are the thing in the

historic Bowmanville district. Expect to pay $700,000 to $1 million to nab your dream home: large, newly refurbished, sizable lot and plenty of quiet and privacy on a tree-lined street.

to dissuade some homebuyers, but with working remotely a possibility now and in the future, many more are discovering the sizable charms of this picturesque neighbourhood, including those looking to wind down from work and cash in on the equity of their city home for something more affordable and park the savings or commute into the city a couple of times per week.

| POST |

• Marie Curtis Park

MARCH 2021

BOTTOM LINE: Bowmanville is still far enough away

• Historic home in Bowmanville STORY CONTINUED ON NEXT SPREAD

CLIFFCREST

For the savvy seclutionist

RATHNELLY

For the quirky urbanite

By now, Birchcliff is a well-established hot neighbourhood with a slew of condo projects in various states of completion that are changing this area for the better. Now, the slow march of gentrification is heading even further east in search of the next eastend hot spot. It looks like Cliffcrest, centred on Kingston Road between Midland and Bellamy, is the spot, and for good reason, not the least of which is a well-known lakeside gem by the name of Bluffer’s Park. Yes, Kingston is a bit of a dog’s breakfast with the ramshackle motels and strip malls in dire need of a sprucing, but it is changing. Veer off the main drag and there is nothing but picture-perfect avenues, some reminiscent of small-town Ontario. Others boast some of the best luxury homes in the city.

One of the most unique and special neighbourhoods in the city, Rathnelly is best known for having mockingly declared that it was separating from Canada back in the day. It’s that kind of DIY vibe and community spirit that continues to permeate the air in the little neighbourhood that sits southeast of Casa Loma to Avenue Road. It is hard to find a home in this area in the best of times, but inventory has slowed to a trickle. PRICE TAG: Most home sales in the area are of the condo apartment variety, but a detached home is a true prize, and to claim it, expect to pay north of $3 to $4 million. BOTTOM LINE: This quirky ’hood is ideally situated

lake is prime Cliffcrest, and homes range in price as much as the housing styles. A bungalow can still be had for under $1 million, but there are also multimillion-dollar modern gems that hit the market boasting luxury living on the Scarborough Bluffs.

BOTTOM LINE: If privacy and luxury liv-

ing are more important than shopping destinations and restaurants run by big-name chefs, then Cliffcrest might surprise. Think cliffside views overlooking Lake Ontario, spacious grounds, modern homes to rival the best in the city at a fraction of the cost. And this little enclave is starting to head up in a big way.

PRICE TAG: South of Kingston Road to the

near Casa Loma, Ramsden Park, Yorkville and more, yet it’s got its own unique spirit. There are fantastic private and public schools nearby, and it is a wonderful area for walking and cycling. Find a home here, and you’ll never want to leave.

• A row of Rathnelly homes

BROOKLIN • Brooklin’s Community Centre

For the rural charm

• Bluffers Park

North of the downtown core of Whitby and beyond the suburban fringe homebuyers can find the charming neighbourhood of Brooklin. No, it isn’t the grittier, artsy neighbourhood to small-town Whitby. Brooklin has a charming historic centre that dates back 150 years to the time the village was named Winchester. It is primarily a rural area, sits on the Oak Ridges Moraine and provides residents with the perfect blend of rural and urban living. PRICE TAG: Most homes that come up for sale in Brooklin are large, detached and newer homes and range in price from $800K to approximately $1 million.

If you’ve been yearning for a more pastoral kinda vibe but don’t want to give up all urban amenities, Brooklin could be a fine choice. It’s a unique pocket neighbourhood with upscale amenities at the ready, a good selection of homes and a farm-forward feel that will have you enjoying fresh produce and goods on the daily. Plus Highway 407 is close, so it’s easy to commute back into the city centre. But why would you?

| POST | M A R C H 2 0 2 1

BOTTOM LINE:

UXBRIDGE

RUNNYMEDE

For the wannabe cowpokes

For the west end sporties

The small town of Uxbridge bills itself as the trail capital of Canada, and that is enough for many people these days. The area on Ontario’s Greenbelt and the Oak Ridges Moraine is surrounded by gorgeous rolling hills, creeks and green spaces ideal for hiking, trail running, mountain biking and cycling. If you’re an active outdoors lover, this could be your mecca. But it’s also developing a reputation as one of the most sought-after residential areas in the GTA. Just last month, Uxbridge recorded one of its highest sales in history when former Maple Leafs hockey player Gary Roberts’s estate sold for more than $5.2 million.

Just north of Bloor West village is the hidden gem of Runnymede. A classic west end gem bookended by the posh Bloor West strip to the south and gritty Dundas West and the Junction to the north with the tony Baby Point enclave and the Humber River to the west, Runnymede is nestled lovingly in the middle of many remarkable Toronto areas. It’s no wonder houses fly off the market faster than they can be listed. Several hot new restaurants have located beyond the Junction and are now cooking up a storm on Jane Street to the west. The neighbourhood is anchored by Runnymede Collegiate Institute, which dates back nearly a century and was once the hallway of choice for NHLer P. K. Subban. Not surprisingly, the entire area is pretty sporty with constant hockey action at nearby George Bell Arena and other local rinks.

PRICE TAG: Unlike some areas, the most popular

Uxbridge homes are located in some of the countryside enclaves to the south of the city, whereas those in the pictureperfect town core and just north can be more affordable. For instance, a large, detached and modern home can be had for $700K to $800K in the central area. In the countryside preserve to the south, an estate home will run $1.5 to $2 million, but they are generally stunning and come with plenty of land.

BOTTOM LINE: This area is far enough away from the city to have retained a true small-town, country vibe. The people are unabashedly neighbourly, and the area is an outdoorsy wonderland. If you’ve dreamed of owning a horse, or at least a cowboy hat, this is the place.

PRICE TAG: Although real estate in the area

• Downtown Uxbridge

• Home in Upper Village

UPPER VILLAGE

For the statement home This attractive midtown neighbourhood on the north side of Eglinton between the Allen Road and Bathurst boasts a moniker synonymous with fine living in the city of Toronto. It has long been a desirable address, but now, thanks to the soon-to-be-completed Crosstown LRT ushering in renewal and the desire for detached homes and some privacy within the city, the Upper VIllage is hot once again with bidding wars erupting over severely limited inventory.

isn’t on the low end, it is certainly more affordable than other nearby neighbourhoods, and there is a good enough housing mix. The trouble is finding a house upon which to bid. And, yes, you will bid. Expect a renovated and detached three-bedroom home to approach $2 million.

BOTTOM LINE: Raising sporty and active kids is kinda the thing in this area. If they aren’t playing hockey, they’re down in the Humber River Valley or High Park or another of the many parks and green spaces nearby. That being said, there are plenty of food and shopping distractions to keep the entire family amused.

PRICE TAG: No surprise most homes in this area are detached and sizable with good lots, but more modest than the palatial estates south of Eglinton in Forest Hill Village. Still, expect to pay north of $2.5 million to get into this neighbourhood.

• Many local rinks

| POST |

bourhood in a fine midtown area with all manner of transit options available, from the subway to the coming LRT, as well as easy commuting downtown or out of town via Allen Road to Highway 401. There are fine schools nearby, as well as excellent shopping and dining options along Eglinton. It’s a statement area.

MARCH 2021

BOTTOM LINE: This is an established family neigh-

SPRING SHOPPING GUIDE

Visit our Online Store at www.VanRijk.com We offer FREE Shipping in Canada Rolex • Patek • Cartier • Omega • Breitling • Audemars Piguet • IWC

Since 1985 90 Eglinton Avenue East

416-440-0123 Estate Jewellery and Watches

| POST | M A R C H 2 0 2 1

Enjoy the Relaxation of Birding

900 Don Mills Rd (at Barber Greene Rd) 416-646-2439

www.UrbanNatureStore.ca THANKS FOR SHOPPING LOCAL

FASHION

CURRENTS

JEANNE BEKER GETS KITCHEN CHIC Aside from her fashion expertise, Jeanne Beker is also a seasoned baker. So who better to turn to when looking for the most chic aprons and charming oven mitts? After all, we’re all cooking at home more than ever these days.

FEELING FRUITY

LUXURY LEATHER

Damzels.com, $49, “This one speaks to the cowgirl in me. It's especially great if you’re doing anything on the barbecue. Looks like a real western-style apron.”

DanaJordan.com, $36, “This has such a cheery and fresh style with the berries on it. It has a touch of nostalgia and is so adorable.”

Anthropologie.com, $50, “This is a really sweet, feminine, retro apron. It's adorable and has a matching pot holder — a great ensemble.”

Simons.ca, $125, “This leather apron is incredible. It has great pockets for all the kitchen accessories. It looks strong, upscale and very chic.”

WHO'S THE BOSS

WINTER CHIC

MINTY MITTS

KitchenStuffPlus.com, $19.99 MARIMEKKO MITT

EQ3.com, $24.65 ADORABLE AVOCADOS

iQliving.com, $9.99

BAKED WITH LOVE

iQliving.com, $29.99, “I’m a big bee person, so I love this one. It looks so summery, and it's a very feminine kind of apron. Love the look of it.”

DENIM DUTY

GRAPHIC GARDEN

ChefWorks.ca, $61.95, “This one looks like it's denim, like you could wear it out with a great pair of boots. It’s pretty and it looks really serious too.”

Gravitypope.com, $60, “I love these Marimekko prints. They have such a great air of artsy modernity. This one is so striking and absolutely fashionable.”

WATERCOLOUR WHIMSY

Cookery-store.ca, $29, “This looks like a canvas with a painting on it. I love the big tomato, it's really chic. I would hang this on the wall, it's so beautiful.”

JEANNE BEKER | One of Canada’s most trusted authorities on fashion, Jeanne has covered the industry for more than 30 years. Now watch her on TSC’s Style Matters with Jeanne Beker or tune into her new podcast Beyond Style Matters.

| POST |

HAUTE HIVE

MARCH 2021

BlueBananaMarket.com, $17.95

| POST | M A R C H 2 0 2 1

FASHION NEWS

CURRENTS

Toronto drag star Tynomi Banks releases exclusive merchandise line

Superette co-founders Drummond Munro and Mimi Lam

Why cool boutiques are flocking to Rosedale This stretch of Yonge Street is still full of independents Rosedale is quickly becoming a one-stop shop for cool local boutiques focusing on everything from luxury fashion to cannabis — and more are likely to follow. A quick stroll along this stretch of Yonge Street and you’ll find unique items at Tuck Shop Trading Co., adorable gifts for kids at MacPherson Toy House, the most beautiful housewares at Hopson Grace and Artifacts Lifestyle, the top beauty and skin care products at Gee Beauty and tons of fashion finds at Clementine’s, Narwhal, WANT Apothecary and Augustina, to name a few. As for the reason why, a lot of that comes down to the welcoming nature of the local residents and the neighbouring businesses. “Cool concepts attract other unique concepts; it’s a domino effect,” says Drummond Munro, co-founder and chief brand officer at cannabis store Superette. He adds that the area once had a false reputation of being a boring neighbourhood lacking culture, which he notes is wholly untrue. “There has been a significant shift in that perception

the last few years, and we see that with the type of businesses that are opening and choosing to locate here.” Amy Pearson, founder and owner of designer lingerie shop Stole My Heart, adds that, in addition to Rosedale welcoming the store with open arms, there is also a sense of community that grows with each new business that comes on the scene. “When you are looking to open a new shop you want to go where there are already shops around that have similar clientele,” she says. “We also personally loved all the other shops that were in the neighbourhood so knew that we would be in great company!” Pearson says. Munro seconds the sense of community Rosedale has fostered. “There are a fair number of independent businesses started by people from the neighbourhood, which ultimately creates a strong community sense.” Another reason Rosedale is a hub for cool shopping opportunities can be traced fur-

by Jessica Padykula

ther back. Gillian Piltz, co-owner of fashion boutique Thursdays, notes that Yonge Street in the Rosedale area has always been an eclectic street when it comes to independent shops. “Many aspects of this neighbourhood grew separate and unaffected by the many large chain stores that set up in other neighbourhoods,” she explains. “Unfortunately, as large chain stores enter a neighbourhood, it quickly loses its cache and charm. The Rosedale neighbourhood remains one of the few jewels of the city.” When it comes to how the neighbourhood’s shops have been affected by the pandemic, it’s obviously a challenge, but as Pearson notes, the community has really rallied around the local shops. “We’ve had clients shopping curbside and ordering online since the first lockdown. When the second lockdown happened, our clients realized it was up to them to really make sure we would still be here after this pandemic is over,” she says.

Known best for her captivating performances and starring role in the first season of Canada’s Drag Race, drag entertainer Tynomi Banks is a force to be reckoned with. As the first drag entertainer to perform in Dundas Square during World Pride 2014 and appear at the Canadian Screen Awards, Banks is no doubt a trailblazer, a leader and a changemaker at the forefront of her art. With her unique and fearless ability to be herself while advocating for the causes that matter most to her community, Banks is now using her voice to amplify the anti-racism movement by partnering with Black Lives Matter Canada on an exclusive line of merchandise. Featuring T-shirts and hoodies designed by Black artist and visionary Sydney Mia Gittens, a portion of the line’s proceeds will go toward dismantling all forms of anti-Black racism, liberating Blackness, supporting Black healing and affirming Black existence. “I’m very honoured to partner with Black Lives Matter Canada and do my part in spreading awareness of racism,” Banks says. With simple yet powerful designs, including black graphic T-shirts with the messages “Protect Queer Black Youth,” “Anti-Racist” and “Black Lives Matter” as well as a hoodie and T-shirt sporting an iconic image of Banks holding up her fist in a striking pose of strength and solidarity, the collection is bold, chic and timeless. “We welcome this opportunity to collaborate with Tynomi to raise awareness for our movement,” says Black Lives Matter Canada in a press release. Shop the collection at tynomibanks.com. — Mackenzie Patterson

The Quarterly and Fast Life enter loungewear comfortable and looked great at the same time. “Fast Life is a unique brand because we offer comfort and style and take pride in showcasing all women no matter their shape or size,” she explains. In fact, she uses customer photos to show that real women are wearing the brand and not Instagram models. In terms of response, both Chambers and Rayoff-Pearce say that sales have been excellent. “The reception has been better than expected and we can hardly keep the store stocked,” says Chambers. Rayoff-Pearce says, “People have shown up for us and that's a big part of our success. They've believed in what we are doing and helped lift us up.” — Jessica Padykula

| POST |

Thanks to the pandemic, clothing that blends comfort and style while seamlessly fitting in with the rest of your wardrobe isn’t likely to go out of style. “Athleisure is here to stay because it’s a huge industry and it offers fashion and style no matter the occasion,” says Suzette Chambers, founder of Fast Life, one of several local athleisure brands to recently enter the space. Alesha Rayoff-Pearce, who founded the Quarterly with friend Michelle Goldman agrees. “Athleisure offers work life balance plus improved productivity,” she says. Athleisure is also more likely to suit a wide range of body types, with the potential to offer both comfort and style, no matter size or shape — an important factor for Chambers. She was inspired to start Fast Life after having trouble finding leggings and tops that were

MARCH 2021

Local designers are jumping into the athleisure scene

Leggings and a top by Fast Life

CURRENTS

DAILY PLANET

Passover Gifts Made Deliciously Easy! Kosher for Passover under COR Gift Baskets, Trays and Platters Chocolate Matzahs and Seder Plates Pareve Chocolates, Bark and Mints www.chocolatecharm.ca (416) 787-4256 Closed Saturdays • Open Sundays Delivery • Visa & MC 3541 Bathurst Street (Across from Baycrest)

The local Butterflyway Project inspired people to plant pollinator-friendly wildflowers

Grassroots to global From Cycle Don Valley to the Butterflyway

WHO WE ARE We are the GTA’s most trusted move managers. We’ll coordinate and oversee all your move related logistics...so you don’t have to! Our all-female team of packers is discreet, dependable and will pack your home so you remain organized during this big transition.

PACKING SERVICES SALE & DISTRIBUTION OF FURNITURE

| POST | M A R C H 2 0 2 1

ESTATE CLEARING

DOWNSIZING & NEW HOME SETUP

416-937-0499

L U X U RY M O V E M A N A GE M E N T. C O M

There’s truth to the saying “Think globally, act locally.” To resolve a planetary crisis like climate disruption, we need change from the top, but without localized support, that’s difficult to achieve. Grassroots action can grow into something much bigger. Think of Greta Thunberg, whose 2018 solitary school strike for climate outside the Swedish parliament blossomed into a massive youth movement that drew more than four million people to 2,500 events in 163 countries just one year later. Local action is beneficial even if it doesn’t become a worldwide movement. It can inspire municipal or provincial governments to implement important policies, pushing governments higher up to act. To help those who want to get involved to better their communities, the David Suzuki Foundation has created the Future Ground Network. It provides education, tools and networking opportunities to help groups throughout Canada strengthen their impact, on initiatives ranging from urban agriculture projects and climate campaigns to advancing sustainable transportation solutions. As Holly Reid, of Cycle Don Valley Midtown, said, “We can benefit from the knowledge and insights of other organizers in the network. The tools and supports that the Future Ground Network provides — webinars, action

network and access to Superteam volunteers — will make us more effective at getting the job done.” Foundation staff know how effective local action can be. Its Butterflyway Project has inspired people to plant thousands of pollinator-friendly wildflowers throughout Canada. It started as a project to support monarch butterflies making their migration from Canada to Mexico and back. Monarchs need milkweed to lay eggs and feed, but urban and agricultural development has been wiping out the plants. Over the past four years, 1,008 volunteers have planted more than 54,000 native wildflowers in over 1,000 pollinator patches in 100 communities to feed and shelter birds, bees and butterflies. Change isn’t always easy, but it’s often necessary. Resolving the climate crisis brings many other benefits beyond ensuring improved health and survival rates for humanity — from highquality jobs to greater equity. Initiatives like the Future Ground Network can bring people together to build a better society and help heal the world.

DAVID SUZUKI

David Suzuki is the host of the CBC’s The Nature of Things and author of more than 30 books on ecology (with files from Ian Hanington).

Celebrate women winemakers this month Uncork International Women’s Day online This month we celebrate International Women’s Day, a time to recognize women around the world: past, present and future. As with many industries, the wine business has historically been male dominated. But every year, more and more female winemakers and vineyard owners arrive on the scene in a big way. Currently, Ontario is home to a number of women-run wineries and female winemakers, each bringing a unique character and flavour to not only their wines, but to their beautiful properties and winemaking techniques. Although we cannot currently travel to each of these distinctive wineries, we can still celebrate Ontario’s women winemakers, their wines and the ways they are bringing their vineyards into our homes.

of the land. The nurturing, thoughtful energy is apparent both in the bottle and on the vine. Prior to lockdown, this picturesque property hosted scenic events, retreats and intimate private dining packages. Now, Grange Winery is staying connected with wine lovers by offering group virtual tastings and events. Guided by a wine steward, guests can sample four Grange wines, accompanied by tasting notes, a keepsake glass and a lively Q & A session. And because Caroline and Maggie know that we all need something to look forward to this winter, Grange is offering a public Mid-March Blues Group tasting that will review the history of winemaking in Prince Edward County and the philosophy behind their winemaking.amphora method.

Grange Winery

This mother-daughter-run winery is located in beautiful Prince Edward County. When mother, Caroline Granger, first returned to her childhood farm, she had no idea how to grow grapes and run a wine business. But she had a vision, a passion and drive. Twenty years later, alongside her daughter, Maggie, she’s established a successful winery in the County. What differentiates Grange is its focus on the health of the natural ecosystem and its lowintervention approach, allowing for each bottle to be a true product

Leaning Post

Leaning Post is a family dream come true for Nadia Senchuk and her husband, Ilya. From an idea in Winnipeg, where the pair met, to a vibrant vineyard in Stoney Creek, this winery has a woman at the helm and has recently brought on a female assistant winemaker. Here, women are integral to the

success of this business and the delicious wine they produce. Nadia is a true entrepreneur, overseeing all aspects of the business from sales to operations while Ilya handles the grapes and winemaking. For the Senchuks their goal is to translate a time and a place into liquid form. Before lockdown, Leaning Post offered its wine club shipments of six bottles four times a year, along with tasting notes, harvest details and access to exclusive events. Not only has the wine club continued, but the winery also offers delivery, curbside pickup and virtual events and tastings. Similar to the tasting experience at the winery itself, Nadia leads guests through a sampling of four Leaning Post wines and discusses terroir, tasting notes and winemaking techniques. Leaning Post is also holding unique virtual events such as the upcoming Freaks and Geeks tasting led by Ilya, while Nadia will be hosting private tastings and open virtual tastings every Friday and Saturday. Thirty Bench

Famous for its commitment to small-lot wines, this awardwinning winery is led by winemaker Emma Garner. Through Garner’s talent and guidance, the winery has won gold and platinum at both national and international competitions, making it the most awarded winery in Canada. Located on the Beamsville Bench, this charming vineyard offers many exclusive wine-tasting experiences and exciting events. From personal guided tours and tastings (picture snowshoe hikes and tastings through the icecovered vines), Thirty Bench also takes part in parties such as the Graze the Bench wine festival and also hosts its own annual soiree Riesling Rocks the Bench. But until guests can safely visit the vineyard, Thirty Bench is creating new traditions by offering private virtual tasting experiences. Based on your preferences, the winery will curate and ship a tasting kit, and a dedicated winemaker will guide guests through a fun and delicious affair. To book your virtual tasting, visit the Thirty Bench events page on its website.

NATALIE PREDDIE Natalie Preddie is a travel and lifestyle writer, speaker and guest expert on Cityline, Your Morning and Global’s The Morning Show.

PROJECTS IN PROGRESS: • 26 St. Hildas • 624 Winona • 131 Alberta • 77 Southvale • 369 Lake Promenade • 137 Chiltern Hill • 11 Berkindale • 662 Hillsdale

RECENTLY COMPLETED: • 233 Bessborough • 114 Hazelton • 159 Hudson • 65 Marlborough • 6 Marmion • 15 McGillivray • 532 Glencairn

COMING SOON: • 710 Hillsdale • 29 Ava

• 59 Lake Promenade • 63 Humewood • 44 Parklea

MARCH 2021

Maggie and Caroline Granger of Grange Winery

CURRENTS

| POST |

GREAT ESCAPES

CURRENTS

LOCAL GRADUATES

Working on WandaVision Jonathan Bronfman on building a worldclass effects company by Julia Mastroianni

Steps From Yorkville!

27 Prince Arthur - $4,500,000

86 Scollard Street - $4,499,000

REPORT CARD

A truly unique opportunity to acquire a stunning 2nd-floor loft-style commercial space on Yonge Street. 2,685 sq ft with an additional 3,300 sq ft rooftop patio. 14 ft ceilings, reinforced concrete construction, 2 car indoor parking and much more.

Renovated Historic Commercial Victorian in the Heart of Yorkville. Located on the south side of Prince Arthur Avenue between Avenue Rd and Bedford Rd. 3,955 sq ft across 4 levels. Total retro-fit completed in 2015.

A rare opportunity to acquire a renovated and extended 'owner/user" commercial building on Scollard Street between Hazelton Avenue and Bay Street! 4,440 square feet on 3 levels, 12’ 4” ceilings, 3 separate studio areas, 3 washrooms, kitchen etc. Lot Size: 24.75 ft x 72.45 ft

STUDENT:

GRADUATED:

Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto BEST SUBJECTS:

Math and Drama CURRENT JOB:

Josh Tremblay

Kevin P. Gillen

*Broker of Record 416.964.9460 kevin@kpgillen.com

Jonathan Bronfman

40 Scollard Street Suite 200 Toronto | kpgillen.com

Co-President of Monsters Aliens Robots Zombies (MARZ)

*Sales Representative 289.924.0047 josh@kpgillen.com Bronfman launched MARZ in 2018

Jonathan Bronfman, co-president of visual effects and tech company Monsters Aliens Robots Zombies (MARZ) — the studio behind the most notable visual effects production for Marvel’s WandaVision, HBO’s Watchmen and Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy — says he remembers running around on films sets as a kid with his dad. “Maybe, subconsciously, that planted the seed,” he says. But Bronfman started out on a different path. After graduating from Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto, he studied business at McGill University and

“It’s about building

| POST | M A R C H 2 0 2 1

the best visual effects company in the world.”

then worked as a production assistant on TV show sets. Then he gained some experience in the producing world and realized that’s what he wanted to pursue. Bronfman started his own production company, JoBro Productions, an independent feature film production company behind movies like The Witch and The Kid Detective that he still runs with his brother. It was there that Bronfman met his current business partner behind MARZ, Lon Molnar. “I bring more of a management, financial, corporate angle to the partnership, and he's a veteran visual effects supervisor with 20plus years experience in the industry,” says Bronfman.

The pair launched MARZ in 2018 with the goal of differentiating themselves from other companies on the market. “Being a Canadian producer or a Canadian visual effects company, we are inherently different from companies around the world,” Bronfman says. That was the motivation behind specializing in visual effects for television as well. “That line between the quality of film and television is dissolving,” he says. “The quality of the work, the actors, the visual effects on television shows these days are as good as feature films. So we felt like we could be doing great work and differentiate ourselves.” MARZ has acquired some exciting projects since launching, but Bronfman feels most proud of their work on Watchmen, which involved visual effects on character Looking Glass’s mask that has been praised by multiple outlets. “Looking at where we are now as a company. You could really point to that show as being a meaningful launching pad for our company,” he says. “I think it elevated not just our company’s reputation, but also our ability to create great content internally.” He also references the recent release of WandaVision, pointing to the work MARZ put into actor Paul Bettany’s character, Vision, in particular (the character is an android made up of a synthetic body). “For me over the next few years, it’s about building the best visual effects company in the world. I know that's ambitious, but we really want to be the best,” Bronfman says.

HOW THEY MET

CURRENTS

The wedding and honeymoon

We were married on Aug. 3, 2013, at Stratus Winery in Niagara. Alex grew up in Niagara, so it was the perfect place to celebrate. We chose our honeymoon destination over pho at Golden Turtle in the fall of 2013, and on Dec. 24, we went to Hong Kong for five days before flying to Vietnam and exploring Da Nang, Hanoi and Halong Bay. The offspring

No kids — just a bernedoodle named Jane. Balancing careers and marriage

Chef Craig Harding and Alexandra Hutchison were married in 2013

Finding love across the kitchen pass Chef Craig Harding on meeting his wife Alexandra when he was a first-time sous-chef

The courtship

It was slow at first, as Alex was convinced she was going to do her design post-grad in London. It

“Don’t PASS-US-OVER”

We’re awaiting your call. From soups to desserts, we’ll take care of it all. Remember this number...

(905) 731-8037

1136 CENTRE STREET, THORNHILL, ON. PLEASE VISIT US AT www.centrestreetdeli.com

We've become experts at creating family Seder Meals, individually packaged and delivered to each family member, so that you can enjoy the same meal together but safely apart.

Surviving lockdown

It’s a bit of a mixed bag. The stress of our business downturn is real, but we have both had success trying new things and we have some really good ideas for new businesses going forward in 2021. We also got a puppy in August, so that just made everything better.

The proposal

It was Christmas Eve 2012. We had a fun, dressy dinner planned at the Royal York Hotel and the ring box was inconspicuously hiding in several larger gifts, like a Russian nesting doll, under the tree for

“The saving grace is that we are working together on several projects.”

The first date

We met for drinks at the bar at Canoe where I surprised Alex with tickets for John Mayer’s Continuum Tour Spring 2007. We drank tall mugs of beer and took selfies before selfies were a thing. It was unforgettable.

Mon-Sun 8am-3pm

weeks. We have a tradition in our house of giving each other a single gift on the 24th, so it was the perfect opportunity to open that single gift before dinner with a little bubbly already on the go. We were almost derailed with giftgiving neighbours and an early Uber driver at the door, but the ring was revealed, and we were only 15 minutes late for our dinner reservation in the end!

The home

We’ve been living in the Humber Bay Shores area for the last two and a half years. Secret of success

I think allowing each other the space to create unique personal and professional goals and then helping each other achieve those dreams has been the key to our success. Whether it’s risking everything for a restaurant or moving to New York City for a master’s degree in interior design, we are always each other’s biggest cheerleaders no matter how lofty the plan is. Life after retirement

Continuing our charity work and being a little more hands-on with the organizations that we support, like the Jane Goodall Institute. Spending time by the lake up north at our cottage and of course eating very well!

MARCH 2021

How they met

We met on opposite sides of the kitchen pass. I was a young firsttime sous-chef and Alex was a part-time server and a full-time interior design major at Ryerson University.

was probably the “let’s have fun with no pressure” that ultimately pulled us closer together.

OPEN FOR PASSOVER!

| POST |

Chef Craig Harding’s name has become synonymous with delicious Italian food in the city. He is the chef and owner of La Palma, Constantine and previously Campagnolo. He’s spent much of his life in the kitchen, and it was also in the kitchen where he met his wife, interior designer and creative director Alexandra Hutchison.

I think that’s the toughest part. We are both entrepreneurs, so the work is constant, and there is no real schedule most weeks. We are just sort of on and available for whatever the business requires. Now, the saving grace is that we are working together on several projects and we work well in that environment, so we get to spend time together and collaborate on our restaurants.

CENTRE STREET DELI

CAMPS & PROGRAMS Global Summers Academy

CAMP TYPE: Specialty Camp AGE RANGE: 13 - 20 years AVERAGE CLASS SIZE: 11 students per class CAMPER/STAFF RATIO: 7:1 SESSION LENGTH: 17-24 days per session SESSION COST: Please visit website

“Over my 45 year career, I have witnessed tens of thousands of students travel and study in 35+ countries and accumulate a raft of memories, friendships, and not to mention high school credits. Many students describe it as the best summer of their lives and the top learning experience of their high school years.“ - Founder and Chair, Sam Blyth. Global Summers Academy provides students with the opportunity to travel and discover the world while earning a high school credit, all within a safe, structured and supported framework. The team has persevered in difficult times including 9/11, various financial crises, and COVID-19 because we believe that these opportunities to learn and explore are so important for students. Earn a high school credit while enjoying your summer in Whistler, BC with Global Summers Academy.

HEAD OF SCHOOL/CHAIR: Sam Blyth

CONTACT: 416-357-2621 • 1-844-357-2621

Sign-up for a Virtual Info Session to learn more at globalsummersacademy.com/postcity

globalsummersacademy.com/postcity

Prestige School

CAMP TYPE: Day Camp AGE RANGE: 3-19 years TOTAL ENROLMENT: 50-70 CAMPER/STAFF RATIO: Varies SESSION LENGTH: July & August SESSION COST: $350 per wk

Prestige School’s Summer Camp Program is just the fun, activity-filled, yet educational summer that your children are looking for! Our camp, that offers a wide variety of exciting activities that keep all kids engaged, educated, and entertained, starts on July 5th and ends on August 28th, 2021. Our sports program includes Outdoor Games, Basketball, Volleyball, and Soccer. We also offer educational programs such as English and French studies, English as a Second Language, and Logic Boosters. We also provide activities such as Fun Science, Computer Design, Computer Animation and 3D Modelling, Drawing, Painting, Sculpting, and Chess. Campers attend exciting weekly Field Trips throughout the summer and visits to the Swimming Pool twice a week. The camp runs from Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Hot lunch is provided daily. Door-to-door transportation is available. Summer School Credit Courses for grades 9-12 now offered.

CAMP DIRECTOR: Olga Margold

CONTACT: 416-250-0648 prestigeprivateschool.ca

| POST | M A R C H 2 0 2 1

PRESTIGE SCHOOL’S SUMMER CAMP

2 Convenient Locations Toronto Campus: 21 Eddfield Avenue (Sheppard & Yonge) Richmond Hill Campus: 11 Headdon Gate (Bathurst & Major Mackenzie)

416-250-0648

ARTS

CURRENTS

Five outstanding things to do in March Engaging works by some of Toronto’s best artists by Ron Johnson

Clockwise from left: The Weather Station's new album ‘Ignorance’ is out now, iskwe plays a live stream show this month, and (L-R) composer Jake Heggie with baritone Joshua Hopkins

2. Virtual illusions and mentalism

This month, TO Live, the city’s arts program, presents the last installment of The Journey by renowned illusionist, mentalist and performance artist Scott Silven, a unique, immersive and interactive production in which Silven invites intimate groups of 30 into the world of his childhood home in Scotland, where a power of place and connection takes audiences on their own journey of discovery. According to show information, Silven, who performed at the city’s Luminato Festival in 2018, uses “audience participation to weave a

spellbinding story that leaves you wondering how did he do that?” Silven has more than 15 years of experience performing at some of the world's most exclusive events and theatres. For ticket information, go to Tolive.com. 3. Climate folk

One of Canada’s most gifted songwriters Tamara Lindeman, a.k.a. The Weather Station, has released a stunning new album entitled Ignorance. The new album was released last month, and she plays a live stream concert on March 11. Ignorance, Lindeman’s fifth album, was written back in 2019 and slow to release, thanks to a global pandemic. It’s a touching and thought-provoking work that shows the evolution of an artist in, at times, startlingly full control of her creative vision. The songs drip of private thoughts made public, not always willingly so. Her critiques of capitalism on “The Robber” and her hesitant yet powerful foray into the climate crisis debate are unique and riveting on songs such as “Atlantic,” upon which she sings, “Thinking I should get all this dying off of my mind, I should really know better than to

read the headlines. Does it matter if I see?” Lindeman says she wrote much of the work in the winter of 2019 and the climate crisis was top of mind. “The deepest emotional experience I had that winter,” Lindeman says, “was reading the IPCC special report on 1.5 degrees.… Nobody believes me when I say that.” This is easily one of the best albums of the year thus far and shows a dynamic new range for one of the country’s finest artists. Find out more about the concert and this album at Theweatherstation.net. 4. Toronto audio dramas

This month, the Factory Theatre is premiering You Can’t Get There From Here, a series of audio theatrical dramas set to get underway on March 25 and run until April 22. All of the dramas, which are available online for free everywhere podcasts are available, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts, are set in and around Toronto neighbourhoods and familiar landmarks. Canadian playwrights participating in the new works are Anusree Roy, Matthew

MacKenzie, Yvette Nolan, Keith Barker and Luke Reece. Go to Factorytheatre.ca for show information. 5. iskwe releases new project The Stars

The Stars is a reimagination of her album acākosīk and features new arrangements (by Darren Fung) of six songs with iskwē accompanied by a trio of piano (Michael Shand), cello (Mariel Gonzalez) and violin (Laura C. Bates), recorded live off the floor at Revolution Recording in Toronto, and a dramatic orchestral reimagining of “Night Danger (Lovers Mix)” recorded with the FILMharmonic Orchestra (Prague). Where acākosīk, originally released in November 2019, demanded our attention, The Stars invites us into an emotional and soulful experience with iskwē. The Stars will be released digitally on March 5, 2021. To celebrate its release, iskwē will appear at a special evening presentation on March 4 that includes a conversation with Canadian music legend Tom Wilson and a special performance from Revolution Recording. For more information, go to Iskwe.com.

MARCH 2021

On Sept. 22 in Renfrew County, Ont., a man brutally murdered three women, ex-partners. It was the worst case of domestic violence in the history of Canada, and baritone Joshua Hopkins’s sister Nathalie Warmerdam was one of the women. Hopkins began a journey to use his exceptional voice to raise awareness of this epidemic of gender-based violence, and he found two willing collaborators in opera and art song composer Jake Heggie and acclaimed Toronto writer Margaret Atwood. Together, they have created Songs for Murdered Sisters, a set of eight songs conceived as a chamber piece for vocal and piano as well as a fully orchestrated piece. “I have known two women who were murdered, both by jealous former romantic partners, so the killing of Joshua’s sister resonated with me,” Atwood says. “But I could not promise anything: with songs and poems, they either arrive or they don’t. I then wrote the sequence in one session. I made the ‘sisters’ plural because they are indeed – unhappily – very plural. Sisters, daughters, mothers. So many.”

Although the original live premieres in Houston and Ottawa have been postponed due to COVID-19, the remarkable work is available now via an accompanying film released last month and a digital album scheduled for March 5 to align with International Women’s Day the following Monday. Hopkins says he hopes that sharing this harrowing story through song will inspire other voices – of all genders – to take up the call in the future. For more information, go to Songsformurderedsisters.com.

| POST |

1. Beautiful art from tragic history

| POST | M A R C H 2 0 2 1

A fun, academic virtual learning experience for three year olds. Let's get ready for kindergarten!

TASTE TEST

FOOD

CAKE WALK Cupcakes appeared in recipe books dating as far back as the 18th century.

CAKE IT EASY Taste Test judge chef Mark McEwan helps us get into the spring spirit by sampling 15 colourful cupcakes. The results are sure to please adults and kids alike.

ALMOND BUTTERFLY

THE CUPCAKE SHOPPE

ELECTRIC LOVE

CUPCAKE CENTRAL

“I love the use of real espresso in vanilla frosting, and it pairs perfectly with the chocolate cake,” said McEwan, adding that the strawberry cupcake was “fresh and delicious.” He also thought the confetti cupcake would be a favourite for kids. 100 Harbord St., $25.50 for 6

McEwan liked the unique, fun flavours of the runner-up cupcakes, which include banana caramel and mint chocolate. “The frosting has a wonderful consistency, and it was nice to have the cream in the middle of the cake as well,” he said. 2417 Yonge St., $3.50 each

McEwan praised the cake base of this trio, describing it as “well done.” He added that he enjoyed these cupcakes’ mild sweetness and thought they were nicely decorated; although he wished the s’mores cupcake had more toasted marshmallow flavour. 788 Marlee Ave., $18 for 6

McEwan enjoyed the “homemade feel” of these cupcakes. “The cake is very dense and the icing is quite thick, which sets these apart,” he said. He also noted that the flavours were not too sweet. “I can definitely eat more than one,” he joked. 8763 Bayview Ave., $25 for 6

| POST |

THE ROLLING PIN McEwan praised the winning cupcakes for having a moist texture and great flavours, plus he appreciated the crunchy toppings. “These cupcakes are fun, and the decorations speak to the delicious flavours of each dessert,” he said. 1970 Avenue Rd., $3.95 each

MARCH 2021

RUNNER-UP

WINNER

SPRING HOME DESIGN GUIDE

WWW.PLAYRAINBOW.CA

905-795-3999 Book a Showroom Visit 3687 Nashua Dr., Unit 10, Mississauga Mon - Sat 10am - 4pm, Sun 12am - 5pm

— FREE DELIVERY* —

Italian made leather clearance centre

*with any order placed before March 28, 2021

| POST | M A R C H 2 0 2 1

Your Condo Reimagined: Think Outside The Box.

The Penguin Icon and Logotype are trademarks of Penguin Condo-Reno Ltd. ©2020. Financing options available O.A.C. Subject to credit approval. Penguin Condo-Reno, Penguin Basements and Penguin Kitchens are part of the Penguin Family of Companies and are Renomark™ certified. Smart clients read the small print & understand the value of hiring a professional.

Redesign your dysfunctional condo and turn that tired drab box into a fab spot. Maximize your living space or your rental income potential. Call us at 416 633-2894 or browse www.penguincondoreno.com to arrange a free personalized estimate.

Turning houses into homes since 1977

™

www.AltaModaFurniture.com

T. 416.636.5495 680 Rivermede Road . Concord . Ontario Keele St., North of Highway #7

NEWS

FOOD

One of T.O.’s top barbecue joints is reopening

L-R: A dish at DaiLo Pop-Up Noodles, chef Nick Liu

DaiLo comes to Yonge & Davisville DaiLo Pop-Up Noodles sets up a new home at Hot Black Coffee in midtown Spending time in a kitchen is natural for chef Nick Liu. Raised in Toronto, the son of Hakka parents, he grew up eating dishes that his family had been preparing for hundreds of years. It’s that passion for the cuisine of his ancestors, combined with modern flair that he brings to his restaurant DaiLo Kitchen and, now, DaiLo Pop-Up Noodles, his most recent project. “I started DaiLo doing pop-ups, and it’s exciting to be doing them again,” Liu says. The DaiLo pop-up was born out of pandemic necessity but has developed into a more permanent concept. “The main reason we are doing the popup is that there aren’t enough hours at DaiLo for my staff,” he says. “The pop-up keeps three more of our staff on the payroll. All of our employees that have decided they want to work have hours and health-care benefits.” DaiLo Pop-Up Noodles runs out of Hot

Black Coffee at 1993 Yonge St. (at Davisville) from Thursdays through Sundays, after Hot Black Coffee closes for the day. “The owner, Jimson Bienenstock, has been a great ally during this pandemic, and the response to the noodles has been incredibly positive,” Liu says. “So much so that we’re going to continue to operate in that space and are contemplating expanding hours to offer weekend brunch service.” The original DaiLo on College continues to offer weekly tasting menus. “I actually just partnered with a Canadian, plant-based protein company called SuperVega and, for Chinese New Year, created an eight-course tasting menu using their product on every dish,” he says. Although Liu says pivoting the business to accommodate the pandemic has been one of his most difficult challenges to date, he notes that optimism is key. “It seemed every couple of weeks we had

to switch business concepts to keep up with health regulations. It cost us a ton of money that we weren’t really making in sales at the time,” he says. “Maintaining a positive attitude is the most important attribute a business owner can have during this pandemic. There’s so much uncertainty, owners are stressed, and there’s so much more revolving factors that we deal with on the day to day, compared to before. It can be tough sometimes to put on a smile and appear positive for your staff.” In addition to the weekly takeout and delivery menu at DaiLo Pop-Up Noodles and tasting menus at DaiLo Kitchen, Liu is also offering NinjaChef Secret Sauces to his customer base. “The NinjaChef Secret Sauces started out of necessity. It was to add another stream of income to DaiLo but turned into a fun project that I really want to push forward,” he says. — Erica Commisso

The smoker at Earlscourt BBQ will be back up and running this month after a temporary closure that stretched on for over a year. The Corso Italia restaurant initially shuttered its doors in the wake of a fire in December 2019. In the ensuing months, owner Jason Rees says the restaurant encountered difficulties securing its insurance policy payout to cover the necessary repairs. Their challenges were further compounded when the pandemic hit a few months later. “In the last eight weeks, we’ve managed to get a little bit of financing,” says Rees. “We have just enough money to get the kitchen finished and to reopen now.” First opened in 2017, Earlscourt BBQ specializes in Southern-style barbecue made with seasonal ingredients sourced from local farmers. The restaurant quickly became a popular Corso Italia community hub, also known for its local craft beer and wine program. Rees says the restaurant’s reopening will see the return of many menu favourites. “All the classics will still be there,” he says. “You’ll still be able to buy our locally sourced sustainable meats and our classic sides like mac and cheese will never go away.” He adds, however, that he’s adapting the menu to fit a more takeout-friendly format. “I’ve got some new, fun things coming that are going to be designed to last well for takeout and reheating,” he hints. If the dine-in closure persists, Rees sees Earlscourt BBQ following in the footsteps of many other local restaurants and pivoting to a market and bottle shop concept. “I’m kind of blessed that I’ve been able to talk with other restaurant owners to see what’s worked for them in the last year,” he says. — Jessica Huras

Chef Marc Thuet opens a new café

MARCH 2021

emerged from a “brainstorming session over [a] Sunday night family dinner,” according to Thuet’s daughter, Jane. Jane, a realtor, was able to secure a location across the street from Thuet’s wholesale bakery; however, the space needed renovations. The Thuet family got to work and recruited local artist Jacqueline Poirier to create a custom “selfie wall.” Two days before the start of 2021, Petite Thuet opened in Leslieville. Serving everything from breakfast sandwiches to hot beverages and artisanal breads, the Paris-inspired café at 284 Carlaw Ave. is off to a strong start. By taking a calculated risk during a tough year for the restaurant industry, the Thuet family capitalized on the city’s renewed drive to support local. In short, they turned their pain into pain.

Before the pandemic, chef Marc Thuet was mainly known for his bread. Now, he’s known for pulling off an improbable expansion. Pre-pandemic, Thuet ran a production bakery on Carlaw Avenue and Petite Thuet, a small café in Rosedale. He had nailed down a successful wholesale-retail combination that featured the two businesses working hand in hand to support one another. When the restaurant and hospitality industry started feeling the pain of the pandemic, his clients (which include the CN Tower, King Edward Hotel and Fairmont Royal York) saw reductions in demand for his bread, and Thuet’s business hit an unexpected slump. Thuet could have folded, but instead he decided to expand. The idea for a secondary location for the café Petite Thuet

byTrevor Popoff

| POST |

This Leslieville outpost is inspired by Parisian boulangeries

Petite Thuet’s croissants

FOOD

NEWS

Little Sister specializes in Dutch-Indonesian small plates

A midtown success story continues Dutch-Indonesian hot spot heads south

| POST | M A R C H 2 0 2 1

by Jessica Huras

Little Sister, a popular midtown people downtown haven’t heard restaurant known for its about us because we’re a midtown distinctive Dutch-Indonesian restaurant coming downtown for fare, has opened a second location the first time,” she says. Gittens at Portland and Adelaide. Little says the new restaurant is larger Sister Portland features mainly than Little Sister’s Yonge Street familiar favourites from the menu location. The two-storey space of the restaurant’s original has decor that’s “an ode to the location plus a few unique new Balinese tropical feel” and bars on plates, including a vegan-friendly both floors. fried tempeh and eggplant dish “It’s very open and airy,” she served with tomato sambal. says. With no definite end to the Owners Michael van den indoor dining ban in sight, Winkel and Jennifer Gittens say Gittens and van den Winkel are they’ve also brought on a new bar hopeful about the possibility of manager, Robin Wynne, to outdoor dining resuming when oversee the restaurant’s the weather warms up, drinks program, which which would allow currently features them to serve diners ON THE MENU bottled cocktail kits on their 20-seat Fried tempeh and to go. patio. eggplant with cassava, Little Sister’s new Gittens says the mustard greens, location will also see pair is also poised to tomato sambal. the return of van den roll out a new ghost Winkel’s well-known kitchen in the Yonge Rijsttafel feasts, a Street location. Triple X traditional, multi-plate meal that Snack Bar will be inspired by the was a favourite at the owners’ late night eats served at snack previous restaurants, Quince bars in the Netherlands. Bistro and Noorden. Gittens says “It’s Dutch stoner food,” jokes the Rijsttafel feasts will be van den Winkel, saying the menu available on special occasions. will feature Dutch-Indonesian “We’ve been getting a great takes on comfort foods like response,” says Gittens of Little burgers, fries and hot dogs. Little Sister Portland, but she admits Sister Portland is currently open that it’s been challenging to open Wednesday to Sunday for pickup a new restaurant for takeout only. and delivery via Uber Eats and “They [diners] can’t see it, they DoorDash. can’t experience it, and lots of

NEWS

FOOD

L-R: Dishes at Azhar, Gusto 54 CEO Janet Zuccarini

Gusto 54 lands on Ossington Inside Janet Zuccarini’s Middle Eastern market

The Food

“Everything is based around the wood-fired oven,” says Cameron. When partnering up with Janet Zuccarini’s Gusto 54 Group, Cameron already had a vision of the colossal oven being the centrepiece of his new kitchen. Fire roasting eggplants and red peppers to create the dips and baking all the bread in-house, the marketplace at Azhar is showcasing the many facets of

The Drinks

Carrying the sustainable philosophy of the kitchen into its drink program, Azhar’s wine list is focused on low-intervention vino from smaller producers across the Mediterranean and Europe. Azhar has partnered with Leslieville’s Avling Brewery to create a symbiotic brew featuring the restaurant's leftover sourdough. “We partnered up with them to

make the twice baked beer. We actually donate all our sourdough at the end of each day that doesn't sell, over to their brewery where they ferment it,” says Azhar's general manager Matteo Floris. Azhar Marketplace has also got you covered for non-alcoholic beverages. With beautiful loose leaf teas from Metropolitain Teas and Turkish coffee, you can indulge in on site, Azhar’s marketplace cultivates the atmosphere of a Middle Eastern bazaar that’s found its way onto Ossington Avenue. The Space

“One of the meanings of the word “Azhar” is “light,” so we wanted to use light in a really imaginative way,” says Rochelle Singer, marketing and communications manager for Gusto 54 Group. From the floor-to-ceiling windows that stretch across the front of the marketplace, to the creative use of light to accentuate all the curvatures of the ceilings, this space is truly representative of the word “Azhar.” Curated by Navigate Design, the open and textural space is warm and alluring. The details in the walls, floors and bar are all accentuated by a bright open kitchen at the back of the space. The exposed brick oven and chef ’s block allow for the entire space to feel connected to what's going on in the kitchen “I think in post-COVID times this will be such a great experience for guests,” says Singer.

MARCH 2021

Cameron's culinary imagination, as well as preserving his grassroots inspiration for the restaurant. “For us, the highlights are the ingredients,” says Cameron. With beautiful imported products like fig leaves from Israel and red walnuts from California, Cameron is creating simple yet robustly flavourful dishes. The marketplace allows customers to see the versatility of Azhar’s products, fuelling anticipation for the upcoming full menu. Experimenting with the woodfired oven, baker Hunter Glaude is working with overnight fermentations of sourdoughs and potato breads to create rustic baked goods with better digestibility and unmatched flavour. New meal kits are also in the works, like the Shakshuka Kit ($30) that includes Azhar’s homemade shakshuka sauce; toum; a house-made shawarma spice; schug; six eggs; pecorino cheese; and Azhar’s wood-fired barbari bread.

| POST |

Azhar, the latest addition to Janet Zuccarini’s ever-expanding restaurant empire, is turning heads on the Ossington strip. The brainchild of her partner and executive chef Stuart Cameron, this new marketplace marries Middle Eastern influences with local ingredients, all prepared in a state-of-the-art wood-fired oven. Cameron, who is no stranger to Middle Eastern cooking, is focusing on sustainability and authenticity with this new project. With its wood-fired baked breads, Middle Eastern sauces, hand-mixed spice blends and dips and spreads, Azhar is giving its clientele a taste of what’s to come when its full dine-in services are able to open. By rotating its menu and experimenting with new creations every week, Azhar is able to test and tease future dishes to see how they resonate with the community. “We wanted to get things that are different and exciting, even in the COVID times,” says Cameron.

by Nicole Richie

Canadian Bicycle Recycling

FOOD

PROFILE

Donate Your Used Bicycles We’ll pick them up for free! canadianbicyclerecycling.com Clockwise from left: Lucullus Bakery interior, CEO Stone Yu and egg tarts

laroccakitchen.com (416) 901-2444

A 30-year baking legacy at Lucullus This 905 bakery makes it all from scratch by Jessica Huras

PINEAPPLE COCONUT CAKE

| POST | M A R C H 2 0 2 1

Chewy coconut almond dacquoise, pineapple compote, exotic fruit mousse, and caramelized pineapple whipped ganache

Order your Easter treats online or visit us at 2638 Yonge St. jjust north of Eglinton! g

Stone Yu’s initiation into the world of baking came early. Much of his childhood was spent in the kitchen of his family bakery, learning from a team of Hong Kong–born chefs. Yu’s parents opened Lucullus Bakery in 1991 after moving to the Greater Toronto Area from Hong Kong. He later refined this handson education, studying the culinary program at Le Cordon Bleu Ottawa Culinary Arts Institute. Now as CEO of Lucullus, which has since opened additional locations in Richmond Hill and Unionville, Yu is focused on finding a balance between tradition and innovation. He says that in Toronto, and even back in Hong Kong, many bakeries have shifted over the years to reselling premade frozen products. Lucullus sets itself apart by steering clear of these shortcuts. “We do the important parts by hand,” says Yu, explaining that the bakery makes as much as possible from scratch, including bun fillings, breads and pastries. “We make our puff pastry for our egg tarts every day. That recipe has stayed the same for 30 years,” he says. “We also roast the pork that goes into our BBQ pork bun filling every day.” Although staying true to traditional Chinese baking ingredients and techniques is

important to Yu, he’s also dedicated to continuously revising old recipes and developing new ones. “Recently I’ve been taking a lot of inspiration from Japanese and Korean baking,” he says. “I try to learn interesting things and see what I can incorporate into our selection.” He aims to eschew trends in favour of creating a community hub, where customers can stock up on fresh, high-quality baked goods every day. “If a store is chasing Instagram fads, I’ve seen many of them have to close down. They don’t have longevity,” he says. “We make our bakery a daily product. We want to be the neighbourhood bakery that’s almost like a grocery store.” With Lucullus celebrating 30 years in business this year, Yu has his eye on the future. There are plans in the works for two more locations to open in 2021, including one in North York’s Willowdale neighbourhood set to open this spring. Yu also has a vision of franchising the bakery, providing an opportunity for other GTA families to own their own business. “Starting a business like ours in Canada is a lot more difficult now than it was 30 years ago,” he says. “The franchises could empower a lot of people.”

NEWS

FOOD

Students consistently make 1-2 years of growth in 50hrs of instruction Regardless of age, disability, challenge or label, Fit Learning provides a transformational learning experience for every child.

L-R: Pies from Ambassador Pizza Co. and One Night Only Pizza

T.O.’s best new takeout pizza spots From one-night-only joints to Windsor-style pies

You’ll need to book early to snag one of the in-demand pizzas served by this weekend-only popup by Toronto resident Josh McIlwaine. After a brief stint training at North of Brooklyn Pizzeria, McIlwaine launched his own take on New York–style pie. Pre-orders for Saturday pickup open mid-week, and McIlwaine typically sells out well before the weekend. Initially a home-based business, the Mac’s Pizza pop-up recently moved into Century Park Tavern in Davenport village. Sohmers Pizza

Another one-person, Saturdayonly pizza pop-up, Sohmers Pizza sees owner Daniel Sohmer making pies out of Junction bakery Saving Mondays each week. The thick, square pizzas come in just three simple flavours — cheese, pepperoni or half-and-half — and typically sell out for the week as soon as ordering opens on Wednesdays.

Ambassador Pizza Co. is bringing Windsor-style pies to Toronto. For those unfamiliar with the Rose City’s signature ’za, it features shredded pepperoni as well as canned mushrooms. Although canned mushrooms may seem controversial, Windsor pizza fans will tell you that they hold their texture better in the high heat of the pizza oven, and the shredded pepperoni helps distribute the tasty topping more evenly across the pie. Located across from Ossington subway station, Ambassador offers five iterations of Windsor pizza. Church of Pizza

Church Wellesley village bar Storm Crow Manor has added the Church of Pizza to its playful food and drink lineup. Pies come in 12or 16-inch sizes and many are topped with a sauce made from foodie favourite San Marzano tomatoes. Those familiar with Storm Crow’s other concepts, such as Deathburgers, know the brand’s love of tongue-in-cheek themes. Church of Pizza is no exception, with pie names featuring religious references like Pope-rroni Pie and Hail Mary, Four of Cheese. Ghost Pizza

West Queen West watering hole Bar Poet, already known for its tasty pies, has pivoted to a pizzafocused operation known as Ghost Pizza. Pies come in 12- or 16-inch sizes and range from a classic margherita to more inventive

by Jessica Huras

toppings like the shrimp alfredo, which is layered with tiger shrimp, alfredo sauce, Parmesan, lemon, herbs and chilies. Ghost’s dipping sauces go above and beyond the standard garlic, available in flavours like truffle hot sauce and “srirancha.” One Night Only Pizza

After a wildly successful summer, home-based pizza operation One Night Only Pizza is set to move into a brick-and-mortar location in Riverdale. The classic, thin-crust pizzas come in four varieties: cheese, pepperoni, mushroom and spicy pepperoni with pickled jalapenos. For now, customers need to place orders via email, and there’s typically a wait list, but with the storefront set to open in the coming months and a new website on the way, it may soon be easier to get your hands on One Night Only’s pizza any night of the week. Aces Pizza

Entertainment District watering hole Dublin Calling has swapped out pub classics like burgers and nachos for pizza amid the pandemic. Working under the new brand, Aces Pizza, the restaurant is now offering thick, square Detroit-style pizzas in inventive flavours, such as the “KOFC,” which is topped with Korean-fried chicken, brick cheese, mozzarella, Korean BBQ sauce, kimchi, sesame seeds and green onions.

PERFECT FAMILY MEAL FOR 6 Smaller gatherings, same outstanding food! Friends and Family Meal for 6. (6 good eaters!)

Choose Your Pasta: Penne Rose, Fusilli Alfredo, Spaghetti Marinara, Fettuccine Pesto Alfredo, Penne Tomato-Basil, or Spaghetti all'Arrabbiata (spicy)

Choose Your Main: Veal Cutlet in Sauce, Oven Roast Sausage, Chicken Parmigiana, Grilled Chicken Breast, Roast Chicken Quarter, or Beef Meatballs (3/guest)

Choose Your Side: Veggie Rice, Steamed Veggies, Peas & Mushrooms, Oven Roast Potatoes, Grilled Veggie Medley, Veggie & Potato Medley, or Sautéed Mushrooms, Onions & Peppers

Choose Your Salad: Garden Salad, Caesar Salad, or Mixed Greens Choose Your Bread: Homemade Focaccia, Fresh Bread, or Garlic Bread Phone 416-665-1999 or email SandrasItalianKitchen@gmail.com

Online take-out menu: sandrasitaliankitchen.com

MARCH 2021

Mac’s Pizza

Ambassador Pizza Co.

Where the Science of Learning Meets the Art of Teaching

| POST |

From smash burgers to fried chicken, comfort food is a pandemic-related dining trend that’s showing no signs of slowing down. With the ongoing demand for belly-warming foods that travel well, it makes sense that new pizzerias have been popping up all over the city in the last few months. Here are our top picks for some of the best new pizzas in Toronto.

“He learns more in a Fit session than he did in weeks of regular school. And he feels so good about himself. I love this. Thank you.” − Erin, Lawrence Park

Aafrien - “In praise”- is what defines our restaurant. Staying true to the humility and tradition of Indian flavours, Aafiren offers a fine dining atmosphere unlike any other.

Toronto’s refined palette may be familiar with Indian cuisine but, Aafrien is here to provide quality Indian food elevated by our refined modern dining experience. Owner Mr. Pratik Parmar and head chef Mr. Dinesh Sharma joined hands with a vision of escalating the Indian dining experience. Pratik Parmar Owner

Opening a restaurant in Phase 3 was a very bold and difficult decision. The team at Aafrien is confident that by bringing the right amalgamation of flavours and fresh ingredients, the restaurant will flourish.

55 Eglinton Ave East, Toronto 416 482 3434 info@aafrien.com www.aafrientoronto.com

Dinesh Sharma Head Chef

aafrientoronto

Special delivery. Twenty years ago, we made it our goal to seek out distinctive, characterful wines crafted by winemakers with vision. From this simple ideal, we’ve built long-lasting relationships and a unique portfolio of exceptional wines. Many of the wines we represent are available exclusively from The Vine, and are not sold in LCBO stores. Visit our online store and connect with our representative in your neighbourhood.

CONTACT: WINE@THEVINEAGENCY.CA / 416 .693.7994

Distinctive wines that reflect a sense of place and the character and passion of the winemaker. Shop online at theVineAgency.ca for home delivery. Please enjoy responsibly.

A UNIQUE PORTFOLIO OF ESTATE AND ARTISAN WINES

| POST | M A R C H 2 0 2 1

Great wines, delivered personally right to your door.

N IVER

FEATURE

FOOD

Survive then thrive Piano Piano star chef Victor Barry on the rise of virtual restaurants by Jessica Huras

Clockwise from left: chef Victor Barry, a Double Victory Burger and Victory Pizza's Holy Shitake

It's been tough. We’ve had our moments, up and down. I think we’ve fared pretty well throughout this entire time. I think the mental fortitude side of it is the thing that will get anyone through it. We’ve launched a couple of virtual brands, which have been great. I’ve been talking about doing a virtual kitchen out of the basement of Piano Piano on Harbord Street since 2016. We never really got to it because we didn’t really have to, but COVID has really put us all under pressure. We’ve had to come up with great new ideas in order to create revenue. We’ve had to change what we do. Tell us about the idea behind your new virtual restaurants.

I’ve been wanting to do this pizza concept since we opened [Piano Piano] five years ago. It wasn’t necessarily going to be called Victory Pizza. But it was

What was the strategy behind launching separate virtual concepts?

I wanted to drum up more business by having secondary sites and secondary brands. I don't want people to go on to Piano Piano’s online [ordering] platforms and order a burger instead. They’re already on my Piano Piano platform. They’re on my site and they're going to order food. Instead, I wanted to get external people that weren’t already on it. By having a new website and a new online ordering system, that was extra income

that we were producing. Do you think virtual restaurants are here to stay?

Initially, there was a little pushback from a couple of people who didn’t quite understand the idea of a virtual restaurant. There wasn’t a great understanding of what I was looking to do. But I think that people are starting to get it. Once we did it, people had no problem. They were like, “Oh, it’s out of Piano Piano.” It wasn’t a huge hurdle for them to get over. I think the big reason that people hadn't gotten over it yet is because they didn’t have to before.

What do your profit margins look like now compared to prior to the pandemic?

It’s about creating revenue rather than actually making money. Right now it's all about just making it to the other side. That’s really the name of the game. As a restaurant group, we’re profitable right now. We’re chugging along nicely, which is good. Has the government support available for restaurants made a meaningful impact for you?

Personally, I feel like the government has done a good job. They’ve stepped up and they’ve given tons of support. We’re

“Right now it’s all about just makng it to the other side.” I think moving forward, it will be a widely accepted thing and you're going see a lot more of them. Toronto and Canada are a little bit behind. In the States, it’s a perfectly accepted thing. I think it's a great addition to the food service industry in Toronto. Virtual restaurants are going to be a big thing and dining at home is going to be a big thing. I think that virtual restaurants are around to stay.

making money with the help of the Government of Canada and Ontario using the CEWS (Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy) and the CERS (Canadian Emergency Rent Subsidy). If we didn’t have it, I wouldn't be having this conversation. I don’t know if we would have made it this long without any government support. But eventually, there’s going to be no more CEWS and CERS. Those things are going to dry up.

At which point, I think the government is going to have to allow us to have full capacity of our restaurants. What kind of thought have you given to what your restaurants will look like when they reopen?

There are so many variables to answer that question that I think it’s really hard to answer it now. It’s going to take time. We’re not going to be able to just ram all of the seats and all the tables back in the restaurants, right? There’s going to be a transitional period where some people are comfortable going out and eating in a spaced out, 50 per cent capacity area. Then when all the restrictions get lifted, restaurants are slowly going to have to get back to where they used to be, over a period of time. I think that’ll come along the same time as the general population has received a vaccine. But it’s going to take time for people to start to feel safe. I don’t think it’s going to be an easy year. I think that we’re going to have to keep grinding. I also believe that restaurants have been around for hundreds of years, thousands of years, so they’re going to come back. For the full interview with Victor Barry, check out our new restaurant podcast out soon on Apple iTunes and on TRNTO.com.

MARCH 2021

What has the last year been like for you as a restaurant owner?

definitely going to be Sicilian pan-style pizza that we really wanted to do. We created a new brand called “Victory” around my name. That’s basically what my name means is to be victorious. We also wanted to just have a great cheeseburger and we wanted it to be simple. We started off with just a double cheeseburger, French fries and drinks and that was it. We listened to what the guests were asking for, so we’ve added on the single burger. We’re also going to add on a couple of new things coming up — maybe a fried chicken sandwich because everyone is crazy about fried chicken in Toronto.

| POST |

We sat down with chef Victor Barry of Piano Piano to talk about the launch his two new virtual restaurants and what he thinks the coming months have in store for the Toronto dining industry.

LOOKING BACK BEFORE YOU GO, TAKE A GANDER AT THESE FIVE HISTORIC EVENTS FROM MARCHS OF YEARS PAST MARCH 2021 EDITION

| POST | M A R C H 2 0 2 1

The Toronto Blue Jays will spend this March in Dunedin, Florida, where they have held their spring training since their expansion in 1977. Pictured: Former hitting coach turned World Series–winning manager Cito Gaston.

On March 29, 1966, Canadian heavyweight boxing champion George Chuvalo (right) went toe to toe with the legendary Cassius Clay at Maple Leaf Gardens.

The popular ‘Cats’ musical first opened at the Elgin Theatre on March 14, 1985. The city’s theatre-goers look forward to once again catching a live show.

Abigail Hoffman, who secretly played for a boys team, was properly recognized as one of the best players in the Toronto Hockey League in March of 1956 after it was revealed that she was actually a girl.

Right on the threshold of a very promising career, Gordon Lightfoot performed at Yorkville’s Riverboat Coffee House in March 1965.

AX-MAR-2021-IBC_IBC 2021-02-17 10:59 AM Page 1

/spiritofmath