Annex Post November 2022

DISASTER DATE TO SECRET WEDDING David Hewlett and Jane Loughman on mixing

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T.O.’s WNBA star on the Raptors and her grand return

After a blown anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) sidelined her for a year, Kia Nurse returned to the court at the World Cup, but that’s only a slice of what she’s got going on. We chat with her about her comeback, the Raps, a women’s pro team in T.O. & the Olympic Games.

The number of homes, in the millions, Ontario plans to build over the next 10 years.

The date, in October, when film legend Meryl Streep got up onstage to sing with Toronto band Broken Social Scene.

What teams are going to be in the NBA finals?

I think, from my perspective, the Ben Simmons [player with the Brooklyn Nets] experiment might just work out, mainly because he can be moved off the ball — he doesn't have to be a shooter, he can be a playmaker — and Kyrie Irving off the ball. Oh my God, I would never want to guard that. So, I like the Nets if they don't fall apart. In the west, I still very much like the Golden State Warriors.

How about the Raptors?

I think obviously, this Raptors team, they gravitate toward similar types of player, which is lanky, versatile, athletic. They can guard multiple positions, they play positionless basketball. That's tough to play against on a nightly basis. And they all play hard, nittygritty on the defensive end, which is where they hang their hat. And it gets them out in transition for easy points. So for me, I think this is another playoff team. I think they're still in the growth stages. But I do think this is a good team. I think they can get themselves an opportunity to play in the playoffs and make a run if they want.

Who will have a breakout season?

I want to see what Scotty Barnes can do outside of what we saw last season. Think about what the Raptors got out of Scottie Barnes last year. It's absolutely insane. That was way more than anyone projected. So I'm interested to see how his growth continues.

You came back at the recent World Cup after a year off due to injury. How did it feel?

Honestly, it was such an incredible feeling. It's hard to put into words, but it was a combination of 11 months of work and of rehab, good days and bad days, then I got the opportunity to finally play again. It was just a happy time.

There's just so much joy and excitement to be back out there, like a kid in a candy shop.

What was most challenging about the recovery?

It was more of the mental side of things that was probably the most challenging, and feeling like you're ready to go but knowing that you probably shouldn't be out there because you could reinjure yourself. It feels like a never-ending process.

Did you pick up any hobbies?

I was already a pretty big reader. I like reading murder mystery books, especially. But I had a lot more time to do reading. So I got into a little bit of fantasy, as well as the Sarah J. Mass novels. And honestly, I just learned how to actually sit down and relax and be OK with not doing something.

Are you looking ahead to the 2024 Olympic Games?

Absolutely. If you look at how the Olympic team works, as an athlete, you're looking at it in terms of a quad, so four years that it takes

to get to the Olympics and kind of what the process is to qualify. So, you know, world championships was basically step number two for us. And this is definitely, you know, what you work toward: is having the opportunity to represent your country at the highest level, which would be the games, and having gone to two of them has been incredible.

There’s a record number of Canadians in the NBA. Is that growth paralleled on the women’s side?

I think we are getting more young women picking up the ball and having more opportunities for them to play. Back in my childhood, I started playing for Hamilton Transway, an all-women’s program. I think it truly makes a difference when young women have their own space in a sport.

Are we going to get a WNBA team up here or what?

I think the WNBA is clearly looking toward Canada and looking toward expansion. I know we're bringing, I believe, one exhibition game here next year to Toronto, and so having the opportunity for young women to see the WNBA in Canada live, having the opportunity for the game of basketball to continue to grow on a different front than just simply the Raptors, will be really important and really exciting for our fans.

—Ron Johnson

The percentage increase in the price of cereal, which tops the list of inflationary food products.

The number of active cranes in Toronto late in 2022, the most in North America, and many times more than L.A.

The fee Drake was paid to perform at the Kool Haus, opening for Ice Cube, in 2006 — early in his career.

L-R: Kia Nurse is one of the veterans of Canada’s national women’s team

Images

FIBA

Former TTC chair on the never-ending Crosstown LRT

There is plenty of blame and criticism to go around and a tripling of the $5.5 billion budget

While I was chair of the TTC, the hot topic of the day was how badly the TTC managed construction projects. The examples included the new streetcar storage facility and the extension of the YongeUniversity Spadina line. The evidence was everywhere: cost overruns, delays, contractor issues, unforeseen problems during construction and political interference — just to name a few.

So the TTC got out of the capital construction business and gave the job of building new transit lines to the provincial agency called Metrolinx. The agency began construction of the largest transit project in Canada, Eglinton Crosstown LRT, and, not surprisingly, there are cost overruns, delays, contractor issues, unforeseen problems during construction and political interference.

At present, there is no opening date for the 19-kilometre transit line. There is no schadenfreude in this observation. Transit projects

are notoriously difficult to build on time and on budget. Like any construction project, there are unforeseen challenges that are amplified when the bulk of the project must take place underground.

Andy Byford, former CEO of the TTC, recounted to me a time while he was working at the London Underground and

construction on the Liverpool Street underground rail and station came to a halt because ancient artifacts were found including 300-year-old coins.

At midtown, construction at the Eglinton Crosstown station came to a halt when tunnel boring revealed defective underground watertight compartments from the 1950s that would need to be

repaired before further tunnel construction could continue.

According to Anne Marie Aikins, spokesperson for Metrolinx, experts from around the world were brought in to figure out the best solution to the structural issues.

Then there were the political decisions to add Leaside and Chesswood as underground stations to the original plan, adding to costs and timelines.

The pandemic didn’t help either. The public-private consortium that is building the Eglinton Crosstown fell behind schedule and ended up suing Metrolinx for additional costs. The original cost of the project was $5.5 billion and the final project costs will likely be closer to three times that amount.

The escalating budget has meant scaling back some of the commitments in the original plan, which had four lanes of traffic and bike lanes from Yonge Street to Mt. Dennis. The current plan only

includes two lanes of traffic in and around Allen Road to accommodate bike lanes.

L ocal communities and businesses across Eglinton are begging for the end of construction. The disruption to the area has been going on for close to a decade. Of course, now it is city councillors and the mayor bemoaning the province for mismanagement of the transit project instead of the other way around.

The city leadership may want to be a bit more circumspect in their criticism, lest the province decide to hand back to the TTC the costs of new transit construction and the headaches that come with it.

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

Crosstown LRT car

KAREN STINTZ

Wanted: city hall disruptors

The decline in local democracy in Toronto is something the provincial government must see as one of its great successes.

This was the quietest city election in many decades. At our house with less than a week to go before election day, we had yet to receive a single election pamphlet from anyone — not from mayoralty candidates or councillors or school trustees. Our street usually has lots of lawn signs, but this year not one, and as I walked the dog in the neighbourhood, I found one lonely sign on a street two blocks away.

I am not mistaken in thinking Toronto is facing more challenging issues now than it has in recent memory.

But many residents have learned it is not worth speaking up. Twenty-six years ago when the province introduced the idea of the megacity, all six local municipalities held referenda and with a record turnout, more than 76 per cent voted against the megacity. The province said a silent majority was in favour and went ahead with the legislation.

The province then cut the subsidy to public transit and its share of the cost of 40,000 rentgeared-to-income housing units, forcing the city to cover $400 to $500 million in new costs. It cut welfare rates by 22 per cent when city council was trying to get them increased. Clearly the province wanted to harm local democracy and local government, and since then, no provincial government has righted these wrongs.

The attack in 2018 went further when, without warning or consultation, the province slashed the number of councillors from 47 — a number agreed to after much public consultation by the Ontario Municipal Board and the Ontario courts — to 25, wards so large that no councillor is able to attend all of the community meetings that happen in that ward. That was followed by the provincial practice of Ministerial Zoning Orders that cut out citizen input into redevelopment decisions. And most recently, again with no

development applications since the city does not have the money to retain staff.

One can say the changes in 2018 and this year are simply the work of Premier Doug Ford, but he was merely the instigator: in each case, the legislation was unanimously supported by the Conservative Party members of the legislature. Some may have known better, but they are a necessary part of the attack on local democracy in Toronto.

What is going to stop this trend to diminish local democracy in Toronto? We need some young leaders willing to step forward and cause good trouble at city hall and Queen’s Park, forcing the hand of all those currently elected.

warning or consultation, the province has passed the Strong Mayors Act.

The province also passed legislation this year setting firm timelines for council decisions on development applications, timelines so tight that they do not permit reasonable community consultation. If those deadlines are not met, the city will lose the fees attached to those applications, about $25 million a year.

Given the city’s precarious financial position (it is short some $800 million for the budget year 2023), there’s a vacancy rate of about 15 per cent in the department that handles

The province needs serious reform. The city needs more powers and more access to the enormous tax revenues produced here from HST, income and corporate taxes — revenues swallowed whole by the provincial and federal governments.

We need leaders who will focus on these changes and hammer away at them to restore confidence among Toronto residents that it is worth participating in the governance of the city.

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Young, energetic councillors can help counter power drain to the province

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The percentage by which business openings have dropped, according to credit agency Equifax, citing rising economic pressure.

Our neighbourhoods’ main thoroughfares are facing new challenges and threats after COVID

The percentage of main street customers who live within a 10-minute walk.

Toronto continues to be a city of neighbourhoods, and one of the places that this expression is best illustrated is the main street shopping strips that run through so many of these areas, from Leaside’s south Bayview strip to Little Jamaica on Eglinton and Thornhill village.

These areas not only characterize and give life to neighbourhoods, they create their own little economies. The shops and services employ local residents. They sponsor our sports teams and donate products for school raffles. These small local businesses are invaluable to communities, yet they continue to face immense challenges.

First, a pandemic, which still rages, although the health and safety measures have all but disappeared, and that was bad enough for local business. Combine that with a potential recession, inflation and general economic bad news, and you’ve got a potent mix that continues to challenge main street businesses ahead of the most important shopping time of the year.

Foxies Bakeshop opened up recently on the Mount Pleasant Road strip south of Eglinton Avenue East. Jessica and her sister Sarah (who asked that only their first names be used) started the business online, which “took off” during COVID, and they decided to open a brick-and-mortar shop.

They chose Mount Pleasant because of the community vibe.

“It's like a very tight-knit community,” Jessica said. “We like that kind of vibe, which I think is really helpful for small businesses.”

But they are now facing some serious cost increases thanks to inflation. “It’s pretty tough in the sense of our ingredients and costs: like butter alone has gone up crazy,” Jessica said. “But we are adapting. In this environment with baked goods, inflation has definitely been tough.”

Maureen Sirois is the chair of the Eglinton Way BIA and president of Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA). According to Sirois, the situation is precarious.

“Businesses opened during the pandemic, but there are still

vacancies, although a lot of the businesses in our BIA on Eglinton are older businesses, so they’ve sustained themselves,” she explained. “But I’ve spoken to some of my colleagues in other BIAs, and some of them are hanging on by their fingernails.”

After a brief surge following the easing of pandemic restrictions, retail sales began to fall over the summer. Now, with inflation and recession news every day, consumers are rightly concerned.

The federal government continues to offer grants to small storefront businesses, which it began during the pandemic. The money flows through the City of Toronto, which donates staff time, through the Main Street Recovery and Rebuild initiatives.

The best-known initiative launched by the city is the popular CaféTO program. But there are others including the Retail Accelerator Program and the Vacant Commercial Space Rehabilitation Grant program.

It continues a long history of the city promoting local businesses dating back to the establishment of

Business Improvement Areas back in 1970.

“We partnered with the federal government to put together a suite of programs and supports to really dial in on the specifics of how small businesses are being challenged,” said Lesley Vaage, manager, Main Street Initiatives, Economic Development & Culture – City of Toronto. “In total, it's $18 million of funding from the federal government plus the City of Toronto's contribution.”

Vaage added that the city hopes businesses take advantage of the funding. The owners of Foxies Bakeshop had no idea these initiatives even existed.

Sirois says it's up to local residents to place a value on these main street businesses and the good they do in the community and act accordingly.

“It's up to the customers to decide if they need to vote with their feet and their wallets,” she said. “The money that they spend on main street businesses stays in the community. It employs local people. So it's vital that people continue to support us.”

The percentage of independent business owners in Toronto who are motivated by a desire to contribute to community.

The minimum percentage of Toronto residents who prefer to shop in independent businesses for food, personal services, restaurants and bars.

The percentage of Torontonians doing less shopping at Toronto malls.

The percentage of Toronto residents who think it’s important to be able to walk or bike to a shopping district.

Inflation,

of the

season by Ron Johnson

Clockwise from left: CaféTO patios brought life to city streets and helped small business, Maureen Sirois and Eglinton Way board member Ron Beben at a BIA event, Foxies Bakeshop on Mount Pleasant Road

Canadian Tire could be selling condos?

Yonge and Davenport site seen as a key development for the area

by Eric Stober

A development proposal has been submitted for the flagship and historic Canadian Tire site at Yonge Street and Davenport Road that could mean demolishing the store.

Two towers, sitting at 41 and 49 storeys, have been proposed for 835–839 Yonge St. where the Canadian Tire, a Service Ontario office and a parking lot currently reside. Canadian Tire itself is actually proposing to build the condominiums and hopes to reopen the store in the same location at the base of the towers.

A total of 950 residential units, ranging from one to three bedrooms, are planned.

Local city councillor Mike Layton said that the site could probably use some density, given its proximity to two subway stations, but he strongly insisted that there is an opportunity to create a connection between Yonge and the Rosedale Valley ravine over existing subway tracks as part of the construction. The Studio Building, once home to members of the Group of Seven and a national historic site, is right behind the Canadian Tire and could possibly be a location a walkway could connect to.

Paul Bedford, former chief city planner for Toronto and the director of community planning with the Greater Yorkville Residents’ Association, also iterated support for a pedestrian

bridge to the ravine and said the community has long desired such a connection. Bedford, who previously took part in a Zoom meeting with the developers to go over the plans, said that their initial reaction was that it would be a big undertaking, but they ultimately didn’t say no to the idea. He pointed out the John Street pedestrian bridge over tracks in the Weston neighbourhood as an example of one that was done right. “It’s not a big deal,” Bedford said. “It’s done all the time.”

Bedford said the developer plans to demolish the Canadian Tire site and rebuild a new one while keeping the store’s historic facade that was built in 1929. The property was added to the city’s heritage register in 1986.

Bedford said the developers were open to having an interim location for the store during the expected four to five years of construction.

The gas station at Yonge and Davenport is also included in the plans with a vision for it to be 672 square metres of publicly accessible green space.

Layton did note that the development could create shadows onto Rosedale Valley, which would be unavoidable if anything were to be built on the site. Bedford, for one, is skeptical of the height chosen by the developers.

“How did they arrive at 49 and 41 storeys?” He asked. “What’s magic about that?”

A rendering of the proposed development

Avenue Road getting worse?

Residents want change, but people keep getting hurt by Ron Johnson

Recently, a cyclist was hit by a school bus while trying to cross Avenue Road in midtown Toronto. It’s not the first time someone has been hit along Avenue Road and it won’t be the last, which is why local residents and residents’ associations have been calling for the six-lane stretch of the thoroughfare south of St. Clair to be reimagined as a complete street that makes vulnerable road users the priority instead of automobiles.

Brock Howes was cycling along Cottingham Avenue in the summer when the incident occurred. Cottingham is a small two-lane residential street that runs east-west and ends at Avenue Road. A trailer was attached to the rear of his bicycle, although his kids were not in the trailer at the time.

“I was seated with one foot on the ground, one foot on a pedal. Usually I’d … pull out and use the road on the other side, but I saw the bus coming and was able to fully dismount and jump away from the bike as he hit me,” said Howes.

Howes ferries his kids across the city in the trailer and was on his way to Branksome Hall on July 19 for summer camp pickup. He said the bus driver stopped after hitting him.

“I think he was in shock too,” said Howes.

The issue with Avenue Road, one that has been ongoing since the stretch was widened by the city to six lanes some 60 years ago, is that once drivers hit St. Clair and head downhill, speeds

increase and the risks to vulnerable road users skyrocket dramatically. People have died, including Miguel Escanan, a teenage cyclist, in 2021.

Howes said he would like to see Avenue Road returned to four lanes with wider sidewalks and protected bike lanes with some separation from vehicles.

“If we could make the lanes a bit more narrow and less direct that would be even better,” said Howes.

He’s not the first to advocate for improved safety on Avenue Road. The Avenue Road Safety

highest rate of collisions within 53 Division.”

There is no question that Avenue Road is not as safe as it could be. But as it is one of the main ways commuters and residents get downtown, change has been glacial.

“I think in 2017 there was a community meeting at Timothy Eaton Church, where the city presented its work,” said Henry Wiercinski, of the Annex Residents’ Association. “And when the residents looked at it, it was basically a traffic survey for cars. I don't think they ever mentioned the word ‘pedestrian.’ ”

The City of Toronto, according to Wiercinski, would consider looking at significant street improvements for Avenue Road when it was up for renewal — in 2040. Needless to say, local residents were not impressed and pressured the city and elected officials.

Coalition has been trying to convince the city to make changes for at least six years. Although it was a slow start, the city is finally studying the situation.

“One of the major things that we found out is that 85 per cent of the vehicles travelling on Avenue Road are either travelling at or above the posted speed limit,” said Arlene Desjardins of ARSC. “And one of the shocking things that I had heard (at a community police liaison committee meeting) is that the Avenue and Davenport intersection has the second

The city is now studying Avenue Road, between Bloor Street and St. Clair Avenue “to find opportunities to improve the street with emphasis on safety, mobility choices, and enhancing streetscape. Streets are places where everyone should feel safe, comfortable and connected,” reads the city’s webpage.

But, it’s not moving fast.

“We're not going to wait until 2040,” said Wiercinski. “What we're looking for are action items that can be implemented now, short of rebuilding the road to try to make it a more pedestrianfriendly, people-friendly environment.”

A bike belonging to Brock Howes on the ground after he was hit by the school bus

ever

Trudeau talks hockey at neighbourhood rink

Prime Minister makes appearance amidst Hockey Canada scandal

by Nisean Lorde

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with young hockey players of the Toronto Leaside Wildcats in October at Leaside Memorial Gardens.

At the arena, Trudeau held talks with former Mississauga mayor/pro hockey player Hazel McCallion, members of Parliament Rob Oliphant and Adam van Koeverden, and Fran Rider, president of the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association, to discuss the changes needed for hockey in Canada.

“Women’s hockey has had, and continues to have, an incredible impact on our country. Today, we spoke about that with Hazel McCallion and … Fran Rider, and we discussed the importance of making sure hockey is safe for everyone. Our players deserve nothing less,” Trudeau tweeted after the event.

“To the Leaside Wildcats: On and off the ice, your teamwork and your commitment are making a difference,” he added.

Trudeau’s visit is timely and comes amidst Hockey Canada being embroiled in a scandal.

In May 2022, it was reported that Hockey Canada, the national governing body for ice hockey in Canada, paid a settlement to a woman who said she was the victim of a sexual assault that took place in 2018 by members of Canada’s men’s national junior team. In June, the

federal government froze funding for Hockey Canada (they provided $14 million in subsidies to the federation in the past two years).

A federal inquiry into Hockey Canada’s handling of the allegations revealed a history of sexual misconduct cases against the organization, and that the organization had spent $7.6 million out of a fund that was partially funded by player registration fees to help pay out settlements in 21 sexual misconduct cases since 1989.

Since the scandal blew up, most of Hockey Canada’s corporate sponsors have suspended their relationship with the organization; Hockey Canada CEO Scott Smith has departed, and the entire board of directors has stepped down.

The organization announced plans to address systemic issues in the culture of hockey.

The Toronto Leaside Girls Hockey Association (TLGHA) has more than 1,600 participants every year, making it one of Ontario’s largest hockey associations.

“We’ll continue to offer our voice to our governing bodies to encourage positive change and demonstrate how women’s hockey can be the role model for such change,” the association stated in a recent Instagram post.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the Leaside Arena

More development at Yorkdale

Massive plan proposed across the street from mall by Josh Sherman

More condos may soon overlook Yorkdale Shopping Centre as a highrise developer is partnering with a landowner on a new proposal for three residential buildings directly across the street from Canada’s mostprofitable mall.

Recently, Collecdev submitted a development application to the City of Toronto to build two 29storey towers and a nine-storey mid-rise at 3400 Dufferin St. and 8 Jane Osler Blvd., opposite Yorkdale mall to the east and just south of Highway 401 in an area that has become a hotbed of development activity.

For the site, currently occupied by the Midtown Honda dealership and a single-family home, the developer envisions a total of 834 condo units across the three buildings. A couple of the structures — one of the towers as well as the mid-rise building — would feature retail space for a combined 1,365 square metres of floor area.

The project is a joint venture between Collecdev and the landowners (listed as Dufferin401 Properties Limited in planning documents), who would share in the profits from the eventual condo sales. The two parties began discussions in March about the possibility of joining forces, said Neil Rodgers, president of Collecdev.

Collecdev’s application is part of an onrush of under-review and already-approved proposals for the area. “The Dufferin, 401 and Yorkdale area will look very, very different in the future,” Rodgers

said. “That whole Dufferin corridor is emerging as a highdensity urban neighbourhood.”

The developer isn’t a stranger to the neighbourhood. Collecdev has two projects under construction nearby, including Nordic Condos, a 12-storey Scandinavian-inspired condo building at 530 Wilson Rd., and the 13-storey Tretti Condos at 30 Tippett Rd.

From smaller-scale luxury developments, such as the application Dash Developments tabled last month for a 10-storey condo at 3309–3317 Dufferin St.

components, so, like several others in Collecdev’s portfolio, the development would rely on a geothermal system for heating and cooling units. The condo complex would also feature green roofs and 632 bicycle parking spaces compared to 375 spots for cars.

Architecturally, Collecdev hopes the project stands out by avoiding a boxy, glass look in favour of an airy, white-panelled exterior design by project architects gh3*.

“Simple-yet-cool architecture, I think, will make this building different than some of our competitors,” Rodgers added. “It’s simple, from my perspective, and elegant.”

The development’s 3,276 square metres of amenities are still on the drawing board.

to Oxford Property’s plans to build a humongous, 19-tower community right on Yorkdale mall’s surface parking lot, proposals of all sizes are taking shape in the neighbourhood.

Earlier this year, the Ontario Land Tribunal, the provincial body that adjudicates planning disputes, also approved a tritower rental complex with building heights ranging from 23 to 29 storeys at 3400 Dufferin St., the land immediately to the north of the site that Collecdev has plans for.

Rodgers said sustainability is one of his project’s key

“It’s early days. We have not programmed specifics,” said Rodgers. However, he said, the project is likely to include space to work out, theatre and party rooms and pet-washing stations. It may provide outdoor barbecue and patio areas, too.

“The sky is the limit in terms of what we can animate and curate the space to be,” Rodgers said. “It’s something we will refine as we get to the sales and launch.”

As for when that might be, the project launch could be 24 to 30 months away. If Collecdev can get zoning approvals in place by then, Rodgers suggested, “That would be fantastic.”

Large development site located across Dufferin from Yorkdale Shopping Centre

“The Dufferin, 401 and Yorkdale area will look very, very different.”

Nursery School NurserySchool

Pop-ups, fashion shows & more!

14 new openings, anniversaries, events, a few closings and neighbourhood happenings

by Megan Gallant

Get in the holiday spirit with a tree lighting party and outdoor concert held by the Bloor-Yorkville BIA on Nov. 26. Located at the Village of Yorkville Park, Canadian singersongwriter Chantal Kreviazuk will take the stage to play her hits (including some holiday music!) while Etalk’s Traci Melchor hosts the Holiday Magic evening. The Flick the Switch lighting ceremony will support the Canadian Foundation for Aids Research (CANFAR) and light up 138 trees along Bloor Street until the end of December.

Find all the prettiest things at the Latest Scoop’s new Summerhill outpost. A lifestyle concept store, the Latest Scoop began as a series of pop-ups before becoming a well-known permanent retailer across the country. The new store features the trendiest collections of casual and professional fashion, home decor, accessories, furniture and stationery. Get in on the scoop at 1110 Yonge St.

This month, Rosedale is welcoming a new veterinarian clinic to the neighbourhood. Juno Vet promises to make pet care comfortable by offering a cosy and welcoming space. Opening at 1073 Yonge St., Juno Vet will offer services that include urgent care, surgery, preventative care and dental health. Although the Summerhill vet has no opening

date set, the clinic is already taking appointment bookings.

Started during the pandemic by local childhood friends Avi Weisman and Larry Davidson, the Fruit Cart, thefruitcart.ca, is delivering fresh, healthy food straight to your door. This subscription box ensures you’re paying for quality by rotating the variety of goods depending on what’s in season. Veggie boxes, cheese boxes and flower arrangements are also available to order directly to your doorstep. Like the fruit boxes, these are expertly curated with global suppliers. Each box can be set to order every week, every other week or on a one-time basis.

Christmas is coming early for burger lovers! As it celebrates its 11-year anniversary, Holy Chuck is opening a new location in the Yorkdale mall food court on Dec. 1. The new location is promising some new menu items alongside the award-winning handmade patties and famous milkshakes.

A hair studio that’s known for bringing the styles and innovation of a downtown studio to the suburbs has just celebrated its 20year anniversary. Italian-born Andrea Ferro and wife Angela own the clean, sleek studio and are masters of the trade. Showcasing just how much neighbourhood

love this studio gets, Thornhill’s member of Parliament, Melissa Lantsman, joined Ferro Hair Art, located at 7355 Bayview Avenue, Unit 3, in celebrating the anniversary.

Community art school Artbarn is approaching its 17th anniversary this fall, and they plan on celebrating in a big way. Artbarn School, 250 Eglinton Ave. W., Unit 101, offers classes and workshops ranging from pottery and visual arts to printmaking and media. To mark the milestone, the not-for-profit is promising to host a party and fundraising auction later this fall. Tickets will be available through the website.

This September, more than 4,000 guests attended the North York General Foundation’s signature Heart of Fashion gala after a fouryear hiatus. The exclusive fashion show featured Canada’s best in the fashion industry, with collections from Pink Tartan, TNT, SHAN and more. Altogether, the foundation raised $1.1 million to support the General Hospital with equipment replacement, capital improvements and upgrades.

Heaps Estrin real estate team has just opened their second location at 1120 Yonge St. — only this one’s not a regular real estate office. The Lobby is an experiential concept store. A first-of-its-kind storefront

location for residential real estate in Canada, the Lobby offers fulltime concierge services to help homeowners connect with services of everyday needs, such as contractors, designers and architects.

From Nov. 2 to Dec. 27, curated fashion marketplace Inland is partnering with Bayview Village to host a first-time concept shop with a rotating selection of Canadian fashion brands. With 2,300 square feet of retail space, shoppers will be able to browse, try on and buy from 50 emerging Canadian fashion, jewelry and accessory brands, including Ahiri, Azure Lazuli, Biddel, Hoyden Shoes and Nuama.

Toronto-based animal-free outerwear brand Wuxly has launched its first capsule collection in collaboration with music legend Bryan Adams. Inspired by his song “Kick Ass,” The Bad collection features three outerwear pieces — a parka, hoodie and jacket. Shop the collection at wuxly.com, or stop by the brand’s new pop-up store located at 825 Queen St. W. to try on the new gear.

Luxury goods brand Van Cleef & Arpels will join Bloor West’s lineup of luxury retailers with a new stand-alone storefront opening next year. The French jewelry brand is taking over the

roughly 2,000-square-foot storefront at 100 Bloor St. W., next to Hermes, where Zegma once operated. The store will be the jeweler’s third stand-alone location in Canada, displaying a collection of necklaces, bracelets and rings.

Spend an evening watching the Eglinton neighbourhood strut the best they’ve got. On Nov. 17 at the Eglinton Grand, the neighbourhood’s BIA is hosting a fashion show of the latest fashions from community retailers, including Di Moda European Lingerie, Victory Menswear, Lumus Vision Care and more. Tickets to the Eglinton Way Fashion Show cost $20 and include two drinks and hors d’oeuvres. All proceeds go to the Daily Bread Food Bank.

One of Toronto’s best and most popular barbecue joints is closing its doors permanently at the end of the month.

Stockyards Smokehouse and Larder at 699 St. Clair Ave. W. has been serving up incredible ribs, fried chicken, grilled cheese and more for years, but after the tragic passing of founder Thomas Evan Davis last year, his wife Monique Nanton has decided to close for good. An official closing date hasn’t been announced, so you can come out and support the family for another few weeks and get in one last brisket sandwich.

L–R: The Fruit Cart; Wuxly’s new capsule collection with Bryan Adams

THORNHILL

MARBLE MANSION

There’s nothing quite like the house at 8 Cavalier Cres. Although the indoor-outdoor

complete with a Jacuzzi might be the main event of the property, there’s plenty more to enjoy — including a four-level elevator, two-storey foyer, marble flooring and a movie theatre room. Although the home is now listed with Forest Hill Real Estate Inc. for $6.99 million, in February, it was listed for $7.95 million, marking a $960,000 price drop.

REDUCTION SEDUCTION

A year ago, the thought of waiting for a price reduction on your dream house was laughable. But now, with a slower market, that could be your reality. These three homes are the pinnacle of GTA living, from a sustainable parkside haven to a sunlit city residence, and they’ve all recently been discounted. It’s a buyer’s market, so now the balance has finally shifted.

DESIGNER DIGS

Although 750 Crawford St. was originally listed at $3.989 million in October, it has since been reduced by $400,000 to $3.589 million. Listed with Sutton Group – Associates Realty, this architectural beauty won’t be available for long.

BREAK-IN

SAFE IS YOUR HOME?

In September, Toronto Police Service released images of a suspect in a series of break and enters in the city. The suspect, according to Toronto police, allegedly was breaking into mailboxes. Earlier this year, a man was arrested after a series of break-ins in York Region during the month of May.

clothing and accessories were stolen, police said in a news release. The jewelry included watches and rings.

According to a media report on CBC, Police identified the man after reviewing video surveillance footage.

The trend illustrated by these incidents is not a good one.

According to York Regional Police statistics, residential break-ins are up 21.8 per cent from last year. Since the beginning of 2022, the city of Toronto has experienced a five per cent increase in break and enters across all divisions.

A total of 1,673 B and Es have been committed in York Region since the beginning of 2022, whereas 4,793 have occurred since the beginning of 2022 in Toronto — a number that already exceeds the total from 2021. Over the last few years, the trend has been downward since a peak in 2019 of 6,755 break-ins in Toronto.

York Regional Police encourages owners to take

homes safe.

Common points of entry for home robberies are windows and doors. But can we make them more secure to help reduce the crime risk? Of course. For the doors, be sure to install a deadbolt, add a strike plate or even upgrade to smart locks. There is also a film that can be placed over windows to reduce thieves ability to break and enter. Adding a video doorbell also helps to reduce crime, some suggest by up to 50 per cent. Older homes could have mail slots, so be sure to secure those, as well.

Statistics suggest more than 90 per cent of cars stolen are keyless entry models. But there are some things that can prevent such crimes. For instance, disable the keyless entry on your fob, or have a blocking pouch handy where you keep the car keys. In addition, one could always go old school and use a steering wheel lock.

home alarms can help to

robberies. Safewise.com

that

every

or a visual

as a pet toy might be enough of what is called an occupancy cue for a would-be robber to reconsider and choose another house. Other natural robbery deterrents include leaving the TV and lights on. And, in a recent study,

was found to be reduced in

enters are often crimes of

more difficult you make it for thieves to break in, the more likely they are to move along,” YRP stated, in a media release.

that in a recent study 60 per cent of burglars “casing a potential target would indeed be deterred by an alarm system.” That is significant. Even having a security system sign at the front of the house can help. Insurance companies recognize this and offer a premium reduction to homeowners who have installed security systems.

where there is more dog

Toronto Police Service says making it appear that someone is home at all times helps to deter thieves

car thieves continue to target vehicles with keyless ignition

Despite ongoing car theft busts in Toronto, vehicles continue to increasingly be stolen in the city due to international organized crime that knows it can get away with it, according to officials.

“We can’t control the situation,” city councillor Mike Colle said.

According to Toronto police data, there were 6,572 auto thefts in 2021, up nearly 14 per cent from the year before. Colle said that car thefts are still rising this year in the city and a car is stolen every hour.

That is in spite of a number of large-scale busts. In July 2022, more than 200 cars were reported recovered as police made 28 arrests and dismantled three auto theft-based criminal organizations that operated out of Ontario and Saskatchewan. The bust was a result of a 22-month investigation called Project MYRA, which found Service Ontario employees were aiding in the illegitimate registration of stolen vehicles, according to police.

In January 2022, 217 vehicles were recovered in connection to a “prolific auto theft ring,” police said at the time, according to Global News, which resulted in more than 300 charges. And in February 2022, 28 cars were seized and seven suspects were arrested after an eight-month investigation, with two of the cars found off the coast of Italy and Malta and four others at ports in Montreal and Halifax, destined for the United Arab Emirates, CBC reported. The group allegedly responsible for the high-end car thefts had no distinct ties to local gang activity but was a part of a complex organization, Toronto Police Service’s Supt. Lauren Pogue said in the media report.

Exporting cars nets criminals the biggest profit, TPS said in a statement.

response to the increase in car thefts, Colle helped create the auto theft task force last year to dedicate resources to the issue, and Toronto police also created the Organized Crime Investigative Support Team in 2022 with a budget of $2.3 million to help with larger scope probes.

Still no arrests in Forest Hill murder case

and family are holding out hope for justice for Ikechidiadi ‘Ike’ Kaja, who became Toronto’s 10th homicide victim after he was gunned down outside his Forest Hill home (Yonge & Eglinton district of 53 Division) in January. “I will not give up hope,” Katia Millar, a friend of Kaja’s, said. “We are very eagerly awaiting answers.”

Just after 10 p.m. on Jan. 23, 2022, Toronto police responded to a call at 916 Avenue Rd. and discovered Kaja had sustained lifethreatening injuries. He was rushed to hospital, where he died on Jan. 26. Investigators are looking for witnesses who were in the area between 8 and 11 p.m. on Jan. 23 or anyone who might have footage of the scene.

Millar, of North York, remembers Kaja, a financial analyst who would have turned 50 this October, as a “great friend,” noting his ambition and drive, among many other standout qualities. “Ike was incredibly bright, highly articulate. He had wonderful energy about him that everybody could sense; a mile away he would light up the room.”

There have been 56 murders in Toronto this year, of which 35 have been shootings. In 2021, the city saw 85 homicides, including 46 shootings, according to the Toronto Police Service (TPS) data portal. Overall, in Toronto in 2021 and 2022 there have been 324 shootings to date, and 162 related deaths or injuries. Last year, shootings totalled 409, with 209 deaths or injuries.

Ahead of the election, a Forum Research survey conducted for the Toronto Star suggested that 11 per cent of Torontonians considered gun violence the most important election issue.

Edwin Farley Alvarado Quintero, 49, is the city’s latest homicide victim. On Oct. 9, police say they responded to a shooting call at an indoor soccer field around Dufferin Street and Finch Avenue West. There they discovered three men, including Alvarado, had been shot. All three were transported to hospital, including one with life-threatening injuries. Alvarado was later pronounced dead.

Some of the vehicles recovered in Project MYRA

decrease in homicides citywide*

Ikechidiadi ‘Ike’ Kaja (R) and his son

Carjackings still a big problem in the city as numbers spike

With two months remaining in the year, carjackings across Toronto have almost doubled from last year’s tally. As of Oct. 14, Toronto police said 190 carjackings have taken place since the beginning of January, compared to 102 for the entirety of 2021.

“Every investigative avenue is being taken in our efforts to identify and arrest the perpetrators of these crimes and put them before the courts,” reads an email statement to Post City attributed to Toronto Police Service inspector Rich Harris.

On Oct. 6, Toronto and York Regional Police arrested three 14-year-old boys and a 16-year-old boy, according to a news release. The arrests were in relation to three carjackings and eight pharmacy robberies that allegedly occurred between Sept. 19 and Oct. 4. A slew of charges were laid, including multiple counts of robbery with a firearm, disguise with intent and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence.

At a news conference two days prior, on Oct. 4, Harris, of the TPS Hold Up Squad, called the carjacking increase “concerning,” noting the issue extends outside the city’s borders. “These robberies are not only happening in our city but are also taking place across the GTA,” he said. He added that many investigations were ongoing, noting 56 vehicles had been found.

In response to this year’s sharp increase in carjackings, the TPS launched a special carjacking investigative team in June. “Uniformed and plain clothes officers are patrolling hot spot areas citywide and continue to make arrests,” the statement reads. These hot spots include the Yonge Street corridor, the city’s west end, as well as in York Region in areas of Markham and Vaughan. Carjacking-prevention tips include keeping your cell phone within reach and steering clear of dark, secluded places. “If someone attempts to steal your vehicle, please give the vehicle up. Do not argue or fight. Your safety is worth more than a car,” TPS advises.

Sexual assault in Annex example of citywide issue

An investigation into a sexual assault that took place around Bloor and Dufferin this summer is “active and ongoing,” according to Toronto Police Service.

At 9:30 p.m. on July 29, a woman was walking near the west end intersection when, investigators allege, a man approached her from behind and sexually assaulted her before fleeing the scene.

In October, police released eight seconds of footage of a similar man captured on security video. “Anyone with information is asked to contact police,” said a TPS spokesperson in an email to Post City.

The Toronto Police Service defines sexual assault as any unwanted sexual contact: “It includes, but is not limited to, unwanted kissing, touching, oral sex and penetration.”

According to the TPS’s data portal, there have been 1,974 sexual assaults reported for the year ending Oct. 16, up 20 per cent from 1,645 in 2021. “It’s important to consider the effects of the pandemic in 2020 and 2021 when looking at the increase,” explained the TPS spokesperson of the data.

Sexual assaults plunged by 17.7 per cent in 2020 but had been steadily increasing in the years before. “In many ways, 2022 could be considered the year where things got back to ‘normal’, and that applies to these stats as well,” the spokesperson said. Putting the sharp fluctuations in a broader context, the spokesperson noted that the sexual assault crime rate has risen seven per cent between 2018 and 2022.

Police are reminding the public that there are resources available for anyone who has been sexually assaulted. “If someone has been sexually assaulted, we would recommend they contact police or visit the website YourChoice.TO,” said a TPS spokesperson in an email.

@7forallmankind.com

SADDLE UP THIS SEASON

This fall, we’retaking our fashion cues from cowboys! Jeanne Beker has selected the coolest boot cut and bootfriendly jeans in the city to pair with a selection of cowboyinspired boots that will earn you major style points.

THE PERFECT PRINT George C., $958, 21 Hazelton Ave.

Jeanne Beker | One of Canada’s most trusted authorities on fashion, now watch her on TSC’s Style Matters with Jeanne Beker or tune in to her new podcast Beyond Style Matters.

@tntfashion.ca

THE PERFECT PRINT

7 for All Mankind, $258, 1 Bass Pro Mills Dr.

"There's something very vintage about these, and they're both feminine and edgy Very romantic and sexy and an unusual kind of jean."

BRIGHT AND BOLD TNT, $450, 55 Avenue Rd.

"This nice cream wash is very elegant. Why not lighten your look with jeans of this nature in the fall and winter."

RODEO READY

ADD SOME FLARE Browns, $149.98, 110 Bloor St. W.

@rainbowjeans.com

Over the Rainbow, $298, 55 Bloor St. W. "These are classic, faded jeans that look like you've had them in your wardrobe forever. They're ’70s style and would look good any time of year."

BRIGHT AND BOLD Farfetch, $1,398, Farfetch.com/ca

MIX AND MATCH

John Fluevog, $499, 4 Trinity St.

STYLIN' HIGH RISE

Nordstrom, $273, 260 Yonge St.

"What a great colour option for those that are tired of their black and blue jeans. The high waist is really nice; there are so many ways to wear these."

MIX AND MATCH

Rock 'N Karma, $285, 789 Queen St. W.

"You'll definitely get comments on these! Such fun, statement jeans and really on trend with the patchwork style."

ADD SOME FLARE Yoga Jeans, $138, Yogajeans.ca

"These are a no-nonsense jean that are a great wardrobe staple. Very practical and a nice cross between a stovepipe and a boot cut style."

STYLIN' HIGH RISE Bootmaster, $799.95, 609 Yonge St.

RODEO READY Heel Boy, $160, 773 Queen St. W.

Yorkdale reinvigorated

Local fashion power couple ventures into art

Joe Mimran and Kim Newport-Mimran are opening a new gallery by Marcus Mitropoulos

Legendary Toronto fashion power couple

Joe Mimran and Kim Newport-Mimran are opening the Cultural Goods Gallery on the west side. The first exhibition was set to open on Oct. 29, featuring art from Al Diaz, a key figure in the ’70s New York graffiti movement.

Casablanca-born Joe Mimran has had his foot in Canadian fashion since 1985, when he founded Club Monaco. His love for casual, luxury wear was later parlayed into the affordable fashion brand Joe Fresh, which he created in 2006.

His partner, designer Kim NewportMimran, founded the clothing label Pink Tartan in 2002 and the Kim Newport Collection in 2019.

The duo is expanding their extensive list of creative ventures by giving Torontonians the chance to experience hand-curated art. The first exhibition, From Samo©… to Samo©… Evolution of Street: Art & Type, is curated by Grace Zeppilli and Jason Hal-

ter. Inside the gallery is a collection spanning Diaz's 40-year career, from his early teen graffiti collaboration with Jean-Michel Basquiat to his later prolific text-based collage works.

“Cultural Goods Gallery is a reflection of our decades of learning, collecting and collaborating with artists from around the world,” Newport-Mimran says. “We are thrilled to begin this journey with Al Diaz, a talented artist who is part of the fabric of contemporary pop culture.”

This exhibition also includes new works by Toronto-based artists Javid Jah, Danilo Deluxo McCallum, Nicolas “Alfalfa” Sanchez and Kismet, who all express unique and distinct styles demonstrating the evolution of street art that is flourishing in cities across the globe, including Toronto.

“Al and I discussed the evolution and history of street art at length when we started the process for this exhibition. With the traditionally collaborative nature of street

art, we saw this show also as an opportunity to blend Brooklyn and Toronto,” says Jason Halter, co-curator of the exhibition. “The collaboration between artists is a visual conversation that allows visitors to see the evolution of the art form from its early roots to now.”

Located on Toronto’s west side, the 2,500-square-foot stomping ground is equipped for experimental and immersive art. The space allows for interactive and hands-on galleries, as well, giving Torontonians the chance to get up-close-and-personal with future galleries. Mimran and Newport-Mimran’s hope is that the rotating exhibition schedule will nurture relationships with the local arts community, as well as present work that has contributed to the growth of the North American cultural scene.

Cultural Goods Gallery is located at 1444 Dupont St., #15.

Is Summerhill T.O.’s new boutique district?

This city is home to a burgeoning fashion scene of its own by Raquel Farrington

Summerhill’s Yonge Street might be Toronto's new fashion district, joining London's Bond Street and New York City’s Fifth Avenue. Here’s your guide to the neighbourhood’s best boutiques.

Start on the northern stretch of the street at Lemonwood, a brand offering a gorgeous collection of cashmere clothing and accessories. Pick up anything from an easy-breezy tunic for your next beach vacation to a cosy throw blanket at the 1224A Yonge St. location.

Just down the road at 1130 Yonge St., you’ll find Thursdays — a boutique curated by mother-daughter duo Rita Benzacar and Gillian Piltz. The pair brings in new inventory weekly to keep customers’ wardrobes fresh and on trend. Next door is lifestyle boutique Wolf & Moon, at 103-1128 Yonge St., which features a hand-selected range of often local goods. Shop here for too-pretty-to-use artisanal

candles or statement jewelry f rom designer Jacquie Aiche.

Once you’ve got your fill of home goods and jewelry, try Smythe at 1116 Yonge St. A newer addition to the Summerhill group, the brand from friends Andrea Lenczner and Christie Smythe has been around since 2004 and earned a cult following for their tailored blazers. It’s worth a visit to the store for the sleek interior alone.

For the vintage lover, you can’t miss Ellie Mae. The luxury lifestyle brand at 1096 Yonge St. houses a (pretty pricey) vintage collection, and founder Ellie Mae is a big fan of vintage styles and fabrics.

Finish your trip at Clementine’s, a luxury concept shop curated by luxury industry veteran and owner Christina McDowell. Shop everything from artisanal letterpress greeting cards to Uma Wang shoes to beautiful home decor pieces at 1054 Yonge St.

Lindsay Rosset

Are malls having a bit of a comeback?

With Torontonians making up for lost shopping time over the past two years and holiday shopping just around the corner, Yorkdale is ramping up for it all with the launch of all kinds of new shops — from luxury to sustainable brands.

A news release from the shopping centre announced over a dozen new or recent openings for the fall season, so if you're planning on returning to the mall for the first time this year to update your wardrobe, you're in for a surprise.

High-end brands, including ACNE Studios, Emporio Armani, Ganni, Fendi and MCM, have made their arrival onto the Yorkdale luxury scene recently.

Sustainable sneaker company Allbirds and luxury fragrance and candle brand Diptyque have also set up shop, and local brand Mejuri just opened the company's first-ever boutique inside Yorkdale.

For all your athleisure needs, Offline by Aerie has opened, and Alo Yoga is also moving in this season. This will be the brand’s second Toronto location after opening earlier this year in Yorkville.

For more casual apparel, edgy men's fashion brand Psycho Bunny and European chain Mango will both be opening over the next few months.

Aritzia, Bath & Body Works, Bvlgari, Cartier and Browns will all be expanding and reopening with even more square footage.

With all these new openings, it's possible in-person shopping might become even more tempting than the convenience of adding to cart from the comfort of your own home.

L–R: Kim Newport-Mimran and Joe Mimran, Cultural Goods Gallery

12 new store openings to look out for

We can’t lose our moose

Ontario’s gentle giants are at risk

Because moose are widely hunted, provinces and territories are charged with managing their habitat, ensuring healthy populations and granting tags to hunters.

Although Canada hasn’t assessed moose as at risk nationally, reports are increasing of their worrisome decline in many provinces. Governments cite myriad factors, including disease, climate change, parasites and habitat alteration.

“The population is, in my opinion, heading toward a crisis, and if the decline isn’t stopped it could create a situation from which it may take decades to recover,” retired Ontario moose biologist Alan Bisset writes of his province.

“If it gets low enough, predation and unregulated hunting could keep it from growing at all or worse result in local extinction.”

Since governments control the hunt, decreasing the number of seasonal hunting tags seems like a straightforward way to reduce at least one pressure moose populations face. Yet Bisset’s proposal to reduce moose tags also reveals a social dynamic that complicates management, as he recognizes this will likely incur backlash from hunters.

Of course, many responsible hunters support strong management and protection measures. The conservation movement was initiated by hunters to ensure sufficient habitat for preferred game species. But some are also deeply invested in their right to hunt and view hunting limitations as an inherent threat.

In fact, the right to hunt belongs to Indigenous Peoples, and they’ve been among the loudest voices calling for change recently. Many consider moose a cultural keystone species. This summer, the Tsilhqot’in Nation in B.C. issued a news release: “condemning the B.C. government’s destructive moose harvest allocation for the Chilcotin Region in recent days and expressing its opposition to B.C.’s drastic escalation of Limited Entry Hunts (LEH) for moose in Tsilhqot’in territory.”

Research reveals that moose rely on forests for parts of their life cycle and that clearings and roads increase hunter access, sightlines and success rates. As Bisset observes regarding Ontario: “In essence, the numbers of tags have never regulated the kill over most of the province. The kill depended on how many moose were vulnerable and exposed to gunfire or arrows.”

It’s time for governments to provide better protection for moose populations, including stricter hunting restrictions. This won’t make everyone happy, but it will provide food security for Indigenous Peoples, benefit other wildlife and ensure healthy moose populations.

DAVID SUZUKI

Experts say the province’s moose population is heading toward a crisis

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 Boreal Project Manager Rachel Plotkin).

A Raptors, Leafs and Bills getaway guide

For a fraction of the cost, you can see your favourite T.O. sports teams close up in their away jerseys

As Torontonians, we’re lucky to have five major sports franchises in the palm of our hands. But sometimes you want to travel to watch your favourite teams play (and maybe save a few bucks on those Leafs tickets). Here are three trips you can take to watch our home team play away.

Catch Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews up close in Detroit Flights to Detroit start at $540 — you might be better off taking the four-hour road trip!

Schedule the trip for either Nov. 28 or Jan. 12 to catch the Leafs. Tickets in the 200 section will run you between US$60 and US$85. But we hear that you’re better off spending less on the seats — Little Caesars Arena is one of the few in the NHL franchise where every seat is pretty amazing. Also, the ushers will let you down to ice level during warm up 30 minutes before the game if you want to get a glimpse of the action up close.

Also, if you’re free two hours

before puck drop, you can catch our Leafs arriving by hanging out near the parking structure off Clifford north of the I-75 service drive, according to one local Redditor.

If you can’t get tickets for the game, then don’t stress. The arena has four in-venue restaurants, including Mike’s Pizza Bar. Or check out the nearby Hockeytown

Cafe for a three-level restaurant decked out with 30 flat screen TVs so you don’t miss any of the action.

In-arena brewhouse with a view in Cleveland

For all of you basketball fans, the Cleveland Cavaliers are just under five hours away by car from the ACC.

The Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse

was recently renovated, and it’s home to the Budweiser Brewhouse, a standing-room-only destination for fans that will give you a full view of the court. Insider tip: buy the nosebleed tickets, then head down to the bar to experience the game close up!

The Raptors take on the Cavs on Dec. 23 and Feb. 26 this season.

Tickets at the 200 level are as low as US$37, and the 100s range between US$260 to just over a grand depending on how close you want to be to centre court.

In the arena, treat yourself to smash patty burgers at Symon’s before snagging a slice at Flour Pizza and a Brewdog pint. If you can’t get in, head over to Flannery’s Pub or City Tap Cleveland. You can rub it in local fans’ faces after Scottie Barnes dunks all over Evan Mobley.

Stay toasty cheering on the home team in Buffalo Toronto doesn’t have its own NFL franchise, although we claim the

Buffalo Bills as they’re the closest we can get. The drive to Highmark Stadium is just under two hours, which is a light and breezy road trip for most.

You can catch Week 8 action against the Packers on Oct. 30, or watch them take on the Vikings on Nov. 13, the Browns on Nov. 20 and the Jets on Jan. 11.

Our insider tip: if you grab seats in the 200 level from sections 206 through 216 and 229 through 238, you’ll stay toasty the whole game — there are outdoor overhead heaters throughout these special sections (and they’re covered too!). If you can’t snag those seats, blankets and extra cushions and clothing are allowed (and encouraged).

Bills fans love a good tailgate outside of the arena before kickoff. However, if you don’t want to get tickets, you can always head over to Buffalo Sports Garden or Big Tree Inn to catch the action with other Bills fans!

—Marcus Mitropoulos

Choose your seats for a Buffalo Bills game wisely to prepare for the cold

Ready for the World Cup

REPORT CARD

STUDENT: Mark-Anthony Kaye

GRADUATED: Lawrence Park Collegiate

BEST SUBJECT: Gym and Law

WORST SUBJECT: Math

CURRENT JOB: Professional soccer player

Congratulations are due. It’s been nearly 40 years since Canada competed in the FIFA Men’s World Cup, and the fans can’t stop raving about it. Mark-Anthony Kaye, the Canadian men’s national team midfielder and recent Toronto FC addition, accepts the enthusiastic “Congrats!” gratefully.

A team player, he immediately recognizes the collective effort it took to get the team to this point: “There's been a lot of us who have been on this journey, sacrificing and working hard to get this far.”

The road to the World Cup is never easy, and the COVID-19 pandemic was an added obstacle to an already difficult feat.

“Mentally, it was definitely exhausting because of the amount of time we’re travelling, being away from family in an isolated location,” he says.

Despite these difficulties, Kaye and his teammates have been able to rise above them. “The pandemic definitely made athletes more resilient. We’re very fortunate [to be] in the situations we’re in, with people making sure we have everything we need,” he says.

A graduate of Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute, Kaye played for a number of clubs in the GTA, starting at Wexford, when he was nine, then moving to Ajax Soccer Club and later Glen Shields. After spending a year on York University’s varsity soccer team, Kaye was invited to play at TFC Academy. After spending a couple of years balancing both his commitments to York and TFC, Kaye decided to go pro, feeling as though it was “the right move to focus on that.”

Over the span of his career, Kaye

has played for the Louisville City and Los Angeles football clubs. After a short stint in Denver, Kaye has returned home to play for Toronto FC.

“I feel like I got a little bit from each place that I’ve lived in and it’s allowed me to be comfortable wherever I go,” he says.

For many sports, not coming from a wealthy and/or white background presents systemic challenges for those hoping to go pro. Kaye says he’s seen that difference as well.

“Privilege gives you more opportunities at a younger age, which sometimes can be the deciding factor for whether or not you’ve got a certain amount of professional training hours from the best team or coaches,” He says. He notes that, since he’s gone pro, “The soccer system in Canada, especially in Toronto, has done a much better job to bridge that gap that so many people see, such as financial hardship, that stops young players from getting opportunities.”

Although Kaye’s career has only just begun, having a World Cup qualification under his belt is something few Canadian players can claim.

“It hasn’t been done in so long, and [head coach] John [Herdman] got a great group of guys together for this mission,” he says.

The excitement is high and still mounting leading up to the Nov. 20 World Cup kick off. (Canada’s team plays its first game on Nov. 23 against Belgium.)

“I’m glad we’ve made people happy, especially considering everything that’s gone on the last couple of years,” he says.

Mark-Anthony Kaye was acquired by Toronto FC in the summer

TFC’s Mark-Anthony Kaye is making history with Team Canada by Alexa Margorian

Dr.

From first date disaster to a secret wedding

look up and there’s this vision of a movie star–gorgeous, blond woman standing there with a cigarette and a glass of wine. And then the horror sets in because I’m wearing cut-off khaki pants and a torn T-shirt. So we went, and I spilled the soy sauce — Jane: And I popped him in the face with an edamame!

David: So it was a disaster, and we agreed to do it again.

The proposal

David: It was Christmas Eve at my dad’s place, and at the bottom of Jane’s stocking, there were the usual nuts and the mandarin, but there was also a wedding ring.

Jane: David had actually asked for my dad’s blessing in the summer, but then we had a miscarriage, and I guess it didn’t feel like the right time. And I think my dad was worried that he wasn’t going to [propose]! We were actually going to go away for my birthday, but that didn’t work out, and he had this grand plan to propose to me somewhere exotic on the beach. But that’s how we ended up in his childhood bedroom in Forest Hill on Christmas Eve!

The wedding

As a producer-actor duo, Jane Loughman and Toronto’s David Hewlett have worked together on films in the past, but this year’s The Swearing Jar marks not only Loughman’s TIFF debut but the pair’s own TIFF debut working on the same movie together. Loughman produced the film and Stargate star Hewlett played the role of Bill. Ahead of the Canadian Nov. 4 theatrical release of the film, the couple shared the details of their disastrous first date, unexpected Forest Hill proposal and what it was like working on a movie together.

How they met Jane: We met at a party in L.A. because we were both hiding and trying to avoid all the schmoozers.

David: And here’s the twist: we were both married to other people. Jane: But it really was a very innocent meeting at the time. Years later, I hosted a party, an Independence Day party, but it wasn’t in July — it was in April, to celebrate both my divorce and my new U.S. citizenship. I invited David and his wife, and he sent me an email saying, “Please take my

wife’s name off the list, it’s just me now, we’re no longer together.”

The first date

Jane: I told him, “I’ve got practice in that. I’m learning how to put my life back together after divorce as well. Come on out, I can take you out for drinks and you can tell me all about it.”

Jane: So of course, as soon as he proposed to me, I got accidentally knocked up. And I decided I wasn’t waddling up any aisles, and I wasn’t having a big celebration where I couldn’t drink and join in, so we pushed the wedding to the following summer. We had it at Warwick Castle, which sounds so pompous and princessy, but I had visited there as a child and had this dream of growing up and getting married there.

David: And we had our secret wedding in Hawaii before all that.… We just wanted to have a wedding to ourselves.

Working on a movie together

David: But then I cancelled like three times!

Jane: I started calling it my “nondate with the actor guy” because I thought it was never going to happen. But then it finally did, on a Sunday afternoon.

David: It was a disaster. I pulled up to her hotel, and I couldn’t figure out the buzzer to open the gates, and I couldn’t work out the door. I’m sitting there thinking, “Maybe I should just go home,” and then I

David: With The Swearing Jar, I tried to talk her out of it the entire time. I was telling her that you shouldn’t work with family, it’ll be a disaster, and it was my sister’s script as well. And then I adored it when I saw it.

Jane: He was my mascot. He was there on the first day and he was there for one of the last days.

David: I’m always so grumpy when I’m asked to do stuff like this, but I love it when I’m there.

The secret to success

David: A sense of humour.

Jane: I think also a sense of feeling completely and utterly supported in decisions is essential too.

Sci-fi star David Hewlett and producer Jane Loughman on mixing business with pleasure

David Hewlett and Jane Loughman had their family wedding at a castle

“ We met at a party. And here’s the twist: we were both married to other people.”

This special exhibition spans four decades of artmaking. The exhibition features more than 70 large-scale paintings and works on paper from several series, alongside archival photographs, sketches, interviews and documentary footage of the artist at work.

Do. Not. Miss. Ago.ca

5. Go to Ani Difranco

One of the most beloved folk artists in North America, Ani Difranco started performing at the age of nine, writing songs at 14 and moved out to become a musician when she was 15.

Now, 20 albums later and her own record label in Righteous Babe Records, Difranco continues to tread her own path buoyed by incredible songwriting and fierce musicianship on the guitar to rival the greats of folk music.

Difranco hasn’t performed in Toronto for many years, and her return will draw her legion of fans to the Danforth Music Hall on Nov. 7.

From a Margaret Atwood & National Ballet collab to the return of an iconic Irish rocker

1. Go to Bono

Legendary lead singer of the iconic rock band U2 hits the stage at Meridian Hall on Nov. 6 for a speaking engagement in support of his memoir Stories of Surrender

The night is billed as “an evening of words, music and some mischief,” so expect the unexpected when one of the world’s great rock stars takes the stage to talk up his new book.

"When I started to write this book, I was hoping to draw in detail what I’d previously only sketched in songs. The people, places and possibilities in my life.

‘Surrender’ is a word freighted with meaning for me,” said Bono, in a statement. “Growing up in Ireland in the ’70s with my fists up (musically speaking), it was not a natural concept. A word I only circled until I gathered my thoughts for the book. I am still grappling with this most humbling of commands. In the band, in my marriage, in my faith, in my life as an activist. Surrender is the story of one pilgrim’s lack of progress. With a fair amount of fun along the way.”

TOlive.com

2. See MaddAddam

The National Ballet of Canada is set for the world premiere of its latest ballet MaddAddam by award-winning choreographer Wayne McGregor. The work is based on the MaddAddam trilogy by renowned Toronto author Margaret Atwood.

“What an adventure, finally starting with the National Ballet in the rehearsal studio. It’s been a long wait!” says McGregor.

“Margaret Atwood’s vivid and visceral MaddAddam trilogy is a breathtaking challenge for us to dialogue with in dance.”

MaddAddam makes its world premiere in Toronto at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, Nov. 23–30. National.ballet.ca

3. Visit the Royal Winter Fair

One of the great fall events in Toronto, the Royal Winter Fair and the Royal Horse Show gallop into Exhibition Place Nov. 4–13 for 10 days of family fun.

The Royal will kick off its centennial celebration in style with an Opening Ceremony

Showcase, hosted by Canadian comedian Rick Mercer and featuring Toronto band Blue Rodeo.

In addition, the Royal will include the return of the Royal Dog Show in a partnership with the Canadian Kennel Club. The show is set to reimagine and reanimate the tradition of dog shows as part of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.

The Royal will also include the classic agricultural show and the Royal Horse Show, ranked as the number one indoor horse show in North America, as well as culinary offerings, food competitions, the RCMP Musical Ride and much more, including the legendary butter sculptures.

Royalfair.org

4. Go to Denyse Thomasos

To say the new exhibition on the work of Denyse Thomasos is impressive or stunning is not saying enough. Denyse Thomasos: just beyond is showing until Feb. 20, 2023, and it is absolutely a must-see for art lovers in the city or anyone who

wants to experience something extraordinary from an artist who passed too soon on the cusp of greatness.

One of the wonderful things about the exhibition is the progression shown, not just that she evolved into a startlingly good artist, but that she delved fearlessly into so many different areas.

This was a true Toronto artist, with roots in Trinidad and an upbringing in suburban Mississauga. She worked as a portrait artist at Canada’s Wonderland and Ontario Place. She studied art at the University of Toronto Mississauga. And like so many of our great ones, she achieved significant acclaim outside Canada.

Thomasos is described as “one of the finest painters to emerge in the 1990s,” and she certainly was an artist ahead of her time.

One glimpse at her sprawling, incredible murals that occupy entire walls of the fifth floor AGO gallery reveals this artist as something special. The size and scale draw you in, and from there it only gets more interesting.

Be sure to catch this passionate performer touring in support of her latest album, Revolutionary Love, and the 25th anniversary reissue of Living in Clip, a landmark double album with her band at the time that included drummer and Toronto native Andy Stochansky.

TheDanforth.com

6. See Post Democracy

One of Canada’s most acclaimed young playwrights is Toronto’s Hannah Moscovitch. Her works, often political and hard-hitting, have been produced across the country. She’s won a slew of awards. And she’s also written for television, including X-Company for the CBC.

Tarragon Theatre is set to bring Moscovitch’s latest work, PostDemocracy, to life when it premieres on Nov. 8.

A review of the play in the Slotkin Letter describes PostDemocracy as “a devastating play in which she puts her laser perception and focus on the toxic culture in big business; where money is more important than morality; conscience, integrity and ethics are laughed at in favour of making a deal at all cost.”

Post-Democracy runs until Dec. 4. Expect fireworks on the Tarragon stage.

Tarragontheatre.com

L-R: A look at AGO’s Denyse Thomasos exhibition, Margaret Atwood with choreographer Wayne McGregor

ENDLESS PASTA-BILITIES

Lusciously cheesy and beautifully layered, lasagna is the ultimate comfort food. Celebrity chef and restaurateur Massimo Capra puts everyone’s favourite pasta dish to the test and gives us the skinny on which lasagna reigns supreme.

Balancedflavours

WINNER

LA PALMA

“This is a beautiful interpretation of lasagna Bolognese. The pasta tastes great and it has just the right amount of thickness. While there’s not enough sauce to keep it together and keep it moist, the flavours are all there. The basil is not necessary but it’s a beautiful garnish.”

849 Dundas St. W., $26

RUNNER-UP

7 NUMBERS

“The flavour is really nice. There’s very little cheese in here but the meat has a really good taste and it’s very pleasant to the palette. You can eat quite a lot of this lasagna because it’s not heavy at all. It makes you salivate.”

307 Danforth Ave., $18.75

Unpretentious + delicious

CIBO

“If you like a strong taste of tomato, then this is it. It’s a very good, tomatoey lasagna. At first glance there’s way too much sauce and not enough cheese. But overall, it’s a very interesting rich, meaty lasagna.”

133 Yorkville Ave., $30

TUTTO BENE OSTERIA

“This is not put together very well and I think the pasta is store-bought. The lasagna is really dried up because there’s not enough sauce. The meat tastes nice and tender.

There’s not enough cheese between the layers, something is amiss with the construction.”

8133 Yonge St., $27

EATALY

“This is a great slab that stays together nicely. The pasta is very thick which makes it a little too chewy. It has a nice shiny look and multiple layers. It’s made with meatballs so I know this is definitely a Napoletana-style of lasagna.”

55 Bloor St. W., $24

MASSIMO CAPRA

The renowned chef is also a television personality and the owner of three restaurants, including Capra’s Kitchen in Mississauga.

UNIQUE TAKE

IL FORNELLO

“This is a traditional Canadian-style lasagna. It’s a decent lasagna, but a lasagna should give you a bit of sweetness and the tomato sauce is overcooked. It’s a good-sized portion and the flavour is nice, but basil does not belong in a pasta with meat sauce.”

2901 Bayview Ave., $20.95

Thinking outside the box

VERDI

“This lasagna is very pretty to look at because of the tomato and basil leaves. I can taste onions and it also has red and green peppers in it. It’s a beautiful portion and the presentation is nice and clean; it has multiple layers and stays together nicely.”

1566 Bayview Ave.,

IL COVO

“Now this is a beautiful lasagna. If something like this came to my table, it would be amazing. Ahh, it’s a seafood lasagna! It’s made with shrimp and scallops! The flavour is not fishy at all and the pasta is delicious. The composition is a fail in a sense because it’s too liquidy, but it’s a great idea.” 585 College St., $34

BATTLE OF THE CELEBRITY CHEF’S BURGERS

by Raquel

This Trinity Bellwoods haunt for takeout-style burgers, fries and classic chocolate shakes is a citywide phenomenon thanks to its gregarious namesake and co-founder, Matty Matheson, of Maker and Seafood Palace acclaim. The simple counter-service hub features made-to-order beef burgers plus plant-based options and sides to complement every mouth-watering order. What many locals don’t know is Matty’s Patty’s Burger Club originates from RVCAloha in Hawaii and was created by Matty Matheson and Pat Tenore, founder of RVCA, a California-based clothing retailer. Located directly across the street from Trinity Bellwoods Park, Matty’s Patty’s Burger Club serves Matty’s signature smash burgers made from AAA beef brisket and chuck.

The short and sweet menu has three burger options (the seven-ounce Matty’s cheeseburger, the Patty’s or the plantbased Impossible patty option) all ranging from $9 to $28, depending on whether you opt for a single, double or triple and if you make it a combo.

Sauce options are also succinct, with your choice of Matty’s Patty’s sauce, a pickled jalapeno mayo or a spicy ketchup and sides. For the more health-conscious consumer, you can forego the bun and opt for a lettuce wrapped patty for no additional cost. 923a Queen St. W.

Aloette is a neighbourhood bistro from none other than celeb chef Patrick Kriss, serving up haute cuisine meets comfort food and now proudly boasting an iconic Michelin Star. The upscale diner’s burger drew a cultlike following since the spot opened its doors in 2017.

“We've definitely done a few lettuce wrap burgers or burgers with only our garnish,” says Solomon Mason, the executive chef at Aloette. “I think we’re lucky that our burger is so steak-like since it is coarsely ground fresh every day. Because of this, it doesn't feel weird to eat it with a knife and fork.”

If you’re a true Torontonian, you might remember Harry’s Charbroiled when it was nestled deep in the Parkdale neighbourhood, off Jameson Street behind the No Frills, in an unassuming divey spot with multi-coloured Christmas lights.

Back in 2019, the restaurant took its short and sweet burger menu over to College and Palmerston, moving into the space where Woodlot used to be. Since then, the spot has evolved, with a food truck and merch, but the menu has remained tried-and-true.

VS.

The burger, which has been on the menu since day one, rings in at $24 with hand-cut fries and rubs shoulders with other diner-chic menu items and French-inspired cuisine, including lemon meringue pie, oysters, tartare and brie on toast.

Topped with fried Beaufort cheese, which gives it a crispy edge, along with shredded lettuce, sautéed onion and Aloette aïoli on a house-made bun, this burger is a mix of brisket and chuck that will make it feel like you’re digging into a steak.

163 Spadina Ave.

Grant van Gameren’s diner features seven burgers on the menu, including the classic beef patty, dubbed the Jane, available in five versions including the Plain Jane, Big Jane, Double Jane, Vegan Jane and Classic Jane. From single to double, dressed with cheese and all the fixings to hot peppers and spicy ketchup, the spot also has pork-based and plantbased options too.

Opt for the red burger — a chorizo-based patty topped with havarti cheese, pineapple and jalapeno mayo — or the diner’s green burger — the Vegan Jane, an Impossible vegan patty with Harry's sauce, lettuce, tomato, pickles and onion.

The burgers range from $10.29 to $14.29 and come with delicious thick-cut french fries. 293 Palmerston Ave.

GRANT VAN GAMEREN’S HARRY’S CHARBROILED

PATRICK KRISS’S ALOETTE

Rossi brings a star to Yorkville

Chef Rob Rossi on Canada’s underrated food scene, a third restaurant and what it’s like to win his first Michelin star

by Ben Kaplan

Writing about food for Post City has brought me inside Toronto’s best restaurants and arm’s length from the city’s greatest, most acclaimed chefs: Patrick Kriss at Alo, Keith Froggett at Scaramouche and Susur Lee at Lee, just for starters. So when Rob Rossi insisted on my having a meal at Giulietta, his buzzy College Street Italian food joint that’s a sister spot of Giulia, which last month won a Michelin star, I was hopeful but caught completely unaware of just how good it really is. Rossi says that he loves watching from the wings when his customers take their first nibbles, that eating is like listening to music, and our response is visceral — you immediately know if you like what you’re eating.

Rossi wasn’t working the pass when I dined, although he’s almost always at his restaurants. However, his food — the sweet and tangy tortelli di zucca; the charred, tender polpo e fagioli, augmented by dense cannellini beans; and brodetto di pesce, a stew rich with prawns and clams — created audible gasps: his regional, classic Italian dishes were out of this world.

“I didn’t anticipate us getting a Michelin, but we always try ridiculously hard to ensure we have the best ingredients for our guests,” says Rossi, 39, introduced to Canadian diners from his multiple appearances on Top Chef Canada but increasingly

becoming an A-list restaurateur.

“I’m not cooking on the line every night, but I call the line and design the food and believe in Italian cooking — especially taking old ideas and making them new again.”

The ideas are paying dividends both at Giulietta and Giulia, which is upscale and on Avenue Road and will host a special seven-course tasting menu for the holidays.

Rossi, who has bicep tattoos, a three-year-old daughter and a friendly, engaging manner — his enthusiasm flows like the cocktails at Giulietta, which makes a fall Friday evening feel like a bustling trattoria at midnight in Rome — seems to be hitting his stride. He says he has an idea for a third restaurant, alongside his partner David Minicucci, and that dining in Toronto and the sophistication of his customers has made his work more engaging and fun.

“Ten years ago in Toronto, I could’ve been an amazing chef and I’d never have gotten a Michelin star because the city wasn’t as evolved,” says Rossi, who went from washing dishes at his local Pizza Hut in Barrie to working for his uncle on the Danforth to stints in Calgary and Vancouver kitchens before opening Bestellen on College Street, where Guilietta now sits.

“The energy in Toronto feels incredible, and the Michelin Guide just gives Canada more

clout, but frankly all of Canada has great food, and the way we’re underrated is, truthfully, pathetic.”

Certainly no longer underrated, Rossi realises that with the Michelin star comes pressure. Will his team relax and rest on their laurels? Rossi, for his part, insists, much like how he wanted a reporter to sample his dishes, that simple plates made from the best ingredients will always drive his business.

from all over the world, from his grandmother’s vegetable farm in Germany to the coolest of-themoment restaurants in Milan.

“My approach to cooking is first and foremost not to knock the soul out of stuff. If I’m in Yorkville or College Street or anywhere in the world, the job is the same: source the best ingredients, treat your staff well and then work very hard not to mess everything up.”

MICHELIN-APPROVED ITALIAN IN T.O.

The restaurant in Yorkville was a leap, he says, and the neighbourhood carries preconceived notions: can you do daring Italian north of Bloor Street? Rossi believes that you can, and the way he opened an Italian restaurant six blocks from Café Diplomatico in Little Italy that barely uses tomatoes, he also introduced interesting Italian concepts uptown.

“I’ve heard juvenile stuff over the years, that people in a certain area only eat certain things, but that doesn’t make sense to me — people like good things no matter where they are,” he says, adding that he picks up his influences

As the Toronto restaurant scene continues heating up in the wake of the Michelin stars and the attendant attention, chefs like Rob Rossi are pushing taste boundaries as they expand their footprint across the city, from Forest Hill to downtown. While the world takes notice of their work — like this reporter did the other night at Giulietta, smiling from ear to ear with each astonished bite — Rossi says he’s going to keep his priorities in check, sourcing ingredients, not chasing acclaim and trying to please his growing phalanx of curious diners.

“When I was younger and working in restaurants, even from the youngest age, I always wanted to be the boss,” Rossi says. “There’s so much going on — so much precision and commotion — but I could see the end goal, even as a kid, so clearly: you have to source quality ingredients and make people happy. Do that, I think, everything else falls into place.”

Don Alfonso 1890

Once named the best Italian restaurant in the world outside of Italy, Don Alfonso showcases a cuisine highlighting the fresh flavours of the Amalfi coast.

Enoteca Sociale

Little Portugal stalwart Enoteca Sociale has been a west end go-to for housemade pastas, quality wines and cosy vibes for more than a decade.

Wynona This romantic date-night spot in Leslieville specializes in small plates of delicately cooked fish and buttery handmade pasta.

From left: Pasta and seafood dishes from Osteria Giulia, chef Rob Rossi

“My approach to cooking is first and foremost not to knock the soul out of the stuff.”

Don Alfonso 1980

Midtown gets a delicious new Neapolitan pizzeria

Wood-fire pizzas are made with 72-hour fermented dough

Formerly the home of Green Canoe, 900 Millwood Rd. has recently welcomed La Casetta to the space. The sister restaurant of Cafe Oro di Napoli, they both offer Neapolitan-style pizzas, homemade pastas, antipasti and traditional Italian desserts like cannolis, tiramisu, panna cotta and gelato.

The star of the show: the ultracrispy, wood-fired pizzas are handmade using a 72-hour fermented dough for that classic, fresh-out-of-the-Italian-oven taste. Cheese lovers rejoice for the red sauce layered with fior di latte, gorgonzola, pecorino and Grana Padano. Want something meatier? The carne e miele piccante is a savoury-sweet mix of spicy soppressata, house-made sausage, double smoked bacon,

fresh oregano, fior di latte and chili-infused honey.

Dining at La Casetta is like heading to a close friend’s homey apartment for dinner. The vibe is cosy and relaxed, perfect for everything from a casual date night out to a family dinner, birthday celebration and everything in between.

If you’re looking for a quick bite, the antipasti menu is varied but succinct, with a ton of snacky options like chef’s choice charcuterie boards, traditional Italian risotto balls stuffed with asparagus, smoked fior di latte and Grana Padano or grilled calamari in white wine and charred lemon.

All the food, whether you’re opting for an appetizer or one of La Casetta’s deliciously rich

mains, like the tried-and-true spaghetti carbonara or a hearty truffle risotto, pair perfectly with anything on the drink menu.

Just ask your server for a recommendation, from Prosecco to Barolo, Moretti to an Aperol Spritz — they’ve got what you need to wash down your meal.

And please, do yourself a favour and leave room for dessert, like the perfect meal finisher: tiramisu, a traditional Italian layered dessert with ladyfingers, espresso, mascarpone and light cacao dusting, or the panna cotta custard with seasonal fruit preserves and candied pistachios — need we say more?

Swing by the 900 Millwood Rd. spot for lunch or dinner or call 416-421-5005 for reservations.

—Raquel Farrington

Elevated comfort food comes to Yonge and Eglinton

There’s a new midtown bistro serving up fresh, homemade comfort food — well not quite new. Although it may still be in the same brick-andmortar location, all-day breakfast hot spot Uncle Betty’s Diner has opened a new concept come nighttime.

When the diner closes at 3 p.m. and reopens one hour later, it’s morphed into Jane & Dick’s Bistro. Bidding adieu to the all-day breakfast food it has become known for like, eggs Benedict and towering stacks of pancakes with whipped blueberry mascarpone, it’s now introduced swanky, elevated comfort food that reflects the multicultural richness of the city.

Located at 2590 Yonge St., expect a highly seasonal menu at this bright and cheery bistro, featuring locally sourced ingredients and menu

items that are perfect for sharing: like the fondue (available in Emmenthal and Gruyère or brie and blue cheese), tapas (like fried chicken and cauliflower bites) and the pork belly served on coleslaw and Boston lettuce.

Big-hitting mains include classic steak frites, salmon puttanesca served with asparagus and tapenade and fish and chips made from beerbattered cod and served with mushy peas and crispy pomme frites. Remnants of Uncle Betty’s famous grilled cheese have also snuck back into the menu at Jane & Dick’s: found under the tapas section, this version includes Gruyère, cheddar and caramelized onions.

Enjoy a freshly squeezed, curated cocktail menu and, on Friday evenings, the sounds of live jazz from local acts.

—Christine Hogg

L-R Prosciutto and burrata pizza, La Casetta’s cosy interior

Glam Chinese eatery to replace Momofuku

Following its success in Vancouver, Mott 32 has found a T.O. home by Raquel Farrington

When word got around that David Chang’s Momofuku Nood le Bar was officially checking out of the Shangri-La hotel later this year, fans and past patrons wondered what would move into the space in its place. If you loved the Asian-inspired eats of Momofuku, you’ll be in good company with Mott 32, the award-winning Chinese restaurant chain that’s slated to move into the 190 Universit y Ave. space in spring 2023.

In a recent interview with Prestige Magazine, Xuan Mu co-founder of Maximal Concepts, the group behind Mott 32, gave the scoop on the upcoming Toronto loca tion.

When asked how many Mott 32 locations there were worldwide, Mu responded: “The branch in Cebu opens in September, Dubai is coming soon, and we’ll have a new one opening in Toronto as well, in the Shangri-la hotel. We’re designing it right now.”

The fine dining spot already has locations in Bangkok, Hong Kong, Singapore, Seoul, Las Vegas and Vancouver, with Cebu and Dubai listed as “coming soon” online.

The restaurant has an elegant, fine dining feel with the interior exuding an industrialmeets-luxe look, reflecting both its Chinese roots and global reach. The Vancouver spot has even earned accolades for its food as well as the design of its physical space, so expectations are high for the ne w restaurant.

It takes its name from the famed convenience store at 32 Mott St., which opened in New York City in 1891 It was Chinatown’s longest r unning store before closing in 2003. The restaurant has become known to embody the Chinese culture and philosophy that has been passed down through the generations.

Mott 32’s Vancouver menu features a variety of sophisticated yet authentic Chinese dishes that draw heavily from Cantonese

and Sichuan influences. Signature dishes include the 42 days applewood smoked Peking duck, which the chefs prepare using a custom duck oven and special air-drying duck fridge. You can also opt for a selection of dim sum made fresh by hand daily, like the soft-boiled quail egg, cleverly placed inside a kurobuta pork siu mai with black truffle. Try this small but powerful bite, which, according to the website, “perfectly encapsulates Mott 32’s commitment to reconceptualizing classic Chinese recipes.”

A selection of fine wines are also available to complement your meal, with sips f rom around the world. If wine isn’t your thing, you can order f rom a menu of signature cocktails using unique ingredients commonly found in the wider Asia-Pacific region, like osmanthus honey, ginseng roots, goji berries, pomelo, air-dried tanger ine peel, shiso leaves, star anise and cardamom.

Keep an eye on the Shangri-La space in the new year.

T.O.’s favourite wing joint just sold for $50M

Food and beverage retailer Aegis just purchased popular wing restaurant chain St. Louis Bar & Grill for a cool $50 million. The company says that its intent is to continue to grow the brand across Canada and beyond.

“We couldn’t be happier to welcome the brand, the employees and the franchisees of St. Louis into Aegis,” Steven Pelton, president and CEO of Aegis, states in a press release. “I admire the cul ture and vision of the brand and we intend to build off what has been created.”

For the last 30 years, St. Louis Bar & Grill has been a well-known dining destination for BBQ lovers, recognized for its “devilishly good” food, including signature wings, ribs and garlic dill sauce. After years spent working at one of Toronto’s most established

wing and rib restaurants, Bistro on Avenue, Brent Pouton opened St. Louis Bar & Grill in 1992 at 2050 Yonge St. The company now operates 72 locations across four provinces and serves more than 2.2 million pounds of wings each year.

“St. Louis was born in Toronto but made in Canada. We have our roots here in Ontario. W hat makes us incredibly unique com pared to anyone else in North America is our proprietary products. That’s our wings. They’re the best wings in Canada,” says Royal Nasager, St. Louis Bar & Grill’s VP of marketing in a recent interview with Retail Insider magazine.

And if you want to know just how well the company has fared over the last 30 years, its projected earnings for 2023 is a whopping $7.6 million.

© Lindsay Rosset

Cake Boss just brought a slice of Jersey to Yorkville

Carlo’s Bakery, the esteemed, Hoboken-based dessert empire, has opened an express location in Yorkville. The bakery earned widespread attention when it was the subject of a popular TLC reality show, which went on to run for nine seasons and amassed a legion of sweet toothed fans.

In 1910, Carlo’s bakery was founded by Italian pastry chef Carlo Guastaferro who ran the pastry shop until 1964. Bartolo “Buddy” Valastro Sr. shook flour-covered hands with Guastaferro, subsequently taking over the bakery. Today, the shop is run by Buddy Valastro, who has taken on the role of spokesperson for the bakery alongside his four older sisters, three brothers-inlaw and an assortment of close friends and family.

Carlo’s Bakery can be found across the city at various vending machines as well as a brick-and-mortar location in Mississauga, which opened earlier this year. The bakery’s latest venture is located at 24 Bellair St.

Upon entering, customers will be greeted by a life-sized cut-out of Buddy himself along with modern decor that includes pink wallpaper and botanicals. Staple Buddy Valastro desserts, including classic cannoli, monstrous cakes, cupcakes, lobster tails and much more, are available for discerning dessert lovers.

The bakeshop is expected to bring a Yorkville-specific menu to this newest location, although no information has been confirmed as of yet.

Carlo’s Bakery’s Yorkville location is open Monday to Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. —Marcus Mitropoulos

L-R An array of dishes from Mott 32, Maximal Concepts co-founder Xuan Mu

First location opened on Yonge

in 1992 by Jennifer Schembri

Rainbow cake from Carlo’s Bakery

LOOKING BACK

Before

On Nov. 11, 1925, the cenotaph outside of Old City Hall was unveiled during a Remembrance Day ceremony, becoming the official memorial site in the city. Cenotaph in Greek means ‘empty tomb,’ symbolizing those who are buried elsewhere.

The Toronto Santa Claus Parade, held on the third Sunday in November is one of the oldest annual parades in the world. It began in 1905 with a single float, and Santa arrived that year by train at Union Station.

2022

Daylight savings ends on the first Sunday of November each year. It’s unknown if and when the practice will end for good, but we can be thankful we’re not in charge of adjusting the city’s oldest clocks, like the one outside Union Station.

The Hockey Hall of Fame’s induction weekend occurs in November each year. Max Bently, pictured, is one of the honoured Leafs players in the HHOF who assisted in bringing the Stanley Cup home to the city three times.

The first Royal Agricultural Winter Fair took place on Nov. 22, 1922, and celebrates its 100th anniversary on Nov. 4 this year.

is the largest combined indoor agriculture fair and international equestrian competition in the world.

Cavalcade of Lights is an annual event highlighting the lighting of the City of Toronto government's official Christmas tree at Nathan Phillips Square. The event has been held every November since 1967.

go... take a gander at some of the city’s oldest November traditions!

along on Post City’s Instagram @streetsoftoronto this month for more.