Annex Post May 2023

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15 questions with Paul Gross by

About 23 years ago, acclaimed Toronto actor and director Paul Gross made his first stage appearance at the Stratford Festival production of Hamlet in the lead role as the Prince of Denmark. Now, decades later, he’s back and now he’s the King of England. Gross is set to star in the iconic Shakespeare tragedy King Lear, which opens May 30 and runs until Oct. 29.

What is it like to be back on the Stratford Festival stage to perform?

Oh God, you can’t imagine how beautiful that feels. There is something so magical about that stage. It’s epic.

How was the first day of King Lear previews?

It was really good. The funny thing, though, when you do a preview, it was actually exceptionally good, but you’re also in the middle of it thinking, “OK, that didn't work. That’s got to change. This has to do that.” But by and large, I thought it was amazing.

It’s a pretty good group you’re working with on this. Yes, this extraordinarily cohesive unit is just driving toward something. I was really impressed by that last, “Oh, my God, that’s actually there.” You know, it's happening. Right? Something which is a fairly elusive in most productions, I think. It was great. I thought we’d write a lot to do, you know, a lot to figure out.

$1

The price tag, in billions, Ryan Reynolds and a GTA company could pay for the Ottawa Senators.

$20

How does King Lear rank in terms of your storied career?

This will be the most important thing I’ve ever done in my life, outside of Hamlet. Everything else you do it’s fun. It's great. You’re committed to it. I mean, I’ve made movies that I’m committed to, but nothing will touch this.

What is your approach when taking on a monumental role like Lear?

I don’t really have an approach to acting at all. Whatever happens happens. And I took that into the broader base to approach Lear, which is just to start reading the play, read it a hundred times, and start talking it out loud to yourself, to your dogs. And then eventually it will pull out of you what you need to do that part.

Any similarity between Lear and your last role at Stratford, Hamlet? No, I mean, the only similarity I suppose is the level of pressure you might feel playing a part like this.

You feel the pressure of the moment?

The weird thing is I don't feel any pressure up there. I get out on the stage, and I ramble my head off, and I scream my brains out, and I just really don’t care what anyone thinks. And I mean that kind of seriously, because they're going to take it wherever they take it. And by the end of the play, all of them will be wounded. Because that's what Lear does. They will cry.

What was your first job? In the parking authority of Toronto. There’s a parking garage in Toronto that was built purely on my whim.

What is the worst piece of career advice you’ve ever received? Well, I think it was probably when I auditioned for theatre school. I think it was the National Theatre School, that audition. They said you will never be a good actor, so quit.

What is your favourite Toronto view? Cherry Beach.

Who in Toronto would you most like to hang out with? Doug Ford.

Which trait do you most dislike in yourself? Selfishness.

What is your greatest fear? To reach a point where I could no longer work. I like work.

Which living person do you most admire? Martha Burns.

What is your idea of perfect happiness? Doing King Lear at Stratford and then meeting my wife [Martha Burns], having a good meal, and going to bed.

The

The number of Canadians playing in the WNBA’s first-ever game in Canada, May 13 in Toronto.

The number of candidates currently running to become Toronto’s new mayor.

The year a new Canadian professional women’s soccer league will kick off and include a Toronto team.

value, in millions, of gold and other items stolen from Pearson Airport last month.

Paul Gross is transforming into King Lear for a new production of one of Shakespeare’s most iconic works

Ron Johnson

FIVE BOLD NEW DISTRICTS TO REDEFINE REGION

Toronto has long been called a city of neighbourhoods. So it’s no surprise that this isn’t changing with the coming wave of residential development about to crash over the GTA. Indeed, entire new and very cool nabes are taking shape from smack dab in the middle of downtown to the far northwestern reaches. Here are five that could be the next great spots.

by Ron Johnson

THE HANGAR DISTRICT

Got a love of the cinema or just want to move into a ‘hood with all kinds of history and cache? This is the place. A shortage of studio space has been clipping the local film industry’s wings in recent years, but the first phase of a massive mixed-use redevelopment at Toronto’s Downsview Airport could help. Dubbed the Hangar District for its creative reuse of the soon-to-be decommissioned airport’s hangars, it’s the first phase of Northcrest and Canada Lands Company’s ambitious 520-acre id8 Downsview project. The inaugural phase would incorporate 1.5 million square feet of new studio space and offices in the aerospace facilities in addition to delivering 2,800 residential units. The Hangar District is just one of 10 new neighbourhoods imagined in the development proposal. If the plan is completed as envisioned, by 2051 it would encompass close to 50,000 units.

THE WATERFRONT DISTRICT

Quayside is the latest waterfront project set to create a complete community on the shore of Lake Ontario. The Quayside Development Opportunity is a 12-acre (4.9 hectare) area located at the foot of Parliament Street and Lake Shore Boulevard. According to a Waterfront Toronto, highlights of the vision include more than 800 affordable housing units, new public spaces including a two-acre forested green space, a new landmark cultural destination with a multi-use arts venue and world-class architecture featuring one of Canada’s largest residential mass timber buildings. The development will include a variety of sustainability innovations to become Canada’s first all-electric, zero-carbon master plan at a large scale. The development is a collaboration with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.

THE RAIL DISTRICT

Want to live in a neighbourhood everybody is going to be talking about? How about shacking up in a condo built atop a railroad corridor right downtown? The latest application for a complete district over the massive rail corridor south of Front Street between Bathurst and Peter streets was submitted to the City with community consultation underway. The plan has been updated to include fewer towers, from 11 to nine, and more park space as well as a slew of community benefits including three daycare centres. The development application includes 6,126 residential units. Currently there is a a plan afoot to surround the entire district with city-owned park space and privately owned publicly accessible (POPS) space that would connect with the surrounding neighbourhoods to the north and south of the site to make for an even larger tapestry of green woven through the concrete jungle.

THE MIRVISH DISTRICT

Not surprisingly, given the history of the Mirvish family, the new development rising from the ashes of the iconic Honest Ed’s and neighbouring Mirvish Village is going to be good times galore. In the works since 2015, Mirvish Village is Westbank’s massive redevelopment project that will be unleashed this spring, and what we’ve heard so far is pretty exciting. The large-scale project will completely transform the area and includes six residential buildings, townhomes, 21 heritage buildings peppered throughout the site and a new public park. But there will also be all kinds of good times for visitors too. Like Mirvish Village before it, the development includes plans to showcase micro retailers and there is a hub in the works called the Kitchen, which will include food shops, a retail marketplace and a new live music venue with concerts throughout the year.

THE FUTURISTIC DISTRICT

The Orbit – a master-planned, cutting-edge community set to create a Smart City of up to 150,000 residents. The Orbit was approved by Innisfil Town Council unanimously and will be built near 6th Line and 20th Sideroad, south of Alcona. The Orbit isn’t built like traditional neighbourhoods on a grid, but envisions a regional transportation hub at the end of a wheel that spirals out into four districts where our small town and rural lifestyles are enhanced by the benefits and attributes of urban living. When complete, Innisfil is hoping to create four 15-minute neighbourhoods within the greater Orbit area where everything people need, including employment, entertainment and transportation options, is at hand with a focus on environmental sustainability, the arts, transit, innovative streets all combined with a vibrant start up energy and culture.

Hang up on TTC cell service deal

Since I was chair of the TTC at the time the contract was issued to BAI Communications for Wi-Fi service on the subway, I bear some responsibility for the current mess that needs to be cleaned up. Hopefully the TTC will clean it up soon.

Over 10 years ago, the TTC issued a request for proposal to the major telecom carriers to provide cellular service throughout the subway portion of the system. At the time, the major carriers couldn’t comply with the requirements because building the required infrastructure conflicted with the Toronto Board of Health’s prudent avoidance policy, which was subsequently deemed unnecessary.

Since BAI, a builder of shared communications infrastructure, only offered Wi-Fi in certain stations and not cellular service throughout the tunnels, the company was awarded the contract on the basis that it would work with the major providers to get cell service throughout the system, without any plan for how it would occur.

Fast-forward to today. None of the major carriers signed on with BAI for several legitimate business reasons. However, the landscape has certainly changed, and the expectation is that a

modern subway system should have cellular capability. If the TTC had moved to cancel the substandard contract with BAI and reissued a request for proposal to the telecoms back then, it would have a system like the one in Montreal and throughout the Metrolinx system.

What has happened over the past few months has been shameful. Even while knowing that Rogers and BAI were in backroom discussions, TTC brass and certain mayoral candidates launched a disingenuous shaming campaign against the major telecom companies.

Rogers has indicated that it is not interested in working with the other providers to build the network. This means that unless you are a Rogers customer you or your carrier will have to pay for the privilege of making a call while in the tunnel — and the cost may be high.

There is time to get it right. This is not just a business deal. The TTC still needs to approve the contract and give Rogers access to the system. Hopefully someone will stand up for the TTC and the riders and stop playing politics.

A deal for cell service in the TTC subway might cost passengers

KAREN STINTZ is a former city councillor and was a chair of the TTC.

Separating players from policies

There are now 50 candidates registered for the June 26 byelection for mayor of Toronto. Even among the half dozen front runners, there are many competing claims and positions. Here are two useful ways to distinguish the candidates.

First, take a good look at those who are advising the candidate during the election. As former prime minister Brian Mulroney famously said, “You dance with who brung you.”

Consider, for instance, Mark Saunders, the former police chief. His election team includes a fundraiser for the Ontario Conservatives, a former staffer of both Rob and Doug Ford and a former chief of staff for Premier Ford.

It is not much different for councillor Brad Bradford. His key advisor was chief of staff to Ford’s education minister Stephen Lecce; another is the founder of Ontario Proud; a third, apparently in a more limited capacity, was Doug Ford’s campaign manager in both 2018 and 2022. Deb Matthews, who was very close to Kathleen Wynne, is also involved with several other Liberals.

Ana Bailão has a team more mixed: a polarizing right-wing pollster and a former campaign organizer for the Liberal party, as well as several from John Tory’s campaigns for mayor.

Josh Matlow has more neutral advisors: a veteran campaign

manager who is not aligned with any party — he has worked for virtually every kind of candidate — and someone who worked as a communications person for former prime minister Jean Chretien and, long ago, for former mayor Art Eggleton.

It is unclear who is around Mitzie Hunter, but her decadelong political career has been with the Ontario Liberal party (she is a current Liberal Party MPP and will be required to resign that post by mid-May to run in the election), so one can assume those advisors will be Liberals.

Olivia Chow’s life had been with the New Democrats and one can assume they will be her advisors.Another group of influencers are donors. Bradford has announced a fundraiser for members of the development industry, and Bailão has done the same. Those donations could influence those candidates if they become mayor.

The second important way to distinguish candidates are policy announcements. It is easy to announce you will do almost anything if elected, but if the announcement is something you have never even hinted at in the past, it should not be trusted.

The announcements that should be treated seriously are those where the candidate has been clear about the issue in the past.

Mitzie Hunter, for instance, has frequently said she favours ranked ballots, so her promise to advocate for them if elected must be taken seriously.

Josh Matlow has frequently said he wants the city to build housing for the homeless and low-income families, so his announcements that he will do this if elected has weight.

Ana Bailão also showed a strong interest in housing as a councillor, so her announcements about that should be looked at carefully.

But the announcements by several candidates that they will build barriers in the subways to prevent people being pushed onto the tracks should be treated as hot air: they have not talked about this in the past, and the cost is far beyond what a cash-strapped TTC could ever meet.

Most of the other candidates have no experience on city council or for other reasons, even if former councillors, can’t at this point be treated as serious contenders. Running for mayor is serious business and political experience is needed to attract enough of a following to run a strong campaign.

L-R: Mitzie Hunter, Josh Matlow, Ana Bailão and Mark Saunders

JOHN SEWELL is a former mayor of Toronto.

Community demands change for Avenue Road

A years-long community-led push to make a stretch of Avenue Road safer for pedestrians is gaining momentum.

On April 12, Toronto and East York Community Council approved a motion calling for the speed limit to be reduced from 50 to 40 kilometres an hour on Avenue Road between Bloor Street West and St. Clair Avenue West, as well as enhanced police enforcement in the area and the launch of a pilot project, including physical barriers and other traffic-calming measures.

“We need to take action to make it safer for pedestrians, and we need to do it now — and we can,” said Ward 11 Coun. Dianne Saxe, who put the motion forward. “They’ve been asking all these years,” she said, of the community concern, “and basically nothing’s happened.”

To move forward, the plans still need the seal of approval from Toronto City Council, which will vote on the item on May 10.

Residents are optimistic that change is finally afoot, which some suggest is long overdue.

“We were hoping that there would be some changes done much quicker,” said Arlene Desjardins, acting chair of the Avenue Road Safety Coalition, which, since 2017, has been calling for moves just like the ones proposed.

“There have been more fatalities along Avenue Road during that time and more accidents.”

The community activist points to a 2017 City of Toronto report that notes that 85 per cent of motorists were observed travelling above the speed limit on the 2.1kilometre stretch. Desjardins

sees no reason why this one section of the road has a higher speed limit and two additional lanes compared to the rest of the thoroughfare.

“It just makes people think that they’re on a highway and that they can speed,” she explained.

Saxe agreed: “It gives cars every signal to go fast,” she explained.

Permanent change may be years away, but Saxe suggests the proposed pilot project could bring more immediate relief by adding temporary wooden sidewalk extensions and planters to create a buffer for pedestrians, for instance.

“The reason I asked for a pilot project is to start something now,” Saxe said. “We need to narrow the road … so that nobody gets killed — or at least no more people get killed.”

—Josh Sherman

L-R: City councillor Dianne Saxe and community activist signs

When designing a recently proposed condo on Eglinton Avenue West, architect Babak Eslahjou wanted to try something different.

“You see a lot of red and dark grey in Toronto,” said Eslahjou, principal at Core Architects, of condo facades in Toronto. “I haven’t seen a lot of purple — yet.”

That could change if Eslahjou and Core’s vision for the Arista Homes proposal to redevelop 444 to 466 Eglinton Ave. W. comes to life.

The development application has been submitted to the City of Toronto for the site, which is located near the new Avenue station on the Crosstown LRT line, which is going to open one day. It occupies a large portion of a block on the north side of the Eglinton Way strip, west of Avenue Road. It contains a number of small but wellknown retailers, including Josephson’s Opticians, Honey and a popular Starbucks.

What’s most striking about the proposed 19-storey, mixeduse residential tower, designed by Core, is that it features a seven-storey podium that’s made of glazed purple bricks.

“I’ve certainly dabbled into different colours of brick over the years,” said Eslahjou.

The choice of colour is certainly uncommon. But the deci-

sion to use brick was more conservative-minded. It’s meant to reference the century houses that fill the low-rise neighbourhoods to the north and the south of the development site, which is on the northwest corner of Eglinton and Castle Knock Road.

Expecting Eglinton Avenue West to be drastically redeveloped in the coming years and decades, Eslahjou said he sees the project as a chance to get more creative. After all, the established context might be

NEWS

in Toronto’s Heritage Register.

“Being listed on the Heritage Register is not the same thing as being a designated heritage property,” according to the City of Toronto’s website. “Being listed means further evaluation of the property will take place if there is an intent to have it demolished.”

Architecturally, efforts have been made to make the tower seem less imposing.

“The overall vision here is that we were trying to take away from a building appearing to be tall,” said Eslahjou.

Retail was another design priority. In all, the project includes 420 square metres of non-residential space. Ceiling heights for the retail area soar to six-and-a-half metres.

turned on its head if more and more low-rise properties meet the wrecking ball.

“We’re kind of dealing with a blank slate here,” he said of Eglinton’s future. “It’s like making an urban street from scratch,” he added.

The project includes 185 residential suites and would replace five of the current site’s existing six rental units, which are located above commercial units, including a Starbucks on Eglinton.

Four properties within the development site are included

“Retail along that street is very important,” said Eslahjou. “This space is not gigantic, but it’s the whole length of the building on Eglinton,” he noted, estimating retail accounts for about half of the ground floor.

“That allows us to get a good cross-section of the very top brands of retail,” said Eslahjou. Six of the building’s 33 parking spots are set aside for non-residential use.

The application was submitted in April and is being reviewed. A public meeting will be scheduled.

—Josh Sherman

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“We’re kind of dealing with a blank slate here.”

Eglinton Way to get a purple tower

New church plan has residents rankled

A Hogg’s Hollow church’s proposal to redevelop its land into a condo tower and new place of worship is being appealed at the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) as residents continue to express concerns about the project’s density and environmental impacts.

In July of 2022, the Goldberg Group, on behalf of the church, submitted a development application to the City of Toronto to demolish the existing church and replace it with a 12-storey, 98-unit building. In January, the church launched an appeal to the OLT, to settle the dispute.

“The application was pushed to OLT because the city did not give a determination in a timely manner,” Pirjo Roininen, chair of the Agricola Finnish Lutheran Church, said via email.

Roininen declined to comment further on the proposal. However, last summer, the congregational chair said that the project could create a new cultural hub for Toronto’s Finnish community and also provide amenities for the local community at large.

In addition to dwellings, the application proposes 566 square metres of church and multi-functional space, 915

square metres of “commercial community space” and a 409square-metre daycare. But the size of the development concerns local residents.

“It’s more than what we would’ve expected,” said Nick Dhillon, president of the York Mills Valley Association, a neighbourhood group granted party status for the OLT hearing. “We thought it should be shorter, especially because it’s adjacent to residential homes,” he added.

Shannon Rancourt, of Hogg’s Hollow Tree Watch, agreed. “What I would be super happy with is a lower-rise [building] that doesn’t encroach on the park and preserves the mature trees that are presently in place,” she said.

According to the arborist’s report included with the development application, 10 trees would be removed, whereas another seven would be injured.

Traffic is another worry. Rancourt said that the city needs more housing to address the affordability crisis but suggests there are other factors — such as the city’s tree canopy — to weigh when deciding how much density is appropriate.

—Josh Sherman

A rendering of the proposed development in Hogg's Hollow

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Why heritage preservation can’t stop housing

The provincial government announced plans to move the Science Centre to the Ontario Place to build housing in its place last month. Placemaker Jay Pitter tells us more about the battle between preserving cultural heritage and the need for more housing in Toronto

Should the Science Centre be moved for the purpose of building housing?

The individuals in the community where the Science Centre is located, just like everyone else in this city, deser ve to have great housing and great amenities and great public transportation access. The suggestion that this particular community, which

is diverse in terms of race and class, should be presented with this egregious either-or proposal is the very definition of spatialized discrimination and broader structural inequalities.

We’ve seen cultural heritage used as a reason to block housing in the city. How does that apply here?

We deeply misunderstand cultural heritage in the city The Science Centre was designed by Raymond Moriyama over a half century ago when there was almost zero representation of racialized practitioners across design sectors. His approach created the foundation for a living cultural heritage, which now

includes the intangible cultural heritage — meaning the daily community practices, stories, celebrations — of an extrodinarily diverse range of community members. Histor y, sustainability, urban equity, place-based stor ytelling and evolving cultural practices are all important aspects of cultural heritage

Now, those legitimate indicators of cultural heritage are not to be mistaken with NIMBY [not in my backyard] arguments pertaining to having shade cast over private backyards or stoking class discrimination around people like renters. Challenging housing development by centring cultural heritage and char-

acter language in an argument is either willfully weaponizing or misunderstanding the concept. The city could do a much better job of defining what cultural character means.

What’s a better way for the city to approach these conversations?

Municipalities must have the courage to stop framing conversations around whether or not intensification and density should happen. It's how it should happen. The “how” questions include, "How do we accommodate new residents?” “How do we embrace new neighbours from diverse class and race backgrounds?” “How do we accommodate everyone in terms of having the appropriate amenities so that we're all comfortable?” This is how it should be framed.

When might there be resistance to density?

There is a lot of grey area between spewing discriminatory arguments resisting residential density and feeling concerned or uncertain about change. Community members should be able to voice concerns pertaining to diminishing property values, public safety or losing neighbour-to-neighbour connections. Municipalities should resist judging the person or the concern; they should provide information to address the concern. In addition to funding and policy change, guiding more informed and courageous conversations about residential density and cultural heritage is the way forward.

Multiplexes — coming to a street near you

The single family home next door to you could become a fourunit multiplex if new amendments to the City of Toronto’s official plan and zoning bylaw are approved. A city staff report going before the planning and housing committee is recommending that low-rise housing types, up to four units, should be allowed in all neighbourhoods.

The proposal goes beyond the new mandate implemented by the provincial government through Bill 23 (More Homes Built Faster Act) in 2022, which requires cities to allow up to three residential units on any lot.

Jump into these lakefront locales

We got the scoop on what’s hot in Ontario cottage country’s real estate market.

Bracebridge, Gravenhurst and Huntsville

Offering plenty of infrastructure, picturesque scenery and easy access from the GTA, these locales make popular destinations due to their closeness to several famous lakes — but be prepared to pay a premium. These areas support year-round living, which is attractive to potential buyers.

North Frontenac and Rideau Lakes

For those looking for lower prices, consider heading east to places like North Frontenac or the Rideau Lakes, where dreamy shorelines amid pretty scenery abound.

Parry Sound

If you're seeking an up-and-coming area with plenty of buying potential, look no further than fabulous Parry Sound. The entry level price point is more attainable for buyers and promises great value for your money.

Port Loring

Inland lake prices will get cheaper as you go north — the Magnetawan chain of lakes will get you good value for the extra drive. Port Loring and the French River are even cheaper.

—Rebecca Hesse

If the proposal is approved, multiplexes could be built up to 10 metres to enable the construction of a third storey.

The changes would make some progress on the city’s “missing middle” problem, bringing density to Toronto’s “yellowbelt”— a term coined by an urban planner — the neighbourhoods where only detached houses are permitted to be built.

“Our recommendations to permit multiplex housing across all neighbourhoods will enable property owners to create housing for extended families or rental units for tenants, ” chief cit y planner Gregg Lintern said.

—Julia Mastroianni

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L-R: The Science Centre, Jay Pitter

L-R: The Word on the Street returns to Queen’s Park this month, drag queen Sasha Velour hits town for two performances

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Why quiet luxury is here to stay

With the final season of everyone’s favourite dysfunctional family dramedy on HBO, Succession, airing this month, tongues have been wagging in fashion circles This might surprise you if you’ve ever watched an episode of the series — the Roy family often favours baseball caps, unassuming T-shirts and vests. But if you look closely, there’s something else going on: as an uber-wealthy family, it’s all about quiet luxury. Also known as “stealth wealth,”

the trend refers to luxury fashion that doesn’t immediately appear to be luxur y (read: expensive). That means no logos, no overt branding and often neutral, subdued shapes and colours.

Videos about the trend have received over 78 million views on TikTok, but Carolyn Wright, senior vice-president of product and planning for Holt Renf rew in Toronto, says it’s not new.

“It’s more of an attitude and a way of life versus a trend,” she

says. “It's been around for a long time, because a lot of these brands that we point to as part of the strength in this attitude have been around for a long time as well ”

However, Wright notes that the increasing popularity of quiet luxury also has to do with our current time period. “You're seeing people react to the economic uncertainty with a greater population moving toward stealth wealth,” she says. Wright also be-

lieves the pandemic advanced thinking around sustainability: “This trend speaks to investing in more long-lasting pieces.”

Lest you exclude yourself f rom the trend because you don’t feel like dropping thousands on a pair of sunglasses, Wright says that quiet luxury doesn’t necessarily need to include expensive clothes — it can be achieved at any price point. “It's really a design esthetic: sort of cleaned up, understated, subtle — a little more classic,” she says.

Wright has noticed that, although not all brands are moving in the direction of quiet luxury, the particularly logodriven ones are starting to shift their offerings. “Brands are intentionally making moves to evolve their products to advance and evolve their fashion perspectives.”

As for brands that are gaining popularity for their stealth wealth sensibilities, Wright points to Todd's, Prada, the Row, Brunello Cucinelli and Ferragamo.

Try 119 Corbò in Yorkville for logo-less, neutral apparel that will have you fitting right in with the Roys, or Kotn on Queen Street for well-fitting basics that don’t come with the designer price tags.

—Julia Mastroianni

Win prom and wedding season in Toronto

Looking for a more unique and sustainable look for weddings and proms this season? Tr y these Toronto shops, f rom vintage to consignment to rentals.

The Fitzroy

The Fitzroy is the go-to place for partygoers who don’t feel like shelling out hundreds of dollars for one night of fun. The store offers a dress rental ser vice and pricing ranges f rom $100 to $150. You’ll find designer dresses in all sizes and styles, including a draped forest green satin look from Sau Lee and a shimmery jumpsuit by Gemy Maalouf. 225 Sterling Rd.

Mama Loves You Vintage

This Queen West shop offers a large selection of dresses from the 1880s all the

way to the 1990s that might have been worn to an actual prom back in the day! Grab a 1950s party dress or a floor-length 1940s black gown for and be the belle of the prom. 541 Queen St. W

VSP Consignment

Willing to shell out a bit more cash for an investment designer piece that will last you a lifetime? VSP Consignment has dresses ranging f rom $125 to over $1,000 for the more high-end looks. An orange ruched $125 Norma Kamali dress would stand out in the most darkly lit crowd. S ame goes for a $295 Rotate dress with a short hemline and puffed sleeves. A $395 Alexander Wang dress is ideal for a classic allblack look. 1410 Dundas St. W.

Yorkville gets a designers market

A market showcasing work from local Toronto designers has found a permanent home in the Holt Renfrew Centre in Yorkville. The Toronto Designers Market, founded in 2015 by entrepreneur Joshua James, began as a showcase of jewelry and clothing designers and artists in Parkdale.

James, a gallery owner and part of Parkdale Flea at the time, founded the market with jewelry and clothing designers and artists from the Queen Street area. He sold the business a year later to Marcus Kan, who later sold it to one of the original designers from the market, Karen Ferguson, in 2019.

Since then, Ferguson has been figuring out how to keep the store moving forward through challenges that included the pandemic — making the decision to build an educational component into the business until the market could go back to a physical storefront. Now, with stores back up and running, Ferguson has transformed the store into curated spaces for each designer — and designers can pay for the space based on the square footage required.

With a revamped in-store model, the Toronto Designers Market made the move from its original 1605 Queen St. W. location to a permanent storefront at the concourse level of the Holt Renfrew Centre. The store fits right in — you can shop designer pieces that range from $35 to over $3,000.

And Ferguson has brought the education component into the new space — the retailer works with one new designer each year as mentor, helping them with merchandising, establishing a brand and more. You can shop the market’s new in-store location at 50 Bloor St. W.

HBO’s ‘Succession’ popularized the stealth wealth trend

The Fitzroy’s Rixo London slip dress

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Paddle your own garden canoe this summer

A decade ago, volunteers planted a beat-up canoe, retired from active service, at the Fort York historical site in Toronto. They drilled it with holes for drainage, filled it with soil and transformed it into a planter filled with native wildflowers.

The initial aim was to plant canoes in parks and schoolyards along the old Garrison Creek, a “lost river” that had been incorporated into the city’s subterranean sewer system in the late 19th century. Each canoe would be a nod to the not-too-distant ecological past when the creek ran through the neighbourhood.

Over the next three years, volunteers planted dozens of repurposed canoes throughout Toronto, Markham and Richmond Hill. Today, the canoe garden network stretches from Cape Breton to Vancouver Island, providing pollen and nectar patches for local critters.

The idea to plant a canoe fleet was inspired by American entomologist Douglas Tallamy. In his book Bringing Nature Home, Tallamy offered these “Homegrown National Parks” as a citizen-led option to increase biodiversity in communities.

The David Suzuki Foundation took up Tallamy’s challenge to create Canada’s first Homegrown National Park and en-

listed the help of volunteers, including Toronto resident Aidan Dahlin Nolan, who became one of the first Homegrown Park Rangers in 2013.

The Homegrown National Park Project morphed into the Butterflyway Project in 2017. It’s now come full circle. The David Suzuki Foundation is collaborating with Tallamy’s U.S.-based Homegrown National Park organization. People in Canada can upload their native plant gardens to the Canadian Homegrown National Park Map.

The project is motivated by troubling trends for insects. Insect populations, despite being the largest and most diverse group of organisms on the planet, have dropped by 45 per cent over the past 40 years as a result of industrial agriculture, urbanization, invasive species and climate change.

But insect devastation isn’t inevitable. Each one of us can play a hands-on role in bringing back local populations. All it takes is a couple of trays of native wildflowers, gardening gloves and a gentler approach to managing our yards and neighbourhoods — and perhaps an old canoe.

The canoe garden initiative began in Toronto

DAVID SUZUKI with files from senior strategist Jode Roberts.

True grit: How to build resilient grandkids

There are so many silver linings for grandparents. Early on it was all about the euphoria inspired by the first grandchild. Pity the subsequents, for they are deeply loved but not in that same knock-you-over attack of bliss occasioned by the arrival of number one. It’s not their fault they came next.

But the more nuanced minute of a grandparent’s life has come later. A few years in, I am struck by something entirely different from being gaga over the grandkids.

The first few years all I noticed was the kids. My own kids became almost invisible. Every few months I’d catch one of them looking at me in silent comprehension. As if they’re thinking: “I don’t matter to you anymore. It’s all about my kid now.” They were always too polite to mention it. Or maybe too strategic to piss off their primary source of child care.

Of course I wasn’t always Switzerland with my kids. Some irritants infuriated me. Like why don’t they say thank you for all the child care?

And yes, I did sometimes think they were doing it wrong. Don’t all grandparents sometimes get judgy? I am especially good at this. I am bossy and pushy. I am a world-class con-

trol freak.

But lately I’ve been noticing a couple of things. When their kids fall down and scrape a knee or get a good bonk on the arm, while comforting, they say stuff like: “That was a good kerplunk.” There’s no angsty fluttering round them or making worried noises. It’s not that they ignore the booboo, but they don’t make a big deal of it, and they stay very calm. When their kids are crying because some-

KIDS CURRENTS

The first thing, about kerplunks and other booboos, both emotional and physical, is that my kids are consciously building resilience in their kids. Instead of throwing pity parties, they’re using voice tone, words and body language to telegraph that the current injury to psyche or body isn’t a big enough deal to freak out over. And by naming a child’s feelings out loud, they help the child learn to say their feelings — ‘cause we know that using your words is always better. Bottom line: Growing resilience. The second thing is the boundary setting. Standing up to a toddler on the warpath can feel somewhat Putin-esque. Their wrath knoweth no bounds. Their passion for litigating, screaming, throwing themselves on the floor with vigour, and generally creating a huge ruckus, sometimes appears infinite. And all in response to the word no.

body took their toy or they’re having a full-on hangry fit before dinner, they say: “You have big feelings. It looks like you’re really sad or mad.”

The other thing I notice is boundaries. My kids are saying no to their kids pretty often. No, you can’t have chocolate chip cookies for dinner. No, you can’t stay home from daycare. No, you can’t watch another show on TV. No, you can’t stay at the park longer. No, you can’t go out in - 4 without your snowsuit and boots.

What a magic word. For such a small word, it wields such significance. My own mother, may she rest in peace, was so intimidated by my furies when she said no that I learned early how easy it was to wear her down and turn that no into a yes. Watching my kids set appropriate boundaries and stick to them calmly is of course wonderful because it tells me they’re raising people who will learn how to live with boundaries. But that’s not what really turns my crank: the super-cool thing is how it makes me feel as a parent. Who knew this would happen? I am watching my adult children operationalize what we, their dad and I, taught them as children. I have the great joy of seeing generativity in action. This is my legacy — I see it now. We raised children who are raising emotionally healthy, resilient children.

And there’s a big fat silver lining here. In learning to trust their parenting, I am learning to shut up and listen more. A little late for this lesson? If not now, when?

“There’s no angsty fluttering round them or making worried noises.”

Children learn by observing their parents

JOANNE KATES is the director of Camp Arowhon in Algonquin Park.

CURRENTS GROWING UP T.O.

FAST FACTS

NAME: Jennifer Podemski

GRADUATED: Claude Watson School

BEST T.O. MEMORY: Watching the Blue Jays win the World Series

FAVE T.O. ARTISTS: Lesley Hampton and Lindsay King

FAVE FORMER

T.O. LANDMARK: Steve’s Restaurant

Groundbreaking series

Little Bird takes flight

This month, showrunner and producer Jennifer Podemski’s groundbreaking new series Little Bird is set to premiere on Crave. The actor, producer, director and writer is telling a story that has rarely received attention from Canada’s film and TV industry — the “Sixties Scoop,” which refers to the removal of thousands of Indigenous children out of their homes and their subsequent adoption into predominantly non-Indigenous families in the ’60s in North America.

“Everything I’ve done as a producer has intersected with historical trauma and colonial violence,” says Podemski, who also produced the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network’s (APTN)

Moccasin Flats and Future History. “There is also a lot of joy, love, rich culture and teaching, but there are so many urgent stories that need to be told as a way to move forward and heal.”

Podemski’s professional acting career began in high school — at Claude Watson School for the Arts, casting directors visited to audition people to be extras in movies, landing her a background role in Prom Night 3. “I was hooked,” she says.

With over 30 years of experience in this industry, she’s seen it grow — but she’s also seen its shortcomings. “It was very clear to me that there was a big problem when it came to Indigenous

stories on TV,” she says. By the time she was 25, she said she had to do something about it. So she opened her own production company, Redcloud Studios Inc.

Now, with Little Bird, the series boasts an Indigenous cast and two Indigenous directors — but, Podemski notes, not a majority Indigenous crew, despite the showrunner implementing a training program on set for entry level Indigenous crew. “That’s the sad reality: there is a lot of training but not enough meaningful employment,” she says.

Podemski credits APTN for “legitimizing” Indigenous producers and creators such as herself, but says we’re still far behind when it comes to representation on screen and behind the camera. “Access to opportunity is the biggest barrier, not lack of experienced talent,” she says.

So once again, Podemski took matters into her own hands — she launched The Shine Network in 2020 to empower Indigenous women in film and TV.

She’s doing just that with Little Bird, which stars Cree-Saulteaux actor Darla Contois. Podemski hopes the series, which premieres on May 26, creates some awareness. “I hope it inspires audiences to see in themselves their own potential to heal and reconcile with their past no matter what community they are from.”

— Julia Mastroianni

Jennifer Podemski’s new series is about the Sixties Scoop

Kurt Browning takes another spin at love

Canadian skating legend Kurt Browning has done it all. He’s a four-time world champion; an Olympic flag-bearer; a Canada Sports Hall of Famer; was a judge, performer and co-host on CBC’s Battle of the Blades; and is the first person in history to land a quadruple jump in competition. He’s also in his 30th year performing with the Stars on Ice tour — and this year, he gets to do so with his new wife, U.S. national champion figure skater Alissa Czisny. Ahead of the tour coming to Toronto on May 5, the couple shares how they remet on the rink and their accidental first date.

How they met

Face to face, at an ice rink!

We have known each other for years through skating. We “remet” in 2015 when we were both performing in a skating tour together.

The first date

Syracuse, New York, when we were on the tour together (October 2015). A group of U.S. skaters went to a mall in Syracuse. When an incredibly small and minor emergency occurred, the group disbanded, leaving us looking at each other and saying, “Lunch?” Our lunch turned into an entire afternoon of exploring

CURRENTS HOW THEY MET

Ring factor: 0 out of 5

She-said-yes factor: perfect 10

The wedding and honeymoon

We were married in a small, private ceremony in an enchanted forest on the Niagara Peninsula in Ontario on Aug. 11, 2022. We often travel together for work, so we have not yet taken an official honeymoon, but we will be going to Australia together this upcoming summer!

The kids

Kurt has two wonderful, amazing, handsome boys — they made us write that! — Gabriel and Dillon, ages 19 and 15.

Balancing careers and a marriage

the city together … and the rest is history, as they say! Many years of friendship and trust evolved into something else that day, and we quickly realized that we enjoyed who we were with each other.

The courtship

We spent the first five or so years long-distance dating, travelling between Detroit and Toronto to visit each other. It gave us time to really get to know each other better and figure out what our

On thin blades of steel! With both of us being figure skaters, there’s a complete understanding of what the other one is going through. How many other couples at the end of their work day get to hold hands and bow together!

Shared hobbies and interests

Kurt: We share all hobbies — except for reading. I leave that to Alissa! We both love biking, hiking, rollerblading, antiquing, rock climbing, playing tennis, playing pool, working out, going on adventures, pretty much everything… and we both rather dislike cooking.

The secret to success

Alissa: He buys me a constant stream of blueberries!

lives would become if merged. We had many adventures together, including participating in a single-day, 100-mile bicycle ride and a cross-country road trip, highlighted by a visit to the Grand Canyon and Grand Teton National Park.

The proposal

Spontaneity factor: 5 out of 5

Eloquence factor: 4 out of 5

Romance factor: 3 out of 5

Setting factor: 2 out of 5

Creativity factor: 1 out of 5

Kurt: I like that the further away she is from her glasses, the better looking I get! The most important thing is that we laugh together every day.

The future

If we could look into the future, we would have bought stock in Apple, Google, Netflix and Amazon. But even though we don’t have any stock in those companies, we are very happy with our investment in each other. When we look forward to our future together, there is likely less time on the ice, but more time off the ice to do lots of other things that we enjoy together!

“I like that the further away she is from her glasses, the better looking I get!”

Kurt Browning and Alissa Czisny are both big adventurers

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ALDER

“Great cocktails, a focused wine list and a great selection from the kitchen of shareable plates makes it a must-try in Toronto.”

POST CITY’S TAKE: A stay at Toronto’s recently opened Ace Hotel would not be complete without dining at Alder, another knockout from Michelin-starred chef Patrick Kriss (pictured right). The restaurant features a Mediterranean-inspired menu that celebrates seasonality and, at its core, a signature wood-fired hearth and grill infusing flavour into each dish. Working with executive chef Devin Murphy, and pastry chef Victoria Ammendolia, Kriss oversees all dining menus at Ace Hotel Toronto, which also includes the hotel’s community space and the Lobby, which offers a menu of pastries and coffee in the morning followed by alcoholic bevvies and small plates later on. Among the menu highlights are the half grilled chicken with harissa jus; big eye tuna with charred poblano aïoli; and for dessert gluten-free coconut cream pie. The restaurant also boasts a full bar program, featuring classically inspired cocktails, local craft beers and an eclectic selection of wines from both established and emerging vintners. With the aim to be an all-day hangout for Toronto, the lofty space is warm and inviting and features an open kitchen surrounded by concrete walls, brick floors and rich wood accents. 51 Camden St.

STANDOUT DISH: Dark chocolate and peanut mille-feuille

SUNNYS CHINESE

“The dish that really stood out for us was the Husband and Wife Beef. Also, both of their desserts were awesome.”

POST CITY’S TAKE: Born as a wildly successful pandemic pop-up, Sunnys Chinese’s brick-and-mortar location has become one of the most coveted tables in the city, thanks to enviously cool vibes and food that feels both adventurous and comforting. Tucked in the former Cold Tea space within a small mall in Kensington Market, Sunnys’s out-of-the-way location, moody lighting, groovy beats and playful little details (like tiny panda chopstick rests) set the tone for an exciting dining experience. The restaurant’s laid-back vibe belie chefs David Schwartz and Braden Chong’s earnest and thoroughly researched approach to regional Chinese cuisine. Touching on dishes spanning from Sichuan to Hong Kong, the menu offers something for diners with varying palates and preferences. Fans of Chinese takeout can devour near-perfected versions of American-Chinese classics like orange chicken, and those looking for a deep dive into China’s culinary culture can tuck into shareables like the Husband and Wife Beef, a Sichuan dish featuring braised beef shank, tendon and tripe covered in fiery housemade chili oil and finished with crunchy peanuts. Cocktails that play with Chinese spirits and ingredients bring the whole experience together. 60 Kensington Ave.

ATMOSPHERE: Secretive, almost speakeasy-like vibe

JUDGE KYLE RINDINELLA, ENOTECA SOCIALE

JUDGES KATE CHOMYSHYN & JULIO GUAJARDO, FONDA BALAM

JEFFREY BOVIS, WYNONA • IVAN CASTRO, LA BARTOLA • DANIELE CORONA, DON ALFONSO 1890 • ANNA CHEN, ALMA • KATE CHOMYSHYN & JULIO GUAJARDO, FONDA BALAM • ERIC CHONG, R & D • RYUSUKE NAKAGAWA, ABURI HANA • TOBEY NEMETH & MICHAEL CABALLO, EDULIS STEVE MOLNAR, QUETZAL • KYLE RINDINELLA, ENOTECA SOCIALE • ANTHONY ROSE, FAT PASHA • DEVINDRA SINGH, INDIAN STREET FOOD CO.

CHANTECLER

“The food is even better than I remember, the brioche à tête was sensational, and the french onion soup was the best I’ve ever had.”

POST CITY’S TAKE: Beloved bistro Chantecler returned this year with a new location and the same soul-warming French cuisine that made it a Parkdale neighbourhood favourite. Opened in 2012, the original Chantecler was decimated by a fire in 2019. A pop-up, a pandemic and a butcher shop later, and Chantecler reopened in spring 2023 in its new Bloorcourt home. Fans of the OG Chantecler will be delighted to see the return of menu mainstays, such as the top sirloin steak tartare served with house-made sourdough. New dishes channel the restaurant’s core ethos of French fare executed with unexpected twists and local ingredients. Like the first iteration, the second coming of Chantecler also aims to appeal to diners with a variety of budgets. The restaurant’s namesake, a type of heritage chicken, is served as a duo of crispy pan-roasted breast and thigh stuffed with mushroom duxelles. Nods to the Parkdale location can also be found in the decor, which incorporates a wood arch motif as well as some lighting and bar stools from the first restaurant. With its tin ceiling and hints of exposed brick, the vibes are as timeless and inviting as ever in the new space. A large patio overlooking Christie Pits Park is in the works for the warmer months.

798 Bloor St. W.

PRICE RANGE: From splurge-worthy dry-aged rib-eye to approachable small plates, sides and seafood staples

CASA MADERA

POST CITY’S TAKE: From the live performances to the theatrical presentation of the dishes and drinks, every element of dining at Casa Madera includes dramatic flair. DJs, dancers and live musicians regularly entertain diners between the dazzling arrival at the table of cocktails set aflame or cloaked in a haze of dry ice. The first Canadian location for Los Angeles–based hospitality group Noble 33, Casa Madera’s menu draws on diverse coastal culinary influences from Mexico to the Mediterranean. The restaurant taps into its setting within eco-friendly luxury property 1 Hotel Toronto for its dedication to sustainably sourced ingredients. With an extensive raw bar menu that includes a trio of seafood towers in varying sizes and entrees like striped bass with fennel citrus salad, fresh-fromthe-sea dishes are a high point — although meat-centered mains like a wild mushroom truffle risotto and 32-inch bone-in wagyu tomahawk deliver equally bold flavours and Instagram-worthy plating. Nodding to its name, which means “wood house” in Spanish, Casa Madera’s design exudes 1 Hotel’s swish, back-to-nature esthetic. 550 Wellington St. W.

DOTTY’S

“Love anything chef Carter cooks up. Beautifully casual, and always on point.”

POST CITY’S TAKE: The latest collaboration between former Dandylion owners Jay Carter and business partner Susan Beckett strikes an inviting balance between homey and hip. Take, for example, the restaurant’s decor: The soda stools and pastel-coloured schoolhouse chairs exude a retro vibe, whereas the clean design lines and eye-catching black-andwhite mural hanging over the bar feel distinctly modern. Virtually every seat in the house offers diners a perspective on the gentle hum of activity taking place in the open kitchen. The intimate, 30-seat restaurant is named after Beckett’s mother, Dorothy, who ran a restaurant in Mission, B.C., throughout Beckett’s childhood. The menu, too, straddles the line between fresh and familiar, featuring unfussy dishes made with high-quality ingredients and a nuanced culinary touch. Snacks include a house-made pimento cheese that packs a spicy kick, served with a side of classic Ritz crackers. The drink menu is equally brief and unpretentious, emphasizing seasonal tipples that run the gamut from easy-drinking to spirit-forward. 1588 Dupont St.

STANDOUT DISH: A blend of locally sourced beef brisket and chuck make the simple cheeseburger taste ultra-satisfying

JUDGE ERIC CHONG, R&D

“It’s a beautiful location to have a fun night out with friends and enjoy the good vibes and atmosphere.”

JUDGE DANIELE CORONA DON ALFONSO 1890

JUDGE ANNA CHEN, ALMA

ATMOSPHERE: Posh beach resort feel

CASA PACO

“An absolute gem of a restaurant — humming with energy and joy! Everything that comes out of the kitchen is FABULOUS.”

POST CITY’S TAKE: Casa Paco reunites chefs Rob Bragagnolo and Caroline Chinery, along with Tommy Conrad and Ailbhe McMahon who all worked together at now-closed King West restaurant Labora. Although Casa Paco’s Spanish-influenced menu feels reminiscent of Labora, the Little Italy restaurant swaps the King West outpost’s sleek, upscale esthetic for an ambience that’s more laid-back.. Hunter green accents, walls decorated with personal photos, low lighting and warm woods give the restaurant a welcoming feel. The four co-owners are the restaurant’s only staff, allowing them to interact directly with diners and develop more personal connections. Casa Paco’s menu is equally heartfelt, featuring dishes that read simply but present meticulous counterpoints of flavour and texture. In keeping with the restaurant’s informal style, the menu changes regularly, evoking the feeling of being hosted at a friend’s home for a meal rather than a formal, sit-down dining experience. Expect Spanish classics and subtle riffs on Mediterranean fare, with starting bites like tomato bread or grilled polenta with piave cheese giving way to mains like paella flecked with Salt Spring Island mussel. The newcomer already feels like a Little Italy stand-by. 50c Clinton St.

ATMOSPHERE: Down to earth in both service and style

MIZNON

“I’ve been waiting forever for the restaurant to come to Toronto. I’m such a huge fan. I get so much inspiration from them.”

JUDGE ANTHONY ROSE, FAT PASHA

POST CITY’S TAKE: Miznon, the "wild" Mediterranean-inspired street food franchise with locations across the globe, recently opened its doors in the posh neighbourhood of Yorkville, in February. The eatery — which debuted in Tel Aviv in 2011 — features pitas and dishes infused with chef Eyal Shani's (pictured left) “rebellious spirit and passion for pure ingredients.” Chef Shani hails from Jerusalem and became a household name when he joined the Israeli version of MasterChef as judge in 2010. Now, chef Shani has brought his signature cauliflower dish to Toronto, a customer favourite across the globe (and which earned him the nickname of King of Cauliflower). With plans to visit Toronto in the coming months, chef Shani hopes to find inspiration in the city’s local food markets and get a feel for the vibe in order to create a signature Toronto pita. Miznon’s menu includes the popular dishes the eatery has become famous for, like staple pitas: minute steak, lamb kebab and the folded cheeseburger, once voted “the best burger in New York” by Time Out. The 2,000-square-foot space features an open kitchen and long counter bar, to encourage conversation, and includes a signature wall, which Miznon commissioned Toronto visual artist Daniel Mazzone to create. 1235 Bay St.

MICHAEL CABALLO & TOBEY NEMETH, EDULIS

STANDOUT DISH: The Bag of Golden Meat

SAMPO

POST CITY’S TAKE: Japanese snack bars or izakaya, seem to be all the rage in a city like Toronto, where folks seem to appreciate the art of minimalistic eating, where less is certainly more. Derived from the word sake-ya or “sake house,” the bars began popping up during Japan’s Tokugawa period (1603-1867), and along with guzzling a bounty of booze, patrons were known to enjoy simple snacks called sakana. At Sampo, chef Ippei Iwata (pictured right, bottom middle) has put a contemporary spin on the genre, with a menu that has broadened for contemporary palates — think chicken wings served Nagoya-style (more commonly known as karaage), fried and coated with sweet soy sauce and aburi tontoro made with slowcooked seasoned pork cheek served with a delectable yuzu pepper and ponzu sauce. The izakaya features an extensive, well-chosen saki collection and a number of fruit sakes on offer, with flavours like plum and yuzu, known to be highly refreshing and well-balanced. Uncomplicated snacks like tsukemono (Japanese pickle) and h jicha edamame are ideal for soaking up the bevvies. 370 College St.

POST CITY’S TAKE: Located on a sunny stretch in Greektown on Danforth Ave., Kachiguda Junction is the younger, flashier version of the restaurant’s OG Oshawa location, with the same delicious, expertly seasoned Indian food that has made them a favourite over the years. The menu explores regional cuisines as well as Indo-Chinese manifestations of classic Indian dishes and is named after one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Hyderabad, India, often called the City of Pearls. Kachiguda presents an extensive and affordable menu with vegetarian dishes that keep pace with the meatbearing ones, including the paneer tikka masala (cheese tossed in an onion tomato sauce) and bagara baingan (eggplant cooked in a coconut, sesame and peanut sauce ). There are also a number of traditional Indian tropical drinks, like the mango lassi, a creamy and refreshing yogurt-based drink made with a bit of sugar and a sprinkling of cardamom — a perfect way to beat the heat in the warmer months. Diners are quick to point out the unfaltering service, where guests are treated as friends, and a strong emphasis on cooking as it’s done at home, including the standout gunpowder ghee dosa, spicy hot and explosively flavoured and not for the faint at heart!. 505 Danforth Ave.

NEW CENTURY

“New Century Restaurant is a solid addition to the dim sum scene in Markham this year.”

POST CITY’S TAKE: An expert in Chiuchow cuisine, which proudly blends the dishes of Southern Min (derived from the cooking style of China’s Fujian province with an emphasis on umami taste) and Cantonese cuisine, New Century is garnering rave reviews for its blend of fresh ingredients and balanced flavours. Although the restaurant first opened in 2021, it recently came under new management and the renovated space is an elegant upgrade from the original. The menu boasts a litany of delightful dim sum, like steamed baby octopus with curry sauce and fried beef ribs in honey sauce. Classics — like Peking duck — are prepared with exacting technique and are a culinary highlight. Regulars also come for the roasted suckling pig, stir-fried king crab and rice noodle rolls. Sweeten the deal with a rich fried sesame ball filled with bitter melon filling. You’ve got the best seat in the house, whether you’re seated in the private room, or in the buzzy well-appointed dining space with an interior design that retains a casual, vibrant vibe, with its lofty ceilings, delicate chandeliers and hues of gold and light blue that dominate the space. 3

98 Ferrier St.,

“The food is inspired by Japanese izakaya and is incredibly delicious and comforting.”

JUDGE STEVEN MOLNAR, QUETZAL

“My all-time favourite dish is the biryani, and the prices are very reasonable.”

Markham

JUDGE JEFFREY BOVIS, WYNONA

JUDGE DEVINDRA SINGH, INDIAN STREET FOOD CO.

FUN FACT: 21 crisp and savoury dosa dishes top the menu

FUN FACT: The private dining room is equipped with a karaoke machine

RAMEN BUTA-NIBO

“The Jiro Ramen has a rich pork-bone broth and a good variety of vegetables to balance the heavy proteins.”

POST CITY’S TAKE: Ramen Buta-Nibo brings Toronto what is touted as the city’s first jiro-style ramen restaurant. Named after the Japanese Ramen Jiro chain, this variation on the iconic noodle soup is known for its large portion size and extra-indulgent ingredients, which include thick noodles, rich broth and fatty pork cuts. Located on the Danforth, Ramen Buta-Nibo is run by the same team behind nearby Ryus Noodle Bar, which focuses on chicken ramen.

At Ramen Buta-Nibo, the signature jiro-style ramen gets an added boost of flavour from garlic paste. In true jiro ramen style, it’s piled sky-high with cabbage, bean sprouts and bamboo shoots. There are also spicy and vegetarian riffs on this standard bowl, along with options layered with different toppings like boiled eggs or black garlic oil. Contrasting with the full-bodied pork broth used for the jiro-style ramen, the restaurant’s secondary specialty is niboshi ramen, which features thin noodles and a lighter, clear broth made with dried anchovy and kelp.The drink line-up includes Japanese beer favourites like Sapporo and Asahi, as well as whisky highballs and crowd-pleasing canned cocktails. 547 Danforth Ave.

TECH APPROACH: Diners use QR code menus to send their orders directly to the kitchen

HAWKER

“Hawker is a must-try in Kensington Market for Indian cuisine. Every dish on the brunch tasting menu is full of texture and amazing flavours.”

JUDGE IVAN CASTRO, LA BARTOLA

POST CITY’S TAKE: Remember the days when leafy greens merely played a supporting role to hearty meat and seafood dishes? Today, veggies are taking the starring role at many fine dining restaurants in the city. Hawker, in Kensington Market is doing just that: presenting artfully composed, plantbased dishes and calling it naturalist cuisine, which emphasizes that food is more than just sustenance and where diners make informed and intelligent choices. Co-owned by executive chef Jeff Merkel and Darshan Daurka (pictured left), Hawker has committed itself to delivering the beauty of vegan food in a creative and colourful way. Mixing and matching authentic tastes and textures of various ingredients, each dish is a distinct creation onto itself with arboreal themes running rampant throughout. Expect small plates with romantic names like Starry Night, Creek Bed and Bushfire, a dish made with eggplant, rosemary smoke and roti. “This food is not supposed to be an indulgence, a pleasurable sensorial experience or an act of hedonism. I want it to just tear you to shreds and leave you wondering what just happened,” says Merkel. “I want to put you alone in a room with God for a long conversation.” 291 Augusta Ave.

WHEN TO GO: Weekends for the Vegan Indian Brunch

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

PRIME SEAFOOD PALACE

Chef Matty Matheson’s zen-like surf-andturf joint sources its beef from his own Niagara region farm. 944 Queen St W. ZUZU

Dining at Janet Zuccarini’s Italian spot in Regent Park is just like eating at your cool nona’s house. 555 Dundas St. E.

GOLDEN PEACOCK

This tapas-style bar and restaurant from the team behind Donna’s offers delicious light bites, perfect for nibbling on while mingling. 2102 Dundas St. W.

BITTER MELON

At this hip Chinatown eatery, traditional French, Italian and American classics are infused with unconventional Asian elements. 431 Spadina Ave.

MISS LIKKLEMORE’S

The highly elevated menu at this haute Caribbean-style dining house includes recipes passed down through the generations. 433 King St. W.

HENRY’S RESTAURANT AND WINE BAR

This Michelin recommended restaurant boasts a collection of inventive small plates paired with classic wines. 922 Queen St W.

LAO LAO BAR

The 110-seat restaurant includes a lounge with a “speakeasy vibe,” which celebrates the food, drink and culture of Laos. 5 St. Joseph St.

DANNY’S PIZZA TAVERN

Mixing elements of high and low, this pizza bar meets local tavern is a welcome addition to the Little Italy neighbourhood. 611 College St.

AP

Set on the 51st floor of the Manulife Centre, noteworthy Montreal chef Antonio Park's signature Latin-influenced approach to pan-Asian fare is on offer. 55 Bloor St. W.

ADRAK

Blending traditional flavours and fine dining flair, Adrak has brought elevated Indian cuisine to Yorkville. 138 Avenue Rd.

JUDGE RYUSUKE NAKAGAWA, ABURI HANA

Prestige School

Prestige School’s Summer Camp Program is just the fun, activity-filled, yet educational summer that your children are looking for! Our camp, which offers a wide variety of exciting activities that keep all kids engaged, educated, and entertained, starts on July 4th and ends on August 25th, 2023. Our sports program includes Outdoor Games, Basketball, Volleyball, and Soccer. We also offer educational programs such as English, French studies, Spanish, English as a Second Language, and Logic Boosters. We also provide activities such as Fun Science, Computer Design, Computer Animation and 3D Modelling, Drawing, Painting, Sculpting, Chess, Baking and Nutrition. Campers attend exciting weekly Field Trips throughout the summer and visits to the Swimming Pool/Splash pad. The camp runs from Monday - Friday from 8am - 6pm. Hot lunch is provided daily. Door-to-door transportation is available. Summer School Credit Courses for gr. 9-12 now offered.

True North Sports Camps

True North offers weekly summer day camps for boys and girls ages 4 to 14 years old. With multiple locations throughout the GTA – Cedarvale, Forest Hill, Lawrence Park, Leaside, North York, & Etobicoke – True North offers a variety of different sports including: Baseball, Basketball, Flag Football, Soccer, and Multi-Sport. At True North, we believe that recreational sports are an important part of every child’s development and we make it our top priority to deliver a truly memorable experience. Each day, campers will participate in skill-building drills, games, and friendly competitions, with plenty of time for breaks, snacks, and socializing with new friends. Since 2007 our goal has remained the same: to provide the highest quality sports instruction in a fun, safe and encouraging environment. To register, please visit truenorthcamps.com and use Discount Code “POSTCITY” to receive 15% any program for all new campers!

2 Convenient Locations Toronto Campus: 21 Eddfield Avenue (Sheppard & Yonge) Richmond Hill Campus: 11 Headdon Gate (Bathurst & Major Mackenzie) 416-250-0648

CAMP TYPE: Day Camp

AGE RANGE: 3-19 years

TOTAL ENROLMENT: 50-70

CAMPER/STAFF RATIO: Varies

SESSION LENGTH: July & August

SESSION COST: $430 per week

CAMP DIRECTOR: Olga Margold

CONTACT: 416-250-0648

prestigeprivateschool.ca

CAMP TYPE: Day Camp - Sports

AGE RANGE: 4 to 14 Years

BEFORE & AFTER CARE: Available

CAMPER/STAFF RATIO: 5:1

SESSION LENGTH: Weekly - 8:30-4pm

SESSION COST: $410+HST

CAMP DIRECTOR: Blake Koester

CONTACT: (416) 619-1224

truenorthcamps.com • @truenorthcamps

PRESTIGE SCHOOL SUMMER CAMP

Bayview Glen Camp

Since 1962, we have created unforgettable Summer memories for thousands of children as one of Toronto’s longest-running day camps. Bayview Glen offers enriched age-appropriate programs for campers 4-6, specialty camps for campers 7-12, and a Leadership program for campers 14 & 15. We also offer an inclusion program for campers requiring additional support. 1-Week or Multi-Week registration packages are available to join us on the centrally located, secure, leafy, and air-conditioned campus of Bayview Glen School. Campers will enjoy sports fields, a theatre, tech/robotics labs, art studios, gymnasiums, outdoor space, and more. Specialty camps include art, basketball, soccer, musical theatre, dance, magic, coding, and robotics. We even offer off-site specialty camps like sailing and lake days! Convenient bus depot pick-up & drop-off points throughout the GTA! Join us and make unforgettable Summer memories!

Central Montessori School (CMS)

Looking for a fun and enriching summer experience? At CMS we are proud to offer dynamic summer programs at 4 convenient locations throughout Toronto/North York where children 3 - 12 years old can enjoy a variety of engaging activities while making new friends and memories that will last a lifetime. Our Specialty programs for Elementary students provide exciting 2-week session programs to choose from, while younger children are offered opportunities for participation in enriching indoor and outdoor activities in our Variety program. A French Variety program is also offered at our Maplehurst Campus to build and develop basic French communication skills. We believe fun and learning go hand in hand as we strive to provide the perfect balance of physical, mental and creative challenges to keep our campers happily engaged! Open House every Thursday at all locations!!

CAMP TYPE: Day Camp

AGE RANGE: 4-13

TOTAL ENROLMENT: N/A

CAMPER/STAFF RATIO: 4:1 (average)

SESSION LENGTH: Weekly & Multi-Week

SESSION COST: Varies

CAMP DIRECTOR: Daniel Garfinkel

CONTACT: 416-449-7746

www.bayviewglencamp.ca

CAMP TYPE: Specialty & Variety Day Camps

AGE RANGE: 3 - 12 years old

TOTAL ENROLMENT: Varies

CAMPER/STAFF RATIO: Varies

SESSION LENGTH: 2 or 4-week sessions

SESSION COST: Varies per location

CAMP DIRECTOR: Ms. Roshi Ansari

CONTACT: 416-222-9207

www.cmschool.net • info@cmschool.net

Toronto Mandarin School

Toronto Mandarin School, the leading Mandarin language school in the GTA was founded in 2001. We offer a wide variety of Mandarin language programs for children, teens, adults & businesses. For more than 20 years, we have been committed to providing a fun and practical learning experience while helping students to learn Mandarin easily and quickly. Happy Mandarin Summer Camp is one of our most popular programs for children aged 2.5-14 years old. We emphasize a full immersive learning experience to maximize the language exposure for our students. The camp includes Mandarin classes and is packed with lots of fun STEAM project-based activities such as art and science, music and drama, olympic math and outdoor sports. Field trips are held once a month. Lunch, before and after-school care are available on site. Camps are available at 6 locations: Downtown and Midtown Toronto, North York, Mississauga, Scarborough and Richmond Hill.

St. Michael's College School

St. Michael's College School Summer Camps offer youth ages 9 and up exceptional academic, athletics, and arts programmes. Led by certified teachers who are experts in their field of instruction, your child will be supported and challenged based on their skill-level and experience. Whether your child wants to explore something new or is looking to improve an existing skill set, SMCS Summer Camps are the perfect opportunity for boys and girls to have fun, create memorable experiences, and receive the highquality instruction that they deserve. Our 2023 offerings include: Math and Advanced Math, Literacy, General Learning Skills, Basketball, Football, Hockey, Lacrosse, Strength & Conditioning, and Drumline.

CAMP TYPE: Day Camp

AGE RANGE: 2.5-14 years old

TOTAL ENROLMENT: 250

CAMPER/STAFF RATIO: 8:1/20:1

SESSION LENGTH: July-August

SESSION COST: $350-$380 per week

CAMP DIRECTOR: Jennifer Chang

CONTACT: 416-304-0260

www.torontomandarinschool.com

CAMP TYPE: In-person

AGE RANGE: 9+

TOTAL ENROLMENT: n/a

CAMPER/STAFF RATIO: 7:1

SESSION LENGTH: One week +

SESSION COST: $150+

SMCS CAMPS

DIRECTOR: Stephen Antolin

CONTACT: 416-653-3180 ext. 210 SMCSCAMPS.COM

LIFE IS BATTER WITH PANCAKES

Chef Anthony Rose and his mom, Linda, take a bite out of the ultimate breakfast staple, pancakes, and crown the most fantastic flapjacks in town just in time for Mother’s Day.

RUNNER-UP

DELIGHTFULLY DE-LECH-IOUS

Anthony: “This is a good-looking pancake and they taste even better. They have a really nice colour, and I love the addition of the dulce de leche.”

Linda: “They taste fluffy and airy. This is a really delicious pancake.”

Yonge Cafe and Bistro, 5000 Yonge St., North York, $15.99

WINNER

ON BLUEBERRY HILL

Anthony: “This is a really good pancake. I love the combination of the bacon and the blueberry, the sweet and savoury. It’s really delicious.”

Linda: “These blueberries are really nice here. They didn’t try to doctor it. It tastes like it’s supposed to. This tastes like a nice old-fashioned pancake.”

Old School, 800 Dundas St. W., $19.95

FLUFFY, FRUITY TRIO

Anthony: “The maple cream is so good, it lightens it up a little, but I wish they were fluffier.”

Linda: “They’re very heavy, I find them a little bit difficult to cut, but I do love the addition of the icing sugar.” Mia Brunch Bar, 2140 Yonge St., $18.50

TAKE A TRIP TO BELGIUM

Anthony: “I love that there’s chunks of chocolate in this. They taste nice and moist and not overwhelming, considering the amount of chocolate!”

Linda: “This tastes just like you’re eating brownies. Anyone who loves chocolate is going to go crazy for this.”

Ramona’s Kitchen, 7355 Bayview Ave., Thornhill, $16.99

WHIPPED CHEESECAKE

Anthony: “This is visually the greatest looking one of all time. The whipped cheesecake is a nice touch, and I like the addition of the graham cracker, but I wish this was a little less sweet.”

Linda: “The pancakes are light, and the blueberry tastes really delicious.” Overall, a really nice job.” One Restaurant, 116 Yorkville Ave., $25

ITALIAN FLAIR

Anthony: “They’re pretty good, not too sweet. I like how fluffy they are, and they’re nice and moist.”

Linda: “It tastes almost like a souffle pancake. I like how they look — slightly rustic, but I prefer a much larger pancake.”

Hotel Gelato, 532 Eglinton Ave. W., $17

ANTHONY ROSE

Post City’s resident tasting chef is the creative force behind Fat Pasha, Schmaltz and Fet Zun.

Annex restaurant is reminiscent of an Italian enoteca

Loop Line Wine & Food is a bottle shop and restaurant that’s a haven for wine lovers.

Currently run by general manager, Nicole Richie, and co-owner Charles Baker, the snug restaurant is the perfect spot to swing by for a bottle of wine or wind down with a glass while enjoying a snack. Originally, the plan was always to have a wine bar in the Annex neighbourhood, but due to the ever-changing, unpredictable nature of the pandemic, the concept began to shift.

“Our concept evolved into something loosely based on an Italian enoteca,” Baker says. “Somewhere you can go to have a bite and a drink and then take a bottle home. We wanted to bring a concept that exists in all corners of the world except Ontario to Ontario."

A wine bar first, Loop Line Wine & Food carries a diverse collection of small grower and artisan wines from across the wine world.

“Our list definitely sways more classical in style, but we have something for everyone, we even have a couple options for the traditional drinker that's flirting with the idea of natural wine,” explains Richie. From fantastic Ontario producers to small batch producers, Loop aims to present plenty of

options to its guests, whether they’re staying for a glass or looking to bring a bottle home.

As far as food goes, chef Sheyla Thurler da Silva has created a tapas-style menu that infuses her Brazilian heritage into classic bistro snacks. Along with a rotating list of charcuterie and cheese, spreads and house-made pickles, the menu focuses on hearty yet snackable items that are great for sharing. “It's comfort food with a little edge,” Richie says.

As bottle shops continue to open in scores across the city, Richie says Loop is gearing up for an exciting spring and summer season, withwine education, producer tastings and more.

"At our core we are a wine bar, but we're also a wine hub for the community,” Richie says.

Guests come in looking to chat about the different bottles we carry and we are able to guide them into finding something they love as well as nurturing their curiosity about wine. Loop Line is a space that's intimate enough to build a community around and that's what we intend to do.”

Loop Line Wine & Food is located at 643 Dupont St. and is open Tuesday to Saturday, from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m.

—Christine Hogg

From top: A sample of the wine collection, tapas-style menu dishes

FRIED CHICKEN FACEOFF CRAIG WONG VS. BRANDON OLSEN

By Joanne Kates

PATOIS RESTAURANT GRATEFUL CHICKEN

Chef Craig Wong’s Jamaican-Chinese heritage brings spice and crackle to fried chicken.

Patois uses Skip the Dishes — Skip for short. Skip is somewhat less user-friendly than Ritual. They give less info about your order, and it’s a little harder to interpret. Ritual gave timelines earlier in the delivery process. For people like me who get anxious about when dinner’s coming, Skip is meh.

This bird, called O.G., is cock of the walk. Two legs and two thighs in the Double O.G. Fried Chicken order. Way way less batter than Grateful Chicken, greasier (in an OK way), more seasoning, better batter. Pretty light. Chicken flavour: same great, juicy fun.

Nice colour from a few thin-snipped chives and carrot shreds, but same flavour problem: MIA. No vinegar bite, all creamy, blah and bland.

This extravaganza is the big win. They send the creamy seedy mustard dressing separately to prevent terminal sog; it’s ultra tasty, as is the carnival of a salad with kale, clementines, raw beet and carrot shreds for crunch and savour.

So-called crispy brussels sprouts aren’t. At all. They’ve been aggressively browned, but have gone flaccid, thanks to sitting for too long in creamy dressing. Not much flavour to it. Pickled yellow daikon, radishes, bean sprouts, sesame seeds, daikon shreds and slightly soggy spinach don’t help.

Garlic sauce is creamy and plays nicely with the crispy chicken. Bonus points for sweetened sriracha and also scorching fermented pineapple and scotch bonnet sauce — not for the faint of heart.

Celeb chef Brandon Olsen has a snazzy pedigree a mile long, as founding chef of Le Melon, La Banane and Brando’s Fried Chicken, and as the former star chef at Bar Isabel and the Black Hoof. Isabel is where he debuted the fried chicken.

We’re grateful for Ritual, which makes skipping the dishes easier. We like the idiot-proof app, and we like the frequent order updates even better.

Stoners on the midnight prowl adore the cornflake-like thick coat on this chicken, but it’s so thick it obscures the bird. Perhaps that’s the point. I know my way around a chicken but can’t figure out if I’m eating breast, leg or thigh. The cornflake-like batter is super crunchy and ungreasy, but between it and the chicken is yet another layer — doughy gooey and bread-like.

Has no taste, no vinegar bite. Strictly cabbage, all white. Bland.

Kale Caesar has a pleasant although too subtle dressing, which should not have been applied before sending it. Kale went soggy. Feh.

Buttermilk onion rings resemble a slice of onion with a loaf of bread on it. Badly indelicate. Can’t taste the onion.

Chicken comes with Frank’s Red Hot Sauce & buttermilk dressing, both very yummy. We add their garlic sauce. Also very good, just the right amount of bite.

111 Richmond St. W., inside Chef’s Hall, chefshall.com

At new stock exchange bar prices change based on demand

Don’t expect a basic dining experience at CKTL & Co. You see, at Toronto’s first stock market–themed cocktail lounge and restaurant, you’ll find a menu that’s based on a stock market simulation that adjusts drink prices based on supply and demand.

“Screens and tickertape are stationed around the bar to allow guests to track the price of items in real time to see what’s “in the red” or “in the green” and choose whether they want to ‘buy in,'” says Kushal Shah, director of business development at CKTL & Co. “The price of our cocktails never goes above the listed price on our menu, so guests will always get a deal.”

Toronto-centric take on the classic cocktail,” says Shah. “You’ll also see our classic, signature and non-alcoholic cocktails named to reflect monetary and financial themes including Old Money, Initial Product Offerings and Counterfeit,” he says.

Under the helm of chef Keile Singer, the food menu consists of shareable bar snacks, appetizers, flatbreads, salads and bowls along with hand-helds and entrees.

NO-LOSE INVESTING

Tickertapes and screens display the current price of menu items.

Fittingly located in Toronto’s own stock exchange neighbourhood — the Financial District — everything, from the design of the menu (meant to mimic printed dollar bills) to the names of the cocktails, are inspired by money.

“Our Manhattan menu features classic and famous derivatives of the manhattan cocktail, including the Black Market (whiskey, sweet vermouth, coffee liqueur, dark chocolate bitters, dried orange and smoke) and the Bay Street (rye, sweet vermouth, amaro and angostura bitters) a

Standout items include the grilled lamb chop, served with potato purée, pomegranate jus and roasted root vegetables, and the grilled flank steak, served with poached asparagus, rosemary roasted potatoes and tarragon browned butter.

When it comes to weekly specials, diners are told to ask their “broker” what’s on offer.

Along with the aforementioned tickertape and screens, the open concept design of the restaurant draws inspiration from a stock exchange trading floor and design elements that include green banker lamps and stock exchange–inspired art.

CKTL & Co. is located at 330 Bay St.

—Jennifer Schembri

At CKTL & Co., design elements include stock exchange–inspired art

Grandma’s recipes shine at Marquin

Marquin is a deliciously authentic Venezuelan bakery that’s a must-try for Latin American cuisine in Toronto’s bustling Yonge and Eglinton neighbourhood. Since it opened, the bakeshop has been selling out of arepas — cornmeal cakes stuffed with meat, veggies or cheese — and pastelitos, tiny pies chock full of sweet or savoury fillings, including guava and caramel apple.

The boutique bakery, founded by Maryelin Quintero and Alonso Montoya, is a way to share their passion for Venezuelan cuisine with the Canadian community. Quintero was born

in Venezuela but lived in Spain before moving to Canada to pursue a career in digital marketing. Montoya was born and raised in Mexico and currently works as a scientist in the pharmaceutical industry, but has a special interest in food. Together the duo believes food can serve as a connector, bringing people together.

“Marquin is a place where you can enjoy authentic Venezuelan food made with love and care, share experiences with your loved ones,” says Quintero.

Patrons can expect a variety of authentic Venezuelan food made with meticulous attention

to detail, prepared using recipes from Quintero’s grandmother, a local of the Andean city of Merida, Venezuela.

“We play a mix of Latin music that you can hear on the sidewalk. It creates a happy and lively atmosphere, and we love to see people dancing outside of our store,” says Quintero.

In the coming months, the bakery will be heading downtown to a new space in The Path at First Canadian Place, but for now, people looking to get their hands on some sweet- or savoury-filled Venezuelan pastries can visit Marquin at 2523 Yonge St.

—Raquel Farrington

Cantonese gem opens in Markham

In March of this year, Fortune Villa, formerly known as Golden Lion Restaurant, opened its doors to fill the void of affordable Chinese food at Bur Oak Avenue and Kennedy Road in the east end of Markham.

The new Cantonese spot features a large and varied menu, serving an array of dim sum and other Chinese favourites, such as tender BBQ pork on rice, fried vermicelli noodles with seafood, chicken feet with pickled peppers, marinated duck and chicken legs with soy sauce. They are also known to serve more obscure dim sum options, including goose liver shrimp.

Although wait times can be long, patience will be rewarded with freshly steamed fish, like the sweet speckled bass served in soy sauce.

Sweeten your visit with an order of the pan-fried tricolour cake, which includes a carrot cake, taro

cake and ginger mille-feuille cake.

The dining room at Fortune Villa also has a tank stocked full of “very active” lobsters and crabs, as well as a Chinese BBQ takeout section.

If you get a dim sum craving early, not to fret; Fortune Villa starts to serve its delicious dumplings bright and early at 10 a.m.

The fast-casual restaurant also offers an array of affordable meals that start at only $8, and diners also have the option to purchase a membership card for discounts and perks. Thirty dollars gets you a one-year membership for 10 per cent off each visit and half-price tea.

Fortune Villa is the sister location of cavernous restaurant and banquet hall Very Fair Seafood Cuisine and Casa Deluz, both located in Scarborough.

The restaurant is located at 539 Bur Oak Ave.

SUMMER DAY CAMP

L-R: The guava and cheese pastelitos, co-owner Maryelin Quintero

We provide an outdoor based hybrid learning environment that balances academics and experiential learning. Our novel approach helps reduce stress, increase self esteem and improve psychological and physical health. Our effective program stimulates creativity and improves problem solving and overall academic skills. Visit us at gradaleacademy.com for more information.

416 Snack Bar team opens snazzy new bar

Short Turn is the restaurant and cocktail bar from the veteran team behind Toronto’s beloved 416 Snack Bar. Located just a “short turn” from the 416 outpost, the swanky new bar officially opened its doors on March 22, and at just 11 feet wide and 60 feet long, it has leaned into its proportions and has been thoughtfully designed to feel like an “idealized streetcar ride.”

Guests can expect good old-fashioned cocktails in a warm and cosy space that blends the familiar comfortability of Toronto’s modern-day city streets with its historic charm.

“We worked with friend and designer Colin Sims and took cues from various generations of TTC streetcars,” says Adrien Ravinksy, co-owner of 416 Snack Bar and Short Turn.

Borrowing f rom the Peter Witt model of

the 1920s to the Flexity Outlook streetcar models you see rolling down the city streets today, the result is a space that effortlessly melds old and new Think: warm wood, salvaged ceiling lights with front signage, long interior mirrors and a brushed stainless steel bar inspired by TTC ticket collector booths.

Patrons who swing by the new spot on Queen Street can expect the same bestselling snack items its sister spot, 416 Snack Bar, has on offer, including Korean f ried chicken, steak tartare and eggplant double down sandwiches.

Guests can wash down items on the food menu with bestselling drinks like the f reezer martini made with batch portioned Tanqueray and poured tableside into glassware that ’ s been chilling in a minus 20 degree f reezer. “We really tried hard to replicate the warmth and vibe that define 416, while giv-

ing it a more refined edge It ’s been called 416 for grown-ups on a couple of occasions,” Ravinsky says.

Locals who love 416 Snack Bar will also recognize a few familiar faces in and around the bar. Industry veterans and the same team behind 416 Snack Bar’s success helm the new spot. Adrian Ravinsky is joined by Dave Stewart and longtime employee and now front of house manager Taylor Lackie

Although the original 416 was never meant to be a cocktail bar, over the years as tastes have changed people have been asking for more and more of them.

“Short Turn is designed to fill that need,” Ravinsky says.

Yorkdale flips for new burger spot

Since their 2021 launch in Canada, well-known Chinese fastfood chain Bingz has been popping up in shopping centres across Toronto. The latest outpost, however, might be the most popular yet, as the store is offering all-new menu items, including a loaded twist on a Canadian favourite.

After opening in 2014, Bingz expanded across China with more than 140 locations in Beijing alone. When, just a few years ago, the burger joint opened its first international operation at the First Markham Centre, the hot spot became the first Chinese fast-food chain to conduct direct operations in North America.

But Bingz isn’t serving up the same type of burgers that can be found anywhere in the city. Instead, it’s most known for offering a popular Chinese sandwich called the Crispy Burger, or Rou Jia Mo. It looks like a burger but with a flaky, crispy bun.

At Bingz, these buns are made fresh in-house and stuffed with a range of choice fillings including beef, chicken, pork or mushrooms.

Residents of North York will be next to experience these Crispy Burgers, as the next outpost is preparing to open this spring at Fairview Mall.

Small bites top menu at North York eatery

Pocha 1989 opened its second location — this time in North York — just a few months ago, and it's garnering rave reviews online

The term pocha is a play on the Korean word pojang-macha, which loosely translates to a “street vendor” or “stall that sells comfort food.”

The Korean bar has grown a monumental fanbase over the last few years, serving up modern takes on traditional Korean plates at its downtown location on Church Street.

Inside the North York location is a dimly lit, Instagram-worthy dining room. Guests are greeted to an artistic display of lattice and faux greener y, interlocked in fairy lights. Pocha 1989’s outdoorsy

Once guests get used to the warm, ambient glow, they ’re treated to an easy-to-navigate menu complete with an abundance of

Korean favourites.

Short Turn is located at 576 Queen St. W. and is open Wednesday to Sunday f rom 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., with plans to open for seven days a week in May. —Raquel

Farrington

Some of the most popular items are the Oden soup, a broth composed of red pepper, scallion and fried bean curd, topped with skewered fish cakes.

The spicy creamy udon, too, is a must-try item; the soft and chewy noodles are made with beef sausage, bacon, onion and egg and then topped with flying fish roe. And don’t forget to save some room for dessert. The pancakes — one of the most popular street snacks in Korea, topped with vanilla ice cream are divine.

On the drinks menu, diners will find an incredible selection of premium soju, including Hwayo 41 and flavoured options like green grape, grapefruit, peach and apple mango

1989 is located at 4852 Yonge St. —Marcus Mitropolous

L-R: Snack items incude the pork sausage, Short Turn’s streetcar-inspired interior

Pocha

Bingz burgers with flaky buns

© Daniel Neuhaus

LOOKING BACK

MAY

The late, great rock star Jimi Hendrix, then at the height of his career, was arrested for narcotics possession at Toronto International Airport and released on $10,000 bail on May 3, 1969. He was acquitted of all charges in December of that year.

On May 22, 1971, Ontario Place opened to the general public. The park operated as a theme park centred around Ontario themes and family attractions until 2012 when it was announced that it would close for redevelopment.

Jesse Turnbull was one of the founders and the first president of the Toronto-based Canadian Women’s Suffrage Association. On May 24, 1918, Canadian women won the right to vote in federal elections.

A group of artists calling themselves the Group of Seven mounted their first formal exhibition at the Art Gallery of Toronto on May 7, 1920, which, funnily enough, wasn’t well reviewed. Pictured: five members of the Group of Seven.

The Toronto Raptors revealed the team’s name, as well as the now-defunct dino logo, on May 15, 1994. The moniker was likely influenced by the popularity of Steven Spielberg’s ‘Jurassic Park.’

Pictured: Damon ‘Mighty Mouse’ Stoudamire.

Bill Hartack rode Windfield Farms’ stallion, Northern Dancer, to victory in the 1964 Kentucky Derby on May 2, the first Canadian-bred horse to win it. Dancer became the first horse inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame.

Before you go... take a gander at some of the city’s historical May moments! Follow along on Post City’s Instagram @streetsoftoronto this month for more.