Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is the youngest Blue Jay to ever:
Getting married or remarried?
Moving in together?
Buying your first home together? With money from your parents?
Congratulations but ... be responsible
Sign a Marriage Contract or Cohabitation Agreement Scan for more
wBuildeN tionsavRenods w Builde
ecnerwaL/egn o Yo
Y
ecnerwaL/egn o Yo
cnrewaL/egn o Yo
ecnerwaL/egn o Yo
cnrewaL/egn o Yo
cnerwaL/egn o Yo
r R oja . - M dvl n B ottyL
d a R rabra a B nta 7 S 0 - 1 isder R oja k - M n P optm 3 - t # eert e S o Yo ev e A niarole 8 D 2 e - 3 cne r R oja . - M ser k C cinni4 D 4 w B e . - N n A riacnel G
M n A ea 6 B - 1
R
we . - N d n R awognel 3 G 4
li k M ro Yo /weivyaB
e - galliw V eivyaB
cnrewaL/egn o Yo
cnrewaL/egn o Yo
e
cnrewaL/egn o Yo e
cnrewaL/egn o Yo e
ecnerwaL/egn o Yo e
ecnerwaL/egn o Yo
rB/htrofnaD
we . - N dvl w B olne 8 D s - 3 l
we . - N d e R gdi e R 8 B 4
we . - N d t R serofnel 0 G - 2
we . - N d t R serofnel 4 G - 5
we . - N h A gielna 4 R - 8
we . - N d A oowo6 B - 3
k - e P cnerwaL Y Y Y Y Y Y Y - Nev hA trago 3H 0w - 1e . - M ev Av iamre t G 1 S 1 - 4
ivd oa
2 K k - 8 n P ottyL ivd oa
8 E k - 4 n P ottyL R CEA THIS SP
we . - N d t R serofnel 0 G - 6
OMING PR nA dliu wB noitavone r R oja dliu B dliuB dliu B dliu B dliu B dliu B dliu B dliuB
u w B e . - N e A bmocegd T OMPLEYCLY O VED
6 H k - 1 n P ottyL
voner R oja . - M t r S eht ea
18 k - 1 n P ottyL
ecnerwaL/egn o Yo
s - thgieur H omrA
drappehS/egn o Yo
rB/htrofnaD Y Y - Nev eA ladnov 5A 4 - 1
liu w B e . - N w A eivnelG
e . - N ev Av ladkoor 2 B 7 - 1
w B e . - N d A rofedi 7 B 8
Dynamic
Toronto needs to try congestion pricing
Premier Doug Ford wants to battle congestion, but the tools and measures that actually make an impact are not taking out bike lanes and billion-dollar boondoggles.
As we have seen in London, England, and most recently New York City, congestion taxes produce incredible results. Commute times are improving, meanwhile subway ridership is on the way up.
Like Toronto, New York City faces a massive and ongoing budget issue when it comes to public transit. Not only does congestion pricing ease traffic congestion and in turn reduce emissions, it also provides serious and sustainable funding for public transit.
Sure, commuters who left the city in search of more affordable housing are on the hook for increased costs if they continue to commute into the city. But early signs are indicat-
ing that some of those people are shifting to other more sustainable transportation modes.
Like Toronto, New York City has made significant investment in safe cycling infrastructure over the last decade. Unlike our city, there is no talk in New York City of ripping up bike lanes to ease congestion — perhaps, because those in government south of the border understand that doing so would be like opening a paper umbrella in a tsunami: a useless effort with negligible results. Toronto, instead of investing billions of our dollars in highway projects and victim blaming cyclists, should at least give this very obvious and productive idea some serious consideration.
RON JOHNSON, editorial director of Post City Magazines.
London, England, has had congestion pricing for two decades
POST INTERVIEW CITY HACKS
Tom Green: Comic legend turns homesteader
It’s been a long-and-winding road since the days when Tom Green was humping moose on MTV and getting fired by Donald Trump for a drinking binge with Dennis Rodman. Green escaped Hollywood after more than two decades and squirrelled away on a farm he bought in the Ontario wilds. But, being Tom Green, he made a TV show about it. Well, not just one. There are actually three new Tom Green projects out on Prime Video. We caught up with Green to find out all about it.
Why a farm?
I wanted to live closer to my family, and, I mean, why not a farm? That's a good question. I love the outdoors and nature. I love the peace and quiet of being in the country, even when I lived in Los Angeles. My house was in the Hollywood Hills, and there were deer walking up and down my street and coyotes. So I've always liked to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city.
How has it been?
I'm really loving it. It's a whole new chapter in my life. And I think the one thing I never really expected was that I would get a mule and a donkey and horses, and that's something that's been new to me. But since we filmed this, I've become very much sort of attached to it.
was again when COVID happened, and I was kind of isolating at home, and I thought, “You know what? I need to get another dog.”
And does she always join you onstage for your standup? That's why she's so well behaved. I always bring her onstage. She's probably the most seasoned standup comedy dog working today.
You started out doing prank videos, something that is now commonplace on TikTok and other social media apps. But you’re the OG, right?
“I THINK THE ONE THING I NEVER REALLY EXPECTED WAS THAT I WOULD GET A MULE AND A DONKEY.”
What was the hardest thing to get used to on the farm?
I'd say the biggest challenge has been learning to communicate with Fanny, this incredible mule that I have here now and will be part of the family here for a long time to come. I'd never really been an experienced rider. So to actually look after these animals is a lot of detail, and it's something that I love doing.
Your dog Charlie is a star, where did he come from? Charlie's a rescue from the Bahamas, but I got her in California. It
Well, I'm still killing it on TikTok. I have 1.3 million followers.
And they are all following in your footsteps? I did have the benefit of being one of the few people trying to do it back in the day. So you know, that made it a very unique thing, and it stood out. It is difficult to stand out today because there's so much media and so many people sort of trying to do the kinds of things that I was doing back in the day on Rogers’s community cable.
Would you have followed the same path if you were coming up in the TikTok world?
I'm not sure that I would have done it. I might have tried to do something else, like become a farmer or something.
What are you hoping people take from the show?
I'm very proud of being Canadian and proud to be Canadian, and I love this country. I wanted to show off a different type of lifestyle in Canada that's quite common up here, but maybe people around the world don't necessarily associate with Canada. Especially today, with a lot of the misinformation in the world about Canada.
I always miss out on celestial events. Where is the best place to watch them, and how can I plan ahead?
There will be plenty of celestial action in 2025.
The best places to watch them include the historic David Dunlap Observatory in Richmond Hill.
The Allan I. Carswell Observatory at York University has seven telescopes including the largest telescope on a university campus in Canada and has five 20-centimetre telescopes available during special celestial events.
In addition, look for spots that are hidden from intense city lights. Think, Tommy Thompson Park, the south side of Toronto Islands and the Bluffs.
For events, mark these down:
Total Lunar Eclipse (‘Blood Moon’), March 13-14
Partial Solar Eclipse, March 29
Be sure to use eclipse glasses for safe viewing.
Meteor Showers:
• Lyrids: April 22, morning.
• Perseids: Aug. 12-13, peaking at night.
• Draconids: Oct. 8-9
• Geminids: Dec. 13-14
Also, look for a Venus-Jupiter conjunction on Aug 12
Tom Green with Kia (left) and Fanny
Iconic Ontario comic back with a trio of new projects on Prime Video by Ron Johnson
ROBOT HEADS
Trudeau is stepping down as prime minister. That got us thinking about two Marks. One, Carney, is taking a run at the leadership. The other, Critch, was last to interview Justin. Which Mark rules the ring?
Mark Carney
Fort Smith, N.W.T.
Economist
Grew up in Edmonton; father was high school principal
Got serious kudos and a plum gig at Bank of England after steering Canada through 2007 financial crisis
Has spent years advising Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on economic policy prepping for a political run
Has declared himself as a candidate for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada
St. John’s, Nfld.
Comedian
Grew up in St. John’s; father was a journalist
Sharpened his political satire teeth at CBC’s ‘This House Has 22 Minutes’
Was last person to interview Prime Minister Justin Trudeau before the PM announced he was stepping down
Season Four of hit comedy ‘Son of a Critch’ recently premiered on CBC-TV
HIDDEN GEMS
Three odd and unusual T.O. vending machines
Toronto is full of oddities, one of the many charms of the city. Take vending machines, for example. We don’t just have snack machines. We have ones that offer up everything from vinyl records to tattoos.
Sonic Boom Records is home to the Phono-Mat, a retro-inspired vinyl vending machine. The Phono-Mat dispenses random records.
Next is the Biblio-Mat, a beloved fixture at The Monkey’s Paw bookstore. Designed by the same person as the PhotoMat, this coin-operated machine delivers random vintage books with a satisfying mechanical clunk.
Rounding out the list is the Get What You Get tattoo vending machine at Okey Doke Tattoo Shop, which opened in 2012. Customers insert a token into the machine, which randomly selects a tattoo design.
Mark Critch
The Monkey’s Paw’s Biblio-Mat
NBA legend Steph Curry (left) hit up Silent H on King Street West for some post-game victuals following his game versus the Toronto Raptors a few hours earlier. Yes, we won! But Steph Curry loves our city and even married one of our own, Ayesha Curry, in 2011.
SPOTTED: KING STREET WEST, JAN.14, AFTER MIDNIGHT
Stairway to heaven, 56 Roxborough Dr. sits on a simply sublime 110 x 129 ravine lot nestled on top of the Roxborough hillside, offering an unparalleled experience in privacy & natural splendour, a tree top sanctuary.
Discover the European charm of this one-of-a-kind, converted coach house. The main floor has an open concept, living/dining/ kitchen plan, with modern amenities & high ceilings.
NEWS
Excess condo units for affordable housing?
Budgets are a time to make choices about where to spend money, and that’s the challenge for Toronto City Council, even within the $18.8 million amount requiring a 6.9 per cent property tax increase proposed by Mayor Olivia Chow and budget chief Shelley Carroll.
I suspect the biggest issue for most residents is whether council will begin to address the issue of the unhoused, something barely touched on in the Chow/Carroll proposal. The Association of Municipalities of Ontario recently reported the number of unhoused in On-
tario has grown 20 per cent in the last two years to 80,000 individuals. Will city council step forward?
There are plenty of condo units available to rent, and it would cost about $4,000 a month to house someone and provide the services that person would need — a cost of about $50,000 a year per person. Resolving social problems is always expensive. For $50 million, the city could provide housing for at least 1,000 people.
The budget proposal shows an unallocated $300 million to be used for wage
settlements still to be bargained. Council will have to decide if some of that fund should be used for the unhoused.
The police board has asked for $46 million more than last year, something Mayor Chow has already agreed to. What police Chief Myron Demkiw did not include in the budget request was the salary increases for 2024 or 2025, which were then a subject of arbitration.
The arbitrator decided the police salary increase for 2024 will be five per cent, adding another $50 million to police expenditures. No decision has yet been
made for 2025, but assuming it’s a modest four per cent, that’s another $55 million. If the chief had included these amounts in his budget request, he would have been asking for an increase of 12 to 13 per cent, which would have caused push back.
Does city council give this additional $105 million to the police, or do councillors use some or all of it to address the unhoused? That’s the critical question.
Virtually every study done about policing in North America makes the point that giving more money to police does very little to address issues of crime, which in Toronto remains at one of the lowest levels of all cities in Canada. Housing the unhoused helps to reduce many costs.
If the police service got only a bit more than the $46 million asked for, it would be required to find ways to save money to pay for the salary increases, something it has generally been unwilling to do in the past. If it substantially reduced the use of two officers in every car after dark, it could save $30 to $40 million. It could save money by using more civilians to ticket cars, manage traffic and help with demonstrations and parades.
Many unhoused people are ill and in crisis, and their attempts to survive cause discomfort among homeowners and transit users. They aren’t criminals.
I hope city council will make the right budget decision and put at least $75 million into housing the homeless, while asking the police to become more efficient.
Toronto snowy owl deaths a reminder wildlife is under attack
The beautiful wildlife seen in Toronto is something we should be proud to have in such a large city that’s often viewed as just a concrete jungle. Unfortunately, wildlife faces a growing threat that cannot continue to go unaddressed: rodent poison, also known as black boxes of death. These poisons, while targeting pests in our city, are inadvertently introduced into our food chain, causing harm to a broader spectrum of wildlife.
Our rats and mice are consumed by birds of prey and other predators, who then suffer the deadly consequences of these lethal chemicals. These poisons do not only affect wildlife but also cause serious illness and death in pets, such as cats and dogs, who tend to play with or eat rodents.
Recently, we have seen a heartbreaking manifestation of this cycle. Multiple beautiful snowy owls perished at Tommy Thompson Park, all showing signs of poisoning, such as vomiting blood before their deaths. A nec-
ropsy was performed on the owls, and the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was found, which is another dangerous issue for our birds and even for us.
Since avian flu can easily infect other birds and is known to affect humans, the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (CWHC), which conducted the testing, stated that rodenticide poisoning as a cause of death is still a "possibility," but CWHC said no further testing can be performed after avian flu is found.
Rodenticides, or black boxes of death, are the largest threat to our raptors and predators and have caused countless deaths. Yet, people continue to buy and even hire contractors to install and maintain these death traps, which are seen practically everywhere in our city. Just because we cannot see what is really happening after rodenticides are ingested does not mean we can ignore the consequences. There are many safer alternatives to poison, such as live traps, snap traps and birth
control methods. By using these methods and keeping garbage where it belongs and sealed, we can control the rodent population without killing the wildlife that makes this city so unique.
The loss of our wildlife is something we cannot stand by and accept, knowing that with minor changes and adjustments we can make a huge difference. If we don't protect our wildlife, they may vanish, becoming just a memory in old photos.
Please join me in requesting the City of Toronto to ban the use of rodent poisons, promoting instead humane and environmentally safe pest control methods. Protecting wildlife of all species is not only vital for them but ultimately for ourselves and our planet.
Mayor Olivia Chow at city budget press conference
JOHN SEWELL is a former mayor of Toronto.
STEVEN SHPAK is a wildlife photographer known for his captivating images of animals in their natural habitats.
Stay in her lane? Unlikely.
At St. Clement’s School, we don’t believe that education is always a straight path, or that one size fits all. Through the St. Clement’s School learning experience, we encourage each student to explore and define her own unique education journey.
Help start her journey today. www.scs.on.ca
Canada’s Most Prestigious Real Estate Event
Spend an evening with 11 of Canada’s most prominent real estate experts
Beloved Annex magazine shop lives on
A popular Toronto magazine shop that was set to close late last year due to an arduous rent hike has found a new location.
Presse Internationale, which has been operating for 30 years — with the last 20 at the 537 Bloor St. W. storefront — will be moving to a new space on the second floor at 515 Bloor St. W. just down the street from the former location.
Edith Yang and her husband took ownership of the store back in 2005.
The family-owned shop specializes in thousands of English and foreign language magazines and has become somewhat of a fixture in the Annex area.
In October, a new landlord bought the property.
Although rent for the storefront was $7,000 per month under their previous lease agreement, the Yangs were reportedly told that they’d have to pay market price (an additional $4,000+ each month) to keep the storefront.
The new landlord allowed the Yangs to remain in their current location until another tenant was found, but everyone from customers to politicians was devastated to hear of the impending closure, sparking an outpouring of support across
social media.
It also led to deeper discussions about unaffordable commercial rent hikes for small business owners.
MPP Jessica Bell, the Ontario NDP critic for housing, called for commercial rent control after hearing the news.
“Presse Internationale has been on Bloor St W for almost two decades. It’s a small business that helps to create a thriving main street, but next month it is closing because of an unaffordable $4,000 rent hike,” said Bell, in a statement on social media.
“It doesn’t have to be this way. It’s time to look into commercial rent control to protect our small business community.”
“It's my go-to place for their amazing newspapers and magazines. That's just criminal to raise their rent so much," wrote one customer in response to Bell’s statement.
For now, the Yangs will just have to worry about transferring thousands of magazines to their new location, which was scheduled to open by the end of January 2025.
If the opening is delayed, there is another Presse Internationale street in the Beach neighbourhood at 2068 Queen St. E. —Nisean Lorde
MPP Jessica Bell outside the former Presse Internationale location
The city's new strategy aims to end encampment in Dufferin Grove
Beginning Feb. 1, the City of Toronto will launch an “enhanced outreach model” aimed at eliminating the homeless encampment at Dufferin Grove Park — the largest encampment site in the city.
Davenport councillor Alejandra Bravo laid out the details of the new approach at a heated consultation meeting held in January, noting that the plan will include 24/7 security, daily health and social support visits and waste removal.
The room was pretty divided, with a few local residents asking why there are “more tents than people” at the park and questioning whether empty tents are being used to hide drug use/criminal activity.
According to the city’s website, any tent or structure that encroaches on a city park “for the purpose of living or occupying a space” is considered an illegal encampment and is subject to a trespass notice or notice of violation.
City officials can’t physically force people to use a shelter, so to stop new tents from being set up at the park, individuals will be referred to shelter spaces as part of an encampment prevention plan.
The strategy is being rolled out more than three years after
the city forcefully dismantled homeless encampments in July 2021 — actions that were criticized by Toronto Ombudsman Kwame Addo, who found that the city “displayed insufficient regard for the people it moved out of the parks” and that it “failed to live up to its stated commitments to fairness and a human rights–based approach to housing.”
“Toronto has committed to progressively realizing the right to housing.”
Addo called the “housing first” homeless encampment strategy tested at Dufferin Grove Park in 2021 “encouraging.”
That initiative ran from August to December 2021 and focused on providing social and health support services to people directly in the park. About 90 homeless people successfully transitioned to safer indoor spaces as a result, so this strategy seems to be influencing the broader approach the city is taking to encampments.
According to Bravo, rather than forcefully removing these encampments, the approach
that is working begins with care and a roof, as well as services and support.
“Across Canada, encampments are the result of a lack of affordable housing, increases in rents and cost of living and inadequate social supports,” said Bravo.
“The City of Toronto has committed to progressively realizing the right to housing and has an obligation to treat people living in encampments with care and compassion — an approach that has already shown positive results.”
Homelessness isn’t only a citywide issue. According to a new report by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), more than 80,000 Ontarians were known to be homeless in 2024, a number that has grown by more than 25 per cent since 2022. Without significant intervention, the report states that homelessness in Ontario could double in the next decade.
“The scope and scale of homelessness across Ontario’s municipalities is truly staggering,” Robin Jones, AMO President, said in a statement. “Without real and meaningful provincial action, the quality of life and economic prosperity of Ontario’s communities is at risk.”
—Nisean Lorde
Encampment at Dufferin Grove Park
LEARN DEVELOP GROW
Toronto stars’ homes destroyed in L.A. fires
Schitt’s Creek star and North Toronto native Eugene Levy has lost his home to the Los Angeles wildfires.
In January, the Toronto actor, 78, evacuated his home in the Pacific Palisades community as a brush fire raged into an “inferno” and spread throughout his neighbourhood. He told the Los Angeles Times that he almost found himself stuck as he attempted to flee.
“The smoke looked pretty black and intense over Temescal Canyon,” Levy said. “I couldn’t see any flames but the smoke was very dark.”
Photos showed that all that remains of Levy’s property is a stone chimney and a charred row of hedges.
Levy has long called Rosedale home. It’s where he raised his family, including his son and fellow actor Dan Levy.
Former Thornhill resident Cameron Mathison, of General Hospital fame, also lost his home in last month’s wildfires.
“Thanks to all who reached out and checked in. Can’t respond to all so wanted to give an update here,” said Mathison, on a social media post. “Sending so many prayers to everyone being affected by these fires.”
Actors Adam Brody and Leighton Meester reportedly
lost their $6.5 million home in the Pacific Palisades. Shark Tank investor Barbara Corcoran said that her Tahitian Terrace community in the Palisades has been devastated.
According to the Los Angeles County Fire Department, as of Jan. 20, the Palisades fire had burned more than 23,000 acres and destroyed at least 1,280 structures in the area, making it the most destructive in the history of Los Angeles County. To date, eight people have lost their lives to the fires.
Canadians are also joining in the fight against the Los Angeles fires. Shortly after the fires started, Prime Minister Trudeau said that Canadian water bombers were already in action, and 250 firefighters were ready to be deployed.
Federal government officials added they were co-ordinating with provinces to deploy more than 60 firefighters from Alberta and B.C.
Los Angeles was still under a red flag warning in late January as the most destructive fire season on record continued around the same time that the President, Donald Trump, in a tragic irony, pulled the United States out of the Paris Agreement on climate change.
—Nisean Lorde
Toronto actor Eugene Levy
Residents react to 11-storey addition to Yorkville long-term care home
The debate continues over a proposed 11-storey addition to a long-term care home for seniors nestled in Yorkville. Belmont House is looking to add 168 long-term care beds and 30 assisted living units at the north end of its building, according to an application submitted to the city last October.
At a meeting last month, Toronto and East York Community Council approved the expansion at 55 Belmont St., near Avenue Road and Davenport Road, albeit with a few amendments — for instance, wanting the zoning laws for this location to align with the draft Zoning By-law Amendment presented to council last December.
A review of local parking rules will have to be submitted to council to prevent parking congestion and to ensure local residents have access to street parking. Council also advised that locals be updated about the construction process.
Some residents voiced opposition to the expansion, noting that it would lead to traffic congestion, be out of place with the historic homes in the neighbourhood and bring “shade” to some houses.
One Belmont Street homeowner even told council that the
building was “big, ugly and has no business being built so close to residential homes.”
These are arguments that have been brought up since the expansion was first proposed, and council’s amendments don’t seem to have alleviated concerns.
The facility currently offers 140 LTC beds and 81 retirement units. The addition would be at the north end of 55 Belmont St., connecting with the
“Logically the addition would be best placed on the south.”
existing five-storey wing to the west of the building but running adjacent to residential homes.
Yorkville’s ABC Residents Association wrote a letter to Carl Geiger, Toronto's senior planner of community planning, asking that the addition be built on another part of the Belmont House property.
“The current proposal is problematic as it would so fundamentally alter the north side of the site by placing an 11-storey edifice in close proximity to residential homes on Belmont
Street, removing a significant amount of green space and mature trees, and creating more traffic congestion on an already overburdened small street,” said Ian Carmichael and John Caliendo, co-chairs of ABC Residents Association. “Logically the addition would be best placed on the south/Davenport side of the site where there are already mid- and high-rises currently and planned and would result in less loss of green space/trees and provide more flexibility for what will be difficult construction management.”
Toronto City Council was scheduled to review the expansion proposal on Feb. 5.
If approved, the proposal would help address the Ontario Long-Term Care Home Association's plea to revitalize longterm care in the province and meet the needs of Ontario’s growing seniors’ population.
The association stated that more than 45,000 people are waiting for long-term care in Ontario and that the province will need about 48,000 LTC beds by 2029. By 2035, one in four Canadians will be over the age of 65, so the demand for long-term care will increase substantially in the next decade.
—Nisean Lorde
Rendering for proposed expansion of Belmont House
Specialty java for Queen West, Italian luxury on Bloor & more
Eleventy is opening its first stand-alone Canadian store in Yorkville, making it the Italian luxury fashion brand’s only store in Canada. The shop will span 3,200 square feet and will feature the Milan-based brand’s high-quality pieces, ranging from men’s and women’s fashion to a children’s line and home goods. The new store will be located at 102 Bloor St. W.
Bellona Kitchen, a plant-forward Italian restaurant, has opened its doors in Little Italy. Featuring classic Italian dishes with both vegan and vegetarian options, you can try everything from Lasagna alla Mama to handcrafted pizzas and tiramisù. The restaurant also offers Bellona’s Cantina — a special three-course meal served in Bellona’s Upstairs Kitchen. You can visit the new eatery at 680 College St.
Smeg has opened its first standalone Canadian store at 2 Bloor St.
W. The Italian luxury appliance brand’s retro showroom spans 3,700 square feet over two floors, showcasing Smeg’s sleek and colourful kitchen appliances. With international flagship stores already in London, Paris, Milan and more, Toronto joins the ranks of these high-profile cities with the new flagship, which is also said to feature a design consultation area.
Parpar Boutique is opening another location on Bloor Street West. The locally owned boutique, known for a fashion selection that is constantly being updated with new items, will fit right in on the strip of Bloor Street known for its variety of local shops and cafés. The neighbourhood was part of co-owner Stephanie Marer’s motivation for opening there. The team was looking for a walkable and locally oriented area much like the ones the boutique’s three other shops are located in. The new location,
at 2300 Bloor St. W., should be open by early spring.
Buno Coffee has opened in Queen West. The specialty coffee shop at 1048 Queen St. W. — with its painted blue exterior, accents of blue throughout the space and wooden, minimalist seating and coffee bar — fits right into the neighbourhood. The café prioritizes offering a large variety of responsibly sourced coffee from local roasters in espresso, pourover or drip options, as well as a selection of freshly baked goods.
Zafoon Middle Eastern Restaurant recently launched on College Street. Spearheaded by chef Abbas Wadi, the restaurant promises an authentic culinary experience with popular dishes that include chicken musakhan, moroccan chicken tagine and tepsi (a traditional Iraqi “casserole” dish). Zafoon is located at 384 College St.
Parpar Boutique is set to open a new location on Bloor West
TORONTO BREAK-INS
Amanda Lang on where housing is headed now
Joining Post City and Rotman’s Real Estate Roundtable this year for the first time is awardwinning business journalist Amanda Lang. Ahead of the event on March 5, we got her take on the Toronto market.
What’s the overall picture looking like for the 2025 market?
The expectations from experts is that we are going to see strong sales growth — over eight per cent on the residential side. And we've seen more building in the multi-family segment. But the big caveat is there have been developers that have run into trouble; investors have lost money, and projects will not be completed. That may start to right itself because of interest rates. We may see a shift and see financing open up a little bit again — other people might come in and complete projects.
What’s a housing issue we should be talking more about?
We have financialized housing, and until and unless we de-financialize this market, we are
not going to solve the problem. Until you get a politician with the courage to say solving housing affordability means your home is going to get less valuable, we are not getting close to the heart of the problem. When something is more valuable because there's less supply, you can bet your boots that the people
who want value will make sure there's no supply.
How is this city’s affordability problem changing our demographics?
The house I'm in, for instance, is the perfect example of a midlevel home that a family could move into. But we're still in it,
and we don't have any plans to move — because there aren't great options for us. If only some of the boomers who are aging out of their big homes around Toronto could move down into downtown apartments, but they [developers] didn't build them that way. They built them as soulless, tiny, box-like things, and so we don't want to live there either.
What’s the solution?
We've missed the boat in Toronto on the waterfront and on condo development, but it's not too late. Looking at the older four- or five-storey apartment building built for families in the middle of Toronto. How do we make more of that happen? Developers say, we can't make the math work. Well, what do we need to do to make it happen? Though I question this idea that developers need help. When we were castigating grocers for their two per cent profit margin rates, developers with double digit profit margins were coming cap in hand to the government, saying, “We can't make it work.” I’m just not buying it!
In a stagnant condo market, only quality sells
With a glut of condo inventory on the market and prices expected to drop further, Toronto’s condominium segment is seeing very little movement. But although demand is low for the investor-favoured studio and one-bedroom units, are the larger, family-oriented two- and three-bedrooms bucking the trend?
“It depends on what you mean by larger units — in 2004, that meant 1,500 to 2,500 square feet,” said David Fleming, broker of record of BosleyToronto Realty Group. “Now I have a three-bedroom coming to market, and it’s 875 square feet.”
Fleming noted that this change in layouts, driven by developers who aren’t building for
users, but investors, is likely part of the reason why two- and three-bedrooms aren’t selling at a much higher rate than smaller units.
“What’s moving are functional, livable units — that’s not
a 780-square-foot three-bedroom in a building that has 40 other units for sale and 120 for lease, or one with a bad floor plan and micro appliances and no closets,” he said. There are some properties
Is the Landlord and Tenant Board broken?
As if the Toronto rental market wasn’t already difficult enough, the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) is making it worse — backlogs and delays abound.
68,084
The number of applications landlords filed with the LTB during the 2023–2024 fiscal year.
7,176
The number of applications tenants filed with the LTB during the 2023–2024 fiscal year.
46,632
The backlog of active, unresolved cases as of July 31, 2024.
The average number of days it takes to get a first hearing for landlords filing for eviction or collection of rent — between July and September of 2024. 80.1
that Fleming said are always going to move, even in a down market. “It comes down to functionality: the condo townhouse market is always going to move because it’s a unique product. Same with the loft market.”
Recent data shows Fleming is right — a report by Zonda Urban found townhouse sales stayed resilient in the GTHA in 2024, accounting for their largest share of annual volume in over a decade at 43 per cent.
Of the 21 new condominium apartment projects that opened for sale in 2024, only 19 per cent sold at opening, down from a 2023 rate of 38 per cent. Of the 58 townhouse projects that opened for sale, 58 per cent sold at opening, up from 55 per cent in 2023. — Julia Mastroianni
The average number of days it takes to get a first hearing for tenants filing an application — between July and September of 2024. 233
The average number of days it takes a landlord to get an order of eviction or collection of rent — between October and December of 2022. 325
The average number of days it takes to get an order for tenants filing an application — between October and December of 2022. 427
Amanda Lang predicts sales growth in 2025
The condo townhouse market is still moving
KUMAIL NANJIANI
Kumail Nanjiani, best known for his role in TV series Silicon Valley and his Academy Award–nominated screenplay for The Big Sick, as well as the most recent Ghostbusters movie, will bring his incredible humour to the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres on Feb. 8.
BLACK HISTORY
A Celebration of Black History Through Music, features the U of T Gospel Choir, Juno Award-winning gospel artist Sharon Riley and an exciting blend of gospel, West African music, and dance on Feb. 8, at the Meridian Arts Centre.
THE BIG TICKET
FEBRUARY’S GREATEST HITS
Hot shows in Toronto this month include a night of standup with the one-and-only Kumail Nanjiani, three thundering concerts from music legend Jack White and a big new musical take on Live Aid. By Ron Johnson
MARDI GRAS MAMBO
Celebrate Valentine's Day with a high-energy Mardi Gras party at Koerner Hall, featuring the Grammy Award–winning Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas, followed by an after party with Red Hot Ramble on Feb. 14.
AṢA Nigerian-French singersongwriter Aṣa will captivate Toronto audiences with her soulful blend of R & B, Jazz, Afropop and more during a live performance at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre scheduled for Feb. 9.
RHUBARB! FESTIVAL
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre is set to host the 46th Annual Rhubarb! Festival from Feb. 12 to 16, featuring 13 groundbreaking performances by both local and international artists, with daring new works, including Transpophagic Manifest, by Renata Carvalho.
JUST FOR ONE DAY
Just For One Day – The Live Aid Musical is a celebration of the iconic 1985 global music event, featuring songs by legendary artists like Queen, U2 and David Bowie. The show runs at the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre in Toronto until March 16.
BOB MARLEY TRIBUTE
Celebrate Bob Marley's legacy at Toronto’s 19th Annual Bob Marley Birthday Tribute on Feb. 8, at Lee’s Palace. Featuring top acts from the city’s Roots Rock scene, this event honours the life and influence of one of history's most iconic artists.
WINTER FEST
Wavelength Winter Fest runs from Feb. 27 to March 1 at St. Anne's Parish Hall. This three-night festival features a dynamic lineup of indie, punk, hip-hop and experimental artists, including Owen Pallett, Ducks Ltd. and many more.
JACK WHITE
The legendary lead vocalist and guitarist of the White Stripes, member of Dead Weather and Raconteurs, as well as founder of Third Man Records, Jack White hits town for three massive shows, two at Massey Hall, Feb. 7 to 8, and one at History, Feb. 6.
THE WOLF IN THE VOICE Tarragon Theatre presents the world premiere of The Wolf in the Voice, an intimate exploration of the singer's voice as the first musical instrument, featuring Neema Bickersteth, Jane Miller and Taurian Teelucksingh, running from Feb. 4 to 23.
NAOMI WOO
Experience the Royal Conservatory Orchestra with Canadian conductor Naomi Woo on Feb. 7 at Koerner Hall. A rising star in the symphonic and operatic world, Woo will lead an unforgettable evening showcasing her artistry and dedication to music.
COMEDY RAILROAD
The Underground Comedy Railroad comes to Comedy Bar Danforth on Feb. 14 with a special Black Valentine’s night of comedy featuring Rodney Ramsey, Tamara Shevon, Daniel Woodrow, and Keesha Brownie. Expect hilarious performances.
This Valentine's Day, wear your heart on your sleeve — or your pants or your shoes. These oh-so-romantic and stylish picks, curated with Jeanne Beker's help, will have you falling in love with winter fashion again.
A. KNIT SWEATER, Carriage Trade Shop, SALE $199, 2984 Bloor St. W.
B DOUBLE HEART KEYCHAIN, Roots, $48, 1 Bass Pro Mills Dr.
C. FRONT TIE TOP, Reformation, $218, 87 Yorkville Ave.
D. JEANS, Ssense, SALE $239, ssense.com
E. SHOULDER BAG, TNT, SALE $268, 394 Eglinton Ave. W.
F. SUNGLASSES, Anine Bing, $325, 3401 Dufferin St.
G WRISTLETS, The Cashmere Shop, $125, 24 Bellair St., Unit 5
H. LOCKET, Lisbeth Jewelry, $140, lisbethjewelry.com “I always like the idea of a locket, and this classic silver one has modern feel to it but is still a little old fashioned because it actually opens!”
I. VEST Preloved, $109, getpreloved.com
J. BOOTS, 100% Silk Shop, SALE $355, 1558 Dupont St.
K. PUFFER, Bimba y Lola, SALE $297, farfetch.com
L. HAIR CLIP, The Stylish Daisy, $15.99, etsy.com/ca/shop/TheStylishDaisy
M. PULLOVER, Lemonwood, $795, 1224A Yonge St. “This looks handmade and oversized and very cosy. That red heart looks great against the soft background.”
N. EARRINGS AND RING, Dean Davidson, Ring: SALE $117, Earrings: SALE $135, 145 Berkeley St. “These enamel hearts are so beautiful — such a modern and sophisticated look but still with a touch of whimsy because of that heart shape!”
O. LOAFERS, Maguire Shoes, $240, 760 Queen St. W.
Jeanne Beker | One of Canada’s most trusted authorities on fashion, now watch her on TSC or tune in to her podcast Beyond Style Matters.
JEANNE’S PICK
JEANNE’S
What T.O.’s top influencers are wearing
Lexson Millington Co-founder of vintage store LBros Finds
What he’s wearing: Glasses thrifted from Black Market Vintage, H&M x Rokh collab trench coat, Cos cropped beige jacket and trousers, Guess belt, Gucci shoes, shirt and tie from the local thrift, Spencer Badu bag.
How he got involved in fashion: My best friend Liam introduced me to thrifting at our local Value Village and Salvation Army around the summer of 2017. These spots quickly became a place to experiment with different styles on a budget, and it was a great way to make new friends. Since then I’ve ventured into taking styling more seriously, started documenting my fashion journey on socials and that led to where I’m at today.
Top 2025 fashion prediction: Oversized tailoring!
Personal style in three words: ’70s, vintage, preppy
Best style advice: Focus on the emotional connection to your garments, e.g., “I’m wearing this because it makes me feel confident/cool.” Invest in quality garments. Create a versatile capsule wardrobe! I always consider whether a new purchase will work with my current collection of clothes before buying.
Irene Kim Stylist, writer of award-winning fashion Substack In Moda Veritas
What she’s wearing: Cos pants, Jil Sander flats, Proenza Schouler White Label sweater (from Vert boutique in Summerhill), Sacai dress (from a second-hand shop in Tokyo).
Top 2025 fashion prediction:
I think people are tired of impersonal, algorithm-based, behaviourally optimized online buying. I think we’re going to see more people shopping in person, reconnecting with local businesses, trying on clothes and questioning their origins.
Best style advice: I encourage people to have certain key foundational pieces to be the building blocks of their wardrobe. If you’re often saying, “I have a closet full of clothes but nothing to wear,” or, “I keep wearing the ‘same’ outfit over and over again,” this is usually related to not having those foundational pieces. Also: buy what you love but for the life you have!
Her take on Toronto fashion: There’s so much creative talent in this city. What’s challenging is that we’re a big city, but we don’t have the market size for retailers to take risks with a consistent stream of innovative, fashion-forward brands. I admire boutiques, like Absolutely Fabrics who are trying!
Toronto’s latest trend? Swap till you drop
It’s almost time for some spring cleaning, but instead of just tossing away or donating old clothes and buying new ones, there’s an even more sustainable option. Clothing swaps have been growing in popularity in the city — and two local swaps are making the initiative even easier.
Leaside clothing swap event
She Shops Swap launched in 2020 after founder Vicki Hall found herself frustrated by the lack of options for consignment. “There seemed to only be designer consignment, and then donating your clothes. There was nothing in the middle — a lot of women purchase midmarket fashion,” she says.
Unlike some other swaps, Hall personally curates the en-
tire collection by hand. The result is an event space set up like a store, with a “wall of denim” the swap has become renowned for, some local vendors and, new to the event, “rail sales.” Attendees receive a ticket for every
item they drop off for the swap, and the ticket becomes their currency — one ticket for any one item at the swap. Since Annex-based T.O. the Good Swap founder Lisa Amerongen launched her monthly
swap in 2022, the event has regularly sold out (attendees must reserve their spots in advance). The rules are simple: bring up to 10 preloved items, shop the items at the swap and bring home anything you’d like, though attendees are asked to take an amount similar to what they brought. Amerongen says a clothing swap can be the “first step” for those in that mindset to understand there are other ways to approach consumption.
“For those who are feeling the need to buy new clothes, they’re getting that need met — but they’re swapping for a new wardrobe rather than buying.”
The next She Shops Swap will be in late spring, and the next the Good Swap will be in February. —Julia Mastroianni
Yorkville has a new pulse — and it’s beating to the bold rhythm of Rock ‘N Karma. The iconic Toronto fashion brand has returned to its original neighbourhood, unveiling a flagship boutique after eight years on Queen Street West. For this brand, the move marks not just a relocation but a triumphant homecoming.
Rock ‘N Karma began as a small operation run by co-founder and designer Naomi Shapiro and her sister Devorah and has evolved into one of Toronto’s most distinctive fashion labels, expanding through kiosks at Yorkdale mall, Pearson Airport and the Eaton Centre before opening their first boutique in Yorkville.
“Now, we’ve come full circle,” Shapiro reflects. “Yorkville has always been part of our DNA. It’s the perfect setting for showcasing the brand’s evolution — luxurious, vibrant and unapologetically stylish.”
Rock ‘N Karma is known for its personalized details, from intricate embellishments to bold painted graphics. “The handpainted elements in Rock ‘N Karma designs are a true labour of love,” Shapiro says. “These aren’t just clothes — they’re wearable art.”
For those ready to elevate their wardrobe, Rock ‘N Karma’s Yorkville boutique is open seven days a week at 132 Cumberland St. —Lauren DiBenedetto
She Shops Swap in Leaside
Find thermal bliss a short drive from T.O.
Take the plunge this season with hot and cold therapy spas across Ontario. Whether you’re seeking a romantic getaway or a day of solo relaxation, check out these spots a short drive from Toronto, featuring Finnish hydrotherapy circuits and themed hot and cold rooms.
Wander the Spa
Ontario’s first lakefront nordic spa has just launched on the grounds of Wander the Resort in Prince Edward County, featuring a 10,000-square-foot thermotherapy circuit. Start off in the 32-seat dry heat sauna, steam room, hot soak pool and exfoliation room, then brave the cold plunge — set at 10℃ — to take full advantage of the wellness benefits of hydrotherapy. A lakefront nordic spa also comes with some perks — the spa is located near Whisper Beach on West Lake, and visitors will get access to 200 feet of waterfront, exclusive to spa guests, a natural cold plunge experience, two additional saunas and Hygge Huts. wandertheresort.com/spa
Go Place
A luxury wellness experience just 45 minutes outside of Toronto in Markham, Go Place spans 68,000 square feet. With your one-time admission fee ($71.95),
you can technically stay at the spa from 7 a.m. all the way until 2 a.m. — and you might, considering how much there is to explore! Known for Go Place’s themed rooms, you can wander from a heated volcanic rock room to a far infrared area to a bit of cold therapy in the ice room. Soak in a Jacuzzi bath, unwind in the steam room and add on a massage for the ultimate relaxation. With a restaurant serving up sushi and dim sum and a gym on site, you can rest, relax, refuel, work out and repeat all day! goplace.com
Vettä
Take a day trip to Horseshoe Valley in Oro-Medonte for this authentic Finnish spa experience. Surrounded by trees, you’ll feel immersed in nature — and with no phones allowed, you can unplug too! Vettä’s hydrotherapy circuit features steam rooms, saunas, stone rooms and hot pools for heat, cold plunges and buckets for cold and warm pools, hammocks and Muskoka chairs by wood-burning firepits. It’s recommended you end off each cycle with an exfoliating salt scrub. Add on a massage or book a table at the Finnish-inspired restaurant for a full day of resting and recharging. vettaspa.com
—Julia Mastroianni
L-R: Finnish-inspired spa Vettä, a themed room at Go Place
Dear Sangita: My partner’s ex is sending me weird messages
Dear Sangita: My partner's ex is sending me suspicious messages on Instagram, and I think she's hinting at some unfavourable things about my ex. At first I ignored it, but now I'm getting too curious. Is this opening up a can of worms or is this potentially valuable information I need to know? —Ignorance is bliss?
Dear Bliss: It depends on how long you’ve been dating — if it’s a new relationship, I would want to know what the ex has to say; maybe I am with the wrong person! You may want to have a conversation with your partner first. If you ask about why they broke up and don’t really get an answer or they behave weirdly, that will tell you a lot about them. At that point, I would see what the ex has to say. It’s not great to go into a relationship feeling that your partner is a bad person. But I know part of your curiosity is wanting to know if there’s something you haven’t noticed in your
partner that you should be aware of. That makes sense.
If it’s a relationship where you’ve been together for a while, the conversation with your partner will look a little different. At this point, the two of you should know each other very well, and you should feel comfortable saying, “Hey, your ex keeps reaching out to me, and I’m curious why she wants to talk — what’s going on?”
Dear Sangita: My wife and I recently decided to move my mother into our basement. I have always been fearful of her becoming the overbearing mother-inlaw trope. Since she's moved in, that's exactly what she's become. She criticizes our parenting, is always cleaning places we just cleaned as if we didn't do a good enough job, etc. I'm starting to get fed up, and my wife is too, but I also feel like I have no options.
I chose to move her in — how could I now ask her to move out? — Roommate regrets
Dear Regrets: I would ask her if she's happy in the house, and give her the power to say if she would prefer to live on her own. If she says, “No, I love living with you guys, and I’m happy in the basement,” then you can talk about the things that are bothering you.
Older people sometimes feel like they have to prove their worth, and that’s what it seems like she’s doing. She hasn’t been overbearing before, but now she’s behaving this way almost to prove that she deserves to be there. So I think you can approach the conversation from that angle.
If the annoyances continue, you either let it go or you be up front about it. I remember when we had our first child, my mom said all the aunts and uncles are coming, and I said I didn’t want
anybody at the hospital. I needed to take care of myself and my baby. She agonized over it at the time, saying she didn’t know what she would say to them, but I told her that it had nothing to do with her or them — it was about me and my child. And the second time we had a baby, that never happened. So if there are some boundaries you decide you need to set, you have to be prepared to deal with the drama to find a solution.
Regardless of how the conversation goes, you made the decision to take her in — you cannot now send her out unless she decides she’d prefer to move out.
Have a relationship or life question for Sangita? Send it to advice@postcity.com.
THORNHILL DENTAL
Ask us about our Digital
Do you need a crown,
or
and
but hate dental
We use a digital dental imaging camera to make porcelain crowns, bridges and veneers in the office which can be placed in the mouth on the same day. Our technology removes the need for impressions, temporaries and the second appointment. It can be used in most cases.
SANGITA PATEL is our advice columnist and was previously a host on ET Canada.
•
•
•
•
FAST FACTS
NAME: Aaron Abrams
GRADUATED: Earl Haig Secondary
FAVE LOCAL MEMORY: Being at the 1993 World Series Game 6
As the youngest in his family, Toronto actor Aaron Abrams remembers being a kid who always liked attention. That’s where acting came in.
“It became a way of getting attention that wasn’t making me insufferable,” he says.
The Hannibal, Blindspot and Rookie Blue star recalls drama class being the only one in school that ever really “caught” him, enough that his parents decided to put him in an acting class by the time he was eight.
“I went up and did an impression of my parents, and I remember people laughing and sort of discovering that something so personal could be universal at the same time,” he says.
“That was the first itch.”
Abrams scored bit parts in movies starring the likes of Michael Douglas, Russell Crowe and Renée Zellweger until he landed his first “break” — alongside Canadian royalty.
“It was on a show called Slings and Arrows, and it was my first character where I had a name. I joined for the third season, and I was already such a fan, so to be accepted as a part of it, while doing scenes with Paul Gross and Sarah Polley, was such an honour.”
Often cast as the antagonist, Abrams says it was a big shift to take on the role of a well-meaning, sensitive and loving sitcom
father in Children Ruin Everything. Now on its fourth season, it’s clear the comedy is resonating with viewers in Toronto (where the show is set) and beyond.
“It’s definitely an ode to all the family sitcoms we grew up on, but modernized — the dad isn’t a ding dong who just wants to watch the game; the mom isn’t the sheriff of the house,” Abrams says. “On this show, they’re a team, and they’re in love!”
Despite the show’s name, he says acting alongside his young co-stars (Mikayla SwamiNathan and Logan Nicholson) has been nothing but wonderful. “They’re not only extremely talented and smart and fun, but the show also writes them to just be kids,” he says. “So they’re just little weirdos, and they’ll throw a new thing at you, and you get to be very alive for those moments.”
And although the show is all about the constant emotional and financial hardships of being a parent, Abrams says he’s been pleasantly surprised by how all kinds of viewers, from child-free adults to kids themselves, have been connecting with the show.
“It’s a testament to the writing,” Abrams says. “[Series creator] Kurt [Smeaton] cracks his heart open and puts it on the page and makes every storyline so remarkable.”
— Julia Mastroianni
Aaron Abrams stars in comedy series ‘Children Ruin Everything’
Canada’s design duo Colin and Justin on a love built to last
Dynamic design duo and honorary Canadians, Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan have been gracing our TV screens for 25 years, from home heists to log cabin renos. Now, they’re taking on a new challenge with Colin & Justin’s Sub Zero Reno, premiering on Paramount Plus on Jan. 31 — renovating their Haliburton home in the middle of a frigid Canadian winter. The couple shares the details of their awkward disco encounter and idyllic honeymoon.
How they met
Back in the ’80s in Glasgow, we were sitting in two booths next to a pulsing disco dance floor. After five minutes of sideways glances and furtive smiles, a sweating, topless lady plonked herself down between us, breathing heavily from the dance floor. Erupting into awkward laughter at the arrival of our new scantily clad guest, this was the ice breaker that turned into love. Aye, breasts brought us together!
Ryan and Colin McAllister have been together for 40 years
The first date
In May 1985, we met up in Squires, a Glasgow gay bar, for lunch. After a couple of pints, we had a quick snog, only to be told by the barman that the bar was only gay in the evenings and currently full of straight business people. So could we, erm, stop!
The proposal
We had been working on a TV show in Australia and, on the
CITY X DIAMOND & DIAMOND
flight back, got talking about getting hitched. There was no going down on one knee. It was just a conversation about our future that kind of grew. The lengths to which two intercontinental designers will go for Bulgari rings!
The wedding and honeymoon
We got “married” — it was a civil partnership back then — on Feb. 15, 2008, at Chelsea Town Hall, on the King’s Road in London.
Sharing the Road Safely with Snow Plows
Tips from Jeremy Diamond and Sandra Zisckind of Diamond & Diamond Lawyers
JEREMY DIAMOND
Jeremy Diamond is a lawyer and member of both Ontario and Florida Bars. Jeremy practices in the area of Plaintiff personal injury litigation.
Winter brings snow and icy roads, making snow plows a crucial part of keeping highways and streets safe. However, sharing the road with these large machines requires extra caution. Isaac Zisckind, a founding partner at Diamond & Diamond, offers valuable advice for staying safe when driving near snow plows.
Keep a Safe Distance
Snow plows often move slowly, clearing snow and salting roads. When driving behind a plow, it’s important to maintain a safe following distance. Snow plows can throw snow and ice, reducing visibility, and may make sudden stops or turns. "A good rule of thumb is to stay at least ten car lengths behind a snow plow," says Zisckind. "This gives you enough space to react if the plow suddenly stops or changes direction."
Plows also tend to create snow clouds behind them, making it harder to see, so keeping your distance is crucial.
We lived in Chelsea at the time and had our reception at the Wolseley on Piccadilly, our favourite London hangout. We took a house in the hills above the Four Seasons in Nevis in the Caribbean for our honeymoon and did a shoot for OK! magazine in Britain, fed monkeys outside our windows every day and had a local chef cook lobster on the beach as we quaffed chilled champagne.
The family
We have two fluffy feline sons, Beamer and Brutus, who travel with us, and also many nieces and nephews. We also have two goddaughters, Tallulah and Jasmine. We thought about having a family when we were in our 30s but moved to Canada instead. You could say Canada is our baby!
The secret to success
The secret to successful coupledom is to never ever let your partner see you on or near the toilet. Having a lot in common but
being very different people also bonds us together like glue. We love shared time and are very seldom apart. We have one cellphone and one email address. Our friends think this is weird!
Balancing careers and a relationship
It’s funny, we don’t really look for a balance because we’ve figured out that making money from your vocation is the true path to happiness — 2024 was our 25th year in television. In 2023, we made a show called Colin and Justin’s Hotel Hell and have a new show coming out called Sub Zero Reno. We show no signs of slowing down and have no desire to stop.
The future together
Bring on the crystal ball and let’s get to it! Who knows what’s lurking around the corner; it’s important to live in the moment and always stay buoyant. But there’ll always be fun, adventure, cocktails and cats.
Don’t Attempt to Pass
Although it may seem tempting to pass a snow plow to get ahead, it’s dangerous. Snow plows are slowmoving, and roads near them can be slippery and poorly cleared. Additionally, plows sometimes block multiple lanes or suddenly veer to one side, creating potential hazards.
If possible, wait for the plow to move over or for a section of road that’s been cleared before passing.
Watch for Turns and Lane Changes
Snow plows often make wide turns to clear snow from the road’s edge. They may also change lanes without warning. Drivers need to stay alert to avoid accidents when plows need to clear all lanes or shift positions to deal with changing road conditions. "Snow plows frequently make unpredictable movements, especially when clearing snow from the shoulder or turning onto smaller roads," explains Zisckind.
Avoid Tailgating in Winter Conditions
Tailgating is never a good idea, but it’s particularly dangerous during winter. Snow plows are clearing icy or slippery roads, and getting too close to a plow can lead to accidents, especially if the vehicle in front suddenly stops or encounters an obstacle. Maintaining a safe distance ensures you have enough time to react if the road conditions change suddenly.
Yield to Plows When Necessary
Snow plows are doing important work to keep roads clear, so drivers should give them space. If a snow plow needs to stop to discharge salt or sand, drivers should be prepared to slow down or stop. It’s also essential to yield the right of way when needed, especially when plows are working in tight spaces. "If a snow plow is operating, be prepared to stop or slow down," advises Zisckind. "It’s important to let them do their job and give them the space they
need to clear the road safely.” When snow plows are actively clearing roads, patience is key.
Share
the Road with Plows Safely
Sharing the road with snow plows requires patience, awareness, and caution. By maintaining a safe following distance, avoiding tailgating, and being prepared for snow plows to move unexpectedly, drivers can ensure their safety and contribute to safer winter driving conditions for all road users.
If you find yourself in a motor vehicle accident or require legal guidance, Diamond & Diamond is here to assist you. Stay safe on the roads this winter, and remember: exercising caution around snow plows can prevent accidents and save lives.
L-R: Justin
WELCOME TO OUR ANNUAL TRIVIA EXTRAVAGANZA! TEST YOUR CITY IQ AND WIN PRIZES!
1. Name the Toronto store that the monkey Darwin wandered into one day in 2012.
ANSWER: IKEA
6. What was celebrity chef Matty Matheson’s first restaurant in Toronto?
11. What is the name of Toronto's first lighthouse, the oldest on the Great Lakes?
QUEEN’S WHARF YORK TOWER GIBRALTAR POINT ASHBRIDGES
ANSWER: C
16. Toronto Reference Library has a room dedicated to which fictional character?
JAMES BOND
SHERLOCK HOLMES HARRY POTTER
ANSWER: C ANNE OF GREEN GABLES
Along which river will you find Toronto's most famous flying saucer?
This neighbourhood attempted to separate from Canada in the ’60s.
12. Which famous Irish musical group actuallly formed in Toronto?
POGUES
ANSWER: C
17. Toronto has more of which nocturnal animal than any city in the world?
ANSWER: D
4. Iconic actor Victor Garber was a member of which T.O. folk music group?
HAY SPARROWS SUGAR SHOPPE MYNAH BIRDS
ANSWER: C
8. Toronto-bred Sphynx cats were made famous thanks to this series of movies.
ANSWER: AUSTIN POWERS
13. Who scored the first-ever basket for the Toronto Raptors?
VINCE CARTER
DAMON STOUDAMIRE
ZAN TABAK
ALVIN ROBERTSON
ANSWER: D
18. In 1909, Toronto's Tommy Ryan invented which sport cum leisure activity?
ANSWER: D AXE THROWING ULTIMATE FRISBEE BADMINTON 5-PIN BOWLING
ANSWER: B 3. Toronto's waterfront actually used to begin at which street?
5. Instant replay was first used in a 1955 game featuring this Toronto team.
9. City Hall made a brief appearance in which iconic TV show?
STAR WARS BATTLESTAR GALACTICA STAR TREK DR.
14. A massive white statue of what animal sits in a Christie Pits front yard?
ANSWER: C RACCOON
19. Name the first comedy film (pictured above) Toronto’s Ivan Reitman directed.
MEATBALLS
A video for a song from this Toronto band was the first played on MuchMusic.
ANSWER: A
15. Who did Toronto play against in the first-ever PWHL game in 2024?
ANSWER: A
Drake made his concert debut opening for which hip hop icon?
HOW TO PLAY:
Split into two teams and alternate turns asking questions. For every correct answer, move forward one space. First to the finish line wins!
Send us your best T.O. trivia question and enter to win a $500 getaway at Deerhurst Resort or a Streets of Toronto hoodie! Bonus ten entries if you send a pic of you playing the game! Send to: doyouknowto@streetsoftoronto.com.
21. What was Toronto’s last alcohol-free neighbourhood, lasting until 2000?
ANSWER: C
26. This hit TV show is adapted from a novel by Toronto’s Margaret Atwood.
ANSWER: THE HANDMAID’S TALE
31. What is the name of the ancient lake that extended to Davenport Road?
ANSWER: A IROQUOIS MATCHEDASH TARENTO WYANDOT
36. The other Toronto Maple Leafs team plays which sport?
22. A Toronto concert by which singer is considered the official end of the Beatles?
ANSWER: A
27. The Circus Riot of 1855 involved clowns fighting with which other group?
This iconic mural can be found outside what Toronto music venue?
28. The cover for Drake’s 2011 album Take Care was shot in which restaurant?
PREACHERS FIREFIGHTERS BLACKSMITHS POLICE ANSWER: B JOSO’S SOTTO SOTTO THE REAL JERK CANOE
ANSWER: A
32. Which team did the Maple Leafs beat to win its last Stanley Cup?
33. What is the first and only album Prince recorded while living in Toronto?
SINGLE PLAYER:
Score one point for every correct answer
0-12: NEW NEIGHBOUR
You’ve got a lot to learn about what makes this city great.
24. In the ’80s, this Toronto tennis star was a teen icon on the court and in movies.
13-25: RAD RESIDENT
You might not know everything about T.O. but you’re trying.
25. Which iconic Toronto sitcom launched the career of Simu Liu?
26-40: LOCAL PRO
You live and breathe Toronto; go forth and share your joy!
KIM’S CONVENIENCE SCHITT’S CREEK
ANSWER: D
29. Who was the T.O. sprinter stripped of his Olympic gold due to steroids?
JOHNSON DONOVAN BAILEY CARL LEWIS CHRIS CHEETAH A
ANSWER: A
ANSWER: C KING OF KENSINGTON LETTERKENNY
30. In Kensington Market, there is a famous garden growing out of what?
ANSWER: A
ANSWER: B MUSICOLOGY PURPLE RAIN SIGN ‘O’ THE TIMES CONTROVERSY
ANSWER: A
34. This comedy duo were regulars at Citytv’s Speakers Corner.
ANSWER: THE DEVIL’S ADVOCATES RANGERS CANADIENS BRUINS RED WINGS A B C D
35. What was the name of the first Toronto ferry operating in 1833?
ANSWER: B ROCHESTER ROCKET NIAGARA PENINSULA MAPLE LEAF A B C D
38. This Toronto park has a hidden archery range open to the public. SUNNYBROOK E.T. SETON CEDARVALE TRINITY BELLWOODS A B C D
ANSWEB: B ULTIMATE FRISBEE BASEBALL SOFTBALL FIELD HOCKEY
37. Name this player who scored the first-ever goal in Toronto FC history.
ANSWER: Danny Dichio
39. Which Toronto journalist was a founding member of Greenpeace?
40. Which famous actor grew up in Yorkville and was a minor hockey goalie?
PAUL WATSON AL GORE
BOB HUNTER A B C D
ANSWER: D
ANSWEB: B DAVID SUZUKI
JIM CARREY A B C D RAPTORS WIN IN OVERTIME, MOVE AHEAD TWO SPACES
KEANU REEVES
RYAN GOSLING
ANSWER: B MIKE MYERS
PRESENTING SPOONSOR:
FOOD
I LOVE YOU FROM MY HEAD TO-MA-TOES
Valentine’s Day is here, and chefs Massimo Capra and Anthony Rose are on a mission to pick the best old school Italian spot in the city. Will it be Sugo, the Instagram-famous contender, or Grazie, the classic where Toronto’s first dates have been happening for 35 years? See which won them over.
OUR JUDGES
Chef Massimo Capra
Chef Anthony Rose
ROUND 1 - MEATBALLS
Anthony and Massimo both thought Grazie’s meatballs were a solid pick, but Massimo wasn’t sold on the cheese, saying it was a little too much. As for Sugo’s meatballs, they were a hit for both — bold flavours all around. Massimo did think they could’ve used a little more sauce, though.
Grazie: Anthony: 7, Massimo: 6
Sugo: Anthony: 7, Massimo: 7.5
ROUND 2 - GNOCCHI
Both Massimo and Anthony thought the sauce on Grazie’s gnocchi was a bit too dense and overcooked, but they liked how rustic it tasted. Anthony especially enjoyed the chunky texture of the gnocchi. On the other hand, Sugo’s gnocchi had more zest and was full of flavour. Although Massimo felt it could’ve been a bit softer, he thought it was much fresher overall.
Grazie: Anthony: 6, Massimo: 5
Sugo: Anthony: 7, Massimo: 7
ROUND 3 - TIRAMISÙ
GRAZIE
6464 Yonge St. & 9100 Jane St. Founded in 1990
VS.
Massimo mentioned that Grazie’s tiramisù had some issues with the savoiardi (ladyfinger) cookies not being soaked enough, but overall, it was still creamy and tasty. He also shared that tiramisù was one of the first things he learned to make back in 1975, when he started his first job in Venice, so he knows his stuff. As for Sugo’s version, Anthony really liked the darker cocoa powder, saying it had way more flavour, and he was a fan of the extra mascarpone.
The Brunch Babes, Sarah Ballou and Alex Mladen, have built a huge following on Instagram with their spot-on recommendations. This Valentine’s Day, skip the candlelit dinner and celebrate love with brunch! Here are the Babes' top picks.
1. Manita
This cosy Ossington gem is at the top of our list for Manita’s warm and intimate space and of course, the delicious brunch. Must-Try: We recommend you share the breakfast sandwich made with the best aïoli, the Mediterranean plate filled with our favourite dips and a side of Manita’s french fries. 210 Ossington Ave.
2. Chantecler
This charming French bistro transports you straight to Paris with its intimate ambience and meticulously crafted menu. Must-Try: Start with the French onion soup and end with the amazing croque madame. 798 Bloor St. W.
3. Alder
Celebrate any occasion at Alder, a breathtaking restaurant in the Ace Hotel. With live music every Sunday and a cosy, bonfire-like ambience, it’s a place you’ll never want to
leave. Trust chef Patrick Kriss to deliver culinary perfection. Must-Try: Lobster brioche as an appetizer, French toast, and, of course, it would be illegal to leave without having the coconut cream pie. 51 Camden St.
4. Annabelle Pasta Bar
Annabelle is a charming Italian restaurant that has become a beloved neighbourhood eatery. The menu is seasonally inspired and rotates with three fresh new pastas every week. Must-Try: Start with a breakfast martini then share the pesto scramble & ricotta and the breakfast carbonara. 909 Davenport Rd.
5. Casa Madera
Casa Madera offers a luxurious brunch blending Mexican-inspired and Mediterranean coastal cuisine. The stunning interior transports you to paradise, while Casa Madera DJs and performance artists create a vibrant atmosphere.
Must-Try: Kobe A5 wagyu, churro French toast and the signature Casa margarita, which includes an unforgettable fire show! 550 Wellington St. W.
— Sarah Balou and Alex Mladen
L-R: Sarah and Alex have curated T.O.’s top brunch spots since 2018
Rick picks the good, the bad and the overhyped in T.O.
Toronto’s dining scene is a whirlwind of new spots and mixed reviews. Enter Rick Silver (@dicksworld), the city’s no-nonsense food influencer. Known for his blunt, honest critiques, Rick’s voice stands out in a sea of younger influencers. When he says “run, don’t walk,” you’d better listen. Here’s Rick’s unfiltered take on four Toronto spots — the must-tries and those that might not live up to the hype.
1. Public Gardens: This newly opened American-Italian spot is THE place to be on King West, with Manhattan vibes and an epic patio. The salads, apps and fresh-made pastas are all great, but we thought the pizza was the real star. 577 King St. W.
The Rating: 8.4/10
Take-away: Make a reservation
3. Jatujak: This Thai spot, with three locations, was one of the few restaurants that got us through the pandemic — and we’ve been ordering from it ever since. The pad kee mao is packed with veggies, has great noodles and just the right amount of heat. We’re consistent with our orders, and they’re consistently delivering top-quality dishes. Locations in Scarborough, North York, Richmond Hill.
The Rating: 9.2/10
Take-away: Worth a try
TRENDING BITE
Silver's top Instagram reel, with 1M views, calls T.O. spot Sumaq's shawarma one of the best he's had.
2. Matty’s Patty’s: Toronto is lucky to have a handful of Matty Matheson's restaurants. While landing a reservation or splurging at spots like Prime Seafood Palace might be a challenge, anyone craving a mouth-watering smash burger can always swing by Matty’s Pattys. 923a Queen St. W. The Rating: 8.8/10
Take-away: Tasty burger, spectacular bun
4 Jimmy John’s: With over 2,700 locations across 43 U.S. states, this chain recently ventured into Canada with its first location in Etobicoke. The sweet chili chicken was great, but we weren’t as impressed with the other three subs we tried. To be fair, it was only day one of opening, so maybe the meatball sub that left us cold has been sorted out since.
197 N. Queen St.
The Rating: 6.6/10
Take-away: Jersey Mike’s is better
RICK SILVER is a Toronto food influencer, always on the hunt for the best eats in the city.
Travelling with Children After Divorce or Separation
For separated or divorced parents, travelling with children across borders can present unique challenges. Legal and logistical considerations must be considered, whether for a family visit, a much-anticipated vacation for a school or holiday break, or even a quick weekend getaway. Understanding your rights and obligations as a parent can help ensure your plans proceed smoothly while prioritizing your child’s best interests.
Reviewing Your Parenting Agreement or Court Order
Each family’s situation is unique, and the specifics of your shared parenting arrangement within your separation agreement or court order play a critical role in determining what steps you must take before travelling with your child. Some agreements or court orders may require advance notice for the nontravelling parent, sometimes weeks to months before a trip. They may also restrict travel to certain destinations, limiting a parent’s ability to travel to specific geographic areas without prior approval. Regarding holidays, parenting schedules may also outline which parent has priority for holiday travel in a given year.
Parental Consent & Travel Letters
With international travel comes complexity. Border and immigration authorities in Canada and abroad
are increasingly vigilant when children travel without both parents, primarily due to concerns about international child abduction or other potential issues. It is crucial for separated or divorced parents to carry specific documentation when travelling with children. Parents should have a valid passport for each travelling child (both parents’ consent is typically required to obtain this), a travel consent letter (preferably notarized to ensure the nontravelling parent’s signature is authentic), and proof of parenting arrangements (such as a copy of a court order or separation agreement/parenting plan).
Although domestic travel within Canada does not require passports or special entry permissions, parental communication remains essential. Even if written consent is not expressly required by the parties’ parenting agreement or court order, having a travel letter signed by the non-travelling parent is advisable to avoid issues with authorities, whether the child is travelling with a parent or on their own. This letter should detail:
● The child’s name and date of birth;
● The destination, purpose, and travel dates;
● The travelling parent’s contact information; and
● The non-travelling parent’s signature (ideally notarized).
Preparation Paves the
Arranging a trip with your children can be an opportunity for bonding and memory-making. However, failing to adhere to the legal restrictions in your particular case can lead to conflict between parents and, occasionally, result in the need to involve the court, which may impact future travel. arrangements.
By ensuring you have the proper documentation, comply with any parenting agreements or court orders in place, and have facilitated clear communication with the other parent, you can ensure smooth travel and an enjoyable trip with your children.
BOULBY WEINBERG FISHMAN LLP
661 YONGE ST. SUITE 500 TORONTO, ON M4Y 1Z9
647-494-0113
BOULBYWEINBERG.COM
Kenneth A. Fishman has exclusively practiced family law since 2009 and advises clients on all related issues, including parenting, support claims and property disputes. He has been recognized multiple times by Best Lawyers.
POST CITY X BOULBY WEINBERG FISHMAN
Rick Silver’s reviews are genuine, not influenced by free meals
Bakery brings golden touch to Forest Hill
Le Bisou Pâtisserie is one of Forest Hill’s latest French bakeries, conveniently located beside the soon-to-open Forest Hill TTC station.
Created by pastry chef Anna Kang, Le Bisou has quickly become a welcome treat for commuters, offering authentic, homemade French pastries using the finest ingredients. Committed to transparency and upholding the highest culinary standards, Le Bisou lists all of the ingredients of its exceptional products online, where pastry lovers can rest assured their favourite French treats are free from artificial flavours or additives.
has replicated some of France’s most beloved patisserie items in her storefront, showcased via a glass display case.
LIT LAYERS
Before becoming a pastry chef, Anna Kang studied Russian literature in Korea and Moscow.
Outfitted in natural wood panelling, the café provides seating for roughly 15 guests, including a table for three at the front window, which makes for the perfect sipping spot to people-watch.
Kang, who moved to Canada in 2013 and graduated with a culinary management degree from Niagara College shortly after in 2016, has worked at several well-known patisseries in Toronto and continues to refine her skills as a pastry chef with the opening of Le Bisou, where she
On the menu, you’ll find classic pastries, like eclairs made with choux pastry, madeleines, croissants, macarons, quiche and Paris-Brest. Other favourites include a selection of muffins, cookies and tarts, including the best-selling almond raspberry tart, made with fresh raspberries, raspberry mousse, almond cream and raspberry purée and topped with an edible golden chocolate leaf garnish.
Lunchtime options include a variety of sandwiches made on housemade focaccia or ciabatta bread or croissants.
A selection of espresso-based drinks and teas can be ordered at the bar, including specialty lattes, like the Italian meringue chocolate latte, which is topped with Italian meringue filling and torched before serving.
All of Le Bisou’s patisserie items can be enjoyed in-store or ordered online and delivered via UberEats.
Le Bisou is located at 866 Eglinton Ave. W. — Christine Roberti
Le Bisou’s menu includes all the classic French favourites
Michael’s on Simcoe team unveils new Yorkville steak house
Big news for Toronto’s steak lovers. Salt Grass & Rare, a sleek, modern steak house, is set to open in Yorkville in mid-2025. If you’ve dined at the Butcher Chef, Oliver’s Steakhouse or the nowclosed Michael’s On Simcoe, then you’ve already had a taste of what restaurateurs Michael Dabic and Derek Von Raesfeld can cook up.
Salt Grass & Rare will take over the ground floor of 50 Scollard St., home to ultra-luxury residence, 50 Scollard, by Lanterra Developments, designed by world-renowned architect Norman Foster, of Foster + Partners. The restaurant promises to match the building’s grandeur with a stunning design, combining an elegant dining room, a sophisticated bar and lounge and a grand terrace surrounded by lush greenery and picturesque water features.
tail that will define both the menu and the atmosphere.
Although specifics of the menu remain under wraps, chef Von Raesfeld will helm the kitchen, bringing his culinary expertise to what’s bound to be a meticulously curated experience. With a knack for blending tradition and innovation, Von Raesfeld’s touch promises a dining experience as refined as the atmosphere.
Dabic ran Harbour 60 for 10 years before opening three restaurants, with Von Raesfeld as chef.
Beyond its striking design, 50 Scollard offers a level of luxury that will enhance the entire Salt Grass & Rare experience. With amenities like chauffeured house car service, valet parking, a pet spa and an exclusively stocked wine lounge, this building is a true testament to opulent living.
“Salt Grass & Rare represents a distinctive approach to fine dining in Yorkville,” Dabic says of the new venture, emphasizing the attention to de-
Ridge Hill Drive
$3,295,000
Demand Upper Forest Hill! Spectacular 4+ bedroom. Family room, walk-out to large deck. Stunning kitchen centre island and breakfast rm. Fully finished lower level. Professionally landscaped. Cathy Kwinter*
Vesta Drive $7,195,000
Lower Forest Hill! Exceptional design, open concept and spacious main floor. 4+ generous bedrooms. Custom kitchen, oversized Quartz Island. Perfect for entertaining. Julie Gofman*
Spadina Road $1,729,000
FOREST HILL – Right in the Village! Rebuilt in 2015 (Ethan Allen Design). Great Attention to Detail. Approximately 1,700 sf. Of ideal living space. Private drive. Perfect Condo Alternative. Howard Lende*
Salt Grass & Rare’s home at 50 Scollard is a fitting match. The Norman Foster–designed building is already turning heads as one of the most anticipated additions to Yorkville’s skyline, with a design that’s described as blending “timeless elegance with contemporary sophistication.”
The lush terrace will offer a retreat from the hustle and bustle of Yorkville while the refined bar and lounge provide a backdrop for pre-dinner cocktails or a nightcap.
Renderings and the full menu are expected to be revealed in spring 2025, giving Toronto foodies a sneak peek at what's to come. Salt Grass & Rare will open alongside the completion of 50 Scollard, adding an exciting new dining destination to Yorkville. — Jennifer Schembri
Heath St W
$1,995,000
Walk to the Village. Spacious 2 bedroom, 2 bath. Renod Kitchen/breakfast, excellent cupboard space. Insuite laundry. Large enclosed balcony. 2 parking, 24 hr. concierge. Larry Blumenthal*
Hawarden Cres
$$4,248,000
Perfect Family Home! Fabulous 4+1 Bedroom in Forest Hill. Pool Sized Lot!! Huge Eat-In Kitchen, Large Centre Island + Walk-Out to garden. Walk to the Village, Schools and Shops. Julie Gofman*
16 Relmar Road #1 - $1,429,000
Unique opportunity to live directly on the park. Cul-de-sac, steps to Forest Hill Village. 2 Storey 3 bedrooms 3 bathslavish primary bedroom, Private Terrace. And Parking. Howard Lende*
Menu offering from the now-closed Michael's on Simcoe, 50 Scollard
POWER PAIR
This steak house–deli mashup has T.O. talking
Chef David Schwartz has created something unique: a steak house–deli hybrid inspired by his mother’s Shabbat.
Linny's isn’t just a restaurant. It’s dinner and a show — a space to gather with friends and for many Torontonians to be introduced to the most wonderful elements of the city's Jewish past.
From the moment you step inside, the love letter begins.
Schwartz’s mother’s recipes hang proudly on the walls, framed like treasured artifacts, as if you’ve entered a New York eatery lined with autographed photos of legends.
Linny's is as much about telling a story as it is about feeding you. That story traces Toronto’s Jewish community from its roots on Spadina Avenue to Thornhill, with key spots like Ossington and Bathurst in between.
For starters, the show begins with what they call challah service. The domed, warm and homemade egg bread is a revelation. Served with fresh cream, house-made jam, a side
whelm, it’s a crispy, tender ode to the 1970s dinners of countless Toronto families.
of homemade pickles and dill tomatoes, it sets the tone for what’s to come. The bread is soft and fluffy, begging to be torn, dipped and shared — a communal beginning that mirrors the spirit of a family table. When it comes to mains, Linny's has some wonderful options to choose from —
think house fish that rotates, tripe schnitzel, shake-and-bake chicken and many more. Leaning into the Jewish side of the menu and skipping the steak entirely, the meal was mostly brilliant, with one misstep. The shake-and-bake chicken is a showstopper. With a light breading that doesn’t over-
The much-talked-about online pastrami, however, fell slightly short. At $49, it’s rich in flavour but a bit too fatty for my taste. In most delis, you can choose your meat to be fatty, medium fatty or lean, which would be a great option for this dish.
Dessert is not to be missed. The chocolate babka, a staple of eastern European Jewish cuisine, is served warm with a scoop of ice cream. Its layers of chocolate are rich but not cloying, making it the perfect dish to share among four people. It’s a decadent yet comforting conclusion to the meal.
Linny’s is the city’s best new restaurant. It’s not cheap — $330 for dinner for four — but think of it as more than just a meal. It’s like dinner and tickets to a show, with chef David Schwartz as the Andrew Lloyd Webber of your evening. His mother must be very proud.
— Carl Tuttle
All-day breakfast eatery opens in North York
In North York, Chillax Eatery & Mart offers a fresh take on all-day breakfast and Asian fusion. Created by husband-andwife team Allen Li and Ning Jia, it combines delicious food with a unique grocery twist, just south of Yonge and Sheppard.
“We wanted to create a space that combined the best of both worlds,” says Li. “The first floor is all about retail — offering unique snacks and ready-to-eat items that we personally love. The second floor is the restaurant, where people can sit, relax and enjoy our all-day breakfast and fusion menu.”
The spot puts a unique spin on brunch, offering classic favourites with a fusion twist. The breakfast menu includes
dishes like chicken and waffles. After 4 p.m., the menu transitions to Asian fusion options like salty egg yolk fried chicken wings and rice and noodles. Jia, with her culinary background from George Brown
College, ensures every dish meets her high standards. She's also a certified Q Grader, giving her an expert edge when it comes to coffee.
The mart downstairs offers a curated selection of Asian
snacks and drinks, including ready-to-go items like sushi, rice balls and buns. For something extra special, Chillax also carries exclusive teddy bears from Teddy House, a popular brand from Thailand.
Chillax Eatery & Mart is the next step in Li and Jia's journey, following the success of Chillax Coffee (opened in 2019) and Chillax & Co. in Richmond Hill. They’ve now brought their vision of great food and community to North York.
"We want to create spaces where people can connect, whether over a meal or discovering something new," says Li.
Chillax Eatery & Mart is located at 4679 Yonge St., North York.
— Jennifer Schembri
Chopped chef debuts Asian spot in 905
Chef Keith Pears is back, this time with Pears Restaurant in downtown Markham, and it's everything we love about his cooking — bold, inventive and effortless. After winning over crowds at Glass Kitchen, Pears brings the same passion and creativity to this new space, where refined Asian flavours are served in an approachable way.
Pears grew up in Vancouver surrounded by chefs, his grandmother’s Chinese-Western café sparking his love for fusion. With experience at the Teahouse and W Hotel, he’s earned accolades like on Chopped Canada and a spot in the Bocuse d'Or Finals in Lyon.
At Pears Restaurant, the menu reflects his diverse influences, combining Asian flavours with Western culinary techniques. Standout dishes include crispy broccoli with whipped feta, lobster mapo tofu and char siu. Dessert doesn’t disappoint either, with options like basque cheesecake and baked Alaska.
Inside, the restaurant feels like a curated blend of modern design and cultural nods. High ceilings give the space an airy feel, and towering trees and quirky art, like the iconic maneki-neko (the lucky cat with the beckoning arm), add personality.
Pears Restaurant is located at 170 Enterprise Blvd., Markham.
Chef David Schwartz drew inspiration from his mother’s Shabbat
Chef Keith Pears
Chillax offers a variety of breakfast and dinner options
Before you go... take a look at how much our city has changed over the years.
The Gooderham ‘Flatiron’ Building is still one of the most photographed structures in the city, due to its unique shape.
ELISE KALLES
To maintain a consistent multi-million dollar production for over 40 years requires not only exceptional expertise and diligence but also the fine art of negotiation and the utmost discretion. If you’re contemplating selling your home now or in the near future, I would be delighted to meet with you in the strictest confidence to offer a comprehensive market evaluation of your property.
$16,800,000 - 474 RUSSELL HILL ROAD
2-year new open concept design both elegant & functional. 4+1 BRs, 6 bths. Soaring 12’ clngs. Expansive wdws, elevator, Smart Home System, htd driveway, covered portico. Walk to B.S.S. & U.C.C. Elise Kalles, Sarah Collins, Ryan Wood 416-844-5914
$9,600,000 - 77 COLDSTREAM AVENUE, LYTTON PARK
Perfect family home on approx1-ac adjacent to ravine. 4+2 BRs, 7 bths. Wrap-around terr. Primary ste w/ fp, w/o to balc, his /hers dressing rms. LL games rm, i/d pool, spa & walk-out to sports crt. Elise Kalles** Ext. 291 Corinne Kalles* Ext. 555
$6,988,000 - 13 OLD FOREST HILL ROAD
Classic Tudor exudes timeless elegance. 6 BRs, 5, bths. Old world charm showcased by hdwd flrs, leaded glass panel wdws, bow wdws & crown mldng. LL fam rm w/ adjoining kit and w-o to grdns.. Elise Kalles** Ext. 291 Corinne Kalles* Ext. 555
$14,680,000 - 175 TEDDINGTON PARK AVENUE
Classic res, 0.54-acs. 5 BRs, 7 bths. Restored by Joe Brennan & Lori Morris ID. Sunroom & family rm w/o to terraces. Charming coach house boasts kit w/ outdoor bar, gym, loft, bdrm & 2 baths. Pool. Elise Kalles** Ext. 291 Corinne Kalles *Ext. 555
$8,800,000 - 8 BINSCARTH ROAD
Beautifully restored North Rosedale family home. Over 6,300 sf 7 BRs, 6 bths. Hdwd throughout, plaster crown mouldings & Fr. drs. Kitchen breakfast & family rm combined. Lush grdns & pool. Elise Kalles** Ext.291 Donna Thompson* 416-294-5152
$9,975,000 - 50 YORKVILLE AVE #4403
Four Seasons Private Res. 3400 sf, 2 BRs, den & 3bths. Boffi kit w/Miele appls. Onyx & limestone flooring, 6” white oak thruout. 10’ clngs. 2 terrs. S views. 2- car prkg. Access to all Hotel amens. Elise Kalles** Ext. 291 Corinne Kalles* Ext. 555
proven performance makes the difference! A name you can trust since 1957
$14,500,000 - 106 GLENAYR ROAD
New build masterpiece by Omid Taba. Almost 9,000 sf including LL. 6 BRs, 8 bths, home office, elevator, theater, rec rm w/ bar, 3car gar, Betz pool. This residence redefines comfort & innovation. Elise Kalles, Corinne Kalles, Adam Weiner 416-545-9151
$14,750 - FOR LEASE 8 BINSCARTH ROAD
Beautifully restored North Rosedale family home. Over 6,300 sf 7 BRs, 6 bths. Hdwd throughout, plaster crown mouldings & Fr. drs. Kitchen breakfast & family rm combined. Lush grdns & pool. Elise Kalles** Ext.291 Donna Thompson* 416-294-5152
$5,288,000 - 90 OAKLANDS PARK COURT
Burlington waterfront. Rare opp to own newly reno’d contemp. Expansive wdws, sunrm w-os to lush gdns, hot tub & infinity pool o’looking bay. One of the few prop permitted for owning a dock. Elise Kalles** Ext. 291
