FALL-ING MARKET? OUR ALL-STAR PANEL WEIGHS IN ON WHERE HOME PRICES ARE HEADED NOW SEPTEMBER 2022 · VOLUME 4 · ISSUE 7 BESTOF TORONTO 2022
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CONTENTS
BEST OF TORONTO 2022 Our guide to the best things to eat, shop and do in T.O.
for giving and eating in T.O. 39THE NEW FALL UNIFORM
FINDING LOVE OVER OLD MOVIES The Social’s Jess Allen on how she met her best friend & partner Simon Gadke 27
trendy autumnal pairing — oversized blazers & high tops 23
6 | POST 2022SEPTEMBER| 1256 YONGE ST., TORONTO, ON M4T 1W5 TEL 416.250.7979 WEB POSTCITY.COM FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION PLEASE EMAIL advertising@postcity.com The Fine Print: The contents of Post City Magazines Inc. are copyright 2022, all rights reserved, and may not be reproduced in part or in whole without the written permission of the Publisher. The contents of all ads are subject to the discretion of the Publisher. STEELES VALLEYDONLESLIEBAYVIEWSTYONGE LAWRENCE YONGE AVENUE BLOOR EGLINTONROADALLENDUFFERIN NorthPostYorkThornhill NorthPostBayviewPostTorontoPostVillagePost DONRIVER DUFFERIN YONGE YORKVILLEMARLBOROUGHPOST(CONDO EDITION) DAVENPORT BLOORCOLLEGE RDAVENUERDAVENUEDUFFERIN YorkvillePost AnnexPost PUBLISHER Lorne London EDITORIAL DIRECTOR ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER-IT Ron JarrodJohnsonDaley SENIOR EDITOR Julia Mastroianni EDITORIAL ART GRAPHICSENIORMANAGINGDIRECTORARTDIRECTORGRAPHICDESIGNERDESIGNER/PRODUCTIONCO-ORDINATOR Dorothy Chudzinski Lindsay Low Erin KristineNeillyHughes ART SENIOR SOCIAL EDITOR DIGITAL CONTENTCREATOR Leanna Hosier Kaitlin Narciso SOCIAL VP OF SALES DIRECTOR MEDIAADVERTISINGOFADVISORSACCOUNTCO-ORDINATORS Lisa CarlyGeorgeClaraRachelJo-AnneLynneLondonLondonCraineRothStrebelRedakRoebuck SALES CLASSIFIEDSGENERCONTROLLERALMANAGERDISTRIBUTIONCO-ORDINATOR/MANAGERPROOFREADEREDITOREMERITUS Tina PaulaSarahLanceLaurieTrevellinMcGillivrayGarveyIvesTorneck-Richie ADMINISTRATION + Call to book a tour (416) 928-0111 Visit VerveSeniorLiving.com dining, life-enrichment programming, and seemingly endless services and amenities at Hazelton Place. Live in the Heart of the City Monthly rates starting onthly tingtartes s 350t$5,a ting 416) 928-0( 111 Visit 250 Davisville Avenue, Suite 200 Toronto, Ontario M4S 1H2 Phone: 416.545.1020 www.torontoprepschool.comcom o, 416.545.1020 www.torontopprepschool.c Visit our website www.torontoprepschool.com for more information and be sure to click on the links to our FaceBook and Instagram pages. Contact: Fouli Tsimikalis, Director of Admissions at ftsimikalis@torontoprepschool.com The Toronto Prep School is an independent, co-educational, university preparatory school for discerning students and parents.
20 questions for Adrienne Arsenault
CITYSCAPE NEWS
What does being chief correspondent of The National mean to you?
I really was. What a blow. But not just because I am a female journalist in her 50s aging under bright lights. I think all reporters winced with worry and frustration at that news. I have known Lisa for a long time. We’ve always worked at different networks but have been in the field together many times. I have enormous respect for her work.
Where do you go to get away from it all? If there is water, I will go there.
What are you most excited about?
What’s your prized possession?
I wish my dad were still here so I could tell him all about this. He was a TV director and a wildly enthusiastic man. He would fall off his chair and then pepper me with a million questions. I am fiercely protective of the importance of public broadcasting and a robust CBC and the joys and necessities of good journalism.
What talent would you most like to have? Anything musical.
Where do you think is the best view in the city?
What’s your idea of perfect happiness?
Toronto’s Adrienne Arsenault takes over as CBC’s chief correspondent this month for the public broadcaster’s news program ‘The National.’ We ask Arsenault about her new gig, her greatest fear and what she thinks of Lisa Laflamme’s departure. by Ron Johnson
The number of Drake’s top five singles on the Billboard Top 100, breaking the record of 29 by a U.K. band called the
What’s the worst career advice you’ve received? “Manage your expectations.”
My dusty brown boots. I bought them in the first few years I was a reporter, and I have taken them to every intense shoot I have ever done.
My first job was being on set with my dad who was a director. I was really young, and he kept ordering me to spend the time rolling and properly coiling cables, again and again. It is possible he was trying to get me out of his hair, and I am not sure the rest of the crew were thrilled, but I took that seriously. I still do!
I want to say the gym. I really do.
What is your daily ritual?
Where’s the first place in town you send visitors?
Leslie Street Spit. It totally fascinates me, and I love watching it
A super small spot near Bay and Dundas. I wanted to live in the middle of everything.
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Where was your first Toronto apartment?
What would change about your field?
Everything. The responsibility of it scares me and that is exciting too. It is more than the opportunity to continue to report from around the world. I am really keen to be the wing woman for the journalists we have around Canada and across the world.
sink in for people, what has gone into carving that patch of wildscape out of cityscape.
The betting odds of the Toronto Maple Leafs winning the Stanley Cup this season — second to defending champs
As a female journalist, were you surprised to hear the treatment of Lisa Laflamme?
30Beatles.
What is your greatest fear? How much time do you have? Snakes. Roller coasters. Bad luck.
Riverdale Park. Convince me I’m wrong!
Where in the city do you go to be alone?
THE POST INTERVIEW
Is there one thing you have multiple versions of?
NUMBERSBYTHE
What’s hanging above your couch? Um. My living room window.
The NBA jersey number being retired to honour the late Bill Russell. The latest Raptor to wear the number wasCoreyToronto-bornJoseph.6
What do you always have next to your computer? Everything. TV remote control, notepad, pens in various stages of chaos and drawings from the little humans I am grateful to have in my life (not so little any more).
It is amazing how you can be alone almost anywhere in this city. A good park, a busy street, a march in the ravines.
Ford’sthousands,The+900Avalanche.Coloradodropinprice,inwhenDougEtobicokehomesoldinAugust.$500
My pals. No better humans on earth than dear friends.
I have ancient flip-flops I bought in the Middle East in the early 2000s, and bought lots of them.
The ranking of Toronto’s Ossington Avenue in a new list of the coolest streets on the14planet.
Who in Toronto would you most like to hang out with?
The tyranny of time, the rancour, the aggression and threats that keep smart and dedicated people away from what is an extraordinarily important field.
I am lucky to feel happy a lot, even in stressful situations: so great teammates working together to chase a story that matters and everyone is in sync. That is bliss.
And some days I really mean that. If I can lift somewhat heavy things in the morning a few days a week, I figure I can handle the rest.
What’s the first job you had in Toronto?
positions are Councillorslimited.with ambition generally don’t stay beyond one or two terms. Such is the case with respect to Kristyn Wong-Tam and Michael Ford. Both are ambitious and decided to leave municipal politics for provincial politics. The same could probably be said for Joe Cressy. After two terms, Joe Cressy took a job at
Why the city’s councillors are all quitting their jobs
opportunities for ambitious individuals to keep developing skills. At the provincial and federal level, there are different ministries and various opportunities. At the city of Toronto there are the coveted positions of TTC chair, budget chief and deputy mayor, but there are many more councillors than positions, and even these
8 | POST 2022SEPTEMBER|
The dynamics of larger wards and decreased power make challenging position even less desirable
STINTZ ON MIDTOWNNEWS
At the federal and provincial level, the most common reason that politicians don’t run for reelection is because they don’t think they will be successfully reelected. At the municipal level, this doesn’t apply: since name recognition seems to be everything, city councillors are virtually guaranteed to be reelected. However, the dynamics of the larger wards and the strong mayor system have made a difficult job even less rewarding and some city councillors realize that their work at the city was done.The municipal system also doesn’t really provide many
STINTZKAREN
Outgoing deputy mayor and city councillor Ana Bailão
Mike Layton seems like the obvious choice to run for leadership of the NDP, and Ana Bailão would be a strong candidate for the Liberals or Conservatives. As for Denzil Minnan-Wong, at 59 years old and after 28 years in municipal politics, he likely decided that, if he was going to do something else, he needed to do it sooner thanAlthoughlater. it is always good to get new ideas and a fresh perspective at city council, the loss of these three individuals in particular will be felt. My guess is that, although their work at the city might be done, their days in politics are not over yet.
There are many reasons that politicians choose not to seek reelection, although, in my opinion, wanting to spend more time with family is never one of them.
In the upcoming municipal election, one-quarter of the city councillor seats will be vacant because the incumbents have either taken a new job or simply decided not to run again.
George Brown College. The surprise announcements were from Denzil MinnanWong, Ana Bailão and Mike Layton. These individuals provided strong voices on council and different perspectives. Denzil Minnan-Wong was often viewed as the reliable conservative voice of an increasingly left-leaning council. Ana Bailão was a strong advocate for affordable housing and viewed as sage and reasonable. Mike Layton was fiercely progressive and advanced a number of causes, from climate change to social justice. None of them have indicated that they have another job lined up. My guess is that each of these individuals had designs to run for mayor and those plans were squashed when John Tory announced he was running for a third term — despite his previous pledge to be a two-term mayor. None had a desire to sit around for another term, especially in a council in which the mayor has even more power.
Karen Stintz is a former city councillor, elected in 2003, and was a chair of the TTC. She lives in Ward 8.
“This means the mayor tothesubservientistoprovince,notcitycouncil.”
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decision making.
disempowers democratically elected city councillors and centralizes all meaningful decision making. It is a deliberate effort to take away from local residents their ability to have a say over the decisions that affect their lives. It is profoundly undemocratic.
What those priorities are is not yet clear: they will be set out in a regulation approved by the
Mayor John Tory has said that in principle he supports this realignment.Thebill
It builds on the forced amalgamation of Toronto in 1997 and the arbitrary decision by the Ford government four years ago to cut the number of wards in half.
The question for the candidates for city council in the upcoming election is how they will respond to this legislation.
With new bill locals may have zero say in how the city is run
provincial cabinet meeting in secret. This means the mayor is subservient to the province, not to city council or the people of Toronto.Itis an unprecedented realignment of decision making, assigning all this power to one person who is subservient to the province and stripping these powers from the elected representatives of the city.
The mayor can hire and fire city staff, except for a few positions, something normally done by council as a whole by majority vote. Now the mayor can direct council to do what they want, something that has always been prevented under the current system. The mayor will prepare and approve the city budgets. All these powers can be challenged only by a two-thirds vote of council, something very unlikely because the mayor will entice at least a third of council with chair positions and other perks.
Mayor John Tory and Premier Doug Ford might be working very closely together in the years to come
9 | POST 2022SEPTEMBER|
Mayor to serve premier not residents?
The net result, if Bill 3 passes, will have the effect of cutting residents out of meaningful
If the mayor refuses to seek the majority of council for decisions, will the candidate agree to refuse to attend council so that there is no quorum for a council meeting?Ikeep wondering about the mode of municipal government that Premier Ford has in mind with this realignment of power in Bill 3. I think he likes the new model that Premier Xi has imposed on Hong Kong: get rid of local democracy to make sure it does not interfere with what you want to do.
Scary. These are very troubling times in Toronto.
SEWELL ON CITY HALL NEWS
John is former
Bill 3 assigns the mayor the power to do virtually everything of importance normally done by city council. The mayor can determine the organizational structure of council, including the number of wards; the way that community councils function; and so forth. The mayor can appoint committee chairs and deputy chairs — something normally done by the committees themselves — as well as for agencies, boards (such as hockey rinks) and commissions.
a
The key question to mayoral candidates is: Do you agree that you will only exercise these powers if they have been endorsed by a majority vote of city council? Agreement of mayoral candidates on this issue will ensure that power is not in the hands of just one person, but instead, in the hands of the city’s elected representatives as it has been for the last 188 years.
The mayor can veto decisions thought to “potentially intervene with provincial priorities.”
Sewell
The questions that should be put to the mayoralty candidates in election meetings leading to Oct. 24 are pretty straightforward. They all revolve around the exercise of powers the new mayor will have under Bill 3, the Strong Mayors, Building Housing Act.
Layton said the church on Walmer is a “really special building” and there is strong demand to see it protected. He said that the developer has already done a significant amount of community engagement in which concerns over the tower’s proximity to townhomes to the
At Walmer, the church’s director, Deborah Mealy, told Post City that the search for repair funding began in 2016, when it became apparent it didn’t have the money needed. She said that the church was inspired by other congregations pairing with developers and found a good match in TAS, given its previously shown commitment to community engagement.
“You can’t recreate some of those old buildings,” Layton said. “Some of them are in rather significant states of disrepair.”
Annex church to be developed
The proposal wouldn’t be the first time a church has partnered with a developer in the city: St. Monica’s Church at 44 Broadway Ave., in Toronto’s midtown, has done the same in order to repair its building, as has the church at 300 Bloor St. W. in the Annex and another at College Street and Bathurst Street. Local city councillor Mike Layton said the unlikely pairings allow the churches to add another community benefit — additional housing as the city has been in the midst of a supply crunch.
Yet another church in Toronto is teaming up with a developer to gain the needed funds for refurbishment.WalmerRoad Baptist Church in the Annex is partnering with developer TAS to create a proposed 20-storey tower on its property just west of the church. The proposal for 38 Walmer Rd. includes 162 residential units, a new courtyard and a “commercial community hub.” The new building, designed by ZAS Architects, would loom over the church that dates back to 1889.
“There was a point when we didn’t know if we’d be able to continue on because we could not care for the building,” Mealy said. “So we had to find something that could help us.”
north were addressed. In response, TAS decided to replace one building with the proposed courtyard to create more of a buffer zone between the townhomes, Layton said.
Mealy is looking forward to the new amenities that will be added, such as the courtyard and community hub, which she thinks will help welcome people to the new space. A better connection to the community goes well with the church’s history of social engagement, which has included food banks and the creation of Canada’s first church daycare.
NEIGHBOURHOODNEWS
Walmer Road Baptist teaming up with developer on 20-storey condo by Eric Stober
Rendering of proposed development at 38 Walmer Rd.
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Red pinpoints signifying traffic issues can be seen scattered throughout the area’s map.
Instead, the community fought for changes to the application, such as moving an entrance from Heath Street to Alvin Avenue, which Macdonald said is a safer location. She said that it made the most sense to accept the deal that was created rather than have the project be appealed at the Ontario Land Tribunal, which has historically been friendly to developers and could “take away lots of the good things that we got,” Macdonald said. She said, though, that the project will really change the area, whose tallest buildings are around 20 storeys currently.“Inthe end, the board of the Deer Park Residents Group agreed to support the project,” she said.
Robinson said issues include speeding and rolling through stop signs. She said her office has been focusing on small wins, such as setting a 30-kilometre-
A new four-tower development at the northeast corner of Yonge Street and St. Clair Avenue is set to transform the area once it is complete.Toronto City Council approved the project at 1485 Yonge St. that will be developed by Wittington Properties Limited and designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects. The complex includes towers 44, 39, 27 and 13 storeys in height.
stations, Macdonald admitted that it couldn’t be stopped.
The first community meeting concerning the plan was held in 2022 and saw about 100 attendees, said city councillor Jaye Robinson.
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“There'sreads.been a lot of near misses, and there's been a lot of concern about what people are witnessing and observing on a daily basis,” Robinson said.
NEIGHBOURHOOD NEWS
The negotiations for the buildings resulted in a number of public space improvements as well, and these include a new public courtyard, the widening of the sidewalks to allow trees rooted into the ground rather than the current planters, as well as a new park at the northeast corner of the site.
an-hour speed limit on all Leaside streets. The online tool is another way for officials to figure out what the problems are. It is the first time the city has used such mapping for this use, Robinson said.
Massive midtown condo deal includes park space and a library
45, 39, 27 and 13 storeys for midtown
Leaside residents have been given the opportunity to voice their traffic concerns. Locals can add their concerns and suggestions via a new online tool, where their comments and those made by others can be seen publicly and pinpointed to the location of the issue.
Enough with the dangerous shortcuts
previously reported.
At Sutherland Drive and Parkhurst Boulevard, one comment reads, “I have witnessed at least three incidents in the past year where a child has almost been struck by a car at this intersection.”
“Cars do not adhere to the 30km/hr limit,” another comment
38 Avoca Ave. #PH7
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$1,295,000SOLD$3,975,000Rendering of condo development set to dominate the Yonge and St. Clair skyline
—ES
The intersection at Yonge and Heath Street will also be straightened as part of the deal to address safety concerns that Streets of Toronto/Post City has
A new pedestrian network with large passageways through the development will include an entrance to the subway and a winter garden space in an enclosed glass area. In addition, the Deer Park library will be relocated to the site. There will be 18 affordable rental units within the project.
120 Rosedale Valley Rd. #701 Mid-century co-op in prime Rosedale!
“You’ve been hearing about traffic issues for over a decade,” Robinson said. “People are frustrated.”
The Leaside Neighbourhood Transportation Plan will become available in early 2023.
“The results were as good as we were going to get.”
Exceptionally rare unit featuring 2 bdrms, 2 reno'd baths, Downsview kitchen, spacious living area w/fireplace & 2 large balconies offering southwestern vistas. Parking + locker.
The move is the next step of the Leaside Neighbourhood Transportation Plan (LNTP), a holistic, network-wide look at the area and a plan for how traffic and safety issues can be addressed.
“Working together with the community, we were able to deliver a park, affordable housing and space for a new library,” local councillor Josh Matlow said in a statement.DeerPark Residents Group president Cathie Macdonald said that the community initially did not want the development to move forward as residents were distressed by the amount of development happening in the area. However, since the province has mandated the creation of more housing, especially around transit
—Eric Stober
CRIMENEWS
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A 25-year-old male suspect, of no fixed address, has been arrested and charged as part of a sexual assault investigation. On Friday, Aug. 12, it is alleged that a male suspect sexually assaulted two female victims in the Thorncliffe Park neighbourhood. He was arrested on Aug. 16 and faces numerous charges, including two counts of pointing a firearm, two counts of sexual assault with a weapon or imitation weapon, possessing a weapon for committing a criminal offence and occupying a motor vehicle with a firearm. Investigators believe there may be other victims.
A 34-year-old male suspect has been arrested as part of a sexual assault investigation. On Wednesday, July 6, a female victim was in the area of Cecil Street when it is alleged that an unknown male suspect approached her and sexually assaulted her. On Monday, Aug. 15, the suspect, of no fixed address, was arrested and charged with sexual assault and failure to comply with a release order.
Toronto police are undertaking a homicide investigation after a 23year-old female victim, of Toronto, was found dead in the area of Jane Street and Wilson Avenue. On Thursday, Aug. 18, at 1:05 p.m., police responded to a medical call at 2265 Jane St. Police arrived and located a victim, the city’s 42nd this year, with gunshot wounds in the underground garage. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police have made an arrest as part of a firearm investigation following an incident at the Consulate-General of the People's Republic of China in Toronto. On Tuesday, Aug. 9, at 7 p.m., police responded to a call of a person with a gun at the consulate, located in the area of St. George Street and Bernard Avenue. It is alleged that a male suspect parked his vehicle across the street from the consulate and pointed an assaultstyle rifle at the front gate security officer. On Wednesday, Aug. 10, a search warrant was executed at an address in Thornhill, and several pellet guns and tactical body armour were seized. A 27-year-old male suspect, of Thornhill, has been charged with pointing a firearm and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
A 22-year-old male suspect, of Toronto, is facing numerous charges following a sexual assault in the area of Don Mills Road and Sheppard Avenue East. It is alleged that the suspect answered an ad posted online by a 25-yearold female victim, and they then met at a residence on Sunday, Aug. 21. Once inside the residence, the suspect produced a gun, demanded money and personal items, then assaulted and sexually assaulted the victim. He then fled with some valuable items. The suspect was arrested later the same day and is facing charges, including robbery with a firearm, sexual assault with a weapon and forcible confinement.
12 | POST 2022SEPTEMBER|
Arrest made after incident at consulate
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13 | POST 2022SEPTEMBER| The BEEZ KNEEZ
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CONDO FROM ‘SUITS’ HITS THE MARKET
ANNEX
REAL ESTATE NEWS
This New York–style loft at 1502-80 Cumberland St. covers 1,140 square feet, including two bedrooms, three bathrooms and an 18-foot balcony. It’s listed for $1.428 million with Bay Street Anjia Realty.
SLEEP IN STYLE
MADE FOR TV
The home at 201-113 Dupont St. has two bedrooms, three bathrooms, exposed brick walls and re-done white oak flooring to make the most of this boutique seven-unit building. It’s listed for $3.495 million with Forest Hill Real Estate Inc.
15 | POST 2022SEPTEMBER|
These Toronto lofts come with the added perk of making you feel like you’re lounging in the heart of New York City. From a sprawling penthouse that was featured as the fictional home of Harvey Specter, of ‘Suits’, to a stylish Yorkville condo and a Soho-style boutique unit, get the best of both cities with these stellar finds.
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KING WEST
16 | POST 2022SEPTEMBER|
BRIAN GLUCKSTEIN: I think there is going to be much more caution and less of a frenzy than we’ve seen. If there’s a particular property that someone really wants, they will buy it, but otherwise, I think people might be sit-
POST CITY: What do you predict for the fall market both in the 416 and in the suburban 905 region, and how far can home prices drop?BRAD
BARRY COHEN
PANELLISTS
ECCLESTON: I think homebuyers should buy precisely when they are ready and able to comfortably afford the home that they believe they desire. The purpose of purchasing property is not solely for investment purposes. It is also to improve one's quality of life. I don't
BRAD LAMB
BARRY COHEN: The 416 and the 905 are very different markets at this juncture. While both are expected to see an increase in the number of homes listed for sale, supply is more constricted in the 416. At the time of writing this response, there were only 570 detached houses listed for sale in all of central Toronto, which is very low from a historical standpoint. True, the summer months are typically a slow time for sellers to come to the market, as many travel and go to the cottage, but the dearth of listings has been further exacerbated by sellers holding off on their decision to sell because of rising mortgage rates. Once the kids settle back into school, we should see more households make decisions on whether to upsize, downsize or stay put. Most sellers today are either waiting for a more realistic price or waiting for the market to improve overall. Buyers and sellers that traded in the last few months did so out of necessity (either bought or sold before the rates rose, relocating, family changes, etc.), but I am encouraged by the amount of showings we are
ODEEN ECCLESTON
rently for sale are trapped in a situation where they bought a property and need or want to sell their current property. We are seeing many vendors rent instead of continuing to sell. I doubt prices will fall much at all except for isolated individual sellers, which will appear like falling prices. I do believe that we are in a recession and it will last through the year, with interest rates aggressively being cut in the new year. My advice to anyone during these 6- to 12-month corrections is not to panic, do not sell. They represent buying opportunities. It is possible to find a motivated vendor that might save you 20 per cent over what it might have cost you six months ago. These corrections never last very long and before you know it prices are back above the correction.
THE REAL ESTATE MARKET TAKING A DOWNTURN AFTER SO MANY YEARS CAME AS A SHOCK AND LEFT MANY WONDERING WHAT TO DO. SERIOUS QUESTIONS REMAIN OVER WHERE THE MARKET IS HEADING INTO THE FALL. TO HELP, WE ASSEMBLED OUR CRACK PANEL OF EXPERTS FROM OUR ANNUAL POST CITY REAL ESTATE ROUNDTABLE TO HELP US MAKE SENSE OF WHAT’S GOING ON AND WHERE WE GO FROM HERE.
Deputy Chief Economist, CIBC Capital Markets
Dragon on CBC’s Dragons’ Den; Co-founder & President, Clearco
BENJAMIN TAL
BENJAMIN TAL: I think the fall season will be OK. It will be a more relaxed market relative to the past few months.
Co-founder, Wiltshire Eccleston Developments
MICHELE ROMANOW
Luxury Homes Specialist; Principal, Barry Cohen Homes Inc.
JENNIFER KEESMAAT
LAMB: Currently, the number of homes for sale is quite low, and I believe that will continue. Most vendors cur-
Principal, Gluckstein Design; Author
OUR ALL-STAR PANEL WEIGHS IN ON THE MOST PRESSING REAL ESTATE QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW
POST CITY: Should homebuyers consider waiting to buy until 2023 when the market is predicted to bottom out?
FALL REAL ESTATE ROUNDTABLE
CEO, The Keesmaat Group
BRIAN GLUCKSTEIN
companies have returned to a hybrid working model. We're definitely past the peak of the market, which is a net benefit finally swinging in favour of buyers. We'll continue to see calculated drops in prices, but so much depends on how high mortgage rates will go and how those rate hikes push more buyers into renters.
MICHELE ROMANOW: Fall will be interesting for the area as I definitely think we'll see an uptick in volume from the notoriously slow summer. The 416 and suburban regions will continue to be popular with younger buyers who want to be in or close to downtown as most
receiving, even in the middle of August. I expect to see the decline in prices to level off in the 416 because of tighter market conditions overall and an increase in transactions. Demand clearly still exists, but concerns over interest rates and recession are having an impact. As for how much further prices could come down, RBC recently droppedreleased a report that forecast a 23 per cent decline in average price in 2022. That’s already happened — with the average price down 23 per cent from the peak in February. Once we start seeing a more normal amount of transactions, prices will level out, but I don’t think it will drop much further. The 905 region has seen a greater decline in average price, but that may just be an overreaction to rising rates and buyers moving back into the 416.
ODEEN ECCLESTON: In addition to the impact of interest hikes, we must remember that June, July and August are typically slower months for real estate. Further, this summer has been the first time Torontonians have been able to enjoy a "normal summer" in two years. As such, many people have been focusing on leisure time by visiting family and friends, heading to cottages and travelling out of province or out of the country. As fall settles in, I think we may see increased consumer interest and activity in both the 416 and the 905.
ting on the sidelines to see what’s happening with interest rates, what’s happening with prices and maybe pausing their purchase.
Developer, Lamb Development Corp.
17 | POST 2022SEPTEMBER|
believe buyers should play the waiting game. I think they should buy when the time feels right for them and their families.
GLUCKSTEIN: No, I do not think so. I would be surprised if the market defies the rate increases. I don’t think that’s going to happen. I think it’s more challenging for many first-time buyers to get into the market, both because of higher interest rates and the stress test making it more difficult for them since they may not qualify for the price point that they qualified for a year ago.
ROMANOW: If homebuyers can wait, it seems like supply will increase and prices will level out, tilting the scales in favour of buyers. The big difference between 2008 and now continues to be supply. There is no influx of housing that leads to dramatic price crashes. Just like the markets, we're in a bit of a correction period, and most people can agree prices over the past two years have been inflated, so instead of a bottom out, we'll see smaller, incremental price decreases, especially if the Fed continues to raise rates.
TAL: The five-year rate has probably peaked. We see the Bank of Canada’s overnight rate rising to 3.25 per cent and staying there for the duration of or most of 2023. The risk is that inflation will be more sticky. In this case the Bank of Canada will be more aggressive — a situation that will hurt the housing market.
GLUCKSTEIN: We’re going to see a number of increases in interest rates within the year, so they will go up, but we just don’t know by how much and for how long. If in-
I just don't expect significant price increases this year given what the market can bear and has been through over the last two plus years. The GTA continues to be an incredibly desirable place to live and work, and with the influx of global companies opening offices in the region, the market has shown an increased stability. I'm not expecting any drastic increases or decreases in price and value over the next year or so.
ROMANOW: I fully expect the Bank of Canada to raise rates at least one more time this year, but we should be sure to make the distinction between interest rates rising and mortgage rates, which while higher than the record lows of 2020 are still in line with the historic lows of the 2010s and significantly lower than any other time over the last 30 years. Mortgage rates were pushing 20 per cent in the early ’80s, so in context, these rates are just slightly inflated.
The supply shortage is acute. It is not make-believe. The Smart Prosperity Institute has been verifying the need for new housing and affirms that, as touted by politicians, we need 1.5 million new homes over the next decade in Ontario alone. This is about two things: the pre-existing housing shortage that existed before the pandemic and the projected growth rate. The backlog and the future need, in other words, create a pretty dire situation for a province that wants to continue to attract talent and grow its economy. This is the heart of the problem — no one has figured out how, with the available land, labour and trades, to build that much housing in such a short time frame. It is possible that we will unlock this in the next few years. But as it stands right now, relatively straightforward developments are still on the back burner, due to convoluted processes and frivolous appeals, languishing. Until that changes, the housing shortage will continue to get worse over the long term.
LAMB: No, now is a great time to buy. Prices will likely bottom out in the fall. Of course, this is my opinion, and timing the worst and best time to buy or sell is a tricky business.
TAL: Timing the market is impossible. I think that the coming few months will provide a reasonable entry point from a long-term perspective..
ON RENTAL
LAMB: No chance of that. Medium- to long-term, the real estate economy in Toronto is in a crisis. Too many people chasing too few properties, and it is almost impossible to develop real estate in Toronto. Prices are going to rise forever, sprinkled with short-lived economic corrections, which are just buying opportunities. Toronto will be one of the most, if not the most, expensive cities for real estate in the world.
ECCLESTON: According to the Bank of Canada, their goal in raising rates is to get inflation back to its two per cent target from its record high of eight per cent earlier this year. I suppose as long as inflation is a significant issue, BOC will continue to try to combat it by raising interest rates.
short-term buy, they will do well in the not-too-distant future. The Bank of Canada’s aggressive approach to curb inflation seems to be working. The cost of goods appears to be heading in the right direction. If the BOC [Bank of Canada] slows or stops hiking rates, we could run back into the same old problem of not enough supply and pent-up demand sooner than you think.
COHEN: I think analysts are predicting an overnight rate of three to 3.5 per cent.
FALL REAL ESTATE ROUNDTABLECOVER STORY
TAL: The market will adjust to higher rates but we have not fully adjusted. The market will continue to show some softening in the near term. Ongoing project cancellations suggest that a year or two from now there will be shortage of new products alongside growing demand leading to some upward pressure on prices.
Jennifer Keesmaat thinks the federal government's priorities aren't in line to tackle the housing shortage
18 | POST 2022SEPTEMBER|
ECCLESTON: I think in niche markets such as luxury custom homes (both in the 416 and the 905), it is possible that we’ll continue to see small rises in value as they remain rare products with strong demand.
POST CITY: How much higher can interest rates go?
GLUCKSTEIN: In the long run, housing prices have increased over time, so if it’s something that someone’s going to buy and stay in for a very long time, even if it goes a little lower in the next year, it will always come back up. If it’s something they’re going to be in temporarily or if they’re purchasing the property as an investment, maybe they should just wait and watch the market.
flation starts to slow down or decrease, there might be a pause in interest rate increases, but there definitely will be increases.
There have long been claims that we are out of land in the GTA. Shouts to dismantle the Greenbelt have abounded. But in a great ironic twist, we now know that the vast majority of land in places like Toronto is loosing population density. Yes, we are cramming a lot of density on our avenues and in our centres, but the next evolution of our city really demands that we find under utilized sites and use them to accommodate more housing. The problem is not access to land, the problem is the way in which we are using land. When we get the density right, we transform places that are single use (housing) with one form of mobility (driving) to become walkable, mixed use places where many people can thrive, with a lower carbon footprint. That is the gift of density, if we put it in the right places.
COHEN: I wouldn’t wait. You can never time the market perfectly. Who would have predicted that housing values would surge during a pandemic? The market is underpinned by solid economic fundamentals. We have a government policy aimed at increasing levels of immigration. Unemployment is at its lowest level in 50 years. Interest rates are STILL at historic lows. There is a lack of developable land and homes available. The last census identified an increase in singleperson households. Real estate has historically proven to be a longterm investment. And yes, in the long run, prices will continue to rise. I don’t believe a buyer who plans to live in their purchase for five years is going to look back when they sell and say to themselves “I wish I’d bought in May 2023, not October 2022.” If the property makes sense for the buyer, it's in a good location and not a
LAMB: I do not think they will go more than one per cent higher. I believe that we are already in a recession, and I think consumers are now shellshocked. Most items are starting to fall or are stabilizing. Prices do not have to fall year over year to have low inflation, they just can’t go up. Many prices are here to stay. We need to stop future price hikes, which I believe are in process. I believe the Bank of Canada will start reducing rates in the early winter. Governments always overkill the economy when raising rates to fight inflation.
POST CITY: Is there a chance the market defies the rate increase and actually rises this
When the overall supply of housing is tight, and people start to get spooked about high prices and high interest rates, they hold off entering into the market. The lag of people staying in the rental market longer than they might normally, while at the same time adding international students and new immigrants to the rental pool, is creating a supply shortage on the rental side. Adding students and people from elsewhere is a policy established by government, and this has been poorly coordinated with the work of the Canada Housing and Mortgage Corporation in driving forward new housing supply. It’s a left hand/right hand problem that the government needs to fix. There are three parts to this: Some rental housing is governed by rent control and not impacted. Some housing is not governed by rental control, and we’ve seen crazy increases. The third part is working people who get completely bumped out of housing. They loose access to housing -—the rent is just too damn high. This is when access to housing becomes a moral issue and an ethical one, and it makes political dilly dallying particularly sobering.
ON SUPPLY
ON ACCESS TO LAND
ROMANOW:year?
LAMB: If buyers sitting on the sidelines are smart, they will jump in now. This opportunity won’t last long. People will likely continue to renovate their homes because selling costs are very high.
19 | POST 2022SEPTEMBER|
COHEN: The decline has no doubt made housing more affordable for the younger generation, but higher carrying costs in terms of interest rate hikes have negated any upside realized from lower prices. However, if the trend continues, it does make sense for buyers to jump in the market now.
look at their options, they’re just finding the prices too high to move, and I think that’s going to continue.
ROMANOW: I am a huge proponent of in-office culture and love the energy sitting around whiteboarding and solving hard problems with our team. I just don't think that level of collaboration can be recreated over Zoom. That coupled with flexibility means we're seeing more demand to return to downtown living. As we move into the fall, I expect more employees to return to the office multiple days a week without their employers needing to mandate it. We've already seen that shift, which just helps the entire downtown economy, from lunch spots to happy hours and everything in between.
POST CITY: Isn’t the slow down a good thing now that my kids' generation will be able to afford a home? What’s the downside?
ECCLESTON: The issue is that people have grown accustomed to primarily working from home, so much so, they are resigning from positions that require in-office work days. The reports of continually high COVID infection rates and other contagious viruses being spread, such as monkeypox, don't help the employers in this regard either. It will be a challenge for employers for the next few years, and I believe commercial real estate values will be impacted the most as a result.
GLUCKSTEIN: Well, I don’t think there’s a downside necessarily for people that are in it for the longterm. It’s like the stock market: if stocks go up and down, you’re not selling them every day. You’re in it for the long-term and hopefully for your retirement. They’ll go back up similarly for the housing market, but right now the decrease in housing prices is not making it more affordable because your interest rates are significantly higher than they were a year ago. It’s almost balancing itself out. I don’t think this is going to make it more affordable unless we see a significant drop in prices, and I don’t see that in major metropolitan areas. Maybe in the suburbs you’ll see a larger decrease in home prices, but in the cities, like Toronto or Vancouver or Calgary, I think strong markets are going to continue to be strong markets.
ROMANOW: The HGTV generation is definitely here to stay and permeating across all budgets, from DIY projects to high-end home renovations. In 2020 and 2021, we read a lot about bettering one's self, and 2022 feels like the natural progression of that with bettering one's living and working space, to optimize space and to create more value for resale. A few things I continue to keep my eye on are upgrading of outdoor spaces to be livable year round as well as smart home devices, whether that means lighting, appliances or even larger items like whole home generators, tankless water heaters and boilers. These have higher upfront costs but almost always pay off in the long Additionally,run. I do expect to see more people opting to rent, which will drive the rental market downtown even higher.
GLUCKSTEIN: I think we’re still on that recovery from COVID. It’s like the hangover from COVID where no one is sort of really back to themselves. I think people need to work together, to have that interaction, and I do think people will come back to work in the city. And regardless, when it comes to major cities like Toronto, people still want to live in the city, so I don’t think that’s really going to impact the condo market. Whether people work from home or in office towers downtown, I think many people still want to be in the city. I don’t think the condo buyer is going to want a condo in the suburbs. If they want a condo and they’re living in a small space, the whole point is living in the city and taking advantage of it.
good things came out of the recession. Zoom is a useful tool. Life is not really worth living if it is always spent alone at home. I believe humans know this. Likely that this just happens naturally over the next one to two years.
COHEN: Although there may be a chance, I wouldn’t be so bold to bet on it, given the downward pressure on average price in the last quarter. The average price statistic currently reported is based on a fewer number of transactions because there are fewer sellers in the market, and even less that are willing to sell at a price buyers feel is the new market norm. Once we see an increase in the sales volume that comes with a traditional fall market, we’ll have a better idea of where the market is headed. Right now, I am seeing some really strong sales and a few ugly ones. But when I see the overall statistics reported, it’s shocking to me because my feeling is that the market is a lot stronger than what is being bandied about. So yes, it wouldn’t shock me if we saw an increase in prices from where we are today.
LAMB: Nothing has changed, Toronto is doomed to be one of the most expensive cities in the world to live in, and nothing is going to change that. In the midst of this spiral upwards there will be buying opportunities, such as today.
ECCLESTON: As interest rates increase, I think we will see more people selling. Those who decide to hold on to their homes may wish to renovate. I think many will opt for new bathrooms, kitchens and swimming pools.
GLUCKSTEIN: The prices of homes have become so high, so the gap between what people live in and what they have to spend to upgrade to the next level has become so large that many people have decided not to sell, but instead renovate their homes. I think that’s been happening for a while. When people
COHEN: Yes, that’s entirely likely. The decision to renovate will add value to those homes and should serve to further protect prices from coming down while everyone adjusts to the change in the market and financing. Some of the trends we saw during the pandemic will continue, including home theatres, gyms, pools, offices and heated/covered porches. I think these renovations will continue out of fear of being locked down again.
POST CITY: Toronto is lagging behind other cities when it comes to workers returning downtown. When, if ever, will this change and what are the real estate market impacts especially on the condo market?
FALL REAL ESTATE ROUNDTABLE COVER STORY $1,400,000$1,200,000$1,000,000$800,000$600,000$400,000$200,000$0 January February March April May June July AugustSeptember OctoberNovemberDecember 2019 2020 2021 2022 TRREB MLS® average resale home price, monthly with three previous years for comparison
ROMANOW: Supply for homes and condos still continues to be lower than we need. We need smart and controlled increases in housing stock to be able to truly understand who holds the upper hand, buyers or sellers, and in order for this market to be operating at its peak, it can't dramatically favour one or the other. Currently, while home prices may have dropped year over year, with inflation and rising mortgage rates, many individuals and families are actually paying more monthly in housing costs and not having as much equity in their homes. So while cost may look lower at first glance, all-in prices have actually risen and first homes are still unaffordable for many.
LAMB: Employers with backbones would help [bring more employees downtown]. Government with vision and a dose of reality would also be nice. Some
ECCLESTON: I believe the trajectory of the market was unsustainable over the past two years. I welcome this current, more balanced market and believe the outlandish competitive environments we'd been experiencing went on for longer than it should have. I've been a realtor for 14 years, so this current, slower market is reminiscent of markets I've experienced in the past.
POST CITY: Will we see more people choosing to sit on the sidelines and upgrade their own homes in the year ahead? What will be the home reno trends to watch for?
COHEN: I think that most large major centres are facing the same challenges with workers returning to the downtown core. However, there seems to be a more concerted effort to get workers back into the office in Toronto, and in some instances, workers have been mandated back. The financial district does appear to be coming back to life, with lineups now reported outside food franchises in the Path. Foot traffic is also up. The condominium market has certainly bounced back from those dark days in 2020. We saw a real comeback in 2021, with strong sales for both condominium apartments and townhomes, and demand has been relatively steady in 2022 as people return to the core. We’ve also seen a shift in the downtown condo market, with many sellers now choosing to rent as opposed to sell, as they capitalize on the hot rental market.
TAL: After rising by close to 50 per cent in two years this is a very welcome adjustment. Remember that we were borrowing activity from the future during COVID and the future has arrived. It’s simply allocation of activity over time. Note, however, that even after that adjustment the GTA will be far from affordable.
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The beaver was almost near extinction in Ontario before rewilding efforts eventually brought them back to southwestern Ontario. When beavers build dams, they convert rivers into wetlands or ponds that support the growth of new species — from turtles to crustaceans.
the ground where water can accumulate and sustain healthy stands of Marinelligrass.”also writes, “coral-reef habitats, created by the ecosystem engineer coral species, hold some of the highest abundances of aquatic species in the world,” and, “Prairie dogs are another terrestrial form of allogenic ecosystem engineers due to the fact that the species has the ability to perform substantial modifications by burrowing and turning soil.” Their activity influences “soils and vegetation of the landscape while providing underground corridors for arthropods, avians, other small mammals, and Engineeringreptiles.”cantake many different forms. The most obvious is structural engineering, in which creatures create or modify elements of their habitat. But, as Berke notes, engineers also modify chemical environments and even the levels of light entering a land or seascape. “In modifying light, plankton and filter feeders are analogous to those terrestrial organisms that cast shade, most if not all of which are structural engineers. In terrestrial systems, then, light engineering entirely overlaps with structural engineering, while in marine systems light is largely controlled by organisms that do not create structure.”Ultimately, when we lose wildlife populations, we don’t only lose the animals themselves; we also lose the version of the world that was shaped, in part, by their agency. The result, like so many of our impacts, is less healthy, more monoculture ecosystems that reflect back only human enterprise.
Beavers have long been considered nuisances. They knock down trees and block waterways, often flooding areas where humans live and gather. But recent moves to leave the beavers alone show they can enhance and restore natural environments.Likeother animals that create, modify and maintain their environments, beavers are referred to as “ecosystem engineers.” In one study, scientists determined busy beavers improve ecosystem health, “increasing species richness at the landscape scale.” They found that in New York’s central Adirondacks, “ecosystem engineering by beaver leads to the formation of extensive wetland habitat capable of supporting herbaceous plant species not found elsewhere in the riparian zone.”
Beavers help ecosystem health by forming new habitats
In Europe, many towns and municipalities are reintroducing beavers where they were previously wiped out. In Scotland, beavers were released into a 44-squarekilometre area in 2009 after a 400year absence. The five-year trial’s success convinced the government to allow beavers to remain.
David Suzuki is the host of the CBC’s The Nature of Things and author of more than 30 books on ecology (with files from boreal project manager Rachel Plotkin).
BEAVERS IN ONTARIO
SUZUKIDAVID
slowly after heavy rain.” They also reduce siltation, and the wetlands sequester carbon, an essential process for fighting the climate crisis.In Vancouver, where I live, beavers in Stanley Park have created new wetland habitat and reduced invasive species like water lilies. (Some human intervention has been necessary, such as protecting a number of trees with wire mesh and taking measures to ensure water levels are maintained.)Beaversaren’t the only animals that engineer the worlds around them, often making them more viable for other creatures. Many do, which has led to efforts worldwide to reintroduce species to fulfill the roles they’ve historically played in maintaining healthy ecosystems. In fact, one could argue that all animals play an active role in shaping the places in which they live, to varying degrees. Some, such as invasive zebra mussels, can negatively reshape ecosystems. The human animal, of course, has engineered some of the worst impacts!
DAILY PLANETCURRENTS
According to Wildlife Trusts, an organization instrumental in European rewilding efforts, beavers and the landscapes they generate benefit people and wildlife by helping to reduce downstream flooding — “the channels, dams and wetland habitats that beavers create hold back water and release it more
22 | POST 2022SEPTEMBER|
According to Janet Marinelli in Yale Environment 360, “In the past two or three decades, research has underscored the importance of large mammals like bison as ecosystem engineers, shaping and maintaining natural processes and sequestering large amounts of carbon.” She notes that bison wallowing sculpts “depressions in
These tiny animal engineers can improve Ontario wildlife as they build
From the small town of Bala comes the not-so-small Cranberry Festival. For over 35 years, the Cranberry Festival has been a family-friendly event that art and cranberry enthusiasts alike will not
Cranberry Festival in Bala
23 | POST 2022SEPTEMBER|
Paris Fair in Paris
$15 for adults and $8 for kids aged 5 to 13, and those four and under get in free.
Since 1858, the Paris Fair has been around to showcase the best in agriculture and beyond. The fiveday fair opens by partnering with the ambassador competition for mentoring future leaders and closes with the classic horse show. In between, visitors can show off their pooches at the children’s pet show and the extreme dogs show. Other top events include the kids pedal tractor pull and demolition derby. Throughout the weekend, all the classic carnival rides will be open and everything from blooming onions to mini doughnuts will be available. The fair runs from Sept. 1 to 5 with general admission of up to $15 for adults and free for children under 5.
From a weekend dedicated to all things cranberry to an agricultural fair with an extreme rodeo
Winery, where you can book a cranberry plunge (go knee-deep in a sea of cranberries), a wagon tour or a wine and cheese patio tasting. The festival will run from Oct. 14 to 16, and tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids.
This annual fair is small town Ontario at its best! From Sept. 3 to 5, prepare for some of the wildest competitions you’ve ever seen. Start off strong with the lawn tractor pull, then watch the demolition derby (essentially real-life bumper cars where participants do as much damage to older cars as they can). Then enjoy the heavy horse show, the extreme rodeo and the horse pulling competition — and don’t forget the homecraft division where exhibitors compete in categories from the heaviest potato to the most oddly shaped vegetable. Tickets for entry cost
Port Perry Agricultural Society and Fair
GREAT ESCAPES CURRENTS
— Julia Mastroianni
Applefests from Brighton to Bowmanville September and October is the golden season (pun intended) for apples, so celebrate them in classic Ontario fashion — at a local Applefest! Brighton, located near Belleville, is bringing back its free Applefest this year from Sept. 22 to 25. Get ready for a themed parade, the Applefest Lighthouse Bike Ride, helicopter rides in King Edward Park, pancake breakfasts and, of course, the annual street festival hosting over 100 local vendors showcasing all things apple (and more!). Then you can do it all again on Oct. 15 at the annual Applefest in Bowmanville — the one-day, free festival offers every apple creation you can think of! Try fresh-pressed apple cider, homemade apple pies and crisps, cider doughnuts, candy apples and just plain apples too! Insider tip: get to the fresh apple fritter tent early, as they’re a crowd favourite and sure to have a lineup.
The Paris Fair features everything from theatre shows to pet shows
Fall is the season of sweater weather and apple picking, but there’s one more perk that will make the cooler weather even better — fall fairs! Ontario is home to over 30 harvest festivals this season, and here are four of the best that you can turn into a road trip or a day trip.
want to miss. Get ready to shop handmade, artisan products; grab some fresh cranberries (or try the dipped-in-candy variety for a treat); and stroll through the Cranberry Farmers’ Market — although you might want to do that after you’ve gotten your fill of the whirling carnival rides. Then take a trip to Johnston’s Cranberry Marsh and Muskoka Lakes
5 fall festivals worthy of an Ontario road trip
STUDENT: Tamara Podemski
“To get authentic Indigenous representation on the screen, that for sure is a fight, but [there’s] also the beautiful journey of it and how integral it is to self-identify and express ourselves,” says Podemski. “It is exercising such a freedom. And it's pretty unmatched.”
“I had a family — and a grandmother in particular — who exposed me at a very early age to the performing arts,” she says.
Singing, dancing and acting her way to success
In her most formative years, Tamara Podemski lived for dance rehearsals. The Toronto-based actor and musician compares her school experience to the television show Fame
protector. She strived to be the same for her younger sister, Sarah.
From age eight until she graduated at 18, she attended the Claude Watson School for the Arts in North York, where she was surrounded by aspiring actors, musicians and visual artists. It was there that she performed a traditional Fancy Dance at an assembly in front of her peers — an experience she regards as “claiming her space” as an Indigenous performer for the first time. It’s also where she would meet her first talent agent, who would help her to secure a breakout role as Little Margaret in the Canadian drama film Dance Me Outside. But if you
CURRENT JOB: Actor
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“We were in dance clothes all the time. Yeah, it was that dramatic,” she says. “I can't say the same about the academics. The academics just kind of fell to the side.”
episodes in this incredible role of Teenie, who is coming back to the rez and grew up with all the parents of the main kids,” she says. “It was nice to be woven into the existing world already.”
BEST SUBJECT: Dance
WORST SUBJECT: Math
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GRADUATED: Claude Watson School of the Arts
ask Podemski where her love for performing was first sparked, she’ll tell you it was at home.
“I think, because the entertainment business is so isolating, it makes such a difference when you have people that you can trust,” she says. “Within Toronto there was also a very strong Indigenous arts community, and I grew up under their mentorship.”
Podemski’s artistic career has spanned three decades and includes a Broadway stint as Maureen Johnson in the Mirvish Production of RENT and a celebrated music career that led her to launch her own label and release three albums.
Podemski is known for her role of Deputy Sheriff Joy in Outer Range. And this past month, she appeared in season two of Reservation Dogs, which follows the exploits of four Indigenous teenagers in rural Oklahoma.
Tamara Podemski on seeing Indigenous representation in Reservation Dogs by Zakiya Kassam
“That early influence blew my world open for me to know that
Podemski.“Igotto join the cast for two
Tamara Podemski stars alongside her sister Sarah in ‘Reservation Dogs’
Reservation Dogs boasts an allIndigenous writers room, crew and regular cast. It is a celebration of legacy talent.
“To be on set and you look around the room, and you’re seeing Gary Farmer, you’re seeing Kimberly Guerrero, Sarah Podemski, Danis Goulet — it’s a wildPodemskipicture.”says Reservation Dogs does a good job of emulating what it’s like to grow up on a reservation. That in itself is a victory.
this way of expressing myself in the world could bring a lot of joy and connection.”Podemski is one of three sisters, and all attended the Claude Watson School for the Arts and went on to act professionally. Podemski describes her older sister Jennifer as a mentor and fierce
Podemski plays an onscreen sister to her actual sister Sarah
“I asked if he thought it was absurd I really liked him. He said no, then he kissed me.”
Our courtship took place over many months. We took tap dancing lessons, we played pool, we watched Marx Brothers movies and ’30s screwball comedies. Late one night, during a snowstorm, I drove over to his parents’ house, probably because he’d just picked up a copy of Horsefeathers from the library. Afterwards, we talked through the finer points of Chico,
Realizing he’s “the one” I can’t think of a specific moment, maybe because it often feels like our entire relationship has been a series of moments confirming that he’s it for me. Every time he makes me laugh, every time he and my mom talk about their shared love of Shelley teacups and old plate patterns and even the time I had a tank top on and he compared me to Linda Hamilton from Terminator 2…if Linda Hamilton had a sister who’d, you know, “lived a little.”
In a little bit longer, it’s being comfortable with not necessarily having the answers to all the questions this life presents to us.
Jess Allen and her partner Simon Gadke THEY MET CURRENTS
Finding love over old movies and short ribs
Shared hobbies and interests
I was working at Terroni on Queen, about to turn 30, and in the midst of a huge crush on a dishwasher who was eight years my junior and who was not Simon. I was feeling a little lost. OK, more than a little lost. Then one day this dishwasher’s friend showed up on the patio. He seemed
Secret to success
The future together
We joke that we will end up like two old Victorian ladies surrounded by their kitschy treasures, sitting in their overgrown garden wearing inlittlestayfriendswritingsippingbluestonetheonerobes.moth-eaten-but-still-fabuloustheirButmytruedreamisthatdaywecanlivepart-timeonislandofCreteinatraditionalhouse,closetothesapphirewaterforspontaneousswims,oncrispcoldwhitewine,atourdesks,hostingourwhomakethejourneytowithusandstillbeingjustalost.Andstillverymuchlove.
The first date
Harpo, and Groucho (Zeppo never came up). The tension was there when I was ready to head home to my little apartment. So, I very slowly put on my boots. My bulky, unwilling parka. My hat. My gloves. My scarf. Then I asked him if he thought it was absurd that I really liked him. He said no, and then he kissed me.
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We’re both good at being ridiculous and seeing our ridiculousness, so dinner talk is never dull. We also both share the same taste for extremely dry, crisp and minerally white wines. In short, it’s humour and white wine.
We went for dinner at the old Swan restaurant on Queen Street. He ordered swordfish. I ordered beef short ribs. After, we ended up at the Vespa diner for a slice of cherry pie and coffee. Then I drove him home to his parent’s place. Why? Because he still lived with his parents.
“That’smature.nice,”
The courtship
The Social’s Jess Allen on how she met her best friend and partner Simon Gadke
How they met
When Jess Allen joined The Social in its first year as a correspondent, she quickly garnered her own fanbase. Viewers were excited when they turned on the TV to see her join the other hosts with her quick wit and commentary. Now, ahead of the premiere of the 10th season of The Social on Sept. 6, we asked Allen to share the details of how she met her longtime partner Simon Gadke.
HOW
I thought, “Here’s a guy who is older, also friends with the dishwasher but doesn’t seem that lost.” I was wrong about two things: Simon was eight years my junior and he was also a little lost.
There’s an old saying: the couple that Merchant-Ivorys together, stays together, and we’ve found this to be true. It’s also true of Real Housewiving, Below Decking and Drag Racing together. Our shared interests really run the gamut of high-low: from Coors Light to Barolo, from public pools to sailing on the Mediterranean, which, OK, we’ve only done once, but we hope one day it becomes a hobby.
1. The larger-than-life Spanish artist Salvador Dalí gets the big screen treatment in Dalíland, the closing night film of this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. Set in 1973, the film sees Ben Kingsley play the mercurial artist as his marriage to his muse Gala (Barbara Sukowa) begins to show its wear and tear. Director Mary Harron, whose husband John Walsh wrote the script, says the film is bittersweet but adds, “There’s a lot of comedy in it.”
Director Steven Spielberg brings his latest ‘The Fabelmans’ to Toronto
With a full slate of in-person screenings, red carpets and more, the Toronto International Film Festival is celebrating the return of real, or should we say reel, life from Sept. 8 to 18.
Here’s a look at 10 real deal movies at this year’s fest.
5.Moonage Daydream promises a look into legendary artist David Bowie’s sound and vision like no other. It is an immersive look at the life and career of the legendary artist, which features previously unreleased footage from Bowie's personal archives and is the first film to be officially authorized by the musician’s estate. A career as long and complex as Bowie's can't possibly be contained in a traditional doc, so Brent Morgen's sensory approach is ideal to capture Bowie's enigmatic magic.
FILMCURRENTS
4. “I Like Movies is based on my experiences working at a Blockbuster Video in Burlington, Ontario, in the early 2000s,” says Toronto writer/director Chandler Levack. It’s the story of how movie obsessive Lawrence Kweller (Isaiah Lehtinen) allows his love of film, dream of attending New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and anxiety to alienate the most important people in his life. The Toronto-based Levack, who studied cinema at the University of Toronto and screenwriting at the Canadian Film Centre, is thrilled to be part of TIFF this year. “It is no exaggeration when I say premiering my first feature at TIFF 22 is the single greatest achievement of my life.”
The top 7 films to check out at this year’s film festival by Richard Crouse
7. Set against a background of wartorn Syria, The Swimmers, directed by Sally El Hosaini, tells the incredible and true story of Yusra and Sara Mardini, sisters who fled Damascus to find a new life and a chance at competing in the Olympics. The harrowing story of survival, that includes a dangerous voyage in a small boat packed with refugees across the Mediterranean Sea, was described by Cameron Bailey as “an exciting, epic journey and the arrival of an important filmmaker."
who co-directed the documentary with filmmaker Chelsea McMullan, employs a mix of concert footage, excerpts from her novel Split Tooth, interviews that explore stories of pain and jubilation and illustrations and animation by Inuk artist Shuvinai Ashoona. “Ever Deadly is meant to be an experience, to flood over you and take you on a journey guided by a live performance for the ages,” says McMullan.
SkidmoreFlickr/Gage©
6. At age 15, Cea Sunrise Person was working as a high-fashion model in Manhattan and Paris. North of Normal, the new film from director Carly Stone, tells the story of Person’s unconventional childhood with hippie mother Michelle, played by Sarah Gadon, and her journey from the wilderness of Alberta and British Columbia to the runways of the fashion world. “Cea’s memoir was gripping,” Gadon told Deadline, “and I knew Carly Stone was the perfect director to bring her story to the screen.”
3. Steven Spielberg has made personal films before but none are as intimate as The Fabelmans. In the film, the teenage Sammy Fabelman (Gabriel LaBelle) finds the power of movies and storytelling helps him deal with a family crisis. Spielberg’s youngest sister, Nancy, says the film is loosely based on their childhood but thinks the messaging is universal. “There is so much authenticity woven throughout,” she told the Jerusalem Post, “that it had me yearning for our parents and yearning for our childhood with big fat hot tears rolling down my cheeks. My parents are looking
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2. The National Film Board of Canada says of Ever Deadly that it is a documentary look at Polaris Prize–winning musician Tanya Tagaq’s “transformation of sound with an eye to colonial fallout, natural freedom and Canadian history.” To bring that to life, Tagaq
down at their four children and kvelling.”
Spielberg set for splashy TIFF debut
Toronto’s Nicholas Latifi overcame incredible odds to earn his spot on the Formula 1 race circuit.To become a professional hockey player, you’re competing against thousands for around 700 spots in the National Hockey League. Not even remotely easy. But to become a professional Formula 1 driver? You’re competing against thousands for 20 spots — no more, no less. Since 2020 one of those coveted spots has belongs to Latifi.
By this time, Latifi was still continuing his grade school studies at Crescent School in Toronto. However, he would spend his last year and a half online as he travelled and won races.Inhigh school, he had to decide what meant more to him — growing up with a “normal” childhood or his career?
that time, it was nothing more than a fun hobby to him.
pioneer in the online education space. He represents a small category of Canadian athletes who were able to make it out of the country, compete at the highest level and make a global name for themselves. Latifi has noticed the sport growing across North America in the past few years as education and awareness have gone up drastically.
After claiming four wins, eight podiums and the Vice Champion of F2 title, Latifi was given the nod to replace Robert Kubica, one of Williams’ drivers at the time. Since then, Latifi has maintained his seat on the grid through multiple seasons.
While attending Crescent School, Latifi says, “The nine years I spent here were a real privilege.” His former headmaster, Michael Fellin, says that Latifi was the “pioneer of remote learning” as he attempted to balance his fast-paced racing career with his studies.
From top: Nicholas Latifi; Williams Racing offered Latifi a seat on its team
by Marcus Mitropoulos
“Lights out, and away we go.”
Since achieving his dream, Latifi has been focused on helping others achieve their own.
is not very accessible,” Latifi says. “We need to bring the costs down at the grassroots level. It’s not like playing soccer or tennis or basketball, where you need a ball, a pair of shoes and that’s about it.… With karting, you need to potentially drive hours from where you live, have the kart, the tires, the fuel and the time.”
So how did Latifi, a former Crescent School student and a kid who grew up in Toronto, become one of only 20 Formula 1 drivers in the world?
Before Latifi got his big break, he says he had his best experiences driving cars in Formula 2. “My years in Formula 2, particularly 2017 and 2019, were really enjoyable. They were more competitive years, always fighting for podiums, so that was cool.”
For most professional race car drivers, their career started a decade before they could legally drive. But Latifi, now a household name among Formula 1 fans, was already 13 by the time he took a liking to the sport.
Latifi is more than just a
Formula 1 has shot up in popularity, potentially topping 1 billion fans worldwide this year. Although Netflix’s Drive to Survive series deserves credit, the allure of rivalry and competition is the reason why fans are flocking to the Priorsport.to 2020, Torontonians, who had no real skin in the game, sat back and cheered on the sports contributors. However, after stints with two different teams, Williams Racing gave a homegrown talent the chance to take a seat on its team. And on the opening day of the 2020 season, Nicholas Latifi heard the infamous words of British sportscaster David Croft.
In 2019, Williams signed Latifi as a reserve driver. However, Latifi would spend the majority of his time racing in Formula 2 for DAMS, which would turn out to be his final campaign.
Latifi chose the number 6 at the start of his rookie season, a reference to the city he calls home. “It’s where I’m from, where I was raised, and the city I’m proud to be representing,” he wrote on his website.
But Latifi has only spent a total of eight days back home since he began driving F1, a fleeting break for the driver who predominantly spends his time in London, England. But feeling homesick is part and parcel of being a young racer with an international dream.
As Latifi’s contract expires at the end of 2022, he is hoping to score his first points of the year at the Dutch Grand Prix on Sept. 4. His FW22 chassis just got a new set of upgrades that Latifi utilized in a rapid performance, which landed him the final qualifying round for the first time in his career. Need for speed, indeed.
“The reason why I got into karting [a road racing variant] is because I enjoyed it. I found it really, really fun. I got into it without the intention of ever pursuing it as a career,” says the 27-year-old over a Zoom call.
Latifi’s time at Williams, he would serve as a test driver for Renault and Force India in Formula 1. His flair and ability to adapt allowed teams to gather data quickly and proved to both teams and himself that he deserved a seat on an F1 team.
It wasn’t until he began tasting success that Latifi quickly shot up the ranks from Formula 3, then Formula Renault 3.5, and finally Formula 2 in Europe and beyond.
SPORTS PROFILE CURRENTS
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He would go on to kart all around Ontario, slowly developing a love for the sport. However, at
He and racer Lance Stroll from Montreal get the honour of being the only Canadian drivers to enter F1 in over 20 years.
fastestToronto’smanT.O.’sNicholasLatifiisoneofonly20professionalFormula1driversontheplanet
Latifi was one of the luckier ones —his father, Michael Latifi, is the CEO of Sofina Foods Inc., and his mother, Marilena, was born into the Saputo family, of dairy company Saputo Inc. fame. Sofina Foods has remained a major sponsor for Latifi since his career took off.
“It’s a very important question that I’ve asked myself a lot. Naturally, with pursuing something at a high level, there are sacrifices,” he says. “My life and my social circle slowly shifted away from the friends I had at school and moved toward people in the racing world. In my teenage years, I definitely missed out on a lot. You know, social gatherings, parties every now and then, I would be at none of these.”
In the years leading up to
“The biggest thing is the sport
Down the line, Latifi hopes the sport continues to grow, allowing kids to begin karting under much more affordable circumstances. Toronto is home to select go-kart tracks, and local drivers can race under TRAK, a registered and non-profit corporation that is tied directly to the FIA (Formula racing’s governing body).
222 Davenport Rd.
This was too close to call!
Originally a Kensington wholesale business, this doughnut shop has turned into one of Toronto’s most in-demand brands. Try the ferrero rocher doughnut for decadent goodness or the cherry cream supreme for a twist on a classic. 1505 Gerrard St. E.
BEST BAGUETTES
BEST OF TORONTO!2022
BEST GREEK
365 Wilson Ave.
BEST TACOS
OLDE YORK FISH AND CHIPS serves up all kinds of fried fish battered in the owner’s own family recipe. 96 Laird Dr.
BEST DINER
Doughnuts from The Rolling Pin
BEST INDIAN
BEST BRUNCH
Kate Chomyshyn and Julio Guajardo, of former Quetzal fame, opened FONDA BALAM last year backed by celeb chef Matty Matheson, and they’ve been serving up perfect, crispy tacos ever since. Try their signature taco de birria when you visit. 802 Dundas St. W.
ROLLING PIN
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8199 Yonge St., Thornhill
Hidden in the back of a Hasty Market, FLAMING STOVE is a must for any shawarma fan. Trad saj bread is handmade and filled with falafel or chicken.
BEST DOUGHNUT SHOP
BEST FILIPINO WILSON’S HOUSE OF LECHON in the burgeoning barbecue intersection of Bathurst and Wilson is our go-to. The chicken and pork skewers grilled over open charcoal are perhaps the city’s best.
1970 Avenue Rd.
BEST RAMEN
Carb lovers can savour THOBORS’s fresh baguettes, like-in-Paris croissants and veg-studded fougasse. Sweeter bites include macarons in flavours like apricot-rosemary.
BEST GELATO
532 Eglinton Ave. W.
race
Since COVID claimed Planta spinoff Palm Lane, we’ve been making our own salads. Well, no more! MANDY’S came from Montreal and brought along its made-toorder salads, with a selection of more than 50 ingredients, to two T.O. locations.
VS. WELCOME TO THE
21 Davisville Ave.
BEST CUPCAKES
Around for a cool 78 years (since 1944), AVENUE DINER is a beacon of comfort. Get endless coffee poured by Louis Klasios and his team while filling up on the massive all-day breakfast, or try the banquet burgers.
We swear it’s not just ’cause Drake loves it, but SOTTO SOTTO sure knows its pasta. All the faves are here — cacio e pepe, linguine alla puttanesca, rigatoni ai quattro formaggi — dished out with a side of romance. 120 Avenue Rd.
Mention ramen, and there’s bound to be a debate raging. For us, TOUHENBOKU takes the, well, noodles. Go white ramen in a creamy broth or the red spicy version. 2459 Yonge St.
You’ll find gelato close to what you had in Italy at HOTEL GELATO. Try the pistachio or hazelnut, and you’ll know exactly what we mean.
Come for the $16 fish and chips with a storied British past, stay for the cosy atmosphere and friendly faces.
This spot is known for its authentic Indian dishes cooked on a coal tandoor. The pre-set thali at COPPER CHIMNEY is a popular lunch option, and the jumbo prawns or chicken marinated in tandoori spices are local faves.
SMITH is only open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the weekend. But when you can squeeze in a reso, try the huevos rancheros or croque madame and watch the hangover melt away. They also do epic bloody caesars. 553 Church St.
627 Mt. Pleasant Rd.
BOBBETTE & BELLE has earned its popularity. Try the carrot cupcake with cream cheese frosting or ultimate chocolate one to see what all the fuss is about.
3347 Yonge St.
There isn’t much Indonesian food in T.O., but fortunately LITTLE SISTER does an incredible job. Nibble on satay lilet skewers with Balinese spiced chicken and flavour-
BEST STREETINDONESIANFOOD
BEST SALAD
52 Ossington Ave.
PHILOXENIA does salt baked fish tableside, zucchini chips and an incredible moussaka. The vision of Hanif Harji has helped create what is quite possibly the 905’s best restaurant.
North York’s favourite neighbourhood doughnut shop has perfected the art of holed desserts, from your classic yeasty confectionary to extremely Instagrammable innovations like biscoff cheesecake and fluffernutter flavours.
BEST NORTHERN ITALIAN
BEST FISH & CHIPS
GLORY HOLE
Since 1953, oilsthetheirsalmonTorontoSONSand-operatedfamily-owned-jointKRISTAP-hasbeenprovidingwiththebestsmokedoutthere.Theysmokesalmoncold,allowingforfishtoretainitsomega-3(andsuper-tendertaste).
Helmed by Patrick Kriss, the classically prepared, contemporary French cuisine and ambience at ALO makes it the home of one of the coveted seats in town. Snag a reso here and be the hero of the night. 163 Spadina Ave.
SUSHI MASAKI SAITO
Its delightfully flaky exterior cocoons a melt-in-yourmouth centre. RAHIER’s croissant has yet to be beat. 1586 Bayview Ave.
BEST JERK CHICKEN
BEST BURGERS
Although SUNNY’S CHI NESEjust opened last month, this restaurant from the team behind MIMI Chinese already has a cult following, thanks to its exclusive pop-up days. This new spot offers ingredient-driven dishes from all across China. 60 Kensington Ave.
BEST INDIE COFFEE Head to this micro roaster and café for perfect espressos pulled from seasonal beans. DE MELLO PALHETA is also known for its freshly baked goods including the popular daily quiche. 2489 Yonge St.
BEST WINGS
3248 Yonge St.
We haven’t had it yet, but we’re going to guess Brandon Olsen, who became famous making it as the staff meal at Bar Isabel and then later at Le Banane, is crushing it at the new GRATEFUL CHICKEN inside Chef’s Hall on Richmond. 111 Richmond St. W.
BEST MACARONS With NADÈGE, chef Nadège Nourian made her name with pastel-hued macarons in indulgent flavours like hazelnut praline, cotton candy and blueberry vanilla. 1099 Yonge St.
SURESH DOSS has become the go-to guy for the CBC, the Star and Smorgasburg Food Festival. Read him, watch him — he knows the suburbs better than anyone, from Scarborough to Mississauga to Brampton. If you’re a foodie, he’s one to watch.
The intimate and deceptively humble 20 VICTORIA has been wowing Torontonians since it opened last year. The menu focuses on seasonal ingredients and simple yet nuanced flavours.
BEST APPETIZERS
Burger snobs can’t go wrong at HOLY CHUCK. The inventive menu jumps from its signature burg to one with Ontario lamb and crispy chicken on top. 1450 Yonge St.
BEST FRIED CHICKEN
414
Albert Wiggan opened ALBERT’S REAL JAMAICAN FOODS 35 years ago to serve items like jerk chicken loaded into a super-soft coco bun along with fresh veg. 542 St. Clair Ave. W.
BEST NEW CHINESE
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chefMichelin-starredMasakiSaito
BEST SUSHI MASTER
BEST CHINESE DELIVERY
This race was too close to call!
Bagel and a schmear? Anthony Rose’s andwhitefish,more.APPETIZINGSCHMALTZdoesthatandWelikeourswithgravlax,dillcukeshorseradishcreamcheese. Dupont St.
SHOUSHIN
3328 Yonge St.
BEST OF TORONTO! EAT
BEST UP-AND-COMER
Chef Masaki Saito moved here from New York, where he had earned two Michelin stars, and set up in Yorkville with only one thing on the menu — a $680 omakase dinner. People wait months to try his lavish creations. 88 Avenue Rd.
When the mood for takeout strikes, dial up C’EST BON. It’s got egg fried rice with chicken, pork and shrimp. It’s got spicy Sichuan noodles with veg. It’s got chow mein. And more! 2685 Yonge St.
BEST MODERN DINER Sam and Robert have created a true north T.O. landmark with UNCLE BETTY’S DINER. Tuck into comforting eats like the meat loaf sammie, fancy hot dogs and grown-up mac and cheese with pancetta and truffle oil. 2590 Yonge St.
BEST MICHELINPOSSIBLESTAR
This spot is related to the space that boasts the second oldest wings in Buffalo. Twin T.O. brothers brought Buffalo’s best to Hogtown with DUFF’S WINGS.FAMOUS 1604 Bayview Ave.
BEST SMOKED SALMON
This polished uptown restaurant helmed by chef Jackie Lin takes a cue from Tokyo’s high-end sushi restaurants. Diners have a choice of two omakase menus, the priciest of which includes wagyu and caviar dishes.
VS.
BEST CROISSANTS
BEST FOR CELEBRATIONS
YITZ’S DELi has been gone for five years — but is it ? At Summerhill Market, they revived the brand with recipes f rom the original Yitz. Close your eyes and imagine your hand on the giant hot dog door handles that used to grace Yitz’s. 446 Summerhill Ave.
300 Eglinton Ave. W.
2021 Yonge St.
This race was too close to call!
BEST COMEBACK
DREYFUS is the brainchild of Joe Beef alum Zach Kolomeir. Beyond tiny, this could be Toronto’s smallest high-end eatery. Not since Susur Lee opened on Niagara Street has such a wee place produced such big flavours.
Coffee shop by day, cocktail bar by night, BOXCAR SOCIAL is known for its crafty cocktails and wine and beer list. They may have Summerhill’s best secluded patio. 1208 Yonge St.
Whatever your heart desires, THE ABBOT has it all. Get the club sammie (maple-ginger glazed chicken with bacon on brioche) or the shepherd’s pie (rosemary gravy–laced beef and veg with mashed potatoes). 508 Eglinton Ave.W
A tiny French butcher shop by day, Parisian steak house by night, CÔTE DE BOEUF is run to perfection and priced fairly. They serve grass-fed, beautifully aged steak, impeccable oysters and the rich namesake main. 130 Ossington Ave.
BEST BUTCHER SHOP
BEST FALAFEL PARALLEL wins this one. But here’s the catch. They don’t make a falafel sandwich — you order a plate of the delicate (read: non-greasy) falafel balls, a side of pita and either a Parallel or tabouli salad and you make your own sandwich.
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The bakers here know their way around a pie. Award-winning creations at PHIPPS BAKERY include lattice-style fruit pies and a super-rich caramel and pecan number. 420 Eglinton Ave. W.
A sandwich fromOriginalPancer’sDeli
BEST JUICE BAR
Stop by EATALY for the fresh pasta bar take it and make it at home and you won’t believe the quality Try the caccio e pepe round ravioli or our fave, ricotta and spinach -filled square raviolis. Don’t forget to grab pistachios for garnish. 55 Bloor St.W
LA SALUMERIA
BAGEL WORLD is hands down Toronto’s best bagel — but not just any bagel. You must order the twister; think nutty, salty goodness. 336 Wilson Ave.
Owned by Vito Rizzuto of Five Doors North fame, this artisanal butcher shop has meat pies, quiche and some of the best steaks in town. Plus no question is too trivial for the people behind the counter at THE BUTCHER’S SON. 2055 Yonge St.
BEST FRESH PASTA
This deli has been around for 65 years. Grab a huge pastrami (this is Pancer’s Original’s best meat), and if you want authentic, order kishka (potato-stuffed derma with gravy) or a knish (pastramifilled Jewish meat patty).
BEST FRENCH BISTRO
3856 Bathurst St.
BEST OF TORONTO!EAT
BEST DELI SANDWICH
BEST STEAK HOUSE
217 Geary Ave.
BEST WATERING HOLE
KWAN dishes out delights every day but Tuesday: steamed ’shroom and truffle dumplings, chicken siu mai, pork pot stickers. Save space for steamed egg custard buns (or the classic BBQ pork version). 808 York Mills Rd.
BEST PIES
BEST FRENCH BAKERY
GÔUTER serves Parisianquality kouign-amann (butter cake), the king of French desserts — forget chocolate, think butter and a subtle sweetness.
PANCER’S ORIGINAL DELI
96 Harbord St.
We love GREENHOUSE JUICE for its organic coldpressed liquids that are pumped full of superfood ingredients. The Gatsby with kale and apple is a must. 5 Macpherson Ave.
BEST DIM SUM
BEST BAGELS
BEST PUB
BEST SOUTHERN ITALIAN
Authentic Italian fare at 7 NUMBERS includes squash blossom fritters that come out every fall — but the lasagna is a showstopper. Catch chef Mama Rosa in the kitchen, doling out her special ingredient: love. 516 Eglinton Ave. W.
BEST UDON MENAMI offers an unbelievable noodle experience, from nagasaki to curry udon. The owner studied for several years with an udon master in Japan — believe it! Next time your ramen buddies come calling, take them here instead.
This old school Italian delicatessen is also home to a hidden sandwich bar at the back and the nicest staff on the planet. You have to try the prosciutto sandwich with fig jam, buffalo mozzarella, spicy salami and balsamic.
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5469 Yonge St.
THE COOP is a longstanding, bi-level menswear boutique offering the best designer labels and shoes amid a rusticchic vibe.Everything you could need to look your best,with the vibe of a small boutique. 156 Duncan Mill Rd, #19
BEST KIDS’ CLOTHES
1007 Yonge St.
A 1960s Irving Nadler set from Mama Loves You
BEST MENSWEAR
SILVER SNAIL made the move from Yonge and Dundas to Queen West last year, so now you get the fun of snagging your favourite comic book (trust us, they have them all) without trekking up all those stairs. 809 Queen St. W.
BEST PET SHOP
2901 Bayview Ave.
131 Bloor St. W.
ANDREWS offers the best in luxury fashion for women. Here, you’ll find the most coveted brands, everyday essentials and a knowledgeable team that comes with a long-standing family business.
Instill a love of reading in your youngster at MABEL’S FABLES. From baby to teen and everything in between, this magical bookstore has the whole family covered.
BEST BOUTIQUE
BEST KIDS’ BOOKS
BATEMAN’S BICYCLE
215 Ossington Ave.
MAMA
LOVERSLAND has the perfect wedding dress for the big day, as well as an incredible selection of cocktail dresses for that fall gala. The shop is wrapped in a boho vibe with amazing service.
BEST COTTAGE CHIC Timeless casual classic apparel at the trendy midtown shop LEMONWOOD will have you looking your best whether at the launch in Muskoka or at that fall backyard soirée.
BEST BOOKCOMICSTORE
960 Bathurst St.
The ever-dapper Derrick Adams of STUDIO D sure knows his soles. His gorgeous picks hail from the likes of Rayne London, Sebastian Milano and MSGM. Your feet will thank you.
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HAVEN has asserted itself out of T.O.’s top streetwear spots. The store is always stocked to the brim with brands, ranging from designer houses to technical, functional.
COMPANY is a fantastic local shop with an awesome selection, a friendly service department and even community events and rides.
Whether you need a raincoat or a grooming session for your furry friend, DOGFATHER & CO is the place. They also offer teeth cleaning for the pups that want an all-natural treatment.
ZERO20 KIDSoffers stylish outfits to kids everywhere. The large 8,000-square-foot boutique has grown to become such a size due to the company's overwhelming popularity.
1224 Yonge St.
LOVES YOU The mother-daughter team at MAMA LOVES YOU offers a wide selection of vintage garments for both men and women, stretching far into the past right up to the ’90s. We love the cool Queen West vibe at this shop. 541 Queen St. W.
7700 Pine Valley Dr.
190 Richmond St. E.
662 Mount Pleasant Rd.
BLACK GOAT is doing its darndest to drape us in ultrasoft cashmere. It’s got hats, shawls, turtlenecks, leg warmers and, yes, socks — all crafted from luxe long strands of cashmere from Mongolian goats.
BEST SHOE STORE
BEST CASHMERE SHOP
BEST FOR STREETWEAR
55 Bloor St. W., Suite 55
BEST FOR DRESSES
BELLA is part of the fabric of the Eglinton nabe. Scan the boutique’s Instagram to spot owner Melissa Guido donning daily inspo. Staples like ruffly frocks, playful jumpsuits and wrap sweaters abound. 498 Eglinton Ave. W.
BEST DENIM
Since 1975, OVER THE RAINBOW has been the place to go in Toronto for the best denim on the planet, including all the latest styles from Citizensof Humanity to Nudie Jeans.
BEST OF TORONTO!2022
CHOSEN
CHOSEN offers a terrific selection of well-worn vintage pieces, paired with a sprinkle of designer goods, and even vintage accessories, books and housewares. Owner Melissa Ball is a gem and has a fantastic eye. 1599 Dundas St. W. BEST BOUTIQUESVINTAGE VS. This race was too close to call!
BEST DEPARTMENTWOMEN’SSTORE
BEST FOR BIKES
55 Bloor St.W., Suite 123
This race was too close to call!
CHRONIC INK
BEST APPLIANCE REPAIR
Midtown consignment shop REWIND COUTUREis hard to beat when it comes to highly curated designer finds for less. You’ll find a few Hermes scarves for almost half the price in their new arrivals section. 577 Mt. Pleasant Rd.
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BEST MANI-PEDI
BEST SKIN CARE CONSONANT SKINCARE is constantly impressing us with their research-backed products that do exactly as they promise. Try the hydrextreme serum for a formula that outperforms current trendy hero ingredient hyaluronic acid.
BEST MEN’S GROOMING
In addition to offering the classic fingers and toes beautifying mani-pedi, LTS NAILS has an organic version with Arbonne products for the naturalista in the nabe. You can get your wax on at the same time.
This Kensington Market mainstay has quickly established a name for itself as one of the premier tattoo destinations in the city, thanks to the creative artists who exude passion for their craft.
Rosedale’s GEE BEAUTY is beloved by stylish peeps like the Coveteur’s Stephanie Mark and more. With Gee’s help, put your very best brows, skin and face forward.
ERS. Nature’s quirks are embraced in cacti, succulents and bright blooms, all carefully curated by delightful owner Cathy Kim. 621A Mt. Pleasant Rd.
535 Eglinton Ave. W.
KANER’S in Yorkville is a trusted secret gem capable of not only giving new life to your lovely loafers and flats but also that designer handbag you can’t seem to get rid of.
PEARL HARBOR GIFT SHOP
110 Bloor St. W., Lower Level
With a downtown, midtown and Vaughan location, CHRONIC INK is an ideal place to go for those getting their first tattoo, as staff are warm, friendly and willing to take you through the process step by step.
BEST HARDWARE STORE WIENER’S HARDWAREHOMEisthe oldest and we think the best in the city for all your household needs, from tools to grills to glue guns.
BEST ANTIQUES
BEST HAIRSTYLIST L ooking for an extraordinary experience at a hair salon? JIE P RIVÉ SALON is the place. Jie Matar has a personality that is larger than life and prices that match the quality. 180 Davenport Rd.
819 Queen St. W.
BEST OF TORONTO!SHOP
BEST DRY CLEANER
BEST MAKEUP
24 Kensington Ave. VS.
For over 75 years, special.larityappliancesellingAPPLIANCEShaveCAPLANbeenTorontonianspremiumbrands.Therepopu-andqualitymakethem 1111 Weston Rd.
Think that trusty toaster is, um, toast? Chances are, the folks at FIX IT AGAIN SAM think otherwise. The team here can revive your beloved household items like no other.
A work of art ChronicfromInk
911 Millwood Rd.
BEST SHOE REPAIR
ROYAL LIGHTING has a wide selection of unique European fixtures, and they stock some very hard to find bulbs. Staff will be happy to help you find the parts you need. 1549 Avenue Rd.
540 Eglinton Ave. W.
An antique shop that’s home to everything from vintage diamond rings to props from Guillermo del Toro’s Nightmare Alley, CYNTHIA FINDLAY FINE JEWELLERY & AN TIQUESis real a treasure trove – and staff are as knowledgeable as they are friendly! 284 King St. W.
Looking for an authentic barbershop experience with an ambience and style that makes you feel welcome and well taken care of, then be sure to visit LATHER & STEEL for the best men’s grooming in the city. 1009 Yonge St.
432 Bloor St. W.
BEST FOR APPLIANCES
Vegetation beckons from every corner of APRICOT FLOW
BEST CONSIGNMENT
There’s so much more to brows and lashes these days than plucking and mascara. Fret not, FLIRTY FLUTTERS covers it all, from micro-blading brows to mega volume lash extensions, which are surprisingly light. 691 Mt. Pleasant Rd.
BEST LIGHTING STORE
BEST LASH & BROW FIX
That delectable dinner that crept its way onto a beloved dress will be long forgotten after a trip here. You can trust ASHFORD CLEANERS with your finest frippery — Ashford will even do couture!
BEST TATTOO PARLOURS
BEST FLORIST
2 Roxborough St. W.
252 Eglinton Ave. E.
BEST LIVE THEATRE
30 Bridgman Ave.
Soulpepper, under new(ish) artistic director Weyni Mengesha continues to explore fantastic and significant works as well as cherished classics. We are so excited about this season’s revival of Da Kink in My Hair! 50 Tank House Lane race was
VS.VS. This
BEST COMMUNITY SPIRIT
What makes a good book shop is more than just a lot of books. It’s well-read workers that can guide the experience. It’s an atmosphere, a vibe if you will.
BEST OF TORONTO!2022
BEST FOR LIVE MUSIC
BEST ESCAPE ROOM
3401 Dufferin St.
BEST FOR SPINS
317 Adelaide St. E.
722 College St.
SOULPEPPER
Yes, Toronto has had a huge year in pop culture, but we think Domee Shi’s love letter to her hometown in the Pixar animated movie Turning Red is about as good as it gets.
1006 Bloor St. W.
Toronto has become immersive experience central over the last few years. Although we love them all, it’s hard to top the FRIENDS EXPERIENCE. A pop culture touchstone, this event allows participants to put themselves inside the show.
The City of Toronto moved forward with a plan to name the area in front of the Russian Consulate as FREE UKRAINE SQUARE to support our friends.
BEST FOR LAUGHS
224 Richmond St. W.
1 Austin Terr.
BEST CONCERT VENUE KOERNER HALL is an acoustic marvel and an amazing use of a historic space at the Royal Conservatory of Music. It’s always a pleasure to head to this venue for a show. Wonderful size, proportions and ambience make it special.
BEST FOR A GOOD READ
60 St. Clair Ave. E.
Since 1995, Chad Wolfond has worked to establish the charming LONSDALE GALLERY in Forest Hill village as one of the city’s go-to contemporary spaces. Check out the Changing Tides exhibition beginning Sept. 10.
273 Bloor St. W.
BEST LOCAL POLITICIAN Outgoing city councillor JOE CRESSY was a fine leader during the pandemic, heading up the vaccination team whose passion for the people of Toronto and his loud voice on council will be missed.
KatzDahlia©
PostDemocracy opening on Nov. 8.
too close to call!
410 Spadina Rd.
7 Queens Quay E.
BEST NEW FUN
There are some new venues that have opened up, but we love the AXIS CLUB (formerly Mod Club). Housed in a historic building right in Little Italy, it’s the perfect balance of intimate and large enough to showcase amazing talent. Don’t miss Jeremie Albino Sept. 20.
We love a good movie theatre that combines history with modern amenities: the best example is the PARADISE THEATRE, which has a range of live performances along with thoughtful film selections and great amenities.
BEST FOR FLICKS
The vinyl album trend seems to have plateaued but has left a number of fine music shops in the city ideal for shuffling the stacks. But the best is SONIC BOOM, where you can even get an album from the PhonoMat vending machine.
CASA LOMA continues to create spectacular events for the city, including some awesome escape room adventures such as the Murdoch Mysteries series running right now. It’s the perfect complement to the city’s famed castle.
Although the city seems to be overrun with comedy clubs lately, there is still nothing better than a night out at YUK YUK’S, the birthplace of some of the best even like Jim Carrey and Howie Mandel.
BEST SMALL GALLERY
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BEST CITY INITIATIVE
BEST IMMERSIVE FUN
Pipeline, a productionrecentatSoulpepper
CROW’S
This east end theatre has established itself as a cherished cultural hub in the neighbourhood, thanks to its thoughtfully curated lineup and its multipurpose space. Watch out for an adaptation of the novel Fifteen Dogs this season.
345 Carlaw Ave.
TARRAGON
BEST SHOUT-OUT
One of the Payette.artisticbestlongest-runningcity'sandtheatresunderthedirectionofMikeCheckoutHan-nahMoscovitch’s
215 Spadina Ave.
Hip pickleball aficionados have a fun new midtown facility to partake in the social sport. FAIRGROUNDS just opened last month with four colourful courts, as well as food, beverages and a feel-good vibe, but no membership fees.
And the venerable BEN MCNALLY BOOKS continues to set a very high bar.
Although it’s happening slowly, the city is taking opportunities where it can to create a complete and safe separated cycling network, including new lanes on Yonge and University and those planned for Eglinton.
2400 Yonge St.
BEST NEW FOOD FEST SMORGASBURG has taken the city by storm since launching this summer. Imported from Brooklyn, this festival curates an incredible array of the city’s best food every Saturday until Sept. 10.
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flavour
WINNER
1800 Sheppard Ave. E., $42 for 4 oubl e the yolk,doublethe a s t e
“Very gingery, porky, there’s actually some candied winter melon. There are pieces that have so much sugar on them that they crystalize and become crunchy.”
SAINT GERMAIN BAKERY
For the mature pal at e
345 Spadina Ave., $7.50 per piece
MIXED NUTS & WINTER MELON
LIGHT MELONWINTER
6464 Yonge St. #122, $37 for 4
“It has that pork flavour to it. It’s interesting. Maybe I have some more growing up to do so that I can appreciate this one a little more. I would definitely buy this for the older people in my life.”
LOTUS PASTE
“It’s pasty, it’s heavy. As a kid, this is everything that I didn’t like in a mooncake because I would bite into them, hoping for lotus, but I’d get this. I appreciate it a lot more now.”
“Wow, this is delicious. This one tastes like a very nice, clean white bean. The crust is nice, and so is the scent. I expected it to be way more dense in flavour and texture, but it’s actually very pleasant.”
KIN-KIN BAKERY
LOTUS WITH EGG YOLK
270 West Beaver Creek Rd., Richmond Hill, $78 for 6 light
4910 Yonge St., $62 for 6
MASHION BAKERY
“They’re using salted egg yolk as a basis for a custard. It’s not traditional, but it’s cool. I would buy this set for my younger cousins. This has a modern approach, but it doesn’t fulfill my soul.”
PATISSERIE GATEAU
“The smell is a clean, uplifting scent. It has a double yolk, which is a classic move. It’s a quintessential mooncake, and the yolk is oily, which I like. I would buy this set for myself.”
283 Dundas St. W., $7 for 5
S t e l l ar crust+
Eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival, mooncakes are presented as a gift to friends and family. Chef Craig Wong gives us the scoop on the best of these traditionally red bean– or lotus-paste-filled Chinese delicacies in Toronto.
PATCHMON’S
RUNNER-UP
TASTE TEST FOOD
YU SEAFOOD
BLACK BEAN PASTE
BAKE CODE
YOU WANT A PIECE OF ME!
“It’s really cool, not something you see quite often. Foodies would definitely get this set from me as a gift. The winter melon is a lot lighter than the lotus or the beans.”
300 John St. #141, $33Thornhill,for6
The chef helms Patois, Bar Mignonette and Ting Irie, the first Jamaican restaurant in Dubai.
CRAIG WONG
MUNG BEAN
SALTED EGG YOLK & LOTUS
D
“They use the interior of the red bean, so it’s really pasty and smooth. It makes the flavour very mellow. It smells like a roast pork bun but has the look of a cake. Not my favourite. I don’t love the lard aftertaste.”
TUNG HING BAKERY
t
353 Broadview Ave., $20.60 for 4
MIXED NUTS & CURED HAM
36 | POST 2022SEPTEMBER| 416-887-8107 | marycifuentes1@gmail.com Realtron Realty Inc.., Brokerage Yonge/Drewry 53' x 132'. Renovated Kitchen & Bathroom 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms *Provided the Tenant* Playter Estates - mins walk to Subway. Renovated with separate inlaw suite Mary Cifuentes Sales Representative Find your dream home with one of Canada's award winning Top 1% Realtors. 908 Logan Ave Cricket Club 30'x130' lot Avenue / Lawrence Lawrence Park SOLDSOLDSOLD LEASED
“Now Toronto is where Americans and Europeans are looking to see what’s next.”
The chef and owner of Richmond Station and 2012 winner of Top Chef Canada developed his skills in New York at several of Boulud’s restaurants, including db Bistro Moderne.
by Ben Kaplan
ambassador of Toronto and he still is,” Boulud says. “I love his energy and creativity and the videos are incredible that he makes with his son.”The thought of chef Daniel Boulud watching Susur deconstruct Taco Bell on TikTok is startling, but Boulud says it’s important for restaurants to remain current, and he also wants to debunk the snooty fine dining air. Bouloud says he learned an important lesson during the pandemic, and that was to not take himself so seriously. There are financial goals at all of his restaurants, and supply chain issues and interest rates are impacting the bottom line of his business. Boulud is having trouble finding people to staff his global restaurants and says he’s feeling a burden unlike anything he’s felt before. But Boulud, reached at his farm outside Lyon, with a smile, says he feels gratitude. Cooking once did, and still does, stir his soul.
Talking about the Michelin guide that is officially coming to Toronto, Boulud says, “I think the Michelin star is a huge step for Toronto and a sign the city is moving in the right direction.”
THEEFFECTBOULUD
In Toronto, Patrick Kriss — the owner of the highly praised Alo — got his start as a sous chef at New York’s Daniel restaurant, and Le Select (the buzziest new restaurant in town after it reopened this year following its closure in 2020) has Zachary Barnes in the kitchen, another local star who learned how to cook from Boulud.
Boulud is sheepish about whether or not his own Toronto restaurant might be first up to win the prestigious award that he’s famous for. But he says the energy generated from the award’s arrival will inspire all of the local cooks. “I absolutely hope that one day we might earn the Michelin for Café Boulud—we might not be there yet, but every great food town has to have ambitions,” he says, then
anoints the Toronto culinary scene as being on par with any place in the“Torontoworld. for a long time had to look south and look east — meaning they had to look to Europe, America and Asia for concepts, but it’s a testament to the young chefs who’ve worked so hard here for so long because now Toronto is where Americans and Europeans are looking to see what’s next,” he says.
Why worldtheislookingtoT.O.
PATRICK KRISS
ZACHARY BARNES
Now helming the recently reopened Le Sélect Bistro, Barnes honed his culinary craft in the kitchen of Boulud’s restaurant Daniel, as well as Alo and Gordon Ramsay London.
energetic room where patrons were devouring plates of lobster tagliatelle, rotisserie duck and warm madeleines. The restaurant, which is long and winding and warm, sits above the d|bar, and Boulud says both restaurants will be doing something special this month for the Toronto International Film Festival.
The chef behind Alo was named Canada’s Most Outstanding Chef by Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants in 2017, 2018 and 2019. He worked under Boulud as a sous chef at his eponymous New York restaurant Daniel.
“The energy of Toronto in September is unlike any place in the world,” he says, adding that unique local offerings to expect from him this month include oysters with caviar and crab stuffed with Canadian salmon.
PROFILE FOOD
Daniel Boulud says the energy of this city in September is unlike anywhere else
“For 25 years Susur was the
Daniel Boulud isn’t bragging, and he isn’t poking fun at his wife or the nearly 45 mouths he’ll feed later today from his firepit, where he loves grilling meat and fish and making vegetables on his woodburning outdoor oven, beside his bocce pit. It’s more that the 67year-old is semi-retired and enjoying the fruits of his longtime excellence in his profession, which includes not only the two-time Michelin-starred Daniel restaurant in New York, but eponymous outposts everywhere from Palm Beach to Dubai, from Singapore to Washington D.C.
Alo’s Patrick Kriss
Boulud’s d|bar and Café Boulud will both be doing something special for TIFF
Chatting from his kitchen outside Lyon, France, chef Daniel Boulud, one of the most lauded chefs in the history of his profession, has a smile on his face when asked who does the cooking when his large family gathers around his table for a meal.“Ilove the act of sharing with the ones you love,” he says serenely, as the sun shines through his big bay window where, in the background, there are rolling, golden fields.
On a recent Thursday night in Toronto, his Café Boulud in Yorkville, inside Yorkville Avenue’s Four Seasons Hotel, was an
“I love what I do and think, if anything, that I learned to take a pause during COVID and reflect on how we operate as a business with compassion,” he says. “Compassion for our suppliers, our customers, our winemakers and foragers and for each other. We must do better for each other because there is no reward financially like the gift of serving something with love.”
CARL HEINRICH
“I’ve had so much great talent from Canada in my kitchens in New York, and I think of Carl Heinrich from Richmond Station and, of course, Patrick. I’m very proud of what he’s accomplished at Alo and think he’s tremendous,” saysHeBoulud.addsthat he remains excited by the cooking — and personality — of his friend Susur Lee.
“There’s nothing quite like everyone sitting down together over a plate of something wonderful, so I generally get the task. I also don’t think anyone in the family wants to compete with me, that’s for sure.”
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The restaurant announced a no-tip model to eliminate the descrimination built into tip culture, raising wages and menu prices to compensate.
Although he is a staunch 18 per cent tipper (20 per cent if the service goes above and beyond), when he’s having lunch or dinner out, he’s on the fence when it comes to fast-casual spots and coffee shops.
We asked a couple of local Toronto residents what they thought about Summerlicious’s claim and what their standard operating procedures are when opting to skip the dishes and head out for dinner.
Summer isn’t complete without the annual culinary event Summerlicious, which kicked off on Aug. 12 and runs until Aug. 28. Patrons have the chance to experience a three-course meal at some of the best spots across the city, selecting from prix fixe menus at six extremely reasonable price points ($20–$75) for lunch or dinner.Although the event makes a ton of pricey restaurants a little more accessible for the average Toronto foodie, some people are a little upset at the tipping details in the fine print on the Summerlicious website that advises patrons that gratuity is not included and recommends an 18 to 20 per cent tip, calling it “a standard expression in Toronto.” Not everyone seems to agree.
This smokehouse joined the movement in June, announcing a new starting and “livable” wage of $22.25 for all staff that they then factored into all menu prices.
Richmond Station
• 20% (Kay)
by Raquel Farrington
“I wasn’t going to tip 18 per cent
• 25% (Good enough)
An 18 per cent tip is now the new baseline for some Toronto restaurants
WithGratuitousgratuitiesT.O.tippingratesrunningashighas30percentoneverythingfromdiningtocoffee,peoplearestartingtopushback
ingredients and restaurant supplies pricier than ever before; and rising inflation rates mean consumers generally have less disposable income to spend on eating out. That said, when people do venture out for a nice meal, is 18 to 20 per cent really the new norm in an era where the cost of living is higher than ever before?
NO-TIPPINGWONDERS
This eatery took to Instagram in 2020 to announce the end of tipping, opting to increase wages instead, and built an average 18 per cent price increase across the menu.
• Other In his post, he said, “The idea that I’m tipping 18 per cent and it’s written out that I’m insulting the bartender somehow and they need improvement is awful. I’ve never felt so manipulated into tipping 25 per cent.”
There’s no doubt that the service industry has suffered immensely as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ongoing closures threatened the livelihood of tons of service workers; supply chain issues have made must-have
on almost $100 worth of takehome wine, and I just sort of panicked and skipped the tip since it was bar service anyway.”
When she handed the terminal back and her receipt printed, the bartender asked matter-of-factly, “No tip?” She was mortified but felt like the establishment had kind of put her in a corner.
MARBEN
RICHMOND STATION
BARQUE
She’s not the only one who feels like rules around when you should tip and how much is getting harder and harder to navigate. In fact, this Summerlicious Reddit post comes on the heels of another viral Reddit post that made the rounds a couple of weeks ago when a Redditor posted “the most offensive tipping options I’ve ever come across” after having a couple of cocktails at an unnamed local bar. When the user went to pay his bill, the machine’s options read:
FEATURE FOOD
This statement, posted on Reddit, prompted one user to write, “Tipping is this weird strange North American thing where it’s okay to pay workers almost nothing and expect them to sell their butts off to pay their rent.”A recent Restaurants Canada survey found Canadians tip 17.6 per cent on average, compared to 15 per cent before the pandemic.
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“I tip 18 per cent if it’s good and 20 per cent if it’s great,” says Emma, who works in corporate law in the city. She says those rates are in line with her current understanding of the Toronto average. That said, she feels the tipping culture is getting out of hand. “At some establishments, I’ve seen the lowest pre-set tipping option set at 20 per cent, meaning the higher end was 25 per cent or 30 per cent.” She recalls a time at the beginning of the summer when she visited a local wine bar in the city and had two glasses while out with a friend. This spot does bar service exclusively, and when she was checking out, she grabbed a couple of bottles from the bottle shop to take home. When the tip option came up there was no way for her to put in a customized amount.
“I only really tip at local places that have amazing and reasonably priced food. I don’t mind rounding up a bit to make my $12 sandwich a $14 sandwich if it helps. But for the most part, I’m not tipping on that iPad terminal.”Thatsaid, there are some locals who have accepted this new normal. “I always tip, even if it’s just 10 per cent for takeout. Tons of people had a role in getting your order into your hands,” says Vanessa, a sales executive in the live music industry. She adds, “Frankly, people suck, and surely aren’t the nicest to wait staff. A little something for me could be something big for them, like an extra dollar on my already $4 latte.”Itshould be noted that some Toronto restaurants are experimenting with a no-tipping policy, such as Barque in the city’s west end. In addition, although the restaurant minimum wage in Ontario has been rising, it’s still not nearly enough to be considered a living wage in the city, so an end to tipping would require restaurant owners to make up the difference in some way.
• 18% (Needs improvement)
But it’s more than just bars and restaurants. Scott is a selfproclaimed foodie who does freelance work for a variety of local restaurants across the city.
• 30% (Great job)
This Victorian home in Little Italy is actually a restaurant
“This has been something that I’ve dreamed of my entire life,” Chartrand says.”I’ve been in the industry for a very long time, and everything I’ve done in my career has always led me to this point.”
With its original exposed brick walls and a beautiful secret back terrace with a seating area, walking into the Hamptons feels more like heading over to a good friend’s house for dinner, and that’s exactly how chef and co-owner Rachel Chartrand wanted it to be.
the season cools, the Hamptons will also add a wood-fired pizza oven that can cook whole fish and roast meats and vegetables.
The intriguing allure of the Hamptons has already attracted a crowd of regulars in Toronto, from couples craving a night out away from the kids to those eager to take advantage of the puppy-friendly patio out front.
The Hamptons is located at 53 Clinton St. in Toronto and is currently open for dinner from Monday to Saturday from 6 to 9:45 p.m.
Inside, wallpaper and teak furniture accents lend what Chartrand calls “a very Scandinavian” feel to the restaurant, and downstairs, a wine cellar will soon offer private tastings and additional eating space.
menu at The Hamptons revolves around fish, vegetables and meat
NEWSFOODThe
“It has everything that you would expect to find in an old home, and we didn’t change any of it, we just gave it a big facelift,” Chartrand says.
The Hamptons’s seasonal menu revolves around vegetables, fish and meat. A move Chartrand says blends in well with the Italian restaurants in the area.
Nestled in an old brick Victorian house and tucked among the other residential houses of Clinton Street, the Hamptons is the latest upscale restaurant to come to Toronto’s Little Italy.
The Hamptons arrived on the scene last month with seasonal menus guided by fresh ingredients by Christine Hogg
The open concept layout, which also features a sunroom, allows guests to go from room to room, while sipping their complimentary glass of Prosecco that’s offered upon entry.
“The similarities between our food and theirs is that we are focused on really great ingredients,” Chartrand says.A thinly sliced raw yellow and green zucchini salad with freshly shucked Ontario peas that is tossed in a Dijon and apple cider vinaigrette, finished with fior di latte, olive oil and freshly cracked peppercorns is among the menu’s bestsellers so far. Another is the “tomatillo three ways,” which features baby bay scallops simmered in tomatillo juice and topped with a thinly sliced tomatillo and a cucumber and shallot mignonette that’s finished with olive oil and cracked pepper. The third star of the menu is a venison tartare from New Zealand, which features a tenderloin cut that’s tenderized and tossed with duck yolk, capers and Dijon mustard. The Hamptons’s take on the tartare is served with a baby butter lettuce cup instead of bread for a beautiful finish.As
40 | POST 2022SEPTEMBER|
Safe stolen from Massimo Capra’s T.O. restaurant
LiGabriel©
The team behind Sunny’s Chinese
If you’re curious about how in demand this new, permanent location is, know that the restaurant’s previous pop-up concept would sell out immediately when subscribers were notified of new events. Previous pop-ups offered up nine-course set menus that would feed two to three people and featured tasty and exclusive dishes, from maple tofu to beef dumplings.Theteam behind Sunny’s stopped doing pop-ups in September of 2021, just weeks before opening up the more upscale MIMI Chinese. They brought Sunny’s back for a limited edition pop-up in January, the perfect teaser for the opening of their Kensington restaurant.Known as the funky downtown cousin to MIMI Chinese, Sunny’s is inspired by high energy dining cultures found throughout China. From
Sunny’s brings fun and flavour to Kensington Market by Christine Hogg
shaokao spots in Chengdu and Xi’An to Dai Pai Dongs in Hong Kong, the menu at Sunny’s draws from regional traditions to create an experience that’s casual and playful. Diners can expect an extensive natural wine list and ingredient-driven dishes off the charcoal grill or fresh out of the wok.There is also a wide selection of baijiu (a popular liquor that’s hard to find in Canada), distilled from fermented sorghum. Tables can be booked directly through the restaurant’s website. Sunny’s holds space for some walk-ins, but due to its popularity, reservations are recommended.
41 | POST 2022SEPTEMBER| NEWS FOOD
“We consider ourselves to be a very fresh approachable restaurant with a wonderful team of staff. Our food is sourced locally whenever possible and we also use high-quality ingredients from Italy and Canada,” a statement on the restaurant’s websiteCaprareads.isoffering a cash reward to anyone who has information regarding the robbery.
to their Deceased Son Andrew Capra was in the safe that was stolen…. To the thief … please … if you are reading this … send back Andrew’s belongings.”Capra’sKitchen is a casual, urban restaurant that serves a number of Italian dishes, including antipasto, pasta and pizza.
Chinese pop-up opens for reals
—Marcus Mitropoulos
Accessible through the Kensington Mall entrance at 60 Kensington Ave., Sunny’s will be open for dinner service from Thursday to Monday. Since its inception in November 2020, the restaurant’s menu was only offered to newsletter subscribers.
After much success as a pop-up, Su nny’s Chinese officially opened in Kensington Market on Aug.Originally18. announcing the grand opening of a storefront location last fall, Sunny’s Chinese was meant to open this spring.
Chef Massimo Capra had this to say in his Instagram post: “Please watch video … share video and please, if anyone has any information regarding this terrible crime, please let us or the Peel Regional Police know. Chef Massimo is offering a cash reward for any info that helps us catch the people who did this, as some very personal items belonging
Just after 1 a.m. on Aug. 9, two individuals broke into Capra’s Kitchen, located at 1834 Lakeshore Rd. W., taking the restaurant’s safe in its entirety. Capra’s kitchen, along with many local supporters, reposted the surveillance cameras from inside the office, as well as the parking lot. The alleged robbers appeared to have taken off in an early 2000s Honda CR-V. The licence plate was not caught by the restaurant’s security cameras.
42 | POST 2022SEPTEMBER|
Opened on April 25, 1949, the Towne Cinema was one of Toronto’s major art theatres and one of the early sites for the Toronto International Film Festival, known as the Festival of Festivals, as shown here in 1976.
The Willow Theatre was a modern theatre best known for its large block-glass entrance. Located on the east side of Yonge Street at Ellerslie Avenue, it was one of the last Toronto-area theatres to run a double feature until it closed in 1987.
SEPTEMBER 2022 EDITION
After its renovation in 1969, the Uptown Theatre became one of the world’s first multiplex cinemas. The Balmuto Street entrance of the theatre, shown here, gave access to two mini theatres with 200 seats after it was converted.
The Downtown Theatre, located at 285 Yonge St., opened in 1948. Along with the Biltmore Theatre, it was one of the first to offer a double feature. The first movie screened was ‘Let’s Live a Little,’ starring Robert Cummings and Hedy Lamarr.
The Imperial Theatre, now the Ed Mirvish Theatre, is located at 263 Yonge St. Built in 1920, the theatre originally opened as the Pantages. In 1972, it underwent a renovation to create six auditoriums and was renamed the Imperial Six Theatre.
Before you go... take a gander at some of the city’s most iconic movie theatres of days gone by! Follow along on Post City’s Instagram @streetsoftoronto this month for more.
The Biltmore Theatre, with its impressive sign and marquee, was located on Yonge Street just south of Gerrard. Opened by the Biltmore theatres chain on April 15, 1948, you could take in double and triple features for $1 until it closed in 1986.
LOOKING BACK
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has recently released its model suites, allowing you to experience, in person, the luxurious mid-town lifestyle available here. Explore the gorgeous designs and interact with the high-end features and finishes available throughout our selection of move-in ready residences. MOVE IN NOW Visit tridel.com/Bianca Bianca Model Suites Now Open BILD GREEN BUILDER OF THE YEAR | BILD HOME BUILDER OF THE YEAR ©Tridel 2022. ®Tridel, “D” design, Tridel Built for Life, Tridel Built for Life Design, and Built Green. Built for Life are registered Trademarks of Tridel Corporation. Project names and logos are Trademarks of their respective owners. All rights reserved. Building and view not to scale. Illustrations are artist’s concept only. Specifications subject to change without notice. E. &O.E. August 2022.
