5 minute read
Trust Me, Try This
Your EastTO Winter To-Do List
By Julie Brown and Jeremy Watt
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Julie Brown and Jeremy Watt, founders of Province of Canada, have lived in the East End since 2015. Their shared love of graphic design and textiles inspired this casual lifestyle brand, which strays from the typical “Canadiana” lore and prides itself on being solely manufactured in Canada. Given their love for all things Canada (and warm and cozy clothing and home accessories), this duo is the perfect tour guide for making the most of winter in the East End.
A shot of chocolate sea salt with your coffee
For our morning coffee, we always head across the street to Pilot Roasters, which we still lovingly refer to as Te Aro! They have a ton of different roasts available, and there’s something for everyone. Our standard order is two Flat Whites and the Energy Balls for the kids. Whether we’re hanging out inside or on the patio – we’re always bound to run into someone we know.
→ Pilot Coffee Roasters, 983 Queen St E
The Miso Soup from nutbar
For a healthy and satisfying lunch, we love nutbar. The cafe is built around a holistic approach to health, using over twenty-five different superfoods across their menu. Our go-to is the Harvest Miso Soup. It’s one of those soups that warm you up from the inside out, and the sourdough croutons on top make it all the better.
Be sure to check out their killer pantry items when you’re there. You can buy everything from their housemade granola and nut milk to cookie baking kits and mushroom tinctures. It’s a great place to stock up your kitchen or grab a quick gift for someone. → nutbar, 899 Queen St E
Get’em while they’re hot!
We’re long-time fans of Bonjour Brioche. It’s been a staple in the neighbourhood since the late ’90s and has the freshest French pastries in the East End. On a cold morning, nothing feels quite as good as getting a fresh warm croissant or brioche bun, so we recommend getting there early as they sell out fast!
→ Bonjour Brioche, 812 Queen St E
The new brunch spot in town
For brunch, we head over to Leslieville newcomer, Pasaj, owned and operated by the same team from Simit & Chai over in the west end. This bakery and brunch spot offers the experience of Instanbul, using authentic Turkish flavour in both the food and interior design. The Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict and Pancakes are an absolute must, and if you’re going with friends, the Turkish Breakfast Spread is perfect for sharing.
→ Pasaj, 1100 Queen St E
Bring some self-care home
The new Health Hut at Queen and Pape has everything you could need for a day of resetting and relaxing when it comes to self-care. Whether you’re looking for the perfect candle to cozy up with or a new Gua Sha, they have it all. Their puzzle selection is also top-notch — we usually have a thousandpiece puzzle going in the house. For the whole self-care day experience, make an appointment at Morrison & Co, truly the best cuts in the East End. Ask for Tristan!
→ The Health Hut, 1025 Queen St E → Morrison & Co, 976 Queen St E
@momandpopstudio
Chill out and order in
After a long week of working and running around with the kids, we like to keep it chill when it comes to Saturday night dinner. Add in the cold that Canadian winters bring, and we’re staying inside. Nights like this call for take-out pizza and cozying up on the couch with the kids for a movie. If Mom and Dad choose, it’s something like The Incredibles, but the kids always love The Lego Movie. Our go-to is Descendant Pizza, the best Detroit-style pizza in the East End. We always get The Gatt Daddy with Mama Lil’s Peppers, red onion, sauce, basil aioli, parsley, and basil — but what pulls it all together is the house-made fennel sausage they put on top. → Descendant Pizza, 1168 Queen St E
Date night at the theatre
For date night, we head over to The Fox Theatre. It's been around since 1914, so it has this eclectic classic cinema feeling to it. Complete with one of those old fashion marquees to display what’s playing. Vintage factor aside, we're mostly there for the popcorn, which is the best in the city. They play a good mix of loveable oldies, underrated indie flicks and new releases. Aside from its longstanding EastTO history, one of the best parts of the theatre is its wine and craft beer, making it the perfect spot for date night. → Fox Theatre, 2236 Queen St E
Get outside on a toboggan run!
Even with a little bit of a chill outside, we still love all the Canadian seasons. I mean, we made a whole brand out of our love for Canada. One of our favourite winter activities is taking our kids tobogganing (Shameless plug — our waffle knit collection is excellent for layering under snow pants!) The best spot for tobogganing is Greenwood Park, it has a good range of hills to ride down, so it’s got a little something for the true thrill-seekers and the more relaxed rider. The park has one of the few covered outdoor skating rinks in the city, a great alternative if tobogganing isn’t your thing.
→ Greenwood Park, 150 Greenwood Ave
