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The comprehensive index of every blog post, magazine story and restaurant review that appears on Torontolife.com
This year’s crop of restaurants, from a million-dollar dining room to a brazen burger joint, pushed Toronto’s culinary culture in creative, comforting and blessedly cheap directions. Here, the 10 new spots that are redefining the way we eat, drink and play in the city
Move over, Kristen Stewart. Twilight’s Team Edward fans now have a new actress to obsessively hate. Toronto’s Sarah Gadon has been pegged to play Robert Pattinson’s estranged wife in David Cronenberg’s upcoming film Cosmopolis, which is shooting in Hogtown this summer. Gadon’s role was initially going to be played by Inception star Marion Cotillard, but the French actress had to back out after becoming pregnant. Enter Gadon, a regular on the Canadian small-screen circuit, with roles that range from the children’s program Ruby Gloom (see YTV appearance, left) to Life With Derek, The Border and Being Erica. More recently, Gadon played Emma Jung, wife of Swiss psychoanalyst Carl Jung, in another Cronenberg film, A Dangerous Method, currently in post-production. A tip to Gadon for staying in the good graces of Twihards: perhaps stay away from the supposedly smelly former vampire, and opt to hang out with fellow cast members Paul Giamatti and Juliette Binoche instead.
Step, pivot, step, step (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)
Bloor Street West may have lost its mayor, but fans of the hot pink bag arrived at LG Fashion Week’s opening ceremonies last night to support Holt Renfrew’s showcase of Canadian design. Robin Kay opened the festivities with her traditionally laboured speech, this time remarking on the heart and tenacity found within Toronto’s fashion quarters. “We have no excuse but to expose ourselves to the world,” Kay declared. (We were grateful that this did not prompt her to remove her clothing.) See our full photo and scene coverage below.
Crater bodice (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)
Holt Renfrew must have had a great time last season, because they brought an even longer roster of Canadian designers to open this season’s LG Fashion Week. The return of Jeremy Laing, Lida Baday and Wings + Horns (among others) showcased Canadian fashion as more than just plaid and fur. But what would a fashion spectacle be without a Canada Goose down jacket (yes, they were there)? See below for all of the best looks that weren’t down filled.
Flesh, but no flesh tones at Kale and Fast (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)
Rogue Fashion Week continued last night as Mark Fast, the Canadian-born, Britain-based designer (widely known for his early penchant for plus size models) showed his barely there knit pieces with fellow Canadian Mikhael Kale. The location was the still-unfinished Trump International Tower, a fact organizers poked fun at by handing out souvenir Trump-branded hard hats on entry (we worried the unforgiving head wear would muss some of the blowouts, but pretty much no one ended up wearing the hats).
Check out our full scene and photo coverage after the jump.
We know there’s still snow on the ground, but spring, believe it or not, is upon us, and we can’t wait to test out this knee-length Philip Sparks trench, available at Delphic. From the front, it is as classic as The Bell Jar and a breakup, but the goods are in the back. We love how the pleated flounce fans out in a peekaboo fashion. One of the best aspects: Sparks’s tailor-made clothes are all Canadian. Burberry who? $650.
Delphic, 706 Queen Street West, 416-603-3334
Left: Julio Reyes Cocka, Right: Evan Biddell (Images: Supplied by participants)
TODAY’S MATCHUP: Julio Reyes Cocka of Fashionights has had a hard go of getting respect in this fickle industry, fighting near-daily battles to make Fashion Week ranks. His opponent? Beloved bad boy of Canadian fashion Evan Biddell, who wields his wit with withering precision. Take cover, because this will get messy.
Shawn Desman may have started a terrible hair trend back in the early 2000s (come to think of it, was the side-strip buzz cut really ever a trend?), but his latest triumph is securing the post of celebrity judge for the first ever Show Choir Canada National Championships. The Glee-like competition, where schools across Canada perform competing choreographed song and dance routines, takes place April 8 and 9 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
FASHION AND BEAUTY
GOTSTYLE
Save $50–$100 on a modern suit after trading in one of your never-worn boxy numbers. Proceeds from sales will go to dressyourbest.ca. March 15–April 10. 62 Bathurst St., 416-260-9696.
GOTSTYLE
Gotstyle has listed all of their straggling pieces at 70 per cent off their original price for their end-of-season sale, but quantities are limited. March 15–27. 62 Bathurst St., 416-260-9696.
JESSICA JENSEN
Handbags are always an expense, but Jessica Jensen’s upcoming sample sale lists up to 80 per cent off on all items (final sale). March 24–26, Thurs 12–8 p.m., Fri and Sat 12–6 p.m.. 639 Queen St W, Suite 404.
Last season's successful edit (Image: The Bay)
The size choices in the most stylish clothing lines are, shall we say, a bit thin. Even when brands include wider waists, very few items are produced, in fear of overstock. The phenomenon is a recurring concern for women who either teeter on or fall into plus sizes. Though most designers ignore this issue due to cost or apathy, the tireless Jeanne Beker has taken it on. Toronto’s famous fashion maven will grow her clothing line, Edit, so that it includes waist sizes from 14 to 22.
Doctors recommend sodium-free diets, but these Hatchet S and P shakers we found at Made warrant a second opinion. There is no veneer here, just good Canadian maple and some smart eco-design. The creation process is simple: Sheridan Furniture Studio students Tomas Rojcik, Mark Finnigan and Joseph Bauman throw hatchets (see what they did there?) into wood to create a split, and voila. The trio wanted to create modern objects that produced limited material and energy waste. We’re not sure the novel table toppers will de-thrown our mother’s silver, but for day-to-day use, the Hatchets will do more than slap chop the competition. $45.
Made, 867 Dundas Street West, 416-607-6384 madedesign.ca.
Joe Fresh is making the move to New York this fall, but some skeptics suggest that the Mimran dynasty may have to pull back to Canada sooner than anticipated. Analysts seem mixed on the potential success of yet another fast fashion retailer. The Financial Post notes that companies who moved south of the border (among the fallen are Danier, Harry Rosen, Tristan, La Senza and Brown’s Shoes) haven’t always been welcome, while the New York Times highlights a boom in tourist traffic around Joe’s chosen 5th Avenue and 43rd Street location.
A celebrity models a red dress (Image: teadrinker)
Fashion month spawns a series of spectacles, but nothing is as ego-free as the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s “Heart Truth“ runway show (March 24th, The Carlu). The formula: Canadian designers send local notables and celebrities down a runway wearing variations of a red dress in support of heart and stroke awareness. See the full list of celebrity-designer pairings after the jump.
Vikram Vij at All the Best Fine Foods
Vikram Vij, chef and owner of Vancoucer haute Indian restaurants Vij’s and Rangoli, was in town this week for the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association show and a series of meet and greets around the city. His namesake restaurant is well known for its no-reservation policy, long lineups and devoted fans, including New York Times columnist Mark Bittman, who once hailed it as “among the finest Indian restaurants in the world.” Recently, we sat down with the chef, restaurateur and cookbook author to talk about the reasons behind his success and why he won’t expand to Toronto.
Read the rest of this entry »
After The Bay announced that they’d be welcoming “the first” Topshop in Canada yesterday, Jackie O’Brien was understandably irritated. The co-owner of Jonathan and Olivia was understanding of the need for franchising, but perturbed by The Bay’s dissociating her from Toronto’s Topshop introduction. Today, O’Brien indirectly responds to her critics in a press release, stating, “Topshop approached us over 18 months ago to test the Canadian market, as they considered us to be the leading independent retailer.”
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