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Families eager for a midtown address without the Summerhill prices have one last hope. “Davisville’s probably the only off-Yonge pocket left for a house between $600,000 and $800,000,” says John Pasalis of the brokerage Realosophy Realty. “Anywhere else, its unheard of for that price range.”
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It seems the man behind Amaya is no longer satisfied with merely serving Indian food. According to a story in The Grid, Hemant Bhagwani will be exploring the rest of the globe with the multi-culti kid-friendly Bazaar: Global Food Bar, opening on Mount Pleasant in December (see a rendering on Twitter). Bhagwani envisions the place as a Chuck E. Cheese alternative for Toronto’s cultural mosaic, complete with a chalkboard-walled party room, a gift shop and—of course—an in-house psychic. The restaurant will serve a hodgepodge of Italian, Indian, Middle Eastern and Mexican cuisine: think kimchi burgers and butter-chicken pizza, which will presumably appeal more to the adults. Construction starts next week on the site vacated last month by Lai Toh Heen. Read the entire story [The Grid] »
BEAN SPROUT
All winter clothing and outerwear is 30 per cent off at this kids’ clothing shop. 565 Mount Pleasant Rd., 416-932-3727, beansprout.ca.
CABARET
The vintage shop is offering 50 per cent off dresses, men’s suits and jewellery. 672 Queen St. W., 416-504-7126.
DANDI MAESTRE Read the rest of this entry »
Accessory designer Dandi Maestre has a knack for bold, statement-making jewellery (antler necklace, anyone?). While she sells on-line, we’re heading to this pre-holiday pop-up shop to ogle the goods in person. From $40. Until Dec. 22. 386 Huron St., dandimaestre.com.
Monforte's cheese-share program helped the company stay afloat (Image: Monforte)
It appears that the warm, fuzzy sentiments that usually come with supporting locavorism aren’t enough to ensure that Culinarium, a local-focused grocery store near Eglinton and Mount Pleasant, will stay afloat. Owner Kathleen Mackintosh is hoping a solid group of customers will invest in “dinner plate shares,” The Star reports, in an effort to gather the $50,000 to $100,000 needed to keep the place open. The shares would entail an initial investment that would pay itself back, with a bit of interest, in the form of redeemable vouchers over the next three years. A $500 investment would yield $600 in groceries; a $1,000 investment would yield $1,305.
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The bucolic eco-paradise between Rosedale and the DVP almost never was. How big money and one ambitious entrepreneur remade the Brick Works
On May 29, the opening day of the Brick Works farmers’ market, I pedalled past the savvy people who had parked their cars illegally outside the Mount Pleasant Cemetery’s southern gate, knowing there would be no parking spots below, and through the Moore Park ravine. The air was cool and moist, the trees still. Then, the vista of the Don Valley opened up: the sun was shining on the pretty quarry garden, burning away the morning clouds and reflecting off the wetland ponds. I couldn’t yet see the market, but I could hear it: at 8 a.m., the site was already alive with happy chatter and the slow strum of “You Are My Sunshine” on guitar.
(Image: Jeremy R. Jansen)
Leaf fan: Matchbox Gardens grows rare and wonderful lettuces (Image: Jay Shuster)
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The patio season started early this year, which simply means there’s more time to hit the city’s best al fresco dining and drinking destinations. Here, 10 of our favourites »
The Bay Adelaide Centre is in the running (Image: Neal Jennings)
Polls are now open for the 2010 Pug Awards, in which the Toronto public will recognize—through a vote of “love it,” “like it” or “hate it”—the buildings completed in 2009 that display the most architectural finesse. (Find the full list of nominations after the jump.)
What began as a satirical venture in 2004 as the Fugly Awards (given to buildings that were really freaking ugly) has evolved into a coveted Toronto distinction, with around 50,000 people expected to vote this year on 34 residential nominees and seven commercial ones—including the RBC Centre, the Telus Tower and the Madison Avenue Lofts.
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(Photo by xiaofeng17)
Unsurprisingly, cooking class registration increases in the weeks after Christmas, as wannabe chefs redeem gifts of culinary education. Those shopping around for just the right present will find options for any taste and talent level, with seminars on everything from making chocolate to tasting cheese or learning how to fry an Indian dosa. For romance, try a couples class; for kitchen newbies, there are beginner chef series. Below, our list of nine Toronto teaching kitchens and the gift-worthy classes they offer this December.
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The Mount Pleasant strip isn’t exactly the next hot ’hood or the new Queen West or the developer district du jour. No, Mount Pleasant is as it’s always been: a charming stretch between Eglinton and Davisville that’s lined with European bakeries, amazing Gallic restaurants (where the servers still speak French), whimsical shops and one-screen movie houses that take us back to the Toronto of yore. Unlike other shopping and dining districts, customers aren’t paying for the view, the rent or the trend—they’re paying for a slice of authenticity in an ever-gentrifying city. Here, we visit our 26 favourite spots along Mount Pleasant, finding quirky antiques, fanciful items for kids, refined meals and stunning baguettes.
The Mount Pleasant strip isn’t exactly the next hot ’hood or the new Queen West or the developer district du jour. No, the Mount Pleasant strip is as it always has been: a charming stretch between Eglinton and Davisville that is lined with European bakeries, amazing Gallic restaurants (where the servers still speak French), whimsical shops and one-screen movie houses that take us back to the Toronto of yore. Unlike other shopping and dining districts, customers aren’t paying for the view, the rent or the trend—they’re paying for a slice of authenticity in an ever-gentrifying city. Here, we visit our 26 favourite spots along Mount Pleasant, finding quirky antiques, fanciful items for kids, refined meals and stunning baguettes.
BEYOND THE SPA OPENING
Guests will be treated to champagne, wine, nibbles and free treatments (a mini-facial or lime-coconut scrub) at the opening party for Beyond the Spa. Oct. 3. 2–4 p.m. 13 Church St., Ajax, thebestspa.ca.
THE CLOTHING SHOW
The fall version of this Toronto institution runs this weekend, with plenty of fashions (including vintage and locally made) to stock fall wardrobes, plus art exhibits and runway shows. $8–$10. Sept. 25 to 27. Better Living Centre, Exhibition Place, 195 Princes Blvd., 416-516-9859.
EYEWEAR SALE
All eyewear (including prescription glasses and sunglasses) at Anders and Flynt Optician’s annual back-to-school sale is 40 to 80 per cent off. Snap up discontinued Tag Heuer sunglasses for $99 or save 50 per cent off prescription lenses. Sept. 25 to 27. 2215 Steeles Ave. W., 416-667-8887.
PORTOBELLO EAST MARKET Read the rest of this entry »
The once-monthly fashion market began this summer in the Distillery District, with a $5 admission charge. Starting this Sunday, Portobello East is moving to the Burroughes Building on Queen Street West and dropping the entry fee. Look for Toronto-made jewellery, clothing and handbags. Sept. 27. Burroughes Building, 639 Queen St. W., portobelloeast.com.
BEAN SPROUT
Don’t panic, but the kids’ boutique is having a pre-season snowsuit sale (emphasis on the pre-, please). Take 20 per cent off all suits and 60 per cent off all final summer clearance items, including Geox sandals. 565 Mount Pleasant Rd., 416-932-3727, beansprout.ca.
JACFLASH
Summer merchandise at this West Queen West store that caters to both teens and adults is discounted by 50 per cent. Already discounted items in their “garage sale”—house, naturally, in the former garage at the back of the store—are all under $50. 1036 Queen St. W., 416-516-8766.
LINEA INTIMA Read the rest of this entry »
The lingerie shop is having a mother-daughter sale: when both buy bras, the panties are free. Print off the coupon here. Until Sept. 30. 1925 Avenue Rd., 416-780-1726, lineaintima.com.
Salon owner Deborah McGrath says the blow-dry business is recession proof (Photo by Karon Liu)
When a client leaves the salon, the inevitable countdown from having an impeccable do to having a flat, windblown bird’s nest begins. So consider the freshly opened Do My Hair blow-dry bar (the inclusion of the word “dry” is imperative) a pit stop between cuts.
For $32 ($22 for men), women will have their tresses washed and styled in about half and hour—ideal for a post-gym, pre-dinner touch-up or before a stressful job interview.
Unlike at typical hair salons, part of the store’s policy is to encourage walk-ins, rather than keep appointment books, says owner Deborah McGrath, who comes from a corporate consulting background. “A hair appointment is supposed to make life easier, but I find that my entire day has to revolve around that one appointment, which defeats the purpose.”
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BEANSPROUT
Before sending the tykes off to camp, check out this sale at the kiddie outfitter Beansprout. Bathing suits, shoes and socks are marked down by 20 per cent, and seasonal footwear and togs are half price. Sizes available for newborns to 12-year-olds. 565 Mount Pleasant Rd., 416-932-3727, beansprout.ca.
BUCKLER
Men who like their fashions fresh from the NYC meat-packing district should head to Buckler, where almost everything is 30 per cent off. Hyper-trendy dark-denim drop-crotch jeans are $228, down from $325. Bonus feature: a removable zip-off panel allows them to morph into regular-crotch jeans—perfect for when the fad peters out or the wearer starts to feel self-conscious, whichever comes first. 700 Queen St. W., 416-551-8441, bucklershowroom.com.
CARTE BLANCHE
Just when everyone thought Cheap Mondays couldn’t get any cheaper, jeans at this store are now $55 (down from $69). Everything else is 25 to 50 per cent off, including—for all the Lady Gaga wannabes out there—a black, midriff-baring torpedo-bra corset for $135. 758 Queen St. W., 416-532-0347, shopcarteblanche.ca.
COMRAGS Read the rest of this entry »
Make like Sarah Slean and snap up a dress or two designed by these Ryerson fashion program alumnae: selected items at the store are discounted from 30 to 50 per cent. From July 11. 654 Queen St. W., 416-360-7249, comrags.com.
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