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C O M P L I M E N TA R Y INSIDE NEIGHBOURHOODS SPORTS ARCHITECTURE SHOPPING CULTURE PEOPLE

2016

# SEETORONTONOW

STEPPING OUT

THE FESTIVALS, THE CONCERTS, THE SHOWS,


THE EXHIBITIONSAND MORE!

EXPERIENCE CULINARY BREAKTHROUGHS, FASHION ADVENTURES AND FAMILY FUN!


MORE TO EXPLORE BRAMPTON, MISSISSAUGA & NIAGARA

YOUVE GOT A FRIEND IN TORONTO


Located in the heart of downtown Toronto within walking distance of prime retail districts and colourful local neighbourhoods
A variety of guest rooms ranging from comfortable Chelsea rooms to spacious Kitchenettes and Suites
Relax in any of our three restaurants. Market Garden features fresh grab-and-go menu items and the option of indoor or outdoor dining.
Enjoy a selection of light snacks and world class wines at express|o coffee and wine bar or indulge in a signature Caesar and authentic
Indian curry lunch buffet in T| BAR
Exclusive attraction, theatre and spa discounts through our Show Your Key and Save program
Separate adult and family recreation areas including 2 indoor pools and the 130-foot Corkscrew waterslide
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Underground hotel parking available

chelseatoronto.com / 1-800-CHELSEA (243-5732)


33 Gerrard Street West. Toronto, ON M5G IZ4

A member of Langham Hospitality Group

welcome

Whats Online
Visit SeeTorontoNow.com for more
information, resources and news you can
use to make the most of your Toronto visit.
Check out an exclusive behind-the-scenes
video of our exciting cover shoot outside
the revitalized Union Station.

Search our calendar for hot events


and cool happenings taking
place during your visit.

Welcome to Toronto!

e are delighted to showcase all that this great destination has to


offer in the 2016 Toronto magazine and to provide you with both
inspiration and information for spending your time with us.
Toronto is a sophisticated, cosmopolitan city with fun and enlightening
things happening around every corner. Whether youre travelling with
family or having a couples weekend, youre a sports fan or a spa goer,
weve got you covered. Business travellers will find amenities such as
a wide range of event facilities and transportation options that make
meeting in the Toronto region a seamless experience.
You can plan your visit down to the minute using this magazine, or just
pick a neighbourhood and start wandering. Youll find ethnic enclaves
with the delicious food and fascinating culture that goes with them, and
uniquely Canadian experiences too. You can walk, cycle, take transit and
even paddle a boat if thats your choice. We recommend trying them all.
As a gateway to a vast and diverse region that includes the awesome
Niagara Falls, the lakes and forests of Muskoka and the Kawarthas and
the capital city of our country, Ottawa, this is an ideal base for a day
trip or overnight sojourn. Right next door are the cities of Mississauga
and Brampton each of which have a compelling combination of natural
escapes, Canadian heritage, ethnic diversity and a growing urban core
with big-city amenities like shopping, arts and dining.
More than 315,000 dedicated individuals are working in tourism and
hospitality and were all here to welcome you and make your visit one
youll remember for a long time to come.

After you read our magazine,


head online for bonus content,
including wearable souvenirs
and high-impact public art.

Finally, dont forget to share your


Toronto experience! Get social and
tell us about your stay. What was the
highlight of your Toronto trip?

Michael Coteau

Ontario Minister of Tourism,


Culture and Sport

Johanne R. Blanger
President and CEO,
Tourism Toronto

Like us on Facebook
facebook.com/visittoronto
Tweet with us on twitter
@SeeTorontoNow
Pin with us on pinterest
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@SeeTorontoNow

@SeeTorontoNow l

VisitToronto

TORONTO 2016 3

TORONTO MAGAZINE 2016, VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1

CONTENTS

28

Departments

Upfront

3 Welcome

11 Arts, culture, etc.

8 Contributors
12 New in 2016
Heres what everyones
excited about this year.

From insider-secret
shopping tips to the
hottest gallery scenes,
find out where to get
your culture on.

City Confidential
26 Hot tickets
Nine of the years
most anticipated shows,
games, concerts
and events.
By Amber Dowling

28 Urban fusion
Six local landmarks
fuse historic Toronto
with innovative,
modern design.

88 Finding your feet


How to get around town.

92 2016 events

By Jamie Bradburn

94 Last look
Molly Babad, a boat
captain with Toronto
Harbour Tours Inc.,
introduces passengers
to the mysteries of
Lake Ontario.

26

32 Strategic moves
Four movers and
shakers on why they
made Toronto their HQ.
By Jasmine Miller

36 Collect em all
Sports fans who want
to check off more
legendary sports
experiences from their
bucket lists can start
by touching the Stanley
Cup and reliving Tiger
Woodss epic shot on
the 18th hole at Glen
Abbey Golf Club.

38 Winter fun
Be enchanted by the
sparkle of the season.

44 Your festival,
your way
Catch your fave acts
in one epic weekend.
Whether thats all in
one place or all over the
city is up to you.
By Yuki Hayashi

48 City style
From pitch-perfect
designer to edgy
streetwear, weve got
wardrobe picks fit for
an evening at the opera
or a night of clubhoppingalong with
intel on Torontos best
shopping haunts.
By Vanessa Taylor

By Kat Tancock

40 Family time
Discover, delight and
devour, and see how you
stack up as a city
explorer.

11
44

By Yuki Hayashi

42 Canadian content
Sample everything that
Canada is famous for,
without leaving the city.
By Jamie Noguchi

4 TORONTO 2016 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com

40

CONTENTS

54

82

Compass

Food & Drink

66 Go local

61 Always hungry

54 Local flavour
Three chefs dish on
what makes their cuisine
taste like home.

Get your fix with these


24 suggestions to eat
around the clock.

By Gizelle Lau

By Ernie Ourique

Eating, shopping and


other cool things to do
in Torontos diverse
neighbourhoods.
By Jane L. Thompson

58 Short orders

76 The arts blossom


in Flower City
Bramptons culture
scene blooms with
excitement.
By Sarah B. Hood

62 Brewers choice

Small-plates cuisine
goes casual.

82 Niagara adventures
From vineyard tours
to outdoor excitement
and family fun, theres
more to discover
beyond the Falls.

By Karen Burshein

60 Savvy sips

Sports, shops,
nature, culture:
whats your favourite
reason to visit?
By Janelle Reed

The experts weigh in


on the best places to
enjoy their beer.

By Simone Olivero

79 Mississauga
meet-ups

Why Ontario wines


are making a splash
in city restos.

By Yuki Hayashi

By Dee Brun

86 Ontario getaways
Visit Ontarios
favourite getaways.
By Aliyah Shamsher

66

86

62
58

C O M P L I M E N TA R Y INSIDE NEIGHBOURHOODS SPORTS ARCHITECTURE SHOPPING CULTURE PEOPLE

2016

# SEETORONTONOW

STEPPING OUT
THE FESTIVALS, THE CONCERTS, THE SHOWS,
THE EXHIBITIONSAND MORE!

EXPERIENCE CULINARY BREAKTHROUGHS, FASHION ADVENTURES AND FAMILY FUN!


MORE TO EXPLORE BRAMPTON, MISSISSAUGA & NIAGARA

ON THE COVER
Shot on location outside the ambitiously
revitalized Union Station.
Photography: Glen Reichwein
Stylist: Michelle Paiano, plutino group
Hair and makeup: Nina Farrauto, plutino group
Models: Aislinn, Juzar Dean, plutino group
On her: Fur vest, Pink Tartan; dress, Calvin Klein
(available at Hudsons Bay); shoes, Town Shoes
On him: Blazer, shirt, EXPRESS; hat, Harry Rosen;
jeans, shoes, models own

6 TORONTO 2016 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com

76

ELEGANT Accents
&

STUNNING Views

The Feature Rooms and Suites at the InterContinental Toronto Centre integrate classic design
and textures with elegant accents and stunning views. Azure Restaurant & Bar offers cuisine with
authentic local touches to create something that is truly unique and delicious. Discover a relaxing
oasis in the heart of Toronto at the Spa InterContinental, with its sunlit lounge, patio, saltwater
indoor pool and calming treatment rooms, it is truly a dynamic urban retreat. Steps from downtown
attractions and attached to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre overlooking scenic Lake Ontario,
the InterContinental Toronto Centre will ensure that you have an authentic upscale experience so you
can bring back memories that will last a lifetime.

225 FRONT STREET WEST, TORONTO, ON CANADA M5V 2X3


416 597 1400 WWW.TORONTOCENTRE.INTERCONTINENTAL.COM

CONTRIBUTORS
Karen Kwan
Writer, Screen city (page 15),
Stop and go (page 16)
Kwan is a freelance writer and the lifestyle blogger of
healthandswellness.com. She is also the Toronto editor
at VitaminDaily and the editor-at-large of iRun, and has
written for Huffington Post Canada, Glow and wdish.com.
Must-attend Toronto festival:
TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival). I love going to
screenings and hearing from the director and cast about
how the movie came together.

Gizelle Lau
Writer, Local flavour (page 54)
Lau is a freelance food and travel writer and photographer
whose work has appeared on torontolife.com, as well as in
Post City Toronto, Eater, Forbes Travel Guide and many
other print and online publications.
Her perfect Sunday: Dim sum in Chinatown, then
Kensington for coffee, followed by visits to the butcher,
cheesemonger and produce shops to pick up ingredients
for dinner.

Javier Lovera
Photographer, City style (page 48)
Lovera is a Colombian-Canadian photographer specializing
in fashion and beauty. His client list includes BMW, Nike,
Mendocino, Rudsak and Ford, and his editorial work has
been published in Elle Quebec, Fashion and the
Globe and Mail. Follow him on Twitter @javierlovera.
Must-attend Toronto festival: Scotiabank
CONTACT Photography Festival is my favourite festival.
Its really special to see the entire city turn into a
photography gallery.

Michelle Paiano
Stylist, cover
Paiano is a Toronto-based fashion stylist whose work has
appeared in BlackBook, Sharp and Glow. She has also
worked with corporate clients including Nike, MercedesBenz and LOral Paris.
Must-attend Festival: Afrofest. I love hearing music from
all over the world, specifically different types of drumming.
I bring my drums and drum along! Theres also great food
from around the world, a culturally diverse crowd and
talent, and great shopping and vendors.

Tourism Toronto
Chair of the Board
Heather McCrory
President & CEO
Johanne R. Blanger
Executive Vice President &
Chief Marketing Officer
Andrew Weir
Editorial Director:
Director, Content
& Publishing
Paula Port
Managing Editor:
Content Manager
Cathy Riches
Director,
Creative Services
Bridget LeGrow
Director, Industry Relations
Pamela Laite
Member Care Director
Denise Belgrove
Spafax Canada Inc.
spafax.com
Editorial
Executive Editor
Amanda Eaton
Deputy Editor
Yuki Hayashi
Copy Chief
Jennifer Krissilas
Art
Art Director
Gordon Alexander
Designers
Shelley Frayer,
Rob Norton
Operations
Production Director
Joelle Irvine

Production Manager
Felipe Batista Nunes
Ad Production Manager
Mary Shaw
Ad Production Coordinator
Joanna Forbes
Proofreaders
Jacob Sheen,
Nicole Gottselig
Sales
Media Director
Laura Maurice
National Sales Manager
Tracy Miller
Sales Account Representative
Natalie Hope
Account Management
Senior Director,
Business Development
& Client Strategy
Courtney MacNeil
Senior Strategist,
Luxury & Lifestyle Brands
Christal Agostino
Account Manager,
Luxury & Lifestyle Brands
Celyn Harding-Jones,
Elana Crotin
Chief Executive Officer
Niall McBain
President,
Content Marketing
Raymond Girard
Executive Vice President,
Content Marketing
Nino DiCara
Senior Vice President,
Content Strategy
Arjun Basu
Director, Finance
& Operations
Faraz Saleem

Glen Reichwein
Photographer, cover
Reichwein has been creating award-winning ad
photography for 25 years, for top clients such as Rogers,
Ripleys Aquarium of Canada, Steam Whistle Brewing,
FedEx and Tim Hortons. He has also shot sports icons like
Wayne Gretzky, Doug Gilmour, Wendel Clark and Brett
Hull. Visit photoGR.com to view his portfolio.
His perfect Sunday: Sunday afternoon runs through
High Park, or a Blue Jays game with my boy.

Membership enquiries: 647-202-3042


Ad sales (Spafax Canada): 416-350-2425
Circulation: 250,000
Published by Tourism Toronto
Queens Quay Terminal, Suite 405,
207 Queens Quay West, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5J 1A7
Tel: 416-203-2600 Fax: 416-203-6753
Printed in Canada
Toronto Magazine 2016. All rights reserved.
Reproduction without permission is prohibited. All
information is current as of press time. The publisher cannot
and does not guarantee the accuracy of all information and
will not be responsible for errors, changes or omissions.

This publication
is printed on stock
FSC certified and is
100% recyclable.

8 TORONTO 2016 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com

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Once a quiet stretch of underdeveloped real estate, todays


waterfront has blossomed into one of the citys most loved attractions.
Harbourfront Centre offers arts and culture festivals, and the Toronto
Islands, with their sandy beaches, amusement park and tree-lined
trails, are only a short ferry trip away. Go canoeing and kayaking. Have
a quiet moment in a mini-park such as Sherbourne Common. Spend
the afternoon relaxing by the lake at vibrant Sugar Beach. Take a
harbour tour, visit a contemporary art venue (The Power Plant) and
explore public spaces (Ontario Square and Canada Square) along the
newly revitalized Queens Quay. Everything is connected along the
scenic waters-edge promenade.

Photography: Connie Tsang/Waterfront Toronto

UPFRONT

News

Heres what everyones excited about this year.

Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon

Run this city


Toronto is a runners city. With safe, scenic and exhilarating trails for every
kind of runner, its one of Canadas top places to trainand race! Endurance
enthusiasts have three great marathons to lace up for: the GoodLife Fitness
Toronto Marathon (May 1, 2016), the Mississauga Marathon (May 1, 2016) and,
in fall, the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon (October 16, 2016), which
recently earned the International Association of Athletic Federations coveted
Gold Label statusthe only Canadian race to join the ranks of the worlds
top marathons. Each of the marathons also offer shorter events, ranging
from the 5K (3.1 miles) to the half-marathon, in case youre not ready to tackle
42.2 km (26.2 miles).

Airport express
Toronto airports just got even
more accessible! Departing
every 15 minutes, the new UP
Express (Union Pearson
Express) train takes just 25
minutes to travel between
Toronto Pearson International
Airport and Union Station.
Travellers flying out of Billy
Bishop Toronto City Airport can
now walk from the waterfront to
the island airport in about six
minutes through a pedestrian
tunnel. upexpress.com,
bbtcatunnelproject.ca

12 TORONTO 2016 l

UP Express

@SeeTorontoNow l

VisitToronto

Canadian Opera Company


January 23 to
February 14, 2016
Opera fans eagerly anticipate
the next installment of
Wagners Ring Cycle,
Siegfried, starring two of the
hottest superstars on the
world stage: Stefan Vinke
(Siegfried) and Christine Goerke (Brnnhilde). Goerke
is honing her Wagnerian chops for her upcoming
appearance in the same role at the Met. coc.ca
Beneath the Surface:
Life, Death, and Gold in Ancient Panama
Gardiner Museum
February 18 to May 29, 2016
A glittering exhibit from the University of Pennsylvania
Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, featuring
golden treasures and painted ceramics unearthed
during the 1940 excavation of a fascinating
pre-Columbian burial site. gardinermuseum.com
Tattoos
Royal Ontario Museum
April 2 to September 5, 2016
Get under the skin of humanitys most durable
fashion statement with a look at 5,000 years of
body art. rom.on.ca
The Science of Ripleys Believe It or Not!
Ontario Science Centre
May 21 to September 5, 2016
Explore the real science behind the unbelievable
oddities, anomalies and fantastic feats documented
in Robert Ripleys legendary compendium.
ontariosciencecentre.ca
A Gentlemans Guide to Love & Murder
Mirvish Productions
May 25 to June 26, 2016
The 2014 Tony Awardwinner for Best Musical is the
hilarious story of Monty Navarro, who sets out to
inherit a fortune by doing away with the eight other
heirs who stand in his way. mirvish.com
Chihuly
Royal Ontario Museum
June 25, 2016 to January 2, 2017
A full-blown exhibition of the worlds most famous
glass artist, Dale Chihuly, whose vivacious
blown-glass blossoms adorn the lobby of the
Bellagio in Las Vegas. rom.on.ca
Matilda The Musical
Mirvish Productions
Opens July 2016
The award-winning Broadway musical based on the
beloved childrens novel by Roald Dahl comes to the
ornate Ed Mirvish Theatre. mirvish.com
The Idea of North:
The Paintings of
Lawren Harris
Art Gallery of Ontario
July 2 to
September 11, 2016
This international touring
show throws a spotlight on
Canadian landscape painter
Lawren Harris (18851970), whose work set a record
in 2009 when one of his oil sketches sold for $3.5
million, at the time the highest price paid for artwork
by a member of the Group of Seven and the
second-highest price paid for a Canadian artwork.
One of the shows curators is comedian, musician,
actor and writer Steve Martin. ago.net

Photography: Doug Brown (Marathon), Michael Cooper (Siegfried), AGO (Lawren Harris)

Whats on!

upfront

Urban improvements
Union Station, Torontos main downtown hub for local public
transit and intercity bus and train systems, is nearing completion
of its $800-million upgrade. In 2015, expanded TTC subway
facilities were unveiled, with wider platforms and a new art
installation. The Union Station faade has been revitalized and
now overlooks a public square on Front Street, which plays host
to a summer-long fresh-food market, a Wednesday farmers
market and other public events. toronto.ca
South of Front Street, the redesigned Queens Quay was
unveiled in June 2015. The waterfront corridor is now a showpiece
of contemporary street design, with two lanes of east-west
automobile traffic, a dedicated light rail transit (LRT) line, plus a
tree-lined granite pedestrian promenade and multi-use
recreational trail that link a series of whimsical parks, beaches,
gardens and cultural destinations like Harbourfront Centre.
waterfrontoronto.ca

Game on

The Grey Cup

Last years Pan Am and Parapan Am Games and the American


League Division Series win for the Toronto Blue Jays of
Major League Baseball were a sports lovers bonanza, but 2016
promises to be no less exciting! From February 12 to 14, 2016,
Air Canada Centre (ACC) hosts the 65th NBA All-Star Game
and its accompanying festivities, the first-ever edition outside the
U.S. nba.com
After a 12-year hiatus, the World Cup of Hockey returns to
the ACC from September 17 to October 1, 2016, with national
teams from Canada, the U.S., the Czech Republic, Finland,
Sweden and Russia, plus Team Europe and Team North America
(which feature 23-and-under stars). nhl.com
On Sunday, November 27, 2016, the battle for Canadas
football Holy Grail, the Grey Cup, comes to the newly expanded
BMO Field, the new home of the Canadian Football Leagues
Toronto Argonauts and also home to Major League Soccers
Toronto FC. cfl.ca

Photography: CFL (Grey Cup), T. Carter (Honest Eds), Casa Loma (Company & Co.)

Essential Instagram moments


Pack the selfie stick for jaunts to some of the citys most striking
locations and attractions!
Start with everyones favourite photo subject from the Pan Am
and Parapan Am Games, the oversized TORONTO sign at Nathan
Phillips Square, which was so popular in 2015 that its been booked
to stay through 2016. toronto.ca
Torontos honest-to-goodness castle, Casa Loma is now
the site of Company & Co.s Casa Loma Escape Series, an
immersive adventure game based on scenarios like bootlegging
in the 1920s or preventing submarine attacks in the 1940s.
escapecasaloma.com
This year is your last chance to gawk at the spectacle of the
discount palace at Bloor and Bathurst known as Honest Eds
(named after beloved local entrepreneur Ed Mirvish). Its quirky lit-up
faade is scheduled to go dark forever on December 31, 2016.
mirvish.com/honesteds
Among the newest civic attractions is the glossy, glassy new
visitors centre at Fort York National Historic Site, with exhibits
that complement the largest surviving collection of War of 1812
military buildings. toronto.ca
Not far from Toronto, downtown Bramptons Garden Square has
been remodelled with concert stages and a giant LED screen for
movie nights. Nearby Mississaugas Streetsville Village Square has a
new covered stage, sound system and lighting, plus a complete
restoration of the towns historic cenotaph, which commemorates
local veterans who died during the First World War.
The much-anticipated revitalization of the Ontario Place
waterfront is set to open September 2016. Snap a pic of the CN
Tower and downtown skyline from the new William G. Davis trail,
and capture some evening magic next to the roaring firepit set on a
scenic section of rocky beach.

Casa Loma

@SeeTorontoNow l

VisitToronto

TORONTO 2016 13

IM A PANDA

AND THERE ARE ONLY


1,864 OF US LEFT IN THE WILD.
THATS WHY WE ARE ENDANGERED. WE ONLY BREED
24-72 HOURS ONCE PER YEAR AND WHEN OUR CUBS ARE BORN THEY
ARE TINY AND VULNERABLE, ABOUT THE SIZE OF A STICK OF BUTTER.
BUT, THEY ARE REALLY REALLY CUTE!

Get closer. Discover more.

Major partners of the Giant Panda Experience


Major partners of the
Giant Panda Experience

torontozoo.com

UPFRONT

Screen city
See the big picture at a leading film fest or screening venue.
By Karen Kwan

With its dozens of film festivals, noteworthy cinemas and non-stop events,
Toronto is a cinephile paradise. Here are some must-views for culture vultures.

TIFF Bell Lightbox

TERRIFIC THEATRES
The five-storey TIFF Bell Lightbox (tiff.
net) is no ordinary multiplex. The five-screen
cinema is the year-round home of the
Toronto International Film Festival and runs
curated programming from around the
globe. Its also home to two film-centric art
galleries, a library, two restaurants (Canteen
and Luma) and a rooftop event space. In
The Annex the beautifully refurbished Bloor
Hot Docs Cinema (bloorcinema.com)
screens first-run documentaries. One of the
citys oldest movie houses, the cinema first
opened in 1913 as the Madison Theatre. In
Roncesvalles Village, The Revue Cinema
(revuecinema.ca) runs special series,
such as Silent Revue, a tribute to 1920s
silent movies, and Business Film Fridays
for entrepreneurial types. And if your TV
isnt doing nature movies justice, catch
them uptown larger than life at the Ontario
Science Centres OMNIMAX Theatre
(ontariosciencecentre.ca).

Kristen Wiig and fans at TIFF

Photography: PacificCoastNews (Suicide Squad)

FILM FESTIVALS
You dont have to be an industry player
to schmooze with Hollywoods It list at
the Toronto International Film Festival
(September 8 to 18, 2016, tiff.net): its
the worlds biggest public film fest. Kids
view the best of international childrens
flicks at the TIFF Kids International Film
Festival (April 8 to 24, 2016, tiff.net). Come
spring, the hottest tickets in town offer a
dose of reality: Hot Docs, the Canadian
International Documentary Festival (April 28
to May 8, 2016, hotdocs.ca).

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Proudly one of the top festivals of its


kind worldwide, Inside Out (May 26 to
June 5, 2016, insideout.ca), now in its
26th year, screens movies by and about
lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans filmmakers.
Three other hot community-based festivals:
the Toronto Jewish Film Festival (May
5 to 15, 2016, tjff.com); the Toronto
Reel Asian International Film Festival
(November 2016, reelasian.com); and the
Canadian Film Fest (March 30 to April 2,
2016, canfilmfest.ca), which showcases
homegrown talent.

FREE OUTDOOR MOVIE EVENTS


All summer long, its possible to enjoy
alfresco film screenings under the night
sky. Bring a camp chair to the Christie
Pits Film Festival (christiepitsff.com) on
Sundays (carry cash for food-truck bites), or
head to Mississaugas Celebration Square
(mississauga.ca). In late August, for one
weekend Sugar Beach is transformed
by PortsToronto into Sail-In Cinema
(sailincinema.com), featuring a two-sided
screen that you can watch from a spot on
the beach or from your anchored boat in
Lake Ontario.

SUICIDE SQUAD
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2

Special Correspondents
Goon: Last of the Enforcers
@SeeTorontoNow l

VisitToronto

TORONTO 2016 15

UPFRONT

Stop and go

COXWELL
Just south of this subway stop on the east side of town, youll find the
bustling and vibrant community of Little India, also known as Gerrard
India Bazaar. Its home to more than a hundred South Asian shops and
restos packed into a few blocks for you to discover.
FOODIE FUN: Load up on cheesethe professional fromager can
make recosat The Pantry (1620 Gerrard St. E.) for a midday picnic
in Greenwood Park (150 Greenwood Ave.). Add in some samosas for
your picnic and pick up Indian spices and ingredients to bring home
at B.J. Supermarket (1449 Gerrard St. E.). For dinner, grab a bite at
Regency Restaurant (1423 Gerrard St. E.). Its my favourite Indian
restaurant in the area, says Megan Munro, who lives in the hood and
writes for the blog Im Mr. Fabulous (immrfabulous.com). There are lots
of options, plus friendly service and fresh-to-your-table naan bread.
GALLERY HOPPING: Experience the local art scenefeaturing
everything from dance to music to performanceat Gerrard Art
Space (1475 Gerrard St. E.), which rotates shows of Toronto artists
every three weeks. Pop into Rebellion Gallery and Art Academy
(1495 Gerrard St. E.) to check out the work of local and international
artists in the gallery and salon.
STELLAR SHOPPING: For exemplary gift items, cards and sweetsmelling treats such as artisan organic soaps, visit Birch & Co.
(1487 Gerrard St. E.). For sumptuously crafted saris, lenghas and
salwars, plus bridal wear and menswear, fashion landmark Chandan
Fashion (1439 Gerrard St. E.) has got you covered.

Coxwell

DUNDAS WEST
Roncey, as Roncesvalles Village is called by locals, stretches south from this westend subway station down to Queen and King Street West. Flanked by pretty brick
homes, Roncesvalles Avenue has a cozy, family-friendly vibe. Located just east
of High Park, Roncey is abuzz with runners, cyclists and couples out strolling with
their newborn baby and dog.
WAKE-UP CALL: A stop at Cherry Bomb Coffee (79 Roncesvalles Ave.) is my
morning slice of heaven, says Tammy Burns, a travel writer and editor (her blog
is Anywhere and Here, anywhereandhere.com). Their Americano is one of the
best Ive had in Toronto, and their berry-almond scones are practically seductive.
If youd rather have a greasy-spoon brekkie, pull up a stool at the diner Cardinal Rule
(5 Roncesvalles Ave.).
DE-STRESS: No workout gear in your luggage? No problem. Pick up a stylish outfit
at Ardith (373 Roncesvalles Ave.), where youll find brands such as MICHI and Lucas
Hugh. Once youre done working out at your hotel gym or sightseeing on the run,
baby those tight muscles by booking a massage at Sukha Spa (294 Roncevalles Ave.).
GOOD EVENING: As the sun sets, score a table at The Workshop by Latitude
(331 Roncesvalles Ave.)aim for a spot on the back patio lit by fairy lights. They do
cheese flights with wine pairings, which are pretty much my favourite things in life,
says Burns. Stroll over to The Revue (400 Roncesvalles Ave.) afterwards to catch
a flick at this charming community cinema.

16 TORONTO 2016 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com

Dundas
West

Photography: Jenna Marie Wakani

Hop off at any one of these subway or streetcar stops and build your own adventure. By Karen Kwan

University Av Bay St
Elizabeth St

Photography: Paula Wilson

Church
St

UNION
More than 250,000 people pass through this busy station daily
(it serves VIA Rail, Amtrak and GO Transit as well). The railway
station, which opened in 1927, is designated a National
Historic Site of Canada, and hopping off the subway here will
plant you close to the financial, entertainment, theatre and
sports districts. An $800-million, multi-year revitalization has
already resulted in more station entrances and a brighter, airy
ambiance while preserving the buildings historical Beaux Arts
elements. For 2017, look forward to a new concourse chock
full of retailers.
FINE FOOD: Downtown worker bees and tourists alike
have a wealth of resto options. Nelia Belkova, editor of Style
Blog (styleblog.ca), recommends Maman (First Canadian
Place, 100 King St. W.) for delectable sandwiches, salads
and pastries, as well as perfectly Instagrammable dcor.
Chef groupies wont want to miss Bymark (TD Centre,
66 Wellington St. W.)! This fine-dining spot from top chef Mark
McEwan is where you can splurge on his famous $37 P.E.I.
grass-fed burger topped with brie de Meaux and truffled
dwarf peaches.
TREAT YOURSELF: Pose for a pic with the Stanley Cup at
the Hockey Hall of Fame (30 Yonge St.), and then nab tickets
to catch a Maple Leafs or Raptors game at Air Canada
Centre (40 Bay St.) or the 2015 American League Division
Series winners Blue Jays at Rogers Centre (1 Blue Jays Way).
Or just get pumped up alongside Toronto sports fans at
Ford Fan Zone in Maple Leaf Square, the outdoor public
square where Maple Leafs and Raptors games are often
broadcast live on the 50- by 28-foot screen. If relaxation is
what youre craving, head to Miraj Hammam Spa by
Caudalie Paris (Shangri-La Hotel, 188 University Ave.) for
some deep, cleansing breaths in the warm, soothing hammam,
followed by a gommage treatment thatll get your skin glowing.

506

Church St

Yonge St

Sherbourne St Parliament St
Carlton St

Jarvis St Ontario St

CHURCH AND WELLESLEY


Take the Carlton 506 streetcar and jump off at Church Street. It is the epicentre of Torontos
LGBTQ community, where youll find rainbow flags hanging prominently (and a shop
stocked with rainbow-themed goods, Out in the Street, at 551 Church St.). By day, the
vibe is carefree, but by nightfall, the rowdiness goes up a notch as everyone comes out to
play. There are some Friday nights when the produce section at Loblaws supermarket
(Maple Leaf Gardens, 60 Carlton St.) could compete with a fashion runwaythis crowd
definitely gets all dolled up to buy broccoli! says local writer-editor and neighbourhood
resident Doug ONeill.
GOOD EATS: If you agree that brunch is the most important meal of the day, then dig into
eggs Benny, croque champignon or huevos rancheros at Lolas Kitchen (634 Church St.).
Its the best brunch in the hood, says ONeill. For a classy time in the gaybourhood,
Byzantium (499 Church St.) is a solid choice, whether youre looking for fantastic martinis,
great grub or a place to dance on the weekend.
SPA ON: Achey visitors whove overdone it at the hotel gym can visit Elmspa (557 Church
St., third floor) and use the steam rooms and infrared sauna post-treatment. Didnt have
time to fit in a faux-tan appointment before travelling to Toronto? Bora Bora Tanning &
Concept Spa (73 Charles St. E.) can hook you up with safe and sunless airbrush tanning.
JUST DANCE: For a night out with a dose of classic drag thats bad, boisterous and full of
big hair, ONeill says lesbians and bisexual ladies hit up Crews & Tangos (508 Church St.).
If you go, raise a cheer with boundary-pushing cocktails such as Blue Balls or Sour Pussy.

Union

@SeeTorontoNow l

VisitToronto

TORONTO 2016 17

upfront

Living culture

Theatre impresario David Mirvish dishes


on which attractions bring out the crowds.
By Amber Dowling and Jennifer Krissilas

David Mirvish understands what makes the citys cultural


sector tick. The man behind the Mirvish Productions
empire (four theatres, including the Royal Alexandra
Theatre and the Princess of Wales Theatre), hes also
a developer and art collector. And as the son of the
legendary late Ed Mirvish, David comes by his culture
cred naturally.
Few families have made as emphatic a mark on
this city as the Mirvishes. With its deep discounts,
marquee lights and cheeky signs that cant help but
make you smile (Honest Ed attracts squirrels! At these
prices they think hes nuts!), the iconic Honest Eds
bargain emporium has attracted visitors to The Annex
neighbourhood since opening in 1948 (snap a pic before
the lights dim on December 31, 2016!). As the landmark
store grew, Honest Ed Mirvish bought up adjacent
properties and was encouraged by his wife, Anne, to
convert them into restaurants, artist spaces and galleries,
eventually forming the European-style Mirvish Village.
Anne, a sculptor, had a studio in the village, and David
operated a gallery and later an art bookstore there too.
It wasnt long before Ed expanded his business from
the store to the stage. In 1963, he restored the Edwardian
Royal Alex, kick-starting the development of the now
vibrant Entertainment District. Today, David carries on his
familys theatrical interests, producing original musicals
and plays, and bringing fresh-from-Broadway touring
shows to Toronto.
Why is our citys culture so unique?

Theres a high level of activity and diversity. We have


great exhibitions and exemplary opera and ballet
companies. There are a number of small museums and
galleries in addition to the larger Royal Ontario Museum
and Art Gallery of Ontario. We have small theatres that
concentrate on new writing, and many other theatre
companies doing excellent classical work. We have a
wide range of stars who visit the city, lots of concerts, a
great symphony. We also have a winning baseball team,
hope for hockey, and we do pretty well in basketball.
Otherwise, theres not much going on!
Toronto has also developed a reputation
for our festival scene.

Yes, we have one festival after another! Theres the


TD Toronto Jazz Festival, Toronto Caribbean Carnival
and Pride Parade. In early September, we have the
Toronto International Film Festival, and in October,
the Art Toronto art fair. There always seems to be an
event happening.
If you could be a tourist for a day, what would you do?

Id go for a walk on the Toronto Islands early in the


morning. Then, Id come back into the city and have
lunch at Paralia, go to a matinee at one of the Mirvish
theatres, meet up with friends and maybe attend an
event at the AGO in the early evening. Wed go to dinner
at FRANK Restaurant at the gallery, and then I might just
take out a book and sit on a park bench behind the
gallery and feed the pigeons at some point.

18 TORONTO 2016
2014 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com

upfront
Aga Khan Museum

Design Exchange

Textile Museum of Canada

Gardiner Museum

Art Gallery of Ontario

Museums and galleries


Inspiring destinations for arts and culture lovers. By Tara Nolan

The fabulous museums and galleries of Toronto


fan out around the Royal Ontario Museum
(100 Queens Park) and Art Gallery of Ontario
(317 Dundas St. W.) like stars around two suns.

FOR GALLERY GOERS


A former foundry provides an industrial backdrop for
the abstract art of the Painters Eleven at Christopher
Cutts Gallery (21 Morrow Ave.). Mayberry Fine Art
specializes in the Group of Sevens oeuvre, and exhibits
works by post-war and current Canadian artists
(110 Yorkville Ave.).
From glass-blowing to weaving, Craft Ontario
(990 Queen St. W.) displays handiwork by the provinces
professional crafters.
The Distillery Historic District is home to several
galleries, including Eskimo Art Gallery (8 Case
Goods Lane), with its 500-plus prints and stone
sculptures by Inuit artists, and the Thompson
Landry Gallery (32 Distillery Lane), the only gallery in
Toronto that focuses solely on Quebec-based artists
and sculptors.
For contemporary photography, head to Bau-Xi
Photo (324 Dundas St. W.) or the Ryerson Image
Centre (33 Gould St.), which features collections,
lectures and exhibits.
In trendy Leslieville, Parts Gallery (1142 Queen
St. E.) shows contemporary and photo-based art,
while Project Gallery (1109 Queen St. E.) encourages
engagement between artists and the community.

FOR MUSEUM DEVOTEES


Royal Ontario Museum

Myseum of Toronto (myseumoftoronto.com)


showcases the citys history, heritage and culture via

pop-up exhibitions across town. This evolving,


street-level initiative is an interactive approach to
celebrating Torontos communities, cultures and spaces
(both urban and natural) in real time. Head online to find
the locations of current exhibits.
If Canadiana is your thing, take a #museumselfie
with Mr. Dressups Tickle Trunk at the CBC Museum
(250 Front St. W.) and peek into the networks archives.
Check out the rock stars of the ice rink at the Hockey
Hall of Fame (30 Yonge St.). And visit the Museum
of Inuit Art (207 Queens Quay W.), Canadas only
museum south of the Arctic dedicated to Inuit-made art.
While it relocates to the Junction, the Museum of
Contemporary Canadian Art (mocca.ca) offers popup programming across Toronto, addressing challenging
themes.
Design Exchange (234 Bay St.) hosts installations
and experiences across the city as well as at its home
base. Events for 2016 include an auction of items
donated by design stars, plus the fifth DX Intersection
fundraising gala.
The Textile Museum of Canada (55 Centre Ave.)
boasts 13,000 textiles spanning 2,000 years, while the
Bata Shoe Museum (327 Bloor St. W.) presents an
ode to footwear through the ages.
The Gardiner Museum (111 Queens Park)
celebrates ceramic art. If youre crafty, dont miss the
drop-in clay classes.
The newand architecturally stunningAga Khan
Museum (77 Wynford Dr.) provides exhibitions and
programming such as music and workshops that laud
the contributions of Muslim civilizations worldwide.
Dont miss the formal gardens, inspired by traditional
Persian and Mughal designs, in the Aga Khan Park.

Photography: Janet Kimber (Aga Khan Museum), Melanieps (Gardiner Museum), Daninelle Petti (ROM)

@SeeTorontoNow l

VisitToronto

TORONTO 2016 19

UPFRONT

UPFRONT

Creative
spaces
From sculpture and murals to architectural pieces and
street art, Toronto has plenty to offer lovers of visual
artwork. Here are five works worth seeking out.
By Helen Racanelli
1. The Guild
Installation dates vary
Guild Park and Gardens (201 Guildwood Pkwy.)
A former artists colony, this tranquil park will appeal to those
with a taste for salvaged architectural elements and sculptures.
Standout pieces include E.B. Cox and Michael Clays Bear
Sculpture (1979) and Sorel Etrogs Spaceplough I (1981).
2. Youve Changed
by Jesse Harris, 2012
Residential exterior (1075 Queen St. W.)
The Toronto artists text-based mural is interpreted as a positive
message to nearby patients at the
Centre for Addiction and Mental
Health. Its also a statement
about the gentrification of the
surrounding West Queen West,
once gritty and now the toast of
the international scene, including
Vogue magazine, which named
it the worlds second-coolest
neighbourhood.

3. Glenn
by Ruth Abernethy, 1999
CBC broadcast headquarters
(250 Front St. W.)
This life-size bronze of renowned
pianist Glenn Gould seated on
a bench and dressed for chilly
weather invites an up-close and
personal look. Gould, ironically,
was shy.

5. The Pasture
by Joe Fafard, 1985
Toronto Dominion Centre plaza (77 King St. W.)
Also affectionately called the 7 Cows and Courtyard
Cows, this striking group of life-size bronze cows at rest
was created by Saskatchewan artist Joe Fafard to remind
us of our ties to farmers and the land.
Visit SeeTorontoNow.com/publicart for five more great
works of public art.

20 TORONTO 2016

Photography: wyn lok (Glenn), coopercolegallery.com (Youve Changed), dx.org (Design Exchange)

4. Sun Life
by Sorel Etrog, 1984
(King Street West and
University Avenue)
These bronze, mostly abstract
sculptures by prolific RomanianCanadian artist/writer/philosopher
Etrog are scattered on grounds
across the city. Etrog also designed
the statuette for the Genie award,
Canadas version of the Oscars.

UPFRONT
An insiders guide to World MasterCard

Simcoe St.

St. Patrick St.

From speedy manicures to


statement-making nail art,
The Ten Spot beauty bar
(Hudsons Bay, 176 Queen St.
W., Concourse Level) has your
hands and toes covered.
The best part? They open at
7 a.m. during the week.
For energy during the day,
insiders rely on a healthy boost
in the form of a fashionably
organic, fresh-pressed juice
from Greenhouse Juice Co.
(Commerce Court, 199 Bay St.,
Concourse Level).

University Ave.

McCaul St.

GRANGE
PARK

Get prepped
The World MasterCard
Fashion Week tents at David
Pecaut Square form the hub
for the entire week. Arrive early
to take advantage of the
mini-makeover stations and
hair demos happening on-site
prior to the shows.

The
Ten Spot

King St. W.

Bay St.

York St.

Wellington St. W.

For those seeking a curated


take on coveted (and
hard-to-find) brands like
Isabel Marant, Alexander
Wang and Acne, visit
Jonathan + Olivia
(49 Ossington Ave.).

Sid Neigum
Autumn,
Winter 2015

Front St.

For a midday moment of Zen,


the Shangri-La Hotels Lobby
Lounge (188 University Ave.)
is a tranquil oasis that offers
68 kinds of tea (along with
a full bar menu).
King St. W.

Be sure to visit luxury


department store Holt
Renfrew (50 Bloor St. W.)
and get acquainted with the
crme de la crme of
Canadian and international
labels. Follow their Instagram
account (@holtsbloor) for
in-store designer appearances
and trunk shows.

Front St. W.

With its New York City cred,


home-grown budget label
Joe Fresh (589 Queen St. W.)
is the backbone of many an
attendees wardrobe. (The
brand even flew in Solange to
DJ their WMCFW opening
party a couple of years ago.)

Design
Exchange

Keep the (fashion)


show going
Between shows, grab a
cocktail and rest your feet
at the Ritz Bar at The
Ritz-Carlton, Toronto
(181 Wellington St. W.),
conveniently located across
the street from the tents.

Spadina Ave.

Richmond St. W.

Curate your look


Touted as having the largest
shoe department in Canada,
Hudsons Bay (176 Yonge
St.) offers a vast selection of
high-street brands like Sam
Edelman alongside designer
names like Nicholas Kirkwood
Kirkwood
and Charlotte Olympia.
Check out Canadian labels
Pink Tartan, Sid Neigum
and Erin Kleinberg.

Richmond St. W.

Work the beat


Busy fashion lovers must
budget their time and energy.
But no one misses these
hot tickets:
Pink Tartan
Mackage
Mikhael Kale

Blue Jays Way

Queen

With Design Exchange


(234 Bay St.) a short walk from
the tents, edify yourself with
an exhibition between shows.
Past exhibits have included
the
the on-point Politics of
Fashion/Fashion of Politics.
For the latest info and
behind-the-scenes snaps on
whats happening, follow
@designexchange on Instagram.

Queen St. W.
Bay St.

Each spring and fall, David


Pecaut Square becomes the
epicentre of cool as World
MasterCard Fashion Week
takes over with back-to-back
shows featuring the best of
Canadas fashion talent.
Heres the scoop on how to
do the shows like a fashionworld insider, from getting
prepped to partying into the
wee hours afterwards.

Yonge St.

Fashion Week

Heres how to navigate the shows like a pro. By Vanessa Taylor

Wahlburgers (46 Blue Jays


Way), made famous by brothers
Donnie, Mark and Paul
Wahlberg, is an after-party
hot spot that guarantees to
satisfy late-night cravings.

Photography: Jamie Hedworth (Hudsons Bay), Jenna Marie Wakani (model)

ON THE RISE:

Canadian
designers
to watch

Beaufille
beaufille.com
Sisters Chlo and
Parris Gordons
line of ready-to-wear
and jewellery
captures a modern,
effortless style with
a tomboy vibe.

Sid Neigum
sidneigum.com
With plenty of buzz
in the press, Neigum
offers a collection that
fuses experimental
silhouettes with strong
architectural lines.

Maison Matthew
Gallagher
maisonmatthew
gallagher.com
Since winning the New
Labels 2015 competition,
all eyes have been on
Gallaghers beautifully
crafted feminine line.

@SeeTorontoNow l

Hayley Elsaesser
hayleyelsaesser.com
When it comes to Pop
Artinspired prints,
a slew of neon colours
and a playful sense
of style, Elsaessers
collection is where its at.

VisitToronto

Mikhael Kale
mikhaelkale.com
Counting celebrities like
Beyonc and Jennifer
Lopez as fans, Kales line
subscribes to plenty of
high-watt finishes like
leather and sequins,
or cutout features.

TORONTO 2016 21

UPFRONT

Fashionable finds
Relive your trip each time you don this cool Toronto gear.

2
4

Torontonians are known to sport their city pride, whether its with a
cozy toque or TIFF-embellished doggy wear. Here are six ways to show your love!
1. City of Neighbourhoods
Kensington toque, $35, Tuck Shop
Co. Outpost at Love the Design,
tuckshopco.com.
2. YYZ Tyvek Luggage Tags,
$9 per set of three, Drake General Store,
drakegeneralstore.ca.
3. Classic Streetcar Profiles tee,
$15, Spacing Store, spacing.ca.

22 TORONTO 2016 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com

4. Hotel Doggys I Heart TIFF Dog Sweater,


$22, TIFF Shop, tiff.net/tiffshop.
5. Toronto Maple Leafs ladies scarf,
$40, The Sports Gallery,
thesportsgallery.com.
6. Blue Jays New Passport Wallet,
$48, Roots, roots.com.

Photography: Luis Albuquerque. Styling: Bridget Sargeant

UPFRONT
Yorkville NOW:

Sleek shopping
mecca
Over the years, Yorkvilles coffee houses
and counterculture have segued into multimillion dollar condos, spas and designer
boutiques. Yesterdays bohemian scene
is todays shopping mecca, with Tiffany &
Co., Burberry, Prada, Herms and Calvin
Klein outposts.

Yorkville THEN:

Bohemian hot spot


At Yorkvilles circa-1960s peak, poets and
musicians flocked to the neighbourhoods
coffee houses. Margaret Atwood, Leonard
Cohen and Gwendolyn MacEwan read
poetry at places like the Purple Onion and
Penny Farthing. At the Riverboat, you could
rub shoulders with Neil Young, Joni Mitchell
and Gordon Lightfoot, and even international stars like Simon & Garfunkel and
John Lee Hooker.

Hot spots
with histor y

The evolution of two lively neighbourhoods. By Ernie Ourique

Yonge-Dundas NOW:

Photography: Yonge-Dundas Square (BuskerFest)

Town square 2.0

Inspired by the similarly facelifted Times


Square, post-millennium Yonge-Dundas
Square is a vibrant, tourist-luring nexus that
combines entertainment, shopping and
dining. The square hosts City Cinema
outdoor movie nights, cultural festivals such
as Franco-Fte (franco-fete.ca) and the
MATSURI Toronto Japanese Summer
Festival (kurakake-market.jimdo.com), and
live concerts from various NXNE (June 15
to 19, 2016) performers.

Yonge-Dundas THEN:

Neon market

A neon streetscape courtesy of Sam


the Record Man and other brightly
illuminated music stores, circa-1980s
Yonge and Dundas broadcast the
boisterous energy of its nearby pinball
arcades and street buskers.

@SeeTorontoNow l

VisitToronto

TORONTO 2016 23

NEW FAIRMONT LUXURY ROOM

Modern Luxury at Fairmont Royal York


Fairmont Royal York continues to exude luxury at its finest with the completion of a multimillion dollar
renovation. Under 900 Fairmont Luxury guest rooms and suites bring modern sophistication, comfort
and aesthetics to our already beautiful historic hotel. Torontos landmark hotel is located right in the
heart of downtown, just steps away from the citys most famous sites and attractions, including the
Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Ripleys Aquarium of Canada, CN Tower and the Toronto Zoo and the
brand new rail link: UP Express.

fairmontroyalyork

@FairmontRYH

@FairmontRoyalYork

City
Confidential
Unveiled at last years PANAMANIA (the month-long
cultural festival celebrating the Pan Am and Parapan Am
Games), Nathan Phillips Squares TORONTO sign was
an instant icon. The three-metre-tall, 22-metre-long
(10-foot-tall, 72-foot-long) LED-illuminated installation is
a must-visit, must-photograph attraction. Snap it during
the day, when the translucent white front and colourful
sides complement its City Hall backdrop, and after dark,
when it glows boldlya luminous beacon to a city
where adventure can be found at any hour.

Hot
tickets

Nine of the years most anticipated


shows, games, concerts and events.
By Amber Dowling
Sure, you want to pack culture, food and adventure into your
schedule while youre in town, but sometimes there are events
so big theyre worth planning an entire visit around. Bookmark
your hot tickets now so you can start planning tomorrow.

1. TIFF
The Toronto International Film Festival (September 8 to 18, 2016) is one of the
most-loved film festivals in the world, thanks to the A-list talent that graces its red
carpet, but also due to the festivals populist vibe. Unlike other prestigious film
fests, TIFF is one of the few thats fully open to the general public. With a global
roster of filmsfrom Hollywood heavy hitters to emerging talentthis is the festival
where everyday cinephiles are most likely to bump into marquee idols like Natalie
Portman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Penelope Cruz and Johnny Depp, all past attendees.
Tickets: tiff.net
2. Luminato Festival
Unleash your imagination as the groundbreaking arts festival (June 10 to 19, 2016)
showcases more than 250 art installations, specially commissioned performances and
readings at various locations across the city. Past festivals have featured Canadian
and global debuts by internationally renowned artists like Matthew Barney and singersongwriter Rufus Wainwright.
Tickets: luminatofestival.com
3. Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Weekend
Fans of Canadas unofficial national sport consider this the ultimate hockey weekend
(November 11 to 14, 2016), with the annual Legends Classic hockey game and a fan forum
leading up to the star-studded Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
Tickets: hhof.com
4. Matilda The Musical
Evoke your inner child at the Toronto premire of this musical (July 2016). Inspired by the Roald
Dahl novel, Matilda The Musical has played for sold-out crowds on Broadway and
in Londons West End.
Tickets: mirvish.com
5. Rogers Cup
From Rafael Nadal to Andy Murray to Roger Federer, the biggest names in mens tennis have
competed in the Rogers Cup, otherwise known as the Canadian Open. Come summer (July 23 to
31, 2016), the games biggest names will once again lob, ace and smash it out in front of packed
crowds at the Aviva Centre at York University.
Tickets: rogerscup.com
6. JFL42
Forty-two of the funniest acts on the planet congregate every fall (September 22 to October 1, 2016) at
Just for Laughs annual 10-day comedy festival, with events held at various venues across the city.
Tickets: Choose from several pass options at jfl42.com.
7. MMVAs
The alfresco Much Music Video Awards (June 19, 2016) creates organized chaos each year. Held outside
the Much studios at Queen Street West and John Street, this celebration of all things pop culture attracts
A-list musicians, actors, celebs and a city blocks worth of screaming, blissed-out fans.
Tickets: Fans camp outside the TV network to score a coveted access wristband.
8. NBA All-Star Game
B-ball fans come out in droves for an epic weekend (February 12 to 14, 2016) thats jam packed with
marquee stars showing off their biggest moves, as well as contests and autograph ops. Want to catch the
jaw-dropping talent of the biggest and brightest athletes in the sport in one place? This is it.
Tickets: nba.com/raptors/allstar2016
9. Canadas Walk of Fame Broadcast Show
Celebrate Canadas top talent as theyre feted and inducted into the star-studded Walk of Fame on King Street
West (fall 2016). No ticket to the broadcast show? No problem! Fans are encouraged to line up along the red
carpet for the pre-show public unveiling of the new stars.
Tickets: canadaswalkoffame.com

26 TORONTO 2016 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com

2 3
7
8

TORONTO 2016 27

oug B
Photo

y: D
graph

rown

(TIFF

City Confidential

News and Views

Six local landmarks fuse historic Toronto


with innovative, modern design.
By Jamie Bradburn
Call it a juggling act Toronto
architects have mastered. Since
the late 1960s, their imaginative
designs have struck a balance
between historical preservation
and the needs of developers.
As Globe and Mail architecture
critic Alex Bozikovic notes, these
architects were interested in finding
ways to preserve or work with the
existing fabric of the city while
updating it. That legacy has
produced a series of landmarks
where existing structures mix with
exciting new additions. As architect
and Architectural Conservancy of
Ontario president Catherine Nasmith
puts it, Toronto people know how
to do these projects.
HERE ARE SIX TO DISCOVER.

28 TORONTO 2016
2013 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com
@SeeTorontoNow l
VisitToronto

City Confidential

Photography: Tom Arban (ROM)

1. BROOKFIELD PLACE (181 BAY ST.)

2. ROYAL ONTARIO MUSEUM (100 QUEENS PARK)

When this downtown landmarkone of the first Toronto tower


complexes to blend architectural erasopened as BCE Place in
1992, the stylish interior streetscape with its soaring atrium,
designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava to mimic a
tree canopy, was praised by critics. The galleria will be
important as a new type of privately owned public area that
doesnt assume visitors are mindless consumers or office
workers in a hurry to get somewhere, observed architecture
critic Christopher Hume in the Toronto Star. Continuing to
deliver that promise, its natural lighting from the atrium
illuminates offices, restaurants and occasional artistic
installations. Lined with 19th-century buildings, the complex
culminates with the former Bank of Montreal branch at the
corner of Front and Yonge, which, as the Hockey Hall of Fame,
now honours the legends of the ice.

Feel like arguing with a Torontonian? Mention Daniel Libeskinds


still-controversial Crystal addition to the century-old ROM.
It is one of the most talked-about examples of new-meets-old
architectural fusion in the city. Its a provocation, Bozikovic
says. Love it or hate it, every city needs that sort of building
a building that is unmissable, that makes a bold statement.
Often considered the building that kick-started the local
renaissance in cultural architecture, Libeskinds addition shows
the dramatic changes that needed to happen to the ROM to
bring it into the 21st century, says Michael McClelland, a
principal with heritage preservation and reuse specialists ERA
Architects. Within the Crystal, kids can marvel at the dinosaur
exhibits or hide among its angles.

@SeeTorontoNow l

VisitToronto

TORONTO 2016 29

3. CANADAS NATIONAL BALLET SCHOOL


(400 JARVIS ST.)
Walk by the windows of Canadas National Ballet
School on Jarvis Street at the right moment and
you might glimpse students practicing jets and
plis. This sense of transparency is evident
throughout the complex, fitting it within its
surrounding streetscape. The site skillfully blends
modern training facilities contained within what
Bozikovic describes as a series of subtle,
minimal glass boxes with two 19th-century
buildings: Northfield House (home of a Father of
Confederation, former Ontario premier Oliver
Mowat, and previously used by the Canadian
Broadcasting Corporation) and Havergal College,
the original home of the private girls school.

4. MaRS DISCOVERY DISTRICT


(101 COLLEGE ST.)
MaRSs mission of spurring innovation is evident
from the way its College Street facility is built
upon the preFirst World War College Wing of
Toronto General Hospital. The heritage aspects
are treated respectfully (the site won a Heritage
Toronto Award for architectural conservation and
craftsmanship in 2006), while the new additions,
according to McClelland, reflect the dramatic
changes happening to institutions. Drawing on
the long presence of medical institutions along
nearby University Avenue, MaRS offers 1.5 million
square feet of space dedicated to aiding
entrepreneurial start-ups in the fields of health,
energy, work and learning.

Sports venues rarely have second lives. Once


their main tenants move on, the doomsday clock
starts ticking. Maple Leaf Gardens is a rare
exception, thanks to public sentiment to preserve
the Carlton Street landmark. According to
Bozikovic, its a building that is deeply important
to people in the city, not just as a piece of
architecture but as a place where history
happened. After a decade of dormancy, the right
tenant mix emerged when the building reopened
in 2012: a showcase for Loblawss new
supermarket design, and athletic facilities for
Ryerson University. Hockey fans will enjoy the
nods to great moments in Maple Leafs history
throughout Loblaws (and may be tempted to play
shinny with tuna cans atop the centre-ice dot in
aisle 25), and catch the Ryerson Rams in action
in the arena above the store.

6. KOERNER HALL, ROYAL


CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC
(273 BLOOR ST. W.)
Nearly two decades in development,
Koerner Hall opened in 2009, producing an
intimate performance setting ideal for classical,
jazz and other musical genres. Curving lines of
oak create a comfortable atmosphere that places
strong acoustics over luxurious trappings. The
hall, part of the Telus Centre for Performance and
Learning, blends into the adjoining Royal
Conservatory of Music, whose Victorian-era
building was the original home of McMaster
University. Nasmith feels that the discretion taken
in placing the new elements beside the old
creates integrity. The three levels of lobbies
function as event spaces with stunning views of
neighbouring landmarks like Philosophers Walk
and the Royal Ontario Museum.

30 TORONTO 2016

Photography: Wanda Goodwin (MaRS), Tom Arban (National Ballet School), Eduard Hueber (Koerner Hall)

5. MAPLE LEAF GARDENS


(5060 CARLTON ST.)

TORONTO 2013 30

City Confidential

@SeeTorontoNow l

VisitToronto

2013 31
TORONTO 2016

Strategic
moves

Four movers and shakers on


why they made Toronto their HQ.
By Jasmine Miller Photography by Finn OHara

ALBERT LAI

Co-founder, Big Viking Games


Serial entrepreneur Albert Lai sold his first company when he was still a
teen, and in the decade since, hes launched five more, including social- and
mobile-game venture Big Viking Games. The company has grown to include
offices in Toronto and London, Ont., 80 employees, and recognition as one
of Canadas Top Small & Medium Employers, as voted by the editors of
Canadas Top 100 Employers.

efore starting Big Viking, I travelled to Shanghai, Beijing, Taiwan,


Singapore, India and Berlinall these up-and-coming new Silicon
Valleys outside the U.S.and none had the potent mixture of
strong creative and technical talent that Toronto has. We have U. of T.
[the University of Toronto] and the University of Waterloo, and
Sheridan College is arguably the No. 1 digital animation school
in the world. Theres a thriving film and animation culture,
too, which means we will create the next Hollywood.
Toronto has a vibrant tech industry that has
grown faster [recently] than at any other time.
A lot of people have done really well in the
past 20 years from a financial and knowledge
capital point of view. And that success is being
reinvested into both the industry and the city
by people like me and many others, who are
doing their second, third or fourth start-up.
When you have diversity in a company
or a country, theres an increase in
innovations, and Toronto has a social
system that lends itself to the city
embracing multiple cultures. You really
see that in the food: I can get more
authentic ethnic food in Toronto
than anywhere else in the world.
I believe theres a direct correlation
between a citys Chinese food and the
success of its start-ups. San Francisco, New
Yorkthey have great Chinese food, but
Toronto has, hands down, the best outside
of Asia. I live for really good Chinese food!
And I live for tech.

32 TORONTO 2014
2016 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com

City Confidential

CRAIG AND
MARC KIELBURGER
Founders, Free The Children

The brainchild of Craig and Marc Kielburger, Free The Children is an international NGO designed to help kids
help other kids. Through programs like Adopt a Village and We Act, more than 8,000 schools and youth groups
in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. have partnered with the organization to end global poverty. The first annual
We Daya day-long, star-studded concert celebrating the students initiativeswas first held in Toronto in
2007 and now takes place all over the globe.
CRAIG

abbagetown has a special place in our hearts.


Our grandfather immigrated to Toronto from
Germany during the Great Depression,
and after working a number of jobs, he and my
grandmother saved enough money to open a small
grocery store in Cabbagetown. They were open for 23
years and only closed for one day, to take the family to
Niagara Falls.
Now the city is growing in amazing ways, which
makes it an exciting place to grow an organization like
Free The Childrenwere in fantastic company here.
Torontonians love their city and are engaged on so
many different levelswhether its a neighbourhood issue
or something that spans the entire city, Torontos citizens
want to be involved.
MARC

oronto is a city of neighbourhoods.


You can go from one end of the city
to the other and feel like youve
travelled the world!
I love how easy it is to connect
with the entire world from our
office in Toronto. Research
shows that peopleespecially
young peoplecare about their
communities and about making
a difference in the world.The
way we see it, our job is to
provide them with the tools,
resources and platform to
make a difference. Now that
we have We Day events
across North America and
in the U.K., we spend much
of our time working with
teams across Canada, the
U.S. and the U.K. We
are so proud to live and
work in a city as vibrant
and diverse as Toronto,
where we have the
opportunity to meet and
learn from people from
Craig (left) and
Marc Kielburger
all around the world.

@SeeTorontoNow l

VisitToronto

TORONTO 2016
2014 33

City Confidential

FARAH MOHAMED
Founder, G(irls)20
G(irls)20 is a Toronto-based social-profit with a big mission: the economic and educational
advancement of women and girls in the developing world. The organizations annual summit is held
in that years host G20 country, with young delegates attending from all G20 nations, as well as the
European Union, African Union, Afghanistan, Pakistan and the MENA region.

oronto has an amazing mix of diversityand I mean


socio-economic diversity, cultural diversity and
financial diversity. It is literally the playground that
G(irls)20 works in internationally, but all represented here, in
one place.
Girls and women are part of the fabric of Toronto in a
big way. You dont have to squint too hard to find girls and
women succeeding in this city. Weve got a premier whos a
woman, and look at all the women running in elections. Many
CEOs of massive organizations in Toronto are women. We
have major hospitals run by women, and our social-profit
sector and academia feature women. Toronto is an incredible
place for girls and women in all sectors. If I had a summit
in Toronto, as we did in 2010, one of my biggest challenges
would be deciding whom to put on the podium. There are so
many accomplished women here.
If people want an education in global diversity and
opportunity, Toronto is a great place to come and figure that
out. The combination of our financial, academic, health-care
and social-profit sectors provide opportunity for anyone
from anywhere with any background to
participate in some way in Toronto.
Weve got a thriving social sector,
our volunteer sector is unbelievable,
and people are civically engaged.
Im not being naive. We
have challenges, but we are
addressing them. People see
this as a place to succeed,
thrive and build.
And theyre right.

34 TORONTO 2016
2014 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com

City Confidential

Collect
em all
Sports fans who want to check off more legendary
sports experiences from their bucket lists can start by
touching the Stanley Cup and reliving Tiger Woodss
epic shot on the 18th hole at Glen Abbey Golf Club.
Heres the ultimate Toronto sports checklist.

Toronto adds an exclamation mark to


baseballs perfect aesthetic with the
soaring CN Tower looming high above
Rogers Centre. Sit among the sea of Blue
Jays blue and red maple leaves that make
it clear this is Canadas team.
rogerscentre.com, toronto.bluejays.mlb.com

n other MLS soccer fanatics at BMO


Join
Joi
beat
Field as they chant, wave flags and
Field
game.
drum
drumss during a Toronto FC home
ra
Wan
Wantt to spectate like a local? Wea
d scarf. torontofc.ca
red
re

its
m and
BA tea g courtside
N
ly
n
din
as o
Canad s fansinclu a uniquely
u
ame
e
rapturo rakeexud fter all, the g
D
A
fixture n swagger.
ia
Canad nted here.
ve
was in

36 TORONTO 2016 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com

Touch hockeys most coveted prize:


the Stanley Cup, which resides yearround at the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Take a selfie with it, and then delve
through the history of Canadas
unofficial national game. hhof.com

Photography: Chris Owens (Honda Indy), argonauts.ca (Argonauts), Bernard Brault (Canadian Open), Marcus Obal (Blue Jays)

Get an insiders view of the Honda Indy


Toronto. A Paddock Pass gains you
exclusive access to team HQs, while
a Pit Pass lets you into the Pit Lane
during all practice and qualifying races.
hondaindytoronto.com

in North American
The oldest franchise
O
ck outdoors to BM
ba
ves
mo
rts
pro spo
wn, 110-yard
-do
ree
Th
.
16
20
Field for
been played since
football the way its
a
s.c
1873. argonaut

Stroll to the fairway bunker on 18 and try


to figure out how the heck Tiger Woods
hit one of the gutsiest shots in golf
historya six-iron from more than 200
yards away that went out of the sand,
over the trees, across the water and
landed near enough to the tightly tucked
pin to give him a birdie opportunity
and stunningly won the 2000 RBC
Canadian Open. glenabbey.clublink.ca

No tickets? Heres the next best


thing to being there.

gs at the
Enjoy the sport of kin h summer at
eac
Queens Plate. Held
k, this is no mere
Woodbine Racetrac
race: its also
rse
ho
d
bre
gh
rou
tho
nable sporting
hio
fas
st
mo
tos
on
Tor
m
.co
ate
spl
een
qu
event!

Cheer for Canadian favourites Milos


Raonic or Eugenie Bouchard at the
Rogers Cup, one of tenniss oldest
championships, held each year at
York University. rogerscup.com

@SeeTorontoNow l

VisitToronto

Ford Fan Zone: Savvy Raptors and


Leafs
fans head to Maple Leaf Square (right
next
to Air Canada Centre) to join 10,00
0 fellow
diehards in watching the game outdo
ors on
an enormous screen, cheering our
hometown
heroes to victoryor consoling each
other in
defeat. nba.com/raptors, mapleleaf
s.nhl.com,
theaircanadacentre.com
Real Sports Bar & Grill: This sport
s joint
really jumps, especially when the
Leafs or
Raptors are in town. With a multi
tude of games
to choose from, a bevy of beers on
tap and one
massive two-storey TV, its little wond
er
ESPN voted Real Sports the best
sports bar in North America.
realsports.ca
The Football Factory
The upscale bistro gets
downright boisterous
for all the big soccer
matches. Enjoy dinner and
drinks and mingle with a
cross-section of Torontos
multi-ethnic, soccer-mad
population, some of whom
have been there since 7:30 a.m.
catching a Euro league game.
thefootiefactory.ca

TORONTO 2016 37

4
1
3

Winter

fun

Be enchanted by
the sparkle of the season.
By Kat Tancock

38 TORONTO 2016 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com

Photography: Doug Brown (Santa, Nathan Phillips Square), Bruce Zinger (The Nutcracker),

City Confidential

6
9

Photography: Allen McGregor (Christmas window), Mark Burstyn (One of a Kind Show & Sale)

1. Embrace your inner


Joannie Rochette
with a tour around an
outdoor skating rink.
Three that offer both
rentals and lockers
are Nathan Phillips
Square, the Natrel
Rink at Harbourfront
Centre and
Celebration Square
in Mississauga. Or
give your ice skates
an adventure at one
of the citys public
skating trails, like the
Brick Works Skating
Trail in the Don Valley,
the Colonel Sam
Smith Skating Trail
at Colonel Samuel
Smith Park on the
lakeshore in Etobicoke,
or the newly installed
ice trail at east-end's
Greenwood Park.

2. Celebrate Ontarios
agricultural heritage
at the Royal
Agricultural Winter
Fair, which takes place
every November.
Top attractions include
equestrian shows,
butter sculptures and
a petting farm.
3. Brush up on your
hockey-hero trivia,
practise your slap shot
or test your play-byplay skills behind the
mic with a visit to the
Hockey Hall of Fame.
4. Pack your red nose
and welcome Saint Nick
at the 112th annual
edition of The Santa
Claus Parade, whose
route weaves through
several downtown
neighbourhoods
every November.

store of classic
Canadian retailer
Hudsons Bay, where
Christmas vignettes
are unveiled every
holiday season.

5. Take in The
National Ballet of
Canadas mesmerizing
and perennially popular
interpretation of the
classic Christmas
tale The Nutcracker.
Charm youngsters
with Ross Pettys nutty
annual pantomime
over the holidays or
treat yourself to a
musical at one of the
Mirvish theatres.
6. Shop the Europeanstyle Toronto
Christmas Market
in The Distillery Historic
District, where carollers,
choirs and mulled
wine enhance the
winterrific vibe.

8. Book a table during


Winterlicious to fill
your belly for less with
prix-fixe lunch and
dinner steals at more
than 200 of Torontos
top restaurants.
9. Join locals at Nathan
Phillips Square in front
of City Hall for the
Cavalcade of Lights,
the lighting of Torontos
official Christmas tree,
accompanied by a
dance party, live music
and fireworks.

10. Marvel at the


artists skills at Icefest,
Yorkvilles ice-sculpture
festival, which features
ice-carving demos
and an on-street iceskating performance.
11. Tackle your gift list
while discovering local
artisans at the One
of a Kind Show &
Sale, which boasts
booths from 800-plus
craftspeople, artists
and designers.

11

7. Admire the creativity


of window-display
designers at the Queen
and Yonge flagship
@SeeTorontoNow

10

39

Family time
Discover, delight and devour,
and see how you stack up as a
city explorer. By Yuki Hayashi
Illustration by Remy Simard
With so much to see and do,
it takes dedication to win our
scavenger hunt. Challenge
other members of your
family, and check out how
many of these experiences
you can rack up. One point
per item. Winner earns
Master Traveller status!

Pet a stingray at
Ripleys Aquarium
of Canada.

Take a selfie with


the Stanley Cup,
on display at the
Hockey Hall
of Fame.
Brag to your friends
about riding Leviathan at
Canadas Wonderland.
Its one of the worlds
tallest and fastest
roller coasters. Bonus
point for each extra
ride you take!

Go hoarse while
cheering your
knight on to a
jousting victory at
Medieval Times.
Catch a flick at the TIFF Kids
International Film Festival
(April 8 to 24, 2016). Bonus
point if you get your ticket
stub signed by a star!

Find a secret underground tunnel at


Casa Loma, Torontos
famous castle.

Stack, build
and create at
LEGOLAND
Discovery Centre,
the best-stocked
playroom ever!
Brave the Bat
Cave, dig for
dinosaur fossils
and create your
own animal-track
rubbing to take
home at the
Royal Ontario
Museum.
Hoof it over
to the Bata
Shoe Museum
to snap a pic of
an historic shoe
youd wear
on a dare.

40 TORONTO 2014
2016 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com

Photography: kaeko (Ripleys Aquarium of Canada),


Hubert Kang (Hockey Hall of Fame, Casa Loma),
Jason Campbell (Canadas Wonderland),
A Aninon (Medieval Times), Micheal Fountain
(LEGOLAND), Jason Spencer (Playdium),
Mike Pochwat (Treetop Trekking), Loozrboy
(Fort York), Isaac Yu (The Ex), James G (Blue Jays)

City Confidential

Spot rare livestock such as


Cotswold lambs, Tamworth
pigs and a Nubian goat at the
much-loved Riverdale Farm.

Get a fast-paced
birds-eye view of the
forest canopy while
Treetop Trekking at
Bramptons Heart Lake
Conservation Area.

Ride the Red Rocket! Bonus


point if you collect a transfer
from both an old and a new
streetcar route.

Explore Fort York National


Historic Site, home to
Canadas largest collection
of original War of 1812
buildings. Check out the
new visitors centre and
learn more about the
birthplace of urban Toronto.

Beat one or both of your


parents on the go-kart
track at Playdium.

Show off a new hairdo


via a truly hair-raising
static electricity demonstration at the Ontario
Science Centre.

Devour the It food


at The Ex (August
19 to September 5,
2016). From crowbars
(croissants with bakedin chocolate bars) to
deep-fried Kool-Aid,
midway vendors think
up the silliest (tastiest!)
creations each year.

Pose on the CN
Towers glass
floor 342 metres
(1,122 feet) above
street level. Take
a photo as proof!

Catch a game and


maybe a foul ball with
reigning American
League Division
Series champs the
Toronto Blue Jays
at Rogers Centre.

Liven up your Instagram


with giant pandas
Er Shun, Da Mao
and the newborn
cubs currently living at
the Toronto Zoo.

@SeeTorontoNow l

VisitToronto

TORONTO 2016
2014 41

1
Canadas a big country.
And our reputation? Huge!
You could travel the nation in
search of quintessentially
Canadian experiences to sample,
savour and shop or you could
limit your efforts to the Greater
Toronto Area. Becausesurprise!
weve got it all, from eh to Z.
1. Immerse yourself in over 1,000 years
of indigenous art at the Museum of
Inuit Art (miamuseum.ca), the only
museum south of the Arctic devoted
exclusively to the sculpture, ceramic,
drawings, prints and wall hangings of
Inuit artists, from Labrador to the Yukon
to the Northwest Territories.
2. Rub shoulders with Brendan Fraser,
Jim Carrey and Shania Twain. OK,
maybe not shoulders. But you can
touch their stars on Canadas Walk
of Fame (canadaswalkoffame.com).

Canadian
content
Sample everything that Canadas famous for,
without leaving the city. By Jamie Noguchi

3. Kiss the Stanley Cup, score a goal


during a sim game or find your own
way to celebrate Canadas unofficial
national sport at the Hockey Hall of
Fame (hhof.com).
4. See a polar bear. Canada is home to
60 percent of the worlds population of
more than 20,000 polar bears. But you
neednt travel to the Far North to spot
one: just head to the Toronto Zoo
(torontozoo.com).
5. Canada produces 80 percent of the
worlds maple syrup. Our tastiest
global commodity can be purchased
at any local supermarket.

6. Behold the iconic landscapes that


made Canadas Group of Seven famous
as they shook up the early 1900s art
world at the Art Gallery of Ontario
(ago.net) and McMichael Canadian
Art Collection (mcmichael.com).

12

7. Dig into the gooey, cheesy,


gravyliciousness of poutine, our
national junk food. Thanks to its
millennial resurgence, poutineries
can be found all over town.

42 TORONTO 2016 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com

11

City Confidential

8. Pick up a paddle at
Harbourfront Canoe
& Kayak Centre
(paddletoronto.com) and
explore the waterfront like a
true voyageur. Rent a canoe
or kayak, or sign on for a
guided paddling tour.

Painting: Tom Thomson, Byng Inlet, Georgian Bay, 19141915, McMichael Canadian Art Collection

9. The Hudsons Bay


(thebay.com) department store
chain predates Canadian
Confederation and is woven
into the countrys national
fabric. It is the place for
Canadian Olympic gear
(such as the famous Team
Canada red mittens) and
the companys legendary
multi-stripe point blanket.

10. Tour the birthplace of


modern Toronto at Fort York
National Historic Site
(fortyork.ca), a key outpost
during the War of 1812.
A new visitors centre was
unveiled in 2014, providing
context to the military
significance of the garrison,
an 1813 battleground.

11. Feast your eyes on our


postcard-perfect fall foliage.
Stroll, run or rent a bike to
take in the explosive yellow,
orange and red tree canopy
along the Moore Park
Ravine and the Don Valley
ravine system (toronto.ca),
or in Cabbagetowns quiet
and pensive Toronto
Necropolis cemetery
(mountpleasantgroup.com).

12. Splurge on a bottle of


decadent icewine. Buy it at
provincial liquor stores or
spend the day exploring the
Niagara wine region and
stock up there.

10

city confidential

Y o u r f e s t iva l ,

Y
A
W
R
U
O
Y
d.
Catc h yo ur fave ac ts in on e ep ic we ek en
Wh et he r th at s al l in on e pl ac e
or al l ov er th e cit y is up to yo u.
By Yuki Hayashi

JAZZ

ANNUAL FESTIVALS:
TD Toronto Jazz Festival (torontojazz.com),
Beaches International Jazz Festival (beachesjazz.com)
2016 dates: TD Toronto Jazz Festival (June 24 to July 3, 2016),
Beaches International Jazz Festival (July 8 to 24, 2016)
Vibe: The nearly three-decades-old TD Toronto Jazz Festival is the elder
(hepcat) statesman of Torontos festival scene, having showcased jazzs
biggest headliners, including Miles Davis, Wynton Marsalis and Diana
Krall, at Nathan Phillips Square and other venues across town. The
Beaches International Jazz Festival adds visual art, youth programming, a
street festival and even a charity run to enhance its eclectic lineup of jazz,
blues, African, Caribbean and R&B performances.

YOUR DIY FEST LINEUP

Catch live performances at the citys leading jazz lounges:


The Rex Hotel (therex.ca)
The Jazz Bistro (jazzbistro.ca)
Poetry Jazz Caf (poetryjazzcafe.com)
The Reservoir Lounge (reservoirlounge.com)
The Jazz Bistro

TD TORONTO JAZZ FESTIVAL

44 TORONTO 2016 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com

Photography: Luis Enriquez (TD Toronto Jazz Festival), Chris Cheung (Salsa on St. Clair), Anna Encheva (Lula Lounge)

Possibly more than any other city in Canada, Toronto is renowned as a festival incubator, with dozens of music and
arts events overlapping throughout the year. But what ifgulp!your travel dates dont sync with your dream festival?
No worries. Heres how to DIY your own festival if youve missed the official one.

City Confidential

FIELD TRIP

ALT & ROOTS

ANNUAL FESTIVALS:
Field Trip (fieldtriplife.com), Toronto Urban Roots Fest
(torontourbanrootsfest.com), Bestival (bestival.ca), WayHome (wayhome.com),
Camp Wavelength (wavelengthtoronto.com)
2016 dates: Field Trip (June 4 to 5, 2016), Toronto Urban Roots Fest (September 14 to 19,
2016), Bestival (June 11 to 12, 2016), WayHome (July 22, 23 & 24, 2016),
Camp Wavelength (August 19 to 21, 2016)
Vibe: Rock musics coolest alt, roots and indie acts like Alabama Shakes, My Morning Jacket
and Arkells have performed at Field Trip, which takes over the historic grassy field of Fort York
National Historic Site, alongside food trucks and a kids camp, where wee hipsters can play,
create art or catch shows on the kids stage. Also located at Fort Yorks Garrison Common,
Toronto Urban Roots Fest (TURF) features an eclectic mix of indie, folk, soul and roots acts, plus
a kids area with musical arts and crafts, games and an acoustic stage. Another outdoorsy fest,
Bestival brings the show to the verdant Toronto Island, where acts like Florence + the Machine,
Nas and Wavves have performed for costumed fans, including newlyweds who got hitched
at the Bestival Inflatable Church. WayHome and Camp Wavelength bring a similarly boho
alfresco vibe to the festivities, overnight camping optional.

YOUR DIY
FEST LINEUP

The Queen West strip is the best place to


catch established and up-and-coming indie
bands. Try these venues:
The Cameron House (thecameron.com)
Horseshoe Tavern (horseshoetavern.com)
Drake Underground (thedrakehotel.ca)
The Garrison (garrisontoronto.com)
Hughs Room (hughsroom.com)

Horseshoe Tavern

WORLD BEAT

ANNUAL FESTIVALS:
Salsa on St. Clair Street Festival (salsaintoronto.com),
Small World Music Festival (smallworldmusic.com)
2016 dates: Salsa on St. Clair Street Festival (July 2016),
Small World Music Festival (September 23 to 25, 2016)
Vibe: Held along a strip of St. Clair West thats home to many of Torontos
Latin American restaurants and businesses, Salsa on St. Clair is a high-energy
street fest that features live music on multiple stages, dancing (including
on-the-spot salsa lessons), a kids zone and plenty of food trucks and
booths. The three-day Small World Music Festival presents a multicultural
mix of international and Canadian artists at Fort York National Historic Site.
The family-friendly fest includes on-site animation, vendors and food.

YOUR DIY FEST LINEUP


SALSA ON ST. CLAIR

Feel the beat and kick up your heels at these salsa,


Latin and world-beat music venues:
Lula Lounge (lula.ca)
Small World Music Centre (smallworldmusic.com)
El Convento Rico (elconventorico.com)
Habourfront Centre
(summers only, harbourfrontcentre.com)

@SeeTorontoNow l

Lula Lounge

VisitToronto

TORONTO 2016 45

city confidential

TORONTO CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL

CARNIVAL
ANNUAL FESTIVAL:
Toronto Caribbean Carnival
(torontocaribbeancarnival.com)

2016 dates: July 10 to 31, 2016


Vibe: This three-week-long celebration of Caribbean
music, cuisine and revelry is a dont-miss event.
Highlights include reggae, soca, steel drum and
calypso performances, as well as the Carnival Ball
(featuring a costume runway show), the competition
for king and queen of the carnival, and, of course, the
Grand Parade, which attracts more than one million
spectators and participants each year.

YOUR DIY FEST LINEUP

Luxy Nightclub

NORTH BY NORTHEAST

INDIE

ANNUAL FESTIVALS:
North by Northeast (nxne.com),
Canadian Music Week (cmw.net), Riot Fest (riotfest.org)

YOUR DIY
FEST LINEUP

Catch the music you crave by


mixing venues, big and small:
The Silver Dollar Room
(silverdollarroom.com)
El Mocambo (elmocambo.com)
Lees Palace (leespalace.com)
Mod Club (themodclub.com)

2016 dates: North by Northeast (June 15 to 19, 2016), Canadian Music


Week (May 4 to 14, 2016), Riot Fest (September 2016)
Vibe: For diehards and industry followers in search of marathon spectating
and scouting ops, North by Northeast (NXNE) and Canadian Music Week
each bring about 800 artists to 25-plus venues across the city. Both festivals
also include films alongside the main event: an electrifying lineup of musical
performances from up-and-coming indie bands and established mid-career
acts alike. Riot Fest, meanwhile, captures the zeitgeisty vibe with a multi-day
lineup of punk, alternative rock, metal and hip hop in a carnival setting.
Lees Palace

46 TORONTO 2016 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com


@SeeTorontoNow l
VisitToronto

Photography: Colin McConnell (Toronto Caribbean Carnival), Vuur (Luxy Nightclub), Tobias Wang (VELD)

Caribana is North Americas largest outdoor


festival, so replicating the experience isnt
easy. But you can catch Caribbean music
at these venues:
Fiction (fictionclub.ca)
Reign Toronto (reigntoronto.com)
Luxy Nightclub (luxyclub.ca)
Vuur Nightclub (vuur.ca)

City Confidential

YOUR DIY
FEST LINEUP

21C MUSIC FESTIVAL

Toronto Symphony Orchestra (tso.ca)


Canadian Opera Company (coc.ca)
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and
Chamber Choir (tafelmusik.org)
Mississauga Symphony Orchestra
(mississaugasymphony.ca)
Roy Thomson Hall (roythomson.com)
Koerner Hall (rcmusic.ca)
Living Arts Centre (livingartscentre.ca)

CLASSICAL

ANNUAL FESTIVALS:
Toronto Summer Music Festival (torontosummermusic.com),
21C Music Festival (rcmusic.ca)
2016 dates: Toronto Summer Music Festival
(May 25 to 29, 2016), 21C Music Festival (May 25 to 29, 2016)
Vibe: Classical music takes centre stage at the Toronto Summer Music
Festival, which features top solo performers, orchestras and everything in
between. Held at various venues across town, festival programming hews to
an annual themelast years was Music of the New World, in honour of the
Pan Am and Parapan Am Games. The Royal Conservatory of Musics 21C
Music Festival debuts cutting-edge compositions (performed by innovative
artists)from classical and jazz to pop and world musicall mostly composed
in the 21st century. Past performers have included pianist and local indie
darling Chilly Gonzales, string ensemble Afiara Quartet and former Police
drummer Stewart Copeland.

Toronto Symphony Orchestra

EDM/DIGITAL

ANNUAL FESTIVALS:
VELD Music Festival (veldmusicfestival.com),
Digital Dreams (digitaldreamsfestival.ca)
2016 dates: VELD Music Festival (July 2016),
Digital Dreams (June 2016)
Vibe: Electronic music lovers have been flocking to
five-year-old VELD for top international acts, including
Torontos own Deadmau5, the superstar DJ behind summers
other big EDM event, Digital Dreams.

YOUR DIY FEST LINEUP

Here are great places to catch EDM, dance and DJ sets:


Uniun Nightclub (uniun.com)
The Hoxton (thehoxton.ca)
Fly 2.0 (flyyyz.com)
Sound Academy (soundacademyevents.com)

Uniun Nightclub

VELD MUSIC FESTIVAL


@SeeTorontoNow l

VisitToronto

TORONTO 2016 47

City style
From pitch-perfect designer to edgy streetwear,
weve got wardrobe picks fit for a night out on the town.
Styling by Vanessa Taylor Photography by Javier Lovera

Left: Brunello Cucinelli shirt,


Lanvin trousers and cardigan,
Z Zegna tie, all Harry Rosen.
Right: Z Zegna shirt, Harry
Rosen suit, all Harry Rosen.

THE HOT SPOT: Four Seasons Centre


for the Performing Arts (coc.ca)
THE STYLE: Understated Luxury
From fashions by homegrown high-end talent
to styles straight off the runway, these designer
pieces feature refined tailoring, impeccable fabrics
and gorgeous good looks.

48 TORONTO 2016 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com

SHOP THE LOOK:


For designer brands, check out the full
selection of casual to formal suits, shoes
and accessories at Harry Rosen. Luxury
department store Holt Renfrew offers Holt
Renfrew Men (holtrenfrewmen.com), which
boasts a selection of designer labels along
with on-site monogramming and shoe shining.
The Bloor-Yorkville (bloor-yorkville.com)
area houses an array of quaint boutiques,
including Kate Spade (katespade.com) and
Augustina (augustinaboutiques.com), as
well as chains like Diesel (diesel.com) and
Sunglass Hut (sunglasshut.com).
Canadian designer Kimberley NewportMimrans Pink Tartan (pinktartan.com)
feminine career wear can be found at Holt
Renfrew (holtrenfrew.com), Hudsons Bay
(thebay.com) and the brands namesake
concept boutique in Yorkville.
Leatherfoot (leatherfoot.com) in Yorkville
purveys handcrafted mens shoes from
heritage brands like Saint Crispins, John
Lobb, Gaziano & Girling and Carmina
Shoemaker, and offers a made-to-order
shoe service.
Yorkville Village (yorkvillevillage.com),
Yorkvilles indoor mall, is home to luxe
plus-size retailer Marina Rinaldi (world.
marinarinaldi.com), as well as Andrews
(andrewsco.com), which houses brand-name
favourites like Joie, Max Mara Studio and
Nicole Miller, and TNT (tntfashion.ca), which
carries top-tier designers.
Torontos Mink Milethe stretch of Bloor
Street West from Yonge Street to Avenue
Roadshowcases the flagships of Louis
Vuitton (louisvuitton.com), Herms (hermes.
com), Prada (prada.com), Tiffany & Co.
(tiffany.ca), Cartier (cartier.com), Chanel
(chanel.com), Coach (coach.com), Burberry
(ca.burberry.com) and Mulberry (mulberry.com).
The Hudsons Bay flagship location on
Queen Street carries contemporary labels
for men and women in its White Space. For
the crme de la crme, visit Hudsons Bays
fabled The Room for Balmain, Oscar de la
Renta, Christopher Kane, Proenza Schouler
and more, plus a shoe floor boasting the likes
of Derek Lam 10 Crosby, Sophia Webster
and Sam Edelman.
Over in The Distillery Historic District,
shop night-out looks at lifestyle store
GOTSTYLE (gotstylemenswear.com), along
with hard-to-find fine jewellery brands at
Gilding the Lily (gildingthelil.com).
Yorkdale Shopping Centre has expanded
and now includes more than 250 stores and
services, creating one of the most fashionoriented mall destinations with its heady mix
of premium and luxury brands. Find Britains
AllSaints (allsaints.com) and Ted Baker
(tedbaker.com), plus Italian luxury brand
Salvatore Ferragamo (ferragamo.com),
as well as U.S. menswear designer John
Varvatos (johnvarvatos.com), trend-driven
lifestyle brand Vince Camuto (vincecamuto.
com), all under one roof.

City Confidential
SHOP THE LOOK:
Venture just north of the city to Vaughan Mills
(vaughanmills.com), Canadas premier outlet mall,
which has an unrivalled selection of discount designer
stores like Michael Kors Outlet, Lacoste Outlet, Calvin
Klein Outlet, BCBGMAXAZRIA and Holt Renfrews
discount store, hr2 (holtrenfrew.com/hr2).
Canadian shoe stores like Browns (brownsshoes.
com), Aldo (aldoshoes.com) and Town Shoes
(townshoes.com) offer the latest in designer and
private-label shoes and accessories.
Founded in Toronto, Club Monaco (clubmonaco.
ca) has a modern-classic aesthetic with broad appeal.
Fashion favourite J.Crew (jcrew.com) offers timeless
styles that will take you from work to weekend.
Check out the Toronto Eaton Centre (cfshops.
com/toronto-eaton-centre.html), Yorkdale
Shopping Centre (yorkdale.com), Bayview Village
(bayviewvillageshops.com) and Sherway Gardens
(sherwaygardens.ca), as well as Mississaugas Square
One (shopsquareone.com) and Bramptons Bramalea
City Centre (bramaleacitycentre.ca).
Spains fast-fashion giant Zara (zara.com) and sister
store Massimo Dutti (massimodutti.com) offer ontrend clothing, accessories and footwear for both men
and women.
Topshop (topshop.com), with its shop-in-shop
locations for men and women in Hudsons Bay
(thebay.com), provides affordably priced fashions for
the ultimate trendy millennial.
Roots (canada.roots.com) has been rocking
a sporty urban style for over four decades. Its
quintessentially Canadian look straddles the city and
the great outdoors.

THE HOT SPOT: Massey Hall (masseyhall.com)


THE STYLE: New Classics
For effortless fashions that will amp up any outfit, look
to easy silhouettes with a laid-back vibeadd interest
with poppy prints, relaxed leather and crisp shirts.

Left: Gap shirt, Roots jacket,


Banana Republic skirt and bag.
Right: Zara hat, Banana Republic
shirt and sweater, Roots pants.

@SeeTorontoNow l

VisitToronto

2013 49
TORONTO 2016

City Confidential
THE HOT SPOT: Lees Palace (leespalace.com)
THE STYLE: Eclectic Indie
Whether its scoring the ultimate second-hand find or
discovering the latest downtown-cool boutiques, heres
where youll find your latest wardrobe obsession.

SHOP THE LOOK:


Queen Street West is home to a variety
of shops specializing in heritage labels and
independent brands. Mens boutique Sydneys
(shopsydneys.com) champions European labels
and is the place to order bespoke jeans. Nearby,
youll find Ben Sherman (bensherman.com),
Oliver Spencer (oliverspencer.co.uk) and Fred
Perry (fredperry.com). Be sure to check out Frank
& Oak (frankandoak.com), where youll find wellpriced modern clothing (from casual to office wear)
with a full coffee shop in the front.
In the trendy Queen Street West and Ossington
Avenue neighbourhood, peruse street-style faves
at gravitypope (gravitypope.com) and Tiger
of Sweden (tigerofsweden.com). Local talent
Jonathan+Olivia (jonathanandolivia.com) offers
a well-edited selection of designer labels for men
and women like Alexander Wang, Acne Studios,
Opening Ceremony and Isabel Marant.
Shop niche clothing and accessories
brands at bohemian mecca Anthropologie
(anthropologie.com), and gravitate to Getoutside
(getoutsideshoes.com) for street-savvy footwear.
For wallet-friendly fashions, visit OAK + FORT
(oakandfort.ca) for clean, contemporary separates
and H&M (hm.com/ca) for the latest trends.
Fans of sustainable shopping should
head to Kensington Market for an array of
vintage shops, including jewellery emporium
Courage My Love (couragemylove.ca), Fresh
Collective (freshcollective.com), which focuses
on independent Toronto designers, and Exile
(exilevintage.com), which features off-beat, one-ofa-kind finds.
Along Queen Street West, hit up luxury
consignment boutiques Fashionably Yours
(fashionablyyours.com) and Consign Toronto
(consigntoronto.com).
A few blocks north of Bloor Street on Yonge
Street, visit WANT Apothecary (wantapothecary.
com), an airy boutique that stocks hard-to-find
labels and its sought-after in-house brand.
Walk five minutes north to Clementines
(clementinesluxury.com), an expertly curated highend resale boutique.
Left: OAK + FORT top,
H&M vest, Levis jeans,
Converse sneakers.
Right: H&M.

50 TORONTO 2016
2013 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com
@SeeTorontoNow l
VisitToronto

Fly to the airport.


Downtown Toronto to Pearson Airport
in 25 minutes, every 15 minutes.

With trains leaving every 15 minutes, its a short 25-minute


ride from downtown Toronto to Toronto Pearson International
Airport. On the train, UP Express has complimentary
Wi-Fi courtesy of CIBC, comfortable seating with table trays,
power outlets, luggage racks, infotainment as well as flight
information. Whether youre heading out or heading home,
we cant wait to welcome you.

Get on board.
Purchase tickets
at UPexpress.com

Japan?
Kariya Park,
Downtown Mississauga

Award-winning waterfront,
Port Credit, Mississauga

Dubai?

Algonquin Park?

Absolute Towers, Downtown Mississauga

Flyfishing, Erindale Park, Mississauga

Minutes away worlds apart.


Discover for yourself.

discovermississauga.ca

food drink
food+drink
Spice of life

If youre the kind of eater who lives to feel the burn, Torontos food scene will stoke your
appetite. Home to Canadas most diverse array of ethnic restaurants, the citys selections
will have you breaking a sweat, chowing down on a global heat seekers menu: authentic
tom yum goong soup at Linda Modern Thai, habanero-spiked cochinita pibil tacos at El
Caballito, mouth-searing vindaloo at Bindia Indian Bistro, or the slower burn of Cajunstyle jambalaya from Southern Accent Restaurant. Or pair dinner with entertainment at
The Sultans Tent, where French-Moroccan dishes like North African piri piri chicken turn
up the heat, especially when accompanied by a live belly-dancing performance.

FOOD & DRINK

Local flavour
Three chefs dish on what makes their cuisine taste like home.
By Gizelle Lau Photography by Geoff Fitzgerald

AUTHENTIC C

Chilies en nogada at Los Colibris

Chef
Elia Herrera

54 TORONTO 2016

HEF ELIA HERRERA was


raised in Veracruz, Mexico,
where her mother and
grandmotherboth
chefsstoked her love of cooking.
I grew up in the family business. Our
family has owned a catering company
for over 75 years, says Herrera. So it
was a given that shed attend cooking
school in Puebla, Mexico. During
those four years, she spent summers
honing her skills throughout Italy,
Belgium, France and Spain.
After graduating, Herrera worked
in Spain for several years and then
came to Toronto. The plan was to
explore Canada and then fly away, but
I fell in love with Toronto, she says.
Her intended one-year stay turned
into 13 yearsand she hasnt looked
back, honing her chops in some of
the citys best kitchens, like Mistura
and Canoe.
A few years ago, Herrera began
working as a restaurant consultant,
rediscovering her culinary roots in the
process. Around the same time, she
observed newfound opportunities in
Torontos expanding food scene.
When I came to Canada, it was hard
to find Mexican ingredients but now
its easy to get everything you need.
Its incredible, she says, frequenting
shops like Perolas Supermarket in
Kensington Market.
In 2014, Herrera helped open
not one but two Mexican restaurants
on King Street West. The casual
El Caballito (elcaballito.ca) offers a
crowd-pleasing menu of tequila,
margaritas and Mexican street food
like guacamole, ceviche and tacos.
Upstairs, the upscale Los Colibris
(loscolibris.ca) focuses on fine dining
and intricate dishes that are a nod
to traditional Mexican cuisine.
As executive chef, Herrera uses
recipes passed down from her mother
and grandmother. One of her signature
dishes at Los Colibris is the chilies en
nogadapork-stuffed poblano
peppers with a walnut cream sauce
painstakingly created using 32
ingredients. Its authentic to Puebla,
and theres no better place to taste it
than in Toronto, a city where homelands old and new mix deliciously.

FOOD AND DRINK

FUSION
C

HEF NICK LIU describes his


two-year-old restaurant DaiLo
(dailoto.com) as my story in a
restaurant. Liu says the College
Street restaurants menu is an expression of
his cultural identity, one that straddles the
Chinese-Canadian line. Though his mom
hails from South Africa and his dad from
India (both are ethnically Chinese), Liu
considers himself Chinese-Canadian.
Growing up and going to my
grandparents, wed always eat Chinese
food. But for me and my brother, we loved it
when my grandmother made Kraft
Dinnershe put hot dogs in it because she
read it in a book somewhereeven though
she always made it too dry, he reminisces.
Cooking was a natural fit for Liu. When I
first stepped into a kitchen, it felt right, he
says of working under chef Brad Long at
360 The Restaurant at the CN Tower. Under
Longs advice, Liu enrolled at George Brown
Colleges Hospitality Centre. Upon
graduation, Liu spent the next decade and a
half working in some of Torontos leading
restaurants: Scaramouche, Splendido and
Niagara Street Caf. He also travelled
abroad, honing his culinary skills in
restaurants in Italy, England and Australia.
Through those experiences, Liu found his

DaiLos truffle fried rice

niche: They opened my eyes to the


subtleties of French techniques with Asian
flavours and ingredients.
Enter DaiLo, which in Cantonese means
big brother or, in slang, head of the gang.
Liu bills the menu as new Asian cuisine,
based on my own journey to dive into my
own culture and learn about it through food.
The journey has been lifelong, says Liu:
Growing up as a Chinese kid in Markham
before it became predominantly Chinese
we kind of repelled our own culture to fit in
and be more white, more Canadian. I feel
like I missed out, so learning about some of
the key dishes of different regions of Asia
gave me a stronger connection to my
culture, and who I am and where my family
has come from.
One signature dish is the truffle fried rice,
a traditional Chinese fried rice dish that
brings in the French fine-dining flair of
truffles, finished with puffed rice for texture.
Egg and truffles is one of the best flavour
combinations in the world, so I thought,
Why not try it with fried rice? explains Liu.
Its that kind of tinkeringtaking traditional
Asian dishes and incorporating fine-dining
technique, local ingredients, and flavours
from around the worldthat makes DaiLo
one of the citys hottest restaurants.

@SeeTorontoNow l

Chef
Nick Liu
Another great example of this is the mapo
doufu halloumi, a play on the traditional
mapo tofu dish, where instead of tofu, he
uses halloumi, a Levantine-style cheese from
a local dairy, and stir-fries it up with ground
pork, grilled scallions, black bean chili sauce,
fried chilies and garlic. Its a global dish that
sums up Toronto in every bite.

VisitToronto

TORONTO 2016 55

CANADIAN
W

HEN RESTAURATEURS and chefs


Wayne Morris and Evelyn Wu decided to
open Boralia (boraliato.com), they wanted
to create a menu that, says Wu, could
incorporate flavours of Waynes Acadian background
and her Chinese upbringing without being kitschy.
Inspired by her experience working for British chef
Heston Blumenthal, who is credited with modernizing
traditional British recipes, Wu and partner Morris began
looking at Canadian history for culinary inspiration.
What they found was lacking, Canada being barely
150 years old, after all.
Toronto has one of the best ethnic-food scenes of
any city weve lived in, says Wu. But people are at a
loss when asked about Canadian cuisine and Canadian
restaurants that serve things other than the
stereotypical poutine and peameal bacon. Everyone
knows that Canada is a melting pot of cultures; we
wanted to create a menu that would showcase this
multiculturalism in the form of flavours.
The duo began delving deeper into Canadas history
from a multicultural perspective. They researched
Aboriginal history, including recipes and traditional
preparation techniques, as well as recipes from the
settlers and immigrants who came after the English and
French, specifically those from Poland and China.

Boralias menu includes dishes like lclade, a


recipe that traces back to Samuel de Champlain:
pine-smoked mussels come to your table under a
glass dome thats lifted so the smokiness wafts into
the air in front of you. The restaurants whelk dish is a
tribute to the East Coasts Mikmaq Nation, who
would fish for whelk (part of the snail family) and use
the shell for currency. The whelk are sliced and lightly
grilled, served in a whelk shell, under a seaweed
beurre blanc, atop a bed of sauted burdock root
and carrot. Youll also find dishes like chop suey
croquettes and perogies, recipes from the 1800s
(chop suey is believed to have been invented by
West Coast restaurants catering to Chinese railway
workers, and perogy recipes were brought by
Polish immigrants).
Wu sums up that modern take on Canuck cuisine:
Canadian cuisine is the food of the people who built
this country. Its the food of the Aboriginal tribes who
know the ins and outs of the indigenous plants. Its
the dishes that the early English and French settlers
recreated here and adapted with ingredients they
could find in this new land. Its the flavours of the
immigrants that came after them. Mindful of history
yet ever evolving, this type of Canadian cuisine is like
Torontoalive and unlike anything else in the world.

56 TORONTO 2016 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com

Boralias pine-smoked mussels

Chef
Wayne Morris

Peoples
Eatery
seasame
noodle bowl

Short orders

Bar Fancy
chicken wings

Small-plates cuisine goes casual.


By Simone Olivero

Heres to elevated nibbles and complex culinary


masterpieces served up snack size until late.
DaiLo
Hakka brown
wontons

DaiLo
Jellyfish Slaw

416 Snack Bar


oysters

TAPAS & APERITIVOS


The Italians and Spanish practically invented the art of
snacking. For classic tapas like jamn Ibrico, patatas bravas
and roast bone marrow, Bar Isabel (797 College St.)
rightfully occupies one of the top spots in the city with its
creative interpretations. On a similar note, Bar Buca
(75 Portland St.) serves up Sicilian-style goat-and-ricotta
meatballs, soppressata-and-baby-octopus skewers and
house-made burrata stuffed with pesto, making every hour
aperitivo hour.

CUTLERY-FREE
An early adopter, 416 Snack Bar (181 Bathurst St.)
opened in 2011, offering small plates that adhere to
the restos No. 1 rule: no cutlery. Seriously, you
wont find a fork here. Steak tartare, steamed buns
and even a salad (Japanese-style with wakame,
toasted sesame and miso dressing) are presented
as glorified finger food. The same motto goes for its
sister restaurant, Peoples Eatery (307 Spadina
Ave.). Paying homage to the neighbourhoods
Jewish and Chinese history, the menu features
latkes and kibbeh nayeh alongside General Tso tofu
and Peking duck.

Bar Buca
costolette di
manzo

Junked Food
Company
Smash Bag
nachos

ASIAN FUSION

Bar Buca
sardella
calabrese

Photography: Paula Wilson,


Food Stylist: Chantal Payette

Kanpai
Snack Bar
Cabbage
Patch Kids

Taiwanese night market treats are on order at


Kanpai Snack Bar (252 Carlton St.), where
wok-fried anchovies, fried tofu and gooey
pork belly steamed buns pair perfectly
with Canadian brews and handcrafted
cocktails. At Lopan (503 College St.),
DaiLos upstairs bar, Asian riffs on
North American classics like the Big
Mac and KFC chicken are served
dim-sum-style until 2 a.m.

CURATED CRAVINGS
Junked Food
Company
waffle
sandwich

Theres nothing fancy about the signature Smash Bag


nachos from Junked Food Company (1256 Dundas
St. W.): theyre prepared right in the Doritos bag with
toppings like Dr Pepper pulled pork, dark chocolate
chili and mac n cheese. If fried chicken is more your
flavour, Bar Fancy (1070 Queen St. W.) offers a special
of $2 fried chicken (and half-price oysters)
between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Plus, dirty
nachoscomplete with a Cheez
Whizlike toppingmake the
rounds until late.

Bar Fancy
olives and pork
sausages

58 TORONTO 2016 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com

Bar Buca
polipo

Kanpai
Snack Bar
Player Hater

Peoples
Eatery
grilled short
ribs

DISCOVER WHAT
FLYING IS ALL ABOUT !
( 289) 795- 4000 | iFLYtoronto.com
2007 Winston Park Drive, Oakville

iFLY is an easy drive from Downtown Toronto and


an exciting side trip on the way to Niagara Falls.

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food

Savvy sips

Home to 17,000 acres of vineland


and responsible for about 75 percent
of all Canadian wines, Ontario is the
nations preeminent wine region. And
its booming: since 2009, the number
of wineries in the province has
grown from 133 to 200. For insight
into the local terroir, we chatted with
Ricardo Chico, wine director and
general manager of Cibo Wine Bar
on King Street West. Cibos three
Toronto locations are among the
citys best places to sip, sample
and quaff.

Why Ontario wines are making


a splash in city restos. By Dee Brun

What goes into creating a


restaurant wine list?
I consider price, quality, rarity, diversity in
taste and how the wines suit the overall
experience: youre trying to give options
and represent all major wine regions.
Each region must have an entry-level wine,
a mid-range one with more complexity and
value, and a higher-end option thats the
regions best example. Ontario wines have
all threegreat sipping wines from most
producers in our growing regions.
Cool-climate viticulture is ideal for higher
acidity, fruit forwardness and minerality,
which make Ontario wines perfect for
food pairings.

What is your approach at


Cibo Wine Bar?
I try to be approachable and honest. I never
want the customers to be afraid to ask for
something off the menu. I try to stock fun
bottles that will fit every customers taste
and budget.

How do you feel about


Ontario wines and wineries?
I am a huge fan and feel that we all need to
be wine tourists in our own backyards.
The soil composition and cool climate of
Niagara and Prince Edward County are
ideal for the many great varietals that grow
here. Rieslings and Cabernet Francs really
flourish in Ontario.

Ricardo gave us his


top three Ontario
wineries worth visiting
in personand their
signature bottles.
Norman Hardie Winery,
Wellington

Wine director and general


manager Ricardo Chico shows
off Cibo Wine Bars 2,500-strong,
20-feet-tall wine cellar while wine
angel, Laura Darby selects
the perfect vintage for a client.

60 TORONTO 2016 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com

Photography: Geoff Fitzgerald

Renowned for its Pinot Noirs


and Chardonnays

Cave Spring
Cellars, Jordan

Renowned for its Rieslings

Tawse Winery, Vineland


Renowned for its Pinot Noirs
and Cabernet Francs

.
10 A.M

.M
9 A

11 A.M.

Noon

1 P.M.

2 P.M.

Always hungry?

3 P.M
.

Get your fix with these 24 suggestions


to eat around the clock. By Ernie Ourique

8 A.M.

4 P.M.

7 A.M.

.
6 P.M

6 A.M.

5 A.M.

7 P.M.

4 A.M.

.
3 A.M

10 P.M.

2 A.M.

.
5 P.M

8 P.M.

9 P.M.

11 P.M.

1 A.M.

MIDNIGHT Goldstone Noodle Restaurant (266 Spadina Ave.).


NOON Kinton Ramen (51 Baldwin St.). Japanese
Midnight
Late-night BBQ duck and mango shakes beckon.
noodles are even better with gyoza and kimchee.
1 A.M. Weslodge Saloon (480 King St. W.). Crispy pigs ears and
1 P.M. Perolas Supermarket (247 Augusta Ave.).
thrice-cooked fries fuel the party at this see-and-be-seen bar.
Latin American empanadas washed down with Mexican Cokeyum!
2 A.M. The Thompson Diner (550 Wellington St. W.). Nows the perfect time
2 P.M. Carousel Bakery (93 Front St. E.). The classic peameal bacon sandwich
for buttermilk fried chicken, right?
is pure Canadiana.
3 A.M. The Lakeview Restaurant (1132 Dundas St. W.). With its 24-hour
3 P.M. Bar Ape. Follow @Bar_Ape for the gelato trucks location and daily flaves.
brunch and milkshake menu, The Lakeview is a late-night institution.
4 P.M. Hot dog carts. Polish sausage, spicy Italian and veggie are Toronto
4 A.M. Owl of Minerva (5324 Yonge St.). Korean bulgogi and bibimbap are the
twists on a street classic.
perfect fuel for a madcap, non-stop night.
5 P.M. Bangkok Garden (18 Elm St.). Feast on traditional Thai just a stones
5 A.M. 7 West (7 Charles St. W.). Pita pizzas, pastas and salads: any time of day
throw from Yonge-Dundas Square.
or night, 365 and 24/7!
6 P.M. 360 The Restaurant at the CN Tower (301 Front St. W.). An inspired
6 A.M. Frans Restaurant & Bar (20 College St.). All-day breakfast to start the
menu and 9,000-bottle wine cellar make it a culinary landmark.
workday or cap an epic night out.
7 P.M. Skin + Bones (980 Queen St. E.). Trust the chef and choose the
7 A.M. Sunset Grill (1 Richmond St. W.). Eggy delights like omelettes, eggs
four-course tasting menu at this Leslieville locavore hot spot.
Benny and Florentine arrive promptly at this biz-district diner.
8 P.M. Momofuku Noodle Bar (190 University Ave., ground floor). This popular
8 A.M. Bonjour Brioche (812 Queen St. E.). Locals credit this quaint Riverside
ramen restos surprising hit is the group dinner: a by-reservation-only duo of fried
bakery and caf with the best baguettes this side of the Right Bank.
chickenone Korean-style, the other Southernwith all the fixings.
9 A.M. Easy Restaurant (1645 Queen St. W.). This Parkdale brunch spot has a
9 P.M. Drake Hotel (1150 Queen St. W.). Charcuterie and cocktails now,
laid-back vibe and killer coffee.
dancing after. (Or is it the other way around?)
10 A.M. Mitzis Caf (100 Sorauren Ave.). This neighbourhood caf serves up
10 P.M. Caff Demetre (400 Danforth Ave.). Scarf down artsy sweets and
succulent French toast on a tree-shaded patio.
coffee-based bevvies at this GreekTown dessert bar.
11 A.M. Emmas Country Kitchen (1108 St. Clair W.). If 11 a.m. feels too early
11 P.M. Pravda Vodka Bar (44 Wellington St. E.). Late-night caviar, vodka and
to eat, order the hangover helper burger.
cherry perogies, served to DJ beats.

@SeeTorontoNow l

VisitToronto

TORONTO 2016 61

With more than 80 craft breweries in


the Greater Toronto Area, locals and
visitors have plenty of options
when it comes to raising a cheer
(and enjoying a bite). Need ideas?
We asked three of the citys top
brewmasters for their fave craft
brew spots and food-beer pairings.

Brewers choice
The experts weigh in on the best
places to enjoy their beer.
By Karen Burshein

Bar Volo (barvolo.com) serves our


farmhouse ales, which I like to pair with
their incredible charcuterie platter. Bar Hop
(barhopbar.com) is another fine local spot.
It has a fairly changing menu but always pairs
beer with food very well. Id recommend our
Starke Pilsner with any of the daily pies.
Iain McOustra, brewmaster
at Amsterdam Brewery since 2013

Against the Grain (atgurbantavern.ca)


is a great craft beer gastropub. The flatbreads
and pulled pork are designed to go with beer.
Cest What (cestwhat.com) carries our
specialty brews and more obscure beers,
with a great rotating tap. Junction Craft
Brewing (junctioncraftbrewing.com) is
another great drinking place. I also like Opera
Bobs Public House (operabobspublichouse.
com) for bar food and local beer. And try our
100th Meridian beer, which will just make you
happy, at The Beer Hall at Mill Street Brew
Pub (beerhall.millstreetbrewpub.ca) in The
Distillery Historic Districtour home and one
of Torontos best beer patios.
Joel Manning, brewmaster
at Mill St. Brewery since 2005

Photography: Paula Wilson

Id recommend Bier Markt (thebiermarkt.


com). They serve the kind of food I like best
with our premium Canadian Pilsner:
charcuterie boards, cheese plates and
European comfort food like schnitzel.
Marek Mikunda, master brewer
at Steam Whistle Brewing

62 TORONTO 2016 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com

360 Restaurant is one of Canadas finest dining


destinations, located atop the iconic CN Tower in
Toronto. Featuring spectacular 360-degree views
of the city and an inventive, Canadian sourced,
seasonal menu, 360 Restaurant is an inspiring
gastronomic experience in an unsurpassed
setting. 360 boasts an extensive array of wines
from Canada and around the world, with over
550 labels from its innovative cellar in the sky.
Reserve the ultimate dining experience
cntower.ca/360 416-362-5411
Discover great event options at the CN Tower
sales@cntower.ca 416-601-4718

Please note that elevation to 360 Restaurant and access to


the LookOut and Glass Floor levels of the CN Tower, following
your meal, are complimentary with the purchase of a prix fixe
by each guest. Gift certificates available.

HOTMAG 1-2 Hor.indd 1

2015-11-11 10:37 AM

compass
Scarborough Bluffs
This spectacular 15-km (9.3 mile) stretch of linked
waterfront parks is a landmark worth exploring.
The surrounding Scarborough area is a cosmopolitan food
lovers dream, with eateries offering everything from Lebanese
to Filipino, Sri Lankan and Persian food. Explore local history
at Scarborough Museum, marvel at the Guild Park and
Gardens quirky sculpture park, or visit the 47-sq-km
(18-sq-mile) Rouge Park, recently designated Canadas
first National Urban Park, which encompasses First Nations
archeological sites and 1,700 plant and animal species.

Go local
Eating, shopping &
other cool things to
do in Torontos diverse
neighbourhoods.
By Jane L. Thompson
With additional research by Sarah B. Hood

Toronto-Dominion Centre

No matter where you are in and around Toronto, youll find safe, walkable
neighbourhoods and convenient transit links (not to mention a growing
network of bike facilities) that make it easy to play it by ear, strolling,
snacking and shopping wherever you feel the urge. Heres a starter list of
places to visitcomplete with some foolproof Instagrammable locations!

66 TORONTO 2016 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com

compass
Harbour Sixty Steakhouse
For serious steak aficionados, fine dining in a
historic Harbour Commission Building with a
prodigious wine list of more than 1,000 offerings.
60 Harbour St., 416-777-2111, harboursixty.com
Epic at The Fairmont Royal York Hotel
Best to reserve for this award-winning dining room,
with its exemplary farm-to-fork menu. 100 Front
St. W., 416-860-6949, epicrestaurant.ca

SHOP
Bay of Spirits Gallery
Buy a gift or invest in a piece of Aboriginal art
at this gallery that presents everything from
dream catchers and talking sticks to paintings
and sculpture from artists and craftspeople of
Haida, Iroquois, Ojibway and Inuit heritage.
156 Front St. W., 416-971-5190, bayofspirits.com
Gotstyle The Menswear Store
These hip clothiers are casual downstairs; upstairs,
a high-style mens wedding boutique. 21 Trinity St.,
in The Distillery Historic District at 55 Mill St.,
416-260-9696, gotstylemenswear.com

SEE

The Distillery
Historic District

Old Town +
The Distillery
Historic
District
MEET THE NEIGHBOURS
Many of Torontos historic buildings now
accommodate the needs of urban sophisticates.
Union Station, St. Lawrence Market, The
Esplanade and The Distillery Historic District
cater to lovers of food and culture. King and
Sherbourne is the centre for condo-sized
furniture and more elaborate dcor pieces.
The Distillery has galleries, restaurants,
chocolate, clothes and more.

King St.

Old
Town

Berkley St.
Parliament St.

Sherbourne St.

Jarvis St.

Church St.

Bay St.

Yonge St.

Best routes: Begin at St. Lawrence Market


(Front Street East at Jarvis), then stroll east to
Parliament before turning south toward Mill
Street and The Distillery Historic District.

York St.

St. Lawrence The Esplanade


Market
Lake Shore Blvd.
Queens

Quay

Cluny Bistro
A playful spin on classic French cuisine in
artfully redesigned historic surroundings. 35 Tank
House Lane, in The Distillery Historic District at
55 Mill St., 416-203-2632, clunybistro.com
Fishermans Wharf Lighthouse
Recently relocated, a dependable and
reasonably priced seafood restaurant serving
classics like bouillabaisse and Coquille St.
Jacques. 97 Church St., 416-364-1344,
fishermanswharf-toronto.com

Sony Centre for the


Performing Arts
This palatial centre
hosts major theatre,
dance, music, comedy
and kids productions, like
Alvin Ailey American Dance
Theater (March 2016).
1 Front St. E., 855-872-SONY
(7669), sonycentre.ca

The Sultans Tent & Caf Moroc


The scents and spices of North African cuisine
served amid decorative opulence that evokes
Berber splendour. 49 Front St. E., 416-961-0601,
thesultanstent.com

Segway of Ontario
Tour The Distillery Historic District the fun way:
on a two-wheeled, self-stabilizing Segway scooter.
30 Gristmill Lane, in The Distillery Historic District at
55 Mill St., 416-642-0008, segwayofontario.com

SNAP THIS
ve.
rn A

te

Front St. E.

EAT
Bindia Indian Bistro
Fresh contemporary Indian food for eat-in or
takeout.16 Market St., 416-863-0000, bindia.ca

St. Lawrence Market


Named the worlds best food market
by National Geographic, it has
more than 100 food vendors,
a Saturday farmers market
and a Sunday antiques
market in the north
building. 9295 Front
St. E., 416-392-7219,
stlawrencemarket.com

Eas

Mill St.

The Distillery
Historic District

Gooderham Building (a.k.a. the Flatiron Building)


Stand on the traffic island at the intersection of
Front Street East and Church Street to catch the
buildings narrow end dead centre and include
the two skyscrapers directly behind it. Then walk
behind the building to Berczy Park and shoot
the buildings wider end, with its multi-storey
trompe loeil mural. 49 Wellington St. E.,
416-392-1975, toronto.ca

denotes subway station

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TORONTO 2016 67

compass
Yuk Yuks Comedy Club
Torontos top standup comedy venue has
helped launch the careers of comics like
Howie Mandel, Jim Carrey, Rick Moranis
and Russell Peters.
224 Richmond St. W., 416-967-6425,
yukyuks.com

Canyon Creek Chop House


Great for groups: the downtown edition
of a classy but casual chain dishing up
steaks, burgers, tacos, wraps, salads and
cocktails.
156 Front St. W., 416-596-2240,
canyoncreekrestaurant.ca

SHOP

King Street West

Entertainment
District
MEET THE NEIGHBOURS
Nightclubs, theatres and cinemas make this area jump, along
with such key tourism venues as the CN Tower, Steam Whistle
Brewing, Rogers Centre, Air Canada Centre, Roy Thomson Hall
and Ripleys Aquarium of Canada.

Front St. W.

Best routes:
King Street West
between University
Avenue and Spadina
Avenue for theatres
and restaurants;
Richmond Street
West between
Spadina Avenue and
Simcoe Street for
nightclubs.
Church St.

King St. W.
Bay St.

Entertainment
District

Richmond St. W.
University Ave.

Simcoe St.

John St.

Peter St.

Spadina Ave.

Queen St. W.

EAT
Blowfish Restaurant & Sake Bar
The club crowd congregates for luxe
sushi and cocktails at this tony restolounge. 668 King St. W., 416-860-0606,
blowfishrestaurant.com

Luckee Restaurant and Bar


Internationally known Toronto chef Susur
Lees latest project features his own
Nouvelle Chinoise take on the classic
cuisines of Chinas Guangzhou, Hunan,
Shanghai and Szechuan districts.
328 Wellington St. W., 416-935-0400,
luckeerestaurant.com

CN Tower Gift Shop


Souvenirs from classic to clever, including
clothing, jewellery, crafts and edibles, with
a few of Canadas favourite furry creatures
standing guard. 301 Front St. W.,
416-868-6937, cntower.ca
Toronto Antiques on King
Unique discoveries from Victoriana to
mid-century modern at this 6,000-squarefoot temple of vintage charm.
284 King St. W., 416-260-9057,
torontoantiquesonking.com
Umbra Flagship Store
This multi-level pink
palace is dedicated
to affordable home
design: take home
the work of industrial
designers like
Karim Rashid thats
also featured in
major museums.
165 John St., 416-599-0088,
umbra.com

SEE
Real Sports Apparel
This 10,000-square-foot shrine to sports
offers jerseys, caps, jackets and more.
Air Canada Centre, Gate 1, 40 Bay St.,
416-815-5746, realsports.ca
TIFF Bell Lightbox
Home to the Toronto International Film
Festival, it has five cinemas and two
casual restaurants.
350 King St. W., 416-968-3456, tiff.net
Ripleys Aquarium of Canada
The new aquarium houses a 660,000-gallon shark tank in the Dangerous Lagoon,
bringing you nose to gill with incredible
12-foot-long sand tiger sharks.
288 Bremner Blvd., 647-351-FISH (3474),
ripleyaquariums.com/canada

68 TORONTO 2016 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com

SNAP THIS
CN Tower
Some of the best views of the iconic tower,
the adjacent Rogers Centre and the skyline
are from the Toronto Islands, across the
Inner Harbour, but if you keep an eye out,
you may see it framed in an interesting way
from almost anywhere in the downtown
core. Watch for nighttime illuminations,
like red and white for Canada Day and
rainbow colours for Pride celebrations.
301 Front St. W., 416-868-6937,
cntower.ca

The Second City


If youre looking for sketch comedy,
improv and lots of drinks to help keep the
laughs coming, youre in the right place.
51 Mercer St., 416-343-0011,
secondcity.com
Canadas Walk of Fame
Stroll Canadas Walk of Fame and snap
photos of tiles dedicated to Canadian
pioneers from all walks of life, from
heroes like Terry Fox to music
legends like Oscar Peterson to pop
culture stars like Pamela Anderson
and Sandra Oh. Along King Street
West between John Street and
Simcoe Street
Steam Whistle Brewing and
Roundhouse Park
A former railway roundhouse hosts the
Toronto Railway Museum, with full-sized
rail cars, a mini-railway and a preserved
CPR station, as well as Steam Whistle
Brewing, where you can sample
organic beer and tour the brewery.
255 Bremner Blvd., 416-214-9229,
416-362-2337, trha.ca,
steamwhistle.ca
Roy Thomson Hall
The home of the
Toronto Symphony
Orchestra also
hosts numerous
high-profile
classical and
jazz concerts,
appearances by
notable speakers,
and Toronto
International Film
Festival events.
60 Simcoe St.,
416-872-4255,
roythomson.com

Photography: Clifton Li (King Street West), Michelle Wright (CN Tower)

Buonanotte
House-made pastas and wood-fired
pizza, with a lively nighttime club scene.
19 Mercer St., 416-599-7246,
buonanotte.com

compass

The Mink Mile


Dupont Ave.

Yorkville + The Annex

EAT
Blu Ristorante & Lounge
Contemporary dcor in a Victorian building;
this elegant spot draws raves for its
exquisitely cooked traditional Italian dishes.
17A Yorkville Ave., 416-921-1471,
bluristorante.com
Il Posto
A long-established favourite with genuine
Yorkville flair, serving fine Italian fare. Save
room for the extensive list of indulgent
house-made desserts.
148 Yorkville Ave.,
416-968-0469, ilposto.ca

ONE Restaurant
Food by local star chef
Mark McEwan and dcor by
Yabu Pushelberg: perfect for
business lunches or cocktails.
116 Yorkville Ave., 416-961-9600,
one.mcewangroup.ca
Southern Accent Cajun,
Creole and Soul Restaurant
Andouille sausage and jambalaya rule at this New
Orleansstyle restaurant thats so authentic it has
its own in-house psychics. 595 Markham St.,
416-536-3211, southernaccent.com

Mistura
Chef Massimo Capra of TVs Restaurant Makeover
oversees this fine Italian kitchen with an event
space (Sopra) upstairs. 265 Davenport Rd.,
416-515-0009, mistura.ca

SHOP
Mayberry Fine Art
For more than 40 years, this has been the
place to view and shop for important historical
and contemporary Canadian art.
110 Yorkville Ave., 416-923-9275,
mayberryfineart.com

La Casa del Habano


The home of fine tobacco
and cigars. 113 Yorkville Ave.,
416-926-9066, lacasadelhabano.ca
Jeanne Lottie Fashion Inc.
The pink Victorian house showcases
designer Jane Ips colourful, affordable,
original handbags. 32 Scollard St., 416-975-5115,
jeannelottie.com

Yorkville Ave.
Cumberland St.
Bloor St. E.

U of T

Yonge St.

Queen's Park

Bay St.

College St.

Charles St.

historical statues and monuments.


Avenue Road at Queens Park Circle North
Royal Ontario Museum
The photogenic Michael Lee-Chin Crystal is
the entryway to an exciting world of dinosaurs,
armour, ancient artifacts, historic costumes
and major touring exhibits. 100 Queens Park,
416-586-8000, rom.on.ca
Honest Eds
The late beloved Toronto businessman Honest
Ed Mirvish opened his iconic bargain warehouse,
festooned with lights and humorous sayings,
in 1948. This is the last chance to see Canadas
kitschiest storefront before its scheduled
closing in December 2016. 581 Bloor St. W.,
416-537-1574, mirvish.com/honesteds

SNAP THIS

Yorkville Village
The upscale Hazelton Lanes mall has been
reimagined, renamed and expanded. Anchored
by Whole Foods and Equinox Health Club, it now
embraces several buildings grouped around the
original space with its sunlit central atrium.
87 Avenue Rd., 416-968-8680, yorkvillevillage.com

DID YOU KNOW

The stretch of Bloor Street West between


University Avenue and Yonge Street is known as
the Mink Mile for its high-end luxury shopping.
Boutiques calling the Mink Mile home include
Tiffany & Co., Gucci, Herms, Harry Rosen,
Holt Renfrew, Chanel and Louis Vuitton.

Yorkville

Bloor St. W.

Harbord St.

Best routes: Start strolling at Bloor and Bays Mink Mile; turn north, heading toward Cumberland and Yorkville
for shopping. To visit The Annex and the University of Toronto, head back to Bloor, walking west toward St.
George and beyond to Spadina. Continue to Bathurst and Bloor for Mirvish Village.

Hazelton Ave.

Avenue Rd.

St. George St.

Spadina Ave.

Bathurst St.

Brunswick Ave.

inhabited by power brokers and visiting celebs. For


luxury shopping, visit Bay and Bloor, Holt Renfrew,
Yorkville Village and the surrounding boutiques of
Yorkville; Mirvish Village on Markham is known for
one-of-a-kind specialty stores, art galleries, jewellery,
DVDs and comics.

Markham St.

MEET THE NEIGHBOURS


Home to the elite of the 1870s and the hippies of the
1960s, this area encompasses The Annex, Yorkville,
the University of Toronto and the Mink Mile. Its known
for its museums and Victorian homes, as well as
commercial office towers, luxury hotels and condos

Davenport Rd.

The Annex

SEE
Queens Park
The parkland and grounds surrounding the Ontario
Legislative Building house more than a dozen

@SeeTorontoNow l

VisitToronto

Bata Shoe Museum


Not your average shoebox, this unique, angular,
contemporary building shows well from directly
across Bloor Street or even from the far corner
of Bloor and St. George. 327 Bloor St. W.,
416-979-7799, batashoemuseum.ca

TORONTO 2016 69

compass
SHOP
The Wine Shop
Looking to experience the best of
Ontarios terroir? Sign up for a tasting
or shop for a range of award-winning
wines, including exquisite icewines
a local specialty. 228 Queens Quay W.,
416-598-8880, thewineshops.com
Centre Shop
Browse this shop for unique and surprising contemporary
crafts and design, including items for creative kids.
Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W., 416-973-4993,
harbourfrontcentre.com/centreshop
Queens Quay

y
Fer
r
nd

Jarvis St.

sla
eI
ntr
Ce

EAT
Aria Ristorante
Exceptional wines and fine Italian fare
abound in an elegant contemporary
urban setting. 25 York St.,
416-363-2742, ariaristorante.ca
Cabana Pool Bar
Beautiful bathers soak in the Miami vibe
while playing volleyball, dancing, dining
or sunbathing. Private cabanas with
bottle service attract celebs such as
Justin Bieber and Deadmau5. 11 Polson
St., 416-479-7645, cabanapoolbar.com
Carousel Caf &
Toronto Island BBQ
and Beer Co.
Two licensed eateries serving
seasonal sit-down fare.
Centre Island, Carousel Caf,
416-203-0405, Toronto Island
BBQ, 416-234-2345,
centreisland.ca/foodanddrink

Waterfront
+ Islands

rr
Fe

Ha

Yonge St.

Bay St.

York St.
y

n
nla

Quay

's

err
's F

Queens
Island Ferry Dock
rd
Wa

Toronto
Island
Airport

Spadina Ave.

Bathurst St.

MEET THE NEIGHBOURS


Torontos bustling 19th-century Great Lakes shipping port is being dramatically revitalized
and opened for public use. The stunning new Waters Edge Promenade links innovative
parks, shoreline amenities, cultural centres and quirky installations like the popular and
photogenic pedestrian WaveDecks and the permanent pink beach umbrellas of Sugar
Beach. To escape the confines of the city, people also head to the Toronto Islands,
where 650 residents forgo a car for a ferry and live a cottage-like existence.
Best routes: Walk
or bike the Martin
Goodman Trail from
the Humber Bridge
in the west to the
Rouge River in the
east. Or head to
Centre Island, with
its grassy parkland,
marinas and rental
kayaks. To get away
from it all, hit sleepy
Wards Island.

Pearl Harbourfront Restaurant


Find great Chinese food here, especially
the Peking duck and dim sum.
Queens Quay Terminal, 207 Queens
Quay W., Second Floor, 416-203-1233,
pearlharbourfront.ca
The Rectory Caf
Open all year (check seasonal hours),
this quaint island caf is known for
its house-made sweet baked goods
and generous vegetarian options.
Wards Island, 102 Lakeshore Ave.,
416-203-2152, therectorycafe.com

SEE
Harbourfront Centre
A four-hectare (10-acre) site dedicated to arts and cultural
programming, like the World Stage theatre festival, NextSteps
dance series, free outdoor food and culture festivals,
and The Power Plant, Canadas leading public gallery of
contemporary visual art. 235 Queens Quay W.,
416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com
Mariposa Cruises
Six vessels ply the lake with harbour tours and
dinner cruises. 207 Queens Quay W., Pier 6,
416-203-0178, mariposacruises.com
HTO Park
A playful (and photogenic) urban beach with
permanent yellow umbrellas and Muskoka chairs.
339 Queens Quay W., toronto.ca
Fort York National Historic Site
With its stunning new visitors centre, Canadas largest
collection of original War of 1812 buildings presents historic
exhibits, plus a living history portrayed by costumed interpreters.
250 Fort York Blvd., 416-392-6907, fortyork.ca
Centreville Amusement Park
The Haunted Barrel Works, 1907 antique carousel and Centreville
Train are standouts at this childrens amusement park, a perennial
favourite. Centre Island, Avenue of the Island, 416-203-0405,
centreisland.ca/centreville
Redpath Sugar Museum
Find out about the history of sugar and the Redpath family
business at the refinery, where boats unload raw sugar for
processing. 95 Queens Quay E., 416-366-3561 (call ahead),
redpathsugar.com

DID YOU KNOW

Amsterdam BrewHouse

The newest outlet for this


respected craft brewery serves
tried-and-true favourites
and seasonal novelties to
complement a beer-themed
menu. And, yes, you can
buy beer to take away.
245 Queens Quay W.,
416-504-1020,
amsterdambrewhouse.com

70 TORONTO 2016 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com

The Toronto Music Garden was designed by internationally


acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma and landscape designer Julie Moir
Messerv to be a landscape reflection of Bachs Suite No. 1 in G
Major, BWV 1007. 479 Queens Quay W., harbourfrontcentre.com

Photography: Waterfront Toronto (Queens Quay), Derrick Wee (Amsterdam BrewHouse)

Waterfront + Islands

compass
SHOP
Getoutside
The source for boots and classic kicks,
including Converse, Hunter, Frye and
more. 437 Queen St. W., 416-593-5598,
getoutsideshoes.com
Goorin Bros. Hat Shop
Whether you favour the Indiana
Jones fedora or the Walter
White pork pie, Goorin has
a classic hat for you.
320 Queen St. W.,
416-408-4287,
goorin.com

EAT
Nota Bene
This fine-dining spot is renowned for
its fresh take on Canadian cuisine,
with many international influences.
180 Queen St. W., 416-977-6400,
notabenerestaurant.com
The Citizen
Eclectic comfort-food snacks, sandwiches,
BBQ and burgers accompany house
cocktails that echo the manly 30s dcor.
522 King St. W., 416-703-2800,
thecitizento.com

West Queen Street West

Queen West +
King West +
Liberty Village

The Drake
The hip Drake kitchen supplies food and
drinks that are in season and on trend to
all its spaces, from the ritzy ground-floor
Lounge to the bohemian rooftop Sky Yard.
1150 Queen St. W., 416-531-5042,
thedrakehotel.ca
Mildreds
Temple Kitchen
Upscale comfort food and
a commitment to local
producers draw families
for brunch, and friends and
colleagues for dinner and
lunch. 85 Hanna Ave.,
Unit 104, 416-588-5695,
templekitchen.com

MEET THE NEIGHBOURS


The 18th-century military garrison and 19th-century
manufacturing shaped this district, where designers, tech
professionals and media types now congregate in hip
lounges, brunch queues, art galleries and industrial-chic
dcor stores. Immigration has created vibrant residential
quarters like Little Italy and Little Portugal, which, along with
Trinity Bellwoods and Ossington, are rich in independent
cafs, restaurants and shops.
Its no surprise that Vogue magazine ranked West Queen Street
West as the second-hippest district in the world. For home
furnishings and indie boutiques, wander Queen between
Bathurst Street and Ossington Avenue. Or head south to Liberty
Village for The Shops at Liberty Market Building, off Hanna
Avenue, south of King Street West.
Best routes: Start at College and Bathurst in Little Italy, then
head south down Grace Street to Trinity Bellwoods Park. Stroll
through the park to exit onto Queen Street West. Two options:
Walk east toward Spadina or head southwest to Liberty Village
(King Street West and Atlantic Avenue).

309 Dhaba Indian Excellence


Enjoy gently upscale Indian cuisine
featuring local ingredients in a recently
redesigned room. 309 King St. W.,
416-740-6622, dhaba.ca
Marcels &
Le Saint Tropez
Downstairs, a Provenal bistro
(Le Saint Tropez), with
bouillabaisse and live cabaret
tunes; upstairs, fine French fare at
Marcels. 315 King St. W.,
416-591-8600, marcels.com

Spacing Store
Spacing, a magazine that promotes
the merits of public spaces, has opened
a retail outlet that offers all kinds of
items celebrating Toronto and other
Canadian cities. 401 Richmond St. W.,
416-644-1017, spacing.com
Stylegarage
One of the citys top sources of locally
designed and built home furnishings,
this chic boutique is loved by condo and
loft dwellers for its contemporary flair.
78 Ossington Ave, 416-534-4343,
stylegarage.com

SEE
Perpetual Motion sculpture
This giant corkscrew-like sculpture by
Chilean artist Francisco Gazitua was
inspired by machines that reflect
Liberty Villages industrial heritage.
Liberty Park, 70 East Liberty St.
Graffiti Alley
Treat your eyes to the visual
splendour of Graffiti Alley,
where colourful street-art
murals flourish in this back
lane behind Queen West.
Rush Lane, known as
Graffiti Alley, is the
backdrop to Rick
Mercers streetside rants on
The Mercer Report. South
of Queen Street West from
Spadina Avenue to Portland Street,
beginning at 1 Rush Ln.

Liberty St.

Liberty
Village

East Liberty St.

SNAP THIS
Spadina Ave.

Bathurst St.
Queen St. W.

King
West

Portland St.

Manning Ave.

Dundas St. W.

Niagara St.

Strachan Ave.

Queen
West

Queen St. W.

Atlantic Ave.

Photography: goorin.com (hat)

Argyle St.

King St. W.

Grace St.

Crawford Ave.

Trinity
Bellwooods
Park

Ossington Ave.

Gladstone Ave.

Dovercourt Rd.

College St.

CP24 Breaking News Van


The heritage building at Queen and John streets was
built in 1913, but it has housed media production
facilities since the 80s. Now, as the headquarters of Bell
Media, it features a CP24 television news van crashing
through a wall into mid-air. For the best angle, cross the
street and walk east to a point about halfway between
the entrance to St. Patrick Square and McCaul Street.
299 Queen St. W., muchmusic.com

Niagara St.

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TORONTO 2016 71

compass

DID YOU KNOW


The Canada Life buildings illuminated tower
is a weather beacon. Its solid green for a
fair-weather forecast, flashing white for
snow, flashing red for rain and solid
red for cloudy. The lights flash in
sequence up or down to show a
slowly rising, fast-rising, slowly
dropping or rapidly dropping
temperature. 330 University Ave.,
sunlife.ca

Downtown Core
MEET THE NEIGHBOURS
High finance and overtime may drive this area, but for
many, its the heart of Toronto. City Hall, the Financial
District, the Yonge Street strip, Yonge-Dundas Square and
Union Station are all anchors of the downtown core.
Brokers, bankers, lawyers, students and thousands of office
workers keep this district hopping during daylight hours,
while singles and couples are active at night, taking in
movies, theatre and shopping.
The Toronto Eaton Centre is the countrys best-known mall,
but equally impressive is the PATH system, the worlds
largest underground shopping complex, which connects
most of the downtown towers with
more than 1,200 shops and services.

EAT
Bravi Ristorante
Hearty Tuscan cuisine in an elegant setting.
40 Wellington St. E., 416-368-9030, bravi.ca
Signs Restaurant
Staffed by deaf community members, Signs lets
guests try out their American Sign Language
skills to order (with the help of a cheat sheet).
558 Yonge St., 647-350-7446, signsrestaurant.ca
The Senator Restaurant
Classic diner serving burgers made from locally
raised beef, plus house-smoked salmon, handmade
sauces and signature crab cakes. 249 Victoria St.,
416-364-7517, thesenator.com

Best routes:
Begin at
Yonge-Dundas
Square and head
south on Yonge
Street, then
west on Queen
to University
Avenue, south
on University to
King Street West
and back east to
finish at Yonge.

Jazz Bistro
Listen to top jazz acts
while noshing on
bistro and brunch
fare. 251 Victoria St.,
416-363-5299,
jazzbistro.ca
Reds Midtown Tavern
A new, second location of the downtown
business crowds destination for serious wine
and cocktails. 382 Yonge St., 416-598-3535,
redsmidtowntavern.com
The Shore Club
Sumptuous steak and seafood restaurant
and cocktail bar. 155 Wellington St. W.,
416-351-3311, theshoreclub.ca

SNAP THIS

Allan Gardens Conservatory


A favourite with wedding parties, this romantic
Victorian greenhouse, with its cast-iron-andglass domes, is as lovely inside as it is out.
The most striking angle is the straight-on front
view from a good distance along the central
entrance path. (Bonus shot: The dog area
at the north end of the park features surreal
giant multicoloured dog sculptures!)
19 Horticultural Ave., 416-392-2489, toronto.ca

72 TORONTO 2016 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com

Rock n Horse Saloon


The place for bull riding, buttermilk fried
chicken and margaritas, featuring a rooftop patio
with a sensational view. 250 Adelaide St. W.,
647-344-1234, rocknhorsesaloon.com
Bangkok Garden
Spacious, lovely and authentic Thai restaurant
with a lunchtime buffet. 18 Elm St.,
416-977-6748, bangkokgarden.ca

SHOP
Toronto Eaton Centre
Shopaholics, unite! Here,
youll find more than 235
stores and services,
including WilliamsSonoma, Michael Kors,
Stuart Weitzman and
J.Crew. 220 Yonge St.,
416-598-8560,
torontoeatoncentre.com
Hudsons Bay Queen Street
The iconic and eclectic multi-level department store
with roots in the fur trade boasts the first Canadian
location for the opulent Brooklyn wedding shop
Kleinfeld Bridal (of Say Yes to the Dress fame) and
a Saks Fifth Avenue store (opening February
2016). 176 Yonge St., 416-861-9111, thebay.com

SEE
Yonge-Dundas Square
This public square is busy all day, thanks to its
free Wi-Fi, tables and umbrellas. Its also home
to free concerts, films and special events.
Southeast corner of Yonge and Dundas streets
Sir John A. MacDonald Plaza
(formerly Union Station Plaza)
The new-and-improved plaza is not just a
commuter hub. With its summer food market
and restored circa-1927 heritage clock, its a
destination in its own right. Front Street between
University and Bay Streets

Photography: Henry Lee (Downtown Core)

Queen Street West and Yonge Street

compass
SEE
Kensington Market
This historic neighbourhood is an
eclectic shopping and dining zone, as
well as a vibrant bohemian culture
magnet, especially during its monthly
summertime Pedestrian Sundays and the
December Winter Solstice Festival. West of
Spadina Avenue between College Street and
Dundas Street West, kensington-market.ca
Art Gallery of Ontario
The citys top art gallery, with its spectacular
remake by Frank Gehry, is especially noteworthy for
Canadian, African, Oceanic and contemporary art,
17th-century Dutch and Italian work, and
19th-century French painting. 317 Dundas St. W.,
416-979-6648, ago.net

Chinatown

Chinatown +
Kensington Market +
AGO District

Chinatown

Dundas St. W.
Sullivan St.

Photography: Clifton Li (Kensington Market)

Rosewood Chinese Cuisine


Above Chinatowns bustle, the hearty dim sum
dumplings circulated on trolleys please big groups
on a budget. 463 Dundas St. W., 416-593-9988,
rosewoodchinesecuisine.ca
Torito Tapas Bar
Chef Luis Valenzuela unleashes his dual
passions for traditional Spanish cuisine and
sustainability with fresh ingredients, including
imported chorizo sausage, serrano ham
and Manchego cheese. 276 Augusta Ave.,
416-961-7373, toritotapasbar.com

George Brown House


A great example of Ontarios Second Empirestyle
architecture and home to a father of Canadian
Confederation and a newspaper editor.
186 Beverley St., heritagetrust.on.ca

AGO

Phoebe St.

Best routes: For inexpensive shopping,


head to Dundas and Spadina and Kensington
Market; for clothing boutiques, check out
Queen West at Soho.

EAT

Baldwin St.
McCaul St.

Kensington Ave.

Baldwin St.

Beverley St.

Huron St.

Kensington
Market

Spadina Ave.

A vital commercial district, this is where youll


find art students chatting over cheap eats, expats
stocking up on foods from home, and a mix of local
condo, loft and townhouse dwellers.

Gateway sculptures
Artist Millie Chen created
towering red poles with a qilin
(which resembles a unicorn),
a dragon, a phoenix and a
Monkey King to represent
the Chinese character for
gateway. Spadina Avenue just
north of Dundas Street West

College St.

Augusta Ave.

MEET THE NEIGHBOURS


This culturally dynamic quarter has been home
to the generations of Chinese, eastern European,
Jewish, Caribbean, Latin American and Vietnamese
immigrants who transformed Toronto into the diverse
city it is today. Encompassing Kensington Market,
Chinatown and Queen Street West, this area is
known for everything from international produce and
discount goods to cutting-edge clothes and
blue-chip art.

Grange Park
Located in Torontos first elite neighbourhood in
the early 1800s, the park and its manor have been
owned by the Art Gallery of Ontario since 1910.
Following the gallerys dramatic expansion
designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry, the
park is undergoing a revitalization that will include a
great lawn, a play zone and a quiet, shady
area. Beverley Street south of Dundas
Street West, grangeparktoronto.ca

Queen St. W.

SNAP THIS

SHOP
ShopAGO
Take home a piece of
the Art Gallery of Ontario:
stationery, clothing,
innovative design, and
original artwork to rent or buy.
317 Dundas St. W., 416-979-6610, ago.net/shop
Blue Banana Market
Crafts, fashion and food at an indoor bazaar infused
with Kensington Markets quirky homegrown
creativity and zesty cultural diversity. 250 Augusta
Ave., 416-594-6600, bluebananamarket.com

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OCAD University
Architect Will Alsops exuberantly in-your-face Sharp
Centre is the Ontario College of Art and Design
Universitys unmistakable extension. Straddling the
older art-school buildings atop angled candycoloured pillars, the black-and-white box is a
bracing hit of contemporary architecture. For the
best effect, pick a vantage pointby shooting from
the north, you can include the CN Tower in the
frame as welland snap a set of shots over the
course of your trip. Its mien changes against white
clouds or blue skies and at night. 100 McCaul St.,
416-977-6000, ocadu.ca

TORONTO 2016 73

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SHOP
Arts Market
Browse the wares of more than 120 local indie
artists, artisans and craftspeople from Wednesday
to Sunday, all under one roof. 1114 Queen St. E.,
416-546-8464, artsmarket.ca
Good Neighbour
A quirky emporium in the former Degrassi TV series
production centre. Go for the hipster togs, mens
apothecary, childrens toys and vintage wear,
plus Leslieville-themed apparel. 935 Queen St. E.,
647-350-0663, goodnbr.com

SEE
The Beaches

East Side + The Beaches


MEET THE NEIGHBOURS
The long-established neighbourhoods of Cabbagetown, GreekTown, Riverdale, Riverside, Leslieville
and The Beaches have attracted families and film-industry types with their blend of heritage homes and
repurposed warehouses next door to natural beaches, parks and ravines. For shopping, choose The
Danforth around Carrot Common for offbeat home and fashion design, Queen Street East around Leslie
for vintage and collectibles, and Queen East at Kew Gardens for gifts and souvenirs.

t.
gS

Kin

E.

Leslieville

Queen St. E.

Eastern Ave.

Gerrard St.

Lake Shore Blvd. E.

Woodbine Ave.

Riverside

Coxwell Ave.

Riverdale Gerrard St.

Greenwood Ave.

Pape Ave.

Withrow
Park

Carlaw Ave.

Broadview Ave.

Don River

River St.

Queen St. E.

Don Valley Parkway

Parliament St.

Cabbagetown

Danforth Ave.

Jones Ave.

GreekTown

Bloor St. E.

d.

ton R

Kings

The Beach
Kew Gardens

Best routes:
From Broadview and
Danforth east to Carlaw,
then south to Withrow
Park for Riverdale;
Broadview and Queen
East to Jones for
Leslieville; the boardwalk
in The Beaches, beginning
at Kew Gardens,
shouldnt be missed.

Danforth Music Hall


Established in 1919, this beautifully restored
GreekTown concert hall is an entertainment staple.
147 Danforth Ave., 416-778-8163, thedanforth.com
Alexander the Great Fountain
The tiny square is a social focal point in the middle
of GreekTown. Danforth and Logan avenues,
northeast corner
Bloor Street Viaduct
Built in 1918. Michael Ondaatje portrayed its
immigrant workers experiences in his novel In the
Skin of a Lion. As a legacy of the 2015 Pan Am and
Parapan Am Games, the Luminous Veil barrier was
fitted with lights that change colour based on the
wind, temperature and season. Bloor Street East
near Broadview Avenue

King St.

EAT
Allens
Savour exceptional whisky (choose from more
than 330 varieties) at this ageless classic.
143 Danforth Ave.,
416-463-3086, allens.to
Parala
A high-end taverna
with a lake view.
Fresh seafood
is flown in
from Greece.
1681 Lake Shore
Blvd. E., 416-6983456, paralia.ca
Whistlers Grille
This spacious, laid-back
corner restaurant fuels
family celebrations, business
lunches and neighbourhood
sports teams with pasta, pizza, wings and
rings. Upstairs, The McNeil Room caters
to private functions. 995 Broadview Ave.,
416-421-1344, whistlers.ca

Tapas at Embrujo
Small, shareable plates highlighting Spanish
cured meats and seafood, with live flamenco
performances Thursday through Sunday.
97 Danforth Ave., 416-463-8272,
tapasatembrujo.com
The Forth
A spacious multi-floor restaurant and cocktail
lounge featuring sustainable local fare, from B.C.
shrimp to heirloom vegetables to wild boar.
629 Danforth Ave., 416-465-2629,
theforth.ca
Magic Oven
One location of a small chain that offers
local gluten-free, vegan and organic
pizza to eat in or take away, along
with chicken wings, wraps, pastas
and salads. 1450 Danforth Ave.,
416-462-0333, magicoven.com
Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre
A little out of the way, but every facet of
Japanese culture is celebrated, demonstrated
or exhibited in this spectacular contemporary
building whose elements recall traditional
Japanese features like lanterns and shoji
screens. 6 Garamond Crt., 416-441-2345,
jccc.on.ca

74 TORONTO 2016 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com

SNAP THIS
Queen Street Viaduct
This historical bridge was built in 1911. In the 90s,
it was embellished with artwork by famed Canadian
artist Eldon Garnet. It includes a banner atop the
span, which reads, This river I step in is not the
river I stand in. In 2015, stunning illumination
was added, making it a vision after dark as well.
Queen Street East at the Don Valley
Beaches Boardwalk
The boardwalk provides many photo ops, but one
of our favourites is the white clapboard lifeguard
station and tower at Kew-Balmy Beach. Beautiful
when captured on a sunny summer day with the city
skyline in the distance, its even more so with the
nostalgia-infused longing of a winter shot, against
wind-carved drifts of icy sand and snow. South
of Queen Street East between Coxwell Avenue
and Silver Birch Avenue

compass
EAT
Duke of Kent
A comfortable
traditional-style
English pub populated
by locals, rugby players
and English expats, with
local draft beers. 2315 Yonge
St., 416-485-9507, kent.thedukepubs.ca
Tabl Middle Eastern Cuisine
This bright, relaxed Lebanese restaurant is
named for a signature salad of parsley and
bulgur wheat. Elegant Middle Eastern dcor
touches and nourishing vegetarian options.
2009 Yonge St., 416-483-3747, tabule.ca
Mandarin Restaurant
A 35-year-old local institution with an
all-you-can-eat Chinese, Japanese and
Canadian buffet, a salad bar and a sundae
bar: truly something for everyone!
2200 Yonge St., 416-486-2222,
mandarinrestaurant.com
Caff Demetre
One location of a small local chain of
luscious dessert cafs serving mouthwatering sundaes, cones, crepes, cakes,
pies and Belgian waffles. 188 Eglinton
Ave. E., 416-485-4610, caffedemetre.com
The former North Toronto railway station (now an LCBO)

Mysteriously Yours Dinner Theatre


While dining on a three-course meal, the
dinner audience helps unravel a murder
mystery enacted before their eyes. 2026
Yonge St., 416-486-7469, 1-800-NOTDEAD (668-3323), mysteriouslyyours.com

MEET THE NEIGHBOURS


Home to the elite since the 1800s, today Rosedale,
Summerhill, Deer Park and Davisville Village are aspirational
addresses where successful downtown financial titans build
their domestic retreats.
A must for exquisite food is The Markets at Summerhill, which
locals call The Five Thieves. Yonge Street from the Rosedale
subway north to Woodlawn Avenue is filled with home dcor
and clothing boutiques. Mount Pleasant at Belsize has
collectibles and dcor, plus costumes, chocolates and toys.
Best routes: Walk north from Yonge Street at Crescent Road
to St. Clair, or wander along Mount Pleasant from Davisville to
Eglinton. To view majestic homes, stroll Crescent Road and
Cluny Drive.

Eglinton Ave.
Belsize Dr.

SNAP THIS

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Daven

port R

d.

asant

Summerhill Ave.

Dupont St.

VisitToronto

Mt. Pleasant
Cemetery

Mt. Ple

Woodlawn Ave.

Crescent Rd.

Bloor St.

TORONTO 2016 75

Cluny Dr.

St. Clair Ave.

Yonge St.

Mount Pleasant Cemetery


Theres nothing morbid about
strolling this historic cemeterys
leafy, winding trails, a favourite
among in-the-know dog lovers,
cyclists and runners. In fact, one
of the citys popular Discovery
Trails wends right through it. Its
perfect for autumn leaf photos as
well as local colour: headstones
are a multi-ethnic mix of motifs
such as crosses, Stars of David,
dragons and modern art. 375 Mt.
Pleasant Rd., 416-485-9129,
mountpleasantgroup.com

Rd.

Davisville Ave.

Avenue Rd.

Dufflet Pastries
Since the early 80s, Dufflet Rosenberg
has been Torontos acknowledged queen
of cake. Enjoy her handmade confections
whole or by the slice. 2638 Yonge St.,
416-484-9080, dufflet.com

Casa Loma
Secret passages, towers, stables and
sumptuous suites and ballrooms fill this
majestic castle built in the early 1900s.
Live music nights enhance the experience.
Those seeking action amid the splendour
should consider the new Escape from the
Tower immersive game. 1 Austin Terr.,
416-923-1171, casaloma.org

Spadina Ave.

Mabels Fables
Uptowns beloved childrens book shop.
662 Mt. Pleasant Rd., 416-322-0438,
mabelsfables.com

Midtown

SEE

Bathurst St.

SHOP
Tuck Shop Trading Co.
Outdoor-inspired quality apparel that
celebrates Ontarios cottage country and
Torontos neighbourhoods. 1226 Yonge St.,
416-859-3566, tuckshopco.com

Midtown

compass

The arts
blossom in
Flower City
Bramptons culture scene blooms with excitement.
By Sarah B. Hood

Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives

76 TORONTO 2016
2015 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com
2014
@SeeTorontoNow l
VisitToronto

compass
CeleBRAMPTON

Garden Square

Brampton

400

N
401

Toronto
407

427
403

Mississauga
Lake Ontario

Brampton
Visit tourismbrampton.ca
for more information
and attractions.

nce known for its


commercial greenhouses, Brampton,
nicknamed the Flower
City, has blossomed
into a thriving arts and cultural centre.
Torontos neighbour to the west now
nurtures the performing and visual
arts, film and festivals, local heritage
and new digital media.

CULTURAL IMMERSION

With an 870-seat mainstage and a


150-seat secondary space, Studio 2,
Bramptons Rose Theatre (rose
theatre.ca) programs a full yearround season of live music, comedy
and theatre. The 2016 lineup includes theatre productions like the
film-based musical Saturday Night
Fever (January) and the successful
solo show Trudeau Stories (April),
along with internationally known
headliners like Big Bad Voodoo
Daddy, Sharon and Bram, Tom
Green and Gowan, and tributes to
perennial-favourite rock acts like
Queen, Kiss and Rush.

The adjacent Garden Square


(brampton.ca) is the site of yearround activities, from summers
Shakespeare in the Square to New
Years Eve celebrations. This year it
will see an increase in its alreadyexciting roster of events, with the
recent completion of upgrades that
include a giant video screen, which
will add visual spice to live performances and special events.
A popular new feature of the
Square is Bramptons Arts Walk
of Fame (brampton.ca), a tribute
to homegrown stars like comedian
Russell Peters, actor-comedian
Scott Thompson, novelist Rohinton
Mistry, singer-songwriter Keshia
Chant, actors Michael Cera and
Scott Lale and painter Jack Reid.
Free live concerts and screenings
of recent and classic family movies also draw crowds to the citys
cultural hub.
On Saturday mornings, Main
Street becomes a farmers market
near the Square. Its also the epicentre of the annual CeleBRAMPTON
and Flower City Parade (June 11,
2016) and Bramptons own take
on the Santa Claus Parade
(November 19, 2016), a sparkling
nighttime affair.
The nearby Peel Art Gallery,
Museum and Archives (pama.
peelregion.ca)better known as
PAMAis a vital and multifaceted
space housed in historic buildings
that once served as a courthouse,

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registry office and jail. PAMA


presents contemporary art exhibitions, hosts museum exhibits on
topics as wide ranging as geology
and fashion, and showcases local
history and culture in all its forms.
In early 2016, the Art Gallery
hosts Stephanie Raymers intriguing
sculptural installation The Boat
of Eternal Return, plus Point of
Inspiration, which explores the
intersection of inspiration and
creation, featuring work by Inuit
artist Samuellie Pudlat and
Montreal artist Marcelle Ferron.
Bramptons diverse cultural
makeupespecially its robust South
Asian populationbrings a wealth
of international programming,
particularly in the area of cinema.
The city hosts components of the
exhilarating combined BMO International Film Festival of South
Asia (IFFSA) and BMO Punjabi
International Film Festival (PIFF)
(May 19 to 23, 2016, pifftoronto
.com). The 10-day celebration, which
has quickly grown into the largest
South Asian film festival in North
America, includes international
feature film screenings, as well as
documentaries and short films, plus
a lavish cavalcade of concerts, parties, seminars and workshops across
the Greater Toronto Area.
The four-year-old Sikh International Film Festival Toronto, a.k.a.
SIFFT (sifft.ca), focuses on the Sikh
experience in Canada and around

TORONTO 2016 77

CANT-MISS
BRAMPTON
ATTRACTIONS
1. Ziplines and treetop climbs are in
order at Treetop Trekking
(treetoptrekking.com) in the lovely Heart
Lake Conservation Area.

Gage Park

the world, with


programming at
the Rose Theatre.
The 20th annual
Toronto Reel
Asian International Film Festival
(November 2016,
reelasian.com)
Turnberry
takes place at multiple
Golf Club
venues , including nearby
Richmond Hill. Canadas largest
Asian film festival presents a panoply of contemporary East, South and Southeast Asian
film and video, as well as work from the
Asian diaspora and related cultural events.
A dynamic new addition to the citys cultural attractions is MakerSpace, Bramptons
Creative Hub at the downtown Four Corners
Branch of the Brampton Library (brampton.
ca). The city has joined the booming movement of public spaces for hands-on experimentation with technology like 3-D printers, robotics and computer-assisted design
software. The MakerSpace is as inviting and
as accessible to curious kids and teens as it is
to ambitious entrepreneurs hoping to break
through with an innovative product.
RINKS AND LINKS

You dont have to go far afield to enjoy nature


in Flower City: just try a local park (brampton.
ca)! Bramptons winter wonderland is Gage
Park, located at Main and Wellington streets,
where visitors and residents make the most of
the chilly season by gliding on the picturesque
ice path through mature trees, delighting in
a holiday light show and enjoying a free New
Years Eve concert. The park is also the home of
annual events such as the Rotary Rib n Roll
(May 27 to 29, 2016, ribnroll.com), a weekend
of sizzling BBQ and family entertainment.
Donald M. Gordon Chinguacousy Park,
in the middle of town, offers an astonishing

2. A 19th-century farmhouse is
preserved as a fascinating
museum at Historic
Bovaird House
(bovairdhouse.ca)with a
haunted nursery! The gift
array of facilities for active fun:
shop offers an enticing
year-round tennis, beach volleyball,
selection of handmade
Historic Bovaird
House
mini-putt golf, formal gardens, paddlecraftworks; locals eagerly
await seasonal teas, historic
boats, a petting zoo, a skate park, and a
dinners and Decembers
snow hill for skiing, snowboarding and inner
Christmas gift sale.

tubingjust to name a few. Professors


Lake, a former quarry, is now a spring-fed
lake where you can rent canoes, kayaks and
other watercraft. Its a popular haunt for
triathletes in training.
Claireville Conservation Area draws
birdwatchers and horseback riders, while
Eldorado Park is a family favourite for its
outdoor swimming pool and picnic areas
(it also attracted Laurence Fishburne, Hugh
Dancy and Scott Thompson for the filming of
the gripping TV crime drama Hannibal).
Golfers have an embarrassment of riches
around Brampton. Lionhead Golf Club
and Conference Centre (golflionhead.com)
has two courses: the tricky Masters and the
downright difficult Legends. The clubhouse
at Lionhead underwent a $6-million redesign
in 2015 that added Iggys, a new 188-seat
restaurant with an outdoor patio.
The 18 holes at Turnberry Golf Club
(turnberrygolf.ca), once a gravel quarry,
boast uniquely undulating terrain. Castlemore
Golf & Country Club (castlemore.com),
reopening after a 2015 closure, presents a
deceptively challenging nine holes. Parkshore
Golf Club (parkshoregolf.ca) is Ontarios
longest nine-hole course, with six large
ponds and a winding creek. Another ninehole course is Peel Village Golf Course
(brampton.ca), located in an award-winning
wildlife sanctuary.
This year, Tourism Brampton (905-8743601, tourismbrampton.ca) celebrates the
citys diverse and flourishing cultural scene
with its recently launched Public Art SelfGuided Tour: Discover Bramptons Artistic
Flair, available as a downloadable print file
through Tourism Brampton.

78 TORONTO 2016 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com

3. Theres always time for shopping, and


Bramalea City Centre
(bramaleacitycentre.ca) is one of
Canadas largest malls, with more than
300 shops and services, anchored by
Sears and Hudsons Bay. The mall has a
free electric vehicle charging station.
4. For three days, the citys diverse
communities go all out to
impress passportholding visitors at
pavilions representing
international food,
culture, music and
dance at Carabram
(July 8 to 10, 2016,
Carabram
carabram.org).
5. Splash down between late
May and early September at the recently
upgraded Wild Water Kingdom
(wildwaterkingdom.com), with its thrilling
waterslides and giant wave pool, or drift
the day away on the Lazy River. At
Dolphin Bay Water Playground, kids
wont want to come out of the water.

Wild Water
Kingdom

compass

Mississauga
meet-ups

Sports, shops, nature, culture: whats your favourite reason to visit?

Photography: Brook Tyler (Gage Park), Etobicoke Camera Club


(Historic Bovaird House), Malton Women Council (Carabram)

By Janelle Reed With additional research by Sarah B. Hood & Hilary Marchildon

ississauga is
Canadas sixthlargest city, with a
population of about
750,000.
Residential enclaves include a
mix of mature family homes and
glittering condos geared to the
young-professional set. Lively shops
and restaurants flourish, along with
unique arts and multicultural events,
while the regions lovely lakefront
and rivers offer boating, fishing and
other nature-based activities.
From August 11 to 14, 2016,
Ontarios best youth athletes will
converge here to compete in more
than 20 sporting events at the 2016
edition of the biennial Ontario
Summer Games. Involving about
3,500 participants, including

the athletes, their coaches and


supporters, the Games will turn
the spotlight on Mississaugas wealth
of indoor and outdoor sports venues,
like Erindale Park, Jack Darling Park,
the Hershey Centre (a Pan Am and
Parapan Am Games venue) and its
adjacent Hershey SportZone, and
the facilities of the University of
Toronto Mississauga.

Brampton

400

N
401

Toronto
407

427
403

Mississauga
Lake Ontario

HEART OF THE NEW CITY

Early settlement hugged the


lakeshore, but today Mississauga
is centred at Burnhamthorpe Road
East between Hurontario Street
and Confederation Parkway, with
a cluster of key destinations: the
postmodern Mississauga Civic
Centre, a performing arts centre,
a public square, an art gallery and

@SeeTorontoNow l

VisitToronto

Mississauga
Visit discovermississauga.ca
for more information and attractions.

TORONTO 2016 79

compass

Port Credit

Celebration Square

The Living Arts Centre


(livingartscentre.ca) features
performance venues, studio spaces
and exhibit display areas. Its a hub
for all things creative, where you
might catch a performance by Juno
Awardwinners Chantal Kreviazuk
and Raine Maida or the Mississauga
Symphony Orchestra, or improve
your flame-working skills at a glassmaking workshop.
Topping any shopaholics mustvisit list is Square One Shopping
Centre (shopsquareone.com). With
more than 300 retailers like Apple,
Michael Kors, Zara and Whole Foods
Market, its Ontarios biggest mall.
Currently undergoing a $380-million
renovation and expansion project,
it recently added new shops such
as Pinkberry, Volcom and Urban
Outfitters. The first Ontario outlet
for Quebecs La Maison Simons
store opens in a lavish two-storey
location in early 2016, along with a
120,000-square-foot Holt Renfrew.
STREETSVILLE

For an old-fashioned Ontario


main-street experience, stroll
through historic Streetsville
(villageofstreetsville.com), known
as The Village in the City, where you
can relax in a tea room or browse
charming boutiques. Streetsville

80 TORONTO 2016 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com

has a new focal point at Streetsville


Village Square on Main Street,
which provides a pretty, pedestrian
promenade and a canopied space for
public celebrations.
For more than 40 years, The
Streetsville Founders Bread and
Honey Festival (June 3 to 5, 2016,
breadandhoney.ca), named in honour
of the local mills and apiaries, has
been the communitys benchmark
family outing, loved for its petting zoo,
musical performances, carnival rides
and popular Bread & Honey Parade.
PORT CREDIT

The lakefront village of Port Credit


(portcredit.com) is a relaxing retreat
within the city, a pedestrian-friendly
enclave of restaurants, boutiques and
a scenic boardwalk. Cool off with a
scoop of blood orange sorbetto or
a taste of chocolate hazelnut gelato,
a couple of the 30-odd flavours on
offer at Port 1 Caf and Gelateria
(port1cafe.com) on Hurontario Street.
The Credit River is known for
its excellent catch-and-release ops,
for Chinook salmon, plus rainbow
(steelhead), brook and brown trout,
and more, thanks to the conservation
work of local anglers. The stretch of
river between Norval and Streetsville
is legendary for non-stop steelie
strikes during the month of May.

Photography: Steven Der-Garabedian (Celebration Square)

the massive Square One Shopping


Centre, all within sight of Absolute
World, the eye-catching condos
nicknamed the Marilyn Monroe
Towers for their curvy forms.
Here, the beautifully revitalized
2.7-hectare (6.6-acre) Mississauga
Celebration Square (mississauga.ca/
celebrationsquare) hosts hundreds
of free public performances and
activities annually. This state-of-theart multimedia destination includes
an amphitheatre and an interactive
water fountain that becomes the
citys largest skating rink each winter.
The multidisciplinary TD Mosaic
2016: South Asian Heritage
Festival of Mississauga (August
12 to 13, 2016, cre8iv80studio.com)
brings a glittering roster of arts and
entertainment superstars to the
city centre and has featured such
headliners as Bollywood heavyweight
Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan and
Britains Stereo Nation.
Dance, food, arts, film and music
permeate this all-ages celebration of
cultural diversity.
The Art Gallery of Mississauga
(artgalleryofmississauga.com) is a
free-admission public gallery located
across from Mississauga Celebration
Square. Exhibitions range from
historic to contemporary art,
photography, design and crafts.

compass
Check online for current fishing
regulations (craa.on.ca).
At Port Credit Memorial Park,
the annual Mississauga Waterfront
Festival (June 17 to 19, 2016, themwf.
com) draws as many as 50,000
people to enjoy live performances by
Canadian stars such as Sam Roberts,
Jann Arden and Jim Cuddy.
In September, the park hosts the
Tim Hortons Southside Shuffle
Blues and Jazz Festival (September
9 to 11, 2016, southsideshuffle.
com), Port Credits weekend jazz
and blues festival, which unites the
likes of Dr. Hook, Elvin Bishop and
Mavis Staples on multiple stages.
Dont miss the food trucks, the beer
gardens or the Saturday street party.
BREATH OF FRESH AIR

Mississaugas lakefront and parkland


retreats (mississauga.ca) offer
numerous possibilities for cyclists,
birdwatchers and other outdoor
aficionados to explore. Lakefront
Promenade Park blends protected
natural areas and spaces for outdoor
recreation, including boating at the
Mississauga Sailing Club, the Port
Credit Yacht Club and the Lakefront
Promenade Marina.
BraeBen Golf Course, designed
in the style of a traditional Scottish
Highlands course, is home to a rich
variety of wildlife and is located on
the citys highest point of land. It
boasts a green energy system capable
of generating enough renewable
energy to power more than 5,000
Mississauga homes.
Play 18 holes at the Lakeview
Golf Course, twice home of the
Canadian Open golf tourney. The
parkland-style public course, more
than 100 years old, is an official
Ontario heritage site.
BROWSING AND GRAZING

Major international retail brands and


farm-fresh country fare are all to be
found within a single day trip around
Mississauga. When the weather isnt
cooperating, a mall like Square One
can fill the bill on its own.
The busy Erin Mills Town Centre
(erinmills.ca) is in the midst of a
$100-million nip and tuck. Dont
worry, though: all 180 stores and
food-court restaurants remain open

Mississauga Marathon

to cover your retail-therapy needs!


Pick up shoes at Aldo or Walking
on a Cloud, browse the jewels at
Rainbow Jade or perk yourself up
with a froyo sundae at Menchies.
Sherway Gardens (sherway
gardens.ca), at Highway 427 and the
QEW, is well into its $550-million
expansion and makeover, set to
include an expanded Harry Rosen,
a new Sporting Life location,
Saks Fifth Avenue (2016) and
Nordstrom (2017).
Bargain hunters will delight in
Dixie Outlet Mall (dixieoutletmall.
com), at the QEW and Dixie Road,
home to more than 135 stores,
including brand-name outlets such
as Tommy Hilfiger, Levis and Guess.
The summer farmers-market
boom has swept Mississauga. Shop
for local fare Wednesday mornings
at Mississauga Celebration Square
(lionscentral.com), Fridays at Sherway
Gardens (farmfreshmarkets.ca),
Saturdays in Port Credit (portcredit.
com/farmers-market), Streetsville
(streetsvillelionsclub.ca) and Oakville

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VisitToronto

(farmfreshmarkets.ca), and Sundays at


Square One (lionscentral.com).
TAKE IN THE TOWN

Runners of all ages test their mettle


at the Mississauga Marathons
race weekend (April 30 to May 1,
2016, mississaugamarathon.com),
with events ranging from a two-km
(1.2-mile) fun run/walk to the full
42.2-km (26.2-mile) marathon.
More than 72 different cultures
show off their food and traditions at
30 pavilions across Mississauga during
Carassauga (May 27 to 29, 2016,
carassauga.com), a festival that tips its
hat to the areas ethnic diversity.
Mississauga programs more than
70 free special events highlighting
the citys visual and performing arts
talent during the national Culture
Days celebration (September 23 to
25, 2016, mississauga.ca). A highlight
is Doors Open (September 24, 2016),
which offers an inside view of more
than 35 heritage spaces like historic
houses, churches and gardens that
are generally closed to the public.

TORONTO 2016 81

compass

Niagara
adventures
From vineyard tours to outdoor
excitement and family fun,
theres more to discover beyond
the Falls. By Yuki Hayashi

Niagara Falls

82 TORONTO 2016
2015 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com

compass

401

Toronto
407 403

Lake Ontario

405

Niagara
Region
Niagaras wine country
Lake Erie

Niagara Region

Photography: Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation

130 km (80 miles), approximately a


90-minute drive, from downtown Toronto.
Visit tourismniagara.com for more
information and attractions.

bout a 90-minute
drive from downtown
Toronto, the Niagara
Region has epic
adventures to suit all
travellers. From the awe-inspiring
power of Niagara Falls to the quaint,
rustic charm of Niagaras wine country,
theres so much to see and do on a
jam-packed day trip. Heres what
we suggest for three traveller types
likely to go gaga over Niagara.

WINE LOVERS

Blessed with rich soils and unique


microclimates, Niagaras wine country
is Canadas largest, best known and
most prestigious (hello, icewine!).
With more than 80 wineries spread
across the region, touring by car
or, better yet, bikeis an enjoyable
way to pass the day.

Zoom Leisure Bikes (zoomleisure


.com) offers a relaxed three-and-ahalf-hour bike tour along meandering,
bike-friendly country roads, with
stops for winery tours and tastings
along the way. Everything you need
is included: bike, helmet and tour
guide. For those who want their wine
without exercise, Niagara Vintage
Wine Tours (niagaravintagewinetours.com) provides group and
customized private tours with a
driver and a guide.
Prefer to explore on your own? In
Vineland, Vineland Estates Winery
(vineland.com) boasts incredible
vineyard views, an acclaimed
restaurant and award-winning
Riesling and Cabernet Franc. Nearby
Niagara-on-the-Lake is home to
Trius Winery at Hillebrand. This
producer of sparkling wines and
icewines won the Ontario Winery of
the Year award at the 2015 WineAlign
National Wine Awards of Canada.
Or for an unforgettable night of
food, wine and music under the stars,
visit Jackson-Triggs Winery
(jacksontriggswinery.com). Start with

@SeeTorontoNow l

VisitToronto

dinner in the barrel cellar, then


meander to the amphitheatre for the
winerys summer concert series. Past
acts have included Stars, the Sam
Roberts Band and Arkells.
Want to put together your own
custom wine-tour itinerary? Visit
winecountryontario.ca for its Wine
Route Planner.
No wine tour is complete without
a few bottles for the cellar. Niagaras
world-famous icewine and lateharvest Riesling are souvenirs you can
savour long after you return home.
THRILL-SEEKERS

Ever since Annie Edson Taylor made


her successful barrel ride over Niagara
Falls in 1901, thrill-seekers have
visited the Falls looking for whiteknuckle adventures of their own.
Luckily, a number of tour providers
offer opportunities galore.
Catch an adrenalin rush riding the
Class 5 rapids of the Niagara River.
Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours (whirlpooljet.com) offers two options: a dry
cruise in the Jet Dome boat and the
get-stoked-and-soaked Wet Jet ride.

TORONTO 2016 83

compass

Clifton Hill

Hornblower
Niagara Cruises
Brocks
(niagaracruises.com)
Monument
serves up state-ofat Queenston
the-art catamaran tours
Heights
that bring you to the
heart of the action (just with
less whitewater). An on-board
bar opens for nighttime cruises.
For a higher, dryer but equally
breathtaking tour, try a helicopter
ride. Niagara Helicopters (niagarahelicopters.com) flies passengers
close enough to feel the power of the
Falls as more than 168,000 cubic
metres (5,932,864 cubic feet) of water
spill over the edge every minute.
Want some human-powered
Niagara action? Just a quick jaunt
from the Falls, you can cycle the
Upper Canada Heritage Trail, a
converted rail line along the Niagara
Escarpment. Mountain bikes are
best for the 14-km (nine-mile) gravel
trail, which wends its way past farms,
fruit orchards and wineries.
Or cross another item off your
bucket list and skydive! Niagara
offers options for all levels of
daredevil. At Niagara Freefall &
Interactive Center (niagarafreefall.
com/freefall), your skydiving
experience is simulated in an indoor
vertical wind tunnel. Skydivers of

all ages can experience the thrill of


flying at simulated speeds of about
190 km/h (120 mph).
For those looking for a more vrit
experience, Niagara Skydive Centre
(niagaraskydive.com)at Niagara
Central Airport in Pelham, about half
an hour from Niagara Fallsdoes
things the old-fashioned way: from
up to 3,810 metres (12,500 feet).
Regroup, recover and refuel at
Niagara Falls Syndicate Restaurant
& Brewery (syndicatebrewery.ca),
where pub comfort food, such as
chicken pot pie and lobster-andshrimp BLTs, goes down easy with
local wines and craft beers.
FAMILY-FUN FANATICS

For multigenerational family


excitement, Niagara Falls cant be
beat. Between the Falls and the
adjacent Clifton Hill entertainment
district, an action-packed day
is guaranteed.
The Falls themselves are an
obvious starting point, offering loads
of oohing, aahing and great family
photo ops. Intrepid kids and parents
will love standing behind the massive
sheets of water of the Horseshoe Falls
at Journey Behind the Falls. Youll be
awed at how loud the Falls are! Gain
a deeper insight into the spectacle at

84 TORONTO 2016 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com

Niagaras Fury: The Creation of the


Falls. This immersive big-screen
multisensory infotainment experience
takes place on a moving platform as
you watch water spray and splash. Feel
the temperature drop as snow begins
to fall, all explaining the Falls
formation (niagaraparks.com).
For those who havent had enough
watery fun, the Fallsview Indoor
Waterpark (fallsviewwaterpark.com)
beckons. At more than a hectare
(three acres), its one of North
Americas largest indoor water park
and resorts, featuring 16 waterslides,
a massive wave pool, a ginormous
tipping bucket and an outdoor rooftop
pool with basketball nets and an
all-season sundeck.
The water parks resort has its own
games arcade, but for more arcade
action (with prizes, too!), walk to the
Great Canadian Midway (cliftonhill.
com) for its 300-plus games, including
a haunted-house ride, located within
a 6,500-square-metre (70,000-squarefoot) entertainment complex.
A few steps away, Ripleys Believe
It or Not! Odditorium (ripleys.com/
niagarafalls) offers oddball feats, facts
and artifacts, such as the worlds rarest
egg and a collection of two-headed
animals. You can also visit the nearby
Ripleys Moving Theater and Louis
Tussauds Waxworks.
By now, youve probably worked up
an appetite. The kid-fave Rainforest
Cafe (niagarafallsrainforestcafe.com)
has an outpost on Clifton Hill, as does
Hard Rock Cafe (hardrockcafe.com).
Skip dessert and walk over to the
famed Hersheys Chocolate World
(hersheys.com) for freshly made
fudge, freshly baked chocolate-chip
cookies, hand-dipped chocolate
pretzels and strawberries, and
souvenir Hershey products.
Finally, catch your breath and
enjoy the view from the Niagara
SkyWheel (cliftonhill.com). The
climate-controlled, enclosed-gondola
Ferris wheel offers a 53-metre-high
(175-foot) vantage point of the
Horseshoe Falls, American Falls,
Niagara River and surrounding areas.
At dusk, its a beautiful sight as
twinkling lights come alive on Clifton
Hill, and the Niagara skyline and
light displays showcase the wonder
of the Falls.

T YOUR EYE
S
A
E
F
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THRILLS
YOUR
ED

FE

MEET YOU AT

THE TOP!
CNTOWER.CA

SOLD HERE

Photo by Gregg (Scooter) Korek

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Date:
Oct 30, 2015
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559 College Street, Suite 401


Toronto, ON M6G 1A9

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Pub:

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compass

Visit Ontarios
favourite
getaways
By Aliyah Shamsher With additional research by Sarah B. Hood

1. MANITOULIN ISLAND
The drive and ferry ride: 297 km (184 miles)
to Tobermory, plus a two-hour ferry ride to
South Baymouth; approximately six-and-a-half
hours from Toronto.
What we love: With its status as the largest
freshwater island in the world, Manitoulin Island
attracts adventure enthusiasts year-round for
such outdoor fun as hiking and biking in
summer and ice fishing and snowmobiling
in winter.
Eat local: A flower-bedecked farmhouseturned-local-eatery, The Gardens Gate
(manitoulin-island.com/gardensgate) is known
for its creative use of local ingredients.

2. TOBERMORY
The drive: 297 km (184 miles);
approximately four hours from Toronto.
What we love: Calling all divers, hikers,
kayakers, golfers and art lovers: hike the
majestic cliffs of the Niagara Escarpment
or scuba dive in Fathom Five National
Marine Park.
Eat local: Try Georgian Bay whitefish prepared
four ways at the Grandview Dining Room
(grandview-tobermory.com), overlooking the
bay. For a more casual atmosphere, follow the
locals to The Fish & Chip Place
(thefishandchipplace.com).

3. BLUE MOUNTAIN

SEE

ONTARIOTR

AVEL.NET

ils and our


for travel deta
attractions.
rio
ta
On
t
ea
gr

The drive: 160 km (99 miles); approximately


two hours from Toronto.
What we love: Nestled between Georgian Bay
and the Niagara Escarpment, Blue Mountain
(bluemountain.ca) is a ski and snowboard
mega-resort destination. But it also has plenty
of green-season sports to keep fitness freaks
happy: a mountain-bike park, mountain tours
and an adventure park with a Timber
Challenge high-ropes course.
Eat local: Blue Mountain Villages Kaytoo
(kaytoo.ca) offers representative dishes from
across Canada: B.C. salmon, Alberta beef,
Saskatoon berry pie, Manitoba bison, Ontario
pork, Montreal smoked meat and East Coast
lobster. Canadian campfire-cooked smores
end winter meals on a sweet note.

4. WASAGA BEACH

86 TORONTO 2016 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com

The drive: 133 km (83 miles);


approximately two hours
from Toronto.
What we love: With its
14 km (8.7 miles) of white
sand, Wasaga Beach
has drawn summer
visitors to
the shores of
Nottawasaga Bay for
more than a century.
Nearby golf courses,
bike paths, hiking
trails and crosscountry skiing and
snowmobile routes
keep people busy
year-round.
Eat local: Catch 22
Fresh Market Grill
(catch22grill.com) is a
TripAdvisor favourite. Locally

Manitoulin
Island

QUEBEC

17

417

400

50 KM

2
Tobermory

compass
Ottawa

Parry
Sound Muskoka

417

416

Georgian Bay

6
11

Owen
Sound

Lake Huron

Wasaga
Beach
26

Blue
Mountain

401

Lake
Simcoe

Barrie

Kingston

401

400

10

U.S.A.

Prince
Edward
County

Toronto

Lake Ontario
Stratford

10

Kitchener

Sarnia

U.S.A.

Windsor

11

London

Hamilton
401

Niagara-onthe-Lake

U.S.A.

QEW

Niagara
Falls

Buffalo

Lake Erie
Point
Pelee

farmed ingredients pepper a menu heavy on


populist hits: steak, pasta, seafood and a
different burger featured every day.

5. MUSKOKA
The drive: 165 km (102 miles); approximately
two hours from Toronto.
What we love: National Geographic Traveler
editors chose Muskoka as the No. 1 summer
destination in the world for its 1,600 lakes,
granite cliffs carved out of the Canadian Shield,
and artistically gnarled pine trees.
Eat local: Rub shoulders with such high-profile
guests as Goldie Hawn and Kate Hudson at
The Rosseau Grill at Windermere House
(windermerehouse.com).

6. OTTAWA

Photography: Richard Bain/Courtesy of Stratford Festival (Stratford Festival)

QEW

403
402

401

The drive: 450 km (280 miles); approximately


four hours from Toronto.
What we love: As Canadas capital, this
dynamic city with more than 1.3 million
residents is always buzzing. Visit Parliament Hill
or one of the many national museums, galleries
and theatre companies, or take in the Rideau
Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Eat local: The finest French culinary
techniques marry with Canadian ingredients at
Le Cordon Bleu Bistro @ Signatures
(bistroatsignatures.com), the North American
HQ for the famous cooking academy. Or head
to Chinatown for locally grown fruits and
vegetables in the endlessly creative dishes of
ZenKitchen (zenkitchen.ca). Or explore the
Ottawa regions impressive craft beer scene at
a brewpub or caf.

7. PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY


The drive: 216 km (134 miles); approximately
three hours from Toronto.
What we love: Ontarios newest wine region
makes a great excursion, with award-winning
wineries and Chowhound-pleasing eateries and
artisan food producers. The Globe and Mail

newspaper recently
named the region
the gastronomic
capital of Canada.
Eat local: East & Main
Bistro (eastandmain.ca), a
top choice among Toronto
chefs, had the smart idea to combine luxury
comfort food with fresh, local ingredients,
paired with an outstanding selection of
County wines.

8. NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE
The drive: 133 km (83 miles); approximately
two hours from Toronto.
What we love: Take a carriage ride through
the Old Town or a boat up the Niagara River.
Then golf, sip and shop your way through
what is often referred to as the loveliest
town in Ontario.
Eat local: Executive chef Jason Parsons, who
works with winemaker Katie Dickieson to
showcase wines in his seasonal menus, leads
Zagat winner Peller Estates Winery
Restaurant (peller.com).

9. NIAGARA FALLS
The drive: 129 km (80 miles); approximately
two hours from Toronto.
What we love: Hornblower Canadian Falls
tours; dining on board is now an option! Ride
the jet boat, tour at the whirlpool or stroll
through Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens.
Eat local: Casually upscale, newly opened
Weinkeller (weinkeller.ca) is Niagara Falls
first winery-restaurant. Sip your way through
the offerings and enjoy a glass with fresh
oysters. For best value, its tough to beat the
$25 Grand Buffet at Fallsview Casino
(fallsviewcasinoresort.com).

10. STRATFORD
The drive: 149 km (92 miles); approximately
two hours from Toronto.

@SeeTorontoNow l

What we love: The towns architecture reflects


its Victorian past, but many come for the
Justin Bieber hometown tour (visitstratford.
ca/justin-biebers-stratford). The Stratford
Festival (stratfordfestival.ca) enjoys
international acclaim, especially for its
Shakespearean productions.
Eat local: At Rundles (rundlesrestaurant.com),
a favourite pre-theatre spot among locals,
choose the River Room for formal dining or the
Garden Room to try chef Neil Baxters take on
casual French haute cuisine. The Chocolate
Trail (visitstratford.ca/chocolatetrail)20 shops
offering everything chocolate, from biscotti to
chocolate mint teaprovides the ultimate
sweet finish.

11. POINT PELEE


The drive: 360 km (224 miles); approximately
four hours from Toronto.
What we love: As Canadas southernmost tip,
Point Pelee is celebrated for its world-renowned
bird sanctuary and has captivated visitors who
marvel at the migration of birds and butterflies.
Eat local: First sip, then dine at Pelee Island
Winery (peleeisland.com), known for its Pinot
Noir, where an in-depth look at the winemaking
process is followed by a how-to session on
wine and food pairing.

VisitToronto

TORONTO 2016 87

Finding your feet


How to get around town.
AIRPORT 411

TRAVELLING BY BUS

Toronto Pearson International Airport (code YYZ) is the main point of


landing for most domestic and international flights. Toronto Pearson is 27 km
(17 miles) west of downtown (about a half-hour drive). To get from the airport
to downtown, you can:
1. Take the UP (Union Pearson) Express, a brand-new dedicated express
rail service connecting Union Station to Toronto Pearson, departing every
15 minutes. Go to upexpress.com to find out more.
2. Take public transit: Ride the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). Catch the
192 Airport Rocket bus to Kipling subway station or take the 52A Lawrence
West bus to Lawrence West subway station. Both stations are on subway lines
servicing the downtown core. Visit ttc.ca for fare information.
3. Hire a taxi or an airport limo: Look for the lineup signs for taxis.
The average cost into the city is about $60.
4. Catch a shuttle bus: Many hotels offer airport shuttles, so check
whether yours does.
5. Rent a car: Youll find major car-rental outfits at both Terminal 1
and Terminal 3. Most are open daily from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Find detailed directions to the city at torontopearson.com.
Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport/Porter and Air Canada airlines
(code YTZ), located on the Toronto Islands, services domestic, chartered
and select U.S. flights. Billy Bishop is just a short ferry ride to Torontos
Harbourfront district, and then mere minutes to downtown by taxi
and public transit. A pedestrian tunnel opened in July 2015, making the
connection even faster.

Toronto Coach Terminal is the main intercity bus depot,


located downtown at 610 Bay St. It serves such bus companies
as Greyhound, Coach Canada/Trentway-Wager and
Ontario Northland.
Union Station Bus Terminal is located at 140 Bay St. (south
of Front Street and just east of Union Station). It is the hub for
GO Transit buses servicing inter-region travel in and around the
Greater Toronto Area. For more information, call 1-800-GETON-GO or 416-869-3200 or visit gotransit.com.

IMPORTANT
FYIs

TRAVELLING BY TRAIN
All trains arrive and depart from Union Station (65 Front St. W.).
VIA Rail handles most of Canadas intercity routes and connects
to the U.S. via Amtrak. The Amtrak/VIA Maple Leaf route runs
between New York City and Toronto daily and takes about
12 hours, depending on the border wait. For more information:
1-888-VIA-RAIL and viarail.ca; 1-800-USA-RAIL and amtrak.com.
GO Transit services inter-region travel in and around the
Greater Toronto Area. GOs green-and-white trains also operate
from Union Station. For more information, call 1-800-GET-ONGO or 416-869-3200 or visit gotransit.com. For general station
information, call the Travellers Aid Society of Toronto at
416-366-7788.

The legal drinking age is 19. Licensed establishments serve alcohol between 11 a.m. and 2 a.m.
To get married in Ontario, consenting partners age 18 and older must first obtain a marriage licence.

If you submit the application (available online) with two pieces of valid ID, along with the $140 fee, the
licence can generally be processed within a day, after which its valid for 90 days. Same-sex marriage has
been legal here since 2003. Find more info (including the application form) at settlement.org.
General retail hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., with some malls offering extended hours and some smaller
boutiques closing earlier. Most shops and malls close earlier on Sundays.
Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA): Starting March 15, 2016, all visa-exempt foreign fly-in visitors will
need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). American citizens and travellers with valid visas are exempt,
as are visitors who arrive by land or sea.

88 TORONTO 2016 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com

Toronto Magazine.indd 1
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visitor resources

EXPLORING THE CITY


69 stations, Torontos subway system is easy to navigate. Maps
are displayed on all subway cars and are available at station ticket
booths. Subway stops connect to streetcar or bus routes that weave
throughout the city and extend to the Greater Toronto Area (hold on to
your paper transfer for free connections). Single fare is $3.25 for adults,
$2 for students/seniors and free for children 12 years of age and under;
keep in mind that drivers dont provide change. You can save money
by buying multiple tokens or tickets or a one-day or one-week transit
pass. Single-day passes cost $12 and allow unlimited rides from
the start of service until 5:30 the following morning. On weekends and
statutory holidays, the $12 day pass provides unlimited travel for
a group of up to six people, with a maximum of two adults. GTA
Weekly Passes, valid from Monday to Sunday, cost $61 and are valid
in parts of Brampton, Mississauga and York Region as well as Toronto.
Monthly passes are also available. Visit ttc.ca or call 416-393-INFO
for more information.
By regional transit: Visiting Mississauga? Go to the Click n Ride
route planner on mississauga.ca, type in your origin and destination,
and the website will map out your best route. For route information
in Brampton, visit Brampton Transit at brampton.ca.
By GO Transit: For routes from Toronto to the suburbs and
neighbouring regions, check GO Transit bus and train schedules
at gotransit.com.
By taxi: Toronto has numerous cab companies, and all charge the
same base rate of $3.25, plus $1.75 per kilometre ($1.09 per mile) or 52
cents a minute. The easiest cab number to remember is 416-TAXICAB,
which connects you to all taxi and airport-limo companies.
By bike: Renting a bike is easy. Keep an eye peeled for automated
bike stands throughout the city. Bike rentals are ideal for shorter rides
and are a great alternative to taxi jaunts. Grab a bike at one stand,
then return it to another. Visit toronto.ca for an online Toronto cycling
map, or pick up a free paper copy at a civic or community centre,
library or bicycle shop.
By foot: Toronto is a safe and walkable city. Look for trails throughout
the parks, gardens and beaches; routes are outlined at toronto.ca.
Explore the PATH, an easy-to-navigate system of underground
walkways and shopping arcades that runs beneath the downtown core.
The 30-km (19-mile) PATH connects six subway stations, major hotels
and several attractions, including Union Station, Roy Thomson Hall,
Air Canada Centre, CN Tower, Toronto Eaton Centre, Queens
Quay and City Hall. Maps are available at toronto.ca.
By water: Visit the citys largest parkland, the Toronto Islands,
just minutes from the downtown core. You can board Torontos ferries
hourly to get to and from the islands. Buy your tickets in person
or book online at toronto.ca/ferry.

GET INSIDER ADVICE


The Toronto Greeter program (TAP into TO!) will send a volunteer
to welcome visitors. By pairing guests and greeters with similar
interests, the program offers newcomers a chance to connect with
Torontoand Torontonianson a personal level and to tap into the
pulse of the city. Call 416-33-TAPTO for more info.
MORE QUESTIONS? Call 311 Toronto at 416-392-CITY (2489),
or dial 311 within city limits, from Monday to Friday between
8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

TRAVEL AID

TOURIST
INFO +
SERVICES

FIND INFO: Visit the


Ontario Travel
Information Centre
at the west end of Union
Station (65 Front St. W.)
in the Main Hall, near
the Skywalk. Specialists at
the Toronto desk can
provide information to help
you get the most out of
your visit to Toronto.

Confused? Need assistance?


Travellers Aid Society of Toronto (TAS) at Union Station provides emergency assistance in crisis situations as well as
information about navigating transit and finding accommodations. You can also call 416-366-7788 or visit travellersaid.ca.
Travellers Assistance Services of Toronto is a non-profit volunteer organization providing free tourist and referral information
and assistance to Toronto visitors. Booths are run by volunteers at Toronto Coach Terminal and Toronto Pearson
International Airport. Call 647-808-0098 (info) or 905-676-2868 (Airport Terminal 1) or visit travellersassistance.ca.

90 TORONTO 2016 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com

Photography: Freaktography (train platform)

By Toronto Transit Commission (TTC): With four lines and

hotel@neill-wycik.com

HOTMAG 1-3 Hor.indd 1

2015-10-13 3:45 PM

calendar

January

April

Toronto International
Boat Show
January 8 17
torontoboatshow.com

TIFF Kids International


Film Festival
April 8 24
tiff.net

Interior Design Show


January 21 24
interiordesignshow.com

Creativ Festival
April 22 23
csnf.com

Winterlicious
January 29
February 11
toronto.ca

Hot Docs Canadian


International
Documentary Festival
April 28 May 8
hotdocs.ca

February
Canadian
International
AutoShow
February 12 21
autoshow.ca
NBA All-Star
Game Weekend
February 12 14
nba.com
Beach Village
BIAs Family Sunday
in the Beach
February 14
thebeachvillage.com
Bloor-Yorkville
Icefest
February 20 21
bloor-yorkville.com
March
Canada Blooms:
The Flower and
Garden Festival
March 11 20
canadablooms.com
National Home Show
March 11 20
nationalhomeshow.com
St. Patricks
Day Parade
March 13
topatrick.com
Toronto Sportsmens
Show
March 16 20
torontosportshow.ca
One of a Kind
Spring Show & Sale
March 23 27
oneofakindshow.com

Mississauga
Marathon
April 30 May 1
mississauga
marathon.com

Digital Dreams
June
digitaldreamsfestival.ca
The Streetsville
Founders Bread and
Honey Festival
June 3 5
breadandhoney.com
Luminato Festival
June 10 19
luminatofestival.com
Ontario Craft
Beer Week
June 10 19
ocbweek.ca
CeleBRAMPTON
and the Flower City
Parade
June 11
brampton.ca
Ideacity
June 15 17
ideacityonline.com
North by
Northeast
June 15 19
nxne.com

May

Barilla Taste
of Little Italy
June 17 19
tasteoflittleitaly.ca

GoodLife Fitness
Toronto Marathon
May 1
torontomarathon.com

Mississauga
Waterfront Festival
June 17 19
themwf.com

Scotiabank CONTACT
Photography Festival
May 1 31
scotiabank
contactphoto.com

The Pepsi
North America Cup
Horse Race
June 18
woodbine
entertainment.com

Canadian Music Week


May 4 14
cmw.net
Toronto Jewish
Film Festival
May 5 15
tjff.com
Inside Out Toronto
LGBT Film Festival
May 26 June 5
insideout.ca
Carassauga:
Mississaugas
Festival of Cultures
May 27 29
carassauga.com
Doors Open Toronto
May 28 29
toronto.ca

Taste of Toronto
June 23 26
tasteoftoronto.com
TD Toronto
Jazz Festival
June 24 July 3
torontojazz.com
Pride Toronto
Festival
June 24 July 3
pridetoronto.com
Toronto Fringe
Festival
June 29 July 10
fringetoronto.com

VELD Music Festival


July
veldmusicfestival.com
Brampton
Chinguacousy Parks
Canada Day
July 1
brampton.ca
Canada Day
July 1
toronto.ca
Mississauga
Celebration Squares
Canada Day
July 1
mississauga
celebrationsquare.ca
Redpath Waterfront
Festival
July 1 3
towaterfrontfest.com
Queens Plate
July 3
woodbine
entertainment.com
Beaches International
Jazz Festival
July 8 24
beachesjazz.com
Carabram: Bramptons
Multicultural Festival
July 8 10
carabram.org
Summerlicious
July 8 24
toronto.ca
Toronto Outdoor
Art Exhibition
July 8 10
torontooutdoorart.org
Toronto Caribbean
Carnival
July 10 31
torontocaribbean
carnival.com
Honda Indy Toronto
July 15 17
hondaindytoronto.com
RBC Canadian Open
July 18 24
rbccanadianopen.com
Torontos Festival
of Beer
July 22 24
beerfestival.ca
Rogers Cup Tennis
July 23 31
rogerscup.com

July
Salsa on St. Clair
Street Festival
July
salsaintoronto.com

August
Krinos Taste
of the Danforth
August 5 7
tasteofthedanforth.com

PLEASE NOTE: Dates subject to change


without notice. Please consult websites. For a
complete calendar, visit SeeTorontoNow.com

92 TORONTO 2016 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com

TD Mosaic 2016:
South Asian Festival
of Mississauga
August 12 13
mosaicfest.com

Scotiabank Toronto
Waterfront Marathon
October 16
torontowaterfront
marathon.com

Canadian National
Exhibition
August 19
September 5
theex.com

International Festival
of Authors
October 20 30
ifoa.org

Toronto International
BuskerFest for
Epilepsy
August 25 28
torontobuskerfest.com
September
Fan Expo Canada
September 1 4
fanexpocanada.com
Toronto International
Film Festival
September 8 18
tiff.net
Tim Hortons
Southside Shuffle
Blues and Jazz
Festival
September 9 11
southsideshuffle.com
Toronto Urban
Roots Festival
September 14 19
torontourban
rootsfest.com
Toronto Beer Week
September 16 24
torontobeerweek.com
World Cup of Hockey
September 17
October 1
nhl.com
JFL42
September 22
October 1
jfl42.com
Toronto Food
& Wine Festival
September 23 25
torontofoodand
wine.com
The Word
on the Street
September 25
thewordonthestreet.ca
October
Buffer Festival
October
bufferfestival.com
Creativ Festival
October
hwww.csnf.com
Nuit Blanche Toronto
October 1
nuitblancheto.ca

Planet in Focus
Environmental Film
Festival
October 20 23
planetinfocus.org
Art Toronto: Toronto
International Art Fair
October 28 31
arttoronto.ca
Halloween on Church
October 31
churchwellesley
village.ca
November
Winter Woofstock
November
woofstock.ca
Royal Agricultural
Winter Fair
November 4 13
royalfair.org
Hockey Hall of Fame
Induction Weekend
November 11 14
hhof.com
The Santa Claus
Parade
November 23
thesantaclausparade.ca
One of a Kind
Show & Sale
November 24
December 4
oneofakindshow.com
Cavalcade of Lights
November 26
toronto.ca
Grey Cup
November 27
cfl.ca
December
Toronto Christmas
Market
December
(closed Mondays)
torontochristmas
market.com
New Years Eve at
Nathan Phillips
Square
December 31
toronto.ca

Photography: torontobuskerfest.com (BuskerFest), Derrick Wee (Canadian National Exhibition), Maxine Lowe (Fan Expo)

2016
EVENTS

June

calendar

Luminato Festival

Toronto International BuskerFest for Epilepsy

Toronto Caribbean Carnival

New Years Eve at Nathan Phillips Square

Canadian National Exhibition

Honda Indy Toronto

CNE

Pride Toronto Festival


Tim Hortons Southside Shuffle Blues and Jazz Festival

Photography:

Fan Expo Canada

New Years Eve


at Nathan Phillips
Square

Luminato
Festival

@SeeTorontoNow l

VisitToronto

TORONTO 2016 93

last LOOK

On the waterfront

Meet Captain Molly Babad, harbour ambassador. By Sarah B. Hood


Molly Babad will never steer you wrong. The 24-year-old chemistry major (who also works as an educator
at Ripleys Aquarium of Canada) has spent four summers as a certified boat captain with Toronto Harbour
Tours Inc., introducing fascinated passengers to the mysteries of Lake Ontario and its island lagoons.
Why did you sign on to
be a captain?
I just love Toronto, and I thought it
would be fun to meet people from
around the world. And it sounds really
cool to call myself a boat captain!

What are your favourite


waterfront locations?
Wards Island is amazing: you feel like
youre on a tropical beach. And HTO
Park, because its such a clean
beach, and you get an unbelievable
view of the harbour.

What mainland features do you


love to share with visitors?
Im a big nerd, so on the water I really
like to point out the towers of the five
major banks [Royal Bank Plaza,
Scotia Plaza, TD Canada Trust Tower,
First Canadian Place, Commerce
Court] to use as landmarks. And
Redpath [the waterfront sugar refinery
and museum] is my ultimate favourite,
because its such a cool part of
Canadas history, not just Torontos.
Redpath started in Montreal and then
made its way to Toronto and was
super-successful in both areas. Its
environmentally friendly: its steam
powered, and they dont use any
chemicals in the refining process.

Whats a cant-miss sight for


nature lovers?

What makes the harbour a


must-visit destination?
The stunning view and the great
cultural events that go on at
Harbourfront Centre. I recommend
that everybody go to the islands
because its an unforgettable
experience. Ive had zero
unhappy customers!

94 TORONTO 2016 l www.SeeTorontoNow.com

Photography: Paula Wilson

My favourite birds are the mute


swans. Technically this species is
protected by the Queen, so no one
can harm them. She gave Canada
several pairs of mute swans, so they
and their offspring are her birds.

M U L B E R RY

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