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It is forcast to be Chance of Rain at 10:00 PM EST on January 27, 2012
Chance of Rain
4°/-1°		 It is forcast to be Chance of Rain at 10:00 PM EST on January 28, 2012
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2°/-3°		 It is forcast to be Chance of Snow at 10:00 PM EST on January 29, 2012
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Canada > Central Canada > Ontario > Toronto

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Listings to get the most out of the city: where to dine, what to see, where to shop, and more.

Toronto

Weekend Roundup: January 27 to 29

Friday: Get a dinner deal during Winterlicious (photo courtesy of Pangaea)

Friday, January 27
Start the weekend off with a Winterlicious meal as the citywide culinary extravaganza celebrates 10 years of tickling Torontonians’ taste buds. Approximately 175 restaurants are taking part; there are probably a few that aren’t entirely booked up this weekend.

Relive two of the most celebrated records of all time, as Classic Albums Live performs the Beatles’ seminal 1965/66 hits Rubber Soul and Revolver at Massey Hall.

See a real-life mother and son reenact their story of the culture clash between Indian heritage and Canadian lifestyle in Tarragon Theatre’s A Brimful of Asha. Follow Ravi on his trip to the motherland, where his parents decide it’s the perfect time to talk him into an arranged marriage. (more…)

Where in Toronto: Celebrating with Food & Friends

The Gabardine offers cozy nooks for commiseration (photo by Gizelle Lau)

Each week, our intrepid interns reflect on life and times in the big city.

Birthdays are funny things. Like some aging silver screen dame, I whine and kick my way into a new year. This past weekend even my best efforts at remaining indignant faltered
in the face of great food and even better company.

Friday night began at The Gabardine, where my oldest friend and I gabbed about 16 years of history—our childhood, the present, and the ever-growing interim in-between. Over a platter of gravlax trout with spicy mustard, fresh oysters, and a refreshing mix of tequila and ginger beer, we marveled at how far we’ve come, and inevitably, the ways we’ve fallen short of our goals. (more…)

Printing Made Easy at Pearson Airport

St. Joseph Communications' Mark Patenaude explains the inner workings of an ePrintit kiosk

Need to print now? The question that’s plastered all over Toronto Pearson International Airport’s Terminal 1 should be followed by a hearty and helpful “Go right ahead!” Somewhere in the midst of all those hurried families pulling their suitcases and the business travellers checking their Blackberries and briefcases stands the newest addition to the airport’s state-of-the-art facilities: the ePrintit kiosk. Eight of these innovative trilingual (English, French, and Spanish) booths have been installed across Terminals 1 and 3, offering airport guests the ability to print documents and photos on the fly.

St. Joseph Communications, in partnership with HP Canada and Toronto Pearson, brought forth this public printing terminal, the world’s first with the capacity to print high-resolution documents and photographs directly from smartphones and tablet computers. (Disclosure: St. Joseph Communications is the parent company of St. Joseph Media, which publishes Where Toronto.) Users with an iPhone, Blackberry or Android device need only to download an app here; after that you can send your media, print and pay within minutes. The ePrintit system uses cloud technology with SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption to ensure your files remain your files. For guests without smartphones, the kiosks also connect with a variety of storage devices including USB flash drives and memory cards.

It all adds up to extra convenience for busy travellers. Heading straight from the airport to a meeting? Now you can quickly print that revised spreadsheet or slide deck and take care of those last-minute preparations en route. First time visiting the city? Use the kiosk to print maps and directions to local attractions. And if you just feel like passing some time in between connections? Send some images to ePrintit and utilize its photo booth functionality to create instant souvenirs.

—Faiza Siddiqui

Bonus You Are Here: Ossington Avenue

Earlier we told you about a few of our favourite places on super-hip Ossington Avenue.
Of course there were too many to reasonably cram into a single article, so we figured
a second post was well warranted.

Delux

COSMOPOLITAN CUISINE Chef and owner Corinna Mozo drew upon her Cuban-Québécoise heritage to create the menu at Delux, which features simple yet flavourful dishes like steak frites, crispy duck confit, pressed Cubano sandwiches, and… wait for it… donut balls. Gobble up these gastronomic goodies inside a sophisticated dining room that hasn’t lost its neighbourhood feel.

MODERN MOTIFS At the corner of Ossington Avenue and Argyle Street you’ll find contemporary artworks inside Michael Klein’s gallery, MKG127, where artists from Canada and abroad have showcased their work. Liss Platt’s exhibition, entitled Constant, runs here to February 4, followed up by Laura Kikauka on February 11.

Silver Falls

CLASSIC CLOTHES The words “vintage store” can conjure up the image of a tiny space crammed with musty clothing, but Silver Falls steers clear of such a setting. A carefully curated selection of vintage couture is up for grabs, along with a few modern designer pieces mixed in for good measure. The old-but-still-new items include dresses, skirts, sweaters, and shoes.

WONDROUS WAFFLES When Belgian-born Johan Maes opened Goed Eten, the cozy café quickly developed a reputation for its Brussels-style waffles, which come topped with combinations of homemade ice cream, fruit, whipped cream, icing sugar, and maple syrup. There’s also the savoury waffle and eggs Benedict combo served with apple cole slaw, and waffle-pressed cheese sandwiches.

Union (photo by Robert Brodey)

LOCAVORES’ DELIGHT It’s all about local provisions and seasonal fruits and vegetables at Union, a rustically decorated bistro, where the menu changes frequently based on what area farmers have fresh in stock. Favourites include the elk sliders with a mirin galangal glaze on challah, and the sticky ribs, which come charcoal smoked and brushed with house made barbeque sauce.

A LOT TO SEE Get up close to Toronto’s theatrical talent at the intimate Lower Ossington Theatre, which hosts Canadian productions, family shows, and children’s programming during the day. Angelina Ballerina, Avenue Q, Spring Awakening, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat are just some of the theatrical works that have been staged at the LOT.

—Rasheed Clarke

Hot Shopping: Donald Trump Says Indulge

OPENS JANUARY 31 Real Estate tycoon and reality TV host Donald Trump may be synonymous with New York City, but this year he’s put down roots in Toronto, too, thanks to the completion of his 65-storey Trump International Hotel and Tower at 325 Bay St. In addition to its immaculate rooms, fine dining restaurant and grand ballroom, the hotel and residence also features the two-level, 18,000-square-foot Quartz Crystal Spa. The full-service facility on the building’s 31st and 32nd floors offers a lengthy menu of treatments for men and women, from relaxing massages to rejuvenating skincare remedies. Also featuring a heated indoor pool, steam baths and full exercise studios, this luxurious destination promises pampering both for hotel guests and city-dwellers seeking a sky-high haven.

Staff Picks: 10 Cold-Weather Cocktails

 

photo by Emurray

It seems that winter has finally arrived in southern Ontario. To keep cozy, it’s wise to layer—a truism as applicable to cocktails as it is to sweaters and long johns. Go beyond the simple shaken-or-stirred and discover some of Toronto’s most flavourful artisan libations, guaranteed to give you a warming glow. (more…)

You Are Here: Ossington Avenue

Once a dull stretch of garages and storage facilities, this block is now packed with art galleries, eccentric eateries and vintage boutiques that strike a balance between edgy
and upscale.

Angell Gallery

DARING DISPLAYS For more than a decade—first on Queen Street, and now along Ossington—Angell Gallery has been a champion of artists who deviate from the norms of production to create stimulating cross-medium pieces. With three exhibition spaces and a section dedicated to video, thegallery challenge the eye and the mind.

TEQUILA UPGRADE Salt-licking, shot-chugging frat boys and girls may feel out of place at Reposado, where the city’s largest collection of premium tequilas are meant to be relished for their subtle notes of vanilla, chamomile and white pepper. The menu also boasts drinks—margaritas, in particular—made with fresh-squeezed juices, and tapas plates are available for peckish patrons.

Böhmer (photo by Katie Bateman)

DINE IN STYLE Post-industrial design and locally sourced food are at the heart of Böhmer, a former mechanic’s garage that chef-owner Paul Boehmer remodeled as a sophisticated yet comfortable restaurant. Beneath a chandelier of undulating wood strips and crystals by The Brothers Dressler, diners can savour dishes like Ontario guinea fowl or lamb chops, plus notable cocktails.

RELAX & REFRESH Lush & Lavish Salon Spa is a one-stop shop for hair, nails, skin, makeup and massage, but that doesn’t mean it’s the big box equivalent of a boutique salon. The exposed brick and hardwood interior creates a homey vibe for an organic facial or aromatherapy massage.

Jonathan + Olivia (photo by Alexandra Grigorescu)

FASHION FORWARD A modern space dotted with antique fixtures comprises gallery-style boutique Jonathan + Olivia. Stylish clothing and accessories from international labels like Comme des Garçons, Fjällräven and Alexander Wang are showcased here, while staff offer personal service without pretension.

ALWAYS OPEN Whatever the time of day or night, and no matter the size of your stomach, you can satisfy your appetite at The Lakeview Restaurant. A staple since the 1930s, this 24-hour diner serves up burgers, sandwiches and all-day breakfast. Adjacent, you’ll find the Lakeview Storehouse, which stocks fresh produce, bulk items and novelties like baconnaise.

—Rasheed Clarke

Hot Shopping: Ugg Puts its Best Foot Forward in Yorkville

photo by Oscar Mach

It’s the time of year when every other pair of feet you see is likely to be sporting a pair of calf-length caramel-coloured sheepskin boots. Although such footwear is synonymous with UGG Australia, the brand produces many other styles, too. Tony Yorkville is home to the company’s first concept shop here in Canada (a second is now open in Vancouver), where a curved zebra-striped ceiling and frosted glass walls serve as a backdrop for the brand’s entire collection of men’s and ladies boots, slippers, sneakers and accessories such as hats and handbags. Open daily. 23 St. Thomas St., 647-799-0300.

Hot Art: A Photo Anthology at the University of Toronto

Robert Frank's Chattanooga, Tennessee

JANUARY 24 TO MARCH 10 The timeless art of assemblage earns attention this season as the University of Toronto Art Centre showcases more than 200 images from the collection of Harry and Ann Malcolmson. One of Canada’s most impressive private stocks of vintage photography, this archive represents a trove of documentary and artistic works that exemplify the medium’s historical development and its major creative movements. Featuring diverse images by the likes of Robert Frank, André Kertész, Man Ray and photographic pioneer Henry Fox Talbot, the display reminds us how collections are at once composed of individual pieces, but gain consequence through their “being together.”

Weekend Roundup: January 20 to 22

Friday: Clarinetist James Campbell performs with Sinfonia Toronto (photo by Tim Leyes)

Friday, January 20
Start your weekend with a touch of class at Sinfonia Toronto’s Black and White performance at the Glenn Gould Studio. Featuring the talents of Canadian clarinetist James Campbell and Russian pianist Dmitry Gordin, the recital—of chamber works by Shostakovich and Mozart—promises to weave these two exquisite soloists together in a musical dialogue you won’t soon forget.

You won’t be able to sit still as Harbourfront Centre reprises its Dance Ontario Weekend, a three-day extravaganza with dozens of local dancers, choreographers and musicians. Enjoy a heart-pounding spectrum of musical styles—from ballet, to flamenco, to Middle Eastern—both live and on film.

Our beloved Sesame Street muppets are all grown up, and foul-mouthed to boot. Tony Award-winning Avenue Q, the riotous coming-of-age musical comes to the Lower Ossington Theatre, and explores coming-of-age anxieties through such tongue-in-cheek numbers as “What Do You Do With a B.A. in English?” and “Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist.”

(more…)

Where in Toronto: Paradise Lost, Bookstores Found

photo by Joel Shlabotnik

Each week, our intrepid interns reflect on life and times in the big city.

Okay, I admit. I’m a hoarder. I hoard books. Most of them I never fully read. They just line my bookshelf and are leafed through every now and again. Outside of my own library, the English major in me goes a little crazy whenever I spot one of my favourite titles. But it has to be a used copy. For me, there’s no charm in picking up a brand new book with an un-cracked spine from a giant retailer. That’s boring. Used books, on the other hand, are fascinating. They tell their own stories in addition to the ones in their text. I love the smell of old paper and the yellow pages and the crumpled corners. And if there’s an old inscription inside? Jackpot!

(more…)

Hot Date: Puppets at the End of the World

JANUARY 20 TO FEBRUARY 26 What would you do if the airwaves were suddenly flooded with reports that the end was, truly, nigh? Penny Plain, a contented blind shut-in, doesn’t budge from her plush chair. But after her dog leaves to try his paw at manhood, the outside bedlam—a cross-dressing banker, a serial killer, and a group of survivalists, among others—begins to creep in. A tender, slightly skewed drawing-room portrait of love at the end of the world, Penny Plain is told through evocative marionettes and lovingly rendered sets created by Ronnie Burkett, founder of the renowned Ronnie Burkett Theatre of Marionettes, which this year marks
its 25th anniversary. Factory Theatre, $30 to $55; call 416-504-9971 or click here for showtimes and tickets.

Hot Date: Spencer Wells’s Human Study

JANUARY 23 Spencer Wells, National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence and director of the Genographic Project, has spent the last seven years collecting DNA samples from people around the globe in order to create a genetically based map of human migration. See him present the project’s latest findings, and discover how scientific tools are helping to answer the question: Where did we come from? Roy Thomson Hall, 8 p.m., $39.50 to $59.50; call 416-872-4255 or click here to reserve.

Save the Date: the Canadian Opera Company’s 2012/13 Season

The Four Seasons Centre is sure to fill up for the COC's seven 2012/13 productions

The title of this post is a little misleading. In actual fact, we encourage you to save multiple dates—the Canadian Opera Company this morning announced its 2012/13 season lineup of seven classic and modern works. With so many big-name Canadian singers and directors headlining the program, we can no doubt look forward to an amazing few months of drama and music.

Giuseppe Verdi’s Il Trovatore kicks off the season at the Four Seasons Centre on September 29. The story of a vengeful gypsy and her son’s romance with a noblewoman has captivated audiences for more than 150 years—the COC’s production is likely to continue that trend. In particular we’re counting on a fiery appearance by Mexican tenor Ramón Vargas in the lead role of Manrico.

Later, look for arguably Canada’s most famous opera singer, Ben Heppner, when he performs his signature role in Wagner’s grandiose saga Tristan und Isolde. The company’s first show for a shiny new 2013 (opening January 29), it’s conducted by celebrated Czech maestro Jiri Belohlavek and helmed by world-renowed director Peter Sellars, whose incorporation of imagery by video artist Bill Viola makes this staging truly contemporary.

Speaking of acclaimed directors, following on the heels of his theatrical work for the Canadian Stage Company’s Cruel and Tender (on now), Atom Egoyan takes another break from film with an adaptation of Salome (opening April 21, 2013) Richard Strauss’s one-act opera based on Oscar Wilde’s play of the same name.

The best is perhaps saved for last when the COC’s 63rd season wraps up in May 2013 with Francis Poulenc’s haunting Dialogues des Carmelites, said to contain one of opera’s most devastating yet memorable finales. Toronto-born, internationally celebrated director Robert Carsen returns to the Four Seasons Centre for a third consecutive year (his recent productions of Orfeo ed Euridice and Iphigenia in Tauris were hailed by critics and audiences alike). The bar is raised even higher thanks to a cast that includes a marquee pair of Canadian sopranos, Isabel Bayrakdarian and Adrianne Pieczonka.

Staff Picks: 10 Shops for Great Sandwiches

Grilled cheese sandwiches are the specialty at Cheesewerks

The good old-fashioned sandwich is one of our most malleable meal staples, ranging from grab-and-go combos of bread and cold cuts to multi-layered gourmet offerings. Our favourite sandwich shops showcase the many flavours and textures one can fit on a bun or between two slices of bread. (more…)

Hot Date: Soulpepper’s Convenient Hit

photo by Cylla von Tiedemann

JANUARY 19 TO FEBRUARY 11 On the surface, Kim’s Convenience is a love letter to the countless Korean corner stores that have fallen victim to Toronto’s ever-in-flux business landscape. But that’s just the backdrop for the private inter-generational and inter-cultural conflicts that so many Canadians can identify with. Written by Soulpepper Academy alumnus Ins Choi, the humorous yet poignant tale of a Korean-Canadian family bridging the gap between old traditions and modern life has earned numerous awards and won widespread audience acclaim. This Toronto classic in the making kicks off Soulpepper Theatre Company’s 2012 season. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, $22 to $68; call 416-866-8666 or visit here for further information and to purchase tickets.

Hot Date: Atom Egoyan’s Domestic Disturbance

Atom Egoyan

JANUARY 21 TO FEBRUARY 18 Acclaimed Canadian film director Atom Egoyan takes on the work of leading British playwright Martin Crimp for the Canadian Stage Company’s presentation of Cruel and Tender. Egoyan’s wife, Arsinée Khanjian, performs the lead role of Amelia, who after waiting for her husband to return from war, discovers that his motivations for going into battle were alarmingly personal. Crimp’s story mixes modern politics with the private battles waged in the domestic sphere. Bluma Appel Theatre, $22 to $99; call 416-368-3110 or navigate here for a schedule and to buy.

Save the Date: Christian Marclay’s The Clock

photo by Dave Stokes

Ah, the Swiss and their talent for timework! Toronto culture lovers can mark their calendars and set their watches for 6 p.m. on September 21, when Swiss-American video artist Christian Marclay’s The Clock begins ticking at The Power Plant. Composed of thousands of film scenes depicting every minute in a 24-hour period and synchronized to local time, the installation has toured the globe to rave reviews. For its opening 48 hours, the work will screen, well, around the clock in its entirety (following that, it will be on view during regular gallery hours to November 25). Witness people waking, commuting and hungry for lunch; lovers squabbling then embracing; cowboys under the sun at high noon. Time, of course, ticks on undeterred, glimpsed in the background as a wristwatch or sundial, or filling the entire frame—as the face of Big Ben, for example. Marclay culls all
the minutiae of daily life from decades of cinema and presents it in a piece that offers
a surprisingly personal viewing experience, even in its epic proportions.

Hot Shopping: Keep Your Wardrobe (Joe) Fresh

Buying a carton of milk, eggs, some apples and a crewneck sweater was the norm for devotees of Joe Fresh, the Loblaw-owned label sold in the company’s chain of grocery stores. But now fans of the brand’s cheap-chic style have a standalone space to call their own on Queen Street West. (Equally popular south of the border, Joe Fresh shops are simultaneously opening in prime locations in New York City and New Jersey.) Though retail outposts have popped up in the suburbs, this is the company’s first downtown location. The 8,200-square-foot space boasts an extensive collection of Joe Fresh’s inexpensive and trendy ready-to-wear pieces like puffer jackets (for less than $99), sweater dresses and brogues for ladies, and V-neck sweaters and gingham shirts for men. Sleep- and activewear, jewellery, cosmetics and accessories like hats, gloves and sunglasses round out the selection. 589 Queen St. W., 416-361-6342.

Hot Art: Modernist Trio on Morrow Avenue

Olga Korper Gallery

A high-ceilinged former mattress factory on Morrow Avenue is just the place to visit three of the city’s finest contemporary art galleries. Amidst the concrete and exposed iron girders you’ll find venerable Olga Korper Gallery, which boasts a vast space for the display of installations, photography, paintings and sculpture. Smaller but no less innovative is Christopher Cutts Gallery—generally focusing on paintings, it presents new and historical works of modern importance by artists from Canada and abroad. And at Peak Gallery, owner-director Zack Pospieszynski strives to exhibit conceptual pieces with refined aesthetics from both emerging and established artists.

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