These t-shirts are amazing! Makes you so proud to be Canadian.
Have you checked out our Made in Canada Ts yet?
Reblogged from Institut Historica-Dominion Institute
JUST TORONTO
This is a tumblelog, kinda like a blog but with short-form, mixed-media posts with stuff I like. Scroll down a bit to start reading, or a bit more to read more about me.
Can you feel the love, Toronto?
Is it me, or has Toronto been feeling the love lately? At, least there has been a call to all Torontonians to just start loving their city. A slew of articles, radio segments, and personal initiatives have come out in recent weeks all with the same message: we’re awesome.
The Toronto Star’s Royson James provides a clear list of what is amazing about Toronto right now – in terms of economic indicators.
Those economic indicators should work in favour of The Toronto Community Foundation who is inviting people who have found success in Toronto, to “demonstrate their affection for their town by making a donation through its new Bond for Toronto campaign”, as explained in the Globe and Mail article.
That, in addition to last week’s Metro Morning radio segment about how we just need to get over ourselves and accept the fact that Toronto is great.
Let’s not forget all the initiatives from Toronto individuals, like the founder of Vintage Toronto, the Facebook page that features vintage pictures of Toronto. The Toronto Star covered it.
Or, the attempts by involved citizens and generous organizations to save two Toronto parks. The first, High Park Zoo, which has been offered a second chance by the Honey Family Foundation. Second, Center Island’s Far Enough Farm, which could see an interested party take over control over the attraction.
Finally, there’s the dozens of Torontonians that have taken a keen interest in Toronto politics. Good or bad, these citizens – like me – track and cover all the ongoing city council dramas, city architectural developments, great events and so much more.
This group of Tweeters – covered by the Globe and Mail – is part of the growing group of city/GTA citizens demonstrating how satisfying it really is to just accept and love Toronto, through the good and the bad.
Where to eat: an analysis of 2012’s best restaurants
Publications like Toronto Life and NOW are great sources to orient and guide you through the ever-changing but always fantastic Toronto restaurant scene.
Both recently came out with their choices of the the top restaurants for 2012. This is a great opportunity to compare notes and plan where you’ll be eating for the next year!
While Toronto Life has kept it simple with three lists, counting only the top new restaurants, trends, and flavours, NOW has subdivided their top restaurants in 7 categories: new, locavore, vegetarian, luxe, brunch, cafes, classic.
NEW RESTAURANTS
When it comes to new restaurants, Toronto Life and NOW share nothing in common. There are only two repeats:
Life’s number one pick, Yours Truly comes in at number 5 on NOW top vegetarian choices. The newest of the new, the restaurant offers a daily tasting menu for both meat lovers and vegetarians, an excellent drink menu, as well as snack choices for earlier in the day or later at night. Yours Truly, is a one stop shop for your evening plans, turning into a dance/lounge at 10 pm.
Life’s number four pick, Keriwa, is NOW number one for brunch spots. One of the most interesting restaurants to settle into Toronto in a long time, as it is the first to serve aboriginal inspired cuisine. Comparing the Monthly dinner menu and the brinch menu, you can see why the restaurant made both lists. My favourite is the brunch choice Picnicham Hash (baked egg, caramelized nonions, adobo, elderberries, triple crunch).
FLAVOURS
The top flavours that are sure to dominate are palettes in 2012 according to Toronto Life are: sandwiches, tacos, and pizzas.
Life’s top pizza choices leaves nothing to be desired with already well known Queen Marguerita, Pizzaria Libretto, and less known Viva Napoli, and Pizza e Pazzi thrown into the mix. View the full list.
Life’s taco restaurants are not your tyical ground beef or chick pea tacos. Take Grand Electric, also NOW number two choice for new restaurants, with your shrimp and roasted peanuts - wonder why its my personal favourite. Life’s absolute top restaurant choice, Yours Truly, also made its taco list. View the full list.
OLD - sorry, CLASSIC - RESTAURANTS
What I like about NOW’s lists is that they include older restaurants as must tries for 2012. In a city with a huge turn over rate and restaurants getting old in months, the shout out to spots that may be outdated in decor but can still serve an incredible meal is much appreciated.
Highlights include Gilead Cafe & Bistro, George, and Nota Bene.
Gilead, locate right on Front as it merges into King, was chosen in for NOW’s locavore list, citing famed Chef Jamie Kennedy “was a locavore before there was even a term for the eco-conscious food philosophy”. But, I got for his famous fries and vegetarian chili.
George, also on the East side, is somewhere you want to get married at or host a really nice party. The interior may be outdated in decor - as NOW points out - but the garden is the picturesque and the food fabulous. In NOW’s luxe restaurant, the prices are a little high, but worth it.
Nota Bene is the go to restaurant at Queen and University before watching a show at the Four Seasons (they have a special). The restaurant may be in NOW’s luxe list, but it is the most reasonable. They even have a daily special, most meals priced in their mid 20s. This restaurant is a must.
CONCLUSION
For a city usually so trendy when it comes to popular restaurants, I was surprised to see how diverse both lists were.
Though you do have your overrated choices - Queen Mother, Aunts and Uncles among others - with 50 plus restaurants and food trucks mentioned, you’re sure to find something to your liking.
This list is bound to change once BlogTO comes out with their list of best new 2012 restaurants. We’ll just have to wait and see!
Waterfront Toronto - have your say
Waterfront Toronto has been in the news quite a bit lately. Ever since Mayor Rob Ford and his brother wanted to taker over control of and speed up the redevelopments, Torontonians have been following its status very closely.
As they should. As one of the most important initiatives the city - and the world - has ever seen, the project is sure to help Toronto come into its own.
Though the ideas of ferris wheels and ginormous malls were not well received, they did prompt the Waterfront Toronto orgranization to reevaluate and re-plan the Port Lands’ design.
On Saturday they presented the new concepts at the Design Exchange. Torontonians are now invited to provide feedback at two workshops. The first happening tonight at St. Lawrence Hall (137 King St. E.) from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm. The next at the same time on Wednesday at the Westin Harbour Castle (1 Harbour Square).
The main difference between the two plans is less green space (40 acres worth) and the redirection of the Don River.
But, have a look for yourself, and participate by going to the Feedback sessions or online.
Tags: Toronto Waterfront
Where to drink: Happy Hour in the Financial District
After a hard day’s work, there’s nothing better than a glass of wine/beer/whatever your pleasure. For some though, work continues from the office to the bar.
There are some bars, like Irish Embassy, C’est What? and Scotland Yard, that are just good for hanging out. Then, there are some bars that epitomize Happy Hour in the Financial District.
King and University.
Patio? One of the best in Toronto. Drink Specials? Yes. Price per drink? 4.50 - 8.50.
Yonge and Front.
Patio? Covered patio for rainy days. Drink Specials? No. Price per drink? $ 6.50 – 18.
King and Yonge.
Patio? A quiet patio looking over Commerce Court. Drink Specials? Last Chance wine bottles. Price per drink? 6 - 25.
Wellington and Church.
Patio? No. Drink Special? Happy Hour Martinis for 6. 15 plus complementary appetizers. Price per drink? 6.15 - 55.
Adelaide and Yonge.
Patio? Yes, with a stage for musical performances. Drink Specials? No. Price per drink? 6 - 20.
Happy Drinking!
Photos from South of Temperance and O&B websites.
“
Consider the transit landscape:
The TTC, Canada’s largest transit provider, is an agency with divided loyalties — a new CEO who favours subways and staff who back light rail.
Metrolinx, the provincial agency that has the money to build transit, adds to the confusion, working below the radar to bolster the mayor’s subway plan while publicly staying neutral.
Scarborough feels snubbed again — disrespected, left at the transit altar without the subway bride they so desire. “What’s wrong with us?” is what they are asking, Councillor Vincent Crisanti told council.
And what does the mayor do with this division? He lobs in more grenades.
He rushes in and harangues when he should calmly advise. Where he leads, fewer and fewer follow. When he speaks, as he did Thursday morning at council, the result is upheaval and disruption
—
Royson James in Toronto Star’s End of the line for mayor’s transit plan.
Many of Toronto’s best journalists set out to capture the aftermath of Toronto Council’s March 22 vote in favour of LRT lines - a decision that picks up right where we left off before Rob Ford declared Transit City dead on his first day in office. Never has a mayor lost such control of City Councillors and faced defeat three times in a row.
Yesterday’s vote will go down in Toronto history. Firstly, as one where Councillors took full control of a city issue, disregarding any authority a mayor may have. Secondly, as one that will define Toronto’s public transportation for decades to come.
Looking for an apartment in Toronto? Padmapper can help.
I’ve been looking for a place to move downtown in for a while. My go-to websites are Craigslist and Viewit. However, they are quickly being replaced - or, incorporated - into a website I found called PadMapper.
It’s amazing! Displayed on a map are links to all available apartment listings from various sites (like Craigslist and Viewit!). Better yet, it calculated the median rent of the the area and indicated in percentage if the place is more or less what it is worth. So great!
For all those looking for a place, Padmapped delivers on “Making Apartment Hunting Suck Less”
A city coming into its own: Waterfront Toronto
As one of the most important initiatives taking place and taking over the city, Waterfront Toronto has made clear their vision of creating new neighbourhoods filled with parklands, boardwalks, private residences, and publics spaces.
The recent talk has been about the area south of Front, west of Sherbourne; but the region between Sherbourne and Parliment is equally exciting.
Though it will be a while before complete, the Bayside neighbourhood will be a great addition to a city coming into its own. it For more videos about their multiple initiatives, check out Waterfront Toronto.
A city coming into its own: Waterfront Toronto
One of the most exciting and innovative project Waterfront Toronto has taken on is the Underpass Park - a public space located under and around the Eastern Avenue, Richmond and Adelaide overpasses, the “park will transform the derelict and underused space into a bright, new, urban neighbourhood amenity and key pedestrian connection and passageway”.
The Gardiner, though obstructive, is here to stay. The highway is important in controling and moving Toronto traffic (as best it can), but it does completely cut off the waterfront from the rest of the city. As previously mentioned, no one likes to walk under a massive concrete highway. That is why the Underpass Park is so important. The Park will redefine the urban public space, taking it to new and impressive levels.
Though it will be a while before complete, the Underpass Park will be a great addition to a city coming into its own. it For more pictures depicting their multiple initiatives, check out Waterfront Toronto.
Photos from Waterfront Toronto.
A city coming into its own: Waterfront Toronto
An Introduction
Toronto is coming into its own. Though an important city for decades, its residents never quite believed in Toronto as an international city… Despite the fact that it is the most multicultural places in the world and the arts/food/culture/bussiness scene has never been more vibrant than it is now.
You can trace how Toronto has grown and continues to grow into a city of its own through different routes. You can go the condo route, the restaurant route, or the fashion route.
All these routes will be highlighted in the series, “A city coming into its own”, bringing attention to how fantastic Toronto is!
A simple task, right? As the most hated city in Canada and as a one with residents who still act as if almagamation never occured, it may be difficult, but I’m up for the challenge.
The first segment in the series is all about the Toronto Waterfront.
Toronto’s Waterfront
Before the Fords’ fairis wheel/giant mall proposal brought the Waterfront development plans to the forefront of Toronto news, most can be forgiven to have forgortten Toronto has a beautiful view of Lake Ontario as it is blocked off from the downtown by the aging Gardiner.
Once you get to the waterfront, you’ll see that what was once a bare and seemingly abandoned region of Toronto is getting the treatment it deserves. Too long it has taken for our waterfront and east end to develop into what the west is: cultural, appealing, and yes, gentrified.
BlogTO recently posted a fantastic article on what the Port Lands used to look like. The retrospective spans 100 years, from 1889 to 1988. You wonder why it took so long for Toronto to replace old shipping yards. But, one can’t do everything at once.
Now, it’s the east end’s turn. As described on the Waterfront website:
Toronto’s waterfront revitalization is almost unequalled in size. It’s larger than Lower Manhattan south of Houston Street, and four times the size of Monaco. To get a sense of its proportions on a local scale, the total area being redeveloped is 800 hectares (1,977 acres), which translates into an area roughly the size of Toronto’s downtown core, from Bathurst Street to Sherbourne Avenue and Front Street to Bloor Street.
Having some dead land in such a central region of Toronto was a huge detriment, but no more! Toronto’s Waterfront will be a mosaic of parks, pathways, buildings, and much more. We already have Sugar Beach, the Corus Building, as well as environmental flood protection plans.
I can’t wait for the new Union Station, for the Pan American Games Athletes’ Village, and the many promenade.
To get a look at ” one of the largest waterfront revitalization efforts ever undertaken in the world” and browse all the different initiatives, their website is www.waterfrontoronto.ca
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