The City of Toronto has announced a program that will make it easier for restaurants and bars to open new outdoor dining spaces, as well as expand their existing ones. Mayor John Tory shared the news of CaféTO‘s launch on Thursday morning. The program will allow businesses to temporarily operate in public spaces that are … Continued
As many of us balance near-constant Zoom meetings, the challenges of homeschooling, and trying to survive through the pandemic, things like making a quality lunch are falling by the wayside. Fortunately, there are a host of excellent options in north Toronto for a midday meal that’ll let you take a break from the daily grind … Continued
By Nisean Lorde
The Queer Pride 2020 Festival will extend beyond the walls of the Buddies in Bad Times theatre at 12 Alexander St. this year. Although there will be limited in-person events (with physical distancing measures in place), this year’s festival will mainly explore performance, art, music, and parties through livestream events. “In response to the pandemic, … Continued
The owner of Pam’s Roti Shop is turning to the community for support to avoid eviction. In a Facebook post earlier this week, Pam Singh shared that her landlord is threatening to close her long-running Bloorcourt restaurant. She writes that her landlord has refused to apply for the federal-provincial rent relief program, which would provide … Continued
By Ron Johnson
Tom Brazier, 73, the founder of Tiny Tom Donuts, which would have celebrated its 60th anniversary at the CNE this year, and 27th at Canada’s Wonderland, has died, the company announced via a post on social media today. “It’s with great sadness that we share the passing of a beloved figure in the city of … Continued
By Ron Johnson
Galleries and museums took part in a collective mad dash to bring exhibits, programs, and information online as COVID-19 closed doors throughout the city. While revenue has taken a hit, curators are surprised at the effectiveness of digital options while heavily relying on social media to engage audiences. The Art Gallery of Toronto (AGO) has … Continued
Black squares filled our social media feeds yesterday in support of #BlackOutTuesday, but some Toronto businesses want to do more than offer silent solidarity with the movement. Although most are facing financial struggles amid the pandemic, these local establishments are pledging donations to anti-racism initiatives. Extra Burger View this post on Instagram … Continued
By Nikki Gill
As daily protests continue across the U.S. against police brutality towards the Black community in light of George Floyd’s death, many other initiatives have formed to support the community in a multitude of ways. One such initiative is the 15 Percent Pledge led by Toronto’s Aurora James. James, who is the designer and founder of … Continued
Mount Pleasant Road is set to become the latest Toronto street to become more pedestrian friendly as the city adjusts its infrastructure on the fly to accommodate social distancing amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Councillor Josh Matlow announced the measure Monday on his social media accounts. “I’m so happy to let you know that we secured … Continued
In 2017, we honoured Toronto’s most inspirational women of the year. It was a 12-part series highlighting the changemakers who were pushing for women’s rights, exposing the inequalities in our city, achieving excellence in what they do and giving back through advocacy, activism, philanthropy and more. Sandy Hudson, co-founder of the Black Lives Matter chapter … Continued
The #BlackOutTuesday movement has taken over social media feeds around the world — with people everywhere encouraging supporters to amplify Black voices, support Black businesses, and donate to the cause. For those seeking a small way to make a positive impact here in Toronto, we’ve rounded up some excellent Black-owned restaurants that are currently open … Continued
By Ron Johnson
One of the city’s top immersive theatre companies, Outside the March, will present a remote production of The Ministry of Mundane Mysteries: Summer Passport to kick off the SummerWorks festival’s season of virtual works to run through September. Outside the March has been doing some fantastic work in the city as of late, including turning … Continued
