Making a proper bowl of ramen is a time consuming process, but for Chris Jang, chef at Queen West’s newly opened A-OK Foods, the noodles are the most labour-intensive part. Every day, for five days a week, Jang dedicates at least an hour and a half to crafting ramen noodles.
The early ’90s have often been called the glory days of indie music in Toronto. Sure, one could argue the point, but there is no disputing that it was a unique period, when local indie rock (Lowest of the Low, Rheostatics, Barenaked Ladies) and live music in general flourished. And, one factor in the mix was plucky radio station CFNY 102.1.
Every week, we round up the best events from the city’s fashion scene. In this edition: good deals at Lavish & Squalor, holiday celebrations with Nowhereland, one of the best sample sales of the year and more.
Yes, the Eaton Centre’s Christmas tree is more glitzy than traditional this year and, yes, it was annoying when stores started playing Christmas music in November — bah humbug! But in this season of shopping-till-dropping and stuffing our faces, there is refuge from the commercially driven nature of the season; one that encourages everyone to become more communal and more loving towards each other. I’m referring to Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, of course.
Every Monday, we round up the most exciting music news happening in Toronto. In this edition: Arcade Fire is teaming up with LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy, Hayden debuts the lead track from his new upcoming album and Evening Hymns will wrap up their tour at The Music Gallery.
The owners of Parkdale’s The Pinball Cafe have decided to shut down their business in response to city bylaws.
Friday night was the fifth time I had seen Dave Matthews Band live. This makes me little more than a novice next to many DMB diehards, but it did allow me to look past the 15-minute songs, a dynamic lights display and Dave’s mumbling in order to examine some of the smaller details that have made the band so successful in its 20-plus years of touring.
Friday Restaurant Recap rounds up the week’s Toronto restaurant news. In this edition: a popular Middle Eastern restaurant expands, one Brazilian restaurant opens while another closes, a wine bar for the Junction and more.
When you need something to keep you warm while window shopping on chilly Queen West or checking out Christmas decorations on a date in Yorkville, you better make sure it looks damn good, too.
It is a meeting of the minds. Deranged, crass and criminal minds; minds that belong to a group of felons who are convening to discuss a heist that turned sour six years ago. Cultured and respectable as they are — or at least hope to be — they gather for an evening of nyotaimori, the practice of eating sushi off the body of a naked woman.
Made from the local Agiorgitiko grape (a.k.a St. George), this well-priced wine has a deep ruby colour and a nose of tobacco leaf, cedar and cherries. It is an easy drinking wine with a sweet flavour that finishes dry and savoury with ripe tannins.
Since 1998 The Vinyl Cafe Christmas Tour has become pretty much a tradition across Canada. Written and hosted by Stuart McLean, The Vinyl Cafe is a CBC variety radio show featuring funny stories about a second-hand record store owner, Dave, and his family and friends. The tour (and the requisite jukebox) stops in Toronto this weekend, so we chatted with its host about the show’s enduring quality.
