Torontonians have been getting their fix for affordable fashion lately. Earlier this year, U.S. chain Marshalls claimed its stylish stake in our city, and today fellow U.S. retailer Target announced its first 105 locations in Canada, six of which will be located in Toronto. But that’s not all: rumour has it that Montreal’s Simons department store may be heading our way sometime soon.
Torontonians dissatisfied with the city’s current hot dog cart offerings may soon be in for a treat. Vancouver hit Japa Dog plans to bring its fusion of wieners and Japanese cuisine to Toronto for 2011, The Globe reports. The popular eatery, which opened in Vancouver in 2006, has since expanded to three carts and a fast food-style restaurant.
Oh, Oprah. Daytime television won’t be the same without you. Thank you for your book club, for helping us become better people and for letting us bear witness to a maniacal, couch-jumping Tom Cruise. You’ve been called the most loving woman on the planet by many, inspiring others to return your goodwill many times. To those who are now preparing for many Oprah-less afternoons, here are five Toronto ways to express appreciation for her.
When Montreal export m:brgr set up shop on King Street earlier this year, owner Jeff Dichter wasn’t too worried about the heap of competition nearby (nowhere else offers a $100 burger, after all). But the restaurant’s Toronto location has apparently bit the dust. Food blog It All Starts With Butter reported its closure today, and although we were unable to get a hold of Dichter immediately, m:brgr wasn’t open for service today and its Toronto phone line appears disconnected.
When Holt Renfrew held a designer preview of its fall 2011 collection early last week, among the big announcements replete with internationally familiar names (Tom Ford, Jimmy Choo, Rachel Zoe), there was a unique — and local — standout: the exciting collaboration between Preloved and Holts. The Toronto-based eco-friendly clothing line is teaming up with Canada’s leading specialty retailer in a one-of-a-kind partnership that will surely endear itself to fashionistas with a conscience.
Toronto loves pork. So why do we have to eat it overcooked all the time? The USDA announced today that it’s safe to cook pork medium rare, or 145 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s quite a dramatic shift from the well-done 160 degrees previously preached by the organization and currently required by Toronto Public Health.
For Toronto clotheshorses that prefer distancing themselves from mass-market reproductions and big label brands, The Clothing Show is your next destination. Indie clothing designers and vintage pickers are converging at Exhibition Place from May 27-29 to represent local flair. For the 34th year of the event, more than 300 booths filled with loads of stylish merch will be under one roof, creating a fashionista’s paradise.
If last week’s Twitter rumour that Greg Couillard might be making a Toronto comeback was an unbearable tease, brief satiety will be found tonight at Kensington Market’s Burger Bar, when the veteran chef takes over the kitchen to offer up some of the fare he’s been cooking at Chili Bang Bar in Mexico.
This long weekend marks Victoria Day, and that usually kicks off the start of summer (symbolically at least). But with the recent dreary weather, it sure doesn’t feel like warmer days are coming anytime soon. Don’t let the wet weather dampen your plans, though — or your wardrobe. Whether you’re going to a barbecue, enjoying a picnic or planning a trip to the cottage, you can still enjoy the extra day off in style. So before you head out for Victoria Day, make sure your style is up to date.
As if the impending apocalypse wasn’t enough to worry about, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention recently released a zombie survival guide. Apparently, it’s never too early to start preparing for an onslaught of ravenous, disease-infested, lusting-after-your-brains walking dead. Here’s a list of the essentials required to survive a night of the living dead, and where to find them in Toronto.
What happens when you mix a career in personal training with a love of Indian cooking? In Marshall Tully’s case, you get Muscle Masala, a nutritionally complete cookie packed with protein — 20 grams, to be exact — and punctuated with spices like cardamom, saffron and ginger. Tully recently started selling the preservative-free treat at a handful of coffee shops around the city, including Dark Horse Espresso Bar and Thor Espresso Bar.
Move over Antiques Roadshow: there’s a new “tour” in town, and this one promises to be much tastier. The Drake Hotel has announced its Dining Roadshow, a “restaurant within a restaurant” concept that will see the dining room space changing seasonally in menu, theme, and decor. Executive chef Anthony Rose intends to create stylized menus that highlight the intrinsic attitude of each of The Drake’s restaurant incarnations.
