6 h. ago Iconic Toronto snack window is back after closure some worried was permanent

Toronto locals devastated by the closure of a snack window that had long served as a summer go-to in the Cabbagetown neighbourhood will be happy to know that the independent shop is back.The 1872-built gingerbread storefront of Park Snacks is iconic for many reasons, from the ice cream and hot dogs it serves up exclusively during the summer months, to the adorably retro aesthetic it brings to the block, to what it stands for as one of the city's few side street businesses.But, anyone eager to hit up the independent business when spring 2024 rolled around was crestfallen to find it shuttered — which some understandably may have thought to be for good, given that it had been put up for sale at the end of the previous summer."With the building for sale, I pulled out at the end of the 2023 season and did not open in 2024," operator Bernard Dunford, who has been involved with the community staple since 1999, explains to blogTO.With Toronto'...

Other

6 h. ago Giant bridge under construction will soon join iconic Toronto skyline view

The iconic skyline view enjoyed from the Leaside Bridge over the Don Valley will soon be even more dynamic, as the early stages of construction advance for what will likely prove one of the most significant bridges ever built in Toronto.Under construction since 2024, the new Don Valley Crossing bridge will play an integral role in the future Ontario Line subway — a 15.6-kilometre transit route linking the upcoming Eglinton Crosstown LRT in the north with Exhibition Place in the south.Serving 15 new stations, including a stretch through the heart of downtown, the line will include a combined underground and above-grade right-of-way that will cross the Don Valley (and the Don Valley Parkway) twice along its route. This routing requires two separate bridges to carry trains across the valley.While the smaller Lower Don Bridge, which will cross the Don River in the West Don Lands and Riverside neighbourhoods, is set to be the more visually flashy of the two crossings, boa...

Other

14 h. ago Chefs teaming up to bring one of Toronto's most iconic lost restaurants back to life

Two Toronto chefs are joining forces to bring one of the city's most legendary now-defunct restaurants back to life for one night only.Spend enough time with anyone who lived in Toronto during the '70s, '80s and '90s, and eventually the question "remember Ginsberg & Wong?" is bound to come up.For my part, being born in 1999 and all, I never got the chance to experience the legendary Jewish and Chinese proto-fusion restaurant that held court at Village by the Grange for years before quietly closing down in the '90s, but its legend has always loomed large.A perhaps unlikely combination of cuisines at the time, Ginsberg and Wong combined all the staples of a Jewish deli with Chinese classics. If one person was in the mood for a Reuben sandwich and another wanted Szechuan chicken, everybody was happy.Frankly, it sounds about as close to a utopia as you could possibly get.While many of the restaurant's print and radio ads from its heyday, as you may ...

Other

54 h. ago Shuttered Toronto landmark gets new lease on life as grocery business moves in

The fate of a well-loved Toronto landmark has taken another turn after the iconic Beaux Arts-style building was closed for three years.The former Postal Station C building at 1117 Queen Street was built in 1902, designed by famed architects David Ewart and Samuel G Curry, and served the neighbourhood's mail delivery needs for more than a century until it was officially closed in 2020.In the years that followed, it seemed that the fate of Postal Station C was nothing short of tragic, from being sold to sitting vacant, and riling up locals even more with the possibility of a futuristic new condo tower sprouting from the stately old building.Take a walk by Postal Station C today, and you'll see the building plastered in signs indicating that something new is moving, teasing work opportunities, and a new chapter for the building.    View this post on Instagram           A post shared b...

Economics

69 h. ago Celebrate iconic hair on Mother's Day weekend at free Toronto pop

Self-expression isn't a trend — it's a legacy. The healthy-hair experts at OGX® are celebrating Canadian women and their hair journeys with the Mane Moments Gallery pop-up in Toronto on May 10 and 11.  There have been some truly iconic hairstyles over the years, from bobs to blowouts and everything in between. After all, hair is never just hair — it's a means of expression for all walks of life, and it's estimated that the average woman changes her hairstyle 150 times in her lifetime. Kaboompics.com/PexelsAlong with displays of epic styles that have been rocked over the years, the pop-up gallery will also offer personalized hair consultations to help take your hair care routine to the next level, with the chance to receive full-sized OGX® products to enjoy at home, while supplies last. Healthier hair, to-goMane Moments Gallery will not only feature hairstyles of the past, but also spotlight the future o...

Culture

2 w. ago Toronto's most iconic Jamaican patty shop opening in new neighbourhood

A Jamaican patty shop in Toronto that could very likely be categorized as the city's most iconic is gearing up to open a brand-new location, but it won't be around forever.Many are of the opinion that the almighty Jamaican patty is at least equally worthy of signature dish status in Toronto as the city's official signature dish, the peameal bacon sandwich.In terms of accessibility, at least, you'll be far more likely to find yourself within spitting distance of a patty than a peameal bacon sandwich, save (maybe) for if you're physically inside of St. Lawrence Market.Indeed, there's really no shortage of places in Toronto where you can find a patty when the craving hits, so much so that it would be entirely conceivable to think that they'd all just blend into the background.Against unparalleled competition in the city, though, Oakwood Village's Randy's Patties has managed to rise above the noise and stay there ever since 1979.After shutting do...

Other

2 w. ago Toronto's foremost cherry blossom expert is getting honoured by Japan

Toronto's most iconic cherry blossom expert is getting his well-deserved flowers as he receives a special honour from Matsunaga Takeshi, Consul-General of Japan.It's almost impossible to discuss Toronto's breathtaking High Park cherry blossoms without the city's resident sakura expert, who fittingly goes by the name Sakura Steve online, entering the discourse.Steven Joniak, the man behind Sakura in High Park, has been Toronto's (and blogTO's) source for cherry blossom updates ever since he launched his website in 2012, supplementing his journey with extensive research on the trees.To date, Steve is the foremost authority for Toronto residents keen to catch the peak bloom every year, providing weekly updates and, at times, braving less-than-ideal conditions from March to May as the trees progress.While Steve has certainly earned his fair share of recognition over the years, he's now about to receive an official honour for all of his contributions...

Other

2 w. ago Peace Arch Duty Free worried about closure as U.S. travel plummets

Owner Peter Raju said business was down 80 per cent this long weekend. He's frustrated over a lack of response from the government.

Other

3 w. ago Iconic Toronto barbecue joint is branching out with a totally new concept

Saucier, spicier, with a discernible perfume of wood smoke, a new kind of eye candy will soon be drawing fans to the furthest reaches of King West. Lured by an all-day menu peppered with sticky, smoky, barbecued bites, they'll descend on the corner of King and Spadina for something new from an iconic local spot. Opening this summer, The Carbon Snack Bar is set to revitalize the heritage space at 460 King Street West, last occupied by Quantum Coffee."I fall in love with locations and then I reverse engineer what should go there," explains owner Yannick Bigourdan. "I fell in love with the corner right away, but then I also had in the back of my mind that somewhere in my life I would open a Carbon Snack Bar or two."Still, envisioned as "a baby brother or baby sister to The Carbon Bar," which first opened in 2013 and is still garnering rave reviews, the new spot, he affirms, will have its own unique personality. "We want to offer a very fun grab-and-go experience around that v...

Other

3 w. ago Toronto's iconic Flatiron Building is completely hidden right now

Tourists, be warned: photos of Toronto's iconic Gooderham Building (better known as the Flatiron Building) are not possible right now due to renovations.A trip to Toronto isn't complete without photos of all the familiar landmarks like the CN Tower and the Gooderham Building, but that travel album might be lacking for anyone currently touring around town.The 133-year-old edifice at 49 Wellington Street East is currently ensconced in a scaffold and green netting as of April 2025, as many disappointed tourists are learning upon arriving at the oft-photographed heritage building.While it's a bit of a bummer for visitors trying to get a glimpse of all the city's best-known landmarks, the temporary inconvenience will help keep the structure looking beautiful for years to come.Last month, the official account of the Old Town Toronto and St. Lawrence Market Neighbourhood BIA took to Instagram to share that "the iconic Gooderham Building (aka #flatirontoronto) is all wrapped up while u...

Other