5 h. ago It's going to be a total nightmare getting around Toronto this weekend

Toronto is in for an exciting summer weekend packed full of festivals, parades, and car showcases, but before you head out, you'll want to be aware of some major road closures and transit shutdowns that could affect your travel plans.The Festival of India's Chariot Fest will be rolling into town this weekend, promising a vibrant and spiritual celebration on Saturday, July 12. The highlight of the event is a parade that kicks off at 11 a.m. at Yonge and Dundas, featuring three hand-pulled, 40-foot-tall chariots moving to the rhythm of drumming, singing, and dancing, all the way down to Queens Quay. The parade runs from 11:00 a.m. to 1 p.m., so if you're planning to drive in that area, make sure to plan ahead and take alternative routes. Temporary diversions will also be in place on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the 19 Bay/97C Yonge buses. Also on Saturday is ImportFest 2025 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, which brings together the best in modified cars and...

Other

6 h. ago BILD: Why oversight and regulation of renovators is critical

Supporting licensing and industry accreditation programs for renovators is a key way to protect consumers and cut administrative costs in the City of Toronto Often when homeowners decide to take on a renovation, it is a substantial investment in one of their largest assets: their home. One has only to read the news or chat […]

Events

6 h. ago Supporting licensing and industry accreditation programs for renovators is a key way to protect consumers and cut administrative costs in the City of Toronto 

Often when homeowners decide to take on a renovation, it is a substantial investment in one of their largest assets: their home. One has only to read the news or chat with a friend to hear about a remodeling project gone wrong or a homeowner being taken advantage of by unscrupulous, fly-by-night operators masquerading as […]

Economics

27 h. ago It's been 10 years since a dead Toronto raccoon captured hearts around the world

Ten years have passed since the famous dead Toronto raccoon incident, where the little critter and its shrine stole our hearts.It was on July 9, 2015, at the corner of Church and Yonge when the little dude, affectionately named Conrad, met his untimely death and became an instant icon in the city's lore.It took a whole 14 hours before the City's animal services came and scooped up the raccoon's lifeless body — and in that time, the internet, the city, and others around the world celebrated his trash panda life and mourned its untimely end.The whole saga started when the City was alerted via Twitter (it was still Twitter back then) that Conrad had met his maker. But as the day passed, poor Conrad's carcass continued to melt in the hot July sun as mourners stopped to pay their respects.The sidewalk memorial is growing, @311Toronto. H/T @jasonwagar. #DeadRaccoonTO pic.twitter.com/3vTUf9xB7b— Norm Kelly (@norm) July 10, 2015Locals mobilized and start...

Events

48 h. ago Divisive Toronto bus lanes shortened but not for the reason you think

There's one proposed road change that has been kicking up more controversy in Toronto lately than even cycling paths and construction-related closures: bus lanes.As part of its RapidTO project to prioritize the flow of transit vehicles, the City revealed plans for TTC-only lanes on Bathurst and Dufferin streets, two thoroughfares that, like most major roads in Toronto, are perpetually backed up with traffic.While the dedicated lanes were recommended in light of the congestion that will inevitably come from the upcoming FIFA World Cup — for which we are hosting six matches at BMO Field next summer — they are something some residents have been requesting, at least on Dufferin, for years.However, those who have gone to considerable lengths to advocate for the additions have now been met with equally strong dissent from locals, many of whom are business owners, who argue that the on-street parking that would be...

Other

64 h. ago International food festival for sipping and snacking coming to Toronto this month

There's a food festival coming to Toronto this month featuring some of the city's hottest food and beverage vendors.Back for its second year, which is expected to be even bigger and better than the first, Toronto's premier "sip and snack" festival, Feastie, returns on July 19 for a full day featuring some of the hottest food and drinks the city has to offer.Founded on the goal of highlighting businesses owned by members of marginalized and underrepresented communities, this year's festival is set to feature over 40 different food and drink vendors spanning a swath of international cuisines.From Jamaican Patties to French Toast to locally-crafted wines to homemade Thai iced tea, there's only one thing guaranteed at Feastie: you won't go hungry. To make extra sure of that, there's a variety of food and beverage options on the docket priced at $10 or less, so there’s a feast in store regardless of your budget.Although anything is possible when you believe in y...

Society

64 h. ago There are even more places to watch outdoor movies in Toronto this summer

Summer 2025 is shaping up to be ideal for a movie under the stars in Toronto, with various outdoor movie nights on tap all around the city!Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and The Well have joined the list of businesses offering outdoor screenings this season.Starting July 9, Downtown Movies in the Park takes over David Pecaut Square every Wednesday night until August 13, screening iconic films in partnership with TIFF, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.The Well is also joining in the fun, bringing summer night vibes to the masses with their own rendition of movie nights — we're not complaining! The first screening happens on July 16 with a showing of Ratatouille.So, now's your chance to grab your blankets — and besties — and get in on all the movie fun this summer! Here's a roundup of all the outdoor movies playing in Toronto this summer:Christie Pits ParkJuly 13 - The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)July 20 - ...

Other

3 d. ago Why this Toronto dining cruise is a unique way to spend a summer evening

Patio season? Never heard of her! This summer in Toronto, it’s all about sipping drinks and eating delicious food right on the deck of a gorgeous cruise ship.I have to admit, I never really considered myself to be a cruise person. But after being invited to join City Cruises’ Summer Kick Off Cruise — which celebrated their first dinner cruise of the season — I’m getting myself a pair of boat shoes and will be setting sail more frequently!A sailor's welcomeI started the night by boarding the ship and being greeted by the entire crew. Arriving a bit early for boarding, I waited for the rest of my group by sipping a cocktail on the boat's open-air deck on the top floor — one of three levels on my vessel, the Toronto Odyssey.A Blue Hawaiian is as crisp and refreshing as the waters.The furniture was comfy and offered some cute photo ops with a large decorative lifebuoy. I was also serenaded by the live DJ and saxophonist com...

Other

3 d. ago Three Toronto hotels were just named among the best in Canada

If you've dabbled in staycations before, you know there are some incredible destinations right here in the city — and Toronto's hotels are receiving the recognition they deserve in a new list of the best accommodations around the world. Travel + Leisure has just released its "World's Best Awards" for 2025, and some luxurious places to stay in Toronto have made the list. Each year, Travel and Leisure asks readers to voice their opinions on experiences around the world, where they share opinions on the top hotels, cities, cruises and more. The list includes specific rankings by country, with a roundup dedicated to hotels and resorts around Canada. Three Toronto hotels were bestowed top spots in this year's ranking, earning them national and international recognition. Two hotels in Toronto that made it to the top 5 for Canadian hotels were The St. Regis and Four Seasons Hotel, ranking in fourth and fifth spots, respectively....

Other

4 d. ago Over 3,000 tickets issued, 200 vehicles towed in no stopping blitz in Toronto

Toronto Police Parking Enforcement officers issued more than 3,000 tickets and towed over 200 vehicles during its recent no stopping enforcement blitz. Working with the City of Toronto, cops targeted drivers stopped in no stopping zones during weekday afternoon peak periods from 3 to 7 p.m. across high-traffic corridors in the downtown core. This blitz […]

Transport

5 d. ago Toronto's only Hawaiian festival returns this month and it's totally free

If you're craving sunshine, island rhythms, and a taste of aloha spirit — without leaving the city — mark your calendars for AlohaFest Toronto, happening Saturday, July 26, 2025, at Mel Lastman Square from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.Back for another high-energy edition, this vibrant, all-ages festival is Toronto's only event dedicated to the diverse cultures of the Pacific Islands, and that's enough reason that you don't want to miss it!Presented by local hula school Hālau Hula I Ka Lā, AlohaFest brings together the dance, music, food, and community spirit of Polynesia for a full-day celebration. Expect a jam-packed schedule of live Polynesian dance and music performances featuring artists from across the GTA and beyond.Performers will take the stage in colourful regalia to showcase the rich traditions of Hawai'i, Samoa, Tahiti, Fiji, and more.The festival grounds will also host a curated marketplace of island-inspired vendors offering everything from handmade ...

Culture

7 d. ago Buzzy Toronto sandwich spot finally reopening after closing for a year

A Toronto sandwich shop unlike any other in the city is finally about to open after being shut down for a year.While sandwich shops in Toronto are in no short supply, we're firm believers in the "the more, the merrier" approach, particularly when it comes to the ones that put a unique spin on one of the most widely available food formats around.It's for that exact reason that the sudden and quiet closure of Corktown staple FAMO Sandwiches in the spring of 2024 was particularly heartbreaking.Open in the neighbourhood for eight years, the sandwich shop made its name crafting juicy, dense sandwiches using alternative cuts of meat, which are, tragically, often discarded (or, if schoolyard urban legends are to be believed, turned into street meat).Beef tongue, oxtail, burgers and breaded fish tacos graced the menu of the celebrated sandwich shop, all crafted with the bits and pieces that often go overlooked despite being no less delicious, and FAMO s...

Sport

7 d. ago Thousands of dollars raised for talented Toronto baker battling cancer

A GoFundMe campaign launched for Aya, a Toronto baker and pastry chef known for her talent and commitment to her craft, has raised thousands of dollars as she faces a challenging cancer diagnosis. The fundraiser was launched by Kelsey Blackwell, Strategy and Creative Direction at Blackbird Baking Co., where Aya previously worked before joining Evelyn's Wholegrain Bakery. Back in April, Aya was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic lung adenocarcinoma. According to the campaign, she began treatment immediately and stepped away from her baking duties to focus on her health. The fundraiser highlights her resilient spirit, quoting Aya in a recent post where she shared her diagnosis. "Here are my favourite bakeries," she wrote. "I promise their treats cure you and make you smile." Blackwell highlighted the close-knit nature of the city's food scene, telling blogTO, "The Toronto food community is incredibly generous; we all work hard a...

Science

8 d. ago 50 trees in shopping carts will parade down the streets of Toronto this weekend

This weekend, Toronto is about to get a lot greener, and a just a little more quirkier.On Saturday, July 5, dozens of trees will roll their way down to the city's waterfront as part of The Bentway's whimsical new public art installation, Moving Forest.Picture this: 50 real trees in shopping carts, being pushed across the city by volunteers, forming temporary pop-up canopies in some of Toronto's sunniest and most exposed spaces.Yes, it's exactly as it sounds. Do I have your attention?Created by Amsterdam-based NL Architects, Moving Forest is both a playful spectacle and a serious statement. The initiative supports Toronto's ambitious goal to grow its tree canopy to 40 per cent by 2050, a plan that's as much about community well-being and environmental sustainability as it is about urban design.But sparking city-wide engagement with trees? That takes a little imagination.Cue the parade.Starting from The Bentway at 250 Fort York Blvd, at 1:00 pm, the t...

Culture

8 d. ago Shuttered Toronto Mexican spot reopens in new location with beer garden

A Toronto restaurant from one of the city’s most well-regarded chefs has just been replaced with a new Mexican restaurant and beer garden.It was the closure heard around the city when renowned Toronto chef, Anthony Rose, decided to close the doors on Fet Zun, the quasi-sister location to Toronto's much-loved Fat Pasha.Okay, maybe it wasn't quite that big of a deal, but it still came as a shock to the scores of Annex locals who frequented the restaurant.Boasting a massive indoor footprint, as well as ample backyard space (which housed Madame Boeuf and Flea, its burger pop-up) and a spacious front patio, the restaurant, despite being open year-round, was particularly a summertime staple.Lingering dormant since Fet Zun's closure in December of 2024, the question loomed large as to what would replace it for months. What could possibly be worthy of the prized piece of Dupont real estate?Now, we finally have an answer.As of June 27, Fet Zun's old locat...

Other

8 d. ago Huge spike in Europeans wanting to visit Ontario amid decline in U.S. tourism

Thinking of your next summer getaway? You might already be living in it. According to a new study by the Europe Pulse Study from Context Research Group, Ontario is a top destination choice for European travellers. The study showed that more than half of European travellers are considering a trip to Ontario, with a strong appeal in visiting Toronto, thanks, in part, to the city's upcoming role as one of the host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.Eighty-seven percent also say that Canada, as a country, is appealing enough to visit on its own, rather than as a side trip to the U.S. If you're trying to grasp why that might be, the study also showed that, amid the tense political climate in the U.S., 62 per cent of European travellers are wary of visiting the States, making Canada an even more attractive getaway. Destination Ontario, along with Destination Toronto, commissioned the study to gain a deeper understanding of how global events are influe...

Economics

9 d. ago International race coming to Toronto for the first time ever

Toronto is set to welcome a world-class triathlon competition this summer as global brand Supertri brings its league to Canada for the first time ever. The event will take place as part of the Toronto Triathlon Festival — a long-standing fixture of the city's sports calendar since 2012 — and this year's addition marks a new chapter, with Supertri taking over leadership for the first time. Supertri is recognized globally for its fast-paced, short-course race format and team-based structure, and regularly features some of the world's top triathletes, including Olympians and renowned international champions. The Toronto race will serve as Supertri League's season opener, ahead of scheduled events in Chicago on Aug. 23 and Toulouse on Oct. 5, with more stops in 2025 expected to be announced soon. "We are excited to launch the 2025 Supertri League in Toronto," said Michael D'hulst, the co-founder and CEO of...

Society

9 d. ago Expo for all things tattoos coming to Toronto for the first time this weekend

A tattoo isn't a decision that many (this writer aside) take lightly — between the meaning, the cost and, you know, the permanence of it — but if some new ink is something that's been on your mind for a while, there's no better place to get it this weekend than the first-ever iteration of a new Toronto tattoo show.Ink the 6ix Toronto is the most recent addition to the city's ever-growing body art scene, promising more than 200 artists from around the globe and across the gamut of styles in one place.Founders Luis and Tina Puedmag of Toronto shop Puedmag Inkpire say that they've wanted to start their own expo like this for years, having more than a combined four decades in the industry — including years on the convention circuit — under their belts."When you have been part of the industry so long, it becomes a part of you, and tattoo conventions were always a place you could celebrate that,&...

Other

1 week ago Toronto birds dying because of new transit line that ironically shares name with bird

Trigger warning: This article contains photos of injured animals and may be distressing to some readersAt an underpass where construction is wrapping up on the soon-to-open Finch West LRT, concerns are being raised over dead pigeons found trapped amid the site alterations. Pigeons appear to be getting caught between a concrete wall and a red metal plate — installed by Metrolinx, trying to get back to their roost site. The irony here? The new LRT, planned to open this year as the TTC's Line 6, is named for Finch Avenue, which, while originating from the moniker of a former hotel and its owner, also shares the name of the finch species of birds, of which multiple subspecies are found in Toronto.The site in question is located along a westbound stretch of Finch where the LRT crosses under rail tracks just before Weston Road. Here, concerned Toronto resident Ann Martin first found evidence of the birds' tragic fate. The red meta...

Other

1 week ago Viral Toronto pizza spot honoured as one of the best in the world

A Toronto pizza restaurant was just ranked as one of the best in the world, making it one of just two Canadian restaurants to earn the distinction.Sure, Naples and Rome might get all the glory when it comes to pizza — heck, even New York City, Chicago and Detroit get plenty of recognition — but, for its part, Toronto all too often tends to fly under the radar. It shouldn't be that way, but that's the way it is.As the third annual Best Pizza Awards took over Milan on June 25, though, pizzerias, from around the world got the chance to put their pies centre stage and earn some well-deserved credit for their renditions of the Italian staple.It should come as no surprise to those in the know about the city's sublime pizza scene that one Toronto pizzeria actually did end up ranking among the world's top 100 pizza restaurants at the 2025 awards.Coming as even less of a surprise, the sole Toronto pizzeria to make it on the ranking was none oth...

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