9 h. 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...

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10 h. 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...

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9 d. 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...

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1 week 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...

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2 w. ago Legendary Toronto music venue around for 70 years is up for sale

Toronto's iconic El Mocambo music venue, a staple in the city's entertainment and live music scene for more than seven decades, is now up for sale after its owner and former Dragons' Den star, Michael Wekerle, defaulted on $55.6 million in debt through the companies he controls.Last Friday, an Ontario court intervened and appointed Ernst & Young Inc. to oversee the venue's sale. The music venue first opened its doors in 1948, and after decades of hosting legendary artists like The Rolling Stones and Blondie, Wekerle purchased the venue in 2014 for $3.8 million.The investor invested over $30 million to refurbish the space, and despite multiple setbacks, the venue reopened in 2020, only for it to be delayed once again due to the global pandemic.Wekerle was taken to court by Waygar Capital Inc., a creditor that claims Wekerle's companies have failed to repay loans, which include funds used for El Mocambo's renovations.Future of Toronto's historic El Mocambo threatened by legal...

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2 w. ago The 'vibiest house' in Toronto with an iconic mural just hit the market for $1.5 million

Everyone knows that Trinity Bellwoods is one of the coolest neighbourhoods to live in, but to claim to be the "vibiest house, in the vibiest location" is bold. And yet, the claim rings true for 8 Humber St. Located in the heart of Ossington, this four-bedroom, four-bathroom Victorian semi-detached house is beyond cool. The Jerry Rug mural. First off, it has a custom Jerry Rugg aka birdO mural on the entire west facade of the house. The iconic mural has just recently been restored, which makes this house stand out even more. The foyer. And that's just the exterior. The dining room. As you enter the house, you're greeted by a newly renovated house.The open concept main floor. The open concept main floor has soaring ceilings, exposed brick and a Scandinavian-inspired kitchen. A bedroom. The second floor boasts three bedrooms and a three-piece bathroom. Another bedroom. Each room is "vibey" in its own right. ...

Economics

3 w. ago Toronto's radio station based in a shipping container shutting down after 6 years

After 6 years at the cutting edge of Toronto's underground and up-and-coming DJ scene, the city's very own shipping container radio station is hanging up its headphones.If there's one thing Toronto does well, it's music.Sure, we've produced icons like Neil Young, Broken Social Scene, Rush and, oh yeah, these two guys named Drake and The Weeknd, but, moreover, the city has fostered a music community of creators and listeners alike that remains second to none to this day.Since 2019, independent radio station ISO Radio has been a leader in the city when it comes to spotlighting up-and-coming new musicians and DJs, and they've been doing it all from inside a shipping container at Stackt Market."I think what has made ISO so special is that it brought together many people from different walks of life and corners of the music industry together," Josephine Cruz, ISO's Director of Community, tells blogTO."Sometimes the music and DJ scene can feel toxic, and especially in smaller ci...

Culture

3 w. ago Iconic red canoe overlooking the Gardiner destroyed in suspected arson

Toronto Police are investigating a suspected arson after the iconic red canoe at Canoe Landing Park in downtown Toronto was destroyed in a fire early Wednesday morning. A police spokesperson says cops and fire were called to the scene near Fort York Boulevard and Dan Leckie Way around 2:42 a.m. on Wednesday for a reports […]

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3 w. ago Iconic red canoe in downtown Toronto park destroyed by overnight fire

Officials say the iconic red canoe at Canoe Landing Park in downtown Toronto has been destroyed by an overnight fire.

Events

3 w. ago The history of the Selby Hotel in Toronto and its connection to Ernest Hemingway

The Selby Hotel, once located at 592 Sherbourne St., is a Victorian mansion with a history that spans over 140 years and boasts an interesting connection to writer Ernest Hemingway.Originally built for Henry Falwell Gooderham, a member of the influential Gooderham family, the mansion was designed by renowned architect David Roberts Jr. between 1882 and 1883.Roberts Jr. also designed many buildings in Toronto's Distillery District, and is perhaps most known for his iconic Gooderham Flatiron Building at 49 Wellington St.The Selby Hotel in 1940. Photo by City of Toronto Archives.The red brick mansion's Queen Anne Revival style pays homage to the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, and was constructed during a residential boom in Toronto.During the time it was built, the St. James Town neighbourhood was home to several of the city's most affluent families, and many grand Victorian homes sat on Sherbourne Street. However, only a few of these original mansions remain int...

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3 w. ago Iconic art that's been on display at Toronto subway station for decades is moving

For the first time in 47 years, a legendary piece of art that's called Spadina subway station home for decades is set to be displayed at a Toronto museum as part of a larger exhibition celebrating the work of renowned Canadian artist Joyce Wieland. In the mid-1970s, as the TTC was planning to expand its network with nine new subway stops stretching out of the downtown core, it commissioned several artists to create artwork for the upcoming transit stops, including Wieland. Recognized globally as one of the leading Canadian contemporary artists of the 20th century, Wieland's artwork "Barren Ground Caribou" continued the ecological themes in her work. The nostalgic quilt, which consists of layers of cotton fabric stuffed with synthetic batting, has been a fixture at the station's Kendal Avenue entry since it was unveiled in 1978. In 1975, Wieland said that the quilt "expresses aspects of the public's growing awareness of their environment and its preservation,...

Culture

3 w. ago Skip and Maker Pizza are giving away free large Margherita pizzas in Toronto

Looking for delicious dinner plans on April 1? How about a Skip and Maker pizza party with free large Margherita pizzas?No, this is not an April Fools' Day joke. Skip, Canada's homegrown delivery network, has teamed up with Toronto's iconic Maker Pizza to give away free large pizzas on April 1.Free pizza, no foolin'On April 1, starting at 12:30 p.m., you can head on down to Maker Pizza's Bayview location for free large Margherita pizzas at a pizza party that'll feature a live DJ, exclusive Skip and Maker Pizza swag, Skip vouchers for future orders, and even more surprises, while supplies last.    View this post on Instagram           A post shared by MAKER (@makerpizza) Can't make it to the pizza party? No problem. Following this one-day celebration, Skip will be the exclusive delivery partner for large Maker pizzas until April 30. This means you can get your favourite pies, supersized, and delivere...

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