The new holiday group exhibit, Partridges and Pear Trees, will open at Magic Pony shop and gallery to celebrate the “art of giving,” on Thursday, December 1, 6:00 to 10:00pm. Tis the season of giving, and each of the many talented painters, illustrators, fashion designers, textile artists, photographers, toy makers, plush creators, graphic designers, sculptures and multi-media artists have created a unique art gift on display at the Pony until December 24. Artists will... [continue]

The KNOWdresscode Design Collective (KDC) presents “Virgin Territory,” a fashion show celebrating fresh hot local designer talent. In conjunction with Toronto’s Alternative Fashion Week, the show will take place on Thursday, September 29, at Touch Lounge (499 King St. West). Founded in 2004 by Niamh McManus, Cat Essiambre and Irene Stickney, the KDC is a group comprised of 15 up-and-coming designers – who get their inspiration from Karl Lagerfeld – are all about creativity... [continue]

Weekday brunch is the new weekend brunch and this is the new that. On a gray and wet Friday morning, Torontoist ambled towards the heart of Toronto’s Little Portugal district for brunch at Saving Grace. SG regulars have been enjoying lunch and brunch here for years, including local talents Sarah Polley, Sloan’s Chris Murphy and Sook-Yin Lee, to name a few who have all been spotted gracing this cozy spot. Saving Grace’s daily specials include... [continue]

At the White Stripes show on Friday night at the Molson Amphitheatre: Girl in the washroom: "I can't get this toilet paper off my shoe!" Friends: (laughing) Girl in the washroom: "Can someone help me?" Friends: (still laughing) Girl in the washroom: "Guys?" Friends: (completely silent) Funny in a you-had-to-be-there sort of way. And the show was pretty good too.... [continue]

You’ve probably heard the stories. It must have happened to your friends or roommate or sister or boyfriend or co-worker. Bike. Theft. These two ugly words have recently become this Torontoist contributor’s least favourite term. Bike theft has been plaguing the city for years, but most recently it seems that more and more people have become bike-timized. Contrary to popular belief, Toronto is not the number one city for bike theft. In fact, according to... [continue]

Two presumably homeless people are having a conversation at the top of their lungs, just beyond the Starbucks at Bloor and Lipincott. Yelling Woman: You don’t know one thing about computers! Yelling Man: I know those university students make a mess in those coffee shops! Entire Starbucks patio (half being university students) break out into laughter. It's funny because it's true.... [continue]

Restaurants: Coffee Mill TIFF... [continue]

Restaurants: Xacutti, Brunch... [continue]

As part of the Campaign for Real Beauty, Dove has launched a terrific new photography exhibit entitled “Beyond Compare,” profiling the beauty of women around the world. This exhibit recently opened at the Toronto Eaton Centre and will run until August 14. During September and October the show will travel to Montreal, Winnipeg and Calgary. This free exhibit was developed when Dove asked 58 female photographers for their interpretation of beauty. Dove’s online gallery includes... [continue]

Toronto city councillors don’t like graffiti. So what? Torontoist doesn’t like paying $2.50 to ride our underfunded and ailing transit system and we don’t like riding our bikes over the streets’ many exposed potholes. Oh, and we especially don’t like our city councillors deciding what does and does not constitute art. A new bylaw will require store owners to remove unsolicited graffiti from buildings within 72 hours of discovery by enforcement officers. If it’s not... [continue]

This week Torontoist checked out the popular and long-time Queen Street favourite, the Vienna Home Bakery.  Its 50s décor, red and white checkered floors and laid-back atmosphere – not to mention the smell of baked goodies including ginger muffins, brownies, scones, and homemade pies – make it a must try.  Plus it’s even good for celeb spotting.  TOist was just a seat away from hunky Canadian actor Peter Stebbings, famous for his role on the... [continue]

There’s no need to turn up the volume at Kubo Radio because they are cranking out the Asian fusion eats, treats, rock, soul and kung fu all at once. In fact it’s a bit hard to even keep up.  Our very cute waiter sports a tee that says “Dim Sum Fooey” and in between taking orders and serving a full house, he still manages to find the time to dance with his co-worker in the... [continue]

On Saturday TOist enjoyed the warm weather with a stroll through Yorkville where we saw man-about-town Stephen Dorff at Hemingway’s.  Toronto Star’s resident star watcher Rita Zekas also spotted Stephen with his new girlfriend Pam Anderson, again in Yorkville, this time outside of Café Nervosa.  He's in Toronto filming the new flick, .45, with Milla Jovovich and Andie MacDowell.  After a tiring day of people watching and celeb spotting we headed over to local jeweler... [continue]

On Saturday night, Torontoist partied down to a remixed version of Monday, Monday by the Mamas & Papas with someone who may have been Jay and Silent Bob creator Kevin Smith.  Unfortunately our sources were under the influence of delicious food and Pinot Grigio and could neither confirm nor deny the statement. So it turns out that there are trendy restaurants north of Bloor Street, who knew?  Seven Numbers has been the city’s central hot... [continue]

You’ve heard it here before.  You’ve read it in the New York Times and Spin magazine and countless other publications.  Montreal is where it’s at and the Arcade Fire is THE Canadian band.  Why even bother to offer an adjective, there’s just too many too choose from.  The critically-and-David Bowie-acclaimed Arcade Fire is “Canada’s most intriguing rock band,” as declared by this week’s Time Magazine’s Canadian Edition, on newsstands now. Laura Blue and Hugh Porter... [continue]

Thanks in part to a little shop in Greenwich Village, peanut butter has gone gourmet.  Peanut Butter & Co. has been tantalizing the taste buds of New Yorkers with it’s famous home-made PB, available in six varieties.  Nope, it’s not just smooth or chunky anymore. At PB & Co. peanut butter foodies have a choice between Cinnamon Raisin Swirl, Dark Chocolate Dreams or our favourite, White Chocolate Wonderful. Not planning a trip to the hustle... [continue]

After a tiring afternoon of shopping on Bloor Street - by shopping we mean trying on expensive sunglasses at Holts, and by tiring we mean trying to get through the crowd of hipsters at H&M, TOist stopped by Yonge Streets latest Pan-Asian eatery, Saigon Sister, for a light dinner. Saigon Sis opened just over a year ago on the strip which includes Green Mango and Spring Rolls, and has already established itself as a hip... [continue]

Toronto’s Scott Speedman graces the cover of this month's Toro Magazine, which can be found in today’s Globe and Mail.  Timothy Taylor’s article showcases the success story behind Speedman’s jock-turned-actor – with a little help from CityTV – and includes excellent photographs by Jesse Frohman, which look strikingly like the late James Dean.  Okay, officially Speedman was born in London, England, but moved to Toronto when he was four years old.  Before acting, he was... [continue]

Fashionistas, thrifters and all-around shopping enthusiasts came together at the Toronto Vintage Clothing and Textile Show on Saturday in pursuit of that one, or two, or three great find(s).  The show was held at the Enoch Turner Schoolhouse in downtown Toronto for its first 12 years, then moved to Edwards Gardens last year, and this year found itself in the CBC Broadcast Centre.  The large atrium accommodated over twenty of Ontario’s top vintage clothing and... [continue]

This weekend, TOist headed eastbound for brunch at Bonjour Brioche, a French-style eatery that’s a favourite with the Queen East crowd.  With its lovely French-inspired décor, great atmosphere and delicious food, it’s well worth the wait to get in – there’s usually a lineup on weekends, but  spring is (hopefully) just around the corner, which means Bonjour’s roomy side patio will open soon.   There are too many items on the menu worth raving about... [continue]