Tips about Toronto » kids

Kosher Restaurants

contact — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:11:05 +0000

First Things First: What is Kosher?
“Kosher” refers to Jewish law that regulates permissible foods. Kosher foods must adhere to the complex requirements of Jewish law, and a supervising Rabbi verifies that such is the case for a given food item or serving location. Criteria is based on: 1) how animals are slaughtered; 2) rules and regulations for purity in the processing of foods; 3) careful inspection of vegetables for insects; 4) and the required temperatures in the cleansing of utensils and equipment. Additionally, Kosher laws require full disclosure of all ingredients on the packaging. With Kosher Certified foods consumers are fully aware of all ingredients. There should be no MSG, artificial flavors, fillers. or by-products.

Products and cooking equipment under kosher supervision are given regular inspections to ensure rigorous compliance with the Kashruth laws. A person known as the mashgiach does the actual supervision. A Hechsher (certifying mark) can be found to identify kosher foods and serving locations.

Below you’ll find some of the best kosher restaurants in Toronto (D=Dairy M=Meat P=Parve):

Central

Brooklyn Pizza (D), 3016 B Bathurst St Toronto Ontario M6B3B6, 416.789.4085
Colonel Wong Restaurant (M), 2825 Bathurst St Toronto Ontario M6B3A4, 416.784.9664
The Fortune Cookie (M), 2835 Bathurst St Toronto Ontario M6B 3A4
HaKotel (M), 1045 Steeles Ave W Toronto Ontario M2R2S9, 416.736.7227
Kosher Pizza Delight (formerly Jerusalem One) (D), 3028 Bathurst St Toronto Ontario M6B3B6, 416.256.7115
King David Pizza, Bourekas, Falafel (D), 3020 Bathurst St Toronto Ontario M6B3B6
Noam Malka (M), Lawrence/Bathurst Plaza-Hot Dog Cart Toronto Ontario
Not Just Yogurt (D), 2997 Bathurst St Toronto Ontario M6B3B3, 416.783.7604
Omni 2 – Jewellery & Java (D), 2793 Bathurst St Toronto Ontario M6B3A7
Perl’s Bais Burger (M), 3015 Bathurst St Toronto Ontario, 416.787-.4234
Shalom Shanghai (M), 3022 Bathurst St Toronto Ontario M6B3B6

Downtown

Oasis Cafe & Health Bar (D), 2 First Canadian Place, Exchange Tower, Toronto ON M5X1A6, 416.368.8805
Olde Spadina Ave (M), Air Canada Center & Rogers Center, Toronto Ontario, 416.823.6313

Midtown

Bistro Grande (D), 1000 Eglinton Ave W Toronto Ontario M6C2C5
Gladstones Bar & Grill (M – formal), 398 Eglinton Ave W Toronto Ontario M5N1A2, 416.487.9500

North York

Amazing Donuts (P), 3772 Bathurst St Toronto Ontario M3H3M6, 416.398.7546
Baycrest Cafeterias (D, M), 3560 Bathurst St Ontario, 416.789.5131
Chicken Nest (M), 3038 Bathurst St Toronto Ontario M6B4K2
Dairy Treats European Cafe/Bakery (D), 3522 Bathurst St Toronto Ontario M6A2C6, 416.787.0309
Isaac’s Bakery & Cafe (D), 221 Wilmington Ave Toronto Ontario 416.630.1678; and
3390 Bathurst St Toronto Ontario M6A2B9, 416.789.7587
King David/Country Style Coffee (D), 219 Wilmington Ave Toronto Ontario M3H5J9, 416.636.3456
King Solomons Table (M – formal), 3705 Chesswood Dr Toronto Ontario M3J2P6, 416.630.1666
King Kosher Pizza, Burekas & Falafel (D), 3774 Bathurst St Toronto Ontario M3H3M6
Marky’s Restaurant & Deli (M), 280 Wilson Ave Toronto Ontario M3H1S8, 416.638.1081
Milk ‘n Honey Restaurant (D), 3457 Bathurst St Toronto Ontario M6A2C5, 416.789.7651
Rachel’s Centre Cafe (D), Bathurst Jewish Centre 4588 Bathurst St Toronto Ontario M2R1W6
Second Cup (Baycrest) (D), 3560 Bathurst St ext 2871 Toronto Ontario M6A2E1
Second Cup (BJC) (D, 4588 Bathurst St Toronto Ontario M2R1W6, 416.636.1880

Uptown

Country Style Kosher Coffee (D), Winter’s College, York University 4700 Keele St Toronto Ontario
Tov-Li Pizza & Falafel Ltd (D), 5982 Bathurst St Toronto Ontario M2R1Z1, 416.650.9800

North

Cafe Sheli (D), 7700 Bathurst St Thornhill Ontario L4J7Y3, 905.762.0640
Cookoos Inc (M), 7241 Bathurst St Thornhill Ontario L4J3W1
Fine Touch Catering (M), 927 Clark Ave W Thornhill Ontario L4J8G6, 905.889.2690
Golden Chopsticks Chinese Food (M), 7000 Bathurst St Unit C-6 Thornhill Ontario L4J7L1, 905.760.2786
King David Pizza, Bourekas, Falafel (D), 531 Atkinson Ave Unit 3 Thornhill Ontario L4J8L7, 905.771.7077
Kosher King (M), 7000 Bathurst St Unit C1 Thornhill Ontario L4J7P2, 905.760.1118
Miami Grill (M), 441 Clark Ave W Thornhill Ontario L4J6W7, 905.709.0096
My Zaidy’s Pizza (D), 441 Clark Ave W Thornhill Ontario L4J6W8
Not Just Yogurt (D), 7117 Bathurst St Unit 109 Thornhill Ontario L4J2J6, 905.889.1598
Yehudale’s Falafel & Pizza (D), 7241 Bathurst St Thornhill Ontario L4J3W1, 905.889.1400

Karma Co-op

contact — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 22:06:31 +0000

Karma Co-op is a member-owned non-profit grocery store. Shopping at Karma is a friendly experience, without the Muzak, gimmickry or hard-sell tactics of supermarkets. You can hang up your coat, mind your child in the membership room, meet your neighbours who have similar interests and make a phone call. It’s our store. And nobody profits from it except the members.

What can you buy?

- Fresh fruit and vegetables, baked goods, dairy products and free-range eggs
- Bulk grains, flours, seeds, spreads, dried fruits and nuts
- Frozen foods,including organically raised meat
- Renett-free cheese
- Bulk grains, dried fruits & nuts
- Coffees and teas, coffee substitutes, herbal teas and fresh spices
- Canned and packaged foods
- Household and personal care items (dental and skin care products, supplements)
- Environment-friendly cleaning products

Interested in becoming a member? Only members can shop at Karma Co-op. But you can do a one-time trial shop to try us out before joining (payment in cash only). Join Karma

Karma Coop
739 Palmerston Avenue
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6G 2R3
(416) 534-1470
Hours: M: 11am-7pm; T,W,Th: 11am-9pm; F: 10am-9pm; Sa: 10am-6pm; Su: 11am-5pm

My Favorite Movie Theatre: Bloor Cinema

contact — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:05:55 +0000

Bloor Cinema rules. It is a real, traditional, old school movie theatre for true movie buffs – showing classic favorite movies. If you’ve never been to an old theater and want to experience what your parents or grandparents experienced, check out Bloor. Its wonderful sticky floors, movie classics as well as more obscure gems, cheap tickets, squeeky seats, more than 800 seats, true movie house smells, gummy worms… will just make you sigh. In a good way. What is NOT to like about this place!? Tell me.

The Bloor Cinema is a host for gobs of film festivals, movie premieres, special gala events, classic films and Hollywood blockbusters. They showcase a variety of perspectives from across Canada and around the world: independent films, fascinating stories, important documentaries and sometimes just wild, unbridled entertainment.

This historic landmark should be a must-see item on your list when visiting Toronto, whether you go see a movie or not. LOVE this place.

Browsing tonight’s listing, I noticed that Ghost World (with Thora Birch, Scarlett Johansson and Steve Buscemi) is playing. Don’t miss that excellent film!

Bloor Cinema
506 Bloor Street West,
Toronto ON M5S1Y2 Canada
(416) 516-2331

Kid Friendly Pizza Places

contact — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:06:58 +0000

Pizza Restaurants – Anyone who has a kid, or knows a kid for that matter, knows that kids like pizza. Rare is the moment when you meet a kid that hates pizza, so if you’re looking for a pizza place in Toronto, you’re in luck, because there are many really good ones in the city. Here are some suggestions:

Pizza Amato – 380 College Street , Toronto ON M5T1S6, (416) 972-6286

Pizza Banfi – 333B Lonsdale Road, Toronto, ON, M5P1R3, (416) 322-5231

Chico’s Pizza – 701 St. Clair Ave West, Toronto, ON, M6C 1B2, (416) 658-4000

Cora Pizza – 656A Spadina Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5S2H7, (416) 922-1188

Magic Oven – 270 Dupont Street, Toronto, ON, M5R1V7, (416) 928-1555 *Uses mostly organic ingredients and is very vegan/vegetarian/lactose-free friendly.

The Big Slice – 385 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON, M5B1S1, (416) 977-8451

Kismet Pizza – 1962 Eglinton Avenue West, York, ON, M6E2J9, (416) 782-0782

Massimo Pizza & Pasta – 302 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5T1R9, (416) 967-0527

Vesuvio Pizzeria & Spaghetti House – 3014 Dundas Street West , Toronto ON M6P1Z3, (416) 763-4191

Tips, Tools, Rebates to Live Green in Toronto

contact — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:06:23 +0000

Check out Live Green Toronto, a one-stop resource for living friendly and green in our favorite Canadian city. There you willl discover literally hundreds of extremely easy ways to contribute to a healthier, lovelier, greener planet. Get inspired. Get motivated. Get a rebate!

Live Green Toronto

Beating the Heat and Staying Cool in Toronto

contact — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:06:31 +0000

Summer’s in full swing and there’s only one thing to think about for the moment: staying cool. Here are some suggestions of avoiding over heating.

1. Go to Cherry Beach – Cherry Beach is a “blue flag” beach, meaning, it has been deemed safe and environmentally sound. It’s respected and recognized international eco-label. Find this cool lakeside park at the foot of Cherry Street just south of Unwin Avenue. More info.

2. Go swimming – There are many pools around the greater metropolitan Toronto area. Check them out here.

3. Eat the best gelato in Toronto. ‘nuf said.

4. Go to the movies – movie theatres are cool as cucumbers.

5. Water Slide! – at the Delta Chelsea. You have to be a guest at the hotel, however.

6. Go to the mall – There’s always Yorkdale but you have lots o choices.

7. Use Common Sense in the heat – Wear light, loose, comfortable cotton clothes; keep yourself hydrated (drink lots of water and natural fruit juices and cold herb teas); avoid overextenuating activity that can cause heat stroke; never leave children or pets inside a car; wear hats and stay in the shade if outdoors; eat light meals.

The Best Gelateria in Toronto: Dolce Gelato

contact — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:07:34 +0000

Based on the many Torontonians I’ve asked, Dolce Gelato seems to come up ahead by leaps and bounds above most other gelato places. Perhaps not THE best; but definitely excellent. My survey is not official and the results are obviously centered on my friends, family and their friends’ opinions but hey, if more than a few people recommend this place, it’s gotta be pretty good, heh?

Dolce Gelato
697 College St. (Little Italy)
Toronto, ON M6G 1C2 Canada
Telephone: 416-915-0756

Shopping in Toronto: Yorkdale Mall

contact — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 22:05:55 +0000

A recent $60-million expansion accounted for an additional 40 new stores to Yorkdale, and the fashion centre now offers its shoppers an even more exciting array of retailers, including the Apple Store, H&M, Lululemon, Mango, Sephora and Zara. More than 180,000 square feet of shopping space was added in the redevelopment, and the new section features a soaring 60-foot-high glass atrium.

Go crazy shopping at more than 240 shops. I am a huge fan of H&M and so you’ll see me spend most of my time there, and the Apple Store too.

Yorkdale Mall
1 Yorkdale Road, Suite 500
Toronto, Ontario M6A 3A1
Canada
Hours
Monday – Friday: 10am – 9pm
Saturday: 9:30am – 9pm
Sunday: 11am – 6pm
Note: Monday August 4th, 2008 – Civic Day – The Mall is open 10am to 6pm.

Yorkdale Shopping Centre is closed:

Friday March – Good Friday
Sunday March/April – Easter Sunday
May – Victoria Day
July – Canada Day
September – Labour Day
October – Thanksgiving Day
December 25 – Christmas Day
January 1 – New Years Day

Heritage Toronto Walks

contact — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 22:05:47 +0000

Discover Toronto’s rich and fascinating past by taking a walk. Hey, not only will you get that much needed exercise, you’ll be adding even more knowledge to that noggin of yours.

Today, the walk is through Bâby Point to learn about 10,000 Years of History, but the walk won’t take 10,000 years, rest assured. Explore some of Toronto’s First Nations and French history with this tour of the area named after the estate of James Bâby, an early French settler. Hear about the Seneca village of Teiaiagon, the Carrying Place trail and the first French fort in what is now Toronto. Tours will be offered in English and French. It all begins at 1:30pm today so if you can make it, you won’t regret the last minute plans. The walk will last approximately 2 to 2.5 hours. Meet at the southwest corner of Jane St and Bâby Point Rd/Annette St. You will end your walk near Old Mill Subway Station.

July 26 – 1:00pm – 3pm – you’ll find yourself in the footsteps of black Victorians. In the 19th century, Toronto was a centre of antislavery organizations and Black cultural and political activities. Hear about the men and women of the community as we visit some of the sites known to them. Meet at South St. Lawrence Market, 95 Front St E at Jarvis. End at Mackenzie House, 82 Bond St, S of Dundas St.

August through October

AUGUST
Lambton Mills (Aug 9 2008 – 1:30pm)
African-Canadian Women in Early Toronto (Aug 10 2008 – 1:00pm)
Cabbagetown People: Discoveries of Remarkable Lives (Aug 16 2008 – 1:30pm)
The Royal Alexandra Theatre and Its Neighbourhood (Aug 17 2008 – 11:00am)
Faces on Places: Gargoyles and Other Architectural Ornament (Aug 23 2008 – 1:30pm)
Edwards Gardens and Wilket Creek (Aug 24 2008 – 1:30pm)
Colourful Corktown (Aug 24 2008 – 1:30pm)

SEPTEMBER
Spadina: The Story of an Estate & Its Neighbourhood (Sep 6 2008 – 1:30pm)
The Guild Inn Gardens (Sep 7 2008 – 1:30pm)
Weston Side Story – All Around the Town (Sep 13 2008 – 1:00pm)
Yorkville (Sep 14 2008 – 11:00am)
Imagining Toronto’s Past – CANCELLED (Sep 20 2008 – 1:30pm)
Wellington Place Neighbourhood (Sep 21 2008 – 1:30pm)
Historic Moore Park (Sep 27 2008 – 1:30pm)
Fort York: 200 Years of Lakefront Development (Sep 28 2008 – 1:30pm)

OCTOBER
Exhibition Place: Ghostly Secrets Revealed (Oct 3 2008 – 7:00pm)
Swansea: The Country in the City (Oct 4 2008 – 1:30pm)
Thomson Pioneer Settlement (Oct 5 2008 – 1:30pm)

More information about Heritage Toronto Walks

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Featured City: Toronto

contact — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 22:06:31 +0000

Make sure to head over to concierge where they’ve featured our favorite Canadian city of Toronto. Here’s what they say about Toronto in a nutshell:

“* It’s a chowhound’s paradise, with everything from Nigerian to Laotian, Moroccan to Azerbaijani food

* An architectural renaissance is transforming the skyline with additions by Daniel Libeskind and native son Frank Gehry

* Toronto has become one of the most ethnically diverse cities on the continent, with lively neighborhoods, festivals, and restaurants to match

* The Eaton Centre. It’s a big suburban-style mall with all the wrong kinds of shopping

* When to go to Toronto: May, June, September, October”

More here

Arsenic in the Pear Juice

contact — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 22:06:52 +0000

From the canadian press:

“OTTAWA — The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Loblaws Inc. have warned the public not to consume certain pear juices for toddlers that may be contaminated with arsenic.

The CFIA says in a news release that there have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of the products.

The two products listed in the warning are the one-litre President’s Choice Organics Pear Juice from Concentrate for Toddlers and the 128-millilitre Beech Nut Pear Juice from concentrate with Vitamin C added.

The products have been distributed across the country, the agency says.

Arsenic is a toxic heavy metal that may be carcinogenic and may pose developmental risks to children.

Loblaws Inc, has voluntarily recalled the affected products and the CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall, the release says.”

Canada Blooms Starts Today / The Toronto Flower & Garden Festival, March 12 – 16, 2008

contact — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 22:12:32 +0000

Canada Blooms has grown to be one of Toronto’s most successful events, drawing volunteers, visitors and participants from all across Canada and the United States. Already a popular destination with tour groups, gardeners from Bermuda, France, the United Kingdom and the United States now rank Canada Blooms as being one of the top five shows of its kind.

Canada Blooms
Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC)
South Building
222 Bremner Blvd.
Toronto, Ontario

Thompson Hotel Toronto With Pool and Ice Rink! Coming Soon

contact — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 22:07:04 +0000

Set to open during the summer of 2009, the Thompson Hotel will feature a rooftop pool and bar with amazing views of Lake Ontario, Fort York and the CN Tower, all completely unobstructed; 102 rooms and 340 residential units; 42-inch plasma TVs, private 40-seat screening rooms; an outdoor skating rink with an rink-side lounge!

Thompson Hotel Toronto
550 Wellington Street W
Toronto ON M5V Canada
Telephone: 212.204.5010 (for info)

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Toronto Teen Wins $1.4 Million

contact — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 22:06:18 +0000

WATERLOO, Ontario, Feb. 4 (UPI) — An 18-year-old Canadian man with just six months background playing poker has earned $1.4 million in a German tournament.

Mike McDonald of Waterloo, Ontario, northwest of Toronto, is too young to legally play in most Canadian provinces and the United States, but since turning 18 in September, has racked up some impressive wins in London, Prague, Macau and Aruba, his mother told the Waterloo Record.

Saturday night was the biggest win for McDonald, who saw through repeated bluffs by German poker veteran Andreas Gulunay in Dortmund, the report said.

Speaking to the newspaper by telephone, the teenager said he’ll continue playing until he’s had enough.

“I see these guys who are playing 60 hours a week when they’re old, and none of them seem very happy,” McDonald said. “I don’t want to make this my long-term career … I might like to go back to school and get a real job.”

He said he’d also like to buy a used car, although he hasn’t got his drivers license yet, the report said.

More Cupcakes!

contact — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 22:08:10 +0000

Yes more yummy, yummy cupcakes!

About Flour Girls (cute fun play on words all over the place!) – from their site:
flourgirls is an old-fashioned bakeshop with a stylish twist. It all began with the caring, giving spirit of owner Susy and her team of helpers. Their fun-loving nature, zest for life, and passion for all things sweet (not to mention talent!) are the main ingredients behind flourgirls. Using only the finest and freshest products, all of flourgirls’ melt-in-your-mouth cupcakes, beautifully decorated cookies, ultra-decadent brownies, delectable cakes, lovely loaves and more are made from scratch with a huge helping of love.
Everything is tailored to your occasion, whether simple and elegant or wild and whimsical, and made to order just for you—a personal touch that’s hard to come by these days.

At flourgirls, we offer plenty of delectable ways to mark special occasions, reward jobs well done and end meals memorably. So for your next dinner party, birthday celebration, shower or sugar craving, remember flourgirls can provide that finishing touch.
Life is sweet…especially with extra smiles on top!

Cupcake Flavors
Lemon Zinger: Vanilla cupcake base topped with lemony buttercream
Curious George: Chocolate buttermilk cupcake base topped with banana buttercream
A touch of Pink: Vanilla cupcake base topped with raspberry buttercream
Nutella Dreams: Vanilla cupcake base topped with hazelnut buttercream
Mocha Madness: Chocolate or vanilla cupcake base (your choice) topped with mocha buttercream
Canadiana: Vanilla cupcake base topped with maple buttercream
Orange You Glad: Chocolate buttermilk cupcake base topped with orange-chocolate buttercream
Chocolate Goodness: Vanilla cupcake base topped with chocolate buttercream
Chocolate Overload: Chocolate buttermilk base topped with chocolate buttercream
Ms.Plain Jane: Vanilla cupcake base topped with vanilla buttercream
Going Coconuts *: Moist coconut cake topped with cream cheese frosting and sprinkled with coconut
The Boston Cream Cupcake *: Vanilla cupcake base with custard filling and topped with chocolate buttercream
Pass the Carrots Please *: Carrot cake base topped with whipped cream-cheese frosting

Flourgirls
14 Mill Street Unit 103
Milton, ON Canada
6 cupcakes sell for $13.65 (tax included)

Related: Cupcakes in Toronto

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What to do When it’s Cold Outside: Bowling

contact — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 23:05:56 +0000

Not the most glam activity but it’s a fun thing to do when you need to get out of the house but not go outside in the wicked cold. Grab some friends or your kids and head out to Danforth Bowl. Take the subway and exit at Coxwell.

Danforth Bowl
1554 Danforth Avenue, Toronto
Northwest corner of Danforth at Coxwell, across the street from Coxwell Subway Station.
Tel: 416.463.3000

Tasty Kosher Falafels and Pizza in Toronto – King David

contact — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 23:06:01 +0000

David Hazan, the owner of Kind David’s says that the secret to his success is his ability to bring the flavor of Middle Eastern food to the consumer making sure that all of his food is fresh, visually appealing and as tasty as it looks.

To aliven your taste buds try a falafel or hummus and techina. A falafel, which is ground chick peas fried to the size of small meat balls and stuffed into pita bread with all kinds of different salads and toppings is not only a full meal but a true food gourmet’s healthy experience. There is also humus mixed with techina which when eaten with pita bread makes you feel as if you are on a food expedition traveling through an exotic country.

Believe it or not the kosher establishment is famous for it kosher pizzas, too. There are a large variety of pizzas with various combinations of crusts and toppings. There is not only your standard double cheese pizza but also vegetarian and pepperoni pizza. There is also a wonderful pizza with a sesame seed crust.

2 Locations in Toronto:

King David Bakery Cafe Pizzaria and Falafel
3020 Bathurst St.(South of Lawrence Ave.)
Tel: 416.781.1326

241 Wilmington St.(Dufferin St. & Finch St.)
Tel: 416.636.3456

Cupcakes in Toronto!

contact — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 23:06:12 +0000

Cupcakes are not the trend right now. They’ve ALWAYS been in fashion! But until recently, cupcake shops were hard to find. Thankfully, more and more are popping up here and there in great cities across North America. Toronto is no exception. The Cupcake Shoppe, situated in a bustling area of Toronto, offers cupcake lovers a total of 17 beautiful, nut-free flavors, with nine of their yummilicious flavors available in-store every single day. YAY. All cupcakes come with cute, unusual names, chosen by the staff, and your favorites will be easy to remember. All the cupcakes, including (my favorite) Yonge ’n’ Eligible featuring vanilla buttercream on a vanilla or chocolate cake, the chocolate buttercream on chocolate cake James Brown, and their marble Frost Me cupcake topped with vanilla frosting – changes color seasonally, and are baked daily from the freshest ingredients. Additionally, The Cupcake Shoppe offers custom cupcakes, mini cupcakes and cakes illustrated by hand to suit your special celebrations. Toronto’s first cupcake bakery, the Cupcake Shoppe knows how much fun a cupcake can be.

The Cupcake Shoppe
2417 Yonge Street
Tel. 416.322.6648
2 blocks north of Eglinton Avenue,
on the east side of Yonge.

Hours
Monday to Friday 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
Saturday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Sunday 11:00 am to 6:00 pm

Sugar Mountain

contact — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 23:13:38 +0000

Sugarholics, rejoice! Especially those of you who like sweet retrolicious candy goodness.

Sugar Mountain is a chain of specialty candy and confectionery stores, which got its humble start in 1992 as an open-air booth in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The original booth quickly outgrew demand and the first Sugar Mountain retail store opened its doors on Richmond Street West in late 1995.

From the first sight of the bright purple interior, to the multiplicity of confectionery and novelty items, Sugar Mountain stores capitalize on a youthful notion that is created via a carefully selected product offering, within a nostalgic environment that is reminiscent of one’s childhood. Specializing in retro and nostalgic confectionery, it is not uncommon that Sugar Mountain customers exclaim, “Wow, I haven’t seen this in years”. Sugar Mountain has become a nationally recognized institution and has established itself as the leading Canadian retailer of imported and nostalgic confectionery.

2 Locations in Toronto!

Sugar Mountain
2299 Yonge Street (at Eglinton)
M4P 2C3 Toronto Canada
Tel: 416.486.9321

320 Richmond Street West
M5V 1X2 Torotno Canada
Tel: 416.204.9544

Free WiFi at These Toronto Public Libraries

contact — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 23:08:18 +0000

When you’re traveling, the last place you’d think you’d visit would be the public library, but don’t knock it! You can find travel books and magazines there to peruse (and be up to date with current news by reading newspapers) but it’s also a great place to catch up on email or do work online, while you’re in our great Canadian city. So if your accommodations don’t, by chance, have any internet accessibility, here are the public library locations in Toronto where you can access the internet for free via Wifi:

Agincourt – 155 Bonis Ave. Toronto, Ont. M1T 3W6, T: 416-396-8943
Albion – 1515 Albion Rd.Toronto, ON,M9V 1B2 T:416-394-5170
Albert Campbell – 496 Birchmount Rd. Toronto, ON, M1K 1N8 T: 416-396-8890
Bridlewood – 2900 Warden Ave. Toronto, ON, M1W 2S8 T: 416-396-8960
Centennial – 578 Finch Ave. West Toronto, ON, M2R 1N7 T: 416-395-5490
Eatonville – 430 Burnhamthorpe Rd. Toronto, ON, M9B 2B1 T: 416-394-5270
Flemingdon Park – 29 St. Dennis Dr. Toronto, ON, M3C 3J3 T: 416-395-5820
Gerrard/Ashdale – 29 St. Dennis Dr. Toronto, ON, M3C 3J3 T: 416-395-5820
Lillian H. Smith – 239 College St. Toronto, ON, M5T 1R5 T: 416-393-7746
Mimico – 47 Station Rd. Toronto, ON, M8V 2R1 T: 416-394-5330
Morningside – 4279 Lawrence Ave. East Toronto, ON, M1E 2S8 T: 416-396-8881
North York Central Library – 5120 Yonge St. Toronto, ON, M2N 5N9 T: 416-395-5535
Parkdale – 1303 Queen St. West Toronto, ON, M6K 1L6 T: 416-393-7686
Parliament – 269 Gerrard St. East Toronto, ON, M5A 2G3 T: 416-393-7663
Richview – 1806 Islington Avenue Toronto, ON, M9P 3N3 T: 416-394-5120
Riverdale – 370 Broadview Ave. Toronto ON M4K 2M8 T: 416-393-7720
Toronto Reference Library – 789 Yonge St. Toronto, ON, M4W 2G8 T: 416-395-5577
Woodside Square – 1571 Sandhurst Circle Toronto, ON, M1V 1V2T: 416-396-8979
York Woods – 1785 Finch Ave. West Toronto, ON, M3N 1M6 T: 416-395-5980

For more information

The Power Plant

contact — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 23:07:46 +0000

Toronto’s contemporary art museum, The Power Plant, is worth a visit and will make for a wonderful day spent perusing modern art. The museum itself has 3 major exhibition galleries and smaller, adjacent indoor and outdoor sites which lend themselves to virtually any presentation circumstance.

The interior of The Power Plant is made up of 3 major gallery spaces. The 2 largest, named the Royal LePage and J. S. McLean Galleries, are designed for maximum flexibility and for the diversity of contemporary art. The ceilings are nine meters high they have an adjustable grid lighting system. The third, named the Canadian Tire Gallery features three-meter high ceilings. In addition to the galleries, which share approximately 650 square meters, the Fleck Clerestory, a central corridor with a glassed roof, lobby and exterior spaces are also designated for exhibition purposes.

The Power Plant is wheelchair accessible. An elevator connects the visitor to both levels.

The Power Plant
231 Queens Quay West
Toronto, Ontario,
Canada M5J 2G8
T: 416.973.4949

Regular Hours

Tuesday to Sunday | 12-6 pm
Wednesday | 12-8 pm
Closed Monday
Open Holiday Monday | 12-6 pm

HOLIDAY 2007-08 HOURS

24, 25, 26, 31 December 2007 | Closed
01 January 2008 | Closed

ADMISSION
$5 | Adults
$3 | Seniors & Students

Toronto Zoo

contact — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 23:05:51 +0000

You didn’t know? Yes, Toronto has a zoo. It’s called the Toronto Zoo. It’s a perfect day outing with the kids.

The Toronto Zoo is a zoo located in the north eastern part of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It opened in 1974 as the Metropolitan Toronto Zoo and is owned by the City of Toronto; the word ‘Metropolitan’ was dropped from its name when the cities of the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto were merged to form the present-day City of Toronto. The zoo is located near the Rouge River. It is one of the day use areas of Rouge Park, one of Canada’s largest urban natural environment parks, and is open every day except Christmas day.

Encompassing 287 hectares (710 acres), the Toronto Zoo is one of the largest in the world. It is divided into four zoogeographic regions with numerous indoor pavilions and outdoor exhibits. The zoo is home to over 5,000 animals representing over 460 distinct species.

The zoo is accessible from Highway 401 (2 km away), or by TTC buses from Don Mills or Kennedy station. There was at one point a proposed extension of the TTC’s Scarborough Rapid Transit line, which might have stopped at the zoo, but the plan was dropped because of the low demand and the high cost of running the Scarborough RT’s linear induction motor-driven vehicles.

The evolution of the Toronto Zoo begins back in 1888 with the opening of the Riverdale Zoo. The old zoo was converted into an urban farm called Riverdale Farm. The Riverdale Zoo was a typical example of a zoo during this time, with animals displayed as curiosities in dark cages and cramped enclosures.

It wasn’t until 1963 when a private citizen’s brief to build a new zoo was introduced. In 1966, eleven citizens met at City Hall to form the Metropolitan Toronto Zoological Society. In 1967, the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto approved the Rouge Park site in Scarborough for a new zoo. The following year, a Feasibility Study on the new zoo was submitted by architect Raymond Moriyama. Construction of the new zoo began in 1970. On August 15, 1974 the Metropolitan Toronto Zoo was open to the public. The zoo increased from 3 to nearly 300 hectares and is now one of the largest in the world. The Zoo introduced some innovative designs to enhance not only the public’s viewing experience but also the animals’ living comfort. Animals were displayed in naturalized environments and grouped according to their zoogeographic region.

In 1976, the Zoo opened the Canadian Domain Ride, a monorail that travelled into the Zoo’s Canadian Domain area, located in the Rouge Valley. The ride ceased operations in July 1994 after an accident. The monorail has since been dismantled and replaced by the Zoomobile, a tractor-pulled ride.

Between 1980 and 1983 several new exhibits were added to the Zoo, including Gaur, a children’s zoo (Littlefootland), a new indoor habitat for African Elephants and Snow Leopards.

In 1985, Qinn Qinn and Shayan – a pair of Giant Pandas, on loan for three months from the Peoples’ Republic of China were displayed at the Zoo. The Zoo broke all previous attendance records, as thousands of visitors came to see these rare animals. Over the years, the Zoo has presented other rare or unusual animals, including: Golden Monkeys (1986), Koalas (1988 and again in 1996), and White Lions (1995).

In 1998, with the amalgamation of the Metro Municipalities, the Zoo was officially renamed the Toronto Zoo. That same year, the Zoo opened the Africa Savannah exhibit, the largest expansion in its history. In 2000, the Zoo opened the Gorilla Rainforest, the world’s largest indoor habitat for Lowland Gorillas. The zoo’s ‘Splash Island’, an educationally-themed waterpark, opened in 2002. This was followed by an open-air theatre in 2003 and the ‘Kid’s Zoo’ in 2004 featuring exhibits geared to guests 10 and under.

The SARS crisis in 2003 had a devastating effect on the tourism industry in Toronto, including the Zoo. The Zoo’s attendance is slowly recovering from the after-effects of these events.

On August 21, 2007, the Tundra Exhibit was closed for expansion and renovations.

[photo and info from wikipedia]

Toronto Pizza Restaurants!

contact — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 23:06:36 +0000

Pizza lovers, rejoice! If you’re looking for pizza, pizza and more pizza, here’s the place where you will almost never run out of ideas! Eat Now

Toronto Trivia – The Islands

contact — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 23:08:40 +0000

Did you know that the beautiful Toronto Islands protect Toronto’s natural harbour? Did you even KNOW that Toronto HAD any islands? The islands are comprised of park areas, nature reserves and protected wetlands, maintained by the Toronto’s Parks Department.

Private vehicles are not permitted on the Toronto islands.

[photo courtesy of wikipedia]

10 Free Things to Do in Toronto

contact — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 23:08:08 +0000

1. Allan Gardens – In the heart of downtown Toronto, you’ll be able to escape to wonderful Victorian Greenhouses, which will remind you that greenery DOES exist in a big city. Find some photos of Allan Gardens here.

2. Beaches – When thinking about Toronto, “beach” probably doesn’t come to mind but yes! There’s an area that can fill all your beach dreams albeit lake beach dreams.

3. Chinatown – How can you not visit the Chinatown? Grab a taste of lacquered duck or take in all the aromas of a place far, far away, but with the convenience of being right here in one of Canada’s most visited cities.

4. Don Valley – Nature lovers and active travelers will get a kick out of the bike paths, hiking trails and climbing areas of Don Valley.

5. Harbourfront Centre – Especially lively during the summer, the waterfront area if filled with live music and entertainment, festivals, kids camps and other activities that will keep you and your family busy and smiling.

6. Kensington Market – You’ll find this colorful of corner fruit stands, thrift stores and pubs, a fascinating meeting place for some of Toronto’s most interesting people. Every month the neighborhood blocks off the narrow streets for a Sunday afternoon festival celebrating the beauty of diversity with live music, dancing and food!

7. Riverdale Farm – Smack dab in the middle of Toronto’s Cabbagetown in the downtown area, is a 7.5 acre farm with wooded paths, flowered vegetable gardens and a variety of animals, including turkeys, ducks, geese, cows, horses, donkey, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens and rabbits. This is a great free opportunity to show your kids that chickens aren’t shaped like nuggets.

8. St. Lawrence Market and Market Gallery – Wander and visit, or just sit and people watch. The gallery space hosts changing art installations and exhibits of paintings, artifacts and furnishings that visually describe the history and culture of the area. Admission to the market and the gallery are free.

9. Toronto Islands – Check out the trails, picnic areas and beaches of the Toronto Islands. Explore the Gibraltar Point Lighthouse, or bask in the sun on the clothing-optional beach on the west side of Hanlan’s Point. For the sportif, baseball diamonds, volleyball courts and wading pools welcome you with open arms (if they had any).

10. Wednesdays at the Art Gallery of Ontario - 36,000 works of art in its collection, the AGO is gallery worth visiting. Wednesday evenings are free of charge between six and nine o’clock pm.

Frommer’s Toronto 2009

contact — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 23:07:37 +0000

Pre-order Frommer’s Toronto 2009 and get a price guarantee before the price goes up.

Order now and if the Amazon.com price decreases between your order time and the end of the day of the release date, you’ll receive the lowest price.

That is a deal, isn’t it?

Order Frommer’s Toronto 2009 now

A City Renewal Project

contact — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 23:06:49 +0000

From jaunted:

“Canadian street artists Fauxreel and Specter have renovated an old warehouse into a dilapidated fake urban wonderland.

Called “A City Renewal Project,” it’s a secret world hidden behind a fake storefront in Toronto. Inside the seedy store is what looks like the workspace of an artist, filled with wood, construction materials and lots of Bell telephones. A back door will transport you into a long warehouse space that looks like an indoor facsimile of a real city street. Life-size black and white reproductions of closed and derelict stores line the walls of the warehouse. Further adding to the reality of the installation are real bus shelters, billboards, garbage cans–and real garbage. And of course, everything is covered in graffiti and tags.

The artists fear that the practice of tearing down old buildings and putting up brand-new condos is destroying their city’s cultural history. Even the building the show is housed in is scheduled to be knocked down to make way for new apartments. A City Renewal Project is up until November 23, at inconsistent hours, so check the website for details. “ [source]

Okonomiyaki in Toronto

contact — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 23:08:12 +0000

Okonomiyaki in Japanese means grilled or baked as you like it. It’s a home style, delicious and savory pancake of sorts from Japan. Some people call it a Japanese pizza, but it really is more like a pancake filled with all kinds of veggies, seafood, meat, fish shavings, seaweed and whatever you want on or in it.

Generally speaking, it is a basic batter using a fish broth rather than water, eggs and rice flour or wheat flour. Added to that are thin strips of cabbage, green onions, beni shouga (pickled ginger), thinly sliced pork belly, shrimp, chicken or whatever meat you want. Topping it would be an otafuku sauce (like a tonkatsu or thick steak sauce) or mayo, katsuobushi (shaved dried bonito) and aonori (seaweed). The famous Hiroshima okonomiyaki features yakisoba noodles on top with an egg.

Not only is it yummilicious, it’s nutritious so don’t worry about your waistline or the scary side of food. In any case, most Japanese food is pretty healthful, which is likely why the Japanese live the longest. At Okonomi House in Toronto, which is a very authentic Japanese restaurant, you will have a singular authentic Japanese dining experience. With reasonable prices, make sure to orde thirst quenching, tasty Asahi or Sapporo beers…

Okonomi House
23 Charles St W (Yorkville)
Toronto, ON M4Y Canada
Telephone: 416.925.6176