We’re giving away 13 gift certificates throughout December to the OTT biz of your choice! Here’s how to enter:

1. Visit oldtowntoronto.ca
2. Spot 5 Barksy doodles hidden amongst our pages
3. Fill out the I FOUND BARKSY form and tell us where you found Barksy.

PRIZES
We’re giving away THREE (3) gift certificates EACH WEEK to the Old Town Toronto Business of your choice!
$300 gift certificate to the FIRST person to find 5 Barksy doodles.
$200 gift certificate for the SECOND person to find 5 Barksy doodles.
$100 gift certificate to be randomly awarded to anyone who entered that spotted 5 Barksy doodles.

GRAND PRIZE: a $500 gift certificate to one randomly chosen winner who has successfully spotted Barksy EACH WEEK.

CONTEST SCHEDULE:

Winners will be announced EACH MONDAY thorughout December, with the grand prize winner announced on New Years Eve, December 31st.

Contest Rules:

• 1 entry per participant per week
• Enter by 11:59pm the last day Sunday of each week
• Contest resets each Monday at 12pm
• Barksy’s doodles will move EACH WEEK to new locations on oldtowntoronto.ca

THE FINE PRINT (aka the legal stuff)
Prizes are fully funded by the Old Town Toronto Business Improvement Area. Prizes include one $500 gift certificate, four $300 gift certificates, four $200 gift certificates, and four $100 gift certificates. Winners will be contacted via email and will have 48 hours to respond. Winners must provide a Toronto/GTA mailing address to qualify. Winners will be asked to provide the names of two local businesses they wish to receive a certificate card/credit note from which will be provided based on the availability of the business (ie, if your first choice does not offer gift certificates your second choice will be selected). Please allow up to 30 days to receive your gift certificate either by Canada Post or email. Selected businesses must operate out of a commercial building within the boundaries of Old Town Toronto. Find our boundary map link here. Winners who need help choosing a business to receive their gift card can visit our business directory.

The post Where is Barksy? appeared first on Old Town Toronto.

And oh boy, we were BLOWN AWAY by the amount of entries we got! Thank you all so much for your amazing photos and clear passion for the amazing businesses we have here in Old Town Toronto! For the list of winners, check out our Instagram announcement and check out our blog post on it here.

Even though the contest is over, that doesn’t mean we’re not still gawking at the fab photos folks post on our official #oldtowntoronto hashtag every day. We made a list of some of our favourites for you to check out, and maybe get inspired to do your own OTT photo shoot.

Flatiron’s Christmas Market (@giftshopstuff), the year-round gift shop for all things fun and festive, is feeling a bit of Pride from this Peacock-ish merman! 

Things are looking up for noted city pup and fellow sleep and treat enthusiast Ouzo the Beagle (@ouzo_the_beagle), spotted here at George Street Diner! We wonder, could he possibly be looking at a pack of Irish link sausages sold there?

It’s warmer outside now and that means that Canada’s favourite cocktail, the Caesar, is gracing patios all over the city. And while some places attach some fun foods to the drink, travel and foodie Victor Leung (@mingsingboy) has encountered the King of All Caesars at Score on King!

Late last month beloved Toronto toy poodle Mochi (@mochi.toyboy) turned ONE! To celebrate he had a party with his very close personal friends at St. James Park and “Pup Central” Berczy Park, where goodie bags were given out and many delicious treats were had. And most importantly, look at his little bowtie and birthday hat! Happy Birthday, Mochi!  

The Chesterfield Shop on King (@chesterfield.kingeast) has got us thinking about changing our living rooms with the arrival of the exclusive “Tailor Bench” collection. An Ontario-made, completely customizable, bench-built contemporary sofa would really tie the room together and make for some quality sitting! 

OTT’s resident professional dog walker and cat sitter @oldtowntorontodogwalker offers some good tips on brushing cats with the help of the PURRfectly gorgeous cat Felicity! 

The post Do it for the GRAM- Fab Photos on #oldtowntoronto appeared first on Old Town Toronto.

HOLIDAY LIGHTS IN BERCZY PARK

Come enjoy a whimsical holiday light display perfect for an Insta-worthy memorable experience alongside our famous Dog Fountain.

Snap a pic with BARKSY, win big!

And for a limited time only: take a photo with #Barksy, upload and tag + mention #oldtowntoronto @oldtowntoronto for your chance to win a $100 gift card to the OTT business of your choice!

The post Holiday Lights of Old Town Toronto appeared first on Old Town Toronto.

Hey, it’s okay! It happens to all of us and with so many stores and services out there, it’s tough to figure out what the perfect gift might be for any person in your life. But luckily, Old Town Toronto has your back with a few ideas for some thoughtful, stylish, and even tasty gifts! 

Food

Nothing is quite as thoughtful as a lovely food basket with a bunch of fantastic goodies a loved one can enjoy over the holidays. And when it comes to food-filled gift baskets, the folks at George Street Diner don’t do things halfway! Along with their regular Irish breakfast and gift hampers, they have some wonderful Father Ted-themed boxes that include the Father Ted Basket, which is a lovely Irish breakfast set, and the monstrous Father Jack Basket which includes a grand selection of all two boxes plus two cans of Guinness and a bottle each of Bailey’s, Jameson, and some bubbly. Want to stick to just snacking? They have a box for that too!

And for something on the fancy side, Terroni is back once again with brilliantly curated holiday gift boxes featuring the artisanal foods of Terroni, Sud Forno, Spaccio and the best selling handpicked products from La Bottega di Terroni. From a simple Panettone Artigianale and Peperoncini Piccanti to boxes filled with Terroni’s most beloved staples and delicious snacks for your own party, you’ll be sure to find some amazing high quality nibbles for the food lover in your life.

Health

While winter is usually the time for hibernating, keeping active and even wanting to push yourself to be more active can be a great thing! Do you have a friend who dreams of running a marathon? The Running Room offers online coaching programs for the speedster in your life, with 10-12 week options along with 18-week programs that fit with your schedule! 

Or if your loved one would rather be more flexible and one with the universe, our friends at BeHot Yoga are offering an intro package for new clients of five classes for $75! Such a gift will get them on the hot yoga path in no time!

Pets

If we’ve learned anything from our previous posts on stylish and fashion-forward dogs of Old Town Toronto, it’s that pets are especially adorable when they’re wearing something nice. Even the cutest puppy can be even cuter by a well-thought-out colour of leash. So with that Pet Valu on Front and Princess is definitely the place to get your pooch looking good. From lovely collars and matching sets to colourful leashes and seasonal sweaters, they’ve got it all.

But goodness, what about the most important thing for your pet?? Of course I mean TREATS and FOOD. Global Pet Foods is one of our favourite spots, with a wide variety of excellent quality foods and tasty treats that will make your pet feel as loved as they are. 

Shared Activities

The past two years have really brought in a lot of perspective for us and have allowed us to really treasure the time we have with the people that mean a lot to us. So while gift baskets and wrapped presents are wonderful, sometimes the joy of a shared experience can be an incredible gift on its own. 

Luckily, Old Town Toronto isn’t short on things to do! You can enroll in couples cooking classes at Cirillo’s Academy or deepen your appreciation of food with a George Brown course. Have a bestie spa day at 6ix Tips Nails & Spa. You can have your minds blown away by entering the Museum of Illusions on Front Street or take in some culture by catching one of the breathtaking art exhibitions at Feheley Fine Arts. And if you’d simply like to take in a show, the Canadian Opera Company and the Canadian Stage are both in for an exciting 2022 season.

Gift Cards

Hey, no judgments, it can be hard figuring out what to get someone and if you’re feeling unsure it’s good to know that there are reliable options out there like gift cards. 

Gift cards are the perfect, most frequently available option if you want to give the gift of some of the best Old Town Toronto experiences. Want to treat them to a high-class dinner? Mercatto has a gift card for dine-in or online options. Are they lovers of good local beer? C’est What has virtual gift cards on their site! Or perhaps you’d like them to relax a bit? Bahn Thai Spa has prepaid cash cards that can go towards any service. 

The post The Ultimate Old Town Toronto Holiday Gift Guide appeared first on Old Town Toronto.

Ahem. Sorry about that. With Halloween coming so soon, we can’t help but get in the “spirit” of our favourite spooky day. In fact, we’ve been watching some classic horror movies to get in some pre-scares before the big day! But watching all those terrifying and monstrous creatures in the movies had us wondering: what would they do on their day off? Being a horrific monster is all well and good, but they must want a break from scaring folks and take a little me-time, right?

Thankfully, Old Town Toronto is the place to be for both monsters and humans and we have a few ideas about what some of the more famous movie monsters would do if they were in town!  

The Cenobites

Ah, the Cenobites, the primary figures in the Hellraiser series of films. Once human but now demonic beings, their sole purpose is to explore the very limits of pleasure. Sometimes they take it in a bit of a weird direction like in the movies, but we here at OTT can’t wait to show them such beautiful sights like the incredible salads at AAamazing Salad! Knowing that the Cenobite leader Pinhead doesn’t mind a bit of heat, we think he’ll love the Rainbow Wasabi bowl, which features yogurt wasabi & sriracha sauce for a nice spicy bite.

And for a dessert that transcends pleasure they’d have to pick up a Spooky Sweet Platter from Edible Arrangements, that features white chocolate-dipped pineapple cakes, semisweet chocolate-dipped strawberries, a bundle of plump grapes and more to indulge the senses! 

Chucky

Now, is Chucky a doll possessed by the soul of a horrible serial killer? Yes. Is he and the rest of the films in the Child’s Play series responsible for the person writing this post developing a lifelong fear of dolls? Well it was him and the Puppetmaster movies, but yes. HOWEVER! Credit where credit is due, he’s also a family man (see Bride of Chucky and Seed of Chucky) and looks out for the kids that cross his path, most recently young Jake in the television series simply titled Chucky. 

As the show is filmed in Toronto and they’re in town, we’d like to think the evil doll’s paternal instinct would kick in and he’d take Jake to Toronto’s First Post Office to learn a bit about the importance of the post office in the developing city and how Toronto grew to the metropolis it is now. They might also stop by the gift shop to peruse the Post Office’s Spooky Season collection!

And to cap off the day Chucky would probably go to The Works Gourmet Burger Bistro and treat Jake to a Hipster Burger (Caramelized onions, avocado & havarti cheese) and a “Shake What Your Brownie Gave Ya” milkshake for takeout so he can enjoy it while admiring the view of Berczy Park. And while Jake’s eating, Chucky will probably have to take care of something and will be right back.

Count Dracula 

Ah, Dracula, Bram Stoker classic vampire character whose passion is only matched by his hunger for blood.

As we know from the story, Count Dracula moved to England to be in a more globally central area. So as an immortal vampire of massive wealth, it goes without saying that he’d have a home in the most central city in Canada. And if he’s got a place here he’ll need some interior design that matches the opulence that comes with the title of Count, so naturally he’ll be heading to experts at Noda Designs. From consultations and lighting design (Note: NO natural light) to planning and custom furniture design, Noda will put their travel-inspired skills to use in making Dracula’s home away from home look like an extension of his very essence.

Also he’ll probably pick up a few small items, like these “So are we eating our feelings or drinking them?” cocktail napkins.

The Babadook

The most recent creature to the horror genre on this list, the Babadook is a monster that lives in the house of Ameilia and her son Samuel and is summoned through a storybook. Outside of the movie he’s beloved by many, even becoming a popular LGBTQ+ icon.

When not terrorizing families by being a physical representation of unresolved loss, grief, and resentment, we like to think that the Babadook would spend some downtime sipping on a delicious iced salted caramel latte from Balzac’s Coffee Roasters on Market Street and reading Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston for a nice bit of romantic escapism.

Freddy Krueger

Let’s be honest here, going on a rampage attacking teenagers in their dreams in the Nightmare on Elm Street series is a LOT of work and even the king of nightmares gets a little tired! To have Freddy feeling at ease so he can grab a little shuteye for himself we’d suggest a traditional Thai massage at Bahn Thai Spa. The practitioner’s use of their thumbs, palms, elbows, knees and feet to apply a combination of acupressure, gentle rocking, joint and spine mobilizations, fascial stretch therapy and assisted yoga stretches should relax Krueger to no end and the gentle rhythms of the movements will go a long way in lulling him to a restful sleep. 

And to ensure he’s down for the count and off to slumberland, we’d suggest he stops by Everyday Gourmet in St. Lawrence Market to pick up some Taylors of Harrogate organic chamomile tea.

The post Have a Monstrously Good Time in Old Town Toronto appeared first on Old Town Toronto.

Now, don’t get us wrong, tarot cards aren’t meant to be used as an alternative to news and scientific statistics. But the deck has always been a good way to look inside ourselves and have a moment of reflection on where we’ve been, where we are, and what we might have to look forward to. So we’ve become curious and thought that it was time to dim the lights, burn some incense, and see what the cards have in store for Old Town Toronto.

For this post we’ll just be doing a standard three-card reading showing our past, present, and future. And while any deck is good to use, we’ve decided to use the Modern Witch Tarot Deck by Lisa Sterle, which has some amazing illustrations of diverse modern-day women in the classic poses of the classic Rider Waite deck. We’ll pull the card, tell you what it means, and what it might mean for us!

PAST: Three of Wands

Depicting a figure in robes looking out over a cliff, the Three of Wands is a card that represents keeping your feet on the ground, looking ahead, and expanding. It’s the ultimate card that brings forth thoughts of progress, expansion, looking towards the future and opportunity on the horizon. 

If ever there was a card to best represent Old Town Toronto’s past, this is it. Our little neighbourhood is steeped in history as the center for what would become the city of Toronto we know today! From Toronto’s First Post Office, St. Lawrence Market being the first-ever city hall, to the thriving railway import hub of the Esplanade, we’re an area that has always been looking ahead! And with more expansion throughout our fair city, including the construction of the Royal York Hotel, Union Station, and our beloved Flatiron building, we’ve shown that Old Town Toronto has always been an area on the up and up.

PRESENT: Temperance

A winged angel, both masculine and feminine with a triangle (human) and square (earth and natural law) on their front, pouring water between two cups, symbolic of the flow of life. One foot is in the water and one is on the land, and behind her is a winding road towards a mountain-filled land where the sun is shining. The Temperance card represents finding balance while also remaining patient. 

Well THAT sounds like the past year and a bit, doesn’t it?

Not going to lie, with the constant shutdowns and the craziness that’s been going for the past year and a bit, things have been pretty tough all year round. But we’ve been keeping our outlook positive by keeping our minds occupied with reading material from Ben McNally Books, our bodies toned thanks to online gym programs by Area Fitness and 6S Fitness, our bellies full with the countless stores and food spots of OTT like Urban Fresh Produce, Pearl Diver, and Renegade Chicken, and our glasses ever full by CoMMO Food, Uncle Ray’s Food & Liquor, CC Lounge and Whisky Bar, and so many more.

And hey, sometimes keeping things fun also helps. We’ve adapted to date nights, safely viewed some beautiful art, and even looked at some fashionable dogs that got us smiling. While things have been “ruff” (sorry, that was a really good dog post), we’ve been keeping things steady, finding balance, and remaining patient for better times ahead.

FUTURE: The Star

The Star has a lot of similarities with Temperance. A naked woman with one foot on the ground, representing practical abilities and common sense, and one foot in water, representing natural instinct and intuition. She holds two cups of water and pours one of them out onto dry land to promote growth and fertility, which judging by the lush greenery around her shows that it’s working. Above her is a bright shining star.

While the Star makes no promises about outcomes, it does represent hope, positivity, and the feeling that there is healing and rejuvenation on the horizon. And looking at the numbers of COVID cases going down and the current roll-out plan, we might just be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel!

And I don’t know about you, but once we’re sipping some coffee and doing a bit of work at Neo Coffee Bar before moving on to a luxurious mid-day pint of draught beer (or two) in the back patio of Betty’s, and spending a night of wining and dining with friends inside Carisma, we’ll know that the healing has truly begun. The cards don’t lie, it’s in our sights!

The post What the Future Holds: Tarot Reading for Old Town Toronto appeared first on Old Town Toronto.

But here at Old Town Toronto…well, we like the name Dad. 

Father’s Day is upon us and on this day we salute the Dads in our life who give us advice when we need it, provide us with guidance, or just make jokes that embarrass us around our friends. This day is for them.

Now we should also say that for us, the sacred role of “Dad” transcends gender, society, and the material plane altogether. Being a Dad is a state of mind. It’s being able to look into the depths of your very soul, declare your oneness with the universe, and proudly say “Hi, at one with the universe, I’m Dad”. 

So for this Father’s Day we’ve listed off a few things that will make the Dad in your life smile and nod in appreciation. From good eats and good meats for grilling, to sunglasses and beer glasses, we have a Dad joke and an OTT business to help you pay tribute to the one you call Dad.

“Hey Dad, have you seen my sunglasses?”

“No, son. Have you seen my Dad-glasses?”

This section is good for three reasons. First, it’s some killer shades for your cool dad! Secondly, these are wonderful businesses that you should support! And third and perhaps most importantly, June 27th is National Sunglasses Day and last year was just a COMPLETE disaster and your dad has to step up their game this year. Do you want the other dads to smirk when yours busts out the free sunglasses that someone handed them at the Ex four years ago? Of course not, that would be embarrassing for everyone!

Luckily, OTT is the place to get some shades. Evok eyewear + opticians are a boutique with collections from the likes of Maui Jim and Unique Design Milano that are guaranteed to turn the heads of the other Dads. For some wild designs in sunglasses, our go-to has always been the Optic Zone on Jarvis, which features some very colourful fashion forward glasses. And for more extensive eye tests and lens assessment along with providing some smooth sunglasses from the likes of Etnia Barcelona and Ray Ban, St. Lawrence Eye Care near the Esplanade will have your dad looking like one cool customer!

“I’d never BBQ on the roof of a house. The steaks are too high!”

Everyone knows that the BBQ grill is where the noble Dad calls home. They see a place where something is not being grilled and they say “no, this will not do”. The world, humanity, the universe, all is one when the Dad is by the grill, holding a beer and wearing an apron with a funny phrase. 

For everything BBQ we just have to go to the St. Lawrence Market and start with Sausage King for some classic sausage grilling. According to Sausage King, they “stand up for the whole hog, the entire chicken, the complete cow and the full lamb”, offering sausages of all kinds and ensuring that the sausages are of excellent quality coming from local farmers. Next up is Whitehouse Meats, which Toronto Life Magazine said has the best game meats in Toronto. We’re talking venison, buffalo, wild boar, kangaroo, camel and game bird. And one of our favourite stops for good quality meats is Brown Brothers Meats, which has been serving quality meats to Toronto since 1895 and has some of the best beef, pork, and chicken in the city!

“Hi hungry, I’m Dad!”

But let’s face it, the mantle of Dad is a heavy one, and sometimes Dads of the World’s Greatest or #1 variety needs a break from the grill and will often enjoy some excellent takeout. Besides which, trying food from restaurants and diners will provide some much-needed research so that your Dad may hone their cooking skills and recipes.

From the hearty breakfasts of the George Street Diner, lobster poutines and delicious po’boys at Market Street Catch, and the ever-popular pad thai at Sukhothai to burritos at Quesada Mexican Grill or Bolet’s Burrito, a gourmet sandwich from Fusaro’s, and a divine curry at Butter Chicken Roti, your Dad will soon be introducing himself to “Full of food”.

“I’ve never made a Caesar cocktail before, but I’ll take a stab at it.”

  A toast to your Dad! The comic relief, the fountain of wisdom, the moral compass, and the one who brings the snacks to the kid’s softball game (and a few beers for the other parents). On this day we drink in their honour!

And because an epic Dad deserves an epic drink, we humbly suggest you pick up one of the epically elaborate Caesars available at Score on King if patios open up this month. These aren’t just a drink, they’re a whole meal unto themselves, masterfully balanced out on top of the Caesar. Of course you have the regular ones with burgers and onion rings, but may we suggest the Checkmate Caesar, with a pulled pork sandwich, hamburger, hot dog, roast chicken, chicken wings, onion rings, and a brownie? Yes that’s real and yes, we told you it was epic. This is what you’d call a Dad-sized cocktail. And look, we know that this realistically should have been in the food section of this post, but we couldn’t let that quality Caesar-related Dad joke go to waste, you know?

But if your dad is feeling more like a regular drink, Goose Island Brewhouse Toronto has batches of freshly made beer ready for takeout, Scotland Yard Pub has a mixed selection of local craft and domestic beers available, Le Petit Dejeuner offers a dang good mimosa, and Terroni on Adelaide has a vast range of wines on hand along with a bottle of their in-house negroni. Any one of these businesses will have something that will make you proud to raise a glass to the Dad in your life!  

The post Day of the Dad – Father’s Day in Old Town Toronto appeared first on Old Town Toronto.

Now, we’re of the mindset that a brand spanking new year is a chance to start fresh and get into some new habits and routines all in the effort of bettering ourselves. But we also get that sometimes resolutions are kind of hard to stick to, so don’t worry, we’re here with some OTT businesses that can help get you on the path to the new you for 2021!  

Books

Ben McNally Books – benmcnallybooks.com

Every year one of the top five resolutions on everyone’s list is to read more and there’s a good reason for that! Expanding your mind, taking in new perspectives, and learning about this fabulous world can get you on the way to being a better person!  And it just so happens that OTT is home to one of the city’s best bookstores, Ben McNally Books! From inspiring autobiographies to fascinating tales of history and science, they have all you need to grow that big beautiful brain of yours! 

Here are a couple of suggestions to get you started:

A Promised Land by Barack Obama

Pfft. Thanks, Obama! Remember when people said that? No? Sorry. 

One of 2020’s most anticipated and most successful books. In this stirring first volume of his presidential memoirs, Barack Obama chronicles his incredible journey to becoming the leader of the free world, detailing the key moments in his life and political career that made him the man he is today. This candid and intimate story underlines the importance of a democracy built on empathy, finding common ground, and putting in the long and difficult work of building a better tomorrow. So if acting a little more presidential is on your list, maybe take a few pointers from this guy.

Maiden Voyages: Women and the Golden Age of Transatlantic Travel by Siân Evans

Ah, a life at sea! The salty air! The salty margaritas! The delightfully salty sailor gossiping while drinking a salty margarita! 

In this fascinating book Siân Evans tells the previously untold stories of the many women travelling on transatlantic ocean liners after WWI when it was the only way to see the world. Not shying away from the class differences on decks and the struggles that come with ship life, Maiden Voyages will bring out the wanderlust in you while highlighting a previously unrecorded moment in time for women. Expect to hear some fascinating stories about Josephine Baker, a dancer from St Louis who found fame in Paris, the pioneering interior designer Sibyl Colefax, and Violet ”the unsinkable” Jessop, who survived the sinking of the Titanic.

Better Food

Look, hey, no judgements here, last year was a freakin’ train wreck and no one can be blamed for ordering, say, a large pepperoni lover’s pizza all to themselves every week. Not that I would…uh…know, of course, but I’m saying that I wouldn’t blame some random gorgeous, funny OTT blog writer for doing that. 

Thankfully, we also have some healthier food options to get you on the right track towards a better balance of food.

Urban Fresh Produce – urbanfreshproduce.ca

For over five years the folks at Urban Fresh Produce have been providing good greens out of St. Lawrence Market and they’re still going strong, offering curbside pickup for folks looking to get a hold of quality fruit and vegetables. Just email with your order and contact number to urbanfreshproduce@outlook.com and they’ll take care of you!

Fresh on Front – freshplantpowered.com

In the mood for takeout but still want to keep things balanced? Favourite vegan spot Fresh on Front has got you covered with their fabulously fresh bowls, delicious wraps, and nutritious cold-pressed juices available for takeout or delivery. We’re a big fan of their Goddess Bowl, with steamed baby bok choy, swiss chard, kale & broccoli, house-made taberu rayu, ginger chili tempeh, pickled ginger, sunflower nori gomasio, and tahini sauce served over brown basmati rice or soba noodles.

Fitness

Let’s be honest here, folks. When all of this ends and it’s safe, we’re going to be doing a WHOLE LOTTA HUGGING. We’re talking family, loved ones, friends, the dogs you see at the park whose owners you forget the names of, everyone is getting hugged! And for that you’re going to need some tone in those arms! 

Area Fitness – areaonline.ca

Area Fitness is now offering online yoga classes and personal training to help you keep fit while you’re staying inside! Book a class and get those muscles moving with help from Area’s incredible trainers and owner Coach Connie herself!

6S Fitness – 6sfitness.ca

Want to get intense with CrossFit but the gyms are closed? Well, you’re in luck because the folks at 6S Fitness are open for business with an all-virtual fitness and nutrition coaching services so you need never leave your living room! As a member, you’ll have the tools to create your own custom plan, take part in online zoom workouts, and stay accountable by being a part of the vast 6S Fitness online community! Book your virtual consultation now and start the path to getting those hugging muscles ripped!

Beauty & Fashion

Remember in the before times when we didn’t wear sweatpants and pyjamas all day? Me neither. But research shows that we used to wear stylish clothes during the day and nothing quite makes a statement about the energy you want to put out into the world than a nice wardrobe! In addition to that, you may as well take care of your skin and hair so your clothes won’t be the only thing highlighting your fabulousness!

Garrison Bespoke – garrisonbespoke.com

Staying stylish is important and the fine folks at Garrison Bespoke on Wellington Street know this. Offering a wide range of men’s clothing and accessories for business, leisure, and everyday life, they’ll make sure you’re looking good no matter where you are. Honestly, we’re just loving the textured jacquard sports jacket they have in their online shop.

David Mitchell Studio – davidmitchell.net

While the main storefront at David Mitchell is closed due to the pandemic, their online shop is open for business offering a wide assortment of beauty products. From ACCA KAPPA White Moss Karite Body Butter and YONKA Excellence Code Creme to ORIBE shampoos and conditioners, David Mitchell Studio has what it takes to get you looking and feeling your best! And if you miss their famous hairstyling services and want to support them, you can always purchase a gift card as a present to yourself! Afterall, you’re worth it!

The post How to Feel Fresh After the 2020 Trainwreck: New Year, New Me appeared first on Old Town Toronto.

And that’s not limited to humans. In fact, Old Town Toronto is a hot spot place to be for our furry friends of the canine persuasion. If you walk by the dog fountain at Berczy Park you’re bound to run into some of our little celebrities making friends.

And the experts agree as we’ve enlisted the help of some of the world’s leading icons in the haute couture dog fashion world to evaluate photos that OTT residents have sent in of their furry fashionistas.

Cece

Adopted from Save Our Scruff last year. Owner Amanda Betts describes the 7-year-old Cece as “photogenic, gentle, soulful, playful, people-friendly, and a dog that has lots of friends in the neighbourhood.”

Vera Wag: This is a pup who knows how to pose! And those colours! The purple harness matches perfectly with the pink name tag and aqua leash! Additional points for the respectable studded black collar that says “I’m ready for business, but let’s keep it fun”. 

I don’t have any tips for this pooch because she’s clearly got what it takes for the high-end fashion shows I attend. I can only imagine all the heads that turn when her and Amanda go to get coffee at Balzac’s or sit down for an evening vino break at Cantina Mercatto!

Molly

Molly is a Sheepadoodle that does double duty as a professional doctor and an Instagram influencer under the name @doctormollydoodle, where she has over 20 thousand followers. Here momager Breanne Kaduk is always there to take plenty of photos of her little star.

Yves Saint Bernard: Oh mon Dieu, quel beau toutou! Breanne, expect a call from my people insisting that Molly come to Milan with me for my next show! I’m looking through her Instagram now and I’m a fan of her trademark ponytail and inspired fashion choices! I notice for Halloween she had several different costumes and as a fashion designer, I must applaud this move!

However, as an international star and household name, take it from me, finding time for yourself is often hard. And for that I’d prescribe Doctor Molly with a spa day at PetLand Spa for her to be groomed and pampered so she can relax a bit from the tiring life of a star!

Galaxy

Galaxy (Or Gali as she’s often called by owners Jeremy and Holly) is a 7 month-old Golden Retriever, Lab, Husky and Blue Heeler mix. As Jeremy says, “She grew up, once fully vaccinated, playing at Berczy and making a ton of friends. Every time we go other owners can’t believe how much she’s changed as she grows in size almost every day!”

Barc Jacobs: It must be acknowledged how much fun Galaxy is having with the camera! Even some of the best models I’ve worked with don’t know what to do when it’s time for a photoshoot but that’s clearly not a problem Galaxy has. The smile, the pose, the pure energy! She’s having the time of her life in these photos and, my dear, it shows!

Now, as for fashion sense, this is a pooch who would look amazing in reds, purples, or even a vibrant fuchsia pink. And while she looks incredibly stylish in her harnesses and her leash is absolutely perfect, it always pays to accessorize more, darling! If I were you I’d take her down to Global Pet Foods on Lower Jarvis or Pet Cuisine & Accessories by St. Lawrence Market to pick out some quality seasonal leashes (And maybe a few delicious dog treats if we’re feeling naughty). Maybe you’ll find something space-themed to match her beautiful name!

Woojoo

This stylish young pooch is a dog meat trade survivor who enjoys going for walks and, clearly, looking his best while doing so. His owner William Yang tells us his name, Woojoo, is the name his rescuers gave him and means “Universe”

Jean Paw Gaultier: I am, how you say, intrigué et fasciné with The wonderful Woojoo! I must confess, with these well-shot photos that feature a perfect use of colourful blue harnesses that match so well with his fur, the boy is a natural for the camera!

I feel like Woojoo has a very playful nature so personally, I would love to see more photoshoots of him with toys. Truth be told, the Pet Valu on Front and Princess is where most furry icons I know go for their primo chew toys!

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Rocky

This little Toy Poodle is an up and comer in the fashion world, posting photos on Instagram under @rockythecitypup. According to his proud papa Marios Zachariae, He’s a known sock thief, ball chaser, and a connoisseur of artisan peanut butter.

Clawdia Sniffer: In all my years as a model you develop a sense of knowing who has what it takes to take the fashion world by storm and my dear, Rocky is a pup that I’ll be keeping my eye on. Every shot I’m looking at here is perfection. His combination of a winning smile, well-groomed features, and obvious love of the Old Town Toronto life are a triple threat that every designer looks for. 

With Rocky’s youthful looks he can afford to be daring in his fashion choices. My advice: go to Sniffany & Co. in the Distillery District and pick out an adventurous collar. Personally, I think the EPW pink seafoam collar is a fun every day look, but their navy ivory collar would be perfect when it’s time to get serious and the evening tulip collar would be the perfect accessory for a night out at Berczy Park.

The post Meet the Fashion-Forward Dogs of Old Town appeared first on Old Town Toronto.

The internet has also shown us that Toronto is home to an eclectic mix of creators, whose incredible talent in their respective fields has taught us a little something about themselves and the city we call home.

So with that, get ready to log in and share the love, because here are five internet trends featuring Toronto creators that we’re living for right now!

TikTok

It’s not just for Zoomers anymore! That’s right, the popular video social media platform TikTok (Think Vine, but with a much better algorithm and interface), once the primary domain of our planet’s younger generations, has been invaded by older millennials! Our theory on why is partially to embarrass the kids, but mostly to take advantage of the platform’s open ended nature that allows you to post anything from video memes and comedy videos to full on stories and DIYs.

There are plenty of Toronto TikTok users out there including accounts of popular web sites like BlogTO. And, true to Torontonians, we can’t help but laugh a bit at some of the true observations folks have about life in the 6ix.

@blogtoY’all had to ruin this weekend, and for what @yayabide ##trinitybellwoodspark ##toronto ##blogto ##onlyintoronto ##walkingaway ##summer2020 ##tiktoktoronto♬ Black Mayo Jus Know bryansanon – bryansanon

Health Care Workers Sharing Their Stories

Some of our biggest heroes right now have been the brave people working the frontlines in our hospitals and health care facilities fighting the pandemic with everything they’ve got. And while they’re out there helping us all to flatten the curve, the least we can do is hear their inspiring stories shared by them directly.

The Twitter hashtag #FacesFightingCOVID is probably the best resource in learning about Canada’s frontline heros while following along with updates in real time. If you’d like an account to follow, though, we strongly recommend Dr. Gray Moonen, a first year Family Medicine resident at the University Health Network at UofT, who is telling the stories of frontline workers in between his clinical rotations.

This is Lakshmi. She is a #Physiotherapist #FacesFightingCOVID

“I’ve worked through TB outbreaks in the Middle East and India, so this is the third pandemic I’m working through. I am genuinely happy to be here. Each time it’s been a unique opportunity to help our patients a lot” pic.twitter.com/ZAkEcnfphc

— Gray Moonen (@GrayMoonen) April 23, 2020

Getting Inspired With Kitchen Creations

As some of us have a bit of time on our hands these days, learning how to cook or even to just cook better is an incredibly worthwhile activity. And while with YouTube you’ll find no shortage of cooking shows (We’re a huge fan of the folks over at the Bon Appétit test kitchen), we’ve been noticing something delicious cooking up over on Instagram.

Enter Karon Liu, food writer, culture reporter for Toronto Star, and home cook. Karon has taken to his Instagram account using the #KaronCooks hashtag to share some inventive recipes with simple steps and easily available ingredients (That FYI, are all available at St. Lawrence Market)!

This Wasabi Pasta Salad recipe, for instance, is getting us hungry.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_21JjEBLO5/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Looking at Beautiful Photography

Sometimes we just need something really pretty to look at and like a good friend, Instagram is there to show us the amazing beauty of Toronto by some truly remarkable photographic talent. Currently we’re really enjoying the almost poetic beauty of Kael Rebick’s street photography and the vertigo-inducing splendor of one of Toronto’s most known rooftop photographers, brxson.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-7YMA7nIJ5/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

DIY Projects at Home

Let’s face it, as many of us are stuck in our homes we’ve started thinking about things we can do around the house in order to really have it look amazing. But while many of the DIY projects that come to mind can sound challenging or even expensive, there are plenty of things to do, like upcycling old furniture, figuring out a beautiful arrangement for those pictures you’ve been meaning to hang up, or even just doing a slight alteration on a piece of furniture.

Luckily The Sorry Girls on YouTube have been a constant source of DIY inspiration since their channel started ten years ago and have been covering everything from small projects like hacking an Ikea dresser and painting stairs to full-on room makeovers using items you already have.

The post 5 Internet Trends We’re Living For appeared first on Old Town Toronto.