Tourism : In The News

Bar Isabel voted second best restaurant in Canada

Vacay.ca Wednesday, June 04, 2014

Ten Toronto restaurants ranked among the country's top 50, according to the third annual guide determined by Vacay.ca and a panel of judges consisting of some of the nation's top chefs.

While the top prize went to a small, but elegant eatery in St. John's Newfoundland—recognized for elevating the province's local cuisine—Toronto took home 20 per cent of the honours with Bar Isabel, a Spanish eatery found along College Street at Shaw, leading our city's rankings as the second best restaurant in Canada.

Executive Chef Lucais Syme of La Pentola della Quercia hailed, "Simply presented food with awesome flavour made of great combinations. Great style and interesting." While Executive Chef Paul Brans of Artisan proclaimed, "Great sharing plates that take you back to those crowded tapas bars in Barcelona. Perfect."

"Go for the charcuterie and cocktails; stay late for the fried chicken," says Little Room President Joseph Caturay. "Check out your fellow diners; chances are they are some of the top chefs, bartenders and servers in Toronto."

Bar Isabel is a newer establishment that did not exist at the time of nominations in 2013, thus 2014 marks a strong debut.

Here's how Toronto restaurants ranked:

2. Bar Isabel, 797 College St.
7. BUCA, 604 King St. W.
12. Bar BUCA, 75 Portland St.
15. Hopgood's Foodliner, 325 Roncesvalles Ave.
28. Auberge Du Pommier, 4150 Yonge St.
34. Momofuku Shoto, 190 University Ave.
35. Canoe, 66 Wellington St. W.
36. Patria, 478 King St. W.
38. Splendido, 88 Harbord St.
40. Chantecler, 1320 Queen St. W.

Read the full list here.
Original Source: Vacay.ca

Toronto ranks third on list of U.S. tourism destinations

Hotels.com Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Aside from London and Paris, U.S. tourists visited Toronto more than any other city in the world, according to the 2013 Hotel Price Index, released by Hotels.com.

"Toronto surpassed Rome as the third most popular international destination for the first time since 2010," says the report. “With the Canadian exchange at a three-year low, now is an opportune time for U.S. travelers to cross the border and explore the country’s cultural and entertainment capital."

When it comes to prices, Toronto hotels luxury hotels ranked the sixth most expensive behind San Francisco, New York City, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, and Tokyo.

As for wanderlust, Toronto's music scene has become a state of attraction. The report highlights North by Northeast, taking place from June 13-22 this year.

"What started as a three-day music festival has expanded into a 10-day event that spans music, film, interactive comedy and art. NXNE features more than 800 bands from all over the world that will converge upon Toronto’s 50+ music venues. The city’s largest music festival features a mix of both up-and-coming bands and headline acts," the report says.

Toronto was also a hot spot for travellers from China, the report notes.

Read the full report here.
Original Source: Hotels.com

Toronto "the Great White North's gay mecca"

New Now Next Wednesday, April 16, 2014

As Toronto prepares for World Pride, taking place across the city from June 20-29, international media is beginning to turn attention to the details that make the city such a valuable and appropriate host.

"What’s true of Toronto as a whole is doubly so when it comes to the city’s vibrant gay community. This nexus of queer Canadian culture and history is the place to be, not only for the hometown gays but for the millions of visitors who flock here annually," says a new article that appeared in New Now Next, a New York-based gay pop culture and entertainment blog.

The article names nine things that contribute to the city's liveliness. Among them: the Village, an obvious choice. "The streets are lined with an assortment of gay-owned-and-operated restaurants, stores and bars like Woody’s, Sky Yard at the Drake, Pegasus and Zipperz/Cellblock," the article says.

It also celebrates West Queen West, including shopping along the strip and hanging out in the Gladstone and Drake hotels, appropriate considering the area's branding as "Queer Street West" and its plan to be a social hub during World Pride.

But perhaps most enticing about Toronto's gay community is the support offered by services such as the 519 Church Street Community Centre, the article says.

"The 519 Church Street Community Centre is the beating heart of the Village. With dozens of programs aimed at the complete extent of LGBT life– meet-ups for teens, seniors and everyone in between, queer parenting resources, 12-step programs, support groups, various arts and entertainment options– there’s something for everyone at the center. They even run the Fabernak, a full-scale restaurant that also serves as a training ground for employees (queer and otherwise) to gain both work experience and on-the-job training. If only every city had a 519 Center!"

Read the full story here.

Original Source: New Now Next

Toronto's arts & culture scene is alive

NY Daily News Wednesday, March 19, 2014

"The real news [coming out of Toronto] is that Canada’s largest city is blossoming with cultural happenings and art exhibits you can’t catch anywhere else in North America," writes the New York Daily News in an article entitled Toronto is abuzz with art and cultural happenings, and it's just a day's drive from NYC.

The Daily News seemed shocked to learn that Toronto, the fourth largest city in North America, is alive with arts and cultural happenings. For us locals, we do not have to stray far from home to see our streets buzzing with creativity, but it is becoming increasingly apparent that our cultural footprint is beginning to be recognized on an international level as well.

"When I heard singer Pharrell Williams would curate a museum show on designer toys, I figured Brooklyn, Tokyo or London would host it," the article opens. "But of all places, it turns out Toronto is the only city to 'Get Lucky' and see 'This Is Not a Toy' — an insane, exuberant collection of colossal stuffed animals, giant inflatables, and even Daft Punk robots from Pharrell’s own living room."

The article starts at the Design Exchange then gives readers the full tour of the city, taking them to the St. Lawrence Market "Toronto's original mall," hyping up the latest exhibit at the Art Gallery of Ontario, "Francis Bacon and Henry Moore: Terror and Beauty," and even appreciating the craftsmanship of our espresso at places such as Dineen.

"From behind a wooden counter in a landmarked, century-old converted furrier’s loft, bearded baristas serve up killer espressos ($3) using custom-roasted beans," the article says.

What's encouraging is among the past few articles we've seen highlighting experiences in Toronto, a trend is emerging: the reporters always want to come back. Michael Kaminer is no exception.

"With so much to take in, I barely got a chance to visit the museums dedicated to shoes, ceramics, textiles and hockey. But missing them gave me an excuse to plan my next visit to this pulsating, dynamic metropolis."

Read the full story here.

Original Source: NY Daily News

New York Times explores our 'Ethnic Buffet'

The New York Times Wednesday, March 05, 2014

"…The truth is that what I really like to do in Toronto — besides walking around and exploring — is to eat," writes Francine Prose in the New York Times.

The travel section ran a lengthy and thorough piece last week discussing our city's vast array of multicultural food offerings and neighbourhoods, comparing it at times to that of New York and noting, at others, that the food is in and of itself enough of an attraction to warrant multiple trips to the city. Beyond this, the article notes that the food in Toronto echoes that of our diversity and heritage.

"One paradox of Toronto is that even as the city enables new arrivals to assimilate into Canadian life — people talk about how a certain neighborhood was originally home to immigrants from one area, who then moved on to a more prosperous district, making room for the next wave of people from somewhere else — its ethnic neighborhoods are strongly evocative of their residents' countries of origin, and the shops (and most notably the restaurants) seem more authentic than they do in other cities to which immigrants have imported their culture and their cuisine," Prose writes.

It explores Kensington and our many Chinatowns, Little Portugal to Koreatown, and points out emerging food hubs in the surrounding area.

"Had I eaten in Little Iran, up in North York, or visited Mississauga, the near-suburb that has become home for a huge variety of Toronto's ethnic groups, and where the food — people kept telling me — was even better than it is nearer downtown? Had I been to Markham, where there was a newer Chinatown, and an Indian neighborhood that outdid the Bazaar?"

To which the reporter says, "I'll simply have to do all that, the next time I return."

Read the full article here.

Original Source: The New York Times

Toronto is booming, UK reports

Sunday Express Wednesday, February 05, 2014

"Toronto is booming, as evidenced by its chic restaurants, innovative architecture and an epic construction project that will soon see one end of the harbour lined with new museums, bars and parkland," wrote the UK-based Sunday Express earlier this week.

The article, entitled Kayaking, abseiling and exploring castles: Going on an adventure in Toronto, focuses on the attraction of our waterfront, an increasingly popular feature in international reports and travel articles. The author of the article clearly came here in the summer as he documents his experiences kayaking around and exploring our islands and major attractions, but his writing suggests a changing perspective on our city as a whole.

The author found himself on "quiet, residential boulevards with immaculate flowerbeds, red-brick townhouses, vintage clothes stores and tiny street stalls selling homemade maple syrup and artisan breads." These traits, often ignored in favour of typical tourist attractions such as the CN Tower, recognize that Toronto is a city rich in history and community, one that has a lot more to offer someone from out of town than Front Street.

Of course, it would be impossible for someone to report on Toronto without mentioning these attractions. The author went to Casa Loma and the CN Tower, while also sampling local eateries such as Auntie and Uncles on College Street and Terroni on Queen.?

"However, the most jaw-dropping interior has to be Frank Gehry's makeover of the Art Gallery of Toronto with its huge expanse of billowing glass, like a ship slowly passing through the city centre," The Sunday Express said.

Yes, the water and imagery of water left a significant impression on the author.

"The astonishing, uninterrupted view of the city's skyline is one to savour in a city which might not hit the headlines like New York and Chicago do, but still has the ability to dazzle and delight."

Read the full story here.

Original Source: Sunday Express

Three Toronto hotels named among Canada's top 10

Daily News Wednesday, February 05, 2014

There's no denying that Canada is full of beautiful hotels from coast to coast. The New York Daily News rounded them up and compiled a list of the top 10 luxury hotels in the country, naming three Toronto properties among the best. Although we didn't take top rankings, we secured more spots than any other city on the list.

These "10 properties… represent the crème de la crème of Canadian hospitality," the Daily News wrote.

Here's what they had to say about some of the city's most luxurious places to get away:

The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto (9th)

In a metropolis brimming with luxury lodging, it's no easy feat to stand out from the pack. But this Ritz-Carlton property has hit the mark again this year thanks to its refined ambiance, distinctive architecture and excellent views of Lake Ontario and Toronto's cityscape. But it's not just the striking scenery that helped The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto stay among the best and brightest in this city's hospitality market for the second year in a row. Upholding its brand's excellent standard of service and rigorous attention to detail, The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto has caught the attention of reputable sources like Condé Nast Traveler and seized the ninth spot on our 2014 list of the Best Hotels in Canada.

??Four Seasons Hotel Toronto (7th)

A noteworthy newcomer to the top 10 on U.S. News' Best Hotels in Canada list, this Four Seasons outpost is climbing its way to the top thanks to its superior customer service, stylish accommodations and sophisticated ambiance —all of which help set it apart from nearby competitors. Aside from property's enviable downtown location, enticing amenities (such as gourmet cuisine created by acclaimed chef Daniel Boulud) help it earn a high approval rating among guests and critics. This year, the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto received recognition from Travel + Leisure and nabbed a prestigious AAA Five Diamond award.

??Trump International Hotel and Tower, Toronto (4th)

At 65 stories, this towering hotel trumps the competition with spacious and well-appointed accommodations, quality service and sweeping views of Toronto's skyline. After claiming the No. 2 spot on the list of Best Toronto hotels in 2013, this esteemed member of the Trump family has made its way up the list to the No. 1 place on our list of the Best Hotels in Toronto. And with guest rooms outfitted with wet bars and marble bathroom fixtures and perks like an infinity saltwater lap pool and unobstructed city views from the STOCK restaurant, it's not hard to see how this hotel has continued to garner a positive reputation. Holding awards from Condé Nast Traveler, Forbes and AAA, the Trump International Hotel and Tower, Toronto stands as Toronto's finest luxury hotel.

Read the full list here.

Original Source: Daily News

Photo By: sookie (Flickr) [CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Toronto again named one of the world's smartest communities

IT Business Wednesday, November 06, 2013

For the second year in a row, the Intelligent Communities Forum (ICF) has named Toronto as one of the world's 21 smartest communities. ICF looks at communities around the world and grades them based on how broadband infrastructure and IT builds economies and improves the lives of local citizens.

The list will be whittled down to seven finalists to be announced in January. The winner will be announced on June 6, 2014 at a ceremony in New York City.

Toronto secured a spot in the top seven last year, but it was Taichung, Taiwan that came out on top.

"One of the major reasons for Toronto’s claim to the title is because of Waterfront Toronto, which has launched several intelligent community programs," said an article that ran on itbusiness.ca. The article cites Waterfront's various accomplishments including building a cloud-based community platform that allows businesses and residents access to data "they can use it to make decisions about daily commutes, residents' health, energy, and water use."

In addition to Waterfront Toronto, the City of Toronto also named digital programs such as Kids@Computers and Connected For Success, as well as the Centre for Social Innovation and the Digital Media Zone at Ryerson University in its application.

Read the full story here.

Original Source: IT Business

Toronto second most reputable city in the world

CTV Wednesday, October 30, 2013

A new study that measured the reputations of 100 international cities has declared Toronto as the second most reputable city in the world.

Shadowed only by Sydney, Australia, Toronto scored well amid feedback from 22,000 respondents from G8 countries who rated the cities based on "trust, esteem, admiration and respect, and perceptions on attributes such as financial stability, safety, beauty and cleanliness, entertainment and dining, standards of living, and effective government," an article the appeared on CTV summarized.

New York-based consulting firm the Reputation Institute conducted the survey, which took place online last January and February. Last year's most reputable city was Vancouver, which dropped to 14th place this year. The top U.S. city in this year's study was New York in 21th place.

Read the full story here.

Original source: CTV

Nuit Blanche Forever Bicycles installation an international muse

Wall Street Journal Wednesday, October 09, 2013

Nuit Blanche, the annual city-wide art exhibition that ran from sunset to sunrise on October 6, received international attention in part due to one major exhibition: Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei's Forever Bicycles.

Located at Nathan Phillips Square, the installation features thousands of stainless steel bicycles shipped over the Pacific via special containers, according to an article that ran in Gizmodo. The installation is one of six Scotiabank Nuit Blanche projects that will be extended in Toronto until the end of October.

"As the centerpiece of this year's Scotiabank Nuit Blanche, the all-night contemporary art event that takes over city streets, 3,144 bicycles, the most Weiwei has used of this work to date, were stacked 100 feet in length and 30 feet in height and depth in Toronto's Nathan Phillips Square. This was the first time the installation has been displayed in an open air, public space. Since this was a night-time festival, it was spectacularly lit up with pink and blue lights," the article reports.

But, as Wall Street Journal points out, Forever Bicycles has additional meaning for the city of Toronto in the form of tourist dollars. "The Nuit Blanche has become a big money maker for Canada’s largest city. Last year, it drew 38 million Canadian dollars ($36.9 million) to the city’s coffers, with over 1 million people checking out its exhibits," the article reports. "This year is expected to top that, thanks largely to Mr. Ai."

Justine Palinska, a spokeswoman with Toronto's economic development and culture department, told the Wall Street Journal that, "It's definitely the most important festival we’ve done, thanks to the Ai Weiwei exhibit."

Although Nuit Blanche originated in Paris, it continues to be a profitable event for Toronto. The article continues, "Last year, 170,000 people came from out of town alone, with many arriving in Toronto from the U.S. Mr. Ai’s international renown means this year’s event is expected to bring in yet more visitors from outside of the city."

A photo of the installation, taken by managing photographer Tanja-Tiziana, can be seen in this week's masthead image slider.

Read the full story here.

Original source: Wall Street Journal

Toronto food options a vegetarian's paradise

Outlook India Wednesday, October 09, 2013

As TIFF articles continue to pop up, this account of one reporter's experience with vegetarian cuisine in Toronto caught our eye.

Namrata Joshi, a reporter for Outlook India, was in town reviewing Bollywood films, but it was the city's vast vegetarian options that left a lasting impression.

"Every city lives in one’s memory through the first impressions. But, for a person who tries to be eclectic within the confines of vegetarianism, I have committed Toronto to memory as a foodie paradise," she writes. And it looks like she had the opportunity to explore several of our city's neighbourhoods as well.

"I don’t think I’ve eaten such appetising variety in a matter of 15 days: tofu-filled, non-fried, rice-paper-wrapped spring rolls in the famed Vietnamese eatery, Pho Hung; the unprocessed, green wrap of Cruda’s Cafe; sweet potato fries and protein burgers at Fresh; soy Burrito from the Burrito Boyz; spinach and mushroom crepes at Crepe Cafe; pumpkin pie from Wanda’s Pie In The Sky and veggie hotdogs straight off the many carts. In the war of better coffee, I opted for the all-Canadian Tim Horton’s French Vanilla. Preferably with a snack of cream cheese bagel," she continues.

"The most unusual food outing was at the West Indian Blue Water Curry and Roti. Mixing in the tastes of the immigrant Bihari population, this Caribbean dhaba has vada-like Polourie (remember the song Fulauri bina chatni kaise bani?) and dhall-roti on the menu. With chhole and pumpkin sabzi to complete the meal."

And the best? "The most delicious meal, of summer truffle pasta with grana padano cheese, was hosted by Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) at the Spoke Club. In late summer, fresh and organic fruits and veggies—from plums and peaches to delicious purple potatoes—could be spotted in the many farmers’ markets. TIFF decided to not move the one held every Thursday outside their prime venue—Roy Thomson hall."

Read Joshi's full "Toronto Diary" here.

Original Source: Outlook India

Toronto's Lovebot invasion is growing

Samaritan Mag Wednesday, October 02, 2013

Have you seen the Lovebots? These child-sized concrete robots have been popping up around the city in areas where people and companies have done good deeds. You can see them at Nadège Patisserie, Atomic Toybot, and various other locations. By the time the invasion is complete, 100 Lovebots will be spread around the city and surrounding area.

“The whole idea was that we’re not just faceless robots who don’t talk to each other on the bus. We all have big hearts. I wanted to make a symbol that represented the people in this city," creator Matthew Del Degan told Samaritan Magazine.

Del Degan is in his fifth and final year of industrial design studies at OCAD and originally created a toy version of the Lovebot for a class project. He loved it so much, and the response was so positive, he decided to make it something bigger.

People submit "love letters" via Lovebot.com, an interactive map-based platform that not only displays the locations of current Lovebots, but also encourages others to do good deeds in the name of kindness and love. These love letters are used to decide where to place the Lovebots, in places where people have done charitable deeds or simply been good people.

Del Degan has big plans. In another article, he talks about wanting to take the Lovebot invasion global, but in Samaritan Magazine he discusses his desire to make the Lovebots more of a permanent fixture in Toronto.

“There’s this giant robot I want to make. I can make it a monument in Toronto,” he says. “If you had a giant robot in your city, it would be a cool thing to come and see. I want the project at the core to be from Toronto because the cement robots sprung out of the city, the ‘cement jungle."

Read the full story here.

Original source: Samaritan Mag

Parks and Blue Jays reasons to visit Toronto

The National Wednesday, September 25, 2013

The latest tour guide we've come across advocating Toronto mentions some fresh reasons tourists should visit the city. The National, a publication based out of Abu Dhabi, notes that Toronto "regularly appears near the top of global indexes for livable and competitive cities" and mentions how we ranked eight "out of 20 entrepreneurial hotspots worldwide, according to Startup Genome's Startup Ecosystems Report 2012."

The National mentions traditional attractions such as the Toronto International Film Fest, but what caught our eye was its attention to details and emphasis on nature and culture.

"This week is Canada’s National Forestry Week so go for a stroll," the article says. "Rouge Park has nature, farms and trails. Set to become Canada’s first national urban park, Rouge Park lies within an hour’s drive for 7 million people. Alternatively visit the Hockey Hall of Fame (hockey and lacrosse are the national sports of Canada) and follow that up with a visit to Tim Hortons, a coffee and doughnut chain founded by a Toronto Maple Leaf hockey player of the same name."

It also draws attention to our key industries. "The region is the No 3 financial services centre in North America, after New York and Chicago. The World Economic Forum has ranked Canada's banking system as the most sound in the world, six years in a row. The food and beverage industry also does well with the sector having $17 billion of sales in 2010. Designers, retailers and cost-efficient manufacturers in Toronto’s fast-moving fashion hub have helped increase Canadian apparel exports to the US more than fivefold since 1994."

Now, how about a game of ball? "Baseball fans might be interested to know that the Toronto Blue Jays are the only team in Major League Baseball to be located outside the United States. The Blue Jays won the World Series twice in their history - again the only team outside the US to do so."??

Read the full guide here.

Original source: The National

Why TIFF matters

BBC Wednesday, September 25, 2013

The Toronto International Film Festival wrapped almost two weeks ago now, but the reviews and accounts continue to poor in. Buried among them, this story from the BBC that examines why TIFF matters.

"Since it was first held in 1976 the festival has grown exponentially, aided in part by its apposite positioning at what is widely considered the onset of the annual film awards season," BBC writes.

The article states TIFF's position in September makes it a jumping point for film season. It continues, "A positive response in Toronto in September can get the ball rolling on an awards campaign that could result in that most coveted of accolades - an Academy Award - at the end of the following February."

"Toronto has become this extraordinary platform for many of the most serious films by some of the greatest film-makers in the world," says British actor Tom Hiddleston, who stars as Loki in the Avengers and Thor: the Dark World.

That TIFF asks its "passionate," "intelligent," and "literate" audience to determine the top selection of films—and not, as is in other festivals, a jury—shows that this is a city dedicated to film, the article reports, and not the glamour and fashion of other film fests.

The "behemoth" size of the film festival both draws and dissuades its attendees. The challenge comes in making sure each film gets the proper promotion—and ensuring viewers arrive early enough to catch a screening.

Read the full story here.
Original Source: BBC

TIFF's economic impact on the city of Toronto

CityTV Wednesday, September 18, 2013

The final numbers of TIFF's economic impact on the City of Toronto for 2013 have yet to be released, but a news report that aired on CityTV reports that the festival generates anywhere from $130- to $170-million in revenue each year.

"It's one of the busiest times of the year," says Raffaele Bettalico, the owner of Zaza Espresso Bar in Yorkville, in the video. His business triples during TIFF, which wrapped its 11-day stint on Sunday.

When you think of the impact, Peter Finestone, the film commissioner for the City of Toronto, says in the video, you need to think of its reach. This includes the restaurants rented for after parties, the limousine services, the increase in restaurant and bar traffic, money to buskers, hairdressers, bartenders, and so much more.

"It's not just the stars spending money, out of town visitors alone spend $27-million," the report says.

Not mentioned in the report is the amount of press TIFF generates, making it tough to track down stories for this week's In The News section that weren't about the glitz and glamour of the world's largest open to the general public film festival.

Watch the report here.

Original source: CityTV