Queen/King West : In The News

The Toronto Star's Christopher Hume writes on the legacy of the Bell Lightbox, the 2-year old TIFF headquarters that's transforming Toronto's downtown.

"There’s no need to shed any tears for Yorkville just yet. Though it lost much of the film festival when TIFF moved downtown last year, it can still count on the enduring power of vanity to keep its wheels turning. And if the ’70s ever become fashionable again, the old Village will be the place to be."

"Meanwhile, down at King and John, the Bell Lightbox, TIFF’s elegant new funhouse, continues to change the face of the downtown neighbourhood. It’s not that Yorkville — or at least, the larger Yorkville area, including the Royal Ontario and Gardiner museums and the Royal Conservatory — is any less a cultural hub, but some of that energy has shifted south."

"The city also provides a study in the domino effect, how one change leads inexorably to another. TIFF is a catalyst as well as a result. And as the area draws ever closer to critical mass, it becomes a self-sustaining mix of culture, entertainment, commercial, corporate and domestic forces."

"That’s why the neighbourhood is no longer simply an Entertainment District, a Financial District or any other such designated enclave. It now incorporates elements of both. In that sense, it belongs to everyone."

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original source Toronto Star

The USA Today--with the help of Toronto transplant Richard Florida--has complied a list of North America's best cities for exploring urban neighbourhoods. Toronto, the only Canadian city to make the list, is lauded for its eclectic and "artsy" Queen West district.


"The western edge of this major traffic artery now boasts an array of restaurants, bars and shops. Visitors come for music venues, including the Drake Hotel and the Gladstone, which turns its first floor tavern into a weekly "Art Bar," where artists and designers mingle."

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original source USA Today

The Thompson Toronto, Toronto's newest luxury hotel, has received a rave review in the New York Times Travel Section. The hotel, described "as sleek [and] modern with a cosmopolitan appeal", is applauded for its "happening" location (on Wellington just south of King), its many amenities (including a spectacular wraparound rooftop patio), and its formal and efficient service.

"The aesthetic at the 102-room Thompson Toronto, opened in June 2010, is retro-modern, and the rooftop pool is a party spot in its own right, complete with bouncers and guest lists. The hotel has a branch of Scarpetta, the New York chef Scott Conant's modern Italian restaurant; a lobby bar that serves cocktails with ingredients like elderflower and Campari; and a 40-seat screening room (sure to get some use during the Toronto International Film Festival). Construction has begun on an adjacent Thompson residence tower. "

"The Thompson is a sleek, modern hotel with a cosmopolitan appeal, particularly for those whose trip includes a bit of see-and-be-seen. With rooms starting at 250 Canadian dollars, about the same in U.S. dollars, it's an easy way to buy into the jet set."

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original source New York Times

Eye Weekly writes on Type Books' fifth anniversary. The independent Queen West bookstore celebrated their success with a day of free cake, tea, and readings.

"It's fun to have 'good news' and 'books' together in the same sentence," laughs Joanne Saul, the co-owner of Toronto independent bookstore Type Books. Saul has plenty to smile about: Type is celebrating its fifth anniversary this Saturday (April 30) with a full-day public-reading event at their Queen West location. The event will feature 18 authors reading their own material, ranging from novels to memoirs and all literary works in between."

T"he day will consist of the authors giving "pop-up" readings, where they emerge from within the crowd and read from their work for two to three minutes. "It's kind of crazy; every 20 minutes we're going to have an author 'pop up,'" Saul says. "It could be the customer standing next to you at the magazine rack� the store will be bustling, and the person beside you will hop on a stool and start to read!"

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original source Eye Weekly

Chicago Tribune food columnist Monica Eng writes on Toronto's "wonderful eats." In a recent visit to the city Eng chowed down at some of Toronto's most iconic eateries--from College's Caplansky's Deli, to St. Lawrence Market's Carousel Bakery to Dundas West's Smoke's Poutinerie--and raved about them all.

"I just rolled back into town from blustery Toronto, where the winter cold is worth braving for the wonderful eats. Here are 10 that I happily trudged around town trying. In between, I got to enjoy street level views of this fabulous walking city that's also easy to navigate by street car, bus or subway."

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original source Chicago Tribune

The New York Daily News encourages its readers to visit Toronto, "a glitzy, fast-paced, world-class city that pulses 24-7." Among other things, Toronto is lauded for its diverse restaurants, choice hotels and general affordability.

"Sure, every New Yorker knows how to enjoy his or her hometown without credit card burn, but it's often hard to find steals and deals in a new city. That isn't true in Toronto. Its best attraction is bargains."

"Even a cab into town is cheap. As Porter flies to the City airport, which floats on an island in the water near the heart of downtown, it's a five-minute, $8 cab ride to almost any hotel."

"The best place to start on a foodie tour in Toronto is also arguably the cheapest. Wrought-iron two-story St. Lawrence Market is a South Street Seaport without any of the artificial gloss or jacked-up price tags. Produce stands jostle for space with lunch counters serving up fish and chips and piled-high sandwiches to an eclectic crowd of office workers and a few savvy tourists."

"Don't miss the endorsement-covered Carousel Bakery (416-363-4247, South St. Lawrence Market, upper level), whose owner is clearly a master at managing the press � a rave from Emeril is pasted by the register. Its specialty is the oddly named but irresistible Peameal sandwich: a soft roll filled with pork loin crusted in cornmeal and topped with spicy mustard for less than C$5."

"Around town, look for the blaring graphics of Hero Certified Burger (heroburgers.com), a local chainlet that's like a Chipotle for hamburgers. The 100% free-range, grass-fed beef makes giant, belly-filling patties, again for less than C$5."

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original source New York Daily News

Dwell Magazine's Miyoko Ohtake spent a week in Toronto on the look out for the city's "most interesting and innovative spots". She raves about it all--from the TIFF Lightbox to the Willcocks Commons to Gladstone Hotel--in her "Touring Toronto" slideshow.

"[Toronto] continues to surprise me, with its creative forces always at work, interesting and innovative spots always presenting themselves, and endless construction being done" see slideshow here
original source Dwell

Toronto Life writes on the Drake Hotel's latest expansion plans. The iconic Queen West institution recently announced that it plans to partner with local architecture firm ERA Architects Inc. to add new guest rooms in the Drake-owned property next door to the main building.

"We've been thinking about the in expansion for quite a while now; it's sort of been in fruition almost since the opening," Ana Yuristy, director of hotel operations, told us, adding that the new guest rooms will be just east of the main hotel. Owner Jeff Stober purchased the buildings next door early on-- those that house the Drake General Store and Drake BBQ -- and it's the space above these that will be filled in with additional rooms."

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original source Toronto Life

As part of a series on the coolest offices in Canada, the Globe & Mail features video of Mongrel Media's Toronto workspace. The office, located on Queen West near Ossington, stands out for "combining traditional elements of a turn-of-the-century building with modern elements of design".

Founded in 1994, Mongrel Media is a Toronto-based film distribution company specializing in art house, foreign and independent feature films and documentaries.

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original source Globe & Mail

CNN has named Toronto's Drake Hotel Sky Yard one of the "World's 15 best hotel bars". The West Queen West rooftop bar is described "as a place so hip that just being there cranks up the cool-scale ranking".

"The garden-like space, lined with eastern-inspired booths and daybeds, plays host to indie film screenings, sing-alongs, art shows, clothing sales and bands."

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original source CNN

Toronto has been chosen as the site of the next Future of Media panel series. Hosted by Digital Journal, the day-long free event will feature panel discussion by "some of the most influential leaders in media". "The Future of Media" will be held on April 6 at the Drake Hotel.

"Future of Media events are a must-see event for anyone interested in the rapidly changing landscape of new media, the Web and journalism. The speakers will discuss some of the biggest challenges the media industry faces today."

"The event will feature a live panel discussion followed by a Q&A session with the audience. Digital Journal will also be taking questions via Facebook and Twitter to pose to panelists. Questions may be submitted at any time between now and April 6."

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original source Future of Media Blog

The Gladstone Hotel recently celebrated 5 years since its re-emergence in 2005 as an art-hotel, venue space and bar. The National Post's Adam McDowell writes on The Gladstone's "commitment to being a dozen flavours under one roof" and how its become one of Toronto greatest cultural hubs.

"... a party last month to marked five years since the place reopened with a new and hipper ownership and management, vibe and mandate. True to the Gladstone's commitment to being a dozen flavours under one roof, the party featured a jazz band, art installations and fleshy burlesque dancers doing their saucy thing under a bright green number five."

"Like the Drake down the street, the Gladstone was, not so long ago, a seedy beer hall with a quasi-rooming house upstairs and a gritty reputation. My mother was terribly nervous when, as a teenager in the mid-1990s, I had a meeting with a gig promoter there. Nowadays, it functions as a hipster community centre while still catering to some of the old Queen Street blue-collar crowd (their patron saint was Hank "The Gladstone Cowboy" Young, the chatty operator of the vintage elevator, who passed away in October 2009 and is greatly missed). The experiment has given the place a unique charm and energy. Depending on the night or day, you can partake in an art show, a bluegrass concert, nude art lessons or Simpsons trivia. Or while away a Sunday afternoon with a bottle or two of Molson Stock Ale."

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original source National Post

Toronto's legendary Arcadian Court, the restaurant and event space that occupies the Bay's eighth floor, is getting a makeover. The Court, which first opened in 1929 in what was then the Simpsons Department Store, has been a Toronto institution for decades. As reported by the Toronto Star the "new" Arcadian Court, tentatively dubbed "The Loft", will be revamped as a versatile event and meeting space.
 
"Now part of the flagship Bay store, the current owners say they plan to restore the Arcadian Court to its former glory, the next step in breathing life back into the department store chain, a once fading Canadian icon."

"The plan for the Arcadian Court is part of a larger deal the Bay has struck with upscale local restaurateur Oliver & Bonacini and global foodservice firm Compass Group Canada to make over the restaurants in all 24 Bay stores that offer foodservice."

"Upstairs next to the Arcadian Court, the retailer plans to create a new event and meeting space, tentatively called The Loft, which will cater to both business and social occasions of various sizes. Construction is scheduled to begin in April and end 16 months later."

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original source Toronto Star

Blog TO writes on the 2011 edition of Come Up to My Room (CUTMR), an annual design event at the Gladstone Hotel. CUTMR, curated by Deborah Wang and Jeremy Vandermeij, brings in over 30 designers/artists to temporarily redesign one of the hotel's many rooms. Blog TO hosts pictures and reviews of this year's exhibition.

"As usual, it's impossible to assign a controlling theme to CUTMR. In keeping with the original idea behind the show, the curators select the artists rather than the pieces. "Once these creative individuals and collectives have been selected, they are given a public space or one of the 11 exhibition rooms on the hotel's second floor. Curators consult and discuss public space projects with their makers, but know next to nothing about the room installations." There are two ideas behind this arrangement: 1) each is designed specifically for the show and 2) it helps to foster artistic creativity by removing as many constraints as possible."

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original source Blog TO

The New York Times writes on the allure of Toronto's fashion district, "once a hodgepodge of textile factories and auto lots", the old warehouses have been transformed into upscale restaurants, trendy boutiques and sleek glass condos.

"The roughly 17-square-block area where most of the development is taking place is named for its link to the textile industry. Just west of Toronto's downtown and theater district, the fashion district is bisected along King Street by the city's most popular streetcar line. Development has been centered on the diminutive Victoria Memorial Park, which is surrounded by stylish midrise buildings and industrial brick structures given new life with trendy shops and restaurants."

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original source New York Times