In a galaxy far, far away – well, make that Toronto in 2011 actually – a special day for all things Star Wars came to life. With humble beginnings at the Underground Theatre as a costume contest and trivia night, May the Fourth (or Star Wars Day) was officially born. Now it’s a global celebration for fun-lovers and fans of George Lucas’ galactic anthology everywhere. From the International Space Station to Disneyland and countless places in-between, this quirky salute to the series is here to stay. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at 11 out-of-this-world ways you can celebrate this y ..read more

Daytime talk show Cityline will be ending its run this week after 40 years of giving health, lifestyle, home and fashion tips to Canadian viewers. Citytv, a television network operating under parent company Rogers Sports & Media, is cancelling the show with a farewell episode airing on Friday. Tracy Moore, who has hosted the show since 2008, confirmed the news in a candid video on her Instagram, noting that Citytv will be launching a live, hour-long national lifestyle show with very similar content to Cityline that Moore will be hosting as part of Breakfast Television. Moore suggested the ..read more

Better days are upon Toronto with the arrival of a new in-demand doughnut shop that pays homage to the ’80s. With its retro-reminiscent colour scheme of vibrant orange, swanky blue and chocolate brown, paired with cushioned bar stools and a welcoming neon sign, Better Days Coffee and Donuts was crafted by Alisha Sturino of Studio Otty. The space epitomizes nostalgia, inspired by owner Dave Fish’s childhood in small-town Ontario, where doughnut shops were ubiquitous. “It was often a treat for me and my brother and sister going to the doughnut shop,” says Fish, who has worked nearly two decades ..read more

A proposal for a mid-rise condo in Yorkville, midtown Toronto, has been revised and resubmitted for rezoning. But a neighbourhood fixture is still at risk under the new plan. Taheri Development is looking to develop an 11-storey, mixed-use residential mid-rise condo building at 126 Avenue Rd., which will include 60 residential units (11 of which are replacement rental units). The property is located at Avenue Road and Davenport Road, near the northwest corner of Avenue and Bernard Avenue, on the edge of the city’s historic Annex neighbourhood.  The site is located within the East Annex He ..read more

A 39-year-old cyclist was fatally struck by the driver of flatbed truck on Avenue Road in midtown Toronto on Tuesday afternoon, according to police. The incident occurred around 1:23 p.m. near Avenue Road and Elgin Avenue, on a stretch of city road that some residents have long advocated for additional protections for vulnerable road users including separated bike lanes and wider sidewalks. A plan has been in the works, literally, for years. The cyclist was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after. The driver of the truck has reportedly remained at the scene. Police repor ..read more

Love Park has quickly become one of the city’s cherished public spaces since opening last summer, but the murky water in the heart-shaped pond has not. Worry not, Love Park fans, the city said a fix is on the way. With the warm weather underway, the City of Toronto has begun preparations to conduct routine maintenance and repairs on its water features (such as ornamental fountains and ponds). Additional attention will be placed on the unique filtration system of the heart-shaped pond at Love Park, which opened last June at York Street and Queens Quay, The pond’s filtration system is less chemi ..read more

From the team behind Koh Lipe Thai Kitchen, Savor Thai, Thairoomgrand, and Eat Bkk comes Aamara, a fine dining Indian restaurant that just held its grand opening. With gastronomy that combines tradition and modern techniques — including a focus on golden presentation—Aamara takes inspiration from all of India, from the peaks of Kashmir to the edge of Kanyakumari. “Foodwise, Toronto was missing a place that served modernized Indian cuisine for all the regions,” says owner Kugendran Perampalam. “They either choose a place that served North Indian food or South Indian Food. But we picked dishe ..read more

The Ontario Human Rights Tribunal ruled that National Service Dogs (NSD) didn’t discriminate against a girl with autism spectrum disorder after the non-profit organization removed one of its dogs from the family home. According to litigation documents, since 2018, the service dog, Sammy, had been living as a companion animal with the Mississauga, Ontario family. He was removed from the family home on March 28, 2022, after the NSD noted that he had gained a substantial amount of weight and suffered health issues. The family, however, alleged discrimination with respect to services “because of d ..read more

A hotbed of cold feet. That’s the comment by the late Roy McMurtry, former attorney general and chief justice of Ontario, about the federal government. But it applies to all bureaucracies, public and private, which take forever to make a decision and resist making change when it is needed. It certainly applies to Toronto. If you apply for a change of zoning and official plan to build a large residential structure, city hall takes 500 to 600 days to make a decision given departmental consultations, public hearings, committee meetings and so forth. The cost of delay is thought to be $2,500 to $3 ..read more

Part of what makes Toronto one-of-a-kind is the unique experiences it bestows upon visitors and locals alike. And, just like the soul of this vibrant city, Toronto’s boutique hotels offer the same creative ambiance that city-goers can’t get enough of. From charming quirks and artistic spaces to entertainment hot spots and curated getaways, here are Toronto’s top 10 guest-rated boutique hotels. 10. The Broadview Hotel Courtesy thebroadviewhotel.caCourtesy thebroadviewhotel.caCourtesy thebroadviewhotel.ca At the intersection of Queen Street East and Broadview Avenue, the Broadview Hotel looks li ..read more