The top 6 street festivals in Toronto this spring

Street festivals in Toronto this spring give friends and neighbours reasons to gather after a long and cold winter. Food, music, entertainment and local vendors selling their wares are all part of the package.

Events you might want to check out:

Major/Minor Music and Arts Festival (May 5-7 @ Bloordale (on Bloor between Dufferin and Lansdowne))
This Bloordale music and arts festival is a weekend-long neighbourhood love-in with concerts, stages, workshops, mixtape parties, bike tune ups and local business deals.
Spring into Parkdale Sidewalk Festival & Market (May 13 @ Parkdale Village BIA)
Parkdale celebrates its local artists, culture, and diversity with a day of shopping, food, music, over 130 vendors, 25 performers and a beer garden.
Pedestrian Sundays (May 28 @ Kensington Market)
The first Kensington Market Pedestrian Sunday of the season is always a wonderful thing. Cars are given the boot for streets filled with food, performers, dancers, music, vendors and hundreds of happy people.
Dundas West Fest (June 3 @ Dundas Street West)
One of the city's best street festivals, Dundas West Fest brings together a collection of local restaurants, clothing vendors, coffee shops, antiques, bars and a couple small stages. 
Open Tuning 2017 (June 10 @ Seaton Village)
A free festival celebrating live music in Seaton Village. Watch lives shows on and inside porches, parks, alleyways, garages, and street corners of the neighbourhood from 2-10 p.m.
Roncy Rocks (June 17 @ Roncesvalles Ave)
Roncy Rocks Music & Arts Fest West happens all along Roncesvalles with 10 hours of stages set up on every corner featuring everything from polka bands, to indie rock, country and folk.

by Phil Villeneuve via blogTO

This secret Toronto supper club might be one of world's best

Luke Hayes decided at the age of 11 that he wanted to be a chef. His mother Carrie opened her first restaurant (presciently called "Luke's!"—she named it after her son) in Kingston, Ont. when he was a year old, so he grew up in the industry.

At 15, after training in the restaurant's kitchen for four years and reading copious cookbooks, he took over as its executive chef. Hailed as a cooking prodigy, it got him a lot of press.

After eight years of running Luke's Gastronomy seven days a week, he felt it was time for something new.

"I wanted to shake things up!" he says. So he sold the restaurant, travelled to Australia, staged at a few top spots there for a while, and then moved to Toronto."I've always loved TO, so it just made sense to move up here."

He decided to start a secret, private dining club called L.U.S.T (Luke's Underground Supper Table) in the city because it's the "anti-restaurant"—"every menu is different, it's much more casual, and it's so much more fun, for everyone involved," he explains.

"There weren't many underground supper clubs in TO, and that's what excited me."

Not long after it was up and running, the Food Network named it one of the top 15 underground supper clubs in the world. This month it celebrated its third anniversary.

These underground dinners usually take place at a secret location in Kensington, but to mark the special occasion of L.U.S.T's third year, this sold-out, celebratory meal was held at visual artist/opera singer Paula Arciniega and her partner Matt Brooks' stunning studio/home.

Judging by its lacklustre exterior, you'd never guess such an amazing space could exist on such an unassuming, industrial stretch of Geary Ave., but clearly looks can be deceiving. Arciniega and Brooks are friends of Luke's, and he catered here before when they recently hosted Pocket Concerts.

No two L.U.S.Ts are alike, and each has a dinner party atmosphere; this anniversary one felt like a hip house party where you could chat up some super interesting people – some being L.U.S.T regulars while others were lucky newbies –  combined with a great meal.

It's BYOB (with recommended pairings), and there's always a theme to the four-to-five courses served.

Past nights have featured dishes from Jerusalem, Chicago and Northern Thailand, while others have been even more broad, like "McDonald's World Tour" or "NYE 1920s," where guests came dressed as flappers and gangsters.

This particular night's theme was Malaysian hawker food mashed with a playlist of big disco beats – both personal favourites of Luke's. "The flavours are perfect for a big celebration," he explains. "Punchy, exotic, nuanced, spicy. It doesn't get sexier."

Guests could watch as Luke cooked and prepared the meal in the open kitchen while they leisurely imbibed and struck up conversations with friends and strangers alike.

There were seven courses to this meal, and the dishes reflected the three main ethnic influences of Malaysia – Malay, Chinese and Indian, from a tasty, spicy sambal chicken topped with crispy skin and scallions to a play on kaya toast.

As his trusty sous-chefs, Luke had the help of his mother Carrie and girlfriend Shaelyn, who assisted in putting the finishing touches on his cooking for 35 or so people.

Flavourful dishes like a super tender slow-cooked pork shoulder in a sweet soy sauce had hints of spice, kaffir lime and Szechuan peppercorns, along with pops of colour from red chilies, fried garlic and slivers of cucumber.

For the adventurous, dinners like these are practically guaranteed to make for a fun and unpredictable experience. Luke throws three to four per month with a limited number of tickets available. Dates and themes are announced on his site, through his newsletter and on Twitter.

by Christina Cheung via blogTO

The top 10 brunch restaurants in North Toronto

Brunch restaurants in North Toronto may not be as over the top or indulgent as some downtown options but these restaurants between Davisville and the 401 still satisfy cravings for pancakes, eggs bennies and bacon. 

Here are my picks for the top brunch restaurants in North Toronto.

Boom Breakfast & Co

Find all your classic breakfast offerings at this Toronto chain with a location on Eglinton West. Omelettes, bennies, breakfast sandwiches, pancakes and fresh toast all grace the menu.

Doug's Public Kitchen

If you're on the hunt for a vegan brunch destination, this it it. The restaurant near Glencairn station serves tofu omelettes, vegan benedicts and bagels with cashew cream cheese.

Fresh

Whether your a carnivore or a vegetarian, meatless eats  at this Toronto chain are a must-try. Their Eglinton East location does brunch on weekends starting at 10:30 a.m.

Good Bite

In business since 1969, this diner just north of Eglinton on Yonge has been a destination for breakfast and brunch for decades. They have it all from, breakfast specials to omelettes to fresh toast.

Hazel's Diner

Traditional diner fare is the forte at this Yonge and Lawrence stalwart. Fill up on classic breakfast offerings of eggs bennies, home fries and waffles.

Lil' Baci

Weekend brunch is served at this Italian destination near Yonge and Davisville starting at 11 a.m. Chow down on breakfast pizzas and brioche french toast.

Starving Artist

Waffle enthusiasts rejoice! Mount Pleasant has a restaurant whose menu is entirely dedicated to waffles. Whether you take your waffles sweet or savoury the options are plentiful.

The Belsize 

Make your way to this Mount Pleasant pub on the weekend to fill up on their brunch offerings. If you're feeling extra hungry (or hungover) opt for the Belsize Breakfast that comes with two eggs, peameal, home fries, toast and jam.

The Homeway

A North Toronto staple for more than half a century, The Homeway on Mount Pleasant is a must-visit for when you're in need of a brunch fix. The menu boasts steak and eggs, egg benny, buttermilk pancakes and more.

Uncle Betty's

Ultimate grilled cheese sandwiches, sweet potato hash, stuffed french toast and breakfast sandwiches with donut buns are just a few of the brunch items available at this Yonge and Eglinton area diner.

by Jaclyn Skrobacky via blogTO

Ontario Place getting a big taco festival this summer

It looks like Ontario Place is getting a new lease on life this summer as the place in Toronto to host a food festival.

Along with the big BBQ festival that's on from June 9 10 11, Ontario Place will get a taco festival on the following weekend, from June 16 to 18.

Right now, details are sparse. But this festival is from the folks at TasteToronto. Last year, they held their first Taco Fest at 99 Sudbury and brought out around 10,000 eaters.

Later in the summer, from August 25 to 27, TasteToronto will throw a beer, bourbon and barbecue festival. And yes, this meaty affair will also be at Ontario Place.

TasteToronto is still accepting vendor applications, so it's unclear who's participating in these festivals yet.

by Amy Grief via blogTO

The top 10 parties in Toronto this spring

The top parties in Toronto this spring might put you in debt, that's okay because you'll look great, the rooms will be spectacular and you'll more than likely end up dancing with one of the Real Housewives. 

Events you might want to check out:

2017 Beaux Art Costume Ball (April 7 @ Polish Combatants' Hall (SPK))
OCAD U's costume ball has been on for 94 years. This huge black tie affair will have an Unconventional Runway Challenge, speakers corner, voguing and food.
Fashion Art Toronto Launch Party (April 14 @ Offsite)
Help launch Toronto's (actually) cool fashion event with a night of dancing, drinking, socializing, dressing up and mingling with designers and models.
Friday Night Live (April 20 @ Royal Ontario Museum)
ROM's first Friday Night Live party of the season will see DJs Wayne Wunder and Simon Jain spin around the giant whale.
Machine Age Massive (April 27 @ The AGO)
The gallery will be transformed into three distinct spaces to transport partygoers through a spectacular night of mechanical wonder.
Timeraiser (May 24 @ The Power Plant)
Get a personalized raccoon portrait at this annual fundraising party with libations, treats, and the chance to mingle with those shaping the future of Canadian Art.
Operanation (May 25 @ COC)
Come for a night of elixirs, culinary experiments and music that transform the three floors of Toronto's Opera House into a cabinet of curiosities.
Power Ball XIX Stereo Vision (June 1 @ The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery)
Explore the hidden worlds, alternate realities and unseen universes that may exist parallel to our own as well as art installations and performances at this party.
Mad Hot Ballet (June 6 @ Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts)
For Canada's 150th and The National Ballet of Canada’s 65th anniversary, this party honours our country's legends of dance.
Earth Ball 2017 (June 14 @ Mill St Brew Pub)
This major gala includes 400 party people, local food, drinks, live shows, eco-friendly loot bags and a chance to celebrate the environment.
All-Star Gala 2017 (June 16 @ Arcadian Court)
This is a major fundraising gala for SickKids that brings over 1,250 celebrities, pro-athletes and hopefully a couple of the Real Housewives of Toronto.

by Phil Villeneuve via blogTO

Toronto cyclist blocks street after car stops in bike lane

Toronto cyclists and vehicles often don't get along on our city streets, even though there are now bike lanes on major arteries like Bloor, Richmond and Adelaide.

Recently, Redditor BrockThrowaway posted a photo purporting to show a stand-off between a cyclist and a driver who was stopped in the bike lane on Adelaide West near Simcoe.

In the photo, it looks like the person on the bike is staring down the driver in the white car, while blocking vehicular traffic at the same time.

The photo made it to the front page of /r/Toronto and generated lots of comments, as cycling-related issues usually do in Toronto.

Some criticized the cyclist's eye-for-an-eye attitude while others said he proved his point about how annoying it is when someone blocks your lane.

About a year and a half ago, the Cactus Club Cafe got caught using the Adelaide bike lane for its valet parking service. After lots of social media-fuelled backlash, the restaurant stopped that practice.

by Staff via blogTO

Kensington Market about to get at least one new brewery