Popular US ice cream brand Halo Top is coming to Toronto

WestJet's new discount airline launches with ridiculously low fares

We've reached a point in time, my friends, where you can buy a flight from Vancouver to Toronto for less than $8. Well, sort of. As with all things related to discount carriers, there's a bit of a catch, though the deals are still outrageous. 

WestJet's new low-cost airline, Swoop, just started selling tickets for people looking to travel within Canada on the cheap.

The carrier only flies to five different cities so far, but you can get between some of them, on certain days, for less cash than it would take to ride a bus from here to Oshawa.

Halifax, Edmonton and Winnipeg are all on Swoop's route map right now, along with Hamilton, Ont. and Abbortford, B.C. – a city just slightly farther away from Vancouver than Hamilton is from Toronto.

A one-way trip from Abbotsford to Hamilton on November 17, 2018, would cost a base fare of $7.49 if you booked it right now.

Sure, you'd have to drive an hour to hit your final destinations both ways (should you be heading to Toronto from Vancouver,) but the flight itself is roughly the price of two large coffees – taxes and fees included.

There are tons of other one-way flight deals on the company's website right now ranging in price from between $39 and $99, but they're selling like hotcakes, so act fast.

These special prices are related to the airline's launch and won't last forever, but even the company's regularly-priced tickets are pretty reasonable. Flights from Hamilton to Abbotsford cost between $99 and $279 all summer right now.

by Lauren O'Neil via blogTO

Lyft offering $3.25 rides during TTC subway closures

In a stroke of marketing genius, Lyft has decided to match TTC fares this weekend while portions of the subway system are closed for scheduled maintenance.

The popular U.S. ride-sharing company, which launched in Toronto less than two months ago, is set to announce a promotion on Thursday that will let customers pay a $3.25 flat rate, per ride, to or from any Line 1 subway station.

Lyft says it was inspired to launch the promo after learning that large stretches of Toronto's public transit system would be closed this weekend, and every other weekend in February.

The company also noted that, during its first month of operations in Toronto, more customers rode to Union Station than any other place.

"Since launching in Toronto, we've seen so many people use Lyft to get to different areas the city through making first-mile-last-mile connections with Toronto’s transit systems," said Lyft Toronto General Manager, Tim Houghton.

"With the TTC's Line 1 shut down for upgrades on weekends this month, we're eager to help Torontonians continue to get where they need to go safely, affordably, and reliably."

People nearby any Line 1 subway station can enter the promo code TOTRANSITFEB18 into their Lyft app to get 10 rides at $3.25 each, to or from any Line 1 subway station, when regularly planned closures are in effect, according to the company.

That means that, between February 3rd through 26th, you can take a Lyft for $3.25 every Saturday from 6 a.m. until to Sunday at 1:30 a.m., and from Sunday at 8 a.m. until Monday at 1:30 a.m.

by Lauren O'Neil via blogTO

Toronto's most famous Coffee Time has closed

Remember a few weeks ago when an entire neighbourhood was crushed to learn that its local Starbucks was closing?

This is not that kind of story. 

Junction Triangle and Wallace-Emerson residents seem straight up stoked right now by the news that a Coffee Time at Dupont and Lansdowne has closed for good (it was reported to have been sold last spring, but remained open until this week).

Found out that the Coffee Time by Lansdowne/Dupont has been SOLD! If you live in the area, you know this is great news. ;) #JunctionTriangle

— Anum Rubec (@SummerxSkin) May 2, 2017

"I noticed a sign on the door this evening thanking all for their patronage over the years," wrote someone on Reddit last night of the longstanding coffee shop. "Anybody know what's in store for the site?"

"That's the greatest sign a neighbourhood could have," wrote one commenter, to which another replied "property value is gonna sky rocket now."

This particular coffee shop has not enjoyed the best reputation, to put it lightly. People online have associated it in recent years with drugs, prostitution and generally wild happenings at all hours of the night.

Canadian rapper D-Sisive wrote an entire song called Coffee Time At Dupont & Lansdowne in 2016, if you need more information on the mark that this place left.

lansdowne coffee time should have a reality tv show called "what now?"

— OLA (@ola_mazz) July 25, 2016

Rumour has it that condos will be built where the Coffee Time stands now, at 1005 Lansdowne Ave., just across from Toronto's most controversial Food Basics location, though a development application has yet to be filed with the City of Toronto.

"Where will I get my meth cream donuts?" joked one person in the Reddit thread about the shop's closure. "Good riddance," wrote another.

"Honestly," concluded someone else, "every neighbourhood that doesn't have a Coffee Time should use that as their selling point."

by Lauren O'Neil via blogTO

Toronto Restaurant Openings: Brunswick Bierworks, Paris Paris, Sofia, Grand Electric

Toronto restaurant openings highlights the latest food news in Toronto and gives a preview of what's coming soon. Find us here every Thursday morning.

Open now

• Brunswick Bierworks, a collective of brewery partners, officially opened its taproom to the public yesterday at 25 Curity Ave. in East York.
• High5, a cafe from The Fifth Inc. (Cabin Five, Fifth Grill, The Fifth Social Club,The Fifth Pubhouse) has soft opened in the lower level of 221 Richmond St. W. (at Duncan).
• Parallel, a Middle Eastern and Mediterranean restaurant, is now open at 217 Geary Ave. (just east of Dufferin).
• Plancha, an "educated street food" restaurant influenced by the Mediterranean flavours of Portugal, Spain, Cyprus, Israel and Egypt, has opened at 44 Victoria St. (at Adelaide).
• Creeds Coffee Bar now has a second location that can be found at 1595 Bayview Ave. in Leaside.
• Sushi Mori is serving up a "taste of Japan" at 30 Eglinton Ave. E.
• Butter Chick, with everything butter chicken, has opened inside the Yonge Sheppard Centre food court.
• Fearless Meat, a "neighbourhood burger joint with quality hamburgers, brisket and peameal sandwiches," is now open at 884 Kingston Rd. in the Upper Beaches.

Recently reviewed

• Aunt Elsie's Caribbean Kitchen
• Bulldog Coffee
• Ramen Isshin (Assembly Chef's Hall)
• Brick Street Bakery
• Tanto
• Tuk Tuk Canteen
• Dolce Moda
• Junction Craft Brewing

Opening soon

• Five Points Nashville Hot Chicken (from the team behind Village Pizza) opens tomorrow (February 2) inside Open House bar (from one of the owners of Get Well and The Greater Good) in the former space occupied by The Steady at 1051 Bloor St. W. in Bloorcourt.
• Paris Paris, a new wine bar by the duo behind Bar Fancy and all of the Superpoints, looks to be opening very soon at 1161 Dundas St. W. (by Ossington).
• Sofia, an Italian restaurant from Charles Khabouth's INK Entertainment (Akira Back, Kost, Estia), will be opening this spring at 99 Yorkville Ave.
• Parkdale taqueria Grand Electric looks to be opening a second location, this time across from Trinity Bellwoods Park, at 925 Queen St. W.
• Speaking of tacos, El Chapo, whose slogan seems to be "tacos with attitude," will be opening  in March at 36 Toronto St. in the Financial District.
• Constantine, the Mediterranean restaurant inside boutique hotel The Anndore House (which seems to have soft opened), along with its affiliated casual cafe Scarlet Door – both helmed by chef Craig Harding (La Palma, Campagnolo) – should be opening this spring at 15 Charles St. E.

Other news

• Bloorcourt bar Disgraceland’s menu is now 100% plant-based/vegan.

Have you seen restaurants opening or closing in your neighbourhood? Email tips to editors@blogto.com.

by Christina Cheung via blogTO

Toronto is about to be blasted by extremely cold weather

I sincerely hope you came correct to face the cold today, because temperatures are about to dip in a sharp and painful way.

Extreme winter: part two is expected to begin this evening for Toronto, as promised, when another brutal arctic air mass comes screaming into the region.

Environment Canada forecasts a low of -15 C on Thursday night (though it could feel more like -22 C with the wind chill,) prompting the City of Toronto to issue an extreme cold weather alert for the first time in weeks.

Tomorrow is expected to be similarly cold, feeling like just -23 C thanks to frigid wind chills.

TO's Medical Officer of Health has issued an #ExtremeColdAlert today. More info:https://t.co/F4eCVYLasy #StayWarm

— Toronto PublicHealth (@TOPublicHealth) February 1, 2018

It may have been relatively warm in the city on Thursday morning (we hit 3 C around 9 a.m.), but heading home for the day could be rough if you didn't bring a hat and all that related protective winter jazz.

At the very least, tonight's blast of cold will serve as a reminder for everyone bundle up tomorrow.

Weather Network meteorologist Doug Gillham says that we can expect "an abundance of winter weather during the next two weeks."

The next 10 days will feature "colder than seasonal temperatures across Ontario" according to Gillham, plus an active storm pattern that will see at least a few more rounds of snow pummel our city into sad, cold, stay-inside-forever submission.

by Lauren O'Neil via blogTO

10 things to do in Toronto today

Today in Toronto you can hear YouTube's wildly popular Postmodern Jukebox perform IRL, take in the city's most transgressive performance festival, and explore the first of many Black History Month themed events happening this month.

Events you might want to check out:

Postmodern Jukebox (February 1 @ Massey Hall & Roy Thomson Hall)
Scott Bradlee's wildly popular YouTube passion project, Postmodern Jukebox, jumps out of your screen and lands in the real world. These old timey covers of contemporary top 40 are always stunning.
Pitch Talks with Bob Kendrick and Ross Atkins (February 1 @ Rivolli)
This baseball panel series hosts a special Black History Month event with Blue Jays General Manager Ross Atkins and President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Bob Kendrick.
Chocolate Lovers Party (February 1 @ 111 Elizabeth St)
Embark on a chocolatey taste test while simultaneously learning tips and tricks to create your own delicious treats straight from holistic nutritionalist and weight loss coach Tatiana Vicol.
Clash Of The Comics (February 1 @ 120 Diner)
16 of Toronto's funniest comedians go head to head at this monthly roast battle tournament. The crowd votes to determine who had the best dunks and who should be crowned champion.
Progress Festival (February 1-18 @ Theatre Centre)
Progress is an international festival of performance and ideas curated and produced by a series of Toronto-based theatres, art centres, and dance communities.
Un-Valentine's Opera Pub Party (February 1 @ 54 The Esplanade)
Here's a type of party you probably didn't think existed. It's a raucous, anti Valentine's protest party with free chocolate, hilarious dating anecdotes, raffles, and, hence the name, opera singers.
Craft Pong Tourny (February 1 @ WAbar)
WAbar, a sports bar, izakaya and games room mash-up, holds a beer pong tournament tonight. Cups are filled with water for sanitary reasons, but you better believe there'll be cans aplenty - and on special!
Digital Futures (February 1 @ 49 McCaul Street)
Tonight is the kickoff of an annual exhibition that shows off cutting edge prototypes, themes, tools, and trends from leaders in computing, wearable tech, and digital entertainment.
Kali Ma (February 1 @ Gladstone Hotel)
Toronto riot grrrl meets rapper meets DJ, Kali Ma, is throwing a release party for her upcoming EP Myst Milano. She categorizes the record as one steeped in feminine power. Hear it live tonight!
Electricladyland (February 1 @ The Beaver)
This is a monthly queer dance party where all-female electro artists are exclusively played by local DJs. Get ready to dance to Bjork, MIA, and a healthy dose of other electric ladies. Best of all, it's free.

by Corey Van Den Hoogenband via blogTO