Canada Day Monday events in Toronto for 2018

Events in Toronto today rival the option of laying in front of the air conditioner with another edition of Promise Cherry Beach and the final day of Toronto Ribfest. There's a big beer party and a clothing sale on, too. Don't forget to see what's open and closed!

Events you might want to check out:

Promise Cherry Beach (July 2 @ Cherry Beach)
Promise Cherry Beach returns with a long-weekend edition and a celebration of Montreal music, featuring deep house DJ Clarian.
Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers (July 2 @ Budweiser Stage)
Golden age rock legends Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers are in Toronto with their classic hits spanning nearly 50 years.
ReelHeART Opening Night (July 2 @ Imagine Cinemas Carlton)
Independent documentaries and films take the spotlight as the ReelHeART film festival kicks off with a screening of The 5 Year.
Brewer's Backyard (July 2 @ Evergreen Brick Works)
A slew of brewers come together in celebration of Canada Day with cold suds served alongside food from Delite Bite, FeasTO, Food Dudes and more.
Sorauren Farmers' Market Clothing Sale (July 2 @ Sorauren Ave Park)
Spend the day perusing through this clothing sale taking place alongside the farmers market. All items are $2 and there'll be live music.
World Cup Comedy (July 2 @ Comedy Bar)
The highs and lows (sorry, Germany) of World Cup fever is showcased during this elimination-style comedic competition.
Safe As Houses (July 2 @ Burdock)
Kitchener-Waterloo's Safe as Houses blend alt-folk, rock and classical into an unusual yet memorable sound, and they're here alongside Hungry Lake.
Pillowtalk (July 2 @ Thompson Hotel)
It's gonna be a scorcher so why not spend the day poolside, cooling out to the groovy sounds of Pillowtalk and Simon Jain?
Toronto Ribfest (June 29 - July 2 @ Centennial Park)
It's the last day to get your hands on some sticky, meaty goodness at the annual Toronto Ribfest. There's also music and activities on all day.
Union Summer (July 1 - August 19 @ Union Station)
The return of this giant market continues today with food, shopping and programming on throughout the day.

by Lisa Power via blogTO

The top 10 new restaurant openings in Toronto for June

The top new restaurants that opened in Toronto this June engage not only the taste buds, but all the senses. These restaurants invite you to delve into their food with tantalizing aromas, jaw-dropping presentation, and comfortable surroundings before you’ve even taken your first bite.

Here are the top new restaurant openings in Toronto for June.

Kojin

If you now catch a whiff of campfire smoke around University and Richmond, that’s the new upper-floor restaurant at Momofuku Toronto. Long-time David Chang disciple Paula Navarrete takes the reins at the new project centred around a wood-burning Argentinian grill.

Bar Altura

Italian food is taken to the next level at this spot on Queen West. Precious versions of tomato salad, fried smelts and arancini are served alongside equally pretty cocktails.

Wynona

This new Leslieville spot comes from chef behind pescatarian restaurant Ufficio, so it’s no surprise that a menu heavy on the fish and veggies is executed stunningly here.

SoSo Food Club

Whole lobster mapo tofu, dumplings and noodles galore await at this “food club” from the folks behind Otto’s Bierhalle, where there are also DJ sets on the weekend.

Mezu

Ssam lettuce meals and bulgogi get reinterpreted through an array of international techniques at this spot replacing Solita. They’ve already capitalized more on the corner spot with a sweet little licensed corner patio.

Frilu

The food here is not only a treat for the stomach but the mind as well, illusions are performed with dumplings and lardo.

Madrina

Tapas are reinvented at this new Distillery District spot: you’ve never seen olives and oysters quite like this before.

Petty Cash

The people behind Baro have opened another party spot not far away, this one a slightly more casual venture with fried chicken sandwiches, burgers, vegan pâté and veggie plates, as well as patio and pool table.

Don Alfonso 1890

Michelin Star Chef Ernesto Iaccarino just opened his first North American restaurant right here in Toronto in the Financial District, highlighting Amalfi coast cuisine through high-end “classic” and “contemporary” menus.

Sapori

Dundas West now has this restaurant serving comfort food in the form of generous charcuterie boards and dishes like Nashville fried chicken alongside biodynamic wines and craft beer.

by Amy Carlberg via blogTO

The top 5 free events in Toronto this week

Free events in Toronto this week are all about music, dancing, culture and film. Take a trip through time in the DeLorean, shake your booty to some salsa or listen to some jazzy grooves — all for free.

Events you might want to check out:

Back to the Future (July 3 @ Trinity Bellwoods Dog Bowl)
Where we're going, we don't need money. Catch Marty McFly and the Doc by taking a trip back to the 1950s at the last Bellwoods Movie Night of the summer.
Cultura Festival (July 6-27 @ Mel Lastman Square)
A festival of music, art, food and movies returns to Mel Lastman Square every Friday this July with outdoor movies paired alongside musical acts.
Beaches Jazz Festival (July 6-29 @ Multiple Venues)
A festival of all things jazz music by artists both local and international is set to turn the Beaches in to a paradise for music lovers.
Afrofest (July 7-8 @ Woodbine Park)
This free festival is dedicated to showcasing African music from Toronto and around the world with storytelling, music, dance and special programming.
Salsa On St. Clair (July 7-8 @ St. Clair Ave West)
Salsa in the streets is the main event of this three-week outdoor party along St. Clair with events, food, music and, of course, dancing.

by Lisa Power via blogTO

The top 5 vegan soft serve ice cream in Toronto

What's open and closed Canada Day Monday 2018 in Toronto

What's open and closed on Canada Day Monday 2018 is slightly different then what was going on July 1. The statutory holiday is being observed on this day so expect most businesses to be closed for the day.

Here's what's open and closed on July 2 in Toronto.

General
 

Closed

• Government offices
• Libraries
• Banks
• Post offices

Open

• The TTC will operate on a holiday schedule.

Saks Food Hall will remain open on July 2 for any shopping needs. Photo by Hector Vasquez.

Food
 

Closed

• It's worth calling ahead to restaurants before heading out — many already consider Mondays a day off.
• Most major grocery chains will be closed on Canada Day Monday, with a few confirmed exceptions listed below.

Open

• Fresh & Wild (2294 Bloor Street West) - 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Fresh & Wild (69 Spadina Avenue) - 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Galleria Supermarket (7040 Yonge Street) - 24 hours
• Galleria Supermarket (865 York Mills Road) - 7 a.m. to 12 a.m.
• Galleria Supermarket (558 Yonge Street) - 7 a.m. to 12 a.m.
• Galleria Supermarket (351 Bloor Street West) - 7 a.m. to 12 a.m.
• Loblaws (60 Carlton Street) - 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Pusateri's (57 Yorkville Avenue) - 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Pusateri's (2901 Bayview Avenue) - 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Pusateri's (1539 Avenue Road) - 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Rabba (various locations) - 24 hours
• Saks Food Hall (176 Yonge Street) - 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• The Food Depot (115 Dupont Street) - 24 hours
• The Kitchen Table (10 Queens Quay West) - 6 a.m. to 12 a.m.
• The Kitchen Table (389 Spadina Road) - 7 a.m. to 12 a.m.
• The Kitchen Table (595 Bay Street) - 6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
• The Kitchen Table (705 King Street West) - 6 a.m. to 2 a.m.
• Whole Foods (87 Avenue Road) - 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Popbox MicroMrkt (725 Dovercourt Road) - 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Metro (444 Yonge Street) - 24 hours
• Sukoshi Mart (160 Baldwin Street) - 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• T&T (1 Promenade Circle) - 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• T&T (7070 Warden Avenue) - 9 a.m. to 12 a.m.
• T&T (715 Central Parkway West) - 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• T&T (222 Cherry Street) - 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• T&T (9625 Yonge Street) - 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• T&T (9255 Woodbine Avenue) - 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• T&T (8339 Kennedy Road) - 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Kostas Meat Market (259 Ellesmere Road) - 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Perola Supermarket (247 Augusta Avenue) - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Indie bottle shops will be your best bet for booze come July 2. Photo by Hector Vasquez at Left Field Brewery.

Drink
 

Closed

• The Beer Store
• LCBO

Open

• For a complete list of indie bottle shops in Toronto, see this directory. Holiday hours are provided where applicable, but we advise calling ahead to confirm.

CF Toronto Eaton Centre will be just one shopping destination to keep its doors open on the holiday Monday. Photo by Hector Vasquez.

Malls
 

Closed

• Bayview Village Shops
• CF Fairview Mall
• CF Sherway Gardens
• Dufferin Mall
• Scarborough Town Centre
• Yorkdale Shopping Centre

Open

• CF Markville (5000 Hwy 7) - 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• CF Toronto Eaton Centre (220 Yonge Street) - 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Hillcrest Mall (9350 Yonge Street) - 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Pacific Mall (4300 Steeles Avenue East) - 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Promenade (1 Promenade Circle) - 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Square One Shopping Centre (100 City Centre Drive) - 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Toronto Premium Outlets (13850 Steeles Avenue West) - 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Vaughan Mills (1 Bass Pro Mills Drive) - 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Yorkville Village (55 Avenue Road) - 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Feel like a tourist come Canada Day and visit the CN Tower. Photo by Hectore Vasquez.

Attractions
 

Open

• Aga Khan Museum (77 Wynford Drive) - 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Art Gallery of Ontario (317 Dundas Street West) - 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Canada's Wonderland (1 Canada's Wonderland Drive) - 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• CN Tower (301 Front Street West) - 8:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Gardiner Museum (111 Queens Park) - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Hockey Hall of Fame (30 Yonge Street) - 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Movie theatres
• Ontario Science Centre (770 Don Mills Road) - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Ripley's Aquarium of Canada (288 Bremner Boulevard) - 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Royal Ontario Museum (100 Queens Park) - 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Toronto Zoo (2000 Meadowvale Road) - 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

by Jaclyn Skrobacky via blogTO

These are all the fun new things to do at Ontario Place

Ontari0 Place is shaping up to be the place to be this summer. The massive facelift it got last year definitely seems to be paying off, and aside from the many festivals happening over the next few months, there are plenty of features to check out on the grounds before summer ends.

Here are all the fun new things to do at Ontario Place. 

Catch a flick at the Cinesphere

After being closed for five years, the world's first permanent IMAX theatre finally re-opened late last year and it looks better than ever. It will now show IMAX 70 mm films as well as IMAX Laser presentations; catch movies like Under the Sea and U2 in 3D. 

Go ice skating 

Yes, in the summer. Ontario Place now has the city's only outdoor summer skating rink. The whole thing is built from solid polymer, allowing it to stay icey even in blazing hot weather. If you don't have your own skates they offer blades for $10, no time limit. 

Explore the William G. Davis Trail

You'll find thousands of native plants, rocks, and boulders along this 1.3-kilometre trail. Look out for the moccasins engraved on two stone walls marking the ravine entrance, where you'll find the engravings celebrating First Nations' heritage. 

Admire the new pavilion

This beautiful new structure is great for gatherings, dashing for cover from the rain — with a significant other, maybe?  The pavilion does frame the Romantic Garden, after all. 

Have life-sized chess match

This mega-sized chess set is where you and a friend can have a proper tourney, Harry Potter-style. If you're a little weak-armed, don't worry – the pieces aren't as heavy as they look. Find this set near the East Island. 

Throw a volleyball tournament

Echo Beach just got four new regulation-sized volleyball courts with a great view of the CN Tower. You can rent volleyballs for two hours at just $5 from the General Store nearby, and play as late as midnight every day. Just make sure to check out Echo Beach for availability. 

Check out Trillium Park

This new park right next to the waterfront is a refreshing piece of green space on the Ontario Place grounds. Plus, there are these bright blue lego-esque foam shapes that pop up on weekends that are super fun to play with and oddly therapeutic, even for adults. 

Start a bonfire

You need a permit to book out one of these fire pits, but the extra effort is worth it with such an amazing view of the city. Seriously, the view of Toronto's downtown skyline is one of the best you'll get without having to take a ferry to the Toronto Islands. 

by Tanya Mok via blogTO

Toronto water taxi options and what you need to know

The water taxi in Toronto seems to be shrouded in a modest degree of mystery. How much does one cost? Are they licensed like regular taxis? And, of course, how late do they operate? Fortunately, given the size of the fleet, most questions related to this ferry-alternative are answered easily enough.

Here's what you need to know about the water taxi in Toronto.

The fleet

Water taxis in Toronto are licensed by the city, under the Water Taxi Licence Program. This puts a cap on the number of legal operators in the harbour. There are a maximum of six locations on the Islands that approved water taxis can have access to for pick-ups and drop-offs.

Departures from the mainland aren't as regulated, but the main departure point is the slip at Queens Quay and Spadina.

The main operators are Toronto Harbour Water Taxi, Five Star Water Taxi, Water Taxi Now, Harbourlink Watertaxi, The Otter Guy Water Taxi and Tiki Taxi. At present time only Toronto Harbour Water Taxi, Tiki Taxi and Water Taxi Now are licensed to pick up or drop off people at the Harbourfront docks.

The cost

On account of city regulations, water taxis charge $10 per person for a one-way trip to the Island (and vice versa when it comes to a return to the mainland). Once on the Island, you can travel back via ferry at no cost as there are no ticket booths on this side, but take note that the latest ferry runs at 11:45 p.m. from Centre Island.

Hidden Fees

It's important to note that over and above the base fee, some water taxis charge for items like bikes and strollers. This can add to the cost of your trip, so make sure to check the operator's rates and/ or policies before making the trip.

Water Taxi Hours

You'd be wrong to think that all water taxis operate later than city ferries. The Tiki Taxi, for instance, runs from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the summer season. What you're paying for is the convenience of shorter lines and the fun of a bamboo-clad boat, not longer hours.

The Toronto Harbour Water Taxi, on the other hand, does offer late service from the Islands. Its operating hours are 8 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. The Otter Guy Water Taxi also has later hours, running all week from 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. 

by Staff via blogTO