10 notable Toronto businesses that closed in August

Toronto businesses that closed in August comprised some much-loved places, including one of the city's favourite fabric stores and a respected restaurant that left a lasting impact on our food scene. They won't soon be forgotten.

Here are the most notable Toronto businesses that closed in August.

Black Hoof

Restaurateur Jen Agg's first real venture into the dining biz began at this Dundas West space. After a decade of charcuterie and a ton of notable alum having worked in its kitchen, it closed on August 20. Agg has already moved on to her next project: Le Swan.

Boar

A favourite in the Yonge and Davisville area for its delicious veal, chicken or meatball sandwiches that would regularly sell out, this sibling shop to Rosedale's Black Camel quietly closed last month.

Bond Running

This cafe and running apparel store in Chinatown shut down in August after a little over a year in business. Its owner (and co-founder of Parkdale Roadrunners) posted an explanation as to why it closed on its website.

Corned Beef House

Serving up smoked meat sandwiches for over three decades in a heritage building on Adelaide Street West in the Entertainment District, the Toronto location of this classic deli closed for good last month. It will be replaced by a restaurant and lounge called Melrose on Adelaide.

Designer Fabrics

Regularly ranked as the best fabric store in the city, this beloved Parkdale institution sold its final yard of cloth on August 4 after more than 65 years in business. Its elderly owners decided it was time to retire.

Hoja Luwei

Toronto's first Taiwanese street food luwei snack bar lasted only a year. A sign posted on its door in Koreatown said it was closed due to flooding, but it seems the closure will be permanent.

Kiss the Tiramisu

Known for serving its soft-serve creations in plastic gold-rimmed goblets, the first-ever North American location of this Korean dessert chain didn't manage to last very long. It closed in Kensington Market a year after it opened.

Lone Star

Despite its tourist-heavy location in the midst of the Entertainment District on King Street West, the sole downtown Toronto outpost of this Oakville-based chain faded to black on August 2. This space, which was previously Big Daddy's, may be cursed...

Offsite

This design- and fashion-forward cafe, boutique, gallery and events space on Dundas West couldn't come to a rental agreement with its new landlord and closed at the end of the month with a send-off party after two years in the space. Here's hoping it'll find a new location soon.

One Hour

Comfy bean-bag chairs, high-quality bubble teas and satisfying Chinese snacks made this minimalist cafe on Spadina a fave in Chinatown for years. Sadly, it seems to have silently closed its doors.

by Christina Cheung via blogTO

The top 5 free events in Toronto this week

There's nothing wrong with keeping expenses low, and free events in Toronto are all for it. The TIFF Street Festival is back with screenings and activities along King West while the Cabbagetown Festival shows off the best of the neighbourhood.

Events you might want to check out:

Fireside Tales (September 4 @ Dufferin Grove Park)
Fireside Tales celebrates five years of storytelling in the park with a night of stories, cozy blankets, snacks, marshmallows and hot cocoa.
TIFF Festival Street (September 6-9 @ King Street West)
King Street shuts down once again for a four day street party including free film screenings, food, installations and prime red carpet viewing.
Movie Night in Liberty Village Park (September 7 @ Liberty Village Park)
Maybe bring a blanket fo this free outdoor screening of Black Panther and catch one of the last free outdoor screenings of the season.
Cabbagetown Festival (September 8-9 @ Cabbagetown)
Historic Cabbagetown comes out for a big festival with an all-Canadian market, food from local vendors, activities and live performances.
Toronto Bicycle Music Festival (September 9 @ Humber Bay Park West)
Put your pedal to the metal and take part in the big bike-powered concert and communal street ride through the city.

by Lisa Power via blogTO

You can explore this incredible glowing tunnel in Ontario

There's something profoundly alluring about an abandoned tunnel. Upon entering, you can't but help but wonder about its original purpose and the history that's contained in its reinforced walls. Problem is, there are very few of these places that are safe to explore.

Fortunately, Ontario is home to one of the most remarkable tunnel destinations in North America.

The Brockville Railway Tunnel, originally built between 1854 and 1860, was the first of its kind in Canada. It actually pre-dates the country's more celebrated western tunnels laid out for the Canadian Pacific Railway.

The tunnel during renovation efforts. Photo by Keith Hare / Brockville Railway Tunnel.

After decades of neglect and deterioration, it was miraculously restored as a pedestrian passageway that's proving a major tourist draw for the small town east of Kingston on the St. Lawrence River.

Renovation efforts commenced in August 2016, and the first stage of the tunnel officially opened olast summer. It's been a local hot spot since.

The LED lights in the tunnel rotate colours, which gives an ethereal effect. Photo by Keith Hare / Brockville Railway Tunnel.

The 525-metre passageway features a stunning LED light show that changes colours as people travel underneath downtown Brockville. The stunning rock walls are immediately reminiscent of the Stockholm subway system.

Some portions of the tunnel feature more rough-hewn rock walls. Photo by Keith Hare / Brockville Railway Tunnel.

While the tunnel has a certain degree of polish thanks to the renovations, the groundwater that occasionally collects at the bottom offers amazing reflective photo opportunities. This is Instagram heaven.

Looking straight down the passageway. Photo by Keith Hare / Brockville Railway Tunnel.

The restored tunnel is only phase one of Brockville's long term vision to create a Railway Park at the site. Future phases involve the redevelopment of the former railway Gorge property north of the tunnel and the railway lands to the west.

One of the other colour profiles in the LED light show at the tunnel. Photo by Keith Hare / Brockville Railway Tunnel.

Those projects will surely enhance the site, but there's no need to wait to check it out. The tunnel is definitely the centrepiece and looks spectacular.

by Staff via blogTO

10 things to do in Toronto today

We're midway through the long weekend and there's still plenty of events in Toronto today. Electric Island wraps up for the season and deadmau5 keeps the tracks pumping. There's also a boozy brunch, J- and K-Pop party and the last day to check out some Banksy works.

Events you might want to check out:

deadmau5 (September 2 @ Rebel)
Everyone's favourite giant-mouse-helmet-clad trance DJ is in town for a one day music festival with Monstergetdown and Manzone & Strong.
Whiskey Kisses (September 2 @ Nightowl)
Another edition of Whiskey Kisses is back for an evening of rare and live R&B performances, with the local music scene’s newest artists.
End of Summer Pop Up Market (September 2 @ Arta Gallery)
Part of Artfest, this big market gathers together local makers selling ceramics, jewellery, small artworks and more.
Drag Queen Boozy Brunch (September 2 @ Constantine)
The powerful forces that are drag and brunch join together for a boozy extravaganza that includes performances, tunes and a huge brunch buffet.
The End Of Meat (September 2 @ Revue Cinema)
Catch the Canadian premiere of this new documentary that explores what a post-meat world would have on the environment, animals and us.
Jpop Kpop Dance Party (September 2 @ Sneaky Dee's)
Inspired by the beauty and splendour of all things Sailor Moon, this dance party is blasting all the best J-Pop and K-Pop bangers.
Electric Island (September 2-3 @ Hanlan's Point)
The final Electric Island is here and it's stacked with two-days of talent like Loco Dice, Charlotte De Witte, Danny Daze and more on the decks.
The Art of Banksy (June 13 - September 2 @ 213 Sterling Road)
Today marks your last chance to check out original works by the infamous Banksy before the (unofficial) exhibition moves on.
Rebelmatic (September 1-2 @ Multiple Venues)
It's the last night to catch some hardcore punk tunes with musicians and performers from Toronto's local scene and beyond.
Fan Expo (August 30 - September 2 @ Metro Toronto Convention Centre)
A weekend of fandom wraps up today with special guest appearances and everything from cosplay, comics, anime, hour, gaming and much more.

by Lisa Power via blogTO

Only in Toronto #24: Dupe Shop, the Toronto Zoo's baby hippo, Cauldron Ice Cream

A pygmy hippo getting a bath won the internet this week proving the Toronto Zoo can still win hearts post pandas. 

In this episode of the Only in Toronto podcast, we get the details on the famous newborn and stop by a phone repair shop that also sells waffles.

Plus, we find out why cassette tapes are making a comeback and whether it's worth the $8 for a single scoop at Toronto's newest Instagrammable ice cream shop. 

Background information on this episode:

• The Toronto Zoo's baby hippo gets a bath

Articles referenced in this episode include:

• Toronto is already complaining about the air show
• Video shows many clinging to car hood on Toronto highway
• Drake just called Donald Trump an idiot
• Drake takes heat for wearing Hells Angels hoodie

Places mention in this podcast:

• Dupe Shop
• Cauldron Ice Cream Toronto
• Grandmama's Waffles

Ways to subscribe to the Only in Toronto podcast:

• Apple Podcasts
• Google Play Music
• Stitcher
• Tune In
• Libsyn

You can also listen to the Only in Toronto podcast on Alexa. Just ask Alexa to play the podcast Only in Toronto.

by Staff via blogTO

The top 10 new restaurant openings in Toronto for August

New restaurants in Toronto helped us sweat it out through the heat and cozy up during the rainstorms with offerings both warm and cold. New places to cool down with frosty beer, hand rolls and ceviche are balanced out by novel hotspots for ramen, Thai and steak.

Here are my picks for the top new restaurants that opened in Toronto last month.

The Aviary Brewpub

This new home to Longslice Brewery in the Canary District is also the place to find ballpark favourites you might be familiar with from Dock Ellis, like burgers. There's also wings, tater tots, a wraparound patio and pool.

Quetzal

Grant van Gameren has once again had a hand in producing a magnificent Latin American restaurant, this one a Mexican spot in Little Italy with a focus on the wood-burning grill, oven and traditional comal.

Ramen Misoya

This is the newest place for authentic Japanese miso ramen near Queen and Bathurst, a popular brand overseas.

Narami

This spot on Ossington is an ode to the hand roll. The beautiful interior and wide sake selection set it apart from past Japanese spots in the city.

Omni Palace

Hand-pulled noodles are the specialty at this Chinese restaurant near Victoria Park and the 401. They do thick and thin noodles as well as specials like house roasted lamb ribs.

Alobar

This highly anticipated Yorkville restaurant does cocktails, wines, charcoal-grilled items and delicate takes on foie gras.

Stamp’s Lane

This new Roncesvalles Village east coast restaurant does Newfoundland sweet buns, crudo, tongue carpaccio and Monday buck-a-shuck.

Imm Thai

A new Thai restaurant in Little Italy, this place does mango sticky rice, fish cakes, crispy sweet potatoes and great new takes on pad Thai.

The Commoner

Roncesvalles Village now has this pub on Dundas West in place of a Wild Wing. It replaces it with a patio, house aged steaks, duck fat fries and brunch.

Robo Sushi

The future is now, and it's everything you've ever wanted: you can now get served sushi by a robot in North York.

by Amy Carlberg via blogTO

Ontario government agrees to give rebate to Tesla owners after all

That's one for Elon Musk, zero for the Ontario government. 

After taking the Ontario PC government to court in August and winning the lawsuit last week, Tesla Motors has secured back rebates for Tesla owners as the government winds down its Electric and Hydrogen Vehicle Incentive Program. 

Now, any Tesla delivered, registered, and plated on or before Sept. 10 will—like all other electric cars sold in the province—once again be eligible for rebates of up to $14,000. 

The Ontario Superior Court Judge ruled last week that Tesla Motors was treated unfairly by the Ford government's decision to block buyers of Tesla (and only Tesla) from the grace period given to electric car owners as Ontario cancels cap and trade. 

Justice Frederick L. Mayers stated that Ford's transition program “singled out Tesla for reprobation and harm without (providing) Tesla any opportunity to be heard or any fair process whatsoever." 

According to Transportation Minister John Yakabuski, the province will not be appealing the Supreme Court decision, meaning anyone who already pre-ordered their Model 3 on a budget is back in the financial safe zone. 

by Tanya Mok via blogTO