LibbyApril showers are not limited to the weather this year, and with waves of lockdowns hitting Toronto, the government is beyond late pulling the ‘chute, and with ICU beds and staff at their absolute limits, I’ve been suggesting sticking to virtual events and staying the f*ck home– no patio opening posts here, sorry.
Instead, immerse yourself in something other than Doug Ford’s smugness this long weekend. Our friends at KANDL are hosting a Zoom based class where candle expert Louise will guide you through making a custom candle using KANDL’s sublime (and shipped to you) scented oils. Add in some extra sweet treats to make from their extensive offerings. Get all the details- https://kandl-artistique.com/virtual-lab/
From Beetljuice to Bueller, there’s a movie for any mood at the Ontario Place Drive-In. Stay safe in your vehicle while you smuggle in snacks and sit back for a night of nostalgia. $10 per head.
Willy Wonka has nothing on this magnificent hunt. The inaugural Four Seasons Egg Hunt puts Pastry Sous Chef Kevin Levionnois’ talents to the forefront, with a La Banane inspired mega-egg ($65). Tucked inside one of these eggs is a winning golden ticket to a one-night stay at FS Toronto. Happy Hunting!
The hunt continues with my fave west-end brewery Collective Arts. C-star stickers will be randomly placed on the bottom of 50 cans in random orders. Find a sticker, win a Neon Sign, collectible glasses and more.
We’re swooning over the new sammies just in time for spring at Ufficio. Stefano’s Sandwiches has set up shop offering plant-based paninis Wednesday – Sunday for pickup and delivery from their Dundas West restaurant. Fresh takes on ‘fish’ and classic Italian faves make for perfect handheld parcels for a park lunch. The latest to launch is their insanely tasty take on vegan corned beef, read more about their full-witchcraft menu here.
Chen Chen’s Nashville Chicken is making noise and ruffling feathers (not really) in their new coop in Parkdale.
Zitto Zitto Taverna is opening soon on College Street. The Italian restaurant will be right at home nestled in Toronto’s bustling Little Italy. Look for classic rustic Italian paired with old-world wines. Yes!
Toula, at Westin Harbour Castle, is closed. After owing staff money, including a petition organized on Change.org to track down the owners netted no results, the restaurant is shuttered, and presumably, staff still owed money. Enjoy this very cringy post as a cruel goodbye to somewhere we never suggested anyway.
Harbour Eats by Mercatino is calling it quits. The popular downtown food hub couldn’t sustain the small amount of food traffic in the core to keep the doors open. A well-documented list of their equipment is currently up on offer for auction.
Le Sélect Bistro is now an Allied Properties asset. The much-loved French institution on Wellington that provided Toronto with a distinct joie de vivre is closed, awaiting the chaos of COVID to come to a close. With new deep-pockets taking over, let’s hope they keep this jewel sparkling, and similar to what we fondly remember in the before-times.
Gordon’s Pub on Queen East is also liquidating their stockpile of goods. We’ll pour a pint out for this local, sure to be missed by many regulars.
Beerocracy on College has also closed. The pub with the cool church pews wasn’t immune to the lockdown and has shuttered their doors after almost two years after converting from Pour Boy.
All photos by Libby Roach.