Buca is set to bring its acclaimed brand of reinvented Italian cuisine to Yorkville. An offshoot of the King West restaurant, which has been critically acclaimed and last year received the Jamie Oliverseal of approval, will open in a 3,500-square-foot space in the new Four Seasons Private Residences, probably in October.
Peter Tsebelis, a partner at Buca, told Toronto Life that, like the King West original, the new location will serve a daily-changing menu of classic Italian fare, given a twist by executive chef Rob Gentile.
The restaurant will also have a bar area, where Yorkville’s denizens can channel their inner Italian by nibbling on pastries and sipping coffee in the morning before switching to wine in the afternoon.
Currently on tour with Cold Specks, Great Lake Swimmers are going to be making a few visits to Toronto this summer, including shows at the Danforth Music Hall on June 2, plus an opening show for Blue Rodeo at the Molson Canadian Ampitheatre on Aug. 18. We had a chance to sit down with lead singer Tony Dekker to ask about the new record, New Wild Everywhere. Here are a few of the highlights:
• “The new record was more of an experiment in trying to work in an actual studio. It is our fifth record, but in a way our first studio record.”
• “We recorded it at Revolution Recording. It’s a huge new studio space, modeled after Abbey Road Studios in England. It had lots of classic, vintage gear and cool microphones. It was a new challenge for us.”
• “I’m not a gear nerd or anything, but just to have some of these really cool old microphones and different compressors — really classic — it was a treat.”
• “I wrote ‘Ballad of the Fishermen’s Wife’ originally for Lake Ontario Waterkeeper, and started playing it, just solo, for their digital music club. I played it with the band, and everyone really liked it so we decided to re-record it. It was actually originally written, I guess, as a sort of protest against the BP oil spill on the Gulf Coast. That was the impetus for the song. I was reading a lot of the newspaper headlines at the time about people’s livelihoods being destroyed because of the oil spill and how it is an ongoing disaster even now.”
• “When I think back on it, I really feel the rural lifestyle in my bones. Being in touch with the weather, for example. Weather systems play a huge part in successfully having a farm. I grew up in that environment and those kinds of things are important, and that carried through somehow.”
Walking this way
Online sensations Walk off the Earth are officially the owners of the most popular cover song ever posted on YouTube. The Burlington band’s cover of Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know” rocketed passed the 100-million views milestone earlier this week.
The clever video, which sees all five members of the band playing the tune on a single guitar at the same time, garnered the outfit significant attention, including an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, culminating in a deal with Columbia Records (they have released two full-length albums independently). The band has also just confirmed an appearance at Lollapalooza this summer in Chicago, as well as a slew of summer dates including the Hillside Festival in Guelph and the Sound of Music Festival in Burlington.
A full rundown of the dates, as well as their latest video, a cover of Nirvana’s “Polly,” are posted on the band’s website.
Picnic power
Daniel Lanois has announced the initial lineup for the second Greenbelt Harvest Picnic Festival slated for Sept. 1 at the Christie Lake Conservation Area. Headlining the one-day local food and environmental festival is Feist along with Emmylou Harris, Daniel Lanois with Brian Blade, Gord Downie and TheSadies, Sarah Harmer, Mix Master Mike, Jesse Cook, Brady L. BladeSr. and the The HallelujahTrain, with more to come. That is a killer lineup folks, and tickets go on sale via Ticketmaster on May 26. Check out Daniel Lanois and Emmylou Harris from last year’s inaugural event:
Strum it down
Local groove-yokels The Strumbellas are hitting the road for their first Western Canada tour. The band has finally gotten some much-deserved attention following the release of their debut full-length album, My Father and the Hunter, which hit stores in February. The band plays a few local shows including one in town on May 26 at the venerable Horseshoe Tavern before packing up the van and pulling out of town. Check out their show, and if you haven’t heard the new album yet, check that out too — it’s a solid effort that displays a crunchy, roots-rock sound reminiscent of the best of the city’s finest alt-country chroniclers such as Cuff the Duke and The Skydiggers. Here is a great piece of video from the band’s release party at The Rivoli:
Webb head
Ex-Constantines front man Bry Webb is heading out on the road in support of his solo debut album, Provider, released in November 2011 on the Toronto label Idée Fixe Records. He’ll play shows throughout the summer from coast to coast. Webb kicks off the tour on June 1 at the 918 Bathurst Arts Centre as part of Wavelength #543. Check out a couple of tunes from Provider here.
Young guns
Anticipation is building for the impending release of Americana, the new album from one-time Toronto resident Neil Young, along with his band, Crazy Horse, due out on June 5. The album revisits classic folk songs including well-known tunes such as the now-popular children’s song “Clementine” and “Jesus’ Chariot (She’ll Be Coming ’Round the Mountain),” both completely re-imagined with sonic aplomb. The legendary Canadian musician has been slowly rolling out the album through clever vignettes posted on his website and other online portals. The most recent, “Clementine,” like the first “Jesus’ Chariot,” makes use of authentic “found” video footage to startling effect. Check out “Clementine” here while you still can.
Everything will be all right
Ska legend and Toronto-native and Chris Murray is heading back to Toronto this week for a rare, local concert appearance at Lee’s Palace on May 27. The former frontman of King Apparatus, Murray packed up his rude boy thing and moved to Los Angeles years ago, but continues to play his own rootsy version of ska to much acclaim. Currently, he’s got a groovy three-member band: the Chris Murray Combo. The group is currently in the studio working on a new record, so expect some new tunes when he hits town as well as a few classics from King Apparatus. Check out a classic from the Chris Murray canon below:
Back in 1914, men in Toronto used to play the Rope Game. It went like this: one brave soul would have to enter the Alleyway of Knots. At the end of the Alleyway was a golden egg (not pictured, but trust us, it’s there). The other players would hold the ends of ropes with the intention of trying to trip the courageous contestant. If the man succeeded, he won the egg. If he lost, well, it didn’t really matter because the egg wasn’t golden anyway.
Then Again Vintage, which opened its doors on May 6 in the up-and-coming Junction neighbourhood, will be holding a pop-up sale over the next few weeks, featuring vintage clothing and costumes pulled from the contents of a former film wardrobe rental company.
Running until May 31, the sale features an eclectic mishmash of clothing for men, women and children, as well as various odds and ends such as vintage luggage and picture frames.
If you’re the type who loves to play dress-up and never says no to a costume party, the quirky offerings of Then Again Vintage could be right up your alley. Some of the more notable items include used costumes from a zombie film (complete with fake blood stains), a host of colourful ’60s and ’70s print dresses and even a set of chairs from the set of the recently filmed remake of Total Recall.
And have no fear if your wallet is feeling a little light lately: all the clothing ranges from $2 to $30, with only coats, furs and wedding dresses retailing for more than $10.
Furs for $30 or less? It’s enough to make you miss winter.
Then Again Vintage, 3517 Lakeshore Blvd. W., 416-277-1047
Devin Connell, the much-buzzed about owner of Yonge and St. Clair’s trendy Delica Kitchen, couldn’t decide what kind of restaurant to open next. All she knew was that she wanted to serve either fried chicken or doughuts. Stuck between a rock and a sweet place, she decided to do both.
Connell and her brother Luke are set to open Paulette’s Original Donuts and Chicken at 913 Queen Street East in mid-June. The takeout-focused spot will pay homage to the feel-good comfort food once served by the duo’s late grandmother, Paulette, whose mouthwatering fare was the antithesis of diet food.
“She believed that more butter and butter on everything was sort of the way to go,” Connell says of her grandmother.
Doughnuts and fried chicken might seem like an unorthodox combination, but this sweet and savoury pairing isn’t as uncommon as you might think. Waffles and fried chicken are a popular menu item throughout the United States (or try it at The Stockyards or The Drake Hotel here in Toronto). Connell thinks that doughnuts and chicken provide a sort of quintessentially Canadian twist on this artery-clogging dish.
“Fried chicken and doughnuts are just two foods that are sort of happy foods,” Connell says. “Anybody that eats them, it just kind of makes them happy. It makes you smile. And so I just thought, why not combine them?”
The menu is relatively no-frills, and the team at Paulette’s aren’t looking to do anything “super trendy” with their doughnuts, so don’t expect to see them topped with bacon any time soon. What you will see instead is simple home-style cooking, made from scratch using high quality ingredients.
“It hard to say that chicken and doughnuts are healthy,” Connell says. “But if you were gonna make them at home, this is what they would be like.”
The chicken will represent a twist on the traditional southern fried variety — at Paulette’s, it will be Korean-fried, a healthier take on fried chicken that involves frying it twice, producing a lighter, crispier batter. They’ll also be serving a number of different dipping sauces inspired by diverse culinary traditions.
In addition to chicken, doughnuts and coffee, the menu will feature a number of sides, including a traditional mac ‘n’ cheese. They’ll also be serving six specialty doughnuts a day, as well as hot doughnut holes made to order, with a choice of flavoured sugars.
While the menu may look nothing like Delica’s, Paulette’s is helmed by Delica chef Graham Bower, previously ofPangaea. And with the same owners and management, we can expect Paulette’s to provide the service and attention to detail that made Connell’s first venture such a success.
But it’s clear that Paulette’s is, at its heart, a family affair. As Connell explains, “It was really important to keep it in the family.” So that’s exactly what they did, even serving the same traditional drip-coffee that their grandmother used to drink, and having the interior design — featuring a retro drive-through-inspired ordering area — done by Connell's aunt, Hope Thomson.
Add to this an “awesome, awesome” hot chocolate and a special frozen hot chocolate for summer, and Paulette’s is looking to be the next glutton’s mecca in Leslieville.
You could be the next Justin Bieber! Well, if you’re under 15 years old, and have some discernible talent. YTV’s The Next Star, the reality show which pits kids against each other for singer supremacy, is back for its fifth season. This weekend, Toronto will host the Ontario auditions at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Prepare yourself for countless covers of “Call Me Maybe.”
Night at the Museum
There are only a few weeks left to fulfill your childhood dream of partying at a museum. Tonight’s instalment of the ROM’s Friday Night Live series will feature a sneak peek of the 11-day Inside Out Film Festival, which kicked off yesterday. The festival will feature screenings, panel discussions, installations and more than 200 films and videos focusing on LGBT culture. Tonight, the ROM will showcase the exhibition “The Great and Fabulous Display of Realness,” a performance by Buddies in Bad Time Theatre and a cabaret performance by Christian Jeffries.
Food for thought
Do not eat breakfast Saturday morning if you plan on attending the Kensington Foodies Roots Walk. The tour, which meets in Chinatown, will explore seasonal and ethnic foods around the city. Take in Jewish and South Asian snacks at a micro-roastery, then work your way through trendy Japanese fare and finish up with some Latin American street food. The tours are limited to 12 people, so you'll want to book in advance. And bring empty shopping bags, because you'll probably want to save room for a midnight snack at home. The best part? The walk is almost four hours, which means you'll be able to burn the copious amounts of delicious calories consumed. Mangez away!
Design on Dundas
Today, Yonge-Dundas Square is being transformed into a glorified arts and crafts display. The Ryerson University event, Design on Dundas, sees high school students facing off in a number of design and engineering challenges, which will be judged and tested by engineering pros. Students have the chance to build and launch a rocket, as well as bridges made from popsicle sticks. Don't be fooled by the crude materials — there are strict rules and design criteria which must be followed. Ryerson U kids will also be showcasing a Formula SAE race car and concrete toboggans built by engineering students. We're starting to think we chose the wrong career path.
Artfest
What better way to spend the Victoria Day weekend than walking around the Distillery District while artisans show off their craft? Did we mention it's free? This weekend, artists like bag designers Barnstorm Leathers, abstract artist Lory MacDonald, Mistura and Reiner’s (which probably makes the most adorable furniture ever), will be showcasing their work as part of Artisans at the Distillery and Artfest. More than 85 artists and artisans will showcase art, textiles, pottery, food, photography, jewellery and more. Don't miss this round, the next show isn't until August 4.
Every week, we gather our favourite tweets from in and around Toronto’s fashion scene. This week, we’ve got details on @Hmcanada’s Yorkdale expansion, DIY friendship bracelets from @openingceremony and how to get your hands on retro candy for charity from #KandyWithaK!
Looking for some style advice from some of your favourite Canadian bloggers? @FashionCanada has launched their Style Panel to do just that:
Introducing Style Panel! Canada’s best dressed It girls share their unique style know-how in answer to style dilemmas https://stjo.es/KqD33a
She may not be Lauren Conrad, but she does actually work @TeenVogue (unlike the MTV reality star). @DaniellePrescod (a former real Teen Vogue intern) shared a link to look into real life behind the teen mag:
@SidewalkHustle tweets what everyone has been thinking all week:
Is it beer-o-clock yet?!
In between drinking and eating this weekend, why not make some friendship bracelets? @openingceremony has hooked up DIY instructions from one of our fave arm party designers:
What could be more fun than shopping (and eating) retro-style candy? Well, knowing that your candy money is also going to a good cause! Thank you @natashankpr
This delicious wine is unlike any white Bordeaux I’ve tasted — it’s more like a cross between a Loire Valley Sancerre and a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Pale straw, almost water white in colour, it has an upfront bouquet of gooseberry and grapefruit. These flavours expand on the palate to passion fruit and guava, ending with a crisp lemony finish.
Tony Aspler is Post City magazine’s wine columnist. He has written 14 books on wine and food and also created the Ontario Wine Awards. He can be heard on 680News.
So now that Battleship has finally opened, we can only imagine what real naval officers — like these dudes from 1945 — would think of the summer blockbuster: “You know when a movie starts playing songs from AC/DC it’s trying way too hard to be cool,” or, “Liam Neeson has definitely sold out.” On a side note, movies based on board games should just stop.
Torontonians who have ever fantasized about living in a hotel Eloise-style will soon have the chance to take a little piece of hotel decadence home with them. At the end of this month, over 15,000 items from the 32 luxurious storeys of the former Four Seasons hotel in Yorkville will be going up for auction.
The 35-year old Toronto landmark was recently closed for good, to be replaced by a luxury apartment complex, with a redesigned Four Seasons slated to open around the corner this summer. Before this 
“revitalization” begins, everything from century-old chandeliers and grand pianos to marble floors and wood panelling will be up for grabs.
Once the swanky stomping grounds of the international and local elite, the Four Seasons has always been a glamorous point of call for celebrities and Toronto socialites. For those who’ve dreamed of owning a set of bar stools that were once graced by Stephen Harper or Pierre Trudeau, or sipping Chardonnay out of wine glasses clinked by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie post-TIFF premiere, this might be your chance to take home a piece of celebrity-touched merch.
And if your bedroom is in need of an overhaul, look no further — auction-goers can bid on duvets and linens, and even entire spa bathrooms and walk-in closets transplanted straight from the hotel’s guest rooms. The auction also contains vast amounts of kitchen and dining ware, including banquet tables and champagne buckets, and you can even get your hands on your very own Bakers Pride Pizza Oven.
Those looking for some old-world glamour can place bids on a number of notable big-ticket items, such as the hotel’s famous 32nd floor tapestry, the Avenue Bar’s epic 20-foot onyx bar and even the Regency Ballroom’s double-height doors. With some strategic bidding — and for a hefty price — these lavish statement pieces could grace your very own family living room. But it might not be easy on your credit card — the combined value of the items is over $10 million dollars.
The auction takes place at the old Yorkville Four Seasons from May 31 to June 2, starting at 9 a.m. Previews May 29 & 30.
Marking its return to Toronto after more than three decades, the world-renowned Bolshoi Ballet opened a five-night run of Swan Lake at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts Tuesday night. The story (which will be vaguely familiar to anyone who saw Black Swan) follows the romance of Prince Siegfried and a maiden named Odette who is turned into an aquatic bird by the Evil Genius, a meddling sorcerer determined to thwart Siegfried’s fidelity to his one true love.
The ballet was premiered in Moscow in 1877 by the Bolshoi with original composition by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. One hundred and thirty-five years and countless adaptations, abstractions and modernizations later, we were excited at the prospect of seeing the performance in a more traditional rendition — and we weren’t disappointed.
The curtain opens on a scene of pomp and splendour as the royal family celebrates Siegfried’s birthday and he is made a knight. Dancer Ruslan Skvortsov is certainly an impressive prince — innately regal, he jetés to impossible heights (seriously, at one point we were looking for strings) — but right away attention is drawn to his more compelling counterpart, the Evil Genius, danced by Vladislav Lantratov. The animated soloist manages to make every step look effortless (he can do about a million fouetté turns like he’s scratching his head) while still infusing his movements with the energy and — dare we say — passion that Skvortsov lacks at times.
But most enchanting is the first moment we encounter Odette, danced by Maria Aleksandrova, with her swan-tourage in the second scene. The fluidity and flexibility of her limbs really seem other-worldly and we’re swept away into the realm of fairy tale. Later, when she plays the part of Odette’s double Odile (the black swan), Aleksandrova really comes into her element — her movements become sharper, bolder and even more expressive, and she smoulders in the pas de deux with Skvortsov — the dance during which Odile seduces Siegfried into choosing her as his bride.
The show closed to a well deserved standing ovation, but we couldn’t help feeling a little sad to notice the theatre was about third empty. Seriously, people — get out and see this ballet. It’s only here for three more nights and it could be another 33 years before the Bolshoi bourrée back into town.
Yorkdale Shopping Centre is getting a huge expansion this year that will see 145,000 square feet added to the already immense shopping giant. Yet while the addition of 40 new stores is sure to get our retail juices flowing, we’re more excited about the plans for a brand new food court — or rather, a “food collection,” as the mall’s media reps would have you call it — which will provide a much needed revamp of the mall’s dining options.
The new dining area on the third level of the mall — inventively titled Dine on 3 — will have double the seating capacity of the old food court, as well as a host of fancy flourishes such as skylights and a seasonal patio.
Artistic renderings released on the Yorkdale website depict a modern space, with the various food retailers “collected” around the periphery (we think we’re getting the hang of this!), with enough exposed wood and strategically-placed pillars to please any aesthetically-minded consumer.
Taking a page out of the Eaton Centre’s book, the new dining area will include reusable plates and cutlery designed to reduce waste by 85 per cent — which is all well and good, but what we really want to know is what we’re going to be satisfying our taste buds with after a long day of retail therapy.
According to media representative Adrienne Simic, Dine on 3 will contain a wide selection of vendors — 19 in total. Some, including New York Fries, Subway, Teriyaki Experience, KFC, A&W, Manchu Wok, Thai Express and Jimmy the Greek, will have relocated from the former food court (while others that used to call Yorkdale home — Bourbon Street Grill, Arby’s, Taco Villa, Cultures and Mrs. Vanellies — have got the axe).
But while the loss of Arby’s may pain some fast food diehards, there are going to be a number of exciting new additions to the dining roster. We’re especially excited about the new Big Smoke Burger, and we’ll also be sure to hit up the burritos at Chipotle Mexican Grill.
Other new options include smoothie favourite Booster Juice, Chinese restaurant Shanghai 360, Italian-style gelateria La Paloma, Villa Madina and many more (the full roster of vendors will be revealed in June).
There will also be three larger restaurants: a new Amaya location, Su&Shi — which will provide diners with a sit-down sushi experience — and Famoso, a popular Neapolitan pizza chain from Alberta that’s making inroads into Ontario.
Hungry yet? Have no fear — while the new retail space isn’t set to open until late 2012, the food collection is scheduled to open on June 2.
Now the hard part will be deciding what to get. Personally, we’re leaning towards Chipotle, with a Booster Juice on the side. And maybe some New York Fries for dessert.
