Be ready for opening day Backpack from roots.com, $230; baseball shirt by Citizen Threads from etsy.com, $47; cap from lids.ca, $18; Japanese t-shirt from drakegeneralstore.ca, $25; hedgehog from sportchek.ca, $19
Playoffs bound b-ballers Raptors tank from realsports.ca, $40; scarf from realsports.ca, $37; foam finger from sportchek.ca, $6; mascot from realsports.ca, $25; sweatshirt from kidozi.com, $26; boots from store.nba.com, $35
Can buds go all the way Toronto Maple Leafs scarf from realsports.ca, $25; jacket from realsports.ca, $100; toque from roots.com, $30; tutu dress from realsports.ca, $48
When it comes to choosing a getaway destination, “LA” always tops my list. I feel the need to put that in quotations because as a general rule, the only LA I get on my trips there is at the airport, and possibly a short day trip into Beverly Hills for some retail therapy and a cone of frites at the bar at Bouchon. I simply cannot reconcile staying in the city when there’s an ocean around, and so home base for me is always in Santa Monica, where I can get my fill of shopping and west-coast eating but still fall asleep listening to the waves crashing. It is my true happy place, one that I am fortunate enough to visit fairly often. Each trip there looks pretty much the same as the time before, and that’s the way I like it, thank you very much.
That said, my most recent trip to Cali found me craving something even beachier. So rather than the same-old, I headed down the coast to Laguna for some real beach-town R & R. There, there is no semblance of city at all. A former artist’s colony, Laguna is all about the ocean, the sand and time spent wandering about the myriad of local shops, open air restaurants and tiny galleries. It is the very personification of “chilling out”; a pastime, if I’m honest, that I’m not particularly good at at all.
Any concern of “not enough to do” was alleviated the moment I stepped foot into the lobby of my resort. Just a few miles south of town is the real star of the Laguna Beach show. Perched on a 150-foot bluff overlooking the Pacific is the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel. Impossibly, the hotel décor manages to echo the stunning beauty of it’s environs. Finishes are luxe, flowers defy gravity in glass vases along the halls, art and antiques abound and floor to ceiling French windows offer panoramic ocean views.
The rooms are charming and comfortable. I could have been content to spend the trip just sitting on the balcony of my suite looking out over the water and watching the surfers ride the waves. But the ocean called, so after a morning workout in the well appointed fitness centre and breakfast at one of the hotel’s 5 restaurants, my time was spent walking in the surf, admiring the multi-million dollar homes that dot the coastline and exploring the trails that surround the well manicured property. Evenings were reserved for tapas, martinis and viewing jaw- dropping sunsets 150 feet over Salt Creek Beach. Enough to do, indeed.
I have no doubt that on my next trip to the California coast I will lapse back to the familiar routine of city life on the ocean. But It’s nice to know that when I really need to unwind, there’s a little bit of paradise just an hour and a half drive down the beach.
ALL IN THE FAMILY Blink and you’ll miss Museum Tavern. Squirreled upstairs and across the street from the Royal Ontario Museum sits the suitably named brasserie. The charming space has been satiating museum goers and the spillover crowd from Koerner Hall ever since siblings Chloe, Glen and Kyle Kristenbrun opened back in 2012. (Prior to opening, they were involved in an intense food tour in the States.) In addition to serving American comfort food — think upscale burgers, giant salads and the like — the tavern is known for its stellar cocktail program.
THE MAN FOR THE JOB “I’m from Halifax,” notes bar manager Andrew Foster, “and I moved out here last year for … a blonde.” After pouring at bars around town, Foster was spotted and subsequently poached by a Tavern staff member, who knew he’d be the perfect fit behind the bar. The cocktail program itself is a collaboration between Foster and the rest of the team. “You want to follow trends but sometimes trends aren’t right for this establishment,” Foster says. “It limits you but also pushes you to keep trying new things.”
THE BUBBLES HAVE IT “We always want a sparkling cocktail,” Foster says of the Beauty and the Bog, a tipple found on the winter menu. To craft the popular drink, Foster pours Bombay Sapphire gin and Lillet Blanc into a cocktail shaker. He adds a grenadine syrup made from fresh cranberries and pomegranate juice, some lemon and half a rosemary sprig and then shakes it and fine strains it. A pour of sparkling brut tops it all off, making for an easy sipper that’s just the right amount of sweet.
A marijuana dispensary at 1532 Eglinton Ave. W. near Marlee Avenue was raided by Toronto Police Service (TPS) on Jan. 18. Four employees working at the dispensary were arrested and charged with possession of marijuana, proceeds of crime and drug trafficking offences. A TPS press release states that 4.4 kilograms of marijuana, 14 grams of hashish, 59 kilograms of edibles, seven grams of shatter (cannabis resin) and approximately $20,000 in cash were seized during the raid.
A male suspect wanted by the Toronto Police Service (TPS) in a sexual assault investigation is still at large. On Jan. 3, around 9:50 a.m., a 26-year-old woman was on board a TTC subway train heading northbound between St. Clair West subway station and Glencairn subway station when a male suspect allegedly sat beside the woman and sexually assaulted her. Security images of the suspect have been released on the TPS website. Anyone with information is asked to contact police.
A local synagogue near the Bathurst Street and Warwick Avenue area was the scene of a robbery in late December, with two suspects still at large. On Dec. 25, a male and female entered an area where coats were being stored and stole multiple items before leaving the building. The two were last seen entering a 2010 to 2015 black Volkswagen Golf before leaving the area. Security images of the two suspects, as well as the suspect vehicle, have been posted on the TPS website.
Canada Goose clothing company is planning to go public as soon as this month in a move that could peg the winter parka peddler’s value at close to $2 billion. American actress Maggie Q and PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) were hoping to send a message to the company when they showed up at its doorstep to protest the use of coyote fur in the parkas worn by everyone from Rihanna to Drake.
On Jan. 16, animal rights activists, some covered in a blood-like substance, protested outside of the company’s headquarters. Canada Goose has long been criticized for its use of fur, but the company states: “We strongly support the ethical, responsible and sustainable use of fur.”
Tripe X marks the spot When it comes to finding Noorden, look for the triple X sign on the street. At the Yonge Street eatery, which was Quince in its previous life, Jennifer Gittins, Michael van den Winkel and head chef Peter Tompkins are dishing out contemporary Dutch-Indo cuisine. Inside the pop-up (it’ll remain open until 2018), patrons tuck into sharing plates and swill gin tipples against the backdrop of a graphic Amsterdam skyline.
The pick of the Dutch In the Netherlands, Dutch gin is the spirit of choice. Gin in its modern state has its roots in genever, Holland’s traditional juniper-flavoured liquor that reaches back to the 17th century. “People think they don’t like gin until they try a proper gin,” notes bar manager Mac Lebioda. Known affectionately as the resident gin whiz, Lebioda made a name for himself after winning Toronto’s Ginapalooza contest. “It’s all about finding what kind of gin really speaks to you.” With a stock of 45 gins, guests can go for a sipping gin, sample different G&Ts (they make a homemade tonic) or reach for one of the house cocktails instead.
A perfect pairing Noorden’s signature creation is the Angry Dutchman ($14). “We started with the Bols genever ’cause it’s the only true recipe for gin,” says Lebioda of the Netherlands’ original spirit. In order to balance out the maltiness of the genever, he paired it with some herbal Green Chartreuse and St-Germain elderflower liqueur with a touch of citrus to keep it fresh. Chili water finishes the cocktail off, resulting in a drink that exemplifies what Noorden is all about. “The genever is so Dutch, and with the chilies it’s so perfect because of the Indonesian influence in Holland,” says Lebioda. Plus it’ll warm you up in January. Noorden, 2110 Yonge St., 416-488-2110
WINTER 2017: ALBUMS Although most music lovers are eagerly anticipating the new Bell Biv Devoe album, slated for release in the coming months, here are five noteworthy Canadian records that will find a place in our stacks this winter season.
The Sadies: longstanding roots rockers the Sadies release their latest album, Northern Passage, on Feb. 20 via Dine Alone Records. The Toronto band has been turning out some seriously fine music for the past 20 years. The psych-folk single “Riverview Fog” has a powerful punch. The Sadies play Massey Hall on Feb. 2.
Kid Koala: The groundbreaking Canadian DJ is back with an innovative new album dubbed Music To Draw To: Satellite. The ambient record featuring Icelandic vocalist Emiliana Torrini is this compelling artists's first sans samples, and he employs a number of instruments and techniques to create a lush atmosphere. Kid Koala plays six shows on three days at the Rivoli, Jan. 26-28.
Jenn Grant: Juno Award–nominated singer-songwriter Jenn Grant follows up 2014’s Compostela with her sixth album, Paradise, slated for release on March 3. Grant has released “Galaxies,” the first single off the new album, a groovy piano ballad with a richly textured sonic landscape suitable to the otherworldly song title. She plays in support of her new album on March 24 at the Great Hall.
Austra: Buzz-worthy Toronto electronic music project, founded by Katie Stelmanis, readies its third and most ambitious album, Future Politics, for release on Jan. 20. The band plays a release show on the same date at the Mod Club.
Serena Ryder:Yes, this album has been pushed back and is now an early 2017 release at best. But with such a powerful first single in "Got Your Number," fans are clamouring for more tunes from this talented Torontonian with the powerful pipes.
WINTER 2017: SHOWS Although it’s not always easy to trudge through the snow to check out a concert, there are a few very good reasons to brave the winter weather in 2017. Herewith, a few bands that are sure to thaw out your frosty bones for a night.
Sam Roberts, Jan. 20, Rebel (Sound Academy): The Montreal rocker released his latest album, Terraform, in October, and he hits town with his big hair and even bigger sound. This guy turns out the hits and is sure to please. Along for the ride is local fave Hollerado, an equally high-energy pop-punk act that loves nothing more to entertain a big and exuberant room.
Adam Ant, Jan. 29, Danforth Music Hall: Yes, that Adam Ant, of “Goody Two Shoes” fame. To many in Canada, Ant is only remembered for his charming post-punk hit from the ’80s, but this charismatic performer, who may actually be the true inspiration for Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow, has been thrilling crowds, mostly in the U.K., for decades.
Run the Jewels, Feb. 19, Danforth Music Hall: The American hip-hop group, featuring El-P and Killer Mike, has been praised by critics and provides a seriously engaging and high-energy live performance. The group is in town in support of its third album slated for release this month.
Black Joe Lewis, Feb. 28, Lee’s Palace: If there is one band sure to blow the roof off of winter, it’s this hard-working, wonderfully loud and bluesy band from Austin, Texas. Although he dropped the Honeybears from the name, it’s the same brilliant sound on full display on the new album that drops in February. Do not miss this show.
Wilco, March 15 and 16, Massey Hall: One of the great ones, Jeff Tweedy’s band of folkie rockers turns out some of the finest tunes going, including the new album, Schmilco, and there is no better place to catch Wilco live than the venerable Massey Hall. Sure to be a magical winter’s night.
Avenue Girl caters to the young tween girl who has outgrown children’s styles but is still not quite an adult. With an eclectic esthetic that includes a mix of formal styles, semi-formal, casual clothing, and fun/kooky lifestyle pieces (such as emoji pillows and funky toys), Avenue Girl has something for all adolescents who are developing their identity through their style.
With an average price point of $150 to $300, Avenue Girl has a fine collection of curated items from the U.S. and Europe, including popular London brand David Charles with his elegant designs for dressier nights out, and Miss Behave from the U.S. with its spunky, modern and trendy wares.
And for those who are hitting the road, Avenue Girl has two designated parking spots in the back and the front of the store, a premium for boutiques located on Avenue Road. 1806 Avenue Rd.
From the Royals to the Trudeaus — and even Prince Harry’s girlfriend, Meghan Markle — unique ribbed detailing has been spotted on the sleeves of celebs across the world. We chat with the designer behind it all, Bojana Sentaler, to find out what inspires her and why she loves coats.
What inspired you to pursue a career in fashion? A chance meeting with fashion guru Karl Lagerfeld inspired me to start thinking about having my own fashion line. Later on I spent some time in Peru, where I discovered the beautiful fabric alpaca. I automatically fell in love with it and started designing my first collection.
Why did you focus on outerwear? Growing up in Toronto, we spend almost eight months of the year wearing outerwear due to the cold climate. I discovered a gap in the market for luxury outerwear. That, combined with my love for coats, inspired me.
Where do you get your design inspiration from? My inspiration usually comes from my travels. This season’s collection is based on everything I love — the classic Sentaler hooded wrap coats and the signature ribbed sleeve details. I used a lot of blue tones — midnight, denim and royal blue — combined with beautiful shades of mulberry and olive green. The collection was big on colour this year.
Tell us about Sentaler’s sustainability and ethical practices. Every Sentaler coat is made with extreme care and attention to every detail. The alpaca fabrics that are used in the collection are obtained by shearing alpaca animals in an ethical way. The animals are very sacred to the Peruvian culture and are protected by their government. Sentaler is also fair trade. We are proud to work with and support local Peruvian families.
What are your plans for the holiday season? We are giving back with the #Sentaler4SickKids initiative that supports the SickKids Foundation and the children at SickKids Hospital. The initiative runs until March, and proceeds from all hats sold will go directly to SickKids. I will also be hand-delivering hats as milestone gifts for the children at the hospital. It’s a really special initiative.
For the past 23 years, Janet MacDougall has been determined to help children who find themselves on the autism spectrum feel included and valued in North York.
As the director for Yes I Can! Nursery School, MacDougall has helped to develop programs that accommodate the different learning needs, particularly of toddlers with autism.
Sadly, despite the school’s one-of-a-kind programming and strong reputation, it is suffering due to the province’s funding cuts and may soon face closure. In an effort to keep the school running, it has launched a GoFundMe account to try and replace that funding.
The non-profit school’s specialized services were first thought of after a formative encounter MacDougall had with a toddler who had autism in the early ’90s. “They have their own gifts to give the world, and I really like to draw that out of them and have them feel good about where they are,” MacDougall said.
The school’s unique programming has built a strong reputation since. In some cases, parents have moved from different cities in order to be able to enrol their child at the school.
The idea of inclusivity that is encouraged at Yes I Can! could have significant impact on the future, MacDougall said. “It’s [important] because there will be future employers and CEOs who will have gone to Yes I Can! and they’re going to remember that they made a friend who learned differently,” she said. “I hope it will make society far more welcoming then it has been.”
There was some pressure from my base camp at home to do a good job on today’s assignment at Axis Freestyle. My husband, Storey Badger, was a competitive downhill skier and coach for the Ontario Women’s Alpine Ski Team.
I walked into Axis, Canada’s first all-in-one, year-round dry slope freestyle training facility for skiing and snowboarding, and was met by two of the three owners, Alex Ching and Simon Chang.
This is a fantastic facility for those snowboard and freestyle ski enthusiasts to hone their skills during the summer months or in the winter when they’re unable to get on a hill outside of Toronto. It’s also the perfect place to learn for beginners and toddlers.
I’m introduced to my instructor for the day, Karen Chan, and then pop my skis on. I am excited to try the dry slope and compare it to the real snowy deal.
It also feels great to be on skis again after a long summer and before the snow even flies.
The carpet, which is watered and soaped down each day, feels and looks much like hardpack eastern Ontario snow.
The workout really kicks in while I’m hiking up the hill with my skis on my shoulders — there are no magic carpets here.
The slope itself is comparable to a bunny hill, and I don’t want to get too much speed on it or I’ll find myself feet up in the reception area.
There’s a halfway point on the slope that makes it the perfect place to teach little ones or beginners to ski or snowboard.
Apart from the dry slope, participants can also do a yoga class or trampoline workout.
“We’ve specifically designed the trampoline zone to simulate on-snow scenarios while also giving the area parkour-like obstacles,” says Ching.
The trampoline setup allows skiers and boarders to learn how to master their tricks in a safe environment.
Soon, the team at Axis plans to provide a class structure with specific topics to work on each week with a coach. But for now, it is more of an open gym format where participants can use the slope and the trampolines as they like.
The 20,000-square-foot facility is equipped with 5,000 square feet of dry slope, custom high-performance trampolines, a variety of jumps and rails, foam pits, yoga studio and multi-purpose room.
From learning backflips to mastering corks, Axis Freestyle is not only a facility but also a centre of positive vibes.
I’m most looking forward to bringing my son, Bode (age three), to try out snowboarding. He’s already been skiing, of course, since he was 18 months old.
Toronto playwright, director and actor Ravi Jain penned the critically acclaimed Brimful of Asha with his mother, Asha Jain, who also acts in the play alongside her son.
It’s a classic tale of culture and generational clash between two family members about the marriage imperative and is presented in a very heartwarming and humorous manner.
Jain is the Dora Award–winning founding director of Why Not Theatre and an associate director at Soulpepper Theatre. A Brimful of Asha is being remounted this month at the Young Centre for Performing Arts and runs Nov. 1 to 12.
The Man Who Mistook his Wife for a Hat, Oliver Sacks I became aware of the book because of a play I saw in France, L'Homme qui, staged by the great Peter Brook. I became fascinated by the details of each story told and the incredible and incomprehensible world of the brain. It's a mystery inside us that we will never fully understand.
Sea Sick, Alanna Mitchell An incredible story of a journalist who delves into the deep ocean discovering the immense impacts climate change is having down there. It’s so beautifully told and reveals an unlikely hero at the centre. I ended up adapting the book to stage led by Franco Boni and starring Alanna.
The Satanic Verses, Salman Rushdie I had never read a story with a narrative that weaved history, religion and fantasy together with an incredible impact. The power of the storytelling was incredible. I felt complicit with the characters, to the point where my own faith and beliefs were questioned! I was a part of the story! Rushdie’s humour, wit and swirling narratives have long since impacted how I tell stories.
River of Colour, Raghubir Singh I often return to this book on a regular basis. This book of photographs by Raghubir Singh captures a kind of colour and juxtaposition of India and Indian culture in a way that was so recognizable to me even though I’m a foreigner. The compositions are stunning, and he captures the beauty in the banal, the magic in the everyday that exists in the beliefs I grew up with from a distant place.
A Short History of Progress, Ronald Wright These lectures forever changed my understanding of what progress is. It challenged my understanding of success, capitalism, human nature and most importantly, our survival. Seeing the negative side of progress came at a young age when I was relooking at history through the lens of Howard Zinn, all colliding as I was discovering art as a tool for social justice.
