The giant inflatable couches are returning to the Distillery Historic District this weekend to mark the return of the annual Lavazza IncluCity Festival.
Running from June 27 to July 20, the open-air film festival is set to transform the Distillery into a hub for movie lovers. But this year there is a bit more star power.
Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon will be this year’s Guest of Honour. According to the festival, Sarandon will attend the closing Gala on July 19, held at the iconic Hearn Generating Station.
The festival opens with the Canadian premiere of Napoli-New York, featuring actor Omar Benson Miller, who will be on hand to introduce the film at the outdoor Trinity Cinema.
Another highlight is the Canadian debut of Juliet & Romeo, a musical twist on Shakespeare’s classic. Stars Clara Rugaard and Jamie Ward, along with director Timothy Scott Bogart, will be in town for the June 28 screening.
This year, the IncluCity Festival is also shining a light on green architecture. Italian architect Mario Cucinella will speak on July 8, followed by the opening of his Toronto exhibition at TMU on July 9.
Italian directors the Manetti Bros. arrive July 9–10 with two new films, joined by actor Giacomo Gianniotti, while comedian Geppi Cucciari will appear on July 17.
International films include Nigerian thriller The Weekend on July 5, and the Filipino musical drama Song of the Fireflies on July 20, featuring singer-actress Rachel Alejandro.
For all the IncluCity Festival free concerts, red carpet events, and outdoor screenings, check the festival website.
On June 22, Schmaltz Appetizing — the pint-sized deli-slash-bagel shop from Toronto’s very own Anthony Rose — is hosting a one-night-only face-off between two cured meat legends: Dunn’s Famous Smoked Meat from Montreal, and Rose & Sons’ house pastrami. The rules are simple: Two sandwiches enter. You eat both (or don’t). You judge (or don’t) and just enjoy both of them.
Rose, chef-owner of Schmaltz and the city’s favourite Middle Eastern restaurant, Fat Pasha has a long-time friend named David Givon. Givon runs a Dunn’s in Montreal and used to work with Rose back in their Drake Hotel days. When Givon had nowhere to go for the High Holidays, the Rose family welcomed him with open arms. Now he’s returning the favour, bringing in stacks of Dunn’s iconic smoked meat — a staple of Montreal deli culture since 1927 — to go up against Rose’s thick-cut, pepper-crusted pastrami.
Both sandwiches are served up identically: half a pound of meat on rye with yellow mustard, $24.
Pre-orders are live now on the Schmaltz website — and yes, you’ll want to order ahead. This event will definitely sell out, because a battle this juicy doesn’t happen very ofter.
Whether the winner is Montreal smoked meat or Toronto pastrami is up to the eater. As the Schmaltz crew puts it: try them both, judge them both. Tell us what you think — or don’t. We’re just here to have a good time.
All Things Go, one of America’s most popular indie music festivals, is officially coming to Toronto for the first time this fall, taking place against the backdrop of Lake Ontario at the Budweiser Stage (909 Lake Shore Blvd W), from Oct 4 to 5, 2025.
Bringing All Things Go to The Six marks a major milestone in the festival’s evolution. The announcement comes on the heels of the brand celebrating its 10th anniversary in Washington, D.C. and launching its first-ever New York edition last year. This year, both the D.C. and New York festivals will expand to three-day events!
Expansion to Toronto will stay true to the brand’s identity. The festival’s loyal fanbase (aka “The Besties”) can expect female and non-binary-led talent, with genre-blending, gender-inclusive lineups, creating the ultimate space where LGBTQ+ voices and emerging artists can shine.
The festival partnered with Live Nation Women and will feature 16 artists across two days, with no overlapping set times. And fans won’t have to choose between acts, thanks to a single-stage setup designed to let every artist have their moment!
We don’t know the artist lineup as yet, but past performers included the likes of Janelle Monáe, Lana Del Rey, boygenius, Mitski, Billie Eilish, Hozier and Charli XCX.
“Live Nation Women is proud to support the growth of the All Things Go festival brand,” Ali Harnell, Live Nation’s Women’s President and Chief Strategy Officer, said in a statement. “We remain committed to championing women and expanding opportunities for emerging talent across the live music landscape. This partnership goes beyond the festival—it’s about creating platforms where a wide range of artists and stories can be seen and heard.”
When Toronto native Romy Weltman found out she’d be leading a TV series for the first time, her reaction was pure joy, but also reverence.
“It’s a dream come true,” she says. Not just because it’s the next big step in a career that began when she was barely a teenager, but because it meant getting to work alongside Canadian television royalty: Wynonna Earp’s Melanie Scrofano.
Weltman says, “She’s the lead of all leads. She held my hand the whole way through and taught me everything. She is a light.”
The pair’s new show is Crave and SyFy’s Revival, a supernatural drama based on the cult comic series by Tim Seeley and Mike Norton (who actually visited the set during filming). It blends small-town intrigue with a heft of family drama and community grief, and follows what happens one day when the recently deceased rise from their graves. When officer and single mom Dana Cypress (Scrofano) starts unravelling a murder mystery, she discovers her younger sister Em (Weltman), who died days earlier, is involved and she’s got to piece it all together — all while getting closer to Em. Weltman says that while they stay true to the original comics, they also made the story their own, giving certain characters more of a back story.
L–R: Arlene Stankiewiscz (Nicky Guadagni) and Martha “Em” Cypress (Romy Weltman) in Revival. Photo: Naomi Peters/Lavivier Productions/SYFY
“It’s so rare that you get to immerse yourself in [every genre],” she says. “There’s horror, humour, heart. You need all of these elements to make it feel real. Everyone copes so differently and goes through grief so differently. And I think that if you’re doing a show about such a serious topic, you have to show every element of how people process things.”
That duality — between origin and reinvention, past and present — mirrors Weltman’s own career. Now 25, she’s been acting for over half her life. Most Canadians probably remember her from Backstage, the Family Channel drama that helped define a generation of young performers. Weltman remembers it just as fondly, calling it the moment she realized she didn’t just love acting, but the work.
“It really helped me form my love for this industry,” she says. “I don’t want to ever stop.”
FAST FACTS
Name: Romy Weltman
High school: Westmount Collegiate
Go-to meals:Danny’s Pizza Tavern for mozzarella sticks, Sugo for pasta, and the since-closed Mira for everything, RIP
Favourite neighbourhood: Liberty Village for dog-watching
Top venue: Scotiabank Arena
That love has carried her from kids’ television to an American comedy (The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh) and, now, into the genre-bending world of Revival. Shot in Saint John, New Brunswick — from an unseasonably hot September to December — the series is set in a fictional Wisconsin town with ghostly undercurrents. Weltman says, “It had the perfect feel of a small town. And it was my first time being on the East Coast; I was so excited.”
Despite the show’s apocalyptic tones, Weltman describes the experience as one filled with laughter and care, especially with Scrofano at her side. Their fictional dynamic hit close to home: Weltman has an older sister herself, and an older brother who’s closer in age to her character. “Growing up, I always really looked up to my sister,” she says. “That made [Scrofano] feel like she had to live up to a certain version of being a big sister. That’s where Dana and Em are at, too.”
The role also brought a physical transformation. Before even booking the part, Weltman was asked if she’d be willing to cut her hair. “I was like, I don’t care. Yes,” she laughs. “Then I got the reference photo — and I was like, ‘oh, that’s badass.’”
She worked closely with the show’s hair department to design a look that matched Em’s emotional state, resulting in a sharp and stylish undercut. “We wanted it to not look well kept,” she says. “To reflect everything she’s going through and that appearance isn’t her main concern.”
Still, the haircut marked something deeper. Weltman had long used her hair as a kind of shield since she was a kid. “There’s real metaphor in that,” she says. “With the long hair, I could feel small and hidden. But this new look — it changed how I carried myself.”
Weltman is only just beginning to hear from comic book fans, a notoriously passionate (and at times protective) community. “I’ve seen screenshots of tweets, a few Reddit posts,” she says. “People are really excited and I’m excited to get to know them.”
Revival is available to watch on CTV and for next-day streaming on Crave.
The Food Dudes — the Toronto hospitality group are opening a new burger spot. Rasa Burger is set to launch inside Chef’s Hall. The concept comes from the same team behind upscale Rasa(a Bib Gourmand) and the Michelin-recommended Sara. But don’t expect a fine dining spot; this time they’re keeping it casual.
According to their Instagram, the idea is simple: a small menu, classic comfort food and burgers built with the same attention to detail you’d expect from an upscale kitchen. One caption reads, “What if your favourite restaurant made a burger joint?” Another: “We don’t smash. We respect.”
The new spot will serve Rasa’s signature burger — made with a beef cheek patty, gochujang mayo and house pickles — along with their iconic Rasa chopped salad.
The menu also includes waffle and regular fries, oversized chicken strips, mac and cheese and other comfort food classics, including what looks like a take on a Deep and Delicious cake — all with that signature elevated touch.
It’s another project from chef and founder Adrian Niman, who started Food Dudes back in 2007 in his condo kitchen. It’s gone on to become a catering empire that feeds everyone from NHL stars to wedding guests.
Rasa Burger’s soft launch kicks off June 19 at Chefs Hall from 5 to 8 p.m.
In a week when Canadians could use some distraction from global conflicts, Trump, ongoing economic concerns and a global climate crisis, the country has been blessed with a new and truly ridiculous cultural moment: Drake has started a beef with Jagmeet Singh. Yes, that Jagmeet Singh — the former Federal NDP leader, part-time TikTok heartthrob, and now, apparently, Drake’s sworn political enemy for, wait for it, going to a Kendrick Lamar concert.
To recap: Kendrick Lamar came to Toronto for two shows at Rogers Centre, a move already newsworthy given his ongoing war with Drake. But it wasn’t the concert that created this weird only-in-Toronto moment — it was the fact that Singh was in the audience, along with 50,000 other people from the area.
Yes, the man who breathed new life into the failing federal NDP, the first non-white political to lead a major political party found himself in the pop star’s naughty books after he was spotted at the concert.
Drake found out about it and did what any reasonable adult who has become a global brand and can basically buy whatever he wants on the planet would do: posted a DM screenshot on Instagram where he called Jagmeet a “goof.”
That’s it. That’s the beef.
Of course, Singh, for some misguided reason, came back at Drake with an apology. “I went for SZA, not Kendrick,” he wrote in his defence on a follow-up post. He even pledged allegiance to Drake, writing “it’ll always be Drake over Kendrick.”
Why an intelligent and progressive person such as Singh, who has spend the last dozen or so years of this life working to make the lives of Canadians better, would feel it necessary to apologise to this guy’s rude and, let’s face it, ego-maniacal comment is beyond me. But he did.
The exchange has ignited speculation, at least in this office, over who else Drake might beef with next in this petty war on his own city. So, we decided to suss out a few options.
Possible Future Toronto Targets on Drake’s Beef Radar
Margaret Atwood – The literary legend has long been suspected of being too wordsy for some and not nearly street enough for the former Forest Hill resident who now occupies a massive mansion dubbed the Embassy in the city’s wealthiest neighbourhood. Drake might be angered to discover that Margaret Atwood has been banned in Russia and censored far more times than the lint-roller-loving rapper. And, most shockingly, she has never named a character after him.
The Weeknd – Once OVO’s golden child, now a global superstar with a mounting number of acting credits. Rumour has it Drake, who already learned that he has fallen behind the Weeknd in the number of songs with a billion streams on Spotify, might be jealous that Abel got to play creepy cult leaders and he didn’t even get called to audition. It seems like such a natural fit come to think of it. Insiders say Drake might be pitching a Degrassi-themed reboot where he plays all 17 roles to make up for lost time.
Maestro Fresh Wes – The man who “Let Your Backbone Slide” may have put Canadian hip hop on the map, but Drake wants that map updated — with him as every landmark and the city renamed Papi Town in his honour.
Olivia Chow – Toronto’s mayor could be facing growing pressure to declare a “Drake Day,” or else suffer the Aubrey’s scorn. After all, Drake has given so much to this city, where he was raised and flourished and became fabulously wealthy where most everyone hangs on his every word. Plus, he owns a Dave’s Hot Chicken. What else does a guy have to do?
Long story short, Drake should apologize to Singh and come back to earth with the rest of us. The end.
Last summer, Toronto fell hard for Raccoon Lager — a cheeky new charity brew with a big heart. This year, it’s back and bigger than ever. After selling 15,000 cans and raising over $10,000 for the Daily Bread Food Bank, the city’s favourite raccoons are ready to do even more good, one cold beer at a time.
Created by Streets of Toronto in partnership with Tomorrow Brew Co., Raccoon Lager is more than just a crisp, refreshing beer. It’s a local movement. And now, it’s a full-blown collectible.
Meet the New Crew Introducing four brand new trash can troublemakers
Parker Dale – Thinks Queen Street peaked in 2013. Spotted weekly in line at Dufferin Grove Market and never tips under 25 per cent
Rosie Dale – Spends her weekends between Barry’s Bootcamp and brunch. Claims a cold plunge personal best time of two minutes
Moe Skoka – Only shows up in the city to restock oat milk and flex cottagecore. Drives a beat-up truck with perfect Bluetooth
Trinity Bell – DJs on weekends, thrifts on weekdays, has three roommates and a very strong POV on pizza slices
They join last year’s OGs — Kenny Sington, Lesley Ville, Lawrence Park and Danielle Forth — for a full raccoon roster of eight. Collect them all and rep your neighbourhood. Or start a friendly turf war: which raccoon will reign supreme?
Where to Sip Raccoon Lager is now being poured at 20 O&B restaurants, alongside returning favourites like Gabby’s, NBA Courtside Restaurant, 7 Numbers and Fat Pasha. And yes — it’s back in 50+ LCBO locations across Toronto and beyond. If you don’t see it on shelves, ask for BrewAid’s Raccoon Lager by name.
Why it Matters Since 1983, the Daily Bread Food Bank has been a lifeline for thousands in our city. Every Raccoon Lager sold helps provide meals to those in need. Last year’s success proved that Torontonians are ready to drink for a cause — and even collect the cans. This summer, we’re aiming higher.
Join the Movement Follow along for pop-ups, contests and ways to show your neighbourhood pride. Because drinking beer never felt so good — or did so much good.
Let’s make this the summer of the raccoon. Cheers to that.
If anyone can provide an honest critique of Toronto’s Italian restaurant scene in its current capacity, it’s Jess Maiorano.
After launching her online business-turned storefront success, Pasta Forever, during the height of the pandemic, two weeks ago, Maiorano and her business partners Madeleine Hayles and Edward Anderson opened Zia’s Place just down the street.
“Other Italian restaurants do a lot of similar things, like focus on northern Italian food, or stuffed pasta being like a specialty or extreme pasta, and we’re not going that route,” Maiorano says, noting Zia’s Place is all about embracing the southern Italian cuisine she grew up with. “You’re not going to find something like cacio e pepe or mozzarella here. You know, those Roman pastas that basically every other Italian restaurant in the city does already. I’m not really interested in doing that.”
@ziasplace/Instagram
Instead, Zia’s Place focuses more on seasonal and pickled vegetables, fish, and meat, and hand-rolled pastas in shapes Maiorano says you’ve probably never seen before. With a well-rounded wine and cocktail program—Maiorano’s business partners, Hayles and Anderson, also own Happy Coffee & Wine on King St. W.— Zia’s Place is quickly becoming Little Portugal’s go-to spot for a refreshing take on Italian fare—and a really good selection of amaros.
Using family recipes, much of the menu is based on things Maiorano grew up eating, with two staple dishes: the first, a hand-rolled fusilli with a pork shoulder and a ragu and the second, a cavatelli with broccoli. “When I go home to my parents, they say ‘please, don’t make that for me,’” Maiorano laughs.
Inside the restaurant, dark wooden wainscotting, a sprawling white marble bar and hanging milk glass lamps are a nod to the nostalgia of 70s-inspired Italian decor.
@ziasplace/Instagram
“I wanted to create something that kind of reminded me of my actual Zia’s house,” Maiorano says. “Growing up, that was where all of our larger family meals were. There was a lot of homemade wine on the table, a lot of house-cured meats; there was a bunch of food, and it was very loud, very energetic, and very fun.”
Zia’s Place is located at 1543 Dundas St. W. and is currently open for dinner Wednesday and Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 5 to 11 p.m. and on Sundays from 5 to 10 p.m.
No need to head to the south of France to experience stunning coastlines. With the warm weather out in full force, Ontarians looking for the most perfect summer escape can travel to Southwestern Ontario. There’s one intimate little spot in Norfolk County that is known for its small-town charm, soothing lake waters and historical significance.
Turkey Point Beach is a hidden gem located on the north shore of Lake Erie, about a 2-hour drive from Toronto. This two-kilometre stretch of shoreline is nestled within Turkey Point Provincial Park and overlooks Long Point Bay. Visitors can expect gorgeous sunshine and low-key, family-friendly summer vibes without the major crowds found at commercial waterfronts. The scenery is so charming that locals affectionately call it Ontario’s Riviera!
The first thing to do is explore the water. Lake Erie’s waters are some of the warmest in Ontario, making the waterfront perfect for diving into. For families travelling with their little ones, there’s even a buoyed-off section to help keep kids safe within the shallow end.
Those seeking more of an adventure can rent out everything from kayaks to jet boats and even flyboards. Boats can be launched at the Turkey Point Marine Basin (for a fee), and canoes can be launched from the beach that fronts the village. From here, visitors can paddle westward towards the Turkey Point marsh area (this offers the most picturesque view at sunset!)
For visitors who’d like to reel in their dinner, head to the shore at the breakwall adjacent to the marina (at the south end of Turkey Point); it’s the best spot for capturing bass and perch. Fishing from shore is also possible from piers in local communities, like Port Rowan, Booths Harbour and Normandale! Visitors who’d prefer to explore the waters while sitting back can opt for a cruise along the bay on a scenic birdwatching boat tour.
The area offers just as many activities on dry land! Visit Long Point Eco-Adventures to check out their ziplining canopy tours, or try mountain biking on the network of trails both within and adjacent to the park (there’s even a weekly group ride on Thursday nights). The park also offers several kilometres of hard-surfaced and park campground roads to ride regular bikes.
Turkey Point has three hiking trails within or near the park that visitors can explore on foot! The Oak Savannah Trail, located east of the Whippoorwill Campground, is the easiest (it’s only 1.3 km) and takes visitors through gorgeous natural oak and pine forest trees. The 2.4 km Lookout Bluff Trail allows visitors to hike from the park office to the edge of the bluff (here, they’ll have a stunning view of Long Point Bay), while the 4 km Fin and Feather Trail begins at the north end of the Fin and Feather Campground, taking hikers along the old hatchery pond to the Normandale Fish Hatchery, around to the north boundary of the park!
Turkey Point is also the perfect spot to go camping, with over 230 flat, tree-lined campsites. Day-trippers can enjoy basic amenities like clean washrooms, a kids’ playground, picnic areas and even a dedicated dog zone for their four-legged friends!
And because everyone deserves a great beach day, accessibility has been thoughtfully built in at the site, with everything from paved beach access routes and accessible washrooms to service-animal support and mobility device rentals.
Once you reach the beach, there’s paid parking on site (with additional paid parking along Cedar Drive), as well as free on-street parking about a 15-minute walk away on Ordnance Drive).
Or park at your cottage, hotel or inn or and hop aboard the Ride Norfolk on-demand bus service from Monday to Friday. The beach is open from early May to late October, so you’ve still got some time to plan your perfect getaway!
Toronto’s dining scene never slows down and neither does food influencer Rick Silver (@dicksworld). He’s back to deliver more of his unfiltered critiques on five spots that are either living up to the hype or falling flat. From hype-worthy hits to disappointing misses, Rick offers honest, no-holds-barred opinions. When Rick speaks, you listen.
This east end staple serves up great breakfasts with a fresh, feel-good vibe — and if their Son of a Rise isn’t the best (slightly splurgy) biscuit break- fast sandwich in Toronto, then I don’t know what is. 1515 Gerrard St. E.The Rating: 9.3/10 Last Bite: Best biscuits in town.
This new gourmet Italian sandwich spot in midtown is raising the bar on Toronto’s sandwich scene. Matt Blondin, formerly of Blondies Pizza, is serving next-level creations that feel more Florence than Toronto.The vibe? Feels like Firenze. 12 Keewatin Ave. The Rating: 9.5/10 Last Bite: Go early or risk them running out.
Tucked in the back of a Hasty Market, this hidden gem dishes out massive falafel and shawarma saj wraps — stuffed with veggies, sauced just right, grilled to perfection, then split in two and wrapped separately. The vibe is market fresh. If you’re on a budget, share it. Falafel or shawarma? Don’t choose — grab a friend and try both. 21 Davisville Ave. The Rating: 9/10 Last Bite: Grab a wrap along with some milk and eggs.
The cinnamon bun pancakes are exceptional. It’s always packed, so … don’t go. Actually, go. But go early! 810 St. Clair Ave. W.The Rating: 9.3/10 Last Bite: Among Toronto’s top pancakes.
I’ve always loved the breakfasts at this midtown staple. The vibe’s the same as it was 40 years ago. But their breakfast sandwich to go? Big no-go. Nobody’s raving about an egg and two strips of bacon slapped together. 955 Mt. Pleasant Rd. The Rating: 6/10 Last Bite: Skip the sando and stick around for their full breakfast.
The west end has long been Toronto’s go-to for buzzy restaurants, packed tables and menus that keep food lovers coming back. But with the crowds come the downsides — long waits, loud rooms and servers who sometimes seem like they’d rather be anywhere else. Maybe it’s time for a change of pace. Over in the east end, things are looking up: friendlier service, more breathing room and dishes that more than hold their own. Here are the best spots to check out now.
Ricky + Oliviais a Leslieville standout that delivers big on heart and even bigger on flavour. Chefs Ricky Casipe and Olivia Simpson built their following through winery pop-ups and now bring their playful, Ontario-focused cooking to a permanent Queen East address. The narrow space hides a lot: a bottle shop up front, a tasting lounge in the middle and an intimate back dining room where you’ll find hits like PB&J chicken liver mousse and a Big Mac-style steak tartare. The laid -back spot is also full of personal touches — including the exact spot where the couple first kissed.
Toronto doesn’t need another eggs Benny spot — and Tatsuro’s knows it. This new east-end brunch restaurant skips the usual format in favour of Japanese comfort staples, both classic and reimagined. There’s karaage with mochi waffles and miso syrup, shokupan toast with honey butter and sea salt and wafu pasta that feels more Sunday supper than Saturday hangover cure. The space is spare and unfussy, with white tile and deep green trim, matching a menu that keeps things simple but smart. If your weekend routine needs shaking up, 1378 Queen Street East is a good place to start.
Two words: Handmade pasta. And that is just the beginning of the mouth-watering options chef and owner Jeff Bovis is cooking up at his newest restaurant, Wynona. Located in the ever-charming Leslieville neighbourhood, enjoy a delicately cooked fish on Wynona’s patio with a bottle of wine. From the extensive and totally unique wine list: there is a “contact” section that offers wines between a white and red wherein the grapes used for the wine are left unpeeled for a distinctive taste and texture. The restaurant space is organized in a sleek and modern open concept way, which is emphasized by its high ceilings and a huge front window, to give diners an airy and fresh atmosphere to match the fresh food.
Lake Inezdoesn’t bother with signage. A name etched on the front door and a half-drawn curtain are all that mark this low-key gem in Little India, turning out pan-Asian plates with zero pretension.The menu changes often, but regulars know to look for dishes like grilled pork chop with fish sauce caramel and pineapple salsa, or mussels in a sinigang-style broth with tamarind and pork crackling. There’s a mosaic of Virginia Woolf and Kate Bush at the back, a semi-secret patio out back that runs seasonal tasting menus, and a team that’s clearly cooking what they actually want to eat. Toronto needs more restaurants like this.
Just west of Greenwood, The Wood Owlbrings vintage charm and a sharp wine list to the Danforth. The cozy room leans 1970s — wood panelling, burgundy velvet wallpaper, brass chain-hung lamps, and owl-shaped lights that glow golden at night. The food’s tight and thoughtful, built to match the wine: Salt Spring mussels in white wine cream, crispy lamb shoulder with shishito peppers and dukkah, trout croquettes with fennel and rye, and eggplant frites with tahini and onion jam. The rockfish crudo and charred trout feel like house favourites already.Wines come from just-off-the-radar regions in Europe—lots of value, plenty of orange, plus a few neat cocktails like a cava spritz and a Negroni Bianco.
Local love meets greasy spoon vibes at White Lily Diner, a Riverside staple since 2016. Owners Ben Denham and Ashley Lloyd don’t just talk about provenance — they grow it. Since 2021, much of the produce on your plate comes straight from their sprawling 40-acre White Lily Farms in Uxbridge. The all-day menu delivers classic diner comforts with a farm-fresh twist. Think triple-stack buttermilk griddle cakes, Southern breakfast plates stacked with eggs, bacon, grits, fermented greens and biscuits smothered in gravy. Shareables like buttery buttermilk biscuits with jam or rich gravies and the pimento cheese spread keep things light and tasty.
Gio Rana’s Really Really Nice Restaurant— known simply as The Nose — has anchored Leslieville since 1989. Family-run and focused on authentic Italian small plates, it serves housemade crespelle, rich mushroom pappardelle, giant meatballs and crispy Tuscan fries. The giant fibreglass nose out front is as iconic as the food inside. The menu sticks to straightforward, flavour-driven dishes rooted in tradition. The restaurant’s strength is its consistency, a cozy spot where locals return for familiar, well-executed Italian fare. A definite top pick for anyone serious about Italian in the city’s east end.
Latin American cuisine meets Instagram-worthy decor in Toronto’s east end. The heated back patio is decorated with string lights and gorgeous rustic exposed brick and fencing. Added bonus? It’s dog-friendly. In terms of cuisine, the restaurant boasts that the secret ingredient in every dish is love. Look for bandeja paisa, lomo saltado, tres leches, partnered with cocktails and mocktails like the non-alcoholic Valentino and boozy options like the Carnival Caipirinha and a classic mojito and Inmigrante’s version of a sangria, called the tizana con piquete. The restaurant opened its doors in August 2022, and serves brunch on the weekends, bursting with colour, flavour and ingredients like avocado and corn that are just as prominent on the dinner menu.
June is Pride Month, and there’s no shortage of festivitiesacross the city. The events are in full swing, and plenty of businesses are celebrating with unique offerings. From cookie partnerships to lunches and more, here are the Pride Month offerings we’re excited about.
Every year, the French bakery rolls out the Rainbow Passionfruit Croissant as its June special. Its available on weekends, and a portion of the proceeds from the sweet treat will benefit Friends of Ruby, which helps 2SLGBTQIA+ youth in the GTA by providing mental health services, social services, food and housing.
Fairmont Royal York
@fairmontroyalyork/Instagram
The iconic hotel is offering a Pride Package, in which $10 from each stay is donated to local charity The 519, and guests receive 10% off their stay. Pride at Fairmont Royal York is also debuting a new cocktail program in partnership with Absolut Vodka, offering drinks like the Tropical Decor, Berry Beret, Up All Night, and Peach Martini at CLOCKWORK Champagne & Cocktails. There will also be a special Pride-themed lobby installation on display all month.
An ode to a Canadian icon? Count us in. This eatery is serving up the Page Turner all month, a cocktail ode to Halifax-born trans actor Elliott Page. The extra sweet bevvy brings some magic all on its own – it literally changes colours – and it also gives back. A share of proceeds will be donated to Canada’s largest youth-led HIV charity, LetsStopAIDS.
The reality TV streaming service teamed up with iconic Toronto cookie brand Craig’s Cookies to create the Hayu Pride Cookie in support of Friends of Ruby, one of Craig’s Cookies’ charitable partners. The cookie is pink batter with rainbow sprinkles, and Torontonians who order a box from the Church Street, Leslieville or Parkdale locations will receive a complimentary one from June 19-22. Craig’s Cookies is also offering a standalone Pride Mix, which includes Cotton Candy, Rainbow Flag, Confetti Queen, Krispie & Proud, Pride Brownie and Pride flavours.
The Yorkville hotel, which is just steps from the parade route, is offering a “Stand for Love” package to help guests enjoy the festivities to the fullest. It includes two complimentary signature cocktails as well as a tote and tee to celebrate love. And $10 from every booking will be donated to The 519, a local charity benefiting the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Maison Selby
Spirit-free and boozy cocktails come together at this East End restaurant to toast to love. Maison Selby debuted the Mimosa à la Marmelade d’Oranges, rum-based Amuse Violette, and the spirit-free Strawberry Liberté this Pride Month, and $1 from each drink will benefit local charity Casey House.
Both The Writer’s Room and Joni Restaurant are debuting exclusive Pride menus in June. The curated selection includes the “Pride, No Prejudice” and “Fly the Flag Frose” drinks as well as the Rainbow Cake, and $1 from each offering will be donated to the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research.
