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Visit the Beach throughout Your Stay in Toronto

May 8, 2023

At the Beach!

While Toronto may not seem like your typical beach destination, as the temperature rises, there’s definitely no shortage of sun, sand and surf. Situated on the shore of Lake Ontario, Toronto’s shoreline is peppered with a variety of sandy beaches, each with its own unique atmosphere. In fact, the city even boasts a community that’s fondly known as The Beaches. So whether you’re living in the downtown Toronto core or a suburban area in your furnished apartment, pack your sunscreen, towel and swimsuit and check out one of these must-see destinations.

Bluffer’s Park

1 Brimley Road South, Scarborough

Featuring a breathtaking view of Lake Ontario against the rugged backdrop of the Scarborough Bluffs, Bluffer’s Park Beach is a natural haven for picnicking with family and friends or enjoying a quiet dinner at Bluffer’s Restaurant. Remember to bring your hiking shoes if you’re up to exploring this geographically diverse area.

The area is pedestrian-friendly but public parking is available.

Where To Stay

Kew & Balmy Beach

2075 Queen Street East, Toronto

One warm weekends, this eastern beach location is heavily populated with a mix of locals and suburbanites who descend on Toronto’s infamous community known as The Beaches. From swimming and beach volleyball to picnicking and playgrounds, this kid-friendly location is ideal for young families. Want a break from the sun and sand? Take a stroll up Lee or Kenilworth Avenue and browse the local shops or tuck into a local eatery for a quick bite.

Where To Stay

Beach VolleyballLake Front Promenade

800 Lakefront Promenade Mississauga

Combining beach and parkland the Lakefront Promenade is a summertime retreat that’s got plenty of activity. From playgrounds that feature splash pads to recreational sailing and boating, this area is also home to an abundance of wildlife.

Where To Stay

2012624-Kew-Balmy-Beach-9351

Stay Close To Enjoy Summer In The City

Even if you’re staying in your short-term rentals Toronto isn’t a vacation, you can still make the weekends feel like a getaway by getting out and exploring your local beach community.

Who knew that summer in the city offered all the fun of a beach destination? Well, we did and now so do you!

Business Travel, North York, Toronto Condos, Toronto Family Travel, Vacation Travel

Hullmark Centre Connects You to Toronto—Elegantly

August 23, 2022
Hullmark Centre lobby

There are the pictures, the video tour—and then there’s real life at Toronto’s Hullmark Centre. What’s it like to live day to day in a building—whether it’s for a month or six months? It’s a combination of neighbourhood flavour, personal design, and how your new home connects to the wider city.

This week, we’ll take a closer look at Hullmark Centre: 35 stories of glittering sophistication in Toronto’s Yonge & Sheppard neighbourhood.

An uptown neighbourhood that has it all

Hullmark Centre is the centrepiece of Toronto’s vibrant uptown, Yonge & Sheppard: a neighbourhood that combines business savvy, family fun, laid back city living, and the diversity Toronto is famous for into one place.

Without losing its community feel, Yonge & Sheppard packs a bustling corporate district into the sky. The neighbourhood is home to major corporations like Nestlé and Bank of Montreal, legal offices, and a growing medical technology hub.

Government and diplomatic offices are also quartered in the neighbourhood: Service Canada, ServiceOntario, and Canada’s federal immigration agency have major offices in the area. It’s home to multiple diplomatic offices, including the consulates of South Africa, Panama, Argentina, Ghana, Kazakhstan, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Despite its business credentials, Hullmark’s at the centre of one of Toronto’s most family-oriented neighbourhoods. Hullmark is surrounded by both public and private schools—including two Montessori locations and one of Toronto’s most famous arts schools, Claude Watson School for the Arts. It’s ringed by parkland and playgrounds, including a major golf course. The neighbourhood is also a hub for religious communities, with churches from multiple denominations, a mosque, and several synagogues in the area.

There’s also no lack of culture and fun. With a major movie theatre a few blocks north, a slew of karaoke bars and Asian cafés, and escape rooms, it’s easy to plan a quick night out. Hullmark is also a few short blocks south of arts and concert venue Meridian Hall and Mel Lastman Square, a 20,000 square foot public square complete with a winter skating rink, outdoor concert space, a regular farmers’ market, gardens.

The square also hosts one of Toronto’s biggest library branches—complete with a hands-on digital innovation space and fabrication lab—and programming for everyone from young children to adults new to Canada.

An elegant uptown lifestyle

Behind Hullmark’s doors is where the vibrant city life of Toronto’s uptown meets soothing elegance.

From its warm, bright lobby to the marble kitchen counters, DelSuites’s Hullmark suites are built for your urban lifestyle. Each is equipped with comfortable, modern furniture: warm wood, soothing greens, and ultra-chic greys. You’re welcomed into a space that’s bright, natural, and ready to fill with your own unique personality.

When you want to sweat, socialize, or just relax, there’s also the chance to use Hullmark’s peerless amenities. Hullmark boasts a spacious, fully equipped fitness centre with treadmills, cycling, yoga facilities, and full weights available. For swimmers, an outdoor pool lets you get your laps in, and there’s an indoor hot tub and sauna to relax.

For friends and family, the indoor party room includes a wet bar and fireplace—perfect for dinner parties, cocktail receptions, or holiday meals. A theatre-style media room lets you host your own mini-cinema or invite friends to watch the big game. And if you’re working remotely, Hullmark’s sleekly professional conference room means you can meet clients and colleagues with flair.

The city at your feet

One of Hullmark’s best features is how it connects to everything you need for Toronto living.

Hullmark living makes groceries and necessities easy, with a Whole Foods Market, Rexall Drugstore, and an LCBO just downstairs in the building. Local upscale grocer Longo’s Fine Foods and Korean grocery H-Mart’s M2M concept are across the street.

But beyond the neighbourhood, Hullmark gives you direct indoor access to Yonge/Sheppard subway station and two transit lines. On hot or wintry days, you can unlock the whole city—and the greater Toronto region—without stepping outdoors.

For those who’d rather take the car, Hullmark is located just blocks from Highway 401, making your adventures through the Toronto area and Southern Ontario region easy. With five 24-hour charging stations in the neighbourhood, it’s an ideal area for electric, hybrid, and Tesla drivers.

Experience Hullmark Centre for yourself with DelSuites

There’s a little bit in the Hullmark Centre lifestyle for everyone: families, professionals, retirees, community-lovers, and more.

If you’d like to try out Hullmark living—or make it a fit for your energetic city life—call us at 647-370-3504 or email info@delsuites.com. With fully furnished short-term rentals at Hullmark Centre and throughout the GTA, DelSuites can give you a taste of Toronto hassle-free.

Entertainment, Events, Family Vacations in Toronto, Toronto Family Travel, toronto toursim, Vacation Travel

Discover Toronto in Six Summer Festivals

July 5, 2022
Toronto summer festivals photo by Maarten van den Heuvel on Pexels.

After two years on hold, Toronto summer festivals are back in action.

From music to theatre, cultural celebrations, and family-oriented fun, they’re a perfect way to enjoy something new, discover a neighbourhood, or spend some much-needed time together.

Here are some of the shows, events, and festivals—indoors and outdoors—that you’ll want to see this summer.

Beaches International Jazz Festival

Big Band, Dixieland—the Beaches have it all. This year’s Jazz Festival is already on, but you’ve got all month to catch it at a string of locations in Toronto’s East End Beaches and Leslieville neighbourhoods.

The main stage shows are the prime attraction, but this year’s jazz festival brings a double handful of fun interactive activities. Learn to swing dance at Jimmie Simpson Park on July 8-9, or see Streetfest transform Queen Street East into a massive, blocks-long concert on the weekend of July 21-23.

The jazz festival runs from July 2-24, with most events public and free of charge. https://www.beachesjazz.com/

Toronto Fringe Festival

It’s the festival that launched Kim’s Convenience, Broadway’s The Drowsy Chaperone, and the team behind Come From Away. And it’s the most fun way to see what might be next.

Toronto’s 34th annual Fringe Festival takes over eleven downtown venues this month with theatre, comedy, storytelling, dance, and musicals, as well as a full kids’ program. With over 1,200 independent, grassroots artists, Fringe is the perfect afternoon for anyone who loves new, fun, experimental, and offbeat shows—and it costs less than a good restaurant lunch.

This year’s Toronto Fringe runs from July 6-17, 2022. Single or multi-show passes are available now, with discounts for kids and teens. https://fringetoronto.com/

Toronto Caribbean Carnival

Toronto has Caribbean roots—and every year, we like to show it.

Toronto’s Caribbean Carnival—or Caribana, for us locals—is the largest Carnival celebration in North America. While the major festivities kick off July 28th, Caribana is a month-long ode to everything Caribbean: from calypso showcases to kids’ events to crown junior kings and queens.

It’s all a buildup to the massive Grand Parade, a whole day of music, dancing, and some of the most incredible costume work anywhere. It’s accompanied by steel pan performances and Carnival Flavours, a showcase for Caribbean food and drink from across the islands.

The party runs from July 7-30, with tickets and event information available at https://www.torontocarnival.ca/.

The Canadian National Exhibition

How about an old-school county fair—but in the city? It’s a Toronto kid’s most beloved cheesy summertime destination—with plenty of room for all ages.

This year’s Ex brings back the traditional mix of fairground rides, a late-night midway, a Biggest Vegetable competition, kids’ sports tournaments, and everyone’s annual dip into weird food that is bad for you (deep-fried butter, anyone?). There’s also a few steps into the future: a dedicated Gaming Garage, complete with esports and FIRST Robotics tournaments.

For music fans, the Ex is also the place for shockingly cheap live shows. This year’s mix at the Bandshell runs from indie rockers Hawksley Workman and JJ Wilde to familiar Canadian musicians like Gordon Lightfoot, Bruce Cockburn, and The Spoons.

This year’s Ex runs from August 19-September 5, with all-day passes available. https://www.theex.com/

Toronto International Film Festival

Some events put a city on the map. The Toronto International Film Festival does it with a great big star.

2022 marks the 47th year of this internationally-renowned film festival—one that draws stars, media, and major industry movers and shakers alike to Toronto. It’s a marquee event for film fans—a chance to meet creators, attend Q&As, and see premieres from around the world—and a vital industry conference, wrapped into one. And with programming tracks like quirky cult favourite Midnight Madness or national showcases, it’s a chance for any kind of movie lover to see something sweet, gory, action-packed, incisive, or just plain awesome.

This year’s TIFF runs from September 8-18, and ticket packages are on sale now, with final schedules due at the end of August. https://tiff.net/

International Festival of Authors

Toronto’s most prestigious literary festival is back at the Harbourfront Centre for the Arts this September.

With a hybrid in-person/online format for its 43rd edition, IFOA is bringing marquee authors for readings, interviews, and panel discussions to highlight what’s important and vital about books.

The lineup’s due to be announced late summer, and the festival itself runs September 22-October 2. https://festivalofauthors.ca/

Whether you’re traveling from far away or just from around the corner, let us show you Toronto at its best. Call DelSuites at 647-370-3504 or email info@delsuites.com to find out how we can open the gates to discovering Toronto’s festivals.

Downtown Toronto, Entertainment, Family Vacations in Toronto, Toronto Entertainment, Toronto Family Travel, toronto toursim

Toronto in Eight Quirky Local Museums

June 29, 2022
Toronto local museums photo by Jeff Smith on Unsplash

Local museums can be the best part of a trip abroad: an afternoon of culture you can’t find anywhere else. Fun, affordable, and frequently family-friendly, they’re a great way to find the more laid-back and local side of a city.

If you’re an art-lover, history buff, doing it for the ‘Gram, or just like getting a little culture while you get your steps in, here are some of Toronto’s best lesser-known museums.

Mackenzie House

It’s not everywhere that a city’s first mayor was also its most famous—and failed—revolutionary. Tucked between hospitals, hotels, and high-rises, Mackenzie House—William Lyon Mackenzie’s original 1858 townhouse—is a downtown shrine to Victorian Toronto.

Come for practical tips on daily 1800s life, stay for the political scandals and century-old spicy opinions. Features: a working 180-year-old printing press you can try yourself. 82 Bond Street.

Market Gallery at St. Lawrence Market

St. Lawrence Market is one of Toronto’s most famous foodie attractions. But it’s also home to a lesser-known local history museum and gallery on the second floor—a space that held Toronto’s first City Hall and was lost behind boarded-up doors until the 1970s. (Yes, you can lose an entire City Hall.)

The Market Gallery hosts rotating exhibits from the City’s fine art collection and notes on the historic architecture. Start with a little culture, end it with a sandwich. 2nd Floor, St. Lawrence Market, 95 Front Street East.

The Myseum of Toronto

One of the quirkiest museums Toronto’s got, Myseum is a year-round, city-wide project produced and hosted all around the city. The result? Something that’s part art collective, part distributed historical museum, made of crowdsourced collections and digital walking tours.

While most of their past exhibits are available online, new ones are mounted annually in locations around the city–usually starting in April.

Spadina House

The closest thing to Toronto’s version of Downton Abbey! Spadina House shows off early 1900s Toronto in a sprawling, elegant hilltop mansion—complete with servants’ quarters and evolving architectural décor.

The five-acre grounds, though, are a feature all by themselves, including gardens and a heritage apple orchard that hosts everything from events to autumn cider festivals. Features: Close enough to Casa Loma to make a day of it. 285 Spadina Road.

The Textile Museum of Canada

A favourite of costumers and fashionistas alike, The Textile Museum takes a subject that feels niche—the art and history of fabric—and makes it fascinating. Behind an anonymous side-street door lurks five floors of textile history, modern art, event space, and programs—complete with a gift shop.

With collections that start local and stretch to Peru, China, and Serbia, there’s something for everyone, even if they’re not an enthusiastic crafter. 55 Centre Avenue.

The Toronto Railway Museum

Model railroad fans unite! And—regular railroad fans too. The Toronto Railway Museum packs historical trains, a train-driving simulator, and lots of information into an indoor-outdoor exhibit space. There’s a steady collection of artifacts inside: maps, tools, dishes, and uniforms used by conductors past.

While small, it’s conveniently tucked away right beside the CN Tower, Rogers Centre, and Ripley’s Aquarium on the waterfront—so there are lots of options for a full day out. Features: A mini-train ride. Because nobody says no to tiny train rides. 255 Bremner Boulevard. 

The Bata Shoe Museum

While this attraction has a little more profile than the rest, it’s not every day that a city devotes a whole museum to—shoes. Open since 1995, The Bata Shoe Museum grew from the private collection of shoe company executive Sonja Bata: a trove of rare and traditional footwear from around the world.

The result? A fascinating mix of modern couture, ancient Egyptian, Chinese, and Italian artifacts, history, and celebrity kicks. And a sometimes surprising social insight into how they’re all connected. Features: Enough glitter for your fashionista friends, and enough depth for an anthropologist. 327 Bloor Street West.

Riverdale Farm

Sometimes you just need to have a cow. Or some goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, and horses.

Riverdale Farm is the destination for downtowners who really just need something fluffy to pet. Part working farm, part historic Victorian site for learning about rural life, the farm dates back to 1849. Features: tobogganing hills, hiking trails, a wading pool, picnic areas, and year-round crafts. And the best part for families: admission is always free. 201 Winchester Street.

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The authentic Toronto neighbourhood experience deserves a Toronto neighbourhood stay. Call DelSuites at 647-370-3504 or email info@delsuites.com to find out how we can open Toronto up for you to discover.

 

Toronto Entertainment, Toronto Family Travel, toronto toursim

Toronto in Six Local Art Galleries

March 22, 2022
Toronto art galleries photo by Donna Lay on Unsplash.

There’s a reason a day at the art gallery is such a vacation staple. It’s a fun, free afternoon out for anyone who’s into the finer things in life.

Toronto is home to the celebrated, Gehry-designed Art Gallery of Ontario, which has some major collections and full events list. But there’s a whole universe of smaller, international, tucked-away Toronto art galleries which are following what’s new, fun, and weird in visual art.

If you’re into the chance to really soak in what new, local, and unique talents are doing—or just like having a reason to explore whole neighbourhoods—here are some of Toronto’s best smaller art galleries.

Harbourfront Centre

While it’s not a sprawling, massive gallery, Harbourfront Centre is definitely an institution: a combination cultural space that hosts dance shows, theatre, art installations, major literary festivals, and more all year round.

Throughout it all, you can watch resident Toronto artists pot, shape, weld, glassblow, paint, and work through glass windows. And there’s no shortage of family-friendly activities, like learning to skate on their rink in the wintertime.

But between the events, their smaller gallery spaces can get sold short. They’re always host to a mix of incredible new and seasoned artists, both local and international—and absolutely free to browse. Featuring painting, photography, sculpture, mixed media, installation art, and craft, it’s a sure source for a smart, fun afternoon. 235 Queens Quay West.

The University of Toronto Art Centre

The University of Toronto runs its own gallery—split between the Art Centre and the smaller Justina M. Barnicke Gallery in historic student centre Hart House. And while you can find all the student art exhibitions you’d expect, it’s frequently home to some great, international exhibitions.

As a teaching and research collection, the centre heaps a great list of programs on top of its diverse collection: guided tours, artist talks, and group exhibitions that are all usually free to attend. It’s a great chance to see modern and thoughtful art in some very historical buildings. 7 Hart House Circle.

The Distillery District

The historic Distillery District‘s a haven for smaller Toronto art galleries. It’s easy to find just about anything you’re interested in, within the arms of an old Victorian distillery made new.

Distillery District photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@lamikee12?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Michael Kristensen</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a>.

While there’s a huge selection of high-end boutique shops—a large Fluevog store and Ontario’s only sake brewery are special highlights—it’s almost known for its commitment to art. The Distillery is home to galleries as large the Canadian Sculpture Society and Arta Gallery, a wide-open, airy space focused on contemporary art, to spaces as small as Artscape’s warren of individual upstairs studios. It also holds some genuinely unique offerings, like Toronto’s Deaf Culture Centre, which puts on regular exhibits.

It’s an experience that’s best taken in as a neighbourhood, with plenty of opportunities for shops, snacks, and enjoying the sunshine along the way. 14 Distillery Lane.

The Ryerson Image Centre

Another university-hosted gallery, the Ryerson Image Centre—just two blocks from the Eaton Centre—is all about photography and video. Whether it’s photojournalism, video installations, documentary, or new media, they’re all mixed expertly in a 4,500-square-foot space tucked discreetly away on campus.

Ryerson Image Centre’s exhibitions mix student and historical projects with an indigenous and social focus. You’re just as likely to find a history of WWII photography as a celebration of African women’s portraits. With quiet screening spots, tucked-away specialty rooms, and a huge archive collection, it’s an everlasting source for something quiet, provocative, and interesting in the middle of the downtown core. 33 Gould Street.

The Local Gallery

The Local Gallery only opened in early 2022—and as a spinoff from a Toronto ad agency, it’s absolutely focused on what’s up-to-the-minute in contemporary and pop art.

While they’re not too shy about the sales end of things—there’s a whole selection of “collectibles”—it’s one of the few spaces that has a category for 3D-printed work. If you’re looking to update your Warhol energy, this Little Italy storefront is a definite destination. 621 College Street.

Whippersnapper Gallery

Whippersnapper may be one of the tiniest Toronto art galleries. An 130-square-foot storefront at the south end of Kensington Market, where it borders Chinatown, Whippersnapper hosts most exhibitions through simply displaying them through the shop window, one installation at a time.

Whippersnapper packs more than a single installation into a small space. It’s also an avant-garde, artist-run centre focused on emerging—or “new generation”—artists. It’s also exquisitely responsive to the neighbourhood it’s in: the heritage of surrounding Chinatown often takes centre stage. 594b Dundas Street West.

The authentic Toronto neighbourhood experience deserves a Toronto neighbourhood stay. Call DelSuites at 647-370-3504 or email info@delsuites.com to find out how we can open Toronto up for you to discover.