Downtown Toronto, Food & Recipes, Lifestyle talk, Toronto History, toronto toursim

Toronto Neighbourhood: Little Italy

November 17, 2017

Little Italy

Also referred to as College Street West, Little Italy is known for it’s superb Italian-Canadian restaurants. During the weekends the streets are buzzing with visitors and locals dining on the outdoor patios. The Italian trattorias have a casual, family-friendly vibe and they are all about good, traditional recipes cooking with fresh ingredients.

Little Italy isn’t a 100% Italian neighbourhood – while there is a strong Italian community there is also a significant Portuguese population located around the Portugal Village shopping centre and the First Portuguese Canadian Cultural Centre.

Must Visit Spots in Little Italy

La Forchetta Ristorante is the classic Italian dining experience, with pasta and meat dishes originating in the Old Country. Plus – they have a superb wine list to pair with your entree.
If you are into live music there are a lot of great places to check out in Little Italy, including the Mod Club or the basement of Nightowl.
Check out Cafe Diplomatico. Known as “The Dip” by locals, this coffee shop and restaurant has become an institution for caffeine fiends in Toronto. It also serves up all of the Italian classics including paninis, pizzas and more. If it looks familiar to you, it’s because filmmakers often use it as a set.
Rita’s Italian Ice serves up delicious frozen treats in a ton of different flavours – the ultimate treat for a warm day.
Check out the Italian Walk of Fame – where stars line the sidewalk with the names of famous Italian Canadians.

History

Large numbers of Italian immigrants came to Toronto in the early 20th century, settling in the area around College Street in the affordable Edwardian homes there. Most found work on the railways or in road construction and many started businesses in the area.

It was during the 1920s that Little Italy really became recognized as the commercial and residential centre of the Italian community in Toronto. These days the area is home to the largest Italian community that is located outside of Italy and it is a popular area of the city for visitors to explore.

How to Get There

It’s quite simple to get here via the TTC. You can arrive from Queens Park or start from College Station on the Yonge-University-Spadina Line. Then, from there you can catch the 506 Carlton streetcar towards High Park traveling west on College Street. You can disembark anywhere between Bathurst Street and Ossington Avenue.

You can also travel from Bathurst Station on the Bloor-Danforth Line. When you exit, catch the 511 Carlton Towards Exhibition streetcar traveling south on Bathurst Street. You can disembark at College Street West. Exploring this street on foot is a delight, give yourself plenty of time to dip into the little shops and cafes to sample what they have to offer.

What’s your favourite Little Italy spot? Let us know in the comments below.

Food & Recipes, toronto toursim, Vacation Travel

The Best Beer Gardens Toronto offers

August 14, 2017

Drinking and eating outdoors is a popular Canadian pastime. The weather is only nice for a fraction of the year, so we like to make the most of it before the snow starts to fall again. Why not spend every possible moment enjoying the sunshine? Plus, after a big day of sightseeing and wandering all over Toronto, there’s nothing more satisfying than settling into a chilled out beer garden and taking a big sip of a cold frothy one. Here are a few of the best outdoor beer gardens Toronto offers.

Granite Brewery

This popular beer garden in Mount Pleasant and Eglinton has been around since before the hipster trend of craft beers in Toronto. It is a great chilled out space serving a selection of classic English style beers that are made on site. You can choose to hang out on the outdoor patio on the front that faces the street, or the more private back patio that overlooks a lovely garden. If you really fall in love with the chilled out atmosphere you could consider tying the knot here – the Granite Brewery hosts weddings.

Mascot Brewery Beer Gardens Toronto

Located in the heart of downtown on Mercer Street, this casual and sunny beer gardens Toronto is a great place to grab a drink with friends on a hot summer’s day. There are communal picnic-bench style seats perfect for socialising and there is even a food truck to fulfil your beer-fueled appetite. The AstroTurf on the floor and the laid back vibe makes it feel like you are just hanging out at your buddy’s house for a weekend barbeque. If you are visiting with a larger group, it is even possible to order a five litre keg of craft brew which you can self-serve.

Amsterdam Brewhouse

This great watering hole has a large beer garden right on the waterfront, which comes to life with laughter and conversation every summer. There are three different outdoor areas you can sit in, depending on how close you want to be to the water.

This Brewhouse also offers a superb selection of beer, including several special housemade brews. The selection changes every month, so Beer Gardens Toronto every time you come back you will find something new on the menu to try. They also serve food – yummy bites that pair well with a cold glass of beer such as Honey Sriracha Chicken Wings, Amsterdam Pretzel and Crispy Brussel Sprouts with Bacon and Feta Cheese.

The Pilot Tavern

Check out the “Flight Deck” of the Pilot Tavern, a rooftop beer garden offering sunshine, great food, cold drinks and a great atmosphere. High on a roof in Yorkville, it is removed from the hustle and bustle of the street and it is fully equipped with retractable awnings and heaters so you can keep on drinking no matter what the weather. In fact, it has been around for more than 70 years and was named by the readers of the Globe and Mail as Canada’s Favourite Patio.

Where are your favourite beer gardens in Toronto? Let us know in the comments.

Lifestyle talk

Trick or Treating Safety Tips Halloween

October 25, 2016

Halloween is one of the most exciting nights of the year for your little ones. They get to dress up in costumes and spend the evening knocking on doors and getting heaps of candy. It’s a quintessential childhood experience – but as the responsible adult, you play an important role in making sure trick or treating is done safely. Here are some trick or treating safety tips to keep in mind so that you can make sure your kids have a safe and happy Halloween.

Make Sure Their Costumes Are Visible

Wearing a black Batman cape at dusk means that drivers will have a very hard time seeing your child as they try to cross the road. Instead, go for bright and colourful costumes or attach reflective tape to the costume. Also, your child can carry glow sticks, a flashlight or any other type of flashing device to make them more visible in the dark.

Can They Move and See Clearly?

Sometimes the trouble with masks and hooded costumes is that they restrict vision. Your child may struggle to see out of the small eye holes in the mask, which could cause them to walk into traffic or take a nasty fall. It is better to wear face paint rather than masks, so that your child’s vision is not obstructed. Also, make sure that their costume doesn’t restrict their movement and make them more likely to trip and fall over- such as a long skirt dragging on the ground.

Be Smart Around Strangers

Some other trick or treating safety tips is to trick or treat in a familiar neighbourhood where you know most of the people who live there. Make sure that your child knows that they should never go inside someone’s house, unless they know them. Only trick or treat at well-lit houses and do not approach someone’s property if the lights are not on.

Check Out the Candy Before Eating

When your child arrives home with a bag filled with sweets, make sure that you give it an inspection before you let them dig in. Watch out for any items that they are allergic to, or any sweets that look like they have been tampered with or are not in their original wrapping. You might want to place the Halloween candy somewhere on a high shelf so that you can dole out a reasonable amount and avoid a candy binge sugar rush and subsequent crash.

Alone or With Adults?

Children that are quite young should always trick or treat with an adult, or at least with a responsible teenage sibling or family friend. However, your older pre-teen children may be able to trick or treat in a group without an adult. You know your own child and how responsible they are – so use your judgement. When they go out you should know what neighbourhood they will be trick or treating in, they should be contactable via mobile phone and they should agree to be back by a specific time.

If you are looking for fun things to do or wondering where to buy a costume, check out this guide to find out the latest on whats going on in Toronto!

Keep these trick or treating safety tips in mind for a fun and safe Halloween!

Business Travel, Family Vacations in Toronto, Lifestyle talk, Toronto Family Travel, Vacation Travel

Tips to Maximize Space in Condo Rentals

August 12, 2016

Staying in a furnished condo rental offers a lot of advantages compared to staying in a hotel room – with increased space being one of the biggest perks. You’ll have a bedroom, fully equipped kitchen, dining area and living room – rather than being cramped into one room. Having these separate areas means that multiple people can relax, sleep and eat without disturbing each other.So, since you have all of this space during your stay – how can you make the most of it? Here are some tips to maximize space in condo rentals.

Unpack Properly

No matter how neatly they might have been packed, backpacks and suitcases have a tendency to “explode” all over the room. As you hunt for a particular piece of clothing, all of the items in your bag will get taken out and will start to take up floor space.

In order to give yourself more room, a tip to maximize space in condo rentals is to stay organized and make your condo look less cluttered. Its worth taking the extra time to properly unpack. Most condos will have a closet, a wardrobe or a chest of drawers which you can use to organize your clothes. Once you are unpacked, tuck away your luggage somewhere and you’ll have much more room.

Use Every Part of the Condo

It’s tempting just to eat dinner in front of the TV and leave the table unused, but it’s there so you may as well take advantage of it. Separating your actions into their appropriate spaces can have a lot of benefits. For example, if you take the time to properly set the table and sit down to your meal, you’ll focus on the food and enjoy it a lot more than you would if you ate it while distracted as you watch TV.

Don’t Forget the Balcony

If your condo has a balcony, this is a huge perk so don’t ignore it! Even just taking 10 minutes every morning to sip your coffee in the fresh air while admiring the view will start your day off on a positive note. You’ll be more likely to use the balcony if there is somewhere to sit, so if there isn’t a chair out there already you can put one out there.

Utilize the Sofa Bed

Many condos will offer you the option of a pull out sofa bed. This can be a really smart solution that will allow you to sleep extra people in your condo. For example, a couple travelling with a child can save money by renting a one-bedroom furnished apartment with a sofa bed rather than a two-bedroom condo. In the morning, simply take five minutes to fold up the bed and it becomes part of the living room space.

Your furnished condo offers you a lot of space, so make sure you use these simple tips to maximize space in condo rentals to its full potential and make the most of it!

Business Travel, Fitness and Health, Lifestyle talk

Why Work Wellness is Important

July 22, 2016

It comes as no surprise that people are more productive and motivated when they are feeling healthy and energized. It seems so simple, yet why do we often ignore the importance of overall work wellness in the workplace?

A work wellness program can have a lot of benefits, including increasing the profitability and success of the company as well as enhancing the lives of the employees. According to statistics by the Institute for Healthcare Consumerism, businesses that implemented a work wellness program experienced a 28% reduction in employees who called in sick.

What is a Work Wellness Program?

A workplace wellness program is not a short term solution, it is a complex and long term strategy. A good program should outline short and long term goals for improving the wellness of employees. It should be integrated into the very fabric of the company’s culture and it should focus on all aspects of employee health including sleep, nutrition, fitness, ergonomics, disease prevention, stress management and much more. It can also consider health issues that are relevant to the particular working environment or industry.

Where can you start? There are a number of wellness initiatives that an employer can implement, including flu shots, yoga, smoking cessation programs, group exercise classes, in-office massage therapy, mental health counseling, health fairs, newsletters, gym memberships and so much more. Every company is unique and so are the needs of the employees. The right wellness plan will integrate many aspects of health into one comprehensive overall strategy. When this sets the tone for the workplace, health and wellness will become part of the company culture.

The Benefits

There are so many positive outcomes to looking after the health of your employees. The benefits of implementing a work wellness program include:

Reducing sick time and absenteeism.
Attracting the most talented workers.
Improving decision making and productivity on the job
Improving employee morale
Better employee loyalty and retention
Reduction of workplace conflicts because employees are less stressed and unhappy
Improving creativity and problem solving ability
Better prevention and management of diseases
Lower healthcare costs

Delsuites understands the importance of work wellness and has worked to implement it into the workplace. One of the ways they promote employee wellness is that they have introduced massage therapy for staff. This has a number of benefits including reducing stress, releasing positive endorphins, easing back, neck and shoulder pain, promoting circulation and much more. A quick massage in the workplace can be just what our staff members need to pick them up and keep them feeling energized in the middle of a busy day.

Older Posts

Newer Posts

Toronto Short Term Rentals