Subscribe

Proudly Canadian, obsessively Toronto. Subscribe to Toronto Life!

Things To Do

Five boozy Toronto spas and barber shops

Five boozy Toronto spas and barber shops

Because there’s nothing more civilized than a cut and a cocktail

A laugh with Trevor Noah, a new season of Schitt's Creek and five other things to see and do in Toronto this week

A laugh with Trevor Noah, a new season of Schitt’s Creek and five other things to see and do in Toronto this week

Everything worth doing in Toronto during the week of January 7

Bottomless bubbles at Piano Piano, a luxe staycation at Hotel X and 10 other things to do in Toronto on New Year's Eve

Bottomless bubbles at Piano Piano, a luxe staycation at Hotel X and 10 other things to do in Toronto on New Year’s Eve

Everything worth doing in Toronto to ring in 2019

November's Great Nights Out

November’s Great Nights Out

Created forFord Edge

Great Nights Out September

Great Nights Out September

Created forFord

Grand(stone) Budapest Hotel Halloween Bash

Grand(stone) Budapest Hotel Halloween Bash

This Halloween, the Gladstone Hotel transforms into a wacky wonderland of Futura fonts, saturated colour schemes and Wes Anderson characters: Tenenbaums, foxes and a whole lot of Bill Murrays. $35. Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W., gladstonehotel.com.

Created forFord Edge

Inside the Latest Issue

The June issue of Toronto Life features our annual ranking of the best new restaurants. Plus, our obsessive coverage of everything that matters now in the city.

The Trouble with Mr. Adams

The Trouble with Mr. Adams

Tarragon playwright-in-residence Gord Rand explores the awkward, unsettling nature of the male mid-life crisis in this darkly funny new play about a high school volleyball coach who falls for his far-too-young star athlete. $55–$60. Tarragon Theatre, 30 Bridgman Ave., tarragontheatre.com.

Created forFord Edge

October 30 to November 1 Weekend Getaway: Shaw Festival

October 30 to November 1 Weekend Getaway: Shaw Festival

Niagara-on-the-Lake’s theatre season concludes with Peter and the Starcatcher, a Broadway prequel to Peter Pan, and Sweet Charity, a sleekly designed love story set in 1960s New York. shawfest.com.

Created forFord Edge

International Festival of Authors

International Festival of Authors

The six finalists for the Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize—including Miriam Toews (All My Puny Sorrows) and André Alexis (Pastoral)—discuss and read from their nominated works. $15–$18. Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W., ifoa.org.

Created forFord Edge

Chris Hadfield’s Generator

Chris Hadfield’s Generator

Canada’s coolest space commander’s variety show blends music, comedy and astrophysics with the help of English comic Robin Ince and the keytar-playing nerd-rock outfit Tupper Ware Remix Party. $39–$189. Massey Hall, 178 Victoria St., roythomson.com.

Created forFord Edge

Eat to the Beat

Eat to the Beat

Sixty female chefs from restaurants and catering companies across the city—including the Drake, Wanda’s Pie in the Sky and Tilde taqueria—will serve up snack-sized eats to raise funds for people living with and affected by breast cancer. $175. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St., eattothebeat.ca.

Created forFord Edge

Talwst

Talwst

The mononymous Toronto-via-Trinidad artist creates worlds that fit in the palm of a hand. His ring-box dioramas depict miniature matadors in coliseums, small-scale Star Trek film sets and bijou boxing matches. Angell Gallery, 1444 Dupont St., angellgallery.com.

Created forFord Edge

Tich

Tich

Two standouts at chef Sujoy Saha’s new spot in Mimico: the tandoor-grilled kesari prawns soaked in yogurt and saffron, and the lamb vindaloo, a defiantly hot curry with plenty of garlic, vinegar and cloves. Few dishes in the city hurt this good. 2314 Lake Shore Blvd. W., tich.ca.

Created forFord Edge

Feature

Feature

This contemporary art fair—a smaller alternative to the city’s 15-year-old heavyweight, Art Toronto—will feature work by artists from 29 Canadian galleries, including Toronto’s Stephen Bulger, Montreal’s Battat Contemporary and Vancouver’s Equinox. $15. Joey and Toby Tanenbaum Opera Centre, 227 Front St. E., featureartfair.com.

Created forFord Edge

Toronto Fashion Week Awards

Toronto Fashion Week Awards

FASHION Magazine’s twice-annual event has swiftly grown from an intimate cocktail affair to an all-night, all-out party. This fall's edition includes accolades for best emerging designer and best collection as well as a set by Skrillex collaborator Kai. $50. Design Exchange, 234 Bay St.,fashionmagazine.com.

Created forFord Edge

October 23 to 25 Weekend Getaway: Ottawa

October 23 to 25 Weekend Getaway: Ottawa

The National Gallery of Canada, Canadian War Museum and other attractions make the country’s capital a worthy destination any time of year, but the post-election buzz—and bustle of newly elected (and ousted) MPs—makes this weekend particularly ripe for a visit. ottawatourism.ca.

Created forFord Edge

Purity Ring

Purity Ring

The guy-girl duo displayed a penchant for precise future-pop on their brilliant 2012 debut, Shrines, and doubled down on their signature sound with February’s Another Eternity. Sound Academy, 11 Polson St., ticketfly.com.

Created forFord Edge

Back to the Future

Back to the Future

Thirty years ago, Marty McFly and Doc Brown warped to this day in their time-travelling DeLorean. To mark the date (made slightly less momentous by the absence of hoverboards and self-lacing sneakers), the Royal is screening the first two films. The Royal, 608 College St., theroyal.to.

Created forFord Edge

Peaches

Peaches

The synth-punk MC behind 2000’s “Fuck the Pain Away” is unapologetically abrasive and explicitly sex positive. She’s had a fascinating career of electro-clash anthems, feminist film work and gigs that feel more like illicit raves than concerts. $25. Phoenix Concert Theatre, 410 Sherbourne St., ticketmaster.com.

Created forFord Edge

Kent Monkman

Kent Monkman

The Toronto-based Cree artist’s new site-specific installation examines Aboriginal history through a queer, postcolonial lens. It features a nine-foot recreation of a buffalo jump, topped by two full-sized bison and a sculpture of Monkman’s alter ego, Miss Chief Testickle. $15. Gardiner Museum, 111 Queen’s Park, gardinermuseum.on.ca.

Created forFord Edge

Concession Road

Concession Road

This French bistro’s food is ornate Gallic goodness. We recommend the salt-crusted, scarlet-centred rack of lamb, the fresh beef tartare and a steamed skate wing stuffed with lobster mousse. Read our review here. 760 St. Clair Ave. W., concessionroad.ca.

Created forFord Edge

Sesame Street Live

Sesame Street Live

Make a New Friend, the PBS show’s new live production, teaches kids about diversity: Elmo, Big Bird and Count von Count welcome Chamki, a new Muppet from India, to sing, dance and share cookies with them. $47–$65. Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, 1 Front St. E., sesamestreetlive.com.

Created forFord Edge

Music Gallery Encore

Music Gallery Encore

The intimate John Street venue, housed in St. George the Martyr Church, celebrates its 40th anniversary with a program populated with new classical commissions and reinterpretations of memorable Music Gallery works. $15–$25. 197 John St., musicgallery.org.

Created forFord Edge

October 16 to 18 Weekend Getaway: Cedar Point

October 16 to 18 Weekend Getaway: Cedar Point

The Ohio amusement park bills itself as the roller coaster capital of the world, with 16 mammoth machines and another on the way next year. Swing by before it shuts down for the winter. (Leafs lover detour: the Buds battle the Blue Jackets in Columbus on Friday night.) 1 Cedar Point Dr., Sandusky, OH, cedarpoint.com.

Created forFord Edge

Private School Guide

The Private and Independent School Directory Spring 2025

The Private and Independent School Directory Spring 2025

Big Stories

Inside the rise and fall of the Vaulter Bandit, the 21st century’s most notorious bank robber

Inside the rise and fall of the Vaulter Bandit, the 21st century’s most notorious bank robber

To fellow tourists he met around the world, Jeffery Shuman was a semi-retired developer with a bright smile, an even tan and a fat wallet. In truth, he was a legendary bank robber on the run from the Toronto police and the US Marshals

Anchor Man: Fox News host John Roberts on Trump, the trade war and the American psyche

Anchor Man: Fox News host John Roberts on Trump, the trade war and the American psyche

If Fox News seems an unlikely landing spot for a guy who got his start pumping out Platinum Blonde on MuchMusic, you probably haven’t heard his thoughts about joining the notorious network, the Canada–US relationship and what he misses most about Toronto

Trump's Loss, Toronto's Gain: Meet the artists, professors, scientists and other luminaries ditching the US and moving north

Trump’s Loss, Toronto’s Gain: Meet the artists, professors, scientists and other luminaries ditching the US and moving north

They’re coming from Big Law, the Ivy League, arts institutes and beyond, brimming with smarts and energy and united by a common cause: avoiding the carnage of Donald Trump. True tales from the brain gain

Dancing Queens: Patrons, staff and performers share their wildest memories of Crews and Tangos, Toronto’s most storied drag bar

Dancing Queens: Patrons, staff and performers share their wildest memories of Crews and Tangos, Toronto’s most storied drag bar

Crews and Tangos has been enforcing the rules of the Village for more than 30 years: wear what you want, kiss who you want, but don’t forget to tip the drag queens. With a condo development looming, we asked around for tales from the iconic spot

The Joy of Sex with Strangers: A Toronto hotwife’s adventures in ethical non-monogamy

The Joy of Sex with Strangers: A Toronto hotwife’s adventures in ethical non-monogamy

Three months ago, I was a suburban mom in a monogamous relationship. Now I’m sleeping with people I meet online—with my husband’s blessing—and we’ve never been happier. Don’t judge us until you’ve read our story

The Scandal, the Firing and the Fallout: Anatomy of a Bay Street fiasco at RBC

The Scandal, the Firing and the Fallout: Anatomy of a Bay Street fiasco at RBC

Nadine Ahn was a high-ranking executive at the bank. Ken Mason, her subordinate, was rapidly promoted. Then someone claimed to see them canoodling at the Royal York, tipped off HR and triggered an inquisition

Edward the Conqueror: The unlikely ascent of Canada’s telecom king

Edward the Conqueror: The unlikely ascent of Canada’s telecom king

Edward Rogers was dismissed as a meddling nepo baby—until he muscled out his siblings, acquired his competitors, cornered the telecom market and became the dominant force in Canadian sports

Lady Parts: Inside Meredith MacNeill and Jennifer Whalen’s new show, Small Achievable Goals

Lady Parts: Inside Meredith MacNeill and Jennifer Whalen’s new show, Small Achievable Goals

The Baroness von Sketch Show alumnae have elevated joking about women’s issues to an art. Their new show takes aim at menopause. How funny is that?

Murder in the Blue Mountains: The story behind the killing of Ashley Schwalm

Murder in the Blue Mountains: The story behind the killing of Ashley Schwalm

Ashley and James Schwalm had what seemed like a fairy tale life—two wonderful children, fulfilling careers and a gorgeous home close to the private ski club where they’d fallen in love. Then Ashley’s remains turned up in a burned-out car at the bottom of a ditch, and all signs pointed to her husband

Dark Horse: Inside the fall of Eric Lamaze, Canada’s most famous equestrian

Dark Horse: Inside the fall of Eric Lamaze, Canada’s most famous equestrian

For years, Lamaze was the world’s top-ranked show jumper, living an enviable life filled with fancy cars, international travel and adoring fans—the kind of life a person might do anything to protect

Dividing Line: How the Bloor Street bike lane turned the city into a battlefield

Dividing Line: How the Bloor Street bike lane turned the city into a battlefield

A few kilometres along Bloor has become Toronto’s most contested strip of concrete, igniting fights over congestion, safety and the future of downtown

The Chosen One: At just 23, Scottie Barnes is the new face of the Raptors—and the team’s best chance of salvation

The Chosen One: At just 23, Scottie Barnes is the new face of the Raptors—and the team’s best chance of salvation

Barnes is shouldering the weight of an impatient, basketball-mad city, a hit-and-miss team, and his own colossal ambitions. Does he look worried?

Almost Famous: Inside the Beaches’ rise to rock stardom

Almost Famous: Inside the Beaches’ rise to rock stardom

A viral earworm about a breakup turned the Beaches into Toronto’s hottest export. Now, the panty-throwing, stage-diving, all-girl rock band is seducing fans around the world

"I was nearly beaten to death by my partner. The case was dismissed because it took too long to get to trial"

“I was nearly beaten to death by my partner. The case was dismissed because it took too long to get to trial”

How an overburdened justice system is failing survivors of intimate partner violence

Buy Canadian

"We felt disconnected from the outdoors before": What St. Lawrence Market North vendors think of their new home

“We felt disconnected from the outdoors before”: What St. Lawrence Market North vendors think of their new home

And what locally made and grown goods they’re selling

Sort-of Secret: Amelia’s Market, a Geary Avenue grocer selling local goods and light lunches

Sort-of Secret: Amelia’s Market, a Geary Avenue grocer selling local goods and light lunches

Like lovely cheese plates paired with glasses of Ontario-made wine

“There’s more attention now on shopping close to home”: How Broadfork Produce is connecting Toronto’s top chefs with Ontario farmers

“There’s more attention now on shopping close to home”: How Broadfork Produce is connecting Toronto’s top chefs with Ontario farmers

And the west-end supplier is opening to the public soon

The US tariffs are coming for your espresso martini

The US tariffs are coming for your espresso martini

With Kahlúa no longer available at the LCBO, Toronto bartenders are getting creative