Toronto Retail and Restaurants Thread

[Marcanadian]

No doubt. A drunk Rob Ford would be hilarious.

[Gerrad]

Rob Ford strikes me as the sort of person that thinks public flatulence is the height of cultural entertainment.

[Taller, Better]

[BrandonK]

Originally Posted by Travis007

Totally agree with you. With thousands of new residents in the downtown core, many from 905 areas, retail amenities like Ikea are much needed.

Hong Kong has a couple of Ikea stores in urban locations (Causeway Bay, and MegaBox). The concept is to integrate big-box stores into above ground, multi-level retail spots in existing/new building podiums. Similar to how the Future Shop is located in the Metropolis building (Dundas Square). I think Aura is supposed to have this multi-level retail concept.

Hong Kong new apartment complexes are more successful than Toronto's new developments at creating a retail destination for residents and shoppers. They may be in the form of multi-level shopping centres in HK, but there's no reason Cityplace couldn't have applied it as street level retail for Toronto.

Consistent podiums and ground level retail is where Cityplace fails miserably. There's a Sobey's and a bank, but the entire area is rather vehicle oriented and feels suburban. There's not much separating Cityplace from the MCC or STC condo clusters. With thousands of residents, the area can definitely sustain a retail community. But there aren't even regular retail amenities like cafes, restaurants, or shops for residents to use. Cityplace had the potential to be a true urban neighbourhood and destination but ended up being nothing more than a bedroom community.

[Taller, Better]

I see your point, but why does CityPlace necessarily have to be a retail destination? It is a residential neighbourhood within a short walking distance to major retail areas, and well serviced by public transport. I am sure there are neighbourhoods like this in Hong Kong, too. Aside from basic necessity retailing (food, etc..) and access to schools, I don't see why CityPlace necessarily has to draw shoppers from the rest of the city. I think the same about the Bay Street Canyon; all residential streets don't necessarily have to be all things to all people, as long as they are close to areas that are.

[BrandonK]

You also have a point that residential areas serve their main purposes for housing. But my main problem with Cityplace is is that the developer made no effort whatsoever in creating a pedestrian friendly and walkable neighbourhood. This could have been easily achieved with consistent podiums that line up well with the sidewalk, and retail spots that can serve the resident populations.

[Travis007]

http://www.blogto.com/hotels/hotel-ocho-toronto

Toronto's newest boutique hotel - The Hotel Ocho

Another well restored historical building for a good modern use.

[BrandonK]

Originally Posted by Travis007

http://www.blogto.com/hotels/hotel-ocho-toronto

Toronto's newest boutique hotel - The Hotel Ocho

Another well restored historical building for a good modern use.

I was actually there on Saturday and was pleasantly surprised. The renovation was nicely done. Everything was reasonably priced, food was great, and fantastic ambiance. Great addition to the area!

[Taller, Better]

CityPlace is only half finished, and is still a work in progress being rolled out. It is pretty hard to definitively critique it till they are finished.

Ocho looks nice, but definitely not my type of hotel.

[Travis007]

Video screens being installed on this building on Yonge Street (One block north of Dundas).

image hosted on flickr



New retail building being built on Queen West. I'll be happy if it ends up looking as decent as its neighbours to the west (right side in perspective of photo).

image hosted on flickr

[Taller, Better]

Those are some big MFing screens! That "Internet" building with the big screens going on top is a piece of dogcrap. What is going into the Levi's location?

[Travis007]

http://twitter.com/#!/urbanation

"Loblaw's, Winners and Joe Fresh opening this year at Tribute Communities' "Queen + Portland" condo at 156 Portland Street in downtown west."

[Epi]

Originally Posted by CrazySerb

Since this seems like a good place to ask, I'm wondering if anyone knows a place in Toronto where one can buy Vienna-style cakes & other sweets?

Things like this...

image hosted on flickr

Unfortunately the Sachertorte here will never be as good!

[Taller, Better]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle2022037/

openings
New buffalo-mozzarella resto hopes to spur a stampede
AMY VERNER
From Saturday's Globe and Mail
Published Friday, May. 13, 2011 8:03PM EDT


At first glance, Obika does not boast the clichéd hallmarks of an Italian eatery. There are no red-checkered tablecloths, cans of tomatoes or garlic braids. In fact, the southeast corner of Brookfield Place in the heart of Toronto’s financial district looks more like a Japanese restaurant with its black and red colour scheme, stark calligraphy typeface and sushi bar set-up where fresh ingredients are featured front and centre in the glass display.

But Obika, a gastronomic concept conceived in Rome seven years ago, has its sights set on Canada as the next potential market for mozzarella madness.

Move over California roll; the mozzarella di bufala ball has arrived......

read the rest here:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle2022037/

[Taller, Better]

Was sorely disappointed at my first visit to the new Salad King last week. Went upstairs, and asked if I could sit at one of the small tables in a long row (all empty) by the front windows.
"No. Those are reserved for parties of four, or more". Then she proceeded to take me to a massive table for six, all by myself of course. I had the Pud Thai, and chose 3 chilis out of 10, which was "medium spicy". It came very spicy (probably more than I would have liked) but other than the chilis it was completely flavourless. No fish sauce, perhaps? It was just greasy oily noodles with about five smallish shrimps and five smallish cubes of tofu. Only ate half of it. Not going back.

[Filip]

Some news from Bloor.

Nearly announced is Links of London moving into the old MAC space and MAC moving to the old Feet First locale.

More rumoured than fact at this point is Louis Vuitton and Ferragamo moving into the large space by Church of the Redeemer and Dior going into the Hyatt space at Bloor/Avenue.

[Taller, Better]

Oh my... Fil, that is a well of information! Thank you!!

What is Links of London like? Mid range jewellery? I saw the website and it doesn't look really upscale...

[ACT7]

Awesome news!! Links is only at Holts right now in Canada so this will be the first stand alone in the country and I believe only the second stand alone in NA. It's fairly high-end jewlery but I'm not sure it's in the same league as, say, Cartier.
I wonder who will take the old LV spot then? I still hear rumblings of Breitling but I can't confirm any location yet.

[allurban]

Originally Posted by Taller, Better

Was sorely disappointed at my first visit to the new Salad King last week. Went upstairs, and asked if I could sit at one of the small tables in a long row (all empty) by the front windows.
"No. Those are reserved for parties of four, or more". Then she proceeded to take me to a massive table for six, all by myself of course. I had the Pud Thai, and chose 3 chilis out of 10, which was "medium spicy". It came very spicy (probably more than I would have liked) but other than the chilis it was completely flavourless. No fish sauce, perhaps? It was just greasy oily noodles with about five smallish shrimps and five smallish cubes of tofu. Only ate half of it. Not going back.

What will make the experience worse is learning that you probably ingested a day's worth of sodium in that half-meal you had. Don't go back. Ever.

Cheers, m

[Travis007]

http://www.blogto.com/grocery/ontari...ompany-toronto

The Ontario Spring Water Sake Company

Posted by Guest Contributor / REVIEWED ON MAY 16, 2011

The Ontario Spring Water Sake Company has opened in the Distillery District giving a shot in the arm to the sad state of sake availabilty in Toronto. A beverage long ignored by the LCBO, sake is widely available on the west coast but this marks the first opportunity for Torontonians to try and buy a freshly brewed unpasteurized batch of the alcoholic rice-based beverage without leaving the province.