Recipefiesta

A hidden, covered back patio at a Toronto restaurant and bar has permanently closed before the summer season could start for them.

The John 3 just opened in the summer of 2019, meaning it only had one magical normal season on its back patio before COVID would hit next spring.

The patio had a tree with a face carved into it, a TV often playing music videos, and a retractable roof. They served a pub menu of meat and vegan dishes accompanied by an impressive range of craft beers.

Owner Eric Jordan alleges to blogTO that the "landlord was not okay with the government rent" and the "government was taking too long to send relief money."

He's "not sure where the new spot will be yet" but is "actively searching.

Forget biking or kayaking, stand up paddleboarding has to be one of the best ways to see the chain of small islands that is Toronto Island.

Even if you've been to the island a hundred times before, exploring the waters of the inner harbour in and around the archipelago just across the lake from Toronto's downtown is an entirely new experience atop a paddleboard.

Toronto Island Stand Up Paddle Boarding offers lessons and rentals by the hour. 

Toronto Island Stand Up Paddle Boarding (TISUP) has been offering island visitors lessons and rentals since 2014. If you've got some paddling experience and can swim, you can rent a board by the hour and take your very own self-guided tour.

Just head to Algonquin Bridge on Ward's Island where you'll get set up for your rental. 

For those with no experience at all, there are lessons available with one of the certified SUP instructors where you can learn proper techniques and get more comfortable on the board before embarking on your own adventure.

A one-hour rental is $30 with an additional $10 for every added hour after that. 

Although this was my first time paddling while standing up, we arrived near Algonquin Bridge on Ward's Island and the starting point for all TISUP-related activities, with our e-waivers signed for an hour's rental.

A map at the starting point shows you the points around the island you can explore while on a board. 

You can choose from one ($30 per person) to five hours ($70 per person) when you're renting a board. One hour gives you just about enough time to visit Sunfish Cut and Turtle Alley and leaves you with more than hours in the day to soak up some sun on one of the beaches afterward. 

Every rental includes a screening beforehand to make sure you know the basics of paddling. 

There's a brief screening before you're able to go on your way. But as long as you're able to swim should you fall overboard and you know the basics of paddling, SUP is a breeze even for first-timers.

To stand up, start on your knees and slowly plant your feet a bit forward on the board one at a time. 

Listen closely during the instructor's 10-minute spiel; learning how to safely stand up (start on your knees and from there plant your feet a bit forward on the board one at a time), stop, and turn around will help you on your journey.

SUP is an easy sport to learn for first-timers. 

Crystal is the staff member walking us through our first paddleboard experience on this particular Thursday afternoon and she's incredibly patient as we shakingly make our very first attempt to stand upright. 

Practice stopping and turning around a few times before going on your way. 

Balancing is easier than expected though. And after trying a few turns and stops by pushing the paddle back against the current, we're ready to go out into the open waters. 

Head west from the starting point to begin your explorations around the island. 

No matter how long you're planning on being on the water, every paddleboarder is directed to head west first toward Sunfish Cut. Even though you might've never heard that name before, you likely have a photo there at this scenic point from a past visit to the island. 

The first section of the paddle is passing by boats and floating homes as you make your way to Sunfish Cut.

Before reaching the photo-op, you'll be passing a number of boats and floating island homes docked along the shores of Algonquin Island across the calm lagoon from Ward's. It's fun to imagine what life is like for longtime islanders living in one of these and I've definitely never gotten this close-up on foot. 

Sunfish Cut offers an incredible view of the Toronto skyline. 

You've hit Sunfish Cut when the Toronto skyline comes perfectly into view. Although we're paddling on a quieter weekday, I can see this spot getting pretty congested with photo takers, even on the water, on the weekend. Good thing TISUP provides $1 dry bags to hold your phone.

Head under the footbridge west of Sunfish Cut to get to Turtle Alley. 

Spend the majority of your time there snapping the perfect paddleboard picture or continue onwards to get to Turtle Alley. Journey under the footbridge to get to this area where you're likely to spot, you guessed it, turtles, as well as other wildlife. 

You'll be paddling among wildlife with lots of ducks, swans, turtles and fish sharing the lake. 

The incredibly serene area is full of ducks (we're told the baby and teenage ones are particularly known to hop aboard so be ready), swans, and large bluegill, punkinseed, and yellow perch swimming by the weedy bays just under your board. 

There are plenty of picnic areas just off-shore where you could rest for a while. 

If you're looking to make the day of it, you could always pack a lunch to pop in a dry bag and pull up on one of the private spots along the shore to rest your arms and take in the view. 

With so much to see, I'll definitely be back for another paddle this summer, but probably for an illuminated late-night paddle or yoga session onboard next time around. 

This Toronto home is more than just a structure, it's a full on story. The home has a rich history and lots of character thanks to its tenants.

The front entrance way. 

The home was originally built in 1860 when only eight other homes stood in what is now Rosedale. The first occupant was prominent barrister John Highet Thom, who also was a taxing officer downtown at Osgoode Hall.

The living room on the main floor. 

But for the past 40 years, it's been owned by Fred Altmann, a retired painting contractor, and his artist wife.

The dining room. 

According to a 2010 Globe and Mail article, Altmann completely and painstakingly restored the home searching through wrecking yards and antique markets for the exact objects and fixtures that would bring the Victorian home back to its colonial glory days. 

One of the bedrooms with stained glass windows and an original fireplace. 

And when you look at it you can tell just how much Altmann loved the home. It's beautiful with the stained glass windows, crown mouldings, original fireplaces and more. 

A hallway with restored wood floors and doors. 

According to the Globe and Mail article, the entire exterior has been put back to its historic state – including the tri-coloured bricks, cobblestone driveway and early-century streetlamps. 

Exposed beams and brick walls featured in the home. 

The interior is as historically accurate as possible too, with only a few replicas put in when the authentic version couldn't be found. 

A breakfast nook. 

The home is now on the market for the first time in four decades for $6,575,000. 

A bedroom with original hardwood floors and windows. 

It comes complete with three bedrooms and five bathrooms, however, it's unclear if that includes the two apartments that are apparently part of the home. 

The coach house at the back of the property. 

There is also a spacious back garden and a coach house which used to be stables that was frequently used by the Post Office to switch horses. How cool is that? 

The restored kitchen on the main floor. 

The only downside to this house is that it's almost like a museum piece in its historical accuracy. Like there's no central air conditioning and the kitchen is small with very little storage. 

One of the bathrooms. 

So if you're looking for a Victorian home that has all the modern amenities like many of the homes in Rosedale do, this isn't it.

A second kitchen in one of the apartment units. 

But I would argue that this is way better than a home that's been stripped of all its character and charm just so you can have a "chef's kitchen". Who needs that many appliances anyway? 

The backyard. 

Toady and Ratty, modern art and something fantastically funereal … our tipsters’ favourite trails turn a walk into an event

I love to walk and be surrounded by nature but my children not so much. One thing we all love is the Wind in the Willows so when we saw there was a trail at Hanningfield reservoir in Essex, I was keen to try and get their little legs moving so we packed a picnic and set off in pursuit of Mr Toad and the gang. We bought a map for £1 which my youngest loved as it made him feel like a pirate! The walk was enjoyed by all as we excitedly spotted our favourite characters brilliantly carved from wood. Later we borrowed binoculars from the visitor centre to spot birds, which was an added bonus and extended the day nicely.
Tania Compton

A cult burger joint with a loyal following just opened a store in downtown Toronto, and fast food lovers are rejoicing.

Rosie's Burgers has only had a location in Port Credit up until now, unfortunately for Toronto burger fans, but their dreams are now coming true with a spot just opening up inside our city limits.

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The restaurant does a stripped-down, nostalgic menu starring the crushable style of burgers the likes of which Toronto is obsessed with, along with fries, poutine, shakes and floats.

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They also do triple chocolate chip cookies and banana pudding for dessert and have their own merch, even their own Spotify playlist.

Rosie's has appeared in Toronto before, at a pop-up at Cold Tea in summer 2020, and were asked back to the now-closed bar again the same summer due to popular demand.

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The restaurant's Toronto location just opened today, July 1, at 573 Queen West near Portland where a location of another burger joint, B.Good, used to be. 

"When we started, we knew we wanted to make our way to the downtown core. We didn't know it would happen within our first year of business," Dustin Gelman of Rosie's tells blogTO.

"We started scouting for a second location in early spring 2021. With a handful of attractive prospects, nothing felt quite as good as being in the thick of Queen West. We really wanted to make our mark by planting ourselves in the city's core while still providing our mom and pop neighbourhood vibe."

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On opening day, every burger purchased will get you the chance to be one of three winners of a raffle for a $50 gift card and merch.

Rosie's will also still be doing pop-ups in Toronto this summer, starting with one at Man of Kent on July 11 to celebrate the opening of tattoo shop The Original Gallery.

Indoor dining is still not allowed in Ontario but many are wondering when it will start up again now that the province is in Step 2 of the 3-step reopening plan, vaccination rates continue to rise well past Step 3 targets and daily case counts and ICU admissions hit lows not seen for months.

Though many businesses are now open for the first time in months or have further expanded operations if they were already open, restaurants, bars and cafes will have to stick to outdoor patio service only (along with takeout and delivery) for the time being.

Though indoor private gatherings of up to five people — even more if everyone is fully vaccinated — can take place again, indoor dining at an actual establishment is not yet in the cards until Step 3. For those in some regions such as Toronto, indoor service has been shuttered since October.

Based on the framework and its "21 days between steps" rule, this would mean the earliest that could happen is 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, July 21.

Premier Doug Ford and his team have hinted on multiple occassions recently that the 21-day rule may be bent yet again for Step 3, but did not outright confirm that we would progress sooner, nor that indoor dining or any other activities outlined in that last and final step could commence any earlier than currently planned.

As residents will recall, we entered both Steps 1 and 2 a few days earlier than anticipated.

"There’s no one that wants to open this province up more than I do, we’re very very close," Ford said at a press conference this week in which he said further reopening was simply a matter of consulting with Ontario's new Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kieran Moore.

Though Ford and Health Minister Christine Elliott have indicated some flexibility around the "approximate" date for Step 3, it seems that our new top doctor is not on board with the idea.

"We need to be cautious, we need to be prudent and we need that 21 days to be able to understand the impact of opening on our communities," Moore revealed at a media briefing on Tuesday.

"I do think a 21-day interval is prudent and I personally dont want to see that shortened because we need to be data-driven in the face of this new enemy [the Delta variant]."