culture & city life · Toronto & Canada
Aisha writes Toronto as a city of neighbourhoods first, chasing a restaurant opening and a gallery closing with the same curiosity.
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80 stories published
As the 51st Toronto International Film Festival transforms the city into a global cinematic hub, a wave of neighborhood festivals and cultural events further cement the city's identity as a center for arts and diversity.
As Toronto moves away from sterile vertical investor boxes, a mountain-range-inspired development at King Street West signals a new era of architectural ambition.
As the 20th anniversary of Toronto's all-night art crawl leans into a 'greatest hits' format, the shrinking scale of the event reveals a changing relationship with public art.
While the glitz of the festival centers on King West, a series of free concerts and screenings are turning Yorkville into a public sanctuary for film lovers.
As the 51st Toronto International Film Festival descends on the city, the curated list of 'star-spotting' hotspots reveals a preference for luxury hotels and global brands over the city's diverse flavor makers.
Beyond the prestige of the prize, this year's finalists highlight the diverse histories and multicultural margins that define the city's true identity.
Five authors have been named as finalists for the Toronto Book Awards, celebrating works that reflect the city's diverse communities and histories.
The Berkeley Street cafe-bar owner says operating in the city is no longer sustainable due to soaring overheads.
The closure of the Danforth Avenue establishment marks the loss of the neighborhood's only nightlife spot expressly devoted to the LGBTQIA2S+ community.
The closure of C.C.'s Bar & Grill marks the loss of the only nightlife hub expressly devoted to the LGBTQIA2S+ community in its neighborhood.
As the City of Toronto unveils the finalists for its literary prize, the question remains: do these titles capture our current multicultural chaos or lean into the safety of the past?
As the city's smash burger scene reaches a saturation point, a popular chain from the nation's capital prepares to plant permanent roots on Queen Street West.
The latest finalists for the City's literary prize suggest a shift toward a more raw and diverse urban identity.
As the city prepares for the glitz of TIFF, Lai Wah Heen introduces 'The Treasure of Fortune'—a five-course meal that pushes the boundaries of culinary excess.
As the City of Toronto and Toronto Public Library unveil the finalists for their prestigious literary prize, the selected works suggest a city moving past stereotypes toward a more authentic, diverse urban identity.
Beyond the prestige of the prize, this year's selections highlight the city's commitment to documenting its diverse histories and marginalized voices.
With the city's only Indigenous food spot now open at 181 Parliament St., Chef Ohitika and Chef Wilmer Noganosh III are blending comfort food with community advocacy.
Founded by Chef Ohitika and Chef Wilmer Noganosh III, the new spot at 181 Parliament St. blends traditional flavors with community-focused initiatives.
The federal government is investing $195 million to help Toronto-based Xanadu Quantum Technologies build a manufacturing site in the city's west end.
The Second Summer Music Festival will take over 12 venues across Toronto's west end from Sept. 24 to 26.
From the historic lanes of Kensington Market to the parks of North York, the biennial celebration of Jewish music and arts moves beyond its traditional roots to embrace the city's evolving neighborhood identities.
A plan to replace historic one-storey buildings with a six-storey mixed-use development sparks concerns over the erasure of Kensington Market's authentic urban fabric.
From DIY roots at Parkdale Hall to a 15,000-capacity stadium, Jake Pretorius and Leo Strang are proving that underground rap is no longer a niche interest—it's a cultural powerhouse.
The arrival of the world-renowned film collection marks a pivotal moment for the city's analog art community, transforming a festival-season spark into a permanent home for cinephiles.
For Toronto's newest residents, the Canadian National Exhibition is more than a fair—it is a rite of passage defined by sunset views and daring drops.
As the city evolves, the revival of a charcoal-scented legacy at the CNE offers a fleeting, nostalgic anchor in a changing culinary landscape.
The City of Toronto designates a temporary cultural corridor to celebrate the K-pop group's Arirang World Tour and local Korean Canadian culture.
The outdoor gallery festival will end after seven years following the denial of city grants, highlighting a broader struggle for downtown event funding.
The city has rebranded a section of Yonge Street and proclaimed a celebratory weekend to coincide with the group's Arirang World Tour.
A new contemporary exhibition marks the first public event at the National Historic Site since a 2024 fire destroyed the landmark.
Toronto's longest-running street festival expands its boundaries for its 47th year, featuring new inclusive markets and stages.
Two years after a devastating fire gutted a National Historic Site, a new contemporary art festival transforms the skeletal remains of St. Anne’s Anglican Church into a public gallery.
A collision of superstars and sporting events this weekend reveals a city prioritizing ticket sales over the basic livability of its streets.
A recent Court of Appeal for Ontario ruling clears the path for the Ford government to dismantle protected bike lanes, shifting the battle for Toronto's urban identity from the courtroom to the ballot box.
The YouTube star's visit highlighted a mix of historic staples and high-volume seafood spectacles.
As Toronto's outdoor dining scene expands, the contrast between opulent downtown rooftops and intimate community corners reveals a city at a cultural crossroads.
By leveraging the viral success of Vero Sandwich Co., Bello Italian Sandwich Co. is rapidly expanding across Toronto and Ontario without losing its artisanal appeal.
A panel of judges overturned a previous ruling, allowing Premier Doug Ford's government to strip 19 kilometres of protected cycling infrastructure from major city streets.
The new concept, launched by the creative team behind Vero Sandwich Co., is scaling quickly from The Well to roadside attractions.
The restaurateur behind Adrak is expanding her footprint with Raani, a high-concept space inspired by India's royal courts.
A viral moment featuring a hungry rodent and a Jamaican patty captures the multicultural essence of the city.
Bradford claims the lanes cause gridlock and hurt business, while cycling advocates argue the traffic narrative lacks evidence.
A recent survey reveals a split between traditional hotspots and emerging nightlife hubs.
Opinion: The arrival of a British-Indian sports bar in the Junction isn't just a culinary experiment—it's a mirror of the city's overlapping histories.
Opinion: By importing American metaphors to describe our own urban evolution, we erase the distinct identity of Toronto's creative hubs.
To understand the glass towers of today, we must look back at the gritty piers and sugar refineries that built Toronto's edge.
The open-air celebration brings immersive art, fashion, and poetry to one of Toronto's most stylish neighbourhoods.
The comedy festival features a diverse lineup of international stars, viral creators, and theatrical performances from Sept. 24 to Oct. 3.
A collaborative project between the City of Toronto, Woodbourne, and Neighbours Community Homes will deliver over 400 rental homes and a permanent cultural hub.
Opinion: James Austin Johnson's reaction to Pizza Pizza's latest menu experiment proves that the only way to truly understand the city is to embrace its most absurd culinary contradictions.
Opinion: The integration of Le Théâtre français de Toronto into a mixed-income housing project proves that urban density and cultural preservation can—and must—go hand in hand.
Linguists warn that the pressure to integrate into Canada's dominant languages often leads to the unconscious erasure of ancestral tongues across generations.
As the City of Toronto marks Emancipation Month with symbolic gestures, the raising of the Black Liberation Flag signals a deeper conversation about accessibility and justice for Black Torontonians.
As city officials weigh changes to make the sandstone landmark more accessible to film crews, the building's gritty Romanesque charm offers more than just a sterile set.
City officials are considering rule changes to make the historic Victorian landmark more accessible for television and movie productions.
Two established culinary names are bringing high-end concepts and regional specialties to new downtown locations.
Opinion: The overwhelming success of this family-run Vietnamese spot proves that culinary legacies are the real engine driving Toronto's food evolution.
When award-winning culinary staples shutter due to skyrocketing overhead, the city loses more than just a menu—it loses its identity.
The naming of a new diamond at Caledonia Park serves as a formal recognition of the Dominican community's enduring influence on the city's sports and social identity.
Opinion: The proposed temporary renaming of a Yonge Street stretch is a vital recognition of K-pop's role in shaping our city's cultural and economic diversity.
Thirteen titles recognized for capturing the city's spirit, history, and diverse communities.
The commemorative naming at Caledonia Park recognizes the Dominican community's contributions to baseball and the city's cultural landscape.
Nakwon Kisa joins a growing number of Toronto establishments attempting to navigate the city's contentious tipping culture.
With no clearly delineated borders on platforms like Google Maps, locals offer wildly different interpretations of where the city's East End begins and ends.
Founded by Patrick Suksaen, Chef Porpy, and Mae Meo, the restaurant focuses on regional specificity and traditional ingredients.
The quick-service Mexican eatery is transitioning from transit and office hubs to its first standalone brick-and-mortar location.
A dense concentration of pizzerias between Bathurst and Spadina is sparking conversation about the neighborhood's culinary identity.
The hyperlocal street festival focuses on neighborhood businesses and local artists for its 2026 edition.
From phin-brewed coffee to ube-topped matcha, Lily Huang and V are expanding their Vietnamese-inspired footprint in the city.
As blueberry season peaks, the trek from Toronto's skyline to the countryside offers a necessary reprieve through slow-living and agricultural heritage.
Before the CN Tower dominated the horizon, the city's heights were an accessible public experience. Now, most of those vistas are locked behind corporate doors.
As the city's skyline grows, local farms like Marcy's Berries and Wilmot Orchards provide a critical, fleeting bridge back to the land and the rhythms of the Ontario countryside.
From sustainable practices in Cabbagetown to the expansive Downsview Park, the city's weekly markets offer a way to support local growers.
The Nam family is expanding their viral banh mi concept from Markham to the city, focusing on a scratch-made approach.
Following the execution of six FIFA World Cup matches, residents weigh in on whether the city is prepared for the scale of an Olympic bid.
As TLN Media Group threatens to cancel one of Toronto's most vibrant celebrations following a deadly shooting, the city faces a reckoning over public safety and accountability.
As one of Toronto's most celebrated pasta destinations pivots to wholesale, the closure of its public lunch service highlights the fragility of the city's independent culinary anchors.
A proposed motion seeks to study Montreal's model of extended operating hours for the city's nightlife.
From dairy-free swirls to kefir-based treats, a wave of new frozen dessert spots is redefining the city's neighborhood landscapes.
By inviting the city's top grill masters to its Kensington Market patio, Sunnys Chinese is redefining the summer dinner series as a sophisticated fusion of craft and community.
A public prediction record for Aisha Karim’s calls is coming soon.