No. 10: Because patio season is forever
If we can’t have nice weather, at least we can hold on to the summery vibes
By Toronto Life |
By Toronto Life |
Toronto’s restaurants scored a much-needed win in June with CaféTO, a program that relaxed patio restrictions to encourage eating and drinking al fresco just about anywhere it could be done safely—sidewalks, curb lanes, parking lots, back alleys and private property. The 760 restaurants that added space—some 9,000 square metres of it across the city—ran the gamut from five stars (Alo) to a beach bar in a parking lot on Gerrard East (Gerrard East Market). The initiative was meant as a band-aid for the industry, but it became much more: our streets and public spaces filled up with signs of life and socially distanced optimism (along with a side of tender brisket and icy blender drinks). When the program was extended through November—or until the first major snowfall—with propane heaters allowed, the news was universally praised. If we can’t have nice weather, at least we can hold on to the summery vibes.
To people fleeing the city for more square footage and less density, we say pffft. Pandemic or not, Toronto is thriving. Let us count the ways
The People’s Pantry started small and grew fast. Now, nearly 500 volunteers devote their culinary skills, bikes, cars and time to help out
Launching a restaurant is risky in the best of times. These fearless folks did it during Covid
They’re the scientists and specialists working on the development and distribution of a vaccine
Donté Colley’s videos are little pearls of joy
They spend their free time printing face shields, making music, and helping Torontonians stay connected
Plastering everything from 20-storey buildings to small traffic signal controller cabinets
Here’s how Torontonians came together to save Pam’s Roti Shop from closure
The pandemic turned our best wine bars into streetside patios, bottle bodegas and de facto wine clubs
Their success is one of the few happy small-business stories of Covid
And Toronto brands have stepped up to meet the demand
This guy makes really cool all-season backyard office pods for the WFH set—himself included
The pandemic meant postponement for thousands of bethrothed Torontonians. These four couples made other plans
Four examples of random kindness in our midst
By the end of this year, Toronto will have 40 kilometres of new bike lanes—the largest single-year expansion in our history
Even a global pandemic couldn’t slow film and TV production for long
Here’s just a sampling of the heavy dose of CanCon on the Billboard charts
Here are just a handful of the hyper-talented founders, CEOs, CTOs and managers who’ve brought their skills to the city
Toronto is about to get the tallest mass timber structure in North America
They’re a beacon of hope, a catalyst for progress and—oh yeah—a really good team
And Bike Share added 300 of them to its fleet
