March 2015

5 Places to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Toronto

March 13, 2015

One of the biggest parties of the year, St. Party’s Day, er St. Patty’s day is your annual chance to paint the town green. If you’re not having a party in one of our furnished suites in Toronto, here are our top five places to celebrate St. Patrick’s day in Toronto; Ireland’s patron saint.

1. Steamwhistle Brewery. Their annual party, held this Saturday March 14, is one of the liveliest in town but if you miss out on the party opt for the healthier Achilles St. Patrick’s Day in Toronto, 5 kilometre run/walk on Sunday March 15. Bonus: the brewery is a quick stumble back to your furnished apartment.

2. The Ceili Cottage. This packed party is the closest you’ll get to Ireland and its craic in Toronto. The bar–known for its winter yurt and its famous oysters–is hosting a St. Patrick’s Week of events starting March 13 and ending on March 17. On Monday, March 16, the yurt will be host to a dinner of four courses and four Irish whiskies co-hosted by Jameson. (Tickets are $50; call 416.406.1301 for more information.) The big day will include live music from 3pm-7pm. For more information, check out their Facebook page.

3. Stout Irish Pub. Located in the charming area of Cabbagetown, Stout has an impressive variety of taps, and bottles plus cask. Events on Saturday March 14, and on Tuesday March 17 will feature Jameson shots, Lucky Charm Lager, and Devil’s Hurricanes. Live music will be available from 8pm to 1am on both nights. No reservations.

4. The Brazen Head. This two level Irish funhouse in Liberty Village is hosting celebrations every day leading up to St. Patrick’s Day including Irish inspired dishes, $4 brunch Caesars, and the Leprechaun Olympics (don’t ask…we don’t know either!). More information is available on their Facebook Page.

5. Dora Keogh’s. This long-standing sister of Allen’s on the Danforth is a cozy room with copper stools and Guinness on tap. Dora’s is known for its live music, which you can hear in the afternoon and in the evenings this weekend. The bar will be open from noon on Tuesday.

For next year, plan ahead and book St. Patrick’s Day in Toronto at Amsterdam Brewery’s all-day party (already sold out).

Family Vacations in Toronto, Lifestyle talk, Toronto Family Travel, Vacation Travel

How to Avoid Expensive Holiday Airfares

March 12, 2015

As many of our guests are, you may be on the go and expected to travel frequently, whether for business or pleasure. (Check out our tips here on how to get the best deals.) But sometimes, the only time you can get is over the holidays –when everyone else is traveling. Here are some ways how to avoid expensive holiday airfares.

1. Do not book last minute. More likely than not, the closer you travel to your desired date of departure, the higher the price of your flight. You may be lucky and get a last minute fare -if others are not going to your destination or it’s not a popular destination – but the best advice is to book as far in advance as possible. This advice is especially useful for summer travel to Europe and the recommended time to book is around three to six months in advance, if possible. Rumour has it, however, that the ideal number to book in advance is 49 days or 7 weeks in advance.

2. Be flexible with your dates and times. Inflexibility could result in a higher airfare. If you cannot budge on your date or time or if you’re traveling on a weekend, this will increase the costs of your flight. But if you can travel on an early weekday (Monday to Wednesday or even a Saturday, as some experts say) or in the early mornings/nights or nudge your date a day or two, it could be worth the change in savings.

3. Track your fare. Services like Yapta and airfare watchdog enable you to track and analyze when your flight price will increase, which can help you make decisions.

4. Alternate modes of transportation. If your flight is too expensive, consider driving to your destination or taking an alternate airport like Buffalo (a popular option in recent years). What you will lose in time, you will make up in savings.

5. Points. If you can’t get around the cost for an airfare, using your airline points (if you are loyal to one airline), Air Miles, or a co-branded credit card that will accumulate points for you, will help towards the cost of your flight.

How do you avoid expensive holiday airfare or save on flights? We’d love to hear your tips! Do check out our top ten essential travel apps for your next trip here. Of course, if you’re staying in Toronto, check out our properties.

Entertainment, Lifestyle talk

Musician and Band Short Term Housing

March 10, 2015

At DelSuites, we aim to cater to a variety of different needs and clients. Specifically, if you are a musician or a band, renting out our furnished suites in the Greater Toronto Area may be more beneficial than staying in a hotel. Some of our properties are even homes with plenty of space for more than four people and a way to practice in privacy. Here are some of the reasons why our properties would be beneficial to your band:

1. Furnished Properties with All of the Extras Just like a hotel, our suites are furnished in modern decor and amenities. You’ll get extra value than you would in a hotel with a fridge, kitchen, household items, fully stocked bathroom, bathrobes and a washer and dryer (including a start-up supply of detergent). Having laundry ensuite enables you to pack lighter if you or your band have to pack light. A work space area, wifi and a balcony are other features in most of our apartments that are beneficial to those on-the-go.

2. Grocery Service When you have to perform and do interviews for your band, you’re unlikely to have the time to grocery shop by the time you’re done by the end of the day. Grocery Gateway gives you healthy options and enables your fridge to be stocked when you’re too busy to shop.

3. Amenities In addition to our properties being situated near the centres of every city we’re in (from Downtown Toronto to North York to Mississauga and Brampton), we have 24-hour concierge service and fitness amenities. Some of our properties have swimming pools, games room (billiards, anyone), and spa-like facilities like a sauna and hot tub, so you can decompress before or during your performance nights. Private screening rooms for film and TV are also available and a way to interact with other guests at our properties.

4. Storage Lockers This is a great feature for bands with a large amount of equipment. Some of our locations offer storage lockers that will allow that extra space you need in your furnished suite.

5. Housekeeping In addition to making sure your furnished suite is in tip top shape, you can request weekly housekeeping to come in at a later time if it does not fit your weekly schedule.

6. Larger Spaces Since our suites and apartment rentals are larger than hotel rooms, you’ll have plenty of room for your equipment. You can also store some of your equipment in our closet areas that have moving doors that double as a mirror.

Our goal at DelSuites is to ensure that you have a home away from home. For musician and band short term housing who just want a relaxing place with peace and quiet but without the intrusion or lack of intimacy in a hotel, we would recommend a furnished suite in Toronto on your own terms. Please contact us if you have any questions or would like to book in the near future.

Downtown Toronto, Food & Recipes, Lifestyle talk, North York

Top Restaurants in Toronto, 2015

March 6, 2015

With Spring just around the corner, getting out on the town made us think of our favourite restaurants in Toronto. It’s a mix of those classics you might find on a list like Winterlicious mixed with newer restaurants and cafes. If you’re looking to get out of your furnished apartment in Toronto or try something new at one of Toronto’s many diverse and delicious restaurants, look no further to our comprehensive top 10 restaurants in Toronto. Our list is in no particular order.

1. Bar Isabel. It’s no surprise that this Spanish-inspired restaurant with a Black Hoof twist (owner Grant Van Gameren used to co-own the Black Hoof) is on many top ten lists. We love the chorizo, grilled octopus, and basque cake with sherry cream. Be on the lookout for Van Gameren’s anticipated opening, Bar Raval, this year. Reservations are recommended.

2. Canoe. Canoe remains one of the best restaurants in Canada and a homage to haute Canadian cuisine. It is the perennial place for a special occasion with views of the Toronto Islands and CN Tower to match from the 54th floor of the TD Tower. You’ll be lucky to sit at the chef’s table and interact with Chef John Horne. It is a treat! It is also one of our picks to drink with your fellow corporate executives.

3. Fat Pasha. Another extension of Anthony Rose’s empire, Fat Pasha is your excuse to eat through the Middle Eastern trend. We love the dips (especially labneh and hummus) and the nutella babka cake. A must if you’re looking to venture out of your usual tastes.

4. The Black Hoof. Since 2008, The Black Hoof has set Toronto on the charcuterie trend and remains the best place for the boards. It has since expanded its menu so you can more adventurous parts of an animal (whether it’s offal or horse) and never fails to impress the tastebuds. We love the staples of charcuterie, bone marrow, and cheese but give the horse tartare a try. Try its intimate cocktail bar across the street, aptly named Cocktail Bar, pre or post meal.

5. Electric Mud BBQ. Owned by Black Hoof alum, Colin Tooke and Ian McGrenaghan, Electric Mud BBQ is their second outpost of the Electric empire (Grand Electric around the corner on Queen West slinging out tacos). Chow down on good ol’ BBQ, bourbon alongside a great soundtrack at picnic tables with your friends. The ribs are classic but we return for the chicken, crack rolls, and $2.50 pints of Great Lakes Beer on Monday nights. They also now deliver. We love a good deal!

6. Origin. Tapas has become one of Toronto’s biggest culinary trends and Origin executes it in an original fashion. The restaurant is so popular it has expanded from its original location at King and Church to Origin North at Bayview and Sheppard (a sophisticated option near our apartments for rent north york). We love the deviled eggs, tostones and guacamole, hand rolls, miso glazed cod, and dulce de leche. Look for chef Claudio Aprile to expand his repertoire of fresh, global dishes to the Toronto Pearson Airport soon.

7. Eastside Social. One of Leslieville’s newest additions to the neighbourhood, Eastside Social is casual enough to sit and chat with someone at the bar over a dark n stormy yet sophisticated enough for a date. Share their inventive fish charcuterie platter. Their oyster special is every Tuesday and Wednesday.

8. Campagnolo. Our pick for Italian cuisine, chef Craig Harding, continues to deliver the classics that make us feel like it’s okay we can’t hop on a plane at a moment’s notice to Italy. You’ll salivate over his burrata with roasted grapes, spaghetti all’matricana, rabbit saltimbocca, and his famous budino.

9. Mildred’s Temple Kitchen. For the brunch lovers, Mildred’s Temple is large enough to accommodate your group but popular enough for you to be waiting in line even 15 minutes after opening. It’s worth the trek to Liberty Village. If it’s one thing to order it’s those fluffy, blueberry pancakes.

It’s difficult to add our all of our top 10 Restaurants in Toronto (honorary mentions go to Lady Marmalade for brunch, Porchetta & Co. for lunch, and Chantecler for dinner).

What are your favourite restaurants in Toronto? What are the restaurant openings in Toronto you’re looking forward to?

Lifestyle talk

Working in Toronto

March 3, 2015

As Canada’s largest financial center and a population of 2.7 million (and 6 million in the Greater Toronto Area/GTA), Toronto is a vibrant city in which to work and live. This can be illustrated by the number of short term rentals DelSuites has, across the GTA, now currently ranked number one by TripAdvisor in specialty lodging in Toronto and fifth consecutive winner of the Consumer’s Choice Awards in the Furnished Condo Rental category. We have touched upon the quirks of living in the city but here are a few things you should know about working in Toronto.

1. Industries – Working in Toronto
The main industries in Toronto are finance, technology, and construction. It is home to the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSE) and to the third largest concentration of private IT companies after San Francisco and New York. Due to the 2015 Pan Am Games, construction has boomed in the metropolis for building of facilities and condominiums. According to a report in the Toronto Star, the surge in new jobs has been in health care, education, public administration, trades, finance, real estate, insurance, professional services, scientific and technical services, transportation and warehousing, accommodation and food services, and information, culture and recreation.

2. Education
According to the World Atlas (2014), Canada is the most educated nation in the world. 51% of the population has tertiary education and most jobs require a post-secondary diploma or degree. Toronto has one of the most prestigious universities in the world, University in Toronto. However, education with co-operative education or practical work-terms are gaining in popularity and success to working in the city. Examples include: George Brown College (known for hospitality and culinary arts); Ryerson (known for its media and journalism program); Humber College (known for its Public Relations program) and Sheridan College (known for its animation arts program).

3. Unemployment Rates
As of December, 2014 the unemployment rate is 7.2 percent, according to Statistics Canada. The labour market is very competitive and should you move to the city, it is important to make sure you have savings in case your job hunt takes longer than usual (on average four to five months).

4. A Shift from Full-Time to Part-Time
As part of shifts in the economy, employers are increasingly hiring workers on a part-time or contract basis, according to this report in the Toronto Star. This helps employers budgets by not paying for extensive benefits or pensions. As a result, many workers in Toronto have more than one job or are becoming entrepreneurs.

5. Networking
In an urban center like Toronto, where 40% of Canada’s jobs are situated, getting a job here is more about who you know rather than what you know with the competition of skills and education among its workforce. Networking is key, especially at trade conferences in your industry as well as informal meetups according to interest. LinkedIn and social media are also key tools for employers to find you.

To help you with your job search working in Toronto, do check out this section of job boards on the city of Toronto’s website in its Employment and Social Services category.

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