Things to Do in Toronto Archives

The Best Bakeries in Toronto

October 11, 2019

There’s nothing quite like the irresistible aroma of freshly baked bread.

There are several excellent bakeries in Toronto where dedicated bakers are kneading dough at the crack of dawn, pulling their soft, warm loaves out of the oven before most city-dwellers are even awake. At these fantastic bakeries, you will find fresh pastries, crusty baguettes, handmade cakes and so much more.

Here are just a few examples of the best bakeries that Toronto has to offer.

The Rolling Pin

The Rolling Pin is one of the most well known bakeries in Toronto, famous for their elaborately decorated over the top donuts. The owners of this bakery, Isabelle and Vanessa, are truly passionate about creating innovative desserts. They experiment with new flavours all the time and they always offer creative taste combinations – such as a Key Lime Pie donut or a marshmallow Fluff filled donut topped with Rice Krispies and drizzled with Nutella. The Rolling Pin also offers baking classes, so you can learn how to make your own unique cake creations.

Through Being Cool Vegan Baking Co.

If you don’t eat animal products, that doesn’t mean that you have to miss out on the bakery fun. Through Being Cool is a vegan bakery that serves up everything from cookies, doughnuts and scones – harming no creatures in the process. They believe that vegan food doesn’t always have to be healthy salads and other “rabbit food” – it can be sweet, indulgent baked treats as well! They also serve great coffee, made with high quality beans from Anchored Coffee.

Sweet Hart Kitchen

In a fantastic location just a few streets away from bustling Kensington Market, Sweet Hart Kitchen is a friendly, welcoming bakery serving up gluten-free, allergen-free and entirely vegan options. Everything they make is 100% vegan and uses real, whole ingredients. They avoid artificial flavours and colours and they make sure their ingredients are fair trade, organic and locally sourced whenever possible.

Roselle Desserts

From coffee caramel cakes to lemon tarts to Earl Grey infused cakes, you’ll find a delightful selection of treats at Roselle Desserts. The bakers, Bruce Lee and Stephanie Duong, honed their dessert-making skills in Hong Kong and Paris before they set up shop in Corktown. There is a strong Parisian influence here, with dainty and delicate French pastries decorated with toppings that are as delicious as they are beautiful.

Bakerbots

Located on a side street near Ossington Station, Bakerbots is a friendly and welcoming bakeshop that offers sweets such as cookies, macarons, cupcakes and fruit pies. One of their specialties is ice cream sandwiches, with surprising and delicious flavour combinations such as cocoa and French mint, Burnt marshmallow, Guinness stout and Maple bacon.

Planning a trip to Toronto?

These are just a few of the many delicious bakeries you can check out when you visit Toronto. For a warm and welcoming place to stay during your trip, take a look at our furnished apartments.

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Spas, Parks and More: Healthy Living in Toronto

April 2, 2019

Healthy living in Toronto is not too difficult.

This Canadian metropolis offers nutritious food, cycle-friendly streets, relaxing spas and plenty of access to green spaces and water. Plus, there are lots of opportunities to enjoy activities such as kayaking, golf and rock climbing – within the city limits.

If you’re keen to keep up your healthy routine during your stay at the Livmore, here are some local attractions you should know about:

The Livmore

That’s right – you can start your journey to healthy living without even having to leave the building. The Livmore has a state of the art gym and fitness center, with cardio machines, weights, exercise balls and more. You can get a healthy, sweaty glow on while admiring the views from the beautiful floor to ceiling windows.

The Elmwood Spa

4 minute walk from the Livmore

healthy living in toronto

Stress can really take its toll on your health, so it’s important to take the time to relax and recharge. For the ultimate rejuvenation experience, visit a local Toronto spa like the Elmwood and let them pamper you. In this historic downtown building, you can treat yourself to a full menu of services – including facials, massage therapy, manicures, pedicures, exfoliation, detoxification and more.

Noah’s Natural Foods

7 minute walk from the Livmore

This Canadian owned health food store has been providing customers with delicious and nutritious goods for over 35 years. They pride themselves on only stocking the purest, highest-quality and safest products available – including organic cosmetics, healthy supplements and so much more.

Nathan Phillips Square

healthy living in Toronto

9 minute walk from the Livmore

In the long, cold Toronto winters it can be difficult to still get enough physical activity per day. However, a fun way to get your heart rate up in downtown Toronto in the winter is to go ice skating at Nathan Phillips Square. The rink is open from November 25th, from 9am to 10pm. Don’t worry if you didn’t bring your skates with you – you can rent them there! (Even if you’re a terrible skater, you’ll still be burning calories!)

Tommy Thompson Park

20 minute drive from the Livmore

An enormous study of more than 290 million people confirms what you probably already figured: being outdoors in nature is really, really good for your health. The report found that being close to nature reduced the risk of a number of diseases, including high blood pressure and type II diabetes. So, if you want to enjoy the sweet health benefits of a walk in the wilderness, head down to this beautiful park. The numerous trails will take you along beaches and wetlands, where you might be lucky enough to spot beavers, cormorants, coyotes and other creatures.

Get active and enjoy healthy living in Toronto!

As you venture out to the parks, spas, hiking trails and sports venues of Toronto – you’ll see plenty of other guests and locals enjoying the active lifestyle this city has to offer. Healthy living in Toronto is not only easy, it can also be a lot of fun.

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Ten Must Do’s in August in Toronto

August 8, 2014

After a long, harsh winter, Torontonians are taking advantage of one last month of the prime summer season to enjoy festivities, long weekends, and fun activities. Here are a few of our favourite must do’s in August in Toronto that you won’t want to miss!

1. Taste of the Danforth
Over a million visitors flock to Toronto’s Greektown every year to sample some of the best Greek food in the city at discounted prices. There’s plenty to do with tons of performances, yoga demonstrations, and concerts. August 8-10, 2014

Rogers Cup

2. Rogers Cup
Noted as one of the best tennis tournaments in the world, watch the drama of this fast paced game, which features 44 of the best players in the world, including Rafael Nadal and Canada’s own Milos Raonic. Better than watching it from your furnished apartment in Toronto! August 2-10, 2014

3. FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Canada
Riding off the high of the World Cup Tournament in Brazil this year, the sport’s organization, FIFA has organized a cup for the world’s best female teams under 20 across Canada. You can watch particular matches in Toronto like Costa Rica vs New Zealand and Canada vs Ghana at the National Soccer Stadium. August 5-24, 2014

Toronto Islands

4. Toronto Islands
One of Toronto’s top attractions just a short ferry ride away from downtown Toronto, the Toronto Islands are a series of connecting islands spanning over 5 km. The ferry isn’t the only way to get there. You can take a water taxi, canoe and kayak from one of the rental places at Harbourfront. Centre Island is a popular island and features Centreville Amusement Park for the kids. If you’re more adventurous, head over to Hanlan’s Point, Toronto’s only nude beach. Pack your picnic, rent a bike, and capture some of the best skyline views of the city.

Toronto Blue Jays

5. Watch a Blue Jays Game
Baseball games were made for summer, especially at home games when the dome is open at the Rogers Centre. Whether you’re up close or in the nosebleeds, there’s nothing like the excitement of a Jays game. Regular games range from $11 up to $75; and premium games (weekends and pending on team) range from $14 to $210 (“in-the-action” seats behind the home plate).
Home games are listed here: http://www.seetorontonow.com/listings/toronto-blue-jays-baseball-club/
Stop by the Steamwhistle Brewery afterwards for some fresh, Torontonian brew.

6. Kensington Market
Every last Sunday of the month, the streets of the eclectic Kensington Market close down to traffic and open up to the public to roam free amongst the music and various activities happening in the area. Grab a seat on one of the coveted patios for some of the best people watching in the city. August 31, 2014

7. Roundhouse Craft Beer Festival
Lager lovers will revel in this festival at the headquarters of the Steamwhistle Brewery (across from the Roger’s Centre) which is only a few minutes away from your furnished apartment in Toronto. This festival showcases craft beers specifically from Ontario, such as Great Lakes Brewery, Flying Monkeys, and Left Field. There will also be a multitude of food trucks from the popular Gorilla Cheese to Fidel Gastro’s to whet your appetite. August 9-10, noon until 7pm

Sail In Cinema

8. Free Movies in Interesting Places
Every summer, some of Toronto’s biggest public spaces open up to the public for free movie viewings. Our picks: the Sail-in Cinema at Sugar Beach, where you could dock your boat or watch classics like Jaws, Jurassic Park, and E.T. (August 14, 15, 16); Yonge and Dundas Square across from the Eaton Centre hosts movies every Tuesday at dusk in the summer; and Riverdale Park East for The Wizard of Oz on August 17. The Harbourfront Centre is also showcasing contemporary box office hits at their West Jet Stage on August 13, 20, and 27.

9. Pan American Food Festival
Come celebrate the diversity of the Americas and the Caribbean at Daniel’s Spectrum in Regent Park, where chefs cook the cuisine of a showcased country (Peru, this year). Some of the best Latin American yet Toronto based chefs will be in attendance, including Rossy Earle and Steve Gonzalez. There will also be performances, salsa and bachata dance workshops, and activities for the kids, including a youth World Cup! August 8-10, 2014

Fine Dining

10. Eat!
New, haute restaurants open almost every August just in time for the Toronto Film Festival in September. Now is your time to savour every bite at some of the hottest places where the stars will be. Noted openings include: Cluny, Montecito, Pai, and Rush Lane (for cocktails and bar snacks).
One of the biggest food parties of the summer is Tres, from famous taqueria, La Carnita. They celebrate their third anniversary with a big block party on August 23 around College and Bathurst. Check their Twitter and Instagram feeds for more details. https://twitter.com/la_carnita

Things to Do in Toronto