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Antikka will be a new place along Queen Street West, as they are a new vinyl cafe opening in Mid-September. This vinyl cafe and coffee shop will be located on 960 Queen Street West next to Fred Perry and Oliver Spencer.   the combination of the coffee/record shop will offer rock, blues and jazz bin-flipping plus an old Armenian tradition of making coffee over hot sand (apparently the first of its kind in Toronto).   According to the owner  Razmik Tchakmak, “I have visions of Antikka becoming a hub for all sorts of artists across the Toronto area,” and the patio will start to be full with live musicians starting next summer.       For All You Vinyl Lovers! If you are a die hard fan of vinyl and just love hearing your favourite songs on vinyl, Toronto has a few places that offer a special Bring Your Own Vinyl night! Check out the list of the places below where you can bring in some of your favourite records and have friends and strangers listen to them as well! Communist’s Daughter This place hosts weekly bring your own vinyl night, however there is a small twist. Once you finish […]

Toronto of course can be pricey when it comes to going out. Here are some great places in Toronto to go on a date that won’t involve breaking the bank when it comes to your next date or date night. Queen Street Warehouse This spot is very friendly on the wallet and features a ton of $5 food options. So if you plan on going here, take advantage of the food prices and share a couple of the plates.   Sneaky Dees One of the best dive bars in Toronto to go for Nachos, plus if you love music they have a ton of themed music events and live bands throughout the year, with tickets starting at $5! This place is a must for music lovers.             AGO There is almost always an exciting new exhibit that happens to stay at the Art Gallery of Ontario for a couple months, plus there are 80,000 works spanning throughout the ages!   Trinity Bellwoods Park Trinity Bellwoods Park is just an eccentric place in general and features an area of the park where you can let your dogs off their leash, perfect for an afternoon walk especially […]

OvO Fest – August 7th, 2017 – Budweiser Stage Drake returns to Toronto this summer with his 8th annual OvO fest and this year the event will feature Partynextdoor, DVSN, Majid Jordan and Roy Woods. However if you have been to any previous OvO fests there will sure be a few surprise guests this year. Other artists that have made special appearances include: Rihanna, Kanye West, Jay Z, Lil Wayne, Eminem, Stevie Wonder and Nicki Minaj! So who knows who might show up this year.         Veld Music Festival – August 5th and 6th, 2017 – Downsview Park Spanning across two days with over 30 internationally acclaimed Dance Music and Hip-Hop acts, this year’s Festival showcases some of the most revered names in electronic music. This is one of the biggest EDM festivals in Toronto and for fans of Dance music and Hip-Hop so be sure to grab your tickets now before it is too late!         Caribana – August 3rd – August 7th, 2017 – Various parts of Toronto The beauty of Caribana in Toronto is the varied audience it attracts: everyone from families across Canada and the U.S, young singles looking for a good time, […]

What better way to enjoy the Summer and the weather it brings, than by enjoying the views and atmosphere of some of Toronto’s best outdoor patios. Of course this also means willing to wait a bit longer to get that much coveted patio spot. We’ve listed some of the best patios in Toronto to go to either after a long day at work, or just a great spot to spend a night enjoying the weather, check them out below. Bar Hop Queen West – 137 Peter Street Located in the heart of the entertainment district, this bar features 36 craft beers on tap  and a glorious view of most of Queen Street West, compared to their sister location at King street, which features a smaller patio area. If you’re looking for a great place to celebrate happy hour, head on over here and try their flight of beers.         Done Right Inn – 861 Queen Street West Located near Trinity Bellwoods, make sure to bring cash with you if you plan on coming here, as they don’t accept plastic! This is a great place if you are looking for some cheap drinks in the city and features a cozy […]

The Danforth Music Hall was originally constructed in 1919 and was solely used as a theatre until about the 1970s when it started featuring live acts. In 2011 is when it officially became the Danforth Music Hall, here are 5 reasons why it is one of the best music venues in Toronto:   1. Seating This is one of the best venues in Toronto, in my opinion for being able to see the stage, as the seating area is sloped, so no matter where you are on the floor you are able to see the stage! The venue is an 1100 person capacity, so it can hold a decent amount of people and they even have a seated balcony section.   2. Performances Since 2011 the Danforth Music Hall has hosted a variety of local and international artists, they’ve ranged from rock to hip hop all the way to stand up comedy. A lot of the artists that perform here manage to sell the venue out, sometimes even minutes after tickets are released to the general public (Alexisonfire or Run The Jewels).   3. Location Danforth Music Hall is located along Danforth Avenue, right before Broadview Avenue, just outside of […]

July Festivals To Attend     Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition July 14- 16th, 2017 Nathan Phillips Square The Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition is free and open to the public! This is the 56th year that this exhibition is being held here in Toronto and will feature work by over 300 contempary visual artists and makers. Founded in 1961 to help nurture artistic excellence and showcase contempary artwork to the general public, this event is one of the largest and longest running juried contempary outdoor art fairs and will attract over 100, 000 visitors to Nathan Phillips Square. So if you are looking for something to do, be sure to check out the exhibition, as there is something for everyone here!           BIG on Bloor Festival July 22-23, 2017 Bloor Street (Between Lansdowne and Dufferin) Big on Bloor returns this year to mark its 10 anniversary and features expanded programming and will feature: Awards, an ecology hub, live performances, food and over 150 arts, crafts and information tables. Enjoy Bloor street between Lansdowne and Dufferin, as the street is closed for cars and you are able to explore the community. Organized by the Bloor Improvement Group the […]

With the hot weather hitting Toronto and with the first week of July just wrapping up in Toronto, this can only mean one thing, Summer is here and so is Summerlicious! Summerlicious is back this year and helping restaurants get more people into their seats during the summer slowdown. It is perfect for helping Torontonians on a budget get access to high end dining experiences for a cheaper cost. For those of you not aware what Summerlicious is,the event is a premier prix fixe food event and features: three-course prix fixe lunch menus are priced at $18, $23 and $28 and dinner menus are priced at $28, $38 and $48. Over 200 top restaurants participate in this event held in Toronto and the event runs from July 7 until July 23, 2017. This year an impressive 22 new restaurants were added to Summerlicious, so it is no surprise that this is one of the biggest city wide 2 week event. One notable restaurant you might want to try out is Jamie’s Italian, located in Yorkdale Shopping Centre. This is Jamie Oliver’s first restaurant to open in North America! As some restaurants might be a little more busy than others it […]

Lisa Lagace runs Turn The Record Over, the name comes from an Elliot Smith song and is a lifestyle and culture blog for creative professionals. Initially growing up in a small factory town in Southern Ontario, she knew from a young age that she would have to move to Toronto to experience all this city had to offer. You can read her short interview below. I READ ON YOUR BIO THAT YOU USE TO LIVE IN A SMALL SOUTHERN ONTARIO TOWN, HOW WAS THE TRANSITION FROM LIVING THERE TO MOVING AND LIVING IN TORONTO? It was something I had grew up wanting. I couldn’t wait to get out of my hometown, and I saw going to University in Toronto as the fastest path to escaping. Of course, transitioning from high school in a town to the city within a city that is York University was quite the culture shock, and it took years before I really adjusted to life in Toronto and started to feel like there was a place for me here.   HAVING LIVED IN SOME VARIOUS AREAS OF TORONTO, DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE AREA OR NEIGHBOURHOOD IN TORONTO? My favourite neighbourhood remains the one I lived […]

The world’s largest rubber duck will be coming to Toronto this summer! Standing 61 feet tall, 79 feet wide, 89 feet long and weighing in at 30,000 pounds, this will be the first time the Duck has ever been to Canada.The 30,000-pound floating fowl is a replica of Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman’s original that has been travelling the world since 2007. Look for the rubber duck to be floating in our local Toronto waters this Canada Day weekend (July 1st – 3rd) during the Redpath Waterfront Festival. So mark your calendars for that holiday weekend if you do plan on attending, as after that the 61-foot tall rubber duck will move on to Owen Sound, Sault Ste. Marie, Midland, Amherstburg and Brockville following the Canada Day festivities. When the Rubber Duck does come through to Toronto I’m sure that you will be seeing a lot of yellow everywhere! So be sure to head down and get a selfie with the duck before it heads off into another town. It isn’t everyday that a giant 30,000 pound, 61 foot tall rubber duck visits Toronto and who knows the next time it might float on in to Toronto. The World’s Largest Rubber […]

Toronto is getting an overnight festival on Toronto island this summer! There’ll also be arts and crafts workshops, curated food menus, an arts market, a tuck shop and best of all, camping. Join in on an ultimate festival experience, one where the concept of time loses its man-made significance and you belong in a flowing state of existence, the eternal now, which is the natural state of being. Escape to the tranquil setting of the island, where the journey begins…nature, beach, music, food, arts, inspiring healers, workshops, and discussions. If you’ve ever had to cut your day short on the Toronto island because you have to hurry to catch the last ferry, there’s now going to be an multiday sleepover festival happening this summer on the island Camp summerdaze will also have general admission and weekend passes available for those that wish to just visit the festival and not camp out overnight. However campers that do purchase overnight packages receive the real deal with barbeques, brunch, discounts on massages, and other treatments. Lastly, you also do not have to worry about catching the last ferry leaving the island at night! The camp will also offer Healing Sanctuary (massage, reiki, and […]

Snakes and Lattes This is one of the original spots for board games in the city. It has just about any game you could possibly imagine – the walls are stacked full of games! You can find yourself anything from the classic games to the most obscure game that you’ve been wanting to try out. If you’re having trouble figuring out which game to play or how the game might work, just ask the baristas because they are game geeks themselves! Cover is $5 and they have two locations in the city, College St & Bathurst St. https://www.snakesandlattes.com/ Locations: 600 Bloor St West, Mon – Sun 11am – Late & 489 College St, Mon – Fri 8am – Late, Sat & Sun 11am – Late     Castle Board Game Cafe This location definitely rivals Snakes and Lattes in their choice of games. It boards over 100 games and has a very laid back atmosphere. The main difference here is that they charge an hourly rate of $2.50, so it’s great if you’re looking to play a quick game with a few friends! https://castleboardgames.com/ Location: 454 Spadina Ave           Cafe Princess One of the more affordable […]

Toronto’s, not so obvious, bars! Toronto Temperance Society Also known as College Street’s ‘secret bar’. Toronto Temperance Society is hidden conspicuously above Sidecar and serves some of the best cocktails in the city. The catch? You have to be a member. Members can join for the monthly fee of $25.00, which gives you access to cocktails perfected over generations and drinks made fitting to arduous pre-1920s tradition. Location: 577A College St. http://torontotemperancesociety.com/       LoPan In order to get to LoPan you have to take the flight of steep stairs in the separate entrance beside DaiLo on College St. Lo Pan features a smaller dim-sum style snack menu (highly recommend is the Big Mac bao), along with a list of asian-inspired cocktails. If you want a cool, decorative lounge bar with strong aesthetic, LoPan is the place to go. Location: 503 College St. http://www.dailoto.com/       Escobar In order to get here you must be confident. What do you mean? Well, try hitting up Valdez and walking through the kitchen and then behind their freezer door, that’s how you’ll find Escobar. The actual menu is non-existent but ask for whatever drink(s) you please and they can usually serve […]

Rose & Sons With brunch being offered Saturdays and Sundays from 9am until 3pm, this is the perfect weekend morning spot. Rose & Sons is a smaller location so you might have to wait during prime brunch hours – but it is well worth the wait! We recommend the fried chicken & short stack which comes with maple syrup, sour cherries and cream. http://www.roseandsons.ca/ Locations: 176 Dupont Street & 892 Queen Street West Brunch Hours: Weekends: 9am-3pm (Dupont) & Weekends: 9am-4pm (Queen)         The Federal Brunch is served everyday from 9am until 3pm at The Federal – so you can always get your brunch on. There’s is so many different items on the menu that you’re sure to find something that you’ll enjoy – choose from soup and salad, “unsavoury” options, and egg plates. Don’t forget to order yourself a Brunch cocktail – our drink of choice is always the Watermelon-Rhubarb Mimosa. http://thefed.ca/ Location: 1438 Dundas St West Brunch Hours: Monday-Sunday: 9am-3pm                 Parts & Labour  Let Parts & Labour cure that weekend hangover with one of their classic brunch dishes. They offer many different menu items and cocktails – […]

Toronto’s own Sugar Shack took place on March 12th and 13th. It was a free community event. The Sugar Shack was held on Toronto’s waterfront at Sugar Beach. It was easy to get to the event. Only a short walk from Union Station. There was also a shuttle bus that left Union Station every 30 minutes – which also made a stop in the Distillery District before reaching Sugar Beach. The weather was perfect for the weekend – not too cold that you were uncomfortably freezing, but not too warm that you were missing out on the winter vibes of an authentic sugar shack. Unfortunately, the warm spring weather we’ve been having in Toronto lately meant that the Skating rink at Sherbourne Common, right beside the beach, was closed off. But there were still lots of great activities that took place! With a couple different food trucks to choose from, this was definitely an event to bring your appetite to. Wickedly Sinful had some great poutine options available, including: french onion poutine, steak poutine, and our personal favourite – tourtière poutine! The Great Canadian Food Truck had some classic Canadian comfort foods, including: the great Canadian peameal sammy, great Canadian […]

  This new tourism video shows off Toronto as Canada’s downtown and also references Drake in the tagline “the views are different here”. One thing is clear from this new tourism video campaign, Toronto is a very diverse city full of almost everything. This ad is geared towards international travelers and will be launching in America first, then making its way overseas. This video began shooting last Summer and really highlights how open Toronto is about different cultures, communities and immigration. While the video is about a minute in length, it really highlights everything about Toronto and the overall culture that influences our city. One thing that this video does is truly highlight how diverse and open our city is! It features Toronto’s Pride Parade, multicultural neighborhoods and festivities. Andrew Weir, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Tourism Toronto, says the new campaign taps into the city’s growing “civic swagger.” Toronto most likely broke the record for tourism in 2016. The campaign is launching at a perfect time, as tourism in Toronto is booming and while the numbers are still being tallied by Tourism Toronto, the city was on track to break the 2015 record of over 14-million […]

One of the most popular holiday events in Toronto is back again this year, the Toronto Christmas Market. This is the seventh year of the Toronto Christmas Market and it is scheduled to run from November 18 until December 22. It has become an annual tradition for Torontonians and here are 5 reasons why you don’t want to miss out on this festive holiday tradition!

Eric Alper has been named to Billboard Magazine, Paste Magazine and The National Post’s best on social media, and is part of the Canadian Music Week’s Advisory Board and The City of Toronto’s Music Industry Advisory Council. He also the host of @ThatEric Alper’s Show on SiriusXM, Channel 167! He recently took time out of his very busy schedule to answer a few questions, which you can read below.   I noticed recently you have been having “Twitter Parties” to talk about Wayhome and the Divergent series. Where did you come up with the idea for these Twitter parties? When twitter first started the buzzword was “engagement” people should be talking all the time and I took a different approach to it, because it just got too busy. The twitter party was a great idea to reach all of the followers and potentially get new followers, especially around the subject of concerts or bands. In doing these twitter parties it kind of broadened what a local festival might be able to do. All music festivals and all these bands are now competing against each other, no matter where they are or what kind of music they play. They are all […]

    WHERE DID YOU COME UP WITH THE IDEA FOR TASTETHESIX? I have been a foodie for as long as I can remember, but I only started taking pictures of my meals around two years ago. After a while my camera only consisted of food and I thought what better way to disperse and share my love of food!   WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE RESTAURANT IN TORONTO? That’s an incredibly hard question… Some of my favourites include Bar Buca, Scaramouche, Bent and Peoples eatery, however the list goes on!   WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE MEAL YOU’VE PHOTOGRAPHED? Well anything that has a lot of colour and is theatrically beautiful is a great picture! I don’t know if I have a favourite… All the pictures that I include on my Instagram are among my favourites. There is an abundance that will never see social media simply because I don’t think they’re worthy.   WHAT IS ONE THING THAT YOUR READERS WOULD BE SURPRISED TO HEAR? I always get the impression that people assume I’m older than I am. So if you do ever see or meet me, expect me to be about 5-10 years younger than you originally thought.   […]

Jacky (The Everyday Foodie) is a prominent food blogger in Toronto. He might not have a culinary background but his restaurant reviews are spot on and the photographs on his blog and instagram are drool-worthy. How did you decide on the name for your blog? Jacky: Coming up with a name was extremely important to me. A lot of time was spent thinking about how I wanted to come across to people. I’m not really a pro in various aspects of what I do – such as photography and food critiquing. Therefore the name became a way of explaining that I am just like everyone else – I’m the average everyday person that you can relate to and connect with. What sparked your interest in starting off in food blogging? J: Well I’ve always loved food in general – discovering new eats and going out to restaurants has always been a passion. As well, I’ve always loved photography and travel – so when I go travelling my camera comes with me everywhere and I enjoy taking pictures. It wasn’t a long jump from having all these passions and bringing them together for food blogging. What’s the process you go through […]

DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE VENUE YOU LOVE TO PLAY IN TORONTO? I personally love The Mod Club. Every time we’ve played there it’s always been an awesome time. That stage is beautiful, and the crowds get wild. Can’t wait to play there again!   DO YOU HAVE ANY PRE-SHOW OR POST-SHOW RESTAURANT THAT YOU HAVE TO GO TO WHEN YOU PLAY TORONTO? So many great places! Always been a big fan of Simon Sushi and Bitando’s Pizza. But there’s way more than that, too many to count.   ANY CRAZY TOUR STORIES OR EXPERIENCES? Wow, so many… You’re gonna have to be more specific haha. On this tour especially we’ve had a lot of great experiences with fans and total strangers just being super generous and kind to us. Again, way too many to count.   ARE THERE ANY PLACES YOU GO WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING FOR INSPIRATION TO WRITE OR RECORD MATERIAL? I love writing in the studio. Something about having all the gear at your fingertips is really inspiring to me. It’s a lot easier to write when you can demo everything out infront of you and create the soundscapes you want. The vibes are unreal. If […]

National French Fry Day! Today (July 13) is National French Fry Day! Yup, that’s right the classic comfort food has it’s own day.  While the original origin of the French Fry has been hard to track down and is still debated to this day, one thing is for sure they are still delicious! So we at LIVE2U have decided to list our top 5 places in Toronto to get French Fries. Over the years they have grown with being served as sides or as a meal themselves, along with various combinations of other, some of our favourite places for fries and delicious variations of fries and fries related dishes in Toronto. One thing is for sure, all of these places feature freshly-cut potatoes, whether you are a fan of fries alongside your sandwich, or prefer them with toppings we have selected our top 5 places in Toronto to buy fries! With so many options to choose from, we have narrowed it down to our top 5 places   WVRST 2015 NOW Magazine winner of best Fries in Toronto! These fries are perfectly crispy on the outside and filled with a soft potato interior. Since fries take up half of the […]

If you’re a fan of classic television shows, then this summer in Toronto will be a dream come true! A television show themed pop-up bar movement is beginning to roll into our wonderful city. If you enjoy reminiscing the good old days, when Seinfeld and Friends were still on air, than you are going to love this! Seinfeld On July 15, you’ll be able to walk in and experience all that is Monk’s Diner. This is one of TV’s most iconic eateries and it will include both a bar and full kitchen. The bar offerings include Hennigans, Schnapps, beer and a ‘cigarette’, and $100 wine. The full kitchen will serve Kenny Rogers Chicken, calzones, No Soup For You, big salads and muffin tops. Don’t forget to dress up – there’s a $300 prize for the best Seinfeld-themed costume. Friends On June 24, Toronto will get it’s own Friends inspired Central Perk pop-up shop. You’ll be able to take selfies on the classic orange couch and order coffee from baristas that are all named Gunther – what more could you really want? Prizes will be awarded to the group of Friends that best resemble Rachel, Ross, Chandler, Monica, Joey, and Phoebe. […]

CANCER BATS INTERVIEW WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE THING ABOUT TORONTO? I love that Toronto always has something going on. People are always hustling and creating amazing things and it’s a great environment to be a part of and inspired by.   YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO BE PLAYING THE BOVINE SEX CLUB IN TORONTO, AS PART OF IT’S 25TH ANNIVERSARY. DO YOU HAVE ANY FAVOURITE MEMORIES FROM EITHER PERFORMING AT THE BOVINE OR SEEING ANY SHOWS THERE? The Bovine is where we played some of our first shows when Cancer Bats started in 2005. I remember playing there and the bar being packed out and crazy and having that feeling of ” were really doing it!” Hahaha   THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW YOU WILL BE PLAYING IS A BENEFIT FOR THE PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL CANCER FOUNDATION, ANY REASON YOU CHOSE TO DONATE THE PROCEEDS OF THE TICKETS TO THIS FOUNDATION? We’ve just finished doing a whole charity campaign for The PMCF over our last European tour where we raised a ton of money, so I figured we would keep it going and raise some more!   DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE TORONTO VENUE YOU LOVE TO PLAY IN? Along with […]

Track & Field Bar is not your average bar. It’s a lawn games bar, with two lanes for bocce ball and two lanes for deck shuffleboard. One lane of each is designated specifically for walk-ins only. You can reserve the other lanes online for $40/hour per court. Located in a massive basement, Track & Field has a cozy feel to it. Dim lights warm up the handmade wooden tables, the rather large bar and multiple lanes of lawn games. Track & Field doesn’t offer a huge menu of food items. They have a small assortment of individually-sized snacks created by Scout Canning. But you are more than welcome to bring your own food – they even suggest ordering a pizza right to their door, if that’s what you’re craving. They have perfected their drink menu. With many options to choose from you can order up a unique cocktail, brews, tall cans, wine or whiskey. Although Track & Field Bar puts a huge focus on the lawn games component, they pride themselves on being a bar first. You’ll definitely enjoy any drink that you order here! If you’re looking for a change of pace in the bars that you go to […]

As summer approaches and the weather warms up, what better way to stay out late and enjoy the nice weather, than with free movies throughout Toronto. Various parks within Toronto will host movies, some of which are themed, almost all of the movies are family friendly and last but not least all of these are free. Did we mention that these are all FREE?!  Be sure to get to these early as you might have guessed, seating is on a first come first serve basis. Plus on another note, you don’t have to worry about sneaking in snacks, as you’re more than welcome to bring your own food. So grab a couple friends, a blanket and some lawn chairs and enjoy! Check out the diverse selection of movies and screenings below.   Harbourfront Centre June 22-August 31 Wednesday evenings in the summer, the Harbourfront Centre presents a series of outdoor films with Free Flicks. This year’s lineup is all about family and the films will start after sundown, usually between 8:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. This year’s lineup can be seen below. June 22 – Mean Girls June 29 – Strange Brew July 6 – The Visitor July 13 – […]

Stella is the founder and writer of Food Junkie Chronicles, a food and restaurant blog based in Toronto, Ontario. Food Junkie Chronicles was born in April 2010 and has become one of the most informative and reputable on-line food resources in Toronto. Stella is not ashamed to admit that she is a food addict, a “junkie”, with an insatiable devotion to food. She thinks about food every waking hour, seven days a week, and absolutely loves to eat and cook. Stella also reads any food related articles she can find, talks about it at any chance she gets and constantly takes pictures of it.   HOW DID YOU DECIDE ON THE NAME OF YOUR BLOG? I don’t remember how I thought of it. I just remember thinking that I love food and eating out, that I’ll try anything once, and that my blog serves as a place where I can aggregate all my food photos and thoughts in one place.   WHAT SPARKED YOUR INTEREST IN CREATING YOUR BLOG, THE FOOD JUNKIE CHRONICLES? I was posting a lot of food photos on Facebook, and a good friend of mine suggested that I start a food blog instead. It was never […]

With Summer approaching, music festivals will also be popping up around Toronto. Whether this is your first time attending a music festival or you’re a regular concert-goer, these tips will help you make sure you spend most of your time rocking out. Below is a list of the top 10 tips to help you survive your next trip to a music festival in Toronto.   Check the weather forecast before heading out! Always check to see the weather forecasts before heading out and dress according to the weather. I have been unfortunate enough to attend a couple of concerts that the weather changed instantly and if I had at least looked at the forecast, I wouldn’t have been as drenched as I was.   DRINK WATER! Make sure that you are drinking water throughout the day! Keep in mind you will most likely be out in the sun all day, and that not drinking enough water throughout the day will dehydrate you. Some festivals I’ve been to had water refill stations, so make sure to keep an eye out for those, as you could refill your water bottle for free!   Only bring essentials. Remember that you will most likely […]

Toronto’s NXNE will be launching a brand new lakeside live music festival venue on the east side of Toronto. The site will be crammed with Toronto’s best food trucks as well as art installations, cool activities and a summer sun soothing beer gardens! Friday, June 17 and Saturday, June 18 the festival will present a complete, immersive festival experience in this brand new concert site, across the street from the Sound Academy, 51 Commissioners Street, at the corner of Cherry Street and Commissioners Street. Those of you who love wonderment and animal-free circuses might know it as the place where Cirque de Soleil pitches their tent in Toronto. Ghostface Killah will join Schoolboy Q on NXNE’s Friday Port lands show as part of a very heavy soul and hip hop day. Other acts that will be performing include: Shamir, Mick Jenkins, Tasha the Amazon, Ivory Coast’s reggae rebel Tikan Jah Fakoly and more to be announced.             Saturday’s lineup features Father John Misty, along with Mother Mother, Dan Mangan, Born Ruffians, The Zolas, HIGHS, and the Devin Cuddy Band.               Also new for this year, is NXNE’s music and […]

Live2U has got you covered this Victoria Day long weekend and what to do in and around the city!   Electric Island Monday, May 23rd, 2016 Hanlan’s Point, Toronto Island For those of you into live music, especially those of you with a taste for EDM, check out Electric Island. Electric Island concert + picnic series returns for its fourth annual year with a fresh lineup of summer fun taking place on Toronto Island. This event will feature international and local talent in an outdoor park side setting, overlooking Toronto’s waterfront and skyline.     Victoria Day Fireworks Ashbridges Beach Monday, May 23rd, 2016 Why not end the long weekend off with a blast? Literally! Check out the free fireworks display that is happening down at Ashbridges Beach on Monday night. Finish off the first long weekend of summer by celebrating Victoria Day with fireworks. The event will feature a dazzling display of pyrotechnics that will definitely impress. The fireworks show will feature over 2,000 fireworks and end with a spectacular finish!     HarbourKIDS Circus Saturday May 21st – Monday May 23rd, 2016 Looking for something to do with the whole family? Why not check out HarbourKIDS this weekend […]

Toronto’s Bar Volo will close this September. Bar Volo, a destination for craft beer lovers will serve its last beer in September. The news of the bar closing was delivered yesterday (May 10) through their Facebook page After serving up craft beers in Toronto for 28 years, the family run bar will close its doors for good in September. Bar Volo will make way for a 44-foot storey condominium building. The bar, which was founded by Ralph Morana and is run by his sons Tomas and Julian, began as a southern Italian restaurant and gradually evolved into one of the most recognized destinations for craft beer in Canada. The bar itself didn’t begin to specialize in beer until about 15 years ago. So why not head to Bar Volo one last time? – You never know what you might find on tap, or what kind of one-off beer that they might have waiting for you. The bar shows off 26 rotating regional beers, wines and ciders on tap, along with six traditional cask-conditioned ales and a rare-bottle beer selection. Tomas Morana recently spoke with the Toronto Star saying that he and his brother are looking for a new location nearby […]

Toronto BeaverTails lovers, it’s time to celebrate! Toronto will be getting its own permanent location. The bakery cafe will be located at 145 Queens Quay West, right by the Waterfront and close to many of Toronto’s popular landmarks. If you’ve never had BeaverTails before they are mouthwatering fried dough pastries. They come with many different toppings such as; chocolate banana, maple, and apple cinnamon.   Not only is this This will be Ontario’s largest location, but it will feature an outdoor patio, as well as indoor seating. Other deliciously notable menu items are their Beaver Bites, BeaverDogs, poutine, smoothies, and gelato. Don’t miss opening day on March 19th as the company released that they will be giving out free food samples to celebrate! There will also be tons of activities that take place – face painting, boat tours and an of course– an eating contest.

The Strumbellas are a Toronto based indie rock/country band that recently appeared on Jimmy Kimmel live. The Strumbellas sang their two newest singles Shovels & Dirt and Spirits on Jimmy Kimmel. Watch their performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpTlkofCnss The Strumbellas have performed at numerous LIVE2U.COM top Toronto locations in the past – including The Horseshoe Tavern. This six-member band were nominated for Juno awards in both 2013 and 2014. In 2014, they took home the Juno Award for Roots & Traditional Album of the Year – Group. Their newest album Hope is set to release on April 22, 2016. Keep your eyes and ear open because they will be performing in Toronto for Canadian Music Week on May 4th! http://www.thestrumbellas.ca/

The untimely death of Woodchuck the Groundhog has cast a shadow over this year’s Groundhog Day in determining whether or not spring will come early. Despite this, we hope spring will sprung because we have some events you should keep an eye on… warm weather or not! AGO Midnight Massive Party When: April 21st, 2016 AGO’s famous midnight masquerade is back for their 12th year. Be prepared to arrive masked and ready for a night full of mesmerizing performances, interactive installations, and giant projections. Tickers are $160, or $130 for AGO members, and include cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and entertainment. https://www.facebook.com/events/1540137412964500/     Canadian Music Week When: May 2nd-8th , 2016 Canada’s industry conference and musical festival is recognized as one of the premier entertainment events in North America. For over 7 days CMW will be taking over downtown venues/clubs and filling them with live music and comedy events. Some of the artists include Colemen Hell, X Ambassadors, and Tori Kelley. https://www.facebook.com/canadianmusicweek/?fref=ts       Netflix and Chill Toronto When: May 28th, 2016 This is an outdoor movie festival full of vendors, food, and drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic). It is BYOB (bring your own blanket). https://www.facebook.com/events/393058617569831/

March is shaping up to be a great month for new restaurant openings. We’ve put together a list of the restaurants that we are most excited about! Page One Page One is a new cafe and bar that opened in downtown Toronto. They boast that they serve coffee and tea by day and craft beer, wine, and cocktails by night. They also serve some delicious organic food options if you looking to grab a bite to eat. Location: 106 Mutual Street http://www.pageonecafe.com/         Simit & Chai If you have been craving Turkish style street bagels than you will love Simit & Chai! We recommend having a bagel in sandwich form because there are so many great toppings and fillings that you can have there. Location: 787 King Street West http://www.simitandchai.co/contact.html         Torteria San Cosme If you’re looking for a new take on mexican food, something other than the classic taco, than Torteria San Cosme is the place for you. The restaurant specializes in Mexican sandwiches and has nine different sandwich options on their menu currently. Location: 181 Baldwin Street http://www.sancosme.ca/         Beaumont Kitchen Are you a fan of any other Oliver […]

Located in Parkdale, The Shameful Tiki room is a tropical escape for us Torontians who hate the winter… er… so all of us? The décor of this place is Polynesian themed with a relaxed vibe, painting a nice picture of paradise in your head. It was previously a cellblock called ‘Ravage and Rumble’, but it only took two months to transform it into a true tiki bar full of totem poles, birdmen paintings, and blowfish-like light fixtures. The food on the menu includes tiki-influenced bar snacks and classic drinks such as Mai Tais and Singapore Slings, all served in inventive glasses. If you have groups of three to four, you can order the Mystery Bowl, or Volcano Bowl, which is a rum-based potion served in a lit-up bowl (in which a gong announces it’s arrival, which is pretty entertaining). Overall, the Shameful Tiki room provides a kitschy anomaly that no other spot provides. It provides a transportation to an era, and albeit commercial aspect of a tiki Hawaiian like world. It provides fun – and if you are okay to just let go and enjoy the atmosphere, you might just have a hell of a good time. Landing

YOGA Untapped Where: Steam Whistle Brewing When: February 28th, 10am Get bendy at Steam Whistle Brewing for an all level yoga class! The class will take place in their historic John Street Roundhouse from 10am-11am. The cost is $8.00 and all proceeds will be donated to the Ride to Conquer Cancer. After your stretch, enjoy a complimentary sample of Steam Whistle’s refreshing all-natural Pilsner.           Oscars Commentary Night Where: The Royal Cinema Toronto When: February 28th, 7pm If you’re looking for an exciting way to watch the Oscars this year than Oscars Rated R is the perfect event for you. This event is free to the public and will have tasty treats and tons of alcohol for sale. Come ready for an eventful evening of jokes and belly laughs -The Royal and Drunk Feminist Films will not be letting the Oscars get off easy this year.     Trivia Club Where: Hitch When: February 29th, 8pm With drink specials starting before 8pm – we recommend you go early to save your team a table and to build up some liquid courage to answer all the trivia questions correctly. There’s lots of great prizes that you can […]

Provo FoodBar   We hear that Provo Food Bar is going to have an unreal handmade cocktail menu with perfectly paired snack bar eats! The soft launch for the restaurant was February 5th, but will be open to the public starting February 10th. Their menu included special features including seared salmon on a quinoa zucchini fritter and tenderloin beef carpaccio. Located at 308 Dundas Street West. http://provofb.com/ Location: 308 Dundas St W       My Little Dumplings Chef Bashir Munye believes that “dumplings are [a] way of connecting with the world at large because, in the dumpling, we find each other.” Bashir is using that as his philosophy for My Little Dumplings, which recently opened due to a highly successful crowdfunding campaign. Each dumpling has a personality of its own – with menu items that include Barbadian Chicken dumplings, Sushi dumplings, and Chicken Tamale dumplings. Located at 1372 Queen St. https://www.facebook.com/MyLittleDumplings/ Location: 1372 Queen St E     Athlete’s Kitchen Athlete’s Kitchen, originally only sold online, now has its own brick and mortar restaurant. The menu consists of nutrient rich items, which include the Bulk Burger and the Great Fit! Athlete’s Kitchen is sure to become your go to […]

LIVE2U.COM brings together social media updates from your city’s most popular locations. You no longer need to search through different social media sites, looking up different hashtags, and hoping that you find something that catches your eye –  LIVE2U.COM does all the work for you – we have carefully curated the top dining, nightlife and shopping locations in popular cities across Canada, the United States, and the rest of the World! If there is a specific type of location that you are interested in, LIVE2U.COM gives you the option to narrow down your interests. The website has an easy to use search function that allows you to view locations that fit the type of food or scene that you are interested in. We want to make sure that you find exactly what you are looking for. Not only does LIVE2U.COM provide you with the information that you need to find the best establishments in your city, we also provide you with a chat room on each city’s main page that allows you to weigh in on the conversation. Is a popular restaurant hosting a last minute event that is not being widely featured on any social media sites? Well, now […]