We all know that January tends to be a pretty slow month between the post-holiday blues, dark and gloomy skies, and the fact that the month seems to just drag on. In case you’re looking to perk up, you’re never too far from some exciting newness if you happen to reside in Toronto or the GTA. While not many stores are opening this month, there is a whole ton of restaurants to check out, and even a sweet spot to grab an uber relaxing facial.
Keep reading for 6 new and exciting Toronto openings to know about!
Holts Cafe
We know that Holt Renfrew on Bloor Street has been undergoing major renovations but opening on January 22 is Holts Cafe and we couldn’t be more excited. If you need a break from shopping the store’s always chic offerings, Holts Cafe is where you need to be for either brunch, lunch, dinner, and even tea service. Wondering what you can expect to order? Word has it that the menu will be focused on contemporary Canadian cuisine.
Fuwa Fuwa
If you thought regular pancakes couldn’t get any better, wait until you try Fuwa Fuwa’s fluffy Japanese-inspired souffle pancakes. The chain just opened up a new location at Square One Shopping Centre in Mississauga. The new location is currently in its soft-launch phase but will have a grand opening this Saturday, January 18.
Aburi Hana
Speaking of Japanese food, Yorkville’s newest upscale restaurant Aburi Hana is now open and let us tell you, it’s everything. While you won’t find your basic spicy tuna roll here, you can expect an innovative dining experience during one of its two 15-course dinner service menu.
Lobster Burger Bar
Attention all seafood fans! There’s a new spot in Toronto to indulge in lobster and it’s situated right on King West. Lobster Burger Bar is a 7,000 square foot lobster lover’s paradise that offers everything from lobster nachos and lobster rolls, to lobster bisque, lobster burgers, and of course whole steamed lobsters.
Popa
Serving up a tasty combination of Macanese, Balinese, and Burmese flavours is Popa, that’s located at Bayview Village in North York. Popa is the place to go if you can’t decide on if you’re wanting Indian-style soup, curry, or Chinese-style noodles. Either way, whatever you order is bound to be absolutely delicious!
Temple of Beauty Facial at The Detox Market Yorkville
While The Detox Market in Yorkville isn’t new, what is new and exciting is that you can now head there to get a super relaxing facial. The spa space at The Detox Market opened just a few days ago and it’s the first place in Canada where you can experience Odacite’s Temple of Beauty facial. The facial consists of the brands triple cleanse method and Crystal Gua Sha facial massage. You’ll leave looking oh-so-glowy and feeling amazing!
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Toronto knows a thing or two about activities, especially during the winter months. But after the craziness of the holidays, your wallet could definitely use a break. Luckily, this January, you don’t have to spend a penny to be able to enjoy some amazing activities around the city. We’ve rounded up the very best free events for you to enjoy.
Here are 15 free events to check out this month in Toronto!
Skating at Nathan Phillips Square
Grab your skates and head to Nathan Phillips Square where you can enjoy free daily skating as you enjoy the picturesque views of Toronto City Hall. Equipped with change rooms, washrooms, a snack shop, and skate rentals, this skating rink has everything you need for a quintessential winter day.
When: Open daily through March 22
Time: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Where: 100 Queen Street West
Price: Skating is free, skate rentals available on-site
DJ Skate Nights at Natrel Rink
Toronto’s hottest winter skating party is back for another exciting season with another stellar lineup of DJs that will bring the heat to your Saturday nights. Featuring house, R&B, soul, disco, soca, hip hop, dancehall, throwback, drag anthems, and pop, there will be music for every taste, and for every occasion.
When: January 11, 18, 25
Time: 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Where: Harbourfront Centre’s Natrel Rink
Price: Admission is free
The Bentway Skate Trail: Winter Season
The Bentway below the Gardiner Expressway is worth braving the cold for. Not only is there free ice-skating on the 220-metre, figure-eight skate trail (you may bring your own skates or rent for $10), there’s an on-site winter village that serves hot chocolate, drinks, and boozy beverages for skaters and spectators, while warming stations will help visitors get toasty before getting back on the ice.
When: January 6 through February 7
Time: Weekdays, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.; weekends, 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Where: The Bentway, 250 Fort York Boulevard
Price: Skating is free; skate rentals start at $5 for kids or $10 for adults
AGO Free Wednesday Nights
Free admission on Wednesday nights at the AGO has been a longstanding tradition for years and is a great way to get your culture fix. The popular initiative invites Torontonians and visitors the chance to spend the evening at one of the largest and most distinguished art museums in North America and get inspired by the incredible art displays and new and changing exhibits.
When: Every Wednesday night (January 8, 15, 22, 29)
Time: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Where: Art Gallery of Ontario, 317 Dundas Street West
Price: Admission is free
No Pants Subway Ride
The ‘No Pants Subway Ride’ returns to Toronto for another cheeky year. Hosted by the No Pants Society, the annual risqué event will be taking place simultaneously in over 50 cities around the world this month with the hopes of bringing a smile to commuters’ faces. Here in Toronto, the pantless ride will be be followed by a parade from Wellesley Station to a no pants dance party (location to be announced).
When: January 12
Time: 3 pm to 10 pm
Where: The ride begins at the CF Eaton Centre’s Dundas Street entrance
Price: Free to participate, but you’ll have to pay for your TTC ride
Mayor’s Skate Party
Celebrate the new year with Mayor John Tory and City Councillors at Kew Gardens for the annual Mayor’s Skate Party. Come on down to enjoy a fun afternoon that’s filled with music, hot beverages, and of course lots of skating. Even better is that skate rentals are free, too!
When: January 12
Time: 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.
Where: Kew Gardens
Price: Free
Winter Stations Presents: Loop
Leading up to the return of Toronto’s annual Winter Stations, event organizers are teaming up with the city’s Waterfront BIA to bring more public art to the city during the coldest months of the year. This month, Torontonians can check out ‘Loop’, which is an interactive retro-futuristic machine powered by the public. Visitors can hop on two at a time into one of the six illuminated cylinders and pump a lever to activate the lights and glowing images.
When: January 15 through February 18
Time: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily
Where: York Street Park (York Street and Harbour Street)
Price: Admission is free
Province Apothecary Mini Facials @ Detox Market
If getting your skincare game together was on your list of goals for 2020, then look no further. On January 16, head to the Detox Market flagship for your free Province Apothecary mini-facial that’s followed by relaxing accupressure point stimulation and education about your skin type. There are limited spots available so make sure you RSVP early so you don’t miss out on your best skin ever thanks to this free event.
When: January 16
Time: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: Detox Market Flagship (116 Spadina Ave)
Price: Free
DesignTO
DesignTo returns to Toronto for its 10th installment this month to celebrate Canadian art and design. Over the past decade, DesignTO has grown from a collection of seven exhibitions and events to a ten-day Festival of over 100 free exhibitions and events throughout the city. You can find full programming details here.
When: January 17 through 26
Time: Varies by exhibition
Where: Venues throughout the city
Price: Over 100 exhibitions are free to the public (others are ticketed)
Toronto Light Fest
With the coldest and darkest days upon us, the city’s historic Distillery District will be the place to be for the fourth annual Toronto Light Fest. Bringing dozens of curated light installations and illuminated sculptures created by a number of local and international artists, the Toronto Light Festival should not be missed.
When: January 17 through March 1
Time: After dusk
Where: Distillery District
Price: Admission is free
Rom 3rd Tuesday Nights Free
The ROM is giving Torontonians the perfect reason to leave their homes this winter with the return of 3rd Tuesday Nights Free. During this monthly event, ROM guests will be able to explore art, culture, and nature in the museum’s 30 galleries and collections from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm, completely free of charge.
When: January 21
Time: 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Where: Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queens Park
Price: Admission is free
Power Plant Opening Party
To kick off the 2020 winter exhibition season, Toronto art enthusiasts can check out a free party on January 24. Attendees will be amongst the first to experience new exhibitions by Naufus Ramírez-Figueroa, Dawit L. Petros, Naeem Mohaiemen, and Rashid Johnson. There will also be a cash bar available on-site throughout the evening.
When: January 24
Time: 8 p.m.
Where: The Power Plant
Price: Admission is free
The Mommonality MRKT
Experience the very first Mommonality MRKT to shop all sorts of goodies. It’s at this exciting market that you can shop over 40+ vendors from a wide range of categories including adult & children’s apparel, accessories, home decor, custom gifts, and lots more!
When: January 26
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Mississauga Convention Centre
Price: Admission is free
Winter Fridays
Happening every Friday until February 14 at Evergreen Brick Works is Winter Fridays where you can make the most of those chilly winter nights. While we love cozying up at home with a movie and cup of tea, sometimes you just need a night out. At Winter Fridays you can skate for free, enjoy DJ performance, and food & drinks from food trucks.
When: Every Friday night (January 10, 17, 24, 31, February 7, and 14)
Time: 5:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.
Where: Evergreen Brick Works
Price: Admission is free
Free Mindfulness Meditation
Clear your head with some free guided meditation. that’s happening every Monday at 6 p.m. until February 3. Located at Centre Place on Richmond East, the meditation is open to everybody regardless of your experience. While this event is totally free, a donation of at least $5 is suggested. If 6 p.m. doesn’t work for your busy schedule, you can still stop by until 8 p.m., although the guided part of the meditation ends at 7 p.m.
When: Every Monday night (January 13, 20, 27, February 3)
Time: 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Where: CentrePlace (320 Richmond St E – Unit 101)
Price: Admission is free
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What does your star sign have to do with your personal style? Potentially, a lot! According to astrology, your sun sign determines the way you tend to show up in the world – or, your essence. Understanding yourself more deeply on a cosmic level could mean the difference between you continually buying things you end up hating, and things you end uploving. If you identify with your sun sign, consider checking out your most compatible store in Toronto below.
Keep reading to find out what Toronto stores to shop according to your star sign!
Aries: Titika Active
Any fearless Aries must be well-suited to blaze the trail of life, and Titika Active is equipped to support that mission. This collection of fashionable and functional athletic wear essentials is beautiful enough to match your confidence, and high-performance enough to keep up with you, Aries.
Taurus: Kotn
Kotn will indulge sensual Taurus’s appreciation for comfort with it’s line of quality essentials (men and women’s clothing and accessories) ethically made from authentic Egyptian cotton. This material is finer, softer, and stronger than any other cotton. Prepare to get addicted, Taurus.
Gemini: Pink Canary
There’s always something new to discover at this fashion-forward boutique in Kensington Market, where stock gets refreshed every week. Expect a mix of NYC street style and L.A. trends, with some Kensington market boho-chic flavour. It’s anything but boring — just like you, Gemini.
Cancer: Ardith Style
For intuitive Cancer, feeling at home in your space, your clothes, your skin, is a must. Ardith Style specializes in wearable linen, knits, and pre-loved vintage pieces that you can really live in. Everything here is organic, local, and sustainable wherever possible – made with heart.
Leo: Mejuri
Regal Leo can naturally light up a room with their magnetic energy, but a little more glitter never hurts. Costume jewellery won’t do for this sign. Mejuri is the fine jewellery brand that strikes the balance between luxury, and accessible with its fine jewellery for everyday, and is definitely iconic enough for statement-making Leo.
Virgo: Muji
For no-nonsense Virgo, simplicity and efficiency are everything. Muji, which translates as “no-brand quality goods” in Japanese, offers a range of products from household goods and apparel, to apothecary items and stationery that are resource-saving, low-priced, and nature-oriented. Virgo, this store was made for you.
Libra: The Detox Market
Beauty and balance are high values for a Libra, the Venusian sign of the scales. The Detox Market offers a curated selection of green beauty and skincare to bring your life back into balance, starting with the outer layer. A sumptuous skincare ritual is heaven for this sign, and The Detox Market is a one-stop shop.
Scorpio: Muttonhead
A Scorpio never willingly sacrifices quality for quantity in any situation, and apparel is no exception. Muttonhead, the slow design-focused brand is prepared to meet the standards of even the most discerning Scorpio. Expect only high quality, durable apparel, outerwear and home goods built to outlast trends.
Sagittarius: Kit and Ace
Touted as ‘the Lululemon of streetwear,’ Kit and Ace makes a solid companion for an active Sagittarius. This technical apparel is created for people who run, bike, walk, and trot the globe with a purpose. From the gym to the office to class to wherever the night takes you, this diverse collection can definitely handle your lifestyle, Sagittarius.
Capricorn: Gravity Pope
Ambitious Capricorn knows the importance of ‘dressing for the career you want,’ and Gravity Pope caters to those style-conscious bosses who want to put their best foot forward. Bringing together a curated selection of handcrafted collections of footwear, clothing, and accessories, this indie boutique will set you up for success.
Aquarius: VSP Consignment
Much like forward-thinking, original Aquarius, this consignment store defies expectations. Unlike your average consignment store, VSP Consignment is curated, boutique-like, but also super diverse in its offerings. You’ll find clothes, jewellery, and bags from designer labels and also lower-end brands.
Pisces: House of Vintage
Clothes with a little soul will do for a Pisces, who’s said to be the oldest soul of all the star signs. The assortment of unique, collectible clothing and accessories from the 1960s-1990s is known to be some of the city’s best vintage – and you can’t resist the comfort of high-quality but well-worn denim and broken-in boots, right Pisces?
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While your makeup may help you look more alive, it may be making you feel worse. An increasingly documented occurrence shows that certain types of makeup and beauty products may be what’s making you sick. We’ve all been told from the time we started wearing it that nasty eye infections can result from sharing mascara, but much worse ailments have resulted from wearing makeup and using other beauty and personal care products — some, potentially deadly.
The culprits are toxic chemicals that continue to populate products from some of the world’s biggest Makeup brands.
In a case that made headlines in 2012, the manufacturer of the hair-straightening product Brazilian Blowout settled a class-action lawsuit for about $4.5 million after the product was found to contain a dangerous amount of a known carcinogen that was making people sick.
In multiple multimillion-dollar settlements, Johnson & Johnson paid out to people who claimed that using baby powder for years resulted in cancer.
After claims that one of its products was causing hair loss, hair care company Wen faced a $26-million class action case.
The list goes on and likely, will continue to.
A recent Canadian study by Environmental Defence tested personal care products to discover and an average of 14 “secret” ingredients per product were not disclosed on the list of ingredients. Generally, things like phthalates, lead, and PEG compounds are among the most toxic chemicals found in makeup and other beauty products.
“Green beauty has so much to offer on top of the health benefits.Some people might use conventional products their entire life, and not see any adverse effects. Other people have health conditions either already present, or that they are susceptible to, that may be made worse by certain chemicals found in personal care products,” said Merrady Wickes, Beauty Director of Toronto’s The Detox Market.
“It also matters how many products you’re layering (women typically use at least 12 daily), and how much you’re using—think body lotion versus eyeliner. Some preservative systems mimic estrogen, which is not ok for those dealing with estrogen dominant illnesses like PCOS, endometriosis, and certain breast cancers. The hormone disruptors and endocrine disruptors in many products can be particularly bad for those with auto-immune conditions like Lupus or Hashimoto’s.”
Despite the potentially disastrous impacts on health, the problem is that cosmetic regulations haven’t been updated in the United States since the 1930s. The Food and Drug Administration has little control over the beauty industry, so the culprits persist.
Thanks to a growing awareness, however, a growing number of people are turning to green beauty products.
A new study by Ipsos called What the Future: Beauty revealed that the features like natural, clean, and sustainable are ones that attract beauty buyers to try new brands and switch up their beauty regimes, with two-thirds of respondents reporting that “I would be interested in trying new products from other brands if they are natural.” With each new study or alarming headline, people everywhere are revamping their beauty regimes to make them healthier.
The good news is that we have more options than ever when it comes to healthier, greener beauty and personal care brands that won’t be making you sick.
“Switching out conventional products for natural ones should be fun,” said Wickes. “I compare it to food—If you eat birthday cake for every meal and snack, your health will likely suffer. But if you eat it at birthday parties, you’re good. Switch out your products slowly, as you run out of them. Aim to switch out products you use a lot of daily, or that you use on more absorbent body parts like your scalp and underarms.”
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