Summer in TO has been pretty typical so far.
Which is to say:
There have been night markets and there have been street sales.
There have been parties crashed by the expected but unwanted guests–raccoons. (No longer just midnight marauders either.)
There has been a new “it”-food crowned–this year: tacos.
There has been ice cream and snow cones–also pretty hot right now.
There has been sun, unbearable heat, and picnics and parades. And too little/it hasn’t even really/whoa where did that come from/heavy rains.
The best part is there’s more to come: festivals and corn and the EX and best of all, tomatoes.
Here’s how you might want to spend your summer in Toronto, if you’re lucky!
early summer:
Fantastic farmer’s markets are loaded with produce, cheese, fresh drinks and prepared food too.
Brickworks Evergreen Market
Bayview Road near Pottery Road, Saturdays 8am-1pm
Dufferin Grove Market
875 Dufferin Road, South of Bloor, Thursdays 3pm-7pm
Toronto has some of the best and most unique food festivals. The annual Festival of South Asia in Gerrard India Bazaar (Gerrard Street between Greenwood and Coxwell Avenue) is best at night when but it’s a treat to be in Little India any weekend in the summer.
The Stop’s Night Market, the inaugural, successful fundraiser, with it’s flat fee and unlimited eats from dozens of delicious vendors serving out of artfully crafted booths, just has to return.
Doors Open Toronto and the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition are great ways to wander through the city and take in the beauty.
mid-summer:
When things heat up, Kensington Market goes car-free and food+drink heavy–getting a seat or a bite requires patience and is worth it.
Backyard bashes (BIG or small) are the true sign of summer in a city that can only eat outdoors a quarter of the year.
You may need ice cream by this point in the season…
Sweet Escape has the most amazing flavours of them all–and they’ll make them into ice cream sandwiches for you.
Ed’s has a perpetual line-up, for a reason.
late summer:
Toronto’s hottest days can be unbearable. But it’s cool in some of my favourite movie theatres:
TIFF Lightbox
350 King Street West
Fox Theatre
2236 Queen Street East
I also sometimes escape the city altogether–wine country is only an hour away in two directions:
My favourite part of summer has to do with all things tomatoes
And finally, the bittersweet, end-of-summer marker, The EX for nostalgia, for a fun fair and for fair food
If you haven’t had time to check them out, here are some new-this-year and already loved hotspots: La Carnita, Chantecler, The Westerly, Libretto (re. the last, at least the new location is new-ish and definitely a hot spot for me because on top of being delicious and gracious, it’s wine-stumbling distance from my house and they let me wander in for dinner at 10.30–which I do, weekly. Grateful!)
enjoy your summer