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Looking for last minute date ideas? Toronto’s Riverside has got it all, whether you’re looking for fine Italian dining with your partner, a trip to the spa with your mom, or ping pong with friends! Check out our round up:

Barefoot Beauty

643 Queen St E ~ 416.792.4420

What better way to show your appreciation for your loved one than to treat them to an afternoon full of pampering, and why not do it together? Check out this all-natural beauty salon with relaxing hand and foot care services to soothe anyone. Indulge with a warm towel massage using their custom moisturizing butter – you won’t regret it!  A little self-care goes a long way to show your love.

Tip: visit Barefoot Beauty on #WinningWednesdays to receive 25% a mani/pedi combo.

Chi Junky Yoga and Wellness Studio

70 McGee St. ~ 416.670.4403

Connect and chill in Riverside’s intimate yoga and wellness studio. Tip: try out one of their candlelit classes to get those romantic, nighttime vibes! With calming music, restorative poses and an essential oil massage, you’ll both leave feeling zen and in charge.

The Broadview Hotel

106 Broadview Ave. ~ 416.362.8439

Spend the night away from home in Toronto’s iconic east end hotel: The Broadview Hotel. Enjoy a local getaway at this fresh yet historic boutique hotel by relaxing with the curated vinyl collection in your room or by taking a trip upstairs to the rooftop terrace or the newly opened Civic restaurant for dinner and drinks. With a 360 degree view of the Toronto skyline and Don River, your stay is guaranteed to be a night of luxury.

Tip: Reserve a room by Feb 18th and the Broadview Hotel will enhance your stay with with a 2pm late checkout, an early morning snack, an in-room mimosa-kit, and a $30 credit per person for the Café + Bar. Make sure to book the Pillow Talk Package!

Bonjour Brioche

812 Queen Street E ~ 416.406.1250

A special breakfast or brunch is a great way of getting straight to the heart, with sweet and savoury treats. From fresh fruit salad and baked French toast to smoked salmon omelettes and quiches, Riverside’s Bonjour Brioche offers just enough taste of old-school Paris charm to add some flavour to your relationship.

il ponte – Cucina Italiana

625 Queen Street E ~ 416.778.0404

Nothing sets the mood more than a classic evening of fine Italian dining. Authentic in taste and casual in style , il ponte is known for its gourmet pizza and pasta, fresh seafood, and local meats. Rest-assured, restauranteur Giancarlo will find the perfect glass of wine to accompany your meal. With a love for tradition , he is sure to make your night a special one!

Tip: visit il ponte on Tuesday’s to get half price bottles of wine.

Comedy Night at I’ll Be Seeing You

747 Queen Street E ~ 416.778.9988

Share some laughs and some bar food noms any Tuesday of the month at I’ll Be Seeing You. Though it’s not your typical candlelit dinner, comedy night is a great way to let loose and lighten up the mood in the company of others. And for $6 pints – who could resist?

Smash Ping Pong Lounge

672 Queen Street E ~ 647.748.7664

Get your game on! Grab your partner (and some friends) and visit SMASH for an evening of fun-loving competition! Fuel up with their hand-held bites (pizzas, burgers, wings and more) and fully stocked bar. The relaxed vibes will make you feel right at home.

Enjoy and have fun, this month of love!

Toronto’s Riverside neighourhood has an abundance of spots with unique gifts guaranteed to make your loved one smile (or laugh or whatever you’re going for!). Check out some of our top picks this month of love:

Quince Flowers 

660 Queen St East ~ 416.594.1414

What better way to say “I love you” than with a bouquet of flowers? Well Quince Flowers has got this and more! Check out their unique heart shaped succulents 🙂

Sugar Loaf:

729 Queen Street E ~ 647.847.6122

Need some chocolate to go with those flowers? Sugar Loaf Bakery offers unique, sweet treats that are sure to please everyone’s taste buds.  From chocolate brownies and Nutella cookies to their famous “Brookie” (a delectable brownie-cookie combination), these French and Italian inspired baked goods are an edible declaration of love. No matter what you decide on, everything at Sugar Loaf is made with love!

Mary Macleod’s Shortbread

639 Queen Street E ~ 416.461.4576

Add to your sweet treats care package with Mary Macleod’s shortbread cookies! Their chocolate crunch cookies are a delicacy no one can resist (especially when heart-shaped). P.S. Mary Macleod’s is saying farewell to Riverside on Feb 14th when you can get almost all goodies for 50% off.

Dimensions Custom Framing & Gallery

732 Queen Street E ~ 416.463.7263

Get sweet and sentimental with this year’s gift with the help of Dimensions custom framing services. Have a favourite picture, painting or design that is close to both of your hearts? Bring it to Dimensions and have them create a specialized frame design that the two of you can admire for years to come. Don’t worry, nothing is off limits. Have an idea? They will work hard to present and preserve it.

Tiny Record Shop:

804 Queen Street E ~ 416.479.4363

Impress your loved one with some vinyl! Tiny Record Shop is your place to go – yes it’s tiny but also world famous, with hand-picked imports and owner’s favourites. Whether into rock ‘n roll or old soul, you’ll find something special.

BRIKA

768 Queen Street E ~ 1 844.472.7452 

Shop BRIKA’s love shop for high quality, beautifully crafted pieces that are hard to find anywhere else! For her, pick up a classic personalized initial ring. For him, get anything leather – a wallet, belt, flask etc. No matter the size, at BRIKA, beauty and happiness live in every small thing. Tip: if you can wait till the 15th, Brika at 768 Queen E is having their first ever warehouse sale with 70% all well-crafted pieces till the 20th!

Arts Market Riverside 

790 Queen Street E ~ 416.778.9533

Show your significant other your creative side with the help of local artists and designers. Arts Market Riverside is home to an array of home-made goods with a few vintage pieces thrown in the mix. From jewelry and paintings to ceramics and scented candles, add that extra personal touch to this year’s gift by bringing home an original statement piece. Your partner won’t know what’s coming!

P.S. Don’t forget to pick up some of Toronto’s very best Valentine’s Day cards while you’re browsing!

However you celebrate this Month of Love, take the time to appreciate all of the love around you and enjoy the local Riverside gift giving experience 🙂

It’s Month of Love in Toronto’s Riverside neighbourhood and there’s something for everyone to love in our round up of happenings and specials Feb 9th to 19th!

FEB 9th: Oma’s Annual Love Yourself Extravaganza

1 Munro St. ~ 416.469.0369 

Join Oma for their annual Self Love extravaganza: an evening to have fun & connect to self care practices. In support of local shelter Nellie’s!

FEB 10th: Arts Market’s Second Birthday Party

790 Queen Street E ~ 416.778.9533 

Enjoy live entertainmet, special Valentine’s gift wrapping and prize basket draw as you help Arts Market Riverside celebrate turning 2!

FEB 13th: Appleseed Valentine Toddler Yoga:

765 Queen Street E 

Join in Appleseed’s special Valentine Toddler Yoga Class and enjoy FREE post-class activities including crafts, stories, treats and more!!

FEB 13th: Pump Up at Jam Factory T.O.

2 Matilda St, 2nd Fl ~ 647.478.9JAM

Join Jam Factory T.O. for a fun evening of authentic Live Jazz, vintage dance demos, libations and more surprises! It’s all happening in their 150 year old historic space with gorgeous brick and beam interior overlooking the Don Valley – in celebration of turning 1!

Feb 14th: Valentine’s Day Pop Up at Saulter Street Brewery:

1-31 Saulter St. ~ 416.463.9379

Save the date for the ultimate date night! Saulter Street is pairing up with Sandy Aleksander for a cheese, chocolate and beer match made in heaven!

Feb 14th: Moving Sale @ Mary Macleod’s Shortbread

Come down to Mary Macleod’s to get one last taste of their shortbread before they say farewell to Riverside on Feb 14th. Almost all goodies are 50% off!

Until FEB 18TH: Valentine’s Day @ The Broadview Hotel

106 Broadview Ave ~ 416-362-8439

Book an decadent evening of pampering at The Broadview Hotel with all sorts of special perks! A perfect package for couples or singles 🙂

FEB 15-20: Brika’s First Warehouse Sale

768 Queen St E

Join Brika in Riverside for their first ever Warehouse sale, with up to 70% off!!

It may be cold where you are but it’s hot in Toronto’s Riverside neighbourhood! Talented east end chefs – like Eastbound Brewing Co’s Tara Lee, Rony Goraichy of Tabule, and John Sinopoli at The Broadview Hotel’s The Civic restaurant – are cranking the heat in their kitchens and turning January into a much warmer month for Riverside with some sizzling and savoury dishes.

Whether you’re feeling like a fiery full course meal or something small and spicy, here’s how some Riverside chefs are bringing a winter warm-front to for local diners.

At Eastbound Brewing Co. (700 Queen Street East near Broadview Avenue), the hottest dish is the fork and knife fried chicken sandwich tossed in a sweet and spicy buffalo sauce made in-house with the brew pub’s own fermented hot sauce.

“This year I’d like to explore more international spice blends and flavour combinations and play with how they pair with our beers,” says Chef Tara Lee, noting Eastbound’s Fresh Start APA Simcoe and their Let’s Go Exploring IPA pair well with the fork and knife sandwich which is served on a maple bacon pancake bun with smoked cheddar and a 2-egg omelet.

On the other side of Riverside, Tabule Middle Eastern Cuisine (810 Queen East near De Grassi Street) chef and partner Rony Goraichy is raising temperatures with his sweet, rich, and warm tomato garlic sauce. This thickly textured mosaic of special seasonings and spices is served with two juicy skewers of Ontario ground mixed lamb and beef with veggies and Lebanese vermicelli rice topped with onions.

In 2018 you can expect more of the same savoury dishes from Tabule’s award-winning menu.

“Fresh, made from scratch, Lebanese dishes, with more healthy vegan and gluten-free options for our guests,” says Rony.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any hotter at The Broadview Hotel, chef John Sinopoli has The Civic restaurant on fire with his Duck Confit and ‘when life gives you lemons make burnt lemon dressing’ special which also features coco bean and braised leek ragout, and pearl onions.

“It’s a classic rendition of a classic,” he says.

Here are some of the other hot dishes and where to try them this winter in Riverside:

Urban House: Thai curry sauce and chili served with pan-fried roti and flatbread are a perfect if you’re looking for a snack with a kick.

Caribbean Sunset: The jerk chicken baked in the restaurant’s homemade pepper sauce will set your mouth on fire.

Prohibition Gastro House: These smoked chicken lollipops featuring Naga Bhut Jolokia pepper, the hottest pepper in the world also known as ghost dust, may cause second-degree burns.

Lan Restaurant: Any one of the vegan, seafood, or meat lovers Vietnamese hot pots full of spicy broth and wholesome ingredients will warm your belly.

The Peasant Table: Crispy sea smelts with a side of spicy bomba are perfect for nibbling.

White Lily Diner: Take the heat home with a bottle of this restaurant’s house-made hot sauce.

Karen Lloyd is a writer, photographer and website designer in Toronto’s Riverside neighbourhood. This blog is part of the series giving you the inside scoop on Riverside, Toronto. Read other blogs in the series: Riverside Patios, Places to Stay in Riverside, Brunch Spots, Health & Wellness in Riverside,  Kid-Friendly Riverside, and Event & Catering Spots