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The Covet Garden team is super excited to be leading this year’s Riverside WalkFEST’s  Art, Fashion & Design Walk.  Just as covetgarden.com aims to take a peek into the homes of Toronto’s creative community, the goal of this year’s Art, Fashion & Design Walk is to take a peek into the backrooms of our favourite Riverside boutiques.

Covet Garden back issue

Not only do we want to share the amazing array of design resources available in the neighbourhood, we want to show that shop owners can help you solve all of your design dilemmas.

Quince Flowers floral arrangement

It’s our second year at the event and we’re keen to delve even deeper into the trade secrets of local art, home and fashion stores. We’ll be visiting a wide range of shops and services including Quince Flowers, Dimensions Framing, The Artists’ Network, Silhouette Tailoring, macFAB, Bergström Originals, Here & Now, Common Sort, Vintage Vibes and Kimberly Jackson. All are independent businesses and all are willing and able to provide advice as well as some mighty fine objects.

macFAB home & fabric store

 And Covet Garden will be along for the ride to introduce you to these great businesses and to maybe pick up a few new design tricks ourselves!

Kimberly Jackson hutch

Covet Garden is for folks who are curious about real spaces. We take a peek into the homes and lives of some of the city’s most interesting people—spaces that have not been styled by interior decorators. Covet Garden is inspirational, not aspirational.

Space is limited. Register now and get inspired: https://riversidewalkfest2013.eventbrite.com

Riverside WalkFEST was possible due to generous sponsorship from Streetcar.

A Precursor to the Riverside WalkFEST – Riverside WalkFEST’s Charity Partner, the Ralph Thornton Centre (RTC) is holding their annual fundraiser. This year it’s gonna be a howl…  plus get your Halloween dress up fix by being a 1920s Great Gatsby themed character.

Step back in time to the Roaring 20s and join the Ralph Thornton Centre for a special Murder Mystery ‘Mingle’ Fundraiser celebrating the RTC’s renewal and commitment to the community. Get dolled-up and head over to the RTC joint for some jazzy tunes, flappers, hors d’ouevres, specialy drinks and lots of mystery! 

Here’s the Skinny (ya know? The Scene):

The Roaring 20′s are in full swing, giving birth to the rise of jazz music, flappers and, with the end of the war, a renewed feeling of hope and joviality! It’s the era of prohibition, and organized crime is at an all-time high. Whoopee!

The RTC Club is one of just two Speakeasy joints in town, fighting prohibition by serving giggle water* illegally (shhh!) and offering patrons the type of fun that can only be had when the sun goes down – no wet blankets allowed! Despite the constant threat of a raid, biz at The RTC Club is lucrative. Guys and dolls stream in night after night.

When a flapper is found shot to death outside the club, management and loyal patrons of The RTC Club scramble to identify the killer before the police catch wind of it and shut down the juice joint for good!

Without giving away all the secrets… here’s some info about the format of the evening.

Do I get dolled-up?
There is no pressure to dress-up, however, considering this is a murder mystery and the suspects will be playing a part, it only adds to your experience if you capture your inner flapper or tough mob guy! What the hay! Halloween is just around the corner and prizes will be awarded for best dressed, so come out and play!

The Investigation?
The cocktail party is classified as an interactive “Mingle” mystery. This means you will be up off your hiney, speaking with the Suspects and asking questions to piece together the mystery. It’s a true investigation, which means that you will have to use your noggin’ to form a theory about the killer, their motives, who had the means (ability) and who had the opportunity to commit murder. If this sounds intimidating, don’t worry. It’s actually easier than the traditional mystery party format. You don’t have to perform lines or embarrassing stunts, you just simply investigate and have fun! You will be provided with a few questions upon your arrival at the RTC CLUB. Prizes will be awarded to the investigator who solves the murder, so brush-up on your sleuthing skills!

We need you! Help The RTC Club find the killer! Purchase your tickets today! Let’s keep the cops away!

Tickets are $65 (clams). You can buy your tickets online or at the door.

Click here to buy your tickets 

As a bonus for registering and purchasing your tickets online, you will receive a special Mystery Package! It’s the Cat’s Pajamas! Contact the Ralph Thornton Centre, below, to receive your package!

*You have to be 19 years or older to purchase giggle water/alcohol.

It is October already, and Halloween is just around the corner, do your trick and get your kids geared up in their costume character and get ready to go for a real treat in Riverside!

Remember how excited we got as kids receiving candy on Halloween? It was one of those rare times in the year that we could receive an overwhelming amount of sugar and the stash was completely ours. Dressing up was fun and the Halloween parties were great, but the candy made it the real treat.

On October 26^th, during the 5^th Annual Riverside WalkFEST, you can take your kids to join the festivities by joining the free kiddie costume parade walk around the Riverside neighbourhood to receive all sorts of fun treats and adventure by stopping at different types of shops and establishments around Riverside. Starting at Nell & Natasha’s Pumpkin Giveaway (807A Queen St. E), and lead by volunteers from Riverside’s Ralph Thornton Centre – This candy walk will be a howl of fun.

While you wait for the Kiddie Walk to start, you can also enjoy a walking tour for yourself. During the WalkFEST, 9 unique walking tours lead by local personalities will be held throughout the day. Along with the tours, there will be other fun activities, such as Nell & Natasha’s Annual Pumpkin Give Away, Jimmie Simpson Recreation Centre’s Haunted House (both at 11am-3pm), fun children activities offered by Riverside’s Charity partner, The Ralph Thornton Centre (1-5pm), and sidewalk sales.

It is all a treat with no tricks at Riverside’s WalkFEST.

Go to www.riversidewalkfest2013.eventbrite.com for more info and reserve a spot.

Ever wonder about how Streets got their name, and if there is an alluring story behind it?

Commercial Queen Street wasn’t always associated with the regal Queen Victoria. Prior its royal naming in 1837, Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada John Graves Simcoe (of Simcoe Street) dubbed the thoroughfare as “Lot Street.” Lot Street was a 100 acre park laid out in lots for development to attract people to settle in the narrow deep waterfront lots – the perfect holiday homes located by the Don River west to Lansdowne.

Broadview Ave is literal in its naming, since when you are at the top of Broadview it provides a wide vista of the city. Spacing’s Dylan Reid has a more in depth article of some of Toronto’s literal street names and Chris Bateman provides some further history on some of Toronto’s more famous street names.

On October 26^th Ron Fletcher, Riverside’s historical aficionado, delves into how some of Riverside streets got their name. With his characteristic candor Ron will lead you on a walking conversation through the streets of Riverside.

Space is limited. Register now and get your historical fix: https://riversidewalkfest2013.eventbrite.com

Riverside WalkFEST was possible due to generous sponsorship from Streetcar.

The smell of freshly baked bread and pastries, the small town feeling, friendly and welcoming neighbourhood that is what Riverside is known for, but it is also at the top of the list when it comes to Culinary Destination.

On October 26^th, during the 5^th Annual Riverside WalkFEST 2013, you can enjoy a free culinary walking tour and lick the sweet taste of Riverside. Led by a renowned Chef Scott Savoie from Culinary Adventure Co, this walk will feature some of the best bakeries, cupcakeries and chocolate shops in Toronto that will gratify your taste bud and make you crave for more.

From sweet floral surprise, flaky and buttery to decadent and sinful – this walk is an indulgence that you won’t forget. Samples and tastings will be provided for you throughout the tour, so you can choose your favourite and take some home to satisfy your sweet tooth. The Sweet Culinary Tour will begin at 2:30pm at Quince Flowers. This walk is all about walking indulgence and this is your chance to experience the sweet side of the east end.

Some of the stop places on this tour are: Mary Macleod’s buttery melt-in-the-mouth shortbread, a cookie so delicately balanced, rich and extraordinarily delicious that it had once declared as one of the best shortbread in Toronto (and it is Mick Jagger’s favourite shortbread).

Mary Macleod’s Assorted Shortbread Cookies

Bonjour Brioche known as the neighbourhood’s favourite breakfast, lunch and weekend brunch spot. Lines snake out the door on weekends as brunch-goers wait their turn for delicious eggs benny, buttery croissants, fresh baguettes and, of course, delicious sweet brioche.

Bonjour Brioche’s baguette and pastries

To top it all off, sweet dessert wine from Wine Rack, what could be better than this smooth finish.

You may have heard of Chef Scott Savoie, owner of “The Culinary Adventure Company” is very passionate to showcase the culinary diversity of Canada’s largest city to locals and visitors alike. Specializes in food tours, cooking classes, dining adventures and many more. It has been ranked the #1 tour company in the city by Trip Advisor since August 2011.

Chef Scott Savoie

Space is limited. Register now and get your sweet fix: https://riversidewalkfest2013.eventbrite.com

Riverside WalkFEST was possible due to generous sponsorship from Streetcar.