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We’ve been keeping this under wraps for a while now, but after a year of hard work, we’re so excited to finally share that the Riverside BIA is expanding!

Photo credit: Riverside BIA

Riverside BIA began discussions with the City of Toronto and local businesses and property owners just over a year ago about expanding our boundaries to better reflect the evolving business community that calls Riverside home. Originally, Riverside BIA represented Queen E from East Don Roadway to Empire Ave, and South, including Baseball Place. 

With this partial expansion moving forward, businesses in 100 Broadview Avenue, 70 McGee Street and Strange/Saulter St are now officially part of the Riverside BIA family. This includes Chi Junky, Animal Liberation Kitchen, Toronto Fringe, Anytime Fitness, just to name a few.

Photo credit: Chi Junky

Why did we want to expand the BIA’s boundaries, you ask?

Growing our membership means more businesses can benefit from shared promotion, networking opportunities, community programming, and a stronger collective voice. It also helps ensure that the businesses contributing to the character and vitality of Riverside are represented and supported as part of our district.

Photo credit: Pawelec Photo

Over the years, Riverside has been home to so many amazing local businesses and we’re so thrilled to welcome new members into this little family of ours.

We’ll keep this blog post short and sweet for now. Don’t worry, we’ll be coming out with more content in the coming weeks and slowly introduce our new members, so stay tuned!

Be sure to follow @riverside_bia on Instagram and check the Riverside Blog regularly for updates on the expansion and our new BIA members!

It’s showtime — Toronto Fringe Festival is back for its 38th installment!

Ontario’s largest grassroots performance arts festival returns with another exciting line-up of shows. From June 30th-July 12th, see 123 shows on 27 stages around Toronto!

Toronto Fringe is the grassroots, charitable organization behind the annual Toronto Fringe Festival. It is a platform for everyone to access, discover and experiment with the arts. The group hopes to help foster a healthy arts economy and, ultimately, a thriving society.

With its headquarters located at 100 Broadview Ave in Toronto’s Riverside neighbourhood, Toronto Fringe is one of the newest members of the Riverside BIA as part of the recently launched expansion of the BIA.

(If you’re curious to know more about the Riverside BIA expansion, don’t worry, more details will be shared soon!)

Founded in 1989, the Toronto Fringe Festival takes place over 12 days every July, with over 1000 artists from local and international companies performing in theatre venues in Toronto. Shows include comedy, drama, musicals, improvisation, dance, and many more.

You can view the full 2026 Program Guide HERE or pick up a physical copy at Riverside’s very own Arts Market (790 Queen St E). Tickets for the shows are now available for purchase over on their website!

Toronto Fringe has also created a handy guide on how to make the most of the festival. You can check it out by clicking on the image above! Don’t forget to follow @toronto_fringe for updates!

While you’re at it, be sure to follow @riverside_bia on Instagram and check the Riverside Blog regularly so you’re always in the loop on exciting events from our BIA members!

Photo credits: Toronto Fringe

The 38th annual Beaches Jazz Festival kicks off with Sounds of Leslieville & Riverside, happening on July 3-5 at Jimmie Simpson Park (870 Queen St E) in Toronto’s Riverside neighbourhood!

The Beaches Jazz Festival is one of Canada’s largest free music festivals, taking place across a number of locations in Toronto’s East End, including Riverside, Leslieville and Woodbine. 

Sounds of Leslieville & Riverside, which is now in its seventh year, will see several local talents bring smooth jazz over a span of three days. There will also be food trucks and vendors. Admission is FREE!

Here’s the lineup of performers who will be taking the Jimmie Simpson Park main stage on July 3-5:

Friday, July 3

6-11 pm – Old School Request: 80’s Throwback Party

Saturday, July 4

12:30 pm – Toronto Allstar Big Band
3:30 pm – Animal
5:00 pm – Quincy Bullen
7:00 pm – Meteorheist
9:00 pm – Conor Gains

Sunday, July 5

12 pm – MOKA
2:30 pm – Nina Volcan
4:30 pm – Jackson Steinwall Band
6:30 pm – Vili V

Check out the Beaches Jazz Festival official website for more information on Sounds of Leslieville & Riverside and the rest of the festival’s programming this year!

Photo credits: Beaches Jazz Festival

Mural by Cesar Alonso in Riverside Toronto at 643 Queen Street East

About the Art

Rooted in Riverside’s rich history, this mural weaves together memory, landscape, and community. The blue jay serves as a witness across generations, watching over the forests, waterways, and evolving streets that have shaped this place. Sunlight carries echoes of memory through the mural, while baseball symbolizes connection and shared experience, honoring the people who have gathered, played, and built community here over time. Flowing between natural and urban landscapes, the composition reflects Riverside’s ongoing story, where ecology, recreation, and everyday life intersect. This mural invites viewers to pause and look closely, recognizing how traces of the past remain present in the places we inhabit, and how the character of a neighborhood continues to be shaped by both memory and change.

About the Artist

Cesar Alonso is a Colombian-born, Canadian-based public artist known for his dynamic murals, illustrations, and public art installations. Over the past two decades, his work has helped transform Toronto’s streetscape through vibrant, community inspired artworks. A graduate of OCAD University, Cesar combines elements of his Latin American heritage with his experiences in Canada to create visually compelling and thought-provoking works. Through his public art, he creates meaningful relationships between people, places, and communities, engaging audiences on both local and global levels. cesar-alonso.com | IG @cesar_alonso_art

Kudos to our partners in art!

Thank you to the City of Toronto Outside Mural & Street Art Program for financial support to make this public art project possible. Thanks to the Riverside BIA for project coordination, financial support and community liaison support, thanks to Downtown Automotive Group for helping facilitate mural production, and to Dream for providing the wall space for public art.

In the spirit of the games and supporting local, the Riverside BIA and Leslieville BIA are partnering up to bring you the Game On East End Raffle!

The Game On East End Raffle is a little thank you to all of you for supporting local businesses in Riverside and Leslieville during World Cup season — and hopefully, beyond!

Curious to know how you can support local and WIN? Check out the mechanics of the Game On East End Raffle below:

1. Visit a participating Riverside or Leslieville business that is showing the games (see list below), between June 26th and July 15th.
2. Scan the raffle QR code displayed on the Game On East End Raffle table card in the participating business. (This can be done at any time. It doesn’t have to be during a game!)
3. The QR code will then direct you to a form. Simply complete the raffle entry form and upload *one* of the following:
   • receipt or proof of purchase (minimum $5 spend) OR
   • Google review (free!) OR
   • customer testimonial (free!)
4. You may enter as many times as you’d like with unique entries during June 26th to July 15th for more chances to win!
5. Weekly prizes include $200 gift cards from participating local businesses. There will also be one lucky Grand Prize winner will receive a custom gift card pack ($500 value), featuring five of their favourite participating businesses. The Grand Prize winner will be drawn amongst ALL entries at the end of the raffle period and be announced on our social channels July 19th.

That’s it! Easy peasy, right? Now that you know the mechanics of the Game On East End Raffle, here’s the complete list of participating businesses in Riverside and Leslieville and a bit more about them (below):

RIVERSIDE

Photo credit: Riverside BIA

Archie’s (@archiestoronto)

Address: 106 Broadview Ave – inside The Broadview Hotel

Photo credit: Prohibition Social House

Prohibition Social House (@prohibitionsocialhouse)

Address: 696 Queen St E

Photo credit: Eastbound Brewing Co.

Eastbound Brewing Co. (@eastboundbeer)

Address: 700 Queen St E

Photo credit: Lamoon Thai Kitchen and Coffee

Lamoon Thai Kitchen and Coffee (@lamoon.to)

Address: 730 Queen St E

Other participating locations in Riverside:

• Aura (686 Queen St E)
• Urban House (718 Queen St E)
• BlessedLove (753A Queen St E)
• El Cazo (780 Queen St E)
• Hume (782 Queen St E)

LESLIEVILLE

Photo credit: The Roy Public House

The Roy Public House (@theroypublichouse)

Address: 894 Queen St E

Photo credit: Avling

Avling (@avlingto)

Address: 1042 Queen St E

Photo credit: The Duke

The Duke (@dukelive.ca)

Address: 1225 Queen St E

Photo credit: Betty’s East

Betty’s East (@bettys_east)

Address: 1301 Queen St E

Other participating locations in Leslieville:

• The Castle on Queen (884 Queen St E)
• Wei Bar (1014 Queen St E)
• Wingzilla (1129 Queen St E)
• Radical Road Brewing Co. (1177 Queen St E)
• Queen’s Head Pub (1214 Queen St E)
• Lloyd’s (1298 Queen St E)

The Game on East End Raffle will run June 26th-July 15th, with the Grand Prize winner to be announced on July 19th on our social channels. Good luck!

In case you didn’t know, Game On East End 2026 also includes a series of free and inclusive public programming happening this summer in celebration of the sport of soccer. 

You can read more about this exciting new campaign on the Game On East End official event page on our website. Simply click on the official banner above!

In the meantime, check out the rest of our free, public programming in Riverside for Game On East End 2026 in the blog post linked below!

BLOG: Game on East End 2026: What’s Happening in Riverside?

For updates on upcoming Game On East End programming, be sure to follow @riverside_bia on Instagram and check the Riverside Blog regularly!

We thank the City of Toronto’s World In a City Small Business Support Fund for their support of Game On East End 2.0 programming 2026.