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Start The New School Year Right with Riverside

Classes are almost back in session! The new school year is always an exciting time, whether you’re going to a new school, meeting new classmates or entering a pivotal time in your academic life. The excitement also comes with a certain level of stress as we prepare for another year of hitting the books. With that said, here are 5 tips to help you get ready for the new school year, featuring businesses in Toronto’s Riverside neighbourhood:

Photo credit: Happy Burger

Look for budget-friendly eats in the area.

As a student on a budget, it’s essential to know where you can get something cheap but filling on days when you don’t have time to cook or prepare lunch. You can always count on places like Jimmy’s Coffee, Happy Burger and the locally-owned Tim Hortons in Riverside to have affordable options and deals.

Photo credit: Little Peeps

Shop for essentials in advance.

Get ahead of the crowd and work on your shopping list before classes even start. Check Riverside’s neighbourhood Dollarama for school supplies at unbeatable prices; Riverside Market for pantry items like fresh produce and snacks; Dresden Vision and Bailey Nelson for new specs; and of course, Little Peeps for back-to-school essentials like lunch boxes, water bottles and utensil sets.

Photo credit: The Vintage Hall

Update your wardrobe.

New school year, new outfits? If you want to refresh your personal style a bit, peruse Riverside’s ever-growing community of independent vintage clothing shops, including The Vintage Hall, Common Sort and St. John Eco Market. Here, you can give unique, secondhand pieces a new lease on life — all while looking chic for school!

Photo credit: Riverside BIA

Take advantage of your library card.

Aside from access to a wealth of books, your Toronto Public Library card also gives you free admission to popular city attractions like Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, Museum of Contemporary Art and more. Drop by the Queen/Saulter branch at 765 Queen St E to inquire.

Photo credit: Somanai Energy Lounge

Treat yourself to a little TLC.

Parents and guardians deserve to pamper themselves before the school rush starts! Feeling your best makes all the difference. So if your self-care means an infrared treatment at Somanai Energy Lounge, a blowout from UNTITLED by Flaunt Boutique or a massage from Oma Chiropractic, book that appointment!

Good luck to all the students and we hope you have a great school year!

If you like lifestyle content highlighting Riverside like this, be sure to follow @riverside_bia on Instagram and check out the Riverside Blog regularly!

What’s New in Riverside? (Summer 2026 Edition)

If you live in the area or frequently visit it, you’d know that Toronto’s Riverside neighbourhood is home to many businesses that have stood the test of time. But change is also always in the air and we get new additions in the community on the regular. In case you haven’t been to the neighbourhood in a little while, here’s what’s new in Riverside:

Photo credit: Archie’s

Archie’s (@archiestoronto)

Address: 106 Broadview Ave

Located inside The Broadview Hotel, Archie’s is your new hangout in the East End, perfect for after-work drinks with colleagues or dinner dates with your besties. Must-try items on the menu include the Archie’s Smash, Three-Cheese Spinach Dip and Steak Pot Pie. Make a reservation HERE.

Photo credit: Spotlight Dance Arts

Spotlight Dance Arts (@spotlight_dance_arts)

Address: 2 Strange St

Spotlight Dance Arts offers dance classes for children aged two to teens. The dance studio aims to instill a lifelong love of movement in the youth through fun and engaging dance classes in ballet, hip-hop, jazz, just to name a few. Dance season kicks off in September! Sign up for classes HERE.

Photo credit: Bailey Nelson

Bailey Nelson (@baileynelsonca)

Address: 747 Queen St E – Unit 102

The Australian eyewear brand has found a home in Riverside! Bailey Nelson offers stylish, affordable prescription glasses and sunglasses. The brand offers both quality craftsmanship and accessible pricing. Book an appointment at Bailey Nelson – Riverside HERE.

Photo credit: Glass House Garden Centre & Cafe

Glass House Garden Centre & Cafe (@glasshousecafe.to)

Address: 771 Queen St E

Glass House carries a wide assortment of plants for all the green thumbs out there. You can also just pop by the cafe for a hand-crafted drink and pastry and enjoy it on the dog-friendly patio. 

BLOG: Dog-Friendly Businesses in Riverside: Where to Go With Your Pup

Photo credit: Somanai Energy Lounge

Somanai Energy Lounge (@somanaienergylounge)

Address: 717 Queen St E – Unit 201

Somanai Energy Lounge introduces a new kind of wellness experience to Riverside. It is a dedicated space where advanced recovery technologies meet intentional mind-body restoration. Services include facials, infrared light, oxygen treatment, and more. Book your session HERE.

Photo credit: Knick Knack Paddywhack

Knick Knack Paddywhack (@knickknackpaddywhackdogs)

Address: 768 Queen St E

Knick Knack Paddywhack is your one-stop shop for pet supplies in Riverside. The store offers an extensive but thoughtfully curated selection of products, from natural food options and supplements to apparel and accessories. If you can’t shop in-store, you can order online from Knick Knack Paddywhack as well!

Photo credit: Red Copper Nail Artistry

Red Copper Nail Artistry (@redcopper.to)

Address: 741 Queen St E

Whether you like it clean and minimalist or more bold and intricate, Red Copper Nail Artistry makes the nails of your dreams come true with precision and attention to detail. Book your appointment HERE.

Photo credit: Elvira’s/Instagram user @joeharm

Elvira’s (@elviras.to)

Address: 639 Queen St E – Rear

Operating out of a bright red shipping container behind 639 Queen St E, Elvira’s is one of Riverside’s hidden gems. This charming food joint serves comforting Portuguese fare, including the viral Francesinha, which is a hefty Portuguese sandwich packed with meat and smothered in a rich sauce.

BLOG: Hidden Gems of Riverside: Local Spots Worth the Detour

Photo credit: Oorja Danceworks Studio

Oorja Danceworks Studio (@oorjadanceworks_)

Address: 717 Queen St E – Unit 202A

Welcome to Toronto’s home for South Asian dance. Oorja Danceworks Studio offers dance classes in Bollywood, Kathak, semi-classical and contemporary styles for all ages, backgrounds and levels. The studio also does wedding choreography and costume rentals. Learn more about the classes HERE.

To stay updated on what’s new and happening in Riverside, make sure to check @riverside_bia on Instagram and the Riverside Blog regularly!

Afraspektion 2026 Highlights

From amazing vendors to incredible performances, Afraspektion 2026 was a blast! This was its fifth year, and a huge thank you to everyone who continued to show up and support!

Oddside Arts and the Riverside BIA would like to thank all of you who attended this year’s festival to celebrate the Afrodiaspora’s contributions to culture and to commemorate Emancipation Month with the Riverside community.

We would also like to recognize the funding support that helped make this possible: thanks to the City of Toronto’s Cultural Festival Funding Program, Hullmark, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council and the Government of Canada Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative and the Riverside BIA.

In case you missed it, here’s a recap of some of the increadible programming of Afraspektion 2026. See you all again next year!

Oddside Arts’s Nico Taylor and Queen Kukoyi kicked off Afraspektion with opening remarks

Rev. Kemba Byam blessed the space with a special libation

Drag meets science in Dr. Rawbyn Diamonds’ special interactive performance for the festival

Cool prizes were up for grabs in a game of Superhero Pictionary with cosplayers WonderWoman905, TrinidadianSuga and CeeeMarie

Visitors were invited to join in on a live drumming session with Babarinde “Baba” Williams

DJ Ace Dillinger brought the beats to Afraspektion

Several local businesses showcased their products at Afraspektion, including Hook and Peel Crochet

Chef Lee gave us a peek of the magic that happens in his kitchen with a live cooking demo

Guests witnessed ballroom excellence and took part in fun activities, courtesy of The House of Monroe

The Moko Jumbie Stiltwalkers looked whimsical during their performance

Kids got to enjoy many fun free activities such as face painting and community doodle

Follow @riverside_bia on Instagram and check the Riverside Blog regularly for updates on exciting programming and community events happening in the neighbourhood!

Share Your Ideas for the New Riverside Mural!

We’re excited to share that there will be a mural on the south wall of the future Ontario Line bridge/station at Queen Street East.

Our blank canvas for the mural located just between McGee and Strange St

For this impactful project, Indigenous artist Quentin Commanda, also known as “Que Rock” (@miangunclan), was selected through a juried application process open to Indigenous artists. Que Rock is a Nipissing First Nation-born artist who utilizes traditional Indigenous styles and techniques to create striking images of animals and nature, while collaborating to include community pespectives and ideas.

Photo credit: Que Rock

Que Rock has collaborated previously with the Riverside BIA. In fact, you’ll see his work dotting the neighbourhood such as the Riverside Common Art Project (2025) at 657 Queen St E.

The Riverside Common Art Project (2025) by Que Rock, featuring letters by Pop Marquee

Explore Riverside’s public art with this self-guided tour

With the theme “The River of Life”, this mural will depict the enduring relationship between Indigenous communities, the river and its surrounding landscape while ensuring a strong grounding identify at this eastern gateway for the Riverside neighbourhood. 

Permitted by Metrolinx and led by the Riverside BIA, this won’t just be an ordinary mural — this will be a landmark and key wayfinding piece in the Riverside neighbourhood. Hence, we want to collaborate with all of you!

This project is happening and it’s happening quickly. To get the ball rolling, here are ways to get involved in the ideation process of this exciting new mural in Riverside:

Take the community survey

What do you want to see on the mural? Let us know! Answer the community survey (+ learn more about the project) HERE. We look forward to reading your suggestions!

Attend the open house

The community is invited to join the open house, view the mural design drafts, meet and talk with the artist, share ideas, and take a tour of the wall. See open house details below:

Meeting Point: 807 Queen St E (with tours at the wall just west of this)

Date: Monday, August 24th, 6pm-7:30pm

Reach out to us

If you have any questions regarding the mural, feel free to contact us!

Be sure follow us on Instagram and check the Riverside Blog for regular updates on public art in Riverside. We hope to see you at the Open House on August 24th!

This project is made possible thanks to funding support from the Transit Construction Mitigation Fund of the City of Toronto and Fed Dev Ontario and funding from the Riverside BIA.

Riverside BIA We’re Growing – Features: Spotlight Dance Arts

Are you ready to take the stage? This week on Riverside BIA We’re Growing, we have Spotlight Dance Arts!

Located at 2 Strange St in Riverside, Spotlight Dance Arts aims to inspire a lifelong love of movement in the youth. Set for its grand opening September 8th, the studio is now open for registration for dance classes for children ages two through teens. Dance season runs from September to June, and interested students can enroll in a class at anytime.

Spotlight Dance Arts has a wide range of dance classes, starting from the introductory Parent & Tot Dance (for ages 2-3) and Creative Movement (for ages 3-4) all the way to Ballet, Hip-Hop, Jazz, and even a Competitive Dance Program for the older age groups. These classes are designed to help young dancers develop technique and build confidence.

Whether you’re looking for a new hobby to introduce to your little one or have a pre-teen that wants to hone their craft, you can count on Spotlight Dance Arts to help shape the next generation of dancers right here in Riverside in Toronto’s East End when it opens its doors soon. More than just learning the art of dance, it’s also a place to enjoy and have fun! 

Classes start in September so head over to the website and sign up your kids for a class, stat! Follow @spotlight_dance_arts on Instagram for updates on the studio’s grand opening!

Follow @riverside_bia on Instagram and check the Riverside Blog regularly so you’re always updated on what’s new and happening in the neighbourhood!

Photo credits: Spotlight Dance Arts