I'll Be Seeing You set to close in Riverside

Photo: I’ll Be Seeing You

It’s not a secret that COVID-19 has wiped out a swath of restaurants and bars across Toronto. The latest victim: I’ll Be Seeing You.

The Riverside bar run by two sisters, Natasha and Vanessa Smardenka, cited a large rent increase combined with restrictions due to COVID-19 as a reason for shuttering.

“It’s been an amazing five years with ups, downs and everything in between,” reads a statement posted to Facebook. “Thanks to everyone who has walked through the doors and truly got us, from our vibe to our menu to our decor. We will truly cherish and will miss all the great memories we’ve had together.”

The last day of service will be Oct. 24.

Luminaire Authentik lights up Leslieville with new Queen Street store

Photo: Luminaire Authentik

Light up the shorter, darker days of autumn with a visit to Luminaire Authentik, Leslieville’s new shop for modern lighting solutions.

This is the first Toronto storefront for the Quebec-based company, which designs and produces lighting inspired by Scandinavian aesthetics.

With the current situation, the shop is taking appointments where you can work with an advisor to create your custom lighting setup.

Luminaire Authentik is located at 1027 Queen St. E. Check out luminaireauthentik.com for more.

Leslieville Pumps moves into new Queen Street location

Photo: Leslieville Pumps

The neighbourhood’s favourite gas station has shut off its pumps but the general store has just shuffled down Queen Street a few doors.

Leslieville Pumps has moved into its new home at 913 Queen St. E in the former space of Delica.

"Our new digs will allow us to focus on our love for BBQ and continue to provide all our convenience store goods," reads a note on the Pumps’ Facebook page.

The new location will be open 24 hours a day as a convenience store with its kitchen operating from 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. and its popular nighttime butter chicken and rice on from 10 p.m. until it’s gone.

Visit leslievillepumps.com for more.

Local beaches part of Toronto's restart plan

Toronto is launching programs called SwimTO and CampTO to ensure people can still enjoy the summer during the pandemic.

The quick-start program will expedite the opening of the city’s beaches, outdoor pools, wading pools and splash pads. City staff are preparing now so that outdoor aquatic amenities can be opened when Toronto enters Stage 2, to help people cool down during hot summer temperatures.

As part of the SwimTO plan, lifeguards will return to six of Toronto’s swimming beaches on Monday, June 22. Lifeguards will supervise each location daily from 11:30 a.m. -6:30 p.m. The city will provide lifeguard supervision on swimming beaches coupled with comprehensive crowd management. Beach water quality testing and analysis will be completed by Toronto Public Health to ensure people can swim safely at Toronto beaches.

The six swimming beaches opening on June 22 are:

• Bluffer’s Park Beach (Blue Flag)

• Cherry/Clarke Beach (Blue Flag)

• Kew-Balmy Beach (Blue Flag)

• Marie Curtis Park East Beach

• Sunnyside Beach

• Woodbine Beach (Blue Flag)

The four Toronto Island Park beaches will open for swimming on July 1. Rouge Valley Beach is currently inaccessible, and a supervised swim program will not operate there.

Right now, outdoor pools, wading pools and splash pads remain closed due to provincial orders and public health recommendations. City staff are preparing now so that we can act quickly to open outdoor aquatic amenities following the amendment of the Province’s orders and Toronto’s participation in Ontario’s Stage 2 reopening.

Toronto distillery producing hand sanitizer amid Covid-19 outbreak

Photo: Spirit of York

Toronto-based Spirit of York distillery is now producing its own hand sanitizer instead of booze amid the dwindling supply because of the coronavirus outbreak.

The distiller, located in the Distillery District, is using the alcohol from its facilities to make a solution that will meet the World Health Organization standards.

“As a company, we have always maintained a focus on the spirit of community and giving back,” says Spirit of York founder Gerry Guitor. “Now that we are in our greatest hour of need, we have been working hard to find new ways to give back. Using our facilities to produce hand sanitizer seemed like a perfect way to support the public while also giving back to more vulnerable communities.”

The sanitizer will be ready in-house starting Thursday, March 19. Bottles are $2.95 each with a limit of two per customer. For community members over 65 and those unable to afford it, Spirit of York is giving away the product for free. All proceeds from these efforts will be redistributed to Local Food Banks.

Check out spiritofyork.com for more info.

Coming soon: Tokyo Smoke

Photo: Get Budding

Buying legal cannabis in Leslieville is about to get easier with the opening of Tokyo Smoke near the Burren at 1303 Queen St. E.

With a design-focused retail experience, the Toronto-born cafe and now national chain has built a following through customer education.

The shop was among the 13 in Toronto (42 in Ontario) to win the province's second cannabis retail store lottery last summer.

Details are scant at this point but Tokyo Smoke’s website confirms the upcoming location. More to come.

Gusto 501 brings modern Italian fare to new multi-level restaurant in Corktown

Photo: Gusto 501

Gusto 501 has finally opened its doors at 501 King St. East after years of anticipation.

The new Corktown restaurant has been on the culinary radar since it was announced back in 2013. Gusto 54, the same restaurant group behind Gusto 101, Trattoria Nervosa and Chubby’s Jamaican Kitchen has officially unveiled the neighbourhood’s largest eatery.

“When we purchased the property, I had this gut feeling. There was something special about this neighbourhood that felt exciting, undiscovered. I took a chance on Corktown, believing it would be the ideal home for our next big project,” said Janet Zuccarini, CEO and owner of Gusto 54 Restaurant Group.

The five-level space boasts a ground-floor dining room, semi-private amari lounge, cocktail bar, top-floor chef tasting kitchen and a seasonal rooftop patio.

The menu features classics from Gusto 101, as well as fresh takes on contemporary Italian fare.

Designed by award-winning firm PARTISANS, the restaurant’s interior spaces offer as much of an experience as the food. The former auto body shop is now an immersive space with terracotta walls and an oversized garage door façade that opens to reveal a multi-level dining theatre.

Service will include breakfast, lunch and dinner. Gusto 501 features a cafe, wood-fired grill and pizza oven and the Attico — a nod to the Italian spuntini bar — for cocktails and sharing plates.

Gusto 501 is located at 501 King St. East. Visit gusto501.com for more information and to check out the menus.