Live Nation Music Hall closer to reality in Toronto's east end

Photo: CC

The opening of a new music venue in Toronto's east end is closer to reality. 

Live Nation Music Hall has put the wheels in motion for a liquor sales licence according to a filing on the ACGO application page.

All the standard municipal red tape has been cleared and Live Nation has plans to operate the 2,700-person-capacity venue, which would occupy part of the off-track betting location at 1661 Queen St. E near Kingston Rd. and across from Woodbine Park.

The original proposal for the venue, which we reported on in July 2016, included plans for 150 shows per year, which means some big acts could make their way to this end of town, especially with the slated closing of Massey Hall for renovations. 

Toronto's east end breweries form collective; announce massive tap-takeover

It's no secret we've seen a beer explosion over the last few years with multiple breweries, brewpubs and bottle shops setting up in Toronto's east end.

Now, 10 local brick-and-mortar breweries are coming together to form the Toronto East Brewery Collective. There's strength in numbers and the idea is that the unification will help organize events and initiatives benefiting the east end brewery scene as well as the community at large.

“There are so many great breweries in the east end,” says Eastbound Brewing’s Dave Watson, "and while we're competitors individually, we're all friendly with each other and share similar goals and values. The idea of banding together to accomplish things we couldn’t otherwise do on our own seemed like a good idea.”

The collective is home to Brunswick Bierworks, Common Good Brewing, Eastbound Brewing Co., Godspeed Brewery, Left Field Brewery, Louis Cifer Brew Works, Muddy York Brewing Co., Radical Road Brewing Co., Rorschach Brewing Co., and Saulter Street Brewery.

“We want to showcase not only the great beers coming from all of the collective’s members but also to shine a light on the spectacular craft beer bars in the east end,” says Muddy York’s David Wallace.

The Toronto East Brewery Collective’s first event will be a multi-location tap takeover on June 14. Billed as Brewed in the East, the event will take place at The Wren, The Only, and Bar Hop Danforth and will feature new, exclusive, and rare beers from each brewery.

“Each of us brings something unique to the group" says Mandie Murphy of Left Field. "Our facilities and our products reflect the strengths, styles, and aesthetics we have each developed over time. The opportunity to partner-up was appealing, and we feel that as a collective we can reinforce the notion that Toronto’s east end is an incredible destination for craft beer.”

Future events will include a collaborative series of brewery tours, collaboration brews, and a TEBC festival. “We’re just getting started,” says Godspeed’s Luc “Bim” LaFontaine. “We’re going to keep making great beer and creating interesting avenues for fans of our breweries to experience them.”

The TEBC will continue to add members when new brick and mortar breweries open in the east end. “We expect new breweries to open and we will definitely welcome them into the collective,” says Aimee Pellegrino of Saulter Street. “We're looking to support our craft brewery community,  and look forward to working with local BIAs and officials to leverage that support in our own neighbourhoods.”

Follow along @BrewedInTheEast on Instagram. 

Deserving family edges money for this Upper Beach house on the market

Photo: Heaps Estrin

When a house on Hastings Ave. in Leslieville recently sold for just shy of $1.8 million — $428,000 more than the asking price — it proved once again that money talks in Toronto real estate. 

But one east end home that recently hit the market won't be sold to the deepest pockets. Rather, it will go to a buyer with a strong sense of family, neighbourhood bond and community stewardship. 

The owner of the semi at 67 Glen Davis Crescent, near Kingston Rd. and Woodbine Ave., wanted the house to be passed on to a "deserving young family who will benefit from the neighbourhood and preserve and enrich the community,” according to its real estate listing.

Robert Rafos passed away last March, but as the Toronto Star reports, his wishes were to find the right fit for the house rather than just any buyer who could afford the 875,000 sticker price. 

Prospective buyers are being asked to submit a letter along with their bid,  explaining why they're worthy of ownership.   

His wishes are serious enough to have been included on the property’s feature sheet:

Glen Davis is a place where you know and socialize with your neighbours; it's where you raise children, it's where you make a family. He wants the children that are raised there to experience the benefits of growing up in a tight knit neighbourhood. Where people look out for one another, where people care. The community was the asset to him, not the property.

The lucky buyer will enjoy this bright, airy and versatile home, nestled into a quiet, upper beaches cul-de-sac.  Featuring generous room sizes, an eat-in kitchen and three spacious bedrooms. Built-in garage with separate entrance at grade; secluded terrace and elevated garden at rear.

Check out the full listing and prepare your most compelling "pick me" proposal. 

Give a record, take a record with Vinyl Swap Box

Photo: Matt Durant

Give a record, take a record — vinyl fans in Toronto's east end have a new hotspot through which to trade and discover records. 

The Vinyl Swap Box hangs outside the studio of Leslieville artist Matt Durant, who came up with the idea for the free-trade music crate. In the spirit of Free Little Library, it's a chance to swap out your well-loved records for some new-to-you ones.

"I hope that people enjoy treasure hunting for new music through it, but I also hope they will help plant some seeds of music discovery for others through thoughtful donations, too," Durant says. "I've already seen some local musicians place their own music there through vinyl and cassettes; I didn't think of that at first but I'm thrilled to see it happening."

The Vinyl Swap Box is meant to inspire neighbourly interaction, turn folks on to undiscovered records and promote local musicians. As for etiquette, there aren't really any rules short of common sensibilities. 

"Don't wreck the box, close the lid after you dig and think about donating if you are taking often enough — who wants to be thought of as greedy anyway?"

Durant says the response has been fantastic.  

"It's motivating to want to choose interesting goodies to plant in the box," he says. "I've even started to make notes on some of the covers as to why a certain record might have another lesser-known level of interest. Maybe it was recorded in Massey Hall, or there is an infamous story about a show that was played in the Toronto, or the artist used to live in the area."

The Vinyl Swap Box is located at 1401 Queen Street East. Follow along for fresh arrivals on Instagram.