The Drake Effect

As part of Drake Hotel Properties recent expansions, the Junction Triangle will now get a taste of the hip trendsetter all to itself. The Drake Commissionary, opening this spring at 128 Sterling Rd. (right beside Henderson Brewery) will be an 8,000 sq. ft. creative culinary and social neighbourhood hub.

Drake Commissary will offer fully customizable event planning that will include every step from innovative food and drink, to art, music, and décor. Expect expert event coordination for anything from afternoon brainstorming sessions to team building events where you can get your hands messy at a cooking class. And of course, there will be a bar for after work cocktails accompanied by talks from artists.

Continuing with their promise to serve healthy, unprocessed food, the new bakery will be dedicated to exploring new and fresh creations daily using locally sourced products. The whole place is set to become a “gastronomic town square” that blends the edges of guests and chefs.

The Drake’s expanding empire now includes the Commissary, Drake Hotel, Drake One Fifty, Drake Devonshire Inn and multiple Drake General Stores. Each venue encapsulating and reflecting its own unique neighbourhood.

Read all about the features and exciting happenings here, and stay tuned for more information as it becomes available

 

 

A Fresh Distillery Opens in The Historic Toronto Distillery District

On Thursday, May 11tth, the Spirit of York Distillery Co. will open to the public offering their unique bottles of vodka and gin premium spirits. The small batches are being created using fresh spring water in stainless steel tanks using only locally-sourced ingredients.

The space is perfect for events. There is a large bar featured as the room’s centerpiece, with a three-tiered hydroponic fresh herb garden directly above it as well as a wall of botanicals and dried herbs used to infuse their spirits.  A specialty bitters bar is ideal for interactive demonstrations, mixology training, innovation, and education for others who are as passionate about spirits as Spirit of York Co. is.

There are also other rooms perfect for private dining and Team building here is a unique idea for your team.

The space fits up to 150 people and has maintained the historic features of brick and beam from the original roots of Toronto’s distillery hub.  Like many historic spaces, the venue has achieved a great mix of old and modern, with the lighting design and layout being a key feature. The Spirit of York Co. has brought back the art of distilling to the historic Distillery District with this contemporary ‘Spirits Hub’.

The Spirit of York will be exclusively available at their new location. But, keep your watch for their concoctions in the LCBO in the future. Perhaps at specialty cocktail bars, we can hope…

For more information visit:

Website: SpiritofYork.com

Instagram: @SpiritofYork

Twitter: @SpiritofYork

 

Island Yacht Club – Your Cottage In The City

Island Yacht Club is often referred to as the most beautiful cove on the Toronto Islands. Your holiday event begins at Queens Quay where you board the private shuttle to your retreat on the island. Relax while enjoying the view of the Toronto Skyline on the short 10 minute boat ride to Muggs Island.

This is a popular venue for corporate meetings and weddings. The Clubhouse has a capacity of 414 guests, including the outdoor patio area. There is a full catering service on site that offers a menu for any occasion.

In the summer there is a tent set up outside for private dining, picnics etc.

The facility can accommodate the following capacities:

-Club House : 414 guests (including outdoor patio area)

-Other Activities : Two clay tennis courts, Pool(connected to patio), Nature Trail, and Kayak.

-Kids Club : It includes sailing, hikes, volleyball, badminton and swimming.

Address: 89 Queen Quay West P.O. Box 81079, Toronto, ON, M5J 2V3

Contact: admin@iyc.ca / 416,203,2582

Website: http://iyc.ca/

Is it a Restaurant? Is it a Comic Book Store? It’s FIGURES!

Step into the past and relive memories of your childhood as you enter Figures. At first glance, Figures offers visitors a look into a their small vintage toy shop, a space that’s been specially wallpapered with comics by a local artist.

If curiosity truly gets the best of you, you’ll notice a faint outline of a door that leads to the best section of Figures.

Through the secret passageway you’ll find yourself in a beautiful restaurant that takes pride in the joys of comic book imagery; custom art, comic themes and some of your favourite superheroes and villains fill the walls, filling you with feelings of nostalgia and excitement.

But what really gets people to come back is the mix of tapas, shareable plates and delicious food that is offered on the menu (which you only get to take a look at once you visit the restaurant in person!) For the curious minds however, you have choices of Yellow Beet & Yukon Gold Gnocchi ($22) or even a Warm Crab Cake over Lightly Truffled Crab Salad ($26) and more.

In terms of events, the venue is a fantastic space for networking and entertaining as the atmosphere provides an intimate space with plenty of character that will be sure to be an icebreaker for guests

Space: 2,000 Sq. Feet

Capacity: 80 seated | 150 cocktail

This space also has a DJ booth and an area for socializing, Figures’ guests can enjoy a delicious dinner into a vibrant nightlife.

Whether it’s through the use of stormtrooper appearances in your latte’s and cocktails or the Pac-Man that seems to leave behind neon trails on the ceiling, you’ll be fascinated with what Figures has to offer.

For more information visit: http://figuresto.com/

Or email: info@figuresto.ca

Twitter: @figurestoronto

 

137 Avenue Road

Toronto, ON, M5R 1R2

416-900-1022

The Ups and Downs of The Richard L. Hearn Generating Station

Gritty and raw, iron and steel beams, industrial, passageways and tunnels, brick and concrete. Toronto History. If any of this makes sense to you, then you know we are about to talk about the Richard L. Hearn Generating Station, one of Toronto’s largest and most rarely used spaces.

Toronto’s massive wealth of space in the Portlands has seen its years of ups and downs since it opened in 1951. Originally, the Richard L. Hearn Generating Station burned coal which was shipped out on the Saint Lawrence Seaway to ports around the globe.

Environmental complaints in the early 70’s about the heavy smog that was emitted from the Stations eight chimney stacks lead to the installation of a single smokestack, which cost nine million dollars but it also landed the Station in the record books at the time with having one of the world’s tallest smokestacks (215 m/705 ft.). This move greatly reduced Toronto’s air pollution and the area around the plant came to be known as a popular fishing and recreation spot.

The Station was decommissioned in 1983 after it was unable to meet the increasing financial demand that cogeneration ( natural gas and coal) would cost.

Since it was decommissioned there were many talks and many different plans to restart the generators and switchboards, with none coming to fruition mostly because of city and provincial politics

In 2002, Ontario Power Generation (OPG) gave a long lease to a film studio ( 32.5 years, according to the City of Toronto’s Waterfront Secretariat) who had ambition plans to convert the Station into a 28 thousand sq.m. multi purpose film and production studio and call it ‘Great Lakes Studios’. Many of the interior boilers and equipment was removed to make room for the renovations, which sadly also did not make it to completion.  

Since then, the Station has been a haven for urban explorers and photographers. It began getting serious about opening up its doors as a venue for events and film in 2010 when it was used in a movie, and in 2014 for Luminato’s Big Bang Bash and Yves Saint Laurent Opening Night Party. In 2015 Luminator hosted UNSOUND on the property and again in 2016 Luminator used the grounds as their festival hug, utilizing most of the space for art and performance.

 

 

 

Recently there have been a few commercial shoots, but that’s about it. So far, Luminato Festival seems to be the only lucky infrequent resident of the Station. Stats show that the 5.6-acre venue has proved to hold 10,000 people.

 

Written By: Paula McDines

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