It’s getting chilly out there, so we’re digging into our summer archives to remind ourselves there are just a few more months until Toronto warms up again. Remember those bright August days when the city felt like an outdoor gallery? Here’s a throwback that might add a bit of colour to your November mood. If you passed by Cowley Abbott Fine Art on Dundas West this summer, you couldn’t miss the bold portrait installed right at the front of the gallery. Nestled across from the AGO, it was a showstopper. It marked the kickoff of their August art auction events and showed how the gallery likes to bring art out onto the street, literally.

We’re always looking for the best samosas in Toronto, and Bombay Frankies ended up being a great stop. The chain focuses on Indian street-style food, and while their frankie rolls get most of the attention, the samosas are genuinely worth trying. They’re crisp on the outside, nicely spiced inside, and just solid overall. We also ordered the pakoras, which were light and well-seasoned without feeling too heavy. And because it seemed fitting, we picked up a Thums Up. If you haven’t had it before, it’s an Indian cola that tastes similar to Coke but with a bit more kick.

If you’re looking for a holiday event that offers more than the usual festive routine, Toronto indie-pop and alt R&B artist Yalene is bringing something special to Typist Studios and Coffee on Sunday, December 14 at 7 pm. Her new show, Holiday Misses and Kisses, leans into gratitude and reflection, creating a space to look back on the year before heading into a new one. This concert follows her spring event, The Unburdened Sessions, which brought together young adults from across the Greater Toronto Area. That gathering was all about reconnecting, healing, and letting go of what no longer serves you.

It was much smaller, less busy (and free) when we first went over a decade ago, but there’s something about that magical Christmas tree that still makes The Distillery Winter Village the most epic, sparkly holiday market in Toronto. Toronto’s original and world-famous Christmas market transforms the historic cobblestone streets of the Distillery District into a festive wonderland. Expect twinkling lights, carollers, Santa and his elves, endless photo ops, cozy seasonal food and drinks, and unique gifts from local artisans. It’s the perfect spot to soak up the magic of the holidays — and take in Canada’s most iconic Christmas tree.

This early snow wasn’t exactly welcome, but now that it’s here we’re leaning into the festive mood it brings. For us that means getting ready for the Christmas drive-through light shows, starting with Magic of Lights. Magic of Lights is coming back to three Ontario cities as part of its North America-wide travelling drive-through holiday event. This year you can take in the displays at Wesley Clover Parks in Ottawa, Fanshawe Conservation Area in London, and Springwater Provincial Park in Barrie. And you can enjoy it all without leaving your car.

Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman are heading out on tour together as The Guess Who for the first time in more than twenty years. The news comes after the pair wrapped up a long trademark dispute with former members Jim Kale and Garry Peterson, which had kept them from using the band name on stage. For years, they performed classics like American Woman and These Eyes as Bachman Cummings instead. Now that the trademark issue is settled, they’re celebrating with a 2026 Canadian tour that starts May 26 in Moncton. The schedule includes major stops across the country, including Toronto (May 30) Winnipeg, Calgary and Edmonton.

I walked into Costco to buy bacon last week and as usual ended up with a wonderful random find… a pair of the Kirkland ladies’ shearling boots. Costco Uggs. I’ve been thinking about a new pair of actual Uggs, but when I saw these for forty dollars and noticed they’re made with 100 percent shearling, I had to pick them up. They look pretty much identical to the classic Uggs making them a solid Uggs dupe at Costco, which lately has been the only place I have time to shop…

Walk through Dundas and Bathurst and you’ll spot a bright mural of a cartoon-style character gripping an oversized skewer. It’s bold, funny, and impossible to miss. The mural is by Toronto-based artist Chris Perez. Here he is in front of the mural: Perez was born in 1990 and studied Drawing and Painting at OCAD University. His work usually leans toward abstract painting, gesture, and movement, with influences from street art and graffiti. He often explores identity through abstraction and uses latex, acrylics, and spray paint in his practice. This mural is more character-driven than much of his portfolio, which makes it a fun find in the neighbourhood.

Toronto’s well loved shipping container market is getting ready for its seasonal glow up. Holiday Hills is coming back to STACKT Market on November 14, and the whole place is about to look and feel like a winter festival right in the middle of the city. The season opens with an evening ceremony that brings in the Great Canadian Dueling Pianos, a pianist duo who always put on a fun show. There will also be a giant tree on site for the first night, setting the tone for the weeks ahead.

If you’ve noticed the fresh yellow signage at 2247 Bloor Street West, you’re looking at the future home of Yolks Breakfast, a new breakfast and brunch spot set to open on Friday November 14th, 2025. Yolks began in 2012 as a bright blue food truck in British Columbia and has spent the past 13 years growing into a beloved local favourite, now with three locations in B.C.

If you were on The Queensway on Halloween, you might have seen a new mural coming together on the side of Bamboo Tattoo. We passed by while Paul Glyn-Williams was still working on it, and even at that unfinished stage the colours were already hard to miss. The finished wall is a tribute to the Toronto Blue Jays facing the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series. Glyn-Williams, known on Instagram as @sumartist, painted a sharp, focused Blue Jay staring down a Dodgers cap with “Still our Champs” across the background.

The Blue Jays gave us a little break from worrying about the Maple Leafs, but now our focus is fully back on hockey. There’s nothing like seeing the Leafs live at Scotiabank Arena, the energy in the building makes every game feel bigger. It's so much fun, and we were noticing that ticket prices, even the resale ones, aren't as high as we thought they would be for many of the home games. Below are all the Toronto Maple Leafs home games for the 2025/2026 season at Scotiabank, and links to tickets at the official Ticketmaster website.

A Pop-Up Art Exhibition at Tea Station Featuring the Work of Toronto Illustrator Arrivedlate Tea Station in Scarborough is hosting a new art pop-up this month, and it brings a quietly thoughtful vibe to one of the neighbourhood’s most popular bubble tea spots. Nostalgic Memories opened November 1st and runs through November 23 at Tea Station on Midland Avenue, transforming a casual tea stop into a small exhibition space for Toronto illustrator Arrivedlate. Arrivedlate, a Toronto-based illustrator, created custom artworks for this pop-up experience. The exhibition goes beyond traditional prints and stickers and includes a…

If you’re looking for things to do in Toronto this weekend, one of the best picks is the CAFTCAD Wardrobe Sale happening on Saturday, November 8. It’s a rare chance to browse clothing and accessories straight from the closets of film, television, and theatre costume professionals. CAFTCAD is the Canadian Alliance of Film and Television Costume Arts and Design. It’s a professional association that supports the people who create, design, build, and source the wardrobes you see on screen and on stage. Members include designers, buyers, stylists, cutters, tailors, and costume builders across Canada.

The Art Gallery at the Etobicoke Civic Centre is presenting Earth’s Cultivators: The Wyrmwell until November 27, 2025. The exhibition features illustration, portraiture, and ceramic sculpture by emerging Toronto-based artists. Admission is free. About the Exhibition The show comes from Wyrmwell Studios and highlights work by four local artists: Shevon Lewis, Kima Lenaghan, Amy Thomson, and Misbah Ahmed. The mix of mediums—drawing, portraiture, and sculptural ceramics—offers a look at how each artist approaches ideas of craft, character, and transformation. Why Visit This Free Exhibition The Etobicoke Civic Centre gallery is free to visit and easy to reach, making it a convenient cultural stop for anyone exploring local art.

Today is the final day of Eataly’s Restaurant Fest, where you can enjoy a prix fixe menu for $26. It’s a great way to start a feast, with the starters and main dishes included and sides and desserts available at an extra cost. Tiramisu is pictured above, and everything else is below… polenta, burrata, supplì, mozzarella carrozza and gnocchi. Not pictured: the rich chocolate budino and the bottle of Nero d’Avola red. What is tiramisu? Tiramisu is a classic Italian dessert made with layers of espresso-soaked ladyfingers, mascarpone cream and a dusting of cocoa.

Downtown Toronto is expecting a huge crowd tonight as fans head to World Series watch party events across the city, including the in-arena gathering at Scotiabank Arena. To help people get in and out of the core, the TTC has added extra service on its busiest lines. If you’re heading to a World Series watch party Toronto is hosting tonight, here’s what to know about transit, traffic and where to watch the game. TTC Service Changes for World Series Night The Toronto Transit Commission is boosting subway service on its two busiest lines.

Toronto’s Budweiser Stage has a new name. Effective immediately, the waterfront concert venue is officially called RBC Amphitheatre. This Budweiser Stage new name marks the start of a major transformation for the venue. Live Nation and RBC announced the change on October 28, ending seven years under the Budweiser banner and three decades of beer-brand sponsorship overall. The venue first opened in 1995 as the Molson Amphitheatre, became the Molson Canadian Amphitheatre in 2010, and switched to Budweiser Stage in 2018. RBC Amphitheatre is heading into a major rebuild as part of the province’s broader redesign of Ontario Place.

A new VEG ER for Pets Etobicoke location is on the way, and it’s moving into a spot many of us pass through all the time. The emergency clinic is opening in the plaza on North Queen with the Walmart, right across from Sherway Gardens, in the former Bowrings space beside the new Paris Baguette. For pet-owners in the area who’ve had to scramble for help after hours, having emergency care this close to home will be a real relief. I already like knowing it’s going to be there.

November 1st is one of our favourite days here at Toronto Scoop (it’s a wedding anniversary… if you know you know)! It also feels like the real start of the festive season in Toronto, and this year it begins with the return of the Toronto Art Crawl Christmas Market. Now in its 11th year, this one-day outdoor market takes over The Bentway on Saturday, November 1, 2025, from 11 AM to 6 PM. More than 140 artists and makers will be there with handcrafted jewelry, art, home décor, and one-of-a-kind holiday gifts.

If you’ve ever passed the RE/MAX Ultimate Realty building at 836 Dundas Street West, you’ve likely noticed the striking mural of a woman riding a bicycle, her basket overflowing with tiny houses. Painted by Toronto-based mural artist 88 (@the80eight) in 2018, it’s still remarkably vibrant years later. The bold lines and graphic style bring a burst of colour and motion to Dundas West, a lasting reminder of how public art can brighten everyday city life. You can follow the artist and see more of his work on Instagram at @the80eight.

Queen’s Cross is the Eaton Centre’s new food hall and it’s a nice update to the Eaton Centre experience. It’s definitely not the kind of mall food court most of us grew up with. Designed and run by Oliver & Bonacini, it opened on April 24, 2024, on the south end of the lower level. The space has about a dozen vendors, a bar, and plenty of seating. It’s a mix of fast-casual restaurants that look and feel more like stand-alone spots than a typical lineup of food court counters.

Can’t make it to Los Angeles for the World Series? You don’t have to miss out. Rogers announced Thursday that it will host watch parties at the Rogers Centre (SkyDome) for Games 3 and 4, when the Blue Jays take on the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Tickets are $15 and all net proceeds go to the Jays Care Foundation. Tickets can be purchased through the Rogers Centre box office or online. Gates open at 7 p.m., with first pitch at 8 p.m. ET. Blue Jays World Series Schedule Game 1: Friday, Oct.

A Sophisticated Take on Halloween in Toronto If you want your Halloween plans to lean more toward mystery than mayhem, Convivium’s Masquerade Party might be just the ticket. On Friday, October 31, the downtown restaurant and cocktail bar is hosting an elegant Halloween celebration that trades costumes for masks and chaos for style. Guests are invited to step into the candlelit space at 83 Yonge Street from 9 PM to 2 AM, where two DJs will be spinning throughout the night. Expect welcome treats, themed cocktails, and plenty of atmosphere. The dress code calls for your most refined masquerade look, with intrigue and polish over pumpkins and props.

Toronto has seen several condo projects stall recently in the west end, including the Grand Central Mimico development, which was tied to the Mimico GO Station, and the Cloverdale Mall condos. Now the proposed Park Lawn GO Station and the surrounding Humber Bay Shores development are facing delays. We first told you about the station after attending a community meeting in the spring of 2023. The project, which is meant to help ease traffic in the growing neighbourhood, is now on hold as the developer reviews its plans.