Toronto Uncovered

Posts Tagged ‘Ossington’

Friday night a bunch of my  girlfriends treated me to a belated birthday dinner. We headed to Ossington’s Watusi, a 1960′s themed cocktail lounge that opened its doors last Spring. Watusi is fairly small and intimate, seating approximately fifty or sixty people. Since there were  eight of us, we decided to split a bunch of different things off the menu, tapas-style. Most of the dishes are smaller servings, so this worked out perfectly.

We ordered nearly every item, including wanton nachos, lamb sirloin, blue cheese pizza and black cod.  Side note: is there anything  blue cheese doesn’t taste good on? Everything was fabulous.  Simple, well infused dishes that perfectly married natural flavours with delicious spices and marinades.

I am not usually a big dessert person. I typically prefer to fill up on “food food” over sweets.  But since it was my birthday, I decided to have my cake and eat it too. The desserts turned out to be  my favourite part of the meal.  The avocado white mousse and pineapple crumble are two items I have developed permanent cravings for. Both were very original and not too sweet or rich.

It wouldn’t be a proper birthday (or even normal day) celebration without some drinks to wash down all of this great food. Two words: Dirty Martinis! They make a mean one!

Total cost worked out to about $50.00 a person, including tax and tip. The only thing lacking was a patio!

Photos courtesy of CityNews

Elliott BROOD at Dakota Tavern: Picture by Rock Paper Pixels

I received an urgent text from one of my good friends Wednesday night. It read “You have to come to the Dakota Tavern! Awesome!” This was following two missed calls from the same friend, and one barely audible voice mail. Intrigued, I called back and was told by my fairly inebriated, but nonetheless musically reliable, friend that Elliott BROOD was about to take the stage for a Ride to Conquer Cancer charity event at Dakota Tavern, and that, “this would be the last time to see them in such an intimate venue”.

I had seen the post on BlogTO earlier in the week announcing the concert, and had decided that since I already had a networking commitment that night, I would have to miss it. Maybe it was something in my friends voice and all the noise and excitement in the background, or maybe it was just because I was already a few drinks in and my little voice of reason had piped down, but I decided to make an appearance.

Cover was a little steep for Ossington – 20 bucks – but easily justifiable (especially for a good cause). There were  a number of raffles going on inside as well to support the ride. Inside: the bar was packed, dance floor was moving, and the three piece band was really givin’ ‘er. The music was a mix of rock, folk, and alternative. It had a steady beat that made even the most reluctant dancer give in to the head-bob-two-step. I have since downloaded all of their albums, and would recommend them to anyone looking for some good, easy flowing, summeresque tunes. And, the icing on the cake, they got their start right here in Toronto.

If youre still looking for a reason to support them – give them a listen. According to their MySpace page they won’t be back in Toronto for a while, but are defnitely worth the download, and keeping your eyes out for any upcoming dates they might squeeze in!

The Ossington strip has undoubtedly come a long way in the last ten years. It has successfully shed its reputation as a sketchy neighbourhood, and is now lined with tons of great bars, shops, and restaurants. Its one of the few areas  that still maintains a truly Toronto vibe, and has yet to become overly popularized and mainstream (although its probably only a matter of time). For these reasons, I find myself there at least once a week.

I could barely contain my excitement when  a couple of friends unveiled  plans to open a bar on Ossington.  After months of work and renovation, The Painted Lady opened its doors in January and has been bustling ever since. There are a million reasons why I absolutely love The Painted Lady, but in the effort to keep my posts a reasonable length, Ill try and sum them up as best I can:

1. Location, location, location. Located at 218 Ossington, The Painted Lady is far enough  from the downtown club scene to keep the number of out-of-towners (i.e. 905-ers) low. No one is rolling up in stretch limos or lowered Honda civics. No offense to those of you who enjoy this, its just not my cup of tea. Although it’s not right downtown, it’s close enough to be reached by the subway, streetcar, cab, or your ever reliable chevro-legs.

2. Super (fantastic happy hour) Staff. The owners, Sam and Nicky, can usually be found partying and chatting with their patrons; and the bartenders are   friendly, attentive, and FUN. Its not unusual to see them singing and dancing on the bar, or rocking out with their regulars.

3. You are drinking for the greater good. Nicky heads up the Canadian chapter of NOAH charity. NOAH  raises funds to build sustainable communities for South African children who have lost their parents to HIV and AIDS. The Painted Lady will host events throughout the year to raise money for NOAH.  Further details to come.

4. All the important no’s are looked after – NO LINE, NO COVER, NO DRESS CODE, and most importantly: NO PRETENTIOUSNESS

5. Food and drinks are cheap! Twenty or thirty bucks is enough get you through the night, leaving you well-sauced, and with enough change in your pocket for post bar, late night munchies.

6. The Baby Dolls poster hangs discretely on the back wall. If you weren’t sold on reasons 1 through 5, this fact should seal the deal. The rest of the bar is  adorned with  decorations that further highlight its playful character, such as an illuminated, flashing poster of Jesus, and over 80 portraits of painted ladies.  Even the trip  to the bathroom is unique, featuring leopard print wallpaper and multi-coloured Christmas lights.

Even though I am an East-ender, The Painted Lady really feels like my neighbourhood bar. It can always be counted on for a good time, no matter what night of the week. I have a feeling my liver is thankful  that I don’t live closer than I do.

Have you been there yet?

Other Posts/Reviews of The Painted Lady: Cameron’s Brewing Co.
and Martini Boys

One of the things I love most about Toronto is the possibility that you might to stumble upon a hidden gem at any given moment. The city is filled with surprise findings of people, places, and things, that once discovered, you question how you ever lived without.

A few weeks ago, as I wandered up Ossington, a sign in a store window caught my eye – it was a big, bold SALE sign, and it had 3 friends just like it.  As a clothing lover, I couldn’t resist the temptation and went inside. The owner/designer, Deborah Korosec, explained that she was making room for her Spring collection by selling off all Fall and Winter pieces for a mere $25-$40. Clearly, I had no choice but to adopt some of her soon-to-be orphaned clothes. I ended up with a couple of skirts, both skilfully made with high quality fabric and design.

Last week I went back to get a glimpse of her newly unveiled Spring line.  I have to admit, I fell in love with every piece I tried on. She really has something for everyone, no matter what style, body type, or age.  All of her designs are hand crafted and unique. Because she only makes a few of each design, you’ll never be caught in the same outfit as someone next to you. Most of her full priced items range between $60-$250 depending on the detail and fabric – totally comparable to any mass produced brand store, and much more deserving of your hard earned dollars.

Deborah is super down to earth and friendly, often helping you find just the right pattern, colour, and cut to accentuate your body. Studio Gang is hands down one of my favourite hidden gems. What are some of yours?

(also check out this photo of Studio Gang store from BlogTO)