A Love Letter to Toronto

I think I just... fell in love with you?

For the last 3 years, every time I’ve been home I’ve had an itch, a longing, a desire to race back to the West as fast as possible. Perhaps because all these other times, I never knew how long my stay in “Toronto” would last (my hometown is 45 min south of Toronto). I never had a flight booked back, and this caused some inkling of anxiety to flare up inside my body. This time was different, I knew I was heading back to Vancouver 10 days later… and suddenly I fell back in love with Toronto like I was 16 again.

Being home felt like a combination of the following: a breath of fresh air, a warm hug, rest, exhaustion, excitement, heartache, but also pure bliss (isn’t that f**king confusing? I know. Pretty sure this is my life motto these days). But, most importantly; a new found appreciation for where I grew up, and feeling oh-so-lucky to know the people I know.

Home was a period of rest, re-connection, routine, and energy; all things I had felt myself lacking within the last couple of months.

My ode to Toronto could quite literally start and finish with Taverne Bernhardts. For the last 4 years, this has been my most frequented restaurant. Bernhardts is the first recommendation I give anyone travelling to Toronto. Correction… it’s the only recommendation. Still working out the kinks in my master plan of how they will cater my wedding (i.e., first on the list is actually finding someone to marry), but you best believe I will be bringing this into fruition.

Grab your favourite people, and prepare yourself to taste the best fry of your life. My order often switches, as it’s farm-to-table, but some of the classics like the Greenie salad, whole rotisserie chicken w/ fries, and ice cream sundae always remain.

Hilariously what I was most excited about… other than seeing my family and friends, was being reunited with the second half of my closet. Something that was not on my 2024 bingo card was frothing at the mouth over the fact that I could finally style these overalls again.

From top to bottom, left-to right:

Wearing a Leset tee, Deiji studios boxer shorts, and carrying a St.Agni bag.

James Street Tee, Carhartt Overalls, Hereu loafers and carrying a Casa Ayllon pouch.

Vintage Nike tee I found at F as in Frank in Squamish, Deiji Studios pants, and carrying a St. Agni bag.

Aritzia denim forum button-up, paired with Jesse Kamm jeans and my beloved Khaite belt.

My first night in Toronto was greeted with a 4-course meal at Bar Koukla, lovely company, and a good old Ontario welcome-home visit to Paris Texas.

Bar Koukla must haves: Lamb Ribs, Koulouri, the Feta with pomegranate (this + Bernhardts is my death row meal), paired with the Tzatziki cocktail.

Paris Texas must haves: enough shots of Tequila to make you re-enter the state of being 19 and a student at the University of Western Ontario, alongside an acceptance that you may lose some of your dignity once you become this drunk.

Jokes aside, P.T. is extremely fun for a night out. The one thing I find to be very scarce/ non-existent in Vancouver is nightlife. In my ideal world, the city of Toronto (restaurants, bars, the whole scene), would be placed in the location of Vancouver. Sometimes I just want to go to the club- there, I said it! I mean… is that too much to ask for?

Now, no night out is complete without a 6:45am alarm reminding you that you booked a reformer pilates class for 7:30 on a Sunday morning. That’s just good planning if you ask me. Jaybird in Yorkville is my favourite for ethereal interiors, and getting a booty burn so good you’ll forget you only got 4.5 hours of sleep last night.

Right next door is Othership, the sauna of all saunas. This post-night out, Sunday morning activity probably makes a little bit more sense to most. Most of Othership’s sessions are guided- which means you don’t have to sit in silence and ponder the questionable things you may or may not of (definitely did) said to your friends last night.

Other notable back home favourites are Manita, Mamakas, Shopcoat, The Wanderly, VSP consignment, crying over the shoe section in Holt Renfrew on Bloor, Nutbar, Permission, pretty much any cool vintage shop along Dundas/Ossington, Velda’s, Vintage Soul Geek in Hamilton, the Lee salad, Pizzeria Badiali, Grape Witches, and most importantly my bed at my parents house. (There are many more in this list but I don’t want to go on forever).

While I originally thought 10 days at home was more than generous, it had proven itself to be the shortest trip of all time. I’m the self-proclaimed President of the “I want what I can’t have” club (for many reasons), SO my feelings for Toronto can be summed up using the following painting I saw through the window of an Art Gallery on Yorkville Av:

Toronto is a love that’s fiery, passionate, sexy… but also slightly anxiety inducing.

Vancouver is a love that’s calming, sensual, steady… a slow burn if you will.

Wearing an Aritzia Denim shirt, Jesse Kamm jeans, & Nike Cortez. Carrying a RSVP Paris Tote, Claire V tote, and rolling a July luggage carry-on… how many personal items is too many?

You know what they say… they always come back. Au revoir Toronto. x