Sweaty Betty's

Dive bars in Toronto range from the sublime to the ridiculous. Some are so well-appointed you'll feel bad about your apartment, and you can people watch while slurping delicious craft beers. Others are grimey and grungy and glorious and a pitcher of beer will be cheaper than a ticket to the movies. Whatever your speed, these are the best place to gather some folks and knock back a few pints.  read more...

Looking ethereal and edgy in an Alice-In-Wonderland-esque Alexander McQueen dress and bleached blonde bob, Drew Barrymore hitched up her skirt and hit up Sweaty Betty's, ducking behind the bar to pass out brews to her crowd of mates, WHIPping the tiny space into a frenzy.

Drew had a right to blow off some steam-introducing your directorial debut with a passionate speech about the inclusiveness of roller derby is a trying task. Not to mention sitting in a crowded theatre anxiously awaiting audience reaction. No wonder she brought Justin Long with her for support (emotional, not tech.) But Drew had the love of the audience-and the roller derby community as well. And with cans of Stiegl in her hands and amazing green polish on her fingers, she's a girl after our own heart.

Whilst Ellen Page pouted behind the jukebox (in a scene that might as well have been stripped from the next stomach-melting indie movie), Team Drew partied hearty, despite getting shut down by last call. (TORONTO CAN YOU HEAR ME-EXTEND IT PERMANENTLY! WE'LL GET MORE DREW!) Damn, girl makes being famous look fun. read more...

After what seemed like a ridiculously long winter, the glorious patio season is upon us. With a city full of patios perfect for getting your drink on, here’s a list of a few great spots you may not have heard of.

Cadillac Lounge
1296 Queen St. W.

At 4,000 square feet, this quirky Parkdale bar has a boastful patio thats seats 200 (comfortably and cushioned!), so there’s no shortage of tables or people to look at. Along with a menu full of inexpensive grub, it also serves up brunch perfect for those lazy Sunday afternoons.

The Rhino Bar
1249 Queen St. W.

Another Parkdale bar with an impressive patio is the Rhino Bar. Though it may not seat 200 like the Cadillac Lounge, it does serve over 200 bottled beers from 40 countries along with plenty of inexpensive food options. With a crowd just as diverse as its beer selection, you’re sure to fit in. read more...

by Caitlyn Holroyd
From the man behind Sweaty Betty’s (Pol Cristo-Williams) and a former bartender of the joint (Nic Savage) comes the Red Light, the latest addition to the Dundas West/Ossington-area bar scene.

With a capacity nearly double Betty’s at 75, the former Portuguese video store at 1185 Dundas St. W. is still a fairly small and narrow space, maintaining the intimate and eclectic feel of its sister bar with candlelight and a jukebox playing old 45s of everything from ‘70s Kinks hits to ‘90s hip-hop. With the décor echoing that of a French bordello—kitschy lamps and old landscape paintings lining the walls—the front room features a long bar perfect for chatting it up with randoms while the back room caters to a more intimate crowd. As the space fills up, it begins to look like a trendy house party, with people yelling at one another over the tunes and eagerly waiting to grab a spot on the paisley couch. read more...

by Christyn Edwards
For those of you who are friends with that Sweaty Betty, you will surely fall quickly for dear Margret.

When I tell people that I live in The Junction, I get a lot of "where's that!?" Considering The Junction made homebuyers and apartment seekers cream their pants this past year, it's still surprising when a) people never heard of it and b) people don’t know where it is. But I guess that's why it's so appealing! read more...