1. Spin, 461 King St. West Lower Level

This retro-inspired basement venue has 12 ping-pong tables, a semi-private lounge and house DJs on the AV system. There’s also a full service bar and a photobooth. For your party, you could choose to rent a table (at a rate of $58/ hour for up to 10 people) or purchase a party package which includes food and drinks for all of your guests. The “Spin Birthday” package even adds the fun of a candy charcuterie board and a Spin cake to sweeten the deal. Overall, the vibe is great fun for adults and teens.

2. Get Well, 1181 Dundas St. West

A welcoming pub with 13 rotating taps and local, craft, and imported beers, Get Well is also a magical spot for lovers of vintage arcade games. From Centipede and Frogger, to Ms. Pac Man and Galaga, bring your friends here for a playful night of nostalgia. They also have two pinball machines, and pizza from Gracie’s.You can call ahead to book a pizza party to ensure a table and slices for your guests. As Get Well is primarily a bar, this party venue is meant for the adults.

3. Chillax Studios, 135 Tecumseth Street #17 and #18

As the name would suggest, Chillax Studios is a peaceful environment for a birthday gathering. “At Chillax Studio, we specialize in hands-on, contemporary DIY craft experiences”. Workshops include rug tufting, silver ring creation or designing mosaic lamps. Private workshops can be booked for up to 16 tufters or 24 mosaic-ers. This option is a bit pricier than others on this list, but the special part about it is that you and all of your friends will walk away with a functional piece of decor.

4. Yuk Yuk, 224 Richmond St. West

This spot is a hopping international comedy club, with shows Tuesday through Sunday drawing in large crowds and talent from the local area and abroad. Book a table with friends or hit up the box office an hour before the show to get a seat before their glowing stage. Enjoy drinks and snacks while you laugh away those daily stresses. If you’ve never been to a comedy club before, Yuk Yuk’s is a great first experience.

5. Storm Crow Manor, 580 Church Street

Self-described as Toronto’s “geekiest bar”, Storm Crow Manor is a converted mansion that integrates themed rooms, “secret doors, catacombs, cyberpunk bars, glowing, bubbling cocktails, randomly-generated burgers and, oh yeah, tentacles” to make for a spooky and incredibly unique cocktail experience. From the Red Rum Room to the Eclectic Cthulhu Pub, your Storm Crow experience will surely provide interesting surroundings for themed food and drink. You can even roll a 20-sided die to determine which random shot your server will bring you. Book a table, room, floor or even the whole venue for your special day!

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1. The Little House

When Englander Arthur Weeden moved to Toronto in 1902, he briefly worked as a superintendent at the Lighthouse Mission before becoming a builder and completing projects around the city. Many of Weeden’s projects were constructed on Day Avenue. His project Little House is the smallest house in Toronto, built in a former thruway between existing homes. Weeden lived in the home for 26 years, until close to the end of his life. It has since been renovated by contemporary owners to optimize the space, and has appeared in tiny home magazines and other media.

2. The Half House

Once part of six identical row houses constructed in 1890, this building on Saint Patrick Street is quite literally half of a former building. It came to be this way because the remaining row houses, which each contained two units, were all bought and demolished in the middle of the 20th century. However, this one unit was not ceded to the buy-up, and instead cleaved from the other half of its row house. The load-bearing wall that once separated two units now serves as the crumbling exterior of this place. As of 2013, the property was privately owned but left vacant.

3. The Wood Cake House

Located in Seaton Village, the Wood Cake House belongs to Albino Carreira. This man transformed it in 1994 after a spinal injury left him out of work and without much to do. His project involved covering the home in coins, glass beads, used toys and small wooden pucks called “wood cakes”. It’s not just the side of the house, but also Carreira’s mailbox, porch, garden and car, which are all covered in knick-knacks and oddities. The house is now a celebrated tourist attraction in the otherwise unassuming neighbourhood.

4. North Toronto Station

A former Canadian Pacific Railway Station constructed in 2016, this place is now the largest liquor store in Canada. It saw twenty years as a transportation hub, with visits from everyday Canadians to British royalty. Then the station closed for a few decades before reopening as a very unique LCBO, maintaining its bronze ceiling lights and massive clock tower. Portraits of former railway workers grace the walls, making the store a kind of para-museum. The clock tower holds a tasting area for wine stored in padlocked fridges.

5. Casa Loma

This 98-room European-style chateau in the middle of Toronto is both a tourist attraction and popular filming location. This is likely because of its unique history and beauty, enduring over 100 years after construction. Sir Henry Mill Pellat spent much of his massive fortune (earned from founding the Toronto Electric Light Company and other financial ventures) building this place in 1911, before going bankrupt around 1920. Forced to pawn off many of his personal possessions and sell the home, Pellat’s downfall was a massive one. Now owned by the City of Toronto, Casa Loma is a museum and tourist attraction featuring many of the home’s original attributes. Included are a 10,000 book library, a stained glass conservatory, a ball room with pillars and statuettes and horse stables made of mahogany.  Various other quirks and extravagances of the home are better left for a tour guide to regale you with.

The post Weird Buildings in Toronto with a Story Behind Them appeared first on Northly.

1. Visit Maplewood Farm or Southlands Farm

One is located in the Southlands, and the other on the North Shore. Both are open to walk-in visits, within designated hours on their website. Children can meet the animals (chickens, goats, cows and ponies) and sometimes watch farm hands milk the cows. Southlands Farm has a stand with produce, eggs and jams open Fridays in the Summer, and Saturdays in Spring and Fall. Both farms also have Halloween-related events such as Pumpkin Fest (Southlands Farm), and Fall Festival (Maplewood Farm). Other programs, such as horse riding, summer camps, educational workshops and crafting are bookable online. 

2. Explore Bloedel Conservatory or Lynn Canyon Park

Located in Queen Elizabeth Park, Bloedel Conservatory is a domed botanical garden and aviary which hosts tropical plants and colourful parrots. It’s the perfect spot to go on a cold and gloomy day because of the warm and humid environment inside. It doesn’t take long to walk around the path inside; but if you grab a scavenger hunt sheet from the front desk, your kids will be looking for birds with names and brightly-coloured flowers for as long as you let them.

A natural gem of the North Shore, Lynn Canyon Park is an outdoor area with multiple flat hiking trails, a suspension bridge that’s free, swimmable areas, an ecology centre and a gift shop selling coffee and treats. It’s the perfect outdoor adventure for children. They won’t get too tired walking around, and there’s exciting things to see and do around every corner.

3. Dress up like a sailor at the Maritime Museum

Inside Vanier Park is the Maritime Museum: a curiously-shaped, rarely busy place to learn about the city’s seafaring history. Inside is a complete wooden ship with interactive elements and original artifacts inside. A play area specifically for children has sailor costumes and marine-themed toys to entertain while parents take turns checking out the other exhibits. If you choose, you can also purchase a pass that grants entry to all three Vanier Park attractions (The Maritime Museum, Museum of Vancouver and H.R. MacMillan Space Centre) for the day.

4. Play at the Granville Island Children’s Market 

Granville Island’s rainbow-embellished Kid’s Market has just about everything kids love, from playful mural art to multiple toy stores and the nearby Granville Island Licorice Store (not just licorice, but all candy delights). There is also an Adventure Zone with over 30 arcade games, a playground with a ball pit and VR experiences inside egg-shaped consoles. Little ones can even ride in child-sized bumper cars! In the summer time the Granville Island Waterpark just down the road on Cartwright Street is also in operation. This park features slides, a splash pad and picnic areas.

5. Take the Aquabus to Science World

With eight different ferry stations– including ones in Yaletown, David Lam Park and Granville Island– the Aquabus is arguably the most fun form of transportation in Vancouver. You can grab tickets on board, just like taking the bus. On this ride, you’ll sail across False Creek in an adorable rainbow vessel with great views of the city. Get off at The Village dock and you’ll be within walking distance of Science World. Buy a ticket and enter a world of learning and play with over ten exhibits– plus films, live shows and more.

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Water Bikes

No boat-owning friends this summer? Enjoy a day out on Lake Ontario with a water bike instead. Not only is water biking a great form of exercise, but its environmental impact is much lower than boating. The bikes are human-powered and make very little noise (which can disturb marine life). Water bikes are perfect for a peaceful solo date, or a fun-yet-intimate couples date. Check out Toronto Water Bikes to book a rental and for important information about what to bring along with you.

City bikes

Bike Share Toronto is the city’s dedicated bike rental system, operated by the Toronto Parking Authority and sponsored by Tangerine Bank. It works very similarly to Lime bikes. All you have to do is download an app and enter a payment method to unlock bikes and ride them. Ridership of these bikes has grown exponentially since Bike Share’s initial launch in 2016. Join the growing trend and go explore a new neighbourhood in Toronto cruiser style. 

Paths and cycle routes

If you have your own bike, have you ever wondered if there’s a hidden trail close to where you live? What about the best street to take Downtown that has a protected bike lane? The City of Toronto has actually mapped its biking infrastructure, including parking stations and spots where you can easily make connections to public transit. You can view the map here, and use it to plan anything from a new way to commute to work, to a weekend adventure.

Bike Party

Maybe you’re already an enthusiastic cyclist in Toronto. Maybe you need to check out Bike Party. This group organizes night-time cycle routes in a large group with lights, music and dance party stops along the way. It’s a highly social and family-friendly way to get in touch with the cycling community in Toronto. You can find Bike Party on Instagram here. Sign up for their mailing list to get details about the next ride.

The post How to Have a Toronto Biking Summer appeared first on Northly.

1. The Pod

Located at 510 Burrard St. in the Financial District of Downtown Vancouver, this impressive piece of metal work was made by Rick Switzer in 1989. “[A]s a tribute to killer orca whales, this bronze rendition of two whales riding waves is mounted on a granite base”. Walk around the sculpture and discover how the form of the whales and waves change with perspective. 

2. Orca Chief and the Kelp Forest

Located in YVR Airport’s International Terminal, this work may only be viewable when travelling in or out of the city. However, it is well worth budgeting some extra time at the airport to see. A collaboration between Haisla artist Lyle Wilson and artist John Nutter, this installation was done in 2007 and stands 5.59 meters tall. 

“Situated above the enormous aquarium[…], the work combines images drawn from ancient myths and cultural traditions of the Haisla people with contemporary Western materials and technology. It tells the story of Orca Chief, ruler of the sea, and demonstrates the Chief’s power over its creatures as they swim through a kelp forest toward the viewer”. The work uses aluminum and glass to depict the face of the Orca Chief peering through dangling kelp.

3. Digital Orca

Perhaps the most famous piece of orca-themed art in Vancouver, “Digital Orca” was done by Doug Coupland in 2009. The sculpture is situated at the Waterfront, between De Dutch and Tap & Barrel. “Through the act of pixel-izing an orca whale in three dimensions– a process that creates a crackling and unexpected sensation in the viewer’s mind– the orca cliché is turned upside down and what we thought we knew well is rendered exciting and new. On closer inspection, the colours and materials used in the sculpture’s surfacing evoke the everyday life of the harbour and the diversity of those workers on the working waterfronts of the Province”, Coupland said of the work’s intention.

4. Killer Whale-Chief of the Undersea

Outside the Vancouver Aquarium in Stanley Park is a sculpture pool on Avison Way containing an orca. “Killer Whale-Chief of the Undersea World Statue” was created by artist Bill Reid, who famously has his own gallery downtown, and whose work is featured in the UBC Museum of Anthropology. 

A placard describes the subject as “Skana – The Killer Whale known by the Haida to be chief of the world beneath the sea who from his great house raised the storms of winter and brought calm to the seas of summer. He governed the mystical cycle of the salmon and was keeper of all the ocean’s living treasure.” The sculpture looks like a freeze-frame of a triumphant leap out of its reflecting pool, visualizing the power of this creature’s great form.

The post Four Sculptures of Orca Whales in Vancouver and Where to Find Them appeared first on Northly.

1. Splitsville Bowling, 1130 42 Ave SE

This classic bowling alley has over 10 lanes, retro-vibes, miniature golf and an arcade with billiards, Space Invaders, Pop a Shot, and more. The perfect place for a celebration, there are multiple party packages to choose from which include food and drinks, arcade credit, rounds of mini golf, and drinks for adults. Saturdays and Sundays beginning at 1 PM there is also glow-in-the-dark bowling!

2. Pedal Pub, 1417 9 Ave SE

Chances are you’ve seen these party bikes before. Meet up with your friends in Inglewood and take a two hour ride of a lifetime. You’ll pick one of five routes and stop at two local establishments along your beer-fueled tour of town. Rent an entire bike for your party of 8-15 people and wear party hats for maximum friend-group fun. 

3. Escape 60, 1638 10 Ave SW

For a bonding experience with close friends, consider an escape room party. You can plan ahead and choose which room best suits your group based on theme, difficulty, and even lighting. Escape 60 also has catering options and a full-service bar in their front lounge if you’re looking to keep the party going beyond the escape. 

4. Launchpad Golf, 31 Heritage Pointe Dr

Think of it like a driving range that incorporates light-up targets, mini games, and extensive food and drinks. At Launchpad, “golf meets entertainment for players of all levels”. Rent a climate-controlled suite for parties and you can pre-order everything your guests will need from food and drinks, to clubs and technology training tutorials. Get ready for a night of pay you’ll never forget.

5. Pinnovate, 137 Mahogany Plaza SE

For an intimate and creative party, check out Pinnovate DIY Studio. They offer unique crafting options for private events including instructed canvas painting, splatter art making, and pour painting. There’s also a special Stuff-a-Stuffie experience where party guests can hand-stuff a plush animal and create a custom shirt for it. All projects are ready on the day of, so your friends  can take them home as gift favors.

The post Where to Throw Your Next Birthday Party in Calgary appeared first on Northly.

1. Explore the Creative Kids Museum at Telus Spark

Imagine a giant playground, where both newborns and 8-year-olds can occupy themselves for hours on end. That’s exactly what the Creative Kids Museum offers with their numerous play areas that teach fine and gross motor skills, promote creative thinking and offer a space for kids to be free and get their hands dirty. 

In addition to rotating exhibits, the museum offers a permanent water play area, a wall made to paint on and a giant wooden climbing structure. There are also experimental learning stations which explore magnets and gravity, a reading nook and an area specifically for babies and toddlers. Oh yeah, there’s also a theatre for dancing to music or putting on imaginative shows, and plenty of designated space to draw, craft and create.

2. Swim and slide at Southland Leisure Centre

No matter if it’s mid-July or early January, your family can go swimming at an indoor facility such as Southland Leisure Centre. This particular leisure destination has numerous features that will impress kids, such as a wave pool, dive tank, water slides, AquaPlay structure and climbing wall. For the parents, there’s also a gym, hot tub and steam room available to use. Entrance to drop in at the facility is $6.70 for children up to 6, $7.70 for youth and $14.90 for adults. Alternatively, you can opt for a Rec Pass that makes each trip quite cheap. 

3. Experience the quirky treasure that is Cobb’s Adventure Park

Just east of the city is one of Calgary’s most unique family-friendly attractions: Cobb’s Adventure Park. Part petting zoo, their animal enclosures allow kids to feed, observe and interact with wallabies, kangaroos, ducks, sugar gliders, alpaca, emus, goats, sheep, pigs and tortoises. Small children will enjoy the multiple brightly-coloured themed playgrounds in the park, as well as tractor rides and pedal carts. Middle-aged kids might prefer the giant hill slides, climbing wall or corn maze. The park has a number of other outdoor puzzles to play as a family, as well as axe throwing and miniature golf.

4. Take a trip to Callaway Park

Also right on the outskirts of the city is Callaway Park, Western Canada’s largest outdoor amusement park. There are over 30 rides, carnival food and games, live stage shows and a 3D theatre here, making it a great option for all-day fun. It’s a good thing admission includes unlimited rides and parking. In the summer, visitors also have the option to camp out under the stars at their affiliated camp site. If you plan more than twice in a given year, getting the Season Pass is a no-brainer, as admission can be pricey. 

5. Play and eat at Grannery Road

Finally, another of Calgary’s unique family-oriented destinations is Grannery Road: a massive plot with agriculture-themed playgrounds, farm animals and a great public market. Scattered along a 3 kilometre walking trail, the playgrounds are anything but basic. They feature trampolines, slides, climbing, zip-lines and giant play structures in the shape of bee hives, mushrooms, eggs and fruit trees. There’s also mini golf, a petting zoo and a Croplands area where kids can race rubber ducks or ride small tractors. Stop by the public market at the end of your trip to take home fresh produce, artisanal cheese and of course, ice cream!

The post Top 5 Things to Do with Kids in Calgary appeared first on Northly.

For the collective, “made in Canada” means the brand is Canadian-owned, its headquarters is located in Canada and over 50% of the manufacturing is completed in Canada. Consider buying from one of these great Ontarian companies for your next beauty purchase!

Skincare

• Three Ships: “The first all-natural skincare collection backed by powerful science, radical transparency, and dermatologist-tested formulas that actually work”. Three Ships is committed to helping you achieve specific skincare goals through their range of products. You can build your own lineup of sleekly packaged creams, cleansers and serums online. Or, pick items up in-store at a carrier such as Credo Beauty, Holt Renfrew, Grove Collaborative or The Detox Market.
• Wildcraft: “Wildcraft creates 100% natural skincare products handcrafted in Toronto, designed to nourish the skin and simplify beauty routines”.  From body creams to facial tonics, all Wildcraft products are guaranteed $45 or less. You can find them online or at Healthy Planet, Well.ca, The Detox Market and Whole Foods.

Makeup

• Da Lish Cosmetics: “Da Lish Cosmetics provides clean, luxurious beauty products handcrafted with natural ingredients for effortless application”. They focus on liquid cosmetics– such as lipsticks and gloss, base products, mascara and eyeshadow– that will keep you glowing throughout the day. You can buy Da Lish either through their website or from their Amazon storefront.

Body

• Céla: “Céla by Celine Tadrissi is a Canadian, female-founded skincare brand inspired by spa rituals and powered by clean, botanical ingredients. Made in Canada. Cruelty-free. Wellness-first”. From balms and scrubs to creams and lotions, Ćela is luxurious body care that preserves moisture, promotes collagen and smells terrific. Their products are sold online and at retailers like Indigo, Ulta and Neiman Marcus.
• That Good Good Shea: “That Good Good Shea creates effective body care powered by African botanicals and modern formulations to hydrate, protect and nourish the ever-changing skin”. Their products include soaps, moisturizers and sponges for smooth and shiny skin. Shop their online store or pick up their collection at Nordstrom!

Fragrance

• Everyday Chemist: “Founded by a mother-daughter duo, Everyday Chemist reimagines beauty through EC Studios, their in-house cosmetic R&D lab. From formulation to finish, every product is handcrafted in Toronto with a focus on innovation, quality and thoughtful design”. Everyday Chemist is inspired by the Mediterranean and makes rollers, lip grease and body serums in fresh, fruity and floral scents. Smell like the sea this summer by shopping essentials from their website.

The post These Ontario Beauty Brands Made the ‘Indie Beauty Collective’ Cut appeared first on Northly.

1. Pinery Market– Grand Bend, ON

For two dollar entrance, you can enter this Sundays-only market, whose inventory changes every week with rotating vendors. You’ll find produce and prepared food alongside handcrafted items, vintage and retro antiques, and even services like henna. All of the antique items can be bargained for, so make sure you bring both cash and confidence. Lastly, the experience wouldn’t be complete without music. Live musicians play at Tuck’s Gas Bar– an indoor outdoor licensed area of the Pinery Market where cold drinks are sold.

2. Aberfoyle Antique Market– Puslinch, ON

Open every Sunday and some Saturdays, this market has been around for over 60 years and has furniture, collectibles, folkart, and more from over 100 dealers. This indoor outdoor market is open Spring until Fall, rain or shine, and is easily accessible from the GTA. Aberfoyle Market offers family-friendly fun and reasonable prices on unique wares. They have a restaurant and sweet shop on site for your mid-shopping pitstop. Most vendors are cash-only, so make sure you bring some or use the ATM on site. Saturday Special shows bring more dealers and excitement– but also come with a $10 entrance fee for adults.

3. The Freelton Antique Market– Freelton, ON

This large indoor market is complete with displays from over 250 dealers filling a ground and mezzanine level. The family owned mall contains jewelry, comics, houseware, art, books, collectables, and clothing. They have a strong reputation in the area among antique dealers and are open Wednesday through Sunday. You might just have to come a couple days in a row to properly see the whole store!

4. St. Jacobs Antiques Market– Waterloo, ON

Another indoor antique mall, this market hosts around 100 dealers and is open seven days a week. They are located across the street from the St. Jacobs Farmer’s Market, offering the unique cultural experience of purchasing fresh food from Mennonite farm vendors before heading inside the antiques market for vintage goods. St. Jacobs Antiques Market also hosts outdoor antiquing fairs on the 2nd Sunday of each month from May to September, with larger seasonal items, food trucks, and more.

5. Renfrew Flea Market– Renfrew, ON

Open on weekends, this small and carefully curated flea market caters to vintage nostalgia; in particular, retro games and vinyl records. The owners refurbish old consoles and ensure that everything in the market is in working condition and a fair price. Come here to buy, trade, or sell, and stay for the trip down memory lane.

The post These Antique and Flea Markets in Ontario are Worth the Trip appeared first on Northly.

Small groups from the same company can also take advantage of co-working space to book in-person meetings and work time. This can be useful while on trips, or if there is no centralized office space. Toronto has many co-working spots, but these five stand out for their positive reviews, interesting features and creative decoration.

1. East Room

With three locations in Downtown Toronto, East Room is “ideal for social-event seekers interested in exploring music, art, design, and entrepreneurship in a like-minded community”. They offer a variety of workspace options for individuals and companies to come together in well-designed, light and bright rooms. All locations include access to amenities such as parking, bike storage, event space and kitchens. In addition, the Carroll Street location offers multiple patios, and the King Street location offers a rooftop bar and lounge. The Claremont Street location offers a bar and a green/ live patio.

2. The Professional Centre

Offering private offices and meeting room space, The Professional Centre is located in the heart of Old Toronto and the Financial District. Renting office space here can be done on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. Bookings include access to “multiple beautifully-designed open collaboration zones and the spacious business lounge and kitchen”. A front desk team works hard here to get clients on-boarded as quickly as possible, and support any needs you may have while using the space.

3. Workplace One

Workplace One offers a variety of services for employees, teams and companies across their seven Toronto locations. Almost all offer bookable private office space, while Brooke Building, Adelaide, and Queen Street locations have HQ Suites. The Queen Street location also includes open spaces for a true collaborative environment. The King East and Queen West locations are the most uniquely decorated, featuring lounge space in brick-and-beam historic buildings. 

4. Miraki Life Workspace

Another highly flexible space, Miraki Life is the place to be for photoshoots, video production, content creation and solo or team co-working. Open-concept studios can be booked for all varieties of creative projects. You can reserve by the hour, half day or full day. Cozy seating, high speed wifi, A/C and heating, unlimited coffee and tea and access to a craft table with creative supplies are all included in your pass. This space is not only great for those who work remotely, but also those working on a creative gig or personal project by night. Special events are also hosted at Miraki Lifestyle all the time. Check out their Instagram to find out what’s coming up.

5. The Collective Workspace

A 13,000 sqft space near the Design District, The Collective Workspace was built to be “a catalyst for relationships, friendships, and business connections to flourish” in the creative community. Individuals and teams can choose among day passes and a number of different membership levels that enable more access hours and private space. Common lounges, podcast and phone booths, and event areas in the workspace are brightly decorated in a modern style. Friendly staff are there to help you make the most of your time.

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