Spotlight: Melissa Zuker of Toronto Market Co. brings the Midtown Market to Yonge + St. Clair on Tuesday June 20th

Toronto Market Co. has a reputation of curating some of the best open-air market experiences in the city. Its newest venture will be the Midtown Market – a summer series at Yonge + St. Clair starting on Tuesday, June 20.

We caught up with Melissa Zuker, co-founder of Toronto Market Co, to talk shop and her favourite things about the Y+SC neighbourhood.

Q: How did you decide on Midtown as your next market venture?

Yonge + St. Clair introduced us to the amazing space by the Delisle Parkette – it’s just a perfect spot to set up a pop-up experience. Right away, I could see myself picking up a delicious pizza made fresh in a wood burning oven from a market and enjoying it on a bench surrounded by trees and greenery. It’s a natural space that I can see people gravitating towards and an easy place to build a community.

Midtown has been on our radar for a while – I live not far from Yonge and St. Clair and I’ve always loved the mix of people, green spaces and businesses in the area. It’s a very animated neighbourhood, especially with all of the different events that are happening every week.

Q: Is there anything special that sets the Midtown market apart?

We’ve become known as a more upscale farmer’s market – we always make sure to feature the best products that Toronto has to offer! We have some vendors that are hyper-local from the Yonge and St. Clair area, as well as amazing treats from high quality artisan crafts, fresh food vendors and Ontario farmers. We make sure that each market is a special experience and that there’s something for anyone who stops by to visit. If you work close by, it’s easy to grab a quick and delicious lunch. On your way home, you can pick up a pint of fresh berries or some produce for dinner later. If you’re on your way to a party, there are so many nice, upscale artisan crafts that would make a perfect host gift.

Beyond creating an amazing experience for guests and visitors, we also focus on creating a great platform for entrepreneurs, small businesses and artisans to showcase their goods as well.

Q: What do you love about Yonge + St. Clair?

It’s quintessential Toronto at one intersection. It’s a great mix of local businesses and restaurants, offices and a vibrant residential community. It’s simply a very nice neighbourhood. It’s actually quite busy – there are always people coming through, walking around on their way to work, the gym or out to meet friends. And over the years, I’ve seen the area change quite a bit – which is very exciting.

Q: What are you most looking forward to at the June 20 market?

Eating outside! We have a great selection of cook on-site vendors that I can’t wait to try again. There’s something just delightful about dining al fresco during a Toronto summer. But the best thing about each of the markets in this series is that our vendors will change – so there will always be something new and different to check out every time.

The Midtown Market runs every third Tuesday of the month starting with Tuesday, June 20th, and will continue on July 18th, August 15th + September 19th. Learn more about the market itself by visiting our blog post HERE.

Summers are Better at Yonge + St. Clair

Want to know how we’re making your summer better here at Yonge + St. Clair? Find out by coming to visit the Chimney Stax Baking Co ice cream truck that will be parked on Delisle Ave (behind 30 St. Clair W) on the following dates:

Wednesday, June 14th (FREE)

Wednesday, July 12th (FREE)

Wednesday, August 16th (FIRST 100 FREE) 2:00pm

Now in true “first come first serve” fashion, we’ll be giving away the first 100 ‘sweet stax’ for FREE on Wednesday, August 16th so be sure to get there early (before they run out!).

Chimney Stax are fresh-made, rotisserie-baked breads served sweet or savoury. They are derived from a popular Eastern European street food known as Chimney Cakes. Originating in Hungary in the 14th century, they are natively known as kürtős kalács’ and can now be found on street corners throughout the world! Chimney Stax are always BAKED, NEVER FRIED. They are made with fresh, mostly-natural ingredients, rolled by hand and baked in their custom-made rotisserie oven. Their ‘Sweet Stax’ ice cream treat come in several varieties, with new toppings always being added. They also offer delicious spreads, icings and other fillings for a truly indulgent experience.

Pop Physique is a unique barre-inspired concept that incorporates elements of ballet and Pilates into a fun and fast-paced workout. Launched in Silver Lake, Los Angeles in 2008, Pop Physique has steadily grown to over a dozen locations across the United States. Their new location at Yonge + St. Clair marks the fitness studio’s first entry into Canada.

We spoke with owner, Richard Arnold, and his partner, Jodi Watson, about the brand, the Canadian expansion for the fitness studio, and taking our first class.

“Pop Physique was founded by a former professional ballet dancer and Pilates instructor, Jennifer Williams,” shared Richard as we toured the studio. “It’s a fusion of her passion for yoga, Pilates, and dancing, all tied into a one hour class full of fun, modern music.”

Pop Physique’s classes are rooted in the fitness methods of Lotte Berk, an English dancer from the 1950s who designed the program to give non-dancers the body of one. Jennifer was so impressed with the results that “she wanted to bring the methodology to more people and channel the original artistic environment of its creator.”

Pop Physique joins the influx of American based gyms and fitness studios establishing themselves in Toronto, and opened their doors at Yonge + St. Clair in February of this year.

It’s difficult to talk about Pop Physique without mentioning butts. They’re everywhere – Pop’s advertising, signage, and website strongly feature the behind. Even the A-frame sitting outside their studio at Yonge and Delisle proclaims that you have a ‘Nice Butt.’

The branding is intentionally a little cheeky. Inside, the studio is outfitted with amusing black and white pin-up wallpaper that brands the workouts as fun and sexy.

“Lotte originally created a unique and fun class structure that was quick to show results,” explained Jodi. “The principles of dance are used to create long, lean lines and tight, compact muscles. A nicer butt.” [Laughs]

The airy studio space provides mats and colourful weights, with bright pink exercise balls and yellow rope waiting for you at the barre.

“It’s a fun workout – but it’s hard. You’ll see.”

For this blog, we attended one of the ‘Pop Physique Classes’ run by Jodi.

It was surprisingly tough.

Fun, upbeat music blazed from the speakers as Jodi directed us through the class. Our warm-up began with two separate kinds of planks and push ups, which flowed into arms – working the triceps, shoulders, and biceps with the light weights, which lead into a stretch.

“You can tell by the stretches how the workout is compartmentalized.”

The meat of the class is at the barre focusing on the thighs and glutes. Admittedly, it was a tough sequence – a lot of shaking and burning throughout the exercise.

The abdominal muscles are worked throughout the entire class with extreme attention on breath. “The core work not only focuses on pulling the abs in, but scooping them towards the spine, getting deep deep deep.”

“It’s where a lot of the Pilates comes in.”

Finally, we do an exercise Jodi called ‘back dancing’ with “that final squeeze of the cheeks and tucking the pelvis.”

You don’t need to be a dancer to take a class, but Pop Physique aims to give you a dancer’s body. The upbeat music at structure of the class made the hour fly by, and challenged me enough to give a good full-body workout.

“The workout is primarily isometric and is about having no momentum – just pulsing and squeezing,” Jodi elaborated, “It’s about contracting and layering more contractions on top, which is why the queues are always ‘squeeze and squeeze and squeeze.’”

Small touches make the workout enjoyable. Everyone has their own mirror, weights, and barre station with the mats laid out prior to the class with plenty of studio space to accommodate larger classes. I didn’t even initially notice that staff removed the weights when we transitioned to the barre.

Richard and Jodi are excited for what the future holds for Pop Physique at Yonge + St. Clair and Canada. As their client base grows, Pop will start more holding ‘master’ and party classes, and plan on holding outdoor classes on the second floor patio of Delisle Court this summer.

Pop Physique is located on the second floor of 1560 Yonge St, offering classes several times a day, seven days a week. The Toronto studio is also currently promoting a new client special, offering 30 days of unlimited classes for $100 to help you get that nice butt.

Celebrate Dad this year with our first ever Yonge + St. Clair Father’s Day Market

Because of the success of our most recent Mother’s Day Market here at Yonge + St. Clair, we figured we would continue the excitement and plan for an even bigger and better Father’s Day Market on Wednesday, June 14th 2017.

We’re partnering up again with the ever popular Arts Market to bring you a highly curated special event within the lobby of 55 St. Clair W from the hours of 10:30am-6:00pm. You can take your time exploring the many stalls of local artisans and designers to find that special gift for dad, or anyone else important in your life.

The Arts Market is a one-of-a-kind shopping experience, rated by the Toronto Star as one of the top ten markets in Toronto! Their unique markets typically host many artists selling a mixture of art and photography, revamped clothing and jewelry, comical t-shirts and postcards, retro and antique finds, bath and beauty products, belts and wallets, upcycled books, greeting cards, and handmade goods.

Be sure to check out the below confirmed vendors

Whiff Loves        Maria Lopez        A Word in the Woods        Corktown Soap

Celebrity Skulls        Blue Oliphant        Williams Ceramics        Velha & Co

Miller Fine Art        Nelda Florence        Dark Side Jewelry

Celebrate Mom this year with our first ever Yonge + St. Clair Mother’s Day Market

We’re partnering up with the ever popular Arts Market to bring you a highly curated special event within the lobby of 55 St. Clair W on Thursday, May 11th from 10:30am-6:00pm. You can take your time exploring the many stalls of local artisans and designers to find that special gift for mom, or anyone else important in your life.

The Arts Market is a one-of-a-kind shopping experience, rated by the Toronto Star as one of the top ten markets in Toronto! Their unique markets typically host many artists selling a mixture of art and photography, revamped clothing and jewelry, comical t-shirts and postcards, retro and antique finds, bath and beauty products, belts and wallets, upcycled books, greeting cards, and handmade goods.

The following artists have been confirmed, but please check back for new additions in the days to come.

Spirit of Vera     Stressless Natural Solutions     Darsbars     Jewlery Design     Blue Oliphant     Whiff Loves     A Word in the Woods     William Ceramics     Patrick Hunter     Wornwood Designs

See everyone there on Thursday, May 11th!

Something Awesome is Happening at Yonge + St. Clair!

This summer we would like to give your brand the opportunity to win a FREE pop up space at Yonge + St. Clair. We recently teamed up with  thisopenspace to offer this great opportunity for you to set up for a FULL 10 days at one of Toronto’s busiest intersections.

This Yonge + St. Clair Pop Up Space is centrally located between some of Toronto’s most fabulous residential neighborhoods (Rosedale, Summer Hill, and Forest Hill). During the week, this area welcomes thousands of working professionals who frequently step out during the day to enjoy the local shops and businesses. Being only steps away from the St. Clair Subway station, your location will be close to an intersection that has over 100,000 people passing through it daily with a combination of parents, teens, and young professionals.

For more information on the space, and contest details, please look at our listing HERE, and be sure to join the cultural renaissance happening this summer at Yonge + St. Clair!

Back again for its second year, Food Truck Thursdays have returned to the Yonge + St. Clair community. Every Thursday starting from May-October we’ll be hosting two trucks serving up some of Toronto’s hottest eats. From 11:00am-3:00pm you’ll have your chance to line up and taste some of the various offerings on Delisle Ave, behind 40 St. Clair W, so get there early. Rain or shine!

Please check back here each week as we announce more vendors.

DATES

May 4th: Ali Wraps + Gotham Grill

May 11th: Meltdown Cheesery + La Novela

May 18th: Bestia + Flying G’nosh

May 25th: Crispy Craves + Delight Bite

June 1st: The Spicy Ethiopian + Curbalicious + La Novela

June 8th: Burgatory + Meltdown Cheesery + Queen Arepa

June 15th: Road Grill + Delight Bite

June 22nd: FeastTO + La Novela

June 29th: Chimney Stax + Crazy Burrito + Ali Wraps

July 6th: Meltdown Cheesery + Sushitto on the Road + Road Grill

July 13th: Fully Loaded + Gourmet Gringos + Delight Bite

July 20th: Ali Jandro’s Kitchen + P.E.I. Fries + Queen Arepa

July 27th: Urban Smoke + La Novela + Curbalicious

August 3rd: The Flying G’nosh + Burgatory + Bestia

August 10th: Crazy Burrito + Curbalicious + Gotham Grill + Queen Arepa + Fashion Truck Canada

August 17th: Born 2 Eat + Arepa Republic + Alejandro’s Kitchen

August 24th: Gourmet Gringos + Gotham Grill + Crazy Burrito + Queen Arepa + Fashion Truck Canada

August 31st: Mustache Burger + Sushitto on the Road + Arepa Republic

September 7th: Mustache Burger + Urban Smoke + ME.N.U  + Queen Arepa

September 14th: P.E.I. Fries + FeastTO + Queen Arepa

September 21st: Per Se + Arepa Republic + Delight Bite

September 28th: Gotham Grill + La Novela + Sushitto on the Road + Queen Arepa

October 5th: Delight Bite + ME.N.U. + Arepa Republic 

Nominations are now open for NOW Magazine’s 2017 Readers’ Choice poll!

Dying to share your favourite hidden gems here at Yonge + St. Clair? Then have your say on what’s best in the neighbourhood by nominating your top picks for the best restaurants, chefs, shops, parks, services and more.

Polls close June 30th, with voting to begin July 20th. Click HERE for more details.

NOW Magazine is Toronto’s weekly news and entertainment voice, published every Thursday. Each spring/ summer they provide Torontonians the opportunity to have their say in the ever popular ‘Best Of’ series which gives locals a chance to share everything they love most about their city.