Toronto winters can be mild, but we’re never let off the hook without weathering a torrent of icy feet, chapped lips and runny noses. Luckily, Toronto has a great selection of events and activities that offer creative ways to stay warm this winter – from a unique Campbell’s Soup pop-up to a licensed board game café, lunchtime yoga, a Russian steam bath and Toronto’s best hot chocolate crawl.
The Cantina by Campbell’s Pop-Up Resto
Launched earlier this week and running until February 21, The Cantina by Campbell’s is a pop-up restaurant with a mission to inspire you with ideas on how to make better soups at home. Check it out for a complimentary selection of elevated Campbell’s Soup creations designed by Chef Matt Dean Pettit (Rock Lobster).
While you’re there, be sure to put a sticker on their wall. This will not only contribute to selfie-worthy pop art, but for each sticker placed, Campbell Canada will donate a can of soup to the Daily Bread Food Bank. The Cantina by Campbell’s pop-up is located at 501 Queen West and hours are 11 am to 8 pm (Mon-Fri) and 11 am to 7pm (Sat-Sun).
Time Capsule Board Game Café
A welcome alternative to just hanging out at the bar, adult-friendly board game cafés have been springing up all over Toronto in the past few years. And for those of us who prefer to have a pint while crushing friends in Monopoly or collaboratively curing diseases in Pandemic, the Danforth’s Time Capsule Board Game Café also has a liquor license.
Check out their website for upcoming events that feature specific games. Time Capsule also has a small-but-satisfying menu of finger foods to keep you going through longer sessions. And if you’re one of the first to be booted from the board, there are also pool tables to keep you occupied until the next round.
Lunch Yoga at Sony Centre for the Performing Arts
Every Tuesday from now until April 26, the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts is opening its doors during the lunch hour so motivated office workers and area residents can practice yoga. Led by Moksha Yoga Danforth, classes run from 12:10 pm to 1 pm – which should give you plenty of time to get in a quick warrior’s pose and shavasana before going back into the grind.
The best part is that these classes are free. To make sure you get a spot, registration opens two weeks before each class. Enter the building through the Yonge Street entrance up to 15 minutes before class begins. No late-comers are admitted.
Steam Bath in a Professional Sauna
Toronto is home to countless variations of businesses that provide hot steam bath or sauna services. Steamul Sauna at Dixie and Dundas West offers a Russian-style sauna experience, with public hours for sessions that are meant just for women, men or families. Check the website for a full schedule.
Steamul Sauna echoes claims that saunas improve blood circulation and relaxation, while also contributing to weight loss and skin cleansing. And if sweating it out makes you hungry, they also have a menu of Russian-style food that ranges from herring with onions and potatoes to a meat salad.
Toronto’s Best Hot Chocolate Crawl
Nothing is more comforting on a chilly day than hot chocolate, and Toronto cafés and chocolatiers have been innovating on this simple wintertime drink. Dedicate yourself to checking out the best all in one day. Start at Soma Chocolatemaker in the Distillery District, where you can get a Mayan-inspired drink with spice and citrus. Then head to Fika in Kensington for their lavender white hot chocolate.
Next stop is Odile Chocolat on Dundas West. They serve a cardamom-infused hot chocolate alongside a spicy Caribbean variation (we recommend enjoying them in small shots). And the final, can’t-miss stop on this hot chocolate crawl is Chocosol Traders on St. Clair West. You’ve likely seen their packaging around the city at farmers’ markets. Pick up some drinking chocolate for later on when your cravings return.
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