The summer heat is upon us and it's time to think about staying cool. Here is a primer for making the most of Toronto’s warm summer weeks and staying cool while doing it.
The fitness experts at Eclipse Fitness tell us that regular exercise, often done outdoors, is just as important during the hot summer months as it is during cooler seasons. Unfortunately, outdoor activities can place people at serious risk of dehydration which can lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke. It’s important to stay hydrated. If you're conscientious about drinking an adequate amount of water, make sure that you're not undermining your efforts with caffeine-containing beverages such as coffee, tea and colas. Health experts generally recommend drinking a minimum of 8 8-ounce glasses of water daily (more if you exercise). However, if you consume any caffeinated drinks - which have a dehydrating effect by increasing urination - you are essentially "cancelling out" the hydration benefits of the water that you do consume.
How do you counter this unwanted affect? Eclipse Fitness recommends that for every caffeinated or alcoholic drink you consume, drink an additional glass of water beyond the 8-glass minimum. And keep this in mind: The best time to consume fluids is before you are thirsty. It's best to drink on a schedule when it is hot outside.
The Pickle Barrel also has an effective and delicious way to deal with the heat – have a Smoothie! The Yonge and Eglinton location is serving up its popular summer cooler in many flavours including Pomegranate, Banana, Mango, Blueberry, Green Tea and Strawberry.
More Tips on keeping Cool from Wikihow.com
• Summer Clothing: Wear natural fabrics (cotton, silk, linen) rather than polyester, rayon, or other artificial fibers (with the possible exception of performance fabrics).
• Wear Light Colors: Darker colors will absorb the sun's rays and be warmer than light or white clothing, which reflects light and heat. Wear natural summer clothing.
• Cover Up: Covering up may actually keep your cooler, especially if the heat is low in humidity. In the scorching temperatures of the Middle Eastern deserts, traditional cultures wear clothing covering from head to toe. By protecting your skin from the sun beating down, you'll also shade your skin.
• Think cool. Read books about climbing Mount Everest, visiting Norway, or watch "March of the Penguins", "Ice Age", or "The Day After Tomorrow". You might not be physically cooler, but if your mind envisions a cold, you might feel a bit cooler.
• Eat spicy food. It's not a coincidence that many people in hotter regions of the world eat spicy food. http://www.metro.ca/en/on/home.html. Spicy (hot to the taste) food increases perspiration which cools the body as it evaporates. It also can cause an endorphin rush that is quite pleasant and might make you forget about the heat.
Taking break from the heat at Cineplex Silver City http://www.cineplex.com/Theatres/TheatreDetails/SilverCity-Yonge-Eglinton-Centre.aspx is always an effective way to rejuvenate. Just arriving on screen this week --
• Inception: Leonardo DiCaprio stars in a sci-fi thriller as a skilled thief who can steal valuable secrets from someone's subconscious.
• The Sorcerer’s Apprentice: Nicolas Cage is a master sorcerer in modern-day Manhattan, who finds a reluctant protégé in his fight against the forces of darkness.
Shopping and entertainment news for those who live, work or play at the heart of mid-town Toronto
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Kick-back and enjoy summer in Mid-town
July is traditionally a time to focus on slowing the pace and talking more time to relax with friends and family. We all love living in the neighbourhoods surrounding Yonge and Eglinton because fabulous entertainment, dining and shopping are so close at hand. Here are activities and events that are worth keeping in mind as you plan your free time this July.
Are you heading to the boardwalk, a patio or out of town for a weekend at the lake? Having a good book with you is a must. Heather’s Picks for great summer reading are all available at Indigo.
Summerlicious offers restaurant lovers an opportunity to satisfy their appetites for delicious food and perhaps discover a new favourite restaurant in the process. With 150 restaurants across Toronto offering three-course prix fixe menus from July 9 to 25. Over twenty of these locations are in the Mid-town area making it easy to plan an evening that includes dinner then a movie at Silver City Yonge and Eglinton. One of the biggest film openings of the summer promises to be Twilight 3 - Eclipse, which will be in theatres July 1. Other anticipated openings include: Zac Efron, starring in Charlie St. Cloud and Toy Story 3
Shopping is a favourite activity in any month. July is no exception as retailers begin to clear warm weather fashions in preparation for fall merchandise. Take advantage! RioCan Yonge Eglinton Centre shops will be holding a Sidewalk Sale clearance Monday July 5 to Sunday July 11.
Parking at the RioCan Yonge Eglinton Centre is always convenient. Up to 2-hours of Free Parking is made available to shoppers with a minimum purchase. Details can be found on the Centre’s website, or you can ask at Metro, Indigo, Eclipse Fitness, Silver City Cineplex and the Pickle Barrel.
Are you heading to the boardwalk, a patio or out of town for a weekend at the lake? Having a good book with you is a must. Heather’s Picks for great summer reading are all available at Indigo.
Summerlicious offers restaurant lovers an opportunity to satisfy their appetites for delicious food and perhaps discover a new favourite restaurant in the process. With 150 restaurants across Toronto offering three-course prix fixe menus from July 9 to 25. Over twenty of these locations are in the Mid-town area making it easy to plan an evening that includes dinner then a movie at Silver City Yonge and Eglinton. One of the biggest film openings of the summer promises to be Twilight 3 - Eclipse, which will be in theatres July 1. Other anticipated openings include: Zac Efron, starring in Charlie St. Cloud and Toy Story 3
Shopping is a favourite activity in any month. July is no exception as retailers begin to clear warm weather fashions in preparation for fall merchandise. Take advantage! RioCan Yonge Eglinton Centre shops will be holding a Sidewalk Sale clearance Monday July 5 to Sunday July 11.
Parking at the RioCan Yonge Eglinton Centre is always convenient. Up to 2-hours of Free Parking is made available to shoppers with a minimum purchase. Details can be found on the Centre’s website, or you can ask at Metro, Indigo, Eclipse Fitness, Silver City Cineplex and the Pickle Barrel.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
June Heats up with Festivals for Yonge Eglinton Residents
June is one of our favourite months in the Yonge Eglinton neighbourhood. Special events abound to bring sun and excitement into life in the city. Don’t allow the talk about G-20 security measures stop you from getting about town and taking in the best that Toronto has to offer. Here’s a sample.
Luminato: Now in its fourth year, Luminato is a celebration that fills Toronto's stages, streets, and public spaces with arts and creativity. June 11 – 20 you will experience theatre, dance, classical and contemporary music, film, literature, visual arts, design and more. Luminato's hallmarks include free widely accessible events, and "accidental encounters with art." Festival-goers are invited to participate, explore, and celebrate their own creative spirit.
Toronto Jazz Festival: Late June signals not only the start of summer, but also the arrival of the TD Toronto Jazz Festival (www.torontojazz.com ) as it takes over the city for 10 days, June 25 -July 4. Local clubs, restaurants, venues and even a church or two will be playing host, creating a Festival network that includes over 40 participating stages all over the city. Most are within a ten minute subway ride from Yonge and Eglinton. Jazz fans will also want to check out the selection of today’s leading jazz artists at HMV Yonge Eglinton Centre.
Woofstock: When Woofstock launched in 2003, the Toronto Star called it “the summer of canine love”. What else can you call thousands of dog lovers and their four-footed friends gathering each year for this popular doggie love-in! Watch dog fashion shows, dog-trick contests and Wooftstock's Ugliest Dog Contest. This year the event will take place June 12 – 13 at St Lawrence Market. Admission is free.
The 22nd Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival promises a two-day fun-filled event that brings sports, team spirit and community spirit to Toronto Centre Island on June 19-20, 2010.
The Festival, organized by the Toronto Chinese Business Association and the Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival, expects 180 to 200 teams with 5,000 athletes. Paddlers from all over the world will take part in the ancient Chinese tradition and friendly competition.
Last year, the Festival registered 8 teams of youth with physical and developmental challenges. The Festival also welcomed the cancer survivor teams from the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation – Ontario Region. After all, it’s not always about winning the cup. The team spirit, the message of hope and inclusiveness prevails throughout this event!
Don’t forget Dad! June 20th is Father's day, and The Source at Yonge Eglinton Centre has Something for Every Dad -- from GPS, digital cameras, home theatre and cell phones, to Bell TV, HDTV, iPods and gaming, plus batteries to keep everything powered up and ready to go.
Luminato: Now in its fourth year, Luminato is a celebration that fills Toronto's stages, streets, and public spaces with arts and creativity. June 11 – 20 you will experience theatre, dance, classical and contemporary music, film, literature, visual arts, design and more. Luminato's hallmarks include free widely accessible events, and "accidental encounters with art." Festival-goers are invited to participate, explore, and celebrate their own creative spirit.
Toronto Jazz Festival: Late June signals not only the start of summer, but also the arrival of the TD Toronto Jazz Festival (www.torontojazz.com ) as it takes over the city for 10 days, June 25 -July 4. Local clubs, restaurants, venues and even a church or two will be playing host, creating a Festival network that includes over 40 participating stages all over the city. Most are within a ten minute subway ride from Yonge and Eglinton. Jazz fans will also want to check out the selection of today’s leading jazz artists at HMV Yonge Eglinton Centre.
Woofstock: When Woofstock launched in 2003, the Toronto Star called it “the summer of canine love”. What else can you call thousands of dog lovers and their four-footed friends gathering each year for this popular doggie love-in! Watch dog fashion shows, dog-trick contests and Wooftstock's Ugliest Dog Contest. This year the event will take place June 12 – 13 at St Lawrence Market. Admission is free.
The 22nd Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival promises a two-day fun-filled event that brings sports, team spirit and community spirit to Toronto Centre Island on June 19-20, 2010.
The Festival, organized by the Toronto Chinese Business Association and the Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival, expects 180 to 200 teams with 5,000 athletes. Paddlers from all over the world will take part in the ancient Chinese tradition and friendly competition.
Last year, the Festival registered 8 teams of youth with physical and developmental challenges. The Festival also welcomed the cancer survivor teams from the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation – Ontario Region. After all, it’s not always about winning the cup. The team spirit, the message of hope and inclusiveness prevails throughout this event!
Don’t forget Dad! June 20th is Father's day, and The Source at Yonge Eglinton Centre has Something for Every Dad -- from GPS, digital cameras, home theatre and cell phones, to Bell TV, HDTV, iPods and gaming, plus batteries to keep everything powered up and ready to go.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Are you ready for the Oscars?
The Oscars are just one week away. Plenty of time to catch the nominees that have not yet seen. Check out the schedule at Silver City Yonge-Eglinton Centre and make a date now. Before or after the show, good food and friendly service is just steps away at the Pickel Barrel
To get full previews on this year's nominees click here
To get full previews on this year's nominees click here