Winter Events at the Harbourfront Centre

Posted on December 30, 2015 by Pier 27

The Harbourfront Centre on the Toronto waterfront has been one of the city’s main creative and cultural hubs for a few decades now. Thousands of events pass through there on an annual basis focusing on everything from theatre, literature, dance, music, film, crafts, and visual arts. If you’re an artistic person or just enjoy being entertained, you belong here!

Even though it is situated on the waterfront, the Harbourfront Centre is active all year round (mind you, during the winter most events are indoors!). As always, this winter is full of great programs and classes you and your friends and family can enjoy together. So, let’s take a look at what you can get up to in 2016:

The Power Plant: Winter 2015 Exhibitions
Starting on January 30th, you can go and explore the amazing works of four talented artists – Leslie Hewitt, Patrick Bernatchez, Aude Moreau, and Carlos Amorales – whose exhibitions are big, bold, and beautiful. Whether you’re into photography, videography, or visual arts, you’ll find something you love there.

World Stage
Each year the World Stage exhibition brings some of the best contemporary works of art to the Harbourfront Centre. This performance event has been happening there since 1986 and is an eclectic mix of art forms that always wow audiences. It’s one of the most unique events that happens in Toronto each year, and we highly recommend you don’t miss it.

Dance Ontario
Fan of all types of dance? The Dance Ontario 2016 weekend will be sure to entertain you then. This weekend brings together dancers from companies all over the city to perform mostly traditional dances from around the globe.

Glass Blowing
On the weekend of January 15th, you could learn all the techniques of glassblowing! The class covers both solid and blown forms of glass, as well as colour application, hot and cold techniques, and how to use the equipment. So cool.

Pottery
Always wanted to learn how to make your own cups and bowls? Sign up for the 8-week course on either Tuesdays, Thursdays, or Saturdays starting in January and learn how to throw, coil, slab, trim, and decorate your own pottery pieces.

Don’t forget you can also grab your skates and hit the ice at the Natrel Rink down at the Harbourfront. This rink has been a crowd favourite for over 30 years in Toronto! It’s free to use, there’s a heated indoor change room, and they host awesome events like DJ Skate Night and their annual New Year’s Eve Skating Party.

Photo via mtutton on Flickr

Interiors by Steven G: The Brains Behind Our Lobby

Posted on December 22, 2015December 22, 2015 by Pier 27

Photo via interiorsbysteveng.com

Meet the team behind our beautiful lobby!

We’re excited to bring on the amazing team at Interiors by Steven G. to work on the Pier 27 Tower lobby and make it the most beautiful condo lobby in the city. They’re a high-end interior design firm that is actually based just outside of Miami, but is known for their work all around the world. The Interiors by Steven G. team has an elegant eye, years of experience, a variety of style, and are one of the top high-end interior design firms in the United States. That’s why we chose them for the Pier 27 Tower, of course. Continue reading →

What happens to the Martin Goodman Trail in the winter?

Posted on December 15, 2015December 15, 2015 by Pier 27

If you frequent the Toronto waterfront like we do, you’ll know the Martin Goodman Trail well. The trail is over 50 kilometres, spans the majority of our city’s waterfront, and provides a dedicated cycling and pedestrian trail for Torontonians to enjoy. You’d think a trail like this would only be useful in the summer months, but because of the awesome waterfront revitalization that’s just not true! The Martin Goodman Trail is in full force during the winter and we spoke to our friends at Waterfront Toronto to learn more about it.

Since this is the first winter that the new portion of the Martin Goodman Trail has been open, Waterfront Toronto is still waiting to see what usage will look like during the snowy months. However, during its peak months the trail became the most-used piece of cycling infrastructure in Toronto (in only its first summer), so it’s clearly a popular commuting and recreational route. This past summer they saw about 600 cyclists per hour using the trail, which is amazing!

The Martin Goodman Trail has always been maintained to “bare pavement” standard during the winter and the new stretch of the trail will be the same. That means it has first priority to be cleared and salted after a snowfall of 5 centimetres or more. Since it gets darker earlier during the winter, the new signature light poles installed as part of the Queen’s Quay revitalization will help light your way if you’re using the trail in the evening too.

What’s most important to remember when cycling during the winter is to use your best judgement when getting out on the road. Trail etiquette is more important than ever in icy winter conditions, so always ride with caution and courtesy. The City of Toronto actually has some great winter riding tips you can check out too.

Photo via James Schwartz on Flickr

Sugar Beach in the Winter

Posted on December 11, 2015December 11, 2015 by Pier 27

It’s been a super warm winter here in Toronto, and we can’t complain!

Not only have we not had to whip out our parkas yet, but it means spending time outside is a bit more bearable than our typical frigid Canadian winter weather. That being said, we do love winter because once the snow hits the ground the city completely transforms. It becomes a beautiful urban landscape covered in white, and we love it. Continue reading →

Skate in the Neighbourhood: Where to Go

Posted on December 4, 2015 by Pier 27

It may not feel like winter in Toronto just yet, but that doesn’t mean that all the winter activity time needs to go to waste! As of a few weeks ago skating rinks all over the city opened to the public and we can’t wait to get out on the ice for the first time this year. Our Pier 27 community is really lucky to have some of the city’s best and most notable skating rinks within a short walk too.

The Natrel Rink has been a go-to for skating in Toronto for over three decades. There’s a heated indoor change room on site, where you can put your belongings in lockers if needed. There’s also a great rink-side restaurant called the Lakeside Local Bar & Grill in case you feel like grabbing a drink and a bite after your skate session.

Of course, there’s Nathan Phillips Square – the city’s most famous skating rink. It’s also a great place to go if you don’t own skates because there’s a place to rent them. The vibe is especially Christmasy there with the giant tree and all the lights hung across the arches over the rink. It’s even better now with the giant Toronto sign lit up in the square. Skating here is a truly “Toronto” experience.

Even though those two are extremely popular, sometimes it’s nice to go to a rink that’s a bit less busy. The Sherbourne Common Rink is accessible 24 hours a day and is right next door to us, or if you feel like exploring a new neighbourhood the one in Trinity Bellwoods is also one of our favourites.

Happy skating!

The Amsterdam BrewHouse on the Lake

Posted on November 26, 2015November 26, 2015 by Pier 27

If there’s one thing we know for sure, it’s that Torontonians love their craft beer. We believe that the recent spike in craft beer popularity is all thanks to the wonderful people at Amsterdam Brewery… but we may be biased! The folks at Amsterdam Brewery have been making craft beer in Toronto since the 80s, long before it was a big trend here, and we were ecstatic when they opened up with harbourfront location back in 2013. The Amsterdam BrewHouse is now a neighbourhood staple for good food and drink.

It has been a crazy journey for them to get to where they are today. Their first location was on John Street, which they opened in 1986 and finally had a big space to brew their own beer. This was back when it was called the Amsterdam Brasserie and Brewpub. During this time their Nut Brown Ale became extremely popular, which is now known as the Downtown Brown. In 1988 they sold the John Street location, moved to King Street and was renamed the Amsterdam Brewing Company. Just under 20 years later, they outgrew this location and moved to a spot on Bathurst Street, and seven years later outgrew that outpost which sent them to their current location in Leaside. The Leaside location is where all of your favourite Amsterdam Brewery beers are currently made, in addition to a small on-site brewery at the Amsterdam BrewHouse on the Lake.

It’s such a fantastic restaurant and bar to have nearby because not only does it have tons of drink and food options, but it’s huge, has lots of indoor and outdoor seating, has a retail beer store (which means you may never have to go to the regular Beer Store again!), and is located in a beautiful, historical building. The BrewHouse building is actually a big old boathouse on Pier 4, which means it is literally right on the water! The space, of course, hasn’t been a boathouse for a while now and used to be home to the Toronto Maritime Museum before it made its way into the hands of our friends at Amsterdam.

Check out these photos which compare the building in the 1980s to today:

Photo via City of Toronto Archives

Image via Google Maps

If you feel like making a trip to the BrewHouse to see what all the hype is about, we recommend you go on one of their free brewery tours (Monday to Friday) and then sit down for a tasting flight, or two.

Enjoy!

Cover photo via Amsterdam BrewHouse Facebook Page

The New George Brown College Waterfront Campus

Posted on November 18, 2015November 18, 2015 by Pier 27

One of Toronto’s top learning facilities calls our waterfront home. Back in September 2012, the new George Brown College waterfront campus opened their doors to approximately 4,000 students in their health and sciences programs, who would now be learning in a state-of-the-art building. The new building has a number of labs and classrooms overlooking the harbour, and it’s safe to say there’s no better view for studying in this city.

The campus is home to George Brown’s School of Health, School of Health and Wellness, Health Services Management, and the Sally Horsfall Eaton School of Nursing. The beautiful, modern building was built in partnership with Waterfront Toronto and has been a major staple in the revitalization of our waterfront. Inside, you’ll find informal learning spaces, a library, learning commons, labs, and health and wellness clinics which allows students to get hands-on experience right on campus. The first floor is actually open to the public and is big and bright with lots of communal work space, no classrooms, and lots of windows – in case you want to see the space for yourself!

Knowing that green space is important, the George Brown commissioned a stunning rooftop terrace, which in the spring, summer, and early fall is a go-to spot for studying and looking out at Lake Ontario. Sherbourne Common park lines the eastern side of the building, providing even more green space to students. Sugar Beach is also right next door, just past the Corus Quay Entertainment building to the west, in case students feel like getting sand between their toes while they’re in between classes.

If you’re dying to see inside, watch as Toronto’s most notable architecture critic, Christopher Hume, gives us all the grand tour. This place is one-of-a-kind!

Cover photo via GeorgeBrown.ca

Meet us in the Lobby!

Posted on November 10, 2015November 10, 2015 by Pier 27

Here it is! The Pier 27 Tower lobby.

Our beautiful lobby sets the tone for the rest of our building. With lots of attention being paid to design and style, we can’t wait to see the finished product from the team at Interiors by Steven G. Their interior design team is based near Miami and are one of the top high end interior design firms in the USA. Continue reading →

You Guide to the Toronto Waterfront

Posted on November 6, 2015December 1, 2015 by Pier 27

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: we’re so lucky to live on the waterfront!

It’s been a long process to revitalize it, but with the help of Waterfront Toronto and everyone in our neighbourhood we’re really starting to get there. There are so many great places and spaces to hang out – from digging your toes in the sand at Sugar Beach, to catching a show at the Sound Academy, or skating at the Harbourfront Centre – and it’s so important to make the most of your own neighbourhood.

This map is a pretty good overview of all the places we like to explore on the waterfront, and you should too! Why not go for a bike ride along the Martin Goodman Trail and check them all out? Continue reading →

Your wish is our command with the Pier 27 Executive Concierge

Posted on October 15, 2015October 15, 2015 by Pier 27

In case you haven’t heard, we’re officially pulling out all the stops in this tower. We’re excited to finally announce that the Pier 27 Tower will offer an all-inclusive concierge service for all of our tenants. That means if you need help running errands, booking a reservation, ordering a car service, and more, our team will be on it!

The Pier 27 Executive Concierge service is designed for those of you who lead busy lives and sometimes don’t have time or energy to handle all the small stuff. We want to give you back that time so you can focus on more important priorities in life, and leave the rest to us.

Our concierge team will have all hands on deck to make sure our residents will be taken care of! All you have to do is call or head down to the lobby to get whatever you need done, done.

Convenience is key, and we’re happy to provide that to all of our tenants.