The DesignTO Festival (formerly the Toronto Design Offsite Festival) returns to #YongeStClair from January 18 – 27th, 2019. The event features 10 days of art and festival programming anchored by immersive installations designed by local artists, architects, and design firms.

Studio F Minus, the visionaries behind the celebrated Tunnel of Glam at Yonge + St. Clair, are returning to the neighbourhood with a brand new sequin-inspired installation for #DesignTO19 entitled ‘Sparkle Squish Plush Pond‘. We sat down with Brad Hindson and Mitchell Chan, principals of the studio, for their thoughts on the community, design, and what it takes to see vision come to life.

Can you describe your firm and why you wanted to get involved with DesignTO at Yonge + St. Clair?

Studio F Minus makes public conversations through art. Our work is often tactile and/or interactive and/or kinetic. We are always excited to insert artworks into spaces that don’t typically have them. We find it reaches a broader audience and are often discovered unexpectedly.

Why is this installation important in the context of Yonge + St. Clair? What do you hope visitors take away from the experience?

We hope that visitors who work in these spaces get to see their place of work differently. Further, we hope that residences of the surrounding area come out and explore buildings that typically thought of as closed off to the public.

Can you describe what the construction process looks like? How did the idea come about, and what will it take to see it come to life?

Reverse sequin fabric is mesmerizing and very underutilized as a material. We first explored it as a medium when we built the 80′ long ‘Tunnel of Glam‘. Here we are studying how it works in a sculpture that undulates and swirls while still allowing it to be touched by the viewer.

Sparkle Squish Plush Pond runs from January 18 to 27th, 2019 at 95 St. Clair W in the lobby. An opening reception will be held on January 18 from 7 – 10pm.

The DesignTO Festival (formerly the Toronto Design Offsite Festival) returns to #YongeStClair from January 18 – 27th, 2019. The event features 10 days of art and festival programming anchored by immersive installations designed by local artists, architects, and design firms.

We spoke with Alexandra Lavallée, an architectural designer at superkül here in Toronto for her views on the art coming to Yonge + St. Clair, and for more details about their installation titled “ReflectLive“.

1. Can you describe your firm and why you wanted to get involved with DesignTO at Yonge + St. Clair?

superkül is a Toronto-based architectural studio founded in 2002 and headed by Meg Graham and Andre D’Elia. The firm’s portfolio encompasses a wide array of project types, ranging from residential, commercial and institutional buildings to master planning and feasibility studies. While diverse, all undertaken projects display an immaculate attention to detail and material resolution, regardless of scale, and a profound connection to their built and natural contexts. The practice prioritizes a thorough engagement with all clients and stakeholders, and a belief in long-term sustainability guides the direction of the firm towards creating a brighter future.

This type of festival brings on a high energy project under a relatively short time frame, not to mention that installation projects are really fun! It is an opportunity to explore and expand upon conceptual design ideas, and get our hands dirty. Participating in the DesignTO festival is an obvious choice as Deborah Wang, the artistic director and a founding member of DesignTO, worked at superkül for many years – she recently left to work for the festival full-time.

2. Why the Delisle Parkette?

Last year, superkül designed an installation for the lobby of 40 St. Clair W. This was an interesting location as it made our installation visible to people who wouldn’t generally seek out design installations. However, the installation was mainly targeted towards the building’s users. For 2019’s edition, we really wanted to engage with the Yonge + St. Clair community. Designing an installation for Delisle Parkette means it’s accessible during the evenings and on weekends. Our installation becomes more accessible to people living in the area – passersby, children, dog-walkers, transit-takers.

3. Can you describe what the construction process looks like? How did the idea come about, and what will it take to see it come to life?

Starting an installation, much like starting larger projects, begins with an understanding of the site it is to occupy. We were first inspired by the trees of Delisle Parkette and how delightful it is to amble through this urban forest. We set out to increase its density and extents by introducing reflective “tree-trunks”, adding an element of whimsy and playfulness to the parkette.

Following the concept was the realisation: figuring out how to easily build, transport, install on site. We tested several materials and structural systems by building a number of mock-ups at a park by our office. Budget and constructability constraints necessitated a creative and resourceful approach to the use of materials, and structural systems that support them. For example, we considered using emergency blankets as the reflective film. By trying it out, we discovered that we couldn’t remove the fold marks. We ended up finding reflective film at a gardening store – it’s used to reflect light back onto plants.

Finally, a larger team is recruited to help with the assembly and, after more issues are discovered and resolved, the assembly process is streamlined. The first of our 30 reflective tree trunks must’ve taken two days to assemble, disassemble and reassemble…the last took under an hour!

The design, construction, and execution of this year’s DesignTO installation is a true embodiment of design as an iterative process: to evolve and develop a concept into a realisation, all while adopting a creative, and sometimes unorthodox, approach to achieve the desired outcome.

ReflectLive runs from January 18 to 27th, 2019 at the Delisle Parkette – 17 Delisle Avenue. 

DesignTO, formerly the Toronto Design Offsite Festival, is Canada’s largest cultural celebration of design with over 100 free exhibitions and events forming Toronto’s design week, January 18-27, 2019. Going into its 9th year, DesignTO transforms Toronto into a hub for creativity, taking design and art out of the studio and into the urban sphere, bringing people together to celebrate contemporary culture.

The Yonge + St. Clair BIA is a proud sponsor of the Festival, and will play host to 12 installations and two events across the neighbourhood. Installations include brand new work by Studio F Minus, designers of the Tunnel of Glam.

Use the map below to find all the festival programming, and click the links below for more information.

INSTALLATIONS

1 – ‘Morpheus’ by Gensler (2 St. Clair W)

2 – ‘Faux Garden’ by Hi Thanks Bye (30 St. Clair W)

3 – ‘ReflectLive’ by superkül (Delisle Parkette behind 30 St. Clair W)

4 – ‘StrataSphere’ by IBI (55 St. Clair W)

5 – PULP: Exhibit + Home (1 Delisle Ave)

6 – ‘Furnishing Balance’ by Pablo Muñoz (1510 Yonge St)

7 – STEPS x New Balance (1510 Yonge Street)

8 – ‘Sparkle Squish Plush Pond’ by Studio F Minus (95 St. Clair W)

9 – ‘Dissipate Like a Cloud or Smoke or Wintery Breath’ by Derrick Piens (45 St. Clair W)

10 – ‘The Accessibility Experiment: Navigating the World in an Alternative Format’ by CNIB (1525 Yonge St)

11 – ‘The Trees Amongst Us’ by Nicola Woods (21 St. Clair W)

12 – ‘Pro Tem’ by Janine Miedzik (1560 Yonge St)

EVENTS

13 – Tour: Exploring Art at Yonge + St. Clair (January 20, 11:00am – 12:00pm)

14 – Ideas Forum: Watershed to Waterfront (January 24, 6:30pm – 8:30pm)

Use #DesignTO19 and #YongeStClair when you share your photos, and we’ll feature them here.

This holiday season, shop local! Yonge + St. Clair is home to an amazing array of merchants stocked with the perfect gifts for your friends, co-workers, and loved ones.

Heres our guide to help you pick up local gifts for each type of person on your list.

For the ‘Cozy Cottager’

Dorval Faux Fur Pom Toque – $42
Roots
1485 Yonge St

Anna Porter: ‘In Other Words’ – $28
Book City
1430 Yonge St

Cranberry Starcut Nordic Mug – $23
DAVIDsTEA
2 St. Clair W

CNIB Future Guide Dog Plush – $20 Donation
CNIB Community Hub
1525 Yonge St

Kenzo Takada Sunglasses – $793
Kaltenbock Opticians
2 St. Clair E

Silks Holiday Collection Socks – $12
Legs Beautiful
1470 Yonge St

Snowball Beanie – $30
New Balance
1510 Yonge St

MiiR Travel Thermo 3D Mug – $34
Roots
1485 Yonge St

For the ‘Gourmand’

Newfoundland Chocolate Company Extra Dark Bar – $85 (part of gift set)
Baskits
2 St. Clair E

Yotam Ottolenghi: ‘Ottolenghi Simple’ – $42
Book City
1430 Yonge St

Green Teas Gift Pack and Measuring Spoon – $20 (teas), $7 (spoon)
DAVIDsTEA
2 St. Clair W

Vuarnet 002 Timeless Icon Sunglasses – $290
Kaltenbock Opticians
2 St. Clair E

Jacobsons Mince Pies – $8
Paperboy Cards + Gifts
7 Pleasant Blvd

LA Trading Co. Dress Like Coco Cloth – $19
Paperboy Cards + Gifts
7 Pleasant Blvd

Tipsy Tapas Cheese Stuffed Sweet Peppers – $10
Zelden’s Deli
1446 Yonge St

Maple Syrup – $10
Roots
1485 Yonge St

For the ‘Trend Setter’

Virginia Johnson: ‘Travels Through the French Riviera’ – $27
Book City
1430 Yonge St

Só Coconut & Oat Milk Bath – $85 (part of gift set)
Baskits
2 St. Clair E

Buck Naked Soap Company Vanilla Chai Bar – $35 (part of gift set)
The Health Shoppe
1375 Yonge St

Oliver Goldsmith Decades Sunglasses – $670
Kaltenbock Opticians
2 St. Clair E

Michael Kluthe Hairspray – $12
Michael Kluthe
1428 Yonge St

Fresh Foam Cruz v2 Sneakers – $119
New Balance
1510 Yonge St

Cabin Socks – $19
Roots
1485 Yonge St

For the ‘Athlete’

Women’s Heat Loft Funnel Pullover – $90
New Balance
1510 Yonge St

Genius and Almondmilk Cold Pressed Juices – $7 each
Greenhouse Juice
2 St. Clair E

Pop Socks – $18
Pop Physique
1560 Yonge St

Coffee Shop Reading Socks – $25
Legs Beautiful
1470 Yonge St

Tundra Fair Isle Mitts – $48
Roots
1485 Yonge St

This is it – the Yonge + St. Clair BIA’s inaugural Holiday Block Party. With activations from businesses across the neighbourhood together with curated sidewalk attractions, there is no better way to spend an evening. Pay a visit local merchants for special giveaways, promotions, and specials. Plus live music, a roaming Santa with candy canes for the kids, a dance trio, and of course, the Tunnel of Glam.

It all goes down on December 13 from 4pm to 8pm.

Explore the map and descriptions below to learn more about what’s happening in the ‘hood.

1. #TunnelofGlam – Dance Party
1501 Yonge Street, 4 – 8pm
Visit the #TunnelofGlam and be treated to non-stop beats.

2. Sidewalk Santa
Various locations, 4 – 8pm
Santa will be traversing the Yonge + St. Clair neighbourhood handing out candy canes. Can you find him?

3. Sapphire Dance Trio
Various locations, 4 – 8pm
The Sapphire Dance Trio will be glammed up in holiday sequins and spreading the festive spirit all over the neighbourhood. Plus, they’ll be handing out free glow bracelets for kids!

4. Juice Box Brass Band
Corner of Yonge + St. Clair, 4 – 8pm
Your favourite summer brass band returns to play holiday hits at the Four Corners.

5. Michelle Thibodeau – Musical Performance
1406 Yonge Street, 5 – 6pm

6. Carmen Toth – Musical Performance
1406 Yonge Street, 7 – 8pm

7. Hair Artisans – 20%-off All Retail 
76 St. Clair W, 4 – 8pm
20% off all retail items, including holiday gift sets!

8. Paperboy Cards & Gifts – Free Tea Sandwiches 
7 Pleasant Blvd, 4 – 8pm
Enjoy complimentary tea sandwiches while you shop the wide selection of holiday gifts!

9. St. Clair Dental Associates – Toothbrush Giveaway
65 St. Clair E, 4pm – 8pm

10. Sylvan Learning Centre – Coding Fun
60 St Clair E, #101, 5 – 8pm
Drop by our centre to learn how to code! Kids (and kids at heart) will create their own apps or games they can show their parents, and we’ll also print Hour of Code certificates they can bring home. And, it’s fun! With interactive, hands-on activities, students will learn computational thinking skills in an approachable way.

11. Holiday Craft Market
55 St. Clair W, 12 – 7pm
Holiday Market featuring one of a kind goods from local artisans.

12. Oxford Learning – FREE Gift Wrapping & come in to schedule a Dynamic Assessment for 50% off for the month of December!
44 St. Clair E, 5 – 8pm
Dynamic Assessment is an interactive way of conducting a learning assessment on students, and helps identify the unique skills and learning potential of every child. Also offering FREE gift wrapping from 5-8pm along with a Hot Chocolate bar!

13. Calvin Presbyterian/Deer Park United Church – Choir and Crafts 
26 Delisle Ave, 6:30 – 7pm
Come tour the sanctuary and enjoy a 15 minute uplifting choir concert beginning at 6:45 p.m. A kids craft corner will be available as well!

14. DAVIDsTEA – Hot Tea Giveaway 
2 St. Clair W, 4 – 8pm
Drop by DAVIDs TEA for complimentary hot tea!

15. Kaltenbock Opticians – $100 Gift Card Giveaway
2 St. Clair E, 10am – 6pm
Visit Kaltenbock Opticians and you’ll receive a free $100 gift card!

16. Baskits – 10%-off Store-wide
2 St. Clair E, 9am – 8pm
Store wide sale – 10% off!  Plus, we’ll be raffling one of our favourite holiday baskits “Sleigh” (valued at $160). For a raffle ticket, we will be accepting donations to The Shoebox Project. (The Shoebox Project for Women, supported by Dream, collects and distributes gift-filled Shoeboxes to women impacted by homelessness in communities across Canada and the US. Each thoughtfully created and decorated Shoebox is filled with items valued at $50 that can enhance self-esteem and reduce feelings of isolation for women in need.)

17. Stonerose Hair Studio – 20%-off Services
1504 Yonge St, 4 – 8pm
20% off all services if you mention the Yonge + St. Clair block party. Plus, buy a blow-dry package and receive 20% off any colour services.

18. Delisle Court – Photo Opportunity and Loot Bags Giveaway
1560 Yonge St, 4 – 8pm
We will be setting up a large inflatable penguin family in our pad on Delisle and besides that we will have holiday scene backdrop with photobooth props. We also plan to give away loot bags to visitors with contents donated by Delisle tenants

19. Pet Valu – Free Dog Treats
1560 Yonge St, 4 – 8pm
Enjoy a complimentary holiday dog treat!

20. Midtown Gastro-Hub – 15%-off All Food
1535 Yonge St, 4 – 8pm
Come watch the Leafs game and enjoy 15% off all food!

21. CNIB – Virtual Reality Jamboree
1525 Yonge St, 4 – 7pm
This will be a fun event involving refreshments snacks and a virtual reality experience that will indulge your senses and expose you to new inclusive ways of accessing Yonge and St Clair.

22. Chestnut Park Real Estate – Free Hot Chocolate
1501 Yonge St, 4 – 8pm
Enjoy complimentary hot chocolate, cookies, and coffee, courtesy of Chestnut Park Real Estate

23. Legs Beautiful – Win a Gift Basket
1495 Yonge St, 9am – 8pm
Enter the draw to win 1 of 4 gift baskets!

24. Roots – Meet the Roots Beaver
1485 Yonge St, 4 – 8pm
Come meet the Roots Beaver, and receive complimentary candy canes. Plus, spend $75+ and receive a free pair of cabin socks!

25. Salon Scavo – 15%-off Blow Dry
1470 Yonge St, 4 – 8pm
Come join us Thursday December 13th from 4-8pm at Salon Scavo and enjoy a blow dry at 15% off. Including all retail along with Kerastase gift boxes! Take advantage of this perfect opportunity to do some last minute holiday shopping. With the service you’ll receive a ticket to be entered in a draw to win a gift basket, along with a voucher to come back between January 10-31 and receive 20% off any salon service!

26. Olsson Optical – Holiday Window Display + Germano Gambini Trunk Show
1407 Yonge St, 4 – 8pm
The mouse returns! Enjoy Olsson Optical’s annual holiday troll window display together with their wide selection of frames. Plus – a trunk show by Germano Gambini! Receive a $50.00 discount on any complete pair of Germano Gambini prescription eyeglasses.

27. Chi Laser Spa – Sidewalk Sale
1 Balmoral Ave, #5, 4 – 8pm
Sidewalk sale, offer promo deals, giveaways, and discounted products!

28. Barnsteiner’s – Cookies + Candy Canes
1 Balmoral Ave, 4 – 8pm
Come in for cookies and candy cane giveaways!

29. Honours Driving School – $30 discount on full course packages
46 St. Clair E, #201A
Sign up for a full course this Holiday season and get $30 off! Offer is only valid if you join us for the in-class sessions held from Dec 27 – Dec 30

30. Robert Dunne Salon – 15%-off retail and $25 Blow Dry
1430 Yonge St, 4 – 8pm
Visit Robert Dunne Salon and take 15% off all retail products, and get a $25 blow dry with a junior stylist.

31. Healthy Habits Nutrition and Fitness Consulting Inc. – Breath and Meditation Lecture
85 St. Clair E, 6 – 7pm
We will be serving hot detox tonic with holiday spices and listening to ancient musical tones as we learn about the magic of breath pattern and quick mediation techniques. A sure way to help set a blissful and calm tone for the holiday season.

32. The Health Shoppe – Free Giveaways
1375A Yonge St, 4 – 8pm
Free mini gift bag to the fist 60 customers. Free stainless steel water bottle if you spend $50, while supplies last. Be entered into a draw to win 1 of 3 gift baskets.

33. New Balance – 20% Off Sale
1510 Yonge St, 4 – 8pm
Take 20% off all regular priced apparel!

34. Druxy’s Famous Deli – Sale and Giveaways
2 St. Clair E, 9am – 6pm
Free coffee/ tea with purchase of any breakfast bagel or sandwich. $2 off any lunch sandwiches

35. Rexall – Cosmetic Gift Bag Giveaway
2 St. Clair E, 7am – 10pm

36. Sean’s Quality Shoe Repair – 2 for 1 Shoeshine or Heel Repair
2 St. Clair E, 9am – 6pm
2 for 1 shoeshine OR heel Repair (ladies or mens). Offer expires Dec 31 2018. Must mention ad to receive offer.

37. Glamour Secrets – 20%-Off Coupons
2 St. Clair E, 9am – 6pm
Glamour Secrets will be giving away 20% off coupons (first come, first serve).

38. TPH – Holiday Poster Special
2 St. Clair E, 9am – 6pm
30% savings! 46lb bond – $15. 8mil Satin – $16. Mount to White Foamcore for an additional $5.00

39. CIBC – Hot Chocolate and Candy Cane Giveaway
1 St. Clair W, 4 – 8pm
Stop by CIBC for free hot chocolate and candy canes!

40. Union Social Eatery – Free Appetizer
21 St. Clair W, 4 – 8pm
For tables of 4 persons or more, receive a complimentary appetizer!

41. RBC -Take 20 and Get $20 
10 St. Clair W, 4 – 8pm
Think all banks are the same? With a quick conversation, we can show you how RBC® can help you in ways other in person banks can’t – and get $20 for your time!  We have new, innovative ways to save and make your life more convenient – including partnerships and unique banking tools. Come talk with us for award-winning advice, and experience the RBC difference for yourself.

PLUS – CONTESTS! 

Follow @YongeStClair on Instagram for 12 days of holiday giveaways from local merchants.

Pop Physique
December 10 – 12
Win a free pair of Pop Socks and 4 free classes

Midtown Gastro-Hub
December 15 – 17
Win $40 in gift certificates

Hair Artisans
December 17 – 19
Win $200 in gift cards

SEMI Sports & Exercise Medicine
December 20 – 22
Win a free 1-hour massage

The Yonge + St. Clair BIA has launched a Streetscape Master Plan process to reimagine the streetscape and determine investments in the public realm over the next 5 – 10 years.

The Streetscape Master Plan will guide the BIA’s investments in public realm improvements such as:

– Sidewalk improvements
– Paving materials
– Trees and vegetation
– Street furniture (benches, bike racks, etc)
– Lighting

The Master Plan is expected to be completed by Spring of 2019.

Over the coming months, we’ll be providing ongoing updates to the process including opportunities for the public to get involved!

October 30, 2018
Public Open House