Vaughan Cupcakes – Cupcake Craze

Red velvet, classic vanilla and chocolate are all flavours we’re familiar with, but when you venture into one of these boutiques, you’ll experience the craze that’s hit North America. With a history rooted in the late 18th to early 19th century, the treats aren’t new to the sweet scene, but as of late, specialty cupcake shops have been popping up across Toronto and the GTA, prompting competition that has inspired some of the most intriguing of new flavours. From clever options like s’mores and blueberry champagne, we’ve found Vaughan’s most delicious spots to satisfy your cupcake cravings.

We Bake in Heels
A need for change brought two friends together to open We Bake in Heels. With Catherine (Cat) D’Agostino developing recipes, and Adrienne D’Amico handling operations, it’s been a match made in cupcake heaven since the shop opened in 2009. “We make Read more

Advice on the House

Mortgage broker Cristina Piccirillo of Dominion Lending Centres brings hot topics home.

Q: I am thinking of purchasing a property in Florida. Is pulling equity from my home the right thing to do?

A: The answer to this relies on the circumstance. If, for example, you are thinking of purchasing as a rental income property, then yes, it could be beneficial to pull equity from your home. This will help carry the costs to maintain the property, such as mortgage, property taxes, condo fees (if purchasing a condo), property management, etc. If, on the other hand, you plan on buying a vacation home for pleasure, be mindful of the additional costs to maintain the property, which could run up to $20,000 annually. It’s important to think about what your intention is and ensure that you have the money at your disposal to Read more

Toronto Condo Law – The Condo Uprise

The condominium scene has exploded: There are roughly 525,000 units housing over one million residents in Ontario, and that number is on the rise. The concrete jungle grows thick with these popular homes, reshaping the city skyline and how urbanites experience the metropolitan milieu. This chain reaction has also sparked here in Vaughan, where new developments are breaking ground across the city.

But while projects rush upwards, and eager townies flock, complications emerge. “Right now, there are few consumer protections in place for condominiums, especially when it comes to preconstruction,” says Todd Hofley, a condo owner and president of the Liberty Village Residents’ Association. He explains how many residents are forced to move into buildings with unfinished corridors, accept substituted features of equivalent value and wait years for Read more

Expo City – The New Era of Vaughan

The memory is all-too-familiar: sitting in the backseat of the family car with your elders, listening to them reminisce about the past while proudly pointing to residential or commercial areas that were once plains of nothingness. Press the fast-forward button to the near future and you’ll soon be extending your hand towards the unprecedented growth of Vaughan: towering skyscrapers, an integrated subway network and a bubbling metropolitan centre. “The generations coming up are going to drive their kids around and say, ‘you know, when we were younger, this was just fields and no buildings,’ which is sort of the same thing my dad did with me when he drove to some of the sites he was developing,” says Peter Cortellucci, deeply involved in the development industry since he was a teenager. As vice-president of the Cortel Group, a diversified development firm building sustainable residential communities across the GTA, Cortellucci, 25, is palpably young, but somehow formulates words of Read more

Spaces in High Places

Tao Condos
Feng shui master Paul Ng creates a balanced and harmonious space in this seven-floor building. The Richmond Hill sanctuary is complete with a yoga studio and airy design, lifting stress away from residents every time they walk in. www.signaturecommunities.ca

King Oaks
A luxury home in a humble community is the ideal place for a family. King Oaks estates are spacious four-to-five bedroom homes conveniently surrounded by public and private schools, recreational parks and the Go train station. www.aspenridgehomes.com

Vaughan Valley
Located west of Weston Road in Woodbridge, Vaughan Valley consists of townhomes and detached estates from 2,000 to 5,000 Read more

Salad Recipe – Celebration of Tomatoes

One of summer’s greatest pleasures, and something we grow so well in Ontario (and in our backyards), is fresh tomatoes. Here’s a recipe for Jamie Kennedy’s delicious tomato salad.

Serves Six

For the Dressing:
2 egg yolks
1 tbsp/15 ml fresh lemon juice
1 tsp/5 ml white wine vinegar
1 tsp/5 ml Dijon mustard
2 tbsp/30 ml fresh basil leaves
5 tbsp/75 ml sunflower oil
2 tbsp/30 ml 35% whipping cream
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste Read more

Edible Arrangements

According to Canada’s Food Guide, women between the ages of 19 to 50 should be eating seven to eight servings of fruits and vegetables a day, while men should be consuming between eight and 10. By choosing the right foods, people can enjoy increased energy levels, look more vibrant, and feel better overall. But with our busy schedules, it’s often hard to make healthy choices. That’s where Edible To Go comes in.

Expanding on its existing niche of deluxe fruit arrangements, Edible Arrangements is implementing a new product line that will enrich your everyday meal choices. Offering fresh fruit smoothies, juices, parfaits and salads, the Vaughan location of Edible Arrangements is the first and only store in the GTA to offer these delicious and healthy treats. With bikini-body season upon us, Edible To Go couldn’t have come at a better time. “This is a healthy twist to the products that we
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Vaughan Animal Shelter – Paw Print on Your Heart

Since it opened its doors last year, the Vaughan Animal Shelter has provided a safe haven for homeless dogs and cats. They have been given a place to run, play and meet their human soul mates. “When we’ve done everything possible to raise and protect these animals and then they get into a good home, that’s a success story,” says Tony Thompson, director of enforcement at City of Vaughan. With a gymnasium where animals can exercise and many dedicated volunteers, the shelter is taking good care of your next family pet.
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“Vaughan’s Best Espresso Bar” Contest Winners

With rich flavour that lingers on your taste buds, espresso is a little cup of heaven. After collecting votes from our loyal readers, we found three well-deserving winners in Vaughan’s Best Espresso Bar Contest! Here are three cafés that understand the fine art of making this popular Italian beverage. Check them out next time you want to relax with a delicious coffee and City Life, your favourite magazine!

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The Cookie Messenger

There’s nothing quite like a homemade cookie – each soft bite filling you with scrumptious and nostalgic pleasures. The Cookie Messenger holds these age-old sentimentalities close to the heart with each stunning and delicious cookie bouquet it creates.

“It’s a feast for the eyes, as well as the palate,” says Daniela Nicosia, co-owner of The Cookie Messenger, Canada’s only cookie bouquet company. Along with her partner, Gioia Grandinetti, the pair creates colourful arrangements of edible art that are ideal for any occasion. For spring celebrations, a pastel floral bouquet will break the mould of conventional sweets, and with Mother’s Day around the bend, a personalized family bouquet with your mother’s photo as the centrepiece is a unique and considerate way of expressing appreciation.
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