To start, head over to 121 Ossington for an Open House on Sunday, February 12th from noon until 3 pm.  Guests will be able to enjoy tastings of their newest line of Gluten Free products, new line of artisan pastas, and some new sauces, all while relaxing with a complimentary cappuccino.  For a romantic Valentine’s Day, they’re selling a “Dinner for Two” gift basket which will be a complete meal with a selection of condiments, oils, bruschetta, fresh bread, fresh pasta (Gluten Free, Traditional Artisan, or their own signature line of high protein pastas) and sauces.  Plus, there’s going to be a draw for two $25 gift certificates.

More Than Pasta is celebrating a year in their Ossington location. To celebrate, they are offering any Ossington Village readers 10% off purchase as long as you use the magic words “I love More Than Pasta.”

Valentine’s is just over a week away! We’ll be posting more suggestions on where and how to spend the day soon.

According to a posted sign written to the neighbours, Hawker Bar will be a full-service restaurant serving lunch and dinner. The menu will be an “exciting mix of Malaysian, Chinese and Indian flavours… inspired by the local street food… of… Singapore”.  Opening date TBD.

The first round of news focuses on bars and restaurants, reflecting where Torontonians spend their time in the winter.

We may have been the first to note the opening of restaurant Yours Truly, but we are not the last. Many are lauding the food and the men behind it, and liking the bar scene – check it out yourself at 229 Ossington.

Singer Emily Haines listed The Dakota Tavern as her favorite go-to for live music in Toronto.

Blogto has been profiling bartenders, starting in our area with The Garrison and The Ossington.

We were there when they were, and now you can read and watch a behind-the-scenes look at new GlobalTV series Bomb Girls when they were on location at The Dakota Tavern last fall.

Soon-to-open new restaurant The Grove, next to Churchill on Dundas at Lakeview, is already getting preview attention for its English menu.

The local art scene is also getting some coverage, starting with a story about art which mentions some street art on Queen near Ossington. It’s a cool picture – definitely want to check it out!

Liss Platt’s exhibit at MKG127 just opened and received a nice write-up for her photography in constant.

Last week, Toronto Life recommended Pinkalicious, the children-targeted musical which has been running every Sunday at Lower Ossington Theatre.

 Did we miss any news about the neighborhood? Let us know in the comments.

More than Pasta opened it’s doors officially at 121 Ossington in March 2011, but we got an advance look at the delicious pastas, sauces and prepared foods they make in-house.

Fishbar opened in May, serving happy hour and dinner at 217 Ossington Ave, and since then they’ve added a lunch menu for all the fish lovers around. Also in May, the Lakeview Storehouse opened, selling produce and groceries, along with poutine, adjacent to the Lakeview Restaurant on Dundas.

Just in time for summer, Eagle’s Nest Espresso and Ice Cream opened at 1199 Dundas Street West.

November was a busy month for openings: we noted the return of Lennox Contemporary, now at 44 Ossington, and the opening of The Dog Bowl at 984 Dundas West. Also new is G Gallery in the back at 134 Ossington.

In December we welcomed two of the newest businesses on the street: Yours Truly is now open 6 nights a week (closed Tuesday) for dinner at 229 Ossington, and Don’t Tell Mama is a gallery and art space.

There are also a lot of places we’ve been talking about opening but are still waiting for - like Amaya, The Saint and Bellwoods Brewery. More to look forward to in the new year!

The year in festivals kicked off in January with a dance festival called Connect TO at Lower Ossington Theatre, which is a prime festival location.

The music festival season began with the Canadian Music Festival in March. Musicians and bands performed at local venues including The Painted Lady, The Garrison and The Dakota Tavern.  Juno Fest also hit Toronto, and Ossington, in March, with Canadian musicians featured at The Garrison and The Dakota Tavern.

The music came back with the return of NXNE in June, and we saw some amazing shows right here in Ossington Village. This July, the Painted Lady created a new festival to coincide with the Toronto Jazz and Fringe Festivals. Maybe next year, we’ll see more venues join the fun.

The Contact Photography Festival covered art galleries for the entire month of May, and didn’t miss Ossington, with exhibits at The Painted Lady, Angell Gallery, Brockton General and Levack Block.

Jane’s Walks, which take place all over the globe on a May weekend, were also led in our neighborhood. Maybe next year you’ll see an Ossington Village Jane’s Walk instead of “the Hipster’s Guide to Ossington!”

Summerworks returned in August, bringing music and theatre to Lower Ossington Theatre and other local venues. The hugely popular Havana Cultura returned for it’s second year in August, with Cuban music, art and food on offer at almost every spot on the street. Who can forget the cigar roller surrounded by scantily clad women? Another returning event was Queen West Music Fest, which celebrated it’s third year this summer in Trinity Bellwoods Park.

Some was sipped, and some was likely chugged, but either way, Toronto Beer Week also returned to Ossington in 2011, with tastings and pairings at local restaurants and bars. Ossington also saw the return of TO Sketch Fest, with lots of comedic troupes taking to the stage at LOT this past November.

With the plethora of restaurants in our neighborhood, you can buy a gift card to suit anyone’s tastes. All you have to do is stop by one of these establishments one night this week and buy a gift certificate, put it in a card, and you’re done. Maybe if you’re lucky, the recipient will take you for a meal! Bon appetit!

The gift: Restaurant gift certificate

Where to get it: Fishbar for seafood lovers, Boehmer for the traditional, Union for the meat eater, Delux for Cuban, Foxley for Asian tapas, Salt for Portuguese tapas, Pizza Libretto and Enoteca Sociale for Italian. If you want to introduce them to somewhere they haven’t tried, Yours Truly just opened, and don’t forget Beau Lieu Bistro for the Francophile.  The list goes on and on.

Price range: Up to you

Who would like it: People who like to eat out. The range of choices in our neighborhood make it easy to please the people on your list.

The gift: Theatre tickets. With a focus on delivering the arts to the community, LOT offers entertainment throughout the year. Seats are on sale in 2012 for Avenue Q for the adults, or, for the little ones, Pinkalicious.

Where to get it: Lower Ossington Theatre, 100 A Ossington Avenue

Price range: $30 – $60

Who would like it: People who like the theatre, or just a nice night out. Young kids who would be enchanted by a Sunday matinee (and their parents, who would love it if you’d take them off their hands for an afternoon)!

Gabriella passed away on Tuesday, December 13. She was diagnosed with advanced, non-small cell lung cancer in 2006, but continued to run marathons and set up businesses while fighting the disease.

Since opening More than Pasta last March, Gabriella embraced our community, throwing open houses and donating to local schools and charities. She quickly became a respected presence, and we will notice her loss.

A memorial service will be held at St. Alphonsus Church, 540 St Claire Avenue West, on Saturday, December 17th at 11:30am.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you generously support Lung Cancer Canada
1896-A, Avenue Road, Toronto ON, Canada M5M 3Z8

We took some photos of the menu for your reference. You can also stop in and taste for yourselves! Let us know if you do go: we have some holiday parties this weekend, so won’t be able to try right away.

The gift: A bouquet of flowers

Where to get it: Jaiden’s Petals, 130 Ossington

Price range: Varies. Go in, tell Dani your budget, and she’ll make you something to fit!

Who would like it: Your mom, wife, sister, girlfriend. Flowers also make a great hostess gift, and we all have parties to attend this time of year.