Tim Hortons is going to sell what?

Good afternoon — Nuit Blanche returns for an all-nighter, Toronto has one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world (can you guess where?), people are criticizing a non-stop train to Montreal, and Tim Hortons is launching a fashion brand at the Eaton Centre.

Meanwhile, this Toronto restaurant is giving away 2,000 dumplings. We have all the details.

Let’s get into it.

THE DIGEST: 7 Handpicked Stories

🏆 Davenport makes global list: Toronto’s Davenport neighbourhood has been named one of the coolest in the world by Time Out, ranking 26th. Once an industrial hub, Davenport has transformed into a creative hotspot lined with bakeries, cultural warehouse spaces, patios, and buzz along Geary Avenue.

🎭 Art all-nighter: Nuit Blanche returns Oct. 4 from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., filling Toronto with free installations across downtown, Etobicoke and North York. Highlights include glowing traffic-light art at The Bentway, interactive Great Lakes life at the Design Exchange, a 12-hour retro dancefloor on Dundas, and a karaoke-style Tower of Babel in Huron Square. Theme of 2025: “Translating the City.”

☕️ Tims is selling what?: Tim Hortons is opening its first-ever merch store inside Toronto’s Eaton Centre this November. The seasonal “Tim Shop” will run through December, offering apparel, drinkware, holiday exclusives, and nostalgic designs.

🚉 Non-stop train backlash: Via Rail has launched a 3-month pilot of direct Toronto–Montreal trains, shaving 30–40 minutes off travel time by skipping stops. But communities like Kingston — losing 5 daily stops — are frustrated, with Mayor Bryan Paterson warning it “moves in the wrong direction” by cutting service for the 1M people along the route.

🏒 Nylander on YouTube: Leafs star William Nylander just launched his own channel, giving fans a peek into life off the ice. His debut video, Welcome to my YouTube!, features family time, Toronto dinners, and travel clips — already racking up 44K views and 24K subscribers. Nylander says it’s all about sharing “fun stuff” and showing his personality beyond the rink.

🚔 E-bike crackdown: Toronto police handed out 179 tickets to e-bike, e-scooter and other micromobility riders during a three-week enforcement push that wrapped Sept. 13. The blitz reminds riders not to speed, ride on sidewalks or go the wrong way in bike lanes. Police also issued more than 3,300 tickets near schools for speeding and distracted driving.

🚇 Step inside 1950s TTC: Toronto’s original G series subway cars, famous for their red exteriors, debuted in 1954 and ran until 1990. While almost all were scrapped, two have been preserved at the Halton County Radial Railway in Milton, where you can still board them today — complete with vintage ads and decor.

MORE YOU NEED TO KNOW

📸 Ford to ban speed cameras: Ontario will introduce legislation next month to eliminate all municipal speed cameras, calling them a “cash grab.” The ban would remove 700+ cameras in 40 cities, replacing them with flashing-light signs and road redesigns like speed bumps and roundabouts.

🥟 2,000 free dumplings: Dim Sum King is cooking up a massive giveaway: 2,000 dumplings handed out to the public. The one-day promotion is meant to celebrate the spot’s milestone and attract food lovers with a free taste of their signature dish. Hungry locals should arrive early — once they’re gone, they’re gone.

📚 Canada’s Largest book festival: The Word on the Street festival returns Sept. 27–28 at David Pecaut Square, bringing Canada’s largest celebration of books and magazines back for its 36th year. Expect author readings, signings, workshops, and a massive marketplace. The free event draws 200,000+ visitors annually, making it a must-attend for Toronto book lovers.

LOST TORONTO:
Yorkville Town Hall (Demolished)

Yorkville Town Hall was built in 1859–60 by William Hay on the west side of Yonge Street, north of Bloor, as the municipal centre for the Village of Yorkville. After Yorkville was annexed by Toronto in 1883, the building was renamed St. Paul’s Hall and repurposed as a library, community centre, and club space.

On November 12, 1941, a fire gutted the hall; although parts of the exterior walls remained, the structure was demolished shortly afterward. Today the site is occupied by a condominium, and the Yorkville Town Hall’s carved coat of arms survives mounted on the nearby Fire Station 312.

THINGS TO DO IN TORONTO: THE ‘INSIDER’ SCOOP

Editor’s Pick! Nuit Blanche - Toronto’s biggest art event returns, Nuit Blanche 2025 transforms the city into an overnight contemporary art playground. From 7 PM to 7 AM, experience large-scale installations, live performances, and interactive exhibits that explore this year’s theme: Translating the City.
October 4 – 5 | 7:00 PM – 7:00 AM
Location: Various venues across Toronto

TORONTO COIN EXPO Canada's Coin Show and Auction - The Toronto Coin Expo, Canada’s premier coin and banknote show, returns with over 50 internationally renowned dealers from across North America and beyond. Whether you're looking to buy, sell, or appraise rare coins, banknotes, tokens, medals, or precious metals, this is the ultimate destination for collectors and enthusiasts alike.
October 3 – 4 | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street

University College Book Sale - The beloved University College Book Sale returns this fall, offering thousands of donated books at unbeatable prices. Browse everything from fiction and sci-fi to rare volumes and academic gems. This year’s sale features a special railway collection with books on trains, trolleys, and trams from around the world.
September 25 – 28 | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Location: University College, University of Toronto

Cocktail Night in the Grange House - Unwind in style at Cocktail Night in the Grange House, a refined evening experience hosted by the AGO. Every Wednesday and Friday from September 10 to October 31, sip on the signature AGO 125 cocktail, enjoy a curated selection of small bites, and take in the ambiance of the Norma Ridley Members’ Lounge—all inside the historic Grange House.
Wednesdays & Fridays September 10 – October 31 | 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: Art Gallery of Ontario, 317 Dundas St. W

#ExperienceTO: Stock Yards Historical Tour - Step into the gritty, fascinating history of Toronto’s meatpacking empire on this walking tour through the Junction’s former industrial heartland. Explore the Ontario Stockyards site and discover how it grew from a small cattle dealer alliance in 1902 into the largest livestock market in Canada.
October 4 | 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Location: Maple Claire Park

Canada's Wonderland Halloween Haunt 2025 - Canada’s Wonderland transforms into a scream-filled fright fest with the return of Halloween Haunt 2025. From haunted mazes and scare zones to bone-chilling live shows and creepy characters lurking around every corner, this after-dark experience is the ultimate way to celebrate spooky season.
September 26 – November 1 | 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM (select nights)
Location: Canada’s Wonderland

August & September Home Jays Games (schedule):
⚾️ Jays vs. Rays | September 26 - 28
Get your Jays gear here!

RECOS: Things you will love for under $40
 
🍁 Fall: These fall candles are a must
🧑‍🍳 Cooking: The ONE dutch oven you need.
🍸 Drinks: The weird ice trend that wows.
🦝 Toronto: The one book on Toronto history 
🪞 Decor: The hidden life of trees.
InsiderToronto might collect an affiliate fee on these items

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Toronto’s Old City Hall is hiding secrets in plain sight. Secrets of sweet revenge.

Here is the link: Click here to watch

LOVE OUR CONTENT? HELP US MAKE MORE.

If you enjoy the newsletter and want to support what we do, consider dropping a little something in our tip jar.

Every bit helps us keep highlighting the community that we love: 

Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here!