🐀 What’s causing the rat surge?

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Good afternoon — One of Toronto’s pizzerias just cracked the global top 100, Toronto is at war with rats, a Michelin-loved Vietnamese spot opened on Ossington, and a Blue Jay wants to buy a flamethrower.

Also: rabies scare at the Harbourfront (yes, it involves a bat) and concert chaos at the new Rogers Stadium.

Let’s get into it.

Summerlicious is back! Here’s your guide.

THE DIGEST

⭐️ Michelin Star: The Lunch Lady, famous from Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations, just opened on Ossington. Despite the heartbreaking loss of its founder Nguyễn Thị Thanh days before launch, the restaurant is already winning great reviews for its comforting Vietnamese street food.

🏟️ Rogers Stadium Chaos: After Toronto’s new 50,000-seat Rogers Stadium hosted its first concert, fans described the post-show exit as a “nightmare,” with two-hour delays, crowd surges, and limited transit access. Live Nation says improvements are underway.

🍕 Pizza Glory: Pizzeria Badiali just landed at #51 on the Best Pizza Awards 2025 list, cementing its spot among the world’s top pizzerias — and it's one of only two Canadian spots to make the cut.

🍔 Summerlicious Returns: Toronto’s tastiest tradition is back — Summerlicious kicks off Friday with over 220 local spots offering 3-course prix fixe menus starting at $20. Running until July 20, it’s your chance to try top eats without blowing your budget.

💰 $615 Beach Fine: A Toronto woman says she was blindsided by a $615 fine after bringing her dog to Scarborough Bluffs beach — despite seeing others with pets and minimal signage. The city says dogs are banned from beaches during summer months to protect public safety and wildlife.

☀️ Toronto Scorcher: The first weekend of July is shaping up to be a scorcher, with Sunday’s humidex expected to hit 38°C. After a midweek dip, temps will climb again — so stock up on sunscreen and stay cool.

🔥 Blue Jays Pitcher Wants a Flamethrower: Toronto Blue Jays ace Kevin Gausman isn’t speaking in metaphors — he literally wants to buy a flamethrower. The MLB star took to X to crowdsource leads. Yes, owning one in Canada is technically legal…

MORE YOU NEED TO KNOW

🐀 War on Rats: A new “rat response plan” aims to tackle the city’s growing rodent infestation, fuelled by booming construction. The plan includes mandatory pre-dig trapping, a rat enforcement team, and blitz inspections.

🏗️ Super Tall: One Bloor West has officially become Canada’s tallest building and first “supertall,” surpassing 300 metres, a historic milestone in Canadian architecture.

🛗 Heatwave Elevator Chaos: Nearly 100 people were rescued from stuck elevators during Toronto’s recent heatwave, as high humidity and power disruptions pushed aging systems to the limit. In one North York building, both elevators failed — renewing calls for tougher elevator regulations.

🦇 Harbourfront Rabies Alert: Toronto Public Health is urgently searching for a man who handled a bat showing rabies symptoms near Harbour Street Wednesday morning. Officials warn the virus is nearly always fatal if untreated and urge the man—or anyone who knows him—to come forward immediately.

🤑 Thieves Issue Refunds: A Beaches restaurant owner was stunned after a customer used their payment terminal to quietly issue himself a $2,000 refund. The scam, which also hit a nearby tea shop for $4,900, has exposed critical vulnerabilities in point-of-sale machines.

TORONTO THEN AND NOW:
The Elliot House Hotel

Once standing proudly at the corner of Shuter and Church Streets, the Elliott House—later known as the Carson Hotel—was a fixture of Toronto’s Garden District. Destroyed by fire in 1961, the site sat as a parking lot for decades before being redeveloped. Today, a modern mixed-use building occupies the corner, erasing the last physical trace of a hotel that once welcomed travellers over a century ago.

THINGS TO DO IN TORONTO: THE ‘INSIDER’ SCOOP

Hidden Toronto City Tour - Get ready to laugh, gasp, and shake your head on the Hidden Toronto City Tour, a quirky and entertaining 90-minute walking tour by The Haunted Walk, where storytelling guides reveal the city's most outrageous secrets—from movie mistakes to Toronto’s bizarre clown riot.
Every Wednesday to Sunday | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Start Location: Outside the Hockey Hall of Fame

Editor’s Pick! Creating Toronto Walking Tour - Step back in time on the Creating Toronto Walking Tour, a guided stroll through the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood that uncovers how the remnants of Old Town York helped shape today’s dynamic city—led by seasoned historian and interpreter Mitchell Daniels.
July 10 | 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM (arrive early for check-in)
Start & End Location: South end of Market Lane Park, 149 King St E

Salsa on St. Clair Street Festival - Spice up your summer at Salsa on St. Clair, Canada’s largest Latin-themed street festival—featuring live music, sizzling dance performances, cultural vendors, and nonstop salsa energy from Winona to Christie.
July 6 | 12:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Location: St. Clair Ave W (between Winona Dr & Christie St)

Eclairs, Choux Pastry and Cream Puff Masterclass - Master the art of French pastry at Le Dolci’s Eclairs, Choux Pastry & Cream Puff Masterclass, a hands-on workshop where you'll learn to pipe, bake, fill, and glaze picture-perfect éclairs, profiteroles, and more—perfect for passionate home bakers and dessert lovers alike.
July 12 | 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
July 27 | 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Location: Le Dolci Culinary Classroom, 12 Sousa Mendes St

July Home Jays Games (schedule):
⚾️ Jays vs. Angels - July 4 - 6
⚾️ Jays vs. Giants - July 18 - 20
⚾️ Jays vs. Yankees - July 21 - July 23

RECOS: Things you will love
 
🥤 Drinks: Yes, This Is That Cup
👀 Security: This Was Watching My House
☕️ Coffee: Grinding Beans at Home?
🎁 Gifts: Capture Real-Life Memories
📈 Productivity: The Tiny Habit Trick
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VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Toronto’s Strangest Contest — A Fortune on the Line

Here is the link: Click here to watch

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