Happy Sunday, everyone! I hope you’re enjoying your weekend. Last night we had a few friends over for an early Thanksgiving (i.e. Friendsgiving) celebration, and it was so much fun. We did it potluck-style, which is one of my favourite ways to entertain because it means getting to try so many yummy foods! Tania made chicken drumsticks and salad, and I cooked up two batches of my signature side dish – Gourmet Gruyere Cheese Grits – which is always a crowd pleaser. I also tried out a new recipe for Caramel Pecan Cheesecake. Pecan pie and cheesecake are two of my favourite desserts, so this was a match made in heaven. It was my first time making a cheesecake and it didn’t come out the prettiest (the top completely cracked – my fault for skipping the water bath) but it didn’t matter because the syrupy pecan topping covered all flaws! We also feasted on charcuterie, artichoke-spinach dip, spicy vodka pasta, roasted veggies, apple pie, apple crumble and cookies. Needless to say, I have a bit of a food hangover today, but it was worth it!
If you’ve been following me for a while, you probably know that I rarely visit the same spot twice. I love discovering new restaurants, cafés, shops and attractions – whether they’re new to the neighbourhood or simply new to me! And even though I’m always checking out new places, it seems my “to visit” list just keeps getting longer. For every place I check off my list, I somehow manage to add two or three more (go figure!) All that said, there are, in fact, some places I love returning to over and over, and the place I’m going to write about today is one of them. Even though I’ve been there so many times, I never get bored, because they’re constantly changing things up! No matter how many times I visit, there’s always something new and exciting to see at Stackt Market.
Located in downtown Toronto at Front and Bathurst, Stackt is an indoor-outdoor market built entirely out of shipping containers. Established in 2019, it’s the largest shipping container market in North America. Over the years, it’s received much praise (and several awards) for its innovative programming, community focus and creative reimagining of urban space. Stackt is free and open to the public, and you could easily spend an entire day exploring all it has to offer. So without further ado, here are my best recommendations for how to spend an amazing day at Stackt!
Admire the art. Stackt is an art lover’s paradise! The indoor North Hall Gallery is filled with inspiring and thought-provoking art from local and international artists. Outdoors, you’ll find a plethora of murals, sculptures and other installations: click here for the full list. Some of my favourite works include Bareket Kezwer’s Keep Going and the Broadbent Sisters’ Nowhere New Here. Currently, Stackt is hosting Toronto’s own edition of the Umbrella Sky Project. This whimsical work first launched in Portugal in 2011, and has had over 170 international installations since. Toronto’s version was commissioned by the David Cornfield Melanoma Fund to raise awareness about the importance of sun safety, and will be on display until October 31.
Indulge in some retail therapy. All the shops at Stackt are pop-ups, with leases ranging anywhere from one week to a year, which means vendors are constantly evolving. Here’s a current list. Some of my favourite current vendors are Cozey (true to their name, their sofas are some of the comfiest you’ll ever sit on), Two Cities (they design gorgeous, delicate jewelry) and Missy Rabbit Handcrafted (makers of eco-friendly, non-toxic soy candles.) Stackt also regularly hosts pop-up markets. The day we went, they were hosting The Mom Market, featuring handcrafted artisan goods from local makers.
Snap an Insta-worthy shot. Today’s most successful brands know there’s nothing like an Instagrammable photo op to draw people to your space, and Stackt’s vendors certainly got the memo! Floral swings, in particular, seem to be an especially popular one – we found them on the Woodford Reserve patio and at tech company Xero’s booth.
Relax and refuel. Stackt has no shortage of food and drink options. Blue Moon Brewery – which may be its only permanent resident – has been the heart of the market since it opened. The brewery is known for their light and refreshing Belgian-style wheat beers, which have a distinct and delicious taste. If bourbon’s more your thing, swing by the Woodford Reserve Patio… or perhaps the Taste France wine truck is more your style! On our visit a couple of weeks ago, Tania and I had just been for lunch somewhere else so we didn’t grab anything to eat, but trust me when I say you won’t go hungry at Stackt! From Baobird’s fried chicken and smash burgers to Kongs Hot Tacos to Sauce Bauce’s Southern-style comfort food (think chicken wings, mac ‘n cheese and tater tots) there’s something to suit every palate. And don’t worry about finding a spot to sit, because there’s tons of outdoor seating available.
Get your game face on! The West Lawn is home to life-sized versions of all your favourite games, from chess to cornhole. They even have massive Jenga sets! If you’re more athletically inclined, why not play a game of pickleball at the Fairgrounds court?
If you’d like to check out Stackt for yourself, here are a few important things to know:
- Stackt is open every Tuesday-Sunday from 9am-11pm, with stores open from 12pm-8pm and restaurants from 12pm-11pm. (The entire market closes on Mondays.)
- There is paid parking available onsite; just enter through the west gates at 3 Tecumseth St.
- While admission to Stackt is free, it’s important to know that all of its businesses are cashless. They accept all major credit and debit cards.
- Keep an eye on Stackt’s ever-evolving events calendar to plan the best time to visit! Personally, I’m hoping to check out the upcoming paint party and stand-up comedy night.
I hope you enjoyed my guide to Stackt, and that my suggestions were helpful to anyone planning a visit. If you end up checking it out, please let me know what you thought – I’d love to hear from you!
Until next time, I hope you all enjoy the first week of October. If the forecast is correct, it’s going to be a beautiful one!