Blog

New in the Neighbourhood: Lunaris Vision

Riverside, it’s time for a clearer perspective. Located at 779 Queen St E in Toronto’s Riverside neighbourhood, Lunaris Vision is championing the importance of healthy vision while bringing chic eyewear to the East End.

Inspired by her grandfather’s humble beginnings as an entrepreneur, Dr. Monica Udaykumar dreamed of having her own independent practice — Lunaris Vision, which officially opened its doors just this month, is a realization of that dream.

“I want the community to know that Lunaris Vision is dedicated to helping people with their eye health. Healthcare can sometimes feel scary so I want to provide people with a safe and friendly environment,” says Dr. Monica. 

Lunaris Vision puts an emphasis on patient education and empowering people to take care of their eyes. The clinic specializes in dry eye treatment, using state-of-the-art technology such as intense pulsed light (IPL) and radiofrequency (RF) therapy. 

Aside from eye care services, Lunaris Vision also carries a curated selection of eyewear. From classic specs to funky frames, try on styles from independent brands like Masunaga, Eyevan, Anne & Valentin, Orgreen, just to name a few.

“Riverside is a unique neighbourhood. It feels homey here and I feel a sense of community. This is the type of neighbourhood where I would like to put down roots and stay a long time,” says Dr. Monica. Welcome to the Riverside family, Lunaris Vision!

You can find more information about Lunaris Vision’s services and how to book an appointment here. Follow @lunarisvision on Instagram for updates!

Don’t forget to follow @riverside_bia on Instagram and check the Riverside Blog regularly so you’re always updated on new businesses in the neighbourhood!

Photo credits: Riverside BIA

Queen Street East Costume Parade & Candy Crawl: All You Need To Know

After a long hiatus, the Queen Street East Costume Parade & Candy Crawl is back!

Happening as part of the 2026 Riverside Halloween Fest on Sunday, October 25th, the Queen Street East Candy Crawl (3-4pm) is a fun guided parade that will take costumed participants along Queen St E sidewalks, dropping by participating businesses to grab some free Halloween candy.

No tricks here, just treats! Here’s everything you need to know about the much awaited return of the Queen Street East Costume Parade & Candy Crawl:

How It Works

In their Halloween costumes, participants will be visiting select Riverside businesses along Queen St E to get free Halloween treats from our lovely BIA members.

Pre-registration for a free ticket via Eventbrite is required. After clicking on “Reserve a spot”, select “3-4pm Queen St E Candy Crawl & Costume Parade”, finish the checkout process and you’re all set! 

Sign up for the Queen Street East Costume Parade & Candy Crawl HERE.

Where To Meet

Participants of the Queen Street East Candy Crawl will get together at 2:45pm at Joel Weeks Park’s iconic squirrel sculpture (10 Thompson St). Wem you arrive, just approach a Riverside BIA team member/event volunteer to be checked in.

What To Expect

The Queen Street East Costume Parade & Candy Crawl will start at 3pm and take about an hour. The final stop will be at Glass House Garden Centre and Cafe (771 Queen St E), where the program will culminate with Spooky Story Time hosted by the Queen/Saulter Library Branch.

We highly encourage bringing your own bag for the Queen Street East Candy Crawl OR grab a Halloween bucket from us, courtesy of Riverside’s local Tim Hortons. Limited quantities!

Also, we will be doing a quick raffle draw. There will be (3) winners of local gift cards so be sure to stay ‘til the end!

Important reminder: Be sure to check in at the meeting point so you are entered into the raffle.

This year’s Riverside Halloween Fest has quite the line-up of free activities and programming. Read the blog post linked below for a preview:

BLOG: Riverside Halloween Fest is back October 25th! What’s Happening This Year?

Don’t forget to follow @riverside_bia on Instagram and check the Riverside Blog regularly for updates on the Riverside Halloween Fest and our other upcoming events! 

In the meantime, get your FREE tickets to the Riverside Halloween Fest by clicking on the RSVP button below!

This programming is made possible thanks to funding support from the Transit Construction Mitigation Fund of the City of Toronto and Fed Dev Ontario. This programming is also funded and coordinated by the Riverside BIA.

Riverside BIA Blog is among Best Toronto Blogs to Follow in 2026

This year, the Riverside BIA Blog is #30 in FeedSpot’s 45 Best Toronto Blogs to Follow in 2026!

This prestigious list includes Toronto Star, Toronto Life, Narcity Toronto, Curiocity Toronto, Daily Hive Toronto, among other amazing local blogs and media outlets. 

We are in great company, to say the least!

Over the years, the Riverside BIA Blog has been an outlet for us to highlight and share Toronto’s Riverside neighbourhood; the local businesses, community events, our milestones. 

Catch our Riverside BIA Community Pop-up every Wednesday this October & November 4th at 1pm by the LOCAL sign (771 Queen St E)!

We would like to take this chance to thank all of you who take the time to read the Riverside BIA Blog and discovering what our humble neighbourhood has to offer.

We look forward to many more years of showcasing Riverside through this wonderful platform. Once again, thank you to FeedSpot for the recognition!

You know the drill: follow @riverside_bia on Instagram and check the Riverside Blog regularly so you’re always updated on what’s new and happening in Riverside!

FeedSpot is an RSS Reader that lets you subscribe to blogs, news sites, and any website you want to keep up with.

Riverside Halloween Dog Costume Contest: Are you ready to paw-ty?!

Bring your pups and their spookiest costumes to Riverside on Sunday, October 25th for the Riverside Dog Costume Party, taking place at Joel Weeks Park (10 Thompson St) from 12-2pm!

Register your dog for the Dog Costume Party (see below), or just come and watch the fun!

Happening as part of the annual Riverside Halloween Fest, the Dog Costume Party is a Riverside Halloween tradition where dogs get to show off their adorable costumes and have fun!

Who’s up for the barkin’ good time in Toronto’s Riverside neighbourhood? Here’s everything you need to know about the Dog Costume Party:

Registration Details

To join the Dog Costume Party, registration is required prior to the event or on site by noon. All dogs are welcome to participate in the parade, however, only the top 3 finalists will be voted on by our judging panel. Register your dog for the Dog Costume Party HERE.

Event Program

See schedule for the Dog Costume Party below. Please be guided accordingly:

12pm – Check-in begins for registrants

1pm – Start of costume contest and dog parade

2pm – Finalists and winners are announced; group photo and acknowledgements

Awards & Prizes

There will be two awards to be given away for the Dog Costume Party:

  • Best Costume – show us why your pup is the top dog
  • Best Pair – dog + human(s) costumes

Winners will win doggy prize packs from local businesses — and barking rights! 

Free Dog Treats 

We’ll be giving away free treats to all the doggos. Best to arrive early as they come in limited quantities.

Free Photo Booth

Have a photo taken by Pawelec Photo and immortalize your 2026 Riverside Halloween Fest experience with your dog at our free photo booth.

Robot Dog Activation

If you love robotics, check out the Robot Dog demo (inside the basketball courts) and see it do fun tricks!

With a stacked agenda, this year’s Riverside Halloween Fest is shaping up to be quite the event. For a preview of all the exciting activities, read the blog post linked below!

BLOG: Riverside Halloween Fest is back October 25th! What’s Happening This Year?

Don’t forget to follow @riverside_bia on Instagram and check the Riverside Blog regularly so you don’t miss updates on our events! 

In the meantime, get your FREE tickets to the 2026 Riverside Halloween Fest by clicking on the RSVP button below!

This programming is made possible thanks to funding support from the Transit Construction Mitigation Fund of the City of Toronto and Fed Dev Ontario. This programming is also funded and coordinated by the Riverside BIA.

Celebrate Thanksgiving with These Businesses in Riverside

Thanksgiving is just around the corner! Whether you’re in the middle of assembling a feast or stumped on what to do for the holiday, don’t worry, these businesses have got you covered. Here’s what’s in store for you in Toronto’s Riverside neighourhood this Thanksgiving:

Photo credit: Butchers of Distinction

Butchers of Distinction (@butchersofdistinction)

Address: 738 Queen St E

Riverside’s local butcher comes out with a Thanksgiving menu every year. Aside from the staples such as Fresh Turkey and Boneless/Bone-in Ham, Butchers of Distinction’s Boneless Pork Swirl Roast with Cranberry Stuffing and Chef-Style Prime Rib Roast also make excellent centrepieces for a Thanksgiving spread.

Photo credit: Bonjour Brioche

Bonjour Brioche (@bonjour_brioche)

Address: 812 Queen St E

A Thanksgiving dinner wouldn’t be complete without a quintessential pumpkin pie. You can’t go wrong with Bonjour Brioche’s classic take on this beloved autumnal delicacy. Both whole pies and tartlets (if you prefer smaller portions) are available for pre-order. You can also swing by the cafe for brunch and get yourself a slice for dessert!

Photo credit: White Lily Diner

White Lily Diner (@whitelilydiner)

Address: 678 Queen St E

A Thanksgiving brunch, perhaps? White Lily Diner’s highly popular Hot Turkey consists of stuffing French toast, smoked turkey, gravy, chutney and maple butter — it’s Thanksgiving on a plate. The best part is that it’s a permanent item on the menu so you can have it year-round! Be sure to get on the online waitlist.

Photo credit: Blackbird Baking Co.

Blackbird Baking Co. (@bbirdco)

Address: 635 Queen St E Unit 101

If you’re looking for an alternative to pumpkin pie, try Blackbird’s Sticky Toffee Pudding. Rich sponge cake is sweetened with molasses, muscovado sugar and pureed dates, topped with apple slices, and then soaked with salted whiskey caramel sauce. For a more indulgent experience, top it off with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Photo credit: Dark Horse Espresso Bar

Dark Horse Espresso Bar (@darkhorsecafe)

Address: 630 Queen St E

Dark Horse’s is bringing back a crowd favourite for the holiday: the chicken sandwich with a Thanksgiving twist! It’s stuffed with chicken, roasted sweet potato, goat cheese, cranberry preserve and baby spinach. Pair it with one of the seasonal drinks, the Tiramuccino and Pumpkin Honeycomb Matcha.

Photo credit: The Broadview Hotel

The Broadview Hotel (@broadviewhotel)

Address: 106 Broadview Ave

Switch it up, skip the dinner at home and go on a Thanksgiving staycation instead! Check in this Saturday or Sunday at The Broadview Hotel and get 50% off Monday night. This Riverside institution is the perfect home base for exploring the East End. More details on the Thanksgiving promo HERE.

Follow @riverside_bia on Instagram and check out the Riverside Blog so you’re always updated on promos and specials from the amazing local businesses in Toronto’s Riverside neighbourhood!