Nightlife in Vaughan

How does an old glass factory become a must-book venue in Toronto Life's annual wedding guide? 99 Sudbury’s owners would say, give it a makeover. They swapped the factory’s noisy machines for elegant furnishings, repurposed three sections of the building, and turned the straggling ghosts into coat checkers. The three sections they repurposed include a baroque lounge area, an art gallery with 17-foot ceilings, and a plush loft space aptly named the Glass Factory.

With the leftover space, they added a health-and-wellness centre and a 30,000-square-foot fitness club that has three weight rooms, two exercise studios, and a spinning loft. It even has a cross-training room with monster-truck tires, fire-truck hoses, kettlebells, punching bags, and TRX-suspension-training gear. The idea behind all of these additions was to create a hip atmosphere where people could socialize and have fun while statistically increasing their ability to lift up their cars when they drop keys under them. The effort helped 99 Sudbury catch the eye of various press outlets, and the Food Network even held its 10th anniversary at the spot.

Since its Toronto location opened in 1976, Yuk Yuk's has been a collective launching pad for such comedy heavyweights as Jim Carrey, Rick Moranis, and Russell Peters. All of Yuk Yuk's laugh-establishments invite seasoned jokesters and up-and-coming comedians to their stages every weekend for up to three days of high hilarity and three nights of cozy lodging atop their cocktail tables. Many Yuk Yuk's locations offer drinks, dinner, or bar fare during the show, but those interested in dining should contact their club of choice to find out about reservations.

Lists of seasonally inspired cheeses, meats, and garnishes are printed in chalk on a board titled "Picnic Platters," tempting guests to design their own charcuterie spreads or delegate control to a knowledgeable staff member. PicNic Wine Bar has something for everyone, earning it a spot on Vacay's 2012 list of Canada's top 50 restaurants. Flare magazine also deemed the eatery a Toronto hot spot, saying, "the combinations are endless."

PicNic's widespread appeal is due to more than just their picnic platters. Guests can select from more than 30 wines by the glass, as well as from a handful of bottled and draught beers. Chefs also craft more elaborate small and large plates of gorgonzola-stuffed dates and mini foie gras sliders, served at long, communal tables that add sophistication to picnic-style dining.

While the diners of Krazy Cactus Restaurant & Sports Bar watch sports or play XBox 360 games on one of 13 plasma TVs, they keep coming back to sample the restaurant’s 75 wing flavours. Ranging from mild to extra-hot, the sauces include traditional barbecue and jerk selections to more distinctive options such as dill, gravy and cheese, or pineapple mango curry. To complement these finger foods, chefs mould dough into pizza crusts and fire-grill chicken souvlaki until it gains the charred texture needed to complement lemony flavours or look at home on a fireman’s nightstand. On Friday nights, the staff turns down the volume of the game to accommodate the live bands that serenade guests until the bar closes.

Samovar Room melds vodka and voluptuousness to give patrons an upscale, Russian-influenced night on the town. Ignite imbibing with an item from Samovar Room's drink menu, such as a vodka-infused lychee martini ($9) or the Sparkling Pear ($11), made from pear vodka and sparkling pear juice. For guests seeking further forays into distilled derring-do, Samovar Room offers vodka tastings, with three standard vodkas ($32) or three premium vodkas ($42) available. Both options are served with Russian bread and pickles as well as smoked salmon. Samovar Room's edibles extend beyond vodka-accompanying sidekicks, however, with a full dinner menu using local and seasonal ingredients. Split steamed mussels ($12) with the doctor to your Zhivago, or opt for a roasted boneless chicken ($17) with vegetables and fries. Caviar is also available (prices vary).