There was a point in time, not too long ago, when many of us were itching to escape the city. Yes, we were looking for “more space” both inside and outdoors, but we also felt like the Toronto we once knew had changed so much, that we didn’t feel the same sort of desire to be there. The restaurants we frequented with friends had closed, we could no longer browse the offerings of our favourite stores, and all of our go-to weekend destinations just ceased to exist. The Toronto we all fell in love with, the one we poured our time into day in and day out, had changed in an instant and we were all left wondering when we were going to get it back.

Well, that day has come and all of us feel a sense of relief. The comeback of Toronto may still have a long way to go, but each day we feel it returning to what it’s meant to be: one of the greatest cities on earth. Our streets are no longer ghost towns at night, our bars are filled with chatter and laughter once again, and the city as a whole has that infectious energy that we all just want to be around. Some Torontonians may have migrated to the suburbs for a period of time, but we’re seeing more and more people moving back to the city to be a part of its rebirth.

After being cooped up in our homes for as long as we have, we want to experience life again, like it was pre-pandemic. We want to socialize with friends, attend concerts or sporting events, eat good food in an atmosphere other than our family room or kitchen — we’re eager to make up for lost time. Now that some sort of normalcy has returned to our lives, employers are calling their workforce back to the office too. In person meetings are resuming, team socials are being organized, and office spaces are being redesigned to accommodate for those who’re returning. Whereas before people could live further away from work because they weren’t going into the office as frequently or at all, people want to be closer to their company’s offices again to avoid long commutes.

All in all, the advantages of living in Toronto have returned to what they once were — convenience to some of Ontario’s top dining, retail and entertainment destinations; close proximity to some of the region’s top company headquarters; and an energetic atmosphere that’s not easily found elsewhere. Now you just have to ask yourself: are you ready to make the move?

Explore Empire’s communities in Toronto to find your dream home. It’s time to soak up everything this revitalized city has to offer.

If you’re wondering what it’s like to move to Charlotte from another state, just ask Eric Hooper. Born and raised in Cincinnati, Eric made the move to Charlotte in June 2021 and hasn’t looked back since. In his thoughtful article — one of the published pieces on his personal blog “The Mindful Zoomer” — Eric reflects on five things that he learned during his relocation to help inspire others to take a similar leap of faith. He provides you with insight into the barriers that he faced, the refreshing surprises along the way, and an unfiltered perspective on what it’s like moving to the Queen City.

This past June, shortly after graduating from Miami University, I accepted a full-time employment opportunity. My goal was to get a job in real estate which I was able to accomplish, but it wasn’t an easy process. Before finding this job, I applied for at least 100 positions. As excited as I was to finally have this monkey off my back, I had to prepare myself for the unknown — moving to a new city.

When I was applying to the jobs I mentioned, 95% of them were located outside of Cincinnati. Cincinnati was my home, where I had grown up, and where I spent the first 22 years of my life. However, I always felt this urge to move away. I wanted to move to a new city, make new experiences, and meet new people. After finding an apartment, packing up the U-Haul, and hitting the road, I was ready to begin my new journey in a new city.

Fast forward to now and it’s been months since I left Cincinnati and moved to Charlotte. It’s taken time, but I feel like I’m finally starting to find my footing in this new city. However, it wasn’t always easy. Early on, I found myself homesick, anxious, and unsure if I made the right decision. When you visualize your move to a new city, you think of everything that could go right. You imagine that you’ll meet tons of new people, have amazing experiences, and love the work that you do each and every day.

The reality of the situation is much different. You will have problems, feel anxious, and question your decision. Fortunately, things will get better, whether you believe it in the moment or not. Unlike me, you don’t have to move to a new city not knowing what to expect. These are the five things that I’ve learned since moving to a new city.

If you meet someone new and they ask if you want to go break into some cars, clearly the answer to that question is “no.” However, with pretty much everything else, definitely say “yes.” If someone at work invites you out for a drink, say “yes.” If you get invited to a networking event, say “yes.” When you move to a new city, you hardly know anyone, you don’t know your surroundings very well, and you definitely don’t know what tomorrow is going to throw at you. If you say “yes” to going out, networking, or grabbing a coffee, you could meet that someone who’ll turn a new city into a new home.

For me, I only knew one person when I moved to Charlotte. Although I’ve met friends through that person, I’ve also been forced to step outside of my comfort zone — for instance, going to apartment socials not knowing a soul, joining a new gym where the trainers already know everyone by name, and going to football tailgates all by myself. Being alone in a new city can be scary, but it can also be exciting. All you have to do is say “yes.”

If you’re coming out of college, more likely than not, this is the first time you’ve really had to focus on handling your own finances and paying bills. If you listen to any financial guru out there, they’ll tell you to move in with your parents, never eat out, and stack that cash. However, if you’re moving to a new city, that’s just not possible. Being able to save money and not paying rent can be pretty cool, but so can moving to a new city.

Living in a new city, you’ll have to sacrifice money for experiences. You’ll have to pay for rent, utilities, cable and internet, groceries, and the list goes on and on. That being said, the intangible benefits you’ll gain from moving to a new city will far outweigh the money you have to spend. You’ll meet new people, have new experiences, and gain the self-confidence you never thought you could develop. Sure, you might be strapped for cash and dislike seeing your bank account so low, but who cares? You’re in your early 20’s and in the grand scheme of things, that $13 glass of bourbon you bought on a night out won’t matter.

When I moved to Charlotte, I felt like I needed to make tons of new friends immediately. As time passed and I hadn’t made a hundred new friends in a week, I started to get anxious and doubt if I could make this move work. However, I found comfort in a phrase I’m sure you’ve heard often — “quality over quantity.” I was spending so much time worrying about meeting people that I wasn’t spending time forming meaningful relationships with anyone. Give yourself time when moving to a new city. It’s not easy meeting new people and it’s not easy to turn an introduction into a friendship. As with anything in life, these things take time, so give yourself some.

Ever since moving to a new city, I’ve gained a newfound appreciation for being kind to everyone I meet. When I was in college or even in my hometown, I was comfortable. I had my friends from high school, college, and sports, and I never felt like I needed to go out of my way to meet anyone else. I never knew what it felt like to be the new guy when everyone around you is already comfortable with each other. Whenever anyone would go out of their way to talk to me or invite me somewhere, it meant a lot to me. Point being, if you’re kind to everyone you meet, then they’ll reciprocate that kindness right back.

This one might be easier said than done, depending on the type of person you are. For me, I’m definitely an introvert and a homebody. There is nothing I would rather do on a Friday or Saturday night than sit on the couch and watch Netflix. Being alone is easy and comes naturally to me. However, no matter if you’re an extrovert or an introvert, being okay with being alone is crucial to your life in a new city. If you’re able to find happiness on your own, then you’ll naturally attract people to you. People don’t want to feel like you’re dependent on them for your happiness because that’s not fair to the other person. Be okay taking a walk by yourself, eating out at a table for one, or catching up on your favorite Netflix series. Find happiness in solitude.

Moving to a new city can be the scariest time of your life, but also the most fulfilling. I never knew what to expect when I moved to Charlotte besides the visions I conjured up inside my own head. Looking back five months ago, was it as glamorous as I expected? Definitely not. Was it one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself? Absolutely. If you’ve just moved to a new city or are thinking about doing so, just get out there and do it. You’ve got nothing to lose.

Thinking about moving to the Queen City? Find out why you’ll love living in Charlotte’s historic west end and the seven reasons you’ll love living in Charlotte.

There’s no denying that Sunday scaries can creep up on you after a fun-filled weekend, leaving you feeling unprepared for the week ahead. While Sunday is typically known as a day of rest, it can also be used as a day to plan, prep and get organized for the week ahead. Setting aside some time to get your affairs in order will make you feel more at ease by the time Monday rolls around. To help you get started, we’ve created a ‘Sunday Reset’ guide to keep you on track and get your week started right.

Looking for more ways to stay organized throughout the week? Check out the best cleaning style for your personality type and the ultimate key to a tidy home.

Don’t wait for a milestone to set a beautiful table that
will bring people together.

There used to be a time when getting together warranted a reason — a holiday, birthday, or another celebratory occasion. Now, we find ourselves itching for the opportunity to gather around a table and celebrate any moment, big or small. Even if it’s just having people over for takeout on a Friday night, we’ll set a beautiful table simply to be in the company of those we hold dear. Why? Because we’ve learned you don’t need a special reason to celebrate friendship, family, and life when those are reason enough.

In this new spirit of gathering, Amy Burstyn Fritz, co-founder of the dinnerware brand Misette, shares her advice for making your table the perfect place for family and friends to congregate.

While creating an inviting table setting is important for any get-together, it’s only a small piece of your party-planning journey. For even more tips and tricks on how to make hosting an absolute breeze, check out our guide.