Home / Andrea Yu – Toronto Freelance Writer

Toronto Life • 28th May 2020

“I got a million new subscribers in April”: How Maddie Lymburner became YouTube’s premier pandemic fitness guru

Suddenly, gyms were closing, people were working out at home and my business was exploding. Starting in mid-March, my viewers increased exponentially.

The Globe and Mail • 26th May 2020

Health concerns and teleworking could change office design permanently

“When there was a bug that entered into the office, it just seemed to pervade and go around,” Justin Thouin of LowestRates.ca recalls. “It was an endless loop of people getting sick.”

Toronto Life • 25th May 2020

"My hair tutorial went viral overnight": How 16-year-old Destinee Wray gets millions of people to watch her TikTok videos

"When I was growing up, I didn’t see any influences in pop culture with curly hair, so I wanted to put out social media content that would inspire other girls."

Foodism TO • 19th May 2020

The Kitchen Chronicles: At home with Afrim Pristine

Afrim Pristine might have the shortest commute of anyone in Toronto’s food industry – the big cheese of his family business, he lives 100 metres from work. In fact, the Cheese Boutique gift shop is just underneath him.

Toronto Life • 17th May 2020

Our wedding was postponed so we got dressed up and played Jeopardy! instead

The couple put together a playful mock wedding video and went on Zoom to host a trivia night with their friends.

TheStar.com • 15th May 2020

Massive mask-making networks mobilize across Canada

Fashion designer and Ryerson assistant professor Danielle Martin’s latest creation isn’t something you’ll find on a runway. But it could be helping to save lives.

TheStar.com • 15th May 2020

Toronto roasters give tips for making coffee at home

You might not miss your daily commute. But you’re probably longing for that morning latte from the café near your office.

The Globe and Mail • 14th May 2020

Working from home? Seven easy snack recipes to get you through the day

Chefs and food aficionados offer some delicious snacking options to keep employees energized at home.

Toronto Life • 12th May 2020

"One little boy played the violin on his stoop": These Toronto teachers biked around their neighbourhood for an epic series of porch parties

When schools closed, two phys-ed teachers wanted to stay connected to their students.

The Globe and Mail • 12th May 2020

How to turn a job loss into a career change

In, mid-March, as the financial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic were hitting the travel industry, Evert Lamb was made redundant at his job.

Toronto Life • 8th May 2020

“The orders quadrupled overnight”: An Instacart shopper describes what it's like to deliver groceries during a pandemic

I first found out about Instacart last fall when my aunt said she was thinking of signing up. She never did, but I registered to check it out.

Toronto Life • 8th May 2020

“People are going to remember which companies did the right thing”: How a hospitality CEO put people before profits

When the pandemic hit, Shifrin was forced to close all but one of the group’s restaurants. Shortly after, he switched gears by donating profits to meals for healthcare workers.

TheStar.com • 7th May 2020

A DIY home wall mural? This could be your moment

As we stay home and mostly indoors during the coronavirus pandemic, your empty walls may be staring right back at you.

TheStar.com • 6th May 2020

Toronto millennials embrace old-timey hobbies

Stamp collecting is just one of the many traditional hobbies that have seen a resurgence in recent years, augmented by the pandemic.

The Globe and Mail • 6th May 2020

Eight apps to help you stay focused when working from home

Distractions are endless when working from home, making it harder than ever to stay on task. We asked eight business leaders to share their favourite apps, tools and platforms for productivity and focus.

Foodism TO • 5th May 2020

The Kitchen Chronicles: At home with Pay Chen

The first thing that Pay Chen did when she moved into her 800-square-foot condo near King and Bathurst in 2018 was install an 8-foot-by-2-foot island in the open kitchen.

Toronto Life • 30th April 2020

Our two-day, 450-guest wedding was cancelled, so we livestreamed our backyard ceremony over Zoom

Dharmesh Lad and Papia Dutta had planned a two-day wedding at a Brampton banquet hall. But as the pandemic unfolded, they quickly realized they needed a Plan B.

Toronto Life • 30th April 2020

Desperate times: how to master the art of the DIY home haircut

As soon as celebrity stylist Aaron O’Bryan closed his Yorkville storefront, the Cellar Salon, in mid-March, he was bombarded with inquiries from clients desperate for tips on how to manage their hair at home.

The Globe and Mail • 29th April 2020

Nine playlists to guide your workday from morning to evening

Why companies need to prioritize employee mental health during the pandemic

Toronto Life • 23rd April 2020

“We've run errands for more than 3,000 families”: How a local Muslim youth association is helping people buy groceries and fill prescriptions

“We’ve started getting calls from people who don’t qualify for the CERB benefits, who are struggling to put food on the table”