Canadian Opera Company

Going to the opera probably isn't the first thing you think of when you're planning a cheap night out, but the Canadian Opera Company's discount ticket options and their impressive range of public programming, which goes well beyond their operatic offerings, makes them worth considering.

Toronto Continuo Collective and Capella Intima

While it's true that booking a premium seat to one of the COC's operas can cost several hundred dollars, there are cheaper options available. Regular seats can be purchased for as little as $50. If you have a youngster showing signs of interest in this art form, tickets for those 15 and under are available at half the price of normal tickets, although this excludes Grand Ring seating and they must be accompanied by an adult. Even better news for adults under 30. They can purchase tickets in designated areas for only $22, or pay $35 in advance and be moved into the best available seats on the day of the performance. For people like me who prefer to act spur of the moment, the COC also has two last-minute programs. If you're able to stand for the duration of the performance, there are 60 standing room tickets available for each performance. They go on sale at 11 am at the box office the day of the performance and cost only $12. Rush tickets, if available, also go on sale at 11 am but according to the website, "discounts are at the discretion of the Canadian Opera Company".

In addition to the operatic productions, the COC hosts an impressive amount of free programming. From September to May they host a free concert series which provides an average of two free performances each week. The offerings are divided into a number of series: Jazz, Vocal, Chamber Music, World Music, Piano Virtuoso, and Dance. One slight hitch for some might be the timing: most performances are held from 12 - 1 pm during the week. Great if you happen to have time off or work downtown and have the ability to take a long lunch but not so convenient otherwise. Occasionally performances are held at 5:30 pm, but there are no more evening concerts scheduled this season.

If you enjoy talks and lectures, the COC also has you covered. Opera Insights is a series of free events billed as "big conversations & interactive events". Tickets must be booked in advance, but they are free. Tickets for the new spring series, which starts April 19, are available starting on April 5.

COC Costume Supervisor Sandra Corazza speaks at an Opera Insights event

Opera Talks are a bit more casual and are held in conjunction with Opera Canada magazine and the North York Central Library. Again, the talks are free to attend but registration is recommended. The talks are held throughout the opera season, and the last one for 2015/2016 will be on April 28.

If you want to learn a bit more about opera but don't want to leave the house, the COC also hosts a number of pod casts on its website. They're no longer in production, but 30 episodes produced between 2012 and 2015 are still available for your listening pleasure. They also provide a list of links to a number of opera-related blogs if you want to browse.

The photos in this article are by Karen E. Reeves and were supplied by the COC.

The Distillery District

While the Distillery District is a popular destination throughout the year, it is during this pre-Christmas season that it really shines. The Toronto Christmas Market, now in its sixth year, begins November 20. The staggering crowds attracted last year (over half a million people visited in 2014) have prompted two changes to this year's market. First, it's longer, running for 28 days. Second, they have instituted a $5 admission charge for visits on Saturdays and Sundays. It is hoped that ticketed weekend entrance will help redirect some of the visitors to the less crowded weeknights. Whenever you decide to go, you can expect to find food, shopping, free entertainment and lots of festive cheer.

Now, because there's so much more to the Distillery District, and because everyone seems to love lists, here are my top 5 affordable things to do in the Distillery, regardless of when you come:

1) Take your picture with the giant red heart. This installation, called "Under the Mistletoe", was installed for the 2014 Christmas market but remained after the market was dismantled.

2) Visit the Mill Street Brewery on a Thursday night for Tap That Cask. The brewers at Mill Street like to experiment and every Thursday they tap a cask of something a little different. At 7 pm they distribute free samples with a cheese pairing, and for the rest of the evening, or until the cask runs dry, pints are only $5. There's also live music. If you're interested in taking part, you can also apply to be a guest cask tapper.

3) Pop in to Soma and breathe deeply. The smell alone is heaven, but take it a step further and buy yourself one of their unique truffles. Each one is a mini masterpiece and makes for an affordable but luxurious treat.

4) Get rush tickets for a play at Soulpepper. While it's not unusual for shows to be sold out, if they're not, tickets are available 60 minutes prior to the performance for only $25, or $5 if you're under 21. Cash only.

5) Learn a little about the site's history. Artifacts from the distillery's industrial past, complete with explanatory signage, are displayed throughout the site. If you're not the type to walk through unmarked doors, they can be easy to miss as many are located in building pass-throughs. So get brave. If the door isn't marked "Private", take a peek!