Not Far From the Tree

 

Not Far From the Tree (NFFTT) is an organization that is helping Toronto make the most of its existing food resources by tapping an under-utilized resource - the fruit and nut-bearing trees and shrubs in the city's yards and green spaces. Almost 150,000 pounds of fruit have been picked since they started in 2008. Their system is structured to provide wins all around.

• Homeowners get their fruit picked by volunteers at the peak of ripeness, saving them time and labour. They also get to keep 1/3 of the yield and have the satisfaction of knowing that the other 2/3 won't go to waste.

• Volunteers get to spend their time enjoying the outdoors, putting their picking skills to use, and meeting other like-minded people. They also get to take home a share of 1/3 of the yield. These pears that I received on a pick were enough to make jam.

• Local community groups which partner with NFFTT, like shelters and community kitchens, receive deliveries of fresh, nutritious fruit, equal to 1/3 of the yield from each pick. 

• As an added plus, the environment benefits from the group's commitment to using cargo bicycles for deliveries.

If you have a fruit tree on your property that you aren't able to take full advantage of, consider registering with NFFTT. They currently only operate in the most central wards in the city, but knowing where accessible fruit lives will help to guide their expansion plans. Their website also has a handy fruit guide which can help you determine if your fruit is ripe. 

If you want to get in on the fruit action, you can sign up to become a volunteer. Once you register and tell them what parts of the city you'd like to pick in, you'll start receiving notifications of when picks are happening. Then it's up to you to sign up. Picks, especially for things like pears and apples, are extremely popular and it can take a while before you're successful. Having a flexible schedule and willingness to travel helps. 

If you're intrigued by this whole concept, follow them on Twitter @NFFTT. They post about all kinds of neat stuff like urban gardening, sustainability, and beekeeping, and of course you'll also find great recipes and kitchen tips. 

Thanks to Not Far From the Tree for providing the following images and permission to use them: logo and bike image

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.

Lunchtime fun

June is a great time to give yourself a break and get out and enjoy some lunchtime entertainment. Not only is the weather glorious (well, when it's not pouring) but there are also a lot of options. Many summer programs have started and those programs that take the summer off still have a few weeks before they wrap up. Music seems to be the most popular lunchtime offering, but there are a few other options for those who like a little something different. Please comment with other lunchtime programs!

Music

Music Mondays
A largely instrumental concert series at the Church of the Holy Trinity, next to the Eaton Centre. Piano is a heavily featured instrument but there is variety in the schedule. Concerts are at 12:15 and are PWYC, $5 minimum suggested.

Lunchtime Live!
A live concert series featuring an eclectic range of music. It runs on Mondays in the spring and fall in Yonge-Dundas Square. Concerts start at 12:30 and are free.

Organ Recitals at St. James Cathedral
The organ in this historically designated church at King and Church was originally built in 1888 and has been carefully expanded and maintained through the years. Concerts on this amazing instrument are presented twice per week, including at 1 pm every Tuesday. Admission is free but donations toward the upkeep of the organ are welcome.

Play the Parks
The Downtown Yonge BIA is planning lunchtime, early evening and weekend entertainment at various locations around the downtown core this summer. On Wednesdays from noon to 1 pm there will be live music in College Park Courtyard and on Thursdays you can catch concerts at the same time in Trinity Park next to the Eaton Centre.

COC Series
The Canadian Opera Company runs a number of different series over the lunchtime including Jazz, Chamber, Vocal, World Music and more. Unfortunately the series wraps up in early June but it will return again in September. Concerts are held at the Four Seasons Centre at 12 pm and are free.


Other

1812 Re-enactors
On Thursdays throughout the summer costumed re-enactors will be in Berczy Park near Church and Front from 12:30 to 1 pm to tell first person accounts of life in 1812 in the Town of York, re-enact sword fights, and then visit the historical locations in the neighbourhood, including St. James Cathedral, Ontario's first Parliament buildings and the St. Lawrence Market complex.

Tours of the Ontario Legislature
30 minute lunchtime tours of the Ontario Legislature happen every Friday at 12:30 p.m. during the months of March, May, July, August and October. Each month offers a different theme. Tours meet in the lobby and are free. If 12:30 doesn't fit your schedule, the legislature runs regular building tours throughout the day, and a special inside and out tour during the summer months at 10 am and 3 pm. All tours are free.

Osgoode Hall Tours
During July and August, Osgoode Hall opens its doors each day and welcomes the public in for a tour. Tours start at 1:15 pm and last an hour.

First Canadian Place
The First Canadian Place gallery is open Tuesday thru Thursday for viewing, from lunch to early afternoon. Hours change so check their website for details. Events such as concerts by the Waterfall Stage and talks in the gallery are frequently held over the lunch hour as well.

Ghostly Walking Tours

October is a great month for getting out and walking. The leaves are turning, it's cool but not usually bitterly cold, and there are lots of opportunities to take haunted walking tours to get you in the mood for Halloween. I was actually surprised at the number of options available. I haven't taken one in a few years, having been a bit disappointed in the off-the-cuff nature of the last tour I took - generally, I prefer a well-researched tour which brings in the history of the buildings and area, rather than just relying on stories told by the guide's friends and neighbours. Also, I find that a smaller tour size makes for a much better evening - it's worth asking your guide before you book what the maximum group size is.

From my browsing, here are a few of the walk options that seemed most appealing:

The Toronto Ghosts and Hauntings Research Society have put together a self-guided ghost walk of Toronto and offer it for free on their website. This means you can take the tour at your own pace, and without fear of crowds spoiling the mood. It provides some basic history on the building or location, along with the types of ghostly disturbances that have been reported on site. It doesn't tend to go in to a lot of detail about what or who the ghosts are thought to represent, but I think it's a good starter walk, especially because it's free.

Exhibition Place is said to be the home of many ghosts, and every Friday evening in the fall they offer haunted walking tours of the grounds. They start at 7 pm and cost $20 per person.

One of the consistently well-reviewed walking tour companies is Muddy York Walking Tours, and their tours aim to make Toronto's history interesting. They offer a Haunted Streets of Downtown Toronto tour and a Ghosts of the University of Toronto tour, as well as some other ghoulish sounding tours including Bloody York: Crime and Punishment, and Historic Cemetery Walk. Prices are $20 per person, but this goes down if multiple people book together ($15 each for 2 or 3 people, $10 each for four or more).

And finally, a relative newcomer on the scene, is the Haunted Walk of Old Toronto. This tour focuses on the area around the Distillery District and the St. Lawrence Market, and runs throughout the year. Cost is $18.75 for adults.

If you'd rather not get out there yourself but are interested in what buildings or spaces in Toronto might be haunted, check out this 2008 article from Toronto.com on Haunted Toronto.

UPDATE: While searching for events for the What's On page, I've come across a few more family-friendly Halloween-themed walking tours and I've listed them below.

Fort York After Dark Lantern Tours. Fort York, 250 Fort York Blvd. 7:30 - 9:30 pm. $12.50 plus tax, pre-registration required. Oct 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

Family Nature Walk: Halloween Howl. Walk led by staff of the High Park Nature Centre. Costumes recommended! Meet at the High Park Nature Centre, 440 Parkside Dr. 6:30 - 8:30 pm. $2 suggested donation. October 27

Spirit Walk. Ghost walk of some downtown laneways, ending at Mackenzie House with mulled cider and biscuits. Mackenzie House, 82 Bond St. 6:30, 7 & 7:30 pm. $12.50 plus tax, pre-registration required. October 27

If anyone tries out a ghost walk this fall, leave a comment and tell us what you thought!

Fall Festivals 2012

Harvest festivals are a long-standing tradition in Southern Ontario, and while Toronto isn't exactly rural, there are lots of festivals going on this month to get you out and enjoying the gorgeous fall weather.

If you're hankering for a good old fashioned fall fair but can't get yourself out of the city, check out Riverdale Farm's Annual Fall Festival. It's taking place September 8 & 9 and features lots of traditional farm-style events, like a corn roast and chances to meet and talk with the farmers. Sunday morning there will also be a pancake breakfast from 9:30 to 11:30. $5 will get you 2 pancakes, 2 sausages and your choice of beverage, with all proceeds going to support the farm.

 

The Riverdale Farm Festival is happening in conjunction with the larger Cabbagetown Festival. Parliament Street from Wellesley to Gerrard, and Carlton Street from Parliament to Berkeley will both be closed for both days of the festival allowing for lots of entertainment, activities and vendors. There will also be arts and crafts in Riverdale Park, and apparently over 200 garage sales in the surrounding streets.

Many other neighbourhoods and cultural groups are taking advantage of the friendly fall weather to host similar street festivals. A partial list is included below, so pick a weekend, get out there and mingle with your fellow Torontonians.

Sep 7, 8 & 9
Taste of the Kingsway Festival. Fall festival with live entertainment, over 200 exhibitors, beer and wine gardens and more. Bloor St. W. between Prince Edward Drive and Montgomery Rd.

Sep 8 & 9
Cabbagetown Festival & Riverdale Farm's Fall Festival

Sep 8 & 9
Toronto Chinatown Festival. Food, entertainment, kids activities. Spadina between Dundas and College. Noon - 11 pm.

Sep 8 & 9
Romanian Festival. Folk music, dances, food, art, exhibitors and live performances. Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge St. 11 am - 8pm.

Sep 9
The Beach Celtic Festival. Kew Gardens, Queen St. E. 9 am - 7 pm.

Sep 14, 15 & 16
Toronto Ukrainian Festival.  Bloor West Village, between Jane St. and Glendowynne Rd.  

Sep 15 & 16
Roncesvalles Village Polish Festival. Roncesvalle Ave from Queen to Dundas.

Sep 22
Far Enough Farm's Fall Fair. Parade, activities, BBQ food and corn roast, beer garden and free live entertainment. Far Enough Farm, Centre Island. 11 am - 9 pm.

Sep 22
Lakeshore Villages Shop the Shore Event. Entertainment, special sales, kids activities and more. Lakeshore from 1st - 10th Streets. 10 am - 6 pm. 

Sep 22 & 23
Uptown Yonge 2012 Fall Fest. Sidewalk sale, entertainment and activities for kids. 11 am - 5 pm. 

Sep 22
The Junction Music Festival. Free public concerts. Starts at noon.  
     
Sep 29
Harvest Day. Annual autumn celebration. Toronto Botanical Garden, 777 Lawrence Ave E. 12 - 4 pm.  

Oct 13
Parkdale Harvest Bazaar. Face painting plus art and vintage vendors. Queen St W & Cowan. 11 am - 5 pm. 

Canadian National Exhibition

When you live in Toronto, it's not cooler nights that warn you that summer is coming to an end, it's the start of the CNE. So, it's time to cram in those last few patio drinks and backyard barbecues, because the Ex has opened once again.

The Canadian National Exhibition has been signalling the end of summer for over 130 years now. In addition to the Midway with all its noise and smells and lights that brighten the sky each night, there are shows and concerts, shopping and food, animals and all the unusual add-ons you expect from an exhibition - like the sand sculptures which are part of the International Sand Sculpting Competition.

New this year on the Midway is a zip line, the Nitro, a new roller coaster, and the ride I'm looking forward to - the Sky Ride. A little sedate if you're a thrill seeker perhaps but for those of us who loved and remember the Alpine Way, this will be a must for its aerial views of not only the excitement of the CNE grounds, but the beauty of the Toronto Islands, and the city skyline.

While most of what's offered on the Midway costs extra, there's lots to enjoy that's included in the price of admission. In addition to the line-up of concerts at the bandshell and the bands at the Midway Stage, there are lots of other shows to keep you entertained. There's the always amazing Super Dogs (with 3 shows a day), an illusionist, a hypnotist, ice shows, international performers, and lots more, including a whole raft of culinary celebrities including Anna Olson, David Rocco and Marc Thuet.

Food this year includes all the old favourites (Tiny Tom donuts with icing sugar and cinnamon please!) plus 17 food trucks, some disgusting treats like the Krispy Kreme burger and deep fried butter, and a Wine Bar in the Garden Show featuring Ontario wines, craft beers and local cheeses.

Admission to the Ex is $16 for adults, $12 for kids and seniors, and kids under 4 are free. Family passes are also available. General admission gets you access to all shows and buildings, but this year there is no entrance to Ontario Place as it is now closed. Midway ride tickets are extra. There are a few options for a cheaper visit if your schedule is flexible however:

• Admission after 5 pm on Monday thru Thursday is only $5.
• On Monday August 20 & 27, kids 13 and under get in for only $2 when accompanied by a paying adult, and there's a related deal on coupons for the Kiddie Midway.
• Thursday August 28, the day 30H!3 is playing the bandshell, those 19 and under get in free until 3 pm, courtesy of Pizza Nova. And there are discounts for Midway tickets that day as well.

If you plan to go, save yourself some money on parking and take public transit. GO has a stop right at Exhibition on the Lakeshore line, and TTC offers 4 routes to the park including the 193 Exhibition Rocket from Dundas West subway station.

Come on everybody, let's go to the Ex!

Summerworks 2012

Your chance to see new and cutting-edge Canadian plays at a great price is here once again. The Summerworks Performance Festival is on now and will run until August 19. This year, there are over 40 theatre productions to choose from, all pre-selected by jury to ensure you're going to see something great. You can buy advance tickets online through Ticketwise and guarantee yourself a seat for just an extra dollar plus tax. Otherwise, tickets can be bought starting 1 hour before the show for only $15 (half the house is always reserved for at-the-door sales).The best deal is to buy a multi-play pass, although there are some limitations. A 3 show pass is $40, 7 show is $85 and a 10 show pass is $120, a savings of $30 over single ticket prices. Passes can only be used for at-the-door tickets, 1 per show and are non-transferable, so you can't share a pass with a friend or use it for multiple tickets per show.

There's a lot more to Summerworks than theatre however, and this is reflected in their new name: Summerworks Performance Festival. There are live art installations, a music series and the Performance Bar, which I'm really looking forward to checking out. The Performance Bar hosts 16 eclectic acts over 6 nights, featuring music, comedy, live art and more. Each night is hosted by Captain Ron's Ship of Friendship, which was created by Atomic Vaudeville and stars Ron Pederson. All nights are pay-what-you-can and take place at the Lower Ossington Theatre's Cabaret Space. Should be a blast!

If you've got some time, check out the schedule and try something new. Just be aware of a few basics: the box offices accept cash only, and there are absolutely no latecomers. When you do see something, leave a comment below and tell us what you thought!

The Toronto Raptors

Are you a sports fan? Tired of watching the Leafs at a bar? Want to get out and actually see a game live? Then consider switching sports. Toronto is a fabulous sports town, offering a host of other professional teams when you’re tired of the Leafs. My recommendation: basketball.

Seeing the Toronto Raptors at the Air Canada Centre makes for a great night out, and can be surprisingly affordable. While it’s not been made clear on their ticket site, this year the Raptors organization has divided their games into 4 tiers based on who the Raptors are playing, and on what night. Tickets for games on nights other than Friday or Saturday, and against teams which aren’t top tier, can be had for as little as $12.50 per seat. And the games are lots of fun to watch. (For clarity, I’ll be adding the Best Value and Value games – both available for $12.50 – on the What’s On page.) If you’ve never given basketball a chance, here are some of my favourite things about it:

•  It’s fast. The players and the ball are always moving, the ball changes hands constantly, and leads can change in no time.
• Every game there are at least a few incredible plays. They might be dunks or alley oops, or maybe a great block, but they’ll get you cheering! (I even cheer the opposing team sometimes – when the play is that good, I can’t help it!) 
• There’s no fighting. The game is about the game, and good sportsmanship, for the most part, is what you’ll see on the court.  
• Jose Calderon. 

Don’t let sports nuts in your life convince you the Raptors are a write-off. True, they haven't made the play-offs in years, and last year they lost a lot more games than they won. But this year is a different year. They’re still not winning a lot, but the losses are usually pretty close and the games entertaining. They’ve suddenly learned how to play defense (go Amir Johnson!) and they’re a young team with a lot of potential (James Johnson is pretty interesting). And again, they have Jose.

Even if the action on the court doesn’t grab you, there’s tons of other stuff to amuse you. There are give-aways and the half-time show, the Dance Pack and the Raptor. Plus lots of other crazy fans to watch (the last game I was at, the Gingerbread Man sat in the section next to me with his pal Gumby). And you can always drink. While prices are pretty steep, my recommendation if you want beer: don’t order draft. The tall cans, which are the same size as a medium draught (the largest they sell at NBA games), are cheaper for some reason. Strongbow Cider is even cheaper than beer. I don’t get it, but I’m happy about it!

So convince your friends, or take your kids, and check them out. If they score 100 points, your ticket is even worth a slice of Pizza Pizza the next day. And by the way, from most seats in the ACC, you can’t hear their shoes squeak.

Skating

For those of you who like to get out and do stuff, even once the temperature has dipped, Toronto has lots of places to indulge in at least one favourite winter activity: skating.

The City itself runs 51 different outdoor ice surfaces scattered throughout the city. As of time of writing, all rinks were open for business, including the very popular Nathan Phillips Square rink. This year it sports a brand new rink-side building with change room facilities and a snack bar, and skate rentals are available from 10 am to 10 pm. This rink is fairly unusual among the city-owned rinks in that it is designated for pleasure skating only, which means no stick sports allowed. If you want to be sure you won't have to avoid stray pucks while gliding around, check the City's website to see if your location sports a dual pad - generally that's one rink for shinny, and another, usually smaller one, for pleasure skating only. You can also visit the very detailed City Rinks site, which posts schedules for each rink showing hours set aside for pleasure skating only. As well as lists of what activities are allowed when, the City Rinks site also includes detailed descriptions of the rink, including how well the ice is maintained, how many staff are on duty, and the facilities available. Their Rink Diaries include much more detailed experiential information for each rink, and the site also includes a map to help you quickly and easily find the rink closest to you.

The City Rinks site also includes skating rinks not operated by the City. These include the large and beautifully situated Natrel Rink at Harbourfront. Skating is free, accessible 24 hours a day and skate rentals are available. There is also a licensed lounge attached, and DJ Skate Nights are hosted most Saturday nights from 8 to 11 pm. Check their site for a list of upcoming DJs. And if you're just curious to see people skating, check out their webcam.

Another non-city skating area is the Brickworks Skating Trail, in the Don Valley. It's also free but their hours are more limited, they're closed over the Christmas holidays, and you should bring your own skates - only limited sizes and pairs are available. If you have skates you've outgrown, or no longer use, you can donate them to their skate library. To get there, consider taking the free shuttle from just north of the Broadview subway station.

The skating experience that may tempt me to dig out my skates from deep, deep within my storage locker, is the Colonel Sam Smith Skating Trail in Etobicoke. It's the first of the city-run skate sites to be built not as a rink, but as a 250 m ice trail, roughly in the shape of a figure 8. To top off the experience, the skate house is a beautifully restored 1888 red brick heating plant, with 10-metre cathedral ceilings and 3-storey windows. The trail is staffed from 9 am to 10 pm, but as the trail isn't enclosed by fencing, there's nothing but a lack of light to stop you from skating. As City Rinks puts it, "it's open for skating by moonlight". How can you resist that?