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.
Showing posts with label event. Show all posts
Showing posts with label event. Show all posts
Monday, 1 June 2015
Thursday, 21 November 2013
TD Gallery
The Toronto Reference Library, centrally located just north of Bloor and Yonge, is much more than a place to research your latest passion. It’s also a community hub offering talks, classes, lectures and exhibits. While display cases filled with fascinating treasures can be found throughout the library, the main exhibition space is on the main floor, just to the right of the entrance. The TD Gallery is a wonderful space which is used to highlight rare and interesting items from the library’s varied collection.
The TD Gallery is free to visit and hosts roughly four exhibits per year. The current exhibit is entitled The Gilded Age of Fashion: 1890-1914 and it uses text and original and reproduced illustrations and ephemera to explore this exciting time in fashion. It also looks at how the theatre has interpreted this period in fashion through wardrobe sketches and actual theatrical costumes on loan from the Shaw Festival. If you can’t get out to the show, or just want to get a sense of what you’ll see when you do visit, the library has prepared a virtual exhibit that you can enjoy from home.
The library has also planned some special events in relation to this exhibit so you may want to time your visit to take advantage:
Designing for the Shaw November 26, 2:00 p.m.
Cameron Porteous, former Head of Design at the Shaw Festival Theatre, will provide a behind-the-scenes look at designing costumes for the Canadian stage. The presentation will be followed by a curated tour of the gallery.
Vintage Fashion: Reliving the Gilded Age November 27 , 7:00 p.m.
Live models will wear period costumes, including summer party dresses from the Downton Abbey era.
General Gallery Details:
Location: Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street - Main Level
Hours: Monday to Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Exhibit closes January 5, 2014.
The TD Gallery is free to visit and hosts roughly four exhibits per year. The current exhibit is entitled The Gilded Age of Fashion: 1890-1914 and it uses text and original and reproduced illustrations and ephemera to explore this exciting time in fashion. It also looks at how the theatre has interpreted this period in fashion through wardrobe sketches and actual theatrical costumes on loan from the Shaw Festival. If you can’t get out to the show, or just want to get a sense of what you’ll see when you do visit, the library has prepared a virtual exhibit that you can enjoy from home.
The library has also planned some special events in relation to this exhibit so you may want to time your visit to take advantage:
Designing for the Shaw November 26, 2:00 p.m.
Cameron Porteous, former Head of Design at the Shaw Festival Theatre, will provide a behind-the-scenes look at designing costumes for the Canadian stage. The presentation will be followed by a curated tour of the gallery.
Vintage Fashion: Reliving the Gilded Age November 27 , 7:00 p.m.
Live models will wear period costumes, including summer party dresses from the Downton Abbey era.
General Gallery Details:
Location: Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street - Main Level
Hours: Monday to Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Exhibit closes January 5, 2014.
Tuesday, 2 July 2013
Festivals - July 2013
There's always lots to do in Toronto, but over the next few weeks the festival season really hits high gear. The next few weekends present a choice of neighbourhood street festivals, which provide ample opportunities to shop and sample food, while being entertained. Many also include a beer tent, to augment the street-side patios. There are also film, theatre and music festivals which run throughout the week. And Summerlicious runs through it all.
- Italian Contemporary Film Festival. June 26 - July 6.
- Toronto Fringe Festival. Various venues. July 3 - 14.
- Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition. Nathan Philips Square. July 5 - 7.
- Corso Italia Street Festival. July 5 - 7.
- Summerlicious. July 5 - 21.
- Festival of South Asia. July 6 - 7.
- Mad Pride Toronto. July 8 - 14.
- Soundclash Festival. July 12 - 14.
- Salsa on St. Clair. July 13 - 14.
- Festival of India. July 13 - 14.
- Unity Festival. July 18 - 21.
- Tirgan Festival. July 18 - 21.
- Beaches International Jazz Festival. July 19 - 28.
- BIG on Bloor Festival. July 20 - 21.
- Toronto Burlesque Festival. July 25 - 28.
- Frugal Fashion Week. July 25 - 28.
Wednesday, 24 October 2012
Halloween Events 2012
With the end of October quickly drawing near, the city is getting decidedly spooky! There are lots of events going on, particularly this weekend, but also for the rest of this week and in to next. And all of this is on top of the walking tours listed in the last post. Most events listed below are free.
Night of Dread
This parade, put on each year by Clay & Paper Theatre, starts at Dufferin Grove Park on Saturday night at 6 pm. As the name might suggest, it features lots of dreadful over-sized puppets, shrines, masks and other imagery. After the parade, they continue the revelry with Pageantry in the Park. Dress code is black and white and dreadful, and the event is PWYC, although a $10 donation is suggested.
For those who would like to be even more involved in this event, Clay & Paper Theatre is holding drop-in community workshops every day prior to parade day where you can help them create all of the puppets, shrines, etc. that will be used during the parade. Workshop participation is free and it takes place in Dufferin Grove Park between 1 and 8 pm on Wed & Thurs, and from 10 am - 10 pm on Friday October 26.
Toronto After Dark Film Festival
While not specifically a Halloween event, what could be better for creating the mood than a festival of horror, sci-fi, action and cult movies? There are 2 screenings every night, at 6:45 and 9:45. Movies are shown at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema on Bloor near Bathurst, and tickets are $14, or $24 for a double feature. Festival ends this Friday, October 26.
Halloween Star Party
If you like a little science with your spooky, visit the Ontario Science Centre on Friday night for this free star-gazing Halloween event. High-powered telescopes will be set up for viewing the night sky, and there will be themed events such as a costume parade, storytelling and spooky science demos. And the best thing is, this is a free event. Let's hope the weather cooperates!
Phantom of the Organ
For music lovers, the Metropolitan United Church on Queen St. is holding a special concert on Friday night. The event will feature creepy music (of course!) plus strange tales, mood lighting, and a visit from the Phantom. Again, a great free event.
The PawsWay Halloween Party
Dog lovers haven't been left out of things either. The PawsWay, on Queens Quay West, will be hosting their annual Halloween party. Their will be games, prizes and activities, and free treats for all dogs that show up in costume. Just imagine the cute! This is a not-to-be missed event (for me at least!). From 5:30 - 7:30 pm. Participation is free (as is gawking).
Family Events on the Weekend
If you want to take the kids out for some themed fun, there are lots of options this weekend. Riverdale Farm is once again putting on the Halloween Boo Barn, on both Saturday and Sunday. It features a haunted barn for kids aged 3 - 10 years, as well as a pumpkin patch with opportunities for pumpkin carving. Costumes are encouraged. While entry to Riverdale Farm is always free, they are encouraging people to bring non-perishable food items for donation to the food bank.
On Saturday, Bloor West Village is having PumpkinFest in the Village with pumpkin carving, face painting, stilt walking, fortune telling and more. On Bloor St W between Jane and Runnymede, from 11 am - 4 pm, and it's free. Not to be outdone, the Kingsway neighbourhood is hosting Pumpkinfest in the Kingsway, featuring pumpkin decorating and live entertainment. At Royal York and Bloor, from 11 am to 3 pm, also free.
Many of the city's historic sites and family attractions are also offering lots of special programming this weekend, free with regular priced admission.
Halloweek
Church and Wellesley Village bills itself as the best place to be for the week of Halloween and to back it up they have lots of events going on. Saturday night they're having a Jack-O-Lantern Competition at the intersection of Maitland and Church streets from 6 to 8 pm. Expect to see some amazing artistry at that. Then on Halloween itself, which awkwardly falls on a Wednesday, they're having a full-on street party with a live stage show starting at 7 pm and a costume contest at 9:30 pm.
Twilight Pumpkin Float
For something a little magical, head out to High Park on Sunday night and make your way to the wading pool in the northwest corner of the park. There, for a minimum donation of $2.50, you can carve a pumpkin and set it afloat.
Monster Dash
While not a typical costume parade, the Monster Dash, which is a running event that supports Holland Bloorview Foundation, could still be really entertaining. It takes place on Sunday night and runners are encouraged to wear costumes. They're out there supporting a good cause, so if you're in the neighbourhood (the run takes place in the area around Holland Bloorview, Leaside and Sunnybrook Park) get out there and cheer them on. You might be able to snap some great pics.
Halloween Tour of the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres
While tours of this unique double-decker theatre are available throughout the year, the tour on Monday October 29 is a special ghosty version. No reservations required, but there is a charge of $12, cash only. Tours start at 7:30 pm.
Mimico Pumpkin Parade
Not sure what to do with your pumpkin after Halloween? Why not take it to Mimico Square in Amos Waites Park and add it to the countless others on display at the first annual Mimico Pumpkin Parade? Compare your carving to others and get inspiration for next year.
Day of the Dead
Learn all about this Mexican festival which honours the dead at Harbourfront Centre on the weekend after Halloween. Lots of entertainment, workshops and fun activities. November 3 and 4th.
The Wheel: A Samhain Masquerade
For those who choose to celebrate in the pagan style, there's a new event this year. The Wheel: A Samhain Masquerade will take place in Yonge-Dundas Square on Saturday November 3 from 5 to 8 pm. Featuring the Dragon Ritual Drummers and much more.
As a final note, if you're still looking for inspiration, or a final piece to make that perfect Halloween costume, this Friday - October 26 - both the Salvation Army and Goodwill thrift stores are having 50% off sales events.
Happy Halloween!
Night of Dread
This parade, put on each year by Clay & Paper Theatre, starts at Dufferin Grove Park on Saturday night at 6 pm. As the name might suggest, it features lots of dreadful over-sized puppets, shrines, masks and other imagery. After the parade, they continue the revelry with Pageantry in the Park. Dress code is black and white and dreadful, and the event is PWYC, although a $10 donation is suggested.
For those who would like to be even more involved in this event, Clay & Paper Theatre is holding drop-in community workshops every day prior to parade day where you can help them create all of the puppets, shrines, etc. that will be used during the parade. Workshop participation is free and it takes place in Dufferin Grove Park between 1 and 8 pm on Wed & Thurs, and from 10 am - 10 pm on Friday October 26.
Toronto After Dark Film Festival
While not specifically a Halloween event, what could be better for creating the mood than a festival of horror, sci-fi, action and cult movies? There are 2 screenings every night, at 6:45 and 9:45. Movies are shown at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema on Bloor near Bathurst, and tickets are $14, or $24 for a double feature. Festival ends this Friday, October 26.
Halloween Star Party
If you like a little science with your spooky, visit the Ontario Science Centre on Friday night for this free star-gazing Halloween event. High-powered telescopes will be set up for viewing the night sky, and there will be themed events such as a costume parade, storytelling and spooky science demos. And the best thing is, this is a free event. Let's hope the weather cooperates!
Phantom of the Organ
For music lovers, the Metropolitan United Church on Queen St. is holding a special concert on Friday night. The event will feature creepy music (of course!) plus strange tales, mood lighting, and a visit from the Phantom. Again, a great free event.
The PawsWay Halloween Party
Dog lovers haven't been left out of things either. The PawsWay, on Queens Quay West, will be hosting their annual Halloween party. Their will be games, prizes and activities, and free treats for all dogs that show up in costume. Just imagine the cute! This is a not-to-be missed event (for me at least!). From 5:30 - 7:30 pm. Participation is free (as is gawking).
Family Events on the Weekend
If you want to take the kids out for some themed fun, there are lots of options this weekend. Riverdale Farm is once again putting on the Halloween Boo Barn, on both Saturday and Sunday. It features a haunted barn for kids aged 3 - 10 years, as well as a pumpkin patch with opportunities for pumpkin carving. Costumes are encouraged. While entry to Riverdale Farm is always free, they are encouraging people to bring non-perishable food items for donation to the food bank.
On Saturday, Bloor West Village is having PumpkinFest in the Village with pumpkin carving, face painting, stilt walking, fortune telling and more. On Bloor St W between Jane and Runnymede, from 11 am - 4 pm, and it's free. Not to be outdone, the Kingsway neighbourhood is hosting Pumpkinfest in the Kingsway, featuring pumpkin decorating and live entertainment. At Royal York and Bloor, from 11 am to 3 pm, also free.
Many of the city's historic sites and family attractions are also offering lots of special programming this weekend, free with regular priced admission.
Halloweek
Church and Wellesley Village bills itself as the best place to be for the week of Halloween and to back it up they have lots of events going on. Saturday night they're having a Jack-O-Lantern Competition at the intersection of Maitland and Church streets from 6 to 8 pm. Expect to see some amazing artistry at that. Then on Halloween itself, which awkwardly falls on a Wednesday, they're having a full-on street party with a live stage show starting at 7 pm and a costume contest at 9:30 pm.
Twilight Pumpkin Float
For something a little magical, head out to High Park on Sunday night and make your way to the wading pool in the northwest corner of the park. There, for a minimum donation of $2.50, you can carve a pumpkin and set it afloat.
Monster Dash
While not a typical costume parade, the Monster Dash, which is a running event that supports Holland Bloorview Foundation, could still be really entertaining. It takes place on Sunday night and runners are encouraged to wear costumes. They're out there supporting a good cause, so if you're in the neighbourhood (the run takes place in the area around Holland Bloorview, Leaside and Sunnybrook Park) get out there and cheer them on. You might be able to snap some great pics.
Halloween Tour of the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres
While tours of this unique double-decker theatre are available throughout the year, the tour on Monday October 29 is a special ghosty version. No reservations required, but there is a charge of $12, cash only. Tours start at 7:30 pm.
Mimico Pumpkin Parade
Not sure what to do with your pumpkin after Halloween? Why not take it to Mimico Square in Amos Waites Park and add it to the countless others on display at the first annual Mimico Pumpkin Parade? Compare your carving to others and get inspiration for next year.
Day of the Dead
Learn all about this Mexican festival which honours the dead at Harbourfront Centre on the weekend after Halloween. Lots of entertainment, workshops and fun activities. November 3 and 4th.
The Wheel: A Samhain Masquerade
For those who choose to celebrate in the pagan style, there's a new event this year. The Wheel: A Samhain Masquerade will take place in Yonge-Dundas Square on Saturday November 3 from 5 to 8 pm. Featuring the Dragon Ritual Drummers and much more.
As a final note, if you're still looking for inspiration, or a final piece to make that perfect Halloween costume, this Friday - October 26 - both the Salvation Army and Goodwill thrift stores are having 50% off sales events.
Happy Halloween!
Thursday, 6 September 2012
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.
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.
Monday, 20 August 2012
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.
Come on everybody, let's go to the Ex!
Tuesday, 12 June 2012
Euro 2012
Toronto is in the middle of football fever. No, not the Argos - I'm talking soccer. Whether you follow the sport or not, it's hard not to get sucked in when there is this much collective excitement around the city. It's also a great time if you're a fan of a pint - bars all over the city are taking advantage of fans' collective desire to drink and cheer together, offering deals on pints, sometimes all day, but more often, during the game. You can check out the schedule on TSN's site to best optimize your drinking and viewing pleasure.
Long-time official European Football Championships sponsor Carlsberg is also making it easier for fans to enjoy some of the games. On various dates and in various locations around the city, they are setting up Fan Parks, which include viewing trucks which will air the games on 15 x 8 foot double-sided screens. There are also contests, prizes and in some locations, Carlsberg beer tents. Check out their news release for more information, but here's a quick list of dates and locations:
June 22 - Quarter Finals
Commerce Court, Bay & King St. W
11 am to 5 pm
June 24 - Quarter Finals
Yonge & Dundas Square
Noon to 6 pm
Fully licensed!
July 1 - Finals!
College and Crawford Streets in Little Italy
11 am - 7:30 pm
Fully licensed, plus DJ for pre and post game celebrations.
Carlsberg will also be hosting weekly soccer-related give-aways on their Facebook page throughout June.
Long-time official European Football Championships sponsor Carlsberg is also making it easier for fans to enjoy some of the games. On various dates and in various locations around the city, they are setting up Fan Parks, which include viewing trucks which will air the games on 15 x 8 foot double-sided screens. There are also contests, prizes and in some locations, Carlsberg beer tents. Check out their news release for more information, but here's a quick list of dates and locations:
June 22 - Quarter Finals
Commerce Court, Bay & King St. W
11 am to 5 pm
June 24 - Quarter Finals
Yonge & Dundas Square
Noon to 6 pm
Fully licensed!
July 1 - Finals!
College and Crawford Streets in Little Italy
11 am - 7:30 pm
Fully licensed, plus DJ for pre and post game celebrations.
Carlsberg will also be hosting weekly soccer-related give-aways on their Facebook page throughout June.
Monday, 2 April 2012
Author Talks and Book Signings
Toronto is a wonderful city
for anyone who loves books – and obviously a lot of us do if the stats
regarding our library system are any indication: over 1.25 million people are
registered library cardholders, and our system is the busiest urban public library
system in the world. (For more fun facts about the Toronto Public Library,
check out their Media Facts page).
What makes Toronto a truly great city for curious readers however is the number of opportunities we have for meeting with authors and listening to them read and comment on their work. Sometimes this happens at festivals held at specific times of the year, like the International Festival of Authors, held at Harbourfront each October, but there are plenty of opportunities throughout the year, offered by a wide variety of different groups. Below I’ve highlighted some of the organizations that bring these writers to us, and list some of the offerings available this April and May to provide some example. See the What’s On page for even more listings.
I’ve already done a post about the great programming offered through the Toronto Public Library, but as many of the programs involve bringing in writers, I have to mention it again here. While many of the “big ticket” events happen at the Toronto Reference Library on Yonge Street, they do make sure to spread the events out to the various branches as well. Often, this involves repeating events, so if you’re unable to catch a talk one night, you might have another chance. For example, award-winning author Hugh Brewster will be speaking about his new book on the sinking of the Titanic, which happened 100 years ago this year, at the Reference Library on April 3, and then on subsequent dates at the following branches: Albert Campbell, Port Union, Danforth/Coxwell and Annette Street. All library lectures are free, although some do require you to reserve tickets in advance.
Also, talks at the Reference Library are recorded and can be watched on the library's YouTube channel. For example, see a video of Anne Rice's recent visit here.
Harbourfront Centre has been inviting authors to Toronto since 1974 through its Authors at Harbourfront series. Upcoming guests include John Boyne, Sadie Jones and Farley Mowat. Tickets are generally $10 but free for members, youth and students, and programs often feature more than 1 author.
It’s long been a tradition for bookstores to host book launches and signings and Toronto’s book sellers are definitely keeping the tradition alive. Indigo hosts author events fairly regularly, usually at either their Manulife Centre or Yorkdale locations. Coming up, Nicholas Sparks and Kelley Armstrong. While these events are usually limited to book signings, there are occasionally more in-depth offerings. For example, on April 11, Heather Reisman will be in conversation with Dr. Sanjay Gupta about his new book Monday Mornings. Our independent bookstores and publishers also host their share of events, so watch for them. Or better yet, check out Open Book: Toronto, a goldmine of literary event information.
In addition to these big players, lots of other groups host authors from time to time. Coming up for example, the Italian Cultural Institute teams up with the University of Toronto Press to launch Elena Lamberti’s book Marshall McLuhan’s Mosaic. So with all these book-related events going on, not to mention all the other great offerings out there, the only hard part is finding the time to fit it all in! Enjoy!
What makes Toronto a truly great city for curious readers however is the number of opportunities we have for meeting with authors and listening to them read and comment on their work. Sometimes this happens at festivals held at specific times of the year, like the International Festival of Authors, held at Harbourfront each October, but there are plenty of opportunities throughout the year, offered by a wide variety of different groups. Below I’ve highlighted some of the organizations that bring these writers to us, and list some of the offerings available this April and May to provide some example. See the What’s On page for even more listings.
I’ve already done a post about the great programming offered through the Toronto Public Library, but as many of the programs involve bringing in writers, I have to mention it again here. While many of the “big ticket” events happen at the Toronto Reference Library on Yonge Street, they do make sure to spread the events out to the various branches as well. Often, this involves repeating events, so if you’re unable to catch a talk one night, you might have another chance. For example, award-winning author Hugh Brewster will be speaking about his new book on the sinking of the Titanic, which happened 100 years ago this year, at the Reference Library on April 3, and then on subsequent dates at the following branches: Albert Campbell, Port Union, Danforth/Coxwell and Annette Street. All library lectures are free, although some do require you to reserve tickets in advance.
Harbourfront Centre has been inviting authors to Toronto since 1974 through its Authors at Harbourfront series. Upcoming guests include John Boyne, Sadie Jones and Farley Mowat. Tickets are generally $10 but free for members, youth and students, and programs often feature more than 1 author.
It’s long been a tradition for bookstores to host book launches and signings and Toronto’s book sellers are definitely keeping the tradition alive. Indigo hosts author events fairly regularly, usually at either their Manulife Centre or Yorkdale locations. Coming up, Nicholas Sparks and Kelley Armstrong. While these events are usually limited to book signings, there are occasionally more in-depth offerings. For example, on April 11, Heather Reisman will be in conversation with Dr. Sanjay Gupta about his new book Monday Mornings. Our independent bookstores and publishers also host their share of events, so watch for them. Or better yet, check out Open Book: Toronto, a goldmine of literary event information.
In addition to these big players, lots of other groups host authors from time to time. Coming up for example, the Italian Cultural Institute teams up with the University of Toronto Press to launch Elena Lamberti’s book Marshall McLuhan’s Mosaic. So with all these book-related events going on, not to mention all the other great offerings out there, the only hard part is finding the time to fit it all in! Enjoy!
Thursday, 24 November 2011
The Distillery at Christmas
Once again this year, the Distillery District will be the home of Lowe's Christmas Market. The already beautiful Victorian pedestrian district gets all gussied up with lights, a gigantic tree, and lots of additional opportunities for shopping, drinking & entertainment.
There's something for everyone at this event. For those looking to take care of some of their Christmas shopping, in addition to the Distillery's usual shops and artisans, small wooden chalets are set up throughout the lanes, each housing a unique vendor. Traditional foods and gift items will be in abundance. A list of vendors is available here. And as an added bonus, MasterCard is offering free gift wrapping for any purchases made at the Market which were paid for using a MasterCard.
If you plan to bring your kids to the Market, apart from the regular entertainment and fantastic food treats, there's also a ferris wheel to ride, and Santa's Lane to visit. The Lane features storytelling, a fairy tale forest maze, Rudolph's reindeer zoo, Santa's House and more.
For those just looking to hang out and have a good time, there's plenty of entertainment scheduled. A daily fixture will be the Candy Cane Carollers, who perform Christmas favourites in four-part harmony at various times throughout the day. Local choirs and bands will also provide entertainment, and on weekends and select weekdays, solo artists will perform on the mainstage. Steven Page will help open the festivities on December 2, and other performers include David Myles, David Usher and Suzie McNeil. And if you're like me and prefer to keep the cold at bay with a beverage, there are 3 beer gardens and 3 hospitality lounges serving a variety of drinks. Free samples will even be offered at select times at each of the lounge venues. And there's always the hot chocolate at Soma, one of the best things about the Distillery at any time of year.
The Market opens December 2 and runs until December 18th. Admission is free.
There's something for everyone at this event. For those looking to take care of some of their Christmas shopping, in addition to the Distillery's usual shops and artisans, small wooden chalets are set up throughout the lanes, each housing a unique vendor. Traditional foods and gift items will be in abundance. A list of vendors is available here. And as an added bonus, MasterCard is offering free gift wrapping for any purchases made at the Market which were paid for using a MasterCard.
For those just looking to hang out and have a good time, there's plenty of entertainment scheduled. A daily fixture will be the Candy Cane Carollers, who perform Christmas favourites in four-part harmony at various times throughout the day. Local choirs and bands will also provide entertainment, and on weekends and select weekdays, solo artists will perform on the mainstage. Steven Page will help open the festivities on December 2, and other performers include David Myles, David Usher and Suzie McNeil. And if you're like me and prefer to keep the cold at bay with a beverage, there are 3 beer gardens and 3 hospitality lounges serving a variety of drinks. Free samples will even be offered at select times at each of the lounge venues. And there's always the hot chocolate at Soma, one of the best things about the Distillery at any time of year.
The Market opens December 2 and runs until December 18th. Admission is free.
Wednesday, 19 October 2011
Halloween
In Toronto, Halloween isn't just a day for buying candy and dressing up the kids. Well, maybe it is for some, but for those of us who love the macabre theatricality of the day, Toronto has a two-week Halloween season rife with opportunities to express your inner zombie, witch, etc., many of them free.
The weirdest event may be the Toronto Zombie Walk happening this year on October 22. This is the 9th year of the walk and it just keeps expanding - last year, almost 6000 people donned make-up and joined the shamble. Trinity-Bellwoods Park is the meeting place and location for some of the side attractions, such as the Zombie Wedding scheduled for 2 pm. The walk starts at 3 pm. If you need to travel on TTC anywhere near the park on Saturday be warned - there will be "blood" everywhere. We took the streetcar to the event last year, getting on at Parliament. The car was at least 2/3 full of zombies - so don't wear your favourite new jeans! Even without dressing up, the event can be a blast - people get so creative with the costumes, and if you're a fan of the genre, it's fun to identify all the non-zombie zombie references.
A less gory event is Clay & Paper Theatre's Night of Dread. This is another walk, taking place the following weekend on October 29. The parade leaves from Dufferin Grove Park and winds through the streets for an hour, before returning to the park. The dress code for the event is black and white and dreadful, and the organizers have costumes and puppets available for the public to use during the walk. As you parade, you're accompanied by musicians, puppeteers, dancers and stilt-walkers. It's quite the spectacle, and as the pace is very sedate, suitable for almost everyone to participate in. Assembling for the parade begins at 4 pm, with the parade departing at 6.
The Toronto After Dark Film Festival is also running during this time period. It begins Thursday October 20 and runs for a week. While not free, it's pretty reasonable at $13 per film, and festival passes are available. It features horror, sci-fi, action and cult movies, and also includes pub nights after the final showing of the night. All movies are being screened at the Underground Cinema on Spadina, and for Saturday night's showing, those arriving in zombie attire get a discount.
Check out the What's On page for some of the many other free and nearly free events happening, such as:
Haunted High Park
Halloween Hoot Boo Barn at Riverdale Farm
City of the Dead: Necropolis Cemetery Tour
Ghost Tracking at Casa Loma
Fort York After Dark: Ghost Tour
Variety Village's Halloween Haunted House
Spirit Walk, hosted by Mackenzie House
The weirdest event may be the Toronto Zombie Walk happening this year on October 22. This is the 9th year of the walk and it just keeps expanding - last year, almost 6000 people donned make-up and joined the shamble. Trinity-Bellwoods Park is the meeting place and location for some of the side attractions, such as the Zombie Wedding scheduled for 2 pm. The walk starts at 3 pm. If you need to travel on TTC anywhere near the park on Saturday be warned - there will be "blood" everywhere. We took the streetcar to the event last year, getting on at Parliament. The car was at least 2/3 full of zombies - so don't wear your favourite new jeans! Even without dressing up, the event can be a blast - people get so creative with the costumes, and if you're a fan of the genre, it's fun to identify all the non-zombie zombie references.
A less gory event is Clay & Paper Theatre's Night of Dread. This is another walk, taking place the following weekend on October 29. The parade leaves from Dufferin Grove Park and winds through the streets for an hour, before returning to the park. The dress code for the event is black and white and dreadful, and the organizers have costumes and puppets available for the public to use during the walk. As you parade, you're accompanied by musicians, puppeteers, dancers and stilt-walkers. It's quite the spectacle, and as the pace is very sedate, suitable for almost everyone to participate in. Assembling for the parade begins at 4 pm, with the parade departing at 6.
The Toronto After Dark Film Festival is also running during this time period. It begins Thursday October 20 and runs for a week. While not free, it's pretty reasonable at $13 per film, and festival passes are available. It features horror, sci-fi, action and cult movies, and also includes pub nights after the final showing of the night. All movies are being screened at the Underground Cinema on Spadina, and for Saturday night's showing, those arriving in zombie attire get a discount.
Check out the What's On page for some of the many other free and nearly free events happening, such as:
Haunted High Park
Halloween Hoot Boo Barn at Riverdale Farm
City of the Dead: Necropolis Cemetery Tour
Ghost Tracking at Casa Loma
Fort York After Dark: Ghost Tour
Variety Village's Halloween Haunted House
Spirit Walk, hosted by Mackenzie House
Sunday, 21 August 2011
FanExpo
This weekend, the ultimate geek fest rolls in to town. Yes, it's time once again for FanExpo. From August 25 to 28th, the Metro Toronto Convention Centre will be taken over by all things awesome - it's a combined comic, sci fi, horror, anime and gaming expo. Single day tickets range from $25 to $30 and full weekend passes are $79 (the premium weekend pass, at $109, was sold out ages ago). After attending last year's expo however, I'll be passing on the tickets this year. Why? Turns out, my favourite part of FanExpo can - to a great extent - be enjoyed for free.
For me, there are few things more smile-inducing than seeing someone get totally immersed in doing something they really love to do. At FanExpo, the hard core fans come out in droves, and many of them wear their fandom on their sleeves. Or their capes. Or armour. FanExpo is your opportunity to meet your favourite stars - either the real deal inside the convention (in nice, average everyday street clothes) - or in full costumed glory, wandering around inside, or better yet, on the street outside. It's called cosplay and some people take it very seriously. Which makes it all the more fun for people like me. How often do you get a chance to meet the Ghostbusters? Or have your kids arrested by Stormtroopers? Seriously, if you have kids, especially ones who love Star Wars, video games, anime or comics, take them down to the Convention Centre. A lot of the cosplayers make a point of interacting with the fans, not just posing for photographs but doing so totally in character. Alarmingly so at times!
If you're thinking of checking it out, keep in mind that the Masquerade, probably the most popular event at FanExpo, happens Saturday night at 8 pm. It's a chance for all of these talented people to show off their creations in front of a live audience, and perhaps walk away with a prize. Costumes in any of the Expo genres are welcome.
For me, there are few things more smile-inducing than seeing someone get totally immersed in doing something they really love to do. At FanExpo, the hard core fans come out in droves, and many of them wear their fandom on their sleeves. Or their capes. Or armour. FanExpo is your opportunity to meet your favourite stars - either the real deal inside the convention (in nice, average everyday street clothes) - or in full costumed glory, wandering around inside, or better yet, on the street outside. It's called cosplay and some people take it very seriously. Which makes it all the more fun for people like me. How often do you get a chance to meet the Ghostbusters? Or have your kids arrested by Stormtroopers? Seriously, if you have kids, especially ones who love Star Wars, video games, anime or comics, take them down to the Convention Centre. A lot of the cosplayers make a point of interacting with the fans, not just posing for photographs but doing so totally in character. Alarmingly so at times!
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