Come on Jim Carrey! FACE THE EDGE WALK. You may not SLEEP in the CN Tower…but you sure can do a little two step in the air! Why not taste a few snow flakes on your tongue this winter. Fun way to stick your tongue out in jest at the city of Toronto (…top of the world, ma! — James Cagney style) in a manner of speaking. Stay at the historic Fairmont Royal York hotel; It’s close to the CN Tower. www.fairmont.com Details at the end of this post.
FLASH THIS
Zoomer magazine is Toronto grown but covers the world and always sports stunning covers
2013: Mercedes-Benz new “S-Class” launch before the automobile goes on sale in September 2013. The new S-Class model has the ability to anticipate where cars and people are moving. The Mercedes chassis technology in the new S-Class model floats over rocky roads for the ultimate comfort design. www.mercedes-Benz.ca New Mercedes-Benz S-class unveiled via @Telegraph http://soa.li/i18Wi2S
2013: Toronto’s Canadian National Exhibition grounds is the site for an Italian-style pizza shindig at the Liberty Grand, June 9, 2013. Lake Ontario waterfront venue in a grand building with a stunning ballroom. Tickets: 1-855-985-5000
May 16, 2013 Pinball Alley at First Canadian Place 100 King Street West (King & Bay streets). 9:am to 6: pm. 100 pinball machines! Look for Stratford sign. Play pinball or watch celebrities press a few hot buttons. Cast of “Tommy” will be here 12:15 and 1:15. www.stratfordfestival.ca/pinball
Buy one regular price ticket and bring a friend for just $1!
As a valued member of the TSO family, you know the beauty and power of experiencing a live orchestral performance by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Here’s your chance to bring someone new to the TSO!
 Gerald Finley, bass-baritone |
Wed, May 22 at 8:00pm Thu, May 23 at 8:00pm Sat, May 25 at 7:30pm Roy Thomson Hall Peter Oundjian, conductor Klara Ek, soprano Gerald Finley, bass-baritone Toronto Mendelssohn Choir
Hear over 140 musicians and singers perform on stage for the soul-stirring A German Requiem by Brahms. The music, sung in German, communicates profound messages of peace, hope, and consolation. On May 22 & 23, hear Peter Lieberson’s lyrical song cycle, his second collection setting love poems by the Nobel Prize-winning Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda. Learn more at an intermission chat in the lobby on May 22 & 23. Come early for an informative pre-concert chat in the North Lobby with Rick Phillips on May 25 at 6:45pm. Stay after the concert for a party in the lobby, and mingle with musicians in a relaxed setting and enjoy live music by The Box Car Boys. SPECIAL OFFER: Buy one regular price ticket and bring a friend for just $1!* CODE: BREQUIEM * Not valid on previously purchased tickets or in conjunction with other offers or discounts. Please note the first ticket will be charged at the full price value, including service charge. This offer is not valid on previously purchased tickets and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers or discounts |
June 20, 2013, Toronto
Hillary Clinton lecture June 20, 2013 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada at the Metro Convention Centre, north building. Tickets 1-866-449-8118 or 416-449-8118.
Saturday May 11, 2013. Like your adventure gooey and exciting? Make your own eyeball and other cool and fun stuff for the entire family. Do YOU have what it takes to be a transplant surgeon? http://ow.ly/kS7j1
Maple Leaf Square in Toronto is the place to be May 8, 2013. Go Leafs Go! Watch the party live, now!!! Take the TTC subway south to UNION STATION and walk underground (The Path) to Maple Leaf Square (outside). http://mapleleafs.nhl.com/v2/ext/live/ http://www.mapleleafsquare.com/home.html
May 11, 2013, Saturday at the Royal Ontario Museum. Kids and adults both will have a lot of fun with South Asian Heritage Day: taste the cuisines of South Asia, classical and folk dances, which will also be accompanied by musical performances, interactive activities such as miniature painting, authentic Mughal art and calligraphy, Rangoli floor art as well as block printing and textile crafts. Additionally, the ROM’s Food Studio will play host to a variety of South Asian cuisines. http://www.southasianheritageday.com/ http://www.rom.on.ca/en (ROM FRIDAY NIGHTS singles celebration rocks the city.)
High Park Cherry Blossoms, May 5, 2013. Take a ROM walking tour (free) to see cherry tree blossoms around the city.
High Park during cherry blossom season. Toronto
- May 5, 2013 High Park was THE place to chill out. Wall-to-Wall people! So Much fun!!!
I ended my cherry blossom day with a song in my heart courtesy of a red cardinal high up in a tree singing brightly
Check out High Park Nature Center on Facebook
O&B Canteen hits home run with Knuckle Sandwich
Blue Jays opening season! And Oliver & Bonacini are here for the pitch.
R.A. Dickey inspires “Knuckle Sandwich.” When I heard about this sandwich I hightailed it down to the TIFF Lighthouse at King and John streets to have a looksee and taste for myself. O&B Centeen MLB-inspired specials on Home Game Days are here…and just days away from the first pitch of the season (April 2nd on Tuesday at 7:07 p.m. ET vs. the Indians.) and O&B Canteen has already jumped on the Blue Jays bandwagon. The restaurant will be showing its support for Toronto’s team by offering a Knuckle Sandwich in honour of our new ace and knuckleballer, R.A. Dickey. Created by Chef Markus Bestig and Chef Anthony Walsh, the sandwich features BBQ pulled pork with Mill St. Porter apple mustard and Canteen ‘kraut with a healthy sprinkling of toasted sweet onions. The Knuckle Sandwich has my “okay!” Delish. Next “Knuckle” will slide down realy easy with a cold beer. O&B Canteen will be offering this knockout special all day on every home game day, both for dine-in and from the grab + go counter for $8. To wash it all down, Canteen will be offering $5 pints of Mill St. Tankhouse Ale. O&B Canteen will feature dishes honouring visiting teams throughout the season. For instance, when our rivals, the Red Sox come to town on April 5th, O&B Canteen will be teasing the palate with Jerk Chicken, paying homage to Boston’s new manager. P.S. I wouldn’t be surprised if you see Dickey chowing down a “Knuckle.” O&B Canteen, Tiff Bell Lighthouse, 330 King Street West, Toronto. 416-485-8047
The Knuckle Sandwich puts a smile on Markus Bestig’s face at O&B Canteen, TIFF Bell Lighthouse.
Checking out the fab cafes, health food stores, Tim Horton’s, flower shop and organic butcher shop on Parliament Street. Just about bumped into a couple of Beauty and the Beast film stars. Yeah, maybe it was my fault. What a gal will do for a bit of star dust.
http://bit.ly/ZpZck0
Holmes Makes It Right with Randy Backman. Check out his song: ”…the roof is leakn’ the basement is sinkn’…” http://youtu.be/HXY0ImSg72Q Mike’s new episode: Labour of Love @ 9pm ET on HGTV www.makeitright.ca
St. James Cathedral
David Briggs, Artist-in-Residence (organ), New York City premiere, Friday, April 12, 2013. Special performance. World-renowned British concert organist and composer David Briggs premieres his organ transcription of Gustav Mahler, Symphony No. 2 in honour of the late Dr. John Prior.
The St. James’ Cathedral 18-voice professional choir continues to be in high demand for concerts and events in Toronto and out of town. May 3rd annual “Last Night of the Proms” concert, St. James Cathedral. Enjoy the Band of the Royal Regiment and the choirs of the St. James Cathedral and David Briggs on the magnificent St. James Cathedral organ, Choral Director Vicki St. Pierre, and MC for the evening, Brian Jackson, Principal Pops Conductor for the Victoria Symphony, the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, and Orchestra London.
St. James’s cathedral’s archivist Nancy Mallett was presented recently with the Governor General’s “Caring Canadian Award” on March 22, 2013.
DOORS OPEN TORONTO 2013, May 25 – 26. Want to help out at St. James Cathedral? contact: Nancy Mallett, 416-364-7865 ext. 233.
Deanery Dinner, Saturday, may 25, 2013 at 5:30 pm. 20s & 30s social gathering and Asian-inspired dinner. Food provied but help is needed to prepare the meal. RSVP to Jeff Nowers: jnowers@stjamescathedral.on.ca
April 27, 2013. Concert for the Battle of York (renamed Toronto), 1813. 7:30 PM at St. James Cathedral, presented by the Tallis Choir. www.tallischoir.com
Jazz Mass, Sunday, June 30, 2013 at 11:00 am. The Mike Janzen Trio and The St. James Cathedral Choir. Jamie Howison, founding pastoral leader of St. Benedict’s Table, Winnipeg and author of “God’s mind in that music.” Many music events taking place over the next 6 months at St. James Cathedral. Visit St. James’s website.
http://www.stjamescathedral.on.ca/ http://www.stjohndivine.org/
Toronto Zoo
Giant Pandas from China arrive to Toronto’s zoo. March 25, 2013
As part of a long-term conservation partnership agreement between China and Canada, signed by Hu Jintao, President of China and Mr. Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, China will loan two giant pandas to zoos in Canada. The good news is that Toronto Zoo will be home to the breeding pair for a minimum of five years, beginning in the spring of 2013. The pandas will then relocate to the Calgary Zoo sometime in 2018. If the breeding is successful while the pair are at the Toronto Zoo, the pandas and offspring would remain in Toronto until such time it is approved to move them. The Giant Pandas arrive by FedEx to Toronto March 25, 2013. www.torontozoo.com
Recently checked out! Jazz, cocktails and supper on Victoria street. Do it! Also, The Wizard of OZ at the ED MIRVISH theatre just across the street from the Jazz Bistro (once home to the famous Top O’ The Senator jazz club). Ever heard of The Elgin and Winter Garden theatres? It’s all here. Now on to taste buds. Prairie Girl Cupcakes is on Victoria street. New location to open spring 2013 near Louis Vuitton store at Avenue Road and Bloor streets, Toronto. http://www.heritagetrust.on.ca/EWG/Home.aspx?lang=en-CA http://jazzbistro.ca/ http://www.mirvish.com/ https://www.prairiegirlbakery.com/
Okay, so I’m walking casually along King Street West just a stone’s throw west of Bay Street and I see a really cool-looking outdoor patio. Turns out the place is Earl’s Restaurant where there is a steak bonanza going on in the month of May. The gals in black remind me when I could walk as fast as they do. Check this spot out for service that makes no distinction in royalty. A touch “man cave” stuff but the gals like it. www.earls.ca
See the Ultimate Dinosaurs at The Royal Ontario Museum (Avenue Road and Bloor streets) in Toronto before they are gone…again!
The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) announces the final days of Ultimate Dinosaurs: Giants from Gondwana, presented by investment dealer Raymond James Ltd. Closing March 17, 2013, experience this original exhibition curated, designed, and produced by the ROM, showcasing some of the largest and most unusual dinosaurs from the Southern hemisphere, before they embark on an international tour. Featuring never before seen species and interactive installations, Ultimate Dinosaurs uses cutting-edge technologies and hands-on exhibits to showcase this new breed of beasts. http://www.rom.on.ca/dinos/index.php
- Palais Royale
- Faith, Hope and Charity Luncheons. See you from Noon, on Toronto’s waterfront (spectacular views!) Wednesdays. $15.00 weekly buffet and know that you are helping all of our charities! Palais Royale, 1601 Lake Shore Blvd. West, Toronto, Ontario. M6K 3C1. 416-533-3553 x 22 www.palaisroyale.ca For more information on the Faith, Hope and Charity Luncheons please go to http://www.palaisroyale.ca/toronto-events/public-events-in-toronto
WINTERLICIOUS is back again and even more delicious. Summerlicious is almost here!!!
Canoe Restaurant, 54th Floor, TD Centre, Toronto. 5-star. Views of Lake Ontario out-of-this-world.
Check this downtown Toronto restaurant and bar a stone’s throw to the Dome (Roger’s) stadium and Air Canada Centre. Aria Ristorante. You can walk underground (Path) from Union Station TTC subway to Aria Ristorante. Executive Chef Eron Novalski knows his fresh cuisine! I adored Aria’s organic seared salmon. I devoured the Tiramisu; it wasn’t the best I’ve had but Aria came pretty close (best was in Italy). I want to try the Il ‘club sandiwich’ with lobster, fennel slaw, crispy pancetta, avocado, Yukon frites next visit to Aria Ristorante. Aria is part of Winterlicious, January 25 to February 7, 2013. Winterlicious Prix Fixe: lunch $25. Dinner: $45. http://ariaristorante.ca/about/#awp::about/ 25 York Street. Telephone: 416.363-2742
CN Tower lakefront area. CANOE, 66 Wellington Street, West. On the 54th floor of the TD Bank Tower. Winterlicious Prix Fixe menu, Canadian: Lunch: $25. Dinner: $45. Wheelchair access. Telephone: 416-307-3322. Stunning views of Toronto Island and Lake Ontario from Canoe on the 54th floor. http://www.oliverbonacini.com/canoe.aspx
Little Italy neighbourhood on College Street. Bar Italia, 582 College Street. Winterlicious Prix Fixe menu, Italian: Lunch: $15. Dinner: $25. Wheelchair access. http://www.bar-italia.ca/
Near the Hockey Hall of Fame. Biff’s Bistro, 4 Front Street East. Winterlicious menu, French. I checked out the Winterlicious menu and everything sounds delish! Just one of the starter options: FRENCH ONION SOUP with Gruyère croûton & sherry 2008 Domaine Lignères ‘La Baronne’, Languedoc, France. Winterlicious Prix Fixe menu: Lunch: $20. Dinner: $35. Wheelchair access. http://www.oliverbonacini.com/biffs-bistro.aspx
Liberty Village art gallery neighbourhood. Bar Vespa, 167 East Liberty Street. Telephone: 416-533-8377. Winterlicious Prix Fixe menu, Italian: Lunch: $15. Dinner: $25. Wheelchair access. http://www.barvespa.ca/
Lake Ontario Toronto Island landscape. Toula Restaurant & Bar, 1 Harbour Square, 38th Floor, Westin Harbour Castle hotel. Telephone: 416-777-2002. Winterlicious Prix Fixe menu, Italian: Lunch: $20. Dinner: $35. http://toularestaurant.com/
Central area near Yonge and King streets. Rosewater Restaurant, 19 Toronto Street. Telephone: 416-214-5888. Winterlicious Prix Fixe menu, International: Lunch: $20. Dinner: $35. Excellent wine list and cocktail bar. http://www.rosewaterroom.com/
Yorkville on Bloor Street area. C5 Restaurant Lounge, 100 Queen’s Park, Royal Ontario Museum. Winterlicious Prix Fixe menu, International: Lunch $25. Ideal opportunity to visit one of the world’s great museums and then enjoy fine dining at a special prix fixe rate. Telephone: 416-5867928. http://www.c5restaurant.ca/
King Street West area (just west of Spadina Avenue). Mildred’s Temple Kitchen, 85 Hanna Avenue, Ste. #104 ground level. Field-to-table freshness! Winterlicious Prix Fixe menu, Canadian Market Fresh (take the TTC almost to Mildred’s front door.) Lunch: $20. Dinner: $35. http://twitter.com/OlioGrille/status/290277319225012226/photo/1 Try the crab cakes. http://www.templekitchen.com/
Yonge & Queen area. Starfish Oyster Bed & Grill, 100 Adelaide Street East. Telephone: 416-366-7827. Winterlicious Prix Fixe menu, seafood. Lunch: $20. Dinner: $35. http://www.starfishoysterbed.com/
King & Spadina streets, live theatre area. Crush Wine Bar, 455 King Street West. Telephone: 416-977-1234. Winterlicious Prix Fixe menu, Canadian. Lunch: $20. Dinner: $35. One of Toronto’s cool hot spots for wine appreciation. http://www.crushwinebar.com/
Heading to the CN Tower or Air Canada Centre? Joe’s in the heart of the King Street entertainment district. Joe Badali’s Ristorante Italiano & Bar, 156 Front Street West. Long sports bar. Extensive menu. Telephone: 416-977-3064. Winterlicious Prix Fixe menu, Italian. Lunch: $15. Dinner: $25. http://www.joebadalis.com/
Downtown within the Thompson Toronto in the eclectic arts and design neighborhood of King West Village. Scarpetta, 550 Wellington Street West in Thompson Hotel. Winterlicious Prix Fixe menu, Italian. Dinner: $45. Telephone: 416-601-3590. http://www.scottconant.com/restaurants/scarpetta/toronto
King and Yonge streets area. Walk to St. James’s cathedral. La Maquette, 111 King Street East. Winterlicious Prix Fixe menu, French; Italian. Lunch: $20. Dinner: $35. Telephone: 416-366-8191. http://www.lamaquette.com/
Avenue Road north of Bloor Street. MISTURA RESTAURANT, 265 Davenport Road. www.mistura.ca Winterlicious Prix Fixe menu, Italian. Dinner: $45. Telephone: 416-515-0009 http://www.mistura.ca/index.php Sopra. www.sopra.ca Restaurant and supper club. Live entertainment.
Yorkville shopping and museum district. Il Posto, 148 Yorkville Avenue. Winterlicious Prix Fixe menu, Italian. Lunch $25. Dinner: $45. Telephone: 416-968-0469. http://www.ilposto.ca/
UNION STATION area. Epic Restaurant, 100 Front Street West within The Fairmont Royal York hotel. Winterlicious Prix Fixe menu, Continental. Lunch: $25. Dinner: $45. Wheelchair entrance. http://www.epicrestaurant.ca/
Love Chilean wine and food! Executive Chef, Andres Michel: “Mi cocina es su cocina.” www.andresmichel.com 1560 Yonge Street, #201. Telephone: 647-352-6399.
Don’t forget Summerlicious 2013 Toronto!
Name Calling! Yup… www.theaircanadacentre.com loves to do it and sometimes twice. RIHANNA, second show announced for March 19, 2013. Bon Jovi, second show announced for Feb. 18, 2013. Performers who have headlined at The Air Canada Centre: Lady Gaga; Pink; Carrie Underwood; Katy Perry; Glee in Concert; Barbra Streisand; The Who; One Direction; Bryan Adams; Madonna; Lenard Cohen; Cirque Du Soleil; Avril Lavigne; Peter Gabriel; Britney Spears; Aerosmith and a whole lot more at The Air Canada Centre at Maple Leaf Square. Hungry after a performance…try ARIA RISTORANTE at 25 York Street in Maple Leaf Square…around the corner from The Air Canada Centre http://ariaristorante.ca or the biggest TV sports screen in Canada — two-stories high. http://www.realsports.ca/bar
ARIA RISTORANTE, 25 York St.
Toronto is in the midst of a building boom for all structures heading skyward. The new Four Seasons Hotel in Yorkville is creating quite a stir and not only in the dbar cocktail lounge. If you like getting stared at…pull up a chair here. ”It” Factor: New York-style street views & soaring ceilings. All the immediate landscape needs now is a very, very high-end shoe shop. Check out this skyscraper (55-stories – meek by Toronto standards) soon. Keep your eye tuned for Café Boulud. www.fourseasons.com/toronto 60 Yorkville Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M4W 0A4 CANADA Telephone 416-964-0411 FAX: 416-964-2301
At the other end of town in the financial district you’ll find the Trump Hotel at 325 Bay Street (just north of King Street on the east side of Bay Street) at 65-stories. Stock is Trump’s 31st-floor restaurant. The swanky cocktail lounge is street level and very busy with dollar-sign for eyes and ears Bay Streeters. www.trumphotelcollection.com/toronto
One of the widest streets in the city boasts a flower-lined streetscape and the recently opened Shangri-La hotel/condo at 188 University Avenue soaring to 214 m (65-stories) designed by James K. M. Cheng, architect. Tour groups always mention the unique immense sculpture at the exterior of the hotel. Art Deco-style 1930s cocktails and just about anything else you desire to help soak up the rarified atmosphere. I’m going to check out their sake menu. Japanese kaiseki cuisine in Bosk restaurant.
Here is a boutique hotel worth its title. Le Germain is tucked away on a Toronto side street in the live theatre and sports areas of the city; but, do not let this boutique hotel sidestep you into thinking Le Germain on Mercer Street offers anything less than excellent. The hotel is within walking distance of the financial district, the Rogers Centre, the CN Tower and the Convention Centre, Toronto’s best theatres, boutiques and restaurants. David Chrystian, Executive Chef, was recognized by The National Post as one of Toronto’s top 10 chefs. See Chrystian in action at Victor Restaurant. Le Germain has hotels in Quebec City and Montreal. http://www.germaintoronto.com/en/home
Remember Woodstock? Well, Toronto’s Beach neighbourghood had a shindig fundraiser to beat the drum at Woodbine Park on Sunday October 20, 2012. SOUPSTOCK! The fall weather was perfect with a blue sky and summer-like temperature ambiance. Bowls of soup and more soup of all kinds created lineups for soup from one end of the park to the other. If you didn’t bring your own bowl of any size you could buy one from Nella Cucina. At the end of the day it was announced over loudspeakers that 40,000 people attended the free event. Ten-dollars ($10.) bought three tickets for soup from any of upwards of 200 vendors presented by Canadian Chefs’ Congress, Congrès des Chefs de Cuisine Canadiens and David Suzuki Foundation. Soupstock is a fundraiser to stop the Highland Mega-Quarry planned for Ontario farm lands northwest of the city of Toronto. Live music performed by many bands. Jeremy Taggart and George Stroumboulopoulos (MCs) opened Soupstock. The event was the Red Carpet of Chefs! Jamie Kennedy Kitchens; Susur Lee; Steffan Howard from Casa Loma and Palais Royale; Hiro Yoshida of Hiro Sushi restaurant; Albert Ponzo/ Le Select Bistro and David Keenen from At the Five; The Garrison House;The Drake Hotel; Red Fish; Leah’s Bakery; Crush Wine Bar; Oyster Boy; Patrick McMurray of Starfish and Ceili Cottage; Evergreen Brick Works; Forbes Wild Foods; Neil Patterson / Jump RestaurantSandy MacFayden of Reposado Tequila Bar; Connie Desousa and John Jackson, Charcut Roast House, Calgary; Marc Thuet from Petite Thuet; Kevin Prendergast, Hilton Hotel and Collin Thorton, Fairmont Royal York; Ariel Coplan, Nyood Reataurant & Bar; Philip Patrick of Ridge at Manitou Golf Club/ Donna Dooher & Taylor McMeekin of Mildred’s Temple Kitchen; Ryan Crawford of Stone Road Grille / Niagara on the Lake; Winston Hue of The Boiler House and John Higgins & Oliver Li of the George Brown College Chef’s School. And a good time was had by all! For an entire list of Soupstock vendors visit: http://www.soupstock.ca/
Chef Michael Stadtländer of Eigensinn Farm, Ontario
Foodies! Jamie’s in town! The Bay@TheHudsonsBayCo TODAY Saturay October 20, 2012 | Meet @jamieoliver at The Bay Queen Street 12-1pm. pic.twitter.com/AK4kfVvi
Toronto vs Montreal – http://bmofield.com/
Ultimate Dinosaurs exhibition at the Royal Ontario Museum. www.rom.on.ca Biggest show in town. http://www.rom.on.ca/dinos/channel/videos.php ROM: 100 Queen’s Park Toronto (Bloor street & Avenue Road. Walk a couple of streets west of Yonge & Bloor streets), Ontario M5S 2C6. Contact: Telephone: 416.586.8000 Bell Relay Service : 711 info@rom.on.ca
RUM & RHYTHM in Toronto
Photos & text Copyright © by May DeLory
A little bite of Toronto:
If you arrive in the city of Toronto by train at Union Station http://www.viarail.ca/, you’ll be in the hub of things for a great time in the city. Take care of business en route using VIA’s wireless Internet service. (note: road construction in the area of Union Station). Across from the train station (Union Station) at Toronto is the Fairmont Royal York Hotel http://www.fairmont.com/. There is an underground connection to the hotel from Union Station. If you are already outside and want to see the lakefront, walk south on Bay Street (Bay St. runs from north to south) from the Fairmont Royal York hotel or Union Station to Harbourfront http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/where entertainment/cultural public events take place lakeside – many are free. Check out the canoe and larger boat rentals/lessons near HTO park. Many restaurants are in this area as well as public transportation (look for the red TTC signs for streetcar and bus travel). There are vintage ferryboats to the Toronto Islands at the foot of Bay Street south www.toronto.ca/parks/islands. A few blocks east of the Fairmont Royal York is the Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum http://www.hhof.com/ at 30 Yonge Street at Front Street. Another time honoured attraction in Toronto takes place in the fall in the west end of the city at the waterfront. Canada’s largest annual fair, the Canadian National Exhibition http://www.theex.com/, has over a 130-year history and attracts approximately 1.25 million visitors over 18 days; it’s home to the first urban wind turbine in North America and host to the Canadian International Air Show for three days showcasing The Snowbirds flying precision aerobatics over Lake Ontario. Of course a visit to Toronto’s CN Tower is a Must-Do. Face the Edge is the newest high adrenalin activity at the CN Tower. Hang from 356m above Toronto and live to tell the tale. It was a mega helicopter Sikorsky Skyrane that put the icing on the CN Tower cake as it were. In the spring of 1975 Erickson Air-Crane put the communications antenna on top of the CN Tower. 553.4 metres (1,815 feet, 6 inches. http://www.cntower.ca/Intro.html
East of Harbourfront (about ten minutes by car (city buses get you there, too), is the hip & chic historic Distillery district http://www.thedistillerydistrict.com/ for artisan bread, organic coffee and sandwiches, up and coming fashion designers, world-class art exhibits and openings, live demonstrations, ice cream and flower shops, oyster and beer pubs, and jazz festivals. The Distillery district is used by film production companies for period location filming due to the 100+years buildings.
If you enjoy world-class opera http://www.coc.ca/ the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts–a spectacular glass-enclosed building on the corners of Queen & University Streets at 145 Queen Street west (Toronto City Hall is just east of the Four Seasons Centre)–is about a ten-minute cab ride from Harbourfront and closer still if you begin at the Fairmont Royal York. The new opera centre opened in Toronto just a few years’ ago and is regularly 99% sold out for major performances. On site there is a last minute ticket booth, so you may get lucky on a whim. There is also direct walking access to the Four Seasons Centre from the subway station at St. Andrew station at Queen Street West. http://www3.ttc.ca/Subway/Stations/St_Andrew/station.jsp
Shopping at Hudson’s Bay Company http://www.hbc.com/ department store, where just about everything under the sun is available, including Official Canadian Olympic 2010 Games merchandise, is well worth a visit to the Queen & Yonge Streets location, just east of the opera facility. There are additional store locations throughout the city. On Queen Street east you’ll also be near City Hall http://www.toronto.ca/ at Queen & Bay Streets where many free events are held outdoors. In winter the pond is converted to an outdoor skating rink. Need something to eat in a hurry and want to use a credit card? Just take one of the elevators in The Bay to one of the restaurants (some are licenced for liquor/beer). There is a designer Food Court at basement level. The TTC subway directly links at Queen and Yonge Streets to The Bay’s basement level. I buy presents at this location due to the fine culinary selections and equipment. It’s not Harrods by a long shot but quite suitable and very tidy. Don’t forget to check out the Christmas windows at Hudson’s Bay Company, Queen Street location. This is an annual window-shopping event. The decorations and holiday displays are remarkable. Hats off to the window display people!
Earls.ca 150 King Street West, Toronto
Okay, so where to eat and sleep if you’re not into grand hotels of the century and still want to be near great shopping and dining?
Hoof it over to some of Toronto’s excellent boutique hotel locations. Hotel Le Germain http://www.germaintoronto.com/, a contemporary-style boutique hotel in the King Street & University Avenue theatre district, won a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence 2007. You’ll be within easy walking distance to the CN Tower http://www.cntower.ca/, Union Station, and the Rogers Centre http://www.www.rogerscentre/ , with its retractable Dome roof and major league baseball, continue to be great meeting spots and tourist attractions. What I most enjoyed about Le Germain was the main dining room, Chez Victor http://www.victorrestaurant.com/ , presided over by executive chef David Chrystian. Check out the complementary wine tasting events on the rooftop vineyard terrace given by Chez Victor’s certified sommelier. Hotel Le Germain has other locations including Montreal and Old-Quebec city in the province of Quebec, Canada.
Actually there are so many interesting places to eat at in Toronto you need a guidebook to set you straight. So go buy one at one of our many small book stores or at a chain store http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/, but if you choose to wing it, instead, give one of my suggestions a try for what I believe will be a grand city adventure in the heart of Toronto: a world within a world for you to explore and savour. We’re a liveable city. www.citytraveler.com www.wheretraveler.com We even have a castle! Casa Loma. Castle tours, special event buffets in the stunning Casa Loma great library and atrium, garden tours, cafe, gift shop, secret rooms, organ concerts, underground tunnel to grand stables, and special events. www.casaloma.org
So close to Toronto! Stratford Festival, Stratford’s chocolate trail, and Perth Country for some of Canada’s best farmer’s markets. This year’s Savour Stratford, September 21 – 23, 2012. David Rocco is in the house! David Rocco brings his passion for food and healthy cooking to millions of kitchens every day through his worldwide hit television program, David Rocco’s Dolce Vita, and through his bestselling cookbooks, David Rocco’s Dolce Vita and Made In Italy. Celebrity chefs: http://www.visitstratford.ca/culinaryfestival/celebrity-chefs.php www.savourstratford.com www.visitperth.ca Check out the April 2013 event in Stratford on their website.
Stratford Shakespeare Festival for live theatre, 1 hour’s drive west of the city of Toronto at Stratford, Ontario. www.stratfordshakespearefestival.com
Free concert series held at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts (Queen & University streets area). The Free Concert Series in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre is supported by the Free Concert Series Endowment Fund established in honour of Richard Bradshaw by an anonymous donor. Concerts take place most Tuesdays and Thursdays at noon, and some Wednesdays at noon or 5:30 p.m. Admission is on a first-come, first-served basis and seating is limited. Please join the line-up early to avoid disappointment. Latecomers will not be admitted. www.coc.ca
http://www.stjamescathedral.on.ca/ Free organ concerts (Church & King streets, short walk east to Saint James cathedral from Yonge and King streets). Check out your local church for concert information in your local church.
Toronto’s Castle
Sun-filled atrium / Casa Loma
Fairmont Royal York has bees on their roof! Oh, me oh my. But doncha worry ’cause the bees are friendly and enjoy parting with their delish honey for teas and cakes at Fairmont Royal York hotel. www.fairmont.com
Casa Loma Brunch, Toronto, Ontario
Visiting the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada and want to eat at a fab restaurant but it’s got to have a fab view of Lake Ontario and the Toronto Islands? Well, if you’ve already visited the fab restaurant in the CN Tower…you should dine or simply enjoy a cocktail at Toula Restaurant on the 38th floor of the Westin Harbour Castle hotel (Bay street south end near Lake Ontario). Great food, fabulous cocktails and you’re at the waterfront very near to where the historic ferry boats depart for Toronto Island. http://wp.me/pDQWN-1×3 www.toularestaurant.com
Special “put a stitch in the quilt” event at Saltscapes Toronto Expo. You have the opportunity to be part of White Point history (1928). When the quilt is completed it will hang in the renovated White Point Resort main lodge in Nova Scotia. No where else can families enjoy the Atlantic ocean in vacation homes & cottages oceanfront and feed the White Pointers bunnies; or, just enjoybonfires and marshmallow roasts and clam bakes. White Point (800 acres) is 90-minutes from Halifax on Nova Scotia’s South shore. Just look for the white top tents at the Toronto, Ontario HTO Park in Harbourfront. www.quiltersnet.ca http://www.whitepoint.com/
Toronto Island
FYI
Remember world renowned Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto on Carlton Street, just east of Yonge Street? Want a free skate? NAME YOUR SEAT! NHL-size rink now located on the third floor of the the redesigned building. Your name permanently engraved on the seat of your choice in the Toronto landmark. Name a seat in the new Mattamy Home Ice arena at the Mattamy Athletic Centre (Maple Leaf Gardens). www.ryerson.ca/nameyourseat
The rectory Cafe, Ward’s Is. Toronto
Over on Canada’s west coast in British Columbia is Kamloops Bike Ranch, home of the Big Pine BMX race track, and recently redesigned as an Olympic-style training course. The course meets the needs of all levels of competitors and recreational riders. I’ll never forget my dirt bike adventure several years’ ago at the camp. I surprised myself with the bike jumps…not sure if I could do it all over again now; but, it’s an adventure experience that will travel with me always and serve as great company when I’m hitting the century mark one day. Of course driving by auto through the mountains from Vancouver, BC to Kamloops is one of the world’s great road scenic trips. http://bit.ly/NYEORS
Toronto has many and almost hidden parks…some are real gems! Here’s one. Allen Gardens Conservatory with its lovely domed roof (Jarvis and Carlton Streets), and Sugar Beach on Lake Ontario. Actually, Canada is not only known for its vast provincial parks but intimate and personal green spaces. Look for a park in your area that is named after a local hero. Sit awhile on a bench; perhaps, a bench YOU named in honour of someone YOU loved and still love in memory.
50 Years’ of JAMES BOND: Walk 356m above Toronto like 007. Celebrate 50 years of James Bond with an exclusive James Bond EdgeWalk. Package includes an EdgeWalk in a specially designed James Bond Tuxedo walk suit, CN Tower Total Tower ticket, and ticket to the Designing 007: Fifty Years of Bond Style exhibit at TIFF Bell Lightbox http://bit.ly/QL1iLw
Palais Royale Wedding by the Water
Toronto residents creating a BUZZ!
Christina Sorbara, author of the popular children’s book, Peanut Butter Jelly Belly.
Voted TOP 100 Foods To Try Before You Die. Nicolas Severino of California Sandwiches. www.californiasandwiches.ca
David Rocco is a very busy boy! And every mother’s dream for a son-in-law…’cause the guy can cook like a dream.David Rocco is cooking at the CNE, 2012. Visit David’s website to see where he’s cooking next! www.davidrocco.com www.theEX.com
Laura Dal Bo volunteers for Villa Charites. www.villacharities.com
Anne Marie Todaro, Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto’s one stop for seeing the world: from where it came to where its going. http://rom.on.ca/index.php
Ersilia Serafini, CEO of Summerhill, wants her city to be beautiful. www.summerhillgroup.ca http://environmentaldefence.ca/campaigns/just-beautiful
John Nalli, president of the People Store. www.peoplestore.ca
Scott McGillivray has been making Toronto both a hot property item and a very cool idea. www.hgtv.ca
Wine Appreciation Seminars at the LCBO (participants must be 19 years of age or older).
Wines of the Old World. Thursdays, Nov. 1, 8 15, 22, 2012. Bayview Village. 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Tel. 416-222-7658
Elegant Holiday Cocktails seminar. $50. November 26, 2012. 7 – 8 pm. LCBO Bayview Village 2901 Bayview Avenue. Telephone 416-222-7658
Varietals From Chile. $30. Wednesday October 24, 2012. 7 – 8 pm. LCBO Summerhill. 10 Scrivener Square. Tel. 416-922-0403
Bordeaux’s Hidden Gems. $40. Wed. Oct. 31, 2012. 7 – 8 pm. LCBO Summerhill. 10 Scrivener Square. Tel. 416-922-0403
Scotland’s iconic single malt seminar. Islay and the islands. $60. Thursday Nov. 1, 2012. 7 – 8:30 pm. LCBO Summerhill. Tel. 416-922-0403
Experience Italy’s Piedmont: surrounded on three sides by the Alps, Piedmont features some of Italy’s best-known wine regions. Prepared to be impressed by the wines selected for the evening. $45. Wed. Nov. 14, 2012. 7 – 8 pm. LCBO Summerhill. Tel. 416-922-0403
Cabernet Sauvignon: new world vs. old world wines. The king of the red grapes — cabernet sauvignon. Taste a selection of New and Old World styles from around the globe. Learn how to food pair with wine. $45. Thursday Nov. 22, 2012 7 – 8 pm. LCBO Summerhill. Tel. 416-922-0403.
Sparkling Wine: many of the world’s finest sparklers are crafted using traditional, Old World winemaking methods perfected in Champagne. $35. Wed. Nov. 28, 2012. 6:30 – 7:30 pm. LCBO The Kingsway. 2946 Bloor Street West. Tel. 416-239-3066
Seminars make a lovely gift, or first “date” wine adventure. Ask about other dates and times for additional wine seminars.
Spadina House, Toronto (rebuilt 1835)
The current city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada once was known as York (nicknamed “Muddy York,”), with but a few hundred people in 1804. The year 1834 renamed York (1793 – 1834) to Toronto. The city had many great houses to its name, one such house was Spadina House with views to Lake Ontario built by the Baldwin family in 1818 in what was considered the country. The estate was approximately 4.4 kilometres to the north of the Baldwin’s city place at Front and Bay Streets. The manor is now owned and operated by the city of Toronto as a museum with original period furnishings. Spadina Museum’s gardens are part of the VIA Rail Garden Route. Visit www.viarail.ca/garden for more information. You may be interested to read: A Biography of Robert Baldwin by Michael S. Cross, published in Canada by Oxford University Press. www.oupcanada.com Michael S. Cross has published widely on Canadian social, labour, and political history and has written for the Globe & Mail, Books in Canada, and the Canadian Historical Review. Having taught at Dalhousie University for many years, he now lives in Halifax with his wife Patricia De Meo and their two Cavalier spaniels.
A few good books!
Emil Fackenheim’s Quest: from philosophy to prophetic theology (copyright 2013) by Laurie McRobert (Toronto author). ISBN: 1479110566. Emil Fackenhein’s work covers the early to middle phase: 1940 – 1982; Appearances: genetic mythology and cosmic Instincts (copyright 2011) by Laurie McRobert (Toronto author). ISBN – 10: 1463520166. Createspace, North Charleston, SC. Cover Art by Olena Kassian. www.olenakassian.com Laurie McRobert is an independent scholar who received her Ph.D. in Philosophy of Religion from McGill University where she lectured in the Department of Philosophy. Check out McRobert’s other works, including, Char Davies’ Immersive Virtual Art and the Essence of Spatiality.
http://www.rcgs.org/about/fellows/docs/FellowsDinner_JF13.pdf
Calling all teachers! School contest. http://contest.myparkspass.ca/
http://community.bmo.com/soccer/ (Exhibition Place, Toronto). BMOField, 170 Princes’ Boulevard, Toronto, ON M6K 3C3 Telephone: (416) 360-4625 () · bmofield.com
Driving from Toronto to “cottage” country? Algonquin Park had major flooding in 2013. Check out the roads that are still closed.
Closed Areas
The following areas are closed and barricaded until flooding related damage can be repaired. Repair work is ongoing. Check back for updates.
Closed Trails
www.cntower.ca 301 Front Street West (near the DOME) You can always look up for the tower and the multi-coloured lights at night. EdgeWalk: 416-601-3833 (Monday to Friday 9:00am – 4:00pm) 1-855-553-3833. Dress for the weather! edgewalkinfo@cntower.ca www.edgewalkcntower.ca P.S. Note to Jim Carrey: your next film should be: Jim Carrey around the world on a dare! (We love you Jim. You could travel the world and visit wild and weird attractions to test them out. Don’t forget Toronto as we have the world’s first EDGE WALK.
http://www.sickkidsfoundation.com/home/ Kids are a good cause!
www.ontariosciencecentre.ca 770 Don Mills Road (north/east section of Toronto near Eglinton Avenue & Don Mills Rd.).
www.rom.on.ca Bloor & Avenue Road (couple of blocks west of Yonge & Bloor streets).
www.torontocaribbeancarnival.com
www.torontozoo.com Highway 401 and Meadowvale Rd. (exit 389) north/east section of Toronto.
www.ttc.ca public transportation info: 416-393-INFO.
www.fairmont.com 100 Front Street, Toronto, Ontario. Bee hive on the hotel’s roof for fresh honey used in Afternoon Tea.
www.trumphotelcollection.com 325 Bay Street.
www.windsorarmshotel.com 18 Saint Thomas Street.
www.thedrakehotel.ca 1150 Queen Street West.
www.ritzcarlton.com 181 Wellington Street.
http://www.germaintoronto.com/en/home 30 Mercer Street. (Toronto’s world renowned live theatre district.)
http://www.torontotourism.com/
www.viarail.ca Take care of business en route using VIA’s wireless Internet service.
www.foodandwineexpo.ca Nov. 15 – 18, 2012
http://travelglossary.wordpress.com/ Cycle routes in Quebec, Canada.
Photos & text copyright © by May DeLory
Note: Photo of Spadina House is rear view of building showing a small section of garden land.
All Rights Reserved.
