Latest posts from our Toronto expert:
See Fireworks!
Celebrate the Queen's birthday this weekend with a light show in the sky. Luckily, Toronto offers a few fireworks options.
If you want to join the masses, check out Ontario Place's display on Monday. To get your money's worth, head over to the theme park early and pick up a Play All Day pass. Play, ride and go boating then stick around after dark for fireworks.
For something a little lower key, head east to The Beach and watch the light show from the sand (or lawn) at Ash Bridges Bay. Fireworks start at 9:45. Arrive early to get a good seat -- and bring a blanket to sit on.
Finally, if you want to host your own fireworks show, visit Kaboom to pick up just about any explosive you can dream up, plus sparklers, glow sticks and special effects glasses. Kaboom is not open Saturday or Sunday but is open all day Monday.
Enjoy the long weekend. Let's hope it doesn't rain as much as predicted and be careful! Don't blow off an arm.
Tdot Concert Tickets
Toronto is a great place to catch a concert. While going into debt to see a big-time act at a giant venue like the Air Canada Centre is cool, if you really want to experience live music the way local music-lovers do, you should buy tickets to something smaller and more intimate.
Rotate This!, a record store on Queen West, lists upcoming concerts on their site and sells tickets in-person at the store (a great way to save on online processing fees and really useful if you're from out of town).
Be adventurous and choose a band you know little about (or even have never heard of), especially if they're playing at one of Toronto's classic concert venues like the Horseshoe Tavern, a cozy, if slightly run-down bar on Queen West with a concert space in the back. (You can usually buy tickets for shows at the door of the Horseshoe, so swing by and inquire.)
Other great, classic venues to try are The Phoenix, Opera House, Reverb and El Mocambo.
Bourgie Barbeque
Tired of downing hot dogs in a tiny backyard or balcony already? If you're craving the flavour of the grill but prefer something a little fanicier, check out Sky Lounge's Ultimate Backyard Barbeque. Once a week, the chichi lounge within the Hotel Intercontinental in Yorkville (where the beautiful and rich drink, dine and shop) is hosting a candle-lit, dj'd grill event with sizzling, savoury fare.
The bustling barbeque event kicks off this Thursday, so throw on your shades and prepare yourself for so much more than burgers.
Hotel Intercontinental
220 BLOOR STREET WEST
(416) 960-5200
Web Site
The Clothing Show
If you're a clothes horse, giddy-up and get down to the Better Living Centre at Exhibition Place for The Clothing Show, a bi-annual fair for fashionistas. The show runs May 2, 3 and 4th and features runway shows, photography and fashion competitions, and of course, shopping. There are 300 booths showcasing wares and wears from independent designers, retailers and artisans from across Ontario.
Check the website for directions, fashion show times and a list of vendors.
Mother's Day Brunch Cruise
You have less than two weeks to figure out what you're going to do for mom, and let's be honest, dinner at Swiss Chalet...again, isn't gonna cut it this year. If you're going to be in Toronto for the day devoted to mom, try something new. Mariposa Cruises, the company that has been running Toronto harbour and waterfront tours since 1987, is hosting a special Mother's Day Sunday Brunch. The boat boards at 11:30 am and cruises while you and mom enjoy a traditional buffet-style brunch until 2:00 pm.
For more info and prices, or if mom's not a bacon-and-eggs lady, look into dinner and lunch cruises or charter a boat for a private party just for mom. Check out www.mariposacruises.com
Contact Photography Festival
A mix of both emerging and established photographers, Contact is a month-long photography festival featuring over 500 artists in over 200 locations around the GTA. Catch a few of the events that kick off the month on May 1, like "Parking on Personal Webcams" by Cheryl Sourkes at the Peak Gallery, a look at how the internet is making once-intimate moments quite public.
Contact's opening night is May 2 at trendy King West resto-lounge, Brassaii. The party, which runs from 7pm to midnight, will feature interactive, photographic entertainment (they're calling it a "Portrait Party") by Alex vs. Alex.
The rest of the month follows suit with shows that explore themes from aging to ballet to the festival's main theme: memories.
Track Meet
Once a month a bunch of friends and amateur djs spin what they call "Whorish Pop and Hip-hop" at 751, a bar at 751 Queen Street West. That music includes anything from Britney Spears to Jackson Five to Joan Jett. This Friday, Track Meet, usually confined to the basement, takes over both floors of the bar.
The crowd at Track Meet are in their 20s and early 30s, creative and ready to dance. If you're looking for energy in a relaxed atmosphere, Track Meet is a fantastic Friday night choice.
751
751 Queen West
416-703-2171
Web Site