Toronto's First Nuit Blanche: A Free All-Night Contemporary Art Expo

This year Toronto is following in the footsteps of cultural behemoths like Paris, Rome, and Madrid, as it hosts its first Nuit Blanche. This event is an all-night contemporary art-fest featuring over 130 art projects and performances across the city. Nuit Blanche will take place in three zones around Toronto: Queen West West, Yorkville, and University/McCaul.

Nuit Blanche takes over the city starting at 7:01 p.m. on Saturday September 30th and goes on all night until sunrise at 7:15 a.m. on October 1st, so get your friends together and become art zombies for a night and have fun exploring a whole new Toronto.

AGO will open its doors with some highlights including an all-night drawing session, free general admission, and free admission to the Andy Warhol exhibit until 2 a.m. if you dress up as Andy Warhol.

The ROM is hosting a special night of free cuban-themed programming, Noche en Havana.

Get all the details at the Nuit Blanche official site.

Categories: Toronto, Free, Culture, Art, Galleries, Museums

Yung Sing Pastry Shop on Baldwin

Baldwin Street is an unassuming strip located just north of Dundas off of McCaul that houses some of the best cheap food in Toronto. If you're looking for a quick snack or a cheap and fast lunch, one of my favourite stops on Baldwin is the Yung Sing Pastry Shop.

You can get all sorts of buns, pastries, and rolls here that are dirt cheap and delicious. The buns are the best choice and come in a wide choice of fillings including beef, chicken, pork, and tofu. If you can't decide what you want, ask what just came out of the oven because no matter what's inside it will be melt-in-your-mouth amazing. The curry beef turnover also will not disappoint.

There's limited 'seating' consisting of a couple of stools along the wall and a couple of picnic tables outside. The Yung Sing Pastry shop is really close to the Art Gallery of Ontario, so you could easily turn this into a fun day trip.

Yung Sing Pastry Shop
22 Baldwin Street
416 979 2832

Categories: Restaurants, Food, Daytrips, Toronto

Friday Nights for $5 at the Royal Ontario Museum

The weather is getting a bit colder out there in Toronto, and that means many of us are shuffling our jacketed bodies indoors for entertainment. This coincides perfectly with ROM Fridays, a special admission program that started just last week. The Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto is now offering a special discounted admission price. For the measly sum of $5, you get full access to the ROM's exhibitions from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Friday nights. The greatest thing about this is that it includes all of the permanent and special exhibitions, so no more peeking longingly into the cordoned off areas, us cheapies can get full access.

Current special exhibitions include Carlos Garaicoa, General Idea's AIDS Sculpture, Déco Lalique, and Korea around 1900: The Paintings of Gisan.

If $5 is still out of your price range, the ROM does still offer free (yes, FREE) admission one hour before closing from Saturday to Thursday. But of course the free admission does not get you inside those lovely velvet ropes for the specially ticketed exhibitions. However, you will get a glimpse of the wacky renovations going on, which is kind of like a special exhibition on its own.

For directions and more info on current exhibitions, prices, and all that fun stuff check out the ROM web site.

Categories: ROM, museum, toronto, tourism, cheap, free

Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre

The Toronto Blue Jays have been pushing through another season at the Rogers Centre (née SkyDome) with little fanfare. The season is winding down and there are only a few opportunities left to go down to the ballpark and enjoy the best of Baseball North.

Going to a game costs less than taking in the latest movie at the multiplex, and in my opinion offers a much higher entertainment value. Going to the game is an event, an experience, albeit one that is now inundated with Rogers advertising. Tickets in the 500 level are only $9 and there always seems to be plenty of seats available.

And contrary to popular belief you can bring in your own treats which makes the whole outing even cheaper. You can take in any packaged goods like chips, pretzels, chocolate, etc... but no drinks as far as I know.

You can still catch the end of the series against the New York Yankees tonight with Doc Halladay taking the mound, or check out the Boston Red Sox series starting Friday night. Just watching the New York and Boston fans is entertaining in and of itself.

Buy tickets and check out the schedule at the Toronto Blue Jays site.

Categories: Toronto, Bluejays, Rogers, Skydome, Sports, Tourism

Toronto Music Gardens at Harbourfront

Admittedly, the Toronto waterfront is sorely lacking in many ways. However, the Toronto Music Garden demonstrates the potential for beauty that the waterfront holds. This project was inspired by the music of Bach and was designed by famed cellist Yo Yo Ma. It involves two acres of lush gardens that are intended to bring Bach's music to life with nature.

While the gardens are beautiful in and of themselves to enjoy an afternoon walk, the Toronto Music Garden holds free concerts most Sundays and Thursdays throughout the summer. The 2006 season is winding down, but there are still two opportunities to come down and enjoy a Sunday afternoon concert in the park. On September 10th (today) and September 17th at 4:00 p.m. you can come and enjoy some free classical music in a beautiful and serene setting on the waterfront.

The Toronto Music Garden is located at 475 Queens Quay West between Bathurst and Spadina. For more information on the concerts check out the official schedule. You can also visit the City of Toronto site which offers an interesting background regarding the design and inspiration of the gardens.

Categories: Music, Toronto, Harbourfront, Outdoors, Free, Parks, Culture

Toronto Art Galleries at 80 Spadina

Toronto has a vast array of galleries that showcase amazing Canadian and International artists. They are dotted across the city beckoning for you to come in and have a look, but all too often we just walk by. Maybe it's because we're not in the market for any art. Maybe it's because we're a bit intimidated by the white walls and the seeming lack of people inside. But maybe we should just think of it as window shopping, for art.

Strolling through Toronto's art galleries is a very satisfying way to spend a rainy afternoon, and it's completely free (unless you fall in love with one of the pieces). One of my favourite gallery stops in Toronto is the building at 80 Spadina. In just one building, you can visit several galleries, and none of them are pretentious or intimidating.

I have a special attachment to the Leo Kamen Gallery, since we held our wedding reception there. Leo always showcases fresh and thought-provoking work. You will almost always find Leo there, and he is extremely helpful and will take you into his back room to show you other pieces if you are interested in buying. He will inevitably find something suitable to your specific tastes, and will even suggest places in your home to showcase the work.

Most of the galleries are open Tuesday-Saturday from 11:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m., with the exception of Ryerson Gallery which is open Wednesday-Saturday 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Other galleries to visit at 80 Spadina:
Trias Gallery
Ryerson Gallery
Moore Gallery

Categories: Art, Toronto, Culture, Galleries, Free,

Toronto's Very Own High Park

It's easy to forget that just a short subway ride away we have almost 400 acres of green space right here within our city limits. High Park is the perfect place to escape the hectic city pace and enjoy what nature has to offer. And the best part is it's free.

High Park has activities for everyone all year round. There are biking, hiking, and walking trails throughout the park. There's a zoo, and although it's small it still proves interesting with animals such as bison, llamas, peacocks, deer, highland cattle, and sheep. There's a train if you feel like just sitting back and soaking in the scenery, which will take you through the park on a 25-minute round trip ride ($4 Adults, $3 Children/Seniors). Starting September 11th the train ride is only on weekends.

Other things you may enjoy there include baseball, soccer, tennis, gardens, fishing, wildlife viewing, and an abundance of perfect picnic spots.

If you're not so industrious as to pack a picnic, there's the Grenadier Tea House & Cafe which offers a wide array of dining options ranging from small pastries to amazing pizzas cooked in a wood-fired oven.

For more information on High Park, check out Toronto Parks or the High Park Community Advisory Council.

Categories: Toronto, Parks, Outdoors, Free, Sports, Day-Trips

The Canadian International Air Show

You've probably all heard the engines rumbling outside today, and since the Grand Prix has come and gone that can only mean one thing -- The Canadian International Air Show has arrived. And last time I checked no one can make you pay $10 to look up at the sky, so you can come down to Lakeshore and enjoy great views of the show for free.

This year is a special one for the air show, as it marks the first appearance of an F22 Raptor outside of the US. I can't say I comprehend how exciting I'm sure that really is for some people, but even as a non-plane-loving girl I still can't deny that it's pretty exciting to watch and feel the roar overhead. You'll pretty much be forced to hear them all weekend anyway, so why not enjoy it. And who doesn't love the Snowbirds?

The air show starts tomorrow and runs through to Labour Day, but the Raptor is only flying on Saturday. Each day the show starts around 1:00 p.m. and goes to around 4:00 p.m. Come down early to make sure you get the best view down by the water.

If you want to make a day of it you can also take in the CNE during its last weekend. General admission is $12 which includes admission to Ontario Place where you're sure to have a great view of the show. Fireworks are nightly at... well, at nightfall.

For more info on the air show check out the official site.

For more info on The Ex check out www.theex.com

Categories: Airshow, Toronto, Outdoors, Free, Tourism, Harbourfront