Mr. Toronto

Thought I would let a guest blogger take over for this one (well, that’s a bit of a stretch – this was originally written for Tourism Toronto’s newsletter, not as a “blog” per se…). Author is Carolina Avaria, who is Chef Concierge of the InterContinental Toronto Yorkville hotel….

When was the last time you treated yourself to a night out at the theatre in Toronto? If you haven’t, allow me to point out how lucky we are to have access to some of the best directors, actors, designers, musicians and production teams in the country. It is encouraging to see how many of our theatres are celebrating anniversaries this year: The Factory Theatre and the Tarragon are turning 40, Canadian Stage is turning 20, Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People is turning 45 and Soulpepper at the Distillery District is celebrating its 12th season. After so many active years and hundreds of productions, clearly these theatres know what they are doing and how to ensure great art is presented on our stages.

If you are undecided on where to start, may I suggest visiting the TAPA (Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts) ticket booth “T.O. Tix” at Yonge Dundas square? TAPA believes that a city is enriched by public participation in culture. Its key role is to link the public to the experience of the performing arts and it achieves this, in part, through its services at T.O.Tix which sells full price and discount performing arts tickets, theatre & dining packages as well as being a TicketKing and Ticketmaster outlet. On its website, www.tapa.ca, you will also find a link to www.golive.ca which is a comprehensive site of all theatre performances on a daily basis.

If you need a little encouragement, I have compiled my favourite evening “combo-platters” to enjoy. These are a sure thing when it comes to a great night out:

1. Tarragon Theatre, www.tarragontheatre.com – known for developing and producing new plays from across the country, they have high production values and fabulous actors, in an intimate space with general admission seating. Start the evening off with great margaritas and homemade nacho chips with guacamole at one of our city’s hidden gems Dos Amigos Restaurant.

2. Canadian Stage, www.canstage.com – under the leadership of a brilliant new Artistic Director, Matthew Jocelyn; the theatre delivers contemporary shows. Start or end your night around the corner at The Wine Bar, which features delicious local cuisine and exquisite wine and service.

3. Soulpepper Theatre, www.soulpepper.ca – this company began with twelve actors who wanted to explore the great stories of classical theatre and inspire the next generation of artists and audiences – and they have! Stop in at Pure Spirits in the Distillery District and enjoy a dozen oysters and a smart cocktail on your way in or out of the show.

Finally, if you have children please have a look at the Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People website www.lktyp.ca. Undoubtedly something in their season will speak to your child’s creative development.

Enjoy the shows!

We Torontonians are currently in the middle of our first “Summer Festival” of the season — Luminato (billed as the “Toronto Festival of Arts + Creativity”). Running til June 20, it’s a pretty eclectic mix of free and ticketed events incorporating dance, music, film and art. I went to see Rufus Wainwright last night, performing a very weird solo piano piece dressed in a long black gown with a feather collar…gives you some idea.

But there are LOTS of other (more accessible?) festivals coming up over the next couple months — here are some highlights:

• Pride Toronto – our epic Gay weekend and parade (June 24-July 4)
• Fringe Theatre Festival – 150 different shows! (June 30-July 11)
• Summerlicious – 150 of Toronto’s top restaurants offer special – and cheap! – menus (July 9-25)
• Festival of India – some of this food is actually free! (July 17-18)
• Caribana – our wild and crazy Caribbean extravaganza (July 28-August 1)
• Taste of the Danforth – if your taste buds are more Greek-centric (August 6-8)
• Festival of Beer – if you need something to wash all that food down with; great music, too – at Exhibition Place (August 5-7)
• Summerworks – more than 40 plays, concerts and workshops (August 5-15)
• And, of course, the good ol’ CNE (Canadian National Exhibition) closes down the summer festivities (August 20- September 6)

So pack your sunscreen and party hats and come on down – we’re waiting for you!

Mr. Toronto

I have a file full of ideas that I want to blog about, but they keep on getting bumped because of stuff I’ve done recently that I just have to share with you. Specifically this past week, did three really cool things that you might want to know about:

1. Had one of those fantastic and unexpected Toronto experiences that just “happen” sometimes…was coming out of the Art Gallery of Ontario (which I believe I have gone on about previously – it really is a fantastic place), and remembered that nearby was the home — and studio — of one of Canada’s most well-known, respected and prolific artists, Charles Pachter. Articles have been written about the place — called The Moose Factory (he uses the iconic Canadian Moose in many of his works) — it is an architectural gem. Anyway, the studio/gallery is open to the public, but by appointment only. So I called on a whim, and Charlie himself answered the phone, told me to come by, and spent an hour with me giving me a fantastic personal tour. I’m sure he’d do the same for you, especially if you were a prospective client! Much of his artwork is actually very reasonable/undervalued, and a great investment. Check out http://www.cpachter.com/moose_factory/moose_factory.html
2. Went to the opening of Young Frankenstein, the latest Mirvish Production at the gorgeous Princess of Wales Theatre. I have to say, I am a little tired of movies being made into plays, especially movies that were fantastic and hold great memories. This Mel Brooks’ classic is one of those, and like most adaptations, I’d watch the movie (again) rather than see the play (again). But it had its moments, and is still a fun night out.
3. Went to an announcement for the big blockbuster exhibit coming to the Royal Ontario Museum starting end of June (and running through the fall) — The Warrior Emperor and China’s Terracotta Army. Most people have heard something about the Terracotta Warriors, but the story is spellbinding — straight out of a Spielberg movie — and the exhibit of artifacts should be outstanding. Stay tuned…

Finally, as I’m mentioning the end of June, a warning: The G-20, a meeting of twenty of the world’s leaders, is coming to Toronto the weekend of June 25-27. While it’s an exciting and high profile event for our City, it will be a bit of a logistical nightmare (security, traffic, etc.). So if you can, I’d stay away then and book your summer visit for another time! Could be the best tip I’ve given you yet!

Mr. Toronto