Mr. Toronto

Groovin’ on a sunny afternoon here in Toronto. And the festivals continue….

Just coming off of Indy weekend, where I actually got to ride around in the pre-race parade with other sponsors, VIPs and drivers, and wave like the Queen to the stands surrounding the track. Also got to meet Gene Simmons, who was the parade Grand Marshall. Was never a huge Kiss fan, but you gotta admire the guy for what he has accomplished musically and as a marketing genius….

And now we’re heading into the Just for Laughs festival…had to turn down tickets to see Sarah Silverman, one of my faves, but there is plenty of other stuff on tap – including John Cleese and a huge free outdoor gig by Russell Peters, a native son who has just been listed as one of the top 10 wealthiest stand-up comics (guess he’s having the last laugh…)

Yesterday also marked the kick-off of ten days of Caribana festivities, always a wild and crazy time in the City…good time to be opening a new reggae musical, which Mirvish Productions is doing next week – The Harder They Come. Not sure how this 70’s cult movie is gonna translate to a play, but will let you know! (or better yet, come find out for yourself!)

Last blog I mentioned our city’s great outdoor patios…this time I want to mention that there are some dynamite gelato places (seems like everyone wants gelato nowadays – ice cream ain’t good enough any more…) in some very cool areas of the City. Check out one of the two “Little Italys” we have here – at College St. or St. Clair Ave.; La Paloma on St. Clair is one of the oldest and well know gelaterias in Toronto…or head over to Hollywood Gelato, located on a cool strip packed with great restaurants and bars, on Bayview Ave. just south of Eglinton.

And come catch a Jays game before we all lose hope for yet another season! I’ll be there Sunday against the Red Sox…

Mr. Toronto

Sorry it’s been a while, but it’s been a VERY busy couple of weeks in Hogtown (still not 100% sure why we call it that…). On the sports front, went to my first Toronto FC soccer game of the season, which is always a hoot. Great crowd/vibe, and beautiful new stadium (down at Exhibition Place), complete with unique and yummy food options – not your usual pizza and dog fare (though they have that too), but options reflecting the multicultural diversity of the crowd – British, Indian, South American….we even ended up winning the game, and are actually doing well this season! As are those Blue Jays! Going to my first Jays game of the season on Sunday, so will report on that next week…

On the entertainment front, finally- after trying for 2 years, since it opened – got to ride on the Behemoth, Canada’s Wonderland’s GIANT new rollercoaster. The park just opened last week for the season, and I raced to the front of the line as soon as the gates opened. Front of the line, front of the coaster – OMG!!! It really did live up to it’s hype- totally outrageous. Do it!!

Also got to see Bruce Springsteen at the Air Canada Centre last week – 5th row (sorry to rub it in). Have seen the Boss many times (the first being at Princeton University gym back in ’78), and he has lost very little of his energy and magic. AWESOME three-hour show.

Finally, went to opening of “Tuesdays with Morrie” – play based on best selling book (and movie with Jack Lemmon). Just started at Winter Garden Theatre, and running til end of May (get Tuesdays with Morrie tickets at Ticketmaster.ca). Regardless of whether or not play was good (and it was), worth it just to see the magnificent theatre* and the star of the show, Hal Linden, who was Barney Miller for those of you who remember one of the best sitcoms ever!!

Man, I’m exhausted just thinking about my last couple weeks! (Yeah, I know, cry me a river…)

Til next time,

Mr. Toronto

*Designated a national historic site in 1982, the Elgin & Winter Garden Theatre Centre is the last “double-decker” or stacked Edwardian theatre facility in the world. Built in 1913 as the flagship of the famous Loews chain of vaudeville theatres, the 1,500-seat Elgin theatre (downstairs) is a sumptuous affair with royal boxes and exquisite gilded plaster details. Upstairs, however, is the magical Winter Garden, named for the trompe l’oeil paintings of vines and pastoral, and the fabulous simulated fire-proof garden that hangs from the roof, including thousands of beech boughs. Multi-million dollar renovations mean that for all the ambiance, these two theatres are state-of-the-art.