Touring Toronto - Part 2

Free Things to Do in Toronto This Summer
Michelle MacLeod and Jessica Pollack
Jun 1, 2009
http://www.toronto.com/attractions/article/616601

City dwellers on a budget can still keep busy without spending a cent. From beaches to galleries, there are many free things to do this summer that will keep your hard-earned pennies in the bank.
Woodbine Beach
You don’t have to drive up north to find a clean and pleasant shoreline suitable for swimming and frolicking with friends. Take the Queen St. E. streetcar to The Beach, walk through the eclectic neighbourhood and relax at Woodbine Beach. Pack a volleyball or Frisbee (they have nets) and swim along the sandy shore.

Beautiful Blooms at Allan Gardens Conservatory
Allan Gardens is one of Toronto’s recently revitalized green spaces, with six Victorian-style greenhouses containing flowers and plant species from across the globe. The grounds are free to enter with plenty of beautiful gardens to explore. Gardeners of all levels will appreciate the vast varieties of blossoms.

Stargaze at York University's Observatory
Choose a clear night, gaze into outer space and receive a quick astronomy lesson from top experts. York University offers free public stargazing activities on Wednesday nights from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. Guests are encouraged to bring their own camera and snap photos of the stars.

Free Concerts at the Harbourfront Centre
Music lovers will enjoy relaxing to the sounds of more than 90 Canadian and international performers at 20 live shows throughout the summer. From June 28 to September 20, the Harbourfront Centre is hosting free shows on Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons.

Riverdale Farm
Located in the heart of Cabbagetown, this 7.5 acre farm is hidden away from the frenzied city centre scene, allowing visitors to hike through forested paths and trails, meet sociable farm animals and pick from flourishing vegetable gardens. The free farm also hosts a farmer's market every Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and has a wading pool that’s open daily throughout the summer.

Local Artwork at Toronto Free Gallery
The Toronto Free Galley showcases powerful exhibits about social, cultural and environmental issues. The space allows artists to become creative with their artwork and display eccentric pieces conveying messages about everyday issues. The gallery is free to tour, perfect for a rainy summer afternoon and displays are always changing.

Ride or Hike the Don Valley
Steep, natural trails surrounded by immense beech and maple foliage have transformed the Don Valley forest into one of the city’s best riding and hiking trails. There are many different routes and paths to take, creating a free and challenging outdoor afternoon for Torontonians of all fitness levels.

Explore the Distillery District

While this national historic site was a whiskey distillery in the 1800s, it now stands as an artsy, pedestrian-only village in the east end of downtown Toronto. The picturesque, cobblestone streets are lined with galleries, upscale restaurants, boutiques and event spaces ripe for perusal. Keep an eye out for ample free cultural events throughout the summer.

Amble Through the Toronto Sculpture Garden

Toronto's sculpture garden may be small, but it's a great place for a pensive summer walk. Biannual installations in the public garden explore context, material and scale and have featured works by prominent artists, some creating outdoors works for the first time. Bring a book or continue walking down to the Esplanade.

Take in a Free Concert by the Canadian Opera Company (COC)

The COC's Free Concert Series is a great opportunity to experience the sleek splendour of the Four Season's Centre and see lunchtime performances by an eclectic array of artists. The R. Fraser Elliott Hall, the centre's amphitheatre where performances are held, is a unique venue given its glass facade, which lends a view of busy University Ave. In addition to the 12 p.m. performances there are a limited number of 5:30 p.m. concerts.

Take Advantage of Free Hours at the Museums

Toronto has a number of great museums, made all the more wonderful by their generosity in offering free admission once a week. The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) offers free general admission every Wednesday from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) does the same on Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (Both exclude admission to special ticketed exhibitions.) Pay-what-you-can nights are held at the Bata Shoe Museum on Thursdays between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. and the Textile Museum of Canada Wednesdays between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Say Namaste to Little India

As a recent "36 Hours in Toronto" article in the New York Times proclaimed, Toronto's Little India is definitely worthy of exploration. Head east on Gerrard St. and find yourself amidst bright saris, fragrant South Indian cuisine, Indian-designed gold jewelry and more. Free events, including celebrations related to India's many festivals, take place all year long.

Make a day of the Masala! Mehndi! Masti! Festival

This annual South Asian arts festival, the largest of its kind in the South Asian diaspora, takes over the Exhibition grounds each July to celebrate a vibrant and exciting part of the world. With more than 80 free performances and events, galleries, restaurants, workshops and works by dozens of international artists, there's so much to learn about the rich culture of the GTA's largest visible minority group.


25 Things You Must Do While In Toronto
Story and photography by Stacey McLeod
Jun 5, 2009
http://www.toronto.com/attractions/article/600238

You can’t walk two blocks in the city without seeing a double-decker tour bus or a billboard advertising a King Street musical. Hotel lobbies are filled with pamphlets for obvious attractions like Toronto Maple Leafs games or the Royal Ontario Museum -- and the CN Tower is pretty hard to miss -- but what if you want to see more than just the postcard-worthy parts of the city?

For the real Toronto experience, take some pointers from someone who knows it inside and out. Toronto-loving editor Stacey McLeod picks the 25 things you’ve got to do before you head back home.


1. Lie face down on the glass floor at the CN Tower
It looks scary but this two-and-a-half inch thick glass floor can withstand the weight of 14 large hippos. However, looking face down at a 1,122 ft. drop is bound to give you a few butterflies.

2. Sit upstairs at Union Station during rush hour
Rush hour at Union Station is a chaotic affair, with commuters scrambling to catch trains and cramming subway platforms. But while downstairs can feel claustrophobic, the Great Hall’s coffered vault ceilings upstairs offers a reprieve. You can look up and admire the stunning architecture while the chaos goes by around you.

3. Skate at Nathan Phillips Square
A winter visit to Toronto wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the skating rink at Nathan Phillips Square at Toronto’s city hall. Skate rentals, indoor change rooms and snack bars are on-site.

4. Tour the Steam Whistle Brewery
Tour one of Toronto’s most interesting historic buildings, The Roundhouse, while sampling one of the city’s signature beers. Steam Whistle Brewery tours are $8 to $24 (depending on whether you want to leave with a bottle opener or a 12 pack of beer) and go daily from noon to 6 p.m.

5. Have a hot chocolate at Soma in The Distillery District
Once you try a steaming cup of this rich and creamy hot chocolate, made on the premises from pure, exotic ingredients, you’ll never be able to spoon out the powdery instant stuff again.

6. Do a bike tour of Toronto Island
Tour Toronto’s island oasis on a bicycle. There are several ways to see the car-free island on wheels, like Sights on Bikes where for $40 you get a ferry ride, a two-hour island tour and a chance to explore special spots like the haunted lighthouse at Gibraltar Point.

7. Go shopping at Honest Ed’s
With a sign lit up by 23,000 bulbs, this Toronto landmark is hard to miss. Honest Ed’s has been dishing out deals since 1948 and even claim to be the world’s first true bargain store. Household items are often cheaper than a dollar store and there’s stuff everywhere, so get ready to do some digging.

8. Walk the boardwalk at The Beach
During warm months, the boardwalk (stretching 3 km along Toronto’s lakeshore) is full of skateboarders, volleyballers, bike rider, Rollerbladers, dog walkers, baby pushers, seagulls and joggers. There are swimming pools, a canoe club, lawn bowling, tennis courts and endless benches where you can chill out with an ice cream cone and watch Lake Ontario’s waves come in.

9. Go to Dundas Square
Like it or hate it, it’s worth a visit to this concrete public space. With billboards, big lights, concerts and public events, Dundas Square is hailed as Toronto’s Times Square and gives visitors a taste of the bustling downtown Yonge Street.

10. Dine at a famous chef’s place
Toronto has a rep as home to some of the best chefs and restaurants in the world so splurge and enjoy a meal by a famous local chef like Jamie Kennedy or Susur Lee (as seen on Iron Chef America).

11. Take a city walking tour
Instead of walking around the streets aimlessly, seek out a little guidance. You’ll go home with a history of the city that most Torontonians don’t even know. There are tons of walking tours across the city, like downtown excursions, small neighbourhood tours, walks through the Don Valley and even historic tours of haunted parts of the city. Try multicultural walking tours from A Taste of the World.

12. Get out of the downtown core
Many of Toronto’s neighbourhoods aren’t far from the core and offer a true Toronto experience, not just the polished perspective of tourist-heavy downtown. Each neighbourhood in Toronto is unique. You can go antique shopping in Leslieville, do an art gallery crawl in Parkdale, grab some fresh produce from Kensington Market and pay a visit to a Polish bakery in Roncesvalles.

13. Ride the Queen streetcar
Almost every tourist snaps a photo of a red Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) streetcar. One-up them by taking a ride on one. There are always interesting characters on board and since it’s above ground, you can take the scenic route and check out the sights as you travel to your destination. Cash fare is $2.75 a trip or you can buy daily, weekly and family passes.

14. Go shopping in Chinatown
A walk through Toronto’s Chinatown is an incredible experience, with intense crowds at all times of day, cheap goods and markets as far as the eye can see. Countless restaurants serve up dumplings, Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean cuisine, and stores have cheap clothes, housewares and electronics.

15. Have a coffee in Kensington Market
This eclectic, artistic 'hood is Toronto’s people-watching central, and a great place to grab a cup of coffee. Check out Moonbean or I Deal Coffee.

17. Eat corn on the sidewalk in Little India in the summer
Summertime in the Gerrard Street India Bazaar is a whirlwind of smells and colours, and many restaurants take their kitchens to the sidewalk, serving up roasted corn on the cob that you can garnish with a variety of spices.

16. Window shop in Yorkville
Sometimes it’s best not to check price tags in Yorkville, but it’s still fun to take a peek inside and dream.

18. Take a train ride through High Park
Summertime in the city’s magical High Park wouldn’t be complete without a ride on the trackless train. The train runs every 25 minutes and weaves through much of the park’s 399 acres of scenery.

19. Walk the entire PATH
The PATH is the world’s largest underground shopping complex, connecting Toronto’s downtown core and business district. There are 27 kilometres of stores, food courts and places to hang out, and if you get lost in the tunnels (and you will get lost), there are maps and arrows everywhere to help you find your way. It’s worth the walk.

20. Check out a local band
As Canada’s biggest city, musicians from all over the country move here in search of a big break. Bars like The Cameron House and Dakota Tavern feature great acts nightly, and you can check our live music chart to see what’s happening throughout the city this week.

21. Sample honey at St. Lawrence Market
With rows of vendors and one-of-a-kind finds, St. Lawrence Market is a rush in itself. If you’re looking for a sugar rush though, check out Honey World on the lower level. You can sample dozens of delicious specialty honeys like lavender honey, New Zealand honey and Manuka honey, and will definitely leave with a buzz.

22. Tour the CBC building
The Canadian Broadcast Centre, CBC’s flagship building in Toronto, houses some of Canada’s most beloved national shows and journalists. Visitors can tour both the building and the CBC Museum for a look at some of Canada’s television history, and even catch a free taping of The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos during the week.

23. Eat Souvlaki on The Danforth
A trip to Toronto’s Greektown wouldn’t be complete without sampling its famous souvlaki. You can’t step two feet on the strip without finding a souvlaki house, but a well-loved starting point is Messini’s Authentic Gyros, where they stick the fries right in the pita.

24. Have dinner in Little Italy
Toronto’s Little Italy neighbourhood is renowned for its selection of restaurants, Italian or not. Check out our restaurants page for some places to go.

25. Read in the garden at Casa Loma
Casa Loma is Toronto’s castle on top of the hill and a romantic spot to spend an afternoon. Although a tour through the historic building is definitely worthwhile, so is a visit to Casa Loma’s beautiful garden in the summertime. The garden is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and there are tons of benches and little corners where you can curl up with a book and relax under the shade of a tree.

Toronto Travel Ideas: Cheap and Romantic Ideas for Couples
Budget ideas for romantic and couple-friendly hotels, attractions, restaurants and nightlife.
Stacey McLeod
May 13, 2009
http://www.toronto.com/hotels/article/637004

CHEAP HOTELS:

Travelodge Toronto Downtown West
This no-frills hotel is located at the edge of King West’s trendy martini lounge district. While rooms are pretty low-budge and the continental breakfast room feels oddly reminiscent of a soup kitchen, it’s a cheap and super-convenient place to stay. Check it out here.

Days Inn -- Toronto West Lakeshore
This hotel is removed from the downtown core (located on the lake near Sunnyside Pavilion and Exhibition Place) but you can take advantage of the park spaces and romantic walks down the boardwalk at sunset. Besides, it’s just a streetcar ride away from downtown Toronto. Check it out here.

Novotel Toronto Centre (The Esplanade)
This cheap hotel is located in the scenic Esplanade, one of the prime touristy spots downtown, and still has amenities like a pool and fitness facilities. Check it out here.


CHEAP ATTRACTIONS:

The Distillery District (55 Mill St.)
This 1800s whiskey distillery was restored and converted into a pedestrian-only village in 2003, quickly becoming one of Toronto’s most scenic attractions. Cobblestone streets and old buildings are lined with gourmet shops, art galleries, high-end restaurants and more, and there are tons of free outdoor cultural events throughout the summer. It’s also the number one film location in Canada and has been used for Hollywood flicks like Chicago, X-Men and Cinderella Man. And, it’s free.

Get Outside! (Various locations)
We may be Canada’s metropolitan hub but Toronto has tons of green space as well. Check out High Park, The Beach (also known as The Beaches) or Toronto Island. They’re free (except for the ferry ride over to the island) and loads of fun. Check them out:

High Park: www.highpark.org

The Beach: www.toronto.com/attractions/article/375492

Toronto Island: www.toronto.ca/parks/island

The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)
The AGO just went through a major reno with a new design by world-renowned architect (and Toronto native) Frank Gehry. Admission ranges from $10 to $18 but Wednesday evenings are free. Check out the current exhibitions here.


CHEAP RESTAURANTS:

Aji Sai (467 Queen St. W.)
This Queen West all-you-can-eat sushi spot has a massive menu and a dark, trendy decor. If you score a booth at the back, it could definitely be romantic. Besides, you know what they say about sushi being an aphrodisiac.

Sweet Lulu (859 Queen St. W.)
This Queen West restaurant is super cheap and tasty and has a trendy atmosphere, so it doesn’t feel like you’re dining low-budge. It’s right across from Trinity Bellwoods Park so you can also go for a romantic, after-dinner stroll. Check out Sweet Lulu’s website here.

Hanoi 3 Seasons (1135 Queen St. E.)
It’s outside of Toronto’s downtown touristy area and that’s exactly why you should head there. Hop on the 501 Queen car headed east, cross over the Don Valley Parkway bridge and enter Leslieville; one of Toronto’s trendiest neighbourhoods and the home of one of our favourite cheap restaurants, Hanoi 3 Seasons, which serves Northern Vietnamese cuisine.


CHEAP NIGHTLIFE:

The Victory Cafe (581 Markham St.)
The Vic is dimly-lit, warm (especially by the fireplace), has one of the city’s best patios, and a fantastic selection of beer. The two-person booths along the wall are prime date spots (with perfect hand-holding reach) and the rooms feel cozy any time of year. Check it out here.

The Cameron House (408 Queen St. W.)
The Cameron is one of Toronto’s most historic music and arts hubs, churning out some of the city’s best talent for almost three decades. There’s free live music in the front room all week long, and there’s something very romantic about that little space. Maybe it’s the mural on the ceiling (make sure you look up), the rickety piano by the stage, or the cowboy boots strung along the ceiling -- or maybe it’s having a local musician serenade you a few feet away. Regardless, it’s a cheap and romantic spot to spend a musical night in T.O. Check it out here.

C’est What (67 Front St. E.)
This underground pub has one of the city’s best beer selections and is just steps away from Union Station and many downtown hotels. You can dine at a table in one of the cozy dining rooms (where there’s often live music as well), hop on a couple of stools at the bar, or cozy up on a sofa by the fire. There are pool tables at the back of the bar if you feel like shooting a few. Check it out here.