The Toronto Traveler

25-50% Off VIA Rail Tickets To Toronto

If you’re planning a trip to Toronto this December, you should take a look at the special offer VIA Rail is running over at Tourism Toronto for adult regular fares.

• 50% off the adult regular fare in Comfort class or
• 25% off the adult regular fare in VIA 1 class

Your destination must be Toronto, travel must take place between now and December 19th or from December 26-30 inclusive. Make sure you use the code 11448 when you select "Other Special Discounts" on the "Passengers Information" screen.

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By Rachel Segal -- 0 comments

One of a Kind Show in Toronto

If you hold off much longer, it will be too late to make your way over to the One of a Kind Show and Sale happening over at Exhibition Place. More than just a room full of crafts, the show attracts over 200,000 visitors annually.

Here you’ll find a number of things to see (and purchase!) including items such as this beautiful scarf handcrafted by Anke Fox for Armstrong Fox Textiles. This year, the show theme is Holiday Windows, with special emphasis on their rapidly expanding Green section.

When
November 27th - December 7th, 2008
Weekdays 11am-10pm, Saturdays 10am-9pm, Sundays 10am-6pm

Where
Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place, 100 Princes’ Blvd., Toronto

Tickets
Online
Adults $10
Seniors $6.50

At the door
Adults $12
Seniors/Youth (13-17) $6.50
Children (12 & under) free

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By Rachel Segal -- 1 comment

The Nature of Diamonds at The Royal Ontario Museum

With the shaky economy and uncertainty in the air, it was quite a relief to take a moment this weekend and enjoy one of my favorite things: diamonds. Now, I may not have many of them (three, to be exact - my earrings and engagement ring), but I do love to linger around extravagant jewelry. There’s something so irresponsible and ridiculous about it all…which is fun to indulge in, especially when the cost is only the price of admission.

No photography is allowed in The Nature of Diamonds exhibit (which is running until through March 2009), but I can tell you that you will find a huge amount of history and scientific information alongside the decadence. I found it particularly interesting to read about what’s being done to prevent "blood diamonds" with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, which I will admit is one thing that has given this avid diamond lover much pause.

Beautiful examples of how diamonds have become symbols of wealth and importance, as well as the history behind De Beer’s famous A Diamond Is Forever slogan (which is still very much in part of their brand to this day) are fabulous reminders that history is cyclical, people will always love luxury and things will most certainly bounce back.

Image: Ian Irving on Flickr

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By Rachel Segal -- 2 comments

Cavalcade of Lights: Opening Ceremony November 29th

I’m starting to fall more and more in love with Winter. Yes, this is after spending a total of nine hours on the freeway traveling from Toronto to Windsor (which was at least ten degrees colder than the city) this weekend…in that time, I had the chance to take in my fair share of snowdrifts and bitter winds. But while my teeth were chattering, I was reminded that one annual event you just can’t miss is right around the corner - The Cavalcade of Lights.

Right in the heart of the city at Nathan Philips Square (Toronto’s City Hall), the Cavalcade of Lights kicks off this weekend on November 29th at 7pm with the tree lighting, special fireworks and live performances from Serena Ryder, Alex Cuba, Andrew Craig, Toya Alexis and The Canadian Tenors. The skating rink will also be open until 10pm…which if I’ve calculated correctly means that my evening on November 29th will go something like this -

7:00-8:30pm enjoy the fireworks and music, take some photos and savour this delicious Mexican Hot Chocolate I’ll be making to celebrate.

8:30-9:00pm hop back to my apartment and pick up my ice skates.

9:15-10:00pm enjoy the first ice skate of the season (and work off that hot chocolate).

If you can’t make it this weekend, that’s okay - The Cavalcade of Lights continues every Saturday before Christmas in December -

December 6 - The Top Three Tour, featuring Canadian Idols Theo Tams, Mitch Macdonald, Drew Write plus special guests Mookie Morris and Sebastian Piggot
December 13 - Dragonette
December 20 - Serena Ryder

Address:
Toronto City Hall’s Nathan Phillips Square
100 Queen Street West
(Queen Street West and Bay Street)

TTC: Osgoode Subway Station or Queen Subway Station (both fully accessible)

Images: John Vetterli on Flickr

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By Rachel Segal -- 3 comments

The AGO: Revived and Revealed

Every morning for the last ten months I’ve walked past the AGO and witnessed a transformation from drab, uninspired building to an architectural wonder that is both delicate and impressive on an incredibly grand scale. Unlike the restoration of the ROM (which still bugs me every time I pass by), I was actually excited to see how things would come together…and to my delight, it’s come together beautifully.

Earlier this week, The Globe and Mail reported that last weekend’s free admission to celebrate the reopening was a huge success -

Despite forgoing admissions charges, the weekend proved profitable for the gallery. Official figures reported $130,000 in gift-shop sales (25 per cent higher than projected), $26,000 in café sales (35 per cent higher than expected) and a fully booked slate of tables at the posh Frank restaurant. Staff also sold 521 memberships on-site.

While admission is no longer free, that also means the opening crowds will have tapered off at least a little. Let’s face it - while it’s one thing to wait in line to see a hotly anticipated movie on opening night, enjoying an art exhibit takes time to soak it all in.

Who really wants to rush anything as beautiful as this with thousands of people pushing through right next to you?

General Admission
Adults – $18
Senior (65 and over) – $15
Student (full-time with valid ID) – $10
Youth (ages 6–12) – $10
Children (5 and under with adult) – FREE
Members – FREE

For more information visit The AGO’s website.

(c) Andrew Currie on Flickr

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By Rachel Segal -- 2 comments

Artisans at the Distillery

With today’s sprinkle of snowflakes as a reminder that the holidays are right around the corner comes Artisans at The Distillery - a Christmas craft show running from November 19-23 in The Fermentation Room on Mill Street.

Admission is $10 and all the vendors are Canadian artists and designers selling one of a kind jewellery, glassware, clothing and paintings and photography.

If you’re unfamiliar with the Distillery District, they provide a map as well to help you get around. As you’ll see, there is a ton to do in this area of the city, which is trendy and packed full of great food and fun things to do. A national historic site, The Distillery District happens to be one of the largest and most well preserved Victorian industrial design complexes. So why not bundle up, grab a coffee and check out some one of a kind Canadian goods? With summer over, this area will be less crowded, but still just as historically interesting and beautiful to wander through.

Image Credit: Payton Chung on Flickr

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By Rachel Segal -- 0 comments

Hello Toronto!

My name is Rachel Segal and I’m your new tour guide to the fabulous city of Toronto. I’m so excited to have the chance to share with you some of my favourite spots as well as an excuse to get out there and see what other amazing places there are that even I don’t know about!

A little bit about me - well, by day I run the Content Team at b5media, which coincidently happens to be right in the heart of Toronto near Queen and Spadina. I’m an avid amateur photographer and a lover of fine food, wine and music. Originally from all over the United States, I moved to Canada over ten years ago and (minus a two year stint in California) have enjoyed my home here ever since.

As the winter inches closer and closer, we’ll be putting on our mittens and paying special attention to all of the wonderful activities and events around the city…despite the chilly winds and inevitable snow. There is so much to explore - so let’s get started!

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By Rachel Segal -- 3 comments

Hiring a Blogger at The Toronto Traveler

Are you in the know about Toronto?  And about where to go when you want to leave the city?

Do you know to see great art, listen to fantastic music, eat delicious food, and mellow out over a beverage with friends?  Do your friends ask you for suggestions about what to do on the weekend?

If you have a passion for your city, and would like to share it with others, The Toronto Traveler wants YOU!

We’re hiring a blogger to take over duties here, so if you’re interested in taking over those duties email me expressing your interest and providing links to other relevant writing.  Convince me that you’re the right person for the job.

Knowledge of Word Press and photo editing is preferred.  Blogging experience is nice, but is not as important as passion for the topic.  Pay is a monthly base plus traffic bonus.

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By Mary Jo -- 1 comment

The 2008 Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition is Just Around the Corner

The Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition (TOAE) can easily claim to be one of the oldest annual traditions within the City of Toronto.  It’s certainly one of the oldest contemporary traditions, with 2008 being the 47th year in which the exhibition is being held.

One of the reasons that people tend to find the TOAE so special is the fact that it is a rarity not just in Toronto, but across all of Canada as well.  It is an exhibition taking place completely outdoors, allowing people to walk around one of the biggest outdoor squares in Toronto, taking in the great weather as well as the beautiful works of art.

The TOAE takes place in Nathan Phillips Square, which is located in the heart of downtown Toronto.  It’s about equidistant from both the Queen and Osgoode Subway Stations and is around many other Toronto attractions, allowing you to easily combine a visit to the TOAE with other events you might want to visit on the same day.

Admission to the TOAE is completely free and the exhibition will be held on Friday July 11 (10 AM to 8 PM), Saturday July 12 (10 AM to 7 PM) and Sunday July 13 (10 AM to 6 PM).

Overall, it’s expected that around 500 different artists will be showcasing their works at the various displays available around the square and the styles of art are expected to encompass everything under the Sun.  Many of the artists will be recognizable to people that follow the art industry whereas many of the others will be complete unknowns or alternatively students looking to make some cash to help pay the next year’s tuition.  It’s this melding together of the known and unknown that is one of the reasons that this year’s exhibition is expected to draw over 100,000 visitors during the 3-day event.

More information about this event is available on the TOAE 2008 website, including a list of artists, gallery of past events and contact information.

Photo Credit: Flickr Creative Commons

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By Justin -- 1 comment

When to Visit Toronto

One of the biggest questions that people tend to ask me is when to visit the city.  From a personal point of view, I think that the Winter is the best time to visit the city from a purely aesthetic point of view, but I also acknowledge that summer is the best time in terms of the attractions that are available.  It is ultimately a personal decision that needs to be made, but here are some things to mull about when you consider which season would be the best to visit Toronto.

Spring

Spring is a rather weird season in Toronto.  Weather wise, the snow is starting to melt and while floods can get into the city from time to time, the receding layers of white can be beautiful for photography.  The warming weather combined with the regular breezes from Lake Ontario can create heavenly weather for those that enjoy weather ranges between 5 and 15 Celsius and breezy conditions.

In terms of the attractions, all of the major city attractions are available around the calendar, so you’d be able to see them regardless of when you choose to travel.  However, special events at places like The Canadian National Exhibition usually don’t start until the summer, so if you’re visiting the city in the hopes of going to a lot of events, this is not the best season to do that.

Summer

In my rather humble opinion, Summer has the worst weather of all four seasons in Toronto.  Of course, I’m partial to cold weather and vacationing in a tropical paradise isn’t exactly my idea of a good time.  If you’re partial to warm weather, then Summer is a great time to visit Toronto because the moderating influence of the nearby lake creates temperature ranges that frequently break 25 Degrees Celsius.

Summer is also the high period of tourism in the city, which means that all of the major and minor attractions will be in full swing.  The baseball season is well underway by the time summer comes and the football season is not too far off.  There’s usually extra public transit service in anticipation of higher traveller numbers, but by the same token finding transportation to and accommodation in the city can be harder and end up costing a lot more money.

Fall

Fall is a lot like Spring, except without the great view of melting snow.  Towards the end of Fall however, snow will start to fall on the ground and provide a wholly different set of photographic opportunities.  The weather ranges are about the same as they are for spring, although you can expect more wind in the Fall months.

Fall is a great time to visit Toronto if you’re looking for deals, because it is right after all of the Summer tourism peaks have passed.  Attractions are looking for people to sustain themselves and many airline and hotel companies are doing the same thing.  Rates in a lot of the city’s hotels tend to fall during this period and many of the attractions are silent enough that you can enjoy them alone.  For the various parks, water bodies and beautiful religious structures in the city, this can really make all the difference in your overall experience.

Winter

As a Canadian for the last two decades, I’ve really developed an affinity for cold weather that makes me prefer winter over all of the other seasons.  In terms of weather, you can often expect conditions that are below freezing, with a wind chill factor that can often make temperatures seem like they’re 20 to 25 below zero on the Celsius scale.

The major attractions are all still open, although the number of events that tend to be hosted during this time dips slightly.  However, if you’re a big fan of photography, then getting the chance to take pictures of all of Toronto’s most beautiful buildings when they’re covered by snow might definitely be worth the colder weather.

As I said in the introduction, visiting Toronto is ultimately a personal choice.  There are good points and bad points in visiting the city at different points during the year, but aside from personal opinion there is really no season that is better than the others.

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By Justin -- 0 comments