Tips about Toronto » music

Valentine’s Day for Singles: Toronto Dance Clubs

contact — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 23:06:50 +0000

On your own tonight? Lots of people are date-less on Valentine’s Day; there’s no need to be ashamed or anything. Go have a great time dancing the night away. Invite some other solo Valentine’s friends and have a blast burning off some calories and listening to fun music:

Ba Ba Lu’u
136 Yorkville Ave., Telephone: 416-515-0587

Bovine Sex Club
542 Queen St. W., Telephone: 416-504-4239

Cira
126 John St., Toronto, Telephone: 416-979-0044

Courthouse
57 Adelaide St., Telephone: 416-214-9379

The Dance Cave
529 Bloor St. W., 2nd floor

Devil’s Martini
473 Adelaide St. W., Toronto, Telephone: 416-603-9300

The Docks
11 Polson St., Toronto, Telephone: 416-469-5655

El Convento Rico
750 College St., Telephone: 416-588-7800

The 5th Social Club
225 Richmond St. W., Toronto, Telephone: 416-979-3000

Fluid Lounge
217 Richmond St. W., Telephone: 416-593-6116

Funhaus
526 Queen St. W., Toronto, Telephone: 416-703-4999

The Guvernment/Koolhaus
32 Queens Quay E., Telephone: 416-869-0045

Hotel Boutique Bar
7 Peter St. Telephone: 416-345-8585

Inside
218 Richmond St. W., Telephone: 416-591-0009

Limelight Nightclub
250 Adelaide St. W., Telephone: 416-593-6126

Muzik
15 Saskatchewan Rd., Toronto, Telephone: 416-595-9998

Shallow Groove Lounge
559 College St., Telephone: 416-944-8998

This is London
364 Richmond St. W., Telephone: 416-351-1100

Tonic
117 Peter St., Telephone: 416-204-9200

[source]

Can’t Sleep? Head Over to the Insomnia Cafe

contact — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 23:09:21 +0000

I’ll join you because I can’t sleep either. This is a perfect place to hang out in the middle of the night, when most Torontonians are getting their much needed zzzzz’s. The decor won’t make you go too insane as it’s rather sparse decorated in a mix of funky styles. Grab a late night snack or light meal. What are some things on the menu? Fried calamari with tzatziki dipping sauce. Don’t like it fried? Have it grilled with a side of salad. Or have a crostini with hummus or roasted garlic and brie. Looking for something more substantial? Have Fries! or steamed mussels, quesadillas, soup & salad and more. I’m hungry now.

By the way, the folks at Insomnia run a bar, so if you’d rather fill up on “liquids” try their yummy mcyumyum martinis.

Insomnia Internet Cafe
563 Bloor Street West
Toronto, ON M5S 1Y6, Canada
Tel: 416.588.3907
Sun-Wed 11:00am-2:00am, Fri & Sat 11:00am-4:00am

Cattle Call to Star as Maria in `Sound of Music’

contact — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 23:10:50 +0000

From AP:

The Canadian airwaves will soon be alive with “The Sound of Music” when a TV reality show begins auditions to cast the role of Maria in an upcoming Toronto production of the beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein musical.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation is producing its own version of the hit BBC series “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?,” which garnered the 2007 International Emmy Award for best non-scripted entertainment program.

Auditions began Friday in Toronto to start a seven-city, cross-country audition tour, from Vancouver, British Columbia, to St. John’s, Newfoundland, that will run through Feb. 9.

About 200 hopefuls will be invited for callbacks in Toronto, and about 50 finalists will attend the “Maria School” for further training.

The 8-part TV series set to air this summer will follow the “Marias” as they go through auditions, training sessions and evaluations.

Canadian viewers will vote to determine their choice to play Maria von Trapp, the singing and dancing nun-turned-governess made famous by Julie Andrews in the 1965 film.

The winner will join the cast of a production of “The Sound of Music” premiering in October at Toronto’s Princess of Wales Theatre, produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Ian and David Mirvish.

“I am delighted that `How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?’ is coming to Canada,” Lloyd Webber, the famed British composer and impresario, said in a CBC news release.

“It was an enormous success in the…

Read more

Toronto’s Best Bars: Lily Lounge

contact — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 23:07:26 +0000

You won’t feel like a stranger upon entering Li’ly Lounge in Toronto’s popular district, “Little Italy.”

Work up an appetite before heading to Li’ly Lounge because their menu is to die for with their bold, international tapas and delectable gourmet meals. It’s one of the best places to chill, to sample great food, listen to good music, dance to an in-house DJ and to meet new people. Oh, and relax with a drink or two.

li’ly Resto Lounge
656 College Street West (College and Grace Street)
M6G 1B8 Toronto ON Canada
Tel: 416.532.0419

Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 6pm to 2am; Mondays reserved for private events

Gay Toronto

contact — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 23:05:56 +0000

As the largest city in Canada, you would definitely expect that there’d be a gay scene in Toronto. You’re right. The gay scene in Toronto is called The Village, or Church Street. It’s located along Church and Yonge between Alexander and Wellesley, and the Wellesley subway stop.

In the Village, a great kickoff would be to start at Woody’s, a massive complex of bars that is one of the most popular hangouts in the city for many years. (Many scenes from Queer as Folk were filmed here.) Next, check out Babylon Martini and Musique Boutique. Babylon has over 250 types of martinis! Pimblett’s Pub is a cozy joint, and is the oldest gay bar in Toronto. The Volcano Room is a new spot that has become insanely popular. Zipperz is a traditional piano bar, as is Trax 5. El Convento Rico pulls in the Latino crowd, while Ciao Edie is a funky retro bar. Pegasus Bar is an all time favorite, with video games, pool tables and the largest projection TV in Toronto. Remington’s is the place everyone goes to watch cute go-go boys disrobe. Lesbians hang out at Slack Alice, Pope Joan, and The House of Parlaiment Pub. The leather crowd favors The Black Eagle, The Toolbox, and The Barn and Stables.

You’ll also find that another area, called the Queer West Village, has grow in the West Toronto suburbs. It’s a conglomeration of communities where gays are completely and seamlessly integrated into a mixed district. A more tolerant mindset than most others anywhere, there is no discrimination based on sexual identity. You don’t go out there to party. If you’re looking party, go to the Village. You go to Queer West Village for mingling with gay rights and community related issues.

In the summer, you can get an all-over tan at Hanlans Point Beach on Toronto Island, or closer to town on Scarborough Beach.

When Gay Toronto needs to get its dance on, it heads to Fly. This is the big dance club you’ll recognize from Queer as Folk. On Saturdays, it thumps until well after sunrise. 5ive is more upscale and chic. Lust is where people head to on Fridays. On other nights it’s mostly mixed.

For restaurants, go to Zelda’s, an American/Mexican/Italian eatery. It’s massively popular during Sunday brunch, and its bar is one of the biggest gathering places for gay Toronto. Less tread establishments are: Tantra, the V3 Lounge, PJ Mellons, and Byzantium. For a quieter bar scene, head to Living Well, which has been a favorite with the gay community forever. The Looking Glass is another fave, with its four fireplaces and pan-cultural menu. The Village Rainbow is a Village standard establishment. Fire on the East Side’s Southern-inspired menu will not only pique your interest but it’ll also do the same to your tastebuds.

Toronto has several gay B&Bs. A few of these bed and breakfast places are located right smack in the middle of the Village: The Dundonald House, a charming guesthouse owned by legally-married gay couple Warren and Dave; Cawthra Square, a collection of three upscale B&Bs all side by side to each other, and the recipient of several gay travel awards; The Banting House, an Edwardian residence whose guests rave about it’s central location as well as its marvelous gardens. Bears and leather fans can bed down at The Bearfoot Inn. If you’re searching for a transvestite-friendly place, slide on over to the Wildside Hotel. Other unique, gay-owned properties in the immediate area are The Toronto Townehouse, B R Guest, the Toronto Downtown B&B (a luxury B&B), A Seaton Dream, the Lavender Rose, the House on McGill, and the Burwood Inn.

Pride Toronto is Canada’s largest gay event, and takes place in late June. Folsom Fair North is an extension of San Francisco’s famed leather celebration. It takes place in mid-July. [source]

The Gift of Glenn Gould

contact — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 23:08:25 +0000

For the longest time, I couldn’t listen to The Goldberg Variations without thinking about Hannibal (The Cannibal) Lechter from Silence of the Lambs – let alone eat fava beans.

It made me sad because I love this recording by Glenn Gould. Luckily, I did overcome it and disassociated the two. Finally. Yay.

My baggage aside, one of the best things you can do for your life, is to stop everything and JUST listen to beautiful music for a while. You don’t have to spend the entire day doing this; just spend some allotted time to step away from the chaos of life, and just…chill. And chilling with music rules. Some of you are so used to multi-tasking and always doing a million things at the same time. You know I’m talking about you. Your days are filled with a continuous string of tasks back to back to back sans cesse, if you know what I mean. Calm, serenity, quiet, peaceful – well, these words do not exist in your life’s vocabulary.

Cut it out!

Do yourself a favor and find great music, like Glenn Gould: The Complete Original Jacket Collection

So…..WHY am I writing about Glenn Gould on this Toronto blog? I thought you’d never ask. Glenn Gould was born in Toronto on September 25, 1932. Thought you’d like that bit of trivia.

About Glenn Gould: The Complete Original Jacket Collection
Each of the 60 single and 9 double CDs consists of the exact recordings as first issued on vinyl and looks like a miniaturised form of the original disc: the CDs are in cardboard slipcases in the original design, and the CD itself is designed to look like a LP.

Supplemented by two bonus CDs, the limited “Glenn Gould Complete Jacket Collection” comprises 80 CDs mounted in a high-quality display case with a booklet of more than 240 pages. This booklet contains a new, detailed essay by the German Gould specialist Michael Stegemann on Glenn Gould and the LP recording era along with texts and repertoire details to all recordings in the edition, plus a listing and depiction of the records with reissue dates for repertoire that has appeared before.

The bonus CDs include the last great interview that Glenn Gould gave the American journalist Tim Page in 1981 and an essay on Johann Sebastian Bach and the fugue that Gould recorded in 1972 for a bonus LP. They also feature a number of late recordings that never appeared on vinyl: fragments of the “Italian Album” and Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll in its orchestral version — Gould’s recording debut as conductor and his last recording of all, made on 8 September 1982 with members of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Another rarity is Gould’s own film music to George Roy Hill’s Slaughterhouse Five from 1972.

Tiger Bar

contact — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 23:06:39 +0000

From an article in toronto.com

If you’ve ever dreamed of a Guitar Hero battle in the midst of a safari disco dance party, you’re in luck. With its painted jungle décor, basement vibe and some of the city’s hottest weekly events, Tiger Bar is bringing out College Street’s wild side.

If you have no idea where Tiger Bar is on College Street, you’re not alone. Although its parties have been on everyone’s lips as of late, the venue itself is as hidden as a hidden gem could be, with two completely hidden entrances and no signage. One entrance is in the alleyway behind popular brunch spot Aunties and Uncles on Lippincott Street, while the second is tucked inside the brightly lit, cafeteria-esque College Street Diner. In fact, the only way you’ll find it is if you look for the handwritten sign simply stating “Bar.”

But don’t expect Tiger Bar to look anything like the above bar College Street Diner. Tiger Bar is dark and appropriately dressed like a…

National Film Board, Toronto Mediatheque

contact — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 23:07:36 +0000

This gem is THE place to watch the best in Canadian animated, documentary, short and feature films in the state-of-the-art personal viewing stations. There are always new titles added monthly to a growing database of 1500+ films.

Free admission.

Weekend animation workshops for kids ages 3-13; $5 per child with guardian. Mon.-Tue. 1-7p.m.; Wed. 10a.m.-7p.m.; Thu.-Sat. 10a.m.-10p.m.; Sun. 12-5p.m.

Mediateque
150 John St (at Richmond St W)
Toronto (Osgoode subway station)
M5V 3C3 Canada
416.973.3012

Hours of Operation
Monday & Tuesday, 1 – 7 pm
Wednesday, 10 am – 7 pm
Thursday – Saturday, 10 am – 10 pm
Sunday, Noon – 5 pm

Fees for Digital Viewing Stations
Unlimited Day Pass – $2
Annual Unlimited Pass – $12
Annual Unlimited Family Pass – $15
Red Carpet Pass – $50

Soundscapes for Discerning Music Lovers

contact — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 23:07:03 +0000

From their site:

Soundscapes is an independent CD and music book retailer located in the Little Italy neighbourhood of downtown Toronto. The shop was founded with the simple intent of carrying the best music of all styles and persuasions. Our inventory includes (but is not limited to) folk, jazz, world, psych, garage, prog, blues, soul, reggae, classical, experimental, noise, americana/country, electronic, hip-hop, R&B, metal and pop/rock. We also devote our energies to finding the best in reissues of all genres and imports from across the pond. Finally, our store has one of the city’s best selections of local indie artists.

Soundscapes is a ticket outlet for many independent promoters and we regularly provide tickets for the town’s cornerstone venues, such as The Horseshoe Tavern, Lee’s Palace, The Mod Club, The Music Gallery and The Opera House, among others. A long-time supporter of Toronto’s independent music scene, we have a large consignment section and a seven-year relationship with local indie club night Wavelength (the breeding ground for Broken Social Scene, The Constantines, Royal City and Do Make Say Think to name a few).

Since its birth in August of 1999, the store has quickly grown into one of Toronto’s most-respected and loved music shops. Most importantly, our shelves are stocked not only by the tastes of our staff, but also through suggestions of many a regular customer. We pride ourselves on a relationship with our clientele that is based on respect and a mutual love of music.

In August 1999, Greg Davis first opened the doors on a modest shop in Toronto’s Little Italy neighbourhood. The space used to be a children’s clothing store. Now it was a fledgling CD shop called Soundscapes. Greg had arrived at this place in a very un-rock n’ roll way. Although a native son of nearby Burlington, he had spent the previous two years as an accountant living in San Diego. Like a lot of number-crunchers he found his job profitable but boring. Unlike the majority of his cohorts, he decided to do something about it.

Greg’s record-store-owner-by-way-of-accountant history was unconventional and so was his approach to the indie record shop. Instead of the cluttered bins and surly attitudes depicted in High Fidelity, he favoured clean lines, broad genre stocking, and wide-eyed enthusiasm. The idea was that while he was a huge fan of music himself, he had as much to learn as the next person. Soundscapes was to be a meeting place of like open minds, where the customer had as much to say about the stocking of the shelves as the owner himself.

When the shop first started, it had no more than a couple thousand titles and Greg was the only employee: day in, day out. In the years since, the store has greatly expanded with an inventory of some 20,000 CDs, books and DVDs, as well as over a dozen employees. The shop’s well-chosen, always-improving stock ranges from folk, pop, rock and soul to jazz, classical and experimental, not to mention numerous reissues and import titles.

Soundscapes
572 College Street
Little Italy
Toronto, Ontario
M6G 1B3 Canada
ph: (416) 537-1620

Sunday-Thursday:
10AM-11PM
Friday-Saturday:
10AM-midnight

Toronto’s Best Bars: Melody Bar

contact — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 23:06:20 +0000

Speaking of the Gladstone Hotel, I want to expound a bit on their awesome bar, The Melody Bar.

It was voted among The Top 10 Bars List in the World ‘07 by Conde Nast. This is what they had to say about Melody Bar:

With walls paneled in rich wood, alabaster lamps hanging from the 10-foot ceilings, fat Romanesque pillars, and an original 1930s wooden bar, the Melody Bar isn’t so much nouveau retro as a rollicking saloon. Weekend karaoke nights have become the stuff of legend, with the host brandishing a giant APPLAUSE sign to stoke the crowd—an interesting hodgepodge of expertly coiffed hipsters, ad execs, pixie punk girls, and dust-caked construction workers.

Could it be their fabulous burgers? Maybe their rockin’ karaoke (Thursday through Saturday)? Or their famous Hump Day Bump Wednesday night party? Go there and tell me about it!

Open 11am – 2am Daily. No Cover.

To Note: Holiday Hours
Dec 24 Cafe open until 4pm – Brunch Menu | Melody Bar closed
Dec 25 Cafe + Melody Bar Closed
Dec 26 Cafe open at 8am – Brunch Menu | Melody Bar open at 5pm
Dec 31 Serving bubbly till 3am
Jan 1 Cafe open at 8am – Brunch Menu | Melody Bar normal hours

Melody Bar
Gladstone Hotel
1214 Queen Street West
Toronto ON M6J 1J6
416 531 4635

Win Tx for Daft Punk’s Electroma!

contact — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 23:05:48 +0000

Go here to enter to win free tickets to see Daft Punk’s Electroma at The Royal on Friday, December 7, 2007. Midnight showing!

Daft Punk – Electroma
The Royal
608 College Street
Toronto Canada
416.534.5252

Toronto’s Best Bars: Sky Bar

contact — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 23:09:32 +0000

In Queen’s Quay you’ll find this funky outdoor roof patio (part of the massive Guvernment entertainment complex). While the entertainment complex attracts all types, the Sky Bar is reported to be a magnet for the sexiest and most sophisticated of this great city. If this is your thing you’ll be happy to be cavorting with dashing Armani suit sporting men with cute decked out Versace babes on the cushy couches. The dance floor can be compared to a postage stamp and sadly the place is only open in summer, but then with such trendy drinks and DJs spinning cool club tunes, it’s worth the wait through winter.

Sky Bar
Government 132 Queens Quay East
Toronto (Yonge St & Lake Shore Blvd E) Canada
Telephone: 416.869.0045

Funny Restaurant Names: C’est What?

contact — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 23:07:14 +0000

C’est What is a showcase for the diverse and vibrant global influences proliferating in Toronto.

Fresh meals unifying local culinary traditions are served alongside all natural craft brewed beers, award winning wines, and hand picked premium spirits. Original favorites include; the Lamburger, Falafel, Mango Chicken Salad, Moroccan Stew, Porter Beef Ribs, and the Tourtière. Their daily specials include home cooked soups, sandwiches, noodles, and curries.

Entrées are priced between $7 and $14. Opening hours: 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 a.m., seven days a week.

C’est What
7 Front Street East
Toronto ON Canada
M5E 1B5
Telephone: 416-867-9499

Music This Week in Toronto

contact — Wed, 26 May 2010 23:06:41 +0000

Monday, November 5
The Waterboys @ Music Hall Theatre, $40–45
Koop and Mocean Worker @ Mod Club, $24.50
Megan Hamilton, Jon McKiel and The Eatons @ the Horseshoe, free

Tuesday, November 6
Ani DiFranco @ Music Hall Theatre, $47.50
Athlete @ Lee’s Palace, $17.50
Swayzak @ Mod Club, $12
Jenny Owen Youngs @ Varsity Theatre, free

Wednesday, November 7
Marc Cohn w/ Amy Correia @ Mod Club, $35
Ani DiFranco @ Music Hall Theatre, $47.50
Mobius Band w/ Tigercity @ the Horseshoe, $11.50
The Weatherthans @ the Phoenix, $25

Thursday, November 8
The Weatherthans @ the Phoenix, $25
The Police @ Air Canada Centre, $59.50–225
Two Hours Traffic @ the Horseshoe, $8
Say Hi, The Velvet Teen and The A-Sides @ Sneaky Dee’s, $10

Friday, November 9
The Academy Is… @ Guvernment, $21.50
My Brightest Diamond @ the Drake Underground, $13.50
Band of Horses @ the Phoenix, $16.50
Jully Black @ Mod Club, $15
Sea Wolf @ El Mocambo, $10
Ohbijou, Basia Bulat, Bruce Peninsula and Bocce @ Lee’s Palace, $10
Melissa Laveaux @ Hart House Arbor Room, free
Grainne Ryan, Jonathan Seet and more @ the Rivoli, $6

Saturday, November 10
Battles and White Williams @ Lee’s Palace, $15
Paul Brandt w/ Shane Yellowbird @ Music Hall Theatre, $39.50
Caribou @ Opera House, $15
Rock Plaza Central @ Music Gallery, $10
XYZ Affair, Hexes and Ohs and The Craft Economy @ the Drake Underground, $5

Sunday, November 11
Razorlight @ the Phoenix, $16.50
Juliette & The Licks @ Mod Club, $17.50
The Bicycles, The Blankket and more @ Sneaky Dee’s, PWYC

Recently Announced

November 20 - And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead @ Lee’s Palace, $20
December 13 - Apostle of Hustle @ Lee’s Palace, $15

[via The Torontoist]

3 Concerts for $39 Each – Toronto Symphony Orchestra

contact — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 16:55:39 +0000

From daily-free:

“Toronto Symphony Orchestra: 3+ Concerts for $39 Each, Best Available Seats
August 9th, 2009 Posted in RedFlagDeals The Now or Never sale for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra is on now at TSO.ca. Until August 17th at 5PM EST, you can purchase tickets for 3 or more concerts in their upcoming season for $39 each per ticket. That’s certainly not the cheapest form of entertainment but for $39 you do get to choose from the best available seats in the house. As a bonus you’ll also get a free CD that highlights the upcoming season and an additional discount of 5% once the Now or Never sale is over.

What concerts can you choose from? Take a look at their 09.10 Season at a Glance brochure (PDF).

This deal Toronto Symphony Orchestra: 3+ Concerts for $39 Each, Best Available Seats was originally posted on RedFlagDeals.com – Your source for Canadian Deals, Free Coupons and Freebies.”

Toronto Rocks

contact — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 13:37:29 +0000

Yeah, I know that Toronto Rocks already, but I’m talking about the DVD, so let’s see what it’s about:

On July 30, 2003, close to a half a million people gathered in Toronto for one of the most spectacular concerts of all time in fact, the largest ticketed single-day event in history. The Rolling Stones headlined the show, accompanied by 13 other acts, including AC/DC, Rush, the Guess Who, and Justin Timberlake. Now, this amazing day has been captured on DVD. Who steals the show? The Isley Brothers, led by founding singer Ronald and axeman Ernie, who blaze through “Who’s That Lady” and their classic “Shout” with a band of lock-tight musicians and dancers.

The DVD includes the kind of full-size color booklet every concert disc should come with, a choice of Dolby Digital 5.1 surround and uncompressed PCM stereo sound (both great), and a dose of “bonus” backstage ballyhoo. A unique extra is the director’s broadcast call of the camera shots for AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck,” revealing the frantic, real-time demands of a live shoot.

Find out more about Toronto Rocks and order it

DVDs: The National Ballet of Canada

contact — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:26:26 +0000

This feature-length documentary goes behind the scenes at The National Ballet of Canada to witness the seemingly magical process of creating a major ballet production. MAKING BALLET captures the drama within a drama – the making of “The Actress.” Set to Chopin’s Preludes, this ballet was created by world famous choreographer James Kudelka for prima ballarina Karen Kain. MAKING BALLET will delight film buffs as well as beginners and aficionados of the art form. 88 minutes. Bonus DVD features include a Karen Kain biography, filmmaker Anthony Azzopardi biography, stage director James Kudelka biography and “About the Ballet, ‘The Actress’.”

If you are interested in what goes on behind the scenes of creating a ballet you will be thrilled to get this DVD. You will see that the people involved have so much fun when they are making a new ballet. Karen admits that her life was not as dramatic or sexy or funny every day as it is in this piece, but still, it’s based on a lot of true things about my world and about what I experienced and have experienced. So to create this character she was half inspired by real life and half inspired by her own imagination. She was 43 years old when she did this film and was still very beautiful. She still is today, for that matter.

Get more information

My Favorite Movie Theatre: Bloor Cinema

contact — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 18:45:40 +0000

Bloor Cinema rules. It is a real, traditional, old school movie theatre for true movie buffs – showing classic favorite movies. If you’ve never been to an old theater and want to experience what your parents or grandparents experienced, check out Bloor. Its wonderful sticky floors, movie classics as well as more obscure gems, cheap tickets, squeeky seats, more than 800 seats, true movie house smells, gummy worms… will just make you sigh. In a good way. What is NOT to like about this place!? Tell me.

The Bloor Cinema is a host for gobs of film festivals, movie premieres, special gala events, classic films and Hollywood blockbusters. They showcase a variety of perspectives from across Canada and around the world: independent films, fascinating stories, important documentaries and sometimes just wild, unbridled entertainment.

This historic landmark should be a must-see item on your list when visiting Toronto, whether you go see a movie or not. LOVE this place.

Browsing tonight’s listing, I noticed that Ghost World (with Thora Birch, Scarlett Johansson and Steve Buscemi) is playing. Don’t miss that excellent film!

Bloor Cinema
506 Bloor Street West,
Toronto ON M5S1Y2 Canada
(416) 516-2331

Summer Festivals in Toronto

contact — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 08:52:00 +0000

While we’re on the subject of summer festivals in Toronto, here are some more coming up:

OLYMPIC ISLAND 2008
Date & details: Olympic Island. $49.50 at Rotate This, Soundscapes, Horseshoe, Ticketmaster. June 7.
Who’s playing: Your favourite sensitive nü-romantic types: Toronto/Montreal Arts & Crafts indie darlings Stars and mopey Yank college rock idols Death Cab For Cutie. The latter are from Seattle, so odds are they write songs in the rain, which explains a lot.
What to bring: A Slip ’n’ Slide, to turn your tears into joy.
What not to bring: A bag to take home cellphone company brochures —?this year’s Olympic Island fest is sponsored by “you: the local music fan.”

HARBOURFRONT CENTRE
Date & details: Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W. All summer long. See www.harbourfrontcentre.com for complete details.
Who’s playing: Only top talent from every culture in the world. Everyone from dub originator Lee “Scratch” Perry (June 30) to Afrobeat scion Seun Kuti and Egypt 80 (July 2) to electro-indie veterans Ladytron (July 4) and loads of world music artists whose fame in their own countries guarantees that some portion of the city will throng to the stage.
What to bring: An open mind; in some cases, a translator.
What not to bring: In a staggering number of instances, money — many of these top-drawer concerts are partly paid for by your tax dollars, a fact that can do double-duty as a heckle.

NORTH BY NORTHEAST
Date & details: June 12-15. Check www.nxne.com for info.
Who’s playing: Whoever they can rope into playing in a sweltering club even when it’s already hot outside. Which means upstart post-punkers These New Puritans, D-Block rapper Sheek Louch, southern rockers My Morning Jacket and plenty of bands you’ve never heard of, spread across 50 venues.
What to bring: A backup plan in case your show of choice fills up quick with greasy industry types.
What not to bring: A leather jacket, unless you plan on drowning in your own sweat.

TD CANADA TRUST TORONTO JAZZ FESTIVAL
Date & details: June 20-29. See www.torontojazz.com for complete schedule.
Who’s playing: Some new faces (indie-hip-hopsters The National Parcs and Grand Analog), some old faces (Al Green, Dr. John), and some very old faces (Dave Brubeck, who at 88 can still handle “Take Five” with its odd 5/4 time better than you, young whippersnapper).
What to bring: Carefully sculpted facial hair; your concentrating-on-jazz face.
What not to bring: Jazz hands; a microwave oven — ack, my pacemaker!

EDGEFEST 2008
Date & details: July 12. Downsview Park, 75 Carl Hall. $80.50 at Ticketmaster.
Who’s playing: The titans of alt.rock radio (Linkin Park, Stone Temple Pilots, Sam Roberts Band, The Bravery) will try to fill a space so big you could park the Titanic in it and still have room for Scott Weiland’s ego. Almost.
What to bring: Piercings, testosterone, angst.
What not to bring: Black leather shorts. Ouch.

VANS WARPED TOUR
Date & details: July 19. Downsview Park, 75 Carl Hall. $43.25 at Rotate This, Sonic Temple, Ticketmaster.
Who’s playing: Who cares, it’s the best mall-punk show of the year and we finally don’t have to go Barrie to see it. But for reference, Angels And Airwaves, Relient K, The Academy Is…, and more are on the bill.
What to bring: Wallet chain; hair gel; skateboard for getting from one side of the venue to the other.
What not to bring: Your carefully prepared rant about which bands have sold out since last year’s Warped, and/or since 1977.

THE ROGERS PICNIC
Date & details: July 20. 1pm. Historic Fort York, 100 Garrison. $49.50 at Rotate This, Soundscapes, Play De Record, Ticketbreak, Ticketmaster.
Who’s playing: A very trendy bunch — Vampire Weekend, City and Colour, Cat Power, Animal Collective, Dizzee Rascal, Born Ruffians and more. It’s basically an indie fan’s wet dream, if indie fans had wet dreams and weren’t totally asexual and didn’t have genitals made of Nerf.
What to bring: Oh my god, you’re wearing that?
What not to bring: Oh my god, you’re wearing that?

ROCK THE BELLS 2008
Date & details: July 20. Noon. Arrow Hall, 6900 Airport. $75-$175 at Rotate This, Ticketmaster.
Who’s playing: A hip-hop dream team — A Tribe Called Quest, Nas, Mos Def, De La Soul, The Pharcyde and more. Did I say hip-hop? By that I mean, Hip-Hop-Before-Soulja-Boy. You knew that. Nah’mean?
What to bring: A backpack; Haterade to pour on anyone who admits any fondness whatsoever for Akon.
What not to bring: A checklist of acts to see, since based on the last RTB, you shouldn’t count on the entire lineup making it over the border.

V FEST
Date & details: Sep 6-7. Toronto Island. $87; $159 for both days at Ticketmaster, Future Shop.
Who’s playing: All aboard the time machine, we’re going back to 1996! Foo Fighters, Oasis, Paul Weller, Spiritualized… admittedly, a lot of people slept through the NickelCreed era, so pretending it never happened is probably a sound business strategy. For the modern-minded, Wintersleep, Constantines, Robyn and way more round out the otherwise-excellent two-day lineup.
What to bring: 10-year-old copies of the NME to get yourself in the zone.
What not to bring: One of those internets I keep hearing about. I asked Noel Gallagher and he said he’s not sure, but he thinks he already has one.

[source]

Toronto Jazz Festival Starts June 20

contact — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 07:49:37 +0000

This festival is not to be missed if you’re anywhere in the vicinity of Toronto. Or not. Some highlights feature Al Green, so you must see the Rev (June 19) if you’re tired of being alone, because if anything, he’s still in love with you. Ahmad Jamal will be there (June 23) too! And – A surprising guest, a very old timer in jazz, Dave Brubeck (yeah, he’s still alive!) will be kickin it with y’all (July 2) and taking at least 5 minutes to play his signature tune. If you have no idea who he is, you will surely recognize his tunes, and at 88 years old, he will amaze you.

There will be lots of music and lots of artists and venues so the best thing to do is download a schedule and go from there. Get tickets online at www.ticketmaster.ca or by calling 416-870-8000.

For more information: toronto jazz

I Am Elvis

contact — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:35:31 +0000

No, I’m not really the King, but you’ll find a bunch of Elvis impersonators May 1 at the Gladstone Hotel’s Melody Bar. Don’t miss tomorrow’s fun event; there will be 5 Elvis Tribute Artists performing live, the youngest of them is only 12 years old!

I Am Elvis
Gladstone Hotel, Toronto
Thursday, May 1, 2008
7-9:30pm
Melody Bar
Free

Featured City: Toronto

contact — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 08:38:38 +0000

Make sure to head over to concierge where they’ve featured our favorite Canadian city of Toronto. Here’s what they say about Toronto in a nutshell:

“* It’s a chowhound’s paradise, with everything from Nigerian to Laotian, Moroccan to Azerbaijani food

* An architectural renaissance is transforming the skyline with additions by Daniel Libeskind and native son Frank Gehry

* Toronto has become one of the most ethnically diverse cities on the continent, with lively neighborhoods, festivals, and restaurants to match

* The Eaton Centre. It’s a big suburban-style mall with all the wrong kinds of shopping

* When to go to Toronto: May, June, September, October”

More here