About Toronto

1. Places to Visit

Toronto is one of the most diverse cities you will ever visit. Different ethnic neighbourhoods offer a variety of culinary samples from "back home":

Little Italy

This neighbourhood boasts Italian cafés and plenty of restaurants for those who enjoy traditional Italian cuisine. The locals in this neighbourhood are quite patriotic, which becomes highly apparent during international soccer events where flags adorn the streets, along with multitudes of fans. It is worthwhile spending an evening in this neighbourhood to enjoy a gourmet Italian dinner, a café latte at "Café Dimplimatico" and some gelato at "Sicilian Ice Cream".

Little Portugal

The locals in this part of Toronto are very proud and just as patriotic as the Italians in Little Italy. With the two neighbourhoods in close proximity, soccer events become a little competitive as fans try to prove who is the most nationalistic. When in Little Portugal, be sure to have some "Churrascu"; traditional barbeque chicken doused with hot "piri piri" sauce. After sampling this local favourite, stop off in one of the many bakeries that line the streets and treat yourself to some "Natas" (traditional Portuguese custard tarts).

Greek Town

A street called "the Danforth" has become synonymous with great Greek cuisine and all that is Greek. This neighbourhood has Greek restaurants and bars lining the Danforth and plenty of locals gather here to meet with friends, have some Souvlaki for dinner and some Baklava and strong coffee for dessert. Around August, Danforth is closed off to traffic to host the annual "Taste of the Danforth Festival", where thousands gather on the streets to sample various culinary delights and enjoy the neighbourhood as it was meant to be discovered – on foot.

Chinatown

Toronto's Chinatown is one of the largest in North America. Whether you are looking for traditional Chinese cuisine or are shopping for a very exotic Asian ingredient to satisfy the gourmand in you, Chinatown has plenty of options. Here you will find Peking Duck hanging from the windows and plenty of outdoor markets.

Once you have satisfied your culinary side, there are several "must see" neighbourhoods each known for its unique characteristics that always seem to draw a crowd. Here are some to names a few:

Yorkville

Yorkville is known for designer shopping, the best upscale restaurants in the city and plenty of celebrity sightings. Here you will find Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Escada, Gucci and plenty of other designers to add to your wardrobe collection. With designer shopping comes designer cuisine. Some of the best chefs in the city have gathered in this neighbourhood in an effort to attract hungry shoppers during the dinner hour. If shopping has tired you out, be sure to visit one of the many luxury spas that are sure to please those who need some pampering.

The Distillery District

In just the past few years, The Distillery District has become one of the most romantic and enjoyable destinations in the City. The Distillery District is Toronto's first pedestrian only village. From the brick lined streets to the European piazza styled areas, The Distillery District is a great place to unwind and slow down for the day.

Like Soho in the 1960's, The Distillery District has become an area associated with creative thinking and expression. The area's rebirth has been dedicated to promoting arts, culture and entertainment. Over the past few years this new landmark has been host to internationally acclaimed galleries, artists, theatres, restaurants, cafés and boutique retailers.

St. Lawrence Market

The St. Lawrence Market Neighbourhood is the historic heart and soul of Toronto. This area of Toronto offers everything from fine dining to farmer's markets, and a lively night life enjoyed in the same historical surroundings once occupied by Toronto's founding fathers.

Located in historical Old Town Toronto the St. Lawrence Market Neighbourhood Business Improvement Area (BIA) includes theatres such as the Sony Centre, the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, and numerous historical properties and landmarks including the north and south St. Lawrence Markets, (host of the Saturday morning Farmers Market for 200 years).

Dundas Square

Dundas Square is a unique focal point of the downtown Toronto community. The Square is designated for use as a public open space and as an event venue that can accommodate events of various sizes. You'll discover a wide range of activities on the Square: community celebrations, theatrical events, concerts, receptions, promotions – events that appeal to residents and tourists alike and provide a showcase for local businesses. If you want to sit back relax and surf the net, Dundas Square boasts one of the hottest Wi-Fi spots in the city.

There is no shortage of tourist attractions in Toronto. Places like the CN Tower, The Rogers Center and The Air Canada Center are must see venues. For hockey fans, be sure to visit the Hockey Hall of Fame and for those who like castles, Toronto has Casa Loma.

2. Entertainment

Toronto today has become an alluring urban center catering to anyone looking for their preferred form of entertainment. Here are some must see neighbourhoods during your stay in Toronto.

The District

The city's top spot is The Toronto Entertainment District, or as it is commonly called, The District, located within an eight square blocks area in the heart of downtown. It offers some of Toronto's best theatres, bars and nightspots and, as well, The District encompasses many gourmet restaurants, fine shopping, sporting facilities, theatres, movies and a number of other attractions.

Yorkville

Toronto Theatres

Toronto is the third largest theatre centre in the English-speaking world, thanks to a number of famous shows that have passed through the city over the last 20 years.

Here is a list of major Toronto theatre venues:

The Princess of Wales Theatre

300 King St W, Toronto Ontario Canada, (800) 461-3333
This 2000-seat theatre is located in the heart of the theatre district in Toronto.

The Royal Alexandra Theatre

260 King St W, Toronto Ontario Canada, (800) 461-3333
Opened in 1907, the Royal Alex has been designated as a National Historic Landmark and has been extensively modernized since then. The building underwent more work in the summer of 2006 and is located just down the street from the Princess of Wales Theatre.

The Canon Theatre

244 Victoria St, Toronto Ontario Canada, (800) 461-3333
Formerly known as The Pantages, this Toronto theatre opened in 1920 and hosted The Phantom of the Opera for a number of years.

Elgin & Winter Garden Theatre

189 Yonge Street, Toronto Ontario, Canada (416) 314-2901
Built in 1913 near the bottom of Yonge Street, the Elgin & Winter Garden Theatre holds 1,561 people and the upper level Winter Garden holds 992.

Famous People Players Dinner Theatre

110 Sudbury St, Toronto Ontario Canada, tel. (416) 532-1137
Opened in 1974 and located west of the main downtown area of Toronto, this dinner theatre offers a black light show with puppets and actors with colourful costumes performing on stage.

Four Seasons Centre For The Performing Arts

145 Queen Street West, Toronto Ontario, Canada (416) 363-6671
Opened in 2006, this beautiful new building is the new home of the Canadian Opera Company and the National Ballet of Canada.

Hummingbird Centre

1 Front Street East, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (416) 393-7469
The Hummingbird Centre has hosted many major performers over the years and both the National Ballet of Canada and Canadian Opera Company called it home at one time.

Roy Thomson Hall

60 Simcoe St, Toronto Ontario Canada, (416) 872-4255
Built to replace the legendary Massey Hall, this theatre opened in 1982 and seats 2,812. I've seen several live concerts here and the acoustics are fantastic.

3. Festivals and Special Events

Toronto is a very multicultural and ethnically diverse, which makes for some very special events and festivals that attract tourist from all over the world. Here are some events you may be interested in:

Toronto Winter Festival

Late January to early February
Residents and tourists ignored the cold and snow to get out and celebrate all that Toronto has to offer in the winter. The city was bursting with culinary experiences, fantastic free entertainment at Nathan Phillips Square and a showcase of Toronto's vibrant arts scene.

Toronto Jazz Festival

Late June
For the past 20 years, Toronto Downtown Jazz has produced the Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival. Over the years has come to be recognized as one of North America's premier jazz festival producers, while the organization itself has been used by other arts organizations and festivals as a model for community involvement, artistic excellence and outstanding production standards.

Toronto Film Festival

Early September
Join the thousand of locals as they seek out celebrity spottings and tickets to major movie events. The Toronto Film Festival draws fans from all over the world and has become well respected by actors, fans and producers alike.

Caribana

Early August
Every summer, Toronto blazes with the excitement of calypso, steel pan and elaborate masquerade costumes during the annual Toronto Caribbean Carnival (Caribana) Festival.

Nuit Blanche

Early October
Nuit Blanche was originally conceived in Paris, France in 2002, in an attempt to bring contemporary art to the masses in public spaces. Now universally translated as "Sleepless Night", Nuit Blanche brings more than a million people to the streets of Paris every year. In 2005, Paris organizers contacted the City of Toronto's Special Events office with an invitation to join the ranks of approximately six other European cities producing similar all-night events.

Toronto was the first North American city to fully replicate the Paris model, and has inspired similar celebrations throughout North America, including San Francisco, New York, Miami and Chicago.

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