Category Archives: 365 Things to Do in Toronto

365 Things to Do in Toronto, Church & Wellesley, Toronto, Toronto events, Toronto parade

184. Toronto Pride Parade

July 3, 2011

Starting at 2pm today, the Toronto Pride Parade will finish off our city’s Pride Week with a bang! It all gets underway at Church and Bloor, with the parade finishing at Church and Gerrard – find your spot on the route somewhere on Yonge between Bloor and Gerrard to be in the centre of all the action!

Toronto Pride Parade

Pride Toronto encourages participation in the parade by all groups, including businesses, organizations, and community groups, suggesting that paraders tell their stories “through Art Direction, Costume Design, Choreography, (Sound/Music) Mix and Special Effects,” “go glitz & glam” and “be colourful and creative.” Needless to say, you can rest assured that this will be one vibrant and lively parade! Special mention will be awarded in several categories including “Best Art Direction,” Best Celebration of the Theme,” “Best Drag” and more!

To learn more about the Pride Parade, go to www.pridetoronto.com!

 

365 Things to Do in Toronto, Toronto, Toronto events

183. Scotiabank CHIN Picnic

July 2, 2011

Described as “the largest free multicultural picnic in the world,” Scotiabank CHIN Picnic attracts more than 250,000 people each year. Experience performers from around the world, dancers and performers, the Zero Gravity Circus, midway circus shows, K-9 Dog Challenges, Birds of Prey Shows, petting zoo, rides and amusements, Maximum Pro Wrestling shows, an Ontario Boxing Tournament, beer garden, and much much more!

Scotiabank CHIN Picnic

The Scotiabank CHIN picnic takes place at Exhibition Place; it started yesterday and continues until tomorrow. Admission is free! To learn more, go to www.scotiabankchinpicnic.com.

 

 

365 Things to Do in Toronto, Toronto, Toronto events

182. Downsview Park’s Canada Day Celebration

July 1, 2011

Celebrate Canada Day with the whole family at Downsview Park! Enjoy amusement rides, a petting zoo, and the Downsview Park’s Canada Day Cup Ball Hockey Tournament; get an air brush tattoo or have your face painted; you can even experience a historical reenactment of Canada’s military history – and it’s ALL FREE! There’s something for everyone at Downsview Park, so start your Canada Day long-weekend with a bang!

 

Fireworks

365 Things to Do in Toronto, Distillery District, Toronto, Toronto events, Toronto food

181. “Beer Makes History Better” Tour

June 30, 2011

Since the early 1800’s, Torontonians (then Yorkians?) have produced beer. Toronto Urban Adventures will guide you through the streets of the old Toronto, introducing you to the history of the regional craft brews you love. You’ll learn what role beer played through the decades of Toronto, visit a few unique and historical pubs, hear about the early history of our city, and partake in a beer sampling at the end of the tour!

"Beer Makes History Better" Tour

The “Beer Makes History Better” Tour starts at 3pm today outside the Hockey Hall of Fame, and concludes at 6:30pm in the Distillery District. You must purchase your tickets for $37 (adults only!) online at www.torontourbanadventures.com.

 

365 Things to Do in Toronto, Harbourfront, Toronto, Toronto events, Toronto music

180. TD Toronto Jazz Festival Presents Eliane Elias

June 29, 2011

The Harbourfront Centre and the TD Toronto Jazz Festival presents Eliane Elias, multiple Grammy Award nominee and Top 5 recording artist in Billboard Magazine. Elias  is best known for blending her fantastic voice and outstanding piano playing with Brazilian roots music. As the first female instrumentalist to appear on the cover of DownBeat Magazine, Elias has been celebrated internationally for her distinctive and innovative musical style.

Eliane Elias

Tickets are available at www.harbourfrontcentre.com for $51; the concert gets started at 7pm tonight in the Harbourfront Centre’s Enwave Theatre at 231 Queens Quay West.

 

365 Things to Do in Toronto, Green, Toronto, Toronto events

179. Green City Cycles Volunteer Maintenance

June 28, 2011

Ever thought you’d like to learn the basics of bicycle maintenance? Evergreen Brickworks will train you in bicycle mechanics and shop function for free, if you commit to volunteering for Bike Works with Green City Cycles over the season!

Green City Cycles Volunteer Maintenance

Tonight from 5pm until 9pm, you can learn everything you need to know to keep your bicycle in tip-top shape. Brickworks provides the tools, space, instructions and refreshments – you provide the bicycle and enthusiasm! In return, you’ll be expected to commit to volunteering a few hours over the season during open shop hours, and attend one or two workshops each month. It’s a great way to learn how to care for your bicycle, while giving back to the community!

To find out more about Green City Cycles Volunteer Maintenance, or to download a volunteer application for this program, go to Evergreen Brickworks’ website.

 

365 Things to Do in Toronto, Toronto, Toronto events, Toronto music, Toronto restaurants

178. Open Jam Night Hosted by Carolyn T

June 27, 2011

Ready to jam? Whether you’re a super-star in the making, or just want to check out some new music from soul, jazz, Motown, pop and funk aficionados, Open Jam Night hosted by Carolyn T is the place to be on a Monday night from 8pm until midnight!

Open Jam Night Hosted by Carolyn T

Hosted at Harlem Restaurant at Richmond & Church, Open Jam Night is a community event for musicians and fans alike, providing an opportunity for musicians to collaborate, promote their music, and show off their talent! All instruments and voices are welcome; the Carolyn T Band includes bass, drums, keys and vocals, and invites you to sit in on any existing instrument. A drum kit, guitar amp, and/or DI box are also provided, so get ready to share your music, improvise, and have fun playing/listening to the music you love!

For more information on this free event, go to www.carolyntband.com.

 

365 Things to Do in Toronto, Church & Wellesley, Toronto, Toronto events, Toronto food, Toronto restaurants

177. Check out Crews & Tangos this Pride Week

June 26, 2011

As everyone knows, Pride Week began on June 24th, and as the ten-day celebration picks up steam, there are plenty of things to see and do in Pride central, Church & Wellesley Village. If you haven’t got Crews & Tangos Restaurant & Bar on your 2011 Pride calendar, you’ll be missing out! This popular drag bar/dance bar/restaurant reopened its doors on April 16, 2010 after a mysterious closure a year before, and has since become a space for “multi-ethnic queer events,” adding “that something special to the LGBTQ neighbourhood.”

Crews & Tangos Restaurant & Bar

Sunday nights feature Caribbean Queen, Devine & Kera Keys, DJ Jay, Lady & The Tramps with Amanda, Amanda & Charo, and DJ Martin performing in “Crews;” Milk and The New York Sounds of DJ Relentless in “Tangos” and Latin Fever, DJ VIviana in “The Zone,” so get ready to dance the night away at Crews & Tangos!

For more information, check out Crews & Tangos website.

 

365 Things to Do in Toronto, Toronto, Toronto events, Toronto festivals

176. Franco Fête

June 25, 2011

Francophone or francophile, you’ll love Franco Fête, a three-day celebration of French culture in Ontario and Toronto. Franco Fête presents social and cultural activities for all ages and for all cultures; even if you don’t speak French, this festival will give you the opportunity to discover the culture and artistic expressions of Francophone communities in the GTA.

Franco Fete

For more information, including a full list of events for Franco Fête, go to www.franco-fete.ca.

 

365 Things to Do in Toronto, Toronto, Toronto events, Toronto festivals, Toronto music

175. TD Toronto Jazz Festival

June 24, 2011

Starting today and continuing until July 3rd, the TD Toronto Jazz Festival is one of North America’s premier jazz festivals. Featuring more than 350 performances by over 1500 musicians performing at about 40 different venues around Toronto, the Festival is attended by more than 500,000 jazz fans each year!

TD Toronto Jazz Festival

You are not going to want to miss tonight’s kick off for this ten-day jazz extravaganza; Aretha Franklin, the undisputed “Queen of Soul” will get the festivities started at the Toronto Star Stage at Metro Square! Admission is free! Doors will open at 7pm, and there will be no tickets or seating, so you’ll have to get there early! If you don’t quite make it in the doors, outdoor video screens in the Square will make the concert enjoyable for everyone. There are more than 25 other performances tonight in venues across Toronto; tickets range in price from free/“no cover”/pay-what-you-can to $75.

For a complete concert calendar, and for information on how you can purchase Movado Three and Five day passes to the Jazz Festival, go to http://torontojazz.com!