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

226. Fortune Cooking Food Festival

August 14, 2011 Heikki Walden

August 14, 2011

Hosted by the Harbourfront Centre, the Fortune Cooking Festival features Pan-Asian cuisine and its influence in the cooking of the world! In addition to learning how the flavours of Asia have infiltrated the tastes of dishes across the planet, you’ll have the opportunity to discover how Asian culture has influenced the West. Learn the ways in which Korean cooking has transformed the restaurant culture of Los Angeles; discover how Asian street food has inspired street food in Toronto; find out about how Japanese manga has affected graphic novels across the world; discover how Thai and Korean filmmakers have changed filmography throughout all of Asia. You’ll learn about the cultural “hot spots” of Pan-Asia, and even have the opportunity to witness a Fortune Cooking Iron Chef Competition!

What would the Fortune Cooking Food Festival be without delicious Pan-Asian food to sample? Check out the World Cafe today for Thai green curry, eggplant and tofu stir fry; dumplings, spring rolls and fishballs; beef noodle soup and more!

Today is the final day of the Fortune Cooking Food Festival. Admission is free; for more information go to www.harbourfrontcentre.com.

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

225. Conscious Food Festival

August 13, 2011 Heikki Walden

August 13, 2011

Local, sustainable food isn’t simply a trend; it’s a way of life! Whether you’ve long been a subscriber to the local food movement, or whether you are just learning about how you can eat “greener,” the Conscious Food Festival is an excellent opportunity for you to celebrate “conscious food” at Fort York National Historic Site!

The Conscious Food Festival brings together Torontonians and our rural neighbours in an effort to highlight the connection between our food and the environment. You’ll have the opportunity to taste fantastic local eats, learn from chefs and farmers, enjoy live music, take part in open forums and conscious debates, participate in interactive exhibits, check out seminars on food values and social justice, and more! You are also welcome to bring your own grocery bag so that you can do your own shopping – the Festival features vendors that will sell retail food products, produce, wine, beer, and much more.

The festival starts at 11am and continues until 8pm today; tickets are $20 at the gate. For more information, go to www.consciousfoodfestival.ca! Be sure to bring your appetite!

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

224. SummerWorks Theatre Festival

August 12, 2011 Heikki Walden

August 12, 2011

The largest juried festival in Canada featuring mostly new Canadian plays, SummerWorks prides itself in bringing Toronto “the most provocative and powerful theatre in the country.” Today’s schedules includes 29 plays, installations and more, showing at over a dozen venues.

In addition to the Theatre Festival, the SummerWorks Music Series will be an excellent opportunity to enjoy the work of local performing artists. Including some of Canada’s best musicians from just about every genre, this Indie Theatre and Arts Festival features something for everyone!

The SummerWorks Festival takes place from August 4th to 14th; tickets are $10 per performance (including the SummerWorks Music Series) and can be purchased at the Arts Box Office (located at Theatre Passe Muraille, at 16 Ryerson Avenue) or by phone. Music Series tickets can also be purchased from Rotate This and Soundscapes.

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

223. Open Roof Festival

August 11, 2011 Heikki Walden

August 11, 2011

In support of Toronto’s independent film community, the Open Roof Festival is “more than just a night at the movies.” With refreshments, a local band, and a feature indie film, this Festival is an outdoor summer party experience!

Tonight’s party presents Scarborough band Locomotive 8, with a feature showing of Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop. Co-presented by Hot Docs, this film promises not to disappoint!

The Open Roof Festival is held in the parking lot of Amsterdam Brewery at 21 Bathurst Street. You can purchase tickets onsite (cash only) – even if the website (www.openrooffestival.com) says that the event is sold out, a block of tickets will be reserved at the door. Doors open at 7:30pm tonight; the band plays at 8pm and the film begins at 9pm.

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

222. CSI: Live! A Live Interactive Performance

August 10, 2011 Heikki Walden

August 10, 2011

If you’re a CSI fan, you’ll love this – CSI: Live! A Live Interactive Performance! Taking place at the Ontario Science Centre, audience members become a part of a special investigation, taking the roles of witnesses, suspects and CSI recruits. By using forensic evidence such as the analysis of mysterious gases, launching projectiles into a target or firing a laser beam, CSI recruits will help solve the crime before it’s too late!

CSI: Live! A Live Interactive Performance is recommended for ages 8 and older. Performances…um…crime-solving will take place daily at 11:30am, 1:00pm, 2:30pm, and 4:00pm. This interactive experience is free with general admission to the Ontario Science Centre. For more information, visit www.ontariosciencecentre.ca.

365 Things to Do in Toronto, Toronto, Toronto events, Toronto galleries, Toronto museums

221. Jun Kaneko

August 9, 2011 Heikki Walden

August 9, 2011

The Gardiner Museum presents 39 works by Japanese artist Jun Kaneko, ranging in date from the early 1980s to the early 2000s. Kaneko is best known for his large-scale ceramic sculptures and installations, though painting has continued to be an important part of his artistic journey. The exhibition highlights the artist’s ceramic sculptures, paintings and drawings, drawing attention to his skilled work in different artistic media.

Jun Kaneko is a traveling exhibition; The Gardiner Museum is the only scheduled Canadian stop on the tour. The Gardiner Museum is open today from 10am until 6pm; admission is $12 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $6 for students. To learn more about Jun Kaneko, go to the Gardiner Museum’s website.

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

220. Toronto Summer Music Festival

August 8, 2011 Heikki Walden

August 8, 2011

Entering its sixth season, the Toronto Summer Music Festival and academy brings world-renowned musicians to Toronto for an amazing combination of concerts, lectures and Masterclasses. Tonight’s performance highlights the National Youth Orchestra of Canada at Koerner Hall, giving you the opportunity to discover the next generation of Canadian orchestral musicians! The National Youth Orchestra will play Strauss’s most popular opera, Der Rosenkavalier, and Mahler’s Symphony no. 5. A pre-concert talk kicks off the evening at 6:15pm, and will feature guest-speaker Tom Allen as he discusses Strauss and Mahler: Fame, fate and power.

The concert starts at 7:30pm; tickets range from $20 to $45. To purchase tickets, or to see the complete schedule for the Toronto Summer Music Festival, go to www.torontosummermusic.com.

365 Things to Do in Toronto, Greektown on the Danforth, Toronto, Toronto events, Toronto neighbourhoods

219. Taste of the Danforth

August 7, 2011 Heikki Walden

August 7, 2011

It’s that time of year again – the Taste of the Danforth comes to showcase the very best of the Greektown! Savor the taste of Hellenic food, enjoy the sounds of authentic Greek music, and learn all about Greek culture during this three-day festival. Today is your last chance to participate in all the fun, so be sure to get out there and enjoy the culture that “makes the Danforth a year round destination.”

Each year the Taste of the Danforth welcomes more than 1.2 million visitors to participate in all the festivities. Three stages offer free entertainment, ranging from concerts by the TSO’s brass quintet, to skits by Second City, to the opportunity to meet some of the winners from “So You Think You Can Dance Canada,” to an assortment of entertaining cover bands. A special Greek stage offers Greek music, song and dance (including belly-dancing!) while the Kids’ Fun Zone is a great place for the little ones to experience the Toronto Zoo’s “Touch Table,” or join in with the Centre of Gravity’s “You Can Try It” Circus. Check out the Beer, Wine & Spirits Gardens, sample some of the Danforth’s most delicious food, or visit the Sports Zone – there’s something for everyone at The Taste of the Danforth!

For more information on this year’s festival, go to www.tasteofthedanforth.com.

365 Things to Do in Toronto, St. Lawrence Market, Toronto events, Toronto farmers' markets, Toronto food

218. St. Lawrence Market Corn Roast

August 6, 2011 Heikki Walden

August 6, 2011

Nothing says “summer” quite like a corn roast! Visit the St. Lawrence Market and receive a free cob or corn, seasoned and roasted to perfection! All of the corn for the roast is grown by Market farmers, so this is a fantastic opportunity to “try before you buy!” Make sure to explore the Market and discover all the fantastic products available at this iconic Toronto attraction when you visit – you’ll find everything from baked goods, to locally-raised meats, to artisanal cheese, and of course, fantastically fresh and local fruits and veggies!

To learn more about the Corn Roast and the Market, check out the St. Lawrence Market website.

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

216. Toronto Argonauts vs. Montreal Alouettes

August 4, 2011 Heikki Walden

August 4, 2011

Take in the first Argonauts vs. Alouettes game of the season, and take part in the Toronto vs. Montreal rivalry! Last year the Alouettes took home the Cup, so you can be sure the Argos will be on their “A” game!

The kickoff will be at 7:30pm tonight at the Rogers Centre. Tickets range from $27.00 to $88.25, so anyone can enjoy one of the most important football games of the season! For more information or to purchase tickets, go to http://www.argonauts.ca.