Weekend To Do's - Music and the Season

Are you gearing up?  Are you getting ready? Do you have everything wrapped?
If you answered yes to any of those, you are well ahead of me.  I'm terrible this year and I'm behind.  I have tomorrow night.   Really, I know that sounds a bit off, but I really just have tomorrow night. I'm free, no plans, my loving wife is out of town, so I need to take advantage.  Suggestions... ....?

If you're all done, and you have free time, lots to do in the city.  Pretty solid music weekend from a couple of big acts.  If you're a country girl, or your girl is a country girl, or maybe you're a guy who just likes country girls, Carrie Underwood is playing the ACC. 

If you're into a mellower, less firework(y) kind of concert, Dave Matthews Band is returning once again to T.O. and you can catch him and his band on tonightt.  It was years ago now, but I saw them at the ACC and it was such a great show.  

Feeling the holiday spirit? Here are a quick three for you. First, Christmas by Lamplight - Black Creek Pioneer Village. Live music, food and activities.  Second, The Christmas Story at The Church Of The Holy Trinity.  Bit of a Toronto holiday tradition.  There are a number of show times, at least one will work with your busy schedule. Lastly, a little something to do with the family, visit the Elves workshop at Casa Loma and build an ornament together to bring home for your own celebration.

Whatever your plans, whatever your spirit level at his point in the season, have a good one. Enjoy your weekend, relax and shop if need be. But try to stay away from the malls, thats just for your own safety.  

Bill

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Weekend To Do's - Art and Miusic Edition

Music, Music, Music. Art, Art, Art.  This is Toronto, so of course, everything in between is happening  as well.  

Plans after work today?  Skip out a little early to take part in a pub crawl (part of Toronto Beer Week).  There are events all weekend ranging from Beer Commercial viewing to a femALE only beer and cheese pairing.  The events are all over the city, most at small local pubs and brewpubs. Support your local businesses!  

Building? Renovating? The Fall Home Show is on at the Ex Grounds all weekend.  Huge show, many vendors.  You'll find everything from Kitchen and Bath to roofers.  If you can't find someone here to do your job, it probably can't be done.  

Feeling like something Random, Rough, and a little on the wild side?  

There is a Roller Derby in Toronto.  Firstly, I didn't know Toronto had a Roller Derby. Secondly I didn't know there was a championship on Saturday night! How much fun is this!  Writing this feature has opened my eyes to all kinds of events in our fair city.

The music this weekend is varied, both in venue and style.  K'nann is playing Massey Hall (Friday night), Jann Arden is playing Massey Saturday night, and Slash is playing Sound Academy on Sunday. If that's not enough variety for you, the East End Rockabilly Weekend #4 runs all weekend too.   

For the art lovers on the east end, the Beach Guild of Fine Art has their annual show and sale, Art Down By The Bay.  On the west end of the city? There is a juried art show at Sunnyside beach. If you can't make it out to anything this weekend but still want some art in your life, there is a 6 week long show titled, oddly enough, Six Weeks Of Iranian Art beginning on the 21st and ending Nov 2nd.

If you need to get away and out of the city, the Niagara Wine Festival is a brilliant weekend getaway.

One last thing to note, and it's not even for this weekend, but for next.  Mark it on your calendar.  The King East Design District is holding a sort-of open house for folks of all stripes. Public welcome, designers welcome.  Many businesses are taking part, (BoConcept, Andrew Richard Designs) and all are worth a visit.

Have a good weekend whatever you get up to. On a side note: How nice are the bills for the above events? I love that  old school poster design. See you Monday. 

Bill
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Weekend To Do's - July 6,7,8

You know that time you started a blog, and you got into the swing of things.  You were feeling a bit cocky, right?  You wrote your weekly blog, and even had one or two reoccurring, weekly or monthly posts.  Easy right?  

Then you forgot to write one.  And it happened to be your "Weekend To Do's" post, and it happened to be Canada Day weekend.  A long weekend.  So. Much. To. Do.  

My bad.

Now onwards.

On the plus side, this is a great weekend to be in Toronto!  So. Much. To. Do. Ha!

Let's start off with Friday night.  If you haven't been out to the theatre in a while, go, and check out Warhorse.  It plays at 7:30 and it's fantastic. Check out the video links on the site for a really good idea of what it is all about. 

On Saturday, head over to the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition.  I went last year and was blown away by the variety and amount of uniqueness present at the show.  Such a cool annual event.  Runs all weekend, 6, 7, and 8th down at Nathan Phillips Square.

My recommendation for Sunday is to enjoy some Summerlicious eats.  Try out 7 Numbers on the Danforth, they haven't let me down yet.  Or try somewhere totally new, there are so many restaurants involved this year.

One last thing, and don't worry, it's a quicky.  One our readers (Hi Kay!) in the Forest City has issued a formal request this weekend, what is there to do in London Ontario?  Well there is something happening, Sunfest.  

Seriously. Most of the bands you've never heard of, world music and jazz mostly(not that either of those are a bad thing!).  But, if you have the time, go see Delhi 2 Dublin.  Really cool band, mixing all kinds of sounds and influences.

Thats it, thats all.  Have a good weekend, enjoy the sunny weather (fingers crossed!).

Bill

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Friday To Do's - June 1

Though today is rain, rain, rain, tomorrow looks like it might be a good day to get out and about.  With that in mind, here are some things to keep you buys this weekend.  

Here is your Saturday intinerary.

Start off with a pancake breakfast.  Take your bike down to the Brick Works for their Bike Works day.  You can get advice and some hands on help, and tools will be setup to give your bike a spring refresher.  

Then, in the early afternoo, get out and support your Blue Jays!  They play the Red Socks Saturday and Sunday.  Great weekend for some ball. Always a great game when these two division rivals meet up

Finish off your night at the Molson Amphitheater. Dave Matthews is playing and Tickets are still available.   This is a weekend plan I could get behind.  

But I'm beat, and I don't think I'll be doing any of these. More likely catching up on sleep, and getting some reading in.

What ever it is that you do get up to, enjoy it.  Happy Weekend.  

Bill

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Jim Cuddy @ Massey Hall

its missing something.....?

     Tuesday night was late night, but a good night.  My almost wife and I headed down the TTC to the college exit, after a drink and a quick bite, went to Massey Hall for the Jim Cuddy concert.  His latest album, Skyscraper Soul is an unofficial tribute to Toronto.

     This was my first time at Massey Hall, and what a building!  It has the feeling of many layers of paint, and a few different renos, but the bones are fantastic.  

     Doug Paisley opened for Jim, check him out.  Great opening act.  His music, and humour, got the crowd in the right state of mind.  After Doug came the Jim Cuddy band. They played for over two hours, no real breaks and put on an amazing show.  We've been fans forever, great to hear some of the old tunes, but the new tunes were great too, everyone was singing.

     Fantastic concert, great show, great venue, so entertaining. Massey Music Hall was presented to the citizens of Toronto on June 14th, 1894.  All of the citizens should check this place out.


     And of course, TTC'd it home in no time.  Who knew Tuesdays could be such fun?

Now, if I can only find the time to see Whitehorse play there on the 24th.....



Bill

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