What's New: An Online Update for Frommer's Toronto

What's New in Toronto

What a difference a few months can make. Back in the summer, the Canadian dollar was on par with the US greenback. Since then, the currency has taken a swift tumble; it currently takes only about 80 cents US to buy one Canadian loonie. That's great news for budget-minded travelers who want to stretch travel funds in a tough economy. There's even better news for Toronto visitors, though, since one of the city's most beloved institutions, the Art Gallery of Ontario, has finally reopened after a top-to-bottom renovation. Read on for reasons why this is the perfect time to plan a Toronto getaway.

Planning Your Trip to Toronto

Porter Airlines has been garnering rave reviews since it began flying passengers between New York and Toronto early in 2008. The latest news is that the long-anticipated service between Chicago and Toronto is up and flying. There are daily runs from Chicago Midway International Airport, about 10 miles from downtown Chicago, to the Toronto Island Airport, which is less than 10 minutes from downtown Toronto. Visit www.flyporter.com for more information, or call tel. 888/619-8622 if you're in Toronto). Next up for 2009: flights between Toronto and Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.

In other news, it looks like ScotiaBank's Nuit Blanche has become a permanent fixture on Toronto's calendar. This one-night event, which first took place in 2006, brought almost a million sleepless revelers together in October 2008 for a night of art, music, and dance; entire neighborhoods were transformed into temporary exhibits for the event. The date has just been set for the next Nuit Blanche: Saturday, October 3, 2009. For more information, visit www.scotiabanknuitblnache.ca.

American visitors who fly to Toronto already know they need a passport or similar ID to re-enter the U.S. (a rule that came into effect in 2007). Starting June 1, 2009, this rule will apply to land crossings as well (children 15 and under need only a birth certificate or naturalization certificate). Visit http://travel.state.gov for more information.

Where to Stay

The Drake Hotel has been considered one of the most innovative properties in Toronto since it opened its doors in 2004. Now, the hotel has introduced a new venture: The Drake Hotel General Store, located next door to the hotel itself (1144 Queen St. W. (tel. 416/531-5042 ext. 101; www.thedrakehotel.ca/venues/generalstore). It has the feel of a classic -- but well-edited -- general store, even though the items it carries aren't entirely traditional. Need a ninja-star push-pin set or a same-sex cake topper? You've come to the right spot. There are also socks, shot glasses, cards, candy, and books.

Some of Toronto's larger hotels are currently offering special deals to travelers who visit in the first three months of 2009. Check out the Delta Chelsea (especially the "No Tax" package) at www.deltahotels.com, the Fairmont Royal York at www.fairmont.com/royalyork, the Metropolitan at www.metropolitan.com, and the Park Hyatt at www.parktoronto.hyatt.com.

Where to Dine

The city was sad to see one of its most renowned chefs, Susur Lee, close his eponymous restaurant early in 2008 and decamp to New York City. Lee swore he wouldn't abandon Toronto foodies, and he's already kept his word, opening the scrumptious Madeline's this fall. Located in the space Susur vacated, the restaurant is named for the chef's mother, and its opulent French-Moroccan style is a departure from the modern lines of its predecessor. The menu is decadently delicious, filled with rich options like roasted duck breast with a glaze of honey, chilies, and orange, and the lobster-and-shrimp potato croquette with spicy mustard seed and tomato jam. Note that most of the main courses are priced at C$20 or below, making this an affordable indulgence. Located at 601 King St. W.; (tel. 416/603-2205; www.susur.com).

What to See and Do

There is no bigger news in Toronto right now than the long-awaited reopening of the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) in November 2008. Toronto native Frank Gehry -- perhaps most famous for designing the titanium-covered Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain -- has reinvented Toronto's best art gallery. It's not just the sweeping design that dazzles; the renovation has augmented the viewing space by about 40%. The heart of the AGO is its Canadian collection (featuring Tom Thomson, the Group of Seven, David Milne, Emily Carr, and Paul-Emile Borduas, among others), which includes one of the finest Inuit art collections in the world. The gallery's Henry Moore Sculpture Centre, with more than 800 pieces, is the largest public collection of his works. There are European masterpieceds as well, including works by Rodin, van Gogh, Monet, Degas, Cezanne, Picasso, and Magritte. While its doors were shut, the AGO made many new acquisitions for its permanent collection, including the Thomson family's Canadian collection and European collection (the latter includes Peter Paul Reubens's masterpiece, "The Massacre of the Innocents"). Also new to the gallery is the African and Australian aboriginal art and the permanent photography installation. Check out www.ago.net for more information.

Not to be outdone, the Royal Ontario Museum (which had its own recent renovation) is featuring a stunning special exhibit, "The Nature of Diamonds," until March 22, 2009 (visit www.rom.on.ca for details). The Ontario Science Centre will feature its amazing (and interactive) exhibit "Facing Mars: Would You Survive the Journey?" until February 22, 2009, when it will pack up for a world tour (see www.ontariosciencecentre.ca for more information).

Talk with fellow Frommer's travelers in our Ontario and Toronto Forum today.