Call it a makeover or a metamorphosis, but Toronto is undergoing a transformation these days. Many of its major arts institutions, such as the Royal Ontario Museum and the Art Gallery of Ontario, are renovating and expanding under the direction of architects like Daniel Libeskind and Frank Gehry. But that doesn't mean that the city isn't ready to welcome visitors this winter: at this very moment, there are plenty of reasons to see what the city has to offer. And if you think you already know Toronto, it's time you got reacquainted.
Tourism Toronto has launched a new website -- www.get2toronto.com -- to facilitate trip planning. The site is easy to navigate, and it covers everything from hotel discounts to multi-day packages. Its particularly good at helping visitors to find a deal: for example, there are listings for restaurants offering a three-course $25 prix fixe meal. Also, if you call 1-866-8GET2TO you can get the Passport Guide to Toronto, which is filled with discount coupons for attractions, shops, and arts productions.
Toronto's WinterCity festival is still in its infancy -- 2005 marks its second year -- but its offerings are expanding at a tremendous rate. WinterCity will run from January 28th through February 10, 2005, and one of its chief attractions is Winterlicious (see the Dining section below). There are events at 37 Toronto venues, including the Eaton Centre, Casa Loma, and the Toronto Zoo, and participating groups include the National Ballet of Canada, the Canadian Opera Company, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and the Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People. Visit www.toronto.ca/special_events for more information.
Accommodations
If you want your four-legged companions to be as warmly welcomed at your hotel as you are, the Fairmont Royal York is the place to stay this winter. The historic hotel has launched a VIP -- for Very Important Pets -- program. The package includes a welcome kit for Fido, a pet-friendly room, and VIP treats delivered by room service during your stay. Fairmont also makes a donation to the Toronto Humane Society as part of the deal. See www.fairmont.com/royalyork for details.
Many of Toronto's best hotels are offering various deals throughout the winter season to heat up visitor interest. Some good bets are at:
- Park Hyatt Toronto (www.parktoronto.hyatt.com)
- Four Seasons (www.fourseasons.com/toronto)
- Sutton Place (www.suttonplace.com)
- Metropolitan Hotel (www.metropolitan.com)
- Sheraton Centre Toronto (www.sheratoncentretoronto.com)
- Delta Chelsea (www.deltahotels.com)
- Fairmont Royal York (www.fairmont.com/royalyork)
One of the beauties of visiting Toronto in winter is that you're guaranteed to get a good deal.
Dining
Toronto's dining scene has long been one of its greatest pleasures, and that hasn't changed. But a new crop of restaurants has opened up recently, so your dining options have multiplied. Flow Restaurant & Lounge (133 Yorkville Ave; 416/925-2143) is a stylish (and delicious) addition to the trendy Yorkville neighborhood. Bistro Praha (111 Dupont; 416/413-1081) is a charming Czech bistro located in an Annex row house. The award for most elegant new eatery goes to George (111 Queen St. East; 416/863-6006), which blends a serene setting with creative and original dishes.
WinterCity (January 28th through February 10, 2005) brings with it Winterlicious, in which 120 restaurants, including many of the best chefs in the city, offer prix fixe menus for lunch and/or dinner. This year, there's a twist: 12 local establishments will offer unique culinary experiences as part of the festival. These offerings include cooking classes at the Calaphon Culinary Centre to a fashion-forward show at the Drake Hotel (young designers from the Toronto Fashion Incubator will display their work over brunch). Check out www.toronto.ca/special_events for details about participating restaurants and how to get tickets for certain events.
Attractions
The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) will be undergoing renovation -- its new crystal palace wing won't be completed until December 2006 (see www.rom.on.ca for details) -- but that won't keep the city's best museum from staging some ambitious shows. Currently the hot ticket is Pearls: A Natural History, which brings together more than 500 objects to explain the historical and cultural significance of pearls. Jewelry that once adorned Queen Victoria, Audrey Hepburn, and Marilyn Monroe makes for a glamorous exhibit. The exhibit will be on view till January 9, 2005. Touched by Indigo: Chinese Blue-and-White Textiles and Embroidery, a show that displays everything from furnishings to paintings, will be on view until April 10, 2005. One show that will be sure to delight kids is Feathered Dinosaurs and the Origin of Flight, which will run from March 12 through August 28th, 2005.
Not to be outdone, the Art Gallery of Ontario (www.ago.net), which is also expanding its gallery space, is now showing Modigliani: Beyond the Myth, which will run until January 23, 2005. Over at the CN Tower, the big attraction -- in addition to the view, of course -- is The Secret Life of Sets: Set Decorators at Work. Organized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts in Beverly Hills, the exhibit will be available until January 2, 2005 (see www.cntower.ca for more details).
The Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art will be closed until the fall of 2005 to complete its major renovation, but in the meantime, the museum has co-sponsored an exhibit with the University Art Centre at the University of Toronto. Entitled Picasso and Ceramics, it features 80 works by the master and will run until January 23, 2005. See www.utoronto.ca/artcentre for more details.
Nightlife
Hot spots come and go, but the newly revived Laurentian Room (51A Winchester St.; 416/925-8680) looks like its here to stay. This famous spot was once the place to hear live jazz, but it had been closed to everyone except movie crews for more than three decades. In addition to the stylish setting, the cocktails are a delight, particularly the Apple Capone (bourbon with butterscotch and apple liqueurs).
Outside Toronto
While it's often called cottage country in the summer, the Muskoka region that lies within a two-hour drive north of Toronto is a great year-round destination. Unfortunately Taboo, one of its best resorts, will be closed until spring for a major makeover (see www.tabooresort.com for details). But the good news is that its neighbor, the Deerhurst Resort, is offering a series of winter packages, including a winter spa getaway. See www.deerhurstresort.com for more information.
Talk with fellow travelers and local resident about Toronto on our Message Boards today.