By Ron Johnson
Thanks to a private members bill in the Ontario Legislature, the province is establishing an office of the Poet Laureate of Ontario in memory of iconic Toronto (by way of Kingston) musician, activist and songwriter Gord Downie. According to the bill, the position and mandate of the position are described as follows: “The qualifications and … Continued
By Ron Johnson
On Dec. 10, Corso Italia restaurant Earlscourt BBQ announced that they would be closed until further notice, following a fire. The restaurant, located on the lower level of 1278 St. Clair Ave. W. is owned by barbecue competitor Jason Rees, otherwise known as the Pork Ninja. It’s a popular destination for smoked foods in the … Continued
By Ron Johnson
Twenty years ago the Canadian indie music scene was dominated by bands. Talented, groundbreaking groups such as Broken Social Scene, Metric, Arcade Fire and Stars helped defined a generation. It was glorious and they changed the world. Stars formed in Toronto in 2000, and relocated to Montreal where the launched a celebrated career with eight … Continued
By Ron Johnson
The popular and seriously photographable Tunnel of Glam will be back at its Yonge and St. Clair home this holiday season beginning on Dec. 1. The 80-foot outdoor pedestrian tunnel comes to life thanks to 14 million reversible sequins offering a fun and festive destination in which to immerse oneself to shake off a hectic … Continued
By Ron Johnson
When it comes to animation, Patrick O’Keefe is a big deal. As the art director for the groundbreaking movie Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, he recently won an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. The Toronto artist recently announced that he was creating an art scholarship to help a student learn animation. He chose the place … Continued
By Ron Johnson
One of Toronto’s finest musical exports, Metric is giving a little love back to its hometown fans this month. The band is hosting a month-long residency set up at an artistic wonderland dubbed the Funhouse. The evenings are unique in many ways. The acoustic shows feature Emily Haines alongside guitarist Jimmy Shaw in a custom … Continued
By Ron Johnson
Day of the Dead events are about to descend upon Toronto. Starting this weekend, there will be a host of Dia de los Muertos celebrations, one of Mexico’s most revered holidays, honouring its culture through music, food, and drink. You can dress up and learn to face-paint in the style of La Catrina or choose … Continued
By Ron Johnson
For the first time, Vikram Vij will be cooking up a storm in Toronto in his first exclusive pop-up at Cafe Nicole at the Novotel Centre from Dec. 2, 2019 to Jan. 5, 2020.
By Ron Johnson
The Flick doesn’t set up as a blockbuster of a play. It is more than three hours of staring at the back of a movie theatre as the somewhat mundane lives of three cinema employees spill out on stage. But it works, for the most part. It is sparse, human and, at times, quite moving. … Continued
By Ron Johnson
After premiering Off-Broadway in 2015, becoming the hottest ticket in New York City and garnering a slew of awards along the way, the song-and-rap musical Hamilton is set to make its Toronto debut on Feb. 11, 2020. Mirvish Productions announced ticket sales will be open to the public on Oct. 28 at 9 a.m. sharp. … Continued
By Ron Johnson
A Streetcar Named Desire is a powerhouse of a play. To tackle such demanding work requires boatloads of ambition and skill. Soulpepper’s latest production, which runs until Oct. 27, has both. The result is a stunning effort featuring some of the best acting performances of the year. The Tennessee Williams play premiered on Broadway in … Continued
By Ron Johnson
The JFL42 comedy festival hits town today (Sept. 19-29), and features a slew of big-name comedians and headlining legend Carol Burnett along with the always intriguing Margaret Trudeau. The headliners are, of course, an easy choice. Carol Burnett is a living legend, a treasure and someone who can elicit a belly laugh from anyone. Getting … Continued
