After more than a year of debate, Toronto’s still-hypothetical casino will soon face a crucial test. A long-awaited city staff report is in (though, unusually, it’s missing a firm yay-or-nay recommendation), and council could vote as early as next month to either kill the idea forever or invite bids from casino developers. For influential Torontonians hoping to sway the decision, now’s the last chance to come out for or against a downtown gambling den—which explains why so many have spoken up in recent days. Below, a guide to how the pro-casino and anti-casino teams stack up.
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The definitive guide to the supporters and opponents of a Toronto casino
High Rollers: we break down five different billion-dollar plans for a casino in downtown Toronto
City councillors could vote on whether to allow a downtown casino as soon as next month, and they, along with the rest of Toronto, remain bitterly divided over whether it would be a money-generating pleasure palace or a traffic-generating crime magnet. In the midst of the ongoing debate, high-profile companies like MGM and Wynn have released flashy plans in hopes that big ideas and pretty renderings will help sway the naysayers. Below, we break down each company’s promises, from free CNE passes to Celine Dion concerts.
Five things to do in Toronto on the weekend of March 8 to 10
King Joffrey Baratheon’s crown from Game of Thrones (Photo: HBO)
In this edition of The Weekender: the annual Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival, a Trekky’s greatest fantasy and three more things to do in Toronto.
ART Read the rest of this entry »
Game Of Thrones: The Exhibition (FREE!)
The travelling exhibition displays more than 70 pieces, including weapons, costumes and jewelry, straight from the set of HBO’s crazy-popular fantasy series. March 9 to 16. Design Exchange, 234 Bay St., 416-363-6121, themovienetwork.ca/Exhibition
15 drool-worthy cars at the 2013 Canadian International Autoshow
The 40th annual Canadian International AutoShow opens today, bringing more than 1,000 gleaming vehicles to both buildings of the the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. While some of the 300,000 visitors attend to scope out the next family car, the majority are there to drool over their dream wheels. Below, we round up some of the show’s most spectacular vehicles, from flame-emblazoned hot rods to ultra-expensive supercars.
Today in Toronto: Canadian International AutoShow and Loveloss
Canadian International AutoShow Celebrating its 40th birthday, this mega-show packs in devotees eager to be within touching distance of drool-worthy four-wheeled fetish objects with names like Ferrari, Lamborghini and Aston Martin. Find out more »
Loveloss Created by the same Michael Trent– led team that put together last year’s retrospective Adaptation Project, Loveloss is about the emotional and physical power of love and how we behave under its influence. Find out more »
Three Toronto property giants write a letter opposing a downtown casino (and embarrassing Paul Godfrey)
(Image: Ian McKellar)
Only a week after three former Toronto mayors penned a letter opposing the development of a casino in Toronto, three of the city’s largest commercial property firms have written their own letter against the idea of a downtown gambling den—but for very different reasons. Edward Sonshine, Michael Emory and Stephen Diamond, who head RioCan, Allied Properties and Diamond Corp., respectively, don’t oppose casinos on principle, but they say the traffic snarls that would result from putting one in the city’s core could “jeopardiz[e] the success of our downtown.” Specifically, the execs are worried about implications for the major mixed-use project they hope to develop at the foot of Spadina, a few blocks west of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre—one of the proposed casino locations (and the one with the fanciest renderings to date). For OLG chair and casino cheerleader Paul Godfrey, the letter is a downer twice over: it’s ammunition for the anti-gambling faction and, since Godfrey is also the chair of the board at RioCan, it’s also pretty humiliating. [Globe and Mail]
Gallery: 25 top products and installations at the Interior Design Show Toronto 2013
The Interior Design Show brings more than than 50,000 design buffs, decorators and house-proud Torontonians to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre to ogle innovative exhibits and the latest in home design. Given the sheer size of the show floor and the crowd, we suggest heading in with a game plan. Here, our 25 favourite products and installations, from the practical to the spectacular.
Interior Design Show Toronto, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Building, 255 Front Street West. The show is open to the public on January 26 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and January 27 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets are $19 online and $22 at the door.
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The Weekender: Come Up To My Room, The Stop’s Beer Garden and four other events on our to-do list
Toronto Life online editor talks about the weekend’s top events on The Morning Show
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Each year, the Gladstone Hotel opens up its rooms and public spaces to artists and designers who dutifully transform them into site-specific art projects. For this tenth anniversary edition of the alt-design event, 40 artists will create 25 installations ranging from a collection of 15,000 hand-made rosaries to a full-scale playground covered in fur. January 24–27. Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W., 416-531-4635, comeuptomyroom.com
The Weekender: Santa Claus Parade, Winter Woofstock and six other events on our to-do list
Gordon Lightfoot (Image: Larry Busacca/Getty Images Entertainment)
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Sure, these SportChek-sponsored exhibition tennis matches don’t actually count for anything, but with the calibre of players coming to the ACC, it seems peevish to complain. Former number one Andy Roddick, who recently retired, challenges upstart local boy Milos Raonic, while Serena Williams takes on Agnieszka Radwanska (Williams beat Radwanska in this year’s Wimbledon final). As a slightly random appetizer, there will be a pre-match celebrity mixed doubles game, in which the four professionals will be joined by George Stroumboulopoulos, Adrian Grenier and the current Canadian Bachelor, Brad Smith. November 16. $49–$214. Air Canada Centre, 50 Bay St., 1-855-985-5000, ticketmaster.ca
Weekly Eater: Toronto food events for November 12 to 18
The Gourmet Food and Wine Expo kicks off on Thursday (Image: Courtesy Food and Wine Expo)
Monday, November 12
- Monday Night Dinners at Local Kitchen and Wine Bar: Every Monday night, Local Kitchen serves a $40 prix fixe menu of Italian fare with half-price wine bottles and no corkage fee. 1710 Queen St. W., 416-534-6700. Find out more »
- 86’D With Ivy Knight: Fourth annual Pickle Battle. Bring in your best professional or amateur brined cuke. The Drake, 1150 Queen St. W., 416-531-5042. Find out more »
Tuesday, November 13
- Mario Batali’s Fall Classics: Learn the basics for great Italian meals, like tomato and grilled zucchini stacks and Batali-inspired tomato sauce from scratch. The Chef Upstairs, 516 Mount Pleasant Rd., 416-544-9221. Find out more »
- From Wing to Tip: Chef Rodney Bowers presents new and exciting ways to prepare family-style chicken dishes using only the best local, organic chicken. He’ll also demonstrate how to make chicken stock and a quick fall soup—not to mention Shanghai chicken thigh lettuce tacos. LCBO Summerhill, 10 Scrivener Sq., 416-922-0403. Find out more »
- GE Café Chef Series—Pasta Party With Fabio Bondi: A series of workshops connecting eaters to the unique terroir, chefs and food culture of southern Ontario. This week, chef Fabio Bondi of Local Kitchen and Wine Bar and Bar Salumi shares his knowledge and experience in pasta making and Italian cuisine. Evergreen Brick Works, 550 Bayview Ave. Find out more »
The Weekender: Dan Deacon, Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland and six other events on our to-do list
Sonia Rodriguez stars in the National Ballet’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (Image: Bruce Zinger)
1. ROYAL WOOD
With a name as smooth as his voice, Canadian crooner Royal Wood brings his signature debonair persona to his upbeat new album We Were Born to Glory. Wood’s wife Sarah Slean (whom we named, along with Wood, to our 2012 list of Toronto’s most stylish) provided accompanying vocals for the album’s final track “The Glory,” so with any luck, she’ll make an appearance onstage. November 10. $29.50–$39.50. Winter Garden Theatre, 189 Yonge St., 416-872-4255, roythomson.com.
The Weekender: Crystal Castles, The War of the Worlds and six other events on our to-do list
Cirque Éloize brings iD to the Sony Centre this weekend (Image: Patrick Lazic)
1. ROYAL AGRICULTURAL WINTER FAIR
Canada’s biggest horse and agriculture show celebrates 90 years of bringing the country to the city. The main draws are the show jumping competitions—the Hickstead FEI World Cup and Governor General’s Cup in particular—but there’s also the usual motley mix of animal and vegetable competitions, chef challenges with the likes of Padma Lakshmi and, yes, a butter sculpting competition. November 2 to 11. $18. Exhibition Place, 100 Princes’ Blvd., 416-263-3400, royalfair.org.
2. CRYSTAL CASTLES
Toronto synth-punk duo Alice Glass and Ethan Kath cap off a long spell on the road with a return to their hometown (before heading out to the U.K. in a few weeks). Expect plenty of onstage antics; a typical concert might include a brawl involving at least one member of the band, and there’s always copious stage diving. The performance was originally scheduled for Nov. 4, so any tickets purchased for that date will be honoured. Nov. 3. $41. Kool Haus, 132 Queens Quay E., 416-869-0045, crystalcastles.com.
Reaction Roundup: Oxford’s $3-billion development proposal for Front Street (which includes a casino)
(Image: Oxford Properties Group)
The city’s councillors and columnists are now debating the benefits and drawbacks of the second downtown mega-plan to be unveiled in as many weeks. On Friday, Oxford Properties unveiled a (previously leaked) proposal for a $3-billion revamp of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre that would add two office/residential towers, a hotel, a new Eaton Centre–esque retail space and a strip of parkland. Of course, the entire plan is contingent on Oxford getting the go-ahead to build an on-site casino—a crucial detail we imagine is meant to put pressure on casino opponents (and to position Oxford as the logical choice to build it). Unsurprisingly, politicians and pundits jumped at the fresh opportunity to weigh in on the casino debate.
The Weekender: Buskerfest, Fan Expo and six other events on our to-do list
Silver Elvis returns to Buskerfest this year (Image: Buskerfest)
1. SCOTIABANK BUSKERFEST
Last year, over a million people descended upon Front Street to see the world’s top buskers, making BuskerFest the largest street performer festival in North America—and this year it’s expected to get even bigger. With over 100 buskers from Japan, Mexico, Ireland, New Zealand and the U.K. (among other places), expect a mind-boggling variety of performers. There’s also plenty of Canadian representation, of course, like Toronto’s Stilt Guys and the Canadian-Australian duo CACDUS, who will perform a set that includes the decidedly nationalistic (and hopefully animal-friendly) stunts “Beaver Bowling” and “Koala Chucking.” The event raises money for Epilepsy Toronto. August 23 to August 26. PWYC. St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood (Front Street, between Jarvis and Yonge), torontobuskerfest.com
2. FAN EXPO
Billed as the Comic Con of the North, Fan Expo brings a slew of gaming, horror, comic, sci-fi and anime fans, stars and industry insiders together this weekend for the largest gathering of its kind in Canada. If you’re a total Neo (meaning you’ve never been to the expo before), you might want to brush up on the lingo used by the predicted 80,000 fans: with appearances by two generations of Star Trek celebrities (Kate Mulgrew from Star Trek Voyager and Levar Burton from Star Trek: The Next Generation), it’s best to arrive with the Trekkers/Trekkies distinction down pat. Also attending: Stan Lee (of Spiderman fame), Back to the Future’s Christopher Lloyd and Doctor Who’s John Barrowman. $25–$45, weekend pass $95. August 23 to August 26. Metro Toronto Convention Centre, fanexpocanada.com
