MARCH 10 Twelve-time Grammy Award winner Alicia Keys gets in a Toronto state of mind this month, as she takes centre stage for a much-anticipated show. The soulful singer, songwriter, instrumentalist and occasional actor belts out piano-infused pop and soul hits from her latest lauded album, The Element of Freedom. Air Canada Centre, 7:30 p.m., $49.50 to $124.50; call 416-870-8000 or check Ticketmaster for tickets.
air canada centre
Hot Date: Key of Must-See
Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010February Editor’s Picks: Entertainment
Monday, February 8th, 2010
Ty Pennington offers tips at the National Home Show.
FEBRUARY 19 TO 28 Find all of the decorating, remodeling and landscaping tools you’ll need for your next big project or mini-makeover at the National Home Show. North America’s largest home design and renovation expo boasts more than 700 exhibitors as well as themed stage shows, eco-friendly displays and a lush 32,000-square-foot garden. Even reluctant rehabbers are sure to be inspired after touring the impressive modular dream home created by top Toronto designers. And don’t miss on-stage appearances by Extreme Makeover: Home Edition star Ty Pennington and experts from HGTV, who share tips on the hottest interior design trends throughout the week. Direct Energy Centre, admission $11 to $15; call 416-644-5400 or click here for more information.
Eric Clapton
FEBRUARY 21 Guitar legends and long-time chums Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck take to the stage for an extraordinary musical collaboration. Currently working as solo artists, but with individual careers spanning more than four decades—including stints in some of rock ‘n’ roll’s seminal bands—the British axemen earned rave reviews when they performed together last year in Tokyo, Japan. Toronto is one of only three scheduled dates for the duo and promises the best that both Clapton and Beck have to offer. Each guitarist is slated to play a solo set before joining forces for a special finale. Air Canada Centre, 8 p.m., $69.50 to $225; call 416-870-8000 or visit Ticketmaster for tickets.
The Toronto Symphony Orchestra (photo by Cylla von Tiedemann)
This month, Roy Thomson Hall hosts show-stopping performances by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and a renowned European ensemble. Call 416-593-4828 for information, times and tickets to all performances.
FEBRUARY 10 & 11 Canadian conductor Douglas Boyd leads an evening that pairs two Beethoven masterpieces—Symphony No. 5 and the overture from Fidelio—with the North American premiere of A Table of Noises, a percussion concerto by British composer Simon Holt.
FEBRUARY 18 & 20 Soprano Michele Crider and tenor Maxim Aksenov are joined by the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir for a sublime choral rendition of Verdi’s Requiem, considered by many to be the Italian composer’s greatest work.
FEBRUARY 24 The Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra graces the stage with works by Messiaen, Ravel and Richard Strauss. French-Canadian wünderkind Yannick Nézet-Séguin performs baton duties for this varied program.
Mid-Season Sports
Wednesday, January 6th, 2010Have new faces brought a winning attitude back to this city’s professional hockey and basketball teams? Find out for yourself as the Maple Leafs and Raptors seek to maintain their mid-season momentum at the Air Canada Centre.
BLADES OF STEEL
You could be forgiven for wondering why it’s so difficult to get tickets to a Toronto Maple Leafs home game. After all, the National Hockey League team—and Canada’s most valuable sports franchise—hasn’t exactly been burning up the ice in recent years. It’s no secret they haven’t won the Stanley Cup since 1967, and despite attracting some laudable talent, the squad has been shut out of the playoffs in each of the previous four seasons. Such inferiority prompted a high-profile executive change last year, with team owners installing prized hockey mind Brian Burke as general manager. An architect of recent Cup contenders the Vancouver Canucks and Anaheim Ducks, Burke is noted for preferring big, tough players, and this past summer made good on his reputation by signing workhorses like Mike Komisarek and Francois Beauchemin. You won’t be seeing these defensemen at the all-star game; they earn their pay not with fancy stickhandling, but with body checks and blocked shots. Phil Kessel, acquired from the Boston Bruins, has added some scoring, but halfway through the season it’s clear the team is still a star or two away from contending. From this vantage point, the 2009–10 Maple Leafs will not likely be remembered among the storied lineups of yesteryear, but Toronto’s rink rats and ice queens nevertheless continue to live and die by the fortunes of their blue-collar hockey heroes.
December Hot Date: Andrea Bocelli
Tuesday, December 1st, 2009
DECEMBER 3 In the only Canadian stop on his North American tour, the inimitable Andrea Bocelli graces the stage to croon tunes that run the pop-to-classical gamut. Drawing from his highly anticipated new album My Christmas, the Italian tenor sings traditional and seasonal faves like “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” and “Oh Holy Night.” Famed Canadian songwriter David Foster is scheduled to make a guest appearance. Air Canada Centre, 8 p.m., $75 to $500; call 416-870-8000 or visit Ticketmaster for to purchase.
November Hot Date: The Rockettes and More
Tuesday, November 10th, 2009
NOVEMBER 16 TO 18 Tinsel, candy canes and stockings hung by the chimney with care can put anyone into the festive spirit, but they can’t compare to the epitome of holiday grandeur: the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. The world-famous Rockettes are back for only five shows with the toe-tapping precision kick-line dancing that has made them international favourites. Be whisked away to Santa’s North Pole workshop, watch bears perform a rendition of the classic Nutcracker ballet, and marvel as the first Christmas is brought to life in this dazzling holiday extravaganza. Air Canada Centre, Monday 7:30 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday 4 and 7:30 p.m., $30 to $84.50; call 416-870-8000 or click here for tickets.
Weekend Roundup, October 16th to 18th
Thursday, October 15th, 2009Craft, cringe, carve and cheer with our lineup of autumn events taking place this weekend.
Friday: Get acquainted with The Boys in the Photograph.
Friday, October 16th
Get crafty at the Creativ Festival, a three-day show dedicated to do-it-yourself creations. Whether you’re a novice knitter or a seasoned scrapbooker you’ll find plenty of crafting supplies and workshops to help you with your next creative project.
Scare yourself silly and fight off ghoulish creatures at Screamers, the annual Halloween-themed park at Exhibition Place.
Applaud a performance of The Boys in the Photograph, a coming-of-age story of love and conflict in Northern Ireland during the civil war, written by Ben Elton and brought to musical life by Andrew Lloyd Webber’s powerful score.
Saturday: Cheer on the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Saturday, October 17th
Support our beloved hometown hockey team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, as they take to the Air Canada Centre ice in a battle against the New York Rangers.
Join Drake Hotel art concierge Betty Ann Jordan on an exploration of galleries and project spaces along the Queen West strip. After the tour, art aficionados congregate at the Drake’s Corner Cafe for coffee, treats and conversation.
Celebrate the evolution of Indigenous cinema at the 10th annual imagineNATIVE film festival, showcasing more than 125 works by Native filmmakers and media artists.
Sunday: Brunch at the Boiler House.
Sunday, October 18th
Get into the Halloween spirit early and enjoy a devilish day of family fun at Black Creek Pioneer Village. This year’s Howling Hootenanny features a haunted maze, creepy creatures, pumpkin carving and much more.
Don’t be shy to dig in at the Boiler House’s lavish brunch buffet—savour award-winning eggs Benedict to the tune of live jazz at this chic, refurbished industrial building in the heart of the Distillery Historic District.
Suit up at Theory’s Get Suited event happening at Holt Renfrew. With in-store sartorial specialists and designer discounts aplenty, you’ll have no problem revamping your work wardrobe this season.
October Hot Date: Kylie Minogue
Tuesday, October 6th, 2009
OCTOBER 9 It’s no wonder we can’t get her out of our heads: Kylie Minogue has sold 40 million albums worldwide and has 50 hit singles under her belt. And this Australian pop sensation is still going strong like a locomotive as she tours North American for the first time. Air Canada Centre, 8 p.m., $59.50 to $119.50; call 416-870-8000 or click here for tickets.
Season of Changes
Thursday, October 1st, 2009Can new faces bring a winning attitude back to this city’s professional hockey and basketball teams? Find out for yourself as the Maple Leafs and Raptors return to action at an Air Canada Centre that’s abuzz with anticipation.
Matt Stajan
BLADES OF STEEL
You could be forgiven for wondering why it’s so difficult to get tickets to a Toronto Maple Leafs home game. After all, the National Hockey League team—and Canada’s most valuable sports franchise—hasn’t exactly been burning up the ice in recent years. It’s no secret they haven’t won the Stanley Cup since 1967, and despite attracting some laudable talent, the squad has been shut out of the playoffs in each of the previous four seasons. Such inferiority prompted a high-profile executive change last year, with team owners installing prized hockey mind Brian Burke as general manager. An architect of recent Cup contenders the Vancouver Canucks and Anaheim Ducks, Burke is noted for preferring big, tough players, and this summer made good on his reputation by signing workhorses like Mike Komisarek, Garnet Exelby and Francois Beauchemin. You won’t be seeing these defensemen at the all-star game; they earn their pay not with fancy stickhandling, but with body checks and blocked shots. Lacking any true scoring stars, it’s unlikely the 2009–10 version of the Maple Leafs will be remembered among the storied lineups of yesteryear, but this city of rink rats and ice queens nevertheless lives and dies by the fortunes of its blue-collar hockey heroes.
June Hot Date—No Doubt
Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009
JUNE 16 It’s been five years since Gwen and the boys hit the road, but the hiatus is over and No Doubt is once again ready to rock. Gwen Stefani, Tony Kanal, Adrian Young and Tom Dumont are back together for a much-anticipated summer tour. This high energy show is sure to feature such hits as “Hey Baby,” “Rock Steady” and “Don’t Speak,” which made these Anaheim alt-rockers famous. Canada’s own Bedouin Soundclash and American rock band Paramore open for the quartet. Air Canada Centre, 7:30 p.m., $63 to $106; call 416-870-8000 to charge.
June Editor’s Picks: Entertainment
Monday, June 1st, 2009By Danielle Milley
A scene from Jane Campion's The Water Diary, showing at the Worldwide Short Film Festival.
JUNE 16 TO 21 Internationally celebrated short films receive due acclaim at the annual CFC Worldwide Short Film Festival (page 37). Catch more than 250 films from 87 countries, including a featured series on the United Nations’ eight Millennium Development Goals by eight notable directors, such as The Water Diary by Academy Award–winner Jane Campion (The Piano). Take a break from live action by viewing the Animation Spotlight, support up-and-coming talent at the Film School Showcase or go melodic with the popular music video program Scene Not Herd. Various venues, tickets $10 to $170; call 416-445-1446 for a schedule.
May Hot Date—Your Uptown Song
Friday, May 1st, 2009
May 26 & 30 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees and music legends Billy Joel and Elton John reunite on their Face to Face tour. With 77 top hits, 11 Grammy Awards and more than 350 million albums sold between them, the two pop titans delight fans with a genre-spanning evening featuring a mix of Broadway show tunes, classical compositions, ragtime, gospel and good old rock and roll. Air Canada Centre, 7:30 p.m., $70 to $275.50; call 416-870-8000 to charge.
