Direct Energy Centre

Hot Date: Environmental Expo

Wednesday, April 21st, 2010

Chef Michael Steh of Reds gives advice on sustainable cuisine at the Green Living Show

APRIL 23 TO 25 Browse more than 400 vendors showcasing environmentally friendly products and services at the Green Living Show. Sample biodynamic wines, test drive fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles, learn from eco-activists presenting on the main stage and watch as farmers and top chefs like Michael Steh (of Reds Bistro) whip up a feast. Exhibition Place, Direct Energy Centre, $8 to $12; call 416-360-0044 or visit here for further details.

| Tags: Direct Energy Centre, Environment, Event, Exhibition Place, Green Living Show, Michael Steh, Sustainability | 1 Comment »

Hot Shopping: Meet the Makers

Thursday, March 25th, 2010

Avril Loreti offers Toronto-landmark napkins at the One of a Kind Show

MARCH 31 TO APRIL 4 For five fantastic days, spring shoppers are invited to indulge acquisitive urges by perusing the wares of more than 450 Canadian artisans at the One of
a Kind Spring Show and Sale. Though housed in a massive exhibition hall, this is no department store shopping excursion: face-to-face interaction with the creators of handcrafted jewellery, clothing, home decor pieces, visual art, toys, organic food items and beauty products adds a personal touch—the makers are often eager to share the stories behind their unique goods. Among the pick-up possibilities are charming hats by This is J, aromatherapy candles from Golden Goose Naturals and napkins with local landmarks by Avril Loreti. Exhibition Place, Direct Energy Centre, $6.50 to $12; call 416-960-4515 or check out this site for more information and tickets.

| Tags: clothing, crafts, Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place, food, home decor, Jewellery, One of a Kind Spring Show and Sale, Shopping, toys, Visual Art | No Comments »

Hot Date: Perennial Favourite

Friday, March 12th, 2010

MARCH 17 TO 21 For those who can’t wait any longer for spring to arrive, Canada Blooms provides a sanctuary in which to worship the season’s stunning colours. Here, budding gardeners and veteran green thumbs alike can take pleasure in more than six acres of landscaped gardens, as well as a 100,000-square-foot marketplace with retailers selling everything from patio furniture to flower and vegetable seeds. Edifying workshops and seminars by Canadian horticultural experts are also offered daily. Direct Energy Centre, $14 to $18; call 416-447-8655 or click here for more information and to purchase tickets.

| Tags: Canada Blooms, Direct Energy Centre, Entertainment, Events, Exhibition Place, Flowers, Horticulture, Shopping | No Comments »

February 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.

| Tags: air canada centre, Concert, Direct Energy Centre, Entertainment, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, National Home Show, Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Ty Pennington | No Comments »