Toronto’s annual free fall series of guided walks in and around the city runs from September 15 until October 28, 2012.
Now in its tenth year, the festival encourages locals and tourists alike to walk and/or hike through the city’s trails.
Participation is free – all you need to do is register online at www.torontotrailsfestival.ca for the walks you want to explore. Online registration closes at 4:30 pm on the Friday before each walk.
Depending on your experience, you can choose from three different walking levels: Level 1: 7 to 8 kilometres; Level 2: 8 to 15 kilometres, or Level 3: 15+ kilometres. Depending on which one you choose, the walks take you through ravines, beaches, and valleys.
Walks last for two to three hours and meeting points vary, with most starting and ending locations being near public transportation.

www.torontotrailsfestival.ca

* Giulia is our Been there local for Toronto. You can see her profile here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/places/canada/toronto/index.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/GiuliaFalsetti

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Known to locals as “TIFF”, one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals begins in Toronto on September 6 and runs until September 16, 2012. Many Hollywood studios have premiered their films here, later going on to win Oscars, the most recent one being “The King’s Speech”.

I try to catch five or six films each year, always those that I don’t think will ever appear in mainstream cinema, or those by first-time or unknown directors.

Single tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at the box office or online until September 16, 2012. Regular adult tickets cost $19.69 CDN and those for Red Carpet Premieres are $38.27 CDN. Because there is no assigned seating for any of the screenings, people may choose to line up early to get good seats.

www.tiff.net
TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King Street West, Toronto, Canada
Google map: bit.ly/Q4sjXx

* Giulia is our Been there local for Toronto. You can see her profile here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/places/canada/toronto/index.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/GiuliaFalsetti

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From September 14 until September 22, 2012, over 40 participating pubs and some 20 brewhouses will celebrate Toronto Beer Week, dedicated to the celebration of beer.
There are various events taking place throughout the city, with experiences ranging from a five course meal paired with a variety of beers, a pub crawl, special beer tastings and food pairings, as well as walking beer tours and music events.
Check out the website for the list of venues and events taking place all day, every day during this nine-day event.

www.torontobeerweek.com


* Giulia is our Been there local for Toronto. You can see her profile here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/places/canada/toronto/index.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/GiuliaFalsetti

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Hot, spicy, sweet and sour food – try it all at this year’s 15th annual Hot & Spicy Festival, taking place from July 20 – 22, 2012. Serving up diverse flavours from around the world, entertain your tastebuds with food paired with samplings of the hot sounds of the region.
Highlights include an International Chef Competition, featuring a Taco Takedown where
each chef serves their own individual dish - purchase a sample platter of these creations and determine yourself who the winner should be; the Red Hot Market offers some of the spiciest hot sauces available; learn about the slow food movement and how to smoke fish at the “Hot & Spicy” smokehouse; or attend one of the canning workshops and the farmer’s market.

www.harbourfrontcentre.com/summer/hotandspicy/
Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queen’s Quay West
Toronto, Canada
Google map: bit.ly/L60lak

How to get there: Take either the 509 Exhibition or 510 Spadina streetcar west from inside
Union Station (to exit from the subway platform by the correct stairs, look for the Harbourfront
signs). Both streetcars stop directly in front of Harbourfront Centre.

* Giulia is our Been there local for Toronto. You can see her profile here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/places/canada/toronto/index.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/GiuliaFalsetti

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As soon as the warm weather hits, Torontonians love spending time outside, attending one of the many artistic and cultural festivals the city has to offer. One such event is the Open Roof Festival, which hosts weekly outdoor events every Thursday until August 23, 2012.
Each week, the festival offers a film screening, live music and great food on the roof of Amsterdam Brewery, located downtown. The event features independent films and local bands, with all profits supporting the Toronto indie film community. In case of rain, the films will be moved indoors. In just three short years, the festival has become a seasonal favorite and attendance regularly hits to about 400 per screening.
Check out the website for a full schedule and additional information. Tickets for each night cost $15 and can also be purchased on the website. Drinks and food cost extra.
On the day of the event, the on-site box office opens at 7:30pm for cash only ticket sales;
musical guest performs at 8:00pm and the film screens around 9:00pm.

How to get there: Take the Bathurst streetcar southbound.
www.openrooffestival.com
Amsterdam Brewery, 21 Bathurst Street, Toronto, Canada
Google map: bit.ly/PGK2qZ

* Giulia is our Been there local for Toronto. You can see her profile here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/places/canada/toronto/index.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/GiuliaFalsetti

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The Toronto Fringe Festival is an annual theatre event that features some of the most interesting, hysterical and gut-wrenching uncensored drama in Toronto. All performances take place in theatres throughout the downtown core. Several productions that made their debut at the Fringe have been shown to larger audiences, such as “Da Kink in My Hair.”
I love “fringeing.” I’ve already bought my pass of 12 tickets and am looking forward to seeing some great live theatre. Tickets are incredibly affordable, with single tickets at $10 and are available by purchasing either online or at the theatre one hour prior to show time. This year’s festival presents over 150 individual productions from Canada and around the world.
The festival runs from Wednesday, July 4 until Sunday, July 15 and the roster includes something for everyone: from musicals to sketch comedy to drama to FringeKids! plays held at one of the local libraries. There are even some interesting venues, with locations like parking lots, school buses and even a bra shop.
All Fringe shows are not chosen by a jury, but rather a lottery system, which gives each play an equal chance.

www.fringetoronto.com

* Giulia is our Been there local for Toronto. You can see her profile here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/places/canada/toronto/index.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/GiuliaFalsetti

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Like most Toronto foodies, I look forward to Summerlicious, a celebration spotlighting some of Toronto's best restaurants, where you can sample a wide variety of original and delicious cuisine through three-course prix fixe menus. Available at over 180 of Toronto's restaurants, like its counterpart, Winterlicious, this event offers very large discounts from the usual pricing, with lunch ranging from $15, $20 or $30 and dinner for $25, $35, and $45.
Summerlicious runs from July Friday, July 6 until Sunday, July 22.
Several new restaurants this year are sure to draw a crowd, especially Colborne Lane, www.colbornelane.com and La Societe, www.lasociete.ca, both great spots for food and value.
There is usually a mad rush to secure reservations, especially in the evenings, so call soon.

To review the list of restaurants, menus, and their locations, and then book online, click the link: www.dine.to/toronto_summerlicious_restaurants.php

* Giulia is our Been there local for Toronto. You can see her profile here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/places/canada/toronto/index.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/GiuliaFalsetti

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Toronto’s Caribbean Carnival, formerly known as Caribana, is an event showcasing Caribbean culture, offering traditional music, cuisine, and performing arts. The organizers call it North America’s largest street festival, attended by over 1 million visitors each year. While Caribana runs for two weeks, the festival is highlighted in the final weekend when the street Parade of Bands occurs. The parade is made up of a series of steel bands, live soca, calypso, reggae and salsa performers and masqueraders that
compete for best costumes. There is also a two-day Caribbean art festival on Olympic Island.

www.torontocaribbeancarnival.com
July 12 – August 1, 2011

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