Museums at discounted rates and times in Toronto!

There are lot of really neat things to do while visiting Toronto, but the problem lies in the fact that they tend to be costly. By the time you get out to the city, you've likely already had to pay for either parking or transit.

Secondly, you typically want to spend a good length of time in Toronto if you are coming from the Hamilton/Burlington area and with that means you will probably be stopping for a meal there. Once you add up your food, transportation and itinerary costs, you could be looking at a very expensive day!

Now, it doesn't necessarily have to be an expensive day/evening in Toronto. Of course there are some costs that are inevitable such as transit and parking. Aside from those, there do happen to be some museums in Toronto that offer discounted rates at more unconventional times.

These activities fall more into the arts and culture arena, which I believe to be the heart and soul of the city. There are so many diverse museums in downtown Toronto, but you could easily spend a fortune visiting lots of them. If you are willing to be creative and do some planning, you can experience some of the city's most interesting museums at little to no cost! Below I will name and describe a few for you that offer discounted rates at certain times. 


The Art Gallery of Ontario: Featuring more than 80,000 works ranging from the 1^st Century right to the current day, the AGO is a museum that has to be experienced at least once in one’s lifetime. Even if you aren’t a crazy art fan, you will definitely see something here that catches your eye.  Architecturally, the AGO is an impressive building that underwent a major transformation in 2004. From the glass and wood front to the cascading spiral wooden staircase, this is one that would a shame to pass up on, especially on their “free” nights!

P.S: They also have an amazing café!

*Discount: Free admissions on Wednesdays from 6:00-8:30pm (excludes special exhibitions)

 

Museum of Canadian Contemporary Art (MOCCA): I have yet to visit MOCCA, but as an art lover, this one is definitely on the list. And once you hear about the admission price, you will probably want to check this one out too! This not-for-profit museum in downtown Toronto focuses on displaying innovative pieces by Canadian artists. Since its inception in 2001 (formerly the Art Gallery of North York; moved to downtown Toronto in 2005), MOCCA has hosted over 80 exhibitions featuring more than 800 artists. In addition to that, their permanent collection has amassed to about 400 works by more than 150 artists. MOCCA selects work that expresses current issues and themes of Canadian society, so again this is a place where everyone will likely respond to a piece.

*Discount:  Admission is “pay what you can” at all times.

 

The Gardiner Museum: I will first start by saying that the Gardiner Museum is the only museum in Canada dedicated entirely to ceramic art. With that type of standing, you have to admit you want to say you have been there! Chances are if you have walked past the museum (opposite the ROM), you have stopped to notice its distinct block modern architecture and thought “what is that?” Well in addition to hosting a couple of yearly exhibitions, the museum now houses over 2,900 pieces!  The ceramics you will see in here are from all different time periods ranging from modern day to Ancient Americas. This is a pretty cool place!

*Discount: Half price admission every Friday (4-9pm)

                    Free Friday (Every third Friday of the month; 4-9pm)

                    Free Tuesday for post-secondary students (with valid ID)

 

The Bata Shoe Museum: Okay, a museum devoted solely to footwear (no pun intended)?  Already, this is intriguing. This is another one I haven’t visited but have heard great things about.  Showcasing more than 10,000 shoes spanning various points in history, this sounds like a fun one! The permanent collection is so large that it is said to contain artifacts from nearly every culture in the world. There is also quite a collection of celebrity shoes that include Elton John, Terry Fox, Pablo Picasso, Elvis Presley and Queen Victoria.

Discount: Every Thursday evening between 5-8pm is pay what you can (suggested donation of $5)

 

Feeling festive at the Toronto Christmas Market

Lowe's Toronto Christmas Market is not your conventional Christmas festival. Set in Toronto's historic Distillery District (which begs for a blog post of it's own), this Christmas Market has a distinct European flavour to it. And it may be the closest I get to Europe for now!

McLellan Group

I visited the Christmas Market for the first time last year and wondered why I had been holding out on myself for so long. If you enjoy the traditions and coziness of the holiday season, the Christmas Market will be well worth your travels to the big city. I truly believe you don't have to drop a lot of money to get the most out of the Christmas Market (other than for some food and of course parking/or transit fare). This is an event where you can have a great night simply just by walking around the cobblestone roads of the Distillery District, browsing the vendors/unique shops and taking in all the Christmas sights while sipping on some hot cocoa.

Walking around the Distillery District:

Just exploring the Distillery District on it's own makes for a fun time, but add in the Christmas theme to this historical little area and you feel as though you have been transported to an old European Christmas wonderland. You will even forget that you're east of Downtown Toronto for a couple hours! And it is always nice to temporarily escape your reality. The brick-paved streets of the Distillery District are pedestrian and cyclist friendly, restricting general driving to outside the district's centre. Additionally, you will see  a ton of interesting industrial architecture from the Victorian era. The district is home to many unique independent businesses that are typically shops, cafes and restaurants. Overall, these businesses tend to be very eclectic and creative in personality, celebrating the arts, culture and history of the district. Marrying classic with modern, the Distillery District makes the perfect backdrop for Christmas festival.

                                                                   Sky Scraper City

Things to do at the Christmas Market:

With clear lights strung all above, gingerbread like booths and a 45 ft White Spruce Christmas tree right in the centre, you will immediately be put in the Christmas mood! As stated earlier, simply walking around  and taking in the atmosphere is mighty fun in and of itself. However, there is a lot more to do than just that!

Depending on the day you go, there are many different events going on. Watch out for the scheduled live music during the evenings, ranging in genre from jazz to classical. Further, there are multiple caroling sessions held everyday in which the carolers don old-fashioned costumes. Beyond music, there is always live European dance performances to be seen, again ranging in genre and origin.
If you visit the market during the morning/daytime, more children oriented events take place such as Santa's Elves Sing-Along and Storytelling Time.

Food & Beverages:

There are many cordoned off "lounges" and beer gardens to enjoy European style beverages and holiday drinks. Cozy up in front of the crackling bon fires and enjoy a mulled wine, a popular staple at the Christmas Market. If you're not one for mulled wine, there are plenty of other libations to suit your fancy. Specialty beer, rum, cocktails and wine from Europe and Ontario are also served at the various Christmas Market lounges. From chocolate covered bacon to veal schnitzel, there are many food vendors and shops open for something yummy to eat! The opportunities for food choices are abundant.

Important Christmas Market Details:

When: November 29th - December 15th

Hours: Weekends: 10am - 9pm
             Weekdays: 12pm - 9pm

Where: Refer to this link for directions and transportation suggestions

*For more information, be sure to visit Lowe's Toronto Christmas Market web site
 

Discovering Ottawa Street

Ottawa Street, better known as the fabric and textile district, is most definitely another a hidden gem worth discovering for those in the Hamilton area. Filled with rich history, art, antiques and delicious food, Ottawa Street can make for an interesting and inexpensive morning/afternoon on the town. Make that inexpensive under the condition that you are not an avid antique collector or an enthusiastic foodie. I first visited Ottawa Street a couple of years ago with a friend and wondered why I hadn’t stumbled upon the area sooner!

History:

Ottawa Street’s successful textile industry dates back to the first and second world wars. Sewing machine developments lead to booming ready-made garment sales which East Hamilton (centered on Ottawa Street) capitalized on during that time. Ottawa Street’s other notable claim to fame is that it is the 1964 birthplace to the very first Tim Horton’s location! 

 

 

Antiques:

One of the top reasons to visit Ottawa Street is for its collection of cool antique and collectible stores. These antique stores are really fun to browse around in and look at one of a kind pieces.  I appreciate the history and craftsmanship vintage pieces carry, so I like to think of these stores as free museums! Antique stores are fascinating because they each house a multitude of mysterious stories under one roof. If you want to see some awesome antiques and retro pieces, head to The Millionaires Daughter (a favourite), Antique Avenue and Granny’s Attic Treasures.

Art:

Ottawa street is also home to a large array of local talent. There are some fantastic co-operative art shops and galleries selling locally crafted pieces. It is nice to celebrate the artistic talent that exists within Hamilton, Ontario. AllSorts Gallery is one co-op gallery worth visiting as it showcases and sells many medium works from over 40 artists (mostly local). Earls Court Gallery, 337 Sketch Gallery, Arts 4U Studio and Prouse Pottery & Soap Co. are some other notable art galleries/shops to check out On Ottawa Street! Hamilton has a great arts scene and the art featured on Ottawa street is surely a testament to this.

Food:

While it is a must to pay homage to Canada’s very first Tim Horton’s restaurant on Ottawa Street, there are some quality cafes and restaurants that must be experienced in this area! If you have a weakness for Italian food (or even if you don’t) then you must head over to Café Limencello (the pizza margherita is unreal and at $11 you can’t go wrong). If you want to enjoy a nice morning on Ottawa Street, then stop in here for breakfast—it is quality food and reasonably priced.  You are also guaranteed a quality breakfast over Cannon Coffee (not to mention yummy baked goods and great coffee).The atmosphere at The Cannon is fresh and welcoming, just like their food!

Farmer’s Market & Festivals:

I can’t talk about food and Ottawa Street without mentioning their farmer’s market. Every Saturday from 7am-3pm, vendors from around the Golden Horseshoe region come to Ottawa Street to sell the fresh goodies from their farms. Ottawa Street is often the site for many festivals and events, most notably their successful  Sew Hungry food truck rally! Their holiday event, Sew This is Christmas, is soon approaching slated for November 29 from 4-8pm.

Don’t write off a visit to Ottawa street if you aren’t a huge fan of antiques or art. I say this because it is pretty much guaranteed that you will stumble upon something interesting on Ottawa Street!

Check out these links if you want to find out more about Ottawa Street:

Shop Ottawa Street Website

Farmer's Market Website

(loveonsunday blog)

 

 

Cherry Hill Gate on a Sunny Sunday: Even non-hikers will enjoy

Royal Botanical Garden’s trailhead Cherry Hill Gate is a prime example of how you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get out of the house and enjoy the nice weather on the weekend. You also don’t have to be an experienced hiking enthusiast or nature lover to get the most out of this trail. If you find yourself craving some fresh air and natural beauty, Cherry Hill Gate is sure to hit the spot.

This nature sanctuary is definitely a hidden gem in the Burlington and Hamilton region. Located in Burlington’s Aldershot area just off of Plains Road West, the trail’s parking lot (main point of access) is just across the street from the RBG’s Main Centre. Right in the heart of the Hendrie Valley, this trail leads to a boardwalk stretch that rests two metres above the floodplain wetlands of Grindstone Creek. The boardwalk is linked to the Grindstone Marsh trail and leads right to the Grindstone Marshes, a hotspot for fishing when it is seasonally permitting.

I made a much anticipated visit to Cherry Hill Gate last weekend. I usually hit the trail a couple times a year, even on those chilly winter mornings when you can see your breath hang in the air. On Sunday morning, the air was crisp and the sky was bright. I walked all the way down to the Grindstone marsh and went down a little bridge that brings you to an overlook with great views of Carroll’s Bay. 

Calm views of Carroll's Bay

What was neat about Sunday’s visit was that I was able to see a lot of wildlife. I saw some swans floating in Carroll’s Bay, a group of loons splashing about in the wetlands and of course a wide variety of birds that you don’t see on a day to day basis. The chipmunks and birds are not shy in the valley and will come right into the palm of your hands if you are offering food. Lastly, you will definitely see a ton of dogs because this has become quite the popular spot for walking pooches.

Going about the everyday grind, it is easy to forget about the natural beauty and life that exists within our area, so this trail is a nice reminder of that. If you haven’t already noticed, I’m a huge advocate for getting outside and being one with nature. There are so many benefits to venturing out into the great outdoors and taking in nature.

Here are a few that I have personally noticed:

Mindset: Likely due in some part to the release of endorphins from walking, I have always found that nature walks can get me out of a funk or a ‘blah’ day. I always leave with a renewed sense of perspective and gratitude. I never get quite the same quality of a walk when I am strolling about the main streets near where I live.

Creativity: This is another area I feel gets a good resurgence from exposure to nature. Being a visually artistic person, a good nature walk also recharges and inspires my creative impulses or lack of them.

Clarity: Besides sleep and a good meal, nothing like the solitude of nature helps in bringing my mind back into sharp focus. If I am feeling overwhelmed or in a brain fog, I’ve found nature to be a strong remedy in getting me back on track.

Besides the personal ones I’ve listed, freshjuice does a great job of discussing the benefits of nature walk. Take my word for it, they are pretty convincing!   

Next time you are feeling cooped up and looking to get out of the house, consider exploring Cherry Hill Gate trail! Grab a coffee/tea to go, pay the $1/hour for parking and you’re looking at a great couple hours well spent!