Some of The Best Rinks in Toronto

It’s that time of the year – the days are getting shorter, the nights are getting colder. It’s winter time once again, which means the Holidays are just around the corner and spending time with the family is a must! Don’t go old school and visit the overly crowded Nathan Phillips Square, be creative and check out these other rinks that opened up in Toronto. So gather up the fam clan or a group of friends and visit the newly opened public skating rinks to create some great memories! Here are a list of a few great rinks that you’re bound to have lots of fun at.

Shelbourne Common – Located on Queens Quay E of Toronto, the rink offers a beautiful view of the city which you’re most likely to enjoy. Though official skating hours are 10 a.m to 10 p.m the rink is not fenced in, making the rink accessible at any hour. Washrooms are available, however skate rentals and change rooms are not.

Lake Devo – The sometimes functioning fountain and pond that’s located at Ryerson University has been turned into a  beautiful frozen outdoor rink! From time to time you’ll run into the spectacular Ryerson University Figure Skating team practicing their axles, however the rink is open to the public from 9 a.m to 10 p.m.

Colonel Sam Smith Park – Not the best rink for you shinny lovers, but a great rink as well as the ONLY rink to have an official skating trail! Washrooms and changing areas are available at this location.

Campbell Park – With $2 skate rentals, the Campbell Park rink is the best to hit up midday and practice those Ace Hockey Skills. By the afternoon, the local shinny crowd is out and about skating around Campbell Park rink. Enjoy a nice cool skate and warm up with some hot chocolate at the hot chocolate stand.

Christie Pits – Trade in those vintage swim trunks with some leather ice skates and watch as Christie Pits pool transforms in the Christie Pits outdoor rink! With a decent change area that has skate friendly rubber floors, the rink comes with designated free skate times as well as shinny schedules for kids, youths and adults.

Brick Works Ice Trail – It may not be an official City Skating Trail but this free ice trail is not one to ignore when it comes to having a good time. The Brick Works Ice Trail is right below some old industrial rafters and is open Thursdays from 5p.m to 9p.m and weekends from 11a.m to 4p.m. Skate rentals are $5 and you can help yourself to some great food at the nearby farmers’ market.

Kew Gardens – One of the longest-open city rinks and open until March 11th, the Kew Gardens outdoor rink is open and has designated times for free skates and shinny games. Though the rink itself is a small one, the change area has lockers open for public use so there’s no need to worry about boots sitting by the side of the rink.

Trinity Bellwoods – If you’re looking for the perfect rink that’s great for shinny, upbeat and lively lap competitions between friends, the Trinity Bellwoods rink offers plenty of room for excited skaters. This year on Monday evenings, designated shinny times for women’s hockey is available. There are no rentals at this rink, however changing areas can be accessed.

High Park – With two outdoor rinks pads and a zamboni for regular maintenance, the rink is open for 9a.m to 9:45p.m. Free skate and shinny times are available for the high park rosters and come with change rooms for lacing up. No rentals are available.

 

Dufferin Grove – Another spot for women’s shinny, the Dufferin Grove outdoor rink comes with two full sized pads. With a $2 Skate rental program, it also comes with a kitchen full of fresh snacks, lockers, changerooms, organic coffee and hot chocolate and best of all the occasional live music performances.

 

Harbourfront – An incredibly happy and jolly area during the holidays, the Harbourfront Rink is a place drenched with music and cheer. Free skate is open from 10 a.m to 10 p.m (with the exception of running until 11p.m on friday and saturday nights) with skate rentals available onsite.

 

Wallace Emerson –  A double pad-rink thats great for pleasure skating and shinny. While one rink is left unfenced, this leaves it open for skaters to take to the ice after the designated time slot of the 9p.m or 10p.m close. With a change area close by, skate and helmet rentals are available as well as snack bars, books and games.

College Park – Though there are no rentals for this beautiful outdoor rink, change rooms and lockers are available onsite. Right in the middle of all city action, the College Park rink is left unfenced which means that it’s a perfect location for all the midnight skaters.

Don Mills – A beautiful rink known right outside the Don Mills shopping mall. An artificial grassy turf is converted into a fantastic eye catching skating oval that’s fun for the entire family.

So the next time you think of dropping by Nathan Philipps Square with your family, try stopping by these other options first. Who knows? You may just find a new favourite skating rink hot spot that’ll keep your family coming back every year.

For more information on other skating rinks open in the Toronto area, try checking out this website.

Toronto Christmas Markets

TORONTO CHRISTMAS MARKET

This holiday season in Toronto celebrated the romance and magic of a traditional Christmas at Lowe’s Toronto Christmas Market. This free annual event captured all of the tradition and charm of European Christmas Market, while showcasing hundreds of unique and local handcrafted products. There were different kinds of entertainment such as musicians, carolers and children’s choirs to Santa’s workshop where kids had the chance to meet Santa.
What is Christmas Market?: Christmas market is a street market associated with the celebration of Christmas during the four weeks leading up Christmas. These markets originated in Germany, beginning in the early 1400’s, and now have been being held in many countries all over the world.

 

They sold many types of Christmas gifts, especially traditional items such as crib figurines, toys, wood carvings, hand-made ornaments, candles and holiday memorabilia. We enjoyed eating French Canadian Poutine, hot dogs, grilled sausages and other tasty snacks as well.

 

 

 

A lot of people visited this event! They were charmed with the Christmas lights, and enjoyed different kinds of entertainment. The foods all were really good. This Christmas market is over, but Christmas is almost here in Toronto! Hope you will have a wonderful Christmas season!

Holiday Art Markets

Toronto Christmas Market

This holiday season Toronto will once again celebrate the romance and magic of a traditional

Christmas at Lowe’s Toronto Christmas Market. This free annual event captures all of the

tradition and charm of European Christmas Market, while showcasing hundreds of unique

handcrafted products. There are some different kinds of entertainment such as musicians,

carolers and children’s choirs to Santa’s workshop which kids can have the chance to meet

Santa. You can get many kinds of Christmas gifts, especially traditional items such as crib

figurines, toys, wood carvings, hand-made ornaments, candles and holiday memorabilia.

Distillery Historic District (55 Mill Street),

Friday November 29 – Sunday December 15, Mon -Fri noon – 9pm & weekends 10am – 9pm.

 

The Artisans Gift Fair

This homegrown gift sale in The Annex has been running over from the end of November.

The Artisans’ Gift Fair hosts fine collection of affordable gift products. Vendors gather at the

Tranzac, located in the Annex at Bloor and Brunswick, displaying handcrafted gifts. Look for

handcrafted items such as garments, soaps, jewelry, journals, and everything from cupcakes

to cat toys. The Tranzac (292 Brunswick Ave), December 14, 15, 21, 22. 12pm – 6pm, free.

 

City of Craft

City of Craft is an annual craft show and exhibition in Toronto. It is also a group of people

who make other crafty things which happen throughout the year. High quality wares and

promising local crafts will be on sale, and the gifts from this sale are sure to make an

impression.

The Theatre Centre (1087 & 1095 Queen Street West),

December 14 – 15, Saturday 11am – 6pm, Sunday 11am – 5pm, $2 (children under 12 free).

 

Toronto Etsy Street Team’s 1st Annual Christmas Marketplace

The Toronto Etsy Street Team will be holding its first Christmas Marketplace.

Saint-Stephens-in-the-Fields (103 Bellevue, College St, in the Kensington Market neighbourhood)

December 14, 11am – 5:30pm

Glenn Gould Studio At CBC

Situated at 250 Front Street West, Glenn Gould Studio is the “jewel of the Canadian Broadcasting Centre” and continues to be one of Toronto’s favourite venues.

Their name comes from one of the most celebrated classical pianists of the 20th century: Glenn Gould. Their first mission is to honour the legacy he left behind by supporting the arts and to continue to operate as a Centre of Excellence for Canadian and international performances.

Glenn Gould Studio is also a superb recording facility which offers sound isolation, state-of-the-art recording facilities and acoustics that are ideal for classical and jazz recordings. The place is modern and glamorous with the red carpet and the cordons at the entrance. You will feel like a celebrity!

 In addition, they are the home to many business functions for local and internationally-based companies, offering an environment ideal for meetings, product launches and seminars.

Indeed, the stage welcomed many concerts and CD recordings by very famous singers such as Shania Twain, Blue Rodeo, The Trews, Mariah Carey, Matt Dusk, Gordon Lightfoot, Natalie McMaster and Feist. And for those who have seen Life of Pi, The Right Kind of Wrong, Our Man in Tehran, Being Julia, One Week and Glitter; these film scores were all recorded here.

This place is ideal for all your events thanks to the unique style of the place, offering a glamorous image combine to a design and modern atmosphere, which will charmed your guests for sure!  One thing that impressed us also was all of the in house technical equipment.  Having everything in the studio saves from renting all of the expensive AV equipment and paying for labour to set it up.  With the new look and feel of the location and in-house equipment the space is ideal for many events especially if a performance is involved.

For more information visit their website, Facebook and follow them @CBCMusic

Shaken not stirred- The Art of Cocktail

Tuesday, December 3rd , Shaken not stirred- The Art of Cocktail was hosted by Allan Small, Senior Investment Advisor at Auberge du Pommier. Over 30 guests came out to learn more about how rising interest rates are affecting individuals’investement decision, but also to learn about a few cocktails from Mixologist Ed Grim from O&B. These cocktails including a winter mulled wine and the North Star Karkade.

The room at Auberge du Pommier was already decorated for Christmas with fir tree’s branches and pine cones. With the candles in the fire place and on the tables, the atmosphere was very cozy.

The first cocktail was a Winter Mulled Wine prepared with red wine, oranges and a mix of spices such as cinnamon, cloves, vanilla and nutmeg. The tip from Ed our celebrity Mixologist for Mulled Wine is there is no need to buy an expensive bottle as you change the taste with all the flavours.

The second cocktail was the North Star Karkade made with Hibiscus tea, Amaro Montenegro, Sweet Vermouth and Strawberry Rhubarb Syrup, with an orange twist. The guests really enjoyed that last cocktail with a bitter taste and learned that the orange twist has to be added at the last moment!

 

Here are the recipes of those two delicious cocktails:

 

Winter Mulled Wine

• 1 cup Brown Sugar
• 2 Oranges
• 2 Lemon
• 2 Cinnamon Stick
• 2 Star Anise
• 8 Cloves
• 12 Black peppercorns
• 1 Nutmeg
• 1 Bay Leaf
• 1 Vanilla bean

 

North Star Karkade

• 1.5oz Hibiscus infused Rye
• 5oz Amaro Montenegro
• 5oz Sweet Vermouth
• 75oz Strawberry Rhubarb Syrup

 

 

The photos of the event can be found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cityeventstoronto/sets/72157638353170824/

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