Tickets still available: The 11th annual New Year's Eve Family Countdown at the Toronto Zoo

PARTY WITH THE PANDAS!

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

 

Front Entrance, Australasia Pavilion, Tundra Trek & The Giant Panda Experience

5:00 pm to 8:00 pm (doors open at 4:45pm) and Parking is FREE! 

 

DON'T STAY HOME - Enjoy the best New Year's Eve Event in town! The Zoo is the only 

place in the city where you can celebrate New Year's with unique animal encounters, live entertainment 

and more! The fun runs until 8:00 pm when kids can enjoy their very own Kids' Countdown.

 

Don't miss some great entertainment including:

• The Decades Tribute Band
• Vivian Hicks
• Danceworks Dance-imals
• Post It!
• James Clayton Jazz Duo
• Majinx Magic Show
• WILD animal encounters
• Special Kid's Countdown at 8:00 pm!

Tickets - Regular Event Pricing

General (includes Adults & Seniors) $20.00

Children (3 - 12) $12.00

Children (2 & under) FREE  *NOTE Children (2 & under) must have a ticket

 

CLICK HERE to order your tickets today!

 Events Subject to change without notice

 

 Toronto Zoo is accredited by CAZA (Canada's Accredited Zoos and Aquariums). Look for this logo whenever you visit a Canadian zoo as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things.  For more information, visit www.caza.ca.

Comedian John Pinette's performance postponed at Casino Rama

Originally scheduled for January 3rd, rescheduled for April 24th 

Rama, ON (Monday, December 30th, 2013) - Casino Rama regrets to announce that by artist request the John Pinette concert originally scheduled for this Friday, January 3rd, 2014 (9pm) has been postponed until Thursday, April 24th, 2014 (8pm).  

The artist will be unable to perform this weekend due to a recent health issue. The Casino & the artist apologize for any inconvenience this postponement may cause and Mr. Pinette looks forward to returning to Casino Rama in the spring to perform for his fans.

Cheers to 2014; Icewine toasts, skating, the zoo and Go Habs

   One-Tank Trip for Dec. 28/13

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Raise a toast to the New Year with an icy sip in Niagara, celebrate on ice or talk to the animals in Toronto and shout “Go Habs, go” in Montreal.

Fireworks will mark the arrival of 2014 at Nathan Phillips Square outside Toronto City Hall

   Cheers, eh!

   Here’s a cool way to toast the New Year in style with the “hottest” ticket in Niagara.

   The 19th annual Niagara Icewine Festival pays homage to the nectar of the frozen grapes with its gala event on Jan. 10 from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Fallsview Casino Resort’s Grand Hall in Niagara Falls.

An outdoor bar, carved out of ice, is a popular spot at the Niagara Icewine Festival.

   It will transform the room into “an evening of luxury and opulence,” said Kimberly Hundertmark, executive director of the Niagara Grape and Wine Festival.

   The 2014 Xerox Icewine Gala is themed “A Bacchus Evening of Icewine and Revelry.”

   It will provide guests with “Canada’s largest showcase of VQA (Vintners Quality Alliance) icewines and table wines, and culinary creations that are as delicious as they are beautiful,” she added.

   There will be 40 wineries showcasing 150 icewines and table wines for sampling while the casino resort’s chefs will prepare five “unique culinary stations to tantalize the palate.”

   As well, there will be artisanal cheese to savour from the Dairy Farmers of Canada. Live entertainment and a silent auction cap off the festivities. Tickets cost $185.

New Year’'s Eve skating party at Harbourfront Centre

Media Advisory

Dec. 31, 2013

Free skating, live DJ, delicious food and more!

 

TORONTO, ON (Dec. 27, 2013) – Harbourfront Centre to host New Year’s Eve Skating Party at The Natrel Rink, Dec. 31 from 10 a.m.-2 a.m

Bundle up and celebrate New Year’s Eve on Toronto’s most scenic outdoor rink. Enjoy a full evening of free skating, music, late-night snacks and family-friendly fun. Skate and helmet rentals available.

What : New Year’s Eve Skating Party
When : Dec. 31, 2013 from 10 a.m.-2 a.m
Where : The Natrel Rink at Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay West, Toronto, M5J 2G8
 
Additional Details:

• Two-for-one skate rentals after 10 p.m.
• Live DJ spinning music from 8 p.m. – 1 a.m.
• Scenic firepits
• Lakeside Local Bar & Grill New Year's Eve menu; 'Wing Thursday’ $22.50 for a pitcher of beer and 1lb of wings

For additional information and complete event listings, please visit harbourfrontcentre.com or call 416-973-4000.


ABOUT HARBOURFRONT CENTRE
Harbourfront Centre is a Canadian charity operating the 10 prime acres of Toronto’s central waterfront as a free and open public site. We celebrate the multiplicities of cultures that comprise Canada and enliven the city through the creative imaginations of artists from across the country and around the globe.

'Tis the season for a little pampering at Shizen Spa

(News Release)

With the cold dry weather on the horizon what better way to treat yourself than a well-deserved spa day?

Skyline Hotels & Resorts’ spa brand, Shizen Spa has the solution to perk up your winter.

Whether you’re looking for a day trip in town or are hoping to incorporate the spa into your winter wonderland adventure, we’ve got a treatment to suit your needs.

 Cosmopolitan Hotel

Looking for a romantic getaway that’s not too far away? Cosmopolitan Hotel has your staycation covered. With couples spa packages like the Winter Rendez-Vous for two retreat which includes a private tub soak, a 60 minute relaxation massage and an energizing scalp treatment starting at $295 per couple, the Cosmopolitan and Shizen Spa have your romantic getaway squared away. Looking for the perfect holiday gift idea? Get your loved one a Shizen Spa reloadable gift card.

The ROM’s exhibition of 19th-century Indian photographer closes January 12, 2014

Between Princely India & the British Raj: The Photography of

Raja Deen Dayal

                                                                         

(Toronto, Ontario, December 23, 2013)  - The engagement of Between Princely India & the British Raj: The Photography of Raja Deen Dayal, closes at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) on Sunday, January 12, 2014. The exhibition, which is on display in the ROM’s Level 3, Hilary and Galen Weston Wing, is presented in association with The Alkazi Collection of Photography, New Delhi.

Portrait of Raja Deen Dayal by staff photographer E. Craig, April 1904, Gelatin silver print, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Courtesy of the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusetts, PH81.91

Between Princely India & the British Raj: The Photography of Raja Deen Dayal was a feature exhibition in the Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival, Field of Vision, and highlights the photographic work of Raja Deen Dayal (1844-1905), one of the most renowned photographers in 19th-century India.

Toronto Zoo is closed Tuesday due to ice storm cleanup

 

Please be advised the Toronto Zoo will remain closed, Tuesday, 2013-12-24, due to the ongoing site maintenance caused by the ice storm. We apologize for any inconvenience and encourage everyone to stay safe.

Check torontozoo.com for updates.

*Please note, the Toronto Zoo will be closed on Wednesday, 2013-12-25 as per the Zoo's operating hours.

Toronto Zoo is accredited by CAZA (Canada's Accredited Zoos and Aquariums). Look for this logo whenever you visit a Canadian zoo as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. For more information, visit www.caza.

Trace Adkins, Joy Behar among entertainment added to Seneca Casinos' winter lineup

Pink Floyd tribute act The Machine and country star Travis Tritt coming to Salamanca

NIAGARA FALLS AND SALAMANCA, N.Y. – Something for everyone is in store for the remainder of Seneca Casinos’ winter entertainment lineup in 2014. Just announced for Seneca Niagara Events Center is longtime talk show host and comedian Joy Behar on February 15 and country superstar Trace Adkins on March 22.

Seneca Allegany Events Center announces a value-priced general admission performance by The Machine, a globally-touring Pink Floyd tribute act, for President’s Day weekend on February 16 as well as country singer-songwriter Travis Tritt on March 8. Three new acts also are booked for the Bear’s Den Showroom in Niagara Falls, including Austrian-Italian heartthrob Patrizio Buanne on Valentine’s Day.  

Disney characters heat up the ice; skiers on a magic carpet, fall for Falls' New Year's Eve and Santa at sea

   One-Tank Trip for Dec. 21/13

   (c) By Jim Fox

   The Disney characters take to the ice in Toronto and London, skiers can go on a magic-carpet ride, fall for the New Year at the Falls and join Santa at sea on Lake Ontario.

   Disney for the holidays

   “High-flying jumps, daring acrobatics, breathtaking skating and lovable Disney friends are just a wish away,” publicist Beth Merrick says.

   It all happens as Disney On Ice presents Princesses and Heroes now through Dec. 29 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. disneyonice.com

Snow White (Lauren Anderson) wishes for the day her prince will come in Disney on Ice: Princesses & Heroes. (Photo: Feld Entertainment Inc.)

   “Watch in awe” as the dreams of Cinderella, Belle, Snow White, Rapunzel and Tiana come true.

   The show has Ariel yearning to explore the world above the waves and Prince Eric breaking Ursula’s slithering spell to reclaim his true love.

   Prince Philip battles the evil Malificent as she transforms herself into a fire-breathing dragon in a race to rescue Sleeping Beauty's Aurora.

Celebrate New Year's Eve at Seneca Niagara Casino

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND MIDNIGHT BUFFET

New 18+ gaming space, The Mezz, also provides fun for young adults

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. – Ring in the New Year with a party like no other at Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel in Niagara Falls USA.

There is something for everyone, including an affordable midnight buffet with exquisite dining at the reinvented Thunder Falls Buffet, live entertainment, and non-stop fun on a newly-redesigned gaming floor that will “wow” thousands of fellow partiers.

Young adults aged 18 to 20 can also experience the thrill of gaming at The Mezz, an 18+ nonalcoholic gaming area on the mezzanine balcony of the gaming floor. Finally, the excitement leading to 2014 also builds in dramatic fashion at Seneca Niagara, as a packed schedule of live entertainment will fill the casino during New Year’s Eve weekend.

Toronto Zoo weekly feature - Thursday, 2013-12-19 - Holiday visits

JOIN US THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

 

The Toronto Zoo is open 364 days a year and is the destination for winter adventure!

The Toronto Zoo has so much to offer, even in the cold, including six warm tropical pavilions full 

 of exotic animals at every turn, daily keeper talks and 10 km of scenic winter trails. Plus, don't forget to see Er Shun and Da Mao as they enjoy their first Canadian winter.

Boxing Day Treats Trek - HALF PRICE ADMISSION - Admission proceeds on this day will go to support the Toronto Zoo's Endangered Species Reserve Fund.

December 26, 2013

Tis the season for giving, so bring a non-perishable food item and enjoy HALF PRICE ADMISSION for everyone all day this Boxing Day! Join us to see our animals receive some festive treats from 9:30 am-3:30 pm.CLICK HERE for more information and a schedule.  

Hockey Nights at Le Centre Sheraton Montreal

(News Release)

December 20, 2013 – Le Centre Sheraton Montreal has the perfect holiday gift for hockey fans with an enticing package throughout the hockey season. With its close proximity to the Bell Centre, there is no better place to stay for hockey fans!

The hotel is offering a Hockey Exclusive package for any Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday home game through the end of the season.

This offer lets hockey fans stay like VIPs during the stay with two tickets for the game in the Red Section at the Bell Centre for the night of their stay.

Starting at $799, guests will receive, luxurious accommodation in one of the Vice Presidential suites at the hotel, special access to the 37^th floor Sheraton Club for breakfast and evening hors d’oeuvres and a special welcome amenity upon arrival.

Weather forecast – At VIA Rail Canada it’s business as usual

Montréal, December 20, 2013 – At this time, VIA Rail Canada’s trains have not been affected by the winter weather across certain parts of the country.

Although the Corporation continues to operate according to its regular schedule in the Québec City - Windsor corridor, in Western Canada and in the Maritimes, some delays caused by the weather may be expected.

However no cancellations are foreseen. VIA Rail encourages Canadians to use caution when travelling.

Enjoy free public skating over the holidays in Orillia

(Dec. 20, 2013) – The City of Orillia is offering free public skating at Brian Orser Arena and Rotary Place this holiday season.

With the help of numerous community partners, the City’s Parks, Recreation and Culture (PRC) Department is opening its two arenas for families to enjoy free skating at various times from Friday Dec. 20, 2013 to Sunday Jan. 5, 2014.

New design launches December 20th with a BOGO sale on all access snow Ttckets

BARRIE’S HORSESHOE RESORT LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE

 

BARRIE, ON, December 20, 2013 – Horseshoe, a Skyline Resort is celebrating the launch of its new responsive website with a one-day BOGO sale on All Access snow tickets on December 20. The new site features a fresh look, brand new webcams, user-friendly navigation and an intuitive design that’s aligned with the Skyline Hotels & Resorts brand, just in time for the start of ski season.

“With mobile capability, webcams and up-to-the-minute weather conditions, the Horseshoe website has never been more user-friendly,” says Sean Billing, General Manager of Horseshoe Resort. “Guests can easily pre-plan their stay with us using our e-store to purchase passes and lessons in advance of their arrival.”

In celebration of the re-launch, guests who buy an All Access snow ticket will receive the second one free. Horseshoe’s All Access snow tickets give guests the opportunity to explore all the snow sports there are to offer at Horseshoe Resort including snowshoeing, Nordic skiing, downhill skiing and  snowboarding (not including rentals), plus the Red Horse Express tubing park*.

Everybody Get Up! Robin Thicke to perform at Casino Rama

RAMA, ON – Casino Rama is thrilled to welcome Robin Thicke to the renowned Entertainment Centre stage in the New Year.

Thicke's hit "Blurred Lines" has been widely acknowledged to have been the hit worldwide, topping the charts in the United States, Canada, Australia,New Zealand, Ireland, Spain, Germany,

the Netherlands, Poland and the UnitedKingdom, as well as the top ten in Belgium, Denmark, Lithuania, France, Iceland, Italy, Portugal and Switzerland.

Thicke has established himself as one of the most respected singer-songwriters in soul and R&B music today having released his sixth studio album Blurred Lines this past July.

ONCE - Performances through January 5 at the Royal Alexandra Theatre‏

ONCE Tour Company © Joan Marcus

WINNER OF 8 TONY AWARDS, INCLUDING BEST MUSICAL

ONCE

Based on the 2007 Academy Award-winning film

Music & Lyrics by Academy Award Winners

GLEN HANSARD & MARKÉTA IRGLOVÁ

Book by ENDA WALSH

Direction by JOHN TIFFANY

Movement by STEVEN HOGGETT

Music Supervision and Orchestrations by MARTIN LOWE

Scenic and Costume Design by BOB CROWLEY

Lighting by NATASHA KATZ

At the Royal Alexandra Theatre, Toronto

ONCE, winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical and winner of the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, is in a strictly limited engagement until January 5 at the Royal Alexandra Theatre.

ONCE, which was also named Best Musical by the New York Drama Critics Circle, Drama Desk, Drama League, Outer Critic Circle and Lucille Lortel Awards, is currently running on Broadway at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre where it started performances on February 28, 2012 and opened March 18, 2012.

New Year's Eve and the giant pandas at the Toronto Zoo

Tuesday, December 31, 2013   Ring in 2014 with some NEW animal friends and join us as we help "Er Shun" and "Da Mao", our giant panda pair, celebrate their FIRST New Year's Eve in Canada! The polar bears were always bragging about how much fun New Year's is at the Zoo and in Canada, so "Er Shun" and "Da Mao" wanted in on the fun in true Zoo-fashion.   Giant pandas are listed as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Endangered Species. It is one of the most endangered species internationally, with approximately 2,000 left in the wild. The Toronto Zoo works closely with other zoos that have giant pandas to expand the numbers needed for scientific research and collaboration efforts.   The 11th Annual New Year's Eve Family Countdown  BUY YOUR TICKETS TODAY! Front Entrance, Australasia Pavilions, Tundra Trek & The Giant Panda Experience 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm (doors open at 4:45pm) and Parking is FREE! The fun begins at 5:00 pm and runs until 8:00 pm when we have our very own Kids' Countdown!

Seneca Niagara Casino revamping balcony area for younger patrons

The Mezz opens December 26 to adults 18 and older

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. – With the $26 million renovation of its main gaming floor nearly complete, officials at Seneca Niagara Casino are now focusing on a new presentation that will offer gaming and entertainment excitement to a new group of potential customers.

Starting Dec. 26, 2013, the balcony area overlooking the main gaming floor will open to customers 18 years of age and older.

Dubbed “The Mezz,” the area will continue to offer a wide selection of the latest and most popular slot machine offerings, just as it has for most of the casino’s 11-year history. In order to accommodate younger guests, the area is being walled off so those entering and leaving the area will be required to show identification. No alcohol service will be provided in The Mezz.

ROM's BIG news: The Harris Gallery of Textiles & Costume's BIG has been extended

Now on: Mesopotamia: Inventing Our World. Coming soon: The Forbidden City: Inside the Court of China's Emperors.

(News Release)

BIG news to share….

The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is pleased to advise of the extended engagement of BIG, the current installation in the Patricia Harris Gallery of Textiles & Costume on Level 4 in the Museum’s Michael Lee-Chin Crystal.

Originally scheduled to close in Fall 2013, BIG can now be seen until Sunday, January 26, 2014.

A stunning display, BIG is exclusively drawn from the ROM’s collection of nearly 50,000 textiles and costumes. Showcasing 40 artifacts from around the world, this unique exhibition includes objects assuming their BIG status in a myriad of ways.

With some objects publicly displayed for the first time, the installation offers a fresh, new way of exploring the ROM’s renowned collections.