What's new and happening in Toronto (2018)

TORONTO – Re-connect with Toronto, Canada’s Downtown, as the ever-changing city gears up to add new hotel and restaurant openings, new tours and experiences to its winter line-up.

Read through our latest What’s New for a full list of updates and happenings around Toronto.  

HOTELS

Hotel X Toronto will open March 1^st. Hotel X Toronto, the only property in Exhibition Place; will be a unique lakefront urban resort bringing a cutting edge mix of hospitality, sports and entertainment. Located just inside the iconic Princes’ Gates and opposite the Enercare Centre, Hotel X Toronto is divided into three buildings: the 30-story Hotel Tower, TEN X TORONTO, and the historic Stanley Barracks. The property’s sports and entertainment concept along with a garden setting and lake views create an unparalleled environment for visitors and locals alike.

In late 2018 the luxury-boutique Adelaide Hotel Toronto will become Canada’s very first St. Regis Hotel following a brand-focused enhancement program. Soaring 65-stories in the heart of downtown Toronto, this AAA Five-Diamond Award winning hotel places guests moments from the city’s premier attractions, landmarks, theaters, prestigious shopping, and renowned festivals such as The Toronto International Film Festival. Later this year, the Starwood Preferred Guest hotel will unveil a bold new era of exquisite luxury and style with reimagined public areas, spa, and food and beverage outlets. The redesign will reflect the St. Regis brand’s enduring legacy while infusing the timeless allure, which has defined the hotel collection since its founding by John Jacob Astor IV over a century ago.   

The Hilton Mississauga/Meadowvale has undergone significant renovations over the past few months, with more planned for the future. The property is just off the 401 highway on Mississauga Road and is close to shopping, the airport and a 25 minute train ride into the city for those who are looking to stay on the outskirts. They have the largest indoor water slide in the GTA (Big Blue), as well as an outdoor pool.

After recently finishing a multi-million dollar renovation complete with premium amenities, the Delta Hotels by Marriott Toronto Airport & Conference Centre (formerly the International Plaza Hotel + Conference Centre Toronto Airport) offers a new contemporary look and style  and chic rooms with a new streamlined design, which allow guests the essentials needed for both business and leisure stays. In-room bottled water and free Wi-Fi are just a few of the many standards now in place at the Delta Toronto Airport. A new destination bar and restaurant has also been added to the lobby for the ultimate travel experience. Lot41 Social Bar & Table offers eight taps, an eclectic and unique wine list, an extensive offering of sharing plates and professional mixologists to entertain.

With a completely new look after a $15 million renovation, the DoubleTree by Hilton Toronto Airport has been revitalized and now features a new dining experience, Turtle Jack’s Grill & Bar. The DoubleTree by Hilton Toronto Airport was previously the Travelodge Toronto Airport, and is owned and operated by Manga Hotels.

The Embassy Suites by Hilton Toronto Airport (formerly the Quality Suites Toronto Airport) will soon be joining the Hilton Portfolio of Brands and is accepting reservations as of February 10, 2018.

Unveiling in February, the Hilton Toronto has redone their signature floor, featuring uniquely designed rooms and suites by Canadian designer Sarah Richardson.

RESTAURANTS

Pic 6ix is Drake’s new restaurant, which is slated to open in February. It’s described as a sports bar without the sports bar menu.  Headed by Chef Antonio Park, the menu features 30 items including a raw bar that does seafood platters, sushi and sashimi, and highlights a variety of flavours such as Mediterranean-style, Latin & Korean.

Opened in November 2017, The Civic is the main floor dining room in the new Broadview Hotel.  The cuisine is derived from historical menus, executed with a contemporary twist. The graceful restaurant setting is reminiscent of the building’s architectural pedigree, courtesy of the original brick facade, factory glass windows, a stained wood bar, and a statuesque wine cellar featuring a robust selection of extraordinary wines.

Michelin Star Chef, Akira Back, opened his first Canadian restaurant in December 2017. Akira Back is located in the new BISHA Hotel & Residences in Toronto’s entertainment district. The restaurant features Japanese cuisine with Korean flavors, bold cocktails and signature dishes.  

Started by Chefs Michael Angeloni, Adam Teolis, Yannick Bigourdan and Dan Kennedy who also own Union Chicken together, Amano Pasta opened at Union Station amidst the transit hub’s major revitalization. Amano Pasta is the first sit-down, licensed restaurant at Union Station to open in nearly a decade. The highly-anticipated Italian-Canadian breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks destination with a modern grab ‘n go espresso bar, opened inside the lower level corridor by York Street.

CRAFT Beer Market Toronto opened on December 1^st in downtown Toronto. With 160 taps, CRAFT Beer Market is a premium casual restaurant with a passion for fresh local food and great craft beer. The CRAFT movement is a special recipe of sophisticated comfort food, unique craft beers and active community involvement. The beer sampling program, beer flights, presentations, food pairings and keg rooms tours provide guests with the true craft beer experience.  

The Cheesecake Factory opened its first location in Canada in the fall of 2017. Opening at the Yorkdale Shopping Centre, the restaurant features imported limestone floors, custom wood columns, hand painted murals and modern lighting décor. The full-service restaurant popular for its 50+ signature cheesecakes and desserts also brings its famous menu that includes pizzas, sandwiches, pastas, steaks, fish & seafood and Sunday brunch, all handmade, in-house with fresh ingredients.

PERFORMING ARTS

Back by popular demand, Come From Away, is returning to the Toronto stage February 13-September 2, 2018 at the

Royal Alexandra Theatre. The show centres around a remote town in Newfoundland, where it became the epicenter of a remarkable true story filled with unusual characters, unexpected camaraderie and uncommon generosity.

An American In Paris is the new Tony Award winning musical about an American soldier, a mysterious French girl, and an indomitable European city, each yearning for a new beginning in the aftermath of war. It comes to the Princess of Wales Theatre March 27-April 29, 2018.

The classic family musical Annie makes its long-awaited return to Toronto this spring, on stage at the Ed Mirvish Theatre

April 24-May 27, 2018. With its Tony award-winning book and score and memorable soundtrack it is a show to be enjoyed by all ages.

EXHIBITS & ATTRACTIONS

MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art):

·         After a nearly three-year-long absence from the city's arts and culture scene, MOCA will reopen on May 26, 2018. MOCA (formerly known as MOCCA – the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art) will be located on the first few floors of the Tower Automotive Building in the Junction Triangle and the new, 55,000 square foot purpose-designed home will be nearly three times larger than the space previously occupied by MOCCA on West Queen West. The museum will launch its programming with an exhibition called BELIEVE, in which 15 local, Canadian and other international artists explore the "beliefs and systems that inform our values and behaviours while touching upon some of the fundamental issues of our times."

The Bentway Skate Trail opened on January 6, 2018. The Bentway is a public space that transforms 1.75 km underneath Toronto’s Gardiner Expressway into a new gathering place stretching from Strachan Avenue to Bathurst. The skating trail is the first portion to open. The inaugural Winter Season at The Bentway will run from January 6 to mid-march, weather permitting. Ongoing winter programming will include free Monday night skate rentals, Friday night skate parties with a rotating cast of DJ’s, ice breaking (break dancing on ice) workshops and a skating village.

Art Gallery of Ontario:

·         The highly anticipated Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors exhibit comes to Toronto March 3-May 27, 2018. Infinity may be a difficult concept to grasp, but it is easy to contemplate when you step inside one of artist Yayoi Kusama’s iconic Infinity Mirror Rooms in the exhibition Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors. Rich with key works from the contemporary Japanese artist’s significant 65-year career, this major exhibition also shows the evolution of her immersive, multi-reflective installations, in which she invites you to share in her unique vision.

Aga Khan Museum:

·         Listening to Art, Seeing Music (January 20-April 22, 2018) is a unique, multi-sensory experience, as the Aga Khan Museum transforms into a world of music celebrating the living traditions of the Muslim world and their interaction with other cultures through time and space.

·         The World of the Fatimids (March 10-July 2, 2018) bears witness to a remarkable dynasty that built one of the world’s oldest universities, compiled one of its greatest libraries, and fostered a flowering of the arts and sciences. At its height in the 10th and 11th centuries, the Fatimids established one of the greatest civilizations in the world, influencing knowledge and culture throughout the Mediterranean, Europe, and the Near East.

Royal Ontario Museum:

·         ROM Friday Night Live returns to the Royal Ontario Museum on February 16: Lunar Love & March 23: Equinox. Experience the museum after dark with top DJs and indie artists, food and drinks and the opportunity to explore the exhibits.  

·         Wildlife Photographer of the year returns again. From December 16, 2017-March 18, 2018, one hundred all-new images from across the globe reveal fascinating animal behaviour, otherworldly marine scenes, and breathtaking landscapes—in ways the human eye might never see unaided.

·         Here We Are Here: Black Canadian Contemporary Art opens January 27. What is the Black Canadian presence and history in our country? Explore these ideas, and the issues of belonging, in the ROM original exhibition, Here We Are Here: Black Canadian Contemporary Art through the contemporary works of nine African Canadian artists. Challenge yourself to think differently about the deep-rooted histories and enduring presence of Black Canadians, gain a new and multifaceted understanding of Canada, through these unique and visually compelling installations.

·         The Royal Arts of Jodhpur, India is on March 9-September 2, 2018. From one of the largest former princely states of India set within the desert of Rajasthan, come intricate paintings, dazzling jewellery, meticulously-crafted textiles and sumptuous decorative arts. They tell stories of royal marriages, kingship, traditions, conquests and alliances in the kingdom of Marwar-Jodhpur from the 17th century to 1947. Eloquent in their own right, these objects also reflect the complex networks that encoded meaning into courtly life. Drawn from the superb collection of the erstwhile royal family of Jodhpur and the city's Mehrangarh Fort Museum, many of these treasures are on display outside their palace setting for the very first time

·         On December 12, 2017 the ROM reopened their heritage Weston Entrance on Queen’s Park. The ROM’s record-breaking attendance of over 1.35 million visitors over the past year underscores the important and growing role cultural institutions play in the community. The opening of the Weston Entrance provides an additional way into the Museum and allows the ROM to welcome more visitors from Canada and around the world.

Gardiner Museum:

·         A three-part installation by Yoko Ono entitled The Riverbed (February 22-June 3, 2018). Yoko Ono is a forerunner of Conceptual art, frequently involving collaboration, audience participation, and social activism in her artwork. Consisting of three parts—Stone Piece, Line Piece, and Mend Piece—visitors are encouraged to shape the installation through collaboration with the artist, the museum, and each other.

Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada:

·         In March 2018 Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada opens its newest exhibit, Curious Creatures. Step back in time and sail through the life of Robert Ripley (1890-1949), the iconic “Believe It or Not!” cartoonist, explorer, reporter, adventurer, and collector who travelled to 201 countries in 35 years seeking the odd, the unusual, and the unexplained. To celebrate the 100^th Oddiversary of Ripley’s first cartoon drawing, get ready to explore the new Curious Creatures exhibit.

TORONTO SPECIFIC

Throughout the month of February, three local graffiti artists will be creating murals to depict their vision around how Toronto comes alive at night during the winter season. The artwork will incorporate a glow-in-the-dark effect that allows the art to become illuminated at night. This is the first time that UV, “glow-in-the-dark” murals have been created in the city of Toronto. The illuminated murals can be only be seen in the winter season until mid- to late March.

Toronto has been designated a UNESCO Creative City of Media Arts. The City of Toronto and the Canadian Commission for UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) announced that Toronto is the first Canadian city to be designated a UNESCO Creative City of Media Arts for its leadership in film, music, digital media and forms of cultural expression using technology. Toronto joins the 116 existing member cities in UNESCO's Creative Cities Network (UCCN).

Air Canada announced new direct flights in 2018 from Toronto to: Omaha (May), Providence (May), Shannon (June), Zagreb (June), Porto (June), Bucharest (June), Buenos Aires (June). Air Canada is Canada's largest domestic and international airline serving more than 200 airports on six continents.  Canada's flag carrier is among the 20 largest airlines in the world and in 2016 served close to 45 million customers.

On December 17^th, 2017, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), Toronto’s transit system, opened 6 new subway stations along the Toronto-York Subway Extension. The $3.18 billion dollar project now takes commuters along the 8.6km stretch with additional stops at York University, Pioneer Village, Highway 407 and Vaughan Metropolitan Centre. 

ANNUAL EVENTS

Ice Breakers and The Waterfront BIA are converging for the second year on Toronto’s urban Waterfront with ICE BREAKERS, a temporary art exhibition. Running January 19-February 25, 2018, Ice Breakers will feature five wintertime art installations located on Queens Quay from Harbourfront Centre to the Toronto Music Garden.

Launched in early December 2017, Winter at Ontario Place showcases a Winter Light Exhibition, a new synthetic outdoor skating rink, skate rentals and sharpening, music, drinks and snacks on site, as well as a bonfire. It is open to the public 7 days a week and runs until March 18, 2018.

Winter Stations returns along Kew/Balmy Beaches this winter from February 19-April 1, 2018. Winter Stations is an annual international design exhibition showcasing the winners of the Winter Stations Design Competition to the backdrop of Toronto’s snow-swept beaches. Seven inspired designs from the US, Germany, UK, Netherlands and Canada contribute to the theme of RIOT - Violent disturbance; Uproar; Outburst of uncontrolled feelings.

TOURS

Brew Tours is launched its second Toronto tour on January 20, 2018, joining the popular Junction Jitney tour that was launched in 2017. The Westend Wallop makes brewery stops at Big Rock Brewery, Black Oak Brewing, Great Lakes Brewery, and Henderson Brewing, plus a meal and tasting at Refinery Public House.

About Tourism Toronto

Tourism Toronto is an industry association, with more than 1,000 member businesses, and the official destination marketing organization for Toronto, “Canada’s Downtown.” With sales and marketing programs in key markets around the world, Tourism Toronto promotes the Toronto region as a remarkable destination for tourists, convention delegates and business travellers. Tourism Toronto operates in partnership with the Greater Toronto Hotel Association and the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. For more information, please visit SeeTorontoNow.com.

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