Hues of Spring Afternoon Tea at Shangri-la Toronto Hotel: Thursdays to Sundays, until May 11

The most exquisite Afternoon Tea of the season has arrived at this luxurious hotel. With an overall blush pink theme, the chefs here have created a most memorable experience, including arriving tableside to create a picture-worthy sweet finish. Begin with a glass flute of Prosecco or a non-alcoholic Raspberry Fizz. Then, choose a fresh brewed pot of tea from the curated menu (the Shangri-la Signature Tea is a favourite!) before the delightful selection of savoury and sweet arrives. Each morsel is freshly made in-house using the freshest ingredients. The presentation is also meticulous and breathtakingly beautiful. As always, our much loved scones are part of the three-tiered sweet arrival. Don’t miss the house-made preserves! There’s also live music – a lovely way to enjoy the season. Reservation required.

Luxurious Spring Epicurean Getaway: Shangri-la Toronto Hotel

For an unforgettable spring retreat, the hotel also offers two unique experiences designed for culinary enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike. Guests can book The Epicurean Getaway— a two-night stay with daily breakfast and an exclusive shopping expedition at the historic St. Lawrence Market led by an expert chef, followed by a three-course dining experience at Bosk, embracing the Rooted in Nature philosophy. The second experience is a Heli Adventure in Niagara package that offers a scenic helicopter ride over Niagara Falls and the wine region, and a three-course meal at Peller Estates Winery, paired with the winemaker’s selections before returning to Toronto.

SakuraFest at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre: 6 Sakura Way, until May 11

The first ever SakuraFest has begun with an incredible line up of live performances, film screenings, art demonstrations and workshops, culinary experiences, tea ceremonies, family-friendly events and more. The festive celebration honours the cultural and seasonal significance of Sakura through the lens of Japanese heritage, tradition, artistry and community. Yes, there are Cherry Blossoms happening early May on the grounds surrounding the JCCC! See our complete write up here.

Hanami “Flower Viewing” during Cherry Blossom Season:

Part of enjoying the views of cherry blossoms is gathering with friends and family to admire and even bring some snacks to enjoy together. Bring your picnic blanket and food under the blossom canopy. We recommend ordering up the beautiful Sakura boxes from Hello Nori to take with you. Wondering where to go? High Park is always a favourite. The paths to the trees are limited to pedestrian use only during the busy spring season. Other great spots include Centennial Park, Spencer Smith Park, Birkdale Ravine, and Trinity Bellwoods Park.

Jane’s Walk: May 2 to 4

This annual community-building tradition honours the legacy and work of Torontonian Jane Jacobs –  a journalist, urbanist and activist whose writings championed a fresh, community-based approach to city building. She saw cities as ecosystems that had their own logic and dynamism, which would change over time according to how they were used. She wrote eloquently about sidewalks, parks, retail design and self-organisation. At the core of her work and thinking was the need to get out and walk your city and observe how people, through their actions and interactions, create communities with a strong sense of belonging.

Jane’s Walk was founded in 2007 as a community-led way to honour and commemorate her work. Today, thousands of people worldwide take part in this annual event. Volunteer-led walking tours help to make spaces for people to observe, reflect, share, question, and re-imagine the places in which they live, work and play; giving agency to and championing the voices of everyday people. You can find the Toronto list here.

Evergreen Brick Works: ongoing

Explore one of our favourite urban spaces this spring by joining in one of their free public tours, shop the Farmer’s Market, admire the wildlife and creatures in their natural habitat (do so peacefully without disturbing or feeding, please), food vendors, and visit the public gardens. Visit their garden centre to discover and bring home what’s ready to plant in your very own garden oasis. You can access the Lower Don parkland for a hike as well.

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Opening night of King Lear was as ominous as The Bard’s much celebrated work; dark skies threatened a storm brewing in the distance. For me, this added to the drama in a most glorious and ironic way.

Director Alistair Newton transformed the classic King Lear into Queen Lear, a welcome interpretation that replaces a megalomaniac male with a feverish female tyrant. For me, watching the maternal love between mother and child break down gave the production a new intimacy during the monarch’s demise. Diane D’Aquila’s Lear is, for a large part, in some ways as void of femininity as Shakespeare’s original, until her decline when mother becomes child, and then mother once more.

Alas, here a woman ruling a man’s world is twice as savage to compensate…and D’Aquila excels in playing the heartless sovereign, a lot like Shakespeare’s own queen, Elizabeth I. With calculating Goneril and ruthless Regan, it’s easy to see where the two princess get their pitiless personalities. It is actually very enjoyable to watch a production where merciless killings are pretty much all enacted by females. Even Edmund, the conniving bastard son of the Earl of Gloucester, was given an effeminate makeover, rendering testosterone pretty much defunct in the path for ultimate power.

It wasn’t all just Slytherin doom, gloom and eye gouging; there was some comic relief from Jenni Burke as the countess of Kent and some classic one liners and sassy face fanning from the Fool.  Good ‘ol Shakespeare can be trusted to add some much needed laughs to a tragedy!

There was some pleasing use of levels and some regal designs fine tuned in to the performance in what was otherwise a reasonably sparse piece in terms of set design. Like in Shakespeare’s own time, the bodies on stage were pretty much solely relied upon to tell the story.

Yes, the performance was very enjoyable, but in all honesty the biggest draw to the production for me was its setting. Watching the sun set against the backdrop of live theatre, and hearing the distant howling of wild animals in the park brings something pretty special to the experience. It somehow felt more alive than if I were sat comfortably on a cushioned flip chair in a black box studio.

This season of Shakespeare in the Park mark’s Canadian Stage’s 35^th year in residence at High Park. With a Pay What You Can admission, the inclusive ethos of this Toronto summer tradition is well worth supporting and basking in.

King Lear runs in rep with Twelfth Night until September the 3^rd, with King Lear taking the reins Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evenings at 8pm. See the full schedule here.

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Well, if you have no cottage to open up and you’re looking for what to do in the city, here are a few fun suggestions…

LOBSTER CLAM JAM: Cabana Pool Bar , 11 Polson Street, (May 20 & 21). Admission $25. Free admission for kids 12 and under. Food & drink tokens not included. Over 20 restaurants involved in this outdoor food fest. The Food Network recognizes this as one of the top food festivals in the world. The festival features notable chefs and establishments from the city in this epic setting with a stunning view of Toronto’s skyline.  Originally started in Quebec, it’s now coming to Toronto. Not just seafood! There will also include meat, fish and veggie available as well as a Mojito bar and beer bar. Family friendly with kids activities as well. DJs all day to keep your family moving. Mmmm….lobster rolls!

GET OUT OF TOWN: ROM Friday Night Live party. (May 19). Admission $17. It’s a British invasion at the Royal Ontario Museum with this 19+ party that includes access to the ROM exhibition halls be sure to check out The Family Camera (part of the Scotiabank Contact Photography Festival), live music with Wannabe (Spice Girls tribute band) and HIGHs, DJs in several spaces including DJ Intrinity a Red Bull thre3style DJ and WayHome Festival artist, activities, cash bar and local food vendors on site.

CULINARY ONTARIO FESTIVAL: Ontario Place (May 19-22). Free admission. enjoy food, wine and beer from vendors across Ontario. A shipping container village will feature a farmer’s market. Enjoy live music and art installations while enjoying the outdoor space. Jarvis Church performs on Saturday night. Various exhibits and activities planned including cooking lessons, healthy lifestyle demos, and a choreographed Drone Show.

FAMILY NATURE WALK: Wild Wetlands of High Park, (May 20, 1:30  pm to 3:00 pm). Free with suggested donation $2-$5 per person. Meet at the benches across the road from Grenadier Restaurant. Then explore the wetlands of Toronto’s largest pond. Learn how the wetlands play an important part in the city’s ecosystem and what creatures are hanging around the area.

WILDLIFE RESCUE: Ontario Science Centre (opening weekend). General admission $22 for adults, $13 for children 3 to 12 years old. Senior/student rates also available. Take a journey to Africa and Indonesia at the Return of the Wild theatre to learn about the people who successfully raise and release young elephants and orangutang back to the wild. Explore the Species Recovery Centre. Discover techniques used to teach young animals survival skills. This eye-opening interactive exhibition will inspire kids and adults alike.

TEA AND TOUR: Montgomery’s Inn, 4709 Dundas Street West, Etobicoke. First come first serve. Admission $7 plus tax. Enjoy a pretty afternoon tea to celebrate Queen Victoria’s day and then explore the museum with a complimentary guided tour of this historical inn. Montgomery’s Inn is one of 10 historical museums operated by the city of Toronto. Built in the 1830s by the Montgomery Family it’s a wonderful example of Late Regency architecture.

HarbourKIDS: CIRCUS Harbourfront Centre. (May 20-22) Free admission. Holly Treddenick and Adam Lazarus of Femmes de Feu have partnered with the Centre to fill the site with all sorts of contemporary circus fun. Performances, demos and interactive activities will stretch your imagination in this wonderful world of creativity. We’ve got our eyes on “A Dinner Party Gone Awry” with Illuminator Entertainment aerialists who host a dinner in the sky…on a chandelier!

CELEBRATE WORLD FIDDLE DAY: Aga Khan Museum, 77 Wynford Drive (May 20, 10 am to 10 pm). See site for admission price list. From two stringed Er Hu  to the kamancheh, learn and enjoy one of the world’s most loved instruments in all different forms. Start by attending the various workshops, enjoy a free afternoon jam session, stay for the buffet supper ($20 per person), and then take in an evening concert as the sunsets.

ARTFEST Toronto: Distillery District Spring Art & Craft Show (May 20-22). Free admission. Come early as it will be crowded on these cobblestone laneways. Enjoy the outdoor show and sale by Canadian artists and artisans (paintings, photography, sculpture, jewellery, fine food purveyors, home decor and other fine crafts). Be entertained with live music throughout the day. Also check out the Artfest Kids Create & Learn zone (11 am to 6pm)  for some hands-on art activities — kids can explore Canada’s scenic landscapes with watercolours, experiment with collograph printing techniques to create your own Canadian Flag.

What will you be doing for Victoria Day long weekend?

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Toronto photographer Leo Li sent us this great capture from High Park in the morning. Check out his page for more of his images from around the city.

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During a visit to the Toronto Archives, I stumbled upon a fascinating collection of vintage photographs showcasing Torontonians skiing from the early 1900s to the 1940s. I am excited to share these historical snapshots with our readers that offer a unique glimpse into the city’s past winter activities.

One of the most intriguing aspects of these photographs is the fashion. Unlike today’s specialized skiing attire, early 20th-century skiers often wore collared shirts, buttoned-up with ties, reflecting the formal fashion norms of the era. This juxtaposition of formal attire and winter sportswear is both amusing and enlightening.

Moreover, these photographs provided insights into the social aspects of skiing in Toronto. The Toronto Ski Club, formed in 1924, stands out in the historical narrative. By 1940, it had grown to become the world’s largest local ski club, boasting over 7,000 members. This fact highlights the popularity and community spirit surrounding skiing in Toronto during that period.

I invite you to explore these archival photos and join the conversation on our social media channels. Share any interesting observations or tidbits you notice – we’d love to hear from you!

See more vintage skiing photographs on the Toronto Archives.

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