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Downtown Toronto, Entertainment, Family Vacations in Toronto, Toronto Family Travel, Toronto History

Toronto Art and Culture

July 29, 2016

If your idea of the perfect day is spent within the walls of a museum or an art gallery, contemplating the creative works of humanity, then you’ll love Toronto. A destination in Canada when it comes to the quality and diversity of Toronto art and culture. There’s an impressive abundance of great museums, galleries and much more – so here are some Toronto art and culture attractions to check out if you are visiting and staying in your furnished rental. Or, better yet, be a tourist in the city you live in!

The Art Gallery of Ontario

Let’s start with the main art institution in the city – the Art Gallery of Ontario aka the AGO. It is one of the biggest art museums in North America and is housed within a cutting edge building designed by architect Frank Gehry. This impressive gallery features a collection of works that totals over 80,000, including paintings, sculptures, drawings and photographs by artists such as Richard Serra, Andy Warhol, Cindy Sherman and Brian Jungen.

Casa Loma

Now a museum, this Gothic Revival house and gardens in Toronto was built as a residence for the incredibly wealthy financier Sir Henry Mill Pellatt in 1911. The castle-like architecture seems strangely out of place in a Canadian city and at the time it was built it was the largest private residence in Canada. Sir Henry imported several artisans from Europe to design Casa Loma, taking his inspiration from castles from across the pond. Take a tour of this fascinating building and imagine what life would be like enjoy its lavish excesses, including a pool, three bowling alleys and an oven large enough to cook an ox.

Angell Gallery

Since it opened in 1996, Angell Gallery has been known for representing cutting edge artists who take bold risks in their work. You’ll see a wide range of thought provoking work in several different mediums including painting, sculpture, video art and digital art.

Stephen Bulger Gallery

Founded in 1994, this gallery has an impressive collection of over 15,000 contemporary and historical photographs. Several international and Canadian photographers are represented, including Sunil Gupta, Pete Doherty and Jeff Thomas. Make sure that you check out the gallery bookshop, which has over 3,000 titles on photography.

Black Creek Pioneer Village

History buffs will love this historic village, carefully recreated to depict life in early Ontario in the 1800s. It’s an opportunity not just to see history, but to smell it, taste it, hear it and experience it first-hand. Within the 40 restored heritage homes you will find artisans and costumed interpreters recreating the lifestyle of the early settlers.

Daniel Faria Gallery

Located within a converted warehouse in Bloordale Village, Daniel Faria Gallery is a contemporary art space that has exhibited some of the biggest names in Canadian Art. The gallery showcases work from some superb Canadian artists including Kristine Moran, Chris Curreri and Shannon Bool.

These are just a few of the art and history attractions you can enjoy for Toronto art and culture.

Business Travel, Downtown Toronto, Entertainment, Lifestyle talk

TGIF – Best Toronto Bars on a Friday Night

March 18, 2016

Nothing moves slower than the minute hand on the clock when you are waiting for your shift to end and the weekend begin. Even if you love your job, Monday to Friday is a long time to spend in the office and when your workday is over you will be in the mood to kick back with a few beers in a chilled out atmosphere.

So what are some of the best Toronto bars where you can celebrate the beginning of the weekend and have a fantastic Friday night? Here are a few great options:

The Bottom Line

Meet your buddies at the Bottom Line at Front and Yonge, which is a very popular spot for the after work crowd on Fridays. It is located in the Financial District of Toronto only steps away from Union Station or your furnished apartment at 300 Front Street West, so the location couldn’t be more convenient for an after work drink if you are working downtown. Watch the sports games on the big televisions and enjoy a beer and a snack – you’ve worked hard this week so you deserve it!

Hemingway’s

This chilled out patio bar and restaurant features live music from 10pm every Friday night, so it’s the perfect place to relax at the end of the week. It has a great outdoor area and on a sunny Friday afternoon you will see plenty of Torontonians hanging out and soaking up the sunshine. It’s named after the famous writer of course, who we all know loved to drink in his time.

The Horseshoe Tavern

The Horseshoe Tavern is one of the most well-known bars in Toronto and a long standing favourite in the nightlife scene. Since it opened in 1947 several fantastic bands have graced the stage on a weekend, from Blue Rodeo to The Police to Stompin’ Tom Connors, The Strokes, the Rheostatics, Joel Plasket and the Barenaked Ladies. Usually the chilled out front bar is where you will hear the lesser known acts, while the back bar hosts the major big name acts.

Track & Field

Bring your friends to this fun bar and you can enjoy the top notch selection of cocktails while playing lawn games, such as Bocce Ball. Mixologist Jesse Borg serves up drinks that are just as delicious as their names are cheeky.

These are just a few of the best Toronto bars to check out on a Friday night, so that you can unwind from the week and get the weekend off to a great start!

Business Travel, Fitness and Health, Lifestyle talk

How to Be More Productive on a Business Trip

March 15, 2016

Productivity thrives on routine. Many people find themselves most productive when they set up a routine, good habits and a working environment that benefits them. However, when you are on a business trip and you are in different surroundings it can be difficult to stay productive.

Here are some tips that you can keep in mind to be more productive on a business trip:

Business Trip Productivity Tips

Make sure that you have some work that you can do without being connected to the internet, such as emails you can write offline or word documents you can work on. If you are stuck in transit without a Wifi connection you can still be getting work done.
If you have established routines at home that help you stay productive, such as waking up at a certain time and getting energized with a session of yoga, bring these routines with you on your business trip whenever possible. These simple things will remind you of a normal working day and will help you to become more productive no matter where you are. Whether you are staying in a furnished rental in Toronto or apartment, the building amenities are available for you to take advantage of including fitness centres or swimming pools.
Being productive starts with planning, so create a list of goals and objectives you intend to accomplish during your trip and then break them down into smaller and more manageable tasks.
Get as much sleep as possible. You are much less productive when you are tired, so turn off the television and get to bed early when you can.
Make the most of the hidden pockets of time that happen throughout your business trip. You can listen to informative podcasts while waiting for the train, get some work done on your laptop while in transit and make business calls while walking from your furnished apartment to the conference centre.
Use apps to your advantage. There are many apps that are designed to help busy people be more productive and get more done. Here are a few that you might find useful.
Think strategically about keeping your electronics charged up, so that you won’t have to waste any valuable working time because you don’t have any battery left. Many airports and train stations will have plugs and charging stations, so keep up your battery topped up when you can.
Staying in a furnished apartment rather than a hotel can really help you be more productive. You’ll have a separate working and sleeping area, so you won’t have to sit on the bed while you work like you would in a small hotel room.

Being efficient on the road can be a challenge, but with these tips you can be in your most efficient state when you are on a business trip and get lots of work done!

Business Travel, Lifestyle talk, Relocation

How to Reduce Stress on A Business Trip

February 1, 2016

Sometimes going on a business trip can be a tiring and stressful experience. There are plenty of meetings and conferences to attend, work to catch up on in transit and big networking functions to attend – by the end you might need a break just to recover from it all! However, there are ways that you can reduce stress on a business trip. Here are some helpful tips that you can keep in mind:

Tips to Reduce Stress on a Business Trip
• Prepare in advance for as much as possible. There are many factors that you can’t control, but those you can control can be taken care of with advance planning. You can figure out the details, such as how to get from the airport to your accommodation, so that you don’t have the added stress of figuring them out on the fly.
• Check in early. Many airlines allow you the option to do this online and it will save you a lot of time at the airport, making your trip smoother and more enjoyable.
• Pre-book your transport from the airport to the hotel.
• Pack as little as possible. If you can pack only hand luggage (on a short trip) you will be able to get in and out of the airport much more quickly.
• Have some offline work that you can do so that you can make the most of the time when you are waiting around in transit but you are not connected to the internet.
• Pack clothing that can be easily mixed and matched, so that you don’t have to think too much about coordinating your outfits when you are attending meetings and functions.
• A furnished apartment or extended stay in Toronto can be more beneficial than staying at a hotel. You’ll have the advantage of being able to prepare your own food and do your own laundry, which will save money and be more convenient. Also, you’ll have a separate living space where you can do work, rather than having to answer work emails from your bed in a cramped hotel room.
• Make sure that your short term rental has free WiFi before you book. It’s an important feature for a business traveller and you don’t want to have to go out to a coffee shop just to get a bit of work done.
• Don’t forget to give yourself time to relax and exercise. Many business travellers forget or neglect this, but it’s very important. Physical activity can help to reduce elevated stress levels that are caused by travel or working long hours. A swim in the pool or a workout at the gym can be the perfect antidote to business trip stress.

These are just a few ways that you can reduce stress on a business trip and keep yourself from getting overwhelmed and exhausted. On your next business trip you can be prepared and organized, travel as efficiently as possible and take time to relax and enjoy the journey.

Community Events, Downtown Toronto, Entertainment, Lifestyle talk, Toronto Family Travel

Fun Things to Do in Toronto this Winter

January 13, 2016

Toronto is a great place to be during the winter! The fun doesn’t stop when the streets freeze over and this bustling metropolis knows how to make the most of the coldest months of the year. If you are visiting Toronto during the winter you’ll have plenty of things to do and thats close to your furnished apartments Toronto, whether that means outdoor activities that embrace the snow and cold to indoor activities that will keep you cozy and warm.
Here are some ideas of fun things to do in Toronto this winter:

Cross Country Skiing
There are many nature trails in Toronto that look absolutely magical when they are covered with a dusting of snow. You can bundle up, strap on some skis and take a tour through some of the best trails in the city. Earl Bales Park and Ski Dagmar is now open. Why not bring a thermos with some hot chocolate and a few snacks so that you can stop in the peaceful, quiet snowy forest for a winter picnic?

Late Night Skating
Although many of the outdoor rinks in Toronto are closed by 10pm, there are a few rinks that are open until late at night so why not bundle up and go for a midnight skate? Try the rink at Nathan Phillips Square or the Ryerson Rink on Gould Street. Skating can be a lot of fun and it’s a great workout, so you can indulge in some late night snacks afterwards without any guilt.

Go to a Museum
If you want a break from the bitter cold, you could spend the day within one of the many excellent museums in Toronto. For example, the Royal Ontario Museum is home to a massive collection of artworks and historical items from all over the world. Or, you could visit the fascinating Bata Shoe Museum, which is home to a collection of over 13,000 footwear items.

Go Shopping
Another way to get out of the cold is to take advantage of the amazing shopping scene in Toronto and pick up gifts for all of your loved ones. Toronto is home to the Eaton Centre, which is full of many great high street brands and unique designers. Also, check out the St. Lawrence Market where you will find many unique antiques, books and handicrafts.

Drinks on a Heated Patio
Torontonians love to enjoy a drink on an open air patio and thanks to large heaters and covers they have found a way to do this all year round. Relax in the laid back atmosphere of a heated patio bar such as El Catrin, the Drake SkyYard, The Cadillac Lounge, Hemingway’s or Cold Tea and enjoy a drink in the fresh air without freezing.

These are just a few of the fun things to do in Toronto this winter that you can do when visiting. This exciting city never stops, even during the coldest months of the year, so get out there and enjoy its lively vibe!

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