Finding Love In Toronto through Date Planning and

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The Pilot Grill - Live Jazz every Saturday and Sunday at 3:30 p.m.
2008-01-20 11:28:00
  It was 1944 when "The Pilot Grill" opened its original location, 800 Yonge Street on the west side, just north of Bloor Street. The Pilot's distinct name was meant to be a tribute to the heroic flyers of World War II. After the war ended in '45, The Pilot became known as an artists' bar and was a favorite hang-out for the Spadina Eleven and a host of artists from nearby Isaac's Gallery and Carmen Lamanna down the street. The Pilot remained a steady presence through the sixties as Yorkville developed into the hub of Toronto's hippie community. 1972 brought the move to our present location at 22 Cumberland Street, just one block north. Legend has it that when the actual move took place, a group of Pilot regulars physically carried the classic Art Deco-style bar around the corner to its new home. read more
More About: Jazz , Sunday , Live , Saturday , Price

Chalkers Pub - Jazz performances every Sunday from 7-10 P.M.
2008-01-18 19:45:00
  Established in 1992, Chalkers is your destination for a great Pub, Billiards, and Bistro experience, where adults can wine, dine, dance and have fun. Chalkers provides high quality food, drinks and entertainment for social gatherings in an upscale, yet casual environment. read more
More About: Jazz , Performances , Sunday , Price , Ambiance

Celebrate Love with Molly Johnson
2008-01-16 08:49:00
From the Music Hall's website:  "The world's greatest love songs will be sung by some of Canada's greatest voices, accompanied by top-flight musicians. Celebrate Love is the brainchild of musician, producer, broadcaster and impresario Andre Craig, and is the realization of a decade-old dream: to create a Valentine 's Day event so compelling and beautiful that it would draw fans back year after year. read more
More About: Johnson , Olly

Nights of Fire
2008-01-12 07:57:00
From the City of Toronto website for their Wintercity Festival Experience the enchantment of Nights of Fire , magically created by Cie Carabosse, France's acclaimed fire art troupe in Toronto for their North American premiere. Fuel the flames of your imagination as you wander among intricate sculptures of metal, clay and fire that will transform Nathan Phillips Square into a wonderland of warmth and light. The gentle illumination of the entire square will unfold over three hours as clay pots are individually lit until 1500 burn in unison, radiating heat and reflective beauty across the urban landscape.Haunting musical performances will accompany the fire installation, delicately enhancing the magic and wonder of the flames. read more

Spelling Bee the musical
2008-01-11 23:15:00
By Bill Rosenfield No one can predict where a musical comes from. Classic novels and popular movies have been sources, and real life experiences have found themselves musicalized – but a Spelling Bee ? Well, why not? For Bill Finn, it began with a phone call from his friend, playwright Wendy Wasserstein, whose weekend nanny had been appearing in a comedy troupe called The Farm on the Lower East Side.  An improvised piece that the group performed, entitled C-R-E-P-U-S-C-U-L-E, seemed to her to be the perfect gem for a musical comedy. After watching a videotape of it, Finn agreed. With the enlistment of Rachel Sheinkin, they set about developing the piece originally conceived by Rebecca Feldman, into a full-length fully developed show. read more
More About: Musical , Valentine , Performing Arts

Free Oscar Peterson Memorial Concert
2008-01-11 12:24:00
There is a memorial concert celebrating the life of Oscar Peterson at Roy Thompson Hall on Saturday, January 12, 2008, at 4 p.m. (doors open at 3 p.m.). Peterson, who died at the age of 82 on December 23, 2007, was one of the world’s best-known and most influential jazz pianists.  A fellow Torontonian, Peterson was awarded the Order of Canada in 1973 and earned seven Grammys during his music career. read more
More About: Concert , Free , Memorial , Oscar Peterson

sticky fingers & holiday fun
2007-12-21 11:01:00
Rating:   2/4 Flags As an adult, there is something about allowing yourself to get messy that indulges your inner child or, if you prefer, holds an innate opportunity for tactile pleasure. And getting messy is coupled with that intriguing feeling that you are doing something you are not supposed to be doing.   read more
More About: Reviews , Holiday , Fingers , Icky , Tick

Walking the PTL Line
2007-12-19 09:30:00
By Anthony Peter Just to clear up any confusion, by ?PTL? (part-time lover), what I am actually referring to is what most of us would otherwise call the ?F-buddy? (I refrain from using the actual expletive, but we all know for what infamous word that letter stands). Over the years, as the figure of the part-time lover has become a celebrity in its own right and been portrayed across many media forums, there have been many pieces of advice written on how to make it easy, breezy and?well, you know the rest. Naturally, when I found myself at a recent PTL fork (a semi-infamous ?f? word) in the road, I decided to take a little stroll of my own? all in the name of a writer?s research duty, of course. And while I?ve had some success in the past, it turns out the PTL line is not always such an easy one to walk. read more
More About: Advice , Walking , Line

The Twelve Days of Cookies!
2007-12-18 12:09:00
The nip in the air calls for cozy fare? Dates filled with mitten-clad hand-holding and cold-nose canoodling are peaking their (chilly) heads. Although it?s a delight to go together to visit your favourite barista and pay him/her (too) many dollars for two delicious, hot and steamy drinks, you can easily save yourself a little cash by heading home and getting hot and steamy by yourselves. read more
More About: Recipes , Cookies , Days , Twelve , Cookie

THAT?S AMORE
2007-12-13 05:37:00
I have always thought that the way people eat, and what they eat, really says a lot about them.  Not to underestimate the fine delicacy of French foods, but frogs? legs just aren?t my thing. Blame it on my delicious Greek heritage, but my idea of something that should be on a plate is not a something with very little meat that used to hop. Or quack. I enjoy a nice Mediterranean meal. Nutritionists have agreed that these dishes, often made with healthy olive oils and tomatoes, contain anti-aging qualities that keep a person looking not only healthier but younger.  Don?t you want your date to hold on to every strand of hair he can, while he can?  Don?t you want to keep that fine line from becoming an un-fine, infinite road that gives your face expressions you didn?t even know you were feeling?  Stick with me on this one, kids, and you?ll be glad you did; to avoid any further author-bias-induced reader irritation, I?m going to suggest you introduce your date to the ...
More About: Amore

Calling Sushi Lovers & Lesbian Writers
2007-12-06 06:57:00
Sushi Delight Rating:   2/4 Flags Tucking into a cup of miso soup at Sushi Delight on Danforth, I discussed healthy pleasures with Chris Fraser: talented writer, OISE Grad student, and facilitator of the eight-week course Story Bowls: A Writing Group for LGBT Women. Chris is a skilled teacher; I attended her Memory Threads; Memoir Writing for Women and found it a space where I felt inspired, engaged, supported, and safe to indulge my healthy pleasure. read more
More About: Reviews , Lesbian , Japanese , Lovers , Writers

Painting Pleasures at Beyond the Pale
2007-11-26 08:02:00
Opportunities to engage in activities we love are everywhere. Toronto is filled with places to go and things to do that can motivate us to make time to indulge in healthy pleasures for both our partners and ourselves. But just what are ?healthy pleasures,? and why are they so important? In the answer to the first question lies the answer to the second: simply put, ?healthy pleasures? are the things that drive our passions, make us whole, and bring us back to ourselves. We hear much about the factors that create a balanced lifestyle, such as good nutrition, adequate rest, and regular cardio, but I think healthy pleasures are a sometimes underestimated, crucial part of this balancing act. Whether it is cooking, dancing, painting, collecting coins, walking in the park, or yoga, these pastimes are tools to help us reduce stress, relax us, and motivate us. This week, if some quiet time with a paint brush and palette is your bowl of cherries, and if a little brush stroke might be exactly ...
More About: Health , Painting , Pale

Escape from Wintertraz
2007-11-25 19:50:00
By Anthony Peter I try with my will of steel not to be too hard on winter, but most years as it approaches, I very quickly begin to feel that I?ve already had my fill of it. There is truth in the sentiment that a Canadian winter has its own many splendors; however, it can also sometimes leave us feeling like we?ve been locked away on an Alcatraz Island of cold, ice and desolation, without any possibility of parole. By now, most of us have accepted that the summer is gone and that there is no avoiding the long winter ahead, and even though lately it?s been more reminiscent of spring outside, we are wise Canadians and not so easily fooled, right? We know that, any day now, we are sure to awake to an icy white scene,* one that looks so beautiful- that is, until January or February, when suddenly that scene begins to leave a bad taste more like the same old mash and beans on a tray, and to feel like ?lights out? at ten (or, in reality, lights out at five). But there may yet be hope. W...
More About: Escape

Blondie
2007-11-23 09:20:00
By Jonathan Rotsztain Sexual, savvy, suave, smart and swank. These are just a few of the ?s? words that come to mind when I think of Deborah- formerly Debbie- Harry, past and present front-woman of Blondie and all-time solo artist in her own right. Pop-culture aficionados are well familiar with her story, but just for posterity?s sake? Coming out of the New York Punk/New Wave scene of the late 1970s? early 1980s, and establishing themselves underground at the legendary CBGBs (along with the likes of the Ramones and the Talking Heads) and around the world with a series of hits, Blondie are the pop-rock superstars responsible for era anthems ?Call Me,? ?Heart of Glass,? and my personal favourite, ?Rapture.? Deborah/Debbie was the look and sound that made it happen, and this weekend she?ll remind you why. read more

Puddin? for Your Puddin?
2007-11-19 05:51:00
Nothing says ?comfy, cozy, late autumn night in? like a bowlful o? puddin?. A relative of custard, this creamy concoction has been a part of the North American palette for, well, ever. However, at one time (think: days when jousting was popular, you were ?m?Lord? or ?m?Lady,? and castles were the chic place to live), puddings were mostly meat-based. You know? your average head cheese pudding.* read more
More About: Recipes

Loblaws Cooks up Healthy Pleasures?Upstairs
2007-11-16 19:13:00
Rating:    (¾ Flags) We so often neglect healthy pleasures, and yet they are essential to maintaining a well-balanced lifestyle. Cooking is one of the best ways for me to fire up my passion. Shopping for fresh ingredients, turning on some music, and then chopping, mixing, and stirring away allows me to focus on a single, enjoyable task. Consequently, stress melts, submerged in tastes, textures, and colours, and with a delicious reward. Cooking makes me feel that I am creative, confident, and caring for myself, and it is even more energizing when I am cooking for someone else. But what about when I really need some extra motivation? read more
More About: Health , Healthy , Cooks , Heal

Do They Know It?s Christmas?
2007-11-16 06:57:00
By Jonathan Rotsztain (The Bay Christmas store front in Toronto) ?Tis the season coming soon. While thus far this year (as of my writing this article) a major snowfall has yet to whiten our streets and blanket our hearts with the glistening glow of winter, yuletide greetings are in the air as festive decorations deck the halls and annoying commercials remind us that familial cheer comes at a high price. So, Ho-ho-ho and Merry Christmas- Love in Toronto-style- as I outline this weekend?s roster of creatures stirring and Oh-what-fun-it-is-to-ride community events and concerts that will have us all kissing under the mistletoe, and getting down to warm up by the fire. Dayglo Lightsaber Battle In many cultures, a festival of lights marks the coming of winter: think Hanukkah, Diwali, and Kwanzaa, to name a few. In multicultural Toronto, what better way to mark the sun?s setting at 4:35pm than our very own pan-cultural Lightsaber Battle? Brought to you by interactive public art in...

Say ?GIDDY-UP? to Horseplay!
2007-11-14 22:05:00
BY: EFFIE STAR The latent sexual innuendo is unavoidable in this frisky and fun date idea: go riding!  Ladies, throw on some skinny jeans and flat booties, and enjoy the au naturel aromas and sounds of your next romantic date: horseback riding ?pour deux?! Make arrangements at one of the many horseback riding trails just an hour outside Toronto, remembering to book according to your level of expertise. He?ll be relieved that you can enjoy nature, and you?ll be intrigued by his ease with it.  Unlike a racing bet, a horseback riding date will ring in a sure win-win. The bonding you and your date will experience will stretch beyond the day of fresh air, a nice long drive, and riding because you have shared an experience more unique and secluded than the much adored, yet sometimes repetitive, dinner for two. read more

The Laws of Ex-pectations
2007-11-10 22:47:00
by Anthony Peter It has been said that ?Men are from Mars? and ?Women are from Venus,? which to me has always been an interesting metaphor. While I do agree it often appears that men and women operate very differently, I?ve always been more inclined to believe that identity is not so easily boiled down to gender, but rather always dependent upon the individual person. Maybe I?m one-part crazy to believe this, and maybe not. However, when it comes to  love, relationships, and dating, I think it matters not what planet one is from, whether galactically male, female, younger, older, straight or gay, but what laws one follows on one?s own personal planet of love. And with so many planets circling, I think there is one question to which I?m especially certain my own personal philosophy applies: Is it ever okay to make a play for a friend?s ex? read more
More About: Advice , Laws

Food on the Table and Foot in Your Lap
2007-11-10 11:03:00
Taking a slight detour from the land of sumptuous edible fare and romantic outings, I turn my attention to more home-grown delicacies. Going out for date is just one way couples- gay and straight- make time for each other and improve the relationship they share. Getting and staying healthy, together, is one of the most important things couples can do to address each other?s mental, emotional, physical, spiritual and sexual well-being.  As a Heath Practitioner and Reflexologist, my journey down this healing path begins with the foot and a picnic on the living room carpet. read more
More About: Health , Food , Table , Foot

Jully Black
2007-11-08 04:31:00
By Jonathan Rotsztain Toronto is a city of great talent and promise. Case in point: Jully Black . Touring to promote her second album, Revival, and its emerging hit single ?Seven Day Fool?, Black shares a story of great challenge, perseverance and triumph. And it sounds great, too. If you?re looking for a night out, taking in well-crafted songs, skilled musicianship, and real pathos, then set your sights on Jully Black live at the Mod Club, this Friday, November 9. You?ll be in love at first listen. read more

Sony Centre to break the world record for the biggest Christmas stocking
2007-11-07 03:15:00
Will you and your partner be in the Toronto area this Thursday November 8th from 12pm - 4pm?  If so, remember to stop by the Sony Centre (formerly the Hummingbird Centre) to donate a large unwrapped gift to be placed inside this giant stocking.  In return, the first 1500 guests who donate will each receive a complimentary ticket to the November 22nd performance of Irving Berlin's White Christmas .  For a brief description about the event, see the exerpt from the Sony Centre's website below, but be sure to read the full article here:  http://www.sonycentre.ca/news.php?chosen_ top_nav=about_us&chosen_sub_nav=news# news_13 read more
More About: World , Performing Arts , World Record

Drama at the Lakeview Lunch
2007-11-05 03:11:00
Rating :   ½ a Pride Flag Well, diners, I can honestly say that my experiences thus far have been at least satisfactory? until now. Heading to the Lakeview Lunch , a gay-friendly and partially gay-staffed restaurant, I was anticipating a large, well-rounded breakfast like one I had enjoyed there before. Instead, on a busy Sunday morning, a large group of my friends and I were left at half-mast on all counts- food, service, and ambience- and the ordeal continued rolling downhill from there: drama, drama, drama. read more
More About: Drama , Dram

When Peanut Butter Met Nutella
2007-11-05 00:13:00
I had some friends over for dinner recently. Sometimes, that?s just the kind of night you need: easy and relaxed, with great food, great company, and great conversation. After dinner, we somehow got to talking about peanut butter, which then led to Nutella , which then led to the big realization (and horror for them) that I had never, in fact, had a peanut butter and Nutella sandwich.  To you, readers, I?m sure this is a shocking admission because I?ve professed in this very column my addiction to chocolate-peanut butter ice cream. What can I say? read more
More About: Advice , Peanut , Butter

How to Buy Tickets
2007-10-31 08:13:00
By Jonathan Rotsztain During the past few months, I?ve shouted at you, letting y?all know what shows to see, where, and when. Over the weekend, the thought dawned on me that perhaps my particular- and oft peculiar- taste is not exactly in sync with LoveInToronto.com?s general readership, nor should it be. Music is the universal language, but it is also deeply personal and highly individual. With that logic in mind, I present to you my primer on how to find out about shows and buy tickets for anything and everything that our multicultural, cosmopolitan metropolis has to offer. read more
More About: Tickets , Tick

Ultimate Frisbee for exercise and meeting singles!
2007-10-30 14:25:00
If you're looking for something different from your regular singles meeting spots, why not try signing up to play Ultimate Frisbee ? read more
More About: Exercise , Singles , Meeting

Candy Coated Desire?s
2007-10-28 10:00:00
-by Anthony Petur Usually there?s a little voice inside your head that rings off like a beacon when you?re about to do something or possibly considering doing something that you know you probably shouldn?t. I remember exactly the pitch and decibel level sounding as I nervously pocketed a package of Popeye Shredded Chewing Gum. And how its bellowing ring afterwards left me feeling awful and on edge, even though I confess I did still enjoy the gum. Now much older I find the beacon indeed still rings, but the candy has definitely changed. There are many tasty choices lined along the shelves, but sometimes the most desirable piece can be the one with the most expensive and dangerous price tag?especially if it?s also the one you really shouldn?t be reaching for. read more
More About: Advice , Candy

The Dyke Does Three?s Company
2007-10-26 06:56:00
I don?t know what I expected down at Pape and Danforth when I went over to Three?s Company , but the place certainly did not match what came to mind. The shag carpeting and yellow, brown, and orange design palette stereotypically indicative of the seventies were nowhere to be found. Instead, a friend and I were greeted with a clearly thought-out space in what looked like a former diner. Still, it was warm and inviting, filled with locals like a pub, and dressed up with a little casual elegance. The main wall was warm maroon with lovely black and white photography; the opposite wall was a celery-green, which worked well and with the open-air kitchen, refinished furniture, and beaded candleholders. Overall, the place had a shabby-chic charm about it. read more
More About: Reviews , Dyke

Club462 is a new online dating site!
2007-10-26 06:35:00
For those looking for a new dating website with social appeal, check out Club462's website. What's interesting about this place is that it changes the way that you meet people online by influencing conversation over reading profiles. Right now, you can sign up for a free profile and get yourself started for free access throughout the entire site until December 31/07, when prices will start at about $10/month (see website for details). So if you're interested in meeting people that you'd get to chat with immediately without having to send emails, this is a dating site you should consider checking out! read more
More About: Reviews , Dating , Online Dating , Site , Online

Control - the rise of Joy Division
2007-10-26 06:13:00
Is your singing voice a different octave than your speaking voice? Perhaps you are 'Bass Baritone'? I'm not sure but I think Paul Potts is a Bass Baritone. What exactly is a BASS BARITONE VOICE? Ian Curtis, the lead singer of Joy Division had a Bass Baritone voice. That is to say his singing voice shared certain qualities of both the baritone and the bass. You can really hear those qualities in the hit song: Love will tear us apart, again. read more
More About: Control , Rise