Things to do in Ontario
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A
Ripley's Believe It or Not
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B
Guinness World of Records Museum
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C
Golf Course
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D
Northbound Leather
Don't let the wholesome name fool you. Though Northbound does deal in standard coats and jackets, the specialty here is fetish wear and fantasy fashion for men and women. If you just can't get enough, the showroom on the 2nd floor carries home decor items such as ottomans and floor coverings.
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E
Kangas
If you're looking to be pampered you've come to the wrong place. Think BYOB, as in 'bring your own bathing suit.' Well, actually, beer works too - Friday night at Kangas is a well-established social event. The saunas are private and can be hired for up to five hours, so go it alone, or grab a 'conference room' for you and your 'associates.'
Even if you're not in the mood to get steamy, Kangas has other amenities that might pique your interest: a public hot tub, a delicious dining area, tanning booths and even a hair salon.
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F
Royal Alexandra Theatre
Commonly known as the 'Royal Alex,' this is one of the most impressive theaters in the city. Expect renditions of plays like Tennessee Williams' Orpheus Descending and splashy Broadway musicals.
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G
Matador
Matador is a hard-to-believe club just west of Ossington Ave and Little Italy, where there’s been late-night dance-floor chaos for more than 40 years. Shuffle in under the rusty ballroom sign for live bands playing honky-tonk and classic rock. It’s alcohol-free, but if you’re up this late, chances are you won’t need any more.
reviewed
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H
Stray-Cat Sanctuary
A bizarre, little-known quirk worth seeing is the Stray-Cat Sanctuary, with dollhouse-like shelters. It's on Parliament Hill between the West Block and Centre Block, toward the river. Some say, loftily, that it represents the Canadian ideal of welcoming and caring for the world's needy, but then again, maybe it's just nutty.
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I
Big Bop
There's always a bellicose crowd of goths, bad-ass metal fiends and hardcore hard-heads pacing around outside this venue. Upstairs Holy Joe's is a groovy little room made for acoustic shows, while serious indie bands plug in at the 2nd-floor Reverb. The ground-floor Kathedral stage also has low-cover acts, and a dance floor.
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J
Friendly Stranger
Need a baking pan for your pot-leaf-shaped cookies? The Friendly Stranger – where customers and salesclerks alike all seem equally amicable – carries a wide array of pot paraphernalia as well as hemp clothes and accessories. Leaflets stating the facts on illegal substances line the front wall.
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K
Wanda's Pie in the Sky
Be prepared for flexibility when ordering, since daily specials advertising a healthy half-sandwich with soup or salad ($7) sell out faster than you can get in the door. A sugar rush is guaranteed by one of Wanda's fantastical dessert creations, maybe a slice of Ontario sour cherry or Niagara peach pie.
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L
Lee's Palace
Legendary Lee's Palace has set the stage over the years for Dinosaur Jr, Smashing Pumpkins and Queens of the Stone Age. Kurt Cobain started an infamous bottle-throwing incident when Nirvana played here in 1990. You can't miss it – look for the primary-colored mural that seems to scream out front.
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M
Healey’s
The 300-capacity Healey’s has an idiosyncratic lineup of rock, blues, soul and roots. Swing by when owner Jeff Healey, a Canadian music icon, audiophile and radio DJ, gets up on the stage with his house band. Tuesday open-jam nights and Saturday muso matinees are free.
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N
Lion on the Beach
An expansive pub that spills out onto The Beaches sidewalk (lyin' on the beach – geddit?). A respectably long beer list and hearty pub grub (tex-mex, bangers and mash, fried rainbow trout) keeps everyone occupied. Kids run around between people's legs.
reviewed
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O
New Dubrovnik
Try something different at this quaint family-owned Croatian restaurant south of downtown. Sample a variety of Eastern European favorites like Dalmatian veal, a lightly breaded escalope served with ham, cheese and fresh vegetable sauce.
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Hogtown Extreme Sports
Diehard extreme sports addicts might want to stop here to marvel at the selection of skate and snowboarding gear, clothing and accessories, as well as bikes of every variety. Bike and snowboard tune-ups are also done on location.
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Q
Sweetgrass Aboriginal Bistro
Usually, you would have to travel to a distant reservation to sample bannock, corn soup or elk. This unique aboriginal kitchen will save you that grueling $200 train ride, so why not leave an extra-big tip.
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R
Gusto
Go for the Gusto and enjoy a hearty Italian meal between trickling fountains and a cavernous wine cellar. The effervescent ambience falls somewhere between 'modern trattoria' and 'medieval Tuscan villa.'
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S
Europe Bound Outfitters
Mountain bikes and tandems with helmets from $30 per day.
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