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National Ballet Of Canada
Pirouetting joyfully in their new Four Seasons Centre home, the National Ballet actively commissions new and experimental works by choreographers from across Canada, the USA and around the world. Traditional ballets like The Nutcracker also get a run. Ask about Ballet Talk introductory lectures often given one hour before curtain time.
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National Film Board Mediatheque
Aiming to 'reconnect Canadians with their past, present and future on film,' the NFB has opened its vast collection of 3200 audiovisual gems to the public. Attend a low-cost (or sometimes free) film screening in an intimate, 80-seat cinema, or try one of the personal touch-screen viewing stations. Rare DVDs and videotapes are available for rent or purchase.
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Opera House
The old Opera House is an early 1900s vaudeville hall. Over the years rockers like The Black Crowes, Rage Against The Machine, Eminem, A Perfect Circle and Beck have all strutted out beneath the proscenium arch.
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Päaeez
The Apostrophe Police wouldn't approve of the 'Martini's' on the menu, but don't let a little wayward grammar stop you from slurping them down. Try a 2½oz 'Belvedere Beauty' (vodka, lychee liqueur, passionfruit juice and cinnamon; around C$11 ). Tapas helps postpone your alcoholic demise.
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Phoenix
The 1000-capacity Phoenix has occupied the former Harmonie Club, a grand ol' room that now sees the harmonious rock of bands like The Tragically Hip. Huge Superman and Wolverine murals might inspire your crowd-surfing efforts. Check the website for upcoming shows.
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Pilot Tavern
A pumping after-worker, The Pilot got its start during WWII, which explains the aviation-themed decor and why it calls the patio the Flight Deck - an airborne terrace amongst the office tower windows. Stop by for live jazz sets on Saturday and Sunday afternoons from .
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Princess Of Wales Theatre
Working in tandem with the Royal Alexandra down the street, the POW is also owned by Ed Mirvish. Book tickets for the splashy Broadway musicals playing here at the Royal Alex box office.
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Rebel House
Just north of Yorkville, rough-and-tumble Rebel House has 16 patriotic Canadian brews on tap, Ontario wines and well-trained chefs (yes, chefs) in the kitchen. Bend elbows with neighborhood drinkers beneath the ex-rebel dangling from the gallows on the sign.
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Red Room
The Red Room rules. Part pub, part diner, part funky lounge - this arty room is the place to drag your hungover bones for a recuperative pint of microbrew, an all-day breakfast (burgers, curries, pasta) and an earful of Stones, The Who and Led Zepp. Sink into a booth and forget your misdemeanors.
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Reds
Reds probably has the best wine list in Toronto (heavy on the reds) but it comes at a cost - prices start at around C$12 a glass. Still, if you feel like hobnobbing with the downtown moneymakers in sexy surrounds, Reds is for you.
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Remarkable Bean
A Beaches favorite serves up shepherd's pie and still-in-the-pan homemade desserts to go with your latte or maté (South American 'tea of life'). Snooty middle-aged guys who've retired too early clog-up the window seats.
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Republik
Resident DJs Lil Pete and Dave Campbell spin old-skool, drum 'n' bass, alt-rock and hip-hop at this massive club, divided into three rooms: the main club, the Vision Room and Toronto's largest smoking room (wheeze…). Friday's new rock and alternative nights take a more rockin', less pill-poppin' approach to life.
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Reservoir Lounge
This seductive supper club is jumpin' with swing and boogie-woogie - reservations are a must. If these bands don't get your feet tapping, you're probably dead. Decent Southern soul food is served, and the bartenders are famously friendly. You might bump into Prince, Nick Nolte or Tom Jones malingering in a corner.
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Rex
Make a bee-bop beeline for The Rex, which, courtesy of a three million dollar makeover, has risen from its pugilistic, blue-collared past to become an outstanding jazz and blues venue. Over a dozen different Dixieland, experimental and other local and international acts knock over the joint each week. Drinks are cheap, and the cover affordable.
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Rivoli
The everlovin' Rivoli offers a lot to the city, with nightly live music (rock, indie and solo singer-songwriters), weekly stand-up comedy and monthly hip-hop nights. CD launches and art shows and Saturday night DJs complete a very renaissance picture. There's also an upstairs pool hall, and the food is fabulous!
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Royal Alexandra Theatre
Commonly known as the 'Royal Alex,' it's one of the most impressive theatres in the city. It's amazing to think it almost became a parking lot in 1963! Expect renderings of plays like Tennessee Williams' Orpheus Descending, and mainstream fodder like Joan Collins and Linda Evans in Legends .
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Royal Cinema
The renovated Royal - a funky art deco Little Italy landmark - made a triumphant return to the Toronto alternative cinema scene in late 2006. Expect documentaries, second-run and repertory releases - anything from Monty Python to Hong Kong punch-'em-up flicks.
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Second City
Sharing its name with a comedy club in Chicago, the club's moniker dates from the days when each city was perceived to be playing second fiddle, Chicago to New York City, and Toronto to Montréal. But the 300-seat Second City is legendary, and many Saturday Night Live comics started here. Improv performances held after the last show ends are free.
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Silver Dollar Room
Crankin' electric blues and southern acoustic slide guitar reign supreme at the legendary Silver Dollar. Big-name touring acts from down south (Detroit, New Orleans, Chicago, etc) kick up ticket prices, sometimes above around C$30 on weekends, but there's no cover for mid-week bluegrass jams and Saturday afternoon shows.
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Slack's
Bridging the divide between gays, lesbians, urban cowboys and straights all searching for a little glitz, quasi-retro Slack's opens its gorgeous French doors and backlit bar to all-comers. An eventful monthly calendar features comedy shows, karaoke, drag shows, live music and art installations. The food's great too.
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Smokeless Joe
Buried below street level in Clubland, this narrow where-everybody-knows-your-name bar sells over 250 different types of beer (the menu is a book). Some of the rarest brews aren't sold in stores, so stop by for a pint or two. Or three. It was one of the first places in T.O. to ban smoking. Thanks Joe.
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Sneaky Dee's
Spangled with graffiti on the prominent Bathurst St/College St corner, Sneaky Dee's isn't so sneaky-looking. The downstairs bar has battered booths with skeletons painted on them; upstairs is a darkened breeding ground for new T.O. rock talent.
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Social
Industrial un-faced brickwork and exposed timber beams clash with zebra-print couches and neon at The Social, an old Mafia joint turned übercool bar. 'I can't believe they're playing that' rock from the '70s and '80s titillates the hipster crowd. DJs sporadically; closed Sunday and Tuesday.
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Sonic
NYC club mogul David Morales opened Sonic in 2006 with unprecedented hooplah and hype. Is it worth the astronomical cover charge? Well, if you like your clubs large, loud and gregarious and your clubbers minimally clad, then the answer is yes. Ohhhh yes.
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St Lawrence Centre For The Arts
The 880-seat St Lawrence Centre for the Arts functions as a second, larger venue for CanStage, and also hosts dance, classical and contemporary music, opera, operetta and musicals.
