Toronto: the good, part 2 part 2
So I am feeling a bit more inspired today, as having eliminated my afternoon coffee has somewhat helped my sleeping habits. And what better than to pretend to be working by writing a blog entry? :-D I'm also beginning to think that I just like writing "Toronto: the good" a lot (even though the nickname is not quite so true anymore...what with all the gun-related murders last year! eek).
Anyway, last night I went Swing dancing with some friends at a downtown bar called the Reservoir Lounge. There was a Swing dancer there from Chicago who is staying with some other swing dancers from Toronto while he looks for a job here, and as we chatted it came up that in Chicago people rarely dance to live music. As it turns out, Toronto is pretty fortunate in that we are spoiled with lots and lots of live music all the time! And relatively cheap too! In Chicago, for a DJed dance event, they can pay up to 15$ USD, whereas last weekend we danced to a fantastic live band in a great dance hall for only $12 CAD. And this isn't the only example, there are several bars here where you can dance it up along with great music.
Not only that, there are quite often music festivals here: Downtown Jazz Festival, Beaches Jazz Festival, African Drum Festival...all summer long there are things to do, and great bars like The Rex or Montreal Bistro to go see as well. There are a fair amount of musicals to go to as well, with many great ones getting their start here (I think a really successful Show Boat started here, and that new one based on the Lord of the Rings started here, and I do remember the first time Les Miserables came out that the Toronto one had a great reputation). From what I've heard, we also have a really good Hip Hop and RnB music scene as well. The only things missing are good opera, and a world class symphony orchestra...and I don't think the Toronto Symphony Orchestra is that great.
Toronto is definitely a good place for music.
I think I'll go make some tea now.
ciaociao brown cow.
GS
Anyway, last night I went Swing dancing with some friends at a downtown bar called the Reservoir Lounge. There was a Swing dancer there from Chicago who is staying with some other swing dancers from Toronto while he looks for a job here, and as we chatted it came up that in Chicago people rarely dance to live music. As it turns out, Toronto is pretty fortunate in that we are spoiled with lots and lots of live music all the time! And relatively cheap too! In Chicago, for a DJed dance event, they can pay up to 15$ USD, whereas last weekend we danced to a fantastic live band in a great dance hall for only $12 CAD. And this isn't the only example, there are several bars here where you can dance it up along with great music.
Not only that, there are quite often music festivals here: Downtown Jazz Festival, Beaches Jazz Festival, African Drum Festival...all summer long there are things to do, and great bars like The Rex or Montreal Bistro to go see as well. There are a fair amount of musicals to go to as well, with many great ones getting their start here (I think a really successful Show Boat started here, and that new one based on the Lord of the Rings started here, and I do remember the first time Les Miserables came out that the Toronto one had a great reputation). From what I've heard, we also have a really good Hip Hop and RnB music scene as well. The only things missing are good opera, and a world class symphony orchestra...and I don't think the Toronto Symphony Orchestra is that great.
Toronto is definitely a good place for music.
I think I'll go make some tea now.
ciaociao brown cow.
GS
posted by a bike rider in the big smoke at 11:45 a.m.
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