The Extra Long Weekender: Disney on Ice, the Canadian Tenors and six other items on our to-do list
1. DISNEY ON ICE
Disney, that kid-friendly juggernaut, celebrates its 100 Years of Magic (okay) with an epic ice show featuring some of its most popular characters, like Pinocchio, Woody and Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story and Mickey and Minnie Mouse from, um, everything. Dec. 23 to Jan. 1. $15–$90. Rogers Centre, 1 Blue Jays Way, 416-870-8000, ticketmaster.ca.
2. THE CANADIAN TENORS: HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
The set list at this holiday concert by the Canadian Tenors—Victor Micallef, Clifton Murray, Remigio Pereira and Fraser Walters—promises to be heavy on the pop-classical originals and, of course, all the best carols. Tenorites will be excited to hear that they will be performing some songs from their yet-to-be-released album. This is the end of their North American tour, so if you haven’t seen them yet, now would be the time. Dec. 22 and 23. $49.50–$89.50. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St., 416-872-4255, roythomson.com.
3. ROMAN POLANSKI
Fans and haters alike will be interested to know that in anticipation of its December 30th screening of Roman Polanski’s latest effort—the Kate Winslet and Jodie Foster vehicle Carnage—the Lightbox will be showing some of the most famous movies of his five-decade career, including Chinatown and the Apartment trilogy: Repulsion, Rosemary’s Baby and The Tenant. Those willing to forget what they read in the newspapers may still be excited about this one. To Dec. 25. $12. TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King St. W., tiff.net.
4. SCIENCE ON THE GO
School’s out for the holidays, which means the kiddies, adorable as they are, will be under foot during the busiest days of the year. Keep them entertained—and out of your hair—with this hands-on program at the Science Centre. Kids aged three to eight learn about a topic and then do an experiment, art project or meet a live animal. This week, it’s bird watching and making a stained-glass feathered friend out of tissue paper. Seriously, your holidays are going to be packed, and this might give some parents some much needed relaxation. Dec. 24. $20. Ontario Science Centre, 770 Don Mills Rd., 416-696-1000, ontariosciencecentre.ca.
5. THAT WAS NOW (FREE!)
This quirky exhibit references various pieces of artwork throughout history and, if we’re lucky, we can expect something a little subversive this holiday season. In store, there’s some featured work from artists like Canada’s Diana Thorneycroft (referencing the Group of Seven), Israel’s Yuval Pudik (referencing a portrait of Queen Elizabeth) and Los Angeles’s Lizabeth Eva Rossof (mixing pop culture icons with the Chinese terra cotta warriors). To Feb. 6. Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen St. W., 416-531-5042, thedrakehotel.ca.
6. QUIDAM
This Cirque du Soleil performance features a lonely and bored young girl named Zoe who escapes into the magical world of Quidam, where she meets a cast of characters that includes the Target, the Aviator and Boum-Boum. Naturally, acrobatics, trapeze performance and contortion ensue, because this is a circus. To Dec. 30. $50–$115. Ricoh Coliseum, 100 Princes’ Blvd., 416-870-8000, ticketmaster.ca.
7. THE SECOND CITY’S DYSFUNCTIONAL HOLIDAY REVUE
While we love everything about the holidays, even we can get behind poking a little fun at the more ridiculous bits of the Christmas/Hanukkah/solstice/Festivus/Kwanzaa/New Year’s season. Luckily, so can the funny people at The Second City, who have come up with gut-busting sketches, songs, improv skits and jokes on exactly that topic. To Jan. 2. $22. The Second City, 51 Mercer St., 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.
8. CHRISTMAS TREATS WALK
Over-the-top retail adventures are fine for some, but this family-friendly event is our top Boxing Day pick. Get (sort of) up close and personal (it is no closer than usual—no touching is permitted) with the residents of the zoo’s Eurasian section, such as arctic wolves, arctic foxes and reindeer. Those not terribly tired or frightened from the wolves can journey along the Tundra walk , where you’ll get to see the red pandas, Siberian tigers and Bactrian camels enjoying treats. Hey, it’s the holidays, so they can let themselves go a bit, too. Dec. 26. $10. Toronto Zoo, Meadowvale Rd., North of 401, 416-392-5929, torontozoo.com.
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1. DISNEY ON ICE
Disney, that kid-friendly juggernaut, celebrates its 100 Years of Magic (okay) with an epic ice show featuring some of its most popular characters, like Pinocchio, Woody and Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story and Mickey and Minnie Mouse from, um, everything. Dec. 23 to Jan. 1. $15–$90. Rogers Centre, 1 Blue Jays Way, 416-870-8000, ticketmaster.ca.
2. THE CANADIAN TENORS: HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
The set list at this holiday concert by the Canadian Tenors—Victor Micallef, Clifton Murray, Remigio Pereira and Fraser Walters—promises to be heavy on the pop-classical originals and, of course, all the best carols. Tenorites will be excited to hear that they will be performing some songs from their yet-to-be-released album. This is the end of their North American tour, so if you haven’t seen them yet, now would be the time. Dec. 22 and 23. $49.50–$89.50. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St., 416-872-4255, roythomson.com.
3. ROMAN POLANSKI
Fans and haters alike will be interested to know that in anticipation of its December 30th screening of Roman Polanski’s latest effort—the Kate Winslet and Jodie Foster vehicle Carnage—the Lightbox will be showing some of the most famous movies of his five-decade career, including Chinatown and the Apartment trilogy: Repulsion, Rosemary’s Baby and The Tenant. Those willing to forget what they read in the newspapers may still be excited about this one. To Dec. 25. $12. TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King St. W., tiff.net.
4. SCIENCE ON THE GO
School’s out for the holidays, which means the kiddies, adorable as they are, will be under foot during the busiest days of the year. Keep them entertained—and out of your hair—with this hands-on program at the Science Centre. Kids aged three to eight learn about a topic and then do an experiment, art project or meet a live animal. This week, it’s bird watching and making a stained-glass feathered friend out of tissue paper. Seriously, your holidays are going to be packed, and this might give some parents some much needed relaxation. Dec. 24. $20. Ontario Science Centre, 770 Don Mills Rd., 416-696-1000, ontariosciencecentre.ca.
5. THAT WAS NOW (FREE!)
This quirky exhibit references various pieces of artwork throughout history and, if we’re lucky, we can expect something a little subversive this holiday season. In store, there’s some featured work from artists like Canada’s Diana Thorneycroft (referencing the Group of Seven), Israel’s Yuval Pudik (referencing a portrait of Queen Elizabeth) and Los Angeles’s Lizabeth Eva Rossof (mixing pop culture icons with the Chinese terra cotta warriors). To Feb. 6. Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen St. W., 416-531-5042, thedrakehotel.ca.
6. QUIDAM
This Cirque du Soleil performance features a lonely and bored young girl named Zoe who escapes into the magical world of Quidam, where she meets a cast of characters that includes the Target, the Aviator and Boum-Boum. Naturally, acrobatics, trapeze performance and contortion ensue, because this is a circus. To Dec. 30. $50–$115. Ricoh Coliseum, 100 Princes’ Blvd., 416-870-8000, ticketmaster.ca.
7. THE SECOND CITY’S DYSFUNCTIONAL HOLIDAY REVUE
While we love everything about the holidays, even we can get behind poking a little fun at the more ridiculous bits of the Christmas/Hanukkah/solstice/Festivus/Kwanzaa/New Year’s season. Luckily, so can the funny people at The Second City, who have come up with gut-busting sketches, songs, improv skits and jokes on exactly that topic. To Jan. 2. $22. The Second City, 51 Mercer St., 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.
8. CHRISTMAS TREATS WALK
Over-the-top retail adventures are fine for some, but this family-friendly event is our top Boxing Day pick. Get (sort of) up close and personal (it is no closer than usual—no touching is permitted) with the residents of the zoo’s Eurasian section, such as arctic wolves, arctic foxes and reindeer. Those not terribly tired or frightened from the wolves can journey along the Tundra walk , where you’ll get to see the red pandas, Siberian tigers and Bactrian camels enjoying treats. Hey, it’s the holidays, so they can let themselves go a bit, too. Dec. 26. $10. Toronto Zoo, Meadowvale Rd., North of 401, 416-392-5929, torontozoo.com.
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