A Day at the Museum
The Royal Ontario Museum's “Shanghai Kaleidoscope” exhibition showcases the culture, architecture, contemporary art, and fashion of the Chinese metropolis. Guests can experience paintings, runway videos, architectural models, and digital simulations. Guided tours are available for a minimum of 10, with rates based on a fee of $20 per person. The museum’s corporate packages include group menus at C5, the new fine-dining spot in the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal.
A Waterside Retreat
The newly renovated Atlantis Pavilions—which formerly housed two restaurants, a nightclub, and an event space—now features four new ballrooms with chocolate-brown and gold decor; its floor-to-ceiling windows offer panoramic views of the skyline. Groups of 150 can fill the Skyline Room for a private dinner, or for as many as 500, there is the Metropolitan Ballroom, where guests can enjoy cocktails on a private mezzanine. Executive chef David Copperthwaite offers several corporate packages with set menus for breakfast and lunch meetings, cocktail receptions, and seated dinners.Dining Alfresco
Associates can cool down on hot days at the outdoor space at Spice Route Asian Bistro and Bar. The 276-seat restaurant is the second joint venture for club kings Charles Khabouth, of Ink, and Nick Di Donato, of the Liberty Entertainment Group, and features a pan-Asian menu. Waterfalls and Buddha icons decorate the main room. There are also two private dining rooms, which hold between 20 to 25 people.
Sights to See
A guided walking tour can give insight into Toronto’s neighbourhoods. Shirley Lum, founder of A Taste of the World: Neighbourhood Bicycle Tours & Walks Inc., offers a series of excursions. This summer she’s reviving the Lost First Chinatown Foodies Walking Tour (after a two-year hiatus) to celebrate the 130th anniversary of the area and to highlight July’s Lotus Festival. The Yung Sing Pastry Shop—one of the city’s oldest family-run bakeries for traditional Chinese pastries like egg tarts, sweet sesame balls, and buns filled with beef and pork—will be a new stop. A three-and-a-half-hour tour includes a snack and a dim sum lunch. Private tours are available.
Let Off Steam
Foosball, the popular arcade classic, arrives at Polson Pier this summer in a new, life-size incarnation. In a huge, inflatable arena, players are harnessed to a pole that stretches across the width of the field, allowing teammates to move in unison from side to side within their specific zones. Beach soccer is also new this year at the waterfront entertainment complex, which includes a drive-in movie theatre, an 18-hole mini-golf course, rock climbing, and a driving range.
Playing the Field
Sports fans welcomed the city’s newest pro team, Toronto FC, to the new B.M.O. Field last summer, and this season, the Pepsi Major League Soccer All-Star Game comes to town on July 24. The stadium’s hospitality suite is available throughout the season for single-game bookings for groups. The area includes private stadium seating for 88 people directly in front of the suite. Catered dishes include kettle-fried nachos, chicken Parmesan sandwiches, and summer fruit skewers.
The Royal Ontario Museum's “Shanghai Kaleidoscope” exhibition showcases the culture, architecture, contemporary art, and fashion of the Chinese metropolis. Guests can experience paintings, runway videos, architectural models, and digital simulations. Guided tours are available for a minimum of 10, with rates based on a fee of $20 per person. The museum’s corporate packages include group menus at C5, the new fine-dining spot in the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal.
A Waterside Retreat
The newly renovated Atlantis Pavilions—which formerly housed two restaurants, a nightclub, and an event space—now features four new ballrooms with chocolate-brown and gold decor; its floor-to-ceiling windows offer panoramic views of the skyline. Groups of 150 can fill the Skyline Room for a private dinner, or for as many as 500, there is the Metropolitan Ballroom, where guests can enjoy cocktails on a private mezzanine. Executive chef David Copperthwaite offers several corporate packages with set menus for breakfast and lunch meetings, cocktail receptions, and seated dinners.Dining Alfresco
Associates can cool down on hot days at the outdoor space at Spice Route Asian Bistro and Bar. The 276-seat restaurant is the second joint venture for club kings Charles Khabouth, of Ink, and Nick Di Donato, of the Liberty Entertainment Group, and features a pan-Asian menu. Waterfalls and Buddha icons decorate the main room. There are also two private dining rooms, which hold between 20 to 25 people.
Sights to See
A guided walking tour can give insight into Toronto’s neighbourhoods. Shirley Lum, founder of A Taste of the World: Neighbourhood Bicycle Tours & Walks Inc., offers a series of excursions. This summer she’s reviving the Lost First Chinatown Foodies Walking Tour (after a two-year hiatus) to celebrate the 130th anniversary of the area and to highlight July’s Lotus Festival. The Yung Sing Pastry Shop—one of the city’s oldest family-run bakeries for traditional Chinese pastries like egg tarts, sweet sesame balls, and buns filled with beef and pork—will be a new stop. A three-and-a-half-hour tour includes a snack and a dim sum lunch. Private tours are available.
Let Off Steam
Foosball, the popular arcade classic, arrives at Polson Pier this summer in a new, life-size incarnation. In a huge, inflatable arena, players are harnessed to a pole that stretches across the width of the field, allowing teammates to move in unison from side to side within their specific zones. Beach soccer is also new this year at the waterfront entertainment complex, which includes a drive-in movie theatre, an 18-hole mini-golf course, rock climbing, and a driving range.
Playing the Field
Sports fans welcomed the city’s newest pro team, Toronto FC, to the new B.M.O. Field last summer, and this season, the Pepsi Major League Soccer All-Star Game comes to town on July 24. The stadium’s hospitality suite is available throughout the season for single-game bookings for groups. The area includes private stadium seating for 88 people directly in front of the suite. Catered dishes include kettle-fried nachos, chicken Parmesan sandwiches, and summer fruit skewers.
Photo: Courtesy of Yang Zhenzhong and Shangart Gallery
Photo: Courtesy of Yang Zhenzhong and Shangart Gallery
Photo: BizBash
Photo: BizBash
Photo: Courtesy of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment
Photo: Courtesy of Polson Pier
Photo: BizBash