Walking down Broadway!
Whatcha doin next month? Wanna visit New York? Do you know how to get the best tickets? Have you found a cheap flight to Toronto, but want to figure-out what to do there?
Well have no fear our trusty Robyn’s Wanderings blogger, Nicola Arnold, is here as ever on Saturdays to help. She’s lived and studied in Toronto and spent time as a student in New York so I think it’s fair to say she might know where the deals are and where the fun events are happening!
Read on and get ready to plan your next trip:
Music. Film. Sport. Food. Heck, even Bridal! Personally, I am a big fan of musicals – whether it be Broadway in New York, London’s West End theater, or elsewhere. Over the past year, I was able to catch a few musicals in New York, Toronto and London, such as Mamma Mia, Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, Jersey Boys and Mary Poppins (magic umbrella included!).
There are a few tricks of the trade with scoring cheap tickets, and quite frankly, on a student budget you really appreciate the great discounts. At the individual theaters, you can get student rush, lottery or standing-room-only tickets. Stand in the back of the theater for 3 hours? Nicola are you crazy?
Well… a few years ago, I had standing-room only tickets to Lion King, and I can tell you that once animals come down the aisles in the opening act, you completely forget that you are standing up. How can you not be thrilled when there is a singing elephant RIGHT behind you?! Plus you can beat the rush to the restrooms, which can work in your favour.
Be a foodie in Toronto this month!
For Bermudians studying in or visiting Toronto, you know there is many a thing to do in the ever-exciting T-dot. When I was studying at University of Guelph, a 45 minute bus ride away, I used to trek into Toronto with my housemates for fun events such as the Santa Claus Parade and to be in the live audience for one of MTV’s shows, Much on Demand (MOD).
www.toronto.com is a great site that has various events, from music concerts to bridal shows, so check it out for what’s on this week, in January, or February, or in the future. For example, the link below takes you to the ‘Must-See January Events 2011’…. http://www.toronto.com/events/article/647959
Hey, it’s like one-stop shopping!
– If you are a foodie, you can check out Winterlicious from Jan 28 – Feb 10, 2011 at various locations in Toronto.
– If you are a fan of dark & mysterious films such as Edward Scissorhands or the new Alice in Wonderland, you should look into the Tim Burton Exhibition and Retrospective running until April 21, 2011 at the Museum of Modern Art.
– And, if I may, I personally recommend the Monster Jam happening at the Rogers Center Jan 22-23, 2011… I know, it may seem highly unlikely that I would be raving about a monster truck show with roaring engines and daring tricks. However, I went to one in London, Ontario last spring and the whole day was electric, given the high energy levels and excitement of my friends. Never turn down an invitation… you never know what may come of it!
If you delight in making snow angels and want to escape for a quick trip to a winter wonderland, there are a few fantastic snow-filled events coming up in February in Ottawa and Quebec. Don’t worry if your extent of French is ‘bonjour’ and ‘croissant’… the Winterlude in Ottawa and the Quebec Winter Carnival cater to everyone – francophones, anglophones and international visitors alike!
The Quebec Winter Carnival gives you a taste of old Europe right in North America, with traditional Quebecois activities like canoe races and dog-sledding. This year Carnival takes places from January 28 – February 13, 2011 so the winter amusement park is ready & waiting for its new arrivals… families will enjoy the giant (life size) table-soccer game, and sports enthusiasts may enjoy the 500-foot zipline that flies above the Carnival.
[I have not been myself, but I did do a presentation in my 2nd year French class, which was all about le Carnaval de Québec… and I dressed up as Bonhomme Carnaval, the snowman who represents the festivities. Oh, what great lengths I went to make a good impression on my French T.A.!]
Winterlude (or le Bal de Neige) is being held in Ottawa, the capital of Canada, from February 4-21, 201. That means there are 3 weeks in which to enjoy activities such as skating on the world’s longest skating rink (the Rideau Canal), marvel at the ice sculptures, and eat one of Ottawa’s mouthwatering BeaverTails… your choice of toppings: cinnamon & sugar, chocolate & banana, and many more delicious flavours! www.canadascapital.gc.ca/winterlude
And of course for all of you traveling to Bermuda or currently on our 21-square-mile island, Nicola has some advice for you too:
Visit Bermuda for a run?
Special events pop up very often, and if you are in Bermuda, you could throw a glance at websites such as www.nothingtodoinbermuda.com or www.todo.bm. The what’s what, who’s who, where & when of our sub-tropical island!
Of course, if you are in Bermuda and drove down Front Street in Hamilton on Friday, you may have seen the set-up for the International Race Weekend. With over 600 participants coming from abroad, it’s bound to be a great weekend! Check out some of the activities here: www.bermudaraceweekend.com
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