Toronto Life articles from March 2006

Toronto Life archives from March 2006

The Dominion Club: a private club unlike any other.(SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE)
March 1, 2006... HERE'S WHAT ACTUAL MEMBERS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE DOMINION CLUB... "I thought of joining an all--women's club but decided to become a member of the Dominion Club in November. The wide circle of members has enabled me to meet and liaise...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2006... I was outraged by John Macfarlane's slam on Toronto police. I am the mother and mother-in-law of police officers. If you want to know why our cops are the highest paid in the country, consider that they are asked to be psychiatrists, paramedics...

Top drawer.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2006... I was glad to see that you profiled Seth, born Gregory Gallant ["Retro Man"], in your January issue. He is the sort of character that stands out--especially from your usual lineup of subjects. Typically, Toronto Life features articles on...

Dubious achievement.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2006... The revolting use of the made-up word "dubiosity" featured in your little item about Barrie ["The Year That Was," January] quite outshines what you called the "excruciating excerpts" from Tourism Toronto that appear on the opposite page. ...

Good eggs.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2006... I was delighted to read the article "Roe Trip" [January]. As Sasha Chapman rightly points out, Caspian sturgeon are on the brink of extinction. While caviar from the Caspian Sea is delicious, there are sustainable (and yummy) alternatives on...

Market woes.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2006... I live in the neighbourhood adjacent to the Rabba featured in your January story about the chain ["Better Shop Around"]. This is what the store has given us: large amounts of litter, huge advertising posters, traffic hazards from illegally...

Best-laid plans.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2006... Katherine Ashenburg, in her piece about the National Ballet School ["Great Leap Forward," December], glossed over the city planner's role as a partner in making the project happen. Since many people ask me what exactly city planners do, let me...

Finding a doctor who could write was just dumb luck.(This Issue)
March 1, 2006... It happened last year, when we were reading the short-listed submissions for our annual fiction issue. One was about three medical students dissecting their first cadaver. Its author, we learned, was an emergency physician at Toronto East...

More than words: how celebrity lexicographer Katherine Barber put "double-double" and "Molson muscle" in the dictionary.(PROFILE)
March 1, 2006... THE OFFICES OF OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS are housed in a disappointingly un-Oxford-like building, a concrete excrescence near the Ontario Science Centre. These uncivilized wilds are the workplace of lexicographer Katherine Barber, editor-in-chief...

Jeanne Machine: Toronto's style set toasts Jeanne Beker on Fashion Television's 20th anniversary.(CAMERA)
March 1, 2006... Forty friends and colleagues of the unstoppable Jeanne Beker stormed the swanky SoHo Metropolitan, raising glasses filled with champers in honour of the fashion high priestess. Thrown by those quirky cosmeticians at MAC, the soiree unfolded in...

Sign language: new joints cash in on history.(ROUNDUP)
March 1, 2006... As formerly mean streets get make-overs, maintaining markers of businesses past has become de rigueur among genteel newcomers. It's both an affectionate nod to days gone by and a wily method of discouraging uncool interlopers. For your...

Plastic people.(TELLING TALES)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... The stern-looking woman in a lab coat tells the petite 20-something to frown. "You want Restylane?" the woman asks. "I don't know what I want," says the girl. "You want Restylane," the woman says emphatically, reaching for a needle and...

Ring bearers: how Toronto trumped London for the priciest musical ever.(REALITY CHECK)
March 1, 2006... As everyone from Buffalo to Bowmanville knows, the Lord of the Rings musical (opening March 23) is massive, with a $27-million price tag and a cast of hundreds. To what do we owe this extravaganza? Thank a behind-the-scenes fellowship of...

The highs and lows of city life.(BEST & WORST)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... BEST GUN-RELATED INCIDENT Put yourself in this Toronto mother's place: you carry a bag of laundry into your son's room and find an AK-47 lying on his pillow. Many would toss the gun in the lake and ask questions later. Instead, she packed...

Icy meltdowns and hot checkouts.(URBAN DECODER)
March 1, 2006... Dear Urban Decoder: While driving to work the other morning, I spotted a very large and very odd-looking plow, eating snow up with a big conveyor belt. What was it? JUDY MCNAB, NORTH YORK As you might expect, Toronto's...

Lovers' lanes.(TELLING TALES)
March 1, 2006... In Los Angeles, the celebrity spot du jour is Mood. In New York, it's Bungalow 8. In Toronto, it's Bathurst Bowlerama. At least, for Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling, Hollywood's couple of the moment, who recently took to the lanes at a north...

Mondo condo: mid-century-mod apartments get a luxe update.(HOT PROPERTY)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... WHERE: 1 Benvenuto Place, on the crest of the Avenue Road hill at St. Clair. WHAT: A seven-storey, 1950s modern apartment building turned luxury condo. PRICES: $350,000 nabs a 700-square-foot lower-floor, one-bedroom suite on the...

The challenger: Jane Pitfield on playing the fiddle, fighting crime and running against David Miller.(Q&A)(Brief Article)(Interview)
March 1, 2006... Brasher than our famously conciliatory, broom-wielding mayor, and something of a finance wonk, Jane Pitfield entered municipal politics in 1994. She's been re-elected twice. Besides planning her mayoral campaign, she also sails and plays piano...

Sitting pretty: who sits where at fashion week.(HERE'S THE THING)
March 1, 2006... Twice a year, Canada's style arbiters get together to take in fashion week--really five days of air kissing, strut-your-stuff runway presentations and after-parties--to decide what trends go to malls across the country. But in order to make...

Bright young things: they traded York Mills for New York and launched a hot clothing line. No wonder the Beckerman sisters can't stop smiling.(Fashion)
March 1, 2006... IT'S A WARM SATURDAY in late October, and a dozen bodies spill in and out of a tiny office at Spadina and Queen like circus clowns from a VW Beetle: three PR people, six models and the carnival masters themselves--the Beckerman sisters, who've...

A house divided: after two kids and 20 years together, she knew the marriage was over. But how could she leave her husband without nuking the family? Portrait of an unorthodox arrangement.(Memoir)
March 1, 2006... MY MARRIAGE ENDED on a cold January night at a bustling Greek restaurant on the Danforth. Joe and I had been to a parent-teacher meeting at our son's high school and had decided to catch a quick dinner. Over plates of Greek salad and souvlaki,...

The best medicine: a user's guide to getting the best health care the city has to offer, without blowing a gasket.(Buyers Guide)(Cover Story)
March 1, 2006... THERE ARE GOOD REASONS WHY THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS NOW STRUGGLING to provide quality, cost-effective care: the boomers are aging, treatments are becoming more expensive and many medical areas are short-staffed. Of course, none of that matters...

Cough it up: while Queen's Park and the feds dither over how to conquer wait times in the public health care system, private clinics are multiplying to meet the demand. Some surgical procedures require a trip to Buffalo or Quebec; others can be procured in Don Mills. Here, a sample of private providers and their more popular offerings.(Directory)
March 1, 2006... Hip Replacement (Arthroplasty) The procedure: Damaged parts of the hip joint are removed and replaced with a prosthesis (usually made of ceramic or polyethylene). The Canadian Orthopaedic Association recommends that patients wait no longer...

An ideal husband: in December, David Furnish wed Sir Elton John. How a nice boy from Scarborough became one half of the most famous gay couple in the world.
March 1, 2006... THE DINNER PARTY LAST MAY WAS AS TRADITIONAL AN AFFAIR AS ANY AT THE WINDSOR HOME OF ELTON JOHN AND DAVID FURNISH could be. The meal was served at their simple dark walnut dining table. When the dishes were cleared, Elton pulled out a small...

A force to be reckoned with: Paul Gillespie and his child exploitation squad are on a mission: using FBI training and sophisticated software, they aim to rid the world of kiddie porn, one culprit at a time.
March 1, 2006... ONE MORNING, halfway through October, a detective constable stood amid the desks of the Child Exploitation Section of the Toronto police, looked out at all the TV crews gathering under the low ceiling, and frowned half seriously. "Who are these...

Sonja Bata: how the founder of the Bata Shoe Museum, who unveils an exhibit on Chinese children's footwear this month, would spend a single perfect day. Toronto on an unlimited budget.(24 HOURS WITH)
March 1, 2006... I'm really quite happy with my days how they are. Some people would like something different, but I wouldn't. Three times a week, my husband, Thomas, and I have a trainer, Eric Kilji, come to our home. We start at 7 a.m., lifting weights for...

The city's best loot.(Super Shopper)
March 1, 2006... BOOTYLICIOUS Former Vogue contributor Tamara Henriques has found her niche in waterproof footwear, producing wellies in such fun, unexpected prints as this tweed hunter pair. Rain boots haven't been this appealing since elementary school....

Pacific Mall: modelled after marketplaces in Hong Kong and Shanghai, Markham's main attraction is the largest Asian mall in North America. With store clerks who are eager to bargain (communicating by calculator) and food you'd be hard-pressed to find on Spadina, you'll forget what time zone you're in. Welcome to Chinatown north.(On the Block)
March 1, 2006... 1. Ding Dong Grocery Chances are you'll see--or savour--something here you never have before. Ding Dong's bulk bins are stocked with all manner of culinary horizon-broadeners: dried olives, vinegar-laced candied ginger and sesame-coated...

Musical tables: the quest for a good meal before The Lord of the Rings unearths at least one glint of gold.(Dining)(Restaurant review)
March 1, 2006... MUSICAL DWARFS AND GIRLS IN ARMOUR, old men with staffs and magical swords remade--by summer's end, Toronto will be a two-ring circus, the focus of Tolkien and Wagner fans from every corner of Middle Earth. With months still to go, a group of...

Sweetest thing: move over, Aunt Jemima. Maple syrup is the real elixir of spring.(Food)
March 1, 2006... IT'S SUCH A QUAINT IDEA, really, spending the first sunny days of spring in the sugar bush, tapping trees and listening to the "drip, drip" of the sap as it flows into buckets. Or so it seems, until you get down to the back-breaking business of...

Bull market: darlings of Europe's wine scene, new reds from Spain are taking- a run at North America.(Drink)
March 1, 2006... A SUAVE, CONVINCING YOUNG SPANIARD named Alvaro Palacios tilts into Toronto on February 20, though not, alas, brandishing any of his $650-a-bottle red wine called L'Ermita. This is not some ancient gem from Rioja, long Spain's sole region of...

Rue Wellington: Old World charm survives Le Select's move to new digs.(IN FLUX)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... In January, after more than a year of struggles with city bureaucrats--six months getting the permits to move a driveway a few metres--veteran Queen West bistro Le Select finally moved to new premises on Wellington. Amazingly, its 28 years of...

Restaurants.(Toronto, Ontario)(Restaurant review)
March 1, 2006... A LA MODE LEE *** Susur Lee frequently steps away from the kitchen to keep tight rein on his room of wooden pillars, sophisticated wall scrims and tightly packed crystal-clear tables. The lively, eclectic crowd mirrors a menu of...

Name that tuna: Nectar chef David Adjey plays games with Charlie.(THE DISH)
March 1, 2006... Many menus say too much. Do we really need to know the provenance of each dish's every component? Nectar's skeleton carte says only what it must, allowing chef David Adjey to play fill-in-the-blanks. "Tuna: cool/warm/hot" is his Spanish vamp on...

For the sniffles: never mind the soul.(QUEST)
March 1, 2006... First prescribed as a cold and asthma remedy in the 12th century by Moses Maimonides, later by your grandmother, chicken soup now has medical experts arguing its curative powers. (The matzo ball is a bonus.) UCLA's Dr. Irwin Ziment found that...

Side swiped: fries go virtuous, then upmarket.(HIGH/LOW)(Fresh)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... Are hip young chefs trying to lure their contemporaries with golden-arches comforts in gourmet guise? Why else the vogue for deep-frying batons of yams and sweet potatoes and serving them with exotic ketchup and mayo stand-ins? Fresh (894 Queen...

Character building: The Session brings a new, laidback ease to Queen West.(IT SPOT)(Brief Article)(Bar Review)
March 1, 2006... It's a newcomer to the Queen Street strip, but this cozy pub seems like it's been around for ages, already with its own faithful set of regulars--an eclectic mix of local hipsters, musicians (budding and established) and mature biker dudes....

Theatre.(This Month)(Sound Recording Review)
March 1, 2006... OPENING THE ARAB-ISRAELI COOKBOOK. British playwright Robin Soans weaves together transcripts from actual interviews with Israelis and Palestinians to evoke the flavours of daily life in the much-disputed region. Seven actors of the Studio...

Classical.(This Month)(Calendar)
March 1, 2006... CHAMBER MUSIC AMICI regulars Joaquin Valdepenas (clarinet and David Hetherington (cello) team up with virtuoso Quebec pianist Andre Laplante for an exemplary program that includes the world premiere of Montreal composer Jacques Hetu's Trio...

Great pretender: David Copperfield's illusive appeal.(INTERVIEW)(Interview)
March 1, 2006... Long before David Blaine locked himself in a cage over the Thames or Siegfried nursed Roy's Bengal tiger wounds, David Kotkin--stage name David Copperfield--had established himself as the world's leading magician. The puckish 49-year-old began...

South American idol: the Colombian superstar is so famous he can snub J. Lo. So why isn't Juanes a household name?(IN CONCERT)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... Juanes is the biggest rock star you've never heard of. That is, unless you live wherever Spanish is heard, spoken or sung, in which case his music is as ubiquitous as oxygen. Since 2000, the Colombian heartthrob has released three solo albums,...

The stoned age: Rochdale College turns on, tunes in and drops out.(ONSTAGE)
March 1, 2006... From its inception, Rochdale College was shorthand for counterculture, attracting idealists and radicals from across the continent and spawning workshops, sit-ins, play-making and drug-taking before burning out in an explosion of raids and...

Stick figure: towering, frenetic paintings parse the urban jungle.(IN THE GALLERIES)
March 1, 2006... (free) In the aftermath of 9/11, the New York-based, Trinidad-born artist Denyse Thomasos travelled for a year in China, Southeast Asia, India and West Africa. While journeying from Bameko to Timbuktu, she revelled in the conical mud, dung and...

Pop.(This Month)(Calendar)
March 1, 2006... COLDPLAY. For all the yearning and doubt that Chris Martin expresses in his lyrics, Coldplay's superstar status couldn't be any more secure. Last spring, the English quartet's long-awaited third album, X&Y, went straight to number one in 28...

Jazz.(This Month)(Sound Recording Review)
March 1, 2006... CONCERTS ICUBANISMO! The Havana-based 15-piece band led by trumpeter Jesus Alemany fuses Cuban dance rhythms and big-band horn sections--an engaging update of the big-band Latin jazz style of Perez Prado and Tito Puente. March 6. $30-$35....

Art.(This Month)
March 1, 2006... DAVID MILNE. In addition to his etchings, the Canadian artist (1682-1953) is known for bypassing traditional painting techniques. In his pictures, images get equal billing with the unprimed bone and cream surfaces on which they are painted. He...

Dance.(This Month)(Calendar)
March 1, 2006... ARABESQUE DANCE COMPANY. To honour Middle East dance icon Aida Nour, Arabesque dancers will be joined by luminaries from across Canada and the United States. Nour, an Alexandria native, performed with Egypt's Reda Troupe and the National...

Kids.(This Month)(Calendar)
March 1, 2006... COW OVER MOON CHILDREN'S THEATRE. Which of the Three Billy Goats Gruff will become a tasty treat for the troll under the bridge? The audience helps determine the ending in this improvisational retelling of the classic Norwegian folk tale. Ages...

Diversions.(This Month)
March 1, 2006... CANADA BLOOMS. One hundred and forty-four blooming roses of nine different varieties, 22,000 bulbs of Ottawa's famous tulips and six acres of fantasy gardens combine to make this one of Canada's biggest gardening shows. Highlights include five...

After the Boxing Day shooting, 54 per cent of us still feel safe downtown.(The Toronto Poll)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... IT'S ASTONISHING that the number of GTAers who felt safe downtown just after the Boxing Day shooting is almost identical to the number who felt safe before (57 per cent in November versus 54 in January). But more remarkable is how low that...

Bed and breakfasts.(Getaways)(Directory)
March 1, 2006... Northeast Blue Heron Bed and Breakfast (1) Once a bustling mill town, today's Almonte has been rebuilt with condos, cafes and smart shops. The Blue Heron is a comfortable base for exploring the area's attractions. Built in the 1850s,...

Have booty, will travel: before you hit the road, stock up on stylish gear and light entertainment.
March 1, 2006... Travel Scrabble, $29.95. Mastermind, 3350 Yonge St., 416-487-7177, plus nine other locations. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Burton backpack, $145. Uncle Otis, 26 Bellair St., 416-920-2281. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Deluxe picnic...

Country inns.(Getaways)(Directory)
March 1, 2006... Northeast Denaut Mansion Country Inn (19) Though this stately historic home is located in the sleepy Rideau Lakes village of Delta, it has a sophisticated ambience. That's largely due to its owners Deborah and David Peets, who gave up the...

The scenic route 1: Toronto to Belleville.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... The route: If you're driving to Belleville or Prince Edward County, forgo the monotony of the 401 and jump on Highway 2 at Port Hope. This meandering road, which offers a survey of 19th-century homes and flirts with Lake Ontario, takes you...

Northern resorts.(Getaways)(Directory)
March 1, 2006... Arowhon Pines, NE (50) Set on the shores of Little Joe Lake in Algonquin Provincial Park, Arowhon Pines is firmly off the beaten track. At the end of an eight-kilometre private woodland road, it boasts an unsurpassed sense of privacy. Look...

A vine romance: sample the wine and savour the scenery of Prince Edward County.
March 1, 2006... Not long ago, Prince Edward County was known mainly for its beaches. But the bucolic county has recently become fashionable with foodies. The trend started eight years ago, when farmers discovered that their land--spread over a fertile...

Spas.(Getaways)(Directory)
March 1, 2006... Claramount Inn & Spa, NE (62) With its towering columns, the entrance to this 1906 Colonial Revival mansion is suitably grand. The interior is meticulously restored, and the rooms are luxurious. Furnished with high-end antiques, feather...

French kiss: from creature comforts to beds of ice, five Quebec breaks.
March 1, 2006... Hotel Dominion 1912 Recently named the top hotel in Canada by Conde Nast Traveller, Quebec City's Hotel Dominion has no shortage of creature comforts. A member of the Germain mini-chain, it's got the modern boutique decor down pat: muted...

Budget inns.(Getaways)
March 1, 2006... Angeline's Restaurant, Inn & Spa, NE (71) Situated in the quaint village of Bloomfield, this charming inn proves handy for visiting the spectacular beaches of Sandbanks Provincial Park. Don't be fooled by the motel-style exterior; the inn...

Show business: where to stay for the Shaw and Stratford festivals.
March 1, 2006... Shaw: The Charles Inn (page 16) Gracewood Inn (page 10) The Olde Angel Inn (page 17) Queen's Landing Inn (page 17) Riverbend Inn & Vineyard (page 17) Stratford: Jakobstettel Inn (page 10) Langdon Hall...

Alternative breaks.(Getaways)(Directory)
March 1, 2006... Alexander Henry Bed and Breakfast, NE (81) This 1959 Coast Guard icebreaker, now moored at Kingston's Marine Museum of the Great Lakes, is earning her keep as a bed and breakfast. The spartan but sunny Chief Engineer's Room ($90 a night)...

Kid-friendly outings.(Getaways)(Directory)
March 1, 2006... Breakers Motel, NE (88) On a white sand beach at the eastern end of Cobourg's Victoria Park, this motel is a popular summer destination for families looking for a self-catering getaway. As motels go, the Breakers is a cut above the norm....

The scenic route 2: Toronto to Niagara Falls.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... The route: The QEW is nigh unavoidable up until Hamilton. Get off at Steeltown and take the 8/81 through Grimsby, Beamsville, Jordan and St. Catharines before heading up to Highway 87, where it's one vineyard after another. Enjoy the...

City hotels.(Getaways)
March 1, 2006... Arc The.hotel, NE (94) Formerly a Howard Johnson, this downtown Ottawa hotel has been reborn as a smart boutique hotel with a sleek, current look from Toronto design house Yabu Pushelberg. Sedate shades of grey, beige and brown...

The great outdoors.(Getaways)(Directory)
March 1, 2006... Northeast Algonquin Log Cabin Lodge (98) Before you unpack your bags at the base camp--a rustic log cabin on the northwest margins of Algonquin Park--you'll have taken part in a hike through four kilometres of hardwood forest, eaten...

City slickers: hit the designer sheets at one of Toronto's boutique hotels.
March 1, 2006... Cosmopolitan Hotel Toronto The New Age vibe wafts gently through this 25-storey Shangri-La, where every guest receives a guided meditation CD and the concierge is called a "lifestyle manager." Created as an oasis of calm amid the frenzy of...

Canoeing and kayaking.(Getaways)(Directory)
March 1, 2006... Algonquin Outfitter, NE (113) Day-long excursions organized by Algonquin Outfitters are popular with newbie and oldhand paddlers alike. A favourite destination is Hailstorm Creek, known for its exceptional wildlife-watching opportunities,...

Life's a beach: Ontario's top 10 strands.(Directory)
March 1, 2006... 01 Sandbanks Provincial Park Featured on countless tourism ads, the dunes of Sandbanks Provincial Park are an Ontario icon. For quiet beauty, skip the oiled crowds and head for West Lake. In June, the towering dunes are covered with local...

Cruises.(Gateaways)
March 1, 2006... Muskoka Lakes Navigation, NW (120) Since its relaunch in 1981 as a tourist vessel, the Royal Mail Ship Segwun has delighted Muskoka passengers with the romance of a bygone era. Its polished brass steam engine, South American gumwood...

Riding holidays.(Gateaways)
March 1, 2006... High Pointe Inn and Equestrian Centre, NE (121) The great escape for spoiled ponies and their pampered parents. Owners Gwen and Ron Boyles have built an 80-by-200-foot indoor arena roomy enough to run a sulky, plus an outdoor dressage ring,...

Gourmet excursions.(Gateaways)(Directory)
March 1, 2006... The Good Earth Cooking School, SW (124) The emphasis at this cooking school is on fun--courses titled Beer Hunter and La Brie en Rose should make it plain. The setting is also important: an al fresco kitchen set among peach trees and...

Cultural breaks.(Gateaways)
March 1, 2006... Charles W. Stockey Centre for the Performing Arts, NW (130) Only in Canada would a new concert hall and hockey museum be built as one attraction, part of a waterfront redevelopment project in Parry Sound. Not only is it cost effective, but...

The scenic route 3: Toronto to Waterloo.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... The route: Take the 401 to Brampton, then resume your westward journey on Highway 7. Don't be frightened off by the monotonous subdivisions; suburban sprawl soon gives way to small-town quaint, as 7 winds through Georgetown, Acton, Rockwood and...

Architecture.(Day Trips)(Directory)
March 1, 2006... Campbell House Museum (1) Sitting elegantly amid downtown office blocks, this grand Georgian house stands out from the modern crowd. It was built in 1822 for Sir William Campbell, the sixth chief justice of Upper Canada, and was originally...

Art galleries.(Day Trips)(Directory)
March 1, 2006... Albright-Knox Art Gallery (12) Buffalo might not be well known by culture vultures, but it's worth making a trip across the border for this esteemed art gallery. Opened in 1905, the Greek Revival building overlooks Hoyt Lake, but the view...

The aviators: Ontario's best spots for birdwatching.
March 1, 2006... Second Marsh Located in southeast Oshawa, this Lake Ontario nature sanctuary (905-723-5047) is an excellent place to see migratory shorebirds and waterfowl. More than 300 species frequent the wetland park, either for nesting or as a...

Museums.(Day Trips)(Directory)
March 1, 2006... Bata Shoe Museum (22) A favoured spot for podiatrists and disciples of Carrie Bradshaw, the museum contains more than 10,000 shoes that span 4,500 years. The avant-garde building, designed by architect Raymond Moriyama, is showy, and so...

Historic venues.(Day Trips)
March 1, 2006... Benares Historic House (26) Dating back to the early 20th century, this grand, red-brick Georgian brings a touch of stateliness to Mississauga. It once anchored the estate of Captain James Harris, a British military officer from the...

Laps of luxury: take a plunge in one of Toronto's hotel swimming pools.
March 1, 2006... Radisson Plaza Hotel Admiral Harbourfront For a swim with a lake breeze, this harbourfront hotel is your best bet. To use the fifth-floor outdoor pool, all you have to do is spend $25 at Bosun's Bar. Nibbling on cobb salad and knocking back...

The home shows: take a sneak peek at dozens of Ontario's to-die-for dwellings.
March 1, 2006... If you're a real estate junkie, a home decor fiend or just plain nosy, here's a good way to indulge your voyeuristic fantasies: Toronto and its neighbouring towns host an abundance of tours in which the house proud open their abodes to the...

Nature spots.(Day Trips)(Directory)
March 1, 2006... Albion Hills Conservation Area (58) Straddling the west end of the Oak Ridges Moraine, this forested expanse includes a homestead farm from 1820. But it's best known for leisure pursuits: in winter, 27 kilometres of cross-country trails, a...

Major attractions.(Day Trips)
March 1, 2006... African Lion Safari (75) Here in the unlikely precincts of rural Cambridge, it's safari season six months of the year. A herd of minivans and SUVs makes the trek off the 40l, drawn by that ubiquitous TV jingle. The wild things are well...

Once upon a tour: for a blast from Toronto's past, take a walk on the old side.
March 1, 2006... The city's myriad history tours transport you to another era. "Our past is not boring," says Bruce Bell, whose passion for the subject has blossomed into a sightseeing business. The trick is in the telling. His popular St. Lawrence Market...

Towns and villages.(Day Trips)
March 1, 2006... Creemore (84) One of the prettiest towns in the land, Creemore is becoming Ontario's equivalent of the Hamptons. It's easy to see why Torontonians are flocking here for a relaxing getaway (and after they've spent a weekend, why they stay...