Our round up of the best things to see and do in Toronto this weekend. In this edition: spring has sprung at Canada Blooms, the Toronto Wine and Cheese Show, laugh along with Danny Bhoy and Festival IV or take a lesson in Irish history.
Canada Blooms
Celebrate spring by heading out to Canada Blooms, which, in association with the National Home Show, has become North America’s largest home and garden event. The show will display four celebrity gardens built in celebration of the 41st annual Juno Awards and over 20 gardens inspired by this year’s theme, City Culture. Also on hand will be over 250 garden exhibitors presenting the latest trends and products in gardening and horticulture.
Direct Energy Centre, 100 Princes' Blvd., March 16 – 25. $14 – $40.
Toronto Wine and Cheese Show
This weekend the Toronto Wine and Cheese Show gives you the chance to sample wine, beer and cheese from around the world. Various stages will be set up offering recipe ideas, and Alexander Keith’s will host a St. Patrick’s Day celebration on Saturday night. Also in attendance will be celebrity chef Lynn Crawford and mix drink guru Jeremy J. Parsons.
International Centre, 6900 Airport Road, Mississauga. March 16, 2 p.m. – 10 p.m., March 17 & 18, noon to 10 p.m. $15 online, $18 door. Must be 19 or older.
Danny Bhoy at Massey Hall
The Scottish comedian returns to to Toronto, following his sold-out show in 2009, on his second world tour, Wanderlust. Check out Bhoy’s brand of clean comedy as he comments on his life from childhood in Scotland to his travels as a stand upcomic.
Massey Hall, 178 Victoria St., 416-872-4255. March 16, 7:30 p.m.
Festival IV!
Vanier College Productions’ fourth Festival! production pokes fun at amateur theatre fests, in a show by VCP founder Fred Thury. The story features three competing international theatre companies performing the same play, Cottage of Fear, in styles influenced by their backgrounds.
Harbourfront Ceantre, 235 Queens Quay W., 416-736 2100 ext. 40023. March 17, 1 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. $12 student, $20 adult.
Death or Canada
The Ralph Thornton Centre ushers in St. Patrick’s Day on a serious note, with a screening of the Gemini award nominated film, Death or Canada, which tells the story of the Irish Famine in 1849 and a family’s subsequent immigration to Toronto. Riverdale Historical Society president, Gerald Whyte, will make a short presentation following the film.
Ralph Thornton Centre, 765 Queen St. E. March 16, 7 p.m.. Free.
