|
Greetings!
It's Summer in the City - in Toronto, the World within a
City! As Yogi Bera (or was it Yogi Bear?) once said, "It's
not over till it's over!" and Toronto still has a lot of life
in her for all to enjoy this summer.
Come let us share it with you!
| SARS - may we never hear the word again! |
 |
A disease, less virulent than the flu, less contagious
than tuberculosis, contained in two suburban health
centres, claiming fewer lives than traffic accidents -
coupled with a media frenzy the likes of which this
town has never seen. The result?
A $1.5 Billion hit on the tourism industry in Toronto this
summer. Add to that a teeny disagreement with the
States over Iraq, and a lonely Mad Cow in Alberta
(we're talking about the animal, now, not any particular
politician), and a loony Mayor Mel (above left)at
home, and it's been a particularly challenging season.
Fortunately, TDBAB guests - like you - have
more than the average level of intelligence and
worldly awareness. The effects on TDBAB were much
less than many of our colleagues, especially the hotels.
Our occupancy rate remains roughly equal to
last year and revenue, with our ever-expanding suite of
concierge services, is actually running slightly ahead.
We also are particularly grateful to the many of you
who came back to visit us. Our rate of repeat guests,
always the very best kind of guests, tripled the year
before. Every other week we were in the wonderful
position of welcoming old friends back into our
home.
|
| Walk on the Artistic Side of TO, with Betty Ann Jordan |
|
New at TDBAB are unique and customized explorations
of the city's art treasures by renowned art critic and
journalist, Betty Ann Jordan.
"Art" encompasses fine art, studio craft and applied
design, including architecture, furniture, clothing,
interiors and graphics. Betty Ann Jordan considers
shopping for one-of-a-kind objects and collectibles, or
eating at unique restaurants and cafes to be a creative
exercise.
People who take Betty Ann's tours feel that they've
met a new friend, an insider who is deeply connected
to Toronto culture. They also get to experience
Toronto through the eyes of a journalist and are invited
to take advantage of her contacts. Betty Ann knows
people wherever she goes and introduces her fellow-
travellers to fascinating people whom they'd never
meet otherwise.
Select your tour today! »
|
| Vacation Time with Rog & Jim |
|
This spring we were off, with Keith, to Vancouver for
the first annual convention of the bed and breakfast
association we moderate, Canada BB
Hosts. It was great to meet some 40+ other hosts
that till that time we had only come to know on-line.
We flew from there to Berlin, for the start of a
two-week excursion de nostalgie (and a bit of
shopping, of course). We visited Rog's childhood army-
base homes in Paderborn and Fallingbostel, toured
eastern Germany, met an old Montreal high school
friend in Düsseldorf, and shopped.
From there it was off to England, where we attended a
performance of Stones in His Pockets, starring a
previous guest of TDBAB, and had dinner with him and
his mother (also a previous guest) after the show.
Then we enjoyed two short days with other previous
guests who came down from Belfast to join us on a trip
to Cambridge. A little more shopping and home again.
The perfect vacation: New Shops and Old Friends!
The Whole Trip »
|
| Wedding Bells |
|
The really Big Event at TDBAB this summer was the
wedding of your hosts, Rog & Jim. A decision by the
Ontario Court of Appeal suddenly removed the
discrimination against same-sex couples and gave us
the right to celebrate our relationship as a proper, legal
wedding, an event held on June 20, 2003, just 9 days
later!
Nine days - and what a party! Licence, tuxedo rentals,
guest invites (thank goodness for e-mail!), catering,
cake, party rentals - it all came together without a
hiccup - "Hitched without a Hitch" - thanks to some
pretty fast catering work by our friends, Dana and
Shannon. Fifty friends and family, guests and B&B
colleagues gathered to help us
celebrate the event.
Thank you, Canada! A wonderful place to live. And to
visit. Come visit us soon!
PS: Of course we have a Wedding
Package now, too!
Wedding Album »
|
|
| What's On in TO |
 |
|
August is a hot 'n happenin' month in Toronto, with
a festival every weekend celebrating our rich ethnic
variety.
The biggest among them is Caribana, the annual extravaganza of Caribbean culture, music
and costumes, culminating in August 4 with a huge
parade.
Masala!
Mehndi! Masti! follows, August 8-10, a
wonderful festival of South Asian culture, including
music, dance, film, theatre, design and the visual arts.
Meanwhile, Krino
s Taste of the Danforth, also August 8-
10, is packing Greektown for the annual foodies' delight
in this, the largest street festival in the city.
BuskerFest (August 21-24, 2003)
is
four days and nights of comedy, incredible athleticism,
pure showmanship and vivid performances with a taste
of old Europe.
The Hot &
Spicy Food Festival (August 22-24, 2003)
showcases traditional and contemporary food fused
with cultural performance.
The Canadian
National Exhibition runs August 15-
September 1, with a huge midway, dozens of
exhibitions halls, exciting entertainment and cotton
candy.
September brings the Toronto
International Film Festival (September 4 - 13,
2003)
. Variety calls it the best film festival in
North America. Toronto's 10-day celebration of
Canadian and international cinema routinely brings in
big stars, directors and other industry players,
screening hundreds of films and scores of premieres.
The Art Gallery of Ontario is hosting a rare exhibit of
the work of Tom
Thomson till September 7, 2003, bringing
together, for the first time since his death in 1917,
more than 140 of the artist's oil sketches, paintings and
works on paper, along with works by his contemporaries.
And Art Deco
1910-1939 at
the ROM (September 20, 2003 to January 4,
2004, is the first comprehensive historical exhibition of
the Art Deco style to be presented in Canada, this
exhibition, organized by the Victoria and Albert Museum
in London, England, brings together some 250
masterworks by famous artists and designers.
Find out more....
|
|
