Toronto Nightlife Tips by jamiesno

Nightlife Spot: The Princess of Wales Theatre

The Lord of the Rings theatre show in Toronto was my first ever attendance at a live theatre performance and it turned out to be a great show. I paid $117.00 for tickets in the center, toward the back on the main floor. It was row T31 at the Princes of Whales Theatre at 300 King Street.

It was hard to decide over the phone where to sit so I followed a recommendation but that far back you loose about 10% of the upper part of the show because the balconies cut off that part of the view. For an extra $10 or $20 dollars get yourself right up front. I looked around a bit after and the front row from the balcony would be a cool angle to view the show from as well.

I hadn’t actually hadn’t seen the movie or read the book so it was cool to see it in this adopted format. I left with a ring of my own, it’s a gold ring crafted by a Toronto Artisan Shelly Purdy. It’s a hand made replica of the rings from the show and it reads, “One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them, One ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them”.

So the show; it obviously makes a good date as there seemed to be a mix of well dressed couples to Lord of the Rings junkies attending the show. It started at 7:30 p.m and went on to 11:00. It’s a long show but as you know so was the movie. After one hour there is a short break where you can leave and get a drink, stretch your legs and buy some stuff.

After hour two there is a 3 minute break just long enough for you to stretch your legs again. This is important, just to warn you; you will not be in a recliner when you at the Princess of Wales Theatre. The leg room is minimal.

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Theme: Theater
Dress Code: On another note there is absolutely no cell phones or pictures. As you can see I managed to sneak a couple of poor pictures, but before I could get a good one I was tapped on the shoulder. I seen then signs then after during the first break. That is a little disappointing but people obviously take their theatre much more seriously than I.

The quality of the performance was amazing. Keep in mind this was my first so I have nothing to compare it too but the cast got plenty of ovations and a standing one at the end. The special effects and the stage itself were definitely on the high end.

I would probably go see this show again if I was with someone but after this show I am certainly going to make an effort to start taking in more shows.
Phone: 416-872-1212
Address: 300 King St. West
Directions: Yonge, Front, and King Streets primarily, with other theatres scattered around the city.
Website: http://www.lotr.com
Other Contact: 1-800-461-3333

Nightlife Spot: Princess of Wales Theatre

The Princess of Wales Theatre is a new, 2000-seat playhouse built by the father and son producing team of David and Ed Mirvish, who also own and operate Toronto's historic Royal Alexandra Theatre. The Princess of Wales is the first privately owned and financed theatre built in Canada since 1907 - and the first anywhere in North America in over 30 years. Construction began on August 6, 1991, and the building opened to the public with the musical Miss Saigon on May 26, 1993.

The theatre was built with maximum flexibility in mind. Its stage is one of the widest and deepest in North America - large enough to accommodate the most spectacular theatrical productions - and its technical facilities are state-of-the-art. Source: www.mirvish.com

I can personally attest to the stage because it accomodated the Lord of the Rings show amazingly.

the point of this tip was to provide the seating map. I sat in row T31. I would recommend you spend just a few more dollars and get either A to K on the main level or A to B on either of the other two levels.

You probably need to book early to get those good seats.

Enjoy this theatre! The Lord of the Rings is awesome.

Be prepared for a long show and the seats are pretty close together so it takes some discipline!

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Theme: Theater
Address: 300 King Street West
Directions: Yonge, Front, and King Streets primarily, with other theatres scattered around the city.
Website: http://www.mirvish.com/OurTheatres/Princess.html

Nightlife Spot: Seven Lounge

Club Seven is located right on Richmond Street in the Entertainment District of Toronto. It was a Saturday night and I only had a couple of hours left and I heard it was a good spot so I checked it out.

There was a line up for starters on a Saturday night and lots of security. It was $15 to get in and you get padded down on the way in. So that gives you a little different feeling and you know your not at Anne of Green Gables place anymore, but after finally getting in and getting through coat check it was clear they have a very popular nightclub.

There are two levels and they are both very busy and it’s all dance music. Besides the dance floor space on the main level there was edges with dancers and the club had professional dancers as well as props I guess.

There was a topless guy with trumpet in one corner dancer and two girls in lingerie, cowboy hats and boots in a cage up over the dance floor that could have been running an aerobics show. They were in extremely good shape.

They had Stella Artois and even though it was extremely busy it was relatively easy to get a drink.

As another interesting note you will see from the web site that the place is named after the seven deadly sins, something like the movie Seven!

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Theme: Nightclub
Dress Code: There is a code apparently at time, so you might want to check that out!
Phone: 1-416-599-9797
Address: 224 Richmond Street West
Website: http://www.sevenlounge.ca/

Nightlife Spot: Yuk Yuks

If you haven’t heard of Yuk Yuks yet you should get ready. It’s a chain of stand up comedy bars across Canada. I’ve always wanted to go to one and finally got to experience it in Toronto during and overnight stay there.

I was walking up Richmond Street after the Lord of Rings show and found the place. It was only $17 to get a ticket in, so I took advantage of the opportunity. I got the last two acts and one of those was the feature.

JP or Jean Pierre was the first and then came what I call shock comedian John Rouse [http://www.jasonrouse.com/]. Both where hilarious but be warned Jason Rouse’s show is extreme. He pushes the bar and might not be for everyone because it gets worst, worst and worst and the police never show up. He is conceivably the devil. I don’t want my site on VT to be removed so I can’t repeat any of his jokes or it will change the rating of VT.

On this Saturday night the place was blocked and it looked like I was lucky to find a seat. Here is a warning. Once the show starts if you get up out of your seat, you are asking for trouble and don’t say you were not warned.

You are going to stick out and you become the target. Poor soul after soul couldn’t control their bladder and in hind sight probably would of pissed themselves. Once you get your seat there are plenty of waitresses running the tables getting drinks.

I love humor though and seen these shows on television before but it’s not the same as being there live. Definitely go and you’ll be done the show by midnight or so, giving you time to still hit some of the dance clubs on Richmond Street.

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Theme: Nightclub
Phone: 416-967-6425
Address: 224 Richmond Street West
Website: http://www.yukyuks.com/

Nightlife Spot: Richmond Street

If you are going to be in Toronto for a Friday or Saturday night and you are planning on going to the nightclubs you are probably going to want to find the Entertainment District which includes Richmond Street.

It’s obviously right downtown and has a string of clubs on it. I would suggest it beats St. John’s, Newfoundland’s George Street or Montreal’s Crescent Street but it was cool. The street scene itself don’t compare but the quality of the clubs inside does.

I managed to get to Yuk Yuks and club Seven on one Saturday night and I have separate tips on these places.

I really need to explore around more down here so I gradually have more suggestions. There is not shortage of places to go!

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Theme: Other
Website: http://www.thedistrict.ca/

Nightlife Spot: Reservoir Lounge


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Theme: Nightclub
Website: http://www.reservoirlounge.com/