New for 2013

What’s generating buzz in our city right now

by Celyn Harding-Jones and Sheryl Kirby

Ripley’s Aquarium
Believe it or not, Toronto is home to more than 13,500 new inhabitants—mostly of the gilled variety—at Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada. Get up close and personal with diverse sea life, from corals to cuttlefish and sand tiger sharks to sea turtles. The aquarium will focus on conservation issues and provide an interactive educational experience.
Opening summer 2013.

The Aga Khan Museum and Ismaili Centre
The Aga Khan Museum and Ismaili Centre houses, preserves and displays 1,000-plus artistic, cultural and historical artifacts from a millennium’s worth of Islamic history. The modern institution aims to expand visitors’ understanding of Muslim and non-Muslim communities through exhibitions, libraries and cultural and educational events. The north Toronto-area museum was designed by renowned Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki.

Pandamania! at the Toronto Zoo
Go wild over Da Mao and Er Shun, the Toronto Zoo’s visiting giant pandas. Thanks to top-level “Panda Diplomacy” (a joint Chinese-Canadian conservation project), the breeding duo arrives this spring for an extended stay. And what will happen if the city’s most-talked-about couple produces a baby? Pure “panda-monium,” we predict.

Black Star Historical Black and White Photography Collection at Ryerson Image Centre
View the social and political history of the 20th century through the lens of the most influential photographers of our time. The architecturally spectacular Ryerson Image Centre is home to the world’s most significant collection of black-and-white photography: the 292,000-image strong Black Star Collection. It includes iconic shots of Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, Glenn Gould and Neil Armstrong, as well as photo essays documenting war, the civil rights movement and eye-opening images of Canada’s Far North.

Hot & New in Galleries and Museums

Here’s the scoop on what’s happening at the city’s top galleries and museums:

Christian Louboutin at the Design Exchange
A retrospective of French shoe designer Christian Louboutin’s arty, sexy confections.
June 21 through September 15, 2013

Game ON 2.0 at the Ontario Science Centre
There’s always something fun going on at the Ontario Science Centre and this year with “Game On 2.0: An Exhibition” you can play your way through the history and evolution of video games with over 150 influential games.
From March 9 to September 2, 2013

Mesopotamia at the ROM
Go waaay back in time and explore Mesopotamia at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM). Discover the origins of writing, law and mathematics, as well as the earliest settlements from 10,000 BC.
From June 22, 2013 to January 5, 2014

Out of the Box: The Rise of Sneaker Culture
Check out the coolest kicks at the Bata Shoe Museum at this exhibit celebrating the humble — and super-stylish — sneaker.
From April 2013 to April 2014

Revealing the Early Renaissance at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)
“Revealing the Early Renaissance: Stories and Secrets in Florentine Art” promises a fresh look at the art world’s most seminal and influential paintings, sculptures and manuscripts with more than 90 masterpieces, many of which have never travelled before.
From March 16 to June 16, 2013

Yum on the Run: Food Trucks

Hankering for food-truck cuisine? Find out where these local favourites are parked each day:

Caplansky Deli Truck – Tunderin’ Thelma
Famous for: Authentic deli-style hot smoked-meat sandwiches

El Gastrónomo Vagabundo
Famous for: Gourmet tacos and adventurous Asian street food

Gorilla Cheese
Famous for: Grilled-cheese sammies with extras like bacon and cranberry sauce

The Food Dudes
Famous for: Vegetarian-friendly caterering…with plasma TVs

Fidel Gastro’s
Famous for: Sloppy and delish pulled-pork and Cuban chicken sandwiches

Check out Toronto Food Trucks torontofoodtrucks.ca and on Twitter: @foodtrucksTO to keep track of them all.

New Eats at YYZ

Snag an upgrade on your airport dining courtesy of 13 new restaurants at Toronto Pearson International Airport Terminals 1 and 3. Part of the airport improvement program, the eateries integrate user-friendly tech (ordering via iPad) alongside a diverse tasting menu of Toronto chefs.

Don’t miss:

• Massimo Capra’s Boccone Trattoria Veloce for a full restaurant experience and Boccone Pronto for Italian on the run.


• Nobel Burger Bar for gourmet burgers from local celebrity chef Mark McEwan.


• Acer, offering modern Japanese dining by chef Guy Rubino.


• Chef Rocco Agostino, serving rustic Italian flavours at Corso.


• Indian “street food” by Toronto chef Hemant Bhagwani at Marathi.