In celebration of Chinese New Year’s Year of the pig, the zodiac representing good luck and prosperity, Yee Hong Community Wellness Foundation hosted their 30th annual benefit gala, “Dragon Ball”. Yee Hong is a non-profit organization for geriatric care was the first residential hospice built by the Chinese community in Scarborough.
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It is very easy to lapse into a predictable routine. However, when in Toronto, a little creativity with your evening plans is going to make you feel so entertained, even in your own hometown. Free time is precious and you should make the most out of it. Most of the time it passes so quickly that you don’t seem to have time to make a plan.
Here are some of the entertainment ideas that will keep you busy in Toronto.
Movies
This is one of the most common forms of entertainment for the people of Toronto. Thanks to the internet, you can simply open an online streaming app to watch your favourite movie anytime and anywhere but here there are many option like free outdoor movies in the park. This is the best way to escape the tension and stress of the day. It will transport you to a world of magic and fun. Check out the amazing IMAX screen at the Cinesphere for a whole new experience as well.
In case you do not want to watch a movie alone, you can go for a movie date with your partner or just ask your friend to catch a movie with you. Watching a movie with your family at night with some soda and popcorn is also a great idea.
Open Mic Nights
Believe it or not, this is one of the most popular forms of entertainment. Apart from enjoying the acts that are being presented by other people, you can get up on stage and showcase your own talent. You can tell jokes, share your story, or sing a song to entertain the people sitting there. In case you do not want to go to the stage, you can simply sit in the crowd and enjoy the performance. Toronto has a ton of Open Mic nights for you to enjoy.
Online Casino
This form of entertainment is becoming popular at a slow but steady pace. With time more and more people are taking an interest in playing games over the internet. There are several online casinos to choose from and most of these offer a wide range of games. In case you do not want to spend money, you can play the demo versions of the games in these Canadian online casinos, however, playing to win money sounds like a lot more fun.
Comedy Clubs
Stand-up comedy is the new trend. In case you are feeling low after a hard day at work, you can drop in one of the comedy clubs. This is a great way to entertain yourself. Most of the time than not the jokes is hilarious and you have a hearty laugh. This is an excellent way to let go of your joy and stress.
Concert
If you are a fan of live music and your favourite band is in town, you should just get the tickets. Listening to your favourite band perform is a lifetime experience and you should not miss out on this. However, even when you do not know the band, listening to live music can be an excellent form of entertainment. You might find yourself dancing to the beat of the music all throughout the night. So, make sure you wear those comfortable shoes.
If you are looking to place some bets while watching sports then the city of Toronto and its surrounding areas has some great options for a variety of needs. If you are looking to make a trip out of it, try one of the casinos a short distance from the city. Looking to watch live racing? The Woodbine Racetrack is a national landmark. Looking to lay low? Off track betting and online sports betting are both great options in the city. Here are our favourites.
Photo by Gene Devin
Woodbine Racetrack
Toronto’s own Woodbine Racetrack is a great place to bet on sports. It is a racetrack for thoroughbred horse racing and is run by the Woodbine Entertainment Group. Canada’s most well known horse race, The Queen’s Plate, takes place here every year. The track was first opened in 1956 and has been extensively updated over the years. Since 1994, Woodbine Racetrack has had three racecourses. The Casino at Woodbine has over 200 electronic gambling tables, over 3,500 slot machines as well as table games including blackjack, roulette and baccarat. Woodbine Racetrack is located at 555 Rexdale Boulevard.
Casinos
There are several casinos that you can visit near Toronto. If you want to go South to Niagara Falls, you can visit Casino Niagara or Fallsview Casino. Visit this phenomenal natural attraction while catching live shows. Watch sports at the many bars and lounges and play the many games available at both locations.
If you want to go North, check out Great Blue Heron Casino, located near Peterborough. Take some day trips to explore the outdoors as here you are surrounded by some of the most beautiful nature in the world. Spend your days hiking or canoeing and your evenings playing slots, table games and placing bets over drinks with friend or family.
Off Track Betting
Looking to rent a VIP room to watch the game with access to a bar and betting? Places around Toronto like Champions have access to off track better, screens and rental rooms, drinks and more. Catch up with friends in front of a large screen TV without the need to host at home. If you just want to hang out at a local spot without the fuss, these venues are located in major areas like the Danforth and Bloor West.
Betting Online
If you don’t want to have to go out, or plan a day around your athletic wagers, you can always place bets while watching hockey from home. With our cold winters this ia sometimes the smartest decision as well.
It is an exciting year for Leafs fans with an amazing roster of young and talented players. There are websites that will show your NHL betting odds, making it easier to win from the comfort of your couch. You can play over / under or props bets and take the game to a new level of fun. Hockey props with friends is always a ton of fun.
If you’re not quite ready to embrace the warm and fuzzy holiday feeling, you can keep the Halloween vibes going until November 30 with an experience that will leave you sleeping with the lights on.
In a production that began on Friday, September 13 and has remained a hot ticket ever since, The Beverley Street Séance, led by mentalist Jaymes White, is undoubtedly a terrifying affair. In fact, not everyone can handle it. Some – like a young guy in our group – feel sick and have to leave. At the end of the same session, a young (sober) woman vomited out of nowhere on the lawn.
A few hours earlier, a group of 18 guests are invited to meet at a downtown pub, before being escorted a few blocks to the allegedly haunted – and admittedly creepy – George Brown House. Located on Beverley Street, the National Historic Site was once home to Father of Confederation and founder of the Toronto Globe newspaper, George Brown.
In an experience that’s part theatre, part trickery and part completely unexplained, White leads guests on a creepy (if you don’t scream at some point, you win major bravery points) recreation of an authentic Victorian séance throughout the eerie space. Guests hear how Brown died at the home after a brutal infection resulting from a gunshot would after a disgruntled employee shot him. White also tells a (completely unverified) tale of other occupants – a businessman, his wife and three children – who were apparently gruesomely poisoned to death. This family is at the centre of the séance, and they reliably “show up” throughout the evening for every performance.
In what some call a total hoax and others say changes their belief in the paranormal (like a fellow sound-minded writer who swore someone, or something was touching her legs), the Beverley Street Séance – if nothing else – definitely entertains.
Here’s what White had to say about the whole thing:
What is the difference between a psychic and what you do?
I use psychological principles in order to read people. I use science psychology, my intense study of human behaviour and my own intuition. A medium believes that they posses the powers and are born with them; like someone is trying to communicate with them. I have trained since I was 6-years-old in order to read people; I think people can learn this if they devote their lives to it.
What can guests expect from the séance?
The séance is the most unique and scary experience in the country. There is legit nothing like it. What we do is go to a famous haunted location and conduct a séance. The crazy thing is its all psychological and in your head, there is not really any jump things its all psychological, where it sometimes makes you question reality. It is one of those experiences I think you need to attend in order to understand.
How did you decide upon the location?
I actually ask my fans if they know of any famous haunted locations, we then do our research and decide on the location. Marivi who is on my team is the one who kind of leads the way and is able to get the location. We were crazy luck to get the George Brown Mansion who is currently owned by the Ontario Heritage Trust, one of the most beautiful and haunted houses I have ever been to.
Has there been a time during your séances when you’ve been truly scared?
I am too focused on watching the audiences and making sure they are ok that I almost don’t focus too much on what is going on, safety is more important for me. The audience however has a completely different story. I think the reason why this has been sold out for three years straight is because they experience things they have never experienced before. I get messages all the time of people not being able to sleep for a few days or needing to sleep with their lights on after attending the séance.
What have you learned from your interactions with the dead?
I think humans come up with their own rituals and beliefs and I think they are all right. I honestly get to learn more about humans than spirits when conducting these experiences. It is very fascinating to know what makes people believe in the paranormal.
How do you mentally prepare before a big show?
I have my own weird set of rituals that I need to follow to a tee. If I do not follow them I feel off or weird. It is really weird but that is how I prepare for a big experience. I have always been a bit superstitious and I find when I do my weird ritual it keeps me calm and sane. These séances take a lot of physical and mental energy.
Do you think that Ouija Boards are a good idea to use in the home?
I actually have a collection of 103 Ouija Boards from around the world; most of them are very old. I try to find the ones that have a dark history or crazy past. I have never had anything bad happen to me. I guess you could say I am a collector. I think everyone has his or her own beliefs on the Ouija board but personally I have had never anything bad happen.
What do you do with your down time? Are your friends in your industry?
I play a lot of guitar I find it helps my mind mentally; I also try to train my body so I am ready for these crazy experiences. I am definitely a horror junkie, so I try to watch as many horror movies as possible. I also spend a lot of times playing with animals. I legit once got kissed by a Hyena, which was the greatest moment of my life!
A day at the spa is made even better when the said spa is nestled in Ontario’s peaceful wilderness (yet, just over an hour away from the Toronto grind) and immediately puts you in vacation mode. A staple all-seasons resort since 1985, Mono, Ontario’s Hockley Valley Resort offers a refined yet cozy spa experience that comes with the added perks of resort amenities.
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