Some things never change, and your love of art, music, dance, film and theatre is one of them. Bring it with you on your trip to Toronto, ON. Whether your visit is all-business (G20 Summit, anyone?) or nothing-but-pleasure, Canada’s cultural capital—showcasing the best artistic offerings of 100-plus diverse cultures—delivers. Here’s our list of must-dos: 

1. Theatre:
   Boss’s Budget: Toronto’s theatre scene ranks among the world’s best with straight-from-Broadway plays showcasing imported stars and homegrown talent: “Billy Elliott: the Musical” in the heart of the downtown theatre district; “Jersey Boys” plays uptown.
   Bang for Buck: Swap your dressy duds for jeans, a picnic basket and Shakespeare in the park where a professional troupe of actors turn High Park into their backdrop for pay-what-you-can performances. For more diversity in choice and cost, consider The Fringe, Toronto’s Theatre Festival. The summer version (June 30 to July 11) offers 150 stage productions from around the world and special kids’ programming.
2. Music:
   Boss’s Budget: Take in the high notes of the Canadian Opera Company at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts or the classical stirrings of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
   Bang for Buck: Pull up a stool in a Queen Street West bar for blues tunes, rock out with thousands of others at concert venues as big as an amphitheatre or as small as a local pub, or hit the beach for an annual summer jazz festival.
3. Art:
   Boss’s Budget: Linger among the works of Canada’s Group of Seven, roam among dinosaurs, puzzle over the intricate weaving on an age-old slipper at The Bata Shoe Museum or drool over the memorabilia at the Hockey Hall of Fame.
   Bang for Buck: Hit the streets for art lived out loud: an outdoor Caribbean celebration of sequined fashion and pulsating rhythms; a trip in a neighbourhood packed with local art galleries; or a late night with thousands of locals and visitors celebrating the city’s art and innovation during the eclectic Luminato festival. 
4. Dance:
   Boss’s Budget: If you prefer your music in motion, opt for a performance by The National Ballet of Canada with artistic director Karen Kain or enjoy the contemporary dance offerings from the Toronto Dance Theatre, where original Canadian collaborations get top billing.
   Bang for Buck: Get out and dance. Learn to count at the Toronto Tango Festival (June 10 to 13) and to plié in adult dance classes. Or just hit the dance floor in Toronto’s club district. Whatever music moves you, you’ll find a club and in-house classes to match.
5. Film:
   Boss’s Budget: Toronto is where film lovers start their fall season. The Toronto International Film Festival hits high-brow intellectual films, screwball comedies and all in between in theatres across the city. Pair your tickets with a stroll down Toronto’s “mink mile” for a glimpse of how the celebrities shop. Keep an eye out for Denzel, Julia or Russell.
   Bang for Buck: Take in a screening of a Hollywood blockbuster at one of the 3D IMAX theatres around town or head over to Ontario Place’s cinesphere for a domed theatre screen like no other. Want to keep it low-key? Spend time searching for that hard-to find foreign film, indie flick or art-house rental from a video store that shares your passion for fine films.

 
And there’s more: comedy shows, fine cuisine, architectural tours, community events….For the most up-to-date happenings, pick up a free copy of the weekly NOW Magazine in black newspaper boxes. Online try www.torontoist.com, www.seetorontonow.com or www.torontolife.com.
www.ontariotravel.net