How Technology Is Changing Teambuilding Tips for Hybrid Meetings

Transcription

BIZBASH TORONTO
How Technology Is Changing Teambuilding Tips for Hybrid Meetings
MAY/JUNE 2012
EVENTS
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From the Editor
What’s the Point?
New technology can help you achieve your goals,
or it can distract you from them.
Content, including keynote sessions, from SAP’s Sapphire
Now conference in Orlando in May 2011 was shared online
and with 18 satellite locations around the world.
event specialists are developing all-virtual games
At BizBash we love what’s new. That’s in our
designed to help co-workers bond while they sit,
nature as journalists, and it’s crucial to our misseparately, at their desks.
sion to help event professionals stay on top of
Sounds pretty interesting, no? But isn’t the
industry trends and ideas.
point of a teambuilding activity to get people
But while reading the stories in this issue,
out of the daily grind and interacting away from
I was reminded that sometimes the excitement
their phones and computers?
of the new can get in the way.
In Lauren’s story, Wizard Studios C.E.O.
When associate editor Mitra Sorrells reported
Russell Brumfield describes a new model:
her piece on audiovisual production for hybrid
“I think the future of teambuilding is hybrid:
events, meeting consultant Mary Boone told
nine months of virtual bonding and then coming
her, “The most important thing to keep in mind
together [a few times a year] for
is figuring out what technologies
make the most sense to achieve
physical bonding.”
the event’s particular goals. A lot of
Speaking of the new, when
times that gets lost in the excitewe relaunched BizBash.com
in March, we added some
ment of experimenting with new
April 20 marked the
features that I think dovetail
technology.”
one-year anniversary of
nicely with our mission. Like
It’s easy to get caught up in
our daily email, the Call
a photo in one of our stories?
figuring out the latest apps and
Sheet. We’ve been happy
Want to save it? Now you
gadgets, watching how others are
to hear from many
can create an Idea Book and
using them, and adapting them to
industry insiders who
fill it with inspiring work. Or
our own projects—so much so that
say it’s the first thing
create several—an Idea Book
we can forget to ask a critical questhey read each day. That
of catering concepts, an Idea
tion: How will these things help us
is exactly the intention
Book of sponsor integrations,
achieve this project’s goals? (Or, for
of this daily digest of
an Idea Book for an upcoming
the really lost: What exactly are this
industry news—a mix
event. Plus, we’re working on
project’s goals?)
of big industry stories,
additional new features that
That idea echoed in my head
local tidbits, and links to
will help you find more creative
when I talked to style editor Lauren
analysis of the trends
solutions in our archive of more
Matthews about the new wave
changing the event
than 10 years of event coverage.
of teambuilding activities modworld. It’s designed to be
While it’s important to stay
eled after video games and social
a cheat sheet for what
on top of the latest developmedia apps like Foursquare. While
the industry is talking
ments, remember an idea
companies like Google, Apple, and
about. If you haven’t
doesn’t necessarily need to be
Facebook are incorporating highalready, sign up now at
new to be relevant.
tech takes on scavenger hunts into
bizbash.com/callsheet
—Chad Kaydo, editor in chief
their corporate-bonding activities,
PHOTO: BEN PANCOAST/SAP AG
The Call Sheet
Turns 1
K_\
E\n
New Personal Profile
Features Include:
Easier navigation
Idea bookmarking
Ability to save your
favorite vendors
Manage your subscriptions
Create mood boards
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Teambuilding
Game Changers
As corporate bonding goes high-tech,
are completely virtual activities the next
big thing? By LAUREN MATTHEWS
Prime
Time
Popular TV shows have
sparked teambuilding
ideas in recent years.
Here are the latest.
By ROSE CHEVALIER &
JULIA CUOZZO
challenges about new products on
their phones,” Brumfield says.
The new tools can even help motivate especially jaded employees. “The
technology element definitely helps
ease people into the game and makes
teambuilding seem less gimmicky,”
says Ian Fraser, co-founder of techenabled-scavenger-hunt company
the Go Game, which has worked with
Google, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft,
and Intuit. Fraser adds that using
smartphones and tablets has logistical advantages, too, particularly with
large groups. “Having the points tabulated on a cloud-based system makes
the process much faster—there’s no
need to have someone with a pen and
a calculator,” Fraser says.
Adds Brumfield, “Phones and
iPads make it much easier to talk to
a thousand-person group and make
something happen instantaneously,
since everyone is looking at the
same portal.”
The latest element in high-tech
co-worker bonding is all-virtual
teambuilding game platforms. After
getting requests from clients who
wanted to continue the company
bonding beyond a one-day event,
Fraser and his team launched the Go
Game Office. The online software,
which costs $100 a month for as
many as 100 players, involves dividing
employees into teams that get new
mini missions every week, like sharing
Like Smash? At Broadway
Fantasy Camp (212.713.0366,
broadwayfancamp.com)
amateurs gain access to theatre pros during one- to fiveday musical boot camps that
culminate with a performance on an off-Broadway
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$995 U.S. per person.
16 bizbash.com may/june 2012
your favorite lunch spot, or posting
your most awkward childhood photo
for points. More than 500 companies
have signed up since the Go Game
Office launched in 2010. “The idea
was to create a private, Facebook-y
environment that built on employees’
intrinsic need to engage with each
other, but that only took five minutes
a week,” Fraser says. “The main goal is
getting to know your co-workers. It’s
about connecting with people.”
Other companies are looking beyond simply connecting co-workers
on an entertainment level in the
virtual world, hoping to increase
engagement and productivity
among employees by adding gaming elements to intranet platforms.
Social business-software platform
Jive teamed with game-mechanics
service provider Bunchball in March
to launch the Jive Gamification
module. The software incorporates
role-based missions, challenges,
status levels, and badges into digital
education and training experiences.
A company’s sales staff, for example,
could take part in a competition to
see who could complete training
materials first. “It’s about creating a
fun environment at the workplace,”
says Bunchball sales representative
Like Mad Men? Groups
are challenged to come up
with a new product, then
create and film a 60-second
commercial during the
Ad Biz from Corporate
Games (800.790.4263, corp
games.com). The exercise
accommodates 10 to 400
and starts at $1,800 U.S.
During tech-driven Go Game
scavenger hunts, participants use
smartphones to download clues
and missions for their teams.
Angelina Elhassan. “Ropes courses
and other teambuilding activities
offer a way to get to know your coworkers outside of the office. This
is meant to function as a way to
encourage daily bonding.”
Experts emphasize, however,
that these new virtual teambuilding platforms are meant to augment
face-to-face bonding, not replace it.
“I think the future of teambuilding is
hybrid—nine months of virtual bonding and then coming together [a few
times a year] for physical bonding,”
Brumfield says. “It’s like Facebook, in
which people are keeping in touch
with each other [even] when not
physically in contact. All this technology is bringing people closer together, and the game layer is adding to
the motivation for participation.”
Adds Fraser, “[A team] can
virtually sail a boat together and
say, ‘We’ve achieved an eye-patch
badge and 10 gold coins,’ or they can
actually learn to sail a boat together
and feel the saltwater splash in their
faces. I think there will always be a
place for hands-on activities, even if
technology is involved.”
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For groups of 20 to 1,000,
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watch a baking demo before
baking recipes, sampling one
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accommodates eight to 300,
and costs $75 U.S. per head.
Share these stories bizbash.com/teambuilding
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF VENDORS
Social media platforms and apps are
adding gaming elements like badges,
channels, and leader boards to the
daily lives of many smartphone users. As a result, teambuilding companies are seeing a rise in requests for
activities that bridge the digital and
the physical.
“Everyone loves gadgets, and
they want to be a part of what’s new
and cutting-edge,” says Lisa Jennings,
chief experience officer at Wildly
Different, an Orlando-based teambuilding company that launched an
iPad hunt in September involving
a custom mobile app that delivers
directions and clues.
“Teambuilding has always involved basic game mechanics,” says
Russell Brumfield, C.E.O. of Wizard
Studios Global Events, whose company launched an event technology
division in 2009. “The difference is
that now people are adding a technology layer, which allows for more
of a learning takeaway on top of the
physical bonding.” Wizard’s teambuilding games deliver missions and
track scores via a custom app, but
also integrate physical challenges
and real-world interactions. For a
Johnson & Johnson meeting last
year, “we created an activity that
had employees interacting with
character actors and filming funny
videos, but that also involved the
employees solving informational
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Get Back to Work.
Bing rewarded
some festival
attendees who
mentioned the
brand on social
media with
entrance to the
“Bing Bar.”
Bing created a studio inside the
Bing Bar to conduct celebrity
interviews, which were shared
on Facebook and Bing.
Bing partnered
with Spin
to host a
variety of live
entertainment
at the Bing
Bar, including
Drake, Jason
Mraz, and
Fitz and the
Tantrums.
Strategy Session
Search Results
Bing’s elaborate activation at Sundance
shows how a brand can use social media to
meet customers’ needs. By MITRA SORRELLS
To manage the on-site activities, the company created the “Bing
Brigade,” a sort of social media
concierge service. The team of 14
people monitored and responded to
questions about the festival posted
on Twitter, handed out Bing swag
to people waiting in lines (the company distributed more than 4,500
items, including sweatshirts and
mittens), and even charged attendees’ phones using special backpacks.
Sedgwick said the most
popular giveaway was access to
the invitation-only Bing Bar, in
the former Claim Jumper Hotel,
which offered cozy lounge areas,
interviews with filmmakers, and
concerts from such artists as Jason
Mraz, Cobra Starship, and Drake.
“People would tweet, ‘It would be
my dream come true to go to the
Bing Bar to see Drake,’ and for a
number of people we reached out
and said, ‘Here is your dream come
true,’” Sedgwick said. The company
also created a Bing-Sundance 2012
group on GroupMe (a group texting
service also owned by Microsoft)
and encouraged attendees to use
it to coordinate their activities with
friends. Sedgwick said hundreds
of groups were created, and they
Postagram’s mobile photo team
snapped nearly 2,000 photos in
three days at the festival.
rewarded the most active ones with
access to the Bing Bar.
The Bing Brigade also monitored tweets inquiring about restaurants. “We had booked reservations at the hottest restaurants
ahead of time,” Sedgwick said. “So
if people tweeted about trying to
get a reservation with the hashtag
#teambing, we would randomly
pick some to give a reservation and
a $100 gift card. We wanted to show
that Bing helps you get things done
while you are at Sundance.”
For another activation, Bing hired
Sincerely, the maker of Postagram, to
provide a team of 10 photographers
to snap photos of festival-goers.
About a week after the festival, those
people received their photos in the
mail in the form of a Postagram
postcard printed with Bing’s logo.
“We wanted that extra touchpoint
a week later, another iteration of
our name out there to hopefully get
people to try the product, and have
a more positive connotation around
it,” Sedgwick said.
Bing also used social media to
connect with movie buffs and music
fans worldwide. “There are tons of
people who are not able to get to
Park City, so we thought about how
we could help people experience a
taste of [Sundance] while at home,”
Sedgwick said. The solution was
live-streaming performances and
speakers at Bing Bar to the brand’s
Facebook page, giving people incentive to “like” the page in order to
have access to the stream.
One bit of fallout from Bing’s
efforts at Sundance: In March the
company fired two marketing
executives, Eric Hadley and Sean
Carver, for violating company policies in part related to purchases for
the Bing Bar.
Share this story bizbash.com/bing
PHOTOS: DAVID HUA (PHOTO TEAM), CHARLES PETERSON (ALL OTHERS)
Microsoft’s search engine brought its
“Bing Is for Doing” slogan to life at
the Sundance Film Festival in January. Bing created a multilevel social
media campaign that offered guests
access to exclusive concerts, restaurant reservations, merchandise, and
concierge services. The premise was
simple: Give festival attendees what
they want and need, and in return,
they’ll share their affinity for your
brand on social networks.
“We had done some social
stuff last year at Sundance, but not
nearly to the scope and scale of this
year,” said Bing social media manager Dustin Sedgwick. “We wanted
to be positive and fun, to surprise
and delight, and to help people to
get things done at Sundance.”
The company received more
than 55,000 views of its Facebook
stream, and nearly 55 million Twitter
impressions during its five-day presence. Of all the social media buzz
about brands at the festival, Bing
owned 56 percent of the mentions.
The effort had two components:
providing special treatment and
insider access for some of the 50,000
attendees at Sundance, and sharing
the festival with the company’s fans
on Facebook.
LAS VEGAS La Tavola
Fine Linen Rental
recently opened
its first Las Vegas
showroom (3301
West Spring
Mountain Road #8,
702.383.3337,
latavolalinen.com).
Clients can experiment with tabletop designs at the new
space, no appointments necessary.
WASHINGTON
MIAMI The Water Taxi Miami (305.600.2511,
watertaximiami.com) is now operating between
four docking points, including the Miami Convention Center and South Beach. The yellow boats
hold as many as 38 passengers and are available
for private charters, which start at $450 U.S. for the
first hour and $150 U.S. for each additional hour.
Forecast
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF KIMPTON HOTELS (BOSTON), SCOTT SUCHMAN (WASHINGTON),
BERGONIA PHOTOGRAPHY (CHICAGO), COURTESY OF VENDORS (ALL OTHERS)
Ideas, products, trends, and
other new stuff to have on
your radar.
LOS ANGELES Le Cirque has been bringing the
experience of dining at the iconic New York
restaurant to private clubs. The pop-up dinner
series (888.402.3933, clubcorp.com/lecirque)
made its final stops in Southern California, visiting San Diego on May 11 and Los Angeles on
May 18. The $150 U.S.-per-person price tag
included a four-course menu, wine, and a copy
of Sirio: The Story of My Life and Le Cirque.
Share this story bizbash.com/forecast
James Beard
Awardwinning chef
José Andrés
of ThinkFoodGroup
debuted his Spanish food truck, Pepe
(202.638.0202, pepefoodtruck.com), in March.
The silver truck is available for private events, offering a selection of eight flautas— rolled sandwiches layered with ingredients like Iberico pork,
piparra peppers, Serrano ham, and manchego.
There is a minimum of $1,200 and 20 guests,
which includes the truck and staff for two hours.
BOSTON In April, the Hotel Marlowe in
Cambridge (25 Edwin H. Land Boulevard,
617.868.8000, hotelmarlowe.com), which
overlooks the Charles River and the Lechmere Canal, began offering relay-style
kayaking races for as many as 40 guests.
Races are held in the afternoon and conclude with a cocktail reception featuring
regional drinks.
TORONTO Sliced Gourmet (650 Bay
Street, 416.971.4000, slicedgourmet
.com) has a full gourmet catering menu
of sandwiches and salads for in-office
meetings and private events. All items,
like the Lobster B.L.T., are made from
scratch with
seasonal,
natural
ingredients.
Delivery is
available
for orders
over $50 U.S.
EVERYWHERE Send gift boxes filled with
ORLANDO Ice Magic (407.816.1905, icemagic
.biz) created a swivel table that can be attached to any of the pieces in its Totally
Mod line of modular leather furniture. The
Orlando-based company can construct the
tabletop in glass, acrylic, or wood and in sizes
from 14 to 22 inches. It starts at $50 U.S.
CHICAGO Mixologist Revae
Schneider, a veteran of Gilt Bar,
has launched
Femme du
Coupe (773.916.
6070, femmedu
coupe.com),
a bar-styling
company
specializing in
creating custom
cocktails for events. Schneider practices
“interactive mixology,” giving guests
the option to create their own libations
alongside her. Femme du Coupe also
offers teambuilding classes and sells premade cocktail mixers for $40 U.S. each,
which can be used as corporate gifts.
magazines and snacks from Cheeriodicals
(855.584.2207, cheeriodicals.com) as a
client or employee gift. In addition to
treats, each box contains four magazines
geared toward the
recipient’s
interests. Boxes
start at $40
U.S., with discounts for orders
of at least 50.
NEW YORK In late June, P.S. 1 MoMA (22-25 Jackson
Avenue, 718.784.2084, ps1.org) in Queens will debut a
temporary 3-D eco-friendly installation made from nylon nets treated with a titania nanoparticle spray that
neutralizes airborne pollutants. The star-shaped structure called Wendy was designed by New York-based
firm HWKN. It will house a DJ booth and its spiky arms
will mist water and blast cool air into the courtyard.
bizbash.com may/june 2012 23
Elton John
PHOTOS: SEAN TWOMEY/2ME STUDIOS (MAXIM), LARRY BUSACCA/GETTY IMAGES FOR EJAF
(ELTON JOHN), CRAIG BARRITT/GETTY IMAGES FOR TWC (WEINSTEIN LOUNGE), NEILSON
BARNARD/GETTY IMAGES (WEINSTEIN OSCAR VIEWING)
Maxim
The Elton John AIDS Foundation celebrated its 20th annual viewing party at the newly redesigned West Hollywood Park, a change
of venue from its usual haunt, the Pacific Design Center. Virginia
Fout of V Productions produced the event, which this year got
a blue, nautical-inspired look with design by Antony Todd. The
fund-raising event took in $5.25 million U.S., thanks in part to auction items like the opportunity to join John and husband David
Furnish at the Vanity Fair Oscar party, which sold for $230,000 U.S.
After dinner, Foster the People performed.
When many of
the night’s parties
were wrapping up,
Maxim was just
getting started at
a residence way
up in the hills over
West Hollywood.
About 750 guests
came through the
doors for a performance by Ludacris
and sweeping
city views. The
Visionary Group
produced the
authentic-feeling
party, which also
included a branded
pool table and
racing-style chairs
using actual Ford
car seats.
Weinstein
The Weinstein Company took to the Mondrian for its
viewing and after-party, which got a celebratory feel
thanks to huge wins for the company, including best
picture for The Artist. Maggie Swisher produced the
event, which got a clean look in white and metallic
tones. A clear-top tent and decking covered the pool to
make room for the crowd.
27
PHOTOS: CARLA WARRILOW/BIZBASH (COLLECTION), TREVOR HALDENBY (ALL OTHERS)
The C.F.C. raffled off David Yurman
pieces, on display in the foyer as part
of the “luxe collection.”
Guests went behind the screen to
participate in “Heart of Stars,” an
interactive art installation.
Maximum Bid
The Canadian Film Centre adopted a
new auction strategy for its gala.
The Canadian Film Centre’s annual
gala and auction at the Carlu attracted 570 guests on February 8. The gala motif
was “reflect,” designed to make guests “reflect on
the past and future work of our alumni,” said Katie
Gallagher, the organization’s events manager.
The event is the largest fund-raiser for the
C.F.C., and this year Gallagher focused on a qualityover-quantity strategy for the silent and live auctions. “We really started to try packages that could
get us the most amount of money,” said Gallagher,
who cut the number of silent auction items from
TORONTO
The “collection”
featured a Fossil
watch and
messenger bag.
more than 100 to just 50 luxury goods and experiences. The strategy proved successful. “We were
thrilled that all of our items sold, and we received
wonderful feedback from our guests on the types
of packages we had put together,” she said after
the event. She plans to adopt the same strategy for
the C.F.C. barbecue during the Toronto International
Film Festival.
The silent auction was divided into two
rooms. The “collection,” with items priced under
$2,000, took over the Round Room, and the “luxe
collection,” with items at more than $2,000, was
displayed in the foyer. With far fewer auction items,
Gallagher noted that the layout was much cleaner
than in the past. The live auction, which last year
included nine items, had just three items this year,
with a focus on fashion and film. “[The items]
speak to our audience coming tonight,” Gallagher
said. “[They are] money-can’t-buy, priceless experiences.” The live auction included an intimate dinner
hosted by C.F.C. founder Norman Jewison and a
$10,000 shopping spree and trip to Milan Fashion
Week to meet Giorgio Armani.
Jeffry Roick of McNabb Roick Events acted as
decor chairman. To match the theme, he incorporated reflective pieces, from mirrored tabletops to
glittering chandeliers. The “Heart of Stars” interactive art installation added to the decor in the foyer.
Using Microsoft Kinect, the piece created by C.F.C.
alumni Vanessa Shaver
and Tsu-Ching Yu mapped
A complete
guests’ moving figures into
list of vendors
the constellations. —C.W.
bizbash.com/cfc
with red LED lights. Yellow and red floral arrangements from Jackie O decorated the bars and tabletops. The colour palette
even made its way into
Right to Play
the drinks menu, with
Fund-Raiser
The first Right to Play fund-raiser drew
Hennessy Black, “(BelveCarpeting Reznick
attention with big, bright red letters.
dere) Red”—a limitedCarpets
edition bottle that
Catering, Venue
Thompson Hotel
On February 23, international husupports H.I.V. and AIDS
TORONTO manitarian organization Right to research—and fresh red DJ Alexandra Richards,
Lapelle
Play hosted a fund-raiser for about 300 guests. fruits like cranberries,
Design, Event
The inaugural event, founded by fashion televi- strawberries, pomegranManagement,
Production Candice
sion personality Glen Baxter, was held on the
ates, and guavas.
& Alison Luxury Event
private penthouse level of the Thompson Hotel
The event raised
Management
and placed a premium on messaging. “This is a $80,000 for the orgaFlowers Jackie O Flowers
great opportunity to raise awareness for Right
nization, which has
Furniture Rentals Divine
to Play,” said Robert Witchel, national director of decided to host the
Furniture Rental
Printing Shinzo Media
the nonprofit’s Canadian office. “We hope that
fund-raiser on an
Production Westbury
through this experience, people get to know
annual basis.
National Show Systems
our brand.”
—Carla Warrilow
Rather than cover the space with logos,
planners Candice Chan and Alison Slight of
The organization’s logo decorated
Candice & Alison Luxury Events opted for one
the tops of cocktail tables.
focal point. At the entrance, large letters spelling out “Right to Play” lined a wall of windows,
with the city skyline serving as the backdrop.
“We obviously knew that one of the highlights
of the space was the view,” said Chan, referring
to the penthouse’s floor-to-ceiling windows.
“We put branding where people’s eyes tend
to go.” The design team also used
the strategic installation to incorporate sponsor Puma into the
decor: the “Y” was covered with
the sportswear company’s leaping
wildcat logo.
Chan and Slight also pulled
from Right to Play’s signature red,
yellow, and black colour scheme to
further integrate the nonprofit’s
identity into the event. Reznick
Carpets carpeted the entire space
in bright red, and Westbury uplit it
Word Play
PHOTOS: RYAN EMBERLY (DJ BOOTH), JASON JAJALLA (ALL OTHERS)
Illuminated, colour-changing
tiles decorated the DJ booth.
Large letters spelling out “Right to Play” lined a
wall of windows. The “Y” was marked with Puma
logos, a nod to the headlining sponsor.
Share this story bizbash.com/righttoplay
would like to thank all
of those who partnered
with us to make the
“
”
BizBash Celebrates Toronto
event such a success!
D iv i n e
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Rentals
PHOTO: GARRISON MCARTHUR PHOTOGRAPHERS
Industrial Chic
The Toronto
New Venue Report
It’s an important time for venues in Toronto. Luxury brands like Trump Hotels
and Shangri-La are launching new outposts to elevate the standard—and
the skyline—of the city with openings this year. Business-by-day, venue-bynight spaces like Waddington’s Auction House, have also been on the rise,
challenging the traditional model. By CARLA WARRILOW
The Arcadian Loft opened
this spring as the newest
addition to the event
venue Arcadian Court.
The 6,773-square-foot
space can be divided into
five smaller rooms, each
outfitted with screens,
projectors, and dimmers.
Playing into the neutral
colour palette of the
venue, the decor includes
gray wood floors and
light-coloured furnishings.
(401 Bay St., 8th Floor,
416.861.6138, arcadian
court.ca)
Reports from Toronto’s
newest event spaces
bizbash.com/torontovenues
The Toronto New Venue Report
1
3
5
RESTAURANTS
Lounge and restaurant
Bloke & 4th opened
in December. Groups of as
many as 100 can arrange
for a private cooking
class or cocktail demo.
Depending on the group
size, classes take place in the
2,500-square-foot bar area
or in the state-of-the-art
kitchen, home to caterers
the Food Dudes. (401 King St.
West, 416.477.1490,
1
blokeand4th.com)
2. Located in the King West
area, Williams Landing
is the newest addition to
Liberty Village. The main
dining room seats 102 and
the outdoor patio seats
175. A private dining room
is also available for buyout
and holds as many as 66.
Helmed by chef Marco
D’Angelo, the menu offers
freshly made pizzas and
burgers with local and
organic ingredients.
(120 Lynn Williams Street,
647.340.8008, williams
landing.ca)
The sophisticated
3
tavern Against
the Grain opened in the
Harbourfront in June,
specializing in high-end
pub food and a rotating
menu of local brews. The
modern dining room seats
70 and the lakeside patio
seats 204, with couches
and fire pits available for
larger groups. Private events
can be booked for as many
as 80. (25 Dockside Drive,
647.344.1562, atgurban
tavern.ca)
Parisian-style bistro
4
La Société opened last
June on Bloor Street’s “Mink
Mile” and has multiple
patios available for events.
The second-floor terrace has
room for as many as 100
standing or 60 seated. The
street-level patio has a builtin bar and seats 80 or holds
200 for a reception. (131
Bloor St. West, 416.551.9929,
lasociete.ca)
Located inside the
Ritz-Carlton, Toca
offers a 12-seat private
dining room and a 10-seat
chef’s table in an enclave
off the kitchen. The glassenclosed private room has
dark leather chairs, walnut
floors, and a red accent
wall. At the granite chef’s
table, guests can watch
the kitchen at work and
enjoy a menu customized by chef Tom Brodi.
(181 Wellington St. West,
416.585.2500, toca
restaurant.com)
5
PHOTOS: TED CHAI PHOTOGRAPHY (BLOKE & 4TH), COURTESY OF AGAINST THE GRAIN, CARLA WARRILOW/BIZBASH (LA SOCIÉTÉ), CHRISTOPHER CYPERT (TOCA)
4
Activity Venues
Rinx entertainment
complex added a $1.2
million, 15,000-square-foot
Event Centre in September.
The private facility, which
can only host one event at
a time, offers two custom
games, six 10-pin bowling
lanes, a small bar, the
Fireside Lounge, and the
Event Hall banquet room.
The new space holds as
many as 250. (65 Orfus
Road, 416.410.7469, rinx
toronto.com)
Ping-pong social
2
club Spin opened
PHOTOS: CARLA WARRILOW/BIZBASH (STORYS), HENRY LIN (WADDINGTON’S), PAUL MCNULTY (AIRSHIP37), SHANNON ECKSTEIN (RINX), ROXY HUNT & TONY CASTLE (SPIN), YURI MARKAROV (LI KA SHING), COURTESY OF SCOTIABANK CONVENTION CENTRE
1
in September and offers
customized menus,
ping-pong lessons, and
tournament structures
for large groups. Available
for buyouts, Spin holds
as many as 400, and
offers two private rooms.
The social room holds
125 and is equipped with
five ping-pong tables,
a private bar, and a
DJ booth. The smaller
600-square-foot private
room holds 20. (461 King
St. West, 416.599.7746,
spingalactic.com)
1
2
3
416.504.9100, wadding
tons.ca)
The renovated
3 industrial wareThe 170-year-old
Waddington’s auction house Airship37 opened in
1
2
Storys Building
house relocated to
spring 2011 with two event
opened in October with
King East in October and
spaces. The 1,200-squarethree levels of event space, offers its office as an event
foot Gooderham Lounge
each holding as many as
venue after work hours.
includes black leather
200. The third and fourth
The 4,000-square-foot
furnishings and a
floors are reserved for
venue seats 200, or holds
built-in bar, while the
events, and the second
425 for receptions. The raw 2,500-square-foot Hanger
floor, which will become a
space has polished concrete is a blank canvas. Concrete
cocktail lounge later this
floors, exposed pipes, and
floors, exposed brick, and
year, has a built-in bar. A
two walls of floor-to-ceiling roll-down garage doors
tavern-style restaurant is
windows. Art from the
maintain the industrial
scheduled to open this year. auction house vault hangs
feel. (37 Parliament St.,
(11 Duncan St.,416.869.9444, on the walls, if requested.
Studio 2, 416.364.9981,
storysbuilding.com)
(275 King St. East, 2nd Floor, airship37.com)
RAW SPACES
2
Meeting Spaces &
Conference Centers
1. FountainBlu, which
opened in September,
offers 5,500 square feet
of meeting and event
space for as many as 600.
Attached to the Queen
Elizabeth Theatre, the
modern ballroom features
large windows that
overlook the exhibition
grounds. The space also
includes a 1,000-squarefoot cocktail reception
room and a 300-squarefoot terrace. (200 Princes’
Blvd., 416.263.3290,
fountainblu.ca)
1
projection capabilities,
smart boards, and wireless
Internet. (209 Victoria St.,
416.360.4000, stmichaels
hospital.com)
The Li Ka Shing
The Scotiabank
2
3
Knowledge Institute
Convention Centre
of St. Michael’s Hospital
opened in April 2011 and
opened in May 2011 after
is the largest convention
four years of construccentre in Niagara Falls.
tion. The research and
Just 500 yards from
education facility offers
the falls, the LEEDmodern meeting rooms,
certified building offers
five classrooms that
an 82,000-squareeach seat 50, six seminar
foot exhibition hall, a
rooms for eight each, a
17,000-square-foot ball15-seat boardroom, an
room, and an additional
auditorium for 200, and an 26,500 square feet of
1,800-square-foot ehibimultipurpose meeting
tion space. All meeting
space. (6815 Stanley Ave.,
spaces come equipped
Niagara Falls, 905.357.6222,
with audiovisual and
fallsconventions.com)
2
3
ADVERTISEMENT
Atlantis Pavilions
Is Still Open for
Events
INSIDE EDGE
BizBash Event Honours Toronto’s Top
100 Events and Readers’ Choice Award
Finalists, Winners
BizBash celebrated the Greater Toronto
Area’s event industry with an event
at the Sony Centre for the Performing
Arts in May. 400 guests attended the
event to honor the annual Top 100
Events and the first annual Toronto
Readers’ Choice Awards. The planners
of the Top 100 Events were honoured
at a ceremony on the main stage and
were graced by dramatic lighting and
a backdrop of trees. Entertainment
included a performance by Mega
Magic, a Toronto-area illusionist.
The finalists in the first-annual
Toronto Readers Choice Awards
gathered for the awards ceremony,
where the winners were then
revealed via multiscreen display.
Toronto-area event professionals
had been nominated for awards in
11 categories, and the winners were
determined by BizBash readers
who cast more than 41,000 votes.
Following the Readers’ Choice Awards,
guests enjoyed a cocktail reception
catered by Sodexo.
Atlantis Pavilions, a landmark event
venue along the waterfront in Toronto,
has announced that they remain open
and available for events despite the
changes occurring at Ontario Place.
The 40-year-old amusement park that
was part of the complex has closed as
part of the revitalization plans for the
waterfront district. Atlantis Pavilions
remains actively involved in the new
direction of Ontario Place, and has
expressed that they are excited to be
working with new partners to move
the district forward.
Atlantis Pavilions features four
ballrooms with 30-foot, floor-toceiling windows, offering guests
panoramic views of the Toronto
skyline and Lake Ontario waterfront.
Atlantis is conveniently located just
minutes from downtown and can
accommodate up to 1,500 guests.
The in-house catering team provides
exceptional service and offers a variety
of different packages to perfectly suit
your event. (416-260-8000, www.
atlantispavilions.com)
Oliver & Bonacini Opens New Space, Arcadian Loft
The historic Arcadian Court
of The Bay’s Queen Street
flagship store relaunched as
Arcadian on May 1, 2012. The
event complex now includes
two distinct venues, the
revitalized Arcadian Court
and the brand-new Arcadian
Loft. Arcadian Court, which
opened in 1929, has been
restored to its original artdeco style. The Arcadian Loft
is a contemporary space,
with flexible floor plan
options, state-of-the-art
technological capabilities,
and a stunning 200-linealfoot glass wall that offers
a stunning view of Old
and New City Hall. Both
spaces have partnered with
Oliver & Bonacini Events to
provide exceptional service
and world-class event
menus under the direction
of corporate events chef
Jamie Meireles.
Arcadian Loft can
accommodate up to 450
guests, and can be booked
whole, divided up into
five separate rooms, or in
conjunction with Arcadian
Court. Arcadian Court can
accommodate up to 700
guests and is graced with
large arches, chandeliers,
and skylights, all of which
pay tribute to its original
art-deco style. Together, these
two spaces form one of the
most dramatic and versatile
event venues in the city.
(416.364.1211, http://events.
oliverbonacini.com)
Toronto Venue Directory
A selection of resources from our comprehensive online directory of event and meeting suppliers and venues
Activity Venues p. 47
Arcades & Virtual-Reality Centers
Bowling Alleys
Cooking Schools & Tasting Venues
Dance Instruction Venues
Pool & Billiard Halls
Sports Venues
Other Activity Venues
Ballrooms & Banquet Halls p. 48
Bars, Lounges & Clubs p. 50
Bars & Lounges
Clubs
Boats & Yachts p. 51
Conference & Convention
Centres p. 52
Entertainment &
Performance Spaces p. 53
Comedy & Music Clubs
Screening Rooms
Theatres & Performance Spaces
Golf Courses & Clubs p. 54
Hotels p. 55
Independent Event Spaces p. 56
Mansions & Homes p. 58
Museums & Cultural Spaces p. 58
Art Museums
Art Spaces & Galleries
Historical & Cultural Institutions
Science/Natural History Museum
Outdoor Spaces p. 59
Private Clubs p. 60
Restaurants p. 60
Retail Venues p. 63
Stadiums p. 64
ACTIVITY VENUES
ARCADES & VIRTUAL-REALITY CENTRES
DAVE & BUSTER’S
The Greater Toronto Area branch of this chain is a massive
adult playground. The largest space is the Show Room, a
split-level theatre with a stage, a private bar, and seating
for 300. Additional rental spaces include the 150-seat
Midway Room and 14 billiard zones. (120 Interchange Way,
Concord, 905.760.7600)
FANTASY FAIR
This indoor amusement park has four meeting rooms with
capacities ranging from 30 to 45 guests. Rides and attractions include an antique carousel, bumper boats, a Ferris
wheel, and an arcade. (500 Rexdale Blvd., 416.674.5200)
including artisan cheeses, terrines, and gourmet oils. The
4,300-square-foot space in the Cooperage Building includes
3,300 square feet of gallery space and a separate cheese
boutique. The boutique and gallery can accommodate
groups of 230 people for cocktail parties or seat 150 for
dinners; the patio seats 40. (52 Gristmill Lane, 416.364.5020)
BONNIE STERN SCHOOL OF COOKING
Watch and learn or roll up your sleeves and get involved at
this cooking school, which accommodates groups of 30 for
demonstration classes or 24 for participation classes.
(6 Erskine Ave., 416.484.4810)
CALPHALON CULINARY CENTER
This centre’s versatile cooking studios accommodate as
many as 24 guests for hands-on classes and 40 guests for
This family game and entertainment destination specialdemonstrations. Courses cover everything from basic cookizes in interactive and adventurous play. The 11-acre facility ing techniques to in-depth explorations of world cuisine.
features 40,000 square feet of indoor space and more than Private and corporate events are available. (425 King St.
200 different attractions, including video games, batting
West, 416.847.2212)
CIRILLO’S CULINARY ACADEMY
cages, mini golf, and go-karts. (99 Rathburn Road West,
Chef John Cirillo, the former executive chef of the Hilton
Mississauga, 905.273.9000)
Toronto, offers corporate teambuilding events and private
BOWLING ALLEYS
cooking lessons at his culinary academy. The 4,200NEW THE BALLROOM
square-foot facility accommodates as many as 40 for
Opened in 2011 and spanning 20,000 feet across two floors, hands-on cooking demonstrations and 60 for receptions.
the Ballroom is a new bowling alley and restaurant in
(4894 Dundas St. West, 647.430.8795)
COOK GOURMET
the entertainment district that can accommodate 900
guests. The space has 10 tenpin bowling lanes—including This cooking school caters events both on and off site, and
organizes cooking-themed corporate exercises such as
two lanes with a private bar—more than 60 flat-screen
culinary teambuilding sessions and food-related product
televisions, ping-pong tables, arcade games, and a dining
launches. The school’s main gathering space accomarea that holds as many as 350. Design features include
modates 50 for receptions or classes. (1204 Clarkson Road
bowling-pin light fixtures, a mosaic wall, and barrels that
North, Mississauga, 905.403.0059)
serve as side tables. (145 John St., 416.597.2695)
PLAYDIUM MISSISSAUGA
BOWLERAMA
DISH COOKING STUDIO
Bowlerama facilities can hold as many as 500 guests for
large corporate events; there are six centres in and around
Toronto. (5837 Yonge St., 416.222.4657; 5429 Dundas St. West,
416.239.3536; 115 Rexdale Blvd., 416.743.8388; 2086 Dundas
St. East, London, 519.452.0052; 121 Hwy. 8, Stoney Creek,
905.662.2058; 320 Bayfield St., Barrie, 705.739.2269)
This Yabu Pushelberg-designed studio provides a
contemporary setting for events. The studio accommodates
80 people standing or 50 seated. Dish Up, the new upstairs
loft area, seats 40 or holds 80 for receptions. Dish Café has
space for 30 and offers prepared foods to go. (390 Dupont
St., 416.920.5559)
DANFORTH SUITE
NEW LE DOLCI
In 2009, the owners of All Star Interactive opened this
2,000-square-foot event venue equipped with 12 bowling
lanes. The venue can hold 130 or seat 80. (2791 Eglinton Ave.
East, 416.261.5011)
Opened March 2011 this foodie studio specializes in
cupcake decorating classes. Regularly scheduled classes can
accommodate 12 students, while private corporate events
can be arranged for groups of 20. (1006 Dundas St. West,
416.262.3400)
LUCKY STRIKE LANES
A bowling lounge with 22 lanes, leather lounge seating,
and modern artwork on the walls, this 25,000-squarefoot venue holds 500. The lounge includes a 50-foot bar
and seats 150. The adjoining restaurant seats 90 and a
private room holds 80. (1 Bass Pro Mills Drive, Concord,
905.760.9931)
O’CONNOR BOWL
This 24-lane five-pin bowling alley accommodates as
many as 144 bowlers at a time and can be reserved for
events. A private room on the second floor seats 80 guests,
and full buffet service is available. (1401 O’Connor Drive,
416.755.1231)
PLANET BOWL
This modern entertainment facility features 48 bowling
lanes. There are three private function rooms, the largest
of which seats 50 or holds 80 for receptions. The Orbit Café
serves full lunch and dinner menus. (5555 Eglinton Ave.
West, 416.695.2695)
PLAYTIME BOWL
Two blocks from the Yorkdale Shopping Centre, this
34,000-square-foot facility includes 48 lanes with computerized scoring, bumpers, and extra-light balls for children.
A 1,500-square-foot event space can be divided into three
rooms. (33 Samor Road, 416.787.4533)
NEW ONTARIO SPRING WATER SAKE COMPANY
Toronto’s first sake brewery, opened in the Distillery
District in the 2011. The venue features a retail store and a
tasting bar where it hosts private sake tastings for groups
of as many as 25. Guests can watch the brewers at work
while learning about the process and sampling sake.
(51 Gristmill Lane, 416.365.7253)
NEW VINTAGE ONE WINES
Owned by the De Miguels family—winemakers from
Mendoza, Argentina—Vintage One is a 10,000-square-foot
nontraditional winery in the city’s west end. Below Cirillo’s
Culinary Academy, the winery has two main rooms. The
first space features a small lounge with antique furnishings from Smash, a reception desk, and rows of Italian
stainless steel fermenting tanks. The second space, dubbed
the barrel room, is the main event space. A harvest table
sits in the centre of the room, and French, Hungarian, and
American oak aging barrels line the walls. The barrel room
seats 45 and holds 150 for receptions. The entire venue can
accommodate 200. (4896 Dundas St. West, 416.231.6994)
DANCE INSTRUCTION VENUES
FLIRTY GIRL FITNESS
This fitness studio provides lessons in everything from hiphop and pole dancing to striptease and even lap dancing.
Shamrock Bowl, which originally opened in 1952, reopened The facility has a brick-and-beam design with hardwood
in 2009. The venue offers five-pin bowling in a retro 12-lane floors, mirrored walls, and white leather seating in the
bowling alley and holds groups of 135. (280 Coxwell Ave.,
reception area. The studio holds 400 for receptions.
416.406.2695)
(462 Wellington St. West, 416.920.1400)
SHAMROCK BOWL
HANNAN’S BELLYDANCE STUDIO
Updates & addition
[email protected]
COOKING SCHOOLS & TASTING VENUES
A TASTE OF QUEBEC5
This venue specializes in terroir products from Quebec,
This Toronto dance studio provides entertainment and
instruction for groups on or off site. Hannan’s provides
professional belly dancers for corporate events, offers
BALLROOMS &
BANQUET HALLS
The dining room seats 150 or holds 180 for receptions.
Outdoor tents can be set up to hold 80 to 350 people.
(1857 Queen St. West, Brampton, 905.457.2813)
ST. VOLODYMYR CULTURAL CENTRE5
This multipurpose Ukrainian cultural centre features three
separate event spaces, including the Red Oak and White
Oak rooms, which each seat 400 and can be combined to
form a single venue for as many as 1,100 guests.
(1280 Dundas St. West, Oakville, 905.847.6477)
SWANSEA TOWN HALL COMMUNITY CENTRE
The Rousseau Room, the largest event space in this simple
and unadorned former public building, seats 200 guests.
Other rooms include the 100-seat Council Chambers, the
Previously called the Lombardos Banquet Hall, this facility 20-seat Teiaiagon Room, and four activity rooms.
accommodates groups of as many as 500 for sit-down
(95 Lavinia Ave., 416.392.1954)
TERRACE BANQUET CENTRE
dinners. (7089 Torbram Road, Mississauga, 905.677.8200)
SEPHARDIC KEHILA CENTRE
This modern 19,000-square-foot banquet facility contains
This Jewish community centre has arched mouldings
four event halls that can be combined to create a single
and chandeliers reminiscent of the great synagogues of
room seating as many as 1,800. Italian catering is available
Spain and North Africa. The main event hall seats 500
on site. (1680 Creditstone Road, Concord, 905.832.9550)
TOSCA BANQUET HALL & CONFERENCE CENTRE5
for banquets or 1,000 theatre-style. (7026 Bathurst St.,
This Italianate hall features 20-foot ceilings, large crystal
Thornhill, 905.669.7654)
SPIRALE BANQUET & CONVENTION CENTRE5
chandeliers, Venetian plaster walls, and more than 4,000
This facility has a spiral staircase and a courtyard. Three
square feet of event space. The grand hall seats 400 guests.
banquet halls can combine to seat 1,000 guests or hold
(800 Champlain Ave., Oshawa, 905.404.9400)
TOSCANA BANQUET & CONVENTION CENTRE
1,500 for receptions. Several smaller meeting rooms are
The 8,000-square-foot ballroom at this centre seats 600
also available. (888 Don Mills Road, 416.391.5888)
ST. LAWRENCE HALL
or holds 800 for receptions. Two smaller rooms each seat
Built in 1850 by William Thomas, this Renaissance-style
40 guests. The centre is attached to the 155-room Hilton
building offers three rooms. The grand hall can seat 200.
Garden Inn. (3201 Hwy. 7 West, Vaughan, 905.660.5200)
TOWER GARDEN BANQUETS
The east room holds as many as 60, and the V.I.P. boardFamily-owned Tower Garden is on the 12th floor of
room holds as many as 12. (157 King St. East, 416.392.7130)
SATKAR PALACE BANQUET HALL
BARS, LOUNGES & CLUBS
BARS & LOUNGES
THE BAR AT NYOOD
This event space and lounge from restaurateur Hanif Harji
(Kultura) opened above Nyood in 2009. The space is filled
with custom lounge seating and light fixtures. The bar
holds 150. (1096 Queen St. West, 416.466.1888)
BAR WELLINGTON5
This pub features a painted tin ceiling and, on the second
floor, a fireplace. Four patios are available, the largest
holding 90, the smallest for 15. Two upstairs rooms can be
booked separately for private events or combined to hold
45 seated or 60 for receptions. (520 Wellington St. West,
416.341.8880)
NEW BLACK MOON
Opened in March 2011 in the heart of the financial district,
Black Moon is an elegant restaurant-lounge that can be
booked for private events seven days a week. The dimly lit
space can seat 60 or hold 100 for receptions and serves a
menu of shareable French dishes. Sparkling black tiles
and an eye-catching chandelier round out the decor.
(67 Richmond St. West, 416.603.3100)
NEW BLOKE & 4TH
Near the TIFF Bell Lightbox and the Metro Toronto
Convention Centre, Bloke & 4th was built with events in
mind and includes a number of customizable features.
Opened in December 2011, the restaurant and lounge is
divided into two rooms—the dining room, called 4th, and
the lounge, known as Bloke. The spaces can be rented
together or individually, although both share restrooms.
The entire site is available for buyout and holds 380 guests.
(401 King St. West, 416.477.1490)
BOUTIQUE BAR5
This chic cocktail lounge, featuring exposed brick, a
modern fireplace, and a sleek black bar, opened in 2010.
Cocktails incorporate house-made syrups and fresh juices.
In summer 2011, the bar expanded. The venue holds
40 people inside and 40 on the patio. (506 Church St.,
647.705.0006)
BRAZEN HEAD IRISH PUB5
This pub is divided into three rooms and three patios. The
grand dining room features a large antique chandelier and
a gas fireplace; it seats 70 or holds 110 for receptions. The
Poet’s Pub has dark wood decor and seats 68 or holds 120
for receptions. Two rooftop patios and the garden patio are
also available. (171 East Liberty St., 416.535.8787)
THE CEILI COTTAGE5
Patrick McMurray, champion oyster shucker and owner of
downtown Toronto’s Starfish Oyster Bed & Grill, opened
this 70-seat Irish pub in 2009. The 12 taps of beer include
craft brews and local ales. A whiskey menu is also available.
The patio seats 40 people in the warmer months and is
available for buyout. (1301 Queen St. East, 416.823.6933)
NEW CHURCH APERITIVO BAR5
Church Aperitivo Bar opened in February 2012 in a former
Slavic church. The 2,500-square-foot restaurant and bar is
Mississauga City Hall. The main room seats as many as
200 and can accommodate 160 for receptions. (300 City
Centre Drive, 12th Floor, Mississauga, 905.615.3111)
TRIDENT BANQUET HALL AND CONFERENCE CENTRE
This venue has five rooms of varying sizes. The café and
salon combine to hold 120 guests, and offer a view of
the surrounding forest. The lobby holds 100 and can be
combined with the main hall to accommodate 350.
(145 Evans Ave., 416.253.6002)
VENETIAN BANQUET HALL & HOSPITALITY CENTRE
This complex features a main hall that seats 900 or holds
1,100 for receptions. An 80-seat restaurant is also available,
and the on-site culinary team can create custom menus.
(219 Romina Drive, Concord, 905.660.1110)
WEST RIVER EVENT CENTRE5
This facility features five banquet rooms. The grand
ballroom, the largest event space, has an adjoining terrace
and seats 450 for dinner around the dance floor.
(2839 Rutherford Road, Vaughan, 905.417.8400)
WILLIAM LEA ROOM
Stained-glass French doors in the foyer give way to a
3,100-square-foot ballroom with hardwood floors, warm
lighting, and lattice backdrops. The venue, which has a bar
and a portable stage, can seat 300. (1073 Millwood Road,
416.421.4944)
WOODBINE BANQUET & CONVENTION HALL
This 25,000-square-foot facility seats 1,500 and holds 2,000
for receptions. Audiovisual equipment is available, and the
hall provides catering. (30 Vice Regent Blvd., 416.743.0003)
NEW HRVATI BAR
Croatian beer hall Hrvati opened September 2011. The
cozy 800-square-foot spot is available for buyout and can
accommodate 42 guests. Tall stools line the space, and a
harvest table for 20 stretches down the middle. Hrvati
offers 45 beers, and periodically adds new international
available for buyout and can seat 95 guests. The patio,
brews to the list. Shareable platters are available for private
under renovation and slated to open in summer 2012, will events. (690 Euclid Ave., 647.350.4227)
LEVACK BLOCK
hold 40. (1090 Queen St. West, 416.537.1090)
CIAO WINE BAR5
This music-focused lounge has eight microbrews on tap
Owned by the Liberty Entertainment Group, Ciao Wine
and a small menu of appetizers, salads, and sandwiches.
Bar is an Italian restaurant with more than 8,000 square
The front room features a long bar and tables, while the
feet spread over three levels. The restaurant seats 250 and
sparsely furnished back room, set off with black curtains
is available for private events. Two outdoor patios will hold and neon lights, is a dancing and event space that holds
60 in the warmer months. Two private dining rooms hold 100. (88 Ossington Ave., 416.916.0571)
LI’LY LOUNGE
groups of 18. (133 Yorkville Ave., 416.925.2143)
C LOUNGE5
This Little Italy lounge can host parties of 250 across two
This spa-inspired lounge from Liberty Entertainment
levels. The main floor houses a 50-foot white marble bar,
Group holds 500 and has a patio with space for another
backdropped with orange decor. The lower level, the dance
200. In the summer, the patio has a wading pool, V.I.P.
floor, has a darker, nightclublike feel. (656 College St.,
cabanas, and couches. In the winter, the venue fills the pool 416.532.0419)
LOKI LOUNGE
with artificial ice and has a fire running down the centre,
This French-inspired lounge downtown has chandeliers,
but the area is not available for use. (456 Wellington St.
plush couches, and a stage for entertainment. The space
West, 416.260.9393)
NEW CROWN BAR & LOUNGE
holds 150, with two private areas that each hold 40.
This property opened July 2011. The 9,000-square-foot
(577 King St. West, 416.977.7080)
LOOSE MOOSE
space is lined with V.I.P. booths and has a capacity of 325.
Blue and pink lights reflect off the metallic tables and silver Across from the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, this
20,000-square-foot, rock ’n’ roll-themed sports bar serves
banquettes. An on-site event manager can assist with
booking DJs, caterers, and valet parking. (393 King St. West, pub food and a lengthy list of specialty margaritas. The
bilevel venue seats 300 guests, with two private rooms that
416.341.2345)
CRUSH WINE BAR
seat 30 each. (146 Front St. West, 416.977.8840)
Crush includes a stone-plated bar and a semiprivate tasting LULA LOUNGE
A Latin-American fusion menu fits well with the eclectic
room that holds 14. The room has exposed brick walls,
decor of mixed colours at this lounge, which seats 200
banquette seating, and a flat-screen TV. Groups can graze
on items from a menu of continental cuisine with a French people or holds 300 for receptions. The front room, available for parties of 40, overlooks the main lounge and dance
flair. The lower level has two rooms for private events,
floor and offers street views through large windows.
the Niagara seating 38 and the Okanagan 18. The whole
(1585 Dundas St., West, 416.588.0307)
restaurant holds 105 and is available for buyout. (455 King
MADISON AVENUE PUB5
St. West, 416.977.1234)
DOLCE SOCIAL BALLROOM5
The “Maddy” consists of six British-style pubs inside three
Dolce Social Ballroom is one of the latest ventures from
converted Victorian homes. It features five multilevel
nightclub owner Travis Agresti. The 6,000-square-foot club patios with heated and covered areas. The venue’s total
holds 560 on the main floor, which features a brass ceiling indoor capacity is 800 seated or 1,000 for receptions, and
treatment and origami chandeliers, as well as a 280-seat
several intimate spaces are available for events.
rooftop patio. (647 King St. West, 416.361.9111)
(14 Madison Ave., 416.927.1722)
DUBLIN LOUNGE
Gavin Quinn opened this pub in 2008. The decor includes
ornate moldings and mahogany-paneled walls, furnished
with wood imported from Ireland. Old photos, maps of
Ireland, and antique gold-leaf mirrors adorn the walls. The
space seats 60 or holds 105 for receptions. A private room
holds six. (49 Yonge St., 416.866.8282)
180 PANORAMA5
The view is the main attraction at 180 Panorama, set high
atop the 51st floor of the Manulife Centre. The 200-seat
venue features floor-to-ceiling windows and two patios
covered in canopy tents, offering a choice of views—
uptown or downtown. The venue is available for full
buyout. (55 Bloor St. West, 51st Floor, 416.964.1162, ext. 34)
NEW THE HOXTON
NEW PARLOUR LOUNGE
An 8,000-square-foot customizable club and event
space, the Hoxton opened in August 2011. Projectors,
wide screens, TV walls, and a hydraulic stage are
available on site. The Hoxton features a 48-foot cinderblock bar lit by LED panel lighting and a 1,000-foot
electroluminescent wire chandelier. (69 Bathurst St.,
416.456.7321)
Opened in January 2012 in the site formerly occupied by
Fomo, Parlour fashions itself a mecca for those seeking
style, music, art, and fashion in a lounge. There is extravagant vintage design, and red upholstered sofas. It holds 50.
(270 Adelaide St. West, 416.408.3666)
PRAVDA VODKA BAR
Robin Singh opened this Pravda location in 2007. The bar
5 Venues with outdoor event space
Ballroom, which includes a private mezzanine, seats 500
people for dinners; the Trillium Ballroom seats 275; the
Skyline Room holds 150 for receptions; and the Lakeview
Room holds 120. (955 Lakeshore Blvd. West, 416.260.8000)
BEVERLEY HALLS SPK
Founded by Polish army veterans after World War II, this
hall offers a main function space with a capacity of 250.
The room has a full stage and can be divided into two
smaller rooms. A second meeting space seats 40, and the
facility offers free underground parking in the evening.
(206 Beverley St., 416.979.2017)
NEW BISHA PRESENTATION CENTRE
Designed by Munge Leung, the Bisha Presentation
Centre—open since August 2011—is a 5,000-square-foot
showroom with space available for select events. The
venue is intended to showcase Bisha Hotel & Residences,
a 41-storey hotel and condominium project expected to
open in 2014. The sales centre includes a model suite, a bar
area, a presentation room with a model of the property,
and a lounge filled with custom furnishings. The space
holds as many as 400. (56 Blue Jays Way, 416.637.2211)
NEW ING DIRECT CAFÉ
This three-story, open-concept café and shared workspace,
opened in May 2011 in the downtown core. The second
floor, called Network Orange, offers a shared work environment, two meeting rooms for six, and the Thompson
Block for 40. The meeting rooms require a membership or
payment of a drop-in fee. The Thompson Block is free for
community use. (221 Yonge St., 416.644.5929)
JUBILEE PAVILION AND LAKEVIEW PARK5
“The Jube” is a banquet hall in a picturesque setting on
Lake Ontario. It features hardwood flooring and accommodates groups of 450 for dinners around the dance floor
and 1,000 for theatre-style lectures. Corporate picnics
can be held in the park. (55 Lakeview Park Drive, Oshawa,
905.447.9212)
KIDSWORKS TORONTO
This 4,000-square-foot kids-oriented venue has a large
play area that holds 50 children. There is a party room
and a crafts room. The indoor playground includes
climbing walls, wavy track cars, and 50 tons of sand in a
1,200-square-foot box. (105 Vanderhoof Ave., 416.483.1367)
BLACK LINE STUDIO
NEW LOFTRAUM @ URBAN AMISH
On artsy King Street West, this 2,400-square-foot tattoo
and body-piercing studio caters to an upscale clientele.
The airy space, which features designer furniture in the
waiting room and art on the walls, accommodates groups
as large as 150. (577 King St. West, 416.850.8227)
In a historic building in Corktown, LoftRaum @ Urban
Amish houses two levels of loft-style event space
complete with hardwood flooring, exposed brick walls,
original distressed wooden beams from 1880, and
12-foot ceilings. Each level has 4,000 square feet and can
accommodate 400 people for receptions or 200 for seated
functions. (86 Parliament St., 416.646.0840)
THE BURROUGHES BUILDING
This loft-style space has hardwood floors and exposed
brick walls. The 6,000-square-foot venue, which opened
in 2008, debuted a rooftop patio in 2009. The outdoor
space, referred to as the Top of the Burroughes, can accommodate 125 people. The patio can be booked for private
events in conjunction with the sixth-floor loft area, which
holds 500. (639 Queen St. West, 416.360.5757)
CARLU
One of Toronto’s best surviving examples of Art Moderne,
the Carlu is a fully restored National Historic Site downtown. The venue offers several event spaces that hold
between 10 and 1,500. The famed Round Room dining
room features a Lalique fountain and holds 350 guests.
(444 Yonge St., 7th Floor, 416.597.1931)
NEW LVB
The creators of LeVack Block and Restaurant Paramour
opened a private event space on Ossington Avenue in
October 2011 called LVB. The venue holds 200, and is
filled with cream and gold decor and designed to feel
like a Victorian apartment in Paris. (88 Ossington Ave.,
416.916.0571)
MALAPARTE
only drive-in movie theatre. Solarium, a glass-enclosed
event space, seats 400. (11 Polston St., 416.649.7437)
PUCK’S FARM5
This family entertainment complex occupies 170 acres
of countryside in King Township. The facility provides
several meeting-space options, including the salon, which
holds 100 guests; the café, which holds 50 people; and a
dance hall that seats 100 guests or holds 150 for receptions. (16540 11th Concession, Schomberg, 905.939.7036)
RE:STYLE STUDIO
The 80,000-square-foot former Branding Factory is
home to a design workshop and event space. The flexible,
all-white space is comprised of workshop-style sawhorse
tables, as well as rebuilt antique furniture. There is a
reception area and a full gourmet kitchen. The workshop
tables seat 40 and can be replaced by larger tables to
seat 60. The space can hold 125 for receptions.
(344 Westmoreland Ave., Suite 104A, 647.342.0091)
THE RICHMOND
The main floor of this event space comprises 1,400 square
feet and seats 80 guests. For cocktail parties, the room will
hold as many as 150. Design highlights include a stairway
leading up to a mezzanine, 16-foot windows, and bamboo
flooring. The Richmond is Toronto’s first completely green
venue. (477 Richmond St. West, Unit 104, 416.368.2801)
ROSEHILL
Rosehill comfortably seats 130 with a dance floor or holds
300 for receptions. A full-service event venue, it has six
flat-screen TVs and satellite music. The decor features
hardwood floors, crystal chandeliers, plush leather
couches, and a 50-foot bar. (6 Rosehill Ave., 416.923.2232)
STEAM WHISTLE BREWERY5
This brewery is in the John Street Roundhouse. The loftstyle venue seats 250 or holds 750 for receptions. It features
30-foot ceilings, large multipane windows, Douglas fir
pillars, and exposed red brick. A 3,000-square-foot patio is
also available. (255 Bremner Blvd., 416.362.2337)
On the sixth floor of TIFF Bell Lightbox, Malaparte is an
independent event space operated by Oliver & Bonacini
Restaurants. The venue, open since 2010, can accommodate 150 for seated dinners or 250 for receptions. The space
has direct access to a rooftop terrace with a capacity for
200. (330 King St. West, 416.364.1211)
ST. LAWRENCE MARKET COMPLEX
One of the city’s top corporate venues, the CN Tower
features flexible meeting facilities, a private theatre, and
award-winning cuisine. At a height of 553.33 metres, the
venue is one of the tallest buildings in the world and
hosts more than 500 gatherings annually. The CN Tower
can host as many as 2,000 people for events. (301 Front St.
West, 416.601.4718)
MARILYN BREWER COMMUNITY SPACE
NEW STORYS BUILDING
Part of Harbourfront Centre, this two-storey venue is at
the north end of York Quay Centre. The north wall is lined
with large picture windows. The 2,120-square-foot space
holds 200 for receptions or seats 175 for lectures.
(235 Queen’s Quay West, 416.973.4600)
DESIGN EXCHANGE
The Ambassador Group opened this 18,000-square-foot
centre in 2008. The facility has two ballrooms decorated
in a palette of pale green and cream with gold accents.
The ballrooms can be combined to hold 1,200 for receptions. (95 Duffield Drive, Markham, 905.944.9632)
Toronto entrepreneurs Charles Kabouth and Hanif
Harji opened the Storys Building in October 2011. The
170-year-old building offers three levels of event space,
each with a capacity of about 200. The third and fourth
floors are reserved for events, and the second floor, slated
to become a cocktail lounge in summer 2012, comes with a
built-in bar. The first floor will open as a restaurant called
the Tavern in November 2012. The space is food-focused
with two kitchens and a lengthy menu. (11 Duncan St.,
416.869.9444)
CN TOWER
In the former Toronto Stock Exchange building, Design
Exchange is a museum and centre for design research
and education. The facility houses several event venues,
including the historic trading floor. This spacious room
seats 350 for banquets and holds 500 for receptions.
(234 Bay St., 416.216.2140)
THE EGLINTON GRAND
Formerly the Eglinton Theatre, this Art Deco landmark, a
Dynamic Hospitality & Entertainment Group venue,
has been restored to its original 1930s grandeur. The ballroom seats 320 for banquets or holds 730 for receptions.
Plus, the balcony seats 100 or holds 250 for receptions.
(400 Eglinton Ave. West, 416.485.5900)
ESTONIAN HOUSE
The grand ballroom in this venue has a vaulted ceiling
and a full stage. The space seats as many as 460 theatrestyle. The Crystal Ballroom, a smaller venue, holds 200
for receptions, and the gallery accommodates 100.
(958 Broadview Ave., 416.461.7963)
EVERGREEN BRICK WORKS
An environmental community centre, Evergreen
Brick Works opened in 2010. Event spaces include the
125-seat atrium, which holds 200 for cocktails, and the
27,000-square-foot Eco Pavilion, a covered outdoor space
that holds 2,200. The 500-seat Kiln Building can hold 1,250
for receptions. (550 Bayview Ave., 416.596.7670)
MARKHAM EVENT CENTRE
NATIONAL BALLET SCHOOL
The National Ballet School’s Jarvis Street campus offers
space for events. Among the facilities are eight large
studios in the Celia Franca Centre; Currie Hall, a former
Quaker meetinghouse that seats 130 or holds 220 for receptions; and Northfield House, a heritage building restored as
a 40-seat meeting room. (400 Jarvis St., 416.964.3780)
99 SUDBURY
This venue offers two event spaces—the lounge
and the Glass Factory—which offer access to a
1,000-square-foot patio that holds as many as 125. The
lounge has four sections, including a dining room, bar,
Scotch and cigar lounge, and the patio. The adjoining
Glass Factory is an industrial loft-style event space
with east-facing glass block windows from floor to
ceiling and a raised DJ booth. The combined spaces
total 8,000 square feet and can accommodate 1,000.
(99 Sudbury St., 416.849.6567)
ONTARIO ASSOCIATION OF ARCHITECTS5
The Ontario Association of Architects building features
open, geometric rooms and offers private rooms that seat
50 to 300. The building’s gallery can seat 250 or hold 650
THE FERMENTING CELLAR
for receptions. A terrace holds as many as 80 for recepThis 1859 building was originally built to house the distill- tions. (111 Moatfield Drive, 416.449.6898)
ery’s fermenting tanks. Now exclusively an event facility, PAWSWAY
PawsWay opened at Harbourfront Centre in 2008. The
the 8,000-square-foot space holds 600 and features
vaulted 35-foot ceilings, exposed Kingston limestone, and facility—which operates as an education and event
centre focused on the benefits of cats and dogs—offers a
timber trusses. (28 Distillery Lane, 416.364.1177)
HARBOURFRONT CENTRE5
3,700-square-foot ballroom space that holds 200 people.
This contemporary arts centre occupies 10 acres of
Three smaller boardrooms can hold groups of as many as
lakefront property. The York Quay Centre houses a variety 30. (245 Queens Quay, 416.360.7297)
of spaces, including the Brigantine Room, a flexible space PINEWOOD STUDIOS
with room for 350; the Studio Theatre, which seats 196 for Formerly known as Filmport Studios, Pinewood Studios
offers 250,000 square feet of production space for
screenings; and Lakeside Terrace, a 250-seat room with a
filmmakers over seven soundstages, and is available for
terrace. (235 Queen’s Quay West, 416.973.4956)
HART HOUSE5
corporate events. (225 Commissioner St., 416.406.5400)
This historic building is part of the University of Toronto. POLSON PIER AND THE SOLARIUM5
The great hall, its largest room, seats 320 or holds 600 for On 23 waterfront acres, this multipurpose venue includes
receptions. Other event spaces include a 450-seat theatre Sound Academy, with state-of-the-art light and sound
and a dining room that seats 36. A courtyard can hold 500 to showcase live events, and the playground, which has
outdoor activities like a 40-foot rock wall and Toronto’s
guests. (7 Hart House Cir., 416.978.8393)
One of three buildings that make up the St. Lawrence
Market Complex, St. Lawrence Hall has three event spaces,
including a 12-seat boardroom and the 120-seat great hall.
The North Market building houses a 700-seat showroomstyle exhibit space. (92 Front St. East, 416.392.7809)
TORONTO BOARD OF TRADE DOWNTOWN CENTRE
The Toronto Board of Trade Downtown Centre has more
than 30,000 square feet of renovated space. The main
dining room seats 320 for dinner, and several smaller
rooms can accommodate groups of 12 to 120. Oliver &
Bonacini is the exclusive food and beverage partner.
(1 First Canadian Place, 416.862.4535)
TORONTO REFERENCE LIBRARY
The library is undergoing a $34-million renovation slated
for completion later in 2012. A new glass entrance offers
access to a second-floor 16,800 square foot salon with
space for 595 guests. (789 Yonge St., 416.393.7148)
UPTOWN LOFT
Formerly Acrobat Lounge, this venue became the Uptown
Loft in January 2012. Renovation in March 2012 has given
the loft a sedate palette of white and gray. The main room
seats 150. In warm months, two large garage doors open to
fresh air and street views. (2465 Yonge St., 416.489.1105)
NEW WADDINGTON’S AUCTION HOUSE
Waddington’s relocated to King East in October 2011 and
offers its office as an event venue after work hours. The
4,000-square-foot venue can accommodate 200 seated or
425 for a reception. The raw space has polished concrete
floors, exposed pipes, and two walls of floor-to-ceiling
windows. Art from the auction house vault hangs
on the walls per request. (275 King St. East, 2nd Floor,
416.504.9100)
WHISTLER’S MCNEIL ROOM5
This 4,000-square-foot venue has a 16-foot ceiling and
a view of Don Valley. The private McNeil Room on the
second floor seats as many as 300 guests and has a terrace
that holds 30 for receptions. On the main floor, Whistler’s
Grille seats 200, and there’s also a patio that holds 150 for
receptions. (995 Broadview Ave., 416.421.1344)
WIDEAWAKE LIBERTY STUDIOS
Open since 2010, this 6,000-square-foot multimedia facility and recording studio includes the Liberty Ballroom,
an 11-sided polygon with 17-foot ceilings. The space is
equipped with three isolated booths for sound control,
an automated projector screen, four LCD screens, and a
surround playback system. (171 East Liberty St., Suite 310,
416.532.6333)
MANSIONS & HOMES
CALEDON INN5
A historic farmhouse on a 25-acre lot, the inn offers
many outdoor activities. The banquet room holds 60, and
outdoor spaces include a tent with room for 300, as well
as a 2,500-square-foot patio and garden. Also on site: a
dining room run by executive chef Alan Coulter and the
historic McCartney Pub. (16626 Airport Road, Caledon,
905.584.0033)
CAMPBELL HOUSE
MACKENZIE HOUSE5
ENOCH TURNER SCHOOLHOUSE
Built in 1948 as a school for immigrant children, this
venue is now a museum. The historic classroom holds
89 guests for dinners or 100 for receptions and features
hardwood floors and the original desks. The west hall
seats 150 or holds 200 for receptions. (106 Trinity St.,
416.863.0010)
NEW ESTATES OF SUNNYBROOK5
The largest event space in this historic castle is the
great hall, which, combined with the library and the
conservatory (and the terrace, in warmer months), holds
1,200. An eight-seat boardroom is also available. Catering
is provided exclusively by Liberty Entertainment Group. (1
Austin Ter., 416.923.1171)
GEORGE BROWN HOUSE
This Georgian mansion’s 480-seat ballroom has 24-foot
ceilings and marble floors and can be divided into two
rooms that seat 180 and 260, respectively. A rooftop
garden holds 400 for receptions, with meals provided by
executive chef Domenic Colacci. (400 Industrial Pkwy.
South, Aurora, 905.841.3737)
GRAYDON HALL MANOR5
Since its restaurant closed in 2008, this historic castle
offers the coach house as its primary event space. Built
in the 1870s, the room holds 88 and features views of the
estate gardens. A pavilion can accommodate 70. (610 York
Blvd., Hamilton, 905.546.2872)
HALTON PLACE
DI NARDO’S—THE MANSION5
DUNDURN NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE5
This restored 14,000-square-foot, Georgian-style manor
opened in 2000. On four acres, the 1936 mansion features
formal gardens, 11 fireplaces, and a library. The main
dining room accommodates 180, and a coach house and
two smaller private rooms are also available. A stone
terrace seats 250. (185 Graydon Hall Drive, 416.449.5432)
A French-style chateau built in the 1930s, this inn was
once a private residence of Toronto’s Eaton family. The
main event space seats 140 or holds 175 for receptions.
There are four rooms in the conference centre, with
the two largest spaces each seating 60 guests theatre-
MILLER LASH HOUSE5
The renovated Estates of Sunnybrook offer a choice of
meeting and breakout rooms in three separate buildings—the coach house, McLean House, and Vaughan
Estate. The property has a total of 17 meeting rooms and
can accommodate groups of six to 150. (2075 Bayview Ave.,
416.487.3841)
Built in 1876 for Senator George Brown, this estate home
features bay windows and crystal chandeliers. The main
space seats 50 theatre-style or 64 for dinners. The mahogany-paneled Coulson Room doubles as a boardroom and
seats 14; the Nelson Room and Servant’s Hall also serve as
meeting spaces. (186 Beverley St., 416.314.3585)
EATON HALL INN & CONFERENCE CENTRE5
This restored mid-19th-century row house belonged
to William Lyon Mackenzie. It contains a historic print
shop, as well as artifacts that belonged to the Mackenzie
family. Rental space includes the kitchen and day room,
and there are no preferred or exclusive caterers. The space
holds 70 for receptions. (82 Bond St., 416.392.6915)
style. A terrace seats 300. (13990 Dufferin St., King City,
905.833.4500)
Built in 1822, Campbell House is the oldest remaining
brick home from the original town of York. The dining
room, combined with the adjoining restored 19th-century
kitchen, holds 85 for receptions. A separate 600-squarefoot gallery on the second floor features floor-to-ceiling
windows and seats 50. (160 Queen St. West, 416.597.0227)
CASA LOMA5
dining room holds 140, while the boardroom seats 12. (135
Bay Thorn Drive, Thornhill, 905.889.7980)
Built in 1911, this stone house sits in idyllic seclusion amid
gardens and meadows. The venue has five fireplaces
and a cathedral ceiling in the great room. The largest
indoor room seats 50 or holds 75 for cocktails, while the
tented patio holds 300 for receptions or seats 220. (130 Old
Kingston Road, 416.287.7000)
OAKHAM HOUSE5
Ryerson University’s community centre for students, staff,
faculty, and alumni is known as Oakham House. The
historic site, built in 1848, has 10 meeting rooms, a pub, a
café, and a 160-seat patio. The largest room, SCC 115, holds
200 guests for receptions and includes a pull-down screen
and a sound system. (63 Gould St., 416.979.5250)
PARKWOOD5
Parkwood is a grand estate and museum in Oshawa that
features architectural, landscape, and interior designs
of the 1920s and 1930s. The McLaughlin Room, the
largest indoor space, holds 125 for receptions, while the
formal gardens hold 130. The Japanese garden and the
Greenhouse Tea Room are also available for bookings. (270
Simcoe St. North, Oshawa, 905.433.4311)
RUPERT SIMPSON HOUSE
Built in 1899, the Rupert Simpson House emerged from
a mass restoration in November 2011. The 3,000-squarefoot main floor of the historic house—which includes
the foyer, grand staircase, drawing room, and dining
room—is available for events. It seats 100 or holds 140 for
receptions. (2 Wellesley Place, 416.260.1982)
A 200-acre country estate, Halton Place offers world-class
equestrian facilities, including outdoor competition rings
and a large indoor arena. The Courtyard Manor seats 275
guests for banquets or holds 400 for receptions. (9328 15th SPADINA HISTORIC HOUSE & GARDENS5
The Spadina Historic House & Gardens were built in
Side Road, Halton Hills, 905.873.2316)
HEINTZMAN HOUSE
the 1860s for financier James Austin and sit on six acres
Built in the early 19th century, Heintzman House (also
beside Casa Loma. The terraces and gardens accommodate
known as Sunnyside Manor Farm), is one of the oldest
groups as large as 100. Inside, the East Sun Room holds 30
buildings in Thornhill. Decor highlights include fireplaces, for cocktails or seats 25 theatre-style, and the third-floor
antique pianos, and a glass-enclosed conservatory. The
room seats 45. (285 Spadina Road, 416.392.6910)
MUSEUMS & CULTURAL SPACES
THE ART GALLERY OF ONTARIO
The Art Gallery of Ontario, which reopened in 2008, was
transformed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry
to include a state-of-the-art event centre, Baillie Court.
It includes 7,200 square feet of space and can host a full
range of corporate and social events. To provide flexibility,
the space can be divided by retractable walls into three
separate and distinct event spaces. (317 Dundas St. West,
416.979.6634)
The most recent space, the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal, was
unveiled in 2008 and has a glass and aluminum front. The
ROM hosts receptions for as many as 2,000 and seated
events for 500. A resident caterer is
available, along with a list of preferred
caterers. (100 Queen’s Park, 416.586.5571)
TEXTILE MUSEUM OF CANADA
The only museum of its kind in Canada,
the Textile Museum houses more
than 12,000 pieces from more than
BATA SHOE MUSEUM5
200 countries. The museum’s meeting
This museum is dedicated to the history of footwear and
spaces include a lounge that seats 30 or
contains more than 10,000 shoes. The four-storey structure holds 100 for receptions. An auditorium
has a 1,200-square-foot reception area with a terrazzo floor, seats 75. (55 Centre Ave., 416.599.5321)
TODMORDEN MILLS MUSEUM AND ART
two small studios, an atrium with 42-foot-high windows,
and a patio. The shoe museum can seat 125 people or hold
CENTRE5
300 for receptions. Catering is not available on site, but the On 9.2 hectares of green space in the
Don River Valley, the Todmorden Mills
museum can provide a list of preferred caterers. (327 Bloor
Museum and Art Centre is surrounded
St. West, 416.979.7799)
GARDINER MUSEUM OF CERAMIC ART
by historic homes, a brewery, and
The Gardiner Museum, on the Queen’s Park Circle, is the
the relocated Don train station. The
only museum in Canada devoted entirely to ceramics. The grounds hold 120 people, while the
main function space, Terrace Room, is catered by Jamie
renovated historic paper mill seats 80 or
Kennedy and seats 100 or holds 200 for receptions. The
holds 100 for receptions. Catering and
room has a modern feel, with glass walls, wooden floors,
alcohol may be brought in, but permits
and floor-to-ceiling windows that provide a view of the
and insurance are required. (67 Pottery
Royal Ontario Museum and the downtown skyline. (111
Road, 416.396.2819)
Queen’s Park, 416.586.8080)
MCMICHAEL CANADIAN ART COLLECTION5
The McMichael gallery is on two floors, with a third
devoted to a restaurant. The lobby and front patio can seat
220 or hold 250 for receptions. The Founders’ Lounge has
wooden furniture and a fieldstone hearth and can hold
60. The venue is surrounded by 100 acres of conservation
land. Additional satellite buildings are available for events.
(10365 Islington Ave., Kleinburg, 905.893.1121)
Blue Dot is a 2,000-square-foot art gallery. The venue
exhibits the work of contemporary artists from around the
world. The open-concept space seats
50 people or holds 80 for receptions.
The gallery offers a list of preferred
caterers. (24 Tank House Lane, Suite 101,
416.487.1500)
Artsy
Where to...
Throw an
Product Launch
Neubacher Shor Contemporary
a 3,000-square-foot loft-style
gallery from Eatertainment,
opened in April 2011 in the
Queen West Corridor. The
venue, which has 16-foot
ceilings made of reclaimed
wood, is able to accommodate
as many as 250 guests and
is ideal for cocktail parties,
intimate gala dinners, fashion
shows, and product launches.
(5 Brock Ave., 647.933.0193)
ART SPACES & GALLERIES
BAY OF SPIRITS GALLERY
Bay of Spirits showcases traditional
native arts and crafts. Objects featured
include masks, belts, jewelry, blankets,
drums, and totem poles from Cree,
Ojibwa, Iroquois, and Inuit craftspeople.
One event space is available; it holds
ROYAL ONTARIO MUSEUM
200 guests for receptions. An additional
The Royal Ontario Museum, commonly known as the ROM, room is available for food preparation. (156 Front St. West,
has undergone several renovations since opening in 1914.
416.971.5190)
BLUE DOT GALLERY
ENGINE GALLERY
The gallery, located in the distillery
district, offers a 1,500-square-foot
main floor exhibition space and 15-foot
floor-to-ceiling windows in a renovated
space that has a contemporary and
industrial feel. Gallery work by
Canadian- and internationally based
artists offers a background for events.
The space holds 150 for receptions. A
board room seats 12 comfortably.
(18 Gristmill Lane, 416.531.9905)
FREDERICK HORSMAN VARLEY ART
GALLERY5
This art gallery, which showcases the
work of local, national, and international artists, is named after Group of
Seven painter Frederick Varley. The
Florence and Donald Deacon Room
is a 1,000-square-foot space with a
cathedral ceiling and seating for 70. A
courtyard is also available. (216 Main St.,
Unionville, 905.477.9511)
MAYBERRY FINE ART
Formerly the Hollander Gallery, this
space was taken over in 2010 by
Mayberry Fine Art to continue its
38-year art legacy. The bilevel space,
featuring warm brick walls and a
balcony overlooking a first-floor fireplace, holds 150 for
receptions. (110 Yorkville Ave., 416.923.9275)
PHOTO: EATERTAINMENT
ART MUSEUMS
ROYAL CANADIAN YACHT CLUB5
UNIVERSITY CLUB OF TORONTO
Ballroom has a wall of windows that overlook a deck; it
holds as many as 120 for receptions. Member sponsorship is required for private event rental. (2350 Bayview
Ave., 416.510.6679)
The R.C.Y.C was founded in Toronto in 1852 and operates
year-round from two facilities: its summer home at
the Island Clubhouse and the year-round clubhouse in
downtown Toronto. The function rooms can accommodate groups of four to 250, and the Island’s secluded rose
garden is also available for events. (263 Queen’s Quay
East, 416.934.4416)
This country club offers indoor and outdoor event
space. The main hall has crystal chandeliers, floor-toceiling windows, and a balcony; it seats 300 people.
Several smaller rooms are also available, including a
newly renovated room that seats 170. The club also has
a spa, a fitness facility, and indoor and outdoor pools
and tennis courts. (8905 Bathurst St., Richmond Hill,
905.731.2800)
Geared toward members of the arts and entertainment
industry, the Spoke Club has multiple event spaces,
including a rooftop terrace, a private screening facility, a
boardroom, and a wine cellar with exposed-brick walls,
crystal chandeliers, and large windows, as well as an art
gallery. Private rooms accommodate 14 to 60 people for
sit-down dinners and as many as 200 for cocktail receptions. (600 King St. West, 4th Floor, 416.368.8448 ext. 226)
RICHMOND HILL COUNTRY CLUB5
RESTAURANTS
SPOKE CLUB5
with beer and the bar serves more than 150 varieties of
suds. The bistro seats 65 guests or holds 150 for receptions,
while an additional private room seats 24 or holds 50 for
receptions. A patio seats 70. (18 King St. East, 416.861.9872)
BIER MARKT THE ESPLANADE
NEW AGAINST THE GRAIN
Open since June 2011, Against the Grain serves high-end
pub food and draft beers. The modern dining room seats
70, and the lakeside patio seats 204, with couches and
fire pits available for larger groups. Although the spot is
not available for buyout, private events can be booked for
as many as 80 guests on the patio or inside. (25 Dockside
Drive, 647.344.1562)
AMBER5
This restaurant has pristine white decor highlighted
by mirrors and chocolate couches. The 100-seat dining
room is accompanied by a wooden terrace that seats
an additional 100, is heated and partly covered, and
includes small private curtained areas. (119 Yorkville Ave.,
416.926.9037)
AME
INK C.E.O. Charles Khabouth collaborated with Guy
and Michael Rubino to rebrand this restaurant. The
5,000-square-foot space is a contemporary Japanese
restaurant, which includes a private room for 30, a dining
area that holds 100, and a Japanese lounge and sake bar
that holds an additional 50. (19 Mercer St., 416.599.7246)
This 10,000-square-foot European-style restaurant serves
more than 100 beers from 24 countries. The Esplanade
has four dining areas, including the bistro, which holds
50. The cellar can seat 50, and the private Merchant Room
seats 12. A King West location and one by the Shops at Don
Mills also have private space available. (58 The Esplanade,
416.862.7575; 600 King St. West, 416.862.1175; 7 O’Neill Road,
416.862.7075)
BIFF’S BISTRO5
This sleek French restaurant has two private rooms; the
red room seats 36 or holds 50 for receptions, while the
grey room seats 12. The lounge across the main dining
room seats 90. (4 Front St. East, 416.860.0086)
BISTRO GRANDE5
BALZAC’S CAFE
Balzac’s Coffee Roasters offer two cafés in Toronto. The
European-style location in the Distillery District can seat
50 or hold 70 for receptions. The second floor holds 25
and is available for rent in the winter months. Outdoor
space can hold 35. The Liberty location is a modern version
of a 1950s café and holds 28 seated or 50 for receptions.
The patio seats 10 around five café tables. (1 Trinity St.,
416.207.1709; 43 Hanna Ave., 416.534.7372)
BARCHEF
The Queen Street West space that once housed the Opal
Jazz Lounge is now BarChef. The space can accommodate
87 people. The restaurant’s extensive martini menu is
divided into four sections—punch bowls, sweet and sour,
sipping, and molecular. (472 Queen St. West, 416.868.4800)
BEER BISTRO5
Ale is the focus at this bright and open financial district
venue, where 90 percent of the menu items are prepared
This clubhouse for progressive, accomplished female
university graduates is a stately Edwardian mansion. It
offers five meeting rooms of various sizes for groups of eight
to 80. The largest room, the grand salon, has a grand piano
and opens onto a deck. (162 St. George St., 416.979.2000)
Search by capacity
bizbash.com/torontovenuedirectory
Boston Pizza opened its first urban-concept location in
June. The venue features 80 flat-screen TVs lining the
walls and is available for buyout for 325 people. A private
room can accommodate 20 guests. Group and corporate
menus are available. (250 Front St., Unit 1C201, 416.733.3172)
BRANT HOUSE5
This King West district bar and restaurant features homestyle decor of exposed wooden beams, plank flooring, and
brick walls, along with long tables for communal dining.
The 7,000-square-foot space seats 120, and an all-season
heated patio holds 74. (522 King St. West, 416.703.2800)
BRASSAII BISTRO LOUNGE5
This 8,000 square-foot King West restaurant plays up its
architectural features; the former factory building has
a limestone, glass, and steel bar that separates the café
area from the 120-seat main dining room. Additional
event space includes a lounge that seats 84 or holds 140
for receptions, a wine cellar, and an all-season patio
that seats 84. (461 King St. West,
416.598.4730)
Where to...
BLOOR STREET DINER
Atop the TD Bank Tower, Canoe
reopened in January 2011 after
a design rehaul. The 140-seat
restaurant now features new
furnishings and a Canadian
map wall installation made
of paper-thin sheet metal in
the 64-seat dining space. The
area, which can be used as one
or two rooms, offers views of
Lake Ontario. The restaurant
is available for buyout on
weekends. (66 Wellington St.
West, 416.364.0054)
Open on Bloor Street since 1981, this diner
was recently renovated. The restaurant,
The Old Mill, a Landmark Group Property, offers an
which relocated to face Bay Street in 1994,
Old World atmosphere with modern event facilities;
was divided at that time into La Rotisserie
it includes a dining room built out over the water that
(the dining room), Le Café (a French café),
once housed the old grist mill. Ancaster’s event spaces
and L’Express (which offers takeout).
accommodate between 32 and 225 guests, and include the (55 Bloor St. West, 416.928.3105)
rustic 1812 Room for 70 and the Falls Room seating 225. An BLOWFISH RESTAURANT AND SAKE BAR5
This 60-seat dining room features white
audiovisual room with a projection screen is available.
and red decor accented by chandeliers
(548 Old Dundas Road, Ancaster, 905.648.1827)
ARIA
and dark wood. Japanese cuisine is served
In March 2011, Noce owners Elena Morelli and Guido
in both spaces, with a total capacity of
Saldini opened this 3,500-square-foot restaurant on the
180, and space for 30 seated guests and as
main floor of the 30-storey Telus House Toronto. Aria’s
many as 100 standing on the patio.
design is rooted in natural materials and work by local
(668 King St. West, 416.860.0606)
NEW BLOWFISH RESTAURANT AND SAKE
artists. The restaurant contains one of the largest selecBAR ON BAY ST.
tions of wine in the city, with more than 500 varieties
available and a soaring wine cellar that stores more than Blowfish opened their new location in
March 2011 in the heart of Toronto’s busi2,500 bottles. The space can hold 140 seated or 250 for
ness district. The modern location holds
cocktail parties, while a sectioned-off area can serve as a
60 seated and 83 standing. The Golden
private dining room for as many as 45. An 80-seat patio
Pod private table area holds six to 12 for
with fireplaces is open in warmer weather. (25 York St.,
private dining. (333 Bay St., 416.860.0606)
416.363.2742)
This French eatery has two private rooms. The Oscar Room
seats 48 or holds 60 for receptions, while the Sophie Room
seats 36 or holds 50 for receptions. The main dining room
seats 145 or holds 200 for receptions. Auberge also offers
garden terraces. (4150 Yonge St., 416.222.2220)
UNIVERSITY WOMEN’S CLUB OF TORONTO5
A kosher restaurant with cream-coloured
walls and chestnut decor elements, Bistro
Grande offers a private, 24-seat room for
functions. A small patio provides seating
on warm days. (1000 Eglinton Ave. West,
416.782.3302)
ANCASTER OLD MILL
AUBERGE DU POMMIER5
Founded by University of Toronto alumni in 1906, this
downtown venue features Georgian architecture and
has nine event rooms with capacities ranging from 20
to 200. The club offers European-style catering, as well
as overnight accommodations in 12 bedrooms. (380
University Ave., 416.597.1336)
Dine With Views of
Lake Ontario
BOARDWALK PUB5
This restaurant specializing in barbecued burgers and
steaks is on Toronto’s popular lakefront boardwalk,
offering views of Lake Ontario. The eatery seats 100
indoors and 400 on the patio. (1681 Lakeshore Blvd. East,
416.694.4599)
BOILER HOUSE5
This industrial-style venue in the distillery district
features handcrafted timber tables and a 22-foot-high
wine rack. Each of the two levels is available for private
functions, or the entire venue can be reserved for as many
as 700. A courtyard can accommodate 300. (18 Tank House
Lane, 416.203.2121)
BOSTON PIZZA
Conveniently located near the Air Canada Centre for
pre- or post-game drinks, the two-floor, 9,400-square-foot
The Little Italy space formerly
occupied by Cinq 501 reopened
in 2011 as Briscola, a rustic Italian
eatery designed for socializing,
with a large communal table,
wide benches for family-style
seating, and roomy booths. The
2,500-square-foot restaurant is
available for buyout and can seat
70 guests for dinner or hold 200
for a reception. (501 College St.,
416.964.1555)
BUCA
In a space that once served as a
boiler room, Buca is an Italian
restaurant with high ceilings,
exposed brick walls, dark floors, and
bare lightbulbs. The Osteria holds
58 seated, the Enoteca holds 38
seated, and a patio holds 48 seated.
(604 King St. West, 416.865.1600)
BYMARK
This monochromatic green dining
room seats 120 around a tranquil
waterfall. Three private rooms seat
14 each, and a glass-enclosed patio
offers a view of the surrounding
skyscrapers. (66 Wellington St.
West, 416.777.1144)
BLU RISTORANTE & LOUNGE
Blu Ristorante & Lounge has a mostly
Mediterranean menu, as well an extensive wine and cocktail list. The restaurant
has hardwood floors, an illuminated bar,
and space for 100. Executive chef Massimo
Callovini can create preset menus for functions. (17
Yorkville Ave., 416.921.1471)
NEW BRISCOLA
CADILLAC LOUNGE
This music club and restaurant has
nightly live performances. Inside,
159 people can dine among retro
decor of vintage cars and pinup
girls. The 4,000 square feet of outside space provide seating for 204 people, with a two-storey deck and covered
patio. The patio was renovated this year and now features
an updated bar, a stage, and projection system. (1296-1300
Queen St. West, 416.536.7717)
CAFÉ MADRID
This Spanish tapas bar and event space is on the lower level
of restaurant Embrujo Flamenco. The rustic space holds 40
and is available for private events. A selection of European
beers and Spanish sherries is available. Tastings can be
arranged for events. (97 Danforth Ave., 416.778.0007)
GROTTO LOUNGE
Formerly Calisto Restaurant & Lounge, this upscale Italian
eatery holds as many as 210 guests. The main floor holds
110, and a lower-level lounge holds 100. (647 College St.,
647.351.7575)
CANOE
Open since January 2011, this 140-seat space has a charcoal
PHOTO: CARLA WARRILOW/BIZBASH
PRIVATE CLUBS
soapstone bar, chef’s rail, side stands, and new furnishings. Caribou etchings based on the Canadian quarter
flank the new bar, and branch chandeliers hang from the
ceiling. There are also two wall installations of paper-thin
sheet metal, one of them a map of Canada in the 64-seat
private dining area, which is made of two private dining
rooms combined. (66 Wellington St. West, 54th Floor,
416.364.0054)
CASTELLO RISTORANTE ANTICO
a small menu of classic French bistro fare. The decor is
clean and minimalist, with white textured wallpaper,
marble-topped tables, and a walnut bar. A private dining
room holds 24 seated or 50 for a reception. (92 Ossington
Ave., 416.537.0134)
DOCTOR’S HOUSE5
Built in 1867, this venue was formerly a private residence
owned by a succession of doctors. Extensive renovations
have transformed it into an event facility with a 200-seat
main dining hall and five banquet halls. A partially
enclosed verandah is off of the main dining room and
seats 60. (21 Nashville Road, Kleinburg, 905.893.1615)
The centrepiece of this family-owned restaurant is
a sculpted re-creation of a house from Italy’s
Ciociaro region. The restaurant’s main dining space
accommodates 300, and a smaller lounge is also available. NEW DONDON IZAKAYA
(3600 Langstaff Road, Unit 12, Woodbridge, 905.264.9248) Opened November 2011, this 4,500-square-foot restaurant
THE CEILI COTTAGE5
seats 150 guests and has five private dining rooms, the
Patrick McMurray, oyster shucker and owner of Starfish
largest of which holds 20. The open kitchen serves tapasOyster Bed & Grill, opened a 60-seat pub in 2009. The 12
style dishes, with a large assortment of Japanese beer
beers on tap include many craft brews and local ales. A
and sake to accompany them. Dondon Izakaya also has a
patio seats 60. (1301 Queen St. East, 416.823.6933)
chauffeur service. (130 Dundas St. West, 416.492.5292)
A wine program offering 80 labels from around the world
complements the menu. (207 Ossington Ave., 416.534.8520)
FRANK
Executive chef Anne Yarymowich offers contemporary
dishes with a focus on sustainable farming and slow food
at the Art Gallery of Ontario’s restaurant, named after
architect Frank Gehry. The restaurant seats 130, and a
semiprivate dining room holds 40. (317 Dundas St. West,
416.204.2712)
FRIDA RESTAURANT & BAR
This 56-seat restaurant—named in honour of Mexican
painter Frida Kahlo—features contemporary decor and a
palette of black, white, blue, and terra-cotta. (999 Eglinton
Ave. West, 416.787.2221)
GEORGE5
French doors, wrought iron, and chandeliers set the mood
at this 1850s former chocolate factory, which includes four
private dining rooms. The smallest seats 12 and the largest
seats 64 or holds 120 standing. There is also a private
courtyard. (111 C Queen St. East, 416.863.6006 ext. 271)
CENTRO GRILL & WINE BAR
EARLS KITCHEN AND BAR
This restaurant specializes in New American cuisine with
an Italian twist. The eatery’s main dining space seats 136,
and several private dining rooms hold eight to 60 guests.
(2472 Yonge St., 416.483.2211)
Long-standing Canadian chain Earls Kitchen and Bar
expanded to downtown Toronto in February 2011 with the
opening of a financial district location. The 10,000-squarefoot restaurant seats 292 and features dark woods
throughout, a wood ceiling crafted from shipping pallets,
and a 44-foot marble wall. The private dining space seats
45, and a lounge holds 200. (150 King St. West, 416.916.0227)
GILEAD CAFÉ
E11EVEN
This spacious restaurant holds 700 and has room for
another 800 on the patio. Gossip’s interior has a chic,
modern design with unique overhead lighting, and
stand-up cocktail tables inside the main space. A private
dining area with a fully exposed wine cellar is available.
A 4,000-square-foot patio has 14 cabanas and overlooks
Lake Ontario. (50 Prince Edward Island Cres., 416.596.6492)
C’EST WHAT BREW/VIN PUB
This subterranean venue serves only Canadian-made
brews and wines. Owner George Milbrandt, an architect,
designed a series of semiprivate nooks enabling the
restaurant to host parties of various sizes, with a total
capacity of 340. (67 Front St. East, 416.867.9791)
In 2010, e11even opened in Maple Leaf Square as a
restaurant with a lounge, dining room, and a second-floor
CHARTREUSE5
event space that holds as many as 55 for dinner or 80 for
This 130-year-old venue has two dining rooms separated
receptions. The space can also be divided into two rooms
by French doors, with a seating capacity of 45. Longchamp designed to accommodate dinners for groups of 25. The
Pub, on the main floor, holds 45 guests, and a smaller
lounge offers a 20-seat bar, six flat-screen televisions, and
private dining room seats 25. A patio seats 80.
a communal table made of hemlock timbers excavated
(10512 Islington Ave., Kleinberg, 905.893.0475)
from the site of Maple Leaf Square. The restaurant seats
THE CHEF’S HOUSE
120 in the dining room and 75 in the lounge. The entire
George Brown College opened this student-run restaurant venue is available for buyout and holds 300. (15 York St.,
in 2008. The ground-level restaurant and event space
Unit C, 416.815.1111)
EARTH5
is the first training facility of its kind in Canada. The
3,200-square-foot space seats 70 and has a 16-seat private Ed Ho, owner of Globe Bistro, opened Earth in 2009.
The main dining room holds 150, and a private room
dining room. (215 King St. East, 416.415.2260)
CHIADO RESTAURANT & CATERING
can accommodate as many as 18. Earth is available
Specializing in regional Portuguese cuisine, this restaufor buyout. Two patios hold 23 and 50 in the warmer
rant seats 110 guests in the main dining area, which can
months. (1055 Yonge St., 416.551.9890)
EIGHT WINE BAR
be divided to form a private room for 60. The wine cellar
This restaurant offers small plates and entrées created
dining space holds 24. (864 College St., 416.538.1910)
COCO LEZZONE5
by executive chef Derek Kennedy, with matching wines
This 2,500-square-foot restaurant serves a flavourful
chosen by sommelier Zoltan Szabo. The room has high
Mediterranean menu. The interior features lavish draper- ceilings, a rich palette, and an illuminated marble bar.
ies, gilded mirrors, and rich wood furniture. The dining
It seats 100; a glass-encased private dining room on the
room seats 140 guests, and a patio seats 10. (602 College
second level seats 15. (8 Colborne St., 416.350.8188)
EMPIRE RESTAURANT & LOUNGE5
St., 416.535.1489)
COLBORNE LANE
The lower level of this eatery features a well-lit, openIn a 145-year-old building with scarred pillars and beams, concept design with a high-definition projection screen
Colborne Lane features co-owner and chef Claudio
and space for 156. Upstairs, a room of private booths
Aprile’s acclaimed Asian-tinged cuisine. Private dining
with chairs made from white ostrich leather seats 85
spaces include a six-person table in the kitchen and the
or holds 140 for a reception. An upper floor holds and
Park Lane, a private dining room that holds 16. The entire additional 144, and the patio seats 50. (50 Cumberland St.,
venue holds 50. (45 Colborne St., 416.368.9009)
416.840.8440)
COPACABANA5
Open since 2009, this Brazilian-style steak house in
Niagara Falls is known for its churrasco style of cooking
and the knife-wielding waiters who carve meat at the
table. The restaurant holds 125 inside and an additional 25
on the patio. (150 Eglinton Ave. East, 416.916.2099)
EPIC
Chef Jamie Kennedy launched a café, food shop, and
event space at his company’s production kitchen. In the
evenings, the 736-square-foot café is used as an event
venue, where as many as 40 guests dine with a view of
the commercial kitchen. (4 Gilead Place, 647.288.0680)
GOSSIP5
GRACE & GRACE UPSTAIRS5
The 60-seat restaurant is decorated in a modern
farmhouse style in shades of cream and blue. Glass doors
open onto a 12-seat courtyard and a 16-seat front patio.
Grace Upstairs is a casual dining and lounge area that
accommodates 50. (503 College St., 416.944.8884)
GRAND ISLAND SEAFOOD AND STEAK HOUSE5
Grand Island offers a menu of seafood provided fresh by
Beaver Fisheries, meat, and a variety of desserts prepared
by an on-site pastry chef. The entire space can be rented,
with room for 90 inside and 40 on the patio. (538-548
Carlton Road, Unit 201, Markham, 905.479.5999)
GRANO5
With hand-painted tables and walls decked with vintage
posters and rotating art exhibits, Grano offers regional
Italian cuisine and an Italian wine list. The entire
restaurant can be rented; it seats 150. Another 50 can be
seated outdoors. (2035 Yonge St., 416.440.1986)
HANK’S CAFÉ
Hank’s is a coffeehouse that offers baked goods and a
selection of sandwiches, salads, and soups. During the
evening, it is available for private events and has space for
26 to dine at one table. (9 1/2 Church St., 647.504.2657)
HARBORD ROOM5
Czehoski owner Dave Mitton paired with Drake Hotel
chef Cory Vitiello to open this small bar and restaurant in
2008. The 30-seat room has banquette seating, a 17-footlong wooden bar, and marble-topped tables. A back patio
seats 30. (89 Harbord St., 416.962.8989)
In the Fairmont Royal York Hotel, this upscale eatery’s
contemporary decor contrasts with the hotel’s grand, Old
World design. Epic rents out a private 14-seat dining space HARBOUR SIXTY
for functions, while the main dining room and lounge can In honour of the venue’s 10th anniversary, the Nikolaou
family transformed this steak house with a multimillionaccommodate 266. (100 Front St. West, 416.860.6949)
COQUINE
FAR NIENTE GRILL5
dollar renovation. The 7,500-square-foot space is filled
Rob Prete, formerly of Grazie, owns this Parisian bistro, with This slick financial district eatery accommodates 450.
with luxe finishes and fabrics in a blue, plum, black, and
classic brasserie fair and Art Deco decor. The restaurant
Chef Gordon Mackie specializes in modern Continental
cream palette. The restaurant has four private dining
seats 100, and a private room seats 35. (2075 Yonge St.,
cuisine with a focus on seasonal ingredients. The main
rooms. One of these holds 100. (60 Harbour St., 416.777.2111)
THE HOST FINE INDIAN CUISINE
416.322.6767)
dining room seats 176; a patio and two small private
LA COSTA NUOVA5
All three locations offer bright, colourful venues and
rooms are also available. (187 Bay St., 416.214.9922)
The main dining room of this Italian restaurant seats 80. FIFTH GRILL AND TERRACE5
serve an Indian menu. The Toronto location has a private
Two smaller dining rooms seat 14 and 20 can be joined to Guests ride up in the original freight elevator to access the dining room that holds 48, and the Richmond Hill and
87-seat dining room at this 1930s textile warehouse. The
hold 35. A small patio provides seating for 30. (421 Brant
Mississauga locations can hold 80 in private rooms. (14
steak-and-seafood menu is also served on the wooden
St., Burlington, 905.634.7421)
Prince Arthur Ave., 416.962.4678; 670 Hwy. 7 East, Richmond
COURTHOUSE
verandah-style terrace, and the Black Betty Room features Hill, 905.709.4678; 33 City Centre Drive, Ground Floor,
A converted 19th-century courthouse, this venue features lounge seating. (225 Richmond St. West, 416.979.3005)
Mississauga, 905.566.4678)
FOOTBALL FACTORY
HY’S STEAKHOUSE & COCKTAIL BAR
fireplaces and authentic historic light fixtures. Chamber
David Aisenstat took over the chain his father, Hy,
Lounge, the largest room, seats 150 or holds 600 for recep- In a former furniture store, this football-themed pub is
founded in 1956. With 30-foot ceilings, dark mahogany
tions. Courthouse transforms into a nightclub on Saturday decorated in black, tan, and red and has vintage footballprints on the walls. Booths with private TVs can accommo- wood, velvet booths, and wingback seats, Hy’s Toronto
nights. (57 Adelaide St. East, 416.214.9379)
COWBELL RESTAURANT
date groups of four to six, and 85 can be seated inside. Two location has private rooms that seat 50. (101-120 Adelaide
Owners Mark Cutrara (the executive chef) and Karin
patios hold a total of 45. (164 Bathurst St., 416.368.4625)
St. West, 416.364.6600)
INN ON THE TWENTY RESTAURANT
Culliton are dedicated to serving naturally raised organic FOUR
Chef Gordon Mackie serves health-conscious food for 126 Led by chef Frank Romano, this restaurant, part of Inn on
meat and produce sourced from local farmers. Cowbell,
the Twenty, is in Ontario’s lush wine country. Windows on
which resembles a French bistro, seats 44. (1564 Queen St. seated guests or receptions of 200. A palette of charcoal
grey, chocolate brown, and black is combined with wood the Twenty, the largest gathering space, holds 140 seated.
West, 416.849.1095)
DAZZLING MODERN RESTAURANT & BAR5
and stone, and decor features include a granite wall with Two other dining rooms hold 60 each. (3836 Main St.,
This Asian restaurant features a palette of scarlet, brown, flowing images, a rippled wood-slat ceiling, and an uplit
Jordan, 905.562.7313)
INSOMNIA RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE
and cream. Dazzling has two floors available for private
glass-topped bar that seats 27. (187 Bay St., Concourse
This Annex district eatery features a decor of exposed
functions: The second-floor space, which holds 128, has its Level, 416.368.1444)
brick, light wood, and overhead ducts that serve as the
own bar and a patio, while the third-floor space holds 40. FOXLEY BISTRO
Famed sushi/sashimi chef Tom Thai opened this Asian
backdrop to an eclectic French-Mediterranean menu and
(291 King St. West, 416.506.8886)
DELUX
bistro in Little Portugal. It seats 36 guests and features
late-night DJ sessions. Buyouts are available for as many
Chef Corinna Mozo’s intimate 40-seat restaurant offers
dark wood floors and Victorian-vintage exposed lighting.
as 100 guests. (563 Bloor St. West, 416.588.3907)
Rental furnishings for your best events.
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