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Food & Drink: International cuisine can be enjoyed in all major towns but for a more traditional fare, try Haliburton pheasant or one of the dazzling varieties of fish from the countless lakes and rivers. Toronto is rated as one of the best cities for dining out on the continent. Bars and restaurants offer an international selection of alcohol. Ontario has extensive vineyards providing much of Canada’s wine. Each autumn, the Niagara Grape and Wine Festival is held in Niagara-on-the-Lake. The minimum drinking age is 19 years old. Alcohol is sold in Provincial Liquor Control Board outlets. Domestic beer is available at Brewer’s Retail. Domestic wines are also sold through company stores. Liquor and beer stores are run and operated by the Government. Licensing hours are daily 1100-0200. Beer and liquor stores are open on Sundays. It is illegal to consume alcohol unless you are in a residence or a licensed establishment.
Nightlife: Both main cities have establishments offering all forms of entertainment, from quiet clubs featuring a lone pianist, through Latin American combos to dance and rock bands and big-name international entertainers. Toronto is recognised as the third most important theatre centre after London and New York, and cabaret/dinner theatres are also especially popular in Toronto. Toronto is also known as a good jazz and blues town. Both Toronto and Ottawa host jazz festivals in the summer. Theatres with classical entertainment are also found in Ottawa.
Shopping: Toronto offers everything from antiques to luxury lingerie, if the visitor has the money and time to spend. There are large suburban shopping centres and the Eaton Centre, a glass-domed galleria in the heart of the city, is linked to 4.8km (3 miles) of interconnecting underground shopping malls with 1000 retail outlets. Toronto’s villages are full of colourful streets of renovated Victoriana, with garment shops, art galleries, antique stores and open-air cafes in summer. The run-down Queen Street Strip has been taken over by collector’s comic-book shops, punk day-glo leather emporia, sci-fi bookstores, junk and antique shops. Ottawa also has a wide choice of shops and handicraft centres. Sparks Street Mall offers a variety of shops including those selling excellent authentic native work. Byward Market is a popular area of craft shops, farmers’ market stalls and cafes.
Special Events: For a full list, contact Ontario Tourism (see Contact Addresses section). The following is a selection of the major festivals and events celebrated in Ontario during 2003:
Nov 23-Jan 21 Winter Festival of Lights, Niagara Falls. Jan 18-19 Niagara Grape and Wine Festival’s Icewine Celebration. Jan 31-Feb 16 Winterlude, Winter festival, Ottawa-Gatineau. Mar 12-16 Canada Blooms: The Toronto Flower and Garden Show. May Canadian Tulip Festival, Ottawa. Jun 3-8 Canadian Film Centre’s Worldwide Short Film Festival, Toronto. Jun 26-28 Canada Dance Festival, Ottawa. Jul Beaches International Jazz Festival, Toronto. Jul 2-6 Niagara International Music Festival. Jul-Aug Tennis Masters Series Canada (tennis championships), Toronto. Aug 26th Annual Orillia Scottish Festival. Aug 8-10 Toronto’s Festival of Beer. Sep Niagara Grape and Wine Festival.
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