So long, winter blues: Winterlicious, Chinese new year celebrations this weekend

Winter has been quite tame this year, so you should take advantage of the mild temperatures and scanty snowfall while you still can.

There are plenty of events taking place around the city this weekend, so there’s no reason to hibernate this season.

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Winterlicious
Feeling the winter blues and blahs? Not to worry, Toronto’s annual winter culinary festival will lift your spirits and boost your taste buds.

From Friday and until Feb. 9., more than 200 restaurants will be offering three-course prix fixe lunch menus priced at $18, $23 and $28, and dinner menus at $28, $38 and $48.

 

Click here for a list of restaurants listed by cuisine type, or click here to view them on an interactive map. Reservations are recommended.

This year, to mark Canada’s 150th birthday, the culinary events will delve into the country’s history and diverse cuisine.

Chinese New Year celebrations
The year of the rooster will be ushered in on Saturday as Chinese New Year celebrations are marked around the world.

There are several celebrations planned in Toronto and the GTA, including at the Dragon City Mall at Spadina Avenue and Dundas Street. There will be a dragon dance, fortune telling, red envelopes from the god of prosperity, and more. The event is being held on Saturday and Sunday.

Elsewhere in the GTA, events will also be held at the Markville Shopping Centre and the Fairview Mall on Saturday. The two malls will be decked with lantern displays, live performances, as well as a traditional lion dance and an eye-dotting ceremony.

Walk for Memories
Over 1,500 people will be lacing up their sneakers this Saturday for the Walk for Memories.

The event is Canada’s largest walk for dementia. It celebrates life, honours caregivers, and allows people to come together with a community who understand the devastating impacts of the disease.

The annual event is being held indoors this year, with a two-kilometre route that will take you from the Metro Toronto Convention Centre’s north building, through the Skywalk and back. All money raised helps the Alzheimer Society of Toronto provide counselling and support services to people touched by dementia.

The walk runs from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. There will also be music and entertainment.

Toronto Light Festival
Winter can sometimes feel dark and deary, especially on days without any sunshine, but you can bring some light into your world starting this weekend at the Distillery District.

The festival features light installations by local and international artists, and depicts how light can inspire and transform a scene by manipulating colours and shadows.

The event starts Friday and runs until March 12, and admission is free. It runs from sundown to 10 p.m. on Sunday-Wednesday and sundown to 11 p.m. on Thursday-Saturday.

Last weekend of boat show
If you haven’t had your dose of summer and everything to do with boating, this weekend is your last chance. The Toronto International Boat Show comes to a close this Sunday, after a 10-day stint at the Enercare Centre.

The show is the largest one-stop destination in Canada to find the newest and most innovative boats, fishing and outdoor products, including water toys.

The event offers over 550 exhibitors, and an indoor lake for various water sports. Other entertainment includes a Wakeboard and Waterski Show.

Toronto Tea Festival
Discover a world of tea this weekend at the fifth annual Toronto Tea Festival.

Whether you are a newbie or a tea aficionado, the festival will allow you to explore the culture of tea – from the traditional, to the trendy.

 

Hundreds of teas will be available to be sampled and industry experts will be on hand. You can shop for all your tea-related needs at exhibitor booths, participate in a silent auction and enter a raffle.

The event runs Saturday and Sunday at the Toronto Reference Library from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Steam Whistle Yoga Untapped
Sometimes all you need is a good detox after the holiday season. This Sunday, yogis will be getting bendy at the Roundhouse for Steam Whistle’s Yoga Untapped event.

The session runs from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and is followed by a complimentary tour and taste. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the 2017 Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer.

All Yoga Untapped participants will receive 10 per cent off brunch at SOCO Kitchen + Bar. The event is sold out.

Carrie: The Musical
If you are a horror movie buff or grew up in the late 1970s or 1980s, you are probably still haunted by the scene at the end of the 1976 film “Carrie.” For those who haven’t seen it, there won’t be a spoiler here (although you can just Google it).

The movie was based on Stephen King’s 1974 novel of the same name, and both the book and movie have become cult classics. And now, it has been made into a musical.

The production, directed by Richard Ouzounian, will be performed at the Hart House Theatre until Feb. 4. Click here for ticket information.