What to do About the Town Oct 29th – 31st

Halloween weekend is here and with Winter quickly approaching, we found events that will appeal to all. Don’t forget to pick up treats for the little ones that will surely be knocking on your door Sunday night.

FRIDAY OCTOBER 29, 2010
International Festival of Authors
The 31st annual IFOA includes readings, lectures, discussions as well as book signings. This event at the Harbourfront Centre showcases the Scotiabank Giller Prize, Govenor General’s Literary Awards and Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction finalists. www.readings.org/?q=ifoa

TIFF Halloween Activities
This all weekend event at TIFF Bell Lightbox hosts scary movies, crafts and family friendly activities. Prices vary by event. tiff.net/tiffbelllightbox

SATURDAY OCTOBER 30, 2010
Flight Center Travel Expo
We love to travel so this is one that can’t be missed! This event is will have giveaways, vacation deals and advice from leading travel companies. Held at the MTTC North Building on Saturday only. Free. www.flightcentre.ca/travelexpo/

Howling Hootennany
Black Creek Pioneer Village celebrates Halloween with haunted mazes, creepy creature shows, storytelling, pumpkin carving and much, much more! Free with regular admission. www.blackcreek.ca

SUNDAY OCTOBER 31, 2010
Screemers
Back at Exhibition Place for its 18th year, Screemers has re-built its Haunted House and even boasts a licensed Vampire Lounge. This event has rides not meant for the faint of heart but is guaranteed to be a screaming good time! www.screemers.ca/

Zombie Dance
Inspired by Seth Grahame-Smith’s novel Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (retelling of the Jane Austen classic, Pride and Prejudice), this event pays homage to zombies of the 19th century. It’ll be a sight to see zombies grooving in torn regency gowns and pantaloons. Montgomery’s Inn. www.montgomerysinn.com

*** Don't Forget: The Walking Dead Premieres Sunday @ 10pm on AMC! ***

Have a Safe and Happy Halloween!

images from official websites.

How to Travel with Others and Keep Your Sanity

As you’ve probably noticed, our blog took a longer than usual hiatus while I, Veronica, was on holidays in sunny California. I wanted to thank Ashley for keeping up with it despite my abandonment.

I can understand how people would much rather travel on their own than with someone. When you’re on holidays with friend, spouse or other, you’re constantly trying to placate the other, making sure their needs are met before your own. As good and fun as that may be, as a fellow traveler, keep this in mind: you’re responsible for your own happiness.

If you don’t speak up and communicate what your needs are, don’t be upset or disappointed when things don’t pan out they way you thought it would be in your head. You can admit it; we’ve all done it as soon as the vacation is booked. You imagine how each and every day will be like and then have the obnoxious task of fulfilling these sometimes unreasonable dreams.

My goal with each trip is to simply have fun and not stress the small stuff. I am an advocate for being prepared though. I always do a web search about the city and area that I’ll be visiting, not just for sights but for places to eat. A lot of people don’t take into consideration how frustrating it is to find a place to dine when you’re not familiar with the area.

I do recommend picking up a guide book, having something tangible in your bag while out has been a saviour each time. One of the best I find for size, helpfulness and value are the collections of Frommer’s Day to Day Guide books.

When planning on which sight to see, it’s important that you group things into at least two lists. I usually have 3: the must see, would like to see and if we have time to see. The must see list will be comprised of the places you cannot leave without visiting. This is particularly important when visiting a large city or area with many activities that you may not be able to cover given your time. And if you miss something from your list, don’t fret, you can catch it next time.

I would recommend that you check on the weather situation before packing. Just because you head south, doesn't necessarily mean warm weather. That tiny yellow, polka dot bikini might not get any use at Venice beach in December when the average beach temperature is only 18 degrees Celsius.

If you're like me and require many outfits to choose from, finding space in your suitcase can be a challenge. Having the experience of packing for month long vacations in Asia, I've learned the best and only way to optimize on space is by rolling all your articles of clothing. Don't worry about wrinkles! You can iron them out upon arrival.

Most importantly, be self-sufficient. If you find yourself with some down or alone time, make the most of it, regroup and rest up for the next exciting thing on your lists. The perfect trip should be a combination of pre-planned events with enough spontaneity to allow for unexpected, last minute fun.

Images (c) Veronica & CityGirlScapes
image o1 - Newport Beach
image o2 - Santa Monica Pier
image o3 - Balboa Pier riptides
image o4 - Fountains at Bellagio
image o5 - Mojave Desert

What To Do About The Town – October 22-24, 2010

Now that Veronica is back from sunny California, our regularly scheduled socializing will pick back up and we will be able to make more frequent posts again. In the mean time, here are some great city events to keep our minds off those long ago warm and sunny days.

ALL WEEKEND

Sherway Gardens’ Hometown Fair (local community groups) Show and sale of handmade items including woodwork, quilts, ornaments, toys and baked goods. Oct 21 – 23. Free. www.sherwaygardens.ca

Haunted Streets Of Downtown Toronto Guided tour with ghost stories. Oct 21 to 31, 7 pm. $10. muddyyorktours.com

FRIDAY OCTOBER 22, 2010

The Chocolate Ball (Sick Kids Fdn) Chocolate-themed gala party with Disco Inferno, DJs, a silent auction and more. $150. thechocolateball.com

Night Of The Literary Dead Zombie book launch party for Andrea Subissati's book When There's No More Room In Hell: The Sociology Of the Living Dead. 10 pm. Free. Cherry Cola's Rock N' Rolla Cabaret & Lounge. zombiebooklaunch.info

Take Back The Night Toronto Rape Crisis Centre/Multicultural Women Against Rape celebrates 30 years of struggle, resistance and liberation with a community fair and rally (4-8 pm), a march (8-9:30 pm) and an afterparty wth DJs (9:30-11 pm). Yonge-Dundas Square. trccmwar.ca

SATURDAY OCTOBER 23, 2010
Salsa Saturday Dinner Cruise Interactive salsa lessons from the Afrolatino Dance Co and dancing aboard the Captain Matthew Flinders. 7 pm-10 pm. $60. 207 Queen's Quay W, mariposacruises.com

Toronto Zombie Walk Dress up and join other zombies for a walk ending at Christie Pitts park. 3 pm. Free. NW corner Trinity Bellwoods Park (Dundas and Gore Vale), torontozombiewalk.ca

Health, Food, Creativity Wellness fair. Oct 23 and Oct 24, 10 am-7 pm. $10, stu/srs $6, children free. LucSculpture, 663 Greenwood, sites.google.com/site/healthfoodcreativity

Toronto Roller Derby Semi-finals with Chicks Ahoy! vs Death Track Dolls. 7:30 pm. $18, adv $12. The Hangar, Downsview Park, 75 Carl Hall, torontorollerderby.com

SUNDAY OCTOBER 24, 2010

Best Buddies Challenge (Best Buddies Canada) Olympic medallists and other celebrities take part in this 1-10 K walk/run to support people with developmental disabilities. 8 am. $15-$60 registration. The Shops at Don Mills, 1090 Don Mills, audibestbuddieschallenge.com

Canvas For Cause (Samaritan Fdn) Art raffle fundraiser with theatrical performances, live music, comedy and more. 7 pm-2 am. $5. C’est What 67 Front E, 416-867-9499, thesamaritanfoundationdr.com

Long Life Empowerment And Long Life Ceremony His Holiness the Dalai Lama discusses long life empowerment, plus a ceremony and The Eight Verses Of Training The Mind. 9 am to 4 pm. $100-$200. Tibetan Canadian Cultural Centre, 40 Titan, dalailamatoronto2010.org

For more events visit Now Toronto

Images from official webpages