Ripley's Aquarium photo gallery (Toronto Fun Places)

Not many people would normally venture south of the CN Tower unless they had to see a game or a show at the Rogers Centre. This is all changing now, thanks to the new Ripley's Aquarium. 

Planned to open this last summer, Ripley's Aquarium could only open its doors in October so by Christmas time, there was still a big hype around it (they've added over 500,000 visitors in three months). 

At night, the building itself looks a bit like an aquarium.

Managing the line-up

When visiting during Christmas time, I could see that they are still adjusting to such a huge success, which came with some logistical problems (line-up management and customer service in general) and maintenance (overuse of interactive displays causing some break downs). 

I would expect that attendance will slow down a bit in the coming months (which should leave them some time to come up with solutions) before catching up again next June for the summer tourism season.

Here are some of the pictures of our visit with our teenagers. We loved it! You can also read about my 5 tips to better enjoy the aquarium experience.

Light balls at the foot of the CN Tower

I-SPY: Allan Gardens Christmas Flower Show 2013

Christmas Flower Show 2013 going on until January 12, 2014

I visited Allan Gardens Conservatory on December 28 (it is open daily, 365 days, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Their Christmas Flower show is a great time to visit. 

Here's a little i-SPY game I did with some photos I took during my visit. I suggest you print this game and ask your whole family to spot these plants. Enjoy! (More below about a nearby family restaurant and a cute café.) 

More Christmas fun here.
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For a bite before or after your visit:

One block east of Sherbourne (186 Carlton Street at Bleecker Street), you'll find Chew Chew's Diner, an all-day breakfast restaurant with a train theme. Check their lovely mural on the east side of the building. Inside, posters are lined by the booths to make you fell like you're looking at the landscape along the track.

One block further east is The Scullery cute café (200 Carlton at Ontario Street), open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends, closed on Tuesdays. They make everything but the baguette on the premises. (I can't wait to try their rose petal granola.)

Downsview Park Christmas lights 2013

The Christmas lights display in Downsview Park, as seen in December 2013, before the ice storm! (Update Dec. 28, 2015: Downsview Park website and Facebook page make no mentions of the lights but the nice staff at True North Climbing within the park confirmed that the Christmas lights are up in 2015)


Click here for more information and tips about the Downsview Park Christmas Lights.

Christmas Story at Holy Trinity: Baby Jesus does it again!

Yesterday, baby Jesus stole the show during the last performance of the Christmas Story at the Church of the Holy Trinity.


Any mother can't watch the Christmas Story (2014: in its 77th edition) without wondering how stressful it must be to handle one's baby during a live performance. What if baby Jesus starts to bawl when offered myrrh by one of the Wise Men? 

Well, when it happened yesterday, a "servant" appeared and quietly traded the cute baby for a doll. Problem solved. No baby was harmed during the performance. (Jesus was back, all smiles, in the following scene. A real pro.) 

Years ago, when I attended this show, twins were playing Jesus. Another way do deal with that kind of situation.