Soulriders, THE GATHERING!

[Dracos]

Planning post is: http://www.soulriders.net/forum/index.php?topic=1654.msg1019835#msg1019835

Alright guys, it is definitely time to start answering the finer questions on what folks want to do in Toronto and when certain stuff is going to happen as well as when possible add details on it.  I've bought a tour book (be here in a day or so) so I'll start tossing out a few things.  Ideally we have Odin or Onigiri to suggest eateries of awesome.

Ideally, we will be sticking in the city or where we can use bus/subway transportation for much of the trip.  We will need to rent a vehicle (or 2) possibly for the niagara falls trip, but let's try and put the driving trips toward the end as that way we do not need to book a week of rentals.  Rentals will be split equally between all participating, so nobody gets stuck with the few hundred dollar rental charge by themselves.  Probably on Monday so eying Monday through Wednesday for things outside Toronto proper.  Please voice interest in what you'd like to see and I'll start adding it down on the schedule.

I'm gonna be getting that main post in itinerary fashion, so everyone will be able to print it out before the trip.  Again, I really highly encourage folks to share their phone numbers.  This makes a lot of things a lot easier than it is when "I" am the only one that knows your phone numbers before the trip.

First relatively empty draft of the itinrary is going up now in the post.

As we're getting closer, it would be kind of fun to hit a theater show sometime.  Odin, can you make a pick there and suggest a day/time for it?  If we have to get tickets early, that would be good to know.

Not-So-Secret= I'm kind of a boring traveler in planning.  My favorite part of the road is usually eating at interesting places and seeing spectacle level entertainment/sights.  So if you guys want a trip full of sights to see, definitely speak up.  I'll do my best to get us a nice solid plan for fun, but if you guys rely on my choices alone, we'll probably have a few sad panda.  I also am somewhat going from the posts others have made so far, so if I put things near each other that is a long trip, Toronto natives please call me out on it :)

[Iron Dragoon]

Odin mentioned some kind of pre-Broadway show. That'll cover one dinner/evening if we go out to eat before/after.

Also, I suggest setting one or two nights aside for drinking. I *will* be drinking at some point, damn it.

There was mention of a nice Chinatown and downtown area. I suggest a brunch/lunch tour through each. That'll cover two mid-days, though I don't suggest doing both back to back. Spread them out a bit.

Also, I'm interested in seeing a game. Hockey or otherwise. Dunno what the seasons are, but I think minor league will be plenty good, and far more affordable. That'll cover another dinner/evening.

[Dracos]

We're definitely going to Casa Loma.  Do we want to try and get to these other places?  If so, it may make sense to get the city pass  (Provided we're going to at least 3 of them).  If not, then we'll just want to get group rate deals at each place.

CN Tower
Casa Loma
Ontario Science Centre
Royal Ontario Museum
Toronto Zoo

[Dracos]

It looks like the Jays are out of town the whole time.  Do the baseball folks really want to get tickets to any other group?

Hockey looks to be the same story.  We just miss the season.

[Iron Dragoon]

Boxing matches? Pit fights? Foosball tournaments?

[Music-chan]

I have never been to the CN tower so if you guys can swing that on the Sunday or Monday Cy and I are going to be there, that would be awesome. I'd like to say I've been there at least once.  I also wouldn't mind going to either of the museums. Not sure what time we'll be getting there on Sunday; we can probably leave here around 9am and get there between 10 and 11.  I don't know what the traffic is like on a Sunday morning.

Here, I'll try to be more detailed on the trip from Toronto to Niagara.  It takes about an hour, hour and 1/2 to go one way.   Once you get out of the GTA, it's a really easy and fast trip so if we leave in the morning, we should get into town before noon.  If you guys want to stop and see our moderate apartment, we'd love to have you for a quick stop.   Also, Cy can get everyone to the top of the Skylon Tower if you want to see the view for free.

It does look like some of the typical touristy things WILL be open in April and May, so if you want to ride the Maid of the Mist or somesuch, that might be a possibility.  Here's a link to most of the main attractions in Niagara Falls though: http://www.niagarafallstourism.com/thingstodo-entertain.html  Also, if you're up for a walk and bring your passport with you, we can walk across the Rainbow Bridge to the American Niagara Falls and do stuff in the State Park. http://www.niagarafallsstatepark.com/  The bridge costs 50 cents to cross on foot.  $3-4 to drive across. Also, if you don't mind more walking, we can get free parking in the Skylon parking lot because of CyMage. I'd suggest our apartment but that's another 3 blocks or so from the falls.

Not sure where you want to eat lunch. There are a ton of restaurants in town and the closer they get to the falls, the more expensive they are. There is a couple of really nice Japanese restaurants that are my favourite places to eat but there's also a lot of typical things.  Eating at the Skylon Tower is a bit on the expensive side and Cy would be able to tell you what's availible for lunch better than I.  I'm not even going to start listing all the other restaurants; there's just too many.  If you have a type of restaurant you'd like to eat at, shout out and we can tell you if it's worth going to or not, for the most part.


I've been to the Toronto Zoo before. It's huge so you'd want to make it a full day trip, I'd think. I know Cy and I probably aren't interested in going ourselves but I thought I'd throw some info at you in case you end up going. I'm linking the admissions page but if you browse the website, it does say there is public transit out to the zoo so you can probably take the train or bus out no problem.  http://www.torontozoo.com/ExploretheZoo/Admission.asp

[Dracos]

bloody heck, they sent that guide to the wrong address @_@  What a nusiance.  So much for having a guide this weekend for doing some writeups.

[Ginrai]

What time will everyone else arrive? Corwin and I should reach Toronto at around 7PM though there will likely be some delays on the ride.

I'll bring my DS and PSP. What games are you bringing, Dracos?

We should also try some Sri Lankan food while there.

[Iron Dragoon]

I should be getting into the airport around 4 pm.

[Dracos]

I'm not hearing a clear message on getting the special bulk pass deal.  

Folks lemme know if you guys want to go to those places and get that.  If just a few of us get it, we'll probably both go and it will be more expensive for those who haven't.

I dunno what games I am bringing.  Some entertaining stuff, surely.

[Ginrai]

I'm for going to the CN Tower. And maybe the Ontario Science Center as well.

[odin]

Current Schedule/plan:

Here's what I'm thinking... applies for Ricey, Shawn, and myself... I think at least most of this the rest of the group would find fun too.

Assuming everyone agrees to meet at the Friar, here's how to get there from the hotel:  http://tinyurl.com/tofriar   
      
Thu   04/28/11   
10:00:00 AM   Leave for Toronto
06:00:00 PM   Dinner at Northern Thai in Kitchener
08:00:00 PM   Arrive in Toronto
10:00:00 PM   The Rex
         
Fri   04/29/11   
09:00:00 AM   AGO – lunch there
03:00:00 PM   
07:00:00 PM   Meet everyone at the Friar (English pub)
         
Sat   04/30/11   
09:00:00 AM   Breakfast at Petit Dejeuner
10:30:00 AM   Walk Queen St and find some clothes for Iddy
         Stop at Truefitt & Hill for a shave
         Stop in at the Silver Snail (Comic/D&D shop)
02:00:00 PM   Lunch at Java House (breakfast will have been huge)
         Chinatown
08:00:00 PM   Pirates of Penzance
         
Sun   05/01/11   
09:00:00 AM   Breakfast – Eggspectations?
10:00:00 AM   Casa Loma
         Meet Cy and IY-chan somewhere
         CN Tower
         See what else is open – there won't be much – maybe some waterfront stuff?
         Try for Lion King tickets
         Backup plan – Rep Cinema & Peel Pub or The Rex depending on whether Iddy is behaving. :-)
         
Mon   05/02/11   
09:00:00 AM   Breakfast – Fran's?
10:00:00 AM   St. Lawrence Market
         Open day... maybe Young St, world's biggest book store, bang on Kwok's door up in Markham... whatever.
         Try for Lion King tickets
         Backup plan – Rep Cinema & Peel Pub or The Rex depending on whether Iddy is behaving. :-)
         
Tue   05/03/11   
09:00:00 AM   Depart for Niagara Falls – who else has a car?  I can fit five uncomfortably.  I think we're 10 including Cy and IY, but their car probably won't be returning to TO.
09:00:00 PM   Return from Niagara Falls
         
Wed   05/04/11   
09:00:00 AM   Breakfast – The Senator?
11:00:00 AM   Royal Ontario Museum (The group may find something else, but Shawn and I are doing this one)
         Try for Lion King tickets
         Backup plan – Rep Cinema & Peel Pub or The Rex depending on whether Iddy is behaving. :-)
         
Thu   05/05/11
      Depart

[odin]

I have never been to the CN tower so if you guys can swing that on the Sunday or Monday Cy and I are going to be there, that would be awesome.

They're not open Sunday (like most of Canada), but the CN Tower on Monday sounds like a great idea.

It does look like some of the typical touristy things WILL be open in April and May, so if you want to ride the Maid of the Mist or somesuch, that might be a possibility.

The Maid of the Mist is my CN Tower.  I'd really like to do that one if it ends up being possible.  The walk across the bridge and in to the park sounds like a lot of fun too!

-Dan

[Dracos]

Big thanks odin!  I'll give a merge attempt. =)

[Music-chan]

Hey man, everything in Niagara FAlls is open on Sundays.

I'm not even kidding. >_>

Upon reflection, Cy and I didn't believe that the CN tower would be closed on Sundays. We looked it up and it's only closed on Christmas day.  http://www.cntower.ca/plan_your_visit/hours/summer_hours/