Last Thursday, I was at Hugh's Room Live to see Melanie Doane perform. It was a benefit concert to…read moresupport the Doane Music School, which provides music education programs to Canadian youth through the ukulele. Where should I begin? Let's go with the original Hugh's Room. It used to be at 2261 Dundas Street West. It was founded in 2001 by Richard Carson, in memory of his brother Hugh, a musician who died of cancer. Hugh's Room Live moved to its current location on Broadview Avenue in July 2023. It is where the Broadview Faith Temple Church used to be. It makes sense that a music venue would take over a defunct church. The acoustics are fabulous! It is kind of weird returning to this venue. I used to stand in front of this church, be it talking to my mom or chatting with friends before we parted ways. I spent a lot of time in this neighbourhood, especially on Saturdays taking Cantonese classes a few blocks away. The concert was at 8 pm. I drove down to the Riverdale area and parked on Broadview. It's free parking after 6 pm on weekdays. Otherwise, it's Green P paid parking. This concert was general admission. Considering that most Melanie Doane fans would be my age or older, I didn't see this show being standing room only. I was right and relieved. There were seats, but you nabbed them when you arrived. The day before, I travelled home through Chicago. I walked for twenty minutes at Chicago O'hare airport to get to my gate. At Pearson, I walked for ten minutes from the plane to customs. My legs did not want to stand for this show! It is an older church, so there are stairs. It wasn't built for accessibility, but there aren't a ton of steps. If you use a cane or walker, you'd be fine here. Otherwise, it's not the venue if you have complex mobility issues. A woman at the front table said hi. I reciprocated and showed my ticket's QR code on my phone. She scanned it and let me know that I could sit anywhere that wasn't reserved. I asked where the washrooms were. They were downstairs. I used the women's before and after the show. There were three stalls. The washroom was quaint and clean. No complaints. I sat on the main floor. I tried a pew initially. It felt like church. There was no back support, so I moved up to a chair with some decent back support. Perfect! The front rows were reserved. There was seating on either side of the walls. You could also go up to the second floor for more seating. I love Melanie Doane and her music. My first experience was taking in my first Jann Arden concert at the National Art Centre in Ottawa in the late 90's. Opening for her was Melanie. I was floored by her singing and her playing multiple instruments, such as the mandolin, ukelele, and violin. I loved seeing her at shows when I lived in Winnipeg and when I moved back to the greater Toronto area. She doesn't perform often these days. She made giving the gift of ukelele playing to youth her commitment. I was pleased that she held a benefit for her music school. My first instrument was the ukelele in grade 3, so I get it. I went on to play until I was in grade 6. Melanie put on a terrific show. I last saw her a decade ago at, yep, the original Hugh's Room. Insane, right? I had a wonderful time here. Good memories came flooding back. She brought some special guests. Her children, Rosie and Theo, joined her on a song. The former is a singer and the latter is a drummer. They are products of the school and they frankly are blessed growing up with two musical parents. Kathryn Rose and Emilie Claire Barlow joined Melanie to sing a couple of songs. I loved that they covered Depeche Mode's Personal Jesus. They offer the best harmonies with edginess. It was nice seeing Gill Deacon there. I used to listen to her on a CBC music podcast years ago. She helped get the word out on donating to the school. Madeleine, a student of Doane Music School, sang and displayed her uke skills. She was sweet and talented. This venue does not have any food for purchase. It does have beverages, including alcoholic ones. Debit and credit cards are accepted. I liked coming to this former church for a fine evening of Melanie Doane music with her friends and family. I'd return again to take in another concert. It's the perfect venue with the best acoustics. (382)

This is an institution that holds the history of folk, blues, country and soul. I was blown away by…read morethe EPIC Samantha Windover and the indomitable Tandy Joy playing here tonight. It's a simple and comfortable venue--an old church--feels like you're in your friend's living room. It's a chance to meet the singers and song writers and other music aficionados. What a fantastic evening! Thank you.

Hidden Gem! This place is a little tricky to find (especially with construction) but so worth it…read more We had a fantastic evening with great food, great drinks, great service, and fantastic music. The band we saw, led by Stacey Kaniuk, was really rocking. The Reservoir Lounge has that classic upscale jazz club vibe. You feel cooler just being in this place. The food exceeded our expectations, especially the chocolate cake. Making reservations was tricky however. I never received any confirmation of my reservation via the online form, and when I sent an email and left a voicemail to follow-up and confirm, I never heard back from anyone. If they step up their reservation game, this place would be perfect.

This is a true hidden gem in Toronto with an incredible, speakeasy vibe. The music is soulful! Very…read moretalented musicians. The service is on point as well. You step down into the basement and almost feel like you've stepped into a different time and place. They have a nice menu with various small plates and an extensive drink menu as well. I'd suggest a reservation in advance if you want a table, but I've been here with standing room only at the bar and that was also great! A very funky place!

A classic Punk / Rock n Roll Bar in Toronto CA. Basically the CBGB's of that scene…read more It's been around since the early 1990's and is exactly what a spot like this should be. Very nondescript outside facade - no sign telling you what it is other than a small "BSC" (for Bovine Sex Club) painted near the door. Hard to miss though as the exterior is made up a punk rock style sculpture of rusted bikes & other assorted ephemera. The interior is similar, visually. Great sound system & chill vibes pervade throughout. Weirdly the stage is right in the entrance of the club, on your left, with a long bar along the right side, heading back. Great, crowd, great location in cool area with lots of restaurants & plenty of parking - both on the street up to 2 hours & extended parking for a flat-rate of CA$20 (~$14 USD) from 6:00pm until the next morning, just 2 blacks away.

The Bovine is a fantastic place that is the same today as it was decades ago. not only that, but it…read moreis also one of the cheapest pints that you can find. Now, are the taps dry? Maybe. Are the beer cans running out? It's possible. But, it's a dive in the way of the old dives. And the acoustics for bands are... not great. But they are a sign of what once was. Without attempting to try to present a front of a time long gone, The Bovine simply exists today as it once did in that time long ago, before Smokes stickers, before iPhones, back when people would just go to a bar to talk with those they didn't know the morning prior. Bring cash though, unless you're looking to make some big orders, because credit card is a minimum fifty-dollar spend.

Nice small venue for a concert. The washroom downstairs is a…read morelittle chaotic when you send everyone down for a quick break. It was hard to go up and down the stairs as it was narrow, so had to wait for people to pass first. Water was $7 in a can... which is a lot.

This is a really interesting venue to go to. It's small, it still looks like the vaudeville theater…read moreit started life as. And, it's really loud because of the layout. It also seems like the type of place that is floor only. But, the real trick for anybody over the age of 30, is to rush in immediately and go to the second floor. Grab a table and stand and watch from up there. The view is better, the sound is better, and you're not fighting with everyone around you. If you're one of the first 16 or 20 people, you can even get a seat. But try to keep that secret quiet, so there's a seat for me next time I go!

Such a fun bar! Drinks are cheap…read more The music is great. The staff is friendly. I had a blassssst being here and will definitely come back

This place rulessss. Great bartender (Zack) and the ambience is perfect for a Saturday afternoon…read more Highly recommend!

Top live music joint in the TO. There is live music in the front and sometimes a cover charge for…read morethe band in the back. Friendly service , affordable dranks and always fun music.

The Cameron House is exactly as advertised. It is not trying to be anything more than a memory of…read morewhat Queen West used to be. If you have any interest in experiencing a call back of old-Toronto then you should stop in for a pint or two. But, be sure to bring cash because they don't accept anything but. A throw back to a before-time that is all part of the experience. Don't go looking for a place to sit down either; but there's enough wall space for everyone to lean against.

Very fun place in the middle of Queen St. We stopped in for late lunch after learning about the…read moreRivoli in the movie "Nirvanna, the band, the show, the movie". We were greeted very warmly by the wait staff and seated at one of the indoor tables. We each got delicious burgers and split an order of Wookie Balls. Everything was perfectly done right down to the lightly grilled brioche bun. The pool room upstairs is really cool too. Lots of history in the place but still feels clean and cared for. Everyone was so nice that we encountered. Can't wait for our next visit.

In late October, on a Sunday, I had lunch with a few friends at Rivoli Toronto, an iconic venue…read morenear the downtown core. I had a great time. I parked on Queen Street West. It's Green P parking. I recommend paying for parking through the Green P app if you need to add more time. When you walk in, there's a flight of stairs and a main floor: - The main floor has a restaurant, bars, and Back Room for concerts - The second floor has a full bar, stage, pool tables, and arcade games I entered the main floor. I was greeted by John, the owner. He was super nice and hospitable, leading me to where my friends were. We were a party of six. Main floor We feasted. We got a lot of food. We divided, shared, and conquered. We ended up boxing leftovers home. I ordered a Diet Coke. It was cold and perfect. I ended up getting another one later on. Balls menu The balls menu consists of appetizers that are sharable with friends. I can also see having a few for yourself to enjoy. It's good finger food eats if you want variety or something lighter, especially before a show. We enjoyed the following ballsy items: - Wookie balls - Beefy Danish balls (frikadeller) - Fish ball fusion - D'oh balls - Garlic mashed potato All the balls were scrumptious and filling. The Wookie balls are one of the Rivoli's signature items. They are rice balls with mirin, sesame oil, and herbs, coated in black and white sesame seeds. They were crunchy and yummy. The beefy Danish and garlic mashed potato balls are comfort in ball form. I dream of this combo still. I was fortunate to have been invited into the kitchen, to check out where these talented chefs make all their food creations. Every order is made fresh. I could tell how much these chefs love what they do. They cooked and plated everything so effortlessly and with such precision. It was impressive! I got to see them make these offerings for us: - Blackened burger - Korean chicken lettuce wraps They were delicious and full of flavour. You can get the lettuce wraps made with veggies if you're vegan. Noodles We got the vegetarian pesto linguini. I loved the roasted red pepper and garlic cloves, with pesto that was fresh and bright. You can also get this dish with chicken. Rivoli's classic pad thai has been a staple since Rivoli opened in 1982. Pan-seared chicken and shrimp are your proteins. Egg, scallions, peanuts, and bean sprouts, and the proteins are tossed with rice noodles in Rivoli's signature pad thai sauce. The sauce is ketchup-based, which may offend pad thai purists, but they are missing out on yumminess by knocking it. You can also get this dish made vegetarian with veggies and tofu. Flatbreads Flatbreads are part of the Sound Bites appetizers at Rivoli. We enjoyed the following flatbreads: - Spicy thai - Spicy thai sauce base, with baby shrimp, marinated chicken, green onion, bean sprouts, ribbons of egg, roasted peanuts, cilantro, and fresh lime zest - Korean BBQ - Korean BBQ sauce base, with marinated chicken, red pepper, red onion, carrot, cheese, cilantro, and green onion - Love from parma - drizzled extra virgin olive oil on the flatbread, with thyme, sea salt, cracked black pepper, prosciutto, sun-dried tomatoes, roasted garlic, shaved parmesan, arugula, and flat-leaf parsley - Blanco - drizzled extra virgin olive oil on the baked flatbread, with fresh thyme, cracked sea salt, gouda cheese, and bufala mozzarella All flatbreads were perfectly toasted and made to order. They were both chewy and crispy where they should be. Scrumptious! Back Room The Back Room is the main stage. Adele, Amy Winehouse, Gord Downie, The Kids in the Hall, Mike Myers are some folks who have performed here. It was cool to look at the stage and sit on it, to soak in everything. I'll need to return and check out a show or more. Second floor I took in The Empty Glasses play a live set at 3 pm on the second floor. The stage is by the bar. This band plays every other Sunday. It felt like being in Nashville, visiting a bar, knowing that there is good, live country music playing as you grab a drink and a bite to eat. The difference is that you save a bit by soaking up country vibes in downtown Toronto. It's a tight-knit community of talented country musicians that can play or sing anything on a Sunday afternoon. It was special to witness. I instantly became a fan, as attending live concerts and performances is my thing. There's also a pool hall with games on this floor. It was a throwback to my undergraduate years learning how to play pool with friends over drinks. There are a decent number of pool tables. I counted eleven. The purple one in the middle is the largest one out of the bunch. The oldest one is over a century old. It's like being in a pool hall museum, but you can touch the artifacts. You can also play video games. I saw Pac-Man and other great 80's arcade games. They made me happy. I had a great time. The food and drinks, and live music were excellent. (436)

I first went to this venue when it was Sound Academy 16 years ago! Then it was a concert venue -…read morenow it's been transformed into one of Torontos best clubs (and concert venues). It's pretty massive - although parties can fill up the space anyways. The show is always wild, and the ceiling has a massive retractable fixture. It has a VIP second floor, and a smaller second room that will play different music. Bathrooms are fine. Could be bigger for the size of the venue, usually there's a big line. The only downside really is that it can be hard to get to due to the narrow roads that serve the docks. Often there's a line of up cars and I usually walk or bike. However, being outside of the downtown, they can go big with sound, so it's worth it.

Saw the venue kick out a person with cerebral palsy in a wheelchair. Mainly because an attractive…read morewoman was upset that she was not ahead of the person. Do not patron this venue and most definitely contact its management about such violations.

Got here the bartender no greeting, no hello, no thank you and no welcome. I asked her for the…read moredrink menu, she asked me to go have a look at the tap beer name other side of the bar. She asked me to pay right away without a please!! Miserable woman. Even she didn't give me the receipt! When I asked she seems embarrassed saying "ehhhhhhh!!! Then she gave another customer's receipt And guess what? The bar is empty!!! How the owner can put this creature behind the bar and trusted her!!!! At the end she turned me her back without asking if I want another drink!!! She served 2 peoples the 2nd one just came in and still didn't ask if I wanted another drink!! See the sequence of the pictures. I have to leave BORING BAR BY THE WAY!

Black Swan is my favorite Bar on the Danforth!!! Bill and John are amazing and the music is always…read moreawesome. I feel like Black Swan is sort of my bar like the bar in Cheers! Everyone, makes you feel so welcome. The Friday Night Blues jam with Mike and Robin and Juliette is just amazing. What great musicians, and so welcoming to all other musicians who turn up to play. I help run a huge music festival "Govfest" check out Govfest.ca and we have been holding our Battle of the Bands at Black Swan for several years. The sound run by Kevin is awesome and the support provided by John and Bill makes it so easy for anyone wishing to host a night of great live music. Black Swan has so much history and it will always be my bar to go to for a night of great company and great music. Dorothy Currie

Came here for the jazz night around 6pm on a Saturday to celebrate a friends bday…read more The performance started about 15 min late. Note there's a coverage charge for this jazz section to be $15. I believe the next performance is about $25 around 7:30ish. This spot is pretty vibey and would work well as a date spot. Note: the views we got as a group of 8 is not that great Music was good as well and I noticed several servers went up to sing(not sure if singing is a hiring requirement but they're pretty good). We ordered tequila shots and some cocktails. I noticed the cocktails were pretty strong! They def did not skimp out on their liquor.

I really hate to offer up a negative review based on such a short visit, but I feel like I have no…read morechoice (and also that I need to warn people about the vibe and policies at Jazz Bistro). We arrived on time for our reservation and were reminded about the $20 per person cover charge, which was fine by me since it goes directly to the musicians. We were shown to a table that was very close to the stage, which was cool, but the way the table was placed meant that my back was to the stage, which meant I had to keep craning my neck to get a decent view. It was uncomfortable, to say the least. Add to that the extremely loud music and a lack of proper air conditioning and I was just suffering in my seat. But I was trying to be a trooper about it, so I ordered a Manhattan. The drink was pretty decent, but I was just so hot and so uncomfortable that finally I threw up my arms and requested the cheque. Our waiter was very apologetic but we were charged the full cover, which meant that with the drink and tip the bill came out to $77. $77 for a 26 minute experience is a little ludicrous. I can't say I'll ever return. One thing I'll say is that there's a reason jazz clubs usually have round tables. It's so unpleasant to have the band at your back, and I'm shocked that's the layout they're going with.