MOVIE MAGIC
"They're filming all over the
These days, it's not uncommon place," exclaims Betty Crow of Al-
for Toronto visitors and locals tus, Oklahoma, comparing notes
alike to encounter living, breath- with other tourists on a recent
ing big-name stars in restau- Toronto visit. "We ran right into
rants, shops and hotels. Thanks Sean Connery. He was going into
to the city's ethnic diversity, mix Bellini's (in Yorkville) when we
of architectural styles, wide pool were coming out. We just couldn't
of production talent and actors believe it!" (Bistro 990 on nearby
— not to mention the favorable Bay Street is another favorite
exchange rate — Toronto boasts celebrity hangout, say those in
a reputation as "Hollywood the know.)
North." It now ranks as North
The landmark Royal York Ho-
America's third-largest film and tel, near the theater district, train
production center, after Los An- station and Harbourfront, is just
geles and New York.
one of the popular filming loca-
In the last two years alone, tions for stars such as Bette Mi-
crews calling "Lights! Camera! dler, Mickey Rooney and Wesley
Action" filmed 78 feature movies, Snipes.
99 made-for-TV movies, more
"We became a Hollywood
than 100 TV series and specials, movie set overnight when Bette
132 music videos and hundreds Midler, Carl Reiner and Dennis
of commercials in and around Farina spent several days here
Toronto's streets.
in our lobby filming That Old
And everyone's still buzzing Feeling," says Nancie Hall,
about Toronto's star-studded spokeswoman for the newly-ren-
coup when four major releases, ovated hotel, which now offers a
all shot around the city, were out tollfree Royal Entertainment
at one time last year: Maximum Connection number (1-800-663-
Risk (Jean-Claude Van Damme), 7229) to book theater tickets
Fly Away Home (Jeff Daniels and along with rooms. "Our guests
Anna Paquin), Extreme Measures loved it — it was quite an event."
(Hugh Grant) and Bogus (Whoopi
For Toronto buffs Paula
Goldberg).
Schwartz Mardit and her hus-
band, Barry, of Huntington
Woods, the city's thriving live-
theater scene is a major draw.
Several times each year they pro-
cure tickets to such performances
as the current RSVP Broadway,
Ragtime and, of course, the
perennially popular Phantom6f
the Opera (which opened in 1989)
and Beauty and the Beast.
"It's fabulous. I loire it," en-
thuses Paula. "Sometimes we
just pull up to the box office when
we get into town and ask for the
best seats, matinee or night."
The Mardits (he's program di-
rector for a Lansing radio station,
Opposite page: Beneath Toronto's
intriguing skyline await a,world of
touring pleasures.
Above: One of the largest galleries in
North America, the Art Gallery of
Ontario houses the world's largest
p ublic collection of Henry Moore. A
Whistler exhibit runs through July 6
and "Transformation," the Crafts
Movement runs through Aug. 4.
Below left: Every great city has its own
Chinatown. . .and Toronto has four.
Below right: Caribana, an annual two-
week extravaganza (July 21-Aug. 4)
turns Toronto into a Caribbean
paradise of pageantry, music, dance
and art.
TONY SLADDEN
movie buffs blows into town for
the renowned Toronto Interna-
tional Film Festival, scheduled
Sept. 4-13 this year.
What's more, anyone who
hasn't visited Toronto lately will
discover a variety of new attrac-
tions to round out their list of fa-
vorite old haunts. Great additions
to the cityscape include the Hock-
ey Hall of Fame; the Village of
Yorkville Park, an award-win-
ning urban oasis in the city's toni-
est shopping district; the CN
Tower's Glass Floor, a heart-stop-
ping, almost-like-walking-on-air
observation deck 1,122 feet above
ground; and a museum devoted
exclusively to — believe it or not
— shoes.
Yes, the Bata Shoe Museum,
at 327 Bloor St. West, certainly
rates the Imelda Marcos seal of
approval for its fascinating col-
lection of more than 10,000 shoes.
On display in this five-story, con-
temporary shoe showcase, which
explores footwear through the
ages, are such conversation pieces
as John Lennon's Beatle boot,
Elvis Presley's blue patent-
leather loafers and Picasso's
sheepskin-lined, imitation zebra-
skin boot.
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