One of the great joys I get from living in a city like Toronto is the ability to take in culture from around the world. A great passion of mine is cinema, and growing up as I did in a small town, when I moved here, I was desperate to see alternative films. A regular staple of my movie-going experiences is the beautiful TIFF Bell Lightbox theatre.
There are many reasons to love this building and to congregate here. Opened in 2010, it is a beautiful architectural triumph- a modernist palace to movies. The Lightbox, as its full name alludes to, is also the centre of TIFF, the Toronto International Film Festival, and every September plays host to the world's best and brightest directors, actors and producers.
But beyond being a beautiful building and hosting beautiful people in September, the Lightbox is also a functioning, multi-screen movie theatre year-round. They have a programme of independent, foreign and Canadian cinema, and are the first stop in the city to see something hard-to-find and avant garde. They often show retrospectives of brilliant directors and host exhibitions of cinema-related art and costumes. Soon, they will be launching a retrospective of the work of Pedro Almodovar.
Residing as it is, right in the heart of downtown Toronto, the Lightbox is a convenient, beautiful and welcoming gem of a spot to see the best of the world's weird and wonderful films.
Find your way with 145 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
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"Toronto Reference Library" is Canada's largest reference library & a must-stop on any downtown tour, with plenty of exciting cultural secrets to discover.
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"Maids' Cottage Butter Tarts" in Toronto makes some of the best butter tarts you can find in the city, and there's nothing more Ontario than eating them!
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"Riverdale Farm" is an oasis of culture, nature, animals and trees at the heart of Toronto. I like visiting with my camera, especially for macro photos
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I recommend ordering a few of their smaller dishes to try, which should definitely include their renowned Bang Bang Broccoli!
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"Khau Gully" is my favorite Northern Indian restaurant in Toronto. Street food is its thing but it's best to sit in for its beautifully painted dining room
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From biodegradable bamboo products to personal care items that are better for both you and the planet, you can find plenty here for a more sustainable life.
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It’s rare that I leave this store without having bought something, be it a beautiful ring for myself, or a unique piece of artwork to give as a gift.
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With environmental sustainability in mind, Gia is a “plant-forward” restaurant, with the goal of sourcing produce locally, and organic when possible.
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145 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
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