Conference kaosws::canada

    Is the Organ Grinder still open?  If so, can you please tell me
    where it is?
    
    The Organ Grinder was (still is) is a pizza place with a hugh organ
    as the center piece.  Around the restaurant were various instruments
    connected (electronically?) to the organ.  There was someone playing
    the organ (as entertainment) and the various instruments would
    play along at certain intervals.
    
    Definitely as place for fun eatting.
    
    
    The Mad Chinaman
    

    It used to be below Front St. on the Esplanade, I believe, next
    to The Old Spaghetti Factory.  You're right - fun place, although
    not the greatest Pizza.

    The Carleton Inn and Bond Place Hotel (both downtown) had moderate
    prices last time I looked.  Rates go down in many hotels after Labour
    Day.  Also, if you're there over a weekend, you should get the weekend
    rate for those days.  The Park Plaza is in a great location (Bay and
    Bloor) and has good weekend specials, although the hotel has gone down
    hill, and I believe will be closing soon.
    
    For restaurant suggestions, see notes 450-450.7 in the eats conference
    on ucount. 

    It has been several years since I checked this stuff out, but the
    Bond Place Hotel is one of the least expensive of the clean, decent
    kind of hotel; it has few frills, but is modern and only a block
    from the Eaton Centre at Yonge and Dundas (the heart of the downtown
    district, right on the subway).

    I go to Toronto about once a summer to visit some friends and 
    I always stay at the Inn on the Park (a Four Seasons Hotel).  In
    American money, it is about $80 per night and is a terrific place.
    It has tennis, pools, shops, restaurants, bars, night club and
    nice rooms.  Its not in the heart of the city but its very close.
    
    "Ontario Place" is a fun place to spend some time.  It on the water
    front by the CN Tower.
    
    Have a good time.

    I made reservations at the Carlton Place hotel just a couple of
    weeks ago and the rate was $72.00/night for a double room. The
    Carlton is very nice because of it's central location and it's
    being close to the subway and streetcar lines.
    
    Paul.

    RE .2:
    
    The Organ Grinder is still on The Esplanade and still has the organ
    blaring away.  Guess I'm getting old, but the only reason I would
    go there is if I wanted a place that would be diverting for kids
    -- the  organ is a great idea but the noise is deafening.
    
    For "fun" places to eat, without quite so much noise, there are
    a number of places that go in for unusual combinations of cuisine
    (probably stretching the term a bit), huge menus, huge servings,
    very informal atmosphere, big ice cream sundaes, etc.  Among these:
    - Pat & Mario's (supposedly Irish & Italian), various locations
    in the city, including one a block or so away from The Organ Grinder
    at Church & Front Streets
    - Ginzberg & Wong's (Deli & Chinese) in The Village By The Grange
    on McCaul just north of Queen Street
    - Mr. Greenjeans, in the middle of the Eaton Centre
    - J.J. Muggs, various locations, one at the Dundas Street end of
    the Eaton Centre
    - The Pickle Barrel (deli) in The Atrium, north side of Dundas,
    across from The Eaton Centre
    - Malibu Jack's on Church Street, south of Front
    
    And of course, for an experience, you should check out Ed's Warehouse
    and the others in the "Ed's" group of restaurants on the north side
    of King Street, a couple of blocks west of University.  Ed is Ed
    Mirvish, originally known as the creator of discount merchandising
    in a fun way at "Honest Ed's" at Bloor and Bathurst, now also known
    as a patron of the arts -- he owns The Royal Alexandra theatre in
    Toronto and The Old Vic in London.
    
    I'll stop here, since there are some 5,000 restaurants in Metropolitan
    Toronto and I'm sure you don't want to know about all of them.
    
    Pat.
    

    Thanks to all for your suggestions.  We wound up staying at the
    Loew's Westbury on Yonge and Wood.  It claims to be 4 stars, I'd
    say 4 stars would be a better description but then my travelling
    companion got us in there at half price, so I am not put out.
    
    Toronto is certainly as nice as is advertised.  We enjoyed ourselves
    tremendously.  With cooperative weather we were able to do a
    considerable amount of walking, and to enjoy brunch on the CN Tower
    with a great view.  
    
    With only two days, we didn't really eat in many places, but had
    a great dinner at a Hungarian restaurant -- "Continental Restaurant"
    at 521 Bloor St. West -- walking distance from the Spadina TTC Station.
    The portions are huge, the quality high, and the prices more than
    reasonable.  No LLBO license though.
    
    Dan

    One of my favourite restaurants in Toronto is the Peasants Larder
    on Carlton near Parliament. It is a Mexican restaurant that is little
    different. Food is excellent, lots of it, and reasonable prices.
    LOts 
    
    
    

    Anything happening in Toronto that a visitor might be interested
    in checking out this weekend (Nov. 17, 1990)?
    
    Thanks,
    B.

    At midnight EVRY night they roll up the sidewalks, it's one of the
    MAJOR night attractions in Toronto and has been for years.  The sad
    thing is that no one is there to witness this fantastic activity
    because they (Torontonians) think they will become salt statues if they
    do watch it happening.
    
    Jean
    

    I guess that's their 'Lot' in life.....

    What do you mean by "roll up the sidewalks" ???
    
    
    Tracie.

    They roll them up because of the acid rain problem in Toronto.
    
    
    ;-)

    NO NON, it keeps the pigeon droppings intact for the next day!
    
    Jean