Tag: Toronto

Ed O’Brien makes his solo debut at The Great Hall

Posted on by Krystle

Photo by @concertfitzzz on Instagram

Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien graced our Main Hall stage on Friday February 7th for his solo debut. EOB performed tracks from his forthcoming album Earth, and was received with open arms by a sold-out crowd.

Eager Radiohead fans were lining up as early as 7:30AM to secure the best view of the show.

Perched at the front of the line was Lynn Bernardi, a fan from Detroit who met EOB for the first time following the show.

Bernardi wrote, “I’ve been seeing Radiohead shows for 19 years, they are my favorite band of all time and I’ve never had the opportunity to meet anyone from the band, much less have a leisurely chat. Our group has been going to shows together for a few years now and it made it even more meaningful that we all got to meet him together. I just want to say thanks to [The Great Hall team].“

 

Eatertainment Top Weddings of 2019 Feature

Posted on by Krystle

Congratulations to Camille and Adrian, who secured a coveted spot on Eatertainment’s Top Weddings of 2019 list. Camille and Adrian hosted their summer wedding reception in The Great Hall’s Main Hall, celebrating their special day among their closest friends and family.

Camille and Adrian worked closely with our Director of Production, Mark Foster as well as our Sales and Event Coordinator, Victoria Papp to help make their dream wedding come to life.

“Camille & Adrian were dream clients and an absolute pleasure to work with. They had a wonderful vision for their day and was our privilege to be a part of it! We wish them all the best in the future.”
– Mark Foster, Director of Production.

View Eatertainment’s complete list of Top Weddings of 2019 here.

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Source: Eatertainment’s Top Weddings of 2019

Changing the Narrative STATE OF HERITAGE REPORT 2019

Posted on by Kamal Abou Fares

Heritage is for everyone. It should be accessible to everyone.

As one of the world’s most diverse cities, Toronto is privileged to contain numerous layers of heritage: the natural heritage of our parks and ravines, the cultural heritage showcased in our communities, the built heritage we experience daily, and the archaeological underpinnings beneath us. We must focus our collective energies on the diverse spaces, stories, and traditions on which Toronto is built to develop a community-based view and interest in heritage.

Heritage creates social cohesion.
Heritage is a positive force for economic development.
Heritage is sustainable.

To read the complete report click below:

Changing the Narrative – State of Heritage Report 2019 

The Great Hall featured on GustoTV

Posted on by admin

Sarah and Dave aren’t sure in what direction they want to take their wedding—well, Sarah’s not sure; Dave just wants a venue with a “chill place” where he can enjoy cigars and scotch with the boys. Sarah, meanwhile, is so focused on making their big day as trendy as the wedding blogs she frequents, she’s having trouble narrowing down an actual theme. Hopefully, this restored Victorian building in the heart of downtown Toronto can check all (or at least most) of her boxes.

Established in 1889, the historic Great Hall perfectly captures that “blogger-chic” aesthetic Sarah loves and somehow manages to feel both ultra modern and classically romantic at the same time. Plus, its airy white interior offers a stunning blank canvas for Where to I Do? host Tommy Smythe to work his design magic and pull all those scattered wedding dreams together.

But will this indecisive couple actually be able to commit to this venue?

Watch the video below to find out!

Is this dreamy Victorian venue ‘blogger-chic’ enough for this indecisive bride?

2018 PEN Gala Dinner with special guest, Martin Amis

Posted on by admin

Brilliant, incisive and savagely funny, award-winning author Martin Amis, named by the Times as one of the greatest British writers since 1945, is frequently controversial but never dull.

On February 20th, 2018 PEN Canada and Martin Amis hosted an intimate evening of conversation ranging from Saul Bellow to Donald Trump: incendiary politics, literature, and the madness of crowds in the Main Hall. This event was hosted in support of PEN Canada and authors worldwide, advocating for the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression.

PEN Canada is one of the 148 centres of PEN International. Founded in 1926, it has a membership of over 1,000 writers and supporters who campaign on behalf of writers around the world who are persecuted, imprisoned and exiled for exercising their right to freedom of expression.

Check out the PEN Canada website for more information here!

 

Maylee Todd: Afanyala Music Video

Posted on by admin

Maylee Todd astounds us once again with her new video release for Afanyala off her album Acts Of Love. Todd is dressed in an ornate costume standing solo in Main Hall with nothing but lighting and her delicate movements to convey the message of her lyrics, “there’s no one else like you.”

Todd has chosen The Great Hall, nicknamed her second home, for the second time within a year; last November she debuted her album with a virtual womb. She quotes, “I was going to either have people walk into a vulva or into an ear and go into the mind of someone,” she explains. “The mind is riddled with ego, identity and all sorts of things that have benefits and detriments. In the womb, nothing has been defined yet. Experience hasn’t been defined. I’m interested in inner space, inner-inner space, deep space, outer space. These dark spaces are always fascinating.”

We’re excited to see what Todd has in store for the future, but for now check out her newest video below.

Read more here

Heather & Scott Tied The Knot!

Posted on by admin

The ancient Greeks believed that weddings that take place during a full Moon will be the most prosperous and happiest.  It was no accident that Heather and Scott tied the knot at The Great Hall on November 4, 2017, under the full moons bright glow.

The Main Hall hosted all the monumental moments of the evening.  At the beginning of the evening, Heather and Scott’s 160 guests enthusiastically filled the seats in the Main Hall to witness their beautiful ceremony against the theatre’s backdrop before moving to the Conversation Room to join in a toast to the newlyweds.

An array of delicacies were served for dinner back in the Main Hall on both the main floor and mezzanine level.  Five unique food stations consisting of oysters, sushi, perogies and more were thoroughly enjoyed by all in attendance.  As the dessert stations began to roll in, the music turned up and the dance floor began.  Guests from the mezzanine quickly took notice and joined the wedding party on the dance floor and stayed there for the rest of the evening.

Cheers to Heather and Scott!  May this next chapter be prosperous and full of happiness.

 

Press: Red Bull, River Tiber and Charlotte Day Wilson in Concert

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Red Bull Music recaps the Toronto artists’ sold-out hometown show at The Great Hall, from sound check to conclusion.

“For River Tiber and Charlotte Day Wilson, it was time for something big. Both just came off the road – River Tiber touring overseas, Charlotte Day Wilson stateside with Local Natives – and both were overdue on a hometown headlining show. Riding a similar tide of critical and popular acclaim from their most recent releases, it was time for Toronto’s next-in-line to solidify their mark on the city’s landscape with a statement. For the artists, a co-headlining show was just that statement.

The date: December 3. The location: The Great Hall. The atmosphere: unparalleled.

Click here for an intimate take on the evening through resident photographer Devon Little’s lens. If you’re in Toronto, check out Little’s collaborative show with photographer Keavan Yazdani featuring over 250 photos from the last 12 months in the life of River Tiber and Charlotte Day Wilson. The show runs from December 6 through December 10 at DAIS.” VIEW FULL ALBUM

Press: NOW Magazine, Canadian Acts Come Home for the Holidays

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From NOW Magazine’s round-up of holiday 2016 shows in Toronto…

“Many musicians call Toronto home, but many others leave to pursue their dreams in Los Angeles, London or Berlin. That’s why statutory holidays are a great time for local music fans: everyone comes home for a festive family dinner, and many of them book a gig or two.

This year, Toronto’s music calendar in the lead-up to Christmas is looking especially busy. Jason Collett is bringing his weekly Basement Revue series to the Dakota Tavern (249 Ossington) for a 10th year. To mark the milestone, Collett once again hosts a star-studded special edition of the part-music, part-literary variety show at the Great Hall (1087 Queen West) on December 22.

…Non-holiday local shows happening in December include rising R&B talents River Tiber and Charlotte Day Wilson’s co-headliner at the Great Hall on December 3, Etobicoke indie rockers Rheostatics’ gig at the Horseshoe (370 Queen West) on December 9, and Holy Fuck’s December 17 date at Lee’s Palace…” READ FULL STORY