Will be taking my daughter to Toronto for her 20th birthday. Are planning on staying at Bond Place and have tickets to Mama Mia for Sat. night. Is the hotel within walking distance to the theater? Would like to go out for a couple drinks after the show to a martini bar/lounge kind of place. Any suggestions? Preferrably someplace where it will be easy to get a cab back to the hotel. Thanks for your help!

It's a bit of a walk to the theatre from the Bond Place, but I'm sure there will be people who will say that it's not within walking distance. It's more than a couple of blocks, but I've often walked that distance. Loads of bars, etc. in the area of the theatre -it's known as the "Entertainment District".

Hi, Susanintoronto. We've booked a weekend at the Haldimand Spa in July. Any suggestions/tips/ideas? Thanks.

Although the distance is walkable, I wouldn't walk it at night as I don't like that area at all. As for drinks after the show, the "hot" place is the Ultra Super Club, 314 Queen Street West. It's an amazing room and a fabulous spot for a martini. Or you might want to check out the bar at Rain, at 19 Mercer Street, also walkable from the Royal Alex. Then there is Luce, in the new Hotel le Germain, 30 Mercer Street. These three are cool, hot, hip and great for a martini, but they're lounge like, not "clubs". Lots of cabs in the area to return to the hotel. Have a blast!

I was in Ultra last night -- the bar part really is a wonderful looking room, and the place is worth the walk up from the theatre.

But it has no signs.

Look for the narrow lane running from beside the Lush store, on Queen Street West, just west of Peter/Soho Street (it changes names as it crosses Queen)

And the tempura shrimp were probably the best shirmp I've ever eaten more than 100 yards from a fishing boat.

BAK