Alex Pauk has been for decades a strenuous supporter of new music in Canada, and for 30 years has been the conductor of Toronto's Esprit Orchestra, Canada's premiere ensemble for the performing of new music. Strenuous indeed, as the beads of sweat dripping from his face after last...

If you want to travel from city to city in Europe on the cheap, you should turn to Ryanair, Europe's quirky yet ridiculously inexpensive airline.

Europe's Schengen agreement has gotten rid of customs at the border, and with this ease of travel has come a number of low cost airlines....

In Toronto, Canada, when the temperature rises during the brief summer, I love to get out and enjoy some of these off-the-beaten track outings.

1) Berry picking at Whittamore's Farm
A great summer outing is to visit this farm that is set up to allow you to pick your...

Venice is one of the most beautiful cities of Europe. Wandering down narrow, crumbling streets lined by canals, you can watch as gondolas silently slide by in the teal colored water, marvel at ornate churches and view a huge trove of masterpieces by Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese and Tiepolo.

Here...

Florence is a beautiful, ancient city in Italy's Tuscany region. Walking among buildings and churches that are hundreds of years old, you can encounter an enormous wealth of Renaissance art, from Botticelli to Donatello to Michelangelo.

I recently spent a week in this graceful city, taking in the architectural and...