What's open and closed on Family Day 2014 in Toronto

Family Day takes place this Monday, February 17th and should offer a welcome winter day off, whether plans call for spending the long weekend as a clan or just catching up on sleep. The stat holiday means that banks, schools, libraries, municipal buildings, LCBO and Beer Stores will be closed. The TTC will operate on holiday service schedules with a start time of 6am. Canada Post offices (with exception of some retail outlets) and federal passport offices will be open.

There are plenty of attractions and events planned citywide, though understandably many are geared towards a PG-13 kind of crowd. Movie theatres and skate rinks will be open as per usual but restaurants will be trickier to navigate, most haven't given the day much thought with Winterlicious and Valentine's Day happening in such close proximity.

Here is what's open and closed on Family Day in Toronto for 2014.

ATTRACTIONS

Open

• The Ontario Science Centre (770 Don Mills Road) is offering special programming, iMax movies, planetarium shows and electricity demos all weekend February 15th to 17th.
• The Art Gallery of Ontario (317 Dundas Street West) is open 10am to 4pm and the gallery is offering family passes at $10 off.
• The Royal Ontario Museum (100 Queen's Park) is open 10am to 5:30pm on the Monday, February 17th. Family-friendly programming runs as all weekend long from 11am to 4pm.
• Hockey Hall of Fame (30 Yonge Street) is admitting up to four youth (13 years and under) for free with the purchase of one regular price adult ticket. (10am to 5pm)
• The Toronto Zoo hosts Polar Bear Fest this weekend, February 15th to 17th from 11am to 3pm daily.
• TIFF (350 King Street West) is screening Reel Rascals: Short and Sweet at 10am and 1:15pm on Monday, February 17th. Recommended for ages 4 and up the program features a collection of animated shorts.
• Toronto Marlies play a Family Day game against the Texas Stars at the Air Canada Centre on Monday, February 17th starting at 3pm. Tickets are $10 to $50.
• Evergreen Brick Works (550 Bayview Avenue) host a day full of free public skating, nature hikes and community stone soup (BYOVegetable). Plus the Brewer's Backyard returns for the 2014 season with Goldibocks and the Three Beers on Family Day from 11am to 4pm. Admission is free for the all ages event.
• Sears Great Canadian Chill happening at Yonge and Dundas Square all day will encourage families to jump into an icy pool to raise funds to in support of Sears Canada Cancer Clinic at The Hospital for Sick Children and the Sears Childhood Cancer Fellowship at SickKids. Register in advance online to take part.
• Ripley's Aquarium of Canada is open 9am to 9pm
• Movie theatres are open citywide.

PARKS & RECREATION

• Free public skate times at outdoor skate rinks and select indoor rinks vary and are available online or by calling 311.
• Supervised shinny hockey is available free of charge. Family Day schedules for various ages and skill levels online or by calling 311. Players must have their own stick, gloves and safety gear.
• Skiiers at Toronto parks can take advantage of the "Adults Pay, Kids Play" offer from 4 to close, the promotion admits adults for $24 each plus up to two children under 18 years (rentals not included). Centennial Ski and Snowboard Centre, (256 Centennial Park Road) will be open from 9am to 9:30pm. Earl Bales Ski and Snowboard Centre (4169 Bathurst Street) will be open from 10am. to 9:30pm
• Ten city-run indoor pools open will be open family day from 2pm to 5pm. Admission is $2 for adults, $1 for youth and seniors, $5.50 for families.
• Riverdale Farm (201 Winchester Street) is open from 9am to 5pm. Families are invited to visit the animals and enjoy free drop-in activities from 10 am to 3 pm.

GROCERY STORES

Major chains like No Frills, Fresh Co., Loblaws, Sobeys, Metro, T&T and Whole Foods will be closed with few confirmed exceptions listed below.

Open

• Loblaws (60 Carlton Street) - 7am to 11pm
• Whole Foods Yorkville (87 Avenue Road) - 10am to 6pm
• Pusateri's (57 Yorkville Avenue, this location only) 7:30am-6pm
• Sobey's Urban Fresh (777 Bay Street, Suite 427) - 11am to 8pm
• Arz Fine Foods (1909 Lawrence Avenue East) - 9:30am to 6pm
• Galleria (865 York Mills Road) - 7am to 12am

MALLS & RETAILERS

Open

• Eaton Centre (220 Yonge Street) - 10am to 6pm
• Square One Shopping Centre (100 City Centre Drive) - 11am to 6pm
• Vaughan Mills (1 Bass Pro Mills Drive, Vaughan) - 10am to 7pm
• Pacific Mall (4300 Steeles Avenue East) - 11am to 8pm
• Woodbine Centre (500 Rexdale Boulevard) - Fantasy Fair open 10am to 6pm (mall is closed)
• Holt Renfrew (50 Bloor Street West) is open noon to 6pm.

Closed

• Yorkdale
• Sherway Gardens
• Fairview Mall
• Scarborough Town Centre
• Bayview Village (with the exception of some restaurants)

RESTAURANTS & BARS

This is hardly an exhaustive list so calling ahead is recommended. Most restaurants in Chinatown are open for the holiday, and so not listed individually below.

Open

• Aunties & Uncles (74 Lippincott Street) is actually open all weekend which is noteworthy since they cruelly close all other holiday weekends.
• The Drake Hotel (1150 Queen West) hosts a family pancake breakfast with cartoons. Suggested donation is $10 in support of the Parkdale Community Food Bank.
• The Depanneur (1033 College Street) and Robert Rubino lead a Homemade Pasta Workshop from 6:30pm to 9pm. It's not meant for young kids but 12 and up could participate too. Tickets are $40.
• Cafe Belong (550 Bayview Avenue) is doing brunch from 11am to 3pm on the holiday Monday.
• The Beverley (335 Queen Street West) is doing brunch, but dinner remains TBD depending on busy-ness.
• The Bristol Yard (146 Christie Street) is extending weekend brunch through to Monday, served 10am to 4pm.
• Big Crow (176 Dupont Street) is open for brunch.
• Lula Lounge (1585 Dundas Street West) hosts a Family Jam featuring live music, djs, food, drink and kid-friendly fun. Admission for adults is $19, kids are free, doors open at 12:30pm.
• Enoteca Sociale (1288 Dundas Street West) and Ben Heaton from The Grove are doing a 4-course Community Collaboration, a family style dinner in support of St. Christopher House. Tickets are $75. Dinner starts at 6:30 on Monday, February 17th
• The Dock Ellis (1280 Dundas Street West) is open 6pm to 2am per normal Monday night bar hours

Photo from Jason Cook in the blogTO flickr pool