250th Robbie Burns Day Events

If you've never tasted a haggis, or seen one properly addressed or piped in, this is your big chance. Also a fitting opportunity to sample a fine Scotch or three, and maybe some neeps and tatties.

A sampling of some events:

Friday, January 23: Addressing the Haggis at the Duke Pubs

• 12:15 p.m.: Duke of Somerset (655 Bay)
• 12:40 p.m.: Duke of Westminster (First Canadian Place)
• 1 p.m.: Duke of Devon (TD Centre)
• 1:30 p.m.: Duke of Richmond (Eaton Centre)
• 6 p.m.: Duke of Kent (2315 Yonge)
• 7:15 p.m.: Duke of York (39 Prince Arthur)

Friday & Saturday, January 23 & 24

• 7 p.m.: Robbie Burns Banquet, Granite Brewery (245 Eglinton E. The traditional dinner with toasts, pipes, haggis and appropriate beverages. $50, all inclusive)

Saturday, January 24

• 11:30 a.m.: Tasting to Salute Robbie Burns 250th Birthday, Event Kitchen at Summerhill LCBO (10 Scrivener Square). Tastings of single malt Scotch and haggis, accompanied by Highland dancing and the pipes of Jack Jackson, who will offer the Address to the Haggis dressed as the poet himself. On offer will be Bowmore Islay 12-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, anCnoc 12-Year-Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky and Heather Cream, a malt whisky-based cream liquor.
• Robbie Burns Night, Cowbell Restaurant (1564 Queen Street W. Burns-inspired fare plus regular menu; pipes and haggis ceremonials; bring a favourite Burns verse to read)

Sunday, January 25

• Noon to 4:30 p.m.: Robbie Burns Day (with toast to the haggis, shortbread tasting & music, Mackenzie House (82 Bond Street) $3.33 (child) $3.81 (youth/senior) $5.71 (adult) plus GST
• 1 p.m. : St. Andrew's Society Salute to the Bard (with pipe band, traditional toasts, haggis tasting), Burns statue in Allen Gardens, regardless of weather
• 2 to 4:30 p.m. Celebrating Scottish Heritage: Robert Burns Day 250th Anniversary (with readings, music & dance performances, traditional toasts, haggis & shortbread tasting, prizes for Burnsian attire), Royal Ontario Museum Theatre. $42 (ROM members $37)
• 6:30 p.m.: Burns Dinner & Scotch Nosing (Scotch egg, haggis, filet mignon, cock-a-leekie soup, neeps & tatties, shortbread & Scotch whiskey), Murphy's Law (702 Queen E.), Pogue Mahone's (777 Bay); The Foggy Dew (803 King W.) & The Pour House (182 Dupont). $39.99 plus tax & tip
• 6:30 p.m.: Burns Night at Allen's, Allen's (143 Danforth). Three course menu, music, dance and the address to the haggis. $55 plus tax & tip.

Photo: Calum Hutchinson, Wikimedia Commons