Michael Lee-Chin Crystal Named One of Canada’s Top Ten New Attractions for Summer 2007

The Royal Ontario Museum’s (ROM) recently-opened Michael Lee-Chin Crystal addition, designed by renowned architect Daniel Libeskind, was named one of Canada’s top ten new attractions for summer 2007. Selected annually by regional editors of Where Canada magazine, this top ten list was issued July 9, featuring Canada’s premier cultural and natural attractions and destinations.

“We are delighted that the dynamic architecture of the Lee-Chin Crystal has been embraced as an integral new part of Canada’s tourism landscape,” said William Thorsell, Director and CEO of the ROM. “At this exciting time, we welcome all Canadians and international tourists to visit the Museum in its opening season.”

With new extended summer hours, visitors can experience the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal with two fascinating special exhibitions in Garfield Weston Exhibition Hall and the Institute for Contemporary Culture’s gallery. The Lee-Chin Crystal also offers its visitors two new dining experiences: Food Studio, the new fresh family eatery, and the new fine dining destination, C5 Restaurant Lounge. The new ROM Museum Store offers a variety of unique gifts and ROM Reproductions merchandise.

This summer’s special exhibitions, which are included with admission, are:

· Drama & Desire, Japanese Paintings from the Floating World, 1690 – 1850 (to Aug 12/07)

· Ancient Peru Unearthed: Golden Treasures of a Lost Civilization (to September 3, 2007)

· Hiroshi Sugimoto: History of History (to September 3, 2007)

· Glass Worlds: Paperweights from the ROM’s Collections (to November 25, 2007)

· The Black Star Sapphire of Queensland (to December 7, 2007)

· Early Typewriters (to January 2008)

Admission to the ROM is: Adults: $20; Students with ID and Seniors: $17; Children: $14; Children 4 & under and Members: Free. During ROM Friday Nights (4:30 pm – 9:30 pm): Adults, Students and Seniors $10; Children $5; Children 4 & under: Free. Admission is free one and a half hours before closing, except for specially ticketed exhibitions. The ROM summer hours until the end of August are: Daily 10 am to 6 pm, except Thursdays and Fridays 10 am to 9:30 pm.

The Michael Lee-Chin Crystal officially opened to the public June 2, 2007 and is the centrepiece of the Renaissance ROM project, which continues until 2009. Daniel Libeskind’s award winning structure was one of the most challenging architectural and engineering projects in North America.