TRIP TO TORONTO. WHAT TO DO...

Audiowoman
Ct0517 - I went to Western!

So did the
important fellow that is managing our future retirement
funds.
I hope my daughter graduates from there, comes back,
becomes Mayor of Toronto and approves a transportation
system that will allow for people to get to work to downtown
Toronto in under one hour from the suburbs.
Sorry for the bit of fathers remorse I showed.
It just that it takes three + hours to drive to Western to
see her as we live north of Toronto.
We just wished “our little girl” was closer to home.

Hola Daniel,

You ask many broad questions but quite similar ones that would come to my mind were I visiting somewhere. As your son is probably living near U of T, he will be able to direct you to the numerous book and record stores as well as many eclectic affordable restos in the "Annex" area. I like Book City and Sonic Boom as mentioned earlier.

While I feel the city is generally not terribly interesting from an architectural point of view, you will be close to the Robarts Library on campus, a good example of the "brutalist" school, and likely not too far from the newish addition to the Royal Ontario Museum - definitely contemporary but a matter of taste! Next door to this is the Royal Conservatory of Music and Koerner Hall, my favorite concert venue in town. I'm not sure what is going on there the week you are here but it is worth checking out.

Toronto is a very cosmopolitan and tolerant place with people from various parts of the world living in relative harmony and celebrating their own culture and cuisine. I'm sure your son can fill you in on the numerous "ethnic" pockets that exist. I have to say that a lot of these neighborhoods are livelier in the summer months but you may wish to check out Kensington Market and the Distillery District as a couple of polar opposites. Others may disagree, but there really is little in the way of "indigenous" Canadian cuisine unless you are talking about back bacon or grilled cheese sandwiches. There are restaurants in town that emphasize the use of local ingredients but they are essentially a pricey take on meat, veg and potatoes.

A nice day trip if you have a car is a drive out to Kleinburg, at the northwest extreme of the city. There you will find the McMichael Gallery which houses some nice Canadian art. A little closer to town you will find a cozy venue in the west end of the city called Hugh's Room who has Jesse Winchester playing while you are visiting.

I think Donjr has pretty much nailed the political leanings of most city dwellers...however those in the suburbs might be a little different as they were responsible for electing our sitting mayor!

Enjoy your stay!

The only stereo store that i know of downtown in bay bloor radio. For used books, bmv is a chain with the largest branch near bloor west of spadina. Elliot's is also a good used book store on yonge north of wellesley. As mentioned sonic boom on bathurst just south of bloor, has a large used cd, dvd blu-ray selection. They also are pretty well stocked with used and new vinyl. For food, i like the big smoke burger on king st east of yonge (don't go to the one at the eaton center). The swiss chalet chain serves a good rotisserie chicken at a reasonable price. There are many chinese and vietnamese restaurants in chinatown near dundas and spadina. I live in scarborough (north east of downtown) and am more familiar with the restaurants in that area. If you are driving there are many more options. Most of the stereo stores are in the suburbs. Lastly i heard the distillery district is pretty nice (i haven't been there myself}. If you have any specific questions that i can help with, feel free to pm me.

You better be in Montreal or even in Quebec city with some nice chicks and bar are open until 3 o'clock .........

I lived in Orillia and drove past London to Chatham to visit home so I know what you mean Ct0517. I did enjoy stopping at yorkdale to shop and hitting the stereo shops that used to line Yonge st. some years back