The Super-Wonderful-Fantastical City We Call Toronto

It's starting!

2006-09-07T12:16:00.000-04:00

Check out this post from BlogTO about the launch of city-wide wifi. So exciting!

Safety

2006-09-02T12:12:00.000-04:00

First off, it's important to note that Toronto is one of the safest cities in North America, with homicide and robbery rates well below any US city of comparable size. As a university student I wouldn't feel the slightest bit of fear walking alone to the subway at 1am. That said, if you're not familiar with the area that you're in it's best not to be so complacent because there are areas of the city where it's best not to walk alone at night.

Neighbourhoods
Within the downtown areas, there are a few regions that you wouldn't want to spend much time, including Moss Park, Regent Park, St. Jamestown. These regions all include high-density or low-income housing. These regions all lie east of Yonge Street, south of Bloor, north of Richmond. Outside of the downtown area, neighbourhoods to be wary of are Jane & Finch, Kipling & Albion, Neilson & Finch. Though most visitors to the city wouldn't have any reason to visit any of these areas.

Gun violence
The summer of 2005 was known as the "summer of the gun" in Toronto. Gun-related homicides and shootings happened in broad daylight, in areas of the city generally considered safe. Though these incidents were highly publicized and made Toronto seem like a very unsafe place, our most violent summer still did not reach the levels of crime that most US cities see on a regular basis.

This summer, gun violence has been down from the numbers last year and most Torontonians are hoping that last summer was simply an anomaly. Nearly every single shooting was gang-related, and in the past 6 months, the Toronto Police have carried out two massive raids on gangs, which are credited in part to the diminishing gangs and gun violence.

Theft
Personal theft or pickpocketing is not really something you have to worry about in Toronto. Even if you left your bag on a bench while you went to the washroom, more than likely it would be reported to security as a possible bomb, rather than be stolen.

Just don't leave a case of bourbon on the back seat of your car in full view while parked. It's going to get stolen.

Bicycle theft
Lock up your bike because if you don't, it won't be there when you get back. Toronto's one claim to crime stats fame is that fact that it's the bike theft capital of North America. Seriously. Use a good lock. Take your seat off and bring it in with you, if you're really concerned about it.

Electronic theft
Electronic theft, duplication of the magnetic stripe on your atm card, and credit card fraud are all common occurences here, as well as any North American city. If you're worried about your atm card, use your body to shield your PIN from view, especially at gas stations. Without your PIN the magnetic stripe is useless. Make sure to check your transactions on a regular basis and report anything you don't recognize.

Street people
You will see a fair amount of homeless people on Toronto's streets asking for money. They are generally harmless, most are mentally ill or drug addicts. Give them money if it makes you feel better. Don't feel bad if you don't though, they make a fair amount of money panhandling (there was a story in the Toronto Star a few years back about a woman that panhandled at Yonge and Bloor and lived in the tower there in relative luxury) and the majority will spend it on vices anyway.

Just to let you know, the musicians in the subways are NOT homeless people. These are musicians that have to go through an audition process to get a permit to play in the subway. Just an interesting little fact.

No more free Friday nights!

2006-09-02T11:30:00.000-04:00

Let's all bow our heads and say a little prayer for the end of an era. Starting September 15 the ROM will no longer be offering free Friday nights. They'll be charging a $5 admission for all ages (in comparison to the $15 regular entrance fee for adults) for entrance from 4:30pm to 9:30pm on Friday nights.

Not all is lost though, the upside is that the $5 now includes entrance to special exhibitions.

Restaurant Map

2006-09-01T18:00:00.000-04:00

Dont mind me, just trying something out with google maps and the restaurants I've got on my Squidoo page. I realize there's a few bugs in it and I'll be playing with it a bit, hopefully it won't land in your newsreader too many times. It takes a while to load, just be a little patient.

**If anyone can help me with this one, the geocoder seems to be mapping a couple of addresses incorrectly, specifically messing up the east/west distinction, when it's clearly specified in the address. Any suggestions to fix this?

These are restaurants that don't really fit into any one ethnic style of food and serve a mixture of different types of dishes.

Barootes: 220 King Street West. In the heart of the Theatre District, Barootes situates itself in an old Edwardian building. Casual atmosphere and a mixed bag of pub fare, eclectic dishes and Cajun inspired meals.
beerbistro: 18 King Street East. This restaurant takes its mandate seriously by incorporating beer into about 80 per cent of the fare. As a matter of fact, it's the beer selection that will wow you. Menu offers many casual food favourites like pasta, pizza and mussles. Many elements are in the right place, like a service team who work together harmoniously and seem to genuinely enjoy their job.
Bier Markt: 58 The Esplanade. You guessed it, beer! And lots of it. The beer menu is about 20 pages long. Tons of people head here for drinks after work on Fridays, so it might be hard to find a table. It gets pretty loud.
Bocca on Baldwin: 26 Baldwin Street. Beautiful corner patio in Baldwin village, food is pretty good, service isn't the best.
The Boiler House: 55 Mill Street. Referred to as Building 46, the Boiler House is now a dazzling restaurant with live jazz music, vaulted ceilings and whiskey racks. It features an eclectic choice of ostrich, veal tongue, glazed lobster, and Alaskan cod. Sundays always feature the Jazz Brunch with a great medley of sounds, smells and flavours to tantalize the senses.
Brasserie: 133 John Street. Great place for after work drinks and eats. Large patio with tons of street traffic to watch.
Carens Wine & Cheese Bar: 158 Cumberland Street. Stylish and unique addition to exclusive Yorkville. Serving a deluxe selection of cheeses from Bleu de Benedictin to Queso Fresco, plus pastas and such fromage-inspired mains as a Stilton-stuffed burger. Put together your own cheese plate or take one of the suggested pairings. Entrées: $14-$26.
Eggspectation: 220 Yonge Street. Eggspectation is so busy, it could single-handedly revive the B.C. poultry industry. From the moment it opened its doors, lineups have become as commonplace as the construction at its Yonge and Dundas locale. Add to that, a surprisingly suburban mall feel that seems to fit nicely with its renewed urban environment and Eggspectation owners must be just eggstatic.
Fran's: 200 Victoria Street.
Originally started with a flagship restaurant at the intersection of Yonge and St. Clair, cozy diner Fran's was introduced to Toronto back in 1940. Started by one Fran Deck, the restaurant was carried by his family after his death in 1977. Sold to independent investors the restaurant's College Street location stayed alive through the years and spawned the Victoria Street location recently. Located in the thick of the Yonge and Dundas area of Toronto's downtown core, it's filled to the brim with old-style hospitality and diner atmosphere.
Hard Rock Cafe: 279 Yonge Street. Total tourist trap. Right next to the Eaton Centre, so it's convenient if you're right there and hungry.
Maggie's: 400 College Street. Located in the Kensington Market area, Maggie's, the College Street staple and neighbourhood fave has earned its reputation as a decent greasy spoon. Cool jazz radio beats play in the background. There's no attitude to deal with and service is friendly and laid back.
Milestones: 132 John Street. Super restaurant for all occasions in the entertainment district. Not to casual, but not extravagant with a really great menu with tons of selection.
The Only Cafe: 972 Danforth Avenue. The Only Café serves up lunch, snacks, beer, and more. Brunch is served up on Saturdays and Sundays. It's probably the only place in the city where you can eat under the watchful eye of the Beatles, Vincent Van Gogh, Marilyn Monroe and Elvis. There are mismatched framed portraits of the famous and not-so-famous covering every inch of the dark green walls. It's very dark inside, romantic and cozy, the mood set by miniature lamps present at every table.
Richtree Market (formerly Marche): 42 Yonge Street. Interesting restaurant in BCE place, you pick up your own food from various serving stations around the restaurant and they stamp your card. The one drawback is picking up so many items and realizing later that you've racked up a hefty bill.
The Red Tomato: 321 King Street West. Below Fred's Not Here, menu is all over the culinary map, patrons are a youngish mix of business types, theatregoers club-hoppers and ball fans. Go at happy hour for cheaper eats.
Remy's: 115 Yorkville Avenue. It's a pick-up place; it's a cool hang-out for young downtown hipsters; it's a snacky afternoon stopover. It's many things to many people; for lunch, there's a choice of basic sandwiches in the casual lounge, while pasta is served in a more formal dining room. Or have pizza on the patio overlooking Yorkville gold-card shoppers. After sundown, Remy's rocks if you're into a night of debauchery; start with draft beer and the seafood combo, then dance up a storm in the clubby interior.
Toast: 993 Queen Street East. A quintessential brunch spot in Leslieville, Toast has been around on the Queen Street East strip for years now and it hasn'tlost its appreciative food fans. Voted 'Best Brunch' numerous times by local weeklies and brunchers in this city, this little café with the cool décor packs 'em in on the weekends.
Tundra: 145 Richmond Street West. Main floor restaurant at the Hilton is decorated with themes from across our great country. Rather pricey, but definitely worth it.
Turf Lounge: 330 Bay Street. Situated in the heart of the financial district, Turf impresses from the moment you step into the ante room/bar. Its lofty elegance parallels the Tanenbaum Sculpture Atrium at the AGO. But Turf really takes off in the dining/wager room. Decorated like the exclusive boys' club it is (albeit women also drop in), it's dark and masculine, aiming to please even the most strait-laced Bay Street conservatives. As racing-focused as Turf Lounge may be, you can bet food is no afterthought.
Wayne Gretzky's: 99 Blue Jay's Way. Within walking distance from the Roger's Centre, the Air Canada Centre and most theatres, Gretzky's is a big draw for tourists. Great place to take the kids after a hockey game and admire the memorabilia on the walls.

Aki Da: 1911 Queen Street East. Located in the Beach area of Toronto, Aki Da Japanese Seafood House offers traditional Japanese fare, featuring Teppanyaki tables, Tatami rooms and a sushi bar, Aki Da can provide an intimate dining experience or dinner for a gathering of friends and family.
Benihana: 100 Front Street West. Located inside the Royal York on Front Street, quite expensive for japanese food, but well worth it if you're willing to splurge.
HoSu Bistro: 254 Queen Street West. Arguably the best sushi in Toronto. Great selection of sushi combos for a great price. Also serves Korean specialties.
Izakaya: 69 Front Street East. A sushi-less society is something Toronto diners will probably never have to worry about. But, if they expect to find this popular Japanese cuisine served up at Izakaya, they'll be disappointed. This trendy but casual Front Street find does what is customary at izakaya-style restos in Japan. Literally meaning "nice place," Izakaya is all that, plus it's cheap 'n' cheerful.
Kon-nichi-wa: 31 Baldwin Street. Tiny sushi restaurant in Baldwin Village. The gyoza dumplings are awesome here. Sushi is good but nothing special.
Mochizuki: 655 Bay Street. You won't have to guess what's on this menu. Mochizuki is famous for bringing in Toronto's first rotating sushi bar. Simply have a look, point and eat. Enjoy fine dining Japanese style, with extensive sushi and sashimi menus, fresh ingredients and creative presentation. Located in the heart of the downtown financial and business districts.
Shogun: 154 Cumberland Street. Daily lunch specials of shrimp and vegetable tempura or salmon teriyaki are a great deal at $6.50 a pop. Dinner prices climb to $20 for popular plates like Shogun's sushi dinner. Patrons can sit at a table or watch the knife-wielding theatrics at the sushi bar.
Sushi Time: 339 Queen Street West. Across the street from HoSu, sushi time offers equally good sushi with less selection for smaller meals. Go with a friend, share a platter and some sides.

Style of restaurant where everything comes in appetizer-sized portions meant for sharing.

Cayo Coco: 304 Richmond Street West. A cozy converted Victorian in the heart of Clubland, this darkly romantic Spanish cantina offers a modestly priced 40-item tapas menu from lunch until very late in the evening, 3 am on Friday and Saturday. Bonus: 2-ounce martinis are $3.99 Thursday and $4.50 Sunday
Embrujo Tapas Bar: 97 Danforth Avenue. Famous for their weekly live flamenco dancing and traditional regional Spanish recipes. Claims to be the only authentic spanish tapas restaurant in the city.
Supermarket: 268 Augusta Avenue. Tapas style restaurant in the heart of Kensington Market, great place to stay after dinner, have a few drinks and get down.
Li'ly: 656 College Street. International tapas menu in the heart of little italy. Not incredibly cheap for Tapas, I'd recommend not being incredibly hungry before going here.
Segovia: 5 St Nicholas Street. Among Toronto's growing list of Spanish restaurants is Segovia. In its new location, Segovia specializes in paella, a classic Spanish dish of rice with saffron and chicken, garnished with mussels and shrimp ($28 for two.) Upstairs in Picasso's tapas bar, casual diners can drink wine and share a variety of tapas, like garlic shrimp, tortillas and spicy sausage. Ole!

Bandidos: 371 King Street West. A warm and friendly atmo with a touch of kitschy nostalgia. More tourist cliche than authentic run-down Mexican cantina makes the plastic cacti and an abundance of sombreros fit right in. Service is amazing, come with a large group and be nice to the servers and they start throwing the freebies around.
Burrito Boyz: 120 Peter Street. If you're going for lunch, go early because the lineup extends outside every day, and with good reason. The burritos are fabulous and cheap. Also gets pretty busy around 3am when all the clubs kick their patrons out and people are hungry for an alternative to street meat.
Margaritas: 14 Baldwin Street. Tucked away on Baldwin Street, Margarita's Fiesta Room is a hidden Mexican treasure that serves up authentic food and great drinks. If you have never tried a Margarita before this is a great place to start.
Sneaky Dee's: 431 College Street. Favoured by university students and just about anyone else shaggy and tattoed who isn't scared away by the decor, Sneaks has become a Toronto institution. One of the few really good places to hit for some late-night eats.

Fat Belgian: 115 John Street. The Fat Belgian designs itself to serve the finest in Belgian lagers including Stella Artois, Hoegaarden, Inbev, and Alken Maes. John Street's newest restaurant denizen has a beer garden with patio set up in the middle of the Entertainment District.

Bistro 990: 990 Bay Street. Stomping ground for hollywood stars, regularly appears in the tabloids as the place celebrities are seen dining at in the city. The food is classic bistro style with a provencal influence.
Bodega: 30 Baldwin Street. The elegant Victorian manor is located on one of Toronto's more interesting streets. With attentive, friendly service, the restaurant with the Spanish name is home to French cuisine. Enjoy the spacious patio or cozy fireplace while enjoying one of the finest meals the city has to offer. Derek Kennedy is at the helm of this kitchen.
By The Way Cafe: 400 Bloor Street West. This Annex mainstay offers choices that run the gamut from falafel to delightfully seasoned chicken entrees. My fave is the Mediterranean plate of hummus, falafel, babaganoush and tabouli. The patio is a great viewing gallery where one can sit gawking at the motley crew of passers-by while sipping on great cafe au laits or one of the many beers on tap. Get here early for brunch on weekends. It fills up fast.
Cafe California: 538 Church Street. Service is always great, it seems as though everyone knows each other at this place. Great summerlicious menu.
Coco Lezzone: 602 College Street. Somewhat upscale in price, the romantic ambience makes it place to take a date. Despite the rumors that plague this venue as being owned by the mob (it's been blown up twice), it remains a hot spot for celebrities during the film fest.
Hot House Cafe: 35 Church Street. Have never heard a bad word about Hot House. Sunday brunch is pricey but amazing.
Kensington Kitchen: 124 Harbord Street. Great restaurant right near the university serving mediterranean cuisine, primarily vegetarian, with some interesting combinations.
La Maquette: 111 King Street East. Why do people call this the most romantic restaurant in the city? Maybe it's the impressive architecture, the elegant staircase, high ceilings, and huge chandelier. Maybe it's the artful lighting and fresh flowers. Maybe it's the patio and upstairs solarium with a view of a waterfall. Maybe it's the fireplace, indoor trees, or nightly live jazz. While most restaurants would be happy with one of these, La Maquette has them all, making it a number 1 choice come Valentine's Day. On the menu, appetizers and entrees (including pastas, risottos, seafood, poultry and meats) are described so beautifully you'll want to sample everything. The extensive wine list is continually updated to ensure patrons have the choicest vintages.
Le Petit Liban: 580 Church Street. Serving Greek, Italian and International cuisine, this 120 year-old Victorian house has been converted into a fine-dining establishment with two elegance fine-dinning patios. This culinary cottage is a perfect spot for anniversaries, birthdays and other candlelit occasions.
Le Saint Tropez: 315 King Street West. On the King Street restaurant strip in the theatre district, this is a great place to head to after a show if you can handle hearing "La Vie en Rose" a minimum of 3 times during your dinner seating.
Oro: 45 Elm Street. Oro offers it all from Mediterranean and contemporary to new Canadian cuisine prepared fresh each day. There is also a strong emphasis on fresh market produce. Owners are always on hand to greet guests and guarantee knowledgeable service.

Asian Legend: 418 Dundas Street W. Entrees range from $10-$20 Canadian, while northern Chinese dim sum dishes start at $1.75 Canadian each and top off at $6.99 Canadian.
Bright Pearl: 246 Spadina Avenue. Serving all day dim sum and traditional cantonese dishes. This restaurant right in the heart of Chinatown has won many awards for food and service.
Dynasty Chinese Cuisine: 131 Bloor Street West. Dynasty Chinese Cuisine offers authentic Chinese cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere. Dim sum is served daily, as well as popular dishes Dynasty Peking Duck, Szechuan Orange Peel Beef, and General Tao's Chicken. For a unique spin on fresh seafood, try the Braised Shark's Fin Soup, Fresh Oysters and Vancouver Crab. Open for lunch, dinner and, of course, dim sum.
Golden Chop Suey: 3 Baldwin Street. For really cheap chinese food check out their meals for $5. Ask for less or no rice, otherwise they load it on and you get much less meat or veggies.
Grand's Seafood House: 615 Gerrard Street East. Grand's Seafood House specializes in authentic Chinese cuisine. Dim sum, noodles, rice, fresh seafood, chicken, meat, dumplings and peking duck are key items on the menu. The restaurant can seat around 300 people and dinner for two costs between $30 to $40. Lunch for two ranges from $15 to $25.
King's Noodle House: 296 Spadina Avenue. Superb fresh noodles to sate even the noodliest canoodlin' noodler. Entrees range from $6 to $10.
Lai Toh Heen: 652 Mount Pleasant Road. The uptown sister of the successful upscale Chinese dining room Lai Wah Heen in the Metropolitan Hotel, has recently opened in what used to be Square on the Mount Pleasant strip just south of Eglinton. With a room that harkens back to 1930s Shanghai, it's a lovely space with exquisite table settings
Lai Wah Heen: 108 Chestnut Street. Housed in the Metropolitan hotel, Lai Wah Heen is more upscale than your average dim sum joint. Prices are from $4-7 per dish but you pay partly for the ambience (tranquil) and the ordering method (pen n' paper, not the traditional dim sum cart n' shout).
Lee Garden: 331 Spadina Avenue. ermapacked upper-scale cuisine. Chan loved the seafood dishes, the Shanghai noodles and the deep-fried boneless chicken in chili Szechwan sauce. Entrees are about $12-$20.
Matahari: 39 Baldwin Street. The MataHari Grill serves a Chinese/Malaysian menu with everything from spicy seafood to chicken and lamb. Choose from noodle and rice recipes that are spiced just right. Private dining and catering services are available. The downtown restaurant holds 50 diners comfortably indoors and 16 on their patio. Dinner for two runs around $80. Reservations are recommended.
Rol San: 323 Spadina Avenue. Always a late-nite favourite with the clubbers. Most dishes are incredibly good even at 3am. Stay away from anything with shrimp, it doesn't come deveined.
Sky Dragon Restaurant: 280 Spadina Avenue. This six-floor restaurant above the DragonCity Shopping mall boasts the city'sbest dim sum; a patio overlooking Toronto's skyline; and beef balls, chicken feet and sticky chicken rice for between CA$2.10-3.60 per dish.

The Bowl Fine Asian Cuisine: 522 Yonge Street. The Bowl, located on Yonge Street, offers an extensive list of tasty Asian cuisine menu options in a casual setting. The restaurant, which can seat more than 50, is frequented by the university and tourist crowds. It boasts a large menu of more than 75 Vietnamese, Chinese and Thai food items including Shanghai noodles, veggie chow mein, and Thai basil chicken as well as exotic drinks like lychee martinis. A hidden gem in the heart of downtown.
Linda: 335 Yonge Street. Linda, the recently-opened upstairs dining room to Salad King, is a fine-dining alternative to the revolving-door ado of downstairs for those who wish to spend a bit more cash for a calmer, quieter finer-dining experience with well-trained waiters.
Salad King: 335 Yonge Street. Cheap Thai food just off of Yonge street near Dundas. Atmosphere is very casual with cafeteria-style seating, so get friendly with your neighbours.
Spring Rolls: 40 Dundas Street West. Really good thai food, amazing pad thai, service is excellent and atmosphere is all great for the price.
The Friendly Thai: 678 Yonge Street. Great place to sit in the window and people watch. This place has won multiple awards for it's food and with good reason. Pretty cheap, but then again most thai places are.
Real Thailand: 350 Bloor Street West. This restaurant presents a huge selection of authentic appetizers and main dishes from Thailand. On the menu at Real Thailand are plenty of fish, chicken, beef, lamb and vegetarian dishes to please any palate with recipes that are spiced just right. The dress code is casual and reservations are recommended on weekends and for groups of 10 or more.
Thai Basil: 467 Bloor Street West. Located in the Annex, Thai Basil opened in 2005 but owner Kenneth ran several successful Thai restaurants on the west coast. Thai chef Nuk has had more than 15 years experience cooking in Thailand and South East Asia and created a menu that includes more than 100 dishes. Sample Thai spring rolls, prawn and fish cakes, clams, sweet and sour chicken, pad thai and interesting salad options such as an Asian grapefruit salad and a citrus papaya salad. Open for dinner and lunch, with a lunch menu starting at $5.95.
Thai Paradise: 35 Baldwin Street. Thai Paradise is an oasis of delicate and scintillating flavours of lemongrass, curry, and basil, all combining together to form a taste of Thailand. Located on the eclectic Baldwin Street, the restaurant features the best in satay, soups, lamb, chicken and beef dishes. Lunch, dinner, takeout, and a party menu are all available as well as an extensive wine and beer menu.
Urban Thai Bistro: 1959 Queen Street East. Located in the Beaches, the Urban Thai Bistro serves authentic Thai cuisine to customers journeying along the boardwalk. The restaurant itself is small and cozy; the inexpensively priced menu, with specialties like spicy peanut vegetable stir fry, features entrees at $9.95 and dinner for two runs around $50. During the summer months, the Urban Thai Bistro has a terrace located in the back of the restaurant. Delivery and takeout available.

Baton Rouge: 216 Yonge Street. In the Eaton Centre. Specializing in cajun dishes, supposedly has the best ribs in the city. A little more upscale, but still casual.
Joe Mamas: 317 King Street West. Restaurant with live entertainment specializing in motown and R&B. Southern style menu that tastes great. Service is a little shoddy.
N'Awlins: 299 King Street West. Jazz bar/restaurant with a touch of the Cajun-Creole hospitality only found deep in the heart of Louisiana.

Avli: 401 Danforth Avenue. Let the aroma of fresh herbs and exotic spices, and Greek and Mediterranean culinary traditions entice you to try Avli. Dine in or take out.
The Friendly Greek: 551 Danforth Avenue. Great food, super fast service. You can't go wrong with the souvlaki dinners. The steak isn't the greatest.
Kokkino: 414 Danforth Avenue. Kokkino Restaurant & Lounge is a Greek and Mediterranean style restaurant located in the Danforth/Riverdale neighbourhood of Toronto. This place may look familiar because it was just renovated on the TV show, Restaurant Makeover. The menu is tapas-style, and dinner for two usually costs around $80. DJ's provide entertainment from Wednesday to Sunday.
Mezes: 456 Danforth Avenue. Multiple award-winning neighbourhood restaurant with a casual, family feel. Authenic, Greek dishes, with what's rumoured to be the best calamari in the city.
Myth: 417 Danforth Avenue. Myth is a beautiful bar where beautiful people go to relax and look at each other. For all that, it's not an attitude bar. The decor is minimalist, with austere, art piece lighting plunging from the high ceiling and three discreet televison sets showing old films. There's an attention to detail here that can't help but make you feel more attractive. The mostly Greek menu is delicious, and sharing a few appetizers with your friends is recommended, even if you aren't there for the food. Summer nights the place is absolutely hopping and the front patio fills up quickly.
Ouzeri: 500 Danforth Avenue. The Danforth is a haven for Greek food and culture. Ninety per cent of the entrees are served a la carte; large servings of lamb, chicken and beef are brought on one platter for the table. Wines are available by the glass. Garlic is a major ingredient, so have a breath mint after dining.
The Palace: 722 Pape Avenue. The Palace Restaurant, located in the heart of Greektown, offers homemade meals created with fresh ingredients. Menu items include authentic Greek meals, seafood and a complete wine list which includes wines from Greece.
Penelope: 225 King Street West. Staff are quick and friendly, and the place is cavernous. Ceilings are high, with white stuccoed walls and plants hanging everywhere. The menu includes a vast selection of hot and cold appetizers, the classic Greek soup Fasolada, various souvlakis, a famous roast lamb, and a surprisingly large number of seafood dishes. All entrees come with vegetables, rice or potatoes, and bread. Penelope's Platter, suitable for large groups of Olympic-size eaters, includes nearly all the menu favourites.

Aroma: 287 King Street West. Aroma, serving authentic Indian cuisine is central to some of Toronto's biggest attractions in the theatre district. Though it's primarily a dinner restaurant, they offer an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet.
Dhaba: 309 King Street West. Great Indian food in the heart of the theatre district. Service is excellent. Ask for your meal to be done the way way the cook would do it for himself.
Kama: 214 King Street West. Traditional Indian recipes, tucked in the heart of the theatre district. Sample the delicious buffet and a la carte menu options, in a modern and colourful atmosphere. Enjoy buffet lunches and dinners and daily seafood specials.
Mantra: 31 Elm Street. Mantra serves up Indian-French fusion in the Dundas Square area of Toronto, with seating for up to 144 in the restaurant and lounge bar. All seafood is market fresh and varies according to availability and an extensive wine and cocktail list, some made with indian fruits and spices is available. Brunch, and vegetarian dishes are available as well as catering and delivery.

Big Daddy's Crabshack and Oyster Bar: 212 King Street West. Perfect place for a casual dinner before seeing a show. Specializing in Cajun and Creole with all types of seafood and tons of spice.
Bluepoint: 291 King Street West. Bluepoint is a three level restaurant and lounge specializing in seafood with emphasis on oysters. It offers a lounge and bar atmosphere for late night revelers as well.
Captain John's: 1 Queens Quay West. Kitschy seafood restaurant on an actual boat. Prices aren't expensive at all for seafood, but you get what you pay for. I'd rather go to Red Lobster.
cFood: 2419 Yonge Street. The nautical-themed resto in the upscale Yonge and Eglinton area gives the appearance of dining in the captain's quarters without having to actually step on a boat. There's a steady parade of diners in the little resto, though the wait isn't too long and starts to die down early in the afternoon. The tiny patio out in front is covered by a large orange awning that protects patio perchers from the strong rays. Inside, the décor has a carefully coordinated boat theme. The servers are young, wearing jeans and white t's to set a more casual tone. The service is cheerful and quick.
Mediterra: 133 Richmond Street West. Decor is reminicent of a fishing village on the adriatic coast. The all-seafood menu is priced to cater to the guests of the Hilton and the Sheraton, which it sits in between.
Pure Spirits: 55 Mill Street. The charm of this restaurant, set in the distillery district is undeniable. Thankfully the menu lives up to the expectations set by the decor. Pricey but romantic.
Red Lobster: 20 Dundas Street West. Chain restaurant with pretty cheap prices for seafood. Great service, always friendly.
Rodney's Oyster House: 469 King Street West. Freshness: that's Rodney's signature for shellfish -- and its pretty close to perfection. Save for Oyster Boy, few other eateries offer such a variety of live oysters (about two dozen to choose from), lobsters, crab and shrimp. From tank to table, freshness is never a problem. A raucous pub-like atmo prevails: hanging lobster traps, wooden benches, chipboard tabletops, knotty pine menus, and exposed brick -- and the bathrooms are divine.
Starfish Oyster Bed & Grill: 100 Adelaide Street East. This little oyster bar makes waves on the east side of Yonge. With a fantastic team behind him, and service and ambiance down pat, proprietor (and world oyster-shucking champion) Patrick McMurray takes top honours. Starfish is as rare as a South Sea pearl.

5th Elementt: 1044 Bay Street.Located across the street from the University of Toronto campus, 5th Elementt provides customers with a cuisine combination of Indian meets Mediterranean. Offering an extensive menu selection for lunch and dinner, 5th Elementt creates a tantalizing effect on all five senses. Dishes offered on the menu include: baby pork ribs, coriander crusted halibut filet, tandoor red chicken, Goan-style sirloin steak, stuffed paneer tikka, and pineapple halwa on filo cup.
222 Bistro: 222 Richmond Street West. Nestled in between massive Inside and Seven nightclubs, it's an anomaly for Richmond West. Ambience is much more sophisticated than its pub-like exterior suggests.
360: Restaurant at the top of the cn tower. Great views, great atmosphere, the food leaves a little to be desired.
1055: 1055 Yonge Street. With a committed culinary team, 1055 could easily succeed where others have failed in a location that seems to swallow up restaurants like a great white shark eats seals. When and if 1055 brings back the heyday of Cibo is anyone's guess -- after all, the '80s are long gone. But come to 1055 if you worry less about being scene and care more about fine neighbourhood cooking.
Avalon: 270 Adelaide Street West. Avalon has one of the most inventive kitchens in the city, and it demonstrates its creativity through pairings of flavors rather than a showy multiplicity of ingredients. Main courses favor fish and fowl, such as steamed Boston fluke and Alaskan king crab with a sweet-pea sauce, or lightly smoked Moulard duck breast with pommes Anna and a black currant coulis. Desserts include treats like pear-and-elderflower sorbet and a wide selection of cheeses. The globetrotting wine list represents New World and Old.
Bistro 333: 333 King Street West. A warmly lit, well-spaced interior provides the perfect atmosphere for discreet romantic dinners or casual drinks at the bar. Casual chic.
Brassaii: 461 King Street West. Named after the famed 1920s photographer Gustave Brassaii, the corner of King and Spadina is now picture-perfect.
Housed in a building that dates back to 1904, a long, airy room, conceived by Toronto's Terrelonge Design, is a vision of good taste. Brassaii draws together the elegance of a new-world bistro with the comfortable feel of a New York diner. Two private areas available for all occasions, both social and corporate.
Cafe La Gaffe: 24 Baldwin Street. Tiny little restaurant with great food and excellent service. Perfect place to take a date. My evening, however, was ruined by the cockroach climbing up the wall.
Courtyard Cafe: 18 St Thomas Street. Inside the Windsor Arms hotel, this restaurant's decor is nothing short of breathtaking. Unfortunately, they're probably hoping that the luxurious decor overshadows the less-than-amazing food. You may be disappointed.
Far Niente: 187 Bay Street. The new Far Niente is a playful-yet-professional place, where service is genial and efficient and the menu encourages diners to smile when they eat. A rumoured $2 million was spent on the 9-year-old Bay Street fixture, doubtless in an effort to help the restaurant cast its net beyond the expense-account crowd to draw more regular diners from outside the financial district. Dinner for two: $150.
Fred's Not Here: 321 King Street West. Upstairs from the Red Tomato, it's a formal bistro-style destination in the heart of the theatre district. Menu is identical to that of The Red Tomato.
Joy Bistro: 884 Queen Street East. Joy Bistro is the cornerstone of the newly hot Queen Street East strip. With its cozy feel and candlelit warmth, Joy delivers a diverse menu with generous portions, modest prices and big, big flavors. A curved, red granite bar completes the look. Service is friendly, knowledgeable and unpretentious.
Olivia's: 53 Clinton Street. Absolutely adorable restaurant off the main strip in little Italy. Set in an old victorian home, with only 6 tables in the whole place, you get the feeling as though you are dining in somone's living room. Perfect place for a romantic date.
One Up: 130 Dundas Street West. The modern warmth of the One Up invites patrons to relax while they eat, as lounge music plays in the background. One Up doubles as both a restaurant and a martini lounge. The lounge sports a mammoth line-up of more than fifty types of martinis. Featured entrees on the menu include veal chop, lamb shank, filet mignon, chicken, duck, and New York striploin.
Perigee: 55 Mill Street. In the distillery district. Menu is based on the Japanese dining concept Omakase (meaning trust me). Tasting menus are prepared combining French techniques with Mediterranean flavours while incorporating a wide range of ethnic influences. They converse with each guest to determine what type of dining experience they desire and then cook for them accordingly.
Rain Lounge: 19 Mercer Street. Crowned with '70s-inspired chandeliers, the focal point of Rain's substantial reception area and lounge establishes the interior's recurring circular motif. Part Valley of the Dolls, part Barbarella, the style blurs the lines between fine art and furniture. Even the washroom area is lounge-like -- another groovy space to hang with a cocktail.
Sassafraz: 100 Cumberland Street. In trendy Yorkville, posters of celebrities that have dined there adorn the walls and make you hope that maybe...just maybe you'll see one. I never have. Oh yeah and the food is disappointing.
Splendido: 88 Harbord Street. Apparently the prices aren't even listed on the menu. It's that expensive.
Superior Restaurant: 253 Yonge Street. This cozy, old-style restaurant seems almost too good to be true, considering its location in the midst of the Yonge Street chaos between Queen and Dundas Streets. The menu consists of tasty appetizers, salads and unique sandwiches. A 6 oz. burger with interesting optional items, is a particularly good deal.
Susur: 601 King Street West. One of the best, if not the most expensive restaurant in the city, run by world renowned chef Susur Lee. Five course tasting menu runs from $65-$90, the seven course menu ranges from $75-$110.
Ultra Supper Club: 314 Queen Street West. Ultra strikes the perfect posh/playground balance, seamlessly mixing delicious design and delectable food with loungy relaxation. Not to mention, adding a touch of a class and elegance to a street that long ago lost its cachet for finer food haunts in favour of fashion retailers.
Urban: 303 King Street West. Great little patio on the King strip. Offering semi-permanent prix fixe dinner at $30 a person. Food is good, but not incredibly inspired.
Wish: 3 Charles Street East. Elegant and trendy hotspot that any NYC restaurateur would be proud to call their own. Wish is so hip, it hurts: Sex and the City's Carrie and Samantha would feel totally comfortable having Manolo monologues and vagina dialogues, here.

Kubo Radio: 894 Queen Street East. The best word to describe Kubo is cool; it's a funky, Asia-fusion eating experience and the Leslieville locals have definitely taken to this place Asian bottles and food products (like coconut milk and jars of dried onion) lined up on the walls -- products which are all used in the kitchen itself. Soothing, cool tunes play in the background. The dim lighting makes it easy on the eyes. Young, relaxed female servers sport cute pink t-shirts with the phrase "shut up and eat" on the back; you won't be rushed out so take your time.
Monsoon: 100 Simcoe Street. Japanese style combined with the comfortable modernity of 1960s lounge makes for a hip interior at Monsoon, an upscale, Asian-inspired restaurant in Toronto's downtown entertainment district. Monsoon's menu offers a wide range of Asian-esque dishes to satisfy any discriminating foodie. Catering and event design available for meetings, gatherings and other special occasions. dinner for two: $175.

Allen's: 143 Danforth Avenue. A Toronto legend, Allen's restaurant specializes in Irish American fare. With no less than eight potato recipes on the menu, and such Celt-inspired recipes as steak, carrots, onions, and mushrooms braised in Guinness Stout, this restaurant is an unabashed romp in Irish culture. The all-VQA wine list has won the Ontario Wine Council Award of Excellence, the Cuvee Gold Award as the Best Ontario wine list and the Royal Bank of Canada Award for the Best Ontario VQA wine list. For a full Irish reel, sample some of the 355 different whisky's (278 Scotch Single Malt), 140 bottled beers and 15 draught. An old-fashioned, family-friendly delight, it's not to be missed.
Dominion on Queen: 500 Queen Street East. Historical Dominion on Queen, established since 1889. The club serves up snacks, meals, and has 12 microbrewery beers on tap as well as other lagers and ales. A relaxed place to meet friends after work, play pool or listen to great jazz and blues music, Dominion on Queen also has professional comedy held on Sunday nights. Relax on the heated patio or inside.
Elephant & Castle: 212 King Street West & 378 Yonge. Nicer version of your standard pub. Both locations are set in old buildings with enormous vaulted ceilings. The spinach-artichoke-cheese dip is to die for.
Fionn MacCool's: 70 The Esplanade. Pretty standard pub, good food. More laid back alternative to the Bier Markt next door.
Foggy Dew: 803 King Street West. King West Village's greatest Irish thrill is located east of Stanley Park. The classic pub menu includes many common staples such as fried calamari, Irishman's bread, perogies, baked brie, peppercorn steak salad and their very own dish: Liberty Village Nachos. Irish classic brunches are also offered, ranging from apple walnut pancakes to Foggy omelettes and eggs benedict.
Gabby's Bar & Grill (Bloor): 194 Bloor Street West. Big hangout for U of T students, gets pretty lively on the weekends, pool tables downstairs.
Gabby's Food & Fuel (Beaches): 2076 Queen Street East. Very small version of Gabby's with a couple booths, couple tables and a bar. There might only be one server working the entire joint, so be prepared for a bit of a wait if it's busy.
Gabby's Grill & Bar (King west): 309 King Street West. Nice patio, more casual choice with cheaper eats on the King restaurant strip in the theatre district.
Hemingway's: 142 Cumberland Street. Tucked away in the heart of Yorkville is rooftop bar Hemingway's. The double-decker patio is heated in winter and misted in summer. The popular patio and bar is a great place to meet for a night on the town or a drink after work with friends
Hooters: 280 Adelaide Street West. Clearly the draw here is...well...the hooters. The food is incredibly disappointing, especially the wings. Unless you're really into orange shorts, I'd skip this one.
Irish Embassy: 49 Yonge Street. Nestled at the corner of Yonge and Wellington, in an old bank building built in 1873, the award-winning, upscale Irish Embassy Pub is the grandest choice for Irish hospitality. With a spacious interior, brilliant décor and original tile floors, its location is pivotal to any visitor to Toronto. The pub features a vast collection of beers on draught and a mammoth selection of food, covering brunch, lunch, bar and dinner.
P.J. O'Brien's: 39 Colborne Street. P.J. O'Brien's combines a friendly atmosphere with spectacular surroundings. The Irish pub and restaurant serves up pub fare, fine food as well as Irish cuisine.
The Pour House: 182 Dupont Street. Located at the northern tip of St. George Street, The Pour House is a favourite of college and university crowds looking to eat in Toronto's Annex. A member of Toronto's best Irish pub family, the alehouse pays close attention to every Irish-based tradition in many of the watering holes across the pond. Grab a pint of Guinness to water down your Irishman's bread or chicken potpie. The menu is also full of many great dishes from around the world. Kids eat free on Mondays.

7 West: 7 Charles Street West. Centrally located restaurant with great drinks and desserts. Favoured by the late-night crowd, as it's open 24/7.
65 Degrees: 584 College Street. From the proprietor of Cocco Lezzone, this sultry new restaurant is named for the ideal temperature to serve red wine. A bring your own wine restaurant ($10 corkage fee).
Alice Fazooli's: 294 Adelaide Street West. Solid choice for an after-theatre restaurant with a group of people. Can occasionally get loud. Tons of food for a good price.
Autogrill: 345 Adelaide Street West. The Autogrill is a modern Italian restaurant that serves up a huge menu selection for brunch, lunch and dinner. This restaurant serves everything from fresh sandwiches, spinellos, wraps and salads to gourmet pizzas and risottos.
Cafe Diplomatico: 594 College Street. This casual Italian restaurant has been around since Italians actually lived in little Italy. Popular with locals and tourists alike, Sophia Loren has been known to come here when she's in town.
Capitol Trattoria Pizzeria: 597 College Street. Described as being as cozy as "the kitchen of a Tuscan Nonna," Capitol Trattoria is fittingly located in the city's famous Little Italy, with a beautiful patio looking onto scenic College Street. Enjoy authentic homemade Italian cuisine, such as crisp pizzas, in a warm and friendly atmosphere.
Club Lucky (Kit Kat 2): 117 John Street. The crowd is wildly diverse and is more into drinking and lounging than dining. Club lucky attracts an easy-going mix of 20- or 30-somethings dressed casually. The colorful atmosphere, good food and moderately priced drinks attract lively crowds on the weekend.
Dimmi: 140 Cumberland Street. This restaurant and bar offers the traditional pizza and pasta of a trattoria along with risotto, fried calamari and clams. Patrons rave about the casual and relaxed atmosphere.
Giovanna Trattoria: 637 College Street. I had a bad date here, and I still enjoyed the restaurant, so that says a lot. Real Italians eat here and enjoy it. Little Italy staple.
Grappa: 797 College Street. This Little Italy diner offers a homey feel and excellent service to go along with the fresh Italian cooking. Seating up to 75 people within its walls, the restaurant serves a wide variety of dishes to sate the palate. Menu specialties include the hummus, rack of lamb, porcini mushroom risotto, linguini Capri, and calamari. The restaurant also offers daily specials of fresh fish, pastas, and homemade Italian desserts. An average meal for two costs $120.
Hey Lucy: 295 King Street West. Nice but still casual restaurant on the King strip. Food is pretty good, standard Italian fare, but the service is notably bad.
Il Fornello (King): 214 King Street West. This was one of the first Toronto restaurants to realize that pizza is more than just a fast food. It took these pies to new heights and built a reputation on them. Casual Italian dining.
Il Fornello (waterfront): 207 Queen's Quay West. Great views, good food. Casual italian.
Joe Badali's: 156 Front Street West. At Joe Badali's not only the food is prepared from scratch. The 100-year-old, 17,000-square-foot brick and stone building has also been done up to create a homey feel with several distinct rooms topped by two-storey-high ceilings and 13-foot-high windows. Gourmet lunch and dinners are served on white tablecloths in the dining room.
John's Italian Caffe: 27 Baldwin Street. Located on the quaint and cloistered sidestreet known as Baldwin, John's Italian Cafe has a long and distinguished history of offering affordable Italian food and great ambiance for U of T students and local bohos.Lined by old-fashioned storefronts, this treed street resembles a mini Greenwich Village. The dark forest green walls, dark wood, candle light, chipped paint and tattered bar stools make for a cozy retreat. Its legendary pizzas run the gamut of gourmet toppings.
Kit Kat: 297 King Street West. You see the cows hanging off the building facade? That's Kit Kat. Casual setting with amazing southern Italian specialties.
La Fenice: 319 King Street West. Candlelit dining room provides a romantic atmosphere. Award winning Italian cuisine and great service make this a great choice.
La Forchetta: 613 College Street. Small restaurant in little Italy, absolutely great food. Try the butternut squash-filled ravioli. Amazing.
Little Anthony's: 121 Richmond Street West. Located in the heart of downtown Toronto, Little Anthony's specializes in Italian cuisine, such as homemade pastas, provimi veal dishes and AAA Angus steaks, plus fine wines.
Modo: 122 Avenue Road. Part hip industrial loft, part 1920s opium den, with a dash of industrial chic juxtaposed with unabashed romance, MoDo seduces with its Moulin Rouge-meets-Rent vibe. Who can look bad lounging on curvy, velvet-upholstered furniture, surrounded by the glow of dozens of flicking candles and the jewel-like light of huge crystal chandeliers? As MoDo delights the eye, it does similar service for the palate, serving small plates, the current darling of dining styles.
Old Spaghetti Factory: 54 The Esplanade. Found a dead mouse under the table there once. Never going back.
Seven Numbers: 307 Danforth Avenue. The real name of this restaurant is its incorporation number and that's what it says on the sign, but everyone calls it seven numbers. The restaurant is put together with chairs and tables that were found a garage sales. None of the plates, cutlery or cups match and it's decorated like the inside of your italian grandmother's house, and it's totally incredible. Super hot place for 20-somethings to hang out, grab dinner and a couple drinks. Who knew?
Sotto Sotto: 116A Avenue Road. Seems as though it's hidden, but everyone who lives here knows that it's where celebrities go to dine in the city. Quite expensive, but the food is good.
Spuntini: 116 Avenue Road. Toronto has no dearth of upscale, high-quality Italian restaurants--and Spuntini is no exception. With its rustic Mediterranean interior of rough plastered walls in dark hues of terra cotta, brown and grey and a cool stone water fountain, Spuntini provides an intimate, southern European oasis in which high-income, hard-working diners can shed their urban angst. Flavourful creations will transport you to the north of Italy, without the cost of sending you to Italy!
Toni Bulloni: 156 Cumberland Street. Italian food with large servings and a famous Tiramisu for dessert. They feature bring your own wine, with a $25 corking fee per 750 ml.
Vaticano Trattoria: 25 Belair Street. Vaticano Trattoria is an upscale Italian style restaurant located in Yorkville. Born and raised in Italy, Chef Felice and staff prepare authentic gourmet Italian meals in one of Toronto's chic neighbourhoods. The restaurant is open 365 days a year for lunch and dinner. There's also a great patio offered during the summer. Dinner for two runs about $100.
Veni Vidi Vici: 650 College Street. Look for the massive stone carved face around the doorway that makes it look as though you're walking into its mouth when entering the restaurant. Wait staff are awesome, and the high-backed booths give a cozy, romantic feeling.
Verona: 335 King Street West. Italian fine dining, superior cuisine and top notch customer service is just steps from the city's theatre district. Warm atmosphere, whether you want to cozy up at the bar, on a bench or at one of the quaint dining tables.
Vertical Restaurant & Bar: 100 King Street West. Formerly The Tasting Rooms, Vertical serves up mostly seafood to the Bay Street crowd. There's a 70 seat dining room, two private dining rooms, and a separate bar and lounge. Chef Tawfik Shehata is at the helm and the menu includes foods inspired by southern Italy and the Mediterranean to serve for lunch and dinner.
Vivoli: 665 College Street. Without question, Vivoli gets full marks for hospitality. Every effort is made to accommodate. It's also a great place to people watch and have a beer from its two-storey patio.

Bardi's: 56 York Street. In business for more than 30 years, Bardi's is all about steak, steak and more steak. Serving only certified Angus beef, steak cuts and sizes range from the classic filet mignon to the Flintstone-size Bardi Special, an 18-to-20 ounce prime rib cut served with baked potato, french fries or rice. If you're beefed out, the house recommends the fresh grilled Atlantic salmon. A semi-formal upscale restaurant, Bardi's is full of suits during the day and mellows to a slightly dressy crowd at night. During sporting events or when the Metro Toronto Convention Centre is booked up, make sure you have a reservation.
The Keg: 12 Church Street. Great restaurant, food and service are excellent and well worth the price.
The Keg Mansion: 515 Jarvis Street. Interesting twist on an already great restaurant. Set in a historical mansion, it's a more upscale version of The Keg.
Harbour Sixty Steakhouse: 60 Harbour Street.Harbour Sixty Steakhouse, a relative newcomer to the steaks stakes is done up to the nines as a classic trad steakhouse in the former Toronto Harbour Commission building. Restrained, yet tasteful opulence, befitting the beautiful 1917 historic building that once actually graced our waterfront. A long deep blue awning, four-storey Corinthian columns and plush carpeted stairs greet you as you step into the grand foyer. Service is pleasant and efficient and the steaks are sublime.
JW Steakhouse: 525 Bay Street. JW's certainly plays the part of a steakhouse perfectly. The décor contains dark woods, wing-back chairs and heavy broadloom. Tables are blessedly well-spaced for corporate lunches or intimate dinners. And in true steakhouse fashion, a wall of photos document which celebrities have dined there. From its décor to a skilled, professional service team, a straight-ahead menu and vintage wine list, this hotel dining room gives its customers exactly what they want.

Korean Grill House: 214 Queen Street West. Dining out is supposed to be a treat so why consider cooking your own food at a restaurant -- and pay for the chance to boot? The Korean Grill House is betting on it. And judging by the many munchers that fill up the place at all hours of the day and night, it appears this cook-it-yourself concept is being eaten up by Toronto's trendanistas. Think of it as meat fondue, only instead of cooking with hot oil, a gas-powered grill does the job. Terrific entertainment value that's cheap-as-borsc

The Sultan's Tent & Cafe Moroc: 49 Front Street East. Its sophisticated, even elegant, Moroccan style provides a nice framework for the edible exotica. And even if its new downtown digs are also in a tourist location, locals will also want to indulge. What was merely mediocre Moroccan is now something marvelous. Jordan C. Slade is now the chef at the helm of this kitchen.

CityFeeds

2006-08-30T10:49:00.000-04:00

CityFeeds provides a great summary of some of the best rss feeds that have to to with Toronto each day. Make sure you start your morning off right.

The Ex for $5

2006-08-29T13:15:00.000-04:00

Check out this post from CheapEatsToronto on getting into the Ex for $5.

The ROM

2006-08-29T12:08:00.000-04:00

The Royal Ontario Museum should be on any traveller's shortlist of things to do in the city. It has over 5000 artifacts from different ancient civilization and natural history. You won't find many traditional oil paintings of rich, long-dead Italians with their dogs, but the collections of sculptures from ancient Greece and sarcophagi from ancient Egypt are damned impressive.

***Note: The ROM is undergoing major construction and therefore many of its exhibits are off display, be sure to check the ROM website for info on which exhibits are available. For more info on the expansion project check here.

Cost
Admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and students (with valid ID), $10 for children (5-14).

Admission is FREE one hour before closing from Saturday to Thursday, and also FREE on Friday nights from 4:30pm to 9:30pm.

Hours
Opening hours are 10am - 6pm, daily with the exception of Friday evenings, when the ROM stays open until 9:30.
The museum is closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day, and closes early at 4:00pm no Christmas Eve.

Photos
Photography is a touchy subject at museums, some allow it some don't, I think a general rule is statues, artifacts, etc. "go nuts", but paintings "nuh uh". The consensus is that you ARE allowed to take photos at the ROM, but without flash and without a tripod, and of course only for personal, non-commercial use. Be sure to check for signs or security guards yelling at people taking pictures in case the rules change or are different for different exhibitions.

Directions
If you're taking the TTC, Museum station on the University/Spadina line is the closest stop. If you're coming in on the Bloor line, get off at St. George and go out the Bedford Road exit, go right and walk towards the massive construction site (or massive crystals if you're reading this by the time it's done). It would actually take you more time to switch trains and travel the one stop to museum than it would take to walk from St. George.

Parking
There is no official ROM parking lot, and the closest parking lot is still a couple minutes walk. There's a Green P (municipal) lot with the entrance off of Bedford Road, just north of Bloor. If you park at the very end of this parking lot, you can make a quick jaunt out to Bloor and Avenue, cross the street and you're at the ROM.
If you park at this lot, grab a voucher from the front desk for a discount. A minimum 3-hour stay is required.

Restaurants
There isn't a huge restaurant selection around the ROM. The strip of Bloor street west of Avenue Road has a pub (Gabby's), a couple of fast food places (McDonald's, Pizza Hut Express), an all day breakfast place (Over Easy) and a chain, very casual sit-down restaurant specializing in rotisserie chicken (Swiss Chalet).

If you don't mind a bit of a walk, head on into Yorkville for dining, though beware most restaurants are pretty expensive. Some good choices are Dimmi (140 Cumberland) or Remy's (115 Yorkville). Hemmingway's (142 Cumberland) has a casual, pub-like atmosphere.

CN Tower

2006-08-29T09:30:00.000-04:00

You've all seen it in pictures of the Toronto skyline, it's our most identifiable building and the first thing that tourists want to see when they visit our great city. Built in 1976, at 553M (1,815Ft) it is the world's tallest building and in 1995 was classified as one of the wonders of the modern world. The general consensus about the tower, much like the eiffel tower in Paris is that it's a tourist trap and a must-see at the same time.

Cost
You have a few different options for what you want to do at the tower.

Total Tower Experience - $31.99, All ages and includes:
-Lookout
-Glass Floor
-Skypod
-Movie
-Motion simulator ride (must be at least 42 inches to ride)
-Includes Express Elevation

Observation Experience - $25.99 for adults (13-64), $23.99 for seniors (65+) and $19.99 for kids (4-12) includes:
-Lookout
-Glass floor
-Skypod

Lookout & Glass Floor - $21.49 for adults (13-64), $19.49 for seniors (65+) and $14.49 for kids (4-12) includes:
-Lookout
-Glass floor

Attractions Experience - $25.99 for adults (13-64), $23.99 for seniors (65+) and $19.99 for kids (4-12) includes:
-Lookout
-Glass floor
-Motion simulator ride or movie

You can add the following to any combo:
Movie - $9.00 for all ages
Motion Simulator ride - $9.00 for all ages
Skypod - $8.41 for all ages

Tips
The best times to go are early in the morning or right before sunset. The lines are short in the morning, but if you go before sunset you get some magical views.

Beware that if you go after dark the glass floor isn't that impressive.

Beware that people have been known to wet their pants when standing on the glass floor in the daytime.

Getting ticket from your hotel cuts down on wait time and you may get a discount.

The best idea is just to do the lookout and glass floor, everything else is really just filler and a waste of money.

The 360 Restaurant
Though the views are spectacular and the restaurant spins around while you dine know that the kitsch is exactly what you're paying for as the food isn't anything to write home about. Save your money and go to Susur.

Hours
The tower is open every day of the year, with the exception of Christmas Day. General hours in the summer time are fom 9am to 11pm. The info desk opens at 8:30am. Hours are adjusted seasonally, so make sure to check the website before heading out.

Directions
By TTC, take the subway to Union station. From the TTC station you need to follow the signs to go to the GO Concourse. Once you're in the GO concourse, head towards the McDonald's and down that hallway. Go up the large flight of stairs and follow the signs to the Skywalk. This will take you directly to the base of the tower.

If you're close enough to walk, just look up. If you're within walking distance you'll see it peeking out between buildings occasionally. Toronto's streets form a grid, so just walk towards it and you'll get there eventually.

If you're driving, you should navigate your way to the Gardiner Expressway (either from the DVP from the north or the QEW from the west), exit at Spadina Avenue and head north. Turn right at Bremner Blvd and you're there.

Parking
Parking around the CN tower is the most expensive in the city, especially if you are there when an event is going on at the Roger's Centre or the Air Canada Centre. If you don't want to pay upwards of $20 for a spot I recommend heading a bit farther north and finding either street parking (cheap, but the drawback is that you get a max of two hours) or an outdoor lot, which will cost you about $8-$10.

University of Toronto

2006-08-25T16:15:00.000-04:00

The University of Toronto has a long tradition of excellence. Its reputation extends far beyond the continent. A major research centre in North America, U of T has been the birthplace of such achievements as the discovery of insulin, the genes responsible for early onset of Alzheimer's disease and cystic fibrosis. It claims Nobel Laureates Dr. Frederick Banting and J.J. MacLeod for Medicine, 1921; Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson for Peace, 1957; and John Polanyi for Chemistry, 1986.1
The University of Toronto Campus covers a large section of downtown and contains many of the city's historical buildings. It's a great place to come and take a look at some beautiful buildings and enjoy life of a different pace.

Campus Tours
The Visitors Centre offers walking tours year-round. Tours run Monday to Friday 11am and 2pm and Saturday and Sunday at 11am (except holiday weekends) and start at the Visitors Centre. During the summer months there are historical walking tours from Monday to Friday. Regular walking tours last about one hour. The best part about the tours is that they are FREE!

Directions
There are many different ways to get to the campus, as it spans 3 separate subway stations. On the University line, you can get off at either Queen's Park, Museum or St. George. If you're taking the College Streetcar line, getting off at McCaul Street will drop you right at the university's main entrance. Check the map below for the location of each subway station relative to the campus.

Accomodations
Some of the residences at U of T do offer short-term accomodations, mostly during the summer months. The academic year runs from the first week in September to mid-May, with the dates for summer residence changing with each year and at each different college. Bring your student card, because some residences offer discounts to students even if you don't go to the university. You can get rooms for as little as $35 a night. Here's a list of the residences:

Innis: Only long-term stays (30 days or longer) for the summer.
Grad House: Two visitors rooms year-round, call early for availability.
89 Chestnut: This residence is actually a hotel converted into a residence. Summer accomodations are still on the expensive side. Academic term short stays are available only to those affiliated with the university.
Trinity: Short term stays in summer only, starting at $39 a night.
University College: Short term stays in summer only.
St. Michael's College: Minimum 1 week stay, summer only, starting at $159/week.
Victoria College: Short term stays in summer only.
Woodsworth College: Minimum one-week stay in summer only.
New College: Short term stays in summer only

Washrooms
You can pretty much walk into any one of the buildings with a blue sign out front identifying it as a university building and find the nearest washroom. It's not recommended that you go into buildings identified as residences to try to find washrooms, if you don't live there or are there to see someone who does, they'll likely ask you to leave.

For an interactive university map with all of the building names, check here.

1. U of T Visitor's Guide

Toronto Restaurant List

2006-08-23T11:26:00.000-04:00

I came across this great site that has a search to help you find exactly what type of restaurant you're looking for. The difference between this and every other restaurant search is the fact that you can enter the area, cuisine and price range you're looking for and it'll give you a list of every restaurant that fits that description. Most other restaurant searches assume that you know the name of the place you're looking for, or that you really want to wade through hundreds of suggestions for Indian food downtown. The two things that it's lacking are 1.A map (though show me another restaurant site that has one) 2. Tons of reviews and/or pictures (I just usually google the name to find reviews from another site once it's given me a couple results).

If you couple this site with Toronto.com, you'll find it pretty easy to get exactly what you're looking for.

Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts

2006-08-21T12:01:00.000-04:00

The Canadian Opera Company finally has a new home in an enormous, brand spanking new building with one side entirely glass facing University Avenue.

Directions
The building is located at the corner of Queen and University, and takes up the entire city block bordered by Richmond to the south and York to the east. If you're taking the subway, there is a direct entrance to the building from the Osgoode subway station on the University line. Follow the directions to the southeast corner of Queen and University. It is also accessible by the 501 Queen Streetcar at the University stop.

Parking
There is a limited amount of parking underneath the opera house, with the entrance on York street, be advised that this is not a parking lot run by the city so the prices may be exhorbitant. With only 200 spots in that lot, you have a better chance of finding a spot and not having to hawk your firstborn in the lot underneath Nathan Phillips Square, which has 2086 spaces.

Box Office
Located on the north side of the building on Queen Street, you can purchase tickets, subscription exchanges and gift certificates here. It's open from 11am - 7pm (or through first intermission) from Monday to Friday and on Sundays when there are performances from 11am - 3pm (or through first intermission)

Area Restaurants
Le Biftheque
96 Richmond Street West. Identifiable by the large bovines on the street, the entrance is on the north side of Richmond Street. With steak done the Quebec way, the roots of Le Biftheque are found in La Belle Province. Menu items include the Cattleman’s Burger, the New York Striploin, Filet Mignon, and Roast Beef au jus.

Ruth's Chris Steakhouse
145 Richmond Street West. For years, this American franchise has been helping hungry Torontonians reach new heights in meat-eating ecstasy. Specializing in U.S. prime, each steak is brought to your table sizzling in butter. The menu offers 10 choices (count 'em 10) of potato, from shoestring fries to potatoes au gratin (potatoes baked in cheese and bechamel sauce) and a wide selection yummy homemade deserts. Carnivores can loosen their belts in the traditional club interior, with dark wood paneling accented with rich burgundies and gold hues. A cigar lounge adds to the old-style decadence of steakhouses of yesteryear.

Tundra
145 Richmond Street West. Inside the Hilton on the main floor. Decor takes visual cues from our mountains, moss, lichen, redwood forests, stone and the oceans, the creative team used Canadian granite, stone-textured concrete, basket-woven woods, glass mosaic and artful lighting to redefine elegance. And that also translates to the menu.

Fisherman's Wharf
69 Richmond Street West. Multiple award winner for great seafood at great prices. Toronto's most popular Seafood and Steak Restaurant since 1972 with 3 Dining Rooms to make your special day truly memorable.

Kensington Market

2006-08-21T09:20:00.000-04:00

One of Toronto's most interesting neighbourhoods is Kensington Market. The area typifies Toronto's multiculturalism, as each new wave of immigrants that came into the city at one time or another settled in the area and left behind elements of their culture. Today it is a haven to artists, shoppers, foodies, and anyone with a taste for something a little different about Toronto.

Directions
The market is bordered by College to the north, Spadina to the East, Dundas to the South and Bellevue to the West. You can get here by taking either the Spadina, Dundas or College Streetcars. On any of these main thoroughfares you will see an orange post with a globe on top (see picture above) and a sign that announces an entrance to the market.

Washrooms
The only public washrooms in the area are in Bellevue park in the small, very colourful building to the south of the wading pool. It's advised that if you can sneak into a restaurant and use their washrooms (every establishment that serves food and has seating indoors is required by law to have washrooms) it might be a much better idea than using the ones in the park.

ATMs
The only ATM (not generic brand) inside Kensington is the TD machine on Kensington Avenue, just south of Baldwin. There are, however actual branches of ScotiaBank, Bank of Montreal, Royal Bank, TD Canada Trust and CIBC at Dundas and Spadina. Also, at College and Spadina are Alterna, and a CIBC Branch.

A little inside information...
If you want to spark up a fatty, head over to the Hotbox Cafe (191A Baldwin, upstairs) or Roach-O-Rama (downstairs), where patrons can smoke in the comfort of the indoors while enjoying a coffee and biscotti. Beware though, this practice started when Toronto's marajuana laws were in limbo and may not still be in effect, be sure to observe other patrons and follow their lead. There are very strict rules about dealing on the premises.

Check out this map of the area, but se sure to dig as flagr doesn't display all of the available flags at once.

Toronto Coach Terminal

2006-08-17T10:05:00.000-04:00

The inter-city bus station in Toronto is located at the corner of Bay and Dundas. A number of private companies operate scheduled services to and from cities throughout Canada and the US. Coach operators include:
Greyhound 1(800) 661-8747
Coach Canada/Trentway Wagar 1(800) 461-7661
Ontario Northland 1(800) 461-8558
PMCL 1(800)461-1767
Can-ar Coach 1(800) 387-7097

Directions
The bus station is not directly attached to any subway station, though there are 2 stations within very close walking distance. The Dundas station on the Yonge line connects to the bus station through the PATH system, though finding your way may be a little bit tricky when you first get off the subway. You need to follow signs that say "Atrium on Bay". If you are coming from the south on the subway, you need to go down the stairs and back up, to get to the other side of the subway tracks. If it's a nice day a more direct route is just to come out of the subway (Dundas Street, north side and Yonge Street, west side) and go in the direction with the H&M on your left and the Gap on your right. Bay street is one block away, you must cross it and turn right to find the station.
St. Patrick Station on the University Line is the same distance from the bus station, though there is no underground route. You need to come out of the subway at University Avenue, east side and Dundas Street, north side. Follow along Dundas with the TD on your left and the Bank of Montreal on your right. Be careful not to go up Chestnut street when you see something that looks like the bus station, this is the arrivals terminal, you need to keep walking one more block.

There is also a streetcar that goes across Dundas that will bring you almost to the front of the building, but be advised if you're taking Dundas give yourself lots of extra time because streetcar traffic on that route gets backed up very frequently.

Lockers
There are tons of lockers located in the long hallway beside the departures area. Make sure you have a $5 bill or smaller as the change machine only takes fives.

Washrooms
Washrooms are down the stairs, make sure you bring your bags with you so security doesn't think it's a bomb and take it outside to blow it up. There are two escalators on different sides of the station, one goes up and the other down that will get you downstairs, but no elevator.

Payphones
Don't wait in line for the 4 payphones on the pillar in the middle of the station, there is a huge line of payphones against the wall near the lockers.

ATMs
There is a generic ATM inside the terminal, which charges about $2.00 to dispense cash. Slightly cheaper, and more so if you bank there, there is a CIBC across the street in the Atrium on Bay.

Tourist info
There is a Toronto tourism information booth inside the terminal, next to the front door that goes out to Bay Street. There is also a sign by the escalator near the doors to the departures that has transit info and a map of the immediate surrounding area.

Other Info
If you're leaving on a holiday, especially on Fridays evenings before a long weekend, be sure to give yourself a lot of time to get your tickets. Though the ticket vendors do move quite quickly, it's not an uncommon sight to see the ticket line snake around the entire interior of the building.

There are actually two parts to the bus station, there's the departures terminal on Bay Street, the arrivals terminal directly behind it to the west, across Elizabeth Street. Make sure you're going to the right place, especially if you're waiting to meet someone coming in.

Food
There is a food counter that sells horrible sandwiches at outrageous prices right inside the bus station. Save yourself a couple of bucks and a stomachache and walk out the front door and grab a hotdog for $2.

City Surf

2006-08-16T10:30:00.000-04:00

Thought I'd share a cool site that sells interesting audio tours of Toronto. You just download it to your ipod and off you go. Check it out.

The Distillery District

2006-08-15T15:32:00.000-04:00

The Distillery District was constructed in 1832 and operated as a distillery until 1990, and at once it was the largest distillery in the world. After production ceased in 1990 it became the largest filming location outside of Hollywood. It was bought in 2001 by CityScape Holdings and converted to a pedestrian-oriented arts, culture and entertainment neighbourhood. Now designated a national historic site, it sits on 13 acres and many of the elements of the old brewery are still around. It started to become a major public draw in 2003, but some of the buildings are still under construction. The new owners refused to lease any of the retail and restaurant space to chains or franchises, and accordingly, the majority of the buildings are occupied with unique boutiques, art galleries, restaurants and coffee shops, including a well-known micro brewery, the Mill Street Brewery.

Entrance to the district is free, with few exceptions for special events. To ensure that your visit doesn't coincide with any of these events, be sure to check the website. The visitor centre and most shops and restaurants open at 11am, with Balzac coffee house being the one exception that opens at 7am. Closing hours are 7pm from Sunday - Wednesday and 9pm on the weekends.

Tours
There are walking tours available for $15, daily (except Mondays) from 11:30am - 3:30pm.

In addition to the walking tours, something really cool the distillery offers are Segway tours (you know those two-wheeled motorized things that move the way you lean?). 30-minute Segway tours cost $30, and leave on the hour from 11am - 5pm. 90-minute tours leave at 12pm and 4pm and cost $59. Training is provided.

For an extra $15 you can get lunch with any tour you choose and for $25, dinner. All tours leave from the visitor's centre.

Tours of the Mill Street brewery are available for $3, or $8 with the purchase of a pint glass. Samples of their products are given on the tours, so $3 seems like a good investment. At the moment, the brewery is under construction to build their new pub and tours are on hiatus while under construction, the planned opening is early fall 2006.

Washrooms/ATMs/Payphones
There are 2 very large, very clean public washrooms, clearly marked on the visitor's map and there are also signs posted everywhere directing you to the nearest washroom. Super-easy to find. Pay phones and ATMs are located by each washroom.

Directions
By subway: Take the subway to Castle Frank station on the Bloor line. Connect to Bus 65A Parliament. Ride bus straight down Parliament. Exit at Front St. and walk one block south to Mill St.
By King streetcar: Take 504 King street car. Exit at King and Parliament. Walk 2 blocks south on Parliament to Mill St.
By Cherry St. Bus 172: Front & Bay St. to Cherry Beach via The Esplanade and Mill St.

Parking
There is a municipality-owned parking lot adjacent to the district, which means that you aren't going to get gouged for parking. Parking is $1 an hour to a maximum of $6 a day, from 7am - 7pm.

Upcoming Events
August 12-20 Toronto International dance Festival
August 20 Surrey Place "Get in Line"
August 26-27 Distillery Artisan Showcase
September 7 The Distillery Arts Walk
Octover 4 Wines of Chile
October 5 The Distillery Arts Walk
October 6 Kimberly Seldon Presents
November 2 The Distillery Arts Walk
December 7 The Distillery Arts Walk

Restaurants
The Boiler House
The Boiler house restaurant offers a chophouse style menu in an industrial chic setting. Come see free live Jazz Thurs through Sat nights or the famous Jazz brunch every Sunday.

Archeo
Archeo is a contemporary pizza and pasta house located in The Distillery's old carpentry shop. The atmosphere is intimate, prices are reasonable and the service is casual and friendly. Archeo’s cozy patio is one of the best "get-a-way" spots in the city.

Perigee
Menu is based on the Japanese dining concept Omakase (meaning trust me). Tasting menus are prepared combining French techniques with Mediterranean flavours while incorporating a wide range of ethnic influences. They converse with each guest to determine what type of dining experience they desire and then cook for them accordingly.

Pure Spirits Oyster House and Grill
The Pure Spirits Oyster House is one of the most popular fresh fish and seafood restaurants in the city. The menu although seafood based, offers a variety of options for meat lovers and vegetarians alike. Sample from the wide selection of fresh oysters at the enormous bar. Reservations reccomended.

Nathan Phillips Square

2006-08-14T15:53:00.000-04:00

Nathan Phillips Square is a public square that forms the entrance to City Hall, it's named after the mayor of Toronto who served from 1955 to 1962. The main feature is the reflecting pool with arches with a fountain in the summertime. which becomes a skating rink in the winter. The rink/pool has been spanned by three concrete arches
since it was built. In 1989 these were dedicated as Freedom Arches commemorating those who have fought to obtain or defend freedom. At the southern base of the central arch is a piece of the Berlin Wall.

There is also a Peace Garden in the Square commemorating Torontonian's commitment to world peace.

You may want to just sit, relax, read a book and enjoy the scenery, but there are also lots of events going on in Nathan Phillips Square all year long. The square serves as a meeting place for many public rallies, or the starting point for protest marches.

Events:
Flag raising ceremonies to raise public awareness on certain issues are held in the square on scheduled dates. Here is the schedule for 2006.
Fresh Wednesdays, featuring a farmer's market and live jazz. Wednesdays, from July 12 to August 23.
Tasty Thursdays, restuarants from the Toronto area feature menu items for $5 or less, from noon-2pm. Also features free outdoor concerts.
Cavalcade of Lights is a month-long festival that kicks off in Nathan Phillips Square on Saturday, November 26.
The Square is the hub of the WinterCity festival, which runs for two weeks at the end of January/beginning of February each year.

Skating
Skating in the wintertime is from 10am-10pm, weather permitting, admission is free. Skate rentals are available for $7.50 for adults, $5 for children/seniors. Be prepared to leave a driver's license or major credit card for a deposit.

How to get here
There are two subway stations within walking distance from Nathan Phillips Square, Osgoode Station on the University line and Queen Station on the Yonge line. Once you get off the subway, don't bother taking the streetcar from there, you'll only get one stop before having to get off, and it's much quicker to walk.
From the Osgoode subway station, you want to follow the signs to Queen Street - north side and University Avenue - east side. From there, walk in the direction with Osgoode Hall on your left and the Opera House on your right.
From the Queen Station, exit on Queen Street - north side, Yonge Street - west side, then head in the direction of the overhead walkway.

If driving, there is a municipal underground parking lot (which means you're not going to get gouged for parking) underneath Nathan Phillips Square, with the entrance on Queen Street, just west of Bay.

Washrooms
For major events, coordinators typically will rent a bunch of port-o-potties, if not there are washrooms in the skate rental building, but if you can make it to City Hall, I'd recommend using the ones there. If you're there during the opening hours of City Hall (Weekdays: 7:30am - 10:30pm, Weekends & Holidays:8am - 10:30pm), head on inside, go to the right, and down the stairs. even though it seems as though you're right next to the Eaton Centre, it's not as close as it seems and the nearest washrooms inside are still a bit of a walk, don't bother going that far.

Pay phones
Pay phones are also located near the skate rental building, or directly to the right inside city hall.

ATMs
There is an ATM next to the payphone directly inside City Hall, the fee for this machine will be higher than at a financial institution. There is a TD Canada Trust branch at the corner of Queen and Bay, a CIBC on Bay Street, north of Old City Hall, and a Bank of Montreal machine in the Sherator Centre at Queen and York.

Cheap Eats
There are multiple food vendors lined up along Queen Street in front of Nathan Phillips Square, serving fast and cheap food, from hot dogs to ice cream. Don't pay more than $2.50 for a hot dog, vendors tend to up their prices for major events.

Quay to the City

2006-08-13T10:05:00.000-04:00

This is big. After years and years of planning, there is finally something being done to claim the waterfront as a pedestrian area. Following my previous post about all the things there are to do at the harbour, now there's going to be even more. Every great port city has a great waterfront and in recent years there's been much ado about cleaning up and redesigning the waterfront.

The Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corp. held a design competition, from which the winning design was chosen back in May. After 5 long years of planning, $1M was invested to give a preview of new design to the city. Elements of the design are in place along Queen's Quay with a new bike lane lined with a garden of geraniums on one side and a 1km long grassy strip on the other, muskoka chairs for lounging and a sandbox for the kiddies. The installment of a massive arch piled high with bicycles symbolizes the change of the area from one that is dominated by the car, to a pedestrian and cyclists haven.

The Quay to the City event goes on from August 11 - 20, to celebrate the massive change the area is about to undertake.

Some more linky-link goodness:
Toronto Star article on Quay to the City
Toronto Star Article on the Bike Arch
The City of Toronto's waterfront site

The Harbourfront

2006-08-13T08:18:00.000-04:00

I have to admit, I've lived in Toronto for going on 6 years now and I had no idea about all the stuff down at the harbour. I've gone down to the ferry docks to catch the ferry to the islands, and that has apparently given me the wrong impression about what there is to do in that area.

Besides the fact that it's nice just to be down at the water, taking a walk along the boardwalk, there are also a handful of really nice restaurants that give you a spectacular view of the waterfront. There is also the Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery, The Toronto Music garden designed by Yo-Yo Ma, an outdoor concert venue at the Harbourfront Center that seats up to 4,500, the shops at Queen's Quay Terminal, The Harbourfront Centre theatre and a pond that doubles as a skating rink in the winter time. Inside the York Quay Centre there is a gallery, craft studio, studio theatre and much more. There are also tons of events going on ranging from the Harbourfront reading series, to summer camps based on art or science for the kids.
Visit the Harbourfront Centre website for events and more details

Union Station

2006-08-12T11:12:00.000-04:00

Most people that use union station pass through each day to get to or from work using the GO trains that transport people in and out of the suburbs of Toronto. If you ever go into union station during rush hour you'd better hope that you're going in the direction of traffic otherwise it can be a pretty scary experience. Here's a little help if you aren't one of those people.

There are 2 distinct areas of union station. There's the GO concourse, which is the not-so-pretty looking part, with orange tiles all over the floors and walls, and screens hung everywhere from the ceilings tell passengers which track their train is leaving from and if it's on time. The other part is where passengers go to catch the VIA trains, which people remember for the enormous vaulted ceiling, beautiful architecture and the clock (so easy to find, most people just say "meet me at the clock").

Taking the GO Train
Tickets can be purchased at the ticket booths or the electronic machines in the station. No online purchase is available. Though the GO is on the honour system, occasionally tickets a checked on the trains and the fines can be pretty hefty. If you get a two- or ten-ride ticket (good for 2 or 10 trips, respectively), make sure you cancel each trip you take using the green POP machines in each station. Watch the boards for train information. Trains come into the station about 8-10 minutes before it's scheduled departure, and arrivals are usually displayed about 15 minutes before the train comes in.
GO transit site

Taking the VIA
Tickets for VIA trains can be purchased online and from ticket booths at the station. Departures are on the same level as the great hall, follow through the massive archway that says "to trains". Arrivals come in on the lower level. Make sure to listen to announcements, which are made in english and in french for departures.
Via site

TTC
The TTC connects to union station, with a subway station of the same name. The subway is not physically a part of the same building, and you have to go outside one set of doors (next the to the laura secord and second cup in the GO concourse) and immediately into the next set of doors in front of you. Once you're inside the subway station, you can either take the subway north on Spadina/University or the Yonge line (both trains head north at union). There are also 2 streetcar routes that connect to unions, the 509 Harbourfront and the 510 Spadina.

Going to the Air Canada centre
Indoor walkway to the Air Canada Centre can be found in the GO concourse on the main level. Heading in the direction of the multiple stairways that go to the platform level, on the far left end of that one wall is the entrance. The sign is rather large and hard to miss.

Going to the Rogers Centre or the CN Tower
The Skywalk will take you from union station to both of these landmarks. If arriving in the GO concourse, finding the McDonald's and continuing down that hall, then up the large flight of stairs will bring you to the great hall that has signs marked "Skywalk" that you should then follow. If arriving by VIA, go up the large staircase into the great hall, and then follow the signs.

Getting a taxi
Heading out to Front Street, either through the doors from the GO concourse (turn left once you're outside, the first intersection you see is Front Street) or the Great Hall (brings you right out to Front), there is a taxi cue, usually with tons of cabs lined up. If you come in very late at night, or during bad weather when there might not be any cabs waiting right there, hang out for about 2 minutes and one will be along.

ATMs
ATMS in the GO concourse are Bank of Montreal machines, right in the middle of the throughway, very hard to miss. There is a generic bank machine right inside the front street entrance to the great hall, which generally charges a lot more to make a withdrawl. If you're got a bit of time to kill and don't mind taking a little walk, the major banks of Canada are all located within a 5 minutes walking distance from union station. When you exit the station, just look up on the buildings for the logo of your bank.

Washrooms
The washrooms in the GO concourse are located next to the cinnabon. There are two separate entrances to the ladies washrooms, the second one, that less people use is around the corner from the Dairy Queen. Just be advised that these are possibly the grossest washrooms in the city. They're not cleaned nearly enough for the amount of people that go in and out and sometimes it actually smells like an outhouse. Not pleasant. So if you have a little more time to spare, go to the washrooms in the departures area of the great hall (to the left almost immediately when passing under the arch that says "To Trains").

Lockers
It's important to know that there are NO LOCKERS at Union Station. These were removed post 9-11. Via rail operates a baggage storage check, hours are 6am-11pm Monday to Friday, 6:30am-11pm Saturday and 7am-11pm Sunday. If you are looking for lockers in the general downtown area, the lockers at the bus station are still operational.

Taking the TTC

2006-08-11T09:00:00.000-04:00

Here's a quick rundown on taking the TTC to get around Toronto.

The subway is always the quickest way to get from point A to point B, but for a lot of people they problem of the subway routes not being very extensive gets in the way of this. If you're in the downtown core, the subway is usually your best best, there's lots of attractions within walking distance of the subways stops.

Right now the one-way fare for the TTC is $2.75 ($1.85 for students/seniors and $0.70 for children), which kind of sounds steep, but there are other options if you think you might be taking it more than a couple times. There are day passes avilable for $8.50 a day. This allows you to travel as many times as you want in one day, so if you're going to be making 4 or more trips on a weekday this might be for you.

The interesting thing about the day pass is that it's much more useful on the weekends. If you're travelling on a weekend, 2 adults and up to 4 kids can use 1 pass or 1 adult and up to 5 kids (oh and kids are classified as 19 and under). A pretty good deal. So if you're going to be making a round trip somewhere with more than one person, this is the best option.

Also available are weekly passes, which are sold for $30. These are valid from the specified Monday through Sunday, and NOT a week from when you buy the pass, which makes it a little inflexible , so not always the best option.

Toronto's subways and surface routes do NOT have computerized fare systems, so you always have to remember to get your transfer for your next leg right when you get ON. This applies to the subway too. Right when you get into the station you start at, get a transfer from the red boxes in the subway station. Transfers printed at the station you get off at are not valid at surface routes from that station.

If you're riding the Queen or the Lakeshore streetcars you must ALWAYS get a transfer if you pay cash fare, whether or not you are actually transfering. On those routes you can get on at the back doors of the car, so proof of payment is required. Occasionally they do come around to check to see if you have a transfer or pass.

If you don't know exactly where to get off a streetcar or bus, always ask the driver and be as polite as you can. They deal with lots of mean and crazy people all day long, but most are very nice and will help you to get where you're going!

A Short History Lesson

2006-08-10T20:10:00.000-04:00

Toronto is a Huron people's word meaning 'Meeting Place'. The first settlement in the entire Toronto area, was Teiaiagon, which was populated by the Seneca Indians and then later by the Mississauga Indians on the east bank of the Humber River.

French Fort (1615-1760)
The first European to stand on the shores of Lake Ontario in the vicinity of what is now Toronto was French explorer Etienne Brule. Toronto was very crucial for it's series of trails and water routes that led from northern and western Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. Known as the "Toronto Passage", it followed the Humber River, as an important overland shortcut between Lake Ontario and the upper Great Lakes. For this reason Toronto became a hot spot for French fur traders.

Hostilities existed in Europe between Britain and France that were carried over into the colonial settlements and intense rivalries developed between the two as they vied for control of the fur trade and other resources. By September 1760 the British had defeated the French who withdrew from North America spelling the end of French rule.

History of Toronto , Town of York

Governor Simcoe (1793-1812)
The American Revolution from 1776-1783 sent loyalists northward to remaining British territory. Their settlements along the upper St Lawrence and lower lakes led to the creation of the province of Upper Canada in 1791. Plans for a town at centrally located Toronto, were effected by Upper Canada's first governor, John Graves Simcoe.

Simcoe mainly viewed the village as a commanding position to guard a troubled American boundary. In 1793 he had a little town laid out by the harbour, naming it York (Toronto was actually named York for a brief period), and soon he was using it as the capital of Upper Canada, erecting parliament buildings and cutting roads inland. Yonge Street was created in 1796, named by Simcoe for then the British secretary of war Sir George Yonge. The street is now recognized as the longest street in the world at 1,900 kilometres (1,190 miles) and stretches from the edge of Lake Ontario all the way up past Lake Superior. In the fall of 1796 Simcoe returned to Britain on leave and was reassigned to military duties in the West Indies.

War at York (1812-1815)
On June 18, 1812, James Madison, the President of the United States, signed a declaration of war against Great Britain. This war was an outgrowth of conflict by Britain who were blatantly disregarding the naval and trade rights of the United States. American citizens also believed that the British territory in North America was rightfully theirs and should have been taken during the Revolutionary War (1776-1783).

During the War of 1812, York was raided twice and even briefly taken by US forces in 1813. Peace was signed in December 1814, although the news didn't reach York until February 1815. After the war of 1812, York felt the rising wave of British immigration to Upper Canada. Its hinterland trade mounted with expanding farm frontiers, as its merchants supplied country dealers as wholesalers, and it became the province's banking centre.

From York to Toronto (1815-1834)
By 1834 the fast-growing town of over 9000 inhabitants was incorporated as the city of Toronto, with an elected civic government led by William Lyon Mackenzie as first mayor. Toronto then flourished.

The 1800's

* In the 1840s Toronto increased its commercial lead, as steamboat port activity and gaslit, sewered main streets marked its urban rise.
* In the 1850s railway building brought the city a radiating web of tracks connecting it to New York and Montréal, the upper lakes at Georgian Bay, and across western Upper Canada to Detroit and Chicago.
* In the 1850s its own regional grasp was widely extended; wholesaling, banking and railway entrepreneurship grew accordingly.
* The city was made capital of the new province of Ontario at Confederation in 1867, and by the 1870s it was becoming markedly industrialized.
* A city of 30 000 in 1851 was over 5 times bigger by 1891, aided by industrial tariff protection after 1879 and the promotional drive of leaders such as railway builder Casimir Gzowski and department store builder Timothy Eaton.

The 1900's

* From the later 1890s into a booming early 20th century, the settlement of the Canadian West and the tapping of northern Ontario's forests and mines opened further markets and resources to Toronto.
* In 1911, Hydroelectric power provided by the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario from Niagara Falls gave cheap energy for more factory growth, the city's banks, investment and insurance companies invaded regions well beyond Ontario.
* World War I expanded Toronto's investment and manufacturing scope
* In the prosperous 1920s development continued as new suburban municipalities rose around an overflowing city of some half million.
* Toronto was hit by the Great Depression of the 1930s, yet Toronto suffered proportionately less than many other Canadian centres.
* World War II revived growth, shaping electronic, aircraft and precision-machine industries. And in the postwar era Toronto boomed, as a ravaged Europe renewed its material stock. Population swelled further, to over a million in Greater Toronto by 1951.
* A Metropolitan government was set up in 1953 under a vigorous first chairman Frederick Gardiner. The Metropolitan Toronto Authority handled area-wide requirements. The subway system begun by the city in 1949 was built up, parks and drainage projects were effected and material through roads constructed.
* In 1967 small suburbs were amalgamated, leaving a Metro structure of the city of Toronto and 5 boroughs, of which all but East York had also become cities by 1991, as their populations soared.
* On June 26, 1976, after 40 months of construction the CN Tower is open to the public. The CN Tower is Canada’s most recognizable and celebrated icon and the world’s tallest building at a height of 553.33m (1,815 ft., 5 inches). The CN Tower has become the symbol of Toronto.
* In 1998 the new "megacity" of Toronto came into existence. Toronto then became the 5th largest city in North America at 2.4 million, which is more people than the populations of most of the provinces and territories in Canada

***Graciously stolen from http://www.torontoplace.com/history.htm

The Super-Wonderful-Fantastical City We Call Toronto

It's starting!

Safety

No more free Friday nights!

Restaurant Map

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