Toronto Recommendations

[farrellgirl99]

This has probably been discussed at some point but I'm too lazy to look for it.

I'm planning a trip to Toronto in July with my sister and I know we have very knowledgeable people here so I was wondering if I could get any restaurant/what to do/cheap places to stay/etc recommendations? I've never been so anything touristy would be fine.

I'd probably only be there one or two nights and I already know I want to go to a Blue Jays game.

Thanks for any and all help

[Hype]

This has probably been discussed at some point but I'm too lazy to look for it.

I'm planning a trip to Toronto in July with my sister and I know we have very knowledgeable people here so I was wondering if I could get any restaurant/what to do/cheap places to stay/etc recommendations? I've never been so anything touristy would be fine.

I'd probably only be there one or two nights and I already know I want to go to a Blue Jays game.

Thanks for any and all help

The CN Tower is right beside the Skydome (aka "Rogers Centre"). Might as well, though it's overpriced.

I would say take a walk along Queen Street and Yonge street and do some shopping. Maybe check out Chinatown and the main part of the UofT campus. Artemis would know better than me what else to check out.

I would also say for restaurants, try anything on this list: http://www.postcity.com/Post-City-Magaz ... 1/Top-100/

I've been to several of them and they were all awesome.

[Artemis]

Here's a suggestion for you for where to stay. I think the location is great and the price is right($109per night). I'm not actually familiar with this place, but the reviews have been decent. The main selling point for me is the location.If you are going to a game, you could walk to Rogers Centre, take the streetcar,or a short cab ride. You would be close to Queen St W, Kensington Market, Art Gallery of Ontario, to name a few places. You can walk everywhere from here, and public transit is easy to access.

http://www.grangehotel.com/

A few of the ones listed on the hostel list seem quite decent and reasonably priced. Great locations too. The first one listed and Planet Traveller appealed to me.
http://theplanettraveler.com/

Since you are a student, I am assuming you are on a budget. If you're not on a budget there are also the chain hotels and boutique hotels near the Rogers Centre. There's one listed here Park Suites right on Blue Jays Way for $99 per night.

http://www.booking.com/landmark/ca/roge ... 4Aod_TqSrw

When in July are you thinking of coming? There's usually some kind of festival or event going on.

If you are just staying a night or 2, then what Hype suggested is good. The CN Tower is right next to the Rogers Centre, and a walk around on Queen St W, China Town, Kensington Market, a city tour on one of those double decker buses. I think they're good if your time is limited. Harbourfront always has free concerts or some kind of festival happening. The Power Plant Gallery is there too.

Every Thursday there's a free weekly paper calle NOW which has event listings, concerts, theatre,bar and club listings. http://www.nowtoronto.com/

Here is their 2012 'Cheap Eats' guide:
China Town and Kensington Market have cheap eats. On Spadina Avenue you can get Vietnamese sandwiches for like $2!

http://www.nowtoronto.com/food/story.cf ... 31,27,2012

If you are staying over on a Sunday I would recommend the Black Metal Brunch at Grafitt's Bar in Kensington Market. It's cheap and delicious! A colourful crowd too(heavy on the tats).

Here is also the Patio Guide 2012
http://www.nowtoronto.com/food/restaura ... atio/2012/

A bar I like...
Bovine Sex Club on Queen St.(queen+bathurst)
http://www.bovinesexclub.com/website/home.php

Shanghai Cowgirl(next door to the Bovine)
http://www.shanghaicowgirl.com/

Cadillac Lounge
http://www.cadillaclounge.com/

Sneaky Dee's at College&Bathurst
http://sneaky-dees.com/

Souz Dal(bar) 636 College St.

There are loads of places really. Lemme know where you decide to stay and what sorts of places you like. I'll be able to make a better recommendation then.

Ossington is popular as is Dundas St W. These are heavy hipster streets but there are some pretty cool little bars and restaurants. Many of them inexpensive too.
There are so many places really. Guess it just depends what you are into and/or if you are planning to see a band.

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/No ... -BR-1.html

http://www.bbc.com/travel/canada/toronto

SomeJuly events happening..

http://toronto.about.com/od/eventsattra ... a/july.htm

here's the jay's calendar you can check for games..

http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/schedul ... ar=DEFAULT

[Artemis]

The Toronto streetmeat- hotdogs and sausages are better than the NYC, imho.

If you go around the Eaton Centre- Yonge/Dundas Square there's the Hard Rock Cafe)good patio and free stuff usually in the square. A good, inexpensive Thai place called The Salad King is around there.
http://www.saladking.com/

[Hype]

The Toronto streetmeat- hotdogs and sausages are better than the NYC, imho.

If you go around the Eaton Centre- Yonge/Dundas Square there's the Hard Rock Cafe)good patio and free stuff usually in the square. A good, inexpensive Thai place called The Salad King is around there.
http://www.saladking.com/

Also, Shopsy's! (Brings back good memories of childhood Jays games.) http://www.shopsys.ca/welcome.php

[Artemis]

Yeah, Shopsy's ! Haven't been there for years!

Another spot on Queen with a good patio -

http://www.thehideouttoronto.com/contact.html


In the market...kind of divey but I like it.

http://www.neutralzone.ca/

[farrellgirl99]

Thanks for all the great info!

I am most definitely on a budget so this is very helpful. We're thinking of July 12-15 or so for Toronto and then we are going to Niagara Falls cause we've never been there either. I've heard the Falls is better on the Canadian side, so we'll probably check it out on both sides.

Can't say I'm excited for the 12 hour drive to Toronto, but I've always wanted to see the city.

[Hype]

Thanks for all the great info!

I am most definitely on a budget so this is very helpful. We're thinking of July 12-15 or so for Toronto and then we are going to Niagara Falls cause we've never been there either. I've heard the Falls is better on the Canadian side, so we'll probably check it out on both sides.

Can't say I'm excited for the 12 hour drive to Toronto, but I've always wanted to see the city.

I'm heading back to T.O. today (3.5 hr drive for me), and may be heading down to New Haven and NYC this week (just have to figure out travel --- would rather drive but not really looking forward to that... probably 8-10 hrs).

It's true that the falls are better on our side (bigger), and if you're heading up that way, you'll be driving through wine country (Vineland) where all the good Ontario wines are grown.

[Artemis]

Tourism Toronto could be a good source for you to check for room rates and packages. Since you're driving, you might want to try to find soemthing that includes parking.

I just found this place that's a University of Toronto dorm. Good location too...a little east of the other places but still right downtown. This one includes breakfast and there is a pub;ic parking place next to it. Good public transit access.

http://www.seetorontonow.com/Visitor/Ac ... of+Toronto

If you and your sister are staying over a weekend I would suggest a Day Pass. On the weekends you can use 1 pass for both of you for $10.50. This is on Saturdays and Sundays. It;s unlimited use on subway,bus, streetcar.
http://www.ttc.ca/

Remember to ask for AAA rates if you're a member.

[Artemis]

The Distellery District is worth a visit. You could also include a trip to St Lawrence Markey for peameal bacon sandwiches!

http://www.thedistillerydistrict.com/

http://www.stlawrencemarket.com/

Both are just east of Yonge St. On the walk back heading west, you can get some good photos with the flatiron buildinf in the foreground .



If you do venture to either of these places, you will likely pass BCE Place(next door to the hockey hall of fame). It's worth a walk through to check out the atrium designed by Santiago Calatrava. He has joined new and old buildings, looks pretty awesome when you're inside. Super photo ops here too.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/scottnorsw ... 290017355/

[farrellgirl99]

I feel like I'm going to have to start paying you as my tour guide, Artemis

[Artemis]

No problem! I'll post stuff as I think of it.

[Artemis]

I don't recommend the Eaton Centre today.


http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/s ... oting.html

[creep]

I don't recommend the Eaton Centre today.


http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/s ... oting.html

canada is getting more like the united states every day. shootings and people sending body parts in the mail. what is going on there?

[Artemis]

I don't recommend the Eaton Centre today.


http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/s ... oting.html

canada is getting more like the united states every day. shootings and people sending body parts in the mail. what is going on there?

that's a good question. i think it has to do with the maple syrup shortage we're having.

oh, and yesterday the janitor at a Catholic girls school tried to blow it up but failed.

also, a bear in BC ate parts of a dead convicted killer that was in a volkswagan.

it's been a crazy week.

[Larry B.]

bad people from the South.

[Artemis]

July 4 - 15 Fringe Theatre Festival

Shows are about $10. I usually try to catch 2 or 3. Sometimes the shows are real duds and other times you are more than pleasantly surprised. For example, Evil Dead:The Musical was a fringe show.


http://fringetoronto.com/fringe-festival/

Most of the venues are in a part of the city known as The Annex. Lots of inexpensive bars and restaurants. It's quite a lively area, actually.

There's a divey bar I like going to called Amnesia which is right across the street from another bar/restaurant called Insomnia.

There's Future Bakery&Cafe-huge patio, cheap eats. In my younger years, after a night of boozin/clubbin, my friends and I would go there at 3am and have mashed potatoes and gravy. It was ridiculouy cheap and seemed to help absorb all the booze.

The Wreck Room
http://theannexwreckroom.com/

The Green Room

Lee's Palace for concerts. There's a dance club located upstairs called The Dance Cave which has been going for about 20 years or so. I used to go there al lthe time and once in awhile go now. They play punk, industrial, "alternative", etc..it's not one of those top 40 or techno places. I don't think there's a cover charge either.

http://www.leespalace.com/


Lots of sushi, indian restaurants, middle eastern, west indian, pizza..Korea town is close too.

Summerlicious will also be on. Many restaurants participate by offering special menus for lunch and dinner. You can get lunch for $15(3 course/prix fixe) at some really nice restaurants, dinner for $25(3 course prix fixe also). I think NYC has something similar. Probably we copied the idea..

http://www.toronto.ca/special_events/su ... /index.htm


Honest Ed's is also in the Annex.

http://www.webkunst.org/toronto/inhalte ... index.html








Mirvish Village is right there on Markham St. Some interesting shops and restaurants

On Markham St. there's a place called the Victory Cafe I like going to in the summer. They've got a nice patio, nice location.

http://victorycafe.ca/home/

[Artemis]

July 12 -15 there's the Unity Festival. If you like hip hop culture you should enjoy this. There's goign to be spoken word, beatboxers, breakdancers, rappers, concerts. On the Saturday there will be free stuff all day at Yonge/Dundas Square from 1 -10pm. Kardinal Offishall will be one of the performers.

http://www.unitycharity.com/festival

DAY 3:
UNITY KICKOFF CONCERT
Come to an all-day free event with your friends and family to witness Canada’s most talented bboys/bgirls, MCs, dancers, beatboxers, and graffiti artists.

FEATURING: Kardinal Offishall, Reeps One, T-RexXx, KRNFX, Scott Jackson, Dominique Ashaheed, DJ Workshop from IDA, Bboy Lazylegz, Bboy Tommygunz, Raw Dance Crew, Moon Runners.

PERFORMERS: Charlie Li, Bobby Chow, Jeshurun Beadle, Mubashir Mawla, Bidhan Berma, Brandon Baldassarre, Arjun Tharmananthan, Naomi Mangunay, Jordan Nguyen, Kevin Truong, Jeremy Hughes, Mariam Anwar, Kavethan Yoganathan, Ivana Devendran, Raymond Liu, Vivek Parikh, Nestor Gomez-Suarez, Jovaughn Stephens, Abieraam Krishnarajah, Dvij Patel, David Giang, Thivakar Arunthavarajah, Beth Vrantsidis, Roshawn Balgrove, Amber Portsmith, Xylk Lorena, Angela Abrenica, Mae Janelle Berte, Edrik Barrozo, Peter Eratostene, Matthew Jokhu, Martin Malazo, Daniel Rengifo, Bence Csuka, Nicole Johnson, Huy Pham, Luke Prosser, Pirasha Sritharan, Venuya Selvanathan, Mausami Naik, Lauren Pink, Rubaiyat Ruba, Wali Shah, Sagar Maria, Aik Al Mudhaffar, Kevin Park, Meagan De Lima, Isaiah Gibbons, Mark Wilson, Joel Harbans, Ryan Marshall, Jacob Agustin, Osama Siddique and JHHA Dance Crew.

LOCATION: Yonge-Dundas Square

TIME: 1:00 pm – 10:00 pm

[Artemis]

Also, SoundClash Festival - Free!


http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/soundclash/

[farrellgirl99]

Nothing I love more than free things!

I'm leaving for Toronto on the 12th and then I think staying through the 16th.

In an odd twist of fate, I'm also going to Montreal the first weekend of August with some friends. I've never been to Canada before, but now I'll be there twice in three weeks Terrible (non)planning on my part

[Hype]

Nothing I love more than free things!

I'm leaving for Toronto on the 12th and then I think staying through the 16th.

In an odd twist of fate, I'm also going to Montreal the first weekend of August with some friends. I've never been to Canada before, but now I'll be there twice in three weeks Terrible (non)planning on my part

Montreal is a beautiful city. Not Chicago beautiful... but really nice.

[Artemis]

Nothing I love more than free things!

I'm leaving for Toronto on the 12th and then I think staying through the 16th.

In an odd twist of fate, I'm also going to Montreal the first weekend of August with some friends. I've never been to Canada before, but now I'll be there twice in three weeks Terrible (non)planning on my part

Montreal is a beautiful city. Not Chicago beautiful... but really nice.

Old Montreal is really nice.

Farrellgirl, I think you must do a bagel test in Toronto and Montreal and compare to New York.

[Artemis]

fyi...

according to the weather forecast: by the end of the week toronto will have temps in the 30s with "humdidex values" of around 45C.


if you are thinking about some booze for your room,you may want to hit the duty free. the price of booze is more expensive here. in the bars, i'd say it's pretty much the same.

liquor and beer is not sold in corner shops or supermarkets. you have to go to either a liquor store known as LCBO or The Beer Store(that's really what it's called ). The LCBO sells everything - beer, wine, liquor. There are also some wine shops called Wine Rack and a couple of others. Wine Rack carries Ontario wines, coolers, and cider. These stores do not sell all night,9pm is usually the latest, a few locations untill 11pm. Sundays 12-6.

http://www.lcbo.com/

[Hype]

For some reason the Wine Rack up here is open later than the LCBO. (only ever use them for Growers Green Apple Cider, and Inniskillin Late Autumn Riesling...)

But that advice is totally right.

[Artemis]

For some reason the Wine Rack up here is open later than the LCBO.

But that advice is totally right.

yeah, most of the wine racks here are open until 10 or 11.