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Toronto Neighbourhoods and Attractions

Toronto

Several hundred years ago, the Huron Indians described "Toronto" as the meeting place, and their take on it is still accurate. Toronto has developed into one of the most multicultural cities in the world, and this is reflected in a wonderful mosaic of distinctive neighbourhoods. Some can be described as "ethnic", while others reflect a particular lifestyle. Some cultural groups collect in particular areas, while other groups are scattered throughout the city. In many cases, an area's personality will change rapidly over the years, transformed by its new residents. This is a testament to Toronto's amazing ability to adapt and flourish, while remaining essentially "Canadian" - civil, tolerant, safe and friendly.

Cabbagetown

With a strong sense of community, a confection of charming Victorian architecture, and a friendly, laid-back atmosphere, Cabbagetown is best described as a small town n the heart of a cosmopolitan city. What had been labelled “the largest Anglo-Saxon slum in North America” is well worth a visit!
Location: between Sherbourne St. and the Don Valley, from Gerrard St. to Bloor St. East)

Originally a working class neighbourhood located on the then-outskirts of town, Cabbagetown has been transformed in true “rags-to-riches” style into one of the most desirable and engaging residential enclaves of downtown Toronto.

The name “Cabbagetown” originated in the mid-19th Century, when the Irish immigrants who lived in the area planted unusually large cabbage patches on their front lawns. The area has one of the largest concentrations of Victorian homes on the continent. Residents have spent considerable time (and money) restoring these to their authentic origins -–with delicate iron fencing, carefully manicured lawns and fragrant gardens, and whimsical architectural detailing.

The main street in Cabbagetown, Parliament St., is not so much charming as it is eclectic – a hodgepodge of restaurants, cafes, and neighbourhood shops. The street’s name emerged because the earliest meetings of Ontario’s provincial parliament were held in the area between 1794 and 1797.

On a stroll – and stroll you must! - you will glimpse the neighbourhood flag flying – a green cabbage on a white background. (It is usually bestowed on a home or shop owner for architectural or design excellence). The area has a small-town feel, where greeting passers-by is common.

Places & Events of Interest


Chinatown

With an estimated 1998 population of 400,000, the Chinese are one of Toronto’s largest and most visible ethnic communities. In fact, the Toronto region now has six distinct Chinatowns, including several suburban areas that have emerged over the last 15 years or so. Many of the city’s Chinese residents are relatively new immigrants from Hong Kong.

The seeds of Toronto’s Chinese community were planted at the turn of the century, in an area not far from the current City Hall. Sam Ching was the first Chinese person to be listed in the city directory; he owned a hand laundry.

As Chinatown grew up in this area, and was firmly established by 1935, when by one account there were 300 Chinese hand laundries located in a 4-block radius.

Toronto’s Chinese population expanded between 1947 and 1960, with students, skilled workers, and businesspeople immigrating into Canada. The early settlers were mostly from China’s northern provinces; the later group came from Hong Kong, as well as Chinese communities, in Southeast Asia, Africa, and the West Indies.

When Toronto’s “New” City Hall was built, the Chinese area was displaced to the district around Dundas St. W. and Spadina Ave. It has grown into a frenzied, boisterous neighbourhood that can easily be mistaken for Hong Kong.

The intersection of Dundas and Spadina is the most visible symbol of a dynamic community. In fact, on weekends - especially, the sidewalks are crammed with open-air food stalls, vendors, and thousands of people (not all Chinese!), eager to shop, eat, and socialize.

The restaurants are a big attraction to visitors, as the familiar “North American” Chinese menu is all but non-existent here. Instead, chefs in the area produce a variety of authentic cuisines, including Szechwan, Hunan, Mandarin, and Cantonese. Their ingredients are purchased fresh from the stalls lining the streets. And it is not unusual to pass dozens of shop windows lined with barbecued pork, duck, steamed buns, and other more exotic fare.

Street signs in the area are written in both English and Chinese, and there are several shopping malls that cater to a large Chinese clientele – the Chinatown Centre and the Dragon City complex, both near Dundas and Spadina streets.

Toronto's Other Chinatowns


There are concentrations of Chinese residents and businesses elsewhere in the city – at Broadview Ave. and Gerrard St in Toronto; in Scarborough; Richmond Hill; Markham; and Mississauga.

Places & Events of Interest

Entertainment District

Toronto is the undisputed entertainment capital of Canada. The Entertainment District is a lively concentration of theatres, restaurants, nightspots, retail shops, and visitor attractions – located in the vibrant city core.

Location: Roughly bounded by Queen Street West, Yonge Street, Spadina Ave and Queens Quay West. The boundaries change as quickly as the scene!

Since the mid-19th Century, the area now known as the “Entertainment District” has been animated with music halls, theatres, and entertainment palaces. However, by the 1950s, many of these venues had closed, deteriorated, or been transformed into warehouses or office space. While the city core was developing, this area – just west – remained as a bit of a backwater.

However, with the 1977 opening of the Eaton Centre shopping galleria, and the renovation of the Royal Alexandra Theatre, life was breathed back into the area. The final catalyst for rejuvenation was the 1989 opening of the SkyDome stadium, which brought crowds of up to 55,000 people into the area for baseball games and other events. Restaurants and entertainment spots began springing up overnight – and the pace hasn’t stopped!

Each of the streets in the Entertainment District has its own flavour, and its own specialty. For example, Queen St. West is a funky retail street; King St. West is lined with theatres, a concert hall, and dozens of restaurants. Front St. West features the SkyDome, the CN Tower, and large, lively eateries, while Richmond and Adelaide Sts. are home to massive, 3-storey nightclubs and smaller, high-end restaurants. And that’s just the start.

Places & Events of Interest

Dining – one of the most challenging aspects of dining in the Entertainment District is where to go. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of choices. And the restaurant scene evolves so rapidly that hot new opportunities arise overnight. And then there’s the nightlife. One tip – if there’s a line-up, it must be trendy.

Greektown

Greeks first arrived in Toronto in 1864, and successive waves of immigration have built the community into its current population of 130,000. Today’s Greek neighbourhood, known locally as “Greektown”, has been described as “taking a trip to Athens while staying in the heart of Toronto.” Although there is no Parthenon, there are plenty of Greek restaurants, interesting shops, and lively street life.

Location: Danforth Ave between Chester and Greenwood

In 1907, there were just 20 Greek names in Toronto’s city directory. Over the years, immigrants came from Greece mainly to work in agriculture or in Northern Ontario’s mines, forests, and railways. The population gradually grew in Toronto, particularly after the Second World War. In the 1950s, the Greek community moved into the Danforth area, which was originally a neighbourhood for Anglo-Saxons, and then an Italian enclave.

Walking down Danforth Avenue today, you can sense the rich cultural heritage. Street signs are in English and Greek, blue and white Greek flags line the avenue, and the classical architecture of the National Bank of Greece and other buildings contribute to the decidedly atmosphere.

The street is filled with animated fruit and vegetable stands, butcher shops, Greek bakeries and pastry shops, and dozens of European-style cafes and restaurants. The scent of traditional Greek food is everywhere, and in the warmer months, when the glass walls of the restaurants are opened up, the shouts of “Opal!” reverberate.

Greektown has built a reputation as an excellent dining destination. Many of its restaurants feature open kitchens, where you are welcome to watch the preparation of authentic Greek cuisine. In recent years, a number of non-Greek restaurants have open, capitalizing on the crowds of hungry visitors which descend on the area. Weekends are particularly vibrant, when the action spills onto the sidewalks on open-air terraces and onto the street itself.

Interesting Facts & Trivia

Shopping is another fun activity in Greektown, particularly for home décor or design items.


Italian Communities

Toronto is an Italian city. Italians are the second largest cultural group in Toronto next to the British. More than 400,000 live in the area, scattered throughout the region. However, there are two areas in particular that can be deemed Italian “neighbourhoods”: Little Italy, right downtown; and the Corso Italia, further north.

Location: Little Italy – College St., between Bathurst and Ossington Sts. Corso Italia: St. Clair Ave. West, between Bathurst and Lansdowne.

Italians have played an important role in Canadian history ever since Giovanni Caboto (John Cabot) explored and claimed Newfoundland for England in 1497. But the first real wave of immigration to Canada was between 1885 and 1924, when Italian men left their villages in southern Italy to work as seasonal labourers.

After World War II, another wave of Italians arrived, this time settling around College St. – our first “Little Italy.” They were displacing Jewish residents of the area, who were migrating north. As the community matured, however, they too moved north, to the “Corso Italia” area – and to the suburbs as well. (Woodbridge, Richmond Hill and Mississauga are home to thousands of Italian families).

So while the original Little Italy is in fact more Portuguese today, the Italian atmosphere remains. Italian cafes and restaurants abound, as do "social clubs" - another interesting aspect of the community. These coffee shops and billiard halls are filled with conversation, cigarette smoke, and lots of animated discussion about soccer – because their clientele is mostly older Italian men.

When the sun sets, street signs illuminate in the shape of Italy’s “boot.” Little Italy is one of the hottest nightspots in Toronto. Many of the restaurants and bars open out onto the sidewalk, and some are places where the crowd goes to see and be seen.
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When Italy won the World Cup soccer championships in 1992, more than 200,000 people poured onto the street to celebrate. Many of the shops here still display photos of the impromptu party, which in fact lasted for days.

Interesting Facts & Trivia

Markets

To truly experience a local’s “Toronto”, a visit to two major markets is essential: Kensington Market and St. Lawrence Market. Not only do they provide a real sense of what it’s like to live in Canada’s largest city, but they each reflect a different aspect of today’s Toronto – one a multicultural hodgepodge, the other a more traditional view of our agricultural past.

Kensington Market Possibly the best introduction to the myriad cultural groups which make Toronto their home is a stroll through the bustling lanes in the Kensington Market. It’s a bit of a scene on a busy day, with fishmongers, street musicians, impromptu speechmakers and shoppers all crowding the streets.

In the 1920’s, about 80% of Toronto’s Jewish population lived in Kensington Market. Many of the residents had bolted down pushcarts in front of their homes, from which they sold a variety of goods. The economy was booming, and their business began to spill out onto the lawns, onto their porches, and even into the main floor of many of the houses. The “Jewish Market” was born.

As the community became more established, the original Jewish population began moving to wealthier suburban areas, and were replaced by new immigrants – Portuguese, West Indians, Koreans, Chinese. That’s why today, the market is comprised of an eclectic mix of cultures, one which is ever evolving.

The Kensington area is a maze of narrow streets and alleys, some of which are lined with Victorian houses. Many of these have been painted in bright colours. On busy days, the market is every bit as chaotic as street markets around the world: with a cacophony of sounds, fruit and vegetables stands piled high with produce, and a diverse, sometimes counter-cultural customer base. People are attracted not only to the good prices but also to the market’s unusual variety of shops, including some of Toronto’s best vintage clothing stores.

St. Lawrence Market The St. Lawrence Market stands where the very beginnings of Toronto were established in 1793, in what is today referred to as the “Old Town of York” (corner Front and Jarvis Sts.) The original city market stood one block north (King and Jarvis Sts.), in a structure that also held the city council chambers. However, a fire in 1849 destroyed most of the neighbourhood.

The current market comprises two buildings, one either side of Front St. The south market building dates from 1905, an imposing redbrick structure incorporating what remains of the original City Hall. One merely has to stand in front of the main market entrance to see how one building has wrapped itself around the other. In the 1970’s, the former council chambers on the second floor were transformed into a civic art gallery, which presents an on-going photographic exhibit on the development of Toronto.

St. Lawrence Market’s north building is open on Saturdays only, and features fruits and vegetables and other agricultural products, often sold by the same farmers who produce them. The south building houses dozens of permanent vendors over two floors, and operates Tuesdays through Saturdays. The St. Lawrence experience is perhaps a more genteel one than in Kensington Market (it’s been called Toronto’s “yuppie” market), but the quality, selection, and prices are nonetheless very good.

The best day to visit is Saturday. Farmers arrive prior to the 5:00 a.m. opening time to set up their kiosks, and by 7:00 the place is humming. There are outdoor kiosks as well, even in winter, and the market takes on a special atmosphere prior to major holidays, when vendors are selling Christmas trees, wreaths, or whatever is seasonally appropriate.

The true Torontonian will enjoy breakfast at the market – the famous “peameal bacon on a bun”. Peameal bacon is a Canadian favourite – salt- and sugar-cured extra-lean ham, rolled in cornmeal. It’s a signature snack of Toronto, and well worth trying out.

Interesting Facts

The Beaches

Until the 1930s, the “Beaches” neighbourhood was a summer retreat filled with cottages, lovely sand beaches, and a string of amusement parks. Today, this laid-back waterfront community has a “Californian” feel, with funky shops, cafes and restaurants, as well as more dogs per capita than any other area of Toronto.

Location: Queen St. East between Woodbine Ave. and Neville Park Rd.

The Beach neighbourhood is a village just 15 minutes from downtown Toronto. The beach - which borders Lake Ontario - is lined with over 3 km. of wooden boardwalk, ideal for strolling and people watching. Adjacent is a biking and roller-blading trail. The beach itself is wide, with dozens of volleyball courts, an area devoted to kite-flying, and rental kiosks for sailboards and small boats.

The neighbourhood extends several blocks from the water, a charming and fairly expensive residential area. The main thoroughfare is Queen St. East, reflects the diversity and easy-going attitudes of the local population. The street is lined with quaint antique shops, quirky stores, and a cool collection of bars and restaurants.

 

Points of Intrest


Kew Gardens - a large public garden between Queen St. East and the Boardwalk. It is home to the neighobourhood’s many festivals, craft shows, concerts and exhibitions. On particular charm is the annual Easter Parade (Toronto’s only such parade), which starts in the gardens.

R.C. Harris Filtration Plant - located at the eastern end of the neighbourhood, this industrial structure is one of Toronto’s best examples of Art Deco architecture. Public tours are offered periodically, most often on Saturdays.

Intresting Facts

The Waterfront

All three levels of government- federal, provincial and municipal have launched the first phase of a massive waterfront redevelopment.

Four major waterfront projects would likely be approved in April 2001, with construction to start shortly after.

The first four projects, totaling $300 million, which have been earmarked for a quick start are:

Toronto Islands

In recent years, Toronto has focused considerable effort in revitalizing its waterfront into a four-season recreation destination. Both on the mainland and on the idyllic Toronto Islands, the waterfront holds much promise for visitors to the city.

Like many great cities, Toronto’s beginnings are traced to its proximity to the water. Long before European settlers arrived, Toronto’s naturally-protected harbour was used by Native Canadians as a stop along the traditional route. In the 1740s, it was the site of the first French trading post in this part of North America, Fort Rouille. The fort was key in establishing a link between the lands beyond Toronto, rich with fur-bearing animals, and lucrative European markets. In 1749, the first large cargo-carrying vessel arrived in the harbour, and in 1793, the Governor of Upper Canada, John Graves Simcoe, established a British military garrison nearby, largely due to the excellent harbour. The fort - and town - were both called York, but reverted to their traditional Huron Indian name, “Toronto”, 40 years later.

Toronto’s waterfront grew in activity and importance, with a lively mix of industrial and recreational uses. In the early 20th century, lake cruising was popular, and many steamers used Toronto as a base for Great Lakes tours.

With the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1959 freighters began stopping in Toronto. Harbour traffic grew steadily until the late 1960s, when road transport began to replace water as the preferred means of moving goods. As in many cities at that time, Toronto’s waterfront fell into a period of decline. In the 1970s, though, local residents and government saw the potential of the area, and mixed-use revitalization of the area was spurred.

The focal point of today’s waterfront is Harbourfront Centre, a multi-purpose cultural facility which also includes commercial, residential, and retail developments, in addition to ample parkland and some of the city’s best performing arts facilities. A significant local population lives in high-rise towers along Queen’s Quay, as well as a smaller residential community on the Toronto Islands. There are a number of marinas for pleasure boaters, and the Island is home to the fabled Royal Canadian Yacht Club, which retains a gracious flavour of yesterday – appropriate dress is required to board its launch from the mainland.

Points of Interest - on the mainland

For those who miss the last ferry back from the Islands to the mainland (around 11:30 p.m.), a water taxi service is always on call.

Yorkville

Yorkville is an upscale shopping, dining and residential neighbourhood just north of Toronto’s downtown core. It retains the charming architectural attributes of the Victorian era, and is home to one of Toronto’s most talked-about parks.

Location: Bordered by Avenue Road, Yonge Street, Bloor street and Davenport Road.

The village of Yorkville was formed in 1853 as a middle-class suburb outside of Toronto proper, with Victorian mews housing, picturesque gardens, and quiet tree-lined streets. It has its own Town Hall and Coat of Arms until 1883, when it was annexed by quickly expanding Toronto.

The area remained residential until the early 1950s, when many small specialty shops were being dwarfed by large development projects downtown, and decided to relocate.

During the 1960s, Yorkville became the locus of Toronto’s hippie culture. Flower children from around the world flocked to the area to visit the dozens of coffeehouses. Canadians like Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and Gordon Lightfoot began their musical careers in the neighbourhood.

Now a trendy shopping and dining area, many of the charms that have enabled Yorkville to thrive since the 1850s remain. The streets are lined with charming Victorian restorations, some converted into outdoor cafes, antique shops, art galleries, and designer boutiques.

A warren of laneways links the area and cobblestone courtyards come complete with rustic lampposts and wrought-iron park benches.

Bloor Street West, at the southern edge of Yorkville, is Toronto’s premiere shopping street. Dubbed the “Mink Mile,” it is home to high-end designers like Chanel, Tiffany, Giorgio, and Hermes.

Homegrown additions include Roots (casual Canadiana), Harry Rosen (upscale menswear), Holt Renfrew (clothing), William Ashley’s (dinnerware and china), and Birks (jewellery). A host of smaller retailers offer truly unique, quality Canadian products.

Yorkville streets stay alive at night, with plenty of martini bars, romantic restaurants, outdoor patios, and trendy night-spots.

Places & Events of Interest