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We've been here about 1.5 years, which is enough to have developed some habits and found some things to do that we enjoy doing repeatedly. This is a short-list for anyone visiting or living in the area that are looking for something "locals" may do with themselves. Granted, it's a big city, and we've only scratched the surface. Heck—we live across the street from Susur (consistently ranked one of the 10 best chefs in the world) and we still have never gone. So, undoubtedly, this list will change over time. Which is partly the reason why we enjoy living here: ample opportunity to find new and interesting things to occupy our leisure time. One note, though, before I get started: all of these items are going to be in the general downtown area.
In no particular order:
Steamwhistle Brewery Tour
South of the CN Tower
I first went here with my family, having seen it by accident from the Gardiner. It's tucked in directly South of the CN Tower, located in a historic roundhouse. This is my favourite place to bring visitors—and especially to kick off an evening of merriment. The tours are every hour and last about 30-45 minutes. I've been on them four times already, and the first time I finish the tour sober I'll probably stop going. My friend wheedled eight "samples" from the friendly staff the last time we were there. (I also accidentally smashed a glass on the production floor on a subsequent visit—so they may be on to me. A false nose and glasses and I should be okay...)
Future Bakery
Brunswick and Bloor
This is a mighty fine place to have a cappuccino and an enormous piece of pie or cake that will have me waddling out the door. Fun, friendly—and inevitably filled with an awful lot of university students—this is my favourite place to go on a lazy afternoon and indulge the ole' sweet-tooth. The other great thing is that Curbside Cycle is across the street—an amazing bike shop catering to commuters (or "regular" cyclists) with some bikes very hard to find anywhere else—such as Brompton folding bikes.
Brunch
Here. There. Everywhere.
I don't want to get too much into the why and where's of brunch: but suffice to say it's a great, relatively inexpensive* way to eat up (sorry—truly) a weekend morning. If you're interested in reading more, I really must refer to you an expert's opinion.
* Please keep in mind this is Toronto—still the most expensive city in Canada.
Market Day / Antique Shopping
Front and Jarvis
I love heading down to the St. Lawrence Market on a Saturday morning—especially a summer morning—when all the local farmers and merchants set up shop across the street to sell their locally grown goods. (Unlike the ByWard Market in Ottawa, where most of the goods aren't actually grown by the sellers.) Fresh pies, eggs, meat, dairy, and scrumptious fruits, berries and vegetables. Oh my! On Sunday, the building fills up with antique sellers. Normally I care not a whit about antiques (even though I'm a fan of history), but it's fun to head down there early and scrounge through to see if I can find any Dunhills, or other worthy pipes in need of rescue and restoration.
Drinks
We happen to live in a part of town that caters to the "hip" crowd of 30-somethings (or thereabouts)—unlike the reknowned (and sometimes sketchy) Entertainment District, featuring the kind of clubs that I no longer have enough hair (or desire) to get into. If you're only two people, it's almost guaranteed that you can go to Brassaii, Crush, Pravda (for caviar and premium vodkas), The Paddock, or any of the other fancy watering holes that fill up amazingly quickly during the evenings and grab a seat at the bar. This way, there's no need for reservations and the service is always fantastic. Or course, if we're in the mood for pubs (which I usually am) there's no shortage, either: the Wheat Sheaf—Toronto's oldest tavern—is just one of many worth dropping into for a pint or ten.
Walking
Toronto is truly a fantastic city to walk in—there is still a rawness and energy that is palpable. This is a city in transition—to what, no one is sure: but it's exciting and fascinating to see it develop. Stand at Dundas and Spadina on a weekend afternoon and you will find it hard to believe you haven't been transported to China. The waterfront is ugly in many ways, but also strangely beautiful: witness, for example, the forlorn cement towers of a derelict distillery. Toronto is indeed a city on the cusp of reinventing and building itself out of the industrial era. The steel-girder bridge over the tracks at Bathurst that used to span the Humber river is just one relic; so, too is peaceful Victoria Memorial Park—where soldiers from the war of 1812 are buried. See the Victorian houses in our area are falling apart after 150 years of neglect—and yet at the same time are undoubtedly worth half-a-million dollars or more.
West Queen West
West of Bathurst
I hardly ever end up buying anything, but this stretch of Queen Street (west of Bathurst) has a myriad of stores that I appreciate in a manly way—from The Red Tea Box, where you can enjoy High Tea, to Studio Brillantine where you can admire some of the most beautifully designed items—including all things Tin Tin and Barbapapa. There's also, of course, The Drake—great for coffee, or partying at night; Type—one of the coolest bookstore in the city; piles of trendy furniture stores (check out Morba); spas; restaurants (Dufflet, anyone?) and, of course—fashion, where most of the clothes are made by local designers, and even in the stores themselves. (Of these, one of my favourites is definitely Fleurjte. Nearly all girl-stuff, but they do have some pretty cool guy's silk-screen shirts by Yasmine Louis.
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