stompyq
Well-known
I don't think Toronto is the way to go long term Cal. I lived in Rochester/buffalo area for 6 years. Winters are longer and colder and with your blue smurf condition you'll spend more time indoors than in NYC. I also hated the fact that in the winter months it's so gloomy (that might be just Rochester though)
mingkookoo
Well-known
Don't forget to checkout Gladstone Hotel if you are visiting Queen street West.
http://www.gladstonehotel.com/
Hv a great time in Toronto
http://www.gladstonehotel.com/
Hv a great time in Toronto
Trius
Waiting on Maitani
Not sure what you meant, but ... Winters in ROC and BUF are worse than YYZ by a long shot - there's a big difference despite the proximity. I would trade YYZ for ROC in a heart beat if the severity of winter were the deciding factor.
Robert Lai
Well-known
Toronto has much milder weather than Upstate NY. The direction of prevailing winds off Lake Ontario make Buffalo and Syracuse the snowfall capital of North America. I grew up in Toronto, and spent 6 years in Syracuse, so I make this observation from first hand experience.
In general, there is much less violence in Toronto than NYC. Canadians don't have a 2nd amendment to their constitution, so gun violence is far less common. There are areas in Scarborough where Tamils and Sinhalese continue their war from Sri Lanka in Canada. One of my high school classmates was murdered in one of these fights.
Unfortunately, real estate prices in Toronto (and especially Vancouver) have been pushed up to crazy extremes. For traveling, you're better off walking, bicycling, or taking the TTC. If you drive around downtown, it's almost as if you're driving in NYC again.
In general, there is much less violence in Toronto than NYC. Canadians don't have a 2nd amendment to their constitution, so gun violence is far less common. There are areas in Scarborough where Tamils and Sinhalese continue their war from Sri Lanka in Canada. One of my high school classmates was murdered in one of these fights.
Unfortunately, real estate prices in Toronto (and especially Vancouver) have been pushed up to crazy extremes. For traveling, you're better off walking, bicycling, or taking the TTC. If you drive around downtown, it's almost as if you're driving in NYC again.
CliveC
Well-known
I recently did a temporary assignment downtown despite being a suburb-dweller. The sketchiest place I visited was definitely Moss Park, but even then, I did not feel unsafe. Compared to many U.S. cities, Toronto just doesn't seem to have much in terms of urban decay.
Definitely visit King West and Queen West - it's really quite vibrant. If you are camera shopping, I believe Sundays at near St. Lawrence Market there is a vendor or two selling vintage gear. Don't expect Leicas though. Downtown Camera, Aden Camera and Henry's is within a short distance of each other if you're looking for new gear. The exchange rate should help, but some manufacturers such as Canon boosted their prices in April by 20%.
Site sponsor Setadel Studios is based in Toronto, so you may want to arrange something on that front as well.
Definitely visit King West and Queen West - it's really quite vibrant. If you are camera shopping, I believe Sundays at near St. Lawrence Market there is a vendor or two selling vintage gear. Don't expect Leicas though. Downtown Camera, Aden Camera and Henry's is within a short distance of each other if you're looking for new gear. The exchange rate should help, but some manufacturers such as Canon boosted their prices in April by 20%.
Site sponsor Setadel Studios is based in Toronto, so you may want to arrange something on that front as well.
rbsinto
Well-known
Cal,
PM me when you are coming and we can arrange to meet and shoot. Now that I'm "retired" I've got tons of time, so meeting up if you're interested in some street-shooting company would be easy to arrange and very nice.
Robert
But it still has colder weather than NYC though right? Cal, something to think about without going into personal details.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Pro-Mone,
Thanks for the brotherly love and concerns.
Lake Ontario has a moderating effect on Toronto. Granted the weather stays cooler longer, but my health condition is really only effected by rather bitter cold and especially wind chill. Out on the eastern end of Long Island in the Hamptons and North Fork the Atlantic Ocean kinda creates a very different climate that really is only two seasons: winter and summer with very brief spring and fall. Realize that this is only about 100 miles from Madhattan. I assume Toronto has a similar two seasons.
I was first diagnosed with this rare disease (one in a hundred thousand) about a decade ago, and although it could be considered a slow growing form of Cancer, I am deemed stable in a watch and wait mode. Throughout my life I have always had borderline low RBC counts, but I thought that was due bad diet and the poverty I grew up with. Now it seems evident that I likely have had this blood abnormality all my life. Perhaps only about 100 people out of NYC's 8.5 million have this rare disease, and because it is so rare it went undiagnosed all these decades.
It seems exercise is key to keeping my red blood cell count up, because the antibody that is too abundant that causes my red blood cells to stick together and get damaged causes premature red blood cell death (Hemolizing). My bloodwork indicates RBC counts that are just under the normal range meaning I am slightly anemic, and the size of my red blood cells are all large, meaning they are new cells and young.
Understand that RBC's diminish in size as they age and their normal life span is about 90 days. It seems that I can sustain a viable level, and that physical exercise has proven to be key as well as diet as I age.
There is a very remote chance of my disease making the jump into a full blown Lymphoma, but that is likely less than a 5% chance, meaning there is a very high likelyhood I can continue in watch and wait mode for the rest of my life without any treatment.
The treatment is with Monoclonal Antibodies which is not a cure but a program to manage. There is no cure for Cold Agluttinin Disease. Treatments do seem to correlate with an increased likelyhood of jump to Lymphoma though and I am happy no treatment seems to be needed. Once that happens the odds change.
The blue attacks you have witnessed are actually an indication of blood restriction that is due to a change in viscosicity of my blood due to an elevated level of IgM anitibodies that is cause by an abnormality in my bone marrow.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
John,
Cool weather is not the problem, it is the extreme cold and wind chill. Of course I can't go shooting in the winter like I use to. Last winter the weather really had no impact on my health, even though there were a few cold spells that I needed to limit my exposure.
I am very interested in Toronto because of quality of life. Although I am widely known and stand out in a crowd, know that basically I'm a loner, and being by myself is perfectly fine. People know that I have great social skills, but part of me is surprisingly actually antisocial. Part of being a strong individual I guess.
Where can I go to maintain a rich life, especially one that is sustainable?
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Robert,
I am so deeply moved by all the invites. I extend the invitation if you ever get to NYC.
We will be having only six days to walk the city, and this downtime is rather important to my gal who is an academic. The school year is kinda frantic, and what "Maggie" needs is unplanned time wandering and exploring.
I am deeply impressed by Toronto. It is a great city.
Looking forward to meeting you and my other friends in Toronto one day. As far as this forum the brotherhood of passion about photography and the support is a great thing that transcends all our differences. What a great understanding that unifies all of us.
Cal
rbsinto
Well-known
Cal,
I appreciate your situation and Maggie's as well (my Wife is a retired teacher, and our Daughter-in Law and my youngest Sister are both teachers, so I understand about the down-time when the school year ends).
Perhaps another time we'll get to shoot together, either here or in the Universe's center, New York.
Still, if I can help you out in some way or another while you're here, just PM me.
Robert
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Robert,
Guys like you and me get around. The world really is not that big.
See you soon.
Cal
Prest_400
Multiformat
Wish you have a good trip up Toronto Cal.
The fall was very mild in our hemisphere though winter did seem to come strong with the East coast blizzard.
Have you considered seasonal living? I have some far relatives who, one being South american and the other Australian, keep moving from one place to another with the mild weather.
My Mediterranean part of Spain hasn't had any cold at all for a year or so. January and February rarely went down 65F.
I did have a friend in Pittsburgh from new year till spring and he hated the weather. The guy grew up here and in tropical central America so cold is not his friend.
Cold and dark is good for a thing: to create contrast and appreciate mild temperatures! I dislike hot and humid too.
Since I visited NYC (and before I had a feeling) of being unimpressed my most cities, even capitals. At the end some of the bad stuff (pollution, noise, overwhelming feeling) is always there. I'm not having a cosmopolitan city phase right now... Got a summer job at a friend's hotel and I can do my best around and enjoy the beach and small town life!
Will have to kickstart a new job career soon so I'll be forced to leave. My town is nice but it can become a Springsteen-esque place of dull and deprived environment sometimes.
I'm not retiring any soon but I'd have my phase of living between places.
<Beamed through Tapatalk relay>
The fall was very mild in our hemisphere though winter did seem to come strong with the East coast blizzard.
Have you considered seasonal living? I have some far relatives who, one being South american and the other Australian, keep moving from one place to another with the mild weather.
My Mediterranean part of Spain hasn't had any cold at all for a year or so. January and February rarely went down 65F.
I did have a friend in Pittsburgh from new year till spring and he hated the weather. The guy grew up here and in tropical central America so cold is not his friend.
Cold and dark is good for a thing: to create contrast and appreciate mild temperatures! I dislike hot and humid too.
Since I visited NYC (and before I had a feeling) of being unimpressed my most cities, even capitals. At the end some of the bad stuff (pollution, noise, overwhelming feeling) is always there. I'm not having a cosmopolitan city phase right now... Got a summer job at a friend's hotel and I can do my best around and enjoy the beach and small town life!
Will have to kickstart a new job career soon so I'll be forced to leave. My town is nice but it can become a Springsteen-esque place of dull and deprived environment sometimes.
I'm not retiring any soon but I'd have my phase of living between places.
<Beamed through Tapatalk relay>
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
J-D,
Having met me you know I'm a happy guy who does not need much, but my gal, an academic thrives on complexity.
In my past I have lived in remote parts where the community I lived in was 80 mailboxes along the side of the road, and basically one had to drive 47 miles if they need gas or something from the store.
I really loved living in the Santa Fe National Forest in a simple 2 bedroom log cabin. I loved the peace, loved the lack of pollution, loved the refreshing changable weather, but all that would be a deprivation for my gal.
Never had much of a home, or a place where I truely belonged. Basically I am still searching. Toronto has lots to offer, and seasonal living might be use Toronto as a base and perhaps leave or travel during the coldest parts of the year.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
What a great trip. On our first full day Maggie's FitBit tallied 15 miles. During our stay we kinda maintained about a 13 mile per day average. We never took any bus, trolley or subway.
Sweet Jesus we discovered a little late in our trip. That Strawberry Shortcake frozen yogurt was worth the wait on the block long line.
I realized how out of control NYC is. Very unusual to see that no one Jaywalks, and that people actually respect right of way in Toronto. To me it was very strange because in NYC it more or less is a dangerous free for all where you can get hit by a cyclist as well as a car. Not unusual to see 3-5 cars going through a red light, and pedestrians here also do not yield, give right of way, or even pay attention. Never realized how hostile and aggressive the culture of NYC is.
I loved how it stayed lite up to 9:00 PM. The days are mighty long. Also there seems to be a golden three hours and not just one hour. The diffused light in the shadows was pretty amazing. I assume the added brightness in the shadows was due to the reflections off the lake.
I found the pollution in NYC upon my return very oppressive. Long term it is not healthy. I have to come back to Toronto to visit again. What a great city.
Cal
Sweet Jesus we discovered a little late in our trip. That Strawberry Shortcake frozen yogurt was worth the wait on the block long line.
I realized how out of control NYC is. Very unusual to see that no one Jaywalks, and that people actually respect right of way in Toronto. To me it was very strange because in NYC it more or less is a dangerous free for all where you can get hit by a cyclist as well as a car. Not unusual to see 3-5 cars going through a red light, and pedestrians here also do not yield, give right of way, or even pay attention. Never realized how hostile and aggressive the culture of NYC is.
I loved how it stayed lite up to 9:00 PM. The days are mighty long. Also there seems to be a golden three hours and not just one hour. The diffused light in the shadows was pretty amazing. I assume the added brightness in the shadows was due to the reflections off the lake.
I found the pollution in NYC upon my return very oppressive. Long term it is not healthy. I have to come back to Toronto to visit again. What a great city.
Cal
BLKRCAT
75% Film
Sweet jesus was good when the line wasn't 3 hours long. There was a time that it was only about a 2 minute wait. Ah the memories...
FrankS
Registered User
Happy that you enjoyed Toronto and your perspective on it.
How did it fare in your pursuit of grittiness? Got pics?
How did it fare in your pursuit of grittiness? Got pics?
back alley
IMAGES
toronto is like a clean new york where the people are warmer, friendlier and say 'sorry' if they bump you on the street.
and the blue jays play the yankees a few times per season!
and the blue jays play the yankees a few times per season!
Lauffray
Invisible Cities
Cal, I'm glad you liked Toronto.
Makes me wonder though, did you get to the "ugly" or "rough" parts of Montreal when you came ?
Makes me wonder though, did you get to the "ugly" or "rough" parts of Montreal when you came ?
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Frank,
Sadly I saw plenty of the rather aggressive pan handling homeless like I see in NYC.
It was good that I checked in with you guys. On East Queen Street (we were heading to the Distillery District) there was a rather serious incident happening just west of Moss Park where there was this hot-head welding a carpenter's hammer screaming at someone he knew. Maggie and I were right across the street when all this was going down. Looked like an assault was ready to happen.
Anyways I'm mighty glad there were no surprises. While that guy had a hammer in his right hand, I had a Nikon D3X secured to my arm with a Nikon AH-4 Handstrap. That crazy was not the only person welding a deadly weapon in plain sight.
I found Toronto to be a refreshing city, and I actually loved that I did not have to breath all the pollution and filth that I currently live in. Basically when I leave my luxury apartment (ghetto-buster) it is an assault on the senses.
Wish I had the time to really get to the fringes. Although we covered lots of ground, we did not get all around. Our trip was too short, but that means we will have to come again.
Seriously considering downsizing to the barest essentials to retire. Looks like I'm too late in the game for a house, but the smaller the living space the mobile for traveling. For us it is quality verses quantity. That means I will likely one day will have to cash out of some of my collections...
Toronto might become or could be a home base, but not sure I could winter there. I still have a few more years to go.
Cal