Toronto Visit

[Calzone]

So I'm visiting Toronto...

Tell me the bad areas so I can visit them. Tell me about the tourist traps that I should avoid. Where is the run down part of town?

Anyways give me the smut. Realize that my partner is a fashion blogger and the consignment shops are a must visit.

One U.S. dollar equals 1.30-1.31 Loonies currently. Last time I visited Canada was Montreal and the Dollar and Loonie were more or less parity. Still holding out on speculating on currency exchange. Understand that when we visited Montreal that pretty much we covered the entire city walking and did not take any mass transportation. In NYC where we live pretty much we walk 10-12 miles in a day regularly.

Cal

 

[Vince Lupo]

http://torontolife.com/neighbourhood-rankings/#

 

[Vince Lupo]

Even the 'bad' areas of Toronto can in no way compare to anything in big cities in the US. So 'run-down' and 'bad' parts of Toronto are relative. Moss Park, Parkdale, Regent Park, James Town, Jane-Finch, parts of Scarborough are historically the ones that are not great, but with gentrification and condos popping up everywhere that may have all changed.

Consignment shops, you'll probably want Kensington Market, Queen West.

What are you looking for exactly in the 'run-down' areas? When are you going to be there?

 

[dcsang]

Ahhhh...
let's see...

Bad areas:
Queen St E. @ Sherbourne.. actually just about anywhere along Queen St. E that is east of Jarvis until you hit, say, Parliament is questionable.

Maybe some areas on College St. West of Bathurst...

Consignment / Vintage Shops:
Kensington Market still has it's gritty edge and has some of that which your partner may like. It's not completely touristy but take your time going through the area - it's not so much a "market" per se as much as it is a community.

If you want some REALLY rough neighbourhoods you can hang out in what's left of Regent Park - there's not much and it's going through some serious gentrification currently but there are still portions that are sketchy. Anywhere along Dundas St. west of River Street.... up to Gerard St.

Cheers,
Dave

 

[Vince Lupo]

Ahhhh...
let's see...

Bad areas:
Queen St E. @ Sherbourne.. actually just about anywhere along Queen St. E that is east of Jarvis until you hit, say, Parliament is questionable.

Maybe some areas on College St. West of Bathurst...

Consignment / Vintage Shops:
Kensington Market still has it's gritty edge and has some of that which your partner may like. It's not completely touristy but take your time going through the area - it's not so much a "market" per se as much as it is a community.

If you want some REALLY rough neighbourhoods you can hang out in what's left of Regent Park - there's not much and it's going through some serious gentrification currently but there are still portions that are sketchy. Anywhere along Dundas St. west of River Street.... up to Gerard St.

Cheers,
Dave

Dave are there any industrial areas still by the waterfront? I'm thinking Commissioners Street etc. That's kind of a gritty area (at least it used to be!).

I go home once a year (Don Mills), so I don't really keep up with all that's going on in TO. All I do know is that every time I visit, I recognize it less and less 🙁

 

[dcsang]

Commissioners Street and such are also undergoing some gentrification - you can still find some grittiness down there but a lot of the "good urbex type stuff" has disappeared. The Hearn Power plant was recently used to house an art festival (Luminato) to great success - so that's likely off the list.

Heck, even Parkdale (which used to be pretty rough) is a place that's all nice nice now. Victor M still lives/frequents the area as far as I know.

It's hard to be somewhere in the downtown core that isn't somewhat "touristy" but you can find pockets.

Cheers,
Dave

 

[FrankS]

Dave's got the low down on the down low. You'll likely be disappointed by that aspect of Toronto.

Let us know when you're coming. Could share a beer.
(Actually we could each have our own.)

 

[Vince Lupo]

I'm coming up 2nd week of August - Cal when are you going to be there?

Yeah I think you might be in for a disappointment in terms of the 'rough' parts of Toronto -- even Regent Park and Parkdale didn't appear too bad when they were rougher.

I like the Queen St. East area Broadview to Coxwell, very 'old' Toronto. If you want a classically 'old Toronto' restaurant, check out The Tulip at Queen and Coxwell, Duckworth's Fish and Chips at Danforth and Main, or The Garden Gate (aka 'The Goof') way out on Queen St. E.

 

[Calzone]

Thanks for the responses.

I like to see it all: the good; the bad; and the ugly. (the uglier the better)

On one vacation we went to Savanna GA, but we walked around and really explored the entire city, and we made some friends. We were sensible and felt no danger, even though we went to sketchy areas.

I would be interested in visiting gentrifying neighborhoods, the edgy locations and especially the old industrial areas that remain before they disappear through redevelopment. I also like areas that reveal deep history.

Anyways always looking for a cool place to live. Toronto is the fourth largest city in North America, and it has some similarities to New York.

Cal

 

[Vince Lupo]

Not too much old industrial left in Toronto -- the condo developers have seemingly snapped them all up.

It might be an idea to ride the Queen streetcar from one end to the other. You'll see a lot of interesting and varied neighbourhoods. Probably same with the Dundas streetcar. I'm partial to the east-end (as my Dad had his real estate office at Coxwell and Dundas in the east end), and it still retains much of its working-class character (despite gentrification).

Not sure if you're interested in Chinatown (I think there are at least four!), Little India, Italian, Polish, Jamaican etc neighbourhoods, but you can certainly get your fill in Toronto -- the most ethnically-diverse city in the world!

 

[MikeChong]

Queen and Bathurst area can be interesting as well, down by the lakefront along Cherry St could provide some interesting views. But like most have said, Toronto has cleaned up these areas and are not as seedy as it once was.

 

[Calzone]

I'm coming up 2nd week of August - Cal when are you going to be there?

Yeah I think you might be in for a disappointment in terms of the 'rough' parts of Toronto -- even Regent Park and Parkdale didn't appear too bad when they were rougher.

I like the Queen St. East area Broadview to Coxwell, very 'old' Toronto. If you want a classically 'old Toronto' restaurant, check out The Tulip at Queen and Coxwell, Duckworth's Fish and Chips at Danforth and Main, or The Garden Gate (aka 'The Goof') way out on Queen St. E.

Vince,

I'll be going near mid July.

The crime rate in Canada is low and in large Canadian cities the crime rate is about half of NYC where I live. I found Montreal to be a great city that I love. NYC I already consider a very safe city, but still stuff happens, meaning anything can happen. Montreal is a bit more expensive than Toronto (Provintial taxes included), but Montreal is also closer to NYC. Vancouver is yet another trip.

At 58 1/2 I'm doing the legwork to see where I might resettle for good. Here in NYC I am a gentrifier who eventually will be forced out of the city. Meanwhile I made the banks, landlords, and real estate developers tons of money. Anyways I think I helped make NYC an interesting place to live: too bad there is no place for me.

My hope is that Toronto might be a big enough city that has enough fashion for my gal to be happy.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Not too much old industrial left in Toronto -- the condo developers have seemingly snapped them all up.

It might be an idea to ride the Queen streetcar from one end to the other. You'll see a lot of interesting and varied neighbourhoods. Probably same with the Dundas streetcar. I'm partial to the east-end (as my Dad had his real estate office at Coxwell and Dundas in the east end), and it still retains much of its working-class character (despite gentrification).

Not sure if you're interested in Chinatown (I think there are at least four!), Little India, Italian, Polish, Jamaican etc neighbourhoods, but you can certainly get your fill in Toronto -- the most ethnically-diverse city in the world!

Vince,

Ethnic diversity I embrace. I think 180 languages are spoken in Toronto, but this is exceeded perhaps only by the 200 languages in NYC. Another stat is that half the population of Toronto are immigrants.

Mexico City, NYC, L.A. then Toronto as far as ranking order for the largest cities in North America.

BTW sometime between 2020 and 2030 there is an expected climate shift where the climate is expected to be sub tropical if global warming continues.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Dave's got the low down on the down low. You'll likely be disappointed by that aspect of Toronto.

Let us know when you're coming. Could share a beer.
(Actually we could each have our own.)

Frank,

Congrats on your retirement. I hope to be right behind you. Maybe even in Toronto. I'll be in town starting on the 18th of July.

I believe I have enough assets and income to get Canadian residency. In NYC I have to hibernate and avoid the cold for health reasons. I also would love to be away from the pollution. The trend of global warming is actually good for me.

How bicycle friendly is Toronto? Is it a good city to live without a car? What would be the restrictions if one did not own a car in Toronto?

Basically I'm a walker and cyclist. I do dumb things like buy an Epson 3880 at B&H and decide to use the subway to get it home. Basically I broke my arms by carrying a heavy bulky box on the E train and number 6 train along with a long transfer because I'm brain dead. Do dumb guys that try to stay young fit in Toronto?

Cal

 

[Vince Lupo]

You do not need a car in Toronto -- bicycle friendly (my brother-in-law owns one of the most respected bike shops there, BTW) and the transit system is among the best in North America.

What I will say is that having a lot of money in Toronto would help -- sometimes I wonder how my family can continue to afford to live there 🙂

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Bad and run-down areas in Toronto... I do my street photography practice every time I'm in Toronto. From Union station up to Bloor Street, down from Bloor on Bathurst, Ossington to Queen, King St West and back to Union. I walked on Younge from Eglinton to the Bay/Union. And on Jarvis, Spadina from South of the Bloor. I can't find bad. Where are many mentally ill people, hobos, baggers and addicts. Every time you close to the shelter it will be more of them. But bad... I'm visiting Toronto since 2003 and I have to call 911 only once. One guy pulled out the knife on Jarvis near the shelter.
Same for run-downs. It is not Buffalo, Detroit thing. Old low rise areas are all looking as run downs to me after Europe. But not as bad as in USA. Toronto is nice and quiet and this is why it is overdeveloped in some used to be nice for photography areas.

If you want more of Canadian "bad and run-down" flavour take the bus from Union to Hamilton. More run-down areas and more people of welfare... Old industrial now run-down zone is within 10-12 miles walking cyrcle from it. Mix of closed or somewhat functioning steel production and old houses built right on the same streets. It will take almost same time as going to Jane and Finch from Union and ... find what nothing special is where...
Hamilton Downtown and Industrial Park.

 

[FrankS]

Contact me if you have time to socialize Cal, and Vince.
I'm not much of a walker anymore due to medical conditions.
I only live near Toronto and am not too knowledgeable about neighbourhoods/conditions.

 

[Calzone]

You do not need a car in Toronto -- bicycle friendly (my brother-in-law owns one of the most respected bike shops there, BTW) and the transit system is among the best in North America.

Vince,

Might you reveal the name of your brother-in-law's shop? I would likely want to visit.

I love that Toronto is a banking center. In so many ways like New York, but different. Sounds like the quality of life for me could be richer, less dangerous, and more sustainable. I'm a simple guy who basically is happy. Don't need a lot, and I always say, "I never knew anyone with a complicated life that was happy."

I just hope that there is enough for my gal who is spoiled by NYC. I really adapted to New Mexico, the land of manana, when I lived there for a year and a half. Really learned to leave that New York attitude behind and learned what peace was about.

Cal

 

[back alley]

edmonton...don't forget to add edmonton to your list of canadian cities to visit.
if you like snow 8 months of the year, mucho freezing temps and slip sliden all over the road then this is the place for you!

 

[Scapevision]

Jane and Finch area after dark