Mr. Toronto

Discovering Graffiti alley south of Queen W

One of Mr. Toronto’s greatest pleasures is discovering something totally new and unique in this wonderful City.  Just when I think I have done and seen it all in my (almost) 25-years living here, occasionally something comes along that makes me go “wow – this place really is amazing!”

Last Sunday I went on a “Toronto Laneway” walking tour.  I can’t actually say this is new; only to me, as the gentleman who has been leading these tours – Graeme Parry – has apparently been doing this for 9 years! Graeme is an incredibly knowledgeable young man who does these tours because he, too, is in love with Toronto and wants to share his knowledge.  As such, he does this as a hobby (I heard someone say his day job was working for the TTC, our transit commission), and they are absolutely FREE!

The tour was fascinating.  We met at the corner of Queen and Bathurst streets, and walked for an hour through “Graffiti alley” south of Queen, leading to hidden

laneway homes on residential alleys that at first glance look like nothing more than long driveways with garages on either side.  The tour ended on Ossington street, which was also great as it is one of the coolest/hippest little streets out there, with vintage stores (I bought a great ‘50s tie!), wonderful restaurants (see one of my previous blogs on Pizzeria Libretto), and funky lounges (Reposado Tequilla Bar is one of my faves).

Unfortunately, this was Graeme’s last walking tour of the season (he does them in summer only), but he also does biking tours, and these don’t end until September 18 (you can bet I’ll be there!).  For more information, visit his website at

http://www.graemeparry.com/Site/Toronto_Laneways.html

And be prepared to be amazed!

Mr. Toronto

Not sure if Mr. Toronto has divulged this before, but I am a music freak – iPod docked in my office, going to concerts on an almost weekly basis, songs running through my head throughout the day (I’m also the guy people call when they need a rock trivia question answered at 2am from some boozy bar…).  So I have been in absolute heaven since my last blog entry, as it has been one musical event after another!

Started off the week by attending a press conference for the latest addition to Toronto’s amazing summer concert season…the new BlackCreek Music Festival.  A VERY ambitious series- spearheaded behind the seasons by the impresario/marketing genius Garth Drabinsky of Livent/Phantom fame (has to be behind the scenes – he’s about to go to jail for embezzlement, but that’s another story…) – this is a 14-week festival launching June 4th.  It’s taking place at the Rexall Centre up at York University, which until now has been used only for Rogers Cup Tennis Tournaments that are held every year (my favourite sporting event – the subject of a future blog, I’m sure!).  It’s a very eclectic festival, launching with the superstar Spanish tenor Placido Domingo, then featuring everyone from Marvin Hamlisch to the London Symphony Orchestra to Diana Krall with Tony Bennett, to James Taylor.  Check out www.blackcreekfestival.com for details.

My next meeting was with the Toronto Jazz Festival. It’s their 25th Anniversary (!!!) this year, and have announced the first of what will be many fantastic concerts (many free).  Pushing my button in particular are Paco de Lucia (amazing flamenco guitarist), Return To Forever featuring Chick Corea and Stanley Clarke, among others (one of the first concerts I ever saw – and one of the only ones with my dad – WAY back in the ‘70’s!), and Bela Fleck – a banjo virtuoso (yes, really) – reuniting wit his incredible band the Flecktones.  The Jazz Fest takes place June 24- July 3rd, and this year moves down to Metro Square, as it’s usual home- Nathan Phillips Square- is under a massive renovation project… it’s a great space off King St.West that links Metro Hall with Roy Thomson Hall, across from the Royal Alex Theatre.  www.torontojazz.com for the whole line-up!

Delhi 2 Dublin

Metro Square is also the new home for the last of the announcements I went to this past week, for Luminato- Toronto’s Festival of Arts and Creativity, taking place June 10-19 (also celebrating an anniversary – #5).  While it is not strictly a music festival – it bills itself as “an annual multi-disciplinary celebration of theatre, dance, music, literature, food, visual arts, fashion, film, and more” (what more could there be??!!) – the event I went to focused on their music offerings, which are spectacular.  And again, many free, including Grammy Award winning k.d. lang and Kronos Quartet, quirky pop combo-turned children’s act They Might be Giants (my sister dated their guitar player – you will NOT be reading about that in a future blog…) and Canadian favourites The Joel Plaskett Emergency.  Yes, all FREE!! And I just have to give a plug here for one of the coolest indie bands I have ever seen who performed for us at the press conference (and will be opening for Punjabi superstar Malkit Singh of Bend it Like Beckham fame).  They’re called Delhi 2 Dublin, and like the name implies, they are an amazing mix of Indian and Irish music, wrapped up in a neo-punk blanket…

See you out at ALL these shows! Mr. Toronto

The weather has been gorgeous these past few days in Toronto, and whoever hasn’t been glued to the hockey playoffs (this IS Canada, after all) has been hanging out at one of the City’s fantastic outdoor patios. Nothing like sitting in the sun (or shade – I’m an equal opportunity patio lounger) and quaffing one of our fine Canadian brews while watching the world go by.

Some of the best places to do that include:

• The Black Bull at 298 Queen Street (a hangout for everyone from bikers to punkers to jocks)
• The Madison at 14 Madison (with FIVE levels of patios!)
• The Wheat Sheaf Tavern at 667 King W (Toronto’s oldest, open since 1849)
• Polson Pier at 11 Polson (formerly known as “The Docks”, it is probably the largest patio in the City, with definitely the most awesome view)
• Café Diplomatico at 594 College (a Little Italy institution)
• Sweaty Betty’s at 13 Ossington (had to throw that is because I LOVE the name, and no list would be complete without mention of the hip Ossington strip)
• Hemingway’s at 142 Cumberland (in the heart of Yorkville – quite a different crowd than the Black Bull)

And my two very favourite out-of-the-way hideaways (worth the schlep):

• The Gem Bar & Grill at 1159 Davenport, a very hip neighbourhood hangout that usually has great free live music to boot
• The Rectory Café on Ward’s Island – this one you have to take a ferry to- catch it from the foot of Yonge St. next to the Westin Hotel; you’ll feel like you’re on an island retreat (wait a minute – you ARE!)

Wanted to tell you about these early in the season, so you’ll have time to try them ALL! And feel free to let me know about your favourites, too.

Cheers!

Mr. Toronto

Yes, it’s true – Toronto has just gone through a month long City Worker’s strike. City run day camps and swimming pools were closed, the Island Ferry wasn’t running, and garbage wasn’t being picked up. But the media played it up much worse than it actually was (surprise, surprise…) – tourists hardly noticed a thing. There were alternate ways to get to the Island (water taxis), and independent trash collectors made sure the streets were clean. But if you WERE waiting for the strike to be over before visiting, it just ended – so come on down! Personally, I am pretty grateful, cuz I had some pretty old garbage stored in my garage…gotta air that puppy out real good…

If you’re coming to visit with the kiddies, I thought I would pass along five kid-friendly eateries to satisfy grumbling tummies, as noted in the most recent issue of WHERE magazine (very handy to pick up when you hit town, FYI). They are:

1. The Pickle Barrel, casual with a huge menu (a few locations, but easiest is at Atrium on Bay, between the Eaton Centre and delta Chelsea Hotel)
2. The Rainforest Café (you know this, right? Jungle animals, thunder/lightening – kinda tacky but the kids go wild) at Yorkdale Mall (great mall, by the way. Car is easiest, but also serviced by the subway
3. The Old Spaghetti Factory – Fun, Cheap and Casual – on the Esplanade way downtown
4. Alice Fazoolis – Like above, only a little more classy – and a great patio!
5. Richtree Market Restaurant - individual cooking stations, self serve – lotsa fun and interesting to watch…on Yonge, right downtown

And just for the adults, thought I’d throw in a little tip for when the kiddies are tucked in bed – there’s a gem of a local pub I just went to over the weekend, called – The Gem.

One of those rare neighbourhood hangouts that’s tucked away, cozy , warm and friendly – with great food and a great patio (and live music some nights). Davenport St. near Christie.

Cheers!

Mr. Toronto

Just had our first GORGEOUS weekend here in T.O., so my mind has turned to summer activities…this City really is at it’s finest when the sun comes out…a couple of my favourite things to do here in nice weather:

1) Take the ferry over to Toronto Islands – better yet, taking my bike over on the ferry (you can also rent over there) and walking/cycling around all the islands…Centre Island is the most well known – complete with petting zoo and Centreville amusement park – but I love Ward’s Island, where people actually live…and there is a beautiful little restaurant there, the Rectory Café…

2) Hang out in one of our great parks – you can get lost in High Park for hours, but my favourite is Allen Gardens, on Lawrence Ave. – beautiful foliage, nature walks…and close to the Bridal Path, Toronto’s ritziest neighbourhood (incredible homes – Prince had one until his recent divorce from a Toronto girl…)

3) Choose a patio, order a bevvie, and watch the world go by…this city has a crazy number of fantastic patios – streetside, rooftop, courtyard – rather than try and list them, I’d rather refer you to EYE Magazine’s Bar and Patio Guide 2009, which just came out last week (EYE and NOW are the two weekly magazines that tell you everything you need to know about what’s happening in the city):

Finally, let me point you to a really cool article about Toronto that just appeared in the New York Times – full of interesting tips, from a visitor’s perspective: 36 Hours in Toronto.

Later,

Mr. Toronto