So TriNitroToluene mentioned they are gonna be in Canadia for a few months and it reminded me that I've been meaning to ask about a trip I'm making to Toronto Feb. 19-21. The difference between me and him is that I'm just gonna be there a weekend and I am definitely going to Toronto (so all the people who said, lawl don't go Toronto aren't really helpful).

I'm going with a friend and the only things we know for sure we are doing is going to a bar as soon as we get there (he's underage in the states XD) and on Sunday night we're gonna see the Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck concert.

I'm mostly looking for any suggestions of fun bars/clubs to go to, good restaurants, and any must-see type of landmark/activity (except CN tower cause i've done it already).

Edit: We'll be staying within a couple blocks of the Air Canada Centre if that helps .

alffla

Hong Kong20321 Posts

February 11 2010 05:45 GMT

toronto is awesome!

il0seonpurpose

Korea (South)5638 Posts

February 11 2010 06:02 GMT

The Raptors are actually half decent this year! :D

mikeymoo

Canada7170 Posts

February 11 2010 06:03 GMT

Good ol' Toronto.

OpticalShot

Canada6330 Posts

February 11 2010 06:15 GMT

Hmmm, 3 days in TO...

Guvernment is a pretty decent, large club to go to, Circa is ok too... but the last time I went to Circa, it was full of Asian girls who were pretty "closed" about their business. You can google them for their locations, but I'm pretty sure one of them is within walking distance (if you don't mind the cold weather).

If you're a fan of chicken wings, there's one place with amazing honey garlic wings @ College St. West, called "Ein-Stein's", it's located near College & St.George, a few subway stops + streetcar stops away from ACC. (also a bar, not a great sports bar, but good "wings & drink" kind of bar)

For nearby ethnic-specialty food, China town is along Spadina from about Dundas to College, and Korea town is along Bloor from Christie to Bathurst. (maps and directions are probably available via www.ttc.ca). There's another (newer, and in my opinion, better) Korea town at Yonge & Finch, but that's a tad far... unless you really want to go there. Yonge & Finch is actually the general "hangout place" for most Korean teenagers and young adults (I myself included, hah).

Large malls nearby: Eaton Centre (on Yonge, spanning from Dundas to Queen). Actually, Yonge & Dundas intersection itself is a pretty nice place to spend a few hours shopping.

If, for some reason, you're interested in U of T, then you can walk-tour the (probably snowy/icy) campus - the university pretty much takes up the entire block enclosed by Spadina/Bloor/Queen's Park/College. Since 19th is the Friday of the reading week and 20/21 is the weekend, I doubt there will be organized tours.

Enjoy your stay! You can PM me if you want more info... most of the street names and locations can be found online (yay google and TTC).

Masamune

Canada3401 Posts

February 11 2010 06:54 GMT

Tourist things you could do would be Casa Loma perhaps, the ROM (Royal Ontario Museum), AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario), check out a Raptors game...and the Hockey Hall of Fame!!! Also, this will be during the Olympics, and provided Canada gets far, go to any bar and it will be nuts! If you have time, check out Niagara Falls frozen, it's suppose to be nice. Also, if your friend hasn't been on the CN Tower, take him and go for lunch or dinner (or breakfast

) in the revolving restaurant! I guess you could also check out the MuchMusic headquarters (our version of MTV).

Other than that, Toronto is honestly probably a cleaner but shittier (haha) version of NYC. Everything you could do there, you can probably do here, save a few things like the lower drinking age. Things like skiing would be out of the city, too. It's too bad the Olympics will be on because even though the Leafs suck, catching one of their games at the ACC is fun.

illu

Canada2531 Posts

February 11 2010 07:21 GMT

Let's not include Ryerson, please? In my opinion it's just a crappy community college.

OpticalShot

Canada6330 Posts

February 11 2010 07:33 GMT

On February 11 2010 16:21 illu wrote:
Let's not include Ryerson, please? In my opinion it's just a crappy community college.

Aw, I included it because it was downtown and my friend goes there for something media related... k removed by your request. haha

Cambium

United States16368 Posts

February 11 2010 07:34 GMT

Toronto has one of the largest Chinatowns in North America, and it could be interesting if you have never been to one before (they are pretty much all the same). Within Chinatown, there are various restaurants, for authentic taste, choose one that is dirty and packed.

Koreatown may worth a visit if you wish for some authentic Korean food. There is a famous tofu stew store, but I never remember its name as I don't go too often.

Eaton centre is decent if you want to see what a Canadian mall looks like. It's fairly upscale, by Canadian standards anyway. Shopping district may also be worthwhile as it's lined with world-class boutiques. Not so interesting if you are from a large American city.

Guvernment and Frequency are good clubs with decent music, typically packed with Asians.

As for food, there are Canoe and Jump (Canoe's inside TD tower, Jump is literally a block away in some other tower), both owned by Oliver&Bonacini. They are probably the best restaurants in Toronto. Canoe has a tasting menu for $100 ($145 with wine pairing) that I recommend.

imDerek

United States1944 Posts

February 11 2010 07:49 GMT

#10

Pacific Mall!! hahahahh

illu

Canada2531 Posts

February 11 2010 08:19 GMT

#11

Pretty much everyone at downtown can use chopsticks, it seems!

Imagist

Australia484 Posts

February 11 2010 13:47 GMT

#12

Bars: Souz Dal for cocktails (College St. near Christie St) - added bonus, it's right near the best gelato place in town - Dolce on College St.
Pub-like joints: Victory Cafe (Markham St. near Bloor St.)
Places with ridiculous awesome beer selection: Bar Volo (Yonge St. north of Bloor St), Beer Bistro (King St). Both of these are also great restaurants, though Beer Bistro is pricey.

Clubs: My taste in clubs leans heavily toward goth venues, but if you're into that sort of thing or stuff of a more alternative bent, check out Neutral on a Friday night or the Savage Garden on a Saturday.

Denotate

Canada294 Posts

February 11 2010 18:09 GMT

#13

Since I don't enjoy hanging out in clubs, nor do I visit tourist attractions much (I live here), I'll run down a list of places I enjoy in the city that haven't been covered. I also included estimated travel times from where you're staying:

1 - The Distillery District (link) 15 minutes by streetcar

A great historic spot with good restaurants and amazing craft beer. I recommend the Mill St. Brewery, and try the Mill St. Organic.

2 - Harbourfront Centre (link) 10 minute walk

If you're into festivals and food, HFC is a great (and free!) option. It's really near to where you'll be staying and there is always something going on. The link takes you to the schedule for that weekend.

3 - St. Lawrence Market (link) 10 minute walk

One of my favorite places in the city on a Saturday morning. Great, freshly-made food from all parts of the world. Good spot for an awesome breakfast that'll kill Denny's any day. Good coffee too!

4 - Greek Town (link) 20 minute subway ride

China and Korea towns were already mentioned, so I thought I'd plug Greek town. Again, amazing food and a really nice atmosphere on a weekend night.

---

If you're able to travel farther than downtown, the possibilities get bigger. If you're looking for events on the weekend you're coming, I'd suggest BlogTO.

Feel free to PM if you're looking for more specific info. Have fun!

Chameleon

United States604 Posts

February 12 2010 15:42 GMT

#14

thanks everybody

intrudor

Canada446 Posts

February 12 2010 16:43 GMT

#15

the best thing about Toronto is all the available free space. In Montreal, you don't have much space to move around town because of all those 24 Stanley Cups getting in your way. its really annoying