Queen West, The Drake and The Islands Have Turned Me Into A Toronto Lover
Jul 22nd, 2010, 06:44 PM
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Queen West, The Drake and The Islands Have Turned Me Into A Toronto Lover
Hello Canada Forum,
I remember when I first visited Toronto in 1998, a few friends of mine were sharing an apartment in Little Italy... and I really enjoyed my visit. But in the 2000s, there was a nagging sense of disappointment each time I'd pass through Toronto. I kept feeling I was seeking some element of that original trip and just wasn't finding it. I attributed it to the passing of time, that Toronto was becoming colder and harder in the new millennium, more about materialism and commerce and less about the heart and creative spirit.
But Toronto, like Montreal (I really should know better, living in Montreal!), is a city of neighborhourhoods with quite distinct characters. The past few trips I'd walked up Yonge, stayed once near Union Station and another time near Sherbourne Metro, all downtown. This time I decided, against my usual instinct to stay centrally within a city, to stay at the Drake Hotel, doing so only since a friend was quite emphatic that I should stay there when next in Toronto (especially since I told her that I'd yet to find a hotel that I enjoyed). The Drake is at 1150 Queen Street West, which is a good number of blocks west of Bathurst, which always seemed to me the western end of downtown.
I ended up LOVING the energy of this far Queen West area and the Drake is such a jewel, an artsy hotel unlike anything I've EVER stayed at in my life. Innovative art-deco room design for the so-called "Crash Pad" I've stayed at, front desk staff were unbelievable (bending over backward with a smile to every request). People of the more prudish variety will probably wish to abstain, as the rooms do offer a sex toy menu; while I didn't partake, I thought it pretty cool... There's a bar upstairs (the rooms seem quite immune to sound from elsewhere), a mess hall downstairs that has Trivia Night and sometimes films or live music, a cafe next door, a sushi bar... all under "the Drake" banner. Ontario wines are available in the room for those who wish to have drinks in a quieter setting. The ambience throughout the Drake complex is upbeat, enthusiastic, smiling and a "can-do" attitude seems to prevail throughout.
So, my advice to visitors is not to judge the city based on the downtown core. The Queen West area generally has such an alive energy at night that is electric and contagious. (Funny enough, this area is just south of the Little Italy & Little Portugal enclaves which had defined that first visit in the late 90s.) Anyhow, I love Toronto again thanks to Queen Street West and....
*The Toronto Islands (coming up)*
I remember when I first visited Toronto in 1998, a few friends of mine were sharing an apartment in Little Italy... and I really enjoyed my visit. But in the 2000s, there was a nagging sense of disappointment each time I'd pass through Toronto. I kept feeling I was seeking some element of that original trip and just wasn't finding it. I attributed it to the passing of time, that Toronto was becoming colder and harder in the new millennium, more about materialism and commerce and less about the heart and creative spirit.
But Toronto, like Montreal (I really should know better, living in Montreal!), is a city of neighborhourhoods with quite distinct characters. The past few trips I'd walked up Yonge, stayed once near Union Station and another time near Sherbourne Metro, all downtown. This time I decided, against my usual instinct to stay centrally within a city, to stay at the Drake Hotel, doing so only since a friend was quite emphatic that I should stay there when next in Toronto (especially since I told her that I'd yet to find a hotel that I enjoyed). The Drake is at 1150 Queen Street West, which is a good number of blocks west of Bathurst, which always seemed to me the western end of downtown.
I ended up LOVING the energy of this far Queen West area and the Drake is such a jewel, an artsy hotel unlike anything I've EVER stayed at in my life. Innovative art-deco room design for the so-called "Crash Pad" I've stayed at, front desk staff were unbelievable (bending over backward with a smile to every request). People of the more prudish variety will probably wish to abstain, as the rooms do offer a sex toy menu; while I didn't partake, I thought it pretty cool... There's a bar upstairs (the rooms seem quite immune to sound from elsewhere), a mess hall downstairs that has Trivia Night and sometimes films or live music, a cafe next door, a sushi bar... all under "the Drake" banner. Ontario wines are available in the room for those who wish to have drinks in a quieter setting. The ambience throughout the Drake complex is upbeat, enthusiastic, smiling and a "can-do" attitude seems to prevail throughout.
So, my advice to visitors is not to judge the city based on the downtown core. The Queen West area generally has such an alive energy at night that is electric and contagious. (Funny enough, this area is just south of the Little Italy & Little Portugal enclaves which had defined that first visit in the late 90s.) Anyhow, I love Toronto again thanks to Queen Street West and....
*The Toronto Islands (coming up)*
Jul 23rd, 2010, 05:03 AM
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Totally agree - Toronto is definitely a city of neighbourhoods. Queen Street is such an interesting street. We live in the east end of Queen Street, not as far east as the Beaches, in what's now called Leslieville, an area that is changing all the time now. When we bought our house here, it was not so great, but it was affordable. Now it's filled with restaurants and shops. I've even heard it called 'trendy' Leslieville in the design magazines!
I'm so glad you enjoyed your trip.
I'm so glad you enjoyed your trip.
Jul 23rd, 2010, 08:06 AM
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*Centre Island*
After picking up some bread and hummus for a picnic at the Saint Lawrence market this past Wednesday, we were off for my first ever trip to the Toronto Islands, catching the $6.50 ferry to Centre Island.
This urban parkspace is one of the best I've seen anywhere! Gardens, playgrounds, huge water inlets with ducks & swans, an small amusement park. Best of all, beaches on Lake Ontario with lifeguards, that (perhaps being Wednesday) were to my surprise quite quiet, with no more than twelve to fifteen region sharing our plot of beach. I enjoyed swimming in Lake Ontario, and looking out on the water at a peninsula to the east, which honestly felt as peaceful and spirit-reviving as being on Prince Edward Island. You almost had to pinch yourself to think you were in Canada's largest city, however the CN Tower peeking its head out from occasional vantage points was a reminder that, yes, you were very close to hustle & bustle & stress & nerve-wracking business decisions a few kilometres away.
Honestly, I think the Islands should be a little higher up on visitor's itineraries to Toronto than they somehow seem to be.
*AGO*
Yesterday, I was glad I went to the AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario) for the first time, as I especially enjoyed their collection of 19th and early 20th century Canadian art. In particular Cornelius Krieghoff I think is such a treasure in the historical archives, with his panoramas of 19th century life in Quebec. His paintings were humorous with snowy landscapes that included inns, humans in the dress of the times, as well as animals, that give the viewer a sense of what life was like not so long ago. A record that would be lost without works such as his.
*Final Thoughts*
Given its size, I believe it is all to easy to visit Toronto in the "wrong way" for one's personality. My mistake I think in previous trips was focusing too much on Yonge St., Bloor St., the Eaton Centre area and the Church-Wellesley Village, assuming the more central areas would be the *heart* of what I would enjoy most. I've also concluded that warm weather months are the best time to visit the city.
The title really says it all. Thanks to Queen Street West, the Drake Hotel, Little Italy, Little Portugal and the Islands, I'm happy to announce that I LOVE Toronto again.
Happy travelling! DANIEL
After picking up some bread and hummus for a picnic at the Saint Lawrence market this past Wednesday, we were off for my first ever trip to the Toronto Islands, catching the $6.50 ferry to Centre Island.
This urban parkspace is one of the best I've seen anywhere! Gardens, playgrounds, huge water inlets with ducks & swans, an small amusement park. Best of all, beaches on Lake Ontario with lifeguards, that (perhaps being Wednesday) were to my surprise quite quiet, with no more than twelve to fifteen region sharing our plot of beach. I enjoyed swimming in Lake Ontario, and looking out on the water at a peninsula to the east, which honestly felt as peaceful and spirit-reviving as being on Prince Edward Island. You almost had to pinch yourself to think you were in Canada's largest city, however the CN Tower peeking its head out from occasional vantage points was a reminder that, yes, you were very close to hustle & bustle & stress & nerve-wracking business decisions a few kilometres away.
Honestly, I think the Islands should be a little higher up on visitor's itineraries to Toronto than they somehow seem to be.
*AGO*
Yesterday, I was glad I went to the AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario) for the first time, as I especially enjoyed their collection of 19th and early 20th century Canadian art. In particular Cornelius Krieghoff I think is such a treasure in the historical archives, with his panoramas of 19th century life in Quebec. His paintings were humorous with snowy landscapes that included inns, humans in the dress of the times, as well as animals, that give the viewer a sense of what life was like not so long ago. A record that would be lost without works such as his.
*Final Thoughts*
Given its size, I believe it is all to easy to visit Toronto in the "wrong way" for one's personality. My mistake I think in previous trips was focusing too much on Yonge St., Bloor St., the Eaton Centre area and the Church-Wellesley Village, assuming the more central areas would be the *heart* of what I would enjoy most. I've also concluded that warm weather months are the best time to visit the city.
The title really says it all. Thanks to Queen Street West, the Drake Hotel, Little Italy, Little Portugal and the Islands, I'm happy to announce that I LOVE Toronto again.
Happy travelling! DANIEL
Jul 23rd, 2010, 08:39 AM
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Thanks Susan--
To add to my knowledge of neighbourhoods, the Beaches, the Annex and the Danforth area are definitely going to be on the agenda for future visits, and possibly now "trendy" Leslieville
. Apparently, the portion of Queen Street West past Bathurst too not so long ago was kind of a sketchy area. I find it fascinating how quickly neighbourhoods such as this one and yours can morph. According to a Toronto friend, the innovative refurbishing of the Drake and the nearby Gladstone Hotel have done worlds to bring that area back to life.
Best wishes--Daniel
To add to my knowledge of neighbourhoods, the Beaches, the Annex and the Danforth area are definitely going to be on the agenda for future visits, and possibly now "trendy" Leslieville
. Apparently, the portion of Queen Street West past Bathurst too not so long ago was kind of a sketchy area. I find it fascinating how quickly neighbourhoods such as this one and yours can morph. According to a Toronto friend, the innovative refurbishing of the Drake and the nearby Gladstone Hotel have done worlds to bring that area back to life.Best wishes--Daniel
Jul 23rd, 2010, 10:37 AM
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Nice report, Daniel, thanks. And I'm glad you had such a good time. It's a great city for international neighbourhoods too.
It tickles me that the Drake area is known locally as West Queen West! I suppose soon the east-most blocks of it will have to be called East West Queen West.
It tickles me that the Drake area is known locally as West Queen West! I suppose soon the east-most blocks of it will have to be called East West Queen West.
Jul 23rd, 2010, 12:04 PM
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In which case, the Gladstone would definitely be West West Queen West 
.
errata. In my Centre Island post, that should read "no more than twelve to fifteen PEOPLE sharing our plot of beach" (not REGION (?)). Ack.
. errata. In my Centre Island post, that should read "no more than twelve to fifteen PEOPLE sharing our plot of beach" (not REGION (?)). Ack.
Jul 23rd, 2010, 02:32 PM
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dear daniel, truth be told i've not read a travel report of yours here where you haven't "loved...".
i imagine you have a gift for travel and find good parts wherever you go. i recall your paeans to victoria and more recently pei. i look forward to your enjoyment and joyful trip report from regina :- )
cheers
AndrewDavid
ps i spent an interesting 24 hours in regina enroute to toronto from victoria 2 summers ago
i imagine you have a gift for travel and find good parts wherever you go. i recall your paeans to victoria and more recently pei. i look forward to your enjoyment and joyful trip report from regina :- )
cheers
AndrewDavid
ps i spent an interesting 24 hours in regina enroute to toronto from victoria 2 summers ago
Jul 23rd, 2010, 03:54 PM
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Hi Andrew,
Yes I'm sure I seem Pollyannaish at times in my trip reports. I do try to understand what people appreciate about some destinations rather than focus on the negatives, it's true. Life is short and I want to enjoy as much as possible!
I do have my dislikes though. I don't enjoy suburban sprawl, lack of "healthy food option" restaurants and tend to avoid places where people say "you NEED a car"; I'm not especially a lover of financial district architecture, shopping malls and glassy skyscrapers. Can't stand downtowns that "clear out" at night. I'm not saying I'm right but what I saw of LA and Houston did not give me a burning desire to return to either. Chicago I'm willing to give another chance and I did like some things, but I have not fallen for that city yet. I like a bit of history, (residential) architectural character and a sense of civic identity, but am a sucker for beautiful scenery.
I must say I rarely go wrong with Canadian destinations; mind you, I`ve not sought out Calgary or Edmonton for the reasons mentioned above. Regina`s a bit far, but I`ll be sure to post a report if ever I do go.
Yes I'm sure I seem Pollyannaish
at times in my trip reports. I do try to understand what people appreciate about some destinations rather than focus on the negatives, it's true. Life is short and I want to enjoy as much as possible!I do have my dislikes though. I don't enjoy suburban sprawl, lack of "healthy food option" restaurants and tend to avoid places where people say "you NEED a car"; I'm not especially a lover of financial district architecture, shopping malls and glassy skyscrapers. Can't stand downtowns that "clear out" at night. I'm not saying I'm right but what I saw of LA and Houston did not give me a burning desire to return to either. Chicago I'm willing to give another chance and I did like some things, but I have not fallen for that city yet. I like a bit of history, (residential) architectural character and a sense of civic identity, but am a sucker for beautiful scenery.
I must say I rarely go wrong with Canadian destinations; mind you, I`ve not sought out Calgary or Edmonton for the reasons mentioned above. Regina`s a bit far, but I`ll be sure to post a report if ever I do go
.
Jul 24th, 2010, 08:23 AM
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I think I'm similar to Daniel (although his writing is better than mine!). I've enjoyed most of the places I've visited - but, Daniel, I don't think that makes me a Pollyanna
Now, AndrewDavid, I lived in Calgary for a total of 8 years - you're almost right about the snow - I think July was the only month where we didn't ever get snow.
Now, AndrewDavid, I lived in Calgary for a total of 8 years - you're almost right about the snow - I think July was the only month where we didn't ever get snow.
Jul 25th, 2010, 05:39 AM
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My friend "J" refuses to admit that Calgary gets a lot of snow...I don't e-mail her every time I hear it's snowed there in August but let the first drop of snow hit TO and she's sending me mail telling me how warm and sunny it is there.
Jul 25th, 2010, 11:04 AM
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a. Daniel, what a delightful report. I haven't been to Toronto in several years and you have given me an incentive to return.
b. Susan and Morning Glory, please let this be the year Calgary doesn't have snow in August!
c. Nothing wrong with loving life, Daniel and Susan. I have to plant myself squarely in that camp, too. I wish I could write with Daniel's flare.
d. Daniel, do give Chicago another chance, it's fabulous. LA and Houston..and while we're at it Detroit (sorry, kodi) are all way down the list for return trips.
b. Susan and Morning Glory, please let this be the year Calgary doesn't have snow in August!
c. Nothing wrong with loving life, Daniel and Susan. I have to plant myself squarely in that camp, too. I wish I could write with Daniel's flare.
d. Daniel, do give Chicago another chance, it's fabulous. LA and Houston..and while we're at it Detroit (sorry, kodi) are all way down the list for return trips.
Jul 28th, 2010, 03:42 AM
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Hi Daniel! What a great report. You say that it's best to visit Toronto in the warmer months. I'll be making my first trip hopefully at the end of September. Do you think the second week of October for a couple of weeks would be too cold for someone coming from a warmer climate (India)? Thanks so much...
Jul 28th, 2010, 03:47 AM
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Hi Naveen,
I know your question wasn't directed to me but let me answer too. I think October is the most beautiful season to visit Toronto. The trees will be gorgeous and the weather should be comfortable. With luck you'll have sun and bright blue skies overhead. Do bring a jacket -- the temperatures can range from quite warm to chilly. But, truly, October is the time of year that I always recommend to people wanting to visit here.
Have a wonderful time in my city!
I know your question wasn't directed to me but let me answer too. I think October is the most beautiful season to visit Toronto. The trees will be gorgeous and the weather should be comfortable. With luck you'll have sun and bright blue skies overhead. Do bring a jacket -- the temperatures can range from quite warm to chilly. But, truly, October is the time of year that I always recommend to people wanting to visit here.
Have a wonderful time in my city!
Jul 28th, 2010, 05:16 AM
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Naveen, you'll be here for Nuit Blanche http://www.scotiabanknuitblanche.ca/home.shtml
Jul 28th, 2010, 06:58 AM
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cmcfong-- I guess you're going to western Canada; enjoy your trip! As for Chicago, I'm bound to give it another go one of these days, as it IS a major hub for one of my passions: train travel. It may be like Toronto prior to this trip--Chicago is a big city with many neighbourhoods; I probably just haven't found the right area in Chicago to base myself.
Naveen: While you might not be able to go for a dip in Lake Ontario, I took one trip in early mid-October to Toronto and it was pleasant for strolling around the neighbourhoods (provided you have an appropriate fall jacket).
Naveen: While you might not be able to go for a dip in Lake Ontario
, I took one trip in early mid-October to Toronto and it was pleasant for strolling around the neighbourhoods (provided you have an appropriate fall jacket).
Aug 1st, 2010, 06:21 AM
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I second the Nuit Blanche event for Naveen. It is an interesting, unusual and very enjoyable way to spend a Fall night in Toronto and see so much in one night.
BTW, my nephew was one of the artists in the 2008 Nuit Blanche art festival, and yesterday he was featured in the Toronto Star, this time as one of the 5 finalists for the 2010 Sobey award for Contemporary Canadian Art. BRAVO will be filming him this week (for Arts and Minds), and the winner will be announced in November. He is currently exhibiting at the Hamilton Art Gallery and will soon be opening an exhibition in Montreal as part of the Sobey process, but only after returning from a month in Prague on another Art project. We are naturally very proud of him and are keeping our fingers crossed for him.
BTW, my nephew was one of the artists in the 2008 Nuit Blanche art festival, and yesterday he was featured in the Toronto Star, this time as one of the 5 finalists for the 2010 Sobey award for Contemporary Canadian Art. BRAVO will be filming him this week (for Arts and Minds), and the winner will be announced in November. He is currently exhibiting at the Hamilton Art Gallery and will soon be opening an exhibition in Montreal as part of the Sobey process, but only after returning from a month in Prague on another Art project. We are naturally very proud of him and are keeping our fingers crossed for him.
