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Getting to Know Toronto
The CN Tower dominates
the skyline, with Skydome to the left.
Prior to turning you loose in this vibrant
city, here's what to expect regarding attitudes, customs, transportation,
weather and more in Toronto.
Toronto Introduction
With a population of 2.4 million, Toronto is Canada's largest city and
the fifth largest in North America. One third of Canada's population
is located within a 160-km radius of Toronto and half of the population
of the United States is within one day's drive of the city.
So, there's usually a lot of people here.
Many of those are from the entertainment industry, as Toronto ranks
third in TV and film production in North America. It is also home to
models, high-fashion types and four professional sports teams (the NBA's
Raptors, the NHL's Maple Leafs, the MLB's Blue Jays and the CFL's oddly-named
Argonauts. Perhaps it's because their fans say "ARRG!" a lot
at the games).
Until his recent retirement, it had one of the world's most colorful
political leaders in Mayor Mel Latsman. Simply known as "Mayor
Mel," he once made front-page news for refusing to give a key to
the city to the Spice Girls when he felt they backed out of a free concert.
Mayor Mel waseverywhere – ribbon-cutting ceremonies, grand openings,
social gatherings – and was the perfect representative of this
great place.
Torontonians are extremely proud of their city and go out of their
way to make sure visitors both know about their town and have a good
time while visiting. They point out local landmarks and recite the statistics
behind them. (Example: the CN Tower that centers the skyline is the
World's Tallest Building and Free Standing Structure at 553.33m or 1,815
ft., 5 inches). Astute visitors nod a lot and say "really,"
as if to be impressed which, more often than not they should be if in
fact they are not.
The people of Toronto are among the friendliest in the world. They
are a fun-loving bunch who enjoy having a good time. They have the good
fortune of living in a clean, safe, diverse and exciting city. It's
not cheap here – Toronto can challenge New York in the cost of
hotel rooms and other travel essentials – but the exciting adventures
it provides is well worth the price.
We're Here
Arrival into Toronto via plane is at Lester B. Pearson International
Airport. There are three terminals, which can be a bit confusing on
your return. Be sure and note which one serves your airline.
The airport is located 27 km from downtown. The major car rental companies
all have service at Toronto, but since Toronto is easily navigated by
foot and public transportation, we don't recommend renting a car except
for a day excursion to Niagara Falls.
A cab ride will cost about $30. Airport Express operates
a shuttle to downtown hotels every 20 minutes for $12.50 one way or
$21.50 round trip. Pickup is at the arrivals level of every terminal.
For more details, call (905) 564-6333 or (905) 564-3232. The GO Transit
bus shelter is located at Terminal 2 on the Arrivals Level - post 13.
Public transportation is available through the GO Bus route which
stops at Bramalea City Centre and the main bus terminal in the City
of Brampton, Malton GO Station, and the Yorkdale and York Mills subway
stations. The GO Transit bus shelter is located at Terminal 2 on the
Arrivals Level - post 13. One-way cash fare is $2.95.
Getting Around
The TTC street cars
are part of Toronto's efficient public transportation system.
When the weather is good, Toronto is a great pedestrian city. There
is always so much activity on the streets, a half-hour walk can
seem like just a few minutes. Downtown is clean and safe, even after
closing time.
Toronto has an effective and easy-to-use public transportation system,
courtesy of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). Cable cars, known
as street cars, plod along downtown streets, to subdivisions
and the beach. They will drive you crazy if you are in a car because
they run on tracks, have their own lane and stop every few blocks. It's
far better to be in them than trying to get around them. To catch one,
look for the red-and-white TTC signs along the streets. Be sure and
have exact change ($2.25; day pass $7).
In addition to street cars, the TTC operates a subway system.
Between the two,they cover almost the entire area. Unfortunately, public
transportation ends at midnight, making taxi necessary for long
treks (cost is about about a $1 a kilometer).
One interesting alternative are the rickshaws. They line the
streets after sporting events and park outside the pubs and clubs. They
are not cheap, about $10 for a few blocks (unless you can sweet-talk
The Bartender's personal chauffeur, Christina, into giving you a PubClub.com
discount).
Driving is a not recommended. Downtown is best for walking and street
cars. For cars, it can often take three light changes just to make a
right turn. Since it's far better to be one of those making the cars
wait than to be the one doing the waiting, don't bother getting a vehicle
for this city.
Getting Orientated
King Street is lined
with top-notch cafes and contains the Theater District...
...While nearby
Queen Street is home to backpackers and bikers.
When we say Toronto ROCKS, we mean it's happening downtown.
Celebrity photo shoots, free outdoor concerts, movie productions and
even a car race all occur downtown. It's also the centerpiece of the
theater district, many of the city's finest restaurants and an abundance
of nightlife, ranging from the head-pumping dance club to the down-and-dirty
college bar.
Queen Street is the most eclectic street this side of New York
City. It's home to Much Music, Canada's version of MTV, and the lively
City TV, where passersby can peek inside the studio and see live broadcasts.
It also contains upscale shops and restaurants parked next to biker
bars and hippie hangouts. Queen Street is a microcosm of Toronto within
a 20-block area. There's a couple of upscale bars and cafes, as well
as some not-so-upscale drinking joints.
King Street is home to Toronto's Walk of Fame featuring famous
Canadians (so far, Mayor Mel hasn't made the cut). It's also home to
the tacky Big Ed's Italian Spaghetti House which just happens to be
next to Toronto's famed Theater District. The west end of the street
houses a small armada of classy cafes, each with small outdoor patios
serving outstanding food.
Connecting part of King to Queen is John Street. There is enough
activity in this one area – outdoor patios, restaurants, bars,
a gigantic cineplex and an expansive arcade – to appease the most
hardcore party hounds. Cut down Adelaide Street toward downtown
area and an discover more nightlife choices. See the
PubClubbing section for more details on the nightlife.
College Street is not for the college but rather is home to
most of the Italian restuarants, very cool and hip restaurant/bars like
St.
Laurent in Montreal, and the Greek restaurants are open later
than the bars.
On the other end of the spectrum is Yonge Street. It's provocative,
pulsating, pleasing and slightly perverted. And hardly ever peaceful.
A bit grungy, it houses porn stores, small ethnic restaurants, record
stores, a massive mall and a spattering of dive bars. It hosts the annual
Gay Parade which, incidentally, passes right by the home of Phantom
of the Opera.
Further up Yonge, the scene becomes more placid. About 20 minutes away
by car, it changes into a largely residential area with the exception
of a series of bars and restaurants at Yonge and Eglington streets
. It's known to locals as "Young and Eligible" because the
youthful crowd is, well, young and eligible. The subway serves the area
from downtown.
Then there are the Beaches. Yes, Toronto has a beach, and a
fine little area surrounding it. The places are comprised primarily
of "hangout" pubs and can get quite lively on a beautiful
weekend afternoon.
Pubs and Clubs Customs
The pubs and
clubs of T.O. are all-out fun (just ask PubClub's Bartender, at right).
Visitors are treated like royalty in Toronto. This is good because
virtually every place you want to be has a lineup (queue, or line) by
10 p.m. Fortunately, the doormen are friendly and can sometimes be persuaded
to extend a little Canadian hospitality to out-of-towners.
The chances of success depend on how friendly one asks. Better yet,
visit the club early in the evening, say for Happy Hour, or on a less-crowded
night. The doormen have an uncanny ability for remembering faces. If
a place serves food, have dinner, then stay for the bar scene to develop.
The beer in Canada is fantastic. Molson makes seemingly a dozen different
varieties – Canadian, Export, Golden and so forth – and
there are dozens of local home brews served in the bars. At 5% alcohol,
the beer contains quite a punch; untrained Americans usually find themselves
wobbling around the bar after just a couple of glasses.
Mixed drinks are measured pours, meaning the bars employ those obnoxious
ring-like devices that precisely measure the amount of alcohol being
poured into a drink. What's the point of those things,anyway? If we
are going to drink, then let us drink!
Toronto is both casual and classy, so the dress depends on the club.
Some of the upscale dance clubs require slacks, though blue jeans and
a well-pressed collared shirt will get guys in most every bar. Shorts
are acceptable in summer – both from a comfort and fashion standpoint
– at places that do not have cover charges.
"Drink 'em if you got 'em" is 2 a.m.
Oddly enough for a country with such a European feel there is no smoking
in the bars and restaurants.
The Language
For some reason, Toronto insists on putting many of its signs in both
English and French. This is a bit silly, considering hardly anyone speaks
French, but it does add to the European flair of the city.
Canadians do have a distinctive twist on the English language. They
include an "oooh" pronunciation of any word containing an
"o" (like "oooot and oooh-bout" for "out and
about") and of course the "a" ending to many sentences.
(Example: "That's dance floor is really crowded, a.") Canadians
use the expression "Give me a shout" when they want you to
call them, but the rest of their verbalization is basic American English.
Currency
It's hard to take a country too seriously when it refers to one of its
coins as a "Looney," but that's exactly what Canadians call
their $1 coin. It supposedly refers to the bird on the back of the coin
but there's also some soft references to the Queen.
At any rate, Canadians and their visitors use a lot of Loonies, to
say nothing of the "Toonies," the $2 coins. Other currency
is more commonly named; the basic economic property is the Canadian
dollar.
The past few years, the Canadian dollar has suffered a tremendous decline
on the worldwide market. This may be bad for locals but it's great for
travelers, as it takes fewer loonies and toonies to have a great time.
Temperatures
December-March: -2 C (35 F)
April-May: 15 C (60 F)
June-September: 25 C (75 F)
October-November: 8 C (45 F)
Time Zone
Toronto is GMT -5.
When To Go
Toronto shines best under the sunlight of summertime. The Molson
Indy (mid-July) is a week-long event full of street parties
and Indy-style race cars zooming through the city streets. The following
week is the huge Beaches Jazz Festival, Toronto's version of
Mardi Gras. Temperatures are pleasant from April to September and downright
frigid in the winter.
 Next
stop on the Party Bus: The Bartender
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