i love where i live.
i can honestly say that for one of the first times in my life - despite my feelings of not belonging anywhere, or missing something that's not yet come - i love exactly where i am.
i live in the most wonderful neighbourhood in toronto. the people are hilarious and quirky and lovely and wonderful and talented and enagaging and perplexing. the streets are lined with trees, and they have space for familes and babies to walk down them, and kids to ride bikes, and hippies to wander and have front lawn picnics late into a friday night (yes - this happens frequently on my street). the stores are all perfect - they are mom and pops, they are independantly owned. they're old or just opening. they serve a purpose or they are just trying to fit in.
go for walks - lots of them. you'll find the best views of the city, lovely people, good secret quiet tree lined streets, and lots of perfect graffitti and art. some of my most favourite times in my neighbourhood have been just walking - up and down dufferin, brock, ossington. out westward to roncesvalle, and down queen street. there's something so so lovely about the cross section of people who interact and live together in these cramped quarters we call duwest/parkdale/little portugal.
then food and drink. my most favourite. so i'll spend some time here. enoteca sociale. sister restaurant to PL (see below). a true roman style pasta and wine bar... with again, local ingredients. this restaurant is a dream come true. the food comes in moderately sized (read: normal) portions, and is simple, basic, but so so intricate. my recommendation for two people, for example? order either a cheese plate, or an apitizer (or 2) to start, 2 pastas, and desert and coffee. and wine - oh don't forget wine. they also have custom beer on draught (like PL). and they're so good sometimes i go just for them.
i can honestly say that for one of the first times in my life - despite my feelings of not belonging anywhere, or missing something that's not yet come - i love exactly where i am.
i live in the most wonderful neighbourhood in toronto. the people are hilarious and quirky and lovely and wonderful and talented and enagaging and perplexing. the streets are lined with trees, and they have space for familes and babies to walk down them, and kids to ride bikes, and hippies to wander and have front lawn picnics late into a friday night (yes - this happens frequently on my street). the stores are all perfect - they are mom and pops, they are independantly owned. they're old or just opening. they serve a purpose or they are just trying to fit in.
and always wanting to be somewhere else, is NO GOOD for being where you are.
i've done a city guide tour of some favourite things in the world for seattle, but what the heck? i'm the worst torontonian ever. when my friend was moving into the hood, and asked about my faves, it occurred to me i haven't written in one place about my gems in toronto.
duh.
so here you are friends. my neighbourhood guide for my fave hood (which also happens to be MY hood... coincidence??).
i should note - this is by NO MEANS an exhaustive listing of things to do in toronto.... the city is a big one. that would be a whole other listing of things to do. this is contained to the area that i live in, and spend most of my time in. i've definitely left some of my favourite toronto things out!
i live in little portugal. dundas west. parkdale. it's amazing and wonderful and filled with the majority of my favourite places in toronto. not only do i not go east of yonge (well.... on rare occasion, and only for the very bestest people in my life), i rarely have occasion to leave my hood, because i can find most of the best in one place. why bother!? so. here's what you do when in my area of town...
things you find when walking the streets in my hood
trinity bellwoods park. little can be said other than, you can literally do ANYTHING here. i paint. and drink. and bead. and talk. and read. and listen to music. and watch people do yoga. they have concerts, and really plain hip people to just stare at. it's our central park - but way better. go.
i love every second of it.
the city from here
go see music - anywhere really. all of the bars up and down queen street and dundas almost always have bands. the gladstone, the drake. red light. cadillac lounge... basically just walk. you'll find music. and it's worth it.then food and drink. my most favourite. so i'll spend some time here. enoteca sociale. sister restaurant to PL (see below). a true roman style pasta and wine bar... with again, local ingredients. this restaurant is a dream come true. the food comes in moderately sized (read: normal) portions, and is simple, basic, but so so intricate. my recommendation for two people, for example? order either a cheese plate, or an apitizer (or 2) to start, 2 pastas, and desert and coffee. and wine - oh don't forget wine. they also have custom beer on draught (like PL). and they're so good sometimes i go just for them.
pasta.... oh sweet delicious dreamy pasta.
the service at this restaurant, is.... unspeakable. they are attentive, knowledgeable. wonderful wonderful people. i would come to this restaurant if the only thing they served here was bread, simply for the service. these people deserve accolaides coming out the wazoo. anyone who has ever worked in the service industry? go visit. you'll appreciate it to the moon.
a latte and desert after dinner....... dream world.
OMG baked goods - easy as pie to choose as fave. they have the best foccocia in the city, a ton of gluten free baking (think - cheesecake and other amazing delectable dishes - including gluten free foccocia to order!), and vegan cupcakes. though i can likely blame them for single handedly contributing to my weight gain while i was off work, they're cupcakes are my heaven. think: neon icing. yea. i know. if nothing else, go for the cupcakes. also important fun facts: their signs are wonderful chalk drawings of fabulousness (i don't know who does them, but i constantly admire them when i walk by); they have a stupendous gingerbread house contest/auction in the winter (which is SO SO rad.... check it out when it comes); when i tweet them about things (i.e. putting aside gluten free schtuff for my visiting friend), they happily oblige. they are tha best.
fave bars in the area? easy. 1. my fave bar with no name (at 1602 dundas) - name changes nightly (as does the sign!). the bartenders are the best in the city, the place is not stuffy, but comfortable. and they have chips. i can eat CHIPS at this bar!
1602 - and lovely elliot tending bar; elliott's wonderful chalk name signs (this one, inspired by us!)
2. lakeview - my go to for PL (see below) wait time. they have tons of good beer on tap (and a $4 beer special EVERY night - usually with 3 different beer every day!). they are open 24/7 (i'm a night owl), and they serve good food. tons of poutines. it's perfection. 3. reposado tequila bar. guys - they have blood orange margaritas, and a bajillion types of straight up tequila. once, for a friends birthday 5 of us went in and (because we're SUUUUUPER classy), asked for a shot that would taste better than puke, but didn't cost $15. they delivered. they are charming, lovely, and the space is so dark and mysterious. good date place. they have a secret back patio. in summation and i love it. 4. cocktail bar. for maximum fun, and for just plain good cocktails, made by people who know what they're doing (but aren't pretentious dicks about it).
5. the rhino. i love because of a) they're HA-UGE patio, b) their amazing beer selection (and prices!), c) it's easy to be at (so relaxing, and not uppity, or too trendy/hipstery... essentially, even i feel moderately cool there), d) the huge rhino head. need i say more? then, in no particular order: the crooked star (great beer on tap, super relaxed and easy going); the grove (a VERY new find, and already one of my top faves - nicest owner i've met in a while, and a beautiful space. GREAT cocktails), churchill (funky, quiet, perfect for an unassuming, good drink),
gin lemonade at the grove
and i save the best for last. because. well. a) it's my blog (deal with it), and b) it's my fave. not in my neighbourhood - in the whole city. people from LA know of this mythical place, and have been there purely because i rave about it. i would spend every day/night there if i could.... and i have standing dates with people who don't even bother asking where we're going anymore, because they know it'll be here. my soul mate - pizzeria libretto.
i can't say enough good things about this place - so i tried to say as many as i could think of (but here... in its own entry).
it's amazing and wonderful - a dining experience you WILL NOT regret or forget about. but please - for your first time, don't just do lunch, and don't do time limit. go in, take your time, drink some wine (or prossecco, because.... uh.... it's amazing?), eat pizza and appetizers, and enjoy the company of the service staff. they are wonderful. it's a great place, with a great atmosphere. spend some time and really take it in. it'll be worth it. and if you want more (which you obvs do), here's more about my fave here.
ok.... moving on. just because i haven't said much about them, doesn't mean i don't love them... so don't forget to stop in/check out the brazilian bakery (for tarts, and lovely baked bread); multiple organics organic grocery shop - cause duh. they fed me when i was off work for 8 months; the henhouse, because even though you have to guess when they will be open, they make AMAZING food, have pretty cheap beer, good brunch, and they're just plain lovely to hang with; the common for coffee - amazing baristas, beautiful space, and they have WINE AND CHEESE AT NIGHT; birthia, for super awesome, unique, pieces of jewelry, clothing, accessories (bags, etc.) by local artists (and me!);
re:claim jewelry on display at birthia
so if you're visiting, living here, wandering around the city... visit me. visit us. we're awesome. and you won't regret it.
we're a little rough around the edges, but we're friendly and we like new people!