Toronto: the good, bad (and the ugly)
The view from our 32nd floor condo
I have been (lovingly) harassed to post an update from Coldsville, Ontario.
To begin I have only seven words: I. Am. Not. A. Creature. Of. Cold.
It’s official. I prefer rain over snow. Walkable seawalls over highrises. Outdoor boutiques over underground labyrinths. But here we are. In Toronto.
It’s been two weeks since I arrived and it’s taken that long to adjust, more or less, to my new surroundings. Luckily it snowed over the weekend so it was warm enough to go outside. Read that sentence again. It is wrong. But as Michael reminds me, every other part of the country other than Vancouver is ‘truly Canadian.’ Hogwash I say. Vancouver is truly Canadian and every Canuck in their right mind should move there. Immediately.
But here I am. In Toronto. The bad Good. (I am learning.)
Michael is really enjoying his work which is making it worth it. Also, Matthew Cowper came to visit this weekend which was solid. He was staying with a religious order downtown. We ate at the New Yorker Deli (the only down-to-earth and affordable digs I’ve located so far) and he pointed us at Paper Things, a lovely stationary shop in Yorkville.
We eat out a lot. I can’t stand cooking on a hot plate. Don’t ask me why. I’m eating a lot of white cheddar, gala apples and Raincoast Crisps. And I watch a lot of CBC Newsworld, What Not to Wear and Jon & Kate Plus 8. A LOT.
I’m going to go google: “cool, free, warm things to do in the centre of the world.” If you know some, I welcome your suggestions.
Chilly in Central Canada,
Christina
10 comments
Good comeback post.
I hear this is a nice place to go inside wandering: http://www.livbyaulit.com
PS: Don’t let anyone tell you that J8 isn’t a good show. It’s strangely transfixing.
Keep posting!
Oh right, so I guess you’ll be just another BC’r who *hates* Toronto… what a shame, because I think it is the big cities nuances that really *make* it! It just requires an open mind …. and perhaps more than two weeks to discover. I’ve been in Vancouver for nearly 7 years and I still don’t feel like I’ve integrated myself into THIS city.
Enjoy your ‘truly Canadian’ experience and wrap up warm :) It’s the only way you are going to discover all of those wonderful boutique shops, cafes and galleries that require more exploration then trekking your regular routes. Just think of how much MORE you will enjoy that warm cuppa Starbucks :)
Here is a blog that an old highschool friend has put together on cheap nights and culture in the big bad city:
http://nightintoronto.com/
Cheap Eats… check out College Street (Little Italy) and The Danforth (Greek-town) or Dim Sum in and around Spadina (Chinatown). Discover those little holes in the walls. Try out the BLACK HOOF which is run by a girl I grew up with(a good family friend).
http://www.nowtoronto.com/food/story.cfm?content=166518
http://www.nowtoronto.com/food/recent_reviews.cfm?content=166032
Be happy to put you in touch with some fun gals who frequent the local Salsa scene…. a very fun night :)
I am determined to help BC’rs find ‘good’ in the T.Dot :)
Cheers!
Here’s another clever way to spend your time:
http://www.seenreading.com/
or…
http://deartoronto.com/about/
and ofcourse…
http://www.blogto.com/
Oh — I don’t want people to think I hate Toronto! I love it here in late spring and early fall, even summer is bearable. It’s just th winter!!
Elizabeth — thank you thank you thank you for all of these recommendations, and Jen too, you are my hero!
If I were you, I’d become a regular at “The Hour” tapings.
amen sister. smithers, 12 hours north is bad enough. i miss the rain more than you know!
I love it!
You are complaining about how cold it is when all I want to do is jump into a deep - freezer, and I’m complaining about how freaking hot West Africa is when all you want to do is climb into your caramel macchiato. Trust me girl, it isn’t any more comfortable on the other side…
Love you!
Oh… :)
You’re right… the COLD really does suck!
But thank god TO has got so much on offer to keep your cold body occupied :)
Miranda — oh the hilarity. The grass IS always greener.
Avital — you read my mind. I’m on it.
come visit me! oh wait, you are…but come and stay as long as you want! i cook now and it’s relatively cheap. and we have fun free things to do in ottawa. seriously. i haven’t even been to toronto yet and i know that you should get out. hah…i kid…kind of.
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