things to do in Toronto?

[yllus]

it was featured in Scott Pilgrim it wouldn't necessarily be something I'd go out of my way for, but if I was in the area for something else or passing through the neighborhood, it'd be cool to stop and take a picture.

taking a scattershot approach to the map right now. later on, I'll sit down with my BF and we'll prioritize/color code everything (attractions/restaurants we really want to go to, versus restaurants we'd eat at or things we'd go see only if we just happened to be in the area)

Let me know if you need restaurant ideas, I live downtown and consider the subject an area of personal expertise!

 

[Eug]

As for burgers, my fave so far is at a pub called Queen and Beaver.

http://www.torontolife.com/daily-dish/restaurants-dish/2012/05/16/25-best-burgers/

Lots of much higher end restaurants too.

 

[evident]

Centerfolds!

 

[KeithTalent]

Let me know if you need restaurant ideas, I live downtown and consider the subject an area of personal expertise!

Pffft, where were you a month ago?

KT

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Check out the Pacific Mall which I believe is the largest of it's kind at least on the eastern side of the Continent. It's all things Asian and not being one who is familiar with the language at all put me at a distinct disadvantage, but I did get to the CCK store and bought a couple nice slicers, which are my "go to" knives. You can get a few for what people spend on one big buck knife and have something just as good. I went with carbon steel which will rust if you aren't careful. Ordinary use will stain the blades, but I don't care about that as I'm not after a museum display piece, I want excellent functionality. I've found that applying Renaissance wax works well as a protectant and should preserve the original appearance if applied before first use.

In any case it's a trippy place.

 

[Imp]

Pacific Mall is interesting, but it's a hell of a ways out of the way from 90% of the attractions downtown. That mall's actually in a separate town, not a 'burb, called Markham. Very high east Asian population -- last time I went, every car around me was driven by an Asian (just stating a fact).

 

[Eug]

I wouldn't bother going to Pacific Mall unless you are around there anyway (since as mentioned it is not even in Toronto proper), or else you to need an international phone, Hello Kitty gear, or perhaps some nice Chinese cooking stuff or something.

 

[OlafSicky]

Casa Loma was pretty awesome, as is the story behind it. Man makes a fortune off of selling power to Toronto (and the province?), he spends tons of money building an extravagant castle-like home, government takes over power generation and he goes broke. Apparently they're talking about privatizing power again now. *shrug*

Story gets even stranger old guy becomes homeless and his driver takes him in. He lives with him until he dies.

 

[Eug]

Ripley's Aquarium opens Oct. 16.

http://www.ripleyaquariums.com/canada/

5.7 million litres, 135000 square feet.

 

[thereds]

Patria if you like Tapas.

 

[silverpig]

What are the dates that you'll be here? I live right in the middle of all that stuff and can give you some good suggestions and/or hang out if you want. I've got some free time these days.

Only caveat is I'll be in the UK for a few weeks coming up so we might miss each other. If that's the case, still PM me as I might be able to put you up regardless.

 

[silverpig]

Also, for suggestions:

ROM (you already have it on your list, definitely go)

Bruce Bell tours. Seriously, send him an email and see if he has a spot on a tour for you. I've done tours with him twice and they are awesome. The St. Lawrence / Distillery district is particularly good. http://www.brucebelltours.ca/

Restaurants
La Palette - My favourite restaurant in the city. It's downtown on Queen West.
The Burgernator - It's in Kensington Market, so kill 2 birds with one stone
Khao San Road - Some of the best Thai food I've ever had, and I'm a west coaster.

 

[tokie]

Avoid Sneaky Dees.

UofT/Yorkville are nice to walk around.

 

[ZaneNBK]

Bruce Bell tours. Seriously, send him an email and see if he has a spot on a tour for you. I've done tours with him twice and they are awesome. The St. Lawrence / Distillery district is particularly good. http://www.brucebelltours.ca/

Yeah, I toured with him as well last June, he was pretty good.

 

[nageov3t]

thanks for all the suggestions!

changed plans a little, since we decided to fly instead of drive, which gives us an extra day and a half in the city (rather than arriving Tuesday morning and leaving Friday morning, our flight gets in on Monday afternoon and leaves late Friday night... figure on Friday we'll leave our bags with the hotel after checkout and find a neighborhood to bum around for a couple hours until we have to start making our way to the airport)

 

[Eug]

Which airport? It's always nicest to fly into/out of Billy Bishop Airport downtown (on Centre Island), but the availability of flights at that airport is very limited for flights from/to the US. Otherwise that means you're going to the main airport which is Toronto Pearson International Airport. Unfortunately, it's in the middle of the "inner suburbs" so there's really nothing to do around there.

As for a neighbourhood to bum around, where is your hotel?

 

[jaedaliu]

I was in Toronto for 1 night a couple weeks ago. We had good ramen at Momofuku (A little over priced, but whatever. It was tasty.) We hung out at a second cup, catching up with my brother in law and his girlfriend.

The next morning we stopped by Brick Street Bakery on Mill street on our way out of town. That was quite good. It looked like a quiet shopping area with re purposed old mill buildings.

 

[nageov3t]

Which airport? It's always nicest to fly into/out of Billy Bishop Airport downtown (on Centre Island), but the availability of flights at that airport is very limited for flights from/to the US. Otherwise that means you're going to the main airport which is Toronto Pearson International Airport. Unfortunately, it's in the middle of the "inner suburbs" so there's really nothing to do around there.

As for a neighbourhood to bum around, where is your hotel?

yeah, Pearson is the only option flying from the US unless I wanted to nearly double our flying time (going from NYC -> Montreal -> Billy Bishop). figured we'd just take a cab from the airport... flight lands at 2 pm on Monday and hotel check-in is at 4 pm, so I figured that's a good time frame to pick up our luggage, get a cab, and not get to the hotel area so early that we'd have to lug around our bags all afternoon.

I believe we're staying in the financial district... the hotel is around the corner from the Queen St subway station.

decided to skip the line at the CN Tower and just do dinner there, maybe Monday night after we check-in and relax (or Friday afternoon lunch, but I'm waiting to make reservations until I can get some idea of what the weather will be like... obv don't want to go there when it's going to be overcast and rainy if I can help it)

 

[sdifox]

yeah, Pearson is the only option flying from the US unless I wanted to nearly double our flying time (going from NYC -> Montreal -> Billy Bishop). figured we'd just take a cab from the airport... flight lands at 2 pm on Monday and hotel check-in is at 4 pm, so I figured that's a good time frame to pick up our luggage, get a cab, and not get to the hotel area so early that we'd have to lug around our bags all afternoon.

I believe we're staying in the financial district... the hotel is around the corner from the Queen St subway station.

decided to skip the line at the CN Tower and just do dinner there, maybe Monday night after we check-in and relax (or Friday afternoon lunch, but I'm waiting to make reservations until I can get some idea of what the weather will be like... obv don't want to go there when it's going to be overcast and rainy if I can help it)

Porter does have hourly direct flight to nyc from toronto island airport. I imagine they fly back hourly too :biggrin:

 

[nageov3t]

Porter does have hourly direct flight to nyc from toronto island airport. I imagine they fly back hourly too :biggrin:

interesting, they never came up in any of my searches.

about $100 more expensive than I'm paying with United, though (plus no mileage card bonus, free checked bags)... $200 if you factor in 2 free checked bags ($25/each) each way.

 

[alangrift]

I didn't really do much in Toronto apart from chilll in my hotel. Was staying at the Hilton Towers (or something like that), was insanely cheap for a Hilton.

 

[Scarpozzi]

You should rob the canandians. Silly canadians. They won't fight back and don't lock their doors. Just don't insult their beer and you'll be ok.

 

[sdifox]

interesting, they never came up in any of my searches.

about $100 more expensive than I'm paying with United, though (plus no mileage card bonus, free checked bags)... $200 if you factor in 2 free checked bags ($25/each) each way.

http://www.retailmenot.com/view/flyporter.com

 

[silverpig]

Porter does have hourly direct flight to nyc from toronto island airport. I imagine they fly back hourly too :biggrin:

You have to fly out of Newark with Porter. I've flown with them several times and quite like it.

OP: if you want more suggestions, I live about a 15 minute walk from Queen street station. I'll be out of town, but can recommend places etc.

Also, if you were staying from the 31st-4th I could have hooked you up with a free place to stay.

 

[nageov3t]

You have to fly out of Newark with Porter. I've flown with them several times and quite like it.

OP: if you want more suggestions, I live about a 15 minute walk from Queen street station. I'll be out of town, but can recommend places etc.

Also, if you were staying from the 31st-4th I could have hooked you up with a free place to stay.

bar/restaurant recommendations are always appreciated! :thumbsup: