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Posted May 22, 2024, 12:01 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2004
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Toronto Through the Eyes of a West Coaster
Back from a one week holiday to Toronto. Although I’ve flown over the city and passed through the airport in transit several times in the past I never visited the city.
It was a solo trip as there was no interest from family or friends in going unfortunately. People who just look at me blankly when I said Toronto, said “Why?” or “I’d rather go somewhere else”. Maybe that’s partly being on Vancouver Island and it’s out of sight and mind, also folks originally from Toronto don’t have much good to say about the city (often the case for former residents of any city). People say they’d rather go to Montreal, Quebec, New York, Miami, Hawaii, Japan, Thailand, anywhere in Europe.
One friend who knows I’m an urban fan said I would both love and hate Toronto.
Well, I’m happy to report I had an excellent holiday and I’m planning a return as early as next year. There was nothing I hated, loved most things. Ok, one thing I disliked - the constant OVERLY LONG CAR HONKING! Wtf is that all about.. like laying on the horn for 5 to 15 seconds, holy road rage. At that point I’m just about to jump in and take down the horn blower regardless of whose fault it is.
An observation that is more to do with a Toronto being a very large city is that downtown is still car dominated, not a super friendly pedestrian experience. Love to see more streets fully pedestrianized. There also seemed to be cigarette smoke everywhere, again, no doubt it part due to the greater concentration of people, but feels like more people smoke in TO than out on the west coast. On the other hand I saw hardly any fentanyl zombies and the homeless situation didn’t seem too bad. I did witness one guy get violent and start smashing street signs and furniture and try to attack a by-passer on Bloor street who punched him back and cut him open good. I was right behind all this, and decided to duck into the restaurant for cover - you just don’t know if these guys are carrying knives or not. But you know, that could have been any city Canada to be honest. Toronto felt safe to walk alone.
Plenty of pictures, sorry for some of the more typical tourist ones, but hey, this is a skyscraper forum and these will be the freshest views from the CN Tower, etc, lol.
I stayed in the Annex neighbourhood - had several meals at Scottybons - excellent jerk chicken!
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53731182120_9df78c8875_h.jpg)
Scotty Bons - 402 Bloor Street W. May 10, 2024 by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53730818018_ed0748b89e_h.jpg)
500 Block Bloor Street West - May 11, 2024 by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53730858748_42c633085e_h.jpg)
300 Bloor Street West - United Church Redevelopment, originally built 1886. May 14, 2024 by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
I found people really friendly, more than happy to help with directions or just randomly chat. Like the guy from the Cameroon I talked to for half an hour by the U of T to the homeless guy on the streetcar with whom I had a good chat with about Las Vegas and the effects of meth versus crack. Service was generally good, and people are earnest and down to earth. Maybe I was expecting more of the New York, Boston or Philadelphia stereotypical attitude.
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53732099673_fc836ae621_h.jpg)
University of Toronto - May 9, 2024 by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53708491311_c714b3fb9a_h.jpg)
Toronto - May 8, 2024. 1:39 p.m. by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
Kensington was interesting, but came in a bit under my expectations. Also falling into this category were The Well (it’s cold in many ways and missed the high mark it was aiming for) and The Distillery District. That was totally dead and felt disconnected from downtown.
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53731911241_386d4fee37_h.jpg)
Kensington Market, Toronto - May 9, 2024 by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
Central Tech Stadium viewed from Bathurst Street - May 2024, Toronto by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53727248495_5a4fcd5730_h.jpg)
David French Lane - Toronto, May 13, 2024. by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
One of the highlights, if not THE highlight of my trip - if you know, you know. I was the only person out of 6 plus million people in attendance, and I made it out alive:
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53730452029_660f230bf4_h.jpg)
Reg Hartt’s CineForum - 463 Bathurst Street by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
Another top highlight was the Dupont subway station, perfection:
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53730523340_b15bf4452c_h.jpg)
Dupont Station, May 11, 2024 - opened January 28, 1978 by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53729201367_4e09e1a3f2_h.jpg)
Dupont Station - May 11, 2024 by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53729201387_cc932298e2_h.jpg)
Dupont Station - May 11, 2024 by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53730429324_1b3a9af293_h.jpg)
Dupont Station, May 11, 2024 - opened January 28, 1978 by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53730552375_c5f2f68bba_h.jpg)
Dupont Station - May 11, 2024 by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53728194659_0163b4d436_h.jpg)
Dupont Subway Station - Mural Designed by James Sutherland by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53730951188_ff8100411a_h.jpg)
ANX at 316 Dupont Street, Toronto - May 11, 2024 by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53730488474_09d4b53df4_h.jpg)
Chaveta, 994 Bathurst Street - May 11, 2024 by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53730354543_8adb39d5b3_h.jpg)
Steven’s Grocery - 990 Bathurst Street, May 11, 2024 by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53730952083_530e623016_h.jpg)
Stanley’s Variety - 910 Bathurst Street, May 11, 2024 by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53728581726_d6b3a0c6d7_h.jpg)
Casa Loma, Toronto - May 11, 2024 by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
Alright, back downtown:
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53728663104_9e33941243_h.jpg)
Wellesley and Young Intersection, Toronto. May 10, 2024 by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53727884417_f86986e95a_h.jpg)
Ace Hotel Toronto - May 9, 2024 by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53729166132_fa6956026a_h.jpg)
Green and Blue in Toronto - May 12, 2024 by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53729156267_a63e75c16b_h.jpg)
Minnesota Twins 5 - Blue Jays 1. May 12, 2024 by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53728665209_9590508c9a_h.jpg)
St. Lawrence Market - May 10, 2024. by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53725733317_0892346cb8_h.jpg)
Union Station, TD Tower and Royal Bank Plaza - May 14, 2024. by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53731117219_970bdf49ea_h.jpg)
CN Tower Reflection in Marsh & McLennan Building - May 9, 2024 by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53730782981_c661ea3bb4_h.jpg)
The Cathedral Church of St. James - May 10, 2024 by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53731109759_256950ab22_h.jpg)
Hockey Hall of Fame - May 10, 2024 by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
Alrighty, at last the skyline shots:
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53727159499_d68a0a6d2d_h.jpg)
CN Tower Selfie - May 9, 2024. by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
‘ ![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53734954753_6e07c2821a_h.jpg)
View From CN Tower - May 9, 2024 by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53734857828_1e7de5147c_h.jpg)
View from CN Tower - May 9, 2024 by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53734645676_232c15b6f6_h.jpg)
View From CN Tower - May 9, 2024 by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53735091355_4f88cd1a62_h.jpg)
May 9, 2024 CN Tower Views from Space Deck at 1,465 ft (447 m) and SkyPod at 1,150 ft (351 m) by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53733765822_ac77d7ab5f_h.jpg)
View From CN Tower - May 9, 2024 by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
CN Tower Views - May 9, 2024 by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53731021892_19d4fe0fd1_h.jpg)
CN Tower Views - May 9, 2024 by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53732261144_3dcd09f477_h.jpg)
CN Tower Views - May 9, 2024 by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
Now from the Toronto Islands, which was unexpectedly quiet. I was planning on getting lunch of Centre Island but a couple of the restaurants were closed for the season and the only the world’s saddest looking Pizza Pizza and Subway were open, and the Subway only sold cookies, drinks and chips.. wtf? I came across the same thing when I went to New Brunswick and PEI - parks and restaurants in May that are closed for the season. Unusual coming from Victoria where there are no seasons, things are open year round whether it’s gardens, golf courses, parks, tourists attractions, etc. Anyways, I would have stopped at this cute cafe if I would have known:
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53728141010_8fda7d9058_h.jpg)
Runaway Cafe on Wards Island, Toronto. May 14, 2024 by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53725775877_a1cdc017fc_h.jpg)
View of downtown from Toronto Islands - May 14, 2024. by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
View of downtown from Toronto Islands - May 14, 2024 by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53726803466_e6a0ef6af2_h.jpg)
Toronto Waterfront - May 2024 by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
Thanks for hanging in there if you’ve got this far - but to wrap things up the Most Fantabulous Street of All:
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53735697110_97eb5dc5e0_h.jpg)
Zanzibar- Yonge Street by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53735469793_0e940e84fb_h.jpg)
Massey Tower and its 1905 Canadian Bank of Commerce base. by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53734320392_dce4da9d50_h.jpg)
205 Yonge Street - former Bank of Toronto, built 1905 - architect E.J. Lennox. by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53733365853_e2136464fd_h.jpg)
300 Block of Yonge Street - May 9, 2024 by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53733485109_83f0a3b02c_h.jpg)
579 Yonge Street, Toronto. May 9, 2024 by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53726921617_15322867af_h.jpg)
Yonge Street by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53726603611_a3b292e7b3_h.jpg)
Yonge Street - May 14, 2024. by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53725695937_3009b2205d_h.jpg)
Dineen Coffee - 140 Yonge Street, Toronto. May 14, 2024. by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53725088820_daca665c91_h.jpg)
Old Bank of Montreal - corner of Queen and Yonge Street, Toronto. by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53724908815_945e3d7706_h.jpg)
Leña Restaurante - 176 Yonge Street, May 14, 2024 by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr
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