Toronto 2026

[Docere]

Part 2: Chinatown and Kensington Market

[Velvet_Highground]

Always nice to see Toronto. I look at it and think yup that’s a proper city. The Great Lakes Region may not have a NYC but we do have Toronto and Chicago a fair trade off if I do say so myself.

[Docere]

I ended up doing the Alexandra Park area south of the Market between Dundas and Queen yesterday (Tuesday). Less for the tourist than Kensington, it has a lot of public and cooperative housing (including the Atkinson Coop which is being redeveloped) and a shipping container market:

KENSINGTON-CHINATOWN

Part 3: Alexandra Park/Scadding Court (June 2):

[Docere]

KENSINGTON-CHINATOWN



Population: 18,120

Density: 12235 per sq km / 31696 per sq mile

Renter: 68%

Dwelling
Detached house: 0.6%
Semi-detached house: 2.1%
Row house: 6.3%
Duplex: 1.9%
Apartment less than 5 stories: 29.6%
Apartment 5+ stories: 59%

Average income (per capita): $53,800

[Docere]

Originally Posted by Velvet_Highground

Always nice to see Toronto. I look at it and think yup that’s a proper city. The Great Lakes Region may not have a NYC but we do have Toronto and Chicago a fair trade off if I do say so myself.

Thanks. I'm really trying to capture the "on the ground" experience - housing, parks, street life etc. Also hoping to visit the city's ravines.

[Docere]

Toronto Music Garden, HTO Park and Spadina Quay Wetland along the waterfront (June 5):

[Docere]

The Music Garden was supposed to go in Boston but fell through and ended up in Toronto instead:

https://www.beautifulbotany.com/Story%20...Yo%20Ma%20and%20the%20Music%20Garden.htm

[Docere]

Went to Toronto Island last evening where I spent about two hours. Began at Ward's Island, where a small residential cottage community still exists and made my over to Gibraltar Point which includes one of the oldest lighthouses on the Great Lakes and artists residents. I didn't spend as much time on Centre Island which has more "touristy" stuff. No cars are allowed on the Island.

Toronto Island (June 6):

[Docere]

Old Town Toronto on a Sunday afternoon/evening, including Berczy Park (with the dog fountain), St. Lawrence Market and St. Lawrence Hall, St. James Catherdal and surrounding park, and older bank and office buildings. Centered around Yonge-Church, King-Front, you can see the city of the 1850s surrounded by the modern downtown.

OLD TOWN TORONTO (June 7):

[ssiguy]

Great pics for a great city!

[Docere]

Originally Posted by ssiguy

Great pics for a great city!

Thanks! Will be posting some more soon.

To recap, areas covered so far:

The Annex
Parkdale and Liberty Village
Little Norway Park and Toronto Music Garden
Financial District
Little Portugal
Kensington-Chinatown
Toronto Island
Old Town Toronto

[vetteking]

Beautiful beautiful beautiful city!!!!!! Reminds me so much of Philadelphia especially the neighborhoods thank you for sharing. I hope to visit one day

[Docere]

Originally Posted by vetteking

Beautiful beautiful beautiful city!!!!!! Reminds me so much of Philadelphia especially the neighborhoods thank you for sharing. I hope to visit one day

Thanks so much. I can see the Philadelphia comparison at the old neighborhood level. Like a gentrified Philly with a Chicago scale skyline and business district.

[Docere]

Catching up. A day in 400-acre High Park (6 km/4 km west of the CBD), with a focus on Grenadier Pond on its western edge.

High Park (June 12):

[vetteking]

Originally Posted by Docere

Thanks so much. I can see the Philadelphia comparison at the old neighborhood level. Like a gentrified Philly with a Chicago scale skyline and business district.

Yeah Docere that’s exactly where I was going with comparison. Does Toronto have a lot of shopping malls and a subway station? Love that you capturing the full essence of Toronto with nature included

[Docere]

Originally Posted by vetteking

Yeah Docere that’s exactly where I was going with comparison. Does Toronto have a lot of shopping malls and a subway station? Love that you capturing the full essence of Toronto with nature included

Indeed it does. Maybe I'll post a few of my favorite TTC stations some time.

I think Toronto's natural features are underappreciated. It has a very extensive system of parks and as far as I know unique ravine system. Come to really appreciate them in the last few years.

[Docere]

An evening stroll down the very fine residential street of Palmerston Boulevard (just west of the Annex):

Palmerston Blvd (June 10):

[Docere]

Some photos from Aug 3 (a public holiday in Canada) around the Royal Ontario Museum, the Bloor-Yorkville strip, and Philosopher's Walk and central University of Toronto campus around King's College Circle: