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Neighbourhoods
Ask a Torontonian where they live and they won't reply with a street address or intersection. They'll name the neighbourhood. Cabbagetown. Greektown. Corso Italia. Toronto is a city of neighbourhoods. Here are some of the highlights:
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Chinatown
There is not one , but five Chinatowns in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The heart of the largest is at Dundas and Spadina in downtown Toronto. Chinatown East is smaller , but no less boisterous . Pacific Mall, the continent’ s largest Chinese mall, is the centre of Markham’ s Chinatown. Plus , there are two more Chinese neighbourhoods to discover in Mississauga and Scarborough.
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Cabbagetown
Named for the cabbages that once grew in every yard, helping early Irish immigrants make ends meet, this neighbourhood is lined with beautifully restored Victorian homes from the 19th Century. It is also home to Riverdale Farm, Toronto’s only remaining farm. Cows, chickens and sheep are raised for educational purposes here, right in the heart of the city.
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The Village
Toronto’s proud neighbourhood of gays and lesbians is known as The Village . It is an area of exuberance centred at Church and Wellesley streets that is marked with rainbow-coloured flags fluttering from every pole. The annual Pride Parade takes place here towards the end of June, drawing close to 750,000 people, straight, gay or otherwise, from across the city and around the world.
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The Beaches
Once a summer -only retreat with carnivals, cotton candy and cottages that Torontonians flocked to when the heat hit, The Beaches is now a year-round funky corner of the city that thousands call home. Its claim to fame is its lengthy boardwalk, sandy volleyball courts, and California vibe. However, the stores, bars and restaurants along Queen Street East are distinctly Toronto.
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The Danforth/Greektown
The first section of Danforth Avenue , just across the Don Valley , is the place to go if you crave a serving of saganaki, set aflame beside your table, or any other Greek culinary specialty . The area caters to Toronto’ s Greek population, the second largest in the world outside Greece itself, but the lively action on the strip draws people from all backgrounds.
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West Queen West
With its unique galleries, boutique hotels, funky shops and one of Toronto’s finest dog parks, West Queen West is the epitome of cool. Its eclectic mix of styles draws a diverse group of inhabitants, from loft-dwelling artists and young professionals to families renovating Victorian homes.
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St. Lawrence and Corktown
More than a century ago Corktown was filled with Irish immigrants from County Cork and the St. Lawrence neighbourhood was the city’ s industrial heart. Although much has changed since then, its rich past still lives on. Especially in the St. Lawrence Market, where delicious specialties from dozens of market stalls tempt the hungry.
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The West End
For the adventuresome, a group of colourful neighbourhoods awaits to the west. They are: Roncesv alles Village, also known as Little Poland, where you can savour kolduny and chlodnik; Bloor West Village , where the Ukrainian Festival generates plenty of excitement every August; and High Park, a hilly oasis for those wishing to get back to nature.
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King Street West
This stretch of King Street was once bustling with lunch-box toting workers trudging off to work in local factories . Today those factories have been transformed into lofty offices and gleaming condos where young professionals work and play . The Amsterdam Brewery, its air heavy with the scent of malt, is the perfect place for a break while exploring this neighbourhood.
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Little Italy and Corso Italia
With almost half a million people of Italian origin, it is no surprise that Toronto has two distinctly Italian neighbourhoods .The first is known as Little Italy . Boot-shaped decorative lights illuminate College Street, making this area unmistakable . The second is Corso Italia, on St. Clair Avenue West, where the latest Italian fashions are displayed and soccer is taken very seriously.
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