#and Yonge-Dundas Square like

[saepiae]

waste of money and very arbitrary naming choice but im excited for the yonge dundas square rebrand to sankofa square. sounds more intriguing to me. like oh let’s meet at sankofa square implies something more exciting than bad singers and ppl yelling abt jesus at you

[uglyandtraveling]

Canada | Toronto Downtown Walk with Free Palestine Rally

In downtown Toronto, thousands gathered for the largest pro-Palestinian march since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict. The Gaza Health Ministry, run by Hamas, reports that over 9,000 Palestinians have died, while Israel states that 1,400 Israelis were killed in the October 7th attack.

The rally highlighted the growing global demand for a ceasefire. This rally started from Nathan Phillips Square and ended at Yonge-Dundas Square (soon to be renamed as Sankofa Square).

Whether you're a local or a visitor, this walking tour offers a fresh perspective on Toronto's vibrant urban landscape.

Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more exciting travel vlogs showcasing the best of Toronto and beyond!

[kashicloud]

[ad_1] TORONTO — Sarah Nurse was driving home from a recent PWHL Toronto practice when she got a bit of sage advice.It wasn’t from a podcast or a friend on the phone. The advice came courtesy of a billboard on the side of the road in Canada’s most populous city, featuring her own face with the Adidas slogan “You got this.”“I was like, yeah, I do,” Nurse said with a laugh.The billboard she drove past is one of many across the country, including a massive advertisement at Yonge-Dundas Square — Toronto’s closest approximation to Times Square in New York City — that pairs Nurse with Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes and World Cup champion Lionel Messi.Nurse, 29, has had major partnerships in the past. In 2020, Tim Hortons and Mattel collaborated to make a Barbie doll in her likeness. In 2022, she was featured on a Cheerios box. But in the two years since her breakout performance at the Beijing Olympics — in which she broke a record for points in a single tournament (18) — Nurse has become one of the biggest faces in women’s hockey.She became the first woman to appear on the cover of an EA Sports hockey video game with NHL 23. She was a key figure in the launch of the Professional Women’s Hockey League as a member of the player-led bargaining committee that struck a first-of-its-kind CBA in women’s professional hockey. This month, she starred in a Canadian Super Bowl commercial and was one of the busiest athletes during NHL All-Star Weekend, appearing at several league and partner events.“Everywhere you turn, it’s like, there’s Sarah,” said Canadian national team defender Erin Ambrose.Nurse’s eight major endorsement deals put her ahead of virtually every other professional hockey player, outside of a handful of NHL stars. Among women and players of color, she is in uncharted territory.Her ascension has been years in the making — all part of a carefully crafted business plan developed by Nurse and her team at Dulcedo Management, a talent agency, to make Nurse not just one of the faces of the game, but someone with the kind of celebrity that transcends her sport.“You don’t need to follow basketball to know who LeBron James is,” said her agent, Thomas Houlton. “That’s what we want to do for Sarah.” Sarah Nurse holds the Barbie dolls inspired by herself and Marie-Philip Poulin in 2020. (Courtesy of Tim Hortons)When Nurse signed with Dulcedo in 2019, her reputation as a player was already strong.At 24 years old, Nurse had already been a star at the University of Wisconsin, won an Olympic silver medal and been drafted with the No. 2 pick in the now-defunct Canadian Women’s Hockey League. In those early days, Nurse was often discussed as one of the newest branches of an impressive athletic family tree.Her father, Roger, was an elite lacrosse player. Her aunt, Raquel, was a celebrated point guard at Syracuse University who married Philadelphia Eagles legend Donovan McNabb. Her cousins include Kia Nurse, a two-time Olympian and WNBA all-star, and Darnell Nurse, a defenseman for the Edmonton Oilers.With Nurse’s multifaceted appeal, several agents came calling.But after the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, Nurse, who graduated with a business degree, was looking to explore her interests in fashion and beauty — fields that are typically outside the areas of expertise for traditional sports agencies. Nurse, however, wasn’t playing in a typical sports landscape.In the CWHL, players were paid only small stipends — Nurse said she made $2,000 as a rookie in the league — which meant playing women’s professional hockey was not a main source of income.Dulcedo, which launched as a modeling agency but has since expanded into other industries, including sports, could give Nurse more opportunities to branch out.“She didn’t just want to be known as Sarah Nurse, the hockey player,” explained Houlton. “And not just as a piece of the (family tree). … It’s been clear from the beginning that she really wanted to have her own legacy.”“When I first signed with them,” Nurse said, “I did this glamor photoshoot, and I’d never done anything like that before because I’m a hockey player — nobody gives me fake eyelashes or puts lipstick on me. I was like, this could be the start of something great, because I felt like they got me.”Houlton signed Nurse to blue-chip sports partners like CCM and Adidas but also worked on building up her social-media profile to position her in areas outside of hockey. “No skincare brand is going to want to work with you if we don’t see skincare anywhere,” he explained.On the ice, Nurse was in another Olympic cycle with Team Canada leading up to the 2022 Games in Beijing and in the middle of a period of upheaval in women’s professional hockey. The CWHL folded in March 2019, and most of the players banded together to sit out of professional hockey until a better league was formed. Then the 2020 women’s world championships were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.The stakes were high in the year leading up to the Olympics. For athletes without big-ticket professional contracts, the once-every-four-year window the Games provide is a critical moment to make money — and a name for themselves. A knee injury during tryouts put into question whether Nurse would be healthy enough to play.“I came out of the world championships in Calgary and I was on the fourth line — that’s not a safe place to be. Then I blew up my knee,” Nurse said. “So I’m going into Olympic tryouts and I’m like, I don’t know if I can make this team.”To the coaching staff, despite the fact she couldn’t skate in the months leading up to the tournament, Nurse had more than proven her worth to the Canadian national team.“We knew that she was going to be a big part of our program if she was healthy enough to go,” said Canada’s head coach, Troy Ryan. “The combination of her work ethic and the medical staff did a great job getting her back.”“What I love about Sarah, as a teammate and as a hockey player, is that she does the little things right. She’s versatile in the sense that she can play center and play wing. She can win draws, she’s hard to play against, you can trust her in tough matchups,” said Ambrose. “For so long with the national team, that was her m.o. Whatever you needed, she was there.”Nurse made the team and was healthy in time for the start of the tournament. She also secured Olympic campaigns with General Mills, Sportchek, RBC and more.Team Canada rewrote the record books in Beijing, going undefeated in the tournament to win a gold medal. Nurse, who started the tournament on the fourth line, worked her way up to the top line with Marie-Philip Poulin and Brianne Jenner, and broke Hayley Wickenheiser’s Olympic scoring record with 18 points in six games. She set a record for assists in a single tournament (13) and became the first Black woman to win an Olympic gold medal in hockey.“That was really the catalyst for her to take that next step,” said Houlton. “And really propelled us into what was the next phase of her life.” Sarah Nurse attends a postgame conference after the PWHL three-on-three showcase at Scotiabank Arena during NHL All-Star Weekend. (Kevin Sousa / NHLI via Getty Images)Ninety minutes before the NHL All-Star red-carpet event, Nurse was in a hotel room in downtown Toronto doing her hair, getting her makeup done and shooting content for her social media channels — nothing she wasn’t used to.Her All-Star weekend responsibilities had started days before, with media and promotional appearances. Earlier that morning, she was on the ice for an outdoor practice with the PWHL players chosen to represent the brand-new league at the NHL’s tentpole event. She then made a surprise visit to a girls hockey team with teammates Renata Fast, Natalie Spooner and Adidas.After leaving the hotel, she’d walk the red carpet, surprise another girls hockey team — this time with Canadian Tire and Poulin — and, 12 hours after her day started, play in the PWHL three-on-three showcase at Scotiabank Arena. That part of her schedule doesn’t include the NHL skills competition, which Nurse was on the ice for on Friday night, or the regular-season PWHL game she played on Saturday.“That whole week was a blur,” Nurse said.“I don’t even know if we were anticipating what occurred there in terms of, like, you can’t even walk a couple of steps without someone stopping and saying, ‘That’s Sarah Nurse, can I get a picture?’” Houlton said. “It was amazing to see how far she’s come.”Everything about Nurse’s NHL All-Star weekend suggests the plan has worked. In the last year, Nurse has gotten so busy that Dulcedo added Phoebe Balshin to the team as a senior athlete manager in January 2023. Her job was to create a more strategic plan for Nurse’s brand and help her take the next step.“When I first came on, a big conversation was: Sarah works with so many brands, but what is her brand? Who is she? What is her mission and vision?” Balshin said. “So we basically built out a five-year plan with her to take us through Milan (the 2026 Olympics.)”To refine the process, Nurse identified four specific intersections of her own interests and growth opportunities: hockey, fashion and beauty, entrepreneurship and community. A potential partnership must move the needle in at least one of those categories.“If something doesn’t align with me, we’re not going to do it,” Nurse said.Nurse now has eight major sponsors: Adidas, CCM, RBC, Canadian Tire, Tim Hortons, EA Sports, Chevrolet and, most recently, Dyson. She’s also signed other paid partnerships with beauty brands such as Dove, L’Oréal and Revlon.Brands targeted Nurse after her Olympic performance, but that’s just one part of the total package. She’s outgoing with an affable charm, an infectious laugh and an ease on camera.“It comes down to personality, and Sarah is very much one-of-one,” Houlton said. “Sarah can show up on set straight out of bed and look amazing, sound amazing, and give the brand the best performance they’ve ever seen.”Nurse is a biracial Black woman and is vocal in her support of increased representation in a predominantly White sport. Her team is cautious about the intentions of potential sponsors. “I need to ask all the right questions to make sure that this brand is not just using her so they check their diversity box,” Houlton explained.They’ve also worked with partners that Nurse already had in her portfolio to ensure that her goals are being met — not just the brand’s own objectives.During All-Star weekend, Nurse did a shoot with RBC that included Poulin and Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews, which oriented  Nurse as a professional athlete — not just as a women’s hockey player. Her Adidas campaign has her aligned with big names outside of the sport, such as Mahomes and Messi. “Our goal is to get her neck and neck with the best,” Balshin explained. Auston Matthews, Sarah Nurse, and Marie-Philip Poulin answered hard-hitting questions from kids at an RBC press conference 😂 (via @RBC) pic.twitter.com/7T7k7bT8QV — B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 5, 2024Last week, Nurse launched “Nursey Night,” in which she will host young Black girls at PWHL Toronto games, meet with them postgame and mentor them throughout the year. The idea started as a way for Nurse to give away her brother’s season tickets every once in a while but it ended up with a $50,000 donation from Rogers and a partnership with Black Girl Hockey Club, a non-profit organization focused on making hockey more inclusive.“People want to be involved in anything she does,” Balshin said. “That’s kind of how we snowball things over here.”On top of promotional appearances and events, Nurse posts paid promotions on social media and has gotten more active on TikTok, posting videos while doing her makeup or skincare, or providing motivation to young girls and women who visit her channels. Everything gets put into a content calendar that Balshin manages, and every morning she sends Nurse a text outlining “everything we have to worry about today.”“She has made our lives a lot happier,” Nurse said. “We got to a point where there was just too much happening and we couldn’t facilitate everything.”With everything going on off the ice, it’s easy to forget that Nurse is one of Canada’s best hockey players and a face of the PWHL in Toronto. She’s also the vice president of the PWHL Players Association and is on the Hockey Canada player committee. Sarah Nurse skates against PWHL Montreal’s Mariah Keopple at Scotiabank Arena. (Mark Blinch / Getty Images)“I would love to sit down and see her calendar,” Ambrose said. “I am in awe of what she does away from the rink. I am in awe of what she does at the rink. I truthfully don’t know how she does it but I love her for it.”Nurse knows it sounds like there’s a lot on her plate but insists she’s very good at compartmentalizing. Ryan, also her coach with PWHL Toronto, says Nurse’s other responsibilities have “never negatively impacted who she is as a player.”“I think she’s found ways to actually use it to make sure she still has an impact in the game,” he said. “She’s under a spotlight and under a microscope so much. I think that sense of pride she probably gets with that has probably forced her to do the extra work.”“I’m very conscious of the fact that for me to do all of this other stuff, I need to perform my best on the ice,” added Nurse, who scored two goals on Tuesday night, including the game winner against Minnesota.Gone are the days of players such as Nurse making only $2,000 a season to play hockey. In the PWHL, the minimum salary $35,000, with some top players making as much as $100,000. Still, even the league’s best players aren’t getting rich playing women’s professional hockey.“The marketing does mean a lot to them and is a main source of income,” Balshin said.The work that Nurse is putting in is also laying the track for life after hockey, whenever that comes. It would take something unforeseen for Nurse to not be at the 2026 Olympics.Nurse has thought about pursuing several paths, from real estate investment to launching a clothing line or a production company. “I definitely have aspirations to expand and grow into different sectors,” she said.“We want her to be a face of hockey, period, not just women’s hockey. And of inclusion in sport,” Balshin said. “She wants to show young girls that they can be so many things.”(Illustration: Daniel Goldfarb / The Athletic. Photos: Mark Blinch / Getty Images, Nicole Osborne / NHLI via Getty Images) !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s) if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function()n.callMethod? n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments); if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0'; n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)(window, document,'script', 'https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js'); fbq('init', '207679059578897'); fbq('track', 'PageView'); [ad_2] Source link

[thelensofyashunews]

LUM NAVIGATES COMPLEX TIES OF LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP IN NEW POP-RAP RELEASE “MOTIONS”

Taking the new year by storm, LUM stirs the pot of emotions with "Motions”, a pop-rap journey through relational tides produced by award winning rap producer BNoise (Rylo Rodriguez, NoCap). “Motions” is an anthem steeped in resilience, resonating with the heart's complex bonds—family, friends, love. 

Hot on the heels of hits like "Temptation" and "4 Sho”, which allowed LUM to grace the likes of Amazon Music's Rotation North and Toronto's Yonge/Dundas Square, his latest release explores his vulnerable side - the relatable story, a testament to the steadfast beat of life's relentless pulse. Previously touted by DSPs such as Apple Music's Rap Life, The Plug and Superbloom, LUM's artistry glides with “Motions,” a single that not only highlights his melodic versatility but promises fans a gripping musical experience.

Rounding out 2023 on a high note, several accolades and hard hitting collaborations created well deserved buzz for the rising star. The cross-border collaboration “Temptation” with LUM, Warner Music Australia artist Oliver Cronin, and independent artist KILJ explored the unique worlds of the three artists, seamlessly blending originality with authenticity. The release of his melodic hip-hop ballad “4 SHO” saw an organic collaboration with Dom Vallie, a Toronto artist whose talent LUM has closely admired. 

LUM was named Amazon Music's Breakthrough Canadian artist in July 2023, and was selected for the cover of SoundCloud’s emerging artist playlist ‘The Lookout.’ Performing as a direct support for Snotty Nose Rez Kids during their Hot Planet Winter 2024 tour dates earlier this month, which included a sold out tour date, 2024 promises to be a breakout year for the Windsor-born artist.  

[homeleaderrealty]

250 Church Street Condos

250 Church Street Condos: A Vibrant Urban Oasis in Downtown Toronto

Welcome to 250 Church Street Condos, a stunning high-rise condominium development brought to you by CentreCourt Developments. Situated at the bustling intersection of Church and Dundas streets in the heart of Downtown Toronto, this impressive project promises to redefine urban living. With 648 units spanning across 54 storeys, this development is set to make a significant mark on the city's skyline.

The Perfect Blend of Residential and Retail

250 Church Street Condos is designed to cater to the diverse needs of modern urban dwellers. This dynamic project primarily serves as a residential building, offering a substantial number of housing units to accommodate Toronto's growing population. The condominium complex is thoughtfully designed to provide residents with an exceptional living experience while also featuring retail spaces that will add vibrancy to the neighborhood.

Prime Location

Location, they say, is everything, and 250 Church Street Condos has certainly aced that aspect. Nestled at the southeast corner of Church and Dundas, this development enjoys a prime position just steps away from the iconic Yonge-Dundas Square. The allure of this location lies in its proximity to some of Toronto's most significant attractions, making it an ideal place to call home.

Yonge-Dundas Square: Your Playground

Living at 250 Church Street Condos means you'll have the city at your doorstep. Yonge-Dundas Square, often referred to as the "Times Square of Toronto," is a vibrant hub of activity. This public square hosts numerous events, festivals, and cultural gatherings throughout the year. From musical performances to movie screenings, there's always something exciting happening here.

Aside from the lively entertainment, you'll find a wide range of dining options in the vicinity. Whether you're craving international cuisine or looking for a cozy café to unwind, you'll never run out of choices. The square is also home to various retail outlets, ensuring that you're never far from shopping convenience.

Amenities That Enrich Your Lifestyle

At 250 Church Street Condos, every detail has been meticulously planned to enhance your quality of life. The condominium boasts a comprehensive list of amenities that cater to your physical fitness, relaxation, and socializing needs. Here, you can expect:

State-of-the-Art Fitness Center

Stay in shape without ever leaving the building. The fitness center is equipped with the latest exercise equipment, allowing you to maintain your workout routine with ease. Whether you prefer cardio, strength training, or yoga, you'll find everything you need to stay active and healthy.

Inviting Outdoor Terrace

The outdoor terrace provides a serene oasis in the heart of the city. It's the perfect place to unwind after a long day or to socialize with friends and neighbors. With lush greenery, comfortable seating, and a barbecue area, you can enjoy the fresh air and beautiful views of the Toronto skyline.

Stylish Party Room

Entertain guests in style with the well-appointed party room. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or hosting a casual get-together, this space is designed to accommodate your needs. It features a kitchenette, comfortable seating, and a sophisticated ambiance that sets the stage for memorable gatherings.

Co-Working Spaces

For those who work from home or need a quiet place to study, the co-working spaces at 250 Church Street Condos offer a productive environment. High-speed internet and comfortable seating make it easy to focus on tasks and meet deadlines.

Investment Potential

Investors keen on the Toronto real estate market will find 250 Church Street Condos an attractive opportunity. The development's central location, coupled with its comprehensive amenities and retail spaces, makes it a highly desirable address for potential tenants. As Toronto continues to grow, properties in prime locations like this one are expected to appreciate in value, making it a sound investment choice.

The CentreCourt Advantage

CentreCourt Developments has a solid reputation for delivering exceptional residential projects in Toronto. Known for their commitment to quality and innovation, CentreCourt has consistently exceeded expectations in the real estate industry. With 250 Church Street Condos, they aim to continue their legacy of creating landmark developments that enhance the urban fabric of the city.

Register Your Interest Today

Don't miss out on the opportunity to be a part of this exciting development in Downtown Toronto. Whether you're looking for a place to call home or considering an investment, 250 Church Street Condos has something to offer everyone. Register your interest today to receive updates, exclusive access to floor plans, and early booking privileges.

In Conclusion

250 Church Street Condos is more than just a residential development; it's a promise of contemporary urban living at its finest. With its unbeatable location, a wealth of amenities, and the trusted CentreCourt name behind it, this project is poised to become one of Toronto's most sought-after addresses.

As the city continues to evolve and grow, 250 Church Street Condos stands as a testament to Toronto's vibrant and dynamic spirit. It's not just a place to live; it's a place to thrive, connect, and create lasting memories. Secure your spot in this exciting new chapter of Toronto's story – register your interest today and be a part of the future at 250 Church Street Condos.

Experience Luxury Living at 250 Church Street Condos

Introduction: Welcome to 250 Church Street Condos, where modern architecture meets downtown living at its finest. In this article, we'll explore the incredible amenities and prime location of this residential condominium, making it the perfect choice for young professionals, growing families, and investors alike. Join us on a journey to discover the essence of luxury living in the heart of the city.

Amenities that Define Excellence: 250 Church Street Condos is a marvel of modern design, set to complement the thriving downtown core. This exceptional residential condominium rises majestically, spanning 54 storeys above the ground, with a 6-storey podium as its foundation.

The exterior of the building is a testament to contemporary aesthetics. The first three floors are adorned with dark grey brick, while expansive floor-to-ceiling windows on each level ensure abundant natural light. The remaining structure features elegant white metal paneling, meticulously framing every window. This harmonious blend of materials creates a striking facade that sets the tone for the entire development.

Step inside, and you'll find interiors that mirror the beauty of the exterior. 250 Church Street Condos is committed to delivering elegance and modernity within its walls. Whether you're a young professional seeking a stylish abode or a growing family in need of spacious living, this development has a range of suites and sizes to suit your lifestyle.

But that's not all. For those who love convenience and variety, 250 Church Street Condos offers over 2,500 square feet of retail space on the ground floor. Imagine having boutique shops right within your building, adding a touch of luxury to your daily life.

Amenity Space Beyond Expectation: At 250 Church Street Condos, luxury extends beyond the individual suites. Residents will be treated to a wealth of amenities that enrich their everyday experience. The fourth floor boasts a staggering 16,000 square feet of indoor amenity space, providing ample room for relaxation, recreation, and socializing.

For those who appreciate the outdoors, the sixth floor offers over 11,000 square feet of outdoor amenity space. Imagine lounging on an expansive terrace, taking in breathtaking views of the city, and connecting with neighbors under the open sky. This is the lifestyle that awaits you at 250 Church Street Condos.

Parking for Convenience: While the development includes 68 long-term and short-term parking spaces, many residents may find that owning a car in this centrally located downtown area is unnecessary. With a perfect Transit Score of 97 out of 100, public transit is easily accessible. Say goodbye to the hassle of parking and embrace the convenience of urban living.

Location & Neighborhood: One of the standout features of 250 Church Street Condos is its prime location, offering an impressive Walk Score of 98 out of 100. Nestled just a 3-minute walk from the bustling Yonge and Dundas Square, residents have access to a vibrant hub of activity.

Yonge and Dundas Square, spanning over 1 acre, is a publicly open space and event center. It's the heart of downtown entertainment, with a plethora of shops, restaurants, and outdoor events to enjoy. The iconic Eaton Centre Shopping Mall, which houses numerous retail shops and eateries, is also part of this lively square. It's a shopper's paradise right at your doorstep.

Conclusion: 250 Church Street Condos is more than just a residential development; it's a gateway to luxury living in the heart of the city. With its stunning architecture, diverse suite options, impressive amenities, and unbeatable location, it's no wonder this condominium is the talk of the town. Embrace the opportunity to be part of something extraordinary at 250 Church Street Condos, where convenience, style, and urban living converge. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting project, and make sure to secure your spot in this remarkable community.

Discover the Ideal Lifestyle at 250 Church Street Condos in Toronto

Introduction: Welcome to the epitome of urban living at 250 Church Street Condos, where sophistication meets convenience in the heart of Toronto. In this detailed guide, we'll delve into the exciting features and unparalleled benefits of making 250 Church Street Condos your new home or investment opportunity. Join us as we explore the neighborhood, amenities, and the incredible value this development offers.

An Abundance of Amenities: 250 Church Street Condos is not just a residential building; it's a statement of modern luxury. This contemporary gem seamlessly integrates with the city's dynamic downtown core. With a sleek 54-storey structure, including a 6-storey podium, this architectural marvel is designed to impress.

The exterior is a harmonious blend of dark grey brick on the first three floors and expansive floor-to-ceiling windows that flood each residence with natural light. The upper levels feature pristine white metal paneling, framing every window meticulously. Step inside, and you'll discover interiors that mirror the elegance of the exterior, catering to various lifestyles from young professionals to growing families.

For those with a penchant for convenience and variety, 250 Church Street Condos offers over 2,500 square feet of retail space on the ground floor. Imagine having boutique shops right within your building, ensuring that life's essentials are always within reach.

Elevate Your Lifestyle with Exceptional Amenities: At 250 Church Street Condos, the concept of luxury extends beyond your suite. The fourth floor boasts an impressive 16,000 square feet of indoor amenity space, providing residents with a plethora of options for relaxation, recreation, and socializing.

If you're someone who cherishes the great outdoors, the sixth floor offers over 11,000 square feet of outdoor amenity space. Picture yourself on a spacious terrace, overlooking the city's skyline, and forging connections with your neighbors beneath the open sky. This is the lifestyle you deserve at 250 Church Street Condos.

Parking for Convenience: While the development includes 68 long-term and short-term parking spaces, residents may find that owning a car in this centrally located downtown area is unnecessary. With a Transit Score of 100/100, public transit options are readily accessible. Say goodbye to the hassles of parking and embrace the ease of urban living.

The Perfect Location & Neighborhood: One of the standout features of 250 Church Street Condos is its unbeatable location, offering an impressive Walk Score of 98/100. Situated just a 3-minute walk from the vibrant Yonge and Dundas Square, residents have access to a thriving hub of activity.

Yonge and Dundas Square, sprawling over 1 acre, serves as a public open space and event center. It's the epicenter of downtown entertainment, offering an array of shops, restaurants, and outdoor events for your enjoyment. The iconic Eaton Centre Shopping Mall is nestled within this lively square, providing residents with a wide array of retail shops and eateries. It's a shopper's paradise right at your doorstep.

Investor's Dream: Apart from being a prime residential choice, 250 Church Street Condos presents an exceptional investment opportunity. Its proximity to renowned hospitals such as Toronto General Hospital, The Hospital for Sick Kids, and Mount Sinai Hospital enhances the property's value significantly. Moreover, it offers a convenient and comfortable living option for medical personnel seeking housing in the vicinity.

First-Class Transit Connectivity: This area boasts some of the city's best transit options, with Dundas Station just a 4-minute walk away. Dundas Station is part of the Yonge-University Line 1, providing quick access to Union Station in under 5 minutes. Additionally, numerous streetcars and buses run near the development site, ensuring that residents can navigate the city effortlessly.

250 Church Street Condos Highlights:

Boasts an exceptional Walk Score of 98/100, making it highly walkable

Located in the vibrant Church-Yonge Corridor neighborhood in Toronto

A mere 4-minute walk from Dundas Subway Station

Just a 6-minute stroll to Dundas Square

A short 6-minute distance from St. Michael’s Hospital

Walking distance to CF Toronto Eaton Centre

A 6-minute walk from Ryerson University

A short commute to the University of Toronto – St. George Campus

Close proximity to an array of shops, restaurants, and schools

Enjoys a transit score of 100/100, indicating world-class public transportation

Nearby parks include Trinity Park and Labyrinth, Larry Sefton Park, and Moss Park

Conclusion: In conclusion, 250 Church Street Condos is more than a residential development; it's an invitation to experience the best of urban living in Toronto. With its captivating architecture, diverse suite options, top-notch amenities, and unbeatable location, this condominium stands as a testament to luxury and convenience. Whether you're looking for your dream home or a wise investment, 250 Church Street Condos has you covered. Stay tuned for updates on this exciting project, and seize the opportunity to be part of this extraordinary community. Your journey to an exceptional urban lifestyle starts here.

[avaliveradio]

‘HOWL AT THE MOON’ is the first single off of LST IN HLYWD's sophomore EP

LST IN HLYWD -  HOWL AT THE MOON Music Genre: Modern Rock/Pop Punk Vibe: Upbeat and Fun Located in: Toronto, ON Sounds like: All Time Low, Chase Atlantic, My Chemical Romance

Release date: April 14th 2023 Link to your streaming page: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0F1DFzK1G9qPFRcL54dM4e?si=6vDLDfMzQNup5CggpPjfrw

‘HOWL AT THE MOON’ is the first single off of LST IN HLYWD's sophomore EP produced by members of the Warped Tour staple "New Years Day".

The sound is dynamic and inspired with an incredible rock vocal that is filled with range, timber and tone. The vocals have a delicate deliver supported by layers and powerful guitar riffs. The contrast works great together creating a sound that’s really special.

With its fun/energetic sound paired with dark horror-inspired love song lyrics, this is the perfect soundtrack for every single alt teen falling in love with this new era of modern rock/pop punk.

LST IN HLYWD is an international sensation: a dark vampy blend of pop punk and a classic feel fused with modern production creating a whole new sound. Damian Rose (Lead Vocals/Lead Guitar), Lana (Bass), Catherine Carter (Guitar), and Chris King (Drums) make up this powerhouse bringing rock to a whole new generation in their own style - “Vamp” Rock.

The band has taken Toronto and the world by storm via social media (namely Tik Tok and Instagram). Growing to over 70,000 followers in their first year of forming, their fan base spans the world from Canada to America, The UK, Europe, Australia, and South America. Their debut self titled EP release “LST IN HLYWD” which was produced by Maximilian Haunt and Nick Lewert from The Haunt was released on October 20th 2022 and has since received over 118,000 plays on Spotify alone.

Their first ever tour (Summer 2022) “Summer Valentine Tour” They played 14 shows across Ontario playing to thousands of people. including hosting + being ranked the number one band by judges in Youth Day Global Toronto 2022 (Yonge And Dundas Square).

With the success of their first EP gaining over 118,000 streams, the band caught the eye of Jeremy Valentyne and Brandon Wolfe of New Years Day who have since been producing their sophomore EP which will be released this summer. Their first single, “HOWL AT THE MOON”, will be out April 14th.  The themes encompassing this release include vampirism, immortality, and love. There is also a song inspired by an Edgar Allen Poe story. With pop punk lyrics, anthemic choruses, and a darker sound, LST IN HLYWD is taking a step further from their last EP and truly solidifying themselves as the godfathers and godmothers of “Vamp” Rock.

Full EPK: https://lstinhlywd.com/epk-for-media Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mc9i7bXka2Y

Social Links & Website: Tik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@lstinhlywd

Instagram: https://instagram.com/lstinhlywd

Website: https://lstinhlywd.com/

[canadachronicles]

[aartifex-a]

being Canadian and having been to Toronto many times its funny watching the boys like ah yes, I love “New York” I love “Times Square” I love the “mta subway system”

[garland-on-thy-brow]

International demostration for the captive defenders of Mariupol - June 25th!

‼️ Post last UPDATED with new locations on June 24! More countries and locations have been added. It is alphabetized by countries, find yours!

Please pay attention that while most of the demonstrations will be held on June 25, some are on June 26 - those special cases are highlighted in the list. ‼️

Peaceful demonstrations with the motto «Azovstal. Free Mariupol defenders» will take place all over Europe on Saturday, June 25th (and some, on June 26th). List of cities below. Please come if you can, and share the information.

The purpose is to save the defenders of Mariupol from torture and brutality while they are held prisoners by russia, and to help them return home as soon as possible. This is a plea of every Ukrainian, and the world must hear it.

We need to remind the world about our captive heroes, to draw the attention of international organizations to the conditions they are held in, to ensure their situation is monitored by international community.

Below is the list of cities where demonstrations will be held. If your city is on the list - please come to support Ukrainian heroes, and invite people to come with you. If not - I ask you to share the information, and possibly contact your local organizations to see if you can gather in your city too.

Australia 🇦🇺

Customs House, Sydney, NSW

26.06 (‼️)

14:00

Austria 🇦🇹

Maria-Theresien-Straße 18, 6020 Innsbruck

17:50

Canada 🇨🇦

Yonge-Dundas Square, then walking to 200 Bay St, the office of the United Nations in Toronto

14:00

Chile 🇨🇱

Av. Américo Vespucio Norte 2127, Vitacura, Santiago de Chile

12:00

Cyprus 🇨🇾

Harbour Kiosk, Paphos

18:30

Czech Republic 🇨🇿

Piaristicke náměstí, České Budějovice

12:00

AND

Czech Republic 🇨🇿

Palackého náměstí, Prague

17:00

Georgia 🇬🇪

29 Memed Abashidze Ave, Batumi

18:50

Germany 🇩🇪

Bundeskanzlerampt, Berlin 

13:00

AND

Rathausmarkt, Hamburg

15:00

AND

Hauptwache, Frankfurt 

19:30

Hungary 🇭🇺

Szent István tér 1, Budapest

19:00

Ireland 🇮🇪

Statue of Richard Harris as King Arthur, Bedford Row, Limerick

18:00

Italy 🇮🇹

Piazza del Duomo, 20123, Milano

18:00

Japan 🇯🇵

Shinjuku, Shinjuku Station South Exit, Tokyo

26.06 (‼️)

16:00

Malta 🇲🇹

Triton Fountain, Valletta

19:15 (‼️updated time‼️)

The Netherlands 🇳🇱

De Verwoeste Stad, 3011 EA, Rotterdam

12:00

AND

Peace Palace, Carnegieplein 2, 2517 KJ, Den Haag

12:00

AND

Dam Square, Amsterdam

17:00

Norway 🇳🇴

Eidsvolls plass, Oslo

12:00

Poland 🇵🇱

Pasaż Schillera ul. Piotrkowska 110, Lódź

16:00

AND

Rynek Główny, Pomnik Adama Mickiewicza, Kraków

19:20

Portugal 🇵🇹

Praça de Gomes Teixeira, Porto 18:50

AND

Praça do Comércio, Lisbon ‼️26.06 ‼️19:30

Romania 🇷🇴

Piața Sfatului, Braşov

11:30

Slovakia 🇸🇰

Podchod Hodžovo námestie 2978 811 06 Bratislava

13:00

Spain 🇪🇸

Josefina De La Torre Municipal Library, Gran Canaria

11:30

AND

Plaça de la Verge, 4, 46001, València

26.06 (‼️)

13:30

Sweden 🇸🇪

Norrmalmstorg, Stockholm

12:00

Switzerland 🇨🇭

Place des Nations, Genève

12:00

AND

Rathausbrücke, Zürich

16:00

Turkey 🇹🇷

Odakule Business Center, Istanbul

14:50

United Kingdom 🇬🇧

Grey’s Monument, Newcastle upon Tyne

12:00

AND

Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester

14:00

AND

Cardiff Central Library CF10 1FL, Cardiff

14:00

AND

10 Downing St SW1A 2AB, London 

15:50

United States of America 🇺🇸

50 W Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602

14:00

Mottos of the demonstrations:

- Azovstal. Free Mariupol Defenders

- Be brave like Azovstal

- Freedom for Mariupol heroes

- Freedom for Azovstal defenders

- Respect the Geneva Convention

- Protect the rights of prisoners of war

- Give access to the Red Cross

- We are waiting for our heroes

Source: Families of Azovstal Defenders Association https://www.facebook.com/AzovstalFamilies/posts/pfbid02dpMN84hFJLK3hUEf7x4ugwAi49VLnjStJ2ssqJ8vGajkmMgoB7W8DDRBs8HpD26Yl

[thebestintoronto]

Where to Stay in Toronto: Best Neighborhoods & Hotels

Canada's largest and also most populous city, Toronto is the capital of Ontario as well as rests on the eponymous Lake Ontario itself-- all 24,000 square miles of it. With a European history returning to the 18th century, Toronto originally grew from a British colonial negotiation called York. Today, its far-flung granges and also wild areas make up part of the city itself, ending up being residential areas and also all-natural territories to explore.

Interestingly, Canada is one of the most multiculturally diverse city on Earth. There are over 160 languages spoken right here, and also greater than 50% of the residents of the city belong to a minority. Not just immigrants, yet also Canada's original native populace comprises the society of Toronto today.

Map of Toronto

A modern city with a great deal of creative thinking taking place-- as well as an industry as well as financial market-- Toronto is home to a great deal of superb design. This runs the range from good-looking Victorian mansions and old government structures to the site CN Tower-- once the tallest structure in the world (and still not far off).

Yearly, the city hosts over 25 million travelers, drawn below for the enigmatic mix of easygoing living, broad-minded society, and also lakeside lifestyle. Below are some of the best locations you can base yourself in throughout a journey to enticing Toronto.

Yonge-Dundas

The location of Yonge-Dundas is located in the heart of Toronto and is focused around the Yonge-Dundas Square-- which includes its very own city terminal. A new location, with the square just completed in 2002, it supplies a public area for the city. Lots of art shows and various other tasks are hosted in this square. Similar to the scramble going across in Tokyo's Shibuya, Yonge-Dundas includes one of the most significant crossing in Canada; 100,000 individuals go across daily.

Proclaimed as Toronto's Times Square, Yonge-Dundas is an amazing place to base on your own in the middle of downtown Toronto. Here there is an avalanche of restaurants and bars. There's additionally lots of history, like the skyrocketing St Michael's Basilica Basilica, built in the 1800s.

Holiday accommodation in this field consists of looming chain hotels-- modern-day, comfortable, and premium in regards to cost-- along with a handful of realistic budget plan choices.

Where to Remain in Yonge-Dundas

Chelsea Hotel Toronto-- A trendy economical resort in the heart of Toronto, Chelsea Hotel Toronto offers you a chance to exchange high-end living without excavating a hole in your pocket. Equipped with modern services, such as a sauna, two interior pools with easy chair, and an on-site dining establishment serving American specials, the resort gives you simple accessibility to vital sites around the location. Spaces below are designed in a minimal style with modern centers such as a job workdesk, a seating area, and complimentary Wi-fi.

Enjoyment & Financial Area

Symbolizing the ideals of striving and playing tough side by side, the Amusement and Financial Area are two areas simply to the south of Yonge-Dundas. The Financial Area is, basically, the residence of Old Toronto, bordering the grand Union Terminal and also real estate historic sights as well as modern marvels, like the gold-clad high-rise of the Royal Financial Institution Plaza. To the south, the 553 meters high symbol that is the CN Tower can be found.

The Enjoyment Area was initially referred to as the Garment District; by the 1970s, a lot of the historical manufacturing facilities had been deserted, and now residence clubs, music places, and theatres, providing the location its name. Staying in this dynamic area, you'll locate contemporary hotels ideal in the middle of the activity. Pick to remain in the bordering Financial Area for elegant accommodations embeded in heritage structures dating back to the very early 20th century.

Where to Stay in the Entertainment & Financial Area

high-end

Bisha Resort Toronto-- One of the most superior centers in this part of community, the trendy Bisha Hotel Toronto is just a couple of actions far from the impressive CN Tower. Boasting the spectacular works of Alessandro Munge of Workshop Munge as well as celebrity symbol Lenny Kravitz of Kravitz Layout Inc. throughout its insides, this 5-star hotel offers a series of upmarket amenities, like a roof infinity pool, a lobby bar, and also several dining facilities. Each solely crafted area is developed for your utmost comfort and high-end.

midrange

Fairmont Royal York Hotel-- Prepare yourself for some genuine royal therapy at the Fairmont Royal York Resort as this 4-star center spoils you with the most recent as well as the classiest services as well as services. A skylit interior swimming pool, a famous ballroom, on-site buying methods, and also five prize-winning dining establishments are several of the manner ins which you can invest your time below.

spending plan

Hilton Yard Inn Toronto Downtown-- A stone's throw away from the most prominent attractions in Toronto's Enjoyment District, this stylish 3-star hotel is excellent for leisure as well as company tourists. Facilities and solutions below include a large indoor swimming pool, a fitness center with progressive devices, an international dining establishment on-site, conference as well as seminar facilities, as well as far more. Spaces are made in soft beige tones as well as feature wood home furnishings with a seating area, job workdesk, and a well-appointed ensuite restroom.

Yorkville & The Annex

Located to the north of Yonge-Dundas and reachable through Yonge Roadway-- yet still with a couple of city stations linking it to the remainder of Toronto-- Yorkville is everything about the high-end. Boutiques as well as galleries scramble for area along Bloor Street, as do a wide variety of upscale restaurants, fancy cafes, as well as swish barroom.

Neighbouring Yorkville to the west is The Annex, a much more suburb residence to a big student populace because it borders the University of Toronto. This area includes verdant roads lined with some fantastic instances of Victorian and also Edwardian style. With the Spadina, Dupont, as well as Bathurst city stations offering the area, getting around is a breeze.

You can now stay in the Annex's old structures thanks to shop lodgings as well as bed-and-breakfasts, while Yorkville holds some splendid, high-end, international resort chains with solution to match.

Where to Stay in Yorkville & The Annex

luxury

The Hazelton Resort-- With its amazing interior Cinema Film Space and a world-class medical spa facility, The Hazelton Hotel creates rather the glamorous remain in the busy city of Toronto. The spaces below are spacious, with marble shower rooms as well as elegant robes. Amenities and services at this opulent 5-star hotel consist of a rejuvenating interior pool, an on-site restaurant offering French and Italian delicacies, and an outstanding gym. They also supply brushing centers for your precious four-legged good friend!

midrange

InterContinental Toronto Yorkville-- Set in the upscale Yorkville area, this stylish 4-star residential or commercial property is everything about hospitality and opulence. Known for its extensive centers and also services, InterContinental Toronto Yorkville boasts a large interior swimming pool, a well-equipped gym, and also an exterior terrace with easy chair. You can appreciate dining at the exceptional restaurant or delight in seasonal tapas and mixed drinks at the SkyLounge Patio area. Rooms here boast contemporary decorations, with centers such as safety deposit boxes, job desks. There are additionally outstanding sights of the city.

Kensington-Chinatown

Fixated the crossroads of Spadina Avenue as well as Dundas Street is Toronto's Chinatown; likewise bordering this is the area called Kensington. House to different cultures as well as ethnic cultures, you will certainly discover everything from vintage stores to Japanese corner store.

Kensington Market is a retail area with great deals of tiny stores. You'll find bakers, tea shops, tree-lined roads, and also plenty of international dining establishments. On Sundays (during the summer), the roads are closed to traffic, making it a pedestrian's desire.

Chinatown isn't almost the Chinese restaurants; there are also Oriental, Thai, and Japanese delights to uncover. Along Spadina Avenue, you'll locate fresh fruit, dumplings, and also even Chinese traditional medicines and also keepsakes. Obviously, this is the location ahead for Chinese New Year!

Affordable options, hostels, as well as comfortable guesthouses in red brick buildings make up the holiday accommodation in this part of community. There are no city stops, yet it's served by various streetcar and bus stops.

Where to Remain in Kensington-Chinatown & Roma

Hotel Ocho [Kensington-Chinatown-- Situated a rock's throw out from Chinatown, this historical 1902 factory-building-turned-hotel is among one of the most fascinating, budget-friendly properties in Toronto. Flaunting a wide variety of elegant solutions with a straightforward yet elegant decor, Resort Ocho provides trendy guestrooms fitted with modern commercial home furnishings as well as art work. Order a dish at the international restaurants on-site or take a fast walk to Kensington Market as well as be surrounded with countless shopping, eating, as well as home entertainment options.

Downtown East

This is the general area east of Toronto's Downtown district, going to the River Don. It contains the areas of Cabbagetown, Regent Park, Trefann Court, and Corktown. Mostly domestic, Corktown is house to Corktown Common, a wonderful green room to relax in on the banks of the river. Cabbagetown is a large neighborhood with yet even more greenery, such as the large Riverdale Park; an old farm, this is a prominent spot for ice skating and also sledding in the wintertime.

Regent Park and also Trefann Court are reduced rise suburbs established during the 1940s. One more district in this eastern Downtown area is Church and also Wellesley, called 'The Village' as well as home to a big part of Toronto's gay community. An enjoyable and friendly room, this is the place to opt for Toronto's Satisfaction events-- in addition to a remarkable Halloween.

Staying in this big location gives you the option of guesthouses, hostels, affordable chain resorts, and some shop offerings also.

Where to Stay in Downtown East

Frying Pan Pacific Toronto-- A best escape for those who take pleasure in being amidst nature, Pan Pacific Toronto is a lovely hotel swallowed up in 15 acres of lavish gardens. Amenities at this 4-star resort include a seasonal exterior swimming pool, multiple eating alternatives, a modern gym, outdoor yoga plans, as well as a properly maintained tennis court. Featuring a range of tastefully decorated guestrooms, the resort likewise provides a healthy and balanced and also luxurious breakfast daily.

Harbourfront

Just south of the Amusement District and also surrounded to the north by both the primary train line and the Gardiner Expressway, you'll locate Harbourfront This appropriately called location is set right on the coast of Lake Ontario; a stress-free location on the largest metropolitan lake worldwide!

The Harbourfront Centre hosts year-round neighborhood events such as markets, movie testings, and performances. In the summer season, you will see individuals enjoying exterior art events and also canoeing around the location. There are a ton of cafes along the pedestrian boardwalk where you can rest and also have a drink on the patio along the water's edge. Alternatively, you can hop on a watercraft as well as obtain a view of Toronto's horizon from the water. You can also take the ferryboat from here to the Toronto Islands.

Lodging in Harbourfront consists of a handful of hotels along the water. These are primarily high end, tall, as well as modern, with sights of the lake from up high.

Where to Stay in Harbourfront.

The Westin Harbour Castle-- Set right on the harbor on Lake Ontario, the Westin Harbour Castle most certainly includes some ornate as well as excellent rooms that are fitted with the signature Westin Heavenly beds and also use magnificent sights of the lake as well as the city's magnificent horizon. In addition to the host of lavish comforts, there's additionally a scrumptious breakfast spread on a daily basis, an indoor swimming pool and a rooftop tennis courts. What's even more, the 4-star hotel also welcomes your pooch!

Midtown

The sprawling Downtown location to the north of Toronto Old Town is a high end location that is formally among the city's main downtown. Here you will certainly find respected communities such as Woodland Hill, with its several mansions as well as private schools, as well as Deer Park, with tree-lined streets that connect with the bustling Yonge Street.

This area is a mix of relaxation as well as entertainment, with city amenities never also far yet plenty of eco-friendly rooms as well as park to discover as well. For instance, the Moore Park Abyss is an attractive leafed area to roam, with questionable Beltline Path bring about the forested Don Valley Block Works Park-- and additionally still to a lot more of the location's environment-friendly spaces.

If this upscale, country, and extremely all-natural location sounds like your kind of point, there are homestays in lovely houses, bed-and-breakfasts, and also mid-range hotels near to move.

Where to Remain in Midtown

The Parkway Place Guesthouse-- A couple of steps away from Eglinton Train Terminal, the Parkway Place Guesthouse provides one of the most comfortable as well as affordable lodging that appropriates for all types of visitors. Showing off a series of current, self-catering devices, this modern-day guesthouse likewise boasts on-site car parking centers, a common kitchen, typical eating area, as well as complimentary Wifi. Spaces here are sizable with wood flooring, as well as feature kitchen spaces as well as a seating location.

West End

Comprising a substantial portion of the location west of Old Toronto, with Lake Ontario to its south as well as the Humber River composing the western border, this is a multicultural, up and also coming area of the city. This neighborhood started to thrive around the turn of the 20th century, when migrants arrived to work on Canada's expanding railway, specifically in the location currently called Little Italy. There's likewise a Portuguese existence in Little Portugal, specifically along Rua dos Acores. There's also Little Malta, as well as the West End is house to Toronto's Koreatown, also.

The immigrant populace has lately been signed up with by young experts attracted to the area by a combination of reduced rental fee, great food, and exciting nightlife. Not an area full of a load of galleries, it's more of an area to find to see Toronto's multicultural make-up. Remain right here in renovated hotels from the 19th century and cool, unusual inns.

Where to Remain In West End

Gladstone Resort-- Tucked in a Victorian-style edifice, the distinguished Gladstone Resort is more than simply a resort-- it is among Toronto's most valued landmarks. Designed according to the innovative geniuses of the city's art and style area, this busy and stylish resort provides a handful of very carefully crafted designer rooms that show the imaginative impressions of the artists associated with developing this exceptional location. An on-site karaoke bar, the Gladstone coffee shop with bistro-style delicacies, and also three art galleries are some of the high end centers to be enjoyed right here.

East End

With East York to the north and East Downtown to the west, the East End of Toronto exists across the Don River and also is a city area with a great deal of parkland, along with farmer's markets. East End is home to yet even more of Toronto's multicultural landscape, with Little India, East Chinatown, and Greektown comprising just some of the sectors.

This suburban area likewise leaves the coasts of Lake Ontario as well as is home to The Beaches, an aptly called location that's more like a hotel; it's where city and also residential area occupants alike pertain to get away the heat, walk the boardwalk, or swim in the water. In neighboring Kew Gardens, there are jazz events and also art programs.

There is a handful of budget friendly holiday accommodation options, specifically near East Chinatown. But there are also lively and also sophisticated resorts in the southern Studio District, and also some places to hug The Beaches.

Where to Stay in East End

The Woodbine Coastline Residence-- Found really close to 3 popular beaches in Toronto, this simplified yet modern coastline home is excellent for long-term rentals as well as household holidays. Set far from the humming noises of the town hall, your house supplies a terrace as well as an on-site parking center. Areas below are furnished with all the most recent facilities that are needed to take pleasure in a relaxing vacation. Comfy bedrooms, a spacious kitchen area room, a living location, a separate dining location, and an ensuite shower room with laundry centers are some of the comforts you can discover below.

Etobicoke

The large area of Etobicoke lies west of the Humber River. With the worldwide airport terminal on its east, it runs completely from the coasts of Lake Ontario to the north, leafed suburban areas of Mount Oliver and also Clairville. Previously a city in its own right, Etobicoke includes broad blvds, going shopping malls to match, and plenty of housing developments.

An outstanding area to base on your own to be closer to Toronto's airport, this location is additionally full of a lot of eco-friendly areas. You can dive into the manicured James Gardens along the Humber River, along with the Centennial Park-- with plenty of space for sporting activities. In the north, the large Humber Arboretum produces great fall walks, while Colonel Samuel Smith Park is a large space near to Lake Ontario.

In addition to lots of golf courses, Etobicoke is house to a big choice of resorts, most of which are chains and comfortably positioned in the vicinity of the airport terminal; however there are numerous smaller options nearer the lake.

North York

Formerly the agricultural heart of Toronto, and also comprised of various towns, North York is a sprawling location to the north of the city correct that still preserves a country, town feel. Evidence of its past can be seen in the large quantity of fairway, green rooms, and also big parks that supply a lot of chances for strolling about in nature. Among the largest is the East Don Park, which complies with the training course of the Don River for miles in wooded surroundings.

There are likewise going shopping malls-- such as the Centerpoint Mall and also the Bayview Village Mall-- for all your retail requirements. However there is culture here too, with interactive displays at the Ontario Scientific Research Centre, the open air heritage gallery of Black Creek Pioneer Town, and the Aga Khan Museum, revealing an option of Islamic art.

Suites and also guesthouses, in addition to modern accommodations and motels, can be located in North York.

Scarborough

The eastern part of the city of Toronto, Scarborough is loaded with a lot of plant. There is a total amount of nine parks positioned along what is referred to as the Scarborough Bluffs along the shoreline of Lake Ontario. These include Bluffer's Park-- complete with sandy beach-- and Guild Park and Gardens, with its collection of 'ruins.'.

There's additionally the massive Morningside Park; this is a forested location with creeks and also routes for a daring stroll via nature. It goes without saying, Scarborough is fantastic for those who such as to trek. Scarborough is where you will locate Toronto Zoo, a large location covering over 740 acres where you can reach grips with wild animals. Scarborough is the ideal location for a family journey to Toronto.

With motels and easygoing guesthouses, in addition to midrange resorts with swimming pools and also eating options, there are a couple of various holiday accommodation choices in Scarborough to match your travel style.

The article “ Where to Stay in Toronto: Best Neighborhoods & Hotels “ was first appeared on Touropia

Toronto Naturopathic Doctor - Dr. Amauri Caversan, ND

[lockwoodlitherland]

LLOYD

Lloyd’s phone had buzzed loudly on the decking twice in the past five minutes. Each message had gone ignored, flashing for a lingering moment to life on the screen before seeping into fraught darkness. A message undelivered. Words unread. Truths contained for a fragile moment in an intangible realm of codes and lights before they’d have to enter the careworn and fallible mind inside the man’s head.

The sun was sinking lower over the horizon and the sounds of the waves rushing back and forth over the shore were as clockwork by now as they were enchantingly anomalous. Beyond those waves, Lloyd sometimes told himself, was even more of the world. Across the Pacific Ocean there were hundreds and thousands of places he’d never been and even more that he’d never experience even in dreams. Not that he dreamt much… never consistently.

Some nights he’d remember nothing of his deep slumbering subconscious as it spun stories and pictures and made his heart thunder and his breathing quicken, and some nights he’d wake from what he’d believed to be a peaceful rest to images bursting into nothingness before his eyes. They were stark and vivid but equally completely uninterpretable. Like a painting with too many colours and shapes. Yet, as they escaped his mind and descended to nothingness… there was a familiarity about them. Not quite a warmth but nothing hostile in turn. But that was all they were: fragments of his sleeping subconscious. Shards of a dream. Splinters of memories he’d never had.

Setting his empty glass next to his thigh on the decking, Lloyd cast his eyes once more across the bay. There was a solitary surfer taking on the mild swell and far in the distance, a couple walked a large dog along the stretch of coast that had captured Lloyd’s heart like so many places had in Southern California. Morro Bay, the Gibraltar of the Pacific. Just under 200 miles from The City of Angels and the depths of the devil’s maw.

And truthfully, it had been so long since he’d left Canada behind but thoughts of those he knew dragged him back to it constantly. Dense forests made up of beech, maple, yellow birch, white pine and hemlock. He scratched at his scalp. How familiar those burning ambers and yellows of Canadian autumn were to the towering might of rusty redwoods preparing for the California ‘winter’. The itching grew incessant until he seized his own wrist and pinned it to his thigh.

CN Tower. High Park. St Lawrence Market. Rogers Centre. Yonge-Dundas Square. Running along Queen Street West with Harley laughing into the cold wind. Lingering on the wall outside of city hall waiting for Hunter to turn up at least 15 minutes late. Wandering along the waterfront and driving out to Scarborough Bluffs with Annika in the passenger seat, her long hair streaming in the wind as Johnny Cash poured from the speakers.

The sound of a gull squealing above him dragged Lloyd back into the current moment. Waves crashed against the shore. A car rumbled past on the road far behind him. The sun sank lower, and the world continued to turn. Leaning forward, he braced his elbows on his knees and bowed his head into his hands. Fingers brushed across short hair; cut close to his scalp. It made the scratch marks from his blunt nails stand out even more clearly on his skin. Rubbing his head back and forth against his hands, he told himself quietly to breathe in lungful after lungful of salt air. The familiar scent. The familiar sounds. The familiarity that grounded him like a tether and stopped him from drifting off aimlessly.

The screen door opened quietly behind him and the soft thud of bare feet on decking boards made him lift his head from his hands and turn. A faint smile creased his lips.

“How are you not wearing a jumper?” The woman asked, the smile on her own mouth doing nothing to detract from the mild annoyance in the eye roll that accompanied her words. Lloyd said nothing but instead continued to watch her as she came closer. “The swell looks decent.”

“Yeah…”

“You didn’t want to go try it while I was out?”

“Not really.”

Fingertips softly brushed over the top of his head and Lloyd’s eyes sank closed, his chest swelling as he took a deep breath.

“You’ve been scratching again…” A gentle voice laden with concern as her fingers stopped and focused on the nail marks that seemed to be growing angrier in colour.

“Leah, it’s fine…” Lloyd sighed, reaching up to take hold of her hand in his own. Looking up, he held her gaze. For a few seconds, her blue eyes were firm before they softened with a gentle smile. Her blonde hair was pulled up away from her cheeks, wrapped in a tirelessly untidy bun. It exposed the slightly rosiness in her cheeks that grew deeper as the sea breeze grazed her skin. Sinking into a crouch behind him, she wrapped her arms wrapped around his shoulders and pressed her hands to his chest. Lloyd’s eyes fell closed.

A buzzing sound made them open again and he looked down to see his screen once more flash to life.

“It’s your sister again, isn’t it?”

“Yeah.”

Lips pressed against the spot behind his right ear. Another gull joined the one above them, squealing and riding into the wind.

“One day…” Leah whispered against his skin, her hand lightly rubbing against the fabric covering his chest. “You’ll know where you need to be.” A large hand lifted to cover hers, thumb brushing against the skin on the back of her hand.

“Leah, I…”

“I know.”

“It’s like my mind is always somewhere else.”

“I know.”

It was a silence filled with noise: the rush of the ocean and squealing of gulls; a thousand thoughts and a cacophony of memories that were not his; of familiarity and abnormality and too many pathetic goodbyes. It was the summit of so many sleepless nights starting across the pillow and wondering whether home was truly a physical place or an innate feeling, wondering whether you could truly find yourself when you’d lost so many people in the process.

“Talk to your sister and then we can talk.” Leah murmured as she patted his chest before rising to her feet. As the sliding door closed, Lloyd was left alone with the view once more. Taking in a deep breath, he reached for his phone.

[uglyandtraveling]

Canada Toronto Diversity Festival 2024 at Yonge-Dundas Square

Join me in this vlog for a celebration of Toronto's rich cultural tapestry at the Toronto Diversity Festival, bringing together communities from across the GTA and beyond.

This 7th Annual Toronto Diversity Festival at Yonge-Dundas Square which is going to be renamed soon as Sankofa Square.

The Toronto Diversity Festival is a major event that celebrates and showcases our rich cultural diversity and heritage. It aims to remove barriers to ethnic food, music, crafts, and art, promoting understanding across different cultures and generations. This vibrant festival features a wide range of activities for all ages.

Attendees can enjoy cooking demonstrations to learn how to make delicious dishes from various cultures and participate in interactive workshops and craft sessions. Engaging panel discussions about cultural diversity and heritage provide a platform for meaningful conversations.

Additionally, there are competitions and games to add to the fun, making it an event that brings people together to celebrate Toronto's diverse community.

Whether you're a local or a visitor, this walking tour offers a fresh perspective on Toronto's vibrant urban landscape. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more exciting travel vlogs showcasing the best of Toronto and beyond! Thanks for watching! 🌷🌆🚶‍♂️

[thatmiddle]

Top 10 Albums that Shaped my Existence

How do I put this lightly, I believe listening to music matters as much as breathing. I know that is hyperbolic, but I don’t care. It can fuel your soul in a similar way that air fuels your body to move. It brings to life moments, places, and people. That’s probably why if you listen closely music is everywhere. It’s in the steel drums at Union subway station or the clarinet player at Yonge and Dundas Square. It’s is found from a broken guitar with unclipped strings in Kensington Market to a radio blasting out of an open window. It’s heard from the lake on a cool breezy summer night. It’s made by the leaves in the trees and the creatures roaming its branches. Music is inescapable.

Music is also a lot cheaper than therapy and for most, it is incredibly accessible. In saying that I do not mean to conflate therapy to music, but I do think there is a healing power to songs. This form of artistic expression has been with me during my brightest minutes and my darkest hours. I have relied on it like Aladdin did his magic carpet; it lift me up and took me to places I never thought I’d ever go. All I have to do was turn it on, tune in and drop out, as some would say.

During this pandemic I have leaned heavily into music, it is the perfect socially distanced escape. During this time that I have also gone back to old albums and reflected on how they influenced me and shape who I am today.

In Rainbows - Radiohead

If I had owned this album in an analogue form I would have destroyed it by overplaying it in my Discman. Radiohead is a wonderful band that have made wonderful albums but for some reason, this is the particular one I return to. To me, In Rainbows is the music I heard when I realized that I wanted to take my life in a different more creative direction than that of my peers. In Rainbows is the album I heard on carpool rides to Shakespeare Camp as a young girl. In Rainbows is what played in my head the first time I walked into Kensington Market as a young naive suburban girl. The music is so diverse with its sound but creates a distinctly modern tone. I find the music runs like a stream and cascades into fountains of sound I never expected. All the songs are beautiful but my favourite from the album has always been House of Cards.

Brothers - The Black Keys

If In Rainbows was an early marker of my youth, Brothers by The Black Keys established my teenage self and heavily moulded how I carried myself into my early twenties. With the raunchy guitar, hard drums and vocals somewhere between garage rock and blues, this album stimulated every part of my life. It is one of those albums that upon listening to the first fifteen seconds of the opening track Everlasting Light, I am immediately taken back to driving around in Toronto suburbs and getting into trouble. This album started my ongoing obsession with The Black Keys. Fun fact I named my first Tumblr blog off of a misreading a song lyric in the track The Only One, which also happens to be one of my favourite tracks on the album. I’ve tried to see The Black Keys live twice and both times I was unable to attend the concert. One day I will see them.

Revolver - The Beatles

There are a lot of Beatles albums I love and I wouldn’t say this is my favourite of theirs, but it is I would argue its one of their more underrated albums. From what I have gathered about Beatles fans (having been one since I was six years old), this choice isn’t mutually exclusive. It does however seem that established fans love either Rubber Soul or Revolver. For me, I choose the latter. This album is very experimental for the band as they were still coming out of their admired boy band era. I came to this album as a young girl whenever I played with my toys in the living room of my childhood home. I always heard a Beatles album playing in the background and when Revolver came on I was elated. My toys went on new adventures, met new people and told new stories. The Beatles have always brought out the creativity in me and I’m very grateful for that. Check out the song I’m Only Sleeping, it’s so meditative and my most replayed track.

Man on the Moon: The End of Day - Kid Cudi

I wasn’t in a good place when I was fortunate enough to be introduced to this album as being a teenager can be an incredibly difficult experience. Yet upon hearing this album I was pleasantly surprised, I never expected to find that catharsis in a young American rapper named Kid Cudi. I always liked some rap and hip-hip songs (don’t ever get me started on the importance of Sean Paul), but foolishly enough I never gave a full album or artist the chance. Man on the Moon found me at the right moment. This album’s production is so complex and crosses genres in ways I never expected; it leaves me wanting more every time. Kid Cudi hip-hop is different, Kid Cudi hip-hop goes deep and feels it. While Day ‘N’ Nite is one of the most recognizable songs on the album don’t sleep on Heart of a Lion, it’s beautiful.

For Emma, Forever Ago - Bon Iver

Like many teens in the mid-2000s, I made a Tumblr account. It was a great place filled with hormone-induced rage posts, images of skinny girls ripped from the website We Heart It, and boundless creativity. As a previous webpage creator hailing from the Geocities days, site creation was not new to me. I took up a URL and got to work. During this time I leaned deeper into the ‘indie girl’ aesthetic, which is where I found Bon Iver. Bon Iver’s music is soft and melodic and his guitar strums could whisk you away on a cloud. For Emma, Forever Ago was the soundtrack to the version of me who longed for combat boots, a-line skirts from American Apparel, and a cute hipster boyfriend to take me away from all my problems. I never got everything I wanted, but I was always able to sit in deep thought and listen to this album and for that, I’m incredibly grateful. The Wolves (Act I and II) is one of my favourite tracks off the album, I love the crescendo towards the end of the song it makes me want to release any bad feelings I have through some strong movement.

Is this it - The Strokes

I don’t remember when I first heard this album, I just know it was an unofficial anthem to my early twenties. Was it playing at that frat party? Or maybe it was at the live show in that bar one time. Is This It is the perfect album for starting out in a new place with dreams and about $20 to your name. This album is made for people entering young adulthood making mistakes and living for the moment. Garage rock is such an underrated genre, but perhaps that’s the suburban girl in me speaking. I want to dance every time I hear a track of this perfectly crafted experience. I hear those guitar riffs and I am taken back to running through Toronto at midnight with friends. Is This It is unapologetic and an outstanding debut album for The Strokes and cemented their status as indie rock legends, I don’t care what anyone says. There are a lot of amazing songs to recommend but I will try and spice things up. Last Nite and the title track Is This It are obvious choices but the bop you need to listen to is Someday.

Wish you were here - Pink Floyd

Everyone has to listen to Pink Floyd in university otherwise they never went…right? Pink Floyd always felt like a right of passage that I would eventually reach although I did cheat and wear a Dark Side of The Moon cropped t-shirt I got from HMV in high school just to seem cool. It wasn’t until first-year university I fell in love with the song Wish You Were Here. I’m sure I was just feeling nostalgic after moving out of my suburban bubble and into the big city for the first time. Nevertheless, after annoying my new roommates by listening to that song on repeat in my bedroom I decided to give the rest of the album a shot and immediately fell in l love. It is a short ride but an emotional journey. I thought I had felt everything I needed to feel at 21, then I heard Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Pts 1-5). If you were living under a rock and haven’t heard this album I recommend it. And do check out that track.

good kid m.A.A.d city - Kendrick Lamar

Swimming Pools was everywhere in 2012, it was synonymous with the nightlife which was surprising given its lyrics. Good kid MAAD city takes the ideas explored in Swimming Pools and expands them into a full universe. As soon as I turned on the first song I felt like I had been lifted from my cold Canadian home and into the chaotic Compton of Kendrick Lamar’s universe. This concept album has such depth I feel I learnt more than I would have ever expected. I love the way the album weaves recorded scenes with various characters and the music, it creates such a vivid picture as you listen through the whole piece. I felt deep sympathy towards the struggles told on the record in ways I never thought I would. Good kid m.A.A.d city is a great ride from start to finish without ever skipping a single track, but if you had to speed up to a gem I highly recommend the track Money Trees.

channel Orange - Frank Ocean

I was originally introduced to Frank Ocean through his work with Odd Future or as I proudly scribbled everywhere, OFWGKTA. Frank Ocean was always the quiet R&B guy from the group that I never thought I would have known much about but early 2013 rolled around all that changed. An old friend of mine had pointed me in the direction of new work by the musician and I ran towards the sound immediately. Frank’s voice is mesmerizing and he mixes sounds in ways I would never expect. His lyrics are dark and deep. This album got me through a lot of mixed emotions I started to experience as I worked my way through my undergrad. Frank understood what it meant to feel and I connected deeply with that. Pink Matter was the soundtrack to my life, I listened to it on repeat doing just about every task I could imagine.

House of Balloons - The Weeknd

I remember Toronto the year that The Weeknd released his first mixtapes. He was just an enigma floating through the city, no one could pin him down. I am one hundred percent one of the people who got their hands on the YouTube videos early and saved them immediately to my accounts. I wanted more and I didn’t know why. He captured a sound that still exists here today, it was dark and full of mystery. As soon as I got my hands on the first mixtape I popped that baby into my iPod and played it so much practically the full album made it to my ‘Top 25 Playlist’ on the device. I am obsessed with The Weeknd’s voice and as someone from Etobicoke, I am even more obsessed with the fact that he’s from Scarborough. He sounds like home to me and I will never be able to let that go. When I play this album (which is at least once every year I’ll have you know), I feel sure about who I am and where I come from. It’s not an explicit attitude to being from Toronto, but rather a feeling that you can carry throughout everything you do. The Weeknd carries that on a world stage and I am proud to say he is a Toronto native. Every song on the album is amazing and I say listen to them all, but do make sure you pay special attention to Loft Music. Nothing spells nightlife in Toronto more than at least one party in a condo or loft by Lake Ontario. I was actually asked to go to a late-night loft party by a random man at a Chinese restaurant one time so I can vouch for this happening in the city. Clearly, Abel knew what he was talking about.

Music is one of the most important things in my life. It is like a fuel I use to keep my motor moving. I find it anywhere and everywhere. I rely on it so much it has been the godsend I didn’t realize I needed during a pandemic. I think I am starting to understand why movies from the 1930s were so much about escapism; drifting off into another world during a difficult time can feel like magic.

What are 10 albums that shaped who you are? Let me know in the comments.

[betterdaysareatoenailaway]

An Ode to Payphones

    “Mommy, what’s that?”       I looked. A child was glaring suspiciously at the payphone I’d been using moments before. He looked to be six or seven-years old, so it shouldn’t have been surprising that he’d never seen or noticed a public telephone before, but still. The question, and the palpable disgust in his voice, made me feel old.      “That’s a payphone, honey.”      “What’s it for?”      The mother cast an apprehensive look my way. We were on the platform at Spadina station and she’d seen me on the phone, plugging my ear against the shattering noise of a subway pulling in, making arrangements to meet my heroin dealer John at our usual spot at Main and Danforth. I would have to call him again when I got there, either from one of the four payphones inside Main Street station or on one of the two phones outside the church at Danforth. The phones inside Main Station must have all been routed through one line, because they either all worked, or none did.

    As for the two phones outside the church at Main and Danforth, typically one was broken, but they both worked when I went to check them for this article, a miracle perhaps attributable to the Second Coming of Christ on the roof.

     There have been long spells throughout my life as an addict during which I’ve had no mobile phone. Every spare cent went to heroin. The longest such spell was nearly a year. Several spanned three or four months. So it’s safe to say I know the payphones of Toronto as well as anybody else.      One of my old heroin dealers lived near Roncesvalles and Howard Park, where a non-Bell phone sat outside the Meridian Bank on the northeast corner, crooked and somehow wounded looking.

     There’s no trace of it now, but I know there used to be one just north, on the other side of the street where Dundas splits eastward from Roncesvalles. I used to use it all the time. Luckily, there’s another one not twenty steps east, a Bell, just outside the bus stop east of the Starbucks at Dundas and Roncesvalles. I’ve fed that phone a lot of Loonies, cursing its curious inability to recognize nickels or dimes.

     My Roncesvalles dealer was notoriously unreliable, so I often found myself having to take the College car all the way across the city to its eastern terminus at Main Station. While waiting on that corner for John I would commiserate with my fellow drug users, many of whom lacked phones themselves.      The most popular complaint I heard was how hard it was getting to find a public phone. Apparently some neighbourhoods in Toronto are payphone deserts. You can walk for twenty minutes in any direction and not find one.       So I’m going to see how many phones there are within a five minute radius of my apartment. My guess would be at least eight. Maybe ten. I’m about to get evicted, but I’ve lived in Kensington Market at Nassau and Bellevue since February 2017, which is a veritable payphone oasis. It’s too cold to go out tonight, so I’m going to take a virtual tour of my neighbourhood and take screenshots of every phone I find from Google Street View. Yes, the photos look pretty lo-fi but my whole life is lo-fi, so sue me.      Here’s a no-name one just north of Dundas on Bathurst: 

Here’s one just south of Oxford on Augusta: 

There are two Bell phones just outside Nirvana, across from Sneaky Dee’s:

There’s one outside the church one block east of Bathurst at Lippincot and College:

Here’s another no-name phone one block west of Spadina on the south side of College: 

And here’s a bank of payphones outside the internet cafe at Spadina and College:

     All three of the above phones never work at the same time, and some days you’re lucky to find one operational. (Incidentally, if someone ever reads this post a century from now, or maybe I mean a decade, or maybe I mean reads this post at all, I wonder how quaint the term “payphones outside the internet cafe” will seem.)      Here’s one more non-Bell phone, just to the west of the Scotiabank on the northwest corner of Dundas and Spadina. This phone has great personal significance for me, for a reason I can’t get into. Let’s just say I made a phone call on it during a very memorable moment in my life:

     For those of you not counting, that’s ten phones all within a five minute walk of my apartment in Kensington. There are another three are in the lobby of Toronto Western Hospital, for thirteen total. Thirteen is a lot more than I expected. Especially in 2020. And I’m sure I’m missing a few. Maybe payphones aren’t as endangered as they seem. In fact, as I was taking the photograph at the top of this post, a woman came over to me and asked, “are you using the phone?”     So they definitely still serve a purpose. They wouldn’t still be there if nobody was using them. A capitalist venture like Bell doesn’t keep phones around because the CEO is nostalgic. I’m kind of relieved at how many there still are, and how vital they still seem to be.       Still, I have mixed feelings toward payphones. They annoy me, but I also like them for reasons I can’t explain. I like invisible infrastructure. Nobody notices payphones. Ask yourself where the nearest payphone is. Do you even know? They may be forgotten or disliked, but they’re dependable, standing tall at their lonely outposts through sleet and rain, day and night, as we cuddle up with our smartphones in the warmth of our homes. We’ve left payphones out in the cold and most of us don’t even miss them.      I have a mobile phone now, but I still miss payphones. Or maybe I miss the days when they were a normal way to communicate, phone books slung around their waists, swinging on a chain. (Some time in the last decade, phone companies must have got tired of replacing the books nobody ever used and just got rid of them entirely. I guess they figured we could look up the numbers we need on...our mobile phones?)      Yes, there’s a definite note of nostalgia among people who still use payphones. We’re all bitter about the great price jump of 2007, when calls went from twenty-five cents to fifty, an increase of one-hundred percent. If you’re of my generation, old enough to remember life before the internet, then you know that payphones are sad remainders of the technology we grew up with, a visible reminder of the 90s. It’s my firm belief that everybody suffers from chronic temporal sickness for the decade they grew up in. I can imagine a day when they only exist in museums and photographs. Maybe I’ll go to watch the last phone get decommissioned. Maybe I’ll only love payphones once I can never use one again, like the Once-ler becoming an environmentalist only after hearing the “thwack” that felled the last Truffula tree in Dr. Suess’ The Lorax.      I feel this way even though payphones are often more a hassle than a convenience. I once spent half an hour outside the Eaton Centre on Queen Street waiting for a woman to finish her conversation, only to find the phone broken when she finally hung up. Her wild gesticulations should have tipped me off that she’d been screaming at a phantom, but I was too dopesick to notice.        There were and are other cons to payphone usage. It wasn’t always easy to come up with the necessary exact change. Or sometimes you’d have exact change but the phone wouldn’t recognize one of your coins. For whatever reason, payphones have a really hard time reading dimes. Many times I’ve had just enough to make one call but the phone won’t cooperate and I’ve had to throw myself at the mercy of a local convenience store owner or random bystander. Maybe “can I use your phone?” was an innocuous question back in the day, but nowadays people immediately suspect you for asking and they really, really do not want to loan you their phone. I don’t blame them. Our phones contain our entire lives. It’s not the same as handing someone a few quarters.       Despite all the long list of cons, there remains among my fellow payphone users a keen sense of loss. We’re all grieving something indefinable, something that went away with the advent of mobile phones. And I’m not leading up to a gripe about “kids these days on their phones.” As an avid reader, I usually bury my nose in a book when I’m on transit, so I don’t beseech people to “live in the moment” when they’re sitting on a bus. Being a passenger on the TTC for the thousandth time isn’t something that requires one’s undivided attention. I only get annoyed when I see some guy – and it’s always a guy – staggering down the sidewalk with his eyes glued to his phone, walking into people. Or walking into traffic. The feelings of wistfulness among payphone users grows more acute as the years roll on and more and more public telephones are yanked from their moorings, never to return. The sense of loss sometimes manifests itself in the passing down of legend.      When I first heard the story, it was that there exists somewhere in the city of Toronto a payphone that still makes calls for a quarter. I was convinced it was the one just east of University on Dundas, south side of the street, just east of the Royal Bank. It just looks so fucking furtive. Like it’s hiding from the tourist hordes at Yonge and Dundas square, tucked around that corner:

     I went to check that phone for this article but it doesn’t work at all, much less for half price.      In an apt game of telephone about telephones, the legend grew. Only a few months after I first heard the Legend of the Half-Price Payphone, the story had morphed into a unicorn payphone that makes calls for free. People were arguing over which one it could be, though admittedly nobody had ever found it. It was like the leprechaun’s pot of gold.      “It’s the one outside the mall at Kingston and Midland. The one with the Scotiabank!”      “Naw it’s the payphone at Warden Station! Next to the donut shop!”      “It’s the one at Yonge and Charles!”      “What? They took that one out before 9/11.”      “It’s the one in Yorkdale near the GO Station!”      “Seriously bro. Pre-9/11. You’re memory is fucked, bro.”      “My cousin’s in the Hell’s Angels. He can sell you a burner for $5. Why use a payphone when you can get a…”       “No one cares about your cousin, Dwight.”      “Pre-9/11 bro. Seriously. Yonge and Charles? Christ!”       And on and on and on, into the night.       I have a mobile phone now and it’s hard to imagine I’ll ever go back.       The final straw came when I had to go up to Muskoka one summer for four days to work on a cottage. I missed my partner so much by the third day that I walked up and down the length of the lake, looking for a payphone. I probably had a better chance of spotting a lion, but there was no way I was going back to that cottage without talking to my wife. I missed her too fucking much.       At the end of the lake I spotted a house with the garage door wide open. Inside the garage there was a workbench, a fridge, and all sorts of tools. On a hunch, I quietly made my way up the gravel driveway. There wasn’t a human being in sight. Inside the garage, I spotted a wall-mounted phone, and called my wife. She didn’t answer but I left her a message. As I was leaving it I heard footsteps and before I could make myself scarce an elderly lady came around the corner and stared at me. She obviously lived there.       “Um. I was just…leaving,” I said, hanging up the phone and sheepishly skipping back to the main road as fast as I could. The woman frowned after me, watching me go.       A little further down the road I saw an electrician working on a house and asked to use his phone. He said yes and I finally got through to my wife. But I couldn’t talk long or say what I wanted to say because the electrician was staring at me, so I determined right there and then to get and keep a fucking phone of my own. And that’s what I did. I sometimes pay my bill late and find myself cast backward into the land of payphones and useless dimes, but for the most part I’ve joined the 21st century.      As for that mother and her child, the mother did her best, to her credit.              “Some people…can’t afford cell phones,” she informed her son, who looked bored already. “Or else they can’t get coverage on the subway, so they use one of these. Or in emergencies, they work for emergencies.”       “What kind of person can’t afford a phone?” the child brayed incredulously.       The mother looked embarrassed. I wasn’t. Let her stupid kid hate payphones and poor people. Most people do.      I rarely use payphones now but I still get a small shiver of curiosity when I pass one I haven’t seen before, wondering if it’s the legendary free one. The unicorn. The white whale of public telephones. So I check. And I hear “please insert fifty cents” from the robotic lady voice that rules payphone land.      Then I move on.

[firstofall-howdareyou]

How was your trip aside from seeing the fantastic show?

Oh it was amazing!! We had an incredible time. I’ll do a play by play with some photos and if you don’t have any interest, just move along haha 

Started out in Niagara Falls on Friday - obviously its a massive tourist trap and has very Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg vibes, so we had a very expensive dinner for the view that wasn’t worth the value and then checked it out in the daytime that next morning. I think we ended up leaving by like 9:30 am haha

We made a pit stop in Niagara-On-The-Lake on our way to Kitchener and what an adorable little town!! I never got a chance to try ice wine while we were there so I’m going to have to find some somewhere. 

In Kitchener before the show, we explored St. Jacob’s Farmers Market (I got a bag of chippery chips and my friend got a doner kebab which just took me back to London and studying abroad and I miss ittttt) - so many Mennonites working there, it was really interesting. 

We had dinner before the show at The Rich Uncle Tavern in downtown Kitchener and I cannot recommend it enough! It was absolutely delish and such a cool vibe on the inside. 

Headed to Toronto on Sunday morning and I had my first Tim Hortons experience. It was… like every other coffee experience? Also timbits are just donut holes right? Anyways. 

We went to the Royal Ontario Museum (that city pass life) – my friend made a joke about one of the artifacts being yet another thing the western world stole and of course, it was said right in front of a docent who then told us that the museum purchased those items from the Vietnamese a few years ago. Whoops! 

We had lunch at Hemingway’s and it was such a fun place. I imagine when it’s not, you know 38 with 20 mph winds, the patio is a lot cooler, but was really good food! 

After lunch, we got super lost trying to find Casa Loma and ended up wandering around the mansions on Russell Hill Rd before we finally figured out how to get to the ~castle. Which was stunning!!! I felt like we were playing clue with the conservatory/secret passageways. 

That night we grabbed more Tim Hortons to walk ourselves to Yonge-Dundas Square and the Eaton Centre, before we took the subway to the CN Tower. My friend is super wary of heights but I dgaf so we went at night so she would be less scared. 

Then we went to Smoke’s Poutinery for our first poutine experience. omg its both awful and amazing at the same time. If I was drunk, I think you’d have to drag me out of there, but it was just a tad too much gravy for me. 

Monday we did the Aquarium, which was a lot of fun! Thank you to my anon who recommended it. I showed photos of it to one of my nieces last night and she was obsessed. 

Then we went up to graffiti alley, explored some of the shops on Queen Street, etc. and finally went to the Eaton Centre to truly shop. We went floor by floor and into any store that we didn’t recognize haha (no photos of tessa in the rw&co but I did see her on the wall in bonlook!) Managed to grab a Canadian Olympic team shirt from Hudson’s Bay (thanks for that tip!!!) 

And then off to London for our final stop! We headed there a little earlier than I expected so we didn’t have a diner plan. We ended up walking around Covent Garden Market for a bit before going to Milos’ Craft Beer Emporium for dinner/drinks. What a good vibe there. It felt like a lot of bars we have at home, but of course we had to get Ontario beers. I had a sour beer from Bellwoods Brewery (felt fitting with the band) and it was delish. 

Obviously, the fact that Canada let Target fail is horrifying to these Americans, and Google told us that Canadians typically went to Canadian Tire instead, so we had nothing else to do but tour the store that destroyed the best store in the world. Listen. I’m so sorry Canadians, but Canadian tire is trash and I really want you to accept that. It smelled like a mix between an Ollie’s and a KMart. I even messaged someone and said “I can’t believe Tessa Virtue had a m&g in one of these” hahahahaha

Unfortunately, the Bag Lady is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, so we couldn’t go there, but we went back downtown to The Early Bird for breakfast and it was DELISH and so filling omg. Cannot recommend it enough. 

And then I took my friend on what I called A VM Tour of London HAHAHA 

We started with Bud Gardens because it was right there (as someone who lives in a city that is larger than London but not like… that much larger population wise - wow wow wow that is a small downtown), drove right past Molly Bloom’s, Tessa’s house, and then off to Ilderton, the arena, Scott’s parent’s house, and finally the Skate Shop. 

Can I just pause for a moment and talk about how they picked SUCH a good location for the skate shop? There are new subdivisions going up all over the place right there and its close to the suburbs of London. It was a solid move. Also it’s super cute on the inside!!! They did such a good job. I loved all of the photos they had in there, including 2010 OD Nationals, Mahler, the Greg Kolz ones. Ugh. Well done. 

My friend is SUCH a good friend. Like I cannot stress that enough. I drove and she took photos of everything and I love her for it. 

Finally, we ended up at the Museum London for a bit since it was donation-only and explored that before we hit the 401 and headed home. 

I’m genuinely not kidding when I say that I teared up on the 401 imagining teenage VM making this drive weekly forging their friendship. I got really sappy and I’m not even sorry about it. 

Overall, it was SUCH A FUN TRIP. Thank you to everyone who gave me recommendations on where to go, where to stay and what to eat. 

[saepiae]

the fact that overwatch 2 has a toronto map is so funny to me like what are the scenic parts? yonge dundas square where a homeless man tells u to go fuck urself?? an inbred squirrel gives u rabies in queens park?? like what is it