Twenty Something in Toronto

[Stan In Maryland]

No, I am not looking for a date. A young woman in our office is going to be going to Toronto with a female friend and are I offered to try to find out somethings for them to do. The friend is vegan. They are staying in the Kennsiginton Market area. Any suggestions appreciated.

[Homerj]

I'm too old to be of any value, plus vegan restaurants and I do not mix.
However if they do plan on going to the falls, go to Chinatown and take the Casino bus.
It's like $20 (and they give you $20 in chips).
Everyone will be speaking Mandarin but who cares the bus has good free wifi and its WAAAYYY cheaper than taking other buses.
Kensington market is kind of grotty but its easy to walk quickly out of the grottiness.
Chinatown is close by with lots of good cheap eats (but no idea about vegan).
I like taking tourists to the island as its a nice place to walk around and a great place to take a shot of the whole city, and if they walk to hanlons point they may see more human flesh than they may want to.

[ceylon_tea]

I recommend the vegan restaurant Awai in bloor west village. Can easily take the subway there (Runnymede Station). If they visit high park it's a good place for dinner afterwards. I'm not a vegan, went there because it's in my hood. I really liked it, bit on the pricey side.
I like kensington market; there are some vegan places there. Kensington market is not grotty. May be grotty if you more of a burbs person.
Toronto islands is great. Hanlan point is clothing optional but a great place to hangout.

[Stan In Maryland]

Thanks I will pass on. I hate to show my ignorance, even though I do so very regularly, but what is the name of "the falls", unless that is the name.

Who knows, they might like clothing optional. I really don't want to know as she works for me.

[Moethebartender]

I think Homer may be referring to Niagara Falls - which I think is around 3 or so hours each way from Toronto. It's been a while since I've been.

[Stan In Maryland]

Moe,

Thanks. I had not thought about THOSE falls. With the just a weekend I doubt they will want to go that far.

[Homerj]

I think Homer may be referring to Niagara Falls - which I think is around 3 or so hours each way from Toronto. It's been a while since I've been.

Hour and a half each way Moe.
Sorry when you live near the world's most famous waterfalls you just call it the falls assuming everyone knows which one you mean.

[Moethebartender]

An hour and a half by bus as you recommended? According to google maps 3 hours, 23 minutes

I wouldn't bother in a weekend either, Stan.

[Homerj]

It's a straight shot Moe...just one bus.
Leaves from around Spadina/Dundas (so they can walk from Kensington).

https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/Spadina+ ... 43.0895577

[Homerj]

It's a straight shot Moe...just one bus.
Leaves from around Spadina/Dundas (so they can walk from Kensington).

https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/Spadina+ ... 43.0895577

Also leaves from the main bus terminal.
Cost is $26 but I think you get a voucher for $20 in chips.
Walk is maybe 5-10 minutes from Casino to the falls.

[eric84]

This is a chain in Toronto which I went to which has vegetarian/vegan options.

https://freshrestaurants.ca/

[snowgirl]

Kensington Market is an awesome neighbourhood. I work there. And there's plenty of vegetarian and vegan options in and around the market. I wouldn't bother with Niagara Falls for such a short amount of time. There's plenty to see and do in the City. Fresh is great, a bit outside the Market but still walkable, and Kupfert and Kim and across the street, also a good choice. There's a Vegan bakery called Bunners, Buddha's vegetarian (with lots of vegan options) on Dundas, the Urban Herbivore (which I don't love, tbh), Wanda's Pie in the Sky, which is vegetarian with some vegan options, is delicious.

The Art Gallery of Ontario is walkable from Kensington if they're in to that. Lots of great bars in the Market and also a bit further west in Little Italy. There are the regular tourist-y things to do - CN Tower, Ripley's Aquarium, shopping on Queen West - that are all easily accessible from where they'll be staying. Let me know if you need more details, Stan.

[Stan In Maryland]

Thanks so much everyone. I will pass all of this on including the "falls". I wouldn't spend that much time out of a weekend trip, but I have been there and it isn't my trip.

[ceylon_tea]

Kensington Market is an awesome neighbourhood. I work there. And there's plenty of vegetarian and vegan options in and around the market. I wouldn't bother with Niagara Falls for such a short amount of time. There's plenty to see and do in the City. Fresh is great, a bit outside the Market but still walkable, and Kupfert and Kim and across the street, also a good choice. There's a Vegan bakery called Bunners, Buddha's vegetarian (with lots of vegan options) on Dundas, the Urban Herbivore (which I don't love, tbh), Wanda's Pie in the Sky, which is vegetarian with some vegan options, is delicious.

The Art Gallery of Ontario is walkable from Kensington if they're in to that. Lots of great bars in the Market and also a bit further west in Little Italy. There are the regular tourist-y things to do - CN Tower, Ripley's Aquarium, shopping on Queen West - that are all easily accessible from where they'll be staying. Let me know if you need more details, Stan.

Love Kupfert and Kim and the bunners.

[eric84]

Thanks so much everyone. I will pass all of this on including the "falls". I wouldn't spend that much time out of a weekend trip, but I have been there and it isn't my trip.

Yeah, I wouldn't take a day to see the falls if I were in Toronto for a weekend, especially not to see a casino. Geez.

[Homerj]

Thanks so much everyone. I will pass all of this on including the "falls". I wouldn't spend that much time out of a weekend trip, but I have been there and it isn't my trip.

Yeah, I wouldn't take a day to see the falls if I were in Toronto for a weekend, especially not to see a casino. Geez.

99% of people from outside of Canada who come to visit me want to go to the falls.
You don't see a casino you just take their bus to get to the falls the quickest/cheapest way.

[Moethebartender]

Homer, if someone's got 48 hours in Tronna, they really ain't going to the falls. It's obviously not the greatest of cities on the North Amerikkkan continent, but there's more than enough to see and do in 48 hours without spending even three hours round trip on a bus (and I'm pretty sure it took us over 2 hours in a car due to traffic, so I'm still skeptical about the 1 1/2 hour bus claim) to go see some shit that you'd easily absorb in a half hour before turning around to go back to someplace that has better eating and entertainment options. It's not like you're stumbling across Machu Picchu or some shit, it's a fucking waterfall. Once you get to the falls, there is sweet fuck all to do aside from staring at the fucking water or gambling in the casino. Unless you're planning on going over them in a fucking barrel or something. If you're really into watching water tumbling over a fucking cliff, Angel Falls is higher and Victoria Falls is way more grand in scale.

[snowgirl]

They really are pretty spectacular from the Canadian side, though.

[RainbowFrizz]

Tell the girls to look around for NOW magazine newspaper boxes. The newspapers are free and list all the entertainment options for the week includiing live music.

[Homerj]

Homer, if someone's got 48 hours in Tronna, they really ain't going to the falls. It's obviously not the greatest of cities on the North Amerikkkan continent, but there's more than enough to see and do in 48 hours without spending even three hours round trip on a bus (and I'm pretty sure it took us over 2 hours in a car due to traffic, so I'm still skeptical about the 1 1/2 hour bus claim) to go see some shit that you'd easily absorb in a half hour before turning around to go back to someplace that has better eating and entertainment options. It's not like you're stumbling across Machu Picchu or some shit, it's a fucking waterfall. Once you get to the falls, there is sweet fuck all to do aside from staring at the fucking water or gambling in the casino. Unless you're planning on going over them in a fucking barrel or something. If you're really into watching water tumbling over a fucking cliff, Angel Falls is higher and Victoria Falls is way more grand in scale.

And two girls from Maryland are gonna go to Zambia or Venezeula for the weekend?
I will repeat for the thirds time...99% of people who visit me have one must do on their visit...that is visiting the worlds most famous waterfalls.
So as I actually live here and have visitors who come here I was simply offering an easy way for them to do what pretty much everyone who comes here wants to do.

[Stan In Maryland]

I passed on the fall recommendation and they are thinking about it. It is easy for me to say I wouldn't because I have seen the falls. I do think they are spectacular. I know it is cool to say they are "just a waterfall" but they are friggin huge waterfall and I think well worth seeing.

I really appreciate everyone input and have passed the recommendations on an they are appreciated.

[coffeeguy]

Have them google hot nightclubs in Toronto, on blogto there is a list of good spots 20 somethings will like. If they are staying in Kensington market area, I’d head up to college street west neighbourhood, short cab ride, lots of nightclubs, bars, some live music. A lot of other 20 somethings.

[islandboi]

- shopping on Queen West

Yup... Block after block of the funkiest of funky shopping and hipster heaven... There is a craft donut shop along there called "The Glory Hole" . That got my attention straight away.

There are also some fantastic clothes shops that cater to only short men.... They are terribly expensive but I did buy a pair of trousers there once... They didn't need to be hemmed. Lovely.

[Moethebartender]

Homer, you win - if you've only got 48 hours in Toronto, you should definitely spend a large chunk of that time in a bus going somewhere else that is bound to be better. Even if it is right next door to fucking Buffalo. Hey, they've got wings!

Toronto sucks so much that you can't possibly spend more than about 40 hours there before you have to go somewhere else to be entertained or see something worthy of your time.

I'm glad we've reached an accord on just how fucking boring the most exciting city in KKKanaduh is.

There was recently a bar opened in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, called the Glory Hole. Apparently it closed due to the onslaught of the recent Chinese invasion, as most of the other bars there have.

Stan - have you considered recommending a better destination?

[eric84]

Homer, you win - if you've only got 48 hours in Toronto, you should definitely spend a large chunk of that time in a bus going somewhere else that is bound to be better. Even if it is right next door to fucking Buffalo. Hey, they've got wings!

Toronto sucks so much that you can't possibly spend more than about 40 hours there before you have to go somewhere else to be entertained or see something worthy of your time.

I'm glad we've reached an accord on just how fucking boring the most exciting city in KKKanaduh is.

There was recently a bar opened in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, called the Glory Hole. Apparently it closed due to the onslaught of the recent Chinese invasion, as most of the other bars there have.

Stan - have you considered recommending a better destination?

Maybe Detroit? Someone can take them to Windsor to see the sights.

[Homerj]

Homer, you win - if you've only got 48 hours in Toronto, you should definitely spend a large chunk of that time in a bus going somewhere else that is bound to be better. Even if it is right next door to fucking Buffalo. Hey, they've got wings!

Toronto sucks so much that you can't possibly spend more than about 40 hours there before you have to go somewhere else to be entertained or see something worthy of your time.

I'm glad we've reached an accord on just how fucking boring the most exciting city in KKKanaduh is.

There was recently a bar opened in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, called the Glory Hole. Apparently it closed due to the onslaught of the recent Chinese invasion, as most of the other bars there have.

Stan - have you considered recommending a better destination?

Dude if u think tronna is the most exciting city in Canada you need to get out more.
I'd put Montreal up against most any city in the world for fun thrills and excitement.
It's only an extra 5 hrs. in the car.

[eric84]

If you can't find fun in Toronto, you haven't left Burlington.

[Homerj]

If you can't find fun in Toronto, you haven't left Burlington.

Tronnas fine, but its hardly a thrill a minute kind of town.
I've said this many times before, great place to live (one of the reasons its constantly polls in the worlds top 10 cities to live) but just a nice place to visit.
You forget I lived downtown before I lived in the 'burbs (maybe one of my biggest errors in judgement, not buying the house we were renting there).

[eric84]

What can you do in Montreal that you can't do in Toronto?

[Homerj]

Food and drink is way better.
1000+ byo restos.
Way better happy hours (wait there is no such thing really as a happy hour in Ontario).
Way better art scene.
Outstanding wimmin.
Much more interesting architecture.
Great strippers.
Watch any Anthony Bourdain special on the place (he has profiled the city 3 or 4 different times), as he has an even different take.
Montreal is New Orleans and Vegas wrapped into one place, minus the crime of NO and the tackiness of Vegas.
It's Canada's adult playland.

[eric84]

Food and drink is way better.
1000+ byo restos.
Way better happy hours (wait there is no such thing really as a happy hour in Ontario).
Way better art scene.
Outstanding wimmin.
Much more interesting architecture.
Great strippers.
Watch any Anthony Bourdain special on the place (he has profiled the city 3 or 4 different times), as he has an even different take.
Montreal is New Orleans and Vegas wrapped into one place, minus the crime of NO and the tackiness of Vegas.
It's Canada's adult playland.

Restos? C'mon, Toronto has way better variety in every major ethnic group. I'm not convinced food and drink offerings in Montreal are significantly better. Art scene? What?

[Homerj]

Geez how much time have you spent in either place?
Montreal is the foodie capital of Canada.
Don't believe me...cue Mr. Bourdain.
Arts scene in Montreal is way more local and way less corporate.

[eric84]

Geez how much time have you spent in either place?
Montreal is the foodie capital of Canada.
Don't believe me...cue Mr. Bourdain.
Arts scene in Montreal is way more local and way less corporate.

If I recall, the cuisine Bourdain did was mostly old school Quebecois stuff....well, yeah, of course they would be good at that. Toronto just has a much wider range of food choices.