My second installment of Wandering Toronto will focus on Queen West. This is definitely one of Toronto’s trendiest streets, and can provide hours of entertainment whether you like… well… entertainment, shopping, food, or pretty much anything else. It may be better known than The Distillery, but it certainly has its share of hidden treasures.

If there is one word to describe such a diverse street, it would be quirky: Goth Loli dresses, designer prints, and novely goods rule. Then again, ‘diverse’ works quite well too. Jazz bars share this street with Much Music, lavishly decorated restaurants with little student cafes, Lemor, H&M and Mendocino with small-name designers and the aforementioned goth and punk clothing stores. Tying all of this together are a few motifs that you wouldn’t find anywhere else, like cupcakes or little clip-on hats, feathers, and veils.

How To Get Here:

Queen St. is fairly long, but the interesting section stretches from University to just past Spadina, with the possible addendum of Nathan Phillips Square and the Eaton Centre.

-If you want to start with the Eaton Centre, take the subway to Queen or Dundas stations on the Yonge line.
- To start with Queen West proper, get off at Osgoode station on the University line. This is also the best stop for Nathan Phillips.
-To start at Spadina and work your way East, take a streetcar South on Spadina from any point on campus.
-Queen is within walking distance of campus, but plan for a long walk – 30-40 minutes at least.

Places to go:

- The Eaton Centre: If it wasn’t so well-known, it could probably have a post of its own. It’s also fairly mainstream, so you hardly need a guide, but I’ll give a quick overview of the basics. Food Court: first floor (South) and basement (North). Better choice: the off-food court fare, like Mr. Greenjeans. Stores: if you get lost, a general rule of thumb is the more expensive, the higher off the ground. Washrooms: few and far between; there’s definitely one in the North part of the basement, but I always have to hunt for the other ones. Chocolate: Godiva (mmmmm….). Snacks: great iced coffee at Baroli Cafe, the world’s best cookies at Mrs. Fields’. Shiny: the Swarovsky store.

-The Cards and Presents Store: You’ll know it by its painfully pink outside. It’s called Cards and Presents, but Trinkets would be a better name. It has jewellery, candles, and wallets, as well as anything you want shaped like cupcakes. Cupcake soap, anyone? Cupcakes are definitely a motif of the street as a whole, but this store has the highest concentration, and the most creativity… which goes for all of its products, by the way.

-El Mundo: this is a truly unusual home decor store. Hand-shaped seat to go with that foot-shaped coffee table, anyone?

- Clic Klak/Border Line/Black Market: pretty representative of Queen St.’s unusual clothing offerings.

-Prom on Queen: Ok, If you’re reading this you’re probably past your prom days, but this store is worth visiting just because of how unusual it is. Dresses of every imaginable style stuff the store to the point where it’s actually walk through it, surrounded by trinkets (fuzzy soap, apparently), and the store’s typically Queen St. decor, replete with black and white striped curtains which become change rooms when untied, and scissor-shaped door handles.

-Queen Video: Not really a place to visit, but definitely one to keep in mind, as it has a large stock of rare videos, like Japanese movies that are hard to find in Canada.

-The Silver Snail: This is a huge comic book store, and great if you’re into that kind of thing, although their selection of Manga isn’t huge. Recommended by fellow BlogUT-ers Jess and Jasmine.

- The Market Stalls: some pretty jewelery, as market stalls are wont to have. The fact that they’re just across the street from a row of brand-name stores is typical Queen St.

-The Fabric and Bead stores: these go from high-end and expensive to very cheap indeed. At around Spadina, you will come across one of these at almost ever other door, and a trip to Queen St. isn’t complete without them. Come in to look at rows upon rows of beads, or huge rolls of fabric piled up to the ceiling. The Beadery also has a window into the workshop where they make the beads.

Things To Do:

- The Rex: This is one of Toronto’s last remaining Jazz bars, and that alone makes it worthy of being on this list. They have had some great acts, like Harry Connick Jr., but also have their fair share of misses, so I do suggest that you check the schedule on their website and look up the musicians before choosing when to go. There is no dress code, and while they serve dinner you are also free to simply order a drink.

- Nathan Phillips Square: Yup, city hall. During the winter Nathan Phillips has a great outdoor skating rink, with rentals and hot chocolate available. During the summer it plays host to many festivals, including the prestigious Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival, which is also housed in The Rex (see above), the Four Seasons Centre (see below), and other downtown venues. It is also surrounded by a seemingly infinite mass of food trucks and trolleys, in case you want a quick and cheap snack.

- The Four Seasons Centre For The Performing Arts: This performance hall was built specifically for Opera and Ballet performances, but also hosts some Jazz Festival performances. See their website for this season’s scheduled performances.

- Much Music/CP24/Citytv: The iconic Much Music building is located on this stretch of Queen. In addition to hosting the upcoming MMVA’s, they have regular tapings of audience shows, including Much On Demand. See their website for ticket information. Incidentally, Crepe Cafe and Everest (see below) are right across the street, so you can always listen to the music while enjoying your food, as long as you’re prepared to put up with swarms of teenage fan -girls and -boys.

-ScotiaBank Theatre (Cineplex): Why not take in a movie while you’re here? The ScotiaBank Theatre is actually located on Richmond St., one block south of Queen on St. John St. It has IMAX, a good selection of movies, and is close to campus, making it a great choice.

Places to Eat:

- India Palace: This is some of the best Indian food I’ve had, and I’ve had quite a bit. The first time I ate here I would have passed by its unremarkable front, if I and my friends hadn’t been ushered in by their exceptionally friendly staff. The food is also inexpensive, and perfect for a student budget. I prefer India Palace to Little India next door, but I’ve heard the opposite opinion.

-Everest: This restaurant has a stunning decor, and an unusual and delicious combination of Tibetan and Indian food. If you’re unsure about what to order, I highly recommend the Everest Platter – it’s a sampling of some of the more popular dishes from both cultures. Also watch out for their infamous Yak-Butter Tea. Legend has it that the waiters will actually discourage non-Tibetan clients (it’s an acquired taste) from ordering it, and I definitely got an “are you serious?” from my waiter when one of my friends ordered it for me as a joke. Despite its high-end decor, it’s cheap enough for a student – I’ve never spent more than $25 here, and usually spend closer to $15. Unfortunately, their service is pretty bad, but the food is worth it.

- Cafe Crepe: Crepe heaven. Although they have a take-out option, I really encourage you to have a seat and take advantage of its diner feel. They have both sweet and savoury crepes, so it works for anything from brunch to dessert.

-Peter Pan: Ok, to confess, I haven’t actually eaten here. Nor have I heard reviews. It’s on this list more for its historical value, as it was the first Canadian workplace of Susur Lee (those who watch the Food Network know who I’m talking about).

All pictures by me. Picture 3 in Sussman’s Bridal and Party Supplies; Picture 6: Mango milkshake at Java House.

This entry was posted on Friday, June 12th, 2009 at 12:00 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.