Anyone from downtown Toronto?

[Tad]

Or to put it another way, Toronto is the guy (or girl) that you take home to meet Mom, when you are ready to settle down. Nice, clean, stable, prosperous, (mostly) sane.... Maybe a little smug and annoying from knowing it is all of that, but it is pretty hard to argue that it isn't a good catch.

Despite which, the rest of us like to mock it--have to keep its ego in check somwhow

[GTAFA]

Originally Posted by Tad

Despite which, the rest of us like to mock it--have to keep its ego in check somwhow

Big cities are usually a set of compromises, a necessarily evil. Part of that process is boasting and BS, when in truth the ideal is a small town OUTSIDE the big city. You always have to make trade-offs.

[Tad]

Originally Posted by GTAFA

when in truth the ideal is a small town OUTSIDE the big city. .

*shudder* no, that is not always the ideal......trust me! (grew up in a small town then in the suburbs, now a committed urbanite who just barely gets enough 'city' in Ottawa).

[GTAFA]

Originally Posted by Tad

*shudder* no, that is not always the ideal......trust me! (grew up in a small town then in the suburbs, now a committed urbanite who just barely gets enough 'city' in Ottawa).

Everyone is different of course. Cities provide services you can't find in a small town. You'll find more jobs there, also more air pollution, crime, etc. Once upon a time, the only place to find culture was a big city, but now it's amazing what you find in a corner store in a little hamlet.

As for the growing up part, i can swap you horror stories of the private school i went to in downtown Toronto.

Ottawa has a nice balance, a lot like Toronto 50 years ago.

[CarlaSixx]

Being from a small village that was 30 mins outside Ottawa and now living in Cornwall, a small city 1 hour out of Ottawa, I lobe both but prefer Toronto. I'm a total artsy fartsy type which is probably why I enjoy it. I like Montreal for the same reasons except Montreal is more stuck up compared to Toronto. I visit when I can and am coming to know Toronto damn well already lol. When I go on vacation it's to toronto. Ottawa is t enough for me and now I know it less than TO!

[SSBBW Katerina]

Originally Posted by GTAFA

This is as much in response to Katerina as to Carla. I guess it's simply an occasion to talk about Toronto, a city I love. What's not to like (about Toronto)? yes i suppose we're the city everyone in Canada hates, the same way NYC is loathed by Americans, even while secretly wanting to live there.

I was at the opera last night, watching an Aida starring American Sondra Radvanovsky. While we have a lot of local talent, lots of culture is imported too:

• TV is dominated by US imports (of course), but that also will allow you to feel at home here if you're coming from the USA
• we have one of the most important film festivals in the world --TIFF-- in September, that brings major stars here for two weeks, and other film festivals almost every month
• it's a great theatre town, the place most Canadian actors come to when they're trying to make a career; and we're close to two major small-town festivals, namely the Stratford Shakespearean festival and the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake
• sports? um, well, great teams from other cities LOVE to visit and beat our team, although that may change someday. It's one of the great hockey cities even if we haven't won that in awhile, a vicarious NFL city (Buffalo Bills play a couple of games here each year), and the Blue Jays play over .500 in the toughest division in baseball.

As cities go, it's livable. We're in the middle of an election right now that's got us all thinking and re-thinking our city. For most places in the suburbs a car is helpful but not absolutely mandatory because there's public transit. Downtown, while more expensive, is vibrant and exciting and well-served by transit. While residents complain about crime, a bad year in Toronto is still a dream year for any American city (see what wikipedia says).

The fall colours are looking awesome right now. It's not as cold as people expect. Chicago and Buffalo get more snow. Don't bother strapping your skis to the roof of the car. In the summer it's ridiculously hot, although a Texan may think we're wimpy to complain (as my sister-in-law, who's from New Orleans sometimes will say).

Wow! Thank you so much for all of this, GTAFA. I'm jazzed about moving there eventually. I miss the 'city'. I lived in NYC [Manhattan] for 15yrs & was priced out of the market & lost my flat. It has become a haven for the "Haves and have mores" as George 'Dubya' once stated. I'll always love it though.

Your info is so well written. Its enticing, honest. Are you a writer/ author journalist? If not you should be. I'm sold.

Oh yes & the theatre & music scene. Definitely must get into. My 'friend' there is a journalist & he performs w/ the Peterborough Symphony. So fantastic! The added benefits of all this is that I can socialize & get active again & become a healthier, happier & well rounded (pun intended) SSBBW.

Merci, GTAFA for rolling out the welcome wagon. I'll be up there, via Greyhound, on 17 November until 23 November, playing "Getting to Know You" w/ my guy. After the 23rd I'm on my way, hopefully if all goes well, to NYC for a closed set film shoot out on Long Island. No U.S. Thanksgiving 4 me. No real family anymore.

Perhaps whilst I'm in Toronto, if I've got the opportunity, we can meet at least & say "hello" over coffee, tea or whiskey sours. If not, no worries. I'll catch you, and I'm sure other Torontonians, on the fly on my next visit.

And thanks in advance to all others that post any helpful hints and/ or just thoughtful words.

Abientot,
Katerina

[GTAFA]

Originally Posted by SSBBW Katerina

Wow! Thank you so much for all of this, GTAFA. I'm jazzed about moving there eventually. I miss the 'city'. I lived in NYC [Manhattan] for 15yrs & was priced out of the market & lost my flat. It has become a haven for the "Haves and have mores" as George 'Dubya' once stated. I'll always love it though.

Your info is so well written. Its enticing, honest. Are you a writer/ author journalist? If not you should be. I'm sold.

Oh yes & the theatre & music scene. Definitely must get into. My 'friend' there is a journalist & he performs w/ the Peterborough Symphony. So fantastic! The added benefits of all this is that I can socialize & get active again & become a healthier, happier & well rounded (pun intended) SSBBW.

Merci, GTAFA for rolling out the welcome wagon. I'll be up there, via Greyhound, on 17 November until 23 November, playing "Getting to Know You" w/ my guy. After the 23rd I'm on my way, hopefully if all goes well, to NYC for a closed set film shoot out on Long Island. No U.S. Thanksgiving 4 me. No real family anymore.

Perhaps whilst I'm in Toronto, if I've got the opportunity, we can meet at least & say "hello" over coffee, tea or whiskey sours. If not, no worries. I'll catch you, and I'm sure other Torontonians, on the fly on my next visit.

And thanks in advance to all others that post any helpful hints and/ or just thoughtful words.

Abientot,
Katerina

You're too kind (all the nice things you said). Coffee sounds like an awesome idea.

AND when you say "Abientot" I can't help but think about our bilingualism, which Americans have heard of. Although they make kids study french in school, and offer us an additional french language TV & Radio network (or two), don't worry about speaking French anywhere but in Quebec(300 + miles to the east), and some parts of New Brunswick (just north of Maine). That is an additional adventure you'll enjoy someday. For now be content checking them out on radio or TV.

[SSBBW Katerina]

... next week on 15 November. A friend of mine is picking me up. Got a full dance card planned for me. I already know now I'll have to come back in early 2011. So psyched! I need this vacation & quality time.

Later, kids, & thx again.
Katerina

[JayDanger]

North York represent! I spend alot of time down in Kensington Market though. You can find me at the hotbox cafe, thymeless, or Agoma usually, sometimes Toby's.

Vapor is a pretty sick spot too.

I guess I kinda get around.

[Kenster102.5]

I am 19, slim build, 5'11' and I am sick hearing my friends talk about how they "chop girls", and how they have girlfriends.

Anyone going to Centennial College? I am in my first of four years in Computer and Comm. Networking at Progress Campus, I see a lot of fine ladies in the halls, none in my classes though.

Or is there anyone around Leaside or East York Area?

Please drop a line, I would just love to chat it up with someone.

[luscious_lulu]

Originally Posted by Kenster102.5

I am 19, slim build, 5'11' and I am sick hearing my friends talk about how they "chop girls", and how they have girlfriends.

Anyone going to Centennial College? I am in my first of four years in Computer and Comm. Networking at Progress Campus, I see a lot of fine ladies in the halls, none in my classes though.

Or is there anyone around Leaside or East York Area?

Please drop a line, I would just love to chat it up with someone.

You should come to the attitude Mardi Gras party. There will be plenty of single people there!

[Shao]

Not to reopen a dead thread, but it made more sense than creating a new one. I'm from downtown Toronto right in the Annex area (two blocks from U of T St. George).

[xpandimonium]

Back and forth from Etobicoke to Downtown Toronto

[home]

Anyone from the Lasalle, Montreal area? I'm a little chubby. Nah, just kidding about the physical part, I'm not going into that. Although I am chubby. Well, at any rate. If anyone is from Lasalle or Montreal? It would be nice to talk on here for a while and after a good length of time. Who knows? Oh, and I am an adult. No UnderAgers please!

[GTAFA]

Originally Posted by home

Anyone from the Lasalle, Montreal area? I'm a little chubby. Nah, just kidding about the physical part, I'm not going into that. Although I am chubby. Well, at any rate. If anyone is from Lasalle or Montreal? It would be nice to talk on here for a while and after a good length of time. Who knows? Oh, and I am an adult. No UnderAgers please!

Peut-etre il y a plusieurs d'hommes et femmes qui viennent de Lasalle....

But you won't find them here because you posted in a thread about downtown Toronto. I peek at this thread because i live in suburban Toronto. You need to post your message somewhere that it will be seen by people from the Montreal area. Either use one of the existing threads (for example there's one called Anyone from Quebec ) or start a new one.

Bienvenu et bonne chance.

[triniroti]

north york herei like going dancing down town once in a while or coffee friends anyone welcome to email me

[jerem85]

Hi triniroti
I'm new in toronto and I want to meet new people.
Let me know if you want to meet me for a coffee.

[MaxArden]

Still Native Born Torontonian....Now in the East end...Still looking...

[Shinobi_Hime-Sama]

I'm close in Oshawa. If 30 minutes on the GO is close.

[Lime+Brandy]

North York here, but moving downtown soon.

[JayDanger]

I'm still in North York, but now I bounce between North York and the lounge I own in little Portugal. I gotta say, west end life is pretty nice.

[Afr00]

I'm live downtown of Tdot I'm an international student nice city

[lavishlaura]

I don't live in Toronto per-say... but I do visit all the time!! It's basically my second home.