Go West, Young Hipsters By Stuart Emmrich, New York Times Published: September 2, 2007
FOR the last few years, Queen Street West has been the epicenter of Toronto cool — with its trendy restaurants, night-crawling club kids and boutique clothing shops featuring the work of local designers. But now the action seems to be shifting a few blocks over, to a part of the street nicknamed — accurately but awkwardly — West Queen Street West. (for link to full article see below)
[Inside Story Toronto, editors comment: Why do I get the impression that little Stuie Emmrich, the editor of the New York Times Travel section, never set foot in Toronto when writing this story.
Why else would this New York city pinhead make a comment like this: "Though locals will tell you that West Queen Street West extends all the way down to Gladstone Street, where the oh-so-hip Gladstone Hotel opened in late 2006, walking any farther than the intersection of Ossington and Queen Street West is an exercise in diminishing returns — with appliance stores more numerous than trendy cafes. This part of this street, it seems, is still waiting for its own renaissance. Maybe they'll call it Western West Queen Street West." Said Emmrich... No Stuie. We Call it The Queer West Village
Hey Stuie! You also made another goof "It's Gladstone Ave., not St., the Gladstone Hotel was open way before 2006, and that district is called West Queen West, not West Queen Street West." All the tourists from New York will be outraged when they find out the truth!
I did find the mid-'90s-era notion of Queen West "ending" at Ossington pretty amusing, though. It's just lazy writing. These might not be huge mistakes, but it indicates a certain level of sloppy journalism I wouldn't expect from the New York Times.
Unique places Stuart Emmrich failed to mention in his Toronto travel slam:
751 - formerly Paddy Murphy’s (751 Queen West, at Tecumseth, 416-360-7272), currently accommodating one of the darkest of musical genres appropriate for the area - championing the work of everyone from Siouxsie Sioux to Marilyn Manson. Quickly become a queer neighbourhood gathering spot. It’s comfortable, welcoming and the drink prices are some of the lowest in the city. There’s a great selection of imported brews on tap and reasonably priced daily specials. Since the bar's opening, the base clientele has already developed a wandering eye for the more trendy drinkeries down the street, while lots of creatures of the night with pale skin and dark wardrobes have moved in. You won't find too many coolios or swingers here, but the smaller, still-cool goth set gatherings make it easy to find a velvety nook of your own. Nearby gallery owner types and naïfs are also dipping in here for their late night libations. $$ Affordable Queer West Toronto, Ontario Trinity-Bellwoods.
The Queenshead Pub - 659 Queen Street West - 416-368-9405 (S.W. corner of Queen and Bathurst) Cool hangout for the under 30 crowd: Queen West Queer at its best, you’d almost expect a “cool people only” sign at the door. It’s a low-key English-style pub without many bells or whistles to clutter its effortless atmosphere and cheap beer. The bar “has a huge lesbian following.” With DJ Mikey Apples and Jaime Sin as the “Shack Up” regulars, they spin garage rock, electro, synth pop, metal, punk soul . . . You name it, they spin it. By midnight on any given Thursday, Queenshead is packed and pumping. $$ Affordable Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Raq N Waq, 739 Queen Street West at Tecumseth St., Phone: (416) 504-9120. Located in the old Future Bakery, the flour barn was saved from demolition and converted into the classy bar and pool hall. Raq N Waq has been around since 1997 and features some of the character from the bakery beforehand, including the flour hopper located directly above the lounge area. Also included in the lounge are 11 top of the line Brunswick pool tables. Raq N Waq also has a dance floor and patio for friendly gatherings. In 2007 started hosting weekly queer Thursday dance parties, with DJ cozmic cat. She has her claws out, spining old school, funk, reggae, house, trip hop then infuses a touch of salsa to mix up the “… night of boundless delight” No cover. $$ Affordable 10pm-2am. Raqnwaq.com Trinity Bellwoods neighbourhood.
The Beaconsfield, 1154 Queen St. W., 416-516-2550 Across from hipster hub the Drake, this cozy corner resto-bar radiates warmth and low-key luxury. A scalloped stone façade—remnants of a branch of the now defunct Molson’s Bank—frames a sleek expanse of glass ideal for scoping out the strip. Inside, sturdy scarlet leather banquettes, chocolate brown panelled walls and softly glowing diamond-drop sconces hark back to Dorothy Parker’s gin-swilling heyday. Weeknights, creative turtlenecked locals crowd the slick stainless steel bar to sip Stella and kvetch about Canada Council grants. Weekends, artfully disarrayed scenesters join post-dinner hangers-on, tossing back French martinis ($9) and grooving to soul, reggae and funk on vintage vinyl. Opens at four during the week, five p.m. Friday and Saturday. No cover. Pints $5–$6.50.
Beaver Cafe - 1192 Queen W.416-537-2768 ( gay owned New Hot Place, for queer punk crowd) Hanging out west of Ossington is hardly subversive anymore. In fact, Toronto’s southwestern corner is developing such an established scene it has been informally christened Queer West Village. Ladies and gentlemen of all sexual persuasions have been buzzing ever since edgy queer club promoter Will Munro (and his business partner, Lyn McNeill) set up shop in the neighbourhood, taking over the Beaver Café and giving it a facelift. With the demise of his wildly popular monthly Vazaleen and Peroxide parties, Munro promises to hold occasional nights dedicated to rock and electro, but hopes to open up the space to all sorts of art, music and fun. So hipsters can stop complaining: now that Munro has a permanent address, good music and good times won’t be so hard to find. Expect a mixed crowd of artsy queers and their friends, and a soundtrack that ranges from punk rock to disco. Various queer event almost daily. The small licensed patio in the back gets pretty busy in the summer. Open 9 am to 2 am. $$ Affordable.
Café Bernate (Gay Owned, 1024 Queen West, north side just past Ossington, 416-535-2835) Funky mismatched chairs and relaxed staff create a comfortable ambience for chronic loiterers on Queen West's hip strip. The menu offers 30 plump sandwiches for all tastes, and those drinking regular coffee get free refills. Sandwich prices start at $6.96, none are, served on common doughy Weston's bread. Lattes and caps, homemade iced tea and lemonade, memorable in-house muffins that always sell out early. Nippy huevos rancheros with tortilla and salsa at brunch. Complete lunches for $8 per person, including all taxes and tip. Open Monday to Friday 11 am to 4 pm, Saturday brunch 10:30 am to 4 pm. Closed Sunday. Unlicensed. Smoke-free. Cash only. Access: two-inch step at door, washrooms in basement. Trinity Bellwoods .
Drake Hotel- (Best Place to Watch the Ebb and Surge of Upscale Queer Toronto Nightlife) 1150 Queen Street West, east of Dufferin St at Beaconfields, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M6J 1J3 Phone: 416-531-5042. Fax: 416-531-9493. A Bohemian inspired hotel, including the 18 boutique hotel rooms. Designed for the local neighborhood. It's fun, quirky, eclectic, tastefully mismatched, cheeky, open to new ideas. A two level shelf by the door in the Drake Cafe, has local flyers and postcards from galleries and community events. Always a sure sign, that place welcomes everyone in the community. Any given night finds, 15 taxi cabs waiting or arriving at the front door. Arts and Design district, Trinity Bellwoods neighbourhood.
The Social (Best “Welfare” Parties ) There is no sign indicating the Social's location, and if it weren't for the swelling line-up and dance-floor-respite smokers outside, you would probably miss it. Own by Richard Lambert, Jesse Girard and Kealan Sullivan they also own Vintage 69 Clothing store, so my friend Jack tells me. Their the new peddlers of Queen West queer cool, dance to electro, house and rock under neon swirls, flirt with fashionistas and fill your vintage-T-shirt-covered belly with $3.50 pints of Labatt 50 on weeknights! Late nighters from the Drake and Lot 16 can be found here. Young artists and hipsters, the kind of people you would actually find living on Queen West, rather than the more 905 straight-from-banking-job clientele of the Drake, populate the Social. At 11, the bar turns into a club as the disco ball starts to spin and the tunes are cranked up. 1100 Queen W. at Dovercourt, northside under Spin Gallery. 416-532-4474. Age group 20-30 $$ affordable. Art and Design district Queer West Toronto, Onario.
Lot 16 Bar - (Best Little Underachiever in Queer Toronto) 1136 Queen West. 416-531-6556. About 7 doors east of Drake Hotel. Owners Penny Rose and Heather Fox, welcomes a diverse spill over crowd, where cute metrosexuals in their 30's hang with fag hags Looks empty at 10.30 by 11 pm, it's standing room only.The bar serves a local mix of younger slacker types, inner city kids, CEO's and hipster and artists, many of whom live in the area. Just like Cheers, everyone knows your name at Lot 16. Wheelchair accessible. Half pints are $2.75 10 pm to 2 am, no cover. Open 5 pm to 2 am. Age 20 - 30. $$ Affordable Trinity Bellwoods, Art and Design district. There lots more places I didn't mention here's bar/restaurent guide for you....D.Q.]
New York Times coverage of Queen St W. Toronto, Ontario Ha Ha Ha Ha
FOR the last few years, Queen Street West has been the epicenter of Toronto cool — with its trendy restaurants, night-crawling club kids and boutique clothing shops featuring the work of local designers. But now the action seems to be shifting a few blocks over, to a part of the street nicknamed — accurately but awkwardly — West Queen Street West. (for link to full article see below)
[Inside Story Toronto, editors comment: Why do I get the impression that little Stuie Emmrich, the editor of the New York Times Travel section, never set foot in Toronto when writing this story.
Why else would this New York city pinhead make a comment like this: "Though locals will tell you that West Queen Street West extends all the way down to Gladstone Street, where the oh-so-hip Gladstone Hotel opened in late 2006, walking any farther than the intersection of Ossington and Queen Street West is an exercise in diminishing returns — with appliance stores more numerous than trendy cafes. This part of this street, it seems, is still waiting for its own renaissance. Maybe they'll call it Western West Queen Street West." Said Emmrich... No Stuie. We Call it The Queer West Village
Hey Stuie! You also made another goof "It's Gladstone Ave., not St., the Gladstone Hotel was open way before 2006, and that district is called West Queen West, not West Queen Street West." All the tourists from New York will be outraged when they find out the truth!
I did find the mid-'90s-era notion of Queen West "ending" at Ossington pretty amusing, though. It's just lazy writing. These might not be huge mistakes, but it indicates a certain level of sloppy journalism I wouldn't expect from the New York Times.
Unique places Stuart Emmrich failed to mention in his Toronto travel slam:
751 - formerly Paddy Murphy’s (751 Queen West, at Tecumseth, 416-360-7272), currently accommodating one of the darkest of musical genres appropriate for the area - championing the work of everyone from Siouxsie Sioux to Marilyn Manson. Quickly become a queer neighbourhood gathering spot. It’s comfortable, welcoming and the drink prices are some of the lowest in the city. There’s a great selection of imported brews on tap and reasonably priced daily specials. Since the bar's opening, the base clientele has already developed a wandering eye for the more trendy drinkeries down the street, while lots of creatures of the night with pale skin and dark wardrobes have moved in. You won't find too many coolios or swingers here, but the smaller, still-cool goth set gatherings make it easy to find a velvety nook of your own. Nearby gallery owner types and naïfs are also dipping in here for their late night libations. $$ Affordable Queer West Toronto, Ontario Trinity-Bellwoods.
The Queenshead Pub - 659 Queen Street West - 416-368-9405 (S.W. corner of Queen and Bathurst) Cool hangout for the under 30 crowd: Queen West Queer at its best, you’d almost expect a “cool people only” sign at the door. It’s a low-key English-style pub without many bells or whistles to clutter its effortless atmosphere and cheap beer. The bar “has a huge lesbian following.” With DJ Mikey Apples and Jaime Sin as the “Shack Up” regulars, they spin garage rock, electro, synth pop, metal, punk soul . . . You name it, they spin it. By midnight on any given Thursday, Queenshead is packed and pumping. $$ Affordable Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Raq N Waq, 739 Queen Street West at Tecumseth St., Phone: (416) 504-9120. Located in the old Future Bakery, the flour barn was saved from demolition and converted into the classy bar and pool hall. Raq N Waq has been around since 1997 and features some of the character from the bakery beforehand, including the flour hopper located directly above the lounge area. Also included in the lounge are 11 top of the line Brunswick pool tables. Raq N Waq also has a dance floor and patio for friendly gatherings. In 2007 started hosting weekly queer Thursday dance parties, with DJ cozmic cat. She has her claws out, spining old school, funk, reggae, house, trip hop then infuses a touch of salsa to mix up the “… night of boundless delight” No cover. $$ Affordable 10pm-2am. Raqnwaq.com Trinity Bellwoods neighbourhood.
The Beaconsfield, 1154 Queen St. W., 416-516-2550 Across from hipster hub the Drake, this cozy corner resto-bar radiates warmth and low-key luxury. A scalloped stone façade—remnants of a branch of the now defunct Molson’s Bank—frames a sleek expanse of glass ideal for scoping out the strip. Inside, sturdy scarlet leather banquettes, chocolate brown panelled walls and softly glowing diamond-drop sconces hark back to Dorothy Parker’s gin-swilling heyday. Weeknights, creative turtlenecked locals crowd the slick stainless steel bar to sip Stella and kvetch about Canada Council grants. Weekends, artfully disarrayed scenesters join post-dinner hangers-on, tossing back French martinis ($9) and grooving to soul, reggae and funk on vintage vinyl. Opens at four during the week, five p.m. Friday and Saturday. No cover. Pints $5–$6.50.
Beaver Cafe - 1192 Queen W.416-537-2768 ( gay owned New Hot Place, for queer punk crowd) Hanging out west of Ossington is hardly subversive anymore. In fact, Toronto’s southwestern corner is developing such an established scene it has been informally christened Queer West Village. Ladies and gentlemen of all sexual persuasions have been buzzing ever since edgy queer club promoter Will Munro (and his business partner, Lyn McNeill) set up shop in the neighbourhood, taking over the Beaver Café and giving it a facelift. With the demise of his wildly popular monthly Vazaleen and Peroxide parties, Munro promises to hold occasional nights dedicated to rock and electro, but hopes to open up the space to all sorts of art, music and fun. So hipsters can stop complaining: now that Munro has a permanent address, good music and good times won’t be so hard to find. Expect a mixed crowd of artsy queers and their friends, and a soundtrack that ranges from punk rock to disco. Various queer event almost daily. The small licensed patio in the back gets pretty busy in the summer. Open 9 am to 2 am. $$ Affordable.
Café Bernate (Gay Owned, 1024 Queen West, north side just past Ossington, 416-535-2835) Funky mismatched chairs and relaxed staff create a comfortable ambience for chronic loiterers on Queen West's hip strip. The menu offers 30 plump sandwiches for all tastes, and those drinking regular coffee get free refills. Sandwich prices start at $6.96, none are, served on common doughy Weston's bread. Lattes and caps, homemade iced tea and lemonade, memorable in-house muffins that always sell out early. Nippy huevos rancheros with tortilla and salsa at brunch. Complete lunches for $8 per person, including all taxes and tip. Open Monday to Friday 11 am to 4 pm, Saturday brunch 10:30 am to 4 pm. Closed Sunday. Unlicensed. Smoke-free. Cash only. Access: two-inch step at door, washrooms in basement. Trinity Bellwoods .
Drake Hotel- (Best Place to Watch the Ebb and Surge of Upscale Queer Toronto Nightlife) 1150 Queen Street West, east of Dufferin St at Beaconfields, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M6J 1J3 Phone: 416-531-5042. Fax: 416-531-9493. A Bohemian inspired hotel, including the 18 boutique hotel rooms. Designed for the local neighborhood. It's fun, quirky, eclectic, tastefully mismatched, cheeky, open to new ideas. A two level shelf by the door in the Drake Cafe, has local flyers and postcards from galleries and community events. Always a sure sign, that place welcomes everyone in the community. Any given night finds, 15 taxi cabs waiting or arriving at the front door. Arts and Design district, Trinity Bellwoods neighbourhood.
The Social (Best “Welfare” Parties ) There is no sign indicating the Social's location, and if it weren't for the swelling line-up and dance-floor-respite smokers outside, you would probably miss it. Own by Richard Lambert, Jesse Girard and Kealan Sullivan they also own Vintage 69 Clothing store, so my friend Jack tells me. Their the new peddlers of Queen West queer cool, dance to electro, house and rock under neon swirls, flirt with fashionistas and fill your vintage-T-shirt-covered belly with $3.50 pints of Labatt 50 on weeknights! Late nighters from the Drake and Lot 16 can be found here. Young artists and hipsters, the kind of people you would actually find living on Queen West, rather than the more 905 straight-from-banking-job clientele of the Drake, populate the Social. At 11, the bar turns into a club as the disco ball starts to spin and the tunes are cranked up. 1100 Queen W. at Dovercourt, northside under Spin Gallery. 416-532-4474. Age group 20-30 $$ affordable. Art and Design district Queer West Toronto, Onario.
Lot 16 Bar - (Best Little Underachiever in Queer Toronto) 1136 Queen West. 416-531-6556. About 7 doors east of Drake Hotel. Owners Penny Rose and Heather Fox, welcomes a diverse spill over crowd, where cute metrosexuals in their 30's hang with fag hags Looks empty at 10.30 by 11 pm, it's standing room only.The bar serves a local mix of younger slacker types, inner city kids, CEO's and hipster and artists, many of whom live in the area. Just like Cheers, everyone knows your name at Lot 16. Wheelchair accessible. Half pints are $2.75 10 pm to 2 am, no cover. Open 5 pm to 2 am. Age 20 - 30. $$ Affordable Trinity Bellwoods, Art and Design district. There lots more places I didn't mention here's bar/restaurent guide for you....D.Q.]
New York Times coverage of Queen St W. Toronto, Ontario Ha Ha Ha Ha
I think Toronto is going to be my next vacation spot. It sounds like a great place.
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