Press Release February 4, 2005
Michael F. Paré,
If you thought Toronto was the gay "mecca" of Canada, you may have been blinded by the big city lights. The fact that virtually no one beyond the city core has heard of the Toronto's - new Queer West District, only makes your discovery of it twice as sweet.
There's a wonderfully fluid mix of genders and ethnicities and sexualities in the Queer West Toronto. A network of communities where the LGBT community are completely and seamlessly integrated without having to isolate or group themselves in one district. Visitors come here to see what the future holds for gays everywhere.
The fact that City of Toronto's west end in is less aggressively, overtly gay is a drawing point for many queer travellers. Which is why some locals refer to it as Toronto's, Gay West Village or Queer West Village.
Sometimes it feels as if in the temperate climate of Toronto's - Queer West District, a thousand separate and unique species of queer animal have evolved, each inhabiting his or her own bar or club. Every variety of sexual taste and facial hair seems to have sewn its own flag and consolidated its own sexual identity. But that's not the whole story. In other spaces, more old-fashioned conceptions of gayness have been exploded, and the result is a wonderfully fluid mix of genders and ethnicities and sexualities.
Gay Toronto's - New Queer West District is more of an attitude than an identity; new and radical, and has a thriving underground gay scene, The West End is rapidly developed a reputation for innovative and challenging work, while gaining notoriety on the international arts scene as an important platform for queer music and visual artists. The Bars and clubs are to a degree randomly spread along, Bloor St., College St., Queen Street West and Spadina. In the past several years there has been a welcomed increase in the number of businesses catering to the Gay market. It's celebration of everything queer - with the very best of theatre, music, dance, live art, comedy, cabaret, burlesque, visual art and literature from across the globe The West Village has more than 33 queer-geared nights occupying more than 60 different venues, every night of the week. This new queer district, is quickly overtaking the Church Street's gay village as the in-place to socialize.
Toronto's - new Queer West End boasts one of the most stylish gay scenes in Canada. Set picturesquely along the shores of Lake Ontario, glass fronted bars and restaurants provide the perfect meeting space to chill out and party with friends. Should you manage to drag yourself away from 'downtown Toronto's gay village scene', you will discover that this part of the city has reinvented itself as a truly contemporary metropolis, and as such has become a canvas decorated with modern landmark buildings, a font of art and culture, cheap shopping areas, great bars and world-class events, all making for a truly unique experience.
All of which is to say Whatever your predilection, alliance, desire or bedtime, there is something for you, whether resident or visitor, in our vast and various Toronto's - New Queer West District.
Toronto Inner City - Queer Neighbourhoods and Villages
Bloor West Village
Restaurants, bars, bistros, cafes and shops line this bustling district west of High Park. This area is home to a large Ukrainian community. Bloor Street between Keele Street and Jane Street in the west.
Chinatown
A trip to Chinatown is almost like a visit to the Far East. On a busy day, as you make your way through and around the bustling crowds and merchants' stalls, you are immersed in the look, feel, smells and tastes of Asia. Toronto has the largest Asian population in North America. Spadina Avenue between Bloor to the north and King Street to the South.
Kensington Market
Kensington Market is about everything that signifies neighbourhood. Day and night, life here is a lusty affair, international in spirit, with the colours, sounds and foods of Europe, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and South America. In Kensington Market they made it happen. The open-air market offers exotic foods, designer clothing, handmade crafts and gifts and jewellery from around the world.
Little Italy
West along College Street is where Toronto's Italian community (and alot of other folks) go to wine, dine and play. Street signs in the shape of Italy's 'boot' mark the area. After dark, between brightly lit trees, clubs, cafes and bistros pulse with the beat of a nightlife that would seem to have no end.
Parkdale & Liberty Village
Parkdale is getting its second wind after years of fatigue and neglect. Adventurous entrepreneurs are seizing opportunities to animate the neighbourhood. Overnight, vacant spots have become thriving restaurants, clubs, Live workk spaces, studios, and more than 40 galleries, embracing social, cultural, and economic diversity. Festivals and events affirm artistry, community, and heritage. Queen St W., between Spadina and Roncesvalles.
Little Portugal (Rua Acores)
Dundas Street West between Lansdowne and Bathurst Street is Little Portugal also home to many Latin Americans, so it's not unusual to hear Portugusese and Spanish spoken in this neighbourhood. Portuguese and Spanish food rules in this lively neighbourhood packed with trattorias, trendy restaurants and cafes. Sidewalks are jammed on weekends, especially in the summer when all of Toronto, it seems, is sipping espressos on outdoor patios.
Queen Street West of Spadina
Whether you're looking for the components to make a particle accelerator, or just trying to find that elusive ingredient to turn hair a nice neon chartreuse, you'll find it here if you find it anywhere. An electronics shop next to a sushi bar, beside a natural soap store, across from a jazz emporium that has seen better days but never better music . . . as a neighbourhood, it's nothing if not eclectic.
Roncesvalles Village
If you are looking for great deli, jerk chicken, a falafel, or fresh baked italian bread, it's all here within a few short blocks. Then if you want to wash it all down with a good old Canadian style beer and a pickled egg, you can. Roncesvalles from Lake Shore to Dundas West is known as 'Little Poland'.
The Annex
Here are streets to be strolled. Not only an architectural wonderland, it holds an abundance of magnificent greenery and beautiful gardens. Many homes date from the mid to late 1800s. Along Bloor Street West you will find a bustling district of cafes, college pubs and shops. Bloor & Spadina and Bathurst & College Street area.
The Junction
The Junction thrived as an industrial satellite of Toronto and for over a quarter of a century was a separate municipality. Over time and with the decline of industrial activity in the area, affordable housing and converted warehouse space adapted for working studios has attracted the artists, musicians, and kindred spirits who so thoroughly animate this neighbourhood. Dundas running north from Bloor Street to Runneymede Road.
More about Queer West Toronto, Ontario
Michael F. Paré,
If you thought Toronto was the gay "mecca" of Canada, you may have been blinded by the big city lights. The fact that virtually no one beyond the city core has heard of the Toronto's - new Queer West District, only makes your discovery of it twice as sweet.
There's a wonderfully fluid mix of genders and ethnicities and sexualities in the Queer West Toronto. A network of communities where the LGBT community are completely and seamlessly integrated without having to isolate or group themselves in one district. Visitors come here to see what the future holds for gays everywhere.
The fact that City of Toronto's west end in is less aggressively, overtly gay is a drawing point for many queer travellers. Which is why some locals refer to it as Toronto's, Gay West Village or Queer West Village.
Sometimes it feels as if in the temperate climate of Toronto's - Queer West District, a thousand separate and unique species of queer animal have evolved, each inhabiting his or her own bar or club. Every variety of sexual taste and facial hair seems to have sewn its own flag and consolidated its own sexual identity. But that's not the whole story. In other spaces, more old-fashioned conceptions of gayness have been exploded, and the result is a wonderfully fluid mix of genders and ethnicities and sexualities.
Gay Toronto's - New Queer West District is more of an attitude than an identity; new and radical, and has a thriving underground gay scene, The West End is rapidly developed a reputation for innovative and challenging work, while gaining notoriety on the international arts scene as an important platform for queer music and visual artists. The Bars and clubs are to a degree randomly spread along, Bloor St., College St., Queen Street West and Spadina. In the past several years there has been a welcomed increase in the number of businesses catering to the Gay market. It's celebration of everything queer - with the very best of theatre, music, dance, live art, comedy, cabaret, burlesque, visual art and literature from across the globe The West Village has more than 33 queer-geared nights occupying more than 60 different venues, every night of the week. This new queer district, is quickly overtaking the Church Street's gay village as the in-place to socialize.
Toronto's - new Queer West End boasts one of the most stylish gay scenes in Canada. Set picturesquely along the shores of Lake Ontario, glass fronted bars and restaurants provide the perfect meeting space to chill out and party with friends. Should you manage to drag yourself away from 'downtown Toronto's gay village scene', you will discover that this part of the city has reinvented itself as a truly contemporary metropolis, and as such has become a canvas decorated with modern landmark buildings, a font of art and culture, cheap shopping areas, great bars and world-class events, all making for a truly unique experience.
All of which is to say Whatever your predilection, alliance, desire or bedtime, there is something for you, whether resident or visitor, in our vast and various Toronto's - New Queer West District.
Toronto Inner City - Queer Neighbourhoods and Villages
Bloor West Village
Restaurants, bars, bistros, cafes and shops line this bustling district west of High Park. This area is home to a large Ukrainian community. Bloor Street between Keele Street and Jane Street in the west.
Chinatown
A trip to Chinatown is almost like a visit to the Far East. On a busy day, as you make your way through and around the bustling crowds and merchants' stalls, you are immersed in the look, feel, smells and tastes of Asia. Toronto has the largest Asian population in North America. Spadina Avenue between Bloor to the north and King Street to the South.
Kensington Market
Kensington Market is about everything that signifies neighbourhood. Day and night, life here is a lusty affair, international in spirit, with the colours, sounds and foods of Europe, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and South America. In Kensington Market they made it happen. The open-air market offers exotic foods, designer clothing, handmade crafts and gifts and jewellery from around the world.
Little Italy
West along College Street is where Toronto's Italian community (and alot of other folks) go to wine, dine and play. Street signs in the shape of Italy's 'boot' mark the area. After dark, between brightly lit trees, clubs, cafes and bistros pulse with the beat of a nightlife that would seem to have no end.
Parkdale & Liberty Village
Parkdale is getting its second wind after years of fatigue and neglect. Adventurous entrepreneurs are seizing opportunities to animate the neighbourhood. Overnight, vacant spots have become thriving restaurants, clubs, Live workk spaces, studios, and more than 40 galleries, embracing social, cultural, and economic diversity. Festivals and events affirm artistry, community, and heritage. Queen St W., between Spadina and Roncesvalles.
Little Portugal (Rua Acores)
Dundas Street West between Lansdowne and Bathurst Street is Little Portugal also home to many Latin Americans, so it's not unusual to hear Portugusese and Spanish spoken in this neighbourhood. Portuguese and Spanish food rules in this lively neighbourhood packed with trattorias, trendy restaurants and cafes. Sidewalks are jammed on weekends, especially in the summer when all of Toronto, it seems, is sipping espressos on outdoor patios.
Queen Street West of Spadina
Whether you're looking for the components to make a particle accelerator, or just trying to find that elusive ingredient to turn hair a nice neon chartreuse, you'll find it here if you find it anywhere. An electronics shop next to a sushi bar, beside a natural soap store, across from a jazz emporium that has seen better days but never better music . . . as a neighbourhood, it's nothing if not eclectic.
Roncesvalles Village
If you are looking for great deli, jerk chicken, a falafel, or fresh baked italian bread, it's all here within a few short blocks. Then if you want to wash it all down with a good old Canadian style beer and a pickled egg, you can. Roncesvalles from Lake Shore to Dundas West is known as 'Little Poland'.
The Annex
Here are streets to be strolled. Not only an architectural wonderland, it holds an abundance of magnificent greenery and beautiful gardens. Many homes date from the mid to late 1800s. Along Bloor Street West you will find a bustling district of cafes, college pubs and shops. Bloor & Spadina and Bathurst & College Street area.
The Junction
The Junction thrived as an industrial satellite of Toronto and for over a quarter of a century was a separate municipality. Over time and with the decline of industrial activity in the area, affordable housing and converted warehouse space adapted for working studios has attracted the artists, musicians, and kindred spirits who so thoroughly animate this neighbourhood. Dundas running north from Bloor Street to Runneymede Road.
More about Queer West Toronto, Ontario
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