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By Aileen Brunet, M.D.
Ian Dawe, M.D.
As APA's 1998 annual meeting draws nearer, the psychiatry residents of the University of Toronto would like to extend an invitation to our member-in-training brethren to join us in Toronto, increasingly known as Hollywood North. Although our task is to highlight aspects of Toronto that may be of particular interest to medical students and residents, we are happy to share our tips with our more senior colleagues. . . so read on!
Toronto is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the world, located in the country the United Nations deems the best to live in on the planet. What does this mean for visitors to Toronto? Cosmopolitan neighborhoods, great food, and unique shopping.
Toronto is a safe and clean city; walking is highly recommended, even at night. It's easy to get around, the city is laid out essentially as a grid with the lake at the south. The subway is efficient and you don't have to worry about avoiding any areas downtown or near the Toronto Convention Centre and hotels. If you're in a hurry, taxis are cheap and usually follow the rules of the road.
Toronto is divided into fairly distinct neighborhoods that reflect the history of the area, the ethnicity of the inhabitants, or the major activity. For example, Cabbagetown, a diverse neighborhood of somewhat gentrified Victorian homes, used to be where working-class families either grew cabbages on their front lawns or cooked them as a major staple.
There are so many great neighborhoods to just "hang out" in that we can't even mention them all: for upscale try Yorkville, Queen Street West for funky, and College Street for hip.
Most neighborhoods are conveniently identified on their street signs. Each neighborhood has its own character and flavors: Little Italy, Chinatown, Little India, the Fashion District. . . .the list goes on. If you want to explore one, just ask for the area by name, and you'll be sure to get directions. Just don't laugh at the way your guide says "out" and you'll do fine.
Just up the street in Chinatown is Kensington Market, truly a Toronto landmark. You'll find vintage clothing shops, fresh produce, and every country in the world represented by at least one food vendor. Watch out for the live crabs!
Like everywhere else, we have a Starbuck's on every corner if you need a familiar fix, and enough bookstores to keep you in reading material until your exams are over.
If you want to check out Toronto's night life, we strongly recommend you pick up a NOW or EYE magazine, two weeklies available free in most variety stores or cafes. Another good guide is the magazine Toronto Life, which publishes theater, gallery, club, and restaurant listings. There's lots of live music: jazz at the Senator, contemporary at the Rivoli and Horseshoe Tavern, alternative at Lee's, and classical at Roy Thomson Hall. If you like to dance, check out Joker, Easy and the Fifth, or Orchid. Those with a taste for the paraphilic may wish to bring their leather gear for fetish night at Boots Warehouse, or bring your salsa shoes and visit El Convento Rico-stay till midnight on Saturday and catch the drag queens.
Film buffs already know that Toronto is home to the Toronto International Film Festival every September. That's when we get to see on the screen all those movies that were filmed in the street. Bistro 990 is rumored to be the place to spot visiting stars. Check out a foreign film or retrospective at Cinemathéque Ontario or visit a revue theatre for an old favorite.
Culture and museum addicts will also find plenty to do in Toronto. There's the Royal Ontario Museum with the usual dinosaurs and medieval artifacts; the Bata Shoe Museum for foot fetishists; and the Art Gallery of Ontario, which houses Canadian, Inuit, and contemporary art and usually has at least one big show on exhibit. Yorkville and Queen and King Streets West are home to numerous art galleries; maybe you can find a one-of-a-kind piece on which to spend all that extra money from the exchange of U.S. for Canadian dollars.
Of course, how could we talk about Toronto without mentioning all that touristy stuff? Get a bird's eye view from the tallest freestanding structure in the world, the CN Tower; go back in time at Casa Loma, a castle in the city; or visit Ontario Place for one-stop fun: IMAX theater, rides, paddleboats, and outdoor music. A visit to Toronto wouldn't be complete without going to the Eaton Centre, our second most popular tourist destination next to the CN Tower. If you wander the Yonge Street strip, you may find those four-inch heels you've always wanted, as well as big music stores, HMV and Sam's.
Finally, when we aren't shopping, seeing films, or eating out, we enjoy the outdoor activities available right in the city. Take a ferry to the Toronto Islands, where there is an amusement park and lots of paths for riding rented bikes or blades. High Park and the Don Valley are bits of wilderness in the city, and Riverdale Park has a petting zoo, where, if you're lucky, a piglet will chew on your shoes.
Such a short article can't do our city justice; there is truly something for everyone here. As the days of the annual meeting approach, we recommend you check out these Web sites for information about events in Toronto: www.torontolife.com and www.now.com.
We hope we can meet some of you when you are in Toronto and show you personally what we love about our city. See you at the meeting.