Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Latino Leaders: The National Magazine of the Successful American Latino, June-July, 2004

A wolf howls on a frost-bright, moon-cold night, its call slicing the pristine wilderness's icy air. Only two hours away cosmopolitan city lights block out the stars and sometimes the Northern Lights, too, embracing multicultural, drool-inducing restaurants, sizzling night life, and world-famous tourist attractions. Toronto may be far to the north but it's home to the world's peoples who have chosen to live them, and it welcomes business people, shoppers, and sophisticated travelers alike. The Canadian dollar makes it a bargain.

A city of cultures; a city of enclaves; a city of pockets--and this is reflected in a wonderful mosaic of distinctive neighborhoods. Some can be described as ethnic, while others reflect a particular lifestyle, business, or leisure activity.

In many cases, an area's personality will change rapidly over the years, transformed by its new residents and retailers. "This is a testament to Toronto's amazing ability to adapt and flourish, while remaining essentially Canadian--gracious, broadminded, clean, environmentally aware, safe, and friendly.

To truly experience a local's Toronto, neighborhood-hopping is essential.

* For a real community flavor, try Greektown, Little Italy, Chinatown, or the Gay village.

* If shopping is your passion, check out Bloor-Yorkville, Corso Italia, or Queen Street West.

* To explore Toronto's waterfront, visit The Beaches or Harborfront.

* If you're looking for sensory overload, try the Entertainment District or St. Lawrence Market.

With delightful secrets at every turn, Toronto's vibrant neighborhoods are all worth exploring! Not only do they provide a real sense of what it's like to live in Canada's largest city, but they each reflect a different aspect of today's Toronto--the world within a city.

Several hundred years ago, the Huron used a word meaning meeting place to describe the area, and their take on it is still accurate. Toronto has developed into one of the most multicultural cities in the world, and this is reflected in a wonderful mosaic of distinctive neighborhoods.

Kensington Market

During the 1920s, it was known as the Jewish Market. Today, you can sense the city's rich, multicultural mix, obvious in the shops packed with goods from Europe, the Caribbean, the Middle East, South America, and Asia. A visit to Kensington is like a sensory trip around the world! It's also a treasure trove of vintage and second hand clothing shops, tucked in among eclectic restaurants and cafes.

Chinatown

This ever-expanding area is home to ethnic Chinese from Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam, and elsewhere. A wealth of oriental shops and fruit markets spill out onto the street, and a vast selection of authentic Chinese restaurants feature such delicacies as dim sum. Toronto's second Chinatown is located in the Broadview/Gerrard area, and three other distinctive Chinatowns are located in the suburbs.

The area is the site of the city's original market. Though popular most of the week, the market comes to life on Saturdays with local farmers, artists, and artisans plying their wares. This historic area also has numerous old warehouses that have been converted into residences, stores, restaurants, and pubs. Canada still retains that distinct air of grace, style, and elegance of Britannia's former imperial past (and that cute way of spelling words). Its culture gives a distinctive "being abroad" atmosphere, while being reassuringly familiar to US Americans.

Financial District and Underground City

Dozens of towering glass, concrete, and steel monoliths are a must-see for architecture enthusiasts. Toronto's Financial District is actually quite compact and walkable, even in inclement weather. That's because of the underground city--six miles of interconnecting passageways under the streets that feature more than 1,200 retail stores and services. Street entrances to the subterranean walkway are indicated with "PATH" signage.

Entertainment District

You'll find some of the city's best theaters, bars, and dance clubs in this area of town. The undisputed entertainment capital of Canada, the Entertainment District is a lively concentration of theaters, restaurants, nightspots, retail shops, and visitor attractions--located in the vibrant city core. Tip: If there's a lineup, chances are it's worth it.

Harbor District

High-priced condos dot the waterfront, where highlights include specialty shops at Queens Quay Terminal, art, theater, and cultural facilities at Harborfront Center, and a terrific lakeside walking trail. Cruises of the harbor and ferry services run from here.

Need a classy bed for the night? Fancy one that the Queen of England slept in?

What is shaped like a wedding cake, serves Toronto's best martini, has a rooftop herb garden, sleeps royal heads in its beds, was featured in Castles of the North on History Television, and has a door that's always open? Toronto's landmark Fairmont Royal York Hotel.

The upmarket vacationer could do worse than trying out one of its beds and many other facilities--it's perfect for the business traveler.