Last week we had friends Louis and Dennis, visiting from Ottawa. Since they hadn’t been to Toronto for more than 20 years, they were anxious to see all of our new buildings and attractions. They couldn’t stay very long, so we had just one day to accomplish this.. Peter and I gladly accepted the challenge. We put on our running shoes, packed our umbrellas, and set off. It was just after 10:00 am.
We took our first subway ride from our stop at Old Mill to Bloor and St George. This is near the apartment where Louise and I lived together with another friend while we attended the Ontario College of education. (Three girls living in a tiny apartment with one bathroom is another post entirely, so I’ll move on). The Royal Conservatory Of Music has added Koerner Hall, an ultra-modern concert venue snuggled up beside a majestic old edifice. As we walked farther along Bloor we got to the ROM Crystal. Dennis had read about the controversy surrounding this addition and was anxious to view it for himself. Unfortunately the Crystal, less than 20 years old, is already being reconstructed. Our stop there was short.
Then we took our next subway ride south along University to Dundas. The trip was free since it had been less than 2 hours since our last ride. We walked over to the AGO and discovered that this building too has construction going on inside. And, since our time was limited, the entrance fee of $30 per person seemed a little pricey. Instead, we checked the wood-enhanced lobby and admired the glass and wood facade, all designed by Frank Gehry. Then we walked back to University Ave where we got on the subway, once again for free. We rode south to Union Station and walked down York St. to the waterfront.
Here we stopped to admire Love Park, created by the late Claude Cormier, a well-know landscape artist. Dennis tried to find a tree he could climb so he could take a picture of the heart-shaped pond from above, while the rest of us took in the view of the CN Tower and the boats on the water. Then we walked along the shoreline, all of it newly developed in the last 20 years. We passed unique shops, the market area which is bustling with cultural vents during the summer, and a wave-like sculpture made of wood; every little kid’s dream of a skateboard park. Sadly, skateboarding is prohibited on this piece of art.
Finally we reached our destination; the Amsterdam Brewhouse. This pub/restaurant is a favourite spot for Peter and me during the summer. It has a huge patio along the waterfront with an amazing view of the islands, and the ferries, and the small planes landing at Billy Bishop airport. We got a window seat and ordered beers and lunch. By the time we had finished, it was after 2:00 pm and we had 2 more stops to make. Actually 3, if you count the bathroom.
We walked back to the subway and went north to the stop which Louise and Dennis called Dundas. We had to spend a few minutes explaining that this stop was now TMU, and Dundas Square was now Sankofa. Next Louise and I headed towards the Eaton Centre as Peter and Dennis cried out in horror. They hadn’t realized that this tour included shopping. Really??
Then the truth came out – we were all too tired for shopping or much else. We had walked far more than 10,000 steps. We looked around, found a comfortable bench that would hold 4, and sat there for half an hour. Then we took our 4th subway ride north to College St and ended our tour at one of Canada’s National Historic Sites: the CARLU.
Opened in 1932, this venue, part of the former Eaton’s College St, has hosted Royalty on several occasions. The Round Room, where a Lalique crystal fountain takes centre stage, was a high-end restaurant for many years. The Concert Hall has seen performers like Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, and Frank Sinatra. Pianist Glen Gould claimed that the acoustics were the best in Canada. The venue is only open for special occasions.
So how did we get in? The Ontario Teachers’ Pension Fund Management team holds an annual meeting there and, since we were all teachers before retiring, we were invited. The meeting was informative and the food and drinks were even better. But what we loved the most, after our busy day, were the sofas! relaxing there was the perfect way to end our tour of Toronto In a Day.
Sue
Seventy In the City 