My Toronto Includes Angela Noseworthy
Angela Noseworthy, Web and Graphic Designer
On top of the world at the Glencedar Bridge, orginally built in 1912.
What is your most favourite place in the city? The pedestrian footbridge on Glencedar Rd, north of my apartment. It’s like walking on top of the woods 
What is it that you like about this location? This is my favourite park right now, because it feels hidden and a bit unknown. I stumbled upon it on a bike ride last year and immediately fell in love. I love the view of the trees and walking path below, the smell of grass and tree, and the sounds of the birds – I guess it appeals to all my senses
Where is the best place to eat in the city? Wow, so many to choose from… I’d have to say Albert’s Real Jamaican food is a definite fave. I’ve never had better Jamaican food anywhere else, and it’s right down the street from my apartment.
What do you like about living in Toronto? The whole urban experience, the convenience of being close to friends & culture – I really like the events at Harbourfront in the summer.
What do you hate about living in Toronto? People who ride their bikes on the sidewalk.
Where would I find you on a lazy Sunday afternoon in the city? Taking a walk or bike ride in a new part of the city, helping the in-laws with their garden, or reading the Sunday paper with my man. (Although I don’t get much “Lazy” time anymore.)
Who is your favourite Local Celebrity? I don’t really get star struck, but I’d have to say any of our local comedians & musicians are very cool people. I really dig Frank Ghery.
Car, Bike or Transit? Bike, Walk, or Transit! I love that I don’t have a car anymore and I’m not contributing to pollution as much.
Favorite personal story or commentary on the city Once I gave a lady 2 dollars in the checkout line at dominion because she didn’t have enough to pay. She was so overly happy, she said thanks about 5 times, and offered to drive me home. It amazed me how surprised she was that someone would do that. If you’re going to live in a city, I think it’s good to do little good-karma deeds once in a while, because you never know when you’ll need that 2 dollars.
My Toronto includes helping others, working hard, living life and appreciating the friends I’ve made here.
My Toronto Includes Tom Barber
Tom Barber, Public Affairs
Hanging out on the step of the Palmerston Junior Public School.
What is your most favourite place in the city? The Annex (Bathurst and Bloor).
What is it that you like about this location? This neighbourhood is home to me; I grew up here and have always lived in close proximity. I can remember buying GI Joes from the Consumers Distributing where Sonic Boom now is. I love the Bloor Cinema, the rooftop patio of Paupers pub and of course Honest Ed’s.
Where is the best place to eat in the city? Ghazaleâ’s, the little counter place beside the Bloor Cinema, excellent chicken shawarma and open late.
What do you like about living in Toronto? The culture, plays, sports, restaurants, everything you could ever want or need.
What do you hate about living in Toronto? The urban sprawl and pretentious nature of some Torontonians.
Where would I find you on a lazy Sunday afternoon in the city? Sitting on the patio of a cafe with a coffee reading a newspaper and soaking in the city.
Who is your favourite Local Celebrity? Mike “Pinball” Clemons
Car, Bike or Transit? Transit and foot-power.
Favorite personal story or commentary on the city When I was about 12 years old my Uncle took my brother and I to see some Victoria Day fireworks at the lakeshore. We were going to take the Dufferin bus South from Bloor but bus after bus was packed with people so we started walking. For most of the walk we could see the fireworks in the distance, they ended as soon as we arrived. Rather than trying to pack ourselves on a bus to head back North we decided to wait out the crowd and have something to eat. After eating, while waiting for the bus to head home, we played charades with a group strangers at the bus stop.
My Toronto Includes Diversity! Growing up I had a lot of friends who had come to Toronto from places like China, Korea, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, British Columbia, United States and Pakistan.
My Toronto Includes Kari Gignac
Kari Gignac, Online Photographic Sales
Enjoying a pint with her friends at Sneaky Dee’s at the corner of College and Bathurst
What is your most favourite place in the city? One of my favourite spots in the city is a window seat in Sneaky Dee’s.
What is it that you like about this location? From the vantage point of the window seat, you can see all the beautiful people walking by, watch the sun set directly down College Street, and enjoy the fabulous Mexican food (the Guacamole Exquisito is a particular favourite of mine)! Honestly, I’ve never been to a restaurant where there are so many eclectic styles represented by the patrons. From Goth to Mod, and everything in between. I fit right in the middle, I think. There’s also something about the atmosphere in Sneak’s- it could be the grunginess, or the questionable service, or the loud music- that makes it feel cozy to me. You can laugh as loud as you want, yell out obscenities if necessary and sing at the top of your lungs- no one there would bat an eyelash. When I go there, I feel at home, less shy and introverted than usual. That may be because I’ve been so many times… it’s the choice meeting place for my friends and I, and where my friends like to be, I like to be!!
Where is the best place to eat in the city? Sneaky Dee’s. Guacamole Exquisito. Or the King’s Crown Nachos. With a pitcher of Red Barron.
What do you like about living in Toronto? I love the fast pace. I love that there’s ALWAYS something to do. I love the diversity. I love that people who don’t live in Toronto find it overwhelming and scary, and the fact that I can hack it makes me feel accomplished and proud. Of course, this is one of the reasons why non-Torontonians think we’re snobs… they just don’t get it. They won’t until they actually live here! I also love the fact that I can get anywhere on my bike faster than driving or taking the TTC. I love how easy it is to live an environmentally friendly, sustainable life.
What do you hate about living in Toronto? Hmmm… I hate the smog. I hate the “I’m in a rush don’t bother me” attitude that people (myself included) sometimes have. I hate that my family is so far away (Windsor). I don’t hate, but am disappointed by, all of the homeless people (especially the kids) on the street. I hate that the rent is so high!
Where would I find you on a lazy Sunday afternoon in the city? In my living room, watching a movie (winter). On a patio, sharing some brunch with good friends (summer).
Who is your favourite Local Celebrity? Hmmm… that’s a good one. Since a lot of my time has been spent blogging lately, I’d have to Sam Javanrouh. I’ve never met him, but his photo blog is an inspiration to me. He has a way of taking the most mundane subject and turning it into a spectacular photo. Plus he gets, on average, 30 comments on each post! I can only dream…
Car, Bike or Transit? BIKE!!!
Favorite personal story or commentary on the city I moved in with my friend from school up in North York almost four years ago. I still had my Honda CRV back then, and one day I got a speeding ticket on Avenue Road AND the car got towed from Queen Street East. I’d been handing out resumes all day and my feet were killing me, and I was annoyed beyond belief that I had to walk to the impound and pay to get my car back. I was about ready to give up and just drive back home to Windsor, but the next day, I gave a resume to Bangkok Garden on Elm Street (a Thai restaurant) and they hired me on the spot. It was the shittiest job ever, but I couldn’t believe how quickly I got work here in Toronto. I worked hard for a couple months there, bussing tables and serving noodles, lychee ice cream and mango salad, and then got a job at Indigo in the Eaton Centre. At that same time, I got my job at Henry’s, where I’m still happily selling cameras to photo bloggers around the world via eBay. So, this just goes to show how quickly things can flip flop in this city. And how, if you’re persistent and work hard, Toronto can be an amazing place of opportunity! I can’t believe I’ve been here for four years already. I’ve grown so much; experienced so much. Toronto is definitely a part of who I am now, and no matter where I end up, I know this time in Toronto will help me be more diligent, aware and appreciative.
My Toronto includes my friends, my camera and my bike. Without those three things, I’d be a completely different person. And I’d have absolutely nothing to do!
My Toronto Includes Alexa Clark
Alexa Clark, Editor/Publisher
Adding spice to her life on Augusta in Kensington Market.
What is your most favourite place in the city? My favourite place in the city is Kensington Market. I spent a summer living across the street from Courage My Love, in what is now another retro clothing store, and it was just the start of a long love affair with the market.
What is it that you like about this location? Everything from Courage My Love to The Rice Bar, from the funky Portuguese hardware store to Moonbean Coffee. I love it in the summer when the smells of cooking, hot asphalt, fresh fruit, fish and chiles could easily throw you into sensual overload, if you weren’t already reeling from the visual stimulation of graffiti colours, hippy-chick fashions side-by-each with punk piercings, grannies and grungers wandering side-by-side past the Roachorama. I love it in the winter when the neighbourhood becomes a magical conglomeration of hidden gems all waiting for you to deek in and get your ingredients, snacks and treats. Not to mention the most fantastic, not to be missed, participatory festival in the city – Festival of Lights on December 21st when the entire market becomes a seething mass of people all banging their drums and lighting the way through the longest night of the year.
Where is the best place to eat in the city? Oh boy – this is a hard one for me to answer. How about my current favourite place to eat in the city. That would be Baldwin Street – the section between Mc Caul and Beverly I’m always surprised at the people who don’t already know about this block and a half of wonderfully densely packed restaurants. It’s a great area to bring visitors or new Torontonians. Patios both on the street and hidden in back; restaurants include a Mexican fiesta room, a couple of excellent Indian spots, fine dining, a cheap but oh-so- tasty Chinese bakery, Japanese, Italian, French… really anything you want, you can probably find here.
What do you like about living in Toronto? I like the diversity. In fact, I love the diversity. What that means to me is that there is always something new to experience, learn and taste, someone new to meet, talk to and explore with.
What do you hate about living in Toronto? The pollution, the stress to maintain a certain type of lifestyle, the cost of having a place to live which means way too many people in this city simply don’t have one. It’s heartbreaking to see what those stressors do to people at all economic levels and their ability to get through their day with grace, compassion and humour.
Where would I find you on a lazy Sunday afternoon in the city? In the summer I would be on my bike exploring, in the winter likely sitting in a café writing or tucked into a movie matinee.
Who is your favourite Local Celebrity? Celebrity – well, I’m especially fond of the ones who provide recommendations for Cheap Eats. Hawksley Workman, Elizabeth Baird, Emm Gryner, Heather Mallick, Rick Mercer, David Miller, Marty Galin, Gord Martineau, Ed the Sock, Josey Vogels… Don Mc Kellar
Car, Bike or Transit? Bike all the way, all the time… when there’s too much snow – cabs. (but, shhhhh, don’t tell anyone ;->)
Favorite personal story or commentary on the city When I first moved to Toronto, at 19 on a co-op work term with IBM, I moved into an apartment across from work at Don Mills & the 401. I didn’t know anyone in the city, I was living on the 23rd floor with two fourth-year engineers who I barely knew, and I was feeling completely lost and alone. Then one night at 10pm my phone rang. It was a friend of my father’s (my father the hermit in New Brunswick), who just found out I was in Toronto. He phoned to invite me out to dinner. “But it’s 10pm on a Tuesday night…” I said. “Ya, we’ll be there to pick you up in 15 minutes” When he pulled up in front of my building, it was pitch black out, and the only sound was the roar of the traffic on the 401. He swooped me into his car and drove me down to Chinatown, which was filled with light and life – people shopping, eating, wandering around. Then we walked through the crowds to a little hole in the walled filled with people. “If you are looking for a good restaurant in Chinatown, look for the one filled with people at 1am” he said as he wove his way through the crowd getting takeout at the front, and we were flagged to a table. At 11pm we ordered BBQ pork, Singapore-style vermicelli and gai lan w/ oyster sauce. And ate and talked until 1am. That was when I knew that Toronto was home. The next week he took me to the Tulip.
My Toronto includes!
My Toronto Includes Ron Nurwisah
Ron Nurwisah, Writer
Chilling out on the patio fo I Deal Coffee on Nassau
What is your most favourite place in the city? The patio at I Deal Coffee on Nassau.
What is it that you like about this location? It’s one of the nicest, friendliest, meeting places I’ve ever seen. It’s a nice mix of unemployed layabouts, artists, students and market regulars. It also has killer coffee.
Where is the best place to eat in the city? I haven’t had much money to eat out but those Chilean Empanadas from Kensington Market are AMAZING.
What do you like about living in Toronto? Just how many great neighbourhoods there are in this city. Kensington Market, the Annex, Little Italy, Parkdale, Queen West, Leslieville, the Beaches, Little Portugal.
What do you hate about living in Toronto? The Gardiner and Lakeshore. Have you tried to cross that thing to get to the water?
Where would I find you on a lazy Sunday afternoon in the city? Probably at I Deal Coffee having my fourth Americano just chatting with the regulars.
Who is your favourite Local Celebrity? Jane Jacobs, god bless her soul. I wish I had gotten to meet her. But now that she’s gone probably one of those amazing indie rockers like the boys and girls from Broken Social Scene.
Car, Bike or Transit? Bike unless it’s really cold, or too far.
Favorite personal story or commentary on the city There are so many but riding in Critical Mass the Friday before the pride parade and being cheered on by the throngs of people all over Church Street was pretty awesome.
My Toronto includes more bike lanes, better air and lots more love.
My Toronto Includes Antony Hare
Antony Hare, Illustrator
Waiting on Brunch at Poor John’s on Queen Street West.
What is your most favourite place in the city? My favourite place in the city is all of Queen Street.
What is it that you like about this location? The people watching, the store shopping, the art viewing,and the food eating.
Where is the best place to eat in the city? Just one? How about a few: Little Tibet, Sugar Cafe, Bar One, and Gazelle.
What do you like about living in Toronto? The distinct villages that make up Toronto.
What do you hate about living in Toronto? The lack of pedestrian-only areas.
Where would I find you on a lazy Sunday afternoon in the city? Walking down Queen Street or in my apartment drawing.
Who is your favourite Local Celebrity? I try not to focus on the negative but I only have a list of least favourite, and I’d prefer to keep that private.
Car, Bike or Transit? Transit.
Favorite personal story or commentary on the city On rarer occasions I carry a notebook for when I’m in a writing mood. One night I was meeting a friend who had a DJ night at Cobalt on College Street. We were going to meet at another bar before the night began. I left the house intentionally early with my notebook. I was beginning to write the script for The Final Straw. When we arrived at Cobalt I left my friend to his duties while I saddled up to the bar and continued writing my script. All night people were coming up to me with questions or conversation openers. I was in a social mood and so I welcomed these distractions. The night got very busy. At one point I was scribbling like a mad man with hundreds of people around me drinking their faces off. I got a lot down on paper, I had a tonne of fun, and to boot I had a night in the City I’d never forget.
My Toronto includes people on the verge.
My Toronto Includes Maria Prieto Davo
Maria Prieto Davo, Market Analyst
A night on the town at Front and Church.
What is your most favourite place in the city? The median on Front St. just at Church where you can see the Flatiron building with the big office towers in the background.
What is it that you like about this location? The view of Toronto the old and Toronto the new together.
Where is the best place to eat in the city? Morton’s of Chicago at the Hyatt hotel.
What do you like about living in Toronto? Being able to walk without fear of being mugged or attacked (taking the appropriate measures, obviously). Being able to walk home in the middle ofthe night alone and without fear. I also like that it’s a relatively small city where you run into people you know all the time.
What do you hate about living in Toronto? Hearing all the time that there’s no money for this, no money for that. Also it’s too hot in the summer and apparently there’s not enough electricity supply and we could have a blackout any time if everyone turns on their air conditioning.
Where would I find you on a lazy Sunday afternoon in the city? I’ll probably be at the Flatiron and Firking playing NTN trivia and drinking a pint or two.
Who is your favourite Local Celebrity? Mayor David Miller.
Car, Bike or Transit? TTC.
Favorite personal story or commentary on the city I was walking on Queen St. right past Church towards St. Michael’s Hospital. Just where that park is where people play chess all day. Well, this man started walking beside me and asked me if I wanted to marry him. Unfortunately I had to say no. This random homeless guy is the only man (or actually, person) who has ever asked me to marry him in my thirty-something years.
My Toronto Includes my friends, who are my family, since I don’t have any family here.
My Toronto Includes Patrick Byck
Patrick Byck, One Part Media Analyst, One Part Project Manager
Taddle Creek Park at Bedford and Lowther
What is your most favourite place in the city? The Annex – on Bloor between Spadina and Bathurst and even a little west into the Korean Business District, as there are a few gems in the area.
What is it that you like about this location? I can see a movie at the Bloor Cinema, head down to the rooftop of Paupers pub on a summer night, or hit Future Bakery at any hour. Close to home and generally a great meeting place because of its proximity to both subway lines
Where is the best place to eat in the city? The best place to eat in the city is ZiZi Trattoria, again, in the Annex, along with the Biryani House in Roy’s Square at Yonge and Bloor.
What do you like about living in Toronto? The TTC; being a 20-minute transit ride from just about anything; the islands in the summer; seeing just about any concert that I could choose from on any given day; the affordability of rehearsal space that provides the quaint delusion that semi-literate bloggers like me can start a band and be successful, regardless of talent or drive (we’re now recruiting a singer for our band, but the entire process reeks of effort).
What do you hate about living in Toronto? I hate people that say “Spa-deena” even though I’m quite sure that is the correct way of saying it. I hate Castle Frank Station, because really, wtf! I hate the fact that the home next to me sold for almost $800,000, which proves that I’ll be shut out of housing market until I’m 80. I hate Queen Street West and the fact that most people panhandling there make more money than I do. I hate the Gardiner Expressway, parking Nazis (traffic wardens), the lack of any discernable point to the Sheppard line, and the Eaton Centre/Yonge & Dundas.
Where would I find you on a lazy Sunday afternoon in the city? Playing tennis anywhere there is a free court, which generally means the chain link jobbies at Ramsden Park, or at the Blooming Minge (a secret court just north of College Street, near Ossington). Disparaging Queen Street West while walking down it and cursing the line up for the patio at the Black Bull.
Who is your favourite Local Celebrity? I don’t have a particular favourite, although Zanta and his push-ups are quite spectacle on the subway in the dead of winter, given that he’s shirtless and uttering “YES YES YES YES YES” while admiring his biceps. Ben Kerr was always interesting.
Car, Bike or Transit? Transit. No need for a car in the city unless the TTC imposes a wildcat strike. Those moments make me wish I hadn’t sold my last bike, but it was time for another, which I have yet to buy.
Favorite personal story or commentary on the city Visiting the CN Tower with my family while on vacation in my mid-teens. The glass floor was recently installed and my brother and I were performing a pseudo-mime act (running on the spot, trapped in a box, sitting zen-like on the glass) for German and Japanese tourists. Watching my mother come around the corner and shriek like a banshee at the site of two of her offspring sitting on what appeared to be nothing yet not falling into the abyss.
My Toronto includes Peace, love and happiness between TTC management and the union…waking up in May and not having to hear the term “Smog Day” ever again; a complete housing bust allowing me to buy a home instead of nursing my lease on the cheap while waiting for a 250 square-foot condo to come available for $400,000.
My Toronto Includes Simon Reid
Simon Reid, Graphic Designer
Rollerblading along the Danforth at Logan.
What is your most favourite place in the city? I’m going to go even more general and say “the streets” because I can’t seem to come up with anything more specific.
What is it that you like about this location? When I have the opportunity, I love walking through the city, people watching. I find that when I have the spare time to do this I can walk for hours with a large grin on my face.
Where is the best place to eat in the city? La Palette
What do you like about living in Toronto? Options…There is always something to do, somewhere to go, or the somebody to see, or none of the above if so desired.
What do you hate about living in Toronto? Toronto seems to be a time sink. An hour goes by much faster in the city than outside of it!
Where would I find you on a lazy Sunday afternoon in the city? In my backyard trying to find some way to be busy…I can’t seem to sit still for very long.
Who is your favourite Local Celebrity? Emily Haines
Car, Bike or Transit? Yes! Car for convenience, Bike when the weather is good and Transit to go downtown and drink.
Favorite personal story or commentary on the city This is going to sound a bit strange coming from someone like me, but my favourite story is about a cat named Pud…(It’s kinda long) My wife’s sister was moving out to Ontario from BC and was driving across the country with all of their stuff. Needless to say with 2 kids under 4 in the car they didn’t want a cat for 4 days in there too. so they sent him on ahead…by plane…and we picked him up at the airport shortly after the plane arrived, which happened to be at about midnight. After 6 hours in a cage with strangers Pud was quite freaked out…so we thought we would be nice and let him roam around the car. In the process of driving home he managed to step on the window controls and lower the rear left window…when we hit the first stop light in the city (Still 5 blocks from our home) he took off into the night like a shot! 1:15 AM we had had her cat for 45 min and we lost him in a strange city no where near where he should call home. All weekend we postered and flyered the neighbourhood, using a small forest of paper. And we continued to going and look and call for 3 weeks. In that time the people of Greenwood/Cosburn were amazing, some drove us to all of the shelters/vets in the area, others ran around the blocks and through yards when we had spottings…in the end, My Sister-in-Law arrived and we eventually went out the next night to call for him in familiar voices…we wouldn’t you know it they were out for 30 min and found him one street east of where we lost him…skinnier but still completely loveable…3 weeks alone in the big city didn’t change that country cat one bit!
My Toronto includes old buildings that don’t get destroyed for Lexus dealerships and the like.
My Toronto Includes Jamie Bradburn
Jamie Bradburn, Editor/wannabe Graphic Designer
At Croft and College.
What is your most favourite place in the city? Picking a favourite anything is torture! The easiest answer is downtown as a whole.
What is it that you like about this location? It’s alive. There’s hardly a street that doesn’t have something interesting to draw you in. I grew up near large urban downtowns that were either dead (Detroit) or comatose if you weren’t a bar crawler (Windsor).
Where is the best place to eat in the city? Tough to choose, since there are so many. For nice dining, I haven’t had a bad meal at Seven Numbers on Danforth. For comfort food (which for me is Asian or Indian), I head to the Korean restaurants along Bloor West, the pho shops along Spadina, Udupi Palace on Gerrard or the lunch spread at Little India on Queen.
What do you like about living in Toronto? Diversity of everything. Food, culture, arts, architecture, celebrations, etc. Hard to be bored here. I also like seeing how neighbourhoods evolve, through things like walks down the entire length of Queen West from Yonge to Roncescvalles.
What do you hate about living in Toronto? The traffic, especially cab drivers. My life has flashed before my eyes so many times, I wonder if I’ll soon start seeing somebody else’s life the next time a cab darts into the middle of traffic or runs a “walk” sign. I also hate the attitude that every grand project in this city must be “world class”, when infrastructure maintenance and other “boring” day-to-day items are more important to keeping Toronto liveable.
Where would I find you on a lazy Sunday afternoon in the city? Downtown, somewhere between Queen/Yonge and Bloor/Bathurst. Most weekends, I go on a “Sunday Constitutional” walk downtown, usually winding my way through Queen West, Kensington Market and the Annex. A chance to get some exercise, soak up some sun, grab a bite, buy goodies for the week and browse stores at a relaxed pace.
Who is your favourite Local Celebrity? Next question!
Car, Bike or Transit? A combination of all three. Depends on the situation. Car for areas outside the old city limits, bike for leisure riding along city trails or the islands, transit for getting around the core.
Favorite personal story or commentary on the city Walking down Yonge St near Wellesley one day, a teenage panhandler asked for change “to neuter my pet goldfish”.
My Toronto includes a piece of the world on every block.
