canada :: toronto :: general

[heet]

thanks Goat....def will look into your suggestions. Def will check out the Drake for sure!

[projectdenim]

Drake Hotel usually has a decent Friday/Saturday night. Main/lounge floor is usually Hip-Hop/RnB mixture. The basement usually caters to the house crowd. Like stated before, you have to check what's on the list for the evening. Sometimes you'll get crappy bands in the basement but every once in awhile you'll find a sea of people dancing away to what-have-you. Usually a very laid back crowd.

Also, just down the road is the Social. Awesome for Thursdays/Saturdays. Always packed and they usually start with progressive house into more ADD kind of music. Heavy bass, toss in some electronica but generally, really good dance music. Usually a very indie crowd.

As for shopping, you can't really go wrong with the Yorkville area. (Bay/Bloor.) There are a couple of little boutiques along Yorkville street that are worth checking out. Uncle Otis and TNT Blu are all very close and should not be missed. There's also a Holt Renfrew not even 5 minute-walk away. Other mentionables are Noir (rape prices, though) and Corbo (for the ladies).

[subarashii_kudamono]

west lounge and brant house for first timers. brant house has good food and then it turns into a lounge at night.

drake is ok but the social is where a handful of new vice do's are taken. its really inbred.

nightlife along college st. little italy as well. its pretty saturated with stuff to do so very conducive to hopping around from place to place.

check out places to eat and shop in the distillery and queen west soho. and go to kubo radio for cupcakes.

[heet]

Thanks guys for all the suggestions......I'm really looking forward to the trip up north!

[projectdenim]

Subarashii, I can't stand Brant anymore. ); The overload of (loud, easily drunk) asians over the previous weeks has driven me away. 5-10 happy hour was good while it lasted, though.

[NESK]

ive stayed away from brant and most of king west for a while now. i wen to cheval a few times cause some guys i used to hang out with come to the city and think getting botles is some secret society bullshit. i got tired of that quick. my lil bro worked at brant for a few weeks and said he can never go back to king w after being exposed to how stupid the clientele are, i never had to work in the area to see that.

queen w is okay. i still hit the beaconsfield to see friends and i have a love/hate relationship with the drake having worked there all summer. when they have a good night, its really good. but when they dont have an insane party booked, its the worst of the worst. know what your going for before you set foot in that building.

college is the same as drake. if you have a destination and know its going to be good music/people, its the bomb. barhopping is hard though. little italy draws the biggest cornballs outside of c lounge. id thro a parental advisory sticker on all of college as a general rule. you really gotta know where your going.

these threads are always misleading. if someone has never been here and people throw out a bunch of places that are maybe good one night a week, the visitor can be in for a terrible experience. new years is especially tricky since all the out of towners are making it their "big night". luckily, ill be working.

good luck, though.

[poshpol]

NESK is my official Toronto tour guide. You should listen to him.

[NESK]

haha, you met me after work and we shopped a bit. thats not really tour-guiding.

i dont even go out enough anymore to be a real tourguide. when my friends stop by from out of town, i usually take them to chill spots so we can catch up. if i wanted to go balls out and get dirty i wouldnt really know where to start. my social life recently consists of meeting dudes off here for drinks or hanging out at places where i dont have to pay for anything because my freinds work there. im not a very exciting person lately.

[heet]

hey Thanks NESK!

Your definitley right, nightlife can be tricky. All I'm looking for is a nice place to dance and get down. I'll def investigate everyone's suggestions and make sure to call ahead ... just to make sure!

[KyleFall]

I was just wondering if anyone could share tips on moving from a small town (population of about 40,000) to a large city. Toronto in particular because that is where I will be headed. How much surplus cash I should bring with me, how I should go about finding a job as good as the one I have now, being able to afford the cost of living going up etc. etc. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

[gimmegimme]

Stay in PEI.

[pantheist]

should probably get a job there first....

[Pandemonium]

should probably get a job there first....

good tip, there's nothing worse than moving in a big city without a secure income.

or living in one, for that matter.

+rep

[Tyro1]

although, with out spending much time in a city, it's hard to know where you want to live / work... but I assume you have been to toronto before?

[gimmegimme]

Seriously though...rent here is high(er). You'll be looking at $1000ish for a 1-bedroom, maybe $800ish for a bachelor, and around $1200+ for a 2-bedroom if you get a roomie. That's a ballpark estimate of course...you can get cheaper if you live outside the city or in the ghetto...and significantly more if you're in a nice area. Initial deposit for an apartment will be first & last month's rent, plus a possible key deposit. As a general rule, east end is cheaper than west end.

Transit pass is $110/month. Otherwise its $2.75/trip. The city is safe for walking, etc., but sometimes its not possible if its too far. Parking is horrendous. Gas is cheaper here than in the maritimes. GoTrain varies depending on where you live (if you're coming in from outside the city), but generally look at around $200ish.

Food/grocery is the same, but you have more options. You can get cheaper if you're willing to slum the grocery stores/sleazy restaurants. Booze is cheaper here at the liquor store, more in the bars.

Minimum wage will be $8.75 at the end of March. Opportunities are plentiful for standard foodservice/retail jobs (I don't know your field of work). You can probably find something when you get here if you're looking for that type of job...if you're looking for a professional position, do your best to get it before you arrive.

[KyleFall]

Great post gimmegimme. I'd give you rep if I had any to give. I was aware of the transit and everything already.

I'm currently paying $700 for a two bedroom in Charlottetown, $350 each. Paying an extra $250 monthly would by no means break me, it would just mean that I would have to put less money towards clothing/eating out etc.

I visited Toronto in the middle of December and absolutely fell in love with it. (I was originally born in Brampton but have not lived there since I was a kid).

I don't think I've ever worked for minimum wage, but I'm currently working as a Texas Hold'Em dealer at the entertainment center here. I don't think there are any similar positions in the downtown Toronto area so I'm not sure what I would be doing for work.

I was thinking if I saved up $8,000 and didn't bring any furniture with me that would probably be enough to tide me over until I got settled in. It would pay my rent and deposits groceries and furniture until I found a job/roommate.

I'm a 20 year old kid living in fucking Charlottetown. I need to get out of here and experience a bigger city.

[gimmegimme]

I'm a 20 year old kid living in fucking Charlottetown. I need to get out of here and experience a bigger city.

I can sympathize.

I moved here with $500 and no job, so I'm sure you can get by with $8G. There aren't any casinos in the city, but I'm sure you'll find something. Just get whatever you can at first and move on when you find something better. Good luck!

[poshpol]

great fucking posts in this thread. gimmegimme really laid it down nicely.

i think that with 8g's you will be quite comfy for a bit, but don't get lazy, get out there and look for work asap, http://toronto.craigslist.ca/ should help.

[KyleFall]

Yeah I have been looking at apartments and jobs on craigslist. Are there any streets I should look into and what are the ones I should avoid?

When I stayed there I was in a building on St.George and Bloor right by St.George station. It seemed to be the best location EVER. I really liked Elington too, but only because it reminded me of home.

[gimmegimme]

You can't afford either of those neighbourhoods (unless you get very lucky or very creative...or maybe rent a room, or have several roomies, etc.) Other expensive areas - Yorkville, Rosedale, Harbourfront.

Everyone has their preference on which area is nicest. Just make sure you're in the city (no scarborough, mississauga, etc.) In and around Broadview & Danforth can be reasonably priced and not too far from the DT core. Avoid places like St. Jamestown (definitely), Jane & Finch (mandatory), Regent Park area & Moss Park area are sketchy, but you can find good deals sometimes.

Possibly obvious, but make sure you're either getting air conditioning (not so likely) or at least have the option of installing a window unit yourself...its mandatory in the summer here. Make sure you're not TOO far from a subway station (taking the bus or the streetcar can be a bitch).

Another good website - www.viewit.ca

[KyleFall]

My friend Katherine was renting a bachelor on Bloor and St.George on the 6th floor with a balcony. $1000 a month. Good secure building, awesome location.

[gimmegimme]

My friend Katherine was renting a bachelor on Bloor and St.George on the 6th floor with a balcony. $1000 a month. Good secure building, awesome location.

Isn't that $400 over your budget?

[poshpol]

a couple of friends of mine who i stayed with in toronto live on Huntley (/Bloor). They are paying between 1200-1300$ for a very nice 2 bedroom on the 16th floor of a 26 floor building complete with gym, rooftop pool and sauna as well as a mini-mall (with a McDonalds) on the ground floor. the view is breathtaking

[KyleFall]

Isn't that $400 over your budget?

Yeah well I'd be shooting for a two bedroom, I was just trying to make the point that it's not THAT steep..not trying to be arguementative.

[KyleFall]

a couple of friends of mine who i stayed with in toronto live on Huntley (/Bloor). They are paying between 1200-1300$ for a very nice 2 bedroom on the 16th floor of a 26 floor building complete with gym, rooftop pool and sauna as well as a mini-mall (with a McDonalds) on the ground floor. the view is breathtaking

wow that sounds freaking amazing hahaha. a friend of mine who lives in york region suggested that i check out the annex...whats that place all about?

[poshpol]

apparantly thats the student area but i have a feeling its expensive.

[KyleFall]

well i do want a nice apartment. it seems that the apartments i really like that are still affordable are going to be between the $1000-$1200 dollar range.

[KyleFall]

Are there underground pokerrooms I have a shot at getting a job in? That would be fucking sick. I'm extreeemely qualified hahaha.

[KyleFall]

apparantly thats the student area but i have a feeling its expensive.

the same friend also suggested a place called the beaches. who has the d/l on that area?

[KyleFall]

hahahahah oh. that sounds like something i do not want to be involved in at all then.