THE DANFORTH Global tastes and cosmopolitan style

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Broadview Av Broadview Don V Don P

retoria

Jackman Ave

Che Cambridge Ave Cambridge Ave

Ellerbeck St Arundel Ave

alley Pk alley ster A ster A ter Cres

Play Plum

enue Erindale Ave

ve wy wy

Hurndale Ave Pl

3 5 W 1 Broadview Avenue 2 4

Don Valley Pkwy Bowden St Hampton Ave Dearbourne Ave

Fairview Ave Garnock Ave

Wolfrey Ave

Wlf A Woody Pape Avenue

Dewhurst Blvd Langford Ave Langford Arundel Ave

Ainsworth Rd Carlaw Ave Carlaw Ave Gou Ferrier Ave

Logan Ave

Eaton Ave Eaton crest Ave crest

Plum Pl Gertrude Pl gh Ave gh

Lipton Av e 6 8 Danforth Avenue E Jones Ave Logan Ave Fenwick Ave Gough Ave Pape Avenue Hazelwood Ave Chatham Ave

ve Ravina Cres Harcourt Ave Harcourt Ave McConnell Ave 7 A Legend_

Bus, Streetcar Route Architectural/ 1 The 5 Carrot Common Historical Interest Greenspace 2 Danforth Baptist Church 6 The Alexander the Great Fountain Outdoor Art, Statues & 3 Eastminster United Church 7 Withrow Park Municipal Parking Structures 4 St. Barnabas Anglican Church 8 Holy Name Catholic Church One-way Street Subway Station Writing: Diana Shepherd. Design: www.nsgd.com Photo: © Lousie Writing: Diana Shepherd. Design: www.nsgd.com

DANFORTH_0106 THE DANFORTHGlobal tastes and cosmopolitan style

How to get there Points of interest By TTC: Broadview, Chester, Pape, and Donlands Danforth Ave. In 1912, the old subway stations. 1 The Bloor Street Viaduct. Built in wooden structure was replaced By Car: The is a stone’s throw 1918 and officially called the with a brick building. away. There’s street parking (with ticket purchase) after the except for certain hours, and several small-to- then Prince of Wales, it was the 5 Carrot Common (320 and 348 medium-sized “Green P” parking lots just north of first physical link between the Danforth Ave.) Originally the site Danforth Ave., but parking can be scarce during City of and the of a grand, three-storey brick warm summer nights and festivals. neighbourhood. The construction house—which was torn down in of the Viaduct is described in the 1960s and replaced with a Michael Ondaatje’s award- used car lot—Carrot Common winning novel, In the Skin of a opened for business in 1987. Lion. In 2003, the “Luminous Big Carrot Natural Food Market, Veil”—a stainless steel barrier a cooperatively-owned natural consisting of some 9000 vertical food store, joined with other rods—was installed as artwork partners to create the 17-store and as a deterrent to people mini-mall. wishing to commit suicide. The Alexander the Great Fountain. Walking along the viaduct offers 6 Located in the parkette at the great views of the valley below. corner of Logan and Danforth, 2 Danforth Baptist Church the Fountain was officially (60 Bowden St.) Built between opened in 1995. The Fountain 1903 and 1931, this church features a decorative urn in its houses a large war memorial centre and a mosaic tile floor Why you should go painting by noted Canadian artist depicting four flying fish; the The Danforth, which is home to one of the largest Owen Staples. design is based on a fresco Greektowns in North America, offers hundreds of found at the Phylakopi Palace on 3 Eastminster United Church mouth-watering international restaurants, vibrant (310 Danforth Ave.). The original the Island of Crete in Greece. pubs, romantic cafés, organic and health-food stores, building was completed in 1910, Withrow Park. This 21-acre city one-of-a-kind boutiques, and family-owned fruit and 7 with additions in 1914 and park—located one block south of vegetable stands. Where else can you find fresh 1923. In 1954, the Moller organ Danforth between Logan and carrot juice, a wedding dress, delicious souvlaki or (one of only two in Canada) was Carlaw—offers shady trees, dim sum, or an authentic Irish pub—all within a brought up from Hagerstown, MD public washrooms, a children’s couple of blocks? This is a clean, safe community in nine trucks. playground, a swimming pool with international flair. It attracts those in search of and ice-rink, and an off-leash cosmopolitan tastes, sounds, and products, and it’s 4 St. Barnabas Anglican Church area for dogs. perfect for night owls, who will appreciate the many (361 Danforth Ave.). In 1858, clubs, pubs, patios, and cafés that stay open late— St. Barnabas was a small, 8 Holy Name Catholic Church especially in the summer. Whether shopping for wooden church on Ellerbeck St. (606 Danforth Ave.). organic or international foods, searching for a unique serving the Chester Village Construction started in 1914, gift, lazing away a sunny afternoon on a sidewalk community. The church was built and the main church was patio, or looking for a fun evening out, The Danforth on wheels, which came in handy completed in 1926. Modeled is the place to go. when it was moving to its current after the Santa Maria Maggiore location at Danforth and in Rome, this grand church soars Hampton in 1907. Unfortu- to 100 feet at the crossing of nately, the wheels fell off en the transepts. route, so the first service was celebrated in the middle of

DANFORTH_0106 Global tastes and cosmopolitan style THE DANFORTH which boasts the largest concentration of Edward Viaduct (better known today as the What to do Greek restaurants in North America. But Bloor Street Viaduct) over the Don Valley In any season, a stroll along Danforth with 92 eateries to choose from, you’ll also was completed. The bridge’s designer, Avenue is sure to please. The main find excellent Thai, Japanese, Cuban, Edmund Burke, insisted on adding a lower shopping, food, and entertainment venues Italian, and Mexican food. Add some deck for trains; about half a century later, can be found between Broadview and romantic restaurants, lively pubs, patios, his foresight saved Toronto millions of Jones Avenues, with GreekTown proper and nightclubs, and you have all the dollars when the Toronto Transit lying between Chester and Jones. This makings of a great evening out. Commission (TTC) subway started using stretch of Danforth Avenue is about 1.5 Withrow Park: Recreation. This 21-acre the deck. In the early 1900s, this new kilometres (about a mile) long, but you greenspace offers shady trees and public suburb was home to immigrants from should plan to spend at least four hours washrooms. Every summer, the Shake- England, Ireland, and Scotland. The end for window shopping and dining. speare in the Rough theatre company of the Second World War brought a wave The pace is relaxed, and there’s a presents one of the Bard's works in this of Italians to the area, followed by Greeks Mediterranean feel to many of the park. All shows are pay-what-you-can; for and other immigrants in the ’50s and restaurants and cafés: you’re meant to more information, visit www.sitr.ca. ’60s. In the ’70s and early ’80s, The linger over your meal, soaking up the Danforth had one of the highest ambiance and watching the world pass by. A short history concentrations of Hellenic immigrants Still, there’s always lots going on— Danforth Avenue was named after Asa living outside of Greece. especially when Greece makes the World Danforth, an American contractor who was Today, the local businesses are very proud Cup soccer finals and the whole street commissioned to cut this road between of The Danforth, and have formed two explodes with excitement! York and the Bay of Quinte in 1799. In Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) who Broadview to Bowden: International the 1800s, it was a country road outside use their own money to make the area samplings. Starting at Broadview city limits, offering travellers views of more attractive (such as building the and walking east, you’ll find the fields, market gardens, brickyards, and the “Alexander the Great Fountain”) and to “international” part of The Danforth— occasional house, church, or roadhouse. add vitality to the local community complete with theatres, great restaurants, Formerly known as Danforth Village, the (through festivals such as “The Taste of pubs offering live music, independent and area officially became part of Toronto in the Danforth”). Check out the websites chain cafés, and eclectic shops. In the 1908, but it wasn’t truly accessible until below for festival and special events first three blocks, you’ll find Spanish, 1919, when work on the the Prince details and dates. Irish, English, Tex-Mex, and French eateries—many of which offer live music in the evenings—as well as three high-end A little trivia • The Danforth was featured in the movie personal care shops/spas, a handful of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”; aficiona- eyeware shops, upscale women’s clothing dos will recognize Pappas Grill (across boutiques, handmade chocolates, and a • Second only to the Borough of the street from the fictional travel sports bar. Queens in New York, Toronto has agency where Toula worked), Louis Bowden to Chester: Shopping. Keep the largest Greek population living Meat Market, and Ellas Restaurant to walking east of Bowden and you’ll find outside of Greece. name just a few. three bridal shops, three churches, three • Taking place in early August, “The Taste • Other movies shot on The Danforth cafés, two herbalists, and Carrot of the Danforth” is an annual festival include “Cinderella Man” (2004), Common—a 17-store shopping centre celebrating our multicultural city—from “How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days” named for founding tenant Big Carrot sushi to mezes, from world folk music (2002), “Bulletproof Monk” (2002), Natural Food Market. This New-Age mall to children’s games—with an emphasis and “Chicago” (2001). offers holistic/homeopathic/ on Hellenic food and culture. The street naturopathic/fair trade products and closes down to accommodate the • Built in 1865, the Don Jail was used services intended to promote wellness for 1 million + Torontonians and tourists for the “Jail Bar” in the 1980s movie us and for our planet. In this stretch of who flock to the area to sample “Cocktail”. On a more serious note, it Danforth Ave., you can choose from delicious Greek food, drink Retsina was the scene of Canada’s last hanging Japanese, Chinese, East Indian, Scottish, (white wine matured in pine casks), in 1962. Located at Broadview Ave. or organic foods, or find a unique gift from and listen to music. For more details and Gerrard St. East, the Don Jail is a distant land at one of the fair-trade shops. about this lively festival, visit: one of a handful of intact pre-Confe- deration (1867) structures, and its Chester to Jones: Greektown. Once you www.tasteofthedanforth.com. Italianate façade is one of the city’s cross Chester, you’re into Greektown, architectural gems.

For more information, go to: www.thedanforth.ca or www.greektowntoronto.com.

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