Toronto/Greektown Travel Guide
From Wikitravel
Greektown, also called "the Danforth", is a district in Toronto.
Contents |
Get in
Going East on Bloor Street by subway, bus or car, you cross the Prince Edward viaduct made famous by the Michael Ondaatje book "In the Skin of a Lion". This bridge was until recently also infamous for have a high suicide rate. The city installed barriers to prevent people from jumping off the bridge into the Don Valley below. After you cross the Don Valley the street name changes to Danforth and there are lots of Greek restaurants. The main section of restaurants and cool shops is between Ellerbeck and Pape with Carrot Common (at Chester subway) being ground zero.
The best way to get here from downtown is to take the Bloor Danforth subway - get on the very front of the subway and look out the front window for a cool view of crossing the bridge. Kids love it.
Alternatively, there is the bike path along Bloor which ends at Broadview/Danforth. This route allows you to stop in the middle of the Prince Edward Viaduct for a spectular view of the Don Valley south to the lake including all the skyscrapers of downtown. Or another bike route is to travel along the Don bike path from north or south and exit the path at Pottery Road (long uphill warning) with the reward of Dairy Queen at the top of the hill. This DQ has one of the best views of the city. From the DQ head south on Broadview to the Danforth and then to the east.
By car - assuming you are coming from another city - take the 401 to the DVP, head south on the DVP to the Bloor exit. Exit and follow the road up the hill and you will come to a light - turn left. You are at CastleFrank subway and about to cross the bridge which will become the Danforth once you pass Broadview.
See
Just to the north of Danforth on Playter crescent is the old Playter farmhouse - one of the original houses from when the area was settled. It is apparently still in the family and has not been turned into any kind of museum.
Nearby is Todmorden Mills, an early settlement area near the Don River. Go north on Broadview from the Danforth, turn left at Pottery Road (at the Dairy Queen), down the big hill, then turn left at the bottom and find a parking spot. There are some old houses which are well preserved and complete with furnishings. In behind the houses, there is a circular walking path that crosses over an old bend in the Don River that has been cut off from the main flow by the construction of the Don Valley Parkway.
Do
The best thing to do on the Danforth is to find a sidewalk cafe and sit there drinking coffee, wine, beer and eat Mezes. There is lots of choices to do this and all are well worth it.
Taste of the Danforth will be happening August 11 - 13 2006. During this event, the Danforth is closed off to vehicular traffic and there is a massive street party. Don't drive and hope to find parking. Take the subway to either Broadview, Chester or Pape. Of course there is a Greek theme with tons of BBQ'ed souvlaki but there is other types of food too. Usually there are some basic rides for kids too. Last year there were almost a million people on the street and it was very festive.
There is a very popular book city at the Carrot Common area which is great for hanging out. Also within the Carrot Common is a cool rock store where you can buy all sorts of crystals and there are some telescopes there too.
South of the Danforth at Withrow is the large Withrow park, which has a great area for young 2 - 9 year old kids, an area to let dogs off leash and a skating rink in the winter.
Speaking of winter - South of Greektown along Broadview ave is the city's finest toboggan hill at Riverdale Park. If you can make 5 full top to bottom runs of this baby you're in good shape.
If you're going to be around for a while - sign up for a Karate class at the Japanese Martial Arts centre - Kancho is an 8th Dan Black Belt (there are 9 levels) and he is very friendly.
Go get a massage at Carrot Common, lots of talented professionals to work out the knots and then you can pick up some organic healthy food at the Big Carrot
Buy
Olives, Feta (at Alex Farms cheese store - an adventure in cheese!), Greek flags in case Greece does well in "football" Also, there is the hot sauce store at the lights near Carrot Common, plus a fair amount of home furnishing stores.
Eat
Many many great restaurants - most come for the Greek food. There is Avli, Pan, Omonia, Pappa's grill, Astoria, Ouzeri to name just a few, all are very good. But don't miss out on the Brussels cafe on the north side of the Danforth near Broadview for it's Belgian food, mussels frites and beers. There is Sher e Punjab on the south side across from Carrot Common - Indian food. Allens is a great food and bar with a suberb selection of beer. Try another from Unibroue such Fin de Monde or Maudite for real beer. Mariko is on the south side near Sher e Punjab, for Japanese food and has an all you can eat Sushi offering. Also not technically on the Danforth is Lily, north of Broadview/Danforth on the west side for great Japanese food.
After dinner - the wide sidewalks lure many locals out for a casual stroll up and down the streets, great way to spend a summer weekend evening.
Drink
Ouzo - available at the liquor store, south side of the Danforth near Ellerbeck
Sleep
There are no hotels on the Danforth nor are there any bed and breakfasts that I know of in the area Closest hotels are at Yonge and Bloor (expensive)
There is one Bed and Breakfast, just east of Pape and Danforth on Langford Ave.
