This page contains various supplemental information for people visiting Toronto BME HQ BBQs. For information on current event schedules and all that, please visit the BME events page which contains information on events not just here, but all over the world. It will even help you organize events yourself in your local area.

Getting There

I'm going to assume you've already figured out how to find Toronto, Ontario, Canada. If you're flying, fly to Toronto Pearson International Airport (airport code YYZ) but get a downtown hotel. The airport is about half an hour outside the downtown, so a cab will cost about $35 Canadian (or about $24 US), or you can take transit for less.

If you are taking a bus, it will drop you off at the bus terminal at Bay and Dundas, a fifteen minute walk from my house, and walking distance from most of the downtown hotels. If you are taking a train, it will drop you at Union Station, which is at Bay and Front (Front is just a bit south of King). Union Station is about half an hour walk, or a short transit or cab ride.

Here are a few maps to help you on your way:

This shows the major highways you'll come across if you're driving. As you can see, the 401, the DVP (Don Valley Parkway), QEW/Lakeshore, and the 427 roughly frame the centre of Toronto, so you can easily get to my house on any of those (although I'm just up Bathurst off the Lakeshore). I've put Spadina on the map because there's an exit to Spadina off the QEW, but not to Bathurst.



This is the general "major street" layout of the downtown core, and probably a good thing to remember. I'm just north of Bathurst and Queen. There are streetcars, buses, or subways on all of this grid so it should be easy to navigate. As far as walking, figure each block taking five to ten minutes tops to walk. One thing to note is that Yonge St. is the east/west divider. For example, one side is "Queen St. West" and the other size "Queen St. East".



This is the region immediately surrounding my house. If you get yourself to either Dundas and Bathurst or Queen and Bathurst, you'll be within seconds of my house. Walk up/down to the first lights (the only lights between Dundas and Queen on Bathurst). I'm just north of those lights, sandwhiched between a big park and a big empty lot. Enter the laneway around the south side of the houses and come around back. Ignore the crazy lady if she yells at you.

Places to Eat

These are only my personal recommendations, and I'm far from an expert on reviewing restaurants, but I'll at least mention some of my favorite places:

Cafe 668 (668 Dundas St. W). This is in my opinion the best vegan food in the city right now, plus it's dirt cheap. It doesn't look like much, but the food is exceptional (the congees are good, and the summer rolls are amazing), and it's just a short walk on the other side of the park.

Buddha's (666 Dundas St. W). Another great vegan restaurant, very similar to the above (great tofu and gluten dishes), and also dirt cheap and nearby.

New York Subs (520 Queen W, just east of Bathurst). Don't let the name fool you. This is actually a place selling East Indian inspired burritos. This is also very vegetarian friendly, a short walk, and cheap. (Note: this is fast food, not a sit down meal. If you go with a picky-eater friend, there's also a SubWay next door).

Amato's (534 Queen W, just east of Bathurst, and another between Bathurst and Spadina on College at 380 College). This is a great place to have some gourmet pizza, dirt cheap Mediterrean and Italian food (a heaping seafood salad; mixed greens topped with shrimp and scallops is $4 US), plus they have pitchers.

Shanghai Cowgirl (532 Queen W, I think -- right next to Amato's). Super modern interpretation on diner and comfort food. I recommend the Trailer Trash Sushi (chicken breast sandwhich with wasabi mayo), their sweet potato fries, and for vegetarians, their mixed salad is nice. Expect to spend $10 - $20 (CDN) per person.

Tortilla Flats (429 Queen W, a couple doors east of Spadina and Queen). Tex-Mex bar food. There are even things for vegans here, but if you eat chicken, their boneless chicken wings are awesome, and for those that like it spicy, the Texas Chain Gang chili is the best all-steak chili I've ever had. About $10 - $20 (CDN) a person.

The Bishop and the Belcher (361 Queen W, a five minute walk tops east of Spadina and Queen). British pub food. Great fish and chips, and for gluttons, try the big belch. About $10 - $20 CDN per person.

Sushi Time (339 Queen W., just east of the Bishop, and another at 394 Bloor W., between Bathurst and Spadina). This is the cheapest decent sushi in town, and you can stuff yourself for well under $20 a person. It usually gets pretty packed, but if it's full, there are tons of other places in that strip.

Sneaky Dee's (on the South East corner of Bathurst and College). Some of the better bar food in the downtown core. The great thing about Dee's is that their kitchen is open incredibly late (2AM or something) and you'll walk away eating for under $15.

Queen of Sheba (1051 Bloor West -- I think it's just a block or two east of Bloor and Dufferin -- just take the Bloor subway to Dufferin station). I'm recommending two Ethiopian places; this is the cheaper one of the two, but it's still great food. You'll eat for about $10 if I remember right.

Chef Wondi's (1671 Bloor West -- I think the closest subway station is Keele, which Chef Wondi's is east of). This is the best Ethiopian food in town for sure, but you'll spend double what you spend at Queen of Sheba. Both Ethiopian places are on transit, but are past walking distance.

Azul (181 Bathurst St., at Queen and Bathurst). Eclectic modern dining, and only about two minutes away from my house. Expect to pay $20 to $30 a person though.

Shopping

Chinatown - Runs along Spadina, roughly from College to Dundas (it will be quite obvious when you're there).

Kensington Market - Hip shopping district made up of lots of used clothing stores, a punk record store, lots of European and ethnic food vendors and bulk stores, etc.. It's just off China town (basically on the sidestreets to the west -- just ask when you're there if it's not apparent).

Queen West SoHo - More hip shops, running basically from Queen and University (a subway stop) down to a bit past Queen and Bathurst. If you're walking across town, this is the street to walk. Clothing stores with everything from high fashion to skate gear, lots of restaurants, comic shops, head shops (check out the Friendly Stranger), piercing and tattoo shops, MuchMusic, and tons more.

Links

PrideToronto. You'll need to visit this if you're coming to the parade). Along that road, you definitely should also visit GayToronto.com which has tons of great info for both gay and straight visitors to Toronto.

Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). Find out how to cheaply get around Toronto and download lots of Toronto maps. You can also use MapQuest of course; for both of these, my address is 247 Bathurst St., and the postal code if needed is M5T2S4.

Toronto.com. The megasite.

The Beer Store (beer obviously) and the LCBO (Liquor, including wine, hard alcohol, and some beer). These will fill you in on the locations and hours of places to buy alcohol in the city.

...hope that's enough to get you statrted!