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Toronto-Age |OT4| Molested by a Burger Priest
- Thread starter EvilMario
- Start date
KnightHart
Member
It's kind of our thing here. It'd be more surprising if people weren't so passive-aggressive here considering we get metaphorically kicked in the teeth every week by SOMETHING. Last week it was murmurs of yet another inevitable TTC fare hike and the mafia apparently stirring shit up or whatever who cares. We're not as chill as other cities, but there's still a lot of "Well, whatever, sure, fuck it, why not" attitude. The bad city attitude yet general aloofness is part of the charm, I guess. Toronto is a large and strange city and there's always something interesting or weird going on at any time of day, but that's what makes it attractive.
Seriously, what's wrong with this question?
I'm used to going bar hopping like this: Closest Bar for Pre-Gaming, usually dive bar or faux dive bar or patio bar during summer > Restaurant for Dinner > Hipster Craft Beer Bar > Sophisticated Bar > Club for laid back table service or drunk dancing / hook up or both > Home. Sometimes late-night fried food.
Is this not common there?
I can make a decision, I'm getting feedback from as many sources as possible to make an informed decision.
I would be very impressed by a person who can make a decision like that without any research. I can be spontaneous about most things but not major life decisions.
If I did move, I would also have to give up on my pet (my other pet died earlier this year) to a family member or friend that wanted her, and then also figure out how I'm going to rent out my apartment (most likely furnished) and where to store my stuff (my parents said they had room for some of my stuff as long as it's not the furniture), but lots of logistics.
I think the problem is that even though people have been giving you information, your tone in replies feels to be that Toronto is not "good enough". I'm just gonna come out and say it, that in reading your posts, I kind of get the impression that you are flaunting your wealth. I have a feeling that GAF is not a place where that is in abundance, so it's understandable that you will get some push back.
As for the clubbing question, I think it's because Vancouver has the reputation of being the "no fun city".
Do Torontoians (spelling?) have a complex around it being ragged on or something because there's nothing I said that "Toronto is not good enough" except around snowboarding but that's because people just told me it's not good enough. I just want to know how everything I enjoy is in Toronto. Lots of things to research and consider.
I don't understand what I said in this thread that was about flaunting wealth. First, I'm not rich, I'm middle class just with a higher budget as I don't own a car. Second, only thing I said that would talk about money was asking what the living cost was, that rent seemed cheaper in Toronto based on pad mapper (that's a good thing), and that my budget is up to $3000 / month for furnished.
Maybe it's just me. It's not what you explicitly say, but the tone of your earlier posts making me think that's what you said and it rubbed me the wrong way. In my earlier post, I said that I would not be surprised if you got a similar response if the cities were reversed. Remember, I've only been here a year and I was from Vancouver before that. Maybe it's the internet and text being bad at conveying actual tone, but that's my feeling.
maybe also combined with the face in your avatar... LOL
Junior Mint
Member
I decided to move here after living in Vancouver for 25 years using only Google, Google Maps, and a single chat with a friend who made the same move. To be honest though, I already know that I could adapt to and live in pretty much any big city.
Anyways, to answer your questions:
- I want a view.
Lakeshore, Queen's Quay... anywhere south near the water. Ice Condos, 33 Bay. Or a high floor facing south in any of the downtown condos. I've been on the 40-level floors in Aura and the view is incredible.
- I love good food and am a foodie (I know Toronto is good here as I've been to like 5-6 restaurants in Toronto but what areas are best?)
Depends what you want. Miku is here near the Queen's Quay area. Lot of the higher end restaurants are in King West between Spadina and Bathurst. Some are also in Yorkville but I think King West is the better destination. Honestly, I think Toronto has a better food scene than Vancouver (or it's more to my taste). There's more variety, better high-end restaurants, and streets aren't just filled with sushi and pho on every corner.
- I like everything being in walking distance or quick transit ride away if something different. Esp shopping, I like shopping once a week for clothes, electronics, etc.
Live anywhere in the downtown CORE - box of Bathurst/Bloor/Yonge. Tons of shopping on Bloor (high end), Eaton Centre, Queen West. Best Buy is also right beside Eaton. Unfortunately, no Costco like there is in downtown Vancouver.
- I like outdoor activities. Especially walking around the beach, snowboarding, and wake boarding.
Beaches here suck but there are a whole bunch that you can see on Google Maps. No idea about snowboarding and whatnot.
- I hate the heat (are condos A/C'd in Toronto?) EDIT - Correction, I love dry heat, I have no issue with places like Phoenix but can't stand muggy heat.
It gets insanely hot and humid in August. Rest of summer is pretty okay. I work in the financial district so I just stay in the PATH during times of extreme weather.
- How are the people?
To me, everyone has been friendly and people here are very talkative compared to Vancouver. When I have to step into a packed TTC to work, people voluntarily make room for me even if I'm willing to wait for the next train. Everyone's willing to chat and hell even my condo neighbors say hi to me which is really strange to me considering I've never had that happen in Vancouver.
Clubbing isn't even a comparison; Vancouver probably has one of the worst club (night life) scenes I've ever seen. Speaking from an Asian point of view: girls and people in general are insanely cliquey in Vancouver.
- What's the culture like?
I don't know how to answer this.
- What's cost of living compared to Vancouver? Rent seems a lot less but I may be looking at wrong areas.
Slightly cheaper but salaries on the whole are higher in Toronto... at least for corporate/office type jobs.
I'll have questions for some of those, thanks for answering, much appreciated. Quick question though - What's PATH?
I also like Vancouver's night life. Much better then cities like Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, etc. Nothing compared to Las Vegas, New York, etc. though. But if I like Vancouver's night life then it sounds like I'll love Toronto's night life. So that's good.
I also like Vancouver's night life. Much better then cities like Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, etc. Nothing compared to Las Vegas, New York, etc. though. But if I like Vancouver's night life then it sounds like I'll love Toronto's night life. So that's good.
Junior Mint
Member
The entirety of the financial district is connected underground. It's a huge underground network of stores and food courts... If you've been to Japan or Hong Kong, it's similar to how their subways are always connected to stores and stuff underground. So you can pretty much walk between any office building/subway in the financial district without even stepping foot outside. It's awesome - especially if you have to wear suits to work and don't want to risk getting rained/snowed on.
PATH is an underground walking path connecting a lot of downtown areas. It's a godsend during the winter.
Nice. So it's like a much larger Pacific Centre?
I have been to Tokyo and the stations were absolutely huge with multiple exits everywhere and entire shopping centres around the big stations.
EDIT - I think I remember being in an underground mall that connected to my hotel at Royal York in Toronto - would this be part of PATH?
http://www1.toronto.ca/static_files/economic_development_and_culture/docs/BIA%20Maps/PATH_map.pdf
That's the map. Yeah it connects all the big shopping centres and stuff. Your hotel was near the middle, next to Union station.
If you didn't come off as so entitled about what you have and what you want, I'm pretty sure people here wouldn't be taking issue with your questions.
People here are probably less laid back than Vancouver, Toronto is just generally a faster paced city than the rest of Canada which makes sense considering it's more of a business centric city. I've noticed that people not only talk faster than people from Vancouver, but most activities are just faster paced here for better or for worse. I think this can rub people the wrong way if they are not used to it because it can come off as rude.
Toronto is not as centralized as Vancouver since we're made up of a bunch of boroughs. As such, there's interesting stuff and fantastic restaurants worth going to in all of them (except etobicoke, fuck that place). Most neighbourhoods will have plenty of good restaurants, but you are missing out if you aren't willing to go around and experience all the different food options Toronto has to offer.
You don't need a car in Toronto, I think living downtown with a car is a worse experience. If you need one, you can just uber or get a zipcar.
If you need the beaches so badly, there is a neighbourhood called the beaches east of downtown that you can get to via streetcar. Rich hipsters live there.
People here are probably less laid back than Vancouver, Toronto is just generally a faster paced city than the rest of Canada which makes sense considering it's more of a business centric city. I've noticed that people not only talk faster than people from Vancouver, but most activities are just faster paced here for better or for worse. I think this can rub people the wrong way if they are not used to it because it can come off as rude.
Toronto is not as centralized as Vancouver since we're made up of a bunch of boroughs. As such, there's interesting stuff and fantastic restaurants worth going to in all of them (except etobicoke, fuck that place). Most neighbourhoods will have plenty of good restaurants, but you are missing out if you aren't willing to go around and experience all the different food options Toronto has to offer.
You don't need a car in Toronto, I think living downtown with a car is a worse experience. If you need one, you can just uber or get a zipcar.
If you need the beaches so badly, there is a neighbourhood called the beaches east of downtown that you can get to via streetcar. Rich hipsters live there.
I noticed the opposite. Although Vancouver is laid back, I noticed people here say sorry more often than in Vancouver. I've also heard that the people here are more friendly than in Vancouver and that Vancouver's people are kind of cold, but I have not noticed that. But Vancouver's people are quite cliquey. Just go around to any high school, or anywhere, really.
How have I come off as entitled here? or are you using my posting history outside this thread?
I'm probably the exact opposite of entitled. I'm a socialist that thinks society should treat everyone to a minimum lifestyle (I'm a huge supporter for base income, universal education, universal internet, high taxes, etc). Do I think I deserve a superior lifestyle more then others? No. Do I think certain lifestyles are more superior then others? Yes. Especially around urban vs sub-urban cultures. That's why I want everyone to live in the city to be able to experience that, what I find superior, urban culture. If we developed our cities more around urban design then sub-urban design, prices would be cheaper as available product was higher, and everyone could experience the same lifestyle.
Toronto is expensive, but it's all relative. Vancouver is way more expensive, so coming from there to here, Toronto will seem like a great value.
Personally I prefer the neighbourhoods outside of the core for living. Forest Hill, Bloor West, Swansea, Roncesvalles, the Beaches, Islington Village, the Junction, but I value green space. Having trails for walking the dog, hiking, and relaxing is big for me. None of these locations are far from transit either, whether it be a subway station, streetcar, or bus stop. Definitely not a fan of suburban neighbourhoods though, or heavily industrial. ie; I probably wouldn't living near Kipling station. That's for me though. My feeling is Tabris would like to be somewhere in the core, as many have pointed out.
If the Summer heat, or Winter cold are a concern, being around the PATH.. or luckily having a building connected to the PATH, is a great benefit.
Personally I prefer the neighbourhoods outside of the core for living. Forest Hill, Bloor West, Swansea, Roncesvalles, the Beaches, Islington Village, the Junction, but I value green space. Having trails for walking the dog, hiking, and relaxing is big for me. None of these locations are far from transit either, whether it be a subway station, streetcar, or bus stop. Definitely not a fan of suburban neighbourhoods though, or heavily industrial. ie; I probably wouldn't living near Kipling station. That's for me though. My feeling is Tabris would like to be somewhere in the core, as many have pointed out.
If the Summer heat, or Winter cold are a concern, being around the PATH.. or luckily having a building connected to the PATH, is a great benefit.
criesofthepast
Member
Because you live there!
criesofthepast
Member
You sir are a racist. Good day.
I do actually own and have read the communist manifesto by karl marx. I also own and have read the wealth of nations by adam smith. The one that I've read that most appropriately applies to Canada's current economic plan though is the general theory of employment, interest, and money by keynes that I recommend reading.
People in Toronto definitely have an inferiority complex, especially when it comes to athletes deciding to leave or not come here at all.
They need to move to the city to experience that. We can put robots on their farms and bulldoze their houses, parking lots, and strip malls to turn into large nature reserves they can visit. They can live in modern skyscrapers able to be subsidized for from all the lower infrastructure costs the government has to spend due to not spending on their sub-urban lifestyle. Then they can go to university for free if they want to go into a trades or knowledge-based career if they want to better their life. Or maybe they just want a part-time service job to add some extra spending money on top of their base income.
Yes, I'm being a bit fatuous as that's not realistic right now but I think that's where we should be heading over the next hundred years. Socialism to provide a base lifestyle and capitalism on top of it to allow ambition to flourish but with checks and balances on the top end to ensure gap is within reason to ensure the current disparity doesn't exist anymore, but still allows raison d'être that capitalism greed drives for some people. Anyways, totally off topic as I know you are just trying to make fun of me, but I like the topic of urban vs sub-urban.
You may not feel entitled, but the way you make your requests is quite demanding. You sound unwilling to compromise and that is what makes us think you are entitled. Mellow out a bit, and everything will go a lot smoother.
Hmmm?
Tabris said:
You didn't need to answer if you thought that was a demanding question (I did say I know it was asking a lot to spend the time to sell me on Toronto) and I've thanked those that answered. And yeah, I'm not willing to compromise on some things, which is why I'm trying to understand if it's a compromise-able situation or a compare-able situation for these things. I'm not being forced to Toronto so I don't know why I would need to compromise. It's an opportunity I have where I need to evaluate the pros and cons to each city to determine whether it's worth the sacrifice of missing out on my friends to experience something new.
I think everyone should live in cities, that's just my opinion. It was an off topic statement anyways to Stet just making fun.
Well, I didn't answer that question, but I got involved because you seemed confused as to why people were getting pissy.
Furthermore, it's not the "selling on Toronto" part that I think is demanding, but the demands you make of the amenities around the place you live.
Lostconfused
Member
Wait Smoke's is open that late?
TBH, it sounds like you don't really want to come here and are just looking for excuses not to come. Most of your questions we've answered. And some of your requests seem a bit odd. Snowboarding? What did you expect? We're not exactly near a mountain. Like it has been said, Blue Mountain is your most likely bet (and you don't need to drive) but you can't get there by the TTC.
It's only for a year, with you having frequent trips back to Vancouver. You could go snowboarding by public transit on one of your visits home if it means that much to you. If I'm understanding it right, you have a $3000 budget for rent alone, which doesn't even include shopping, entertainment etc so it's more than enough to live downtown (even if it is expensive). Toronto, in general, meets all your criteria. Sure you might have to make some compromises BUT you may also be gaining some things that are not in Vancouver.
I don't even understand why you'd need to get rid of your pet.
As far as clubbing, I don't know of anyone over the age of 22/23 who go clubbing. But then I was never into clubbing anyway.
It's only for a year, with you having frequent trips back to Vancouver. You could go snowboarding by public transit on one of your visits home if it means that much to you. If I'm understanding it right, you have a $3000 budget for rent alone, which doesn't even include shopping, entertainment etc so it's more than enough to live downtown (even if it is expensive). Toronto, in general, meets all your criteria. Sure you might have to make some compromises BUT you may also be gaining some things that are not in Vancouver.
I don't even understand why you'd need to get rid of your pet.
As far as clubbing, I don't know of anyone over the age of 22/23 who go clubbing. But then I was never into clubbing anyway.
I know you are trying to get everything you want and need and that's good for you. But, to put it another way, you sound like a tough customer, and most people don't like dealing with tough customers.
To answer your question Tabris, yes Toronto has a pretty massive inferiority complex. Drake's helping us get over that though Hah.
The last page was laughably bizarre. They're just questions guys. It does get very humid here in August and outdoor winter sports are ass. It's alright!
The last page was laughably bizarre. They're just questions guys. It does get very humid here in August and outdoor winter sports are ass. It's alright!
Haha, thanks Azih.
I do love me some Drake
I'm addicted to that Hotline Bling right now.EDIT - And yeah I didn't realize the mountains / slopes was so far away from Toronto. The only time I know of snowboarding on east coast was from Boston and it wasn't that far away.
Plenty of people work for international companies that need to fly them between offices.
There's no such thing as a regular bar, there's so many different kinds of bars. From neighbourhood / regulars pubs to irish pubs to dive bars to hipster craft beer bars to yuppie craft beer bars to sophisticated bars for cocktails, etc. You either stand around the bar & dance floor for drunk dancing or you chill out at a table at a club if you can get one? What kind of clubs have you been to that don't have tables? I don't understand how that's a wealth thing. I'm not talking about bottle service lol
To me, it sounds like your questions are so fake and not very genuine. You seem very unrelatable compared to us and like to flaunt your wealth. Saying shit like this
You say you're middle class but nahhh middle class people don't live like that. Also middle class don't fly from one end of the country to the other once a month just to visit friends.
I dunno bout you but when regular people like us bar hop.. you know... we go to regular bars! Go to a bar for a minute then hit up another bar, not go to sophisticated shit or go for table service lol It's shit like that that makes you sound so douchey. gtfo with that shit lmao
You say you're middle class but nahhh middle class people don't live like that. Also middle class don't fly from one end of the country to the other once a month just to visit friends.
I dunno bout you but when regular people like us bar hop.. you know... we go to regular bars! Go to a bar for a minute then hit up another bar, not go to sophisticated shit or go for table service lol It's shit like that that makes you sound so douchey. gtfo with that shit lmao
Nah, if you fly a lot for work, or a lot in general, you can pick up a lot of frequent flyer miles that makes this possible. I have a friend who does this and she is not upper class or anything.
Also, there's no reason to hate on people for whatever their hobbies are.
did you ever take a geography class? look at a globe? google a map of the gta or ontario? serious question
I'd normally agree but this is what Tabris has chosen to make his character on GAF about. I have no more sympathy for him when these things happen as far too many times he brings it on himself.
Yeah, definitely aggro in here. I wasn't expecting the rockies but I thought maybe there was a couple slopes here and there on some large ridge range or a sole mountain or two.
That's on you for what you perceive, but there's no character, these are my real thoughts and opinions. I just came in here asking questions and some of you got defensive due to some perceived character. I'm not going to hide the things I like or want to talk about because others think it's "flaunting" to discuss them.
Unfortunately, many people perceive the same way.
That's fine, then no need to engage me if you think I'm a character. You guys are the one's making it a big deal. If you think I'm trolling you here (I dunno what I would be trolling for anyways with those questions, but that's what you perceive) like a character is about, then don't bite.
For those that answered, I appreciate your answers. I have a lot more information to consider my decision! Thanks!
You must've missed the rest of my sentence. which leads to Divvy's comment
I dunno how much he travels but 4 of my friends work for IBM, they travel several times a month to places all over Canada and they for sure can't travel on a monthly basis to just visit friends.
The only time I mentioned wealth was in regards to flying monthly, I said you sound douchey when you made that comment. You just sound so unrelatable.
Also not hating on him, he just needs more modesty.
I think based on everything I've read here, you would want to live in the Historic SoDoSoPa section. Here is their latest ad for their lofts. Maybe you can rent one.
The Lofts
At the busiest time of my work in the past, I would need to travel 2-3 times a week. But on average, once every 1-2 weeks. That's pretty standard in an international company sales role.
Well sorry you can't relate to me? Not sure how me being able to fly back home once a month or so for a couple days to spend with family and friends makes me a douchebag. I have lots of air miles to use too.
I do actually live in the Vancouver equivalent of that place in terms of gentrification. I live in a building that was built near DTES in Vancouver. It does have social housing as part of it on the lower floors to try to integrate with the existing community as it becomes gentrified.