As the neighborhood walks continue...
Adam and I explored quite a large section of the city - from Colborne Lodge at the south end of High Park to Annette Street and the Junction, then the south end of the Stockyards, and back down to Queen Street West via Dundas West and Roncesvalles Village. It was quite the walk and by the time we made it back to Queen and University, we had just enough time for dinner and the closing ceremonies for the Parapan Am Games at Nathan Phillips Square.
High Park
It was the first time we both had taken the chance to go and walk through at our own pace. It was gorgeous. We even had butterflies land on us at one point while we walked through the gardens.
Next time we do it, we might pack some water and some snacks, and do the full trail. You can find the map with all activities, venues, and paths here, or just do it by direction as we live in a city where the CN Tower stands a great marker of which way is south (east or west). It's not big enough to get so lost that you can't make it out for food.
Check out all the information you need by visiting highpark.org.
The Junction
Next up was Annette Street and coffee. It was a hot, sunny day (plus 30C) and, after a couple hours walking High Park, it was time to find some iced coffee or iced americanos. Thankfully, we knew that the Junction had some good cafes, and thus we found The Good Neighbour (seen above). With a great barista (who recommended an indie music fest on our way back down Queen Street West) and really good espresso. Small, rustic and (thankfully) clean washrooms, we enjoyed the local stop. With it's proximity to High Park, we will most likely grab a picnic lunch here as they have the greatest selection of sandwiches and pastries. It's a repeat for sure!
As the last bit of espresso was enjoyed as we walked along Quebec to Dundas West, it was time for some lunch. We had looked at a few places beforehand and Humble Beginnings really stood out. Not totally sold on where we were actually going to eat, we stumbled past it and couldn't help but stop... The aroma was so good from the street. With a menu scratch-made entirely in-house, locally sourced breads and produce, and free-from meats - plus a stellar menu with gluten-free and vegan options - we just had to try it.
We ordered two burgers - "Sweet Potato-Chickpea-Quinoa Burger" (ordered bunless) with a vegan zucchini soup, and "The Chester Prime Rib Burger" with a made-to-order caesar salad. Both dishes were amazing and made in the open kitchen which was a bit of tease.
We saw a sign for an urban high tea hosted every Sunday, and asked if they had a set menu. They not only brought over a menu, but a vegan one, too, and then the chef came over with two samples of the "Cucumber Cups with Beet Hummus" - made for us just after we inquired about the menu. The bites were so good that we kind of forgot to take a picture. it tasted just as the service is - beautiful and caring.
After a wonderful lunch, we walked the Junction strip and enjoyed all the fun shops and things along the way, even buying some vintage hardware for home for less than $5. (If you like antiques and mid-century modern, the Junction hasn't been hit with the price inflation as many of the other Toronto neighborhoods have had - the cost of gentrification.)
The North Junction (Southern Stockyards)
We didn't walk all that way to stop there. Just on the other side of the tracks, in the sketchy bits between the Junction and the Stockyards, is a turn-of-the-century no-man's land. But, if you are willing to endure a short walk that is very industrial, you'll find two hidden gems tucked away in old red brick warehouses - Junction Craft Brewing and Toronto Distillery Co.
Junction Craft Brewing was a great stop. With over a dozen small batch microbrews on tap, a flight was the right choice. We each had one and sat in the old warehouse to enjoy. The inside feels like your grandfather's workshop - old, every tool imaginable, a couple friends hanging out and beer. There are a few tables crafted out of railway ties and other scraps, high bar seating and it's all nestled into the brewing room. The tanks mingle with the guests. It's a cool vibe and the folks running the taps are the brewers.
Like a good neighbor, the Toronto Distillery Co. opened shop right beside JCB. With the loading dock open and small stairs leading into a Pintrest-crafted tasting bar/shop, we met the distiller himself. It was neat - full of science and math - and you quickly learn to appreciate the care that goes into the product. The beet spirit was definitely worth trying and their gin and rye were excellent and different from current offerings (perhaps with the exception of Dillon's).
Dundas West & Roncesvalles Village
We decidedly had three choices - walk St. Clair West home, walk Dundas to College and eat in Little Italy, or walk back down to Queen West. We thought we'd go toward Little Italy, but the Junction is called that for a reason. It's so easy to start walking familiar streets and they lead in unfamiliar directions.
But, we love to get lost. If we hadn't, we never would have come across Hula Girl and Roncesvalles Village.
With cool shops along Dundas West and a stop for the Toronto famous cold brew from Hula Girl, the journey was long but good. By this point, we were about 10km in and needed some caffeine. What should have been a eastbound turn to pizza and gelato on College Avenue turned into a walk down a neighborhood we've never experienced. Roncy Village is full of shops and restaurants - think Ossington but hipster cute and much longer in distance.
It was after enjoying the walk through the village that we realized that we were back to where we started on Queen Street. After a bit of browsing through a few local shops such as the well-chosen vintage sports apparel at In Vintage We Trust and the collective for local artists at the Toronto Designers Market, we half walked half rode the streetcar back into the core. Hunger had spoken.
The end of our journey was Pizzeria Libretto with arancini, focaccia and margarhita pizzas. After carbing it up, we walked off our dinner by stopping into see the Parapan Am Games closing ceremony at Nathan Phillips Square.
And then it was time to head home.
Check the Walk page for more neighborhood walks coming soon...
