For last week’s Travel Photo Thursday entry, I posted a series of photos from my June 2011 trip to Vancouver. Now it seems only fair that I share some photos from my short visit last week to another great Canadian city –Toronto, Ontario. I’ve already told you about the Bata Shoe Museum on Bloor Street and will be publishing more about Toronto soon. For this week’s Travel Photo Thursday, we’ll take a walk through two vibrant Toronto neighborhoods.
The Colorful Toronto Neighborhoods of Chinatown and Kensington Market
Chinatown
There are actually several Chinese communities in Toronto. I visited the busiest of those located downtown on Spadina Avenue. It’s one of the largest Chinatowns in North America.
Spadina Avenue, Chinatown Toronto
Market on Spadina Avenue, Chinatown Toronto
Market on Spadina Avenue, Chinatown Toronto
Chinese Tea Shop
“Low Consumption, High Enjoyment”
Chinese Gate at Trolley Stop
Kensington Market
Turning left onto Baldwin Street from Spadina Avenue, the neighborhood transitions from Chinatown to Kensington Market. One of the oldest neighborhoods in Toronto, it’s designated a National Historic Site of Canada. It is a multi-cultural area with eclectic shops, restaurants, galleries and performing arts venues.
Mexican Market, Kensington Market
My Kind of Neighborhood
Corner of Baldwin and Augusta
North on Augusta Avenue
4 Life Natural Foods
Extra-terrestrial Mural at Electric Theatre on August Avenue
Artist at Electric Theatre
Painted Car in Kensington Market
My Choice for Lunch — Le Kensington Bistro
Oh boy, next time I go to Toronto, I’m definitely heading for Kensington. What a fun place!
It’s going to be on my agenda next time I’m there, too. Several more restaurants I want to try!
Now this is my kind of market. I would love to explore these areas and can almost imagine the wonderful smells that go with the scenes. A fun post!
Ah, the smells of the markets & restaurants. Really adds to the experience.
I haven’t explored either area for years. Because my son lives in Toronto we always end up doing the same things. I do remember delicious food from the Kensington market – especially Jamaican totos (sp??). Last year I was in Toronto 5 times and managed to get all of one blog out abut the city.
Much more great food for me to sample in Kensington Market, too. Somebody told me about a place called Hungary Thai — yes, goulash & thai food!
What a great tour, Cathy! I spent a lot of time in Toronto when I was in corporate Canada. Never really had the much time to see the city, unfortunately. It was always business, business, business. The next time I head home I’ll have to stop and be a tourist for a few days.
That is so true about those business trips! I hope you get lots of free time on your next trip to Toronto.
I thought Chinatown would be my favorite. It usually is in most big cities. But after seeing your pics of Kensington Market I want to go there. I bet the food was amazing!
Kensington Market was very cool. I’d love to try more food places there. I only had time for my old standby — the French bistro (I’m kind of addicted to Croque Monsieur).
Glad you enjoyed Toronto – it is a colourful, interesting city! I haven’t been to Chinatown or Kensington Market for years but Emma and I are planning to head into the city more to do some exploring. We may start with St. Lawrence Market tomorrow.
Oh, St. Lawrence Market! Another great place in Toronto. I didn’t make it there this trip, but was there a few years ago. I’m sure you and Emma had lots of fun!
I have heard so many great things about Toronto, and I am happy to see the ethnic diversity there. Such fun, colorful photos in this post!
From what I’ve seen of Toronto, it is a very diverse city. Very fun place with a lot of character, I think.
In any big city we visit, anywhere in the world, I always ask where the Chinatown is. (I’m Asian, but not Chinese). It is always an interesting part of town and I’m always sure I’ll get to eat something that I’ve missed eating in my 30 years away from Asia).
Nice that there are quite a few Chinatowns around the world so you can get your food fix!
Great collection, Cathy! I’ve never been to Toronto but Kensington Market looks like someplace I would love to visit. Those shops and art look wonderful.
Thanks, Mary. Very colorful buildings there. I’d like explore more of the unusual shops there next time.
I am so sorry that we didn’t meet when you were here but you found my two favourite neighborhoods! Toronto has such a big Asian community this is actually only one of three Chinatown’s in Toronto but definitely the most accessible.
Wish we could have gotten together, too — next time, I hope! It’s really interesting about the size of the Chinese community in Toronto.
I love finding these types of neighborhoods when I travel. Thanks for sharing.
Me too. Toronto has several more neighborhoods I want to visit sometime too.
I too love exploring these types of neighborhoods. The markets in Chinatown remind me of the ones we see in San Francisco’s Chinatown! Would love to visit the Chocolate Addict 🙂
In any city I’ve visited there are diverse & interesting neighborhoods — always fun to find them.
They both look fun, but Kensington Market especially looks like my kind of neighborhood. Chocolate Addict, yes I am.
Chocolate is a wonderful thing!
Chinatown seems to look the same everywhere you go. Love the Kensington Market though. It seems so vibrant, with all that street art and artists.
I’m sure that if I’d had more time, I could have found a few unique spots in Chinatown. As much as Chinatowns may seem to look alike, there’s always something under-the-radar to find. Next time….
It’s funny how there’s a Chinatown in pretty much every major city in the world. Oh, I love Kensington Market… it’s so funky and artistic! I didn’t know about it, but now it is a plus when I visit Toronto.
Funky and artistic are good terms for Kensington Market, I think. And it’s right next to Chinatown, so it’s easy to visit both.
I was fascinated to see these. When my son was living near Buffalo he often went across to Toronto and he loved it. Raved about Chinatown, but I only ever saw photos taken inside of restaurants (it’s possible he only went in winter!), so it was great to see the things he’s talked about. The more I read and learn about Canada the more I want to go there! If Fate had been kinder I would have been Canadian since my dad went over in the early 50s with the intention of mom & I following once he’d set up a job and house, but there was a severe polio outbreak, which freaked him out since I was small, and he returned to England :=(
Funny the different turns that life can take. The polio scare was was going on when I was little, too. It must have been so hard for parents back then with that fear. Glad you liked the photos, Linda!
A particularly interesting post for me, Cathy, as I’m eager see more of Canada after the delightful time I had in Vancouver last year. I love Chinatowns everywhere, so thanks for the walk through this one. The “singles club” looks like a bit of a worry, though… Never mind, there’s always the chocolate shop in the other neighbourhood, instead!
Another thumbs up for the chocolate shop! Yes, that singles club really intrigued me — difficult to say what that’s all about.
Such a colourful neighbourhood. I liked the Chinese supermarkets on Spadina – used to buy my groceries there when I lived there for a while!
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Looks like a great place. I always imagined Toronto to be full of skyscrapers so I was surprised to see all these small neighbourhoods. Great photos.
Julia
How fun! It reminds me of a much bigger Austin, with all of the unique little businesses. I’d love to go there someday. Everyone says it’s one of the most diverse cities in the world!
Toronto’s not that far away from me- I really need to consider getting up there. We visited a few times when I was younger, but I’ve really enjoyed all you posts on Toronto, so I’m going to find time to get back there!
Kensington Market is one of my favorite spots in Toronto. There is always so much going on, so much to see and each time I visit, there seem to be new places everywhere. In Chinatown I had great dumplings at one of the small restaurants on Spadina. Great city and a very nice post. 🙂
I like Greektown in Toronto.
I love the diversity of the place. It’s nice to travel and experience different cultures in different countries, but if you can also do it back home, in your own city, that is even better.
Love your photos, Cathy. I’m glad you were able to experience so much of Toronto. I had Kensington Market on my list, but never made it. It’s great to see it hasn’t lost its charm.
Colourful neighbourhoods, indeed. Kensington looks especially fun. I really need to see more of Toronto.
These outdoor markets and little shops are so much fun to visit when traveling. I’m sad I didn’t get to see any of this when I was in Toronto a few years ago, but I just didn’t have enough time. Maybe I’ll be back for this 🙂
What a really vibrant place! I think I’d love to spend time in the Mexican market.
Wow. So pretty. I really need to make it to Toronto soon!
You have really captured the communities in your writing as well as photography!! I love all Chinatowns I have visited so far and this one is surely on my list. Love the artwork captured above as well!!
That is one colorful car! Great photos. I also enjoyed Toronto’s Chinatown– had tasty bubble tea there 🙂
I grew up in Toronto and it sure is a great city. I believe multiculturalism is one of the keys this city is so diverse. Love the photo of spray-painted car.
Great photos! I have never been to Toronto, but this post has made me eager to visit! I love all the artwork on the buildings in Kensington Market; you can definitely tell that this city has a unique sense of culture. Great post!
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