| |
All About Toronto:
The Distillery District…
The Distillery Historic District (55 Mill Street)
YOU WANTED TO KNOW
On summer vacation? Taking a well-deserved day off from work? Or do you have some spare time and you wanna do something fun? How about heading down to Toronto’s best-kept secret – The Distillery District?
What is The Distillery District?
Well, if NYC has the illustrious allure of the meat packing district, then Toronto has the subtle charm of The Distillery District.Situated on 13 acres in downtown Toronto, the forty-plus buildings that comprise The Distillery District have recently become the hub for artsy Torontonians in the know. Sipping lattes in quaint cafés and snapping shots of the picturesque surroundings is rather commonplace at The Distillery. But it wasn’t always the ultra-hip locale that we know today. During the mid-1800’s, this area housed the Gooderham and Worts Distillery, which produced millions of gallons of distilled whiskey and spirits. It was one of the leading manufacturers of alcohol and exported a large amount to American markets. After World War l, prohibition was enforced and the business was hit hard. By 1990 all operations ended.
In 2001, the neglected area was purchased by Cityscape Development Corp., and by 2003 the doors flew open and became a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood, which is dedicated to arts, culture and entertainment.
What To Do?
Trust me, you will not be bored in this area. There are a multitude of galleries, shops, restaurants, studios and performing arts theatres to visit. If you’re into music, then you should pencil in The Distillery Jazz Festival, Partigras, and the Roots Music Festival into your calendars. If it’s ale that you want, then touring the infamous Mill St. Brewery is an absolute must!My Trip to The Distillery District
I had a week off of work in late May, so I opted to tour the places in the city that I’ve never been to (I am from Toronto, but for some reason I always feel like a tourist). I’ve been to the CN Tower, Niagara Falls, Kensington Market and Canada’s Wonderland many times, so hitting The Distillery was a no-brainer. I had to see why thousands of people have been flocking to it for the past three years.I invited a friend to spend the day with me and explore the district. We arrived mid-afternoon; therefore we had ample time to soak up the historic feel of the neighbourhood. I loved the rustic look of the cobblestone roads and the Victorian buildings. They made me feel as if I escaped the millennium and was thrown into the Industrial Age.
My friend and I spent our time visiting funky jewelry shops, art galleries (psst…Brush has the coolest art ever!), and studios. Being the rather inquisitive girls that we are, we chatted with all of the artists about their pieces. We’re annoying, eh?!
What I liked most about this area was the maze-like setup. In one corner you have a cluster of artsy home décor shops, and in the next is a gigantic ornate gallery. There was a surprise behind every corner.
As closing time neared, we had to pry ourselves from the area. But before we got on the bus back to our suburban life, my friend suggested that we pop into Soma and have a cup of the world’s finest hot chocolate. (This place is paradise for chocoholics. Everything is drenched in rich chocolate.) Even though it was a very hot day in May, my friend convinced me to try the hot beverage.
I’m not the biggest fan of hot cocoa, but dammit, it was good! It had a yummy, chocolaty taste, and the faint spicy heat of chili peppers (I know that it sounds like an odd combo, but it is really good!). Once we finished our drink and basked in the old world charm for a few more minutes, we bid farewell to The District and went on our merry way.
On your next trip to Toronto, be sure to spend a day in The Distillery District. ¤ Michelle