WHY NOW: Think of Toronto as the Big Friendly Apple. Much like New York, Canada’s largest (4.5 million residents) and most U.S.-like city boasts world-class shopping, theater, and dining. However, unlike New York, the living feels easy in Toronto. Streets are wide and simple to navigate. Locals are engaging yet easygoing, void of any American swagger. In NYC, the hustle and bustle can be invigorating yet exhausting. In Toronto, you’ll love the nightlife. (And, yes, you’ll want to boogie.) But you’ll also want to find a coffeehouse (there’s one on practically every corner) and let the city’s lulling cadence recharge your soul. SHOP TILL YOU DROP: The shopping in Toronto is world-class and varied. Are you a blue blood with the revolving credit to match? Head straight to Bloor-Yorkville. This tony end of Uptown is home to high-end boutiques (Hermès, Chanel, Gucci, etc.) as well as more plebeian choices like Banana Republic and Club Monaco. Home furnishing fanatics should not miss Caban (www.caban.com). It’s like a hipper, sleeker version of Pottery Barn, but this shop is pure Canadian. (No U.S. locations and no online shopping.) If you’d rather let your inner Bohemian run free, visit Queen Street West, home to some of Toronto’s funkier shops and cafes. Though mainstream retailers are creeping in, this cool strip is still less manicured than Bloor-Yorkville and a lot more adventurous. BE A TOURIST: Most Canadians consider CN Tower, the world’s tallest tower, a bit of an eyesore. But you can’t beat the views of adjacent Lake Ontario, and the glass-bottomed observation deck will have you shrieking like a schoolgirl. For something a bit less urban, the Toronto Islands provide more than 550 acres of tree-filled parks and beaches with nary a car in sight. Back Uptown, wander around the University of Toronto’s sprawling campus. There you’ll find the Royal Ontario Museum, Canada’s largest museum and home to various science, art, and archaeology exhibits. TIME TO NOSH: From the imaginative bistros of downtown to the ethnic enclaves like Little Italy and Greektown, Toronto has some of the best dining options on the continent. Foodies flock to the hip downtown Susur for renowned chef Susur Lee’s eclectic spin on Asian standbys. But it’s happy discoveries like urban brasserie Spoon, Cafe Nervosa Trattoria, and Toast (for boffo brunch amid retro kitsch) that will leave you with a belly full of happiness.
FASTFACTS
How to Get There
AirCanada (www.aircanada.com), American (www.aa.com ), or United (www.united.com) fly nonstop to Toronto. Take a shuttle or taxi to your hotel. Toronto is pedestrian-friendly, so you won’t need a rental car unless you plan to explore Niagara Falls (two hours away).
Where to Stay
Sutton Place (www.suttonplace.com) is centrally located, on the southern edge of Uptown, and it’s popular with visiting celebrities. For something more opulent, try SoHo Metropolitan Hotel (www.soho.metropolitan.com) with its Frette linens and Dale Chihuly-adorned entrance.
Wish Shoe Were Here
Guys, you might as well check your manhood at the door of the Bata Shoe Museum (327 Bloor St. West. 416-979-7799; www.batashoemuseum.com). There’s no way you’ll be able to brag to your chums over brewskis, “Dude, you should have seen Veronica Tennant’s ballet slippers. They rocked!” But as hard as it is to believe, this four-story edifice to all that is high-heeled is fascinating. From the elongated, pointed toe of the Gothic knight to delicate silk slip-ons of the Victorian era, the Bata celebrates the history, craft, and sociology of shoes in an educational and entertaining way. The collection numbers more than 12,000, spans 4,500 years, and includes footwear owned by the famous (Elton John, Pope Leo XIII, Queen Victoria) as well as the not-so. (Does anyone remember Olympian Harry Jerome?) After boosting your brain, satisfy your soles with some shoe shopping along Bloor Street. Harry Rosen will satisfy the men, Prada the women, and David’s and Holt Renfrew will keep either sex happy and well heeled.
