ok, I need a bit a help-(Toronto Thread)

hummmm, I don't think torontonians are any more materialistic than anybody else, there are materialistic ppl everywhere

About the club scene...
I go to clubs for exciting, upbeat music that gets me dancing, and not to surround myself with umm posers. I'm gonna delve into this cos T.O. has some really great clubs that you just can't get in small or medium sized cities but some clubs are a real waste of time and money. For one, I hate clubs that make you pay admission and then play top 40's or sucky retro 80's, heck I can listen to that at home. When it's good I really luv club music and if a club doesn't play music I like, I don't go there again.

Clubs with good dj's or live bands are great for discovering music you otherwise wouldn't have and you can find the occasional club/bar that doesn't cost money and has really exciting dj's. Beba Lounge at 614 College is one place I've been in recent months that I plan on going again. The dj's mix interesting and upbeat music well and there's no admission charge.

You only have one more year to go yet. I've spent many exciting night's at the now defunct Sanctuary and Industry night clubs, Sanctuary didn't have admission fees and Industry was at times as much as $25 or more but it was well worth it cos they got internationally known dj's much like the Guvernment.

Don't forget bars with live bands, many of them are free too.

Avoid clubs like Tonic and anything that students flock to. Tonic will use you as prop in the "lineup" to make the establishment look busier than it is, the music is pretty mainstream too, blah.

At a small establishment you could try to talk to the host/hostess and tell them you'll drink only pop/water, they may let you in.

The way to find out about these places is to go to the entertainment district read the posters of dj's, bands that may sound interesting to you or talk to partiers in lineups and ask what's playing and the kind of music they're into to see if their interest's match your's.

 

From an outsiders perspective I gotta disagree. I live in the GTA and everytime I head into the city I feel REALLY wierded out by how plastic and fake the "young and hip" are in toronto. I've spent time in most of Canada's big cities (everywyere but the Peg and Halifax), and while it's my general opinion that most urban areas have a higher concentration of superficial materialistic folk I gotta say Toronto ticks the cake. Montreal's redemption is that they make it look chic and bohemian, Vancouver is excusable because atleast they try to be rugged and outdoorsy with their trends but Toronto is just plain materialistic and it reeks of consumer culture.

 

the ex, or the Canadain Exhibition, is an anual carnival/fair/midway/party/culutrual exhibition thing down on the waterfront by Ontario Place which takes place every year during the 3rd week of August. It's over 100 years old now I think, or is it 75, something like that, anyways, it's one of those institutions which makes Toronto what it is I guess

 

As I live right downtown in the fashion and entertainment district I can see first-hand what you mean. However, I've noticed that much of the consumers who flock to the shops in my area are not from T.O. but are tourists or come from the surrounding areas to shop. I don't shop here, I get much of my clothes 2nd hand, ditto with many of my neighbors. Toronto's shops thrives on tourism and not just on its native population.

Many Torontonians cannot afford to be materialistic because the high cost of rent/housing forces many to live in smaller dwellings that don't offer much storage space. Lack of closet space is the main reason why I'm a minimalist, and I'm not alone.

 

you raise a good point, never thaught of it that way

...I still think Torontonians are too flashy for thier own good though

 

Seems everyone I know has been dry for sometime now. Is there any dro in Toronto?

 

wow, liguana, i really want to thank you for your lengthy and informative response...i rarely type that much for others, you inspire me to think about the idea more often...lol ......yes, i beleive you are right, toronto seems to have a great music scene, its a shame i havent really been able to take part in it, although this last sunday i went to a st. stephens church where the likes of jane siberry and bruce cockburn played...that was wonderful, people in that neighborhood (or at that church)seemed really down home and welcoming...i think ill try and take up on your suggestion of talking to the bartender,hostess whatever , saying ill only drink water, anyway, ive got to keep this short as i have to head to bed.....but, i find the number of random conversations i have with ppl is really down compared with some other places ive been (not many but still) and people seem to be stricken with what i call the blank stare syndrome (when you walk past them, they have no sign of emotion or acknowledgement of your presence) anyway, as with all things theres good and bad, depending on where your looking from...thanks for all of your guys responses!

 

I also don't really know what to do in Toronto. Usually I just walk around downtown, or hang out with the people from my university. Or just play guitar outside. I know that there are interesting things going on, but I never really found the right company to do them with.

We should organize a meeting of all members from Toronto. Nothing big, just hang out in the city, go to a bar ... Basically, just for the sake of meeting in person instead of this emotionless digital communication.