Things you miss about Toronto (houses, layoffs, cinema)

[East Coaster]

I came across an old thread on this forum in which Toronto is initially compared to Detroit (?!) and then, mostly unfavourably, to Chicago (not so surprising) and I found myself feeling really defensive about Toronto! I grew up in the west end of Toronto (Etobicoke) but I've lived on the east coast for over a decade, and I really do prefer where I am living now. It looks like I'll be moving back to Toronto for at least a year to go back to school, and I suppose I am trying to remind myself of all of the positive things, of which I know there are many. I thought it would be nice to start an entirely positive thread about Toronto for people who have spent time living in Toronto, but now live elsewhere, to talk about what they miss about about the city.

I miss
- a wide variety of inexpensive and tasty food
- kensington market
- chinatown
- a reliable transit system (seriously, the TTC is AMAZING compared to the transit system in Halifax!)
- rep. cinemas
- people of all different ethnicities
- good record stores
- being able to see touring bands
- feeling safe walking alone at night
- thunder storms

[ThroatGuzzler]

I miss when the Leafs weren't an embarassment to the city. I miss when making the playoffs was a given.

[adventuregurl]

I miss the rolling hills of the outlying areas, the Beach Jazz Festival, rollerblading on Ward's Island, The Danforth for great Greek Food.

[mricu]

- The leaves changing colour in the fall
- Four distinctive seasons
- Centre Island
- Cultural Diversity and all the different celebrations
- New Years at Nathan Phillips Square
- Outdoor skating in the winter
- Plane Spotting at Pearson

[Dreamshot]

After only one visit, I miss this pizzeria known as "The Big Slice" on Yonge Street in downtown Tor.

[gosling]

I miss bubble tea. I can't find it where I live.

[bantam88]

Miss the ease of access to various ethnic cuisines like Indian, Sri Lankan etc

[lucknow]

I miss my Mom, Dad, Grandmother and brother who are now all passed away but at one time all lived happily together with me too on the Danforth.

[minibrings]

1. I miss the Chinese supermarkets in North York and the yummies I'd find.
2. The ROM on a Friday night.
3. Cumberland Street restaurants.
4. Wandering the Distillery District
5. Driving around Cabbagetown and pointing at houses and saying.. I want that one and that one and that one
6. Greek town in the summer, esp. if there is a free musical public performance
7. Meeting all sorts of Americans when I did overseas voter registration for the Democrats Abroad (Canada) and hearing their stories as to why they chose Canada.
8. Butter tarts
9. That special sauce at Swiss Chalet
10. being able to satisfy my Timmy cravings at the oddest hours... nothing like a Dutchie and a hot chocolate on a cold winter morning (330 am).. you can't get Dutchies at Timmys in Maine and Connecticut..
11. Better selection of ethnic groceries at local supermarkets
12. LCBO at Bayview Village where I found the beer I used to drink in Australia.. cheap..

PS I don't miss driving during rush hour to get home.. nor do I miss the smog alert days in the summer (I have bad asthma)

[revrandy]

What I miss about Toronto is the diversity. I thought nothing of eating Greek one night, Indian another, Polish, Italian, Ethopian etc.

It goes beyond the food though, it goes to the culture. Toronto is truly multi-cultural where different languages are heard daily and folks are very accepting of those who are different than them (something lacking in Orange County).

Some specific things I miss

Canadian wines at every LCBO
Kensington Market
Chinatown
The Danforth
Good Beer and good fish & chips
Sleeman's Cream Ale
The ability to walk places
The Beaches (where I lived)
Winter