Toronto
Written by: Alycia Ripley
That Northern Star: Toronto
96 miles.
2 hours, 8 minutes.
That's all it takes to drive from the Peace Bridge to Toronto, a huge plus towards living in the Queen City. Canada in general provides me this feeling of adventure, and Toronto is one of my favorite urban centers. It sparks a feeling of freedom and possibilities. Recently, I took a trip north to experience some recent additions to the city. With COVID numbers more under control and border restrictions lessened, crossing the border is far easier than it's possibly ever been. Toronto provides a fresh sense of perspective, snatches me away from the sometimes claustrophobic two degrees of separation in Buffalo, and delivers beautiful places and innovative experiences.
If you go for the weekend, absolutely look into the W Hotel. Located in Yorkville, it's surrounded by iconic galleries, sophisticated shopping, world-class dining, and electric nightlife, It's simply stunning and everyone I came into contact with was friendly and helpful while possessing that effortless cool of true Torontoians. Bedrooms are calm, serene, and inspired by Toronto’s theatre scene. When friends saw my photos of the bedroom, they expressed huge jealousy that I was in the presence of a 'hoverboard' style bed. I'd suggest beginning your morning in the 3,300 sq. ft. FIT gym facility before heading to Public School's lower level coffee bar. The peppercorn steak and salad I had at Living Room and the various appetizers (try the donut!) can't be appreciated through photos. The music was always chill, the surrounding art photo opp worthy, and an illuminated external glass lift takes you to the swanky rooftop bar.
Even if familiar with either the Royal Ontario Museum or the Gardiner Museum, I suggest visiting while their latest exhibits are installed. The ROM is hosting the Wildlife Photographers of the Year. I'm not one who usually stops to look at everything in an exhibit but I didn't miss one photo in this. You'll question how these photographers were able to position themselves, and in some instances, even survived. Ranging from insects to underwater life to large mammals to greenscapes, these are truly some of the best. Most surprising? The 'Photographers Under 14' section. There's one with a vantage point a foot away from two massive lions and taken by a 12 year old. Mind-blowing.
On another floor you'll find the Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature exhibit. When a movie studio gifts not only costumes but massive props and original drawings, feel confident that exhibit will feel solidly immersive. ROM tour guides are well-versed in esoteric knowledge about these creations and storylines. Although I'm a filmmaker, I'm less familiar with Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts worlds than some but left with a deeper understanding of the connectedness of both.
In terms of my favorite, Stackt market was it. If you've seen my recent social media you've undoubtedly caught photos from Stackt. I joked about how I wish the design team would create a storage container apartment for me to live in so that I never had to leave Stackt. Designed entirely out of shipping containers, Stackt maintains 100,000 square feet of ever-evolving experiences. The Stackt ecosystem features a mix of local and international retailers, a brewery, unique service providers, start-up incubators, innovative culinary adventures, and is anchored by a strong mandate to support local art, music, social enterprise, and cultural communities. Currently, Holiday Hills has taken over Stackt Market, spanning across a city block with small business holiday shopping, immersive photo installations, eye-catching holiday ambiance, unique hospitality concepts, community-led events, workshops. Although there's a family friendly event each week, Holiday Hills is geared to adults. Whiskey yurts, cannabis stores, a brewery, mini-saunas, and chocolatiers lined up to provide decadent snacks, Stackt/Holiday Hills comes to life at night amidst the lights.
It was refreshing to mingle with adults without tripping over kids, and hear the calm peace of the waterfront. (The only screaming anyone heard was me, riding the fastest Ferris Wheel I've ever experienced.) You owe it to yourselves after COVID to actually have fun and this place delivers. I suggest relaxing in the large, main yurt, grabbing a beer from the brewery, taking in the moody, dim ambiance lit with holiday lights. Stackt is an amazing example of what can happen when a design team transforms unused land into an experience of curated discovery.
About the Author:
Alycia Ripley is the author of several published works, including three novels and one memoir, as well as a frequent contributor to notable national magazines. You can more about Alycia on Alyciaripley.com and on Insta @talentedmsripley.