OuteXpressions online newspaper is a Publication of the Toronto Queer West
Arts Centre. Copyright 2012. All Rights Reserved. Outexpressions is copyrighted
and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher.
Opinions expressed are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those
of Outexpressions or its publisher. We are dedicated to promoting the Queer
Toronto and it's performing arts community to the world, for the past ten years.
We're not an exclusively gay and lesbian publication. Each year we help to inform
the entertainment decision-making process of more than 685,000 visitors from
within Canada and abroad. We are consistently No 1 or
on Page One in Google for most search returns. "Our entertainment
event lists are now hosted on: DigitalJournal.comOne of the worlds leading alternative news networks. Listing editor:
OUTeXpressions@gmail.com Phone:
1-416-879-7954 If your not on OUTexpression, your not
being seen.
OuteXpressions online newspaper is a Publication of the Toronto Queer West
Arts Centre. Copyright 2012. All Rights Reserved. Outexpressions is copyrighted
and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher.
Opinions expressed are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those
of Outexpressions or its publisher. We are dedicated to promoting the Queer
Toronto and it's performing arts community to the world, for the past ten years.
We're not an exclusively gay and lesbian publication. Each year we help to inform
the entertainment decision-making process of more than 685,000 visitors from
within Canada and abroad. We are consistently No 1 or
on Page One in Google for most search returns. "Our entertainment
event lists are now hosted on: DigitalJournal.comOne of the worlds leading alternative news networks. Listing editor:
OUTeXpressions@gmail.com Phone:
1-416-879-7954 If your not on OUTexpression, your not
being seen.
The Boat - 158 Augusta Ave. 416) 593-9218 in Kensington Market.$$ Affordable There’s a new place to party in the Market. The Boat is a pirate ship-themed bar located at 158 Augusta and hosts weekly queer events. | Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Comfort Zone(Dance Club) - 480 Spadina.416 975 0909. Afterhours nightclub.
The Comfort Zone is unlike any other club. It's most infamous for its Sunday
after-parties, which starts at sunrise and is rocking by mid-morning, wrapping
up at around 3 am Monday. Line up starts at 5:30am, doors open at 6am on Sunday
mornings- be ready to grease the doorman. Have your "line-by pass card"
handy. Inside, you will find a low ceiling basement, lit only by black lighting.
This is no fashion show. This is NOT for the faint of heart. Music is loud,
and sounds great. The 19+ crowds are awesome. Best nights Thurs-Saturday.comfortzonetoronto.com
El Mocambo - (Dance
Club) 484 Spadina Ave @ College; Doors are at 10:00 pm Hosts
weekly queer events. Get ready to strut your stuff ’cause this crowd means
serious business out on the dance floor. 10 pm-3am. Trinity-Spadina. Queer West
Toronto, Ontario.
Supermarket
- (Best Place to Eavesdrop on Yuppie Angst) 268 Augusta Avenue,416.840.0501
Former owners of the ultra-funky College Street Lava Lounge have transposed
themselves to become the hot new spot in Kensington Market. This diverse fusion
restaurant offers dishes like the popular braised oxtail and veal shank with
lemongrass topped with Thai basil, to tapas-style sharing dishes like grilled
chimichurri calamari and sweet potato chips spiced with chipotle and sea salt.
Feel like surfing the net while having an after-work snack? Bring your wireless
laptop too, and ask your server for the password. On weekend evenings, the venue
gets packed full of well-dressed people sipping drinks inside or on the outdoor
patio. On “do-right Saturday” nights you will hear DJ Fase on the
decks, rated one of Toronto’s finest, spinning a mixed bag of hip hop,
funk, and classic soul. Dine, dance, and discover this unique oasis of coolness
hidden inside hippie-town. Age group 18-25 Open 5.30 pm to 2 am $$ Affordable.
(Kensington Market) Queer West Toronto, Ontario
Palmerston - Little Italy Neighbourhood
Bars & restaurants - College/Little Italy. Bordered by
College St. to the north, Dundas St. to the south, Ossington. to the west and
Bathurst Ave. to the east. About
Little Italy | What's
on Today?
Andy Poolhall (Dance Club) - 489 College Street. 416 . 923 . 5300 Daily
2:00 pm - 3 :00 am. www.andypoolhall.com
| . Gay owned, but straight college crowd, Michael Sweeny (owner) doesn't use
the word gay or queer in any of his events for some strange reason. Only one
monthly event worth attending. DJs Denise Benson and Cozmic Cat, spins Cherry
Bomb www.myspace.com/cherrybombtoronto
on various dates DJs Denise Benson and Cozmic Cat, spins Cherry Bomb www.myspace.com/cherrybombtoronto
on various dates Little Italy, Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Cafe
Diplomatico - 594 College. 416-534-4637. $$ Affordable Still one
of the most sought-after gay friendly patios in the city, summer seats 150.
Expect lineups starting late afternoon for the patio. Reasonably priced food,
homemade sauces, mix-and-match pastas, $14 pitchers of domestic draft. Sun-Thu
8am-2am; Fri-Sat 8am-3am. Little Italy - Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
El Convento Rico Kicking arund since 1993. Never involved or supported
the west end queer community. Latin dance and drag club mainly attracts straight
905ers, who like to play the down low. More of an Old Dowager Queen these days.
416-588-7800, 750 College St.underneath Blockbusters, Little Italy - Queer West
Toronto, Ontario.
The Mod Club Theatre
- (Dance Club) 722 College Street two doors east of El Convento Rico,
416-588-4663. Hours: Thurs, Fri and Saturday, 9:00 pm - 3:00 am Known for its
britrock and swinging retro-mod dance nights. The crowd is typical circuit-fabulous,
mixed up with: british mods, polyester-clad queer scenesters, '80s music fans,
folks not quite sure what they’ve wandered into. The crowd ebbs and flows
all night, thanks to its diverse musical selections. Little Italy - Queer West
Toronto, Ontario.
Revival(Dance Club) - 783 College Street 416-535-7888.
$$ Affordable Since the beginning, Revival has provided a safe haven of good
vibes to artists and dancers alike. It allows anyone who appreciates the arts,
a chance to come together in rich surroundings. With a slogan of “Eat,
drink, talk, listen” Revival does just that. While many would be surprised
to find that it offers more than just generously-poured cocktails. Dominic Tedesco,
one of the owners of Revival, is very proud of his club and happy to see it
through its fourth year of business. “It’s an amazing place where
the club community can connect.”. A great place to dance or lounge and
a have lot of fun!!!!!! - www.revivalbar.com
| Little Italy - Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Sneaky Dee's - As throngs of local queers know, Sneaky Dee's is the place to go when you've given up on all other places. Anti-corporate, pro-feminist, pro-gay. Some of the better bar food in the downtown core. The great thing about Dee's is that their kitchen is open incredibly late (2 AM or something) and you'll walk away eating for under $15. Whether you're travelling north, south, east or west, all streetcars eventually have to stop at the corner of College and Bathurst. 416-504-7934. Age 20-40. $$ Affordable. 431 College Street, The live entertainment happens on the 2nd Floor, | www.sneaky-dees.com | Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
A new gaybourhood of the Queer West Village - central to everything;
Queen, College and Bloor and it’s still not mainstream at all. It’s not filled
with people from the suburbs every Friday and Saturday, screaming, hooting and
hollering and whatever. It’s totally low-key and it’s cheaper. The rent is cheaper.
It is still one of those untapped areas.
Communist’s Daughter - 1149 Dundas St W. at Ossington. 647-435-0103.
(Best Place to See a Fake Artist) An obscure dive with a brass address No. 119,
an old store sign above reads "Nazare's Snack Bar" and next door to a
graffiti covered drug store. Don't let the curious moniker fool you: The C.D.
isn't a Socialist meeting headquarters - the name is taken from a line from
a ‘70s song. This queer friendly place is always full. Full means 29 patrons
and all the Goodwill tables and chairs occupied. Service is friendly, the bathrooms
clean, and the jukebox 3 for buck, Replacements, Stars, Dionne Warwick, The
Neutral Milk Hotel album from which the bar takes its name. And miraculously,
considering the young and with-it crowd, the pickled egg jar diminishes from
half-full to empty each night. The reason? Hard to say; perhaps it’s just
the beer. Though the juke-box vibe here on an average Friday night would send
your hipster self into helpless paroxysms of joy. Little Portugal Queer West
Toronto, Ontario
Crooked Star - 202 Ossington at Dundas. 416-536-7271 (Best Place to
Release your Inner Slacker) Has quietly become the ad hoc meeting place, watering
hole and, to some degree, home-away-from-home for many queer westenders. Touted
as a neighbourhood bar, the Crooked Star aims to soothe and comfort the young
locals that have recently made the Dundas West area their new back yard. Decked
out with folksy wooden booths and lit by regulation candlelight, the small space
hosts alternative -DJs most nights, offers crock-pot specials from the kitchen
weekdays and Coronation Street brunch every Sunday afternoon from 1 pm. Open
from 11 am daily. $$ Affordable | Little Portugal neighbourhood. (Queer West
Toronto, Ontario)
Dakota Tavern - (New Rock and Roll Country Bar) A new place, opened
January 2007, at 249 Ossington Ave just a few doors north of Dundas. 416.850.4579.
occasional queer event once a year. Websites: www.thedakotatavern.com
| www.myspace.com/thedakotatavern
| Little Portugal neighbourhood. (Queer West Toronto, Ontario)
Gayley's Fine Foods Ltd - (Best Home Cooking in the Westend) 1424 Dundas
St W at Gladstone Avenue. Family run business 416-538-3443. This a casual
spot that's never too crowded, always has stacks of newspapers to read and whips
up a respectable all-day breakfast for $5.95. Just don't be in a hurry: everything's
made to order -- very slowly. substantial soup 'n' salad noshes in a relaxed
room that would be horizontal if it were any more laid-back. Lots of mid 20-40's,
urban closeted queers. But then Equity Showcase is just around the corner. Complete
meals for $10 per person, including all taxes and tip. Open Monday to Friday
7 am to 5 pm, Saturday 7 am to 5 pm, Sunday 9 am to 3 pm. Catering services
too. Unlicensed. Cash only. $$ Affordable Little Portugal (Rua Acores) neighbourhood.
Queer West Toronto, Ontario
The Common - A hidden gem.. Unlike other cafes in
Queer West, that discouage loitering over one latte, this place dosen't mind.
So the place is always crowded, with spill over outside on ten chairs. It attracts
a fairly artsy crowd of LGBT friends, where everyone seems everyone, many of
whom sip lattes while designing web sites on their Macbooks. Wonderful spot
for cruising, if you come alone. Age group is roughly 20s to mid 40's, the odd
local senior citzen, drops in now and again. A cozy, mellow place with free
wireless. The Common can sometimes feel like a west end hipster (including students
and baby toting moms). version of Central Perk, the coffee shop from Friends.
That's not a bad thing, what's not to love about a place where everybody knows
your name?There's no menu on the wall neverr fear ask the staff, they can make
you pretty much anything you want. Long wooden benches and tables give the room
a kind of unavoidably communal feeling. Since its very popular, you may not
get a place to sit.. Still Best coffee in the city, hands down!. Damn good London
Fog and the Cappuccinos are top notch as well, plus they also use organic milk
oh did I mention they have a Tea, from Silk Road. Not Wheelchair Accessible.
Cash only. The Commom, 1071
College Street, two blocks west of Dufferin southside. 416.546.7789 Free
Internet (WiFi)
The Henhouse,1532
Dundas St W. 416-534-5939 on north side, just past Dufferin. Open daily
from 5pm-2am. Sat & Sunday Brunch to 3 pm. (New Management Jan 14, 2012)
A wonderful cozy little bar, where even strangers are friendly. Although mixed
crowd, a disproportionate amount of gays come here. Way more than 10 percent
of the people here are gay. . Henhouse has become one of the most popular up-and-coming
lesbian bars on the Queer West scene. Where the Henhouse really seems shine
is its inclusive atmosphere — which is fitting for the Queer West Village in
general. It’s nice to go out to a place with your gay friends and run into your
straight friends. Domestic beer is cheap, $5 a bottle and only Cameron Ale on
tap at $5.50 a pint. Open 6 PM to 3 AM, every day best to go Friday or Saturday
night, when the 1950 jukebox is jumping with Siouxsie and the Banshees, Kate
Bush, Donna Summer, Blondie. Most played Fleetwood Mac, Dolly Parton. Plus regular
weekly DJ nights. . Little Portugal (Rua Acores) neighbourhood. Queer West Toronto,
Ontario. www.henhousetoronto.com
Julie's
- 202 Dovercourt Road, ph: 416-532-7397. Patio seats 20. Under tall shade trees
on a quiet street, Julie's offers Cuban cuisine that's not as incendiary as
its Caribbean counterparts but makes for perfect drinking grub. Decor: a detail-correct
30s general store. Queer friendly boité Open Tuesday to Sunday 5:30 pm
to 2 am. $$ Affordable Little Portugal (Rua Acores) - Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
LeVack Block 88 Ossington , in the historic LeVack building,
a hipster hangout. The restaurant and bar area in the front has nine brews on
tap, and a neon-lit party venue in the back houses DJs and always a queer live
band. Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Lula Lounge - 1585 Dundas
Street West, 2 blocks west of Dufferin. 416-588-0307. If you love live music,
this is a great new place to see the raw musical talent of Toronto. Imported
afro-cuban, sala, swing bands and spoken word nights. Little Portugal (Rua Acores)
neighbourhood - Queer West Arts Festival poetry events are held here
Luna
Cafe - 181 Dovercourt Road on the corner of Argyle, two blocks North of
Queen Street, Across the street from new Argle Lofts. Formerly a corner store,
this cozy hip little boité serves up great sandwiches and brunch items.
A place where local gay art & antique dealers hang out. Community table
by the door has local flyers and postcards from galleries and community events.
Always a sure sign, that place welcomes everyone in the community. 416-588-3374,
Little Portugal (Rua Acores) neighbourhood - Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Saving
Grace - 907 Dundas Street West. 416-899-9186. Don't let their business card
throw you off, just because it shows a crowned Virgin Mary holding a basket
of bread buns. This bare-bones minimalist style cafe white, white and white
with pale pine tables and a few very small, unobtrusive paintings on the walls.
But owner-chef Monica Miller has not just adopted a look. The essence of her
restaurant, from the menu to the service, is reassuringly uncomplicated. High
ceilings, large front windows and all that white make the cafe bright to the
point of crispness. The menu, typed on white paper, is brief and to the point:
a soup, four salads, four sandwiches, a few pies. Most lunch items are $5 or
$6, the priciest being a tomato-cheddar herb pie with green salad for $7. The
is definitely queer friendly boité, with a dyke or two working in the
kitchen. Trinity Bellwoods - Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Sweaty Betty's
- 13 Ossington Avenue at Queen W. Pol Cristo-Williams owns Sweaty Betty's, is
part owner in The Red Light and is opening a new bar.This tiny place rocks with
its cheap micobrews. The two seats in the front window give you an exclusive
view of West Toronto's version of the "lower east side". The music
comes from the eclectic jukebox, jukebox '70s punk, '80s new wave, '90s, "guilty
pleasures" of all eras, current indie rock. Banned Shine on You Crazy Diamond,
Pink Floyd. Attracts mixed crowd aged 19-25 Trinity $$ Affordable. Bellwoods
neighbourhood - Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
The Ossington. 61 Ossington Avenue 416-850-0161 This new drinking hole
on the suddenly hopping Ossington strip is more upscale-looking than the neighbouring
Sweaty Betty's and Baby Huey but maintains that casual laid-back vibe. The front
room feels very open and airy, The back room, on the other hand, has more of
a NYC hole in the wall vibe with couches, lower ceiling, more subdued decibel
levels and its own dedicated bar. A great place to relax until the DJ in the
front drops the next banger.While DJs are at work, the space isn’t really oriented
to dancing. There’s enough floor space to make it possible, but the music is
generally kept to a low level to facilitate talking rather than fancy footwork.
Queer West, Toronto Ontario
The Red Light 1185 Dundas St. W., 416-533-6667 new place
owner by Pol Cristo-Williams who owns Sweaty Betty's on Ossington. Not review
yet. Jukebox has a bit of everything. three plays for $1. Everything from Bust
a Move by Young MC to Lola by the Kinks. Most played Salt-N-Pepa, Push It; The
Clash, Rock the Casbah.
Alternative Grounds
Coffee House - 333 Roncesvalles Ave., So popular regulars have their own
coffee mugs stacked on a shelf. Two community boards by the door has local flyers
and postcards from galleries and community events. Always a sure sign, that
place welcomes everyone in the queer community. Only Fair Trade coffee sold
and served. Summer atio seats 20. A great place to try your Gaydar!. Gay
friendly sticker on front door. $$ Affordable. Roncesvalles neighbourhood -
Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Butlers Pantry Cafe - 371 Roncesvalles - a quaint little community cafe. 416-537-7750. Community ledge by the door has local flyers and postcards from galleries and community events. Always a sure sign, that place welcomes everyone in the queer community. $$ Affordable Roncesvalles neighbourhood - Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Gate 403 - 403 Roncesvalles
Avenue, just south of Howard Park on the eastside - 416-588-2930 - Jazz blues
bar. Roncesvalles area - Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Grenadier
Cafe & Tea House -Located in picturesque High Park, know for it's gay
men's peek-a-boo, woodsie cruising areas late at night (behind tennis courts
and south end of park) . Open daily 7 am - 9 pm entrance off Bloor Street. Follow
the signs to middle of High Park. 416-769-9878. Summer patio seats 300. High
Park. Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Ground Level Cafe,
Ground Level Youth Ventures operates the Café in community of Parkdale. Through
traditional forms of job and life-skill training as well as innovative models
for peer mentoring, our café program seeks to empower youth with limited education,
skills and experience towards long-term, meaningful employment. Cafe hours:
Mon-Fri: 7:30am - 6:00pm Sat: 9:00am - 5:00pm Sun: closed Ground Level Youth
Ventures, 1496 Queen St West Toronto ON M6K 1M4 Phone 647-342-3947 Fax 647-343-1878
Email: info@glyv.org Queer West Toronto, Ontario
Hugh's Room 2261 Dundas
W Phone: (416) 531-6604 licensed bar and reasonable priced food menu. 200 seat
Blues, Folk, Irish & Celtic Jazz, Bluegrass and occasional queer musician.
$$ Affordable Roncesvalles neighbourhood - Queer West Toronto, Ontario
Margaret's On Dundas. 2952 Dundas St West
(Dundas and Pacific Ave.). 416-762-3373 Hours: 8pm-2am daily Owner, Chris Brown,
a 37-year-old music producer and co-owner Jill Rooksby No Cover. No Attitude.
Dress to Dance. Queer West Toronto, Ontario
Mitzi's Cafe
- (named after 1950's girlie pin-up queen Mitzi Gaynor).100 Soraurin Avenue,
closed Mondays otherwise 11-8 pm, two blocks north Queen St., west of Lansdowne
Ave A breakfast hotspot for queer Parkdale loft dwellers, newly weds, designers
and writers. Brunch aficionados drive from across town on weekends for the oatmeal
buttermilk pancakes. French toast that will rock your world and the best hash
browns in the city. Cute summer patio for 14, and they'll serve you coffee while
you're waiting outside for a table, which can take a while.. Community table
by the door has local flyers and postcards from galleries and community events.
Always a sure sign, that place welcomes everyone in the queer community. 416-588-1234,
owned by Mitzi's Sister bar listed below. Cash Only! $$ Affordable Parkdale
neighbourhood - Queer West Toronto, Ontario
Pinball Cafe - (Grand Opening Feb 14, 2012) Toronto's only
vintage pinball gaming room and cafe. Conceived by husband and wife team Jason
and Rachel Hazzard, the entire concept for the café revolves around vintage
pinball machines—Jason is a collector with a 1967 model and an all-around superfan—and
an alcohol-free environment. “Let’s face it, we’re not about being some sketchy
bar with pinball,” says Jason, who plans to serve milkshakes, baked goods, retro
candy, and charge just $0.25 per game instead of the current $2 standard. Walk-Ins
Welcome, Good For Groups1662 Queen St. W. http://thepinballcafe.com
Queer West village, Toronto Ontario
River restaurant - 413
Roncesvalles Ave: 416-535-3422. Hours: Tues.: 5 pm to 9 pm; Wed.-Fri.: 5 pm
to 10 pm; Sat.: 11 am to 3 pm, 5 pm to 10 pm; Sun.: 11 am to 3 pm, 5 pm to 9
pm. $$ Affordable This cozy, wedge-shaped restaurant in Toronto's west end culls
its staff from the ranks of Toronto's homeless and at-risk youth. Menu: Eggs
benedict, burgers, pastas, salads, salmon, lamb, chicken dishes and the like.
Dishes like burgers, pastas to pork tenderloin are priced between $10 to $18.
Weekend brunches are all under $10. River has a children's menu. What makes
River more than just a restaurant is All Aboard Youth Ventures - a non-profit
charity that helps at risk youth. Since 1998 kids from the shelter system, many
with less than a Grade 12 education are given the opportunity to get a year's
training in the kitchen or on the floor. Over 160 youth have gone on to full
employment in the food industry. Location
Map | Queer West Toronto, Ontario
Tinto Coffee House - 89 Roncesvalles, at Marion, 416-530-5885 Colombia
is responsible for what is perhaps the world's favourite drug - coffee. So it
makes sense that Bogota-born Elvia Saenz and Ricardo Rozental would name their
west-side coffee house Tinto, the Colombian slang for a cup of joe.The two-storey
café on Roncesvalles Ave. is stuffed with comfy chairs and is fully Wi-Fi'd.
Complete vegetarian, meals for $18 per person, including all taxes, tip and
a fair trade Americano. Average main $9. Open Monday to Saturday 9 am to 8 pm,
Sunday 10 am to 6 pm. Unlicensed. Access: one step at door, washrooms in basement
www.tinto.ca Free
Internet (WiFi)
Funky little restaurants surrounded by cutting-edge fashion, galleries, antique shops and dance clubs. This is a place to hang out and be cool. Running through the village is a beatbeat driven queer street which, defies the ordinary Canadian stereotype with its live lingerie models and progressive music scene Video tour - Queen Street West
Bacchus - Famous for having the best bread and meat fillings, but the
vegetarian versions are a little mushy. Try the tasty chicken or goat and don't
skip the delicious Guyanese desserts. 1376 Queen W. 416-532-8191. Parkdale -
Queer West Toronto, Ontario
The Beaconsfield - 1154 Queen St. W., 416-516-2550 Across from hipster hub the Drake, this cozy corner resto-bar radiates warmth and low-key luxury. A scalloped stone façade—remnants of a branch of the now defunct Molson’s Bank—frames a sleek expanse of glass ideal for scoping out the strip. Inside, sturdy scarlet leather banquettes, chocolate brown panelled walls and softly glowing diamond-drop sconces hark back to Dorothy Parker’s gin-swilling heyday. Weeknights, creative turtlenecked locals crowd the slick stainless steel bar to sip Stella and kvetch about Canada Council grants. Weekends, artfully disarrayed scenesters join post-dinner hangers-on, tossing back French martinis ($9) and grooving to soul, reggae and funk on vintage vinyl. Opens at four during the week, five p.m. Friday and Saturday. No cover. Pints $5–$6.50. Queer West Toronto, Ontario
Beaver Cafe -1192 Queen W.416-537-2768 Various queer event almost daily.
The small licensed patio in the back gets pretty busy in the summer. Open 9
am to 2 am. $$ Affordable. Queer West Toronto, Ontario.| www.thebeavertoronto.com
Cadillac Lounge
- 1296 Queen Street West. 416-536-7717. Exposed brick walls make for stylish
surroundings; the clientele is as unpretentious as the guitar-filled soundtrack
(often provided by neighbourhood talent). They offer a complete menu with superb
reasonably priced daily specials and a great brunch on the weekends from 11
am to 3.30 pm. Cadillac’s heated patio warms winter puffers. Truly a throwback
to a simpler time. Regular queer events hosted here. $$ Affordable Parkdale
neighbourhood .- Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Cafe Taste - 1330
Queen West, at Brock, 416-536-7748. If you wander past the pretentious boho
vibe of West Queen West you will find yourself in unpretentious and sometimes
unkempt Parkdale. Cafe Taste is a relatively new cafe with a lot of promise.
Taste's small French-press coffee ($2.61), made up of 75 per cent Arabica and
25 per cent Robusto, not only cuts the environmental and political mustard (organic,
fair trade, bird-friendly), but it also tastes good. The service was attentive
and friendly. I particularly liked the touch of the complimentary carafe of
water with lemon. The recently got a liquor license and Greg (owner) plans to
serve gourmet cheese platters with wine in the evenings. Complete meals for
$19 per person, including all taxes, tip and a coffee. Average main $9. Open
Tuesday to Saturday 11 am to 8 pm, Sunday 11:30 am to 4 pm. Unlicensed. Access:
two steps at door, washrooms in basement. Parkdale neighbourhood .- Queer
West Toronto, Ontario.centre d'art queer
Capital Espresso and Pastries (Coffee Shop in Parkdale) Mar 22/2011
The editor thinks its about time we did a special section on all the great coffee
shops opening up in the queer west village. Parkdale's newest cafe, Capital
Espresso opened last November in the former Vice Magazine office on the corner
of Queen and Dunn, We missed the place, as it has dreary front and dark windows
it has been empty for years since Vice left about 5 yrs ago. Owners Alex and
Maggie were until recently tending to the caffeine deprived at Blondie's down
and across the street, renting the bar as a coffee shop by day. I must say the
hot chocolate at Blondie's was the worst I ever tasted. Nothing like the chunk
of real Mexican chocolate that Naco's Cafe up on Dundas W. drops in every cup,
then steams it. Maybe I have been spoiled, but at $3.50 its a real treat. We
will drop into Capital Espresso soon for a proper review. Hours of operation:
Mon - Fri 7 am -7pm Sat - Sun 8 am- 7 pm 1349 Queen St. W. (corner of Dunn Ave.)
ph. 416 531 7730. we will post a link after our review.
The Cameron
House - 408 Queen West, at Spadina, 416-703-0811. For more than 20 years,
the queen of Queen West has attracted a sexually ambiguous crowd. Hell, even
Prince has partied here! The small back room hosts music and theatre events,
while tasteful tunes act as backdrop to intellectual repartee in the bordello-like
living room up front. Definitely Queen Street Queer, with local rockers providing
the beat. Open daily 4 pm to 2 am. Trinity Bellwoods Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Café Bernate - (Gay Owned, 1024 Queen West, north side just past
Ossington, 416-535-2835) Funky mismatched chairs and relaxed staff create a
comfortable ambience for chronic loiterers on Queen West's hip strip. The menu
offers 30 plump sandwiches for all tastes, and those drinking regular coffee
get free refills. Sandwich prices start at $6.96, none are, served on common
doughy Weston's bread. Lattes and caps, homemade iced tea and lemonade, memorable
in-house muffins that always sell out early. Nippy huevos rancheros with tortilla
and salsa at brunch. Complete lunches for $8 per person, including all taxes
and tip. Open Monday to Friday 11 am to 4 pm, Saturday brunch 10:30 am to 4
pm. Closed Sunday. Unlicensed. Smoke-free. Cash only. Access: two-inch step
at door, washrooms in basement. Trinity Bellwoods Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Drake Hotel
- A Bohemian inspired hotel, including the 18 hotel rooms. Designed for the
local neighborhood. It's fun, quirky, eclectic, tastefully mismatched, cheeky,
open to new ideas. A two level shelf by the door in the Drake Cafe, has local
flyers and postcards from galleries and community events. Always a sure sign,
that place welcomes everyone in the community. Any given night finds, 15 taxi
cabs waiting or arriving at the front door. Don't beleive the hype that it's
snooty. 1150 Queen Street West, east of Dufferin St at Beaconfields, Toronto,
Ontario, Canada, M6J 1J3 Phone: 416-531-5042. Fax: 416-531-9493. Arts and Design
district, Trinity Bellwoods neighbourhood .- Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Easy Cafe - For those who can't stomach another serving of hipper-than-thou-Huevos
at one of Queen West's restaurants du jour, this Queen at Roncesvalles bistro
is happily true to its name. The mood here is as mellow as hanging out at a
friend's, with the added bonus of excellent all-day breakfasts and a selection
of sandwiches. Waitresses recommend the Huevos Divorciados: a corn tortilla
filled with fried eggs, refried beans, spicy green and red salsas and ancho
chilli jam. 1645 Queen St. W., 416-537-4893. $$ Affordable Parkdale - Queer
West Toronto, Ontario.
Gladstone Hotel - 1249 Queen Street West at Dufferin.416-531-4635.
Known as just “the Gladstone or Gladdy” to pub crawlers, this is a great place
to get a beer during the week and some karaoke or dancing on weekends.
Mezzrow's - 1546 Queen W. 416-535-4906. Full menu, 8 beers on tap. Jazz/Latin
live music. No cover. Daily, noon-2am. $$ Affordable Parkdale - Queer West Toronto,
Ontario
Mitzi's Sister - 1554 Queen
Street West, 416-532-2570.The real action is catching up with the local gossip
at the bar. Lovely, summer Patio seats 40. Open 11 am-2 am Mon to Sat., and
11 am to midnight Sunday's. “Our bar menu is all microbrews, so I think
that is one of the attractions,” says owner Lesli Gaynor. We support local
breweries. A sizable space made cozy by warm staff and mauve walls displaying
local artwork; friendly chatter happens over microbrews and massive servings
of well-crafted pub dishes. Live bands, queer author reading series and music
jams. No cover. Lesbian owned. $$ Affordable Parkdale neighbourhood, Queer
West Arts Festival music showcase event is held here
The Parkdale Drink - Not the usual sleek and modern, void-of-all-character-design
that's currently plaguing the city, the Drink has some enticing features that
creates a distinctly comforting haunt. The Parkdale Drink, 1292 Queen Street
W. Phone: 416 778 8822. Hours: Mon & Wed: 5:30-12:00 am, Thurs & Fri:
5:30-2:00 am, Sat: 11:00am-2:00 am, Sun: 11:00 am-12:00 am, Closed Tuesdays.
$$ Affordable. Parkdale Neighbourhood | Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Poor John's Café - Poor John's has an irresistible warm and homey atmosphere. Welcomes a queer friendly artsy crowd, of students, writers and musicians. There tons of fresh baked goods (made in house by Sweet and Simple Designs) such as muffins, biscotti, gourmet cookies, and an assortment of other goodies. John's Sister-in-Law (S.S. Designs) also makes wedding cakes. A simple lunch menu is provided with a beer and wine liquor license. Open from 7 am to 10 pm. Scrabble every thursday 7-10 pm and book club. If your a local artist Poor John's will feature your work on their walls for 30 days. Location: Poor John's Café. 647-435-2688 1610 Queen Street West, at Callender Ave. $$ Affordable Hours: Mon & Wed: 5:30-12:00 am, Thurs & Fri: 5:30-2:00 am, Sat: 11:00am-2:00 am, Sun: 11:00 am-12:00 am, Tuesday: Closed Parkdale neighbourhood | Cafe review | Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
751 - formerly Paddy Murphy’s (751 Queen West, at Tecumseth, 416-360-7272), accommodating one of the darkest of musical genres appropriate for the area - championing the work of everyone from Siouxsie Sioux to Marilyn Manson. It’s comfortable, welcoming and the drink prices are some of the lowest in the city. There’s a great selection of imported brews on tap and reasonably priced daily specials. You won't find too many coolios or swingers here, but the smaller, still-cool goth set gatherings make it easy to find a velvety nook of your own. Nearby gallery owner types and naïfs are also dipping in here for their late night libations. $$ Affordable Queer West Toronto, Ontario Trinity-Bellwoods - Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Queen Star restaurant - (Watch for the big round yellow sign All day
Breakfast) The Queen Star is a little hidden gem, frequented by local queer
music promoters, Drake Hotel management, village DJ's, artists and local rounders.
Breakfast special all day, 4 eggs, 3 pieces of bacon, homefries and toast or
tea all for $5.50. They have the usual Chinese and Canadian food at very low
prices. You can get a homemade hamburger, fries and milkshake for $4.00. Hours
vary mon to fri 4 pm to 10 pm Sat to 11 pm and Sunday and holidays 4-10 pm.
Queen Star, 1144 Queen Street W (near Lisgar), 416-537-1067 $$ Affordable Trinity-Bellwoods
- Queer West Toronto, Ontario
Raq N Waq - 739 Queen Street West at Tecumseth St., Phone: (416) 504-9120.
Located in the old Future Bakery, the flour barn was saved from demolition and
converted into the classy bar and pool hall. Raq N Waq has been around since
1997 and features some of the character from the bakery beforehand, including
the flour hopper located directly above the lounge area. Also included in the
lounge are 11 top of the line Brunswick pool tables. Raq N Waq also has a dance
floor and patio for friendly gatherings. In 2007 started hosting weekly queer
Thursday dance parties, with DJ cozmic cat. She has her claws out, spinning
old school, funk, reggae, house, trip hop then infuses a touch of salsa to mix
up the “… night of boundless delight” No cover. $$ Affordable
10pm-2am. raqnwaq.com
Trinity Bellwoods neighbourhood - Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Rhino Bar & Grill - 1249 Queen Street W, just west of Dufferin Street.
$$ Affordable One of Parkdale's favourite hangs, this multilevel space in an
upgraded Victorian offers better than usual pub grub and 11 microbrews. The
floor needs resurfacing and lttle to dark in daytime, but a night, the table
candles are lovely. A big central bar, pool tables and a pop-corn machine, adds
to the joint's je ne sais quoi. where queer writers and arty fratbois hang out
. 416-535-8089. Parkdale neighbourhood - Queer West Toronto, Ontario www.therhino.ca
Free Internet (WiFi)
Rustic
Cosmo Cafe - 1278 Queen Street W. Patio for 15. just west of Dufferin St.
Community table by the door has local flyers and postcards from galleries and
community events. Always a sure sign, that place welcomes everyone in the queer
community. A place where local artist show their work, LLBO, Latte, Lunch, Cappuccino,
Dinner, Coffee, Brunch. Spoken word & poetry, 1st and 3rd fridays at 8-10
pm. $$ Affordable 416-531-4924, A Gay friendly space. Open 7 days a week. -
Parkdale neighbourhood .- Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
The Sparrow - Red curry lentil soup is being served to urbanites savvy
enough to venture up beyond Queen West. The Sparrow, 92 Ossington Avenue, hums
with stylish Parkdalers, who flock here for dinner or a late-night drink. Candlelit
tables line one wall of the gallery-like space; a gleaming, dark wood bar the
other. The owners, who also run Sweaty Betty’s down the street. The kitchen’s
Asian-inspired fare offers plenty of vegetarian options, while the comprehensive
liquor menu includes martinis, highballs, cocktails and beer (imports and domestic).
A selection of absinthes, adds to the bar’s bohemian allure. $$ Affordable
Weekly queer events. www.thesparrowtoronto.com
416.537.0134 | Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Telquila Bookworm - (College student queer hangout) Features a great magazine stand and book collection that you can use as your own temporary library. Or, failing that -- rock the board games! 490 Queen W. 416-504-7335 Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Velvet
Underground(Dance Club) - 510 Queen Street West - 416-504-6688 -
The Velvet Underground is Toronto's choice for Alternative Rock in an intimate
environment. Catering to a wide range of alternative types, from nouveau goths
to university preps, the Velvet Underground is a nice change from the ordinary.
The ultracool decor includes sculptures of angels created from found metal that
add to the lush unique atmosphere. Queen St., W. fashion district - Queer West
Toronto, Ontario.
Wrongbar(Dance Club) - 1279 Queen West at Brock, 416-516-8677.
owners - Nav Sangha a.k.a. DJ Nasty Nav and Chris Harper a.k.a. DJ Jelly - are
well connected in the Queer Queen West scene.The room is dark, beer is cheap,
genres change with the night and there’s more emphasis on the music than
the décor (and there’s nothing wrong with that.) In true Parkdale
style, there’s Labatt 50 in bottles and on tap, as well as tons of bottled
beers and, of course, shots. Age 18-35. Live Music Venue, Dance. Capacity on
a wet night 204 people. | Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
