I decided to go to Toronto tomorrow on a whim.

Any ideas of what to do when I get there? Sights, attractions, good bars would all be welcome suggestions.

Be sure to catch that black jazz saxophonist that I always see on tourist adverts for Canada. He's usually hanging round in some public square or maybe late night at the marina/waterfront recreational facility.

Kensington Market.

Good record store: Soundscapes, 572 College St.

Great pub/coffeehouse culture all along College, Queen, and W. Bloor Streets.

The Six Shooter Records record store and gallery (why don't Chicago labels do this?) is on the far east side, but a good place to visit.

Other than that, pick up Eye Weekly and NOW Toronto and you'll be set. And between the subways and on foot, you can get pretty much anywhere you'd want to go.

It might be lame to suggest going to a movie, but the Royal Cinema, one of our last oldschool rep houses, is showing the new David Lynch (Inland Empire) through May, and it's pretty much right beside Soundscapes (the record store that Flaneur recommended).

I don't know what kind of music you're into, but there's a cool show happening tomorrow night at Lula Lounge on College -- it's a Cuban/Klezmer combo featuring the amazing Hilario Duran.

If you wanted to see a ball game, the Red Sox are in town.

if your wander waaaaaaaay down Queen St. West there are some great record stores (one fantastic one, but the name escapes me...) and eateries.

"Little Italy", as well, is a beautiful little spot i stumbled thru while apt. hunting with a friend.

What do you mean by waaaaaaaaay down Queen West? If you're talking about Rotate This (which is a very good record store), it's just past Bathurst which is still pretty central to everything that goes on in the city.

i mean it seemed far to someone who had never been before. my only exposure to Toronto has been a five day random walking tour and a weekend with a friend.

there was a ton of new/used vinyl along the perimeter of the store and a very smart and enthusiastic staff. is that the place?

...enjoy your whim!

Thanks a lot. I get in this evening, I'll try to update then.

You jammy bastard Tommy. Have a great trip.

Queen St. West will probably be your best bet for a high concentration of bars/record shops/music stores/restaurants/shopping etc. If you're feeling athletic you could go to the Osgoode subway station (Queen and University) and just start heading west. You'll hit:

The Horseshoe is a classic music venue/bar at Queen and Spadina
Rotate This is a good record shop at Queen and Bathurst
Songbird Music (affordable) and Capsule Music (pricey vintage) are great music stores on Queen near Trinity Bellwoods Park

Then there's about a 10 block dead zone before things pick up past Ossington (now entering Parkdale) with bars/cool hotels like the Drake and Gladstone.

The streetcar runs the entire length of Queen Street (which goes from one end of the city to the other) so if you get a day or week pass you can jump on and off as needed.

If you're looking for a more specific type of bar/restaurant lemme know.