Toronto is the little big city. It’s completely diverse yet doesn’t discriminate. And apart from Montreal, its pretty much acting hub of the Canadian music scene and a necessary evil for international bands touring North America. But Toronto is more than just a pit-stop detour between Toledo and Buffalo, we love our music here, and we make as much as we take. The Constantines, Broken Social Scene, Final Fantas, Death From Above 1979; it’s now officially cool to be a Toronto band. At one time this used to hurt your rep, now it solidifies it. We’ve got our own little 90’s Seattle thing going on here; it’s a very exciting time. Torontonians are thirsty for new sounds and are ready to rally behind whomever brings the noise. And as our musical brethren before us, Ten Kens are set to represent.

Favourite ‘nice’ place to eat.
Pangaea Restaurant – A fanciful retreat that doesn’t forsake its weirdness. Co-owner/host Peter Geary treats the restaurant like an extension of his home and greets you as such. He’s a massive Zappa fan and boasts a larger than life collection, and he certainly isn’t shy about bending your ear to talk music during the duration of your stay. The menu is marvelous. The Nunavut Caribou with smoked bacon is guaranteed to ruin anyone’s vegetarian aspirations.

1221 Bay Street [Google Maps]

Favourite ‘cheap’ place to eat.
The New Yorker Deli – Oh the irony that one of the best cheap places to eat in Toronto features Manhattan cuisine, but this place just can’t be denied. Four types of mustard sit at every table. The matzo ball soup is gorgeous; matzo balls the size of apples. Big apples. Pun intended. The latkas will have you standing on your head. Oye vei!

1140 Bay Street [Google Maps]

Favourite music venue.
Lee’s Palace – With its decorative technicolor front and dark gloomy interior, Lee’s Palace is by far the coolest music venue in the city. The stage is set high and there isn’t a bad spot in the house even when the place is jam packed with frenzied indie-kids, which it usually is.

529 Bloor Street West [Google Maps]

Favourite hidden place tourists would miss.
Kensington Market – Torontonians take Kensington Market for granted. We assume everyone knows about it because the market is one of the city’s oldest and most famous neighborhoods. But without the proper guidance, it’s a spot an outsider could easily miss, yet certainly shouldn’t. It’s the centre for Toronto’s fringe cultural life and home to one of Canada’s few cannabis cafes, The Hot Box Cafe, open late.

Approximate borders – College Street on the North, Spadina Avenue on the East, Dundas Street West to the South, and Bellevue Avenue to the West. [Google Maps]

Favourite outdoor space.
High Park – It’s a park in the city. A big park. Lots of trees. It’s basically Toronto’s equivalent to NYC’s Central Park. We love watching the seasons change while strolling along the windswept walkways…it’s like a little piece of heaven.

1873 Bloor Street West [Google Maps]

Best place to get drunk.
Sweaty Betty’s – Just a quaint little watering hole. Occupied primarily by indie scenesters and fringe players. Sweaty Betty’s is as dark as it is welcoming. Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came.

13 Ossington Avenue [Google Maps]

Top 5 local bands
In no particular order:
Anagram [MySpace]
The Salarymen [MySpace]
The Two Koreas [MySpace]
Metz [MySpace]
Sister Suvi [MySpace]

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