Moving to Toronto

[Guest OralBtm4Top]

Hey guys, I need some help/advise. I'm moving from Boston to Toronto soon and I have no idea where to look for housing. Any suggestions on gay or gay friendly neighborhoods. Also, as dumb as this sounds, can anyone give me an idea of what's it's like living there? Being from Boston I can't imagine the weather is that much different. I'm just so unfamiliar with Toronto that I'd love some info from you guys. I have a great job opportunity there that I can't pass up. Thanks so much for you help.

[Paul Revere]

One of my friends described Toronto as "just like the U.S., only metric".

 

Actually I think they are more relaxed and laid back in Toronto than in Boston. Probably friendly and warmer too.

[Michael]

Well, the gay village in Toronto is centered around Church and Wellesley.

 

Not sure exactly what kind of housing you are looking for, but there are lots of apartment buildings in the vicinity. If you extend your search area a bit there are even more options - lots of nice apartments over on Bay.

 

Weather has some similarities to Boston - long cold winters and sometimes (for me at least) unpleasantly high humidity in summer. The lake tends to dampen some of the real extremes of climate making Toronto's climate a little more moderate than most of the rest of Canada.

 

I can't tell from your original psoting whether you have actually ever been to Toronto - if not I would advise you get up there as soon as possible and look around. I think it's a wonderful place, but it's quite different from most US cities in lots of ways, and the more familiar you are with it before committing to move there the more likely you will be to make the right decisions.

[Luv2play]

I lived in Toronto WAY back and it has changed (for the better, mostly) since then but as I have family there, I do visit fairly often. Don't know what kind of housing you are looking for but there is everything you could desire, at a price. Housing is second most expensive in Canada, next to Vancouver. That being said, Boston isn't cheap so you will probably find it OK.

 

The toniest neighbourhoods downtown are Rosedale and Forest Hill. Surprisingly, there are apartments to be found in both these areas if you are lucky. The houses are mostly more than $1million and some, way more. (Remember, $1Cdn = $0.76USA)

 

If you like funky, try Cabbagetown, just east of the gay village. It was once workingclass Victorian, but now gentrified and very charming.

 

If you want a spectacular apartment on the lake (Lake Ontario) downtown, there are lots of newish, upscale places.

 

Near the University of Toronto downtown is another nice neighbourhood called The Annex, lots of Victorian and Edwardian housing, again gentrified mostly. Mix of houses and apartments.

 

You will find all of these places gay friendly as all of downtown Toronto is. None is too far away from the gay village. Toronto is really a collection of neighbourhoods, each with a somewhat different

feel.

 

There's a B&B on Cawthra (just off Cawthra Park in the gay village) whose owner, Rick Tremaine (I think the last name is correct) is a real estate agent. He will have the complete scoop on housing in Toronto, he's been at it for a long time. Also a nice place to stay if you are visiting. Another place to stay in the village is the house on McGill.

 

Good luck.

[fedssocr1]

I have never lived in T.O. but I have visited there many times. It's a big city for sure. Traffic often seems like a mess downtown much like any other big city. The public transport system is quite good though. There are a ton of apartments and condos that have been built in the downtown core over the last few years. Depending on where your job is that's where I would live if I could. I have had a fantasy of owning a condo there where I would spend several months a year. Along with Melbourne it is one of my fave cities.

 

It's a nice city. Relatively safe and clean but still has a real big city feel. Lots of cultural opportunities and tons of hot guys. Torontonians seem to be rather conservative and reserved though.

[Guest OralBtm4Top]

Thanks for the great feedback. I'll be in Toronto this week looking for housing. Ideally I'd like to buy a condo in a cool neighborhood where I could walk to stores, bars, shops, subway, etc. I definately would enjoy living in a very gay friendly environment. Another option would be a highrise with all the amenities.

[Guest TorontoJared]

Hi,

I have lived in Toronto for the past year and a half and have moved twice while here. There are quite a few places in Toronto available right now. Quite a few places have appartments for rent and many more will be for rent as soon as summer rolls around, especially near the University of Toronto. As stated earlier in this thread, Toronto is extremely gay friendly. I was amazed when I first moved here and saw how accepting Toronto is. Anywhere you move downtown you will find this to be the general attitude. I'm sure that you'll enjoy the city from that aspect. If you have a good amount of money to spend on a condo/appartment I think that a good idea might be in one of the new appartment buildings they are building at the lakefront since not only will these be brand new but also since it will always have that location it will never go down in value (and in fact most likely go up as Toronto grows and matures and as the harborfront continues to be developed, refined, and made more attractive). You also might want to look at the appartments and houses West of Spadina (near the University of Toronto) since many are on one way streets (which mean VERY little traffic - only the residents of the street) and yet are close to main streets of shops, stores and restaurants. While you're in Toronto pick up some of the papers (free in boxes on street corners) and look for lists of appartments and properties for rent and also for sale. I hope that you have a good trip here and find what you are looking for. If you have any other questions feel free to ask.

-Jared in Toronto

[marc anthony]

Is this THE TORONTO JARED??? If so, welcome! We need more cute guys like you around here!!!!!!

 

:9 :9 :9

 

If it's not the escort Jared... then my apologies and welcome anyway. But there are worse things that can happen to you than to be mistaken for a hot boy like that!

[BobbyThompson]

I'm so envious...Toronto was my second choice before LA, I simply could not get the required visas. You will have a great time regardless of where you live. Whoever said Canada is the Diet Coke of America was wrong.

[Guest TorontoJared]

Hi,

 

Yes, this is the Jared in Toronto that you're thinking of. Thanks. I decided to register and join in some of the discussions. Talk to you later!

-Jared in Toronto

[Guest OralBtm4Top]

I've resurrected this post because now, since I've moved to Toronto, I need some suggestions on good Top men. Please give me some recommendations on great top guys in Toronto. I love this city, btw.

[tedbear]

>I've resurrected this post because now, since I've moved to

>Toronto, I need some suggestions on good Top men. Please give

>me some recommendations on great top guys in Toronto. I love

>this city, btw.

 

Last time I saw Zsolt/Chicago, he mentioned he was planning on moving to Toronto after visiting his family back in Hungary. He didn't have a timetable for all this, but I'm pretty sure he left Chicago and went to Europe in May. (We tentatively planned on getting together before he left, but my new boyfriend kind of got in the way!)

 

Look for his ads when he arrives, tho. He's a very hot muscle guy with a great accent and huge sense of humor. (Also a huge Dick and enormous foreskin). An evening with him was always wonderful, but I could never get him to cuddle. Anyway, watch for his ads and you'll have a great time.

[greatservice4u]

RE: Moving to Toronto...welcome to TORONTO smile

 

Hey there its Dustin...dont know if I caught this thread in time but I would be happy to talk to you about areas of Toronto in which to live and where to "buy". Because it is such a matter of personal taste please feel free to e mail me and we can chat in person and I can try and fill you in on both the housing and rental markets as well as give you a more mature perspective of Toronto in general.

 

e mail me at [email protected]

 

about me ...I have lived in Toronto and its suburbs my whole life and I think it is one of the best read most liveable cities in North America ...it is however very small....I am 6ft 215 lbs 9x6 cut thick and a TOP ...pics have been published in Playgirl ...be well hope that I can be of some assistance to you....

[greatservice4u]

RE: Moving to Toronto....yippeee he found a great place

 

OOPS sorry guess i was too late for your house search ...happy that you are finding Toronto a good city to live in...hope that you are happy and found a great place to live and that your great job opp is all that you hoped it would be

later

dustin

[Guest zipperzone]

Guess it's too late to give you advice on where to buy/rent in Toronto. But just in case your present accomodations do not work out, you might want to check out the area at the extreme east end of Queen Street, known as "The Beaches"

 

Great little comminity with upscale shops and restaurants, older character houses and many parks that strech along the waterfront, plus a great beach and boardwalk.

 

I was raised there in the Fallingbrook area and although it has been a few years since I have lived there, I understand it is still quite cruisy, especially after the sun goes down!

 

Definately worth checking it out.