Sign in with Facebook"Toronto: My Mother's Land" Toronto by gilabrand
Toronto Travel Guide: 4,278 reviews and 8,803 photos
Casa Loma (Spanish for "House on the Hill" ) was built in 1911 by a guy named Sir Henry Pellatt who struck it rich and decided that what he wanted most in life was a 98-room medieval castle in downtown Toronto. It took 300 people three years to build it.
Now it's open to the public and attracts castle-lovers from around the globe. So what if it's fake. Castles are cool. They have secret passageways and lots of rooms. This one has elevators and a heating system. You can take a tour, walk in the gardens, or throw a party there if you have the money.
My mother, who was born in Toronto, remembers it being a kind of club and dance hall where the younger set hung out.
According to the estimates, there are between 500,000 and 1 million moose in Canada. The only ones I saw were at Honest Ed's, a block-long discount store in downtown Toronto, whose legendary owner, Ed Mirvish, is still alive, kicking and making jokes after celebrating his 65th wedding anniversary in June. I know because I was at the party thrown for him at the Princess of Wales Theater in June 2006, where I saw him in action. He celebrated his 92nd birthday in July.
Ed Mirvish is one of those people who become a myth in their own time. The whole district around his store, Canada's first discount retail establishment, is called Mirvish Village. The store opened in the 1940s on Bloor and Bathurst Street, and is definitely worth a visit just to read the outrageous, self-mocking advertising posters that are plastered all over.
Honest Ed does not sell luxury goods. It is a gigantic bargain basement with every kind of chachke and doodad you can think of. Instead of wasting your money in tacky souvenir shops, I would say head over to Honest Ed's and pick up a few moose.
July 2007 Update: Ed Mirvish died on July 11, just shy of his 93th birthday, but Mirvish Village, the Toronto theaters he revitalized and the bargains at Honest Ed's are still there.
Reviews (7)
A Token Ride
Transportation
(1)
You can take a taxi from the airport and spend $50 to get where you're going - or you can buy a $2.50 token, ride the... more travel advice
Syrup at a Sweet Price
Shopping
(3)
So what you should take home from Canada? Maple syrup, of course. It's a good gift item, and if you have a sweet tooth... more travel advice
Hit the Jackpot at Winners
Shopping
(3)
I am not sixteen anymore and my figure ain’t what it used to be, as they say. I can’t just go into a store, flip through... more travel advice
Don't Drop When You Shop
Favorites
(1)
When I visited Toronto in December it was freeeeezing...It didn't snow but there was a kind of white frost on the lawns... more travel advice
-
Been to Toronto?
Share your travels with the world!
gilabrand's Related Pages
Toronto Travel Guide
Member Travel Pages
- "My Toronto - "Yours to Discover""
- "Close To Home"
- "Andre Rieu's Magic Hits Toronto"
- "TORONTO Canada"
- "Paul2001's Big T.O. Page"
- "Toronto!"
- "Toronto"
- See All...
Explore the World
Badges & Stats in Toronto
- 7 Reviews
- 12 Photos
- 12 Forum posts
- 21 Comments
- 2,766PageViews
- See All Stats
- See All Badges (14)
Have you been to Toronto?
Share Your TravelsLatest Activity in Toronto
- Posted in Travel San Diego Forum "Re: 4 hour layover with 18 month..."
- updated a Toronto Travel Page "Toronto: My Mother's Land"
- Wrote a Review A Token Ride in Toronto Transportation
- Commented on one of Suzanne123's Toronto travel pages
- Uploaded a Photo to "Toronto in the Olden Days"
Photos in Toronto
See All Photos (12)
Top 10 Pages
-
Top 5 Page for this destination
Jerusalem
Intro, 80 reviews, 169 photos, 7 travelogues
-
Top 5 Page for this destination
Israel
Intro, 47 reviews, 98 photos, 8 travelogues
-
Istanbul
Intro, 28 reviews, 50 photos, 1 travelogue
-
Top 5 Page for this destination
Haifa
Intro, 13 reviews, 27 photos, 1 travelogue
-
Barcelona
Intro, 17 reviews, 20 photos
-
New York City
Intro, 9 reviews, 26 photos, 3 travelogues
-
Prague
Intro, 13 reviews, 18 photos
-
Top 5 Page for this destination
Jerusalem District
Intro, 8 reviews, 22 photos, 1 travelogue
-
Top 5 Page for this destination
Flushing
Intro, 10 reviews, 15 photos, 1 travelogue
-
Tel Aviv-Yafo
Intro, 4 reviews, 20 photos, 3 travelogues
Friends
See All Friends (33)
Family Travel
Historical Travel
ArcheologyLatest Toronto hotel reviews
- The Westin Prince
- 254 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 20, 2013 - City's Heart
- 1 Review & Opinion
- The Grange Hotel
- 64 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 13, 2013 - Novotel Toronto Airport
- 170 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 21, 2013 - College Hostel
- 43 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Apr 1, 2013 - Toronto Marriott Bloor Yorkville Hotel
- 379 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 21, 2013 - Residence & Conference Centre - Toronto
- 5 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Mar 24, 2013 - Comfort Inn Meadowvale
- 54 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 13, 2013 - Best Western Primrose Downtown
- 384 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 21, 2013 - Four Seasons Toronto
- 464 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 21, 2013 - Residence College Hotel
- 7 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Oct 4, 2007 - Banting House Inn
- 109 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 9, 2013 - Comfy Guest House and Suite
- 92 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 19, 2013 - Annex Garden Bed and Breakfast
- 22 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 9, 2013 - Delta Toronto East
- 203 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 12, 2013
Comments (20)
I enjoyed myself reading this T.O.page..Stuffed moose are so much nicer than meeting one on a hiking path in the middle of nowhere..Would you belive its well into the 40's C today humidex included? Ayyyyyy???
What helpful tips! I've visited Toronto twice and will be going to Canada again in May. A wonderful city, Toronto :)
i enjoyed the read. good stuff.
What a lovely page - I keep planning to go to Canada but other trips keep taking its place! Gillybob greetings
You missed the markets....I missed Casa Loma. I really enjoyed your page, Gila. Your style is easy to read and wickedly hilarious. Right up my alley ;)
Exciting to have a photo of your great grandfather leading an important historic march in Toronto
Great practical tips. I think Canadian English is more like English English than US perhaps?
Great tips. I especially liked the advice about a backpack for when you strip off. I could have done with that advice in Cairo in winter when you start out cold, and then it heats up!
I like your Canadian versus American English, how does it stack up against Israeli English? Any differences? I will be in Toronto this coming September and I am hoarding my tooneys and looneys from my Edmonton trip!
I had no clue I could have got my tax money back!!