East Coast girl, West Side renter

Sooooo...this being my first year actually living in Toronto I wasn't totally sure what to expect. I am directionally challenged so I still constantly get lost and having moved from a city I know like the back of my hand to a much larger MUCH more spread out city it's been an interesting transition. Now I am and always will be an East Coast girl...cue Beach Boys..."Now East Coast girls are hip I really dig those styles they wear..." but the east SIDE of Toronto, I have to admit, leaves a little to be desired. The Beaches area is lovely, couldn't complain about that at all with it's cute little shops and oh let me think PROXIMITY TO THE BEACH! However, a 25 minute walk north of Queen St. E to Main and Danforth places you in...well...let's just say NOT the beach. I have never in my life seen so many people on scooters who don't need to be (expect for maybe in Disney World, thank you free scooter rental) or payday loan places. In other words, that neighborhood seems to be the place people go who have been forgotten or who want to be. Now don't get me wrong, I did love our hilarious neighborhood amenities, Shirley Restaurant for late night chinese, cheap beer and people watching, Len Duckworth's for amazing fish and being made to feel like an outsider and of course the Mr. Sub with a liquor license because let's face it who doesn't want a sub and a beer?! However the neighborhood on a whole a little soul crushing.

Cue our move west!!!!!! We are now the proud renters of a lovely top two floor apartment (did I mention we were in a basement before?!) in the ballin' St. Claire West area. There is a Thai Place on the corner, a streetcar stop within 2 minutes of the house and we live next door to a man named Anjelo Capone whoc sits on his porch and carried on wonderful conversations whenever you leave the house! :) Although I will miss my roommates I have to say life in the west thus far is good :)

Sorry Main and Danforth but I'm not very sad to see you go...

Falling down the rabbit hole...

Felt a bit like this today...