Toronto's Historic Distillery District
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This is what the classic Christmas experience is all about – atmosphere, remembrance, one-of-a-kind gifts and a celebration of creative expression.
Toronto’s Historic Distillery District Editorial and Photography by Aisha Ashraf
”
Whatever the season, walking through Distillery is like coming across an oasis in the desert, rejuvenating parched senses with its invigorating vibe, but as Christmas approaches it develops a magical aura. Traffic-free streets make it a great location for the Toronto Christmas Market and, inspired by the German Christmas Markets of the early 1400s – which still go on to this day, the streetscape brims with Yuletide sights, sounds and scents from November 30 through December 16. European chic on a North American street Everyone’s most memorable Christmas gifts are typically those that combine originality with thoughtfulness. Meander through the galleries, chat with the curators, browse the stalls of bespoke winter hats, Steiff Bears, European chocolates, German hand-made nutcrackers and quirky stocking fillers; choose a few distinctive baubles for your tree, and maybe even acquire a new piece of art. While you strive for self-control in the face of ultimate retail temptation, children, on the other hand, show no such restraint when it comes to the fairytale maze leading to Santa’s house. The man himself is available to listen to personal requests while a photographer captures the moment. Elves roam, dispensing candy canes and, if you’ve never met a reindeer before, well… here’s your chance! Prince Charming, Mrs. Claus and St Nicholas on his white horse mingle with the crowds, and a SingAlong with the elves will get even the youngest of family members involved.
You can’t visit Toronto and not lose yourself in the Distillery District, an internationally acclaimed, historic site hailed by National Geographic as a “top pick” for travelers.
26
Global Living Magazine
The hippest address in Toronto An animated mix of coffeehouses, award-winning restaurants, theaters, art galleries and intriguing boutiques tempt the passerby with their breathless originality, while the upper floors of many buildings are leased to artists as studio space or other tenants with a creative focus. The industrial architecture makes for atmospheric stills if you’re into photography, and the tour guides will show you all the best angles. There are sculptures to enthrall, a chance to see artists at work, and street entertainment to rival London’s Covent Garden. World-class theater and entertainment thrive here, fuelled by distinguished performing arts companies, among them the Soulpepper Theatre Company, and George Brown’s Theatre School. The whole area feels as though it exists independently of the outside world; the air crackles with creative inspiration. It’s an energizing place to hang out – a haven for culture vultures, artisans, actors, writers and art dealers.
photography by aisha ashraf
A triumph of redevelopment Once the home of Gooderham & Worts – the world’s largest whisky and spirits distillery in 1877 – this urban regeneration success story has breathed new life into a space which, even prior to its renaissance, exuded such ambience that it was used as the location for hundreds of Hollywood movie shoots, including, X-Men, Chicago, Three Men & A Baby and The Cinderella Man. Bought in 2001 by Cityscape Holdings Inc., it was unveiled in 2003 as a pedestrian-only village dedicated entirely to arts, culture and entertainment. A short walk east of Downtown Toronto, it’s home to the largest collection of industrial-era Victorian architecture in North America and, thanks to the owner’s astute refusal to lease to chains and franchises, it has a truly unique appeal.
The Distillery District is to Toronto what SoHo is to New York City. Hip and edgy, it’s the conduit for Canada’s arts scene, with some of the country’s preeminent galleries, art dealers, artists and artisans all within a short walk of each other. With a wide range and depth of specialties, including historical and contemporary photography and Canadian and international painting, sculpture and fine art glass, virtually every artistic discipline is represented.
photography by aisha ashraf
T
ransported back in time The brick-paved streets and Victorian architecture of Toronto’s Distillery District place you in London circa 1900, while the earthy scent of roasted chestnuts lacing the crisp winter air adds authenticity to the Dickensian daydream. You half-expect Mr. Scrooge to round the corner, all knitted brows, fingerless gloves and muttered grumbles. The lack of familiar urban compass points makes the whimsy even more believable; there isn’t a Starbucks or Subway in sight.
A perfect mix of classic and contemporary When exhaustion sets in, a warming glass of hot-mulled wine, a handcrafted beer, or Sake from Canada’s first Sake brewery is the ideal accompaniment to the street entertainment while you sit back and absorb the mood. The towering, 45-foot (13.7-meter) Christmas tree and galaxy of lights strung like pearls between the buildings accentuate the timeless beauty of the cobbled streets. Surrounded by the surreal, intoxicated with fairytales, cocooned in Victoriana, you feel like a figurine in a snow-globe when the snow falls. What better way to inspire the present than through the beauty of the past? This is what the classic Christmas experience is all about – atmosphere, remembrance, one-of-akind gifts and a celebration of creative expression. If the sprawling metropolis of Toronto ever feels monolithic and anonymous, the Distillery District will change your mind. Global Living Magazine
27
This is what the classic Christmas experience is all about – atmosphere, remembrance, one-of-a-kind gifts and a celebration of creative expression.
Toronto’s Historic Distillery District Editorial and Photography by Aisha Ashraf
”
Whatever the season, walking through Distillery is like coming across an oasis in the desert, rejuvenating parched senses with its invigorating vibe, but as Christmas approaches it develops a magical aura. Traffic-free streets make it a great location for the Toronto Christmas Market and, inspired by the German Christmas Markets of the early 1400s – which still go on to this day, the streetscape brims with Yuletide sights, sounds and scents from November 30 through December 16. European chic on a North American street Everyone’s most memorable Christmas gifts are typically those that combine originality with thoughtfulness. Meander through the galleries, chat with the curators, browse the stalls of bespoke winter hats, Steiff Bears, European chocolates, German hand-made nutcrackers and quirky stocking fillers; choose a few distinctive baubles for your tree, and maybe even acquire a new piece of art. While you strive for self-control in the face of ultimate retail temptation, children, on the other hand, show no such restraint when it comes to the fairytale maze leading to Santa’s house. The man himself is available to listen to personal requests while a photographer captures the moment. Elves roam, dispensing candy canes and, if you’ve never met a reindeer before, well… here’s your chance! Prince Charming, Mrs. Claus and St Nicholas on his white horse mingle with the crowds, and a SingAlong with the elves will get even the youngest of family members involved.
You can’t visit Toronto and not lose yourself in the Distillery District, an internationally acclaimed, historic site hailed by National Geographic as a “top pick” for travelers.
26
Global Living Magazine
The hippest address in Toronto An animated mix of coffeehouses, award-winning restaurants, theaters, art galleries and intriguing boutiques tempt the passerby with their breathless originality, while the upper floors of many buildings are leased to artists as studio space or other tenants with a creative focus. The industrial architecture makes for atmospheric stills if you’re into photography, and the tour guides will show you all the best angles. There are sculptures to enthrall, a chance to see artists at work, and street entertainment to rival London’s Covent Garden. World-class theater and entertainment thrive here, fuelled by distinguished performing arts companies, among them the Soulpepper Theatre Company, and George Brown’s Theatre School. The whole area feels as though it exists independently of the outside world; the air crackles with creative inspiration. It’s an energizing place to hang out – a haven for culture vultures, artisans, actors, writers and art dealers.
photography by aisha ashraf
A triumph of redevelopment Once the home of Gooderham & Worts – the world’s largest whisky and spirits distillery in 1877 – this urban regeneration success story has breathed new life into a space which, even prior to its renaissance, exuded such ambience that it was used as the location for hundreds of Hollywood movie shoots, including, X-Men, Chicago, Three Men & A Baby and The Cinderella Man. Bought in 2001 by Cityscape Holdings Inc., it was unveiled in 2003 as a pedestrian-only village dedicated entirely to arts, culture and entertainment. A short walk east of Downtown Toronto, it’s home to the largest collection of industrial-era Victorian architecture in North America and, thanks to the owner’s astute refusal to lease to chains and franchises, it has a truly unique appeal.
The Distillery District is to Toronto what SoHo is to New York City. Hip and edgy, it’s the conduit for Canada’s arts scene, with some of the country’s preeminent galleries, art dealers, artists and artisans all within a short walk of each other. With a wide range and depth of specialties, including historical and contemporary photography and Canadian and international painting, sculpture and fine art glass, virtually every artistic discipline is represented.
photography by aisha ashraf
T
ransported back in time The brick-paved streets and Victorian architecture of Toronto’s Distillery District place you in London circa 1900, while the earthy scent of roasted chestnuts lacing the crisp winter air adds authenticity to the Dickensian daydream. You half-expect Mr. Scrooge to round the corner, all knitted brows, fingerless gloves and muttered grumbles. The lack of familiar urban compass points makes the whimsy even more believable; there isn’t a Starbucks or Subway in sight.
A perfect mix of classic and contemporary When exhaustion sets in, a warming glass of hot-mulled wine, a handcrafted beer, or Sake from Canada’s first Sake brewery is the ideal accompaniment to the street entertainment while you sit back and absorb the mood. The towering, 45-foot (13.7-meter) Christmas tree and galaxy of lights strung like pearls between the buildings accentuate the timeless beauty of the cobbled streets. Surrounded by the surreal, intoxicated with fairytales, cocooned in Victoriana, you feel like a figurine in a snow-globe when the snow falls. What better way to inspire the present than through the beauty of the past? This is what the classic Christmas experience is all about – atmosphere, remembrance, one-of-akind gifts and a celebration of creative expression. If the sprawling metropolis of Toronto ever feels monolithic and anonymous, the Distillery District will change your mind. Global Living Magazine
27
