Comments on: RubyFringe Guide: The Lay of the Land, Part 1 http://www.joeydevilla.com/2008/07/04/rubyfringe-guide-the-lay-of-the-land-part-1/ Joey deVilla's Personal Blog Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:35:06 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Global Nerdy | RubyFringe Guide: The Lay of the Land, Part 2 http://www.joeydevilla.com/2008/07/04/rubyfringe-guide-the-lay-of-the-land-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-14785 Global Nerdy | RubyFringe Guide: The Lay of the Land, Part 2 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 03:46:50 +0000 http://www.joeydevilla.com/?p=6896#comment-14785 [...] The Lay of the Land, Part 1, I covered some areas close to the hotel. In this article, I’m going to go over some of the [...] [...] The Lay of the Land, Part 1, I covered some areas close to the hotel. In this article, I’m going to go over some of the [...]

]]> By: chiamattt http://www.joeydevilla.com/2008/07/04/rubyfringe-guide-the-lay-of-the-land-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-14563 chiamattt Mon, 07 Jul 2008 07:51:41 +0000 http://www.joeydevilla.com/?p=6896#comment-14563 Yo, down from the bus terminal, isn't the World's Biggest Bookstore still there? That's a good place to check out porn. Yo, down from the bus terminal, isn’t the World’s Biggest Bookstore still there? That’s a good place to check out porn.

]]> By: Kevin http://www.joeydevilla.com/2008/07/04/rubyfringe-guide-the-lay-of-the-land-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-14527 Kevin Sat, 05 Jul 2008 16:06:10 +0000 http://www.joeydevilla.com/?p=6896#comment-14527 I work a couple of blocks away from the hotel. I would heartily recommend Spadina Garden (Dundas just west of Bay) as the best Chinese resto in the area (other than the fancy place at the hotel). Green Onion, which is next door is also a good spot for anyone craving a Thai/Chinese/Malaysian pan-Asian fix. Out-of-towners looking for something that they might not find at home might want to try Coconut Grove (Dundas just west of Centre) for yummy Guyanese style rotis. @Brent: M2G has sadly gone out of business. They did have awesome chicken schwarma. And you're a brave man getting a straight razor shave at plave called the Terminal Barber. I work a couple of blocks away from the hotel. I would heartily recommend Spadina Garden (Dundas just west of Bay) as the best Chinese resto in the area (other than the fancy place at the hotel). Green Onion, which is next door is also a good spot for anyone craving a Thai/Chinese/Malaysian pan-Asian fix. Out-of-towners looking for something that they might not find at home might want to try Coconut Grove (Dundas just west of Centre) for yummy Guyanese style rotis.

@Brent: M2G has sadly gone out of business. They did have awesome chicken schwarma. And you’re a brave man getting a straight razor shave at plave called the Terminal Barber.

]]> By: Brent the Closet Geek http://www.joeydevilla.com/2008/07/04/rubyfringe-guide-the-lay-of-the-land-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-14517 Brent the Closet Geek Sat, 05 Jul 2008 02:11:12 +0000 http://www.joeydevilla.com/?p=6896#comment-14517 Lol I didn't see Nate's message there. I guess Terminal Barber is loved by all. Lol I didn’t see Nate’s message there. I guess Terminal Barber is loved by all.

]]> By: Brent the Closet Geek http://www.joeydevilla.com/2008/07/04/rubyfringe-guide-the-lay-of-the-land-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-14516 Brent the Closet Geek Sat, 05 Jul 2008 02:09:50 +0000 http://www.joeydevilla.com/?p=6896#comment-14516 Other good spots I know along the "dead zone": Mediterranean 2Go @ 197 Dundas Street West has bomb-ass Chicken Shawarma. I think I actually had my first shawarma there. Druxy's @ 123 Edward Street (One street north of Dundas, turn at Centre Ave) is a good deli. It needs to be said at this point that <a href="http://www.cornedbeefhouse.com" rel="nofollow">Corned Beef House</a> @ 303 Adelaide Street West (just west of John) is the <strong>Best</strong> deli in Toronto. Their Reuben is a weekly ritual for me. Pegasus @ 439 University Avenue is a great place for Greek food. I used to go there all the time when I worked in the area. And it's not food but my barber is the Terminal Barber at Dundas and Bay. It's a Good Old Fashioned Barber-type barber. Plus they do the straight razor shave thing which is fantastic (I'm easily amused I guess) Other good spots I know along the “dead zone”:

Mediterranean 2Go @ 197 Dundas Street West has bomb-ass Chicken Shawarma. I think I actually had my first shawarma there.

Druxy’s @ 123 Edward Street (One street north of Dundas, turn at Centre Ave) is a good deli. It needs to be said at this point that Corned Beef House @ 303 Adelaide Street West (just west of John) is the Best deli in Toronto. Their Reuben is a weekly ritual for me.

Pegasus @ 439 University Avenue is a great place for Greek food. I used to go there all the time when I worked in the area.

And it’s not food but my barber is the Terminal Barber at Dundas and Bay. It’s a Good Old Fashioned Barber-type barber. Plus they do the straight razor shave thing which is fantastic (I’m easily amused I guess)

]]> By: Joey deVilla http://www.joeydevilla.com/2008/07/04/rubyfringe-guide-the-lay-of-the-land-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-14514 Joey deVilla Sat, 05 Jul 2008 00:21:52 +0000 http://www.joeydevilla.com/?p=6896#comment-14514 <strong>@Randy:</strong> I'll mention them when I cover College Street. Thanks for the suggestion! @Randy: I’ll mention them when I cover College Street. Thanks for the suggestion!

]]> By: Joey deVilla http://www.joeydevilla.com/2008/07/04/rubyfringe-guide-the-lay-of-the-land-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-14513 Joey deVilla Sat, 05 Jul 2008 00:14:56 +0000 http://www.joeydevilla.com/?p=6896#comment-14513 <strong>@Sandy Kemsley:</strong> Treasure Restaurant, which is what New Treasure Restaurant used to be back in the 1970s, was a regular destination for my family for Sunday lunch. This was back in the days when Dundas was like the way Spadina is today, Sai Woo was the big restaurant and Lychee Garden at Bay and Dundas functioned as a sort of Chinese answer to <a href="http://www.tradervics.com/" rel="nofollow">Trader Vic's</a>, complete with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pu_pu_platter" rel="nofollow">pu pu platters</a> and a piano-playing <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Qrjtr_uFac" rel="nofollow">"Mack the Knife"</a>-crooning lounge singer. After a while, Treasure's owners changed and the place went downhill, so we switched to International Chinese Restuarant (this was in the 80s, when they ran that controversial "Food and sex are part of human nature" ad in the subway and Yellow Pages). We've since migrated to <a href="http://www.dine.to/pearlharbourfront" rel="nofollow">Pearl</a> at Queen's Quay Terminal, <a href="http://www.toronto.com/restaurants/listing/000-213-013" rel="nofollow">Dynasty</a> at Bloor near Avenue Road, and some assorted places in Mississauga and Agincourt. I'd love to give New Treasure a try -- let me know when you're headed there next! @Sandy Kemsley: Treasure Restaurant, which is what New Treasure Restaurant used to be back in the 1970s, was a regular destination for my family for Sunday lunch. This was back in the days when Dundas was like the way Spadina is today, Sai Woo was the big restaurant and Lychee Garden at Bay and Dundas functioned as a sort of Chinese answer to Trader Vic’s, complete with pu pu platters and a piano-playing “Mack the Knife”-crooning lounge singer.

After a while, Treasure’s owners changed and the place went downhill, so we switched to International Chinese Restuarant (this was in the 80s, when they ran that controversial “Food and sex are part of human nature” ad in the subway and Yellow Pages). We’ve since migrated to Pearl at Queen’s Quay Terminal, Dynasty at Bloor near Avenue Road, and some assorted places in Mississauga and Agincourt.

I’d love to give New Treasure a try — let me know when you’re headed there next!

]]> By: nate http://www.joeydevilla.com/2008/07/04/rubyfringe-guide-the-lay-of-the-land-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-14512 nate Sat, 05 Jul 2008 00:01:36 +0000 http://www.joeydevilla.com/?p=6896#comment-14512 right beside the bus terminal is the Terminal Barber shop. It's purportedly the oldest barbershop in the city (circa 1925) and predates the terminal. The two owners Karim and Omar took over a few years back (my favorite guy, Guiseppe passed away about a decade ago) and invested a fair chunk of change into honoring tonsorial traditions, with actual antique barber chairs from the turn of the century and a beautiful old cash register. They also dressed up the place with wood flooring and wallpaper. They are very proud to be barbers & have striven to deliver a sense of authenticity to getting your hair cut. If that doesn't sound too over the top. [do they shave you with a straight razor? yes.] right beside the bus terminal is the Terminal Barber shop. It’s purportedly the oldest barbershop in the city (circa 1925) and predates the terminal.

The two owners Karim and Omar took over a few years back (my favorite guy, Guiseppe passed away about a decade ago) and invested a fair chunk of change into honoring tonsorial traditions, with actual antique barber chairs from the turn of the century and a beautiful old cash register. They also dressed up the place with wood flooring and wallpaper.

They are very proud to be barbers & have striven to deliver a sense of authenticity to getting your hair cut. If that doesn’t sound too over the top.

[do they shave you with a straight razor? yes.]

]]> By: Randy http://www.joeydevilla.com/2008/07/04/rubyfringe-guide-the-lay-of-the-land-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-14510 Randy Fri, 04 Jul 2008 22:11:51 +0000 http://www.joeydevilla.com/?p=6896#comment-14510 For a future article, if you're going to talk about Active Surplus, don't forget the whole College and Spadina area - some great computer stores there, AND some nice Electronic component stores there for that kind of geek (Creatron, Inc. and Supremetronic, which is now inside the Home Hardware). Always fun for that sort of geek to check out :) For a future article, if you’re going to talk about Active Surplus, don’t forget the whole College and Spadina area – some great computer stores there, AND some nice Electronic component stores there for that kind of geek (Creatron, Inc. and Supremetronic, which is now inside the Home Hardware). Always fun for that sort of geek to check out :)

]]> By: Sandy Kemsley http://www.joeydevilla.com/2008/07/04/rubyfringe-guide-the-lay-of-the-land-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-14505 Sandy Kemsley Fri, 04 Jul 2008 20:16:03 +0000 http://www.joeydevilla.com/?p=6896#comment-14505 New Treasure Dim Sum, on the north side of Dundas near Elizabeth, serves pretty good all-day dim sum. I found it through the BlogTO review here http://blogto.com/restaurants/newtreasure/ and have tried it a couple of times. Not as good as Rol San, of course. :) New Treasure Dim Sum, on the north side of Dundas near Elizabeth, serves pretty good all-day dim sum. I found it through the BlogTO review here http://blogto.com/restaurants/newtreasure/ and have tried it a couple of times. Not as good as Rol San, of course. :)

]]> By: Joey deVilla http://www.joeydevilla.com/2008/07/04/rubyfringe-guide-the-lay-of-the-land-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-14495 Joey deVilla Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:56:03 +0000 http://www.joeydevilla.com/?p=6896#comment-14495 <strong>@Maria:</strong> I'd forgotten about Japango, which is bad, since my "bachelor party" was there. It was actually a very quiet affair: dinner with my friends George, Alicia, Rob and Leslie. When Rob asked me why I didn't go for the typical bachelor party, George replied "His <em>whole goddamn life</em> has been a bachelor party." @Maria: I’d forgotten about Japango, which is bad, since my “bachelor party” was there.

It was actually a very quiet affair: dinner with my friends George, Alicia, Rob and Leslie. When Rob asked me why I didn’t go for the typical bachelor party, George replied “His whole goddamn life has been a bachelor party.”

]]> By: Maria http://www.joeydevilla.com/2008/07/04/rubyfringe-guide-the-lay-of-the-land-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-14494 Maria Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:50:25 +0000 http://www.joeydevilla.com/?p=6896#comment-14494 And Japango is there, one of the best sushi places in town! <a href="http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/2005-12-22/goods_foodfeature.php" rel="nofollow">Link</a> And Japango is there, one of the best sushi places in town!
Link

]]> By: Maria http://www.joeydevilla.com/2008/07/04/rubyfringe-guide-the-lay-of-the-land-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-14493 Maria Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:49:10 +0000 http://www.joeydevilla.com/?p=6896#comment-14493 OMG, I used to go to Garden as well when I worked at One Dundas, cheap, and they also have barbecued duck! OMG, I used to go to Garden as well when I worked at One Dundas, cheap, and they also have barbecued duck!

]]> By: Joey deVilla http://www.joeydevilla.com/2008/07/04/rubyfringe-guide-the-lay-of-the-land-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-14492 Joey deVilla Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:21:03 +0000 http://www.joeydevilla.com/?p=6896#comment-14492 <strong>@Brent the Closet Geek:</strong> It's good to hear the Yueh Tung is still on its game. I'll admit it's been nearly a decade since I've been there -- in fact the last time I was there gets some mention in <a href="http://www.joeydevilla.com/2003/07/22/worst-date-ever-part-4/" rel="nofollow"><cite>Worst Date Ever, Part 4</cite></a>. <strong>@Chris Taylor:</strong> I'll have to check out Garden sometime. Usually I brown bag my lunch (my spare George Foreman grill is at the office and now functions as a panini press), but from time to time, I go out for a bite. <strong>@Everyone else:</strong> If you've got favourite places in the relative dead zone of <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=Dundas+and+McCaul,+Toronto,+ON&daddr=Dundas+and+Bay,+Toronto,+ON&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=46.764446,112.148438&ie=UTF8&ll=43.655,-79.38759&spn=0.010495,0.02738&z=16" rel="nofollow">Dundas Street between Bay and McCaul</a>, let me know about them here in the comments! @Brent the Closet Geek: It’s good to hear the Yueh Tung is still on its game. I’ll admit it’s been nearly a decade since I’ve been there — in fact the last time I was there gets some mention in Worst Date Ever, Part 4.

@Chris Taylor: I’ll have to check out Garden sometime. Usually I brown bag my lunch (my spare George Foreman grill is at the office and now functions as a panini press), but from time to time, I go out for a bite.

@Everyone else: If you’ve got favourite places in the relative dead zone of Dundas Street between Bay and McCaul, let me know about them here in the comments!

]]> By: Chris Taylor http://www.joeydevilla.com/2008/07/04/rubyfringe-guide-the-lay-of-the-land-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-14491 Chris Taylor Fri, 04 Jul 2008 14:27:30 +0000 http://www.joeydevilla.com/?p=6896#comment-14491 I can vouch for the Garden Restaurant (SE corner of Dundas W at Chestnut St). They have good stuff at cheap prices. For lunch, a big plate of BBQ pork, bok choy and steamed rice, plus soft drink, used to ring in at around five bucks. I think since they have moved into nicer digs the price went up by a buck, at most. I can vouch for the Garden Restaurant (SE corner of Dundas W at Chestnut St). They have good stuff at cheap prices. For lunch, a big plate of BBQ pork, bok choy and steamed rice, plus soft drink, used to ring in at around five bucks. I think since they have moved into nicer digs the price went up by a buck, at most.

]]> By: Brent the Closet Geek http://www.joeydevilla.com/2008/07/04/rubyfringe-guide-the-lay-of-the-land-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-14478 Brent the Closet Geek Fri, 04 Jul 2008 05:34:48 +0000 http://www.joeydevilla.com/?p=6896#comment-14478 On the south side of Elizabeth and Dundas is Yueh Tung, one of my favorite restaurants in Toronto. They're Chili Chicken is a must-try, I've been known to trudge through blizzards for it in the past. On the south side of Elizabeth and Dundas is Yueh Tung, one of my favorite restaurants in Toronto.

They’re Chili Chicken is a must-try, I’ve been known to trudge through blizzards for it in the past.

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