Retro Toronto Thread for Nostalgia Purposes.

[SirWanker]

Speaking of clubs, ones that I had fond memories of are long gone:

• The Silver Crown (Bay & Richmond)
• The Twilight Zone (185 Richmond Street W)
• The Copa>The Barracuda (21 Scollard)
• The Big Bop (651 Queen W)
• Go-Go (250 Richmond St. W.)
• RPM (132 Queens Quay East)

Ditto for that stretch of Yonge St that had Sam's, A&A, Sunrise Records and HMV ( plus a couple of other indie shops on Yonge N of Wellesley; names I can't remember) where you can source out those UK & Japanese import/remixes.

 

[SirWanker]

It was the last of four "warm-up" shows Rush did before the Farewell to Kings Tour, at the Exhibition Stadium in Toronto.

 

[black booty lover]

Anyone remember the Morrisey for their inexpensive malted beverages?

I totally forgot about that place. I used to go there in the summer time and sit outside on the picnic benches and get drunk. I've never been to a place with so many people on a patio.

 

[SirWanker]

Date: September 21, 1984
Location: Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Ontario, CAN

 

[unassuming]

Speaking of clubs, ones that I had fond memories of are long gone:


Ditto for that stretch of Yonge St that had Sam's, A&A, Sunrise Records and HMV ( plus a couple of other indie shops on Yonge N of Wellesley; names I can't remember) where you can source out those UK & Japanese import/remixes.

The Record Peddler across from Maple Leaf Gardens, used to by my import vinyl there. Why are imported vinyl better quality than domestic vinyl, the vinyl is harder/stiffer and the recording are at a higher volume?????

I remember going to RPM before it was called RPM, it was called "Fresh"

 

[black booty lover]

Ya, good pizza, to bad they had to close shop after the Leafs moved to the ACC.

Speaking of which, that's another fond memory. I used to love going down to the Gardens. Love coming up the stairs of that College station exit to hear 20 different guys going "who's buying?" "who's selling?" "who needs tickets?"

 

[SirWanker]

And the first World Series win by the Jays back in 1992.

 

[SirWanker]

The Record Peddler across from Maple Leaf Gardens, used to by my import vinyl there. Why are imported vinyl better quality than domestic vinyl, the vinyl is harder/stiffer and the recording are at a higher volume?????

I remember going to RPM before it was called RPM, it was called "Fresh"

Oh yeah, the Record Peddler on Yonge right across from College Park!
In regards to the quality, I can't verify but the records were pressed on thicker(?) vinyl. Ultimately it was the unique version of the song that you rarely heard on the radio that drove the purchase (for me) .

 

[essguy_]

Pre-marriage, if I was in Toronto - my buddies and I would go regularly to "Earl's Tin Palace" on Eglinton just East of Yonge as an after work drinks and pickup place or StilLife downtown which was kind of new, being a high end, late night bar/night club place. Also the Bovine Sex Club which I think is still open. Kind of hard to imagine how much energy I used to have back then since i'd always be at work by 6 - 6:30 the next day, hungover... LOL. Thank God for taxis!

Now that we're all older fuckers, when we get together, we generally go to the Cactus Club in First Canadian place. We're all out of the demographic and now in the dirty old man phase. LOL!

 

[unassuming]

And the first World Series win by the Jays back in 1992.

Yeah!!! and this is the most important HR in BJ history, if Alomar did not hit this HR, they do not win the WS.

Sends chills down my spine every time I see it, Fuck You Eckersley!!!!!

 

[unassuming]

GreenWood Raceway down at the beaches, my old man would take me with him when I was a lad, loved seeing the horses in general.

"The field is now in motion, and there they go!"

 

[SirWanker]

Also the Bovine Sex Club which I think is still open. Kind of hard to imagine how much energy I used to have back then since i'd always be at work by 6 - 6:30 the next day, hungover... LOL. Thank God for taxis!

Now that we're all older fuckers, when we get together, we generally go to the Cactus Club in First Canadian place. We're all out of the demographic and now in the dirty old man phase. LOL!

The Bovine is still operational....
At one point, one of my friends dated a cute individual from Buffalo, who also worked as a bartender at a sports bar. Needless to say, regular Thursday night road trips to Buffalo ensued. Staying to 4AM closing; driving back to TO (I was the designated driver) and starting work @10AM made for interesting, unproductive Fridays.

 

[SirWanker]

GreenWood Raceway down at the beaches, my old man would take me with him when I was a lad, loved seeing the horses in general.

"The field is now in motion, and there they go!"

My biggest regret for not purchasing a detached house @Kingston/Queen for 130K before the Greenwood property was rezoned for residential use.
The Tulip Restaurant is still there.

 

[unassuming]

Anyone remember the bowling alley on Edward St. before it became "The World's Biggest Book Store" ?

 

[unassuming]

Going to Duke's cycle and sports on Queen west during my teen years for sporting goods , skate sharpening etc....
I think they are just bicycles now.

 

[essguy_]

Going to Duke's cycle and sports on Queen west during my teen years for sporting goods , skate sharpening etc....
I think they are just bicycles now.

The original Duke's got caught in the fire a few years ago that burnt down a few businesses. They had a temporary store for a while and have now re-opened in a new building at their old address. Yes - just cycling now.

 

[unassuming]

BB Gabor , popular local musician

 

[unassuming]

 

[essguy_]

Anybody here go to U of T or hang out in the vicinity in the early 80's? Two food places that stand out are "Alibaba's" (a shawarma place on College around St George) and Yung Sing's Bakery on Baldwin. Alibaba had the best shawarma's I've ever tasted anywhere. The meat was real cuts (not a ground stack) and the way he vertically grilled was perfect- it was always juicy with crispy charred fat bits. It closed around 1990. I've never found another shawarma that compares. The owner was a bit of a character - always wearing a 3 piece suit, sometimes a cowboy hat too.

Yung Sing's was a Chinese bun place and they were fantastic. Family run, with the grandmother in the kitchen 1/2 level below the counter - passing trays to the daughter and grand kids who ran the front of the store. It always had a long line but was worth it. Great value too. They expanded to a store on Yonge just south of Bloor, but it didn't last. The Baldwin street location stayed open, but I think the kids were all UofT students and went on to bigger and better things. I believe the store is still on Baldwin but empty. The other restaurant that was good for a hungry person on a student's budget was "Country Style" on Bloor/Spadina. I think it's still open - great schnitzel.

 

[unassuming]

The old U of T varsity stadium, saw Pele play there with his Santos club team back in 1970, what a thrill to see a living legend live!