The area near Filmores is so fucking scary

[j_anderson]

so yeah, I just went recently to filmores for the first time with 2 friends. after we left filmores we decided to go to allan gardens just to chill for a while so we walk up george street, and fuck we can't even walk a block without crackheads begging us for money or trying to bum a cig of us. even when u tell the crackhead its ur last cig they're like, "just give me a drag off it, plz plz just one drag."

there are also large groups of people just hanging around and fighting right in the middle of the street. for the entire walk up george street we didn't see a single normal looking person, just crackheads and shady looking people.

 

[Fred Zed]

so yeah, I just went recently to filmores for the first time with 2 friends. after we left filmores we decided to go to allan gardens just to chill for a while so we walk up george street, and fuck we can't even walk a block without crackheads begging us for money or trying to bum a cig of us. even when u tell the crackhead its ur last cig they're like, "just give me a drag off it, plz plz just one drag."

there are also large groups of people just hanging around and fighting right in the middle of the street. for the entire walk up george street we didn't see a single normal looking person, just crackheads and shady looking people.

lol...which part of the country are you from J_anderson ? What you witnessed is the real
Toronto - never a boring moment!

 

[Rockslinger]

Did I scare you? I'm sorry. I use to hang around outside CP but Echo got pissed off.

 

[The Options Menu]

so yeah, I just went recently to filmores for the first time with 2 friends. after we left filmores we decided to go to allan gardens just to chill for a while so we walk up george street, and fuck we can't even walk a block without crackheads begging us for money or trying to bum a cig of us. even when u tell the crackhead its ur last cig they're like, "just give me a drag off it, plz plz just one drag."

there are also large groups of people just hanging around and fighting right in the middle of the street. for the entire walk up george street we didn't see a single normal looking person, just crackheads and shady looking people.

Bah-- It's not that bad. Rules:

1. All SCs are 'bad areas' even the nice ones. Adjust what you bring accordingly. The upside of that is that if you go to a SC in a 'bad' area, you're already prepared.
2. Try to relax and walk with a purpose. Remember, the side streets in these areas have typical residential housing... 'Normal' folks go to and fro at all hours, as long as you don't look like a lost tourist or an easy mark you'll probably be fine.
3. Stick to the major streets. Getting spooked and taking shortcuts is more likely to walk you into trouble than get away from it.
4. DON'T SMOKE ON THE STREET in a 'bad' area. That makes you the pied piper of crackheads and street people.
5. If you're that uncomfortable please do hail a cab.

A few specific bits of advice for Filmores:
1. Time smokes to when the dancers going out to smoke. They always have a bouncer with them, and he'll keep the street people at bay.
2. If you're at all nervous don't walk East.
3. If you're generally nervous only go East / West to and from Yonge, and go from there. (Edit: Especially with all of the recent development at Y & D-- It's a very short hop East and West to and from Fimores.)

As somebody who's hit every bad area in the city for my SC crawling all I can say is that it's not that bad once you get used to things. The upside of Filmores is that it's much better on the inside, so you can get that first rush adrenalin on the walk there, chill out, then work on other bits of chemistry on the inside. Take this from a guy that's walked through 'bad' areas to get to equally 'bad' clubs.

 

[a 1 player]

Bah-- It's not that bad. Rules:

1. All SCs are 'bad areas' even the nice ones. Adjust what you bring accordingly. The upside of that is that if you go to a SC in a 'bad' area, you're already prepared.
2. Try to relax and walk with a purpose. Remember, the side streets in these areas have typical residential housing... 'Normal' folks go to and fro at all hours, as long as you don't look like a lost tourist or an easy mark you'll probably be fine.
3. Stick to the major streets. Getting spooked and taking shortcuts is more likely to walk you into trouble than get away from it.
4. DON'T SMOKE ON THE STREET in a 'bad' area. That makes you the pied piper of crackheads and street people.
5. If you're that uncomfortable please do hail a cab.

Excellent advice.

 

[james t kirk]

Yeah, it's a majorly shitty area.

Last time I was there, had a bit of trouble walking out going west.

There are lots of strip clubs in safer areas.

 

[dreamblade]

You consider that area "fucking scary"?

Dude, there's places in Montreal, New York, and Boston which would consider the Filmore's area upscale and posh. I've walked around there at all hours, including taking a stroll at 3am on a spring Saturday (I was at a party in the Brewery District), and never had a problem with crackheads.

Perhaps it was your posture and body language that marked you as an easy target. But then, expect this kind of experience anywhere downtown, even at Yonge/Bloor, if that's the case.

 

[Ameena]

George Street is where the Seaton House is located; it's a facility that houses men with drug and alcohol addictions and mental illness. The rest of the houses on that street between Dundas and Gerrard are mostly, if not all, crack houses. I always tell my customers not to walk down that street alone at night cause it can be quite dodgy. Dundas, you'll still see people of the crackhead variety, but it's still pretty safe especially if you're with someone.

 

[dirkd101]

That area of town has been like that for a long time. As Fred said, what part of the country are you from? Are you new to the city? It's funny reading this and finding out that that area hasn't changed since I used to haunt it long ago

 

[spitze]

Bah-- It's not that bad. Rules:

1. All SCs are 'bad areas' even the nice ones. Adjust what you bring accordingly. The upside of that is that if you go to a SC in a 'bad' area, you're already prepared.
2. Try to relax and walk with a purpose. Remember, the side streets in these areas have typical residential housing... 'Normal' folks go to and fro at all hours, as long as you don't look like a lost tourist or an easy mark you'll probably be fine.
3. Stick to the major streets. Getting spooked and taking shortcuts is more likely to walk you into trouble than get away from it.
4. DON'T SMOKE ON THE STREET in a 'bad' area. That makes you the pied piper of crackheads and street people.
5. If you're that uncomfortable please do hail a cab.

A few specific bits of advice for Filmores:
1. Time smokes to when the dancers going out to smoke. They always have a bouncer with them, and he'll keep the street people at bay.
2. If you're at all nervous don't walk East.
3. If you're generally nervous only go East / West to and from Yonge, and go from there. (Edit: Especially with all of the recent development at Y & D-- It's a very short hop East and West to and from Fimores.)

As somebody who's hit every bad area in the city for my SC crawling all I can say is that it's not that bad once you get used to things. The upside of Filmores is that it's much better on the inside, so you can get that first rush adrenalin on the walk there, chill out, then work on other bits of chemistry on the inside. Take this from a guy that's walked through 'bad' areas to get to equally 'bad' clubs.

Carrying a "tool" may be helpful

 

[69suds]

lol...which part of the country are you from J_anderson ? What you witnessed is the real
Toronto - never a boring moment!

I wouldn't say the real TO, just one of the colourful areas.

 

[The Options Menu]

Carrying a "tool" may be helpful

If tool is code for weapon I'd say 'no'. For all the reason why Detroit, and many major American / developing world cities can be nightmares. Toronto has little in the way of violence during muggings, let's keep it that way. Plus, 'heroes' only encourage 'villains' to be bigger 'villains'. The only tool you might need is a cheap cell phone. Heck, I don't even go out with that-- I came here 10 years ago, and I was nervous when I had to go through 'bad areas'. The first thing I did was go to these places in the day to warm up, and at this point I have my rules down and just don't care.

If a recovering hick can take strolls in the hood at night Toronto's just not that bad.

edit: On topic, for Filmores coming from Yonge you basically have the big new development at Y & D, then the periphery of Ryerson, then a major hotel on Jarvis, then Filmore's. If you can't hack that walk you should actually walk it more as training wheels for really scary places. I don't really blame people for not going the other 3 cardinal directions, but the to / from Yonge is pretty damn tame if not actually good.

 

[Insidious Von]

If he thinks George St is scary he better not take a wrong turn on the Martin Grove Corridor.

 

[Ulan Bator]

so yeah, I just went recently to filmores for the first time with 2 friends. after we left filmores we decided to go to allan gardens just to chill for a while so we walk up george street, and fuck we can't even walk a block without crackheads begging us for money or trying to bum a cig of us. even when u tell the crackhead its ur last cig they're like, "just give me a drag off it, plz plz just one drag."

there are also large groups of people just hanging around and fighting right in the middle of the street. for the entire walk up george street we didn't see a single normal looking person, just crackheads and shady looking people.

Wow, what sleaze...........gotta love it....

 

[amber-jade]

Yeah, it's a majorly shitty area.
Last time I was there, had a bit of trouble walking out going west.
There are lots of strip clubs in safer areas.

it always amazed me that place is a possible terb party location over the past few years...
tizz why, i'd NEVER go if it was at filmores

 

[Cobster]

lmao that's not scary at all.

Try Jane & Finch (played ball there a lot)
Try Parkdale at night.


Where are you from?

 

[dj1470]

so yeah, I just went recently to filmores for the first time with 2 friends. after we left filmores we decided to go to allan gardens just to chill for a while so we walk up george street, and fuck we can't even walk a block without crackheads begging us for money or trying to bum a cig of us. even when u tell the crackhead its ur last cig they're like, "just give me a drag off it, plz plz just one drag."

there are also large groups of people just hanging around and fighting right in the middle of the street. for the entire walk up george street we didn't see a single normal looking person, just crackheads and shady looking people.

Do you consider yourself normal?

 

[Cobster]

it always amazed me that place is a possible terb party location over the past few years...
tizz why, i'd NEVER go if it was at filmores

lol...

 

[AnastasiaStripper]

I never been there before. I would just call a cab to come pick me up right at the front door lol.

sometimes these crackheads get aggressive, scares me.

 

[ASYLUM]

i always laugh when i pass by the grand, its such a nice hotel in such a craphole area