Going to Canada in late October. Anyone in Toronto, Vancouver?

[springrite]

I am going to Canada for a week or so in late October, with 3 days in Toronto, 2 each in Vancouver and Winnipeg. Do we have members in those cities? Any recommendations on CD shopping, book shopping and possible cup of coffee?

[Harry]

No, no...not in my arrea, too far a detour, otherwise the coffee is ready.

[springrite]

No, no...not in my arrea, too far a detour, otherwise the coffee is ready.

Well, I did ask about the possibilities of taking a detour myself, but the University of Manitoba insists that they do not have a branch campus in the Netherlands!

[Harry]

Well, I did ask about the possibilities of taking a detour myself, but the University of Manitoba insists that they do not have a branch campus in the Netherlands!

Yes in that they tell the absolute truth, alas, but we have plenty of other branches, for example the beer branch of Heineken...............

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

In Vancouver, the only store that matters is Sikora:

http://www.sikorasclassical.com/

It's a very good store, but don't expect to find bargains on CDs (or anything) here in Canada, where prices for any given item may be anywhere from 2x to 10x what you'd pay in the U.S., not counting 13% sales tax. Our city's problems with drugs, homelessness, and AIDS are among the worst in any first world country, so watch your back!

A few restaurants you may want to try are:

Banana Leaf: Thai / Malaysian
La Bodega: Spanish
Sushi Maki: Sushi
Tojo: Sushi
Star Anise: West-coast fusion
Lombardo: Good but not great Italian (Italian is our city's weak point in food, unless you want to shell out several hundred dollars)

[springrite]

In Vancouver, the only store that matters is Sikora:

http://www.sikorasclassical.com/

It's a very good store, but don't expect to find bargains on CDs (or anything) here in Canada, where prices for any given item may be anywhere from 2x to 10x what you'd pay in the U.S., not counting 13% sales tax. Our city's problems with drugs, homelessness, and AIDS are among the worst in any first world country, so watch your back!

Thanks for the info.

What about ordering online? I am thinking about asking someone to place an order or two through AMAZON and BRO for me and I can pick it up and pay them when I arrive. It is prohibitive to order from China, with international shipping and tax which will more than double the price!

[Justin Ignaz Franz Bieber]

In Vancouver, the only store that matters is Sikora:

http://www.sikorasclassical.com/

rrrgh you beat me to it I would add the big HMV at robson square also.

It's a very good store, but don't expect to find bargains on CDs (or anything) here in Canada, where prices for any given item may be anywhere from 2x to 10x what you'd pay in the U.S., not counting 13% sales tax.

victoria/vancouver has the cheapest cds in the world, or at least they used to. I remember when A&B Sound sold the latest Tragically Hip (etc) sold for $12.88 brand-new when brand-new cds were more like $30 in Australia & elsewhere. HMV sold their stuff at much higher ontario prices which is why I never used to shop there, & why they never did as well as A&B on the west coast. When I went to sikora's a year & a half ago they had a small used-cd section, I don't know what it's like now. They had a big upstairs area with tons of vinyl though.

Our city's problems with drugs, homelessness, and AIDS are among the worst in any first world country, so watch your back!

that part of west hastings (the block sikora's is on) isn't so bad imo. it's east hastings, on the other side ("of the tracks" ) of that big war memorial that should be avoided. i guess parts of granville could be a bit sketchy at night also.

A few restaurants you may want to try are:

Banana Leaf: Thai / Malaysian
La Bodega: Spanish
Sushi Maki: Sushi
Tojo: Sushi
Star Anise: West-coast fusion
Lombardo: Good but not great Italian (Italian is our city's weak point in food, unless you want to shell out several hundred dollars)

don't forget sophie's cosmic cafe for a killer greasy-spoon breakfast!
http://sophiescosmiccafe.com/home.html

[springrite]

victoria/vancouver has the cheapest cds in the world, or at least they used to.

It is the same everywhere it seems. The cheap CD stores are disappearing and most people have to rely on online shopping. But there is still something wonderful about browsing and holding the CDs in your hands when you shop!

[Lady Chatterley]

Our city's problems with drugs, homelessness, and AIDS are among the worst in any first world country, so watch your back!

Same here in Victoria but not on such a grand scale.Don't spend all your time indoors,go for a walk in Stanley Park ,gaze at the mountains.There's still some restricted access ,last winters storms wreaked havoc and not all is well as yet on the seawall.Still plenty of park to walk in and enjoy.
Have a great trip and next time visit Vancouver Island.

[springrite]

I have decided to send an order through AMAZON Canada. A few items I wanted are not available through the Canadian site but most are. I should get most of the items I wanted.

[Shrunk]

Tojo: Sushi

Second this recommendation.  I was in Vancouver a few years ago, and had one of the best meals of my life there.  Dont miss the seared marinated tuna.

[Shrunk]

Some Toronto recommendations:

For classical CD's, the best places are probably the flagship HMV outlet at Yonge and Dundas, and l'Atelier Grigorian at 70 Yorkville Ave.  CD prices are no bargain in Canada, but I don't know what the situation is like in China.

For books, the big chain store, Indigo, has several outlets.  Then there's The World's Biggest Bookstore, which might actually be what it claims, on 20 Edward just north of the Eaton Centre. But I would also recommend checking out some of the small, independent sellers like Book City (501 Bloor St. West and others), Pages (256 Queen St. W) and This Ain't the Rosedale Library (483 Church St.).  Toronto's a big city of readers and if you have any specific interests, no matter how narrow, you might find a bookstore catering to it.

Some other off-the-beaten-track recommendations:

Little India on Gerrard St. west of Coxwell.  A neighborhood where every day feels like a festival.  Stroll around while eating roast corn on the cob from the street vendors, or have dinner at any of the numerous Indian restaurants in the area.

Tommy Thompson Park also known as the Leslie Street Spit (http://tinyurl.com/3asexa).  A dumpsite for construction debris that has miraculously become a nature preserve.  Only open on weekends and holidays, though.

Roasted marshmallow-flavoured ice cream from Greg's at Bloor and Spadina.

Hmm, I didn't mean to end up sounding like a tourist brochure, but anyway hope that helps.

[springrite]

Thanks for the wonderful recommendations!

I think I will likely do most if not all my book and CD shopping in Toronto, although I will see if I have time to stop by Sikora in Vancouver. I will save some money for shopping in HK on my way back! (I will also need to find a pub in HK as well for the Arsenal ManUre match that night as well!)

I did place a few orders online, most of which should be ready for pick up at a friend's place in Winnipeg upon my arrival. I ordered mainly things that I would not expect most stores to carry.

[Bonehelm]

Thanks for the wonderful recommendations!

I think I will likely do most if not all my book and CD shopping in Toronto, although I will see if I have time to stop by Sikora in Vancouver. I will save some money for shopping in HK on my way back! (I will also need to find a pub in HK as well for the Arsenal ManUre match that night as well!)

I did place a few orders online, most of which should be ready for pick up at a friend's place in Winnipeg upon my arrival. I ordered mainly things that I would not expect most stores to carry.

Have fun in HK! Is it your first time going there? Need I recommend you some fun places?

[not edward]

There's a couple of good used CD shops in Toronto as well, particularly one on Queen and McCaul whose name I keep forgetting, but where I keep finding OOP stuff for about $10.

I just got through taking my parents around Toronto (this being why I've barely posted of late), so I ought to be able to think of some other touristy stuff to do as soon as my brain reboots.

[springrite]

I am also considering going to the opera. Toronto Opera is presenting Marriage of Figaro on the days I will be in Toronto. I will decide in a day or two IF I will go, and order ticket online.

[Shrunk]

There's a couple of good used CD shops in Toronto as well, particularly one on Queen and McCaul whose name I keep forgetting, but where I keep finding OOP stuff for about $10.

That would be Second Vinyl, at 2 McCaul.  As the name implies, good collection of LP's as well.

[Shrunk]

I am also considering going to the opera. Toronto Opera is presenting Marriage of Figaro on the days I will be in Toronto. I will decide in a day or two IF I will go, and order ticket online.

If you like early music, to might also consider seeing Opera Atelier's production of Monteverdi's The Return of Ulysses:

http://www.operaatelier.com/index.htm

[not edward]

That would be Second Vinyl, at 2 McCaul.  As the name implies, good collection of LP's as well.

Yep, that's the one, thanks. Definitely worth a look.

[Iago]

I am going to Canada for a week or so in late October, with 3 days in Toronto, 2 each in Vancouver and Winnipeg. Do we have members in those cities? Any recommendations on CD shopping, book shopping and possible cup of coffee?

Will you be able go get down into the good ol' USA?.
If so, dinner and hotel room is on me. Love to see you again, and meet your better half.