There are tons of things to do around Toronto for cheap, one of the best of them being to explore the eclectic neighborhoods that easily blend between borders.
However, even as a local, I found a few activities that aren’t as well known, and best of all, they cost under $5
1. Free Concerts at Top Notch Venues
Although you can snag a $10 rush seat at The Royal Conservatory’s impressive new theatre, Koerner Hall, you can hear the same level of quality music for free at recitals performed by students of The Conservatory’s Glenn Gould School in the Fall and Spring seasons. The venues at 273 Bloor Street West (Mazzoleni Hall, Conservatory Theatre, and Room 210) are more intimate and the quality of music is on par with more seasoned performers.
Similarly, the Four Seasons Centre of Performing Arts has their Free Concert Series in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre. Not only is a fabulous way to take a tour of the stunning architecture of the building and get some snapshots of downtown Toronto, but its also a way to indulge in Canadian culture. Concerts take place most Tuesdays and Thursdays at noon, and some Wednesdays at noon and 5:30 p.m. This is a perfect way to experience downtown if you don’t have a lot of time, or are making your way along Queen West.
2. Riverdale Farm
Situated near the top of Riverdale Park and on the edge of Cabbagetown, Riverdale Farm is an ideal way to spend a Saturday afternoon with friends or family. The farm also holds a Farmers Market every Tuesday from May to October at 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., should you want to have an impromptu picnic afterwards.
Across the street lies the Toronto Necropolis, one of the most historic and picturesque cemeteries in the city. Founded in 1859, it is the final resting place of William Lyon Mackenzie, Toronto’s first mayor, and journalist George Brown, founder of what is now The Globe and Mail (one of Canada’s national newspapers).
After the historical and cultural influx, you can either wander Cabbagetown which is known as the largest continuous area of preserved Victorian housing in North America. Another option is to make your way down and up the hills of Riverdale Park, and mark a pit stop at the stylish Rooster Coffeehouse, for a coffee and a relaxing view of Toronto’s Skyline from the east-end.
3. Supermarket Surprises in Kensington Market
A few of the Latin American supermarkets are a really great way into the insight of that culture via their products. At Emporio Latino you can sample food such as pupusas (corn patties with beans, cheese, sausage or pork, with coleslaw and fresh salsa), enchiladas or deep fried tacos mainly priced around $5. Beside Emporio Latino, Perola Supermarket serves similar fare at around the same price and some great opportunities to eavesdrop on the ladies gossiping behind the counter. If you only want a drink, both stores offer different varieties of Horchata, a drink made from milk and ingredients such as sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla (recipes for this drink vary between countries). A Horchata will set you back about $3. You can also get some exotic street food from vendors during the market’s Pedestrian Sunday series. The streets are closed off to traffic for food, music and entertainment the last Sunday of every month from May until October.
4. Trinity College’s Quadrangle
One of the smallest colleges (and prettiest) at The University of Toronto, Trinity College’s quadrangle (or “quad”) is the hub of student life during the academic season. Residences, the dining hall, a chapel and offices surround the quad, but as a visitor, it is a great way to people watch, read or have lunch. In the summer of 2007, the quadrangle was renovated and landscaped. The new design features flagstone paths, replacing the former asphalt paths, as well as the Greek letter Chi (X), the character for Christ, in large intricate flagstones. It is easy to get swept up in the architecture of the college, its original location at Trinity Bellwoods Park on Queen Street, and alma matter to such luminaries as writer Malcolm Gladwell, filmmaker Atom Egoyan, and Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson. In late October, the college has an annual booksale –as do the other colleges at UofT – for over 100,000 books, including rare treasures. On opening night, the admission is $5 and for the rest of the weekend the admission is gratis.
5. Wychwood Barns and Greenbarn Farmer’s Market
Located near St. Clair West’s burgeoning and gentrifying neighbourhood, the barns were renovated from an old hangar for streetcars (as observed from the cut-off tracks along Wychwood Avenue) to residences, studios, and community space for local residents in 2008 by non-profit venture Artscape. On Saturdays, families converge at the farmer’s market from 8 a.m. to noon to pick up produce and other goodies from various, local companies. I was able to score a $4 organic breakfast of eggs, and toast one morning and a small pack of mini-donuts for $3 the next week. The markets continue inside the barns in the fall and winter months.