Five Reasons to Live in Toronto – Besides the Dozens Everyone Knows

While the recession bruised and battered other metropolises, Toronto rose phoenix-like from the mess. Downtown is bustling, the real estate market is healthy and thriving, the streets are sparkling clean, and residents praise their city.

Smart sophisticates locate to Toronto every day. Some of this attraction can be attributed to the city’s intelligent financial use, the accountability local politicians are held to, and the rich culture, but there are many more , if lesser known, reasons as well. If you are still on the fence, here are some great reasons to live in Toronto:

Say Cheese!

Yes, with the splendid architecture and intriguing history there are tons of photo ops throughout the city. I’m talking about actual, edible, deliciously gooey cheese though – grilled cheese, specifically. No longer reserved for children and 3 a.m. kitchen raids, Toronto has a popular restaurant specialized in grown up grilled cheese! From the tasty cheddar standard to fior de latte and arugula, residents delight in comfort food gone gourmet.

All Tuned Up

The Royal Conservatory has been around seemingly forever. Dilapidated and sad, with a leaking roof and covered in one hundred years worth of grime, renovation began over a decade ago. At long last, architect Marianne McKenna’s praises can be sung in it’s great hall. Original bricks in multiple hues are clean and beautiful, floors shine, and music once again echoes through the acoustically optimized concert hall. One cannot help but to feel opulent and elegant when taking in a concert at this intimate icon.

The Dead Rise to Greet You

Every October for the last decade, thousands of shambling corpses take part in the zombie march. From Trinity-Bellwoods Park to Bloor Cinema, enthusiastic fans do their best impression of the reanimated. The butcher shop plays background to those inclined to test their decomposing jaw muscles on fresh brain matter and cheer at others carrying signs demanding rights for the undead.

There’s a Bat Cave

No really. A full-fledged bat cave. There is no bat-mobile parked inside, but that just means you get to actually walk around in there! The Royal Ontario Museum has completed revamped their bat cave exhibit – sure to be the highlight of every kid’s (or adult’s) visit. This truly creepy but utterly cool exhibit features hundreds of handmade bats in various activities. There is even a bed of crawling cockroaches, for that disturbingly accurate infestation feel. No detail was spared, even the appropriate amount of guano, which is blessedly odour-free and made of rubber. Actual recording of bats dripping water ensure an immersive, if spooky, experience.

Smart city planning, politics, and headliner entertainment are all great and valid benefits of life in Toronto. To really know the city though is to really love it. The above are merely a handful of examples off the top of my head in a city full gems. Come, explore, and fall in love.