I always thought I’d have to make a trip to Montreal to experience a hot scene with a distinctly European flair. Although my name bespeaks an Italian heritage, I haven’t really spent much time exploring Toronto’s Italian communities. There are a few different areas that celebrate Italian culture, but it is difficult to pass through Little Italy without noticing the illuminated street signs shaped as the “boot” of Italy. Little Italy is right in the core of downtown Toronto, stretching from Bathurst to Ossington on College Street, where a wave of Italian immigrants originally settled after World War II.
The vast array of choices presented in Little Italy left me terribly confused—chic restaurants, sleek bars, unique shoe and clothing shops—however, it was the nightlife that I finally decided to explore.
It being a Sunday evening, I was amazed by the size of the 20- to 30-year-old crowds that filled the bars, particularly College St. Bar.
It was the impressive soul and R&B sounds my date and I heard coming from the bar that first drew us in. The music at College St. Bar changes on Fridays and Saturdays to include more jazz, funk, and Latin music spun by DJ Goldfinger. Sundays, the bar is filled with the vibes of live soul band the A Team.
Passing through a curtained doorway, we were greeted by cozy candle-lit tables, perfect for relaxing with close company, and further down by the bar’s open floor area everyone mingled and grooved to tunes played by the live band.
This is a place to be yourself and enjoy the comfortable atmosphere. A place for the hip and individually stylish to savour a well-mixed drink and breathe in the beat. Browse the shops and cafés, play some pool, and sample the diverse flavours of a community that has transformed into a hot and funky scene.
