Counting down the final days of your undergrad can be a whirlwind of emotions. You’ve fought tooth and nail to get here, and congratulations, you survived. Of course Toronto has been wonderful to you, and you can barely imagine leaving the humid, sticky summers or the frigid, soul-sucking winters. In fact you’ve come to adore this city—but something’s the matter.
You’re restlessly anticipating the next challenge. Fear not, because it’s a big world out there and plenty of exciting cities are ready to steal your heart away from Toronto, the way you forgot about that high school lover whose promise ring you discarded back in first year.
The friendly confines of this campus will blend into one big, fond memory. You’ll venture out to a new community, a place to belong, a little part of the world to settle down in, at least for a while. With that in mind, here’s an introductory list of neighbourhoods that might very well become your home
South Congress, Austin, Texas
For the Culture Fiend
If Toronto’s ongoing renaissance, covered in The Varsity Magazine’s All Arts issue, hasn’t satisfied your voracious appetite for cultural happenings, there may be only one option left: relocate to Austin. Long known as the “Live Music Capital of the World,” the city hosts two pilgrimage-worthy indie rock festivals, SXSW and the Austin City Limits.
They say everything is bigger in Texas, and Austin’s booming economy is no exception, ranking in the top five fastest-growing American cities. Yet for all its corporate growth, Austin’s anti-capitalist sentiment still reigns supreme. “Keep Austin Weird” is the unofficial slogan of the counterculture, which preserves local businesses and fights commercialism.
This vibe is most palpable on South Congress Avenue (known informally as SoCo). Bordered by the upscale neighbourhood of Travis Heights, SoCo is a former seedy drug haven undergoing a complete reinvention. Texas state officials looking for discreet good times have since moved on, and life in SoCo is an appealing prospect: hanging out at the Magnolia Café by day, catching shows at the famed Continental Club by night. With a large theatre and dance industry, Austin should be the preferred destination for those who live for the arts.
Hawthorne, Portland, Oregon
For the Environmentalist
For those wishing to embark on a green lifestyle, Portland may be the right fit. Long hailed as a diamond in the rough, the city boasts all the charms of the famed “West Coast attitude” without Vancouver’s seedy underbelly. These benefits include a famously user-friendly and efficient transit system, breathtaking scenery, and the Yellow Bike Project, a program popularized in Portland that makes free bicycles available for public use.
The Southeast district of Hawthorne is a hotbed of subculture, and home to many hipster environmentalists, many of whom relocate to Portland purposely to embrace the lifestyle. Famous converts include The Shins’ James Mercer and Spoon’s Britt Daniel.
The streets of Hawthorne are extremely pedestrian-friendly—no surprise given Portland’s reputation as one of the world’s greenest cities, a reputation built upon the founding principle of urban development controls that have preserved countless acres of farmland just outside of the downtown core.
Hawthorne Boulevard itself serves as an idyllic Main Street for the surrounding residential areas, ensuring that city dwellers don’t have to travel long distances for the bare essentials. In the era of the suburban big-box retailer, Portland’s environmental focus is both progressive and refreshing. You can almost taste the organic vegetables…
Hoxton and Shoreditch, London, England
For the Trendsetter
The crowning of London as “Coolest City on the Planet” by GQ last fall prompted one question: what took them so long? London has been the trendsetting capital of the world for as long as anyone cared about trendsetting. Its impact on fashion and the arts is readily visible from the Swinging ’60s to ’70s punk to contemporary New Rave, and it shows absolutely no sign of slowing down.
At the moment, London’s hottest districts are most definitely the neighbouring areas of Hoxton and Shoreditch, former centres of industry that came to cultural prominence in the early ’90s with the Young British Artists movement. Residences in this area of east London are highly sought after, so it’s best to join the party while it’s still going.
Major improvements to public transportation are planned in anticipation of the 2012 Summer Olympics, which promises to be the crowning event in London’s seamless transition into this century.
With its effortless blend of Old World charm and ultra-modern flair, it’s clear that London is still the most exciting city on earth. Sure, it may also be one of the most expensive, but have faith—the moment you get there, you’ll realize it’s worth it.
Mission District, San Francisco, California
For the Global Soul
San Francisco is famed for its multiculturalism and welcoming civil society, familiar for all former Torontonians. Former U of T student Steven Kraft, who moved to the Bay Area upon graduation last year, commented on the evident sense of multicultural harmony, saying, “Human rights have always been at the forefront here. It’s a really socially-conscious environment. It has always been regarded for its free speech movement, but it’s not as volatile as it was 40 years ago.”
In the ’60s and ’70s, the Mission District was known primarily for its large Hispanic population, and a bilingual culture exists in the Mission to this day. The hand-painted murals that line the streets are evidence of recent gentrification that has seen a new wave of artists move into the neighbourhood, adding a creative element to the area’s entrenched diversity.
Geographically, the Mission borders on the Castro, the city’s gay village, and Haight- Ashbury, birthplace of the hippie movement. Kraft notes that the annual music festival held in Golden Gate Park is called “Power to the Peaceful,” indicating that the hippie ideals of peace and diversity are alive and well in San Francisco.
North End, Halifax, Nova Scotia
For the Activist
Firstly, it’s extremely important to note the differences between the north and south end of the Halifax peninsula. While the south end is home to the city’s multiple universities, characterized by a beer-swilling undergrad culture with which we’re all very familiar, the north end of Halifax is a rich and diverse community appreciated by any responsible citizen who wishes to make keg life a distant memory of their carefree youth.
Kaley Kennedy is a native Torontonian who has made a home in the north end of Halifax. She identifies strong political activism as the object of affection for the city. “It’s an engaged community,” she says. “There are a lot of community and activist organizations dealing with social justice and poverty. We have a focus on popular education concerning issues of inequity.”
As the metropolis of the Maritimes, Halifax is a popular destination for those seeking to get out of their small hometowns and make a difference. It’s often a stop along the way, as people pause in Halifax for a year or two before taking off to contribute elsewhere. “It’s a transient place,” says Kennedy. “Although people are constantly leaving, there’s always a steady flow of new and interesting people coming in.” To put it simply, you could be one of them.
