The Exploration of Queen Street - 85%
For my travels, I explored Queen Street, in Toronto. After exiting the Queen Street Subway stop (four-fifty to get there), I am at the Eaton’s centre, which is surrounded on all four sides by Bay, Dundas, Younge, and Queen. For those inclined to do so, there is a multitude of shops, for products such as clothing, jewellery, music, banking, and many restaurants, including A&W, Harvey’s, Subway, McDonalds, and Starbuck’s. To walk from one end of this mall to the other takes a very long time, and it seems immeasurably long. This multi-floored mall reminds me of Square One, in Mississauga.
I exit, and while walking down the street, hear speakers broadcasting The Edge 102.1 live, from inside the radio station. This location consisted of a diminutive room, equipped with broadcasting equipment, radio DJ, and a cashier to sell Edge equipment to fans. Visitors are allowed to talk to the DJ when they aren’t on the air, and even make song requests. So many famous musicians and musical artists have been through this radio station over the years, it is a piece of Rock and Roll history.
In search of one particular store, I begin to make my way East on Queen. There are many interesting shops along the way, such as an Army surplus store. Inside, there are all sorts of camouflaged clothing, army gear, belts, and gruff, abrupt cashiers. It is a clothing store, for the man who prefers to stay hidden in a forest. I am offered ten dollars for my own jacket, which I politely refuse.
I finally reach my numbered destination, and it turns out to be a Coin Laundry. There are at least ten different washers and dryers. I am disappointed to say the least. The man in charge kindly tells me that I am probably looking for Queen Street West, not Queen Street East. I leave and begin to walk back to Younge Street, where Queen changes from East to West. It would be faster for me to take a bus there, cutting my travel time down by at least two thirds, but then I will not have enough money to get home.
On my return journey, I hear bells from a great distance. On Bond and Queen, I discover the Metropolitan Church of Canada. I hadn’t noticed it the first time around, for it lay silent and out of my line of sight. Now, it was impossible to ignore. The massive church, with bells ringing from the very top, was a very interesting structure. Several people lay around in the park next to it, enjoying the sun or just sleeping.
After crossing Younge, I walk past Nathan Phillips Square, which is indeed a sight. Two massive, curved buildings reach skyward, with a small, arced building lodged in between them. A reflecting pool lies adjacent to this monument, which is used for skating in the colder months. The square is right next to City Hall, blocking its view from a certain angle.
I am very near to my final station, but take a short detour into a comic book store. After leaving your bag at the front desk, the consumer can walk through aisles and aisles of comic books, from many genres, publishers, and eras. There are hundreds upon hundreds of neatly organized, animated, micro-novels. Some of the protagonists that I noticed were Spawn, Spiderman, Superman, Batman, Batgirl, and the X-Men.
Three and a half hours after I departed from Kipling subway station, I am finally here. From the street corner, I stare up at the massive, multi-colored cube that sticks out of the building. I enter the GTA Chapters, and stare wide-eyed around at all of the products. There are books, upon books, upon books. A magazine section on the first floor catches my eye. A music section consists of less-recent, not-so-expensive albums, and some newer, pricier ones. There is also a section for DVDs; some old movies, some new, some really old television series, some newer ones. This store has at least four or five different levels, with a Coffee shop built into the second floor. A web-café is available, for a price, to those who lack the internet at home. This is the most massive book store I have ever been in, and it was worth the voyage.
I have enjoyed my trip up and down Queen Street. I walk slowly back, noticing the Chum building, Much Music, and the ‘last brick house’ as I head towards the subway station. I use another four-fifty to get home. I spent nine dollars to get there and back. It was worth it.
go home, on the subway...