What's one unexpected thing your city offers/does well?

[niwell]

I concur as well - I enjoy reading all the new threads.

As for Toronto, I'd say the biggest misconception is that this is a huge independent arts scene going on here. Visual, music, theatre what have you. It's not all corporate Bay St. The old blue-collar neighbourhoods may be unexpected for some too possibly.

[jeremy_haak]

I agree with the new threads. The fact that a lot of them brought out some interesting discussion is testament to the fact that you should keep it up (and others too).

[Marty_Mcfly]

Originally Posted by Ayreonaut

On the other hand, I think St. John's is also the flannel shirt and lululemon hoodie capital of Canada.

I wear flannel shirts

Also: I actually know one of the girls in your original post, Signal. She's quite fashionable, as well as super nice. Plus one on her.

As for other things this city does well? Coffee shops. There's a billion of them downtown, and most of them are great. I'm especially fond of Fixed, which is relatively new but is giving most of the other shops a run for their money with quality. Post-Espresso is one shop that I've heard great things about that I haven't tried yet, while Coffee & Co. is a great standard with friendly staff. Don't be intimidated by the fact that bikers hang out there 24/7, it's just added security

[SignalHillHiker]

I love the Jumping Bean's building on Henry Street. It's adorable (it's the yellow one on the left):


Harvey Road by SignalHillHiker, on Flickr

Also, RE: Flannel.

I was driving down Freshwater Road (toward downtown) and saw a beautiful, blond girl in knee-high brown leather boots, dark jeans, white tank top, and a purple scarf. I thought, damn, if I had my camera I could catch a street scene of my own...

Then the very next pedestrian was a guy about 300 lbs with his shirt off and walking with an exaggerated limp.

Then AFTER him was a funky looking girl with a flannel, lumberjack, pyjama-type shirt TUCKED IN a black skirt with army boots.

And I thought... yeah, no, nobody needs to see that... we'll just pretend that doesn't exist here...

All I could think was, "Honey, who told you that was OK? Go home and change before Ayreonaut sees you!"

[Wharn]

Toronto seems to have an uncanny ability to turn otherwise courteous motorists and cyclists into complete assholes.

London seems to be very good at talking about doing things, and then never doing them. Anyone who's seen the City's 1966 Master Plan knows what I'm talking about.

[kw5150]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

Hahaha. Better is watching drunk downtown girls walk downhill.

"B'ys, I'm right wrecked!"
Click
Clack
Click
Clack
Clickclack
Clickclackclickclackclickclack
Scuff
Clickityclackclack

Ba ha ha HA. I can hear her staggering and tripping in the way you typed....

[kw5150]

1. Bike Paths in Calgary.

No one seems to expect the quality and sheer magnitude of the Calgary bike pathway system is and how busy it is.

2. I dont think people expect the downtown to be bustling in the evenings.....which it is. I Cant count how many times Ive heard: Calgary? It's so dead and boring at night.......

3. Proximity to the mountains and how quickly you can go from Urban to the middle of nature......

[vid]

Downtown Port Arthur on virtually any night is quite busy. I would expect no less of Calgary.

Downtown Fort William on the other hand is an abandoned hellscape. On the maps, they leave a void with a warning: "Here be Dragons".