Toronto is an awesome city once you get to grips with what there is on offer. The downtown core, based around the Eaton Centre on Younge Street, is non-descript and reminiscent of many North American cities. Tall skyscrapers, housing banks, and underground malls with bland food courts. The underground "walk" is impressive in that it connects these shopping centres and food courts, thus avoiding the need to go outside duing the cold winter months.
Instead get back on the subway, or better still walk, and you will find yourself walking along the ever cool Queen Street West. The shops and bars that litter this street cater to the young and fashionable Torontonians. The further west that you head though, the more interesting it becomes as the aea becomes more run down.
Just northwest of the corner of Spadina and Queen West lies Kensington Markets, alternative and retro clothing capital of TO. The markets still exist and are a great place to pick up fresh fish, fruit and veg, and spices from around the world. The area is just as busy at night with some unusual bars often hosting equally unusual live bands.
Further west on Queen and you come to the now Capital of Cool, Drake Hotel. After its lavish renovations it has gone from a down on its luck, seedy, but once grand hotel to the darling of the art world. This may be the place that you go to if you want to be seen, but it does also host some entertaining evenings of live music, poetry readings, and all and out weird art showcases. Elvis Mondays, monday evenings and no cover charge, is not to be missed though as instead of Elvis impersonators it hosts up and coming bands and musicians.
One block further west and you come to the Drake Hotel, currently under renovation but closer to how the Drake was 5 years ago. Check the local listings for all sorts of fun and unusual evening including an almost surreal Karaoke night... the drinks are also considerably cheaper than the Drake.
I could go on and on about Toronto's other incredible districts... and if you ask, I will.
Quick Tips:
Pick up local free papers0--NOW or EYE--for weekly listing of what's going on in town (both published on Thursdays).
Best Way To Get Around:
To get around Toronto use the TTC system of buses, subways, and street cars. Fare is .25 per journey, but if your journey involves more than one form of transport (for example the subway, then the bus) ask for a "transfer" when you start your journey and you will only have to pay for this first portion of the journey (in this example the subway).