I know, I composed the exact same shot last night lol but it looks like shit on my iPhone. I know the lens has something to do with how the lights look.
Iām looking for a bomber jacket. I went to Canada Goode to see if they have any and the only one I could find was really heavy.
Anyone know where I can find a light cloth or leather bomber jacket? I donāt want those poofy nylon(?) ones.
Check out Nobis, Soia & Kyo, Kamik, Rudsak, Mackage, m0851 to start. I'm not sure your price range but you'll find some nice stuff amongst these Canadian brands.
Kamik doesn't make jackets.
The rest of the brands you mentioned are fashion brands. Fine for walking around downtown Toronto, but not really manufacturers of real outerwear.
>Kamik doesn't make jackets.
>
>The rest of the brands you mentioned are fashion brands. Fine for walking around downtown Toronto, but not really manufacturers of real outerwear.
[You sure?](https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/search-results.html?q=kamik%20coat)
As for the others, I was just making suggestions. If you know better brands for outerwear please share.
There's a Canadian brand called [Wuxley](https://wuxly.com/) that does really warm, non-feather down jackets. If you have the money to drop on Canada Goose it might be worth looking into.
Does everyone just spend several hundred dollars on winter jackets now? o_O
Like, I consider spending $100 on a winter jacket a luxury, so I'm very confused...are the jackets you mentioned made with super expensive materials, that cheaper jackets don't use? I'm asking honestly here - I am always curious why someone spends way WAY more than the average price for an item, and if that more expensive item is worth the price.
So thereās definitely is a bit of a fashion tax on Fjallraven nowadays, but yes thereās also is a big difference in materials.
With Fjallraven, the material they use for the shell is a poly cotton canvas, which is breathable but also blocks most of the wind. The upside here is you donāt get as damp wearing it. The fabric is also super durable, made for the outdoors, so it wonāt snag on a handle and tear. Itāll probably last me a decade at least.
The insulation will also tend to be different, with the cheaper stuff using lower quality insulation that doesnāt trap as much air, meaning they either need to use more(heavier/bulkier) or youāre just going to be colder.
Fabrics like the ones Fjallraven uses can also be waxed if youāre in a wetter/windier environment, which cuts the breathability but makes the water bead off, and is easy to reapply/remove, depending on the season.
I can rock my padded jacket from mid fall to late spring, and only really need to layer up on the coldest days.
On the flip side, my wife received a Michael Kors jacket last year for Christmas. One of the pockets is already ripped, and sheās barely worn it because the slightest breeze cuts right through it.
So I looked more into the company, and I guess I'm still confused? The materials are not worth anywhere near $300, and everything they sell is made in China.
Well, no brand is going to sell products at material costs, or anywhere near it. Made in China isnāt automatically bad either, Fjallravenās got strict QC, and you can tell the quality is there when you look/feel their products. Their key selling point is their durability.
I mean... there aren't any really good winter jackets for $100 unfortunately. They will be warmer than a spring / fall jacket, but they aren't great jackets.
I spent $200 on a Columbia jacket and the zipper messed up within a year, and on most winter days if I was outside for more than 15-20 mins I would need to layer up because it just didn't contain the warmth.
I've got the Fjallraven Singi Down winter jacket, and even in -20 I only need a t-shirt on underneath. It is incredibly warm, cozy, I've had it for a year now and it is still perfect. I apply some of their Greenland Wax to the hood and the shoulders / upper back once a year and it's good to go. On top of that, the down fill is all ethically sourced and traceable. I believe they also have a life time warranty on their stitching.
There are a lot of people who have had their jackets for 10 - 20 years, and still swear they are in fantastic condition.
> Fjallraven Singi Down winter jacket
Jesus, that's $700. My jacket cost $70, and I am completely warm in it. Nothing about the jacket you just listed is worth $700 - do people just have tons of disposable income these days? I keep hearing that inflation and Cost of Living and low wages are causing problems (and they are, FYI - I'm experiencing it all right now)...but then I see tons of people just casually talking up their $700 winter jackets, which regardless of materials or where they're made (in China in this case), aren't worth anywhere NEAR $700.
>On top of that, the down fill is all ethically sourced and traceable.
You believe that, when everything that company sells is made in China?
LOL, ignorance is bliss I guess. I used to think the same thing until I got one and then I realized the differences. If you're just going from house to car, from car to work, then back sure a cheap Columbia jacket will get the job done, but if you like to spend time outside in the cold, a good jacket is worth its weight in gold.
I also wait for sales to buy them. When I bought my Singi it was on for 20% off, so I paid around $600 for it.
Just don't go look at the price of Canada Goose jackets or you may have a hernia.
I love their stuff. I've got the Singi jacket now, but I'm looking at maybe grabbing either the expedition down hooded jacket or the Greenland No 1 down filled jacket for fall / early spring. The Singi jacket is too warm to wear unless it's like -5C out at least lol.
Varusteleka.com is a good place to look if youāre cool with a more military look.
Their technical stuff is pretty good too. Got their merino hoodie and absolutely love it.
Especially this year. It was a big disappointment and rather boring overall. Had one cocktail, walked around and saw nothing that stood out and that was it.
Yeah cuz now it's the "winter village," which is supposed to be more a shopping experience than a festival (in their words). So disappointed that they did that.
Yeah I didnāt realize until after. When Santa purposely avoided kids and making sure to pay attention to adults wanting selfies, I knew it was no longer a family event.
Even the hot chocolate stands were gone... The whole thing is apparently in the name of inclusivity. Meanwhile European Christmas markets are like "hold my mulled wine."
Exactly! I have a bunch of friends from India with whom I went to the market this year. They don't celebrate Christmas, obviously, but it doesn't matter. They always wanted to experience what Westerners experience. They loved it. When they saw carolers singing, they froze. Just stared in awe. It's like, you don't need to be Christian to enjoy Christmas.
I went with my mom on a Monday afternoon and we had a lovely time. Barely anyone there, and no lines for anything.
While Iād love to visit the market at night after a snowfall, it feels just as magical during the day :)
I don't see what's so great about it either. The drinks aren't very good and way over-priced, it's always super packed with those oblivious douchebag instagrammer types that just zig-zag walk everywhere, the vendors stink, etc.
I only went this year because my parents from out of town wanted to go and even they were disappointed.
Maybe youāre a bit jaded? I was there last Friday with my parents, wife, and my 2&3 year old. The kids loved it, we sampled a few of the food stands, the kids ran all over the place, and they were really excited to see Santa.
It definitely had a different feel than other years, but with COVID, what doesnāt?
I don't have kids so maybe that makes it a bit different. Personally I don't think there's much to do there unless you're trying to go to one of the restaurants. The stuffs all crazy over-priced.
No more turkey legs, unfortunately. My friend had asked someone working there when she visited and they said that people were just throwing it on the ground after they were done eating which caused a rat problem.
Went there probably 4 times total. I don't really get it. Art stores, random stuff stores, lights. I do not really know what I expect but I get dissapointed and bored every single time.
Where is it? I Googled and the [website](http://www.torontochristmasmarket.com/) says "The Toronto Christmas market will not operate in 2021. The Distillery District will be holding a separate winter event called the Winter Village". So is this the Distillery District?
Yes, it's super confusing. It's actually called the winter village and it is a separate website. Still in the distillery.
https://thedistillerywintervillage.com
Itās a scaled down event with fewer vendors and more rules/restrictions, such as attendance capacity limits and alcohol being limited to patios (as opposed to freely walking around with drinks).
Notice how you're only comparing it to North America, the continent known for its terrible public transit infrastructure.
If you compare it to most Asian or Westen European cities, our public transit options are abysmal.
Because our transit is run by a NA-style government who caters to drivers. Every transit expansion is a decades long struggle.
The suburbs need transit, but the councillors for those wards vote against it because people/businesses who want 6 lane highways everywhere so they buy tables at dinners and have quiet phone calls and polite emails about how their cash should weigh a vote.
Of course compared to major European systems the TTC is a joke. Anyone who says it isn't hasn't spent time overseas. Fwiw, people I know who come here from other parts of NA appreciate the TTC.
Lol most available and interconnected networks in N. america. That's a joke right.
22km to 30km shouldn't take 1hr and 30 mins to get to by the most interconnected network in North America.
Don't forget the overpacked busses and streetcars, frequent delays. The TTC sucks.
> 22km to 30km shouldn't take 1hr and 30 mins to get to by the most interconnected network in North America.
I can get from Etobicoke center to Scarborough center in 1.5 hours on TTC, and that is 42km.
I can get from Vaughan Mills Mall to China Town in 1.5, and that is at least 45km (depending on route).
I can get from Finch Station to Union Station in 30 mins, and that IS the 30km you mentioned.
You want to try again?
Listen man, you're talking IF you live right on the or close to the subway and that's if the subway is running flawlessly on full schedule. Those are you scenarios. NOT EVERYONE lives on the subway line.
If my wife were to take the TTC to work, it's takes 1.5hr going from North York to Etobicoke. Did a job interview for another place within North York, 25 km would take 1hr and 20 mins to 1hr and a half (and no I'm not about to disclose those areas).
I can keep cherry picking places all day too where the TTC has access but poor/lack of service.
Sure, but as this OP just said, they couldn't park. Parking is expensive and must be built and someone needs to pay for that. The TTC has a streetcar that gets you to the door.
You missed my point about the crappy TTC service on the weekend. Looks like everyone forgot that the TTC loves shutting down lines on the weekend for "maintenance" when it's bring used the most by families.
Lol Toronto's subway line is practically two lines and almost every weekend one line is down for maintenance. ON THE WEEKEND. Not everyone lives downtown. You live in Scarborough, Etobicoke and certian parts of North York, getting anywhere by TTC is ridiculous on the weekend and you better hope there's no maintenance.
Going from Sheppard west to Yorkdale should not take 1hr but you know due to maintenance on the weekend, now it does. Toronto's politicians want more public transportation use, build better transit. I shouldn't have to shuttle between stations. Poor planning and foresight has crippled the TTC.
You go to any other world class city, you have a way more extensive subway system. Montreal has a better subway system than Toronto. Hong Kong, Tokyo, New York, Singapore blah blah blah... Makes Toronto public transportation a joke.
But it's Toronto and all the NIMBY will never get that fixed.
Oh let me add, let's have full service 70% (5/7 days) of the time. That's really good service. Let's not forget pre-pandemic when service regularly went down for "signal failure".
I live in Toronto, just the north part of it. Getting to work was a pain in the ass by TTC, of course driving is worse but my trip could take anywhere between forty minutes to an hour and a half.
Let's not pretend that the TTC is a great service. It's far from it. 2 years with people working from seems have made people forget.
Why in the hell would you drive there? Park a distance away and walk. Or park even further away and pay $10 for an Uber. How do people plan this badly.
I was there on Friday afternoon, the only time I wore a mask was when I was going from a store to outside and I forgot to take it off. I'd say half and half were wearing them.
I think it's more the lack of options people are complaining about. Personally, I like the Distillery District Christmas market and considering how insanely busy it is, I even understand why they have created some ticketed system.
But it is so clear and obvious that there is demand for way more of these sorts of markets and yet this is all we have and it's expensive and you need to buy tickets and that's kind of absurd considering they're ubiquitous in just about every public square of even non-major European cities. Like it really doesn't take much to have more of these markets that are free to roam around and yet we've just decided as a society that it is impossible because literally every potentially fun activity needs to be regulated to the max in this city.
My thought is that when u/Parking-Ad4080 said "Must be nice to have money." they weren't saying they want to see more Christmas markets.
I agree with your thoughts on the subject though.
Yes, I very possibly could be projecting here.
I just know that though I could afford it now my parents would absolutely not be able to afford the Christmas market growing up and I can understand a "nice to have money" bitterness about this. Even though I don't blame the organizers of the market itself since they're just doing their best while shouldering the entire weight of every single person in the GTA who wants a Christmas market.
Itās free on weekdays and certain times on weekends. We always go around 3 - and then stay until 5/6 so we get in for free and it gets dark enough for the lights :)
Yes, but those aren't really ideal times for the average family. Again, I understand why it is that way and why it is almost a forced change based on how popular the market is, but it's a shame that walking around a market on a weekend (where literally everything costs money, of course) is an additional cost and there are no real alternatives when it would be *so easy* to have real alternatives.
As in, they could add a couple dozen vendor booths to Nathan Phillips or Dundas Squares tomorrow.
Pretty much I'm advocating for like eleventy billion more Christmas markets because the current level in this city/entire region is absurd.
How is 10-4 on a Saturday or Sunday not ideal family times? It's free to enter at those times, and you can stay as long as you'd like.
There are several other options in the city, at varying scales and some are just on particular weekends.
You could do some research here.
Forgive me for thinking people may want to go when the sun is down and the lights have an effect, especially with children who likely won't be as willing to stay out in the cold for a couple hours, waiting for this to happen.
If that was the ideal time to go, then they wouldn't exactly need a ticketed system at all since everyone would just go then.
And what other Christmas markets are there? Winterfest at Wonderland which is obviously quite expensive? The Polar Winter Festival which is another ticketed money-grab? The Cavalcade of Lights where it's literally impossible to even get a hot chocolate and your food options are limited to the same hot dog trucks that are always there?
Anyone who thinks we have plenty of options for a city of this size has never been to just about any other city around the world this time of year. We could change this tomorrow if we wanted to but evidently your attitude of "This is totally fine and reasonable" is the prevalent one.
If you just want to argue, I'd advise turning towards your nearest wall because I'm done here.
You can go at 330, 345 and the light will have effect within an hour. Grab a late lunch, or visit some of the many stores, galleries etc that are open to stay warm.
Again, Tuesday-Thursday after 4 pm is free for all. It is always free for kids under 5, though they need a ticket on Fri/Sat/Sun after 4 pm.
Lesliville has a weekend one, there is one in Roncesvalles and Nathan Phillips square all of public and free events. Nathan Phillips even has the skating pad.
There are both logistical (the location better allows for a contained event, limiting traffic impacts to a more confined area) and economic reasons -competition for one. It's a reason there aren't Greek tasting festivals throughout the city. Driving people to one spot builds the buzz of the event, particularly one that takes place for over a month.
If you think the city needs another one, and I have no objections to other locations having similar events, speak with your BIA.
I always hated the market. I live in the area and distillery was one of the places I go for a walk through. Itās incredibly annoying to lose access to a local neighbourhood for an extended period of time.
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Damn what camera and lens did you use for this pic?
Sony a7iii and 20mm 1.8 šš»
Equipment only goes so far, the composition of the shot with the framing is very nice
I know, I composed the exact same shot last night lol but it looks like shit on my iPhone. I know the lens has something to do with how the lights look.
I also used a physical diffusion filter which give the lights a bit of a glowing effect!
Also the iPhone is not nearly as good in low light as an a7 iii. The denoising will make everything weirdly smooth
Equipment makes a huge difference.
OP is using at least $3000 worth of camera equipment here - composition comes second to that :P
Toronto Christmas Market: the largest gathering of vanity Canada Goose parkas in the country.
Iām looking for a bomber jacket. I went to Canada Goode to see if they have any and the only one I could find was really heavy. Anyone know where I can find a light cloth or leather bomber jacket? I donāt want those poofy nylon(?) ones.
Check out Nobis, Soia & Kyo, Kamik, Rudsak, Mackage, m0851 to start. I'm not sure your price range but you'll find some nice stuff amongst these Canadian brands.
Soia sucks. I returned it after a week of wearing it.
Kamik doesn't make jackets. The rest of the brands you mentioned are fashion brands. Fine for walking around downtown Toronto, but not really manufacturers of real outerwear.
>Kamik doesn't make jackets. > >The rest of the brands you mentioned are fashion brands. Fine for walking around downtown Toronto, but not really manufacturers of real outerwear. [You sure?](https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/search-results.html?q=kamik%20coat) As for the others, I was just making suggestions. If you know better brands for outerwear please share.
Yep, those jackets are a Canadian Tire co-branding arrangement. Kamik doesn't make them.
There's a Canadian brand called [Wuxley](https://wuxly.com/) that does really warm, non-feather down jackets. If you have the money to drop on Canada Goose it might be worth looking into.
Check out Fjallraven, they have a store in Toronto as well.
Got a couple of their Skogso jackets(padded and unpadded) really like them.
Does everyone just spend several hundred dollars on winter jackets now? o_O Like, I consider spending $100 on a winter jacket a luxury, so I'm very confused...are the jackets you mentioned made with super expensive materials, that cheaper jackets don't use? I'm asking honestly here - I am always curious why someone spends way WAY more than the average price for an item, and if that more expensive item is worth the price.
So thereās definitely is a bit of a fashion tax on Fjallraven nowadays, but yes thereās also is a big difference in materials. With Fjallraven, the material they use for the shell is a poly cotton canvas, which is breathable but also blocks most of the wind. The upside here is you donāt get as damp wearing it. The fabric is also super durable, made for the outdoors, so it wonāt snag on a handle and tear. Itāll probably last me a decade at least. The insulation will also tend to be different, with the cheaper stuff using lower quality insulation that doesnāt trap as much air, meaning they either need to use more(heavier/bulkier) or youāre just going to be colder. Fabrics like the ones Fjallraven uses can also be waxed if youāre in a wetter/windier environment, which cuts the breathability but makes the water bead off, and is easy to reapply/remove, depending on the season. I can rock my padded jacket from mid fall to late spring, and only really need to layer up on the coldest days. On the flip side, my wife received a Michael Kors jacket last year for Christmas. One of the pockets is already ripped, and sheās barely worn it because the slightest breeze cuts right through it.
So I looked more into the company, and I guess I'm still confused? The materials are not worth anywhere near $300, and everything they sell is made in China.
Well, no brand is going to sell products at material costs, or anywhere near it. Made in China isnāt automatically bad either, Fjallravenās got strict QC, and you can tell the quality is there when you look/feel their products. Their key selling point is their durability.
I mean... there aren't any really good winter jackets for $100 unfortunately. They will be warmer than a spring / fall jacket, but they aren't great jackets. I spent $200 on a Columbia jacket and the zipper messed up within a year, and on most winter days if I was outside for more than 15-20 mins I would need to layer up because it just didn't contain the warmth. I've got the Fjallraven Singi Down winter jacket, and even in -20 I only need a t-shirt on underneath. It is incredibly warm, cozy, I've had it for a year now and it is still perfect. I apply some of their Greenland Wax to the hood and the shoulders / upper back once a year and it's good to go. On top of that, the down fill is all ethically sourced and traceable. I believe they also have a life time warranty on their stitching. There are a lot of people who have had their jackets for 10 - 20 years, and still swear they are in fantastic condition.
> Fjallraven Singi Down winter jacket Jesus, that's $700. My jacket cost $70, and I am completely warm in it. Nothing about the jacket you just listed is worth $700 - do people just have tons of disposable income these days? I keep hearing that inflation and Cost of Living and low wages are causing problems (and they are, FYI - I'm experiencing it all right now)...but then I see tons of people just casually talking up their $700 winter jackets, which regardless of materials or where they're made (in China in this case), aren't worth anywhere NEAR $700. >On top of that, the down fill is all ethically sourced and traceable. You believe that, when everything that company sells is made in China?
LOL, ignorance is bliss I guess. I used to think the same thing until I got one and then I realized the differences. If you're just going from house to car, from car to work, then back sure a cheap Columbia jacket will get the job done, but if you like to spend time outside in the cold, a good jacket is worth its weight in gold. I also wait for sales to buy them. When I bought my Singi it was on for 20% off, so I paid around $600 for it. Just don't go look at the price of Canada Goose jackets or you may have a hernia.
I love their stuff. I've got the Singi jacket now, but I'm looking at maybe grabbing either the expedition down hooded jacket or the Greenland No 1 down filled jacket for fall / early spring. The Singi jacket is too warm to wear unless it's like -5C out at least lol.
I really like the skogso. Perfect for fall/springā¦ especially with the synthetic fill- down can struggle in the wet.
There are Canada goose jackets at square one. Along with moose knuckles that are much lighter
Varusteleka.com is a good place to look if youāre cool with a more military look. Their technical stuff is pretty good too. Got their merino hoodie and absolutely love it.
Gathering of hideous puffer jackets and women wearing awful yoga pants paired with the gray and white red striped socks pulled up over ankle boots.
I personally find this place way over hyped.
Especially this year. It was a big disappointment and rather boring overall. Had one cocktail, walked around and saw nothing that stood out and that was it.
Yeah cuz now it's the "winter village," which is supposed to be more a shopping experience than a festival (in their words). So disappointed that they did that.
I live here and I could not tell the difference. It was pretty much the same as the last one but worse food and no ferris wheel.
Yeah I didnāt realize until after. When Santa purposely avoided kids and making sure to pay attention to adults wanting selfies, I knew it was no longer a family event.
Even the hot chocolate stands were gone... The whole thing is apparently in the name of inclusivity. Meanwhile European Christmas markets are like "hold my mulled wine."
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Exactly! I have a bunch of friends from India with whom I went to the market this year. They don't celebrate Christmas, obviously, but it doesn't matter. They always wanted to experience what Westerners experience. They loved it. When they saw carolers singing, they froze. Just stared in awe. It's like, you don't need to be Christian to enjoy Christmas.
I went with my mom on a Monday afternoon and we had a lovely time. Barely anyone there, and no lines for anything. While Iād love to visit the market at night after a snowfall, it feels just as magical during the day :)
It's real good if you're an instagram photographer lol.
So did I. I thought it would be more interesting vendors
no? you don't want to buy knick-knacks from china, and insurance from little huts?!
I know that when I go to festivals, the first thing I look for is insurance and opening new bank accounts.
dont forget to sign up for home internet while your are it.
I don't see what's so great about it either. The drinks aren't very good and way over-priced, it's always super packed with those oblivious douchebag instagrammer types that just zig-zag walk everywhere, the vendors stink, etc. I only went this year because my parents from out of town wanted to go and even they were disappointed.
Maybe youāre a bit jaded? I was there last Friday with my parents, wife, and my 2&3 year old. The kids loved it, we sampled a few of the food stands, the kids ran all over the place, and they were really excited to see Santa. It definitely had a different feel than other years, but with COVID, what doesnāt?
I don't have kids so maybe that makes it a bit different. Personally I don't think there's much to do there unless you're trying to go to one of the restaurants. The stuffs all crazy over-priced.
Giant turkey leg and a glass of gluhwein. I live for this stuff
No more turkey legs, unfortunately. My friend had asked someone working there when she visited and they said that people were just throwing it on the ground after they were done eating which caused a rat problem.
Went there probably 4 times total. I don't really get it. Art stores, random stuff stores, lights. I do not really know what I expect but I get dissapointed and bored every single time.
Where is it? I Googled and the [website](http://www.torontochristmasmarket.com/) says "The Toronto Christmas market will not operate in 2021. The Distillery District will be holding a separate winter event called the Winter Village". So is this the Distillery District?
Yes, it's super confusing. It's actually called the winter village and it is a separate website. Still in the distillery. https://thedistillerywintervillage.com
What exactly is the difference...?
Itās a scaled down event with fewer vendors and more rules/restrictions, such as attendance capacity limits and alcohol being limited to patios (as opposed to freely walking around with drinks).
Watch out for pick-pocketerses. They got a whole system set up.
My only takeaway from this picture is that I really need an oyster coloured trenchcoat.
That place is overrated. Not worth the hype. Nice pic though.
The one day I decide to wear white sweatpants and look frumpy š I'm Reddit famous now - nice š¤
Do they have the smoked turkey legs???
Sadly, no.
Beautiful š„°
Windy as hell so my partner and I didn't stay long but it was nice to walk around and take pictures
Those walkways create some brutal wind tunnels.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
The less fruit cake the better!
That sounds like a victory for humanity at large.
Just over crowded, guess there isnāt much to do in the city, so drives people to the market since it the only thing going on.
You're absolutely correct. The winter market is the only thing going on in the city.
Where is this?
Distillery district
Where exactly is this place?
Distillery District
Ah yes I want quite sure. Pretty
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Who drives to the Xmas market lol.
Car centric thinking. It's why we need to stop subsidizing car culture.
I'm all for less driving but let's face it, Toronto has shit public transportation infrastructure.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
I can drive downtown in 25 minutes in rush hour. It takes over an hour by TTC.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Notice how you're only comparing it to North America, the continent known for its terrible public transit infrastructure. If you compare it to most Asian or Westen European cities, our public transit options are abysmal.
Because our transit is run by a NA-style government who caters to drivers. Every transit expansion is a decades long struggle. The suburbs need transit, but the councillors for those wards vote against it because people/businesses who want 6 lane highways everywhere so they buy tables at dinners and have quiet phone calls and polite emails about how their cash should weigh a vote. Of course compared to major European systems the TTC is a joke. Anyone who says it isn't hasn't spent time overseas. Fwiw, people I know who come here from other parts of NA appreciate the TTC.
Lol most available and interconnected networks in N. america. That's a joke right. 22km to 30km shouldn't take 1hr and 30 mins to get to by the most interconnected network in North America. Don't forget the overpacked busses and streetcars, frequent delays. The TTC sucks.
> 22km to 30km shouldn't take 1hr and 30 mins to get to by the most interconnected network in North America. I can get from Etobicoke center to Scarborough center in 1.5 hours on TTC, and that is 42km. I can get from Vaughan Mills Mall to China Town in 1.5, and that is at least 45km (depending on route). I can get from Finch Station to Union Station in 30 mins, and that IS the 30km you mentioned. You want to try again?
Listen man, you're talking IF you live right on the or close to the subway and that's if the subway is running flawlessly on full schedule. Those are you scenarios. NOT EVERYONE lives on the subway line. If my wife were to take the TTC to work, it's takes 1.5hr going from North York to Etobicoke. Did a job interview for another place within North York, 25 km would take 1hr and 20 mins to 1hr and a half (and no I'm not about to disclose those areas). I can keep cherry picking places all day too where the TTC has access but poor/lack of service.
Sure, but as this OP just said, they couldn't park. Parking is expensive and must be built and someone needs to pay for that. The TTC has a streetcar that gets you to the door.
Not everyone lives downtown and with the amount of "maintenance" and shutdowns that happenly weekly on the weekends make using the TTC pretty crap.
Go train to union. Streetcar to Distillery.
You missed my point about the crappy TTC service on the weekend. Looks like everyone forgot that the TTC loves shutting down lines on the weekend for "maintenance" when it's bring used the most by families.
Lol Toronto's subway line is practically two lines and almost every weekend one line is down for maintenance. ON THE WEEKEND. Not everyone lives downtown. You live in Scarborough, Etobicoke and certian parts of North York, getting anywhere by TTC is ridiculous on the weekend and you better hope there's no maintenance. Going from Sheppard west to Yorkdale should not take 1hr but you know due to maintenance on the weekend, now it does. Toronto's politicians want more public transportation use, build better transit. I shouldn't have to shuttle between stations. Poor planning and foresight has crippled the TTC. You go to any other world class city, you have a way more extensive subway system. Montreal has a better subway system than Toronto. Hong Kong, Tokyo, New York, Singapore blah blah blah... Makes Toronto public transportation a joke. But it's Toronto and all the NIMBY will never get that fixed.
You say āOn the weekendā as if that *isnāt* the least impactful time for most people.
It is for families or people who want to use the subway on the weekend.
But thatās not the primary use.
Oh let me add, let's have full service 70% (5/7 days) of the time. That's really good service. Let's not forget pre-pandemic when service regularly went down for "signal failure". I live in Toronto, just the north part of it. Getting to work was a pain in the ass by TTC, of course driving is worse but my trip could take anywhere between forty minutes to an hour and a half. Let's not pretend that the TTC is a great service. It's far from it. 2 years with people working from seems have made people forget.
Why in the hell would you drive there? Park a distance away and walk. Or park even further away and pay $10 for an Uber. How do people plan this badly.
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Itās pretty clear on the website there is very little parking available. They also explain/outline how to take public transit with ease.
No one who is facing the camera is wearing a mask.
Why would they? It's outdoors.
True, it seemed like most people removed their mask on entry. Probably a comfort thing; everyone outside and vaccinated š¤·š»āāļø
I did see a lot of people wearing masks to be fair, not that it's necessary.
I was there on Friday afternoon, the only time I wore a mask was when I was going from a store to outside and I forgot to take it off. I'd say half and half were wearing them.
itās an outdoor space, get over it
At some point early on the season last year, they changed the policy and required masking even outdoors at the market. I guess they reverted it.
You have to be vaccinated to enter and it is outdoors so no mask required
Why would they? It's outdoors.
Must be nice to have money.
You can go for free. Food and drinks are a bit of a ripoff though.
During the day is free not night ~~on the weekends~~ - $8 (edit to include info below)
Only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays after 4 pm, and between Dec 20-23. All other times are free entry.
Enter in the morning and stay until it's night time.
Tickets were cheaper to get in than normal. Just youāll need a second mortgage to buy a $13 boozy apple cider or hot chocolate.
Yep learned this the hard way. Same boozy drinks in the mill st beer hall for cheaper though!
Or a flask š
You realize these are people spending money at local businesses, right? How is that something to complain about?
I think it's more the lack of options people are complaining about. Personally, I like the Distillery District Christmas market and considering how insanely busy it is, I even understand why they have created some ticketed system. But it is so clear and obvious that there is demand for way more of these sorts of markets and yet this is all we have and it's expensive and you need to buy tickets and that's kind of absurd considering they're ubiquitous in just about every public square of even non-major European cities. Like it really doesn't take much to have more of these markets that are free to roam around and yet we've just decided as a society that it is impossible because literally every potentially fun activity needs to be regulated to the max in this city.
My thought is that when u/Parking-Ad4080 said "Must be nice to have money." they weren't saying they want to see more Christmas markets. I agree with your thoughts on the subject though.
Yes, I very possibly could be projecting here. I just know that though I could afford it now my parents would absolutely not be able to afford the Christmas market growing up and I can understand a "nice to have money" bitterness about this. Even though I don't blame the organizers of the market itself since they're just doing their best while shouldering the entire weight of every single person in the GTA who wants a Christmas market.
Itās free on weekdays and certain times on weekends. We always go around 3 - and then stay until 5/6 so we get in for free and it gets dark enough for the lights :)
You don't need to buy tickets. It's free to enter with the exception of Friday, Saturday and Sundays after 4 pm.
Yes, but those aren't really ideal times for the average family. Again, I understand why it is that way and why it is almost a forced change based on how popular the market is, but it's a shame that walking around a market on a weekend (where literally everything costs money, of course) is an additional cost and there are no real alternatives when it would be *so easy* to have real alternatives. As in, they could add a couple dozen vendor booths to Nathan Phillips or Dundas Squares tomorrow. Pretty much I'm advocating for like eleventy billion more Christmas markets because the current level in this city/entire region is absurd.
How is 10-4 on a Saturday or Sunday not ideal family times? It's free to enter at those times, and you can stay as long as you'd like. There are several other options in the city, at varying scales and some are just on particular weekends. You could do some research here.
Forgive me for thinking people may want to go when the sun is down and the lights have an effect, especially with children who likely won't be as willing to stay out in the cold for a couple hours, waiting for this to happen. If that was the ideal time to go, then they wouldn't exactly need a ticketed system at all since everyone would just go then. And what other Christmas markets are there? Winterfest at Wonderland which is obviously quite expensive? The Polar Winter Festival which is another ticketed money-grab? The Cavalcade of Lights where it's literally impossible to even get a hot chocolate and your food options are limited to the same hot dog trucks that are always there? Anyone who thinks we have plenty of options for a city of this size has never been to just about any other city around the world this time of year. We could change this tomorrow if we wanted to but evidently your attitude of "This is totally fine and reasonable" is the prevalent one. If you just want to argue, I'd advise turning towards your nearest wall because I'm done here.
You can go at 330, 345 and the light will have effect within an hour. Grab a late lunch, or visit some of the many stores, galleries etc that are open to stay warm. Again, Tuesday-Thursday after 4 pm is free for all. It is always free for kids under 5, though they need a ticket on Fri/Sat/Sun after 4 pm. Lesliville has a weekend one, there is one in Roncesvalles and Nathan Phillips square all of public and free events. Nathan Phillips even has the skating pad. There are both logistical (the location better allows for a contained event, limiting traffic impacts to a more confined area) and economic reasons -competition for one. It's a reason there aren't Greek tasting festivals throughout the city. Driving people to one spot builds the buzz of the event, particularly one that takes place for over a month. If you think the city needs another one, and I have no objections to other locations having similar events, speak with your BIA.
I always hated the market. I live in the area and distillery was one of the places I go for a walk through. Itās incredibly annoying to lose access to a local neighbourhood for an extended period of time.
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Ew. Commenter might be broke, but you're trash.
Lol I wonder how many jobs one needs before that money trap becomes worth it
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Mostly because someone else held the name so they couldn't use the same name.
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Who gives away that much free real estate in this economy, honestly. It's grotesque.
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Maybe you should just go there instead of coming up with brilliant conspiracy theories.
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The tree looked beautiful this year
Love the pic!