The Annex is a thriving community in the heart of Toronto, rich in history, culture, and character. This neighbourhood is a wonderful reflection of Toronto’s diversity with a wide variety of shops, as well as arts and culture venues hosting notable film and live performance events, and a mouth-watering selection of restaurants and cafés.
A wide range of well-established professional services, such as legal, medical, financial, travel, internet, and many health and well-being centres are also available here, making it one of the great communities for young professionals in the city.
Today, we’ll look at this illustrious neighbourhood, including its history and some of our favourite places to visit while exploring the Annex.
The Past:
The Annex was named after one of the first districts north of Toronto to be added (“annexed”) to the city in the mid-19th century. Simeon Janes, a land speculator, bought land from Bedford Road to about Spadina Road, and from Bloor Street to Dupont Street in 1886. The original landowners, the Baldwin family, had already laid out and named many of the area’s streets.
One year after Janes’ purchase, Toronto City Council approved his petition to expand the city limits to include this area, and the city’s gentry rushed to build large houses in the new neighbourhood.
The Present:
The Annex has undergone recent gentrification, particularly in the eastern sections.
The vibrant and charming area is just a short distance from the University of Toronto. As one of the great Toronto neighbourhoods for schools, it has a strong rental market with a diverse mixture of students, faculty, and young professionals. Despite the large number of students, the average income in this neighbourhood is significantly higher than the city average, and the wealth of its residents is evident in the immaculately renovated homes on the quiet one-way streets.
While The Annex is a quiet and residential neighbourhood, this doesn’t mean the area isn’t lively and vibrant. Shops and restaurants keep their doors open late to allow for more off-campus social time.
The following are some of the best places to go in the Annex, depending on your interests.
For Music: Lees Palace
Lee’s Palace, and the colourful mural adorning its exterior, have been a Toronto live music landmark for so long that it’s difficult to imagine the Annex without it. This venue has never been a particularly fancy establishment, which is probably part of the reason for its success. And, of course, the Dance Cave upstairs attracts a steady stream of new college students each year.
For Fun: Lattes and Snakes
Consider bringing out the board games for an “out of the box” outing. Snakes and Lattes have a staggering list of over 2500 board games, and an alphabetical menu to help you choose which game to play with your companions.
Snakes’ is a low-cost way to spend a great day in the Annex, and it’s an ideal activity on a rainy day.
There’s something for everyone, from retro classic board games such as Clue or Battleship, to more modern favourites like Cards Against Humanity and Bad Choices.
For Books: BMV Publications
Book lovers can rejoice: BMV is an Annex book lover’s paradise for used books, which are frequently discounted by up to 50% off the cover price. In addition, they sell used vinyl, CDs, and DVDs.
BMV Books, with three floors and endless aisles, sells everything but the kitchen sink, including new and used books. And, when you finish your old books and movies, the store will often repurchase them.
The student population in the area contributes to their longevity. BMV Books buys and sells many used university textbooks for a fraction of the price of new ones.
For Film: The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema
The Bloor Cinema has been in this location since 1913 and has long been dedicated to screening thought-provoking films. A renovation in early 2012 gave the theatre a new name, the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, and a new focus on documentary films. On any given day, the schedule may include intriguing films on various subjects, such as music or politics.
It also hosts the annual Hot Docs film festival in Toronto, where many award-winning documentaries make their debut. If you want a Toronto movie house with an updated old-school vibe and documentary-heavy programming, this is the place to go.
For Music: Koerner Hall
The Royal Conservatory of Music is one of the world’s largest and most prestigious music education institutions.
Koerner Hall, located within the RCM, is a 1135-seat venue built without compromise in the tradition of Europe’s classic “shoebox” venues. Its mission is to provide acoustic perfection for music of all genres.
This music venue is a great place to hear classical, jazz, pop, opera, and world music. Its high ceilings, cutting-edge projection and communication technology make it ideal for film screenings, lectures, and educational or corporate conferences.
Koerner Hall, with its layered ribbon of wood forming a floating ceiling canopy, acoustic reflector, performance lighting, and technical bridges, creates a dramatic yet intimate atmosphere between the audience and performers. The spectacular glass lobbies welcome visitors to Koerner Hall and provide an incredible view of the city.
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