What's Cool in Toronto? Toronto is one of the world's great cities, so you can't really keep up with everything that's cool about it. You can't even contain it within boundaries as loose as the GTA. This web page attempts to chase the "cool" mule (OK, I know it's a moose, but that doesn't rhyme) and demonstrate that at least one American is paying attention.

Grandpa's Square
Everyone else knows it as Nathan Phillips Square, the heart of the city. But to the Toronto family who opened their hearts to me, it will always be Grandpa's Square. Nathan Phillips was the "Mayor of All the People" in the 1950s and 60s. He played a leading role in building the new City Hall fronted by the plaza that bears his name, which sparked Toronto's transformation into a showcase of international architecture. When you visit, look for the bronze sundial on the rise above the skating rink, Nate's gift to the city.

Art Gallery of Ontario
The AGO used to be cool, very cool, but not after it decided to close its Group of Seven wing. Shame! Without those paintings and the intimate gallery that displayed them, the AGO could be any small-town museum with its representative Rembrandt, Monet, and Picasso. Columnist Joe Fiorito hits the absurd nail on the head in the Toronto Star (120103): "It is not the Art Gallery of Brussels. It is not the Art Gallery of Italy. It is The Art Gallery of Ontario."

Frank Gehry's Vision for the AGO

Daniel Lenko Estate Winery
If you're cruising down Highway 8 on the Niagara wine route, don't believe the "Closed" sign in front of the Lenko vineyard. Not for a minute. "That's Polish for 'Come on in!' explains Helen Lenko, the winery's chief marketing executive. Old vine vinifera grapes finished in American and European oak barrels make Lenko wines a Niagara standout, and you will be invited to Helen's kitchen table to sample them. There is no finer hospitality anywhere in the world.

Pelee Island Winery
Well, maybe Pelee Island exceeds the bounds of the GTA (and a good thing, too). But it's halfway between Yellow Springs and Oakville as the loon flies, so it counts as an exurb of both places in my imagination. The combination of vineyard and Great Lakes island makes Pelee irresistible to me. Pelee's distinctive wine labels, featuring the island's flora and fauna, remind me of Lake Erie summer idylls of my childhood. And the grill-your-own, outdoor tasting room, surrounded by grape arbors and rows of vines running west to the lake, is the perfect place for a sunset summer idyll today.