b'hour graf ti sessions along the nearlyregularly, are familiar with the triangular one-kilometre stretch, the area took onbuilding where Front Street splits into a life of its own.FrontandWellingtonStreets.Most One of my favourite neighbourhoodspeoplerefertothestructureasthe is Kensington Market. It is a distinctive,Flatiron building, but it is of cially known JONATHAN VAN BILSEN oldermulticulturalneighbourhoodinas the Gooderham building. It is a his-downtown Toronto, and one of the citystoric of ce building completed in 1892, Located in the north end of upscalemost well known. In November 2006, itwhich served as the home of ce for the Cabbagetown, the Wellesley Cottageswas designated a National Historic SiteGooderham and Worts Distillery. Built were built on a small, well-hidden laneof Canada. at a cost of $18,000, it was the most in 1886. By the way, the area of Cab- The area was once known as theexpensive of ce building in Toronto at bagetowngotitsnamefromproduceJewish Market, and Eastern Europeanthe time. Ten years ago, it sold for $15 wagons that used to park there on Sat- immigrants owned most of the shops.million.urdays and Sundays. They found thatAfter the Second World War, most ofThefountainbehindtheFlatiron cabbages were the biggest sellers, andthe Jewish population moved to neigh- Building in Berczy Park features 27 cast the name stuck. bourhoods north, opening the area toiron dogs and 1 cat, and was featured in Also located in Cabbagetown is theimmigrants from other countries.the 2020lm My Spy.Riverdale Farm, a working farm with aIf you head downtown into thenan- Beforeleavingdowntown,astop craft market that attracts locals, touristscialdistrict,youwillcomeacrossanat the St. Lawrence Market is a must. and schoolchildren. This area was theunderground network of tunnels, knownApublicmarkethadbeenheldon Toronto Zoo from 1894 until 1974.asthepath.These30kilometresofthenorth-buildingsiteofthemarket Have you ever wondered where Rickpedestrian walkways are all joined andsince 1803. Up until 2015, there were Mercer does his rants, when he walks with shops and restaurants. Fortwo buildings in the complex, but thelled along endless buildings covered in graf- the hockey lovers there is the Hockeynorth building was closed to allow forTheplaceiscalledGraf ti Alley,Hall of Fame, located in the old Bank ofredevelopment.ti? and is also known as Rush Lane. ThisMontreal building at the corner of YongeThe south building dates from 1845 area has long attracted the work of graf- and Front Streets (accessible throughand has been rebuilt twice. It still incor- artists. When a group called StyleBrook eld Place). ti In Progress began hosting its legal 24- Manypeople,whovisitTorontoPlease turn to page 56The Wellesley Cottages in Cabbagetown. Graf ti Alley.FOCUS - NOVEMBER 202155'