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Counterclockwise
from top left:
Shirley Lum leads culinary
tours of Chinatown and
• 1
7
-
ext time your
feet hurt, consid-
er that individu-
als walk, on aver-
age, the equivalent of 3-1/2
times around the earth in a
lifetime.
That's just one of the fasci-
nating facts you'll discover at
Toronto's Bata Shoe Museum,
where 10,000 artifacts —
including Picasso's sheepskin-
lined, imitation zebra-skin
-boot and Elton John's silver
platforms — certainly rate the
Imelda Marcos seal of
approval.
After browsing the unusual
collection, strap on your own
sensible shoes to explore
Toronto's other top attractions.
You can save wear and tear on
Your tootsies by using the
ciry's efficient system of sub-
ways, trolleys and under-
ground paths.
For a culinary trek through
Chinatown or other ethnic
neighborhoods, fall in step
behind Shirley Lum, an enter-
prising "foodie" who leads
fast-paced, entertaining tours
through her eight-year-old
company, A Taste of the
World. Check out
ks B i kes.com
WWW. To ronto
or call 416-923-6813.
Sample Toronto's thriving
arts scene at the Art Gallery of
Ontario (don't miss the gift
shop) and the Royal Ontario
Museum (ROM), whose large
Judaica collection includes an
1889 snuff box, Havdalah
dishes and a spectacular Torah
shield. Families may enjoy
My Jewish Discovery Place,
an interactive museum for
children 8 and under at the
Bathurst Jewish Centre.(Call
416-636-1880 for details).
Elsewhere around town,
shoppers make a beeline for
the fashionable Bloor/Yorkville
20 • JUNE 2001 • STYLE AT THE JN
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other ethnic neighbor-
hoods in Toronto.
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The CN Tower is one of
the world's tallest free-
standing structures.
Catch a Blue Jays game
this summer in Toronto.
Toronto teems with vibrant
neighborhoods.
district with its swanky
boutiques, art galleries
and upscale cafes, or
hunt for decorator items
along trendy, village-like
Queen Street W
Sports buffs gravitate
to the Toronto Blue Jays'
Skydome with its 31-
story retractable roof and
frequent guided tours,
including skyboxes,
broadcast facilities and
locker rooms. The
Hockey Hall of Fame,
with its interactive games
and access to the revered
Stanley Cup, also scores
big with families.
Toronto's lively theater
scene currently showcas-
es The Lion King at the Princess of Wales Theatre and the musical
Mamma /ilia!, next door at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. Catch a
snack or meal at any of the attractive eateries lining King Street West.
For many, a sightseeing favorite is the CN Tower's Glass Floor, a
heart-stopping, almost-like-walking-on-air observation deck 1,122
feet above ground. And getting there is half the fun: The ride in a
glass-faced elevator up one of the world's tallest, free-standing struc-
tures lasts just 58 ear-popping seconds.
Travelers are rewarded on clear days with panoramic views of the
busy Lake Ontario waterfront and the Toronto Islands, a small cluster
of car-free, forested isles, 20 minutes offshore. To visit, catch a ferry
at the foot of Bay Street and join summer crowds of bicyclists, inline-
skaters and joggers.
Or, head for The Beaches, a laid-back enclave, 20 minutes east of
downtown, with cozy shops, casual cafes and a boardwalk that's per-
fect for people-watching promenades — and another chance to boost
your lifetime pedestrian mileage tally.
For Toronto travel information, call 800-363-1990 or log on to www.toron-
totourism.com.
— Susan R. Pollack