Anthony Bourdain on Toronto

[Coltaine79]

It's heavily-visited because unfortunate people are fond of unfortunate gimmicks.

Also, a good part of its "elevation" is due to pop culture. Thank Hollywood.

 

[SunriseChampion]

We stayed at the same hotel as Hunter S Thompson did years ago. (Fear and Loathing...) We came to the conclusion that he approached it the correct way in being completely off his face. Lizard people everywhere. It's a scary place.

 

[M.R.Victor]

It really did feel like the rock-bottom of civilization, a playground for the lowest of the lowest common denominator. It made Los Angeles look positively polished, which in turn made me re-discover Toronto as a historical, urbane, well-functioning and lovable city. Toronto is certainly beautiful in comparison to both Las Vegas and Los Angeles, and a lot more fun than both of them put together.

 

[adma]

RIP bump

 

[SunriseChampion]

Yeah, heard this morning. Another of my heroes dead in that way. Fitting that my last post in this thread is on this page and mentions Hunter S.

Have a drink for us loafters, boys!

 

[kEiThZ]

The man made the world and its cultures relateable. I'm truly sad that he's left us.

 

[SunriseChampion]

The man made the world and its cultures relateable. I'm truly sad that he's left us.

Yeah, I almost cried a touch when I found out from the coffee truck driver of all places to find out. Bourdain would not approve. Don't worry, I only ever get tea off them.

 

[Filip]

I found him incredibly pompous and I generally don't like others telling me what I should or shouldn't like...

That being said, it's never good to speak ill of the dead and he was a powerful and respected figure within his industry.

 

[Tony]

Cool cool cool.

Adios then.

 

[Northern Light]

Sorry, but leave it up to Canadians to bash American cities when someone fairly targets one of their cities for one criticism.

Toronto is a solid 1 city when it comes to architecture. It doesn't even have beautiful surroundings, and it certainly doesn't have a notable pre-war vernacular. It has no voice of it's own.

Las Vegas at least has bold vision for it's casinos. Certainly no one could criticize the scale and visual inventiveness of the strip, and the vibrancy that it creates. Classical architecture? No. But vibrant modern architecture where there's a place for it. But it's very much a resort city. Maybe you'd like to understand what that entails before you visit. That doesn't stop it from having a luxurious dining scene, for example.

Someone mentioned Macau - it's more unsightly and much colder in character than Las Vegas.

Someone also unfairly slandered Atlanta - there's no questioning that it's cultural heritage, what with the place it enjoys in the south, a unique cultural region, its center as a media hub, it's civil war and civil rights era history, it's vibrant arts scene, and it's strong music heritage in the city and in nearby Athens outstrips any cultural calling cards that Toronto has.

IMO, that still doesn't mean Las Vegas isn't more culturally distinct than Toronto, and Los Angeles? Los Angeles is not the best city in America for architecture, but Los Angeles has a wealth of Art Deco, Mid-Century Modern, and Mediterranean touches that well outstrip what Toronto offers - add in the nice natural environment and the homes of the hills and valleys, and it's not even a competition. I'd rate it a strong 2 for architecture on a scale from 1 to 5. Vancouver would also rank a 2. LA is also much more culturally distinct and vibrant, as the home of old Hollywood culture, a traditionally vibrant music scene, a celebrity hub, massive fashion, modeling, beauty, and retail industries, gorgeous natural environments and beaches, skateboarding and surf culture, street art, a strong hippy heritage - t's a megacity - TO is not.

Toronto has the architectural vernacular of other cities on the continent that I'd vote a 1 for architecture - Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Phoenix, etc...the bulk of it's urban development began in the 60s. and it shows. It isn't appreciably "historical", and it offers none of the distinct culture that Los Angeles or even Las Vegas does. It's a non-descript large city that few people outside of Canada care to visit, precisely for that reason.

You bumped a years old thread simply to bash Toronto on a Forum devoted to Toronto, on your first post, no less.

That speaks well of you.

 

[Towered]

You bumped a years old thread simply to bash Toronto on a Forum devoted to Toronto, on your first post, no less.

That speaks well of you.

Seems there's been a mini-infiltration of trolls here lately.