Kensington Market

[buildup]

I went last night (Thursday) for the best pork ribs in town at Back Alley on Augusta. Virtually every restaurant was closed at 8:30pm. This place is becoming creepy and I think the proprietors are in fear of their lives after sundown. Very sad.

 

[AlchemisTO]

After 8:30 the zombies start crawling out, so you'd better lock and load. Luckily for the savvy urban explorer, the dense warren of little streets in Kensington Market presents an excellent opportunity for you to easily hide away from their attacks, unlike the broad expanses of suburban parking lots which the 905 zombies prey on.

 

[Greg29Toronto]

I don't understand. Is there a problem with crime or something in Kensington Market at night? I've got a friend in a loft on Baldwin near Spadina and I've never noticed or felt anything out of the norm at night.

 

[Darkstar416]

It's pretty well known to be the easiest place to get mugged in T.O. and I've had a few friends and family members go through this unfortunately. Still, I think anyone with a bit of urban smarts will find this nabe relatively safe day and night.

 

[building babel]

I can see that if you try and break up a drug deal in the park or something you might have problems. But the Market has been grimy for decades, and I've never thought of it as dangerous. If anything, it is getting gentrified and trendy and going upmarket - the biggest fear that stalks the streets is the fear of not being able to get a table at La Palette.

 

[Chuck100]

As a former resident of Spadina and College, I agree that the area gets sketchy after about 10 pm. It's the combination of CAMH, Waverly, homeless shelters, social housing, drunk students, and 5000 eyeballs that does it.

Though my safety wasn't necessarily at risk, one of the scariest things I've ever done was walk to a friend's house, alone, at 3:00 am, from Spadina and College to Bathurst and Queen.