The St. Lawrence Market area is one of Toronto’s most historic areas. On a Saturday in late October I started my discoveries at the Gooderham Building, also called the “Flatiron Building, one of Toronto’s most well-known landmarks. Similar to it’s New York City namesake it is a triangular building, but it was built in 1892, 10 years before its NYC counterpart. Front Street in Toronto east of Yonge Street is the location of some historic Victorian townhouses that today house a variety of retail stores and cafes. Just east of there at Front and Jarvis is the St. Lawrence Market – one of Toronto’s most popular landmarks. It was first built in 1845 and originally housed Toronto’s first permanent city hall, the former Police Station #1 as well as a jail house. The market was expanded in 1899 and the big market hall on the south side was added. Today dozens of merchants sell anything from baked goods to cheeses, fruits and vegetables to different types of meat and seafood. All sorts of delicatessens are represented and there are even vendors selling giftware, clothing, art and souvenirs. I had a chance to interview some of the vendors on this busy market day. From here I made my way north to St. Lawrence Hall, one of Toronto’s most imposing historic buildings and one of its original meeting places. Just a few steps west at the intersection of King and Church Streets is St. James Cathedral, first opened in 1853, featuring the second highest church spire in Canada.

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