Church and Wellesley (GLBT) Village

By Daniel Lee, SLA Toronto Chapter

Toronto's GLBT community, known as Church and Wellesley, is roughly bounded by Carlton Street to the south, Yonge Street to the west, Charles Street to the north, and Jarvis Street to the east, with the intersection of Church and Wellesley Streets at its centre.

Church and Wellesley is often referred to by many nicknames: the Village or the Gay Village, the Gaybourhood, the Gay Ghetto, and Gay and Wellesley. It's generally referred to simply as Church Street because most of its establishments are on Church Street.

There are plenty of sites out there to help you navigate the Church and Wellesley area. Here are a few choice sources to check out:

Gay Guide Toronto
http://www.gayguidetoronto.com/

Church-Wellesley Village Business Improvement Area
http://www.churchwellesleyvillage.ca
Map of the Church and Wellesley area (pdf)

Fab Magazine
http://www.fabmagazine.com/

Xtra!
http://www.xtra.ca/

Out in Toronto
http://www.outintoronto.com/

Toronto Digital Queeries
http://digitalqueeries.905host.net/

For a more personal perspective, I hope the following list of recommendations helps you decide where to go and what to see while you are in Toronto.

I want to buy books
Go to -> Glad Day Bookshop (598A Yonge Street)
Go to -> This Ain't The Rosedale Library (483 Church Street)

I want a great lunch
Go to -> The Garage Sandwich Co. (509 Church Street)

I want a great dinner
Go to -> Fire on the East Side (6 Gloucester Street)

I want to shop
Go to -> Out on the Street Inc. (551 Church Street)

I want to chill
Go to -> Hair of the Dog (425 Church Street)
Read two reviews of Hair of the Dog by SLA Toronto members.

I want to see drag
Go to -> George's Play (Fri.) (504 Church Street)
Go to -> Crews, Tango & The Zone (Sat.) (508 Church Street)

I want a patio to people watch
Go to -> Zelda's (542 Church Street)
Go to -> Churchmouse & Firkin (475 Church Street)

I want to dance with my shirt on
Go to -> Tallulah's Cabaret (12 Alexander Street) (Younger crowd)
Go to -> Cellblock Dance Bar (72 Carlton Street) (Older crowd)

I want to dance with my shirt off
Go to -> Fly Nightclub (8 Gloucester Street)
Go to ->The Barn (418 Church Street)

I want to pick up guys
Go to -> Woody's (465-467 Church Street)

I want to pick up girls
Go to -> Slack Alice (562 Church Street)
Go to -> Tango (508 Church Street)

I want a quiet moment to remember
Go to -> AIDS Memorial (Cawthra Park - Behind 519 Church Street)