2009 Doors Open recap

Joe has been considering hopping onto one of the double decker bus tours of Toronto just to get an outsider's view of the city that we live in. However, the financial commitment and the shame of being seen on a tourist bus still holds us back. In the meantime, we engaged in the closest thing to becoming a hometown tourist while retaining self-respect by attending the 10th Annual Doors Open Toronto.

In mapping out our destinations, we aimed for the buildings that we would not normally have access to like the National Ballet School, the Carlu, and the Royal Canadian Military Institute. However, we were impressed by familiar yet unexpected gems like the Toronto Dominion Centre, where we were granted access to the 54th Floor Boardroom, which retains much of the meticulous Modernist style of architect, Mies van der Rohe, and Old City Hall, which I have never actually entered. Architect, Edward James Lennox aimed to impress visitors with an imposing entrance that leads unexpectedly into a bright main hall, and 110 years later, his design is still effective. I never knew that the heavy-looking building was actually hollow, with an interior courtyard, and full of large windows, to lessen the reliance on the then-untried technology of electricity.

While waiting in line for the National Ballet School on Saturday morning, fellow attendees were already relaying tales of the legendary lineup outside the Don Jail. What was a 'must see' on our list was quickly crossed off with regret. However, happy news after so many visitors were turned away from the Don Jail during Doors Open: the Don Jail will be open to tourists starting June 1 for an admission price of $20. Then, in November, the Jail will be gutted by Bridgepoint Hospital and converted into office space. Having visited Alcatraz in San Francisco, I think Toronto is destroying a future tourist attraction in its plans for the Don Jail, but gutting the Jail will be in keeping with Toronto's tradition of destroying its past for short-sighted convenience.