Love Letters to Queen West

ILLUSTRATIONS BY MARIA PIÑEROS MARIPINEROS.COM IG: @MARI_NOMIDDLENAME

Love Letters to Queen West

We love our ‘hood. And we know many others do too, so we reached out to everyday folks to share their “Love Letter to Queen West”. Many from the community shared their thoughts, feelings and sentiments about why they love this ‘hood so much! Here’s a selection of what we heard:

“Even in the dead of winter, as my daily walks led me through your colourful storefronts, this city started to feel like home for the first time. I’ll do my part to fill you with life again this summer, the way you’ve done for me.” ~ Marissa

“Where to begin? From my early days frequenting Velvet Underground and Open Mics at Mitzi’s Sister to discovering Gloryhole Doughnuts and my new favourite music venue Drom Taberna, Queen West has always been home. I’ve spent many a summer day relishing in nostalgia at Black Market, thrifting with friends only to hit the patio at Java House for wine and a cost effective (yet tasty) meal. Taken Silks classes at City Dance Corps and spent many beautiful Tuesday nights crooning into the microphone for Drom Taberna’s Open Jam. Queen West is a beautiful place to be, and although gentrification still very much finds its footing, we hold our ground in this neighborhood and I hope we always will.” ~ Joy

“Java House by morning sun ascends into patio lunch at Drom. Travel east for a tattoo at Blind Tiger then cocktails at The Shoe, dreaming of Gord. New shoes at Walking on a Cloud to dance in late night at The Rex and The Bovine. Queen West is LIFE!” ~ John

“There are so many amazing vendors along Queen West that you need to walk it many times to discover them all! Love the restaurants and art shops!” ~ Norm “Queen West is such a vibrant unique community! Whether it is checking out a local retail store or grabbing a bite to eat at a local cafe, I always have a great time enjoying the neighbourhood.” ~ Caroline

“Queen West is such a lively and dynamic neighbourhood! I love just taking a stroll along Queen West and hitting up my favourite local businesses and cafes.” ~ Mike

“The graffiti-backed alleyways of Queen Street West have slowly become a permanent fixture in my everyday peripheral. The people in this neighbourhood are now an extension of those painted bricks, decorating the sidewalks with an honest degeneracy as the gypsy horns begin to wail at Queen and Augusta and the music dances me home.” ~ Brad