We’ve been visiting my family in my hometown of Toronto for the past few weeks – my parents live deep in North Toronto, so we’ve spent most of our time up here in the almost-burbs, BUT we’ve also ventured south of Bloor St. to check out some downtown neighbourhoods.

Most recently, we spent the day with my sister and her fiancé in their no-man’s land neighborhood nestled between Leslieville, Little India, Riverdale and Riverside … four East-side hoods that have become vastly more trendy since we left here six years ago. It appears that a commodities boom and low interest rates have made Toronto a much wealthier place than it used to be, and as the West End of the city has begun to price out the hipsters, they’ve moved eastward.

We took a lovely walk through Riverside, and a Flatwhite, under-stated brunch and interiour decor shopping experience later, I realized that I was experiencing a deja vu … of our old stomping grounds in Brooklyn. Not that I’m complaining … I enjoy homemade coffee cuffs, curated art exhibits, surprising homemade chocolate flavours, gourmet hot dogs and bamboo tee-shirts as much as the next (white, upper middle class) guy – I suppose I just wasn’t expecting it here in Toronto. Who knew! But it’s a great thing, Carroll Gardens is my favourite neighbourhood in the world (and I’ve made some inroads into the Western world … so this isn’t as vacuous as it sounds), so I’m pleased to see some clones popping up here in the T-Dot (yes … I agree, it is the Worst Nickname Ever).