[Midtownman]

ok, so if you had to take an out-of-towner to one club where would you take them? To dispell this myth that Toronto's night club scene sucks?

imo, there's a lot of neat little clubs, but to me, the Guvernment is #1. They have an awesome digital sound system and are always featuring international djs. And if you get sick of one room, you can choose from 4 different bars and two patios (their rooftop patio has amazing views of TO). Just all around cool space and decor. I had a lot of fun nights there.

the patio (skybar)

ground floor patio

lobby @ koolhaus

 

[SD]

Where did you hear Toronto's nightlife sucks? I've heard the exact opposite from almost everywhere.

Guvernment is alright...but they pack you in like cattle. There are better places.

 

[ganjavih]

Some Toronto stereotypes are true, some are myths. Toronto clubs sucking is totally a myth... it may have been true 10-20 years ago but it ain't anymore. Of course, you'll have a hard time convincing Montrealers that it's a myth...

 

[Darkstar416]

Toronto clubs are o.k. at best. And Montreal has every right to gloat about it's club scene. They have 5 clubs that can compete with the best in Europe (Aria, Groove Society, Parking, Sona and Stereo). As far as I'm concerned Toronto has only ever had one real club and that was Inudstry. Sadly, that came to an end a few years back (due to Mel/Fantino) and this city's mark as an up and coming centre of electronic music quickly took a dive. In fact, we've lost some of our best to Montreal and Berlin since then. Sure, System, Turbo and the Guv bring in some high calibre d.j.'s, but there's too much "club district" riff raff and it's not the 'anything goes' attitude that Industry nicely fostered. Still, T.O.'s club scene is a hell of a lot better than any other city in North America, but we aren't even close to Montreal. If anyone travels try "Bugged Out" in Manchester or "Sona" in Montreal, or "Fabric" in London and you'll quicky realize Toronto is a piece of poo when it comes to clubbing.

The sad thing is we apparently have more clubs per capita than any other city in North America. Still, if clubbing isn't your thing, I'd still say Toronoto's live music scene beats Montreal and a hell of a lot of other places too. Probably the best in North America after N.Y.C. I guess we can't have everything.

JASON

 

[FutureMayor]

I posted a thread about Toronto's nightclubs a few months ago.

I also agreed that Guverment is an awesome club!

As for the nightclub district, I was there last night and it took us almost half an hour to find a parking spot! We finally decided to pay the $15 for our usual spot at the King Street Parking Garage. I think I hit almost every nightclub in the district, except for a few smaller ones. Here are my ratings:

Plastique - Outdoor line too long, nice main room with dance music. (3/5)

Tonic - Outdoor line up in the alley protects u from the cold, nice main room, great big lounge area, nice washrooms (4/5)

Joker - Coatcheck line sucks, pool tables are nice, great main room. (3/5)

G -Spot - Nice main room and small lounge areas, upper floor is way too small, great bartenders. (3/5)

Joe - nice lounge, great roof patio (4/5)

Fluid - nice and itimate rooms, nice lounge areas.
(3/5)

Money - too over rated!(3/5)

Inside Lounge - guestline is fast! (they don't even check if ur on it, and they don't search u) 3 coatchecks, so no line ups, all 3 floors have great lounge areas and music. Main room has poor ventilation system. (4.5/5)


Outside of the District:

Helium - Bouncers are easy to pay off, um that's about it...LOL
(1.5/5)

Berlin - Line up way too long, nice lounge areas and main room. (3/5)

Atlantis - Line is in a covered walkway, great views of Toronto skyline, nice upper lounge area, chessy revolving dance floor. (3/5)

Guvernment - Easy to by-pass the line if u know the right people, great rooms, awesome sound, nice patios. (5/5)

Docks - Nice big rooms with awesome sound (5/5)

My Apartment (Mississauga) - It is seriously the size of a room. (2/5)

Richard's Mansion (Mississauga) - Shut down by the city as of December 2002 - Nice design, too small and crowded. (2/5)

Ritz (Mississauga) - Nice large main room, great upper lounge area. (3/5)

Club 108 (Mississauga) - Nice overall design. (4/5)

NRG - In the middle of nowhere, nice sound. (3/5)

Karma - LOVE the inside! (4/5)

Like I said in my previous posts, the clubbing experience in the district can be greatly improved if proper parking spaces was built, sidewalks were taken care of, and security enhanced (more police, cameras).

Enjoy!

Louroz

 

[Midtownman]

darkstar-
i'm surprise you think Stereo is so good. I went there once and was so dissapointed. the place was packed beyond belief, they had to bring in portable fans because people were passing out from the heat (either that or the drugs). very sketchy crowd. I donnu.. i wasn't really impressed. then again, i';m not gay so maybe that had something to do with it that little chill out room that resembled a movie theather was tres cool though.
and you're right about industry. ah, all those liquid dream parties. that was a fun spot.

 

[SD]

I went to Sona in Montreal...it was alright, but then if you're not into that kind of music, it's nothing special.

 

[wonderboy905]

Call me nuts but you don't go to a nightclub to see the sights, well at least not architecturally, you go there to have a blast.

The Phoenix on a Saturday night is where I'd take anyone who even remotely liked rock ahead of anywhere else. It's out of the entertainment district but who cares... once inside the main room you are still greeted with a stunning looking interior, and of course the best damn music you can find anywhere.. and lots of tipsy girls come 1:30 :smokin

 

[simply Dan]

I´ve been to WAY better clubs in Europe, but Toronto clubs are alright. The 2:00am last call Toronto has is quite pathetic, though...

 

[Floodland]

From time to time I like to go the Bovine Sex Club - it probably has the most eclectic range of people in all of Toronto and you'll always see someone there who is well known.

 

[shawnmicallef]

Darkstar is correct - the demise of Industry saw Toronto loose it's only real club. Though some do try, existing clubs don't come close. A combination of smart people and an out-of-the-way location kept the bad club people away. Most of those people now reside at those clubs Future Mayor listed....those are awful places! Cultureless wastelands. And parking a consideration? I hear there are some nice lots out on Dixie Road...try those clubs if you want to park near by. It's the City!

 

[Darkstar416]

Can I marry you Shawn? :b

In all seriousness though, Industry was the bomb. URB Magazine actually named it one of the 10 best clubs to ever exist a few years back. Why? Because it fostered that same sort of mature clubbing culture that you find in Montreal and yes in Europe.

The focus was on the music, not on the decor and not on "girls free before 11:00pm" promotions. It's the music stupid! The best house and techno d.j.'s in the world complimented with a healthy dose of home-grown residencies. It was open until 8:00am, was never the scene of any violence (that I'm aware of), the community around it barely knew it was there, it had drag queens and muscle jocks dancing in unison and made me proud to call Toronto my home. I can remember meeting a girl from Paris once at Industry who told me in broken English that it was her first night in Toronto and that she never wanted to leave! And no, she wasn't on E because that's the first thing I asked her! :eek

Sadly, we've gone back to rolling up the sidewalks at night here in old T-dot. I must be coming across as an elitist snob, but honest to God, if you people think the "Entertainment District" is clubbing, PLEASE do some traveling.

There's a couple articles online here:

EYE:
www.eye.net/eye/issue/issue_08.03.00/thebeat/extended.html
NOW:
www.nowtoronto.com/issues/2000-05-25/music_notes.html

OK, enough of me for tonight. |I

JASON

 

[oct2gon]

Ah, Industry. I remember when the celiing used to drip because of the sweat and heat... that's when you knew the party was rockin' and you didn't give a shit whether or not you got wet.
It was one of those places that screamed 'come as you are' and people did. St8, gay, drag, porn stars, etc.
I miss that. I remember seeing Honey Dijon there for the first time and was just blown away. Made me proud to be a Torontonian. I'm surprised the owners haven't tried to open Industry2 somewhere else.

Meow was a pretty crazy club too...

 

[SD]

I think Industry's eventual downfall was it's location. Accessible...but so far from the rest of the district. I was by the area not too long ago, and now it's just an office...or doughnut shop.

You also have to remember, the club scene is constantly changing. It's just the nature of the industry. Today's best club is closed by tommorow, and a new one there in it's place.

 

[simply Dan]

The owners of the old Industry are gay... when it closed they opened 5ive. That´s probably why the club was the way it was ... come as you are sorta deal.