Elliott Lefko, CMW Co-Chair and Vice President of Goldenvoice in Los Angeles, gives us a quick tour of his favourite spots to go in Toronto. Elliott interviews Bruce Cockburn at the Live Touring Summit on May 9.
Toronto is my home town. Here are my secrets. Go to Chinatown to Lee Garden. Its open late and the food is spicy. For a lunch time treat try Banh Mi Boys for a steamed bao. And finally the best Jamaican on Queen St W is Pats Home-style (558 Queen W). Order chicken roti and homemade ginger beer.
The Blue Jays are my sports passion. I gave up on the Maple Leafs. The Rogers Centre is no Fenway or Wrigley but hopefully the roof is open and the team is competitive.
My favourite destination is Kensington Market. It was once the Jewish market in the late Fifties and now houses shops and restaurants from the multi-stew that is Toronto. Jamaican, Brazilian, Vietnamese, Italian. It is a great mix of multi cultures. Walk around and smell the spices and sample the food from around the world and feel the sun beating down. Hopefully.
Finally check out a couple of T.O. traditions like the amazing Rotate This record shop on Queen St and The Silver Dollar Club on Spadina and say hello to the man who books the shows Dan Burke. An urban legend says that Dan once didn’t have any money to pay a band so he paid them in pants.
________________________________________________________________________________
2014 CMW Co-Chair Elliott Lefko is vice president of Goldenvoice Concerts in Los Angeles. He has promoted tours for Leonard Cohen and Nick Cave. He is responsible for booking concerts in Southern California, Alaska, Hawaii and Canada. Among the recent concerts he has promoted are Morrissey, The Foo Fighters, Tegan And Sara, City & Colour, The Tragically Hip and Hayden.