Exploring Toronto: A Guide to 28 Unique Public Spaces

The authors, transplanted Torontonians, spent much of the COVID lockdown exploring their city. With decades-long careers in urban design and an interest in reimagining unused city spaces, Ken (Toronto Reborn: Design Successes and Challenges) and Eti are uniquely qualified experts on the neighborhoods of Toronto. The 28 tours in the book are designed to be conducted on foot or by bike; for each location there’s a GPS address, public-transit routes, and directions for cyclists and walkers. The book marks the history of each outdoor place and its meaning for its community. Rich details and photos of the authors’ own explorations enhance each entry on the page. Readers will know what they can expect to find in each destination, such as public sculpture parks, live music on the weekends, or even a nude beach. The book gives a good sense of Toronto’s heterogeneity and Indigenous history.