World Cup Celebrations: (Taste of Little) Italy

[wyliepoon]

The subject of this thread is a little bit misleading, considering that Italy had little to celebrate about in the World Cup Saturday afternoon with a 1-1 draw with the US (apparently as a result of an Italian own goal... I did not catch the game on TV).

The consolation for Toronto's Azzurri fans gathered in Little Italy was that the game coincided with the Taste of Little Italy street festival. College Street from Euclid to Shaw was shut down to make way for games, entertainment and lots of food, not to mention free product samplings. Instead of leaving the neighbourhood with their heads down, the Italian fans stayed in the neighbourhood after the game for an afternoon stroll.

Fans crowding a restaurant in the last minutes of the match

Outside the Vespa store

Fans pouring out of a lounge after the game

Cafe Diplomatico... Toronto's Italian soccer headquarters?

The Latin band that usually plays at Dundas Square makes a special appearance here.

Fans of Ghana celebrating the first African win at the World Cup today

Soccer in a parking lot

Smart cars on display

Foosball, anybody?

Dancing in the streets

Kids on skateboards

Mariachi band performing

Performance by an Italian choir, proudly wearing their national colours.

*****

Video (added June 19th)

Breakdancing performance outside Cafe Diplomatico after the game

 

[ronald1987]

I have to say it again, TO reminds me a lot of any European city, judging from those pics. People have the same fashion style as here, you see heineken at cafe's, there seems to be a huge popularity of soccer where I thought baseball and hockey were most popular in Canada, people playing soccer on the street, I see smart cars, vespa scooters, and thousands of people walking, it all could have been here.
No doubt, it has everything to do with the WorldCup and with Toronto´s multicultural inhabitants.
But still, I don't think TO has an equivalent in North America. Well, maybe San Fran but that's it. Impressive pics!

 

[Copper1212]

I suppose the old commercial strips could be considered "European", overall though Toronto is very much a North American city, especially as you move into the core.

 

[allabootmatt]

Many of Toronto's commercial streets remind me of those in London, especially neighbourhood high streets outside the core like Upper St in Islington, which could be just about any of Queen, College, or Bloor. The downtown built form, of course, is completely different.

 

[Darkstar416]

Many of Toronto's commercial streets remind me of those in London, especially neighbourhood high streets outside the core like Upper St in Islington, which could be just about any of Queen, College, or Bloor.

Although the density on Toronto commercial streets is basically 2-floors compared to London's where everything is at a minimum 3-floors. That one additional floor can make a huge difference in terms of making T.O. look less like a frontier town and more like a serious city.

 

[ganjavih]

But still, I don't think TO has an equivalent in North America. Well, maybe San Fran but that's it.

Take a look at the Montreal thread...

 

[Christopher DeWolf]

yeah... not to resort to hometown boosterism, but montreal has all of those bases covered. today's game was a good example. people were spilling out onto the street from every bar and cafe in my neighbourhood today during the italy/usa game -- and this isn't even little italy.

great photos, wylie. this strip of college is really one of toronto's treasures.

 

[ronald1987]

Sorry, I forgot about Montreal for a second. Montreal is indeed very European.

 

[ganjavih]

Video (added June 19th)

Breakdancing performance outside Cafe Diplomatico after the game

I've noticed breakdancing at Dundas Square recently as well. Cool... Toronto's becoming more "urban".

 

[samplain]

awesome pics...Ive been enjoying the games at a neutral site, the Danforth.

 

[Jarrek]

Montreal is MUCH more european than Toronto.