Doors Open 2008 Wrap-Up-Slash-Preview-for-Next-Year Part 3: Tips and Tricks

Before I get into some essential survival tips for the enjoyment of Doors Open in Toronto, I would like to take this chance to thank the Ontario Heritage Trust for organising the event every year, and a special thanks to the Toronto Star, the City of Toronto, and the CBC for championing such a wonderful event. Finally, thanks to all 140 participating organisations who allowed everyone into their buildings this year. No matter what I thought of the presentations it is still wonderful to see so many places open themselves to the public in the name of fun and education.

It should also be known that Doors Open is not exclusive to the city of Toronto. Over 55 other cities, towns, and regions across Ontario as well as Niagara Falls and Buffalo, New York participate in such events from April to October with many more yet to come in the late summer and fall. For a full list of other regional sites visit www.doorsopenontario.on.ca .

Also, one final rant that I alluded to yesterday while reviewing my experience at the TD Centre. Being a writer, I am naturally fascinated by the history of the written word in all its forms. The past two years I have tried in vain to visit Toronto’s First Post Office. I have heard nothing but good things about the building and the tour. It is the only post office that is still operational built before 1850. This year you could write a letter with a quill pen, seal it with wax, and mail it from the same place. That is the sort of thing that I geek out over if I hear about it. Alas, once I was done with the tedium that was the Toronto-Dominion Centre, the post office was the first location to be cut since it was too far out of the way and would have led to us having to cut more things just to see the post office. I am still mad about it. Well, not mad, just mopey. If I go and it is open next year, it will be the first place I visit regardless of what else is open.

Doors Open Survival Tips

-Be sure to find out when the Toronto Star is publishing their special section dedicated to Doors Open. It will include a full list of participating buildings with addresses, operating hours, and a simple map to give you an idea where everything is located. It usually appears several days before the event and is a better place for a brief description of what is offered that the website.

-Make a list and prioritise what you want to see the most. You can usually see between 10-15 sites in a single afternoon if you plot accordingly. Don’t get too ambitious or you might end up disappointed.

-From the list you made, create your own route and mark it out so you don’t double back on yourself or end up running around illogically. Jenna and I have found that creating a spreadsheet works really well if you make columns for the place, hours (going onto the Doors Open website you can find a venue’s last admission time which is more accurate than the closing time found in The Star), location, and in the final column include directions on how to get to the next place from the last one you visited. Also, a single piece of paper is easier to carry the newspaper with you which can be odd, cumbersome, and just looks silly.

-While 90% of the buildings offered are in the downtown core or are easily accessible by subway or streetcars, the other 10% to the North, West, and East will be hard to get to without a car from downtown. If you want to see one of these places badly enough and are relying on transit, make it either the first or last thing you do and allow yourself plenty of time for buses. Conversely, if driving and you want to visit downtown (cars should have no problem with the more outlying areas of the city barring a traffic jam), park in one spot and leave it for the rest f the day unless you want to pay through the nose in parking fees, not to mention wasting tons of time looking for spots.

-A TTC Day Pass is a smart investment for anyone and everyone. On Saturday and Sunday a $9 day pass is good for either 2 adults, 2 adults and up to 4 kids under the age of 19, or 1 adult and up to 5 kids. It will save you a ton of energy on short trips and if you are relying on transit it is almost a necessity. When you consider that a single adult ride if $2.75, $9 for two people all day is a steal. Day passes can be purchased from any subway booth and are good until 5:30 A.M. the next morning if you want to keep enjoying the night long after the Doors Open festivities have ended.

-Familiarise yourself with what each place offers and requires before you go there. Some churches have dress requirements and other places are only accessible through guided tours. Some places don’t allow photography, tripods, or video shooting. All the information is on the website and most of it is in the Star section so don’t pitch a fit like some people do when they see a line, have to take their shoes off, or they can’t take a picture. These people are letting you into their lives at no cost to you; the least you can do is respect them

-If you are downtown and either get lost or need a place to rest, the lobbies of City Hall and the CBC building are kind of like default rest stops. They are wide open, indoors, air conditioned, and have plenty of seating. They are also the places to go if you want to get a complimentary copy of The Star.

-Dress accordingly, pack snacks, and keep hydrated as if you were going on a hike. For the past two years Doors Open has fallen on warm, sunny weekends, so wearing comfortable clothing and appropriate footwear is a good idea. Your body will also thank you for packing a bottle of water and some snacks to enjoy periodically. Packing a lunch is probably a better idea than eating out unless you work it into your schedule or you can hold out until the end of the day. Some places like Osgoode Hall, Masjid Toronto, or the Four Season’s Center for the Performing Arts offer refreshments either for free or for sale. If you burn easily, a hat or sunscreen is advisable.

-If a place is well known within the community, especially theatres and high rise buildings, go in expecting a crowd and having to wait for a tour.

-Because you will probably end up with tons of pamphlets, magazines, and other free stuff alongside your food and water, at least one backpack or strong tote bag is much better than a plastic bag.

-Travelling the underground PATH system that connects buildings downtown is good in short bursts while trying to avoid the noonday sun, but it is easy to get lost and turned around due to lack of proper signage in many parts. Any Torontonian pretty much knows this one already, but most of this list is geared towards tourists, anyway.

Well, there you have it. Another overall fun year in the books. I look forward to next year and seeing what the theme will be. I also plan on attending other regional Doors Open events this year. I hope to see some of you next year!