Where to take a Dominican in Toronto?

dchenriquez

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Jan 26, 2005
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Hey all.

Okay so my husband arrived from Dominican Republic just over a month ago and is settling in nicely. We are going to Toronto tonight to see a Jays game and then spending the night. Can anyone suggest the best "Dominican" places to go tomorrow? I've heard there are markets and or stores that may be of some interest to him but i have no idea where to go. I'm not from Toronto, so as many details as you could provide would be great. I also heard there was a Dominican barber in a mall somewhere.... anyone have a clue? Any advice where to take my husband would be great. I'm looking for Dominican style places though. Thanks. Oh, and we're not looking to go out to any clubs or anything since we have our newborn with us. Just markets and stores. Thanks so much!!!!
 

Charlielyn

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Jul 31, 2005
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Be very careful in Toronto. Other spouses have been known to suddenly disappear there. There is a large Dominican population there. He might have friends. Just a cautious warning. I hope you do enjoy your visit to Toronto and all goes well.
 

canbon

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Apr 28, 2006
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unbelievable!

The response of some posters is simply unbelievable to me. Here is this woman, looking for a market and/or stores so that she can take her newly arrived husband to, and she is being warned that he may "disappear". Why is it that so many posts on here have to turn in to something other than was the OP is asking.

UNBELIEVABLE!!!

To the OP, I hope you get the answers you are looking for you. And, congratulations on the arrival of your husband and your newborn!!
 

Charlielyn

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Jul 31, 2005
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Sorry if the truth shocks you. But shopping in Toronto after a short time here could be a negative thing for this relationship. Just want her to keep her eyes open.
 

dchenriquez

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Jan 26, 2005
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OHMYGOD........ARE YOU SERIOUS.....thats all i can say. i don't even think your response to my post dignifies a response.....
Canbon..thanks.
BACK TO THE TOPIC.....looking for places to go!!!!
 

gonzaga

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Mar 19, 2002
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Hi dchenriquez,

I don't think there are stores or markets in Toronto that are just Dominican. As you many know the Dominican Restaurant closed on St. Clair almost a year ago. They opened a Luggage and Bag store. The owners of this store are the same, I can't remember the name of the store but if you find out, you can phone and speak with them and asked if she can give you any info about dominican markets/stores. Most of the spanish/latin stores & restaurants are on St. Clair. You might want to phone Latin Music on St. Clair to see if they can give you some suggestions. Speak to the person in spanish and you will get a better response or have you husband phone. He should be able to give you the name of the new luggage and bag store so you can look up their phone number.

You can phone Cafe Nemo (not sure on the spelling of Nemo) on St. Clair as I know a lot of dominicans hang out there for coffee. It's a pastry and coffee shop, and the owner might be able to help as well. Not sure if they are Dominican.
 

Fiesta Mama

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Jan 28, 2004
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The Dominican Barber shop is in Plaza Latino on Milvan which runs north off Finch Avenue, just west of Weston Road. If you take the 400 North from the 401 it will only take about 15 minutes to get there. It's only about 20 minutes from our house and my husband (Dominican) goes there to get his haircut (especially after he let my dad do it once in our backyard.... hehehehe). All the barbers are Dominican and they are really nice. There is a food court in the back of the plaza that sells lots of Dominican type food (although I think most are from Ecuador, Peru, etc.). Now this is no where near downtown where the baseball stadium is but you could go there in the morning and then make your way downtown. My husband and I have not found any one area in Toronto that caters to Dominicans, in fact, I don't know of any specific Dominican market/store but we shop at a variety of places across the city that carry some Dominican products and the typical fruits, veggies, etc.

Something you could also do while downtown is stop by the Eaton's Centre (at Yonge and Dundas). My husband LOVES to shop and he really likes going to the Eaton's Centre because it's so big and has a good selection of stores. He also enjoyed driving along the Queen's Quay (along the harbour south of the Gardiner Expwy.) and seeing the lake, the island and all the nice boats moored there. He was so surprised that Lake Ontario was so big you could not even see across it. He wondered if there were sharks :paranoid:

Although it's not in Toronto, eventually you should try and make it to Niagara Falls. It was his favourite tourist spot yet. Even I was quite impressed having not visited there for some years and it's grown a lot and the casino was great. Also, if you husband likes fishing, etc. there are tons of great Provincial Parks to take him to (that's if you are also into camping :)
 

shadInToronto

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Nov 16, 2003
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Be careful in Regent Park ... it's low income and lots of crack heads there. St. Clair west of Bathurst has a lot of Spanish stuff.

If the guy recently arrived from the DR, I think he'd want to see Toronto. There're many things to see and do here ... CN Tower, Casa Loma, the Beaches (Queen East), Little Italy (College Street west of Bathurst), Little India (Gerrard Street east of Coxwell), China Town (Spadina & Dundas), St. Lawrence Market, Kensington Market, Yonge Street, King Street Theatre District, Queen Street, Queens Quay, Hockey Hall of Fame, .... etc.

Get him assimilated, otherwise, he'd want to remain 'Dominican'. :)
 

Fiesta Mama

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Jan 28, 2004
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If the guy recently arrived from the DR, I think he'd want to see Toronto. There're many things to see and do here ...

Get him assimilated, otherwise, he'd want to remain 'Dominican'. :)

Being married to a Dominican and living just outside of Toronto, I could not agree with Shad more. The poster who said to worry has obviously got some issues or perhaps knows someone who had a bad experience BUT I would hope that by the time someone's husband arrives they know that they will not leave them just because they make the acquaintance of a few Dominicans who live in Toronto! I know of far more Dominicans who want to return to the DR because they (or their spouses) have not made very good efforts to get acquainted with the people, places and traditions of Canada. That is not to say they should lose their Dominican culture but they need to see what is great about the country they have chosen to make their new home. Toronto is a beautiful city and internationally recognized and I would think it would be exciting (and important) for any newcomer to the country to see the country's largest city with all it has to offer.
 

bob saunders

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Jan 1, 2002
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Niagara Falls is for taking pictures to show the folks back in the DR, as everyone has heard of NF. Since you are going to the ballgame go up the CN tower. $18 each, but he will be impressed. Take a walk up Younge street, go to the St Lawerence Market (there are lots of neat shops along the street there), There a Dominican girl working in the Esso station near there, visit the Eatons centre. All these are within walking distance of the Ball field. If he is a Beer drinker take a tour of the SteamWhistle Brewery (Close to the ballpark) He can get his fill of beer cheaper than the ballpark, and have a couple of souvenir glasses.