Having just returned from Québec, I’m reminded of how Montrealers think that the words “cool” and “Toronto” are impossible to use in the same sentence, unless they’re talking about the weather. Allright, so maybe Toronto is no Montreal (no offense), but North America’s fifth largest city is starting to gain on the hip factor with such neighborhoods like The Junction, located at and around the intersection of Dundas Street West and Keele Street.

As this NYT piece explores, this ‘hood is starting to gain all the attractions that any turn-of-the-century 20-something enclave should have: used bookstores, organic markets, vegan restaurants and retro-heavy dive bars. In September there’s the Junction Arts Festival, which attracts crowds of up to 250,000, and if you have any time left over, you can make your way over to Montreal and let them know things aren’t that bad over in Ontario.