Monday 10 February 2014

The Distillery Historic District

It is nearly impossible to map out Toronto's niche nooks and crannies without in some way mentioning the Distillery Historic District. While it usually caters to tourists, the district keeps buzzing in the winter, with cafes serving warmer, more 'winter-y' fare.


The Cafe Uno, for instance, stays open year-round by changing their selections to compliment the temperature.

"We do a lot of grilling on the barbecue in the summertime, especially on weekends," said John Sloan, one of the owners of Cafe Uno. "We try and have more soups and comfort foods in the winter months ... the food gets lighter as the heat gets more intense."

John and his wife, Lise Sloan, have owned the Cafe since 2011. 

"It's much quieter this time of year, of course ... right now it's very, very quiet."



The Distillery Historic District originated in spirit in the 1830's, with Gooderham and Worts brewery. James Worts never lived to see William Gooderham brew his first batch of whiskey in 1837, sadly. Then, after 150 years of sweet alcoholic business, the Distillery became Canada's most sought-after film location.

The one you'll see now? It opened in 2003, after a detailed renovation project - and is curently home to small businesses and art galleries.


One such, the Arta Gallery, specializes in international art, but can also be rented out by local independant artists. One artist, Lori Molnar, started painting as hobby two years ago.

"I used to be an interior designer," said Molnar. "I guess that's where it's from, with colour [and] shading."

Molnar, along with three other artists, rented out the Arta for two weeks. She was encouraged by her teacher to showcase her art, and in two weeks, sold 

"One fellow came in yesterday morning, and bought three of them," said Molnar. One, the poppy-filled Remembrance, is one of Molnar's favourite pieces.


A map of the Distillery Historic District, with the Arta and Cafe Uno, can be found below.

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