There’s no doubt that, in the grand scheme of things, Toronto is one hell of a safe and comfortable city to live in.
But Halloween is coming and being scared can be a very real thing.
So we’ve put together a few frightening places you don’t want to end up in the T-dot to help you count down to everyone’s favourite scary night. Let’s just say, if you put all these pockets of the city together in one big house, it would make Toronto’s very own House of Horrors.
1. RICHMOND STREET ON A FRIDAY NIGHT
Prepare yourself for bros, more bros, and girls wobbling in heels, covering the sidewalk because they can’t get into the club. Once 2am hits, it’s a full on nightmare. Guys trying to get a girl home, drunk girls screaming at their cheating boyfriends, vomit lining the streets. Club district nightmares.
2. THE OLD SUBWAY CARS
There’s nothing worse than getting stuck in an old subway car (the kind where you’re trapped between stops with nowhere to hide) with someone who’s potentially trying to harm you or otherwise invade your space. The entire TTC can be a nightmare on many levels, but there’s nothing quite like the terror of being alone in a moving tin can with another human who may or may not be about to pull a knife out on you – even if it is just all in your head.
3. KING & DUFFERIN AFTER DARK
You can only be flashed by a weirdo so many times before you learn to get yourself out of the area as soon as the sun starts to set.
4. CLIPBOARDERS AT ANY MAJOR INTERSECTION
We all love to support a good cause, but let’s face it: when you’re rushing down Queen Street to get to an important meeting or event, the last thing you want is to be stopped by these noble street soldiers to listen to their 10-minute speech that you know will end in them asking for money. Especially when you don’t have any cash on you. Head down, headphones on, walk fast and don’t make eye contact.
5. BRUNCH LINES
Come on. Is it really worth lining up for an hour just because it was featured in some newspaper as the ‘hip’ new spot? Probably not. There’s a good burger joint two doors down with no wait times, thank you very much.
6. RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC
Planning on getting out of the city on a Friday night? Good luck with that. You can literally walk down Spadina to the Gardiner much faster than you will ever get there in a vehicle.
7. THE GALLERIA MALL
We don’t even need a write up for this one. It’s the Galleria.
8. CONDOLAND
Like your affordable rent-controlled apartment? Get ready to be kicked out so it can be turned into yet another ugly condo that will stay empty and ruin the skyline.
#NOTABLE
Cover image from: istock.com/Dean2
Lineup photo: http://blogs.kqed.org
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