🇨🇦 Weekend Adventure: A Retro Lover's Doors Open 2025 Itinerary 🚂
Woke up at 7 AM to catch a train for Doors Open—now THAT'S dedication! 😅 From 10 AM to 4 PM, I hit 6 retro-themed spots using only public transit + walking. Some were gems, others... meh. Got questions? Ask away! 1️⃣ Fools Paradise 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Hidden gem alert! Nestled near Scarborough Bluffs, this was Canadian painter Doris McCarthy's home (now her assistant's private residence). The sunlit parlor with garden views? I could sit there forever. 🪑🌿 The studio? Stunning. The assistant shared fascinating stories—total art-history nerds, rejoice! 🎨 🚗 Parking available; bus ride + 20-min walk. 2️⃣ Foy House 🌟🌟 Went for the gorgeous wooden staircase & stained glass, but the rest was just... modern art exhibits. No guides = no context. Only worth it if you're nearby. The neighboring church was more interesting! ⛪ 3️⃣ Arts and Letters Club 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 A MUST! The theatre (designed by Hart House's architect) gave major déjà vu. 🎭 Rooms overflowed with vintage charm—plus, chatty volunteers! Their art studio? Retro heaven. No queue when I arrived (luck or timing?). 4️⃣ Aperture Room 🌟 Right next door, but... why? Just a repurposed venue with one old-camera photo booth. Tiny. Empty. Skip it. 📸❌ 5️⃣ Osgoode Hall 🌟🌟🌟🌟 The hype is REAL. Arrived at 12:30 PM—line snaked around twice, but moved fast (20-min wait). The glass ceilings? Breathtaking. The library? Swoon. 🏛️💫 Lost a star for crowds (you’re herded like sheep). Allocate 30+ mins here! 6️⃣ Campbell House Museum 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Longest wait (40 mins!)—hence the deduction. But once inside? Worth it. The color palettes & textures had me taking notes for future home inspo. 🏡✨ Small groups = no rush. Go early if you’re serious! #TorontoLife #DoorsOpenTO #HiddenGems #RetroVibes #ArchitectureLovers #WeekendExplorer
