This is not a what should I do in Toronto on vacation question

September 24, 2007 1:30 PM

So I made up my mind and am going to Toronto at the end of next week. I've read all of the Toronto threads, but need help finding a few specific things:

Where can I find

a good public roller rink?
an indoor pool?
Which is the best branch of the YMCA? My membership is good during travel.
A drop in yoga studio?

Thanks.
PS. Do I tip there?

posted by pieoverdone to Travel & Transportation around Toronto, ON (10 answers total)

I don't know about the four first questions, but yes... you definitely do tip for the same services as you would in the States.
posted by elkerette at 1:35 PM on September 24, 2007

drop in yoga at Union Yoga on Carleton or Moksha Yoga

as for the Y, I like the West End Y on College and Dovercourt, but more centrally located is the one on Grosvenor and Yonge.

I never tip except for food service and haircuts.
posted by dawdle at 1:39 PM on September 24, 2007

We have roller rinks? Who knew?

1) I have no idea. There's a place called "Rinx", but I've never been there.

2) There are lots of indoor pools. Probably the best for you would be at...

3) The Metro-Central YMCA is the biggest. The West End Y is quite small and under renovations, although the building has some nice historical touches, like the old boy's entrance on the exterior, now bricked up. The East City Y is pretty far east. So go to Metro-Central. The pool there is very nice as well.

(I also like the pool at the St Lawrence CRC on the Esplanade, but it's nothing special. There's also a 50-m outdoor pool in The Beach, probably closed by now and a 50-m pool at the Etobicoke Olympium, but that's not exactly Toronto per se.)

4) I don't know, but I think Downward Dog on Queen West is supposed to be pretty good. Also see the Toronto Life Yoga listings. (And the Trinity CRC has a pool, which is just a block or two west of Downward Dog. Again, not really that special a pool, but there it is).

5) Yes, you tip the same as in the US. Though I'm not sure if you tip for yoga classes.
posted by GuyZero at 1:45 PM on September 24, 2007

A list of all the city pools in Toronto. The outdoor pools are closed now.
posted by GuyZero at 1:50 PM on September 24, 2007

I go to Yoga Sanctuary. This is the schedule for the centrally located location at College St. & Yonge St. (very close to Metro Central YMCA) but there are also drop-in classes at the Danforth Ave. location.
posted by meerkatty at 2:13 PM on September 24, 2007

I recall going to rinx a long time ago. It also has whirlyball which is whiffleball with scoops on bumpercars. But do you need a roller-rink specifically? There's a lot more ice rinks in toronto than roller-rinks.
posted by captaincrouton at 3:59 PM on September 24, 2007

http://www.thinkrinx.com/default.html
posted by captaincrouton at 4:02 PM on September 24, 2007

West End Y is my YMCA and in a very nice location just west of Little Italy. However, I would like to note that they are currently under renovations (particularly of the locker rooms and whirlpool/sauna areas last I knew) and all services may not be available. So keep that in mind.

The Grosvenor YMCA is bigger and more recently renovated, and is in a much more central location (Yonge/College). However, it is also much more busy and makes me uncomfortable because there are a lot of really pretty people who work out there (this may be a bonus for you?). The pool at Grosvenor is also bigger than the West End Y.

You can also do drop-in Yoga at either of these YMCAs. Can't help you on the roller skating. Have a nice trip!
posted by SassHat at 4:46 PM on September 24, 2007

What part of the city will you be in? So far, everyone's assuming central/downtown, but if you'll be in etobicoke or north york or scarborough, those answers wouldn't be very useful.

As for public roller rinks, I used to go to one occasionally in high school ("ironic fun") until it closed down; it was supposedly the last one in toronto. This was in the early 90s, so i'm guessing you'll be out of luck except for Rinx (which i think mainly targets corporate events and birthday parties)?
posted by Kololo at 9:04 PM on September 24, 2007

I second the Metro Central YMCA on Grosvenor. Great pool, great employees.
posted by Lieber Frau at 12:33 PM on September 25, 2007