thornhill

10 signs you grew up in Thornhill

Plenty of Torontonians (myself included) will fiercely defend their right to call Toronto their place of origin, but like so many others transplanted in this city, there are some easy tells (and collective memories) if you spent your formative years just outside the city limits.

Here are 10 signs you grew up in Thornhill.

1. You crave bagels from Kiva's, burgers from Golden Star, smoked meat sandwiches from Centre Street Deli, pizza from the original Dante's, and the occasional fancy dinner from The Octogon. And you go back whenever you can.

2. You remember the massive burgers at Wimpy's when it was still just a single compact diner - not an Ontario-wide chain. And you remember when The Pickle Barrel served Jewish-style deli like kishka - not the bland pedestrian stuff they're slinging now. And you never go back because it'll never live up to what you remember.

3. You're still mourning the loss of Lime Rickey's (RIP) and Southbrook Farms. But at least you can still day trip to Southbrook's vineyard in NOTL.

4. You went to all ages concerts (most likely battle of the bands) at Thornhill Square. Part library, part mall - how suburban right?

5. You bought tye-dye, sweatpants and thick wool socks at Marky's Warehouse Outlet. (Which you wore in public - likely together.)

6. You reunite with old friends at The Britannia or the Tickled Toad. But only because you're too old now to hang out in a Mac's Milk parking lot.

7. You head north every time you need something new for the kitchen. Because there's no where cheaper in the city than Cayne's. You plan to register for wedding gifts there one day too.

8. You went to school with Craig Kielburger, Hayden Christensen or Anne Murray's daughter. You've got the yearbooks to prove it.

9. A Wonderland season pass was an enviable alternative to summer camp. That is, if you didn't spend summers at sleep-over camp.

10. You went on school field trips to Baker Sugar Bush on Bathurst at Highway 7. (Which has since been redeveloped into a subdivision.)

What signs did I miss? Add your suggestions to the comments.


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