"Toronto the Good"
by Lisa Kisch
That is Toronto's nickname. It sounds like a compliment, doesn't it? Actually, it isn't. We earned that nickname for being perceived as nice, clean, safe, polite and generally unremarkable. Foreign journalists often say that Toronto is a boring metropolis, too homogenized to be that interesting or thought provoking. It's true, there are things we do lack compared to other cities---like a high crime rate and dirty streets-- but oh, what you get in return!

Toronto is the largest city in Canada and sits on Lake Ontario. From my perspective it's a wondeful place to live. It doesn't have the flash of Los Angeles, the history of Paris, or the regal beauty of Venice, but Toronto is the crown jewel of the country named the best place to live in the world by the United Nations 5 years in a row! It is a wonderful place to just be--- to shop, to dine, to take in culture, to do whatever you please. I hope this little tour of the city will help you understand a little bit of the place  I call home!
The Toronto skyline is a stunning sight to see, no matter what time of year. The CN Tower is the largest free-standing structure in the world! The "bubble" you see on it holds a few restaurants and clubs, and the whole thing slowly rotates so you can see the entire city as you dine.   Next to the tower is the SkyDome which is a stadium with a retractable roof where they hold baseball and football games, concerts, and other events. When this was being built, I signed one of the roof beams that was placed in the dome--- so I'm in there somewhere!
This new City Hall was designed by a finnish architect. In front of it is Nathan Phillips Square which has fountains in the summer, and becomes a skating rink in the winter! This is where the city's New Year's Eve festivities are held every year.
The University of Toronto is one of the oldest and most prestigious schools in North America. Film crews often shoot here when they want to replicate American Ivy League schools. They shot the film "With Honors" here because they said this campus looked more "Ivy League" than Harvard itself!
Next to New York City and London, Toronto is the largest english language theatre centre in the world! Everything from large musicals, to Shakespeare, cutting-edge new plays, and small fringe shows...they all play here every week. That's not to mention all the operas, ballets, symphony performances and concerts!  "The Royal Alexandra Theatre" , left, is 93 years old, and one of the oldest working theatres on the continent. I had the privilege of acting on that stage for 6 months last year, and it was a thrill. What a grand old theatre she is...
Did you know that Toronto has been named the most multicultural city in the world? We have two Chinatowns, two Little Italy's, Little Portugal, the Danforth (Greektown), Little Bombay, and many, many other ethnicities that call Toronto home. As a result, we also have the best ethnic restaurants! From Ethiopian, to Jamaican, to Chilean, Toronto has it all!
Well, that's just a small taste of Toronto! I hope to add to this Keepsake as time goes by. There's so much of Toronto to share! 
The Flatiron building, with the CN Tower in the background