Nathan Phillips Square

At the corner of Bay and Queen, Nathan Phillips Square is in the heart of the city, and it's a great place to chill out and watch the city go by. While the revitalization work currently underway may cause the relocation of some events and familiar landmarks, there's still a lot to see and do.

While people-watching in the square is probably my favourite activity, sometimes it's nice to just chill out, especially after a long day of walking around. The garden on the podium roof is a great place to do it. Because it completely encircles City Hall, there's always some shade to be found, although seating is pretty limited. I also like standing at the rail and watching the activity below - it's a neat feeling to be somewhere quiet and slightly removed and still be able to take in all the hustle and bustle around you. I just wish they'd put leaning rails or tall benches along the railings. To access the garden, you can walk up the ramp on the east side of the square, or there are stairs on the east and north sides.

Among the other points of interest, apart from the awesome City Hall building itself, are the sculpture by Henry Moore, commonly referred to as The Archer - very controversial when first installed - and the reflecting pond/ice rink. I was surprised to learn that the arches over the pond have a name - they're called Freedom Arches, and were given that name in 1989 when a piece of the Berlin Wall was incorporated into the base of the southern end of the central arch. To learn more, check out the plaque next time you're in the Square. Or better yet, take a tour of the Square and City Hall. Group tours are conducted for school groups and ESL classes, but you may be able to arrange a tour for your group if you call in advance (visit their website for more details). If that's not possible, the City has created a self-guided tour and the tour brochures can be downloaded from their website.

For those of us who work nearby, there are also some regular weekday events. On Wednesdays there's a Farmers' Market from 10 am to 2 pm, and starting July 13 the market will include concerts to entertain you while you shop or eat. And speaking of eating, starting July 14, we get Tasty Thursdays which feature freshly grilled foods prepared by various Toronto restaurants, with all food under $7. Plus more concerts. And of course, during the winter months skating is always an option, with skate sharpening and rentals available on-site.