Well, they don’t call it The Centre of the Universe for nothing. There are a plethora of sights, sounds, smells and straight-up stuff to take in while enjoying the 7th Annual RvBTO. But where to begin? Luckily, Toronto’s favourite local search engine Yelp.ca has highlighted a shortlist of nifty places to visit in nearby neighbourhoods. Check it out!

St. Lawrence Market

It’s only a few minutes walk down to the St. Lawrence Market. This former jail-house is now home to dozens of shops where you can scoop up vittles galore. There’s a lot to see, but we’re gonna single out Kozlik’s Mustard, because hey, we dig mustard. Feel like grabbing a coffee after the market? Try Hanks; a local favourite with a decidedly West coast feel. (And a solid brunch spot too.) And if you want to take that coffee to go and find some light-reading try Nicholas Hoare. This cozy bookshop is filled with treasures, and some great books about the city.

Financial District

Not too far is the Financial District. Fair warning: it’s often filled with suits —but that doesn’t mean there aren’t cool things to see. If you value a solid sammich, you can’t miss The Sandwich Box. If you’re feeling extra saucy, match it up with a soup from Soup Nutsy. You’ll find a long lineup for the latter in Toronto’s PATH; a 28 km, 4 milllion square-foot pedestrian tunnel. This winding maze is the world’s largest underground shopping centre. If you get lost down there, you oughta grab some delicious deKEFIR. It’s like froyo with a healthy twist. Once you’re above ground, check out the very zen (and free) Toronto Public Labyrinth.

Queen Street West

Queen Street West is Hogtown’s home of trendy hipsters, fashionistas and cool curiosities. Those who want to shop will need to hit this strip. Need a pair of kicks? Get Outside. A kitschy gift? The Outer Layer. A bucket full of dolls limbs, a charger for a Nokia 5190, and a used doorbell? Active Surplus. (Just look for the guy in the gorilla suit.) QSW is also home to great nightlife and not the fist-pumping kind. You can check out a rock show at the legendary Horseshoe Tavern, or snag jamaican patties and cocktails at 416 Snack Bar. And no list of T.O. staples would be complete without mentioning Toronto Underground Cinema. Trust us on that one.

Finding a hotel

There are quite a few hotels around Ryerson University. It is best to call them directly to confirm pricing and availability. Below is a map featuring a list of hotels nearby, and links to their business listings on Yelp.

View RvBTO 2011 in a larger map

To find even more things to do in the city be sure to check out www.yelp.ca. If you have an Android, BlackBerry or iPhone you can also download the Yelp app, which gives you the power of 17 reviews in the palm of your hand. It’s super handy on the go!