You know that feeling you get after you finish an exam or an assignment in which you had spent all your time and energy? A wave of relief. But when the relief and the exhaustion have passed (and you’ve cleaned up the chaos into which your living room inevitably devolved), you’re left with a deep sense of boredom.
Yes, you could binge watch all twenty (and counting) seasons of Grey’s Anatomy, but here are some other activities around Toronto to spice it up. Plus, they’re great date ideas that you can take the credit for coming up with (assuming we don’t find you…).
1. Board Game Cafes
Board game cafes are a great way to feed your competitive side outside of law school. Snakes & Lattes, with two locations – one in the Annex and the other on College Street, is a Toronto favourite to play games ranging from Taboo to Catan.
2. Arcades
FreePlay (only $5 entry, including access to games!) and RecRoom are popular arcades you should definitely check out, and get bragging rights if you beat your friends at MarioKart!
3. Go Karting
Speaking of MarioKart, have you ever tried actually go karting on a track? K1 Speed Toronto is an indoor race carting track that you can drop in to attend, take your significant other to, or a place for your next party. What’s great is that they also serve food and drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic). If you’re a great driver but suck at MarioKart, this is your time to shine!
4. Go to a Comedy show
Do you get tired of watching John Mulaney’s standup? Then you should give local stand ups a shot at comedy clubs, such as Yuk Yuk’s, Absolute Comedy, and Comedy Lab (Toronto’s first minority-owned comedy club!).
5. Check Out Karaoke Lounges
This is a place where even the most horrendous singers can unite and sing their hearts out. You can start at B Boss Ktv on Spadina, or check out the many lounges that are just a short walk away!
6. Puppy Yoga
Spice up regular yoga with puppies. We could all use some puppy yoga, offered by The Well and @puppyshere, to reduce the stress of studying for administrative law.
7. Explore Local Markets
Instead of firm tour hopping, why don’t you take the time to hop around the variety of markets in Toronto? With St. Lawrence Market, the Leslieville Arts Market, Farmers Market at Evergreen Brick Words, and Kensington Market as a few of the options, there is no shortage of places where you can grab a bite while shopping for local goods – who knows, maybe you’ll end up with a $125 strawberry ceramic mug?
8. Try a Pilates or Yoga Class
This is a perfect opportunity to go to Toronto’s Yorkville community and see what the city is like during the day. Who knows? You might just end up loving hot Pilates. One that I’ve tried is with a small company called JayBird—they have an offer for new members to attend two classes for only $30! What’s even better is that it’s just beside the subway and right across from your next favourite coffee shop after your first class!
9. Latin Dance Classes
I know what you’re probably thinking by now—why more classes? Well, I was re-watching Brooklyn 99, and Jake taught Amy how to dance, which was only the beginning of their relationship. Maybe it’s because Valentine’s Day is coming up, but what I’ve learned is that you never know when you’d have to woo someone over. Salsa in the Heart is a company that offers salsa classes for all levels, and you can go as a beginner for only $7!
10. Treat Yourself to a Spa Day
“I never want to treat myself to a time where I can disassociate from stress and relax” said no one ever. If you’re wanting to do something simple and low-key, treat yourself to a spa day. I recommend checking out Groupon and choosing an experience that matches your budget and your location.
The great thing about this list is that it only begins to show you what the city has to offer. It’s natural for us to want to stay at home/campus and study for the fear of getting behind, but these are the moments that many of us need to ensure that our mental health doesn’t succumb to the stressors of school. Plus, if you’re ever finding yourself dreading the commute for firm tours, these are great places to pop by in-between or after.
TLDR: get up and explore Toronto! Lord Denning can wait.