Once a great escape from my dank basement apartment, Toronto’s WiFi-rich libraries are now a no-go zone. Out of fear for my state of mind, I’ve been looking around for acceptable locals to get some work done. Here’s what I found:
Tequila Bookworm (512 Queen St. W.): A sweet spot on Queen St. W. with plenty of tables and free WiFi. Just don’t get distracted by the bustling activity outside its huge windows.
Gladstone Hotel Café (1214 Queen St. W): It’s lunch time, but there’s work to do. Multi-task: grab some nutritious grub at the Gladstone Café, while taking advantage of their free WiFi to send some emails.
Centre for Social Innovation (215 Spadina Ave and 720 Bathurst St.): If you need more space than a coffee shop offers, check out one of the Centre For Social Innovation’s two locations. These shared spaces have roomy tables, plenty of outlets and reliable WiFi. You can even snag a private desk, boardroom or office, for a premium.
Betty’s (240 King St. E.): If writers biographies have taught us anything, its that alcohol helps creativity. Get your creative juices flowing with one of the many tasty brews on tap at Betty’s. This spot has plenty of space, including a patio and a lounge area in the basement. But even with all that space, it tends to get busy after 6:00 with after-work crowds. Oh yeah, and there’s free WiFi.
Dufferin Grove Park: With the weather like it is, don’t we all wish we could work out in the sunshine? Well, you can! Wireless Toronto keeps Dufferin Grove Park hooked up with free WiFi.
Your local corporate coffee giant: Most Starbucks, Second Cups or Timothy’s allow you to use their plentiful WiFi, as long as you buy a coffee or something. Avoid busy downtown locations, such as those around King and Yonge. Laptop users will be sure to get the stink eye when table space is limited and the whole world is looking for a place to consume their java.
University of Toronto: Students are in luck. Their campus is rich in libraries that are not closed due to strike. Unfortunately, U of T’s password-protected WiFi is off limits to us home-office types.
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Elizabeth Hames is a Toronto-based freelance journalist who calls the West Coast home. Follow her on Twitter at @elizabethhames.
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