Trinity Street, Toronto

Trinity Street is the Distillery District’s broadest brick-paved pedestrian street, framed by restored 19th-century industrial buildings. Begin at its north end, where Trinity meets Mill Street, and turn south into the district. As you do so, notice how Trinity Street opens into wider gathering spaces used for markets, festivals, outdoor dining, and other events. Here, cars are generally kept outside the historic core, leaving the lanes primarily to pedestrians and cyclists.

Continue toward the center of the district until you reach Distillery Lane, which crosses Trinity. If you turn right, Distillery Lane leads northwest toward Parliament Street. Look along this narrow brick passage for the large contemporary sculptures positioned among the former distillery buildings. Their modern forms deliberately contrast with the old brick warehouses, ironwork, and industrial architecture surrounding them. Three major sculptures have traditionally been positioned along Distillery Lane.

At the intersection, look for the district’s most conspicuous artwork called “Still Dancing,” created by American artist Dennis Oppenheim. You can identify it immediately by its towering copper-colored cylinder, sweeping metal loops, and large tilted circular forms. Installed in 2009, the sculpture rises about 38 feet high and stretches roughly 50 feet across. Its shape has been interpreted as both a pair of figures dancing and an abstract reference to the stills once used to produce alcohol here. Oppenheim himself connected the work with the district’s distilling history.

Return to Trinity Street and continue south. Before reaching its end, look to the left for Tank House Lane, which runs east toward Cherry Street. This is another atmospheric pedestrian passage, lined with former industrial buildings now occupied by restaurants, shops, galleries, and other businesses.

As you reach the southern end of Trinity Street and the adjoining parking area, turn around and look north for a broad view along Trinity, framed by the Distillery District’s red-brick industrial buildings. Quite a view, with “Still Dancing” providing the main visual landmark.