Thursday, 04 August 2011 10:05

While walking to the Locus 144 for the Le Bel Été Social Hour I was reminded of the industrial history of this part of the city. Now you're more likely to find an exciting piece of postmodern art instead of an old fashioned-factory as the new residents continue to reinvent this district.

The atmosphere inside Locus 144 was relaxed and cool. Although the sky was threatening rain, that didn't seem to stop a large number of people from stopping by. Once there, people enjoyed a few drinks and some great music, all while appreciating the nature of the event: getting to know a little more about Liberty Village and the people who live there.

It seemed like for every person I spoke to who was a resident of the district there was another person who arrived to check out the scene. It speaks to Liberty Village's reputation as an up-and-coming neighbourhood in Toronto that makes Le Bel Été an event worth travelling for. The feeling seemed to be that the secluded feel of the area created a small town atmosphere, a real shock in a location that's relatively close to the downtown core of one of the largest cities in North America.

The layout for Locus 144 was an open-concept floor plan, with a few tables for intimate conversations if people desired.  Most chose to take advantage of the open space and stood mingling in large groups. It was a comfortable fit for the large group without ever really feeling crowded, something usually not found in similar venues. Everyone I talked to seemed to appreciate the more social atmosphere.

 

It might have been that atmosphere that seemed to get everyone talking to one another.  I found it tough to pull myself away from conversations. More often than not someone would be telling me about their love of the small businesses in the area. They really appreciated and enjoyed the small-town feel of the area. It's the sort of place where you know your neighbours and feel comfortable enough to show up at a social event alone to get to know the faces you only ever get a glance at.

 

Everyone seemed to be embracing the 'new' of the area. Liberty Village isn’t an established community where people are trying to fit in; it is a new place that people want to make their own.  The crowd that night had young and old from every corner of the world, like a microcosm of Toronto, everyone beginning afresh to create a vision of the city that was truly their own.

But this is all a bit over the top and maybe it sounds like I'm still a little drunk on the mood of that night. Although I stayed as dry as ever, I was genuinely charmed by it. At its heart, it was a group of strangers getting together for one night to get to know each other. Conversations, drinking, and music created a great synergy that made for a great evening.

More than once I had to apologize for making an exit in a conversation, and being a natural listener, I was pleased by the ease of conversation. Had it been later in the day I would have laughed it off as the drinks going to work, but the conversations were too genuine and early in the day for that. It might have been the atmosphere of the location, or just the area itself, but I'll always have fond memories of that night and an appreciation for the new beginnings it meant.

--José