New Kingwest magazine beautifully illustrates why people don’t like King West
A recently launched quarterly about the fabulousness of life in the King West area is, as expected, a thinly veiled condo catalogue. Created by Freed Developments, the glossy is filled with ads for and profiles of the company’s condo projects, such as Six 50 King West and Five Hundred Wellington West. There’s a two-page article about the Fashion House condo—an ad for it appears three pages later—as well as a two-page pictorial profile of the Thompson Residences, a six-page article about the Thompson Residences and an ad for the Thompson Residences. Also, to really drive the point home that King West has condos, there’s an article called “City’s Condo Craze.”
Condo content aside, the mag’s other editorial content pretty much sums up why some people avoid the neighbourhood:
• Oversexed nonsense. The fashion spread featuring pouting models in skimpy black outfits might as well be called “The servers of King West.” It’s so dark we can barely make out the clothes.
• Ridiculously over-aspirational swagger. This thing has reviews of the Audi R8 V10 (starting at $141,000) and the Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet (approximately $200,000). The Porsche can go from 0 to 100 in 3.4 seconds, though presumably not on King Street.
• An overall lack of self-awareness. The cover has not one, but two crowns to drive home that the street has the word “King” in it and is, therefore, classy. The cover’s tagline also reads: “Design, art, real estate, everything regal.” Calls to Buckingham Palace to see if the Queen approves of the topless model on the contents page were not returned.
Joking aside, we should note that the magazine isn’t all pretentious, self-promoting froth. Writer Rick McGinnis, whose interesting pieces for BlogTO and Metro have garnered him a steady following, has an article in here about King West’s history dating back to the War of 1812. There are also interviews with Broken Social Scene and Susur Lee, a wine guide in which prices go from a cheap $11 to a reasonable $30, as well as a look at the neighbourhood’s Italian restaurant boom.
 and the Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet (approximately $200,000). The Porsche can go from 0 to 100 in 3.4 seconds, though presumably not on King Street.
• An overall lack of self-awareness. The cover has not one, but two crowns to drive home that the street has the word “King” in it and is, therefore, classy. The cover’s tagline also reads: “Design, art, real estate, everything regal.” Calls to Buckingham Palace to see if the Queen approves of the topless model on the contents page were not returned.
Joking aside, we should note that the magazine isn’t all pretentious, self-promoting froth. Writer Rick McGinnis, whose interesting pieces for BlogTO and Metro have garnered him a steady following, has an article in here about King West’s history dating back to the War of 1812. There are also interviews with Broken Social Scene and Susur Lee, a wine guide in which prices go from a cheap $11 to a reasonable $30, as well as a look at the neighbourhood’s Italian restaurant boom.){kind=link}
It is so unfortunate to see a great publication like Toronto Life slagging a new publication, which in my perspective is on the money for what King West is. I think the art direction is excellent and perfectly targets the mean demographic of King West. Your smart ass remarks about not driving a P Turbo down King Street at high speeds are irrelevant and juvenile. I gather whomever wrote this article lives in a cardboard box in a park and has no aspirations to attain the “finer” things in life………Just ‘cause you (whomever writes this column, remains nameless) don’t or can’t (the more likely of the two) live above the poverty line, doesn’t mean that those of us that do, shouldn’t !!!
And for the record I love the kingwest logo, if you’d take the time to look at it is quite smart graphically………. Thanks for your opinion, but no thanks.
Oh, “Living”. The finer things in life aren’t on King West, to start with. If you think so, you really need to spend more on travel and less on crantinis at Cheval. Second, you do not universally “attain” finer things, because not all that’s fine are “things”, and can be even BE “attained”.
So, after that aspirational opener, that you mouth off about the “poverty line” suggests all the gloss you’re caught up in thinly disguises both insular arrogance and sheer idiocy. For someone who uses “juvenile” as an insult, you display it quite readily.
The point of the piece is “Kingwest” (the magazine) embodies far too much empty arriviste frontin’ … that you show up with more of the same in an attempt to DEFEND this condo-ad-cum-lazy-fash-spread speaks volumes. Ugh.
Not surprising that TL would slag KW. TL must absolutely defend the notion that all the finer thing in life choose to settle in Yorkville or Rosedale. I must admit TL has stopped updating us with the progress of Rosedale mansion renos. If only they could do the same about Jian Ghomeshi’s party whereabouts.
“HKJ” you sound like one of the disgruntled people that unfortunately get left standing on the sidewalk outside of King West bars!!!! That includes CHEVAL, so be careful whom you slag. As a representative of Toronto Life, I’m amazed that they allow you to post stuff like that, as our advertising dollars that contribute to the publishing of Toronto Life and could easily hang in the balance. T Life’s perspective of King West is OFFENSIVE. Why don’t you stay wherever it is you live in and leave the ppl. that like King West, to King West.
As for your “go travel” remark, I can almost guarantee I’ve seen much more of the world than you ever will!!! And Ya, I do fly 1st, ‘cause I can.
” gloss you’re caught up in thinly disguises both insular arrogance and sheer idiocy” …… It’s amazing, why does being able to afford the “finer” and yes materialistic “things”, ‘cause at the end of the day that’s all they are, make you a bad person?
It’s amazing that you seem to think that all KW types are a bunch of douchebags, for the record we raise funds, donate venues and oh yeah, just to reiterate, advertise with Toronto Life.
“Living” is totally not an offended writer/publisher. Not at all.
sorry “s” im neither …………
making it sound even MORE pathetic.
I live in the East Annex, but I adventure out into the whole city and try to take advantage of all it has to offer. If King West, its residents & businesses have a new magazine to celebrate their ‘hood, good on them! I’ll probably still only go there for the clubs, bars, restaurants & shows but maybe someone else who picks up the magazine will choose to live in one of its many condominium options which cater to all sorts obudgets. Good for them! Good for all of us. Go T.O.!
I liked the Wine piece and the Susur Lee article too. I’d like to check out that new condo for sure.
I think I know who wrote this. Anonymity is so spineless when it comes to such diatribe! So much easier to slander than it is to create, I guess.
Congrats on the mag!!.. well done KW!!!
I love the fact that I’m not the only one that loves the fact that whomever the spineless wonder that wrote this article is hides behind their anonymity…………..
So are publications like this a symptom of the growing class divide in Toronto? Or are they perpetuating it?
anyone else nitice how whomever the snide remarks about the king west area and the people in it were muzzled as soon as the mention of yanking advertising was mentioned……loosers.
Wow, this criticism is really sad. I personally think KW is one of the friendliest, hippest neighboorhoods in Toronto and is just getting started!! I think the mag is beautifully done. Congrats!! I have been enjoying the neighborhood for the last 6 years and look forward to whats to come.
The real issue with the King West magazine, which Toronto Life only briefly alludes to, is that it’s just a glossy, over-the-top expensive piece of advertising for Freed Developments – passing itself off as a magazine, no less.
However, on another level, a magazine filled with thinly veiled advertorial might just be emblematic of this “hip” “new” neighbourhood…
I certainly understand some of the negative points, but here’s another thing: This magazine is FREE!! You have a choice to pick it up or not. The publisher is not forcing anyone’s hand in grabbing a copy, but only trying to build a buzz around the neighbourhood and is doing so of their own financial doing. I, for one, appreciate the effort in trying to stimulate interest in a great neighbourhood.
I think the writer of this article, who has chosen to remain nameless, is only trying to brew negativity, rather than make any attempts to encourage growth to our already sometimes “self deprecating” city. I am so tired of this type of criticism and would love to one day be part of a united front, praising this great city and ALL it’s fine neighbourhoods.
King West is not hip.
Fashionable in a mainstream sense, yes.
For example: Toronto’s best DJ’s don’t play in King West clubs for example, and King West clubs don’t break new music styles, they only get to “new” stuff once it’s gone through a few cycles.
Most people who live/club in King West are professionals in finance and other white-collar jobs, which is fine – it’s just not a crowd that is really interested in new art, they’re more interested in status, hence why the best art in Toronto doesn’t happen on King West.
Living, you seem so burned up about the negative comments that is shows in your hasty typing. ppl just settle down, it’s a free mag and it’s not hurting anyone, just trying to promote a certain “lifestyle” for ppl with money who don’t have much individuality. it’s a real problem in TO, sorry to say. ask anyone from montreal, new york, etc. we’ve got a ways to go and hell, if KW wants to maintain a certain image, so be it.
King West has been, and always will be a very poor NYC. It’s shit. Freed has ruined my home. Build a bunch of shit 500sq/ft condos, given us gas leaks and absent owners that rent out there tiny flippable units to the aspiring 23 year old bay streeter. This article is bang on. The East is where the new hip is. I’ve lived here for years…. it’s gone to hell…
Wow… I can’t believe the whining. To all of those complaining, I’d love to hear of your contributions to helping Toronto build up it’s street-cred. You’re all so concerned about what NYC and Montreal and everyone else thinks—do something about it!!. Seriously… turn off this message board and create something we can feel good about. If not… then I suggest that you let the folks at KW and any other local mag to do their thing.
I’ve wasted enough time on this myself now. Perhaps it’s time I create a magazine that talks about how the negativity in this city is ultimately the anchor to any potential success. Who knows… you’d probably bitch about that too.
How many times does it have to be repeated for people to stop defending this “local mag”–IT ISN’T AN ACTUAL MAGAZINE.
Wow. All this fuss over an over-stylized flyer??
I should hope the reputation of King West is not at all tarnished by the smarminess of the publishers/writers/people-who-are-pretending-they-aren’t-affiliated-with-the-magazine-but-are-spending-way-too-much-time-checking-back-on-the-comments-of-this-article.
King West as an area is an ecletic mix of business people, tucked-away nightlife entertainment spots and the fashion district. The problem is this “magazine” is trying to make it into something it is NOT (some smarmy spot where the tacky overspenders of the entertainment district stumble home after a long night of boozing it up and making jackasses out of themselves) under the guise of saying they are “improving the area”. Rather than shooting off your mouth, why don’t you work on restructuring your magazine so you can showcase the better side of what King West ACTUALLY IS rather than showboating and and pretending it’s a Yorkville, a Forest Hill or a JERSEY SHORE, when it is not?! And perhaps try to be more professional, as I’m sure the residents of King West would not like to be represented as sloppy, and arrogant which is what you are coming off as.
It’s disgusting that they’ll let anyone put out a “magazine” representing Toronto these days. Our contribution to Toronto (from the joint annoyance voiced on this comments page) appears to be to make sure that people don’t take King West magazine’s representation of King West, Toronto, in any seriousness.
And just to reiterate again King West “magazine” is not a journalistic publication, it is a flyer. Do not compare King West to Toronto Life or any other reputable publications.
Really don’t know what everyone is huffing and puffing over.
I myself know first hand that King West isn’t the whole “banker and lawyer” lived residences as everyone says. I know that a lot of nightlife-loving men who reguarly frequent King West hotspots and come “stumble home after a long night of boozing it up and making jackasses out of themselves” … it’s true. YOU may be the one with the wrong impression of King West. It’s just as it appears-slutty, sloppy and arrogant.
Really don’t know what everyone is huffing and puffing over.
I myself know first hand that King West isn’t the whole “banker and lawyer” lived residences as everyone says. I know that a lot of nightlife-loving men who regularly frequent King West hotspots and come “stumble home after a long night of boozing it up and making jackasses out of themselves” … it’s true. YOU may be the one with the wrong impression of King West. It’s just as it appears-slutty, sloppy and arrogant.
The thread of comments here are just silly. I live in a Freed building, and I’ve never been out to a King West bar or club. In fact, my boyfriend works at one and has laughed at the expense of patrons on more than one occasion. We’re just not club people. There are actually a lot of young professionals and couples here who aren’t, either, just as I’m sure there are some who are. A distinct amount of people who go to the clubs on King West and get sloppy drunk, are not from King West. Just because there may be people who are, doesn’t mean that the whole community should be viewed as such. Some of us don’t drive Porches (or cars, at all) and there’s a very fully occupied bike stand area in front of the building next to mine. King West isn’t all that bad. Hell, we have Craft Burger and it’s definitely home to one of the best damn burgers in the city. I like it here because the buildings are well designed, and they’re not monster towers like in some other places in the city. Sure, there’s jack asses here, but aren’t there everywhere? Though I have lived all over this fine city and find that I get bugged a lot less, which is nice. It does feel walking outside to the grocery store or wine rack on a Friday night, though, haha.
Just read Annoyed’s comment. Cheers, brother (or sister!). If King West were an area of sloppy drunks who go out clubbing every night, why do you think there are so many cabs out on a Friday night? I don’t think anyone (even the people portrayed in the flyer) would hail a cab for a max. half block walk. Though I’m not much of a club person, that doesn’t mean that I don’t get dressed up and sloppy drunk every once in a while, too–I just do it in another area of town, haha. The men in The Village have more tasteful compliments towards my outfits, anyway.
Most here get the fact this is a puff to FREED, w/o the signature. The area and mag is cetainly not very PC, and never will be. It’s great having this kind of new neighbourhood support, althought it will certainly offend cetain groups..you know who you are. Maybe FREED could learn from a more carefull nippleless crowd, self apologetic or not. I appreciate and support the arts, wherever it may spread, and invite you kind reader to lend yours. I’m looking foreward to seeing a compliment of voices, supported by more than one developer, now that creative ground has been broken by the offering. Without the other voices, King west will just be a one horse crown.
This comment (dare I say,
article?) Is indicative
of all that’s inherently
wrong in the minds of
some of those who DON’T
live in the area (but
secretly, wish they did)
The magazine (King West)
is something to be proud
of, if not, then looked
at with serious appreciation
for what the area has
become, and is to be.
King West is a visionary
magazine, and serves
world class FREE information
for its hungry-for-more-success
readers
I would suggest the
TL writer order a copy of
the Fall 2011 Source
Book “RESTORATION HARDWARE”
and start there, as per
your “King West”,
education into the
“finer” things
Note: Maybe its that acne
all over your face (YES,
WE KNOW YOU, AT TL, YOU’RE
A “SHE”) has you hating
yourself so much,you want
us to feel your pain?
Well, WE LOVE HATERS!!!
Happy King West Resident