What indie musician Charlotte Cornfield loves about Roncesvalles
Including an Arts and Crafts library branch, an arthouse cinema and a café that doubles as a hair salon
Singer-songwriter Charlotte Cornfield—whose sixth album, Hurts Like Hell, drops on March 27— grew up at Ossington and Davenport. She decamped to Montreal for university in 2006 and, after a brief detour in New York, returned to Toronto in 2014. “I had never lived south of Bloor and always kind of dreamed about that,” she says. In 2020, she moved into her partner’s house in Roncey and was immediately smitten. “There are beautiful tree-lined side streets and little hidden-gem cafés and lots of spots that are kind of off the beaten path,” she says. “It’s just a very walkable, beautiful neighbourhood.”
High Park Library
“The building is by Eden Smith, a famous local architect who designed a lot of Arts and Crafts houses in the Wychwood area. It was built in 1916 and has this great character to it. The children’s area is a real hub of activity. I have a two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, and I take her there almost every day after daycare. The library offers so many resources—movie nights, a walking group, English programs. It’s an amazing thing to have in the community.” 228 Roncesvalles Ave., tpl.ca/locations/hp
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Maple Produce
“Maple is a little greengrocer that’s been there forever. It’s always bustling and feels like a neighbourhood secret. We get most of our produce there. Everything is really fresh and affordable—it costs less than No Frills. There are good-quality berries, apples and a really nice selection of mushrooms.” 225 Roncesvalles Ave.
Osprey Cafe
“Osprey is a coffee shop after my own heart: no bullshit, wooden tables, good light, and welcoming to people meeting in groups or sitting and working alone. They play great music, like indie rock deep cuts from 20 years ago. I like to order a cappuccino and one of their incredible chocolate chip cookies. There’s a hair salon in the back, which makes it an interesting space.” 1714 Queen St. W., @osprey.to
Revue Cinema
“It’s the ideal place to meet a friend and catch a movie—a beautiful, vibey old cinema with great energy around it. I saw the Feminist Live Reads series present Mean Girls, and they occasionally do a Saturday-morning all-you-can-eat-cereal cartoon party you can take your kids to, which I’ve been meaning to check out. The last thing I saw there was the 4K restoration of David Lynch’s Lost Highway.” 400 Roncesvalles Ave., revuecinema.ca
Charles G. Williams Park
“I’m always at the park with my daughter. They have an amazing playground that’s fenced in, so it feels safe, and there are beautiful gardens around it. In the summer, there’s a splash pad, and kids have birthday parties there all the time.” 75 Wabash Ave., friendsofcgwp.com
Museum of Contemporary Art
“My partner and I have a family membership, so it’s a super affordable way to spend an afternoon. And there are always cool events, like curator talks and art-making workshops. My favourite recent show was a solo exhibition of Margaux Williamson’s incredible paintings, called Shoes, Books, Hands, Buildings, and Cars.” 158 Sterling Rd., moca.ca
