In a classy city like Toronto, the streets are like aisles upon aisles of candy just waiting to be devoured, treats to delight the eyes and stimulate the psyche on any day of the week.

I recently made the opportunity to partake in just one of these offerings: the Steam Whistle Brewery. I am a fan of the immensely refreshing beer, but I had no idea just how cool its birthplace is: Steam Whistle Brewing Company was conceived and created by three guys who refused to sit in the corner and cry upon losing their dream jobs but instead went on to create an even more perfect vocation not only for them, but for their enthusiastic and fortunate employees.

Some more reasons this place intrigued me so: this company has been greener than its retro bottles long before it was hip and essential to be green. It provides space for original and passionate local artists to showcase their work and retains one piece from each artist for its own growing collection. Finally, it lives and thrives in the historic John Street Roundhouse, happy to be occupying bays that had been used for servicing steam train cars, and proud to call the mighty CN Tower and energetic Rogers Centre its neighbours.
© Christine Mastroianni, all rights reserved