Doors Open 2009
May 24, 2009
Doors Open Toronto is a city-wide open house, showcasing up to 175 venues of architectural, historic, cultural or social significance.
This year's edition, held on Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24, is more bookish than usual, with roughly a quarter of the venues having a literary connection.
Learn more about the venues in our feature stories and videos below, and use our comprehensive listings if you plan to take part.
Breaking into the Don
Masses of people waited hours Saturday to get into Old Don Jail, surely an astonishing sight for the tortured souls said to haunt the premises..
FULL STORY
Building a city, book by book
Through the strength of its authors and poets, Toronto forges its own literary identity.
FULL STORY
Doors Open listings
Among the more than 50 new sites on this year's roster are a restored bowling alley, two Masonic temples and two public transit repair and maintenance facilities.
FULL LISTINGS |
LIT CITY LISTINGS
Video tours with Star architecture critic Christopher Hume
 |
Fort York: Toronto's birthplace
Fort York is the birthplace of Toronto, but it's also the city's most overlooked historical site.
• Watch now |
 |
Will new Regent Park succeed?
The new incarnation of Regent Park is much more integrated with the city around it.
• Watch now |
 |
Swaminarayan Mandir
The Swaminarayan Mandir is made from 24,000 pieces of hand-carved marble.
• Watch now
• Quicktime Virtual Reality tour 1
• Quicktime VR tour 2 |
 |
St. James the Less Chapel
Consecrated in 1861, this soaring Gothic church is an outstanding
example of the quality of design and craftsmanship available in
19th-century Toronto.
• Watch now |