Map of the Gooderham Building Area.

THE GOODERHAM BUILDING AREA

CLASSICAL CONCERTS Catch a rising star at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts on January 15 as Canadian pianist Darrett Zusko takes the stage. Currently training at Julliard, Zusko plays Bartok and Schubert. On January 22, the esteemed Tokyo Quartet touches down in Toronto. The foursome kicks off a Beethoven cycle and performs selections from Op. 18. 27 Front St. E., 416-366-7723.

DESIGNER DISCOUNTS Grab a fashionable bargain at Winners. Here, you’ll find a large selection of brand-name and designer fashions, accessories, home decor items and giftware, all at discount prices. Sharpen your elbows: the competition for cheap duds can be fierce. 35 to 45 Front St. E., 416-362-0213.

BRIT LIT Bookish types will take great pleasure in the discovery of Nicholas Hoare. The tweedy setting—dark-wood shelves line the walls and an elegant coffee table displays books—is fitting. The store is unabashedly Anglophile: well-curated offerings include a mix of British fiction, history, biography, design and travel, plus rare children’s books. 45 Front St. E., 416-777-2665.

GOURMET GOLDMINE Dining options abound in this lively district. Swanky Lucien is a posh hot spot among Bay Street’s after-work drinks-and-dinner crew, especially with glowing reviews from top critics. 36 Wellington St. E., 416-504-9990.

GEAR TO GO If you lose your way, stop by travel-accessories shop Europe Bound for a hand-held GPS system. Or snag a pair of comfortable walking boots and a cozy fleece to brave the chilly January temperature. 47 Front St. E., 416-601-1990.

THE FULL BELLY The Sultan’s Tent & Café Moroc get full marks for enlivening the post-theatre meal. Live belly dancing takes place each night (call for times), including an 11 p.m. show on Fridays and Saturdays, while diners enjoy such Moroccan-inspired fare as chicken Marrakesh. 49 Front St. E., 416-961-0601.

PHOTO OP Its distinctive wedge shape and Gothic-Romanesque design makes The Gooderham Building, popularly called the Flatiron Building (pictured top), hard to miss. Built in 1892, it’s the first flatiron ever constructed. The site originally housed the offices of financier and liquor merchant George Gooderham (of the Gooderham & Worts Distillery). Don’t miss the back of the building—a playful trompe l’oeil mural by Canadian artist Derek Besant adorns it. 49 Wellington St. E.

MARKET FRESH Sample the local flavour (and fend off winter’s harsh winds) at foodie central, the St. Lawrence Market. The vast indoor market is home to more than 120 specialty shops and stalls, many of which have been coming to sell their goods for generations. Find portable treats from local purveyors to take home for friends and family—and don’t be afraid to ask for samples for yourself. 92 Front St. E., 416-392-7219.

TIP! To get to the Gooderham Building area, take the Yonge-University subway line to Union Station at Front and Bay streets; from there, walk east on Front to Church Street. To explore further, continue east on Front or wander up Church to King Street East and over to Jarvis Street.