Chinatown and the streets are jammin'

@Chris Pereira: Thanks Chris. This is a very wide street and both sides are jammed with pedestrians, even on weekdays but especially Saturdays. It has that semi run-down feel but is also vibrantly alive and eclectic. I love Chinatown, but I pick my spots!

@morgan: Thanks, morgan. I advise anyone reading my replies to go and check out your photography and in particular the most recent "pepper picker" serial.

@JacklineG: Oui, C'est la ruche humaine!

@Phil: The riot of sights sounds and smells... I'll go back some time with the tripod for evening shots. It's a dynamic street. Cheers Phil.

@Stephen: I'm glad it came across as intended. I wanted to pass along some of that in-the-midst sensation. Cheers, Stephen.

@London Caller: I want to visit someday! It's a busy one here for sure. I've watched it grow massively over the past three decades.

@Florence: True words. Vancouver's Chinatown is smaller than Toronto's but is very busy. Victoria's is quite compact but is Canada's oldest one, and it rocks too. The vending, the shopping, the deals... it is a rich tapestry. I like your closing observation very much. Thanks.

@Ronnie 2¢: Indeed. Then there are the posh shopping districts (here it is Yorkville and Bloor West) that also contain similar feels, albeit much much different from what is shown above.

@JCJ: You can say that again.

@Mariana M.: Thanks, M. I wanted that partial face nice and close to give the shoulder-to-shoulder feeling that I was having in the moment. You can go right up to people in these crowds and snap away; everyone is too busy looking for deals! I found t-shirts priced at 7 for ten bucks. Pretty decent shirts, too. :)

@Williams: Thanks, Paul. Love your fog shot for today! Yeah, Dundas is still the hustling and bustling street of your memories, and the days of Spadina being mostly Jewish (days I remember well, especially Switzer's Deli) are long gone. This is a huge pocket now. The smaller one over at Broadview and Gerrard has grown also, and is equally busy.

@Jason Politte: I present a hoppin' place and you present a hoppin' toad named Trevor today. Delightful! Yes, we have eclectic humanity in this city. The entire world lives here. Cheers, J.

@Don - Slackwater: Thanks very much, Don. These are the types of streets that beg for a good long stroll.

@Denny Jump Photo: Even though I've been living the crowded downtown existence for 24 years, it still freaks me out how we all manage to move around and not be constantly in conflict under these conditions of minimized personal space. I say that with a smile, though. It makes my time away from busy streets all the sweeter. Thanks for the great comment, Denny. I was just walking and stopping to take pictures, and behind me to the south, even more people thronging. Cheers!

@Nina: Yes, I think you are right. If I see a quiet Chinatown somewhere, I don't think it has much to offer and won't even try the food!

@klausZ: Ha ha... I can be lonely in the midst of tens of thousands, but it depends on my mood and what is going on in my life. You are correct, though; the Chinatowns are thriving places of retail and street life. There should be no clean order within them, but rather this jumble of lively activity! Thanks, klausZ; absolutely love your photo for today.

@grouser: Thank you, good sir. Very nice of you to catch up on older images the way you do.

@Steven: Much appreciated feedback, Steven. You would know quite well from your own metropolis experience in a thriving city, that these are ambiance-choked places. It amazes me how we learn the special kind of radar that allows us to weave through such a mess!

@Francisco Romero: I would love to take my tripod and just boldly set it up somewhere at a great POV, to capture a detailed long-shot under various exposure lengths... just might do it some day, but for now I say thank you for the kind comment!

@Calusarus: Nice of you to have a look and leave your comment. Thank you!

@franz: It is a fantastic people-watching area, for sure. (me being the long-haired hippy looking dude, I fit right into the fold) I see another guy ahead of her with inked arms, too. Come to think of it, there are a lot of tattooed people here. (me, no) Thanks for sharing in what I share, franz.

@Twojays: I like that, "people river"... very apt. Hey, they make a nice hot and sour soup in King's Noodle. A great big bowl for cheap cheap. Perfect for the cold weather months between November and April. Cheers, Joyce.