Before Yorkville was the place to grab a gelato and drop $3,000 on a Valentino sweater, it was Torontos music mecca.
The first coffee house, Club 71, opened in 1959, and by the 1970s the area was home to three recording studios that attracted acts like Gordon Lightfoot, Anne Murray, the Guess Who, Elton John, Cat Stevens and Fleetwood Mac. Neil Young, Lightfoot and Joni Mitchell also famously frequented the areas more than 40 clubs and coffee houses.
To commemorate this history, Heritage Toronto has created three plaques that will mark the neighbourhoods contributions to the music scene in the 60s, 70s and 80s. During a ceremony at the Masonic Temple on May 6, the city will unveil plaques to mark 60s coffee houses the Penny Farthing and the Purple Onion and one simply for Yorkvilles Music Scene.
Lightfoot, David Clayton Thomas and members of Luke & the Apostles will be on hand for the unveiling, happening from 5 to 8 pm. There will also be a guided tour of the Masonic Temple. Free.
Find out more at heritagetoronto.org.
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