A little bit of this, a little bit of that

Dundas Street provides an intersting dichotomy of the urban landscape. East of Yonge, Dundas is characterized by the prostitutes, pimps and addicts roaming the concrete plains illuminated by the flickering Hooker Harvey's sign.

The west side, however, is what often shows up in tourist pamphlets and My Toronto campaigns. The booming intersection of Yonge and Dundas streets is anchored by The Eaton Centre, solidifying its role as the hub of consumerism. Move towards Spadina and you'll see the AGO undergo it's transformation as the chaos of construction blends seamlessly into the always-bustling Chinatown.

Continuing west on Dundas towards the Trinity-Bellwoods area, a distinct gentrification presence is felt as abandoned stores are juxtaposed with chic galleries, sort of a Dundas East meets Dundas West.

But this area isn't just a matter of boutiques replacing Mom and Pop shops, the cold; industrial landscape is interrupted by the sounds of children eager to go home after a long day of school. Their cries of excitement linger in the sky that's cut into pieces by unsightly streetcar cables.

Freshly-painted houses line the neighbourhoods, trying to revive the charm of the area that looks like it's stuck between the modernization of Dundas West and the squalor of Dundas East. However, the residents insist that it's the perfect place in the city.

"I like that it's close to the city and compact and hip because it doesn't feel suburban," says resident Leslie Nicholson as she stood at the entrance of her apple-green house. "There's good bars and restaurants nearby but I try never to go to the same ones twice."

Brightly coloured children's winter jackets hang behind Nicholson's door, perfect for trips to the park nearby in the chilly weather. Although, Nicholson says, the neighbourhood is great to be in year-round.

The words "doesn't feel suburban" replayed in my mind as I walked back to the bustling Yonge-Dundas intersection. The houses clearly don't conform to the bungalows and ranch houses that sprawled in the '50s, and yet the school bells and the community garden nearby don't exactly come to mind when the word "downtown" is uttered. It's an intriguing neighbourhood full of contradictions that can't be categorized with a mere, single term.