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Teens of the 80s and teens 30 years later may be familiar with one of Toronto’s most famous streets: Degrassi. The TV show Degrassi Junior High, Degrassi High and Degrassi: The Next Generation all pay homage to south Riverdale’s Degrassi Street. But I’m not sure if any of these TV shows are any representation of Riverdale.

As far as east Toronto goes, there are three established neighbourhoods in east Toronto south of the DVP: The Beach, Playter Estates and this neighbourhood, Riverdale. And it has the goods to be an established neighbhourhood: Expansive, Edwardian and Victorian style homes, winding tree-lined streets. Then there’s easy access to the Danforth subway line, two well-used parks. It’s an easy to live here.

It wasn’t always like that. Like many central Toronto neighbouroods, there was a period when many neighbourhoods were first inhabited by working class immigrants. Then, the new urban professional moved in to dominate many Toronto neighbourhoods.

Riverdale began taking off in the 80s, and has never stopped soaring. It began at its northern region near the Danforth, just east of Broadview. In the 2000s, South Riverdale underwent rapid gentrification expansion. Some gritty elements still remains along the Queen East strip of Riverdale where there is a higher concentration of social housing, and the housing stock is less expensive than the northern houses. Still, South Riverdale is more interesting in many ways. Queen East has much more independent, trendy restaurants and just more foot traffic than the Danforth these days. The houses may be smaller and less grand, but the main street is thriving.

Still, Danforth Avenue has something that Queen East does not. Greeks. Riverdale has wisely held on to it Greek influence well. Though the bulk of the residents are no longer Greek, the Greeks have left a delicious legacy of Greek restaurants along the Danforth mixed in with your typical chains like Starbucks and Timmies, but also indie bakeries, cafes and one of the best organic supermarkets – The Carrot Common.

Riverdale is also lucky enough to be squeezed between two very different parks. Riverdale Park along Broadview is open with expansive fields and one of the best views of the downtown. Between Carlaw and Logan, just north of Gerrard, you have Withrow Park with off leash dog areas, and a lot of places to play sports from soccer to hockey to baseball.

In terms of location, I think Riverdale is fantastic. The east end does not have the density of downtown. So, the pace is a little slower and the driving a little easier.