Toronto is made of up numerous exciting and diverse neighbourhoods, and none are more well-known than The Danforth. Predominantly the Greek Town of Toronto, the Danforth is made up of hundreds of small business, including local restaurants, coffee shops, fashion outlets, and plenty of entertainment. 

The Danforth has come to be synonymous with Greek life and culture. The streets are lined with blue and white signs, featuring messages in both English as well as Greek. 

In fact, in 1993, as a testament to the Hellenic heritage that was so deeply embedded throughout the community, the Business Improvement Area, an organization that just about every neighbourhood has, was given a new name: Greektown on the Danforth.

Greektown occupies the eastern part of Toronto, not far from the downtown core of the city. It begins at Broadview Avenue, just east across the Don Valley River. 

It runs eastbound across Danforth Avenue for several kilometers to Hampton Avenue. The area also extends north and south a bit along Broadview, up to Pretoria Avenue and down to Dearborne Avenue. Residents stay connected with the Danforth subway line, a connection that runs east and west and transformed into the Bloor subway line once it crosses the river.

The community boasts an impressive and well organized BIA, established 30 years ago. When the area officially organized into a BIA, it was among the most populated Greek communities in North America. 

Currently chaired by Constantine Voidonicolas, the Danforth BIA is one of the city's largest with over 500 members. You can learn more about this BIA at www.thedanforth.ca.

One reason the Danforth is an easily identifiable and well-regarded community is due to its active and dedicated residents. The neighbourhood is both proud of what it has to offer guests to the area, as well as their Greek heritage. 

Still, the community is welcoming to everyone, and continually encourages growth and engagement with others in the city.

The area is arguably best known for its yearly festival, the Taste of the Danforth. Taking place in annual in early August amid Toronto's hot and sunny summer climate, the Taste of the Danforth features the best in Greek culinary cuisine. 

It began in 1994 by the Danforth BIA, and showcased 23 restaurateurs in the area. It has grown exponentially since then, welcoming 100,000 city residents in the second year, and now reaching up to 1.3 million people in 2011.

The event goes beyond simply food however, though the tastes are more than enough to satisfy everyone's appetite. The weekend-long celebration features games, competitions, live music, and plenty of kid-friendly activities. 

Beginning Friday evening and going til Sunday night, the festival features live comedy, dance, and bands on stage across Danforth Avenue. There is rock climbing, celebrity makeovers, yoga classes, and arts and crafts workshops. 

This year, in association with the motion picture The Immortals, an action-adventure film that draws on stories from Greek mythology, the festival featured swordfighting, belly-dancing, and war stories. 

For sports enthusiasts the event offers plenty of games and challenges, with prizes and merchandise from the many professional sports teams in Toronto.

If residents simply want to relax, they need not look further that weekend. The many patios in the area offer great food, and attendees can simply spend time in one of the festival's beer garden and escape the summer heat with refreshing beverages. 

The festival will reach the nearly year mark in 2013, and continues to grow in participation and support each and every year. 

Still, there are year-round attractions that make this part of the city as exciting and thriving as it is. The Thrill of the Grill is another food-based occasion, bringing out the most talented chefs in the area once more. 

Fall is also a great time of year in the area, with a yearly Thanksgiving Fair, community Halloween party and Felinity classes, a Greek cultural dance.

The Danforth is one of the most interesting and exciting areas in the city in which to walk. There is no shortage of shops, cafes, and restaurants to occupy an afternoon, most of which are unique to Danforth Avenue. 

Not only is the part of the city one of the most vibrant, it is among the safest as well, with a vigilant police force and strong, unified community. 

Greektown continues to attract both residents and guests and as the city of Toronto has experienced eastward growth into Leslieville and the Beaches, the Danforth has seen more businesses, more consumers, and more residents in their area as well. 

The area has welcomed the growth and will continue to be one of Toronto's unique and successful neighbourhoods.