So he is leaving the country not because of the result of the presidential election? :-)

Those few times I have been to Toronto, I didn't feel that it was cold there.

Great food there.

I have to ask my friend at Sony if he too is applying for that job.

dcarch

I think a good coat or long jacket would be necessary. Remember, you have thinner blood and your body is used to different things. Also a hat, waterproof comfy shoes and good socks.

My Toronto friends talk about how you can get from place to place in the Subway, including doing all your shopping underground, and hardly ever see the surface, but that doesn't sound like a good way to enjoy a new place, even if it's comfortable for the inhabitants. Still, if you're in that part, you can always dash down below if it gets to be too much.

When I visited Germany during a December, no snow or rain but the kind of dark and temperatures you mentioned, walking at night just after I arrived, I felt like I could feel my bone marrow being cold. Very weird. But application of many layers helped a lot. Outer layers were best, though I had inner ones as well. All the indoors places we went were very warm. I would instantly peel a layer or two. Going in and out of warm and cold also gave me the sniffles and screwed up my contacts.

My preferred outfit for the street fairs, window shopping, seeing the sights, etc., became lightweight fuzzy inside boots with tights and socks (could be leggings, yoga pants or long underwear with thin and thick socks), heavy dark jeans (looked civilized), a warmish thin turtleneck, a long sleeved, long top (overshirt), a fuzzy, thin but very warm knit vest that was easy to pop on and off, a SoCal weight jacket and mid-length not very warm but thermal coat. And knit hat, muffler and gloves. The coat was bought there, but could have been from here, and the rest were my local clothes.

This is the exact right time of year to buy things like scarves and gloves if you don't have them. Black Friday is coming if you dare!

I'm not going to buy any clothes until I find out whether Kevin is getting the job. When I was in NY in December, I did notice that the places I went to were all warm inside, including all the galleries in Soho, which meant that I had to take off all of the layers of coats, etc that I was wearing and then put them back on before I went back outside. I also noticed that there were people in NY who were wearing much less than I was, and I don't know how they did it. I guess I do have thinner blood.

Before I went to NY I bought an East German military coat at an Army-Navy Surplus store, and so I may have to go back there. I could also shop at Adventure 16, since they help outfit people for mountain climbing and ski trips, but they are much more expensive than the surplus store, and I do not intend to wear warm clothes very often, especially since I do not ski or snowboard.

Lars, you may have thinner blood, but a lot of the difference is in what you are used to. It was about 30F here today, with wind gusts up to 40 MPH and of course it snowed. Windchill was in the low 20s, but I had warm socks and boots, gloves and a hood on my sweatshirt, so I didn't get cold. I was wearing yoga pants, a long sleeved t shirt, a sweatshirt with a hood and my winter coat.

I know you and Kevin did some hiking, so if you have a good pair of hiking boots, those would do, with some warm socks. Hats are relatively inexpensive, and you need a warm one that covers your ears. I also do not like disrobing in layers when going from place to place, so I often go without a coat in the winter when moving from building to building. I always leave it in the vehicle, though, it's very unwise and unsafe to be driving in the winter without warm clothing available. So, even if I'm dressed up and wearing heels, my boots are in the backseat, just in case.

It's pretty cold in Toronto in February, although that's when it starts "warming up" here. I'd expect the temps to be in the 30s most days, with an occasional day in the 20s, and an occasional day when it might even hit 40, but nights will be colder.

I think you would like Toronto, the film festival was going on when I was there and the population seemed very diverse.

Good luck to Kevin!

Annie

It would be a great experience for Kevin - and fun for you once you get used to the idea, I think. At least you know you'd have him back for the summer. I bet there are lots of people near you who would love to go out to dinner with you. I agree that layers are the way to go. Keeping dry is important so boots and warm socks are the place to start. Best of luck to him.

I'm in central NY -- Albany is a 2 hr drive east of me and a whole zone warmer with much more sun and a lot less snow than we get here (we're in direct line for "lake effect" snow coming off the Great Lakes). :p I only visited Toronto once in winter (work-related) and it was similar to Albany -- less snow, more sun, and slightly warmer temps than here. I just did a quick search and saw that the average seasonal snowfall for Toronto is around 47", January is usually their coldest winter month with avg highs in the low 30s and avg lows around 20 (F). Our avg snowfall is twice what Toronto gets and our avg January low is 10F.... it's typical for us to experience some winter nights with temps in the -20F to -30F range, but I'm not sure if Toronto experiences anything like that or not. Actually, I think jasdip may be near Toronto and she can probably answer a lot of your questions!

Re keeping warm in a northeast winter, I think you definitely need "boots" of some kind, even if they're just ankle height, like chukkas... sneakers or oxfords or loafers simply won't do because your feet aren't covered well enough to keep from getting snow and slush in them. lol! A warm hat makes a huge difference in comfort-level -- something like a knit hat that you can pull down over your ears if possible... a baseball cap simply won't do it. :O) Obviously a warm coat/jacket is needed -- or at least several layers of 'long johns', shirts, sweaters, etc. Gloves or mittens are required to keep your hands warm. And I find that a scarf makes a huge difference in keeping me warm!!! I wrap it around my neck such that I can put my head down and tuck my chin in when it's very cold or windy. :) I especially like simple fleece scarves that I make for myself because I can get fun colors and patterns -- I buy 60" wide fleece in fabric stores.... if you buy just 1/4 yard of 60" wide fleece you have a perfect-size scarf -- no hemming required, hand-washes easily, dries quickly, and it's soft and warm. :)

Another option would be for you to invest in 'long johns' (both tops and bottoms) that you can wear under your current clothing. I love silk long johns! they come in various "weights" and I use the lightweight ones -- I buy mine from Wintersilks.

You aren't used to this kind of cold weather, but around here it's not at all uncommon to see people wearing shorts and short sleeve shirts when temps are only in the 50s.

Central Wisconsin here. I would strongly advise you to get some good wool socks. Look for Merino wool (not itchy) and watch the fabric content. Get socks that contain at least 70% Merino wool.

I love the SmartWool ski socks but found that they are not very durable and are quite expensive, esp. considering that they wear out quickly. The last few years, I've been buying Kirkland Signature Merino Wool hiking socks. You can get four pairs for about the cost of one pair of Smart Wool socks and the Kirkland socks are thicker and a lot more durable.

Wool socks help keep your feet warm and dry but, oddly enough, they're not 'hot' and are suitable for at least three seasons.

Kirkland is a Costco brand. No Costcos near me so I buy them from Amazon or eBay, whichever has the best buy.

Remember the latitude difference between North America and Europe. Toronto is much farther south than Germany, and way farther south than London. Its winter days will only be a little bit shorter than Boston's. There will be earlier darkness than in LA, of course, but I don't think it will seem like an oppressive difference. Cold, of course, is another thing.

Lars, you definitely need a good winter coat with a hood, and boots and gloves. Winter is cold and windy. There's nothing better than a cold winter sunny day, my favourite.

You don't need to spend a fortune on a winter coat since you won't be wearing it again, so dress in layers at least. Something with a hoodie for sure.

Even if we have a mild winter, you still need boots to keep your feet and ankles warm and dry.

Winter has finally started; we've had a glorious fall! The temps are around 0C (32F) all this week, with snow. Right now it's windy as heck and feels a lot colder.

Silk longjohns and good socks! Layers. Good boots - waterproof and soles with good traction.

Good luck to Kevin! And I hope you get a chance to experience a northern adventure.

I went to school in Montreal many many moons ago. Much of the city was accessible by the metro. For a bit I lived in an apartment where we could get to the metro without going outside - which was great fun. Negotiating tiny elegant boutiques carrying 17 layers of clothing and a book filled knapsack was dangerous.

Of course I was raised in Maine so Montreal was a cultural but not a climate adjustment for me. I do remember walking with a Singaporean friend through a football field shortcut with a few inches of snow - we were chatting away - suddenly she wasn't there - she had no idea how to walk through the snow and was standing there mystified. A few weeks later she was fine.

I do not have proper boots, and so I would have to set some of those. I do have warm socks that I got from Adventure 16 - they are supposed to remain cool, and I guess they work well, but I've hardly ever worn them. I have nothing with a hoody, but the East German coat I had had a large collar that could be worn up to protect ears. The first thing I did in NY was buy ear muffs from a street vendor. I'll also have to look into some kind of warm hat.

Jimmy and Maartje lived in Michigan before moving here, and so maybe I can get them to help me with the outfitting. I gave away whatever warm clothes I used to have because I never wore them, but I will definitely invest in some silk long johns - those sound very practical. I do have a long-sleeved thermal undershirt stored somewhere. I am about to do another purge of old clothes, but if I find anything that might be warm, I will probably hold on to it.

The temps you mentioned did not sound that bad - I can handle 30° weather if there is no wind. I have no idea how windy Toronto will be, but if Kevin does end up going there for six months, I will probably visit him at least twice. I'm working part time now (alternate weeks), and so I would have the time off to go.

I have had northern adventures and got as far north as Whistler, BC, which is 50° latittude. Of course that was in the summer. I've been to Squamish several times and also went river rafting on the Fraser River somewhere north of Hope.

I noticed from this site that Toronto is south of Florence, Italy, where we went last June. However, I also noticed that Houston (where I used to live) is south of Cairo, Egypt.

PM's idea of a fleece scarf was a good one. They don't get as unpleasant when you pull them over your nose and mouth and breathe moisture into them.

The thinner blood is a real thing. I've read that it takes three years to acclimatize fully when changing from a prevailingly warm to cold climate or vice versa, which makes sense, because it gets extremely hot in Summer some of the coldest places, and the very warm ones do get cold snaps, so the adaptation would have to persist during alternate seasons. Visiting New York in mid-Spring, I just dressed normally for January in SoCal, and my local friends were stripping off and enjoying the (overcast, blustry, shivery) warmth.

I did the same thing visiting New York in mid-Spring. The mean temperature in Albany in May is colder than Los Angeles in January, but only by a couple of degrees. I went to Albany in early May and could not believe how cold it was - they even had a frost while I was there!

The last cold place that I have been was Mt. San Jacinto, above Palm Springs, where the tram let us out, January 17, 2005:

Lars, how exciting for Kevin ! Toronto is very cosmopolitan, very liberal and an overall fun city.

Toronto isn't that awful weather wise ....mostly damp ,cold and windy but rarely a ton of snow....mostly slush! Waterproof jacket with a hood and water proof boots...like I say more slushy and wet than snow in Toronto. Think Chicago

We would love to meet up with Kevin again.....but we leave for Florida at the end of December and aren't back until the end of March. None the less I would be happy to share some ideas...Downtown TO is where he will want to be! Great theater, dining and night life....

Lars, if Kevin gets to go, and you are going to visit in the cold, let me know, and send my your address. I knit wool stocking hats, and would be happy to send you one. You can save a bit of money by going to Good Will or Salvation Army, or any thrift store that is selling winter clothing. Especially since you won't be spending much time in Toronto. How soon will Kevin find out if he has the job? It sounds like a wonderful opportunity.

from what I understand, Toronto is a bustling modern city, just like Edmonton and Calgary Canada....you need not be afraid....

Kevin will probably be getting there (if he gets to go) about the time you are leaving, and so he probably would not get to see you before you leave. I was hoping he could see you when he first got there, to ease the transition a bit, but he will probably be fine anyway and he adjusts well. I could plan a trip in April to visit him and then we could both get to see you again, if it all works out.

Tami, I would love to buy a wool hat from you if I end up going! Do you sell them on Etsy or eBay? The Army-Navy surplus store that I go to is somewhat like Good Will or Salvation, but the thrift stores here do NOT have warm clothing! I'll have to ask Kevin when he will know, but it will probably be in the next week or two.

I'm sure I will love Toronto whenever I get to go, but I'm not familiar with Edmonton or Calgary - just Vancouver. We plan to go to Calgary in the near future, as Kevin wants to visit Banff again. He went one year with our sister and BIL, and I met up with them in Vancouver, back when I lived in San Francisco. When I was a teenager, I had a pen pal in Rocky Mountain House, Alberta. BTW, I'm less afraid of Toronto than I am of Texas, where I grew up.

ah yes, Banff....if you can, drive up to Jasper as well.....Edmonton and Calgary are both cities over 500,000 people. Edmonton is famous for its indoor mall with a huge waterpark....

Lars , if he comes we will definitely hook up in April. April is a better month for youtovome than February ! LOL

Toronto is a bustling modern city, as I say very diverse and cosmopolitan. Toronto theatre is third ranked in the world behind London and NYC. Toronto is often called New York North.

The film industry is huge here too. The Toronto Film Festival is one of the biggest in the world.

Lots to see and do in Toronto....and BONUS your money is worth 40% more here !

Lars, I do not normally sell the hats, and that was not my thought at all! Postage will be fine. I'm happy to help keep you warm.

Toronto is my hometown! Weather: these days, there is no rhyme or reason with the weather, as many places around the world may testify. The winter of 2016 (Dec 2015-Feb 2016) was somewhat average, where the previous two winters were two of the coldest on record. But then again, that was the same story for much of northeast America. Remember, in the downtown core, there is a high concentration of mega buildings which have the dual effect of creating wind tunnels and generating heat. Yes, the subway system leads to an underground system, but people do come up for air! :-)

Keeping warm through all this is somewhat of an art, and everyone has a different determination of their warmth comfort level. I find the two most important places for me to keep warm are my head and my feet. To that end, I have a multitude of head gear, but only a few toques that I would really choose to wear for those head splittingly cold days! Likewise with the boots. But remember, the odds of you wearing them during a limited time over the winter may be very little. Also remember that the coldest periods often don't involve snow - snow happens much closer to the freezing temperature - when it is significantly colder, it's often just cold :-)

I don't know what this thing is for silk long johns...seems more like sexy bedwear for me LOL. Honestly, the best basic brand I've worn are the Target house brand, Merona, 100% cotton. But I've never gone for the silk stuff, so I might be pleasantly surprised...

Yes, lots to do in the city. Because of the demand to be there, it attracts a great diversity of people and activities. What do you want to do?

Thanks for that offer, Tami! If Kevin does go, I plan to visit him more than once, and so April would be my second visit, but I would want to see him in Feb-March, as that is when our birthdays are. April in Toronto would still be colder than Jan in L.A., but Jan in L.A. is very mild and can get into the 80s.

I've never been to the Midwest (unless you count Oklahoma City or Arkansas), and so Chicago is not a reference for me. Kevin has been to Indiana and Wisconsin to train workers there, and so he has more experience with that area than I do. Toronto is definitely on my list of places to visit, and I think Kevin is excited about the prospect of working there. We've watched a lot of TV shows made in Toronto, and I've seen a few movies made there as well. We used to watch all of the Love It or List It when it was in Toronto. I don't like the cast in NC as much.

La Lennoxa, I've not thought about what I want to do in Toronto, but I'm sure I would enjoy shopping and going to restaurants plus some museums. I also like going to parks and gardens, but that's not something I would do there in winter. Kevin and I are both particularly interested in modern art, but I am also interested in anthropology and native cultural history. Vancouver was good for that, and I especially like the BC native art. I would expect Toronto to have some great galleries as well.

Yes, gardens in winter might be a bit....snow covered? You will definitely want to check out the Royal Botanical Gardens, Though it's not technically Toronto, but Hamilton/Burlington (west of Toronto), which is where i live these days. Toronto has a botanical garden too, but the RBG is much larger - and has the Royal Family stamp :-). There are tons of restaurants, galleries, shows, etc., all can be fine tuned once you know more, where you'll be staying, etc. Let us know when you have updates!

One word...Uniqlo. I just ordered my Winter "stash'. The best for price and thin layering. I wear them year round for house 'comfy' gear. Even in the summer. Why buy something for one week or two. These come out of the dryer like a thin pair of socks. Warm under layering. (i often wear two-three layers and not at all binding or tight)...i buy two sizes bigger for loose comfort. They size small.

forgot the photo...

So warm and so thin. They sell out about this time every year so i thank you for this reminder, : )

(free shipping)

Horrid to buy something for just a visit. The shoe and hand warmers that are good for 3-4 hours can keep the toes and hands warm.

I do way too much work out doors so have many options for layering and have a must need CanadaGoose coat. And a battery powered coat...Not what you need but do consider Uniqlo as it is comfort that you can use at home...just order 2 sizes larger than normal...

I second the suggestion for long underwear from Uniqlo! Bought them before our last trip to Europe and we were warm and cozy. They're very thin, so you can easily wear jeans or such without feeling cramped.

I think my fondness for silk long underwear comes from growing up in a chilly house in Maine with thick itchy bulky longjohns. And a father who so overdressed us we could hardly move. Waddle waddle waddle...

Silk is a great insulator but I don't think they are at all sexy. Or pajama like. Or at least pajamas that anyone might see you in... They are kind of translucent. Lol.

Enjoy your adventure!

It's cold here today (52° when I woke up), and so I'm wearing a long-sleeved shirt, but I hold off on buying thermal underwear until I know I will be traveling. I talked with a friend in San Francisco who is originally from New York, and he told me that there can be a lot of problems traveling to and from Toronto in the winter, due to airport delays, and so I'm thinking I should delay my travel to when the weather is warmer. Kevin said he should know this week whether he will be going. He thinks his boss wants to keep him in L.A. because she depends on him too much. The weather report for Toronto today does not look bad at all.

By the way, I do not own a pair of jeans, and so that will not be an issue with the underwear, but I will look into getting some. I do have silk pajamas, however.

You could wear your silk PJs as a layer under loose trousers!

Lars, you probably haven't had reason to look, but several makers offer men's footless tights that will fit under everyday clothes and add a surprising layer of warmth with no bulk. Comfortable. Those DH has look like footless pantyhose for men but I don't see them included in that particular sporting goods catalog winter issue this year. Adidas, Asics, others make them too, not hard to find. Try Amazon...

Lars, you are going to LOVE Toronto!

You will be amazed how quickly you become acclimated to the weather, and figure out ways to stay warm, like the Underground Walkway. Winners is Canadian TJ Maxx. Pop in and stock up on warm clothing. They will even have ski clothing. Don't worry about delaying travel in the winter months. Flights are not cancelled as often as you may think. I'm excited for you and hope Kevin gets the job! I'm often in Toronto and would love to meet up if our time overlaps. Keep us posted and embrace this exciting adventure!

Lars....I'm cheap! I also don't do cold very often (No Ca).

I have done plenty of thrift stores in So CA and have found plenty of warm stuff from people going skiing one time, then giving up on it! (So CA thrift stores are some of my favorites!)

Being the start of ski season (after 4 years!), now would be the time to look! (remember you want to pack small!) I saw a couple of those ski jackets that aren't all that puffy the other day!Maybe Kevin could do some thrifting ahead of you!

I saw the Kirkland "waterproof" socks at Costco today.Reasonable!

Have fun! Nancy

P.S. Jeans wick up water! f you use them waterproof them!

I am 2 hours away from Toronto, on the other side of lake in the US. Next Thur we are going to have low temp 4F, Toronto is going to be -3F, and Feb will be even colder than Dec........ a shearling lamb fur coat or a real fur lined coat would be good enough for the weather. Layers won't do a thing here, the chilly wind would go through you right to the bones, not kidding.

Thanks for all the help and suggestions, but as it turned out, Sony decided not to send anyone to Toronto and is going to let the staff in Toronto work it out on their own without a director. I guess that is one way for them to save money. So I will wait for warmer weather before I visit Toronto, and Kevin will not be there, unless he goes with me.

Last week a friend asked me to go to Brazil with him some time next year after April. He has to settle an estate there, and he knew that I could take the time off. We'll see if that materializes. I would like to visit Brazil, but I've been afraid to go because I do not speak Portuguese, but my friend does, and that would make me feel more comfortable. He will be mainly going to Rio de Janeiro, but would be making side trips to Petrópolis and other places.