90s music is the best music. Come at me boomer! You too Gen Z. I’ve turned into an old grumpy guy were 90s punk and grunge is the epitome of guts and glory.

I can remember walking along the Beaches as a teenager, prancing into the sunset like I owned the world. This was before the Beaches became super popular place to live. Nowadays it’s vibe is completely changed with NIMBYs around every corner. Which is ridiculous because my neighborhood really only consisted of blue-collar workers withing the past twenty years. My parents were public servant and teachers. We were not well off by any means be we could afford a semidetached home close to Woodbine. And with the Queen St streetcar we had easy access to the city while being separate from it.

My favourite place has always been between Kew Gardens and Balmy Beach Park. Mainly because down at this end the vibe changes a bit and becomes a bit chiller. You can also get really awesome views of downtown if you go out on one of the rock piles. You can just sit there and take it all in while listening to Lake Ontario lapping at the shore.

I’ve spent so much of my time here over the years. If you are a 90s kid, do you remember when our parents told us to go play outside? Now that would not happen, but nothing made me happier than leaving the house with my Walkman and strolling along jamming out to some Green Day. And you know what? I’m going to get a lot of hate for saying this but I guarantee you that you also have some of there music on your phone, but can I get some love for Nickelback?

Shut up, they are awesome. I don’t care if you feel funny listening to them because it’s unpopular to like them. Who here hasn’t jammed to “Deep” or “Dirty Laundry”. Don’t be shy, non judgement here.  

Teenage angst turned into 20-something audacity and I long for that feeling of walking along the boardwalk just feelin it, long before adult responsibility knocked me down. Or cruising around on my bike on the Waterfront Trail and the Martin Goodman Trail. You could go from the Beaches to the CNE without setting foot on the road. It was bliss baby.  

 What I would do to be my 20-something old self again.