Here's a trick locals play on unsuspecting visitors: Get them to pronounce "Spadina." In the case of the avenue, it's spa-dye-na; for this lovely landmark, it's spa-dee-na. Why? Who knows! But if you want to see how the leading lights of the city lived in days gone by, visit the historic home of financier James Austin. The exterior is beautiful, the interior even more impressive. Spadina House contains a remarkable collection of art, furniture, and decorative objects. The Austin family occupied the house from 1866 to 1980, and successive generations modified and added to the house and its decor.

Tours (the only way to see the house) start on the quarter hour. Be warned that while the guides are excellent, the video that they force you to watch before the tour is laughable. (The narrator is the "spirit of the house," and his rambling comments -- paired with a stagy Irish brogue -- will make you wonder if the video is a joke. It isn't!). In summer, you can also tour the gorgeous gardens.