The smaller room offered serious deep house and I remeber tons of people flopped on the filthy floor smoking joints.

Those are still my favourite memories and of all the other clubs and raves I went to (which was a lot) none compared.

Nice to see it being remembered.

Phil Marwood 

I still have my RISE v.i.p card:)
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=9379995533&set=a.5552175533.15554.864825533&type=3&theater 

10:01 pm on September 24, 2012 







Ben Ferguson 

Leaving there in the morning was always a dissappointment, and too bright.. I don’t think my eyes have ever recovered. That place was its own mysterious little world.. Almost like a portal to a different place. Explaining this to somone who didn’t go would be very difficult. Considering it was filthy, had bathrooms without stall doors that you wouldnt want to use… And stunk like smoke machine stuff and cigarette smoke. BUT that laser and sound was to die for. It was kept up, not for us, but to demonstrate the companys laser and sound to potential clients I think… a showroom during the week. 
When we would rent the venue we would drop the cash by Bovine Sex Club for Wes…. which at the time I thought was just a weird spot… But come to think of it.. so was 318. Weird but magical at the same time. 
Other memories: Begging them to let us go later, putting the bar in the elevator, go go dancers with glow in the dark makeup,
I wonder if the staff at TRIAD photo engravers had any idea about what happened above their office while they were at home with their families making pancakes on Sunday mornings?
When a condo is built there I may buy a unit just to own a piece of it. 
Great job Denise (and jim) 

11:25 am on November 6, 2011 







alexd 

Moby played a wicked DJ set there too! Only a handful of DJ geeks had even hear of him at the time. In my photographs he looks all of 19…
And putting the bar in the elevator at some parties – just in case…  
TRIBE
http://www.tribe.ca 

9:33 pm on October 19, 2011 






cassidy

alex, i was there, fortunate enough to chat with the little master, as well as sign the wall under his name, and play there later……….
cheers 

11:45 pm on October 23, 2011 







Uncle MO 

23 Hop was the first place I went when I first started going out. It was like entering another world at the time. Everything was new and unknown…the music, the people, the dancing, the venue. This was the time when Toronto truly had an underground scene. 

6:41 am on October 19, 2011 







dattrax 

Loved 23 Hop- many great memories of my earliest adventures in house music. Pitched black, house music blaring and dancing till sunrise. Met a lot of friends, brought a lot of friends, when house in Toronto was small and you saw the same 50 people at every party. You didn’t know their names, but everyone had a big fat smile and hands in the air. People shouting when a good track get mixed in. Amazing!! 

10:49 pm on October 18, 2011 






Jeff 

Great article – i was there in 1991 and have never been the same since (for the best). I think those nights in that place truly transcended time and space forever 

8:16 pm on October 18, 2011 






jocelyn dee 

Awesome profile of a pivotal place and time. I only discovered that place right before it closed, but I still remember the impression it made on me! 

8:09 pm on October 18, 2011 






sean

I have some old 23 hop flyers in my moms basement. I should dig them up and post them somewhere @seanbeckingham Great read. 

5:34 pm on October 18, 2011