IMHO your best bets for housing (assuming you're going to UofT) is between University Ave and Dufferin Ave for your East/West border, and Bloor St. and Dundas St. for your North/South border (although probably further North than that Between University and say Christie). That's more or less my hood (as well as 32Flavours and Cavernmech if I'm not mistaken) and I really love it. I just got a new apartment as well, and I'm just moving across the street because we wanted to stay close... it's going to be the easiest move ever.

It's also a really easy commute to UofT. I work there, so I do that commute 5 days a week, 12 months a year. Harbord is a great commute during rush hour because there's bike lanes for most of it (not that it doesn't stop cars sometimes), and the rest is double-lane and you can usually totally take the curb lane.

As for Winter riding... if this helps: I think I took the subway a total of maybe 3 days last Winter. I rode my fixed gear on 23c slicks the whole winter without much trouble at all. The salt Harbord pretty well, so it doesn't ice up much. Of course, all that salt is NOT good for your drivetrain/etc, but that's what fenders are for.


ps. when do you need an apartment for? Sep 1? or Aug 1? Any idea what your budget is? I just moved out of a great 1-bdrm. The only reason we're moving is because we want a 2-bdrm. Our old place will be available as early as Aug 1 (since that's when we're moving).