Hot Off The Press!! New pix of Toronto

[Taller Better]

Someone suggested to me that I copy my SSC photoblog of pictures that
I have been doing since last Winter. I originally posted too many pix all at
once, forgetting that I needed to add a few blank entries in to replace the
comment ones for SSC, or they would all pile up on one page here. So...
I start first with pix from early Spring. I hope you enjoy my on-going photo blog
of my city, Toronto!

[Taller Better]

The first photos I posted were from April 3/05.

"I'll start a thread of new photos taken around our city. I took these in the past couple of days. They are in no particular order, andI hope you enjoy the tour despite the fact it is still very early spring here and the trees are not green yet! :cheers:
Looking South from the rooftop patio:

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/9121/april0206adowntownviewpanorama.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Looking North from the rooftop patio:

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/9781/april0206adowntownviewpanorama1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/2246/april0206clubmonacobuilding1bh.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Then off to another rooftop bar to snap some more pix:
http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/1905/april0206viewparkplazai4fq.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/2235/april0206viewparkplazaii1jj.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/7595/april0206viewparkplazaviii9hm.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/4377/april0206viewparkplazavx5cs.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/3472/april02batashoemuseum4yz.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Renovation of the Royal Conservatory of Music

http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/8046/april0206royalconservatoryofmu.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img471.imageshack.us/img471/1269/april0106downtownshoti1xc.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/8632/april0106downtownshotlotri4ck.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/3120/april0106downtownshotlotrii7nv.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/4141/april0206135stgeorgest4vi.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/538/april0206downtownshoti9wp.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/7236/april0206downtownshotii3do.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

And for some reason, this building always reminds me of the opening credits
for the old tv show, Dallas!! LOL!

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/8335/april0206downtownshotkingsti3s.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/7600/april0206downtownshotkingstiii.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/1854/april0206downtownshotkingstxiv.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/74/april0206downtownshotkingstix5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/4900/april0206downtownshotkingstxvi.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/1135/april0206downtownshotkingstxvi1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/7505/april0206downtownshotkingstxvx.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/205/april0206downtownshotkingst2xg.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

A view down on the construction of the Royal Ontario Museum renovation:

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/6008/april0206rom6up.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img482.imageshack.us/img482/5787/april0106cibc2xn.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/4764/april0206downtownshotbayst4qd.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Note the moon above the First Canadian Place.. it is not a disco ball! ;)

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/8974/april0206downtownshotbayyongei.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/7811/april0206downtownshotcrabshack.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img482.imageshack.us/img482/5756/april0206downtownshotyongerich.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/3813/april0206downtownsidestreeti3c.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/323/april0206downtownsidestreet4fr.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img482.imageshack.us/img482/9215/april0206kingedwardhotel5bm.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/9878/april0206yongeandwellington5cl.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img438.imageshack.us/img438/6202/april0106anightshotsvii8cf.jpg

http://img344.imageshack.us/img344/8553/april0106firstcanadianplacei4u.jpg

http://img344.imageshack.us/img344/8735/april0106cibcoldentrance7zv.jpg

http://img471.imageshack.us/img471/4825/april0206royalalexandriatheatr.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


Pictures taken around 1am of an almost empty Union Station:

http://img344.imageshack.us/img344/3923/april0106aunionstationii3ym.jpg

http://img344.imageshack.us/img344/4425/april0106aunionstationav2hm.jpg

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/8250/april0106aunionstationaiv7ly.jpg

http://img344.imageshack.us/img344/3300/april0106anightshotsii3li.jpg

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/1880/april0106anightshotsv2fa.jpg
And lastly, my favourite shot of the session:

http://img344.imageshack.us/img344/3086/april0106anightshotsunionstati.jpg

[Taller Better]

A few more pix I took this morning, while out walking the dogs. This time in my
neighbourhood.

http://img465.imageshack.us/img465/159/april0806jarvisstv1rv.jpg

http://img464.imageshack.us/img464/5156/april0806jarvisstiii0lv.jpg

http://img380.imageshack.us/img380/575/april0806jarvisst9wz.jpg

The almost completed new home for the National Ballet of Canada School:

http://img465.imageshack.us/img465/2861/april0806nationalballetofcanad.jpg

Allan Gardens, where my dogs love to run. It is the home of the Toronto Horticultural
Society, formed in 1834, and a fine place to go on a chilly day when you want Spring
to hurry up!!

http://img465.imageshack.us/img465/2623/april0806allangardensi7dp.jpg

http://img465.imageshack.us/img465/8371/april0806allangardensii8pn.jpg

http://img380.imageshack.us/img380/3448/april0806allangardensvii3re.jpg

http://img354.imageshack.us/img354/3208/april0806allangardensviii1bm.jpg

[Taller Better]

Yesterday was a lovely sunny day, so I grabbed my camera and went out snapping..
the first fellow is a bit of the "local colour" who wears this outfit year 'round and is always eager for any publicity! ;)

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/7411/april0906zanta3hg.jpg

Some pix taken more uptown, toward Yonge/Eglinton, and Yonge/Summerhill:

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/1599/april0906yongeeglinton4ty.jpg

An old train station beautifully renovated into the largest and best liquor store in Canada-an 8000 sq metre Temple o' Booze:

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/5809/april0906summerhilli5zg.jpg

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/4068/april0906fivethieves0dr.jpg

Then hop on the subway and head downtown:

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/8346/april0906yongebloorplatformsub.jpg

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/581/sanglican1910i7dy.jpg

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/8981/april0906molsonbldgi2pu.jpg

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/1513/slifeheadofficevii9en.jpg

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/5921/slifeheadofficei5qy.jpg

these shots were all on Bloor St, and here is one looking West:

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/2498/april0906lookingwestonbloori3t.jpg

Back on the subway, and right downtown to the financial district:

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/8824/april0906downtownshots8fh.jpg

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/6281/april0906downtownshotsxibetter.jpg

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/3710/april0906downtownshotsvi1ol.jpg

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/3050/april0906downtownshotsv3ju.jpg

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/1639/april0906downtownshotsi4uy.jpg

http://img487.imageshack.us/img487/2364/april0906downtownshotstdbetter.jpg

Then a wander over to Queen Street, and the entertainment district:

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/1107/april0906queenstreetmarket3ik.jpg

Dinner at the Queen Mum, in an old building that started out as a tailor shop in 1850

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/5029/april0906queenmothercafe18507p.jpg

Catch a movie ( Ice Age 2):

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/1497/april0906famousplayersparamoun.jpg

http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/1497/april0906famousplayersparamoun.jpg

And up the long escalators.......

http://img348.imageshack.us/img348/1497/april0906famousplayersparamoun.jpg

View out the lounge window after the movie:

http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/1663/april0906downtownfromparamount.jpg

then the walk home- here is the almost completed new home of the Canadian Opera
Company, that will open this year with a series of four epic operas Der Ring des Nibelungen:

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/5888/april0906canadianoperacompany2.jpg

and finally, as Samuel Pepys famously said "and then to bed"!

[Taller Better]

I know this seems a bit "bloggish", but here are some pics from my past week. I
like to jump on the subway or streetcar and photograph some of the neighbourhoods
in Toronto. This week I was briefly in Little Italy/Portugal, and yesterday I visited
The Beaches (or, as some yuppies insist, the grander sounding "The Beach"!).
I will start with a few pix from Little Italy:

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/617/april1106collegestsceneii9js.jpg

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/263/april1106collegestsceneiii6mp.jpg

The Beaches is an area about a mile or so due East of downtown. There are several
lovely beaches there, and it is about as closest thing to Vancouver life that exists
East of the Rockies. Fiercely proud and very family oriented, the Beaches are always
an excellent place to visit on a sunny day. As always, my pix are in no particular order,
just snapped as I go along my wanderings. Let's start with the 1850's Ashbridge House, which still charms us to this day:

http://img456.imageshack.us/img456/3278/april1606xashbridgehouse18547t.jpg

The beach I chose to go to yesterday was Kew Beach, in the heart of "The Beaches".
It is still too early for sunbathing, but the charming Victorian habit of "promenading on
the boardwalk" is still a big part of life in the beaches. Yesterday was no exception and
the boardwalk was crowded all afternoon:

http://img456.imageshack.us/img456/5883/april1606kewbeachboardwalkii7m.jpg

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/132/april1606kewbeach7ya.jpg

http://img456.imageshack.us/img456/5775/april1606kewbeachboardwalkiii3.jpg

Even the housing is different in The Beaches... because there is very much a
"seaside" feeling (albeit on a lake), much of the residential architecture has a
mediterranean flair, with an emphasis on outdoor balconies:

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/2294/april1606beachesstylehouseiii9.jpg

http://img456.imageshack.us/img456/9812/april1606beachesstylehousesii5.jpg

the quaint old 1915 Beaches Library:

http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/7125/april1606beacheslibrary19155kx.jpg

and some street scenes:

http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/9472/april1606abeachesfirestation2m.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/66/april1606abeachesscene4eu.jpg

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/5928/april1606abeachesscenexv6tr.jpg


http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/3185/april1606abeachessceneii1sz.jpg

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/47/april1606abeachesliononthebeac.jpg


The Beaches has a bit of a reputation as being a laid-back, hippie community
which stems from the 70's. Remnents remain. This is the Church of the Universe:

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/1228/april1606abeacheschurchoftheun.jpg

Let's catch the streetcar and head toward downtown.

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/7375/april1606abeachesscenexiii9vv.jpg

Here are scenes along the way:

St Paul's Basilica.. a Roman Catholic church which is an unusual Italian Renaissance
style:

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/2305/april1606stpaulsbasilica18993u.jpg

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/9782/april1606stpaulsbasilicalapiet.jpg

The old 1879 Dominion Brewery, since renovated for office space:

http://img456.imageshack.us/img456/4113/april1606dominionbrewery0gu.jpg

and various downtown shots:

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/575/april1006pix4if.jpg

http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/9818/april1306ryerson5qw.jpg

http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/1121/april1306ryersonfrisbee5mz.jpg

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/9420/april1306ryersoni2uy.jpg

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/9079/april1306ryersonii7xg.jpg

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/3073/april1306bistro9907xo.jpg
Our Lady of Lourdes Church across from the No Thrills in Jamestown:

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/297/april1506ourladyoflourdesi2br.jpg

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/5091/april1106baystcanyoni9xe.jpg

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/510/april1006yongestreeteastside3c.jpg

http://img474.imageshack.us/img474/3472/april1706viewfromtheymca9pl.jpg

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/4128/april16brahmabeer1cr.jpg

http://img456.imageshack.us/img456/9930/april1606yongestscene8hp.jpg

Here is an empty old Georgian style brick building, almost 200 years old.
Handsome, but in poor shape... will this survive into its second century?

http://img456.imageshack.us/img456/3822/april1606shuterandgeorge9vl.jpg

http://img456.imageshack.us/img456/6941/april1606manifestofutebolista3.jpg

More downtown buildings:

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/2690/april1606queenst1re.jpg

a smart old Greek Revival townhouse from the 1850's:

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/1937/april1606mckenziehousegreekrev.jpg

an old Knights of Columbus hall:

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/2043/april1606knightsofcolumbus6ma.jpg

a landmark hotel, The Selby, whose claim to fame was having Ernest Hemingway as a tenant while he lived in Toronto as a reporter for The
Toronto Star:

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/592/april1606selbyhotel8wp.jpg

Victorian rowhouses..

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/8616/april1606selbyhoteli7hg.jpg

and various downtown sights:

http://img456.imageshack.us/img456/4964/april1606gooderhamrestaurant3q.jpg

men playing chess:

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/5619/april1606chessplayers0vd.jpg

an old library built in the now toney Yorkville, by the Carnegie Foundation,
about 100 years ago:

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/9481/april1506yorkvillelibrarymaybe1.jpg

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/1409/april1506yorkvillelibrarymaybe.jpg

an old mid 1800's firehall in Yorkville:

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/2332/april1506yorkvillefirestation1.jpg

http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/6981/april1506patiochurchst9ss.jpg

evening sets in:

http://img456.imageshack.us/img456/6250/april1606yongestscenev7dt.jpg

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/5008/april1606yongestscenesams5kr.jpg

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/2153/april1606yongestsceneii0sr.jpg

Construction is everywhere downtown, and only rests at night:

http://img456.imageshack.us/img456/1290/april1606rocp2pl.jpg

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/3345/april1106mars6tl.jpg

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/1737/april1606yongestsceneiii3oc.jpg

and then finally home, and one last look off the balcony before bed:

[Taller Better]

This past weekend I ventured out to Roncesvalles St, which is the heart of the Polish community in Toronto. I went on a Monday afternoon, which is a strangely quiet time to visit the street... many of the businesses close Monday, and as this is a strongly working class neighbourhood most people are at work. There is a sometimes shabby, but very comfortable 50's feel to this street- I think a big wave of Poles came to Canada around that time, and it continued to the mid 80's. Today the neighbourhood is finding increasing influx of other nationalities, and young people from across the city seeking inexpensive lodgings, with good shopping nearby. However, the heart and soul of Roncesvalles remains Polish. I hope you enjoy this little tour, even though
it is not a glamorous part of Toronto, it is part of what makes our city a "City of Neighbourhoods" :)

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/4530/april2406aroncesvallesv0qg.jpg

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/9590/april2406aroncesvallesxxxi1ej.jpg

I remember years ago when I first became aquainted with this street, I
marvelled that it seemed to be a street where the Churches looked like Banks:

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/8937/april2406aroncesvallesxxii1gq.jpg

and the Banks (or in this case Credit Union) looked like Churches:

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/9937/april2406aroncesvallesxxviii9t.jpg

Some street scenes:

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/4682/april2406aroncesvallesii7uu.jpg

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/5613/april2406aroncesvallesiii4cn.jpg

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/8981/april2406aroncesvallesiv7sp.jpg

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/1239/april2406aroncesvallesviii0tb.jpg

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/994/april2406aroncesvallesx6oo.jpg

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/1692/april2406aroncesvallesxi8lh.jpg

The main Polish Church (which does not look like a bank!! )

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/4500/april2406aroncesvallesxxxxi0ti.jpg

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/1486/april2406aroncesvallesxxxiv8wx.jpg

The best bakery on the street, which makes the best Easter goodies.. Mrs.
Granowska's:

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/2918/april2406aroncesvallesxxxii9kt.jpg

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/3450/april2406aroncesvallesxxxiii3k.jpg

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/2434/april2406aroncesvallesxxvii1xx.jpg

One of the local weekly Polish newspapers:

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/9695/april2406aroncesvallesxxvi6mc.jpg

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/9338/april2406aroncesvallesxxv5ia.jpg

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/8599/april2406aroncesvallesxxiv6jh.jpg

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/9267/april2406aroncesvallesxix7zc.jpg

I was crushed to find my favourite chocolate shop, Wedels, has closed, but
was relieved to find I could still buy some of their products:

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/7547/april2406aroncesvallesxvi3rk.jpg

Strangely, while one side of the street are solid shops and restaurants, the
other side is almost completely residential. Very post WWII houses, looking
right out of an old Archie Bunker show:

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/9009/april2406aroncesvallesxii1kv.jpg

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/1295/april2406aroncesvallesxxxxiv4n.jpg

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/615/april2406aroncesvallesxxxxix4m.jpg

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/2036/april2406aroncesvallesxxxxv2gq.jpg

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/2166/april2406aroncesvallesxxxxvi5b.jpg

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/7203/april2406aroncesvallesxxxxvii3.jpg

My favourite of the many Polish delicatessans along the street:

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/9391/april2406aroncesvallesxxxxx1eo.jpg

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/8544/april2406aroncesvallesxxxxxi4j.jpg

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/2931/april2406aroncesvallesxxxxxv0t.jpg

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/7710/april2406aroncesvallesxxxxxvi0.jpg

There is pretty much anything you need to buy, on Roncesvalles... you just
have to keep your eyes open:

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/435/april2406aroncesvallesxxxxxvii.jpg

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/6921/april2406aroncesvallesxxxxxvix.jpg

Walking and gawking and snapping pix is hot, thirsty work and a fella works
up a big appetite. I figured I deserved a "fix" of good old fashioned Polish
cooking, so I swung into Krak, my favourite restaurant on the street:

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/6440/april2406aroncesvallesxxxviii4.jpg

Sure, its a bit hokey and 50's.....

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/4600/april2406aroncesvallesxxxxxxii.jpg

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/149/april2406aroncesvallesxxxxxxv1.jpg

but the people are always friendly, and the food always delicious. Here
you can see I enjoyed schnitzel, cabbage rolls, and meat pierogi. All washed
down with a frosty Zywiec or two.... Nosdrovia! :cheers:

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/128/april2406aroncesvallesxxxxxxvi.jpg

Thanks for taking this little tour with me through one of my favourite neighbourhoods!

[Taller Better]

Hello! Me again... here is what has been going on in my life these past three weeks. I apologize in advance if there are too many pictures... but Spring is such a beautiful time that I have been out snapping photos on any sunny day off. My first stop was on April 28 to the grounds of the Canadian National Exhibition the oldest and largest annual fair in the world. In 1878 it settled in its current location in Toronto and has not looked back. This is off season for the fairgrounds, and workmen are just starting to tinker about and get it ready for the summer season ahead. We enter the fair through the grand gates, which you could say are Toronto's answer to the Brandenburg Gates. Opened in 1927 by Edward, Prince of Wales, these portals are appropriately called the Princes' Gates:

http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/8808/gate1927iv8dj.jpg

http://img465.imageshack.us/img465/5009/gate1927v0xf.jpg

http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/672/gate1927ii2zg.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Most of the architecture on the CNE grounds tends toward the theatrical
grandiose.... none of it is a pure style... none of it is done with particular
finesse (concrete statues replace marble ones) but this type of fairground entertainment was the opiate of the masses, and the masses demanded to be awed with some of the grandeur that they imagined lay far from the farming community that they tended. The result is a romantic hodge-podge of styles that has held up remarkably well over the years:

http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/5066/april2906cnegroundspressbuildi.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/2078/april2906cnegroundsscene0sy.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/6969/april2806cnegroundsiii2lj.jpg

http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/8765/april2906cnegroundsi1ot.jpg

http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/3071/april2906cnegroundsiii4xc.jpg


http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/5029/april2806cnegroundsviii3vz.jpg

http://img465.imageshack.us/img465/4752/april2806cnegroundsvii5lp.jpg

http://img465.imageshack.us/img465/9716/april2806cnegroundsxiii1wt.jpg

The heart of the CNE was historically the agricultural show, which carries on to this date in the form of the annual Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. Here is the charming old Art Deco "Horse Pavillion":

http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/443/april2806cnehorsepavillion9ye.jpg

Ironically, nearby I encountered a couple of mounted City of Toronto policemen. This mounted force is a vital part of our city life, and we see them downtown frequently on their magnificent steeds:

http://img465.imageshack.us/img465/3103/april2806cnemountedtorontopoli.jpg

http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/8416/april2806cnemusicbuildings2bz.jpg

And, a visit to the CNE grounds is a visit to the very cradle of Toronto... this is
where Europeans first settled and built a fortification in 1750 called Fort Rouille:

http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/6623/april2806cnefortrouille1750vie.jpg

As you can see, this fort held a commanding view of the Harbour:

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/6623/april2806cnefortrouille1750vie.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Also on the grounds sits the oldest existing residence in Toronto... a humble log cabin built in 1794 by John Scadding. I have a mental image of Mr Scadding sitting at his supper table, reading the only newspaper in Toronto at the time, The Upper Canada Gazette, of exciting and rebellious events happening in France that would lead to Napoleon Bonaparte declaring himself emperor ten years later:

http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/6240/april2806cnescaddingcabin1794i.jpg

The good Mr Scadding and his family must have been short people, for when I stand
upright on his doorstep my chin hit the top of the door! LOL! One hopes Mr. Scadding
was not tall and came home drunk one night.... Mr. Scadding would surely have felt he was drunk had he looked out his window and saw this, North America's first urban wind
turbines, modelled after those in Denmark. So, from the past we go to the future:

http://img489.imageshack.us/img489/5259/april2806cnegroundsx3de.jpg

The weather was fine, and my day was free... so I wandered back over the bridge to Old Fort York, which dates back to 1793, and was burned to the ground in the War of 1812 by our American friends, and rebuilt as we see it today. Here is a view from an overpass showing the view from the CNE
location relative to downtown. Interestingly, the Gardiner Expressway was closed that day for repairs:

http://img387.imageshack.us/img387/1041/april2906cnegroundsviewdowntow.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Welcome to Old Fort York:

http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/9567/april2906oldfortyorkentrancei8.jpg

http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/3528/april2906oldfortyorkbarracksi4.jpg

Where the soldiers slept:

http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/6485/april2906oldfortyorkbarracksin.jpg

and where the officers took dinner in the Officer's Mess:

http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/3290/smess3je.jpg

The old Union Flag, which changed to the current Union Jack shortly after
this fort was founded:

http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/5230/sept2604oldfortyorkunionjack2p.jpg

[Taller Better]

Now, onto the streetcar, and then on the subway to High Park, to view the magnicent
display of Japanese flowering cherry trees... these are the earliest to bloom (late April)
and are called Somei-Yashino and were donated by Japan to Toronto in 1960. But first,
a couple of subway scenes as I get off to go to High Park:

http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/2508/april2806highparkttcplatform2b.jpg

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/47/april2806highparkttcstation1ke.jpg

http://img465.imageshack.us/img465/5987/april2806highparkblossomsxi4ib.jpg

http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/9223/april2806highparkblossomsvii7u.jpg

http://img465.imageshack.us/img465/4603/april2806highparkblossomsxvii9.jpg

http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/8616/april2806highparkblossomsiii6q.jpg

http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/5341/april2806highparkblossomsvi9rp.jpg

and the final picturesque setting of Grenadier Pond.....

http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/6595/april2806highparkblossomsxi3qv.jpg

Back downtown for a well deserved dinner on Queen Street, and just enough energy
for two more shots before I trundle home with sore feet and a full memory chip of pix!

http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/2107/april2806ontariocollegeofarti2.jpg

http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/1742/april2806ontariocollegeofartdo.jpg

And so, to bed.. :)

[Taller Better]

Another day, another photographic adventure. What better way to see April out than to tour through Cabbagetown. Cabbagetown was settled in the 1800's by Irish families who fled the famine to find a new life in Canada. It is one of the largest intact collections of brick Victorian houses in North America, and... if there is a more blatantly picturesque neighbourhood in all of Toronto, then I am a monkey's uncle. Cabbagetown was headed for typical 1950's North American urban decay... but its downward spiral was halted by the wonderful luck of an amazing group of urban planners who took
root in Toronto in the 60's to halt the "doughnut" effect of a hollow downtown with suburbs. In particular, gay men took to the dingy old Victorian neighbourhoods, and soon real estate was spiralling. Today it remains a highly desireable area to live, and is a short 15 minute walk from the gay village. It has a strong community feel to it, and is a wonderful place to raise a family. Come with me on a tour of Cabbagetown in the Spring... a heady mix of fragrant cherry trees and magnolias. Enjoy!!:

http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/4580/april3006cabbagetownii6ip.jpg

http://img452.imageshack.us/img452/7788/april3006cabbagetownmagnolia0v.jpg

http://img452.imageshack.us/img452/2315/april3006cabbagetownconvenienc.jpg

http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/4138/april3006cabbagetownv8hq.jpg

http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/8352/april3006cabbagetownwellesleyc.jpg

http://img452.imageshack.us/img452/526/may0606acabbagetownamelianears.jpg

http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/7844/may0606acabbagetownsceneoldnur.jpg

http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/3408/may0606acabbagetownscenevi0bi.jpg

http://img472.imageshack.us/img472/3489/may0606acabbagetownscenevii2qq.jpg

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/8662/may0606acabbagetownscenexvi3jb.jpg

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/1461/may0606cabbagetownii3hv.jpg

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/9681/may0606cabbagetownv2cc.jpg

http://img472.imageshack.us/img472/8673/may0606cabbagetownscene7rv.jpg

Down to the ravines of the Don River....

http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/1843/may0606cabbagetowntoriverdaler.jpg

and the magnificent Riverdale Park. This extensive park also houses quite an exotic
petting zoo for children, and an 1850's Ontario farmhouse that acts as a focal point
for the park. In the summer on Tuesdays there is an organic vegetable market where
produce of the farm is sold to the public. Lots of old fashioned vegetables grown from
heritage seeds, and bread baked in an outdoor oven:

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/7273/dsci00050dh.jpg

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/6841/may0606cabbagetownriverdalepar.jpg

http://img472.imageshack.us/img472/6537/may0606cabbagetownriverdalefar.jpg


http://img470.imageshack.us/img470/3433/may0606cabbagetowntorontonecro.jpg

http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/3433/may0606cabbagetowntorontonecro.jpg

http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/2346/may0606cabbagetownxii2nu.jpg

http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/409/may0606cabbagetownxvii0zh.jpg

http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/6716/may0606cabbagetown2ax.jpg

Another picturesque Victorian Chapel, St. James-the-Less:

http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/1650/may0606stjamesthelesschapeliii.jpg

and as we walk back toward the village, an Afghani man peddling some exotic carpets:

http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/2623/may0606stjamestownafghanrugs8d.jpg

[Taller Better]

edited to cut down on the number of photos on page one! Sorry....

[PHX602]

Wow, this is one of the best photos threads I've seen in a long time. Well done.:cheers:

[Taller Better]

Another fine day, so on May 17 I set out to enjoy the wonders of Queen's Park. This
glorious park was a "planned" park... laid out and designed in 1860, and named after
the reigning Queen Victoria.

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/1942/may0706queensparkiii7vm.jpg

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/9333/may0706queensparkiv1ie.jpg

Our provincial legislative buildings:

http://img380.imageshack.us/img380/3379/may0706queensparklegislatureii.jpg

http://img380.imageshack.us/img380/6555/may0706queensparklookingnorth5.jpg

http://img354.imageshack.us/img354/1707/may0706queensparkjusticestatue.jpg

and across the road to the University of Toronto. The largest university in Canada,
this magnificent downtown campus was granted by Royal Charter in 1827. The
grounds are a peaceful oasis in the rush of downtown life... join me on this spring
tour! Let us start with the 1866 momument to volunteers:

http://img483.imageshack.us/img483/3773/may0706uoftvolunteersmonument1.jpg

http://img483.imageshack.us/img483/2569/may0706uoftuniversitycollegese.jpg

http://img486.imageshack.us/img486/3118/may0706uoftuniversitycollegepo.jpg

http://img483.imageshack.us/img483/2347/may0706uoftuniversitycollegeii.jpg

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/8821/may0706uoftuniversitycollegeco.jpg

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/7497/may0706uofttrinitycollegei7zn.jpg

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/3533/may0706uofttrinitycollege1lr.jpg

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/9793/may0706uofttrinitycollegeinter.jpg

http://img463.imageshack.us/img463/5118/may0706uofttrinitycollegeiii2e.jpg

A couple of lovely stained glass windows installed in old Trinity College in 1949. The
first depicts a hockey scene:

http://img463.imageshack.us/img463/6127/may0706uoftstainedglasswindow8.jpg

and the second looks eerily like Harry Potter:

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/8640/may0706uoftstainedglasswindowi.jpg

who I am sure would have felt right at home in the old halls , such as this one
from Hart House:

http://img483.imageshack.us/img483/2891/2005sept18universityoftorontoh.jpg

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/7238/oct2404harthouseiijpg8kj.jpg

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/2891/2005sept18universityoftorontoh.jpg

The old Observatory:

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/8639/may0706uoftobservatory3fe.jpg

Old cannons found in the harbour of Louisbourg in Nova Scotia, that were sunk in a
battle in 1750, and transported to the University to take their place on the lawns:

http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/787/may0706uoftlousiburgcannon1758.jpg

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/4817/may0706uoftharthouse4fy.jpg

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/9355/may0706uoftcampusx1oq.jpg

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/2710/may0706uoftcampusviii9fz.jpg

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/6037/may0706uoftcampusvii9ch.jpg

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/3286/may0706uoftcampusvi0kv.jpg

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/6630/may0706uoftcampusv6px.jpg

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/1858/may0706uoftcampusstatuei7ej.jpg

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/333/may0706uoftcampusiii9ie.jpg

http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/4062/may0706uoftcampusii6wj.jpg

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/1084/may0706uoftcampusi0hf.jpg

And leaving the campus, we travel south on University Avenue. This is the "Avenue d'etat" of Toronto... a grand boulevard sweeping through the heart of the business district:

http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/7039/may0706universityave8fd.jpg

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/9913/may0706universityavestatue4nh.jpg

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/8822/may0706universityavelookingnor1.jpg

http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/4540/may0706universityavei7tp.jpg


and a visit to the gracious Osgoode Hall; home of the Law Society of Upper Canada,
and built around 1830:

http://img354.imageshack.us/img354/5372/may0706osgoodehall9kl.jpg

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/7440/may0706osgoodehallxv8rf.jpg

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/5449/may0706osgoodehallxii8ki.jpg

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/9028/may0706osgoodehalli3au.jpg

I've more pictures, but will save them for another day. Thanks for putting up with
all the heavy downloading!! Cheers!

[Taller Better]

Before I dash off to work, here are some pics that didn't make the cut, but I liked for
whatever goofy reason. Starting with the 1840's House Of Industry which I like mostly
for its name!

http://img482.imageshack.us/img482/8906/may0806houseofindustrybldg4fp.jpg

Statue detail almost obliterated by weathering:

http://img482.imageshack.us/img482/3773/may0706uoftvolunteersmonument1.jpg

me in a purple haze:

http://img468.imageshack.us/img468/7690/may0706tdcentrepurple7nh.jpg

A clever subway advertisment for the upcoming Toronto Jewish Film Festival. Makes me want to go and see some of the movies!!

http://img482.imageshack.us/img482/8199/may0706innerjew2it.jpg

a liquour store in Old Town

http://img468.imageshack.us/img468/4800/may0706frontstiisepia8ds.jpg

Our Flatiron Building:

http://img468.imageshack.us/img468/2351/may0706frontstflatironbldg8ti.jpg

A byzantine church on Bond Street:

http://img468.imageshack.us/img468/2700/may0706byzantianchurchbondst4i.jpg

an apartment building in my 'hood

http://img468.imageshack.us/img468/627/may0606100wellesley6hp.jpg

City Hall during Tulip season:

http://img468.imageshack.us/img468/7791/may0506cityhalltulipsi2xk.jpg

a manhole cover installed in 1889 and still doing its job well today. Speaks volumes for
the quality of work then:

http://img482.imageshack.us/img482/7233/may13061889manholecover9kr.jpg

And finally, I don't know how I missed this little guy. He is a fierocious monster from
old China who guards the entrance to the Royal Ontario Museum. He looks pissed off!!

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/226/may1306rom0ss.jpg

ok. I'm outta here. Dang.. just started to rain as I leave for work. Sheesh.

[Taller Better]

I like to chose pix that have a bit of a story attached to them! I was going to be lazy and not post pix from this past couple of weeks, but Hey! now I am here I may as well put some on. They are just all jumbled up and are from various areas downtown. Let's start on May 09 with a bicycle tour around Rosedale. Rosedale
was Toronto's first bedroom suburb, and took its name from an old 1821 farmhouse there called Rosedale Villa. It quickly became a leafy retreat for the elite of Toronto, and to this day is home to many of Toronto's older, monied elite families. There are neighbourhoods of bigger, flashier, newer homes... but none have more charm or cachet than these gracious residences. The first picture shows the relation of Rosedale to downtown Toronto:

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/9996/may0906rosedalei5er.jpg

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/684/may0906rosedalexjpg5by.jpg

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/6199/may0906rosedalestonecottage8sf.jpg

http://img465.imageshack.us/img465/705/may0906rosedalesceneiv5ln.jpg

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/2067/may0906rosedalesceneiii7dz.jpg

http://img465.imageshack.us/img465/9273/may0906rosedalescenei5ae.jpg

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/8260/may0906rosedaleplaquere1821cot.jpg

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/3498/may0906rosedaleii8ad.jpg

http://img465.imageshack.us/img465/5535/may0906rosedaleiscene4gw.jpg

The day I rode my bike through, almost all of the houses had their gardeners out working to make the grounds ready for summer. This is not the type of neighbourhood
where the family has to get out and plant the pansies themselves... Even new homes in this neighbourhood make a supreme effort to fit in with the older ones:

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/9493/may0906rosedalegerryschwartzho.jpg

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/5073/may0906rosedalecherryblossoms3.jpg

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/4074/may0906rosedalecherryblossomsi1.jpg

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/3507/may0906rosedalecherryblossomsi.jpg

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/705/may0906rosedalexxxiiv2et.jpg

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/8813/may0906rosedalexxxiii5gk.jpg

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/3952/may0906rosedalexxxii4se.jpg

http://img465.imageshack.us/img465/2223/may0906rosedalexxx5ng.jpg

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/1407/may0906rosedalexxviii6sd.jpg

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/2080/may0906rosedalexxvii3ry.jpg

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/5817/may0906rosedalexxix9yb.jpg

http://img447.imageshack.us/img447/5385/may0906rosedalexxiv1gc.jpg

http://img447.imageshack.us/img447/7979/may0906rosedalexxi7wj.jpg

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/8134/may0906rosedalexvii9ry.jpg

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/5909/may0906rosedalexiii8pe.jpg

http://img447.imageshack.us/img447/8129/may0906rosedalexii2qe.jpg

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/8547/may0906rosedaleiviii1xf.jpg

I can just see myself living here:

http://img447.imageshack.us/img447/7446/may0906rosedaleiiv2ai.jpg

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/2029/may0906rosedaleiii1es.jpg

http://img447.imageshack.us/img447/9181/may0906rosedalei5jj.jpg

And cycling back downtown I noticed one of my favourite reno's of an old apartment
building to a very smart condo.

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/6373/may1306condoatroxborough7yg.jpg

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/3577/may1306condoatroxboroughii1pa.jpg

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/3936/may1306condoatroxboroughi4tk.jpg

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/8821/may1306hahnandcoi9wp.jpg

Beside the Rosedale Subway Station:

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/830/may1306rosedalesubwaystn7sr.jpg

Ridpaths, an old Toronto furniture shop to the wealthy:

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/8967/may1306yongestridpaths7tc.jpg

[Taller Better]

Now fast forward to today, where I rode my bike downtown. First stopped in at St Lawrence Market for my lunch. This market started over 200 years ago as a farmer's
market, and is still much loved by Torontonians. Wonderful meats, vegetables, cheeses, fish and just about anything else can be bought here:

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/3131/may2306stlawrencemarket200year1.jpg

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/8651/may2306stlawrencemarket200year.jpg

http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/7884/may2306frontstflatironautosett.jpg

Popping into St James Cathedral, where an organ recital was about to begin:

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/9181/may2306stjamescathedralinterio.jpg

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/9181/may2306stjamescathedralinterio.jpg

This window is called an Amity (friendship window) to display the connection at the time of King George V between England/Canada/South Africa/Australia, NZ, etc... the quality is high, and the window was made by Tiffanys. It felt surreal taking the pix as Sir Edgar Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance crashed away in the background from the organ recital:

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/8113/may2306stjamesgeorgevwindow9kh.jpg

One of the older gravestones from the church, laid in 1817:

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/1121/may2306johnrideoutsgravestone1.jpg

One of the two oldest Post Office buildings standing in TO, and now headquarters for
the embattled Hollinger, Inc

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/4339/may2306postoffice1tw.jpg

Annesley Hall, part of the University of Toronto:

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/5834/may1306queensparkannesleyhalli.jpg

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/610/may2306frontstlookingdowntown6.jpg

One night we went to a Brazilian restaurant, located up in the original Little Italy:

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/8941/may2206stclairlittleitaly6lu.jpg

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/1087/may2206stclairrio401gl.jpg

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/1430/may2206stclairrio40ii1bf.jpg

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/539/may2206stclairrio40i9ux.jpg

and in closing some pix I took last weekend in my neighbourhood, one some of the
streets I walk my dogs on. So, these are from the gay village, and nearby Cabbagetown:

http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/8116/may2206wisteriatime7ue.jpg

http://img464.imageshack.us/img464/9966/may2206villageareai3da.jpg

http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/8690/may2206villageareavi4dn.jpg

http://img391.imageshack.us/img391/4565/may2206cabbagetowniv2pd.jpg

http://img391.imageshack.us/img391/3631/may2206cabbagetownvi4ur.jpg

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/6392/may2206riverdalenecropolis9ep.jpg

http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/9418/may2206riverdalecemetary1au.jpg

http://img391.imageshack.us/img391/1844/may2206riverdaledogwoodi2xu.jpg

http://img373.imageshack.us/img373/7804/may2206riverdalesimpsonhousefo.jpg

http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/5769/may2206cabbagetownrhododendron.jpg

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/6740/may2206villageareavi9nw.jpg

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/3206/may2206villageareavii4jl.jpg

http://img285.imageshack.us/img285/3159/may2206riverdalesimpsonhouse7u.jpg

And a dear old lion having a snooze after protecting this tombstone for the past 150 years ( I'd want a nap, too)

http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/7607/may2206riverdalecemetarylionse.jpg

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/7014/may2206riverdalecemetaryiii1zj.jpg

Nothing is as pretty as dogwood in full bloom:

http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/5974/may2206riverdaledogwood8fr.jpg

Hope you liked tonight's tour, and I am so exhausted I am going straight to bed!!!
Cheers!

[Taller Better]

Pix from the last 18 hours... first coming home on my bike last night past the
rather grand entrance of the Princess Margaret Hospital with its superb broken pediment. If I had to take a broken arm anywhere, I would feel slightly better entering a grand portal like this! ;)

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/4915/may2406princessmargarethospita.jpg

Pix from walking the dogs.. just got back into my apartment.

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/6010/may2406cawthrapark3im.jpg

Cawthra Park, where I walk the dogs every day:

http://img486.imageshack.us/img486/2166/may2406cawthraviewtomonteithst.jpg

If you go through the portal shown, you come across charming Victorian rowhouses... if you look on the RHS, this is the townhouse where a Toronto
barber and his wife had a baby in 1892 named Roy Herbert Thompson. I wonder if Roy, when playing on the steps of these townhouses, had any inkling that someday he would own a huge international fleet of newspapers including The Times of London. He was to become, of course, the famous
Lord Thompson of Fleet.

http://img478.imageshack.us/img478/9219/may2406monteithstlordthompsono.jpg

If you walk down my street, Church Street, be sure to look up at the rooflines of the old Victorian houses. There are some fanciful ones that I
love to gaze upon:

http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/2684/may2406churchstrooflines0kl.jpg

Around the corner, and the dogs lead me to a very English style garden of
Rhododendrons and Azaleas. I refuse to let them pee on one:

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/7453/may2406charlesstgardenrhododen.jpg

One of the hundreds of elegant old brownstone apartment blocks downtown, built to last in the 1800's. This whimsical old one always makes me smile! Plus
I love the late Victorian Art Moderne lettering they used for the rather grand-
sounding "St Charles Court"... the little white lions guarding the entrance look
far from ferocious and appear to be swatting flies.

http://img486.imageshack.us/img486/2016/may2406stcharlescourt6aq.jpg

[Taller Better]

I didn't do a major photo shoot yesterday or today; been busy so just snapped
a few pix here and there. Firstly, here is a nice example of an old Victorian building
being saved as part of the wave of condos sweeping the city. This old building used to be a community centre, and played host to "Homo Hops" back in the early 70's.
Times changed, and need for such a space decreased, so this condo development, Jazz, was built:

http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/634/may2306jazzonchurchst0qc.jpg

http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/8000/may2306jazzonchurchsti6aq.jpg

While walking my ever patient dogs this morning, I snapped a couple of pix at neighbouring old homes on Jarvis Avenue. Jarvis was once THE street to have a
smart house or townhouse on, in Toronto. There are wonderful examples of "Robber-Baron" houses that are all Victorian, and range in style from this fanciful Mock
Medieval:

http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/848/may2606jarvissthomesjpg3et.jpg

to more classical Georgian:

http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/647/may2606jarvissthomesi7jk.jpg

A popular style for both residential and public buildings in Toronto during Victorian times
was Romanesque.. here is an example on St. Joseph Street that caught my eye:

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/9725/may2606stjosephstchalmershouse.jpg

And some earlier Victorian townhouses from about 1850, that probably had the Mansard rooflines installed twenty years later as a "modernisation":

http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/7620/may2606stjosephsttownhouses1pn.jpg

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/8764/may2606stjosephsttownhousesii7.jpg

I just got home after seeing DaVinci Code, and was famished, so stopped at my "local"
for some take-out Buffalo Wings. The patio was packed with people taking advantage
of the warmer weather:

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/8836/may2606theartfuldodger8em.jpg

And, I have to say, the wings were most excellent! Night!

[Taller Better]

Finally the dreary rainshowers seem to have left, and it felt much warmer tonight as I cycled home from work. A few random shot... first, our Legislature Building:

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/3742/may2706legislature8cx.jpg

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/7936/may2706lachancewindow7yv.jpg

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/39/may2706charlesst5ko.jpg

[Taller Better]

moved these pix to the end where there is more room!

[Taller Better]

edited to spread out the pix

[Taller Better]

Hopefully that has spread the pix about a bit... :)

[Taller Better]

A few signs of summer that I saw while out walking the dogs through Cabbagetown this afternoon. Rhododendrums- these are as big as they will grow here in TO as the
winters are too cold to get as luxuriant as they are in Vancouver:

http://img431.imageshack.us/img431/969/jun0206rhododendronssackvillea.jpg

http://img364.imageshack.us/img364/3567/jun0206cabbagetownirisesandang.jpg

http://img364.imageshack.us/img364/318/jun0206cabbagetownlabrunum3mi.jpg

http://img481.imageshack.us/img481/1438/jun0206cabbagetownwindowbox5my.jpg

Here is a bush that leaves a thick carpet of white petals on the sidewalk:

http://img285.imageshack.us/img285/5214/jun0206cabbagetowntreewithpeta.jpg

http://img481.imageshack.us/img481/5214/jun0206cabbagetowntreewithpeta.jpg

One of a hundred cute little doll-sized old brick cottages in the area:

http://img285.imageshack.us/img285/1092/jun0206cabbagetowntinycottage6.jpg

White picket fence with poppies:

http://img481.imageshack.us/img481/1560/jun0206cabbagetownpoppiesandap.jpg

and a nearby apartment building with irises and peonies

http://img333.imageshack.us/img333/6326/jun0206100wellesleyirisespeoni.jpg

[Taller Better]

spacer entry so there won't be too many photos on one page

[Taller Better]

another spacer to cut down on pics on one page

[Taller Better]

again an attempt to lessen the number of photos I posted on page one

[Taller Better]

And finally, as the hour is getting late, I will just post some pictures that I took that have not fit in to any of the previous postings, or which I may have missed first time round. Just a mish mash of snaps:

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/4881/jun0506cityhall4sq.jpg

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/3804/jun0906stjames0wo.jpg

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/6650/jun1506universityave8xo.jpg

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/8841/jun1506canadapermanentbuilding.jpg

http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/8841/jun1506canadapermanentbuilding.jpg

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/4352/jun1506baystthenationalclub3rt.jpg

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/5231/jun1506baystthenationalclubi5r.jpg

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/651/jun1506baystbankofmontreal0dw.jpg

http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/6273/jun1506baystbankofmontreali8gh.jpg

http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/2636/jun1206ocad2hd.jpg

A picture for everyone who thinks Toronto is completely flat...

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/5248/jun1606avenueroadnorth2jx.jpg

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/686/jun1606amsterdampark1uv.jpg

http://img398.imageshack.us/img398/1500/jun160618yorkville0rr.jpg

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/4632/jun1106pubyongedavisville9mc.jpg

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/5027/jun1106neighbourhoodvics3tr.jpg

A statue of Peter Pan, dedicated in the 20's to the children of the neighbourhood:

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/8527/jun0806glenngouldparkpeterpans.jpg

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/8004/jun0806avenueroadiii3hk.jpg

A fountain built in the 20's by a Dutchman to remember his home in Amsterdam:

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/8813/jun0806amsterdamparkfountain9x.jpg

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/6343/jun0806150stclairwestii6ul.jpg

Another Gothic Revival Church, St Peters (1893):

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/5997/sanglican18634bf.jpg

http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/9841/jun0606ocadii7nw.jpg

http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/8106/jun0606downtownfromocad3ip.jpg

http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/1441/jun0506oldvictoriahospitaldeta.jpg

A brand new Pharmacy Building at the University of Toronto, with "pods" that act as
classrooms, in the atrium space:

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/4489/sleslieldanpharmacybuildinguof.jpg

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/9454/jun0506downtownfrparamounti0bp.jpg

http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/9509/jun0506collegesttorontolibrary.jpg

Another University of Toronto building, for Molecular Research:

http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/6818/jun0506collegestmolecularresea2.jpg

Its interior is very sculptural, and contains a mature forest of bamboo:

http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/5601/jun0506collegestmolecularresea1.jpg

http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/7435/jun0506collegestmolecularresea.jpg

http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/7435/jun0506collegestmolecularresea.jpg

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/7435/jun0506collegestmolecularresea.jpg

Our new Opera House which just opened this past week:

http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/5510/jun1506universityavecoc8cm.jpg

http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/3401/jun1506universityavecanadalife.jpg


http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/565/jun1506universityavehydrobldgi.jpg

a condo under construction, taken at night:

http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/2995/jun1406spireatnighti3np.jpg

http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/7922/jun1406kingstfountain8dm.jpg

http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/2994/jun1406unionstation1zh.jpg

http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/1975/jun1406oldcityhall9ro.jpg

http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/235/jun1406universityavenue1ef.jpg

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/646/jun1406bird3xd.jpg

http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/5666/jun1406birdseagullcloseup4mn.jpg

http://img479.imageshack.us/img479/3616/jun1406nationalballetschoolres.jpg

http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/1416/jun1006climbingrosesatcawthrap.jpg

http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/7388/jun1006ourladyoflourdesdome6ez.jpg

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/4743/jun0606cityhallclocki0sg.jpg

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/1849/jun0606ocadv8rj.jpg

http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/8323/jun0606downtownfromocadiii6fq.jpg

http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/5300/jun0506universityavefountainsj.jpg

The CN Tower, taken from my balcony with my new camera:

http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/1103/jun0406secondpicwithcanon5dr.jpg

And now, I bid you good night! Thanks for joining my little tour!

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/4922/jun0606moon3dz.jpg

[Taller Better]

Thanks, Pottebaum! I've taken a lot more pix of celebrations during the World Cup games but just have not had time to organise them all. I will get them posted, but here are a small sample in the meantime. First the celebration last Monday in the Brasilian area of town, and later that day in the Korean village.

http://img117.imageshack.us/img117/8242/jun1806brasilvsaustraliacelebr.jpg

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/4052/jun1806brasilvsaustraliavi9fy.jpg

http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/2092/jun1806brasilvsaustraliav2vw.jpg

http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/8719/jun1806brasilvsaustraliaiv4hm.jpg

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/6044/jun1806brasilvsaustraliaiii1um.jpg

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/3382/jun1806brasilvsaustraliaii2cw.jpg

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/2316/jun1806brasilvsaustraliai8sd.jpg

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/286/jun1806korea8xl.jpg

http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/3494/jun1806koreai2yu.jpg

http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/9831/jun1806koreaii3ay.jpg

http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/5513/jun1806koreaiii1hv.jpg

http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/381/jun1806koreaiv2nz.jpg

Cheers to everyone and enjoy the World Cup! :cheers:

[Taller Better]

Today saw beautiful weather, 27C and sunny, and the largest ever Toronto Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade. This 26th annual event drew 1,000,000 to the downtown to watch the festivities, and it has become one of the largest Pride parades in the world. Enjoy!

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/3116/jun2506pridevxvi5kh.jpg

http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/2706/jun2506pride3bd.jpg

Hmmm... I thought they were real, but I hear they were fake Mounties!!! LOL!

http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/5590/jun2506pridemounties7lb.jpg

http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/3828/jun2506pridei4kk.jpg

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/4563/jun2506pridevxiii0lp.jpg

http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/6480/jun2506prideii9cu.jpg

Hopefully the next Prime Minister of Canada, Liberal Party contender Michael Ignatieff:

http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/3310/jun2506prideimichaelignatief2j.jpg

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/5029/jun2506prideiproudpuppy5dm.jpg

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/2206/jun2506prideiii0tt.jpg

http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/6298/jun2506prideiv9nh.jpg

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/4310/jun2506pridev0mm.jpg

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/2209/jun2506pridevii5en.jpg

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/2833/jun2506prideviii7os.jpg

http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/1247/jun2506pridevix9zv.jpg

http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/2328/jun2506pridevx4bq.jpg

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/584/jun2506pridevxi3bm.jpg

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/6687/jun2506pridevxiv8ko.jpg

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/4245/jun2506pridevxvii8wg.jpg

http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/9618/jun2506pridevxvxi1bq.jpg

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/6093/jun2506pridevxvx9hh.jpg

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/2471/jun2506pridevxviii4cg.jpg

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/920/jun2506pridevxvix9uq.jpg

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/4203/jun2506pridevxvxvvii4cy.jpg

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/9638/jun2506pridevxvxvvi7vw.jpg

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/3180/jun2506pridevxvxvv7yj.jpg

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/8899/jun2506pridevxvxviv8mg.jpg

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/8169/jun2506pridevxvxvii6rp.jpg

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/8505/jun2506pridevxii7po.jpg

http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/544/jun2506pridevxvxvi5ik.jpg

a happy DJ

http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/8527/jun2506pridevxvxv7bk.jpg

http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/6745/jun2506pridevxvxiv0rt.jpg

a little Cuban salsa

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/47/jun2506pridevxvxii7ts.jpg

and a LOT of dancing

http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/3159/jun2506pridevxvxiii7oo.jpg

and finally a few pix I snapped late last night

http://img240.imageshack.us/img240/8931/jun2406pridei6ub.jpg

http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/4479/jun2406prideiii3yj.jpg

http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/5913/jun2406prideii1id.jpg

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/5328/jun2406pride2ev.jpg

[Taller Better]

What better way to celebrate Canada Day, than to go to Little Portugal to watch a football match? Big day here in Toronto for Portugal, and a rather sad day for the teams I have been cheering for ( 1.Brasil, 2.England) Oh well, had a blast celebrating for the Portugese in that area of town, and my Brasilian T-Shirt got thumbs up from everyone in the crowd:

http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/5260/july0106collegestvxvxi1yb.jpg

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/8891/july0106collegestvxvx1tn.jpg

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/1760/july0106collegestvxvix8qt.jpg

http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/9895/july0106collegestvxvii7co.jpg

http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/1747/july0106collegestvxvi9og.jpg

http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/9871/july0106collegestvxv9fa.jpg

http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/1838/july0106collegestvxiv7wq.jpg

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/9518/july0106collegestvxiii2vk.jpg

http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/1791/july0106collegestvxii6mx.jpg

http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/1639/july0106collegestvxi2tp.jpg

http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/7348/july0106collegestvx8uk.jpg

http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/6654/july0106collegestviii5pc.jpg

Paris Hilton?

http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/3074/july0106collegestvii4qp.jpg

http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/1421/july0106collegestvi8sw.jpg

http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/6103/july0106collegest4sv.jpg

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/3802/july0106collegesti0og.jpg

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/3034/july0106collegestii1qu.jpg

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/3802/july0106collegesti0og.jpg

And, I have to add... a lot of sadness for those of us cheering for Brasil.. I shared the sentiments of this wee little boy:

http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/3553/july0106collegestiii0vr.jpg

but found a table of supporters for France (and they were few and far between in the Portugese/Brazilian part of town), and wished them a "felicitations et bonnes chances"!!

http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/8001/july0106collegestivlesfrancais.jpg

HAPPY CANADA DAY EVERYONE!!
139 happy years of Confederation! :cheers:

[Taller Better]

Pictures from yesterday when we visited the Bata Shoe Museum. Very pleasant surprise and we thoroughly enjoyed the day!

http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/8922/jun3006batashoemuseum1ky.jpg

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/3603/jun3006batashoemuseumvxiii9zq.jpg

http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/6084/jun3006batashoemuseumii5po.jpg

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/7738/jun3006batashoemuseumi2vu.jpg

Shoes from ancient times to present day. Something for everyone, whether it be old ceremonial shoes for an Indian wedding:

http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/5593/jun3006batashoemuseumiii8xf.jpg

or ruby slippers!!

http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/4969/jun3006batashoemuseumrubyslipp.jpg

http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/7452/jun3006batashoemuseumvxi3wv.jpg

Outside, on Bloor St across from the museum, a handsome 50's office building:

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/370/jun3006medicalartsbuildingbloo.jpg

and some shots from the new OCAD building downtown:

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/4074/jun3006ocadviewi9uo.jpg

http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/300/jun3006ocadviewii2jd.jpg

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/2710/jun3006ocadview2qd.jpg

and the receptionist who was more than helpful:

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/8295/jun3006ocadviewiii3hp.jpg

[Taller Better]

Hot day today.... hit 32C so I jumped on my bike and headed for the beach. Toronto is blessed with miles of lovely natural sand beaches, and I was not the only one today to have this brainwave!

http://img397.imageshack.us/img397/7383/july0206ashbridgebay9an.jpg

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/5807/july0206ashbridgebayi7uc.jpg

Ashbridge beach is very popular for Beach Volleyball:

http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/9679/july0206ashbridgebayii2rj.jpg

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/715/july0206ashbridgebayiii0hr.jpg

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/8972/july0206ashbridgebayiv4xi.jpg

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/4227/july0206ashbridgebayv2fw.jpg

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/9599/july0206ashbridgebayvi4lq.jpg

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/4240/july0206ashbridgebayvii6ip.jpg

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/2355/july0206ashbridgebayviii4wc.jpg

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/1020/july0206ashbridgebayvix2ui.jpg

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/1211/july0206ashbridgebayvx5tm.jpg

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/2774/july0206ashbridgebayvxi6kw.jpg

http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/9325/july0206ashbridgebayvxii1vn.jpg

dropped into here for an amazing burger, ice cold beer, and watched the US Grand Prix

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/622/july0206ashbridgebayvxiii3cm.jpg

[shappy]

awesome! Your photos of last night's party are great. Too bad I missed it. Forget Yonge or even Queen W., Church is Toronto's party street.

[Taller Better]

Back on the bike, and up to Queen Street East to ride a bit further to another Beach-
Kew Beach. I posted pix of this area of The Beach/Beaches in the Spring, and thought it would be fun to show you how it comes alive in the Summer!! Enjoy the tour:

http://img468.imageshack.us/img468/6477/july02thebeaches4kf.jpg

http://img481.imageshack.us/img481/1702/july0206thebeachesi8bd.jpg

http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/7919/july0206thebeachesii4qn.jpg

http://img481.imageshack.us/img481/4750/july0206thebeachesiii6ea.jpg

http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/293/july0206thebeachesiv4oc.jpg

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/5152/july0206thebeachesv2pb.jpg

http://img387.imageshack.us/img387/9205/july0206thebeachesvi7nx.jpg

http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/6403/july0206thebeachesvii1nx.jpg

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/372/july0206thebeachesviii2ux.jpg

http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/2473/july0206thebeachesvix8ly.jpg

http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/8353/july0206thebeachesviv5bq.jpg

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/5788/july0206thebeachesvx5ui.jpg

http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/2040/july0206kewbeach3zc.jpg

http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/7141/july0206kewbeachi0uh.jpg

http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/7816/july0206kewbeachii3le.jpg

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/73/july0206kewbeachiii0tz.jpg

http://img486.imageshack.us/img486/6645/july0206kewbeachiv4rw.jpg

The most famous of the Lifeguard Stations in Toronto - Leuty:

http://img486.imageshack.us/img486/6707/july0206kewbeachleutylifeguard.jpg

http://img486.imageshack.us/img486/879/july0206kewbeachleutylifeguard1.jpg

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/853/july0206kewbeachv0gu.jpg

[Taller Better]

And finally some pix I snapped while riding my bike home from my day at the Beaches. All are on Queen Street:

http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/307/july0206queensteast4vi.jpg

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/9324/july0206ashbridgeestate7zr.jpg

The place to go if you are looking for an Elvis to match that special blue drapery you got:

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/3208/july0206queensteastelvis4gy.jpg

The only place I know of in Toronto to go if you like cooking Cajun food (I do). You can even get alligator sausage and Androuille sausage. They are not easy to find here!

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/564/july0206queensteastcajun4zt.jpg

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/4913/july0206queensteastcajuni6yk.jpg

May favourite brunch place and bakery, Bonjour Brioche:

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/8153/july0206queenstebonjourbrioche.jpg

a handsome building that was once an old Postal Station

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/3496/july0206queenstepostalstna1913.jpg

an old Canadian Bank of Commerce:

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/6211/july0206queenstebankofcommerce.jpg

The view downtown from Corktown. Corktown, as its name would suggest, was settled by Irish immigrants in the 1800's:

http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/4071/july0206queensteastviewdtn7wx.jpg

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/1739/july0206queenstecorktown1om.jpg

Terrace housing from 1877:

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/8107/july0206queensteterracehousing.jpg

one of the locals giving his dog a lift:

http://img391.imageshack.us/img391/2246/july0206queenstecorktowni6nl.jpg

Honestly it is like going back in time in this area... but in a nice way!

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/3143/july0206queenstecorktownii0lg.jpg

http://img391.imageshack.us/img391/8582/july0206queenstecorktowniii1oe.jpg

Tomorrow it will be 31c or 32c again... I will have to come up with what I saw on this sign tonight on my way home from seeing SUPERMAN!!!

http://img391.imageshack.us/img391/4163/july0206queenstwestbrainstorm3.jpg

[Taller Better]

Hot again today, 32c so again I decided to get to the Toronto Islands to escape some of the heat. Pix I snapped on my bike tour:

http://img466.imageshack.us/img466/199/july0306ferryqueue3bs.jpg

http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/509/july0306ferryloading9wv.jpg

http://img482.imageshack.us/img482/3527/july0306lakeontario0qe.jpg

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http://img466.imageshack.us/img466/9585/july0306torontoislandsview5al.jpg

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/2585/july0306ferry9by.jpg

http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/1687/july0306ferryi3dz.jpg

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/880/july0306ferryiii9wr.jpg

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/1508/july0306torontoislands4rp.jpg

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http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/9724/july0306torontoislandsii5mx.jpg

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http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/9502/july0306torontoislandsiv6jy.jpg

Steppin' out..


http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/8756/july0306goosie7ly.jpg

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/4204/july0306torontoislandsgeese9ou.jpg

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/2867/july0306torontoislandsbridge1v.jpg

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/2825/july0306torontoislandsvx3jo.jpg

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/4720/july0306torontoislandsvix5gm.jpg

Did you ever have the irrational feeling that somehow, somewhere a goose was watching you?

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/9544/july0306torontoislandsgoosei8m.jpg

Well.. he is. And he wants your food.

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/9550/july0306torontoislandsgoose6xq.jpg

Kids riding swan boats

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/160/july0306torontoislandsviii1wt.jpg

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/2934/july0306torontoislandsv4kq.jpg

a North American robin

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/1148/july0306torontoislandsrobin5tq.jpg

http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/3486/july0306wardsislandcottagev1bl.jpg

People do live on the Islands, on Wards Island, to be exact. Lovely picturesque cottages:

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/6702/july0306wardsislandcottageiv1l.jpg


http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/4709/july0306wardsislandcottageiii3.jpg

http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/2448/july0306wardsislandcottageii7c.jpg

and the view some of them have out their windows!

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/295/july0306wardsislandview2eq.jpg

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/1771/july0306wardsislandcottagei5vm.jpg

http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/1276/july0306wardsislandcottage4uk.jpg

The Islands have their own school, water filtration plant, lighthouse, arts community, theatre, and fire hall

http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/6018/july0306torontoislandsfirestn2.jpg

and their own church, St Andrew-by-the-Lake (1884):

http://img240.imageshack.us/img240/8315/july0306standrewonthelake18947.jpg

The Royal Canadian Yacht Club dates back to the 1850's. It was originally called the Toronto Boat Club, but when members in 1852 sent a proposal to Queen Victoria for a Royal Charter, the name did not strike her as being, well... grand enough. So, with the flick of a pen she changed the name to The Royal Canadian Yacht Club and sent it back with her blessings!!!

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/4862/july0306rcycplaque4wv.jpg

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/672/july0306rcyciv2gc.jpg

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/6174/july0306rcycvi3mq.jpg

Time to go home!!

http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/6849/july0306torontoislandsvii5si.jpg


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and, once off the ferry, my bike ride home.....

http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/1908/july0306yongestiv8ct.jpg


http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/6774/july0306yongesti1vn.jpg

http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/6795/july0306yongest0yb.jpg

http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/1401/july0306yongestii5iy.jpg


and, to say goodnight, two views from my balcony with the moon!

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/1265/july03viewoffbalcony1jh.jpg

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/6597/july0306viewfrombalcony7jr.jpg

[Taller Better]

I will have to make some blank entries as I go to make up for the conversation in the SSP thread, or each page will
have too many photos..

[Taller Better]

blank thread

[Taller Better]

What an exciting day in Toronto!! Italy wins the World Cup, and all Hell breaks out in the second of Toronto's Little Italy's.... Come with me on my bike as I venture to St. Clair Ave West, to discover what happens when the Italian community celebrates a World Cup!! An estimated half a million people crammed the street this evening, in what is undoubtably one of the largest celebrations happening outside of Italy today!

http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/671/july0906stclairlittleitaly3zv.jpg

http://img451.imageshack.us/img451/3512/july0906stclairi6st.jpg

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City Police keeping an eye on things...

http://img451.imageshack.us/img451/9853/july0906stclairv6xy.jpg

We're on Corso Italia!!

http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/1462/july0906stclairvi6uc.jpg

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Naturally, not everyone was pleased with the outcome of the game. These two fellows got into fisticuffs over one too many "Vive la France"'s, and this poor sod left with a bloody nose:

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/8181/july0906stclairvxi4fu.jpg

as did his pugilistic partner....

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/5786/july0906stclairvxii1ro.jpg

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[Taller Better]

Well, it was a hot day.....

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Lads playing soccer in the street:

http://img487.imageshack.us/img487/377/july0906astclairscenevx0xq.jpg

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what every party needs... BEATS!! :dj:

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And food!! This old gal couldn't keep up with the demand for her sausages!
Talk about stress!!

http://img390.imageshack.us/img390/7066/july0906stclairfood2ie.jpg

http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/6711/july0906astclairscenevxvi1fm.jpg

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And what would any Italian party be without an appearance by a talented La Cicciolina? Here, apparently, is Toronto's Cicciolina, giving her all to please the crowd:

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/2407/july0906aastclairsceneciccioli.jpg

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/9854/july0906aastclairsceneciccioli1.jpg

http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/9854/july0906aastclairsceneciccioli1.jpg

"Oh, I couldn't possibly take it off"

http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/2407/july0906aastclairsceneciccioli.jpg

Hmmm... where is that damn clasp?

http://img490.imageshack.us/img490/9854/july0906aastclairsceneciccioli1.jpg

Jeez, they make them bra's fiddley nowadays:

http://img490.imageshack.us/img490/2407/july0906aastclairsceneciccioli.jpg

Does she get it off? Naturally! But I am not posting those pix here.... our plucky Cicciolina scales new heights by shimming up the post to the top of the streetcar wires.... gasps all around. Is she Electric Lady from the circus?

http://img490.imageshack.us/img490/776/july0906aastclairsceneciccioli2.jpg

Shockingly she does not seem to sizzle, well, any further than she already has, by perching amid the streetcar wires:

http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/776/july0906aastclairsceneciccioli2.jpg

She has a captive audience,to say the least:

http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/8435/july0906aastclairsceneciccioli3.jpg

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http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/2407/july0906aastclairsceneciccioli.jpg

Oh, go on Cicciolina...you know you want to... get it off one more time. It is, after all, very hot and humid out. What a trouper!! :cheers:

http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/9854/july0906aastclairsceneciccioli1.jpg

Cicciolina is a hard act to follow, and this girl repeatedly refused.. with the urgings of her boyfriend behind her.. she waggled her finger "NO NO NO" to the rambunctious crowd:

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/2407/july0906aastclairsceneciccioli.jpg

http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/9192/july0906istclairave8nr.jpg

[Taller Better]

gladiators abound:

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Pheww.. how does a gal stay cool?
http://img466.imageshack.us/img466/5200/july0906onthestreet3kf.jpg
or a guy for that matter:

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/4990/july0906stclairvxiii9gz.jpg

http://img466.imageshack.us/img466/91/july0906onthestreeti9sd.jpg

Aye Chihuahua!

http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/9641/july0906onthestreetii0tm.jpg

Look up on the roof:

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http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/7393/july0906onthestreetiv5nq.jpg

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This was the scene on sidestreets as everyone poured into the Corso Italia
to party the night away. As I type this the party goes on to the wee hours of the morning!! Viva Italia!!!


http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/8738/july0906updufferin1cz.jpg

And, as we all know, there cannot be a winner without a loser. I started out my day on King St West. We do not have a large French community in Toronto, but there are a few bars on King Street that became the home base of the French fans.

http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/9168/july0906kingstfrance6er.jpg

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/9062/july0906kingstfranceiv1or.jpg

http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/2033/july0906kingstfranceii7uq.jpg

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http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/3394/july0906kingstfrancev1rq.jpg

http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/9847/july0906kingstfrancevi4ct.jpg

High hopes...

http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/8859/july0906kingstfrancevii6ee.jpg

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/6429/july0906kingstfrancevx2sn.jpg

and a large dose of reality:

http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/4525/july0906kingstfrancei8mc.jpg

First, you cry......


http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/9123/july0906kingstfrancevxiii8dy.jpg

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http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/7803/july0906kingstfrancevxv8nq.jpg

A la prochaine.... peut-être:

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/5296/july0906kingstfrancevxvi1yc.jpg

And with a shirt like this, all you can do is hot foot it home fast before the Italian fans see you!

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/1383/july0906kingstfrancevxvii9yw.jpg

Hoping you all enjoyed my tour as much as I did! Thanks for coming along.. :cheers:

[Taller Better]

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More pix from this past weekend- so much was going on. 10 major events including the Molson Grand Prix (which I did not attend), and AfroFest at Queen's Park. I did check out the Yonge Street streetparty, which closed Yonge from Dundas St south for a number of blocks:

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/4637/july0806yongestfestival0qn.jpg

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http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/7444/july0806yongestfestivaliii1oq.jpg

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/3545/july0806yongestfestivalperform.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/7088/july0806yongestfestivaliv1oe.jpg

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I got some interesting pix of buildings along Yonge Street as I rode South to Harbourfront. Many blocks had been closed to traffic but not all were used for the celebration, which gave a unique traffic-free look to the usually busy street:

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/7648/july0806yongestfestivalclosedo.jpg

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/2194/july0806yongestscenes7ab.jpg

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and finally, under the Gardiner Expressway:

http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/253/july0806gardinerexpressway6ct.jpg

[Taller Better]

Arriving at Harbourfront, I went up to the lounge of Tula at the top of the Westin Harbour Hotel and snapped these shots of the downtown core:

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/951/july0806viewfromharbourfrontwe1.jpg

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/216/july0806viewfromharbourfrontwe2.jpg

I know that earlier in the summer I posted some Harbourfront pix, so if I am repeating myself I apologise, but it was such a gorgeous summer day on Saturday that I could not help myself from escaping the heat of the City.

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my friend from England who was here last week was shocked to see a deep sea freight this far inland. I explained that the St Lawrence Seaway project completed in 1954 is a series of river and canals that allow ocean going vessels to sail as far as Lake Erie and even Lake Superior:

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Queen's Quay is an old Art Deco terminal that was converted into a shopping centre with some residential units:

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I marvelled how similar buskers are around the world. This guy reminded me very much of bronze statue buskers that I saw on Avenida Paulista in São Paulo:

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/5903/july0806harbourfrontvxiii2bn.jpg

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/725/july0806harbourfrontvxiv6qz.jpg

I still love motorised toy boats!!

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/6619/july0806harbourfrontvxv5mf.jpg

Free concerts all day long at the Harboufront Stage:

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/5057/july0806harbourfrontvxvii5gb.jpg

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[Taller Better]

another scene that took me back to Mexico or Brasil... a man selling green coconuts that he chops the top off and you can drink with a straw:

http://img477.imageshack.us/img477/1500/july0806harbourfrontgreencocoa.jpg

http://img277.imageshack.us/img277/198/july0806harbourfrontscenes3jd.jpg

Who doesn't love a tall ship?

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/4736/july0806harbourfrontprideofbal1.jpg

Old Glory:

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Much has changed since Governor John Graves Simcoe and his wife sailed onto the shores of Toronto Bay, back on July 30, 1793 (at the area now known as Garrison Creek, to the west of this area):

http://img286.imageshack.us/img286/7921/july0806harbourfrontscenesiii9.jpg

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a wonderful park known as The Music Gardens:

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/768/july0806harbourfrontscenesmusi.jpg

a wedding was being held there on Saturday:

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http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/8663/july0806harbourfrontscenesvxvi.jpg

http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/8663/july0806harbourfrontscenesvxvi.jpg

http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/7664/july0806harbourfrontvxvxii0mr.jpg

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/2397/squay7up.jpg

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/7169/july0806harbourfrontvxvxiv8kh.jpg

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/2141/squayi3sa.jpg

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/7651/squayii0qy.jpg

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/5161/july0806harbourfrontscenesvxvx.jpg

We have great hopes and plans for our harbourfront in Toronto, but as it stands it is strangely underappreciated and undervalued by many in Toronto.. I am excited about what the future holds for it, but like a tourist I also get out and enjoy what we have! I think there are many cities in the world that would love to have one like it! Thanks for joining me on this tour!

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Went out for a bike ride tonight, and snapped these various photos downtown...

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/9256/july1006ryerson3bl.jpg

http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/8524/july1006downtown1uy.jpg

http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/7659/july1006spire3fj.jpg

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/2338/july1006downtowni5it.jpg

an old stone Royal Crest from an early Post Office Building:

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/4731/july1006royalmail0nk.jpg

http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/2370/july1006downtownii5kz.jpg

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/7664/july1006downtowniii7kw.jpg

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Fun with sepia:

http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/2970/july1006downtownvi1lp.jpg

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/5567/july1006novatelhotel8cu.jpg

http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/8970/july1006novatelhoteli1fr.jpg

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/2087/july1006downtownviii9fj.jpg

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/5175/july1006domestlawrencehalli8sk.jpg

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/1906/july1006satchiandsatchi8ue.jpg

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/9417/july1006kingedwardhotel8td.jpg

A couple of building I photographed the other day in daylight look different at night!

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/8391/july1006yongest2az.jpg

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/8085/july1006yongesti1ji.jpg

http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/3066/july1006yongesthardrockcafe1bu.jpg

http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/2973/july1006yongestii3kx.jpg

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Hot humid day, but still snapped some pix while out on my bike:

http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/1421/july1306windsorarmshoteliii8fy.jpg

http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/1593/july1306baystlookingsouthfromb.jpg

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/1161/july1306onestthomas2sx.jpg

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/6871/july1306baystbistro990a4fj.jpg

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Some pix from today:

http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/5443/july1406viewdowntownimx3.jpg

http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/7376/july1406dundasstfilmoresikr6.jpg

The Bank of Upper Canada (one of Canada's first banks) built in 1827:

http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/6549/july1406bankofuppercanada1827iav9.jpg

De La Salle Institute of 1871:

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/7020/july1406delasalleinstitute1871ikb3.jpg

Toronto's first Post Office ( York Post Office 1833) that remains today the oldest Post Office still standing in Canada:

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/8646/july1406postofficeno11833ny4.jpg

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/2295/july1406theesplanadeish3.jpg

http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/9599/july1406theesplanadenovotelhoteliho1.jpg

http://img240.imageshack.us/img240/4945/july1406theesplanadevk0.jpg

and a view from Riverdale Park this evening:

http://img459.imageshack.us/img459/774/july1406riverdaleparktodowntownviyw6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

And with the camera set at a different iso speed:

http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/5642/july1406riverdaleparktodowntownivdx6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

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Scorcher in TO with temps hitting 35C yesterday and today. I started off the weekend by walking home from work Saturday night in my 'hood, on Church St.

http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/8765/july1506churchsticw5.jpg

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/8288/july1506churchstpy0.jpg

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/5305/july1506churchstiiiov2.jpg

http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/1913/july1506churchstivme5.jpg

Love for sale (and yes, she does have clothes on. Poor girl must not be able to afford many clothes as these were miniscule):

http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/4677/july1506churchstloveforsalezb7.jpg

http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/47/july1506churchstvjt4.jpg

Billboard for anyone who is not sure which neighbourhood they are in:

http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/3403/july1506churchstbillboardyq3.jpg

Woke up yesterday and decided it was too hot to not go to the lake, so I jumped on my speedy blue Canadian Tire bike and zipped off to Queen St at Kingston Rd to ride up to the Bluffs. The area is relatively hilly, and made for an exhausting day in the heat for cycling:

http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/359/july1606scarboroughcf3.jpg

Made it to my secret location to go down the cliff to a very secluded beach that is a lot like Wreck Beach in Vancouver. Come with me down the rather steep 300ft cliff:

http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/2564/july1606scarboroughiiif4.jpg

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/9598/july1606scarboroughivlk5.jpg

http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/5446/july1606scarboroughiiiaj9.jpg

http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/1456/july1606scarboroughbluffssv5.jpg

The air was cooler and fresher than in the city above, and I could hear none of the buzz of a city stretching and yawning in the heat:

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/110/july1606scarboroughvhy2.jpg

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/7295/july1606scarboroughvirz5.jpg

Unofficial "clothing optional" beaches along here:

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/1271/july1606scarboroughbluffsiipf0.jpg

After lollygagging around listening to my radio and cheering the Blue Jays as they whooped the Mariners, I headed back up the cliff (ten times higher than coming down):

http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/4596/july1606scarboroughbluffsiiimd3.jpg

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along Kingston Road til I hit The Hunt Club.. very posh and dating from 1843, but the only hunting done nowadays is for golf balls:

http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/3204/july1606scarboroughtorontohuntyh4.jpg

Seeing as no one said I couldn't, I whizzed through it on my bike:

http://img54.imageshack.us/img54/6199/july1606scarboroughtorontohuntigh8.jpg

This is how the rich spend a hot day... tooting around the cool lushness in their motorised golf carts:

http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/4743/july1606scarboroughtorontohuntiihr6.jpg

Peeking around the corner of the Club House, a gaggle of matrons getting tipsy on wine while their hubbies bravely wield their mashie niblicks froze and stared at me as if I were the Abominable Snowman. I suppose "Dress Code" does not include a shiny reflective skateboarding helmet! Feeling about as welcome as a boil on your bum I took my cue and vamoosed.... Here are some typical houses in the neighbourhood of Fallingbrook Road:

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/3329/july1606scarboroughfallingbrookigo4.jpg

more hills:

http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/3338/july1606scarboroughfallingbrookiiiyc9.jpg

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/1516/july1606scarboroughfallingbrookivjc7.jpg

This street dips down to look out on the lake. People are forever whingeing that they wouldn't want to live in Scarborough, but I would be quite happy settling down in this little nook:

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/8827/july1606scarboroughfallingbrookvibp8.jpg

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/3006/july1606scarboroughfallingbrookviidm4.jpg

I can picture myself waking up to this view every morning:

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/4505/july1606scarboroughfallingbrookviiibg6.jpg

Back in the saddle, and peddling furiously toward Queen St in the Beach area, I pass a fairly typical brick apartment building from the 20's, with reasonably common Art Deco detailing:

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/8823/july1606queenstartdecodoorjpggz9.jpg

I hit more up and down riding on Queen Street. It struck me for the first time yesterday how heavily treed Queen Street is in the Beach. A pleasure to ride down:

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/8362/july1606queenstqo3.jpg

But quite frankly, by this time I am ravenously hungry, and gagging for a cold drink. Stop in at a Fish and Chip shop:

http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/2769/july1606queenstfishandchipsvi3.jpg

and had, without question, the best Fish and Chips I have had in many, many years. And a nice frosty brewski from the country where cougars do not wear lipstick ;)

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/9761/july1606queenstfishandchipsizf0.jpg

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Suitably refreshed and energized, I head back out into the sweltering 35C heat:

http://img456.imageshack.us/img456/5962/july1606queensttodowntownwe2.jpg

As were the golf matrons, this young boy seems suitably impressed by my chrome reflective helmet. Either that or he is terrified of me on my blue bike:

http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/7870/july1606queensteyeopenerbb8.jpg

We continue on, toward downtown. I am cycling slowly as it is waaaay hot:

http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/184/july1606queensttodowntowntreesxh2.jpg

I stop at the Toronto Transit yards to scan over the streetcars:

http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/2041/july1606queenststreetcaryardxn2.jpg

and look lovingly at an old Red Rocket:

http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/3185/july1606queenststreetcaryardoldcareb5.jpg

Sadly the TTC has scrapped most of its old fleet of these beauties :( I reach the bridge going over the Don River. Looking north at the Don Valley Parkway:

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/3501/july1606donvalleyparkwaytg3.jpg

The Don River (which was "improved" in the early century by being straightened out. It is technically a canal now)

http://img486.imageshack.us/img486/9897/july1606donriverid3.jpg

Typical warehouse renovation to condos.. this is the Queen City Vinegar Co building:

http://img426.imageshack.us/img426/44/july1606queencityvinegarcoiifq4.jpg

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/2121/july1606queencityvinegarcoqt7.jpg

and over the bridge. The steel artwork here was done by a Toronto artist Eldon Garnet. If you read the inscription, you will see he has taken inspiration from our old friend and Greek Philosopher Heraclitus, who wisely noted:" You cannot step in the same river twice". Ain't that the truth?

http://img485.imageshack.us/img485/3356/july1606queenstbyeldongarnetafterheraclitusvh1.jpg

Glancing over we see the BMW Toronto showroom:

http://img485.imageshack.us/img485/1614/july1606bmwshowroomur0.jpg

no that is not a billboard on the side, it is a "Living Billboard" of windows to showcase BMW's. Clever and very attractive building:

http://img485.imageshack.us/img485/6651/july1606bmwshowroomiqu1.jpg

http://img485.imageshack.us/img485/7849/july1606todowntowntf7.jpg

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Lower Broadview is a "mixed bag".. some warehouse reno's and some houses in need of a lick of paint. This was a nice middle of the road Victorian in this working class part of downtown:

http://img481.imageshack.us/img481/1937/july1606housesnearkingriverbridgeqm5.jpg


I saw a steady stream of folk dressed in their Sunday-Going-To-Church clothes coming from this church:

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/9008/july1606broadviewscenegy3.jpg

Broadview hosts Toronto's second downtown "Chinatown", but having said that it is a mixture of Chinese and Vietnamese. Best place in the city to buy live lobster and crabs for cooking at home:

http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/8880/july1606broadviewscenechinatownixk0.jpg

http://img475.imageshack.us/img475/2294/july1606broadviewscenechinatowniifx6.jpg

http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/2684/july1606broadviewscenechinatowniiink4.jpg

http://img103.imageshack.us/img103/2856/july1606broadviewscenepubliclibraryhv7.jpg

What a gem of a library:

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/7170/july1606broadviewscenepubliclibraryiry6.jpg

a closeup of those men playing Chinese Checkers:

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/6567/july1606broadviewscenechinesecheckersbn2.jpg

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Next stop (luckily a voluntary one) at the Don Jail (or Don Gaol as it was originally called). Built in 1859 it held a host of bad-guys and ne'er-do-wells at Her/His Majesty's Pleasure for over a century. It is a fascinating building, grandiose in its Italian Renaissance Revival style:

http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/7616/july1606donjail1859iird7.jpg

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/5175/july1606donjail1859visv3.jpg

http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/7643/july1606donjail1859qr1.jpg

http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/4926/july1606donjailentryportalhh4.jpg

Prisoners arriving at the gaol could hardly not notice Father Time above the entry portal glaring down at them... not a cheery thought, is it?

http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/8554/july1606donjailentryportalfathertimeeo2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

imagine my shock moments later when I saw Father Time sitting on a bench around the corner, in Riverdale Park:

http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/8219/july1606riverdaleparkhw9.jpg

70 men were executed in the gallows of the Don Gaol. When it was new, public hangings were held outside, right where I was standing. I will not lie to you, I felt a strange sensation when I entered the area. Not fear, but very intense and almost one of building anticipation. I swear on a Bible my heart was pounding as I looked up at the old jail and imagined all the poor souls who must have stared out these bleak windows waiting for Father Time to take pity on them and set them free:

http://img107.imageshack.us/img107/3788/july1606donjail1859vlr9.jpg

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On now to Riverdale Park... one of our treasures in Toronto. First the statue of Dr Sun Yat-Sen (1866-1925), a political activist instrumental in the overthrow of the tyranical Ching Dynasty:

http://img481.imageshack.us/img481/3002/july1606riverdaleparkdrsunyatsenizt9.jpg

http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/3822/july1606riverdaleparkdrsunyatseniisv4.jpg

I parked my bike, took off my sandals, and lay down on a beach towel to soak up the cool lushness of the peaceful oasis in the heart of Toronto:

http://img481.imageshack.us/img481/2356/july1606riverdaleparkviewqu0.jpg

I know Toronto got scolded a lot in City vs City fisticuffs over the fact it is not as densely built up as some other cities in the world, but give me a bit of parkland anyday and I am happy:

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/3305/july1606riverdaleparkipu1.jpg

http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/1584/july1606riverdaleparkiiixv8.jpg

http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/4715/july1606riverdaleparksoccervy9.jpg

I sat for a few hours, and captured some views of downtown with the sun going down. Apologies to out-of-towners who will wonder why I am posting so many photos of the same view, but seeing as it is mostly locals who view my thread I think they will enjoy seeing this familiar sight! ;)

http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/4941/july1606riverdaleparkviewdtwnug3.jpg

http://img473.imageshack.us/img473/7646/july1606riverdaleparkviewdtwniwd9.jpg

http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/7876/july1606riverdaleparkviewdtwniikb3.jpg

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/9946/july1606riverdaleparksplendourinthegrasspk4.jpg

http://img472.imageshack.us/img472/1460/july1606riverdaleparksunsetiwk3.jpg

http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/1249/july1606riverdaleparkviewdtwnlargewo2.jpg

Every few minutes a streetcar would rattle by at twice the speed of light behind me:

http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/5461/july1606riverdaleparkstreetcarfn2.jpg

http://img457.imageshack.us/img457/932/july1606riverdaleparkvxil4.jpg

ain't it a beauty? I love my town!!!

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/6678/july1606riverdaleparkviewdtwnxxf0.jpg

http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/8896/july1606riverdaleparkviewdtwnxxcz1.jpg

and one last study before we move on:

http://img465.imageshack.us/img465/7132/july1606riverdaleparkviewdtwnxxxivr1.jpg

I biked my way to the corner of Broadview and Danforth, and turned onto the bridge:

http://img483.imageshack.us/img483/5662/july1606broadviewatthedanforthuw7.jpg

and a final parting shot of the Don Valley Parkway stretching north into the night:

http://img465.imageshack.us/img465/5016/july1606dvpgoingnorthpt6.jpg

That was the first half of my weekend. Today and tonight is the second half as I get Sunday/Monday's off. Thanks everyone for patiently putting up with all the downtown skyline shots!

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I took the ferry to the Islands tonight hoping to both escape the heat of the city (34C) and to catch a nice sunset. Successful on escaping the heat, and the sunset was a dud. But, got some nice other
pix:

Royal Canadian Yacht Club:

http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/6489/july1706atorontoislandsrcycom9.jpg

http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/1142/july1706atorontoislandsviewdtnios6.jpg

http://img240.imageshack.us/img240/7178/july1706atorontoislandsviewdtniinb0.jpg

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/4820/july1706atorontoislandsiiaa4.jpg

a swan that was terribly interested in some of my picnic lunch. I am a sucker and parted with a half a biscuit

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/5339/july1706atorontoislandsswanzh9.jpg

http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/7974/july1706atorontoislandsiiiwo0.jpg

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/6048/july1706atorontoislandsvlargenw1.jpg

http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/8921/july1706atorontoislandsviijl5.jpg

http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/3580/july1706atorontoislandsvxiicd3.jpg

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/2744/july1706rogerscentre1ix4.jpg

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I'm going to hold off on the Little India pix til I get a few more. In the meantime here are a few random shots I took this past weekend. The first is a sign in Kensington Market that I have shown before, but it always makes me crack up laughing!! :clown:

http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/1686/july2406kensingtonroachoramary9.jpg

Community Art project- Kensington style:

http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/7530/july2406kensingtoncommunityartys5.jpg

Moving onto King Street East I see some of the magnificent steeds used by the Toronto Police:

http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/5149/july2406kingstmountedpolicezb9.jpg

And some various old warehouses along the street and in the area that have been renovated for modern use:

http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/4038/july2406libertyvillagemowattstku0.jpg

http://img487.imageshack.us/img487/6950/july2406fraserstatlibertyiiic2.jpg

http://img487.imageshack.us/img487/1903/july2406kingstsceneiwr0.jpg


http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/5985/july2406kingstamsterdambreweryre3.jpg

http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/5383/july2406kingstmasseyharrisbldgbg1.jpg

http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/7493/july2406kingstmasseyharrisbldgitl7.jpg

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/4629/july2406kingstactonleathercozq7.jpg

http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/8661/july2406kingstsceneiibz7.jpg

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/9312/july2406kingstsceneivdv1.jpg

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/8163/july2406kingstactonleathercowf2.jpg

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http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/148/july2406richmondadelaideentertainmentdistrictbf6.jpg

http://img397.imageshack.us/img397/6443/july2406richmondadelaideentertainmentdistrictijpgkx4.jpg


http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/9976/july2406queenststarbuckswf8.jpg

http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/5227/july2406downtownimu4.jpg

and one final shot from Avenue Road and Davenport, when I needed to go shopping for flowers:

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/8125/july2406aveanddavenportfo6.jpg

til next time, :cheers: !

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Finally I have organised my Little India shots from the past week. I went on two days, one being before the crowds arrived so I could properly photograph the shops, and the second day being at the height of a Sunday afternoon shopping/entertaining day for families. Little India is on Gerrard Street East, and is within a comfortable bike ride from my home in downtown Toronto. While the community is prominently Indian, it is really a centre for South Asian nationalities in Toronto like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, etc... my Sri Lankan friend goes there to get his cricket equipment. I rode my bike down from Greektown (a future thread), and I will give you the lay of the land by showing you a couple of shots of what the terrain is like in that area:

http://img275.imageshack.us/img275/4096/july3006littleindiaxxiikz5.jpg

http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/8545/july3006littleindiaxvivdu6.jpg

I am not all that knowledgeable about the history or the intricacies of this 'hood, so if any of my fellow Torontonians have more expertise, or would like to correct me, please feel free! The official 'hood name is Gerrard India Bazaar, which is a tad business oriented, I suppose:

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/5969/july3006littleindiavxvxviiikx2.jpg

I loved these movie posters on this cinema. Is this man proud of his set of chompers, or what!:

http://img271.imageshack.us/img271/3672/july3006littleindiaxxef1.jpg

http://img275.imageshack.us/img275/4707/july3006littleindiaxxibp8.jpg

The first time I went through Little India was on a very hot summer night... a number of years back. I was shocked to stumble across it, with its exotic sights and smells and musical sounds... the gorgeous colours of the saris and everyone eating fragrant barbecued corn on the cob. I longed to come back and take photos some day, and finally have had my chance. I think, in a small way, I have been able to capture a bit of the magic that is Little India:

http://img284.imageshack.us/img284/481/july3006littleindiaiiisp3.jpg

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/1355/july3006littleindiasceneiq4.jpg

http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/9248/july3006littleindiaiwz0.jpg

http://img438.imageshack.us/img438/2872/july3006littleindiaivzb1.jpg

Everywhere are these stands selling roasted corn... they fiercely compete and one pretty lady convinced me to sample her wares:

http://img274.imageshack.us/img274/2639/july3006littleindiaxxvxvirz8.jpg

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/2558/july3006littleindiavxike2.jpg

her son was barbecueing the corn, and as he pulled it off he asked if I would like it "spicy". Why not? He rolled it in a heady mix of spices and handed it piping hot to me:

http://img271.imageshack.us/img271/5859/july3006littleindiavxviilf2.jpg

It is everywhere... everyone seems to be eating it. Like hotdogs, I suppose, but more delicious and infinitely more healthy:

http://img435.imageshack.us/img435/8683/july3006littleindiavxvxiiigu3.jpg

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/7369/july3006littleindiavxvxec6.jpg

http://img438.imageshack.us/img438/3111/july3006littleindiavxvixik6.jpg

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This picture is for our good friend Ashok from Montreal! ;)

http://img435.imageshack.us/img435/2783/july3006littleindiavxvxiics5.jpg

Vibrant colours everywhere.. a delight to the eye:

http://img286.imageshack.us/img286/3299/july3006littleindiavfv9.jpg

Fruit and vegetable markets spill out onto the sidewalk. Some I recognise from Chinatown:

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/8301/july3006littleindiaviig9.jpg

and some I have never seen before. Have you ever seen a more beautiful fruit than these?

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/1741/july3006littleindiaviihl9.jpg

http://img271.imageshack.us/img271/5311/july3006littleindiavxviiipr6.jpg

http://img489.imageshack.us/img489/1307/july3006littleindiavxvihz9.jpg

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/8730/july3006littleindiavxvdq8.jpg

http://img274.imageshack.us/img274/5649/july3006littleindiavxivoi2.jpg

[Taller Better]

I met a befuddled middle aged couple from Hamilton, who had come all the way into Toronto to visit Little India, and had asked their cab driver where would be a good place to eat. He seemed to not think much of the suggestions they had written on their notes, and instead encouraged them to get back in his cab and go downtown to
a restaurant in Atrium on Bay (a small mall). I told them to do nothing of the kind and to just stay put and try one of the restaurants on the street:

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/4408/july3006littleindiavxiiwh8.jpg

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/5052/july3006littleindiaviiitf9.jpg

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/4356/july3006littleindiavxxi2.jpg

http://img274.imageshack.us/img274/2489/july3006littleindiavxiiilq3.jpg

to give you an idea of what the houses are like in the neighbourhood, here is an example.. Neat, tidy but very definitely a working class blue collar neighbourhood:

http://img277.imageshack.us/img277/51/july3006littleindiaxviint1.jpg

a sign I noticed on a pole:

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/4463/july3006littleindiaxvmg9.jpg

http://img364.imageshack.us/img364/7029/july3006littleindiaxivsz7.jpg

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/7796/july3006littleindiaxiiisl0.jpg

http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/5927/july3006littleindiaxiimg3.jpg

http://img286.imageshack.us/img286/1410/july3006littleindiaxijs5.jpg

and everywhere there is South Asian music... blaring from speakers to entice shoppers to come in.

http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/3593/july3006littleindiaxna8.jpg

http://img286.imageshack.us/img286/337/july3006littleindiavxvxvxtu6.jpg

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/9650/july3006littleindiavxvxvixui0.jpg

http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/9039/july3006littleindiavxvxviirm0.jpg

more corn:

http://img357.imageshack.us/img357/2636/july3006littleindiavxvxvbs7.jpg

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/9027/july3006littleindiavxvxivmn2.jpg

http://img277.imageshack.us/img277/9394/july3006littleindiaxxvxvqw9.jpg

http://img277.imageshack.us/img277/4123/july3006littleindiaxxvxivhe3.jpg

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/5962/july3006littleindiaxxvxiiish5.jpg

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/2883/july3006littleindiaxxvxiidr6.jpg

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/2938/july3006littleindiaxxvxinm6.jpg

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/1139/july3006littleindiaxxvxpu6.jpg

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/6453/july3006littleindiaxxvixar8.jpg

http://img289.imageshack.us/img289/3829/july3006littleindiaxxviiiex5.jpg

http://img277.imageshack.us/img277/2135/july3006littleindiaxxviird5.jpg

http://img275.imageshack.us/img275/4811/july3006littleindiaxxvhr8.jpg

http://img275.imageshack.us/img275/7083/july3006littleindiaxxivfa7.jpg

http://img250.imageshack.us/img250/4626/july3006littleindiaxxiiidp0.jpg

[Taller Better]

my first visit was cut short by a thunderstorm, which forced me to spend an unpleasant hour trapped in a Donut Shop which was freezing cold due to excessive air conditioning! LOL!

http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/4754/july3006littleindiaxxvxvvvxiilf9.jpg


the aforementioned cricket supply store:

http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/1899/july3006littleindiaxxvxvvvxilr8.jpg

ICICI bank:

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/6033/july3006littleindiaxxvxvvvixkq1.jpg

and that fellow who pops up on our tv screens quite a lot:

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/9356/july3006littleindiaxxvxvvvxob3.jpg

http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/4874/july3006littleindiaxxvxvvviieu6.jpg

the local library:

http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/6461/july3006littleindiaxxvxvvviee9.jpg

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/261/july3006littleindiaxxvxvvvva9.jpg

http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/900/july3006littleindiaxxvxvvivds0.jpg

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/2381/july3006littleindiaxxvxvviiigk2.jpg

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/386/july3006littleindiaxxvxvviitk1.jpg

http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/1107/july3006littleindiaxxvxvvifk9.jpg

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/696/july3006littleindiaxxvxvvbq2.jpg

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/4918/july3006littleindiaxxvxvivzv3.jpg

http://img274.imageshack.us/img274/4054/july3006littleindiaxxvxviihw6.jpg

Thanks to everyone for joining me today! Also thanks to Jan for making this great website... had it not been for SSC, I would probably not have done this photo tour. I am surprised how much I have learned about my own city since joining SSC! Ironically, the reason I began this thread was that I very much enjoyed one about Colonial architecture in Bombay.. that got me started thinking to start my own photoblog! I guess now I have come full circle. Due to an extremely efficient day yesterday, I have pictures for a few more entries "in the can" ... Greektown, The Annex, and Bloor St Yorkville area (including the new and glamorous Gardiner Ceramic Museum reno! I just need time to organise them all... Cheers! :cheers:

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ditto

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Time for some new photo's! Today I am mounting a presentation of photo's along Bloor Street, and Yorkville. My journey of the area begins on Prince Arthur Street, and wends its way over to Bloor. Bloor St is the "Rodeo Drive" of Toronto, with many of the high end jewelry and coutourier houses.

http://img272.imageshack.us/img272/6386/july3006xbloorstprincearthuravao4.jpg

http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/852/july3006xbloorstprincearthuraviiics1.jpg

http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/8625/july3006xbloorstprincearthuravivit4.jpg

http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/4466/july3006xbloorstprincearthuravvhn7.jpg

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/2316/july3006xbloorstprincearthuravviom8.jpg

http://img490.imageshack.us/img490/2484/july3006xbloorstprincearthuravvixaz1.jpg

http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/8347/july3006xbloorstprincearthuravvxide2.jpg

http://img373.imageshack.us/img373/3488/july3006xbloorstprincearthuravvxiidk9.jpg

http://img373.imageshack.us/img373/3560/july3006xbloorstprincearthuravvxiiiiv7.jpg

http://img466.imageshack.us/img466/8526/july3006xbloorstvxipe1.jpg

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/2499/july3006xbloorstvxixim4.jpg

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/4769/july3006xbloorstvxxwt4.jpg

http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/3368/july3006xbloorstvxxijl4.jpg

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/7451/july3006xbloorstvxxiiisu4.jpg

[Taller Better]

On Avenue Road just South of Bloor just across from the Royal Ontario Museum is the
Gardiner Ceramics Museum. Currently under a complete renovation, I was able to go in for a tour. The space is breathtaking and the top floor is a restaurant run by one of the top chef's in Toronto:

http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/5614/july3006xbloorstvxxivyg5.jpg

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/7697/july3006xbloorstvxxivgardinerej6.jpg

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/3475/july3006xbloorstvxxivgardineriiye8.jpg

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/5310/july3006xbloorstvxxvca7.jpg

http://img274.imageshack.us/img274/8117/july3006xbloorstvxxivgardineriieventspacezp2.jpg

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/1607/july3006xbloorstvxxvics7.jpg

http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/6215/july3006xbloorstvxxviihf2.jpg

The view from the rooftop is breathtaking...

http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/9637/july3006xbloorstvxxivgardinervixao6.jpg

http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/3512/july3006xbloorstvxxivgardinerviiihc4.jpg

http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/296/july3006xbloorstvxxivgardinerviiqh1.jpg

http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/7067/july3006xbloorstvxxivgardinervxm6.jpg

http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/3764/july3006xbloorstvxxivgardinerivrm8.jpg

[Taller Better]

Back to Bloor Street:

http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/1344/july3006xbloorstvxxivgardinervxixt8.jpg

On Bloor Street there is an interesting early "Shopping Centre" built in the 60's,
"The Collonade" which still looks handsome to this day:

http://img416.imageshack.us/img416/4813/july3006xbloorstxfi9.jpg

http://img416.imageshack.us/img416/9205/july3006xbloorstxidn5.jpg

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/8508/july3006xbloorstxiiibj0.jpg

http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/9374/july3006xbloorstxivpl1.jpg

http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/9638/july3006xbloorstxviho0.jpg

http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/8711/july3006xbloorstxviilh7.jpg

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/7152/july3006xbloorstxvixgw6.jpg

http://img474.imageshack.us/img474/5602/july3006xbloorstxvxrq8.jpg

http://img439.imageshack.us/img439/9378/july3006xbloorstxvxiib5.jpg

http://img439.imageshack.us/img439/6272/july3006xbloorstxvxiitf5.jpg

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/7976/july3006xbloorstxvxiiifi5.jpg

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/707/july3006xbloorstxvxvmi9.jpg

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/8804/july3006xbloorstxvxvihq3.jpg

http://img434.imageshack.us/img434/4492/july3006xbloorstxvxviiqt0.jpg

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Breakfast at Tiffany's, perhaps?

http://img434.imageshack.us/img434/3530/july3006xbloorstxvxviiijj2.jpg

http://img434.imageshack.us/img434/6352/july3006xbloorstxvxvixrp6.jpg

http://img453.imageshack.us/img453/1447/july3006xbloorstxvxvxul8.jpg

http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/6985/july3006xbloorstxvxvxiqa8.jpg

One of Canada's oldest shops, the venerable Holt Renfrew, which has for 180 years been a purveyor of fine goods and coutourier clothing to the carriage trade:

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/6074/july3006xbloorstxvxvxiholtrenfrew1837tq2.jpg

Another old Canadian institution, Birk's Jewelers:

http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/4294/july3006xbloorstxvxvxibirksqd2.jpg

http://img473.imageshack.us/img473/487/july3006xbloorstxvxvxihmfe8.jpg

http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/9240/july3006xbloorstxvxvxiizh3.jpg

And Stolleries, yet another old time Toronto institution:

http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/8031/july3006xbloorstxvxvxiiiou4.jpg

Looking North to Bloor, from Bay Street:

http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/7540/xaug0606ipk8.jpg

Next, we will move north of Bloor Street to Yorkville.

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The Village of Yorkville was founded in 1830 by Joseph Bloor, as one of the earlier
suburbs of the settlement. It has a quiet Victorian charm, and during the 60's was
a hotbed of bohemian life, rife with hippies and beatniks. Some singers that rose from
these heady days were Joni Mitchell and Neil Young. Today Yorkville has become a genteel neighbourhood full of trendy restaurants and boutiques:

http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/5203/xaug0606yorkvillepy7.jpg

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/4844/xaug0606yorkvilleini3.jpg

http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/2269/xaug0606yorkvilleivfv0.jpg

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/8797/xaug0606yorkvillevxr5.jpg

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/4492/xaug0606yorkvilleviwp1.jpg

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/4706/xaug0606yorkvilleviizv4.jpg

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/3937/xaug0606yorkvilleviiijk3.jpg

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/7152/xaug0606yorkvillevixcf6.jpg

http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/4750/xaug0606yorkvillevxiicy8.jpg

http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/2346/xaug0606yorkvillevxiiivs6.jpg

http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/7227/xaug0606yorkvillevxivxu1.jpg

http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/4948/xaug0606yorkvillevxvlw8.jpg

http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/5765/xaug0606yorkvillevxvibl0.jpg

http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/8004/xaug0606yorkvillevxviipn6.jpg

http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/5739/xaug0606yorkvillevxviiidr9.jpg

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But Yorkville is not entirely a village that lives in the past... it fully intends to keep up
with the future:

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/7282/xaug0606yorkvillevxvivhq0.jpg

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/7308/xaug0606yorkvillevxvivoldyorklanezs6.jpg

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/5946/xaug0606yorkvillevxvivinn1.jpg

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/6453/xaug0606yorkvillevxviviioc7.jpg

http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/503/xaug0606yorkvillevxvivivas8.jpg

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/1341/xaug0606yorkvillexvviiicg8.jpg

The Yorkville library was built by the Carnegie Foundation:

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/4899/xaug0606yorkvillexvviigx7.jpg

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/2770/xaug0606yorkvillexvviqg8.jpg

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/5780/xaug0606yorkvillexvivib4.jpg

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/6963/xaug0606yorkvillexviiidz2.jpg

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/4002/xaug0606yorkvillexviifv2.jpg

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/5823/xaug0606yorkvillexvipv1.jpg

[Taller Better]

The village "Bobby", Constable John Daniels needed a home from which to police and this charming house was constructed for him in 1867:

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/7434/xaug0606yorkvillexiijohndaniels1867eh8.jpg

http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/2925/xaug0606yorkvillexiijohndaniels1867sepiart8.jpg


http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/9791/xaug0606yorkvillexiijohndaniels1867iex0.jpg

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/8916/xaug0606yorkvillexivam1.jpg

http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/7894/xaug0606yorkvillexiien1.jpg

http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/8105/xaug0606yorkvillexiaq8.jpg

A new condominium is being built behind this facade:

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/238/xaug0606yorkvillevxvivv100yorkvilleus7.jpg

Yorkville's Coat-of-Arms from an 1859 building, followed by a plaque:

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/442/xaug0606yorkvillexvvxiiou2.jpg

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/362/xaug0606yorkvillexvvxiiien6.jpg

The old Yorkville Fire Hall:

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/6331/xaug0606yorkvillexvvxfl2.jpg

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more construction:

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/7615/xaug0606yorkvillexvvxxiivx0.jpg

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/6646/xaug0606yorkvillexvvxixsb2.jpg

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/5999/xaug0606yorkvillexvvxivxv5.jpg

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/3226/xaug0606yorkvillexvvxxvcq1.jpg

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/1038/xaug0606yorkvillexvvxxvihf9.jpg

Where to buy your Rolls Royce.....

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/8427/xaug0606yorkvillexvvxxviitl0.jpg

and that Ferrari that you have been promising yourself:

http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/3433/xaug0606yorkvillexvvxxvivifa9.jpg

http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/73/xaug0606yorkvillexvvxxviiipb0.jpg

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/3460/xaug0606yorkvillexvvxxvivrg9.jpg

[Taller Better]

In the market for English furniture from the 1800's?

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/125/xaug0606yorkvillexvvxxviviipo4.jpg

View north on Avenue Road, with Upper Canada College visible in the distance, up the hill:

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/3325/xaug0606yorkvillexvxmg1.jpg

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/5377/xaug0606yorkvillexvxigt2.jpg

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/3465/xaug0606yorkvillexvxiidl0.jpg

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/1732/xaug0606yorkvillexvxvixxq7.jpg

Man's best friend:

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/6017/xaug0606yorkvillexvxvxnc6.jpg

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The Helliconian Club, built in 1875 as a home for local women in the arts, and still used for that purpose to this very day:

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/7070/xaug0606yorkvillexvxvxiiixo5.jpg

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/7406/xaug0606yorkvillexvxvxivxz0.jpg

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/8876/xaug0606yorkvillexvxvxvipj9.jpg

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/2425/xaug0606yorkvillexvxvxviilh0.jpg

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/5602/xaug0606yorkvillexvxxiua7.jpg

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/5812/xaug0606yorkvillexvxxivkr9.jpg

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/3531/xaug0606yorkvillexvxxviipr6.jpg

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/8973/xaug0606yorkvillexvxxvxdg5.jpg

Inside Hazelton Lanes, a small upscale shopping centre:

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/4946/xaug0606yorkvillexvxxvxiixm5.jpg

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/38/xaug0606yorkvillexvxxvxvwa8.jpg

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Little Pug:

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/3688/xaug0606yorkvillexvxxvxivxb7.jpg

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/6055/xaug0606yorkvillexvxxvxviigw9.jpg

http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/79/xaug0606yorkvillexvxxxex7.jpg

and back to where we started on Bloor Street:

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/9886/xaug0606yorkvillexvxxxigt6.jpg

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Now a few extra pix from the Bloor/Yorkville area, starting with one of the lovely old dowager hotels from Toronto's past.. The Windsor Arms:

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/3891/xaug0606yorkvillexvxxxiiky9.jpg

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/2816/xaug0606yorkvillexvxxxvpg9.jpg

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/4070/xaug0606yorkvillexvxxxviiuf9.jpg

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/2631/xaug0606yorkvillexvxxxviiidc1.jpg

[Taller Better]

and some shots I took this past Spring:

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/4579/april1006yorkvilleshotshugobosszp5.jpg

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/7443/april1006bloorshotschanelzv9.jpg

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/3619/april1006bloorshotscollonadeia0.jpg

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/858/april1006bloorshotshermesxy7.jpg

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/9838/april1006bloorshotshermesiay0.jpg

http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/2185/april1006bloorshotspradaiuq4.jpg

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/3319/april1006yorkvilleshotsmuranoglassigv0.jpg

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/1849/april1006yorkvilleshotsvijf1.jpg

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/4720/may1006yorkvillehazeltonaveivys3.jpg

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/8840/may1006yorkvillehazeltonavevijh7.jpg

http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/4238/may1006yorkvillehazeltonavevxiiisq8.jpg

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/7912/may1006yorkvillehazeltonavevxixiu2.jpg

http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/7450/may1006yorkvillehazeltonavevxxiiicl6.jpg

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/4007/jun160618yorkvillewe0.jpg

I hope you enjoyed your visit to the Bloor Street/Yorkville neighbourhood! Thanks for coming along! :cheers:

[Taller Better]

As Monty Python used to say: "And now.. for something completely different", I recently visited an installation of Chinese Lanterns at Ontario Place, on the lakefront. This is the largest display of "lanterns" ever assembled outside of China, and some are actually hundreds of feet long. The viewing is from 7pm til 11, so one sees the transformation of the silk structures into a breathtaking and very magical display of twinkling lights. The displays are "alive"... the individual parts move, the lights flash, and there is Chinese music. We are blessed to have this exhibit here this summer and if you are in town, it remains til October. Here is Ontario Place:

http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/5731/aaug0806lanternsviiirt0.jpg

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/4711/aaug0806lanternsivrz0.jpg

http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/8766/aaug0806lanternsvkc1.jpg

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/8738/aaug0806lanternsdragonsfightoverpearlbridgeir7.jpg

http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/479/aaug0806lanternsvxizu8.jpg

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/6332/aaug0806lanternsdragonsfightoverpearloj4.jpg

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/7554/aaug0806lanternsdragonsfightoverpearlbridgeitf5.jpg

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/6445/aaug0806lanternspeachorchardssignqa8.jpg

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/9169/aaug0806lanternspeachorchardszr0.jpg

This was one of my favourites.. the entire dragon is clad with porcelain plates, cups and spoons. Later you will see it illuminated in green and blue, and you will not recognise it:

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/2629/aaug0806lanternshectometerporcelaindragongu4.jpg

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/6715/aaug0806lanternshectometerporcelaindragoniinb6.jpg

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/2606/aaug0806lanternshectometerporcelaindragonivwv0.jpg

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/6452/aaug0806lanternshectometerporcelaindragonvuk3.jpg

[Taller Better]

As dusk set in, the true beauty of the lanterns is revealed... here is the forest of the hundred species of birds:

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/3046/aaug0806lanternshundredspeciesbirdsiqk9.jpg

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/57/aaug0806lanternshundredspeciesbirdsiiigl3.jpg

The nine dragon wall:

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/2857/aaug0806lanterns9dragonwalliirc3.jpg

live performances by Chinese dancers:

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/355/aaug0806lanternsdancinggirlsnp1.jpg

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/2823/aaug0806lanternsdancinggirlsiiiow5.jpg

Lions chasing the spinning ball:

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/4290/aaug0806lanternslionsspinningballuy9.jpg

http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/1755/aaug0806lanternslionsspinningballiizm8.jpg

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/6227/aaug0806lanternslionsspinningballiiiuh1.jpg

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/3830/aaug0806lanternslionsspinningballvipl9.jpg

[Taller Better]

The displays fan out on the lakeshore, and one cannot help but notice the beautiful display of colour being performed by Mother Nature at sunset:

http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/5594/aaug0806viewijp1.jpg

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/4269/aaug0806viewiiijp9.jpg

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/7968/aaug0806viewvixis0.jpg

Earlier you saw two dragons on the entrance bridge fighting over a pearl.. night-
time brings the battle to life:

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/3170/aaug0806lanternsdragonsfightoverpearlvgv6.jpg

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/2964/aaug0806lanternsviewiimx5.jpg

Our friend the porcelain dragon slowly awakens and takes on a fiercesome glow:

http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/7328/aaug0806lanternshectometerporcelaindragonviiirl2.jpg

look closer:

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/3189/aaug0806lanternshectometerporcelaindragonviige6.jpg

but not too close or he will bite!

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/271/aaug0806lanternshectometerporcelaindragonxiieb2.jpg

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/7388/aaug0806lanternshectometerporcelaindragonxviid6.jpg

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/8056/aaug0806lanternshectometerporcelaindragonvxiqc7.jpg

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/9461/aaug0806lanternsdragonsfightoverpearlvikw5.jpg

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/2848/aaug0806lanternsdragonsfightoverpearlbridgexxv2.jpg

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/8812/aaug0806lanternsviewiiixf7.jpg

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/3976/aaug0806lanternshectometerporcelaindragonxvivkd9.jpg

[Taller Better]

a family of Panda's:

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/4864/aaug0806viiivm3.jpg

a girl with one thousand arms:

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/2739/aaug0806thousandarmsiiitl9.jpg

pure magic:

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/4551/aaug0806viewxok9.jpg

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/2874/aaug0806viewxiiizc5.jpg

a one hundred dragon arch:

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/9151/aaug0806hundreddragonarchijt9.jpg

and one of my favourites.. a family of peacocks composed entirely of thousands of tiny bottles of coloured water, lit up:

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/4313/aaug08peacockinglassbottledo9.jpg

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/286/aaug08peacockinglassbottleidp2.jpg

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/703/aaug08peacockinglassbottleiimi7.jpg

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/15/aaug0806auspiciouspeacockjh2.jpg

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/8762/aaug0806auspiciouspeacockicb3.jpg

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/470/aaug0806archkp0.jpg

[Taller Better]

again, glancing out at the lake to enjoy the display of a nearly full moon reflecting on
the water:

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/8899/aaug0806aviewte1.jpg

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/9087/aaug0806aviewimu2.jpg

Gods of Fortune:

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/8310/aaug0806archgodsoffortunecn0.jpg

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/474/aaug0806archgodsoffortuneicx4.jpg

fierocious Raptors and Dinosaurs:

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/9871/aaug0806dinosaursfg9.jpg

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/4963/aaug0806lanternsvxgs3.jpg

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/8563/aaug0806vxgq3.jpg

The Face of Chinese Opera:

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/4986/aaug0806facesofchineseoperabo7.jpg

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/3889/aaug0806facesofchineseoperaiaq3.jpg

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/4417/aaug0806facesofchineseoperaiiss4.jpg

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/17/aaug0806facesofchineseoperaiiikx7.jpg