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southern Spadina, from Dundas to Ireland.

Posted: March 9, 2024 in alleys, intersections, locations, stores, transportation, waterfront, windows and walls
Tags: Canada Malting Co., Chinatown, construction, Curtia Wright, graffiti, Ireland Park, June Kim, mannequin, Omni Coastal, people, poles, Radium Yellowknife, Rowan Gillespie, silos, Spadina, stores, street scenes, traffic, TTC, tug, vegetables

Spadina has many faces – It starts at Eglinton as Spadina Road where it runs south through Forest Hill. It’s journey southward then continues through a number of different parts of the city including a spot where there is a block missing at Casa Loma. Pedestrians can use the Baldwin Stairs but traffic has to detour around the castle. At Bloor it changes to Spadina Avenue and widens to allow streetcar access down the middle of the road. Here, it is also the western edge of the University of Toronto.

Just north of College Street, Spadina becomes Spadina Crescent as it forms a circle around what is now the Daniels Faculty of Architecture building. South of College Street to Dundas the neighbourhood is somewhat eclectic with a mix of Kensington Market and Chinatown.

below: Celtuce and asparagus for sale. Celtuce was new to me – I’ve never seen it before. It is also called also called stem lettuce, celery lettuce, asparagus lettuce, or Chinese lettuce. Unlike other lettuces, it is the stem that is eaten (although the leaves are also edible).

below: Collaborative mural under the window, the work of June Kim and Curtia Wright. East meets West, painted back in October.

below: Holy Chinatown window Batman!

below: A Canada Post mailbox decorated originally with an image of the Year of the Rat (from Lunar New Year calendar) stamp issued in 2020.

below: Waiting for the streetcar

below: Looking eastward along Queen Street West with a web of streetcar wires overhead and many tracks underfoot. The new Ontario Line subway will cross here with a new Queen-Spadina station being planned. Between Sherbourne (Moss Park) and Spadina the Ontario Line will be under Queen Street. West of here the tracks will swing south to a station at King and Bathurst.

below: Another eastward looking view, this time from a bit farther south at Adelaide, a street that has become canyon-like as it makes it way through the older brick buildings in foreground and then the taller glass buildings as it gets closer to Yonge Street and the downtown core.

below: And a little bit more south again… the CN Tower rises into the fog as it peeks out between two glass condo buildings at King and Spadina. South of King is the new development “The Well” that opened recently. I have blogged about it previously (Well, Well, Well, 27 Nov 2023)

Spadina is also a major access point to Lakeshore Blvd and the Gardiner Expressway. This section of the road is rather barren if you are on foot (unless you are a concrete aficionado LOL)

below: Another eastward view – Both Lakeshore Blvd westbound (but not eastbound!) and the Gardiner Expressway are elevated and they run parallel as they cross over Spadina.

below: Standing on the northwest corner of Spadina and Queens Quay. This is where Spadina ends – at the waterfront with some of the docks and parks that have been redeveloped in recent years.

below: Looking north up Spadina from Queens Quay.

below: Look! Continue walking towards the waterfront but be careful crossing the bike lanes of the Martin Goodman Trail!

below: Spadina Wave Deck

below: The Omni Coastal, a tug boat, is docked at Spadina Quay.

below: Pulling back a little farther… the CN Tower is still hiding in the fog.

below: Ahoy matey!

below: It’s a much quieter scene in the winter when fewer boats are here. In the background, the Canada Malting Company silos still stand strong.

below: Looking for the signs of spring and finding the beginnings of tulips and daffodils in the Music Garden

below: Some useful information: “Bathrooms, Where can they be found?” Number one on the list is Billy Bishop Airport and I can attest to the fact that yes, they have bathrooms (check in the ferry terminal building).

below: Another red tugboat in the fog – this one is the Radium Yellowknife.

below: The silos have been under wraps as they have been renovated.

below: Built on reclaimed land in the early 1900s, the silos have been empty since 1987 and had fallen into disrepair. Although they are now missing a couple of letters, the silos are in much better shape. I am not sure if there is any use planned for the structures but the site is being turned into a park, Bathurst Quay Common.

below: If you walk past the silos, you come to Ireland Park with its memorial to those who fled the Irish famine in the 1840s. The park also has seven sculptures cast in bronze by Rowan Gillespie of Dublin Ireland. The installation is called ‘Arrival’. These figures match an earlier installation on the Customs House Quay in Dublin, ‘Famine’ (1997). A third installation in Tasmania Australia completes the trilogy.

below: Along the exterior walls of the silos, a few signs have been posted that tell the story of Irish immigration to Canada. This is one of those signs.

sign half in English and half in French that tells the story of the ship called The City of Toronto that brought irish immigrants to Canada in 1847.

Arrival of the City of Toronto – When the steamer City of Toronto dropped anchor at Rees’s Wharf on Sunday, 6 June 1847, City officials had no way of knowing the boat was a harbinger of the chaotic and overwhelming migration season to come. The City carried 700 people. More than half of the adults on board were “indigent” migrants from Ireland, all traveling at the expense of the government.
Given reports of ongoing distress and hunger in Ireland, the volume of immigrants was expected to be high that year, but Toronto was still unprepared for the tidal wave of Irish Famine immigrants now cresting its shores. Toronto, with its population of 20,000 would eventually receive 38,000 immigrants in 1847.
Steamships arrived filled to capacity with passengers exhausted and sick from their weeks-long journey. Many of those who had been deemed healthy by doctors at Grosse Ile were beginning to show signs of typhus.
The logistics of receiving, triaging, housing, treating and transporting (or burying) this wave of newcomers fell to a group of municipal and provincial officials, who had to make do with rudimentary medical and settlement infrastructure and resources.

a tale of two bridges

Posted: September 15, 2023 in construction, locations, old buildings, transportation
Tags: Canadian National Railway, CNR, construction, dump truck, Eastern Ave., GO Transit, Leslieville, Metrolinx, Ontario line, Queen St. East, Riverdale, Riverside, street, traffic, train, trucks, TTC

Traffic on Eastern Avenue near Broadview has faced construction and traffic delays over the past few months. The slow downs are ongoing as work on the railway bridge progresses. This work is because Metrolinx is adding tracks to make room for the new Ontario Line. Like many parts of the city, there are many changes occurring in the area.

Demolition on the north side of Eastern, and poof, gone, one large 5 storey Self Storage facility at 356 Eastern. Removed to make way for new tracks. The beige house faces Lewis Street.

… and now sitting gutted on the south side is another not old building (South side of Eastern Ave between Broadview and the railway tracks).

South side of Eastern, from another angle.

West side approach to the Canadian National Railway bridge

Along with the new railway line, Metrolinx is building what they are calling the East Harbour transit hub. This involves a new Ontario Line station as well as a new GO station on the Lakeshore East and Stouffville GO lines. Eventually, plans are to have TTC streetcars or LRT link here (it is directly south of Broadview and there is a plan to extend Broadview).

below: Construction along the railway line, south of Eastern Ave

below: One side (the east side) of the railway tracks has been demolished. Ultimately the whole bridge will be replaced but it is being done in stages to allow GO trains and VIA rail trains to continue running throughout the process.

A constant flow of dump trucks back and forth, in and out, of the construction site south of Eastern (on both sides of the railway tracks). The 38 acre site that includes the old Lever Bros (Ponds, Sunlight etc) soap factory is being redeveloped at the same time – it extends south to Lakeshore and west to the Don River.

Looking west on Eastern Ave, back towards downtown.

405 Eastern Ave, immediately east of the railway bridge, is also under construction. It has nothing to do with transportation as it is a new Enbridge building. A large 3 storey building with both offices and industrial (computers?) will probably be built here.

Makes sense, gas pipelines on site.

Just north of Eastern Ave, the railway tracks cross Queen St East., crossing over a bridge of the same style and vintage. Once upon a time this was a level crossing with a railway station on the northwest corner, the Riverdale station on the Grand Trunk Railway. This is soon to be the location of the Riverside Leslieville station on the not yet built Ontario Line.

So far the bridge is still intact but it too will be completely changed by the time Metrolinx is finished. The station itself will be on the bridge (if their drawings & plans are to be believed).

Here there will be 6 tracks – 4 for GO Transit and 2 for the Ontario Line.

a quick check on Osgoode

Posted: August 6, 2023 in construction, locations
Tags: construction, cyclist, Metrolinx, Ontario line, Osgoode station, pedestrian, sidewalk, sidewalks, street, subway, traffic, transit, transportation, University Ave.

At the end of last year there was some controversy about removal of some of the trees from the park in front of Osgoode Hall to make way for Metrolinx and the new Ontario Line subway. (see post here – tree removal ).

Well, the trees did come down and subway construction has begun. The northbound lanes on University Ave north of Queen are closed and of course traffic chaos has ensued.

below: One entrance to Osgoode station on the southwest corner of Queen and University (looking north). On the Metrolinx website, the old building that now houses Rexall will become a new entrance to the subway. Or at least the facade of the building from 1929 is being retained. Before it was a Rexall drug store it was a CIBC branch.

below: Pedestrians crossing Queen Street, east side of University Ave (looking south)

below: The other entrance to Osgoode station is on the northeast corner of University and Queen. (Looking south in this photo.) A new entrance is planned for this location too except that it will be within the black wrought iron fence that surrounds Osgoode Hall. This frees up space on the busy sidewalk.

below: The bike lane on westbound Queen Street comes to an abrupt end and the corner is quite dangerous.

Walking north on University Avenue

below: Looking south on University from Armoury Street. This is the section of University that is closed to traffic.

below: University Club of Toronto, a Georgian building, with just one edge of the US Consulate General visible on the left side of the photo.

below: Weaving of traffic at Armoury Street (in front of the US Consulate General).

opened! – the first new Port Lands bridge

Posted: October 7, 2022 in construction, locations, transportation, waterfront
Tags: bridge, Cherry Street, CN Tower, Commissioners Street, construction, Lake Ontario, Port Lands, redevelopment, reflections, streets, traffic, traffic lights, trucks, water

The middle of three new bridges built for the Port Lands redevelopment has just been opened to traffic.

The bridge may be open to traffic, but the area is still a construction zone!

Eventually Cherry Street will be realigned so that there is no jog in it at Lakeshore. At this point in time, the south part of the realignment is closer to completion. This is where the new bridge is.

Commissioners Street has been extended westward to join the new segment of Cherry Street.

below: This is the east intersection of Commissioners and Cherry (looking east). Yes, it’s a mess! There are traffic signals even though only two of the four approaches are open. If you are traveling south on Cherry, you have to turn right onto Commissioners.

below: Same intersection, looking west.

below: New part of Commissioners Street

below: The west part of Commissioners ends here

below: If you stand in the same place as the above photo but turn to your right, this is the view that you see. This is the new part of Cherry Street being realigned to match the section north of Lakeshore Blvd. The new bridges over the Keating Channel are in place but there is still a lot to be done before this part of Cherry Street can be opened.

below: Looking south… It is the middle bridge that has been opened to traffic first. It is located approximately where the T ‘n T grocery store used to be. An interesting line of large boulders!

below: This is the view from the new bridge looking west. The large white crane structure predates the construction. The channel has always been here as it provides water/ship access to the Lafarge cement site on the south side of the waterway. What is new is that the channel is being extended eastward to join the mouth of the Don River.

below: Traveling northbound

below: Looking east from the bridge. Pinewood studios in the background on the right.

below: Another view to the east but slightly more south. This time Pinewood Studios is more to the left in the photo. A pedestrian bridge is already built to span the new water channel that is under construction.

below: Looking north up Cherry Street towards the Distillery District. The old, and now closed part, of the street is being torn up. The new street and bridge are to the left in this photo.

below: To the south, the lift bridge on Cherry Street is being refurbished but not replaced. This part of Cherry Street is not being moved.

evening, Spadina and Front

Posted: September 8, 2019 in construction, locations, people
Tags: bikes, billboards, bridge, cars, condos, evening, intersections, parking lot, pedestrians, people, reflections, Spadina, streetcar, traffic, TTC, walking

One part of the city that has changed immensely over the past few years is the area near Spadina and Front streets. I was in the area last night and had a few moments to spare so I thought that I would take a look at what’s there now.

below: Waiting for the 510 streetcar

below: Looking south on Spadina approaching Front Street.

below: Many cranes working at the site of the old Globe & Mail buildings on the north side of Front Street, just west of Spadina.

below: Intersection of Spadina & Front, looking southwest

below: Looking west from Spadina as it crosses the railway tracks.

below: City Place, south of the tracks. Red sculpture is ‘Flower Power’ by Mark di Savero.

below: On the south side of the railway tracks, east side of Spadina, part of Northern Linear Park.

below: There is still a parking lot on the northeast corner of this intersection. This image is the view across the parking lot to City Place.

below: Reflections in the clear and green glass of a new building on Front Street, just east of Spadina

below: Waiting for the light to change

below: And once we started walking across the intersection, I loved how her skirt moved as she walked.

crosstown to the east

Posted: March 31, 2019 in construction, intersections, locations, transportation
Tags: bridge, construction, Crosstown, development, dirt, Don Mills Road, Eglinton Ave., fence, Leslie St., LRT, pedestrian, plans, roads, sidewalk, street, traffic, workmen

Back before the winter snow had melted, I was at Yonge and Eglinton and noticed that the old bus bays at Eglinton station were gone. That structure had sat empty for a couple of years but now there is a big hole where they once stood. As I looked through the pictures that I took that day, I decided that it might be interesting to explore farther east to see what was happening with the Crosstown LRT construction that has messed up the traffic through midtown for so long now.

below: Southwest corner of Yonge & Eglinton.

below: There is still a lot of construction underway on Eglinton near Yonge.

below: A little father east and more holes in the ground. This is the intersection of Eglinton and Mt Pleasant taken from the SE corner looking towards the NW. At least the facade of the old Imperial Bank of Canada building on the NW corner was originally going to be used as the LRT station but have those plans changed? The building was demolished but apparently the facade was taken apart brick by brick and will be re-built later.

below: This is the plan for the Mt Pleasant station as seen on the Crosstown website.

below: Looking west from Mt. Pleasant.

below: Between Laird and Brentcliffe (east of Bayview). See those low rise brick apartment buildings? How long until they’re gone?

below: At Brentcliffe. The LRT is underground here and there is no station at this intersection. Laird, where there is a station, is only one block to the west.

below: From Brentcliffe, Eglinton goes downhill because of the Don River ravine system

below: Part way down the hill there is a section of concrete. At first I thought that this was where the LRT was going to come to the surface.

below: But then I wasn’t so sure. There is a concrete wall blocking what would be the exit. It’s difficult to get a closer look because there are two layers of fencing in the way. Nobody was working here. In addition, there is another section farther along that looks like the actual opening. Maybe this is part of the supporting infrastructure?

below: Still walking east along Eglinton…. Almost to the bottom of the hill at Leslie – looking east along Eglinton Avenue with E.T. Seton Park on the right and the railway bridge in the distance. Leslie Street, which ends at Eglinton, is on the very left side of the photo. There is talk that this intersection will be closed for two months this summer.

below: I turned around and took a picture of the hill that I had just come down. Here the LRT surfaces and the tracks run down the center of the road, with lanes of traffic on both sides of the tracks. I am fairly certain that you can see the entrance to the tunnel, the east portal, near the middle of this picture. From here to Kennedy station the tracks are above ground (except for a portion of the route at Don Mills).

below: The sidewalk on the south side ends at Leslie street. Here, I chatted with a policeman while we waited for the light to turn green. Once he did, he escorted me across Eglinton as we had to pass through part of the construction zone. This is where I also discovered that there are no bus stops between Brentcliffe and Don Mills Road. That’s only 2 km but it feels a lot longer!

below: A development proposal sign stands on the lawn of what used to be the Inn on the Park but what is now a Toyota dealership.

below: The station at Don Mills and Eglinton will be called “Science Center” and it will be under the intersection.

below: There will be a bus terminal on the northeast corner of Don Mills Road and Eglinton with underground access to the LRT station. This is what construction looks like on that corner at the moment.

Just east of Don Mills Road, the LRT surfaces again and remains above ground until Kennedy station. I took the bus from Don Mills Road to Victoria Park as there wasn’t as much to see in this stretch.

below: Looking east from Victoria Park Avenue.

ode to a November day

Posted: November 22, 2018 in alleys, doors, nature, old buildings
Tags: alley, berries, brick, bridges, Don Valley parkway, fence, fire hydrant, lane, leaves, paint, Riverdale Park, snow, stairs, traffic, trees, unicorns, wall

Fall, Leaves, Fall
“Fall, leaves, fall; die, flowers, away;
Lengthen night and shorten day;
Every leaf speaks bliss to me
Fluttering from the autumn tree.
I shall smile when wreaths of snow
Blossom where the rose should grow;
I shall sing when night’s decay
Ushers in a drearier day.”
by Emily Bronte

As the leaves fall, bare branches are left behind and on a sunny day they make for wonderful shapes and shadows. Riverdale Park, Broadview side.

below: The more common angle for photos taken at Riverdale Park, the angle with the Toronto skyline in the background. I wasn’t as interested in the skyline yesterday, it was the trees and shadows that I was focusing on.

below: There is a pedestrian bridge over the Don Valley Parkway that connects the two sides of Riverdale Park. This is view looking south.

below: Two cars and three bridges. This is from the same bridge as above, but this time looking northwest over the Don River towards the Bloor Viaduct. The CPR bridge is in the middle (with the graffiti) and the pedestrian bridge for the lower Don Trail is the orange-brown one.

below: While crossing Riverdale Park, I spotted this sign. It’s behind a chainlink fence and partially hidden by shrubs and small trees. From where I was standing I could hardly see any water that one might use for a rink. There is a pond back there – it’s the pond at the bottom of the hill on the Riverdale Farm property.

below: The irregular curves of the trees contrasted with the lines and diamonds formed by the staircase that leads down into Riverdale Park (or up from the park!)

below: More trees – this time in the Necropolis cemetery.

below: A tree of a different kind.

a small amount of snow and ice on the ground, some leaves that have fallen off trees and are on the ground.

Nothing Gold Can Stay
Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.
by Robert Frost
***

below: The Virginia Creeper leaves have turned and fallen and left the berries behind to dry and wither. This plant is found all over the city, especially in the lanes and alleys.

below: Brilliant colour of the berries on the Bittersweet Vine. This plant produces a yellow berry that bursts open to reveal a red interior.

below: Another sign that it’s November, the snack bar by Riverdale Farm is closed for the winter.

below: An open gate, leading past the burning bushes to the front door.

below: A Lab patiently waits by the door.

below: Another front yard and another dog… This vintage fire hydrant, decorated as a dalmatian in a fireman’s helmet. There is newer yellow fire hydrant closer to the sidewalk in the same yard so I suspect that this one is not functional.

below: More silliness – a brick wall with a tiny window in what used to be a larger arched window. Now it’s only big enough for a toilet paper roll.

below: I’ll end this post with a couple of unicorns even though they have nothing to do with fall. But who doesn’t like unicorns? Especially when there’s a bit of awesomeness too.

3 churches and Church

Posted: February 18, 2018 in construction, doors, nature, old buildings
Tags: Allan Gardens, amaryllis, architecture, barrel cactus, billboards, buds, buildings, cacti, cars, chuch, Church St., conservatory, construction, Dundas Square, enough is enough, flower, Grace church, hoardings, icicles, Jarvis Street Baptist, Metropolitan United, mural, old buildings, park, people, plants, redevelopment, reflections, signs, snow, stores, street, street scene, traffic, trees, windows, winter, Yonge Dundas Square

I was meeting a friend at Queen and Church for walkies and coffee last Monday. I was there a few minutes early so of course I took a few pictures while I was waiting. I had come across King Street because the streetcars tend to be faster on King these days. Plus, it was a nice day for a walk.

below: Looking north up Church Street from Richmond.

below: Metropolitan United Church is on the NW corner of Queen and Church. Even if you aren’t religious, there is something inspiring about the architecture. In this case, the setting adds to the grace and beauty of the building. Usually there are people around but it was surprisingly quiet that day (too cold outside?)

below: Take a few more steps towards Metropolitan United and then turn around. This is the view that awaits you. The intersection of Queen and Church from a different angle.

below: As I walked back to the intersection, this man walked in front of the streetcar. I think that he called himself either Cowboy Bob or Cowboy Bill.

below: Church #2. Jarvis Street Baptist Church.

below: Yes, there are a lot of churches in this section of downtown. This is the third (and last for today’s blog) but there are many more. Grace Church through the trees.

below: A stop at Allan Gardens conservatory for warm and a washroom. If this picture is looking a little fuzzy around the edges, my camera lens kept steaming up faster than I could wipe it off.

below: Every Christmas, the conservatory at Allan Gardens is decorated with many amaryllis plants. The other day, many were looking a little worse for wear. These buds were a few of the exceptions. At some point (soon?), the Christmas plants will be switched out for spring plants.

below: Barrel cacti in differing sizes in the Allan Gardens conservatory.

below: And just around the corner from Allan Gardens there is this painted cactus (or is it a succulent?) standing in the cold.

below: This part of Church Street is now in McGill Granby Village. There is even a lovebot on the pole.

below: “Enough is enough”, a large Church Street mural.

below: On Church Street, another redevelopment victim.

below: And just up the street, another.

below: Trucks, construction, and condos. Ho hum. Been there, done that.

below: One set of construction hoardings has been decorated with kids’ paintings. Bright and cheerful.

below: Through the layers

below: Icicles!

below: Trudeau senior looks down on the world.

below: The guys over the entrance to the Chang School at Ryerson are wearing little puffy white hats.

below: As we walked past Yonge Dundas Square, I stopped, took another look, and then said: “Isn’t that a new sign?”. My walking partner replied that she wasn’t sure. Neither was I.

I happened to walk past Yonge Dundas Square again yesterday, and yes, there is a new sign. A big one.

below: “It’s OK to be scared, just take a deep breath” as the fourth panel of the new sign is installed.

below: Working on the new sign. That billboard on the left, 98.1 CHFI is all Christmas music? Still? In February?

C’est too for now friends!

growing pains

Posted: November 13, 2017 in transportation
Tags: cars, changes, downtown, illegal, King St., left turn, lights, people, pilot project, public transit, right turns, signals, streetcars, traffic, traffic flow, transit, TTC, vehicles

Is there anyone who doesn’t complain about driving in Toronto?
Does anyone have a solution that we can all agree on?
No.

Yesterday Toronto began an experiment on King Street. An experiment that CBC called a disaster on its first day. This morning I went to check it out for myself. It was mid-morning so there weren’t many cars. Also, weekday drivers and Sunday drivers downtown are different. On weekdays it’s the regulars who know the roads because they drive them all the time. Does that make a difference? – I’m not sure.

below: At most intersections between Bathurst and Jarvis, traffic is not allowed to proceed straight through – you must turn right. Streetcars and bicycles are the exceptions. The traffic signals now have advanced green arrows to allow cars to turn right before the pedestrians cross the road. Taxis are allowed to go through only between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. You’ll notice that the left hand land has been painted with yellow stripes, i.e. no cars here!

below: Two more changes have appeared. First, the streetcar stops have been moved to after the intersection instead of before. Second, small barricades block the right hand lane after the intersection. These two changes have the effect of blocking cars who try to sneak through on King Street. If there is a streetcar, you’re stuck behind it. I did see a car try to pass a streetcar (on the left) but it was unsuccessful.

Many cars were disobeying the new traffic signs, some out of confusion and some blatantly flaunting the rules. Cars would pull into the right turn lane but then go through the light anyhow.

below: I wasn’t the only ones watching the traffic. Global TV was at King and Jarvis while CTV were stationed at King and Church.

below: CBC interviews people at King & Yonge as a black GMC goes through the intersection.

below: The lighter traffic makes for easier illegal left turns!

below: Taking pictures of drivers doing illegal things was like shooting fish in a barrel. There were a couple of police cars around but so far there are few consequences to doing what you want. It’s early days yet, right? Apparently starting next week, the fine for illegally going straight through the intersection will be $100 and 2 demerit points.

I have one suggestion and that is to change the traffic lights so that the only green is a right turn arrow. The streetcars would have their own light – something like the ‘white line light’ that is used at King and Sumach as well as at Eglinton and Duplex. Having an ordinary green light is almost giving mixed signals to the drivers.

below: Hey! Mr. Bentley watch where you’re going!

Take care out there!

Chasing the light along Queen Street

Posted: September 10, 2017 in old buildings, reflections, shadows
Tags: architecture, bride, bridge, cars, cathedral, church, city, construction cranes, evening, lamp posts, lights, Moss Park, people, photographers, railings, St. Michaels Cathedral, St. Mikes, street, street lights, traffic, urban, utility poles, wedding, wires

Shorter day light hours + autumn weather (no snow yet!) = an evening of playing with light and shadow. I came out of the subway at Queen station and decide to “chase the light”. It was a perfect evening for a walk and I wanted to make it last as long as possible. For the most part I stayed on Queen Street although I will admit to straying onto Shuter for a block or two. It’s not the prettiest part of the city but every place has potential, from a photographic perspective anyhow.

below: The new (replacement) pedestrian walkway over Queen Street that will link the Eaton Centre with The Bay.

below: City reflections in both glass and polished stone.

below: The curve of street car wires at Queen and Church. A wall of peeling paint, as well as a ghost sign, provides the backdrop

below: The east wall of St. Michaels Cathedral (RC) with reflected light, as seen across a construction site.

below: The same church from a slightly different angle.

below: Angels

below: Pigeons, old Bell phones and the Moss Park Discount Store. Not so much light here but I liked the wall.

below: A long way from home.

below: A large double billboard is black beside the old building. The building is at the corner of Ontario Street and Brigden Place. It was built in 1911 as a 4 1/2 storey warehouse for the Newell Company and their Dominion Envelope Company. It was one of three buildings that they owned in the area. After WW2 the building was purchased by J.D. Carrier Shoe Company (the ghost sign!). Today it has been renovated as lofts and studios.

below: A small section of the back of the Moss Park Armoury, a Canadian Forces building constructed in the 1960’s.

below: A quick break from chasing light…. you never know what you’re going to encounter downtown, and of course you have to stop and take advantage of the opportunities when they arise, so here we have a slight diversion! I’m going to assume that the background of their pictures is much better than the background of this picture!

below: As evening falls, the lights come on in the bus shelters.
You can thank (or curse) Astral Media for that.

below: King Street and Queen Street merge just before they pass over the Don River and the Don Valley Parkway. The green railing in the photo below is on the bridge over the DVP, the buildings and cranes are on the other side of the river.

below: Upstairs, downstairs. Looking west along King Street from the Don River.

Once the light fades beyond a certain point, contrast is limited and dullness creeps into the resulting photos. It’s too late for well lit photos and too early for pictures of city lights. But it’s a great time to stop and find some dinner!

as I walk Toronto

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