We’re getting outside to enjoy the summer while still maintaining some distance as the COVID numbers drop… a few of the restrictions have been lifted and life is little less constrained. Patios are filling up again and a larger selection of stores are open. The following photos were taken downtown on a sunny day a week or so ago…. as I re-learn how to take candid shots of people!
Some habits die hard and some rules aren’t meant to be broken including the unwritten rule that a photowalk begins at a coffee shop. Was it the best. coffee. ever.? I’m not sure. It was good; it would have been even better if I’d been able to drink it inside! Also good is the fact that there are independent coffee shops that are still open and I hope that they survive (and thrive?) until the summer.
below: Long north up Yonge Street from Lola (L O L A Lola), towards Eglinton. Back to Midtown.
below: Yonge and Manor Road, looking northeast. One of the remaining Midtown buildings that date from the original development about 100 years ago. In 2016/2017 a massive list of buildings in this area was put forward as considerations for “Main Street Block” heritage designation including this one at 2075 Yonge at the corner of Manor Road East. In the resulting report, mention is made of “the three-storey scale, the glazed commercial storefronts with apartments in the upper floors, and the elaborate Tudor Revival styling typical of those dating to the interwar era in North Toronto.” I haven’t done any more research to determine if any of these buildings were actually added to the heritage register.
below: Northwest corner of Yonge and Eglinton. Still mired in Crosstown construction.
below: Walking west on Eglinton through a maze of cones and detours.
below: Looking back towards Yonge and Eglinton.
below: Consulting.
below: Part of the pedestrian detour on the north side of Eglinton takes you through Eglinton Park. This photo is from May 2020 so you can’t see the ice and snow that was there a few days ago!
below: View of the city, looking east towards Yonge Street from Eglinton Park (May 2020)
below: Decorated hoardings at Eglinton Park.
below: Rendered drawing of the future Avenue Road Crosstown station.
below: Avenue Road Crosstown station as it is now.
below: What it looked like in early May last year. Not much change is there? I was disappointed to see how Eglinton Avenue looks just the same as it has for years. At the surface it appears that there has been no progress. I’d love to be able to see what was/is happening down below as I know that the work didn’t stop for Covid.
below: No running, no diving. Sigh. Although it makes sense that there’s no diving in the shallow end, it’s just another reminder that this has been a year of “no”.
below: One of the many architectural styles on Avenue Road
below: Chaplin Crescent views
below: And back to Yonge Street – For lease, a former Starbucks at Yonge and Davisville. This is one of 25 locations in Toronto that closed at the beginning of February and one of the approximately 300 closed across Canada. This was always a busy place but maybe it was dependent on commuter traffic as it is by the Davisville subway station. The list of 25 closed Starbucks’ is heavy on mall locations and those on the heavy commuter routes.
The building started its life in 1894 as J.J. Davis’ general store and post office built on land owned by John Davis — the same Davis that gave the name to the tiny community of Davisville. When I was researching the building, I found the following three photos. First, J.J. Davis Store, ca 1900. Home of the Davisville Post Office 1894-1913.
below: The same corner, 1951. Note the old bus on Davisville (and all the people waiting to get on it!). The Chaplin Groceteria is now the Fresh Buy Market but the building is almost exactly the same 50+ years later. The hydro lines have been buried since 1951.
below: I have been trying to reconcile the information that I found online:
Then I found the photo below. It was taken in 1981 and is of a building, Host Rent a Car, at the corner of Yonge & Imperial (one block north of Yonge & Davisville). The library notes: “In the 1870s, this was the site of T. G. Crown’s Grocery, Flour and Feed Store and the first Post Office in Davisville.” Davisville Village Walk, North Toronto Historical Society, 1984, p. 5. Therefore, two stores (that still exist) and two “first” post offices … and a mix-up somewhere.
I like the fact the T.G. Crown’s store was on Imperial street!
The above three black and white photos are online, from the Toronto Public Library
With many thanks to Karen for accompanying me. Sorry, no photo – totally forgot…. We’ll have to make good on our vow to walk again!
…
below: He may be sitting on the bench but this hockey player is prepared. He’s practicing social distancing and he’s got his mask on just in case. He’s also a reminder that the NHL playoffs for the 2019-20 season are being played in a bubble here in Toronto at the moment… but the Maple Leafs didn’t make the cut. After having to take a few months off because of Covid-19, the NHL scheduled the playoffs in only two cities, Toronto and Edmonton. Games started at the beginning of August and are scheduled to finish the first week of October. There is talk that maybe the 2020-21 season can begin after that but like everything else these days, who knows.
below: ‘Love Negotiation’ on Scollard Street by Gillie and Marc. Dogman and Rabbitgirl share a few minutes over coffee. They too are outside are are socially distanced… or perhaps they have been isolating together are have escaped their tiny downtown condo for a bit of fresh air. ” Rabbitgirl and Dogman invite the world to sit with them symbolically at their Table and take the first step to understanding and loving each other. The sculpture is where we sit, discuss, and solve problems. The world has reached a crisis where our differences are causing hatred and division.”
below: The William Sexton houses on the NE corner of Bay & Scollard are being preserved and incorporated into a condo development. They were built by Sexton in 1890 in a style similar to the Queen Ann Revival style. Although it looks like one large brick house, it is actually a row of 4 houses. In 1974 they were added to Toronto’s Heritage Register. That was also the last year that all four were used as residences.
below: A slightly fuzzy 1974 photo of William Sexton houses.
below: Another hole in the ground. I liked the bits of orange and black hanging around.
below: Reflections of the clock tower on the Yorkville Firehall, the oldest firehall in the city, in one of the newer glass walls across the street.
below: Looking east on Yorkville Ave towards Yonge Street and the large Toronto Reference Library.
below: The Starbucks on Yonge Street just north of Bloor is now closed. The sign in the window says “thanks for your loyalty over the past 20 years.” For those of us who still remember Albert Britnell’s book store at that location it is a bit of a shock to realize that 20 years has past.
below: Yonge Street at Hayden
below: looking northwest from Charles Street on the east side of Yonge. The older black and grey building is the CIBC tower on the NW corner of Yonge & Bloor. The cranes are working on the SW corner of that intersection.
below: Condo construction at the southwest corner of Yonge & bloor continues.
below: One of the entrances to the Manulife Centre on Bloor Street. It was decorated in flowers as part of a Fleurs de Villes event.
below: Inside the Manulife Centre there were many mannequins decorated with flowers
As the summer winds down but the covid lingers on, stay safe and stay sane
below: A lonely ladybug and bumblebee await the return of the kids. Playgrounds still closed because of Covid-19.
below: Barriers around the pool in front of the Toronto 3D sign at Nathan Phillips Square. A perfect spot for a quiet picnic.
below: New mural on Charles Street – painted September 2019, by Justus Becker (from Frankfurt Germany) as part of the 2019 StART mural exchange program. One lens of the glasses is reflecting Toronto while the other lens mirrors Frankfurt.
below: Behind College Park (777 Bay Street)
below: If plants die on city property and no one is there to notice, does it really matter?
below: Two big rats anthropomorphized into a cute little Chinese couple on a Canada Post box. They appear on some of the stamps issued by the post office in honour of the Year of the Rat. The rat is the first of the 12 animals in the 12 year cycle of the old Chinese calendar. The rat also represents the hours of 11 p.m. to 1 a.m., in other words, both midnight and the beginning of a new day. Perhaps we are approaching midnight and our new day is just around the corner?
below: Is this seat taken?
below: Who can resist Unicorn Beauty?
Social distancing can be challenge even when most people are staying home. The way that the city and construction sites manage the sidewalks downtown barely worked before. Now, the confinement of the sidewalk space makes it impossible for two people to pass and still comply with safety guidelines. With some awareness, along with the ability to walk on the streets, it is possible to give everyone ample room. There is a debate going on about whether or not to close some streets, or at least close some lanes to traffic, to provide more space for walkers. Those on the “no” side such as the Toronto Public Health, claim that it just encourages more people to be out when they should be at home; it undermines “directives against people congregating in groups”.
More recently, a program called CurbTO has begun whereby some curb lanes are opened to either pedestrians or to parking for curbside pickup from stores. But even here, it’s not necessarily for walkers, but for people lining up to get into stores. It’s going to be a very different situation once pedestrian and traffic levels start to return to what they were in the old days and there are going to have been some infrastructure adaptations.
below: Navigating the sidewalks while still complying with what governments and health officials are suggesting. Note the poster on the wall “We are all in this together”.
below: It’s not often that traffic stops on Yonge Street for pedestrians and their pets.
below: On the southeast corner of Yonge and Gerrard, the facade of an old building is being preserved.
below: Brick and roofline details.
below: I was impressed by the engineering that is involved in keeping these old facades intact while the interior is gutted.
below: Talking to the polaroid guy.
below: No standing takes on a new meaning
below: Looking south on Bay Street from Queen.
below: Richmond Street construction, west of University Avenue.
This was my first time on the subway since mid-March. There were very few people there so it was easy avoiding them but once again, safely re-opening a city is not going to be easy. The packed buses and subways are going to be problematic.
below: Only some subway seats can be occupied.
or maybe chicken fight. ‘Fight’ seemed a little too violent whereas ‘squabble’ seems to minimize the protesters concerns. Somewhere in the middle lies the truth perhaps. I am referring to the scene outside Canada’s first Chick Fil A restaurant here in Toronto – at Yonge and Bloor of all places.
In case you are unfamiliar with the backstory – Chick Fil A is still a family business (the Cathy family) yet it is the largest chicken restaurant in the USA as well as that country’s third largest fast food restaurant. There are more than 2300 Chick Fil A’s south of the border.
The controversy started a few years ago when the Cathy’s came out against same sex marriages and their family foundation donated to organizations that were anti-LGBQT.
below: Police controlling the numbers of people who enter the restaurant.
Nothing special happening, no special events. Just people going about their Saturday afternoon.
At Yonge & Dundas
Along Queen Street
At Nathan Phillips Square
below: After the rain the leaves lie stuck to the path and tangled up in the grass.
below: Or stuck in the fence
below: You can’t escape the cranes…..
below: … or the hoardings.
below: Magnus and Angel are missing…. Is this a coincidence?
below: Pink flowers and a purple door.
below: Built in 1892, this building was once the Church of the Messiah Rectory. The church is the next building to the right (with the slightly yellow stones)
below: Faded flower of a different kind
below: Building behind the Rosedale Diner, as seen from Crown Lane
below: Locked door
below: Graffiti on private property.
below: The limestone Summerhill LCBO store which was originally the North Toronto Canadian Pacific train station. The clock tower is 43m high.
below: From a different angle, the station when it was first built in 1916. The tracks are still there but only freight trains pass by these days. It only lasted as a passenger station until September 1930. Back in the day if you wanted to take a train to Lindsay or Bobcaygeon, this is where you’d go although you could also get a train to Ottawa (via Peterborough & Smith’s Falls) or Montreal.
below: No stop ahead
below: “Help negro and white people mass (?) produce painted stones and hide them” plus a lot of other lines and shapes that might be letters or words.
below: I also came across this box yesterday – Sam the Chinese Food Man and other signs.
below: I have vague memories of such a Sam’s restaurant so I went online to find out more about it. What I found is this image in a “Lost Toronto” blogpost. It is Yonge Street just south of Gerrard (the Rio Theatre was 373 Yonge Street). Did you know that Toronto once had a wax museum?
Photo source: ‘Lost Toronto’ blog, post titled ‘When Yonge St Was Fun‘
… and it ended with a trip down memory lane.
Art on construction hoardings.
below: Looking northwest at the intersection of Yonge Street and St. Clair Avenue West where seven large collages by Daniel Mazzone dominate the corner.
below: On the right, James Dean. It’s difficult to see in this photo, but there are some pink letters on either side of his face. On the left it says “Dream as if you’ll live forever”. On the right is says, “Live as if you will die today”.
below: She repeats. This woman is at the two ends. As far as I can tell, the only difference is the colour of the pattern in the background. On St. Clair it’s purple while it’s red on Yonge. Superman is on her forehead and, in fact, most of the pieces that are used in this artwork are from Superman comics.
below: Charlie Chaplin above the bus shelter. Many of the images used to create the face are also pictures of Charlie Chaplin.
below: Love sees no colour, with Michael Jackson above Yonge Street.
below: “Looking for Beauty” by Daniel Mazzone. Does she see any? There are a few Supermans here too, especially in her face. “Splow” is written in green on her neck.
Open Streets – the second, and final, Open Streets for 2018 was held last Sunday. Large sections of Bloor and Yonge Streets downtown were closed to traffic leaving lots of room for cyclists, pedestrians and a number of activities.
below: Axe Capoeira
below: Mayada’s Belly Dance at Yonge & Bloor
below: And other dancing in the street too – or rather, a very active fitness session!
below: It looks like animals can dance too… this dog seems to be having a great time!
below: Little drummer boy on a fancy Home Depot drum set!
below: Decorating bikes and scooters
below: Sharing a hammock in the middle of Yonge Street.
below: Trumpet lessons
below: Yoga in the park
below: And for those who were looking for something less active…
below: Yonge Street was also on the route of the 2018 Toronto AIDS walk
below: A Lamborghini. 0 to 60 in how many seconds?
While walking on Yonge Street on the day of the Pride Parade, I noticed that the St. Charles tavern clock tower was visible once more. Also on that day, I heard someone ask the person beside them what the tower was. The answer was something like, “I don’t know what it is but it looks interesting.” I went back this weekend to take some pictures – not quite so many people in the way!
below: The St. Charles as it was back in the 1950’s. It was built by Charles Hemstead who had made his money in real estate and horse breeding. Hemstead sold it in 1958 but it continued as the St. Charles until 1987.
photo credit: 1955. Photo by James Salmon, originally found at Toronto Public Library. I found it online at Toronto.com in an excellent article about the history of the building and its role in the LGBQT community.
I have always associated the tower with the St. Charles Tavern but I now know that the tower pre-dates the St. Charles by many decades. It was built as part of Fire Hall Number 3 in the 1870s. Although the fire hall is long gone (it was replaced by the fire hall on Grosvenor Street in the 1920’s), the clock tower has survived several changes of ownership. It is also going to survive the next change which, of course, is the building of a large glass and steel condo on the southwest corner of Yonge & Grosvenor.
below: The site has been cleared. Looking south from Grosvenor.
below: Looking north up Yonge Street towards Grosvenor. The yellow scaffolding is holding up the brick facade of 480 and 482 Yonge Street. It too will be incorporated into the new development. Can you count how many new condos there are? Did you notice that the two clock faces say different times?
The clock kept time until 1969. It had been maintained by the city up until then. Repairs and upkeep stopped when the city decided that the cost was too much. Maybe it will function once again in the near future.
below: An archway has been built into the back of the clock tower.
