This is a new one for me. When I saw this sign at St Clements Church I had to pull over to see what it is all about. School starts here next week and I guess getting your backpack blessed is supposed to help keep you safe through the school year. It is also combined with a campaign to give backpacks and supplies to kids who are in need.
Taking part in Signs, Signs. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.
This wonderful Neoclassical building was built in 1912 as the "Department of Household Science" at U of Toronto and remained as that until the 1970s. It was designed by architect George M. Miller and was funded by the Massey family of Massey-Harris fame. Now the south end is used by the Centre for Medieval Sciences of the university and the north end which opens onto Bloor St is leased out for retail space. It is directly across Avenue Rd from the Royal Ontario Museum giving this block quite a stately feel despite the surrounding modern buildings.
This poor snail not only is carrying his shell but also a little annex that he calls home. I found him along Harbord St and the artist is Smoky whose work I have shown many times.
Taking part in MondayMurals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.
I showed you a section of the Cloud Gardens Park located downtown in the financial district on Tuesday and thought I would show a little bit more. The ramps in Tuesday's pic lead off in the upper left side to this waterfall and then into the lovely little green house. A small oasis among the towers.
I have seen a lot of baby birds like this young sparrow begging to be fed over the last week so I guess these mums have had two batches of babies this summer. They must be exhausted!
Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.
I showed you this pinkish Forest Hill home in spring when the Magnolia was flowering (HERE) and thought I would show you how pretty it looks in summer. It may not be one of the largest homes in the neighborhood but the landscaping makes it special don't you think?
I've been roaming through the Forest Hill neighborhood a lot and there are many older estate homes with large grounds. This one has a wall around its back garden and a beautiful gate leading into a large space which even has that fairly substantial greenhouse you can see. Interestingly the front of the house has no fence at all.
Taking part in Good Fences. Click HERE to see more fences from around the world.
How could you not love Max who is ready for a walk with his leash! This is a new campaign the city has started in an attempt to ease the disagreements that can occur between dog owners and those who don't like dogs running loose. Some of you know that I have a great affection for Airedale Terriers so of course I love this sign!
Taking part in Signs, Signs. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.
This is part of a small 1/2 acre park, Cloud Gardens, that is located in the midst of the downtown financial district. Since it was so small the designers went up with terraces, bridges and ramps leading across a waterfall and eventually to a small conservatory. This section shows some of the ramps backed by a monument to all the construction workers who have toiled on the surrounding towers. Each square represents a different trade.
This utility box is located on Davenport Rd and looks like it is covered in tiles but it is actually a painted on design using stencils. It reminds me of the wonderful Portuguese tiles Jose used to show us. The artist for this one is Steph Anacleto.
Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.
I thought this Yorkville neighborhood home's entrance way looked very elegant. I'm sure those trees in the urns are artificial but I still like them! And who doesn't like a few cherubs to greet them coming home.
I haven't seen many chickadees around all summer until the last week. I hope that isn't a sign that winter is going to come despite all the heat we have had. This little guy was certainly getting a belly full of those seeds!
Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.
This is the rear entrance to the Collonade which is a mixed use building on Bloor St in the priciest retail area of the city. It was designed by architect Gerald Robinson in fine Brutalist style and was constructed in 1963 and was one of the first mixed use developments in Canada with retail and office spaces on the bottom few floors and residential above. I love the oval windows and the cool reflections. Will have to get a pic of the front of the building one day.
I thought I would give you a closer look at the mural from Her Father's Bar & Kitchen which I showed you on Monday (and their window yesterday). There is an incredible amount of detail work in this mural by John Kuna. And I like the fence around the patio too.
Taking part in Good Fences. Click HERE to see more fences from around the world.
I can't resist a good play on words. This was in the window of Her Father's Bar & Kitchen whose patio mural I showed you on Monday. Apparently they have more than 75 different ciders available! And a bit of a summer selfie.
Taking part in Signs, Signs. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.
I was waiting for a bus and thought the sky was beautiful especially with the clouds suspended on all those wires!
The young woman in this pic was actually planting up those two large boxes and not trying to jump the fence into the patio of "Her Father's Bar & Kitchen", a restaurant on Harbord St. The abstract mural looks so summery with all the hot colors. The artist for this one is John Kuna who had done all the historical murals along Dundas St in the Islington neighbourhood. If you click on my Islington label you can see them all.
Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.
I took this pic at the beginning of July in the gardens of Spadina House. I think it is a native rose bush but I'm not sure. Whatever it is the bees loved it and there were tens of them buzzing around from blossom to blossom. It was so good to see so many happy bees!
These two houses in the Yorkville neighbourhood are connected by that opening in the middle that leads to both their back gardens. I always wonder which house gets the nice room over the opening!
This is the home that belongs to the gate I showed you yesterday. I always admire this house when I drive by as it sits looking so peaceful among the trees. The large window visible above the portico appears to be stained glass like you would find in a church. I was surprised that I could find no info on this place as to age or architect. I'd love to see inside!
This gate with its luscious growth of ivy leads into the garage and back garden of a lovely home in the Forest Hill neighbourhood. You can tell that this is a well-treed area. I'll show you the house tomorrow.
Taking part in Good Fences. Click HERE to see more fences from around the world.
I showed you a building that had been a Ford factory and is now owned by Faema the espresso people (HERE) and thought I would show you the original Faema building that is not very far away. I've always been intrigued by the quirky building that looks like it could have been a gas station at some time in the past. Faema continues to operate out of this space as well as the newer location I showed you.
Taking part in Signs, Signs. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.
This is another of the small apartment buildings on the street near Casa Loma and I'm not sure why but it seems to me that it would be a happy place to live. Maybe it is the chairs gathered together out front and the little pots going up the stairs. This would be a prime spot to live - close to subway, grocery store, parks, etc. I'm guessing that people stay put when they get into these buildings.
I spotted this utility box and quickly pulled over and was lucky enough for the guy in the red shirt to get stopped by a red light. Wallace Emerson is this neighborhood and the lettering on the elephant's blanket means Love & Unity. It is in English on the other side but then we get no guy in a red shirt. This whole image reminds me of something but I can't figure it out - and ideas? The artist for this is Anna May Henry.
Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world. I hope the linky is working this week.
This is one of the beautiful old houses found near the U of Toronto campus. It was probably built to be a single family dwelling but many years later there is now a dental office on the main floor and flats up above. This is along Harbord St which is a major bike route downtown especially at rush hour.
There seem to be a lot of Goldfinches around the city this year and this feeder is a favourite luncheon place for them. The sparrow in the foreground was just landing so is a bit out of focus and I think she may have to wait a bit for a turn!
Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.
This is another of the small 4-plex apartments found on a street near Casa Loma. Each one is so different from the other and this one really makes me think they must be condos since the doors leading to the bottom units are different from each other and the right side has 2 urns while the left has none. I like the little head mounted above the doorway but a lot of it has been eroded so it is hard to tell but I think it may have originally been a lion.
Someone constructed this cute red house that looks like it is waiting for an occupant to take it over. That hole looks rather big for the tiny house don't you think?
And since there is a fence there I will link this to Good Fences. Click HERE to see more fences from around the world.
I love the name of this food truck and thought for sure that they must serve Cuban food but apparently they specialize in scrumptious sandwiches and other finger foods. These food trucks are being shot as they have their propane tanks filled and that is why they aren't open for business in these shots.
Taking part in Signs, Signs. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.
This building at Dupont & Christie St is the neighbour of the little storage building I showed you on Friday. This was built in 1914 by the Ford Motor Co as an automotive factory. The 1st floor was showroom, 2nd floor was warehouse, 3rd & 4th were assembly (all by hand), top floor was painting, and the roof was a test track if you can believe it. Ford stayed here until 1925 and then there were various owners until Planters Peanuts bought it in 1948 and stayed until 1987. (My dad worked for Planters!) In 1994 it was bought by Faema who distribute and make espresso machines and they have totally restored and renewed the building. It now has a great cafe on the main floor and various offices and studios on the other floors.
The August theme for the City Daily Photo Blog community is "My City's Skyline". We have quite a spectacular skyline which is best seen from the lakeshore or the Toronto Islands park. Unfortunately I have been unable to get down to the lake or even up in a high rise to get a new good shot of the skyline so instead I give you this mural of a stylized one featuring a rather short CN Tower but also many of the distinctive downtown office towers. If you click on my CN Tower label below you can see several skyline shots.
Taking part in Theme Day. Click HERE to see more skylines from around the world.
Also taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.
