I was at the Exhibition Place grounds early on a Sunday morning so there was very little traffic around which meant easy crossing for this pair. This large crosswalk is suitably found in front of the Automotive Building which was built in 1929 to showcase automotive displays during the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE). This is no longer a priority and the open display room has been converted to a large ballroom and the space is used for events and conventions. It is a lovely Art Deco building and one day I will bring you a lot of detail shots. Like everything else these days sponsorship of the building has been sold to Beansfield so their name is up top.
Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.
Although not as old as Scadding Cabin which I showed you yesterday the fire hall at Exhibition Place is an old one too. This Tudor Revival beauty was built in 1912 and as you can see has been beautifully cared for over the years. I think it had been newly painted this summer before the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) opened in August. The clock tower would have once been used for hanging hoses to dry.
This is the house referred to in yesterday's post - Scadding Cabin, the oldest surviving house in Toronto. Located in the Exhibition Place grounds since being moved there in 1879 but built in 1794, it now has a perfect view of Lake Ontario and is surrounded by beautiful landscaped gardens. I wonder what it would go for in our crazy real estate market?
I love these historical plaques since they give you so much information while you are looking at the actual sight. I toured around Exhibition Place on a Sunday morning a few weeks ago and after viewing the Liberty Grand building which I showed you last week I happened upon this sign erected in 2012. I will show you the cabin tomorrow and in case you can't read this sign the cabin is the oldest known surviving house in Toronto having been built in 1794 and moved to Exhibition Place in 1879 for the first Canadian National Exhibition (CNE).
Taking part in Signs, Signs. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.
I spotted this lovely Dahlia in the gardens at the Veterans Centre at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. Isn't it beautiful?
I spotted this beautiful utility box in the Forest Hill neighbourhood. Rather than being painted on the box it looks like it is a vinyl covering. I really like it and it adds a bit of something to the streetscape which is not the usual thing for these boxes.
Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.
This is one of several cast cement lions that are found outside of the Liberty Grand building at Exhibition Place. I've shown you a few shots of the building in the last few days. The lions look quite stately don't you think?
I spotted these Sparrows have a bath in one of the waterfalls in the gardens at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. It was on one of the warm days we have been having this week and they were making the most of it!
Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.
This shot shows some of the details found above the door in yesterday's post. Since the building was originally built to showcase Ontario provincial exhibits it looks as if these panels are depicting types of industry found in the province. The one on the left looks like the lumber industry, the middle one is mining while the one on the right is a mystery to me. I couldn't figure it out at all. I do like this type of carving though.
This is the entrance to one of the wings of the Liberty Grand building which I showed you yesterday giving you more of an idea of the wonderful exterior decorations. I'll show you a detail shot of the carvings over the door tomorrow.
This is the Ontario Government building found on the Exhibition grounds. It was built in 1926 to provide space for provincial government displays during the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) but since 2000 it has been used as the Liberty Grand, an event and banquet space. The Beaux Arts building underwent extensive restoration in 2001 and is beautiful inside. I'll show you some more of it tomorrow.
Taking part in Signs, Signs. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.
This fountain in the Exhibition grounds is the traditional meeting place during the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) that takes place here from the middle of August until Labour Day every year. The fountain is called the Princess Margaret Fountain and the Princess attended the opening of the fountain in 1958 when it replaced the original one that had been there since 1911. That domed building behind it was built in 1907 as the Horticulture building but it now serves as a night club and event venue.
I showed you a mural a couple of weeks ago done by the Chilean artists Tikay & Aner and they also did this one at the same time just down the block on Dundas St W. It is titled Three Sisters which refers to the crops maize, climbing beans, and squash, a name given by various First Nations groups to these foods that were a major source of nutrition for them. In the mural you can see one of the three crops beside each of the three women.
Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.
This is an early Sunday morning pic of the lakeshore taken from the Exhibition grounds downtown. There was not a whiff of wind and even though it was only 10˚C it was beautiful down there. I'll have more pics from the grounds in the days to come.
The Chipmunk and the female Cardinal really blend into their background of fallen seeds from the bird feeder above them. These two seemed to get along quite well and continued to eat side by side for quite awhile.
Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.
This odd shaped building has been fairly recently constructed in the Junction neighbourhood on a triangle-shaped piece of property behind the stores on Dundas St. I rather like it. And the area is one of the more interesting ones in the city with lots of small independent shops, restaurants, and craft breweries.
I seem to have developed a thing about gorgeous porches and couldn't resist this beauty found in the Lawrence Park neighbourhood. The house itself is beautiful and it is the porch that makes it special don't you think?
I first showed you the Royal Cinema in Little Italy back in 2011 (HERE) and was down on College St for a Sunday brunch recently and took another pic. There have been a few changes such as the marquee being redone but overall it still retains its 1939 Art Deco glory. And it is still functioning as a movie theatre!
Taking part in Signs, Signs. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.
This Rose Mallow flower has to have been 8" across and gorgeous! Apparently they are perennial Hibiscus that even survive the winters up here and flower from mid June until the frost finally hits them. I may have to try growing one of these!
This is another mural that I found along Dundas St W that was comprised of wooden cut-outs. This one is along a fence leading into a community housing complex and I 'm thinking that the kids who live there must really like it. Even the colour is cheerful!
Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.
This is an early Sunday morning pic of the streetscape along Dundas St W in the Brockton neighbourhood. It is very typical of the commercial areas along the main streets in downtown Toronto with many little independent businesses on the main floor and apartments above.
As fall approaches the chipmunks are busy gathering food to store a way for winter and this guy was spending the day trying to empty this bird feeder. Just look at the size of those cheeks! He would fill up and then leave for a few minutes and then return for another load - he definitely won't go hungry this winter.
Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.
This is the original Bank of Commerce building found in the Commerce Court complex in the Financial District. It is now surrounded by modern additions but it outshines them all!
Just what every pink car needs - a little Spiderman to protect the rear bumper!
This sign for Star Sheet Metal has been on this building along Dundas St W for many years as you can tell. The building was sold several years ago and was gutted and totally modernized but they left the sign intact which is a great thing. Star Sheet Metal was run and owned by a wonderful man, Jack Sheiner, who was a holocaust survivor and a really nice guy. He did some crazy projects for me and never complained but would just shake his head and then get it done. I was so happy to see his sign still there!
Taking part in Signs, Signs. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.
I haven't shown you a Lovbot for quite awhile even though they pop up all over the city. This big one was found beside the building from yesterday's post and is one of the largest ones I've seen. To find out more about the Lovbots click on my label below.
This mural was the one being protected by the dog in Saturday's post. Found on the side of a building along Dundas St W it was done by Chilean artists Tikay & Aner and was just completed this summer. The mural depicts Violetta Parrea, a Chilean singer/songwriter, artist, advocate and more. For more info about the mural & her click HERE.
Taking part in Monday Murals. To see more murals from around the world click HERE.
I showed you a Tardis Little Library back in March (HERE) and a couple of weeks ago I discovered another one. This one is even larger inside than the first one. Dr Who would approve I think!
I was shooting a pic of a mural on the side of a wall when this guy came staring over the top at me. He did not seem to be amused that I would be looking at his building and I was glad he was way up there and not down with me! I'll show you the mural on Monday.
Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.
The September theme for the City Daily Photo Blog community is "Photographing The Photographer" and I offer this pic taken along the stairway leading up to Casa Loma. Not only is the guy taking a pic of the young woman but their friend is taking a pic of them both on her device. The location is a bit unusual since most people take a pic from the other side of this landing in order to get the CN Tower in the background rather than the trees which will be in this one.
Taking part in the theme. Click HERE to see more photraphers from around the world.
