This was the scene at Christie Pits Park on the same day as I took the pic in yesterday's post. It seemed like everyone had come out to enjoy the first really warm day!
The first beer enjoyed outside for this summer season was Omnipollo, a Swedish IPA with strong citrus flavouring. It won't be the last one of these - it was good. We finally got nice warm weather last week and all of the patios were open and doing great business.
Taking part in Signs, Signs. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.
This large house is found across the road from Casa Loma but it is very hidden by all of the trees and shrubs on its property so it may not get noticed by the visitors to the Casa. Originally built as a private home this is now a convent.
I spotted this cheerful garage door along a laneway called Croft St that I have toured many times. I think this would be a nice door to come home to after a busy day!
Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.
The plants along the stream at James Gardens were really starting to pop open when I was there a week ago. Soon the bridges will be surrounded by greenery!
While walking by this antique shop early in the morning I spotted the resident cat grooming itself in the sun. When I stopped the kitty threw itself onto the ground as if begging for a tummy rub. Too bad the shop was still closed!
Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.
At this point of the stairway leading up to Casa Loma and Spadina House you have climbed about 100 steps but there are only a dozen left to go. I thought this was a nice scene to greet you and urge you on to the top. The oak trees were just starting to leaf out when I took this pic a week ago. These trees were neighbours of the one I showed a couple of weeks ago that had been destroyed in the wind storm.
I was walking through the Yorkville neighbourhood last week and spotted a superhero outside of a gallery. This Batman is the work of Patrick Amiot who is originally from Montreal but now lives in California. Amiot uses junk metal to create his works and then they are painted by his wife Brigitte Laurent. I love that Robin is a hand puppet and that Batman has a rubber ducky hanging from his belt.
I took this pic a few weeks ago before the leaves came out on the trees so that you can see most of the wonderful Art Deco details on this College St building. I couldn't find any info on its original occupant but it was a paint store for many years before becoming a computer store. There is a bit of a campaign going on to attempt to have some of the buildings along this part of College St heritage protected but I'm not sure if it has been successful.
Taking part in Signs, Signs. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.
It is hard to believe but this is my 3,000th post on the blog. To celebrate I thought a new car was in order - as if! I spotted this BMW i8 and stopped in my tracks to take a close look and get a pic. It not only looks fabulous but it is also a green car, a plug-in hybrid. And those are butterfly doors which makes it even more special!
I spotted this mural high up on a building on College St. Here we have one of the Lovbots along with one of the bunnies done by the artist Poser. It looks like they are using a spray can to propel themselves through the air.
Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.
This is Trinity-St. Paul's United Church and Centre for Faith, Justice and the Arts and it is found on a busy section of Bloor St in the Annex near U of Toronto. The church is home to the religious community but is also home to 60 other organizations such as the Tafelmusik baroque orchestra, yoga classes, and even Salsa dancing classes. Check out its website HERE. Located here for over 125 years this church really ministers to the community.
This cute American Tree Sparrow is showing off his rusty cap and you can also see his mark on the middle of his chest which looks like a stickpin. I took this pic a few weeks ago before all of our leaves came out and when he may have been on his way further north.
Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.
I was in a shop with a skylight high on their ceiling and noticed this shadow of someone standing on the roof deck of the condo building next door. It was a bit startling to see a shadow 25 feet up a wall!
These large semi-detached homes are typical of the Annex neighbourhood but the low-rise apartment on the left is a little more unusual although it suits the area's style. These semis will set you back at least a few million dollars!
This bike shop on Queen St W in the Parkdale neighbourhood certainly knows how to get your attention. I love the old rusty bike they have hanging over the sidewalk.
Taking part in Signs, Signs. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.
This is the interior of a beauty salon that has been untouched for years and years as its owner retired and simply closed the door and continued to live upstairs until passing away during the winter in her mid 90s. The building has been put up for sale and the long closed blinds have been opened to reveal this flashback to the 60s. It will be interesting to see what will move in here next.
This great face is painted on the entrance to a flat above a store along Dundas St W. What a nice greeting when you arrive home. The artist is Jarus who did the guy on the roof that I showed you a couple of weeks ago. Just click the Jarus label below to see it.
Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.
We had a very damaging wind storm a week ago which resulted in a huge number of fallen trees in the city. This large ancient oak tree was in the grounds of Spadina House and had a canopy that was probably about 50 ft in diameter. As you can see there is now nothing left standing. At least it was not near any hydro lines unlike in other areas of the city where the power was out for hours after the lines were pulled down by trees and branches. My power was out for about 5 hours.
I was in a store and looked out to see this lovely dog waiting for its human to come out of the store next door. He/she never took a glance away form the door until they finally came out. I think it is a Portuguese Waterdog which were popular here even before Obama got his.
Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.
Dinner at a diner that has been around since the 1930s is fun especially when the food is good. Both the food and the service are good at the Universal Grill on Dupont St.
This long courtyard cuts through the centre of an older apartment building on Roncesvalles and leads to the entrance far at the other end. I guess this also acts a tunnel to bring light into the interior units. Lots of bikes there too.
I was walking up Roncesvalles Ave in the Roncesvalles Village neighbourhood and spotted this great chalk drawing of a squirrel who was enjoying a coffee and waiting for its bagel from this cafe. The guy behind already has his.
Taking part in Signs, Signs. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.
If you are looking for a new style of hairdo this seems to be the place to go. And you can change colour every day! This was spotted on Queen St W in the Parkdale neighbourhood.
This mural titled "Diamonds Of Extinction" was painted in 2014 by the artists Shalak and Smoky working as Clandestinos. I have been several time and there are always cars parked there so am finally posting it now. There is so much detail to look at in this one and you can feel their South American influence although I haven't a clue as to the significance of any of the images. There are diamonds sprinkled along the bottom but they are hidden by the cars.
Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.
We finally got spring weather this week and daffodils were popping out all over the city. What a beautiful sight to see at last!
Last Saturday I showed you a determined black squirrel and this week I am showing you a fearless one. I was walking under a very tall tree which hangs over a steep hill and spotted this squirrel way out at the end of the branches munching away on the leaf buds. It was very windy and he was being bounced around but he didn't seem to be concerned at all. You would think he could have found some buds on some thicker branches!
Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.
I love the carvings on the Graphic Arts Building on Richmond St. The building was finished in 1913 and was the home to Saturday Night magazine until the early 2000s when it was converted into 65 condo units. I've seen pics of the interior and it is just as classy as the outside. It is good that it wasn't torn down to construct a modern building!
I was wandering about on a sunny day and liked this view of Spadina House through its fence. Latter in the year this view disappears behind the vegetation surrounding the house.
Uncle Tetsu's Japanese Angel Cafe is found on Dundas St near city hall. It specializes in desserts especially Japanese cheesecake but what sets it apart are the servers who dress in French maid outfits and also do performances. Sounds intriguing but I haven't been there.
Taking part in Signs, Signs. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.
The neighbourhood to the west of U of Toronto and south of the Annex is Harbord Village and it is full of lovely Victorian homes most of which have been renovated and restored. This is the perfect time of year to see them before all of the leaves come out on the trees. I've been inside a couple of the ones on this street and they are wonderful.
