This is another building by architect Uno Prii built in 1965 on Avenue Rd not far from the Annex neighbourhood where a lot of his apartment buildings are located. It is nice that almost all of his buildings have been well maintained through the years and many have heritage protection.
I recently passed by the apartment at 35 Walmer Rd which is one of the buildings designed by Uno Prii in the 1960s and discovered that this sign has been placed out front pointing to other projects by him in the Annex neighbourhod. You can see them if you click the Uno Prii label below and I will show you another of his buildings tomorrow.
Taking part in Signs 2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.
I happened upon the work of artist Natasha Miller who works in charcoal and acrylics to paint lovely peaceful scenes like this one. You can visit her website HERE. That looks like the perfect place to go to keep a distance from the rest of the world.
The same complex where the pigeons and the beaver that I have shown the last few weeks has a small outbuilding used for garbage containers. One side of this small building has these dangerous looking wasps who seem to the guards. They would certainly keep me away!
Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.
This is just part of a lovely spring garden that I passed during one of my walks. In the forefront the ivy is just starting to sprout up for the season. During the summer this garden is full of Hostas and other perennials.
I was wandering along a laneway trying to avoid people when I happened upon this wonderful garage door with the cute Chickadees. The artist for this one is Nick Sweetman who has done some fabulous murals around town. Click on the Sweetman label below to see more of them.
Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.
I first posted a pic of the Summerhill LCBO back in September 2010 (HERE) and thought it was time to revisit it. After yesterday's pic I walked under the railway bridge and emerged to take this pic of the main entrance. Built in 1916 to be The North Toronto Railway Station, the building quit that function in 1930 and most of its exterior was covered by boarding as it operated as a Beer Store & a LCBO outlet. In 2004 it was beautifully restored and is now the largest liquor store in Canada. The tower is 140 ft tall and can be seen from far away as you walk along Yonge St which is Toronto's main street.
I was heading down Yonge St in the Summerhill neighbourhood just as a train rolled past the Summerhill LCBO (Ontario's liquor store). The building started life as a railway station and the trains actually run over this back entrance to the store. I'll show you the front and main entrance tomorrow.
Each of the streetcar stops along St Clair Ave W has public art included in the structure of the shelter. This is the stop at St Clair and Avenue Rd, which is called Scenic Route and was designed by artist Carlo Cesta. I think I will go back in the summer when the leaves are out on the trees to see if the metal work, which is meant to suggest ivy, shows up a bit more.
Taking part in Signs 2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.
I showed this apartment building on St Clair Ave W in a summer shot in 2014 and was recently walking by and thought a winter shot was in order. Called the Fleetwood Apartments, construction took place in 1939 and the building now has heritage protection. You can see the 2014 post HERE.
The blue pigeons that I have shown the last 2 weeks are in the loading area of a commercial building and this busy beaver is found on the actual loading dock. You have to be impressed by a company that decorates the working area of their building so nicely! I still haven't found the artist name.
Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.
It is the time of year when the beautiful blue Scilla flowers form seas of blue in gardens and lawns all over the city. The flowers tend to seed themselves and within a few years you can have huge patches of blue. The flowers then die off and the leaves can be cut down when the lawns are cut so it is a win win situation. I love the shade of blue they are.
The little White-breasted Nuthatches have such strong feet that they can walk up & down a tree trunk as if they were walking on the ground. They are sweet birds to see during most of the year here in Toronto.
Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.
I like seeing how neighbours have such different styles of decoration for houses that are structurally quite similar. These two in the Summerhill neighbourhood give a good example of different tastes. I can't really decide which I like best.
The Harbord Collegiate building which I showed yesterday was constructed in 1931 but the school was established in 1892 with a different building which was torn down. So when WWI came along many alumni signed up to fight and this is the monument to those who died in the war. It has pride of place outside the main doors of the school.
This is one of the side doors from Harbord Collegiate Institute which is on Harbord St just a few blocks away from Central Tech which I showed you on April 1 for Theme Day. I was out looking for school pics and loved the carvings around this door and the details it was given even though it was not the main door. Harbord Collegiate is well known in the city for its high standards and has had many high profile alumni such as architect Frank Gehry and actor Kiefer Sutherland.
Taking part in Signs 2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.
This is St Michael's Cemetery which is the oldest Catholic cemetery in the city. What is unusual about it is that it is 10 acres right in the middle of a city block surrounded completely by houses and stores except for one narrow driveway. You have to know that is there to find it. This was a pic from February when the snow was still with us.
This pigeon is found along the same wall as the one that I showed you last week. I like all of the patterning the artist has put along the wall. Pigeons look quite grand when they are blue don't they? I actually went back to look for an artist signature but there is none. I'll show one more pic from here next week.
Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.
These are not Easter Lilies but rather some that I shot last summer and had stashed in my archives. I hope everyone who celebrates Easter can do it the best way possible during these strange times.
The Mallards have returned to the pond in the Wychwood Park neighbourhood. The pond is quite shaded so it took a long time for the ice to melt. I haven't seen the resident turtles out and about yet though. I like the circular patterns in the water from all of the action of their feet.
Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.
As you wander about the city there seems to be more and more infill housing being constructed. Often an older small house is torn down or if the side walls are left standing then it is considered a renovation rather than a new build. I quite like the modern look of this one which is a bit different from the many square boxes that are being built.
I've always liked this Art Deco style building in the Little Italy neighbourhood which is built in the middle of ordinary semi detached homes. It turns out that it was actually 2 boring square flat fronted buildings which were purchased in 2002 and joined together with new details giving them the Deco flair. There are now 5 condo units in there.
I spotted this smoking lounge in a long term care home. It seemed like it was still in operation so I guess they allow the resident smokers to go in there where the air is being filtered and removed. It still surprises me but most of the residents would be unable to go outside so this offers them a bit of a chance for a smoke. Still very strange though.
Taking part in Signs 2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.
I was walking along a quiet street keeping to myself when I happened upon this Lovebot sitting in the front garden of a house. He looks like he will soon be surrounded by flowers which are just starting to peek out of the ground. I first showed one of these cute concrete creatures by Matthew Del Degan back in 2013. You can see more of them by clicking the label below. I've always thought they were spelled Lovbot rather than Lovebot but now I am not sure.
I showed you a pigeon mural last week and am continuing the theme this week with this wonderful mural that I spotted in the loading area of a commercial building. It is beautifully done but unfortunately there is no artist name. I'll show you another from here next Monday.
Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.
This pic was taken at the beginning of March when we still had snow. St Clement's is one of the few churches that seems to be open during the day for prayers but like all churches it is now closed to the public. The Gothic Revival church was built in 1925 and has a quite large congregation and many activities during normal times.
Last week I showed you a Cardinal eating at this bird cafe and this week I'm showing one of the uninvited guests that turn up. The squirrels are able to hang here for a long time eating away but luckily the feeder holds a lot of food so there is always plenty left for the birds.
Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.
This is the main door into Central Technical School which was in the shadows of the pic I showed you on Wednesday. I love that light fixture and those well worn wooden doors!
This is one of the gargoyles found over the entrance in yesterday's pic of Central Technical school. The stonemasons were given free reign to design the gargoyles and this one they chose to do as a scholar. Suitable for the school.
The April theme for the City Daily Photo Blog community is "School" and for this one I am showing Central Technical School which has been at Bathurst & Harbord St since 1915. This is the original Collegiate Gothic building which has had additions over the years and there has also been two separate buildings added, one for art instruction with beautiful north light and the other which has gyms and an Olympic sized pool. The school is famous for its extensive array of night school classes for adults.
Taking part in the theme School. Click HERE to see more schools from around the world.
