Sunset

 

I haven't see many nice sunsets this summer but this one last week was a beauty.They certainly don't last long though. Five minutes and it was all gone.

A Good Name

 

The name "Jimmy's Athletic Club" made me think of an old time weight lifting gym and after checking on line this seems to be the right reaction. Apparently they do weightlifting, personal training, and other types of martial arts. 

Taking part in Signs2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world. 

Convenient Trees

 

I remember when this infill home was built on a small lot in the Annex neighbourhood. It had huge windows that allowed you to see right into the whole place. Well, now the trees that were planted have grown and provided wonderful privacy and probably a great view into the treetops.

Skyline

 

I seem to be running into a lot of murals by RoamTO lately and here is another. That is a stylized version of our skyline reflected in Lake Ontario. This is a view you see from the park at Centre Island which is a short ferry ride across the harbour.

Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from across the world. 

Lost Then Found?

 

While walking by a bus stop I spotted this tiny giraffe on the ground. I put it up on the nearby bench and carried on with my walk. When passing by later it was gone, hopefully to its original owner.

Retriever

 

I watched this young woman and her dog in a local park as she kicked a ball which her dog would race to retrieve and return it to start the whole thing over again. The dog was totally into running after that ball!

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world. 

August Theme: Sweets

 

The August theme for the City Daily Photo Blog community is Sweets and for this I include a section of the candy aisle at a local grocery store. I always stop here to check things out even if I don't buy any sweets that day.

Taking part in the theme Sweets. Click HERE to see more sweets from around the world.

Chairs With a View

 

These colourful chairs were lined up along the edge of the playing field belonging to a private boys school in the Annex neighbourhood. A comfortable place with a good view. And notice the consistent order of the colours.

Brisket

 

I am not sure if that is a vegan brisket being offered at this place on Bloor St W. I think this needs further investigation. 

Taking part in Signs2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world. 

A Fine Midrise

 

This midrise condo building on Dupont St really seems to work well visually. I think it is all the different surfaces and shapes across the front that makes it successful rather than a flat straight up facade. There is still quite a wind tunnel effect though.

Blue

This is another laneway find with wonderful  graphic patterning. The artist for this one is Mediah who works often with the CBS crew. I always like to discover a new one of his.

Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world. 

Cat Luv

 

I couldn't resist showing this pic from the outside windows of a local pet food store. I showed the dog pic a week ago and thought the cat needs a post too.

A Visitor

 

I was sitting on the roof deck and heard a hawk sound nearby and then spotted this one up on the neighbouring cellphone tower. It stayed there quite a while so I got my camera and bird book. I think it is a female Merlin but the experts may know better.

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world. 

An Annex House

 

I showed the wonderful grasses outside of this house a couple of weeks ago ad thought I would go back and show the house which is really quite nice. I love a big porch like that.

Thanks to Tom who ided the grass - it is Japanese Forest Grass. 

Drive Thru

 

I was walking along a residential street and happened to look up to the roof deck of this house and spotted the sign for the drive thru of a McDonalds. I love it. Wish I had one!

Happiness

 

I don't drink coffee but we have had so many really hot days this summer that this sign looks good even to me.

Taking part in Signs2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world. 

More Shade Plants

 

I showed you another planter of flowers in the shade a couple of weeks ago and thought I would show another. I love the colour combinations of this one. 

Summer Treat?

 

I'm not sure what this is supposed to represent but to me it looks like strawberry or cherry flavoured soft ice cream.  It looks cheerful. The artist for this one is Stephvon Awesome.

Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world. 

A Good Drink

 

Yesterday's bee was actually getting ready to have a nice drink of water.  I had a small, shallow decorative saucer on the deck that became filled with water. The bees discovered that it was a perfect place for them to get a nice drink and have been coming back ever since. I now keep it topped up for them. There can sometimes be 4 or 5 of them all drinking.

A Visitor

 

This bee is one of many who have been visiting the roof deck attracted by flowers and a bit  of water during these hot days. More about the bee tomorrow.

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world. 

Small Foundation

Yet another laneway house is under construction near me. This one looks like it is going to be a small one judging by these foundation walls. It looks like it is the same size of the garage it is replacing. We will have to wait to see.
 

The Masked Woman

 

I  spotted this masked woman and friend in a shop window and liked the effect with the reflection of the sky above her. The shop is being renovated and I think a gallery may be moving in. I have no artist info.

Dog Person

 

A local pet food store is using pics of people with pets to advertise in the store windows. It certainly grabs attention.

Taking part in Signs2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.

What A Difference

 It has been hot & humid here and when going through my archives pics of winter on the deck looked so refreshing that I couldn't resist showing one. Frank the snowman was still above the snow but he did end up buried a few days later.

Garage Couple

 

I seem to be finding a lot of murals by ROAMto lately but have a hard time figuring out if there is a message in them.This one seems to reference a couple and maybe some exploring that they do.

Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world. 

Thriving In The Shade

 

I spotted this large planter by the shady entrance to a condo building and was impressed by how well the plants were doing there. Happy in the shade!

Elephant In The Room

 

I spotted this piece, with the title Elephant In The Room, in a gallery and couldn't resist a pic of the huge elephant crammed into the small room with even its own chair. I've always liked that expression.  

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world. 

Sea Of Green

 

These bright green grasses blowing in a breeze had the look of green sea rising and falling. They had to have been the healthiest plants that I have seen in a long time. Gorgeous.

Neighbourhood Park

 

The older parts of the city are sprinkled with small parks like this one in the Annex neighbourhood. The whole park is basically in this pic. The linear park runs between 2 streets and provides some shade and several benches for a rest. It is a welcome place on a hot humid day like we get in summer.

Who Knew?

 

I had  no idea that Costco wholesaled food and in fact delivers to lots of restaurants. 

Taking part in Signs2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world. 

More Details

 

The artist spent so much time showing details that I am showing the section that wraps around the corner of the building even though it was really hard to get a shot. So much work and no signature from the artist. 

Fun

 

This fun mural is located beside the door into an orthodontist office and the fun figures and details are perfect for a place seeing so many kids. I could find no artist name. Will show a bit more tomorrow.

Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world. 

Surprise

 

I guess I haven't been paying attention but I was walking along and spotted these lilies which totally took me by surprise and then I noticed patches of them all over the place. So lovely to see.

Snack Time

 

I took this pic through a window that was fairly clean so it turned out not bad. This squirrel had been poking around and finally found a tasty treat.

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world. 

Cool

 

Even on the hottest day this house in the Seaton Village neighbourhood looks cool. It has a large front porch perfect for relaxing. It was a very hot humid day when I took this shot.

A Friendly Face

 

This birch tree has a friendly face which grabbed my attention as I walked by on a very hot day. I had to stop for a pic!

Small And Cozy

 

This is the entrance to one of those small apartment buildings that you find in the old parts of the city. It probably has about 12 units and people tend to stay for a long time so it is hard to get into them.This building was completed in 1930 and has been well maintained.

Taking part in Signs2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world. 

July Theme: Bubbles

 

The July theme for the City Daily Photo Blog community is Bubbles and for this one I offer this cold pint of beer with a nice bunch of bubbles up top.

Taking part in the theme Bubbles. Click HERE to see more bubbles from around the world. 

Bike Lanes

 

It was hard to get a shot of them but these concrete structures act as a barrier between the car traffic and bicycle traffic in many locations around the city. These ones along Avenue Rd have all been painted by different artists. It makes for a great effect.

Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world. 

A Busy Corner

 

A neighbourhood cafe is a busy place on a warm summer weekend. This cafe is right in the middle of a residential area and was the site of one of the corner stores that were everywhere years ago. Now people are lined up out the door for a good coffee and treat.

A Handsome Creature

 

This male Cardinal has been singing quite loudly around our place for the last week. Mating season again? He certainly is looking to be in his prime.

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world. 

Demolition

 

This is all that remains of a long term care home that has been demolished slowly over the last few months. Unfortunately I think it is being replaced with a condo tower but we shall wait and see. It would be nice if it was a nicer LTC instead.

Fancy Hats

 

You will have to pardon the reflections in this shot but I had to get a shot of that black and white fascinator on the right. Can't you just see a tall elegant woman arriving at a function wearing that? 

Vaping

 

It doesn't feel as if many vape shops are opening but I saw this sign and thought it was a good location for it - beside a magic mushroom shop and 2 doors from a cannabis shop. All handy to each other.

Taking part in Signs2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world. 

A Favourite

 

This house in the neighborhood near Casa Loma has always been one of my favourites. It is on a street with a lot of trees so this shot was taken in March before the leaves came out. In summer the house has beautiful flower beds throughout the garden. I just love the proportions of the place.  

Under The Sea

 

This mural was found in the laneway behind the shops along Bloor St W in Koreatown. I have no idea what business is out front. The artist for this one is ROAMto.

Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world. 

A Sad Story

 

I had posted this pic in mid January along with the sign about this Elm tree being a survivor against the disease that has killed almost all of them in the city. Unfortunately the tree did not leaf out this spring and it was scheduled to be cut down last week. The city forestry department is attempting to recover some seeds or cuttings to retain the DNA of this grand tree.

Puddle Action

 

These pigeons had found a couple of puddles along the driveway into a busy grocery store and nothing was going to stop them from enjoying the water. If a vehicle came by they would walk over a few feet and then return immediately to the puddle. Even a large tractor trailer didn't bother them much.

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world. 

Orchid

 

My orchid has been putting on a grand show since mid March and still has one bud to open up. I love its colour.

Good Catch

 

I spotted this sculpture by artist Patrick Amiot a few weeks ago in the Yorkville neighbourhood. I really like his fun sculptures and you can see more if you click on the Amiot label below. This guy looks so pleased with his catch.