Musical Friends

 I was wandering around on a Sunday morning when I heard lovely music coming from a tiny parkette. As I got closer I spotted this trio of friends having a good time playing together. I'm not sure if it is a regular thing but they were well organized and had brought a music stand and  a couple of chairs along so as to be nicely arranged. It was a lovely thing to see and hear.

"Yes It Hurts"

I pass by this tattoo shop often but just recently noticed the neon sign they have inside on their wall. "Yes it hurts" is a fabulous thing to be hanging in such a shop don't you think. Plus there is a nice reflection of the cold beer sign from across the street - that is where I was. 

Taking part in Signs 2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.

Beauty Along The Sidewalk

 It is the time of year when there are huge patches of Cosmos flowers lining sidewalks all over the city. The flowers reseed themselves and expand each year into these large swathes of beauty.

Bluebird

I posted this mural by Christina Mazzulla several years ago but on passing by it recently I loved how the greenery was growing up and around the bird so here it is again. It is nice to see that no one has tagged it after all these years. It is a favourite.

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

Game Anyone?

 This sculpture of basketballs was spotted in the food court of a shopping centre. I didn't get any artist name but it is a nice bit of fun to see.

Happy Bee

The sunflowers seem to be at their peak and almost everyone of them has a happy bee on it. I love the colours in this flower. 

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

Summer Creek

I thought I would post a summer view of Black Creek before all the leaves start changing as we head into fall & then the dreaded winter. I will have to go back as the leaves start to change here.

Mad Hatter

I was pleased to spot this sculpture of the Mad Hatter outside of a gallery in the Yorkville neighbourhood.  The artist is Patrick Amiot who uses recycled metal for his pieces which are then painted by his wife Brigitte Laurent. I love their work and you can see some more by clicking on the Amiot label below.

Building For The Future?

This row of buildings, just down the street from yesterday's building, was built in 1893 as small cottages for workers. Over the years they had all been converted to little shops like hairdressers and dog groomers. That is all going to change as it looks like they may all be coming down. As the banner says they are "building for the future". I wonder what we will see here in the future. 

Taking part in Signs 2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.

Protected Windows

This building in the Yorkville neighbourhood was built in 1890 as the Olivet Congregational Church but in 1973 it was in danger of being torn down when a smart person bought it and converted it to high end offices and shops. The building has heritage protection so the wonderful Gothic Style stained glass windows are protected. There were so many trees in the way that it was hard to get a good shot but I love the windows so here they are.

Summer Days

There was a weekend event in the Yorkville neighbourhood a few weeks ago where Yorkville Ave was closed to traffic and various displays were along the roadway. Perrier had this mural and chairs as part of their display and even though it was a bit cool that day this sure looked like summer. 

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

Sunday Brunch

 This is a typical Toronto scene on a Sunday at brunch time, lining up to wait for a table especially if you want to sit on a patio on a nice day. This is a newish bakery/lunch restaurant which I haven't tried yet but their menu looked tempting.

New Feathers

This male Cardinal seemed to be hiding among the leaves as I tried to get a shot of him. As I got closer I realized that he was in the process of getting new feathers growing in, getting ready for the winter ahead.

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

Learning To Tag?

This board was set up along Yorkville Ave recently and pens provided so that people could leave their mark. No great masterpieces resulted as most people just scrawled nonsense or their name.

Lady On High

A new condo has been built on Avenue Rd in the Yorkville neighbourhood and the artist renderings had shown a sculpture out front reminiscent of a Jaume Plensa piece. I was so looking forward to seeing it and was sure it was coming when this large plinth went in. But alas no Plensa has appeared but instead this lady with a bit of panache has been installed.  I could find no artist name. The small sign out front near the bottom of the plinth simply tells us that this is private property.

Music In The Park

Yorkville Park is a very urban park and not one with the typical lawns and flowers found in most parks. It has rocks and water features and seating scattered around but no lawns. On Sundays they have music in the park and so people go to the neighbouring Starbucks and then sit and enjoy the band. That man in blue seemed to be recording this group and stood there for a long time. 

Taking part in Signs 2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.

Memories

I just found an old scrapbook a few days ago and found ticket stubs to old Beatles concerts. This one is from 1964 which was the first time the Beatles played here. My Dad had some connections and got me tickets and my Mum actually drove me and some friends to the airport in the middle of the night to see them arrive. The day after the newspapers were filled with pics and stories all of which I glued into the scrapbook. Check out the price of the ticket!

Creatures In The City

 It seems that most utility boxes in the city are being decorated with murals. This one was spotted in the Yorkville neighbourhood and features all kinds of happy creatures. The artist for this one is Erin McCluskey.

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

A Favourite

I always have liked Gothic Revival  cottages and this one in the Yorkville neighbourhood is one of my favourites. I may have posted it before at some point but thought it deserved another post.

Gathering Of Monarchs

I went back to the house where I had seen all the Monarch Butterflies last week and there were just as many of them around if not more than when I first went by. These Blazing Star plants had only about 10 spikes of flowers but each spike had butterflies on it and there were other Monarchs fluttering around the yard. It was wonderful to see. 

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

Chess Game In Yorkville

I was in the Yorkville neighbourhood a couple of weeks ago and spotted these two young guys really concentrating on a giant game of chess. The two young girls were totally entranced by it all which was nice to see. Red was winning.

A City Street

This is a typical streetscape in the Annex neighbourhood where very few of the houses have lawns. It is an old part of the city with large houses side by side and small front gardens so the gardens tend to be filled with flowers and greenery rather than grass. It certainly makes for a cooler environment on the hot muggy days of summer. This is also a very expensive part of town so you can find some lovely plantings.

Late Summer

It was one of those late summer days when it was warm in the sun but a bit chilly in the shade so no one was sitting outside at this cafe. Just around the corner a cafe in the sun was packed with people. Probably with wasps too as there seem to be a lot of them this year and this is the time of summer when they are everywhere. 

Taking part in Signs 2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.

Surrounded By Flowers

 This sculpture called "Rosamund" is found at the entrance to an apartment building in the Annex neighbourhood. Usually she is quite visible but this year the flowers are giving her a grand bed of red blossoms. The artist for this one is Frances Marie Gage and it was done in 1968.

Lovely Ladies

This is a new mural that has been painted on the Four Seasons Hotel at Yorkville Ave and Bay St. The artist for this one is Victoria Sequeira. It certainly brightens up this corner.

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

Sunday Afternoon At The Park

As I passed by a local park last weekend I spotted these two in what seemed like a deep conversation. It was a bit cool so they had the park to themselves which is unusual.

Monarch

I had seen very few Monarch Butterflies this year until a week and a half ago and then spotted this one enjoying some Phlox flowers. Then a few days later I spotted the largest number of monarchs I have ever seen in one place (more than 20), all around some Liatris (Blazing Stars) plants. I must go back to this location and see if I can get some pics before all the Monarchs head south.

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

September Theme: Bottle

The September theme for the City Daily Photo Blog community is Bottle and for this I offer this beautiful bottle of wine. It was given to me recently by a friend and I have yet to try it but love the Monarch Butterflies all over the label. The wine is from Pelee Island which is an island in Lake Erie and is the southernmost place in Canada. In the autumn thousands of Monarchs stop there during there migration to the warm south.

 Taking part in the theme Bottle. Click HERE to see more bottles from around the world.

A Tough Tree

This willow tree with hundreds of burls all over its trunk was spotted in a local park. Despite all the growths it still looked healthy with lots of strong leafy branches. That is a tough tree.

Chocolate Tower

A chocolate shop on Dupont St always has great displays in its window, all made from chocolate. This one features our CN Tower with friend and lettering spelling out Toronto. Good enough to eat! 

Taking part in Signs 2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.

New Playground

This small playground has been finished and open for about a month now. It was built on the site of what was a small neighbourhood grocery store. I think a developer built it in exchange for some exemptions on a project somewhere else in the area. Every time I have gone by there are lots of kids but this day at lunchtime it was empty so I stopped for a pic.

They Are Everywhere

I go by this mural fairly often but it is a busy intersection and I have never stopped for a shot. Recently I was stopped at a red light and took this pic through a cleanish windshield. The roadway heads under a railway track off to the right and the whole support structure has been taken over by pigeons and their nests. Netting has been put up but the pigeons pull it down. So far they are winning.

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

A Golden Time of Year

Late summer is a beautiful time of year in the garden and at flower shops all over town where bunches of sunflowers are for sale. These yellow flowers were aglow at James Gardens when I was there last week.

Not Bumps On A Log

While wandering past one of the smaller ponds in James Gardens I spotted a log floating and thought it looked rather bumpy but when I zoomed in on it realized that it was a quartet of frogs sunbathing. I think they are all Green Frogs with the large male on the left side but I could be wrong so please let me know if I am mistaken. It is always so good to see frogs in the wild. 

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

An Everlasting Flower

This elegant vase and flower were spotted recently in a gallery. The steel vase & flower are welded to the steel table so will last for a long, long time.

The Tower

Today I show you the Soldiers' Tower that was described in yesterday's post. It has always been an imposing sight on the U of Toronto campus. Sad that such a memorial is needed.

A Memorial Tower

 This sign gives all the info about the Soldiers' Tower which is the University of Toronto's war memorial. I will show you a photo tomorrow but thought I'd show this first. I hope that you can read it. 

Taking part in Signs 2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.

Modern Gate

I've always liked this 1960s style gate in its location leading to one of the very old cloisters at U of Toronto. There is such a contrast of styles.

Tagging

A good friend gave me the heads up about the location of this mural by Emily May Rose and it was a treat to see. I always enjoy seeing what antics her raccoons have been up to and this time they have been doing a bit of tagging on a door.

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

Laneway Contrast

You can find some unusual sights along a laneway and some real contrasts between neighbours. This is a great example of that with the slick newly redone black metal clad laneway house and its neighbouring garage on the right that looks like it hasn't seen paint in many a year.

Watching

 There always seems to be one Canada Goose on guard while the others poke around for food. I always give them a lot of space as they can be quite fierce.

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

Looking Good

These 2 pairs of semi-detached homes in the Yorkville neighbourhood were built in 1888 and have been lovingly restored. Rather than homes they now house galleries and offices.

Fun At The Park

 These wonderful play structures were spotted at one of our downtown parks. Those buildings/climbing things look like so much fun to me. I loved the wee kid running off at the bottom left.

Having A Drink At The Park

We have rather strict rules about drinking alcohol in public places but the city of Toronto has very recently started a pilot project to allow drinking in some parks that have washroom facilities. It will be nice for people to be able to have a picnic and enjoy a glass of wine. Hopefully the test works out okay and it remains a permanent thing. 

Taking part in Signs 2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.

Carving By A Master

This wood carving by Siggi Buhler was found at the Veterans Centre at the Sunnybrook Health Science Centre and it was installed to commemorate the opening of the Centre in 1948.  The carving makes reference to various activities our veterans have carried out through the years. What makes the whole carving more amazing is that it is curved to fit along a curved wall at the Centre. Quite a task!

Quite A Creature

I recently spotted this slightly weathered Birdo mural which I had heard was in an area I don't really know. A little hunting and I found it. Birdo's creatures are so imaginative and full of quirky things. I really liked the shadows that show up especially behind the trees.

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

Colour

It seems to have been a good summer for Phlox possibly because we have had more rain than usual so far. I love the rich colour of these ones.

Just Crawling Along

I do have one very small patch of earth where I had a few milkweed plants growing among some ground cover. The milkweed got blown over during a storm a couple of weeks ago but then this week I spotted a Monarch Butterfly caterpillar crawling around in the fallen stems. I'm hoping it has enough to eat and will soon be hiding out to prepare for metamorphosis. It was around for a few days and now has disappeared.

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

Subway Above Ground

This is one from my archives showing one of our older subway trains running along a section of the route which runs above ground. Although the vast majority of the subway route is underground there are a few sections on each line which emerge into the daylight for a short run. This train was seen along the Yonge St line.

St Thomas's Church

 This is the church referenced in yesterday's sign post. I find the Arts & Crafts style quite unusual for a church. I have never happened upon the church when it was unlocked but would love to see the interior.