The Royal

 

The Royal is found on College St in Little Italy. The building was finished in 1939 and has had several names through the years as it functioned as a cinema. It is now an event space but also shows second run films and also takes part in film festivals.

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

An Odd Sight

 

This blue structure was spotted along College St in the Little Italy neighbourhood. It seemed to have nothing to do with the store to its right or the home on the left. I do like that oval window in the brick wall.

Tasty Treats

 

This is another shot from the Little Italy neighbourhood. There are lots of places to get tasty food along College St and this mural makes sure that you know it. The artist for this one is Julia Paliy.

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

Shadows

 

I have a few indoor palms and a skylight and one morning this week there were wonderful shadows on the floor. It looks rather mysterious to me.

Peaceful

 

There is something very peaceful about sitting on a park bench watching ducks calmly paddling about.

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

Garden Decor

 

This sculpture was spotted in the front garden of a house in the Little Italy neighbourhood. The white stone section really looks as if it had a previous use but I have no idea what that could be. The metal insert hanging in the middle was quite reflective when it turned but for some reason it didn't show in the camera. Lots of questions with this one.

Little Italy Streetscape

 

These are typical of the buildings found along College St in the Little Italy neighbourhood with commercial usage on the ground floor and residential above. It is such a nice scale.

Corner Store

 

It is always a good thing to see these corner stores that sell fresh flowers, fruits and veggies surviving and the ones along Bloor St in Koreatown seem to quite well. The produce is always fresh.

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

A Sunday Morning

 

This is a typical street in the Little Italy neighbourhood on a Sunday morning when not many people are out and about yet. Even on a hot day those trees make the area feel cooler.

Dancing With A Flag

 

This lovely lady dancing with a large Italian flag was spotted, suitably, on a wall in Little Italy. The artist for this one is SumArtist.

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

Hydrangea

 

I loved the whiteness of these Hydrangeas and couldn't resist taking a shot.

Hiding His Colours

 

This Red-winged Blackbird was poking about looking for food but was keeping his bright red wing patch almost hidden. I was hoping he would flash it a bit but not until he flew up into a tree could you see the large red area. And of course he was then hidden by the leaves in the tree.

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

A Busy City

 

There are so many events going on all over the city that it is hard to keep track of them all. I stumbled upon this one at the Wychwood Barns but have no idea what it was for. Everyone was speaking Spanish but there were no signs saying what it was about. The stalls selling food were very busy!

Reflecting On Hats

 

I loved the reflections on the window of Lilliput Hats and the nice display of summer hats for women. They also have a large assortment of hats for men.

A Place For Hats

 

I've always liked this sign with the woman wearing a fine hat as it advertises the location of Lilliput Hats on College St. It is a shop/studio that features traditional custom millinery but they always have a great selection of ready made hats in the store. One of their beauties lives at our place.

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

A Balcony Garden

 

The flowers on that balcony above the door of this small apartment building on Palmerston Blvd look so lovely. It must be a great place to sit out. And on the left of the pic you can see one of the round street lamps that are found along this street.

Greenery

 

Another utility box, this one found on College St in Little Italy beside a restaurant patio. It blends in quite well with the plants around it. The artist for this one is Hot Snackz.

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

Surprise

 

I first noticed the sleek car and then the surprise was the passenger in the back seat. Mickey rides in style. The car is a Jaquar XK8 and very nice indeed.

So Cute

 

During my walk at James Gardens I saw at least 6 chipmunks scurrying around looking for bits to eat. They are so cute. This one froze when it saw me but eventually disappeared under those leaves.

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

Summer Colour

 

I was wandering around James Gardens last week and this large growth of pink Astilbe caught my eye. There was a big patch of white too but this pink won out.

A Different View

 

I thought that I should show you a different view of the Wychwood library from the one I showed on Tuesday. This one gives a better idea of how the addition is linked to the original building. I do plan on going by for some interior shots.

Fitness Workout

 

I was intrigued by the "Lift Sweat Hiit" sign out front of this personal training place on St Clair Ave W. Turns out that Hiit stands for 'High Intensity Interval Training' which involves short bursts of high intensity exercise followed short intervals of rest. 

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

Library Addition

 

This is the Wychwood Library which was one of 10 libraries in Toronto funded by the Carnegie Foundation. It was built in 1916 and had a round addition built in the 70s ( See HERE). The latter addition has been removed and this modern wing visible on the right was added which more than doubled the floor space in the building. The library was closed for 4 years to undergo construction. I'll have to go in one day for interior shots to check out the new and old features.

Cartwheels

 

The woman painted on this utility box looks to be doing a cartwheel while reading a book. A suitable theme since this box is located right across from a library. The artist for this one is Alisha Lucia Davidson.

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

Pink

 

I love the colour of these Geranium flowers.

Thwarted Again

 

This poor black squirrel was sitting looking at this pole which had a full bird feeder up top but also had 3 barricades along it to stop his ascent. He was sitting looking at it for a while and paid no attention to me.

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

Oasis In The City

 

Not all of the homes in the Wychwood Park neighbourhood are set close to the road that runs through it like the one that I showed yesterday. I always stop to admire this view of the back garden of this home. There are no fences in the neighbourhood so the gardens all flow into each other. It really is an oasis.

Trees Grow

 

I was out for a wander through Wychwood Park and was struck by how much these trees in front of this house have grown. I remember when they were small saplings and the house was totally open to the road. Now they have a bit of privacy. I have always liked this house which feels to be a bit Frank Lloyd Wright like whereas most of the homes in the park are Arts & Crafts style.

The Place

 I was walking along a commercial street and there was one company that had all the windows covered over and no signage except this fabric banner. I couldn't resist a shot. It is very intriguing.

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

At The Market

 

Sunday afternoon and everything was so neat and tidy at this fruit market along St Clair Ave W. I was out for a long walk and it was hot so I resisted buying anything.

Tones Of Grey

 

The artist and an assistant have spent more than a month airbrushing this grey mural on a wall along Dupont St. They have now spent about a week putting white highlights along the edges of the forms starting from the right side as you can see. Many times there is a photographer set up with a tripod to record all the work going on. We will have to wait and see what the final mural will be like. I fear tagging could happen.

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

Happy Canada Day to my fellow Canadians.