St Patrick Subway Station

This is the same subway station as yesterday in a pic taken a couple of weeks ago, pre Harry Potter - these long walls now have long posters for HP on them. This station, at Dundas and University, is named for near-by St Patrick's Catholic Church, and is 1 of only 2 stations in the whole system which has retained the tubular shape created by the tunnel-boring machine which originally dug the holes for the subway. It has a great atmosphere!

Harry Potter in the Toronto Subway

All the pillars on the St Patrick subway platform have been wrapped in Harry Potter pics or brick laminate in honour of last night's Canadian premiere of the new HP film just down the street. Lots of people were having their pics taken next to giant images of the wizard so the ad campaign seems to be a success!

Taking part in Signs, Signs. For more signs click here.

Gardens on University Avenue

University Avenue is a major north-south road in downtown Toronto and is probably the most prestigious. It is 8 lanes wide for most of its length and has this wonderful median of gardens and sculptures running down the middle. The street is home to 4 major hospitals, the courthouse, opera house, and numerous corporate offices - that is the Canada life building from 4 days ago peeking in on the right. At this time of year it is a gorgeous street!

City Hall Art Show 2

Another shot from the Toronto Outdoor Art Show - actually the same artist, Ross Bonfanti, whose work I always make a point to see. These little creatures are all either totally cast concrete or some have just concrete heads. The city hall square was too crowded to get many shots but luckily there was a bit of a lull when I hit his booth!

City Hall Art Show

This weekend was the 50th Toronto Outdoor art Exhibition which takes place in the square outside city hall. There is construction in the square this year so the number of artists was down from 500 to 300 but there were still a lot of great pieces. I have always liked the whimsy of this person's pieces - that bunny on the right is cast concrete with real plush toys packed in those wee cages!

I have been having a lot of trouble commenting and even getting on to blogger this weekend - keeps coming up error # 503. Is anyone else having this problem? I have to click on comment a few times before getting through.

Serenity Now

Another stencil discovery from a local laneway features this image of the Dalai Lama which was a bit of a surprise. I wonder if someone is marketing stencil kits or if there actually is a talented stenciler in the neighbourhood!

Fair Weather Ahead

This wonderful 15 storey Beaux Arts building is the 'Canada Life Insurance Building' and was designed by architects Sproatt and Rolph and completed in 1931 on University Ave. But it is most well-known for the weather beacon on top, installed in 1951, which stands at 321 ft above the street and gives everyone downtown an up to date weather indication. The light at the top glows green for fair weather, red for cloudy, flashes red for rain, and flashes white for snow. Lights running up the beacon flash up or down to show the temperature direction or steady when the temp is steady. The green was a bit washed out by the great sunshine when I took this pic this morning but we have great weather ahead!