Toronto has grand and historical hotels (the Royal York and The King Edward are particular stand out beauties). We also have many funky art-centred spots – ranging from the sublime gallery filled Gladstone (still feels weird to say that about a place
Streetcar platform (top photo) Aside from a brief stint above highway 401 in most-curious Lastman-land (North York, pre-amalgamation – growing hyper fast), I have always lived in downtown Toronto. I’m a walking guy – no use for a private vehicle – hands-off,
One last series from the fan-expo, this time of stand-out individual costumes – soloists, if you will. I rather wish I had caught this first furry-bird in video, because even the walk had the exact right sort of cartoon surliness. Not just
I’ve got an amalgam of fairs in my head, exotic and local. The ‘Ex’ (Canadian National Exhibition) looms especially large – but Centreville on the Island (an old-time town, full of antique-themed rides) was always cheaper and ran a far longer season
Some more images from the truly wonderful annual Polish festival on Roncessvalles in Toronto. Though it is true that many have moved away from the old area over the years, this also means this party is unmissable – because it’s always full
I honestly can’t for the life of me figure out what is going on around here – an experiment in INFINITELY increasing density? Toronto is a big city, and there are many other areas with plenty of development potential, but the craze
I am, you will likely have gathered by now, a very big fan of street festivals. Not only an excuse for extra fun (always a good idea), they are also a terrific way for one neighbourhood to tell those from other parts
The weathered letters are now gone, I figured I’d best grab this nostalgic ghost, while the brick beneath it still remembered them. The Brunswick Tavern is no more – and honestly, it had been going downhill for quite some years, so it’s
Here’s another especially lovely thing about Fan Expo – it always makes me think about how much the relationship of two figures can say in a picture-plane. Also, about our youthful friendships, from a writerly perspective – that is, their psychological and
There’s no question that the horrendously wow-distorted (and frequency attenuated) recording, played through the klaxon-honky speakers of the classic old ice-cream trucks is deeply imprinted on the minds of many North Americans from their youth – but this quieter and more patient
I have to say, I’m still sad that we didn’t decide to develop Downsview (former military airfield and site of DHC – de Havilland Canada – builder of the best bush-planes ever made). There was definitely room up there for a new
One of the more intriguing characters I ran across at Fan Expo was this guy – I feel fairly confident in saying that he would like to be referred-to as duckman. Energetic and prepared. Plus – (and for his business, it’s a
There are few things prettier than grand pre-war towers – and banks were particularly great for investing in sculptural art and durable embellishment. This is a detail of one of my very favourite buildings in the financial core of Toronto – the
Heterodyning is cool stuff – yes you do know what I mean – when you’re tuning one note to match up to another, and you get close, and you hear the difference-frequency showing up like a wow-wow-wow sound, beating inside those main
I hope my friends have gathered by now that I can be relied upon to offer cheer, in (roughly) equal measure to the heavy stuff (and neither, trivially). This is an example of recent wonderful achievement so nearby that we could almost
Rather like the rusted hulk of a great and venerable steamship, Honest Ed’s is now being dismantled, and there is much talk of some sort of museum to commemorate this very particular Toronto landmark. The sign may perhaps seem to those from
The festival is officially called the taste of the Danforth – but I know I’m not the only one who looks forward most to the musical performances, big and small. This fellow really struck me beautifully – because he was playing to
One of the ways you know for sure you’ve found a perfect ally for mischief, is when you don’t ever have to cue the other one to ‘be cool’ in a situation with a bit of bluff built in. Another, is when
The annual Greek festival happened to fall on my birthday this year – and I was out of my favourite coffee-beans anyhow (always a low to mid-grade emergency, at least) – an expedition seemed properly indicated. Sure enough, low as I tend
This wedge-shaped park has long been both lovely, and right in the middle of things – next the spiffy ‘theatre’ Shopsy’s deli and my favourite long gone jazz piano lounge (cafe des copains) – right across from the still thriving St Lawrence
Here’s a photograph from the lovely Rouge valley. I honestly didn’t notice the gift of that shaft of light, kissing the tree, until I got home – but I always appreciate every one of those signs that the universe is glad we
I’m nuts for brilliant comic art – going all the way back (surely Sidney Paget counts, just as Winsor McKay cannot be ignored). One of my very favourite narrative line-men of all time is Will Eisner, whose “Spirit” insert in American newspapers