Jarvis and Isabella... Then and now...

What classifies as real news?

Is it really such a big deal that a councilor for the city expensed his taxi rides?  And is it also earth shattering that another member on that council decided to expense a chimpmunk costume?  The only thing that may intice me read more, is if it was the same councilor was in a chipmunk costume taking a cab..
In a tech savvy world that we have become, formerly referred to as "irrelevant" information, now seems to take centre stage.  Cell phones capturing images of what one deems irresponsible, others tweeting about how annoyed they are with waiting for the streetcar.  What happened to relevant news? 

Bloor Street East looking west to Sherbourne.. Then and now...

Bloor Street East looking West to Yonge from Park Road.. Then and now...

View of the Don Valley from The Bloor Viaduct.. Then and now...

What makes a "good" city?

Some might envision a city littered with Tim Hortons on every street corner, others feel at home when streets accommodate only one lane of traffic in each direction.  A transit system that without fail, delivers the next vehicle almost on command. Property taxes that would seem non existent, and city services such as libraries and community centres require no users fees (or any other fee) for the use of facilities...  These are varying opinions, ideas, and needs for what one may consider the factors to make a regular city a "good" city.

Bloor Viaduct looking East to Broadview... Then and now...

From the Imperial to Pantages to the Canon....Then and now...

Carlton and Yonge.. Then and now...

Concord CityPlace development

Toronto's skyline will never be complete.  It will be an ever-changing panorama of growth not only horizontally, but vertically as well.  From a distance as far as the Toronto Islands, or as close as the Gardiner Expressway, you can see the evolution of the growth competing with the CN Tower and reaching out towards Fort York.. This new community is the Concord CityPlace development, nestling its way into the rail lands just west of the Rogers Centre.  The largest planned community in Toronto's history is more than 60% complete.

Yonge and Gerrard.. Then and now...

Church and Wellington looking East.. Then and now...

Island getaway

Every summer I look forward to so many things to do in and around the city, one of which is to go to the Toronto Islands.  How many other cities can boast about having an escape like the Toronto Islands just minutes from the downtown core, with the choice of three ferries taking you there-each of which having a different travelling experience on the way, and the end destination being equally as individual as the other.

King and Princess Streets... Then and now...

Everything old is new again...

I read a great article in the Toronto Star over the weekend about the little details that essentially make up the bigger product, making it either a great product or one that just "works" -referring to Toronto as such.  The little details like sidewalks that are cleared in the winter, every surface route transit stop having a shelter and a store only a block away because of proper zoning in neighbourhoods are only scratching the surface when it comes to making a city work, and essentially making it great.  Toronto is on the cusp of a huge change, one that most don't recognize or even really understand, because most don't remember the Toronto of years ago.  I joke that I'm one of 5 people that were actually born and raised here in Toronto, everyone else migrated here from destinations far from the reach of the 416 or 905.

Front street/Union Station.. Then and now...

Church and Front....Then and now...

A "state of good repair"

Myself, like many others who ride the TTC fairly consistently, at one time or another have seen those signs in the stations, or attached to the platform walls that state "This station is currently undergoing maintenance to regain a state of good repair".  What does that encompass, and really mean?  Many of the stations along the Bloor Danforth line have had little to no work done since 1954 when most of the line went into service, and the University Spadina side of the line is also showing signs of needing work, but there is work being done to upgrade escalators, install elevators, and accomodate the increase in passengers in the higher traffic stations currently.

Bremner looking north (92' and 09').. Then and now...

The old University theatre on Bloor.. Then and now...

New Porter terminal about to take flight

You can't help but notice them when reading the news paper, and they even pop up when checking your mail on Yahoo... Like the creatures that embody the ad's, those pesky little raccoons are taking over the Toronto Island airport and expanding their digs with such confidence, they even changed the name of the airport to solidify the fact that they aren't going anywhere, anytime soon.  Yup, I'm talking about Porter Airlines.

Eaton vision, soon to be reality

There was a time it was thought that the heart of Toronto's shopping district was inevitably going to be located at Carlton and Yonge.  With so many shopping "districts" in Toronto and the surrounding GTA, it makes it difficult to pin point exactly where the heart of shopping currently resides... Yonge and Dundas? Yorkville? Yorkdale? Queen Street East?

The golden tower

Mc Donalds may have the golden arches, but Toronto has the golden tower.  If you have noticed the tower wearing a new shade the past week, its for good reason.. in celebration and in tribute to the numerous gold medals we have been accumulating in Vancouver.  It all started when Alexander Bilodeau won the first gold medal on home soil last week, and the CN Tower has been wearing its gold just as proudly.
Since June 2007, The tower has been awash in every colour in the spectrum- and then some.  The 1,330 colour LED light fixtures that were installed are no bigger than a shoe box, and have the ability to produce 16.7 million different colours.  Many years ago, before the LED era, the best we could do was look at a tower lit up by high powered flood lighting, which clearly didn't have the same effect as what the modern day version can do.  On a clear night, from Niagara on the Lake, one can see the tower in all its majestic colours as well.
Each LED fixture has a lifetime of roughly 10 years and requires little to no maintenance whatsoever.  Energy efficient, cost efficient and just plain old beautiful, are some benefits to this illumination system.  Depending on what current events are underway (Olympics) or in recognition of other events (Haiti), The tower sticks to a lighting schedule based on national holidays, yearly events or fun days such as Valentines day. One can even make a request with the CN Tower to illuminate it for other reasons such as the ones already mentioned by downloading a request form from their website.

Color Kinetics is the company that had the privilege of outfitting the tower, and have been known for outstanding work around the world lighting up other iconic structures such as the Eiffel Tower and Rockefeller Plaza.
It's difficult to not stop and stare at the tower any time of year- day or night, but since the LED installation, the CN Tower has been reborn.  It couldn't of happened at a better time, not only for environmental reasons, but in times of celebration, when we all want to share a piece of the gold.

Can ya dig it?

I'm not sure about you, but I certainly have wondered numerous times, why the sidewalks and roads are in such a state of disrepair only a short time after either one have just been newly paved or cemented... Well, you can thank our local utilities for the great job they do when it comes to repairing the cable lines, water mains, gas lines, or whatever else lies beneath the surface of our city.  When it's necessary to dig, there is little regard for the new interlocking brick running down the side of the sidewalk as the crew arrives on site. Forget about the fact that the road they have now rerouted with pylons only last month finally became a smooth level driving surface, and this is why our city roads and sidewalks look like "an unsuccessful Tetris game".
Our infrastructure is crumbling. Some of our water mains are well over 100 years old and with the constant warming and severe cooling that occurs through the winter months.. our streets begin to look like run off from the Don River.
Now, the utilities already pay a fee to the city each time a cut is made into the ground. This fee, in turn, is to help pay for the repairs the city has to make after the holes are made.  Yesterday, Mayor Miller announced that the city wants to charge utilities more when cuts are made.  If approved, will sidewalks be rid of tripping hazards from the patch jobs made, and will the roads no longer look like land mines have been detonated beneath the surface?  I'm going to assume -no.  Repairing the infrastructure to the city is going to be a long, painful process, one that may take decades and a process that the new fee imposed on the utilities making those holes, will pass on to us.. the consumer.   Yaaaay, another fee!  Now this still needs to be approved by city council, but you can almost guarantee that it will be passed, due to the fact that it's not the city imposing a new charge for residents.. its to the local utilities...ahhhh,  (so sneaky those people in city hall).  Maybe the "system activation fee"is really code for "gotta charge someone for diggin' ", because I know I would dispute a "diggin' " fee on my Rogers bill.

Racing towards 2015

Construction is well underway in the West Don Lands, in preparation for housing the athletes in the 2015 Pan Am Games.  Toronto was fortunate to have been awarded the games in November of last year.  If you have been down to the Distillery district, or taken the Queen streetcar anytime over the past few months, it would seem like little to no activity has occurred on the old Ataritiri lands, but that couldn't be further from the truth.

Weekend in the city...

Who would have thought that in the middle of February, Toronto would have clear sidewalks, slush free roads and a temperature just over the freezing mark.  There is always an abundance of things to do in the city, and this weekend is no exception.  I began my journey in Liberty Village today.  My expectations of crowds upon crowds of people were not met.  It was actually a very quiet day in "porn alley".  I figured people were at home taking in as much of the Olympics as they could handle, when I reached my point this morning, I turned it off and headed out.  Next stop was Yorkville's Icefest.  This is the Bloor Yorkville's fifth annual festival featuring Ontario's ice carvers and their magnificent displays of ice art.  The festival is on from Feb 18-21st, and if anyone is looking for some way to spend the day outside, I highly recommend it.  I realized when I arrived in Yorkville, that this is where the majority of people decided to spend part of the day.  Toronto has countless festivals throughout the year which are free for people to take in and enjoy, and it's a great way to get active in the community, whether you live in that specific area or not. The weather was perfect for spectators at Icefest, but the temperatures were beginning to wreak havoc on the sculptures, as puddles were beginning to form from the dripping art.  There is some great pieces to see here, and night viewing would give onlookers a great chance to see the lighting effects which have also been added to some of the works on display.

In the coming weeks, I will be focusing on different neighborhoods throughout Toronto giving people a little history lesson in what makes every distinct area in the city unique, by providing a rundown of the demographics in the area, shops, eats, and a historical aspect as to how that area came to be what it is today.

Yonge and Bloor 1970's/2010...

Going against the grain..

There is an unwritten rule, or rather an unwritten law that states: If you currently reside in, or are visiting any such place where driving occurs on the right hand side of the street, as a pedestrian, you are to follow the same strict standard regardless of any obstacles, amount of people you may be walking with or sense of entilement (to just plain be oblivious to the fact that everyone else is moving in the same manner).
I reference the PATH system quite frequently for many examples of how Toronto works, and how in so many ways it doesn't, one of which is flow of traffic during peak "office rat" hours.

It was on this day...

I couldn't think of anything more appropriate than to have on this day,  a celebration of the "Maple Leaf" flag as we know it- which began to blow proudly in the breezes on flag poles from ocean to ocean on this day 45 years ago.  After our first gold medal win on home turf at the Olympics yesterday, the Canadian flag blows even prouder in those winds with an even greater sense of pride and loyalty, with any reservations or  typical Canadian subtleties right out the window.  We finally claimed our gold and the story behind the win is a true fairy tail that brings tears to anyones eyes that has the opportunity to hear about it.  We as Canadians wave our flag proudly, we don't see it on every other house traveling down residential streets, nor do we see it plastered to bumpers of cars throughout the land, but we don't need to.   We have a reserved, calm about where we live and how proud we are, and thats what makes us a great nation.  During the opening ceremonies of the Olympics, Shane Koyczan spoke words that couldn't have been more fitting about who we are, how proud we feel, and how much we could relate to each analogy so perfectly, in our everyday lives.  When we are proud, we show it.  When we are sad, we can relate.  When we feel, we will let you know.. and that is exactly how the country is reacting to this incredible sense of pride today.
We didn't need a gold medal to feel this proud, we already were, but it feels really good knowing we finally made it on the world stage, and to have that sense of being able to relate to that stranger on the street knowing that we live in a great country, and city, that can accept and doesn't require assimilation to be a truly proud Canadian.

Yonge looking north at Dundas...Then and now

33 Dundas East.. Then and now

Please, take a seat...

Is it just me, or does it seem like the seats on the TTC are getting smaller?  I often stand when I ride the system, just for the sheer fact that I never know "what" has previously sat there or what will be sitting next to me. Mostly it's just silly for me to sit for a short ride that doesn't really require resting my legs.  Anyone who had ever taken a ride on one of the TTC's fine vehicles, at one time or another has encountered the token oddball, who for whatever reason needs to blurt out profanities, or have a scent reminiscent of a restroom you would much rather not mention.  It's for some of these reasons that people (myself included), find themselves standing for the majority of their ride, not only for convenience sake, but one never knows when they may find the need to relocate due to that oddball.  Taking the subway today, and giving in to actually sitting, I found that the seats have actually gotten smaller.  looking around at others who were sitting as well, I found that rubbing elbows and shoulders next to complete strangers, for some, had no effect on their ride whatsoever.

Looking for work

After receiving my reminder e-mail about the SCENE card free movie opportunity today, I decided that I was going to take advantage of it.  The movie that was voted on by SCENE cardholders across Canada was The Hangover.   I didn't have any other plans for the evening and the free popcorn and beverage was quite the incentive as well -even if I was going to go see it alone.  It was free after all, and when times are tough, and money is tight, free is the only way to go.  The movie was scheduled for a 7:00 showing at all Cineplex theatres and with the Scotiabank theatre closest to me, that was the most logical location.  I walked underground from King and Yonge to King and John, arrive at the theatre 11:30am,  only to find out that I was too late.  I can only imagine what time people started lining up at, and I didn't bother to ask.  So there went my exciting night out with free popcorn surrounded by complete strangers.  I head back down to King and John, just about to head into the PATH system via Metro Hall, when I notice a new employment centre set up by the city, for the city.

situated right at the corner of King and John, this centre was created as an additional tool for job hunters to not only assist with resume and cover letter writing, but the staff on site will also assist with using the 20 new fully loaded operating systems.  The welcoming environment here is nothing like the job centres run by the Candian government.  I spoke with one of the staff in the centre and she was very helpful and eager to show me how the facility operates.  Open from 9:00am to 4:00pm Monday to Friday, this is a great environment to look for employment if you are looking to work for the city of Toronto.  The city of Toronto website also has the job opportunities listed there, but if you are looking for assistance in how to impress employers with your resume or need to re-work your cover letter, this is the place to go.

Berczy Park... then and now

First Canadian Place

If you have been in the downtown core recently and looked up at the BMO building wondering what the scaffolding was all about, it's part of a 34 year overdue reno to the exterior as well as some much needed updating of the concourse and main levels of the Canadian landmark.
Built in 1975, this building has managed to hold the title of Canada's tallest business landmark.  As a child I would look at the downtown core from a distance and refer to this building as the Lego building.  It was was sleek, pristine in gleaming white marble and with no fancy detailing it looked similar to the towers I would make with my Lego pieces.  Well it seems that the once gleaming marble has come to the end of its shelf life and a more durable exterior one with "greener" properties is next in line to replace it.  Just over 2 years ago, a chunk of the marble came crashing to the ground after erosion had taken its toll on the building, which prompted Brookfield, the new owners of the building, to seek a more durable and sustainable exterior.

The new fritted glass exterior curtain will be energy efficient as well as having visual details to prevent any more birds from flying into the tower.  For every 4 pieces of marble that is removed, they will be replaced by one piece of the new fritted glass.  The exterior renovation is slated to be completed by September of 2011, and the renovation in its entirety to be completed by the end of 2012, complete with new lighting replacements and washroom upgrades hoping to make this building attractive to potential tenants for years to come.

Going nowhere fast

Just when we thought the drama at the TTC had come to a head, it was quickly established that it hadn't.  It was really only a matter of time until the ones being blamed for not doing a job well done, or doing it at all, decided to turn the tables in retaliation to "defend" their actions.  We are all still waiting for the reason as to why the collector was taking a nap in the booth?  What about the 7 minute break for a coffee?  Oh yeah.. and the other collector who decided that his glass enclosed utopia at King station was ideal for a snooze?

King and Yonge...

Tourist for a day

Sometimes you need to be a tourist in your own city.  Regardless of how long you have lived there, or how many times you have seen the same landmarks.  Sometimes its just fun to go for a walk down a street you may have passed a hundred times, but never actually ventured down.   Born and raised here, I have so many memories of events, happenings or just streetcar rides as a kid going to the CNE, or watching the Santa Claus parade. There are very few streets that I haven't been down already, and with it being as cold as it was yesterday, I decided to head underground for part of my walk.

Bay and Bloor...

Bay Adelaide Centre

You would never know that the world economy is in the toilet by looking at the amount of cranes throughout the downtown core.   Although most of the buildings under construction are residential or mixed use properties, three new towers in the financial district are completed and tenants are scrambling to occupy the new modern facilities.  The new Telus building along side of the ACC, is the new home for the growing telecommunications company which began in BC.  They wanted a state of the art facility to house their growing business rather than having several offices scattered throughout the city.  They don't occupy the entire building so this leaves others wanting to move to a more updated, environmentally friendly space.   The RBC building just south of  Roy Thompson Hall and the Bay Adelaide Centre are the other two towers that have also been completed to accommodate new tenants in state of the art surroundings.

The Bay Adelaide Centre was a story from the 80's that almost happened in the 90's and sat not even 1/4 built for years after being caught in the recession of the early 90's.  The "stump" which sat between Bay and Yonge on the north side of Adelaide was all that was constructed of the original tower.  This was the elevator shafts-6 stories of them, which later became prime advertising land, a rock climbers dream and a true portrait of the 80's building growth which came to an abrupt halt.  after 15 years, the Bay Adelaide Centre now lives.  Not only does the design look nothing like the original plans, this humble looking tower is far from inadequate.  Environmentally up to date, utilizing the most modern tools to ensure that energy is not wasted, this new addition to the financial district is a great achievement in Toronto's quest for keeping its word, even if we can't afford it.  The land that this tower sits on has plans to build 2 more towers one directly next to it, where the "stump" sat for years-which is now an open space, and north of it on Temperance Street where the entrance to the underground parking now lives.  In addition to bringing new office space into the downtown core,  the "office rats" now have a new underground route via the PATH system that systematically joins the downtown core.  Instead of heading over to the Sheraton Centre and then back east towards the Bay underground,  from Scotia plaza you can now head north through the new tunnel making a direct route under the tower right to the Bay.

It was on this day...

After months of talks, designs, options and colour choices, work on what we now know as the CN Tower officially began.  The shovels went in the ground on this day in 1973. There isn't much more to say about the tower that hasn't already been said.   it currently sits as one of the seven wonders of the modern world, placed on that list by the American Society of Civil Engineers.  Built on the CN rail lands, the CN tower was built by CN rail, thus giving it that name. It is currently now owned by the Canadian government and is now referred to as Canada's national tower.  Strangely enough, there was talk at one time of giving the tower a permanent colour other than the cement colour we know now it to have.  Pink was actually one of the options tossed around.   Combining the chosen colour into the cement mixture as the tower was being constructed, as it rose from the ground foot by foot, Toronto's skyline would have looked strangely different that what it does today.  The LED lights that now illuminate the tower is a sight much more pleasing to the skyline, as well as our eyes, other than the possible pink it would have permanently been.  Either way, it still would have made it on to the seven wonders list.. but just for a different reason if it was a pink tower.

In the 60's when the talk began on constructing Canada's telecommunication tower, there was no doubt as to where it would have been constructed. CN owned the space, had the means, and also the funds to do it.  As Toronto was emerging as Canada's hot spot for growth, the rail lands as well as the waterfront had visionaries imagining a new modern downtown core, equipt with a new water front community (right on the water) called "Harbour City". Public transit weaving its way through pedestrian only boulevards, partially built on land fill that would stabilize a community branching its way out on to the lake at the foot of Bathurst utilizing the island airport land as well as land fill.  This community would have been revolutionary in terms of creating space where growth had never intended to be.  The island airport was under utilized at the time and only capable of accommodating small aircraft. Pearson was the airport of choice and Toronto wanted a crowning jewel on the waterfront, thus the idea of Harbour City arose.  This would have been a car free, pedestrian friendly community able to house 60,000 residents with access to public transit only minutes from each dwelling.  There were zoning issues, height requirements and talk that the city wouldn't be able to sustain an area without having auto access to it as well as a price tag of $500 million over a twelve year period that killed the project.  The idea sounds wonderful now, at a time when the city needs pedestrian only areas and a waterfront jewel.  We still may see the idea come to life on what we now know as the Leslie Street spit.  It's only a matter of time until land becomes scarce and land fill on areas that we never thought would sustain life- actually do.

Today's strange headlines...

TTC unveils trip planner, 1 Bloor street East will be built, restaurant promotes sex in bathrooms...
What next?  City taxes abolished, Rudy Guiliani to run for Toronto mayor...?
There are days when going through the local and national newspapers there isn't much "news" going on, and then there are those days that have so much relevant information that you don't know what to read first... Today is a slow day apparently.

The long awaited TTC trip planner is now up and running.. After months of hearing about it and anticipation for our failing system on so many levels to have something positive to talk about, we now have to wait for something else other than this  anticlimactic event from the TTC.  This trip planner was intended to be a smart guide for not only the seasoned rider in the city, but for tourists who need to know how to get from their hotel to the ROM. I thought I would give it a try (just to see if it actually works).  To some degree it does, if you have an hour and a half to kill for a trip that really would take at most 45 minutes.  After typing in my starting destination of King and Sherbourne, and my final destination of Dairy Queen at Broadview and Pottery Road, I was given choices of how my route may look:

Leaving at 10:16am from			PRINCESS STREET AT ESPLANADE
Using these routes			65 PARLIAMENT TO CASTLEFRANK STN
			94 WELLESLEY TO OSSINGTON STN
			5 AVENUE RD TO EGLINTON STN
			100 FLEMINGDON PARK TO BROADVIEW STN
Arriving at 12:15pm at			BROADVIEW AVENUE AT HILLSIDE DRIVE

The most logical route of a simple streetcar ride to Broadview at queen, transferring to the Queen streetcar north to Broadview station then a choice of 3 buses north to Pottery Road-was not an option.
Is this tool intended to take riders on a tour of Toronto, to reinforce the fact that the better way is indeed in need of  some retooling?  I fear for tourists that may find this trip planner and attempt to use it.. They may end up at IKEA in Vaughan when really they only wanted to go to the CN Tower.
After much hype 2 years ago from the initial developers of the the 1 Bloor Street East site which ended after losing financing, the site has a new life ahead.  I was afraid that the corner of Yonge and Bloor would sit vacant much like the Yonge and Dundas AMC building site did for years before funding was secured.  The new developer has shaved some floors off the original plans which was touted as being the tallest residential building in Canada after completion.  If this project actually does get off the ground in the next 2 years.. it will be a miracle.
And finally, a night out isn't just your run of the mill dinner and a movie anymore.  Looking for a spot to have your first date with that special someone you just met, look no further.  Liberty Village has just the spot you crave.  Mildred's Temple Kitchen is the all-in-one location where not only you can wine and dine but also see if a second date is worth the trouble.  Promoting a little fun in the washrooms is on the menu here, and the city of Toronto health department has no issue with it as long as the sex remains in the bathroom and not in the kitchen...  I can only imagine where this "trend" is going to go, and how long it will take before someone is charged.