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...