Floating Christmas Tree

 

Location: Brookfield Place, Front & Yonge
Date photo taken: 28 November 2013

One of my favourite indoor spaces, Sam Pollock Square in Brookfield Place, is even more beautiful right now, decorated with a stunning floating Christmas tree. Designed specifically for Brookfield Place, it has over 40,000 LED lights, and lots of amber and crystal ornaments. I clearly wasn’t the only one impressed with the display – while I was setting up this picture, people were constantly stopping to pose with the tree.

Christmas Windows

Location: Holt Renfrew, 50 Bloor St. W.
Date photo taken: 10 December 2013

Despite the fact that most Christmas windows these days are much like windows at any other time of the year - filled with product - I still have a fascination with them. While the just-for-fun displays with animatronic Santas or Christmas-at-the-zoo scenes are largely gone, some of today's windows are beautiful, and some are quirky and fun. This is one of the Northern Noel series from Holt Renfrew on Bloor, one of the better efforts this Christmas.

If you're craving a good old-fashioned window experience, The Bay on Queen Street has a number of windows featuring miniature scenes, complete with animation. They're not new,  having been on display for the past several years, but they're still fun.

Snowflake Tree

Location: Berczy Park, Front & Church
Date photo taken: 28 November 2013

While many people complain about how early darkness falls in December, I don't mind for the simple reason that December is a month filled with lights. Decorations go up all over the city and one of my favourite displays is the snowflake tree in Berczy Park.

Normally I prefer my Christmas trees on the traditional side but something about this tree, made of 36 snowflakes and 58,000 individual LED lights, is simply enchanting. It's been a fixture in the park since 2008 and is accompanied by 16 other snowflakes placed in nearby trees. It was created by Blachere Illumination and commissioned by the Old Town Toronto Business Improvement Association, the same people responsible for the carolers who can be found wandering the area between here and St. James Park. And if energy woes are making you feel a little Grinchy this year, rest easy - thanks to the energy efficient LED lights, it costs only about $4 per month in electricity to light this wonderful tree.

Black Squirrels

Location: Lawrence Park, Yonge & Lawrence
Date photo taken: 21 November 2009

I love squirrels at this time of year. While entertaining to watch at any time, the bounty of fall and the approaching cold weather combine to transform your everyday squirrel into a pudgy ball of adorable fuzziness. And as squirrels don't hibernate, winter still provides lots of opportunities to watch them.

Ever wonder why so many tourists stop to take pictures of our squirrels? Other than being cute, our black squirrels are a bit of an anomaly. They are actually a small subgroup of the more common eastern grey squirrel and while black individuals can occur in any population of grey squirrels, it is not very common for large percentages of the population to be black.

Fun squirrel fact: they're tricky. Squirrels have been known to pretend to bury their food if they think they are being watched. They dig the hole, make a placing gesture, and then fill the hole back up. Meanwhile, the food is still safely hidden in their mouth.

Lovebot

Location: Outside 9 Trinity Street, Distillery District
Date photo taken: 16 November 2013

This is a Lovebot, one of many that can now be found throughout the city, and with luck, soon to be joined by many more. It's part of a project by artist Matthew Del Degan which, according to the website, is intended "to encourage Torontonians to reflect on their surroundings and become thankful for the small, good deeds that constantly go unnoticed."

This particular Lovebot is dedicated to Nikki Fotheringham, founder of Green Moxie.

To learn more about the Love Invasion, including the location and dedications of other Lovebots, visit lovebot.com.

Bell Box - Emilia Jajus

Location: Berkeley Street, just south of Gerrard
Date photo taken: 15 September 2013
Image #7 in the Bellbox Series

2013 was a busy year for the Bell Box Mural Project, with 30 new murals being painted across the city, and in partner location, Essex, Ontario. The new murals in Toronto are concentrated in four downtown neighbourhoods: Cabbagetown, St. James Town, Regent Park and St. Lawrence Market. This one, by local artist Emilia Jajus, is located next to the Parliament branch of the Toronto Public Library, which helps to explain the theme.

The Bell Box Mural Project is a project of The Seeds of Hope Foundation.

Hartman Jones Memorial School Cairn

 

Location: Outside Westwood Middle School, 994 Carlaw Ave.

Date photo taken: 15 August 2004

Image 2 in the Remembrance Series

This simple cairn pays tribute to 21 former students of Hartman Jones Memorial School who gave their lives during the Second World War. The school, built in 1931, later became Westwood Junior High, and is today Westwood Middle School. 

The names of the fallen are:

James D. Allan

Donald Allen

Johnny Brooks

Earle Chase

George E. Clarke

Jules De Baeremaeker

Edward Hood

Thomas Hunter

Alex Johnson

Donald McAulay

Martin McAulay

Jack S. McIver

Jack McKinnon

Walter Mercer

John Munro

Gordon Phillips

Howard A. Smith

Jack Stevenson

John Wardman

Ernest Watson

Gordon R. Yeates

Toronto's Tallest Mural - 200 Wellesley

  

Location: South side of 200 Wellesley, at Bleeker

Date photo taken: 20 October 2013

Image 7 in the Mural Series

This shot of colour on 200 Wellesley may just be the tallest mural in the world. At 32 storeys, the artists are hoping that it qualifies for a spot in the Guinness record book. A community project, the mural took 2 months to complete and was done with the help of lots of teenage artists under the direction of lead artist Sean Martindale. The upper portion of the mural, depicting a phoenix, was done by Jason Rouleau and Ryan Dineen of Toronto Muralists. The colourful phoenix was chosen as a fitting symbol for both the building, which suffered a six-alarm fire in 2010, and for the resilient spirit of the neighbourhood.

Groundhog

Location: Milliken Park, Steeles Ave. & McCowan Rd.
Date photo taken: 5 September 2013

When you think of urban wildlife, raccoons and squirrels are usually the first critters to come to mind, but groundhogs (or woodchucks if you prefer) are common urban dwellers as well. This one was strolling along the lawn next to the lake in Milliken Park. I may go back in the spring to try and spot some kits. And here's an interesting fact: apparently, groundhogs can climb trees.

Hav A Nap Motel

Location: Kingston Road at Brimley
Date photo taken: 5 September 2013

The Hav A Nap Motel is one of the many vintage motels lining this strip of Kingston Road. A throw-back to the days when Highway 2 was a main route in and out of Toronto, the construction of the 401 signaled the start of hard times for these motels. There continued existence owes quite a bit to the city's practice of renting rooms to house overflow from the city's shelters. Now that the city is focusing on the revitalization of Kingston Road, these motels might go the way of their western counterparts, replaced by condos. If this happens, I like Dave LeBlanc's idea, expressed in a Globe & Mail article in 2009: "...save a few of the old motel signs and gather them up in a new public park... Electrified once again, they'll remind us that 'amenities' along here once meant massaging beds, colour TV, kitchenettes, heated pools and air conditioning."

Autumn Foliage - Leventhal Mural

Location: Side of railway overpass, Macpherson Ave. west of Avenue Rd.
Date photo taken: 25 September 2013
Image 6 in the Mural Series

These beautiful fall trees are part of a much larger mural by Ian Leventhal located on the side of a railway overpass along Macpherson Avenue. After the surface was tagged several times, the neighbourhood took action. Local artist Celia Squires did some touch ups and the fixing of the mural became a community affair and point of pride.

Garden Tower in Toronto - Nuit Blanche 2013

Location: Grounds of the Metropolitan United Church, 56 Queen St. E.
Date photo taken: 2 October 2013

This Saturday night, starting at 6:51 pm and lasting until sunrise, is Nuit Blanche, the free all-night celebration of contemporary art that started in Paris in 2002 and came to Toronto in 2006. This tower of chairs by Japanese artist Tadashi Kawamata is one of more than 110 art projects that are part of this year's offerings. It will be interesting to see how this piece will transform after dark.

To read the description of the installation, and to plan your Nuit Blanche adventure, visit the official site.

Topiary Horse

Location: The garden by Simpson House, Riverdale Farm
Date photo taken: 5 June 2013

Topiary figures are whimsical and wonderful additions to parks and open spaces, but you rarely see them these days. One of the reasons for this is that they are time-consuming to construct and maintain. This horse, formed by carefully training English ivy around a metal form, was created over the winter in the High Park greenhouses by a City of Toronto gardener then moved to Riverdale Farm in the spring, where it currently sits gazing at the barn.

Bell Box - Emily Harrison

Location: Birchcliff Avenue at Kingston Road
Date photo taken: 9 September 2013
Image #5 in the Bellbox Series

This mural, painted by Emily Harrison, is part of the "re-greening" of Birch Cliff. The Birch Cliff Community Mural Project is using murals both large and small in their efforts to beautify the area and engage the community. Working with Mural Routes, they received a grant allowing them to paint three mural projects this summer, including this Bell Box. If you see it in person, be sure to walk around it - it's painted on both sides.

Yellow Fish

Location: Langley Street
Date photo taken: 4 September 2013

Yellow fish like this one can be found painted on curbs all over the city. They are a key component of a program called Yellow Fish Road developed by Trout Unlimited Canada in 1991 to raise awareness about water pollution entering local water systems through storm drains like these. Water entering street grates like these generally flows through a series of tunnels and then emptys directly into the lake (although Toronto has undertaken some interesting projects to help add some filtering steps). Unlike water from houses, it is not usually treated before entering the lake so it is important to realize that anything washed into it, like detergent from washing your car, or salt put on your sidewalk, is going to affect the ecosystem into which it ultimately flows.

The Yellow Fish Road program engages youth, educating them about the effects of storm water run-off and then enlisting them to paint the fish on curbs and distribute literature to nearby homes. The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority is a partner in this program. If you want to involve your school class or youth group in this activity, you can submit an application through the TRCA website. It also makes a great team building exercise for corporate groups.

Central Tech Gnome

Location: Above the western entrance to Central Technical School, Bathurst & Harbord
Date photo taken: 11 July 2013
Image 1 in the Figures Series

This figure is one of two that sits above the main entrance on the west side of the Toronto District School Board's Central Technical School. The two figures together represent the two sides of the school's curriculum. This one in cap and gown, reading a book, represents the academic side. The other, in work clothes, holding a hammer and chisel, represents the technical side. They were not included in the original design for the building but were instead, according to a history of the school, a gift by the Scottish stonemasons who worked on the construction.

Sand Sculpture - Maasai Hunt

Location: Heritage Court, Direct Energy Centre, Canadian National Exhibition
Date photo taken: 24 August 2013

One of the many attractions at the Canadian National Exhibition is the International Sand Sculpture Competition. This year six competitors were invited from around the world to compete. Each was given 10 tons of sand and 6 days to create a masterpiece. This sculpture by Ilya Filimonstev of Russia took first prize in the judged competition. While you've missed the chance to see the sculptors at work this year, you can still visit the sculptures at Heritage Court until the close of the CNE and cast a vote for the Fan Favourite. One lucky voter will win a trip to Riviera Maya courtesy of Transat Vacations.

Garage Raccoons

Location: Laneway between Markham and Bathurst streets
Date photo taken: 19 August 2013
Image 5 in the Mural Series

Detail of a mural painted on a garage door in one of Toronto's many laneways. It was painted by Annex Creative Services in the summer of 2011. The full mural features other examples of urban wildlife.

Ghost Bike

Location: University Avenue at Richmond
Date photo taken: 3 July 2013

This white bicycle is a memorial to Mike Rankin, a veteran courier in his fifties who was killed in a collision with a taxi at this intersection in 2012. The front handlebar bears a small sign with Rankin's name and details.

The ghost bike memorial phenomenon is thought to have started in St. Louis, Missouri in 2003 when someone observing a bike-car collision placed a white bike on the spot with a sign reading "Cyclist struck here". Noticing that the bike had an effect on drivers, other bikes were installed throughout the city and the idea spread. While normally installed as tributes to cyclists killed by cars, a ghost bike in honour of Jack Layton can also be seen outside his former office on Broadview.

Ceramic Barnacle

Location: Corner of building, Parliament and Mill Streets
Date photo taken: 26 October 2012

This is one of many little ceramic markers affixed to hydro poles, buildings and curbs in an area roughly bounded by Berkeley on the east, Front to the north, the Distillery site to the east and Lakeshore to the south. They come in various colours, although all tend toward natural hues (greens, blues, yellows and browns) and they're usually placed well below eye level. In some cases, they're on the ground - affixed to the back corners of the concrete pads that benches sit on in parks. I have no idea who made them, when they were placed around and what, if anything, they're intended to signify. If anyone knows, please leave a comment!

Bell Box - Jungle Ling

Location: Roseheath Ave. at Danforth
Date photo taken: 22 June 2013
Image #4 in the Bellbox Series

Another of the East Danforth Bell Box murals, painted in the summer of 2012. This one is by artist Jungle Ling, aka Dr. Love, and depicts the east end of Shudell Avenue in 1927, likely based on this archival photograph from the City of Toronto Archives. Shudell Avenue is nearby, running east-west between Jones Avenue and the TTC Greenwood yard, a few blocks south of the Danforth.

These murals were painted thanks to a partnership between the Yellow Door Learning Centre, Bell Canada, StreetARToronto and the Danforth East Community Association.

Red Eared Slider

Location: Pond at Riverdale farm

Date photo taken: 25 October 2012

The ponds at Riverdale Farm have all sorts of interesting things to watch, including lots of turtles. The day of this shot, there were four turtles visible, all red eared sliders. This image captures two of them - the second turtle’s head is just visible in the water, to the right of the log. This species isn’t native to Ontario. Normally they’re only found in the southern United States but they’ve become established elsewhere – including Toronto apparently – due to pet releases.

Masc – St. James Cathedral

Location: West side, near King Street
Date photo taken: 20 April 2013
Image 3 in the Mascs of Toronto Series

This is one of well over a dozen heads which grace the stately Cathedral Church of St. James at the corner of Church and King Streets. There are no known notes or references to these many faces in the church's archive so it is assumed that rather than representing specific people, they were instead generic ornaments thought to be appropriate to the building style and scope. When looked at together, one might suppose that they are meant to represent men and women from a range of positions in society and at the various stages of life.

The Giant Storybook Project

Location: 1135 Dundas St. E., between Carlaw and Logan
Date photo taken: 1 May 2013
Image 4 in the Mural Series

This magical mural is part of a large international project by street art duo Herakut. Beginning in September 2012, they began painting murals in cities around the world, each introducing characters from a new children's book. This is the fifth mural, entitled Jay and His Creative Spirit. The text on the mural reads “Was it the most glorious or the most monstrous moment when Jay met his Creative Spirit?”

For more information about the project, check out their Facebook page, and check out this short video documenting the creation process of the Toronto mural.

Inoculation

Location: The Esplanade
Date photo taken: 20 June 2013

Back in January, this blog featured the green tree tags that mark healthy ash tree specimens around the city. Recently the tagged trees along the Esplanade received treatment via these small injectors to help them stave off infestation by Emerald Ash Borers, an invasive and highly destructive insect. Once the trees had been treated, their bark was marked by a bright green painted dot.

Smiley Face Heart

Location: Dundas St. W. at Stirling Rd.
Date photo taken: 17 April 2013

Once you see one, you see them everywhere. This heart is one of many placed around the city and beyond by street artist Gregory Alan Elliott. He considers them his brand and for many years he's been posting these little pieces of joy around the city and beyond, or re-creating the look in grass and other mediums.

You can listen to an interview with Elliott by Laura Lefebvre on her blog Street Inspired.

Shiba Inu - Woofstock 2013

 

Location: Woofstock, Front St. between Church and Jarvis
Date photo taken: 8 June 2013

This past weekend was Woofstock which, according to their website, is North America's largest festival for dogs. It happens each year in early June and it really draws a crowd. Every year I go and spend a few hours soaking up the doggie love and marveling at the outfits and dye jobs some pooches sport. I also try and identify the new "it" dog. In past years the uptick in pugs, bulldogs and dachshunds was obvious, and they are all still very much in evidence. This year, it was a little harder to make the call. There were far more Great Danes than I remember seeing before, but I think It Dog 2013 goes to the Shiba Inu, a breed made famous by Puppy Cam. Also very popular this year were doggie strollers containing two or more tiny canine occupants. Visit my Woofstock Picasa album to see more images from the event.

Bell Box - Charles Weiss

Location: Strathmore Blvd.
Date photo taken: 3 June 2013
Image #3 in the Bellbox Series

In the summer of 2012 the Bell Boxes Mural Project added eight new murals along the Danforth, including this one entitled On Delivery by artist Charles Weiss. It is located behind the Greenwood subway station, on Strathmore, and represents an early delivery vehicle from the Eaton's department store. These murals were added thanks to a partnership between 6 St. Joseph House, Bell Canada, the City of Toronto and the Danforth East Community Association.

To see the mural taking shape, visit Charles Weiss' blog.

Crossing Guards

Location: Parliament Street

Date photo taken: 3 May 2013

Meet John, one of the approximately 700 crossing guards tasked with keeping Toronto's children safe on their way to and from school. As civilian members of Toronto Police Services they must pass a vision test, a security check, have no criminal record and be physically fit to carry out their duties, plus they are expected to exhibit the force's core values of Honesty, Integrity, Fairness, Reliability, Respect, Teamwork, and Positive Attitude. While their primary duty is to safeguard elementary school students many, like John, prefer not to be so exclusive, helping adults and children alike make it across their busy intersections safely, exchanging some friendly words as they do so.

 

Koilos

Location: Gristmill Lane, Distillery District
Date photo taken: 6 June 2009

This 4 meter tall steel sculpture by American artist Michael Christian used to stand guard on the western edge of the Distillery District, greeting visitors in its part-threatening, part-playful way. It was a favourite with photographers and living in the neighbourhood, I rarely passed it without seeing someone standing under or climbing on it for a picture. This spot is now vacant as Koilos was recently disassembled and removed. According to Torontoist, the sculpture has been sold to a private owner and will be making its way up to Muskoka.  UPDATE: See a picture of Koilos in its new home.

Koilos first debuted at Burning Man in 2007. It was brought to the Distillery on a three year loan in 2009 along with another Christian sculpture. This represented the first time Christian brought any of his work to Canada.

St. George and the Dragon

Location: St. George's Greek Orthodox Church, 115 Bond St
Date photo taken: 4 April 2013

This beautiful mosaic depicting St. George slaying the dragon is found in the central tympanum above the Bond Street doors of St. George's Greek Orthodox Church. This church, which is home to the oldest Greek orthodox community in Canada, started out life as Holy Blossom Temple. It was built in 1897 by John Wilson Siddall, a Canadian architect, and remained a synagogue until 1937 when it was converted to St. George's. The structure underwent renovations in the 1960s and the 1980s, and it was during the 1980s that this mosaic was installed. It was created by Italian mosaicist Sirio Tonelli.

Also of note is the interior of the church, which was elaborately painted by two master iconographers from Greece. If you want to get a look at this unique space it will be open for Doors Open on May 25th and 26th although sadly, photography of the interior is not permitted.

High Park Cherry Blossoms

 

Location: High Park

Date photo taken: 6 May 2013

High Park is home to a magnificent collection of cherry trees which bloom in late April or early May depending on the weather. In Japan, where these trees are from, there is a tradition of viewing or  picnicking under the cherry trees when they are in bloom and the pastime is taking hold here in Toronto - even early on a Monday afternoon there were large crowds.

To see more pictures and learn more about High Park's trees, check out the Cherry Blossom article on Hogspot.

Tip Top Tailors Advertisement

 

Location: West side of 260 Richmond St. W.

Date photo taken: 19 July 2011
Image 2 in the Remnant Series

The west-facing side of this elegant building on Richmond Street features a large, faded advertisement for Tip Top Tailors, "Suits and O’coats Made to Measure", which provides a clue to its original purpose. Originally five storeys, this building was built in 1914 as a warehouse for Tip Top Tailors. In 1924 an additional storey was added between the fourth and fifth floors, along with a matching six storey addition on the east side. In 2006 the City of Toronto recognized this building as being of cultural heritage value or interest in part because it provides “a representative example of an industrial building from the World War I period that displays a high degree of craftsmanship.” The advertisement is included in the designation.

Text of the By-Law designating the building can be read online.

Also check out this image from 1916 which shows the building at its original five storeys. The painted advertisement is also there but the wording is different.

Fishing in Mimico Creek Mural

Location: On an east-facing wall at 5096 Dundas St. W.
Date photo taken: 17 April 2013
Image 3 in the Mural Series

The area around Islington Avenue and Dundas Street West was once the Village of Islington, with the first permanent settlers arriving in the early 1800s. Today, the strip of Dundas between Montgomery Road and Kipling Avenue is the focus of the Village of Islington Business Improvement Area. They have chosen to tell the history of this corner of the city through a series of 20 murals, spaced along Dundas. This image is a portion of a mural entitled Fishing in Mimico Creek and was painted, like most of the other murals, by John Kuna.

If you want to learn more, visit the BIA’s website to find out about guided mural walks, or check out Heritage Toronto’s Islington Village iTour and let it lead you on a tour of the neighbourhood.

Masc - Old City Hall

 

Location: On a corbel on the east side of Old City Hall
Date photo taken: 4 April 2013
Image 2 in the Mascs of Toronto Series

Old City Hall was designed by E.J. Lennox and completed in 1899. It is an example of the Romanesque Revival style of architecture. You don’t have to look very hard to find interesting faces on this building – they are everywhere!
 

Heritage Pig

Location: Riverdale Farm, 201 Winchester St.
Date photo taken: 7 April 2013

Riverdale Farm is a small oasis on the eastern edge of downtown and the best part of a visit there is walking around the pens and saying hello to the animals. This is an Irish Tamworth pig, a hardy heritage breed that does well in more extreme climates like Canada’s, but isn’t well-suited to modern meat production methods and so is now listed as Threatened. Riverdale Farm’s animals are all chosen to represent animals that would have been present on area farms at the turn of the 20th century.

Bell Box - Patrice Stephens-Bourgeault

Location: Grosvenor St. just west of Yonge St.
Date photo taken: 11 December 2012
Image #2 in the Bellbox Series

This box, with a theme of monarchs and milkweed, is part of the re-boot of the Bellbox project which was undertaken by the Bay Corridor Community Association and 6 St. Joseph House (the Yellow Door Learning Centre) in 2009, with help from the City of Toronto, Bell Canada, Benjamin Moore and Goodbye Graffiti. Between 2009 and 2012 a total of 48 boxes were painted in the area roughly bounded by Avenue Road to the west, Roxborough St. to the north, Sherbourne St. to the east and Dundas St. to the south. This box was painted by Patrice Stephens-Bourgeault.

Traffic Graphic

 

Location: Outside the Simcoe Place Parking Garage, 200 Front St. W.

Date photo taken: 25 March 2013

This terrific graphic is located on the pillars which flank the entrance to the Simcoe Place parking garage on Front Street. Obviously it’s intended to inform the public of traffic patterns around the entrance to help keep everyone safe, but it’s also awesome. Also in the category of keeping people safe, a member of the police force is on hand during the evening rush hour to help manage traffic flow. Perhaps this focus on safety is a reflection of the building's tenant: The Workplace Safety & Insurance Board.

Fur Trading Relief

Location: Commerce Court North Building, south side
Date photo taken: 3 November 2012

The Commerce Court North building at King and Bay Streets, completed in 1931 to house the headquarters of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, is a gorgeous example of Art Deco architecture. Not only is it capped with a series of massive carved heads (check out this awesome Flickr picture), but there are carvings galore to be appreciated at ground level. The reliefs depict Canadian wildlife, plants and iconic enterprises, as well as scenes of gods and goddesses associated with commerce. The carvings were done by William Dawson of Montreal and Peter Thomson of Toronto. This particular relief which depicts fur trading can be found on the south side of the building.

To read more, see Creating Memory, by John Warkentin.

Wuikinuxv First Nation House Post Replica

  

Location: Museum subway station

Date photo taken: 27 February 2013

This column is a replica of a house post from the Wuikinuxv First Nation in British Columbia. The original, which was carved from a cedar log, is part of the Royal Ontario Museum's collection which is only steps away. It is one of several striking columns that represent cultural treasures housed in the museums overhead that were unveiled as part of the renovation of the Museum subway station completed in 2008. This platform design, so strikingly different from any other in the city, is the result of Arts on Track, a project spearheaded by the Toronto Community Foundation, which put donated money toward this subway improvement. 

Church Wellesley Village Sign

Location: Intersection of Maitland and Church Streets
Date Photo Taken: 26 October 2012
Image #1 in the Neighbourhoods Series

Long before Toronto became the grand metropolis it is today the area was populated by small villages. These were eventually swallowed up as the city grew but branded street signs now help to identify where these villages once stood. These signs also provide Business Improvement Areas and other neighbourhood groups the opportunity to identify their particular area. Many signs employ colour or graphics to impart a bit of the flavour of the community but as these existing signs age they will be replaced by the city’s new standardized signs. The new signs are made of extruded aluminum and covered in a highly reflective blue surface. The top panel still allows for a neighbourhood designation but a customized look will no longer be an option. The small numbers at the bottom of the sign indicate the street address closest to the intersection. 

For a map of Toronto’s neighbourhoods, check out the one created by the Toronto Star.

Church Wellesley Village is Toronto’s largest LGBT community and the BIA hosts a number of street festivals and events throughout the year. The area is centered on Church Street, roughly between Gloucester St. and Wood St.

Bell Box - Heidi Burkhardt

Location: Isabella Street, west of Church
Date photo taken: 3 February 2013
Image #1 in the Bellbox Series

Back in 2005, in response to a complaint about offensive graffiti on a local telephone box, Councillor Joe Pantalone proposed a project that would see local artists paint murals on Bell phone boxes. For the pilot project, he enlisted the help of Style in Progress and together they worked to get well-known graffiti artists to paint murals on 10 phone boxes, with financial support from Bell Canada. And so the Bell Urban Art Project was born. While many of those original artworks have since been painted over, the idea has spread way beyond its Queen West roots. Painted boxes can now be seen in many neighbourhoods throughout the city, each with its own style and story to tell. This box was painted by Riverside artist Heidi Burkhardt.

Cranes

Location: Looking east from Trinity Street, south of Eastern
Date photo taken: 26 January 2013

Cranes have sprouted up all over the area referred to as the West Don Lands, a large area of land bordered by the Don River, King Street, Parliament Street and the railway corridor adjacent to the Gardiner. These cranes are busy constructing the future home of the Pan-American Games, which come to Toronto in 2015. The facilities for this event are being built as part of a much larger community plan which will see a vibrant new neighbourhood in this corner of the city. For an idea of what it all will look like, visit the Waterfront Toronto website.

The red brick building with the red door was built in 1859 as the Palace Street School, and was remodeled and expanded in 1890 to become Irvine House, a hotel. In the years since then, it changed hands and uses many times, but from 1965 until 2007 it was the home of the Canary Restaurant.

Masc – 287 Jarvis

Location: Decorative stonework, 287 Jarvis Street
Date photo taken: 25 October 2012
Image 1 in the Mascs of Toronto Series

Toronto is full of faces, staring stonily out from buildings across the city. When presented alone these faces are referred to as mascarons. In the Mascs series, this blog will widen the definition to include any interesting faces, whether they be prominently presented or hidden among other decorative details.

This face is from the front of 287 Jarvis Street, a heritage property built in 1890 by architects Knox and Elliot. It currently operates as a rooming house run by Homes First Society.

Electro-Voice V-15 Microphone

Location: CBC Museum, Canadian Broadcasting Centre, 250 Front St. W.
Date photo taken: 15 Jan 2013

This microphone is one of many on display in the CBC Museum, located on the main floor of the CBC building at Front and John Streets. In this space, and another one on the lower floor, the CBC displays equipment, props, merchandise and more from its long history of radio and television broadcasting. The museum is free and open from 9 to 5, Monday thru Friday.

For more information on what you can see in the CBC building, read the post on Hogspot.

Tree Tags

Location: Queen's Park
Date photo taken: 11 December 2013

Many trees around the city are now sporting small metal tags, just above eye level. Some of those tags are painted green. They mark ash trees that are healthy enough to be good candidates for inoculation by a product called TreeAzin™. TreeAzin™ helps protect ash trees against the ravages of the Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive insect species that has taken up residence in Toronto and threatens to wipe out the city’s population of ash trees by 2017. That’s about 860,000 trees. It’s too expensive to treat every tree, especially since it has to be repeated every two years, so the city is prioritizing high value trees. If you’re a home owner and have an ash tree on your property, take note: if it succumbs to the bug, and most experts expect that most untreated trees in the city will, you will be financially responsible for having the dead tree removed. For more information, visit the City of Toronto’s page on Emerald Ash Borers.

Robert Simpson Co. Monogram

Location: The Bay building, near corner of Bay & Richmond
Date photo taken: 1 November 2012
Image 1 in the Remnant Series

The building that houses The Bay’s Queen Street store has always been a mecca for shoppers. It was built in stages by the Robert Simpson Company, which first opened its doors at the corner of Queen and Yonge streets in 1894. This monogrammed window grill, which bears the letters RSC, can be found on the art deco addition at Bay and Richmond which was completed in 1929 and included the grand Arcadian Court restaurant on the 8^th floor. These grills are unlikely to be updated to HBC any time soon as the heritage designation which the building enjoys forbids major changes to the exterior.