Primrose

 

Location: Bay north of St. Joseph

Date photo taken: 28 March 2022

You are loved, Donkey! Get well soon

That's one of the many messages that have been written on the casts of this adorable donkey sculpture in Clover Hill Park. At first I wondered if the casts had been added as a prank, but no. Canadian artist Myfanwy MacLeod took inspiration from a real live foal named Primrose who was outfitted with pink casts to help her underdeveloped legs form properly. Cast in bronze, and larger than life, the donkey is a playful send-up of the traditional equestrian monument. This work was commissioned by the City of Toronto, selected via a competition led by the City's Economic Development and Culture division, and financed through Section 37 funding. 

Raccoons

 

Location: Quinn's Steak House & Irish Bar, 96 Richmond Street West

Date photo taken: 27 March 2021

While it might not be immediately obvious, this post carries on the St. Patrick's week tradition of highlighting Guinness advertising around the city. I chose to crop out the actual glass of Guinness to keep the focus on Emily May Rose's raccoons. I feel like she's nailed them. I mean, it's probably just a matter of time before they start using paint to mark their territories. I'm sure they've already figured out how to operate a spray can.

Clairlea

 

Location: Kingswell Crescent and Pharmacy Avenue

Date photo taken: 27 February 2017

In June 1950 the Toronto Star was full of ads for bungalows and two-storey homes in Clairlea, "the east end's newest subdivision". Located on the western edge of Scarborough and bordered by Victoria Park, Warden, Eglinton and St. Clair, the neighbourhood featured a park and a school and modern shopping district were under construction. The ads for the 6-room bungalows ran as follows: 

These solid brick bungalows have everything. Large, bright living with full dining room adjoining. Modern, gleaming tile kitchen with lots of cupboards. 3 good size bedrooms with clothes closets in each. 4-piece tile bathroom. Steel beam construction. Divided basement with recreation room facilities. All on wide lots with private drive. 

All for just $9,950.

Hive

 

Location: Lobby of 401 Bay

Date photo taken: 23 February 2015

The former Simpson Tower is now almost unrecognizable thanks to a recent recladding project, but the interior lobby still looks very much the same. The grooved stone walls around the elevator banks remain, as does the large light installation by Leo Villareal. Hive features a series of hexagons formed from LED tubes, arranged up the wall in clusters and animated by a custom software program. A static image doesn't convey the full impact of this piece so if you find yourself near the corner of Queen and Bay, pop in and watch it for awhile.