Kingsway Billiards

Location: 3056 Bloor St. W., near Royal York
Date photo taken: 9 January 2017

The Crooked Cue pool hall and restaurant has been in this Bloor Street West location since 1992 but the building has been dedicated to recreation since its first tenant opened its doors in the late 1940s. The Toronto Star ran a notice announcing the opening of the 16 lane Kingsway Bowling Academy on September 19, 1947. The Pappas family bought the building in the 1950s and eventually bowling gave way to billiards. The old school pool hall with its snack bar was renovated in 1992 when the next generation of the Pappas family took over, adding a full bar and restaurant. I'm not sure when during the building's history the neon sign was installed but I love it.

The Kingsway Neighbourhood

Location: Intersection of Bloor St. W. and Jackson Avenue
Date photo taken: 19 April 2014
Image 2 in the Neighbourhoods Series

Neighbourhood BIAs, or business improvement areas, are active in neighbourhoods throughout the city and work, as their name implies, to make their areas more attractive to local customers and tourists alike. The Kingsway BIA, which covers the area between Dundas and Bloor from Mimico Creek to the Humber River, has been around, at least in spirit, since 1949 when the Kingsway Business Men's Association was formed. This coming weekend, they are hosting Taste of the Kingsway, a festival which features great food, beer and wine gardens and lots of entertainment including music, a midway, dog show, 3D chalk art and more. Hockey great Darryl Sittler will also be on hand Sunday to sign autographs. Festivities are centered around Royal York subway station.

For more about neighbourhoods and customized street signs, check out the earlier NeaTO post about the Church-Wellesley Village.