Automated Treat Machine

 

Location: TD Terrace, 160 Front St. W.

Date photo taken: 19 December 2025

This is one of the cutest things I've stumbled across in quite some time. It's a scaled down version of a bank machine but the little green paw prints and the canine content on the screens should tip you off that this isn't meant for regular customers. That and the treats that drop into the bowl when the motion sensor is tripped. The Automated Treat Machine was previewed at TD's Tech & Innovation Day conference in May 2024 and later that summer, was installed in the branch on the ground floor of the new TD Terrace building. Next time you're in the neighbourhood with your dog, you might want to pop in to make a withdrawal.

Labatt wall

 

Location: Queen's Quay Terminal

Date photo taken: 12 July 2025

On a hot, sunny visit to Toronto's waterfront recently I spent some time discovering the early history of Labatt. It wasn't intentional, but while cooling off in Queen's Quay Terminal I stumbled across this timeline. It runs along a wall outside the Labatt offices and it has some pretty cool early photos, labels and marketing pieces. If you want to learn more about this London, Ontario born brewing company find your way up to the quiet second floor of the Terminal via the escalators in the southern atrium. Or you can always just visit their website. 

Drink Canada Dry

 

Location: 900 Queen Street East   

Date photo taken: 28 April 2019

This awesome vintage Canada Dry sign hangs out front of Eddie's Convenience on Queen Street East just west of Logan. Whenever I see vintage signs like this, I wonder about their story - when they were first hung and how it is that they have survived. So I turned to the city directories to see if I could discover anything. It turns out that Eddie's Confectionery, the business name that appears in faded letters at the top of the sign, first appears in the city directory at this location in 1954, operated by Sylvia Rosenbloom. The "Eddie" is explained if you look further back. In earlier years, the listing for this address simply read "Rosenbloom, Edward, confy". 

With stores on retail strips coming and going and changing from one type to another, it was interesting to me to discover that since this address first appeared in the city directory in the late 1900s, it has been occupied by a number of different people - Norman Shier, Geo Sernissi, Nathan Besserman, and perhaps others - but it was always a confectionery.

A&W Root Beer

 

Location: 2856 Dundas Street West

Date photo taken: 27 January 2024

In case it's not obvious, what you're looking at here is a door handle. I love the quirkiness of it and the nostalgic look and it seemed like a good post for the current times.  

With the tariff turmoil we're all experiencing lately, and the desire to buy Canadian, A&W has been put forward as a good alternative to American fast food chains. I was bit confused when I first Googled for confirmation as the first thing I saw were ads featuring mugs like this one but bearing the slogan "All American Food." That's because there are A&W restaurants in the U.S. and they are American. A&W in Canada started out as part of that same American company but it's now completely separate and 100% Canadian owned and operated and has been for decades. So go ahead and enjoy that frosty mug.

Petro Canada full service booth

 

Location: Bayview & Moore

Date photo taken: 6 November 2022

I love finding retro elements across the city, remnants of history and earlier design aesthetics. Which is what I thought I'd found at this gas station on Bayview. It turns out that what I took to be a 50s or 60s era service booth was one actually installed in 2013 when the gas pumps were upgraded. Perhaps the styling is deliberately retro, a nod to the heyday of the full service gas station, which is itself a bit of an anachronism.

Pizza Pizza

Location: Broadview & Danforth

Date photo taken: 3 June 2019

I just love the little pizza-tossing figures in this signage and I'm so happy that even though this location looks just like every other Pizza Pizza from the front, this eye-catching signage was retained on the side. The colour palette is different and the "i"s looked more like regular letters, but the script style here matches that on the sign which hung above the original location at Wellesley and Parliament, which opened in 1967. Here are some other fun facts from the archived version of the Pizza Pizza corporate history site: 

• In 1967 Pizza Pizza worked with a car upholsterer to create the world's first insulated pizza delivery bag.
• The famous 11-11 phone number was introduced in 1975 and worked into the catchy jingle in 1978.

 

TinEye

 

Location: 233 Queen St. W., just west of Sherbourne
Date photo taken: 8 April 2021

I love this mural. It's colourful and fun and it makes me smile. It's also a corporate logo. TinEye, the company that occupies this building, is an image search and recognition company. Their robotic mascot was added to the front of the building last fall. If you're interested in design, or just want to know more about this friendly looking fellow, the TinEye blog has an article on what went into creating the logo.

Delivery with heart

Location: Distillery District

Date photo taken: 25 January 2021

Meet Geoffrey, your adorable zero emission local delivery robot. I've seen these cute little boxes roaming the sidewalks of the Distillery District, Corktown and the Canary District. With the help of real-life but remote pilots, who also handle communications, these mobile lock boxes currently pick up orders at twelve partner restaurants. Delivery fees currently range from $2.99 to $5.99.

St. Lawrence Market

Location: St. Lawrence Market, Front and Jarvis

Date photo taken: 10 September 2013

As you can see from the date above, this is an old picture. Those people walking around aren't wearing masks, but that's okay, back then they didn't need to. While more stringent restrictions were in place, those in the know were getting their favorite food stuffs via curbside pick up, but now the  Market is basically back to normal, operating Tuesday thru Saturday although with slightly restricted hours. This image was taken from the Market Gallery, the city-run gallery on the mezzanine level. As well as providing great views over the main floor of the hall, the upper levels also feature a public-facing exhibit space and storage for the City's art collection. At present the Gallery still has not re-opened.

Ka'Wine & Dine

Location: Queen Street East

Date photo taken: 2 June 2019

Last week, Toronto made history. The first NBA finals game ever played outside the United States was won right here. It might have taken 24 years, but the Toronto Raptors are in the finals. A huge factor in this impressive achievement is Kawhi Leonard, who the Raptors acquired last summer. The problem is, he's a free agent after this season and most reports indicate he wants to return home to California. Sports fans in the city want him to stay here. Ka'wine & Dine is one of the creative ways businesses across the city are showing their love. By placing one of these decals in their window, they are promising to provide free meals to Kawhi for life if he stays here next year. Other businesses have taken the campaign and added their own twist (the one by the Adult Safe Hockey League is one of my favourites). If you're not a business, you can still show your love by making a donation to a charity supported by the "Give back for Kawhi" campaign.

Metal Viking

Location: Dundas St. W. at Brookside Avenue

Date photo taken: 26 May 2019

Ever wanted to take a selfie with a Viking? The opportunity is yours in the parking lot of Dynamic Iron Limited, makers of custom wrought-iron work since 1970. While their website features lots of railings, window grills and furniture, it also includes a sculpture category with a few more whimsical designs. A project not (yet) featured on the website is the unique historical plaque erected in 2014 by the Junction's BIA. It highlights in part the the area's rich rail heritage and the base is fashioned from two train wheels donated by Metrolinx. John Mrsic, who runs the family-owned Dynamic Iron, welded them together. 

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.

Patrician Grill

Location: 219 King St. E. near Sherbourne

Date photo taken: 16 September 2013

The Patrician Grill is exactly what you'd expect, based on the sign. It's a diner serving up comfort food standards like burgers and meatloaf and it's been doing it since the 1950s. Family owned and operated, first by husband and wife team Louie and Helen Papas, and now by the next generation, it remains true to its roots. Stubbornly so. As one story goes, when a note was slipped under the door criticizing them for not having fruit on the menu, the specials board soon read "Fruit-free since 1967". Reviewers on sites from Google to Trip Advisor agree though that good food is exactly what you'll find inside. 

Beer in Toronto - Muddy York Brewing Co.

Location: 22 Cranfield Rd.

Date photo taken: 21 March 2017

Toronto is home to over 60 craft breweries which means that it's a good place to be if you're a beer fan. Distribution across the city is markedly uneven however and if you live in East York, your options are limited. Luckily, one of the choices is Muddy York Brewing Co. It's a small batch brewery located in an industrial park between O'Connor Drive and the Don Valley. One thing that sets them apart is that while they offer a range of different types of beers, their mainstays are more traditional styles often overlooked by other brewers. Personal favourites of mine in this category include Muddy York Porter and Major Small Best Bitter. Opened in 2013, they've slowly been expanding their operations and now their location includes a retail bottle shop. Perfect for stocking up for the long weekend!

Year of the Rooster

Location: Hudson's Bay store at Queen and Bay
Date photo taken: 17 January 2017

Walking through the Hudson's Bay Store at Queen and Bay I was struck by the vivid in-store displays. First I noticed the mannequins, dressed in reds and golds, with large feathers attached to their heads. Then part way along the main floor, I saw this large figure. Welcome to the Year of the Rooster! The Chinese New Year is celebrated this year on January 28.

BB-8

Location: Bell store, Yonge & Eglinton

Date photo taken: 21 December 2015

Star Wars: The Force Awakens opened in December, and unsurprisingly, the city is now awash in Star Wars imagery. The franchise pioneered the idea of the merchandise tie-in and with this new movie it seems everyone wants a piece, even if their product or service doesn't have an obvious link. Bell is one such company, but I give them full marks for their store displays. They've gone beyond window wraps and posters and have placed  BB-8 replicas like this one in Bell store windows around the city.

Happy New Year!

Location: The Bay Queen Street
Date photo taken: 23 December 2015

Whether you get all decked out to ring in the new year or celebrate in your pjs, have a wonderful New Year's Eve and a healthy, happy and productive 2016.

A Guinness a day

Location: the side of McVeigh's at Church and Adelaide
Date photo taken: 3 February 2013

This mural is a recreation of one of Guinness' earliest beer ads. It features seven glasses of Guinness, one for each day of the week. The tagline which ran at the bottom of the ad was "Guinness is good for you". Print ads of the time advertised Guinness as a promoter of health, noting that "Guinness builds strong muscles. It feeds exhausted nerves. It enriches the blood. Doctors affirm that Guinness is a valuable restorative after Influenza and other weakening illnesses. Guinness is a valuable natural aid in cases of insomnia."

This mural was one of two that used to grace the Church Street wall of McVeigh's Irish Pub, a family-run Toronto institution for over 50 years. The bottom two floors of the building were refreshed with black paint last year and the murals were painted over. Large cut-outs of pints of Guinness still remind you that good health can be had, or at least toasted to, inside.

Cookie Outlet

Location: 5 Bermondsey Rd. near O'Connor Dr.

Date photo taken: 6 May 2014

I'm not sure what else there is to say about this. My days of exploration around the city often involve what I like to smilingly refer to as epic walks. At the end of 6 or 7 hours of walking, finding a good bar or restaurant is often key but one day last spring, reward took the form of discount cookies. Across the street from the old Peek Freans factory, this place offers all sorts of bulk delights, as long as you don't mind if your treats are a little off-sized or not perfectly round. I'm not one to mind! Om nom nom!

NeaTO: Bermondsey Street may be so named because of the association with Peek Freans. The cookie company originated in the Bermondsey area of London, and when they expanded operations to this newly opened business park, they may have been granted some say in naming the adjacent street.

Honest Ed's Theatrical Walls

Location: Honest Ed's, 581 Bloor St. W.
Date photo taken: 7 July 2014

If you're a fan of theatre or just looking for something to occupy you while you hide from the elements consider popping in to Honest Ed's. This store at Bloor and Bathurst, known for its iconic sign and discount prices, is also home to an incredible collection of celebrity photographs. Placed randomly around the store are scads of publicity pics and head shots from actors, musicians and other artists who have visited the city. There are also historic images of the Royal Alexandra Theatre, where many of these people performed, and the stairwells are lined with vintage theatre posters. When the theatre faced demolition in the 1960s, Honest Ed Mirvish purchased it, refurbished it and continued its tradition of bringing top talent to the city.

Until the end of the week Honest Ed's Alley and parking lot is also hosting the Toronto Fringe Festival's Fringe Club and Visual Fringe. Go there to mingle with theatre goers and performers, see an Alley play, listen to music, eat, drink, shop and generally hang out.

As for the store, it will be open for browsing and shopping until the end of December 2016.