Hot Off the Press- My new pix of Toronto

[Taller, Better]

Thanks Wildchild! Where are you from?
I didn't do a major photo shoot yesterday or today; been busy so just snapped
a few pix here and there. Firstly, here is a nice example of an old Victorian building
being saved as part of the wave of condos sweeping the city. This old building used to be a community centre, and played host to "Homo Hops" back in the early 70's.
Times changed, and need for such a space decreased, so this condo development, Jazz, was built:





While walking my ever patient dogs this morning, I snapped a couple of pix at neighbouring old homes on Jarvis Avenue. Jarvis was once THE street to have a
smart house or townhouse on, in Toronto. There are wonderful examples of "Robber-Baron" houses that are all Victorian, and range in style from this fanciful Mock
Medieval:



to more classical Georgian:



A popular style for both residential and public buildings in Toronto during Victorian times
was Romanesque.. here is an example on St. Joseph Street that caught my eye:



And some earlier Victorian townhouses from about 1850, that probably had the Mansard rooflines installed twenty years later as a "modernisation":





I just got home after seeing DaVinci Code, and was famished, so stopped at my "local"
for some take-out Buffalo Wings. The patio was packed with people taking advantage
of the warmer weather:



And, I have to say, the wings were most excellent! Night!

[zerokarma]

Beatiful shots of Toronto, good work.

[Wildchild]

Taller,Better,

I live in Michigan, and at the tender age of 24 I've had the privilege of travelling to many places such as : Paris, NYC, Tokyo, Sydney, Istanbul, just to name a few.
I've also visited Canada's top 3 cities(TO-MTL-VAN), and without a doubt Toronto is my favorite city. It's a city which always feels like home and in the future it will be!

[InTheBeach]

Originally Posted by Wildchild

Taller,Better,

I live in Michigan, and at the tender age of 24 I've had the privilege of travelling to many places such as : Paris, NYC, Tokyo, Sydney, Istanbul, just to name a few.
I've also visited Canada's top 3 cities(TO-MTL-VAN), and without a doubt Toronto is my favorite city. It's a city which always feels like home and in the future it will be!

Looks like we've hooked another one!

I suggest that you move to The Beach.

Great picks TB.

[algonquin]

Originally Posted by InTheBeach

I suggest that you move to The Beach.

Is that near the Beaches?

[Taller, Better]

LOL!! Hey Wildchild, good to hear you are a TO convert. All are welcome! Finally the dreary rainshowers seem to have left, and it felt much warmer tonight as I cycled home from work. A few random shot... first, our Legislature Building:

[Jaye101]

This is an awsome thread... *subscribes to updates*...

[Varsben]

Taller, Better

In return for your interesting phototour of "Polish" Toronto, I was willing to show some "Canada in Warsaw". Well, your country's embassy is all I found in my archives, hmmm... but I hope you enjoy these two pics.

Canada's representation is behind the trees. Here's how it looks in autumn and in winter. It's a very prestigious place, our Parliament is nearby.





Excuse me for this little offtopic.

[InTheBeach]

Originally Posted by algonquin

Is that near the Beaches?

I don't know. Are you talking about the eastern beaches, or the western beaches? Is the Beaches near the lake?

[Taller, Better]

Originally Posted by Vars_

Taller, Better

In return for your interesting phototour of "Polish" Toronto, I was willing to show some "Canada in Warsaw". Well, your country's embassy is all I found in my archives, hmmm... but I hope you enjoy these two pics.

Canada's representation is behind the trees. Here's how it looks in autumn and in winter. It's a very prestigious place, our Parliament is nearby.


Excuse me for this little offtopic.

Hey Vars, thanks so much for the cool pix!! I love those shots! Not off topic
at all. The Polish Consulate in TO is a very handsome and large old Victorian house.
I will have new pix to post soon from this past weekend!

[Taller, Better]

I finally got my pictures from last weekend organised. The annual "Doors Open Toronto"
was held, with the added bonus of sunny, hot weather. Doors Open features 144 buildings/spaces that open up to the public for tours, free of charge. It started out as a one time only event to celebrate the millenium in 2000, but proved so wildly popular that it has become annual. Torontonians love their architecture, and the crowds are immense. I used my bicycle for greater agility and was able to hit about 30 places over the two days. I'll start with my favourite, the 54th floor of the Toronto Dominion Bank Tower. The tower, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, was completed in 1967, and looks as fresh and contemporary today as it did then. Very similar in design to The Seagram Building in New York, this marked the beginning of this newer style of highrise office towers in Toronto. Here are some views I snapped:



















As was van der Rohe's style, every minute detail has his touch, including of course all the furniture. Here are his famous Barcelona chairs:



and here is the 11 metre boardroom table, cut from a single tree:



Then, down the street a few paces to a much older style of "skyscraper". Commerce Court North, completed in 1931 in a beautiful Art Deco style, was the tallest building in the British Commonwealth from 1931-1962. The immense banking hall is very grand and luxe in finishes.. a sight to behold.









Next stop, on the same famous King Street, is a newly renovated office tower from 1913, that has had an elegant, slim condominium tower built behind it. The old Dominion Bank looks fresh and sparkling after the conversion:



the massive walk in vault:



Views from the boardroom penthouse of the old banking building:
















Next stop, the much loved Canada Life Building on University Avenue. Built in 1931 in a neo-classical Beaux Arts style, it has remained a landmark on The Avenue since day 1:



views from the observation tower



Nearby, the beautiful 1928 University Club, modelled after the famous Boodles club in London, it is regarded as one of the finest examples of classical architecture in Canada. It houses a very important collection of Canadian art from "The Group of Seven":









Then it is outside and back onto the Avenue, with a spectacular view of the brand new "Canadian Opera Company" Opera House:



Next a short bike ride North on the Avenue to the University of Toronto campus, where several buildings were open for tours. First The Soldier's Tower, built to commemorate the men and women of the University who died fighting in World War I:







an interesting building detail on Hart House:



and the grand University College building of 1856:







I will post more pictures later today, but now must dash to a dentist appointment!

[Taller, Better]

There, glad that dentist thing is out of the way. Next we move on to one of the most
beautiful Art Moderne spaces in North America - The Carlu. In 1931, Lady Eaton commissioned Jacques Carlu to design a recital hall and dining area that would be the jewel of Eaton's Uptown Department store. Carlu, who was from Paris, was of course famous for designing the interior of what I believe to be the most beautiful ship ever built- The Normandie. Buoyed by the success of the stunning space he created, Carlu then went on to create the famous Rainbow Room in the Rockefeller Center in NYC. Here are some pictures I took at the Carlu. I start with a photo of the beautiful Art Deco College Park store, of which the Carlu is on the 7th floor:













Here are details of some of the wall murals painted by Carlu's daughter Natacha:





I am sure the good Lady Eaton was rightfully proud of this jewel that she brought to our city. Now, for variety, some Toronto churchs. First, St Paul's Basilica, built in 1887 in the style of the Italian Renaissance style St Paul's Outside the Walls. It is the only official Minor Basilica in Toronto, and was built to serve the poor Irish Catholic immigrants who flocked to Toronto to live and work. Recently the magnificent interior was cleaned and restored to its original glory. Enjoy!











And, only a block away, let us compare it to an Anglican church that was built in 1844 to serve poor Irish immigrants as well, but Protestant ones. This is the oldest church building still standing in Toronto, and suffered a fire in the 50's:









And now for something completely different!!! St George's Greek Orthodox Church, which started out life in 1890 as the Holy Blossom Synagogue, and converted to Greek Orthodox in 1937. The lush interiors were painted by the Pachomaioi monks:









I feasted on traditional Greek foods in the basement, made with love by a group of Greek grandmothers. When I asked for a Coke, one wagged her finger at me and playfully said: "No Coke. Orange Juice only. Is good for you, has fibre"!!

I spotted an interesting building on the way as I cycled. Here is the SAS building, built with environmental technology and planning:



also drove past the whimsical Paradise Cafe, which appears to have closed, sadly. They've closed Paradise, but not put a parking lot just yet...



A live Swing Band entertaining the troups for free on King St East:



One of Toronto's most cherished buildings, The Gooderham Flatiron Building, built in 1892 on a small wedge of land, in a combination of Gothic Revival and Romanesque styles. It predates the Flatiron Building in New York City by ten years.



and another solid Victorian Gooderham building built entirely in the Romanesque style:



And, one of my favourite downtown Churches, the Anglican St. Jame's Cathedral built in a Gothic Revival style in 1853:











And one last church, so as not to burn you all out, as this one has a spectacularily pretty stained glass window. Also one of the oldest churches in Toronto, The Holy Trinity was built in 1847 by the grace of a good lady in Yorkshire, who left money in her will for the building of a Free Anglican Church in Toronto. At the time, people were always charged money to rent a pew.... this lady was opposed to the concept and wanted a free church to be enjoyed by all:









and the spectacular window created by a Toronto stained glass firm, McCauslands, around 1850. They are still in business to this very day.
Mr McCausland had the good sense to marry the daughter of a powerful Torontonian, and enjoyed many plum projects after that wise decision:



Moving on now to a Toronto landmark, Osgoode Hall which was built in 1832(with additions since), and which houses the Law Society of Upper Canada. The facade looks the same today as it did in 1860:













Next stop, Firehall Number 4, built in 1903, now The Alumnae Theatre:


It is on Berkely Street, with its charming cobblestones in front of Victorian rowhouses:



And speaking of charming Victorian rowhouses, there is one particulariy cute row built in 1879 on Clarence Square. They are in the shadow of The CN Tower, and God only knows how they survived to this day:



One departure from the 143 buildings on Doors Open, is one Tall Ship! The Empire Sandy which was requisitioned by the British Government during WWII, and used as a tug. Today it is a pleasure yacht which can be rented out for harbour cruises..









While down on Harbourfront, I snapped a few pictures:























I will revisit Harbourfront in the summer to take more pictures.

And finally The Royal Canadian Military Insitute (1890) on University Avenue:



With a spectacular collection of antique toy soldiers:



On Monday, the temperatures soared to 34C, so I hopped on the ferry to the Toronto Islands, to enjoy a cooler day soaking up the beauty of these largely undeveloped islands.













The Southern tip of Toronto is a beach:



A City of Toronto nude beach on Hanlan's Point (taken at a discreet distance! )



A 200 year old Lighthouse that is allegedly haunted!!



A cheeky swan who wouldn't stop pestering me at lunch til I tossed him a french fry



The peaceful, bucolic charm of the islands is everywhere you look...



A statue of a famous Canadian rower Ned Hanlan, after whom part of the Islands is named:













And Centreville, a children's amusement park not yet open for the summer:











and finally a few leftover pics that didn't seem to fit into anywhere!













City Hall by day:



and a parting shot of City Hall by night



Thanks to everyone who joined me on this tour today!

[Skybean]

Fabulous set. I enjoyed your commentary thoroughly.

I haven't been inside any of those churches. The frescos and ceiling murals are very nice.

Especially St. Paul's

[rise_against]

So good it hurt...

[Marcanadian]

Nice photos. Just about killed my computer though.

[Taller, Better]

Thanks guys!! I worry about it crashing people's computers so let me know if I get too many pix!
I, too was a bit shocked at St Paul's... I did not expect it to be that beautiful.
I have always loved the exterior, though... one does not expect to find an Italian Renaissance Church in Toronto! Just wasn't a style that caught on here. We are so lucky to have Doors Open... next year I will have my new, better camera.

[Taller, Better]

A few signs of summer that I saw while out walking the dogs through Cabbagetown this afternoon. Rhododendrums- these are as big as they will grow here in TO as the
winters are too cold to get as luxuriant as they are in Vancouver:









Here is a bush that leaves a thick carpet of white petals on the sidewalk:





One of a hundred cute little doll-sized old brick cottages in the area:



White picket fence with poppies:



and a nearby apartment building with irises and peonies

[Godot]

i cant believe i had to miss open doors this year as i am out of town. it looks like it was
amazing this year! great fotos btw

[Taller, Better]

It was my first Doors Open, really, as I had been put off by a big lineup at the Carlu one year. Takes planning and determination, but it is sooooo worth it!

[Travis007]