Monthly Archives: October 2013
SHEDDING ITS DARK PAST, HISTORIC DON JAIL PUTS ON A HAPPY FACE
Built in 1864, the DON JAIL has become the administration centre for a brand new hospital – Bridgepoint Health. On the ground floor, the rotunda with its skylight and recently uncovered glass floor, is the highlight. On the second level, walkways are held up by wrought-iron gargoyles (dragons and snakes). A group of cells and the gallows have been retained in their original state in the basement.
<PHOTOS – “Father Time” peering down over the front entranceway which had been closed for more than 30 years; and the rotunda with its skylight, soon to become a public gallery and a place for lectures, community and hospital events.>
When billboard advertising was in flower – Bay Street at Adelaide, 1910
<PHOTO – City of Toronto Archives>
“Decisions-Decisions”, Queen Elizabeth II chooses a hat, by CHARLES PACHTER
Queen Elizabeth II peruses her hat closet, in “Decisions-Decisions”/2013 by TORONTO artist, CHARLES PACHTER. Upcoming for Mr. Pachter: a series of paintings about Canada’s role in the First World War commissioned by Ontario’s Attorney-General, and a series of large paintings depicting the War of 1812. These will be displayed at the new Fort York visitors centre.
DON JAIL PRISONERS ONCE FARMED RIVERDALE PARK EAST
In 1856 the City of TORONTO purchased 119 acres east of the Don River, including the present-day park, for the building of the Don Jail. The land, originally cultivated by John and Melicent Scadding, was then farmed by prisoners as part of a Victorian-era reform program. The site opened as a park in 1880, and with the annexation of Riverdale in 1884, it was expanded to the west side of the river as well. It’s a gem.
Riverdale Park East boasts the steepest tobogganing hill in downtown TORONTO.
Massey College is a “place of dignity, grace, beauty and warmth”
MASSEY COLLEGE, 4 Devonshire Place, is a well-connected and financially endowed institution in downtown TORONTO. Designed by Canadian architect, RON THOM, and opened in 1963 by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, this is one of the University of Toronto’s most beautiful buildings. <PHOTOS 1 & 2 by SchwerinG/wikipedia>
Massey College was conceived by VINCENT MASSEY, 18th Governor-General of Canada, as a “place of dignity, grace, beauty and warmth”.
SPADINA AVENUE, DOWNTOWN’S WIDEST STREET, IS ‘BARGAIN CENTRAL’
A SCULPTURAL VERSION OF EASTER ISLAND’S MONOLITHS IS HEADED FOR LIBERTY VILLAGE
OLAF BREUNING, the Swiss-born, New York-based artist, will soon begin assembling his first-ever public art installation in TORONTO’s Liberty Village. Funded by the City of Toronto’s “percent planning” (a development levy), “The Guardians” is based on Breuning’s earlier work, “Easter Bunnies”/2004. The “Bunnies” refer to the monolithic sculptures found on Easter Island. OLAF BREUNING: “With these huge things standing there, you think, ‘How could these have arrived?’ They look like they could fall apart in a second, these stones that are standing on edge or burned. I tried to create a sculpture with the same idea. They look like nothing is balanced, despite being made out of types of metal; so while they’re in fact very steady, hopefully when you look at them, you’ll think, ‘Oh, they could just fall down.’”
A JUNCTION DISTILLERY makes the list of Blouin ArtInfo’s “World’s top 5 urban distilleries”
TORONTO, once home to the world’s largest distillery – Gooderham and Worts – has given birth to a much smaller version in the JUNCTION. It’s the first since 1933 in a neighbourhood of “DIY urban regeneration (and ironically in an area that kept Prohibition until 2000).”
The Toronto Distillery Company – http://www.torontodistillery.ca – consists of one still, two friends, small numbered batches. “It takes a regional, organic approach with all Ontario-sourced grains where everything can be traced back to a particular farm and harvest. In other words, terroir, something you don’t get much in the distilled spirits market; typically manufactured by cheap grains or neutral alcohol in bulk, and it’s all about the aging and barrels. “Their 100% Organic Ontario Wheat run was said to have ‘slight maltiness and hints of violets’ on the nose, and notes of hot white pepper, bitter black licorice, and citrus on its ‘sweet, creamy’ palate.” Other worthy distilleries in Blouin ArtInfo’s “top 5” are located in Boston, Detroit, London, and New York City. Well done, JUNCTION!
PART COMPANY CAR . . . PART MASCOT. ROYAL NUT’S ‘NUTMOBILE’ GETS NOTICED
When the Nutmobile passes by, you notice. On top, the Royal Nuts crown, and behind, a bushy squirrel’s tail. This small TORONTO company has been in business for over 3 decades. Their specialty – a unique process using direct flame and hot air, never oil, to roast the nuts. Website – http://www.royalnuts.ca
Toronto Savvy 