Many neighbourhood streets are lined on both sides with outdoor patios. 
Some are identified by flowers, green plants, works of art, and plain old cones. 
Many downtown streets are narrow to begin with, and patios take over from buses, trucks, and cars. Drivers and parkers are being challenged. Restaurants and bars are open and thriving. Patios are taking over. It’s a different world. <Photos above – #1 – Parliament Street; #2 – Church Street; #3 – Cabbagetown’s Amelia Street>.
Monthly Archives: August 2021
HONEST ED’S BARGAIN STORE, LANDMARK & FUN PALACE’, WILL BE A NEW MIRVISH “VILLAGE” SOON
The established older building was knocked down a few years ago, and now its replacement is rising, and should be finished within a year or so. 
The Mirvish Village Park is being developed by the Westbank Corporation who bought the site in 2013. Now they’re making use of the space. Emphasis is on outdoor greenery, along with mix-used residential buildings, boutique shops, restaurants. food entrepreneurs, live music and artisans. 
The outdoor area will accommodate perks like bird-friendly gardens, shade trees, outdoor seating space, and a children’s water feature. It’s to be expected with such a massive production many details still have to be worked out and assembled.
IN HIS 30’S MATT GREEN SETS GOALS FOR HIMSELF, LIKE WALKING ACROSS THE UNITED STATES
Traveling on his own two legs Matt walked across the United States from Rockaway Beach New York to Rockaway Beach, Oregon some years ago. The latest quest for this ex-civil engineer, was to get off his duff, give up his apartment, get rid of most possessions, and walk every block and street in New York City. 
He now couch-surfs across the boroughs and lives on about $15 a day – no small challenge in the Big Apple. 
“At its core, my walk is an oxymoron: an exhaustive journey through an inexhaustible city. Instead of seeing a million places for just a minute each, I’m going to spend a million minutes exploring just one place.” – says MATT GREEN. 
He is also a better-than-average photographer, and has an eye for New York’s idiosyncrasies, both its beauty and ugliness, curiosities and national landmarks.
THE ECONOMIST RANKS TORONTO AS “THE SECOND SAFEST CITY IN THE WORLD”
How about this folks? Sure we’ve had our share of gun violence, traffic jams, and crazy driving, but we rank just behind Copenhagen at the top.
This 2021 Economist List takes into account digital, infrastructure, personal and environmental security, and especially health security. We did well with pedestrian friendliness, infrastructure security, our public transport systems, the road network and its maintenance. Over the last 17 months our pandemic preparedness and healthcare system helped bolster our score. Here’s the full list in order – 1) Copenhagen, 2) Toronto, 3) Singapore, 4) Sydney, 5) Tokyo, 6) Amsterdam, 7) Wellington, 8) Hong Kong, 9) Melbourne, and 10) Stockholm.
THE NATIONAL BALLET SCHOOL OF CANADA, FOUNDED IN 1959, A WORLD LEADER IN BALLET TRAINING
The National Ballet School (NBS) of Canada occupies a number of buildings – some historic, some brand new – on Jarvis and Maitland Streets in downtown Toronto. Since its founding, NBS has been acclaimed for excellence in the training of dance professionals. Graduates perform in major companies worldwide, and include some of the finest choreographers and artistic directors. The School is associated with The National Ballet of Canada, itself founded in 1951.
WHAT IS THE ONTARIO LINE, WHERE WILL IT GO, AND WHY DO WE NEED IT?
The Ontario Line will create faster connections between dozens of vibrant neighbourhoods and make it easier than ever to travel within Toronto and beyond. The 15.6-kilometre, 15-stop subway line will run from Exhibition Place, through the heart of downtown, and all the way to the Ontario Science Centre. It will give people great relief from regional GO trains, to existing subways, to new light rail transit lines, and more. With fifteen potential stations between Exhibition Place and The Science Centre, and potential links to GO Transit and TTC Lines #1 and #2, the Ontario Line will bring more transit to more in-need communities sooner than previously thought by using a mix of at-grade (surface) track, elevated guideways and underground tunnels.
The Ontario Line would be able to reach transit-deprived communities such as Flemingdon Park, Thorncliffe Park, Liberty Village and Fort York. 
For the record, Vancouver’s SkyTrain network has become the longest rapid transit system in Canada. The Dockland’s Light Railway System in London has grown to nearly 40 kilometres worth of track. 
Major construction on The Ontario Line is slated to begin in 2023.
WHAT IS THIS EXACTLY? IT’S OFFICIALLY “DONNIE THE TUNNEL BORER”
Tunnel borers have been at work in Toronto for years, with more to come as our subway system expands. Donnie probably weighs about 400 tonnes and would be something like 10 metres long. This machine was assigned to drill The Coxwell By-pass Tunnel to stop storm overflows of sewage into Lake Ontario, thus improving Toronto’s waterways. This project is part of the $3-billion Don River and Central Waterfront Project. Way to go, Donnie!
B-MOVIES IN THE 1930’S & 40’S MIGHT HAVE INSPIRED SOME TO BECOME CAREER WOMEN
<‘She’s A Soldier Too’ –“sock drama of the gals who wear the pants these days” – Columbia Pictures, 1944, celebrating wartime contributions of working women including Rosie the Riviter & Swing Shift Maisie.>
<‘Air Hostess’ – “love flies high with the Air Hostess” – Columbia Pictures,1949, thrills, drama, romance.>
<‘Public Stenographer’> – Showmen’s Pictures, 1934.
JAMES TURRELL, BORN IN PASADENA, CALIFORNIA, IS KNOWN FOR LIGHT TUNNELS & PROJECTS
“My interest is working with light and space. I have always been fascinated with the range of light at different locations around the world.” – James Turrell . . . . Stop by the Bay/Adelaide Centre, 333 Bay Street, to enjoy Mr. Turrell’s animated sculpture. “Straight Flush”. installed in 2009. 
It’s in the lobby on the south side.
TORONTO’S TRANSIT SYSTEMS, DESPITE THE PANDEMIC, ARE SOMEWHAT FLOURISHING
First off – the newly renovated Union Station. Mayor John Tory says: “After construction work that has seen delays and increasing costs, renovations to Union Station are finally complete”. <Photo above by Metrolinx – Opening Day of The Bay Concourse>
TTC’s streetcars have picked themselves up, and the riderships are increasing. The cars are well looked after and they seem to have an increased number of riders, who follow the rules choosing seats. 
Queen’s Park has a newly renovated subway station. It’s a big improvement over the previous tile design. The subway system itself has been undergoing construction improvements during the summer. <The photo above is by Ross Winter.>.
Toronto Savvy 