Church Street Murals Project in Toronto

New reason to walk around Church Street

The Village just became even more colourful, thanks to the new Church Street Murals Project now offering great murals to be admired along Church Street. The last one was launched on June 21, 2014, is a creation by muralist John Kune, the artist who did most of the murals featured in the ISLINGTON VILLAGE Mural Stroll (Walk #2 in Toronto Urban Strolls 1).

One of the volunteers who helped with the project just happens to be my ex-neighbour Sarah Levinson. It's a small world! Christiano De Araujo, who was in charge of the team who executed John Kune's vision on that end of the murals circuit, is also the artist responsible for the beautiful mural Bathhouse Raids on the other end (on the south wall of The Marquis at Church and Granby). It refers to the infamous bathhouse raids of April 1983.

Bathhouse Raids by Christiano De Araujo

I recommend you start your visit with Christiano's mural. It is located just across from two other murals and Bulldog Coffee, a shop praised by serious coffee drinkers (one block south of Carlton).

Then walk northbound on Church to enter Church-Wellesley Village. Lift your nose at the south-west corner of Carlton and Church to see the lion carved in the red stone. The Maple Leaf Loblaws is located on the north-west corner (worth a visit, it is huge!). Along the way, marvel at the way advertisers have adapted their billboards to appeal to the gay community.

    

Crews and Tangos, the next stop on the Murals circuit, is a fixture in the Village and Toronto's #1 Drag Barat (508 Church Street). I think its make-over suits it perfectly! 

On the north-west corner of Church and Wellesley is another cluster of murals. On Wellesley Street, you'll see the colourful strips of colours on the facade of the Barber Shop. In the small alley just west of the shop, are three more murals.  

It's too bad this alley is used by the local businesses to store their garbage, which unfortunately makes it smelly, because there are many amusing details to observe.

There's one more to see (around the corner off the alley). Then, cross the street to access Cawthra Park for the big finale on the north wall of the 519 Community Centre by the lovely square newly pavement adorned the centre on both sides, and wooden stage. There's a cute little playground with splash pad on the south side of the park. Keep walking and you'll see the Aids Memorial. 

The making of

Wondering how such big murals are done? My friend Sarah explained to me that they first primed the wall, then, with the help of a giant projector, they projected John Kuna's image on the wall and traced it. Many volunteers then each worked on a section, under the supervision of Christiano De Araujo.

It is customary in large projects like this that artisans take some liberties with the original design... (Don' worry Sarah, your secret is safe with me.)  

The original illustration by John Kune

 

Strolling around Liberty Village

I spy public art
The historic buildings give an interesting vibe to the area but at first sight, there doesn't seem to be much else to see around Liberty Village (south-east of Dufferin and King). 

When doing research, I actually found enough urban surprises to create the LIBERTY VILLAGE Factory Stroll (Stroll #20 in Toronto Urban Strolls 1).

I recently was in Liberty Village to visit the new location of Moses Znaimer MZTV Museum (see the photo gallery in this post I wrote in French about the museum). 

Here are the best shots of what's around, including a quick look at the gorgeous merchandise in West Elm's huge lifestyle store, and Louis Café, the coffee shop which just opened two weeks ago.

On my way to MZTV Museum (on Jefferson), I noticed that the Liberty Market Café has cranked up the signage around its patio.

South of the Museum, on the east side of Jefferson, there's an alley lined with murals illustrating the evolution of the industrial hub. At the end of the alley, you see the largest parking lot of Liberty Village.

Balzac's Coffee Shop at Liberty and Hanna 

Going south on Hanna to Snooker Street

Starbucks on Snooker, east of Hanna

Patio of Mildred's Kitchen Temple down the alley  at the foot of Hanna

The alley between Mildred's and West Elm store

They have a coffee bar!

See what I mean? 

There's more...

The Roastery (back on Liberty Street, west of Hanna)

See the photo gallery of the BenchMark project responsible for all the decorated benches throughout Liberty Village. My favourites are located at the corner of Liberty and Fraser, near the very cool School Restaurant.

On the School's facade

There used to be a carpet factory on the premises, hence this beautiful mural near the parking lot in the back of the School Restaurant. Continue in the alley around the mural and you'll find the best historic buildings of Liberty Village and Caffino, a very good Italian restaurant.

Caffino's side patio

Louis Café, a new coffee shop on King Street, west of Fraser

Strolling around High Park

The zen side of High Park

Last weekend, I had a lovely zen afternoon with girlfriends. We ate delicious raw food at Rawlicious, admired the vibrant and serene collages of artist Josée Duranleau at Runnymede Public Library, topped if off with an americano at Red Bean Espresso before entering the west end side of High Park for a walk by the pond. Ommmm... (with a little caffeine buzz).

 About Rawlicious

The whole menu offers tasty adaptations of popular meals entirely made following the raw food principles (never heating food above 115 degrees Fahrenheit). Your Pad Thai will be very good... but cold! The noodles are obviously not your regular boiled pasta but made out of zucchini and kelp, and they offer a satisfying noodle-like texture. 

Dried grains and vegetables are shaped into bread-like slices. Kale chips are decadent. Don't be fooled by the size and appearance of the desserts. They are scrumptious! Good new: raw foodies don't shy away from cocktails topped with vodka or rum. Rawlicious is located at 2122 Bloor West, between High park and Runnymede Subway Stations.

About Red Bean Café

Two stores down Rawlicious, you'll find the cool café Red Bean Espresso (I love their wall made out of vintage doors and the staff is very friendly). They serve very good coffee as well as gelato in spring and summer. They're the perfect stop to grab a coffee before heading to High Park. 

About exhibitions at Runnymede Public Library

Runnymede Public Library is at Runnymede Subway Station, just a few minutes walk west of Rawlicious. I didn't know they had a small art gallery on the second floor until last weekend when I attended the opening of Josée Duranleau's exhibition (going on until June 30). It features eight of Josée's feminine Buddhas surrounded by flowers and colourful textures (each piece listed between $400 and $485).

Josée Duranleau at Runnymede Library until June 30 

About High Park

Most people enter High Park through its Bloor entrance or off the east side of the park. I prefer accessing it from the west side, where a path to your right leads you along the marsh section of the pond, where chances are you'll see cranes and ducks. (Walk down Ellis Park Road and through the little playground at Wendigo Way.)