Toronto Urban Strolls

Post-note Sun. Sept 7: I took photos during the event yesterday. See below!

This weekend is the Cabbagetown Festival, from Thursday Sept. 4 to Sunday Sept. 7.

Expect plenty of stands in the park adjacent to Riverdale Farm, filled with goodies from great artists (many of them you've met at the One of a Kind). They also offer shows and activities. Check cabbagetownfestival.org for more information. The event spills around the park. Locals offer yard sales, sections of Carlton and Parliament go carless, street musicians and buskers add to the fun.

I'd say this is the perfect time to try my Cabbagetown Nooks & Crannies Stroll (STROLL #15 in my walking guide Toronto Urban Strolls 1) which, by the way, you are sure to find in the fabulous gift and jewelry store Labour of Love at 242 Carlton Street, in Cabbagetown.

On Parliament Street.

Spruce on Parliament

Across the street from Spruce on Parliament.

On Carlton

Labour of Love, carrying Toronto Urban Strolls 1 & 2!

My friend and I, agreeing The Scullery scones are some of the best in Toronto
(just off all the action on 200 Carlton)

As the author and publisher of three Toronto guides, always on the lookout for the cool things in and around our city, I've loved The Distillery from the start.

It is in the Time Travel chapter of Toronto Fun Places, and I created The Distillery Red Brick Stroll in Toronto Urban Strolls 1 to better enjoy this attraction.

Bergo Design at The Distillery usually carries my guides.

But I have more reasons to appreciate the historic district. As a marketing girl, I also have a few clients. Prologue is one of them. Their office is in the heart of The Distillery, and I'm there every week.

Everyone loves working at The Distillery. And now that they have launched the #DistilleryLove Twitter campaign, Prologue and I are using it as an excuse to share all the little things we love about it (in no particular order). Enjoy!

About Prologue
Prologue to the Performing Arts is a not-for-profit provincial & bilingual organisation booking over 2,200 performances for young audiences in the schools and in public venues throughout Ontario.
For almost 50 years now, they've scouted the artistic scene to find the best performing arts to present into the schools and before young audiences. You can follow them on Facebook to show your support to arts education.

Prologue's #DistilleryLove 1
How The Distillery keeps evolving and improving!
Here, the "after" and the "before of Case Goods Lane
(featuring very slick Caffe Furbo)

Prologue's #DistilleryLove 2
Coffee break at Balzac's Coffee

Prologue's #DistilleryLove 3
Surprises at every corner

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View from Prologue's office in Case Goods Building

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The metal cut-outs around Mexican restaurant El Catrin

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Sense of humour by Mini Mioche kids clothing store

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Vintage charm everywhere

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French signs at Balzac's

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The little Lovebot on Trinity Street, one of the 100 Love Robots which invaded Toronto,
placed here in recognition of Green Moxie. Read the full story on lovebot.com. (Update Sept. 2014: It's not there anymore!)

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Vintage charm of a truck

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Air-conditioned café inside Young Centre

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Architectural detail

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Gift shopping at Bergo Design

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Vintage structure inside Case Goods Building, from when the bottles were on the roll

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En Catrin Mexican patio, even prettier at night

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Lovers' lock on the LOVE structure

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The pear and brie grilled cheese at Sweet Escape. Yum!

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The kids section in Bergo's back store

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Vintage recipe collage on tables at Sweet Escape

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Romeo and Juliet balcony-like structure. Romeo, where art thou?

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Vintage signs

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Window shopping

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Take-outs from the Brick Street Bakery
(sausage rolls to die for)

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Vintage elevator in Case Goods Building (not for public use)

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The Distillery artifacts all around the site

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Artsy display of artifacts (here, Toronto's earliest sewer pipes)

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Bilingual signs at every historic artifacts. Bien. Très bien!

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The shops/studios in Case Goods Building (open Wednesday to Sunday)

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Young Centre's policy of allowing drinks inside the theatre!
(No need to rush during the intermission of SoulPepper plays.)