Open Street TO: another great Toronto carless event!

Open Street TO 2015: Sunday August 16 and Sunday September 6, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Last year was a pilot. This year, it's taking place on two separate dates along Bloor (between Parliament and Bathurst) and Yonge (between Bloor and Queen). Next year, I think we'll officially have a new Toronto tradition!

Last year, I started to walk on Parliament. The wide street was empty of people, and carless. The good citizen that I am had to train herself to actually walk on the street. By default, I kept walking on the sidewalk!

Closer to Yonge, the crowd started to show up. It took me a while to figure out what was different about this event. Then I clued in! No vendors!!! It makes a big difference. The event did not rent street space to street vendors. Instead, they've welcomed any organisations who want to offer some form of physical activity.

I've seen moms who simply couldn't resist the invitation to jump in dancing ropes. Poeple had drawn labyrinth on the asphalt. Many wrote fun messages. Some were involved in the creation of an installation called Disposable Project. This year, I expect even more action!

Of course, the stores open and some offer sidewalk discounts, but many also play along with the spirit of the event and give samples or pay entertainement. During my visit, Holt Renfrew offered free coffee and a cool band.

All in all, a refreshing event for the whole family, dog included!

Crema Coffee at 53 Bloor East

La Société at 131 Bloor West

L'Espresso Bar Mercurio at 321 Bloor West

Open Street TO
Crema Coffee (53 Bloor East)
La Société (131 Bloor West)
L'Espresso Bar Mercurio (321 Bloor West)

Toronto's new public art at Eastern and Sumach

They sure had their work cut-out for them!

Scott Eunson and Marianne Lovink are Canadian artists who have been working collaboratively on public art projects since 2009. They're the duo responsible for the gorgeous Lansdowne Fence Streetscape commissioned by the TTC.

We can now admire their new installation along Sumach Street, at the corner of Eastern and Sumach in Corktown, by Pan Am's village of the athletes. Follow the sidewalk eastbound on Eastern to reach the great Underpass Park, or walk a few minutes south of Eastern, on Cherry Street, to access The Distillery).

Start at Eastern and Sumach to better appreciate the chronological progression of the art: from the wilderness, thousands of years ago, to modern day Inglenook School, that we can see right at this corner!

If you go with kids, tell them to spot: an aboriginal long house, a wind mill, an axe, snowshoes, a tall ship, a horse, a hockey stick, a bird, a house in fire, a dream catcher, a church, Victorian houses, the CN Tower and its reflection in a high rise...

At Sumach and King East, turn west to see the amazing murals on four pillars of the underpass.

 

The artists' other artwork in Toronto is located along Paton Road and Lansdowne Avenue, two blocks north of Lansdowne Subway Station. (It is part of the West Toronto Railpath Stroll #5 in my walking guide Toronto Urban Strolls 2.)

 

Odin Cafe + Bar... and murals

Don't be fooled by the simple facade (and tiny patio). Inside, the spacious café Odin features a beautiful design with a Nordic look. It belongs to the owners of Thor Espresso Bar, another café in the same spirit on Bathurst. 

Located at the north-west corner of Kings East and River (514 King East), Odin also serves alcohol, which makes it the perfect stop for a drink after a walk in the neighbourhood. (Open Monday to Thursday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m, Friday 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

  

  

Underpass Park, south of King East & River

Cool combo
Combine with a walk to the Underpass Park, to admire the murals adorning the pillars of the great skatepark (and the cool urban playground across from the skatepark). Normally, you could add a stroll in Corktown Common, the lovely park with a pond at the foot of Lower River, but it is temporarily closed until August 31 due to the Pan Am and Parapan Am Games.

If you continue along Eastern to Sumach Street, you will see the gorgeous cut-out metal sculpture along Sumach. (The Distillery is just 5 minutes away, south west of that corner.) West of Sumach on King, you'll be able to admire more murals on pillars.

Keeping life fun and vibrant

My friend (and the illustrator of my book covers) Johanne Pepin just sent me a comment she received by someone to whom she recently gave my guides. 

No wonder I'm still so passionate about searching and sharing my enthusiasm for the daily pleasures of urban life. 

"Your package arrived today, a feast for the eyes before I opened it with the lovely "art envelope"  - it made me laugh and smile. When I opened it (just back from a trip to the city to pick up medications), two Toronto ladies and friends were here, and we all oohed and aahed for a half hour, looking through the books. 

They took down the name of the guides and will also look for the family book for their daughters and grandchildren. What a true work of art and thought, in beauty and conception, by Nathalie - how clever of her, and I bet it has been fun for her to create these. 

I look forward to many "walk explorations" using her book, on my own and with friends and family. One of these years I hope to have my own place somewhere in the area with a special guest room, a place to keep exploring. 

The book reminded me how, when I was young (age 9 - 11), a childhood friend and I used to walk the neighborhood as our fun, "exploring" streets and shops and alleys and everything. It was an adventure, it reminds me to keep seeing life with the wonder and fresh eyes of young ones. It keeps life fun and vibrant." 

The making of the cover for Toronto Urban Strolls

By the way, Johanne Pepin has created affordable vinyl murals that can be used to decorate rooms, playgrounds, daycares, waiting rooms... Very whimsical. Check them out!

Luckee by Susur Lee

Loved it!
Last week, I went with two friends to try the dim sum brunch at Luckee, Susur Lee's new Chinese restaurant. 

My two friends are French guys. And the two French guys behind yummybaguette.com. That is to say they are really, really picky about desserts. One of them, a vegetarian, has travelled extensively throughout Asia. That is to say he is truly picky about Asian food. I'm just a girl who loves good food. We all loved it!

Luckee Chinese Restaurant & Bar is located at 328 Wellington Street West, within the Soho Hotel in Toronto. You can use their own door (passing by a whimsical mural) but I recommend you enter through the Soho Hotel, stop on the threshold and look up to admire Chihuly's fantastic glasswork with the CN Tower in the background.

On your left, take in the dramatic decor of Luckee's beautiful lounge, mixing up the modern and traditional with luscious red velvet furniture, modern lamps and huge photo of a bather. The restaurant section is beyond the bar. It includes a counter overlooking the busy kitchen. (I was told that we can also eat in the lounge when the section is open.)

You can dine there Tuesday to Sunday from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. and have a dim sum brunch Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The bar section is open daily from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Note that the regular menu also offers dim sum, just not as many as you'll find on the dim sum brunch menu. You can reserve online.

I'm sure everything is equally good on the menu but our favourite amongst the selection we tasted during our visit: the crunchy texture of the rice rolls, the beautiful square shape of the crab and tofu dim sum and the cloud-like fell of the coconut tart. We didn't take alcohol and it cost us $33 per person, tax and tip included. We'll be back!

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A Paperbag Princess...

At Christmas time, it's always a pleasure to walk by Lea-Ann Belter's bridal boutique at the corner of Dundas and Broadview in Toronto. For years, the designer has dressed up her Christmas windows with glamorous paper dress creations.

That's the spirit!