City
Phase one of Regent Park revitalization nears completion
Regent Park is Canada's oldest and largest social housing project. The former slum of Cabbagetown was razed in the 1950s to create what its creators hoped would be a more modern and livable neighbourhood for low-income families. However, as with much much modernist social housing built during the period -- like the Cabrini-Green project in Chicago -- such housing projects have witnessed escalating crime and vandalism ever since. City
Vintage Toronto postcards, redux
Having shared my first set of old Toronto postcards under a "then and now" theme, I decided to go with a little less structure this time around. As interesting as it is to compare the old city with its contemporary counterpart, the literalism of the exercise tends to diminish the intrigue that surrounds these historical materials.So there will be no Google Street View today. Instead, I've confined myself to imagining what these buildings and street-scapes look like now, if indeed, they exist at all.
City
Dupont Station losing its charm due to neglect
Dupont subway station is my absolute favourite station on the entire TTC subway network. Designed by Dunlop-Farrow Architects and built in 1978, the station is simply beautiful. Its unique orange colour palette, gorgeous floral-themed mosaic tile work by James Sutherland, and many rounded surfaces and finishes (including benches that blend seamlessly into the walls, rounded wall corners, and bubble-like light fixtures) make it a truly special underground design marvel.But things have gotten a little worse for wear of late, with tiles crumbling, and countless light fixtures either missing covers or having bulbs blown out or both.
City
Incredible sights from Bay Street's lofty heights
After ascending roughly 50 floors of an unfinished condo on Toronto's Bay Street, we found ourselves facing a spectacular 360-degree view of the city. Far enough away from the downtown core, and yet close enough to see its entire breadth, we were blown away, once again, by the fruits of our rooftopping adventure.Many Torontonians view the sprawl of vertical living space stretching toward the lake as a blight on the landscape. As a hobby photographer, I tend to take a slightly different stance, viewing the construction of these buildings as massive metal and glass monopods. For me, these buildings don't obfuscate my view so much as they allow for more intriguing perspectives from which to gaze at my city...
City
Massive slumber party brings nostalgic fun to Blansdowne warehouse
Newmindspace threw an elaborate slumber party in forts made of blankets at a 2,000 square-foot private loft Saturday night.Newmindspace are known for their jovial, creative and free events they hold in Toronto. Things like the giant, urban Capture the Flag, Bubble Battles, Light Saber Battles and Pillow Fights. The blanket fort slumber party was a fundraiser ($15 entry fee) that will support the creation of their free events planned for this summer that reflect the Toronto urban playground movement.
I ventured out to a remote warehouse space near Bloor and Lansdowne to take a peek at the playful shenanigans that ensued...
City
Bell Lightbox and Festival Tower taking the Entertainment District to new heights
The Bell Lightbox and Festival Tower are major catalysts of the rapid change that the Entertainment District is undergoing. Envisioned as the home for the Toronto International Film Festival, the Bell Lightbox will also feature year-round programming and events. Last year, blogTO took us inside the then half-completed building and gave us an idea of how the building will positively impact the arts community in Toronto.
But as the building approaches its completion, there are other questions that the building itself is raising. For instance, from an urban standpoint, does the Bell Lightbox and Festival Tower fit into its neighbourhood?
