DATE: Sunday, September 25, 2011.
TIME: 12:59 - 3:30pm
City Hall and the expansive public square surrounding it are focal points of Toronto city life.
Well this walk has been a long time coming. In more ways than one. First off its our first walk since June! Crazy. Alma apparently was so blown away from "Monica's Beach" walk, it was consuming her every thought and she just wasn't ready to go on another walk. She knew another walk would just taste bitter and be unappreacitive.... (Such lies!) Sigh... Secondly, I had a free pass from the library for admission into the Textile Museum - our last exhibit of the day. The pass was to expire at the end of September. I actually got the same pass last year, but we never managed to plan this walk before it expired. Thirdly, this walk it right smack in the middle of downtown Toronto - pavement we've both hit several times in the last 29 years - and yet there are some places that I've never been too.
Now just a word of warning, we are blogging almost 2 months after the actual walk. So some details are a little foggy. At this point, I can't even remember how much I liked this walk....or disliked. I can't even remember the Harry Potter reference I came up with.
Yeah, that's mostly my fault... with my bro's wedding coming up... there was barely any room on the home computer to upload any pics. I deleted a bunch... to then have my bro upload more.. it felt like a losing battle. But I eventually things done... 2 months later. oops... time flies, as they say...
The traditional Monica-Alma starting photo. My hair is all windswept.
Monica's camera batteries die right before this picture...
poor camera... it's gone through a lot.
...housed in a rare-for-Toronto Georgian building, (it) is the oldest remaining structure from the original town of York.
I've always noticed this building - it's on the north-west corner of University of Queen. A pretty, quiet structure in the middle of a very busy area. I wondered what it was but never curious enough to do any further investigating. Sort of figured it was part of Osgoode Hall. Well, according to the website and wikipedia its a Historic Museum, an art gallery, and a "club house" for the "Advocates Society" - whoever they are.....Okay, I looked them up; its an association of trial lawyers. And according to the history of the building, it was at one point owned by Hallmark - you know, the greeting card company.
Anyway, admission is $6, though probably would have been part of those free admissions weekends in August that Toronto does. But we're not willing to fork over the cash to walk in.
Monica longing to get in...
Home to the Canadian Opera Company and the National Ballet of Canada.
Hmm... I think I had made some joke or comment about the line up and ballet that was playing... Or maybe I made up a ballet.... .Hmmm.... okay, pretend I said something funny and chuckle.
3. Osgoode Hall (130 Queen St. W.)
The hub of Ontario's legal system, sits on 2.4 fenced-in hectares (6 acres). It is best known for its Great Library, which has been described as "Canada's most beautiful room," and its open to the public.
Okay, can you feel my excitment??? A library!!! And it's supposed to be the most beautiful room in Canada! WOW!!!!
Way to build up our emotions!
Awkward entry onto the grounds... especially since there's another entrance two feet away where you can just go straight in.
Purrty!
It's calling us to come in!
Lost and found
Getting closer....
I'm sure we hesitate at first before approaching the door cause of several people around
The view from the east side of the building. It looks past our next stop (Nathan Phillips Square) to the stop after that - Old City Hall.
Look how excited I am!
It's better to choose the harder way to get out!
It's actually funny that Mon went through the driveway... but of course, I made her go back and go through the more complicated path to get out. it's actually not that complex.
4. Nathan Phillips Square
Dominated by the Viljo Revell-designed City Hall, this is where Toronto gathers to watch free concerts. Also in the square are two notable sculputures (one by Henry Moore), a Speaker's Corner, and a reflecting pool that doubles as a popular skaing rink in winter (skate rentals available).
Whoa... lot of information there in that little paragraph for me to comment on.
The sculptures: we didn't get a close-up of them. They were doing some construction and setting up a scaffold of some sort. Can't remember what for - possibily Nuit Blanche - that would have been coming up soon. I actually had an anecdote about the Henry Moore Sculpture but I can't remember it. The last time I was at the AGO (with my friend Brianne) we spend some time at the Henry Moore wing and read this scrap book of newspaper articles that related to the erection of the sculpture. There was some controversy..... hmmm.... I'll get back to you on that one.
What a gorgeous day to be out! Actually, there's a lot of green space in this area.. I think we saw a couple of people picnicking and also just hanging out on the benches... it's actually quite a nice getaway from Queen street.
I'm sure we hesitate at first before approaching the door cause of several people around
I may look excited, because I'm about to potentially open a door to CANADA'S MOST BEAUTIFUL ROOM, yet I assure you it's short lived. We checked out several doors, all of them were locked. ARGH!!!!! What's up with that?
Big disappointment!Here's a link to some pics of the library. http://www.osgoodehall.com/greatlibrary.html Not quite sure its the MOST beautiful room. Think the Fisher Rare Book library is more impressive.
Fisher Rare Book library is close to breath taking... The view from the east side of the building. It looks past our next stop (Nathan Phillips Square) to the stop after that - Old City Hall.
It's better to choose the harder way to get out!
Funny that even though I'm surrounded by shade, there's a light shining on me from above. I'm not suggesting a heavenly light, thinking more UFO based.
tee hee!It's actually funny that Mon went through the driveway... but of course, I made her go back and go through the more complicated path to get out. it's actually not that complex.
4. Nathan Phillips Square
Dominated by the Viljo Revell-designed City Hall, this is where Toronto gathers to watch free concerts. Also in the square are two notable sculputures (one by Henry Moore), a Speaker's Corner, and a reflecting pool that doubles as a popular skaing rink in winter (skate rentals available).
Whoa... lot of information there in that little paragraph for me to comment on.
The sculptures: we didn't get a close-up of them. They were doing some construction and setting up a scaffold of some sort. Can't remember what for - possibily Nuit Blanche - that would have been coming up soon. I actually had an anecdote about the Henry Moore Sculpture but I can't remember it. The last time I was at the AGO (with my friend Brianne) we spend some time at the Henry Moore wing and read this scrap book of newspaper articles that related to the erection of the sculpture. There was some controversy..... hmmm.... I'll get back to you on that one.
I remember you telling me about that story... but don't recall the controversy either. Look back to McCaul walk? Maybe you mentioned it there.
Speaker's Corner: ????? What???? This is some weird mistake. Don't recall there ever being a Speaker's Corner here. The only permanent Speaker's Corner was a block west at the CHUM building. Maybe when the walk writers investigated there was a non-permanent Speaker's Corner put up for an event such as New Years.
Speaker's Corner: ????? What???? This is some weird mistake. Don't recall there ever being a Speaker's Corner here. The only permanent Speaker's Corner was a block west at the CHUM building. Maybe when the walk writers investigated there was a non-permanent Speaker's Corner put up for an event such as New Years.
Maybe there was more than 1 Speaker's Corner! Who knows?! Maybe we don't know our city as much as we like to think! We're learning something from the cards! Cool!
The reflecting pool. Been a long time since I've been skating here. The last time I attempted to, Sean and I went to finally have our long sought out Dufflets carrot cake. We brought along our skates with the intention of going skating. By the time we walked over from Trinity Bellwoods we were tired, in desperate need of a clean bathroom and it may have been raining.
I was asked a couple of times to go, but schedules never worked out.
I want to go, now!
(though, it's like +11 degrees outside)
City Hall isn't the place of hang out choices for me... I know I've gone if there is the outdoor art exhibition ... but besides that, it's just a passing through area, if anything. Maybe cause there's too much concrete.
Hehehe.
(Get it? The sign is wading)
(Get it? The sign is wading)
New City Hall. It's so dirty... could use a good wash. You can see one of the scuptures behind the green netting.
Definitely not the most attractive building... I didn't know how unappealing the windows were till we got close. Again... City Hall is not the prime hang out area.So this is the site of Toronto's Big New Year's Even Bash, hosted by City TV. Often as a child, I would be in the building behind city hall - the former Toronto Colony Hotel - where my dad worked- watching the show on TV with my cousins while my parents were at a party in the hotel. As a child we spent a lot of weekends at the hotel when my dad worked. Lots of fun. Stayed in really nice apartment like suites with multiple floors and we'd watch movies (Ghostbusters) and hang out in the area. Every year, we'd go to the Canada Day party here at Nathan Phillips Square. They have a massive cake with a Canadian flag design. One year, I picked up what I thought was a juice box from the drinks table and it turns out it was tea. Not iced tea (didn't even know what that was at that age and time) but actual tea in a tetra pack. It was with milk too. Weird right? It was chilled. And it was super gross. You might think I'm crazy but my brothers remember this too. They got duped by the juice box tea too.
Ha! I wonder if we can find that now! and if you'd still think it to be gross... i bet your palate has changed a lot since then.Okay back to my original anecdote, last December I was in the habbit of watching the BC - Vancouver feed of City TV. It's how I'd catch up on shows that I missed during prime time cause of a Leaf game. Anyhoo, so watched BC commercials. And something weird. For New Year's Eve in Vancouver, they didn't hold their own party in downtown Vancouver in Stanley Park or elsewhere. They re-aired the show from Toronto. Bizzare! This is why western Canada hates Toronto.
I love Toronto!
and yeah... there's probably a million reasons to hate us... :(
and yeah... there's probably a million reasons to hate us... :(
In the square there is a little building that houses the skate rental place and dirty public bathrooms. Well, they've re-done the building. That day we got to explore a little and we walked up to the roof of the building for a better view of the square.
The following pics were taken from above the building.
Neat camera effect Alma. I was confused when I first saw this pic. Thought it was from a book or something.
Actually this photo was taken at the beginning of our walk. Not sure what happened to the other pics...
The rooftop was pretty though. It had a nice garden.
You know, I can't look at City Hall without thinking of the Resident Evil Movie in which they destroy it. And I've never seen that movie.
Ooo! While we were up there I remember mentioning to Alma that there used to be a little garden with rocks and a gazebo on the east side of the square - north of the reflecting pool. She didn't remember this and probably though I was crazy (as usual - I know she's always saying that to herself). So, I looked it up, in hope of finding pics of this memory and yes - it did exist. It was a "Peace Garden" - a monument to Hiroshima. Check it out.
Another fun tidbit of info: Apparently, when the reflecting pool first open, people were allowed to wade in it.
So I looked up the Henry Moore Sculputure. Didn't figure out what the controversy was. It cost $100 000. Maybe that was the issue. The City of Toronto website simply says it "created sufficient public controversy" and wasn't "initially accepted by City Council". Next time I'm bored all walk over the the AGO and reread the articles (I get in for free!)http://www.toronto.ca/city_hall_tour/archer.htm
The aforementioned Henry Moore Sculpture: Three Way Piece No. 2 / The Archer
5. Old City Hall (60 Queen St. W.)
Which became a a courthouse in 1966.
Creepy mask in the window...
Though we draw closer to get a better pic.
I wonder who's office that is and what that mask means.
6. Laughlen Lodge (87 Elm St.)
Formerly a "poorhouse", the building's residents toiled for food and lodging until 1947, when social attitudes towar such insitutions changed.
Didn't even know this existed. Further research shows that it gained this name AFTER 1947, when it changed into a seniors home. http://www.torontohistory.org/Pages_GHI/House_of_Industry.html
oops... this photo is the backyard of the campbell house... umm... yeah....
let's leave it here. Cause really.. who's reading this blog for consistency anyway?! Jk...
let's leave it here. Cause really.. who's reading this blog for consistency anyway?! Jk...
7. Textile Museum of Canada (55 Centre Ave.)
Where exhibitions illuminated the cultural relevance and aesthetic beauty of cloth.
Finally, the main event of the day. Our chance to finally use this free pass, compliments of the library. We're taking a big risk you know. We're pretty much all museumed-out after our trip to St. Jacob's a few weeks prior. Lets see, we visited the Menonite Museum, the Train Museum, the Home Hardware Museum, the Maple syrup museum.... did I miss any Alma?
Quilt museum?! But all the antique stores we went to... should be counted. Um... yeah, let's not go back to st. jacobs till we're 65... funny story... Liz's bf, used to go to St. Jacobs and the only thing he said that was good about that place are the nuts! Mon and I couldn't even find that nut place! We drove around and then just ended up having to make up our own fun all the way to Waterloo... 36 years from now... we'll go back for nuts...
So weird that this museum is at the bottom of an apartment building.
Can't even tell there's a museum there... 
I'm trying to remember what happened when we were in the lobby of the museum, before we headed up. Think there was something of note...hmmm....remember anything Alma?
They did make us check our bags. I took my wallet and phone with me though.... Don't think that was the weirdness.... Hmm.... We did ask if we could take pics and they said yes.... I think. Well we took pics so I guess it was a yes.
The museum wasn't too bad. Kind of thought there would be more. Not very diverse. But what they had was interesting enough. Some highlights:
I don't see anything Etobicoke related here... hmm...
Oh, the loom! They had a couple of looms with instructions on how to use. They were impossible to understand. Perhaps if we had gone on the free guided tour we would have been able to properly do it.
I'm using my all the loom knowlege I have which from the movie "Wanted" and the Greek Myth of the 3 Fates who weave our destiny... so in other words, no knowledge what so ever.
There were other interactive stations. Like this one where they had samples of different materials and you had to play a matching game and match the sample with the source. We kind of sucked at that - but some samples were missing.
We just sucked.
Ahh ha! I remember my Harry Potter Reference. We were in the gift shop - though we still hadn't finished the museum - and saw these little pouches. And I said they're kind of like the moleskin pouch that Hagrid gives to Harry on his 17th birthday (in book 7). It's a magical pouch in which only the owner can access the contents. Very integral part of the story. SPOILER ALERT: When Harry and Ron are in the dungeon at the Malfoy's and Hermione is being tortured upstaris, Harry pulls out his piece of his broken magical mirror and is able to call for help. That pouch saved the world.
STOP ROLLING YOUR EYES ALMA!!!!
STOP ROLLING YOUR EYES ALMA!!!!
And the museum continues....
On the next floor they had all these ode's to the magic sqaure. I think we eventually figured it out, but never made the connection to textiles.
Tres Cool! Have I mentioned that I was apart of the Junior Math Team in high school? Oh, yeah, I was the coolest. Anyhoo, we tried a puzzle from the book that day... Can't remember. how it went. But I enjoyed the book. Think I intended on getting it from the library.
I'm just horrible with numbers...
There was a tic tac toe game but with numbers, I think... very magic square related.
and a piece of mon....
Too funny! I'd forgotten about this. There was a smelling station. I cam't remember what it smelt like. Alma? I'm pretty sure we couldn't figure out how it related to textiles.
Hehee... it smelt like wood!
I think it was supposed to contain some perfume...
maybe the perfume was of wood!
I think it was supposed to contain some perfume...
maybe the perfume was of wood!
cute!
That's the official end to the walk. We capped off our day with dinner at the mexican grill place by yonge and dundas. It was really good. As we were leaving, I started examining this beverage urn type thing that was near the fountain drinks, trying to figure out what was inside. This guy saw me and told me it was tea. I didn't realize at first he worked there. Anyhoo, he insisted I try some. I kept saying no but he insisted. He made me a cup, asked me how much sugar - I should have asked for more - and then gave it to me. It was just cold tea (no milk though!) It needed more sugar. It got chucked after we were out of visual range of the restaurant. But, that was so nice of him. I do like freebees.
It's funny cause that guy really didn't look like he worked there. Even when he was retrieving a cup for mon near the cashier, the cashier first stopped him... and that made us question him even more. I think just right before we left, we saw the guy step behind the counter of the register... which confirmed it.If only the tea was as great as the worker made it to be. I also thought it was going to be boiling hot tea....
MONICA RATING: Hmmmm..... well.... It was an enjoyable day..... I think. The Campbell House museum was intimidating and was quite disappointed about not getting into see the Great Library at Osgoode Hall, but it was a nice walk in general. The textile museum blows the St. Jacob's Museums out of the water. I guess a 3 out of 5.... Is that too high... a 2.75.....hmmm... Yeah maybe 2.75..... 
(No particular reason for this emoticon.... Just don't foresee a walk when it would be relevant.)
(No particular reason for this emoticon.... Just don't foresee a walk when it would be relevant.)Reading the comments in the guest book, people around the world, had very positive things to say about the museum. One comments said that it lacked diversity, but a several people from other countries, we really happy to see part of their culture displayed in a museum.
So, I give this walk a 3/5... which is probably more indicative of my mood than the actual walk itself.
