Books, books, and more books

 #32 THE ANNEX: BY THE BOOK

Specialty bookstores are the hallmark of this walk along the University of Toronto’s northwestern edge.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17TH, 2010.

TIME:  6:10pm- 7:28pm

Well its been months since our last walk – but that’s winter’s fault really. But we are motivated and ready to kick off another "walking season". Hopefully we’ll get them done this year… right?

It’s St. Patty’s day, March Break, and beautiful weather. So we decide to do a walk before going to get some green beer. Being book lovers, we have both been anticipating this walk. 

It has been awhile! But what a good way to celebrate the warm weather by doing a walk! Do we even remember how to do one? Let’s find out… 

Don’t we look excited? We’re showing a lot of teeth. As someone in the dental profession Alma, how do they look?

Our teeth look great! Although you can see my lingual wire on my lower teeth. I think we were supposed to be excited for the Honest Ed’s sign behind us… which i didn’t capture. oh well. we all know what that sign looks like.

1. WILLOW BOOKS (758 Bathurst Street)

"….where used books line the walls"

A smallish store, packed with books. There is some organization…. There are marked genre sections but within a section, there doesn’t appear to be much order – meaning not in alphabetical order. But I’m guessing the owners and staff probably know off the top of their heads if they have a certain book and could find it.  We spent some time looking through the children’s section. And off the top of our heads came up with a few things to keep our eyes open for. What were you looking for Alma? What was I looking for?  

I was looking for:

Matilda or anything by Roald Dahl

Chicken Soup with Rice

You were looking for… I don’t know what you were looking for. We did find that massive book with all those Mister and Misses characters… you should’ve got it!

I forgot about that book…. maybe I should have gotten it since I’ve decided that as fun as it is to collect them all indivually, it’s also a waste of money. Anyhoo….

This is the sign at the end of the children’s aisle. I was all ready to go explore and widen my horizons when Alma pointed out the sign below.

Apparently this section isn’t open yet.

2. A DIFFERENT BOOKLIST (746 Bathurst Street)

This bookstore specializes in Native American, gay/lesbian, and Asian and Black studies.

According to the store hours on the door, the store should be closed. But there is a guy at the counter of this tiny store so we’re not sure. But feeling awkward we decide to go on.

I don’t know why it was so awkward… but it was past store hours. I remember there being one lady in the store too… that should’ve made us more willing to go in if there was another customer. But typical us… we debated and left. oh well…

3. The Beguiling (601 Markham Street)

…a great comics and graphic-novel shop that doubles as a gallery.

When I first read the name off the card I thought it said "The Beginning". Trick of the eyes? You know, when you read the beginning and the end of the word and assume the middle. Or maybe I’m just a lousy reader. And a great role model to the students I teach!

Tin tin! 

When we walked in, we first explored the first floor. There was a Tin-tin display and I said "tin tin" not that loud, but loud enough to make me feel self conscious.  There was I think only 2 other customers in there and the guy behind the counter. It was very quiet and awkward at first.  What was really weird about that is I was never into Tin-Tin to begin with – so why was I so excited?

I liked this store a lot more than I thought I would. I’m not into comics or graphic novels. I’ve only really read one with my book club. It was by a Toronto writer – Joe Matt, or Matt Joe…. something with 2 first names. And it was autobiographical. And kind of just boring, and awkward. This guy would write his stories then have them sold in independent bookstores and then the people in his life would read them and get mad and confront him. Like his girlfriend reading how he really feels about her or the fact that he fantasized about her friends. Really weird. Oh, and I do have a couple of Shakespear plays in graphic novel form. Anyway, the point is it wasn’t all graphic novels and the sort in this store. A lot of cartoony and animation stuff. And even suppliments to fantasies. Like this one book was bacially a Lord of the Rings encylopedia. I was considering getting it for my brother Carl who (at least used to) check out online ones. It was only $8?… or maybe it was $12? In any case it was pretty cheap. They also had "dolls" of Tim Burton characters from like Nightmare Before Christmas and Oyster Boy and Other Stories.

Just to note, I didn’t see any Harry Potter books or suppliments here.  A little disappointed. You think there would be some. In fact, I didn’t see ANY Harry Potter books in ANY of the stores we went into. And that includes the BMV at the end of the night that wasn’t included in the walk.

that’s not true mon… in willow’s, I had pointed out an adult copy of harry potter to you, which was followed by your little anecdote of buying two copies! so you shouldn’t be too disappointed.

But I also enjoyed this store, a lot of great finds, but you really have to dig… i guess that’s with any bookstore… it doesn’t help if you’re hungry either. 

Also that was funny how initially it was really quiet and we didn’t want to make a sound… but later the guy turned on the music, which made us at ease about talking.

After exploring the downstairs, we head on upstairs. On the walls surrounding the staircase are framed drawings and paintings. I guess this is the "gallery" portion of the store. Some of the pics were not for children! The same can be said about the upstairs. Upstairs is were the tradional comics were kept (ie Batman, etc). When we got upstairs I immediately led us to the left. That’s because I saw a sign pointing to the right indicating "Adult Anime". Alma later commented that "everyone was on the other side of the store".

That was funny that I didn’t notice the sign… but on the ‘gallery’ wall, there was some original art done of scott pilgrim… they also had a small little section of scott pilgrim graphic novels…. i wonder when the next/last issue will be coming out. should be exciting… apparently there’s a movie in the works and michael cera is scott! crazy…

 

mon doesn’t look too impressed by the batman comics… although this was the second picture..

the first one she was beaming for batman… but it turned out blurry. sorry mon…

4. David Mirvish Books on Art (#596 Markham)

Something else to write to the card makers about! The store is closed down. Apparently it closed down March 1st 2009. We’re just a little over a year late! It apparently also doubled as a gallery and sold lots of hard to find items and abstract art. Apparently the company still runs a catalogue.

http://www.mirvish.com/davidmirvishbooks/egift.aspx

it’s weird cause now i recall that blogto did a little piece about the mirvish book closing down… from what i remember there was a lot of architecture books there. sad…

I don’t remember you taking this pic at all!

i took it quickly… since there was this girl that was on the steps beside this building and i felt awkward taking pictures… 

So after this I remember thinking to myself that the next place has got to be close by. But then for some reason, I completely misread the card. So we headed south on Markham street toward Harbord for the rest of the sites. As we walk, we pass many people getting ready to celebrate St. Pat’s – and some already in the middle of their celebrating.

the mystery of the shoes… i like this pic

When we got to Harbord and I pulled the card out again to check the next address, I realized that we missed a site back hear the nonexistant Mirvish Books. In my defence, the map on the card is wrong. (#4 and #5 should be reversed). So we head back. I think Alma hates me for this. I don’t think she wanted to go back at all. I think she was ready to just "say" we did it.

yeah… i didn’t realize how many places we’d be visiting on this lag of our walk and i must admit, i was really hungry and kinda looking forward to drinking some cool green beer!

5. Ballenford Books on Architechure (600 Markham Street)

So this sign clearly says that Ballenford Books is through the door. But looking through the window from the street we can see it’s a gallery. I noticed it when we were looking for Mirvish Books – I remeber making eye contact with the woman inside. Anyways, we decide to go in – incase the book store was in the back. Why else would they have they sign????

But nope! No bookstore. Just art! I asked the lady where the bookstore was and she said it closed down in 2008. Oops! But why the sign???? Aiye. Alma really hates me now for making her walk back for this.

I don’t hate you… 

It was kinda neat checking out those paintings. I like art sometimes.

This little section of Markham street has a lot of little stores, boutiques, and patios. I made Alma take the picture above the first time we were here (right after the comic book store) cause I just liked the design of the street lamps. I kind of like the way this street is quiet and in its own little world off from the busier Bloor Street. Anyways, the reason why we put the picture in now is because see those steps leading to the white and red building. Well that building is the Art gallery that should have been Ballenford Books. (Oh, Alma’s going to kill me)

i’m glad that you made me take this pic… although i wish i was taller to get the sign at a better angle. And no… I don’t hate you… just hungry, so i get a bit cranky.

So back to Harbord! We walk South on Bathurst instead of Markham to avoid walking past the same people for the third time.

Those guys were kinda cool… sitting on a couch on a sidewalk… dressed in green and drinking beer. we should do that one day.

6. Parentbooks (201 Harbord Street)

Specializes in children’s literature.

Sounds like my type of place! But, it’s closed. They must have had Harry Potter books!

7. Clay Design (170 Brunswick Avenue)

What?! A non-bookstore on this walk! It’s a pottery souvenir store. And it’s also closed. Actually, pretty much everything is by now. But I wonder if this store has books on pottery. Perhaps on pottery design?

I’ve always been interested in pottery… always tempted to take a class, but I can’t imagine how difficult it is to make something out of a chunk of clay. wonder if they have classes there… with such a huge space like that, they should!

8. Dessert Trends (169 Brunswick Avenue)

Chef Donald Duong’s pastry creations have won international acclaim.

Well, you know me. I’m going to have to look this up. Some mixed reviews from the site below – but it does make the top 15 places for baked treats in Toronto.  Oh, and the place had modified its name. It’s now: "DT Bistro-Patisserie".

http://www.blogto.com/cafes/dtbistro

Sometimes I get downtown early before my art classes and i end up walking around the harbord area to pass time… I’ve never noticed this pastry shoppe before. The building doesn’t scream ‘pastry’ or anything ‘dessert’ related… perhaps they should consider different signage….

It was still open – but looks trendy and out of our league. Besides – tonight’s other mission is GREEN BEER and this place surely won’t have it. Alma made me stand here so it looked like she was taking a picture of me. Now when she said that, I though it meant I wasn’t actually going to be in the picture. I think this is just Alma’s way of getting her revenge on me after I made her walk back to the nonexistant Ballenford books.

Yeah… I thought that it would be good to get you IN the picture… I mean, it is our walk…no plotting of revenge or anything of the sort. but I later zoomed in afterwards because you can hardly see the sign…right?!

9. Latitute Wine Bar and Grill (89 Harbord Street)

This Latin American eatery consistently tops local polls.

At 89 Harbord Street we find a busy restaurant with a different name. This is "The Harbord Room Restaurant & Bar". We assume its the same place under a different name and/or management. 

I really didn’t think Harbord had all these swanky restaurants… I still consider this area part of U of T, so it’s a bit surprising to see these types of restaurants. I mean, who can afford these meals on a student budget? Mind you… I have no idea how much a meal costs.. but it looks expensive.

10. Caversham Books (98 Harbord Street)

North America’s only mental health-focused bookseller.

11. Wonder Works (79A Hardbord Street)

Sells books on holistic health and women’s issues.

12. Toronto Women’s Bookstore (#73 Harbord Street)

I think I like that quote. I don’t think I even noticed it that day.

I didn’t even noticed that quote till after I read your little blurb.

 13. Atticus Books (84 Harbord Street)

The card describes this place as "highbrow".

 Sorry for the pic… I think I took 3 of them too and this was the best. I don’t know what happened. But yeah, looks like another place that didn’t make it and yet another note to make on the cards… i hope you’re keeping track mon…  

Just one more bookstore to go, and it’s on Spadina. The card points out the "architechturally bold University of Toronto Graduate House" which is why we included a picture of it. BOLD, huh? If I had a nickel for every person who as commented on the "O" sticking out and DIDN’T use as flattering a word as "bold"…. I don’t mind the building though. Different.

 

Do you know of anyone that’s gone in the graduate house? Or have you been in there? I can’t remember… the only thing I remember was that the lower half wasn’t always a place for graduate students. They had some fancy restaurant that no one would go to… can’t recall the name of it, something with an H in it…

But yes, the O is unique… i don’t think ‘bold’ is the correct term to describe it either… The OCAD building is a bold statement.

I have been inside and have known someone who lived there. Actually, the anecdote is already included in another entry? Know which walk???  
*** The Entertainment District*** 
And I have also eaten at the former restaurant that was there. Can’t remember what it was called either. Expensive. And not very good. Especially when Cora’s pizza across the street sells yummy $3 slices that are 1/4 a large pizza!

14. Ten Editions (698 Spadina Avenue) 

…which carries scholarly titles.

This is the poster I was reading in the picture above. It was for a Fairytale reading thing. I think the "History of Fairytales" or something like that. Sounded cool. But I was a little disappointed in the upkeep of this place seeing as this poster is for an event 6 months ago. But if it’s an annual event, maybe we should plan our Cabbagetown walk around then.

Well that concludes the official walk. Too bad a lot of these places were closed. Originally we said we should do this one again, but then changed our minds and said not necessary. Funny that the bookstore that we spent the most time at this evening wasn’t even on the walk. It was the BMV on Bloor near the Brunny. We went to go get dessert after dinner but because there was a crazy line at Futures/Labyrinth we went into the BMV to hang out. We actually sat on the floor in the "For Dummies" section reading the titles of ridiculous books. And then we perused through "An Idiot’s Guide to Witchcraft" or something like that. Tried to read up on love potions….

I think it was probably a bad idea to have sat down while reading those dummy books.. it just made me more tired…

but yeah, that was some evening… Hey, that was the same evening we bumped into one of my friends from high school and you ran into an OISE classmate at the Jewish centre… Oh, I can’t remember what that guy’s name is now, but he was trying to entertain me while you were talking to your friend. He made up all these stories about buying a house on 1234 street and how every year they have a ribbon cutting ceremony to open the gates… and he invited me to this ceremony. It was a rather strange conversation but entertaining one, nonetheless…

Oh yeah. My friend’s name was Shamsi. Don’t know what the name of the guy you were talking to. Funny cause you were a little self conscious about your awkward run in with your friend, but seemed to have an engaging conversation with that stranger. Oh, and then we had beverages at Second Cup and people kept trying to get in through the door beside us that was locked and we would open it.

Anyhoo, getting ahead of ourselves. We celebrate the end of the walk and St. Patty’s with some green beer – that also made our teeth temporarily green.

… also my hand! Should’ve had a guinness! 

Monica Rating:  - Actually 2.5 book-nerds out of 5. I know it’s not the the cards’ fault that most of the places were closed for the evening, but it was disappointing to have so many closed down stores on this walk. Also you really have to have a list books in mind for a walk like this- so you can keep an eye out for them and try to find them.  And let’s not forget the lack of Harry Potter books. Anyways, the walk sounds better on the cards than it really was.

Alma Rating:  … but probably like mon… closer to 2.5 too. I was really excited about this walk.. and was debating that we save it for last at one point because i thought it’d be quite the adventure. But yeah… it was disappointing.**sigh**