Roncesvalles Polish Festival
There were two major ethnic street festivals happening in Toronto this weekend: the Roncesvalles Polish Festival and the Bloor West…
So Long, 88 Isabella Street
If I had to assign Toronto apartment buildings a theme song, it would be Queen’s Another One Bites the Dust….
The Toronto Peace Garden & The Toronto Spirit Garden
Nestled in the west section of Nathan Phillips Square near City Hall are two significant Toronto memorials: The Toronto Peace…
The Reborn Palm House at Allan Gardens
The iconic Palm House at the Allan Gardens Conservatory has reopened after a lengthy closure. The Palm House was having…
Jarvis, The Robot Barista
On the second floor of the Muji store in the Atrium on Bay (20 Dundas Street West), there Is a…
Sally, The White Elephant
On the front lawn of a house located at 77 Yarmouth Road in the Christie Street-Dupont Street area, there sits…
Graffiti Alley West
Many people are familiar with Graffiti Alley in the Queen Street West area, near Spadina Avenue. In recent years a…
Toronto Chinatown Festival 2025
It just wouldn’t be summer in Toronto without the street festivals. Pretty much any weekend from June to September there…
Conrad The Raccoon
At 819 Yonge Street, just south of the Church and Yonge Street intersection, you will find a Heritage Toronto plaque…
The Garden of Lost Boys
For a couple of years now I’ve passed by this beautiful site but never stopped to look closer – my…
Water’s Edge Promenade
The Water’s Edge Promenade stretches from Sugar Beach near the foot of Jarvis Street, past Sherbourne Common, ending at the…
Toronto Pride 2025
OK, I realize Toronto Pride is not really a TO Cityscape, per se, but it’s a major event that shakes…
Ward’s Island
As most know, the Toronto Islands are comprised of three small land masses – Hanlan’s Point, Centre Island and Ward’s…
Hearn Generating Station
Watching a suggested video on YouTube a few days ago reminded me of a fascinating urban relic in Toronto: the…
Museum Subway Station
In a city of drab subway stations, the Museum station on Line 1 is currently a welcome exception. Museum station…
Stock Yards Village
History In decades past, “the stockyards” at Keele Street and St. Clair Avenue West were just as the name implies:…
Toronto’s Half-House
The lone row home at 54 1/2 Saint Patrick Street dates back to Toronto’s slums in the late 19th century….
Ohyo Spree
Passing through the busy area of Yonge and Dundas last week, I encountered a new claw machine arcade called Ohyo…
Aura Concourse Shopping Mall
Continuing on the “dead mall” theme (see my earlier post on the deserted Cumberland Terrace), we’ll take a little look…
Richmond Street East
The sun was actually shining for more than three minutes last weekend, so I set out for another photowalk in…
Good Friday Procession
OK, I cheated a little on this post. I just wasn’t up to shooting the Good Friday Procession in today’s…
Berczy Park Dog Fountain
Springtime has come to Berczy Park. Someone put little red and green scarves on the pups in the Berczy Park…
Mall, Deserted
TO Cityscapes has returned from hiatus! Last weekend, while in the Bay-Bloor area, I suddenly had an idea to check…
McMurtry Gardens of Justice
The McMurtry Gardens of Justice on University Avenue is a series of sculptures and fountains sitting among Osgoode Hall, the…
Chester Hill Lookout
blogTO calls the Chester Hill Lookout “Toronto’s secret observation deck” and, after visiting the location, I would have to agree…
Al Green Sculpture Park
The Al Green Sculpture Park runs between Davisville Avenue and Balliol Street in mid-town. Abraham (Al) Green (1925-2016) was an…
Post-Halloween Walk Through Cabbagetown
A few days after Halloween I took a walk through Cabbagetown on a beautiful, crisp fall day. The houses and…
A Little Spin Around Downtown
I took a little walk around the York Street-Bremner Blvd. area one sunny Sunday last month, randomly shooting the city…
Remembrance Day, 2024
Although an event like Remembrance Day is not really a cityscape per se, I feel it is extremely important to…
The Future of the Cube House
So many people have expressed an interest in the so-called Cube House at 1 Sumach Street. I just saw this…
The Elgin & Winter Garden Theatres
At 189 Yonge Street we find the fabulous Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres. These are separate theatres located in the…
The Sculptures at Pier 27 Condos
Outside the Pier 27 Condos, located at 29 Queen’s Quay East, there are two intriguing installations, both the work of…
The Max Tanenbaum Healing Garden
The Max Tanenbaum Healing Garden is found on the 14th floor Atrium of the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre at 610…
In & Around The Esplanade
The last time I walked down The Esplanade, I was struck by how many new condos have sprung up in…
Centreville, Deserted
A few years ago on a crisp, early Spring day, I crossed the Toronto Harbour and visited the Toronto Islands…
Underpass Park
Underpass Park is truly an interesting and unique place in Toronto. Opened on August 2, 2012, the Park is located…
Mural Update: iPot Cannabis
Back on December 6, 2022 I published a post about the colourful murals outside a semi-neglected, mostly-deserted building on the…
“Hours of the Day”
In 2018, Paul Raff Studios installed a sculpture entitled Hours of the Day. The piece honours Ontario’s correctional workers who…
Chapel of St. James-the-Less
The Chapel of St. James-the-Less is located at 635 Parliament Street, in the grounds of the St. James’ Cemetery and…
The Carlu
Originally opened in 1930 as “Eaton’s Seventh Floor,” The Carlu was spearheaded by businessman Timothy Eaton. Lady Eaton, who aspired…
Prepping For Pride
Pride Weekend in Toronto is soon upon us. In preparation, this month an explosion of rainbows and inclusion messages from…
38 Dundas Street East
On an oddly-angled section of Dundas Street East, just east of Yonge Street, sits a heritage building which recently has…
desiFEST 2024
Last weekend played host to desiFEST, the annual celebration of South Asian music, art, food and culture, held in Toronto’s…
Roehampton Avenue Sculptures
Continuing on in the Yonge-Eglinton area, I came across a couple of interesting sculptures on Roehampton Avenue: What’s Your Name?by…
“Stargate”
Outside the condo buildings at 150 and 155 Redpath Avenue, there is an interesting 2-part sculpture entitled Stargate. Designed by…
The “Village Gateways”
On Church Street there are “village gateways” which indicate the boundaries of the Church-Wellesley Business Improvement Area (BIA). The markers…
A Yorkville-Annex Walk
The Annex is one of Toronto’s oldest neighbourhoods. It has an old world feel to it and is somewhat diverse,…
Budapest Park
In my previous post on Beaty Boulevard Parkette I mentioned nearby Budapest Park, located at 1575 Lakeshore Boulevard West. Beaty…
Cherry Blossoms
You know it’s springtime in Toronto when the cherry blossoms suddenly pop out for their all-too-brief stay. In Japan, flower…
Beaty Boulevard Parkette
Beaty Boulevard Parkette is a long, finger-like patch of grassy, manicured land situated near the intersection of Queen Street West,…
“Mixer”
These cast bronze figures, located in the driveway of the Park Hyatt Toronto hotel at 4 Avenue Road, are entitled…
Night Walk On Yonge Street
Photo Project Using a filter and utilizing some moody street lighting, my intent was to emulate – if possible –…
Wellesley Street East During Solar Eclipse
When the solar eclipse passed over Toronto this past Monday (April 8, 2024) I dashed out of my workplace on…
Jean Lumb Lane
In Chinatown there exists a small lane dedicated to the memory of a remarkable Chinese-Canadian woman named Jean Lumb: Jean…
A Bit of Colour in an Unnamed Alley
While in the Bloor Street West and Lansdowne area to photograph some utility box murals, I came across this colourful…
Stackt Market
Stackt Market is a truly unique concept. Located at 28 Bathurst Street at Front Street West, Stackt Market has been…
Toronto Comicon 2024
Toronto Comicon is an annual comic book and pop culture convention held in Toronto at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre…
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
In a nutshell, St. Patrick’s Day observes the death of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. The holiday has…
A Walk Down Roncesvalles Avenue
I love Roncesvalles (aka Little Poland) – it has such a welcoming village-feel to it and exudes a laid-back yet…
Alexander The Great Parkette
In a beautiful plaza where the avenues of Danforth and Logan intersect lies a statue of Alexander the Great. Built…
Illuminite 2024
Currently running until the end of March 2024 is an interesting LED light exhibition called Illuminite. There are 6 installations…
Winter Stations 2024
What Is Winter Stations? This past weekend I visited the latest iteration of Winter Stations at Woodbine Beach. Winter Stations…
The Old Don Jail
Given that my last post was of the Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital, it seems only natural to segue into posting about…
The Max Tanenbaum Sculpture Garden
The Max Tanenbaum Sculpture Garden is a semi-hidden Toronto gem. It sits on the west side of the Hennick Bridgepoint…
Curves At The AGO
The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) at 317 Dundas Street West is a near-limitless photography source of beautiful curves, gentle…
From The Vaults: Farewell, Jack
This post is based on an event from thirteen years ago, so I guess it qualifies for my so-called From…
New Timothy Schmalz Sculptures
As I roam the city with camera in hand I’ve discovered one sculptor whose work appears in several places: Timothy…
So Long, Icefest
Traditionally, one winter event I always look forward to in Toronto is the Bloor-Yorkville Icefest. It makes for a great…
The Toronto Inukshuk
The Toronto Inukshuk resides in Toronto Inukshuk Park at 789 Lake Shore Boulevard West, west of Coronation Park. The sculpture…
“Across Time and Space, Two Children of Toronto Meet”
In 2011 sculptor Ken Lum completed his work: Across Time and Space, Two Children of Toronto Meet. The piece is…
Jarvis Street Baptist Church
The Jarvis Street Baptist Church is located at 130 Jarvis Street, on the northeast corner of Jarvis Street and Gerrard…
Vincent, Murals & Alleyways
Yesterday I thought I might go to Chinatown to shoot the events of the Lunar New Year celebrations at Dundas…
The Future of Toronto’s “Cube House”
Last year I published a post on the unique “Cube House” in downtown Toronto. A lot of readers expressed interest…
City Walk on a Foggy Day
This post was originally from a couple of weekends ago when the weather was not cooperating. I am reposting this…
Street Art in Renfrew Place
Renfrew Place sounds like a posh street but in actuality is a back alley. It’s located one block north of…
Where’s My TO Cityscapes?!
Hello everyone:You’ve no doubt noticed the absence of TO Cityscapes recently. I’ve been at war with technology – my automated…
Musical Boxes
While working feverishly on my new site TO Utility Boxes (which is now complete by the way), I noticed a…
Ice Storm!
All this inclement weather lately has put me in mind of the infamous Toronto ice storm in late December 2013….
Lower Bay Station
Below the main platform of Bay subway station there is an additional platform which has long since been abandoned. The…
A New Year, A New Site
Happy 2024 everyone! I thought I’d start the year by introducing a new site I’ve been working on for the…
“Toronto & Stadt Frankfurt Am Main”
This mural at 20 Charles Street East – on the west side of the Green P parking garage – was…
A Christmas Walk
Well, it is a black and rainy Christmas this year in Toronto. Regardless, I took a little photo-spin yesterday to…
Christmas Lights: Rosedale & Bloor Street East
Finding a few dry moments from the incessant rain of late, I took a little spin last night to see…
“Dream Ballet”
Dream Ballet by Hamilton native Harley Valentine sits at the southeast corner of Yonge Street and Front Street East, outside…
Scadding Cabin
Scadding Cabin is a 1794 log cabin on the grounds of Exhibition Place. It was constructed for a pioneer named…
The Victory Peace Monument
The Victory Peace Monument is located in Coronation Park, 711 Lakeshore Boulevard West, just beside Lake Ontario. Victory Peace was…
“Cross Section”
A work entitled Cross Section, comprised of large bas-relief panels made from terra cotta, covers the walls of the underground…
Love Park
Earlier this year a new park opened in downtown Toronto. Dubbed Love Park, it is located at the southern foot…
From The Vaults: Blackout!
Time for another post from what I call From The Vaults – pictures and events from Toronto’s past. Here is…
Remembrance Day 2023
A sombre Remembrance Day ceremony took place today around the Cenotaph at Old City Hall, 60 Queen Street West. The…
Banksy at One York
Today we look at Banksy’s Guard with Balloon Dog. Banksy is the pseudonym of a UK-based street artist, political activist…
Halloween on Church Street!
It was another very busy Halloween night on Church Street once again this year. The weather was crisp and quite…
“Lineal Order”
In the courtyard of Symphony Place at 71 Simcoe Street, there resides an artwork entitled Lineal Order by artist George…
The Griffins at Lillian H. Smith, Toronto Public Library
Several of you will instantly recognize this very familiar site! Today we take a look at the Griffins (or Gryphons)…
Tilted Spheres
Hello everyone and welcome back to TOcityscapes after my little hiatus! Having recently passed through Toronto’s Pearson Airport on an…
The Tip Top Lofts
At 637 Lakeshore Blvd. West just west of Bathurst Street sits the Tip Top Lofts. Just behind it lies Lake…
Wilson Heights, Part 3: Yorkdale Murals
This is the third and last instalment of a 3-part post focusing on some of the murals and artwork in…
Wilson Heights, Part 2: Wilson Station South Exit
This is the second instalment of a 3-part post focusing on some of the murals and artwork in the Wilson…
Wilson Heights, Part 1: Wilson Station Exit to Wilson Avenue
This is a 3-part post focusing on some of the murals and artwork in the Wilson Heights area of the…
“Sundial Folly”
Sundial Folly is a large concrete ball sitting on the edge of Lake Ontario. Located at at 25 Queen’s Quay…
