Recent content by CityPainter

Interesting. To protect the trees from sidewalk salt, or dogs, or both? I don't mind the little railings, though they do look a bit bare-bones in the harshness of winter. I would love to see them painted black but that would probably be futile.

This is really exciting. I think it is a smart move and they'll do very well. I'm curious exactly which space they might be taking (upper or lower level, I wonder?) but I'm sure that will be revealed soon enough. But I wonder if it might spell the end of their summer Beer Garden down on the...

Lost Craft Brewery will be taking over the former Aviary Brewpub at 484 Front St East. Their current location is on Runnymede. It will be fantastic to see that space and the great patio back in use for the neighbourhood, hopefully this summer.

Are you thinking of the House of Rohl, a high-end kitchen showroom that opened in the St. Lawrence condo tower at 158 Front East, on the northwest of Front and Sherbourne? Some variation of this shop used to be on King East, I think.

A person (okay, me) might argue that the Canary and Distillery areas are particularly nice because they don't have any of those big chains. But I also know they are affordable and popular and as the population density grows, some of them will inevitably move in. As long as the area stays a good...

Yesterday the hotel chain Marriot announced they were terminating a long-term agreement with Sonder, the company that manages the short-term stay building at 197 King East in the St. Lawrence Market neighhbourhood. This building has been undergoing extremely intensive and slow restorations since...

Interesting! Here's what I found in the Toronto Building Permit Database: Application: Building Additions/Alterations Status: Revision Issued Location: 252 ADELAIDE ST E TORONTO ON M5A 1N1 Ward 13: Toronto Centre Application#: 25 222040 BLD 01 BA Issued Date: Oct 10, 2025 Project: Retail Store...

According to current building permits, at least some of this retail space will be a Structube furniture store.

They could and should, though I imagine the added cost/logistics of making them removable for snow plows is the reason there aren't any.

This is a very literal interpretation of my words. Of course I do not 'blame' these silly stickers for this driver's behaviour. My point is that pedestrian and cyclist safety in Toronto is a big problem that requires solutions that go way beyond slapping down a few stickers that will be be...

As if to underscore the pointlessness of these stickers, on Friday just after 5pm we saw a first: a car intentionally drove through the cycling/pedestrian path in Parliament Square Park. It entered off Parliament Street, drove through the entire width of the park and exited on to the Esplanade...

There is finally a bit of retail life in the Time & Space building, around on the Sherbourne side, just north of the Esplanade. Today crews were putting up window decals for Next Golf, a 24/7 indoor golf facility. I guess it's better than a cannabis shop.

That's good to hear. I hate to be a constant complainer (ok, that ship sailed years ago) but it seems David Crombie park has been ready for imminent renewal since before the pandemic. Every summer I read that shovels will be going in the ground, and then... nothing happens. It really is...

After some controversies, Bright Sky Jewellery in the south market closed a while back. This was the little repair counter on the lower level at the foot of the stairs, B19 on the market map. Now it appears something new is moving into the space, something with a refrigerator or freezer. Anyone...

The plantings in that courtyard have really thrived this year, I guess the hot humid weather and the fact that it doesn't get too much direct sun have helped. But I agree, the whole configuration of the benches feels like it's designed around a centerpiece that does not exist. A fountain would...