David Miller, Transit Mayor

I came across these short interviews with David Miller on My City Lives. In light of recent victories at City Hall, it seemed like an ideal time to reflect on some of the things that Toronto has done right, particularly under the leadership of great Mayors of our past. Watch this series for Miller's inspiring thoughts on rapid transit, priority neighbourhoods, civic engagement, public services, the Creative economy, etc. He rides the TTC and wanders through neighbourhoods like St. Jamestown and even has drink at the Communist's Daughter. It's a heart-warming series.  


Oh and for those of you who are unfamiliar with My City Lives, you should check it out. It's a great platform to  share ideas, events and happenings in Toronto, all through video. Anyone can post!  


S.

Toronto, when the light hits.

Untitled from butgooddifferent on Vimeo.

I took all these shots with my iPhone. I wasn't sure what to do with them, so now they're in a  slideshow on this blog. This collection was created by wandering around and meandering through various neighbourhoods in Toronto's West end, but you'll find some East end shots in there, interspersed with pics from the CNE and waterfront.  Somehow the iPhone camera captures light really well. 

I definitely want an upgrade though. 

The Spontaneous Prose Store

You might have caught the tail end of her interview on CBC one morning, like I did. She takes her typewriter to the streets of Toronto, setting up shop in different neighbourhoods. The products she sells are type-written poetry and prose, inspired by passerbys like you and I.

You can give her a theme, first line or title and she will rapidly do the rest, producing a piece of written work for you on sticker paper. We came by her in Kensington Market and were quite delighted. We gave her the title "The Methodology of Baking" (long story). Check out the poem she wrote for us:

Makes for pretty neat collaborative work between strangers. You can follow Kaile's wordpress for more!

- S.

butgooddifferent visits Red Hook, Brooklyn

This is what Toronto's Port Lands could be like if the Fords weren't in charge. Feels small- town-in-the-big-city like Leslieville (but much less developed). Looks like parts of the Distillery District if it extended further South East. Is being redeveloped in a similar vein to Montreal's St. Henri. Oh and Torontonians would have to make do with our scenic view of Leslie Spitt instead of the Statue of Liberty across the water...






















































(And throw in a couple of these guys for fun and we'd be set.)


Sold.
S.


PS. Did you read the letter?

Toronto Portlands Letter

Name that patio

-Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

S.

Location:Roncesvalles

Anser's back

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Grab your coat and get your hat

It's CNE time again!

As you may have heard, this year's features include:

the donut cheeseburger
patty, cheese, lettuce, tomato sandwiched between 2 Krispy Kreme Donuts! and we thought deep fried butter was a bad slash good idea

deep fried coke
funnel cake batter made with coke, deep fried, then drizzled with concentrated coke syrup and then hit with whipped cream. Apparently the fried bits themselves aren't bad, but the syrup is nauseatingly sweet.

And if that isn't enough to get you barrelling for the gates, check out blogTO's photos of the CNE from days gone by. People went in droves and apparently they were fancy back then - boater hats and long skirts were de rigueur for a day at the fair.

On until Sept 5, $16 admission ($12 if you're over 60 or under 13, but then you're not really our reader demographic).

e

PS. blogTO's been posting a series on old photos of Toronto, including the aforementioned CNE photos, the building of the Gardiner, and Yonge St in the 70s. Looks like fashion's come back around. Now if only the mullet could make an unironic resurgence.