The Trillium

Last month, when Marcia and I were returning from a trip around the Toronto Islands, we were treated to a ride on the Trillium.
I was excited to be below decks and watch the steam works of this double-end, double deck ferry.

It was launched into the harbour in 1910, and served as a passenger ferry along with three other "flower ferries" - the Primrose, the Mayflower and the Bluebell.
The last time I rode any of these ferries was when the cost was only a streetcar ticket (2 1/2 cents).
The Toronto Historical Board plaque on the deck wall tells some of its story.

Eventually, all of the paddle wheel ferries were replaced in 1952 by faster diesel-powered ships. She was retired five years later and left abandoned in an Island lagoon for 17 or 18 years.

 This photo is from the Toronto Archives (Fonds 1244, Item 0261)

Several years, and one million dollars later (thanks to Tommy Thompson) a restored Trillium returned to the Queens Quay docks at the foot of Bay Street.
It should be noted here that they had to retro-fit the docks to accomodate her wider berth.
  

The Music Garden

It was Thursday....and the beginning of a summer filled with free music at the Waterfront's Music Garden.
This will continue until September 13th, and performances will take place on Thursdays at 7 pm and Sundays at 4 pm., weather permitting.

Go to the City of Toronto web site for the schedule or go to this URL:

http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/summermusic/2015/

Tom Tollefson, an architectural blacksmith fabricated this Music Pavilion, pictured above.

The late Anne Roberts, of Feir Mill Design in Omemee, Ontario, was the creator of the Maypole that you see here.

The crowds gathered here early to hear some aboriginal music this evening.

Julie Messervy designed the garden in collaboration with the landscape architects from the City's Parks, Forestry and Recreation Department.
Its design interprets, in nature, Bach's First Suite for an Unaccompanied Cello.

With each movement (within the Suite) a different section of the various grasses and flowers have been designed to correspond.

 

Kate Mulgrew

Some time ago, I attended an interview with Kate Mulgrew.

She was doing a book tour for her book: "Born With Teeth - A Memoir"...which I had ordered in April.

There were over 300 people attending this event, and many of them, including myself, were Captain Janeway fans.

I got some very blurry photos, so I will not download them.

Instead I have taken some from the web.

This is from a previous interview.

 

 This is from the TV series "Orange Is The New Black".

 

Now this is my signed copy of her book.
It reads:

"To Nora
To Life
Kate Mulgrew"

 

The Lansdowne

Last weekend was the 16th annual Doors Open, and this year I attended a tour of the neighbourhood movie theatres.
The leader,Bert Ross, provided us with some history about the lost theatres in Toronto.
His grandfather owned the Lansdowne, so he also gave us a few anecdotes about the cinemas along Bloor West.
 

Built in 1937.

This is the lobby of the Lansdowne. It looks very Art Deco.

This is the area now, after some renovations to the building.

It was closed in 1961.

Parkdale

Mother's Day found me in front of the Parkdale Library on Queen West.

I had decided to explore Parkdale with the first guided ROM Walk of the 2015 season.
The leader took us south on Cowan Avenue and talked about some of the history behind the founding and subsequent amalgamation with the City of Toronto.

This was Parkdale's first telephone exchange.

Many of the churches in Parkdale were built in the late 1880's. Like this one.

This is the St. Mark and Epiphany Church.

Back up on Queen Street, we stopped in front of a building that once housed the Parkdale constabulary. It was almost in ruins until the residents arranged to have it fixed up. It is an art gallery at present, but has retained the original front door and clock.

There are a few hidden gems located within the boundaries of Queen & King
One of them is Trenton Terrace:

This is a cute little row of worker houses built post WWI for the local factory worker families.

Another little enclave is Melbourne Place:

A little bit of trivia here.
On Dunn Avenue, at 157 lived a very well known writer named Mazo de la Roche.
I believe there is a documentary out there called "The Mystery of Mazo de la Roche"
She also lived at 86 Yorkville Avenue for a time.....but that's another story.