Archive for 2019

City builds back

Posted on May 30th, 2019 Be the first to comment

11 Dundonald Street

Filed under: B Sides

State destroys city

Posted on May 27th, 2019 Be the first to comment

A large swath of Yonge Street is in the process of being demolished to make way for sterile, corporate homogeneity. Most of the businesses along the lengthy strip didn’t leave by choice.

You might be tempted to think it was the government-imposed 100% — i.e. double — tax increase (with more planned), that drove so many businesses either out of the area or into bankruptcy but “think tanks” like the C.D. Howe Institute beg to differ; Toronto has very “competitive” property tax rates, they say, it’s just that they’re difficult to estimate because of complexity, obscurity, and lack of transparency.

You may think that taxing property “owners” twice — i.e. double — for simply living on a piece of land throughout the city would be similarly problematic but the eminent Ryerson University along with some councilors believe that the city could easily squeeze another 20% from taxpayers who have the audacity to live in a home that they “own”.

Bloody “free” market strikes again!

362 Yonge Street

Filed under: Dispatches, Patrick Bay, Pictures

Doughnart

Posted on May 24th, 2019 Be the first to comment

Krispy Kreme Kat knows a lot about fat. Regarding type II, ask Thing One or Thing Two.

McCaul and Elm Streets

Filed under: Dispatches, Patrick Bay, Pictures

Fantom foot

Posted on May 23rd, 2019 Be the first to comment

Returning from a meetup where we’d imbibed some adult refreshments, Sarah and I found pieces of a discarded mannequin by the side of the road. A few blocks later inspiration struck.

120 Bloor Street East

Filed under: Dispatches, Patrick Bay, Pictures

Guanyin

Posted on May 22nd, 2019 Be the first to comment

These days the Goddess of Mercy is going for a cool three grand — Chinatown special!

Spadina & Dundas

Filed under: Dispatches, Patrick Bay, Pictures

Gorey Gardens

Posted on May 21st, 2019 2 Comments

There’s something very Edward Gorey-esque about Allan Gardens that keeps me coming back. Maybe it’s the moody Victorian atmosphere that they invoke, or maybe it’s the holiday weekend crowds — they can be murder. For Sarah it’s all about those sinister turtles.

Filed under: Dispatches, Patrick Bay, Pictures

Popos on horseback

Posted on May 20th, 2019 Be the first to comment

Wellesley Street East & Wellesley Place

Filed under: Dispatches, Patrick Bay, Pictures

Everywhere

Posted on May 19th, 2019 Be the first to comment

Yonge-Dundas Square

Filed under: Dispatches, Patrick Bay, Pictures

Ain’t too proud (to beg)

Posted on May 18th, 2019 Be the first to comment

I wrote this one a few years ago but decided to dust it off for TCL. You may recognize the lyrics of David Ruffin from The Temptations but the tune will probably not be so familiar. I believe the kids these days call this style Electro House.

Filed under: Dispatches, Patrick Bay, Sounds

Stillness

Posted on May 17th, 2019 Be the first to comment

476 Yonge Street

Filed under: Contributed, Dispatches, Patrick Bay