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Up "North"

Although most of our time was spent south of Bloor, there were some memorable places just north (and we also spent a lot of time in Yorkville and at the Embassy Tavern).
There was Britnell's Bookstore just north of Bloor, which is now Starbucks. It…

Tags: read, story, yonge street

TTC bus on Yonge Street, 1954

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This picture shows the 970 (Armour Heights) bus, heading west from Yonge Blvd. and Yonge Street, on the last day of the Yonge Street trams.

Tags: 1954, bus, cars, picture, spring, ttc, Yonge Boulevard, yonge street

Travels with my Aunt

I have wonderful memories of shopping trips with my aunt to the old Simpsons store. She would buy me white gloves each spring. I remember the attention the Sales woman showed us. Then we would walk northwards, window shopping on our way home. It…

Tags: 1950's, 1950s, read, simpsons department store, story, white gloves, window shopping, yonge street

Trade card for John Brimer, Merchant Tailors, 188-.

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This is an advertising cardfor John Brimer's firm of merchant tailors. His business was located at 202 & 204 Yonge Street.

Tags: advertisements, businesses, John Brimner, pictures, tailors, toronto, trade cards, yonge street

Toll Gate at Yonge & Bloor

A toll gate at the north-east corner of Bloor and Yonge Streets, generally known as the "First" was erected in the early 1830s. The small keeper's house was moved to Davenport Road in 1850 when a covered way was added along withtwo further rooms.…

Tags: read, roads, stories, story, toll gates, travel, yonge street

Tim Horton's Hot Dogs?

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Before hockey pro turned restauteur Tim Horton found his niche in donuts, he made a number of attempts at a full service restaurant. This sign from the Tim Horton’s Restaurant at 353 Yonge Street invites offers Hot Dogs at a bargain basement…

Tags: advertising, coca cola, coke, hot dogs, picture, pictures, restaurants, signage, signs, tim hortons, yonge street

The Watchmen

The following is an excerpt from Stroll: Psychogeographic Walking Tours of Toronto, Coach House Press, 2010

Though Toronto derives its name from an aboriginal word, examples of First Nations public art around the city are rare. One giant exception…

Tags: aboriginal, bay and college, first nations, public art, read, sculpture, story, toronto, totem poles, yonge street

The top of Toronto

The following is an excerpt from Stroll: Psychogeographic Walking Tours of Toronto, Coach House Press, 2010

At mid-afternoon, pedestrians are everywhere, crossing all seven lanes of Yonge or Steeles. Some of the pedestrians cross north to Richmond…

Tags: centrepoint mall, read, richmond hill, steeles avenue, story, yonge street