In the window of the Umbra store on John Street. Don't these look like cool little ornaments?
Results tagged “bestof2008” from TWISIA
You know, the TTC works remarkably well during snowstorms in Toronto. It took me about 35 minutes to get home - when it normally takes me about 15 minutes. But the streetcar kept moving, it was warm, (if crowded), and best of all - I didn't have to do the driving. Thanks, TTC - keep up the good work.
Taken at the Dupont Station, as we waited to take the train home after visiting Casa Loma.
This is the view from the top of the Baldwin Steps - 110 steps up from Spadina Road to the level of the castle. We had taken the subway to get to Casa Loma, getting off at Dupont Station. It's a short, two block walk to the steps, and the view is worth the climb.
Okay - Christmas time is upon us, and that means that the hordes of Santa Claus's are taking over my house. This is only one of my fiance's collection - a collection I plan on getting a few more shots of this year. (You can see some more of the collection in the background - we have at least fifty Santas around the house right now. )
I loved the light in this room. The walls are covered with windows, and you get light in from every direction. And since it's a round room, it has no dark corners.
Doesn't this look like an awesome room to spend Christmas morning in?
Another picture from the Casa Loma trip. This guest bedroom was lit with the late afternoon sun by the time we got to it.
I took my fiance to Casa Loma for her birthday. She hadn't been there since she was in grade school, and I'd never been there. We started out on the first floor, and this was the first room we really looked at. The entire room is panelled in oak, and the carving took two men three years to complete. The results are gorgeous, though, aren't they?
Another picture from the Santa Claus Parade. Yes - it's more clowns. There was an army of clowns at the parade, as you'd expect.
I wonder how many times you blend into the background without realizing it. It's gotta be pretty common in the city. I suppose that - in this case - it's what you get for wearing a coat patterened after a predator's pelt.
So much of the city is shades of grey and brown. It's nice to see a splash of colour from time to time.
Taken at the corner of Queen and Broadview. Our neighbourhood BIA likes to spruce the streets up a little bit as the holidays approach. Just after they did that, we got a bit of snow to make everything look just that much prettier.
Actually, it's a house across the street from mine, in deepest, darkest Toronto. I don't know how old the house is, but it sure looks like a cottage, especially with all the leaves, and the pumpkin on the porch.
I loved the chrome and reflections on the Vespa parked out front of my work, so here it is. I see these speedy little Vespas everywhere downtown - it's such a switch from when I worked out in the 'burbs, where everyone drove cars, and nobody walked. I love working downtown, and especially in the Queen and John neighbourhood. There's always something going on, and something new to see.
Sorry for the gap in postings, btw. I'm participating in NaNoWriMo this year, so I've been kind of distracted as I try to write my novel. Hopefully, I'll be able to keep up with posting here as well as writing.
Taken on Thanksgiving Sunday night - just as we overheard a tourist asking her friend why we were taking a picture of the place they were going to on Monday. Maybe she thought we were scouting locations for something nefarious. :-) Not me - I just thought it looked cool.
Have I mentioned that I love the view from my balcony?
Summer is long gone, and the weather is getting nippy. Thanksgiving has come and gone. At least we have Christmas to look forward to! (or is it too early to talk about that?)
Lots of people ride skateboards to get around downtown. Most of them are younger than me, like this guy, but there are some surprises out there. In many ways, the skateboard is an excellent method to get around downtown - not ideal, but useful nonetheless.
I loved his plaid Jays hat. And the skulls on his jacket - I have to get one of those jackets! Taken at Queen and John, again. :-)
Most mornings, I end up on the streetcar, jammed with people. This morning, I managed to get a mostly empty, short-turn streetcar.
More detail of the bridge on Cherry Street. I love the industrial look, and the Christmas lights are a nice touch, don't you think? I can't wait to go back there after dark one night to see if they light them up every night.
On my way home, the other day, I noticed the maintenance cover in the sidewalk. I didn't know that Allstream advertised on the street that way.
Taken from the bike path beside the Don Valley Parkway. As it goes underneath the railroad tracks along the lakeshore, you can stand underneath the bridge, and take shots of the trains going by.
It was the last day of summer, so we walked down to Cherry Beach in the sunshine and warmth of Sunday.
Warming up for his gig at the Opera House. There's always something going on there - it's right at the end of my street, and I either see the prelude, or the aftermath. I'm just glad I don't live next door to them - I wouldn't be able to take the noise. (Gawd - I'm turning into an old fart - sigh. )
The CNE is gone for another year - but I'm still processing pictures from it! :-)
Taken at the CNE in the Better Living Center.
Summer is officially over - the CNE has closed. It was a busy, busy summer, and now we get to see the leaves turn, the kids going back to school, and the weather starting to get cooler.
It was Busker Fest this weekend in Toronto. There were all kinds of different performers on the ground, but this young lady had everyone looking to the skies. It's gotta be a quite a sight to be looking down from this height onto the street, filled with people looking back up at you.
It seems that somebody's been doing a little front yard gardening. I liked the light on the two objects, but I got funny looks for taking this particular picture.
I dunno if I'd ever be comfortable enough to go on the Maid of the Mist - they get a little crowded sometimes. The couple on the front of the boat seem to be having a good time, though.
This is not the safest place to be sitting. Those are the Niagara River rapids, just above the Horseshoe Falls. We took a day trip there during our holidays to show the kids just how tacky a street in Canada can be. This guy was one of the first things I noticed after we parked the car.
More sunset at Ashbridges Bay. These two young men were busy playing Frisbee in the water - when they came out I caught them, and the boats behind them.
Another shot from the last morning at the bed and breakfast.
We woke up early on the morning we were checking out of the bed and breakfast in Huntsville, and found the mist. So we had to go down to the horse pond and get some shots. I love seeing the mist rising off the water.
Found outside of a restaurant on Queen Street, on my way in to work. Yum! Breakfast of champions!
Waiting for the train at Osgoode Station.
Another shot from the photowalk on the Leslie Street Spit. This cyclist seemed to be tinking, sitting on an improvised bench at the water's edge.
Okay - so you're a horse. The mosquitoes and blackflies are the worst they've been in years, and you're outside in the sun. What can you do to prevent bites along your back? That's right! Roll in the mud, scratching those hard to reach places, and coating yourself in dirt to boot.Taken at the Bed and Breakfast we stayed at over the Canada Day long weekend.
I took my daughter to a horse ranch for a day as a birthday present. She was thrilled, as you would expect. 
Looks like the small car is pulling away from the pack. As gas prices continue to rise, I bet more and more people are going to be looking at smaller cars to replace the behemoths they drive now.
Getting right into the shot at Queen and Church.
I loved the stance, waiting for the streetcar at Queen and John.
More from the old bike I spotted the other day. I love the way the rust spreads across the metal.
I spotted a very old, very rusted bike on my way home the other day.
On the phone at Queen and John.
Do you think he's waiting for birds to land in the box? Or is he there to enforce the flyer policy at this house? Either way, he doesn't look very happy, does he?
I've never seen this brand of cigarettes before. I found these sitting on top of an old oil drum outside the Opera House on Queen St. East. I loved the grittiness of the bucket behind it.
Every morning, I take the streetcar to work. And, every morning, I try to get one of the single seats. These folks managed to get there first.
Watching the streetcar trundle past on Queen.
She's growing up. Taken while we waited for the streetcar to take us to the subway, so we could get errands done. She's changing every day - growing into the woman she's going to be. Hopefully, I can survive her growing up - she's already a brat.
Where is this person walking to? Where are they coming from? What would I do if I couldn't walk around as easily as I do now? What will I do when I get older, if I can't take care of myself like I do now? These are the questions running through my mind when I took this picture.
I loved the way the light separated the foreground and background here. It's nice to see a shot of a sunny day, especially when it's so grey and cloudy outside right now. It'll be spring, soon, and the snow will all go away - and then we can start bitching about how muddy it is.
Another winter biker - this time, he's relaxing as he heads across Queen Street during rush hour. I don't know if I'd be quite so casual on that particular stretch of road - it's more than a bit crazy around there from time to time.
I love the texture of the numerals here. It's impossible to duplicate the look of an aging steel sign. Something about how it looks, about how it slowly decays back to iron oxide, appeals to me.
I found a derelict building on King Street the other day, and it looks like it's been locked up for quite a while. I have to wonder, though, how effective the lock is going to be, when the door frame is so decayed.
Okay - so I've been noticing more people around who are using crutches. This guy, at least, has a sympathetic friend with him. Also seen on Flickr
I'd hate to be hobbling around on crutches in the snow and ice we've got on the ground in Toronto right now. It's probably just a sprained ankle, but that can't make it any easier.
As much as I don't like the "new" architecture, with it's emphasis on function, I do like that they kept the bottom floor of the building when they put up the new tower. That section looks amazing at night, with all the shadows and texture.
I spent part of my birthday at the Allan Gardens Conservatory. Very peaceful place, and, even deep into the winter, lots of blooming plants. It's a pretty cool place, all in all.
There are two (TWO!) wasp nests hanging from branches of trees on my street. I used my 75-300 to get this shot, standing directly underneath the nest. I always wonder - do the wasps sleep all winter in these? How many of them survive the winter? Is this one abandoned, or still active? I guess I'll figure all these things out when the spring arrives.
Weeds are less hearty than the trees, but they burst forth every year, regardless. Seeing them with snow on them is a reminder, to me, that although things end, they also renew, in time. Also taken on the Leslie Street Spit.
