Why I Love Toronto

1812 Lounge

The Thompson Hotel is no doubt one of the Toronto’s most elite hotels.  Located on Wellington and Bathurst, this hotel is home to a rooftop pool that overlooks the city, a restaurant and lounge. What I want to tell you about today is the 1812 Lounge (really a club in my opinion) downstairs. 

Now one weekend I decided to take Sanjana and Sophie out for a night on the town! I was told by a few of the girls at work about this beautiful lounge located in the basement of Thompson Hotel. Now I had managed to get us on the guest list for the 1812 Lounge so we got in with hardly any problems.

When we entered I suggested that we try to go to the rooftop pool and bar, but alas famed director Harvey Weinstein reserved the upper level of the Thompson for a party that night. Anyways, the 1812 lounge is very secretive. When you first enter the hotel you are welcomed into the main floor bar where people who do not have stamps can have a drink. Behind the bar of the main floor there is a staircase with another bouncer – this is the entrance to the 1812 Lounge. When we approached the bouncer Sanjana, Sophie and I had to show the stamps we got upon entering. When I lifted up the sleeve to my blazer I noticed that there was no stamp. However, the stamp, as I learned later, is invisible and only can be seen using a black light, which made Sanjana, Sophie and I feel as though we were entering an elite club.

The lounge was absolutely stunning. Everything from the light fixtures to the wall décor made it look so upscale and swanky. There were these stunning light fixtures, lined above the dance floor that has these crystal-like objects dangling down from inside of them as well as a few renaissance-style paintings with one featuring a man posing in the ready position (sword ready to be drawn). They had framed weapons on the wall and large mirrors hanging above the couches that served as booths for those who ordered bottle service. There were also two bars, but my favourite was the farthest one which featured a large Union Jack.

The DJ played a really good set that night with some classic 90’s rap and the crowd was very mixed. There were cougars and manthers (the male cougar), really rich people and then there was that one slopappotamus in the room.

But overall the 1812 Lounge was beautiful! I loved it and we had all had such a great time!

That is Why I Love Toronto.

http://blog.thompsonhotels.com/blog/2012/07/week-four-thompson-toronto/

Why I Love Toronto Reason #346

Fort York

So yesterday’s Diner En Blanc post was a total coincidence in terms of it being at Fort York – I didn’t plan to do the posts back to back, for all the rumours were suggesting the event would take place at either Trinity Bellwoods Park, U of T St. George Campus, Nathan Phillips Square or Casa Loma. Anyways, I wanted to do it this week sometime because I was looking at old baby pictures of myself and found one where my parents took me to Fort York as a baby. I don’t remember the day, being a baby an all, but now I can say I’ve been to Fort York more than once – well if you count going to the Commons to see concerts then I’ve been there multiple times. Anyways this year is especially significant for Fort York for it is the 200 year anniversary of the War of 1812 – which yes involved Laura Secord (the only thing I could remember on History Tests). Now I don’t want to make this post into a Grade 10 history textbook so I’ll give you the Cole Notes version of the historical site.

The site is called Fort York, simply because it was a Fort in the old township of York which of course what Toronto used to be called. The buildings that stand on the property next to the Gardiner Expressway and Bathurst were built around 1813 and 1815. These were not the original buildings that stood on the land, for the ones prior were destroyed by our neighbours to the south when they were occupying York. The current buildings are said to be a fine example of British Military Architecture. The area was first used John Grave Simcoe (the guy who the Civic Holiday is in Honour of) who led the construction of a garrison on the land in 1793. The plan was to have a naval base there, because at the time Lake Ontario was much closer to the Fort than it is today.

Of course – and I say of course because like every old building in the city there were plans to demolish the area. However, that was prevented and the city bought Fort York in 1909 and restored the area between 1932 and 1934 to mark the centennial of the city of Toronto. On Victoria Day 1934 the area became a Historic Museum Site – which I think may have been one the first historic site museums in the city, but I can’t find proof of that.

Today if one goes to Fort York they will be welcomed by period rooms, galleries, displays, exhibits or can take walking tours of the grounds and see men in costume re-enacting the way the soldiers acted back in the day. I urge people to visit Fort York this year since I’m sure they will have a number of events honouring the bicentennial of the war.

What is most amazing about the area is the fact that these old buildings sit in one of the most modern areas of the city today , with the exception of the Gardiner,  the Fort is surrounded by condominiums which if you think about it acts as protection/ really tall soldiers for the Fort. These historical buildings are a stunning part of Toronto’s and Canada’s history. If you want to learn more about the war of 1812, other than Laura Secord who has an Ice Cream Shop named after, then just click here to be led to the Government of Canada’s commemoration page.

That Is Why I Love Toronto.

http://whyilovetoronto.tumblr.com/post/29125128297/why-i-love-toronto-reason-345-diner-en-blanc-ugh

http://www.fortyork.ca/index.php/history-of-fort-york

http://wx.toronto.ca/inter/culture/doorsopen.nsf/7810A7D0D6C0033D8525799C004D29F5/4C97E63018E39B0F852579AB0078AC4F?opendocument

Why I Love Toronto Reason #276

Churches Being Turned into Condos/ Lofts

Yes I know Toronto’s Condo/ Loft market is getting out of hand. I mean they have condos popping up right next to the Gardiner expressway – so close that if a car ran into and broke the median you would have a car in your living room or from another perspective you could jump onto the highway from your balcony.  Now I will do a post on my favorite condominium buildings in the near future, but today I want to do Churches that have been turned into condominiums/ lofts. This is definitely becoming a huge craze in our city and I think it may be a tad sacrilegious.

I have to say though it is a cool concept. I mean church attendance is declining which means more churches are joining together. Instead of demolishing these abandoned Churches they are being converted and allowing people to live in the some of the most beautiful historical building this city has to offer.  So even though it may not be the right place for vampire to live because the faucets might spew out holy water and there may be some hidden crosses somewhere, I think these homes are perfect for those who love architecture and history. Below I’m going to give you my top 4 church converted condo/ lofts and briefly give you a history and some of their selling features.  

     Abby Church Lofts

Located in the High Park Area this church has some pretty awesome selling features. Get this - vaulted wood ceilings, original stained glass windows, exposed stone and brick walls, plus it has a look out from the bell tower and twisting staircases!! – I’m having an architectural orgasm right now – I’m not sure if that’s weird to say considering I’m talking about a church, but to I am. Anyways the church was built in 1910 and is absolutely stunning it almost looks like you could be living in a castle. Did I mention THE ORIGINAL STAINED GLASS?

    The Church Lofts

This neo-gothic gem was built in 1906 and is located at 701 Dovercourt and also has its original stained glass. What I love are the squished in balconies and the wood patio on top of the church which brings you a stunning view. It boasts to a restoration of the masonry, limestone, wood doors, and period light fixture.  It has this amazing quad that beams in sunlight from the most beautiful skylight I have ever seen.

     The Channel Club

Everyone has seen this church condo and they probably still thinks it is a church - I know I did until now. This condo is right on the corner of College and Bathurst and I mean right on the corner. If you ever get off the 511 streetcar at college it drops you off right in front. I just thought I’d mention that one because I always thought it was just a cool church in Little Italy.  

      St. George On Sheldrake Lofts

Once the Eglinton United Church, this 1923 building by Horwood and White (they also worked with Edmund Burke) was turned into lofts in 2001. The exterior is said to be a tribute to Oxford University’s Keeble College and has units as big as 4000 square feet.  The building welcomes you with these noteworthy dark coloured doors as well as intense brickwork. Of course it also has cathedral ceilings.

More and more Church Condo/Lofts are popping up in the tdot and I’m really excited that architects are bringing the old and placing a modern twist on it. Remember my Heritage Modernization Theory – not demolishing old building but converting them to the modern world. It is happening Toronto and these condo/ lofts are some of the nicest condo/ loft buildings in the city. Now the question if you live in an old church do church rules still apply? Like no swearing? All question that will be answered in time.

That is why I Love Toronto. 

http://www.torontolife.com/daily/informer/gimme-shelter/2011/12/02/condomonium-384-sunnyside-avenue-unit-309/attachment/dec11hotwsunnyside_23/

http://www.gracecondos.com/Listing.aspx?lid=20860&areaid=44

http://www.torontolofts.ca/loft254_church203.html

http://www.mrloft.ca/Loft-Buildings/Church-Lofts-701-Dovercourt-Rd-Toronto

Why Love Toronto Reason #207

Dancing Outside of La Palette

So yesterday it was my buddy Chris’s birthday at the Rivoli and after a few games of pool and a Keith’s as well as Strongbow me and 2 members of the crew went in search of food. Anyways we decided to walk to Queen and Bathurst to get Poutine at Smoke’s. So we began walking west! Anyways on our way there we heard some jazz and saw a man in a white robe playing the trombone.  We stood outside this bar called La Palette and we stared inside at this band jamming on top of the bar. It was so amazing, the sax players were jamming while people went in between their legs to order drinks. Alyse said she felt as though she was in New Orleans and Ariel thought it was like we were back swing dancing at the Dovercourt House. For me I felt as though we were in the 20’s with the exception of the girl on drums who looked like she was Scott Pilgram’s (Michael Cera’s) girlfriend in the movie.

So we stood outside and just chilled watching the band play there set and watching the people inside dance. As were outside we met a guy named Matt a biochemical engineer from Canada who now lives in New York. He started talking to us and then the conversation just kept going and going. Now for Ariel and I this was so amazing! When we were in Europe to visit our friend Sanjana she was just a social butterfly talking to random people she had just met and Ariel, Jess, Dasha and I decided we had to be as social as her! So last night proved that Ariel and I could be social!

Anyways it was so cool the window was open and we just stared inside the bar and watched this amazing jazz band play their hearts out. I was amazing people were walking by and stopped to look at the band. However, I should not be promoting just standing outside, because they need to revenue to keep that awesome band going and the bar open.

This restaurant/ bar is French inspired and they serve brunch, lunch and dinner as well as hosting a rocking cool show. Now there has been some controversy around this restaurant because of their horse meat option on their menu. La Palette was once located in Kensington Market now it is Queen West.

So yes I did not go in, but it was just an amazing outside party and we met some amazing people. We were the Queen Street Drifters looking for a party or food. And it was just an amazing moment standing out on Queen at 1:30am and just listening to music, dancing and talking to a complete stranger.

That is Why I Love Toronto.  

Why I Love Toronto Reason #196

The Rockpile

Rockpile Bar & Nightclub sits awkwardly on the corner of Dundas Street West and East Mall Crescent (near highway 427) in a part of Etobicoke where you wouldn’t think to find a bar or nightclub. The Rockpile is the latest venture by Dominic Tassielli who was the manager of the former Big Bop Nightclub, which closed a few years back to make room for the CB2 (Reason #149). However, unlike the Big Bop (which i loved for the live music, but not its exterior), the Rockpile does not have a bright purple exterior, but rather it has a dark and black façade with barred windows. One may think at first glance that the building was abandoned just like the rest of the buildings in the area. For myself, the exterior is what kept me away, but I eventually learned that you should not judge a book by its cover.

The reason for the Rockpile’s dark and abandoned look is because the building is meant to mimic a prison. As soon as I walked through the door the bouncer encouraged me get my mug shot taken in front of the scope (which I later learned is what you call the background with the height measurements). Afterwards my journey began into the faux prison which featured a wall of celebrity mug shots that included the likes of Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, Woody Harrelson and Marilyn Manson. The bathrooms are known and referred to by the regulars as Death Row and the coat check mimics a prison cell. Even along the back bar there is a fake barbed wire with plastic limbs tangled in them to re-enact the attempts of a prison break.   

Since the venue is located in the suburbs it attracts mostly Etobicoke natives. However, as the venue continues to build a name for itself it is slowly attracting more people from other parts of Toronto and even Mississauga. The bar welcomes anyone 16+, but requires those under the age of 19 to be accompanied by an adult. Even though the club welcomes teenagers the dynamic of the ages works well and on any given night you can see teenagers mingling with the parents of the local bands who play there.

 The bar sells ear plugs for those who cannot handle the power of rock. Like the Big Bop, the Rockpile is the place to see some great live bands which include small local acts, tribute bands, and bigger Canadian and international artists, like Redman and Swollen Members.

 Even though the Rockpile is located at the end of the Bloor-Danforth line – a slight trek for all you downtown lovers - and is in an area that is mostly abandoned, I would still encourage you to check it out. As a downtown lover through and through, I can say I was pleasantly surprised by the great live music and how much fun I had.

That Is Why I Love Toronto

Why I Love Toronto Reason #189

The Abandoned Loblaw Warehouse on Lakeshore and Bathurst

Lonely, this building is lonely, it has nobody occupying it, it’s so lonely, very lonely, it has nobody to occupy it oh no! Sorry, Lonely by Akon came on as soon as I typed what the reason was and I thought it was either a coincidence or irony? I can’t tell the difference between the two and that is why I can never be a full hipster. Regardless, I was walking along Lakeshore and I saw this building just sitting there on the corner and remembered always seeing it as a child and wondering why it was just sitting there deteriorating and not being torn down. Now of course that was before my appreciation for old buildings and before I developed my Heritage Modernization Theory which I define as “modernizing heritage buildings in opposition to tearing them down and building more modern structures”.

Now everyone knows the Loblaw Warehouse, even if they don’t know its name. You can see it from the Gardiner and some of the building extends under the Gardiner as well. It has been abandoned for over a decade and unlike our beloved CB2 which revitalized an old masonic temple and future Massey Tower which will revitalize the old bank of commerce, the future for this building is grim – well for parts of it anyways.

Now according to the Loblaw website the building dates back to 1928 and was not only a Warehouse, but their head office. The building is an example of Art-deco was built by Sparling, Martin and Forbes. I’ll post some pictures of the building then and now, but just looking at the then pictures – I mean wow it was a masterpiece in art-deco architecture.   

The warehouse was built with its own electric tram railway (say what!), oversized ovens to bake, drums for blending tea, and 22 thousand feet of pipe that were used for refrigerating. It had access to a train tracks behind the building so it could move its shipment in and out. And I’m sorry but Back the F*** Up! Apparently according to the website the employees had a bowling alley, billiard tables and auditorium in their cafe to produce plays! LOBLAW WEBSITE SAY WHAT!  

It wasn’t until the 70’s when Loblaw left the site and the building became a Daily Bread Food bank until 2000, leaving the building abandoned and left to deteriorate. Today when you pass the building you can see its neglect, some of the windows are tilted open or broken which probably means it is now the home of the many city creatures (those evil racoons, those gross rats of the ground and of the sky aka pigeons), some of the windows are boarded up and there is no consistency in the glass. The façade has even become discoloured over the years. It’s just being left there…but people c’mon it’s these old buildings that would be awesome for lofts, or shops! Many of us may this building as ugly, but underneath that ugly, it could be the best reminder of Toronto’s past. I mean if it wasn’t for CB2 I would never have guessed that bright purple eyesore known as the Big Bop was such a beautiful building.

Now the building is today a historic landmark which means it cannot be torn down, even though Loblaw tired in 2004.  Apparently in September of last year Loblaw was going to make a request to council to demolish parts of the building so they could build a new Loblaw superstore. Now c’mon we have to save our old buildings they are amazing and have so much history! We have bits and pieces of it! In fact when the building opened many papers praised its beauty! The Globe said that management should allow tours for the public into the warehouse! This eventually happened during the depression according to one source.  Now with all this talk of demolition to parts of the building confuses me! I mean Loblaw was so keen of restoring the façade of the former Maple Leaf Gardens (Reason #50 and #100) and yes I know it is the only building in Toronto to have seen the Leafs win the Stanley Cup and it is an architectural masterpiece, but just because it has a more famous history than this Warehouse does not give it priority to be fully saved. This Warehouse is still a magnificent example of art-deco built by Sparling, Martin and Forbes.

So if we were to apply the Heritage Modernization Theory to this former Loblaw Warehouse, then we need to save this building, restore it and bring it back to the beauty and the praise it once had in the late 20’s. We need to save our heritage properties and bring life into them once again.

That Is Why I Love Toronto.

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/920794—loblaw-ready-to-tear-down-historic-warehouse

http://www.loblaws.ca/LCLOnline/aboutUs.jsp

http://www.thegridto.com/city/places/derelict-delights-the-loblaw-warehouse-building/

http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/01/11/loblaws-to-refurbish-waterfront-warehouse/

http://www.torontolife.com/daily/informer/cityscape/2011/01/14/loblaws-planning-to-do-something-with-that-cool-looking-building-at-lake-shore-and-bathurst/

http://www.heritagetoronto.org/news/story/2011/09/13/loblaw-groceterias-building

Why I Love Toronto Reason #174

The Drake General Store

So as I was waiting for Jess and Ariel to meet me at the Drake Hotel to make an inquiry about their Stardust New Year’s Eve Party, I decided to venture into the Drake General Store.  The Drake General Store opened in 2008 and is the hotel’s version of the Gift Shop. The store has products from all over the world, by local artists, an array of other great Canadiana finds (a Hudson Bay Company blanket on occasion), clothing and antique items.

The products are why I love the Drake General Store. I remember seeing an old A&P toy truck and being tempted to buy it for my dad because he used to work for the company at one point in his life. Other products I have been tempted to buy include a stylish moustache set (which has different moustaches you can wear), The Campbell’s Alphabet Dice Game, unique and somewhat vintage looking clothing as well as books, home décor, and kid’s items (for my friends who have children). Also, the Crazy Canuck hats they carry and the paparazzi play set which has paparazzi action figures you can set up on a red carpet were this close to coming home with me.  

The General Store has 3 locations – its Queen Street Location next to the Drake (which was renovated in late 2012) as well as its Rosedale and Bathurst location. I have only been to the Queen Street location with its European style Pharmacy cross outside and its pink second floor exterior, but I have seen the Bathurst location on was home from work.

Another thing to note about the store is the cabinetry! I just love the colour of the wood. If there is one thing I love about a store it is the fixtures they have, for me it gives the store a personality. I used to work a Tommy (a younger hipper brand of Tommy Hilfiger) and the one thing I loved was the different fixtures they had such as armoires and woodworking tables. I loved them because they were so unique and made the store and product stand out – this is how I feel about the fixtures at the Drake General Store because they truly help compliment there products.

So for redefining the Hotel Gift Shop and giving us some of the most unique products in the city, the Drake General Store is

Why I Love Toronto.

Related Why I Love Toronto Posts:

• The Drake Hotel

Website:

• Drake General Store

Sources:

• Source 1
• Source 2