Just ignore the snow. Oh, and no swimming allowed. Just in case you were going to go all “polar bear dip” on me.

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Yes, yes … I know that it’s formally known as Canada’s Sugar Beach, no doubt due to the federal government’s hefty infusion of $13 million of the $14.3 million cost. (Yet doesn’t that just smack of the wealthy uncle finally, FINALLY, picking up a cheque and never letting you forget it, if you know what I mean??)

Be that as it may …

Amazing things are happening along Toronto’s East Bayfront. For so many years this was an area remarkable only for its squandered potential. That’s all changing, and this pretty, pretty little beach is an important project for a waterfront in transition.

Pink umbrellas stuck in sugary white sand at the Jarvis Slip. How sweet is that? 

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My question: How do you load up a bevy of swans into boats? Not that I’m going to be doing that any time soon. Unless I didn’t get the memo.

So I Googled and found a video of the annual “loading up” event. Given their graceful reputation, it’s amusing to see their resistance. A little bit of a tussle, it would seem. Although given the special protection the City of Hamburg affords the swans, no worries about their safety.

Toronto’s Palace Pier Condo
And The Swans

Which reminded me that I have some photographs of swans taken this summer just across from Toronto’s Palace Pier and Palace Place condos, close to the QEW monument. The “pond” comes and goes; the last time I spun by it was drained and no swans in sight. But they’ll be back, and so will I!

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One of my Toronto favourites is the Humber Bay Bridge. It’s intended for pedestrian traffic and, in fact, forms part of the Martin Goodman Trail. Scroll to the bottom of this page and you’ll see an image of the bridge.

I’ve spun across this bridge on my bike many, many times. When approaching from the eastern edge of the Western Beaches you can see the arches shimmering from across the bay; when you’re spinning east along the trail you almost sneak up on it.

It’s always a happy moment when I see it: I’m either on a leisurely ride with no worries other than grabbing a cup of coffee before heading back … or  … I’m taking a much-needed rest on the boulders on Sheldon Lookout because I’ve got another 20 km to go at the end of a long ride (yes, that would be the Oakville Odyssey) and my legs have failed. Which means I’m digging deep to finish the ride.

A View From Toronto’s
Windermere By The Lake

I recently had a buyer revisit for clients who purchased a condo at Windermere by the Lake. They’ve got a great view (and a great condo!) overlooking Humber Bay and the bridge. It occurred to me that not many people get to see it from such a lofty vantage point, so I made sure to bring my camera.

It was an unusually warm, sunny November day and I wasn’t quite sure what I was capturing, image-wise, as it was impossible to see what was actually in the monitor. The sun was SO intense and the images were being bleached out and all. I took my shots and hoped for the best. This is my favourite photograph from the day.

Is a new or resale condo with a great lake view in your future? I can help! Call Lauren at 416–550–6991 or send me an email.

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Why the surprise at such a pretty door? It’s just a little … unexpected. Eastern Avenue runs through what was once a very industrial area and although many of the factories (and sadly, the jobs) have long departed, the vibe is still somewhat hardscrabble.

I love how that particular shade of blue works so well with the yellow bricks. And especially that the planters are done up in the same shade of blue rather than trying to introduce a third colour. The old “less is more” notion. It just works! On second thought, it’s very Eastern Avenue.

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My tribe likes to talk about neighbourhood amenities. And so do I, as you can see in my recent Leslieville listing at 76 Pape Ave (MLS #E1777940).

But there are the “standard” amenities that one expects to find in an urban centre such as Toronto … and there are the amenities that act as a magnet, drawing people to neighbourhoods that transition to hot, sought-after locales with their own unique personalities.

Like Leslieville.

I like taking photographs on drizzly, rainy days; the colours pop and you can get some interesting reflections. These were taken along Queen Street East, east of Pape Avenue.

The collage is made up of these photographs:

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The photographs in this collage were taken around Pape Avenue and Eastern Avenue.

I hope you enjoy the photographs. And if you are thinking of buying or selling in Leslieville, please call Lauren at 416–550–6991, or send me an email.

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I’m biased: this is my favourite time of year. I love the fall colours, the cold and the snow. And today at 5:18 pm, to be precise, we enter the autumnal equinox (read: first day of fall) when the length of day approximately equals the night. Which means starting tomorrow, the days get shorter and the nights get longer. Right up to the December solstice, which marks the beginning of winter and the shortest day of the year. But the next day …

Knowing that as much as I love this time of year, I also know there WILL be days when the salt stains creep up to my knees, the iced-up car needs to be scraped YET again, and the snow plows are somewhere in the neighbourhood but can’t seem to find my street when I most need a fast exit.

That’s when I remember how much I also love the garden. And that’s when I enjoy these photographs. I hope you do, too.

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Sunnyside Bathing Pavilion, built in 1922, is one of the fanciest changing rooms I’ve ever seen. And even though it’s now well past its glory days (read: a tad seedy), there’s still lots of activity in the pavilion’s cafe, patio and terraces, as well as on Sunnyside Beach.

I can’t help but think that early twentieth-century Torontonians had a MUCH grander vision of how to make use of the waterfront than today’s urban planners and developers.

Yeah, that’s gonna cost me!

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Think you know Toronto? Can you guess where I am? I’ll give you some hints, so if you figure out where the featured photograph was taken leave a comment or send me an email.

HINTS: This moose is unique; he enjoys a good cup of coffee and the latest best-selling book. What a perfect location this is!

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They’re so beautiful; leave them in the garden or bring them inside to enjoy?

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