Favourite Places: Bloor and Islington Neighbourhood in Toronto

In the past few months of 2022, I found myself returning to the Bloor and Islington neighbourhood frequently. This vibrant crossroad is an up and coming area that is ripe for a population explosion in the coming years.

On my most recent visit, I took still photography to reflect the numerous restaurants and services that exist in the area. Adjacent to the Islington Subway Station for the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission), these businesses are easily accessible via public transit and on foot.

Parking is a bit of a headache on Bloor Street- I witnessed at many as 10 cars that had bright yellow parking tickets adorned on their windshields. A better option to parking on Bloor Street would be utilizing the large "Green P" parking lot located in each corner of the Islington subway station. The fees are usually around $4 per half hour, and offer special rates for all day parking.

The area boasts a few luxury condominiums like the one pictured above at One Aberfoyle Crescent also known as "The Kingsway on Bloor". This twin tower development is gorgeous, and stands quite well among the other lovely buildings that are tennis court and park adjacent.

The only grocery store is the Urban Fresh by Sobeys located inside of the Bloor-Islington plaza. Plenty of food options existin the form of restaurants from around the world including: Japanese, Italian, British-pub style, Mexican and Indian.

This neighbourhood is definitely worth checking out again and I am very excited to see the changes that will occur in the coming months and years as Etobicoke expands its developed footprint.

Steph's Favouite Places: Bronte Beach, Oakville, Ontario

Bronte Beach Winter Solstice 2021

We visited Bronte Beach in Oakville Ontario during the Winter Solstice of 2021. The unplanned visit was due to a pleading of my child to take her to the park. I said yes, and we decided to take some photographs as well.

The settings of my camera were altered to take the very sunny beachside down a few notches. Since the sun was so bright, I thought that more detail could be captured by making the shutter smaller to start.

Bronte Beach Winter Solstice 2021 Dark

Bronte Beach Winter Solstice 2021

Bronte Beach Winter Solstice 2021

The views are magnificent as you can easily see from the photos of the water. The wide open beachfront is spacious; so long walks are a perfect pass time here.

Bronte Beach Winter Solstice 2021

The best part: Beautiful scenery and drive in from a private road off of Lakeshore. Very near to a few restaurants, and easily accessible from major highways (Queen Elizabeth Way).

Protip: keep a watchful eye on where you park you vehicle. During the summer season, many spots are designated for trucks with boats attached to launch at the marina. You could face a fine or get towed if you park in the wrong spot.

New Series: Courageous Minds

Courageous Minds 13-100

My latest series features colourful anonymous heads on 9 x 10 inch watercolour paper. The first of the series is stylishly attractive. The blue tone is calm, and imprints of stars can be seen on the faceless figure. Most excitingly, gold splashes bring high dramatic contrast.

If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies, Or being hated, don’t give way to hating, And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master; If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breathe a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch, If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, If all men count with you, but none too much; If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run, Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it, And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

Rudyard Kipling, ‘If—’

I had a lot of fun with this series- check out more next week.