Historic Guild Inn

The stately Guild Inn, in the City Of Toronto, has long been a shell of its former glorious self. In it's heyday, the Inn was home to Rosa and Spencer Clark, a wealthy couple whose passion for the arts and crafts led them to found the Guild of All Arts in the 1930's. They invited artists and craftspeople to the Inn, where they were provided room and board in return for sharing their work and skills with the Guild and its visitors.

The $20-million restoration is scheduled to be completed by December 2016. The new complex will be comprised of 40,000 square feet of useable area featuring ceremony rooms, bridal suites and a restaurant, capable of accommodating events for up to 1,000 guests. Historical and priceless works of art will be featured throughout the grounds and facility.

Signs - Weiner

Last week it was Smoke's Poutine. This week it is Smoke's Weiner. (Smoke's choice of spelling not mine.) There isn't really a Smoke. He's a made up character. But there is a man behind the chain: CEO Ryan Smolkin, who founded Smoke's in 2009. Smoke's Wienerie takes hot dogs to a new level by offering many different gourmet toppings and combinations, including the bacon mushroom melt featuring double-smoked bacon, mushrooms and cheddar cheese sauce, nacho nacho featuring homemade chili, salsa, jalapenos and cheddar cheese sauce and the chili cheez featuring homemade chili and cheddar cheese sauce. Hot dog options include the traditional Montreal steamie, quarter-pound all-beef and half-pound all-beef 12-inch classic.
I'm linking to Lesley's Signs, Signs.

Demolition

Despite a petition from the community to keep Holy Redeemer Catholic School open (recently renamed Father Fénelon Catholic School), it closed in favour of consolidating the students with Our Lady of the Bay school. The school is being demolished to make way for a housing project.

Railroad Art

Canadian National Railway mobile graffiti show.

Spring Is In The Air

Frenchman's Bay. The ice has melted and I am eager for the arrival of spring.

Old Pond

I have decided that I will be photographing this pond throughout the different seasons of the year. Click here to see what it looked like last summer. PS: this will be my last winter photo from the 2015-2016 season.

Winter's Last Bite?

Ice storm passed through early Thursday morning.

Splash Splash!

In between rain showers.

Signs - Poutine

Smoke's Poutinerie is the first of its kind in the world offering a broad menu exclusive to Poutine. The goal of Smoke's Poutinerie is to bring the authentic Quebec classic to the rest of the World. Smoke's Poutinerie has taken the Traditional Poutine of fries, curd and gravy, and has added fresh toppings making unique, custom Poutine meals for everyone. Whether your preference is beef, chicken, veggies, pork or simply just a different type of sauce, Smoke's Poutinerie has the recipe for you. Choose from over 30 core Poutine menu items or create your own. I'm linking to Lesley's Signs, Signs.

Mannequins

Have you ever gone clothes shopping and find yourself staring at headless or blank face mannequin? What a pleasure it was for me to come across these gals with a variety of features on their face.

Travel Lift

Mobile Boat Hoist uses straps that go under a vessels hull. Using these straps as a sling, the entire weight of the vessel is supported easily. Hydraulic hoists can raise and lower the vessel. The Mobile Boat Hoist is supported by four wheels that allow the lift to move and steer under it's own power. This allows the Travel Lift to pick up vessels and move them from one place to another. It has been dormant all winter but with spring weather arriving it will soon be returning boats from winter storage back into the water.

Go Transit

The SUV is there as warning to the train crew that there is work crew on the tracks up ahead.

Corbett's Dam

The Ganaraska River Fishway at Corbett's Dam, better known locally as the Port Hope fish ladder (hidden behind the mesh on the left), is operated by the Ministry of Natural Resources. In April up to 8,000 migratory rainbow trout (steelhead) make the run upstream to spawn and in the fall, salmon make the annual migration. Staging and spawning also takes place in the riverbed below the ladder at the fish sanctuary. A trip to the fish ladder is always magical to watch the power of these majestic creatures as they jump the ladder. This photo was taken on March 12. I did not see any fish but my wife spotted two jumping into the fish ladder.

Redhead

Artist: Chad Tyson. Painted for the Art & Technique Academy of Hairstyling in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. Chad has received many positive comments from neighbourhood and is eager to clean up some more walls in the downtown core.

Luck Of The Irish

If you have a Irish friend... consider yourself lucky .

Signs - Pizza

One of the many pizza shops in my neighbourhood. I'm linking to Lesley's Signs, Signs.

Rainy Night

I am on the inside looking out.

Condo Construction #7

I am keeping track of the condo on the way up. The official name of the project is San Francisco By The Bay 2.

Return To Sender

I gave a letter to the postman,
He put it his sack.
Bright in early next morning,
He brought my letter back.
She wrote upon it:
Return to sender, address unknown.
No such number, no such zone.

End Of An Era

Urban sprawl has finally caught up to this grand old house. The land has been slated for a housing subdivision.

Seat For Two

Located between two farm fields this couch looks so out of place.

Sleeping Swan

I have been told that though they may appear to be fully asleep, at least one eye may be open and they are always alert.

Weekly Photo Challenge - Candid

Waiting for a bus at the Transit Hub.

Gazebo

In the summer it is a nice spot for picnic lunch.

Night Snow Plow

A few days ago a snowstorm passed through here. It covered a vast area. Some locations received more snow than others.

Using a long exposure I was able to catch the lights of the city truck plowing and salting my street.

My Weekly Photo Challenge - Texture

From a bygone era, this is all that remains of a house located on the shoreline of Lake Ontario.

Let It Snow!

Oh, the weather outside is frightful,
But the fire is so delightful.
And since we've got no place to go,
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

Waves

I sat down beside Lady Lake to have a chat with her. All she did was wave at me.

Flowing Water

I am using my neutral density filter to slow the shutter. It gives the water a smooth and creamy look to it.

This is not a dam. It is a barrier to prevent the invasive sea lamprey from going any further upstream. The jumping ability of adult sea lampreys is limited, so barriers function to block access to spawning habitat.

Ice Storm

Thirty four km. northeast of my home a ice storm passed through in the early morning.
I arrived just in time to capture the sun showing off it's beauty.

Winter Maintenance Update

I needed to do a follow up from yesterday's posting which you can view here.

Signs - Winter Maintenance

The snow falls here have been so few and so light that winter maintenance was not needed. Thank you Mother Nature.
I'm linking to Lesley's Signs, Signs. UPDATE: A funny thing happened here overnight. It snowed.

Trainspotting

Coming around the bend.