Yorkdale Subway Station

Yorkdale Subway Station

The Yorkdale Subway Station is on the Yonge – University – Spadina line of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). It was opened in 1978 and serves about 24,000 people a day.  As you can guess most of them shoppers to the Yorkdale Shopping Centre.

At the south east corner of the lot, you can get connections to GO transit and Greyhound buses as well as Airport shuttles.  There are also 1144 parking spaces for your convenience.

Yorkdale Shopping Mall

The Yorkdale Shopping Centre is the 5^th largest mall in Canada and has over 260 stores, with over 7,000 parking spaces for shoppers and most of these spaces are full as there are over a half a million people who shop there a week!

There is also a Rainforest Café onsite which has a simulated thunderstorm every 30 minutes and is decorated with waterfalls and other depictions of the elements of the rainforest.  Their menu is chicken, pasta, pizzas and seafood and beef.  There is also a strange tradition of yelling "Volcano" when somebody orders a  volcano ice cream sundae.

Also onsite is the Silver City movie theatre (10 theatres in all)as well a large Indigo Bookstore.  In 2005 there was a 60 million dollar expansion put into the old Eaton’s store that once was there made room for 40 more stores.  Great time to get into the holiday spirit now and shop till you drop!

Personally, I like the quieter, less busy malls, but in Toronto there are enough choices to get out there.

Wilson Subway Station

Wilson Subway Station

The Wilson Subway station is on the Yonge – University – Spadina line of the toronto transit commission (TTC).  The station was opened in 1978 and serves about 21,000 people.

The Wilson station and surrounding land owned by the TTC is so vast, there are 4 parking lots,(totaling 2300 parking spaces), the Wilson yard and space used for retail stores.

Wilson Complex

The Wilson Subway and Bus Yard (known as the Wilson Complex) is the largest on the system.  This yard is utilized to service the cars on the Yonge University and Spadina line.  There is over 60 acres of yard and currently they are constructing a new training building to accommodate the new Toronto Rocket Trains.

Click here for an Aerial view Of Wilson Complex .  This will just to give you an idea of just how large this land area really is.

Runnymede Subway Station

Runnymede Subway - Chapters (former Theatre)

The Runnymede subway station is located on the Yonge / University / Spadina line of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC).  It was opened in February 1968 and serves about 16,000 people a day.

Nearby the station is the Runnymede Theatre, which ceased to operate as a movie theatre in 1999, to become a Chapters Bookstore.

Historically, it was once a playhouse located in the Bloor West village, known popularly as the “Runny”.  It was built in 1927 by a company called Capitol (later known as Famous Players).

Gradually, after vaudeville died out, it was replaced with plays and live entertainment and eventually became a movie theatre in the late 1930’s.

There is a rumour that the theater was haunted by the ghost of a little girl who apparently died from a falling sandbag, but there is no historical evidence to back this up.

Lawrence West Subway Station

Lawrence West Subway Station

The Lawrence West station is located on the Yonge – University – Spadina line of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC).  It was opened in February 1978 and serves about 20,000 people a day.

In 2008, Lawrence West was also reported as a “problem station” (see Lansdowne) but that has since changed.  Lawrence West station has bus lines that provide regular service to the Toronto Pearson International Airport (58 Malton) bus.

Lawrence Square Shopping Centre

Nearby the Lawrence Square Shopping Centre was packed today when we went to do some last minute shopping (and of course my photographs!)  It is one of Toronto’s largest malls.  Some big box store names are Canadian Tire, Zellers and Fortino’s.  This mall was once a Simpson’s warehouse back in the early 1980’s.  I do remember shopping there, but that had been since replaced by the current mall.

Eventually this mall will be replaced by more public housing and an extension of Marlee Avenue.  The retail outlets will then take the place of two nearby public schools that will be demolished.

Lansdowne Subway Station

Lansdowne station - inside and outside

The Lansdowne subway station is located on the Bloor / Danforth line of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC).  It was opened to the public in 1966 and serves approximately 14,000 a day.

The Lansdowne subway station is located on Lansdowne Avenue just north of Bloor Street and is on the edge of the Bloordale Village strip.   

Lansdowne is considered a high risk station that requires attention from the Police vice squad...  especially around the area of the Coffee Time coffee shop across the street where there were obvious drug deals going on, prostitutes handing about and vandals.  In one month alone a few years ago, 94 people were changed with selling crack.  

Residents in the area are hopeful that 2 new police stations, # 11 and 14 divisions that will run along the railroad tracks west of Lansdowne, will serve as a deterrent to crime.   Having more police visible should reduce the drug and prostitution trade at Bloor and Lansdowne.    The TTC property on Lansdowne still remains empty as there is a legal dispute between GE and TTC over who should be doing the clean up of the soil so as of now the new police stations are still put on hold.

High Park Subway

High Park Subway & High Park Skating!!

High Park Subway station is on the Bloor-Danforth line of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC).  It was opened to the public in 1968 and serves about 10,000 people a day.  

Worthy to the namesake, High Park subway station is situated in the core of several popular parkland sites, such as Grenadier pond and High Park.  Historically you used to be able to skate on Grenadier pond, but now there is a ban put on as the ice rarely freezes over enough for safe skating.  Although there is an artificial rink located at the north end of the park for pleasure skating.

If  you are all that energetic you can take a hiking or cross country ski through the paths as they are maintained through the winter months as well.

High Park itself is the largest park in Toronto and spans over 398 acres and extends all the way into Markham Ontario! 

Glencairn Subway

Glencairn Subway

Glencairn Subway station is on the Yonge – University-Spadina line of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC).  It was opened to the public in January 1978 and serves only 5,000 people a day, making it one of the least used stations of the system.  

Glencairn station is situated in a low density zone, mostly residential houses and few apartments.   It overpasses Allen Road at Glen Park Avenue.   

Solar panels on roof of Glencairn

One of the features that make Glencairn station so unique is the solar powered panels located on the roof at a cost of about $ 15,000 for two of them.  This is a pilot project that started back in April 2010.  The solar panels have to be flexible to conform to the roofing design, and apparently they’re not quite as efficient as the flat panels but at least they ward off vandals.  These panels will also be equipped in 52 bus shelters as well as about 5 stations are being fitted with screens to let riders know when to expect the next train/bus/streetcar.  Most shelters around the world contain some solar component, so it’s really nothing new, but at least it’s a step in the right direction.

Eglinton West Subway

Eglinton West Subway station is on the Yonge – University-Spadina line of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC).  It was opened to the public in 1978 and serves about 20,000 people a day.  It is situated in the neighbourhood of Little Jamaica.

 

Back in the mid 90’s Eglinton West subway station was to become an interchange station but due to the Harris government, the Eglinton subway project was put to a halt and the partial tunnel was refilled.  Up until recently the idea of Eglinton west becoming a interchange had been re-addressed once again in the Eglinton Crosstown LRT (Light rail line) proposal.  This too has been put on hold by the new mayor elect Rob Ford.  (see LRT lines) on my blog for more details. 

Dundas West Subway

Dundas West Station

Vincent Yard

Dundas West Subway (not to be confused with Dundas), is on the Bloor-Danforth line of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC).  It was opened to the public in 1966 and serves about 25,000 people a day.  Located between Dundas West station and Keele is a small rail yard, used to store only about 6 cars, making it the smallest yard on the system.  It’s called Vincent yard.

Blue Bay Cafe-Cajun Food

A unique feature of Dundas West station is a McDonald’s restaurant located directly beside the TTC collector booth.  It’s accessible from both in or outside the station.  So if you are in a hurry and having a Mac attack, it’s a great location.   If you are looking to dine at a classier establishment, the Blue Bay Café, located 2243 Dundas St. West is a spike-heeled running distance from the Dundas West subway station.  It’s a vegetarian restaurant that serves up spicy hot food and I must admit, I am partial to samosas, but forced myself to try an okra-based dished with tomatoes and onions.  This place can turn a meat lover into a vegetarian! 

Christie Subway Station

The Christie subway station is located on the Bloor / Danforth line of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC).  It was opened in February 1966 and serves about 12,000 people a day.

Christie subway

Christie station is located in the neighbourhood called, “Koreatown”  Like most cultural neighbourhoods in Toronto, they evolve and develop over time.  By 1967, the Canadian government changed their immigration policy to open its doors more liberally to immigrants.  Today , there are over 70,000 Koreans living in the city with the vast majority working in and around the area of Bloor and Manning Avenue in restaurants, bakeries, gift shops and grocery stores.

Koreatown

Today many of them do not live in Koreatown, but in North York in the area of Yonge and Steeles, Thornhill and the town of Markham.

A new era in café’s, Toronto’s Koreatown has just opened its doors to “Snakes & Lattes”.  You will notice the difference the moment you walk in the front door, the social warmth of the room packed with groups of people having fun drinking beer and coffee and enjoying hours of fun playing board games!

Snakes & Lattes

There is a wall with shelving that is full of board games for you to take your pick.  Just a twist on an old pastime.

Dupont Subway station

The beautiful Dupont Subway station

The Dupont subway station is located on the Yonge/University/Spadina line of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC).  It was opened in January 1978 and serves about 16,000 people a day.

Nearby Casa Loma

Located in the neighbourhood of “The Annex” Dupont subway station is very close to the Spadina station.  In fact it’s so close you can actually see the next station through the tunnel.  It is also a very attractive station, with its orange tiles and rounded architecture including benches which were made uniquely in keeping with the station’s design.   Even the entrance to the station is a rounded glass cage with orange metal frames.   

If you’re looking for something interesting to do over the holidays, Casa Loma is within walking distance of the Dupont subway station and features activities to enjoy with the whole family.  Info on Events at the Castle

St. Patricks subway

University Avenue

St. Patricks station

St. Patrick subway station is on the Yonge – University Spadina line of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC).  It was opened in February 1963 and serves about 31,000 people a day.

On street level St. Patrick intersects University Avenue and Dundas Street (west of Yonge). Other than Yonge street, University Avenue is another north/south alternative in downtown Toronto.   It is probably one of the more noble and picturesque streets in Toronto.  For one thing the street is unusually wide, covering an expanse of 6 lanes.  A median down the centre of the avenue contains various statues, water fountains, shrubbery and seasonal flowers.   

It runs from Union Station (Front Street) up until College street where it forks into Queens Park.  Surprisingly, despite the name, there are no Universities on University Avenue. There are however several corporate offices and government buildings.  Hospital Row is closer to the Osgoode (College Park) subway station, however Mount Sinai hospital is directly outside the St. Patrick station.  

If you happen to pass St. Patrick station during the evening hours, make a point to go out and take a look at the festive lights on the trees and shrubs.  Its really quite pretty.  Oh and one more thing: Yes, St. Patrick's station is green.