Dec 22, 2010

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 5th 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 CafĂ© 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.

Dec 21, 2010

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.

Keele Subway Station


Keele Subway Station
The Keele 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.
Keele subway is situated right at the north eastern tip of High Park and close to the neighbourhood known as the “Junction” or by its residents, the “Junction Triangle” which is the shape of the 3 sets of railroad tracks on the north, west and east side.   

Junction Triangle
The neighbourhood residents have set up a rail committee against increased diesel traffic along the borders of their community.  They want to bring in more electrical rail cars as well as the construction of an overpass/separation on the east side of the neighbourhood to reduce the long term effects / costs of diesel exhaust.   
Metrolinx along with GO Transit and the Government of Ontario have been discussing electrifying the lines for years and the costs become ever increasing.  The rail committee of the Junction neighbourhood plan to make this their main focus for public health and safety.

Dec 20, 2010

Jane Subway Station


Jane Subway Station
Jane Subway Station is on the Bloor-Danforth line of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC).  It was opened to the public on May 1968 and serves about 16,000 people a day.  Jane Subway is another interchange station included in the proposal for the LRT project.  This is an excellent position to relieve a lot of congestion because of the major arteries that it passes through such as Bloor, Eglinton, Weston, Lawrence, Sheppard, Finch and Steeles.

The actual name of the street was named after Jane Barr, by her husband, who was a real estate developer who immigrated from Scotland in 1907.  The song JANE, made popular by the Bare Naked Ladies was really about intersection of Jane and St. Clair.  

Barenaked Ladies - with clothes on..
The group Barenaked Ladies was formed in 1988 in Scarborough.  Other famous songs they did was If I had a 1,000,000 and Brian Wilson.  They are known mostly for their comedic style.  Steve Page who started the band left in 2009.

Lyrics : Jane
The girl works at the store sweet Jane St. Clair
Was dazzled by her smile while I shopped there
it wasn't long before I lived with her
I sang her songs while she dyed her hair

Jane, divided, but I can't decide what side I'm on
Jane decided only cowards stay, while traitors run
Jane, Jane

I'd bring her gold and frankincense and myrrh
She thought that I was making fun of her
She made me feel I was fourteen again
That's why she thinks it's cooler if we'd just stay friends
Jane doesn't think a man could ever be faithful
Jane isn't giving me a chance to be shameful
Jane, Jane

I wrote a letter, she should have got it yesterday
That life could be better by being together
is what I cannot explain to Jane

The girl works at the store, sweet Jane St. Clair
Was dazzled by her smile while I shoplift there
No promises as vague as Heaven
No Juliana next to my Evan

Jane, desired by the people at the school and work
Jane is tired, 'cause every man becomes a lovesick jerk
Jane, Jane

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!