St. Lawrence Market (Heritage Walk)

Here's another famous historical site in Toronto.  This is the time of year when we focus on family, friends and food.  The St. Lawrence Market shows up big with over 50 vendors that sell fruits, vegetables, meats and cheeses on the lower and first level.  At the South Market you can sample some of the worlds most exotic foods, flavours and desserts.  I sampled my first Turkish Delight, and loved them so much I bought a small bag of them.  They look like gelatinous cubes made with a hint of rosewater dusted with icing powder.   

If you are like me and don't really bake much or end up burning the cake, they have all kinds of Christmas goodies here to show you up well.  I love cheese but usually end up buying what I know, which is Cheddar or some times Swiss or Monterey Jack.  That's the fun part of buying from a market, because you can sample different cheese squares before you buy.  Makes a lot more sense.   Yes cheese is very expensive as it is.   I also know someone else who likes cheese ! 

In fact you can find samples of everything all day long here from over 60 vendors 'marketing' their wares.  Like most Markets, you will find the quality here is fresh and they use words like 'organic' or 'free range' a lot.   You should expect to pay more for that though.  If not, you can also support your local fruit and vegetable markets.  Guaranteed to save a ton on your weekly food bill.

 

This is known as the South Building and is located at 92 Front Street East which surrounds a block from Market Street, The Esplanade, Lower Jarvis, to Front Street.   Currently, it is one of the major markets in Toronto’s downtown core (the other one is The Kensington Market).  

The building also has The Market Gallery, operated by City of Toronto, on the second floor and a cooking school (market kitchen) on the mezzanine floor.  I loved Buster's Sea Cove, a small diner very reminiscent of the 50's, where they have my favorite, haddock and chips, crab cakes, Red snapper, Grilled shrimp in herb sauce, chicken fingers and salads just to list a few items on their menu! Come here empty, leave satisfied.

Speaking of nostalgia, when you look up at the windows, high arched ceilings and rod iron gate heads, you can imagine this place being a jail at one time.  I wasn't surprised to find out that it was in fact home to Toronto's first permanent jail from 1845 to 1899.  Since then, the new steel truss roof was built allowing more open space with a high ceiling and letting in more natural light.   

There is also a newer North end of the St. Lawrence Market.  It transforms to become different things on different days, but principally it is the associated with the vibrant and fresh Farmers' Market, the largest in Toronto that starts bright and early on Saturday mornings from 5am.  Then on Sundays it opens from 5am to become the the Antique Market.  Christmas trees and holiday greens are offered daily from now until Christmas eve. Hopefully if you ever make it to the Market you will always leave with something.

Lowe's Toronto Christmas Market

Holiday spirit and spirits go hand in hand during Toronto’s most extravagant Christmas celebration. In 2010, the Lowe’s Toronto Christmas Market began the annual tradition of turning the Distillery Historic District into a centre for merriment and good cheer.
For the first two weeks of December, the holiday treatment is given to the city’s beautiful, European-inspired commercial village that was home to the world’s largest whisky manufacturer during the 19th century. Carnival rides, artisan shops, musical performances, and tasty treats — including roasted marshmallows and hot cider — create a festive atmosphere centred around a spectacularly decorated 45-foot Christmas tree.
- See more at: http://www.seetorontonow.com/my-toronto/get-into-the-spirit-at-lowes-toronto-christmas-market-in-the-distillery-district/#sthash.yupFuxxr.dpuf

Holiday spirit and spirits go hand in hand during Toronto’s most extravagant Christmas celebration. In 2010, the Lowe’s Toronto Christmas Market began the annual tradition of turning the Distillery Historic District into a centre for merriment and good cheer.
For the first two weeks of December, the holiday treatment is given to the city’s beautiful, European-inspired commercial village that was home to the world’s largest whisky manufacturer during the 19th century. Carnival rides, artisan shops, musical performances, and tasty treats — including roasted marshmallows and hot cider — create a festive atmosphere centred around a spectacularly decorated 45-foot Christmas tree.
- See more at: http://www.seetorontonow.com/my-toronto/get-into-the-spirit-at-lowes-toronto-christmas-market-in-the-distillery-district/#sthash.yupFuxxr.dpuf

Holiday spirit and spirits go hand in hand during Toronto’s most extravagant Christmas celebration. In 2010, the Lowe’s Toronto Christmas Market began the annual tradition of turning the Distillery Historic District into a centre for merriment and good cheer.
For the first two weeks of December, the holiday treatment is given to the city’s beautiful, European-inspired commercial village that was home to the world’s largest whisky manufacturer during the 19th century. Carnival rides, artisan shops, musical performances, and tasty treats — including roasted marshmallows and hot cider — create a festive atmosphere centred around a spectacularly decorated 45-foot Christmas tree.
- See more at: http://www.seetorontonow.com/my-toronto/get-into-the-spirit-at-lowes-toronto-christmas-market-in-the-distillery-district/#sthash.yupFuxxr.dpuf

Holiday spirit and spirits go hand in hand during Toronto’s most extravagant Christmas celebration. In 2010, the Lowe’s Toronto Christmas Market began the annual tradition of turning the Distillery Historic District into a centre for merriment and good cheer.
For the first two weeks of December, the holiday treatment is given to the city’s beautiful, European-inspired commercial village that was home to the world’s largest whisky manufacturer during the 19th century. Carnival rides, artisan shops, musical performances, and tasty treats — including roasted marshmallows and hot cider — create a festive atmosphere centred around a spectacularly decorated 45-foot Christmas tree.
- See more at: http://www.seetorontonow.com/my-toronto/get-into-the-spirit-at-lowes-toronto-christmas-market-in-the-distillery-district/#sthash.yupFuxxr.dpuf

Holiday spirit and spirits go hand in hand during Toronto’s most extravagant Christmas celebration. In 2010, the Lowe’s Toronto Christmas Market began the annual tradition of turning the Distillery Historic District into a centre for merriment and good cheer.
For the first two weeks of December, the holiday treatment is given to the city’s beautiful, European-inspired commercial village that was home to the world’s largest whisky manufacturer during the 19th century. Carnival rides, artisan shops, musical performances, and tasty treats — including roasted marshmallows and hot cider — create a festive atmosphere centred around a spectacularly decorated 45-foot Christmas tree.
- See more at: http://www.seetorontonow.com/my-toronto/get-into-the-spirit-at-lowes-toronto-christmas-market-in-the-distillery-district/#sthash.yupFuxxr.dpuf

Holiday spirit and spirits go hand in hand during Toronto’s most extravagant Christmas celebration. In 2010, the Lowe’s Toronto Christmas Market began the annual tradition of turning the Distillery Historic District into a centre for merriment and good cheer. - See more at: http://www.seetorontonow.com/my-toronto/get-into-the-spirit-at-lowes-toronto-christmas-market-in-the-distillery-district/#sthash.yupFuxxr.dpuf

This year Toronto once again celebrates the magic of the traditional Christmas at the Lowe's Toronto Christmas Market at the Distillery District at Parliament and Front Street.

If you've never been to a 'Christmas Market' it is worth a visit. Traditionally these street markets originated in Germany beginning in the early 1400's and now they are held all over the world.


It's a free annual event capturing Old World traditions with carolers, children's choirs and story telling. There are vendors showcasing hundreds of unique and local handcrafted products and crafts.

You can also try different samples of International beers or flavours in your coffee like Amarula, Frangelico, Calvados, Luksusowa, Innis & Gunn, Tullamore and Irish Mist! Personally I just love coffee as it is, so it's nice to try something different that you wouldn't normally do. The kids were lining up for little cups of hot chocolate and apple cider and to say hi to Santa of course... and the King?

The tree was donated by Trees Ontario who make it their mission to support the planting of 10 million trees a year! This of course ensures the health of future generations. This year's tree was 14m of a beautiful display of white pine, red and golden bulbs and gold ribbon.




From a photographer's point of view, this place is so gorgeous in the evenings and all the lights come up!  But instead we decided to check out the Cavalcade of Lights this year.


The street market is open every day up until I think a few days before the 25th of December, so I don't have an excuse not to come back again. Oh and they also have a Ferris Wheel!

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...and...Remember this is still the Historic Distillery District...














...so there is plenty of history here on Mill Street as well. So in between the concerts, the food and drink samplings of the festivities, why not sneak away for a little while and explore some of the other buildings? Here is my favorite: The Stone Distillery.

The Distillery is the oldest and largest building here in the District in Toronto.


The building was designed and build out of limestone and double-timber beams and shipped from Kingston, Ontario. The double-timber beams make a 2x4 look like a twig! It cost around $150,000 which was a huge amount of money at the time.

You can walk from the base to the top in a short time with some effort. The building was big enough to house a grist mill, a power house and mashing and distilling functions. It was documented inside the building that a massive fire engulfed the building in 1869 damaging the wooden interior but leaving the stone and machinery largely undamaged (obviously). The interior was reconstructed a year later.



Well we know that there were two world wars in the 1900's and this distillery was used to produce explosive agents for the war efforts, but once the second war was over in 1945, it went back to doing what it was designed to do and that was distilling, and remained doing so for decades until the early 1990's when all distilling activity ended and the area no longer produced alcohol.


Since the area has beautiful Victorian-style buildings and cobblestone sidewalks, it brought in the attention of film production companies. It was used as a backdrop for movies such as Chicago and X-Men as well as a few hundred others.

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There are many ways to celebrate the spirit of the holidays, so even if you don't believe in Santa anymore, you can still find some joy in giving. 

Cavalcade of Lights-Toronto

Tonight marked the 47th annual Cavalcade of Lights, featuring the illumination of Toronto's official Christmas tree. Around 6:15, the zamboni was clearing off the ice surface and there were skaters suited up waiting for a swing, glide or trip on the rink. At that time you could see through the crowd, but by 7:00 when the show began, with CHUMFM, Breakfast TV hosts, and a few songs from Choir Choir Choir, there was a sea of people waiting for the illumination of the tree to unveil...not before a surprise guest...

Yes our very own Mayor Rob Ford. Enthusiastic, happy, boisterous and everything we expect from him at this point. He started the count down and hundreds of thousands of paper confettis vanished into the sky, our hair and the gaping mouths of spectators at the same time.

The tree was lit up, and then performances by Tyler Shaw, Cold Specks and R&B soul singer Divine Brown (what a beautiful voice she has too) and Carvin Winans.

There were fireworks afterwards, and an open air skating party with DJ Dopey for the younger crowd. The tree lights continue to light up the square for the remainder of the holiday season so if you missed it tonight, there are plenty of other opportunities.

Nathan Phillips Square ice rink is always open during the winter months for skating (weather permitting) and skate rentals are available on site as well, for those of us who never did quite keep that pair of skates through childhood.
































Courtesy of

Peter Mykusz -Enjoy this video:Enjoy this video

Medieval Times

Originally named the Government Building and later the Arts, Crafts and Hobbies Building, the Medieval Times Building was constructed in 1912 to showcase the exhibits of local and foreign governments.

It was designed by George Gouinlock and looks a lot like the Horticulture Building on the CNE grounds with its domed like centre piece.

Inside these walls is quite literally like stepping into the Medieval Times.  After paying quite a handsome fee, you will see jousting,  sword fighting, and medieval style games performed by over 70 actors and 20 horses. 

It's family friendly, so there aren't any gory details.  There is quite the hierarchy of training that a 'knight' must go through before performing on the horse before a crowd of eager onlookers.  You first start off as a squire.  No instant glory as they start their training by cleaning and brushing the horses, by helping load the weapons and by setting up the props and effects for the show.  From that point on, it's up to the Squire if he wants to take it to the next step in training.  This training comes from the crew who will show you how to fight and not get trampled on by the horses.  Like dancing, there is a real choreography to the stunts they perform.  Then only then do you become a Knight.

This location on the Exhibition grounds in Toronto is one of nine locations in North America, which is headquartered in Irving Texas.  Because it's such a unique building it sometimes gets picked up and featured as a backdrop in movies (The Cable Guy and Garden State as well as a few episodes of TV Show like Hell's Kitchen and Celebrity Apprentice).


While watching the show you enjoy a dinner as well.  The waitstaff refers to the audience as lords and ladies and the salespeople at this venue pose as traveling merchants.  They have a very strict no-tech policy for all workers at all times during show hours. So that means you won't catch them looking at their cellphone during showtimes.


The performance is a bit of an illusionary spectacle.  After all they are trying to convince you in this round arena thst doesn't miss anything that you have been transported in another place in time over 600 years ago.  The shouting between the Knights, the thunder of horse hoofs and the roar of the crowd makes the entire experience worthwhile. 

In reality the Knights (or performers rather) are very competitive and that plays a big role in the satisfaction for them.  As they are striving to be the best of the lot, so they can attain the glory spot of the weekly highlight show which happens every Saturday night.  The Saturday night shows get the largest crowds and most feedback.




I'd say although it is a hefty fee, its worth seeing the show once in a lifetime and although it projects a pure imaginative fantasy, it's still a good feeling to be there to satisfy the historical need at least.  I won't give too more away about the highlights of the show so you can experience that magic yourself.

Please understand no pictures are allowed during performances.

Scadding Cabin (Heritage Walk)

saw this cute little critter on the fence

The Scadding cabin is Toronto's oldest surviving house.  It was built in 1794 for John Scadding during the first years of the British settlement.  He was a government clerk and a good friend of Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe.  He also accompanied Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe to Upper Canada in 1792.

A lakeview

The original location of the cabin was on the east bank of the Don River on a 253-acre land grant that stretched from present day Lake Ontario to present day Danforth Avenue.  John had lived there until he went back to England with the Simcoes in 1796.

When he returned to York in 1818, he sold the cabin and the land to a farmer named William Smith who then used it as an outbuilding.  In 1879 the cabin was offered to the York Pioneer Association.

In an early act of Toronto heritage preservation, the York Pioneers dismantled the cabin and then reassembled it on the exhibition grounds as part of the celebrations marking the inauguration of the Toronto Industrial Exhibition (now the Canadian National Exhibition). In 1986, the cabin was designated as historically significant under the Ontario Heritage Act.