Osgoode Subway

Osgoode Subway station is located on the Yonge/University-Spadina line of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and was opened in 1963. It was named Osgoode because of the nearby “Osgoode Hall”. I didn’t have enough time to visit Osgoode Hall today, as there was an impending quest for a Halloween Costume instead. I want to make a point of checking this out though. Bring a camera and do a self paced walk-through. I heard the “Great Library” is something else to see!

So there I was during Thanksgiving Long weekend coming out of Osgoode Subway and finding all kinds of amazing shops to see.

Queen and Spadina is just west along Queen Street and is a popular place for fashion and art and entertainment. Oh did I mention my quest for a Halloween costume? Found it here, including all the accessories that go with it. I plan to post myself in costume on Halloween at a TTC subway stop nearest you!

Osgoode is also within minutes of Toronto City Hall, The Four Season Centre for the Perfoming Arts, and the South African War Museum. You’ll probably notice as well the CityPulse 24 and CTV Head offices on Queen. We checked out the Rex, which has been there forever as a cool jazz spot if you’re into that kind of music. I only really like it with a glass of cold House White, otherwise I’m just there for someone else’s pleasure.

Check out the eclectic shops along Queen Street sometime because there really is something for everyone there ;)

Sheppard Subway

The Sheppard Station is on the Yonge/University-Spadina line and the Sheppard Subway lines of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). The Sheppard Station was opened in 1974 as part of the Yonge/-University-Spadina line. By 2002, it was reopened to include the Sheppard Subway line. The Sheppard Centre is an indoor mall directly adjacent to the subway through the concourse level. I was tempted to check out a movie at the Odeon Cineplex Theatre, but we decided to do some shopping at Winners instead. For those of us into shoes, there’s a Payless Shoe Stores on the lower level, great for the variety and prices. We stopped and ate in the food court located on the lower level and then went out for a walk to look at an old neighbourhood of mine.

For one whole year of my childhood (that was in 1974) our family, my mom and dad and brother and I lived in a house. It was a simple 3 bedroom, 2 storey, A-framed home. No garage, no fancy fences. The corner house at Doris/Spring Garden Avenues. One of a row of detached homes built in the 1930's. The floors creaked in my room upstairs and I constantly hit my head on the outside corners of in my bedroom because of the slope of the ceiling. But I wouldn't trade any of the lumps I had because it was a great year. We had a dog that year too, but had to give it away when we moved back into an apartment. The entire backyard was huge, and here's a pic of what it once was, and what it is today.
The owners of the house had offered my parents an opportunity to buy the home, but changed their minds once their lawyer had urged them otherwise. Guess they saw the growth potential ;)

Today Sheppard and Yonge is minutes from the North York Civic Centre, The Hummingbird Theatre and Mel Lastman square. Old theatres ("The Willow", I remember going there on Saturday nights with friends) are all torn down and gorgeous shops and boutiques have taken its place, but you know they never are gone from your memory and that is something that revenue can't take away.