York Mills Subway Station

York Mills Subway 

The York Mills Subway Station is on the Yonge-University Spadina Line of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). It was opened March 1973 to the public and is situated at the corner(s) of York Mills Avenue and Yonge Street.  York Mills subway station serves an average of about 26,000 people per day.  The original plans for the subway was to build a railroad above ground, but nearby residents objected resulting in the alternate plan to build the railway underground. Because it is in a valley, the subway approaches the station at a high rate of speed on a steep downgrade in both directions.

York Mills Centre

Directly linked within York Mills station is access to the York Mills Centre, located on the northeast corner of York Mills and Yonge.  It contains a gorgeous food court, medical offices, two levels of shops, a fitness club, 4 interconnected office building and a private day care facility.

Hoggs Hollow / Winfield's Park

York Mills station is located in the affluent neighbourhood of Hoggs Hollow, named after a Scottish Settler, James Hogg who settled in the area in 1824.  He operated a very successful whiskey distillery and a grist mill along with his sons.  The Don River runs through Hoggs Hollow and much of the parks and trees have been preserved as it once was back in 1798 when the first settler came.  The homes in the Hoggs Hollow are high end and run from $1,200,000 to C$7,000,000.  They are surrounded by parkland (Winfield’s park) which was donated by the famous philanthropist, E.P. Taylor.

The Miller Tavern (nee Jolly Miller)-Front and Back view

Homes / Condominiums today

Much of the estate of James Hogg was subdivided in 1920, by his sons, to include homes, a church, a school and a tavern.  The Jolly Miller Tavern (1857) still remains today and is now known as the “Miller Tavern”(2004).  When I was in grade 7, I knew a lot of kids from my school who used go to the “Jolly Miller” tavern after school.  Now that I think about it, I don’t know how they were able to get in underage, but I guess I didn’t at the time.  I went to a local Junior High School in the area because it was closest to the apartment we lived in at the time.  Much of the kids that went to that school lived in the York Mills/Yonge area and were very rich.  I wasn’t.  That was my first experience in my life where I noticed that what I had, or what I thought we had, was nothing compared to what others had.  I remember during March break when a lot of the kids were talking about going to Fort Lauderdale or Myrtle Beach. I didn’t have any plans but to go swimming at the indoor pool across the park.  I was so envious of the richer kids.

Don River

But now that I am older and hopefully wiser, I realize that “you make a living by what you get, you make a life by what you give”.   That makes us all the same.

Eglinton Subway Station

The Eglinton Subway Station is on the Yonge-University Spadina Line of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). It was opened March 1954 to the public and is situated at the corner(s) of Eglinton Avenue and Yonge Street.

It’s a fairly large station serving about 75,000 people daily and it’s also used as a switch over station for employees coming on and off duty so there are periodic delays here as well. 

There are plenty of places in and around the Eglinton Subway station to shop making it an excellent stop off to find last minute items on your way home from work.  From a bottle of wine for dinner, to food items you missed while shopping last week(24 hr Metro).  How about picking up a cheap movie or a book to read tonight or sexy lingerie for a special date? La Senza is located in the Eglinton Square located on the northwest corner as well as several other popular clothing stores for the trendier shopper.   There are several places to eat and drink, which makes Eglinton Square a plus for daters with a 9-theatre SilverCity movie house, a comedy club, food choices from casual to classy like the “Mandarin”, Boston Pizza, the Pickel Barrel, Olive Garden, Chef of India and the Duke of Kent Pub.  The classier Coquine, Zucca or Quince is great for good food and a chance to have quiet conversation.

If you want to get active, the Eglinton park is a couple block west, open in 1926, its got it all! I used to love skating there when I was young with friends, and the rink is still there, plus indoor /outdoor swimming pools and sports fields and playing areas for the kids.

Ever been at Eglinton station and wondered what ever happened to the bus terminals that were once in use?  I mean the terminals are still there but buses no longer run in and out of there.  After some research, it appears the problem isn’t on the surface of the bus bays, it’s what goes on underneath them! 

Serious problems.  The ceiling is suffering from major decay thereby making it a safety hazard.  Ceiling leaks when it rains, and chunks of cement are found on the floor of the terminal underneath.  Therefore it has been closed since 2003.  So that answers that, so what’s next? I don’t know yet, but I will follow it someday. Meanwhile, Eglinton and Yonge operate sufficiently as is, so maybe it’s just as well.

By the way, anyone suffering hangovers after Halloween parties this weekend?

You can always take aspirins and sleep it off or you can try a more healthy approach  (I bet most know this stuff, I thought I'd post it for those who may be suffering) 

• Replace the nutrients your body lost with the alcohol with water, coffee won’t do as it will dehydrate much like the alcohol.  Water, fruit juices, sports drinks.
• Your body lost electrolytes, so eat bananas, cantaloupes and try to avoid too much sugar as it also dehydrates. 
• Carrot juice will help in restoring your livers health as well. 
• Small doses of alcohol can be beneficial providing that you can limit to that, otherwise its best not to drink at all. There are plenty of mock drinks that taste just as good.

So get out and have fun whatever fun means to you and get home safely after a night on the town, riding the rails instead of driving!

Wellesley Subway Station

The Wellesley Subway Station is on the Yonge-University Spadina Line of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). It was opened March 1954 to the public and is situated at the corner(s) of College/Carlton and Yonge Streets.  Today it only sees about 25,000 people a daily, but its also right in the heart of downtown Toronto so it’s a low traffic station to detour off of Yonge if you’re in a rush.  Also keeping in mind that Wellesley like all TTC Stations have a DWA which is a designated Waiting area.  These are great for big cities on the subway lines where very few insatiable characters may have questionable motives, it’s a major safety plus for all of us.  DWA are areas on the subway platforms where you can stand waiting for your train, in a brightly lit area, telephone nearby, closed circuit television camera, intercom, and a bench!  What more could you ask for?  Big brother is watching you after all, but in a big city, we could all use a big brother.

DWA

Body Piercing shops

On street level Wellesley has plenty of body piercing and highly talented tattoo artists.  I came real close to getting a tattoo the other night, to cover a mark on my arm but chickened out! It seems like every other little restaurant we saw were sushi and coffee shops.  I for one can’t think of any more reasons why not to come to Wellesley and Yonge!  

One final note, just in time for the Halloween Season from 3:00 in the afternoon October 31^st until 3:00 am Monday November 1^st, Wellesley Street will close between Jarvis and Yonge for the Church-Wellesley BIA Halloween Party!!

Happy Halloween!

College Subway Station

College Subway Station - Interior

The College Subway Station is on the Yonge-University Spadina Line of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). It was opened March 1954 to the public and is situated at the corner(s) of College/Carlton and Yonge Streets.  Along both sides of the tracks, you'll notice wall murals of the Toronto Maple Leafs going Northbound and The Montreal Canadiens (long time rivals) on the Southbound side.  Some of the pictures are really quite funny to look at, and we had a good laugh! You'll notice exiting the platform a sign to "Maple Leaf Gardens still exists.   Although the "Gardens" have been dormant since 2001, marking a 67 year tradition, there has been several years of negotiations and arbitrations which has resulted in the decision whereas by 2011, the building will serve as a Loblaws superstore as well as an athletic facility to be shared with nearby Ryerson University students.  

The Ticket!

In its day the Gardens had season ticket holders for loyal Toronto Maple Leaf fans and as I recalled ascending an escalator ride to the nosebleed section, it was still a thrill to be there!  During Harold Ballards rein between 1972 and 1988, his son promoted the Gardens as an Entertainment venue and I still remember seeing Rush March 8, 1988! Other great acts were Elvis (1972), Abba, Van Halen, Aerosmith, the Who and the Stones.  


On street level from the College Subway, you will find College Park, which is an historical building that now houses residences of the elite, government offices, and a main concourse with permanent tenants as Winners, Metro and Deboers Furniture.  College Park was built in 6 months at a cost of 1.5 million dollars, owned by Timothy Eaton in 1928.  Due to its historical value, the building is now protected under the Ontario Heritage Act (see my Rosedale link).  Just being at College and Yonge you can't help but get caught up in the excitement of the busy pubs, shops, restaurants and entertainment venues along the Yonge strip!

College Park

This is how we compromise heritage with progress.   

Finch Subway Station

Inside Finch Subway

The Finch Subway station is on the Yonge-University Spadina Line of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). It opened March 1974 to the public. It is located at the corners of Yonge and Finch in North York. I grew up in North York and remained here for most of my life and in that time, things had changed dramatically since yester years. Although I grudgingly accepted the change at first due to the fact it was tampering with my childhood memories, I must admit every time I see the section from Sheppard to Finch on Yonge Street, I am awestruck with its beauty.

Thanks to the vision of our past Mayor, Mel Lastman, we saw first the Ford Centre for the Performing Arts , the North York Civic Centre (Mel Lastman Square) and of course the Sheppard Subway line which travels east from Don Mills Station to Sheppard / Yonge. The Finch subway is an extremely busy station as it is also a gateway to Brampton, York Region as well as a GO Station terminal. As the busiest station on the system as far as bus routes go, it serves over 95,000 people a day.

Yonge and Finch

The luxurious and corporate feel surround both the interior and exterior of the Finch station.On the lower level is the North American Building. The Xerox Tower is also near by.  Gorgeous condominiums loom the skyscape and plenty of karaoke night clubs and pubs along the Yonge strip. A 24 hour Shoppers Drug Mart in sight and what more could a girl ask for? A great place to work and live; accessible and professional.

North American Building