Have Your Say: Bathurst-Bloor Special Study - Community Consultation

Do you want safer cycling in our area? Our heritage buildings to be preserved? More parks?
Then mark Tuesday, Dec. 9th in your calendar: the city is holding a public consultation about the future of the Bathurst-Bloor area.
It kicks off at 7 p.m. in the Central Tech cafeteria.
Cheers,
Vanessa

Bulk Barn on Bloor?

Rumour has it that a Bulk Barn will open on Bloor where Sobey's used to be... however, the same rumour mill pegged that spot as a future LCBO.
So we'll see.
Both would be very welcome additions to our area!
Cheers,
Vanessa

New Novel Showcases Our Area

Ann-Marie MacDonald's new novel, Adult Onset, features The Annex -- and additional Toronto neighbourhoods.
According to CTV News, the author thought, "'Gee I'm going for it here. I'm really going to set it here, here's Bathurst and Bloor and this may or may not fly with people."
It will be interesting to read it and see if it gibes with our impressions of living in the area.
Cheers,
Vanessa

A View From Above

Although I *love* my ramshackle, Victorian, slightly ragged home in The Annex, sometimes I wonder what the view is like from a kick ass apartment balcony.
Well, this pic on Flickr answered my question: not too shabby!
Enjoy the view.
Vanessa

Spacing Toronto Article: On loving Toronto — memories of the Annex and discovering Scarborough

Spacing Toronto recently published a reminiscence of sorts about growing up in the South Annex.
I thought you might like to give it a read!
Cheers,
Vanessa

The Annex in the '50s and '60s

BlogTO published some pics of our area from the '50s and '60s. Is it just me, or does the area seem even leafier back than?
But I digress... the write up is a great, quick encapsulation of the up-and-down popularity of The Annex, as well.
Cheers,
Vanessa

TAP into TO Piece About The Annex

I'm not even going to mention that other... fiasco. Can't make me.
But I am going to be a bit mean-spirited today and ask WFT is this?
It seems to be sanctioned by the City of Toronto and it is a "profile" of our neighbourhood.
Thoughts?
Vanessa

Praise For The Annex

The Toronto Star had a cute column the other day about the charms of The Annex. It captures bits and pieces of what I love about living here.
Hope it does the same for you.
Cheers,
Vanessa

ROMwalk in The Annex

At loose ends today? Consider joining a ROMwalk through our neighbourhood at 2 pm.
The free, guided tour is "an introduction to Toronto's first planned suburb for professional and upper and upper middle class residents with unique Toronto architecture from the 1800s to the 21st century."
Cheers,
Vanessa

How The Annex Got Its Name

Ever wonder why our area is called The Annex? This BlogTO posting explains it.
In totally unrelated news, but a tidbit that comes to mind: our area was built from Dupont south, moving toward Bloor. I always assumed that everything in TO was built from the lake moving north.
At the time of its creation, the rail line near Dupont was the main from of transportation into our area.
Cheers,
Vanessa

Noka Restaurant Review

Hmmm... am I out of touch? I've never heard The Annex referred to as a "student ghetto" before. In fact, I kinda wish it required only student prices to dwell in this neighbourhood. That would be fabulous! And I'd sign on in a minute.
Anyway, The Star reviewed Noka, a new... wait for it!... sushi place in the area. Can't keep up!
Here's the scoop.
Cheers,
Vanessa
PS I thought rain was supposed to cool things off.

One Writer's View of The Annex...

Sometimes it's interesting to discover what other people think about you, if only as an amusement. Dave Bidini wrote a satirical article in the National Post about selling subway naming rights and this is what he had to say about our area:
"Bathurst station, near the heart of the Annex, could approach the Transient Nanny Association of the Philippines for partnering, or perhaps the Coping with Excessive Latte Consumption Foundation of Canada. Considering the number of SUVs in the neighbourhood, the Guiltless Carbon Footprint Businessmen’s Guild might want to get behind this one, as would the “I Love My Alternatively-Schooled and Exquisitely-Talented Child” Society of Greater Urbania."
I can only cop to fitting one of these descriptors. What about you?
Cheers,
Vanessa

Is The Annex On A Hip Upswing?

This article about Queen West just not being what it used to be also mentions that The Annex may be in for an infusion of indie, which is always a good thing.

While I've been disappointed with the Bloor West strip in recent years, places like David's Tea, Skirt and Guu opening, combined with stalwarts like Book City sticking around, has given me glimmers of hope.

It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

Cheers,

Vanessa

Historic Pics of The Annex

I recently stumbled across some historic pics of The Annex that I found fascinating and I thought I'd share them with you.

They range in date from 1904 to 2004 and the differences, particularly in the trees, are very noticeable.

Happy viewing,
Vanesssa

Annex History Article

BlogTO recently had a write up about the history of The Annex. Hate to sound like a fuddy-duddy, but if you can tolerate the grammar mistakes, it's worth a read.

The photos are excellent, too.

Happy reading,

Vanessa

Vintage Toronto Pic

I found this 1910 image of St. George St. (intersection?) online and marveled for awhile at the changes that have happened in 100 years.
Wonder what it will look like in 2110?

This black and white beauty is from the Vintage Toronto site, which posts old postcards of T.O., as does Chuckman's.

Cheers,

Vanessa

Upcoming Meeting For Residents' Associations

If you'd like to be involved in your community, a good way to begin is to join your local resident's association.

In this neck of the woods, they are quite active!
The Seaton Village Residents' Association annual general meeting takes place May 10. For those of you who live east of there, in the The Annex, May 13th is the date for the next Annex Residents' Association meeting.

The Harbord Village Residents' Association website is a bit out of date re: upcoming meetings, but it's a good source of other information.

Cheers,

Vanessa

Jane's Walk Audio Tour of The Annex

Who else is loving these bright, sunny weekends bookending rainy, gloomy weeks? Let's stop to say a small word of thanks to the Weather Gods.

I was just thinking this a.m. that this is perfect gardening, cycling and walking weather when, lo and behold, I heard about a self-guided audio tour of The Annex.
It's a collaboration between the City of Toronto – Office of the Public Realm, CBC/Radio Canada and Jane’s Walk.

Happy hoofing,

Vanessa

When A Place Gets Boring...

Found an interesting online article in The Atlantic by Richard Florida that mentions The Annex.

He quotes something that Jane Jacobs told him that I haven't seen printed elsewhere and that I quite like:

"Well, Richard, you must understand: when a place gets boring, even the rich people leave."
Happy reading,
Vanessa

Detailed Map of the Annex

I recently stumbled across a detailed map of The Annex provided by our local councillor, Adam Vaughan.
It pinpoints parking lots, fraternity houses (like those are hard to spot!), heritage areas, proposed new developments and much more.
Great idea!
Cheers,
Vanessa