28 February 2018 – I emerge onto Bloor St. West from the rapid transit link between the airport and downtown Toronto, and start to laugh. Right there on that busy sidewalk, with traffic whooping by in the railway underpass.
“Hello TDOT,” I say to myself, and take the photo.
A whole riot of street art, running through the underpass. Definitely Toronto. (And thank you Barb, for this bit of local slang: Toronto aka T.O.; i.e. tee-dot-oh-dot; thus TDOT.)
That’s yesterday.
Today I’m walking around a bit of Riverdale, mostly on Pape between The Danforth and Gerrard. And yessir, TDOT just keeps kicking up more street art.
A fish threatens to swallow a phone box …
and he might as well, having already swallowed the phone.
A car makes a coffee-brake, right over the Schmooz café …
which I extra-love, since I made that same coffee brake pun in a post last October.
A guy eats an ice-cream cone, and clearly doesn’t like the taste …
which is fair enough, since the owner of this now-closed corner store has pinned a furious handwritten note to his store door, making clear he really doesn’t like the graffito.
On the other hand, a very spiffy meat & deli shop just south of Danforth not only accepts the mural on its side wall …
but the owner probably commissioned it, since it bears his store name in bold block caps.
About face, I’m heading south again. Some homeowner loves poppies, right there on his front porch.
Maybe painted them himself? (Or herself, come to that.)
Monkeys on a utility box, beside the Lucky Coin Laundry …
and, under the laundry’s neon logo, a beautiful poem by 14h-c. Persian poet Shams-ud-din Muhammad Hafiz.
Forget washing your clothes! It’s dog-wash time at the Fur Factory …
and, if you get close to that vertical line of thumbnail images, cats are also acknowledged.
Another dog under the adjacent Atomic Age comix store, looking back in some amazement — as well he might — at the red techno-monster behind him. And robot dog.
It’s cat-and-dog time farther south as well.
Be sure to read both signs …
and if you think the second one says, “Beware of the dog,” read it again.
I know. I had to read it twice myself.
Your reward for close scrutiny is …
a flower.
Tacked to a utility pole that has clearly had many other things tacked to it in its time.
But none as pretty, I bet.
Lynette d'Arty-Cross
/ 28 February 2018The street art in Toronto is great. Have a good time. 🙂
icelandpenny
/ 1 March 2018this is where i learned to appreciate this stuff – and to recognize the difference between vandalism and art (more than an artistic judgment)
morselsandscraps
/ 28 February 2018What a pleasure this is! So much brightness and amusement and just plain noticing.
icelandpenny
/ 1 March 2018nothing like fresh eyes for a scene I once knew well, but haven’t been near for a while — and thanks
Frances Maddin
/ 1 March 2018That was your best! Of course I am a little biased, I love street art as you know. And that street art is fantastic. It’s funny and it’s good. Continue to enjoy yourself see you soon Bye bye F
Rio
/ 1 March 2018Welcome Home!!! I will forever think of you as Toronto’s Walking Woman as you pioneered all my favourite walks and echoed my fav raves. TDOT!
icelandpenny
/ 1 March 2018thanks Rio – you’ve shown me a lot as well
ljscovill
/ 1 March 2018Such a feast for the eyes….enjoy your time in TDOT. Hope you brought your snow boots!!
icelandpenny
/ 1 March 2018waterproof boots, hope will suffice… and just borrowed a warmer coat!
Tom
/ 1 March 2018Welcome back to Toronto!
icelandpenny
/ 1 March 2018thanks – it feels good
dianaed14
/ 1 March 2018Wonderful fun post. Great to see Toronto street artists going from strength to strength. Indoors today – snowing – last time we had any snow was about 8 years ago. Looks lovely but not going out!
icelandpenny
/ 1 March 2018No, there are times to sit quietly inside…
Ed Drass
/ 1 March 2018Yayy! What a treat.
There is a different feeling seeing work from my town…
I found the Instagram page of the “telephone” pole artist:
https://www.instagram.com/joseph.lammirato/
icelandpenny
/ 1 March 2018well yayy you! is what I say — thanks for the comment and for the artist info
simpletravelourway
/ 3 March 2018Hey! You’re back! Toronto doesn’t let you down for great street art. Thanks for the post.
icelandpenny
/ 3 March 2018I’m having such fun — glad you’re sharing it with me