Toronto Travel Discoveries - Chatting with the folks @ Cafe Bernate

Yesterday I went to do a video/photo tour of Toronto's historic Gladstone Hotel that included an interview with owner / renovator and artist Christina Zeidler. Always curious I wanted to get a feel for the neighbourhood surrounding the hotel which is wedged in between West Queen West and Parkdale. This area is an interesting study of local history and sociology. A neighbourhood in transition, it has for many years been a lower income area with significant social problems. Today the neighbourhood is revitalizing, and new housing developments and loft conversions are going up all over the place. The grittier past now coexists with the brighter future.

Dozens of new cafes, galleries and funky boutiques have sprung up in the neighbourhood and I enjoyed a little walkaround along Queen Street West. I stopped in for lunch at Café Bernaté, a nice little lunch place almost opposite the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health that features 30 sandwiches with wonderful ingredients such a French brie, avocado, artichoke hearts, asparagus - the kind of foods that make my mouth water.

On the way home I stopped off on the CNE Grounds and took some shots of the Princes' Gates and the Automotive Buildings, two outstanding architectural examples of the Roaring Twenties. The Princes' Gates (often mistakenly called the "Princess Gates") were officially opened on August 31, 1927 by the two princes Edward, Prince of Wales and Prince George. Edward later became King Edward VIII. The statue at the top is called the "Goddess of Winged Victory". Today's statue is actually a copy made of plastic polymer since the original statue was replaced in 1987 because it had seriously deteriorated.

I also took some pictures of the entrance area of the Automotive Building which was constructed in 1929. Many typical Art Deco details adorn the entrance area of this building whose original purpose was to display the latest car models to the public. Today it is used for a wide variety of exhibitions, and the "Farm, Food and Fun" event is hosted here every year.

My quest for the hidden architectural and historical jewels of Toronto continues.....

For more of my travel articles check out http://www.travelandtransitions.com.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• toronto
• canada
• queen
• street
• west
• exploration

[caratejo23]

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