I don’t know about you, but I largely subscribe to the theory that pigeons are rats with wings. It turns out these creatures can be inspiration for some, though, such as the artist who produced fantastic graffiti on this Davenport Ave underpass wall.

The vines on the wall add to the imagery.

It looks like this piece may have been an artist collaboration. Does anyone know whether this was painted in different phases? I have a feeling the simpler illustrations have been there for longer and the multi-layer complex graffiti parts are newer.

Underpasses are usually so ugly. This one sure is fun to look at. (The white spots are snowflakes.)

This shot portrays what I previously saw – a blur while driving by.
But this time I stopped to inspect the details… and now I like it even more.

Technorati Tags:
graffiti, art, streets, artist

Another great local designer: Lubo of Lubo Design. He is an architect turned woodworker and furniture designer. The detail and quality of workmanship in his pieces is amazing. He combines some Asian and European elements with clean modern lines, producing intricate, crisp yet warm designs. He uses only beautiful solid wood for his works, some of which is reclaimed wood. Check out the renovation work he has done. I dream of having some of his custom cabinetry.

You may have seen his showroom window on Dundas Street West near Lansdowne, or his van around town. Lubo is a nice guy. If you wave I’m sure he’ll wave back.

Technorati Tags:
artisan, furniture, design, Toronto, renovation

Keep me away from this place. The bread, croissants and other unnamed baked goods are too good. Once purchased, things disappear too quickly and I suddenly feel the compulsion to go to the gym.
It’s definitely worth trying. Especially if you don’t live near it.
The original spot is located in the Distillery District. The second bakery popped up just north of Queen St. E on Logan Ave. Their focus is organic and as local as possible. Check out their crazy cash register while your picking up your loaf.

Technorati Tags:
bakery, Leslieville, Riverdale, artisan, organic, local

Manic Coffee is a dream come true. Not only are their espresso beverages consistently world-class, they have tables to read and chat at. Why not meet a friend and discuss the film you just saw, or sit down with a sketch book to design your latest bookmark? And did I mention that the lattes are AMAZING?

I would go as far as saying that Manic is as good as my favourite places in Seattle and Vancouver (Vivace & Elysian Room). Give it a try and see if you can taste the difference. They are located on College Street just east of Bathurst.

We don’t need to have 4 months of clouds to deserve excellent coffee here in Toronto.

Technorati Tags: coffee

Updated: January 16, 2008 (updated *new* gallery dates: January 30th to February 17th)

Meet Margaret Lim, a recent graduate of OCAD’s jewelry design program.

Born and raised in Toronto, Margaret’s parents, Chinese in origin, immigrated to Canada from the Philippines in the 1970s and raised her following the culture and traditions of their home country. Yet Margaret grew up not knowing the Philippines or her relatives there. She felt there was a large piece of herself that was completely unfamiliar. Thus Margaret’s recent works are an exploration of who she is and where she belongs, through an examination of her family history.

The casings that hold the jewelry were hand carved in metal sheets to reflect traditional window lattice patterns from China. The rings were cast in silver, based on Margaret’s own wax models. And the images in Margaret’s jewelry are those of her parents, grandparents and her dad’s youngest brother.

I asked Margaret how her parents felt about having their photos woven into her art. She explained they are shy, modest people. Her mother responded to one piece with, ‘I don’t want people to think that I’m trying to promote myself.’

Margaret’s journey of self-discovery stemmed from curiosity about her relatives and family heritage. She admired her parents’ principles and the way they raised her, and wanted to understand their influences. She had heard little about the three grandparents she had never met, since her parents rarely spoke of their difficult pasts. Both of them grew up as the youngest of nine children in poor families who were part of a small Chinese population situated in the Philippines. They immigrated to Canada without any family, enduring the difficulty of starting in a new country for the promise of a better life for their children.

Margaret did this project for herself, as her OCAD thesis work. She was initially puzzled to find that other people were interested in owning art pieces that, to her, are so personal and nostalgic in nature. To an onlooker like myself it’s obvious that the beauty, elegance and detail of her art is compelling.

Margaret’s work won the OCAD medal for her program. She tells me her parents are not outwardly sentimental people, but it’s clear that they’re proud of her and of how much they mean to her. Her project has brought them much joy. Their hardships in moving to Canada were all to invest in the future of their children. Seeing their kids successful and happy is the biggest reward her parents could have asked for.

Margaret’s latest works will be revealed at *new* gallery from January 30th to February 17th.  I can’t wait to check out what she has been up to.

I’m at the Beaver Café, with the sun gently shining through the window, gulping down a crisp cold pint of beer. Lunch has just arrived — mmm, soup — and the place is buzzin’.

poof.

Sadly, all this is really a dream/hallucination I am having from my bed. Oh, what I would pay to be at the good ol’ Beaver Café right now, guzzling that pint.  A double-damned cold is nipping at my heels and keeping me from doing anything at all, be it productive or entertaining.

Away, nasty cold!