The West Toronto Junction Is In The Spotlight Again, This Time In The New York Times’ Travel Guide

Screenshot: The New York Times: Travel: Surfacing: Skid Row to Hip in Toronto,
Published: July 5, 2009
By Michael Kaminer
Photo: Rawlicious, a "living foods" cafe in the Junction section of Toronto.
By Steve Payne for The New York Times

The New York Times published a travel essay Skid Row to Hip in Toronto by Michael Kaminer. He described the meteoritic rise of the Junction section of the city from the skid row to a hip neighbourhood in the XXI Century. There are a few establishments of our truly exciting retail strip mentioned in the article:

• Pandemonium: New & Used Books & Discs
• Delight Chocolates: Handmade Organic Fair Trade Chocolate
• Rawlicious: Living Foods, Zen Den, Superfoods
• Cool Hand of a Girl: A Coffee Shop
• Margret: Bar
• Junction Arts Festival: Wednesday, September 9 to Sunday, September 13 2009 in the Toronto community of the Junction

Let’s hope that the dreams about the future of the Junction where "the young and artsy are taking advantage of empty storefronts and low-slung houses" will become a
real estatereality.

Are you planning a trip to the Abbot Kinney Boulevard of Toronto?
Anytime is a good time to visit The Junction. Take an advice from Michael Kaminer: "But the best time to visit may be in September, when a five-block section of Dundas Street West, between Keele Street and Quebec Avenue, closes for the Junction Arts Festival (www.junctionartsfest.com). The five-day jamboree of music and art began as a tiny indoor fair in 1992 and drew 250,000 people last year."

See You There!

links:
nytimes.com: Frugal Traveler | Toronto
O Canada, Where Have Your Bargains Gone?
By MATT GROSS

Junction Arts Festival Blog: New York Times . . ."Just got a call from a writer in the U.S. telling us that there is a story about the Junction and the Festival coming out Sunday July 5th in the New York Times. So pick up a copy or come by here to get a cut and paste of what they have to say. They did a similar story a number of years ago about Queen Street West. Seems that the Junction is making waves and we here at the Festival are ecstatic to be part of it."
By Michael Menegon the author of this post is the creative director of the Junction Arts Festival.

A view from the window of the Junction Business Improvement Area's office,
where you can read this article
2009 @ artjunction.blogspot.com

The young and artsy transform the Junction’s empty storefronts
and low-slung houses block by block: This is Malta Village area.
2009 @ artjunction.blogspot.com

Margret, 1960s-theme bar / lounge for the Junction with art house screenings
2009 @ artjunction.blogspot.com

The Junction is enjoying a post-industrial revival.
As Angus Crawford said "This could become the Abbot Kinney Boulevard of Toronto."
On the right is a Toronto food landmark, Vesuvio Pizzeria & Spaghetti House.
2009 @ artjunction.blogspot.com

blogTO: Neighbourhoods - Junction
Looking for something specific in Junction?

Check it out http://www.blogto.com/junction

Toronto Junction: Jazz Beats, Raw Bites, Historic Bits and More

Music apré-Raw at the Bohemian JoHo
2008 @ artjunction.blogspot.com

And finally, tomorrow on August 2, 2008 - the last summer concert at the Junction City Square & Train Platform
2960 Dundas Street West at Pacific Avenue

As you know the schedule of free events:
10:00 am
[V] The Junction Market
[V] The [murmur] - Audio Junction Story Collectors Project
[V] Period Costumes - Dress-up & Photos
[V] Toronto Aerial Dance - Free Circus Lessons

12:00 pm
Live Concert

1:30pm
West Toronto Junction Historical Society Walking Tours

The Rawlicious Trio: Afro-beat / Latin / Jam Band performs at noon.

About Rawlicious 3
Rawlicious Three is an energetic and spontaneous musical group made up of flute, vocals, guitar, and African percussion. The group has a repertoire of original and standard material, but much of their performance is improvised. While the rhythms of West Africa, Brazil and Cuba lay the groundwork for the grooves, the music is also inspired by funk, reggae, calypso, latin jazz and bossa-nova. Their diverse sound could be compared to the likes of Bob Marley, James Brown and Fela Kuti. Rawlicious Three's groove is irresistible and infectious. The music is always upbeat and danceable. Whether it's children dancing in the streets, or shakers on the dance floor, Rawlicious Trio will get you moving. Drew Austin - Percussion; Erin Ellison - Vocal & Flute; Andy Mac - Guitar

"We're playing with sounds, textures and shapes, regardless where it comes from."
Drew Austin

myspace.com: myspacemusic: Rawlicious 3
Robin's RawketScience: The Art of Raw Living: Rawlicious Trio
torontoplus.ca: Music Event: Rawlicious Three

After the Rawlicious 3 Band performance at 1:30 pm, take a free tour "Nabob’s Retreat" an odyssey through wealth and power in the Junction.

Meet at the Junction City Square & Train Platform
2960 Dundas Street West at Pacific Avenue.

Highlights include:

[V] Avenue Hotel
Where they closed the bars and the site of "Historic City" and
Boom Times Cabaret, Heart of the Junction Talk Show
[V] Martin’s Flowers
From bakery to florist; from brass bands to floral costumes
[V] Mansions and their Masters:
"The Birches" and the Heintzmans
"Oaklands" and Robert McCormack
"Campbell House" and Archie Campbell
[V] Ravina Gardens
Home of the Champions
[V] Annette School
With a tale of pacifism, heroism and tragedy
[V] Nabob’s Retreat:
Victorian, Edwardian, Queen Anne,
Art Nouveau and Art Deco opulence.

And much more!

Bring sensible shoes and a sense of adventure.
Tour is about an hour and 1/2 and ends at Lakeshore Park near the Runnymede Subway station.

For more info, contact WTJHS at 416-763-3161,
email: westjunction@bellnet.ca or
visit our website at www.wtjhs.ca

Screenshot: Big 3: NOW editors pick a trio of this week’s can’t-miss events
FÉTE ACCOMPLI - Caribana parade
TASTE TESTOSTERONE - hardcore wrestling stars
JUNCTION CITY WALKING TOUR - Junction nabe's odyssey
Credit: nowtoronto.com

Check out the growing, on-the-verge-of-being-very-hip Junction nabe on this centennial tour.
Saturday (August 2), 1:30 pm. Free.
Junction City Square (2960 Dundas West). wtjhs.ca.

FLASH!
West Toronto Junction Historical Society Centennial Tour makes BIG 3

NOW editors pick a trio of this week’s can’t-miss events

along with Caribana and professional wrestling!

And check out the latest tour video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uOkjr2jsfY
Recreation in the Junction, WTJHS Walk
Second in a series of FREE walks by the West Toronto Junction Historical Society to celebrate the Junction's Centennial of becoming a city in 1908.

Video and editing
Cristina Senjug
with Assistant Peter JIU Gang

Hope to see you there.... Please pass it on....