Explore Toronto: Early morning market trip
The streets are alive with art, inspiration and commentary on this cool early morning in Kensington picking up my spirit and the goods.
The corner grocery stores are disappearing but you can still find Caribbean Corner located at 171 Baldwin west of Spadina, here since 1977.
No West Indian comes here and exits without some fresh fruits and vegetables like plantain, okra, bodi, shadow bene, banana leaves, scotch bonnet peppers, salt fish and cassava from the islands.
Art from 185 Augusta, Deadboy and more is admission free and passionately served. Rob Ford, former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, features along the way, as the sweet smell of cinnamon signals Mexican Churros around the corner at $13. per dozen filled with caramel, chocolate or strawberry sauce.
Deep-fried while you wait. Served hot at Pancho's on Augusta.
Bursts of colour and beauty taking shortcuts through many, many downtown laneways.
Just bring your own paddle and ball for Ping Pong at June Rowlands Park at Davisville and Mt. Pleasant. The ice cream truck still appears every Spring and is in serious need of a 2026 makeover - Gelato, Yogurt shakes and Kombucha popsicles anyone?
Brett’s Ice Cream
Open during the warmer months, Brett Young and her partner serve Belly all-natural, handcrafted artisan ice cream by the scoop or take-home pints made with 100% Ontario Cream and GMO-free.
2 Locations: 1007 & - Kingston Road, Scarborough, ON.
It's art on the street in Kensington. Thank You for no car Sundays in the summer.
Weathered and neglected for years, this unbranded wood makes for an exotic 352 Baldwin shop front.
Endorse, support or get more info about Crystal Lameman, Beaver Lake Cree Nation, Canada in NOBEL WOMEN’S INITIATIVE.
Not much warmth from the grate and a light green blanket at Bay and Bloor in below-zero weather.
Get inspired by the work of French Street Artist Dran and British street Artist Banksy.
Giant multicoloured navigational buoys designed by Douglas Coupland in collaboration with Philips-Farevag-Smallenberg.
What a beauty!
On the way home and on the theme of one-of-a-kind, we find a lotus. Ryerson University / Mount Pleasant Cemetery bicycle rack competition 2010 winning design LOTUS by Katy Alter and Jeff Cogliati bring together aesthetic, functionality and ease of use in perfect harmony.
Out front at the Direct Energy Centre at Exhibition Place, we're happy to find this wonderful swirl of serious bike parking available.
Early morning market's a breeze.
Stores are still shut tight in Kensington Market, and hand-painted artwork on the storefronts is exposed when shutters are closed. A few early morning breakfast-seekers and food shoppers are about.
Both urban artscape and natural colours of Fall inspire and charm.
We stop just for a moment to enjoy the play of light and the uplifting feeling that a splash of colour adds to life.
Closed Coffee Shop front counter art
It's like a different scarf every day, the vines changing colours, wrapped around this Church on Belsize Drive, now replaced by townhomes.
Halloween skeleton pirates hang out below the brightest shades of orange and yellow.
On Oct 31, a front yard line-up of Halloween favourites includes pumpkins, spiders, witches, and Count Dracula.
Leaf tips seem dipped in petal colours after the rain.
Which way to the ROM?
An explosion of colour and translucent light was the exhibition by American glass sculptor, Dale Chihuly, at the Royal Ontario Museum. Wonderful for kids! What’s On at the ROM.
Groceries bagged, and a quiet street makes a skateboard-perfect ride home.
This article is in memory of New York photojournalist, Bill Cunningham 1929-2016.