Attractions & things to do for the kids in your life

This hidden gem of an independent bookstore is one of the most gorgeous stores in Toronto, and so easy to miss, being in the shadow of tall buildings in the financial district. You've got to check their ceiling! I love them because they were among the first bookstores to carry my guides, but also because they have a stimulating way of displaying tiltes that helps us discover new authors and interesting topics. 

Treat: Dineen Coffee (140 Young Street)

Public Art: Metropolitan courtyard (off Adelaide between Yonge and Victoria)

Family fun place: City Hall Podium Green Roof 

For my readers: Ben McNally Books is included in STROLL 9 in Toronto Street Art Strolls, and in STROLL 11 in Toronto Urban Strolls 1

For years, I have been dropping my husband in front of this pretty gift store to get my Christmas gift. I am addicted to their jewellery section (which is like a store within a store). This Cabbagetown shop is the go-to place for all the locals when they need to find something special for someone. Their vast card section is truly original. They have a large kids corner and many other themed sections. Books are peppered throughout the shop, according to their theme.

Labour of Love
223 Carlton Street, Toronto

While you're here:
Treat: Jet Fuel (519 Parliament Street)
Street Art: Broadcast Lane (east of Parliament and south of Winchester)
Family fun place: Riverdale Farm and adjacent park
For my readers: Labour of Love is included in STROLL 3 in Toronto Street Art Strolls, and in STROLL 15 in Toronto Urban Strolls 1

With my new guide on street art, I want to help the general public understand the added value street art brings to our city and its walkability. In this section, I'm hoping to facilitate the connection between the general public who would like to hire artists to add art in and around their home and the artists.

There are many great organizations helping artists get commissions or grants, and facilitating community projects (check Mural Routes resource page, StreetARToronto artists database, The PATCH Project services page, etc) but I feel there is a missing link between the artists and potential smaller clients who generally don't know how it works, what costs are involved, who can do what.

For the time being, I will simply be adding, on a regular basis, names of artists I have admired in the streets of Toronto, whose name I could identify, often with the help of their fellow artists, with some links to see what they do. (Note that this page also lists artists whose public art can be seen in the guide and international muralists who don't live around the GTA.)

For the SECOND PHASE of this page, I am hoping to pass on information I will get directly from artists I can interview, with information about what kind of commission they accept (ex. do they do garage doors? backyard fences? indoor wall?), what style they want to do (ex. their own creations? reproductions? what style do they want to tackle?) and what kind of price range clients can expect. It won't be an endorsement on my part but simply a resource to finally get that garage door painted. Bear with me, work in progress...

Nathalie Prézeau (Author/self-publisher of Toronto Street Art Strolls)

Adrian Hayles productions
Adrian Sawtay Hayles 
You can also contact the artist through: StreetArtToronto and ThePatchProject

Allan Bender
Allan Bender
You can also contact the artist through: StreetArtToronto, Mural Routes 

Alexa Hatanaka
You can also contact the artist through: StreetArtToronto and Mural Routes 

Andrea Manica
Andrea Manica
You can also contact the artist through: ThePatchProject

Anser

AGO Youth

Bacon

Banksy

Bell Box Murals Projects 
You can also contact the artist through: Mural Routes 

Bert Nils 

B.C Johnson

Bill Lishman

Bill Wrigley

Bruno Smoky                                                           
Bruno Sant’Angelo M. Revitte
You can also contact the artist through: StreetArtToronto and ThePatchProject

Bryan Beyong

Chad Tyson
Chad Tyson
You can also contact the artist through: StreetArtToronto

Chris Perez
Chris Perez 
You can also contact the artist through: ThePatchProject

Christiano De Araujo
You can also contact the artist through: ThePatchProject and StreetArtToronto

Colin Partridge 

Dan Bergeron
Dan Bergeron 
You can also contact the artist through: StreetArtToronto

Dillon Nusca
You can also contact the artist through: StreetArtToronto

Dudeman

Edisson Design 

Edward Burtynsky

EGR
Erica Balon
You can also contact the artist through: StreetArtToronto

Eldon Garnet

Emilia Jajus
Emilia Jajus
You can also contact the artist through: StreetArtToronto, Mural Routes and ThePatchProject

Emanuel Ciobanica 
You can also contact the artist through: ThePatchProject and StreetArtToronto

Elicser

Fiya Bruxa                                                    
Gilda Monreal

Francisco Gazitua

Frank Perna

Gabriel S.

Gary Smith       
Gary Smith 
You can also contact the artist through: StreetArtToronto

Herakut
Hera and Akut

Herman Mejia
Herman Mejia 
You can also contact the artist through: StreetArtToronto

Horus

Ian Leventhal 

Ivan Eyre 

Jarus
Emmanuel Jarus
You can also contact the artist through: StreetArtToronto  

Jason Rouleau 

Jeff Blackburn   
Jeff Blackburn
You can also contact the artist through: StreetArtToronto and ThePatchProject 

Jerry Rugg
Jerry Rugg   
You can also contact the artist through: StreetArtToronto, Mural Routes and ThePatchProject

Jim Bravo
Jim Castillo Henriquez Bravo 
You can also contact the artist through: StreetArtToronto and ThePatchProject

Jim Menken 

John Kuna
John Kuna 
You can also contact the artist through: StreetArtToronto

John McKinnon 

Jose-Gabriel               
José-Gabriel Fernandez 
You can also contact the artist through: StreetArtToronto

Jose Ortega

Kirk Newman

Kizmet

Li-Hill
Aaron Li-Hill
You can also contact the artist through: StreetArtToronto  

Marianne Lovink
Marianne Lovink

Marlene Hilton-Moore

Mattew Del Degan

Mediah
Evond Blake 
You can also contact the artist through: StreetArtToronto

Misha Hunter
Misha Hunter 
You can also contact the artist through: StreetArtToronto

Muralform

Nick Sweetman
Nick Sweetman
You can also contact the artist through: StreetArtToronto, Mural Routes and ThePatchProject

Omen

PA system
Alexa Hatanaka, Patrick Thompson
You can also contact the artist through: ThePatchProject

Pascal Paquette 

Paula "Bomba" Gonzalez

Phlegm

Pua69
You can also contact the artist through: StreetArtToronto

Richard Mongiat        
Richard Mongiat 
You can also contact the artist through: StreetArtToronto

Rob Matejka         
You can also contact the artist through: StreetArtToronto and Mural Routes                                                 

Robin Hesse
Robin Hesse 
You can also contact the artist through: StreetArtToronto and Mural Routes 

Ryan Dineen 

Sarah Collard
Sarah Collard
You can also contact the artist through: StreetArtToronto and ThePatchProject

Scott Eunson
Scott Eunson
You can also contact the artist through: ThePatchProject

Sean Martindale 
You can also contact the artist through: ThePatchProject

Shalak Attack   
Elisa Monreal
You can also contact the artist through: StreetArtToronto and ThePatchProject                  

Skam

Spectrum Art Projects
Faile, Maya Hayuk, Jesse Harris, Andrew Schoultz 
You can also contact the artist through: StreetArtToronto

Spud                   

Spud1   
You can also contact the artist through: StreetArtToronto     

Stefan Duerst                     

Tim Skynz      
Tim Skynz
You can also contact the artist through: StreetArtToronto

Timothy Schmalz

Tommy Matejka
Tommy Matejka 
You can also contact the artist through: StreetArtToronto

TOOFLY

Tyler Fauvette
Tyler Ramsey

UBER5000

Victor Fraser
Victor Fraser   
You can also contact the artist through: StreetArtToronto

I was curious to revisit beaches along Lake Ontario...

This is Frenchman's Bay West Park in Pickering:

First photo in summer 2015 (looking eastbound)

Second photo taken on June 28, 2017 (looking westbound)

You can see that the strip of sand that extended over 3 metres in front of the stone wall is currently gone.

Bookstores are my favourite go-to destinations when I need to buy a gift. Love the sight, love the smell. May they continue to add to the pleasure of urban walks. Here's a list of bookstores which carry (or have carried) one or another of my four titles. Those in orange come with my description and tips on a few other places that might interest you while you're there. (Note that most places only order one or two copies of a title at a time so they can easily be sold out. Any bookstore can order a book for you if you provide them with the title and name of the author.)

Bookstores located in Toronto (Ontario)

Another Story (Last Order, September 2017)
315 Roncesvalles Avenue
Toronto, ON M6R 2M6

shopAGO in Art Gallery of Ontario (Last Order, September 2017)
South of Dunda St 
Toronto, ON M5T 1G4  

Bakka Pheonix Books (Last Order, July 2017)
84 Harbord St
Toronto, ON M5S 2H7

Beguiling (Last Order, July 2017)
319 College St
Toronto, ON M5T 1S2

Ben McNally Books (Last Order, August 2017)
366 Bay St 
Toronto, ON M5H 4B2  

Book City #2 (Last Order, August 2017)
2354 Bloor St West 
Toronto, ON M6S 1P3

Book City #3 (Last Order, September 2017)
348 Danforth Avenue 
Toronto, ON M4K 1N8 

Book City at The Beach (Last Order,September2017)
1950 Queen St East 
Toronto, ON M4L 1H6  

Book City #6 (Last Order, September 2017)
1430 Yonge St 
Toronto, ON M4T 1Y6 

Caversham  (Last Order, July 2017)
98 Harbord St 
Toronto, ON M5S 1G6

Chapters #278  (Last Order, September 2017) 

2300 Yonge St 
Toronto,ON M4P 1E4

Chapters #280 (Last Order, September 2017)
55 Bloor St West  
Toronto, ON M4W 1A5

Chapters #286 (Last Order, September 2017)
3401 Dufferin St 
Toronto, ON M6A 2T9 

Chapters #287 (Last Order, September 2017)
220 Yonge St
Toronto, ON M5B 2H1

Costco Wholesale Canada #524 (Last Order, August 2017)
50 Queen Elizabeth Blvd 
Etobicoke, ON M8Z 1M1

Costco Wholesale Canada #535 (Last Order, August 2017)
100 Billy Bishop Way
Toronto, ON M3K 2C8

Costco Wholesale Canada #537 (Last Order, August 2017)
1411 Warden Avenue 
Scarborough,ON M1R 2S3

Coles Book Store (Last Order, September 2017)
604 First Canadian Place
Toronto, ON M5X 1B5 

D&E Lake  (Last Order, July 2017)
239 King St East
Toronto, ON M5A 1J9 

Ella Minnow Children's (Last Order, July 2017)
991 Kingston Rd 
Toronto, ON M4E 1T3 

Garden Market in Evergreen Brick Works (Last Order, May 2017)
550 Bayview Avenue
Toronto, ON M4W 3X8 

Great Escape  (Last Order, July 2017)
957 Kingston Rd
Toronto, ON M4E 1S8 

Indigo Spirit Store 581 (Last Order, September 2017)
200 Bay St,
Toronto, ON M5J 2J3

Labour of Love  (Last Order, September 2017)
223 Carlton St
Toronto, ON M5A 2L2

Little Party Shoppe (Last Order, August 2017)
2566 Yonge St
Toronto, ON M4P 2J3

Mabel's Fables (Last Order, August 2017)
662 Mt Pleasant Rd
Toronto, ON M4S 2N3 

Novel Spot Bookshop (Last Order, August 2017)
270 The Kingsway
Etobicoke, ON M9A 3T7 

Outer Layer (Last Order, July 2017)
577 Queen St West 
Toronto, ON M5V 2B6 

Paperboy Cards & Gifts  (Last Order, July 2017)
7 Plesant Blvd
Toronto, ON M4T 1K2 

Parentbooks (Last Order, July 2017)
121 Harbord St 
Toronto, ON M5S 1G9 

Queen Books in Leslieville (Last Order, September 2017)
914 Queen St East
Toronto, ON M4M 1J5  

Re: Reading (Last Order, July 2017)
548 Danforth Avenue
Toronto, ON M4K 1P8  

Red Pegasus (Last Order, July 2017)
628 College St
Toronto, ON M6G 1B4 

She said boom (Last Order, July 2017)
372 College St
Toronto, ON M5T 1S6 

Spacing Store (Last Order, August 2017)
B02-401 Richmond St West
Toronto, ON M5V 3A8 

Type Books (Last Order, September 2017)
883 Queen St West
Toronto, ON M6J 1G5 

University of Toronto Bookstore (Last Order, August 2017)
Koffler Centre
Toronto, ON M5T 3A1

Wonderworks (Last Order, July 2017)
25 Baldwin St
Toronto, ON M5T 1L1 

Bookstores located outside of Toronto (Ontario)

Chapters #765 (Last Order, September 2017)
310 North Service Rd West 
Oakville,ON L6M 2R7

Chapters #784 (Last Order, September 2017)
17440 Yonge St 
NewMarket, ON L3Y 6Y9 

Chapters #956 (Last Order, September 2017)
Market Hall, 52 Quarry Edge Drive
Bramption, ON  L6V 4K2

Booklore Stores Inc. (Last Order, July 2017)
121 First St
Orangeville, ON L9W 3J8

Costco Wholesale Canada #526 (Last Order, August 2017)
5900 Rodeo Drive 
Mississauga,ON L5R 3S9

Costco Wholesale Canada #531 (Last Order, August 2017)
3180 Laird Rd
Mississauga, ON L5L 6A5

Costco Wholesale Canada #1128 (Last Order, August 2017)
130 Ritson Road North,
Oshawa, ON L1G 0A6

Costco Wholesale Canada #1169 (Last Order, September 2017)
1570 Dundas St East 
Mississauga,ON L4X 1L4 

Coles Book Store (Last Order, July 2017)
Square One Shopping Centre 
Mississauga, ON L5B 2C9  

North 49 Books (Last Order, September 2017)
35 Prince Andrew Place
North Yotk, ON M3C 2H2 

Furby House Books  (Last Order, September 2017)
65 Walton St 
Port Hope, ON L1A 1N2 

SMITHBOOKS STORE 553 (Last Order, September 2017)
1800 Sheppard Avenue East
Willowdale, ON M2J 5A7

York University Bookstore (Last Order, September 2017)
4700 Keele St
North York, ON M3J 1P3

Bookstores located outside of Ontario 

Chapters #282 (Last Order, September 2017)
1500 MCGILL College Avenue
Montreal, QC H3A 3J5 

Musée Des Beaux Arts (Last Order, September 2017)
1390 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest 
Montreal, QC H3G 2T9 

Librairie Le Fureteur (Last Order, August 2017)
25 Rue Webster
St-Lambert, PQ J4P 1W9

Librairie Moderne (Last Order, June 2017)
1001 Boulevard du séminaire Nord
Saint-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, QC J3A 1K1