The Ark of the Torah

This is the Ark of the Torah where the Torah scrolls are kept. There is a little curtain that can be pulled back to expose the scrolls or to take them out for reading. This little tour of the Kiever Shul concludes my Doors Open Toronto tour. I hope you have enjoyed it!

Saint Andrews

Our tour also took us through the main dining hall where student diners are sometimes held. There was a large array of crests on the wall. I guess I don't need to explain why I was attracted to Saint Andrews. For more signs, visit Signs, Signs.

More windows

These colorful stained glass windows were inside the Hart House library. The  students here probably don't take the time to appreciate their surroundings, but I certainly enjoyed taking a peek into this lovely little collection room. 

Happy Friday everyone! Hope you've got some great plans for the weekend. I'm still recovering from a little bug, but I hope to feel well enough for some golf tomorrow. Have a great one!

Theatre crest

There were so many details at the Elgin - too many to catch them all! But I did like these two fairies holding a crest. I hope you've enjoyed this look inside the theatre, tomorrow it's on to another location that I visited during Doors Open. Until then, you can find more signs at Signs, Signs.

The Winter Garden

 

Now the really special thing about the Elgin is that it's two theaters in one! Back then (and even today), real estate was expensive on Yonge Street so the original owner built upwards - there is actually a second theatre right above the Elgin and it's called the Winter Garden. We were told during the presentation that there are only a few of these "double-decker" Edwardian type theatres left in the world and Toronto is lucky to have one of them! In the vaudeville days, the lower theatre would be an open-seating type show with tickets costing around 10 cents while the upper theatre was slightly more refined with assigned seating and tickets costing  25 cents or more.

I only wish my photos did this space justice because the atmosphere was really something. Those wonderful leaves hanging from the ceiling are real (although they have been treated with some kind of preservative) and you get a wonderful feeling as soon as you walk into the space. I hope to come back here one day to see a show.

Details of the Elgin Theatre

Here's another look at the inside of the Elgin theatre. Wouldn't you love to sit in one of those opera boxes? I think they're amazing!

 

They even look good in black and white. I'm so glad this place has been saved and preserved. It started as a vaudeville house, became a movie theater and now broadway-style shows are housed here. Check back tomorrow when I'll show you something really special about the Elgin.

Theatrical details

Here's a look at the beautifully restored ceiling of the Elgin theater. The Elgin was originally a vaudeville house which was later converted to show "talkies". Unfortunately many of the wonderful details were lost during the transition, but now that the theater has been designated as a historical landmark, it has been restored and renovated back to its former glory. I'm only sad my photos don't really do the place justice. I'll show you more of this wonderful location tomorrow!

Grand entrance

The main entrance into the water treatment plant was grand! Just look at that beautiful arch and windows - and all those fantastic art deco details. It's a shame they don't build them like this anymore.

Beau bank

This gem of a building was built in the beaux-art style. I'm pretty sure the Canadian Bank of Commerce is now defunct, but it must be fun to work here whatever the building houses now!

Decorative doorway

A beautiful old building in Niagara-on-the-Lake. I love the details at the entrance, those columns and especially that art deco style lamp!

Downtown details

Here's another beautiful example of great architectural details on one of the old banks downtown. They just don't make them like that anymore!

Looking up for art deco

It always pays to look up! Otherwise I might have missed these wonderful lampposts and the detail on that building. Hope you're got a wonderful weekend ahead of you - it's starting to get cold in Canada. I think a cozy weekend bundled up at home is in order! For more skies, take a look at Skywatch.

Canada Permanent details

Here's a look at the details of the entrance to the Canada Permanent building. It's beautiful!

Art deco bank

The Canada Permanent Building is a beautiful example of Art Deco architecture. Unfortunately we couldn't go into the lobby of this bank for better pictures. But I got a sneaky photo from the outside looking in - enjoy! For more signs, take a look at Signs, Signs.

Victory in black and white

More art deco details on the Victory Building. I love the simplicity of art deco, and those wonderful designs on the windows lend themselves well to black and white.

Details in relief

I recently did a walking tour of downtown Toronto which focused on art and architecture from the art deco period. The old Bank of Nova Scotia building on King Street is a beautiful example of the period which luckily has been preserved. Each of these reliefs depicts a mythological character. So many of Toronto's historic buildings have been torn down to make way for newer and modern structures, but I'm glad this one and others were saved. I'll have more from the tour for you this week.

Fancy corner

I love looking up! You never know what you might see, like these wonderful architectural details on a building downtown near the Saint Lawrence market.

Loyalist tomb

I was intrigued by the Land Family tomb. Apparently Col. Robert Land Senior was an important folk figure. He was one of the first white men to settle the area which is now Hamilton, Ontario. 

The details on his tomb also reveal something about his political beliefs. He was a loyalist to the "United Empire" and reportedly spied on behalf of the British during the American Revolution. I've definitely learned something from this little cemetery visit with my MiL! 

If you enjoy looking around cemeteries from around the world, take a look at Tapophile Tragics.

Mystery solved!

I guess I should have just looked at some of my other photos to figure out which war the memorial at the Yacht Club was commemorating. From the dates here, I'm going to say it is a memorial to victims of WWII.

Grrr...

A close up look at some of the details of the war memorial at the Yacht Club. Hope you've got a great weekend ahead of you! I'm certainly glad it's Friday!