Write Bookshop

Whenever John and I visit St Catharines we stop by the Write Bookshop on St Paul Street near the bus station.

 It's one of those huge second hand bookstores

overflowing with potential finds.

The stairs lead to a second floor specializing in hardcover books.

 Anything can be found. One of my favourites was a book on how to shoe your horse.

In March there was a 1/2 price sale happening.

 This last visit we bought Wonders of Rome, a travel guide published in 1956 and a 1962 Ballantine paperback, Firsts of the Famous, The stories which started Notable Careers including stories by Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote and Carson McCullers.

 Write is always worth a visit.

The Bloor Line

This morning I got on the Bloor subway at Bathurst Station. The rush hour train is always full when it gets here. 

Then I slipped through the Yonge Street Station

as it it wasn't there.

From a Bathurst Streetcar

The light was lovely on Bathurst Street this morning. That's the shadow of my streetcar at the bottom of the frame. 

Bill is at home drawing and painting his new book. I'm on my way to work, listening to the new Billy Bragg.

Graffiti Alley

The other morning I arrived at Queen Video on Queen St West before the shop had opened so I decided to wander the alley just north of the street in search of photo ops.

The wide alley across from the Cameron House was free of parked cars so I had a good view of the lush display of colourful tagging and imagery.

Dog Heaven

Last weekend was Spring-like in Toronto.

When John and I headed up to the Trinity-Bellwoods Park neighbourhood afternoon strollers and their dogs were out in force.

Perfect for street photography.

After dropping into Type Books we stopped by Clafouti Patisserie et Café for curried chicken and walnut sandwiches to take home for lunch.

John was busy shooting details.

Best of the details was this shot of Grace Eun Mi Lee's window installation at Bluebird pottery shop. Her A Stroke of ....,  featured a stream of porcelain creatures of endless variety.

At the Pho Hung

Last Sunday Bill and I sat once again at our beloved Pho Hung on Spadina in Toronto.

I've never noticed that squirrel before. Interesting. 

 Bill wrote our order

and is waiting for it to be picked up.

 This is my C10 -- stir-fried vegetables on rice. I order this a lot. The ingredients are always different.

 Mister X had chicken and vegetables on vermicelli -- same vegetables but a whole different world of flavour.

Later we bought our own vegetables and fruit at our fave corner grocer. That's Bill in red on the left and me in the mirror at the back of the store.

 Bill and I walked up Kensington Avenue as we do so often

 to the cheese gods on Baldwin.

Gotye

Gotye. Somebodies: A YouTube Orchestra.

Bathurst Streetcar Southbound

I often take the Bloor subway to Bathurst station on my way home from work.

Sitting in the station there's not a lot to look at.

The sun going down in the west gave a great light to the east/west streets. Here's King Street.

  I get off the streetcar at Fleet Street. I always have to wait for the light to change at Lakeshore Drive.

 Almost home, where Bill is waiting with the last of this week's Moroccan Stew.

Heritage Restaurant with Reta

Reta was as elegant as ever today when Bill and I dropped in for a visit. We watched Woody Allen's To Rome With Love. Reta liked it and loved the soundtrack. Its uneven but Bill and I liked it more the second time through.

We all had a yen to repeat the fish and chips of two weeks ago, so we went back to The Heritage.

 I handed Reta the camera and asked her to take a picture of us. It's very heavy for her but she was game.

Soon the food arrived -- classic Canadian fish and chips with cole slaw and tartar sauce. 

Saul Leiter: In No Great Hurry -- trailer

Bill and I became fans of Saul Leiter's work when Graham Jackson and Gareth Bate gave us a copy of Leiter's stunning collection: Early Colour (Steidl, 2006). Leiter's quiet, private street photographs from the 50s burned themselves into our minds. When this documentary comes out Bill and I will line up to see it. Leiter is one of our heroes.