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"Happiness always looks small when you hold it in your hands, but let it go, and at once you learn how big and precious it is."
Maxim Gorky

Sunday, January 6, 2013

To market, to market....

Toronto is often called the City of Neighbourhoods.
One of the oldest and most well known is the area called
Kensington Market.
My grandmother used to take me here as a child and I was always intrigued
by the vast array of culture and food.
During the 1920's and 1930's it was home to a very large
Jewish community where there were many shops reminiscent
of markets in their homeland.
Post war after the Jewish community moved to more affluent areas of Toronto,
the area became a melting pot of immigrants from Spain, the Caribbean, East Asia,
Central America, Sudan, Somalia, Iran, Vietnam and Chile.
In the '60's plans to demolish the Victorian era row houses and shops were
halted by newly elected mayor David Crombie.
Thank goodness for this!
It has morphed from it's immigrant roots, through the hippie era and now
hosts a plethora of shops, eateries, homes, cafes, pubs yet has
still kept it's charm (somewhat) and it's original function as a market.
Although there is so much more going on here in the summer,
we took a stroll through it one day and found delightful images...
Around the corner from Kensington Market is Spadina Avenue.
Seems like the most streetcar lines in the city run along here...
 


And there you have it... a little glimpse into the 'hood.


6 comments:

the wild magnolia said...

So good of you to share your trip. I for one loved it! A time past hanging on. Would love to visit and shop there.

Mairéad said...

Looks like a great place to visit with lots of interesting shops and food stores.
It looks colourful, even on a dull day.

Cobalt Violet said...

Love it! Thank goodness they didn't demolish the victorian houses! So charming!

Suz said...

wow great shots...really
and I love ...courage my love...how Iwish I could have been there....right up my alley and right now I could use it...a day of just wandering like a gyp

Sara said...

Love everything about those houses and buildings. My kind of neighbourhood.

Valerie Brown said...

You were right at my friend's store (Anice Jewellery) - she is by Courage my Love! Kensington is always fun, in it's own unique way!