fourONEsixSTYLE

Every year Doors Open is an event to look forward to, for many it is our only chance to peek into hidden corners of Toronto’s rich cultural and historical background. For no admission fee, except perhaps a little patience, you can wander back in time to see what made places like The Carlu, Liberty Grand or St. Lawrence Hall thrive. New to the list this year is the much talked about Palais Royale, currently undergoing a 2 million dollar renovation. Even though it isn’t fully completed, the public is allowed in (Sunday only) to view the work-in-progress. Also new to the list are the Cadbury Chocolate Factory, the tall ship Empire Sandy and MTV’s new digs at The Masonic Temple. Popular photographer hang-out, the Don Valley Brick Works, will also be open to sightseers with representatives from Evergreen on-hand to show you a bit about the site’s proposed enviro-friendly redevelopment strategy and help you plant a tree. Bring your friends, family and your camera.

from my window
Originally uploaded by 416style.

Three years ago I moved into my peaceful apartment in High Park, on the top floor of a house on a hill, with a beautiful view across the park. Friends came over and awed at “the treehouse”, while I beamed because I felt so restful when I was there. This is what my home was, a respite from the loud world outside, but I’m slowly being driven mad by my noisy neighbours.

Excuse me if I complain again. Every day begins with my neighbour’s fascination with patio stones, which are cut on the premises. My other neighbour across the street appears to have hard on for noise of any kind: leaf blowers (have you heard these things?), car vacuums and drum sets. It’s frequent and frustrating.

This past Saturday I awoke at 9am in full bitch mode, and traveled the 70 steps down to the road where I met the leaf-blower demon head on. I mean, really, it’s not even Fall, can’t you just rake the damn leaves? And, don’t you care everyone’s trying to sleep? Well, I lost the battle, but it doesn’t mean I’ll lose the war.

In a bit of a tirade I hopped online and began looking up Toronto’s noise by-laws. Amended in 2003, it read, “No person shall make, cause or permit noise (defined as unwanted sound), or vibration, at any time which is likely to disturb the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of the inhabitants of this City.” Sounds good, but then it continues to report that anyone can do whatever they want between 7am (9am on weekends) and 11pm at night. Dammit. Who’s gonna help me now?

I kept digging and came across a Now Magazine article which discussed how noise pollution is linked to a number of health related problems, including, of course, hearing loss. Up to now I was just pissed because I couldn’t sleep, but now I’m thinking, maybe my neighbours are contributing to my gradual hearing loss too, among other things. It’s a bit of a worry for me. My dad has some serious problems with his hearing lately, and I wonder if I might go down the same path. I’ve been going to crazy loud parties for a long time, and while I’m no Frankie Wilde, I expect that I too might have to deal with this issue someday.

So, now I’m stressed about my stress and my hearing loss, great. Unfortunately, I can’t seem to find a resolution to this one. I can’t get my neighbors’ team of landscapers on either side to work reasonable hours. Move out of the city or deal with it I guess. Toronto is nowhere near as bad as Tokyo or New York for constant street chatter, but it is getting worse and nobody seems to want to make any noise about it.

space ship
Originally uploaded by steffiejupe.

Traveling through Scandinavia as a teen, I would see massive amounts of graffiti all along the major train routes. Click clak. Click clak. My eyes would be fixed on the art as I passed; one brief moment, one spontaenous message, one image burned in my memory. It made me happy and reassured. Then, I would come back to my home in this city and everything felt so bland, so constructed, lacking the color and life of more established cities.

A couple years into High School my friends started the Keele wall, seen here, behind the Midas garage in High Park. It inspired me, made me draw, take pictures, explore the city. It was also really cool that Midas let my friends spraypaint whatever they liked as long as they designed a Midas logo for the passing subway cars and commuters to see. The wall still flourishes today, its message always new and simple. In this image it’s a spaceship, and the word “sight”. Next month a new artist will cover the space.

Even though the trend toward grafitti covered walls has been increasing in popularity, the City of Toronto has been pushing for stricter measures against its proliferation. The message to commercial property owners is this: “Clean up the art or pay the painting bill that the city hands over and a potential fine.” The argument presented is that alleys and walls of spraypaint scare away tourists. But, which tourists?

At the same time as this crackdown, festivals around the city are supporting the art and bringing people into the city core to celebrate it. Harbourfront Centre sponsored a Beats, Breaks and Culture event which showcased grafitti-based art, as well as music. The Grafitti 416 expo is on this weekend at Portland and Queen, and Little X’s Getting Up Festival last weekend advertised grafitti demos as part of its allure. Even, City Hall was involved in one outdoor art exhibition held this summer on its grounds that featured some of Toronto’s grafitti artists.

Yet, grafitti still gets a bad rap. Sure, there are punks with no respect, tagging buildings they have no right to. My anger flared seeing 1930’s dance club Palais Royale tagged by some amateur, and now the Hotel Edgewater’s retro sign will never be the same.

So some people give it a bad name. They’re not artists in the same right. Parameters should be set, and business owners should have their say. The mayor’s little broom icon from his campaign bumper stickers refered to trash and not art, I thought. Mayor Miller should learn the difference. The rest of the city knows. As do I. When I’m on that subway train heading to Keele station, about to pass the wall, and I see several TTC riders looking out the window with curious eyes all lit up looking at the wall, it makes me proud, and reassured that art of many kinds has a place in a city of many cultures.

sunnyside arch
Originally uploaded by 416style.

Nothing makes my summer like a Sunnyside party, and the first of this season is tomorrow night (Friday). You can expect great house music all night long and a terrific vibe at the Pavilion, one of Toronto’s best venues. Beside the beach, the charming courtyard is sure to fill up with a mix of beautiful people all there to get their boogie on. We can thank Gani of Milk and Natalie of RNB who have teamed up to bring us the best (one night) event of the summer.