the workroom – The LadyBird Magpie of East York

Image Source : chuckmanothercollection.blogspot.ca

I love living in Parkdale. My heart is here–I’m sure I’ve mentioned if before. There’s a million and one great things about my hood, and everyday I can think of something new that is my favourite. My memory is not always the greatest, so I thought I’d start writing it down. Here are the top five favourite things in Parkdale that I can think of right now.

1) The Workroom–I really really really want to learn to sew. And to sew well enough to make my own clothes and house things. I have a sewing machine and I know how it works, I even have a gift certificate to the Workroom to take a sewing class. I just don’t have the time. But I will do it. I swear I will.

Image Credit http://www.makesomething.ca

Regardless of the sewing skills I may or may not have, I still love going into the Workroom. It has such beautiful fabric. The most beautiful fabric I’ve ever seen, in fact! They also have books and patterns and accessories and sundries, and a row of sewing machines where you can sew by the hour! Lots of projects also lying around to appeal to anyone’s crafty side! The offer a ton of classes, but the browsing is an amazing experience on its own–especially for a such a small shop. I love the Workroom. And I think you probably would too.

2) Meher Steinberg and Parkdale Live–My good pal and chum, Meher, lives right up the street from me. I go past his place at least twice a day, and when I think of him inside, it makes me smile. I know that if there ever was some sort of coffee apocalypse, me and my little family could take refuge at his and find a sweet cup of stove top coffee waiting for us upon our arrival. He’d surely also have some new music to show me, some new mix for me to listen to or some cut of a live video recording he’d recently done. He might even have a few drops of the sweet gold jimi stowed up and away on a high shelf for just such an occasion.

The Parkdale Vigoda Himself

Aside from just being awesome, he hosts and produces this great show in his space featuring live musical acts that he records and mixes and later posts the videos online. The best part is that the live recordings are actually really awesome–and I say this as someone who typically hates live recordings. Check it out–it’s pretty great and if you’re interested in knowing more–drop me a comment below. I can put you in touch the old Vigoda himself. Who doesn’t loves them some Steins, right?

You can check out this video of the band Heavy Generator performing on the show.

3) The Oatmeal Pancakes at ~~Mitzi’s~~ the Sister–De. Lic. Ious. Seriously the very best pancake I’ve ever had in my entire life. It’s crunchy and buttery and drenched in light maple syrup. It’s got a caramelized crust in all the right places. I’m not super crazy about the entire brunch, since a standard bacon/sausage and egg isn’t on the menu, but the “Huevos” is great, and the frigging pancake is just too god damn much. I dream of it and it’s little side of whipped cream all the time and I can almost taste it in my mouth RIGHT NOW!

Yum.

4) The 501 Street Car–Anyone that takes the Queen Street Car complains about it. It really is the worst. But it’s also the absolute BEST! It’s a double streetcar and you can board through any doors provided you have a pass or some other proof of payment. If you’re lucky enough to get a window seat, or even a seat at all because it’s packed all the time, the scenery between Ronces and downtown are just stunning. The people are total dicks, but its fine because at least they’re aware of their total dick status. For the most part they move out of the way, scrunch themselves up in a corner until it’s their time to get off and they manage to still look pretty great while doing it. It’s a fashionable and stylish brood that ride the Queen car, and I really do love being around good looking people.

TTC 501 Queen Late Night Drive By

It doesn’t stop at style–there’s eccentrics, and there’s drunks, there’s hipsters and just all walks of people and you never know what’s going to happen. I think I’ve seen more chick fights than anything, but I haven’t actually been keeping an exact tally. Meow.

I can hear the 501 when I lie in bed at night, I can hear it as I wake up in the morning, and I do believe I can hear it just now. The 501 Queen feels like a semi-reliable old friend, you know? Sometimes it flakes out on you, and it doesn’t come around often enough, but when it does you sure do have a good time and you get to where you need to go. For the most part.

5) Crown Flora Studio-This little shop opened up in January and I’d been meaning to go in the first time I had the chance. I go by it every day and just hadn’t been by at a time where the doors were open and the lights were on.

Image credit to crownflorastudio.blogspot.ca/

Finally last week, the shop must’ve been open late, and the timing worked out and I was able to pop in for a quick look around. I started chatting with shop owner, Adam, and found in him a fellow Parkdale enthusiast.

The little shop sells handmade things by Adam and his partner, terrariums and handbags to be more specifc. While it sounds like an unlikely combo, their wares are beautiful, the space is lovely and the spirit is kind. It’s great to have friendlies in the neighbourhood and it’s great to know your neighbours.

My little chat with Adam really brightened up an otherwise bummer day. It’s always great to see people who do what they love. It’s really what I aspire to.

And that, my friends, is a list of the things I can think of right now that I love about Parkdale. Don’t worry. There will be more.