Growing up at Yonge and Albertus in the 60s, one of the abiding fascinations of the neighbourhood kids were the ruins of the North Toronto Orthopedic Hospital. It wasn't a jail of course, but a hospital, and it occupied the area where the streets Georgian Court and Brynhurst Court are now.

I did some Googling and came across this. One of the Langstaff buildings - 'Cottage No. 1' - survived and appeared in the 1980 film 'Prom Night'. Fascinating stuff; not the neighbourhood of my youth otherwise I would have gone exploring...

Pears Park. I haven't read or heard this since I heard the neighbours refer to it as a boy. [I grew up on nearby Albertus]. For the rest of you, it's Eglinton Park now...

Those radial line rails were buried until about 1968-ish when they resurfaced Yonge more comprehensively - ie., dug deeper. I remember watching them uncover and then remove them. They ran where the parking lanes are now.. only on the west side of Yonge.

Today, Wed Jan 10th, I went for coffee at the Timmys that occupies the saved lobby of the old Allenby Theatre at Danforth and Greenwood. The lobby is the only part that was saved. I did this as a Then and Now years ago but here is another one with a Now pic from today.

Then and Now - 29 Baldwin Street window sign: Then. 2012. I was out for a night time walk and took a pic of this coffee shop window; thinking that pane of glass might not be around forever. In 2012 the 'Mandel's Dairy' sign was already about 97 years old. Now. Tonite, Jan 8, 2018...

Non-Toronto content. London UK 'Blitz,' Then and Now: https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2016/05/london-during-the-blitz-then-and-now-photographs/481851/

Commercial Bank 15 Wellington St West January 3, 1980. Now. Jan 7 2018. This facade exists inside BCE Place - about 50 paces south of where it used to be (it fronted onto Wellington E.) There are offices appended to it but I believe they are recreated spaces.

Toronto shopgirl's 1938 diary. Found at St. Lawrence Market. https://www.thestar.com/life/2017/05/26/diary-of-a-sassy-lady-shines-light-on-depression-era-toronto.html And at the link below if you must read it.. it's captivating but boring at the same time. Page by page. Most of all it's a...

steveintoronto, I patronized the Silver Rail at Yonge and Shuter [I had a company expense account]. Strangely, as many corporate people who loved to dine out on my dime (ordering all the courses); many refused, citing company policy, if that was even indeed the case.

A fictional scenario: Attending homicide Detective: 'what about our unknown, doctor?' Attending Coroner: 'stomach contents include honey dew and hot dogs' Detective: 'our investigation begins at the Exhibition grounds. Ask the sketch artist to make a likeness and then have our men canvass...

I'm just admiring the skill of the tailor who must have been involved prior to the photograph being taken. Look at the fit of the shoulders...

Brown Derby. NE corner of Yonge and Dundas. We are looking E across Yonge. As iconic as it was I've never met anyone who set foot in there. Today.

Alrighty then. Today I am standing about where the man is on the sidewalk back then. A parked transport truck prevented a more accurate 'Now'.

Throwback Friday. North St. Lawrence Market snack bar. Feb 2015.

It was a chain. Perhaps JT can look into one of those business directories of his and give us an idea how many there were.

She's been 'hanging' all over the Yonge and Eglinton area since my childhood. She moves like a Dowager with a purpose. Early 60s: Yonge and Castlefield NW corner. 70s: Eglinton TTC station. 80s: Yonge and Erskine SE corner. 90s to the present day: here at the Yonge Eglinton Centre...

Treats, yes. Another 'pre-y2k heyday' type place would be Michels Baguette. Down to an outlet in the Path and Yorkdale I think.

I have a pea coat that I don't even wear these days. Just too darn stiff. Must be 15 pounds of clothing on each of them. Down 'sweaters' - nowadays that's the way to go. Like being swaddled BY a baby...