May 19 addition.
Then: Sep 9, 1938. SW corner St. Andrew and Spadina.
Now. May 2011. The major change here is the disappearance of that huge looming religious building on the right. UTers "lwm0415" and "Ken Sington" are having a polite debate on the news page under this pair of pictures (it's an article there) as to what the mystery building is.
One of the wonders for me in these Then and Now scenes is — besides the inevitable comparison of what once was — is the wonder of enjoying what we have Now. Example: On Spadina Avenue across the street from where I took this photo is the Ding Dong Bakery. It's a newish establishment, not terribly polished looking, so not too popular. I highly recommend their excruciatingly inexpensive delicacies. They have meat-filled and sweet cakes of all kinds. They refrigerate well, so you can stock up and bring them for lunch the next day. Further up the street is Kom Jug Yuen, a wonderful restaurant with tattered '70s decor and '80s prices. This establishment is rather too busy at lunch, try dinner instead. It's always filled with U of T students who are in-the-know about the big servings and low prices. Warning: their bathrooms are for emergencies only.