one fine christmas afternoon in amherstburg (1)

-
Looking for something to do while Mom was busy making Christmas dinner and before relatives began to arrive, I grabbed my camera and walked around town.
No Whoppers Today
First photo stop: the former Burger King on Sandwich St. Other than fewer chairs, the dining room looks as if it could still be in operation.

Drive Thru Drinks
Care for a drink?

Ike's Plaza Ike's Plaza (II)
A few steps north is Sir Isaac Brock Plaza, built when business was booming in the south end of town. Among its tenants over the years: Valdi Food Stores, Donut Delite Cafe (the only donut shop in town for years - Dad often brought home bags of their thick, cakey cherry crullers) and SAAN. Of the seven business listed on the sign above, only three are current tenants (Dollarama and the two restaurants).

Amherstburg Holiday Light Posts Navy Yard Condos
After snooping the remnants of A&P (seen last post), I walked along Dalhousie St into downtown. The left picture shows the Christmas tree decorations that have adorned Amherstburg for years. Note the style of sign marking Gore St.

On the right is the Salmoni Place condo project. The site was formerly the Salmoni Building (1849-2004). Over its lifespan, the building was home to hotels, restaurants and a Stedman's. It sat vacant for years after its last tenant, the Navy Yard Restaurant, closed, with aging spray paintings in its front windows. The demolition was controversial, as referenced in an Ontario Heritage Connection article on protection of heritage properties.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

past pieces of toronto: knob hill farms

-
Image
From November 2011 through July 2012 I wrote the "Past Pieces of Toronto" column for OpenFile , which explored elements of the city which no longer exist. I've republished all but two of those pieces on this website.  Here's the first of the final pair, both of which provided good lessons for future writing. Prepare yourself for a lengthy preamble.
Read more

past pieces of toronto: the mynah bird

-
Image
From November 2011 through July 2012 I wrote the "Past Pieces of Toronto" column for OpenFile, which explored elements of the city which no longer exist. The following was originally posted on May 20, 2012. Advertisements, (left) the Toronto Star , April 22, 1966 (right) the Globe and Mail , July 26, 1967. In an August 1967 article, the Globe and Mail ’s Blaik Kirby set the scene for anyone curious about entering one of Yorkville’s oddest coffee houses. “The Mynah Bird is a fetid room in a former Victorian home, with a tiny triangular stage behind bars in one corner. There are two other rooms in reserve if needed. You enter through a hallway, passing the piranha and the caged mynah bird after which the place is named. Hanging rushes conceal the high ceiling. The walls are red flecked wallpaper. The lights are low, with candles on each table. One of the two friendly go-go girls ushers you to a seat, and soon reappears on the stage. She is slightly plump, with lo
Read more

the smiling men of pasadena 2: the eternal smile of "uncle bill" haas

-
Image
The December 31, 1920 edition of the Pasadena Post spotlighted (mostly) grinning photos of the paper's staff and local businessmen. Given my penchant for going down research rabbit holes related to anything quirky I stumble upon, this series will look at some of the stories behind the smiling faces.  Pasadena Post, December 31, 1920 . "That ponderous body of his simply shakes." There's descriptive language you just don't see any more.  From the accounts I've found, it seems William A. Haas was a classic old-time entertainment PR man, full of stories and tall tales to go along with his eternal smile. When he died in 1941, his obituary included many claims that might not hold up under scrutiny. He unsuccessfully ran for coroner (possibly in Iowa) against future president William Howard Taft. He suggested that William McKinley be promoted as the “Advance Agent of Prosperity” during the 1896 presidential campaign. He planted the idea of motion pictures in Thomas E
Read more