A new mural in Leslieville!

Last October, a gorgeous mural "appeared" on a large wall along Dundas Street East (just east of Logan) in Leslieville. I live on Booth, just around the corner, and it feels like a lovely gift to us. Even more so now that I know what's behind that public artwork.

I'm now a Facebook friend of The Giant Storybook Project, the page of a German artist duo called Herakut on which I learned that these two artists started last September to paint the story of two giant characters on murals all over the world. (You can see all the photos on their page.) Toronto's mural is their fifth.

(Update as of June 2, 2013)

As a bonus, there used to be Red Rocket Coffee, a cool café which opened in summer 2012 at the corner of Dundas East and Logan. It made it a fun mural/coffee combo stop before heading to enjoy all the shops along Queen East. 

It unfortunately closed a few months ago. I'm leaving the photos I uploaded in my initial post to inspire potential café owners!

Back to the Storybook Project:

Their first mural was done in New York.
Second mural in Lexington, Kentucky.
Third in Eresing, Germany.
Forth in Montreal.
Since, they've done one in Rochester (state of New York),  in San Francisco (California) and Miami (Florida).  

They'll move on to other countries to continue their project through 2013.

Like Toronto Fun Places on Facebook!

The ABC of strolling

Love letters
Two weeks ago, I noticed a large ornate letter "R" painted on the sidewalk in front of Red Rocket Coffee (1364 Danforth). I asked the owner if he had hired someone to do this.

Turns out an artist, Victor Fraser, has taken on him to paint the alphabet over 2 kms along the north side of Danforth, between Woodycrest and Woodmount Avenues. He calls them "Love Letters", hence the little hearts on some of the letters. According to the artist, the painted letters should last at least a year.

Here's your chance to take the kids on a fun I-Spy game which will make them walk 5-K without even realizing it as you walk your way up and down the alphabet.

Letter "A" sits in front of Magic Oven (798 Danforth) and you'll find "X" by Wheels and Wings Hobbies (1880 Danforth), with all the other letters in between. (I could not find "Y" and "Z" beyond Woodmount.)

To complement the alphabet theme, don't miss the Alphabet Mural at the south corner of Danforth and Monarch Park Avenue, by Patisserie Cigogne (1419 Danforth).

At 3 Woodmount, just north of Danforth past the letter "X", is a favourite among the locals: Carter's Ice Cream. Just south of Danforth, you'll find East Lynn Park, the cutest little park nested in a pit, with original playground structure and a lovely wading pool.

If the kids are too tired to stroll back to your starting point, Woodbine Subway Station is a short walk west of the park, just north of Danforth on Woodbine.

It's a sign! (Danforth Avenue, Toronto)

Be quiet! Baby is sleeping...
I used to write at the Red Rocket Coffee on Queen East (which closed this year but reopened on 1364 Danforth Avenue) and always enjoyed reading their little notes around the counter. Last week at their new location, I saw that they still have a taste for funny signs. When a dad with a stroller stopped to sit on a bench by their sign, facing the café, I just couldn't resist snapping this photo.