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splashdancer
addicted to OAC
Canada
553 Posts |
 Posted - 30 May 2010 : 19:44:25
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On Saturdays I work in Toronto and have a few hours to wander at my heart's content. I had forgotten about Toronto's Doors Open Event held for two days yearly in May until I turned on my radio that morning while driving. Unfortunately I also did not have my camera.
I knew MEC was one of the tours on the list so I headed there first and picked up an information flyer. MEC is built from recycled and reclaimed materials. The highlight is the ladder climb, through a roof top hatch to view the first green roof in Toronto. MEC is also a testing ground for roof top technologies and pioneered the subsequent boom in green rooftops which is now required on all new buildings in Toronto's downtown core. I love the fact that some of money I have spent at MEC is used for purposes like this. I have done this tour other years so it is great to see the changes in the plantings. One year there was a family of ducks on the roof.
Next stop was a hop, skip and a jump to St.Andrews Presbyterian Church to view the impressive woodwork and stainglass windows.
My third stop was to look for ghosts on the 17th floor of The King Edward Hotel's "Crystal Ballroom". There was a long line up of visitors that required a wait of about 30 minutes for an elevator ride to the top of the building built in 1920. This floor has been closed since 1977 because it cost too much to update it for fire code requirements.
When I first walked into the ballroom I was immediately struck with the amount of light streaming through the multiple tall windows. There were still beautiful views over the city, not yet blocked by the newer buildings and condos and I could see Lake Ontario. The crystal chandeliers have been removed but I could imagine the grandeur the room once held. There were many ornate plaster mouldings of baskets of fruits, and plaster reliefs of frolicking women dancing, wrapped in ribbons. The plaster walls are pock marked, stained cracked and the orginal flooring has been removed down the mundane concrete.
I didn't see any ghosts or hear any misplaced music, even when I stood by the swinging doors to feel the cool breeze escaping down the corridor once used by the wait staff that would have brought food and drink. The doors were barred, but I wondered what was down that dank hall and around the corner. The only ghosts I saw were in black and white framed photos of elegantly attired men and women, sitting at dinner with those tall windows just as elegantly dressed in gorgeous fabric and tassels. And those three massive chandeliers dominating the scene.
My time for the day had run out, but there will be next year to check out some of the other secret places in Toronto.
www.toronto.ca/doorsopen |
Robbie |
Edited by - splashdancer on 30 May 2010 19:49:03 |
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Doors Open Toronto 2010
