FEEL the love: Distillery District

Yes, FEEL the love at Toronto's Historic Distillery District. Just be careful of what you are feeling. There is a large FEEL under the legs of the creepy, one eyed spider sculpture. When you go to look at it, maybe give it a feel, the spider reaches down and eats you. Check this post for more freaky sculptures.

The bricks among the district change as more things are being reconstructed and condos continue to rise in the neighbourhood. Still, there are many things that happen in the area. The TD Toronto Jazz Festival continues until Sunday, July 3, 2011. Last weekend there was also the MEC Bikefest getting all spokey in the streets of brick.

University of Toronto HPV Vortex at Bikefest

Wedding photos at the District

See more photos after the jump.

Large face seats in black and white - really cool

Small band at the Toronto Jazz Festival

Mill Street Brewery outside bar

The District

The historic District of Distillery, sort of the like the District of Columbia, sits in the east side of downtown Toronto and keeps getting better with age (some call it the Distillery District). The condos bring more people into the area filling the many cafes and shops in the bricky neighbourhood. Here are some people (pictured above) with long poles cleaning windows. They are doing a lot of construction work on the east side of the District near Cherry Street for the Clear Spirit Condominium.

The large sculpture which I call the egg beaters near the centre of the District is up and you can see the installation being assembled beside the Pump House on my earlier post here. The sculpture is called "Still Dancing" by artist Dennis Oppenheim. You can also see more of the sculptures, some of them pretty wild and crazy, on this post. And who could forget the lovable plastic penguin with his little red hat that could be found outside on the streets, I haven't seen him for awhile, I hope he is not lost.

This great little area will play host to some of the Nuite Blanche works on October 2, 2010. Next time you are close stop by the Brick Street Bakery and enjoy some refreshments and the relaxing atmosphere or consider the Mill Street Brewpub or the Pure Spirits Oyster House & Grill (seen below).

Segway in the Distillery District

The historic Distillery District is home to Segway of Ontario where you can take guided tours of the revitalized Victorian industrial area on the two wheeled vehicles.

The Segway really did not catch on for general use for a variety of reasons such as riding restrictions (can't go on sidewalk, can't go on the road) and cost ($5,000 plus) so if you want to see or ride a Segway you need to come down to the Distillery District.

Distillery District - mixing machine beaters

It looks like the giant beaters of a massive mixing machine are being installed in the Historic Distillery District - I can't wait to see the cake they make.

Freaky sculptures at Distillery District

Some far out sculptures created by American artist Michael Christian have found a temporary home in the Historic Distillery District.

The large, metal pieces dominate the surrounding areas and are surreal monsters ready to pounce on unsuspecting visitors. Michael has become a sensation while participating in the very famous Burning Man Project. I would love to go to Burning Man and I do like these creations that have graced the desert festival.

One of the sculptures is a black, three legged spider, octupus type thing with a single eye on it's bulbous head and titled IT. The second sculpture called Koilos is a silver human type form that is crouching and viewed from the front you notice the head is a hollow flower shaped appendage. The kids might be a little scared of these creatures and I can see where people might think that they really don't fit into the character of the historic, brick filled community.

Booze and bricks - The historic Distillery District

Full of character and old bricks, the historic Distillery District near Lakeshore Blvd on the east side of downtown is a charming place to visit. Part of one of the largest distilleries in the British Empire it survived from 1831 to 1990 and now has become a centre for art, culture and heritage. The picture of the penguin is from 2006.

The red brick buildings are examples of victorian industrial architecture and the red bricks have also been used for wall to wall paving of the pedestrian walkways.



You can explore art galleries and boutiques, enjoy restaurants and coffee houses and sit on patios enjoying the weather. Mill Street Brew Pub is in operation and you can sample and purchase their fine selection of brews. I tried a light and refreshing organic beer - perfect on a hot day, with or without a cute puppy.





Here is one of the buildings just outside the district. It's windows covered with green wooden shutters.