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whyilovetoronto:

Why I Love Toronto Because Of Doors Open Toronto Reason #266

401 Richmond Street

I won’t lie – for every art like event whether it is Nuit Blanche, Doors Open and I believe even for one CONTACT I am always at this building. I remember for Nuit being there watching films in the courtyard, for Doors Open it was exploring the building and for CONTACT to see photography (mind you I could have been there to see photography for an event that wasn’t CONTACT, but I can’t remember).

This building once housed the MacDonald Manufacturing Company which was commended for making the finest lithography on tinware. The building was built in 1899 and between 1903 and 1923 expanded four storeys.  Apparently an aerial view of the building makes it look like an A and after looking at an illustration of the building I can kind of see that. 

Anyways the Macdonald Manufacturing Company (MMC) occupied the site until 1944 when the building was purchased by Continental Can of Canada (CCC) who were the occupants until 1967. After being thrown around from owner to owner the building fell into bankruptcy and was ready for demolition. However Margaret Zeidler purchased the building.  Ms./ Mrs. Zeidler has turned the old industrial factory into a downtown centre of the arts. It is meant to be an affordable workspace for artists in the downtown core, which let’s be honest the word affordable and downtown are almost a bigger contradiction than living dead and starburst.  The website notes it is home to artists, designers, milliners, architects, filmmakers, galleries, musicians, magazines and art organizations.

Many applaud the building for being maintained and restored back to many of its original features. Many note the double hung wood and metal frame windows, wood floor, original brickwork which were found underneath carpets and drywall that were installed when the building became offices. There are also more modern additions that are noteworthy such as the observation elevator (which is amazing because you see not only each floor but he courtyard), a court yard with an external staircase (where I watched silent films during Nuit Blanche), and a garden rooftop.  

These are the stories I love of about Toronto, secrets being hidden away and then being discovered. It makes you hate the people who ruin the historical factor of a building, but makes you love those who brought the building back to its former glory. Even though they have galleries on occasion here in which you can visit the building I say check it for Doors Open it’s a nice little treat.

That is Why I Love Toronto.

araelia:

starvedofsunshine \ sydneydiana:

get involved

www.now.org
www.rawa.org
www.womenslaw.org
www.amnestyusa.org
www.globalissues.org
www.globalfundforwomen.org

and the worst thing is hardly anyone even knows this. 

It bothers me that the seventy seven cents factoid is imposed over a woman of color because that figure only represents white women’s earnings. Women of color make significantly less than that to every man’s dollar.

(via whattheactualfuck-)