when we was young
Back when we were young(er -ahem), Steve and I lived in a very old storefront building on Queen West at Ossington in Toronto. It was in truth a bit of a ram shackle dive but we liked it, the rent was cheap, and we had no lease! It was a 2 bedroomer and had a giant urban rooftop. The master bedroom was huge and doubled as my workspace, and the 2nd bedroom operated as Steve’s studio. We threw some legendary parties in that apartment for many a year, and Steve along with the art collective A Collection of Foreign Objects even had an art show in the temporarily vacant apartment below us.
Looking back I can’t believe that we lived there for 4 years! We saw the neighbourhood go from dodgy to mega hipster. We moved to Hamilton just in time to miss the Ossington super explosion of gentrification and boy am I glad we got out of there when we did. Queen Street was getting progressively rowdier and the local watering holes were no longer really servicing the locals. I couldn’t be bothered to wait in line ups, compete for taxis or navigate through crowds of overpacked swassy bars. Don’t get me wrong I still think it is a great area and I still love going back to visit to check out all the new places that are continuing to pop up on that strip and beyond. However, I do have to say that I really adore where we live now. Hamilton, I have no regrets!
Walking down the old 'hood back in winter of 2006.
Fluorescent green kitchen. Note the tape collection. Awwe I kinda miss our eating nook.
that futon looks comfortable enough!
Every young 20 something home had to have the required futon! It looks deceivingly comfortable but it got the job done. Zzzz.
it’s funny, on monday we are moving from bloor and ossington to Hamilton, so it’s neat to see this post. I love you blog and look forward to checking out some of your features. Hope this finds you well and wonderful!
I lived at queen and dufferin in the1990′s, way before the drake and gladstone. The move to hamilton has been wonderful!
The good old days. I forgot just how cool that space was. And the rooftop at the back just topped it off!
Lived around the corner from you in Toronto and now call Corktown home. I’ve seen a few hoods go the way of the “huppie” (hipster, hippie(green), yuppie). Hamilton is feeling a lot like what Parkdale and (what we used to call) Dundaj (Dundas and ossington) The Area, The Junction and Roncevalles USED to.
I think we’re gonna stay put for awhile.