Monday, April 27, 2015

vanishing


Yesterday was the last day for the Vanishing Ice exhibit at the McMichael Gallery in Kleinburg, so three of us made the excursion for a day's outing. You couldn't take photos of the exhibit - which really was a blessing - and anyway, there are examples of the pictures on their website which you can see here




Since it was a sunny and warm afternoon we thought about wandering through the woods after the gallery closed, but really it all still looked so brown and dull, that we just walked into the village for some coffee and dessert. That other walk could wait until there was more green on the trees.

That quaint village feel of Kleinburg also seems like it is vanishing with all the new construction going on. Even with new condos going up right at the entrance to the gallery.


It was dismaying to see this huge crane, but a little consoling to see this sign which shows that the two older buildings are to be incorporated into the development design.


I suppose it is a compromise for the necessary need for 'intensification' (as mandated by the government)

As we walk further into the village, there are still some of the old storefronts. Sadly, these particular ones are currently empty.
But,  there is the cutest Starbucks, ever...
that is so popular there is outdoor seating all the way around the free-standing building (of course no-one wanted to sit in the shade, though eventually some did)
and .......... flowers!
the Sugar Plum Children's Boutique always puts a nice display in their pram!
with a few signs for Lesley

28 comments:

  1. A walk for coffee and cake sounds good enough to me! I had a look at some of the ice pictures on the other website: so interesting.
    Anabel's Travel Blog
    Adventures of a retired librarian

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    1. I even bought the book (something I rarely do).

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  2. I didn't get to the ice pictures yet but I love those flowers in the pram. It's fascinating where people walk to. Yvette (Priorhouse Blog) had me at an abandoned shopping mall. Variety's the spice, don't they say :) Many thanks to you!

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    1. I was just so excited to see flowers. We really do seem to be so far behind many other places in blogland for spring colour.Though, I was thinking as I wrote this, that here I was complaining about condo construction - again!

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  3. Icy can be a beautiful thing unless you are driving on it! Tom The Backroads Traveller

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    1. I agree. And the art of ice in the wild is stunningly beautiful.

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  4. It used to be a lovely area....I hope they don't change it too much.

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    1. I really wanted to find a local and ask them how they felt about all the new construction and the changes. Maybe next time. And the traffic will be even more horrendous than now!

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  5. That is a neat Starbucks! Your photos are lovely, and this is a great post. Warm greetings from Montreal. :)

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    1. Thak you! I don't even really like Starbucks, but I go to this one.

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  6. cool flower pot carriage! :)

    I enjoyed this troll with you (and I know what you mean about it being a blessing to not be allowed to take pics - )
    anyhow, that unique starbucks is very cool. I do not love their coffee - but we have one about 15 minutes from us that has this side patio - only about 10 tables - but it feels French when we sit there. and sometimes we shop across the street - eat dinner at one of the local places - and end the day there - enjoying our drinks on the patio that feels like europe. We cannot go too often because it loses the appeal - but patio sitting is a fav for me.

    anyhow, enjoyed your walk with jo this week and looking foreword to seeing other walks this year
    cheers

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    1. thank you for visiting. I've managed to find other drinks besides the bitter coffee they serve. And patios do feel very European, don't they?!

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  7. Good that some of the old buildings will be saved. Still a lot of work to be done there!

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    1. The building boom probably just got underway this spring.

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  8. I haven't been to Kleinburg in years but a friend lives just outside it - I'll try to remember to ask her what she thinks of all the development.

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    1. I just renewed my membership, so i'll be back a few more times! It is my favourite gallery. If you remember, let me know what she says.

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  9. Seeing those flowers would have been a lovely surprise!
    I always think fo Kleinburg as being a bit of a sleepy place (apart from the McMichael and the tourists). I guess that is all changing.

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    1. The flowers were exciting to see!
      It is certainly out of the way, but I am always surprised at the traffic in the area!

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  10. I would like to see the Vanishing Ice exhibit.

    MY SIGNS

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    1. sadly, it has vanished. (I could lend you my book)
      there were some interesting comparison views of paintings, &/or photographs from the distant and not so distant past, along with more current views to show how the snow and ice-covered mountains and lakes has changed.

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  11. that is the cutest starbucks i've ever seen! much better than the strip mall varieties!

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    1. Isn't it just?! same furniture inside, but it still looks so cozy.

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  12. Great post, thanks for the link to the online pictures.

    Ice can be spectacular, except when I'm falling on it, or when it arrives in the form of frozen rain.

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    1. Ice is best far out in the wilderness. or in a glass with a drink.

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  13. Oh, somewhere I still have a notably nice-quality baseball hat from the McMichael Gallery! It's dark green with a tan suede peak. I wore it all the time when I was a student.

    It's twenty years this summer since I got that hat, on my last happy visit to The McMichael, Kleinburg...and Canada. Time to start saving again I think!

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    1. Yes, you should! And the gallery has improved much in the last 20 years after a bit of turmoil.

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