Walk #10

“Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time.”
–   Steven Wright

Started off at Sherbrooke Metro.

The view south.

The view north.

Apartment building on Rigaud.

Mural on building at Rigaud and Saint Denis.

Crossed Saint Denis and walked into Saint Louis Square, one of the classic squares of Montreal. A few pics from the east side of the square.

Honouring Cremazie.

It’s a great people park, enjoyed by everyone from the homeless to the well heeled, and it is a kind of “institutional” green space, absolutely essential, much like Cabot Square at Atwater. I choose to represent it in this simple manner.

And this is the look of the housing that surrounds the square (though the castle may be a bit of an over the top example).

Eye on the side of a building on Saint Denis.

This was probably  a school/convent/take your Catholic pick type of place originally but it is now the Institut Raymond Dewar. (Sorry for the blurry shot).

Random storefront on Saint Denis.

What to do? Weird little space.

Turned west on des Pins and here is the home of Les Fusiliers Mont Royal.

Distinct colours going north on  Henri Julien.

Typical Le Plateau Montreal corner.

Heading north on Saint Denis, La Grande Terrace Rouge, looks very interesting even if this street is taking its turn ( and losing tons of business) going through the nightmare of maintenance/repair/construction/improvement this summer.

It’s a great idea.

But I have no idea how locals have reacted to this.

It’s on the sunny side of the street so maybe it goes from really wonderful in the spring to less appealing as the temperature goes up in mid summer?

It has variety.

Le Saint Jude across the street in the old church.

There’s your trouble.

Heading east on Duluth.

Got to love this!

Typical Plateau lane.

Interesting use of the material.

Turn north on Chateaubriand, one of those small streets that is also a lane.

Front door.

And across the street is someone’s back balcony.

Let it grow.

Can’t tell if that chute is for some renovations or a permanent fixture.

Heading east on Rachel.

New yet old by now look on the corner of Mentana.

Resto La Banquise.

Fire station at the corner of Christophe Colomb.

Like with gazebos, noticing I have a thing for outdoor staircases too.

Without showing a single person this view makes me think of Jane Jacobs’ idea of the ballet on the sidewalk.

Crossed over south into Lafontaine Park. It’s our state of the art city park, a masterwork that serves the local community very well while being attractive to people from all over the city. It was fairly hot on this day and I realized going through Lafontaine Park that one of its greatest draws is that it is filled with large old trees that provide tons of shade, perfect on a hot muggy day in July!

Hopital Notre Dame.

Back into the big hot city going south on Champlain.

Going to turn east on Ontario.

Meat store.

I had come through here on Walk # 2 and have to say there is a certain little buzz I seem to get when these walks intersect, especially over locations I had never really walked through before. It’s pretty cool, like randomly bumping into someone you have recently met.

De Lorimier and Ontario.

Of course this intersection is so significant in Montreal history. Here is a little ball park shaped space that commemorates Jackie Robinson, The Montreal Royals, and de Lorimier Downs stadium. That’s a whole lot of history on one corner!

And a view of the other side of the street, a scene that contains implications of Montreal’s Big Three C’s – Creativity, Corruption and Construction!

A little closer up for cat people.

Buddhist center with the old Parthenais Prison in the background. It was actually the headquarters of the Surete du Quebec in Montreal and it had holding cells for people who were awaiting trial but for whatever reason were not released.

And maybe it is just me but something seems to be not right with this design somehow. Or maybe it is perfect?

Turned North on Fullum and found this odd little intersection of cool streets. Mural on the end of Prince George. And I swear I would never intervene, even if I be an intervener, but I am really astonished, just laughing to myself at how these &#*()% traffic cones manage to work their way into almost any potential picture of the streets of Montreal this year. LOL

Unusual little street.

North on Harmony.

Turning east on  Lariviere.

Pastorale Sociale Centre Sud.

East on de Rouen. Carrefour Saint Eusebe.

Looking back at the church.

Pleasant neighborhood.

Love these stairs.

Parc Walter Stewart being rehabbed.

Public tennis courts that get used.

Thought this building on the corner of Hogan looked a little odd.

Colourful depanneur.

A hint of industrialization.

Contemporary version of the classic Montreal triplex on Florian.

Train bridge.

Seems like a busy place.

Bet these walls have seen a lot of art over the years.

Tin Tin and friends just hanging out on the corner of Moreau.

Ventured into Parc Raymond Prefontaine, that’s the Prefontaine Metro up ahead.

Old timey skatepark.

This is one of those very rare Metro stations where you see natural light down on the platform level.

Interesting design, even if the colours are quite reminiscent of Ikea.

Took a break on a bench near the skatepark. Not too many of these shallow baths seem to be in use anymore.

Just some geometry.

More renovations.

Moving south on Dezery I notice something quite unusual.

4 floors! Highly unusual in Montreal to have four floors and check out those staircases!

Closer look.

Church of Nativite de la Sainte Vierge d’Hochelaga on the corner of Ontario.

Heading west on Ontario.

CP Rail work units shuttling back and forth.

Could get spooky under here.

Apparently these are social housing units of some kind.

At least the sign implies that idea.

Looking back, noticed a little landscaping along the side there.

Do you recognize this guitarist?

One of the old city baths, Bain Mathieu, now a creative space.

With a little park on the side.

Possibly more social housing.

Another colourful depanneur.

City space.

More social housing, this project comes with it’s own strip mall.

And that is the Frontenac Metro station with the Maison de la Culture Frontenac on the right.

One last shot before I take the Metro home.

Another great walk. This one I really enjoyed as I covered a lot of new ground. Take care until the next time, says your favorite photoflanneur! 🙂