May 29: Functional beauty

Elaine joins me for Doors Open Toronto day 2.

Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute puts science in the midst of beauty. The wishbone staircase and tubular walkway are artful yet functional. Up the street is City TV. While the outside may appear interesting, the inside is all business with no beauty--just monitors and production equipment. It really does not belong to an architectural lineup.

I continue my exploration up the street. I pop into a charming Lutheran church whose congregation is 160 years old. Across the street is St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church, with its hand painted iconic murals. Such hidden gems amidst us!

Greek church ladies are selling tyropita and baklava in the church basement. Elaine and I boost our blood sugar levels.

We finish off with a visit to the Corkin Gallery where renown architect Brigitte Shim is giving a tour of her recently renovated space.

I attempt to host a meetup dinner event without a voice at Hanoi 3 Seasons--not quite successfully. My lack of a voice seems to throw my fellow diners out of sync. At some point, they start to mirror my gesturing and whispering.