| The Colonel |
[Oct. 17th, 2009|03:23 pm] |
| [ | music |
| | Kings Of Convenience: Scars On Land | ] |
In the land of Etobicoke, there are two major creeks that guard the boundaries of the former city. Etobicoke Creek on the west and Mimico Creek on the east provided the built environment with two watersheds to service storm water and provide green landscapes like Centennial Park and West Dean Park.
What most people don't know is that there used to be a collection of smaller, less significant creeks along the shoreline that vanished during the process of urban development. When the built environment takes over these natural waterways, they never simply disappear, but need to be buried.
Creeks and streams exist because of things like changes in land grade, and even if the surface is paved with asphalt and concrete, rain water will still cause the ravines to flood.
Instead of having our streets pool with water everytime it rains, storm drains have replaced the creeks and streams by collecting rain water through a vast series of runoff pipes found in numbers on every road. To look at this process historically, I supposed you could say that bridges over a waterway were the first method of overcoming the imposing natural configuration. Over time these structures became more sophisticated and designs like culverts were implemented until it was decided that the speed of progress declared the water an inconvenience and was doomed to be buried.
Back to our story. Late last year, some drain colleagues of mine and myself thumbed through a newly released book, HTO (Coach House Press) that had an essay about the lost rivers of Etobicoke. This gave us some vital clues to where some larger pipes in South Etobicoke might be. My colleagues rifled through municipal documents and created retromaps of where these creeks might have once existed many years ago.
The first discovery along the eastern edge of Etobicoke wasn't much to brag about, but later on the other end, a pipe of both historical and aesthetic significance was found. The Colonel, named after a noble former land owner, is filled with different generations of drain construction.
( What happens behind closed floors ) |
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| Humble Howard |
[Sep. 27th, 2009|09:39 pm] |
| [ | music |
| | Howie Beck: Serves You Right | ] |
Back in May, some bricks were found under an old neighbourhood in the west end. The system is sandwiched between two modern connections of waste water relief holding tanks and a large concrete diversion pipe, respectively.
( Trudge through this ) |
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| Hello |
[Sep. 17th, 2009|12:45 am] |
Two trips to two different parts of the city following two different hunches. The results also included hunches of a different variety.
( hunker down ) |
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| yes, more drains |
[Sep. 2nd, 2009|11:28 pm] |
Two very different drains this week. The first, a seemingly boring suburban drain that has some funky surprises. Secondly, Park Drive, immortalized by the exploring spirit of Ninjalicious.
( and even more ) |
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| Depths of Salvation |
[Aug. 16th, 2009|08:49 pm] |
My refined and highly motivated drain-finding abilities made yesterday's trip to Depths of Salvation possible. Guided by bits of information and clues elsewhere on the internet and other resources, I was able to determine the approximate path of the pipe from its outfall in the massive park along the 401. Entry through the outfall is basically impossible as it's a giant waterslide that pours into the valley. Terapr0 and myself were able to find the correct upstream manhole with virtually no difficulty. Having only a hunch where it could be, I was anticipating a long, muggy hike through prickly foliage. We were most relieved to descend into the cool, breezy drain and out of the sticky summer day. That feeling seemed to reward the brevity of our search.
The glorious outfall.
( Meet me downstairs ) |
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| Hardcore test |
[Jul. 16th, 2009|10:21 pm] |
| [ | music |
| | David Bowie: Rock 'n' Roll Suicide | ] |
We found some new drains in Scarborough and they were surprisingly fun. What wasn't fun was getting clipped and bloodied from my tripod.
( slip n slide ) |
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| Aerobics in the underground |
[Jul. 6th, 2009|05:45 pm] |
Revisited two fine drains last week. Friday after work I headed over to 21 Golden Steps with my waders and new tripod to test out. About 100m in is the mangled remains of the former inlet grille, which has helped collect an increasingly growing accumulation of debris swept in from storms. Approaching from upstream, the water level is now too deep for regular boots, but subsides just after the makeshift dam. Nothing else has changed since my last trip in Fall of 2007. Beyond the third set of stairs has always been flooded but since I was wearing waders, the depth wasn't an issue. Less than 100 feet I found myself getting closer to the ceiling from the stones beneath my feet. Eventually I was able to touch the top of the pipe standing on nearly two feet of stones. Worried that I would get sucked in, I eventually turned around.
The next day I went with terapr0 to Westview Greenbelt where we spent a few hours walking up and down stairs and ramps. Be sure to check out terapr0's new website
( Stairmaster )
More to see on Flickr |
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| sausages |
[Jun. 7th, 2009|10:14 pm] |
| [ | music |
| | Wilco: Impossible Germany | ] |
Took another underground trip wit terapr0 from UER to two systems in the West.
( and here's how it went ) |
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| suburban subterranean |
[May. 15th, 2009|11:36 pm] |
Underneath a rather monotonous cul de sac community is a rather peaceful drain. The outfall's too deep for boots, so if you don't have waders, you gotta go Aussie style.
( circles and circles ) |
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| fishin' |
[May. 11th, 2009|12:50 am] |
Now for a post in this community that isn't spam. At leat I hope not.
( ppbbbthh ) |
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| Milestones: Free Date Night April 29th |
[Apr. 24th, 2009|05:25 pm] |
Just got this in my email:
I wonder if you're with someone on a first date will think this is cheap of you, but whatever. FREE MEAL.
Milestones Restaurant.
Milestones, nation wide is having a free date night. I'd suggest getting there early! Menu is online if you want to check it out. |
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| Toronto Fun: Harbourfront World Stage and Second City Toronto |
[Apr. 20th, 2009|11:31 am] |
Some interesting entertainment to dos if you're in the Toronto area. I went to both of these and enjoyed them. If you've seen them, post a review!
AfterImage Harbourfront Woldstage:
From New Foundland, it's an interesting performance piece about a family devastated by an accidental electrocution and unexpected adoption. Harbourfront has some crazy stage shows setup this year, and this the second one I've seen from the season.
0% Down 100% Screwed, Second City Toronto:
This one was hands down funny. Great improv and sketch comedy from renowned improv/comedy kings. I was buckled over in laughter. Some crazy stuff, crowd interaction, low prices. Good for a group night. |
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| cowhunt |
[Apr. 18th, 2009|11:26 am] |
It’s spring time. That means it is time to go cowhuntin’!
Don’t worry, we’re not really hunting cows. The Cowhunt is what we’re calling our own version of an urban adventure where teams solve clues, photograph themselves with proof, and race to the finish line (a pub!) for prizes. It’s a play on the word coworking, which is sometimes pronounced in jest as cow-orking. And while we’re not sure what is involved with orking a cow, we think the big mammals are fun and cute enough to use as our mascot for our urban adventure. It’s fun, the weather is generally nice this time of year, and it’s a great way to experience the city while raising funds for a new coworking facility for Toronto.
Choose a partner (or let us know if you need a partner and we’ll randomly match you with someone else who needs a partner), register yourselves, and have fun! Must be 19yrs of age or older. Registration is $15 per person. Space is limited. The Cowhunt starts at 11:00am on Sat Apr 25, 2009 in the Annex.
Details at http://cowhunt1.eventbrite.com/ |
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| a downer |
[Apr. 11th, 2009|01:59 pm] |
Took a few trips underground with Terapr0, from UER yesterday. We visited three drains and this is how it went:
( dunkin donuts ) |
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