First Bike Ride

Recently, we have managed to hire a new person at work. Finally, I can enjoy the full hour of lunch more “liberally” and explore the places I have always wanted to see.

To celebrate this, I have bought a bicycle. With a bicycle, Downtown Toronto literally shrinks!

For my first “excursion” in Toronto, I wanted to visit a special old house. Something that could be my favorite old house, from google street-view walking.

Cabbagetown has always seemed interesting for me. Reason being, A) what a lovely name! B) Its concentration of old houses.

After weaving through crazily heavy traffic, my adrenaline rush is greeted with the calm tranquility of the area.

Predating most Victorian row houses in Cabbagetown, the MacKay House was built in 1860, one of a handful pre-Confederation era houses remaining, for customs officer Charles MacKay.

This cute old house sits on a plot of land. The size of the house is disproportionate to the lot, or rather “inefficiently used” according to developers, when they tried to redevelop it back in early 90’s.

Its “inefficient” flaw, perhaps is its most beautiful charm. Set back at a distance from the street line, the MacKay House enjoys an oasis-like front yard, unlike any of its Victorian neighbors.

Cabbagetown got its name, apparently because when Irish people moved to the area to escape the famine in Ireland, they used to grow cabbage at their front yard.

The MacKay House, with the most greeneries and plants in the area, is truly a proper Cabbagetown old house.

35 Spruce Street