Union Station renovations

After a few years of being the baby in a corner, rising gas prices and the additional hassles associated with flying have brought rail transportation back into vogue. I've been a huge proponent of rail for quite some time. It's environmentally efficient, fairly fast, exceedingly comfortable, and I always seem to meet interesting people on the train.

At long last, Canada's premiere rail station is getting a massive facelift.

Between GO and VIA trains, it serves well over 250,000 passengers a day, and that's not even counting the TTC passengers and pedestrians passing through. It is a national historic site aswell. The beaux-artes architecture of its Great Hall is a key stop for any tourist visiting town, whether they're taking the train or not. It is the beating heart of the city, from which its lifeblood flows in all directions. Outside of the Great Hall, however, it's been a grimy, ugly, functional mess for over 40 years. The track level looks like a bomb shelter, the GO concourse looks like the basement of a mental institution, and the trains idling in the yard are a noisy neighbour to the billion-dollar condo and hotel developments that have sprung up around it. It needed a change. Badly. I've been ever so happy to watch the renovations on it slowly progress.

The renovations started in 2011, and will be fully complete in 2016. The estimated cost is $640 million. When it's all said and done, it will be prettier, have much higher passenger capacity, better amenities, less congestion in the PATH connections, and be far greener. Here are some highlights.

The Train Shed

The biggest difference communters will notice is the four-storey high, 5,000 square metre glass box being built over the boarding area. Standing at track level, you'll be able to see the skyline of the financial district on one side, Maple Leaf Square and slivers of Lake Ontario on the other, and the blue skies up above. The stairways will also have glass panels, as opposed to the beautiful, worn, dirty concrete that's there now.

At either end of the glass structure, there will be 30,000 square metres of green roof interspersed with solar panels. The green roof will reduce the heat retention in the summer and reduce cooling costs, as well as filtering rain water. The solar panels will generate electricity to offset the station's usage. Hopefully the green roof will also reduce the noise from the trains idling in the yard. The 11:45 VIA train kills me on a daily basis.

On top of all of that, they're adding another platform to the south end of the station, replacing all the wiring, laying brand new track through the station, and replacing all the switches and signals. It'll be like having a whole new train station.

Passsenger & PATH Levels

While the Train Shed will be the sparkling jewel, the true value lies underground. Hidden from prying eyes, workers are digging down underneath the tracks, bracing the supports, then adding a whole new level underneath. The idea is that instead of the platforms letting out directly into the PATH, they'll let out on their own level. Those who live south of the station and pass through it on their 10 minute pedistrian "commute" won't get stuck in the human traffic jam taking the train or waiting for the train anymore. There will be 5,000 more square metres of retail space as well.

This dig is a massive undertaking, especially considering that the station is still functioning at full steam ahead while the work is underway. In all, they'll reinforce or replace 447 columns, and dig out 45 truckloads of dirt every day over 4 years. The York St. concourse should be open sometime next year, with the Bay St. side being done for 2015.

VIA first class & sleeper customers can also use the new Panorama Lounge with its business centre, WiFi, comfy couches and complimentary drinks. The Lounge opened in May, 2012. According to the Toronto Star, if the craftsmanship and attention to detail shown in the lounge is the mark of the entire project, it's going to be a beauty when it's all said and done.

A world-class train station for a world-class city. It's all good. :)

July Music Picks!

Yes, it's been a while. Spare time has been at a premium. If you don't like it, get your money back. Without further ado, here's my pics for the hot shows in July!

June 30-July 1 - Digital Dreams Music Festival - Ontario Place

OK, this will probably be more of the club crowd than the rave/festival crowd (brace for lots of skeezing), but it's hard to ignore a great big multi-day festival in the heart of the city. Rogers is the title sponsor, and the venue is legit, so you know that sound & lighting will be top notch. I was just at a concert at Echo Beach, and it's a beautiful venue for music. Two day passes are in the $120 range right now, while one day wristbands are going for $80.

For the Saturday, Afrojack, A-Trak, Mr. Brown & Spinz, and Thesupermaniak are the acts that jump off the page for me. I'm not sure when Robb G is scheduled to throw down, or which day, but it'll be worth checking out one of his last DJ sets ever - he announced his retirement earlier this month. On Sunday, don't miss London Elektricity & Dynamite MC, the legendary Marcus Visionary, Dubfire, Major Lazer and Kaskade.

Flip flops, sun block, a low-profile beach chair (whatever that is), and a big ol' bottle of water are the orders of the day. Full details on the website or facebook page.

July 6 - Norah Jones - Massey Hall

The soulful American jazz singer touches down at one of the best live music venues in the city for what's sure to be one of the concerts of the year. Touring in support of her fifth full album, Little Broken Hearts, Ms. Jones has gone a little darker, a little more introspective with this one. Tickets are $49.50-$69.50, linked from the Massey Hall website. Check out the video for the album's namesake song:

July 4, 11, 18 & 25 (Wednesdays) - Devin Cuddy - Cameron House


I had the pleasure of catching this kid - well, he's 25, but he's got the youthful glow of Colby Rasmus - the son of Blue Rodeo's Jim Cuddy, at the Cameron a couple of weeks ago, and let me assure you, he is one talented dude. Self described as "Dixieland" piano blues, he sings, tickles the ivories, and woos the audience one verse at a time. Count on a mix of blues classics & his originals, like this one:

Still not sold? How's this for a love of music? (from an interview with Toronto.com)

“My favourite moment so far is when I played at a bar in the east end called Dora Keogh. My grandmother was there, so were my parents, and we played a song called “The Tennessee Waltz,” which was the first song my grandmother danced to at her wedding with her husband in 1952. As we started to play, my dad got up and danced with my grandmother in the middle of the room. Hands down, the most beautiful intergenerational experience I’ve ever had."

Free. Get off your ass and enjoy.

July 20-29 - Beaches International Jazz Festival

The 24th iteration of the festival will have stages at Woodbine Park, the boardwalk and the streets of the Beaches, and the main stage at Kew Gardens. You can peruse the whole lineup on the festival website, but I'd recommend checking out: Afroteque at Woodbine Park on the 20th; the piano jazz & blues of Tyler Yarema at Woodbine on the 22nd; Toronto's own Heavyweights Brass Band and Sharrie Williams on the 28th at Kew Gardens, and; the Swing Shift Big Band at the boardwalk & Lee Ave on the 28th and 29th.

The festival also includes music, improv & dance workshops, a charity 5, 10 & 20 km run, food vendors, art installations and, of course, the beach. Best part? Free!!!!