Fire Guts Embassy Hotel

The Embassy Hotel, closed for two months and awaiting demolition to make way for a 150-unit condominium development, was gutted by fire Tuesday, May 12. Built in the early 1900s, the Old East landmark had been an East London music spot and popular watering hole for 50 years.

Heritage Bust

An art deco landmark, the Elsie Perrin Williams Memorial Building opened in the fall of 1940 to house the city's central library, the art gallery and an historical museum. For decades Londoners approaching the Queens Avenue entrance wondered,"Whose bust is that above the entrance?" In 2001 the exterior facade, including the puzzling bust, foyer and central hall were given heritage building status by the City of London. No longer in use, the building sits idle awaiting its rebirth.

Anonymous said, "It's Socrates." Anonymous is right. Now, when I worked at the paper I heard that the stain on the beard symbolized the poisonous hemlock he drank and that the stain was part of the relief. I was told the stain had been there since the installation of the sculpture. Any comments on this? (I believe, now that the building has been sold, the stain is gone. The poisonous, symbolic drool has been removed. Must check.)

Battle of the Balconies

I have always loved the wooden, stacked balconies filling the front of this small apartment building in downtown London. For me, this old building is a great addition to the core. I fear that someday a highrise, like the one in the background, may stand in its place. Prove me wrong, London.

If this urban stuff interests you, you might like my take on Oak Park, the new urbanism suburb in Oakville. London is looking longingly at new urbanism developments in Oakville and Markham. New urbanism may soon appear in a London area corn field near you.

Making a dash for the foot warmer

It was chilly Sunday. So chilly that this woman decided to forego her walk in the park. Burrr. She slipped off her shoes, propped her feet on the sunshine-warm dash and reclined her seat to enjoy the warm hothouse-like car interior. :-) mmmm toasty . . .

Captain Rex visits London

Clone trooper Captain Rex was Anakin Skywalker's second in command during the Clone Wars and I'm sure I met him Saturday in London. If this really was Captain Rex, popular myth seems to have gotten some things wrong. He wasn't at all the gruff, no-nonsense, tough as nails type. In fact, he wasn't a he, he was a she - a pretty, young, blonde she. Still, I didn't want to mess with someone who commanded the famed 501st Clone Trooper Battalion. If the blaster pistols are not intimidating enough, look in the background - an all terrain scout transport, an AT-ST walker. I took a quick picture and moved on.

Better late than never . . .

About four years after her wedding, this Londoner put on her wedding dress Friday afternoon and headed for the park favoured by so many young brides - Springbank Park. With rain clouds quickly thickening and little drops of rain beginning to fall, her photographer worked quickly, taking advantage of the soft prestorm light. The photographer had the shoot wrapped up in mere minutes.

First Permanent Headquarters for ?

Known today as the Wright Lithographing building, it once had a different moniker. In 1906 London Life moved their staff of 22 into new permanent headquarters after 32 years spent renting space in downtown London. That historic building, still standing today on Wellington Street, is now known as the Wright Lithographing building. The present London Life buildings are just down the street, filling the block from Queens Avenue to Dufferin Avenue.