{"id":24948,"date":"2015-08-06T09:34:20","date_gmt":"2015-08-06T13:34:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/?p=24948"},"modified":"2015-08-05T11:37:01","modified_gmt":"2015-08-05T15:37:01","slug":"exploring-beyond-downtown-guild-park","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/2015\/08\/06\/exploring-beyond-downtown-guild-park\/","title":{"rendered":"Exploring Beyond Downtown: Guild Park"},"content":{"rendered":"<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-24966 size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/IMG_8947-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"photo of a creepy angel sculpture \" width=\"584\" height=\"438\" srcset=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/IMG_8947-1024x768.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/IMG_8947-300x225.jpg 300w, http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/IMG_8947-400x300.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/>\r\n\r\nFor a self-professed Torontonian, I haven't seen that much of the city. Sure, I've been to the Eaton Centre 5000 times and I'm pretty good at giving directions to lost tourists on the subway, but\u00a0I've never really ventured that far past the DVP.\u00a0One of the goals I've set for myself this year is to explore past the downtown bubble, and it was this goal that lead me east to Guild Park (or Guild Inn and Gardens as the fancy people like to call it) in Scarborough.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/IMG_8948.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-24958 size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/IMG_8948-682x1024.jpg\" alt=\"photo of another creepy angel sculpture, this one has a bird nest between its wing and head though\" width=\"584\" height=\"876\" srcset=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/IMG_8948-682x1024.jpg 682w, http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/IMG_8948-199x300.jpg 199w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/><\/a>\r\n\r\nGuild Park is breathtaking, in an extremely eerie way. The Guild Inn, which sits vacant at the front of the park, originally served as an artist colony. The park still serves as a sort of sanctuary for the arts, housing over 70 statues, pillars, and facades\u00a0originating from pre-war buildings in downtown Toronto.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/IMG_8952.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-24963 size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/IMG_8952-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"photo of stone pillars against the sky \" width=\"584\" height=\"438\" srcset=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/IMG_8952-1024x768.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/IMG_8952-300x225.jpg 300w, http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/IMG_8952-400x300.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/><\/a>\r\n\r\nThe statues sit amongst lush gardens, giving the entire park a Secret Garden kind of feel.\u00a0With weathered pillars rising up all over the grounds it's hard not to feel like you've happened upon an abandoned archaeological dig.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/IMG_8953.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-24961 size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/IMG_8953-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"photo of a winding path amongst the trees with a stone facade at the end \" width=\"584\" height=\"778\" srcset=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/IMG_8953-768x1024.jpg 768w, http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/IMG_8953-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/><\/a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/IMG_8949.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-24957 size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/IMG_8949-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"photo of a little bumble bee on a yellow flower \" width=\"584\" height=\"778\" srcset=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/IMG_8949-768x1024.jpg 768w, http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/IMG_8949-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/><\/a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nExploring Guild Park was like an easter egg hunt crossed with a hunt for hidden treasure. With each new turn on the pathway, something new and unexpected popped up, whether it was an empty greenhouse or a tiny toad.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/IMG_8954.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-24956 size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/IMG_8954-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"photo of an empty and slightly rundown greenhouse \" width=\"584\" height=\"778\" srcset=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/IMG_8954-768x1024.jpg 768w, http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/IMG_8954-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/><\/a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs with any place worth seeing in the 6ix, Guild Park is Drake approved. The Greek Theatre, which sits near the entrance, was featured in Drake's video for Headlines.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/IMG_8951.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-24959 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/IMG_8951.jpg\" alt=\"photo of the &quot;greek theatre&quot;, a facade taken from an old bank building in downtown toronto\" width=\"800\" height=\"592\" srcset=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/IMG_8951.jpg 800w, http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/IMG_8951-300x222.jpg 300w, http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/IMG_8951-405x300.jpg 405w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a>\r\n\r\n<figure id=\"attachment_24965\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-24965\" style=\"width: 584px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/Screen-Shot-2015-08-05-at-9.48.26-AM.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-24965 size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/Screen-Shot-2015-08-05-at-9.48.26-AM-1024x495.png\" alt=\"screenshot from Drake's video Headlines, filmed in Guild Park\" width=\"584\" height=\"282\" srcset=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/Screen-Shot-2015-08-05-at-9.48.26-AM-1024x495.png 1024w, http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/Screen-Shot-2015-08-05-at-9.48.26-AM-300x145.png 300w, http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/Screen-Shot-2015-08-05-at-9.48.26-AM-500x242.png 500w, http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/Screen-Shot-2015-08-05-at-9.48.26-AM.png 1706w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-24965\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=cimoNqiulUE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGuild Park sits on the Scarborough Bluffs, and if you turn your back to the gardens and facades,\u00a0you'll see beautiful\u00a0views of Lake Ontario.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/IMG_8959.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-24960 size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/IMG_8959-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"photo of clouds reflecting on lake ontario\" width=\"584\" height=\"438\" srcset=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/IMG_8959-1024x768.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/IMG_8959-300x225.jpg 300w, http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/IMG_8959-400x300.jpg 400w, http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/IMG_8959.jpg 1632w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/><\/a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWant to see the gorgeous and only slightly creepy Guild Park? You can get there on the TTC, no extra fare needed. Need directions? <a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/s7fEo\">Here's a Google map explaining how to get there from St. George station.\u00a0<\/a>\r\n\r\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-24964 size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/IMG_8958-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"photo of lake ontario seen through some trees \" width=\"584\" height=\"438\" srcset=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/IMG_8958-1024x768.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/IMG_8958-300x225.jpg 300w, http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/IMG_8958-400x300.jpg 400w, http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2015\/08\/IMG_8958.jpg 1632w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-summary\">\n<div class=\"entry-summary\">\nFor a self-professed Torontonian, I haven't seen that much of the city. Sure, I've been to the Eaton Centre 5000 times and I'm pretty good at giving directions to lost tourists on the subway, but\u00a0I've never really ventured that far&hellip;\n<\/div><div class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/2015\/08\/06\/exploring-beyond-downtown-guild-park\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &ldquo;Exploring Beyond Downtown: Guild Park&rdquo;<\/span>&hellip;<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/2015\/08\/06\/exploring-beyond-downtown-guild-park\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &ldquo;Exploring Beyond Downtown: Guild Park&rdquo;<\/span>&hellip;<\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"author":254,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24948"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/254"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24948"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24948\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24972,"href":"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24948\/revisions\/24972"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24948"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24948"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24948"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}