- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
Evergreen Brick Works
Category: Event Planning & Services Venues & Event Spaces Venues & Event Spaces
550 Bayview AveToronto, ON M4W 1A7
(416) 596-1495
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 9 am - 5 pm
Sat 8 am - 4 pm
Sun 10 am - 4 pm
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
9 reviews for Evergreen Brick Works
9 reviews in English
-
Review from Micki M.
Toronto, ON
5/22/2012
Evergreen is incredible! I really can't think of a better word for it.
*** Free shuttle every half hour from Broadview Station, so come by public transport!***
There are things here to enjoy for all ages. The farmers' market (year round open on Saturdays) is really good. Fruit veggies, lots of meat options, honey, prepared foods, and live music!
Kids can play in Chimney Court which is an evolving playground where the kids are able to create structures and improve the place with the available materials. They can also learn about cooking in cob ovens, learn about vermicomposting and growing native edibles in the greenhouse!
Also, must sees here include the historical tour through the old clay kilns, the edible garden mounds in Koerner Gardens, and a walk through the ponds being reclaimed by native vegetation. Here you will likely see fish and turtles!
There are things happening here nearly everyday (including Sunday!) so come spend a day with your partner, kids, friends, or your self! -
Review from Kimberly K.
10/9/2011
Brilliant. Not a secret. SHHHH... shouldn't be a secret.
Recently named by National Geographic as one of the world's top 10 geotourism destinations, Evergreen Brick Works needs to be on your list. If you have a list of places to visit that inspire, places that teach, places that motivate, places that energize, places that reveal, places that sustain, places that transform... you will want to consider this destination.
Evergreen is poetry in motion, created by fire and water. The Great Fire of 1904 insured that the Brick Works was busy rebuilding the area. The floods from Hurricane Hazel in 1954, caused the creation of the Metropolitan & Toronto Region Conservation Authority which began acquiring ravine lands.
Author Robert Fulford said "the ravines are to Toronto what canals are to Venice, hills are to San Francisco and the Thames is to London. They are the heart of the City's emotional geography, and understanding Toronto requires an understanding of the ravines."
Hoa N. is a rockstar infamous poet, sometimes elite yelper, and always amazing friend who is a true Anthropologist of Place. She is a pro at mapping the "emotional geography" of a city and in her short 2 months in Toronto, has already made Evergreen a regular visit in her weekly schedule.
She brought me here.
It was free.
We ate fresh local foods from the Farmer's Market. She bought some amazing comfrey for my injuries. She brought my attention to a water collection tank near the Market. We used the airblades in the Women's Restroom. We saw a party walk to their wedding. We listened to a race as hundreds of people gathered. Drank a double espresso. Went on a hike with her boys. We discussed prefab architecture and kit-of-parts metal building ideas for inexpensive and beautiful homes.
Had I been paying attention, I would have noticed the pervious concrete parking lot, the green roof, the 15 20K-litre rainwater harvesting cisterns, the solar chimneys, the numerous energy saving devices, the many good ideas...
Evergreen makes me want to pay attention...
Build and destroy less. Smile and plant more.
Write the wrongs.Listed in: Building and Architecture, SEX., Toronto Short List
-
Review from Hoa N.
10/13/2011
So just what do you do with a defunct 120-year-old factory in the smack dab center of Toronto with nearly 40 acres worth of post-industrial land featuring a gouged- and stripped-out ravine of exhausted clay?
Thank you, Evergreen*, for turning this into a public space that improves the quality of the water shed, connects people to history and nature, and provides opportunities for education, outdoor activities, connecting to your local growers and more.
Here you can learn how to fix your bike, introduce children to wattle fence or cob house building, see the Toronto skyline from hill top look outs, and walk trails galore.
I love watching the native vegetation change through the seasons. Right now sumac trees dot the hills, showing their deep red tassels and crimson leaves.
Here, I have visited an antiques show, shopped for eco-friendly childrens' toys, browsed their native plant selections, enjoyed a double espresso with friend Kimberly K, drank beers with my guy in Cafe Belong, attended a Blueberry festival complete with a children pie baking class, watched my boys build fairy houses, play in the sand pile and explore the stick fort structure in the children area Chimney Court, scrambled down a steep incline from a dramatic ridge-walk trail, admired the outdoor art, native plantings and informative displays, ate excellent hand crafted crepes from Clement's Crepes, bought small batch herbal remedies and other local wares at the farmers market. etc!
We go by public transit by walking to the Broadstreet Station and taking the convenient shuttle. The shuttle is FREE and operates frequently, 7 days a week.
Easy and free, people!
I can't wait to bring my boys to skate here. I'll be the mama waiting in line at the cafe for her Baileys and coffee.
*Evergreen is a fantastic national charity whose mission is to transform derelict or abandoned urban spaces into green commons in order to make cities more livable. -
Review from Zoe R.
10/9/2011
I've heard about Evergreen for months, before I finally visited recently to check out the first annual Garlic Festival. For those who haven't heard about it, Evergreen is a building and community in which others who want to learn more, or interact with other like-minded people can get together and shop at the local farmers' market, attend a bike repair course, or simply enjoy the unexpected beauty they are surrounded by in this area. Ironic, since Evergreen is so close to the highway.
I love how environmental, grassroot-sy, this place is. It felt comfortable to be in that kind of space, where there was obvious proof that some people will take their concern for the environment to the next level.
They foster and encourage other people's knowledge about things that they can do to help. There are several kids' programs. Dogs are welcome to walk on any of their beautiful available trails. Bike-friendly as well.
However... I do wish it were a bit easier to get to by TTC. As mentioned, location is close to the highway. There's a reason I wasn't able to visit this place sooner, and it's why I won't be going again anytime. There is more info on how to get there using public means here: soon.http://ebw.evergreen.ca/visit/getting-here/bu s/
I'd like to check out their year-round market sometime. :)Listed in: 30-day challenge businesses
-
Review from Teena D.
8/27/2011 29 photos
Since we were in the 'hood, my husband and I checked out the Evergreen Brick Works.
A site that has known constant transformation -- first by two million years of glacial action, later by 100 years of brick making -- is being transformed yet again.
This time, Evergreen is turning the buildings of this abandoned industrial site into a lively and engaging community environmental centre that will help create a greener future.
We were too late for the farmers' market (it closes at 1pm) and we walked around the park.
A clay and shale quarry for one hundred years, this 16.5-hectare (40-acre) area has been transformed into a thriving green space managed by Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation.
Free and open to everyone, Weston Family Quarry Garden is the back garden to the revitalized industrial pad that is now Evergreen Brick Works.
Spend an afternoon walking along the boardwalks and you're likely to spot a turtle sunning on a log and fish swimming in the ponds. Look for a great blue heron in the reeds, a family of ducks paddling along and songbirds too. Follow the meandering paths up the North Slope and you'll be rewarded with an unmatched view of the Toronto skyline. All this in heart of the city.
A great place to spend a couple hours! It was fun to wander around the trails. The view of Toronto at the top of the hill was worth climbing up there for. It was cool to watch the turtles, fish and blue heron. -
Review from Al Y.
Toronto, ON
9/22/2011 20 Check-ins Here
A great place to relax. Plenty of nature in the back to unwind while taking a stroll around the ponds. There is activities there year round with Evergreen.
You can even learn sustainability tips in workshops that also include a cooking series and gardening.
Year round activites with the ice rink in the winter. Always great is the weekly farmers market that is also year round. Can't think of a better place to be. -
Review from Lynda W.
Toronto, ON
10/11/2008
I saw this place on CTV's "My Toronto" series of commercials. I didn't realize that Toronto had such a place, so it was indeed a lovely find. I'm not sure the history behind Brick Works, but they have a farmer's market every Saturday (from springish) through until November.
I went this morning, as the farmer's market season is winding down. What a great little market. It's an outdoor market, but the vast majority of it takes place under a large shed. The market is interesting, a lot of the foods and goods here were organic. I got a very new age, hippy vibe. The most popular good places by far was the french fries stand. They deep fry them on site, two containers at a time. They mix it with a special salty seasoning which makes the fries taste amazing. You get them in a medium size cone for $4. These guys must make a killing because the lineup is insane!
Other than that, I tried the organic lemonade. I'm such a suck for lemonade and I thought "ohhh organic too" but quite honestly, I've had much better elsewhere. first off, it wasn't fresh, it came from a large pre-made jug. For all I know it could have been minute maid (I didn't taste any pulp). Secondly, it wasn't cold, which for some reason doesn't make it as refreshing.
They sold typical farmer market fare, fruits and veggies and other little goods. Small but a pretty good find! -
Review from Jordana W.
Toronto, ON
7/29/2009
I think that Brick Works may have grown since Linda went there last year, or maybe it is busier right now because it is prime farmer's market season. I would say this is one of the best markets I have been to in Toronto.
First of all the whole area is beautiful. It is an evergreen project and they have done an amazing job of preserving the natural beauty of the site.
The actual farmers market happens every Saturday from 8-1. However, I noticed things started to wind down by around 12: 30 ,so I would recommend getting there a little early.
The space isn't huge but they pack a lot in.
First of all there are FREE SAMPLES EVERYWHERE. I planned on buying lunch, but honestly got quite full on all the free samples.
The fry guy that Linda mentioned is actually Jamie Kennedy. He was there making sweet potato fries and serving them. I didn't try any but I think I was the only person in the place without a cone of fries. Lee also had a booth and was serving some sort of Asian slaw. Looked beautiful!
Other highlights for me included the mustard guy. ( I love mustard) I would definitely recommend the horseradish mustard. It has a great kick! They also had a bunch of delicious looking glutton free baked goods, organic chocolate, amazing pickled vegetables, every stinky cheese you could imagine and of course seasonal fruits and veggies
Great Saturday morning activity!
One warning...there is not a lot of parking available. I would definitely recommend biking! -
Review from Ridersdiaries D.
9/1/2010
I went to the Evergreen Brick Works on a Sunday afternoon, but I didn't stay long because everyone was packing to leave the location. For my brief 20 minutes at this location, I see a great future for this idea and location. In Southern California, we have similar farmer's market but they are usually located in parks. This location is very unique, there is a forest near by where you can take walks with friends and family. I look forward to come back to Evergreen Brick Works on my next visit to Toronto.
Listed in: Toronto World
