One of the great things about Jane’s Walks, besides being free, interesting, and fun, is that everybody has a story to share, and yesterday, we learned some new things about Ossington Village.

We shared stories about the recent development of the food, art and real estate scenes of Ossington, and even delved into some history. We pointed out some of the street art along Ossington, places where famous people have visited, and places we like to hang out.

We were also told a few stories.

For example, the CAMH rehab facility at the bottom west side of Ossington near Queen used to be a firehouse, not surprisingly when you look at the tower. The tower itself was built expressly for a firehouse, as the place to hang their nylon firehose to dry after use.

Another interesting story was about the condos at Halton and Ossington. The Ossington development was built on the site of a former auto repair shop and car wash, and the condos on Halton took over from an old church that was sold and demolished. Just east of there, where another set of newer townhouses now exists, the developer bought an old church for only $650,000 and converted them to the houses today.

We finished the weekend at a neighborhood favorite, which is also an unknown spot to many in the city, The Communist’s Daughter. We even got Michael Johnson to come outside and play some of his gypsy jazz for the crowd. A perfect ending to a tour of Ossington.

Jane’s Walks occur for a weekend each Spring. We had a great time leading one, and we’ll likely do it again next year. Let us know if you went on any Jane’s Walks or if you have any interesting info on the history of our neighborhood.

You don’t have to travel far to experience the festival, although you can as sites range across the city. Lucky for us, many of our local galleries and art spaces are participating.

Oz Studios is part of the action, with “Rotating Reality” running May 6-27 with an opening on May 6, featuring Sandy Baron’s exhibit of playfully altered landscape photographs.

“Glass Ceiling,” Jill Greenberg’s project about the “setup” of being a woman,  is opening tonight at O’Born Contemporary and will be running until June 2. (Above, from Jill Greenberg: American Girl Doll, 2010)

Don’t Tell Mama features the Chris Grismer exhibit “New Suburban Photomat,” which explores and plays with new photographic processes to create experimental portraits. The opening is May 5 from 7-10pm, and the exhibit is up through May 31st. (Below, a photo from this exhibit: Superfriends, 2010).

“No Permanent Address” has been showing at Gallery TPW for much of April and garnered acclaim, and the run continues through the festival until May 26. No Permanent Address is a three channel video portrait of the New People’s Army, a Maoist guerrilla group in the Philippines.

“The Nine Eyes of Google Street View,” Angell Gallery‘s offering to Contact, will be sure to draw attention. We’ve all enjoyed the strange unexpected images snapped by Google’s cameras while mapping the world.  Jon Rafman’s series compiles “a fascinating array of incidental moments captured by Google’s cameras.” The exhibit opens May 3 from 6-9P until June 2.

If you are enjoying the festival, let us know what you’ve seen and what you recommend seeing.

You can see Now Magazine‘s Audience Choice Winners Peter ’n Chris at LOT on Friday at 8PM. Their show, Peter ‘n Chris and the Mystery of the Hungry Heart Hotel is a “ridiculous mash-up of genres including horror, adventure and mystery”

At 9:30 on Friday, Falcon Powder presents a full-length version of “Cowboys,” featuring some of the sketches that made them the Second City Best of The Fest winners in 2011, and some new material.

The first round of news focuses on bars and restaurants, reflecting where Torontonians spend their time in the winter.

We may have been the first to note the opening of restaurant Yours Truly, but we are not the last. Many are lauding the food and the men behind it, and liking the bar scene – check it out yourself at 229 Ossington.

Singer Emily Haines listed The Dakota Tavern as her favorite go-to for live music in Toronto.

Blogto has been profiling bartenders, starting in our area with The Garrison and The Ossington.

We were there when they were, and now you can read and watch a behind-the-scenes look at new GlobalTV series Bomb Girls when they were on location at The Dakota Tavern last fall.

Soon-to-open new restaurant The Grove, next to Churchill on Dundas at Lakeview, is already getting preview attention for its English menu.

The local art scene is also getting some coverage, starting with a story about art which mentions some street art on Queen near Ossington. It’s a cool picture – definitely want to check it out!

Liss Platt’s exhibit at MKG127 just opened and received a nice write-up for her photography in constant.

Last week, Toronto Life recommended Pinkalicious, the children-targeted musical which has been running every Sunday at Lower Ossington Theatre.

 Did we miss any news about the neighborhood? Let us know in the comments.

More than Pasta opened it’s doors officially at 121 Ossington in March 2011, but we got an advance look at the delicious pastas, sauces and prepared foods they make in-house.

Fishbar opened in May, serving happy hour and dinner at 217 Ossington Ave, and since then they’ve added a lunch menu for all the fish lovers around. Also in May, the Lakeview Storehouse opened, selling produce and groceries, along with poutine, adjacent to the Lakeview Restaurant on Dundas.

Just in time for summer, Eagle’s Nest Espresso and Ice Cream opened at 1199 Dundas Street West.

November was a busy month for openings: we noted the return of Lennox Contemporary, now at 44 Ossington, and the opening of The Dog Bowl at 984 Dundas West. Also new is G Gallery in the back at 134 Ossington.

In December we welcomed two of the newest businesses on the street: Yours Truly is now open 6 nights a week (closed Tuesday) for dinner at 229 Ossington, and Don’t Tell Mama is a gallery and art space.

There are also a lot of places we’ve been talking about opening but are still waiting for - like Amaya, The Saint and Bellwoods Brewery. More to look forward to in the new year!

We like their new sign and storefront on the street, although we haven’t yet found their website or other social media to keep us in the loop on what’s coming up. Let us know if you come across them.

The year in festivals kicked off in January with a dance festival called Connect TO at Lower Ossington Theatre, which is a prime festival location.

The music festival season began with the Canadian Music Festival in March. Musicians and bands performed at local venues including The Painted Lady, The Garrison and The Dakota Tavern.  Juno Fest also hit Toronto, and Ossington, in March, with Canadian musicians featured at The Garrison and The Dakota Tavern.

The music came back with the return of NXNE in June, and we saw some amazing shows right here in Ossington Village. This July, the Painted Lady created a new festival to coincide with the Toronto Jazz and Fringe Festivals. Maybe next year, we’ll see more venues join the fun.

The Contact Photography Festival covered art galleries for the entire month of May, and didn’t miss Ossington, with exhibits at The Painted Lady, Angell Gallery, Brockton General and Levack Block.

Jane’s Walks, which take place all over the globe on a May weekend, were also led in our neighborhood. Maybe next year you’ll see an Ossington Village Jane’s Walk instead of “the Hipster’s Guide to Ossington!”

Summerworks returned in August, bringing music and theatre to Lower Ossington Theatre and other local venues. The hugely popular Havana Cultura returned for it’s second year in August, with Cuban music, art and food on offer at almost every spot on the street. Who can forget the cigar roller surrounded by scantily clad women? Another returning event was Queen West Music Fest, which celebrated it’s third year this summer in Trinity Bellwoods Park.

Some was sipped, and some was likely chugged, but either way, Toronto Beer Week also returned to Ossington in 2011, with tastings and pairings at local restaurants and bars. Ossington also saw the return of TO Sketch Fest, with lots of comedic troupes taking to the stage at LOT this past November.

The gift: Theatre tickets. With a focus on delivering the arts to the community, LOT offers entertainment throughout the year. Seats are on sale in 2012 for Avenue Q for the adults, or, for the little ones, Pinkalicious.

Where to get it: Lower Ossington Theatre, 100 A Ossington Avenue

Price range: $30 – $60

Who would like it: People who like the theatre, or just a nice night out. Young kids who would be enchanted by a Sunday matinee (and their parents, who would love it if you’d take them off their hands for an afternoon)!

G Gallery has been open at least a month, and will be open Friday-Sunday from 12-5pm. This is a not a new gallery, having moved from Queen and Sherbourne to Ossington in October. According to their website, G Gallery is a collaboration between John Goodwin, the School of Fine Art and Music at the University of Guelph.  The gallery is run by Guelph alumni, with assistance from advisors from Guelph faculty and SOFAM.

The current exhibition, called Calculus of Forms, is an examination of urban forms, with a look at architecture, history and politics through models of 7 public housing sites on The Great Lakes. The next exhibit launches Nov. 18 and features work by Miles Collyer.