From back in August, when everyone’s spring cleaning started.
Suedes for cycling
Leave a Reply
Tag Archives: shoes
X marks the spot
I don’t get many opportunities to start a post with the letter x.
On my way after a morning appointment in Glebe. Across from the Glebe Town Hall someone left their runners on a bench but kept the laces.
It feels a bit spy thriller, like a “drop” location. I was hoping for a cryptic note, or USB drive with secret plans on it.
Maybe I’ve been watching too much “Homelands” and “The Americans”. There was just an abandoned sock and, as usual, usable shoes.
Shoes on Bloor
Another pair of shoes, from my remote correspondent, pistachiowriting.com
Found at Bloor and Dovercourt, Toronto, outside the Tim Horton’s.
Final pair from Toronto
Abandoned at the side of the road
I’m in Toronto for a few weeks and thought I wouldn’t be seeing any abandoned shoes here but it is a veritable minefield, a cornucopia, a smorgasbord. Plenty, in other words!
Here’s what I found within this past 10 days:
The first one was this bag / box arrangement near a bus stop: As I neared the corner, I saw it coming and it was great to find a handy bag next to it as well.
They even took the lovely lid off, to help you consider the contents. I was tempted to look inside the Sears bag but decided against. It felt wrong. Something about the lid says Europe, don’t you think?
At the park near my folks, out in the west of the city, there’s a cute little playground. Near it is a bench and some bins, for local residents to picnic, and a nearby recycle bin. This pair were sitting here for days, and are still there a week later, as if no-one dare claim them, although they have been shifting round a bit, so I recon people have been trying them on. Not good enough for anyone to take home though. Used shoes are so personal, so intimate! I now understand better why some cultures consider the importance and significance of feet and shoes so much.
Now for some adventure!
While here in Toronto, I’m staying in this B&B, (Hi Lyndsey!) near Dufferin & Davenport, quite a nice European immigrant neighbourhood, mostly Italian and Portugese. It’s a look I know well and defines this part of the city, in particular on their compact front lawns. I extensively photographed it back in the 80’s when I was a student of photography here and am open (on request) to bore you with some scans from those days.
These flippers were found out on the corner, on the edge of someone’s front lawn, hopefully so someone could take them on their summer holiday. In good nick, if you’re interested. I already have a pair though, so they’re all yours.
And finally, another pair, right by the door to the Dufferin (and Bloor) subway station. It was a crowded, intensely sunny morning, so I didn’t notice them in the shadows for a moment, then pleasantly surprised. Not my thing, but perfectly OK, which is why someone left them out for interested parties, I assume.
Here’s another pic, closer, in case you’re interested. A bit of heel, for those who seek it.
Four pairs in just over a week.
Eyes peeled for more on my ride out along the ravine this afternoon.
Toronto Shoes
My first guest donation to the Abandoned Shoes Project © from someone other than me.
Thanks to Stephanie from Pistachio for her donation of this snazzy pair of trainers from near her home in Dovercourt/Bloor area of Toronto.
Looks like the Tin Man or some robot exploded nearby with those bars and springs…
Anyone else noticing perfectly usable discarded footwear near them?
UPDATED:
Another pair, found a week later, on Dewson Street. I guess with summer coming they don’t need their boots?
A pair of pairs
Bonus time again in the abandoned shoes found in the street department.
Yesterday I found a pair of these mock crocs out in front of the Newtown Community Centre. For some reason, left atop a bin, near the market area. They looked in great shape, even if they’re crap shoes.
But much stranger were this other pair, left right outside my door. Not only am I noticing these shoe-leave-behinds, but I think they’re following me.
There they were, right at my front door, waiting for me. Sadly, not my size. Funky orange striping though, bet they’d make good cycling shoes.
Have you seen my Mary-Janes?
It keeps happening, and I have never seen it elsewhere other than in Sydney, or maybe this is the fist place I noticed it?
Another pair of abandoned shoes, discovered on my way home in the underpass at Central Station.
I’ve kept the colour balance untouched as the eerie green tinge of the fluorescent lights helps convey the strangeness of the situation. A plain pair of office shoes, possibly even bought from Office, slightly scuffed but still very usable, with a little care and attention, tidily tucked to the side of the passageway.
Is this a particularly Australian thing or are people often abandoning their perfectly usable footwear in the streets the world over?