One thing I love about Toronto, is that you can be walking down a regular street and suddenly run into very peculiar stuff. It could be street art, a hidden sticker, or even a person dressed as Spiderman in the middle of July for no apparent reason.
Being autistic makes me notice more (and be fascinated by) those peculiarities that don’t seem to fit the regular pattern of life. As long as they do not make me feel unsafe, I love them. That is why my phone is filled with seemingly random pictures.
The Crazy Dollhouse (#32 of 111 places in Toronto) is a perfect example of Toronto’s peculiarities. Walking by a quiet street in Leslieville and suddenly: boom! This house with hundreds of toys in the garden appears.
According to the 111 places book, a couple owned the house since 1984 when they immigrated to Toronto. Afterwards, when the husband passed away, the wife decided she would dress up the house in part as a shrine to him but also as a joyful gift to those around her, specially children.
It is so endearing when people are able to turn grieve into something meaningful. This house, with its quirky dolls and decorations is an act of love.
So many details to see, I could easily spend hours there taking pictures. However, at some point I felt like I was invading somebody else’s property (nobody made me feel this way, it was all in my head) so I left.
If you are ever in Leslieville and you enjoy quirky things, go visit the Crazy Dollhouse.
Address: 35 Bertmount Ave, Toronto, ON
