If you were an alien descending upon Toronto for the first time, one of the initial things you might notice is the abundance of condominium buildings sprouting up across the city.

Capturing that essence is what went into Freeman Real Estate’s recent effort to create a new information-rich condo website focusing on midtown condos.

At www.freemancondos.com you’ll find a wealth of information, from condo listings and beautiful pictures to details about Toronto’s many neighbourhoods and financial info about mortgages, insurance and taxes. The website is loaded with information and detail.  Take the neighbourhood of Rosedale, for example. When you click on Rosedale you get a map that shows where each of the condo-for-sale residences is located. Click on a condo building and you will see when it was built, how many units and storeys, the developer’s name and so on. When you go to an actual listing, you’re in store for a lot more info, including how many days it’s been on the market, taxes and maintenance fees, square footage and plenty of pretty pictures.

As you search our website, you’ll notice a cornucopia of condo buildings in all sizes, shapes and styles. From the modern industrial look of the Annex Loft Houses to the historic elegance of the Rosedale Ravine Residences to a wide range of condo towers and developments in all corners of the city, there really is a condo dwelling for every taste and budget.

As a family-owned, independent brokerage that has been buying and selling real estate since 1972, Freeman understands why condos have become such as large part of the city’s real estate market. They are the perfect home for both young and old. Condo living provides retirees who may want to winter somewhere warm with a sense of security and peace of mind. Think about it. If you’re spending five months each winter away from your principal residence wouldn’t you feel better knowing the maintenance, repairs and security concerns of your home are well looked after? For younger folks with demanding careers and busy social lives, a condo means easier living with more leisure time thanks to the fact that snow shovelling and lawn and garden maintenance are taken care of.

As a real estate beginner, condos provide you with the right price point to affordably enter Toronto’s housing market and that is a huge benefit for young singles and families, newcomers to Canada and those who decide at any age that it’s time to own a piece of the rock.

As an added bonus, many condo developments offer a wide variety of amenities. Swimming pools, hot tubs, saunas and even golf simulators provide opportunity for a quick and easy workout for residents who need relief from the stress of a busy life. The amenities also present plenty of opportunities to socialize with other residents.

Thinking about condo living? Start here: www.freemancondos.com.

As part of its ongoing series of neighbourhood walks, Freeman Real Estate Ltd. is hosting a historic tour of Wychwood Park on Sunday, September 20th at 1 p.m (rain date September 27^th 1 pm).

Formerly known as the gated community of Bracondale Hill, Wychwood Park is a small enclave that was set up around the turn of the last century as an artists’ colony thanks to Marmaduke Matthews, an artist and aficionado of the Arts and Crafts movement. Matthews would gain prominence as an artist after painting traditional Canadian scenes that appeared in the illustrated ad work of Canadian Pacific Railway.

Matthews’ friend Alexander Jardin owned a huge block of land in the Wychwood area, which is north of Davenport Road and just west of Bathurst. Jardin sold a good chunk of that land to artists. The land was still very rural back then, when Matthews planned his pastoral community and named it after Wychwood in his native Oxfordshire.

“The area is a little enclave that is almost not part of the city,” says Marilyn Spearin, a local history buff and former school teacher who is leading the tour.

She is referring to the fact that although Wychwood was amalgamated into the city of Toronto in 1909, it remains a private community. The streets and amenities are paid for by the local residents, and the community is managed by an executive council. As one of Toronto’s more exclusive neighbourhoods, house prices easily top a million dollars.

During its start, the land was divided into irregularly shaped lots situated around a central park, pond and tennis courts designed by Toronto architect Arthur Edwin Whatmough.  Many of the homes in Wychwood were designed by Whatmough in the Arts and Crafts style.

Several well-known people have lived there, including Marshall McLuhan and Anatol Rapoport. In 1985 the area became the first residential zone in Ontario to be granted heritage status. A handful of other homes were designed by Eden Smith, a well-known architect who lived in the neighbourhood.

Wychwood is a leafy area home to ravines, old-growth trees and Taddle Creek, a six-kilometre stream that has been largely buried throughout most of the city except in a few spots including Wychwood where it is visible above ground.

The tour On September 20th will also encompass a visit to the nearby Tollkeeper’s Cottage, an historic tollgate structure discovered in the early ‘90s that now houses a museum and a gift shop. Located at Davenport and Bathurst, the cottage is also now home to a blue canoe thanks to the David Suzuki Foundation. As part of the foundation’s homegrown national parks project, the canoe is designed and planted with plants that encourage bees and butterflies. For more info visit www.tollkeeperscottage.ca.

The tour is expected to take one-and-a-half to two hours in total. Participants are asked to meet outside of the Tollkeeper’s Cottage just before 1 p.m.

There are plenty of ways to celebrate the last true month of summer and not all of them involve a cottage in the Muskokas. If you’re tied to the city thanks to work, family obligations, finances or some other bond, know that there is a wide variety of fun and entertainment on tap this month thanks to the city’s line-up of outdoor festivals.

Let’s take a look:

Habari Africa Festival (Aug 14-16, 2015)

Harbourfront Centre presents this mix of arts and culture in partnership with the Batuki Music Society. Celebrate the diversity of African culture with the finest talent from across the continent. Music, film, dance, visual arts are on tap or you can create crafts and join workshops.

York-Eglinton International Street Festival (Aug 15-16, 2015)

This family-friendly festival kicks off Friday August 14 with a sidewalk sale followed by two full days of food, music and merriment that celebrates a range of international cultures including Caribbean, Italian, Portuguese and Latin.

 Rastafest (Aug 14-22, 2015)

A multi-discipline festival showcasing different aspects of the Rastafarian culture, history and lifestyle, including international reggae artists who will perform at a major concert in Downsview Park. Activities include music, dance, drumming, market place and food demonstrations.

 Wheels on the Danforth (Aug 15, 2015)

A car show like no other, this “on-the-street” event is a judged car show featuring classics, exotics, tuners, muscle cars, hot rods, and motorcycles all lined up on the closed section of Danforth Ave. Highlights of the day include a market place, food trucks, a Kid’s Zone play area, beer gardens and street dance.

Festival of South Asia  (Aug 15-16, 2015)

On Gerrard Street East experience a taste of South Asia thanks to the food, dance, fashions and real-deal cultural events that showcase the Indian, Afghani, Pakistani, Bengali and Sri Lankan cultures.

Open Streets TO  (Aug 16 & Sept 6, 2015)

This event opens streets to people and prevent cars from driving on roads for a few hours during this festival that takes place over two days. The result is paved parks for pedestrians. The route for this year’s event will be Bloor Street between Christie and Parliament and on Yonge Street from Bloor to Queen. Crossing points will be included at numerous major intersections, where cars will be permitted to pass through as normal.

The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE)  (Aug 21-Sept 7, 2015)

This grand dame of summer festivals is a classic. Once you’ve paid the entrance fee, all entertainment is free. But in order to go on the amusement rides, you must either purchase single ride tickets or a pass. Don’t forget to check The Ex’s line-up of performers, shows and special events.

BIG On Bloor Festival (Aug 22-23, 2015)

BIG ON BLOOR celebrates arts, culture, community and small business with this event featuring numerous activities and exhibitions such as a huge market place of vendors, a mix of music and dance, artist-friendly events and games for big and small.

Toronto Chinatown Festival (Aug 22-23, 2015)

Held on Dundas Street West (between Spadina and Beverley) as well as on Huron Street (between D’Arcy Street and Dundas), this festival showcases a mixture of Chinese cultural events including Lion Dance, Kung Fu Performances, Chinese street food, traditional Chinese arts and crafts.

Wild Blueberry Festival (Aug 23, 2015)

All things blueberry might be a nickname for this festival, hosted by Evergreen Brick Works, in which the blueberry is eaten, exalted and examined up close and personal. From workshops to storytelling to pie baking and guest blueberry vendors, there truly is something for everyone at this family event.

Coconut Festival Canada (Aug 23, 2015)

At David Pecaut Square, the event is for foodies and the culinary adventurous as hundreds of products from coco jams to full meals will be presented by a diverse lineup of vendors. Also look for artisan jewelry, clothing and housewares in addition to music and kiddy games.

Scotiabank Buskerfest (Aug 27-30, 2015)

The festival is a showcase for over 100 of the most remarkable street performers on earth. Look for the unusual at this four-day street show in which buskers perform antics that will inspire, wow and tickle your funny bone. Scotiabank Buskerfest is produced by Epilepsy Toronto as a fundraiser in support of people with epilepsy and their families. Proceeds collected at the festival will go towards Epilepsy Toronto.

Cool off in One of the City’s Public Pools:

Living in the city doesn’t have to be an exercise in heat exhaustion come the summer months.  You can always make your way to your neighbourhood public pool to cool off. Here’s a look at some great community pools:

Alex Duff Memorial Pool

Located at the edge of Christie Pits Park, the pool features a 25-metre lap pool, shallow splash pool for children, warm conversation pool, a deep pool for diving with a one metre spring board and a two storey water slide. The pool has an access ramp for those who require easy access.

High Park

Located near the baseball diamonds, the outdoor swimming pool is open all week until Labour Day. Swim laps from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday and Thursday and 7 to 8 p.m. the rest of the week. A leisure swim is set for noon to 3:45 p.m. and 5 to 6:45 p.m. During super hot weather the pool may be open later but call first before making the trip. A wading pool is available for children under 12 from Saturday to Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Trinity Community Recreation Centre

Nestled in Trinity Bellwoods Park, located West of Bathurst Street and just North of Queen Street, Trinity Community Recreation Centre offers a 25-yard, three-lane indoor pool and different swimming programs for all age groups.

Jimmie Simpson Recreation Centre

Located in the Riverside/Leslieville area, this centre has two pools, a large 25-metre pool and a smaller toddler pool. A wide range of programs are available, including leisure swimming, seniors only leisure swimming, lane swims, aqua fit programs and swim lessons.

North Toronto Memorial Community Centre

Located on Eglinton Avenue between Yonge and Avenue Road, the centre has indoor and outdoor pools, offering a large assortment of classes, including adult swim, bronze cross, and preschool swims.

Joseph J. Piccininni Community Centre

Located on St. Clair Ave. West, this pool features one of the city’s largest swimming facilities. Swimming lessons, adult lane swims, aqua fit classes, leisure swims, leadership courses, sports and female only swims are available as well as programs for preschoolers to seniors.

Mary McCormick Recreation Centre

Located at Dufferin and Dundas, the Mary McCormick indoor pool is part of a fitness centre that includes a 25-metre pool offering leisure and instructional swims. The fitness facility also includes cardio, free weights, and Nautilus equipment.

Leaside Gardens Swimming Pool – Indoor Pool

Located in the neighborhood of Leaside, this pool has a wheel chair accessible lift and elevator to the pool area and a multi-access change room. Leaside offers instructional swim lessons for all ages as well as recreation swim times.