Month: May 2015

The much ballyhooed film Suicide Squad is being blamed for stalling traffic downtown. And it is. But the closure of commercial streets anywhere in the City for an over-the-to-top fantasy like a helicopter into a transit bus (above) usually does another thing — it devastates business for retailers and others who rely on walk-in traffic. For small retailers, it can wipe out a week’s receipts.  This shooting is on Yonge Street between Queen to College  Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday  So movie shoots no doubt leave some money behind with freelancer film specialists and some hotels. But it takes a great deal of money out of the pockets of retailers

The 19th century residence at 119 Isabella Street has been demolished to make way for an addition to the Casey House Hospice. The building was primarily a residence for the staff of a wealthy family who lived on the other side of the street. An effort had been mounted to save it by moving it to a property at 92 Roxborough St. W. at the corner of Molson Street. But the property was not divided and attempts to do that met fierce local resistance..Many said the plan to save a historic building was really only intended to obtain severance.

Former East York Mayor and MP Alan Redway has started a petition at Change.org asking the Ontario government to review the state of Toronto’s government. Mr Redway is campaigning for such a review, noting that this type of examination was a standard practice every ten years in Ontario. The history of these reviews is included in the petition. which is here. In speeches, Redway has observed that former Premier Dalton McGuinty called such a review like trying to put toothpaste back in the tube. The former mayor disagrees. He advocates a reversal of certain aspects of amalgamation.

The annual mid-week snacking event known as Restaurantacular will take place on Wednesday, June 24, 2015 this year. This is the one where eating places make up a short menu of items priced $2, $4 and $6. It’s always a hit. It is sponsored by the Mt. Pleasant Village BIA.

Don Cherry is out in front for what appears to be a new campaign called Wear Plaid for Dad. We see well-known local resident Rocco Rossi with his son beside a Patrick Rocca bus shelter promoting the campaign. It encourages people to give for research and reminds men to have frequent checks.

The Grand Opening of the Go Green Cricket and Sports Field will be held Thursday, June 4, 2015 at the field just beside Valley Park Middle School at 130 Overlea Blvd. A news release has many details of  this important community project. The young people and elders too of the adjoining Thorncliffe Park and Flemingdon Park neighborhoods love cricket. They spend hours planning, practicing, playing and recalling the games. This opening will feature what should be a  classic match up of the Go Green Youth team and the Toronto Police Cricket club. It looks like a well thought out day of fun with a first inning match set for 2.30 p.m. and a second one in the evening. In between there will  be a barbecue and a chance to catch some Toronto Raptors instruction in basketball. Then there are speeches and the second inning. There is also a youth talent show concurrent with the second innings  News release Outreach and Revitalization 

A CBC story says there is a chance you will be fined if you install artificial turf where you previously had grass. Former Councillor Karen Stintz has done her front lawn. “I call it year-round grass,” she told the CBC, showing off her a front yard carpet of green. “It doesn’t need to be watered. It doesn’t need to be maintained. There’s no mowing. There’s no care and feeding.” As for the threat of being fined, a “vague” bylaw is to blame, said Stintz, who ran as a mayoral candidate last year before dropping out of the race last August. “I can’t explain why it is that inspectors feel it’s a good use of their time to go and ticket people for having an artificial lawn. But they are.”

There was much to see and do this Saturday, May 23, 2015 and a lot of it was nearby. Bessborough Public School held its Mayfair today with a large turnout. Councilor Jon Burnside was present with his handy cotton candy making machinery. The lady inset top at right was on the lawn and yard sale tour. This was a busy event on Soudan Ave. where she spied this child’s shirt. The Northlea United Church “Items of Interest” Yard Sale was crowded at 125 Brentcliffe.Rd. The lovely treed lawn of the church was full of people shortly after 9 a.m.  The lady inset second has bagged up some lemon-lime sugar cookies that were edible items of interest to The Bulldog. Thank you very much. The bake table at all such fairs is a first stop but the  Northlea ladies (and possibly men) certainly produced a nice offering. The greatly anticipated first day of Ron White Shoes at 1553 Bayview drew many shoppers. That’s a promotional picture in the store of Ron with Dennis Quaid.  Another business up the street and yet to open is the children’s store Never Grow Up. But the sign went up in recent hours so it won’t be long. That’s at 1725 Bayview. Up at the Metro grocery complex the new Beer Store is nearing completion. There’s abundant caution built in with those fearsome yellow metal and iron posts out front (inset  bottom). Presumably beer drinkers sober and otherwise will be required to walk into the store, not drive. No no. The next-door store that was built for Tim Horton’s remains for lease. As reported in the South Bayview Bulldog, Timmy’s has decided to open a shop on the south-west corner of Bayview and Eglinton Ave. East where work is now underway to accommodate the Canadian coffee phenomenon. One last note, Paws and Claws at 1721 Bayview was doing an outside promotion for My Healthy Pet treats which are said to be suitable for  humans as well. Lot’s of fun.