The South Bayview Bulldog

Those who love hockey but have not seen the top floor arena at the old Maple Leaf Gardens may want to take in the exhibition game Saturday night between the Leaside Jr. Wildcats and the Ryerson Rams. This part of the historic old building at Church and Carlton is now known as Mattamy Arena to recognize the generous donation of Peter Gilgan to fund its creation. The name is also on his construction company but it comes from the eldest two of his eight children Matt and Amy. Love that. The arena sits high above the ice where the Leafs once played (that’s now a Loblaws). Mattamy inhabits the rarefied space of the gondola from which Foster Hewitt and then his son Bill and countless other play-by-play people used to broadcast to the world. Wildcats and Rams at 7.30 Saturday.

Cities around the world marked New Year’s in the usual colourful way. This video from Youtube carries nice pictures but is light on geography. Hey, the GPS was off. Pretty sure we can see Sydney and Tokyo in here.

Stores were busy along South Bayview main streets Thursday evening as New Year’s Eve loomed. Last minute provisions for a home celebrations saw lineups at food, beer and liquor stores.  This video shows the back up on Laird Drive at Esandar Drive as shoppers tried to get into Leaside Village. Lot’s of fun. Listen to a driver honk in frustration.

NOTED ON BAYVIEW

It was noted that the store at 1592 which housed Tori and Cates Cupcakes and has been vacant for more than a year was without the for lease sign. But it appears that the location remains for lease The monthly rent is stated as $3,500.

A proposal to convert the land of the Add Ink firm at 36 Overlea Blvd to commercial and retail use will be discussed at a public meeting to held by the City on Wednesday, January 16, 2016. It will be in the William Lea Room at Leaside Arena at 7 p.m. The application proposes to amend the zoning by-law to permit three retail and commercial buildings totalling 6,495 square metres at 36 Overlea Boulevard. One 5,584 square metre building is proposed at the rear of the site, and buildings of 467 square metres and 456 square metres are proposed along the Overlea Boulevard frontage.

This poll by Forum Research would ask City Council to eliminate half of their number. Not too likely  There are 44 Councillors now and it is a lot but maybe not too many. Fewer members of Council would save money and maybe make things more efficient. But others say it would it easier for lobbyists to manipulate Council. As to term limits, might as well talk to the wall. Career politicians will not vote for such a thing. Remember the stunning reversal of the current City Council’s view of ranked voting. It was a promise they would enact it. But then they decided nope. CP24

Conditions will be just mild enough Wednesday to ensure continuing sloppy driving. The video below was shot by @CityAlfredo. It is correctly identified by locals like Rudy Limeback @rudydotca as the Bayview extension north towards Bayview and Moore  Ave..

Beware clogged catch basins today! @CityAlfredo @CityNews pic.twitter.com/Nll4vB6qJU

— Pam Seatle (@CityPamS) December 29, 2015

CTV tells the story of free online ads that apparently offer an opporunity to list an address for rent, get money for it and vanish. The prospective tenant finds out he’s been taken when he tries to move in. In the case of Jeni Descartes it didn’t play out to the end because her husband saw the phony ad on Kijiji and asked his wife what was going on  She was stunned by the ad too. The Descartes, of Winnipeg, are encouraging other homeowners to check Kijiji and other rental sites to ensure their homes are not listed for rent.