Retailers are trickling into the Canary District, that civic experiment at the bottom of Bayview Ave. Some might call it south, south, south Bayview. And as they reflect on it, maybe South Bayview storekeepers will quietly say “better them than me”. Toronto Star
J.K. Rowling says “never say never” to Harry Potter 8
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Celebrated author J K Rowling says there is always a possibility of another “Harry Potter” book.The popular fantasy novel series ended with the seventh instalment, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”.Rowling spoke about the future of the series in a conversation with the “Today” show’s Matt Lauer.”I’m afraid I haven’t been writing the next Harry Potter. Well, you know, I keep saying that I feel I’ve wrapped Harry’s story up and you gotta know when to… Look, I’ve always, I have always said, ‘Never say never’?well not, ‘Never say never.’ I’ve always said, I’m not gonna say ‘I definitely won’t’ because I don’t see why I should say that,” Rowling told Lauer. “But I think Harry Potter 8, as in, what happened next to Harry, Ron and Hermoine…I don’t think that’s going to happen,” Rowling continued. “See, now, I heard that answer and I thought there’s hope,” Lauer told her. “‘So you’re not saying ‘no’!” Rowling said, laughing.
Gale force winds blow down hydro poles, strand surfer
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It could have happened anywhere but this is Victoria Park Ave at Sheppard Ave during the rush hour Friday night. Gale force winds whipped the area overturning trucks north of Toronto and stranding a wind surfer on the lake. He was rescued by the Harbour Police unhurt. The poles are write-offs however and it may take a while for them to be replaced. About 1,000 customers are said to be without power and Victoria Park is closed for a short distance.
Great Wall: Canadian tourist in strange fatal accident
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Two women, one from Canada, have collided on steps on the Great Wall of China with the older woman, 73, suffering fatal injuries from her fall to the walkway. The Canadian, 38, was apparently running to catch up with members of her party. The victim’s husband told local media that the Canadian was chasing someone down the stairs when she collided with his wife. Reports say the woman was immediately knocked unconscious after striking her head on a corner of the wall and stopped breathing soon afterwards.
Open house at 128 Banff Road April 11-12 weekend
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There are open houses this weekend in South Bayview. A beautifully cared-for detached home at 128 Banff Rd. is listed for $829,000 It is open both Saturday and Sunday from 2.30 to 4.30 p.m. It has a number of amenities including a modern eat-In kitchen with large bay window, main floor family room with stunning floor to ceiling natural stone gas fireplace, walkout to patio and manicured secluded garden. There is parking or two cars. And at 147 Brentcliffe Rd. there is a detached bungalow for sale listed at $1,189,000. The open house is Sunday from 2 until 4 p.m.
Lawrence Park Church says no to Valentina concert
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The pastor of Lawrence Park Community Church has cancelled the concert that was never really scheduled. John Suk says he has no idea how anyone thought they had permission to have a concert at the Bayview Ave church. But word was sent out somehow that contentious Ukrainian-born pianist Valentina Lisitsa would be performing a free concert there. “Normally, before you advertise an event, you ask the people if you can have it there,” Suk said Friday. “No one did any of that. We’re totally blindsided by this. We gave no permission and next thing you know, the phone’s ringing off the hook.” The church is at 2180 Bayview at Dawlish Ave.
Buffet rule at work at Cara goes sky-high in TSX IPO
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A stunning IPO for Cara Operations Ltd. on the TSX as its well-established and winning businesses Swiss Chalet and Harvey’s rode a huge wave of interest to raise more than $200 million dollars. It is the best Canadian IPO since 2007. Clearly the Warren Buffet rule was at work. Easy to understand and well-established with a proven record of profitability. Yeah. The restaurant company opened at C$31.26 in its first day of trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange, up from its initial public offering price of C$23 a share. It finished up $10 on the IPO opening price.
Oh dear, the new ferry terminal has a green roof it seems
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The winning design for Jack Layton ferry terminal has been revealed. It is the work of KPMB Architects (Toronto), West 8 (Rotterdam), and Greenberg Consultants (Toronto). The design won 1,200 responses to an online consultation although the final decision belonged to the selection committee. The new terminal is part of a plan that also includes a wave deck, an indoor/outdoor market, and a publicly accessible green roof. The ferry terminal will be a subject of passing interest to most people but is revealed the life and breath of some in the sharp comments set down under the news at BlogTO. There is much dislike of the green (grass) roof. They don’t last apparently. One reader is ecstatic: “Called it!” he exults. “I knew this would be the one! Now, to see if the execution ends up nearly as nice as the renderings” For sure, friend. Another declares: “We have lefties who want a spacewing roof and green roofs everywhere. Have you seen Leslie Barns? LOL” No, sorry. Here’s another: “The design is appropriate to the area and the nearby parkland, and the undulating roof keeps with the theme already established by the numerous wavedecks at points west of Harbourfront Centre. Of course the pillars will be much thicker, the green room either fenced off or inaccessible and crowds and ferry lapdog (sic) times aren’t going to get much better than they are today.” A cynical note from Nathan Phillips: “I can’t wait to see how the bureaucrats at the City start adding their little pieces of dross to the project. Jack Layton Terminal won’t look like this when it is finished.” Someone wants to know “Why does Ford Nation read BlogTo?” Tough question. But much anxiety attends that green roof: “You don’t need Home Depot style roofs. And you don’t need green roofs either. As per former US Energy Secretary Steven Chu white roofs offer similar cooling effects, and with no added weight to the roof, and without the idiocy of placing moisture on a roof.” Hey, nuff said.
Vanishing water a threat to California fresh produce
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This report by CBC’s Joanna Wagstaffe surveys the measures that may be necessary to ensure there is water for all residents. It will be mean less water for everyone but it could bring an end to lucrative agriculture in places like the Imperial Valley. It is from such places that we see the wonderful plums and other fruit. The economic impact on California would be staggering. It is crisis that has been a while in the making. Cities like Los Angeles are naturally arid places made possible by water from the Colorado River stored in the artificial Lake Meade. That’s disappearing too. A time may be come when the state simply can’t support as many people as it does now.
Hey, roll up the rim for fast chocky hazelnut butter
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Variations of the Nutella items at Timmy’s starting April 15
From April 15 to June 9, 2015, Tim Horton’s will be offering a variety of Nutella specialties. There will be chocolate hazelnut Nutella-filled doughnuts, “pastry pockets” and even Nutella spread for bagels. Very appealing. We’re still giving Starbucks the edge on Espresso but The Bulldog is an equal-opportunity Nutella eater.
Good evening, here is the news for Kelowna from Toronto
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Shaw Media will consolidate much of its news production in Canada which among other things will see the local news for Kelowna B.C. done in Toronto. It could cause the loss of 30 jobs.. The owners of Global Television and 19 specialty networks, including HGTV Canada, Food Network Canada, History and Showcase, said local weekend and late-night newscasts for markets east of Alberta, as well as Kelowna, B.C., will now be produced in Toronto with a single-anchor team. Local news gathering will continue, and morning and early evening shows will still be anchored in the markets in which they’re delivered.
Man trying to board flight he was denied is tasered
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A man who was denied permission to board a Turkish Airways flight and who then tried to do so anyway has been tasered. In the moments before that happened he was apparently mostly incoherent as authorities tried to question him at Pearson Airport. It appears he may have mental issues. Audio from the cell phone video posted on YouTube is not very clear but police say they had various questions to which he essentially did not respond. Cops wanted to know what was in his briefcase, for example.