Wisey’s Pies and Bakehouse open at 874 Eglinton Saturday

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The Wisey’s Team, left to right: Thomas Hidderley, Karen Kriese-Wise, Gary Wise, Lea Smye, Lee Wymer 

Gary and Karen Wise will open Wisey’s Pies and Bakehouse tomorrow (Saturday, June 28, 2014). This unique and promising business will specialize in New Zealand-style meat pies and other baked goods from the now fully fitted-out premises at 874 Eglinton Ave. E.  That’s right beside the Starbucks on the north side of the street one door west of Laird Drive. Since last we wrote about Wisey’s Pies, Gary and Karen have acquired like-minded business partners in Lee and Darcy, an Alberta couple of similar New Zealand-Canadian backgrounds. They will open a Wisey’s in Calgary.

Dusty old bylaw

An issue that bedevils many Leaside entrepreneurs has happily been defeated by Gary and Karen. That’s the dusty old requirement dating from the Town of Leaside (prior to 1967) that businesses like Wisey’s have as many as six parking spots. This continuing obstacle was overcome through the offices of former mayor John Swell (1978-1980) and Councillor John Parker (Ward 26). There is no legislation that deserves to be ignored more than this antiquated bylaw. So if you’re reading this Saturday morning, hike over to Wisey’s and pick out a meat pie for lunch. That’s what the Bulldog is going to do. May 12, 2014, May 7, 2014 

Malicious drivers? We’ve seen plenty in Toronto

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Call them malicious drivers. Sure, they’re dangerous and reckless. But they have another special quality. They want to cause to trouble. It isn’t just thoughtless fun, it’s about causing fear and anger on purpose. They are present here and all over the world. It is one of the reasons many motorists have installed dash cams in their cars. This inexpensive record sees and most importantly remembers things that mortal drivers can’t. Below is the evidence against a British driver dubbed the country’s worst. Watch him cut off cars, slam on the brakes and give fellow drivers the finger. Nice. 

Wynne wobbling on “in place” Scarborough tube?

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There is little concern west of Scarborough over this although the Minister of Scarborough Mitzi Hunter might have a word to say about it. The Toronto Sun says Premier Kathleen Wynne seemed to wobble today (Friday, May 27, 2014)  on the commitment to build a subway in Scarborough. Maybe she likes John Tory’s surface subway concept better. Whatever, the Prem said she would work with whoever is elected mayor in November to decide the matter. She said her government will need to “work in co-operation” with all municipalities. “It is the plan that’s in place, but as with all of these things, we need to work in co-operation with all the municipalities,” she is quoted in the Sun. 

Otta Zapotocky opens wine bar on Bayview Ave.

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Otta Zapotocky
Otta Zapotocky, well known wine expert and host at L’Avenue on Bayview Ave., is about to open a Spanish-themed wine bar and restaurant across the street from L’Avenue. It is already under construction at 1581 Bayview, the former home of The Mad Italian. Zapotocky has been busy molding the premises into a space with the feel of a warm and comfy cellar club. Brick walls and hardwood trim decorate the interior. No doubt Otta will provide the same genial presence and sommelier skills at his Spanish bar. Hours of business of the new bar will be somewhat different from L’Avenue. Guests are expected to linger into the evening a little longer at Tinto Bar Tapas although it will also be open for brunch. It is a welcome addition to Bayview Ave. and will bring additional life to the east side of the street. On a side note, the former  premises of Chai on Bayview has been renovated and given a new, modern front. The space is for rent but it appears attractive and should go fairly soon, assuming the tariff is right.

Pride weddings take place in perfect weather

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The celebration of marriage among LGBTQ couples is scattered in different parts of the City during Pride Week. These newlyweds are part of a group of 14 couples who were married at the Toronto Botanical Gardens on Lawrence Ave. E. It seems like a lovely setting. The largest mass wedding is taking place at the Liberty Casa Loma where it is said that some 120 couples have been already, or will be married. It is believed to be the largest LGBTQ wedding in history. Nick Di Donato, president of Liberty Entertainment Group, which recently began operating the historic property, said he was expecting as many as 800 people to attend the WorldPride event. 

Retirement apartments proposed for 146 and 150 Laird Dr

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Will Ashcroft in Leaside Life mentions an application to build retirement apartments on Laird Drive South of McRae Drive. The application to rezone mentions 146 and 150 Laird Drive. Both buildings are old and 150 is a heritage site. It was the office building of Durant Motors Canada and later (in 1960) occupied by the Metro Toronto Separate School Board. It looks from the 12 crosses along the front of the building that it was substantially altered for the separate school use. In any case, the application calls for 284 apartments on the combined site between Markham Ave and McRae. Dr.

Former CIBC buiding

The story makes no mention of the former CIBC building at 180 Laird which sits in a most unfortunate place for traffic flow. It is now owned by First Capital Reit and is vacant. First Capital owns Leaside Village shopping centre. There are said to be efforts to turn the old bank into a restaurant  It’s easy to imagine however how planners might like to somehow lever the development plans into a way of rationalizing traffic across and onto Laird at McRae and Wicksteed Ave. Ashcroft says the application was filed by Bousfields Inc., a Toronto-based land-use planning firm, on behalf of Viva Retirement Communities, a Canadian-owned and operated company.

Elizabeth Dowdeswell replaces David Onley as LG

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Ottawa Citizen 

Latest: Aboriginal title, Suarez banned for biting

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Supreme Court grants land title to First Nation, but it’s not absolute and FIFA bans Luis Suarez for nine games for biting. Finally, some 100 LBGT couples will wed at Casa Loma today.  

Fed up with real people? Androids are available

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Three new androids have been put on display in an exhibition at the Tokyo Science Museum including one designed for hugging. 

Waterfront TO spent $11,565 EACH for umbrellas

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Now the bureaucracy which was a gift to the people wants to start piling up debt to make your waterfront wonderful. Globe and Mail (Photo by evaingesl, Flickr)

DVP, Bayview ext are re-opened after flooding

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Those perpetual catch basins the Don Valley Parkway at  Dundas St. and the Bayview extension at Bloor Street are open Thursday morning after last night’s flooding. The Toronto Star (and the police) say it’s okay to plan a route down there. Also today, there is World Cup news with  the United States facing off against Germany at noon while Portugal goes up against Ghana. Two other games — Algeria vs. Russia and South Korea vs. Belgium — will go at 4 p.m. 

Flooding, cars stranded, power out in East York

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All across Toronto, and especially it seems right here in South Bayview, the rivers and streams are unable to handle the rain we have had over the past few days. This picture from Twitter shows a vehicle — one of three — and a man rescued from the flooded parking lot of Sunnybrook near Leslie Street and Eglinton Ave. E.  The Don Valley Parkway is closed between the Gardiner and at Don Mills Road. Bayview Ave. is flooded and closed at Bloor St tonight.  And Toronto Hydro has reported that some 3,000 customers are without power near Woodbine Ave. and O’ Connor Road  Conditions seem similar and as unpredictable as July of 2013, when a GO train was half submerged and stranded on tracks beside the river. Tonight, thankfully, there are no trains in the waters of the Don.  But the weather ambushed all sorts of people. Ten kayakers had to be rescued from the Humber River. Police are saying that the Don is an estimated ten feet higher than normal. And there is localized flooding all across Toronto. People who are out tonight may be a while getting home as traffic moves towards the centre of the city where the roads are still open.