Opening day for Jan Nguyen’s “Play Cafe”

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Jan Nguyen and Ren 
Jan Nguyen’s new drop-in and play centre at 1517 Bayview Ave. had its grand opening today (Saturday, March 1, 2014). It is fairly unique concept which drew a large crowd of friends, acquaintances and fresh customers. Play Cafe is an opportunity for children to play and perform simple crafts while their parents have a snack, a cup of coffee and perhaps socialize a little. On this day there was entertainment in the morning and by 1 p.m. many kids were in a supervised group painting cups. Play is an idea which Ms. Nguyen worked on with her husband Crown Attorney Henry Poon from their Davisville Village home. She and her husband are parents and long-time South Bayview residents, Jan Nguyen noted as she hefted her daughter Ren into her arms. Ms Nguyen also has an extensive communications background. She worked for a decade for the Ontario Ministry of the Environment in communications. “I was in the fire department,” she conceded on suggestion. “We put out the fires.” The extended concept of Play Cafe includes drop-in play spaces, creative workshops, coffee and healthy snacks as well as availabilities for private parties.  Learn more at www.playcreativecafe.com.

Tango the Newfoundland on Bayview Ave.

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Tango took a walk on Bayview Ave. this Saturday, along with his friends, the Pretak family of Belsize Drive. The dark brown Newfoundland pup is bigger and bulkier than any dog you can think of, even grown up. Like many large dogs, Tango the Newfoundland has a calm nature. The breed is known for this and for its strength and intelligence. These are qualities which the fishermen of the Dominion of Newfoundland found helpful. The dogs are said to excel at water rescue and lifesaving because of their muscular build, thick double coat, webbed feet, and innate swimming abilities. They come by their name honestly having been bred in the former Crown Colony well before Confederation with Canada.  Nice to see you Tango.   w/Wikipedia

Bayview “terrazzo” turns to gravel in one winter

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An unfortunate sign of Spring is being seen through the ice along Bayview Ave. It is the badly deteriorated “terrazzo” finish installed by the City last July. The stone and concrete finish is a surround for the trees on the east side of the street. One winter has turned the pavement into loose gravel. Can we start over and do it better?  When the terrazzo was being installed we noted the rough nature of the finish and hoped that it might be ground down to a decorative finish. Solid concrete might be better than what we are seeing these days. 

Target Corp. stubs its toe badly in Canada

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Analysts have pointed to the simple inability to keep the shelves filled in the disappointing launch of Target Corp.in Canada. Local shoppers were able to see it almost immediately at the store in the East York Town Centre. Results released in the U.S. show a loss so far of a billion dollars. Target will no doubt be hoping for the opening of the Costco store, if approved, on Overlea Blvd. as a way of creating new retail critical mass in the neighborhood. Marina Strauss

TDSB trustee accused of ‘bullying’ fellow staff

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How high are tempers running at meetings of our school trustees? Several sources are saying that Trustee Howard Goodman badgered TDSB Education Director Donna Quan during a planning meeting on Wednesday. Mr. Goodman is said to have “intimidated” Ms. Quan over the non-payment of board membership fees. One trustee called Mr. Goodman’s behaviour an unseemly display of anger. Mr. Goodman represents Ward 8, Eglinton-Lawrence. Ward 8 lies west of Yonge Street and follows a very irregular border on the south on either side of Eglinton Ave. W. Twitter  CTV

Man kills two in Edmonton stabbing rampage

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Edmonton police have captured a former employee of the Loblaws grocery distribution centre in northwest of the city after a man went on a stabbing rampage today. Two pepole are said to have died and as many as four have been injured. News reports said that a man wearing camouflage clothing entered the building with two knives and began to attack people. The accused has been identified as Jayme Pasieka.  Police say he is an employee at the distribution centre that employs at least 100 people and handles food for the Superstore grocery chain.

Bamboo Bay extends drop in times for PA Day

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Carrie Tse has extended the drop in hours for “craft time:” at her creative school Bamboo Bay at 1515A Bayview Ave (at Millwood Rd.) for the March 7, 2014 PA Day. That’s  just next Friday. The special hours are pretty much all day (11:00 am – 4:00 pm). They provide an opportunity for parents and kids have some creative fun There are different crafts to choose from such as animal masks, beaded key chains, wooden animal puzzles, wooden wind chimes and rainbow beaded bracelets just to name a few.  Carrie asks that you be prepared to stay about 30 minutes per craft. All accompanying caregivers are offered complimentary coffee, tea and Wi-Fi. You may also wish to check out the Bamboo Bay retail store. If your child  does a craft you will receive 10% off your entire purchase during your stay. Bamboo Bay is located at the corner of Bayview and Millwood in the heart of Leaside. Give them a call  (416) 901-1255 or visit www.bamboobay.ca  More 

Do you know this downtown bank robbery guy?

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Police say he robbed a branch at Spadina Ave and Adelaide West on Wednesday, January 15, 2014, at 3 p.m.  Shouldn’t be too hard to identify him.

Welcome words on the congestion phobia

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Denzil Minnan-Wong (Ward 34) brought a welcome perspective to the epidemic of congestion phobia at City Hall as he spoke at a round table of municipal officials on this subject. Mr. Minnan-Wong said the last thing Toronto needs is no congestion. He said any successful city has congestion. Those with none — like Detroit and Cleveland — are business ghost towns.  These remarks temper the frantic atmosphere in which this subject is usually discussed by Councillors. Here in South Bayview, it is true that the business district in frequently “congested”  although during this unforgiving winter we might wish to see more congestion. It means the place is a source of activity, that people are working and consumers are probably going to spend money.  Congestion is a real issue, but it is one of a number which is seized upon by politicians who wish to be seen doing something, if not actually saving the world. Congestion on St. Clair Ave. West was cited as a reason for the concrete barrier known as a streetcar right-of-way. A monstrous calamity for the community in the name of ridding it of congestion. 

South Bayview Ave. storefront soundings

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On this frigid day the brown paper has come down off the windows at the Play Cafe at 1517 Bayview Ave. at Millwood Rd. This is the newly-opened drop-in play centre with creative workshops plus coffee and healthy snacks for parents.  The space is available for private parties too.  The official opening is Saturday, March 1, 2014. Up the street at 1541 Bayview, State of the Art Gallery has a For Lease sign in the window. And even further north at 1657 Bayview, Essence du Papier will close at the end of March according to the owner. The shop has been in operation for less than a year at the location which was occupied by the Country Store for many years. The name Essence du Papier is owned by the Pierre Belvedere company of Montreal. Essence du Papier was said when it opened to have three other stores, two in Montreal and one downtown in Toronto. No word on them.

Gas leak capped on Merton St. about 4.25 p.m.

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An apartment building was evacuated and a number of streets closed off after a large gas leak occurred on Merton Street at Pailton Crescent Thursday morning. It has been a complicated job to cap this leak but at about 4.25 p.m. Enbridge tweeted word that the leak has been stopped.

There may well be work continuing there which will slow traffic but this should permit the roads to open. 

Aga Khan jokes about playing for Team Canada

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Aga Khan signs guest book 
The Aga Khan has told a combined session of Parliament that he wants Canada to join him in making the world a more tolerant, peaceful place. “Canada is a leader in the community of nations,” the 77-year-old leader of the world 15 million Shia Ismaili Muslims told assembled members. The Aga Khan is widely appreciated in the West for his moderation and interest in pluralism. Here in Toronto, the large Muslim  community has participated in the completion of the 18-acre Cultural Centre and Museum located on Wynford Drive.  Important South Bayview leaders like Mohamed Dhanani, Executive Officer at Aga Khan’s Council for Canada in Toronto will be celebrating the current visit. Mr. Dhanani is from Leaside and was twice a popular candidate for City Council in Ward 26. The Aga Khan is an honorary citizen of Canada and he began his message to Parliament today by congratulating the country on its outstanding Olympic hockey teams. He went on to reflect that as he had once played hockey he regretted that he was not eligible for Team Canada. He said he was sure that he and another prominent honorary citizen, the Dali Lama, would have made excellent defensemen. The Harvard-educated religious leader spoke elegantly in both official languages. He said his foundation would help Canada celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2017. His speech follows a private meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper following a morning arrival on Parliament Hill. Harper introduced him as a tireless humanitarian, lauding him for development partnerships in Africa, Asia and in Afghanistan.”