Toronto Bixi bikes ready to pedal in the snow

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“Who the heck would ride a Bixi bike in weather like this, anyway?” asks Peter Kutenrouwer, the National Post’s intrepid reporter. “Montreal stores its 5,000 Bixi bikes when the snow flies, and gets them back out in spring. Since our winter is milder, Toronto leaves its 80 docking stations, stocked with 1,000 bikes, year-round. On Tuesday I went out at noon to gauge the popularity of Bixi at -20C,” he writes.”At the Bixi stand near the busy Toronto Coach Terminal, I see plenty of bikes, but no customers. I walk over to the stand by the World’s Biggest Bookstore. No riders, so I decide to try the service myself. . . .””In total, I visit seven Bixi stations, including two on Spadina Avenue, and never see another Bixi customer. Still, it seems someone is renting Bixis. “Toronto this week has 4,291 Bixi members, most of whom paid $95 for a year. Riders in Toronto have used Bixi bikes for 9,198 trips since New Year’s Day.  His whole story is here

NFL embraces weather as we embrace the food

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South Bayview fans will be cozy and warm on Super Bowl Sunday no matter the weather in East Rutherford, New Jersey. But the fans sitting in MetLife Stadium? Well, that may be a different story. For the first time in a long time, the annual American (and world) classic will be played in a roofless stadium. Oddsmakers think that if it’s really snowy and cold, it might give the Seattle Sea Hawks an advantage over the Denver Broncos. Who knew? But it’s worth remembering that as you and your pals gather around that big plasma panel a week Sunday (February 2, 2014) experts say the actual play date of the game may have to be changed.

The NFL put contingency plans in place to play the game any time between Friday and Monday next weekend. A storm of massive proportions would have to be in the forecast for the league to make those contingencies a reality. “We are embracing the weather,” commissioner Roger Goodell said this week. “Football is played in the elements.” Meantime, if all goes well, we will be enjoying the good times on the right day. Area retailers are  gearing up  with some delectable goodies. Andy Elder, chief fan at the Grilltime meat and specialty shop on Laird Drive has a nice package of football grub . “Grill Billl” as Andy calls himself in his ads, has a selection of things from Sirloin Chili, Grilled Roaster Wings, Pork Back Ribs, Chicken or Steak Quesadillas and, if you spend $75 on Super Bowl weekend, you get free Neal Brothers Tortilla Chips and Salsa. Grilltime Super Bowl Menu 

Stuck in elevator, Mayor late for speaking date

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It’s tough when you get stuck in an elevator and people doubt what you say.  But that’s the case today (Thursday, January 22, 2014) with Mayor Rob Ford. His reputation of being not exactly right about what he says has caused reporters to question his excuse for being late to a speaking engagement today. The mayor was stuck in a freight elevator for 45 minutes, making him an hour late for a speech he was scheduled to give to the Economic Club of Canada. Finally, the mayor was freed from the elevator and made his speech. He reiterated his well known position that he has saved the city money and that the removal of his powers by City Council has permitted that body to slip back into its old ways of  “tax and spend”.  

Justin Bieber star of brief Florida court show

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Hayley Wickenheiser to carry Maple Leaf flag

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Hayley Wickenheiser will carry Canada’s flag in the opening ceremonies of the 2014 Sochi Olympics. The designation of the four-time Olympic hockey star has been greeted with satisfaction in Canadian sports circles. The 35-year-old Ms. Wickenheiser has been a gutsy performer for Canada since she first appeared  on Olympic ice in 1994. Along with her many honours, she has won seven Olympic gold medals. Also today, Hockey Canada announced that the women’s team will march in the Feb. 7 opening ceremonies, despite playing their opening game the following night versus Switzerland.

Exhausted rescuers pause in hunt for bodies

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Reuters

Eugenie Bouchard: May she never meet Justin

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The ups and downs of 19-year-old talented kids have met on the fringes in the case of Justin Bieber and Montreal tennis prodigy Eugenie (Genie) Bouchard. Bieber faces charges of drag racing, drunk driving and a peaceable form of resisting arrest in Florida. Bouchard is a stunning young woman from Westmount who these days must have to beat off admirers with a stick. Her performance at the Austrlaian Open this week has marked her as “the future of women’s tennis” according to the commentators. In addition to reviewing her loss to the much more experienced Li Na, Bouchard may also be reconsidering her tentative suggestion that she would like to date Bieber.  In fairness, it happened before Bieber’s drunk driving blunder and after Eugenie was ambushed by an Australian reporter (video). Her reply was a tentative. “Justin Beiber?”  when asked who she would like to date.  Bieber, the now soused and out-of-control kid from Stratford, Ontario tweeted  a “good luck” to Bouchard.  A mischievous scribbler on Twitter named Manure Gurl has tickled readers with this:  “Speeding to meet Eugenie Bouchard?  I guess the little turd from Stratford missed the Paul Walker lesson on drag racing.” Bravo Manure Gurl. May you wisely advise the highly in-demand Genie Bouchard. It’s a parent’s prayer.  

Eugenie Bouchard’s run at Aussie Open ends

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It’s was a disappointing night but a big one nonetheless for Canada’s tennis sweetheart 19-year-old Eugenie Bouchard. Even as she lost to China’s Li Na commentators were calling the 19-year-old Bouchard “the future of women’s tennis.” The victory saw Li Na take sets 6-2 and 6-4. The drama featured the extraordinary skill and determination that brought Genie to the Australian Open. It is the first time a Canadian has battled to a centre court duel since Carling Bassett did so in 1984. But there is also an infatuation with Genie Bouchard on Twitter as Canadian young men expressed their appreciation of the athletic Montrealer.   Twitter   CBC

Subway news agent Gateway buys 34 more stores

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Gateway Newstands has purchased 34 more “urban retail” outlets across Canada from LS Travel Retail and will re-brand them all to its own Gateway identification. Many will know the concept as news agents seen in TTC stations, commercial buildings and at airports. Among the names of the stores purchased are Great Canadian News, Xpress, Relay, United Cigar Store and Maison de la Presse. The busy store located at Yonge and St. Clair is one of those purchased. Gateway operates 65 newstands and kiosks with the TTC.  The deal brings the number of Gateway stores in North America to 554, with 422 in Canada, mostly in Ontario. The company’s US locations are concentrated in New York City and Chicago. Financial details of the transaction, which will close on or before May 14, 2014, were not disclosed. The Gateway concept will be to franchise the locations, a business which the company calls highly profitable. 

Riverdale, East York could face loss of fire trucks

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Joanna Lavoie Beach Mirror 

Early morning fire guts Tokyo Sushi on Bayview

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Fire has gutted  Tokyo Sushi at 1614 Bayview Ave. The sad scene at the front of the restaurant tells the story. The blaze was reported to the Toronto Fire Department at 12.54 a.m. and it took firefighters about an hour to get things under control. TFD sources said they believe the cause was a short circuit. There is what appears to be serious damage in restaurant’s dining room but apparently the apartment upstairs wasn’t affected except for smoke. The landlord told The South Bayview Bulldog he felt the that entire first floor of the restaurant would have to be cleared to the walls. He said the fire spread quickly and was actually out by the time he got to the scene. It was called in by a neighbor above the next door Fukui Sushi restaurant. Traffic was stopped for a period.  

Fire rips through 150 year old Yorkville building

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84 Yorkville
A fire has ripped through a 150 year-old building at 84 Yorkville Ave. It has been declared a three-alarm emergency following a report by the security company that summoned firefighters about 8.30 a.m. There is much heroic coverage on CP24.  There is a bizarre late in a tweet from TFD that police have arrested a man for attacking a firefighter..It is not known if there is any historic value to the old building, which would seem to have been damaged beyond repair. It will have been part of the original Yorkville Village before amalgamation and perhaps a haunt for the alternative lifestyle people who lived and patronized Yorkville during the 1960s.