Amsterdam Brewery open on Esandar, offers tasting days

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The new Amsterdam Brewery location has opened on Esandar Drive just behind Leaside Village shopping centre. The spacious new sales and brew tasting spot is in the industrial mall that stretches hundreds of feet along Esandar. The place is just getting organized so a grand opening is still a few weeks off. It may not happen until January, we’re told. But when it does, you should take a look. The facility will brew Amsterdam brands of course but will also have a special events section for rent. On Saturdays, this space will help accommodate the weekly brew tasting afternoons. That will be from 1 pm to 6 pm, strictly observed. A $10 fee applies, so it isn’t a bad deal. In the meantime, you can pick up a six-pack of your favorite Amsterdam brew any time.

St. Mike’s doctor sees bike lanes as “Global Issue”

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After a few days of delaying action by bicycle lobbyists, Jarvis Street will return to a five lane thoroughfare Monday morning. The reversible fifth lane (i.e. north or south) was a fixture of downtown commuting until it was removed to accommodate bicycle lanes. The depth of cyclist determination — and righteous indignation — is exemplified by Dr. Tomislav Svoboda, a family physician at St. Michael’s Hospital.  He is interviewed by Jeff McArthur on 640 AM in the video on the left above about his sit-down protest in front of work crews.. He was apparently directed by police to stay away from protests on the street and is making this into a free speech matter. He also appears to connect up the bikes lanes with the environment and thus sees it all as as a “Global Issue”. On the right, is a video taken from a type of helmet cam of the Sherbourne Street bicycle lanes.. But apparently work is not finished there.. Happy motoring and cycling to all.

Man accused in Eglinton bank robbery on Sept 25

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CCTV frame of robbery #2

The North York Mirror has reported that a man identified as Ian Gallacher, 42, has been accused of committing a number of bank robberies North York and Scarborough. In one case, in a bank branch near Eglinton Avenue E. and Wynford Drive, a man produced a long knife and threatened to stab a teller as he demanded money. This was on September 25, 2012. The man fled  with a quantity of cash. At 1:40 p.m. September 29, 2012 a man with a possible fake beard wearing an American flag bandanna walked into a bank near Lawrence Avenue and Birchmount Road, approached a teller and demanded money. He left with cash. The third robbery occurred October. 26 at a bank on Victoria Park Avenue. 

Two reports of bodies found off Eglinton Ave. East

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Homicide detectives have been assigned to investigate the death of a woman who was found in an apartment on Wynford Drive near  Eglinton Ave. E. The body was discovered by someone who apparently knew the woman in an unit on Wynford at around 9:30 a.m Friday.. The body has signs of trauma and the death is being treated as suspicious, police say. In a second case, a decomposed body has been found in Sunnybrook Park near Eglinton Ave E. and Leslie Street. 

Sat in house for 40 years, vase sells for £3 million

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Mailonline: A Chinese porcelain vase once knocked over by the family cat fetched just over £3 million (C$4,770,000) at auction in London yesterday. That’s one hundred and twenty three times times more than expected. The 300-year-old blue and white vase, not dissimilar to the one which famously sold for £53 million two years ago, was bought by an unnamed Chinese telephone bidder based in Hong Kong. The price escalated after a fierce eight-way, ten-minute bidding battle at the North Yorkshire salerooms of Tennants Auctioneers. The owner of the antique Chinese vase had no idea of its value, and it was only discovered by Tennants, during a routine house call to value the contents. The 40cm high bottle-shaped vase, bearing the mark of 18th century Emperor Yongzheng, was conservatively estimated at £20,000-£30,000. But word quickly spread around the antiques world and collectors and dealers from China were prominent in the crowded saleroom as the bidding quickly soared.

Sunnybrook top spot for tickets in Toronto

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A survey has shown that Sunnybrook Hospital parking lots are the top happy hunting ground for parking enforcement officers. Over a nearly five year period there were 48,379 tickets issued in the lots, or about 29 a day. (Is this the guy who runs down South Bayview slapping tickets on windshields?) The survey found that other heavily ticketed places were Seneca College and Centennial College.  The survey was done by Toronto Star data guru Matthew Cole.

COBS gingerbread scone debuts on Bayview

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Whenever COBS comes up with another of its insanely delicious new creations, we remember that this Australian bread giant chose South Bayview for its very first store in Ontario. What can we say except that perhaps we are worth it. This all comes to mind as COBS hands out free samples of its new gingerbread scone. We just went to Cobs on Bayview for a loaf of bread. Now we’re hooked on this delicate confection at least until the next COBS original goes into free giveaway. Seriously, they’re worth buying with real money. Oh Lord, look at that icing

Big Movember skate at Air Canada Centre

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There’s a big skating opportunity tomorrow morning at Air  Canada Centre as Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment and Movember Canada invites the public onto tjhe big ice between  9 a.m. and 11 a.m. for a MOpen Skate in benefit of Movember.  Those attending will be able to skate during one of two one-hour blocks of open ice time and organizer s are requesting a $10 to Movember Men’s Health   Only 250 permitted on the ice at a time. 

Santa Claus parade marks 107 years this Sunday

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As best we can tell, the crowd pleasing Santa Claus Parade will mark its 107th year this Sunday. As usual, more than half a million people are expected to line the route from Christe Pits on Bloor Street West, down Avenue Road and University Avenue, then east on Wellington Street to St. Lawrence Hall.  It begins at 12.30. Thought you might enjoy these flashes into the past, a reminder of how this happy occasion has endured. History

New trolley car dreaming courtesy TTC

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The TTC released this very nicely done montage-video yesterday to celebrate the arrival of its new low-floor streetcars at the Hillcrest Yard on Bathurst Street. You may have seen Karen Stintz, Ward 16, and TTC Chair, quite ecstatic about them on TV There’s a lot of work to be done before these Bombardier-made cars roll the rails of Toronto. The closest they will get to South Bayview is Yonge and St. Clair. Unless they truck them up South Bayview you will never see these long smooth trolleys in front of McSorely’s, say. But they are easy to access, we’re told, and air conditioned too. As they say at the Saloon, two out of three ain’t bad.    Read about them  National Post

Convenience stores sue City over plastic bags ban

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The plastic bag ban is going to be tested in court as an association of Ontario Convenience stores and the Toronto Taxpayers Coalition take legal action against it. The Ontario Convenience Stores Association began action yesterday. It  complains that the ban was approved without consultation — which is surely true. City council must still approve the ban, which is to take effect on Jan. 1, 2013, after the city’s public works and infrastructure committee adopted the proposed bylaw on Wednesday. Association spokesman Dave Bryans calls the proposed bylaw “invalid” and says it was rushed forward with essentially no consultation with the businesses it will harm members. Bryans says the ability to provide consumers with reliable, strong and cost-effective bags to carry their purchases home is a vital part of convenience stores’ ability to meet consumer demand. The Taxpayers Coalition is also preparing action.