Homefront window brings golden glow to season

by  • 

A true sign of the season is the new Christmas window installed yesterday at Homefront, 371 Eglinton Ave W. Fans of her work will recognize the elegant style of Franca Panetta, who designs much of the display work at Homefront and who is frequently on hand to greet customers. This year superb gifts for your table top are ensconced in a gold window with accents of anthracite in both the backdrop and inventory. (416) 488-3189.  Larger picture at Trish Stuebing Diary

308 Rose Park sold on condition — of what?

by  • 

The much admired home at 308 Rose Park Drive in Moore Park has apparently been sold conditionally. Some neighbors think there is a plan to rezone the property for two houses although no sign has been posted. The home was listed for $2,495,000 in September. It sits on a lot that is 68 feet wide.  No 308 Rose Park dates from the 1920s and is one of only a few architect designed homes on the street, all on the north side. Previous post.

Suzuki will stop selling cars in United States

by  • 

Suzuki Motor Corporation has announced that it will be filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S. seeking protection and eventually ending auto sales in the U.S.. Following a review of its current position and future opportunities in the U.S. automotive market  Suzuki said will wind down and discontinue new automobile sales  The Company has determined the best path to achieve this realignment in an efficient and orderly manner is to restructure its operations under Chapter 11. Suzuki’s U.S. sales for the year through October totaled 21,188 vehicles, down 5 percent from the same period last year.

Five Guys open today in Leaside Village

by  • 

Five Guys Burgers and Fries opened in the Leaside Centre today. The red and white checkerboard burger restaurant is a large international chain, franchising its wares across North America. It’s famous for thick beef sandwiches with as-you-like-it trimmings and fries that come in lots that don’t seem to stop. Five Guys has a comment board at the front of the restaurant. One hapless customer at the new Laird Drive location this noon scribbled “How was I supposed to eat all this?” From appearances, opening day was pretty good. We counted a dozen or so diners at 2.30 pm. The atmosphere is of course friendly and includes an odd war whoop of some kind which goes up from the chief order taker each time someone comes through the door. Wonder if they’ll keep that up. In any case, the arrival of Five Guys is a comment on (if you’ll pardon the expression) the dog-eat-dog nature of the burger business. Up the street is South Street Burgers in the SmartCentre. It has big  flags out on the street today to remind eaters that it is still there. A few days ago, many were surprised with McDonald’s poor quarterly results. They were blamed on the economic slowdown and the stronger U.S. dollar. Maybe, but conventional wisdom on fast food places is that they usually do better in tough times. Our guess would be more along the lines of really tough competition for the burger dollar.   

France: Love-child minister “had 8 boyfriends”

by  • 

The stunning public European debt crisis is a world-wide scandal but these days Euro readers are more intrigued by the sensational details of  a paternity suit involving the apparently busy love life of the woman who was the first female finance minister of France. The svelte Eurocrat is 47-year-old Rachida Dati. The target of the action alleges that Dati was seeing up to eight boyfriends at around the time she had a love child three years ago.  Multi-millionaire businessman Dominique Desseigne, 68, is refusing to take a DNA test after being accused of being the girl’s dad. Ms Dati has gone to court to try and get him to admit that he fathered Zohra, now three, during a passionate encounter in 2008. The alleged boyfriends included a TV host, a minister, a chief executive officer, a Spanish prime minister, a brother of Nicolas Sarkozy, a Qatari Attorney General and the heir to a luxury goods empire,  says an article in Le Monde.

Abduction attempt near Summerhill-Whitehall

by  • 

Toronto Police Service report:  A 21 year old male reports that on November 3, 2012 at approximately 0200 hours, he was in the area of Summerhill Avenue and Whitehall Road, when two male suspects in a vehicle approached him. The suspects ordered the victim to their motor vehicle. The victim made good his escape. The suspects then fled the scene westbound on Summerhill Avenue. No injuries were sustained by the victim. Police are requesting the assistance of the public in identifying the following described persons in connection with this offence. Description of Suspect #1: Male, white, 25 to 29 years, 6’0”, 180 pounds, medium build. Suspect #2: Male, white, 25 to 29 years, 6’0”, 180 pounds, brown short hair, medium build.

TTC chief Byford wants a straphanger’s charter

by  • 

Andy Byford is out to codify just what TTC riders can and should expect from their transit service. The boss of all bus, subway and streetcar service wants to publish a customer charter that will spell out to riders what they can expect from their transit agency. Some people think that should include  a pledge to make the trains and  other transit vehicles run on schedule.  Mr. Byford wants to see a  public undertaking on what the company will strive to achieve in terms of punctuality, reliability, cleanliness and helpfulness from staff.  He will also specify promises that the TTC will deliver on. Go Andy.