Pumpkin Giveaway Oct 19-21 at Valu Mart

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The Annual Pumpkin Giveaway/Haunted House this weekend will have a different touch — pink pumpkins. They can be purchased for $10 and all proceeds go to breast cancer research. A pink pumpkin on the porch will show support for the cause. There are apparently a limited number available — between 100 and 150. The Pumpkin Giveaway goes off  Friday to Sunday, October 19-21, 2012 at Tremblett’s Valu Mart.  It’s a promotion of real estate broker Patrick Rocca and you need a copy of his real estate letter to get a free (orange) pumpkin. You can call him to get one  at (416) 322-8000. This year the giveaway has a haunted house on Sunday, October 21 between noon and 3 pm.

Sunday E coli warning from Canadian food agency

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The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has released a special Sunday warning which expands the list of beef voluntarily recalled by XL Foods, of Brooks, Alberta. Their plant was temporarily shut by the agency after contaminated beef products sickened several people. The list ranges from ground beef to roasts and steaks, and includes products from retailers such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc and Costco Wholesale Corp, and smaller chains. The whole list of products in here and also a list of all retailers which might have carried the beef.. Canadian Food Inspection Agency

McGuinty gets hugs, kisses — who else is there?

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He is perhaps the cleverest political operator in recent times in Ontario. Likable but ruthless. And after his followers voted 85.8% to keep  him on as leader (who else is there?) he gave a speech that tried to turn adversity into advantage.  Last year Dalton McGuinty cancelled a half-built power plant in the middle of the election campaign to get a few votes. Saturday however he told delegates that he is now bigger than base politics. He urged them to be “fearless” in  the face of opposition to his government’s austerity measures because this wasn’t a mere political tactic, this was “the right thing to do.”  Call it Premier Dad’s blood, sweat and tears speech. Politics is such fun,. 

Scotiabank Nuit Blanche is out there all night

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The now annual spectacular of downtown Toronto lighted up and changed around is on. In some respects you have to be there to fully appreciate it   The exhibits shown in  the video above are delightful. Art-candy. Another seemed obscure but Museum for the End of the World sort of tickled out sense of bewilderment. The artist searched out more than two hundred schlock movies about the end of the world and then edited them down to five minutes each.. Then there is this tweet from a hapless Blancher sent about 9 p.m. “Traffic is already brutal at Bay and Adelaide, both for cars and pedestrians. The slow parade of taxis show their anger at pedestrians who have overtaken the intersection with a chorus of honks that equals the music at the nearby Fun House. One pedestrian: “I feel like a salmon.””  Torontoist has some nice pictures of things. 

Whitney kids thank Loblaws for apples, water

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It’s never too soon to teach children to say “Thank You” so the big poster on the window at Loblaws Moore and Bayview is good to see. The Grade One kids at Whitney Public School  are thanking the store manager (Chris) for some supplies they needed to participate in the Terry Fox Run. “Thank you for the apples and water,”  it reads in part. “They wer yume.”  Well, a lot of  this stuff you pick up in Grade Two. Then there is the big finish (inset). “Sincerely room 203 at Whitney Public School Grade 1.”  Excellent job guys. 

Great day at Mount Pleasant Harvest Fair

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The Mount Pleasant Village Harvest Fair went off today with a good crowd and many enterprising merchants. The attractions ranged from Shiatsu Therapy to shish kabob and from dog treats to doughnuts. Above Brook stands with her funny-looking antique Steam Whistle Beer truck. Just to be clear, Brook is not an antique or funny-looking. Right, this lady is in the kids dress-up business. Love the hat. .

Hundreds enjoy RBC Bayview Barbecue

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Hundreds of hungry South Bayviewites (and maybe others) lined up to get some delicious barbecue from the annual Royal Bank Barbecue on Bayview Saturday afternoon. The fire and food handling was done by McSorely’s Saloon stalwarts (inset). There was also a friendly hello from Lia Karellas, manager at Bayview Ave and Belsize Drive. The ranks of casual diners were strung out over benches, cement curbs and just about anywhere else they could find to eat. Some were wandering around up by Maurice Cody. Good fun as always. 

Brilliant day expected for South Bayview

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It’s a brilliant Saturday morning and with any luck you will have a nice day wherever you roam around South Bayview. As noted below, the Mount Pleasant Village Harvest Fair goes off today. And there is the sidewalk barbecue organized by the Royal Bank at Bayview and Belsize Drive today.  Talk about a good free lunch if you’re shopping there today. Downtown will be the usual obstacle course of closed roads for those wishing to attend Nuit Blanche events tonight.  Yonge St. will be closed between Wellington St. and Gerrard St. from 8 a.m. Saturday until 10 a.m. Sunday. Queen St. and King St. Queen St. will be closed between Jarvis St. and University Ave. from 5 p.m. Best not to tackle thus one without plans to do a lot of walking. Elsewhere, the  TTC has agreed “in principle” to a five-cent fare increase. Watch for it later this year.

Harvest Fair on Mt. Pleasant Rd Saturday

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Our friends over in the Mount Pleasant Village are having their Harvest Fair tomorrow. The description suggests there will  fun for families and others as well. . There is a scavenger hunt, pumpkin carving contest and apple pie bake off. They add: “If you’re not the competitive type head over to the petting zoo or take in some great music, shopping and food. Mount Pleasant Road, between Eglinton and Davisville. Saturday. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Free.  Check the map.   http://www.mountpleasantvillage.ca/