End of the line for Overlea Zellers store

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It’s the end of the line for the Zellers store in the East York Town Centre on Overlea Blvd. The venerable bargain house will close its doors for good next Monday, June 18, 2012. From then on, the premises will be on a time line to re-open sometime in 2013 as a new Target store. Today the place is a pitiable sight. Empty shelves and dirty floors, escalators shut down and staff looking sad. Employees must re-apply with Target in order to be considered for a job at the new store.

Honour council’s will Ford tells McGuinty

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For reasons unknown, Housing Minister Kathleen Wynne (Don Valley West) has not signed off on the sale of  Toronto Community Housing Corp. homes which was approved by City Council back in March.  The properties are largely vacant and unused.  Mayor Ford has now written to the Premier reminding him of his commitment during the subway/LRT skirmishes to “observe the will of council”. Ford says the sale will generate some $24 million which will be used to maintain other public housing which has tenants. Toronto Sun.

TD sees no dramatic drop in home prices

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The Toronto-Dominion banking group says Vancouver and Toronto home prices will probably experience a relatively mild downtown in two to three years — but not the dramatic drop that hit the United States a few years ago.TD says a 15 per cent decline in Canada’s two most expensive cities is likely in a few years but it will be gradual, rather than the sudden drop of 30 per cent seen in the U.S. real estate market. The bank’s analysis is consistent with other warnings that Vancouver and Toronto real estate is generally overpriced but supported by low interest rates and a stable economy. TD says that’s not likely to change this year unless there’s a major economic shock from outside the country. Yonge and Roxborough News.

Wrecker knocks down best LCBO we ever had

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Driving by 1920 Yonge St at Merton St these days is enough to make you want to order a stiff drink. We know it’s only a building, but it happened to be the best LCBO the government alcohol monopoly ever opened. It’s seen in better times open for business in the top picture. The store wasn’t  lost in a mall, not stuck at the back of the Smart Centre, not  a hole-in-the-wall with no parking. This place was large, bright, rich with parking and about as well located as we can imagine for a large liquor store. Now, as the wrecking crew portends (above) we’ll get a another condo. Oh joy. 

Mad Italian bets on the Danforth

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The third Mad Italian Gelato Bar and coffee house is slated to open on the Danforth this summer. It will set up at the corner of Danforth and Carlaw. Nice neighborhood. This  Mad Italian outlet joins two others, the original being at 1581 South Bayview. Although the owners of the Mad Italian have been keen to sell franchises, this one will be an owned and operated place. They hope to open the door in July.

Summer Sizzler to feature free macaroons

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The list of events, attractions and freebies for the South Bayview Sizzler on Saturday, June 23, 2012, continues to grow. In the free category, Pattiserie La Cigogne will be offering a free French Macaroons with a small purchase.Yummy.

RBC Young Savers Giveaways! 9am-4pm
Young Savers’ Surprises:
RBC Piggy Banks, RBC Balloons, Cookies & Activity Books!
Royal Bank – Bayview Branch
1554 Bayview Avenue

Cigars & Salsa on the Patio! – 11am-5pm
Experience the sights and sounds of Cuba as
the musicians of TRADISON perform LIVE on our patio!
The Smokin’ Cigar Inc.
1699 Bayview Avenue

Clown & FREE Balloon Twisters! 1-3pm
“Balloon animals” for the kids…free of course!
Bonnie Byford Real Estate Ltd.
1536 Bayview Avenue

MAN VS LOBSTER! 6-9pm
1 1/4 Lb live Lobster cooked on the patio,
corn on the cob, potato salad & moosehead draught $25!
McSorley’s Saloon
1544 Bayview Avenue

Free French Macarons!
Get a free French Macaron when you purchase $10.00 or more! (Saturday Only)
Patisserie La Cigogne
1626 Bayview Avenue

25% Off Home Fashions!
Saturday, June 23, 2012 – 25% off all stock!
Parallele Interiors
1717 Bayview Ave

Summer Sizzler Special — 50 Lashes for $50!
Eyelash Extensions
Chocolate Tanning Spa & Laser Clinic
1624 Bayview Ave. Suite 200

Hot Deals — 25% Off Selected Accessories!
Bulova and Wittnauer Watches, Pens and Wallets from CROSS,
and Murano Glass by Alan K. Jewellery…All 25% Off!!
Unique Jewellery
1551 Bayview Ave

Auto Trader ceases publication this month

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Declining sales have caused owner Trader Corp. to cease publication of its flagship car advertising magazine, Auto Trader. The magazine has been published from coast-to-coast since the 70s.  It’s been decided that printing should stop and  readers are being referred to an online site

Star, 680 News discover Wicksteed Ave.

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It’s a good thing that the big media have discovered the interest of residents in the SmartCentres development on the north side of Wicksteed Ave. at Laird Drive. There are stories in the Toronto Star, 680 News and elsewhere this morning. A meeting will be held tonight at Leaside Gardens beginning at 7 p.m. and members of Leaside Unite have been busy getting the word out. Here’s hoping they have a huge turnout. See post two down for link to website of Leaside Unite.

1976 Apple 1 expected to fetch $180,000

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An incredibly rare, working, 1976 Apple 1 computer is up for auction in New York. Report by Sam Datta-Paulin

Meeting Monday about Wicksteed development

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Paddy Duncan of Leaside Unite writes with a reminder about  the big meeting Monday (tomorrow) night to discuss the SmartCentres development on Wicksteed Ave. at Laird Drive.The meeting will be in the William Lea room at  the Leaside Grardens (1078 Millwood at McRae and Southvale). As we posted earlier, this is a huge development and there’s every reason to be concerned that SmartCentres plans to install a Walmart in there (although that’s not confirmed). It’s worth caring about and you can check further by going to http://leasideunite.com/.

Redbox kiosks at Mac’s, On-the-Run stores

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The new kid in town offering cheap movie rentals is Redbox. And a pilot project recently announced is going to put the boxes in places like the On-the-Run stores in Canada’s Esso stations as well as Mac’s Milk stores. So here in South Bayview, we will no doubt soon be able to check out the offerings at the big Mt Pleasant Rd and Merton Esso or at the Mac’s in the Sunnybrook Plaza. The name to remember behind all these locations is the Montreal convenience store giant Alimentation Couche-Tard (Night Owl) which operates under these names outside Quebec. It’s network numbers more than 2000 stores. In addition to this, there is a deal to put the Redbox kiosks in a number of Walmart stores. The boxes should begin to appear in July. The pilot project will be centred in Toronto and Vancouver.  Redbox built its name in the U.S. marketplace renting DVDs for $1 per day, primarily at grocery stores, though its prices have since increased.

Maria Sharapova wins the French Open

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Maria Sharapova won the French Open on Saturday, defeating Sara Errani 6-3, 6-2 in the final at Roland Garros to complete the career Grand Slam. (June 9)