Is graffiti really art or merely graffarti?

We have a special treat for you today. Here are some genuine pieces of South Bayview graffiti. Don’t you care for them? Would you like to see them gone? Especially off of your garage? Then friends you are subject to the same appalling middle class authoritarianism that afflicts the new municipal administration. The trendiest foreboding says that Rob Ford and his mad wall painters can’t tell art from artichokes. Many fears have surfaced. One struggling artist said that if they prevent him from painting on freight cars no one in the U.S. will see his work. Okay, let’s get a grip. When Rudy Giuliani was elected Mayor of New York in 1996, he was reviled for saying he would clean up the streets and subway. He did it and was revered for his efforts well before his heroics on 9-11. New York survives as the art capital of the Western World. You can find all sorts there, even our crossover category of doubtful art, graffarti. The great, the giddy and the gruesome. Just not on your garage.

Ontario Junior baseball at Talbot Park

Some pictures of Ontario Junior baseball at Howard Talbot Park from local historian and observer at rudy.ca. Here.

Red Robin Bridgewater Biscuit Barrel

This is the Emma Bridgewater Biscuit Barrel finished in her unique Robin Red Breast design. You might call it a Robin Cookie Tin. Right now, Homefront has a selection of new Emma tin containers (round cake, coffee, sugar and tea containers) with the Biscuit Barrel being the most notable. It’s available in three styles: Robin, Polka Dots and Pink Hearts. $42 at Homefront, 371 Eglinton Ave. W and 1579 Bayview in South Bayview.

New subway trains “this summer”

The TTC information site which in May was stating that the new subway trains would be in service in June, now says the new trains will go into service “this summer”. The trains are manufactured by Bombardier in Thunder Bay.

Canada Day project on Millwood Rd

They started out Thursday evening here at 471 Millwood knocking the top off the bungalow. By Saturday morning, this is how it looked. Word is that this home is due for a new second storey. This project will be easy to keep track of for those who use the corner at Donegall and Millwood. Can’t miss it.

Kate is a hit in Maple Leaf kit

Nice touch by the Duchess of Cambridge as she dresses in our national colours for Canada Day. Video is on this page.

Sleuth adding Sunday to business hours

Sleuth of Baker Street has added Sunday (noon until 4 pm) to its business hours. The mystery bookstore is l now located in the strip mall at Millwood and Sutherland. As well, Sleuth is open Thursday to Saturday from 10 until 6..

Everything open again on Saturday

We’re back to normal on South Bayview tomorrow with shops, restaurants and banks all open at their usual hours.

“Maid lied about rape in the past”

Details which cast grave doubt on the credibility of the maid who accused Dominqiue Strauss-Kahn have been published this afternoon.

Tea Emporium now closed

The Tea Emporium is now closed. Earlier this month the company announced that it had been unable to come to an agreement on rent.

Video of Kate and Will

Some pleasant pictures of Kate and Will in the video bar at left. Also two videos on a separate page.

Enjoy your spacious home this weekend

This is the new genre of rental units coming on the market in Vancouver — just 270 square feet of space for something like $750 a month. As you can see, the bed is of the so-called “Murphy” type which folds into the wall. This unit has a shower but no tub. The promoters call it “seriously chic.”