The South Bayview Bulldog

Henri Bendel

Manhattan store

Brown and white stripes

You’re a Bendel bonnet, a Shakespeare sonnet, you’re Mickey Mouse 
From You’re the Top, Cole Porter

Henri Bendel, the US luxury brand chain of 24 stores, will close after 123 years in business. The brand was started by Henri Bendel in 1895, when he moved to New York and began making white-and-brown-striped bags and hat boxes that appealed to the city’s elite. Ninety years later, in 1985, Henri Bendel was acquired by L Brands. L Brands, which also owns Victoria’s Secret, PINK, Bath & Body Works, and La Senza, announced on Friday that it would be closing all Henri Bendel stores, including its website and flagship store, to focus on its more profitable brands. Analysts agree Bendel has succumbed to a double whammy of online shopping and expensive real estate.

Sidecar Molly

Warren Porter and Molly at Park and Bark

Stern looking but loyal friend Migo

Lucy get nails done

Ice cream for dogs (!)

Hmm. Are you for real?

Park and Bark offered good dog watching Saturday morning at the lot at Yonge St. and Millwood Rd. Sidecar Molly was there with her friend Warren Porter of Iron Gate Private Wine In Leaside. Warren has a Vespa and Molly is nearly as famous as Mustang Sally for her motoring pastime. There were a number of pet services to be seen including Your Dog Butler (647) 477-5858 for a caring way to move injured or elderly dogs. There was also the new brand of Barker and Snouts ice cream for dogs. There’s only one flavour, Peanut Butter Banana. It’s made with organic yogurt, peanut butter, bananas and honey. Can they tell it’s not Vanilla or Rocky Road? Never mind, we want some.

Richard Southern has been transferred to the Ontario Legislature by 680 News. For many years, Southern has covered business news for the radio station. The move is called a “homecoming” for Southern, who started as a Queen’s Park page when he was 12.

No winning ticket was sold for the $55 million jackpot in Friday night’s Lotto Max draw. One of the five $1 million prizes will be shared by two ticket holders in Ontario. Each will get $500,000. The jackpot for the next Lotto Max draw on Sept. 21 will grow to approximately $60 million, and players will have a shot at 16 Maxmillions prizes.

Rahier is sold, staff confirm

See what the pixies have done

Maurice Cody movie night featured Coco

Grade 9 Parent’s Night at Leaside High

Park and Bark Saturday

Staff at Rahier have confirmed that owner Francois Rahier has sold his classic pastry business, a Bayview Ave. standby since 1996. There is no word on the new owner. Rahier’s remarkable journey in life from early jobs in his native Belgium to our own main street is well told on his website. On the right, Bayview’s most treasured volunteer women have been profiled by Michelle Dube on the early evening news at CTV Toronto. It is much deserved. Centre left, parents and kids held forth in the playing field at Maurice Cody School Friday night for their annual open-air movie night. The feature was Coco, a charming animated film with many excellent lessons for children about life, death, family and music. Lower left, Wilmar Kortleever was re-tweeting pictures of the annual Grade 9 parents night at Leaside High School Thursday. Finally, at bottom right, a reminder that Park and Bark returns to the parking lot at Davisville Ave. and Yonge St. Saturday morning.

Ceiling panels and other components replaced

Thorncliffe Banquet Hall

Wall built to seal mall from Food Basic, which remains open

East York Town Centre will be closed until Thursday, September 20 to clean up smoke damage after a fire in the centre’s Thorncliffe Banquet Hall Sunday, August 9. The one-alarm fire occurred late in the evening at the hall which is upstairs at the EYTC. Friday workers could be seen replacing ceiling panels and other elements of the mall. Many businesses with outside entrances remain open. EYTC names these:  Food Basics, Chunky Chicken, Fit4Less, Kandahar Kabab, Once Upon a Child and Pizza Pizza. Tim’s was closed Friday.

Cineplex buys into VR experience

In their own world

Cineplex, the Canadian theatre chain, has purchased a “substantial” interest in Seatle-based VRstudios Inc., a reality game maker and VR experience merchant. The deal’s financial details are secret but it appears that Cineplex will begin to install virtual reality rooms in its theatres. VRstudios offers so-called immersive games, often featuring war and various forms of compelling make-believe violence. They are hugely popular with young men. A Canadian Press story suggests that Cineplex may open as many as 40 of such locations.

Authorities are responding to many incidents of explosions and fires plus reports of leaking gas in an unknown number of homes across the Merrimack Valley, north of Boston, Thursday. There is speculation that the chaos is related to a spike in gas line pressure at the Columbia Gas Company service in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover. There are an estimated 51,000 customers in the area. At least two injuries have been reported. Some homes have been demolished by gas ignition, others damaged by fire. Residents were told to flee their homes and avoid turning lights or appliances on or off. Veteran firefighters said they had never seen anything like the random series of explosions across an entire gas system. Fire services are stretched beyond their limits. The gas company said it is working to stabilize the system, but it will take some time.

Dollarama investors who are used to seeing the discount retailer’s earnings head for the moon were sufficiently disappointed to drive the stock down 17 percent Thursday. Some say they are just spoiled but it is the second time that Dollarama has failed to meet analysts expectations. Cannabis stocks also saw a bumpy ride as Canada continues to ponder the meaning of legal dope on kids and motorists. Who knows what marijuana candy and quirky breath tests will bring? Toronto TSX was down 47.31 while in New York the Dow soared by an exciting 147.07. Financial Post.

Owner Fiona Boylan and CTV’s Anwar Knight

George is happy to accept your donation of a $1

The Danforth COBS was featured on CTV Thursday to discuss a partnership with the Breakfast Club of Canada, the charity dedicated to seeing kids get a good breakfast. Anwar Knight of CTV was featured in a live shot from COBS Danforth store. We see him chowing down on some yummy bread as owner Fiona Boylan looks on. At right is the friendly face of George at the Bayview shop. It’s easy to help, visit any COBS Bread bakery from September 14 – 16, when $1 from every bread purchase will go to Breakfast Club of Canada! Or stop by any COBS Bread bakery in Canada from August 31 – September 19 to make a donation directly to The Club.

.@COBSBread and dough can go a long way to help @BreakfastCanada – More live at Noon! https://t.co/piN1lcPgI6

— Anwar Knight (@AnwarKnight) September 13, 2018