Topless Justin and moose-riding Sophie seen in Reykjavík

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Radio show host Bill Carroll has tweeted a photo of a T-shirt, available for sale at a shop in Reykjavík, Iceland.  It features a topless Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with his apparently fearless, moose-riding wife, Sophie by his side.  Also shown, some Canadian geese, the rocky mountains and of course, a polar bear.  What do you think?  CFRB 1010 did a Facebook live video asking people on the streets of Toronto what they thought of this Canadian fashion statement. Would you wear it?  Mashable

Major transformation of Bayview Village proposed

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Photo source: futureofbvshops.com

Urban Toronto has published information about major redevelopment plans in the works up at Bayview Village Shopping Centre. futureofbvshops.com outlines the development plans’ vision: “to modernize and activate the southwest portion of Bayview Village. This will include bringing Bayview Village out to Sheppard, with a multi-level storefront becoming our new front door to the city. An integrated podium incorporating both residential and retail elements will support the city’s key planning and urban design objectives for this part of Sheppard Avenue.” We’ve seen something similar at the Shops at Don Mills.

More: Urban Toronto, futureofbvshops.com

Bike Share Toronto adds 700 to their existing fleet

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Jennifer Keesmaat‏ has tweeted this morning that Toronto’s Bike Share program has expanded by 70 stations, and added 700 new bikes.  We notice by looking at the map that 2 of the new stations appear to be at the Evergreen Brick Works at 550 Bayview Avenue.  A wonderful addition to a location with access to Toronto’s beautiful trail system as well as the Bayview Extension’s brand new bike lane.  But, with a potential of 700 new bicycles on the roads, has our City done enough to provide safe passage to and fro for the cyclists.  Do you trust the bike lanes?  Do the drivers understand the protocols around cyclists?  Are cyclists following the rules of the road?  The conversation continues.

The strange new addition to Bayview and Belsize

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Have you seen this?  Have you wondered what on earth this strange contraption attached to the hydrant at Bayview and Belsize could be?  Have no fear, The Bulldog is on the case…

We have learned that the very complicated looking mechanics attached to the hydrant outside of RBC is merely a device that will allow the Bayview-Leaside BIA Pixies to tap into City water in order to maintain the trees and plants that line Bayview Avenue.  In the past the Pixies have had to “borrow” water from retailers that have a main floor water source in order to fill their watering cans.  This hydrant contraption, in combination with the Pixies’ new water cart (coming soon!) will make life much easier for our hard working group of green-thumbs.  The Bayview-Leaside BIA Pixies are volunteers who donate their time and elbow grease to the neighbourhood, in order to help beautify Bayview.  Thank you Pixies.

Final weekend to catch “Todmorden Mills: Then and Now”

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Through archival photographs and copies of original art works from the City of Toronto collections, Todmorden Mills: Then and Now explores Todmorden from its beginnings as an industrial community in the late 1790s to its establishment as a heritage site. Todmorden Mills Heritage Site was created for Canada’s Centennial in 1967, and celebrates its golden anniversary in 2017, along with the 150th birthday of our country. This exhibit is presented as part of TO Canada with Love, the City of Toronto’s year-long program of celebrations, commemorations and exhibitions honouring Canada’s 150th birthday. FREE admission to the Papermill Gallery, regular admission applies to the rest of the museum.

Todmorden Mills: Then and Now at the Papermill Gallery, Todmorden Mills Heritage Site, 67 Pottery Road, Toronto. Exhibition Dates: June 28 to August 6, 2017. Hours: Tuesdays to Fridays, 10am-4:30pm; Saturdays & Sundays, 12-5pm

Leaside Smokedown returns September 21st for New Circles

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Andy Elder of Grilltime on Laird Drive has announced the return of the ever popular Leaside Smokedown, Thursday, September 21st, 2017. This rendition will feature BBQ Dinner (of course!), drinks and friends enjoying the smooth jazz of Denise Leslie and the Denise Leslie Jazz Quartet. As always, it will be held at Amsterdam Brewery. This event will be supporting New Circles Community Services.

New Circles is a not-for-profit, grass-roots agency that provides much needed clothing, social programs, and skill building opportunities to individuals living on a low-income, with a focus on residents of Thorncliffe Park, Flemingdon Park, Victoria Village, and Taylor-Massey (including Crescent Town), many of whom are newcomers to Canada.

Not Your Granddad’s Weed lecture Wed. at Leaside Library

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Not Your Granddad’s Weed: The Forensic Science of Cannabis, Wed Aug 02, 2017, 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. in the Leaside Community Room. Learn about the differences between cannabis and alcohol, the history of cannabis use, the various types of marijuana and its effects and risks. A lecture by Jim Wigmore, an internationally recognized forensic toxicologist. www.wigmoreonalcohol.com No registration required. Everyone welcome.

Robust thunderstorms, hail, possible in GTA this afternoon

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Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement:

Issued at 16:20 Tuesday 01 August 2017

Scattered robust thunderstorms across portions of Southern Ontario late this afternoon.

They may be accompanied by localized heavy downpours giving up to 40 mm of rain, wind gusts to 70 km/h and 1 centimetre hail. The thunderstorms should weaken early this evening.

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Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to ec.cpio-tempetes-ospc-storms.ec@canada.ca or tweet reports using #ONStorm.

REMINDER: Farmers’ Market today at June Rowlands Park

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Metrolinx reminisces of days gone by on Bayview

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We still miss the McDonald’s at Bayview and Eglinton. Hard to believe it closed 2 years ago already.

Tuesday, Aug. 1 gallery reaches from Davisville to East York

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He’s at baseball camp
Help find Miss
The fine work of Susan Wright
Wilson Lau
Mysterious and exciting?

East York’s Baseball Mom One @EYbasemum1 is tweeting about her favorite subject Tuesday. He is at East York Baseball Camp these days and very happy. Good going guy. Upper right, signs have been posted around Davisville and Mt. Pleasant in hopes of finding Miss. If you discover her, tweet @katangus  Below that we see Susan Wright with friends in Thorncliffe Park where she is a mainspring of the Summerlunch Plus program that will serve 18,000 meals to students from low-income families over the summer. The Bulldog’s hat is off to you Ms. Wright. Lower left, it is Wilson Lau’s pithy remark that the activity at 1560 Bayview Ave is “mysterious and exciting.” We agree. Check it here in Monday’s post

Rogue royal marine a terrorist bomb-maker for Irish killers

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Ciaren Maxwell, a celebrated royal marine, was a Catholic boy who was beaten up by Irish Unionists in Northern Ireland. In adulthood, the respect accorded his regiment and patriotic work it did were not enough it seems to outrank ties of blood and religion to an Irish terrorist gang dedicated to killing police. Maxwell used his training and access to explosives and equipment to construct bombs for the terrorists. Monday he was sentenced to 23 years in prison but the penalty seems unlikely to erase the mistrust sown by his conduct.