Rebel House at 1068 Yonge St. near Roxborough Ave. has used an appealing reverse marketing technique well-remembered by South Bayview fans of McSorley’s Wonderful Saloon. Rebel House is offering two drinks for the price of two. Love it. The former owner of McSorley’s, Simon Hanlon, was a master of such come-ons. Patron’s were greeted with an assurance that they would be “more than disappointed” and that the establishment guaranteed Price. Quality, Service — Pick Two.
Nature in the City as doe delivers behind Scarborough Plaza
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Man said to have hurled concrete blocks onto Highway 401
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OPP have charged a 32-year-old Pickering man with three instances of hurling concrete blocks off bridges over Highway 401. In one case, the potentially lethal block smashed through the roof of a jeep (above) and landed on the seat next to the terrified driver. It happened last week about 10 p.m. when Chad Charlemagne was driving near Progress Avenue. He told OPP Sergeant Kerry Schmidt that the block smashed through his roof with the force of explosives. “I thought it was a bomb,” Charlemagne said, adding that he saw his life flash before his eyes. Then again at about 11:15 a.m. Wednesday at Yonge Street another concrete block which missed drivers but still did damage to the vehicles. Heavy patrols of the bridges led to the arrest of a man on Thursday of last week. The accused, Everton Emmanuel James, 32, will appear in court Friday.
Kathy Griffin fired by CNN over “Trump beheaded” picture
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Things are extremely tense in the US, as most will know. CNN could not withstand the viewer blow back over a posed picture cooked up by Kathy Griffin showing her holding the severed make-believe head of Donald Trump. Maybe there’s just too much real beheading going on. Anyway, despite a prostrate apology, Griffin is gone from CNN.
Josh Matlow newsletter tells of pending changes to OMB
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Josh Matlow (Ward 22) has published his May 31 newsletter with many matters discussed. The reform of the Ontario Municipal Board is among the most important. If legislation passes it will no longer permit the OMB to substitute its own view of what’s best for a City but would instead require it to respect bylaws and planning legislation. This will reverse in a dramatic way the capacity of the OMB to make height rules, for example. Elsewhere, Matlow notes the so-called Bus Barns meeting to discuss the future of TTC lands at Eglinton Ave and Yonge St. That’s on June 7 at 7 p.m. at the North Toronto Collegiate Institute Commons, 17 Broadway Ave. Newsletter
City offers permit cancellations to flooded-out campers
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Toronto is extending permit cancellations with the prospect of refunds in some cases for as many as 90 groups who will not be able to hold their scheduled events on the Islands this June and July. The cancellations will affect approximately 350 summer camp registrants. Officials said City staff will work with parents on a case-by-case basis to find accommodations in other programs or issue refunds if needed. Much of the traditional summertime playground is still awash from recent rain and high water. The flooding also mean that ferry service is restricted to island residents until further notice.
Miracle baby, paper-like pad and Harry’s games here
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The thought that her sweet baby, Matilda, nearly died makes mom choke up. A very moving story with an adorable child. Then, digital addresses the non-paper reality with what? Why, a pad that feels like paper of course. You write on it. Below that a quaking great blast in minute detail as a water main in the Ukraine just flies to pieces. Who knows? Finally, Harry the prince of disabled soldiers poses with part of the army of athletes he will sponsor in Toronto later this year. Thanks Harry.
Astonishing escape from death for girl in five-storey fall
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An 11-year-old girl has had an astonishing escape from death after a five-storey fall from her apartment home on Grand Ravine Drive in northwest North York. She is in the Hospital for Sick Children with broken bones but is said by doctors to be set to recover. She may have rain-softened ground to thank for her survival, The girl was conscious when she was found Tuesday and was able to speak to emergency personnel Police do not believe there was anything suspicious about the fall. The girl’s mother was in another room and the victim told police that after leaning against a railing she tumbled over
Two teen girls badly hurt at Bayview and McKee Wednesday
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Two teens girls have been gravely injured while crossing Bayview Ave. at McKee Ave. Wednesday. They were struck by the Volkswagen sedan shown above from the Twitter account of CP24. The badly damaged front fender attested to the impact. McKee forms a T-junction with Bayview. This can be a confusing factor for drivers when assessing risks at such corners. The driver of the Volkswagen involved in the incident remained at the scene and police are trying to determine if a second vehicle may have been involved. Both girls were taken to hospital where their conditions are said to be life-threatening. The driver of the VW was said to be badly shaken by the accident.
Planters for Yonge St. glimpsed on lively Twitter thread
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So here are pictures of the new planters which will grace Yonge St. as tweeted by citizens and re-tweeted by Josh Matlow (Ward 22) Go here to read the many comments about them. Most are upbeat but Urban Dreamer seems skeptical: “I somehow doubt these new planters will last more than a decade, much less 30+ years like those cool brutalist ones.” Nor is it clear when the jack hammers will remove the old ones because clearly they can’t just be picked up and thrown on the back of a truck. The original concrete number looks like those lining the west side of Bayview Ave.
Lake Leaside rainbow and who knew Leaside had a lake
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Becky Allen White was tweeting last night about the rainbow she saw looking out to the east over Lake Leaside, that murky pond that fills the excavation site for a yet to be announced big box store. A couple of readers commented that they didn’t know Leaside had a lake. Of course it doesn’t. Lake Leaside is a bit whimsy made up by the The South Bayview Bulldog, harmlessly we hope. You have to say it looks a bit like a lake from the right angle. The owners, SmartCentre, are supposed to drain it but there were concerns that the City’s capacity to push that much water through the sewer system was an issue.
CBC says Wynne a recent convert to $15 minimum wage
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Mike Crawley of the CBC says four months ago the Premier was really cool to the idea of an immediate $15-an-hour minimum wage. In fact, she didn’t like it. CBC






