The South Bayview Bulldog

Eataly, Dubai

Oscar Farinetti

Eataly, New York

Depiction of Bloor Street Eataly

The diverse snacking and dining phenomenon Eataly will open in the Manulife Centre on Bloor Street in 2019. Eataly is the invention of Italian businessman Oscar Farinetti who ten years ago converted a closed vermouth factory in Turin into the first location. His move to New York City introduced millions of North Americans (many from Toronto) to the imaginative sit down, stand up, grab-a-bun-and-walk-around eating experience. There are multiple over-the-counter and table-service spots. His complex in an old office building near Madison Square Park is always mobbed. Now the first Eataly will open under the Varsity movie theatres in the Manulife. It is a partnership of Eataly with the Selfridges Group and Terroni Restaurants. A depiction of the street view of the planned Bloor Street Eataly seems dazzling and promises more glory for the street.

A man has been injured in an industrial accident on the north side of Eglinton Ave. W. at the corner of Chaplin Crescent.  Police say the man was driving a Bobcat utility vehicle at a work site near Eglinton Avenue and Gilgorm Road when he struck a steel beam at around 9:10 a.m. He was hit in the  chest and will be okay.

A high-rise building in Tehran engulfed by a fire collapsed on Thursday, killing at least 30 firefighters and injuring some 75 people, state media reported. According to Euronews, the government then withdrew this information. It is not clear what has happened except that the tower, which anchored a shopping plaza, was struck by fire and after several hours of firefighting, it fell. The disaster struck the Plasco building, a landmark structure in central Tehran just north of the capital’s sprawling bazaar. Firefighters, soldiers and other emergency responders dug through the rubble, looking for survivors.

AVALANCHE HIT HOTEL

And an avalanche has struck a ski hotel in the Abruzzo district of Italy, killing at least one person.

FOUND DOG:
Broadview/Gerrard 4:30 am today. If you know the owners please contact @TPS55Div at 416-808-5500. ^lb pic.twitter.com/ruoITxg1Bh

— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) January 19, 2017

Banano is enjoying the hospitality of 55 Divison police as they trace his owner through a tag around his neck. The animal was picked up Thursday overnight wandering near Broadview and Gerrard. At first, officers thought he was a coyote. They think they should able to re-unite him with owner soon.

The Annual East York Kiwanis Robbie Burns Dinner is Saturday, January 21, 2017. Click the poster. And Saturday morning Mike Krushelnyski will be at the Leaside arena signing autographs at a commercial event. Tonight the William Lea Room will see the reception to honour the late Dr.Tom Pashby and celebrate the generous gift of $500,000 to the arena for safety improvement. Henceforth, the newly-built rink will be known as the Dr. Tom Pashby Play Safely Rink. Nice.

South Bayview to remain with pickup by City employees

As expected, the public works committee has voted Wednesday in favour of a plan to privatize garbage collection in Scarborough (known as collection district 4). City Council will consider the matter in a meeting that begins January 31, 2017. The proposal is different from the decision taken by the administration of the late Mayor Ford in 2012 to arbitrarily change service from City-operated collection (CUPE) to the private Green For Life pickup. The City will conduct a so-called “managed competition procurement process”  This allows both private and unionized (CUPE) to bid.

SOUTH BAYVIEW

This leaves the section of Toronto east of Yonge Street known to many as Midtown (and including South Bayview) still served by municipal employees represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees. “It is time to do a proper market sounding and get actual costs from the market and not back-of-napkin analysis,” Public Works Chair Jaye Robinson (Ward 25) told reporters. “No one should be afraid of getting real numbers and making decisions based on facts.”

They play hockey and eat

Fuelled by hot dogs

Fuel for young hockey players at Leaside Memorial Community Arena at the Leaside Select Tournament will be provided by Andy Elder’s Grilltime kitchen as hundreds of kids, moms, dads, siblings and other relatives swarm into Leaside February 3 to 5. The menu will feature proven walk-away favourites. It has glazed back bacon sandwiches, smoked brisket end chili, jumbo all-beef hot dogs and pulled chicken quesadillas. These goodies will be served on COBs buns. Andy expects to serve up as many as 1,200 meals from his station at the arena on the three-day weekend (Friday, Saturday, Sunday).

CBC

Leaside Junior Wildcats fought hard but lost 3-2 to the Mississauga Chiefs Wednesday night at Leaside arena. The Chiefs netminder, Cassie Reale, may take credit for this win. She faced 32 shots and stopped 30. Of the two that got by her, one came during a furious six-on-five attack in the final seconds of the game. Leaside had five power plays but could not score on Reale during any. That included a frantic 60 seconds or so in the third when Leaside had a 5-3 player advantage over the Chiefs. Kate Mowbray for Leaside faced 29 shots and stopped 26. Scoring here.

 The prime minister is saying that in retrospect maybe he should have answered in English when asked questions in that language Tuesday at a town hall meeting in Sherbrooke. But he didn’t. He is translated saying things like “We’re in Quebec so Ill answer in French.” It ranks right in with “Because it’s 2016” for superficial talk. CBC

Server Peitsch and the tip

Generous Lisa Holgate

Winnipeg server Jennifer Peitsch has received a $1,000 tip from customer Saturday night during at Mongo’s Grill on Regent Avenue in Winnipeg. The stunning gratuity of $1,000 on an $87 bill stunned the recent graduate. The money has permitted her to pay off a credit card debt and plan for further education. “To start out 2017 knowing that there are still people out there that have that kindness in their heart inspires me to keep going and do the same to other people as well,” she said. The benefactor was Lisa Holgate, who explained her tip to the CBC.

Sugar, sugar

Bessborough Drive

My sugar is so refined

The Toronto Star has kept things rolling today after columnist Edward Keenan found evidence that MP Kellie Leitch thinks Toronto has no sense of neighbourliness. Well, we know that’s wrong about South Bayview. But Keenan, and now Star writer Alicja Siekierkas, struck on Leitch’s reported reference to the cup-of-sugar test in these matters. The MP reportedly didn’t think you could get one from the family next door in Toronto. Well, by gum, that sent Canada’s largest newspaper and reporter Siekierkas out into, among other places Leaside, to find the truth. She went to “Stephen Harper’s street” Bessborough Drive and found Ken Rice and Fran Mackenzie. Bet your life these fine people would lend you a cup of sugar. They might even volunteer it. Apparently they shovel their neighbours’ walks from time to time. It is a courtesy not unknown around here (and elsewhere no doubt). Ken and Fran you are sooo refined.