“Casa Loma” means “home on a hill” (I would want to call it CASTLE Loma, but anyway). Casa Loma, which was the former home of financier Sir Henry Mill Pellatt , is not at all short of amazing vista views of both the downtown area as well as the beautiful skyline of Toronto and of Great Lake Ontario.

About Casa Loma
Sir Henry commissioned Canadian architect. E.J. Lennox to design Casa Loma with construction beginning in 1911, starting with the massive stables a few hundred feet north of the main building. The stables were used as a construction site for the castle, with some of the machinery still remaining in the rooms under the stables. The house cost approximately $3.5 million and took a team of 300 workers three years to build from start to finish. Upon completion in 1914, at 98 rooms, it was the largest private residence in Canada. Notable amenities included an elevator, an oven large enough to cook a steer, two vertical passages for pipe organs, central vacuum, two secret passages in Sir Henry’s ground-floor office and three bowling alleys (never completed).

Many of the rooms were left unfinished, and today serve as the Regimental Museum for The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada. Pellatt joined the Regiment as a Rifleman and rose through the ranks, eventually becoming the Commanding Officer. He was knighted for his dedication to the Regiment. Later, Pellatt served as the Honorary Colonel and was promoted to Major-General upon retirement.

During the Depression, Toronto increased Casa Loma’s annual property taxes from $400 to $1,200, and Pellatt—already experiencing financial difficulties—was forced to auction off $1.5-million in art and furnishings for only $250,000 during bankruptcy hearings. Sir Henry was able to enjoy life in the castle for only ten years, taking up residence in 1923. Pellatt also operated the building for a short time as a luxury hotel. During the late 1920s Casa Loma was also a popular nightspot. The Orange Blossoms, later known as Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra, played there for eight months in 1927–1928. Shortly thereafter, they went on tour of North America and became a major Swing Era dance band.
Intended as Sir Henry’s drawing room, the French oak panels took artisans three years to carve.
Intended as Sir Henry’s drawing room, the French oak panels took artisans three years to carve.

The city seized Casa Loma in 1933 for $27,303 in back taxes.

Contrary to popular belief, Casa Loma has never been an official residence of either the city or the Province of Ontario. In 1937 it was opened to the public for the first time as a tourist attraction operated by the Kiwanis Club of Toronto. Coincidentally, this is the same year that Chorley Park, the Government House of Ontario was closed by the provincial government.

During World War II, Casa Loma was used to conceal research on sonar, and for construction of sonar devices for U-boat detection. Today it is regarded as one of Toronto’s premier tourist attractions, still operated by the Kiwanis Club.

Casa Loma Trivia
* Parts of the movie X-Men were shot at Casa Loma, which stood in for Professor Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters.

* A few scenes in episode 12 of Pure Pwnage was shot in Casa Loma.

* Casa Loma was featured as “Elsinore Castle” in the McKenzie Brothers movie Strange Brew, both as an escargo and on the packaging for a case of fictional Elsinore beer.

* The castle featured as the setting for a battle in the second of the Scott Pilgrim series, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, a graphic novel by Bryan Lee O’Malley.

* Other films which include scenes filmed at Casa Loma include Chicago, The Tuxedo, and The Pacifier. Cocktail and a few others were also filmed in Casa Loma. This can be seen in the basement where there are movie posters of those films.

* The film Twitches 2 recently finished filming at Casa Loma. An Upcoming Disney film is currently being filmed at Casa Loma.

* The castle was also the setting for Canadian children’s author Eric Wilson’s murder mystery, The Lost Treasure of Casa Loma.

[photo and info courtesy of wikipedia]

Private vehicles are not permitted on the Toronto islands.

[photo courtesy of wikipedia]

David T. Suzuki PhD, Co-Founder of the David Suzuki Foundation, is an award-winning scientist, environmentalist and broadcaster. Since 1990, the David Suzuki Foundation has worked to find ways for society to live in balance with the natural world that sustains us. Focusing on four program areas – oceans and sustainable fishing, climate change and clean energy, sustainability, and the Nature Challenge – the Foundation uses science and education to promote solutions that conserve nature and help achieve sustainability within a generation.

Click here to purchase tickets online

For more information contact:

Emma Roche
416-533-9481
eroche@rsgc.on.ca

About Dundonald House

The Church – Wellesley corner is center of the Toronto gay village– Shops, cafes, restaurants, bars, nightclubs and public transportation, are all a quick three minute walk from the guest house. Voted Best Bed and Breakfast 6 years in a row by the gay community, Dundonald House offers an oasis of calm in a busy yet exciting area of downtown.

Dundonald House Bed and Breakfast
35 Dundonald St Toronto
Ontario M4Y 1K3 Canada
Email: dh@dundonaldhouse.com
Phone: 1-800-260-7227

I know you are, so, I’m going to recommend Toronto’s The Drake Hotel to you. It’s great, so much so, that it just found out that it is part of Travel & Leisure Magazine’s Top 500 Hotels in ZEE WORLD! You simply can’t go wrong with a hotel like that.

It’s host to various art exhibits and funky, cool lounges and bars so get ready to be part of the chill crowd. Ok, maybe not “chill” all the time, but definitely COOL 24/7 and OOZING with culture.

Drake has 19 hotel rooms to play in, offering guests a comfortable mix of intimacy, bohemian luxury and high tech toys. Ranging in size up to nearly 400 square feet, every room features a Queen sized bed with fine linens and duvets, oversized bath towels and cotton robes. The design strikes a balance between functionality and beauty. Lovingly customized vintage furniture and handcrafted delights by local artists sit side-by-side with all the high tech amenities necessary for work and play: CD and DVD player, flat screen television and complimentary high-speed internet access. Rooms have high ceilings and windows that open, hardwood floors or mod black carpets. Washrooms come equipped with transparent glass shower stalls and premium Aveda bath products.
Let your needs and desires determine the type of room you choose; Drake promises relaxation, stimulation and fun for each one.

The Drake Hotel
1150 Queen St. W,
Toronto, ON M6J1J3
Canada
Phone (416) 531-5042

Over The Rainbow – Denim deficient rock stars Mick Jagger and Hilary Duff in search of the coolest duds can be spotted here.

Holt Renfrew, the Canadian equivalent of Bloomingdale’s, is a magnet to celebs like German actress Diane Kruger and her Canadian boyfriend Joshua Jackson. Trek farther west along Bloor Street, and who might you run into? Ashton Kutcher and Canuck celebrities like Mike Myers and singer Deborah Cox emptying their wallets for leather goods and athletic gear at Roots.

Kidding Awound – Famous parents such as Julianne Moore and Pierce Brosnan are known to shop at this Canadian version of FAO Schwartz (toy store).

Starbucks (139 Yorkville Ave.) has taken orders for Sienna Miller, James Franco and Colin Farell, while other celebrities like Wesley Snipes head to Canadian-coffee staple, Second Cup (170 Bloor St. W.).

Four Seasons Hotel – Particularly during film festivals, A-listers like Bruce Willis and Gwyneth Paltrow stay at this Yorkville sanctuary, with equally star-studded room service going on downtown at the Fairmont Royal York, which attracts festival favourites like Mira Sorvino and John Cusack.

Vikaspa – is the spa where Kate Hudson, Robert Downey Jr. and Hilary Swank chill.

Thomas Hinds Tobacconist – attracts the likes of stogie sportin’ Alec Baldwin, Sean Penn or Charlie Sheen.

Kultura, is a multi-floor lounge where Jude Law, Vince Vaughn, Ethan Hawke, Sofia Coppola, Scarlett Johansson and Christina Ricci have all hung out.

Bistro 990, a French bistro, is one of the city’s biggest stomping grounds for visiting celebs like renowned Canadian director Norman Jewison (Moonstruck, In Country), Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn.

Note: These star gazing ops are more successful during film fests when Hollywood descends upon the beautiful Canadian haven of Toronto.

WRONG.

The Capital of Canada is…. drum roll here …. OTTAWA!

I felt like being a brat today.

That is all.

It is home to a variety of art and events at varying levels so you if show up without knowing what’s going on for the night, you may get anything from screaming performance artists to a more classic art exhibit. You never know and that is the beauty of this place. The crowd there is diverse so if you see some grannies or people over 30, and you can’t handle that (because you have some issues), check beforehand about what is going on. But really, people are people and it’s what’s INSIDE that counts so try to rid yourself of those shallow beliefs.

Surprise! If you’re looking to partake in some over 21 drinking, don’t expect that here. Go next door. I know it’s called an art BAR but oh well. Deal with that.

The Art Bar
1214 Queen Street West
Toronto M6J 1J6 Ontario
Canada
Phone: 416-531-4635

Note: The Art Bar Poetry Series is now held at Clinton’s, 693 Bloor Street West, by Christie subway station.

Les Amis
A Vegetarian Bed & Breakfast in Toronto /
Paul-Antoine & Michelle Buer
31 Granby St., Toronto, Ontario M5B 1H8 Canada.
Tel. (416)928-1348
Fax (416) 591-8546
Website and Rates (Canadian Dollars)
E-mail: les-amis@bbtoronto.com

2. Beaches – When thinking about Toronto, “beach” probably doesn’t come to mind but yes! There’s an area that can fill all your beach dreams albeit lake beach dreams.

3. Chinatown – How can you not visit the Chinatown? Grab a taste of lacquered duck or take in all the aromas of a place far, far away, but with the convenience of being right here in one of Canada’s most visited cities.

4. Don Valley – Nature lovers and active travelers will get a kick out of the bike paths, hiking trails and climbing areas of Don Valley.

5. Harbourfront Centre – Especially lively during the summer, the waterfront area if filled with live music and entertainment, festivals, kids camps and other activities that will keep you and your family busy and smiling.

6. Kensington Market – You’ll find this colorful of corner fruit stands, thrift stores and pubs, a fascinating meeting place for some of Toronto’s most interesting people. Every month the neighborhood blocks off the narrow streets for a Sunday afternoon festival celebrating the beauty of diversity with live music, dancing and food!

7. Riverdale Farm – Smack dab in the middle of Toronto’s Cabbagetown in the downtown area, is a 7.5 acre farm with wooded paths, flowered vegetable gardens and a variety of animals, including turkeys, ducks, geese, cows, horses, donkey, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens and rabbits. This is a great free opportunity to show your kids that chickens aren’t shaped like nuggets.

8. St. Lawrence Market and Market Gallery – Wander and visit, or just sit and people watch. The gallery space hosts changing art installations and exhibits of paintings, artifacts and furnishings that visually describe the history and culture of the area. Admission to the market and the gallery are free.

9. Toronto Islands – Check out the trails, picnic areas and beaches of the Toronto Islands. Explore the Gibraltar Point Lighthouse, or bask in the sun on the clothing-optional beach on the west side of Hanlan’s Point. For the sportif, baseball diamonds, volleyball courts and wading pools welcome you with open arms (if they had any).

10. Wednesdays at the Art Gallery of Ontario - 36,000 works of art in its collection, the AGO is gallery worth visiting. Wednesday evenings are free of charge between six and nine o’clock pm.

The “Dark Chocolate Tower” dessert is to die for and you can find it at the CN Tower’s revolving restaurant appropriately named, “360.” Don’t worry if you’re prone to motion sickness. The rotation speed isn’t like your salad spinner. It’s so slow you might not ever notice that your absolutely spectacular view is changing as you devour your meal. It takes 72 minutes for the whole restaurant to make a complete rotation, just in case you were wondering. Also if you were wondering, the restaurant sits more than 1,150 feet above Toronto.

Reservations are recommended and can be made online or by calling 416-362-5411

360 Restaurant at CN Tower
301 Front Street West
Toronto, Ontario M5V 2T6
Canada

In the heart of Downtown Toronto, right in between the Rogers Centre and the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on Front Street, just north of Bremner Blvd.

All we need, is a little text about your BnB, and a couple of pictures, email them today to: contact @ midoritech . com

The best part is that it’s absolutely free!
In the mean time check out my other sites about defiscalisation or assurance vie , they could save you some serious taxes.

“Toronto Symphony Orchestra: 3+ Concerts for $39 Each, Best Available Seats
August 9th, 2009 Posted in RedFlagDeals The Now or Never sale for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra is on now at TSO.ca. Until August 17th at 5PM EST, you can purchase tickets for 3 or more concerts in their upcoming season for $39 each per ticket. That’s certainly not the cheapest form of entertainment but for $39 you do get to choose from the best available seats in the house. As a bonus you’ll also get a free CD that highlights the upcoming season and an additional discount of 5% once the Now or Never sale is over.

What concerts can you choose from? Take a look at their 09.10 Season at a Glance brochure (PDF).

This deal Toronto Symphony Orchestra: 3+ Concerts for $39 Each, Best Available Seats was originally posted on RedFlagDeals.com – Your source for Canadian Deals, Free Coupons and Freebies.”

“The Federation of Canadian Municipalities has asked Canadian cities and towns to phase out the sale and purchase of bottled water on municipal property.

The federation board of directors passed the anti-bottle resolution at a meeting in Victoria on Saturday.

The move carries no legal weight and aims simply to encourage municipalities to speak out against bottled water and avoid distributing it when possible.

“It’s not a ban, we just try to educate our citizens that the water that you pay in your city is good — use it,” said FCM president Jean Perrault, the mayor of Sherbrooke, Que.

It takes a lot of energy to produce the bottles themselves, Perrault said, and despite being recyclable about half of the bottles sold end up in landfills — at a direct cost to local governments.

But there’s also the personal expense, he said.

“Buying a bottle of water costs approximately $2.50. The cost to produce water in the city? I can fill up 6,000 little bottles for the price of $2.50,” Perrault said.

Twenty-seven Canadian municipalities have already phased out the sale of bottled water on their properties.

Pam McConnell, a Toronto city councillor, described what goes on at Toronto City Hall. “You’d see glasses on the tables, you’d see jugs of water from the tap, you’d see people happily drinking them at their desks and committee meetings,” McConnell said.

Ontario’s provincial association of municipalities has also encouraged its members to use tap water, and 21 Canadian universities and colleges have created bottle-free zones.

“It’s a way to say our water is good, our water is safe and our water is paid for,’” McConnell said.”

“Dogs are now banned from Toronto’s Lake Ontario beaches but there remains a persistent problem of some 3,000 Canada geese defecating every few minutes.

Carol Guy of the City of Toronto’s Waterfowl Management Program said the recent ban of dogs is a small step toward reducing E. coli contamination along some 30 miles of the lakefront but the stubborn goose population that doesn’t migrate south for the winter is still a headache, the Toronto Sun reported.

“Each bird defecates every 6 minutes and that is approximately … 1 pound of goose poo every day,” Guy said. “You multiply that by 3,000 and it’s a considerable impact.”

The city has a program in which workers coat goose eggs with mineral oil to prevent them from hatching but Environment Canada waterfowl biologist Jack Hughes said it’s a losing battle.

“They’re definitely increasing,” he told the Sun. “We’ve estimated presently that they’re increasing at about 8 percent per year.”

Some 1,300 geese were captured, caged and relocated by trucks from city parks last year, and the city also pays a woman with four trained dogs to herd the flocks away from beaches, the report said.”

“Canada’s telecoms regulator, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is in the midst of a network neutrality proceeding, and the responses that rolled in this week were vociferous. Several ISPs and music groups objected to any such rules, arguing that they might stop ISPs from implementing all sorts of wonderful policies such as P2P upload throttling, website blocking, and graduated response rules.

One of the more interesting responses came from an ISP called Videotron, which told the CRTC that controlling access to content “peut être bénéfique non seulement pour les utilisateurs de services Internet mais pour la société en général”—that is, “could be beneficial not only to users of Internet services but to society in general.”

Continue reading

The Louis Vuitton ad campaign for the Stephen Sprouse collection is really amazing, and it´s a great branding tool too. All around the world, LV shops are using graffiti to promote this long-awaited collection which is already a big sales hit.

To promote the launch of the Louis Vuitton book that pays tribute to Stephen Sprouse, they´ve got legendary graffiti artist Skam to paint an LV mural in Toronto.

“Rejoice, Toronto film fans! Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz director Edgar Wright has taken up residence here in our fair city and is soon to be taking over the Bloor Cinema with a series of hosted screenings. What’s he bringing? Well, on Saturday, February 28th Wright will be hosting a night of his own work, screening a double bill of Shaun and Fuzz along with an uncut version of his Grindhouse trailer Don’t. The only thing missing is A Fistful Of Fingers, don’t hold out on us Edgar! How to follow that up? Well, the very next day Wright will be presenting – both on 35 mm – a double bill of Shaolin Soccer and legendary gore-fu flick The Story of Ricky! Pig entrails on the big screen! Hurray! As for the rest of the series, there’s still a slot or two to be filled, but here’s the list as it currently stands:

Mar. 8th: 7pm The Wanderers / 9:30pm – The Warriors
Mar. 14th: 9:45pm – Head
Mar. 15th: 7pm Dames / 9pm – Phantom of the Paradise TBC
Mar. 22nd: 5pm – Spaced Marathon TBC
April. 5th: 7pm Five Fingers Of Death TBC/ 9:30pm Drunken Master 2
April 12th: 7pm The Brood / 9pm Last Night “

“There’s a new fast food eatery in town! Their name is Smoke’s Poutinerie and poutines are the only thing you will find there. The poutine lovers (me, crazyDiva, and tooVee) drove all the way downtown to check it out. We had high expectations for their poutine since it was the only dish they specialized in. After spending 10 minutes hunting down a parking spot, we hopped out of the car with big smiles on our faces, excited for the worst combination of grease you can ask for.

Strategically placed in the heart of the entertainment district (218 Adeladie Street W.), they are open until 4:00 am for drunks to get fat on after their night of…”

Continue reading

“Torontonians are justifiably proud of their vibrant and exciting metropolis. Canada’s largest city and its financial hub, Toronto has a tremendous amount to offer, including a thriving theater, music, and arts scene, top museums, world class restaurants and shops, a beautiful lakeside location with lovely beaches and streets safe and inviting to walk along. Its cultural diversity – over 90 ethnic groups are represented in Toronto – enhances the urban experience.”

The Top 10 Guides use exciting colorful photography and excellent cartography to provide a reliable and useful pocket-sized travel. This Top 10 list provides vital information on Toronto, as well as insider tips, from avoiding the crowds to finding out the must-have freebies. To be released on March 30, 2009.

Click here to Order Top 10 Toronto

Toronto – “A 16-year-old Toronto student showed some real grit Wednesday and really impressed some potential employers, says The Canadian Press.

Initial reports of a gun being seen prompted Emergency Task Force teams to search the collegiate.”

[via]

On July 30, 2003, close to a half a million people gathered in Toronto for one of the most spectacular concerts of all time in fact, the largest ticketed single-day event in history. The Rolling Stones headlined the show, accompanied by 13 other acts, including AC/DC, Rush, the Guess Who, and Justin Timberlake. Now, this amazing day has been captured on DVD. Who steals the show? The Isley Brothers, led by founding singer Ronald and axeman Ernie, who blaze through “Who’s That Lady” and their classic “Shout” with a band of lock-tight musicians and dancers.

The DVD includes the kind of full-size color booklet every concert disc should come with, a choice of Dolby Digital 5.1 surround and uncompressed PCM stereo sound (both great), and a dose of “bonus” backstage ballyhoo. A unique extra is the director’s broadcast call of the camera shots for AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck,” revealing the frantic, real-time demands of a live shoot.

Find out more about Toronto Rocks and order it

If you are interested in what goes on behind the scenes of creating a ballet you will be thrilled to get this DVD. You will see that the people involved have so much fun when they are making a new ballet. Karen admits that her life was not as dramatic or sexy or funny every day as it is in this piece, but still, it’s based on a lot of true things about my world and about what I experienced and have experienced. So to create this character she was half inspired by real life and half inspired by her own imagination. She was 43 years old when she did this film and was still very beautiful. She still is today, for that matter.

Get more information

Get some coffee that’s better than Starbucks

Description: 3 foot by 5 foot lightweight Polyester Flag w/sharp colors. Has 2 metal Gromments for easy mounting & a Canvas Hem for long lasting strength. Express Shipping for Domesic (USA) is Overnite 98% of the time, otherwise 2-day; for International it is shipped Global Express Mail 2-4 Days. We are fast shippers, all orders are shipped within 1 business day, most of the time the same day if payment is cleared by noon CST.

Get one now

Order now and if the Amazon.com price decreases between your order time and the end of the day of the release date, you’ll receive the lowest price.

That is a deal, isn’t it?

Order Frommer’s Toronto 2009 now

“Superb, wonderfully fresh middle eastern eats (especially the namesake dish) purveyed by friendly, helpful people, draw crowds to this cheerful, contemporary midtowner. The tiny spot’s success has resulted in line-ups out the door, so waits are to be expected.”

Tabule Restaurant
2009 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON
Call for Reservations: 416-800-1375
email: info@tabule.ca
Website: Tabule Restaurant

“A Canadian court has ruled that obese people have the right to two seats on airlines.

The Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal by WestJet (Web site: www.westjet.com) and Air Canada on a decision by the Canadian Transportation Agency that people who are obese deserve to have two seats for one fare.

Currently, the policy exists on other types of public transportation such as buses, ferries and trains.

The policy for airlines will come into effect in January 2009.”

Amid a growing food crisis, this morning workers from the City of Toronto were ordered by City of Toronto Parks Director Richard Ubbens that all live plants and food be removed from the People’s Peas Garden in Queens Park. They were ordered to take the plants and food to the dump and lay sod overtop of this most beautiful free community food garden, without warning, without a chance to remove the rare heirloom plant species or harvest the food.

Read the full article

“Canadian street artists Fauxreel and Specter have renovated an old warehouse into a dilapidated fake urban wonderland.

The artists fear that the practice of tearing down old buildings and putting up brand-new condos is destroying their city’s cultural history. Even the building the show is housed in is scheduled to be knocked down to make way for new apartments. A City Renewal Project is up until November 23, at inconsistent hours, so check the website for details. “ [source]

Why Everybody Hates Toronto

Pregnant belly art
Neck tattoo
Painted hand
Just in time for Halloween: Henna Tattoos on Jackolanterns.

Sorry due to copyright issue we can’t give you the website address of the wonderful artist anymore.

The Canadian Regime: An Introduction to Parliamentary Government in Canada

Looking for space to exhibit during the CONTACT 09 Photography Festival? SHOW AND SELL YOUR WORK AT THE GLADSTONE!

The Gladstone Hotel in collaboration with Toronto’s SpeakEasy Event will once again produce a group exhibition entitled EXPOSED for the CONTACT Toronto Photography Festival, which takes place in May 2009.

EXPOSED: Innovation, Transformation, Revolution will showcase the work of contemporary photographers (both established and emerging). In keeping with CONTACT 2009’s thematic focus; STILL REVOLUTION, EXPOSED will showcase photographic works ranging “from reportage to abstraction, documented fact to constructed fiction exploring photography through its many complex and ever evolving manifestations.” The exhibition will be co-produced by the Gladstone Hotel and SpeakEasy and curated by Chris Mitchell and David Brown.

The Gladstone Hotel is renting second floor exhibition rooms and gallery space to individuals or groups of photographers interested in participating in this Marque event. We invite innovative, cutting-edge photographers to submit expressions of interest.

Dates & Details:

Show Date: Thursday May 7 – Sunday May 31, 2009

Gallery Hours: 12pm-5pm Daily

Opening Reception: May 7, 2009 7pm-10pm

Installation Dates: May 6 and 7

Submission Deadline: Sunday Nov 16, 2008

Signed Contract and Deposit: Due Dec 1, 2008

Submission Fee: Free

Show Location: Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen Street West Toronto, ON 416-531-4635 www.gladstonehotel.com

Participation Fees & Display Opportunities:
Option #1: EXHIBITION ROOM $1200.00* (Tax Incl)/room
- 1 of 9 Exhibition Rooms which open on to the hotel’s main gallery space.
- includes full month exhibition space rental and CONTACT registration
– No commission on sales.
- Photographers may collaborate to share space and rental costs.

Option #2: ASSIGNED WALL SPACE in Main Reception Gallery $200* + GST/space
- 1 of 12 Assigned Wall Spaces to accommodate individual works or groupings of small pieces.

Why should you participate?

* EXPOSED will be a registered CONTACT Festival exhibition listed in the CONTACT 2009 guide and website

* The Gladstone has become a destination venue for CONTACT visitors, drawing significant crowds for the past 4 years. The hotel will host several CONTACT registered exhibitions during the month long festival.

* Exhibition and individual participants will be promoted in Gladstone Bag e-newsletter and Gladstone website Event Listings as well as featured on Gladstone Hotel website Exhibition Page and Gladstone Exhibition Press Release

* Showcase your work in the bright, beautiful spaces and newly restored Victorian grandeur of the Gladstone
* Gallery hours 7 days a week

The Gladstone is committed to providing participants with a rewarding and fulfilling experience including:

FOCUS – on established and emerging artists with a range of aesthetic sensibilities.

EXCLUSIVITY – In the unique exhibition setting of our historic hotel, the physical size, focus, and mandate of the exhibition will provide the opportunity for every participant to shine.

EXPOSURE – The Gladstone and SpeakEasy Events have successful track records of drawing attendees to exhibitions including Toronto and international press, local and international arts industry professionals, curators, gallery owners, collectors, patrons, and the general public.

CONNECTIONS – The Gladstone and SpeakEasy Events focus on creating networking opportunities for artists with various press and industry professionals as a primary exhibition objective. This focus is seen as a hallmark of success by many past exhibition participants.

These connections are enhanced by advance marketing that includes press releases, personal invitations, and an Opening Evening Reception hosted by the hotel.

ACCESSIBILITY – Participation costs for exhibitors are minimal compared to more commercial events. The Hotel takes no commissions on sales.

Interested in showing your work?

Submitting work for consideration is easy. Show us what you got, and what you want to do.

Email us samples of your work (max. 5 digital files), along with a short bio and a description of the work you will be presenting. Do not send originals!

Please include the following with your submission:

Name or Name of group

Contact information (phone, email)

Website

Email submissions to:

David Brown, david@blttogo.com and Chris Mitchell, chrism@gladstonehotel.com

*Participation Fees are only paid if your work is selected to be part of the show. A 50% deposit is due with signed contract on Dec 1, 2008 Balance of participation fees are due April 1, 2009

“Two of Canada’s biggest telephone companies, Bell Canada Enterprises and Telus Corp., have began charging their customers for incoming unsolicited text messages on their cellphones, and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper is passing legislation to end what he calls an unfair practice, says a Thursday report. Harper would allow the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to block unfair charges and the telecommunications act would be amended to include a code of conduct for wireless services.

A spokesman from the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association says a ban on unsolicited commercial text messages, or spam texts, is unnecessary, as cell-phone spam in Canada is virtually non-existent. Bell charges anywhere from 10 cents to a dollar for incoming texts, depending on which company sends it, but will cancel the fees at a customer’s strong request, provided the incoming message are clearly identifiable as unsolicited.

At the same time, Harper says loosening ownership restrictions in Canada’s telecommunications industry is not a wise move at the current economically tough times. A government-appointed competition panel in June suggested the industry should be opened up to foreign investors, but Harper believes opening up the market would hurt Canada’s economy, though he admits it would encourage competition.

Harper is under pressure from opposing parties to address such consumer issues, which also extend to other industries.” [source]

September 22 – Affordable power for the busiest printing environment – Learn about what Xerox printers can do in your Mac or mixed enviroment office. Location: Computer Systems Centre Store, Main Floor, 275 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5T 1S2 – more info

September 23 – Introduction to the Wacom Tablet Family on the Mac – Come in and learn about important differences between the various models of Wacom tablets available for your Mac. Location: Computer Systems Centre Store, Main Floor, 275 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5T 1S2 – more info

September 23 – Colour Calibration for Mac Graphic Artists – Learn how to calibrate your display for accurate colour reproduction. Location: Computer Systems Centre Store, Main Floor, 275 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5T 1S2 – more info

September 24 – Your Media On Your TV – Learn about how to enjoy your multimedia content in your living room! We’ll discuss the Apple TV and how it can bring you into the digital age. Location: Computer Systems Centre Store, Main Floor, 275 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5T 1S2 – more info

September 24 – Intro to Music Production and Recording on a Mac – Learn how to set up your very own digital audio workstation as we run through the basics of recording and producing music with a Macintosh. Location: BeamEcho formerly, CPUsed, Sales Floor, 26a Cumberland Street, Toronto, Ontario M4W 1J5 – more info

September 24 – Introduction to Logic Express – for those curious about audio recording on the Mac and is ready for a step up from Garage Band. Location: Computer Systems Centre Store, Main Floor, 275 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5T 1S2 – more info

September 25 – iPod + iTunes Workshop – for anyone interested in learning how to convert existing audio and video into high quality iTunes and iPod experiences. Location: BeamEcho formerly, CPUsed, Sales Floor, 26a Cumberland Street, Toronto, Ontario M4W 1J5 – more info

September 25 – Managing Your Money on Your Mac With Money Works – for people wanting to learn to use their Mac to help them manage their finances. Location: Computer Systems Centre Store, Main Floor, 275 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5T 1S2 – more info

Generally speaking, it is a basic batter using a fish broth rather than water, eggs and rice flour or wheat flour. Added to that are thin strips of cabbage, green onions, beni shouga (pickled ginger), thinly sliced pork belly, shrimp, chicken or whatever meat you want. Topping it would be an otafuku sauce (like a tonkatsu or thick steak sauce) or mayo, katsuobushi (shaved dried bonito) and aonori (seaweed). The famous Hiroshima okonomiyaki features yakisoba noodles on top with an egg.

Not only is it yummilicious, it’s nutritious so don’t worry about your waistline or the scary side of food. In any case, most Japanese food is pretty healthful, which is likely why the Japanese live the longest. At Okonomi House in Toronto, which is a very authentic Japanese restaurant, you will have a singular authentic Japanese dining experience. With reasonable prices, make sure to orde thirst quenching, tasty Asahi or Sapporo beers…

Okonomi House
23 Charles St W (Yorkville)
Toronto, ON M4Y Canada
Telephone: 416.925.6176

“The only thing worse than seeing an airline go out of business, is watching it unfold while you are at the airport waiting to get on one of their flights. That is the unfortunate situation many passengers of Canadian airline Zoom found themselves in yesterday.

Zoom took off in May 2002 and was founded by 2 brothers who wanted to introduce low cost international travel to Canada with a fleet of 5 Boeing aircraft. The airline flew various routes from Canada to the United States, The UK, France and Italy.

One of the Boeing 757′s leased by Zoom was stranded in Glasgow and impounded when Zoom failed to pay the required air traffic control fee. Another 213 passengers were stuck in Halifax while volunteers attempted to find alternative ways to help them get to their final destination of Ottawa. Zoom naturally blames the loss of their airline on rising fuel costs and a general ecomonic downturn. They are they the 36th airline in the world to close this year according to a list posted on Wikipedia.

Sadly there really are no good tips on what to do when you are stuck at an airport after your airline goes bankrupt. All I can suggest is that you have the phone numbers for other airlines and hotel chains programmed in your phone, the quicker you get in touch with them for an alternative flight, or for a room where you can spend the night, the greater your chances are of getting home before anyone else. It is in times like this that you’ll also learn to appreciate the importance of paying for your tickets by credit card, which might help you get your money back. Don’t depend on the airline to provide you with information when things go sour, most of their staff will be the first to leave the building once they hear their employer is going under.”

“CityFlitz, a Toronto-based marketing company that provides advertisers with a fleet of MINI Coopers, MINI Cooper Clubmans and Smart cars that are wrapped with attention-grabbing graphics and logos that act as mobile billboards, launched their auto-sharing service in the GTA today.

For just $1 a day, members of CityFlitz will have access to its fleet of cars, wrapped in an advertisement from one of its clients, Yahoo! Canada.

“Using the CityFlitz fleet of wrapped MINI Coopers for our latest campaign was a viable and effective channel to reach our target audience in a way that is measurable,” said David Soyka, Yahoo! Marketing Manager. “Having the cars on the road 24/7 gives us the opportunity to offer a unique consumer experience and reach a broader audience in a more cost effective and creative way.”

Unlike other auto-sharing companies, high mileage is not an issue for CityFlitz. In order to access the $1/day CityFlitz cars, members are required to drive the vehicle at least 30 kilometres each day, with unlimited mileage within the city after that.

“The reason why our rental fee can be so low is the fact that our advertisers want to have their branded cars on the road so they can achieve maximum exposure to their target audience,” said Andreas Kotal, President and CEO of CityFlitz. “We are able to offer this exceptional value of $1/day rentals to consumers as part of the agreement to maximize exposure of a client’s branding.”

CityFlitz vehicles are also accessorized with the latest technological gadgets for use by the renter and the advertiser. At no extra cost to the renter, each vehicle comes with access to Wi-Fi High Speed Internet that make experiencing a CityFlitz vehicle more enjoyable. For the advertiser, each car is equipped with a GPS tracking system which enables them to have access to real time information about the use of the car, giving them measurable results for their marketing purposes.

Renters will be able to use the vehicles within the GTA. Once consumers have registered with CityFlitz, they will be able to use the vehicles for up to one week at a time.

CityFlitz plans to expand their auto-sharing service to include Vancouver in the near future. Drivers interested in becoming a member of CityFlitz can sign up at www.cityflitz.com. “

“Oh you lucky, lucky people. The first wave of titles for this year’s edition of the Toronto After Dark Festival was announced today and you are in for a treat this year! Festival director Adam Lopez and his team, including our lord and master Todd, have put together another fine selection of films for your viewing pleasure and horror and wonder. These titles will already be familiar to Twitch viewers and if you haven’t had the chance to catch yet you can do so in October.

WHO IS KK DOWNEY?
“A cult, quirky breakout…absolutely hysterical” – Variety
Darren Curtis and Pat Kiely, Canada, Toronto Premiere
In this mutliple festival award-winning new comedy in the vein of cult classics WITHNAIL AND I and SPINAL TAP, bickering failed musicians Theo and Terrence try to win fame and fortune by pulling the biggest con of their lives. They publish a biography about KK DOWNEY, a bizarre cult figure with an amazing life-story, but who doesn’t actually exist. When their book, entitled TRUCK STOP HUSTLER, becomes a surprise best-seller, the duo find themselves having to impersonate the drug-addled KK at numerous VIP functions with dark and hilarious consquences.
Winner, Best Picture – Boston Underground Film Festival”

“What exactly was he planning to do with 2,865 bicycles?

“The police are baffled by what Igor Kenk planned to do with such a surplus of bikes.

There is no discernible pattern to the bicycles in the Kenk collection, which includes several children’s bicycle trailers and at least one toddler-size tricycle. But not everything is old, incomplete or damaged. Along two walls of the garage are dozens of packing cases filled with a product that is either appropriate or preposterous, given the circumstances: new bicycle locks.”

“Canadians who may have become tired of being passed over as porn stars will have a new, home-grown outlet to showcase their erotic talents.

The CRTC received no interventions in connection with the application, which was initially launched in October 2007.”

“The University of Toronto and IBM Corp (IBM.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) are building Canada’s most powerful supercomputer, a mammoth machine that will need its own building for storage and will be capable of performing 360 trillion calculations per second.

It’s expected the system will be among the top 20 fastest supercomputers in the world and the largest outside the United States. It will be able to store data equivalent to that held by one million regular DVDs.

The entire budget of the project, which includes construction and operating costs, is just under C$50 million ($47 million) over five years.

Its power is roughly equivalent to “30,000 to 40,000 home computers linked together,” said Chris Pratt, strategic initiatives executive at IBM Canada.

“The kind of interconnect between parts of the system will allow the equivalent of two full-length feature DVD movies to be moved around in the space of a second,” he said.

It will be a big boost to scientists at the University of Toronto and its associated research hospitals, as it will help tackle projects in an array of areas from aerospace and astrophysics to climate change prediction and medical imaging.

Among the research, the system will be used to explore the modern scientific mystery of why matter has mass and what constitutes the mass of the universe.

Funding is being provided by the Canadian Foundation for Innovation, in partnership with the province of Ontario and the university.

Building the supercomputer will involve the largest implementation of IBM’s iDataPlex system, which holds twice as many processors per unit as standard systems and is entirely water-cooled. More than 4,000 servers will be linked together.

“Every aspect of the system has been put together to be the most powerful and yet the most energy-efficient,” Pratt said.

A data center will be built just north of Toronto. Installation will begin in the autumn and it’s expected the supercomputer will be fully operational by next summer.”

Biodynamic farming and gardening combines common-sense agriculture, an understanding of ecology, and the specific environment of a given place with a new spiritual scientific approach to the concepts, principles, and practices of agriculture. From biodynamics.ca

Feast of Fields farm has been certified biodynamic by Demeter Canada since 1996. The Biodynamic method goes beyond organic in a sincere effort to enliven the farm entity through growing in harmony with nature and working towards the goal of a self sufficient farm entity.

During the growing season, visit Feast of Fields at Riverdale Park Farmers Market on Tuesday 3-7 pm, Dufferin Grove Thursdays from 3-7pm, The Brickworks Saturday 8 -1 am or Withrow Park Saturdays from 9-1 pm. Feast of Fields also maintains a B&B cottage.

Feast of Fields Biodynamic Vineyard
RR # 1 St Catharines
Ontario Canada L2R 6P7
email: laura-sabourin@sympatico.ca

Check it out here

Products and cooking equipment under kosher supervision are given regular inspections to ensure rigorous compliance with the Kashruth laws. A person known as the mashgiach does the actual supervision. A Hechsher (certifying mark) can be found to identify kosher foods and serving locations.

Below you’ll find some of the best kosher restaurants in Toronto (D=Dairy M=Meat P=Parve):

Central

Brooklyn Pizza (D), 3016 B Bathurst St Toronto Ontario M6B3B6, 416.789.4085
Colonel Wong Restaurant (M), 2825 Bathurst St Toronto Ontario M6B3A4, 416.784.9664
The Fortune Cookie (M), 2835 Bathurst St Toronto Ontario M6B 3A4
HaKotel (M), 1045 Steeles Ave W Toronto Ontario M2R2S9, 416.736.7227
Kosher Pizza Delight (formerly Jerusalem One) (D), 3028 Bathurst St Toronto Ontario M6B3B6, 416.256.7115
King David Pizza, Bourekas, Falafel (D), 3020 Bathurst St Toronto Ontario M6B3B6
Noam Malka (M), Lawrence/Bathurst Plaza-Hot Dog Cart Toronto Ontario
Not Just Yogurt (D), 2997 Bathurst St Toronto Ontario M6B3B3, 416.783.7604
Omni 2 – Jewellery & Java (D), 2793 Bathurst St Toronto Ontario M6B3A7
Perl’s Bais Burger (M), 3015 Bathurst St Toronto Ontario, 416.787-.4234
Shalom Shanghai (M), 3022 Bathurst St Toronto Ontario M6B3B6

Downtown

Oasis Cafe & Health Bar (D), 2 First Canadian Place, Exchange Tower, Toronto ON M5X1A6, 416.368.8805
Olde Spadina Ave (M), Air Canada Center & Rogers Center, Toronto Ontario, 416.823.6313

Midtown

Bistro Grande (D), 1000 Eglinton Ave W Toronto Ontario M6C2C5
Gladstones Bar & Grill (M – formal), 398 Eglinton Ave W Toronto Ontario M5N1A2, 416.487.9500

North York

Amazing Donuts (P), 3772 Bathurst St Toronto Ontario M3H3M6, 416.398.7546
Baycrest Cafeterias (D, M), 3560 Bathurst St Ontario, 416.789.5131
Chicken Nest (M), 3038 Bathurst St Toronto Ontario M6B4K2
Dairy Treats European Cafe/Bakery (D), 3522 Bathurst St Toronto Ontario M6A2C6, 416.787.0309
Isaac’s Bakery & Cafe (D), 221 Wilmington Ave Toronto Ontario 416.630.1678; and
3390 Bathurst St Toronto Ontario M6A2B9, 416.789.7587
King David/Country Style Coffee (D), 219 Wilmington Ave Toronto Ontario M3H5J9, 416.636.3456
King Solomons Table (M – formal), 3705 Chesswood Dr Toronto Ontario M3J2P6, 416.630.1666
King Kosher Pizza, Burekas & Falafel (D), 3774 Bathurst St Toronto Ontario M3H3M6
Marky’s Restaurant & Deli (M), 280 Wilson Ave Toronto Ontario M3H1S8, 416.638.1081
Milk ‘n Honey Restaurant (D), 3457 Bathurst St Toronto Ontario M6A2C5, 416.789.7651
Rachel’s Centre Cafe (D), Bathurst Jewish Centre 4588 Bathurst St Toronto Ontario M2R1W6
Second Cup (Baycrest) (D), 3560 Bathurst St ext 2871 Toronto Ontario M6A2E1
Second Cup (BJC) (D, 4588 Bathurst St Toronto Ontario M2R1W6, 416.636.1880

Uptown

Country Style Kosher Coffee (D), Winter’s College, York University 4700 Keele St Toronto Ontario
Tov-Li Pizza & Falafel Ltd (D), 5982 Bathurst St Toronto Ontario M2R1Z1, 416.650.9800

North

Cafe Sheli (D), 7700 Bathurst St Thornhill Ontario L4J7Y3, 905.762.0640
Cookoos Inc (M), 7241 Bathurst St Thornhill Ontario L4J3W1
Fine Touch Catering (M), 927 Clark Ave W Thornhill Ontario L4J8G6, 905.889.2690
Golden Chopsticks Chinese Food (M), 7000 Bathurst St Unit C-6 Thornhill Ontario L4J7L1, 905.760.2786
King David Pizza, Bourekas, Falafel (D), 531 Atkinson Ave Unit 3 Thornhill Ontario L4J8L7, 905.771.7077
Kosher King (M), 7000 Bathurst St Unit C1 Thornhill Ontario L4J7P2, 905.760.1118
Miami Grill (M), 441 Clark Ave W Thornhill Ontario L4J6W7, 905.709.0096
My Zaidy’s Pizza (D), 441 Clark Ave W Thornhill Ontario L4J6W8
Not Just Yogurt (D), 7117 Bathurst St Unit 109 Thornhill Ontario L4J2J6, 905.889.1598
Yehudale’s Falafel & Pizza (D), 7241 Bathurst St Thornhill Ontario L4J3W1, 905.889.1400

What can you buy?

- Fresh fruit and vegetables, baked goods, dairy products and free-range eggs
- Bulk grains, flours, seeds, spreads, dried fruits and nuts
- Frozen foods,including organically raised meat
- Renett-free cheese
- Bulk grains, dried fruits & nuts
- Coffees and teas, coffee substitutes, herbal teas and fresh spices
- Canned and packaged foods
- Household and personal care items (dental and skin care products, supplements)
- Environment-friendly cleaning products

Interested in becoming a member? Only members can shop at Karma Co-op. But you can do a one-time trial shop to try us out before joining (payment in cash only). Join Karma

Karma Coop
739 Palmerston Avenue
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6G 2R3
(416) 534-1470
Hours: M: 11am-7pm; T,W,Th: 11am-9pm; F: 10am-9pm; Sa: 10am-6pm; Su: 11am-5pm

The Bloor Cinema is a host for gobs of film festivals, movie premieres, special gala events, classic films and Hollywood blockbusters. They showcase a variety of perspectives from across Canada and around the world: independent films, fascinating stories, important documentaries and sometimes just wild, unbridled entertainment.

This historic landmark should be a must-see item on your list when visiting Toronto, whether you go see a movie or not. LOVE this place.

Browsing tonight’s listing, I noticed that Ghost World (with Thora Birch, Scarlett Johansson and Steve Buscemi) is playing. Don’t miss that excellent film!

Bloor Cinema
506 Bloor Street West,
Toronto ON M5S1Y2 Canada
(416) 516-2331

Pizza Amato – 380 College Street , Toronto ON M5T1S6, (416) 972-6286

Pizza Banfi – 333B Lonsdale Road, Toronto, ON, M5P1R3, (416) 322-5231

Chico’s Pizza – 701 St. Clair Ave West, Toronto, ON, M6C 1B2, (416) 658-4000

Cora Pizza – 656A Spadina Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5S2H7, (416) 922-1188

Magic Oven – 270 Dupont Street, Toronto, ON, M5R1V7, (416) 928-1555 *Uses mostly organic ingredients and is very vegan/vegetarian/lactose-free friendly.

The Big Slice – 385 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON, M5B1S1, (416) 977-8451

Kismet Pizza – 1962 Eglinton Avenue West, York, ON, M6E2J9, (416) 782-0782

Massimo Pizza & Pasta – 302 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5T1R9, (416) 967-0527

Vesuvio Pizzeria & Spaghetti House – 3014 Dundas Street West , Toronto ON M6P1Z3, (416) 763-4191

Live Green Toronto

Look for your meetup group here

1. Go to Cherry Beach – Cherry Beach is a “blue flag” beach, meaning, it has been deemed safe and environmentally sound. It’s respected and recognized international eco-label. Find this cool lakeside park at the foot of Cherry Street just south of Unwin Avenue. More info.

2. Go swimming – There are many pools around the greater metropolitan Toronto area. Check them out here.

3. Eat the best gelato in Toronto. ‘nuf said.

4. Go to the movies – movie theatres are cool as cucumbers.

5. Water Slide! – at the Delta Chelsea. You have to be a guest at the hotel, however.

6. Go to the mall – There’s always Yorkdale but you have lots o choices.

7. Use Common Sense in the heat – Wear light, loose, comfortable cotton clothes; keep yourself hydrated (drink lots of water and natural fruit juices and cold herb teas); avoid overextenuating activity that can cause heat stroke; never leave children or pets inside a car; wear hats and stay in the shade if outdoors; eat light meals.

Dolce Gelato
697 College St. (Little Italy)
Toronto, ON M6G 1C2 Canada
Telephone: 416-915-0756

Go crazy shopping at more than 240 shops. I am a huge fan of H&M and so you’ll see me spend most of my time there, and the Apple Store too.

Yorkdale Mall
1 Yorkdale Road, Suite 500
Toronto, Ontario M6A 3A1
Canada
Hours
Monday – Friday: 10am – 9pm
Saturday: 9:30am – 9pm
Sunday: 11am – 6pm
Note: Monday August 4th, 2008 – Civic Day – The Mall is open 10am to 6pm.

Yorkdale Shopping Centre is closed:

Friday March – Good Friday
Sunday March/April – Easter Sunday
May – Victoria Day
July – Canada Day
September – Labour Day
October – Thanksgiving Day
December 25 – Christmas Day
January 1 – New Years Day

Today, the walk is through Bâby Point to learn about 10,000 Years of History, but the walk won’t take 10,000 years, rest assured. Explore some of Toronto’s First Nations and French history with this tour of the area named after the estate of James Bâby, an early French settler. Hear about the Seneca village of Teiaiagon, the Carrying Place trail and the first French fort in what is now Toronto. Tours will be offered in English and French. It all begins at 1:30pm today so if you can make it, you won’t regret the last minute plans. The walk will last approximately 2 to 2.5 hours. Meet at the southwest corner of Jane St and Bâby Point Rd/Annette St. You will end your walk near Old Mill Subway Station.

July 26 – 1:00pm – 3pm – you’ll find yourself in the footsteps of black Victorians. In the 19th century, Toronto was a centre of antislavery organizations and Black cultural and political activities. Hear about the men and women of the community as we visit some of the sites known to them. Meet at South St. Lawrence Market, 95 Front St E at Jarvis. End at Mackenzie House, 82 Bond St, S of Dundas St.

August through October

AUGUST
Lambton Mills (Aug 9 2008 – 1:30pm)
African-Canadian Women in Early Toronto (Aug 10 2008 – 1:00pm)
Cabbagetown People: Discoveries of Remarkable Lives (Aug 16 2008 – 1:30pm)
The Royal Alexandra Theatre and Its Neighbourhood (Aug 17 2008 – 11:00am)
Faces on Places: Gargoyles and Other Architectural Ornament (Aug 23 2008 – 1:30pm)
Edwards Gardens and Wilket Creek (Aug 24 2008 – 1:30pm)
Colourful Corktown (Aug 24 2008 – 1:30pm)

SEPTEMBER
Spadina: The Story of an Estate & Its Neighbourhood (Sep 6 2008 – 1:30pm)
The Guild Inn Gardens (Sep 7 2008 – 1:30pm)
Weston Side Story – All Around the Town (Sep 13 2008 – 1:00pm)
Yorkville (Sep 14 2008 – 11:00am)
Imagining Toronto’s Past – CANCELLED (Sep 20 2008 – 1:30pm)
Wellington Place Neighbourhood (Sep 21 2008 – 1:30pm)
Historic Moore Park (Sep 27 2008 – 1:30pm)
Fort York: 200 Years of Lakefront Development (Sep 28 2008 – 1:30pm)

OCTOBER
Exhibition Place: Ghostly Secrets Revealed (Oct 3 2008 – 7:00pm)
Swansea: The Country in the City (Oct 4 2008 – 1:30pm)
Thomson Pioneer Settlement (Oct 5 2008 – 1:30pm)

More information about Heritage Toronto Walks

[via]

These magnificently exposed layers of rock reveal the world’s most complete fossil record of life in the “Coal Age” when lush forests covered Joggins and much of the world’s tropics, 300 million years ago.|

Preserved in situ at Joggins, “Coal Age” trees stand where they grew, the footprints of creatures are frozen where they once walked, the dens of amphibians are preserved with remnants of their last meal, and the earliest reptiles remain entombed within once hollow trees. Nowhere is this record of plant, invertebrate and vertebrate life within now fossilized forests rendered more evocatively.

The fossil record includes species first defined at Joggins, some of which are found nowhere else on earth. It was here that Sir Charles Lyell, with Sir William Dawson, founder of modern geology, discovered tetrapods — amphibians and reptiles — entombed in the upright fossil trees. Later work by Dawson would reveal the first true reptile, Hylonomus lyelli, ancestor of all dinosaurs that would rule the earth 100 million years later. This tiny reptile serves as the reference point where animals finally broke free of the water to live on land. This evolutionary milestone recorded at Joggins remains pivotal to understanding the origins of all vertebrate life on land, including our own species.

With careful observation and interpretation, you may find your own missing piece of time’s puzzle. As you explore the beach at Joggins, remember that every rock holds the possibility of discovery. [source]

This week, Collected Wisdom is driving to the supermarket in its luxury Globe and Mail company car — a 1978 AMC Gremlin. But do we reverse into that parking space or drive forward into it?

“I was reading a book that mentioned that bell-bottom pants were long associated with the Royal Navy,” says John Manuel of Golden, B.C. He wonders if there was a functional reason for this.

Gandhi’s Roti
554 Queen West, Toronto
Toronto ON M5V3P2
(416) 504-8155

Other rotis in Toronto: Roti Hut on Pitfield, Tarin Roti Shop on Gerrard east of Parliament in Regent Park, Patty King on the south side of Baldwin, Blue Water on Vic Park n of Eglinton, Island Foods at King and Dufferin, Bacchus and Ali’s on Queen West, and Roti Lady in Parkdale, Drupati’s at 925 Albion Road, Roti Roti on Islington, Alima’s, Village on the Grange on Dundas and University, Don Mills on Don Mills north of Lawrence, Caffeteria at the Bay at Yonge & Queen, Coconut Grove, Dundas east of University, Mona’s in Scarborough, Pam’s Kitchen, Brendan’s Roti Garden, on Hayden just south of Bloor, Ritz Caribbean Food on Yonge Street, Danforth Roti in East York on Danforth, Roti King on Eglington W between Dufferin and Oakwood, Caribbean Queen of Patties on Bloor just east of Lansdowne.

From pch.gc.ca:

Background

Since 1985, Canada Day Committees are established in each province and territory to plan, organize and coordinate the Canada Day celebrations locally. Grants are provided by the Department to those committees.

tags: toronto canada canada day

There will be a public preview screening on July 8th at 7:00 p.m.here:

The Royal Cinema,
608 College St. West
Toronto M6G 1A1
Phone: 416-534-5252

The Royal has recently been renovated and has an High Definition projector so the documentary will be seen on a 40-foot screen.

There’ll be a $6 charge at the door with all proceeds going to the J. Allen Hynek Center for UFO Studies.

The doors open at 6:30.

if you’re anywhere in the vicinity of Toronto. Or not. Some highlights from last year featured Al Green, so you must see the Rev (June 19) if you’re tired of being alone, because if anything, he’s still in love with you. Ahmad Jamal will be there (June 23) too! And – A surprising guest, a very old timer in jazz, Dave Brubeck will be kickin it with y’all (July 2) and taking at least 5 minutes to play his signature tune. If you have no idea who he is, you will surely recognize his tunes, and at 88 years old, he will amaze you.

There will be lots of music and lots of artists and venues so the best thing to do is download a schedule and go from there. Get tickets online at www.ticketmaster.ca or by calling 416-870-8000.

For more information: toronto jazz

In Toronto there’s a new a series of food events called “Home Ec.” The Avro has taken on the mission to engage with our community, encourage people in the bar to meet each other and regularly hosts events which bring people together. WellPreserved is also about community and increasing connections to people and food (and the two together).

Read more about it here.

Read about it here.

[via]

From the nyt:

“OTTAWA — Cameco, the world’s largest uranium producer, has told the Canadian nuclear regulator that its refinery might have leaked uranium, arsenic and fluorides into Lake Ontario.

A section of the Port Hope, Ontario, plant of Cameco, the world’s largest uranium producer.
The plant at Port Hope, Ontario, across the lake from Rochester and down the shore from Toronto, first refined uranium for the Manhattan Project during World War II. It has been temporarily closed since July to remove contaminated soil.

A spokesman for Cameco, Lyle Krahn, said Wednesday that a computer model created for the cleanup, which is several months behind schedule, indicated that the radioactive and toxic materials have been polluting a harbor adjacent to the factory. The harbor leads directly to the lake.

The company notified the regulatory agency, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, about the finding at a meeting last week and now plans drilling tests to confirm the contamination and to measure its extent.

“We’re anticipating that material may have been entering the harbor,” Mr. Krahn said, adding that Cameco did not know how long it would take to confirm any possible pollution.

A spokesman for the agency, Aurèle Gervais, said: “The Port Hope UF6 plant matter has been ongoing for some time and the harbor issue is a recent development,” using the chemical formula for uranium hexafluoride.

In a background paper prepared for the agency’s commissioners last week, its staff concluded that the potential remained for continued water pollution from the plant.

Cameco in general and the aging Port Hope refinery, which transforms mined uranium into forms suitable for electrical power reactors, have long been targets of environmental groups and the regulatory agency.

After a flood last year closed one of the company’s mines, which produces about 10 percent of the world’s uranium, Linda J. Keen, then the head of the regulatory agency, said her commissioners and staff had a “lack of confidence” in Cameco and its management…”

Read the full article

Downtown Toronto

889
889 Yonge Street
Toronto, ON M4W 2H2
416 925 7206

A Taste Above
74 Richmond Street East
Toronto, ON M5C 1P1
416 203 0396
www.atasteabove.com

Cafe 260
260 Richmond St. East
Toronto, ON M5A 1P4
416-368-9222

Celestin
623 Mt. Pleasant Rd
Toronto, ON M4S 2M9
416 544 1733

The Cheese Boutique
45 Ripley Avenue
Toronto, ON M6S 3P2
(416) 762-6292

The Chiropractic and Health Associates Clinic
1407 Yonge St. Suite 400
Toronto, ON M4T 1Y7
416-924-0777

Divine Scents
151 Harbord Street
Toronto, ON M5S 1H1
416 962 0000

Elixir Organic Spa
766 King Street West, Unit 5
Toronto, ON M5V 1N6
416-203-5261

Flow Nail Spa
753 Queen Street West
Toronto, ON M6J 1G1
416 910 2827

Hammam Spa
602 King Street West
Toronto, ON M5V 1M6
416-366-4775

Kahawa Coffeehouse
Nairesiae Kipusi
388 College St
Toronto, M5T 1S7

Lileo
55 Mill Street – Building 35
Toronto, ON M5A 3C4
416 413 1410

The Mercantile
626 College Street
Toronto, ON M6G 1B4
416 531 7563

Niche Coffee & Tea Company
626 Queen Street West
Toronto, ON M6J 1E4
416-203-0458

The Outer Layer
577 Queen Street West
Toronto, ON M5V 2B6
416 869 9889

The Outer Layer
430 Bloor Street West
Toronto, ON M5S 1X5
416 324 8333

Pure Intent
64 Oxford Street 2nd Floor
Kensington Market
Toronto, ON M5T 1P1
416 466 3237

Red Rocket Cafe
1402B Queen Street East
Toronto, ON M4L 1C9
647-889-2338

Satori Urban Wellness
33 Hazleton Avenue
Toronto, ON M5R 2E3
416-972-9355

Shizen Spa
8 Colbourne Street, 4th Floor
Toronto, ON M5E 1E1
416 350 2424

Summerhill Market
446 Summerhill Avenue
Toronto, ON M4W 2E4
416 921 2714

Upper Village Spa
1112 Eglinton Ave. West
Toronto, ON M6C 2E2
416-782-1539

Verity Spa
111 Queen St E
Toronto, ON M5C 1S2
416-368-6006

Vika Spa
88 Avenue Road
Toronto, ON M5R 2H2
416 929 5509

Water Lily
1984 Yonge Street
Toronto, ON M4S 1Z7
416 488 4387

North Toronto

Galati Market Fresh
5845 Leslie Street
North York, ON M3H 1J8
416 756-2000

Two Blonds & a Brunette Gift Co.
46 Glen Echo Road, 2nd Floor
Toronto, On M4N 2E3
647 343-3446

West Toronto

Agora
3015 Dundas Street West
Toronto, ON
416-761-9991

Balance Integrated Health
24b Liberty Street
Toronto, ON M4K 1A5
416 588 8282

Peach Tree
2239 Bloor Street West
Toronto, ON M6S 1N7
416-913-4466

East Toronto

Dark Horse Espresso Bar
682 Queen Street East
Toronto, ON M4M 1G9
647-436-3460

Dash Kitchen
236 Danforth Avenue
Toronto, ON M4K 1N2
416 463 3274

Leslieville Cheese Market
891 Queen Street East
Toronto, ON M4M 1J4
416 465 7143

They came from China and England, from India and Mexico — 94 people of every age and race, from 13 countries in all. They arrived this crisp autumn morning at an imposing new office complex in Surrey, B.C., filling neat rows of folding chairs in a second-floor courtroom, Citizenship Judge Shinder Purewal presiding. The judge is a cheerful man in a happy job. He told them about some of his own experiences: the murder of his father when he was an infant, and how he arrived in Canada from India as a 17-year-old because his mother wanted to raise her family in a land of peace and security. Purewal, also a political science professor, told them how difficult it is to move to a country where you don’t speak the language or understand the culture. Give it time, he urged them, and Canada will exceed your expectations. He told them how he built a new life in Canada and earned a Ph.D., and how this country — ranked best in the world, he said — has much to offer them as well. “What makes this country great,” he said, “is your presence.”

It was a beautiful thing to see. A visitor to the ceremony couldn’t…”

Read the rest and watch a video

Dr. Arthur Dunec
1910 Yonge Street
Toronto, ON M4S 3B2
416-485-4433

[via]

“Canada cannot remain immune to the skyrocketing food prices that already affect much of the world and it may be only a matter of months before the impact here has a major impact on the economy, says a new report from Bank of Nova Scotia.

Except for baked goods, Canada been mostly spared the price spikes in basic foods that has roiled the developing world and even caused two major food retailers in the United States to ration some types of rice as a “precaution” against hoarding.

Because most agricultural commodities like grain, fuel and fertilizer are priced in U.S. dollars, the stronger loonie has cushioned Canadians from many of these shocks. Consumers have also benefited from stiff competition among grocery chains.

“But I don’t think Canada can escape the sort of food pass-through that has been going on in the global economy indefinitely,” says Derek Holt, vice-president at Scotia Capital Economics, who wrote the report.

“This is the year it starts to catch up to Canada. We’ve already started to see in some key categories and that will intensify in the summer months.”
Scotiabank’s warning is the latest in several issued recently by Canadian businesses and international agencies.

The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization reports that global food prices have increased 57 per cent from last year, while the price of rice has doubled.
Meanwhile, the World Bank has forecast the higher prices are likely to last at least two years before moderating slightly.

Holt said that Canadian spending habits could change profoundly once food prices begin rising, along with higher gasoline and heating prices that have already hit Canada.

“It’s a very material risk that people will start seeing themselves having to spend dozens or hundreds of dollars a month more on basic groceries, home heating and gasoline costs,” Holt says.

“You’ve got to do something, so you start to rein in spending on everything else and you postpone plans buy that HD television, or build a backyard deck.”

Several analysts have also forecast that Canada’s holiday from food price shock will not last forever.

But where Holt’s analysis differs from others is that he believes the likely impact will not be higher inflation, but lower prices for everything except food and energy.
Holt argues that sky-high energy and food prices could actually be disinflationary for Canada because consumers will have less to spend on everything else.

“That becomes a very dangerous scenario where you can have some sectors doing very well, food and energy, but other sectors see their pricing power totally evaporate,” Holt said.
While low inflation is generally regarded as a good thing, disinflation could trigger an economic slump because it may result in consumers and businesses holding back on purchases and investments in expectations of lower prices down the road.

“I think rationing in food is a possibility,” he said. “But an even bigger danger is that we go back to the days when we thought price and wage controls were a smart thing, this time applied to a particular sectors.”

One encouraging development is that farmers have begun to switch to cash crops to take advantage of the higher prices, but Holt said it will likely take three to four years before the higher production is felt in the market.”

I Am Elvis
Gladstone Hotel, Toronto
Thursday, May 1, 2008
7-9:30pm
Melody Bar
Free

“It’s time to get over any hang ups with clotheslines.

Ontario will outlaw clothesline bans by this summer to encourage citizens to use the environmentally friendly option when doing laundry.

“We want you to feel comfortable, wherever you happen to live in the province of Ontario, to put up a clothesline and to let mother nature, let the wind and the sun, dry your clothing,” Premier Dalton McGuinty said yesterday.

Homeowners would no longer be subject to municipal bylaws or homebuilder agreements that ban the lines.

Electric clothes dryers account for about 6% of a home’s energy consumption, and cutting use by 25% would save consumers about $30 per year.

Toronto Hydro’s Take A Load Off program is offering citizens a free retractable clothesline and cold water washing detergent.

At the official launch of the program yesterday, Energy Minister Gerry Phillips was wearing a shirt that had been hung out to dry.

“I think it’s safe to say that outdoor clothes-hanging season’s now with us,” Phillips said.”

“Toronto’s resale housing market may be cooling off, but at least one enterprising owner has found a way to get his home noticed.

He put it on the market for $1.

The Canadian Real Estate Association says existing homes sales across the country tumbled 13 per cent for the first three months of the year compared with last year.

The group says much of the slide was tied to lower activity in Toronto during February and March. The city accounts for about a quarter of the country’s sales in major markets.

Toronto saw its residential unit sales drop 13.4 per cent, though new listings were also down by seven per cent.

The $1 listing comes from Omar Ibrahim, who put his two-storey house on the market for less than the cost of a litre of gas.

He told CBC News the listing is “basically to see whether or not we can get an offer and something reasonable, letting the market determine … what the value of this house is.”

The house at 93 Badgerow Ave., a semi in the city’s Riverdale neighbourhood, shows well. It has three bedrooms, new flooring, appliances, fresh paint and a finished basement.

Ibrahim is not trying to give the house away and won’t let it go for the asking price. It’s a marketing strategy.

Tony Bassels, the real estate broker, remembers another house in Willowdale that was listed for $1 in 2004.

“It sold in 16 days for about $960,000 and that was listed for a dollar. And again multiple interest drove the price up to there,” he said.

Ibrahim buys homes, renovates and sells them. He bought 93 Badgerow Ave. in January 2008 for $342,000. He’ll find out Monday night when he opens the offers if his strategy will pay off.”

A year ago, Michael Chrisman placed a pinhole camera in Toronto’s Port Lands and aimed it — as best one can aim such a camera — at the city skyline.

For 365 straight days and nights, light has crept through the pinhole, slowly building an exposure on a piece of photosensitive paper.

Continue reading and see the photo here

“After losing its 32-year status as the tallest freestanding structure on the planet, Toronto’s iconic CN Tower has something new to brag about: the world’s highest glass-floor elevator that offers visitors a thrilling perspective of the city.

Shooting upwards at 22 kilometres per hour, visitors can now watch the ground below them fall away as the elevator soars 346 metres in just 58 seconds.

For those who dare to stand atop one of the elevator’s two narrow glass floor panels – each a little more than five centimetres thick – the trip is perhaps even more harrowing on the way down.

Plunging down the concrete elevator shaft with a view of some of the…”

Full article

“Every time he bought a 6/49 lottery ticket, Jose Lima prayed he’d win the big prize and promised God to share his boa sorte, good fortune.

He’s doing just that.

Canada’s newest millionaire – the 52-year-old father of two who won $14.5 million in the 6/49 draw – is giving each of his 50 employees at O Nosso Talho butcher shop $5,000.

On April 3, the fifth anniversary of his father Joao’s death, his generosity will spread even further when he gives away 22,680 kilograms of chicken legs to thank his customers and help Toronto’s needy.

Gilberto Andre, a 10-year veteran behind the meat counter, was with Lima, who manages the busy shop, when he checked his numbers.

“When I told him he’d won, he hugged me,” said Andre who described Lima as a very caring, kind man.

“For me, he’s a great person who never says no. We’re all very happy for him. And it’s such a good thing that he’s doing, sharing his good luck with us. I don’t know if anyone else would do that.”

Lima admitted he’s still in a state of shock and it’s too early to decide what to do with the money.

“The first thing I will do is to keep my promise to my employees and the people. I’ll decide what to do with the rest of the money later.”

Also at the top of his list is his…”

Read the article

“It was bound to happen eventually: Air Canada now wants you to pay extra for better customer service.

But while Air Canada is touting the program as an industry-first, at least one observer said it was once common for big North American carriers to go out of their way to help inconvenienced or stranded customers – free…”

Article

Pho Hung
200 Bloor Street West
Another location: 350 Spadina Avenue in Chinatown
Toronto Canada
(416) 963-5080

Apparently, a guy from Toronto is the first person EVER to get an eyeball tatoo. I get weak knees thinking about it.

The photos are a bit scary so I’m not going to post them here. Check them out at the inventorspot.

“* It’s a chowhound’s paradise, with everything from Nigerian to Laotian, Moroccan to Azerbaijani food

* An architectural renaissance is transforming the skyline with additions by Daniel Libeskind and native son Frank Gehry

* Toronto has become one of the most ethnically diverse cities on the continent, with lively neighborhoods, festivals, and restaurants to match

* The Eaton Centre. It’s a big suburban-style mall with all the wrong kinds of shopping

* When to go to Toronto: May, June, September, October”

More here

View the slideshow

“Monday, March 24th
Easter Beer Dinner
Abbot On The Hill, 1276 Yonge Street
$65 – call 416.920.9074 for reservations
A special Easter Monday dinner pairing five Belgian beers from import agents Roland & Russell – Margriet, St Martin Blonde, St Martin Brune, Gouden Carolus Easter Beer & Boscoulis – paired with a five-course meal, including a main course of Rabbit Fricassee with Apricot Preserves & Spiced Pecans.

Wednesday, May 28th
Dogfish Head Beer Dinner
beerbistro, 18 King Street East
$100 – tickets on sale May 1st
A dinner with Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head, featuring the beer cuisine of beerbistro chef Brian Morin paired with a number of DFH beers, some available for the first time in Ontario. Further details t.b.a.”

The hotel boasts a 24-hour business center and in-room amenities such as large work space on desks, fax/modem hookups, and cordless two-line phones.

There are favorite restaurants among the business crowd here: Hemispheres and Lai Wah Heen will be ideal for your power lunches.

The Metropolitan Hotel
108 Chestnut Street
Toronto, ON M5G 1R3, Canada
(416) 977-5000

Check them out

“They gleefully sang O Canada on the bus back to the hotel and again on the street after they arrived at the Howard Prince in Taichung, Taiwan.

Against the odds, the national baseball team qualified for the Beijing Olympics on Thursday and the jubilant players celebrated in the same way they did when a berth for the 2004 Athens Games was secured – by singing the anthem over and over.

“We’ve sung O Canada at least four times already,” said veteran infielder Stubby Clapp of Windsor, Ont. “Here we go again Canada, come on with me!”

The emotional display of national pride came after a 4-3 win over South Korea ran Canada’s record to 5-1 at the final Olympic qualifier, and guaranteed it a finish in the top three. South Korea and Taiwan, both 5-1 too, claimed the other two berths up for grabs at the tournament.

Washington Nationals prospect Matt Rogelstad of New Westminster, B.C., hit a three-run homer in the first while Cleveland Indians youngster Nick Weglarz of Stevensville, Ont., added a solo shot in the fourth to lead the way.

Cincinnati Reds product James Avery of Moose Jaw, Sask., held South Korea to a run on four hits in four innings and after Mike Kusiewicz of Ottawa recorded the final out, the Canadians partied into the wee hours on the eighth floor of their hotel, as players hooted, hollered and contemplated their achievement.

“To hear the national anthem sang on the bus so many times, we stopped at the hotel and we got off and before the players would go in the hotel they were singing outside and all the people were looking at us,” said manager Terry Puhl. “It really was quite a scene.

“It’s been a great night and a great tournament.”

Canada’s performance in Taiwan has been especially impressive since…”

Read full article

“OTTAWA — The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Loblaws Inc. have warned the public not to consume certain pear juices for toddlers that may be contaminated with arsenic.

The CFIA says in a news release that there have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of the products.

The two products listed in the warning are the one-litre President’s Choice Organics Pear Juice from Concentrate for Toddlers and the 128-millilitre Beech Nut Pear Juice from concentrate with Vitamin C added.

The products have been distributed across the country, the agency says.

Arsenic is a toxic heavy metal that may be carcinogenic and may pose developmental risks to children.

Loblaws Inc, has voluntarily recalled the affected products and the CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall, the release says.”

“PAYING TAXES is, for most people, both unavoidable and irksome. But how much hard-earned pay is taken by governments varies considerably across the world. Among the rich countries of the OECD, Germans shell out the most, with a worker earning an average income giving 43% of their gross pay to the state, with nearly half of that going towards social security. Workers in Poland hand over nearly 25% of their wages to social security; whereas Australians pay nothing at all directly. Mexicans and South Koreans enjoy the lightest taxation by some way.”

See the chart

Canada Blooms
Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC)
South Building
222 Bremner Blvd.
Toronto, Ontario

About DWR from their Site
The Toronto Studio – our first international foray – is an anchor to the revitalized King Street West area. Bordering both the city’s entertainment and fashion districts, our light-filled Studio occupies nearly 5,000 square-feet on the ground floor of a heritage building. The interior architecture includes exposed brick, original beams and high ceilings, all of which create an open, airy space for you to experience the best in modern design. The Studio is within walking distance to the Sky Dome and CN Tower, and offers a welcome respite from the pace of downtown life. Proprietor Clay A. Wright leads a dynamic team with diverse backgrounds in the field of design. Visit the Toronto Studio for personalized service and expertise.

Design Within Reach
435 King Street West (at Spadina Avenue)
Toronto, ON M5V 1K4
Phone: 416.977.4003