Gleaner Community Press

Fuel for thought

Admin — Tue, 15 May 2012 03:21:33 +0000

Mackenzie Chiu and Mike Dolegowski are the new owners of the Fuel House (53 Clinton St.), a restaurant and takeout joint with an eclectic menu, and an unpretentious atmosphere tucked away behind Café Diplomatico.

Maple Leafs let it go late in ballgame

Admin — Mon, 14 May 2012 01:07:16 +0000

BARRIE BAYCATS 7, TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS 2 The top of the order for the Barrie Baycats were too much for the Toronto Maple Leaf ball club on Sunday, as Toronto was handed their second loss of the weekend at Dominico Field.

From the pen of Brett Lamb — April 2012

Admin — Sun, 13 May 2012 20:14:43 +0000

Our resident cartoonist, Brett Lamb, has been providing our print editions with his work for many years. For the first time, we will also be posting his political cartoons here.

Robocall roundup

Admin — Sun, 13 May 2012 18:59:55 +0000

At city hall in April, councillors weighed in on human trafficking in Toronto, and sport fishing on the city’s lakeshore. But, a motion for new robocall rules for future elections especially stood out.

Playing for dear friends

Admin — Sun, 13 May 2012 18:59:23 +0000

As part of Luminato 2012, Stewart Goodyear is set to perform all of Beethoven's masterpieces in a marathon-style concert beginning June 9 at the Royal Conservatory of Music.

Fata Homers, Maple Leafs Lick Fat Cats in Season Opener

Admin — Sun, 06 May 2012 23:32:06 +0000

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS 6, OTTAWA FAT CATS 4 By Jonah Birenbaum Despite failing to register a hit through the first six innings, a five-run seventh proved all the offense the Toronto Maple Leafs would need as they downed the Ottawa Fat Cats 6–4 at Dominico Field on Sunday. Keyed by a three-run homerun from shortstop [...]

Dekel on deck

Admin — Wed, 02 May 2012 21:29:37 +0000

Band leader of Neon Windbreaker meandered between journalism and music. Read more about this dose.ca editor.

A new side to graffiti

Admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 02:12:03 +0000

SPUD COUNTERS WAR ON GRAFFITI WITH GALLERY EXHIBIT By Jelena Subotic For the first time ever, SPUD, one of Toronto’s most reputable graffiti artists, opened a show of recent works focused on Mayor Rob Ford’s war on graffiti. Censored, a show of his work that appeared at the Don’t Tell Mama gallery (108 Ossington [...]

For Suritah Wignall, art conquers all

Admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 01:52:42 +0000

EMERGING ANNEX ARTIST IS GAINING LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION By Jelena Subotic Suritah Teresa Wignall, an emerging African-Canadian visual artist and Annex resident, is an accomplished painter who also takes time to volunteer in the community. Wignall has earned local and international recognition for her Afrocentric paintings—portrayals of women who define beauty and strength. “I [...]

Eva Salinas’ amazing innovations

Admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 01:46:07 +0000

LOCAL AUTHOR TO BE FEATURED AT TORONTO WOMEN’S BOOKSTORE BOOK LAUNCH By Jelena Subotic With her first book published, and a launch scheduled for the end of April, Eva Salinas is excited about the opportunities coming her way. The local resident and journalist Salinas is now an author of a children’s book, Latin Americans Thought [...]

Bylaw targets “illegal postering”

Admin — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 18:57:38 +0000

CITY WIDE POSTERING BYLAW SLAMS LOCAL BANDS AND VENUES By Jelena Subotic It looks like Mayor Rob Ford has picked another fight. A city bylaw created by Municipal Licensing and Standards is cracking down on posters taped or glued on hydro poles, bus shelters, and parking meters. This has bands, venues, and even event organizers scared [...]

Familiar stroll, unknown histories

Admin — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 18:31:08 +0000

TAKING A FIRST LOOK AT THIS YEAR’S JANE’S WALKS By Whitney French Lace up your sneakers and get ready to walk it off! Since 2007, the first weekend of May has been slated for the annual Jane’s Walk, an urban neighbourhood walking tour that honours urban advocate and author Jane Jacobs. In the spirit of [...]

Remembering Alice Heap (1925–2012)

Admin — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 18:29:06 +0000

By Lee Zaslofsky On March 24, just as the NDP was choosing its new Leader, Alice Heap passed away. I learned of it on Facebook, from a short message posted by her son, David. Alice Heap was married to Dan Heap, who represented Downtown Toronto at City Hall and then in Ottawa as the NDP [...]

Pedestrians still walking in the dark

Admin — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 17:15:38 +0000

CLAMP-ON LIGHT PROJECT HAMPERED BY DELAYS AND CONFUSION By Mike Shulman Miscommunication between the Bloor-Annex Business Improvement Area (BIA) and Toronto Hydro has resulted in delays and possibly increased costs for the second phase of the BIA’s clamp-on pedestrian lighting project. The plan was to install 15 clamp-on street lights to Toronto Hydro poles, along [...]

Paquette and Martindale featured at AGO

Admin — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 18:25:39 +0000

LOCAL ARTISTS CREATE COLLABORATIVE CONTEMPORARY PROJECT By Jelena Subotic Local artists Pascal Paquette and Sean Martindale have joined forces in a collaborative project just one of many featured in the Art Gallery of Ontario’s Young Gallery (317 Dundas St. W.). Their project centres on a collaborative and do-it-yourself structure. Paquette and Martindale use their different [...]

Math professor channels jazz icon

Admin — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 13:49:35 +0000

THE GLEANER SITS DOWN WITH LOCAL CROONER SAM BROVERMAN By Perry King When it came time to choose a graduate program, a young Sam Broverman was at a crucial crossroads of his existence. A Winnipeg native, and singing for most his life, Broverman also came to enjoy mathematics. As a math undergrad at the University [...]

CSI Annex, residents look to solve dispute

Admin — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 14:13:24 +0000

MEETING CALLED TO MEDIATE CURRENT NOISE DISPUTE By Perry King The issues that have plagued residents of Markham Street and the Centre for Social Innovation for nearly a year has resulted in a public meeting to sort them out. On Mar. 27, this meeting—called by Councillor Mike Layton (Ward 19, Trinity-Spadina)—will discuss significant noise and [...]

Bloor Cinema reopens to the public

Admin — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 02:32:28 +0000

HISTORIC THEATRE OFFERS EXCITING SCREENINGS FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS By Alexa Huffman New chairs and a screen are the first sight seen when entering the newly renovated Bloor Hot Docs Cinema (506 Bloor St. W). These are not the only changes to be found. The projectors have been refurbished. There is surround sound, theatrical lighting, and [...]

The Globe and Mail’s great idea

Admin — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 20:41:43 +0000

NEWSPAPER ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR NEW BUILDING By Alexa Huffman The Globe and Mail office plans were received with applause on Jan. 30 after a community meeting unveiled the new design. The new building (444 Front St. W.), lies just west of Spadina Avenue. It will replace the Toyota dealership currently on the site. The local [...]

Liberty Village 2.0

Admin — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 20:12:44 +0000

NEIGHBOURHOOD’S NEW RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION PROVIDES COLLECTIVE VOICE By Sean Frankling It has only been in the last decade or so that Liberty Village has been a residential area, but newly-built condominiums have brought a massive influx of people. They in turn have brought their views on how their new neighbourhood should be run. The Liberty [...]

(Dis)information boards

Admin — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 05:21:06 +0000

CRITICS SAY InfoToGo PILLARS ARE MERELY ADS By Mike Shulman The growing presence of pillars with reduced information and more advertising have drawn the ire of public space advocates, city councillors, and local residents and businesses. Critics of the pillars, installed by Astral Media, say they give priority to advertising while neglecting safety, sidewalk access, and their [...]

Vaughan addresses BQNA

Admin — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 04:56:27 +0000

COUNCILLOR TALKS TUNNELS, TAXIS, AND CASINOS AT TOWN HALL MEETING By Rasheed Clarke The Bathurst Quay Neighbourhood Association hosted a town hall meeting with Councillor Adam Vaughan (Ward 20, Trinity-Spadina) on Feb. 29 to give area residents a chance to discuss the issues affecting the neighbourhood with their city hall representative. Inside the Waterview Room [...]

South of the border sin and sexuality

Admin — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 16:14:40 +0000

TENNESSEE WILLIAMS’ THE NIGHT OF THE IGUANA COMES TO HART HOUSE By Rasheed Clarke When winter’s frigid fingers are desperately clinging onto you this March, Hart House Theatre (7 Hart House Circle) will offer up an escape down to Mexico; the sweaty setting for Tennessee Williams’ play The Night of the Iguana. The performance will [...]

Dancing on porches

Admin — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 04:35:07 +0000

LOCAL PERFORMER WRAPS UP MANGA-INSPIRED ENSEMBLE By Rebecca Payne Maxine Heppner has been involved in dance her whole life. The choreographer, performer, and teacher has been an Annex resident since the late ’70s. “I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else in the city, quite frankly.” She says the diversity of the neighbourhood is what makes [...]

Crime is down, changes abound

Admin — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 01:31:11 +0000

14 DIVISION TO OPEN NEW HEADQUARTERS THIS SEPTEMBER By Perry King Toronto police’s 14 Division may have had a great 2011, but New Year’s Day was not a time for them to rest on their laurels. The New Year’s stabbing death of Mike Pimentel in Liberty Village “was only one isolated event that raised concerns [...]

Of bats and bees

Admin — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 20:44:22 +0000

ANNEX-BASED MUSIC DUO PUT ON INTERACTIVE SHOW By Alexa Huffman Two Annex-based musicians will be busting out the cello, gong, and glockenspiel while they sing and perform in a new show. Alex McMaster and Ed Reifel will be immersing themselves in a powerful performance inEverything Under The Moon, which tells the story of a bat [...]

Rethinking Eating Disorders

Admin — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 18:56:35 +0000

NEW ANNEX-BASED CENTRE TO USE INNOVATIVE TREATMENTS By Alexa Huffman Kyla Fox is bursting with excitement at the thought of opening her very own building for the treatment of eating disorders. Fox knows first hand how hard getting healthy can be. She struggled with an eating disorder when she was younger. She feels there are [...]

Mario vs. Pac-Man: video game characters to rumble in squared circle

Admin — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 09:53:28 +0000

By Nathaniel G Moore I didn’t exactly know what WrestleCrisis was until someone tweeted to me about it because it had to do with wrestling. You see, people think I want to read about all things related to the squared circle. Perhaps it doesn’t help that I curate art shows and write about wrestling from [...]

Looks like a book, feels like a book … local literary gift picks

Admin — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 21:24:58 +0000

By Nathaniel G. Moore Grunt of the Minotaur is described by its author Robin Richardson as having “all the naked women, natural disasters, talking hogs, cannibals, and crooked cowboys you need to make your holidays bright … with just a touch of baffling.” ’Tis the season of chocolate, stuffing, and gravy stains, of holiday work-party [...]

Local designer Illyria’s dresses perfect for the holiday season

Admin — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 20:12:15 +0000

By Karen Bliss Working out of the studio in her Liberty-area home, Illyria Pestich of Illyria Design creates dresses that are classic enough to be worn year after year. “It’s strictly a dress collection,” Pestich tells the Gleaner. “It’s always very classy, but sexy with a bit of edge. It’s definitely different than your regular [...]

Townhouse tenants prepare lawsuit; TCHC says it needs to sell-off single units

perryking — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 01:26:44 +0000

By Perry King Kathy Halliday says she has had enough of the lack of heat, poor quality of service, negligent management, and lack of security in her Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC)-owned unit. “This morning, when I was coming to see you, I walked out to a nice condom and a pair of underwear,” said Halliday, a [...]

The Bloody Five play Lee’s Palace this Saturday

Admin — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 20:39:04 +0000

By Karen Bliss The Bloody Five frontman Kevin “KD” DeFreitas, a former Annex resident who is now a high school teacher living in suburban Toronto, is lining up a giveaway for his band’s show at Lee’s Palace (529 Bloor St. W.) on Nov. 26. KD is happy to be playing in his former ’hood. “I [...]

‘Tis the season to Glean: Holiday Wishlist and Covers

Admin — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 18:30:57 +0000

Help us spread the word on a couple of things we do every December here at the Gleaner: a holiday-themed cover and an Annex-centric wishlist. Every December edition, the Gleaner features community and holiday-themed artwork on our covers for both our Annex and Liberty editions. We are currently looking for submissions reflecting this theme. In [...]

Toronto proposes new “Streets Bylaw”

perryking — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 19:51:48 +0000

By Jennifer Farncomb It has been 13 years since amalgamation, and City of Toronto staff say it is about time that the remaining legacy legislation dealing with public rights of way from the former seven municipalities become harmonized into one unified “Streets Bylaw.” Public consultation took place in the fall with the public and stakeholders [...]

RioCan moves in: Company, community mull massive project

perryking — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 21:08:15 +0000

By Perry King The future is unclear for a RioCan development on Bathurst Street, but the relationship between the local community and one of North America’s largest real estate companies has taken significant steps forward. At a September meeting at Scadding Court Community Centre (707 Dundas St. W.), RioCan senior vice president Jordan Robins and [...]

Local writer brings Macho Man-themed show to Kensington Market

Admin — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 22:15:53 +0000

By Michael Radoslav Nathaniel G. Moore vividly remembers attending a “Macho Man” Randy Savage wrestling match 20 years ago with his father. Following the death of Savage earlier this year, Moore decided to honour the man he calls an “aging hero” that always seemed to be there by his side while he grew up. When [...]

Short films to showcase film work of Parkdale youth

perryking — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 19:22:30 +0000

By Melania Daniel Three short films shot in Parkdale are set to have their first public screening this month. Date Night, The Break, and Heartbreak Café are the end products of the “Acting for the Camera” workshops conducted for youth ages 14 to 25 at the Parkdale Public Library (1303 Queen St. W.) over the summer. [...]

18th Rendezvous with Madness film festival may be most provocative yet

perryking — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 04:36:38 +0000

By Liivi Sandy When you have a festival about madness, anything is possible. Lisa Brown, co-founder and Rendezvous with Madness Film Festival director, is behind all the madness, which will showcase films, panels, and art installations to promote advocacy when it comes to addiction and mental health. “We’ve broadened our reach,” Brown says about this [...]

What is ‘What Is goth?’: Encyclopedia provides comprehensive guide to goth subculture

Admin — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 19:43:21 +0000

By Karen Bliss Liberty-resident Liisa Ladouceur doesn’t sleep in a coffin or only come out at night, but there are a few tip-offs that she is a goth. Her hair is jet black and straight and she fancies corsets and fishnet stockings, but there’s much more to goth culture than aesthetic. Ladouceur, a well-respected music [...]

Lee Harvey Oswald’s lover visits Toronto Women’s Bookstore

perryking — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 18:40:40 +0000

By Justin Crann Lee Harvey Oswald was a patriotic American, a government agent fiercely loyal to his President, and a patsy framed by the conspirators who really killed John F. Kennedy. That’s the truth according to Judyth Vary Baker, author of Me and Lee, a 600-page memoir recounting her teenage years and brief romance with [...]

Montessori-style alternative school expected to be approved by TDSB

Admin — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 17:25:02 +0000

By Perry King A group of Annex-area educators and parents are eagerly awaiting the TDSB’s response to a proposal they put forward two weeks ago. The working group—based at Annex Montessori school at Trinity St. Paul’s Church (427 Bloor St. W.)—formally told the board of their intent to bring a new alternative school to Ward [...]

Minding my back: Bio Somatics emphasizes internal awareness of the body

perryking — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 03:31:50 +0000

By Perry King Lillian Jarvis’ stretching and strengthening techniques loosen tight muscles, strengthen weak ones, and align posture—including my own. A former principal dancer with the National Ballet of Canada who holds classes in her Seaton Village studio (681 Markham St.), Jarvis has been teaching a movement education system called Somatic Stretch since 1980. “I [...]

Coach House new book launch takes on Dance Cave

Admin — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 21:19:37 +0000

By Nathaniel G. Moore The fall is a maelstrom of literary frenzy: the International Festival of Authors, Giller and Governor General Award nominations, Word on the Street, and a flood of book launches. But where in this vast city do publishers tend to roll the dice with their new heady wares? The Gladstone Hotel, Supermarket, Garrison, [...]

Artistic asylum: local artist Deb Wiles builds international retreat

Admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 19:24:28 +0000

By Jonathan Lee Annex painter and art instructor Deb Wiles had been looking at photos of a lake out in rural Nova Scotia, taken by her friend Tim Young, when she drew in her breath in response to the beauty in front of her. From that moment, the Trident International Artists’ Retreat in Nova Scotia [...]

Parkdale High-Park hopefuls grilled on health care, inflation, electric trains

Admin — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:30:55 +0000

Compiled by Emina Gamulin, Perry King, and Rebecca Payne Check out the links below about our Q & A with candidates for the Parkdale-High Park riding. The riding The candidates Question One: The state of health care in PHP Question Two: Poverty Question Three: Clean trains Question Four: Energy inflation Question Five: the Ontario Arts [...]

Alex is on fire: Former gymnast wins award for community service

Admin — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 01:37:24 +0000

By Perry King When first notified she was receiving an award for her work with kids, Alexandra Orlando immediately thought back to her work with the Pan Am Games bid. “We did a community outreach summer, and I lead the youth portion of that,” said Orlando, the program coordinator for the bid’s Youth Program. [...]

Ben Griffin: a candidate you can trust

Admin — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 19:27:43 +0000

By Emina Gamulin More than a few eyebrows must have been raised in August when Trinity-Spadina residents received a surprise copy of the Women’s Post food and wine issue in their mailboxes. An image of MPP candidate Sarah Thomson, the same image she uses in her election materials, is found on the cover of the [...]

The latest premiere: Bloor Cinema opens new era with documentary theme

Admin — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 15:51:10 +0000

By Katie O’Connor Chris Alexander had just settled in for one of his last screenings at the Bloor Cinema when he spotted something, or rather someone, who didn’t belong. Alexander, editor-in-chief of Fangoria magazine, hosts a monthly film series titled ‘Film School Confidential’ where he showcases cult, horror and sci-fi films. Invasion of the Body [...]

Polaris Prize winning band Karkwa headlines first Toronto show at Lee’s

Admin — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 21:35:33 +0000

By Karen Bliss Francophone indie rock act Karkwa had little presence outside its native Quebec when its fourth album, Les Chemins de Verre, was selected as winner of the 2010 Polaris Music Prize—a $20,000 cheque that went to the year’s Best Album, as determined by media from across the country. The award landed the band immediate attention in [...]

Top four empty spaces in the Annex (and one you may have thought was empty but isn’t)

Admin — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 21:01:47 +0000

By Julia Manoukian 287 Brunswick Ave. 287 Brunswick Ave. was once home to one of the area’s wealthiest real estate owners. Anne Racz, better known as Annie of the Annex, invested in a great deal of real estate in and around Toronto with her husband, Leslie Racz. Her entire estate, which is rumoured to be [...]

Where do they stand? Trinity-Spadina candidates answer your questions

Admin — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 16:11:52 +0000

Compiled by Emina Gamulin, Mike Radoslav, and Lindsay Tsuji Click on the links below for more information about Trinity-Spadina and our Q & A with the MPP candidates in the upcoming provincial election on Oct 6. The Riding Trin-Spa Statistics The Candidates Question 1: Helping families Question 2: Fossil fuel-based transportation Question 3: Alternative medicine [...]

Simpsons trivia night every second tuesday of the month at Gladstone Hotel

Admin — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 17:00:36 +0000

By Michael Radoslav Packing in a crowd of hundreds to standing room capacity, with virtually no advertising or promotion, Andrew Ennals and Amanda Factor must feel like the man who single-handedly built the rocket and flew to the moon. What was his name, Apollo Creed? Ennals and Factor are the creators of the insanely popular [...]

Plotting your move: Wellbeing Toronto launches

Admin — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 19:36:31 +0000

By Julia Hennessey After two years of development, Wellbeing Toronto website launched this summer and received close to 20,000 hits on its first day. The City of Toronto, along with partners that include the United Way and Toronto’s school boards, have contributed to the development of the online application that allows users to view and [...]

Kung Fu monks & barbecue beef at this year’s Chinatown Festival

Admin — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 21:37:18 +0000

By Sanam Malik The Chinatown BIA is getting ready to host the annual Chinatown Festival this weekend, and organizers said that they wanted to make sure that the celebration has mass appeal. “We like to stage a festival that is organized by Chinatown BIA, but we want to share with everyone and get everything on [...]

Original Honest Ed’s signage up on eBay: help us buy a new printer

Admin — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 19:32:26 +0000

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280735667662#ht_500wt_1093

Daycare Records brings new talent to the Toronto music scene

Admin — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 18:13:17 +0000

By Síle Cleary They may be new in town, but Daycare Records are showing just how feisty they are by utilizing the tag line “babysitting your stupid band.” The record label is the brainchild of music journalist Karen Bliss (whose work is published in numerous publications, including the Gleaner, Billboard, RollingStone.com and MSN) and musician/producer [...]

Welcome to the neighbourhood? Residents attempt community building at CityPlace

Admin — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:33:29 +0000

By Michael Radoslav While condo projects have dotted the Toronto skyline for years, at CityPlace some see more than just construction underway—they see the potential for a great community. “CityPlace is a great development and that’s what it was before we started here, a development,” said Dean Maher, president of the recently-formed CityPlace Residents’ Association. [...]

Legendary hangout Dooney’s returns to Annex

Admin — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:04:23 +0000

By Michael Radoslav Signage has begun to change over at the Annex Live. Photo by Michael Radoslav/GLEANER NEWS After a three year hiatus, a legendary Annex hangout is reborn. Dooney’s Café, a once popular destination for artists and politicians in Toronto has returned, replacing the Annex Live. However, owner Graziano Marchese (brother of Trinity-Spadina MPP [...]

Seaton Village lawyer Lucas Lung awarded for work in social justice

Admin — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 16:26:45 +0000

By Cara Waterfall Lucas Lung has an aura of unflappability: he is tall, distinguished, and speaks in a carefully modulated voice. This unruffled persona has served him well in the courtroom, where he has battled Internet hate crimes and elder abuse, among other issues. But the Seaton Village resident is unsettled by the attention he [...]

Your community needs you: ask your west-downtown MPP candidates some tough questions

Admin — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 20:32:19 +0000

It’s that time again! The Gleaner is interviewing MPP candidates for Trinity-Spadina and Parkdale-High Park in advance of the Oct. 6 provincial election. We are soliciting questions from our readers that we will compile and pose to candidates on your behalf. The major party candidates in Trinity-Spadina are incumbent Rosario Marchese (NDP), Sarah Thomson (Liberal), [...]

Weekly music meet-ups: bringing pros and newcomers together

Admin — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 17:35:07 +0000

By Karen Bliss A meeting at a local Starbucks with “Steal My Sunshine” hit maker Marc Costanzo from the pop group Len gave Barbara Sedun, EMI Music Publishing Canada’s senior vice-president, the idea to host a free weekly networking event in the Liberty area. She dubbed it “BS Fridays,” which stands for her initials and [...]

Residents divided over planning study for bar-resto concentration in Parkdale

Admin — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 19:45:13 +0000

By Rebecca Payne The stretch of Queen Street between Dufferin and Roncesvalles will be under the city’s microscope as a restaurant concentration study begins, a move that may prove to be divisive for the neighbourhood, if a recent community meeting is any indication of things to come. At a heated meeting on June 28 at [...]

Marat/Sade ambitious spin on classic Peter Weiss tale

Admin — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 22:22:44 +0000

By Síle Cleary It may only be their second production, but precocious theatre company Soup Can Theatre have taken on a mammoth challenge by reinterpreting the classic Peter Weiss play The Persecution and Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat as Performed by the Inmates of the Asylum of Charenton Under the Direction of the Marquis de Sade— or [...]

Counterfeit stamps circulating in Annex

Admin — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 21:02:30 +0000

By Cara Waterfall While the Canada Post strike is over, the organization still has its share of headaches. The RCMP said the company has lost millions of dollars because of counterfeit stamp operations in the last year. The RCMP and police raided 24 retail and commercial stores and seized 40,000 counterfeit stamps and 10,000 authentic, [...]

“Dan for Mayor” star has busy summer ahead

Admin — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 16:16:07 +0000

By Nathaniel G. Moore Things are looking bright for Annex actor Paul Bates this summer. In addition to a highly anticipated show The Soaps—a Live Improvised Soap Opera at Toronto’s Fringe Festival this month, the entire cast of CTV’s “Dan for Mayor” are up for best ensemble for a Canadian Comedy Award, which will be [...]

Oscar Wilde classic updated in family friendly Fringe show

Admin — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 15:26:27 +0000

By Reem Jazar Upcoming Fringe play The Giant’s Garden, starring Annex resident Lucas Meuse, is bringing good old fashioned family fun back to the stage along with a couple musical numbers. Writers Scott White and Peter Fenton say they were aiming to write a story that the whole family can relate to. Fenton said they were [...]

Inaugural Visual Fringe debuts at this year’s festival

Admin — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 21:16:08 +0000

By Julia Hennessey For the first time ever, the Toronto Fringe Festival has officially opened its programming to include visual artists, and according to Gideon Arthurs, barring hate crimes, anything goes. “People don’t feel like [art is] accessible so they don’t understand it and they don’t interact with the visual arts,” said Arthurs, the festival’s [...]

Ballet with a beat

Admin — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 22:16:06 +0000

By Síle Cleary Over the past twenty years, Ballet Creole has gone from humble beginnings to carving out a reputation as being the quintessential leader of Afro-Caribbean dance in Canada under the direction of artistic director and founder Patrick Parson. “When I first arrived in Canada, I tried to seek out a dance company that [...]

Thomson eyes Trinity-Spadina

Admin — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 23:17:00 +0000

By Lindsay Tsuji Former Toronto mayoral candidate Sarah Thomson’s name will be back on the ballot, but this time she’s going provincial. Thomson officially launched her campaign as the Liberal candidate for Trinity-Spadina late last month. The Gleaner sat down with Thomson to discuss her nomination, her platform, and why she’s qualified to represent Trinity-Spadina [...]

St. Stephen’s Community House will settle your dispute – for free!

Admin — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 18:55:00 +0000

By Katie O’Connor In a city of small spaces like Toronto, loud and obtrusive neighbours can become more than just a mere annoyance. Conflicts rise as the weather heats up, which is why making nice with them has never been more important. St. Stephen’s Community House (260 Augusta Ave.) offers a free mediation program for [...]

Casa Loma under new (old) management: city regains control

Admin — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 18:53:05 +0000

By Katie O’Connor After years of power struggles, the City of Toronto took control of Casa Loma (1 Austin Terrace) from the Kiwanis Club, which has managed the historic castle for almost 75 years. The city owns Casa Loma, but had contracted out management to the charity since 1937. In exchange for ending the management [...]

UTS gets the slow boot

Admin — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 17:06:09 +0000

By Síle Cleary The University of Toronto School (UTS, 371 Bloor St. W.) board is eager to enter into discussions with their academic partner, the University of Toronto, in order to clarify the terms of the school’s relocation plan. Last month the UTS board was formally notified by U of T that their $48 [...]

TDSB green energy program in danger

Admin — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 20:56:26 +0000

By Julia Manoukian The Toronto District School Board has jumped on the green bandwagon with a long-term solution that seemingly kills two birds with one stone, but the upcoming provincial election could bring all this to a halt. Unveiled May 19, and born at Hillcrest Community School (44 Hilton Ave.), a groundbreaking partnership between the [...]

Let’s make liquor laws an election issue

Admin — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 18:14:32 +0000

By Emina Gamulin A recent immigrant just got a job in Toronto and wants to celebrate. She walks into a convenience store and looks for some beer. Unable to find any, she asks the clerk behind the counter where she might find some. “We don’t sell beer here.” Confused, she walks out and spots a bar [...]

Festival on Bloor turns 15

Admin — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 21:12:58 +0000

By Cara Waterfall Festival on Bloor started as a bet between local business owners and has become a summer staple for Annex residents. Credit: Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre. Festival on Bloor (FoB) originally began with a disagreement between Andrew Kilgour and former James Joyce Irish Pub (386 Bloor St. W.) owner Robert Costello. “I [...]

Locals say Kensington Market shooting outside after-hours an isolated incident

Admin — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 17:16:08 +0000

By Julia Hennessey The Kensington Market community was back to its peaceful self just two days after three men were wounded from gun shots fired in an alleyway. Just after 4:30 a.m. on the morning of Sunday, May 29, police responded to a distress call in Kensington Market. Six shots were fired in an alley [...]

They only come out at night; the feral cats of the Annex

Admin — Tue, 31 May 2011 15:54:53 +0000

By Beth Macdonell Look down one of the Annex’s many laneways and all may appear lifeless. But according to Janine Denney-Lightfoot, 47, a volunteer with the Annex Cat Rescue, living in and around our garages and sheds are hundreds of feral cats. These wild felines live largely independent lives with no permanent home and no [...]

Annex author’s work reissued 17 years after his death

Admin — Tue, 31 May 2011 15:50:07 +0000

By Staff Reporter This month, two works by the infamous late-Annex writer Daniel Jones are being reissued.Coach House’s The Brave Never Write Poetry comes with a brand new New Order record sleeve-inspired cover, while Three O’Clock Press’ remix of 1978 is slightly more sophisticated than its original release over a decade ago. Born in a working-class district of [...]

No stones thrown over Bloor-Bathurst condo talks

Admin — Thu, 26 May 2011 18:05:11 +0000

By Perry King The dialogue between local residents, developers and Councillor Adam Vaughan’s office on 783 Bathurst St. development have been fruitful – and without fireworks. Photo credit: Perry King/Gleaner News Unlike many development disputes across the city, talks between developers and residents have been so healthy for a proposed Bloor-Bathurst condo that the project [...]

Silver Snail comic shop looks for new home in the Annex

Admin — Mon, 16 May 2011 19:46:10 +0000

New owner George Zotti describes the Silver Snail as a destination store at its current location on Queen. He is looking into moving the store to the Annex. Photo credit: Adam Carter/Gleaner News. By Adam Carter After decades of calling Queen West home, Toronto’s famed comic shop the Silver Snail is being sold along with [...]

Captain Wallace’s Alphabet Expedition adventurer born locally

Admin — Wed, 11 May 2011 19:18:34 +0000

By Gurpreet Ghag According to his Twitter account, Captain Wallace is an adventurer, a mustache enthusiast, a pith hat collector, and a friend to all animals. He once spent a week in the belly of a whale with only a ginger beer and a loaf of bread. You may be surprised to know then, that [...]

Rosario Marchese’s 50 years in Toronto

Admin — Tue, 10 May 2011 19:10:02 +0000

By Susan Oppenheim From his beginnings in Toronto 50 years ago as a 9-year-old Italian immigrant, to his position today as the NDP Caucus Chair at Queen’s Park, not much in Rosario Marchese’s approach to life seems to have changed. He has remained solidly grounded to family, community, and Canada. His career has centered on [...]

A Walmart on Dupont? RioCan purchases 1.4 acres in Dupont-Christie area

Admin — Thu, 05 May 2011 18:49:58 +0000

By Perry King RioCan, Canada’s largest real estate investment trust, has purchased a 1.4 acre property in the Christie-Dupont area. 740 Dupont St., currently occupied by luxury car dealership Grand Touring Automobiles, was one of four Canadian properties purchased by RioCan in late 2010. Acquired for $10.9 million, RioCan announced the purchase in January. [...]

NDP wins big downtown

Admin — Tue, 03 May 2011 18:55:50 +0000

By Lindsay Tsuji The General Election on May 2 proved to be a historic evening. From news of a Conservative majority, the Green Party winning a seat in Parliament to the naming of the NDP as the new opposition party, it was nothing less than shocking. Locally, Trinity-Spadina NDP incumbent Olivia Chow won with a [...]

A bird’s eye view: A look at the west downtown ridings

Admin — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 19:48:45 +0000

To further help with your decision to vote today, the Gleaner has compiled an interactive map with information about the ridings that we cover: Trinity-Spadina, Parkdale-High Park, Davenport, and St. Paul’s. To see complete coverage of the candidates for Trinity-Spadina and Parkdale-High Park, click here and here. For more coverage about the race in Davenport, [...]

Parkdale-High Park candidates talk families, trains, poverty, prisons, the military and mental illness

Admin — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 19:00:01 +0000

Compiled by Emina Gamulin, Perry King, Beth Macdonell, Rebecca Payne and Lindsay Tsuji The Candidates Question One: mental health Question Two: family reunification Question Three: the Canadian Forces Question Four: electric trains Question Five: prisons or poverty? The Riding Parkdale-High Park is one of the most diverse ridings in Canada in terms of income and [...]

Online in #TrinSpa: local candidates tap social media

Admin — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 15:41:54 +0000

By Beth Macdonell “I heard someone call this the Seinfeld election. The election about nothing,” says James Norrie, a social media researcher and associate dean at Ryerson University. “It seems pretty apathetic out there.” Still, Norrie believes in the power of social media. “If social media can provoke social unrest to the point that a government can fall,” [...]

Tax, transport, and pirates: Trinity-Spadina candidates are put in the hot seat

Admin — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 04:35:21 +0000

Compiled by Emina Gamulin, Perry King, and Beth Macdonell The Riding Trinity-Spadina neighbourhoods include Chinatown, Little Italy, Little Portugal, Kensington Market, the Annex, Seaton Village, Harbord Village, University of Toronto, Koreatown, Queen West, King West, the West Waterfront and the Toronto Islands. The riding is one of the most rapidly changing areas in the city [...]

Condo development could set height precedent in Little Portugal

Admin — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 17:47:14 +0000

By Perry King If approved, a condominium at Manning and Dundas will be the tallest building in the neighbourhood. As early as this fall, owner Maria Da Conceicao Silva and developer Andrew Dales Consulting will be breaking ground on the new development. “Everyone has their opinion on it. Some people don’t want to see any [...]

Time to ask your west-downtown Toronto federal candidates some questions

Admin — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 15:15:17 +0000

Gleaner Community Press is interviewing Federal candidates for Trinity-Spadina and Parkdale-High Park and we are seeking questions from you (besides “why are we having another election?”). After we have received all the questions we will then make a final selection based on diversity, relevance to the local community, and “goodness” (objectively and subjectively decided by [...]

Brunny patrons up in arms over “totally unchill residents”

Admin — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 17:30:58 +0000

By Zacchary K While the often inebriated and occasionally violent behavior of Brunswick House (481 Bloor St. W.) patrons upsets nearby residents, the bar goers say they are no strangers themselves to getting the cold shoulder from “lame-ass” locals. From police enforcement blitzes, neighbours telling them to “shut up already,” and female-residents-crossing-the-street-and-not-answering-their-questions-but-whatever,-it’s-not-like-they-were-that-hot-anyway, Brunny regulars say they feel [...]

Harbord eatery busted for possession of tasty, tasty donuts

Admin — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 16:30:58 +0000

By Zacchary K. Harbord has become a hotbed of both local and national attention after Pizza GiGi (189 Harbord St.) was exposed for allegedly dealing millions in narcotics. But the shocks have not ended there, as patrons of Harbord businesses become surprised yet again by a restaurant’s exposed dark side. “I can’t believe it,” [...]

The patsies of Parkdale? Bar owners say they shoulder blame for entire neighbourhood

Admin — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 16:04:01 +0000

By Rebecca Payne The closure of Captain Jack’s and denial of a rooming house application for the Parkdale “problem spot” does not mean that some area business owners are satisfied. The West Parkdale Neighbours Group (WPNG) was formed exclusively to take action against three bars that members consider to be problematic: the now closed [...]

This year’s Junofest stacked with nominees

Admin — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 18:08:32 +0000

By Karen Bliss After moving around the country for the past nine years, the Junos will be back in Toronto on March 27th for their 40th anniversary show. As part of the week-long celebration, JunoFest will take over downtown this weekend with 120 acts—more than 50 of them Juno nominees—playing 20 venues. “I believe we [...]

Plans for Radio Parkdale to be announced at Synthesis Gala this Friday

Admin — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 18:06:03 +0000

By Emina Gamulin While the head of the local residents’ association jokingly refers to them as the “Politically Correct Development Group,” the newly-renamed PCDG says they will continue to do the work they’ve always done: encouraging economic and employment initiatives in Parkdale. “The vision is to build connections among businesses, residents, and organizations that [...]

ARA calls for bike lanes, removal of parking & 30 km/h limit on Bloor

Admin — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 18:01:55 +0000

By Lindsay Tsuji The Annex Residents’ Association has made motions to call for more bike accessibility in the Annex, but some in the city’s transportation department say the plan is unrealistic. The bike policy put forth by the ARA calls for bike lanes on Bloor Street between Bathurst Street and Avenue Road, the construction of [...]

No patio for Parts and Labour

Admin — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 19:32:53 +0000

By Beth Macdonell On March 9, The city’s Committee of Adjustment panel turned down a request by Parts and Labour (1566 Queen St. W.) to construct a roof-top patio. Eighteen opposing community members showed up at the meeting and 68 people signed a petition submitted to the committee against an outdoor space, says Josie Kruzick, [...]

TDSB-Onestop deal a no-go

Admin — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 23:36:13 +0000

The Toronto District School Board voted against a proposal to install advertising-based television screens in its high schools last night. If the proposal had passed, screens would have been installed in 66 schools, displaying advertising 30 per cent of the time for at least the next seven years. Ward 2 trustee and concerned parent Chris [...]

Annex gets taste of largest ever CMW

Admin — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 22:32:06 +0000

By Karen Bliss This year’s Canadian Music Week (CMW) is bigger then ever. “The live scene is coming back in Canada, Toronto particularly. I think that’s important. We are using close to 60 venues, so that’s reasonably healthy,” says Neill Dixon, CMW president. “The festival is very multi-national now. The majority of bands are from Canada, [...]

Graphologist Annette Poizner holds talk at OISE; Gleaner reporter a believer

Admin — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 18:56:44 +0000

By Rebecca Payne Poizner first encountered graphology in her early twenties, when she was in Israel and had her handwriting analyzed. “It blew me away,” she said of the formative experience. She then hired a clinical graphologist and spent three hours a day in private study with him in Jerusalem. She went on to do [...]

What will “non-commercial” advertising mean at TDSB?

Admin — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 22:13:39 +0000

By Reem Jazar The Toronto District School Board is voting on March 9 about bringing video screen ads to as many as 70 Toronto secondary schools. The board is expected to vote in favour of the screens, with some restrictions to commercial advertising. The TDSB’s committee of administration, finance, and accountability met on March 2 [...]

Tecumseth Street abattoir: newer residents smell disgust, long-timers accept the whiff

Admin — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 20:30:25 +0000

By Beth Macdonell Although an abattoir on Tecumseth Street has been operating for almost a century, some residents remain perturbed by the smell of live pigs being brought into the area for slaughter. Initially run by the city, Toronto Abattoirs Limited and Quality Meat Packers Limited, irk John Sleeman, 65, a retired resident who lives [...]

Loss of public space? Bloor Annex to unveil decorative covers to combat street clutter

Admin — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 21:08:53 +0000

By Lindsay Tsuji Decorative pole covers are going up on Bloor Street in an effort to prevent postering and graffiti in the Annex, but not everyone agrees it’s a good idea. At a recent meeting at Kilgour’s Bar Meets Grill (509 Bloor St. W.), the board of representatives of the Bloor Annex Business Improvement Area [...]

Rubin Hurricane Carter’s new book missing Toronto chapter

Admin — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 22:44:13 +0000

By Perry King When Gus Sinclair thinks back to his work on the Rubin Carter case, his immediate thoughts go to Lisa Peters and her love for the fallen boxer. “There are two people who I’ve met in my life who had that unshakable will, one was Rubin, and the other was the woman that [...]

Grant goes Green: Harbord Village chair jumps into provincial race

Admin — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 19:52:23 +0000

By Perry King When Tim Grant went to a Green Party policy conference two years ago to hear more about their platform, he was “prepared to be unimpressed.” “The Green Party in this riding has been very weak organizationally. This is one riding where more people spend and donate to green causes than any other [...]

TDSB-Onestop deal will sell our kids short

Admin — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 16:57:35 +0000

By Emina Gamulin If the board of trustees votes yes at their next meeting, the deal between the Toronto District School Board and Onestop Media Inc. will see as many as 74 secondary schools receive video screens in common areas with ads running 30 per cent of the time. Two schools in our coverage area, [...]

A work of heart: Michael Golland’s paintings to benefit artists with disabilities

Admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 22:16:23 +0000

By Tracy Chen This Valentine’s Day, people will have the chance to reach for hearts of a different variety. Michael Golland, contemporary artist and longtime Liberty Village resident, is creating a wall of 40 heart paintings. These hearts will premiere at the “A Work of Hearts” event in Liberty Village. A portion from the sale of these paintings will go towards the Laser Eagles [...]

Parkdale Giller Prize nominee’s ‘quietly apocalyptic’ stories told over dinner table

Admin — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 18:05:17 +0000

By Jeromy Lloyd Seven years ago, the short stories from This Cake Is For The Party moved with their author from Victoria to Toronto, where they found audiences in publications such as The Walrus and Geist. But it wasn’t until 2006 that the process of assembling these stories into Cake, Sarah Selecky’s first anthology, began. [...]

Local storyteller releases new children’s novel

Admin — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 19:03:09 +0000

By Eddie Mumford “Even though my neighbourhood has changed drastically, it still basically looks the same … so I thought it would be fun to think about what it was like in another time,” says storyteller group founder and writer Celia Lottridge, on why she set her new childrens’ book The Listening Tree in Seaton Village. The [...]

What lies beneath: local lab to house high-end technology

Admin — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 06:19:36 +0000

By Melissa Sundardas The new subterranean research lab on University Avenue is bringing a scale of advanced, breakthrough technologies for research that would make Willy Wonka proud. Located just beneath Toronto Rehab Institute’s University Centre (550 University Ave.), this new facility—called the Challenging Environment Assessment Lab (CEAL)—allows scientists to safely and accurately develop treatments, technologies, and products that will [...]

Death and rebirth of the Matador

Admin — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 04:36:05 +0000

Exclusive to the Gleaner By Beth Macdonell It has been years since the last mickey of rum was served and the last band performed, yet those who frequented the legendary booze can will never forget the Matador (466 Dovercourt Rd.). After showcasing more than 40 years of some of Canada’s greatest country and folk music, [...]

Mixed-use, mixed feelings: Proposed development largest since Loblaws

Admin — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 03:09:47 +0000

By Perry King The Wynn Group is moving forward with its plans of developing a 29-storey hotel and condominium on a strip of Dupont. An application to amend the Toronto Official Plan, that will change the designation of six Dupont properties from an employment to a mixed-use site, was submitted by the Wynn Group in May, but was [...]

Sweeping up Bellevue: Community lukewarm over month-long blitz

Admin — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 00:59:09 +0000

By Perry King Out of the 68 arrests that were made in a Kensington-area drug blitz, police Sergeant Jeff Zammit remembers one arrest that bothered him. “We dealt with one guy that was trafficking, and he was with a woman and a baby in a stroller—it was his girlfriend—while he was selling,” said Zammit, who [...]

Ward 18 defeated cry foul

Admin — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 00:28:37 +0000

By Rebecca Payne Multiple campaign managers of Ward 18 (Davenport) candidates claim questionable tactics were used in the race, and are pointing their fingers at newly elected Councillor Ana Bailao’s campaign. Bailao edged out Adam Giambrone’s former executive assistant Kevin Beaulieu by 1,366 votes. Beaulieu’s campaign manager, as well as fellow Ward 18 contender Kirk [...]

Who is Jane Beecroft: Dragon of City Hall or First Nations Truth Speaker?

Admin — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 00:48:10 +0000

By Susan Oppenheim I met Jane Beecroft in 2008, when she brought flyers into my shop for the opening of a nearby historical restoration. At the time I knew nothing of heritage work, the Community History Project (the group she founded), or the Tollkeeper’s Cottage, and I had little interest in the undertakings at the corner of Davenport [...]

Shootings shock community: Police say recent violence mostly targeted

Admin — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 22:27:48 +0000

By Perry King Investigations on three of four recent shooting incidents in the Annex area are still open, according to updates from 14 Division. At a meeting on Oct. 26, over 50 people packed into the Bickford Centre cafeteria (777 Bloor St. W.) to hear Inspector David Vickers and Detective Sergeant Brian Kelly announce that investigations for shootings [...]

Home from the Odyssey: Artist returns to her Annex roots

Admin — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 22:21:23 +0000

By Liivi Sandy Every environment is a new palate to explore for artist Erica Brisson. The 27-year-old grew up in the Annex with the neighbourhood driving her creativity. Erica has been on the road for eight years, studying art history and studio art at Concordia University in Montreal, and then working at the Banff Centre for the [...]

Mad House: Madison dweller alleges harassment over heritage home

Admin — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 22:10:18 +0000

By Eddie Mumford ‘Majestic’ would be a word to describe the house at 145 Madison Ave. With its uniformity of smooth brick and irregular shape, the massive, detached home stands out amongst the neighbouring houses. But the house, declared a historical site (under the Heritage Act) in 1974, has recently become a source of anxiety for its owner. [...]

Earning his stripes? “Social transformation” art project not supported by hospital

Admin — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 02:05:52 +0000

By Perry King Artist Miklos Legrady wants to paint candy stripes on Toronto Western Hospital’s smokestack, at the cost of $675,000. Courtesy Miklos Legrady After years of being a sticking point for local residents, the Toronto Western hospital smokestack (399 Bathurst St.) may get a facelift, if a local artist has his way. Inspired by [...]

Façade facelift: Lee’s Palace iconic mural is back

Admin — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 20:00:10 +0000

By Beth Macdonell In 1987, Al Runt was working behind the bar at Lee’s Palace (529 Bloor St. W.). He was let go for drinking on the job, but the owner, “Mr. Lee,” noticed Runt was a talented painter. According to Runt, Mr. Lee was looking to attract cool eyeballs from Queen to Bloor. Mr. Lee noticed that [...]

Sam James makes good joe

Admin — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 19:11:36 +0000

By Karen Bliss The lattes at Sam James Coffee Bar (297 Harbord St.) are a work of art and it has little to do with the carefully poured rosetta design that decorates each cup. The staff that make the coffee are trained on the bean, the temperature, and the method, making each sip something to be savoured, [...]

Holiday wish list and cover art

Admin — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 18:29:27 +0000

Every holiday edition, the Gleaner features community and holiday-themed artwork on our cover. We are also continuing a new tradition that we started last year, where we are soliciting holiday wishes from the community, for the community. Here are the stipulations: For artwork: -We are looking for two pieces of artwork to feature on our [...]

She said “Meow!”: Burlesque revival at Revival Bar

Admin — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 16:52:59 +0000

By Eddie Mumford It’s a cabaret! Or at least it will be, as locals and fans from afar purchase their tickets for the new vaudevillian show Swing into the Night. The premiere at Revival Bar, will take place over the last three Sundays of November, featuring headlining swing bands like Danny & the D’ Notes. [...]

Election results for your ward

Admin — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 18:58:25 +0000

In Ward 20, Adam Vaughan easily won re-election with 74 per cent of the vote. Mike Yen, whose platform was very similar to Mayor-elect Rob Ford, and whose message of “Stop the War on Fun” resonated with local fraternities and bars, including the Brunswick House, came in a distant second with 3,601 votes. Dean Maher, [...]

Trustee challenger accuses TDSB of corruption

Admin — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 19:11:06 +0000

By Khristopher Reardon Ward 10 trustee candidate Michael Sims says he is shocked by the “level of corruption and opacity” at the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) following an investigation of incumbent Chris Bolton. Calendars were handed to elementary students bearing incumbent Chris Bolton’s image and campaign website, which is a violation of TDSB election [...]

Toronto Election 2010: Ward 18

Admin — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 19:35:04 +0000

Ward 18 has a dozen registered candidates. Councillor Adam Giambrone is not seeking re-election. The Gleaner was not able to contact or find any information on candidates Mohammmed Muhit and Joanna Teliatnik. Ana Bailão: Ran in Ward 18 in 2003; worked for five years in MP Mario Silva’s office (Davenport). Aims to increase the level of participation [...]

Toronto Election 2010: Ward 14

Admin — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 19:32:59 +0000

There are nine contenders vying for the Ward 14 seat: Gord Perks: Incumbent, won the ward in 2006 with 30.1 per cent of the vote against 14 separate challengers. Former columnist for Eye Weekly. During his term he has worked on securing and developing affordable housing in the ward. Also focused on upgrading public space infrastructure, [...]

Asked, answered: Street merchant restrictions, garbage, and cycling big issues in Ward 20

Admin — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 19:23:03 +0000

Compiled by Perry King and Emina Gamulin The Gleaner asked you what questions you’d like the Ward 20 candidates to answer, and here’s what you came up with. Answers have been edited for space, and candidates are listed alphabetically, with the incumbent first. Roman Polochansky is also running but could not be reached for comment. [...]

Quizzing the candidates: Ward 19 takes on parks, permits, and moratoriums

Admin — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 19:22:46 +0000

Compiled by Emina Gamulin, Perry King, Rebecca Payne, and Khristopher Reardon In Ward 19, incumbent Joe Pantalone, who has been a sitting councillor since 1980, is running for mayor. There are nine candidates: Rosario Bruto worked in banking for 25 years, and currently owns a consulting firm; Ted Footman (listed as David Footman on the [...]

Frats fight back, but can they win the battle against Vaughan?

Admin — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 15:01:58 +0000

By Tim Legault Fraternity houses are voicing their concerns over the proposed changes in rooming house bylaws and licensing rules that Councillor Adam Vaughan (Ward 20 Trinity-Spadina) has been championing for some time. The planned changes would require the properties to have yearly inspections that ensure the buildings are to code. Failing to fix any [...]

Welcome to Happyview: Neigbourhood dad hosts one-man show

Admin — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 20:08:52 +0000

By Bethan Evans Have you ever thought to yourself, Children’s theatre is entertaining for my kids, but I am bored to tears after the curtain opens? Michael McMurtry did and decided to do something about it. “I wanted to create something that entertains kids, but is also sophisticated and will appeal to their parents as [...]

Watch the Watchmen: ‘90s frontman works to balance music and real life

Admin — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 23:33:51 +0000

By Karen Bliss Danny Greaves, vocalist from the popular ‘90s rock band The Watchmen, still plays live with the band, but he’s been working on solo material, composing for film, and has ventured into the restaurant biz. The Watchmen—Greaves, guitarist Joey Serlin, bassist Ken Tizzard and drummer Sammy Kohn—broke up in 2003, but for the [...]

Boast about The Coast

Admin — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 15:00:46 +0000

By Karen Bliss Toronto indie rockers The Coast, who celebrate the release of its sophomore album, Queen Cities, on Sept. 23 at the El Mocambo, began life in the Annex. Frontman Ben Spurr and guitarist Ian Fosbery were living on St. George Street at the time and called their band The July 26th Movement. “We [...]

Caring about Caribana: Festival connects Annex resident to her roots

Admin — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:27:40 +0000

By Liivi Sandy Spend some time with Sherrill Sutherland and you’ll get an education. The 25-year-old Annex resident works for CBC News Network, writing about the events that make our city, country, and world tick. Spend more time with Sutherland and you’ll realize that she’s more than you bargained for. The candid young woman is [...]

Vigourfest wants to make you healthy through music

Admin — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:44:53 +0000

By Brendan Hair Vigour Projects, a new Toronto-based not-for-profit organization will be presenting its first health music concert called Vigourfest at Trane Studio on Sept. 3. Founder and president Dr. David Alter, a cardiologist and researcher who has been writing songs since his teens, merged his love for music and health to create the project. [...]

Toronto’s harmonized zoning bylaw now in effect

Admin — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:52:58 +0000

By Perry King At 9:47 p.m. on Aug. 25, Toronto city council voted 37–0 to approve the hotly debated harmonized zoning bylaw. The new bylaw, arising from an eight-year harmonization exercise, now regulates the use of land and buildings, including their height, size, bulk, and location. Written with a common terminology and set of defined [...]

Great Voices at Festival at the Fort

Admin — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 17:49:49 +0000

Written By Rick Salutin August 10 to 22 at Fort York, 100 Garrison Rd. By Beth Macdonell On now through Aug. 22, Festival at the Fort presents Great Voices, a play that tells the story of the Battle of York during the war of 1812 between America and British Canada. Written by columnist and author Rick [...]

Scott Pilgrim vs. The Annex

Admin — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 00:55:22 +0000

The popular graphic novels make use of many Annex locations. Image courtesy Oni Press. By Tim Legault As Bryan Lee O’Malley, creator of the Scott Pilgrim graphic novels, sat signing a stack of his sixth and final volume in the series (Scott Pilgrim’s Finest Hour) in preparation for the book’s launch party, he recalled Publishers [...]

Castle under siege?: Casa Loma management under scrutiny

Admin — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 03:27:33 +0000

By Jennifer Farncomb Is it time for new management at Casa Loma? Recent events have called into question the management and finances of the castle, which some say are lacking in transparency and the ability follow through on agreements made with the city in 2008. “Now what staff is identifying is that we have a problem—and it’s [...]

Oh, give me a home: Province changes definition of retirement residences

Admin — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 05:02:06 +0000

By Perry King Bill 21 is now officially law, but local retirement homes are still unsure how the new regulations will affect them. “We do not know at this point how much change there will be in terms of regulations,” said Anne Walton, vice president of operations for Diversicare, the overseeing body for Hazelton Place [...]

Letters to the editor: bike activist and Adam Vaughan hash it out

Admin — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 16:20:27 +0000

Hamish Wilson sends more letters to the Gleaner than anyone else (except Rudolph Manook, but that’s another story). Wilson’s letters are invariably about cycling issues. This month, it seems he went on the offensive with Councillor Adam Vaughan, who hit right back: Wilson: Thank you for your coverage on Annex biking issues. It is assuredly [...]

World-renowned pianist opens TSM Festival with a stunning all-Schumann program

Admin — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 18:46:16 +0000

By Emily Dontsos If master pianist Anton Kuerti’s spectacular opening night performance for the Toronto Summer Music Festival on July 20 is any indication of what to expect from the festival’s 12 remaining concerts, then classical music lovers are in for a treat. Held at the architecturally and acoustically astounding new Koerner Hall in The [...]

G20 Annex snippets

Admin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 20:41:22 +0000

No justice, no grease Annex resident and former Gleaner editor Liivi Sandy called the police after she heard “violent and very unnerving” smashing at 2 a.m., on the eve of the G20. She initially thought her home was being broken into. Sandy then looked out her window and saw a person dressed in dark clothing [...]

Z’s by the C: Public napping project hits Toronto

Admin — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 17:32:03 +0000

By Brendan Hair On July 17 and 18 The Theatre Centre in partnership with Cooking Fire Theatre Festival will be presenting a public napping project called Z’s by the C. At this event residents can craft their own sleeping mask and have a sweet dream or catch up on lost sleep from the hectic work [...]

Off the chain: Toronto celebrates Mad Pride Week

Admin — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 13:00:15 +0000

By Min Kang Mayor David Miller has officially proclaimed July 12 to 18th Mad Pride Week. “It’s throwing the word back in the face of the general public who think mad is a horrible kind of state to be in, so we throw it back into the face of society, just like gays throw queer [...]

The Euclid-Dundas Fire in photos

Admin — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 05:38:48 +0000

It isn’t pretty but Cafe Brasiliano & Columbia—west of Musa Restaurant at the corner of Euclid Avenue and Dundas Street West—becomes the likely victim of water and smoke damage when a fire erupted on July 4, 2010. We photographed the occasion and put it on our Flickr page. Matt James/Gleaner News

The Queen’s Park G20 protest in photos

Admin — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 00:51:11 +0000

On June 26, the Gleaner documented the Queen’s Park protests through photography. Check out these photos on our Flickr page. Perry King/Gleaner News

It’s just two days

Admin — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 17:30:19 +0000

By Emina Gamulin Contrary to the apparent opinions of most Canadians released in a recent poll, we at the Gleaner see a lot of bad and little good coming to Toronto communities as a result of the G20 summit. Designated free speech areas, random police checks, razor-wired security fences, surveillance cameras, tear gas, sound cannons, [...]

Summer summit: Everything about the G20 you were afraid to ask

Admin — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 17:10:00 +0000

By Jacob Arnfield At a price of $1 billion dollars, with international financial leaders, media, police, and protestors all congregating downtown, the G20 will be an event unlike any other the city has ever seen. In case some of the disparate accounts have left you confused, here are some details for how the summit will alter the [...]

Choosen ones: local acts worth checking out at NXNE

Admin — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 17:47:02 +0000

By Karen Bliss More than 2,500 artists applied for a spot at the 2010 North By Northeast music festival, which takes place all over the city from June 14 to 20, so the 650 bands and solo acts that were accepted have obviously been given the thumbs up from the organizers. “We have a jury [...]

U of T, locals butt heads over 42-storey proposal

Admin — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 20:14:49 +0000

By Tim Legault A proposal to build a massive 42-storey academic residence at 245 and 253 College Street, between Spadina and University, was met with a general unease from local residents during a May 18 community meeting. “Nice building, wrong location,” said Ceta Ramahalawansingh, who has lived in the area since 1971. She added that [...]

This week in adorable local news

Admin — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 18:29:04 +0000

Party’s over: Frats may lose rooming house exemption

Admin — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 03:07:43 +0000

By Jacob Arnfield Is there a difference between a fraternity and a rooming house? Historically, municipalities with rooming house laws say yes. When Toronto’s rooming house legislation was first instituted, fraternity and sorority houses were exempted, but this is not likely to be the case for much longer. Earlier this year, Councillor Adam Vaughan (Ward [...]

Park Property without power: 22-storey building suffers 30-hour outage

Admin — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 03:06:49 +0000

By Darko Milenkovic Residents of a 22-storey building in the Annex found themselves with neither electricity nor water during a weekend-long power outage last month. During a windy morning on May 8, a tree limb fell on top of a power fuse creating sparks and causing a partial power outage at 100 Spadina Rd, owned [...]

Tough cookie: Architect turned baker gets put to the test

Admin — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 02:57:42 +0000

Horii has a passion and desire to keep creating. She noted that she has dabbled in other pastries, like cupcakes and three-dimensional cookies. “When people see it, they’re just blown away. The kind of satisfaction you get from that is what keeps me going,” she said. Her passion has not gone unnoticed. “I think it’s [...]

Lascivious licensing: Toronto burlesque community says bylaw is vague

Admin — Mon, 31 May 2010 04:35:19 +0000

By Sandra Ferrari A scantily defined Toronto bylaw has raised concerns in the local burlesque community after bylaw officers were called in to investigate an event held at Revival nightclub (783 College St.) last month. Because of the vague wording, it is unclear whether the performances violated the law. Only verbal warnings were issued and [...]

National treasure: Lacrosse squad revs up for regular season

Admin — Sat, 29 May 2010 04:06:52 +0000

By Perry King When a sports team wins a league title in their inaugural season, they’re going to get some attention. But somehow, the Toronto Nationals, an expansion franchise of Major League Lacrosse (MLL)—the National Lacrosse League’s (NLL) outdoor lacrosse counterpart—did the deed in the quietest way possible. “We came together at the right time. [...]

Becoming anti-Social?: Queen West hot spot operating without a license

Admin — Sat, 29 May 2010 04:06:34 +0000

By Beth Macdonell In what seems to be a response to the city issuing an increased number of fines last year, Richard Lambert, co-owner of The Social (1100 Queen St. W.), is asking the city to rezone the address to allow it to operate as a nightclub. The Social previously operated under a restaurant license, [...]

Cycling towards complete streets: Debates on biking heat up as more lanes are added

Admin — Tue, 18 May 2010 04:25:58 +0000

By Jacob Arnfield It’s no surprise that as the election year proceeds, the question of how best to improve our streetscapes is rearing its head. Recently, the Board of Trade ranked Toronto’s long commutes worst among global cities of comparable size, the TTC is under heavy scrutiny, and bike lane proposals are being met with [...]

Bitter pill to swallow: Snowdon Pharmacy afraid for future

Admin — Tue, 18 May 2010 04:23:06 +0000

By Emina Gamulin Snowdon Pharmacy (264 Bloor St. W.) has had many tough times in its 104-year history, but the changes the provincial government proposes to cut drug costs may be the biggest challenge the community institution has faced thus far. The government announced its plans that as of May 15, pharmacies will no longer [...]

When you say it fast it sounds like fifty: The Annex Gleaner celebrates 15 years

Admin — Mon, 17 May 2010 18:18:15 +0000

By Jacob Arnfield The brainchild of original editor Deanne Fisher, The Annex Gleaner originally had a mandate to represent and foster our local community and we’ve stuck to our guns. This month marks 15 years of the paper being published. Fisher recounted why she felt it necessary to start a local paper back in 1995. [...]

Unlucky in injury: World’s first “spleen protector” built for U of T athlete

Admin — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 20:19:48 +0000

By Perry King With U of T’s bittersweet playoff loss to against York University Feb. 24, Nick Snow capped a memorable university athletics career that almost did not happen. The last five years were a maturing experience for Snow. The basketball program gave Snow the chance to see and compete in basketball games worldwide, and [...]

Beaton the brave: Activist wins national award for protecting the planet

Admin — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 23:50:33 +0000

By Beth Macdonell “All the skills I have, I use to protect mother earth,” said Danny Beaton as the early morning sun shines across our table at Future Bakery (483 Bloor St. W.). The photographer, filmmaker, flautist, writer, and teacher has kept an office at the corner of Brunswick Avenue and Bloor Street for 20 [...]

Storming the Barnes: First novel a classically spun noir story set in 1960s Toronto

Admin — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 23:20:34 +0000

Courtesy: Lily Barnes By Emily Landau To outside eyes, Lilly Barnes may be a woman of the world, but her world ends in the Annex. “My kids tease me—they say I act as if I get a nosebleed north of Dupont,” she chuckles. Barnes has lived in the Annex for almost six decades, where she [...]

Elizabeth Smart’s time in the Annex was brief, but her impact was lasting

Admin — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:06:08 +0000

By Leigh Beadon Mutual friends arranged that we meet in a respectable downtown restaurant in Toronto. She wore a black, crushed velvet jump suit and a sultry pink tam over hair that was still thick and blonde nearing 70. She stole the wine glasses That’s how Roy MacGregor described Elizabeth Smart in an Ottawa Citizen [...]

A good fight deserves a plaque

Admin — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:38:33 +0000

By Rebecca Payne This June, the Annex Residents’ Association and the Heritage Toronto will dedicate two plaques to commemorate the grassroots community action that helped halt the construction of the planned Spadina Expressway. One is proposed for the northeast corner of Spadina Road and Bloor Street West, and the other for the Kendall Street subway [...]

Trash talking: Kensington businesses scratching their heads after city reduces garbage collection

Admin — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:36:31 +0000

By Beth Macdonell In the early 1990s, residents and merchants of Kensington Market successfully organized to increase garbage pickup days from two to three days a week. Now, it will be seen if the newly formed Kensington Business Improvement Area (BIA), will be able to make a similar move by reversing a decision by Toronto [...]

Progress stalls: two years later, little done for fire-ravaged Queen West strip

Admin — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:19:42 +0000

By Claude Saravia Chad Mutchler was watching from a friend’s roof that cold Feb. 20 when a fire ripped through the Queen West neighbourhood just before dawn. It took 150 firefighters in 30 trucks to extinguish the six- alarm inferno that destroyed a section of Queen Street West, between Bathurst Street and Portland Avenue in [...]

February Gleanings

Admin — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 21:17:24 +0000

Filthy dirty homemade fun It’s probably a fair bet that St. Valentine, whosoever that borderline-apocryphal personality might be, probably didn’t think of his life’s work as culminating in an excuse for greeting card makers and confectioners to have a one-day sales bonanza. And yet, here we are. But probably even further still from his mind [...]

Bloor grand tour

Admin — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:05:19 +0000

Cinema has worn many hats over the century, online doc shows By Matt James The Bloor Cinema (506 Bloor St. W.), like a lot of centarians, has shrunk with age. Back in 1941 when it was known as the Midtown, it could seat 1,125 people. You could catch a flick for 35 cents, and if [...]