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416 462 9006
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469 Carlaw Ave. Toronto
GERRARD
ST. E .
RIVERDALE PLAZA
HOURS: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: 9 AM – 6 PM • Thursday and Friday: 9 AM – 8 PM • Saturday: 9 AM – 5 PM • Sunday: CLOSED
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NEIGHBOURHOOD
NEXT ISSUE Winter 2014 Delivered to The Beach, Cabbagetown, East York, Leslieville, Greektown, the Danforth, Riverdale and Riverside. Feature Writer: Tracey Coveart Graphic Designers: John Beadle, Christine Tatilon, Pamela Hickey, Liz Derrick Neighbourhood Promoters: Ben Lewis, Greg Barsoski
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Writer and Photography: Allison Anthony, Connie Adair, Tom Allen, Jake Armour, Greg Barsoski, Belynda Blyth, Susan Baker, Jamie Gateman, Karie Johnston, Mark Ma, Geffroy Pascal, Peggy Sloan. Publisher: Greg Barsoski
Neighbourhood Living is now in its 5th exciting year, celebrating the wonderful people and places in our neighbourhood.
For Marketing Advice that can double your neighbourhood business call Greg Barsoski at 416-402-4283 or GregB@neighbourhoodliving.com 19 Ravina Crescent, Toronto, M4J-3L9.
ON OUR COVER Edward Levesque is always cooking up something fresh and tasty in the kitchen of his Leslieville restaurant, Edward’s 1290. Call it Artisanal Comfort Food or just plain delicious, Ed’s organic fare is a Neighbourhood favourite.
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INSIDE THE BEACH
Joy of Dance Centre
Rob Croxford Takes a Spoonful of Sugar
FOOD & CELEBRATION
The Voice of Style Jane Hall
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Feeding Families since 1959 Masellis Supermarket 88
GREAT GARDENS OF THE EAST SIDE
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INSIDE THE DANFORTH Dr. Jeff Powis – Infectious Diseases Consultant Custom Copying Services Copycat
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Travel to Ethiopia and Back Rendez Vous 96
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Great Food-Great Value Black Bear Pub
INSIDE LESLIEVILLE From Bangles to Basmati to Bollywood - Belynda Blyth
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INSIDE RIVERDALE/ CABBAGETOWN/RIVERSIDE The Give and Take of Artist Scott Johnston Algonquin Canoeing in the Mist - Tom Allen
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FASHION AND BEAUTY The Art Of Pampering Urban Nails
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Don’t Just Be Trendy be Posh 71 29 Years of Custom Fitting - Carlos Chavez Mireille WatsonThrill of the Find Welcome to Danforth Community Acupuncture
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Choosing the perfect Yoga Class for you - Yoga Fit 84
CRAZY GOOD THINGS Olive & Cilantro Bread from St. John’s
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Ed’s Real Scoop
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Recipe for Pizzaladiere Nicoise by Pascal Geffroy, Batifole 102
Birthday parties at M.Thompson Chocolates
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A Bistro with European Sensibility-Table 17
Mary Macleod’s Maple Crunch Shortbread
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Simone’s Caribbean Restaurant
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HOME & GARDEN
Balsamic reduction at Veloute
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Get the Look: Bedroom Brilliance - Howard’s Storage 116
The Kale Salad at Eadrey Foods
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Beautiful, functional, unique Kevin Karst 118
Special Occasion cakes at North Pole Bakery
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Laneway House Sustainable.TO
The Coq au Vin at Edward’s 1290
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Hand Crafted Furniture and Antiques - Alf’s Antiques 126
Tobogganing in Riverdale Park
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Persian Carpet - Pealac Rug 128
Riverdale Farm
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DOLLARS & SENSE Funerals: To Pre-plan or Not? Karie Johnston 114
Anizet - Children’s Decor
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Mosaic Storytelling Festival 163
Bella Lite - Unique Creations 134
Little Free Library
Framing takes on a new Dimensions in Riverside
IN MEMORIAM
All rights reserved info. No article or ad may be duplicated without the consent of the publisher. Neighbourhood Living makes no representation or warranty, expressed or implied, as to the qualification or accreditation of those whose opinions are expressed herein, or with the respect to the accuracy of completeness of information (medical or otherwise) provided to, or published in, this magazine. The views and opinions expressed within are not necessarily those of the publisher.
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Angelo D’Auria
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ELVA HOOK www.elvahook.com
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Inside
h c a e B e h T Marg Gillespie helps Kids (feel) At Home
M
arg Gillespie knows about personal space. Since 2005, she and the Kids At Home staff have been helping families source quality Canadian furniture, bedding and accessories for children of all ages. “Our store is the place to go when you’re getting the
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“ Our store is the place to go when you’re getting the nursery ready… nursery ready for baby, moving your children to their big boy or girl bed or updating your tween or teenager’s room,” says Marg. “We love working with couples who are starting their family. In the nine years we’ve been open, we’ve watched ‘our kids’ grow from newborns to the point where they come in and tell us how they want to decorate their room!” Space-saving Ontario-made bunk and loft beds are
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this season’s hot ticket item. “Each piece is created for our customers at exceptional prices by a family owned company. The beds are a perfect fit in neighbourhood homes and condos where space is at a premium.”
KIDS AT HOME 2130A Queen St. E 416-698-9726 kidsathome.com
The ‘bead’azzling Jo Penny Jo Penny wandered into a bead shop on Granville Island 25 years ago and fell in love. Three months later, she opened her own Beadworks franchise in Toronto. Today, the Queen Street East shop carries tens of thousands of beads from all over the world–India, Africa, Germany, Japan and the Czech Republic–in natural and painted wood, crystal, ebony, bone, glass, metal, seeds, semi-precious stones and pearls, and people of all ages are discovering the joy of beading. A trip to the shop is a sensory experience and beads from $5 to $50 in every co-
lour of the rainbow are meant to be handled. “You can get lost in here for hours,” say Jo. “From earrings to wine glass charms to bookmarks, people get immense satisfaction from making something beautiful with their own hands. You can put together a bracelet for as little as a dollar and it’s functional, personalized and utterly unique.”
BEADWORKS 2154 Queen St. E 416-693-0780 beadworksjo.com
Fresh-from-the-sea Maritime goodness from the Ralph Family to yours There’s a good reason walking through the bright red door at Seaport Merchants is like stepping into a Maritime seafood shop. The Ralph family–Gerry, Lorne and Marilyn–hail from Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, and Seaport Merchants is a third generation neighbourhood operation spanning four decades. “Our shop is the epitome of a down-home grocery store,” says Marilyn. “It’s small, intimate and authentic. People can smell it; they can feel it–the salt water; the freshness; the
friendliness.” The Ralphs have four priorities: fresh, quality product; attentive, personal service; customer satisfaction; and resource sustainability. “We buy our fish at its freshest point from premium suppliers,” Marilyn says. “We know our product, we know where it comes from and we know how to prepare it. This shop is a reflection of our culture and how we live. The people we serve are not just our customers, they’re our neighbours, our friends, our family.”
SEAPORT MERCHANTS 1101 Victoria Park Ave 416-755-9960
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Cheryl Lone moved from a small town outside of Winnipeg to Toronto and fell in love with The Beach. In the hair industry for 15 years, she first trained with Vidal Sassoon, then spent the next 10 years working at Civello. In 2012, Cheryl joined the team at Parlour Salon and opened their second location on Queen Street East. The name, Parlour–by definition ‘a private room of conversation and relaxation’– reflects Cheryl’s vision. There is no ego, attitude or pressure, just hair service that is comfortable, professional and reasonably priced. “I want to cre-
“ I want to create a close community… while making people feel great about themselves”
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ate a close community with my clients and neighbours while making people feel great about themselves,” she says. For many years, Cheryl has been offering free haircuts to women who are receiving chemotherapy, both before and after their treatment. “It’s an intense process but an inspiring one that helps to define our salon.” When not out riding her motorcycle, Cheryl is welcoming clients to Parlour East, where passion drives fashion.
PARLOUR SALON 2086 Queen St. E 416-699-4247 parloursalon.com
Tea time with Barbara Snow DeAngelis
A veritable heaven for tea-lovers PIPPINS TEA COMPANY Simply Good Taste 2098 Queen St. E. 416-694-7772 pippins.ca
When Barb opened her tea, treats and gift shop nine years ago, she couldn’t have anticipated the impact Pippins Tea Company would have on the neighbourhood–or on her. She left a 25-year corporate career to nourish her soul, build relationships and become an integral part of a community and found it with Pippins, voted one of the best tea shops in Toronto and a ‘happy place’ for customers, staff, friends and neighbours. A veritable heaven for tea-lov-
Fitness and fun for all at
Variety Village Walk through the doors at Variety Village and you’ll see and feel the difference immediately. This is not your typical sports facility. For more than 60 years, Variety Village has held fast to its goal of improving the quality of life of all people, regardless of age or ability. Offering specialized programs and services at the fully accessible facility allows VV to create a level playing field without barriers, intimidation or other obstacles so everyone can take part in fitness programs; sports, arts and music camps; and life skills workshops.
ers, Pippins carries more than 150 teas in black, green, white, oolong, organic, herbal, rooibos and decaf from England, China, India, Africa, Sri Lanka and beyond, and the shelves are teeming with tea-time treats and tea wares and accessories. She is thrilled with the community’s support-“our residents ‘shop local’ in the sun, rain and snow!” and in return offers quality products, unparalleled customer service and an unforgettable shopping experience.
It’s all here, under one roof. So, take advantage… at Paralympic, Special Olympic and Olympic games. It’s all here, under one roof. So, take advantage of the 76,000 square foot indoor Fieldhouse with three basketball courts and 200-metre five-lane track; cardio and weight rooms; pools; adaptable equipment; certified personal trainers; nutritionist; and taekwondo studio.
There are also seven sport teams, part of the Variety Village Athletic Club (VVAC)–the perfect training ground for athletes who go on to compete
VARIETY VILLAGE 3701 Danforth Ave 416-699-7167 varietyvillage.ca
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WERNER WEHMEYER,
clutter master
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erner Wehmeyer was clutter challenged until a visit to Howards Storage World in Sydney, Australia, revolutionized his life. He liked the concept so much–taking care of all your organizational needs in one place–he opened the first Howards in North America in 2011. The company tagline is ‘Simply
Organized,’ but Werner describes his bright and inviting Beach store as ‘the
“ Our simple, common sense organizational and storage solutions make it cost effective to retrofit the space you’ve got without having to renovate.” clever place to organize any space.’ Forced to live in increasingly smaller spaces, “we need to live more efficiently, and Howards is great for that. Our simple, common sense organizational and storage solutions make it cost effective to retrofit the space you’ve got without having to renovate.” And if you need help controlling your chaos, Werner has assembled a knowledgeable, well-trained team to back him up. In fact, the Howards staff are so good at what they do, laughs Werner, “our customers often leave with solutions to problems they didn’t know they had!”
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HOWARDS STORAGE WORLD 2060 Queen St. E 647-748-5517 howardscanada.com
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Fawzi and Alise bring fine dining to their Beach family The fare is fine and fresh sauces are made in-house, meats are aged to perfection, fish is fresh daily, For chef Fawzi Kotb and sommelier Alise Matos, opening their restaurant was like coming home. Fawzi was executive chef when the space was Peppino’s on The Beach and Alise lived in the apartment upstairs 20 years earlier. They married in the dining room and continue their love affair with food, wine and 2343 Queen by welcoming guests to Velouté Bistro & Catering. The fare is fine and fresh: sauces are made in-house, meats are aged to perfection, fish is fresh daily, wild Canadian game is on the menu
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one week each month and Alise carefully selects wines that complement her husband’s seasonal menu at prices customers can afford. The couple loves The Beach–a small town in a big city with a neighbourly European attitude–and they bring passion and joy to their work each day, treating customers like guests, and regulars like family. Dinner-and-a-movie nights are highlights, but every meal–whether you’re dining in, dining at home or having a catered gathering–is always an haute cuisine experience with Velouté. Book today for an astonishing à la carte Valentine’s Day or Easter dinner. Book your holiday party now!
VELOUTÉ BISTRO & CATERING 2343 Queen St. E 416-696-7392 veloute.ca
The Feathers is considered one of the finest whisky bars in the world
The feather in Reid Pickering’s cap
A veteran of the restaurant business (he started as a dishwasher at 15), Reid Pickering is the proud owner of The Feathers, an authentic British Pub and a Kingston Road institution. Boasting an exhaustive single malt scotch selection, The Feathers is considered one of the finest whisky bars in the world. It’s also a great place to take in live music. An accomplished musician and songwriter–his band, The Ditch Horses, will release its debut album in 2014–Reid combines his passion for music with his historic pub, hosting a songwriter’s night on the second Saturday of every month to give local artists the chance to perform their original music before a live audience. Reid, who grew up in The Beach and loves the fact that many of his customers’ families have been here for generations, is thrilled to welcome scotch aficionados, pub fare foodies and music lovers alike to The Feathers, a neighbourhood establishment since 1981.
THE FEATHERS PUB AND SINGLE MALT BAR 962 Kingston Road 416-694-0443 thefeatherspub.ca
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Michele Fournier shares her spiritual garden–and journey
M
ichele Fournier spent many successful years in the fast-paced world of corporate sales but her empathetic and healing nature were drawing her towards a more spiritual path. As a Holistic Therapist/Spiritual Facilitator, Michele set down new roots in The Beach, where proximity to the water and a sense of community enhance the peaceful atmosphere of
Michele’s Garden–a safe, nurturing environment for spiritual healing she has created on Lake Ontario. Certified in a number of wonderful holistic healing modalities, Michele believes that we are all evolving on our own journey of enlightenment. Creating Michele’s Garden has allowed her to combine ancient systems with modern technologies, while providing clients with a sacred space to experience
their own spiritual growth. From aromatherapy and reflexology to chakra alignment and spiritual boot camp, Michele’s Garden allows each of us to discover our own healing powers under the guidance of a gifted and compassionate therapist.
MICHELE’S GARDEN 416-686-6352 michelesgarden.ca
Double Your Neighbourhood Business using the Insiders Guide For a free marketing review– call Greg 416-402-4283
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Life–like photography– is a beautiful accident for Mike Maclaverty 18
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KATIE REFLING PHOTOGRAPHY 416-357-1085 katierefling.com photo@katierefling.com
K
atie Refling’s ability to draw out the unique allure and
Katie enjoyed a star turn as the photographer on the TV show
sensuality of her clients has brought her to the forefront
How To Look Good Naked, Canada and coverage in numerous
of the exciting and intimate field of artistic nude and boudoir
international magazines and publications, including People and
photography in Toronto. Female empowerment underscores
Best Health. Her imaginative and distinctive style captures the spirit
Katie’s photography and it is this driving force in her shoots that has
of the woman in the portrait and leaves a lasting impression that
drawn media attention to her stunning body of work.
goes far beyond superficial beauty and sexuality.
Beautiful award winning fine art photography from The Beach and around the world by Michael Maclaverty. Giclee prints from $100 and prints on canvas from $125. Michael produces the annual Beach Calendar as well as greeting cards and small items suitable for souvenirs and gifts. His work can be viewed online and purchased at the following locations in The Beach: Pippins Tea Company, Essentia Mattress, The Outrigger Tap & Table, The Massage Addict, Kew Beach Veterinary Clinic, Seagull Classics, The Incurable Collector, Book City, Arts on Queen, Starbucks at Hammersmith Ave., and The Beaches Arts & Crafts Show (June 14-15, 2014). Private showings can be arranged. Long- and short-term rentals for corporations and stagers.
TheAccidentalPhotographer.ca
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Mike@TheAccidentalPhotographer.ca
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416-529-6405
Susan Wallis is AWAY but not gone Encaustic artist Susan Wallis was profiled in the 2010 issue of Neighborhood Living. A long-time Leslieville resident, Susan displayed her first encaustic paintings to rave reviews at the 2003 Riverdale Art Walk. Her studio on Carlaw Avenue continued to be a stop on the walk until 2010 when she and her designer/carpenter husband left the big city and moved to an old farmhouse in the blossoming wine region of Prince Edward County, Ontario. Renovations on their rural home—which included a new encaustic studio for Susan—were completed in the late summer of 2012, and the couple realized a life-long dream, opening an idyllic Bed and Breakfast of their own. The stunning B&B, which won an award for its design, is aptly named AWAY in the County (see below) and is located on the tranquil shores of East Lake. It is the perfect destination for those who want to spend time in a gentle environment, exploring the countryside at their leisure. When she is not weeding her vegetable and flower gardens or tending her small flock of chickens, Susan can be found working away in her new studio. Her art continues to be displayed across Canada in galleries from Whistler to Toronto to Montreal and can be found in both private and corporate collections worldwide, in the USA, China, Europe and Australia. Susan will have a solo show this March at Elevation Gallery in Canmore, Alberta, and Closson Chase Winery in Prince Edward County in August.
SUSAN WALLIS
For more information on Susan’s work and a list of local galleries that represent her, visit susanwallis.com.
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Rob Croxford takes a
‘spoonful of sugar’ approach to artistic activism
R
ob Croxford, mixed media artist, is a stealthy activist. His iconic 50s inspired vintage-look art is beautiful to behold, but the provocative quotations he cleverly inserts in each piece have a way of getting under your skin and pricking your social consciousness with little needles of awareness. Originally from London, Ontario, Rob moved to Toronto 20 years ago “mostly to escape. London was very restrictive. I knew I didn’t belong there, but I didn’t understand why until I came here. Suddenly I was in this big wide city with all its diversity and I remember thinking, ‘So this is what it feels like to be allowed to be different.’” Rob took a stab at interior design but quickly found his home in the Theatre Technical Production program at Ryerson University. “I had always been an artist, somewhere, but when I moved here I fell in love with the whole idea of creating a different environment that people can escape to. For me, art is all about escape and
hope. It takes you to places you’ve never been; places where things have the potential to be better.” After graduation Rob worked as a Scenic Artist for the stage and film, painting drops and scenery for hundreds of shows across southern Ontario and working for such organizations as the Shaw Festival and the Canadian Opera Company, as well as the movie industry. “When I was working on films, I would hang around for 16 hours a day, waiting to touch up a bit of paint. But it was when I was standing at the top of a hill in a rainstorm in Mississauga painting a portapotty with dirt—I’m not actually sure that’s even painting—that I thought, ‘Hey. Maybe there’s something else I can do with my life. At least if I’m standing in the rain I’ll be standing in the rain in front of my own work.’” Tired of poverty, he took a job painting murals for casinos to pay off his massive student debt. “I kept hiring artists who were having their own shows in galleries around town,” recalls Rob. “I figured if they could do it, so could I.” He approached the owner of a Church Street restaurant
that displayed the work of local artists. “I went in and told him I had my own work and I would love to hang it there.” It wasn’t true but the owner agreed. The show was in a month and a half and Rob didn’t have a single painting. “I went home and stapled canvas offcuts to the wall, primed over them and started painting. I think I had finally figured out that you can only paint someone else’s vision for so long.”
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Looking back at that body of art deco-inspired early work, including a cancan dancer and an old pulp fiction cover, Rob admits that “they’re pretty much the worst things I’ve ever seen. But I sold 10 of 12! If I hadn’t I would have been a lot less likely to keep going. I’m a pretty practical person.” He followed up that first show with a fairy tale series, lifting text out of classic stories. “It was great for the gay community, but they weren’t the only stories I wanted to tell. It took me a while to distill what I wanted to say and how I wanted to say it.” Conceptually they were good pieces, he says, and he has recently fine tuned one of those early works to make a statement about
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Russian homophobia. “My skills have gotten so much stronger, and I can tell those stories so much better.” He jokes – sort of – that it’s only taken him 550 paintings and nine years to get to the point where he really understands the palette and the formula. Now 41 and a full-time self-employed artist, Rob lives in the upper Beaches with his husband and has a studio in Leslieville. And even when times are lean, “I know how lucky I am. There is something fantastic about doing this as a career and there is so much opportunity for me to share my vision.” With his background in theatre technical production, “I have a brain for the hard work of art. I put in at
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least eight hours a day, six days a week. The more I challenge myself the better my painting skills become.” It sounds gruelling, “but I love it. Each painting leads into the next and my voice just keeps getting stronger.” The work itself has a distinct vintage flavour. “I have no idea how I got there,” admits Rob, who has a fascination with the 50s, “but I love that aesthetic. On the surface, it was a simpler time – a time of hope and promise – but there was this whole subversive culture of oppression underneath; all the hate and fear of things that were different.” It is this juxtapositioning of the cheerful with the menacing that makes Rob’s work so intriguing. “I
take the ‘spoonful of sugar’ approach to activism. I don’t hammer people over the head. I put my message out there in a pretty and appealing way.” Like his new piece on the upcoming Russian Olympics and the recent bill that makes homosexuality illegal in that country. “I wanted to address the issue in a fun way. I wanted it to be light enough that people would say, ‘Oh, that’s cute.’ And then have them walk away and think, ‘Oh, but it’s kind of true.’” Perhaps Rob’s light-handed approach is due to the fact that he wasn’t drawn to activism on a conscious level. In fact, the inspiration for his first series came from an old book on et-
iquette for women that he just happened across. “It was awful. And I decided to use my art to make a point about women’s issues. Of course, now that I have a platform there are so many things I’d like to make a point about.” A self-professed “smart ass who tries to find the humour in everything,” Rob uses ambiguous quotes that can have a number of different meanings to take an understated jab at society. “The imagery in my paintings tells a story, but the quotes really put the point on it.” As for the source of his remarks (credited on the back of each piece), “I usually use dead people: authors,
philosophers. There are so many smart dead people. It’s easy to liberate their wisdom.” Only on two occasions has Rob used a quote of his own. One —‘Worth can’t always be measured in dollars and cents’ —is on a painting of Ontario Place, which is falling into decay. The other—‘Sometimes age and beauty are not mutually exclusive’—is on a painting of the Gooderam and Worts Distillery District. Living in this city, you forget all the beauty and uniqueness that is here. I’m creating a visual catalogue of the highlights of Toronto before they disappear in a sea of condos.” (Rob donates a percentage of his sales at outdoor shows to Evergreen.)
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“ If my pieces can plant a seed – of hope, of change – in the back of someone’s brain, then they’re worth painting. The trick is keeping the work appealing so that people don’t get overwhelmed by the message.” This sense of loss in Rob’s artwork is balanced with a sense of hope. “I can’t watch much news anymore. Sometimes a lot of information is just a lot of information. I can’t stand to be
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bombarded with bad things all the time. But there are a few ‘good news’ websites out there and that keeps me from feeling hopeless. Like the news, my art is about issues, but like the
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good news websites, I try to keep the bad news out of it. I still address the issues, but in a lighter way. It works for me.” And for a growing number of others, too. “It’s challenging being different. There is a bit of a ‘Group of Seven’ mentality in Canada and people have a very definite idea of what art is and is not. My work is not for everyone, but the people who like it like it a lot.” Which is a very good thing, Rob says, “since I don’t have any other skills. There is no Plan B! I come from a long line of teachers, mechanics and farmers. I’ve always been this strange, weird unicorn-like creature. But I believe if you really love what you
do, there’s room for it in this world. There’s room for everybody.” Of the 550 paintings Rob’s done, he’s sold about 400. “It’s more difficult with this kind of work because there are so many components – someone might like the imagery but not the quote or like the quote but not the imagery – but each piece eventually finds the right home and that is very exciting.” And to make his work more widely available – “I realize that not everyone can afford a $1,500 painting” – he is working on a set of 10 limited edition prints that will range in price from $30 for a small to $125 for a near-fullsize reproduction. “They look like old
posters. And vintage is back in again. I just got on the train a little earlier than Mad Men.” Looking to the future, “I still have a thousand ideas,” says Rob, who considers himself a member of the counter culture that is pushing against some of the most troubling issues of our time. “We have to keep our voices smart. We have to keep propelling the world forward. I’ve never considered myself to be a political person, but there is so much in the world that we need to talk about. If my pieces can plant a seed – of hope, of change –
in the back of someone’s brain, then they’re worth painting. The trick is keeping the work appealing so that people don’t get overwhelmed by the message.” Does he have a favourite painting? A favourite message? “My absolute favourite piece is always the last one I did. That was the BEST idea ever.”
ROB CROXFORD robcroxford.com robcroxford.blogspot.com
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ASHRAF MULLA
has a passion for men’s fashion Passionate about clothing and custom tailoring, Ashraf Mulla has been helping men look their best for more than 21 years. He joined the family’s two-decades-old Danforth business, Love Bros. Tailors, in 1993 and took it over in 2006, giving it a new name– Wardrobe for Men–and a broader focus, adding ready-made fashions to the store’s popular custom clothing. Size doesn’t matter to Ashraf, who fits men of every stature, whether they’re looking for a custom-made garment or something off the rack that can be expertly fitted. “We don’t sell women’s clothing,” says Ashraf, “but a lot
Inside
The Danforth
of women come to us for alterations because we have expert tailors on site.” Ashraf ’s loyal clients travel from as far as Pickering and Brampton for the individual attention and personalized service they get from the clothing shop they call the ‘hidden gem’ of men’s fashion in Toronto’s east end– and if they can’t get to Ashraf for a custom order, he’ll bring his expertise to them.
WARDROBE FOR MEN 948 Danforth Ave. 416-463-9221 wardrobeformen.com
Cannoli Queen Lucy Liozzo
Lucy Liozzo emigrated to Canada from Bari, Italy, in 1965. She worked as a caterer, then took over North Pole with her husband in 1973, intending to stay for “a little bit.” Last November, she celebrated her 40th
anniversary at the bakery and “as long as I’m healthy and my brain works straight,” has no intention of retiring. Almost everything on offer at North Pole Bakery–from the semolina bread and focaccia, to the veal parmigiana,
lasagna and pizza, to the tarallini, cookies, cheesecakes, pies and Italian pastries–is created according to traditional family recipes, and everything is baked and served fresh. Lucy’s Sicilian cannoli–creamy ricotta filling piped into the crispy caramelcoloured shell at the moment the pastry is ordered–has been voted the best in Toronto. Lucy has built her business on friendship. “People move away but come back to the bakery,” she says, resting on a stool by the cash register between customers. “It’s like coming home.”
NORTH POLE BAKERY 1210 Danforth Ave 416-466-6435
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Infectious Diseases Consultant
Dr. Jeff Powis
Toronto East General Hospital
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Jeff is now… the one saving lives.
ighteen-year-old Jeff Powis stared up from his hospital bed, brow wet with sweat, his blue eyes fixed on the doctor who battered him with questions. Though his mind was hazy, he was impressed by his internist’s quick diagnosis and the treatment that would save his life. The diagnosis: haemolytic uremic syndrome (more commonly known as hamburger disease), a bacterial infection that causes diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and fever. Treatment can include antibiotics. Jeff was in a London, Ont. hospital for a couple of weeks before he recovered. Though the teenager was very ill, he says he was fascinated by the problem-solving aspect of the doctor’s job and thought the process was “very cool. The doctor had a diagnosis in 10 minutes,” Jeff says. The farm boy who worked for nine summers in an egg processing plant wondering what his future would hold had found his calling. Fast forward 21 years, past medical school, marriage to his sweetheart and a move to Toronto for his residency in internal medicine. Jeff is now Dr. Powis, Toronto East General Hospital’s infectious diseases consultant, and he is the one saving lives.
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Following in the steps of the internist who treated him as a young man and his physician mentors, who specialize in infection control, the crusader without a cape is fighting the battle against bacteria and the infections that they cause. Wrangling C. difficile (a type of bacteria that causes mild to severe diarrhea and inflammation of the colon), the spread of other infectious diseases and curbing the overuse of antibiotics are at the top of his daily hospital to-do list.
“Antibiotics are not a miracle cure,” says Dr. Powis. He is director of the award-winning Antimicrobial Stewardship program that flags patients who are prescribed antibiotics and re-
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views their treatment plans to ensure they receive the right antibiotics for their infection, for the right length of time. Most importantly, the program ensures that they do not receive unnecessary antibiotics. Dr. Powis estimates that 30 to 50 per cent of antibiotic use in hospitals is unnecessary. Although people have heard about C. difficile and concerns about antibiotic overuse, they may not realize the link between the two. Antibiotic use of any kind can increase the risk of contracting C. diff and other infections, he says. “The problem is that antibiotics kill all bacteria, the good along with the bad.” Dr. Powis works tirelessly to protect his hospital community and the community in which he lives. In 2002 he and his wife moved to Springdale Avenue. Living “in the shadow of East General”, he wondered what it would be like to work there. He did a rotation and the rest, as they say, is history. He’s been at TEGH since 2006. He has since moved a few blocks south to a home more suited to his family of four. He walks to work, stopping at a hand sanitizer dispenser in the lobby before poking the elevator button with a pen and heading to his third-floor office.
A framed award hanging outside his office is a reminder to his team and visitors about the program’s strides and their achievements. It was one of the first of its kind in Ontario and the most successful, he says. From the start, pharmacists and doctors have been on board, enthusiastic about creating their own bug-fighting strategies to keep their patients safe. The pilot project was introduced in the intensive care ward in 2010. What the team didn’t expect was the result: during the pilot project, there were no C. difficile infections reported in the ICU. The program has since been expanded throughout the hospital. At the time of the program’s inception, there were about 21 cases per three-month period throughout the hospital. Last quarter there were only four. “Last year there were some months we didn’t have any C. difficile cases,” Dr. Powis says, shifting to sit a little straighter. Lower antibiotic use has also resulted in cost savings of more than $200,000 last year. Dr. Powis begins his day by seeing in-patients and clinic patients, using hand sanitizer upon entering every room and offering a fist bump instead of a handshake. Simultaneously his team identifies new patients who have been prescribed antibiotics. Patients’ charts are reviewed and Dr. Powis then meets with the doctors to discuss the team’s feedback. Initially, 15 to 20 cases a day were reviewed. Now that number is down to five or 10 cases because doctors are now thinking about alternate treatments before they prescribe antibiotics, he says.
The hospital is not keeping its expertise to itself. Dr. Powis acts as a consultant to help other hospitals develop their programs and is also working with long-term care facilities where C. difficile has long been a problem. A typical day may include lectures to the medical community. He may also speak to the community, using a light-hearted approach to get his serious message across. It’s a full schedule. To keep his energy and resistance
high, Dr. Powis ensures he has an annual flu shot and exercises regularly, running and taking in the East York neighbourhood he calls home. Running, he says, rapping his knuckles on his laminate-topped desk, helps ward off colds. He also practices fastidious hand hygiene (especially before he eats) and rarely passes a hand-sanitizer dispenser without stopping for a squirt. His family, he says, is well versed in hand hygiene too. Safe food preparation techniques are also always top of mind – he never eats a hamburger he hasn’t prepared himself, every step of the way.
When he’s not working, his favourite pastime is hanging out with his family, most often enjoying outdoor activities in the city or at the cottage. He also loves travelling with his family. As he runs around the neighbourhood, hangs out in parks with his children or comes and goes from the hospital, and even inside the institution’s walls, the public won’t likely recognize his face. For the most part, Dr. Powis is a behind-the-scenes kind of guy, letting front-line staff and doctors be the face of the program. He shies away from the limelight, preferring to concentrate on battling his bacteria foe. And he wants to spread the word: “Antibiotics aren’t risk free. We have lots of good bacteria in and on our bodies and antibiotics kill them all.” Overuse can also result in antibiotic resistance, which may leave future generations without antibiotics. People shouldn’t be afraid to ask their doctor if antibiotics are absolutely necessary because they can seriously impact your health, he says. Another thing you can do to protect yourself and your family: wash your hands. The farm boy from Strathroy, Ont. who had his own personal fight with a bacterial infection has turned the negative into a positive, working to protect his hospital community and the East York community he calls home. CREDITS: Writer: Connie Adair Photos: Kevin Holm
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Zelinde Kaiser home is where the heart is Growing up in a farming community where everyone knew everyone, Zelinde Kaiser developed a strong work ethic and an appreciation for microcosms like Toronto’s neighbourhoods. And that’s what makes her Danforth neighbourhood so precious: It’s a small village in a big city. “As a member of a community, you’re part of a large family,” says Zelinde, and her success as a realtor is as much a testament to her community commitment as it is to her rural gumption. She’s sponsored a yard sale for 25 years as a way for neighbours to meet, and she shops locally. “Our restaurants and
businesses are an integral part of village life and it’s important we support them.” Educated in fashion merchandizing and business management, Zelinde spent 12 years in restaurant management before shifting her focus to real estate in 1984. She happily exchanges her merchandizing, marketing, management and negotiating skills for the joy of connecting with her clients where the heart is – home.
RE/MAX HALLMARK REALTY LTD., BROKERAGE 724 Pape Ave. 416-560-8430 • zelinde.com
The Masellis Brothers carry on their dad’s supermarket legacy “but it’s our customers who make us,” Everything Andy, Costantino and Mario Masellis know about the grocery business they learned from their dad. Leonardo Masellis, who passed away in 2012, opened Masellis Brothers Supermarket in 1959. It was one of the first shops of its kind on the Danforth and remains one of the oldest family run businesses in Toronto. Specializing in fine foods imported from Italy (like ol-
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ive oil and pasta from 18 different companies), fresh locally sourced produce, and a full service butcher shop and deli counter that is a charcuterie connoisseur’s dream, Masellis Supermarket has the goods to satisfy any food craving. Their Italian-style meatballs never contain fillers and their sausages–with or without fennel–are made in-house. Like their dad, the brothers–
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along with their mother Tina–believe in serving their neighbourhood with quality food and impeccable service, “but it’s our customers who make us,” says Andy, “generations of families we have served over the past 54 years.”
MASELLIS SUPERMARKET 906 Danforth Ave. 416-465-7901
COMPUTER GUYS
Eduardo and Osvaldo Barragan “the bright spot in a person’s day… Unfazed by superstition or IT fears for the millennium, Eduardo Barragan opened I.G.S. Systems on on April 13, 2000. Today, operating out of a two-storey building with warehouses in Richmond Hill and Keswick, I.G.S. provides systems and quality technical support to thousands of customers across the GTA and is one of Toronto’s largest stock holders of computer equipment. Eduardo and his highly
trained technicians help clients make the most of their IT investment by providing superior service at a fraction of the cost of in-house IT support. “We enjoy being the bright spot in a person’s day by fixing a problem and getting a business back online as quickly as possible.” Eduardo also offers outstanding pricing on new, offlease and manufacturer-refurbished equipment. “With anywhere from
100 to 1,000 laptops and hundreds of computer systems in stock–and our unparalleled service and support–I want I.G.S. Systems to be the go-to store for this neighbourhood’s computer and IT needs.”
I.G.S. SYSTEMS 1268 Danforth Avenue 416-461-6090 www.igssystems.ca
Karim knows the scent of a woman “I like to interact with people one on one… Christian Dior once said, “A woman’s perfume tells more about her than her handwriting.” Karim, the owner of Pennywise Fragrance uses a woman’s handwriting to figure out what perfume she should be wearing. No exactly. But he can help you find the perfect fragrance by doing a little background research: finding out what you like and what you wear. It was Karim’s mother who started the family business when she sold a single bottle of perfume for double what she paid. That was 26 years ago. Karim now runs the business–the
first discount fragrance store in Canada–which carries more than 100 perfumes at unbeatable prices. And not the mass marketed products you find in big box stores. It’s the perfect line of work for Karim. “I like to interact with people one on one. Fragrance is a very personal business. I’t not the kind of service you can provide online or over the phone.”
PENNYWISE FRAGRANCE 1366 Danforth Ave. 416-469-9604
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“ With pillows, you can change the look of your home without having to buy new furniture.”
P pillow talk with Viive Tork
illow Shoppe owner Viive Tork knows the power of pillows–beyond colour and comfort. “With pillows, you can change the look of your home without having to buy new furniture.” She offers a large variety of locally made designer-quality pillows at affordable prices, as well a selection of vases, home decor items and giftware, and jewelry, fabric art and ceramics from local artisans. Intensely creative with a background in interior design, Viive ensures The Pillow Shoppe is current with the latest trends and offers something for every taste. (She is currently creating limited edition lines featuring up-cycled fabrics, and a portion of the sales from her Valentine’s Heart Pillows will support women recovering from breast cancer surgery.) A true believer in simplicity and natural living, this spring Viive will be offering workshops on household cleaning with healthy, non-toxic cleaning products and the use of colour therapy in home decor.
THE PILLOW SHOPPE 1434 Danforth Ave. 647-748-8890
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Melanie’s Bistro
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very good neighbourhood needs a good neigbourhood bistro. That’s why, six years ago–with more than two decades of fine dining experience between them– chefs Melanie Ferreira (formerly of Movenpic) and Arul Chettiar (formerly of Fairmont Royal York by way of fine dining establishments in Bombay, India, and New York City) opened Melanie’s Bistro on The Danforth. Everything at Melanie’s is prepared fresh, from the Indian-influenced French dishes created by Arul to pastry chef Melanie’s mouthwatering desserts. Arul’s approach to meat is time-hon-
The Sunday night steak dinner special is particularly well received and a prix fixe meal is available every night.
oured. “I simmer it for hours in wine with root vegetables for sweetness, and it is so tender and juicy and flavourful.” (Arul’s braised veal and lamb shanks are crowd favourites.) The Sunday night steak dinner special is particularly well received and a prix fixe meal is available every night. There is no corkage fee on Wednesday and a terrific brunch on weekends. It’s a fantastic and affordable dining experience with all the friendliness you’d expect from a neighbourhood bistro.
MELANIE’S BISTRO 1870 Danforth Ave 416-422-1870 melaniesbistro.ca
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Aris and Kathy Anagnostou
A luxurious life underfoot
It’s much easier for me to make major life, multi-million dollar decisions, than it is to decide on a carpet for my front porch. That’s the truth. - Oprah Winfrey
Step through the doors to Carpet Mill, a 10,000 square foot showroom located in the heart of Riverdale, Toronto’s premiere destination for everything from quality hardwood to luxurious wool carpet. A family business since 1993, Aris and Kathy started with a small 1000SF shop and had a vision to build a bigger and better flooring retail environment than most others were offering.
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Through years of hard work and dedication they built their business into what now today is considered a premier destination, often referred to as a hidden gem by customers and designers. Aris and Kathy are proud to carry on the 20 year tradition of superior product, workmanship and customer service. Being that each customer’s tastes are different, carpet mill prides them-
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selves in selecting unique merchandise that appeals to every home owner. Kathy keeps up to date with current trends and latest styles, very selective of quality and design. “I’m very passionate about what I do, I love helping customers make the right decision in choosing the right flooring for their spaces whether it be carpet, laminate, wood or rugs. “We’ve been very fortunate over the
years to acquire quality staff that offer intimate product knowledge, and exceptional installers that are personable and meticulous about the quality of their work“ In moving forward, Carpet Mill is committed to staying on top of new product lines, delivering style and elegance at competitive prices. 2014 Introductions will include expanded social media, an all new virtual tour
of the store and its abundant stock for an even better shopping experience. “We take pride in supporting local business to build a stronger community. In return we are grateful for all the support we have received in the past two decades“
CARPET MILL 469 Carlaw Ave. 416-462-9006 carpetmill.ca
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Inside
Ivan is happy to flaunt what he’s got
Leslieville
With its loft ceilings and antique/art deco/industrial decor, Flaunt Boutique is more like a hair studio in New York or London than a salon in Toronto’s east end. Open and unconventional, the visual effect is high fashion, but the atmosphere is laid back chill: Flaunt is a place to hang out and unwind while you get beautiful. Every stylist is a craftsman with superb design skills and flawless execution. “I understand what my clients need and expect from their hair,” says Ivan, founder, owner and creative director. “I look at their lifestyle and the image they’re trying to portray and balance
that with their hair type and the effort they’re willing to expend.” That straightforward approach has gained him loyal clients, many who hail from Montreal, New York, Calgary and even London, England. Not bad for a kid who picked up his scissors at 16 to hang out with girls. As far as what’s in style? “To be unique–to be yourself– that’s fashionable.”
FLAUNT BOUTIQUE 260 Carlaw Ave. Suite 101b 416-469-4826 flauntboutique.ca
Kevin Karst brings custom cabinets to life
KEVIN KARST DESIGN INC 388 Carlaw Ave. Unit W22 647-206-9002 kevinkarst.com
Born into a family of farmers and engineers and raised on a Saskatchewan wheat farm–where a cooperative nature, strong work ethic and natural propensity for tinkering and building are essential elements required to thrive–Kevin Karst’s destiny was almost predetermined. A journeyman cabinetmaker with a degree in industrial design, he has lived in Cabbagetown for almost 20 years, close to his clients so he can provide attentive customer service while leaving a lower environmental footprint. His instinctive design abilities, coupled with
his trade knowledge and highly structured approach to product engineering and production, results in comprehensive design that is functional, enduring and stunningly beautiful. Passionate about wood, Kevin’s signature cabinet style is sequence-matched veneered custom plywood arranged in the same sequence it was cut from the tree. “It tells a highly expressive visual story of the tree’s natural growth process across a room, promoting a strong affinity for wood as a natural living material with extraordinary character.”
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Gourmet chocolatiers
Marnie Thompson and Alvin Bolkovic For Marnie Thompson and Alvin Bolkovic, making chocolate is second nature. Marnie was immersed in the craft and culture of chocolate as a girl (her father was a chocolatier for more than 40 years) and Alvin came to it a little later in life, working for Purdy’s Chocolates in Vancouver. The couple had lived in Leslieville for 13 years before deciding the foodie neighbourhood, with its rich diversity of residents and businesses, was the perfect place for their confectionery–M Thompson Chocolates– which they opened in 2010. Determined to do things the old-fashioned way (the pair are heading across the
their gourmet chocolates are made by hand with traditional techniques pond to explore European chocolate making traditions), their emphasis is on craftsmanship not volume. Using fresh, natural ingredients and the highest quality couverture chocolate, their gourmet chocolates are made by hand with traditional, time-honoured techniques like copper kettle cooking. Their focus on luxuriousness is paying off. This past Christmas, a young boy wrote a letter to Santa asking specifically for M Thompson Chocolates!
M THOMPSON CHOCOLATES 388 Carlaw Ave. Suite W11 647-922-6991 mthompsonchocolates.com
Hanging out (and upside down) with Beatrix Montanile Hanging upside down makes people happier and healthier. Based on this ancient understanding–that inversion is one of the very best things you can do for your body and mind–Beatrix Montanile opened Canada’s first suspension yoga studio, The Flying Yogi, in Leslieville. Like participants in an aerial ballet, class members–suspended and supported by foam-insulated slings–move through a series of exercises, often in inverted postures, while they strengthen their core and tone their muscles. “It’s a workout disguised as play,” says Beatrix, “and it’s good for the whole family.” New to the studio is Infrared Yoga, a
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practice that uses state-of-the-art technology to warm your body the same way the sun warms the earth. “It’s like practicing yoga outside on a summer day,” says Beatrix. “Yoga is meant to be performed ‘hot’ for maximum effectiveness–to stoke the internal fire, burn off toxins and stimulate the metabolism– and the infrared technology we use at TFY makes this most natural yoga environment accessible to everyone.”
THE FLYING YOGI 007-245 Carlaw Ave. 647-993-9644 theflyingyogi.ca
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olour, texture and beauty from the natural world are what John Schell brings to his floral arrangements at Garden’s Path, a unique design studio that has been serving Toronto’s east end since 1993. Walk into the shop at 983 Queen Street East, nestled in the heart of Leslieville, and you will find freshcut blooms, exotic plants and rare gifts,
The living, breathing art of John Schell but it’s John’s custom arrangements that make Garden’s Path stand above the crowd. Each design is unique–infused with elegance and style to make your occasion perfect–and with nearly three decades of floral design experience under his green thumb, John can work with almost every price-point and event. Using the seasons for inspiration and the rich fragrances in the shop to evoke past memories, John
works in anticipation of the joy his work will bring. He and the shop’s affable Labradoodle mascot Sebastian are always happy to see a new or familiar face, so stop by and say hello. See you on the Garden’s Path!
GARDEN’S PATH 983 Queen St. E 416-466-0116 gardenspath.com
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ELVA HOOK www.elvahook.com
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FROM BANGLES TO BASMATI TO BOLLYWOOD Festival of South Asia adds spice to east Leslieville
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he Festival of South Asia, which takes over Gerrard Street in Little India from Coxwell to Greenwood for two days each summer, is one of the longest running street festivals in Toronto. Why did almost 250,000 revellers join in the fun last year? Because it has all of the ingredients to make you feel like you have travelled the world in a single weekend. It’s an absolute feast to your senses. Just ask any visitor who competed in The Spicy Dosa all-you-can-eat contest! There are over 20 restaurants along the internationally renowned Gerrard India Bazaar and the aromas are intoxicating. You’d think I’d be ac46
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customed to this temptation after 25 years of enjoying the fragrant allure of spicy curry wafting through my neighbourhood on Sunday evenings, but I still find it exotic and enticing. The Festival of South Asia is a vegetarian’s dream-come-true. If you are in the know, you can go to the kitchen at La Hora Tika and watch the cooks make naan. It’s a curious technique; one you have to witness in person. The La Hora Tika is also a very busy spot. I’m charmed by how the ornate cots are lined up for the children to sleep on, so the adults can enjoy the festivities. When I first moved to Little India, I was baffled by the abundance of corncobs in evidence throughout the Festival. I soon discovered that when you add a little lime and a lot of spice to a
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cob and barbecue it, the end result is a culinary masterpiece that will transform your mouth into an inferno of flavour. The festival line-ups for barbecued corn are constant. Shopping is another big Festival attraction. I am definitely a bit of a glam girl, so shopping for silks and sequins is something I truly enjoy. One year, my niece asked me to help her choose a prom dress. This young woman isn’t a glam girl by any means, so instead of taffeta we went to Nu Creation where I bought her a beautiful length of sky blue – almost tie-dyed looking silk, received a complementary lesson on sari tying, and picked out a white tank and some flip flops to complete the look. Every girl at that prom was envious. Stunning in colour and comfy on foot.
Insider Tips: Almost every clothing store in the neighbourhood has a seamstress, so be creative. There is also a store on Gerrard with the most gorgeous selection of evening bags. Thanks to the Festival Passport we received in the street that entitled us to discounts at various stores, my mom purchased an incredibly soft pashmina for a very, very good price. And if interior design’s your passion? For the record, every single pillow in my home comes from Rang Interiors. Jewellery? Forget flying to Dubai for your 22-carat gold. On Gerrard you’ll find a plethora of stores with gemmologists and goldsmiths who would be happy to create custom design for you. And for the adventurous who aren’t interested in having a permanent tattoo? Simply take a seat at the Forever Young Salon and watch as the Henna artist transform your hands into a gorgeous (temporary) celestial painting. The musical talent at this year’s Festival of South Asia was truly international in flavour and featured many accomplished artists, including the soul rock band Akash, the pop band Agni, the
beautiful, sensual music of Christopher Dicran Hale, and traditional Afghani Folk music by the Mushfig Ensemble. Music from Pakistan, Bengali, Sri Lanka – and I was only one block from home! I would love to learn more about some of the instruments the musicians used, including the tabla and dhol and the many exquisite sitars. Perhaps next year, we can have musical workshops? I also think visitors would be interested in learning more about Eid, Holi, Ramadan and Diwali. Maybe another workshop of sorts? The bottom line? I LOVE the Festival of South Asia and have always wanted to express this – by starting off the Festival with a Neighbourhood Bollywood Flashmob – just like in the train station dance scene at the finale of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’. Loud, happy, energetic and colourful – just like Little India. As a Realtor, I believe I have an obligation to give back to the community I live and work in. As a 25-year resident of East Leslieville, I’m experiencing a new energy that I attribute to the large number of young families that have recently purchased homes here. Young parents that care about the environ-
ment, organics, cycling, living healthy, balanced lives and being an active part of our community. Many changes have occurred and I’m going to do my best to keep you informed of what’s happening in our ‘hood’, while savouring the many sights, sounds and flavours to be enjoyed here in East Leslieville.
Belynda Blyth is a Sales Representative with Re/Max Hallmark Realty and specializes in East Toronto real estate, including East Leslieville, Leslieville, the Beach, East York and Riverdale. She is also the CoChair of Gerrard East Community Organization (GECO), Co-Chair of Friends of Greenwood Park, and the Co-Founder of the Ashdale Village Residents Assn. bblyth@rogers.com www.eastleslieville.ca
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Inside
Riverdale For me, art – creativity – is something that’s always been there. When I’m doing anything – walking the streets, having a conversation – it’s there.
The give and take of artist Scott Johnston BY TRACEY COVEART
Scott Johnston was just a boy when his mother gave him his first camera: a Kodak Eastman Brownie. The lad became fascinated with the snapshot – pointing his camera at places most people wouldn’t find interesting “to discover the bigger reward in things that aren’t immediately obvious.” By the time he turned 16, it was clear that photography was not a passing fancy and that Scott was a prodigious talent with a roll of film.
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“I was encouraged to keep on going, and I enjoyed it,” Scott recalls. “I didn’t have to be pushed.” He took some photography courses at Ryerson and began showing in his early 20s. His first show, at Gallery 306, “was something of a coup.” After that, people began collecting his work, which appeared in various galleries and publications. “For me, art – creativity – is something that’s always been there. When I’m doing anything – walking the streets, having a conversation – it’s there. How the light is hitting a building, how people come together on the sidewalk, how they influence one another, what they’re wearing, the colours, the contrast. I don’t really think about it, it simply exists.” As a photographer, Scott was fascinated by demolition and decay. In 2005, he shot a series of abandoned homes in one of Toronto’s wealthiest areas, the Bridle Path. “The light was beautiful in these big spaces, in these decaying homes. You get a sense that these houses were comfortable in their demise, that we are all subject to impermanence.” Then, for a contrast, he trained his camera on Toronto churches being torn down to make way for condominiums in a series titled simply, The Church. In 2007, he shot the demolition of Regent Park, Canada’s largest low-income housing project and one of Toronto’s most troubled neighbourhoods, depicting the area as a gated community or luxury resort. “I wanted to capture this uneasy peace. It was a very open space, yet claustrophobic at the same time, almost uncertain of itself, and in the process of disappearing.” After a project, he would wander the streets
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with his camera, waiting to stumble across his next theme. In those days, says Scott, “the images never seemed to leave me alone.” Between themes, Scott would turn his attention to painting. “I was always painting – I love the immediacy of it – and the more I painted the more I enjoyed it. But I never saw myself as a painter until other people saw me that way.”
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Going back and forth between celluloid and canvas, Scott became frustrated that he wasn’t improving with his brushes. After six years of dividing his time between the two media, he made the decision to focus exclusively on painting; “to devote the mountain of time necessary to progress the way I wanted.” As a photographer, Scott was a subjective documentarian, capturing his
view of the world on film. As a painter, “you have this internal dialogue that you want to bring out into the world; this need to translate what’s going on inside of you and put it on canvas. It’s not so much inspiration as compulsion. It doesn’t leave you alone.” His first paintings were oil on canvas. “There was a lot of moving and pushing and shoving and building the canvas as I was working. It was very gestural and quick.” Today, he works in acrylic. “There is a lot of masking and taping; a lot of adding and subtracting and painting by correction.” It’s a slow, evolutionary process. “I could complete an oil painting in a few days. These take me weeks.” Scott has been working on his new geometric series for the past year and a half and he is fascinated by the infinite variety of ways in which each painting can be viewed and interpreted. “There are endless ways of looking at these paintings; piecing things together that you didn’t notice on previous occasions; starting and stopping at different sections of the work each time. There isn’t any one area of the painting that is more important than the area beside it, which keeps your eye moving constantly. I like the idea that someone can come back to the same completed work and have a new experience every time.” The creative process behind this series is an open, intuitive one, says Scott. “It’s really whatever the painting dictates. Even if I map it all out, half an hour later it’s all changed. One mark influences the next. There’s a lot of give and take, but there’s an agreement of sorts – a resonation – on the canvass. It’s not about what I need or what you need, but what the painting
needs and whatever is left standing at the end of the day.” Scott believes there is a recognizable, rhythmic quality to existence – a synchronicity that influences and connects all things. “There is also an understanding on the canvas and an undisclosed agreement between colour, shape and line,” he says. “The way these elements come together and move apart – simultaneously compet-
ing for space but also working together – creates its own rhythm. Over time, as the painting progresses, it starts to reveal itself, gradually increasing in depth and volume. The painting starts to breathe; it starts to pulse.” With acrylic paints, which dry much more quickly than oils, “I can layer and layer and layer, building in lines, circles and squares. I like taking that one simple idea and seeing how
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“Tracker” | 2012 | Acrylic on Canvas | 60”x60”
far I can take it, just starting and letting the process unfold. When there is nothing left to correct and nowhere else I can move, I walk away.” And as much as Scott believes that one must dedicate large chunks of time to painting to move forward and gain insight into the work – often as much
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as 10 hours a day – “there is also a strong need for quiet and contemplative time to re-calibrate what I am doing, how I’m doing it and why I am doing it. Being still is just as much a part of the creative process as being active.” “There has always been an ebb and flow,” says Scott, but wherever he is in
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the creative process, active or pensive or somewhere in between, and whatever the medium – photography, oil or acrylic – “art should broaden your perspective. It should take you out of your well-worn grooves and send you down a road you have never been down before.”
“LIFT” | 2013 | Acrylic on Canvas | 60”x60”
SCOTT JOHNSTON scottjohnston.ca. 416-937-1507 scott@scottjohnson.ca
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AUTO KNOW HOW
George Kirkos and his car-care family George Kirkos and his team know cars. They know their customers. And they know their business. George is your friendly neighbourhood mechanic: smart, sensible, generous and completely at home with oil and brake dust, making sure your car is operating at peak performance when you drive it away from his Leslieville garage. For almost 35 years, George and his family have been providing their Don Valley Auto customers with a priceless commodity: value. They
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make sure you know what needs to be done to your car and what is done. It takes years of experience to develop
some customers call George ‘the car whisperer.’ the insight and understanding necessary to identify and solve the problems
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that plague the complex machines we drive today, but figuring out what went wrong, how to make it right and how to keep it from happening again is what the team at Don Valley Auto does best–and why some customers call George ‘the car whisperer.’
DON VALLEY AUTO 388 Carlaw Ave. 416-465-4191
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t is early fall and my former colleague and I have planned a trip to Algonquin Park. We have gone a few times over the time we have known each other. Typically I will go year round to Algonquin Park to shoot my black and white photographs as part of my landscape photography. The reason I choose fall is there are no bugs and fewer people visiting the Park and lots of campsites if one travels that way. A few years earlier we had been to a part of East Algonquin Park called High Falls. We were with a group at the time and had canoed and hiked to High Falls.
I had been meaning to go back and photograph High Falls for a while and so off we went. I was excited because I had never explored much of the eastern part of Algonquin Park. So this is the premise of our hiking/photography trip. I had booked a campsite at Rock Lake camp grounds thinking it was close to High Falls but that is another story. We set up the campsite and hiked two trails that afternoon. By half way on Rock Lake Trail I was thinking the scenery was sub par. Suddenly the scenery unfolded rendering some good shots. Rock Lake Trail is the trail where Tom Thompson painted the famous pine tree.
Today the tree is gone and there is a plaque marking the spot where the tree had been. I did have a sense of history standing at that location. It was an early night as we wanted to get to High Falls in good time in the morning. Early the next morning my colleague who had been to the beach area suggested I come and take a look. This is the story behind the shot you see here. If I had staged this which I didn’t I don’t think I could have done any better.
TOM ALLEN, RIVERDALE, tallen35@hotmail.com
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s it is for many effective therapists, it was a journey of self-discovery that led Yvonne Rose–a neighbourhood resident since 1988– into the field of therapeutic services. While making changes in her own life, Yvonne realized she could help others move beyond their emotional impediments and constraints. A certified Cognitive Behaviour Therapist, Art Therapist, New Decision Therapist, Master Neuro Linguistic Programming Practitioner and soon to receive her certification as a Strategic Intervention Coach, Yvonne uses a forward-focused solutions-based approach and six therapies to bring clients to a new level of healing and awareness: CBT; Emotional Freedom Technique; Hypnotherapy and NLP; Anxiety, Panic and Stress Relief; Art Therapy; and NDT. With encouragement, support, empathy, understanding and first-hand experience, Yvonne helps people move towards emotional freedom, expansion and personal growth. “Everything I suggest for my clients I have done for myself,” including ‘How to Attract Your Dream Lover,’ just one of seven workshops she designed “to bring a burst of self-awareness, energy and profound joy to your life.”
YVONNE ROSE THERAPEUTIC SERVICES 416-461-1102 yvonnerose.com
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Opening up with Yvonne Rose “ Everything I suggest for my clients I have done for myself,”
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THE RIVERDALE SHARE CONCERT Community at its best Every December, neighbours and friends gather together at the historic Danforth Music Hall and get lost in the magic of The Riverdale Share Concert, a festive holiday celebration in support of community organizations helping families in crisis. From the moment you enter the lobby you feel the hum of a community working together. Since 1991, this popular neighbourhood concert has been produced by a 100% volunteer driven, community-based organization.
A small group meets weekly starting in September to plan the special Sunday afternoon; local corporate sponsors step up to cover the hard costs of mounting the show; performers donate their time and talent; local businesses offer in-kind donations; restaurants provide food to keep the performers and volunteers well fed; and dozens of volunteers organize, promote, put up posters, haul, serve
you feel the hum of a community working together and usher. Local residents enroll in the ‘Friends’ program to start the fund that ultimately goes back to the community; the audience buys tickets to the show and arrives on the day with
energy, enthusiasm and donations of cash and non-perishable food items. During the two-hour concert that features some of Toronto’s most celebrated artists mixed in with local talent, Riverdale Share raises some $35,000 and a truckload of food for community organizations like the Blake Boultbee Youth Outreach Service, Ralph Thornton Community Centre, Riverdale Food Working Group, ReadUP Reading Club and East York Neighbourhood Intiatives. It’s an unforgettable day and an indispensable community service. riverdaleshare.com @ RiverdaleShare This year’s show takes place on Sunday, December 7th, 3pm at the Danforth Music Hall. Tickets go on sale November 1st. riverdaleshare.com
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Furniture revivalist Ron Elbers RESTORATION, REFINISHING AND REPAIR Ron Elbers knows everything old is new again. He built a successful business around that old adage. Drawn back to the Riverside neighbourhood of his youth, he opened Elbers Antiques and Refinishing in 1985. The streetscape was chockablock full of retro/vintage shops back then–a perfect setting for Ron to ply his craft: restoration, refinishing and repair services
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offered to his own customers and antique store owners. Today, an evolved Riverside is filled with bustling restaurants, cafes and fashion boutiques, and Ron’s passion for furniture continues unabated. Whether you’re looking to restore a treasured antique or reconfigure a modern furniture piece to suit your needs, Ron offers his customers the best in the three Rs at fair prices.
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Ron offers his customers the best … at fair prices. He truly loves his job, but he’s also a self-professed adventure junkie. When he’s not in his shop or playing drums in his band of 25 years, you might find Ron off on an exotic fishing trip to the Amazon, trying to hook another prize peacock bass!
ELBERS ANTIQUES AND REFINISHING 777 Queen St. E 416-466-3938 elbersrefinishing.com
“I hope more people will discover what Osteopathy can do for them,”
Helping the masses Jared Postance Jared Postance knows first-hand how Osteopathy can relieve pain and help the body heal. A former competitive athlete, he receives treatment for injuries sustained while playing Aussie Rules football for Team Canada. With six practitioners focusing on Osteopathic Manual Therapy, Jared’s Cabbagetown clinic–Paths to Vitality, which also offers Naturopathic Medicine and doula services–is the largest of its kind in the GTA. Jared and wife Nancy love the vibrancy of the neigh-
bourhood and the opportunity to offer treatment to everyone in need. “I hope more people will discover what Osteopathy can do for them,” says Jared, who loves to see the joy on patients’ faces when they feel and move better after a treatment. And that passion for helping extends beyond Toronto. The couple has taken part in eight Habitat for Humanity Global Village builds. “Working alongside a family and changing their life by helping them build a shelter they didn’t
have two weeks before,” Jared says, “is the most rewarding experience.”
PATHS TO VITALITY AND OSTEOPATHIC SOCIETY FOR WELLNESS 439 Parliament St. 647-352-5527 pathstovitality.com
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Mary Macleod,
the lass behind the shortbread legacy With more than 300 seasonal shapes, Mary’s “wee babbies” are available year-round
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rowing up in Glasgow, Mary Macleod learned to bake shortbread with her Scottish mother and French grandmother. When she came to Canada at 22, Mary brought along her family’s secret recipe and her entrepreneurial spirit, opening Mary Macleod’s Shortbread in a tiny shop under the marquee of Toronto’s Capitol Theatre in 1981. MMS was
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an instant hit, but it was Mary’s signature Chocolate Crunch–18 months in the baking–that made the lass behind the logo famous. Hand-making her cookies in small, preservative-free batches from only the finest, 100% natural ingredients, Mary–and now daughter-in-law Sharon–spend hours in the test kitchen each year creating melt-in-your-mouth flavours like Dutch Chocolate, Espresso Chocolate, Orange Chocolate, Mint Chocolate, Cranberry Almond, Wholewheat
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Walnut, Maple Crunch and the always-popular Traditional. With more than 300 seasonal shapes, Mary’s “wee babbies” are available year-round at her Queen Street East retail outlet and bakery and select gourmet shops and boutique retailers across Canada.
MARY MACLEOD’S SHORTBREAD 639 Queen St. E 416-461-4576 marymacleod.ca
Dale Sonier
Notions on fabric Dale Sonier knows that personal style never goes out of fashion, so, when he got the chance a little over a decade ago, he bought MacDonald Faber–a Canadian supplier of tailor, dressmaker goods, notions and theatrical supplies since 1955. Today, macFAB Fabrics and a second store macFAB Sews are hip, stylish, Queen Street East boutiques that have expanded to include fabrics, sewing supplies and services and home products that are sold worldwide. Dale and partner Patrick Kennedy thrill customers
with their keen eye for design and their desire for beauty and originality. Their home decor expertise is invaluable to residential and commercial clients, whether they are measuring windows, choosing paint colours or matching fabrics to create an engaging and impressive custom look. Very concerned about the earth, Dale and Patrick seek fair trade and organic products and have sourced a completely organic cotton (from plant to printing), as well as furniture made with soya-based foam. macFAB: as
eclectic and inspiring as their Riverside neighbourhood.
MACFAB 755 Queen St. E 416-922-6000 macfabfabrics.com
Welcome to Riverside, Toronto’s Authentic Urban Neighbourhood Spanning 10 vibrant tree-lined blocks along Toronto’s historic Queen Street East, Riverside–an eclectic mix of boutique retailers, trendy restaurants, celebrated fashion designers and artists, community centres, public art installations, and stunning historic Edwardian and Victorian architecture–stretches from the Queen East bridge in the west to just past the world famous Degrassi Street in the east. What makes Riverside unique is the many business owners
who live and work in the neighbourhood and the families that have been here for generations, creating a sense of collective ownership and cohesive vision. Just 2.5 km from downtown Toronto, Riverside has maintained its small town feel, which makes it popular with residents and visitors alike, plus there truly is something for everyone: award-winning restaurants like Ruby Watchco, Table 17, Tabule, Bonjour Brioche, Aft Restaurant and Danger-
ous Dan’s; quality retailers like Olive & Olives, Ambiance Chocolates, Mary Macleod’s Shortbread, Quince Flowers, MacFAB, Philz and Studio Pazo; and nightlife at An Sibin Pub, Hi-lo and Boots & Bourbon Saloon, complete with mechanical bull!
RIVERSIDE DISTRICT BIA 761 Queen St. E 416-466-8167 riverside-to.com
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Hogarth Avenue
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Constance Rennett and Donna Micallef Know Your Body Best “Our mission is to help people feel good…” Constance Rennett and Donna Micallef have been promoting health and wellness in the Riverdale neighbourhood and around the world since 1992. Their retail business, Know Your Body Best, is the first and largest massage therapy supply business in Canada: a one-stop shop for spa owners, massage, physio and occupational therapists, alternative healthcare practitioners and the health-conscious
public in search of natural products that promote wellness and healing. And everyone gets the same professional pricing. “Our mission is to help people feel good–or at least feel better–every single day,” says Constance. “We want our customers to feel their best so they can live well and enjoy the quality of life they deserve.” Operating out of their 8,200 square foot warehouse/storefront in the Riverdale
Plaza, “We’re a homegrown business,” says Donna. “Over the past 22 years our clients have become friends–family–and we are proud to be a long, strong thread in the fabric of this wonderful neighbourhood.”
KNOW YOUR BODY BEST 461 Carlaw Ave. 416-367-3744 knowyourbodybest.com
Joyce and Jennifer Jones dance their way to joy “ Our wish is that they keep dancing through every age, stage and ability.” Mother and daughter duo Joyce and Jennifer Jones opened Joy of Dance nine years ago to share their passion for dancing with the community of Riverdale. Today, says Jennifer, “our exceptional teachers and exceptional students make Joy of Dance a community within a community.” Whether you’re three or 93, you can take classes in Ballet, Bolly66
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wood, Ballroom, Contemporary, Dance Fitness, Hip Hop, Jazz and Tap to name a few, and Joy of Dance College is the only Ballroom Teacher Training certification program in North America. “There is no other dance studio that offers such a wide array of dance styles for such a wide range of students,” says Jennifer. “Our mission is to have everyone
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experience the joy of dance. Our wish is that they keep dancing through every age, stage and ability.” Learn it. Love it. Dance it.
THE JOY OF DANCE 95 Danforth Ave. 3rd Floor 416-406-3262 joyofdance.ca
“ You’re a client for life, and that’s almost completely unique in the social services world.”
Rod Cohen
making time for a tough crowd
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eteran rock ‘n’ roller Rod Cohen knows that sometimes the best thing you can give a troubled kid is your time. That’s the philosophy behind Blake Boultbee Youth Outreach Service in Riverdale, an agency providing free long-term psychotherapy, counselling, life skills training and outreach to young people. What makes the service so suc-
cessful is that counsellors and clients are in it for the long haul, says Rod, founder and lead counsellor, who started the service on a bench across from Riverdale’s Toronto Community Housing project 24 years ago. “We don’t take you in for a while and then spit you out. You’re a client for life, and that’s almost completely unique in the social services world.” From their offices in an old crack house on Blake Street, Rod and his team work with more than 200 troubled kids a year,
their services entirely funded by community contributions. “This is not a recreation centre and we are not community workers. This is one-on-one intensive therapy for a tough crowd. But unlike many people in these kids’ lives, we’re not going anywhere.”
BLAKE BOULTBEE YOUTH OUTREACH SERVICE 41 Blake St. 416-465-1410 bbyos.org
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Rod Cohen with special supporters
Blake Boultbee Youth Outreach Service celebrates 25 years of community service
The best goat curry ever!!
BLAKE BOULTBEE YOUTH OUTREACH SERVICE bbyos.org
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Neighbourhood Living – East Side The party is beginning.
Catching up with old friends-meeting new ones.
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Getting the food ready for the guests.
y t u a e B & n io h s Fa
Kevin Nguyen
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and the art of pampering
t Urban Nails, 15 employees offer a luxe suite of esthetic treatments and therapeutic services in a stylish neighbourhood salon with a warm, friendly atmosphere. Beautifully modern and impeccably clean, Urban Nails has been voted one of the Best Nail Salons for Excellence in Custom-
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er Satisfaction by Talk of the Town for the last three years. Services range from manicures and pedicures to waxing and paraffin treatments–and even free hand art design for clients who want a signature look to their nails. In the mood for a party? You book the treatments for your guests, and owner Kevin Nguyen will reserve the salon for you at no charge. So come in, relax in one of eight pedicure spa chairs
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featuring the latest massage technology, and unwind under the hands of the expert staff. “And if you don’t see a treatment you’re looking for, just ask us,” says Kevin. “We’re well versed in the art of pampering.”
URBAN NAILS 179 Danforth Ave 416-778-8288 urbannails.ca
Don’t just be trendy, be
with Aileen Selkirk Aileen Selkirk opened Posh in 1989, celebrating 25 years this past March. With her passion for textiles and entrepreneurial drive, she shares her love of fashion through Posh, dressing women for all occasions. Aileen ensures everything she carries in her store is ethically produced. She carries a number of Canadian designers as well as Posh’s very own private label of casual, easy-care clothing! Aileen strives to offer the highest quality and workmanship at Posh Boutique. You can find a number of curated collections at Posh including but not limited to scarves, wallets, bags, jewellery and clothing. Posh is not only known for its abundance of great quality clothing but also the thoughtful and personal attention you receive from the staff. Being one of the original beach retailers, ever evolving with the times, Aileen has become a trusted advisor for all occasion dressing.
Instagram is. Poshclothingboutique
POSH 2016 Queen st east. 416. 690.5533. Across from Kew Gardens Park www.posh.ca. Facebook Posh Clothing.
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Custom Suiting, and Shirting for Men and Women Chavez Custom Clothier
CHAVÉZ carlos@chavezclothier.com Chavezclothier.com. 934 Danforth Ave Toronto, On M4J 1L9 Toronto Tel. 647.343.7549 Minneapolis Tel.612.750.2251
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“I enjoy seeing someone looking good. Clothes do make a difference.” – Mireille Watson, owner of
THRILL OF THE FIND Mireille Watson has operated Thrill of the Find for the past 11 years in Leslieville. Insiders Guide had a quick chat with Mireille about her business. What is unique about Thrill of the Find. Being born in Lyon, France I have a European attitude to dress. You care about the way you dress for your own sake, and you can look good by buying a few good pieces each year. I sell everything from new to vintage but I specialise in designer clothing; mostly European and US designers like Celine, Chanel, Gucci, Jil Sander, Armani, Alice + Olivia, Missoni, Michael Kors, Chloe, Marc Jacobs and others. I cater to a diverse crowd, a 90 year old from the old age home down the street likes Missoni, it makes her feel good while the 16 year old doesn’t want to be like her friends. I am not a consignment shop. My clothes are well priced and in good condition. The beauty of designer clothing is they wear well and last. We have close to 10,000 pieces on site and in storage.
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“I won’t let anyone leave here without looking good and feeling comfortable about what they wear.”
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Mireille’s Background My mother would have clothes designed by couturiers so I have been subject to fashion all my life. I would drag my son when he was younger to fashion stores; he now has a good fashion sense. He chose the name, Thrill of the Find. I had always been a collector selling items to family and friends. I started the shop when I decided to take a
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rest from the corporate life and at the same time was looking for alternative accommodation. I bought the building, moving from Cabbagetown to Leslieville. I have been in Canada 30 years. It is an easy country to live in and I still visit Europe. The Leslieville Area Competition is great –it brings people to the area. If people are coming from
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another area, they want to have more than one choice. Advice for New Business Owners. Give yourself enough time in the business for it to take root. It takes 2-3 years to start developing a customer base -make sure you have enough cash flow to survive. It takes time to get a good sense of your clients needs for the different seasons. The piec-
es don’t fall into place quickly; I had a full time consulting business at the same time that I started.
THRILL OF THE FIND 1172 Queen Street. E. www.thrillofthefind.com 416-461-9313
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We offer acupuncture treatments from skilled practicioners in a safe, comfortable community setting. 82
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Welcome to Danforth Community Acupuncture! Payment is on a sliding scale between $20-40 dollars pay what you can. With a one time paperwork fee $10 on your first visit. What you pay is up to you, as long as that amount allows you to come in often enough to feel really great. We are covered by insurance from certain carriers.
Danforth Community Acupuncture is part of a growing International movement dedicated to providing accessible acupuncture to everyone; P.O.C.A (Peoples Organization of Community Acupuncture) We offer acupuncture treatments from skilled practitioners in a safe, comfortable community setting. Treatments are tailored to client’s individual needs. Acupuncture helps many issues; pain syndroms, fibromyalgia, carpel tunnel, tennis elbow, sports related injuries , muscles and joints, allergies, colds, flus, anxiety, digestive issues, and much more. Our approach is to do an initial assessment to get an orientation of clients needs.
Appointments can be booked ahead by calling us at 416 889 5260. Walk –ins are also welcomed but will be subject to availability. Thank you for finding our clinic. We hope you make us your neighbourhood place for everyday healing.
DANFORTH COMMUNITY ACUPUNCTURE www.danforthca.ca info@danforthca.ca 437 Danforth Ave Unit 202
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Choosing the Perfect Yoga Class For YOU! By Jaimie Gateman, YogaFit Hosting & Studio Manager
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re you interested in yoga but unsure how, or where, to start? “Yoga”, drawn from a 6,000 year old practice, translates from the Sanskrit to mean “union” or “yoke”, representing the connection between our mind and the body. Yoga is any sort of movement or posture, often placed in a special or meaningful way, that is intended to build this mind-body connection. Undoubtedly, there is an endless number of studios, classes, styles, and teachers, especially in our culture’s ever-growing health, wellness, and fitness obsession. So, how do you choose an appropriate yoga class? First: Try as many classes as you can! Here at YogaFit, we believe in creating a safe and inclusive class for EVERYBODY and EVERY BODY. That means we have a variety of classes, from a seated Strong & Stretched: Chair Yoga class for those looking for
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modifications and props, to an Active Yoga Conditioning and Runners class geared towards athletes, to Restorative and Therapeutic classes for those days your body is craving something more relaxing. We are also excited to announce two Indo Balance Board classes, which simulates paddle boarding (but without the water!). Each class and teacher has a different flavor, so it’s best to try as many classes as you can.
“ Everyone can touch their toes, they just need to bend their knees enough!” Second: Let go of competition, judgment, and expectation. Through YogaFit training, we teachers learn the core of every YogaFit class should re-
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flect the principles of Breathing, Feeling, Listening to our Bodies, Letting Go of Competition, Judgment, and Expectation, and Staying in the Present Moment. As Lisa Greenbaum, part-owner of the YogaFit studio states, “all you need to do is show up, we meet you where you are in your journey from your first class ever to your hundredth class – and here’s a hint: everyone can touch their toes, they just need to bend their knees enough!” Third: Yoga is, above all, an internal journey - Choose a class where you always feel safe. YogaFit prides itself on its safety and inclusiveness, modifying ancient yoga postures to reflect recent scientific fitness science to prevent injury and keep you as safe as possible. The studio itself is quiet and intimate with natural light coming in from the separated foyer and south facing windows. A sanctuary away from the busy street, holding everything you need for practice including mats, straps and their own version
of yoga blocks – the yoga Egg, to fit perfectly against your body. All of our classes are small, intimate, and geared towards your needs of that specific day. YogaFit itself is primarily a teacher training company, geared towards bringing yoga to the fitness industry. We are truly a unique blend of Eastern Traditional teachings and Western Fitness Science and we are pleased and proud to have our first studio located on the Danforth. We have a variety of teachers with different backgrounds, but all of our teachers share
one thing – a passion for YogaFit and for bringing YogaFit to everybody and every body. “If you can breathe, you can do yoga.” – Beth Shaw, Founder of YogaFit The full class schedule and class descriptions can be found at: www.yogafitcanada.com/trainingcentre YogaFit is located at 898 Danforth Ave, near Donlands Station. Present this article and receive 3 FREE classes to the YogaFit Training Centre. New students only, expires July 30, 2014.
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Your Gateway to Greek Food & Culture • Dine in, Take out & Delivery • Catering • Outdoor Patio • Prix Fixe Menus
401 Danforth Avenue 416 . 4 61 . 9 577 www.avlirestaurant.com Hours of Operation Sun. - Thurs. 11:30am - 10pm Fri. - Sat. 11:30am - 12am
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“Canada’s Best Shortbread” is Leslieville’s best-kept secret! “Crisp on the outside with a meltingly tender heart” Cynthia David - Food and Drink Magazine
As voted by the National Post
Visit the Coach House Shortbread Company Store on Carlaw Ave, where you may purchase our many delicious sweet and savoury Shortbread flavours – baked right on the premises NEW THIS YEAR
Patty Watteyne Photography
‘Coach House Shortbread Food Artisan Collection’ – the highest quality food artisan products we could find, filled to overflowing in beautiful sisal French Market Bags. A gorgeous gift for the foodie in your life. Order online or at the store for pick up.
Open 10am -5pm Mon-Sat and 11am - 4pm Sundays in December 2013 or by appointment • Check website for 2014 Hours
235 Carlaw Ave. Lower Lobby,Toronto, Ontario, 416-907-8356 info@shortbread.ca • www.shortbread.ca
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Banchi Kinde, owner of Rendezvous, performing the traditional coffee ceremony with fresh roasted Ethiopean coffee.
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Saturday night at the Rendezvous Restaurant
Travel to Ethiopia and back
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he first sign of a good family place is the friendly atmosphere where guests are greeted like old friends and made to feel right at home. When Banchi is in the house, everyone is family. Banchi is from Ethiopia and wanted to run a place where her guests could eat authentic Ethiopian food. Since 2001, she has built her restaurant on the reputation of great fresh cooked food served in a friendly atmosphere. It is intimate eating food with your hands; sharing the injera bread and sharing the great tastes of ethiopian food culture. It slows the pace of eating allowing space for conversation and connection.
There is both meat and vegetarian dishes at Rendezvous. The injera bread is gluten free and rich in minerals. The spices used are paprika, garlic, ginger, cumin, and turmeric. There is no deep frying, no transfat, no preservatives, vegan dishes and coffee in the traditional way. Try the coffee ceremony seen on the opposite page. Rendez-Vous offers courteous service that will invite you to travel to Ethiopia over and over again.
RENDEZ-VOUS 1408 Danforth Avenue & Monarch Park 416-469-2513 www.ethiopianrendezvous.com Neighbourhood Living – East Side
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Mani and his new partner, pizza dough tosser Jay are cooking up the best pizzas in the neighbourhood. Try the Carnivore or my favouritePatate Alla Crème.
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Ready for Eating.
Ready for the oven
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GREAT FOOD – GREAT VALUE!! I run a down to earth place where you can escape for a drink, coffee or a good pub meal. “Our staff are friendly. We keep the place clean and most importantly we are reasonably priced.”
Most Popular Food
Mark Ma, Owner of the Black Bear Pub on O’connor Drive welcomes you. After 4 years in this location, Mark has set up a well run place for his clients. According to Mark, “lots of my clients see the Black Bear as their second home, everybody calls me by my name, I know my clients, where they sit, what they eat.
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All Day Breakfast $4.95, Homemade Soups All Day $3.95, Sandwiches from $3.95, Hot Sandwiches from $7.45, Meals from $5.95, Kids Meals from$3.45, plus meat loaf, lamb chops, liver & onions, lamb shanks, chicken ceasar, French toast, pancakes, and Saturday-Sunday Eggs Bennie.
BLACK BEAR PUB 1125 O’Connor Drive 416-752-5182 www.blackbear.ca
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Pizzaladiere Nicoise
RECIPE FROM PASCAL GEFFROY, CHEF OWNER OF BATIFOLE 102
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Pizzaladiere Nicoise RECIPE FROM PASCAL GEFFROY, CHEF OWNER OF BATIFOLE
Preparation: 20 minutes Cooking: 45 minutes For 6 persons
INGREDIENTS 500 grams of pizza dough 4 large onion 60 ml. of olive oil 20 anchovy fillets 80 grams of Olives Nicoise or Kalamata 20 grams of thyme
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Peel and slice the onion very fine. Saute in a large frying pan very slowly with 40 ml. of olive oil. Roll out the pizza dough very thin.
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Put the onions on top, then the anchovies, the olives, the thyme and the rest of the olive oil. (the olive oil makes the crust crispy) Put in the oven at 250 C (480 F) for 40 minutes.
BATIFOLE 744 Gerrard Street East Toronto ON www.batifole.ca
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Table 17
“ A Neighbourhood Bistro with European Sensibility”
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S
ure there’s a rooster on the sign and it looks more like a spit-andpolish barn than an upscale French restaurant, but diners at Table 17 are soon reminded that looks can be delightfully deceiving. This is no runof-the-mill chicken joint. Table 17 is a chic neighbourhood bistro, with rock ‘n’ roll on the radio and a menu that is heavily influenced by the great kitchens of Europe.
“ We pulled bits and pieces of our life experience together to create the atmosphere and menu at Table 17.” “The atmosphere is very friendly, very casual, and the interior has that rustic farmhouse feel,” says owner Erik Joyal, “but that doesn’t take away from our standards of food and the quality of our service. “We’re just as haute cuisine as any of the big, fancy restaurants in the city.” Erik and his partner, executive chef John Sinopoli, opened Table 17 in June 2008. The two owned Izakaya for three and half years and, although their Japanese restaurant was a success, they longed to open an eatery that was more in line with their backgrounds. John, a first generation Italian who studied at the French Culinary Institute in New York City and worked at venerable restaurants in NY, and Erik, a Montreal born French Canadian who lived in France and the UK and obtained his MA in food and hospitality manage-
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ment in NYC, “pulled bits and pieces of our life experience together to create the atmosphere and menu at Table 17,” says Erik. Something that was neither French nor Italian, but European Continental. Erik had fallen in love with the Leslieville/Riverside area years before, and watched with interest as trendy new restaurants and retail operations started popping up. “It was a neighbourhood in transition and on the rise. At the same, time, rents were really reasonable.” They found the perfect location and 12 weeks later opened Table 17. (Seventeen is the tally of the numbers of the bistro’s street address: 782 Queen Street East.) The neighbourhood was quick to embrace the new venture and, over the last four years, Table 17 has become one of the anchors of the community. While there were the usual start-up hicccups – “the restaurant took some time to find itself,” Erik says – but it has developed into something that makes the partners proud, with a great product and a great staff.” The menu started out small and simple, and while it remains modest in size, John has gradually added layers of complexity. Like the wine list, which is constantly evolving, dishes change according to the season, allowing the partners to keep things fresh in every sense of the word. Table 17 is open seven nights from 5:30 p.m. and brunch is served from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. (A private dining room on second floor, with its own kitchen, bar and washrooms, seats 24 for dinner and up to 40 people for a standing cocktail function.) For the past
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“ We are purveyors of great food and great service at a price that makes a night out affordable for the people in our neighbourhood.”
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six years, Table 17 has featured a table d’hote menu for $35 on Sunday and Monday. The prix fixe meal features some of the restaurant’s most popular items and a few special selections only available on these days. Patrons are invited to bring their own wine and the partners waive the corkage fee. “We are purveyors of great food and great service at a price that makes a night out affordable for the people in our neighbourhood,” says John, summing up the Table 17 philosophy.
“We love it when our customers tell us they loved the food and the great server who really took care of them. And we love it when they tell us that they’ll be back!” Erik Joyal and John Sinopoli
TABLE 17 782 Queen Street East 416-519-1851 www.table17.ca (online reservations)
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Funerals: To Pre-plan or Not? By Karie Johnston, Marketing Director, World Financial Group
Have you ever had to complete funeral arrangements for a loved one? It can be a very emotional time for all involved and there are a lot of questions to be answered and decisions to be made. And then there is the cost. A small number of people are lucky; their loved one was prepared and had in place a will and powers of attorney that spelled out his wishes exactly. Even better, that same loved one had paid for all aspects of the funeral in advance. Unfortunately, this scenario isn’t at common as it should be. Being adequately prepared for the inevitable event of death is the exception rather than the rule. My goal in working with families is to educate them about different aspects of their financial foundation, and to help them be prepared for life’s challenges. The first family I need to care for is my own, so with this in mind, I set out to answer the question of whether I should pre-plan my own funeral. When I was just starting out in my career as a young nurse, I began to see how important it was to have appropriate insurance coverage. I came to understand that my insurance needs would likely change throughout my lifetime. At that time, my first concern was that, in the event of my own early death, my funeral costs would be covered so that my parents would not have to worry about that. This led me to purchase a small whole life policy to cover those costs. Even at that time I had explored the various options of pre-paying for a funeral service, but, as I was not sure where I would be living in the years to come, I was reluctant to buy into a service that would require me to use only the local services of a given company. Plus, there were a lot of terms of sale I didn’t understand, so I left it to be decided later. Sound familiar? The years flew by. I changed jobs and cities. Yet, I still only had a rough idea of what my wishes would be when I died. I did, however, have the potential cost well-covered as I had purchased that early life insurance. What I didn’t consider was that my funeral service would be long over by the time the insurance company paid my death benefit to my family. A funeral can cost anywhere between $5000 and
$20,000. My family would, in fact, have to pay all my funeral costs up front, probably financed with credit, and then pay that off with the proceeds of my life insurance policy. I do have a will that contains some specific instructions about cremation and the kind of service I would like, but my family would still have to make those arrangements. I wondered if there was something else I might be able to do to lessen their stress during that time. The answer came in 2012 my company, World Financial Group, entered into a partnership with Everest. At that time I learned that Everest serves as an advocate for the consumer, helping individuals to make informed decisions about all aspects of their funerals. In fact, Everest will actually communicate on behalf of their clients with any funeral home in North America. Everest can help bring a loved one home from anywhere in the world. The company is able to negotiate the best possible price with local funeral homes and is available to assist families 24 hours a day. Everest does not own any funeral homes and doesn’t sell any funeral products, so they provide an unbiased service for their clients. Everest is able to assist with any religious requirements and even unusual requests. Everest is the first nationwide funeral planning and concierge service and they combine a small whole life policy—as low as $5000 and as much as $30,000.00—with a guarantee to pay the beneficiary within 48 hours, thus ensuring funeral costs are covered quickly. In addition, Everest offers an interactive website, thus enabling clients to be better prepared to handle their own funeral issues. For my own part, Everest helped me think about a number of different planning aspects I may not have considered on my own related to the way I would like my memorial service to be carried out. Even better, I can revisit the site at my leisure and update my profile at any time. Alternatively, I can speak on the phone with an advisor who will personally assist me in building and revising my profile. I now feel satisfied and secure in the knowledge that when my time is up, all my family has to do is place one call to Everest and my plan will be set in motion. If my family chooses to do something different, that will be up to them, but at least help is there if they want and need it.
Karie Johnston, Insurance/Mutual Fund Representative Transamerica Securities Inc. WFG Securities of Canada Inc. 905-264-6949 (office) • 647-883-7799 (cell) worldfinancialgroup.com • kjohnston21rpec@wfgmail.ca
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2060 Queen St. E • 647-748-5517 • howardscanada.com 116
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2060 Queen St. E • 647-748-5517 • howardscanada.com Neighbourhood Living – East Side
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Beautiful, functional, unique
Master cabinet maker Kevin Karst knows that your kitchen is the heart of your home. That’s why thoughtfully creative and sustainable design, unsurpassed craftsmanship and the finest materials are at the heart of every custom kitchen from Kevin Karst Design Inc. “Your kitchen is the focal point of your home; the place where your family and friends gather,” says Kevin. “With so much of your life spent in and around this one meeting place/workspace, your kitchen needs to breathe comfort and relaxation. With excellent bones and a character that reflects both your style and your needs, my kitchens are built to enhance the way you live.” Whether you’re planning a renovation or a new build, Kevin can make your dream kitchen a reality. “During a relaxed consultation, I sit down with you and talk about the design, construction and installation processes,” explains Kevin. “I help you to make reasonable, informed choices, whether you’re tackling this project on your own or working with architects and other designers.” The result is a kitchen made to love and last. “Because I only build one kitchen at a time – and because each kitchen is custom designed to suit your space and lifestyle – your project is my priority, commanding my undivided attention and support from start to finish.” And Kevin places just as much emphasis on customer aftercare. “If you ever have a question or concern down the road, I am a phone call away.”
388 Carlaw Ave., Unit W22 647.722.4165 | design@kevinkarst.com www.kevinkarst.com
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Large or small, new or retrofit, your stunningly beautiful, superbly functional Kevin Karst custom kitchen is waiting to come home.
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LANEWAY HOUSE The Jones Avenue laneway house began life as a 1-storey, concrete block garage that had been illegally converted into a 3-bedroom apartment. Thanks to the vision of
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two friends, designer Craig Race and owner Alex Sharpe, the building has been transformed into an alternative form of housing known as a laneway house. Mr. Race works at Leslieville’s
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own SUSTAINABLE.TO Architecture + Building, and Mr. Sharpe is a founding principal of iQ Office Suites.
Laneway housing has become popular in Vancouver, but remains rare in Toronto. This property has the unique advantage of being exposed to a street at both ends of the property, and the house has been massed accordingly. The new second floor is wider at the rear to fill a large gap in the streetscape. It fills a “missing tooth in the smile” of Boultbee Ave. The Jones Avenue laneway house began life as a 1-storey, concrete block garage that had been illegally converted into a 3-bedroom apartment. Thanks to the vision of two friends, designer Craig Race and owner Alex Sharpe, the building has
been transformed into an alternative form of housing known as a laneway house. Mr. Race works at Leslieville’s own SUSTAINABLE.TO Architecture + Building, and Mr. Sharpe is a founding principal of iQ Office Suites. Although primary access is from Jones Ave, an entrance off the back was maintained to reinforce the pre-existing connection with the laneway. Views in and out of the house were carefully orchestrated to focus on the rough, concrete walls of the adjacent garages, or of the sky above. There are views and natural light from every direction, but you are never looking into a neighbour’s house.
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Owner Alex Sharpe (left) and designer Craig Race (right) worked with Paul Dowsett of SUSTAINABLE. TO Architecture + Building to obtain permission from the City of Toronto to legalize the unit. Unlike most properties in Toronto, the unique lot was well suited for the additional structure due to its exposure to Boultbee Ave. and generous 33foot lot width. Coincidentally, that is the minimum width required for a laneway house in Vancouver.
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The new second floor narrows towards Jones Ave. to match the proportions of the opening in the streetscape. In fact, the size and shape of the structure was designed to match the voids and forms of its surroundings. The goal of the design was to create a building that felt like it had always been there, and that was accomplished by taking cues from context.
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The shou sugi ban feature-wall is the driving force behind the design. It is built on a slight angle to relate the building’s form to its context. It also divides the facades into geometric proportions. Its charred finish is raw and natural, while its detailing is sleek and modern. The entire house is a juxtaposition of contemporary ideals applied to traditional elements - a fitting approach to a new style of housing that must sensitively fuse with our existing lane-scapes.
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The interior of the house is open and airy. High ceilings and skylights create a dramatic space that captures daylight and breezes and minimizes energy consumption. Dark, charredwood clads a feature-wall that delineates private spaces on the south half of the house from open
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communal spaces to the north. The wood was charred by Mr. Sharpe and naturally oiled to resist weathering - an ancient Japanese technique known as Shou Sugi Ban.
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SUSTAINABLE.TO ARCHITECTURE + BUILDING sustainable.to
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Neighbourhood Living – East Side 29 Bermondsey Road, 416-690-5505 www.alfsantiques.com
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Persian Isfehan. Kurk silk/Kruk wool Semi-antique $12,000.00
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Since 2001
Rug Cleaning PEALAC RUG 815 Broadview Avenue North of Danforth 416-778-7585 www.PealacRug.com
Persian Kashan, Very fine 5x7, signed by weaver. Wool $2,400.00
Persian Silk Qum, 6x8, Kurk silk/Kurk wool $6,500.00
Persian Nehavand “Luri” 5x7 Kurk wool $1,200.00
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greentea design
Fifteen years ago, Greentea Design owner Dale Storer started bringing in unique pieces and exclusive designs to his loft showroom in Riverdale. The Japanese aesthetic heavily influenced the collection, which today includes full custom kitchens, bathroom vanities, entertainment centres and a variety of antiques. “Our kitchens are very well received, as they imbue such a wonderful warmth,” says Dale. “The cabinets are constructed from solid reclaimed wood and our customers can choose from a variety of stains, door styles and
beautifully hand-forged hardware.” Other popular pieces include stunning Maru Tables (dining and coffee) made from three-inch thick slabs of antique Korean flooring, and the iconic Kaiden Tansu. “Our Step Chests are modular, work as room dividers, and make incredible conversation pieces, while still offering practical storage.” Dale selects each antique piece personally and finds that certain priorities usually win out. “I look for interesting patina or distressing that has naturally occurred and that speaks to the provenance of
the piece,” he says. “Unique architectural shapes and the repurposing of objects to give them a new life are my other passions.”
DALE STORER GREENTEA DESIGN 388 Carlaw Avenue, Suite 200 416-462-1459 www.greenteadesign.com HOURS:
Monday to Saturday, 10-6 Sunday 12-5
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Framing takes on new Dimensions in Riverside “Making people feel WHEN you’re skilled at what you do – and you love what you’re doing – the results are not just masterful, they’re also magical. Business partners Wendy Palmer and Ellen Davidson live and breathe the life creative, and they bring their passion for art and their intuitive sense of design to the work they do every day at Dimensions Custom Framing and Gallery in Riverside. With more than two decades of custom framing experience between them, Ellen and Wendy work closely with their clients to frame prints, paintings, photographs, mirrors and two- and threedimensional objects of every conceivable description, using acid and lignin-free mats, mount boards and UV-filtering glass for a lifetime of beauty and protection. The girls consider their work to be a true collaboration between client, consultant and framer. “I ask a lot of questions about the piece, where it’s going, if it’s a gift and if it has a history,” Ellen says. “I try to get a sense of who the client is before giving any design suggestions.” Wendy has honed her framing skills at some of the finest galleries and is extraordinary in her field, bringing precision craftsmanship, an eye for perfection and a deeply personal commitment to each project. “It means so much to me that people trust me with their projects,” she says, “and I love knowing that they are taking my work home to hang on their wall.” Both girls get enormous satisfaction from ‘the reveal, ‘ – the moment when clients see a framed piece for the first time. “Watching their faces light up makes us so happy,” says Wendy. Together, Ellen and Wendy – contemporary thinkers with a flair for pop culture and everything au currant – create a relationship of comfort and trust that keeps clients coming back. “There is an infectious feeling
comfortable and welcome is really important to us.” of inclusion at Dimensions,” says Ellen, “which is a direct result of who we are as individuals, the environment we’ve created and the excitement that builds with each project – whether it’s related to framing or new artists we’re interested in exhibiting.” The duo and the gallery itself are a friendly presence in trendy Riverside, which is home to some of Toronto’s best eateries, cafes and shops. With its exposed brick walls, hardwood floors and expansive cathedral ceilings, Dimensions is a reflection of the partners’ warmth and design aesthetic. Art by established local artists including Jeff Turner, Tammy Radcliffe and Ian Busher, fills the walls, and because Wendy’s work space is incorporated into the gallery, the place exudes creativity and openness. Everyone is welcome at Dimensions, to browse the art, to consult with Ellen and Wendy regarding a framing project, or just to drop by for a friendly chat and a visit with Hudson, the gallery’s Yorkshire Terrier mascot. “Making people feel comfortable and welcome is really important to us,” Ellen says. “If we can put a smile on someone’s face and make their experience at Dimensions a memorable one, then we’re on the right track – and we’ve been getting great feedback in that regard.” Working with such wonderful clients and talented artists, the partners couldn’t be happier. “Riverside is the perfect location for us,” says Wendy. “The people are great, there’s a terrific sense of community and there’s a real buzz of excitement about things to come. We’re really happy to be part of it all.” TC/CM
You can follow Dimensions on twitter @dimensionscf and facebook.com/dimensionscustomframing. You can also visit online at dimensionsframing.com, drop in to visit Hudson and the girls at 732 Queen St. E. or call 416-463-7263.
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JANE HALL
the voice of style 140
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JANE HALL is an iconoclast in the
delights the soul and the senses. With
Canadian world of interior design.
36 years of experience, and a style
Where so many contemporary
that incorporates bold chromatic
designers are opting for understated,
palettes with lush European fabrics
almost forgettably neutral
and unique furnishings, she shares
foregrounds and backgrounds, Jane’s
the same design sensibilities as
work is a vibrant riot of colour that
London’s Tricia Guild.
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W
hile many in Toronto are re-working the Bauhaus aesthetic, she is an unrepentant lover of the sensual delight created by the touch of a lush fabric or the sight of contrasting prints. Inspired by films like ‘Moulin Rouge’ and the recent ‘Downton Abbey,’ Jane will pair the textures of an English embroidered satin with an antique tufted cotton to create an immediate emotional response that starts a conversation between the senses. With her strong views about de-
not expected to last. “People often say, ‘If it doesn’t last for more than a year, I’ll throw it out.’ In our parents’ generation, they saved for something and it lasted their entire marriage. “My belief is that one should create something that is beautiful and sustainable,” says Jane. “It should also be individualistic. I don’t want my clients’ house to look like their neighbours’ house. The problem with manufacturing today is that with globalization everything is made en masse: it’s cheaper to make things square rather
“My cushions are one of the best things I do. They can change your décor amazingly. I call it ‘decorating on a budget.” sign, art and human imagination, she stands steady in the face of the current pre-occupation with minimalism. She points out that Bauhaus was about design for the general population, and easily makes the leap between the ideas behind early Bauhaus and the current trend toward mass-production of home furnishings in China. When asked how she engages clients who are working with a ‘made in China’ budget while her fabrics are imported from Italy and England, Jane says, “I tell them it’s an investment. I’m about quality, not quantity. “People today often value things differently than they did in the past. It’s about more, as opposed to less.” It’s also about longevity in a society that has embraced disposability. People are not concerned about the integrity or craftsmanship of a cushion or a drape because inexpensive things are
than round, or to make things in one colour rather than six. The real cost is the loss of individuality of expression.” As a businesswoman, part of Jane’s mission statement “is to contribute as much as possible to the local economy. While I do import the best fabrics I can, the drapes and pillows are made locally. And they last. The furniture I make will be something the client can pass down to the next generation.” As for thoughts on what can be done to freshen up a tired home, Jane says she often goes into a house to suggest new colours for paint, a new layout or reupholstering of the current furniture or just the idea of new throw cushions. “It’s like staging a house. Some people have lovely things but just don’t display them well. I might take a little lamp and make a custom lampshade for it, paint an accent wall, do some new bedding or change the cushions.
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“I think my cushions are one of the best things I do,” says Jane. “I use Tricia Guild fabrics and they are beautiful. They can change your décor amazingly. I call it ‘decorating on a budget.’” Another thing Jane does is to get people started on their own home decorating projects by taking them on a ‘magical mystery tour.’ “I’ll take clients shopping at all my favourite antique shops or special sources. I’ve been in the business for a long time and can tell them where to get everything at the right cost. There are so many great places in this city that people don’t know about. It’s really fun and I just charge them for a day of shopping.”
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The last item on her list of services may be the best of all. Jane’s website is a one-stop shop for thousands of inspiring design ideas, and it incorporates everything she has learned in her career with her encyclopedic knowledge of design and history.
“ …people want colour. This site shows people what works” “Currently, I have about 100,000 images on my computer,” she says. “The colour guide has always been the number one landing page and I get several thousand hits a month. In a few weeks I’ll be expanding this to
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provide room and fabric inspirations based on a colour group. There will be hundreds of images on a 3D wall that will allow subscribers to buy the products they see online. “So many people choose beige or grey because they don’t know how to put things together, but I know that people want colour. The number one thing that holds them back is confidence. This site shows people what works.” If you are interested in Jane’s services or in attending one of her workshops on the Use of Colour and The History of Design, among others, contact her at janehalldesign@gmail. com or call 647-854-7284. You can also visit her online at www.janehalldesign.com.
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The Garden at 28 Dixon Avenue ; GEORGE AND PEGGY SLOAN
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hen we bought this house, in 1972, we were very young, idealistic, both working and wanted a home of our own. My Dad told us that what we needed to buy was a brick, 2-storey, detached house with parking. Knowing absolutely nothing about home ownership, that’s what we bought. Thank God for wise parents;
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we bought our ‘starter home’ and we have been here ever since. The garden had nothing to do with our lives then. My Dad’s family were farmers, immigrants from Belgium, who were wiped out in the first World War, and came here to start again. My Dad, essentially a farmer, became a Canadian citizen as an immigrant child, fought in WW2 with the Elgin Regiment,
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and lived through it to teach me, his only child, how to respect the land, whatever small portion of it that fell under my control. I think that his philosophy has been mine throughout the years. Respect the land. Make it produce. Give back to the land what you take out. When one has been the custodian of a garden as long as I have (42 years
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and counting), one learns a great deal about how the land and the garden changes over time. The change is slow, but dramatic. Our garden has gone from a sunny garden to one that has perhaps one quarter all day sun, and the rest various lengths of shade time. I have learned, through many poor decisions and purchases, that I am not in charge here. Time and nature have shaped the garden; I am just the little person that tries to keep up.
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Nonetheless, I have learned things about plants and the soil over the years. I could wax poetic about shade plants, sun plants, in-between plants.
“ Figure out what you can grow well, and grow a lot of it.” However, the most important things I could say about gardening are: feed the soil. Not chemical crap, ever, just good
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old manure; cattle, sheep, chicken, it doesn’t matter. Manure every Spring and lots of it. What is ‘lots of it’? Look at your garden, make a guess and triple it. You cannot overdo natural stuff. Stay put. If you really want a garden that reflects you and a passion for plants and all things growing in the soil, watch your garden, plant it, learn it over as many years as you can. Learn from the best. There is a mass of literature out there from gardeners
who have been through the fire (and cold and masses of bad decisions and disappointment). The mass of good garden literature is enormous. From one of my favourite writers, Christopher Lloyd, comes this quote, which was an epiphany for me: “Figure out what you can grow well, and grow a lot of it.” What freedom. Grow what you can grow and be proud of it, have fun with it. And that’s what I’ve done out there in my wild and crazy garden.
Plants for shade, plants for sun, plants I love??? Nope, can’t possibly say. There are plants for everywhere, no matter where you live and how you garden. I love the plants that thrive in my garden and I would be happy to trot around the back 40 with anyone who wants to see what grows in my little eco-system.The birds of the northern forests are migrating through the garden right now. Dear little warblers in their autumn co-
lours, tiny wee wrens and creepers, and in another few weeks, the thrushes will stop for a moment to fuel up before the hop across the lake to their homes in the south. How lucky I am to have this garden. Cheers, Peggy Sloan
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Japanese Maples on Ravina Crescent in the Pocket
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things
Crazy
good
in the neighbourhood
Olive Cilantro Bread from St. John’s Bakery 155 Broadview Ave. 416-850-7413 stjohnsbakery.com Take two loaves of Olive Cilantro Bread–one is never enough–heat in the oven until the smell makes your stomach rumble. Add Velouté Bistro’s balsamic reduction, fresh virgin olive oil, humus, and some of Sunflower Kitchen’s Zesto Pesto, and you have an instant party for
friends. St. John’s Bakery has worked
the place for artisan bread, and the
your mouth. Great for sharing with
very hard to build their reputation as
Olive Cilantro is their flagship loaf.
Ed’s Real Scoop BEACHES • 2224 Queen St. E 416-699-6100 Leslieville 920 Queen St. E 416-406-2525 edsrealscoop.com For a little taste of heaven any time of the year, drop in to Ed’s Real Scoop, where “we’re always changing and always the best.” Ed Francis uses recipes inspired by his mom–who dished out happiness in the form of homemade treats: pies, toffee, caramel, fudge and ice cream–to whip up more than 150
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“ Our flavours change with the season and with the whims of our chefs,” different varieties of all natural, made-in-house ice cream and sorbet. “Our flavours change with the season and with the whims of our chefs,” says Ed, “from sangria or mojito sorbet in summer to pumpkin in the fall and EdsNog at Christmas.” Don’t get scared off by the lineup. It’s worth the wait.
Crazy
good
things in the neighbourhood
Birthday parties at M Thompson Chocolates 388 Carlaw Ave, Suite W11 647-922-699 mthompsonchocolates.com Enchant up to 10 party guests with a trip to M Thompson Chocolates for a hands-on chocolate-making expedition in the studio on Carlaw Avenue. Staff will provide the supplies and the know-how and partygoers get to take home their own delicious chocolate creations. It’s the perfect party experience for people of all ages, especially kids 6-12.
Mary Macleod’s Maple Crunch Shortbread 639 Queen St. E • 416-461-4576 Marymacleod.ca Created by daughter-in-law Sharon in the test kitchen at 639 Queen Street East, the newest cookie on offer at Mary Macleod’s Shortbread in Riverdale uses the same 100% natural ingredients as all of Mary’s delicious “wee babbies” with a quintessentially Canadian twist – Quebec maple. The result is a melt-in-your mouth butter cookie that is not overly sweet but
riddled with crunchy explosions of delicate maple flavour and finished
off with a crown of pure maple. Confection perfection.
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Crazy
good
Simone’s Caribbean Restaurant 596 DANFORTH AVE. 416-792-5252 Earthy, delicious food rich with the comforting flavour of the Antilles. Welcome to Simone’s Caribbean Restaurant. Simone has more than 20 years of experience in kitchens of the West Indies. On the Danforth, she wanted to create foods that provide an authentic Jamaican
deeply grounded in earth food magic experience, with their subtle blend of herbs and spices like fresh thyme, ginger and scotch bonnet. When we walk in, Simone is in the kitchen with her mother, who is helping out. We order our usual-chicken and the amazing pumpkin and fish soup–but strongly recommend the roti and curries. This is a place deeply grounded in earth food magic and a destination for anyone who loves the taste of the islands.
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things in the neighbourhood
Crazy
good
things in the neighbourhood
Balsamic Reduction at Velouté 2343 QUEEN ST. E 416 696 7392 veloute.ca The ultimate Balsamic reduction is available only at Velouté Bistro and Catering in The Beach. Chef Fawzi Kotb sources the finest Italian balsamic vinegar, then reduces it to about a third to concentrate the flavour. It is exquisite. Pair the reduction with a light olive oil and a loaf of Olive Cilantro Bread from St. John’s Bakery and you’ve got an appetizer–or a meal!–that will please the most discerning palate.
The Kale Salad at Eadrey Foods 1129 Queen St. 416-462-1204 Made with finely chopped fresh Ontario kale (in season), mixed with pine nuts, sundried tomatoes, red onions, a touch of garlic and a special vinaigrette dressing, this delicious salad will give you a super green boost. Eadrey also makes great soups, chicken chipotle sandwiches, curry roti and much more for your evening meal or party. When we were there, they were making an artichoke and mushroom strudel that made us salivate.
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Crazy
good
Special occasion cakes at North Pole Bakery 1210 Danforth Ave. 416-466-6435 Lucy Liozzo at North Pole Bakery has a secret treat that you wouldn’t stumble upon unless you asked. Besides her famous cannoli, pasta, pizza, breads, cookies, cheesecakes, pies and tarallini, she also bakes incredible cakes using traditional family recipes. Whether it’s for a birthday party, a wedding or just because, Lucy will customize your cake and bake it fresh within hours of your event to delight your friends, guests and especially you!
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things in the neighbourhood
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The Coq au Vin at Edward’s 1290 1290 Queen St E • 416-465-3600 Edward Levesque and his team of talented, ambitious chefs elevate the humble chicken to a mouthwatering coq au vin that would
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make a hen weep. Marinated in olive oil and fresh herbs, Edward roasts the tender breast in poultry stock that is made in-house from chicken, duck and turkey bones to intensify the richness of the dish. The chicken is served with heirloom root vegetables—carrots, parsnips, celeriac and purple new potatoes—
that are blanched, then roasted with caramelized garlic to add an organic earthiness to the meal. Edward’s 1290 opened in 2002 as Edward Levesque’s Kitchen and the popular Leslieville chef continues to delight with his farm-fresh, local ingredients and a simple-but-sublime menu that changes seasonally.
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Tobogganing in Riverdale Park If you belong to the tobogganing tribe, you already know about the two big hills in Riverdake Park on Broadview just north of Gerrard. This is one of the best family outings in the area. Wait for a good fresh snowfall and a sunny day, grab the kids, a pack of neighbours and some fortifying snacks and head for the hills to join the throngs of merry folks enjoying a winter afternoon
join the throngs of merry folks enjoying a winter afternoon outdoors outdoors. There’s something about racing down the hill that brings out the joyful kid in in all of us, and it’s a great feeling to share with friends and family. Afterwards, walk down the street to the Rooster Coffee House for a steaming mug of hot chocolate.
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Riverdale Farm 201 Winchester St. 416-392-6794 Located in a park setting in Cabbagetown, the scenic 7.5 acre Riverdale Farm officially opened on September 9, 1978. The historic working farm–free to the public and open year round from 9am to 5pm–features scenic pathways, ponds, butterfly-herb-flowervegetable gardens, programs and seasonal events, pig and poultry barns, horses, cows, sheep, the historic Francey Barn, Donnybrook, Island House, Simpson House, Meeting House and the ‘Residence’. Visit the farm animals, chat with
the farmer during daily chores and get a feel for rural life in the heart of the city! (FLASHBACK: In 1856, the City of Toronto purchased the land currently occupied by Riverdale Farm from John Scadding
and opened Toronto’s first zoo– Riverdale Zoo–in 1894. It closed 80 years later, most of the zoo buildings were removed and the animals were relocated to the new Toronto Zoo in Scarborough.)
Mosaic Storytelling Festival
3pm from the end of January to the end of March and now in its fourth year, the Open Door East End Arts Collective delights audiences with a celebration of the creativity and diversity of our east end neighbourhood. Perfect for ages 5 to 95, the admission price is pay what you can with a suggested donation of $5 per person.
St. David’s Anglican Church 49 Donlands Avenue mosaicstorytelling.ca The Mosaic Storytelling Festival showcases multicultural performances every two weeks at St. David’s Anglican Church with stories from around the globe. Held Sunday afternoons at
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Little Free Library Offering access to free books 24/7 with no membership required, these birdhouse-shaped libraries are popping up in front yards throughout The Beach and beyond. The idea is simple: take a book and return a book–even if you return a different book to a different birdhouse library, says Beach resident Bill Wrigley, who is the steward of Toronto’s original Little Free Library at 304 Lee Avenue. Bill is the Canadian leader of a worldwide movement and set up the organization’s 217th registered library –a small white cabinet built to resemble the Beach branch of the Toronto Public Library–in his front yard on Dec. 3, 2011. He is hoping at least 20 will spring up in and around the community. Six to 10 books move through his little library’s door each weekday; 40 on busy weekends. The effect, he says, is magical. “We live our lives going 100 miles an hour, but this allows people to stop and talk to each other. It’s all about the joy of sitting down with a good book and getting lost in it.” His fondest memory? The day a group of young girls were sprawled out on his front lawn, chatting quietly and reading. 164
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In Memoriam Angelo D’Auria
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ngelo D’Auria passed over last year. He was the former owner of Danforth Pizza House, a neighbourhood go-to place for great pizza. They didn’t do delivery but I would call up, place my order and then walk over to get my pie. Sitting there, wait-
ing for my order gave me a chance to chat with other customers as we watched our pies being made. Some customers were out of the neighbour-
hood, traveling from Scarborough to get their pizza. Angelo believed in lots of cheese and ingredients. He never changed the quality of his cheese even when prices creeped up. Angelo D’Auria was born in Pomigliano D’arco, Italy (a suburb of Napoli) on Nov. 19, 1928. He immigrated to Canada in 1955 and opened the Pizza House in 1964. He was father to 3 children and 5 grandchildren. His style of pizza was what he grew up with, A thread of Napoli culture that he maintained for over 49 years. How do you sum up someone you don’t really know but liked. A man who would show up every day except Sundays to create the same pizzas for so long. He had his stroke on the way in to the shop. The most memorable thing about Angelo was when he would get my pizza, open up the lid to show me
what he created. I would agree that was what I wanted and comment how good it looked. It was the pride I saw in his eyes as he smiled a bit and seemed to stand a little taller; I thought because he was satisfied that he had made another happy customer. I felt good that he cared that way and the love he put into creating his pizza made it taste so much better.
I will miss him.
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