56 townhomes proposed for Thornhill

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1:10 pm

New plans for a 56-townhouse development on the site of 7803 and 7815 Dufferin St. in Thornhill, submitted by Weston Consulting to Vaughan City Council in June, have some residents hoping it could help keep highrise projects in the area at bay.

With the vivaNext rapidway being built just south of the proposed project, the Dufferin Street and Centre Street area is poised for high-density development.

“Most important to the residents in the area, though, is the fact that, if the townhomes are approved, the risk of more intense development is reduced,” said Josh Martow, president of Beverly Glen Ratepayers Association.

For Alan Shefman, councillor for Ward 5, the project has both pros and cons that need to be considered.

“This development, if it should be allowed to go forward will restrict that sort of expansive development at that corner,” he said

“I’m not saying I’m for or against it, but my preference is that [the developer] holds off until we’ve completed our secondary plan to see how that fits into the overall vision for that intersection area,” said Shefman.

Weston Consulting held an open house in June for residents, local businesses and other stakeholders to offer their input about the project.

Joe Greco, owner of the nearby Concord Food Centre, is encouraged by the proposed plan’s potential impact on the area and particularily his own business.

“VivaNext is building a rapidway down the middle of Centre Street, which will create a situation where … no one going east on Centre Street will be able to turn in to our property, and leaving the store they will only be able to go westbound,” said Greco.

“This townhouse development would provide some additional customers to our store and plaza as they could walk there,” said Greco.

Weston Consulting was unavailable for comment at press time.

Best things to do in uptown Toronto for 2016

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3:01 pm

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Best for fitness
The buzzy Revolution MMA goes beyond MMA, with jiu-jitsu and more. 150 Lesmill Rd.
JOEL’S PICK: BEST FOR DOG WALKS
“SUNNYBROOK PARK is a great place to take my dog for hikes when I want to feel like I’m not in the city anymore.”
1132 Leslie St.

Best for yoga
Align all of your chakras at MOKSHA YOGA and emerge centred.
100 Sheppard Ave. E., Unit 100
DARCY’S PICK: BEST FOR THE ARTS
“TORONTO CENTRE FOR THE ARTS always has fantastic theatre. There’s always a great show to check out.”
5040 Yonge St.

Best climbing
TRUE NORTH CLIMBING has a cool 15,000 square feet of climbing terrain for newbies and pros alike.
75 Carl Hall Rd., Unit 14
WILL’S PICK: BEST FOR FLICKS
“My wife and I go to EMPRESS THEATRES a lot to watch movies — typically action because it’s more impressive on the big screen.”
5095 Yonge St.

BEST DOGGIE SPAW
For the dog obsessed (like us), PUFF N PURR SPAW is just the ticket for your pooch. Groomer Jasmine has a calming presence and pets adore her. Your baby will emerge a new, well, dog.
28 Finch Ave. W., Unit 108

BEST ESCAPE ROOM
Everyone and their aunt is obsessed with escape rooms — and for good reason. MYSTERY ROOM does it up with some rather intense escape zones, including a quest to kill the devil’s son.
1140 Sheppard Ave. W., Unit 18

BEST BOWLING ALLEY
Don your very finest threads from 1975 and hit up the NEWTONBROOK BOWLERAMA for some classic fun. Best deal is to go Sunday mornings, when each game is but a toonie.
5837 Yonge St.

BEST FOR THROWING AXES
Who would have guessed that axe throwing was going to become a thing? BATL brings it with their rad facilities where you emerge feeling surprisingly refreshed. They also have a mobile team so can come to your event.
153 Bridgeland Ave., Unit 15-16

BEST FARMERS’ MARKET
The NORTH YORK FARMERS’ MARKET at Mel Lastman Square is perfectly suited to both shopping for fresh fruit and veg or just a lively place to head for a weekend morning stroll.
5100 Yonge St.

Shops of Summerhill sells for $42 million to group of three developers

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12:39 pm

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The Shops of Summerhill, a strip of independent retailers on Yonge Street affectionately dubbed the “Five Thieves” by locals, has been scooped up in a deal to three developers in Toronto.

RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust, Tricon Capital Group Inc. and Diamond Corp. have acquired the historic real estate for $85 million from Woodcliffe Landmark Properties. The landmark property was initially built in 1892 and designated as heritage in 2003. Woodcliffe oversaw a painstaking restoration of the strip prior to the sale, which was completed in 2009.

The joint venture is made up of two separate transactions. Diamond and Tricon acquired the site south of the LCBO for $43 million. The two companies are planning a mixed-use project with residential and retail.

RioCan and Tricon acquired the Shops of Summerhill, at the northeast corner of Yonge Street and Price Street for $42 million.

The real estate consists of about 31,000 square feet of fully occupied retail space and an adjoining one-acre parcel of land, which contains two four-storey office buildings and a parking lot.

“There is no intention to redevelop the shops on Yonge Street,” said Steve Diamond, president of Diamond Corp. “In terms of the remainder of the lands, we believe there is an opportunity to produce a plan that is far more complementary to the neighborhood than what currently exists. However, in moving forward, it is our intention to meet with community representatives and work collaboratively with them before putting pen to paper.”

Diamond said the group’s plan may include demolishing the building at 8–10 Price St., currently occupied by the Beer Store.

The redevelopment plan is currently in the works and has not yet been submitted to Toronto’s city planning department.

Ward 27 councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam has encouraged the companies to consult with local residents and local businesses before they finalize any plan to bring to the city.

Big Opening: Fashion fit for the beach at TeamLTD

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2:01 pm

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TeamLTD (living the dream) is a lifestyle brand dedicated to action sports, travel and adventure. It was founded in 2012 by two Canadian athletes, Jamie Visser and Scott Croxall.

“What our customers and friends define as ‘living the dream’ is unique to them. We simply pride ourselves on being able to share their experiences,” says Visser.

Bestsellers include the Boardwalk swim shorts for men and yoga tank tops with an ultra soft tri-blend for women.

TeamLTD, 1043 Bathurst St.

Too Close to Call: Two of Toronto’s secretive supper clubs

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10:28 am

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Chez Lisgar	vs.	House of Commons
The birth of Chez Lisgar began earlier this year when my roommate Sarah and I considered trading leftovers for wine/beer on bunz.com and thought it would be cool to invite people over for dinner instead. Then we could meet people in the city and still get some wine out of it! We often supply dinner in exchange for booze.	What inspired you to open an in-home diner?	Before opening House of Commons in 2008, I spent time in Greece and experienced ways that people were hosting dinner parties outside of the traditional restaurant setting. I was welcomed into homes, with other travellers and friends, to enjoy a lovely dinner, and the experience was amazing!
It’s a passion, but I did audition for the first season of MasterChef. I didn't make it through, so to cope with the rejection, I tell myself I was just too smart and beautiful for the show! I love to cook and meet new people, so this is the best of both worlds!	Is chef your actual profession or just a side passion?	My background is in hospitality, my passion is in food. When you’ve worked in restaurants your whole life, you figure out how to create really special guest experiences. I’m always finding ways to get people around a table to share good food, knowledge and stories!
The guests are usually pretty great! But we once had a guest meet his girlfriend here with no idea what she had planned for him. He showed up first, confused and asked if this was an orgy and if he should take his clothes off.	Ever had problems inviting random guests to your home?	For the most part, the guests are amazing, but there was a time when everyone needed to know exactly what they were eating and were increasingly wary of not being able to Google a location or see what the room looked like.
We close our eyes, point and hope for the best. Just kidding! After screening potential guests via Facebook, we email them questions to ensure that they are relatively normal and would vibe well with us.	How do you choose your guests?	I always know that whoever shows up to the table is meant to be there. The guest list for a traditional dinner must have a synergistic quality to it. I do have to make sure that it’s not all men though — oddly enough!

Uptown DineSafe infractions from April and May

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2:04 pm

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Pho King Fabulous, located at 2409 Yonge St., received a conditional pass following an April 29 inspection. Of four infractions observed, three were considered significant and one minor in severity. It passed a May 2 reinspection.

Kiva’s, located at 1027 Steeles Ave. W., received a conditional pass following an April 26 inspection. Of four infractions observed, two were considered significant and two minor in severity. It passed an April 27 reinspection.

Burrito Boyz, located at 575 College St., was closed following an April 22 inspection. Of six infractions observed, two were considered crucial, one significant and three minor in severity. It passed an April 25 reinspection.

Ali Baba’s, located at 117 Danforth Ave., received a conditional pass following an April 19 inspection. Of six infractions observed, five were considered significant and one minor in severity. It passed an April 20 reinspection.

All information is from the DineSafe website, City of Toronto Public Health’s Food Premises Inspection and Disclosure System.

The New Mid-Life: Rebecca Eckler heads to the Middle Ages in search of a Kardashian-like figure

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9:54 am

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For a few hours, I knew how it felt to be a Kardashian. How was it? Painful. Although the Kardashians have posted photos of themselves in waist-training corsets on social media, which started a craze for women to have the perfect (if not sometimes cartoonish) hourglass figure, who knew that right here in Toronto waist trainers have been around for more than a decade.

At Stella’s Corset on Wilson Avenue, they offer over 80 different types of body shapers and corsets, and even butt lifters (so you, too, can have a Kardashian butt).

There is no question that I need help getting into a waist clincher, or corset. (For those of you who are of a certain age, you’ll remember lying on your bed trying to put on those tight Jordache jeans with a hanger. Yeah, it’s like that!)

Sales associate Danna Pizarro’s face literally turns a dark red as she clips the corset on me. This is a workout for her. In fact, I think she may be huffing and puffing getting me into this thing.

“This hurts!” I tell her. “This really hurts!” But when she’s done clipping me up and I look in the mirror, I am speechless. My waist looks amazing. I suddenly have a super-enviable hourglass figure, like Barbie.

Pizarro says that “the first time is always the hardest challenge to get them on, and it takes about an hour to get used to wearing one.”

In fact, a lot of customers leave the store wearing them. (I can see why. I’m not sure who, at home, could help me get this thing on again.)

While not only a fashion undergarment to make your waist look tiny, the corsets are also plugged as “instantly slimming orthopaedic solutions.” Many with back problems use them as well, and some are covered by insurance.

They are great for back support because the corset does not allow you to bend over, and thus, your posture has never been better. I could not slouch in this thing if I tried.

The waist trainers also, supposedly, help with weight loss because not only does it suppress your hunger, but it also makes you sweat because of the fabric.

I’m not even sure I could sneeze in one of these things without breaking a rib. Yet at the same time, as every woman knows, fashion and looking your best is painful. (Think stilettos!)

Of course, you also have to exercise and eat well if you want to actually lose any weight. Pizarro is surprised that many customers just think that by wearing one of these things they are going to lose weight.

Pizarro suggests that women (and men — they do have a men’s training vest) wear them between five and eight hours a day, five days a week.

“But I do have customers who wear them all the time, only taking them off to shower,” she says. Ouch.

All Stella’s corsets are made in Colombia. Teenagers as young as 17 come in to buy them.

The price point is reasonable, ranging from $25 to $120 (cheaper than plastic surgery!)

If you think taking a bra off at home after a long day at work is a great feeling, imagine how I felt taking off a corset after three hours. Finally, I could breathe again.

What to Eat this Minute: MeNami’s house-made seafood yaki udon

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9:22 am

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After an eye-opening trip to Japan, chef Kevin Shin realized that fresh udon noodles are the only way to go. At MeNami, a new noodle house in North York, chef Shin and owner Chae Kim (Han Ba Tang) serve up traditional Japanese udon with a hip twist. If there’s any question that Toronto was lusting after more udon, one only need look at the ever-slammed noodle house.

Back to the source
Chef Shin went to Japan to learn about traditional udon noodles in the Kagawa prefecture — the place they originate from. Kagawa sports more udon houses (nearly 800 and counting) than anywhere else in the world, from train station shops to street stalls next to rice paddies. Following Shin’s return to T.O., the duo decided they wanted to put their own modern spin on the traditional style of Japanese udon.

Udon 101
Often referred to as “big fat noodles,” it’s easy to spot the difference between fresh udon noodles and the dried store-bought variety. Fresh udon noodles, although stubby, possess a soft al dente chew, and they capture both broth and flavour in each strand. Dried noodles are denser and have a combative chew, making them sub par when it comes to transporting flavour.
The neutral flavour and full-bodied texture of udon noodles make them the perfect vessel for soups. Like most other noodle types, they can be served in a broth or they can be tossed into a stir-fry and served hot and lightly crispy.

Keep it fresh
To craft the noodles, Shin imports special flour from Japan for the dough, aging it for a few hours after mixing it with salt and water. An imported noodle-cutting machine accurately creates the chunky strands.

Seafood yaki udon
Although MeNami serves over 15 different versions of the iconic noodle, our favourite is the seafood yaki udon ($13). Yaki refers to udon served in a stir-fried manner along with vegetables and seafood. A mound of freshly boiled udon is tossed with thin rings of squid meat and tentacles, steamed mussels and shrimp. The bowl gets a generous slathering of mayo and sweet soy sauce. An essential finisher to any bowl of seafood yaki udon is katsuobushi (bonito). The plate is covered with intensely flavoured flakes of dried fermented tuna that flutter over the plate as it arrives at the table. Sit back, slurp and enjoy.

MeNami Japanese Udon House and Sake Bar, 5469 Yonge St., 416-229-6191

Shop Talk: Q&A with Toronto fashion sensation Amanda Matthews

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9:11 am

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Amanda Matthews is a 25-year-old T.O.-based fashion sensation out of Fanshawe College’s design program. She was invited to show her latest collection at New York Fashion Week in February as part of the fashion gallery. She dishes on launching her line and why she loves Toronto.

What inspired you to start the Amanda Maria line?
Upon graduation, I felt it was a natural decision to launch the line, produce my first season, gather feedback and see how people would respond. It’s something that I have always wanted to do. Designing is my passion, so starting the line was just what I had to do.

Describe your design esthetic.
It is very minimalist and modern yet timeless. I like to add a little bit of edge to my designs but have them remain very classy. The main thing I strive for in my designs is comfort. I believe women should be comfortable, especially in their most fashionable outfits.

How did it feel to be invited to show at NYFW?
It was a great feeling! New York Fashion Week has been on the business list since the launch, so this was the perfect opportunity to fast-track a little and show a year ahead of schedule.

Why did you choose Toronto as your home base?
It was my first choice city for launching a brand in Canada. There are so many fashion industry professionals and creative individuals to connect with and collaborate with in Toronto. The opportunities here are endless.

What’s your favourite boutique in T.O.?
This is a tough one. If I had to choose, it would be TNT, the New Trend.

What do you love about the fashion industry in Toronto?
There are so many people in Toronto who are great at what they do and love to work together to create something amazing, whether it’s an event, photo shoot or collection.

Comic Stripped: The Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival proves that the city’s talent runs deep

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8:39 am

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“This is Toronto’s comedy festival,” crows the website for Sketchfest, and the festival, now in its 11th year, can certainly make that claim. The grassroots shindig has slowly but surely grown to 70 shows over 10 days and five stages, running this year from March 3 to 13.

With only a few exceptions, the festival is nothing but sketch, sketch and more sketch, illuminating a remarkable depth of talent in the city.

As the world’s biggest standup comedy fan, one might think I have no appreciation for sketch comedy, but that’s not true. I’m picky, to be sure, but when sketch works for me, it’s a home run.

I got my first comedy job as the stage manager for the notorious sketch duo La Troupe Grotesque, way back in 1977. And Yuk Yuk’s has been a home to other unique sketch entities over the years.

Most of the action takes place at Comedy Bar or the Theatre Centre. If you’re a real sketch comedy keener, you can get an all-access pass to every show for only $75, but if you don’t have that kind of time, choices must be made.

Let’s begin with the three headlining shows. There’s a tribute to the 10-year anniversary of Laugh Sabbath, a monthly touchstone of indie comedy. It’s a loose collective of like-minded spirits whose quirky and eccentric take on humour veers from sketch and character comedy to experimental and short films.

The alumni include Nathan Fielder, currently riding the third year of his Comedy Central phenomenon Nathan for You; Levi McDougall, now writing on Conan; and Katie Crown, from Bob’s Burgers, among others.

Then there’s This Is That, CBC Radio’s prime comedy jewel. The genius of Pat Kelly and Peter Oldring’s show is that it sounds like a CBC Radio program while mocking the format. The duo is incredibly popular; the festival had to add a second show to keep up with the demand.

But it’s the third show that really piqued my interest: Hello! Thunder Bay! It’s not a sketch show but “an evening of musical comedy and hilarious rock n’ roll road stories.”

Dave Bidini, of the Rheostatics, hosts Alex Lifeson (Rush), Tom Wilson, Seán Cullen, Jessica Holmes and more talking about hilarious hijinks on the rock ’n’ roll road. It’s a PG show, though. I’d like to see a more adult version, but maybe I’ve been watching too many episodes of Vinyl.

As for the smaller shows, none of them are household names, and I have to confess I solicited the opinion of some of my younger staffers. But I’ve always enjoyed the Doo Wops, a musical confection by two Italian Torontonians: John Catucci and David Mesiano. They’ve got a high energy act that also stands on its own musically.

And if we’re on the subject of comedy duos, don’t miss Peter n’ Chris, winners of multiple Canadian Comedy Awards. The clever writing is almost eclipsed by their brilliant physicality. One of their most powerful sketches is done without words, but don’t worry: this is no mime show.

Lastly, the great classic sketch tradition is represented by Falcon Powder, a supertroupe made up of three comedians with credits including Second City, Mr. D and The Ron James Show.

Jim Annan, Scott Montgomery and Kurt Smeaton are at the top of the sketch food chain, not too weird or alternative, but offering solid, clever and mature work.

Looking Back: The history of skiing in Toronto

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9:33 am

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With the soaring American dollar putting the kibosh on many a voyage south of the border, Torontonians are rediscovering the joy of the family ski trip.

Skiing has long been a part of March break festivities in the Toronto area. The only thing that has changed is that the more the city grows the further afield we are willing and able to travel to satisfy our desire to commune with the fluffy white stuff while riding atop a pair of wooden sticks.

Back in the good old days, the Don Valley was ski central, with an array of Nordic trails. In addition, at one point there was a 30-metre ski jump erected, and there was also a modest, three-lift ski resort, dubbed the Don Valley Ski Centre, near Lawrence and the Don Valley. One could still spot a rusty pole or two on the former site, which closed down in the ’70s.

There were plenty of other small pockets of white on golf courses and parks that would fill with recreational skiers come winter. Much activity was centred around the Rosedale Golf Club as well as High Park. There was also a popular ski hill located in Rouge Park, to the east in Scarborough.

One can still find quite modest downhill skiing within the borders of the big city at Centennial Park and Earl Bales Park, but true Torontonians know that the only skiing that matters is the skiing that takes place two hours north of the city. Serious Toronto skiers turned their gaze northward when a plucky Austrian entrepreneur by the name of Jozo Weider decided to take a chance and open a ski hill in Collingwood, Ont., near the shores of Georgian Bay.

It kinda stuck, and every March break and throughout the year, Torontonians do the Highway 400 hustle northward in any manner of conveyance, from buses to cars, to try their chances on the province’s largest “mountain.”

Those inclined to pursue cross-country skiing can still be found weaving amongst the trees in the Don Valley, shushing the modest slopes of High Park or even creeping along Toronto’s beaches, being pursued by the occasional dog. Such is life in the big city.

Stintz on Midtown: Friendly advice to condo developers on the best ways to work with us locals

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11:04 am

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Midtown development continues to be a hot topic thanks to steadily rising prices and the construction of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT.

As someone who navigated a few tricky developments, I have some words of advice for developers.

Firstly, never, ever, ever call the community NIMBYs (“not in my backyard”). Those who live in Midtown have become very knowledgeable about the provincial growth plan and the city’s official plan and are sophisticated about urban planning and smart growth.

After several controversial developments, residents have learned how to present their concerns, how to negotiate and when to draw the line on development that is not in keeping with the character of the neighbourhood.

My next piece of advice to developers is to play by the rules: don’t cut down trees without a permit, don’t ask for amendments to the official plan in low-rise residential neighbourhoods and don’t build on the ravine.

A controversial proposal on Chatsworth Avenue is currently being fought at the Ontario Municipal Board. The developers are proposing an eight-storey, 140-unit condo on the site.

The developer cut down the trees on the site without a permit on a weekend. The City of Toronto planning department is against the proposal. The community is equally opposed and has successfully raised more than $100,000 to fight the application at the board.

In addition, if the community has spent the time on development guidelines along city avenues, developers should adhere to them. A six-storey condo on the west side of Avenue Road was not controversial; however, a commercial building that is being proposed just up the street has caused concern. Height is not the issue, but that the commercial building will not have parking.

Lack of adequate parking is a significant contributor to congestion. Evidence of this can be seen on a daily basis at Sporting Life on Yonge Street.

Finally, involve the community and stakeholders early and often. If the community feels as if all the decisions have been made without their input, they will likely not be happy with the outcome.

There are many rumours about possible development of the Green P lot at Yonge and Castlefield.

It is always better to share information, even if it is in preliminary stages. The entire area is changing. Developers will spend a lot less time and money if they work with the community.

They will also build a much better product.

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