A Toronto local blog about living, playing and working on Queens Quay, Toronto's waterfront

Saturday, January 31, 2009

CN Tower to supplier: So, did we get a warranty for those LEDs?


You don't have to have any imagination when you look up at night at the CN-Tower. Obviously, something is missing.

No
idea?

Keep

on

looking

down.

No,

even

farther

down.

Light's out.

Yep, if you're west of the tower, you'll see on the bottom half, a little to the left, a pretty big panel of LEDs has gone dark.

Back in June, 2007, the tower installed the new lights and treated everyone to a big light show. Of course, now we're pretty used to it. It's green and red during Christmas and the rest of the year, changes colour.

According to the CN Tower Website, it's using "Color Kinetics lighting system that merges patented Chromacore technology with microprocessor-controlled light emitting diodes (LEDs). The first major breakthrough in the lighting industry in over 100 years, Chromacore has enabled an entirely new kind of lighting – intelligent LED illumination -- recognized by designers and industry experts as a revolutionary invention, both technically and aesthetically."

Well, may want to check how we're gonna replace some of those LEDs.

Another Sobeys Urban Fresh?


Update: (1/31/09) Speaking with friend who lives right above the site where construction on the Sobeys is well under way. The Sobeys would serve the Cityplace buildings, just to the east and west of Spadina. This is huge for the neighbourhood as it has not too many options within a few block walk. There's the Rabba on Front Street near the Rogers Centre and the Fresh and Wild at King St. and Spadina is pretty busy, but still too far to lug around a tonne of groceries.

Original Post (1/05/09): Is another Sobeys coming to the waterfront area? Not technically part of the Queens Quay neighbourhood, they are north of Lake Shore at Bathurst and east of the Exhibition is developing quickly with quite a few condos going up the area. (see map)


View Larger Map

We were looking through building permits for the neighbourhood and it looks like in development, if not already in latter stages, near opening, is a Sobeys store in Fort York

Issued on Nov. 14, 2008
Ward 20: Trinity-Spadina

Application#: 08 201018 HVA 00 MS
Issued Date: Nov 14, 2008
Project: Multiple Unit Building Building Permit Related(MS)

Description: HVAC - (inc 2 kitchen exhasuts) Interior alterations to portion of ground floor (new condo with commercial building) for new grocery store. Unit 1. Convenience address - 22 Fort York Blvd. Tenant - "Sobeys".
Judging from the small format (a unit in a condo) and the need for kitchen exhaust, it could be a Sobeys Urban Fresh or Express. We know well the Sobeys Urban Fresh store at 207 Queens Quay (The Terminal at York and Queens Quay). It's a small-format store for the East-coast based chain that does "ready to serve, 'fresh fill-in' and 'today's meal' market. We gleaned that from their corporate website. Clearly, with 181 of these smaller stores, they're smartly going after urban markets.

Now if only they'd build that Loblaw's at Lakeshore and Bathurst they've talked about forever.

Friday, January 30, 2009

Weekend guide to Queens Quay: WinterCity and Winterlicious, Slo-Pitch and Skating to the radio

What's going on in our area (minus major league sporting events, you know about those). Know of any events? Leave a comment or mail queensquaylife@gmail.com

WinterCity (link) and Winterlicious (link)
From Jan 30 to Feb. 12
See our post about Harbourfront restaurants participating in Winterlicious.
Wintercity showcases events and attractions that have discounted prices. See the list of events here and the coupons here. Locally we have free child admission at the CN tower with each paying adult and a 2 for 1 tour of the Steam Whistle Brewery.

Locally, the CN Tower is hosting the Nikelodeon characters (Dora and Dieg) on Jan 31 and Feb. 1. and the

The Steam Whistle Brewing building is hosting the Unsigned concert on Friday, 30 at 8 p.m. (link)


Harbourfront Centre (link to weekend)


Friday, January 30
Contemporary Choreography in Indian Dance International Festival and Conference
An exploration of the evolution of contemporary Indian dance in India and Canada. (link)



DJ SK8 Night at The Natrel Rink
Saturday, 9:00 PM - 11:00PM
SIRIUS Satellite Radio presents a CBC Radio 3 event

Nohayquiensepa (Nooneknows)
Aluna Theatre
Sunday, Feb 1.  2:30 PM
An experiment in new media and dance, based on what washes up to the shores of a Colombian town on the fringe of great violence.

Rogers CentreJan 30 to Feb 1: 15th annual round-the-clock slo-pitch tournament (link) This is a recreational co-ed slo-pitch tournament with emphasis on participation and FUN. Two divisions of play are available: Competitive and Recreational, and all teams are screened by Slo-Pitch Ontario for entry into the tournament. Spectators are welcome and admission is free through Gate 5.


Air Canada Centre
Jan 30 to Feb. 1. This weekend, it's Raptors, Leafs and Raptors.

Power Plant (link)
INTERNATIONAL LECTURE SERIES
Dan Cameron
Saturday, 31 January, 4PM

Visual Arts Director at the New Orleans Contemporary Arts Center, Dan Cameron has initiated 'Prospect.1 New Orleans' (1 November, 2008 - 18 January, 2009), a new biennial of contemporary art that takes the pulse of the post-Katrina city, while also contributing to reconstruction efforts. 'Prospect.1 New Orleans' is the largest international exhibition of contemporary art presented in the United States to date. Previously Senior Curator at the New Museum in New York from 1995 to 2007, Cameron is also a widely published writer.
FREE to Members, $10 Non-Members

SUNDAY SCENE
Haema Sivanesan
Sunday, 1 February | 2 PM

Executive Director of SAVAC (South Asian Visual Arts Centre), Haema Sivanesan's curatorial work focuses on art from South and Southeast Asia.

Free with admission

Live concert/broadcast at Natrel Rink Saturday

This came across our email, another way to chill out by the rink on Saturday night.

SIRIUS Canada, the country’s leading satellite radio company, today announced it will broadcast a live concert on January 31 (from 9 pm to 11 pm) by emerging Canadian artist Cuff the Duke, free for all-ages at Toronto’s coolest dance floor -  the Lakeside Terrace and the Natrel Rink at Harbourfront Centre. SIRIUS listeners across Canada and the U.S. will be able to listen to the live show.

Hosted by SIRIUS Satellite Radio Canada / CBC Radio 3’s Craig Norris, the exclusive broadcast will air live on SIRIUS Satellite Radio’s CBC Radio 3 channel 86 from 9 pm to 11pm on Saturday January 31, 2009. DJ SK8 Nights at Harbourfront Centre are a series of seven events – from December 2008 to February 2009 at the Natrel Rink – featuring free all-ages skating and live performances by up and coming Canadian DJs and bands. The Cuff the Duke concert will be held indoors at the Lakeside Terrace, while a live audio feed will broadcast the performance outdoors to skaters on the Natrel Rink.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Martin Goodman Trail construction

If you're a winter runner or a cyclist, then you've been happy about the progress being made on the city sending out snow ploughs to clear the areas from Bathurst all the way to Humber Bridge, which makes for 6.5 kilometres of cleared trail.

So if you've been on that trail, you may have noticed some construction happening in the area from Marilyn Bell Park to Coronation Park.

Construction starts in March. Here's more info from Vaughan's January newsletter,

Reconstruction of the Martin Goodman Trail at Ontario Place has wrapped up for the season, and will start again in March weather permitting. Trail reconstruction began in October 2008, proceeded on schedule and is half completed. The reconstruction of the Martin Goodman Trail will provide a continuous connection from Marilyn Bell Park in the east, to Coronation Park in the west. The newly configured trail will provide a more direct and user-friendly bike route, by redirecting traffic through a singular entrance to Ontario Place. The reconstructed trail is anticipated to be complete summer 2009.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

TTC ideas? Air them out Thursday

The Toronto Transit Commission is holding a meeting Thursday night, calling it a public meeting. Ever wonder why the tunnel between Union and the ferry docks was out for awhile last year? Hate the congestion at Union? Want more streetcar service to Exhibition Place?

From the TTC



We're looking for ideas on where and when to add new routes, or how we could change current routes to improve your transit service.


Thursday January 29, 2009 - 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., Metro Hall, 55 John Street, Rooms 308-309

Located on the south-east corner of King Street and John Street, with direct access from St. Andrew subway station.
You can also provide your comments by phoning us at 416 393-3030

Development grinds to a halt?

We got councillor Adam Vaughan's latest newsletter and this little line kinda disturbing us

In short, new developments are slowing down in the area. Of course, that puts the big questions about the health of the largely condo builds that are going on in thee area

There are the CityPlace developments to the west of Spadina as well as a few condos going through builds to the north and south of Bathurst and Lakeshore. Nothing suggests that anything has stopped.

Vaughan's website (very nice by the way) has a development map of the Waterfront area. Worth checking out

Anyhow, here's an excerpt from his letter.

The last year can be neatly split in two. The first half of 2008 was much like the year before. The dominant issues in the ward were still being driven by a torrent stream of new development coming to communities’ right across Trinity-Spadina. Our office worked hard to keep residents aware of changes to city services (like monster bins) while making sure existing services were delivered to the expected standards.

Then the markets crashed. Not a single new building has been submitted to my office since June. This has huge implications. Even though these new development proposals often challenge and de-stabilize (if not threaten) existing communities, there are also benefits. Many parks, sidewalk improvements, libraries and other community assets are financed by revenue from new construction. As well, derelict land is often brought back to life, while the strength of our communities is realized as new services and character comes into the neighbourhood.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

The what-if scenario if a plane crashes into the Toronto harbour


Photo: The waterfront Fire and ambulance station on Queens Quay.

The miracle landing and rescue a few weeks ago of that US Airways plane on the Hudson River has revived a few worries about safety and our very own Toronto Island Airport.

Of course, we know that it's there, the protests in the past about the frequent flights have been largely silenced, but if you pay attention, you'll see the Porter Airlines planes land and the buses go back and forth on Queens Quay.

Over at community newspaper The Bulletin, they are penning a piece about the very real danger of a bird sanctuary located near the airport. Geese are known to hang out in the area near Ontario Place and other places near the airport.

Says the Bulletin

The Island airport is located on the waterfront, adjacent to a bird sanctuary. Will it take a similar crash in Toronto's harbour for the Port Authority, and Transport Canada to finally accept that the Island airport is just not safe enough?

The Toronto Star said that in case an airplane did land on the water, that there are rescue plans. Here's their article.

Ditch into Toronto harbour?

"Boeing and Airbus do provide ditching checklists," says Captain Barry Wiszniowski, of the Air Canada Pilots Association. "And although they're very comprehensive, they do have to be managed carefully."

The Star goes on to report on how the marine unit would react.

A plane comes in toward the island airport with trouble – failed landing gear, for example. The pilot radios the control tower, which alerts the police marine unit. Within minutes, members of the unit are scrambling boats at the Queens Quay station and motoring out to clear the harbour of civilians.

If and when the plane actually hits open water out on the lake – regardless of whether it blows apart, sinks or floats – the situation will be different: Radio channel 16, to which all boats should be listening, crackles with distress and emergency calls. Nearby civilian craft, required to respond, head to the crash site to help police and fire crews in the search and rescue.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Eat local: Pearl Harbourfront Restaurant



Queens Quay is home to about 37 eateries -- we'll loosely define them as places where you can pick up a bite to eat. At Queens Quay Life, why not try to give a good idea of what each has to offer. Today in honour of Chinese New Year, we continue with Chinese food.

Pearl Harbourfront Restaurant
207 Queens Quay West
Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Opens 10:30 a.m. on weekends
416-203-1233
Website
Menu


The Queens Quay Terminal is a tourist trap, but over the years, it has started to cater to the local neighborhood. Pearl, we can say at the outset, is not the best Chinese restaurant you will find in Toronto. It is what it is, though, and not many Chinese restaurants in its price range downtown offers what it has: Stunning views of our waterfront, friendly service and, important to those who hate the 'hole in the wall' quality you'll find on Spadina or Dundas, it's clean, at least the dining area is.

One warning: It's very popular for dim sum, especially on weekends. Anyhow, lets talk about the food.

The food: Chinese restaurants are known for two types of meals, dim sum, and 'normal' Chinese. This section will talk about each separately.

Dim sum: Pearl is a sought out destination for weekend dim sum, and will often fill up by noon, when you'll have to wait for a table. For the lucky few who get the window side seats, you'll be treated to great views. Dim sum is comfort food for the Chinese community, it's a daily ritual for an older generation -- sit down with your newspaper, drink tea and nibble away at some small portions. These days, maybe because of modern schedules, dim sum in some restaurants like Pearl is an occasional gathering where we stuff our faces with the various steamed and fried dim sum (and please lets not use the word tapas, dim sum in this city came far before tapas ever hit the restaurant circuit as code for charging you too much for little dishes.

You are served dim sum in plates, with forks an option for all. The usual steamed dumplings (Har Gow, the shrimp dumplings, Sui Mai, the pork and shrimp, Har churn, shrimp rice rolls) are all decent quality. Beware if you're there to fill up on cheap dim sum because it is not, you pay the premium for slightly above-par food and, of course, the view. Pearl has several noteworthy dishes in dim sum: The sticky rice and chicken is among the best you'll find both for quantity and quality, and the tripe-y variety like chicken feet are delicious here. You won't find that much in terms of adventurous and you'll find plenty of the fried variety: fried dumplings with shrimp and mayo, shrimp rolls and our favourite 'hockey puck' pan fried dumplings. If you want to wow a crowd of tourists this is the place. If you have friends who don't like dingy restos, then this is the place. If you want cheap dim sum, take the 510 streetcar up to Spadina.

The food arrives in carts and it's funny watching the staff lift the carts up and down from the lower level by the windows to the upper seating area. You can also ask for the a la carte menu if you don't see dishes appear in the rotation.

Dinner: The menu is not as expansive as you'd see in Chinatown, in fact it's quite small. You pay a lot of money for dishes -- we had a steamed fish dish and were surprised by how small it was. You don't get a lot of quantity and, frankly, the quality is about par with some less expensive restaurants. And, as the sun goes down, you lose the views that the daylight affords. One thing about the menu is that you can ask the kitchen to make tweaks, if you know some of the usual chinese noodle or main course dishes.


Eat in: Pearl caters to an eat in crowd and you're very likely to get a table on evenings. You should have little problems for lunch but you may have to wait. Luckily, the terminal has plenty of space for you to lounge about.


Delivery: Last we check, they do not deliver although we've very easily have ordered takeout.


What should locals know: A nice venue for dim sum. Since you live in the area, go there early, you won't have to fight the crowds. If you get there by 11 a.m., you should be able to get a good table by the water. You can also call ahead and reserve those choice tables. Get to know the wait staff and say hello -- once they get to know you, they may scribble a note on your bill which can get you 10% off. Given the amount of money, it's good business for them to do it for the local crowd since we're the dependable crowd.

Pearl, in a way, is that: dependable Chinese food, above par Chinese food. And if there wasn't a streetcar line that took us 10 minutes to get up to the great Spadina joints (Rol San, New Sky) then we'd go much more often than we do.

Sunday, January 25, 2009

An ode to the Gardiner



We'd venture to guess that Torontonians love to hate it and loathe to travel on it, that concrete highway that marks Queens Quay's northern border.

Well, like standing next to an elephant, we can't help but notice that the Gardiner is in our lives but we also tend to look the other way, to the pretty lake Ontario to our south.

Fact is, it's here and marks the point when the city ends and a new neighbourhood emerges. South of the Gardiner, in the heat waves of the summer, you almost enter a new climate, when the lake-cooled air hits you within a few steps. One could live a cozy existence south of the Gardiner but for very 'living-in-the-city' type reasons, we often cross it.

So enter Christopher Hume, urban columnist/poet, scoping up down the vast stretch in search of beauty. He recently wrote a column about the Gardiner.

It is no longer merely an elevated highway; it has become a linear subterranean ecosystem, man-made but never quite under control. In the perpetual shadow of a structure built long ago in a now dead future, newly arrived dog walkers from nearby condos rub shoulders with homeless men off for a day's begging and workers hurrying to the office.

The Lake Shore is a river, with vehicles instead of water, the Gardiner a grotto. The Convention Centre is the hilly region and utility poles stand in for the trees.

A grotto and a river? Huh, okay, snap back to it Mr. Hume.

So it's no surprise people are starting to be attracted to this troglodytic world. Far from the madding crowd, not to mention nicely protected from the cars hurtling above, this may be Toronto's final frontier. Except for the waterfront, where the landscape is heading into a period of planned evolution, the Gardiner corridor is the city's last accidental wilderness of any significance.

Given its proximity to downtown and the waterfront, and the fact that it's unlikely to be torn down, the time has come to revisit the Gardiner. Needless to say, it should be torn down, but Toronto doesn't have the political will to embark on such a bold and controversial course. In other words, this wilderness will be around for a while.

Read the rest of his column here.

Oh we don't complain as much about the Gardiner than we do, say, for certain sporting teams that are planted to the north of its shores. The National Post's Peter Kuitenbrouwer, in a podcast last summer, jokingly said this about the highway.

"The Gardiner is an incredible piece of our industrial experience... people don't see how singularly beautiful it is."
Joking aside, he also suggested that just like Tokyo has raised platforms for trains, we should look underneath them. There you'll find bars and a place to hang out. "Fundamentally I'd take it down but for the time being can we at least open a few pubs beneath it to make it palatable.

Listen to Posted Toronto Podcast on from June 2008 here.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Queens Quay and Simcoe construction

We got this notification from Waterfront Toronto about sidewalk and lane closures starting Monday to next Friday as they do work on one of those wavey wavedecks.

Due to construction of the Simcoe WaveDeck the following closures will occur from January 26-30, 2009: 
  • The south sidewalk at Simcoe Street Slip will be closed to pedestrian traffic during the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from Monday, January 26, 2009 to Friday, January 30, 2009.
  • Pedestrians will be re-routed to the north sidewalk at the two nearest intersections which are Rees Street or Simcoe Street.
  • The southern eastbound lane (curb lane) of Queens Quay Boulevard will be closed at Simcoe Slip during the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from Monday, January 26, 2009 to Friday, January 30, 2009.
  • Two police officers will be onsite for the duration of the work period to direct and aid pedestrians and traffic.

Friday, January 23, 2009

Weekend guide to Queens Quay

What's going on in our area (minus major league sporting events, you know about those). Know of any events? Leave a comment or mail queensquaylife@gmail.com

Harbourfront Centre
Friday, Jan 23 to Sunday, Jan 25 (link)Dance Ontario Dance Weekend: "From B-Boying to Ballet, Bellydance and Bharatanatyam, to Jazz, Flamenco, Aerial, African - dance in all its diversity takes the stage."

Sunday, Jan 25: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. (link)
Toronto All-Star Big Band: "Enjoy an afternoon of music and dancing as the seventeen-piece "band takes you on a trip down memory lane performing hits from the 1930's and 40's.
235 Queens Quay West

Power Plant (link)
Friday, Jan 23 to Sunday, Jan 25.
Symposium: We, Ourselves and Us
"Combining perspectives from artists, philosophers and curators, this international symposium considers current ideas and re-conceptualizations of communities and collectivity. Taking its cue from Nina M�ntmann's guest-curated exhibition at The Power Plant, 'If We Can't Get It Together', the symposium traces the creation of temporary social formations."

Air Canada Centre
Friday, January 23: The Killers (link)
"The Killers are now scheduled to return to Toronto and will take the stage at the Air Canada Centre on January 23rd!!"

Rogers Centre

Friday Jan 23 to Sunday Jan 25: Chinese New Year (link)"This unique gathering is open to everyone and features a traditional flower market, fortune-telling, Chinese cultural exhibitions, daytime live performances and a Chinese New Year Gala."

Monday, January 19, 2009

Eat local: Coffee Time



Queens Quay is home to about 37 eateries -- we'll loosely define them as places where you can pick up a bite to eat. At Queens Quay Life, why not try to give a good idea of what each has to offer. Today we continue with coffee and donuts.

Coffee Time 10 Lower Spadina Avenue

Clearly the poor cousin of the more upscale options, this big space but low traffic coffee shop reminds us of the donut shops that popped up all around Toronto in the 80s. (We know, donut shops were in the family business during the 80s recession).

This is at the corner of Spadina and Queens Quay, so it's really really geared to the local crowd, not as much tourist traffic makes it out here compared with Rees to York area.

The food:
Well, we suppose we should grade the coffee. It's fine. The worry with any place that has low traffic is how fresh it would be but a medium regular went down smoothly the other day. We haven't even bothered looking at the menu in search of Americanos or lattes.

The donut selection is pretty dire. We had a double chocolate with our coffee on a weekday late morning and there were probably two of every donut left. That was along with two or three of each selection (muffins and other pastries included). The double chocolate was fine, even as good as you'll find in Timmies. You know they don't sell much of them. Also on the menu: Breakfast specials all for under $6 we think, including sandwiches. Soups and other specials such as terriyaki chicken (an odd choice, yes).

Eat in: This is either a dash in or linger with a friend for a long conversation type of place. You'll probably have tonnes of room to talk and it's laid back. More than likely, people tend to go in there for a quick coffee.

What should locals know: If you go there, you're probably a local. Fine coffee if you're looking for Timmie's variety. Fear much because the nearest coffee shop is up Spadina in the CityPlace complex (near Rogers Centre) or the Starbucks and Second Cup on York, which is a full kilometre away!

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Ships in the night...



Ever been on one of those party boats? You know, the ones that leave from the various piers (most notably around the Queens Quay Terminal. We've been on one of those party cruises that serves you food and drink and make you dance your way around the lake as the boat goes around Toronto Islands and slowly (very slowly) makes its way back to harbour.

Apparently, they're also the cause of some noise complaints. This is from Councillor Adam Vaughan's recent newsletter:

After a noisy summer of party boats in the inner harbour, the Toronto Island Noise Committee has collected complaints from a number of Island and land-side residents, and has asked the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and Municipal Licensing and Standards for charges against four boats. The AGCO has spoken with the operators.

Noise enforcement is complaint driven and enforcement cannot move forward without residents submitting their complaints.


During the winter months boats are confined by federal regulation to the inner harbour. If
you are disturbed by noise, please register your complaint through the York Quay
Neighbourhood Association website at www.yqna.caM.. If you are unable to see the name of the boat, please provide as much detail as possible in your report description.

Friday, January 16, 2009

Weekend guide to Queens Quay

What's going on in our area (minus major league sporting events, you know about those). Know of any events? Leave a comment or mail queensquaylife@gmail.com

Harbourfront Centre
Skating at Natrel Rink (prices and hours)


Power Plant (link)
Sunday, Jan 18: 2 p.m
Since 1979, FASTW�RMS (Kim Kozzi and Dai Skuse), have forged a subversive brand of cultural politics that favours working class craft collaborations and queer alliances.

Air Canada Centre
Saturday, Jan 17: Rocks vs. Roughnecks (link)
Lacrosse action starts at 7 p.m.

Rogers Centre

Saturday Jan 17 and Sunday Jan 18: Monster Jam (link)
"Monster Jam's roaring engines, crushing sounds and high flying freestyle competition returns to Rogers Centre."

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Eat local: Alexandros Take-out



Queens Quay is home to about 37 eateries -- we'll loosely define them as places where you can pick up a bite to eat. At Queens Quay Life, why not try to give a good idea of what each has to offer. Today we continue with gyros and souvlaki

Alexandros Take-out 5 Queens Quay West
Restaurant info

We've all seen Alexandros. It's on the south side of Queens, just west of Yonge Street. It's not uncommon to see people stop in and out of the perpetually open takeout and eat in joint. Truth us, we didn't try Alexandros until we embarked on this eat local theme.

Gyros and souvlaki are pretty common in Toronto. Alexandros served pork and chicken gyros on pitas and souvlaki. When we went into Alexandros, it was empty and we were instantly greeted by the person on duty. We took a quick look and decided to go for the chicken gyros. We've read about the chicken but we didn't quite feel like a full meal.

The food: The chicken gyros cost $5.60, weighed 10 oz or 285 gm (yes, we have a digital scale at QQL. It had lots of chicken, tomato, onion, hot sauce and some
very garlically tzatziki sauce.



The hot sauce was a nice and the tomatoes were a much needed addition to give the meat moisture as it was a little dry. But since it's gyros and it was a slow day, we're not surprised. The meat was flavourful if a little on the salty side with the sauces and about on par on what you'll find elsewhere but had a few pieces of gristle. Luckily, we don't mind gristle

The pita was small, crispy and tasty, with meat overflowing

Other dishes: Dinners for $10 and burgers starting around $4.

What locals should know:
Conversations can go a little like this:
"I'l have a chicken gyros to go"
"Tomato, onion"?
"Yes"
"Hot sauce?"
Yes
"Cold out, eh?
"Yep"

No frills, and we love it that way .

This shop has obviously been here for a long time and is bound to stay for awhile yet. We think it's served by the condo, local working crowd and probably the endless car-bound workers who can make a quick stop. Perhaps with the new George Brown campus, it'll get a big surge of students looking for cheap grub. It's sure to please.

Eat in: Stools enough to fit more than a few people. It has outside seating for nice days

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Steamwhistle building (John Street Roundhouse) of cultural interest



Either than the fact that it houses precious cargo - beer! -- the Steamwhistle building (John Street Roundhouse) and the surrounding buildings have been declared a "cultural heritage value or interest." Nice to have and area to seek relief from yet another modern glass-built condominium (we know, don't throw stones if you live in glass houses and we all do here on Queens Quay.)

This fine collection of buildings -- the roundhouse, the water tower -- is of interesting heritage value and shows, of course, the industrial past of this city. What we're not sure is what exactly a sand and coal loader is. Anyone have any ideas? The plot of land is actually pretty desirable as they've built up a park to surround it.

There's also this building that was moved to the location -- it says 'Cabin D' -- we think.



The roundhouse's tenant, Steamwhistle, has opened up the doors of its buildings to corporate clients (many a Christmas party has been held there) or for public events (It was used a post-race party area for St. Patrick's day road race or for a gallery).

We think the Steamwhistle building is a fine addition to other Queens Quay landmarks: The Redpath building, which is still being used, and the Malting plant building.

Here's a report (PDF to html) that sums up the interesting history of the place
"The John Street Roundhouse was completed in 1931 as a semi-circular structure with 32 bays that originally serviced steam locomotives (and later diesel engines). The Canadian Pacific Railway operated the facility until 1982, and closed the building in 1986. The property at 222 Bremner Boulevard was listed on the City of Toronto Inventory of Heritage Properties in 1984 and designated under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act in 1996 by By-law No. 395-96. In 1990, the federal government designated the John Street Roundhouse as a National Historic Site."

"The property is owned by the City of Toronto, where the John Street Roundhouse is now a feature in Roundhouse Park. The first 11 bays of the Roundhouse were dismantled and reconstructed as part of the Convention Centre expansion. Since the building closed as a railway facility, it has been used for the storage of rail-related equipment and rolling stock."

Beginning in 1997, the City sought an outside party to restore and reuse the Roundhouse.

Two years later, City Council authorized a 20-year lease with Steam Whistle Brewing Incorporated to operate a specialty brewing operation and retail outlet in Bays 1 to 11. In 2002, City Council authorized a head lease to a consortium comprised of O and Y Properties Incorporated, Headline Media and Tenen Developing and Producing Limited, and the amending of the lease with Steam Whistle to allow the brewery to acquire additional space in the building.

The official notice passed in December:
In the matter of the Ontario Heritage Act
R.S.O. 1990 Chapter 0.18
City of Toronto, Province of Ontario

Notice of passing of by-law

222 Bremner Boulevard (CPR John Street Roundhouse, Turntable, Sand and Coal Loader and Water Tower)

Take notice that the Council of the City of Toronto has passed By-law No. 1143-2008 to designate 222 Bremner Boulevard (CPR John Street Roundhouse, Turntable, Sand and Coal Loader and Water Tower) (Trinity-Spadina, Ward 20) as being of cultural heritage value or interest.

Dated at Toronto this 5th day of December, 2008.

Acting City Clerk

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Snowflakes in HTO park

You'll have to see it for yourself at the Daily Dose of Imagery, one of the best photo blogs out there, based in our very own city.

More recent harbourfront shots here, here, here and here

Wine tasting on the Quay


Most of us know the wine store on Queens Quay, the Vineyards Estate Wines at 228 Queens Quay West (416.598.8880)

They have a few wine & food tasting seminars in the coming weeks. Here's the schdule for next few Wednesdays. See their website.

Jan. 14, it's "Wine for Life -- wine and healthy food" for $15.

And on Jan 21, it's "Couch potatoes unite! -- wine and comfort food" for $15

Monday, January 12, 2009

Reminder, class is resuming in a few days at Harbourfront Centre



Linda from the Harbourfront Centre kindly contacted us to remind us (as we posted recently) that there are classes about to start next week.

A very interesting mix of classes: glass blowing, website design, sewing and circus!

Here's a list of the courses, plus a pitch from the Centre:

Harbourfront Centre is pleased to offer a diverse and exciting line-up of contemporary culture courses throughout the winter and spring months. Adults can learn to paint; create their own website; explore the world of circus arts; tour the city’s culinary neighbourhoods; go gallery hopping; make delicious candies and chocolates just in time for Valentine’s Day; attend tea socials; join a book club; take a glass blowing course; and much more! Harbourfront Centre’s Courses & Workshops are affordable and provide a perfect environment for adults to learn or improve skills, and expand their social circle with like-minded individuals at Toronto’s leading arts and cultural centre.

Courses & Workshops begin on January 18, 2009 at Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay West. Register early as class size is limited. To register or for more information, the public can call 416-973-4093, e-mail learning@harbourfrontcentre.com or visit harbourfrontcentre.com/learn.


Winter/Spring 2009 Courses & Workshops

Visual Arts & Design

* Expressive Arts (Sunday, January 18)
* Drawing for Fashion Design (5 Mondays, January 19 to February 16)
* Introduction to Botanical Drawing (5 Mondays, January 19 to February 16)
* Sewing 101 (5 Mondays, January 19 to February 16)
* Fashion 101 (5 Tuesdays, January 20 to February 17)
* Painting (6 Tuesdays, January 20 to February 24)
* Parent Workshop: Engaging Kids with Contemporary Arts (Saturday, May 9)
* Toronto Island Watercolour Sketchbook (4 Sundays, May 24 to June 14)


Media Studies

* Creating your own Website (6 Mondays, January 19 to February 23)
* Demystifying the Digital Camera (Sunday, January 25)
* Digital Photography Manipulation (Saturday & Sunday, February 21 & 22)

Performing Arts

* Djembe Drumming (4 Thursdays, February 5 to 26)
* Circus (6 Mondays, Session 1: May 25 to June 29; Session 2: 6 Wednesdays, May 27 to July 8)

Seasonal

* Candy-Making Workshop (Sunday, February 1)
* From Beer to There (3 Thursdays, April 16 to 30)

Literary Arts

* Authors at Harbourfront Centre Book Club (Ongoing, 3rd Tuesday of every month)

Urban & Cultural Studies

* Film & Food Club (3 Fridays, February 6 to 20)
* Tea 101 (4 Saturdays, February 21 to March 14)
* Gallery Hopping (6 Wednesdays, April 21 to May 25)
* Urban Portraiture (6 Tuesdays, April 21 to May 25)
* Artistic Architecture in the Public Space (6 Wednesdays, April 22 to May 26)
* Explore Toronto’s Culinary Neighbourhoods (Saturday, April 25: Little India; Saturday, May 2: Kensington; Saturday, May 9: Chinatown; Saturday, May 16: Little Italy)

Craft Studio Courses

* Glass Blowing (Runs through May)
* Ceramics (Runs year-round)
* Introduction to Jewellery (Runs year-round)
* Intermediate Jewellery (Runs year-round)
* Textiles (Runs year-round)

Heard about the Hood: Queens Quay media roundup


Photo: Part of the East Bayfront project

A lot of ink (online pages) being taken up by waxing on about the Queens Quay neighbourhood.

First, we start with a story about Toronto's big tests, pointing to the eastern part of our street [Toronto Sun]:
"And don't forget the East Bayfront -- our last great hope to get the waterfront right. Are the developers bidding for that work going to give us a dream project or a nightmare?"

Next, Christopher Hume, talks about walking the waterfront, saying 'pedestrianism is the new urbanism' [Toronto Star].
John St.: Imagine a walkway extending south from Grange Park and the Art Gallery of Ontario past Queen and King streets to the CN Tower, Rogers Centre and finally the waterfront. John's value as a vehicular route is minimal, so closing it would not jeopardize the convenience of Toronto's long-suffering drivers. Because both ends of John are destinations, the walkway would have a processional quality.

And just north of the Queens Quay neighbourhood is the planned development of the June Callwood Park. The $2-million park is to be built by 2011 south of Fort York northwest of Barthurst and Lakeshore. The winning design has been chosen and goes to committee. [National Post]
Submitted by the firm gh3, it literally articulates a quote Ms. Callwood gave in her last interview before her death. A voice wave of “I believe in kindness,” will be translated into a “sinewy path that runs north to south through clearings” in an urban forest that will be planted with native Canadian trees “that would have inhabited the Lake Ontario shore line at the time the city was settled.”

Picture below from National Post's Posted Toronto


Finally, a life story on a Jamaican in Toronto who learns to skate. The venue, of course, is our very own Natrel Rink. [Toronto Star]
The next time I ventured onto the ice was at Harbourfront with Jeff Carlson, Steve Carlson and Dave Hanson, popularly known as the Hanson brothers from the movie Slapshot. They were in Toronto promoting the third instalment of the film and offered to give me some tips.

"What's your first piece of advice?" I asked nervously.

"Try something else," Steve said, bursting into laughter.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Bag it for a nickel at Loblaws



At the Loblaws at Queens Quay and Jarvis, you'll have to pay 5 cents a bag starting Monday.

Says the company

Starting Monday, January 12, 2009, Loblaw corporate and participating franchise stores in the City of Toronto will no longer provide complimentary plastic shopping bags at check-out and charge $0.05 per plastic shopping bag, when they are requested by customers. Toronto is the lead city for the campaign, which will roll out nationally on April 22, 2009, Earth Day.
Research conducted for Loblaw by Leger Marketing in December 2008 revealed that four in five Torontonians (84%) support Loblaw's plan to divert 1 billion plastic shopping bags from landfills in 2009 by implementing a pay for plastic shopping bag program.

snip

To help customers with the transition away from plastic shopping bags, Loblaw is offering a variety of special limited time promotions in its Toronto stores. From January 9th to 18th, our PC G.R.E.E.N. Reusable Shopping Bags (large and regular size) are 50 per cent off. Visit www.loblaws.ca, www.superstore.ca, www.valuemart.ca and www.fortinos.ca for an online coupon for a free G.R.E.E.N. Box with a minimum $25 purchase at participating Toronto stores (see online details for coupons).
The news didn't really go well over some, here's a report from the Toronto Sun

Loblaws will start charging a nickel for plastic bags tomorrow, but some forgetful customers say it’s not enough incentive to bring their own bags.

“I’m not going to be carrying (reusable) bags around day and night,” said Rob Thomson, 73, at the Queens Quay Loblaws while pushing his cartload of plastic-bagged groceries.

“It’s not the solution. I’m not going to be carrying those (reusable) bags with me to the office or in the car because I never know when I’m going to go shopping.

"It’s not always planned,” he adds.

Winterlicious on the waterfront



Get your calendars out and mark Jan 15 right now, if you want to make reservations at Winterlicious participating restaurants in Toronto. You can make reservations from Jan 30 to Feb 12 (two days before Valentine's Day, of course).

Lunches typically range from $15 to $30 and dinners from $25 to $45 and you can choose from a set menus

Toronto.com neatly categorizes the restaurants into neighbourhoods and Harbourfront restaurants, well, there are three. And all three are hotel restaurants. Of course, there are a lot of gems in the full list, like Globe Bistro on Danforth and Lai Toh Heen on Mount Pleasant and tonnes of other options in the Distillery District, Queen West and downtown.

But this is the neighbourhood blog, so here's a list


Arriba Restaurant
Renaissance Toronto Hotel Downtown
1 Blue Jays Way
416-341-5045

$15 Lunch
plus taxes and gratuity

Roasted Corn Chowder (vegetarian)
or
Romaine Hearts
Garlic Dressing, Smoked Bacon, Shaved Asiago
or
Steamed Mussels
Shallot, Saffron, Tomato, White Wine

Arriba Club Sandwich
Herbed Chicken, Smoked Bacon, Arugula, Tomato and Spicy Mayo
or
Green Pea Risotto
Wilted Spinach, Grano Padano, Truffle Oil (vegetarian)
or
Pan Seared Salmon
with Tomato, Olive and Caper Ragout and Garlic Roasted Fingerling Potatoes

Homemade Bread Pudding
Warm Caramel Bourbon Sauce
or
Chocolate Pecan Flan
or
Banana Crepes
with Whipped Cream

$25 Dinner
plus taxes and gratuity

Roasted Corn Chowder (vegetarian)
or
Romaine Hearts
Garlic Dressing, Smoked Bacon, Shaved Asiago
or
Chorizo Sausage, Peppers and Onions, Red Wine Reduction

Green Pea Risotto
Wilted Spinach, Grano Padano, Truffle Oil (vegetarian)
or
Chicken Confit
with Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Organic Carrots, Tarragon Glaze
or
Pan Seared Salmon
with Tomato, Olive and Caper Ragout and Garlic Roasted Fingerling Potatoes



Homemade Bread Pudding
Warm Caramel Bourbon Sauce
or
Chocolate Pecan Flan
or
Banana Crepes
with Whipped Cream

---
Toula Restaurant & Bar (At the Westin Hotel)
1 Harbour Square,
38th Floor
416-777-2002


$20 Lunch
plus taxes and gratuity

Grilled Jumbo Sea Scallops Chowder with diced Celery, roasted Butternut Squash and sliced Mushrooms
or
Venetian Doge Caesar Salad with slices of oven-roasted Pheasant Supreme on aromatic Herbs
or
Steamed White Asparagus in Truffle Sauce and Parmigiano Crostini

Hand-made Butternut Squash Ravioli with Rose Sauce, sautéed Cherry Tomatoes and Parmigiano Reggiano
or
Sautéed Chicken Breast Medallion with White Wine, fresh Pear and shaved Parmigiano
or
Encroute Atlantic Salmon Fillet with Spinach in a delightful Cream of San Giminiano Saffron, on a bed of Red Cabbage, Apples and Calvados Essence
or
Hand-made Pappardelle with fresh Wild Mushrooms, aromatic Herbs and Parmigiano Reggiano

Classic Venetian Tiramisu
or
Classic “Lemoncella” Toula Cheesecake
or
Baba with Rum and Vermouth Sauce filled with Custard, covered with Whipped Cream

$35 Dinner
plus taxes and gratuity

Grilled Jumbo Sea Scallops Chowder with diced Celery, roasted Butternut Squash and sliced Mushrooms
or
P.E.I. Lobster Tale Salad with Potato, Cherry Tomato and Romaine with Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Red Wine Vinegar
or
Venetian Doge Caesar Salad with slices of oven-roasted Pheasant Supreme on aromatic Herbs
or
Steamed White Asparagus with Truffle Cream Sauce and Parmigiano Reggiano Shavings
or
Parmigianino “Tricolore Tower” with Tomato, Buffalo Mozzarella on Balsamic reduction

Black Angus Rib Eye Steak with Barolo reduction and Parmesan Roast Potatoes
or
Grilled Sea Bass Fillet on a bed of “Peperonata Romana” with Red and Yellow Pepper, Eggplant and Rosemary Potato
or
Washington Rack of Lamb with Sun dried Tomatoes and Olives Encrust with Vinsanto Couli and Vegetable Caponatina
or
Sautéed Chicken Breast Medallion with White Wine, fresh Pear and shaved Parmigiano
or
Hand-made Tagliolini with Lobster Tail on light, spicy roasted Plum Tomato with fresh Herbs
or
Hand-made Butternut Squash Ravioli with rose Sauce, sautéed Cherry Tomatoes and Parmigiano Reggiano


Classic Venetian Tiramisu
or
Classic “Lemoncella” Toula Cheesecake
or
Baba With Rum and Vermouth Sauce filled with Custard, covered with whipped Cream

The Mizzen Restaurant
The Westin Harbour Castle
1 Harbour Square
416-361-7454

$20 Lunch
plus taxes and gratuity

Locally farmed three mushroom Bisque, chive foam
or
Warm vine tomato & baked boconcini bruschetta
or
Mixed baby winter greens, roasted fruits, walnut raisin crostini,
crumbled goat cheese, cabernet vinaigrette

Crispy skinned chicken thigh, roasted squash ratatouille,
seasonal vegetables, natural reductions
or
Pan seared red meat trout, corn, leek & baby spinach fricassee,
crushed fingerlings, smoked pepper gazpacho
or
Pumpkin Gnocchi, roasted winter vegetables, sage cream sauce

Winter fruit cobbler, maple cinnamon ice cream
or
Chai spiced Brule
or
Spy apple crumble tart, warm caramel

$35 Dinner
plus taxes and gratuity

Roasted corn velour, crispy pancetta, tarragon foam
or
Selected greens & sprouts, roasted beets & apples,
cranberry foccacia crisps, roasted fig & white balsamic vinaigrette
or
Molten Brie risotto cake, chunky vine tomato & purple
basil stew, fresh seedlings

Slow Braised Alberta beef, forest mushrooms, double smoked bacon,
herb risotto, seasonal vegetables, shiraz reduction
or
Crisp skin Ontario Pickerel, butter poached
warm vegetable salad, organic carrot vinaigrette
or
Giant Boursin & spinach ricotta tortellini, grilled vegetables,
Vine tomato basil cream

Ontario Spy apple crostada, maple cinnamon ice cream
or
Duo of Flourless Chocolate silk & crème Brule scattered sauces
or
Lemon cello pudding, warm strawberry stew, spun vanilla cream

Saturday, January 10, 2009

That the smell of molasses? No, it's Sugar Beach



As mentioned in last week's post on the East Bayside project, we promised to shed a little more light on the two public spaces to be formed on the shore of Queens Quay East. Above is a rendering from the Waterfront Toronto site of Sugar Beach.

More pictures of the project over at the designer for the park. You can see them here:


This firm also designed the now quasi infamous HTO park, with the sand and yellow umbrellas. A picture QQL snapped a few weeks ago in the middle of winter:



Here's more about the Sugar Beach Park, from the Waterfront Toronto site:

The 1 hectare Sugar Beach park located at the foot of Jarvis Street across the slip from the Redpath Sugar factory is slated for completion in 2010. Designed by Claude Cormier Architectes Paysagistes of Montreal, Sugar Beach is the second urban beach along Toronto’s waterfront and is inspired by the successful HtO urban beach park & Toronto’s Cumberland park. The design is composed of three spaces; an urban beach with brightly coloured umbrellas, a water’s edge promenade and thoroughfare, and a muti-functional event plaza space. The plaza space will also accommodate the public music events Corus Entertainment is expected to host.


Speaking of Sugar plant, there was a story in the Toronto Star recently about worries the Redpath plan would be a bother to residents of new condos that will be built on Queens Quay East. http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Quoted in the Star.

"Our concern is, while we can make the plant reasonably quiet, ships are not quiet," says Jonathan Bamberger, president of Redpath Sugar, a 50-year-old facility at the foot of Yonge St., smack in the heart of a rapidly developing section of Toronto's waterfront.

"When the ship comes in it might turn around, it might arrive at 2 in the morning. The horn blows, the cranes move," he says, adding, "It's not good to have condominiums right next to something that is a 24-hour operation outside."


Noise complaints seem to be a common complaint of the waterfront community.

Friday, January 9, 2009

Spadina Wavedeck considered for Brit design award



We've been saving this post for closer to the award date in February, but Waterfront Toronto decided to remind editors with a news release a few days ago in effort to spark some interest. Basically, the Wavedeck, designed by West 8, has been nominated for a British design award.

More from the presser that you can read in full here:
Waterfront Toronto's Spadina WaveDeck has been nominated for a prestigious 2009 Brit Insurance Design Award in the category of architecture and is the first Canadian project ever to be short-listed for the awards.

The Brit Insurance Design Awards are the Design Museum of London's annual exploration of the most innovative and forward-looking new work in design. One hundred projects from around the world are nominated in seven categories, which include architecture, fashion, furniture, graphics, interactive, product and transport.

Opened in September 2008, the Spadina WaveDeck is the first in a series of spectacular new public spaces being built along Toronto's waterfront. Designed by the internationally recognized and award-winning team of West 8 from Rotterdam and du Toit Allsopp Hillier (DTAH) from Toronto, the new wavedeck is a gateway to the lakefront at a site that previously lacked public access.

The geometry of the 630 square-metre timber deck uses playful curves that are constantly changing to provide for a flexible gathering space. The stairs act as an informal amphitheatre and the varying heights of the deck allow for different vantage points and ultimately different experiences with the lake. In the evenings, the space is kept animated with 24 underwater LED lights.

The 'Wavedeck' look will be extended on the waterfront in the years to come. We'll be watching the results of the awards in February.

Weekend guide to Queens Quay

What's going on in our area (minus major league sporting events, you know about those). Know of any events? Leave a comment or mail queensquaylife@gmail.com

Harbourfront Centre
Saturday, Jan 10: DJ SK8 Night: 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. (link)
Skating at Natrel Rink (prices and hours)

Power Plant (link)
Sunday, Jan 11: 2 p.m.
Shawn Micallef is a Toronto-based writer, Associate Editor of Spacing Magazine and co-founder of [murmur], the location-based mobile phone documentary project.

Air Canada Centre
Saturday, Jan 10: Rock vs. Bandits (link)
Lacrosse action between Toronto and Buffalo starts at 7 p.m.


Rogers Centre

Friday, Jan. 9: AC/DC Black Ice Tour (link)
Second time AC/DC has played Toronto in months. It's sold out but there will be scalpers.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Community meetings

A few things on the hopper:

[Via the Bathurst Quay Neighbourhood Association]

Downtown West Multi-Unit Solar Energy Project
Next meeting: Thursday, January 15, 2009, 7:30 pm
The Kensington Lofts, 21 Nassau Street -- just off Spadina on the north side of Kensington Market.

There are two exciting speakers lined up. Derrick Finn will describe what is involved in doing an energy audit in a multi-unit building. And then Gordon Graff will present The Grow Project, which is his design for a building to replace the Moss Park Armoury. Providing affordable housing for 1000 people, his building would be self-sufficient in energy and food production, harvest rainwater, and treat all of its sewage on site. Everyone is welcome.


[Via councillor Adam Vaughan]

Date: January 14 2009
Time: 7-8:30pm
Location: May Robinson Apts Auditorium, 20 West Lodge Ave

14 Division and the Community Police Liaison Committee

Invite you to a Town Hall Meeting

Wednesday, January 14, 2009
7:00pm to 8:30pm

May Robinson Apartments Auditorium
20 West Lodge Avenue (Queen & Landsdowne)

Please send your Community concerns to 14division@torontopolice.on.ca prior to the meeting

Guest Speaker: Chief of Police William Blair


Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Watching Queens Quay's eastern front: East Bayside

Many of us Queens Quay dwellers venture out east beyond Yonge Street. We go east to get to the big LCBO or to the mega Loblaws at Jarvis. Some of us would venture as far as the Guvernment or maybe even visit one of the piers.

As well, any cyclist, occassional runner or, more likely, a driver who has used Queens Quay as a median to get from downtown to the Beaches knows the kilometre or so stretch from Jarvis to Cherry Street. It's vast, unhospital, and lonely. In reality, it's one of the key routes that links up to the waterfront and the last big parcels of land that's disconnecting us from the water.

Walk on the south side of Queens Quay and you'll be forced to either walk on railroad tracks right in front of the sugar factory or cross to the north side.

What is now a relatively quiet area is about to change with a project called East Bayfront, set to bring massive development. We'll save big opinions on this for later posts but it's at least worth looking at the area.

Waterfront Toronto calls it the jewel in the waterfront crown (excuse us, we think York to Bathurst ain't bad, let alone the area south of High Park -- whoops, so much for lacking in commentary).

The picture below, taken from their website and highlighted through some photoshopping, is the area in question. Right now, west of the the sugar plant, there's starting to be activity. For many years, it was used as vacant land or for some short of warehouse use. There's also that sports dome at Sherbourne.



Some randomness about the project (see website here):

-Transit a 5 minute walk (No plans yet of a streetcar line? We know there's a bus that stops in front of the Loblaws and the nearest Streetcar is north at King street or west at the Westin (a kilometre a way -- 5 minutes is a very quick walk)

-It's 22 hectares (about 50 football fields if you're wondering. American football fields)

-6000 residential units (1000 of them affordable).

-Jobs for 8000

-A 1.5K waterfront walkway

Two parks to be completed by 2010, Sugar Beach (named, presumably after the molasses smelling Redpath facility) and Sherbourne Park (named after, well, the street). We'll post renderings of both of them tomorrow.

Their sales pitch:

"Low scale development along the water's edge"

"2.5 million sq. ft. of commercial space"

The official PR line:
"East Bayfront is a 22-hectare (55-acre) site, envisioned to be a showcase dynamic mixed-use community - a place of design excellence, high levels of sustainability and strong relationships to the water's edge. East Bayfront will become an animated downtown neighbourhood where people are drawn to live, work and play.

There are two development sites (Bayside and Parkside):


Parkside pictured top right in blue, a one acre site at Queens Quay East and Lower Sherbourne Street, has 700,000 sq ft for mixed used

Who's short listed to build:

The Daniels Corporation (Canada): Builder developer that built the Eaton Centre

The Great Gulf Group of Companies (Canada): firm that builds family homes

Menkes Development Ltd. (Canada) and AEW Capital Management LP (USA): home, condo and commercial builder

Tridel Builders Inc. (Canada) and Concert Properties Ltd. (Canada): Tridel is a major condo builder (list of past condos). Concert Properties is a condo builder with most projects in B.C.

Walker Corporation Pty Ltd. (Australia) and Cityzen Development Corporation (Canada): Walker is based in Australia and Cityzen is building the Pier 27 project.


Bayside, a 13 acre site between Lower Sherbourne Street and Parliament Street has (1.7 million sq ft) of mixed-use development potential.

Short listed teams:

The Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited (Canada), Monarch (Canada),
Fram Building Group Ltd. (Canada) and Albanese Development Corporation (USA): Cadillac Fairview in commercial real estate and Monarch is a condo and home builder. Fram is also a condo and home developer.

Hines (USA)

Menkes Development Ltd. (Canada) and AEW Capital Management LP (USA): home, condo and commercial builder

Walker Corporation Pty Ltd. (Australia) and Cityzen Development Corporation (Canada): Walker is based in Australia and Cityzen is building the Pier 27 project.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Arts & crafts workshops at Harbourfront Centre start Jan. 18

[via LSM Newswire]

Travel to Harbourfront Centre, the most memorable and economical destination ever, to escape the winter cold and uncrate the spring sun with the city's best Courses & Workshops! Harbourfront Centre is pleased to offer a diverse and exciting line-up of contemporary culture courses throughout the winter and spring months. Adults can learn to paint; create their own website; explore the world of circus arts; tour the city's culinary neighbourhoods; go gallery hopping; make delicious candies and chocolates just in time for Valentine's Day; attend tea socials; join a book club; take a glass blowing course; and much more! Harbourfront Centre's Courses & Workshops are affordable and provide a perfect environment for adults to learn or improve skills, and expand their social circle with like-minded individuals at Toronto's leading arts and cultural centre.

Courses & Workshops begin on January 18, 2009 at Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay West. Register early as class size is limited. To register or for more information, the public can call 416-973-4093, e-mail learning@harbourfrontcentre.com or visit harbourfrontcentre.com/learn.

Photo of the week: Ladder down

Seen at the base of 370 Queens Quay, a few days after a big wind storm, a ladder down..



Sunday, January 4, 2009

Heard about the Hood: Media roundup



Wrapping up what's written about the waterfront. This week, focus on the eastern waterfront

Recent coverage of the neighbourhood include a list of new year's resolutions by Toronto Star's Christopher Hume, headlined New year brings opportunity to transform the city. In it, Hume says:

The transformation of the Toronto waterfront: We know, we know, nothing ever happens on the waterfront. Sometimes that definitely seems the case, but in a city where change happens at a glacial pace, there's no point in holding one's breath. Still, the impatient amongst us are waiting anxiously to see what George Brown College plans to do with its large site south of Queens Quay east of Jarvis St. This project has the scope to alter the neighbourhood dramatically and bring new vitality to the area. The campus represents the best opportunity so far to redo the central waterfront.
Another one by Hume

Indeed, there are big plans a foot for the area between Yonge Street and Cherry, long the vast undeveloped wild 'east' of the central waterfront. The National Post focuses in on projects slated for the future.

A few excerpts:

By spring, work will begin on Sugar Beach and Sherbourne Park – the area’s main green spaces. Also coming soon is the beginning of construction on the massive West Don Lands project a few blocks north, and the possible demolition of the eastern portion of the Gardiner Expressway.

The projects come after many years of discussion, and raise hopes for a vital district free of the planning mistakes of the central waterfront.

More on the organization leading this charge.

Led by Waterfront Toronto – the organization that the city, province and federal government created to manage the project – designers are attempting to reshape the area south of Queen’s Quay, between Lower Jarvis and Parliament streets, into a livable neighbourhood after years of neglect or industrial use.

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Resolution: Get fit in the neighbourhood



It's the new year and it's resolution time here in Queens Quay. A top item on many a list is to get fit and lose weight. A few options in our neighbourhood.

Booty Camp Fitness: Too late for this time, as they've sold out, but this group can be seen outside the Harbourfront Community Centre during the warmer climes. They've migrated to 77 Harbour Sq this winter. Women only and you'll have to register early as they sell out. (link)

Harbourfront Community Centre: The centre at Bathurst and Queens Quay has quite a few programs. It costs $200 for 6 months and $450 a year for a full year (plus 1 year acces to weight room). You can join classes, from Bollywood Lunch Fitness for $16 for 3 weeks or lunch boot camp for $48 for 9 weeks.  They also have yoga, pilates and dance classes as well as boxing and karate. Here's more info on their site.

Your condo's gym: Okay, most of us here live in condos and apartments that have a gym. And yes, most of our gyms are crowded and small, save for the impressive ground floor gym at the Rivera. If you have sa condo, you're working with treadmills, stationary bikes, stairmasters and weights. Here's a sample of a guide for those of you who want to know how to use them. (link)

A gym: There are quite a few boutique and designer gym studios throughout downtown but here are the big ones within walking distance. Premier Fitness at Roger Centre or the GoodLife at Union Station.

Yoga: We see lots of people walking with yoga bags/mats. Suspect they're doing it near work. Here's one place where you can search for Toronto studios

Walk, run, cycle: We often take a run on the waterfront. From Queens Quay, you can run/walk/cycle west to Bathurst then you can join the Martin Goodman Trail (in theory, Queens Quay is part of the trail, but you kinda lose it in the traffic). From Spadina, you can go about 3 kilometres to the Ontario place and pass the baseball diamonds, the waterfront trails. Here's a sample map of a route you can take from Spadina. If you're more into long distance running or want to do an hour long cycling ride, you can go all the way to Humber Bridge, a 16 kilometre round trip. And yes, they're plowing the route through the winter

Skating at Natrel Rink (prices and hours)

Friday, January 2, 2009

Weekend guide to Queens Quay

What's going on in our area (minus major league sporting events, you know about those). Know of any events? Leave a comment or mail queensquaylife@gmail.com

Harbourfront Centre
Visual Arts at York Quay Centre (link)
Friday - Sunday, 12 - 6

Skating at Natrel Rink (prices and hours)

Power Plant (link)
John Greyson is a Toronto artist who teaches film at York University. His titles include Proteus, Lilies, Un©ut and Fig Trees.

Rogers Centre
International Bowl (link)
All weekend. Teams from the Big East and MAC Conferences collide for the third straight year as NCAA college football returns to Rogers Centre in the 2009 International Bowl.

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Sewage in the harbour?

Our harbour is dirty enough, so it's not that gratifying to read this report from CityTV about the possibility of sewage leaking into the waterfront.

The report reads:

But, according to a published report, there's a risk Torontonians could be forced to contend with a significant amount of their raw sewage spilling into the Don River and flowing out into the harbourfront.

During an assessment for a Toronto Water project last week, staff discovered a massive sewer line running underneath the Don Valley had split. A robotic camera revealed the cracks along a 60-metre section of the line, just north of O'Connor Dr.

Read the rest of the story here

Resolving to eat local: Mamma's Pizza



(Potato Pizza from Mamma's Pizza)
Queens Quay is home to about 37 eateries -- we'll loosely define them as places where you can pick up a bite to eat, from resturants to fast food. We thought it'd be a good idea of what each has to offer.


So beginning today, we'll embark on a year's journey (okay, it may take longer or shorter) to eat our way through the neighbourhood. If you have thoughts or reviews of your own, please feel free to do them to save our guts.

Today, we'll start with Mamma's Pizza


Mamma's Pizza 249 Queens Quay West

This is our standby delivery option for pizza in this part of the city. It's been here for a few years and seems to pull down a lot of local business. Mamma's is what we'd term as the 'middle' to 'high' class of pizza. Better than cardboard but not as good as some of the pizza you can find in some of the restaurants outside the Waterfront (hint: Terronni's for one).

But since the likes of Amatos and Mammas, at least we don't have to just go for the options derived from the pizza wars (think 241, the pizza 'villes' and the pizza squared chains).

Mamm's has reliable delivery, an interesting menu with good ingredients (Rapini and hot specialized sausage),

The food: Pizzas, you can build your own or select from one from their menu. They don't have twins options so you build your perfect pizza. You can also opt for Calzones which are tasty and huge, the sandwiches or pasta, which is surprisingly good.

The pesto sauce tends to be a little salty, some of their specialized seem too rigid and you can't find a happy medium when you want meat -- they have an all meat pizza (yummy but gut busting) and lots of veggie but not much in between. The potato pizza is a nice touch for runners in the community looking to carb up.


Eat in: Probably can fit about 6 people comfortably. More people are likely to pop in, point at a slice and bring it out to the nearby HTO park to enjoy easy streetfood.

Delivery: We've used them a lot and they're quick. No complaints, the food arrives hot!

What should locals know: Try the calzone, it's a filling one-dish meal. The sundried tomatoe and chicken one is a favourite, as is potato pizza and the meal lovers if you're feeling really bad. The more fancy vegetarian options are delish. Have fun using their phone service when ordering. It's a bunch of dialtone pushing before you get to the Queens Quay location. Maybe worth putting local number on speeddial. Website has their latest menus and deals.