Sobeys on Queens Quay: Not a tourist destination?

If you go to the Queens Quay Terminal website, you'll see that they're open "7 days a week". We take that to mean that it's open every day. True, you can go to Pearl on holidays for dim sum.

Thanks to a reader for tipping us off to what he saw on the Toronto City Council blog. The council voted against a change to the by-law that would have allowed the Sobey's to open on holidays.

Well, that's a shame for residents. Okay, we're not tourists but it'd be nice to have it open since we have so little infrastructure down here. Nice to see that our local councillors (Vaughan and McConnell) voted for it.

Under the current by-laws, the Tourism Area Exemption includes "The Eaton Centre and The Bay Queen
Street Store; Queen Quay Terminal; the Downtown Yonge BIA; Bloor Yorkville BIA and The Distillery District." (Background document) Clearly, there are those who think not all of the services in the Terminal is not considered tourism. Downers.

Following is from the city council.

Holiday Closing By-law Amendment Defeated
City Council has voted against a proposed amendment to the Holiday Closing By-law that would have allowed the Sobey's store at Queen's Quay Terminal to open on holidays.

The vote was 13-20 as follows:

YES Augimeri YES Carroll YES Davis YES Filion YES Jenkins YES McConnell YES Mihevc YES Milczyn YES Palacio YES Perks YES Rae YES Vaughan YES Walker

NO Ainslie NO Bussin [Chair] NO Del Grande NO Di Giorgio NO Feldman NO Fletcher NO Ford NO Hall NO Holyday NO Kelly NO Lee NO Lindsay Luby NO Minnan-Wong NO Moscoe NO Nunziata NO Ootes NO Pantalone NO Saundercook NO Shiner NO Stintz

Watermark Irish Pub coming to Queens Quay as Boathouse Grill goes

The Boathouse Grill, which has for years anchored the southeast corner of the Queens Quay Terminal, has closed, according to this blog post.

In its place, the Watermark Irish Pub is coming, which is set for an April opening.

Here's a little description of the pub on their website.

The Watermark Irish Pub and Restaurant is bringing the luck and charm of the Irish to the Harbourfront District! Located in the Queen’s Quay Terminal, Watermark features a panoramic view of Toronto’s harbourfront, seating for 240 inside the pub and patio space for up to 220 overlooking the waterfront.

The pub is owned by the same company that brought you such Toronto establishments as the Foggy Drew on King West (west of Bathurst), the Mill St. Pub in the Distillery District and the Pour House on Dupont.

Expect the pub and its patio (if they have one) to be packed in the summer. Big question for locals is will we pack it during our long cold winters

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.