Riverdale Homes and Riverdal Real Estate

The Taste of the Danforth is still making the news for its over-the-top success this year, but there’s a lot more to the Danforth than just Greek meat.  Here are some food trends that recently made the news, east of the DVP:

-Relish Bar & Grill was recently toasted in The Star for its global tapas served in a laid back, welcoming environment.  Check out the full article – along with a delicious recipe from chef/owner Joanne Clayton, who earned her stripes at North 44.

-A Turkish Village seems to be emerging in the Donlands/Danforth area, according to this Town Crier article which mentions the incredible Uzel’s Olive and Olive Oil (for true olive connoisseurs) plus the newly re-launched Zeitoun Restaurant.

-The Bangladeshi Anando Restaurant on the Danforth was written up in The Star for its iftar meals – the meals that people observing Ramadan break their daily fast with.  For delicious, extremely affordable food (the iftar box is 9 items for only $5.99), it’s worth the trek east to Vic Park.

If you prefer the vibe further south but still east, you’ll be happy to learn that Toronto’s ‘Soup King’, RaviSoups, plans to open a new location somewhere in Leslieville very soon.

What’s your favourite food on the Danforth?  Is it exotic or absolutely Canadian fare?  Put a plug in for your favourite Danforth eatery!

In Leslieville, it’s all about the lofts!  One of the few neighbourhoods in Toronto’s east end where loft-style apartments and authentic conversions abound, Leslieville offers plenty of choice to discerning loft buyers.  Here are some of the offerings:

The Ninety Lofts will be a combination of new construction and the conversion of an early 20th century warehouse to create refined new loft living along Queen Street East.  The building will have three distinct structures – the existing 1900s building to the north, an addition above, and the new warehouse loft addition to the south. At the centre of the nine-storey residence will be a stunning courtyard full of communal green space.  Additional features of the project include:

• Large windows that will allow natural light to flood the interiors
• Exposed concrete and brick walls
• Continuous glazed balconies wrapping the top of the building
• 222 lofts and penthouses, offering up to 10 foot ceilings.

The Printing Factory Lofts offers another choice for authentic loft living, at Queen and Carlaw.  Beaverbrook Homes finished converting the project, built around the site of a textbook-printing factory, in early 2010. The development includes 254 units — some in the old building and most in a new structure built on top. Features include:

• An entrance with a grand wooden staircase and vaulted ceilings (said to be one of the nicest entranceways and lobbies of any loft in Canada)
• Two storey lofts, some with triangular skylights that are more than 24 feet high.
• Traditional lofts plus a new mid-rise glass tower with more units
• Stacked townhouses bordering the site along Boston Avenue
• Many work/live spaces, all with a balcony or terrace
• Loft features such as high ceilings with exposed ductwork, concrete floors and pillars .

The Wrigley Lofts are another choice for the discerning ‘hard’ loft buyer – check out this gorgeous unit, currently for sale at $439K.

Do you love loft living in Leslieville or are you considering an east end loft purchase?  Let us know!

Here’s something that doesn’t necessarily leap to mind when you, the young Riverdale hipster, ponder how to spend a fun and useful weeknight:  a canning workshop.  Isn’t canning something Grandma did?  I told my friends we were going to a canning workshop on the Danforth and got some strange responses:  one thought we meant cane-ing, as in, S&M.  Others asked me if it was the end of the world or something and we couldn’t just buy jam in the supermarket anymore.  Well, they were close.  To explain:

Founded in 2009, Transition Toronto is a social experiment helping those interested in a more sustainable, self-reliant way of life to take action, learn practical projects, and share resources that will help us all live more in harmony with nature, the planet and each other.  How does that translate into re-skilling activities like canning?  Well, the theory is that if and when we enter an energy crisis (peak oil), we won’t be able to do things like truck our food thousands of miles around the world at any time of year.  So we’ll have to make the most of local foods and preserving techniques.

In East Toronto, DECA (Danforth East Community Association) has embraced re-skilling and enlisted the help of Emerie, an emissary from Bernardin (which has cornered the market on home canning supplies) to host canning workshops.  Our fearless team attended the peaches & pears workshop held at the Danforth Mennonite Church last week.

Turns out there’d been a last minute switch and it was going to be peaches and raspberry-maple jam, not pears – Emerie had already brandied up a bunch of those and brought them for us to sample.  Photos to follow soon!

The next hour was like being live on a Food Network show.  About twelve of us watched as Emerie whipped jam jars in and out of steaming water to the tune of friendly banter, raspberry foam-sampling, and anecdotes about Emerie’s life growing up on an east coast farm.  Despite all the joking around, Emerie was deadly serious as he talked about methodology and safety in the kitchen.  DECA canners Mary-Margaret and Martina shared their own experiences and kicked off the Q&A.

With the help of pamphlets and recipes, we learned about high and low acid foods, Bernardin products like jars and lids, different types of pectin and sweeteners, and all the do’s and don’ts of canning.

Eventually it was time to taste Emerie’s handiwork.  We all filed into the next room and sampled the tantalizing, flavourful brandied pears, the raspberry jam, and the peaches:  delicious, and so much more fresh than typical supermarket jams!

We left clutching our complimentary Bernardin shopping bag, pamphlets, recipe pen, and the beginner’s canning book we had purchased.  Unlike for some of the other participants, canning seems a little ambitious for me, but I look forward to making some of the freezer jams and no-cook recipes from the Bernardin book.

Missed the last workshop?  Tomatoes, salsa and pickles are being canned on September 14th.  Events run from 7:30-9:30 p.m. at the Danforth Mennonite Church (2174 Danforth).  $5 donation suggested.  No experience is required.  RSVP to Mary-Margaret McMahon at 416-693-9276 or spargy@rogers.com

If you already live in Riverdale, Leslieville or the Beach, you know that your ‘hood is home to lots of artists, writers and creative types.  Here’s a spotlight on two Leslieville artists that made it into the news recently:
Leslieville-based journalist and author Robert J. Hoshowsky , who lives at Queen East and Coxwell, just spent the last two years writing a 272-page book about 12 unresolved cases of individuals who were either murdered or vanished.  Published in June, Unsolved: True Canadian Cold Cases looks at cases within the last 40 years, the majority of which didn’t receive widespread media coverage or have since been forgotten.  The tragedy lies with the families who have continued to suffer after their loved ones were gone.

Author of The Last to Die, which tells the stories of the last two people executed by hanging in Canada (a book shortlisted for the prestigious Arthur Ellis Award), Hoshowsky says he made extra efforts to approach those affected by or involved in the cases with honesty and fairness.

Hoshowsky’s work has appeared in over 100 magazines and newspapers, including McLean’s.  A launch party for Unsolved: True Canadian Cold Cases is set for this September.

Leslieville resident Saidah Baba Talibah’s EP The Phone Demos was recorded exclusively on her cell phone while in a writing session with collaborator Donna Grantis; at the time, a cell was the only means of recording at their disposal.  That means the songs are not polished or mixed, giving them a lo-fi feeling and a unique vibe.  Baba Talibah is the daughter of famed Broadway singer and actress Salome Bey, and has served as a backup singer for a long list of artists including Redman, k-os, Jully Black, Andy Kim and Johnny Reid. She has also worked as a backup singer on Canadian Idol.

Finally recording her own material – a full-length studio album will follow The Phone Demos in the near future – Baba Talibah is living her dream in Leslieville, a neighbourhood she says suits her personality perfectly: a low-key, laid-back vibe.

For more information, or to download tracks, visit www.sbtmusic.com

Are you un-creative in the East End? Unlock your hidden potential by dropping into workshops and socials at the Joy of Dance studio (95 Danforth Ave.). Thursday nights from 9 pm to 10:30 pm, throughout August through till October 7.  Dance styles vary each week from ballroom to salsa to “the art of leading” and performing.  Workshops are $10 and socials $5.  Warning:  dancing may lead to spontaneous creativity in other areas of your life!

Recently BlogTO posted about ‘the emerging vibe of the East Side’ on its Events page.  The author stated that ‘Leslieville/King East/Riverside is quickly becoming home to more and more of us [gays], and there are plenty of great bars and restaurants to explore – so save yourself the trek downtown, and spend a great night in your own hood.’

WAYLA (What Are You Looking At Bar and Lounge) was given a test run as a gay-friendly spot, and apparently passed the test.  The anonymous BlogTO poster says that they are hoping to make a gay night for men and women into a WAYLA monthly event, the second Friday of each month, and asks gay locals and visitors to show their support.  Is this a sign of the times for Leslieville?

Brent Ledger of the Toronto Star argues that ‘a little friendliness does not a gay neighbourhood make’, stating that almost any old-Toronto neighbourhood can stake a claim for being ‘gay-friendly’ (a term Ledger says means only that gays need not fear physical violence there).  He does admit that Riverdale has its upscale gay couples, and cites Leslieville as welcoming to gay home renovators who like the vintage shops and the giant Home Depot.  But does that make Leslieville the next hot-spot for same-sex couples – or is it merely a trendy, popular locale?

As old-fashioned ‘ghettos’ become more and more blended, the need for a traditional gaybourhood may be a thing of the past anyway.  One thing’s for sure, Leslieville is on the cutting edge of cool and that attracts people of any stripe.

There’s really no need to leave the east end if you want things to do these hot summer nights.  There’s plenty happening right here!  Here’s three neat, off the beaten path things to do – which may be just steps from your door.

August 18:  Mark your calendars to try something your grandma maybe used to do:  Canning!  It’s a great way to make use of nature’s incredible bounty while eating things that taste good and learning skills that will surely be valuable in the event of Armageddon.  At this DECA canning workshop , people will be learning to can delectable plums and pears – and we’ll be learning right along with them.  Tomatoes, salsa and pickles are being canned on September 14th.  Events run from 7:30-9:30 p.m. at the Danforth Mennonite Church (2174 Danforth).  $5 donation suggested.  No experience required.  RSVP to Mary-Margaret McMahon at 416-693-9276 or spargy@rogers.com

August 22:  Movies in the Park presents a free screening of ‘Some Like It Hot’ starring Marilyn Monroe.  The movie screens in Riverdale Park East (550 Broadview, South of Danforth) at 8:45 p.m.  People are encouraged to come out with a picnic, blankets, and lawn chairs to enjoy the event with their friends, families and neighbours.  Sunday’s movie supports the Toronto Kiwanis Boys and Girls Clubs in Regent Park.

August 25:  A Night of Charity & Chocolate:  Join in on this special charity girly event held in Leslieville, with guest speakers, drinks and appetizers and bid on wonderful things from cameras to gourmet kitchenware to personalized home decor consulting and one-on-one make-up sessions.  All money raised will be donated in full to the Sanfilippo Children’s Research Foundation.  Buy tickets at www.fancyInTheCity.eventbrite.com

What’s your favourite thing to do on a summer’s night in Riverdale, Leslieville, or on the Danforth?

So.  It happened.  Everyone and their uncle has blogged about it, before, during and after the event.  So what’s the verdict?

What We Knew Beforehand

Every August the Danforth is packed with activities, food, entertainment and people at the Taste of the Danforth event, but the past couple of years the event has been all but rained out – causing us to feel very sorry for the people walking around in raincoats and umbrellas, and the businesses selling sodden goods, while also feeling a bit relieved that we could actually walk the streets again.

This year’s 17th annual event  featured several new additions and expansions to entertain the more than one million people who were predicted to attend the event.  The kids fun zone featured the Centre of Gravity Circus Training Studio where children aged five to 14 could try out the classical area circus hoop; the Olympiada featured Greek dancing; the Toronto Zoo had a touch table; an activities tent allowed kids to colour or make crafts; and they could also test the speed of their serve at the Tennis Pathways Fastest Serve Zone.  The Sports Zone was also expanded with representatives from each of Toronto’s major sport teams sports and there were challenges set up so kids could test out their sports ability and win prizes.

As usual, there was a variety of entertainment on three different stages, from Greek dancers, singers and musicians, to an eclectic array of music and lifestyle-related programs and performances from blues to rock to jazz to belly dancing.

There was a celebrity stage and more international music, but of course, most people tend to come from the food. Mao’s motto may have been ‘a chicken in every pot’ but the TOTD credo would be ‘a souvlaki in every hand’.  From snacks to meals, there would be food available from restaurants and street vendors to suit every budget and every taste – whether Greek or Thai.  We knew the entire ‘hood would smell like a roasting pig for 3 days, which we don’t find unpleasant.

What we Experienced

The festival kicked off, as always, with the Danforth Dash, a bed race run by teams such as the Argo Sunshine Girls to support the Toronto East General Hospital Foundation. A portion of the profits from the Taste of the Danforth has been donated to the hospital foundation for years with more than $1 million raised to date.

Danforth Avenue was absolutely impassable as people joined long lineups for free yogurt and chips, blocking people from walking by at anything but a snail’s pace.  In the subway stations, TTC announcements stated that due to construction at Pape Station, people might want to visit the TOTD by getting off at Broadview or Chester stations instead.  I hope those people made it.  We took side streets and back alleys to get anywhere.

We did brave the crowds on Friday night to walk from Eton to about Logan, sampling a delicious lamb/rosemary pie along the way.  But the pulled pork was expensive, vinegary and chintzy.  We were not about to line up for 40 minutes to get a gyros, but when I did get a chicken souvlaki, it was inferior to even the most fast-foody mall Greek food, in that it wasn’t precisely Greek:  tiny shreds (not skewered chunks) of chicken lining a pita that dripped with roasted red peppers and grilled onions.  Not bad fare under other circumstances, but a ripoff at the Greek festival.  Of course, if we had had more patience, we would have experienced a full range of culinary delights, like the elk tacos reported here.

Visitors to the fair, knowing it takes about 20 minutes to walk a single block, have to keep tight reign on their kids lest they disappear into the crowds (making us wonder how they get to participate in all those fun rides and games).  Strollers are rampant and not moving.

The Aftermath

Many Riverdale residents who use street permit parking are fed up with the fair.  They can’t find a spot for miles from their homes, or their garages are blocked by parked cars during the festival, leaving some to call for a ban on vehicle traffic.And while Danforth Ave. and Withrow Park are usually cleaned by city workers after the Taste, side streets remain a debacle after the event, littered with food wrappers and cluttered with garbage.  Grease from the many spits has soaked into the sidewalks, leaving smelly meat-stains.

Merchants (those not selling 15,000 $5-portions of calamari, that is) give the Taste mixed reviews, often closing their businesses for the weekend if they possibly can.

So what’s the verdict?  Has the Taste gotten too big or are you proud to be an east-ender with Toronto’s largest street festival in your backyard?  Should the festival be managed better and what are your ideas for that?  Let us know!

Back in July, a number of sporadic blackouts hit the areas of Riverdale around Broadview and Gerrard, and Danforth and Chester.  Seems like even living in a posh east Toronto neighbourhood is no guarantee of respectable City service!  Now residents of the luxurious Playter Estates pocket around Broadview & Danforth are dealing with rudeness and mess as Toronto works to replace the lead water pipes that run from the street into many east Toronto homes.

The contractor performing the work on behalf of the City, Aurostar, was accused of leaving unfilled holes in Riverdale-area sidewalks, piles of plywood, cones and dirt just laying around.  The Toronto Star’s ‘Fixer’ went to the scene, though he was skeptical (when streets are dug up for plumbing purposes, there’s going to be a mess – it’s to be expected).  The crew took some pictures of the scene and were met with swearing and confrontation from workers, who told the journalists in no uncertain terms to ‘get lost’.  Apparently other residents on Ellerbeck, where the original complaint came from, had been similarly treated by the workers.

Besides rudeness, a worker was caught on camera urinating into the back of a dump truck parked near a resident’s house; a backhoe severed the same resident’s water line and pulled it right out of the wall, resulting in a flood that severely damaged his basement.

Aurostar’s general manager did nothing but make excuses for his workers, citing the heat and pressure to complete jobs; the City has promised a performance evaluation on Aurostar, which “came out of nowhere” to win three city contracts as the low bidder.

In the meantime, east Toronto residents rattled by street closures, TTC expansion plans and car dealership proposals are wondering what’s next?  If you live in Riverdale, Leslieville, the Beach or the Danforth and you have a beef with something affecting the ‘hood, let us know.

The tragic death of Al Gosling nearly a year ago made many Torontonians aware of a very serious problem with the social housing system.

The 82 year old man was evicted from his bachelor apartment by the Toronto Community Housing Corporation in June 2009 for failing to keep up with his paperwork or declare his income annually.  After the eviction, Gosling spent the first week in the stairwell of his building before police were finally called in. He eventually ended up at the Good Shepherd homeless shelter where his health rapidly deteriorated until his death in October.

Since early spring, a Leslieville resident and activist has been at the forefront of efforts to have Gosling memorialized by having a commemorative park bench installed at either Sherbourne Common or Allan Gardens.  Peter Crawford is a 71 year old Leslieviller who wants to honour all of the Al Goslings in Toronto, and to teach the children in the city to be more aware of the society in which they live.

The bench would cost $2200, according to the Parks, Forestry & Recreation Commemorative Tree and Bench program. But in addition to fundraising problems for the bench, City council refused to pass the motion to install the commemorative bench. Instead, it was referred to the Toronto and East York Community Council.

Crawford is now working to have a commemorative tree planted in Al Gosling’s memory at either park, instead of the bench. The tree would also display an inscription plaque in tribute to Gosling. Crawford has already raised all of the funds via donations, and he has asked the parks commemorative program for a sugar maple or skyline honey locust tree, which can be planted in the fall – hopefully to coincide with the first anniversary of Gosling’s passing on Oct. 11.

A recent NOW Magazine article just dissed Leslieville, saying the ‘hood is  “still suffering from lack of jobs, a dearth of reasons to go there and a consequent lack of sidewalk traffic.”  Oh no they di-int!!  As a follow up to last week’s post ‘Why Visit Leslieville’, here are the top reasons, quite apart from reasons to visit, for making one of Toronto’s hippest communities (think Manhattan’s Lower East Side) your home:

1.  Proximity to Riverdale, the Beach, and the Danforth.  In case you thought the Danforth was nothing but souvlaki for miles, you should know that it’s so diverse, it’s even home to the city’s first Thai meat-free restaurant.

2.  Heritage homes with famous people living in them.  Leslieville is full of Victorian homes (some realtors call it ‘Cabbagetown II’ and the antique shops needed to furnish them with properly shabby chic.  It’s also full of actors, musicians and writers who own or rent these homes (see upcoming blog posts about our talent pool).

3.  An incredible variety of well-priced real estate, from zero-down townhomes to custom-built projects to unique hard lofts to renovated showstoppers to affordable basement apartments to furnished bachelors.  You will be sure to find a home that fits your needs here.

4.  It’s gay and lesbian friendly, something that has made Leslieville popular with gay homeowners, according to local real estate guru Richard Silver.

5.  Leslieville has a website.  A good website, where you can hook up with groups of like-minded, socially conscious, fitness conscious, kid conscious, or whatever other type of conscious human being you are, right in the neighbourhood, to chat or hike or bike or dine or whatever it is you like doing.

Did we miss anything?  Let us know!