Results tagged “kensingtonmarket”

Kensington Market will soon be designated a BIA (that is, a business improvement area), pending near-certain approval by City Council this winter, according to a city staff report, released on Monday. A few area business owners have mixed feelings about the impending designation, but many see it as the best way of ensuring the future of the chaotic little neighbourhood in the heart of Toronto.

Phil Pick does not enjoy being called a villain. Wait, which Toronto publication was it that described him that way, again? Oh, right. It was us.

                            

Kensington Market held the first Pedestrian Sunday of the year yesterday. The car-free streets thronged with people enjoying a sunny day as they ate street food from the neighbourhood's restaurants, listened to bands (including Escalate and Mr Something Something with their Soundcycle), played giant scrabble, learned how to fix their bikes courtesy of the Bike Pirates, and danced in a stream of bubbles.

As part of each hand as they are called, her Luminato project celebrating the history of Jewish life in Kensington Market, artist Reena Katz was to organize a game of Mah Jongg between seniors from the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care and grade eight students from Ryerson Community Public School. (Mah Jongg is "a game that originated in China, migrated west, and was popularized with North American Jewish women during the 1920s.")

Torontoist Flickr pool member designwallah snapped this photo of an adorable bunny in distress.

There was an article in April 18th's Globe and Mail that began by labelling Kensington Market "the site of the next big battle for gentrification" in Toronto. The central figure in that article was realtor Phil Pick, of Esbin Realty, whose "for lease" signs hang or have until recently hung in the windows of five Kensington storefronts this spring, by our last informal count. One Phil Pick property on Augusta Avenue has already been leased for some time to the owners of Good Egg, a gourmet kitchen implements store. Two more storefronts have Esbin Realty signs without Phil Pick's nameplate attached. Of the seven total Esbin properties not yet fully occupied, three are now leased and undergoing renovation. One of them, though still unfinished, is already selling, of all things, scooters.

Local latte mainstay i deal coffee is about to be sold. At least that's the plan, according to founder and resident bean-master James Fortier. But while you would be forgiven for assuming that the decision to unload the company is because of the topsy-turvy economy, Fortier says that that's not the case. As it turns out, it's all about making time for his family-to-be.

Faye Mullen led us into the smaller of the two rooms that together make up minnow & bass gallery, a self-described "migratory" art space she opened on March 20 on the southern fringe of Kensington Market, at the eastern corner of the intersection of Dundas Street and Augusta Avenue.

At approximately 5:45 p.m. on December 21st, 2008, Torontoist received a phone call from Boy Reporter. "The parade's been cancelled." "What?" "It's been cancelled. Because of the wind."

We've all been there―after weeks of awaiting the holiday gift exchange, days of patiently repressing the urge to peek inside others' shopping bags, tiptoeing around on the morning of to shake and guess the contents of each gift, and, finally, ferociously ripping open a carefully wrapped package to uncover a pair of atrociously knit gloves, flower-scented soap, or of course, the inevitable socks and underwear combo. Even imitating reactions from Best Buy commercials can't save you now. While it's disappointing, it's important to understand that it is the thought that counts. But there's nothing wrong with encouraging higher thinking, especially when it gets you something you might actually want. Why would someone want to waste their gift-giving opportunity, a chance to sign their name in your good books? Think of it this way―you're helping them help you.

Have a closer look at the posters on 234 Augusta Avenue after the jump.

Anything goes at Kensington Market's monthly Pedestrian Sundays as long as it's entertaining. Political debates, particularly those not involving American presidential candidates, can be on the dull side. So when three out of the four parliamentary hopefuls for the Trinity-Spadina ward (Conservative Christine McGirr was a no-show) came to meet the people, organizer and local musician Michael J (or Johnson if you want to be formal) put his own spin on things, including announcing the start of the discussion with a fanfare on his trumpet.

WORDS: Torontonian artist Steve Driscoll is launching his new book, Steve Driscoll: Conversations, this afternoon at David Mirvish Books. The book showcases the changes and developments in Driscoll's paintings over the last eight years, and the launch will also include an exhibition of the work presented in Driscoll's book. David Mirvish Books (596 Markham Street), 2 p.m., FREE.

The Post is reporting that talks are currently underway with Starbucks to rent the former home of J & J Fruit Market—on the corner of Augusta and Nassau and thus smack-dab in the heart of Kensington Market. Some Market residents who the Post interviewed were unsurprisingly ready for a fight, and, as the property is partially on city land, Adam Vaughan has said that it will require neighbourhood approval anyway and will become a "very public and pitched debate." That, and he wants Kensington composed of "small, family-run businesses.” So: probably not gonna happen. The winning serve comes from i deal coffee owner James Fortier, who tells the Post that he has no issues with Starbucks coming; he just thinks that the big chain won't make any money if they do. There's the rub: if, by some miracle, Starbucks gets its wings and opens up shop in Kensington, against the violent protests and certain vandalism from the locals, it could still only survive as long as customers' demand for it did.

Every weekday morning, bright and early, we feature a photo (or two) from a photographer in the Torontoist Flickr Pool. It's our way of giving the many excellent photographers in our pool the attention they deserve.

Every weekday morning, bright and early, we feature a photo (or two) from a photographer in the Torontoist Flickr Pool. It's our way of giving the many excellent photographers in our pool the attention they deserve.

MUSIC: You've got some options today, reader. You could head over to Sneaky Dee's tonight for the 428th edition of weekly music series Wavelength. This week's lineup features Winnipeg funk pop group Flying Fox and the Hunter/Gatherers, followed by improvisational jazz group The WoodChoppers (431 College Street, 10 p.m., PWYC). Alternatively, you could go to the Tranzac, where folk rock singer Andy Swan is playing in the Southern Cross Lounge (292 Brunswick Avenue, 10:30 p.m., FREE).

The CBC is reporting that Cheese Magic has had to throw out $1,000 worth of cheese and are currently being investigated for listeria contamination, after a pregnant woman allegedly ate cheese from the store and contracted listeriosis. According to Cheese Magic's Establishment Inspection Report from Toronto Health, the store was given only a conditional pass on Tuesday's inspection for a whole host of problems. (Slashfood was in the store yesterday, noting that "the long expanse [of cheese] that is usually 2–3 rows deep and a few feet tall was just gone....So much for room-temperature cheese.") Torontoist's Jonathan Goldsbie also spotted new conditional passes on Global Cheese and Mendel's Creamery—two other cheese shops in Kensington—as of Wednesday night, and spotted CBC's cameras outside of Global Cheese this morning. The cheesepocalypse is nigh!

FESTIVAL: HobbyStar's annual Fan Expo returns today. The largest of its kind in Canada, the event has grown exponentially since its inception in 1995. The Comic Book Expo, Science Fiction Expo, CNAnime Expo, Gaming Expo, and Rue Morgue Festival of Fear are all happening at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre for the next three days. There are some pretty hilarious and fun things happening, like a masquerade ball where the best World of Warcraft–themed costume wins a Sony VAIO laptop. This year's celebrity guests include Sean Astin, Henry Winkler, and Buzz Aldrin (among many others). Tickets purchased will be good for all expos, but not necessarily for all special events; for example, director Wes Craven is a featured guest of the Festival of Fear, but if you want a picture with him, you'll have to pay $200. Some people will do anything to get a cool Facebook profile picture. Metro Toronto Convention Centre (255 Front Street), 4–9 p.m., $25–$69.

Snappy Answers runs every Saturday afternoon. Send your questions, be they tough or trivial, to snappyanswers@torontoist.com.

          

Yesterday marked the return of Pedestrian Sunday to Kensington Market, with a celebration of spring that included parades, music, acrobatics, environmental displays, and a giant piñata that transformed into a butterfly (above).

Photo of Shamez Amlani by Yvonne Bambrick.

Mark Oliver Tessaro just sent us a link to the video above, of an unbelievably fun-looking do-it-yourself ski-hill that he and his roommates built in mid-February on their Kensington Market deck.

Snappy Answers runs every Saturday afternoon. Send your questions, be they tough or trivial, to snappyanswers@torontoist.com.

Snappy Answers runs every Saturday afternoon. Send your questions, be they tough or trivial, to snappyanswers@torontoist.com.