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Newsstand: May 6, 2014
After the fun times of #MayTheFourthBeWithYou and Cinco de Mayo, it needs to be said that May 6 is a total letdown. In the news: Rob Ford is not in the United States, Josh Matlow makes good on Rob Ford’s Raptors wager, Book City is returning to Bloor West Village, and a strange Chanel store sighting on the Danforth.
Where in the world is Mayor Rob Ford? It may not be as entertaining a quest as searching for Carmen Sandiego, but it’s just as valid a concern. Last week, Mayor Ford’s lawyer Dennis Morris confirmed that he would be seeking treatment for substance abuse in Chicago. Since nothing is ever plain or simple when it comes to Mayor Ford, it was discovered that the plane he boarded at Buttonville Airport touched down at Chicago’s Midway International, but left before he cleared customs. The Globe and Mail reports that Mayor Ford never officially entered the United States, and was not denied entry but withdrew his application, according to the Consul General of Canada located in Chicago. Councillor Doug Ford (Ward 2, Etobicoke North) refused to answer questions about his brother’s treatment, while lawyer Morris maintains that Mayor Ford has checked into a treatment facility, although he wouldn’t say where. If only Rockapella was here to entertain us with with an appropriate line of a cappella questioning.
Regardless of where the mayor is, it’s business as usual at City Hall. Even City Councillor Josh Matlow (Ward 22, St. Paul’s) is helping fill in for Mayor Ford in unexpected ways. Matlow says he will honour a bet made between Mayor Rob Ford and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams over the NBA playoff series between the Raptors and the Nets. The Raptors’ heartbreaking 103-104 loss Sunday afternoon also meant that Mayor Ford lost a friendly wager he made with Adams, one he would not be able to make good on because of his absence. The winner was to receive a CD of music by a favourite local artist. When a New York media outlet contacted Matlow to see if the bet would still be paid, he unleashed his inner high-roller and offered step up to make sure the mayor’s promise was kept. Matlow plans to send Adams a CD by an obscure rap artist that he has probably never heard of who goes by the name of Drake.
There is finally some news for book lovers in the city that will not require dressing in black to mourn the untimely passing of yet another store. Book City is set to open a new location at 2354 Bloor Street West next month—a store that sits just two doors down from its former Bloor West Village location, which shuttered two years ago. The news comes as the nearby Bloor Street West and Runnymede location of Chapters closed its doors due to the area’s skyrocketing rents. The new Book City location will be 1,800 square feet and brings the total tally of Book City locations back up to four, after the closing of its flagship Annex location earlier this year.
East Danforth residents were left scratching their heads when hoarding went up announcing a soon-to-be-opened Chanel store under construction squarely between a pawn shop and a pest control business. Not quite the usual digs for the exclusive French luxury brand, which just opened a pop-up shop in St. Tropez. Well, go figure, the piece is actually an installation that’s part of Art of the Danforth—a free public art event that runs until May 11. Titled “Opening Soon,” the commissioned piece was created by Mahmood Popal without authorization from Chanel to use its brand likeness, according to the company’s Canadian spokeswoman Virginie Vincens. Vincens says that infringement of trademarked logos without proper consent means that legal action will follow. Uncle Karl does not approve.