Midtown’s Station K sold without conditions

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Canada Post recently confirmed that it has sold Station K to a developer, despite the spirited protests of local residents led by Eglinton-Lawrence MPP Mike Colle. He said he was appalled to learn that Canada Post didn’t at least impose a condition of sale to protect the art deco building from being radically altered.

“For it to be sold like a piece of parking lot is really disgusting,” Colle said. “This is from a corporation who claims to be in the business of history — their stamps [commemorating] the Grey Cup, the War of 1812 — well, that’s a crock.”

Station K is located on a national historic site, once home to Montgomery’s Tavern, which served as William Lyon Mackenzie’s headquarters during the Upper Canada Rebellion (Dec. 7 marks the 175th anniversary).

Tom Cohen, chair of the Eglinton Park Residents Association, was unhappy about the sale but indicated that the battle to save Station K isn’t over. He would like to see public access to the building maintained.

“Since we’ve lost this round, we need to fight like crazy on the next round,” Cohen said. “We need all the help we can get — from the city, from the province, from wherever help can be found — to keep this building from slipping into oblivion.”

“Since we lost this round, we need to fight like crazy on the next round.”

Now that Station K isn’t under federal ownership, it can be designated as heritage. Since Toronto City Council has already signalled its intent to do so, the sale has triggered this process. Coun. Karen Stintz also passed a motion to designate the open space in front of Station K a public square.

Jack Winberg, president of Rockport Group, which purchased the site, said he’s comfortable with both measures taken by Stintz.

“We agree that there aren’t very many public open spaces on Yonge Street and that’s why I was attracted to the site,” he said. “It’s not going to be just another condo.”

Winberg will consult the community before filing an application.

Eglinton gears up for Light Rapid Transit

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The Toronto Transit Commission and Metrolinx are preparing for the construction of the Eglinton-Scarborough Crosstown transit line, which could cause several disruptions, including the closure of Allen Expressway for up to one year.

“A number of businesses are certainly concerned that there will be periods of time when expected walking traffic will be less,” said Steven Petroff, chair of the Upper Village Business Improvement Association.

Mark Ostler, Metrolinx media relations and issues specialist, stated that underground tunnelling, which will not disrupt traffic flow, will begin in 2013. However, station construction will begin in late 2014, which will reduce Eglinton Avenue to a single lane for short periods. “In order to complete the project by 2020, a number of stations will be under construction at the same time,” Ostler said.

The messiest and most disruptive process will be the extraction of the boring machine digging the path below Eglinton Avenue. The machine will have to be extracted at the west side of Allen Road and be dug back into the ground on the east side. The extraction and relaunch will likely occur sometime in 2014. Metrolinx expects that the relocation of equipment will result in the closure of the northbound Allen Expressway from Eglinton Avenue to Lawrence Avenue for up to 12 months, but Metrolinx could not provide dates. “We expect to determine if this closure will occur within the next few months,” said Ostler.

“Anytime there’s anything done on Eglinton, people come screaming through.”

“We are going to be living in dump-truck heaven,” said neighbourhood resident Cary Steinman, whose only real concern is traffic from Eglinton Avenue and Allen Road spilling over onto side streets.

“Anytime there’s anything done on Eglinton, people come screaming through our neighbourhood,” Steinman said.

Though homeowners and businesses are anticipating inconvenience, Steinman said, “Most of the people here feel that it’s a done deal, it’s going to happen, so suck it up and live with it.”

Bayview residents fight influx of condos

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It seems daunting to fight the saturation of condos in Toronto, but residents of Bayview Village have managed to ward off a condo developer’s plans — for now.

In December 2011, Amexon Development Corporation filed a proposal to establish six condominiums from 1200 to 1220 Sheppard Avenue East. The towers would range from 27 to 43 storeys and contain 2,098 units. “The density of the proposal goes way beyond the maximums for that site,” said Eric Bristow, chair of the Bayview Village Association’s (BVA) subcommittee to address the issue with the condos.

Toronto’s neighbourhoods continue to intensify. But information compiled by Toronto Hydro showed that Bayview Village is still at a mild to moderate density. Amexon’s application requires three times as many dewllings per square foot than what the city’s official Sheppard subway intensification plan will allow.

Dissatisfied, residents from the BVA sought the support of councillor David Shiner. With Shiner’s support, city council voted to reject the application in June 2012.

“The density of the proposal goes way beyond the maximums.”

Shiner said that the developers were given the opportunity to alter their application, which they did not take prior to the rejection.

“They were insisting upon what they had submitted,” he explained. “So the city staff took the unusual step, with less than 120 days after they submitted the application, of saying it’s the wrong application, that it should be refused.”

Amexon has appealed the decision to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB), where a single individual appointed by the Ontario government will adjudicate a preliminary hearing on Nov. 22. Both the city and the BVA will act as parties in the hearing. “I would hope that the OMB would respect the community’s and the city’s wishes,” said Bristow.

Shiner, however, remained less optimistic: “I’m frightfully scared of the OMB, [which] never seems to support the residents.”

Police up presence at Eglinton Park

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Whether you are a soccer player, jogger, dog walker or regular visitor to the playground, Eglinton Park is a highly valued space to Ward 16 residents. It is a serious issue, then, when residents contact me to express concern about unwelcome activities. A recent walk-through with Toronto Police Service confirmed what I was hearing about: drug dealing and petty theft.

In response, 53 Division has increased their patrolling of Eglinton Park. A visible presence of police disrupts drug-dealing activities and discourages related problems, such as loitering, disorderly conduct, theft or vandalism. The police welcome your help with their efforts. If you see suspicious activities, take note and contact either 53 Division or e-mail my office. Be mindful of where in the park the activities are taking place, the time of day and anything else that might be helpful.

Parks and Recreation staff are also part of the effort. Responsible for park maintenance, they look after effective lighting of the park, monitoring buildings and taking care of the grounds to minimize sight obstructions. When residents are feeling uncomfortable in our public spaces, it is a natural reaction to simply move activities elsewhere. Keep in mind, though, it’s your park! Our collective presence makes it more difficult for drug dealers to do their business.

Please continue to enjoy the park but be mindful of the situation. Keep electronic devices out of view to discourage theft. Be observant of your surroundings. Report suspicious activities. Talk to kids about safety. Together, we can keep Eglinton Park a safe place for all park users.

Fracked gas coming to a T.O. neighbourhood near you

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$sewell-fracking$

“Fracking” is one of those words I never expected to be part of polite speech, nor that it would have a vibrant life in Toronto the Good.

But times change, and for better or worse, fracking is now part of our life in this city.

“Fracking” is the short form of “hydraulic fracturing,” the technical term for freeing natural gas from the ground through a controversial process that grows more worrisome the more one learns.

Since the beginning of November, half the natural gas used in the GTA has come from fracking that takes place in Pennsylvania. Before Nov. 1, natural gas for the GTA came from Alberta, but Transcanada Corp. reversed the flow direction in some pipes to give us Pennsylvania natural gas, a product 30 per cent less expensive to the company but likely not to the consumer. Many people concerned about global warming and the environment have thought that of all the fossil fuels, natural gas is the most benign. That’s not a claim that can be made of fracked gas.

The production process involves drilling a hole a kilometre or two into the ground, then inserting a pipe bomb of ball bearings and explosives. On detonation, small perforations are made in the pipe. A mixture of water and chemicals — slick water — is piped down and put under a pressure enormous enough to shatter the shale around the pipe so the gas is freed from the rock. The gas is then captured. Many such holes are drilled in close proximity. The process uses copious amounts of water.

In the United States, fracking operations are exempt from federal safe drinking water standards, so companies do not have to account for the chemicals in the slick water. Studies have shown drinking water is badly affected by the operations because the slick water often gets out of the holes, and there’s considerable concern about unfavourable impacts on aquifers.

The Marcellus Shale, from which the Toronto gas comes, stretches across New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

“Our consumption of natural gas means we’re part of the problem.”

Fracking is entirely prohibited in France, and drilling by Exxon Mobil in Germany was halted by local opposition. Fracking set off earth tremors in Poland, and in Ohio, fracking is thought to have caused an earthquake with a Richter measurement of more than 4.0.

Fracking has been studied by Ontario and by other provinces in Canada, with suggestions as to shale locations where natural gas is abundant, such as Collingwood. But proposals for commercial exploitation have yet to happen here — perhaps because we have more stringent regulations on water quality and chemicals.

In the GTA, half of us now use fracked gas. A syndicate headed up by Enbridge Inc. — the same company that is pushing the Northern Gateway pipeline project carrying oil through northern British Columbia — is completing plans to bring in fracked gas from the Marcellus Shale for the rest of us, so we’ll all subsist on fracked gas. Enbridge sponsors the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer, the very successful fundraising venture for Princess Margaret Hospital, but a growing number of riders are wondering whether it makes sense to align cancer prevention with such a company.

Electricity consumers have a choice. Rather than dealing just with Toronto Hydro, consumers can buy from Bullfrog Power, which supplies as much electricity generated from sustainable sources to the Toronto Hydro system as Bullfrog customers consume.

We don’t have that choice with fracked gas. Our consumption of natural gas means we’re part of the problem faced by those people concerned with aquifers and drinking water in Pennsylvania.

A city council wanting a green city, one on the leading edge of environment concerns, would be talking about alternatives to fracked gas.

Another reason why all those distractions at the great grey clam are a problem for all of us.

Post City Magazines’ columnist John Sewell is a former mayor of Toronto and the author of a number of urban planning books, including The Shape of Suburbs.

Table Talk: Joanne Kates reviews Café Boulud

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When a New York superchef like Daniel Boulud comes to Toronto, a foodie has to go. You can’t just ignore it. You can, however, feel sad that our beloved local superstar hotel, the Four Seasons, wasn’t confident enough to go it on its own, foodwise. Okay, so the super-snazzy Truffles in the old Four Seasons wasn’t a money-maker, and the Studio Café, despite its great beauty, was never exactly a hotbed of gastronomy.

But the Four Seasons worldwide is an aesthetic leader among hotels. Owner Issy Sharp is a Toronto boy with infinite resources and great taste, so c’mon Issy, why not do it yourself?

Contracting out comes with problems of accountability, but Café Boulud’s problems start well before the bums are in the chairs. The valet parking is a pretty good deal ($15 for three hours), but good luck finding the hotel’s driving entrance, because there were no signs that we could see. Perhaps signs are the new chicken pox — because once inside the building, there are also no indications of where to go. We wander aimlessly, unattended, past minimalist elegance.

So we go back outside and ask the doorman. Call me old-fashioned (you won’t be the first), but I like to know where I’m going in a public place, and not to be made to feel stupid.

Once ensconced in the glorious second floor café (the hotel’s only restaurant), we see the signature style of Rosalie Wise (Issy Sharp’s wife), a look beloved from the Studio Café: thick mottled glass tables, iconic artworks, tall windows with shimmery mesh curtains.

Would that the food were so stylin’. Indian-spiced quail is merely pleasant, its garnishes charming but not noteworthy. Fluke ceviche is a gorgeous construction, with grand little veg treats and a pour of perfect sweet/tart cucumber and celery vinaigrette. But the ultra-fresh fish has not been ceviche’d and is merely raw. Who forgot the lime and chile?

The halibut main is perfectly cooked, and we love the shrimp wrapped in piquillo pepper and the tender young leeks, but chorizo cream the lurid pink of carnival food packs no flavour punch. Lamb loin à la Middle East is much better: cute little pink medallions with crispy croquettes of pulled lamb belly, couscous-like warm salad, tzatziki, marinated eggplant slices and a bed of superb smoked eggplant puree.

The sweets have more pizzazz than the savouries — in particular, a clever apple edifice of intense gala apple filling sandwiched between layers of feathery pastry and a lemon cloud. But the food is still boring, and when a waiter resets our table at the end, after we’ve paid, we start to worry about the otherwise silken service. At $200 plus for dinner for two, with only a modicum of alcohol, does Toronto really need Daniel Boulud?

Café Boulud, 60 Yorkville Ave., 416-964-0411

Joanne Kates trained at the Ecole Cordon Bleu de Cuisine in Paris. She has written articles for numerous publications, including the New York Times, Maclean’s and Chatelaine, and she was the Globe and Mail’s restaurant critic for 38 years.

Must-see Movie: Wings, a Hollywood classic that plays tonight at TIFF Bell Lightbox

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3:23 pm

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Before The Artist swept the Oscars, there hadn’t been a silent film to win the Best Picture Academy Award since Wings, back in 1929. The film was thought lost until it was found in the Cinémathèque Française film archive in Paris. It’s since received a stunning digital restoration, and it flies back to the big screen tonight at TIFF Bell Lightbox.

Regarded as a Star Wars or Avatar of its day, Wings is notable for several reasons: its aerial battles, a semi-nude scene involving Clara Bow (the it-girl of the era, who famously complained that her nurse role was “just the whipped cream on top of the pie”), a drinking sequence in a Paris bar and some man-to-man kissing.

Though modern movie-goers have critcized that too much time is given to the been-there-done-that plot line of two men (Charles “Buddy” Rogers and Richard Arlen) being in love with the same woman (Jobyna Ralston), the aerial “dogfight” scenes are some of the best flying sequences ever captured on film, and truly something to behold on the big screen.

Wings, TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King St. W., 416-968-3456. Nov. 27, 6:30pm.

Prairie Girl Bakery hits up Yorkville

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2:33 pm

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Yorkville is getting in on Toronto’s cupcake craze in a big way: first, Dlish cupcakes recently opened a new location in the ’hood, and now Prairie Girl Bakery is moving in. According to Prairie Girl President Jean Blacklock, the cupcakery will be opening its third location at 150 Bloor Street West on March 1.

The new location will provide Prairie Girl’s standard roster of flavours, and it will also continue to donate leftover cupcakes to Toronto’s Second Harvest at the end of the workday.

Prairie Girl Bakery, 150 Bloor St. W.

Album Review: Trent Severn’s self-titled debut

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When the throngs of Torontonians at the Argos’ game on Sunday jeered Justin Bieber and cheered Gordon Lightfoot, it bolstered my faith in this city’s musical taste (no offence, Biebs). The CFL was reportedly attempting to attract younger crowds to the franchise — and it might have been on to something.

As my twenties roll on, I find myself shying away from depthless pop-driven songs and warming up to the reflective nature of the folk-roots revival. And Trent Severn just happen to embody the thoughtful songwriting I’m looking for, wrapped in a harmoniously twangy package.

The trio, from Stratford, Ont. (ironically, Biebs’ hometown), is deep-seated in Ontario folklore and wrought with Canadiana-heavy lyrics. With Emm Gryner on bass and stomp box, Dayna Manning on guitar and banjo and Laura C. Bates on violin, there is no lead singer — the three ladies share the spotlight for dulcet harmonies in the vein of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

Earlier this month, the all-girl band made its debut with a 10-track self-titled record. With song titles such as “Muskoka Bound,” “Snowy Soul” and “Bluenose On a Dime” (for which they enlisted quintessential Maritimer Joel Plaskett on guitar and vocals), Trent Severn gushes patriotism and evokes images of gorgeous getaways up north. It also helps that they’re named after a series of waterways in cottage country.

For the most part, the album continues the laid-back, twangy trend, punctuated by a couple of fast-paced and upbeat numbers here and there. The result is a warmly nostalgic record padded with darkly pensive instrumentation that is few and far between these days. It’s evident that Trent Severn sing and play with the weight carried by old souls, but they can still throw in a wink with playful verses and jaunty songs. The combination makes for a beautifully balanced track list that serves as the perfect backdrop for this wintry weather.

But Trent Severn is not for everyone. There seems to be a stigma attached to the country scene in most music circles, and while folk music can be an accessible segue, these ladies are limited by their genre. Lyrics about the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Mulroney clan and road trips to Muskoka read like an inside joke, and while it is refreshing and reassuring to hear our history being so inspirational, at times, it can come off a bit corny.

However, we’re willing to give them the benefit of the doubt — this is, after all, their debut album. Time will tell whether they have true staying power outside of the (often limited) country fan base.

Toronto Style Radar: PYA Importer, OCAD, The Spoke Club, Blackbird, The Make Den

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12:18 pm

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Every week, we round up the best events from the city’s fashion scene. In this edition: a killer four-day sample sale, a celebration of men's fashion, a jewellery pop-up shop and more.

PYA Importer Sample Sale

Where: PYA Importer, 15 Apex Rd.
When: Nov. 28 – Dec. 1
Details: PYA Importer is having a four-day sample sale featuring items from Ted Baker, Earnest Sewn, PYA Black Label, EDUN, Loomstate and more, all at 80 per cent off. From jeans to cozy knits, you'll score big for little.

Rivet 2 Launch Party

Where: OCAD University Student Gallery, 52 McCaul St.
When: Nov. 27
Details: Join OCAD U to celebrate the launch of Rivet 2, the biannual experimental publication that features work from students, alumni and faculty. There are only 120 copies available at $15 per issue, so grab a copy while you can and enjoy a drink (and dance while you're at it).

Spoke Talks: Fashion

Where: The Spoke Club, 600 King St. W., fourth floor
When: Nov. 28
Details: Whether you're looking to expand your network or your knowledge of Toronto's local fashion scene, The Spoke Club is hosting a night that will concentrate on men's fashion. Meet creative local designers, retailers, trend-setters and industry workers who are shaping the city's fashion scene. There will be short presentations as well as samples available for viewing.

Blackbird Collection II Launch and Pop-Up Shop

Where: Love of Mine, 781 Queen St. W.
When: Nov. 29
Details: Toronto-based jewellery line Blackbird is popping up at Love of Mine Boutique for one week. It's a perfect time to check out the new collection and still be able to put in a special request to Santa. Although the shop will be there daily until Dec. 5, the pop-up launch party goes down on Nov. 29.

I Made This Myself at The Make Den

Where: The Make Den, 1244 Bloor St. W.
When: Nov. 30
Details: The Make Den is a sewing and design studio that was founded in 2010 with the intention of creating a space to nurture and inspire the next generation of Canadian fashion designers. They are also the proud owners of a new studio space in Bloordale, where they will be unveiling a brand new screen-printing and textiles studio and a new retail space, along with their well-equipped sewing studio. Join in to celebrate the new location — just as long as you show up in your own DIY goods.

Gracie Carroll is a Toronto-based freelance writer whose work has appeared in ELLE UK, ELLEcanada.com, Plaid magazine and FILLER magazine. Keep up with her daily blog at www.graciecarroll.com.

Free beverage alert: Fahrenheit Coffee celebrates its one-year anniversary

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It’s been a year since barista Sameer Mohamed opened Fahrenheit Coffee at its current location, and that’s good news for coffee drinkers in the ’hood. The coffee shop is celebrating its first birthday tomorrow with free drinks — and anything on the menu is game. And some added frosting on the birthday cake: all tips will be donated to the Movember cause.

Fahrenheit Coffee, 120 Lombard Street, 647-896-1774

Q&A: Matt Baram, writer of an upcoming Rob Ford-themed holiday musical

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3:59 pm

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Many Torontonians were eagerly anticipating today’s Rob Ford verdict, but writer Matt Baram was a special case: the plot of his new satirical show, It’s a Wonderful Toronto: The Rob Ford Holiday Spectacular!, hinged on whether the mayor was ousted or not. Needless to say, Baram is doing some rewriting.

The musical comedy, which opens Dec. 11 at Theatre Passe Muraille, is “not a Ford bashing session,” says Baram. “We try to humanize him.” Albeit, in a funny way. We chatted with Baram about today’s verdict, how Ford is like George Bailey and what makes him such a popular satirical figure.

So, in light of today’s verdict, will there be changes made?
Yes. I was sitting by the computer, waiting for the verdict and thinking, “For some reason, I’m hoping for Rob’s victory in all of this. If he’s thrown out of office, I’m busy and I will have to rewrite my whole entire play.” Of course I knew [the verdict] was going to come in on Monday, and of course I don’t want him to be mayor, but he if isn’t, then my play won’t make any sense. I was a bit torn. Ultimately, it will make it more enjoyable for people and not much changes. And any publicity is good publicity.

Can you tell us a little bit about what’s the story about?
We open with Rob Ford on the bridge about to jump — the approval ratings are down, he’s hit with these charges, he has the verdict, he’s been ousted and he’s going to kill himself. And then in comes an angel and an angel of death, and they have a song and dance number. They remind him of all the terrible things he’s done as mayor, but he can always come back and seek another term and doesn’t have to die; no matter what’s he done as mayor, it’s still a wonderful city. Then Rob Ford falls over and twists his ankle, and we reveal it’s a rehearsal for a Christmas show [that’s also called It’s a Wonderful Toronto: The Rob Ford Holiday Spectacular!]. It’s a sketch show to boost Rob Ford’s popularity.

How did the idea of a Rob Ford-inspired musical comedy come about?
Theatre Passe Muraille had an empty week in their December schedule and they asked my company — The National Theatre of the World — to create something. We normally do improvised theatre, but we wanted to do something scripted. I also realized that Passe Muraille had a mandate of Toronto-centered material, so I thought of the title It’s a Wonderful Toronto and I thought we could do a bit of a recap about the ups and downs of what it’s been like to live in Toronto, a sort of an adult panto. Then there was the idea of the George Bailey character and then I thought who better to be George Bailey than Rob Ford? Especially now that he’s hit his ultimate lowest.

Why do you think Ford’s become a popular satirical figure?
I think people, to be honest, have not gone there because it’s too easy. In the short time, in the two years, he’s been in office, I think more pot shots could have been taken. I think he’s too pathetic for satire. But he was such a bad fit for the city, so Torontonians thought they had to laugh at him. You know deep down he loved being mayor and wanted to do good things for the city, but his own personality just kept getting in the way. He kept setting himself up for falls.

What do you want people to come away with after watching the show?
I want them to laugh a lot. I want them to think about things, to remind them what it takes to be citizens of a city. It requires a little bit more of involvement. It’s a cautionary tale, a reminder of how a city can choose a bad mayor when you don’t participate in the process. I think we get to the point where we sit back and think our council will take care of us and I think Ford was a great reminder for Torontonians and any city that it matters who you elect to city and it matters that you vote.

Would you invite him to the show?
I don’t think he should see this [but] he’s invited. I can’t imagine what he would do. I don’t think he has a sense of humour about himself. He’s such a loose cannon. I don’t think we have the insurance to cover him.

It's a Wonderful Toronto: The Rob Ford Holiday Spectacular!, Theatre Passe Muraille, Backspace, 16 Ryerson Ave., 416-504-7529. Dec. 11-16