Archive for September, 2009
What Kind of Mayor Does Toronto Need Now?
September 29th, 2009 categories: Around TORONTO, Business, Buying in Toronto, Downtown Toronto, Economy, Lifestyle, Real Estate, Toronto
With David Miller deciding not to run in the upcoming Toronto Mayoralty race, it begs the question “What kind of Mayor does Toronto need now?” Mayor Miller has left us with a wonderful City in decline…
If you, like me, are wondering why it took a 5 week summer Strike to end up with a City Workers contract that could have probably been negotiated without a Strike, I would tell you that it is symptomatic of what is wrong with Mayor Miller’s management. He cannot seem to get consensus on City Council or in the City. He has taken very strong stands on losing causes such as his fight with the Island Airport and the popular Porter Airways and lost a lot of support by implementing two added taxes on Torontonians who drive or buy homes. These taxes will never be great generators of income as they focus on groups rather than the whole who benefit. He has increased City taxes and all you have to do is look around to see a lack of value in those increases…but I digress… Read the rest of this entry »
| Discussion: 9 Comments »
Real Estate: Downsizing with Style and Grace: Part Two
September 28th, 2009 categories: Around TORONTO, Downsizing, Downtown Toronto, Economy, Lifestyle, Real Estate, Toronto
Thanks for the great response and ideas from the first post on Downsizing…before I add some more thoughts, let’s talk about some of the issues generated after Post One:
There seems to be a universal response to the negative naming of the difficult process: Downsizing. However, I remembered with some friendly prodding that Barry Lebow, Founder of The Accredited Senior Agent Designation refers to it as “Rightsizing”, a term defined as “to undergo a reduction to an optimal size”. I like referring to it as it turns a negative into a positive, so that works for me….Barry’s web site at http://www.thesenioragent.com/ has some great resources for seniors who are rightsizing but remember that people rightsize for all sorts of reasons. Read the rest of this entry »
| Discussion: 6 Comments »
Real Estate: Downsizing with Style and Grace: Part One
September 24th, 2009 categories: Around TORONTO, Buying in Toronto, Condominium, Downsizing, Real Estate
Up-sizing is real easy to do….we start with very little and at each and every stage we add more…and more. Fast forward a few years and young or old….you look around and find yourself surrounded by THINGS (of course they are Family Heirlooms too)….but do we really need them?
Could we live in less space? Could we live in multiple locations at different times of the year by selling the larger home. Of course…but the enormity of the job ahead hits with major depression and the reality is that Downsizing Sucks!
I thought I would give you some ideas from my home-selling experience that might help you deal with some of the challenges of this new adventure: Downsizing with grace and style. Read the rest of this entry »
| Discussion: 10 Comments »
Toronto: Saturday Night on St. Clair Avenue West
September 23rd, 2009 categories: Around TORONTO, Downtown Toronto, Lifestyle, Toronto
Last Saturday night we dropped in on the new location of one of our favorite Italian restaurants: Acquolina Ristorante. They moved to 760 St. Clair Avenue West recently from their original on Mt. Pleasant Road. As usual, the food and service were great however…
It has been a while since I drove the length of St. Clair Avenue West from Yonge Street to Christie Avenue without construction…and now we could truly experience the finished product of the past three years, including special lanes for the TTC Trolleys….
Sadly, on a Saturday night at 6:30 PM (early eaters are we)…the street was vacant of any life. The St. Clair Avenue West BIA or Toronto City Council that proposed the rebuild of this vibrant area have really blown it. There used to be life on the Street, people sitting in sidewalk Cafes, shopping, strolling, etc. Read the rest of this entry »
| Discussion: 4 Comments »
Toronto Real Estate Board Releases Canadian Consumer Price Index August 2009
September 18th, 2009 categories: Business, Downtown Toronto, Economy, Real Estate, Toronto
Click on the Full Screen Button at the bottom of this slide to View. Then press ESC or escape when finished.
| Discussion: No Comments »
GTA REALTORS® Report Sales and Price Growth in September
September 16th, 2009 categories: Around TORONTO
TORONTO, September 16, 2009 – In the first two weeks of September, Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 3,361 sales – up 23 per cent compared to the first two weeks of September 2008.
The average price for these transactions was up eight per cent year-over-year to $393,818. “An increasing number of positive reports pointing to economic recovery coupled with low interest rates have kept households confident in purchasing a home,” said TREB President Tom Lebour. Read the rest of this entry »
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Some Video of the Cabbagetown Festival 2009….Why people love Cabbagetown!
September 12th, 2009 categories: Around TORONTO, Cabbagetown, Downtown Toronto
Every year, the weekend after Labour Day in Toronto, Ontario, the residents of Cabbagetown get together and celebrate the neighborhood. It starts early in the morning with Blair’s Run in support of the Cabbagetown Youth Centre, a Parade and then the Cabbagetown Arts and Crafts Show in Riverdale Park! There is great eats at the Park, Farm and on Parliament Street that really highlight the diversity of the neighborhood. It serves to remind us all that Cabbagetown is just a small Town in a big City!
Related Posts:
Cabbagetown For Sale: Stunning Detached Townhome: Seldom Offered…
Great Annual Cabbagetown Fundraiser to Benefit the Riverdale Farm.
Toronto Real Estate: Cabbagetown Landmark Victorian: Residential with Commercial Unit
31st Annual Cabbagetown Tour of Homes, September 20th, 2009.
Cabbagetown Controversy: To Seat or Not To Seat!!
| Discussion: 5 Comments »
Toronto Real Estate Board Launches Housing Market Stats
September 11th, 2009 categories: Around TORONTO, Downtown Toronto, Real Estate, Toronto
Great News! The Toronto Real Estate Board is providing us with housing market information in graph format that will help you be up-to-date about what is really happening in the Toronto Real Estate Market. Let me know what you think, or if you need more clarification and know that I will be updating these graphs on my web sites as they are published by TREB…. so please come back for next month’s updates.Click here for Toronto Real Estate Board Market Stats
| Discussion: 1 Comment »
Cabbagetown For Sale: Stunning Detached Townhome: Seldom Offered…
September 7th, 2009 categories: Around TORONTO, Cabbagetown, Real Estate, Toronto
437 Sackville Street: Priced at $1,149,000 with Double Garage and Lower Level Apartment
Seldom found amongst thousand of semis in Downtown Toronto: a Detached Townhouse on a prime Cabbagetown Street with 4 Bedrooms and 5 Bathrooms. Built in 1985 but recently updated and redecorated. Everything the discerning client requests and very little maintenance. Check out the presentation below and call for an appointment 416-322-8000 or mail@richardsilver.com:
| Discussion: No Comments »
Artichokes: My Favourite Vegetable
September 7th, 2009 categories: Around TORONTO, Food, Lifestyle, Toronto
In my last years of University, I spent a Summer in Santa Cruz, California. Just South of there is a town called Castroville, California and it is the home of the big ARTICHOKE and the Artichoke Festival!!!
It was there and then that I tried my first fresh Artichoke and I have been enamoured with the vegetable ever since. We eat them fresh as often as we can because they are very high in anti-oxidents, low in fat (except for the butter or Mayo that they are dipped in) and are great fun to eat. They are a very social vegetables because they take time to consume and you have to be somewhat careful. Try preparing them split, steamed and grill them on the BBQ before serving. Read the rest of this entry »
| Discussion: 4 Comments »
