Archive for the 'Lifestyle' Category
Cabbagetown: Rick McCarthy is Coming to the JetFuel Cafe’
August 24th, 2010 categories: Around TORONTO, Cabbagetown, Downtown Toronto, Lifestyle, Neighborhoods, Toronto
Rick McCarthy was born in Montreal, Quebec in 1941. A 7th-Dan Black Belt in Shotokan Karate, McCarthy has trained for 25 years with both Kancho Takemasa Okuyama and Renshi Shah Franco at their Toronto dojos. While working with the renowned Franco, McCarthy discovered a correlation between Brazilian Ju-Jitsu and the evolution of his own half-century career as an artist. “I see my painting and my fighting as being one and the same,” McCarthy says, “a struggle for existence.”
Rick McCarthy www.rickmccarthytheartist.com
Rick McCarthy has lived on Wellesley Street for years and here is your chance to collect some great art from a famous neighborhood artist. See you at the JetFuel!
Make sure you ask him for his C.V. or visit his web site. You will be impressed!
| Discussion: 2 Comments »
2010 Cabbagetown Preservation Association’s Tour of Homes
August 23rd, 2010 categories: Around TORONTO, Cabbagetown, Downtown Toronto, Lifestyle, Real Estate, Toronto
It’s coming!
Sunday, September 19 from 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm. This is one of the signature events in the Cabbagetown season and a great place to get new ideas for your upcoming bathrooms and kitchens. Tour this great Neighborhood!
Experience stylish living in lavishly designed and updated private Victorian homes on this self-guided tour through the Heritage Conservation District of Cabbagetown. The 2010 Tour features seven unique interiors, ranging from the splendor of an authentically restored and decorated Victorian mansion to the strict and sophisticated minimalism of an architect’s assertive renovation. Begin at any home on the tour and enjoy the gardens along the shaded sidewalks. Take a break at the local restaurants offering special deals to ticket holders.
Tickets cost $30.00 and are available at:
Mi Casa, 238 Carlton Street, 416-929-1913
KENDALL & CO, Décor & Design, 438 Parliament Street, Toronto 416-363-9914
Jamestown Steak & Chops, 516 Parliament St. 416-925-7665
Sheridan Nurseries– Yonge Street North location only – 2827 Yonge St. 416-481-6429
Lady Bug Florist, 513 Church St. 416-922-9971
Cabbagetown BIA, 237 Carlton St. 416-921-0857
Or online using PayPal at www.cabbagetownpa.ca
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Today’s Rant: In Praise of Term Limits
August 3rd, 2010 categories: Business, Lifestyle, Neighborhoods, Toronto
For a good part of my life I have been involved in volunteer organizations. From an early age volunteerism was encouraged by my family. It is something that has given me a lot of joy as well as a huge education in what is the potential of the human spirit.
I was lucky enough to work with June Callwood or as we used to call her, Saint June. She was responsible for many of the community services that support Torontonians. I worked with her at Casey House Hospice , the AIDS hospice in Downtown Toronto which has become a model worldwide. In the early days I started by writing charitable receipts for donations in a corner of the basement and within a few years became the Chair of Fundraising, then a Board member, and finally President. Read the rest of this entry »
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The Cabbagetown Forsythia Festival….
July 18th, 2010 categories: Around TORONTO, Cabbagetown, Downtown Toronto, Lifestyle, Neighborhoods
It has been such a crazy time the past few months that I finally went in to my Vado HD Video Camera and realized that I had taken these videos of the Cabbagetown Forsythia Festival.
This is a great event in early May in Downtown Toronto and one of my favourite times to see the kids and their parents emerging from their warm winter accomodations and start to deal with the first signs of Spring. However this year, the Forsythia were almost one month early due to our mild winter but…it was still a great time had by all.
Many thanks to our Festival Queen’s Gina Dineen and Liz Kingstone. Enjoy the video and look forward to the first weekend in May for next year’s event!
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Need Help to Declutter and Downsize?
June 8th, 2010 categories: Downsizing, Lifestyle, Listings, Selling in Toronto
My friend and client Ann Christie has begun a great new business to help people “Declutter and Downsize”. I have known her for years and think this is a great service she is providing that all of us can use from time to time. I have no qualms at all in referring her to you. In fact, I may be calling her to help me attack my closets….doubt I will be wearing those pants with a 32 inch waist…unless they have elastic ….
Here is some information from Ann the Downsizing GURU! :
Has your home become overrun with clutter and you just don’t know how to deal with all the ‘stuff’ that you’ve collected? Don’t worry, there’s a new service in town designed specifically to help you with this dilemma – it’s called Declutter and Downsize. We offer a range of practical and effective services for home organization. Depending on your situation, we will help you organize your current home or manage the details involved in relocating. Read the rest of this entry »
| Discussion: 3 Comments »
Cabbagetown Garden Tour: June 6th, 2010
May 8th, 2010 categories: Cabbagetown, Getting around the City, Lifestyle, Toronto
Tour the Gardens of Cabbagetown on June 6th, 2010 from 10 AM to 3 PM and enjoy some great gardens. Allow yourself to be snoopy and at the same time raise money for the Cabbagetown Preservation Association. Check out the great poster below and help get the word out. You will see some amazing gardens…I will be at one of the gardens…so try to find me!
| Discussion: 2 Comments »
Musings: Who Are Your Friends?
May 4th, 2010 categories: Around TORONTO, Lifestyle
Recently I was listening to a friend of mine describe a familial relationship that has been toxic for many years and it got me thinking about the number of people one has in one’s life that are a positive influence…and the one’s that are not…
I am not sure why we do it, but sometimes we are comfortable with people around us who do not really wish us well. They are the ones we turn to when things are not going as we had hoped because we know they will lend a sympathetic ear. They enjoy our down moments, like to be needed, and are not really happy for us as we dig ourselves out of a rut.
How many friends do you have today that you can really say want the best for you? Why would you have friends and family around who don’t? Why would you continue to have those people into your life?
And you? Are you the “sympathetic ear” or are you the “kick in the butt” your friends really need?
Which one is the better friend and which one are you?
The world is full of wonderful supportive people and I would like to really thank all those who “Kick us in the butt” from time-to-time!
| Discussion: 3 Comments »
Real Estate: What is Included in the HST?
May 2nd, 2010 categories: Business, Buying in Toronto, Economy, Food, Lifestyle, Real Estate, Technology
It seems almost daily that I am reminded how little we know about the upcoming Harmonized Sales Tax. There is so much confusion in the Public’s mind about what is to be taxed and what is not to be.
The biggest misconception that I hear because of my business is that there seems to be a concern out there that resale housing draws HST. It does not. HST is only on New Constuction. However, HST is payable on any of the services that are used in the Buying or Selling of property. But again: RESALE HOUSING AT ANY PRICE DOES NOT DRAW “HST”, only the services that are involved.
For a full view of what is taxed, I’d like to thank Lori Nichol of Forest Hill Realty Inc. who forwarded me this great summary. To make it easy to view you can easily make it “Full Screen”.
If you would like it in .pdf format jusr click here.
| Discussion: 2 Comments »
Winchester School “FUN FAIR” Saturday, May 29th, 2010
April 16th, 2010 categories: Around TORONTO, Cabbagetown, Lifestyle, Toronto
Get the Face Paint Ready!
Everyone is welcome to join in the fun! There is a dunk tank, bouncy castle, lots of games, prizes, face painting, a Giant Garage Sale, silent auction, French café, delicious Halal lunch, and so much more!
Date: May 29th Time: 11-3
Silent Auction donations Are Wecome and ALL of your gently used treasures for the garage sale. Please contact Gwen (416) 368-0129 or Pam (416) 944-9944 to arrange a drop off. Volunteers are always welcome the day of!
This is a great Community Event that needs everyone’s support!
| Discussion: 1 Comment »
Toronto: The Best Time of the Year!
March 15th, 2010 categories: Around TORONTO, Downtown Toronto, Lifestyle, Toronto, Travel
For years friends have wondered why we stay home on long weekends and March break, and the last weeks of August….Sad to say but Toronto is at it’s best at those times…basically times when as many people are away as possible. Traffic decreases and with it the stress levels on the roads, streets and in the Restaurants….
Toronto becomes more livable, casual and an absolute treat. I feel sorry for some of my friends who have drive the 2-3 hours to cottage country and spend the weekend working on the property and entertaining friends. Not that I don’t enjoy the wonderful Ontario countryside but sometimes it is just a treat to move around this City unimpeded and do some exploring. Just being able to live a few days without the congestion that we have come to expect is almost as good as a Dufflet Chocolate Cake….well…
I guess the big question is…What does that say about how we live the other 330 days of the year???
Your thoughts and comments?
| Discussion: 6 Comments »
