blogTO | Posts by joshua

Whack the PM Predicts Election Results

Joshua — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 09:21:32 PDT

Whack the PM is a non-partisan and spectacularly satirical election website that lets you beat the crap out of the party leaders in an effort to predict the next Prime Minister of Canada. In this game where winning means you'll lose, candidates are hoping to come out unscathed after participants answer hot topic questions by whacking a party leader on the head.

And while Corina took a look at some more substantive or serious election websites, this one is irreverent and loads of fun. Whack the PM also happens to be 2 for 2 in election prediction: in 2004 and 2006 it knew the results before the ballots were counted.

Plus this will likely be the first - and last - time you see any of the candidates rubbing shoulders in a single hot tub.

More...

Election 2008: Parkdale-High Park Candidates in Tight Race

Joshua — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:04:29 PDT

The Parkdale-High Park riding is a tight race this election with local favourites Peggy Nash (NDP) and Gerrard Kennedy (Liberals) squaring off for the first time. Green candidate Rob Rishchynski and Conservative Jilian Saweczko are running visible campaigns, but are really just battling for bronze.

Nash was first to hit the streets and distribute signs - using leftovers from her previous campaign with "re-elect" stickers added - but Kennedy quickly countered with signs of his own. In a sort of candidate love-fest, it's become standard to see signs for both candidates in the same window or yard.

The campaign took a strange turn with recent vandalism in the riding, but neither candidate seems to be ahead of the other. It's hard to predict what this election will turn on as constituents weigh their loyalty to the incumbent (Nash) and their longtime former MPP (Kennedy).

More...

Roncesvalles Polish Festival Kicks Off

Joshua — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 17:49:28 PDT

The popular Roncesvalles Polish Festival officially kicked off with a harvest celebration this afternoon and is expecting 100,000 visitors from all over Toronto today and tomorrow. Although the weather isn't ideal for the outdoor fun and food, Roncesvalles Ave is closed down and the festival mood has taken hold of the neighbourhood.

Polish food and musical tastes are on fine display, and a number of non-Polish businesses from Roncesvalles and beyond comprised a surprisingly large portion of the vendors. The festival offers the chance to see Chicago band Freeze Dried, described as "a polka band backed by the Supremes," while eating Malaysian murtabak (think roti) alongside pierogies, 'kraut and sausage.

More...

First Look: Lit Espresso Bar

Joshua — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 09:43:28 PDT

Lit Espresso Bar opened its doors a week ago, but is already finding that their fine coffees and range of panini are just what Roncesvalles residents wanted. I visited the new spot on their opening weekend and my first look at Lit is in the cafes section.

It's Official: Harper Calls Election

Joshua — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 09:51:42 PDT

After weeks of speculation and posturing, Prime Minister Stephen Harper called an election this morning, officially kicking of the campaigning that will culminate in Canadians going to the polls on October 14.

The election call comes on the heels of a new CBC poll indicating that 38 percent of Canadians would vote Conservative if the election were held today, enough to retain power, and that both Stephen Harper and Jack Layton, NDP leader, are viewed as better possible PMs than liberal leader Stéphane Dion (polling of blogTO readers is so far telling a very different story - see still active poll below). The Green Party and Bloc poll at similar levels, well below the other three parties, with Elizabeth May's strength in Ontario.

Each party is pushing hard for GTA votes, traditionally a left-wing stronghold but more in play for the Conservatives than years past, according to the poll.

More...

Junction Arts Festival Welcomes Justin Rutledge

Joshua — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 17:59:03 PDT

The Junction Arts Festival, in it's 16th year and running through Sunday, showcased Junction native Justin Rutledge Friday night and welcomes multi award winner David Usher tonight. Galleries are set up in local businesses throughout the one kilometre stretch of Dundas between Keele and Quebec.

The arts programming features Canadians and Torontonians alike, and is worth a visit on its own. The festival, expanded to five days this year with art, music, movies and more, showcases a variety of homegrown - Junction - musicians.

Friday night's headliner Justin Rutledge drew both locals and loyal followers alike, and the free David Usher show tonight promises to bring an even fuller house.

More...

Chef Rocco Agostino Cooks Up Local Food at Silver Spoon

Joshua — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 09:40:41 PDT

Donning a chef coat and serving up great food six nights a week is no easy task, but mild-mannered chef Rocco Agostino, owner of Silver Spoon in Roncesvalles, does it with creativity and dedication. Chef Agostino, who is celebrating 8 years with Silver Spoon, loves being in the kitchen, using Ontario's finest ingredients and watching diners in his restaurant enjoy their meals.

With strong family roots in the far south of Italy, it's hard for the chef to keep Italy out of his food, but his French technique and worldly tastes make Silver Spoon a seasonal food restaurant more than anything else. His love of Italy, though, and its pizza, led him to help a friend open the new Pizzeria Libretto, where you can find some of the finest brick oven pizzas outside Napoli.

I joined Chef Agostino recently to talk about what makes good food, where he gets his inspiration and whether he'd like to have his own tv show.

More...

Obama Draws a Crowd Downtown Toronto for Democratic Convention Speech

Joshua — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 10:14:20 PDT

Several hundred supporters at the Empire Lounge in Toronto cheered loudly last night, as Barack Obama delivered a powerful speech from Invesco Field in Denver. As 80,000 gathered around Obama, Democrats Abroad in Toronto joined countless thousands around the world to watch the speech live, cheering and applauding as if Obama could hear them.

Obama earned rousing cheers from the crowd repeatedly, perhaps none more loud than after blasting opponent John McCain for being out of touch with everyday Americans. "It's not because John McCain doesn't care," Obama said. "It's because John McCain doesn't get it."

More...

TTC Adds Bike Racks to More Buses

Joshua — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:14:59 PDT

In their effort to equip 100% of Toronto's buses with bike racks by 2010, the TTC has announced that beginning Sunday, 19 more bus routes will become bicycle friendly. This will bring the fleet of bike rack equipped buses to 43.

What started as a pilot project a couple years ago, with just a few select (mostly north-south) routes, is now expanding to be an option accessible to riders in many parts of the city, heading in any direction. Although bikes are allowed on all TTC vehicles, the bus bicycle racks are the only option during the rush periods.

More...

Toronto Rental Trucks: Where's the Real Discount?

Joshua — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 10:08:34 PDT

Unless you've got a friend with a pickup willing to make a few trips or you're hiring professionals, come moving day it's time to turn to the rental truck. U-Haul, Budget, and Discount seem to have the personal moving market blanketed, but Penske and Ryder have locations too.

The appeal of do-it-yourself moving is purely economical; renting a truck is cheaper than hiring a moving company. And instead of using the fuel efficient four-wheeler to get the job done, a rental truck offers the opportunity to get the whole ordeal of moving over and done with. And the last time I checked, mattresses don't fit in cars.

I've come to the conclusion that the names Discount and Budget aren't really a reflection of pricing, but that at least U-Haul is honest with theirs: you will definitely do all the hauling.

More...

Warmia Deli Enters the Deadpool

Joshua — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 08:28:25 PDT

A pillar of the Roncesvalles Polish community, Warmia Deli closed its doors Monday. This local gem is the latest family run Polish business in Roncesvalles to close up shop, and I doubt a Polish deli will replace it.

Although there are still plenty of options up and down the street to get pierogies, pickles or packzi, Warmia's offerings were particularly notable. For those who venture out of Roncesvalles for Polish, though, all is not lost.

More...

Police Seize More Bicycles

Joshua — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 23:29:29 PDT

Police seized 700 more bicycles in three searches conducted today related to the recent "Igor Kenk" theft ring investigation. The searches, including this one pictured near College and Lansdowne, have netted over 3,200 bicycles so far.

Of the thousands of bicycles already seized and on display, only 250 have been claimed by their rightful owners, and only three more days remain to claim the two-wheelers.

More...

Toronto Resident Tears Up Driveway to Plant Paradise

Joshua — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:28:50 PDT

Local artist and eco-minded citizen Franke James decided to do the hard thing first and replace her interlocking brick front yard (parking lot) with plants and an eco driveway (paradise). What she didn't expect was a North York demand for concrete, asphalt or interlocking driveways. But, with persistence, she made one of the city's greenest front yards a reality.

Now, one year later, she is enjoying a lot of green space, and has chronicled her tale online.

More...

Toronto FC Fails to Advance, Keep Fans

Joshua — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:20:37 PDT

The Toronto FC played to a draw against the Montreal Impact Tuesday night, failing in their bid for a Champions League berth. But before my companions and I reached our seats, thanks to logistics and camera policy, the TFC had pretty well lost us as fans.

This was the first TFC match for any of us, so naturally we were pretty excited. And as much as I prefer using transit, it made the most sense for us to drive and park. Despite being on Lakeshore, east of Jameson, with 45 minutes to start time, we didn't get to our seats until 35 minutes into the first half.

And they forced us to check our decidedly non-professional camera, due to the non-professional lens.

More...

Petition for Backyard Chickens

Joshua — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:04:38 PDT

The allure of fresh eggs daily and natural pest control is too much for some Toronto locavores, and despite the city's prohibition, some residents are quietly keeping chickens in their backyard. One midtown woman, we'll call her Toronto Chicken, has started an online petition to change that bylaw.

Toronto Chicken is not alone, in Toronto and elsewhere. As eating local food becomes more and more popular, urban dwellers are increasingly looking to their governments to loosen regulations regarding backyard non-commercial livestock.

Although the annonymous chicken keeper has quietly kept her birds for a year, she feel like it is time to go public and change the bylaws, making her chickens - Clucky, Sally and Hybie - legal residents of Toronto.

More...