Nu-Folk and Gypsy-Punk visit Roncesvalles

On Thursday a "nu-folk" happening comes to our little part of the world. The Organic Streetscape Projekt is a Canadian tour based around a collaboration between Ukrainian and Canadian musicians and artists that will include several exhibits and shows in several cities as well as collaboration with Toronto gypsy-punk troupe WORLDLY SAVAGES and other special guests.

The first event in this tour will take place in the Snowball Gallery on Queen St. West, just steps east of Roncesvalles Avenue.

The evening will feature a live performance by folk group Ludy Dobri from Ukraine and installations by local and international writers and artists. The event is meant to be a collaborative show on the theme of Ukrainian-Canadian identity and the intersection of folk tradition in a contemporary world.

I mention this event since I have run across the Ludy Dobri several times now busking on the streets and in the parks of Toronto and have enjoyed the sound they create. So I was happily surprised to find out today that they will be performing around the corner from me.

Show starts at 8pm I believe.

Read more

Listing of other Ludy Dobri show dates and locations

My first Ronces-related holiday

Just a few more days and I will be trekking into the eastern stretches of our fair province to spend a week at a rented cottage. First time I've ever rented a cottage. So this should be an interesting experience.

It started about two months ago when I saw a notice hanging on a bulleting board at the Timothy's that a local couple, Sandra and Peter, were offering their cottage for rent. I took down the phone number and eventually called and reserved a week for myself.

I'll let you know how it works out. Hopefully it is a blast so that I can put in a nice plug for a neighbour!

Brunch on Ronces - Chez Brad's

Looking for a great place to have brunch? Try Brad's which is located near the intersection with Geoffrey, one door down from Timothy's. Went there again yesterday after a bit of an absence. Usually I have the three egg breakfast with sausage (best breakfast suasage I've had in Toronto - most places they are too greasy, or too salty, or too rubbery - here they are just perfect).

This time though I tried something new. Went for the brioche french toast. Great choice if a little bit waaay to sweet! I had the toast with caramelized bananas and blueberry sauce. MMM-mmmm-yum!

Brad's has a front section where you can dine while watching what goes on in the street, a rear room, that is a bit quieter, more intimate, and a great little sun room out backk that opens to the outdoors.

The brunch menu is only available on Saturday and Sunday. I've only eaten at Brad's during the week once. The daily menu is not well suited to my own personal likes and dislikes, however I have heard great reviews about the regular menu from several other Ronces regulars, so chances are, its just as good during the week.

Construction Follies

The rebuild of the street car tracks has reached High Park Avenue. It's a bit chaotic in terms of navigating the street and parking and such. But I am very happy that the local BIA has taken an intelligent approach to the whole thing. Not like the putzes up on St. Clair. Those morons made things worse for themselves by bogging the construction process down in the courts and ended up hurting themselves even more. I hope other BIAs take look at the results here. Sure business is down for a lot of stores, but only two have shut down so far as I can tell and the construction will be done within a year of starting. Not five years later like on St. Clair.

Plus the BIA here negotiated a deal with the city so that all street parking is free until the construction project is over. That was a brilliant move as far as I am concerned (plus it has saved me a fortune in parking charges! Thank you very much Roncesvalles VIllage BIA!!!! You folks are straight up in my books. So don't let the construction deter you from visiting this great neighbourhood.

Odds and Ends

Every neighbourhood has things that have beeen there forever, and I am sure someone somewhere knows the why and what and who of it all. But for most people who pass by the oddities forever remain simply odd. One such oddity in the neighbourhood is the lettering on this building found at the intersection of Dundas St. and Howard Park Ave where the street car lines merge.



Can anyone provide any insight on what this is all about?

Street Car Hijinks Pt.2

Construction is now well under way as these photos attest. Too bad the day I have my camera handy no one is trying some boneheaded driving manoeuver. The first picture is looking south, the second looking north at around Marion St. at the south end of the neighbourhood. Hope the businesses in the area don't lose too much business before this is done. I'm still visiting all my regular haunts in the area despite a bit of a hassle with parking.