Soon to close Jaiden's Petals Cindiloowho

In sad news (for us), Dani just blogged that she will be closing her flower shop/furniture store, Jaiden’s Petals Cindiloowho, at the end of June. She has been a supporter of new businesses, a purveyor of top-notch goods and services, and a wonderful neighbor, and we will miss her and her store. She is going to expand her career with Jazz FM 91, so it’s good news for Dani. Stop by before she closes to wish her well and get some of her beautiful arrangements while you can!

Dani does note that someone already has dibs on her space, in fact, two someone’s, Teo and Chasen from Union. So, in the “when one door opens, another closes” philosophy, just as Dani is moving on to an exciting new venture, so too is 130 Ossington. We wish Dani and Teo and Chasen the best of luck.

Also closing, actually already closed, is The Port at 1179 Dundas Street West. We wrote about the pinball machines and pool tables, and mostly about the beef on a sword,but it didn’t last. We are not sure what will rise in it’s stead, so if you do, please let us know.

The Port, now closed

A clue to the name of the new place just popped up in a food event release featuring several chefs including Leemo Han, in which he is referenced from Swish by Han and Oddseoul.

With all the new restaurants that have opened recently on the strip, we still don’t have Korean, so that coupled with the good reviews for Swish by Han, makes us eager for the opening, which is planned for August.

They have already been receiving a lot of press, and the biggest challenge they will face is having a seat for every patron that wants to visit. It’s a small place and there are already lines there from early in the evening to try their Singapore street-food style cuisine.

In the first category, Union is a stalwart in the brunch department, and if the weather is nice this weekend, you may even score a seat on the back patio.

The Cuban brunch at Delux is a reliable choice, and if you go that way, definitely share some donuts and/or fritters!

It doesn’t offer brunch, but Pizzeria Libretto serves lunch starting at 11:30, and may be a good choice if you are bringing kids along. Another child-friendly choice, especially for music lovers, is the bluegrass brunch at Dakota Tavern. It’s not fancy, but it sure is fun!

If you want a casual brunch, take mom to The Lakeview.

Don’t forget the casual ambience and scrumptious food on offer at Goed Eten. Now you can enjoy bloody caesars with your waffles!

The Grove just tweeted they are opening for Sunday brunch for the first time this Mother’s Day, so you can be one of the first to taste their spin on traditional English fare. Another new brunch option is The Saint, where mom can relax in one of their booths.

Let us know what you decide! and, of course, Happy Mother’s Day!

One of the great things about Jane’s Walks, besides being free, interesting, and fun, is that everybody has a story to share, and yesterday, we learned some new things about Ossington Village.

We shared stories about the recent development of the food, art and real estate scenes of Ossington, and even delved into some history. We pointed out some of the street art along Ossington, places where famous people have visited, and places we like to hang out.

We were also told a few stories.

For example, the CAMH rehab facility at the bottom west side of Ossington near Queen used to be a firehouse, not surprisingly when you look at the tower. The tower itself was built expressly for a firehouse, as the place to hang their nylon firehose to dry after use.

Another interesting story was about the condos at Halton and Ossington. The Ossington development was built on the site of a former auto repair shop and car wash, and the condos on Halton took over from an old church that was sold and demolished. Just east of there, where another set of newer townhouses now exists, the developer bought an old church for only $650,000 and converted them to the houses today.

We finished the weekend at a neighborhood favorite, which is also an unknown spot to many in the city, The Communist’s Daughter. We even got Michael Johnson to come outside and play some of his gypsy jazz for the crowd. A perfect ending to a tour of Ossington.

Jane’s Walks occur for a weekend each Spring. We had a great time leading one, and we’ll likely do it again next year. Let us know if you went on any Jane’s Walks or if you have any interesting info on the history of our neighborhood.

Town Moto opened on Ossington this week, and we got a chance to meet Marika, the owner, and check out the wares of this fresh new retailer for all things related to the motorcycle. Town Moto is located at 132 Ossington, formerly occupied by Virginia Johnson. The store is full of gear, clothing, accessories, magazines,  and more, all dedicated to motorcycles. You’ll now see some nice bikes parked outside and the staff are full of considerable knowledge on the topic. For those who are interested, Marika let us know that neighbours have pointed out that there are now a lot of good looking guys – often in stylish leather jackets – who are stopping by. So even if you aren’t into motorcycles there may be other reasons to stop by and browse the shop.

They’re open daily, so while you’re strolling the neighborhood, stop in and say hi. Keep an eye on their blog for the latest fashions and products they have in stock.

An opening at Gallery at 129:

The lineup at Hawker Bar early on in the evening:

Our walk, titled “An Insider’s View of Ossington,” starts at 4:30pm on Saturday, May 5 in front of Bellwoods Brewery at 124 Ossington. Since we know and love this neighborhood, we’ll share some stories and recommend places for entertainment, food, and fun. It’ll take about 90 minutes, and covers Ossington between Dundas and Queen.

Also in the area, “The Walls Are Alive with The Sounds of Mad People” is an amazingly informative walk led by a local historian all about the mental patients who built the walls at CAMH. Click the link for details.

A few tours leaving from Trinity Bellwoods Park include a bike tour of Ward 19, a tour of the park itself, and, on the north end, a parade and storytelling walk.

There are also tours being led in Liberty Village, Parkdale, the Ex and Fort York. Tours are at different times on Saturday and Sunday, so check the website to find the ones that interest you the most.

Additional info on Jane’s Walk: Jane’s Walk is a celebration of people and cities taking place all around the world on the first weekend of May. It was created in 2007 in Toronto by friends of the urban thinker Jane Jacobs and has grown from 27 walks the first year to over 500 in 75 cities. Right now there are people walking and talking in Paris, London, New York… and many other cities around the world. It is free and open, and it should be a walking conversation. Walks are as varied as the people taking part, and they create the time and space for people to connect, share, and develop ideas about their communities and cities.

The event was well-attended by a mix of locals, potential buyers, friends of the owners, and media, lots of media. We spoke with Sheldon Fenton, the President and CEO of Reserve Properties, who plans to host more events and become a valued member of the Ossington Village community. He mentioned that until they go into full renovation mode the space will host local events and art exhibits.

The DJ at the party prior to the live music:

A montage of local images:

Eight and a Half playing in the upstairs event space:

In news, Goed Eten now has a liquor license, so you can have a caesar with lunch and a beer with brunch, or vice versa!

In late March, The Grove opened on Dundas Street just west of Ossington. This upscale British restaurant is getting attention for it’s interior and its cuisine.

In the past few weeks, we’ve seen the launch of three very different restos on Ossington, upscale pub The Saint, Singapore street food purveyor Hawker Bar, and brewery with snacks Bellwoods Brewery.

It’s hard to say which of the three is getting the best press, so we won’t even try.

The Saint took years to open, but now that it is here, it’s getting good feedback for its upscale pub style and cuisine.

Hawker Bar opened without a liquor license (still pending) but that is not stopping the crowds or the rave reviews for its unique-to-Toronto Asian food.

Last but not least, Bellwoods Brewery opened its kegs and its kitchen to the public and both are much appreciated.

We are still waiting for Amaya to open, and there a couple of other places that look promising. What is your favorite spot in Ossington Village, old or new? Let us know in the comments.