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Thursday, October 31, 2019

Sold! This is what a $7.7 million house looks like

I was actually going to write about this house as the house of the week, but it sold before I got a chance! 45 admiral road torontoThis gorgeous fully-renovated turn of the century home in the Annex lasted all of three days on the market. It's really not that surprising that this house got snapped up so quickly, and for basically asking price. 

45 admiral road torontoThe five-bedroom, five-bathroom house is stunning. The main floor is open plan, bright and airy. 

45 admiral road torontoThe dining room is right off the foyer and has a swanky wine cellar. 

45 admiral road torontoThe kitchen and living room are sleek and modern. The oversized island is perfect for hanging around while someone is cooking. 

45 admiral road torontoIt looks out over the backyard, which is complete with a well-proportioned patio, BBQ set up and a salt water pool. 

45 admiral road torontoThe garage has been turned into a pool and cabana-type lounge area, but could be used as a little studio if you needed extra space. 

45 admiral road torontoThe bedrooms are on the second and third floors. You can either get there using the stairs or the elevator. 

45 admiral road torontoThe master suite is crisp and minimalist in design.

45 admiral road torontoIt has two walk-in closets and a beautiful five-piece en suite bathroom. 

45 admiral road torontoThere's more living room in the basement with a large rec room and an additional bedroom with en suite bathroom. 45 admiral road toronto

The Essentials
  • Address: 45 Admiral Road
  • Type: House
  • Bedrooms: 4 + 1
  • Bathrooms: 5
  • Size: 35.01 x 141 feet
  • Realtor: Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd. 
  • Hit the market at: $7,788,000
  • Sold for: $7,700,00045 admiral road toronto
Why it sold for what it did?

It’s a fully renovated five-bedroom home in one of the most sought-after neighbourhoods in Toronto. 45 admiral road toronto

Was it worth it?

The home is beautiful, and the fact that it was only on the market for three days is a testament to whether or not it was worth it. 45 admiral road toronto


by Misha Gajewski via blogTO

10 things to do in Toronto today

By now, Toronto might be Halloween'd out, but there's still some fun to be had with things to do today including pumpkin parades happening all over the city. A new rare book fair is here and the Royal Winter Fair is getting started. Film, music, parties and more are on, too.

Events you might want to check out:

Pumpkin Parades (November 1 @ Multiple Venues)
Halloween might be over, but there's still the chance to see hundreds of crafty Jack-O'-Lanterns lit up across many Toronto parks.
Friday Night Live (November 1 @ The Royal Ontario Museum)
#FNL is back and ready to hit the catwalk as this week's theme is fashion, so be sure to show up in your glitziest and most glamorous duds.
Antiquarian Book Fair (November 1-3 @ Art Gallery of Ontario)
New is this huge book fair with Canadian and U.S. collectors coming in from all over to show off rare books, antique maps, prints, photographs and more.
Community Night Market (November 1 @ Mill Street Beer Hall)
Dress warm and come thirsty for this night market with beer samples and bites, live music and local artisans selling all kinds of handmade goods.
Death To T.O (November 1 @ Lee's Palace)
Back again is this big Halloween jam with local cover bands playing tunes by Madonna, Billy Idol, Gorillaz, Celine Dion, Heart and more.
A Night to Movember (November 1 @ stackt MARKET)
The Movember festivities kick off with a party during this night of fun in support of prostate cancer awareness with drinks, games and music.
Hey Ghoul Hey (November 1 @ The Garrison)
If you're looking to keep the Halloween fun going, this spooky bash features some of the best hip-hop and R&B by female and non-binary artists.
Diaspora Film Festival (November 1-3 @ Art Gallery of Ontario)
Award-winning films that explore diaspora and cultural exchange are on with works by local and international filmmakers.
Brazil Film Fest (November 1-3 @ TIFF Bell Lightbox Box)
Films from and about Brazil make up this festival with 12 works screening over four days, plus talks, special guests and programming.
Royal Winter Fair (November 1-10 @ Enercare Centre)
Canada's diverse agricultural landscape comes to Toronto for this huge annual fair that includes exhibitions, competitions, food, drink and shopping.

by Lisa Power via blogTO

The top 15 markets and pop-ups in Toronto this November

The top markets and pop-ups in Toronto for November 2019 are here to make shopping local easy this holiday season. The One of a Kind Show is back to feature makers from all over and FAO Schwarz is popping up again. If you're looking for food-focused markets, there's lots here.

Events you might want to check out:

Antiquarian Book Fair (November 1-3 @ Art Gallery of Ontario)
New is this huge book fair with Canadian and U.S. collectors coming in from all over to show off rare books, antique maps, prints, photographs and more.
Etsy Holiday Market (November 3 @ The Great Hall)
Skip the shipping time and catch over 50 Toronto Etsy makers at this market with tons of handmade, one-of-a kind crafts, gifts and cool finds.
Whole Life Expo (November 8-10 @ Metro Toronto Convention Centre)
Everything you need to live your best life is on at this huge expo with almost 200 vendors showing of the latest in lifestyle and wellness products.
Parkdale Flea (November 9 @ Northern Contemporary Gallery)
Back again is this flea with unique items made by local vendors and cool new finds, including gifts, bath and beauty, home and clothing.
Eco Lifestyle Market (November 10 @ The Great Hall)
Living green is easy with so many local vendors creating innovative and cool eco-friendly items, a lot of which you can pick up at this market.
Old Book and Paper Show (November 10 @ Artscape Wychwood Barns)
Hardcore collectors and bibliophiles of all kinds are welcome at this big show that features rare books, paper, prints, maps, photos and lots more.
Wonder Holiday MΓ€rkit (November 10 @ Gladstone Ballroom)
The holidays are here at this curated market with specialty vendors selling a variety of gifts and goods for everyone on your list.
Leslieville Winter Market (November 10 - December 22 @ The Redwood Theatre)
The Leslieville Farmers' Market kicks off a new season for winter that features local producers and makers selling seasonal goods of all kinds.
Toronto Christmas Market (November 14 - December 22 @ The Distillery District)
Toronto is ready to get into the holiday spirit as this big European-style Christmas market returns with festive food, drinks, gifts and performances.
All Handmade Marketplace (November 15-16 @ St Volodymyr Cultural Centre)
It's all about the handmade goodies at this market that features over 80 artists and makers selling one-of-a-kind items and gifts.
Trinity Bellwoods Flea (November 17 @ The Great Hall)
Candles, clothing, chocolate and cards are just some of the many goods available from local makers at this big market with everything for the holidays.
One of a Kind Winter Show (November 21 - December 1 @ Enercare Centre)
Back again is this massive show featuring makers and artists from all over the country dropping by to sell their speciality crafts and products.
FAO Schwarz Holiday Pop-Up (November 23 - December 7 @ Hudson's Bay)
The big teddy bear is back for the holidays as FAO Schwarz returns to transform part of the Bay into a massive Christmas toy store wonderland.
Toronto Art Crawl (November 24 @ The Great Hall)
Local and international artists are dropping by to showcase their stuff at this big art crawl with works of all types, plus music, food and live demos.
Indigenous Artisan Marketplace (November 29 - December 1 @ Native Canadian Centre of Toronto)
Works by Indigenous artists are on at this big market with handmade items and crafts including beadwork, clothing, jewellery and more.

by Lisa Power via blogTO

Toronto Raptors pumpkin carvings are everywhere this Halloween

It's Halloween in Toronto which means the city is covered in Raptors-themed-pumpkins. 

Residents are putting their artistic skills to work and carving detailed, intricate Raptors-inspired designs into pumpkins and sharing them all over social media — and the results are pretty incredible. 

Some of the designs are so detailed, it's clear they took hours to complete. 

Many of the pumpkin carvers chose to rep the old-school Raptors design, which is right in line with their style this season

Others chose to draw inspiration from the Raptors' championship win this past season. 

And some even incorporated the Toronto skyline.

Some of the pumpkins were made by elementary school kids in an attempt to win their school pumpkin carving contests. 

And certain pumpkin carvers chose to design multiple creations, representing Toronto's other home teams too. 

So far, one of the most impressive creations appears to be one emulating the Toronto Raptors' $10,000 championship rings.

Regardless of how impressive each one is, there's no question Toronto is showing their love and support for the Raptors through creative pumpkin carvings this Halloween.


by Mira Miller via blogTO

Video shows Toronto motorist take a dangerous detour on the sidewalk of a residential street

Today in 'incredibly reckless moves by Toronto drivers,' a Twitter video shows just how dangerous the city's roads truly are. 

Toronto resident Matthew Slutsky posted a video earlier today of a car driving directly onto the sidewalk — on the wrong side of the street — to avoid having to wait behind a lineup of cars. 

"This is a very common occurrence in front of my house," Slutsky wrote. "Kids are going to get killed. This is so unsafe."

Slutsky also wrote that he's almost been hit three times already this year while walking with his kids on the sidewalk. The last time, he said, the car only missed them by about six inches.

The Twitter video has already been viewed more than 4,000 times and is sparking outrage among Toronto residents who say this is a common occurrence. 

"It is a common occurrence," Slutsky wrote on Twitter. "Due to the Crosstown construction on Eglinton, the side streets can become a mess and cause about 30 minute backups on the sidestreets and around West Prep school. So dangerous."

Globe and Mail reporter Oliver Moore also tweeted about a similar situation just days ago. 

"Few things infuriate me more as both a driver/pedestrian than our incessant honking, lane-changing, aggressive-manoeuvring car culture," CBC reporter Lauren Pelley replied.

Slutsky said he filed a police report about the incident captured on video, but so far nothing has been done. 

In response to the tweet, city councillor Mike Colle told Slutsky to contact him, to which he said he would be doing so immediately. 

According to a motion from Councillor Michael Thompson presented at city hall yesterday, there have been 33 pedestrian fatalities in Toronto so far this year. 

And in 2018, a total of 41 pedestrians and five cyclists died on Toronto's roads, which was a new all-time high for Toronto.

The city is currently in the process of testing new technologies to help detect and protect pedestrians, but many are saying as long as cars continue to drive recklessly without consequence, nothing will change.


by Mira Miller via blogTO

People are already complaining about the weather on Halloween in Toronto

Not so happy Halloween, everyone who planned to wear open-toed shoes tonight!

The wet, windy weather system we've been experiencing in Toronto for the better part of two days is only expected to get more intense as we head into Thursday evening, potentially bringing a "snowy surprise" into the city overnight.

So violent is this inconveniently-timed fall storm, in fact, that Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for Toronto warning of "significant rain and gusty winds" all evening.

"Rain, at times heavy, is expected into this evening. Additional rainfall amounts of 15 to 30 mm are expected today for total amounts of 30 to 50 mm by late this evening," reads the statement, which calls for wind gusts of up to 80 km/h overnight and into Friday morning.

"The heaviest rain is expected this afternoon into early this evening."

Children are getting more "trick" than "treat" from mother nature this year, it seems.

Weather happens. We all know this, but it doesn't make getting one's wig tangled up in the wind any more pleasant.

Rain is dampening more than sneakers — it's dampening the spirits of people all across our usually-festive city.

The cold is also throwing a hitch in the plans of people who planned costumes that are... less appropriate for low temperatures.

Some are wondering aloud if the City of Toronto should postpone Halloween this year in light of the weather, like Montreal and Ottawa have.

Others who think that's a stupid idea will be happy to note that Mayor John Tory said he has no intention of delaying the popular holiday. 

Wherever you go, whatever you do, bring a poncho. It's worth the price of coat check.


by Lauren O'Neil via blogTO

Someone in Toronto dressed their baby as a TTC employee for Halloween

It's October 31, which means it's the day to keep an eye out for the most creative and well-executed costumes. But who would've thought one of the best would be worn by a baby? 

Holly Smith tweeted a photo of her baby's Halloween costume earlier today, and it couldn't be any cuter. 

Smith says she chose to dress her baby as a TTC employee because her father worked for the TTC for his whole life until he retired. 

Not only is the costume absolutely adorable, it's also hand-made. 

She said her sister made the costume for her own son about four years ago, and now she gets to give it a second life on her own child.

Smith tagged TTCHelps in the tweet about her baby, and so far it's been retweeted by both the TTC Customer Service Twitter account and Sue Motahedin, the head of customer service for the TTC.

She also said she's been getting positive responses from Toronto residents.

"Lots of people are liking my photo from the Toronto area," she said. 

So while many of you will go out tonight and show off your original costume creation, just know there's no way you'll beat a baby dressed as a TTC employee.


by Mira Miller via blogTO

Toronto has seen more shootings so far this year than ever before

At least 582 people have been injured in shootings so far this year across the City of Toronto — 587, if you count the five teens who were shot last night near Eglinton and Keele.

Last year at this time, the number of shooting victims on record to date was 451.

That's 130 more people who have been injured by guns so far this year between January and November, according to police data.

Shooting deaths are down, but the number of shooting incidents have spiked over the same time period, from 341 in 2018 to 395 as of Monday, October 28, 2019, which is when Toronto Police last updated their public safety data portal.

toronto shooting dataThere have been 395 separate shootings in Toronto since January of 2019. Last year at the same time, there had been 341. Image via Toronto Police Public Safety Data Portal.

It's no secret that gun violence has been on the uptick in recent years, but incident numbers are rising so fast that even law enforcement officials are flabbergasted.

Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders spoke to the problem (again) in a press conference on Wednesday night, not long after five people — two girls, ages 16 and 17, and three boys between the ages of 16 and 18 — were sent to hospital with (non-fatal) gunshot wounds from an apartment building on Clearview Heights Road.

Saunders told reporters that the shootings were "targeted" and that the case is "very solvable."

The gun violence problem in general, not so much.

"I haven't seen this number before," said Saunders of Toronto's current year-to-date shooting count. "We're actively doing our part and making the apprehensions."

Even with only 10 months logged into the year so far, the number of shootings that had taken place in Toronto as of Monday was more than double what we saw during the entirety of 2014.

In just five years, we've gone from 242 victims total to 582 by the end of October.

If 2019 is anything like 2018, the number of victims will spike in November and December, bringing us well past last year's grand yearly total of 613 people who were injured in 428 separate shootings.

Scary figures, for sure, but there's good news when it comes to our homicide rate, which is down roughly 33 per cent (27 per cent for shootings, specifically) after reaching a nearly 30-year high in 2018.

toronto shooting data

Toronto has seen an explosion in the number of both shooting incidents and shooting victims since 2004. Image via Toronto Police.

There are also concerted efforts underway to help get guns off the streets, reduce gang activity and better protect citizens of the neighbourhoods most at risk for violent crime.

Toronto City Council voted in September to ask Canada's federal government for a national handgun ban. Mayor John Tory had previously said he would be satisfied with a city-wide ban on guns and ammunition at this point.

In August, Tory announced that Toronto Police would be getting an additional $4.5 million in federal, provincial and municipal funding to help combat gun violence across the GTA — on top of the $15 million dollar gun violence reduction plan he unveiled with Saunders in 2018.

The city's most-recent plan to address the spike in shootings involves, among other things, an "11-week, intelligence-led operational plan."

Saunders said in a new release this past August, not long after yet another deadly summer weekend, that the new plan would "focus on street gangs and reducing violent crime, and firearm-related offences."

Let's hope it starts to work before 2019 is through and we set another new record that nobody wants.


by Lauren O'Neil via blogTO