You are most welcome. I am not a pho fan so I didn't try it. But I did watch a couple of TTC guys dive in and they sure liked it.

And this: How builders, city planners are trying to create more family-friendly Toronto condos

Like I've been saying: "Toronto wants condos to have stroller storage, movable walls and shadow-free playgrounds"

We checked out Pho Challenge at lunch the other day. It was more Thai than Vietnamese but that was fine. Of course, Thai places are all over the Danforth but it's nice have something on the burgeoning Pape strip. Anyway, the place is spic'n'span and the grub, while not spectacular, was better...

This sounds familiar. I examined the condominium documents prior to purchasing my unit but found nothing relating to pets. After moving in, I noticed signs stating that all pets must be carried over the common elements. I have now received several complaints that I haven’t complied, that the...

Interesting idea however I think that, by the time the Vietnamese had settled in, many were moving out. So I don't think there would have been a cohesive critical mass. That area has been in transition since c.1992-3

Oh boy. That will take hours to read. Thanks.

Thanks. Of course I knew about the theatres, the shopping etc. The streetcar along Danforth must have helped bring a lot of commerce to the area and all those bungalows were likely built post-war and boom! BABIES! and more BABIES! I know a fellow who remembers the old Todmorden Hotel on...

I still weep for Labiri! I used to buy all my shoes and bags there. I bought my first outfit at Maxi in 1985. Another one gone. RK, another fave (although it wasn't Greek and was part of a mini-chain.) For my nieces, I would buy at a store (forget the name but it was Greek) next to Sophia's...

This is 1925. I think it tells the story. I found it here.

Yes, Levittown. Good word for it. I can't say not having been in TO (or even alive) during the period. But my guesses would include: (1) The snob factor. I think the "east side" was perceived as the wrong side of the tracks. (2) There was a lot of poverty. I remember looking at houses in the...

Which is one major reason we chose the east end (Riverdale) instead of the Annex when we moved to Toronto. It just seemed less congested. The map doesn't surprise me. Most of Riverdale was a streetcar suburb, built post WWI, with relatively little row housing and a fair number of detached. As...

For the record, I didn't notice any of those chains last week on Bloor, at least not west of Spadina. Maybe my mind just glazed over them. As for the millennials, you are probably correct -- although we are rarely out on the Danforth that late anymore. (We did used to go dancing at a Greek...

The other day, we drove cross town along Bloor, from Broadview to High Park. I had not really checked out the street west of Spadina in a long long time. I was stunned by how many new stores, cafes, restaurants etc. lined both sides of the street. Most of them seem to be independently-owned. Oh...

We moved into the hood in 1985, just east of Broadview on Simpson. The Asian population -- I would say, although can't be sure -- was mostly Vietnamese. This would make sense as that great wave of Vietnamese would have landed in the late 70s and Gerrard/Broadview was pretty low-rent. In any...

You are correct about "old Riverdale" -- at least according to what I know. A girlfriend bought a semi just NW of Gerrard/Broadview in 2001 for just over $200K. On Bloomfield which, I am told, was a development built by CP for its managers back in the teens/20s. I don't know if that's true or...

I am guessing downsizers are grabbing the money and running while they can. Where do they go? Beats me. I can't imagine selling a Playter Estate house and moving into an 800 sf condo. But that's just me. My recently-retired brother and his wife just listed their large 905 detached (kids are...

This is purely anecdotal but I was struck this week by how many for sale signs are out there. This is in the East York-Playter Estate-North Riverdale area. Of course, it could be connected to the "spring market" but I don't recall this many signs in past years at this time.

Utter ignorance of condo law, condo declarations, bylaws, rules, status certificates, reno policies etc. "Oh sure, you can tear down that wall. No problem." We have also had agents selling suites who give fobs to open house prospects -- strangers off the street!!! -- to our amenities. "Oh...

Your unit boundaries are usually in the Declaration which, as a Board member, I wish more people read BEFORE buying. Nothing personal but too many newbies come in and think they can do whatever they want, and they end up costing us time, energy, aggravation -- and legal fees.