Yonge Buzz
Your bi-weekly hotsheet on all that's happening downtown - 4 Feb 2010

Whats new Downtown Family Day is just around the corner February 15 is Family Day – an official public holiday that gives you and your family a nice break in the middle of winter. Most Downtown Yonge retailers will be open on this day, but will be observing holiday hours. So before heading out to your favourite stores, call first to ask what time they’ll be opening and closing their doors. For a comprehensive list of retailers in the neighbourhood, visit www.downtownyonge.com. Don't miss Pancake Tuesday at Fresh Start Coffee It's almost time for Fresh Start Coffee Co.'s sixth annual pancake breakfast. On Tuesday February 16, from 6:30am to 12:30, Fresh Start is flipping pancakes for a good cause, with all proceeds from pancake sales going to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. February 16 marks the end of Mardi Gras, which always ends on the Tuesday before the Christian season of Lent. Traditionally, pancakes were eaten before Lent to consume food items that were forbidden during this period, namely flour, eggs and fat. Get your taste of Mardi Gras and contribute to a good cause by dropping by Fresh Start Coffee Co., located at 655 Bay Street at Elm. For more information, contact John Cupido at 416 599 6180. Or send an email to freshstart655@hotmail.com. Ryerson design students earn place in Danier’s fall collection Leather jackets designed by Ryerson University School of Fashion students will go on sale this fall at Danier stores across the country. Ryerson and Danier teamed up recently for the Danier Design Challenge, which offered third-year fashion design students a chance to learn the art of working and crafting leather. Congratulations to John Hillifer, Pamela Card and Tanya Wiebe – who won first, second and third places, respectively. In addition to having their designs featured in Danier's Fall 2010 collection, the winners also received cash prizes ranging from $2,000 to $5,000. To learn more about the Danier Design Challenge, visit http://danierdesignchallenge.com/Pages/Default.aspx. Pre-order New Moon today at HMV Attention New Moon fans! Your favourite movie will be available on DVD and Blu-ray starting March 20. And from now until March 19, when you pre-order New Moon at HMV, you'll receive the New Moon limited edition film cell with purchase, while quantities last. This special offer is available only at HMV, so head on over to HMV at Yonge and Dundas. To learn more, visit www.hmv.ca, or just drop by the store and place your order today PATH expands to Bay Adelaide Centre Toronto’s underground network of pedestrian pathways – also known PATH – now leads directly to the the Bay Adelaide Centre, located at 333 Bay Street. This latest PATH expansion makes it even easier for Downtown Yonge workers, residents and visitors to venture further south in the downtown core. Downtown Yonge tops list of tourist hot spots Did you know that the Yonge and Dundas area is the Number One destination for tourists visiting the Greater Toronto Area? Tourism Toronto, in partnership with Ryerson University and Greater Toronto Airports Authority, has released the results of a visitor survey conducted last year at Pearson Airport and several highway stops outside of the Greater Toronto Area. Almost 67 percent of first-time visitors and 45 percent of repeat visitors said they come to Downtown Yonge whenever they visit the GTA, confirming once again that Yonge-Dundas is indeed to the place to be and be seen.		Whats On Now Whats on now: There’s always something happening at Yonge-Dundas Square. For more information, visit www.ydsquare.ca. February 10 to 16 Toronto College Park Valentine’s Day Sidewalk Sale at the Shops of College Park, 444 Yonge Street. Come by and find the perfect romantic gift for your special someone. February 10 to March 7 Menopause The Musical at the Winter Garden Theatre, 189 Yonge Street. Don’t miss this hilarious celebration of women and “the change” told through a collection of 25 re-lyricized Baby Boomer songs from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. For more information, showtimes or to purchase tickets, call Ticketmaster at 416 872 5555 or visit www.ticketmaster.ca. February 11 to 13 Express Your Love at The Bay on Queen, Main Floor, Cosmetics & Fragrances Department. Learn how to express your love for beauty. Book an appointment with your favourite cosmetic or fragrance counter. Receive a special gift for you or a special someone. For more information, call 416 861 9111. February 13 and 14 from 5:00pm to 10:00pm Special Valentine’s menu at Bb33 Bistro and Brassiere at the Delta Chelsea Downtown Toronto Hotel, 33 Gerrard Street West. For more information call 416 585 4319 or visit www.bb33.ca February 15 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm Family Day at The Bay on Queen. Round up the family for a fun-filled day including getting a caricature of yourself in the Vancouver 2010 Winter Sport competition in the Olympic Shop on the 2nd Floor, kids making their own HBC pouch in the kids department on the 5th Floor and face painting clowns. The store is open this day from 10:00am to 6:00pm. For more information, call 416 861 9111. February 16 from 6:30am to 12:30pm Sixth Annual Pancake Breakfast at Fresh Start Coffee Co., 655 Bay Street at Elm. Come by for pancakes and support a worthy cause. All proceeds from pancake sales will benefit the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. For more information, contact John Cupido at 416 599 6180. February 16 from 7:00pm to 9:30pm Toronto Reading Series at Commensal, 655 Bay Street. Now on its second season, enjoy a great vegetarian meal paired with readings. Join award winning writers John Lawrence Reynolds, John Stephenson and David Trahair as they read from their newest works. Tickets are $5 per person. For more information, call 905 271 9917 or 416 997 9917, email to readings@torontoreadingseries.com or visit www.torontoreadingseries.com. February 18 at 5:00pm and February 20 at 11:00am Free Heritage Week Tours of the Historic Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre, 189 Yonge Street. Join a free 1-1/2 hour guided tour of a national historic site and the last operating double-decker theatre in the world in celebration of Heritage Week. Reservations are not required. For more information, call 416 314 2874. Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00noon to 5:00pm in February Toronto’s Tumultuous Year – William Lyon Mackenzie as Mayor – An Exhibit at Mackenzie House, 82 Bond Street. An exhibit about the trials, tribulations and successes of Toronto’s first Mayor. For more information, call 416 392 6915 or visit www.toronto.ca/culture/mackenzie_house.htm. Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00noon to 5:00pm in February Learn about Mary Ann Shadd Cary, the first woman to publish a newspaper in Canada, at Mackenzie House, 82 Bond Street. Discover her newspaper, The Provincial Freeman, and read articles about the anti-slavery movement. Print a souvenir book mark with a quote from Mary Ann in the recreated 1850's printshop. For more information, call 416 392 6915 or visit www.toronto.ca/culture/mackenzie_house.htm. Until end of February Winter Truffle Wonderland at Bb33 Bistro and Brassiere at the Delta Chelsea Downtown Toronto Hotel, 33 Gerrard Street West. Enjoy elegant dining and haute cuisine at an affordable price. Find out why the truffle is called the diamond of the kitchen. For more information call 416-585-4319 or visit www.bb33.ca Every Tuesday until April 6 at 7:30pm Pub Stumpers Trivia League at the Duke of Somerset, 655 Bay Street. Team up with up to six people for a chance to win a spot on the pub stumpers trophy. No cover charge. Call 416 640 0921. Every Wednesday from 7:00pm to 9:00pm Live Jazz with Cara Matthew at Woo Buffet Restaurant and Lounge, 10 Dundas Street East, 5th Floor. Enjoy an evening of fine dining and great live entertainment. Call 416 977 9966 or visit www.woorestaurantlounge.com. Every Thursday at 9:00pm Jerome Goodboo presents Delta Blues Nights at Monarchs Pub in the Delta Chelsea Hotel, 33 Gerrard Street. Listen to the sounds of Toronto’s best renowned blues musicians. Call 416 585 4352 or visit www.monarchspub.ca. Every Friday & Saturday 6:30pm to 9:30pm Live Jazz at Commensal, 655 Bay Street. Call 416 596 9364. No cover charge. Validated parking at 38 Elm Street garage after 6:00pm with minimum $10 purchase at Commensal. Special Days at the Pantages Martini Bar, 200 Victoria Street M3 Mondays feature live DJ, $5 Martinis, Mojitos, and Mac and Cheese. After Work Social Thurdays enjoy live DJ, $2 Burgers and $5.00 Red Stripe. On Jazz out Fridays be entertained with live music by Rob Scott and Bob Scott, and $10 Purple Haze Martinis. On Soundscape Saturdays, come for alternating live and electronic music and $10 panini. For details call 416 362 1777. Special Days at The Wolf and Firkin, 43 Elm Street at Bay Open mic Tuesdays, howl with Augy G. Karaoke Wednesdays with Charlie. Live music Fridays and Saturdays featuring Toronto’s top musicians. No cover charge. Call 416 971 6264.
In the Spotlight Spotlight on The 3 Brewers There’s a new word in the Downtown Yonge culinary lexicon: flammekueche, or flamm for short. And if you’ve already checked out The 3 Brewers – Toronto’s hot new microbrewery restaurant – then chances are you’ve had the pleasure of feasting on this Alsatian-style open-faced pie served with a creamy garlic sauce and toppings such as barbecue chicken or bacon and onions. “Our menu has a number of unique items, inspired by the northern regions of Alsace and Belgium,” says Erik Smith, manager of The 3 Brewers. “And then of course, there’s our beer, which is a big draw for our customers.” Founded in France in 1986, The 3 Brewers – or Les 3 Brasseurs in French – is rooted in three generations of family-owned microbreweries. Today, The 3 Brewers continues to make beer using traditional recipes and the purest ingredients. Brewed right in its Downtown Yonge premises, the non-pasteurized, non-filtered ales come in blonde, amber, red and white. “The flavours are quite distinctive,” says Smith. The ambience at The 3 Brewers is also quite distinctive, with classic pub décor characterized by dark wood and brass fixtures. “What we’re bringing to Downtown Yonge is a microbrewery in a very classic, civilized pub atmosphere,” says Smith. “It’s really a unique experience.” For more information call 647 347 6286.
Take The Downtown Dare Congratulations to Jennifer Swan, who correctly answered that Rent, the rock musical based on La Boheme, was playing at the Canon Theatre in January. For the month of February, in honour of Valentine’s Day, we dare you to identify three florist shops in the Downtown Yonge area. Send your entry to mkocsmaros@downtownyonge.com. Winner receives a $25 gift certificate to Elephant & Castle. Contest ends February 28, 2010.		Street Smart Until March 31, 2010 Victoria Street at Shuter northbound curb lane will be occupied due to construction. Until June 25, 2010 Shuter from Victoria to Bond northbound curb lanes, Victoria eastbound curb lane, and Bond westbound curb lane will all occupied due to construction of the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael’s Hospital. Until August 31, 2010 Bond Street at Gould Street southbound lane will be occupied due to building construction. For more road closure news visit www.toronto.ca/transportation/road_info.