This week saw two Beach landmarks make it into the news!  One serves coffee, the other beer.  Both promise great specialty beverages.  Check it out!

Castro’s Lounge at Queen & Wineva has a German Beer Tasting last week, and though its east end location makes it one of the city’s lesser known beer bars (among those who frequent downtown watering holes) it’s iconic in the Beach. A self-professed ‘west end snob’, the beer reporter was much impressed by the vibe and the great beer selection.  Castro’s has monthly tasting events with expert brew-masters who come in to share knowledge about beer and brewing – and of course, they share the beer!  To find out more about these events, send an email to get on their newslist.  Of course you can also stop by in person, perhaps on a Thursday, Saturday or Sunday when the live music is getting the crowd going…

If you prefer a cuppa joe, The Remarkable Bean at 2242 Queen Street East really lives up to its name.  There’s a nice amount of seating, reasonable prices, and great decor – in fact, the coffee shop plays host to art and photography displays every couple of months, so there’s always something interesting and new to look at.  After 15 years in the Beach, The Bean has a faithful Beach clientele who appreciate the goodies baked fresh on-site, the fair-trade organic brews imported from countries like Ethiopia and Papua, New Guinea, and the fact that all coffee roasting is done in the premises! Of course, the room fills with an amazing aroma as the beans go from raw to roasted, and that’s what you’re getting in your cup (you can also buy bags of beans).  The Bean even composts the leftover mulch from the bean, making it the ultimate in sustainable practice.

Check out one of these local mainstays the next time you feel a thirst coming on!

Yes it’s coming – July 17-26, 2009!  The 21st annual Festival starts at Woodbine Park (Lake Shore & Coxwell) where the festivities kick off on Friday with multiple outdoor stages featuring free concerts.  Youth and ‘new generation’ stages promise to celebrate young upcoming musicians that are making an impact in the world of jazz.

There’s also StreetFest (Thursday July 23-Saturday July 25), an original event showcasing the finest in Big Band, Swing, Dixieland, Smooth, Post-Bop, Afro-Cuban, Fusion, Funk, R&B and Soul sounds that Canada has to offer. Upwards of 50 bands entertain you along a closed 2 km stretch of Queen Street East! It’s an annual pilgrimage for close to a million people who come out to groove to the music and soak in the ambience.

From Saturday the 25th to Sunday the 26th, you’ll definitely want to settle in on your beach blanket or chair, or check out the outdoor licenced lounge located within viewing distance of the stage, because there will be continuous free concerts over the weekend by notable jazz music headliners on the main stage in Kew Gardens, located in the heart of our Beach community.

Don’t miss this unique annual opportunity to hear jazz musicians who’ve created that special buzz on the international music scene. For more information on all the events, headliners, accessibility, maps, street closures, workshops, sponsors, artist info and the like, be sure to check out the official website.

Last Sunday’s Easter Parade in the Beach may have far reaching ramifications for shopping in the Beach.  A Toronto City Councillor and a prominent business group are promising to push for changes to the city’s shopping laws after shops in the Beaches opened illegally on Easter Sunday.

Several retailers in the Beaches escaped charges even though they opened in violation of the city’s holiday shopping bylaw.

Beaches-East York Councillor Sandra Bussin, said yesterday she wants Toronto council to allow more areas in the city to qualify as “tourist areas,” which would allow retailers there to open on statutory holidays such as Easter Sunday.

Just over a year ago, city bureaucrats recommended the whole city be designated a tourist area, allowing retailers everywhere to be open if they wanted. Instead, council rejected that advice and kept the status quo.

The Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA) is joining Bussin in calling for changes.

Currently, the only retailers allowed to open during city-recognized statutory holidays are in the Eaton Centre, Queens Quay, Yorkville, downtown on Yonge St., and the Distillery District.

Though the bylaw provides fines of up to $50,000 for opening illegally, the Beaches businesses which opened on Easter Sunday were not charged, according to Toronto Police.

Perhaps there’s hope for a real estate upswing after all!  A home at 124 Burgess Avenue, at Woodbine and Kingston Road, has just sold for $445,000.

The owner was asking $448,000 for his character-filled Tudor bungalow, which features elegant panelled walls, a plate rail in the dining room to display family heirlooms, and interesting beamed and barrel ceilings.  Other restored original touches include multipane windows, an ever-popular wood burning fireplace and built-in shelving in the living room.

Touted by listing agent Irene Kaushansky of Keller Williams Advantage Realty in the Beach, as being perfect for downsizers looking for a cozy home easy to care for and within walking distance of the Beach’s best amenities, 124 Burgess was in turnkey condition, with a renovated kitchen and baths, a separate entrance to the professionally finished lower level with its own full bath, pot lights and above grade windows.

Professionally landscaped, the low maintenance front yard and rear yard with a bucolic pond were attractive to buyers in this warmer weather, plus the updated mechanics offered assurance of lower improvement costs in years to come. The home drew attention from the moment it was listed and sold in only 4 days.

Kaushansky, who works extensively in the Beach as well as the Leslieville area, says she cannot find enough high-quality listings for her buyers because many sellers are being cautious and watching the market before putting their homes up for sale.  Despite the recession, she sees well-priced, renovated Beach homes like 124 Burgess selling quickly at prices that meet their owners’ expectations.  If you own a home in the Beach and are thinking of selling it, contact her at 416 259 2444 to discuss your options!

Apparently urban coyotes are in our midst, and we should learn to live with them…you may remember back in February, a family on Neville Park Blvd lost their pet chihuahua to a coyote, which sparked debate about whether the four-legged offender should be euthanized, relocated or just left alone.

After an outcry, the city chose to relocate the coyote to an as-yet-unnamed animal refuge.  With the coyote population in southern Ontario either near or at an all-time high, due to forests being cleared and natural predators like wolves being exterminated, the coyotes, though usually very well-hidden, are probably here to stay – hiding in the brushy and wooded areas and ravines.

According to the most recent information available, the coyote – nicknamed “Neville” – continues to avoid the box trap set up by city staff. The chihuahua’s owner said the coyote routinely jumps his fence, spending time in the yard and even coming up to the window (with the owner’s toddlers safely inside the house) but never going near the trap.

Attacks on humans by coyotes are extremely rare; the last time Toronto Public Health issued an alert was in 2003 after four people were bitten in parks throughout the city.  In the case of the Beach chihuahua incident, apparently residents are indirectly to blame for feeding the coyotes.  One resident even encouraged his dog to play with the coyotes!

City officials went door-to-door in the area to provide advice to residents on how to avoid attracting the coyote.

WILDLIFE EXPERTS SAY:

- Never feed a coyote.

- Consider leashing your dog in areas frequented by coyotes.

- Don’t encourage interaction with a coyote.

- Don’t leave garbage, pet food, fallen fruit or bird seed where accessible.

- Consider making your cat an inside pet and keep an eye on small dogs.

- Spaying and neutering protects dogs from coyote interaction.

- Small children shouldn’t be left unattended.

- Don’t run from a coyote if approached; stand still and make noise, such as clapping hands.

So tell us…is the coyote just doing what comes naturally?  Should the City try to trap them or round them up (the law states wildlife can’t be moved more than 1 km) so they’re not a threat to our pets, or is this nature taking its course as we spread further and further onto animal habitats?

The apartment is available ASAP and it’s just steps away from Queen Street shopping (small specialty shops, pubs, restaurants, patios).  The Beach and boardwalk is a 2 minute walk away and grocery stores, clinics and professional services are extremely close by.  The Queen streetcar is right at your door so you can get downtown in 15 minutes!

People who don’t want to sacrifice comfort while they wait out the real estate market, take note!  For pictures and to arrange a showing, click here

It’s that time again!  How many neighbourhoods can boast their very own Easter Parade?  If your kids are looking for something to do after decorating Easter eggs this long weekend, there’s lots to do around Toronto, starting with the annual parade in our own backyard:

Beaches “Easter Magic” parade along Queen St. E. begins at 2 p.m. on Easter Sunday at Neville Park Blvd. and runs west to Woodbine Ave., lasting about an hour. Families often decorate their little ones’ strollers and wagons with cutouts or plastic eggs and wear bonnets. There’s no charge but don’t forget to bring your loonie to donate to the local Lions Club, which organizes this popular event.  If inviting your friends and family members from other parts of the city, don’t forget to mention that the parade will shut down Queen St. E. from Munro Park to Woodbine Ave. from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For ambitious families still restless after the parade, why not check out the Toronto Zoo – it’s a full day of activities including their Easter “Egg” Stravaganza where you can take part in a zoo-wide egg hunt from tomorrow right through Monday, following clues to different animal exhibits. Zookeepers also hold talks and the Easter Bunny is around too. (Regular admission applies)

Further afield, Puck’s Farm in Schomberg, northwest of Toronto, is holding its annual Easter egg hunt as well as egg “scrambles” and other games, plus horse-drawn wagon rides all weekend and Monday. Visit the website for a coupon!

Easterfest at Downey’s Farm Market features wagon rides, a puppet show, an Easter egg hunt, live entertainment and more. Runs today & tomorrow from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. ($10). 13682 Heart Lake Rd.  Call 905-838-2990 for more details.

Easter Traditions at High Park’s Colborne Lodge include a tour of the museum to spot hidden eggs and kids can dye their own colourful eggs – saves you the mess of doing it at home! Runs today and tomorrow, with tours every half hour from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. ($2.38-$5.71 + GST). South end of the Park on Colborne Lodge Dr. 416-392-6916.

Spring Comes to the Gibson House with preparations for spring planting, 19th century cooking demos, tours of the house and hand’s on activities for the family. Runs today-Monday from noon-5 p.m. ($2.62-$5.48 + GST). 5172 Yonge St. 416-395-7432.

Still stumped as to what to do?  Unfortunately for teens, the Eaton Centre is actually closed Easter Sunday.  Don’t forget to stock up on what you’ll need because malls, grocery stores and liquor stores will be closed as well; if you really have to buy stuff, the Yonge Street strip stores will be open.

Have a safe and happy holiday weekend!