We Suck
Published April 14, 2010 @ 22:33 in Toronto Argos, Toronto Blue Jays, Toronto FC, Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Marlies, Toronto News ~ Toronto Focus, Toronto Raptors

It seems like we were just talking about the Raptors gunning for fourth in the conference and a home court advantage for their first round in the playoffs. For those who don't follow the Raps, we finished ninth in the conference and that means we missed the playoffs for the second season in a row.

At least the Raptors played a playoff game three seasons ago. Our Leafs haven't played a playoff game since 2004. That's five seasons ago and six years. My daughter's about to turn six and she's not been alive for a single Leafs playoff game.

Of course, if we're talking playoff droughts in this city, the Blue Jays are the top dogs. The last Blue Jays playoff game ended with Joe Carter touching them all, and that was back in 1993. What's that, 17 seasons ago? Do we count the year they cancelled the World Series? Is it really 18 seasons ago?

At least it's tough to make the playoffs in baseball. Our Argonauts play in an 8 team league in which 6 teams make the playoffs, and they haven't qualified since 2007. It's not looking good for next season, either.

I could drag Toronto FC into this mess, but they're only in their fourth season. We'll excuse their three years of missing the playoffs. And the Marlies missed the playoffs, but they were there last year, if we're desperate for a silver lining.

Who am I kidding... there's no silver lining. The three teams with the largest fan-base, the Leafs, Raptors and Blue Jays, have collectively been absent from the playoffs since the Raps lost to Orlando in the first round back in the spring of good 'ol 2008.

We suck.

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High Park Cherry Blossoms Not Yet Bloomed
Published April 10, 2010 @ 15:07 in Toronto News ~ Toronto Focus

This past week, I've seen more and more people visiting this blog after searching Google for information on the cherry blossoms in High Park. I rank highly for such searches thanks to this entry in 2008 and this guide to finding High Park's best cherry blossoms I wrote last spring.

I was in High Park this afternoon, and I'm here to tell you it's still too early. The cherry blossoms have not yet bloomed. If you visit High Park today, this is what you'll see.

If you visit in a couple of weeks, this is what you'll see.

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The Igor Kenk Bikes Set Free
Published April 5, 2010 @ 17:46 in Toronto News ~ Toronto Focus

Remember Igor Kenk, that Dapper Dan? He's the guy who stole my bike (maybe) and a couple of years ago Chad wrote me with a good idea. He thought the Toronto Police should give the 2500 unclaimed backs back to Torontonians. Specifically, to the less fortunate.

That's exactly what's happened.

Crowds of kids showed up bright and early Monday morning to help move thousands of stolen bike parts to a new temporary home at the Cabbagetown Youth Centre.

The bike parts are the spoils of Igor Kenk, who was arrested in 2008 for theft. Police raided his Queen St. W. shop and found 3,000 stolen bicycles. Kenk, who pleaded guilty in 2009, was released in March.

The youth centre basement will store some 30 bicycles and 1,000 bike components and locks. The plan is to develop a program for youth to help put the bikes back together until they are safe enough to ride home.

Once repaired, Kenk’s bounty of stolen bikes will be donated to needy kids across Ontario, Attorney General Chris Bentley announced on Monday morning.

It was a great idea then and it's a great idea now.

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The Toronto Star Hedges Their Bets re: Earth Hour
Published March 28, 2010 @ 10:20 in News, Toronto News ~ Toronto Focus

Back in the old days, a lazy Sunday morning meant reading the newspaper. Today it means checking Google Reader and reading your RSS feeds. That's what I'm doing, and it's interesting to see how the Toronto Star hedges their bets with regards to Earth Hour.

Firstly, there's this article, entitled Toronto goes dark for Earth hour.

Then, there's this article, entitled Toronto stays bright for Earth Hour.

Same authors, same newspaper, same photo, same publication date. Earth Day supporters, click link one. Earth Day haters, click link two. Everybody's happy.

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Toronto Has Islands - Did You Know That?
Published March 27, 2010 @ 10:32 in Toronto News ~ Toronto Focus

While sipping my Saturday morning coffee (a.k.a. the best coffee of the week), I was checking out the new videos from Retrontario, my favourite YouTube account holder in the galaxy.

I've been sharing Retrontario nuggets of gold since he was posting under the moniker WNED17. A couple of years ago, for example, I shared this classic 1984 Zoodles ad that features a song I'm still singing today. If you're over 30, you know the tune and, although you're unlikely to admit it, you love the tune.

Retrontario just uploaded a 1986 ad for The Toronto Islands. I used to plan day long bike rides on the Toronto Islands and it remains one of my favourite destinations in the city, but how many out-of-towners know we have islands? It's possible our islands are our best kept secret.

Here's the ad that sparked this query.

Hey out-of-towners, yes... I'm taking to you both. Did you know Toronto had these awesome islands?

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In Praise of Unseasonable Warmth
Published March 18, 2010 @ 16:39 in Toronto News ~ Toronto Focus

The kids are off school this week, enjoying their March Break. I thought that would make this the ideal week to avoid the office. I took a week off to sleep in and chill with the family.

It's the middle of March, and I haven't worn pants all week. That's right, I'm enjoying an unprecedented pants-less week in March.

It hit 19° today. They're expecting a high of 18° tomorrow. I can do this. I can make it the entire week without pulling on a pair of pants once.

Make no mistake about it, this is indeed epic.

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Rob Ford For Mayor? Not On My Watch...
Published March 16, 2010 @ 10:59 in Politics, Toronto News ~ Toronto Focus

On March 26, Rob Ford will announce something. Speculation is he'll announce he's running for mayor of Toronto. I hope he's announcing he's quitting politics for an on-air gig at AM640.

Four years ago, after having enough of Rob Ford's Neanderthal comments, I wrote a definitive list of Rob Ford quotes. Here are a few of my favourites:

"This is an insult to my constituents to even think about having a shelter in my ward!" - April, 2002

"I don't understand. Number one, I don't understand a transgender, I don't understand, is it a guy dressed up like a girl or a girl dressed up like a guy? And we're funding this for, I don't know, what does it say here? We're giving them $3,210?" - June 2005

"People do not want government housing built in the city of Toronto. They want roads fixed, more police presence, but they don't want more government housing that will depreciate the value of their property." - July, 2005

A year after I wrote that entry, he chimed in with a beaut about bike lanes.

I can't support bike lanes. Roads are built for buses, cars, and trucks. My heart bleeds when someone gets killed, but it's their own fault at the end of the day.

Rob Ford, they seem to like you in Ward 2, Etobicoke North. Please run there. Toronto's next mayor won't be a bike lane hating, Transit City killing social conservative who promises to "cut everything but police spending to tame the city budget. Libraries, parks, whatever."

Surely we can bring accountability to city hall spending without this extra baggage and complete lack of big city vision.

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Toronto Blog Stars (Or Kids Today and Their Pangs for Fame)
Published March 11, 2010 @ 21:45 in Toronto News ~ Toronto Focus

A few Toronto bloggers are hosting an event they're calling The Guide to Social Media Success: The Ultimate How-To with the Toronto Blog Stars. As you'll see in the promo YouTube video below, it's featuring "the top three bloggers" in this city.

I must admit, I hadn't heard heard of Sean Ward before I saw that clip, and I only first heard of Casie Stewart earlier this year when I caught a Raymi tweet about her. Raymi I've known for years, having interviewed her not once, but twice. In 10 seconds, this Sean Ward guy comes across as such a pretentious douche bag I just broke my laptop screen trying to punch him in the face, but I digress...

What do you get from these Toronto Blog Stars for your $20? According to the Toronto Blog Stars registration page, you will learn everything you need to know about living the Blog Star lifestyle using blogging, Twitter, Facebook, and social networking, including:

• how to get - and keep - the attention of movers and shakers in your industry
• how to turn your everyday life into compelling content
• how to brand yourself online
• what programs and applications to use to host your site, keep track of your statistics, and promote yourself & your blog

Full props to these three Toronto bloggers for trying to make a little coin from kids today, desperately panging for some semblance of celebrity. If they can get a bunch of local blogger star wannabes to cough up $20 a pop for this content, good on 'em.

I invented compelling content. I have the attention of movers and shakers. I've branded myself online. If you want to learn all these things and more, I'll sing like a canary for $15, and I promise you'll never feel compelled to kick my ass.

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CN Tower Goes Gold
Published March 1, 2010 @ 10:09 in Olympics, Toronto News ~ Toronto Focus

In honour of Canada's golden Olympics, culminating in Sidney Crosby's golden goal, the CN Tower went gold last night.

[via photocentric]

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Giamboner Beats Boner
Published February 9, 2010 @ 15:17 in Toronto News ~ Toronto Focus

Adam Giambrone, member of Toronto City Council and chair of the TTC, wants to be mayor of Toronto. Now that his affair with 19-year old university student Kristen Lucas has been revealed, he's got some heat to deal with first.

With a name like Giambrone, the fist natural reaction is to nickname him Giamboner. It's just too easy, and this is a pain I know all too well. In grade six, my teacher anointed me "Boner".

That nickname stuck for a while, until I successfully morphed it into "Booner". But still, Boner creeps up now and then.

Giamboner beats Boner. And don't worry Adam, this too shall pass.

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