March 2011 Newsletter

Elli's Update: CBC Interview

Matt Galloway, the host of CBC Metro Morning, interviewed me to discuss the signs of spring and whether or not the Real Estate “Market is Still Hot.” For those of you who were not up at the crack of dawn to hear the interview, you can listen to it here. Open the link below and click where it says to “Listen”:

CBC Metro Morning: Market Still Hot

In conjunction with buying a home, obtaining a mortgage is often necessary. If you need a mortgage, or just want some questions answered, we have a “resident” mortgage specialist available at our office anytime! Joanna Lang is professional and well informed. Please feel free to contact her at 416-834-1590 or

Elli Davis
Celebrating 28 Years in Central Toronto Real Estate

March Newsletter 2011

• Hot Listings!
• Real Estate News: Key Factors That Influence The Real Estate Market
• Market Watch Report: February 2011
• Toronto Events: What's Happening In March?
• Review: South Pacific
• March Bites: Resolution Evaluations & Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Hot Listings!

Central Toronto - Hogg's Hollow - $­2­,­750­,­000
95 Donwoods Drive

This beautiful 2 storey family home is well positioned, set back from the street and backing on to the Rosedale Golf Club! Serene setting, tucked into the trees of Hogg's Hollow. Substantially renovated by Kellner Fine Homes.

See more

Central Toronto - Yonge & St. Clair - $­459­,­000
47 St. Clair Avenue West #1102

'The Westclair' luxury building! 2 Bedrooms, 2 full baths, ensuite laundry. Open balcony with sensational unobstructed views. Parking and locker included.

See more

Central Toronto - Yonge & St. Clair - $­488­,­000
63 St. Clair Ave. West #904

Spacious 1 Bedroom Plus Den At Vibrant Yonge & St. Clair With North-Facing Large Open Balcony Overlooking Treetops And Private Parkette. Quality Building With Superb Amenities Including Concierge, Indoor Pool, Sauna, Exercise & Sitting Rooms, Visitor Parking & On-Site Property Management

See more

Thinking of buying? Thinking of selling?

Visit our website for the Buyer's Guide and Seller's Guide or feel free to
contact me at and I'll get right back to you.

Real Estate News: Key Factors That Influence the Real Estate Market

Joseph Nguyen of the Globe & Mail discusses “Four Key Factors that Influence the Real Estate Market”. The value of your home depends on the influence of many external factors.

Also featured in the latest Globe & Mail Done Deals was my recent sale on Hillsdale Avenue.

Market Watch Report: February 2011

Click here to read the latest Market Watch Report published by the Toronto Real Estate Board.
February 2011 Marketwatch Report

Toronto Events: What's Happening In March?

International Women's Day
Today is International Woman's Day, which has been celebrated since the early 1900's, recognizing both the advancements of women in society and the violation of rights that women face on a daily basis. Every year thousands of events are held worldwide to inspire women and celebrate their achievements. Click on the link for a list of IWD events in Toronto.

International Women's Day

Canadian Music Week
March 9 – 13, various venues. Now in its 29th year, it has become one of the premier events in the North American music industry! With more than 800 bands performing at dozens of venues in downtown Toronto, informative conferences, cutting edge trade exhibits and awards ceremonies there is something for every music lover. Full details at the Canadian Music Week website.

March Break Reminder!
Students in the Toronto District School Board and the Toronto District Catholic School Board have their March Break holidays March 14 – 18.

Canada Blooms
March 15 – 20 at the Direct Energy Centre. Canada's largest and most prestigious flower and garden festival returns with dozens of vendors and exhibits. Winter won't be with us forever!

Canada Blooms

Review: South Pacific

The current production of SOUTH PACIFIC makes its return engagement to Toronto! It was originally seen in this city at the Four Seasons Centre for the Arts in August 2010, and currently comes to us from New York's Lincoln Centre. This show won 7 Tony Awards in 2008 and is a glorious tribute to both the Golden Age of Broadway Musicals and to a magnificent musical score performed by a flawless cast.

From the moment Nellie Forbush, stunningly portrayed by Carmen Cusack, proclaims that she is a “Cockeyed Optimist” it is apparent that both our entertainment and Rogers and Hammerstein's flawless score are in good hands. David Pittsinger's Emille de Becque has a voice that makes this truly “Some Enchanted Evening” and one that you will not soon forget.

Director Bartlett Sher's vision is in total synch with the story and its layers. Yes, the music is king, but South Pacific takes place in a time when America is coming to grips with its own power; its strengths and its weaknesses. It is World War 2 and it is the South Pacific and the Japs [sic] are winning. Lieutenant Joseph Cable, played by Aaron Ramey who is as sexy as he is vocally powerful, has been sent to spy on the enemy and provide information. He eventually convinces Emile de Becque to help him on his mission. The results change the course of the war and perhaps history.

Another layer of the 2.5 hour epic deals with racial tensions, which are not yet politically unacceptable. “You've Got to be Carefully Taught” summarizes the tone of America when it comes to race and hatred, though the score, the music and the magnificent voices are the jewels in this crown. Jodi Kimura's “Bloody Mary” has just enough grit to show how strong she is and the perfect dose of compassion when she poetically describes Bali Hai, the special island.

Special it is and so is this production. Kudos to Michael Yeargan who has developed sets that flow so perfectly from one position to another that one hardly realizes the transition has taken place. Lighting, costume and choreography all balance out and support a truly wonderful evening.

If you have seen another production of South Pacific, I assure you that this one will be as good as, if not better than, any other since the 1949 debut. If you have not seen South Pacific, now is the time to do so! It is one of those nights that practically guarantees you will enjoy yourself!

March Bites From EmBODY Fitness: Resolution Evaluations & Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Has Your Wanting Translated into Doing?
By Debra Basch, RHN
Director of Nutrition, eMbody Fitness Clubs
Certified Personal Trainer

With March being Nutrition Month, I thought this would be an excellent time to assess how well you are doing with your resolutions to eat healthier, lose body fat, gain muscle, prevent osteoporosis, eat less processed foods, add more fibre daily, cut back on sodium, sugar and alcohol, sleep 6 to 8 hours nightly, and get more than the recommended 150 minutes a week of moderate intensity exercise. Wait! I said March is Nutrition Month – What do exercise and sleep have to do with nutrition? Everything! When you eat poorly, studies have shown that your motivation and adherence to an exercise plan wanes and can eventually stop. Without proper restorative sleep, we are more likely to make poorer food choices and eat too much. Studies have also shown that poor eating robs your muscles, bones, connective tissue, brain function, energy levels, and body chemical make up of proper nutrients required in order to move efficiently. The Health Triad is comprised of 1) Proper Nutrition 2) Physical Exercise/Movement 3) Sleep/Stress Reduction. My favourite saying is “You can't out-train a bad diet”. That goes for efforts to lose weight, lower your blood pressure, balance your blood sugar, and manage your energy levels. Here are my top Ten (10) suggestions to either get you back on track to meeting your goals or keep you motivated to stay on this successful path to a healthier lifestyle:

1. Go for QUALITY over QUANTITY: Choose lower fat, high-fibre whole–grain products most of the time. Think 80/20! Try something new: quinoa, barley, wild or brown rice, whole-grain bagels or whole-wheat pasta. Make lean protein choices – fish, beans, lentils, chickpeas, eggs, tofu, and lean meats trimmed of fat or poultry without the skin.
2. Take a MultiVitamin: daily. Often our foods are deficient in vitamins and minerals or we aren't properly absorbing them. Combining this practice with a healthy diet optimizes you reaching your RDI for nutrients
3. Never Skip Breakfast: I have mentioned this more than once before and that is because your grandmother was right. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It kick starts your metabolism and has been proven to aid in weight loss and maintenance.
4. Always Include Protein at Breakfast: Adding some healthy protein will help stabilize your blood sugar, ensuring that you do not become sluggish before that mid morning snack!
5. Makeover Your Portion Sizes: Are you aware of how to eyeball what you should be eating? Here is a quick reference: Starches = hockey puck size, Protein = deck of cards, Fats like cheese = 2 dice, Leafy Greens = 2 cupped handfuls, Fruits & Vegetables = fist size.
6. Keep Aiming for the 7 to 10 Daily Serving of Fruits and Vegetables: Swapping in fruit and vegetables for snacks (instead of granola bars, crackers and cookies) not only ensures that you are optimizing your nutrient intake and meeting your recommended servings but can also save you hundreds of calories over the course of one week!
7. Fibre, Fibre, Fibre: As adults we should be aiming to consume at least 25 to 35 grams of fibre daily. Fibre is multi-dimensional! In addition to keeping you regular, fibre fills you up and helps control blood sugar. Best fibre sources: fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
8. Blood Sugar Be a Savvy Shopper: Read before you purchase. If you are the main meal planner, you have to know how to read a food label and ingredient list if you are to prepare healthy, balanced meals. Be aware of portion sizes in relation to calories, fibre, sugar and sodium counts, types of fat (saturated and trans fat). Choose brands that are the highest in vitamins, minerals and fibre and lowest in sodium, sugar, harmful fats: saturated and trans fat.
9. Eat Meals and Snacks at Regular Times: Eating your meals and snacks at regular times ensures that your blood sugar is in check, wards off feelings of starvation and provides you with a steady stream of energy throughout the day.
10. Have a Treat Now and Then: but watch those portion sizes! My first question is if the “treat” is not a 10/10 – do you really want it? My second question is can 1 to 3 normal bites suffice? After that first bite it all becomes the same. My suggestion is to enjoy “bite size” treats once in a while and to slowly and thoroughly savour each bite.

Guacamole, Chicken, Salsa and Romaine Lettuce Wraps
(One of my family's favourite dinners – My own recipe)

Avocados are a nutritional powerhouse. Their fat content is about 23% of total edible weight and supplies a lot of dietary fibre. They are rich in copper, magnesium, manganese. They contain trace amounts of iron, calcium, iodine, selenium, zinc, and phosphorus. Vitamins are also in abundance: high in Vitamins A and K. In smaller amount are Vitamin B, C, E, Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacin, B6, Biotin, and Folate. Avocadoes are often overlooked because of their energy-density (high calories) but the health benefits far outweigh their bad reputation! They are good for: indigestion, hair care, heart health, skin care, psoriasis, and bad breath. Word of caution: fat is fat, healthy or otherwise. If weight loss is still part of your 2011 goals, stick to 1.5 tablespoons per lettuce wrap.

Pair these wraps with roasted peppers, cauliflower, onions, and zucchini and brown or wild rice for a balanced, healthy meal. Makes enough to feed a hungry family of four!

2 to 3 avocados (fist sized, ripe)
large bunch of cilantro, washed well and chopped up finely (can be sandy and gritty so double rinse)
juice of ½ a lemon
kosher sized sea salt – sprinkle to taste
4 green onions, chopped finely
capers (optional)
3 skinless, boneless, grilled chicken breasts (once shredded, 3 can easily feed 4 adults)
fresh salsa
romaine lettuce leaves
black beans (optional)

Method:

1. Place peeled avocado pulp in a large bowl. Add washed chopped cilantro, green onions, lemon juice, and salt.
2. Mash well with a potato masher and all ingredients are incorporated. Set aside.
3. Wash and pat dry lettuce leaves
4. Thinly slice or shred the chicken
5. On one leaf, place 2 tbsp of guacamole, shredded chicken, 1 to 2 tablespoons of salsa and a few black beans and capers if using. Keep enough leaf showing for easier “wrapping”