December 31st, 2010
After a number of economy and real estate related news articles, lets be a little less serious for a couple of minutes at least. As at the end of every year, the government of Ontario has once again released a list of the most popular baby names from registered births in the province.
(Top Ontario Baby Names continued...)December 30th, 2010
These beautiful blue stars were captured by the photographer Andrew Manery at the Nathan Phillips Square skating rink, placed not far from the Yorkville neighbourhood.
(New Year’s Blue Stars continued...)December 29th, 2010
After the decline of 0.1 percent in September, Canada’s gross domestic product did not rise by any noticeable amount in October either. It only increased by 0.2 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.24 trillion, which is certainly less than expected, Statistics Canada announced in Ottawa.
(Not-so-great GDP Data continued...)December 28th, 2010
What a surprise! Consumer prices in Canada increased less than predicted last month! That is, after a 2.4 percent rise in October, they only went up by 2 percent annually in November, Statistics Canada reported. From October, the prices went up by 0.1 percent. The main reasons for this decelerated pace of the growth, are moderated prices for food, clothing and energy.
(November Consumer Prices continued...)December 28th, 2010
The odds are pretty much in the producers’ favour that they will have a hit with this show. Story by Larry Gelbart, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, directed by Des McAnuff and brought to the commercial stage by Mirvish Productions. With this pedigree, chances are you will enjoy yourself. A funny thing just hit me, if you do not know who all of the aforementioned are, please (as they say) Google the names.
(A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum continued...)December 27th, 2010
The confidence in the economy has declined among Canadians again! That is according to the recently published TNS Consumer Confidence Index. It shows that in December, the overall index of 2010 completely erased the slight increase recorded in November, as it fell by 1.5 points to 96.1.
(Consumer Confidence Fell continued...)December 27th, 2010
” It looks like it, but this isn’t cotton. It’s snow.” Commented the photographer Zoarpics his own beautiful image captured inside The Annex Neighbourhood.
(Cotton in The Annex continued...)December 26th, 2010
The University of Toronto's Cities Centre has just updated a report, the title of which is Three Cities in Toronto. Its findings are pretty interesting, since the year 1970, the number of middle class neighbourhoods (that is, neighbourhoods where the average individual income is within 20 percent of the city average of $40,704) in Toronto fell extremely significantly.
(Less Middle Class Neighborhoods continued...)December 25th, 2010
Seems like the economic recession has influenced the citizens of Canada quite noticeably. As Statistics Canada reported in 2009, the average household spending in the country decreased by 0.3 percent to $71,120. This decline is actually the very first one since introducing the agency's annual Survey of Household Spending in 1997.
(Declined 2009 Household Spending continued...)December 24th, 2010
Seems like the resale housing activity in Canada is finally returning to its usual, normal state! That is, at least, what the November data published by the Canadian Real Estate Association show. According to the association, the seasonally adjusted sales activity via the Multiple Listing Service in our country increased by 4.8 percent last month.
(Sales Up in November continued...)December 24th, 2010
Christmas time in the city, magical photo of the day captured by talented Roozbeh Rokni.
(Christmas Time in the City continued...)December 24th, 2010
A second straight increase of Canada’s index of leading economic indicators was recorded in November! As Statistics Canada reported, the index went up by 0.3 percent last month, the same rise as in October. Furthermore, the average monthly increase of the index has been 0.3 percent over the past decade as well.
(Economic Index Rose continued...)December 22nd, 2010
And now the newest entry into the grab-the-holiday-entertainment-dollar production which includes such shows as The Nutcracker, The Messiah, Petty’s Panto, etc. Hollywood also takes a stab at grabbing the dollar in the cinemas. Most of these productions do well and deserve attention and to be seen. With The Grinch that Stole Christmas, other than to grab some of that loose cash, why is this production taking up precious space on stage?
(The Grinch That Stole Christmas continued...)December 20th, 2010
Royal Le Page has just announced its top realtors for 2010. I placed #4 in Canada for Royal Le Page nationally out of 14,300 Sales Representatives and #1 in Toronto.
Thank you for helping me achieve these titles!
(Just Announced News & Season’s Greetings! continued...)December 20th, 2010
The Messiah is many things to many people. To some religions he has yet to arrive, while others have embraced various prophets as their Messiah. In our culturally diverse community, it is important to remember that more people on this planet do not celebrate Christmas than do. The legacy, however, bestowed upon us by the glorious Church must be cherished. We adore its architecture, its artwork, its patronage of culture and, of course, its music.
(MESSIAH: An Oratorio continued...)December 19th, 2010
Finally some good news regarding the trade deficit in Canada! According to the figures released by Statistics Canada, after a huge increase in September, the country’s trade deficit narrowed to 1.7 billion dollars in October. The revised September level was 2.3 billion dollars.
(Trade Deficit – October Fall continued...)December 17th, 2010
Statistics Canada has released its New House Price report for the month of October! According to the data, after the September monthly rise of 0.2 percent, the New Housing Price Index increased at a slightly slower pace, by 0.1 percent in October.
Saskatoon saw the largest price rise over the month, at 0.8 percent, followed by a 0.5 percent increase recorded in Greater Sudbury and Thunder Bay. Interestingly, prices stayed about the same as the September figures in 9 out of 21 surveyed areas.
(October NHPI Increase continued...)December 15th, 2010
The 2010 Rental Market Survey report for the Greater Toronto Area has been released recently, by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation! According to the report, the apartment vacancy rates in the area have been falling this year.
(Less Apartment Vacancies continued...)December 14th, 2010
Home sales in Ontario are going to go up in 2011, before declining again in 2012, the Central 1 Credit Union predicted in a recent statement. Prices are expected to keep on increasing for the next two years and may reach record levels during this period.
(Ontario 2011 Housing continued...)December 14th, 2010
Perhaps expectations were too high but lunch at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel’s star restaurant was just under the wire. Service was impeccable but oh so slow. The maitre d’ greeted us with warm and friendly gestures. The waiter’s instincts were distinctively accurate throughout the entire meal.
(Restaurant Review: EPIC continued...)December 13th, 2010
Housing starts in Canada increased for the first time in four months, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s statement. Last month’s starts went up more than expected, by 11.6 percent from a revised 167,800 rate in October to a seasonally adjusted annual pace of 187,200 .
(November Housing Starts continued...)December 13th, 2010
These beautiful golden arches discovered by the talented Fadi Jozif are at the University of Toronto.
(Golden Arches continued...)
December 12th, 2010
A new report released by RE/MAX predicts the housing market across Canada to be quite stable for next year. The number of sales is not likely to increase, but there should be no dramatic decline either. Actually, it should be pretty similar to 2010.
(Stable 2011 Housing Market? continued...)December 11th, 2010
Christmas is a wonderful time of the year. Add to the holiday atmosphere by setting a festive mood in your home. Using the same decor every year gets boring quickly and buying something new and stylish every year can be very expensive. How can you decorate your home for Christmas in an inexpensive way? Read on, here are some ideas!
(Affordable Christmas Decor continued...)December 10th, 2010
Good news for those planning to purchase a property! Housing in Toronto, as well as in the whole of Ontario and Canada is becoming more affordable, the latest Royal Bank of Canada’s Housing Affordability Measures show. For the first time since the second quarter of 2009, the cost of home ownership in the country decreased in the third quarter of this year.
(More Affordable Homes continued...)December 10th, 2010
Dreamy fairy-tale roots found in the Sunnybrook park situated near The Bridle Path neighbourhood. Dramatic photo of the day taken by William Self.
(Roots continued...)December 9th, 2010
The number of sold homes in the Greater Toronto Area increased for the fourth straight month to 88,100 in November, GTA Realtors reported.To compare: in July there were only 67,900 sales. Nonetheless, the sales in the GTA were lower this past month than they were in November 2009.
(November GTA Housing continued...)December 8th, 2010
The unemployment situation in Canada has improved a little in November! As Statistics Canada informed, in spite of ‘not so great’ job growth, the unemployment rate went down to its lowest level since January 2009. From 7.9 percent recorded in October, the rate declined to 7.6 percent last month.
(November Employment Situation continued...)December 7th, 2010
Housing starts in the Greater Toronto Area declined significantly in October, a new report released by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation shows. As a matter of fact, October was the least successful month of this year regarding housing starts.
(October GTA Housing Starts continued...)December 7th, 2010
It’s hard to believe that Ross Petty has been presenting, producing and starring in Pantomimes for 15 years. Before passing judgment about the newest version, I feel it is important to remember what the Panto is and/or ought to be.
(Beauty and the Beast continued...)December 6th, 2010
Ontario should improve its innovation and productivity levels as fast as possible! It may not bode well for the province otherwise, a recently released report by Ontario’s Task Force on Competitiveness, Productivity and Economic Progress states.
(Ontario Needs to Improve continued...)December 5th, 2010
The economy of Canada seems to be slowing down more than it should, or rather more than expected. That is the case for the third quarter of this year as well, Statistics Canada reported. The Canadian gross domestic product for this last quarter has increased by exactly 1 percent from the third quarter of 2009.
(GDP Growth Decelerating continued...)December 4th, 2010
Winter across Yorkville, breathtaking photo of the day made by talented David Jones.
(Yorkville Snow continued...)December 4th, 2010
The budget deficit in Canada seems to be narrowing! It has fallen in September from a year earlier, the most recent Fiscal report straight from Ottawa shows. To be specific, three months ago the deficit was $3.92 billion, which is noticeably lower than the $4.97 billion recorded in September 2009.
(Narrowing Budget Deficit continued...)December 2nd, 2010
Sadly, child poverty in Ontario does not seem to be on the right track. After three years of decreases, the poverty levels in the province went up again in 2008, according to the recently released report by Ontario Campaign 2000, a branch of a national group whose aim is to reduce poverty in Canada.
(Rising Child Poverty in Ontario continued...)December 1st, 2010
Great housing news! After the terrible fall of 32 percent in September, new home sales in the Greater Toronto Area increased in October! As many as 4,535 new homes have been sold and if compared to October 2009, it is a 0.6 percent rise, according to the data released by the Building, Industry and Land Development Association.
(New Home Sales Rose continued...)December 1st, 2010
Senior's Dining Nook
Address: 1397 Yonge Street, South of St Clair.
Reservations suggested
We all know that the moment one adds “haute” to another word certain eyebrows are raised in curiosity and others are furled in contempt. Haute couture and haute cuisine are two such examples that we have come to understand, accept or reject.
(Real Steak, No Haute Here! continued...)December 1st, 2010
Photographer Sam Xiao captured this magical image of Christmas lights inside the Eaton Center, which is one of the most popular shopping destinations in Toronto. You can also get into the spirit of the season with the festive decorations & boutiques a little further north in the Rosedale neighbourhood.
(Christmas Lights continued...)
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