Editor’s Letter
Welcome to the summertime edition of A letter from George. We have assembled the pleasures of this time of year in our neighbourhood. The recent clearing rain may bring us back to the things that sing summer to you. For some of us, that’s baseball. Whether you are cheering the Blue Jays from your couch, or attending a game at Greenwood park, Diana Harris has scoped out the best local beers for game day. Nancy Lee-Sing continues to find the new gems in the neighbourhood — as editor I got an early heads up about the wonderful new florist that’s steps away on Queen Street East. I stopped in recently and found the perfect flowers to take as a hostess gift. You can read more about Zoo Flowers below. Our Board has an update on some of the upcoming care and maintenance scheduled for our home. Our recycling committee continues to count the coins from the bottle returns which are adding up. Checkout the plans for a bit of George socializing this fall that’s possible because of our empties.
From me and our team of writers, enjoy the summer months and everything the neighbourhood can offer. We will see you in September.
Susan Prince
Baseball, beer and bites
Nothing signifies summer better than baseball, beer and ballpark food. A hot dog is practically the mascot for baseball stadium food and pairs especially well with an ice-cold beer. Many different stadiums offer creative spins on the classic hot dog but to me there’s nothing better than a BBQ’ed dog from a vendor just outside the stadium. We’re fortunate enough to live in a neighbourhood rich with independent craft breweries – Black Lab, Left Field, Radical Road, Godspeed, Rorschach, Eastbound, Saulter Street and Avling – and an excellent butcher, all within walking distance, so I can recreate a ballpark experience at home when I can’t make it to Rogers Centre to watch the Blue Jays.
One of my favourite breweries is Black Lab Brewery. Another is Left Field, whose theme happens to be everything baseball related. Both breweries offer different beer styles to cater to a variety of tastes as well as pop up vendors on weekends offering food that pairs well with beer. My go to style of beer happens to be an IPA. One of my faves from Black Lab is the first IPA in their rotation called Echo DDH IPA. It’s a double dry hopped (DDH) IPA with stone fruit and citrus – making it great for pairing with hotdogs, sausages, ribs or burgers. If you’re not an IPA fan, consider Saulter Street’s It’s About Bloody Time. It’s an English ale that pairs well with these meat options.
Of course, ballpark food offerings are not limited to the almighty hotdog. If you’re in the mood for something a little different try Left Field’s newest addition to their lineup of IPAs: Piña Power. It’s crisp, refreshing and has a slight taste of pineapple making it an excellent pairing with fish tacos. Other great beers to help wash down those tacos are Black Lab’s Yo Quiero – a refreshing Mexican style cerveza, or their Maybe Tomorrow – a Hefeweizen with citrus.
Another roster addition for Left Field’s 2023 season is their Five Tool Wheat Beer which they suggest pairing with lemon pepper chicken wings or a white pizza. Other local offerings that would complement: Rorschach’s Truth Serum – a DDH IPA that is hoppy without being bitter- or Radical Roads Yuzu Pale Ale.
Of course, part of the baseball experience is a pre-game routine. Here is my summer baseball tradition of beer and bites recreated at home:
Just before the first pitch turn on the tv, volume up. I keep beer glasses in my freezer, so I grab my favourite glass and a beer from the fridge. Pour and then head outside to preheat the grill.
Whether your pairing dogs, tacos, pizza or wings with your baseball and beer, the possibilities are endless – just like Bichette’s homeruns.
Author: Diana Harris
A Zoo in Leslieville? We’ve got one but not the kind that you think.
Theresa is the zoo keeper at 1364 Queen Street East. But, the only animal you’ll find there is Fanny, a stunning Standard Poodle who is the shop dog and Theresa’s faithful companion. If you haven’t figured it out yet, I am speaking of The Zoo Flowers, one of the newest additions to our stretch of Leslieville.
A lover of arts and beauty, Theresa always had a passion for flowers. The former licensed immigration advisor ran with her passion, learned very fast and made her dream come true three years ago by starting an online shop—but a storefront was what she really wanted.
As a Leslieville resident, it was a no brainer to open in the ‘hood.
“Everyone is so devoted to the community and everyone is sooooo nice”, says Theresa. Two years ago she looked at the spot next door, the current home of Dashing Hounds, but the layout wasn’t ideal. However, the space next store was perfect. Lo and behold, it was up for lease! Within a week the papers were signed and three weeks later, The Zoo Flowers opened up. Theresa is quick to thank Henry, her behind-the-scenes partner and investor.
When asked about her favourite flower, Theresa’s passion was evident. “Ranunculus as they are just like a true woman. They have many shades of colours and are strong yet fragile.”
At The Zoo Flowers, they have a very strong belief that beautiful flowers and arrangements should be affordable to all. “A limited budget doesn’t mean arrangements should be boring and ordinary. I would love to help people make beautiful floral arrangements within their budgets. Whether it is for a wedding, event, weekly arrangements for commercial purposes or for home enjoyment, I will create whatever it is you need.”
There are always challenges in business, let alone when you’re just getting started. “Right now my biggest challenge is managing flower wastage. I am still figuring out consumption preferences in the neighbourhood. I have faith that as more people get to know the shop, the business will grow and my wastage will drop.”
Let’s welcome Theresa, Henry and Fanny. Pop buy and take a peek at the offerings and bring home the beauty of flowers.
Hours of Operation:
Tuesday to Saturday 11 am – 7 pm
Sunday 11 am – 5 pm
**When I asked about doing a floral arranging class at The George, Theresa jumped at the proposition. If we cover the cost of our materials, she’ll do a session for us. If there is interest, this is something she would be willing to do seasonally. If we have enough people interested, I will run with it. Drop me a line at nancyleesing@gmail.com if you’d like to enhance your flower arranging skills.
Author: Nancy Lee-Sing
Greetings from the Board
Happy summer, neighbours, and with June being Pride month we’d like to wish Happy Pride to all who celebrate!
We would like to thank all those who participated in our AGM in March. It was valuable to both share information and hear your thoughts on a number of matters. With regard to building maintenance, we’d like to inform you of some upcoming dates:
Garage Cleaning will take place on July 19th.
Heat Pump Maintenance is scheduled to start on June 26-29 with the specific dates per floor:
June 26 – 9th – 7th floors
June 27 – 6th to 4th floors
June 28 – 3rd to 1st floors
June 29 – Townhouse units
Window/Balcony Glass Cleaning is scheduled to start on June 29th and will take approximately 1-2 weeks depending on weather conditions.
Management will send out more detailed memos in the coming weeks.
Wishing you all our George community a great summer filled with all the wonderful things that the season brings. Please enjoy this summer edition of the newsletter with thanks given to the newsletter team.
Sincerely,
James, Kelsey & Noëlle
Take me out to the ball game – a little Leslieville baseball history
Now that summer’s here, the simple pleasure of getting outside in the neighbourhood abound! One way to soak up summer is as simple as walking up to Greenwood Park and taking in a game of baseball on a sultry summer evening. If you do, you will be following a tradition that goes back to the 1880s.
Our neighbourhood has a rich history of baseball – and it began in 1886 with the construction of the Toronto Baseball Grounds located south of Queen Street and west of Broadview. Host to the International League, this ballpark was nicknamed Sunlight Park because of its proximity to the Lever Brothers soap factory just to the south. The park hosted games until the 1890s when the International League moved to a bigger stadium on Hanlan’s Island.
Despite the move by the International League, baseball continued to thrive in the East End with amateur teams moved a little further east walking distance to from the present location of The George.
In 1900, Greenwood Park became the premier baseball venue in Toronto’s East End. Featuring a well maintained baseball diamond that attracted local teams and leagues. It quickly became a gathering place for the community.
Throughout the early 20th century, various local teams competed at Greenwood Park, showcasing their skill and entertaining spectators — including the East Riverdale Juvenile Baseball Champions of 1923. Established in the 1920s, the East End Baseball League provided an organized platform for competitive play. Camaraderie among players and lasting rivalries added to the excitement of the sport at the local playing field.
Post World War II, baseball everywhere faced challenges as other sports gained popularity. However dedicated individuals and organizations kept the game alive in the East End. Leagues like the East York Baseball Association and the East Toronto Baseball Association provided opportunities for players to develop their skills and passion for the sport.
The park’s role as a community gathering spot continues. Today you can cheer on little league games as well as a wide variety of adult baseball teams.. On Sundays you can often catch a game played by teams in the Japanese Canadian Baseball League. This league has been active since 1967, and continues to play at Greenwood Park.
Our neighbourhood is rich in history. At Greenwood Park, the legacy of over 100 years of amateur baseball continues to thrive.
Author: Susan Prince
Dine Alone Records: Not just a record label but also a cool place to shop
Have you ventured into the Dine Alone Store at the foot of Laing on Eastern? Holy Moly! What a great space. I want to work there…um no wait, live there. Their fully outfitted rooftop space — Muskoka Sauna included — is an oasis in the city. Probably one of the coolest buildings in the neighbourhood!
Home to 16 employees, Dine Alone Records has been part of the Toronto music world since 2006 when Joel Carriere, a music veteran of 25 years, ambitiously moved his companies, Bedlam Music (management) and Dine Alone Records from St. Catharines. Initially located across from the Horseshoe, on Queen Street West, then Cabbagetown they continued moving east. Six years ago Dine Alone purchased the building at 864 Eastern Avenue. “We wanted to become more self contained and wanted to create a proud and inspiring home for independent music culture in Toronto” says Carriere.
On what Dine Alone is about, Carriere said, “It’s a bedroom company that refused to accept ‘no’. Now Dine Alone is the John Wick of record labels; still fighting for the love against impossible odds.” Carriere continued with how it all began;
“From a young age, music was there helping me shape my identity. I had a soundtrack for every moment and I just became more interested in how the music got to me. I wanted to be involved in that process and that journey started in high school as an idea. By the time I was in college I was figuring out what a blueprint for that process looked like.
It all started with a job at Sam The Record Man in Welland, Ontario. A move to the Sam The Record Man in St.Catharines at the Pen Centre followed. That’s where I started rolling the music industry ball uphill.”
Carriere describes his biggest personal success is fatherhood. On the professional front, he measures success by what “the company continues to accomplish and doing it with a moral compass that is untouched.” Clearly a great deal of thought goes into every aspect of the company.
Carriere demonstrates his ability to be guided by his moral compass when he offers advice to budding artists. “Do everything yourself so you have a good understanding and appreciation of the work that goes into growing a band. Once you have a general understanding of that you can start filling in the gaps with like-minded people that share a mutual respect and work ethic so you can focus more on perfecting your art.” Great and applicable advice for any field.
When asked what contributed to the success of Dine Alone, Carriere gave a concise and honest response, “We decided to work with artists who are like minded, share the same moral compass and work ethic. Most importantly, we have to love the music and performance.
We were developing and growing a large company until about 7 years ago. I realized I had too many employees, I wasn’t having a lot of fun, and I felt like I was missing out on personal living. So we scaled it back to a happy and manageable space that was back to our original core. We currently manage Alexisonfire, City and Color, and co-manage You+Me which features Dallas Green and the popstar P!nk.
Our management company was also responsible for breaking bands like The Sheepdogs, Bedouin Soundclash, Monster Truck, The Arkells, Attack in Black and more.”
When asked about the changes in Leslieville he has seen, Carriere naturally commented on the growth. “The biggest impact we have seen is the amount of development in the area. We moved out this way because it had a very untouched rogue feeling to it. We like being a little removed from the norm, it allows us to be a little weird. Like all neighbourhoods that are affected by urban sprawl, it removes all the unique characteristics of a neighbourhood that separates itself from others and just becomes an extension of that urban sprawl. Mom and Pop businesses are pushed out and big box stores move in wreaking the heart and soul of a neighbourhood. If you are a landowner you may be on the good side of a bad situation, however if you are a small business owner, it will be difficult.”
Let’s hope Leslieville can keep gems like Dine Alone in the neighbourhood. They are what make us unique, make us as a destination spot and keep us on the map.
Author: Nancy Lee-Sing
Indie summer playlist inspired by Dine Alone Records
Nothing says summer like a roadtrip with your fav music blasting. We dug into the roster of Dine Alone Records’ amazing artists for this roadtrip-ready playlist. So grab your shades, someone to ride shotgun, and hit the highway with “ George Loves an Indie Summer ”:
Mix Tape: Noëlle Jenkinson
George VIPs
Hi, My name is Bug and in October 2014 I met my Hoomans. They visited the Humane Society and me being a super cute chihuahua terrier mix, I charmed my way into their hearts. And yes, I may only have one eye but it works to my advantage….it always looks like I’m winking at the ladies!
Nickname: Bubba
Humans: Hayley-Jean and Adi
Favourite Toy: My pink elephant that has squeaky ears
Goal: To eat as many carrots as possible
Voted Most Likely To: Steal your girl! Yep, I’m that guy!
Favourite Quote: “It’s a pirate’s life for me”
Secret Crush: Martha Stewart
The George recycling program…Let’s spend that money!
Drum roll please…
As of May 31, 2023, we have collected a total of $933.30.
Money collected from bottle returns this year will be put towards a gathering for all. Your recycling/social committee team is thinking of a party possibly September 16th. Why so late? It seems that many residents/owners will be doing a lot of cottaging this summer and we’re looking for a great turnout. We’ll be sure to keep everyone in the loop via Facebook, Building Link and Ruth from Management.
A little housekeeping note –
Please remember what goes in the bins…
-Wine and liquor bottles
-Beer and cider cans and bottles
All other recyclable products are to be disposed of in the normal building receptacles.
Thanks again for being responsible with your recycling.
Should you wish to volunteer your services for helping with the returns or planning The George Social Event, please contact Nancy at nancyleesing@gmail.com
Cheers!
A Letter From George 