Editor’s letter: Seeing Leslieville like a tourist
Sometimes a change of scenery helps sharpen one’s perceptions of home. That was certainly true for me. A walk along St. Laurent Boulevard in Montreal this summer had me in awe of wall after wall of murals. Returning to Leslieville, I have fresh eyes for the murals situated all along Queen Street. Walking west from Vancouver Ave. – which marks the eastern limit of Leslieville – all the way to River Street you will find a collection of murals that highlight some of the history of the East End.
The newest addition to this collection is right across from The George. A turn of the 20th century motorcycle titled “The Motordrome”. It’s a nod to the Motordrome track that was on the land directly across from our building. Unfamiliar with this piece of Leslieville history? Check out Noëlle Jenkinson’s article all about the Motordrome from this year’s March edition of A Letter from George.
Sunday September 17th marks the very first residents’ social gathering. If you haven’t done so already, please RSVP at SocialAtTheGeorge@gmail.com. After a couple of years of Zoom cocktails, I tell you I am very much looking forward to our street-party equivalent in this vertical neighbourhood. This party has been a year in the making; Nancy and Christine have been building the kitty for this event by taking all of our bottle returns to the beer store. With people back from summer adventures, this feels like the perfect time join in a convivial afternoon on the terrace.
And with that, I highly recommend that you find time to curate your very own public art walk along Queen Street – the waning days of summer offer the perfect temperature and some magic to the lighting.
Susan Prince
End of summer app that’s just peachy
Long days, warm humid nights and tan lines are beginning to fade. Children are returning to school and summer vacation has come to an end. September always feels like a new year to me. Despite being out of school for a few years, or decades rather, the back to school blues start to creep in. The one thing that cheers me up and reminds me that summer isn’t quite over yet is a trip to a farmers’ market and seeing an abundance of fresh Ontario produce. As I wandered through the Leslieville Farmer’s Market this past Sunday my brain was in overdrive coming up with all sorts of recipes highlighting the fresh produce of late summer.
This recipe pays homage to my favourite end of summer fruit…the humble peach. It’s sure to shake away those back to school blues and remind you that summer isn’t quite over yet.
Here is my recipe for Peach and Prosciutto Crostini.
Ingredients
1 French baguette sliced and lightly toasted
1 – 2 peached, pitted and diced
1/3 lb prosciutto, cut into thin strips
1/4 cup minced red onion
1 (4ounce) package of goat cheese (softened)
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp olive oil
1/3 cup chopped chives
Directions
In a small bowl mix diced peaches, onion, olive oil and balsamic vinegar together and set aside to marinate for 5 minutes.
Spread goat cheese onto toasted baguette slices. Spoon peach mixture on top of the cheese. Top with a couple ribbons of prosciutto and chopped chives. Serve and enjoy!
The Monsieur — A very complementary fellow
There is no better way to enjoy a delicious appetizer than with an equally delicious cocktail. This cocktail is easy to make and complements the sweet and salty contrast of the crostini.
Here is the recipe for The Monsieur:
Ingredients
1.5 oz vodka
1 oz St-Germain Elderflower liqueur
1 oz Aperol
1 oz fresh lemon juice
1 oz orange juice
½ slice of lime or dried lime wheel
Method
Combine vodka, Elderflower liqueur, Aperol, lemon and orange juice in a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Pour into a coupe or cocktail glass of choice. Garnish with ½ lime slice or dried lime wheel. Cheers!
Author: Diana Harris
And a little music to enjoy whilst sipping The Monsieur
Autumn Jazz Playlist
Summer, for me, is usually synonymous with popular music or “the song of the summer”, but as we glide into fall I always feel myself drawn more to the world of Jazz. What better way to make the transition than combining pop and jazz? Want to hear fresh takes on David Bowie, Rhianna, Blondie and the like? Then “George Loves A Jazz Cover” is the playlist for you.
Mix Tape: Noëlle Jenkinson
The George’s VIP (Very Important Pets)
Spotlight on our Four Legged Residents
Hello there! I am Monty and I love living here at The George. I have so many friends, all smaller than me, as I am a Bernese Mountain Dog. Don’t let my size intimidate you ‘cuz I am a gentle, playful puppy at heart.
Nickname: So many of them – Baby, Monty Burns and Meat Nose as I sometimes have a problem with getting my breakfast off my nose!
Humans: Nicolette, Ben and my two legged brother Miles
Favourite Toy: I don’t have one and prefer playing with my friends, especially Rudy, Barney and my walking pack
Goals: Always to get treats, love and attention which are a piece of cake due to my charm and smile
Voted Most Likely To: Steal your heart!
Favourite Quote: My human’s saying “Treat/Eat”
Secret Crush: Oh geez, I have way too many to name
Author: Nancy Lee-Sing
Greetings from the Board
We hope that everyone has enjoyed their summer and are now looking forward to fall and its beautiful colours.
August 4th marked the fiscal year end for the corporation. Our financials are in progress and will soon be sent to the corporation’s auditors. Once the auditors have completed their work, we can look at scheduling our next AGM.
WSP, the engineering firm engaged for our performance audits, has completed the 2nd Year Performance Audit and Rockport is working on deficiencies.
We hope the Social on Sunday will be enjoyed by everyone. Thanks to Nancy Lee-Sing and Christine Oddy for not only organizing, but for making this possible through their bottle recycling efforts.
To all our residents and those celebrating Rosh Hashanah this weekend, Shanah Tova – A Happy New Year!
Sincerely,
James, Kelsey & Noëlle
Judy is the Queen of Convenience
Just about all of us have popped into Queen Convenience across the street from our building, whether it was to pick up lottery tickets for the next big draw or that litre of milk we forgot to pick up at the grocery. It is the go-to for so many in the neighbourhood.
Around five years ago, proprietor Judy was running a convenience store at another location when she decided to open up here in Leslieville because it is a good community and she loves the neighbourhood.
Judy and her husband Jack are the power couple behind our pet-friendly convenience world. They keep the shelves stocked and keep their prices competitive. No, let me change that. Their prices are below the regular at many of our local big box grocers.
Their selection of produce is always fresh, hardware selection varied enough to get any home repair done and, if you’ve got a sweet tooth or caving in on that no carb diet, Queen Convenience can help you out.
Open 9:00 am to 9:00 pm everyday of the week, their work consumes both time and energy! Thankfully, Judy’s parents are very supportive. I am sure you’ve seen her father helping out with the merchandise, always with a smile on his face. With two young children at home, Judy’s mom helps care for them and their pet cat. Clearly, this close, tightly knit Chinese family has figured out how to make it work. Now, if they could figure out how to clone themselves they’d be able to go on vacation, a favourite pastime that becomes impossible to do as a family unit.
Small scale, independently run, mom and pop shops are all part of what make the Leslieville community great. Judy and Jack work hard and provide us with a little of everything just steps from our front door. I know I am grateful they are at 1348 Queen Street East and I’ll bet many of you are too.
Did you know:
- There is a sale rack beside the door? Check out their bargains the next time you’re in there.
- They keep an open box of dog biscuits behind their counter for their four legged friends.
- They have been known to bring in special items for their regular customers? All you have to do is ask and if they can get it, they will.
Author: Nancy Lee-Sing
Back to school: Smoke Detector 101
Is your smoke detector/alarm being triggered for no apparent reason? It seems a number of residents – myself among them – have experienced this nerve-fraying occurrence. Having been there- done that, I thought I’d share what I’ve learned with a little helpful info.
The first step in preventing false alarms is maintenance. Smoke detectors can be triggered by dust and dirt, so maintaining your smoke detector is good practice to ensure that your detector is in proper functioning order. Here is a helpful link from First Alert:
How to Test, Clean and Maintain Your Smoke Detector
Smoke detectors can also be triggered by high humidity – something to consider on those humid summer days if you are not running your air conditioning.
Should your smoke detector repeatedly experience false alarms and can no longer be silenced by pressing the “Test/Silence” button, your only option may be to permanently disable the device. To do this, you need to remove the alarm from the ceiling (they will easily twist off counter-clockwise). On the back, you’ll see a red switch which will permanently disable the battery.
Replacing the smoke detector: The smoke alarms are warranted by Rockport’s electrical contractor and by Tarion on each unit’s two year in suite warranty which has likely expired for most, if not all, units. This means that it is the homeowner’s responsibility going forward. That being said, a smoke detector should last 7 to 10 years so it’s likely worth going to First Alert (Rockport’s provider) and asking if they will replace the device. First Alert Canada’s Customer Service number is: 1-800-323-9005
Susan McCartney of Rockport provided a photo of the alarms installed in our building:
Should you decide to replace with a different type of smoke detector, make sure you purchase one with an LED strobe which is required by the Ontario Building Code.
One final note – be sure to turn off the breaker at the electrical panel before installing the new alarm.
Author: Noëlle Jenkinson
In The Pocket coming soon to Leslieville
What is In The Pocket? A Stack Market concept of curated dining, shopping and exhibits. Located at Queen St E and Carlaw Ave, this 10,000 square foot market with an aimed launch of Friday September 29th will be open the entire weekend and then continue the following four weekends.
This boutique market will be home to celebrity chefs who will serve up their fall inspired menus in the tented space on the lot where the original Leslieville Pumps once stood. It will be a great place to grab a drink from the bar, eat some delicious food and enjoy a little shopping from a list of curated merchants. A great place to pick up a little artisan clothing, jewelry, skin care products or that special home decor piece. Additionally, there will be fun stuff for the kids too including children’s reading by local authors.
In the evenings, cozy up near the fire pits with a cocktail while listening to music courtesy of the DJ and no need to leave your pets at home. Dogs are welcome – so much so there will even be a dog installation!
Christine Tetreault, owner and operator of The Vandenberg House Event Venue (and head of our BIA) came up with the concept and is excited about the inaugural event. “For 8 years, I’ve been toying with this concept and it has and continues to be a challenge getting financial and sponsorship support. That said, I am now thrilled to see it coming to fruition. It will be great to activate this in the east end and bring back more of the social we once knew and loved prior to COVID” says Tetreault.
This Leslieville event will be worth the walk. To find out more, sign up for the newsletter on their website, In The Pocket and/or follow EastsideEvents.to on all socials to find out more.
Author: Nancy Lee-Sing
The George Recycling Program…Time to start spending!
$1,165.70 is our new total as of August 31, 2023. Our first event, a casual drop-in, will be taking place Sunday, September 17th from 4:00 – 7:00 pm. As mentioned in the notice, it will be BYOB and some of the money we’ve collected will be going towards catering, soft drinks and all the other necessities to have a great gathering. Thanks to all who RSVP’d and we look forward to seeing you on the 8th floor!
Now that fall is knocking at our door, we’re thinking there will be an uptick in red wine bottles and lots of cider cans as mulling season is upon us.
It is great to see how conscientious everyone has been with their recycling.
Volunteers for helping with the returns or planning The George Social Events are always welcome. If you’re interested and have a little time to spare, contact Nancy at socialatthegeorge@gmail.com
Author: Nancy Lee-Sing
Staff at The George
Property Manager: Simranjeet Kaur
Weekday Concierge: Kripa Pakrin
Weekend Concierge: Rupamdeep Kaur Nagi
Cleaner: Mario Ganitano
A Letter From George 