Toronto Life articles from September 2005

Toronto Life archives from September 2005

I am 21 years old and attending Georgian College for medical office administration.(Letters)(response to "The Other Muskoka" article in July issue)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2005... I am 21 years old and attending Georgian College for medical office administration. I have never been pregnant, arrested or even smoked a cigarette. I am also a Broadbent. I am not the first Broadbent to attend college or the first female in my...

The true north.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2005... Growing up in Muskoka was an awesome experience for me. At 18, I left for the city to get a college education. People used to ask me what I did as a kid living up north. By the time I'd finish telling them about the many hours spent swimming,...

Cheap shots.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2005... It's about time we started talking about safe injection sites ["Shooting Match," July]. Not that I'm shooting up myself, since when I go out I prefer to drink, sometimes a lot. And rather than having the RIDE cops waiting around a corner to nab...

In my good books.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2005... I hesitated to comment on Marci McDonald's mean-spirited article on Heather Reisman and Gerry Schwartz ["The Heather and Gerry Show," June] until I read the Letters column in your recent issue. With only Heather's sisters to defend her, and a...

Oops!(Letters)(Correction Notice)
September 1, 2005... In "Houses of the Holy" [This City, August], the Ukrainian Orthodox Slovak Catholic Cathedral was misidentified. It should have been the Slovak Byzantine Catholic Cathedral. We regret the error.

In 1972, I bought a house downtown for $36,000.(This Issue)
September 1, 2005... It was a 50-year-old, three-storey semi on Cottingham Street, in a corner of the Annex that calls itself the Republic of Rathnelly. (In 1967, the neighbourhood declared its independence, manufacturing an excuse for an annual street party.) The...

Metric mile: Emily Haines: rock star, sex symbol, idealist.(PROFILE)(Metric rock band lead singer)(Interview)
September 1, 2005... SWAGGERING SPASMODICALLY across the Mod Club stage, Emily Haines, the lead singer and keyboardist of the rock band Metric, was enjoying an adoring homecoming. This was last winter, at the third of four sold-out shows, and her band had just...

Country time: Sarah Harmer serenades a crowd of summer-in-the-city refugees.(CAMERA)(Creemore area benefit for the preservation of a significant ridge)(Illustration)
September 1, 2005... Niagara Escarpment homegirl Sarah Harmer played a private benefit for the preservation of the ecologically significant ridge at the Creemore area home of Bill and Melody Duron. There, 220 guests spent a hot night pond-side, sitting atop hay...

Sandboxes and Johnny-on-the-spot.(URBAN DECODER)(streetcars' sand use)(police undercover procedures regarding prostitution)
September 1, 2005... Dear Urban Decoder: Streetcars often have a lot of sand on the floor behind the driver. What gives? CONNIE RODRIGUEZ, EARLSCOURT Blame the beach-like conditions on the overflow from large sandboxes located under the first seats on...

Heads up.(TELLING TALES)(Moses Znaimer's sixth annual IdeaCity conference)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Observant pedestrians may have noticed a curious schmooze spilling out of the Isabel Bader Theatre on a sweltering summer day. It was a strange mix: a gaggle of the less recognizable rubbing shoulders with the likes of Gord Downie and Robert F....

Toronto limited: what South Dakota, Iowa, Ohio and Kansas have that we don't.(REALITY CHECK)
September 1, 2005... In June, the branding powers that be decreed that Toronto the Good shall henceforth be known as Toronto Unlimited. Not only is this a whopping failure of the imagination, it's inaccurate: we're not the only Toronto out there. Culturally, our...

Genteel giant: what $8.45 million buys in Rosedale.(HOT PROPERTY)
September 1, 2005... WHERE: 20 Elm Avenue BEDROOMS: Five, all ensuite BATHROOMS: Six full, three half ASKING PRICE: $8.45 million FROM THE STREET: Designed by architect F. H. Herbert, this stately South Rosedale pile is Victorian stolid, enlivened...

Freshly perked.(TELLING TALES)(MuchMusic Video Awards )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... You know your party's a success when even members of indie darlings Arcade Fire can't get in. Multi-instrumentalist Richard Reed Parry was caught on the wrong side of the velvet rope at this year's post-MuchMusic Video Awards bash at The...

The air up there: a neck-craning sneak peek at Toronto's costliest new condos.(ROUNDUP)(luxury condominiums)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2005... If you have to ask, you can't afford the new luxury condos slated to pop up along the Toronto skyline. These aristocratic boxes will have maintenance fees higher than most people's monthly incomes, boasting mesospheric, multimillion-dollar...

The highs and lows of City Life.(BEST & WORST)(hockey )(beer delivery systems)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... BEST BEER DELIVERY SYSTEM Love it or hate it, hockey's comeback after a 300-day hiatus seems a return to the natural order. Legions of sports journalists will be freed from covering the peewee leagues. Ron MacLean will be confined to a...

First picture show: it's the 30th year for the little festival that could. More has changed than just the 'burns.(FOUND)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... THERE WERE NO HOLLYWOOD MOVIES AT THE FIRST TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (then optimistically called the Festival of Festivals)--American studios declined to participate in our charming little "domestic" affair. So instead of...

Near beer.(TELLING TALES)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... On three sultry days in early July, 44,000 or so attendees of the International AA Convention descended on the city. But it wasn't merely a round of virgin cocktail parties--there was work to be done. Among the 209 meetings convened to discuss...

Indian Summer: I'm white, I'm single and I'm from small-town Northern Ontario. I never thought I'd fit into Little India. I couldn't have been more wrong.(Neighbourhoods)
September 1, 2005... IF YOU DRIVE EAST along Gerrard Street on a weekend night, past Chinatown II at Broadview, past quiet Leslieville, past Greenwood, the mundane view suddenly erupts in a metaphorical masala of fairy lights and Hindu gods, tandoor smoke and...

He got aim: Brits just can't get enough of the two-time world champ they call Darth Maple. His name is John Part, and he's better at what he does than any Canadian in history.(Sports)(darts)(Biography)
September 1, 2005... JOHN PART LIKES TO THROW THINGS. "I'm fascinated by it" he says. "I don't know why." He sees a wastebasket about 10 paces away and gets a gleam in his eye. "See that?" he says, pointing. "If I had something in my hand, I'd love to try and...

Kicking the habit: a 120-year-old nunnery did the unthinkable: it expanded and moved into an airy building with a thoroughly modern sensibility.(Design)(Sisterhood of St. John the Divine)(Anglican nuns)(MontgomerySisam architects)
September 1, 2005... IN 21ST-CENTURY NORTH AMERICA, a new convent is a contradiction in terms. The stereotype we read about--large, aging buildings with dwindling numbers of elderly nuns and few fresh recruits--is overwhelmingly accurate. But early this year, the...

Buy me: bidding wars have turned buying a home into a competitive sport. Offers of 10 per cent above asking have become routine in hot neighbourhoods. "Fluffing" is no longer a salacious term. But even in this manic market, there's still some low-hanging fruit. We picked the best places on offer, for budgets from modest to massive. What you can get for $250,000 to $5 million.(Toronto real estate prices)(Cover Story)
September 1, 2005... REAL ESTATE 2005 Five years ago, we assumed the market would peak any day. We scoffed at those who were dropping $300,000 on Riverdale semis, imagining they'd be stuck with their places for years, unable to recoup their investment. Today,...

If Toronto had a strong mayor: 10 potential benefits.
September 1, 2005... Here's the thing: many vibrant cities have "Strong Mayor Systems." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] That is, their mayors have the constitutional ability to take the initiative and get stuff done. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Here in...

Shooting stars: Hollywood celebs love to pose for him, the tabloids love to publish him, and he always gets the best spot on the red carpet. But photographer George Pimentel--who says he likes working in Toronto because stars are more relaxed here--doesn't want to be just another paparazzo. He wants to be the next Diane Arbus.(Biography)
September 1, 2005... TWO THOUSAND PARIS HILTON FANS awaiting their idol express joy with what sounds like a million raccoons brawling in God's garbage bag. Some brunettes, some boys--even a few supportive, weary moms--have made the trip to MuchMusic to catch a...

Russell Smith: how the dapper writer, whose book Men's Style hits stores this month, would spend a single perfect day. Toronto on an unlimited budget.(24 HOURS WITH)(Directory)
September 1, 2005... I would wake up in the apartment suite ($2,200 per night) of Hotel Le Germain (30 Mercer St., 416-345-9500). I'd have croissants and champagne ($9.95) while watching my roommate, Jowita Bydlowska, take a shower through a glass wall off the...

Notable.(The City's Best Loot)(Morning Glory)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Take the doom and gloom out of back to school with pencils and hologram notebooks so cheerful your reluctant scholar will actually look forward to classes. Notebook $7.95, pencil $2.99. Morning Glory, 5619 Yonge St., 416-223-9665. ...

Check it out.(The City's Best Loot)(Delphic)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... New York label Alife moves argyle off the golf course with this '80s-style slip-on. Available in four technicolour combos that will get your feet noticed. $115. Delphic, 706 Queen St. W., 416-603-3334. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Coffee mate.(The City's Best Loot)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Avoid lineups and overly bubbly baristas with Krups' new programmable espresso machine. A customized triple-shot cappuccino (only for the daring) can be made and sipped in solitude. $500. Linens 'N Things, 147 Laird Dr., 416-429-5945. ...

Dangling modifiers.(The City's Best Loot)(Soos's silk tunics )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Beaded silk tunics get a little extra sparkle with these playful cluster earrings, fashioned by the jewellery designers at Soos. $30. Frock, 97 Roncesvalles Ave., 416-516-1333. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Arm candy.(The City's Best Loot)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... This brawny steel timepiece from Cartier has a stopwatch that allows you to track the hours, minutes and seconds until your next squash game. $4,750. Cartier Boutique, 130 Bloor St. W., 416-413-4929. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Dundas West: the Little Portugal drag looks dreary, but its sweet boutiques, tasty restos and relaxed atmosphere have made it a brunching-and-shopping destination.(On the Block)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2005... 1. Clandestino Boutique Owners Jeff Silver and Cyndi Cornblitt--both silversmiths and film set decorators--named their festive corner store after Manu Chao's weed-scented album. It's festooned with Mexican tchotchkes (cotton hammocks), baubles...

The county fare: near Belleville, adventurous vintners have planted pinot noir. Now some of our best young chefs are moving there, too. Field notes from the new terroir.(Dining)
September 1, 2005... A COUNTRY NIGHT deep in Prince Edward County. Frogs are croaking in the reed beds along the inlet, mist glimmering faintly on the water. Even the darkness under the trees seems wakeful--a million subtle stirrings as nature's nocturnal brigades...

Return of the killer tomatoes: heirloom varieties are back, and chefs just can't get enough.(Food)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2005... FOR DARWIN, IT WAS FINCHES. For me, tomatoes. I had stopped in at a dodgy little corner store on Yonge Street, the kind that sells flowers and an assortment of Chinese pickles along with a desultory collection of fruit and veg--half of it...

Posh spices.(Food)(The Spice Trader)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... (new) Nutmeg and pepper once sparked wars and drove exploration; a new shop on Queen restores them to their former glory, packing vibrant scents into airtight containers to maximize their shelf life. It also sells salt cellars, mortars and...

Hot wheels.(Food)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... College and Ossington has been abuzz since Hazel Ecclestone (who used to work at All the Best Fine Foods) and Robert Burns opened their welcoming storefront last spring. Look for Quebec farmhouse, artisanal Portuguese and patrician Frenchies...

Main squeeze.(Food)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Most tropical fruit juices bear little resemblance to their fragrant namesakes, cheapened with water, sugar or more common fruit. But South Africa's Wilde presses ripe exotics into service without any crutches. The brand, recently introduced to...

Sniffing around: your '85 Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou may pass the smell test, but can you?(Drink)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... The average nose, properly trained, can differentiate more than 5,000 odour molecules, but who has the training? The LCBO and community colleges offer basic courses. Advanced amateurs and industry pros have the Independent Wine Education Guild...

San Pedro Castillo de Molina 2003 Shiraz Reserva.(pick)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... San Pedro Castillo de Molina 2003 Shiraz Reserva **** $12.95 | Lontue Valley, Chile New listing from a massive, impressive vineyard in southern Chile. Shows very ripe cherry, spicy clove and olive aromas more like French syrah than Aussie...

New releases.(Drink)
September 1, 2005... WHITE Anselmi 2003 San Vincenzo **** $15.95 | Veneto, Italy A classy blend of garganega (the soave grape) and chardonnay, with peach-mango fruit (from this ripe vintage), touches of spice and candle wax. Sleek, creamy, with a...

If I can bake it there: chef David Lee dips the Big Apple in icewine.(SPOTLIGHT)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... When Splendido reopened in 2001 with chef David Lee as co-owner, Lee, then 29, had paid his dues, including six years as chef at Centro, and was ready to test his notion that great local, seasonal ingredients are best served with elegance and...

Restaurants.(Amuse-Boushe)(Everest)(Loft )(Restaurant Review)
September 1, 2005... A LA MODE (new) AMUSE-BOUCHE *** Chefs and co-owners Jason Inniss and Bertrand Alepee (both ex-The Fifth) have turned Lotus's former premises into a romantically candlelit neighbourhood restaurant. Abstract oils hang on persimmon...

Under the rug: an accidental discovery complicates the King Eddie's renovations.(IN FLUX)(Sovereign, Le Royal Meridien King Edward Hotel)(Brief Article)(Hotel Review)
September 1, 2005... Preservationists will be watching closely in September, when Le Royal Meridien King Edward reopens the old Cafe Victoria in its newly renovated guise as Sovereign. Executive chef Daniel Schick promises an elaborate all-day breakfast menu,...

Shreds of eminence: and schools of slaw.(HIGH/LOW)(coleslaw)(Yitz's at Eglington Avenue)(Lee at King Street)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2005... The word, they say, began as Dutch--koolsla--but the dish long ago lost any cultural ties. Variations-sweet, tangy, creamy, goopy, tarted up with poppy seeds, portioned in pleated paper cups--are part of Maritime lobster suppers, Mennonite...

Dipped in gold: the best thing that could happen to a slice of white bread.(QUEST)(French toast)(Amercan toast)(Maggie All Day Breakfast)(The Senator)(Signatures Intercontinental Toronto)(Xacutti)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2005... Nothing French about it, or not there anyway. The French call it pain perdu, the lost stale bread saved by being fried in egg. A 1660 English cookbook made that "pamperdy" Quebec gilds it, as France also did once, into pain dore. But long...

Sharpening skills: the masters show their chops at Nella Cutlery.(EVENT)(Brief Article)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2005... The latest to join the growing number of culinary academies in town, Nella Cucina enjoys a bit of an edge over the rest--literally. For more than 50 years, its mother company, Nella Cutlery & Food Equipment, has outfitted professional kitchens...

Links to the past: real retro turns hip at Czehoski's Queen Street butcher shop.(IT SPOT)(Brief Article)(Bar Review)
September 1, 2005... Once a Polish butcher shop with lineups for its kielbasa, Czehoski reopened in March as a three-floor hot spot, now drawing crowds with a charming staff (no South Beach 'tude) and great drinks. The two-year redo is long on detail--pressed tin...

Theatre.(This Month)(Calendar)
September 1, 2005... OPENING THE AFFAIRS OF ANATOL. Austrian turn-of-the-20th-century playwright Arthur Schnitzler practised medicine before taking up the pen, and it shows. Schnitzler's life was as X-rated as his work; his dramas are about the flesh and...

Past imperfect: in his newest opus, Cronenberg does family drama his way: warped, violent and full of gore. Dysfunction never looked so good.(ONSCREEN)(A History of Violence)(film)(Toronto International Film Festival)(Movie Review)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... David Cronenberg's latest offering, A History of Violence, is set in a staggeringly red, white and blue version of Eden--idyllic Millbrook, Indiana--where the Everyman protagonist Tom Stall and his lawyer wife, Edie, have settled to raise their...

Ice age: Icelandic music stands up to the nordic island's climate of extremes.(IN CONCERT)(Massey Hall)
September 1, 2005... For about the first millennium, the shivering successors of Iceland's Viking colonists were more concerned with staying alive in sub-zero temperatures than making music. But in recent years, the country has become a veritable hotbed of cool...

Pulp friction: fraught with emotional and sexual intrigue, Eliza Griffiths' canvases are as brazen as dime-store novels.(IN THE GALLERIES)(Katharine Mulherin Contemporary Art Projects)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Unapologetically camp, Eliza Griffiths' candy-bright canvases have the louche allure of dog-eared pulp-fiction book jackets or yellowed Harlequin Romances. A revolving cast of characters drifts in and out of her latest series, including her...

The princess diaries: in Soulpepper's Olympia, Kristin Booth flexes her muscles for a noble cause.
September 1, 2005... The best comedies have bite, as Kristin Booth deftly proves in her portrayal of a demure duty-bound princess forced to quash her love for a commoner in Ferenc Molnar's Olympia. After a five-year stint in film and television, Booth jumped at the...

Classical.(This Month)(Calendar)
September 1, 2005... CHAMBER AND SOLO I SOLISTI DELLA SCALA TRIO. This Milan-based trio, boasting the unusual combination of clarinet, oboe and piano, presents an evening of operatic and chamber masterworks. Two guest artists join the trio for its Canadian...

Pop.(This Month)(Calendar)
September 1, 2005... ELTON JOHN has earned plenty of attention for his blockbuster Las Vegas revue, marriage plans, spending habits and undiminished flair for bitchiness (last year, he accused Madonna of lip-synching during concerts, for which he later apologized)....

Jazz.(This Month)
September 1, 2005... INTERFACE. In 2003, the Association of Improvising Musicians Toronto launched an ambitious series of concerts and workshops featuring local and international musicians. This instalment mixes and matches distinguished members of the Amsterdam...

Art.(This Month)(Calendar)
September 1, 2005... (free) BARBARA KLUNDER. It's funk all the way with this Toronto artist-designer, whether it's her graphics (her giant jungle-jive painting on the side of the old BamBoo Club was a Queen West landmark) or jazzy computer fonts (her Otto Font and...

Dance.(This Month)(Calendar)
September 1, 2005... ARTISTS' PLAY. The cabaret series presents a wide range of arts on the experimental side of things (hence the word "play"). Participants some of Toronto's most daring independent artists--come from dance, comedy, theatre, live music and visual...

Kids.(This Month)(Calendar)
September 1, 2005... BLACK CREEK PIONEER VILLAGE. The 49th Pioneer Festival is an extravaganza of old-style Mennonite and Pennsylvania-German entertainment, including hearty foods like sausages, sauerkraut, borscht and apple-butter jams, a farmer's market and...

Diversions.(This Month)
September 1, 2005... (free) ARTS WEEK. The chief beneficiaries of this 11-day commercial for the arts are organizations that are too small to effectively promote themselves, so many of the 300-odd events are small scale and take place in local schools, cafes,...

Toronto life calendar.(ADVERTISING & PROMOTION EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES)(Calendar)
September 1, 2005... The scoop on this month's events and promotions from advertisers: A TOUR OF NIAGARA Join Toronto Life columnists James Chatto and David Lawrason for an exciting wine-and-food excursion in Niagara-on-the-Lake! Enjoy sailing aboard a...

54 per cent say they're satisfied with the state of the public school system.(The Toronto Poll)
September 1, 2005... ANNIE KIDDER, executive director of People for Education "There's a high commitment to public education in Canada, but also much room for improvement. We need to stay engaged." WILL GOLDBLOOM, UTS class of 2005 school captain "If...

Clothes and shoes.(children)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2005... Adrian's The brand of choice at this cozy uptown shop is the American label Stride Rite. The company's divine first walking shoes (from $55) are kind to tender baby feet. For older kids, options expand to lace-ups (from $70) and sandals by...

The main events: mark up your calendar now: with Toronto's roster of kid-friendly shows and festivals, the year will fly by.(Calendar)
September 1, 2005... Fall Canadian International Air Show (Sept. 3 to 5, 2005) The fabled Canadian Forces Snowbirds headline a dazzling display of aerial acrobatics. $12. Exhibition Place, 210 Princes" Blvd. (between Bathurst and Dufferin), 416-263-3800,...

Planes, trains and automobiles: pick a hobby, any hobby--Toronto's got a shop for it.(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2005... Aviation World Founded in 1967 by a retired Air Canada pilot, this empire of the skies carries the largest collection of model planes in North America--everything from Spitfires to the current Airbus A380, the world's largest passenger...

Toys and books.(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2005... The Flying Dragon Bookshop "No matter what age, we can recommend a great read," says co-owner Nina McCreath. Por babies, that might be Helen Oxenbury's Tickle, Tickle; for four- to eight-year-olds, Maryann Kovalski's Brenda and Edward; for...

Furniture and equipment.(children's furniture)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2005... Baby Furniture Warehouse Solid goods at discount prices are the order of the day here. The small showroom, decorated in an industrial warehouse style, displays everything from convertible cribs ($349) to maple armoires ($899) and...

Second-hand goods.(children's clothing and accessories)
September 1, 2005... Ages & Stages Piles here, piles there, piles, piles everywhere. That's the scene at Ages & Stages, but staff will help you sift for cargo pants, onesies or equipment. Reasonable prices make up for the chaos. Purple lace-up surfer shorts...

The bright stuff: rain or shine, bed or bath, make it cute and colourful.(children's clothing and accessories)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2005... Rain boots by Rainpals, $35. Funkybaby, 2116 Queen St. E., 416-691-0980. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Blanket $119, baby sleeping bag $69. Lumiere, 761 Queen St. E., 416-406-5757. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Shirt $52, hat $20. Love...

Diapers.(retail and laundry services)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2005... ABC Diaper Depot At ABC, the No Frills of diaper dealers, wares have not even been unpacked from their boxes, and the walls are made of cardboard. But the prices are good, and no-name diapers come in all sizes. Free delivery in the city....

Child care.(agencies)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2005... Christopher Robin Whether your brood numbers two or 250, Christopher Robin can locate a nanny in nanoseconds. The agency has been on the scene for over 50 years; a big chunk of business comes from tourists and parents looking for nanny...

Animal crackers: lions, tigers and bears, oh my: where the wild things are.(children and animals)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2005... ZOOS THE GIST THE CLIENTELE African Lion Safari The Serengeti comes Drive-by adventurers, RR 1, Cambridge, to southern Ontario. colonial fantasists 519-623-2620 ...

Parenting support.(workshops and groups)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2005... Ella Centre Within months of opening last summer, the Ella Centre became the de facto clubhouse for go-getter parents-to-be across the city. A meeting place and resource centre, it offers a menu of pre- and postnatal services for new and...

Fitness and wellness.(children)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2005... Esther Myers' Yoga Studio Flexibility, energy and relaxation yoga offers multiple benefits for pregnant women and morns with kids. Monthly labour preparation workshops focus on breathing, grounding, relaxation and imagery techniques....

Safety.(child safety)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2005... Babyproofers A member of the International Association for Child Safety, Yehudah Franken is a proponent of the "FrankenSafe Method." He inspects homes and makes safety suggestions: fasten down vent covers, move the loveseat away from the...

Party services and supplies.(children's parties)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2005... Alltimate Party 'N' Play Don't be fooled by the drab industrial location. Inside, this is a children's fantasy land: ride-on cars, dangling rope ladders and an air hockey table that actually works. There's also a bouncy castle, a ball pit...

Blast from the past: from playtime to tea time, everything old is new again.(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2005... Front-opening Montgomery House $595. The Little Dollhouse Company, 612 Mount Pleasant Rd., 416-489-7180 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ABC nursery blocks by T.J. Whitney's Traditional Toys, $59.95. Kol Kid, 670 Queen St. W., 416-681-0368. ...

Indoor play spaces.(children)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2005... Amazon Indoor Playground True to its name, the place is done up like a jungle, with giant frog figures and rain forest vegetation. Preschool and school-aged kids can choose between the large jungle gym, the puppet theatre and the stage,...

Games people play: win, lose or draw, here's how to entertain the troops.(places to go for children's activities and games)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2005... BOWLERAMA Glow-in-the-dark bowling has given the game a whole new spin, Perhaps your bowling will improve when the lights are out, but if not, bumpers help keep the balls in the lane. Party packages include one hour of bowling, shoe rental...

Educational play spaces.(educational activities for children)(wokshops and camps)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2005... Children's Technology Workshop There's plenty here to stimulate technically minded children. Hands-on activities range from car and airplane prototyping to Lego robotics and digital art. In the animation session, up-to-date computer...

Destinations.(places to visit with children)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2005... Black Creek Pioneer Village Comprising historic buildings garnered from all over southern Ontario, Pioneer Village is a pastiche of a Victorian farm community. Staff in period dress tend to farm animals and explain the mysteries of...

Freaks and geeks: the best shops for hunters, collectors and brainiacs.(children's interests)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2005... GEORGE S. WEGG LTD. (STAMPS OF THE WORLD) How to produce a junior philatelist: buy them a bag of 500 stamps for $15, package it with a junior Canadian stamp album ($30-$32) and a copy of Doug Patrick's The Stamp Bug, and hey, presto, you've...

Art and drama.(children's programs and workshops)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2005... In addition to the reviews listed below, Messy Hands (page 30) offers a full range of classes and courses. Academy of Artisans Less an academy than a homey, comfortable studio. It's run by Don Colvin, a costume designer who's created...

Music.(children's classes, camps and workshops)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2005... Canadian Opera Company Kids with a yen for theatrics can strut their stuff on the COC's floorboards. The After School Opera Program is open to seven-to 12-year-olds; classes explore every aspect of opera, from mime to set design. Classes,...

Dance.(children's classes)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2005... Academy of Spanish Dance Led by Esmeralda Enrique, one of Canada's pre-eminent flamenco dancers and teachers, the academy attracts young would-be Spanish dancers: girls in ruffled skirts and heeled shoes practising to the sound of a...

Sports.(children's classes, workshops and holiday programs)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2005... Buckler Aquatics Young children learn the basics of swimming and water safety skills, progressing from beginner through to Red Cross certification. The student-to-instructor ratio is five to one; parents receive weekly reports. Each...

Author, author! Judy Blume? Never heard of her. C. S. Lewis? Ancient history. There's a new order in the world of popular children's authors. Here's the hit list--and the lowdown on their latest offerings.(includes young adult authors)(titles and genres)
September 1, 2005... LOUISE RENNISON Described by one critic as "Enid Blyton meets Cosmo Girl," British author Louise Rennison is a publishing sensation. Her Confessions of Georgia Nicolson series--the comic diaries of an angst-ridden, boy-crazy teenage...