Earlier today, we reported that New York chef David Chang was rumoured to be opening a new restaurant next year at the base of the hotel-condo complex, Shangri-La. We just received word from Chang’s press chief Sue Chan that not one but two Momofuku restaurants will indeed be coming to Toronto next year, although they’ll actually be occupying a neighbouring building.
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Confirmed: two new Momofuku restaurants coming to Toronto in 2012
Trading Spaces, Maple Leafs Makeover Edition: what everyone’s saying on this deadline day
The NHL trade deadline is at 3 p.m. today, which, of course, guarantees that for the next few hours the hockey-mad public will enjoy/be subjected to a media bonanza of rumours, rumours and, you guessed it, more rumours. Everybody knows deadline day isn’t about what actually happens—it’s all about what might happen. Case in point: TSN’s TradeCentre, complete with live-streaming and its own iPad and iPhone apps. Good grief.
The question Toronto Maple Leafs fans are asking is, can Brian Burke pull another rabbit out of his hat? Does he have one more trick up his sleeve? The Leafs GM has been busy in the lead-up to the deadline, selling off some of the squad’s most coveted pieces. But Burke has a history of making something out of nothing. Here, we take a quick look at who’s saying what on this auspicious day.
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Rumours abound about the NBA going back to Vancouver. Hey, at least it would make the Raptors look good
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Once again, the chattering classes are buzzing about the possibility of an NBA franchise finding a home in Vancouver. In case some readers have forgotten, the Vancouver Grizzles were proud tenants at Rogers Arena (back then it was named GM Place) from 1995 to 2001. In their day, the Grizz—yes, locals actually called them that—were unusually awful at everything they did: playing basketball, making personnel decisions, designing uniforms, you name it. Given the current condition of Canada’s remaining team, the Toronto Raptors must be pining for those halcyon days when they could do no wrong because Vancouver could do nothing right.
Stephen Harper announces changes to citizen’s arrest laws in most election-y way possible
More and more, it’s looking like Canada is going to have an election on May 2. There are signs are everywhere: rumours aplenty, partisan attacks, choreographed events. Take Stephen Harper’s announcement yesterday that his government was changing the citizen’s arrest laws so that shopkeepers (like David Chen) that detain thieves don’t have to face trial. The proclamation gave us more insight than ever about the Tories’ preparations for a spring vote. Sure, Harper’s mouth says “no, no, no,” but his political theatre says “yes, yes, yes.”
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Here’s something to make pinko cyclists cringe: “Doug Ford for Premier”
Doug Ford (Image: toronto.ca)
Rumours are abounding that the mayor’s brother, Doug Ford, is being courted by the provincial Tories under Tim Hudak—and Ford isn’t ruling it out. According to the Toronto Star, his only response when asked about the rumours was “Never say never.”
From the Star’s report:
Sources say Ford seriously considered the idea during a Florida getaway before Christmas but came to the conclusion he wanted to stay and help his brother bring fiscal accountability to city hall.
He is seen as a huge asset to the mayor, who has avoided the media spotlight while his big brother steps forward to push their smaller-government, do-more-with-less agenda.
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Could Stephen Harper win Toronto seats with TTC cash?
Just don't call it a gravy train: federal funds for the TTC could help Harper’s chances in a city that just voted for Rob Ford
Judging by the amount of ink that has already been spilled over a potential federal election, it’s not too early to start speculating on what will happen if the writ drops. A few things are pretty clear: if there’s an election, it’s likely to be triggered by the spring budget, brought forward by Jim Flaherty in late March. So what will Flaherty (and Stephen Harper) put in said budget? It’s still a mystery, but the Tories presumably have three priorities:
1) Avoid an election if possible
2) If an election can’t be avoided, get the Conservative Party on the best footing possible
3) Put the Liberals (and to a lesser extent, the NDP) on the worst footing possible.
One good way to accomplish numbers two and three would be for the feds to do in a big way what they’ve only done in a small way so far: give some cash to the TTC.
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Provincial election ramp up: Rocco Rossi joins Conservatives in name and not just in fact
Rumours started swirling last week that former mayoral candidate Rocco Rossi was going to join the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario for the coming October election, and at 10 a.m. today he and Tim Hudak made it official outside Queen’s Park. Rossi will be running in Eglinton-Lawrence, a riding the Tories narrowly lost to Liberal Mike Colle in 2007. (Technically, today’s announcement is only that Rossi will be seeking the riding nomination—but when the party leader introduces a candidate, the race is not expected to be gruelling.)
This makes us think of that incident nearly a year ago when Rossi gave an interview to the Toronto Star in which he confessed he couldn’t understand why everyone thought he was so conservative and emphasized how much of a granola-munching hippie he was at heart. Those were good times.
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Get cleaning, everyone: William and Kate are coming to Canada (maybe)
Canada bound? Willy and Kate might 'moon in our backyard (Image: esther1616)
Perhaps the debate on Canada’s future with the monarchy will be put aside for a little while as rumours begin to swirl that Prince William and Kate Middleton will have their honeymoon here in Canada. According to incredibly sketchy, but apparently not-sketchy-enough-to-ignore, reports from the Sun, the honeymoon is planned for the summer.
The future King and his bride will make the two-week visit in July, starting on the country’s east coast and ending in British Columbia in the west.
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Rob Ford’s chief of staff leaving mayor’s office, but will still be around to kick a union or two
The Globe and Mail’s Kelly Grant broke the news late Friday night that Nick Kouvalis, Rob Ford’s chief of staff and the mastermind of his election win, is leaving the mayor’s office to take a less demanding position. (Kouvalis’ family lives in Windsor, and he’s presumably going to be spending more time with them.) The mayor’s office would like to emphasize, however, that Kouvalis will still be working for the mayor on some special projects—like privatizing garbage collection in Toronto.
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George Smitherman to join John Tory on Newstalk 1010 radio show
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Breaking news this afternoon that George Smitherman, the former mayoral candidate and Deputy Premier, has moved on from politics—sort of. The man who placed in the mayor’s race will be joining former foe-across-the-aisle John Tory as a fill-in radio host on Tory’s drive-time talk show. According to the Toronto Star’s David Rider, the announcement is coming this evening on Newstalk 1010.
Target vs. Target: U.S. retailer faces legal battles over name in Canada
Spot the difference?
Last week’s triumphant announcement that the U.S. discount retail chain Target is indeed coming to Canada may be hitting a snag. As we reported in October, due to a trademark dispute with Canadian owned Target Apparel, the U.S. chain may be forced to change its name. Never heard of Target Apparel? Well, that’s exactly what Target Corp. is claiming: the U.S. chain filed a challenge with the Canadian trademark office in July 2010 asserting the Toronto owner of Target Apparel, Isaac Benitah—also head of Fairweather Ltd. and International Clothiers—has not used the Target name in the past three years.
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Goodbye Zellers, hello Target! The U.S. chain is finally coming to Canada, $1.8 billion later
Rumours have been circulating forever now that Target is joining the ranks of U.S. retailers setting up in Canada, alongside J. Crew, Kohl’s, J.C. Penney and Crate and Barrel. Well, today those rumours were confirmed—and Toronto Life’s prediction from early 2010 was right. Target—or Tar-jay, in sarcastic French—will open in the Great White North by 2013, replacing the HBC-owned chain Zellers.
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Susur tweets that Lee Lounge to open soon
Like every chef with a new venture and a pulse, Susur Lee has taken to Twitter to drum up buzz for his new restaurant, Lee Lounge. Last night, Lee dropped some tantalizing hints (and blurry pics) about the much-anticipated space’s status:
@susurlee: Lee lounge ready for a opening! Stay posted
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Being Am-Erica! Canada’s favourite TV time traveller is getting an American adaptation, so let’s cast it
This week has been an emotional rollercoaster for Being Erica fans (such as ourselves). First, we had to say so long to season three, with no definite plans from the CBC for season four (who knows if we’ll ever get to see who that mysterious glove belongs to). And then we find out that Temple Street Productions, the Toronto company that produces BE, has made a deal with ABC to develop an American Erica. Try saying that 10 times fast.
Word is the Canadian scripts will be adapted by American script doctor Maggie Friedman—she of the amazing Dawson’s Creek and the less amazing Eastwick—and as far as casting goes, the jury is still out on who will play everyone’s favourite time-travelling ginge, Erica Strange. Our picks after the jump.
Transit showdown brewing as rumours fly that Rob Ford will try to kill Transit City tomorrow
Despite some speculation that Rob Ford was going to make peace with Transit City after his election win, the National Post is reporting that he is as anti–light rail as ever, looking to put a stop to the LRT project during his first day of business tomorrow.
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