Urban decoder

Did Honest Ed actually have a potato effigy of himself at his funeral?—Alan Gasser, Roncesvalles

Posted on May 9, 2008

Who provides the female voices that announce TTC stops, and how do they know they’re at the right stop?—Matt English, North York

Posted on May 9, 2008

What is that colour-changing tubular thing on top of the condos at Yonge and Carlton?—Ian Topp, Cabbagetown

Posted on April 10, 2008

What’s with the unusual art on the outside of the Cameron House?—Ava Procter, Queen West

Posted on April 10, 2008

If I leave something in a cab, can the driver charge a fare to return it?—Marc Josephson, Brampton

Posted on March 6, 2008

Is it illegal to kill a raccoon?—Taryn Swift, Moore Park

Posted on March 6, 2008

Does a frozen parking meter mean I can park for free?—Julia Kostner, The Annex

Posted on February 7, 2008

Why does my cellphone get such good reception in the underground PATH downtown, but not in the subway?—Ivan Marks, Liberty Village

Posted on February 7, 2008

Why are there iron crucifixes attached to the building next to Fran’s Diner on College Street?—Tessa Wong, Kensington

Posted on January 10, 2008

How do they choose what music to play, and when, during Maple Leafs games?—Murray Kibler

Posted on January 10, 2008

Dear Urban Decoder: What’s the deal with Captain John’s, the restaurant-on-a-boat at Yonge and Queens Quay? I’ve never seen anybody go in or come out.—Karen Lin, DOWNTOWN

Posted on December 5, 2007

Dear Urban Decoder: I’ve noticed tiny metal plates embedded in the sidewalk on certain streets. What are they for?—Jackie Middleton, DEER PARK

Posted on December 5, 2007

What are the origins of Avenue Road’s name? It’s like a street called Boulevard Road, or Road Street, or, well, you get the point.—Oliver Warmflash, DOWNTOWN

Posted on November 5, 2007

The Kendal entrance to Spadina Station is built into an old house. Is it inhabited? Could I rent it?—Andrew Moore, THE ANNEX

Posted on November 5, 2007

Why are the old black-and-red digital subway signs always running ads for the same boarding kennel? Does the TTC really like dogs?—Maria Lohmann, Danforth Village

Posted on October 9, 2007

There are two vacant bank buildings on Yonge across from the Eaton Centre. They’ve languished in disuse for years. Will they ever be occupied?—Douglas McTaggart, Cabbagetown

Posted on October 9, 2007

How, when and why did it come to pass that the Portuguese community has two regional street signs: Portugal Village and Rua Açores? —Emanuel da Silva, Rexdale

Posted on September 13, 2007

What happens to overly frisky fans who run onto sports fields?—Philip Silverman, Palmerston

Posted on September 13, 2007

I heard St. George Street was not, in fact, named after the dragon slayer of British lore. So who was it named after? —Elliot Joseph, Oakville

Posted on August 13, 2007

Someone told me that all those liquids and gels discarded at Pearson’s security checkpoints go to charity. Is this true?—Frances Agnew, Rosedale

Posted on August 13, 2007

Who was “Bigley” of the Richard Bigley building at Queen and Mutual? And is it true that this is the oldest ghost sign in North America?—Hugo Bernier, Downtown

Posted on July 11, 2007

When they’re finished building a skyscraper, how do they get the giant crane off the rooff?—Natasha Sanjabi, Regal Heights

Posted on July 11, 2007

There’s a stone archway on the east side of Yonge, north of Gerrard. Where did it come from?— Jeff Smith, Cabbagetown

Posted on June 15, 2007

What’s the meaning of the different-coloured sashes I see judges wearing? And why do some lawyers wear robes and others don't?— Brooke Holtz, SwanSea

Posted on June 15, 2007

What’s in the boxes that say “For Police Use Only” beneath the platform of each station on the TTC?—Andrew Glenny

Posted on May 11, 2007

Over the past few years, I’ve noticed many squirrels, especially around U of T and Queen’s Park, with large bald areas. What’s wrong with them?—Sarah Bratanek, The Annex

Posted on May 11, 2007

What’s the difference between a one-alarm and a four-alarm fire?—Douglas Diarra, St. Lawrence Market

Posted on April 16, 2007

Many Mississauga streets are quite short, yet the numbers are usually in the 4000s and 5000s. Why?— Maria Carrusca, Scarborough

Posted on April 16, 2007

I heard that an Austrian airliner dumped some of its fuel over Lake Ontario when a malfunction forced it to return to Pearson. How often does this happen, and should I stick to bottled water?—Mark Mietkiewicz, Thornhill

Posted on March 5, 2007

Is there really a skeleton-cleaning “bug room” at the ROM?—Molly McGregor, Whitby

Posted on March 5, 2007

How many security cameras are there in downtown Toronto? What happens to the footage? —Marie Kim, Birchcliff

Posted on February 8, 2007

What happens to the rubble from such large-scale demolitions as Regent Park? —Robin Tully, Yorkville

Posted on February 8, 2007

I almost got run over by an electric scooter. Is there a speed limit for motorized vehicles on the sidewalk? —Zsuzsi Molnár, Upper Beach

Posted on January 3, 2007

An ad promises that I can call the TTC and ask questions in “over 70 languages.” How does that work?—Diane Gleiberman, Roncesvalles Village

Posted on January 3, 2007

How do the holidays and their gaudy light displays affect energy use?—Alexa Satke, Forest Hill

Posted on December 4, 2006

I often travel by Via Rail, and it seems like the trains are always running late. Why?—Henry Cullen, Downtown

Posted on December 4, 2006

Wychwood Park is labelled a private road. What does this mean? Could I get arrested for driving around? —Sally MacRae, Midtown

Posted on November 9, 2006

Are actors on a Toronto stage allowed to puff on a cigarette if the script calls for it? —Mark Mietkiewicz, Thornhill

Posted on November 9, 2006

After years of riding the TTC’s infamous “Vomit Comet” without incident, I finally witnessed someone puking. Then the driver pulled the bus over and kicked everyone off. Is this normal?—Lila McNulty, North York

Posted on October 16, 2006

We’ve had a couple of years with the suicide prevention barrier along the Bloor viaduct. So who was right? The city, which said it would cut overall suicides, or the critics, who said suicidal people would just go somewhere else?—Gary Krupa, Midtown

Posted on October 16, 2006

If prostitution is against the law, then how can graphic adult ads in the back of Toronto’s alt-weeklies be legal?—Miriam LaLonde, St. Lawrence Market

Posted on September 15, 2006

What's up with all the "Firkin" pubs?—James Patel, Moore Park

Posted on September 15, 2006

Why was I charged $35 extra on my speeding ticket for a Victim Fine Surcharge?— LIZ VAN HOORN, TRINITY-BELLWOODS

Posted on August 11, 2006

Am I imagining it, or do fire trucks sound different these days? —BENOÎT MARTEL, WEXFORD

Posted on August 11, 2006

Is it typical for parking lots to change their rates hourly? Is there a limit to what they can charge? —Lisa Carter, Oakville

Posted on July 13, 2006

I’ve tried everything to dissuade raccoons from attacking my green bins— to no avail. Any suggestions? —Nigel Howard, Seaton Village

Posted on July 13, 2006

Why is the wind turbine at Exhibition Place sometimes turned off, even on the windiest days?—Stephen Straker, Leslieville

Posted on June 9, 2006

I heard there's a ship buried beneath the Gardiner. Is it true?—Gwendolyn Gao, The Annex

Posted on June 9, 2006

When the prime minister comes to Toronto, where does he stay? —Terrence Mars, Forest Hill

Posted on May 10, 2006

It seems as if the northeast corner of Yonge and Dundas has been under construction forever. What’s the deal? —Jennifer Charbonneau, Liberty Village

Posted on May 10, 2006

What’s the story on that tiny cemetery on the east side of Pape, south of Gerrard?—Elizabeth Hubert, Cabbagetown

Posted on April 11, 2006

Why does the Idomo guy have such a long beard?—Alana Shin, Port Credit

Posted on April 11, 2006

I recently noticed a paramedic driving a tractor tricked out like an ambulance. I know budgets are tight—but surely not that tight.—Robert Marcell, The Junction

Posted on April 1, 2006

There’s a futuristic house in Riverdale that looks like something from the moon. What’s it doing on Sparkhall Avenue?—Lisa Digiovanni, Leslieville

Posted on April 1, 2006

While driving to work the other morning, I spotted a very large and very odd-looking plow, eating snow up with a big conveyor belt. What was it?—Judy McNab, North York

Posted on March 1, 2006

What are Toronto’s most checked-out library books? And is it true that our city has one of the busiest systems in the world?—Jack Kuusemäe, Leaside

Posted on March 1, 2006

I’ve been hearing a rumour that there are cougars living in Scarborough’s Rouge River Valley. Should I be frightened?—Elizabeth Khan, Scarborough

Posted on February 1, 2006

Why can’t I put certain kinds of plastic—such as toys or Styrofoam cups—in the blue box? —Howie Harnett, North York

Posted on February 1, 2006

How many items does the TTC’s lost and found get in a day? —Kathleen Stevens, Beaconsfield

Posted on January 1, 2006

I’ve heard that there are several buried rivers in Toronto. Where are they located and why were they covered over?—Alex Berry, Woodbine Heights

Posted on December 1, 2005

What happens to all the drugs, guns and other items seized by police? —Elizabeth Wong, East York

Posted on December 1, 2005

Who is Geoff Rytell, and why does he write so many letters to the editors of various newspapers and mags?—Wendy Blasko, Moore Park

Posted on November 1, 2005

Lately, my spam has had weird, cryptic blocks of nonsense text at the top (stuff like “Story it not and try the toga in cryotron”), before the spiels on erectile dysfunction. Why the gibberish?—Sanjay Chanda, Bickford Park

Posted on November 1, 2005

How much does it cost the owners of the Rogers Centre (née SkyDome) to open and close the roof? I assume it must take a lot of juice.—Rupert Singh, East York

Posted on October 1, 2005

Is it illegal to ride a bike when you’re drunk? —Araminta Mitchell, North York

Posted on October 1, 2005

Streetcars often have a lot of sand on the floor behind the driver. What gives?—Connie Rodriguez, Earlscourt

Posted on September 1, 2005

What’s the procedure when a police officer goes undercover as a prostitute?—Will Cooper, Runnymede

Posted on September 1, 2005

Planted along the Broadview Avenue edge of Riverdale Park are 20-odd numbered green posts. What are they?

Posted on June 1, 2005

During runs through Sunnybrook Park, I’ve noticed several old homes that appear to have people living in them. What gives?

Posted on June 1, 2005

On Dundas West in the Junction, there is what appears to be an old funeral home with the sign Rue Morgue House of Horror on the front. What kind of evil lurks inside? —Louise Montgomery, Bloor West Village

Posted on May 1, 2005

There seems to be a large number of stray cats loitering in the vacant lands around SkyDome. Where did they all come from, and can anything be done to help them? —Tim Deacon, Harbourfront

Posted on May 1, 2005

Dear Urban Decoder: Driving down the western side of Queen’s Park Crescent, I’ve noticed a large monument near the Wellesley bridge. Why is it so hidden?

Posted on April 1, 2005

Dear Urban Decoder: I’ve noticed that many Japanese restaurants feature decorative porcelain cats, smiling with one paw raised straight up, as if saluting. What’s the deal?

Posted on April 1, 2005

How do people living on the Toronto Islands get their utilities—electricity, sewage, Internet and so forth? —Martin Levi, Forest Hill

Posted on March 1, 2005

On a recent trip to Indigo on Bloor, I noticed that they keep certain “rebel” authors—Jack Kerouac, Vladimir Nabokov—behind the counter of the help desk. Is there a plan afoot to protect young readers from crazy beatniks and other literary nonconformists? —Tom Maclaughlin, Summerhill

Posted on March 1, 2005

At U of T, on the north side of Russell Street just east of Spadina Circle, there is a strange new building with pulleys on the front and an extremely large door. What goes on in there? —Chuck Wahlberg, Annex

Posted on January 1, 2005

I live at Richmond East and Sherbourne. Why is my neighbourhood called Corktown? —Terri Thomas, Corktown

Posted on January 1, 2005

An elderly friend mentioned that he remembers watching Olympic-style ski jumping at a facility in the Don Valley. What’s the story? —Louise Clayton, York Mills

Posted on January 1, 2005

You often hear about smuggling between Canada and the United States taking place in and around remote border areas. What about just piloting a boat across Lake Ontario from Toronto to New York State (or vice versa)? Ever happen? —Liza Black, Oakwood

Posted on January 1, 2005

At the corner of Queen and Pape, there’s an independent gas station called Stohos that advertises “biodiesel.” What is it? —Basil McCrae, East York

Posted on December 1, 2004

Every time I use Bell’s automated 411 service, I inevitably end up having to repeat the name and address to a live operator. Do any callers actually get the information they seek on the first go? —Manny Vourinen, Etobicoke

Posted on December 1, 2004

Several friends have spoken of strange things happening to them at night along Old Finch Avenue, just north of the Toronto Zoo. Is it true that someone is haunting that stretch of road? —Jeff Chong, North York

Posted on November 1, 2004

I’ve been hearing rumours about a swing located in a cramped alleyway somewhere near Queen and Spadina. What’s it all about, and can I try it out? —Maria Illing, Trinity Bellwoods

Posted on November 1, 2004

What’s the story behind all the boarded-up buildings on Howard Street and Glen Road near Bloor? You’d think this prime piece of real estate so close to the Sherbourne subway exit would be used for some infill development. Instead, the block has been an abandoned eyesore for years. —Julie Jai, Bloor and Sherbourne

Posted on November 1, 2004

Several years ago, there was persistent talk about a new downtown, east-west line on the subway. What happened? —Kip Wotherspoon, Bedford Park

Posted on November 1, 2004

Dear Urban Decoder: I saw this odd, futuristic-looking dwelling on Leonard Place, a glorified alleyway in Kensington Market. Who lives there, and what’s the story?

Posted on October 1, 2004

Dear Urban Decoder: Why is it always so windy at Yonge and Bloor? I heard it has something to do with all the tall buildings. Is that true?

Posted on October 1, 2004

I recently observed a police officer directing traffic in and out of the parking lot at Pusateri’s, the chi-chi groceteria on Avenue Road. Will the cops do this sort of thing for anyone, and is there a fee?

Posted on October 1, 2004

In the former industrial district off King Street West at Liberty, there’s a strange old building sitting next to land recently cleared for condos. What is it?

Posted on September 1, 2004

I am saddened by the ever-present roadkill lining our streets and highways. Who is responsible for collecting these poor creatures, how are they disposed of, and at what time of day is the job done?

Posted on September 1, 2004

Dear Urban Decoder: In the former industrial district off King Street West at Liberty, there’s a strange old building sitting next to land recently cleared for condos. What is it?

Posted on September 1, 2004

What ever happened to the 20 Minute Workout women who were on Citytv in the ’80s? I remember seeing Bess in a small role in The Terminator.

Posted on September 1, 2004

What happened to the “multiculturalism” statue in front of Union Station? It seems to have disappeared. —Gordon Iversen, Queen West

Posted on August 1, 2004

Why is the MuchMusic/ Citytv building festooned with marble gargoyles reading books? They seem rather out of place among the pop stars and teenyboppers that frequent the joint. —John Davis, The Annex

Posted on August 1, 2004

Dear Urban Decoder: I’ve noticed that quite a few of the old trees dotting our sidewalks have been cut in half. Why remove only the top and not the whole thing? —Simon Leung, King West Village

Posted on August 1, 2004

While walking along the beach recently, I saw some young surfers out on the lake being pulled along by giant kites. Please explain. —Jerry Moffat, Leslieville

Posted on July 1, 2004

While travelling the subway, I often hear the announcement “99 Eglinton, 99 Eglinton” over the intercom. I was once told this meant a passenger had jumped onto the tracks, but I certainly hope it isn’t true, considering how often I hear it. What’s the story? —Michelle Kelly, Bloor West Village

Posted on July 1, 2004

In Amsterdam, there is a bridge over the river Amstel called the Torontobrug. I’m wondering if there is a connection to our city. —Paul Gardner, The Annex

Posted on July 1, 2004

At the bottom of the Lake Shore exit off the Gardiner is a large, dramatically lit statue with a proud lion at its base. What does it commemorate? —Mary Luz Mejia, High Park

Posted on June 1, 2004

I’ve heard there are roundabouts somewhere in the city. Is this true? If so, where are they located? —Sandra Brawley, Scarborough

Posted on June 1, 2004

All over downtown, signs are going up designating districts. I can understand some, such as Little Italy and Greektown, but Toronto’s Discovery District at University and Dundas? What’s that about? —Elsie Moolgaokar, Grange Park

Posted on June 1, 2004

Just west of Yonge leading south from Adelaide, I noticed a street sign for Grand Opera Lane. This seems a rather highfalutin name for what amounts to about 30 metres of blind alley. —Basil W. Johnston, Peterborough

Posted on May 1, 2004

I recently noticed a sign for the Ladies’ Golf Club of Toronto, on Yonge Street in Thornhill. I’ve never heard of a women-only golf club before. Is it a response to recently criticized men-only clubs like the Augusta National? —Roger Langfield, Etobicoke

Posted on May 1, 2004

Why are some 905 numbers long distance (you have to dial 1 first) while others aren’t? And what’s with this 647 business? Why is our area code system so complicated? —Jim Barber, Mississauga

Posted on May 1, 2004

On Berkeley Street, just north of Dundas, the façade of an old building stands propped up by huge structural beams. What’s its story? —Erin Murray, Bloor West Village

Posted on April 1, 2004

As a transplanted Northern Ontarian, I’m confused and disturbed by the way southerners use salt instead of sand on slippery sidewalks during winter. Is there a ban on sand in Toronto? Why do people insist on using salt? —Jennifer Cram, Yonge and Eglinton

Posted on April 1, 2004

Can you tell me why the Ernst & Young Tower of the TD Centre has a floor named 7A? I always feel as if I’m in Being John Malkovich when the elevator doors open at that floor. —Peter McNeill, St. Lawrence Market area

Posted on April 1, 2004

What’s the story behind 471–473 Bloor Street West? It used to be a restaurant but has been boarded up and rotting away for at least 15 years. Is it a tax write-off? An eccentric landlord? A family feud? —Carolyn Dodds, Seaton Village

Posted on March 1, 2004

An older friend told me that in the 1930s they would burn ships in the harbour off Sunnyside. Is it true? If so, why? —Michael Draper, Roncesvalles

Posted on March 1, 2004

Lately, the overhead electronic signs on the DVP have displayed such singsongy messages as “Check your gauges, control your rages,” and “Why fool with fate? Don’t tailgate.” What poetic soul produced these highway epistles? —J. Kelly O’Connor, Agincourt

Posted on March 1, 2004

Sitting in a shallow basin in Norman Jewison Park (just east of Yonge, between Isabella and Gloucester), there’s a small tombstone inscribed with the words “In Memory of Barney.” What is it? —Uno Alexandre Ramat, The Village

Posted on February 1, 2004

What was the original intent for the large, unfinished, grey concrete structure that sits above the underground parking lot just west of Yonge Street between Adelaide and Temperance? —Eric Brazier, Yonge and Eglinton

Posted on February 1, 2004

The Starbucks at the northwest corner of Yonge and College is housed in a strange red-brick building that looks like an old castle. What’s the story behind it? —Rena Macrae, Deer Park

Posted on February 1, 2004

What’s the story behind those two houses on the east side of Leslie north of Lawrence? They’re geometric, blue and purple and look as if they belong in a cartoon. What are they worth? Who built them and why? —Lori Rich and Shawn Fiedler, Willowdale

Posted on January 1, 2004

I hear that the lieutenant-governor hosts an annual New Year’s Day brunch called a levee. What’s behind the tradition? Can anyone attend? —Pippa Katz, Forest Hill

Posted on January 1, 2004

How much money do the traffic cameras at major intersections generate for the city? Are they just a cash cow? —Luka Djordjevic, East York

Posted on January 1, 2004

In all the years I’ve lived in this city, I’ve never seen a baby pigeon. Do they exist? —Paul Robineau, Harbourfront

Posted on December 1, 2003

I have Central American friends coming to Toronto for the holidays who’ve never seen snow. What are the chances they’ll witness a white Christmas in the city? —Helen Guttierez, North York

Posted on December 1, 2003

There’s something creepy about the Ontario legislature building at Queen’s Park, even now that the Tories are out of office. Could it be…haunted? —Siobhan Mahowny, The Annex

Posted on December 1, 2003

What’s with the Inglis sign off the Gardiner? The other day it flashed me with an odd, all-capitalized message: THE GREATEST REMEDY FOR ANGER IS DELAY. Who comes up with these slogans? —Mark Symington, Mississauga

Posted on November 1, 2003

What was the Lake Guardian, a ship displaying the insignia of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, doing in Humber Bay? —Stan Bowen, Etobicoke

Posted on November 1, 2003

Toronto is often described as la ville reine (the Queen City) by newscasters on Radio- Canada. Where does the expression come from, and why don’t we use it ourselves? —Jacques Marcil, The Beach

Posted on November 1, 2003

While walking in Woodbine Park the other day, I saw an eagle dive-bomb a flock of Canada geese, then fly to perch on a man’s arm. Can this be legal? —Carol McAfee, Don Mills

Posted on September 1, 2003

I’ve noticed several residential co-ops springing up in my area. What exactly is a co-op? —Tabitha Raudseps, Church and Wellesley

Posted on September 1, 2003

For years, a ship’s boiler stuck out of the water beneath the Scarborough Bluffs east of Bluffers Park. Can you tell me any more about it? —J. Craig Freeman, Etobicoke

Posted on September 1, 2003

A friend told me that the stretch of Yonge Street from Gerrard to Queen was pedestrianized in the ’70s. Is he right? —Adrian Ho, Yorkville

Posted on August 1, 2003

Most Friday afternoons, at the corner of King and Bay, a bagpiper plays to end the week for all of us downtown core workers. Is he employed by a nearby financial institution, or is he just a bonny busker? —Nancy Bramm, The Danforth

Posted on August 1, 2003

When a highway sign reads “Toronto 70 km,” is that 70 kilometres to the city limits, City Hall or the city centre? —Alfred Rudin, Deer Park

Posted on August 1, 2003

An alarming number of billboards and radio ads feature Leeza Gibbons gushing about the Backstreet Boys. What is she doing here? —Jorge Dos Santos, Bloor West Village

Posted on July 1, 2003

I’ve noticed the lights in the Bank of Montreal building flickering and switching off in odd patterns at night. Is it the work of some crazed janitor? —Brooke Desmond, The Beach

Posted on July 1, 2003

Those high-altitude window washers seem pretty radical. How can I get into this intriguing profession? —Chris Cunningham, High Park

Posted on June 1, 2003

Are there any rules for displaying the Canadian flag? I’ve seen it hung with other flags in a variety of ways at hotels across the city. —Gert Moskowitz, York Mills

Posted on June 1, 2003

The other day in Trinity Bellwoods Park, I saw a snow white squirrel with bright red eyes leaping around in a rather agitated fashion. Am I seeing things? If not, was there something wrong with it? —Meredith Abbott-Richards, Little Portugal

Posted on June 1, 2003

I was strolling along the Leslie Spit when I spotted a revolting sight: hundreds of snakes writhing maniacally in a rocky open area. What was going on? —Penelope Little, Moore Park

Posted on June 1, 2003

I recently noticed someone fishing in the Don River, near the Pottery Road bridge. Wouldn’t it be a death wish to eat a Don fillet? —Biagio DiMarco, Scarborough

Posted on May 1, 2003

There are a number of strange little houses across town that look abandoned and have industrial-strength steel front doors with electrical hazard signs drilled into them. My husband jokes they’re KGB safe houses. What’s the story? —Deborah Moore, Leaside

Posted on May 1, 2003

I’ve heard that there was once a lakeside dance hall built into the Scarborough Bluffs. Is this true? If so, what happened to the place? —Nicola Cartwright, Summerhill

Posted on May 1, 2003

What’s with the stone chesterfield visible through the arched entrance to that ritzy new condo on Avenue Road north of Bloor? —Britney Taylor, Yorkville

Posted on April 1, 2003

Newscasters often talk about the police in 52 Division making an arrest. What’s the origin of the number 52? How many of these divisions are there in the city? —Emmett Meringer, Riverdale

Posted on April 1, 2003

Am I tripping, or is there a jungle room in the Canada Life building on the main floor overlooking Queen? —Darlene Lorenowitz, Richmond Hill

Posted on April 1, 2003

I’ve heard you can buy shares in that giant new wind turbine near the Exhibition. Is that true? —Sandy Donovan, Lawrence Park

Posted on March 1, 2003

I noticed 11 cement vaults lined up side by side near the lighthouse on the Leslie Street Spit. Some were carved with names and dates. What are they doing there? —Chris Sulway, Leslieville

Posted on March 1, 2003

Why is it that after dark the city is overrun with yellow garbage bags? —Kelley Walker, Riverdale

Posted on March 1, 2003

The Club Monaco building at the corner of Bloor and Avenue Road is emblazoned with the words “Department of Household Science.” Is this where women were once taught the physics behind the tuna casserole? —Raoul Fernandez, High Park

Posted on February 1, 2003

A friend tells me that all traffic lights in the city are operated by underground sensors. Is this a myth? —Adrienne Shore, Cabbagetown

Posted on February 1, 2003

While driving down University Avenue lately, I’ve noticed huge lineups in front of the U.S. Consulate. What is everybody waiting for? —Rob Barnes, Riverdale

Posted on February 1, 2003

On Augusta just north of Queen, there’s a beautiful Victorian house amid all the surrounding grunge. What’s the story? —Erica Berman, Annex

Posted on January 1, 2002

My voice mail is inundated with messages from Boris of Best Price Movers. How do I get off his list? — Gina Kim, Forest Hill

Posted on January 1, 2002

On walks in the Cedarvale Ravine, near Spadina, I’ve noticed a circular entranceway with doors leading into the hillside. Are there hobbits living in the area? —Caroline Mayhew, Annex

Posted on January 1, 2002

Dear Urban Decoder: I’ve noticed that many Japanese restaurants feature decorative porcelain cats, smiling with one paw raised straight up, as if saluting. What’s the deal?

Posted on January 1, 2002

 
New servers