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How To Get To Roncesvalles (and where to park)
As the construction is in its final weeks, it is still a bit challenging to get to Roncesvalles by car, but here’s a rundown:
Roncesvalles Avenue has a guaranteed one lane northbound all the way through. Most of Roncesvalles is open to two way traffic, with two exceptions at present: no southbound at Howard Park Avenue, and no southbound between Grenadier and Geoffrey. Beyond that, Roncesvalles is open to two-way traffic.
Please remember that there is free three hour parking on Roncesvalles in legal spots. Come on down to Roncesvalles and visit your favourite shops and restaurants. We’re under construction but open for business!
We’ve created a downloadable PDF that indicates all parking lots and TTC info during construction. Click on the image at left and see you on Roncy!
Sweetpea’s Showcases Roncesvalles Village At Canada Blooms
Roncesvalles Village’s premiere florist and landscaper, Sweetpea’s (163 Roncesvalles Avenue, (416) 537-3700, sweetpeablooms.ca), garnered a great deal of attention with their marvelous installation at this year’s Canada Blooms.
Their award-winning display, entitled “The Rebirth of Roncy”, paid tribute to our neighbourhood. Sweetpea’s Sara Jameson created a display that incorporated different elements of Roncesvalles’ recent past and present. Construction barrels and hard hats referenced the long period of construction that our neighbourhood endured. The TTC stop sign was a nod to our beloved streetcars, and colourfully-painted bike rings echoed the bike rings on our street. Books were built into garden walls to represent our library, film reels for the Revue Cinema, and elements of Granowska’s facade paid tribute to that iconic Polish institution, which recently closed after four decades of brightening our street.
The Roncesvalles Village BIA was pleased and honoured to be able to lend a hand to Sara and her team by sourcing some of these elements. The BIA thanks her and her incredible staff for their hard work and unflagging dedication to our community.
Thank you, Granowska’s
Granowska’s, a Polish institution on Roncesvalles Avenue for nearly forty years, closed at the beginning of 2012.
In their native Poland, Elizabeth Klodas and her mother Maria ran a family bakery called Granowska’s. When they moved to Canada in 1972 they revived their bakery under the same name.
Opening in June 1972, Granowska’s was run by Elizabeth Klodas for just shy of four decades, first with her mother Maria, and later with her daughter Kathy.
As a cornerstone of the Polish business community, Granowska’s always filled up after church services at St. Casimir’s Church. Their annual Pączki day (a Polish spin on Mardi Gras) was a very popular event, and many important figures in the Polish community have graced the bakery, including none other than Pope John Paul II.
Every year, Granowska’s made the “official” cake of the Roncesvalles Polish Festival, which was enjoyed at the Festival’s opening ceremonies.
Many have noted with a smile that above the very successful bakery, brimming with sweet pastries, is Dr. Granowska, dentist!
At the end of 2011, after nearly forty years of baking at Roncesvalles and Fern, Elizabeth retired. The building has been sold, but Dr. Granowska is still working upstairs.
Everyone in Roncesvalles Village thanks Elizabeth and Kathy for their long years of service to our community. We’re happy to hear the rumour that a Granowska’s cookbook is being planned.
Gate 403 Wins CBCC Award
Long-time owners of the Roncesvalles institution Gate 403, Jin Ding and Xiaohong (”Young”) Yang, were the recipients of a coveted Entrepreneurship Award from the Chinese Business Chamber of Canada this past weekend at the 7th annual Chinese Business Excellence Awards and New Year Celebration Gala. Many long-time supporters and patrons of Gate 403 were in attendance and cheered enthusiastically when the award was presented.
A surprise appearance by Toronto Mayor Rob Ford led to his impromptu presentation of the award to Jin and Young.
Floorshow entertainment was provided by Polish dance troupe Tatry Oshawa, who regularly perform at the Roncesvalles Polish Festival.
The Westerly and The Ace Wow Toronto Star
From the Toronto Star article… “The Westerly opened Dec. 8 in the former River, a restaurant that once employed some of Earl’s trainees.
The room now boasts vintage lighting, soft rockabilly, and gleaming subway tiles behind the marble bar. The tables are set with antique silverware and the softest linen napkins. Aveda soaps and a lint brush in the washrooms are classy touches.”
and on The Ace: “With its steamy windows and vintage decor (the original 1955 space was a diner), The Ace is laidback, kid friendly and slyly humorous.”
You can read the whole article here.
The Revue’s Latest Challenge: Going Digital
From Toronto.com… “Daniel Demois knows all too well the independent movie theatre he manages in Toronto is an endangered species.
Over the years, smaller movie houses across the country have closed as the economics of the business — from video on demand to 3-D — have eroded audiences. It can be far more profitable to repurpose a theatre into a grocery store or condo than coax consumers into seeing a retrospective on Ingmar Bergman.
But his biggest challenge yet — since taking up the reins as the co-general manager of the Revue last year — is yet to come.”
You can read the whole article here.
Copernicus Lodge Foundation Lottery
The Copernicus Lodge Foundation raises funds for Copernicus Lodge, a not-for-profit long term care home and seniors’ residence. The Foundation is running a “Going Green” lottery. This Christmas, give the gift of a lottery ticket. They make great stocking stuffers! The prizes for the lottery are all eco-friendly. The grand prize is a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze ECO. The lottery draw date is January 21, 2012.
Tickets can be bought at Polimex Roncesvalles (163 Roncesvalles) and Polimex Dixie, Pegas stores in Starsky’s or at Copernicus Lodge by calling (416) 536-7122 ext 252.
For more information, please contact Michelle Duklas or Anna Walas at 416 536 7122 ext 252.
Fresh Collective in National Post
From the National Post article… “Ms. Bernhardson opened her first designer collective on Queen Street in 2003 with eight designers. “Initially I held on to the idea that it was 14 designers working one day a week, “they could build up their own clientele too.”
Today, Fresh Collective has 37 designers of clothing, jewellery and accessories and three stores and is on track to do $1-million in revenue this year.
The latest location opened in April, after Ms. Bernhardson combined a government loan with money from remortgaging her house.”
You can read the whole article here.
Congratulations to Sweetpea’s and Sukha Health Spa
On Friday Sept. 16 there was a special celebration in Roncesvalles Village.
Sweetpea’s (163 Roncesvalles), recently voted in Toronto Life as Toronto’s best florist, celebrated their first anniversary, and shared this great event with Sukha Health Spa (292 Roncesvalles) which is celebrating the relaunch of their business. In the photo, Jen Mattar of Sukha and Sara Jameson of Sweetpea’s.
Barque Declared Best!
Congratulations to Barque Smokehouse, which was recently declared “Best BBQ Restaurant in Toronto” by BlogTO.
Email us: info@
roncesvallesvillage.ca
Join us for the 2013 Roncesvalles Polish Festival! Sept. 13-15 2013!
Roncy Rocks! is coming June 15 2013!
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