Have your say on Leslieville's future

Leslieville Business Improvement Area (BIA) is asking for the public’s help in guiding the future of retail, dining and entertainment in the neighbourhood as it supports a community of 220 small businesses along Queen Street East from Booth Ave (Jimmie Simpson Park) to Vancouver Ave (just east of Greenwood).

The BIA has engaged an external consulting team, ThinkFresh Group and Futures Present, who are seeking to understand perceptions about Leslieville, the BIA and the many stories that are here in Leslieville. They will be using this to help create a narrative and strategic direction for the BIA.

As part of this process, local Leslieville residents are being solicited for feedback on what they tend to do in the neighbourhood. It will shape the community and you’ll also be entered into a draw for 50 Leslieville Dollars. Not bad for about 15 minutes of work.

Take the Leslieville resident survey. The survey closes at midnight on Sept. 13.

Leslieville lands new cannabis store in pot-shop lottery

Photo: Get Budding

The neighbourhood’s about to go up in smoke.

A Leslieville pot store applicant was among the 13 in Toronto (42 in Ontario) to win the province's second cannabis retail store lottery.

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) lists the proposed store address as 1303 Queen St. E., which is a retail and residential building just east of The Burren.

That means the neighbourhood could be getting a government-approved cannabis retail shop, if all goes according to plan.

The lucky winners have until Aug. 28 to get paperwork in check for a full licensing review.

Coming soon: Mira Mira Sandiwch + Ice Cream Bar

There’s a new spot in the east end to get your ice cream fix.

Mira Mira, which has been operating a catering business from 1372 Queen St. East for the past couple of years, is set to open its storefront to the neighbourhood with an ice cream and sandwich bar.

Mira Mira also operates a spot in the Assembly Chef’s Hall downtown on Richmond St West.

The new shop is set to launch Aug. 1. Stay tuned or visit eatmiramira.com/ for more info.

Yardsale Cocktail Bar brings retro vibe and classic drinks to Gerrard

Photo: Yardsale Bar

Step back into the ‘60s and ‘70s at Yardsale Bar — the newest kid on the Gerrard block that pays homage to the past.

Launching in the former space of Sugar Loaf Bakery at the corner of Jones, the retro cocktail den features a menu of signature, throwback and classic cocktails served in vintage-style glassware.

Sip on something more traditional or check out one of their original creations in a mid-century themed space. Drinks are paired with Spanish-influenced tapas-style dishes.

Its website calls the essence of the space as “Mad Men-meets-your-uncle's-basement vibe” with beanbag chairs and lava lamps backed by a ‘60s and ‘70s soundtrack.

Yard Sale Bar is now open at 1062 Gerrard St. E. Check out yardsalebar.com for more information.

Brandon’s has mid-century modern decor, vinyl records supplying the tunes, and a menu of classic cocktails served in vintage-style glassware. In other words, it’s exactly the kind of place where we would expect to see a Midge Maisel type at the table next to us working on some new jokes. But if you want to slip into this dimly lit retro drinking den, you’ll need to know where to find it–and when.

As storefronts continue to close on Queen, more and more businesses are drawn to the cheaper rents on Gerrard. The next up-and-comer: Yardsale Cocktail Bar.

Going into the former space of Sugar Loaf Bakery at the corner of Gerrard and Jones, Yard Sale Bar is set to launch in June with retro cocktails and a menu of shareable plates.

Digital tour explores heritage and history of Dundas and Carlaw

The rich history of the Dundas and Carlaw has gone digital in the modern age.

Heritage Toronto, the agency responsible for historical walking tours, heritage talks and related commemorations in the city, has launched its first digital tour, Dundas + Carlaw: Made in Toronto.

The digital tour lets you discover the area’s industrial past and learn how this modern neighbourhood was created. Once a manufacturing juggernaut that sent products around the world (and to the top of Mount Everest), this Leslieville neighbourhood is now a rising arts and cultural hub.

The desktop and mobile app is an interactive exploration of the neighbourhood. Featuring a colourful design with playful animations, all set within a map of the area, the 11-stop tour showcases buildings that housed industry giants like Rolph-Clark-Stone, the 1950s graphic design firm; Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co., the chewing gum company known for its marketing and advertising campaigns; and Reliable Toy Co., innovators of the first plastic toys in Canada.

The tour also provides insight into factory life, detailing the everyday experiences of the workers through archival images, never-before-seen video and first-hand accounts.

View the digital tour on a desktop or mobile device at ExploreDundasCarlaw.heritagetoronto.org.