The Curious Idler October 2022 Edition

A Slow Down sign.
A Slow Down sign.

Barrel House turns 5!

Amsterdam Barrel House is hosting a birthday party and open house on Thurs., Oct. 6th from 5-9 p.m., to celebrate its fifth year in Leaside. General Manager Matt Peacock says it is their chance to say “thank you” to the community that has helped keep the doors open since 2017 and more recently through the perils of the pandemic. Interested, register here:

Former Leaside High School student running for councillor in Scarborough

Former Leaside High school student Habiba Desai, who graduated in 2010, has put her name on the ballot for city councillor in the Scarborough-Guildwood riding. Born and raised in East York, Desai, along with her parents and extended family, has deep roots in Scarborough. Desai honed her political acumen as a volunteer constituency assistant with Rob Oliphant as well as working as a youth worker at the Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office Youth Centre. Habiba is interested in bringing to City Hall her unique perspective on community development, which includes an emphasis on eradicating gun violence.

Parlez vous français in Leaside?

Born in France, lived in Montreal and now David Des Rosiers has moved to Leaside and started a new business to help Leasiders improve their French. Tutoring sessions are held either at the Leaside branch of the Toronto Public Library on McRae Dr. or online. Visit bonjourtoronto.com for more information.

LHPS garners history award nomination

The Leaside Heritage Preservation Society has been nominated for the Heritage Toronto 2022 Public History Award for its Windows of Leaside: Stained Glass in the Early Homes project. The project featured a retrospective of 16 original stained-glass windows belonging to Leaside homes built during the 1930s to 1950s. This period of expanding residential construction in south Leaside reflected the growing importance of the community to the City of Toronto. If you have one of these treasures in your home, we would love to see a picture. Send it to . To find out more about the nomination or LHPS, visit leasideheritage.ca.

Michelin gives shout-out to Leaside restaurant

Michelin, the gold standard for rating restaurants, recently announced their selection for Toronto, for the first time. Leaside’s own Indian Street Food, located at 1701 Bayview Ave., was noted as a “Bib Gourmand” restaurant, a designation for restaurants where an individual can dine with two courses and a glass of wine or dessert for less than $60. Indian Street Food, a tribute to the old Indian coffee shops of Delhi and Mumbai, serves up all the classics of Indian cuisine, from thalis and chaat to curries and masalas.

Get your “Slow Down” signs!

A Leasider has informed the Idler that Councillor Robinson has free “Slow Down” lawn signs for residents to support Vision Zero, which is a City of Toronto action plan focused on reducing traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries on Toronto’s streets.

How can one get a sign? The Councillor’s office does have “Slow Down” lawn signs available by request – residents can ask for one by contacting her office by phone at 416-395-6408 or email at .