TorontoIAM: Have Maple Leafs Gotten Desperate? Porter to Offer Direct Flights to New York

This is a selection of recent popular blog articles from TorontoIAM where you will find the best blogs from Toronto, Ontario as well as video uploads, social networking, rumors, and blog authoring

Desperate Times for the Leafs?

Blogging on The Spin on Sports, Damien Cox writes that “Maple Leaf management and coaching staff are trying hard to downplay suggestions the team is in desperation mode.” Cox notes that there was “serious, lengthy internal debate as to whether to give blue-chip goaltending prospect Justin Pogge the start last Saturday night against Philadelphia.” They finally chose to go with Raycroft, who did well despite the 3-2 defeat.

Even so, just considering Pogge “after consecutive starts by No. 3 goalie Scott Clemmensen… [is] a statement about how Leaf management views the club's current plight.” The Leafs are ranked 13th in the Eastern Conference as they head West for the “most challenging road trip of the season… a three-games-in-four-nights slate” that includes playing the Anaheim Ducks and the San Jose Sharks. They may have Vesa Toskala for all of these games, “but have both Raycroft and Clemmensen on the trip just in case.” But, if they are simply hoping Toskala will solve all their problems, Cox writes in his post, “they're going to get whacked and good.”

Another Option for Flying Direct to New York

Adam Schwabe reports on Blog T.O. that Porter Airlines “appears to be on the verge of finally announcing flights to New York City direct from their airport on Toronto Island.” The airline ran suggestive ads in a number of Toronto newspapers over the weekend “with a very cryptic red apple along with the headline, ‘Some news is just too big to hide. A new destination coming soon.’” In addition, their CEO told the media that they are “looking closely” at starting flights to NYC and Chicago. “Having just added a flight direct to Mont Tremblant, Porter appears to be on the up, but can they sustain their success south of the border?”

Schwabe states in his post that he has “nothing but good things to say about” Porter. Getting to and through the airport was “painless,” and the in-flight experience “was a treat.” The question is whether they can “compete with the big boys flying into the US. Air Canada and a number of other airlines currently charge about $400-$450 for a round-trip flight to LaGuardia.” If Porter can offer competitively-priced direct flights to New York, it “could be a huge win for them.”

French Bistro Captures Essence of Director Tati’s Parisian Dining.

Today on Taste T.O. Sheryl Kirby offers a review of Harbord Street’s Tati Bistro, where  chef Laurent Brion manages to perfectly capture the mood of a French neighbourhood bistro ala French director Jacques Tati. The restaurant “takes over the location of the former Kensington Kitchen and brings a tiny touch of Paris to downtown Toronto.” Classic music plays in the “homey and sophisticated” room and a “space at the back accommodates up to 8 people at the chef’s table.” It hosts “classic bistro fare” such as escargots, bouillabaisse, and duck confit.

“Despite the crowds,” Kirby writes in her post, “service is thoughtful and accommodating.” There are 100 seats on two floors. Over all, the bistro is “professional, but not pretentious.” Some menu items seem a “tad high for simple bistro fare,” but their cheese sample plate is a deal. “As a diehard Jacques Tati fan, I was sort of hoping for a bit more tongue-in-cheek humour… but space and likely, health regulations put a damper on the in-jokes.”

Visioning Bloor / Dundas

Toronto City Councillor Gordon Perks announces a “Bloor / Dundas visioning session” next week. He will be chairing the public meeting, held by the City’s Planning department, “to develop a community vision for future planning of Bloor Street, between Keele Street and Dundas Street West.” This session is the first in a series of three meetings the City will hold to discuss development in this area and “the potential impacts on the surrounding neighbourhoods.” 

Perks states that the outcome “will be a set of guiding principles and policies for neighbourhood development.”  The City’s Planning department can apply these principles “when assessing proposed developments and their respective Avenue Segment Studies.” The session will take place Wednesday January 16th at Indian Road Crescent School.  The public meeting notice and agenda are available in his post.

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