captaingalaxyguy

whyilovetoronto: Why I Love Toronto Reason #296 The World’s...

Wed, 20 Jun 2018 18:07:42 -0400

Why I Love Toronto Reason #296

The World’s Biggest Bookstore

The final chapter of a book can set you up for a sad, happy, bittersweet or cliff-hanger ending. The Great Gatsby ended sadly, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close was somewhat happy, but bittersweet, The Hunger Games left you with a cliff-hanger and Great Expectations – well it depends on the ending you accept as the ending. Well now the World’s Biggest Bookstore just off of Yonge Street near Dundas will enter its final chapter next year as it is set to close in February 2014. The ending of this Toronto icon, which has sat on Edward Street since the 80’s, will most likely not be a happy ending, but have more of a sad and cliff-hanger like ending. It will be sad simply because the iconic retail store will be closing and a cliff-hanger in terms of what will take the bookstores place.

The red and white exterior is not attractive at all, it hardly has any character and if it wasn’t for the big sign that says World’s Biggest Bookstore I would mistake the windowless store for a strip club or adult novelty shop. I don’t love the exterior and that’s why I didn’t entitle the post The Exterior of The World’s Biggest Bookstore. However, I love the fact that it has almost every subject and most likely any book you’re looking for – I mean a store with 4,000 different cookbooks is already awesome and that is what makes this store so special. One Christmas my grandmother wanted this specific DVD about the Incas and I looked everywhere and found out the only place in Toronto that had it was The World’s Biggest Bookstore.

The location was once a bowling alley until Jack Cole, the former owner of Coles Bookstore, bought the property in the 80’s. Now the World’s Biggest Bookstore according to the Guinness Book of World Records is not the biggest bookstore anymore. Today that title goes to a Barnes and Noble in New York City. However the argument to why it retains the name is simple. The Barnes and Noble has more floor space (154,000 square feet compared to 64,000 square foot Edward Street Store) where as the World’s Biggest Bookstore has more titles. I’ll go with the latter for my definition of big! Remember, it’s not size that matters its amount.

The stores lease will not be renewed simply because of the rent. Rumour has it that negotiations to reduce the 1.5 million dollars a year rent to something lower failed.

The question – and cliff-hanger – is what will occupy the space after the bookstore has closed it doors? The National Post suggests a big box retailer, but I personally think it’s too detached from Yonge Street to succeed and unlike the Canadian Tire, Mark’s or Best Buy this location doesn’t have the luxury of being on a major intersection like Yonge and Dundas or attached to TEC. However, the big box store has led to rumours of a possible Wal-Mart, Target or Home Depot. The Toronto Star is reporting a 78 storey condominium and retail complex after rumours a developer has offered $38 Million for the property. Another thing that could go there is landmark killer Ryerson (no offense, I mean thank you for saving Maple Leaf Gardens, but I’m still mad about the Sam The Record Man Sign). By no means is it an attractive building, but the name and what is inside the building is a staple to the city. It represents the downtown core just as much as the Toronto Eaton Centre.

So when the bookstore does close I will definitely be there.

That is Why I Love Toronto.

http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/06/21/worlds-biggest-bookstore-may-give-way-to-big-box-store/

http://www.thestar.com/business/article/1214719—toronto-s-world-s-biggest-bookstore-slated-to-close-in-2013

onlyincanadayousay2:In love Cookies and cream doughnut Vandal...

Mon, 18 Jun 2018 13:35:55 -0400

onlyincanadayousay2:

In love
Cookies and cream doughnut
Vandal Doughnuts
Halifax

Economists debunk Trump's Twitter trade 'facts' against Canada

Mon, 18 Jun 2018 13:35:30 -0400

Economists debunk Trump's Twitter trade 'facts' against Canada:

allthecanadianpolitics:

U.S. President Donald Trump made some “factual errors” in tweets about trade with Canada following the G7 summit, and his tariffs threats could be “akin to shooting oneself in the foot,” economists tell CBC News.
Trump’s criticism of U.S. trade with Canada escalated to another level after he left the summit early and then attacked Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Twitter using words such as “dishonest” and “weak.”
Trump cited “facts” such as Canada’s 270 per cent tariff on dairy imports and a $100-billion trade surplus against the U.S. as evidence that Canada is charging U.S. farmers, workers and companies “massive tariffs.”
But how accurate is the data that Trump vows are facts in his tweets?
Derek Holt, vice-president of Scotiabank Economics, said the “thought processes” at the core of the U.S. administration are not grounded in “reason, diplomacy or facts.”
Continue Reading.

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Mon, 18 Jun 2018 13:34:06 -0400

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Mon, 18 Jun 2018 13:32:10 -0400

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Mon, 18 Jun 2018 13:31:42 -0400

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Mon, 18 Jun 2018 13:31:19 -0400

Gay activist Jim Egan's fight for equality becomes first LGBTQ Heritage Minute

Mon, 18 Jun 2018 13:30:16 -0400

Gay activist Jim Egan's fight for equality becomes first LGBTQ Heritage Minute:

allthecanadianpolitics:

nathanialroyale:

allthecanadianpolitics:

A new Heritage Minute recounting the story of gay activist Jim Egan is drawing attention to the fight for equality waged by Canada’s LGBTQ community.

Producers at Historica Canada, the organization behind the popular bite-sized moments of history, say the latest addition to its ongoing series will debut online Wednesday.

It’s the first time the LGBTQ community has been the focus of a Heritage Minute.

The one-minute clip follows the career of Egan, who spent most of his life trying to change negative perceptions of gay culture in mainstream media.

He started by writing opinion columns to newspapers in the early 1950s before eventually becoming one of the first openly gay politicians in Canada.

Continue Reading.

Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rac4WiTDQHg

My internet is being bloody awful so no embedding I am afraid.

reynsworldlove: Bee workin

Mon, 18 Jun 2018 13:29:57 -0400

reynsworldlove:

Bee workin

surfingthesealand: Some more Pokémon gijinka doodles.#037...

Mon, 18 Jun 2018 13:27:55 -0400

surfingthesealand:

Some more Pokémon gijinka doodles.
#037 Vulpix
#149 Dragonite
#256 Combusken
#303 Mawile

captaingalaxyguy: Canadian star Ryan Reynolds and Australian...

Mon, 18 Jun 2018 13:27:43 -0400

captaingalaxyguy:

Canadian star Ryan Reynolds and Australian star, Hugh Jackman, stars of Marvel (Deadpool and Wolverine)
Not just my mind blew!

havenofearthecanadianishere: Cold brew coffee shakes, using...

Mon, 18 Jun 2018 13:27:32 -0400

havenofearthecanadianishere:

Cold brew coffee shakes, using Just Us Coffee, fair trade coffee roaster, @
Krave Burgers, Halifax

havenofearthecanadianishere: The elegant, stylish, super...

Mon, 18 Jun 2018 13:27:20 -0400

havenofearthecanadianishere:

The elegant, stylish, super talented music icon,
Jann Arden

Alberta Indigenous community welcomes first rainbow crosswalk to celebrate Pride Month

Mon, 18 Jun 2018 13:15:00 -0400

Alberta Indigenous community welcomes first rainbow crosswalk to celebrate Pride Month:

allthecanadianpolitics:

A rainbow crosswalk in an Indigenous community south of Edmonton might be the first one on a First Nation reserve in Canada.
More than 15 volunteers painted the colourful crosswalk in front of the Samson Cree Nation administration building to celebrate Pride Month.
Chief Vernon Saddleback said he wants the community to be a safe haven for everyone regardless of sexual orientation.
“I have a niece who is gay. She just came out. It’s her first pride parade this year,” said Saddleback. “She has finally come out, I’m really happy for her.”
Continue Reading.