What a great weekend in West Toronto Roncesvalles Village

Had the need to slip into the old stomping grounds in Roncesvalles Villages on Saturday morning.

The pedestrian traffic was incredible at noon.  People out with their strollers, carrying purchases and seemingly on a mission. The Fruit Market was just bustling!

I was parked at the corner of Wright and Roncesvalles and expertly avoided the Green Hornets that seem to hide behind trees it would seem to trap traffic violators at every opportunity.  I wonder how this will effect the Roncesvalles sidewalk expansion planned for later this year.

The busiest store that I could see was the West Side Cycle between Fermanagh and Wright Avenues. They were just bustling with people in and out with their bicycles in for spring tuning and wheel straightening after our long hard winter.  There were a few banana seat bicycles with streamers that I remember from my past and a few 10 speed racers that will be circling High Park.

A few doors north is Aris Place that was recently featured on BlogTO for their famous  souvlaki.

"Their souvlaki and their fish and chips are decent bang-for-your-buck diner eats, and I'm really tempted to go back for the "mega breakfast" next time I'm in the hood."

The Royal Bank has recently moved it's Roncesvalles presence a little further south from Fermanagh to Fern. When ever I see the exterior, even though it has been renovated as the Royal Bank facade with internet banking machines and kiosks, I still see the old SS. Kresges store front.

If you have considered living in the west end of the city, and would like information about Roncesvalles Village or Bloor West feel free to drop me an email.  If you are a resident in this fine community and are considering selling, I would appreciate hearing from you. 

Feel free to comment and add a memory of your own about Roncesvalles Village.

Sweet Smells of Home Baked Cookies in Bloor West

Sweet Flour Bake Shop, the first customized, made-to-order bakery has sweetened up Toronto’s Bloor West Village, creating an affordable yet decadent experience during a hard-to-swallow economic time. 

Bringing customers back to sweeter days, is Sweet Flour’s founder and cookie-lover Kim Gans, who has created a signature baking process that allows you to design your ideal cookie. The perfect customized cookie is created by choosing from gourmet doughs and over 20 decadent mix-ins.  Customers can watch their cookie being mixed by Sweet Flour staff and get their warm and delicious cookie baked for them in just two minutes. 

“At Sweet Flour Bake Shop, we pay tribute to the cookie,” said Gans.  “There is nothing quite like the decadent goodness of a cookie just out of the oven.  We want everyone to enjoy that simple pleasure that makes you stop to say “Mmm” and savour the moment.” 

Sweet Flour Bake Shop’s warm, inviting atmosphere provides the perfect place for sharing yummy moments with family and friends, or for simply taking a personal moment. 

And the made-to-order cookie is just a morsel of what Sweet Flour offers.  There is something to suit everyone’s taste, including customizable muffin tops, cookie sandwiches and house-made granola.  Supporting local products, Sweet Flour baked goods are made only from the finest fresh ingredients.  Customers can enjoy glass bottled Ontario organic milk and fresh brewed Ideal coffee, a local coffee roaster. 

The delicious freshly baked cookie can be enjoyed in the comfort of Sweet Flour Bake Shop or customers can bring the “yum” home to family and friends – all baked goods are available for grab and go. 

Sweet Flour will add flavour to the Bloor West Village pedestrian promenade when they are serving fresh baked goods through a huge double door that opens the whole storefront at 2352 Bloor Street West.  

For more information, visit www.sweetflour.ca

A wonderful treat for your neighbourhood visit to Bloor West Village.  If you would like to live in this neighbourhood drop me a line.

If you have other neighbourhood hotspots  and sites you would like to share, please send me an email.