[M II A II R II K]

An official thread to talk about local dining and restaurants and stuff.

[ldoto]

City ponders bar limits

Thu, May 7, 2009

RICHMOND ROW: City staff will look into limiting new or expanding drinking spots after hearing a presentation from a downtown resident :shrug:


If you want a stiff drink or a beer in downtown London or along Richmond Row, there's no shortage of seats -- including the JLC and hotels, there are 48,847 in all.

But if you're a shopkeeper there who wants to insure a plate glass window, you're out of luck: So many have been broken in drunken acts of vandalism, insurance companies won't issue policies.

Those striking facts, the first gathered by Ontario's Alcohol and Gaming Commission, grabbed the attention yesterday of city hall politicians who asked staff to explore whether it makes sense to place some limits on new or expanding bars across the city.

The request came after a presentation by a resident who lives half a block off Richmond St. Michael Hannay has lived near the Row since 1993, his two kids often the only youthful voices on his block.

A professional planner who helped city hall prepare guidelines for more pedestrian-friendly neighbourhoods, he warned the city's planning committee that too much of a good thing -- licensed establishments -- could prove Richmond Row's undoing.




The bars pose two threats, he said.

The first threat is immediate -- they tend to replace retail stores, depressing the attraction of the area during the day. The second is long-term: As the mix of uses changes, the neighbourhood becomes less attractive to residents and merchants,who start to leave.

"We're not talking about closing bars or saying that (bar owner) Mike Smith is wrong, but we're probably reaching a tipping point," Hannay said.

There are about 10,000 bar seats along Richmond from Oxford to York streets.

"That's a problem," he said.

It's not just the total number of bars that concerns Hannay and Coun. Judy Bryant, who represents the downtown ward. Some hold more than 1,000 patrons, creating a restless crowd at closing time at 2 a.m., with no transit buses to take them home.

Hannay and Bryant say their concern is reflected in police statistics that show a rise in the number of calls they get in the two hours after bars close.

That taxes the police and there are other costs too: more ambulances, social services and vandalism to repair.

Bars individually aren't bad, Hannay said, since each adds economic and cultural value to the neighbourhood. But allow too many, and it will come at a cost.

"If the bars are benefitting, it's at the expense of taxpayers," he said.

Not all politicians on the planning committee were convinced -- but they asked staff to prepare a report looking at whether action is needed.

[MolsonExport]

I am inclined to agree. Disclaimer: I love bars (er, I did when I was a bachelor). But Richmond Row has more than enough, and I would like to see more of a mixture of retail.

[ldoto]

Wed, June 24, 2009


London's Grand Theatre officials played to an appreciative audience today as they forecast a happy ending to their budget year.

An $8,000 surplus is expected when the fiscal year ends June 30, said the Grand's Deb Harvey.

That's on a budget of $5 million.

"However small it is, a surplus is a positive thing," said Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco-Best during the board of control meeting.

The politicians were pleased enough that they suggested the group's quarterly updates to council be halved and that only a semi-annual update is necessary




Some other city-subsidized arts groups, notably Orchestra London, are struggling to make ends meet, especially as regional and global economies falter.

Harvey said the economic downturn really became noticeable with a decline in single-ticket sales in the first three months of 2009.

But the coming season looks good, as 80 per cent of subscribers have already signed up again.

Also under a campaign urging each subscriber draw in at least one other, 400 new subscribers have signed on.

The theatre has about 5,200 subscribers. "It isn't a hard sell," said Harvey. "In a city of 350,000 there's no reason we can't have 10,000 subscribers."

[manny_santos]

Has anyone here ever been to Angelo's? Any thoughts on the place?

[manny_santos]

I was up in the Hyde Park area today and noticed Ozone Organics had been completely cleaned out, although the sign was still out front and their website is still up. Anybody know anything about what's going on there? There's no sign on their door explaining the situation.

[Blitz]

Has anyone here ever been to Angelo's? Any thoughts on the place?

I used to shop at the one on Wonderland North quite a bit but I never dined there. I've heard mixed reviews on the dining experience.

[manny_santos]

http://inspection.healthunit.com/

Very interesting stuff to read. Most of the chain restaurants including McDonalds, Starbucks, and Quizno's are in good compliance with little or no critical infractions while some of the local independent eateries have a litany of critical infractions. Most restaurants have good records but a few have 3 or more critical infractions including Schwarma House (Commissioners Road West), Bing's Chinese Buffet in Lambeth, Bernie's Bar & Grill on Adelaide, The Honest Lawyer, Hook's, and International Bakery on Hamilton Road.

They also have every single eatery at Western and Fanshawe listed.

[MolsonExport]

^thanks for the link. I visit many ethnic establishments, and now I can know what my stomach can expect 4 hours after eating.