Grey dank December day, but streets empty enough to bicycle if one exercises care and doesn't mind pissing off motorists, who only put up with slow-moving vehicles in front of them when said vehicles are a) official and b) bigger than they are. Garbage trucks, snowplows, buses. In fact, yesterday I witnessed a line of cars honking at a FedEx truck pulled up on a snow bank but still, in the drivers' minds, blocking the way because of the cars parked on the other side of the street. Then driver of third car got out and walked around the first car: 'Look, room enough for me to get by on *this* side, and oh look, room enough for me to get by on *this* side, so will you MOVE?' and walked back to his car, muttering expletives, as they say. I felt like applauding.
But when I got down to Markham St, ready for beef bourgignon at The Butler's Pantry, all was dark. 'We are open at our original location at 371 Roncesvalles.' I mean, I know one or two businesses on the block have closed, and Honest Ed's closes for good on Dec 31, and some time in the near future it will be demolished, and eventually all the buildings will come down: but that's *eventually*. (snerf) They could at least have mentioned they were closing before Christmas, but no, they did not. No announcements anywhere.
And so farewell to one of the few nice things from the 20-teens, and a couple of happy memories.
