There’s a really cool new site called ‘Search for Haiti.org‘.

What’s great about it is that every time you search using this site all the proceeds go to Haiti. The site is powered by my favourite search engine, Google, so you don’t have to compromise on quality of results either.

I think this is a fantastic concept. I’m happy to do what I can to help the poor people of Haiti and this sure is an easy way to help. I also agreed to do the illustration for this site because I thought it was a worthwhile effort.

Check it out and make it your default search engine to help people in Haiti!

I stopped by Jimmy’s Coffee the other day and was pleasantly surprised. The coffee was very good, and being situated in an old house, the atmosphere is relaxed and cozy. Jimmy’s roasts beans locally in Concord, Ontario, at Classic Roastery. It’s a nice place to meet a friend or stop to read the paper when you’re downtown. Check it out on Portland Street south of Adelaide.

Dough is a great new bakery on the Danforth. They make fantastic bread on the premises. I tried the challah and croissants last time I was there and found both to be delicious.

Dough is run by a neighbourhood veteran and baker who says she always knew the area needed a bakery. Finally she took matters into her own hands, and voila! We have Dough.

The Junction is really hitting it’s stride in terms of having everything from essentials to inspiration within walking distance.
Most recently a Scandinavian design store has moved into the hood. Mjolk, is the name of the store, means milk in Swedish. It is located on Dundas Street west of Keele and east of Pacific Ave. The store itself is beautiful, and it’s full of exquisitely designed pieces.

Architects from Studio Junction designed the shop, and as usual they have done a stellar job with the finishing touches.

Le Petit Dejeuner is a cute and cozy little neighbourhood diner. If you are near King and Jarvis then drop by and check it out. During the weekend brunch crush you will likely spot it by the lineup. A better choice is to visit off-peak.

The Green Grind opened on College Street at Manning recently. It is a much needed addition to the hood. They serve up lovely organic and fair trade lattes as well as other coffee drinks and treats. The space is very bright and open with nice colourful vintage touches. They also have free wifi — how nice.

An outstanding feature of the Green Grind is that they are in the process of getting certified in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).

I’m impressed by their coffee, their space and their values. I highly recommend stopping in.

Technorati Tags: Cafe, espresso, fair trade, latte, organic, Little Italy, College Street, Toronto, wifi

Littlefish bakery and cafe is a cute new addition to the Junction. They serve a tasty breakfast ’till at least 4pm, every day except Mondays. The space is cozy and bright. What could be better on a cold winter morning or a chilly afternoon?

Three Speed is a great little bar on Bloor Street west of Dufferin. Nice atmosphere and tasty pub food make this an attractive option to meet friends for a pint. It’s owned by the same folks who started Communist’s Daughter, which explains the cozy, raw urban feel. The bar seems to be doing very well and as it is one of the few such offerings in the area I’m sure it will continue to kick butt.

Technorati Tags: beer on tap, bloor street, diner, Toronto

Such philosophical street art … makes you stop and think about what this person is getting at.

I can think of several interpretations. If I were to choose one, I would say:
Be so passionate about what you choose to do that you can’t hear the people across the way saying it’s not possible.

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La Merceria is a delightful cafe and housewares shop. Its elegance and coziness is like no other. I had a fantastic lunch on my visit the other day: black bean soup, a veggie and cheese pastry, and an americano to finish it off.

They carry only the most beautiful housewares for an international household – great for gifts.

La Merceria is on Adelaide east of Bathurst.

Technorati Tags: brunch, Cafe, coffee, delicious, espresso, latte, sandwiches, Toronto