Hmm… I don’t really feel that I need more stuff… but if I did (and you might), there is a great opportunity for everyone this weekend.  I’ll mention three (some are cash only):

1) A vintage bonanza: Showdown Vintage is an online clothing store that is having a massive clothing sale of new, used and vintage clothing at a house at 419 Shaw Street on Sunday 1pm -8pm. Don’t forget to RSVP.  

2) Two of a Kind Show. Just kidding, I mean One of a Kind. Sat 10-9pm. Sun 10-6pm.

3) A Designer Sample Sale. Potentially limited sizes but the brands are good – teen flow included. This is all women’s clothing mainly in sizes 6 and 8. (Thanks to Jules for the specifics on this!)  Its being held at Gangbar/Winslade 19 Mercer Street # 200. Saturday 10-5 and Sunday 11-4. Cash Only. Bring an item for the foodbank.

If you’ve just gotta shop, these are some good ideas. 

Soft Latin rhythms waft from the window as you near the door of Olivia’s at 53.  This cozy little house of delicious food now offers 3 nights a week of live Latin jazz to get your blood flowing on crisp winter evenings.  Match the music with a great glass of wine and a bite to eat and you may well feel like you are on a delectable vacation.  Olivia’s is located just off of the College Street stretch of Little Italy. Oh, and did I mention that they have great brunch on Sundays?  Otherwise they are dinner-focused from Tuesday to Sunday.  

This hot little number in Roncesvalles sure serves up some lovely lattes and fantastic baked goods. Cherry Bomb was started by two fun residents of the neighbourhood nearly two years ago. They began making homemade scones that are absolutely delicious, and have now expanded to include a broader range of baked goods, including croissants. Judging by the line-ups at the door, this shop has been very successful and could use a little more competition.  They are open from 7am to 6pm and weekdays, and from 9am on weekends.  We need more places like this to spread across the City.  The only thing that is missing at this shop is a place to sit down and relax, since their focus is mainly on take-out.

In case you haven’t stumbled across this movie website - I find it rather helpful. It has all of the movie theatres in the city and is well organized to help you find what you are looking for. 

This weather tells me it’s… movie time!

Outstanding modern designs are displayed in the MADE showroom on Dundas West.  All of these designers exhibited are Canadian and their works include furniture, lighting, ceramics, jewelry and home accessories.  Although MADE has a friendly gallery-like feel, pieces are also available for purchase. The art is always changing, and there is always something amazing to be found.

I heard all the hype and was excited about the new light bulb technology that was being promoted throughout the land.  These new compact fluorescent light bulbs use 75% less energy than regular light bulbs! Yahoo, an easy win!  Switching to CF bulbs, combined with some diligent turning off un-needed lights and appliances reduces the  demand for our dirty electricity.  Since much of our electricity is produced by coal burning power plants (that emit greenhouse gases contributing to global warming and cause asthma), anything that can help us conserve power is good news.  We are improving our environment through simple steps to reduce demand for electricity.

It was only after changing out nearly all of our light bulbs that I heard these bulbs contain mercury and the toxic metal will leak out if you break the bulb. Which means that these bulbs require special disposal.  Nowhere in these big advertisements did they mention that CF bulbs cannot go into the garbage. 

The City of Toronto has set up the following methods for disposal:

1. Community Environment Day (April – September)

2. Drop off the fluorescent tubes and compact bulbs at the Dump or call the Toxic Taxi  if you have 50 Liters of hazardous waste (maybe getting the neighbours in on it would help)

3. Ikea is taking back and recycling the bulbs they have sold customers. Go Ikea!  Rona seems to be the only other company that is working toward a corporate initiative to take back the bulbs. 

By the time these long lasting bulbs burn out I’m sure disposal will be made easier, especially as we get closer to 2012 when Ontario will no longer sell any other type of light bulb. 

David Suzuki reminds us that coal fired power plants are the largest sources of mercury in our environment today, so by reducing our dependence on them through use of these bulbs we are still ahead.

Now if only we could get offices to turn off the lights when no one is working …

Susan Harris‘ studio/shop has a distinct, warm and funky feel to it. Her designs carry this feeling too. You may have admired one of her shirts on someone and wondered where it came from… well, the secret is out.  And you can feel good about buying her clothes since she reuses previously-worn worthy articles.  Her shop is located on Tecumseth just south of Queen St. West.  She will also have a booth at the One of a Kind Show from November 22nd – December 2nd.