Glassware is budget fun

Recently I have taken an interest in glassware. I saw an article about Duralex, the French glass manufacturer, in The Independent. I tracked down a set of six Picardie glasses in Pier 1 Imports here in Toronto for $30. They reminded me of the British Crystolac glasses we had at home as a kid. Then I saw the name Libbey Duratuff on a glass in a restaurant and scored one at a rummage sale for 10 cents. Also there were these two Bodum coffee glasses from Denmark, as seen on Star Trek, all the rage in the early eighties, and a steal at 25 cents each.

"Large imperfect" Mayor Miller asleep at the wheel

I sent this email to our lame-duck Mayor on Friday, April 16, 2010 8:28 AM, copy to Bill Saundercook, local councillor.

Anti-business Toronto: Café Novo, 1986 Bloor Street W

Dear Mayor Miller,

I attended the first day of trading at the above café this morning. The patio is closed for lack of a permit.

What is the matter with you people? These young folk are using their own money to launch a business in troubled times, paying their taxes, doing their best. What does the city do?

Jerk them about. You should hang your heads in shame. This anti-business approach is wrecking this city – instead of junketing perhaps you can get on with the job you are paid generously to do.

Best regards

Rupert

Unsurprisingly I have received no reply. If it had been an invitation to a freebie in Copenhagen or Berlin no doubt I would have heard back by return. When you are too busy junketing to help your near neighbours we know the end is nigh. Hogtown will be glad to see the back of Miller, and Giambrone too for that matter.

Rare birds

potted these two in my travels. The first one is easy, a Renault 5 marketed as Le Car, seldom seen and a long way from home in the east end of Toronto. Note side reflectors. The second one has me stumped. Can anybody identify this small pickup spotted on Annette Street today?

Update: Best guess is a Datsun NL320 from 1964.

Kurbmaster and roadmaster

Six rides on the Brompton bicycle this year already and a coffee stop on Dundas at a Portuguese bakery and our usual stop in Kensington Market in Toronto at Global Cheese (Portuguese Moinho at $13). Spotted this G.M.C. Kurbmaster in need of TLC and chopped Buick Roadmaster down the street. On to Fort York where Ron Stockey recreated a picture taken five years previously to illustrate the changing skyline of the city.

Pics by Ron Stockey.

Fixer upper and freshly fettled

Another rural ride turned up this 1946/47 Mercury Monarch, a Canada-only car, near Hamilton, Ontario. We can't find another with a five-bar grille like this. The car is on a trailer but sadly rotting.

Further on we photographed this Chevrolet Impala displayed outside the B&E custom shop.

Rural ride reveals scrappage survivors

To Alton, Ontario where this Buick was lurking in a backlot behind a body shop.

Down the street this 6-cylinder 1965 Ford Falcon was on sale for $6,000. An Oklahoma car they said.

We moved on to Fergus where this 1960 Ford Falcon wagon beckoned at $5,000.

Sinecurists with snout in trough

he problem of Toronto politicians taking freebies on the taxpayer is not new. "Large Imperfect" Mayor Miller has been at it for years - see PunchBuggy Passim.