Recipefiesta

With Scotland back on the holiday map, we pick exciting places to stay, from cabins and castles to treehouses and bothies

Two converted horseboxes, Thistle and Juniper, have been added to the collection of self-catering and glamping accommodation at the Alexander House estate in Perthshire. The whole place, which sleeps 25, is often rented for weddings and events, but each component – including the wings of the main house and two yurts – is available individually too, plus there’s a heated indoor pool, play areas and a trampoline. The horseboxes have their own hot tubs and are tucked away among stands of scots pine trees in the grounds, which have compelling views of the Highlands and Sidlaw Hills. Kayaking and fishing trips can be arranged, along with visits to the fancy Gleneagles Hotel for meals, golf and spa days if you’re feeling flash. One of many great local hikes leads to Glen Devon, with a stop, and an ale or two, at the Tormaukin Inn, a tartan-bedecked, fire-warmed 18th-century retreat in the Ochil Hills.
• Each sleeps 2 adults and 2 children, from £300 for 2 nights, alexanderhousescotland.com

The Warren Cycle Works bike store, which has been sitting mostly ramshackle and derelict since well before the pandemic, just went on sale this week. 

The Leslieville property is listed for $2.5 million and comes with pre-approved plans to build a six-storey boutique condo building. 

"Perfect for a condo or as a once-in-a-lifetime legacy," reads the listing on Realtor.ca

Design for a boutique condo at 890 Queen Street East.

The condo building (if built) would have four residential full-floor units and one commercial unit – presumably the ground floor store front area. 

There is also the potential to design double the units if you split the full-floor in two. 

"You can't beat this location and you won't have to waste time with the City obtaining a zoning certificate! Take advantage of one of Toronto's most vibrant and 'in-demand' neighbourhoods," the listing continues. 

And for any developer it might actually be worth it since in March this year 890 Queen Street East was part of a list of buildings that were included in the City of Toronto's Heritage Register.

That means making any future changes to the site will be that much more difficult to get approval. 

The lot size is pretty small, only 100 by 20 feet and there's only one parking space, which isn't ideal for a condo building. But Jimmy Simpson Park is steps away.

The condo could have between 4 to 8 residential units depending on the design. 

Anyway, here's what the condo building could look like.

A mock up of the interior of one of the residential units for the potential condo.  

And for anyone curious, they even did mock ups of what one of the apartments could look like inside.

A Toronto resident has an answer to that age-old question — why did the chicken cross the road?

Jessica Nevin says she has been walking her neighbour and former city councillor Joe Mihevc's backyard chickens for a couple of weeks now.

Mihevc, who now teaches at York and U of T, has four chickens, named after Canadian political parties – Jagmeet Chicken for the NDP, Libby for the Liberals, Tory for the Conservatives, and Green Party Chicken for the Green Party, but Nevin calls that one Rachel Green Party.

Hens are allowed in some neighbourhoods in the City of Toronto.

Jessica Nevin takes Rachel Green Party Chicken out for a walk.

Nevin lives in an apartment and has no backyard space so she wanted to help out and Mihevc agreed.

"It is something to do during COVID," says Nevin. "Hobbies are hard to come by these days."

A Toronto woman took her neighbour's backyard chicken for an afternoon stroll - 📹 Jessiva Nevin #Toronto #Chicken pic.twitter.com/pGTDYwf76k

— blogTO (@blogTO) April 30, 2021

She had seen photos of chickens on leashes and searched for a place to buy them online. She purchased one on Amazon, and decided to try it out. Rachel is the only chicken who goes for walks right now and she will only do it for treats.

"They are very food-motivated, so they get little treats for walking," she says. Chickens don't walk like dogs, apparently: She lets Rachel lead the way — Nevin doesn't tug or pull on the harness.

Rachel seems to enjoy getting out to a small park in the Wychwood area. But the people who see the pair along the way also love it.

Nevin enjoys spending time with the chickens.

"People laugh and take pictures," she says. "The kids love the chickens."

Nevin grew up in the city and hasn't had experience with chickens before. She thinks having chickens in the city is a great way to learn about food production.

Each chicken lays one egg a day, and in return for her help, Mihevc gives her a few eggs, which she says are delicious.

"I made a quiche the other day."

Batten down your patio furniture and anything else that has the potential to blow away this afternoon, Toronto: It looks like we could be in for a classic Southern Ontario wind storm, the likes of which often fell trees, fences, power lines, sheds and even giant fast-food beacons.

A special weather statement is currently in effect for the City of Toronto and many surrounding regions due to what Environment Canada predicts will be dangerously strong gusts of wind.

"Chilly northwesterly winds have begun to strengthen early this morning," reads a warning issued by the federal weather agency updated early Friday.

"Gusts of 70 to 80 km/h are expected by late this morning or this afternoon across the area. Strong winds will continue into the evening before gradually easing."

⚠️ Special Weather Statement issued for Toronto - map shows other areas w/ same alert #ONStorm #onwx pic.twitter.com/svKyPG4UYN

— wxGTA (@wxgta) April 29, 2021

Environment Canada warns that today's strong winds "will toss loose objects and may cause some tree branches to break."

Not "could," but "will"  — which is a pretty solid vote of confidence from any weather agency.

Isolated power outages are also possible, according to EnviroCan. Based on what Toronto has dealt with in the past, residents should also keep a lookout for flying debris and toppled trees.

Oh, and if crazy winds aren't enough to get you excited, just wait for this evening, when snow flurries are expected to hit the GTA, just in time for May.

The Barrie police officer who was caught on video using excessive force while arresting a young skateboarder back in February is now facing assault charges following an investigation into the incident. 

The video, captured by witness Zaria Valyear and shared widely on social media earlier this year, shows Const. Jason Stamp kneeling on top of 20-year-old Skyler Kent after pulling him over for blowing through a red light on his skateboard.

The disturbing clip shows the officer hitting the young man in the head with the butt of a taser and smashing his head into the pavement while bystanders try to intervene and the skateboarder yells in agony, begging him to stop.

Hey, @BarriePolice. You might want to take this fucking goof’s badge away. While you’re ‘looking into this’, I’m going to make him famous. pic.twitter.com/djs19exXBy

— Dean Blundell (@ItsDeanBlundell) February 5, 2021

"On Thursday, February 4, 2021, the Barrie Police Service was made aware of a video that was posted to social media that showed an arrest made by a uniformed officer with the Barrie Police Service that took place on Dunlop Street East earlier that day," Barrie Police said in a news release this week.

"Concerned by the images captured in the video and the need for transparency in our community, Barrie Police Chief Kimberley Greenwood promptly requested the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) conduct an independent investigation into the circumstances that lead to the arrest, as well as the conduct of the involved officer."

The OPP Professional Standards Unit then undertook an investigation, and it concluded with Stamp being arrested and charged with Assault and Assault with a Weapon on April 29.

"The need for transparency in policing is critical," said Chief Greenwood in a statement. "The Barrie Police Service holds all its members to the highest level of professionalism. I thank the OPP for conducting a thorough and detailed investigation."

The 18-year member of the service has been suspended from duty with pay, and he's scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Barrie on June 7.

Don't litter, don't get obnoxiously wasted, and for the love of all that is good, please don't go murdering baby foxes at Toronto's Woodbine Beach this summer.

Not only will your fellow citizens appreciate the decent behaviour, you might actually save some money (and face.)

The City of Toronto will be stepping up its enforcement of "litter, alcohol and bonfire orders as well as any provincial public health restrictions" throughout the Eastern Beaches beginning this May in an effort to discourage the kind of "disruptive activity" that was widespread at Woodbine throughout the warmer months of 2020.

"Last summer, we saw firsthand the problems that can arise when thousands of Torontonians come to the beach each weekend or on holidays," wrote Ward 19 - Beaches East York councillor Brad Bradford in a Facebook post on Thursday.

"This year, we're getting ahead of the crowds with a plan in place to manage crowding, littering, and enhance by-law enforcement."

Woodbine Beach isn't only an #EastEnd treasure - it attracts folks from all over Toronto.

We want everyone to safely enjoy our outdoor spaces this summer and we're putting a plan in place to ensure our beautiful beach stays clean. ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/4Y3OLV8BMt

— Brad Bradford✌️ (@BradMBradford) April 29, 2021

Working with city staff and Toronto Police Services, Bradford says his team has come up with a proactive plan based on last year's pain points to keep Woodbine Beach clean, safe, and healthy this summer.

"Staff will be stepping up litter pick-up and bin collections during peak periods for litter across the Eastern Beaches (from Ashbridges to RC Harris)," reads the plan, per Bradford's website.

These efforts will include:

• Adding more litter bins in clusters/high-use areas.
• Replacing full bins at 5:00 p.m. and early collection at 5:00 a.m.
• Allocating dedicated staff to address litter in and around bins (not just collecting the bins but also picking up the litter around them).
• Being active in picking up and preventing litter on the beach.
• Monitoring busy times and changing/increasing collections as the season goes on.
• Hiring additional seasonal staff to make sure the resources are in place for all of this to happen.

Staff from Toronto's Municipal Licensing & Standards department will also be "actively patrolling and deploying additional resources to hot spots" based on previous data and real-time reports to the city (people can call 311 if they note some unlawful rambunctiousness.)

Could you please but some garbage cans in the parking lot at Woodbine Beach. Maybe some signage and by law officers too. pic.twitter.com/bFYE6xxUcj

— JACleuty (@CleutyJa) June 21, 2020

Dedicated officers will patrol all the Eastern Beaches from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 a.m. Fridays through Sundays and on statutory holidays, according to Bradford.

These officers will be looking specifically to enforce litter, alcohol, bonfire and any pandemic-related laws that are in place at the time. Currently, the Province of Ontario permits the use of beaches, but social gatherings are still prohibited and physical distancing measures remain in effect.

Bradford says that the city will once again erect large mobile signs in parking lots to notify people of the enhanced restrictions, provincial regulations at the time, and beach access points.

These enhanced enforcement efforts are scheduled to begin in late May, but the councillor says that the date could be moved up if "negative activity" poses a problem sooner.

"Now more than ever, we should be making the most of this beautiful resource for our physical and mental health," said Bradford in his post on Thursday. "I hope you'll help the City in working together to make the best of Summer 2021 at the Beach."

With 2021 event off because of Covid, Worthy Pastures will offer ‘back to basics’ tents but definitely no bands

There will be no bands, no sound systems and a noise curfew will come into force at 11pm. Glastonbury’s 2021 summer offering will be very different to normal years.

Because of Covid, Michael and Emily Eavis are not staging their usual world-shaking festival but instead setting up what they call a “tranquil, family-friendly campsite” at their Somerset farm.

For the price of what some people pay in a year, you can rent a Toronto mansion for a month.

The four-bedroom home at 9 Beaumont Road in Toronto is listed for rent for $26,500 a month.

The property at 9 Beaumont Road is set on a ravine in Rosedale.

Mansions for rent are not unusual — last month a four-bedroom place in Forest Hill was offered for $12,000 a month.

It comes with a cart to take you up and down the ravine.

This home is in Rosedale, a neighbourhood full of mansions, and is set in a ravine on nearly an acre lot, according to the listing from Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd.

Working from home would be nice with these views.

The home boasts "360-degree views through expansive windows and doors."

The place comes furnished in a modern style.

There are several seating areas, each with views of the surrounding forest.

There is space for large dinner parties, once that is allowed.

The rental comes furnished with some fancy appliances in the kitchen including a Bosch dishwasher and Ultraline oven and cooktop.

The kitchen comes with a centre island.

Upstairs, there is a spiral staircase with a skylight opening and space for a small library. At the top of the spiral staircase, you could have a reading nook.

Those who have vertigo may not want to climb to the top.

The primary bedroom comes with a stone fireplace.

The primary bedroom has a stone fireplace and tons of space.

There are five bathrooms and, of course, there is a tub with a view.

With a forested setting like this, a large tub in front of the window is a must.

The basement has a modern-looking wine cellar. It would be easy to find your wine with these transparent cabinets.

The wine cellar is not dark and gloomy.

There is also a steam room.

You could fit a few people in this steam room bathroom.

Outside, there is space to enjoy the ravine, including a hot tub.

The hot tub looks nice as long as the bugs aren't out.

The infinity pool is similar to those you might find in a tropical resort without the palm trees and year-round sun. It does look like a nice spot for a swim though.

The infinity pool is on the edge of the ravine.

There is a detached garage and space for five vehicles.

The backyard looks tranquil. 

If you have the cash or perhaps 10 friends to split it with, this would be a wonderful place to spend the summer. A dip in that infinity pool and you might forget the lockdown altogether.