Since Zack's departure, there have been numerous changes in the neighbourhood which have no doubt solidified it as one of the city's latest gentrified communities.
As I was walking to the grocery store I was pleased to see that the frightening dog breeders a few doors down put up a proper fence. Hopefully this will do a more adequate job then the waist high chain link fence they had prior from seperating their horrific dobermans from small children walking to school and the babies at the daycare that is situated RIGHT NEXT DOOR to them. It looks nice at least.
Walking along Annette, two of the four million churches that reside along here are being converted into condos. I have mixed feelings about them... Here is one of them which I feel will be an eye sore.
Here is the other one that I think will turn out to be quite nice.
This place popped up about a month ago. A glorified day care that have afterschool "education programs" with clowns and juggling. I almost applied for this job, and remember in the description it said "must have experience with kids in field of education, or clowning background." Maybe not word for word, but to the same extent. I project that this place will close within the year.
Another ultra-hip salvaged furniture store has opened up next to the organic grocer. It has no sign and is extremely expensive. I have not been inside because, quite frankly, I'm not cool enough.
A new fancy cheese shop has just opened up next to our local video store. I believe they would classify themselves (according to their window) as a "fromagerie," which makes me want to punch them in the face. If you proudly buy cheese at a fromagerie, you are definitely an eggplant.
One sure sign that your neighbourhood is fully gentrified is if it contains an organic dog treat shop. Its for dog owners who over groom their pets and treat them like children and not what they actually are... a pet. Love your pets, but make sure you ease up when you realize that you're acting like an idiot. If you buy your dog organic dog treats, you are an eggplant.
What was once a beautiful old hardware store is now this. Yes, they tore down the old place and put up this little number. It looks kind of neat, but its still vacant. I think there were rumours of a chain restaurant or coffee place going in, but it still has a lease sign in the window. Only time will tell.
Closer to home now, by the flower shop the neighbourhoods first ice cream shop has opened up. Its small and quaint but I wonder if it will stay open in the winter time.
Noticing all of these changes in the neighbourhood just from walking to and from the grocery store, I started feeling like I was an eggplant living in a now eggplant neighbourhood... but just then, a beautiful waft of grease, - part chicken, part egg roll, part salted meat, and part cheese - hit me like a ton of bricks. The hairs on my arms shot up like something that shoots up really fast, and I looked up with pure excitement and joy, and sure enough, right next to the raw food restaurant, there it was: Dundas Pizza. With the sun hitting the place just right, the sign lit up like a lite brite reading "open." The fan was turned on and the door was open for business. It made me realize that despite all of the changes that are happening around the neighbourhood, some things, thankfully, will never change.
On an unrelated note, here is a picture of a freshly killed raccoon right in front of our house. While Isaac was taking a picture of it, a couple walked by and asked if he was calling the city to clean it up. Awkwardly Isaac had to explain that he was taking a photo for his blog. What a heartless bastard.
