Eye on Business

Two Beach craftspeople are behind a new, curated flea market set to debut on Father’s Day just west of the Beach in Leslieville.

Christine Roberts and Brigid Elmy both make and sell furniture, and had been looking for more ways to market their unique products to the public.

“We both knew that we didn’t want to go with the retail outlet. We figured other craftspeople would be in the same boat,” said Roberts.

After a visit to the Junction Flea, inspiration turned to action and the Leslieville Flea was born.

Roberts said the initial plan was to partner with the Leslieville Farmers’ Market, but red tape inspired a venue change, and the market will run behind the Duke, at the southwest corner of Queen Street East and Leslie Street, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 16, and the third Sunday of every month after that until October.

About 20 vendors should be participating, including a few borrowed from the Junction market; four or five are from the Beach, while about half are East End residents. Though there is an application process for potential vendors, “it’s very much a curated market,” said Roberts.

Shoppers can expect antiques, hand crafted items, art, vintage clothes, collectibles, skin care products, jewelry, vintage and hand made clothing, housewares and “just sort of that one of a kind item that people have been looking for.”

Roberts hopes the market will provide a place to “meet, shop and find original and amazing treasures.”

For more information, visit leslievilleflea.blogspot.ca.

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Derek Taylor and Chris Robinson are the new owners of the Beachside Grill, and have been enjoying meeting regulars and converting new customers since taking over the operation at the beginning of April.

Taylor, with a background in banking, was looking for “an entrepreneurial opportunity” when Robinson, a chef for more than 30 years who had been working for the restaurant’s previous owner as a consultant, suggested they consider purchasing the Beach establishment. Previous owner Abdul (Al) Wahab was ready to move on, and Taylor and Robinson stepped in.

“Al was beloved, for sure. We knew that we would have some big shoes to fill, but the initial feedback has been awesome,” said Taylor.

The two are working on a new menu, which is ready to be unveiled at a grand re-opening on Friday, June 14. The challenge is to retain the aspects the regulars love, while finessing the menu to also highlight the lunch and dinner items available until 9 p.m. in the fully licensed restaurant.

“We’re known as an all-day breakfast joint, and we’re trying to expand that,” said Taylor. Daily specials have been operating as sort of an ongoing test for possible inclusion on the new menu, although Taylor made clear that “we plan to keep all the fundamentals and the core breakfast items.”

After 20 years of business for the eatery, Taylor said the pair will leverage Robinson’s history as an executive chef to ensure the Beachside Grill continues to “offer delicious food in generous portions, at unreasonably low prices, in a comfortable and down to earth environment.”

The Beachside Grill is at 1922 Queen St. E., a block and a half east of Woodbine, and is open at 7 a.m. daily for all day breakfast, as well as lunch and dinner. Visit beachsidegrill.ca for more information.

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Beacher Judith Taylor of Judith Taylor Designs won first place in the ‘bedrooms’ category at the 2012 Interior Design Society Designer of the Year Awards in late April, hosted in Greensboro, North Carolina.

After hurricane Irene and a major storm damaged a condo roof in Cape Cod, Taylor’s client asked for an aesthetic preserving the value of the property, which is a high-end summer residence overlooking Nantucket Sound. Nature-inspired motifs celebrating Cape Cod culture were implemented, resulting in a sophisticated look which maintained a relaxed mode for summer residents vacationing at the beach.

Taylor spent 20 years as an IT consultant in mainframe computer programming and analysis, but always loved to draw and paint. A family background in furniture manufacturing nurtured a passion for design and textiles. The combination of these passions has resulted in a practice bringing function, artistry and joy to each client’s space.

For more on Judith Taylor visit her website at judithtaylordesigns.com, and for more details on the award-winning project, visit idsnational.blogspot.ca/2013/05/2012-designer-of-year-winner-bedrooms.html.

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Cold laser therapy has arrived in the heart of the Beach. Theralase Therapeutic Laser Centre has relocated from its former home in Don Mills to offer laser healing technology for pain and rehabilitation to the Beach community.

Although this centre is new, the therapeutic value of cold lasers has long been established. Lasers were investigated as early as the 1960s as a way to stimulate the body’s healing processes. Cold laser treatments are comfortable, safe and effective. They do not produce any heat, burning or damage to tissues. Cold lasers have been used to reduce pain and inflammation associated with carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, shoulder injuries, knee pain, and arthritis.

Treatments at the Theralase Centre are provided by a team of experienced health professionals and certified laser technicians using state of the art laser technology. For more information on the Theralase Therapeutic Laser Centre visit www.theralase.com or call 416-699-5273.

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