PHOTO: Andrew Hudson
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Total Renovations is 25 years old this year. Owner Mark Madigan started the company in 1988, when he was in his early 20s, although he had been working in the renovation business since he was 15.
“This is what I’ve always done,” he said.
For his whole career Madigan has worked on residential renovation in the Beach.
“We do all aspects of residential restoration and renovation, we do projects large and small,” he said.
For the past 10 years, Bill Harrison has provided the ‘design’ in the design/build service. Fred Maycock, who worked with another well-known local contractor for 25 years, has come on board as project manager.
While 25 years is a long time to spend doing anything, Madigan said loving his work is what keeps him coming back every day.
“I do still enjoy it,” he said.
For more on the company, visit totalrenovations.com.
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No Bull Burgers opened recently on Kingston Road, in the midst of the construction mayhem, as an expansion of Tony Tsakanikas’ original location at Queen and Parliament.
Tsakanikas not only moved his business into the neighbourhood, he also moved his home late last year, committing to becoming a permanent fixture in the Kingston Road Village area.
No Bull Burgers partners with Ontario farms to offer fresh, certified organic extra lean beef burgers. The meat is ground fresh daily with no additives, preservatives or fillers (the titular ‘bull’ of the restaurant’s name). Each sandwich is cooked to order, with dozens of free toppings and sauces, resulting in hundreds of burger combinations.
No Bull also offers fresh cut fries on the side, as well as Montreal-style poutine with real cheese curds. There are also spiced chips, onion rings and a side salad on offer, but the menu stays nice and simple with those main items available. Prices are very reasonable, with the basic burger starting out at $5.31 and maxing out at $10.62 for the double with bacon and cheese. Poutine starts at $5.31 for the basic, up to $8.85 for the pulled pork version, or the decadent-sounding (but possibly Atkins-approved) poutine with a quarter pound burger on top. All other sides are under $5.
No Bull Burgers is located at 1019 Kingston Rd., a block west of Victoria Park Avenue. Call ahead for pickup at 416-698-8131, or check out the menu online at nobullburgers.ca.
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Beacher Doreen Dotto’s game uKloo got a celebrity boost this year after the children’s literacy game was included in the Tastemaker’s Lounge at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Dotto said in a press release she was thrilled to have the chance to show off the game to a global audience. Celebrity ‘swag bags’ will include uKloo Early Reader Treasure Hunt.
The game was invented by Dotto to help her two boys learn, despite their determination to avoid homework at all costs. uKloo gets kids physically active while they follow clues to a hidden surprise. Dotto said the game is great for beginner and reluctant readers, as well as kids with autism and ADHD.
For more on the game, visit ukloo.com.
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