Gravy the huggable English bulldog is back

Marlie, owner of Gravy, made a visit to Homefront today to show us the huggable little devil two months older than before. Gravy is something like four months now and is huskier than we saw him in June. It may be genetic to English bulldogs but Gravy continues to be a bit lazy. Or is it just that he never gets to walk because everyone wants to pick him up. Feeding Gravy requires an education. Certain meats are not suitable for him. He must have turkey, not chicken. Go figure. 

New platters, plates at Homefront now

Homefront has just received a new shipment of platters and plates, perfect for entertaining. The platter shown here is 17 inches in length and beautifully finished. Come in and take a look. Homefront, 371 Eglinton Ave East. (416) 488-3189. 

iPhone cradle coming to Homefront

The iPhone (and its lookalikes) can do a lot of things but sometimes their shape is less than functional. Flat, five-inch long slabs that don't reach from your ear to your mouth may look neat, but can you speak and hear without moving the phone. Maybe not. Enter the iPhone cradle, a resting place for the phone with an old-fashioned (but oh so functional) handset phone that lets you use the iPhone without juggling it for audio connection. You can see it within a couple of weeks at Homefront.  (416) 488-3189. 

Michael Aram exhibit at NYIGF

Homefront has been on the hunt for items and lines this week at the New York International Gift Fair in New York. Among our stops was the exhibit of Michael Aram, one of Homefront's important signature lines. These magnificent pieces are made of Aram's special alloy of nickle, silver and stainless steel polished to a high gloss. You can see other Aram pieces at Homefront, 371 Eglinton Ave West (416) 488-3189.

Emma Bridgewater shows new water jug

With the Toronto Gift Show over, Trish and Bonnie are reviewing their orders and getting out the word about new items. This, for example, is the new chic water jug in Emma Bridgewater polka dot pattern. The jug will also be available at Homefront this Fall in the popular Black Toast and Marmalade pattern. Watch for it and other new Emma pieces as well. Homefront (416) 488-3189.

Baseball and soccer bowls are 50% off

A last blast of summer  can be enjoyed in these happy wooden bowls with soccer and baseball patterns on them. Great for popcorn or other suitable food service, they are now half price at $18 each (regular $36) in Homefront's End-of- Summer Sale. The sale feature a wide variety of end of line pieces. We're blowing them all out at prices of at least 40 percent off regular. Come in and take a look. (416) 488-3189 

Madison Shoes closed on Eglinton West

We're sorry to see a neighbor, Madison Shoes and Accessories, 333 Eglinton Ave.W., close its doors for good.  Signs say thanks to their customers and indicate the closure is part of a "re-alignment" of the business. Madison has locations in the Shops at Don Mills and in the Exchange Centre on King St West which remain open. 

Anwar Knight and Brooke Salzman

Let's make this clear. It's one thing for CTV weather presenter Anwar Knight to make a visit to the shop at 371 Eglinton West. But then when he has his picture taken with our Brooke Saltzman, that's important. Because while Mr. Knight has a following of millions, we're guessing he doesn't know them all by their first names. Brooke Saltzman, on the other hand, is both tireless  and error-free when it comes to greeting our clientele by name. So thanks for the visit Anwar (may we call you Anwar?) but the star is Brooke. Darn, sorry we missed this. Those who remember, and who could forget, the memorable snapshot of Cito Gaston with Bonnie Kruger, you have to know Bonnie would have loved it.  Bonnie meets Cito.

End-of-Summer Sale now on at Homefront

Homefront has begun an extensive End-of-Summer Sale featuring 40 percent of a variety of pieces, never before marked down. We're moving out merchandise to make room for new goods that will be coming in September. Please come in and take a look. (416) 488-3189.

Lululemon sues Calvin Klein over pant patents

Vancouver-based yogawear retailer Lululemon Athletica Inc is suing PVH Corp’s Calvin Klein and G-III Apparel Group Ltd., accusing the companies of infringing three pant patents. Story

Helen Gurley Brown dead at 90

Legendary author and editor of Cosmopolitan magazine dead at 90. ABC News video. New York Times blog

Broad ribbon gives flair to our free wrapping

Homefront is well known, to say the least, for its superb free gift wrapping. It's something that discriminating shoppers know they really can't get anywhere else. This year, we've purchased an exciting stock of gift paper and ribbons to continue the added value tradition of complimentary wrapping. In particular, some of the ribbon styles are in very wide swaths. These dramatic ribbons are just the thing for wrapping several gifts together, as we've done with the wedding presents shown here. There's really no one who know more about gift wrapping than the people at Homefront and there's no better price -- free -- for this remarkable service which costs many dollars at other establishments. 

New Michael Aram pieces merchandised today

The Loomis man was more welcome that normally today as he delivered some much anticipated pieces of the exquisite Michael Aram collection to Homefront. Some of them are pictured here. There is a small inventory of the magical Molten salad servers, New Molten 5x7 Picture frame, small and large footed dish platter, forest leaf trivet, new Molten cheese knife set, 8.5" serving bowl and 11" serving bowl. Hurry in for a Look. (416) 488-3189.

Bath accessories promotion at Homefront

We're underway at Homefront with nice promotional opportunity on bath and related items. It began yesterday with the installation of our new bathroom window display, a reminder that it's time to freshen up the household water closets. To assist you in this endeavour and if you purchase three or more in stock items we will give you a 15% discount on the order. This promotion is only on for one week from Tuesday August 7th to Tuesday August 14th and as the man says “if you miss it you miss it”

418 Eglinton Ave. W. now for sale

The large retail store at 418 Eglinton Ave. W. is for sale. Signs indicating the store was For Lease were plastered over with For Sale signs within the last day or two. The mega location has been home to many businesses, having begun it's life coincidental with the Eglinton Theatre (now the Eglinton Grand Event Centre). In the beginning, 418 Eglinton was an A&P grocery store. The for lease signs went up some months ago when the present tenant Live Au Lit made a decision to move out in December.    

Whole Foods criticised for store design

There's a furore in San Jose, Southern California,  as Whole Foods is being criticised for a rather sterile design of a new store there. As we know, Whole foods is also slated to open a new store in the development at 1860 Bayview Ave (at Broadway Ave.) here in Toronto. It's not likely WF will have much to do with the exterior design of the 1860 Bayview store because it is part of a development. But in Silicon Valley, attention has focused on things like a long outside wall of corrugated steel. Boring. The writer here recalls urbanologist Jane Jacobs rule that "blank walls kill the vibrancy of a street." Maybe there is a lesson there for local developers.  Siliconvalley.com

Good luck to Pryanka and Razi

We see a lot of amusing wedding signs through the front window of Homefront. But this one gracing the marquee of the Eglinton Grand took our fancy. Good luck Pryanka and Razi with your extraordinary Bollywood life adventure.  

Fiona Clarke now at 361 Eglinton Ave. W.

Well-known massage therapist Fiona Clarke has recently moved her business address and her many clients will be happy to know she is now located just a couple of doors away from Homefront. Fiona's 2Wellness clinic is at 361 Eglinton Ave. West above Dermedica Laser and Spa. Fiona's skills include Pre and Post Natal Massage, Sports Massage, Acupuncture, Physiotherapy, Kinesiology and Holistic Nutrition. 

Jackson Falk antique shop closing

Jackson Falk at 1096A Yonge Street always had interesting bric-a-brac but was rarely open. Locals complain that they had to call a phone number on the door to raise the owner. Now the shop is closing and a sign on the window indicates it's been there for some 16 years. Too bad because many people said they loved this antique shop. It had a lot of charm and was full of authentic and unique pieces, they say.  Locals add that the absence of Jackson Falk will certainly make the walk north from Roxborough W. less interesting. Yonge and Roxborough News

Homefront open Saturday, Sunday and Monday

Homefront, 371 Eglinton Avenue West, will be open Saturday, Sunday and Monday, August 6, 2012, this long weekend. Hours of business are Saturday 10 to 6, Sunday noon to 5 and Monday, civic Holiday, 10 to 6. (416) 488-3189.  

Loblaws to debut Guiding Stars August 10

RELEASE -- Starting August 10, customers at Loblaws® stores in Ontario will have a faster, easier way to make healthier food choices when shopping for groceries for their family. Loblaw Companies Limited (Loblaw) is the first Canadian grocery retailer to launch Guiding Stars®, an objective, nutrition navigation program, providing at-a-glance nutritional ratings for foods found in every store aisle. The Guiding Stars® program is designed to complement existing nutritional data such as the nutrition facts table, on-package product labels, and Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating. The program scores food based on nutrient density using an objective scientific algorithm grounded in the most current dietary guidelines and recommendations of national regulatory and health organizations  Read more.

Smart new wine stopper now on hand

There is a smart new silver plate wine stopper available while supplies last at Homefront. It is a dramatic accessory for your wine, ordinaire or exceptional. We have many requests for the discontinued stopper of the supplier known as Artfield and Craftsman. They are now out of business. These excellent new stoppers are of equal quality and are supplied by our friend Yehouda Goldhar. $15.  Homefront, 371 Eglinton Avenue West.  (416) 488-3189.

Orbit Tower a wild piece of "Olympic Art"