text:
McEwan goes to Don Mills
- JamieK Apr 14, 2008 05:40 AM
Interesting piece in the Post today about Mark McEwan's future specialty store at the the old Don Mills shopping centre, now Shops at Don Mills. His store will be called -- wait for it -- McEwan's.
Planned to open this fall, 23,000 square feet, prepared foods, etc. If successful, the first of others to follow.
I have been told that the openings may be postponed until spring 2009, by another future tenant.
Strange, as the retail part of the complex is coming along very quickly.
Seems that the cold weather hampered the building this winter.0
We lost Kellen's, so let's hope that McEwan's gives us the goods. O.K., so they're probably not in the same league, but some of us are still in mourning.0
I know what you mean, I miss Kellen's too. There was dependable quality there that was still affordable. With McEwan's, I bet the prices will reflect the "celebrity chef" hype.0
re: Apprentice
supposedly opening spring 2009
re: JamieK
Thanks. I thought it might have been pushed even further out, but I guess they're on schedule using the timelines erly gave us last year.0
re: Eastwind
McEwan states in the article that he wants store management on the floor to behave like restaurant management. What does that mean? It's certainly not the Dean & Deluca stores (at least the ones I've been to in SOHO and Rockefeller Plaza in Manhattan) that I know which are much like Pusateri.0
re: syoung
I'm confused as to what the store will offer. Is it going to be a gourmet store that offers hard-to-find, exotic foods (such as Echire butter from France, Kobe beef from Japan, Iranian/Russian caviars, quality games and foie gras, ect.)?0
re: Eastwind
There was an article in the weekend Globe and Mail last week that had a lot of info on the store, what would be available, what the target market is, etc. It's not available for viewing on the G&M site now, but yopu can read some of it for free from Google's cache: http://22.214.171.124/search?q=cache:v...0
re: Apprentice
Not that I know the man personally, but I've always considered McEwan to be as much businessman as he is chef. I look forward to what a person of his talent and intellect can produce. If I were the competition, I'd be in the store from Day One with clipboard and pen.0
re: Googs
wonder hoe the economy will affect this place.. hear it is huge...0
re: OnDaGo
Stay the course I say. I hate to speculate, but I'd have to guess he's offering the following:
For the well-to-do, but price conscious set he'll be offering make at home goods that are an alternative to the dining out experience. It would round out his risks by getting you when you go out and getting you when you stay in.
For the brand-aspirational set that may not get out more than special occasions will allow, he'll be giving Torontonians a chance to experience high end at a lower price tag. It means weekend at home dining will become more exciting.
For those that may not be able to get beyond the grocery store, this will be a brand alternative to President's Choice. This will be more like King's Choice. They may not buy their staples there, but they may pop in for an item or two they can tie their apron to.
Judging by locale alone, I'd say he's well situated to draw in crowds from the neighbouring Bridle Path and the larger suburban consumer in need or a parking lot. Smart.
As to what this works out to specifically, is there anyone who has their finger on the pulse of Toronto foodies as much as he?0
re: Googs
I do not know how much of a finger on the pulse he has.. I have heard there are a lot of Bymark staff looking for work elsewhere as they are dead most nights and same at One.. All his places are highend he has not diversified to have mid range places like O&B and others have done...0
re: OnDaGo
I wish him well.
I also wished David Wood well.
I may be bad luck.0
re: garlicandwingnut
That was you? Dang, I liked David Wood's stores. I think he did all right out of it, though, having sold before it crashed.
Did you know Mr. Wood is currently responsible for the Salt Spring Island Dairy? Nice goat cheeses.0
re: Snarf
Yes, and I envy his current location.0
re: Snarf
I don't think anyone, to this day, has done high end takeout as well as David Wood did it. I still miss that place. But, like so many people who achieve instant success in an area where they lack relevant experience, I think it went to his head. He also wasn't a very good businessman.
His original location, while in Rosedale, was modest. When he opened the second store, near Sporting Life, he apparently had gobs of investor money and spared no expense. Everything in that store was top of the line. Much of it was unnecessary. There was no way that store could ever make a profit and it killed his entire business.
I gather he did get out of it, but I doubt very much that he did "all right" in the process. He also had to sell his name. If he was was ever to sell food again in Toronto, it could not be as "David Wood".
The new owners killed the quality (and the name) and, of course, didn't last long. The "new" David Wood Food Shop wasn't worth a visit.
Wood was so far ahead of his time for Toronto that he had to put a warning - "contains garlic" - on some of his labels (and "does not contain garlic" on others). When something actually contained, oh my, garlic, much of the clientele considered it too low class to eat.
I, too, envy the life he chose after Toronto.
McEwan has certainly been a good businessman in the past, but times change, eh? I wish him great success, but I won't pay inflated prices for mediocre pap. It's interesting that Wegman's, a price-competitive mass market chain, in a place with few "gourmet" or "foodie" obsessives relative to Toronto, can support these stores (150,000 sq ft, most of it devoted to food) while we can't.0
I think McEwan's first and foremost target market is the Pusateri's, Whole Foods, Cumbrae's, Summerhill Market et al crowd. These are his main "consumption audience" that will be his bread and butter, so to speak. Those that shop at Loblaws, Sobeys, and Longo's will also be a secondary target. And then, all those seniors in the area - those "no frills" kinda shoppers, well, they'll just pop in for the free samples and to check it out. But I don't think they'll be buying much.
Although he uses Dean & DeLuca as an example of what it will be like, the obvious advantage of their stores is that there are multiple locations and also volume. Two critical things that keep your costs down and margins up. I do hope however that he isn't looking at them for customer service because it's usually not that great...
But, competition is fantastic - especially in the high end gourmet market.0
re: Raquel
i am sure he will take a bit out of the 5 thives in rosedale. I have been sort of dissapointed with them lately.0
re: Raquel
Bad move that may well sink him. The timing is unfortunate since ANY high-end emporia for whatever is tanking now. It's not the flush who keep this type of business afloat but the wannabes and impecunious who now simply can't afford wretched excess. It's downmarket or death, Mark.0
re: Kagemusha
He opened North 44 in the 80's recession - it's still around.
Saw him discussing this point on TV recently and he said that he was in for "the long term". He suggested that a good business model will survive vagaries in the economy - but you do need sufficient capital. So he claims he's not worried - he's in for the long-term.
And good luck to him.0
re: estufarian
The good news is Toronto, and Canada, are in a better position in comparsion to the rest of the world. Doesn't mean they aren't hurting. Mark is a pretty smart businessmen, in addition to being a cook. He wouldn't have a nice Ferrari if he wasn't.
A slightly off topic question, but is high-fat butters (such Echire Butter from France) still illegal in Canada. Ontario even outlaws the high-fat butters from France, correct?
Beefs such as Kobe beef, straight from Japan, are in the same position, correct?0
re: Eastwind
I bought Echire the other day at St. Lawrence Market.0
re: ms. clicquot
It's also available at Oliffe's0
re: Eastwind
Kobe from Japan (ya I know its Wagu and Kobe is a place yadda yadda yadda) is ok to be brought in now but has lost a bit of its appeal as most people who have wanted to try it now have and for the price it is not something you will eat too often.. Pusateris sells it originally for $200/oz now I think it is $160 I heard...
I still believe the butters are not able to be brought in due to the Milk board rules...
PS a lot of people are loosing their ferraris & houses in this market.. so saying last year he was able to afford things does not mean this year he won't be selling them...0
re: Eastwind
The butters are illegal - but you can find them! If you try and bring them in as a returning traveller they'll be confiscated and destroyed. But containerloads seem to have an easier task getting in! Of course, there's no health reason why they can't be imported. It's economic protection for Ontario dairy producers.
When I had some Italian burtter confiscated last year I was told it was because of the risk of foot& mouth disease. Italy has NEVER had a case, and Agriculture Canada's own site confirms this. Wish I had a movie of the whole fiasco. Several (at least three) officers (one agricultural, the others customs) placed the butter (250gm) in a large garbage bag, tied it off, and a special dolly (with 'FOR INCINERATION' marked on the side) was wheeled out and the bag placed in it. The dolly was then wheeled off by two people into the depths of Pearson Airport, never to be seen again. I bought the same butter, openly, in Toronto less than a week later!
The Japanese Beef (carefully avoiding the word Kobe, as I haven't seen this here for maybe 5 years) is legally imported. The paperwork is time consuming and costly, but the product I've found appears to be legal. However, there are MULIPLE instances of finding such descriptions as "Kobe Beef" on restaurant menus that are clearly farcical. I went to a (previously) fairly reliable wholesale butcher and asked if he had any Wagyu beef. His reply - "No but I have some Kobe - but it's $40 per lb"!
I recently saw Kobe sliders and Kobe meatballs on Vancouver menus. All were under $20 and clearly 'fake'.0
re: estufarian
Yes, and imagine the surprise of people when they found out how much you paid for Kobe beef in Japan, when they can go to their local Casey's and get a Kobe beef burger for $9.99! "Kobe beef" in Toronto is about the same as purchasing a high end champagne and getting Baby Duck instead.
In many cases, a dry-aged prime steak from Cumbrae's is better than a lot of the Canadian or American wagyu I've had, though there have been exceptions.0
re: tjr
But the real stuff IS available at the high end places but you pay for it.. Pusateries, Barbarians etc all have it. Imported from Japan Wagu beef0
re: OnDaGo
I know that wagyu is available at certain places. I was referring to the ridiculous trend of naming non-Kobe beef as "Kobe beef." There is no Kobe in Toronto, as far as I know, though pretty standard high-grade (A5) wagyu has been/is available.
Advertising generic North American wagyu as Kobe beef is pretty bad.0
re: estufarian
He's whistling in the dark. Brave faces and wishful thinking about longevity usually indicate big worries. I wish him well and appreciate his moxy but he's late to the dance for high-end eats+groceries. Blue sky isn't a biz model.0
re: Kagemusha
We have nothing in Toronto close to a real Gourmet Market of any size.
Nothing close to Wegmans in Buffalo!
Nothing close to the food markets in Europe, with prepared foods you actually want to eat, and beautiful produce. .
I found Woolworths food court in Capetown more High end when it came to tasty looking, and beautifully presented food than anything here.
I like Pusateri's but the prepared foods are pathetic.
I don't shop Summerhill, but I understand that the prepared foods are decent, but it is small and limited.
Can't wait to see if Toronto finally gets the supermarket a city of our size deserves.
Who knows, one day we might have a real Waterfront, as well.
Wishful thinking.0
re: erly
I will never forget my experience at Julius Meinl in Vienna. I'm hoping McEwan's might aspire to something like that.0
re: erly
Problem is no one in TO will pay those kinds of prices, so why rhapsodize about European markets with their stroke-inducing price tags? Unless or until a major player does smart upscale(whose size+buying power can deliver quality AND price), we're stuck with extortionists, poseurs, and the current banalities.0
re: Kagemusha
I'd rephrase this as, so long as North Americans spend only 10 percent of their disposable income on food (as opposed to over 30 percent in European countries like France and Italy), it is very difficult for high-end fine-food meccas to succeed.
But how I hope that Mr. McEwan will able to give Pusateri's a run for their money and succeed. I have a lot of respect for him and, if anyone can do this, and do it well, it will be him.0
re: Tatai
He is going more after Whole foods in size and scale.. Pusateris would fit multiple times inside his new store...0
re: Kagemusha
Stroke-inducing? Have you been to markets in Europe?0
re: tjr
I wondered about this too. Maybe true in Vienna or London, but the small town markets in Europe are reasonable, with great produce and meats, and their charcuterie is not sky high as if they were Toronto purveyors.0
re: jayt90
In the UK, I've never seen anything but high prices--regardless of where I looked, whether it was local produce or EU imports. Eire might be the only exception.0
re: Kagemusha
If you are talking Harrods, yes.
U.K. is the most expensive, especially London.
They were first, but there are dozens of Harrods type markets all over Europe, and the prices are much fairer.
It is the prepared foods, especially that are totally lacking and downright unappetizing, even in the displays in T.O.
We still have not learned the art of display.
I would bet that McEwen, and co. have visited these markets, and include the feast for the eyes along with the feast.0
re: erly
I thought "European" markets referred to things like the markets in France, or Italy, etc. Europe is a big, diverse place that consists of more than just the UK, Kagemusha, which is well known for being extremely expensive, especially shopping at the high-end stores (and in GBP).
Even in the UK, there are places more reasonably-priced, and if you look at the kinds of markets in France or Italy, it's pretty obvious that we're getting the shaft here. The UK has a lot of excellent stuff as well, but their market is similar to the US/Canada in terms of convenience food.0
re: tjr
Right, the UK isn't "Europe." Not again. We're here, though, and we'll see if Mark's still afloat 12 months along. It'll take more than cheerleaders here to accomplish that. Raquel might be kind enough to point to the supposedly abundant research data indicating a surge in comsumption of gourmet prepared foods. Food emporia in NYC are struggling. All his swagger, smarts and panache can't fight gravity.0
re: Kagemusha
We're far more than "cheerleaders" though thank you for suggesting that we invest our money and time in feel good. Fortunately for all of us, McEwan is opening in Toronto, Ontario, Canada not New York, NY, USA. We build our bankers boring here which is just the way I like them. Say who's the hot guy in the bow tie? It's clear that his bank and Cadillac Fairview had to believe in his vision as well.
As for what's happening in the grocery sector lately in CANADA, I recalled reading this article dated Feb 5, 2009 when selecting RRSP top-up options:
I'm guessing, Kagemusha, that you're not in the marketing dept of your company.0
re: Googs
Oligopoly pays--that's always been the take-home lesson for Canadian investors.Till now. Tell us how your statement for food chain returns looks next year, OK? Good luck.0
re: erly
It would be great to have something like Summerhill Market in Leslieville, since we have nothing at all, but my experience has been that the deliciousness of their food is overhyped.
Admittedly, they cater to a part of Toronto not known for its culinary adventurousness. Some items are, indeed, stellar, but the beef/mushroom pie, one of their best items, pretty much defines their neighbourhood. Much of their prepared food is just blah. I've been disappointed more often than I've been impressed.
Despite having substantial kitchen facilities, much of their prepared food is brought in. Some of it is identical to items sold at supermarket deli counters. Much of it is, to my palate, bad.
Yes, I sometimes shop there. It's relatively convenient for me and their stock is diverse, extensive, and very well edited (especially given the small size of the store.) However, the prices, even compared to Pusateri's or Cumbrae's, are very high.0
re: erly
Just a comment on Summerhill Market - their foods WERE good. But I believe Chris Klugman (who I've been following since I discovered him at Karin's restaurant in mid 80's) "disappeared" late last year - and he was responsible (IMO) for the quality prepared foods. Time will tell whether they'll maintain the standards (he's missing from their website, and I can't find another "known" chef who might have replaced him).0
re: estufarian
So Klugman didn't go to All The Best after all? Perhaps he's focusing (ha!) on his photography -
There was also this mention of him "representing" a new olive oil.
re: erly
How can you say the prepared foods at Pusateri's are pathetic? I lived on them for a year. They are great. I think they are high quality.0
The coming year will separate the sheep from the entrepeneurs. Sheep do nothing sealing their fate. McEwan is the latter.0
There's a little truth in many posts above.
I don't think Wegman's is what he's going for. Wegman's is not a high-end supermarket. It's a high-end supermarket the way Publix is (U.S.) or Sobey's is here. They carry some niche products, but they also carry Froot Loops. Pusateri's/Whole Foods/Summerhill/Bayview/Mt. Pleasant is the target here.
Can we sustain? I don't know. We don't have the type of volume America has, so time will tell. Just because you will walk in there to buy your butter once a month, doesn't necessarily mean that'll pay the bills for him. He'll need everyday traffic and lots of it. Pusateri's has gotten overly fat and lazy and I for one welcome a new kid in town. And this is more personal, but I surely hope that the rudeness of customers will not transfer from Pusateri's to McEwan's. That I can do without. You can probably expect to see perky, young, beautiful and hopefully knowledgeable customer service all around you at McEwan's.
Too lazy to read through and check which poster said that gourmet-high end foods is on the decline, but I'd like to tell you that it's just the opposite! They are on the rise! Don't think that the recession is doing damage. It's not. And the research, if you want to find it is everywhere on the net. Don't think restaurants here, because that IS on the decline. Gourmet prepared foods, etc. THAT'S what's on the rise.
Listen, he's got a Metro in the same "mall" that he's in. He's going for a different type of place here. You will not see price wars on eggs, milk, etc. And if you do, then it will spell trouble.
I really like McEwan. He's got the right amount of swagger and ego and the smarts to back it all up.0
re: Raquel
It seems to me that we are grievously over served by mediocre grocery chains that are mostly interested in selling commodities and undistinguished prepared foods. McEwen has identified this and will likely have a wide range of distinctive food products that will entice discriminating food shoppers and CHs.
If you think Wegman's is special, a 30 minute drive east of NYC, not at rush-hour, is Stu Leonard's in Norwalk, CN. I think of Stu as the Walt Disney of retail grocers. Stu is a former door-to-door milkman who is credited with reinventing the contemporary grocery store. It's an amazing place where customer service is raised to an art form. It looks like Wegman's did a lot of their R & D there.0
re: iamafoodie
Actually, I don't think Wegman's is special at all. How did we get on Wegman's in the same breath as McEwan's? Two totally different worlds. Wegman's is a regular, run-of-the-mill supermarket. Nice presentation on things, clean (if you go to the right Wegman's), and usually good customer service. It is NOT however, a gourmet supermarket. Again, if you can buy Froot Loops, Crest toothpaste, and pick up your prescription, you are NOT a gourmet market in my book.
Stew Leonard's, eh, personally, it's alright. But no different really than Pusateri's.
The retail in Europe? A different world altogether. In every category: food, quality, presentation and service.0
re: iamafoodie
The first time I saw Stew Leonard's, it resembled a giant Becker's combined with a kiddie park where they bottled milk in the store. Even today, Stew Leonard's stocks very few items, a couple of thousand at the most. It isn't a "real" supermarket. Wegman's lists almost 40,000 products on their website.
I don't doubt that Wegman's would have studied them (though Wegman's has been around much longer). I suspect that Wegman's looked at Byerly's (Minneapolis), and at our own Ontario Loblaw and Montreal Steinberg operations, even more thoroughly.0
Kagemusha: I'm sorry, I don't have the time to post all the links and do the homework for you. Just Google certain word combinations with 'sales', 'gourmet', 'take-out', etc and you'll find the abundance. Evidence still, every market that I've read about in the last year have up-sold and increased their prepared food sales. It's not a trend my friend, it's now a lifestyle. I'm not arguing if the gourmet prepared foods segment will survive. It will. It has. It will continue to.
Can you please name the "food emporia" in NYC that are "struggling". I'm curious as to which ones are, because I didn't see much evidence when I was there last week.0
re: Raquel
But the majority fo his store will not be "Prepared" foods he is opening a grocery store.. 23,000 sq feet of it! if he was jsut doing prepared takeout foods then he would just need a store front....0
re: OnDaGo
I don't have the plans, so I can't speak on this definitively, but I thought the whole idea, his whole concept was around prepared foods to take-out; the type you can't find anywhere else in the city ie. restaurant quality prepared foods. At least, that's what I got out of all the information that I've read so far on it.
Yes, the sq footage seems like a lot, but you'd be surprised how quickly equipment, displays, small seating area, etc. can take it up! I haven't read anywhere that he's opening up a typical grocery store that will be selling the staples beyond food. I'd be surprised if he did. I think the break-down will ultimately be: Produce, meat, fish, jarred items, prepared foods, bakery, and then maybe a small sit down area to eat-in.0
re: Raquel
Here is a link to google cache of the article..
"Toronto celebrity chef and restaurateur Mark McEwan is taking on Pusateri's, Whole Foods and other high-end grocers to launch a gourmet supermarket chain.
The first McEwan store is scheduled to open in Don Mills in January, featuring meals-to-go and grocery staples.
The concept is restaurant-quality prepared foods at a 68-foot-long counter — cuisine he says would pass muster served at his top-flight restaurants — as well as an in-house bakery, fresh fish and meat counters, produce and other regular grocery items. "
So out of 25,000 sq feet he will have a 68ft prepared foods counter rest will be "grocery store" type stuff...0
re: OnDaGo
Well there ya go..... Thanks for the refresher.
I still don't think it's going to be anything like a regular grocery store. Sorry, but I just don't see it with Metro a couple feet away. They have the type of buying power that he doesn't. Do you really think it will be a regular grocery store? Now THAT would be suicide. The way he's going, he's competing on a much much smaller field. And he's a smart guy.
You can't buy toothpaste at Pusateri's, but alas, you can buy Froot Loops, so I don't know what that tells you.....0
re: Raquel
Interestingly, when Metro started converting the Dominions stores, it issued findings of an Ipsos-Reid poll that found more people are eating in to save money but don't have the time or inclination to cook good healthy meals, hence they're buying more high-end prepared foods -
re: JamieK
When was that survey conducted? Before last fall's collapse, right? Suspect results would be a little different today...0
re: Kagemusha
Well, actually as for results being a little different today.....not so much. As I said above, no one should be discussing whether the prepared foods is a trend or not because it's way beyond that. It's now big business. Maybe a little more time researcher these things...KM.
re: Raquel
Not proven.These are mostly press releases--sorry. What they're trying to sell--or planning to sell-is of no interest to their accountants(or me)who have an interest is how much they're making. Gimme a break.0
re: Kagemusha
Wow, all this negativity and glass half empty pontification. It's very easy to sit back and criticize every post, but if you re-read your posts, that's all you're doing. At least some of us are trying to find evidence of why we think this will succeed and more importantly, as those who live to eat great food, why we WANT it to succeed. Why don't you pony up some of your own research instead of being so vague and casting a wide brush of "it won't work" period? Why won't McEwan's succeed? Because you said so? There's gotta be more....
BTW, I follow Coach very closely and although not food, they do have a winning strategy in choosing real estate locations. But then again, perhaps we'll get enlightened with another ray of darkness as to why that store will also fail in these economic times...... it's a chain, it's purses, it's American...I can hear it now.....0
re: Raquel
Maybe that's why parliamentary debates have time limits, otherwise it all becomes circular.
Sometimes anonymity breeds contempt.0
re: Snarf
Can you say that again.........but in English?0
re: Raquel
It is not a foodie area nobody goes there now for fine dining or high end food period so it is "out of the way". It has to be a destination place where you make a specific point of getting in your car and driving there which is always a risk.
Opening a smaller place in the yorkville area like pusateries did draws walk by business, people who shop at other high end shops in the area, and people who frequest holefoods etc. and for all the foodies with no car (like me) it is easily accessible. I am not saying yorkville is teh place for him but giving an example of busness logic for opening there. Where are the fine dining places in Don Mills? do foodies go there now? As they are grabbing a slice at Pizza Pizza or picking up milk at Metro they get a craving for some truffles? And do the customers want to be taking their shiny expensive cars through a construction site for the next two years as the other phases are finished?
As for Coach their winning strategy has decreased their stock prices from over $50 two years ago down to under $15 now.. and a lot of the drop was before the economic downturn... And I will hate to see thier sales figures next quarter.... their plan is to open 20 more Canadian stores so they will have to open in some less then perfect locations as they are already in the 9 prime locations...0
re: OnDaGo
I find it funny that those that don't actually live in the area have so much to comment on income levels and if there are foodies living here or not! Actually, it's a bit offensive, luckily I don't take offense that easily.....
I live in a million-dollar plus home not in Bridle Path, but very close and also very near the new mall location. I shop at No Frills, Longo's, Loblaws, Sobeys, Metro, Nortown, Nasr (though not anymore after today) as well as Pusateri's, Cumbrae's, Diana's, etc. etc. etc. I also go to Europe 5 times a year and the Caribbean twice a year. One of my neighbours is a neuro-surgeon on one side, the other a Bay Street chairman. So, I think it's safe to say that you're conclusions of the area being low to mid income are very wrong. There may be pockets of low-income, but it is not the norm in the area.
As for Coach, you need to read more carefully, I said they were a very strong company for choosing real estate locations. I did not talk about their stock price or the state of the economy. They choose TRIPLE A locations. I guess next maybe you can speak about the LCBO's downfall too?0
re: Raquel
Don't go there! Save it for another board.
If it wasn't a monopoly it would have been out of business decades ago.
It is easily the worst run, most wasteful company in the country.0
re: garlicandwingnut
I think alot are missing the point here.
We're not talking about how well-run these business are, what their business models are, or even what their stock prices are.
What we ARE discussing is McEwan's. His upscale grocery market coming into the area, and whether or not the area can sustain it. Nothing less, nothing more.
To get into debates on whether Coach, LCBO, Anthropologie, Browns, etc. are well run retail is best left for the Not About Food board here.
I brought it up to point out that these are big brands with well-thought out real estate locations.0
re: Raquel
Raquel, you are the Girl.
Downtown dwellers do not understand that we Jog, we run, but always take our cars to the Market.
Although I usually agree with embee, he is way off this time.
There is wealth big time,, and lots of it everywhere East of Don Mills Road.
How many of Pusateris customers walk there?
How many walk to Diana's?
Yes, we live by our cars, and this our lifestyle.
McEwen is a shrewd businessman.
Look at his restaurants, and their locations.
The food is not the same at any.
Each attract a different crowd.0
re: erly
I stand by my comments. The area surrounding this new mall ranges from very rich to not well off at all. Contrast this with, say, Bayview/York Mills, which is solid wealth all around.
There is, indeed, extreme wealth west of Don Mills Rd. There's also wealth in pockets to the north and to the east.
Five minutes to the south, you'll find poverty. Yet south of there, though few believe me, there's some real wealth hidden in Thorncliffe Park.
My demographic definitions were very specific. And you folks will, indeed, go by car. I don't think we disagree at all.
It always fascinates me when threads go so far afield. All I wanted to do was contrast upmarket food shopping in Manhattan with the same kind of shopping in suburban Toronto.
I pass that area regularly, and it's likely obvious I'll try McEwan's. But I will be looking for ingredients that I can't get more conveniently, or at all, elsewhere.
I'll drive some distance for Patisserie Royale, or Diana's, or (until recently) Nasr's. I won't go to Don Mills for expensive salads, cooked prime rib, or other foods I'd rather cook myself.
Had he chosen my neighbourhood, Leslieville, I probably would pick up takeout, which was the original NY poster's point. Many of us downtown dwellers would like to buy fresh food every day :-)
Don Mills Plaza has an interesting history. It was originally an outdoor shopping centre to which everyone in the subdivision could (theoretically) walk. Many stores were mid-upper and, with its summer gardens, it was quite a beautiful place.
When they enclosed it in the seventies, they made it comfortable in winter but otherwise destroyed it. Even outlet stores failed to thrive. In the final days, they seemed to attract mainly retired mall walkers from the surrounding low rent apartments.
The touted concept was a "new urban" neighbourhood - not just another (and outdoor, yet) mall. I hope it does well. This is not a great time to be opening a high end food store, in an outdoor mall, in an area low foodie interest.0
re: OnDaGo
Do you (or does anyone) know if there are any restaurants in the works for the plaza? Aside from Jack Astor's, of course. I am anticipating there will be other shops/restos of interest to attract people....0
re: Full tummy
Fast Food
Pizza Pizza
Glow, by Rose Reisman
Joey's Grill & Lounge
Linda, by Salad King
Specialty Food
re: Kagemusha
Perhaps. The collapse made big news but in fact a lot of people were starting to feel the pain well before then.
On the other topic, there was an article in Maclean's last summer about the rise of prepared-food shops at high-end restaurants. Not the same as a large speciality food store like McEwan's but interesting...
re: JamieK
Thanks for posting this. Good read. I must have missed it when it first came out....
BTW, I'm sure McEwan and his folks are having a good read with us!0
re: Raquel
I quite doubt that Mr. McEwan cares about what Chowhounders are saying about his new establishment BEFORE it has even opened for business.0
re: Tatai
Really? I beg to differ. I think ALOT of restaurateurs/retailers come on here to read what Chowhounders have to say.
Smart businesspeople always take the pulse of their target markets.0
re: Raquel
The three "food emporia" in my neighborhood, Citarella, Grace's and Eli's, don't look like they're struggling. Still crowded and the quality is still high. And even though they're only a few blocks from each other and compete with regular grocery stores (Gristedes and D'Agostino's), all have enough customers to keep them going.
The mindset of the typical Citarella/Grace's/Eli's customer is to buy groceries every couple days so you're always eating fresh meat, fish, bread and produce, and you can match your cravings more closely. It means more trips to the store, but usually only one bag to carry home. If that's the typical customer @ Don Mills, great, maybe he'll be successful. But if the typical customer goes grocery shopping once a week and buys a trunk load of groceries, they may get sticker shock from buying so much all at once from his store.0
re: GoodGravy
GoodGravy - those places are in Manhattan. Just wondering why you're posting on the Ontario board? You had me confused - I thought there were some great Toronto food shops that I didn't know about.0
re: bigos70
LOL, sorry for the confusion, I was reading Raquel's post i/r/t higher end markets in NYC, and figured I'd weigh in. I'm in Toronto every once in a while so I split my time between both boards.0
re: GoodGravy
This is a suburban location where a fifties mall is being replaced by an outdoor "lifestyle" plaza. (This is, of course, a ridiculous idea in our climate, but WTF...)
The immediately surrounding area is lower middle income. The target clientele will come almost exclusively by car and will not drop in every day or two while passing by. The original proposal sold to the neighbourhood included upmarket condos in addition to shopping, which would be on "streets" - the so called "new urbanism" philosophy, but the only thing happening is a big outdoor mall.0
re: embee
"The immediately surrounding area is lower middle income."
Maybe. But, how about going just 1-2km further and you get to the Bridal Path and the areas around it. It is also with a short jaunt from Leaside and North Toronto. With ample free parking, I can see it competing with the Bayview Strip even.0
re: Atahualpa
You are certainly correct.
I was responding to GoodGravy, who was describing shopping habits in an affluent Manhattan neighbourhood. Most kitchens have little storage space, many people don't have cars or don't want to move the cars they have, and parking is impossible. A ridiculous number of people eat only takeout at home and never cook.
Many people shop regularly - even daily - for groceries and prepared foods. It's a walking city, and people shop at stores that they pass, or come close to, virtually every day. Most stores are small - many Manhattan "supermarkets" are smaller than a typical Bruno's.
People will drive to McEwan's, as per my previous post. It won't be a daily shopping spot for the neighbourhood. Those who can actually walk there won't be shopping there. I don't think a typical Manhattan "gourmet" shop and McEwan's are comparable.
I can't prognosticate on whether McEwan's will succeed. This isn't a good time to be opening such a venture. Unlike other recent recessions, this one is affecting the spending capabilities and, more importantly, the attitudes of many affluent people, though things (so far) are better here than in the US.0
re: Atahualpa
The Bridle path area only contains a few hundred afluent households rest is middle income...0
re: OnDaGo
You have got to be kidding.
York Mills Bayview middle income???
Even Don Mills North is becoming Yuppie.
I have lived in the area for 40 years, and Middle income it is not!0
re: OnDaGo
Lawrence Park, Leaside, North Toronto, are more upper middle than middle. And middle these days in those areas means probably having to spend upwards of 3/4 mill to buy a starter home there.0
re: OnDaGo
Definitely not. Even Lawrence & Leslie is more affluent than that. True, there are "middle income" hubs, along the Donway, but there's plenty of money even at Leslie & Lawrence.0
re: Full tummy
The apartments surrounding Don Mills Plaza, within easy walking distance, are pretty much lower middle income.
The homes immediately beyond that ring are now considered mid-century architectural gems and are by no means cheap to buy. However, many residents have lived here forever and are now on fixed incomes. Also, the dominant culture has never been food centric. Yes this is changing, but slowly. Many of the new residents here are heavily mortgaged and don't have much discretionary cash.
Don Mills from Eglinton to Sheppard and the York Mills/Leslie intersection are not affluent areas. Neither is the area extending east from Don Mills along Lawrence. Victoria Park, the next major street to the east, is working class to its core.
McEwan is undoubtedly expecting to draw from the surrounding affluent areas in York Mills, along Bayview and Leslie, and possibly from Leaside and Lawrence Park. Unknown to many, there is also some real money (and no nearby food shopping) in a few of Thorncliffe Park towers.
I personally don't think the Bridle Path even matters. Few people actually live in those monster homes. Many of those who do spend much of the year away from Toronto.
All that said, it's really tangential to my original point. I was addressing a post about high end food shopping in Manhattan by contrasting the lifestyle there with that of Don Mills.
Cadillac Fairview sold the neighbourhood a bill of goods. I remember the billboards: "How would you feel if Don Mills Plaza became more than a mall?" They promised an exciting mix of upscale residential, commercial, and high end retail, in an urban setting, on a street grid, with pedestrian traffic. This would be great for a place like McEwan's.
They had many neighbourhood "consultation" meetings. Then they went ahead and started building - - - a mall.
Unlike in Manhattan, people won't wander in here every couple of days on their way home from work. This will be "drive to" destination shopping, in a mall shared with a Metro store established for more than fifty years. If McEwan offers a wide variety of food not available elsewhere, he should (ignoring the recession for the moment) do well. If he duplicates the supermarket at a higher price level, why would anyone bother going?
I'm sure McEwan's backers have done their homework, and I suspect he's a better businessman than David Wood ever was. I hope Cadillac Fairview got this one right, since I think my wife's pension plan owns it :-)0
re: embee
McEwan's backers are 'McEwan'! He has stated in print that that he is financing and developing the project by himself.
He will be able to supply his restaurants with many prepped dishes, much like Gilead. That is a synergistic cost saving.
I think the toughest problem will be to sell food and take out to the thousands of ethnic or immigrant families along the Don Mills strip. There are not as many wasps as in E.P. Taylor's day. And these new people know good food, and how much to pay for it.0
re: embee
You are right, embee, about the bulk of homes in the area, though there are some monied streets off of Don Mills Road north of Lawrence, and behind Rippleton School on Leslie, also north of Lawrence. I think there are condos near Don Mills & Eglinton (Wynford?) where people have a fair bit of money. But, yes, overall it is not a densely monied place. Not enough, in the area, to support a store that size. It's on my way home from work, though, and I'm hoping for something good.0
re: Full tummy
I wish him the very best and am happy it is him not me undertaking this. Probably because of risk averse old age I would be s#*tting bricks!
My guess is that he is looking at a rent of close to $75,000/month (inc. taxes, heat, hydro, buildout and fixturing). which means that he will likely have to do about $500,000/month to break even. That's a lot of couscous and organic carrots!
The second phase of the Plaza project is supposed to be 1300 fairly expensive condos next door. This would provide a nice captive audience if it gets built and occupied soon.
The future sure looked rosy a few years ago for high end restaurateurs, developers, caterers and even the hoi polloi!
Now a PB&J with a Prozac looks good!0
re: garlicandwingnut
It will take at least two years of construction debris and dumptrucks in the plaza before there are people living in those condos and shopping at his location.. will he last through to that point? Most condo projects that do not have a hole dug in Toronto are in a holding pattern and many may not be built...0
re: garlicandwingnut
Wow....all this attention for little ol Don Mills. This is the most exciting event, gastronomically speaking, that has happend in Don Mills in recent memory. To actually have easy access to these kinds of food products, meats, fish, vegtables, breads, not to mention the prepared food section is going to be welcomed here.
For those that do not think the is enough money in the surrounding neighbourhoods to support a store like this, take a run up to the Longos Plaza at York Mills and Leslie which is a mere 5 minutes drive north of the new Shops at Don Mills. The parking lot is crawling with Mercedes, BMW's, Lexus, Range Rovers etc. all the time. Sure there is the odd Scarboro Cadillac (Chev Cavalier) but there are upper middle class neighbourhoods in the immediate area (I'm in one) and there is money just to the East including the Bridal Path with Leaside and North Toronto just minutes away by car.
The bottom line is, like many people here, I wish McEwan luck. I really hope he makes a go of it. I will be one of the first in line to test it out. If he does it right, they will come.
Now all we need is a decent restaurant!!0
The man is taking a chance, maybe a calculated one, maybe not.
It's fun to cut down the tallest sunflower (and sort of a Canadian national pastime), but really, I wish him luck and plan to drop in when the place opens. And predicting future economic trends based on events of three months ago is a game best left for professional economists, who get paid for their predictions.0
Folks, this thread is veering wildly off topic, and even when it's on topic is speculation about a store that does not yet exist. We're going to lock it and ask that people return to discussing chow they can actually get now.0


text:
Named one of the "100 Best Tumblrs Of All-Time" by Complex magazine.
One of the "10 Sports Tumblrs You Absolutely Should Be Following" by Business Insider.
One of the "The 25 Best Sports Tumblrs" by Bleacher Report.
It's time to go to a game!
doesn't happen often, so it really should be celebrated when it is!
Way to go, King Felix!
Grande Felix! Grande! Toda Venezuela esta contigo! Este es solo uno.. & vendran mas. ¡Que viva el Rey!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Constantine Maroulis in 2009 became the first "American Idol" contestant to receive a Tony nomination courtesy of a role tailor made for Maroulis' theatrical rock persona in "Rock of Ages."
Two years later, he is about to wrap up life as an '80s arena rock god on the national tour of the kitschy Broadway production, which features hits by the likes Twisted Sister, Foreigner, Bon Jovi and Journey. His stop at the Fox Theatre from July 5 to 10 will be his second-to-last city on this tour.
"It's been like a hit record," Maroulis said in a phone interview last month. "It's been an awesome journey, no pun intended. I wanted to see it through from off-Broadway to Broadway to across the country. It's now become a worldwide brand."
The starting off point of the play is from the lyrics of Journey's "Don't Stop Believin.' " Maroulis' lead character Drew is "a city boy, born and raised in South Detroit." He comes to Los Angeles where he pursues a small-town girl and his rock-and-roll dreams.
Thanks to "The Sopranos" and "Glee," the band's uplifting 1981 radio hit has become a ubiquitous classic that transcends generations. Atlanta-based Cumulus even named a new radio station Journey 97.9 and the first song was, you guessed it, "Don't Stop Believin.' "
"Funny thing is we had it first," Maroulis said. "It was in the show before the 'Sopranos' finale. The song puts you right in the moment. What's funny is my character is not a savvy city boy. He's a dork, a music nerd."
The 35-year-old New Jersey native, who recently had his first child, finished sixth season four on "Idol," lauded for his pipes and critiqued at times for his occasionally over-the-top camera mugging.
But those skills work well on a big stage. Maroulis has performed "Rock of Ages" more than 800 times over three years, getting to jam with members of Poison, meet a childhood hero in Jon Bon Jovi and singing with Dee Snider of Twisted Sister, who did a stint on the show.
Maroulis said his voice has held up well despite the hard work. "I'm built for this kind of load," he said, " from all my years singing in crappy garage bands with bad PA systems. I've been a grinder. I think my voice gets stronger over the years. It's like any muscle."
He no longer parties the way he did in his early 20s. "That," he said, "destroys my voice." Instead, on the road, he now watches inordinate amounts of the History Channel. "I'm a huge 'American Pickers' fan," he said. "I love collecting stuff. Mid-century baubles, bar sets, glass sets, cool candle holders, great ashtrays, lithographs. Fun stuff."
When he finds cool items, he ships them to his home in New York. But he promises he is not going to be a candidate for another reality show: "Hoarders." "It's all in great condition," he said. "I'm very organized. I'm a Virgo. That show 'Hoarders' is so sad. It's just a disease."
He plans to visit his home country of Greece after the tour is over and then decide what to do next, whether it's film, TV or more Broadway. He also has a rock cabaret show.
"I'm a survivor," Maroulis said. "I'm not going anywhere. I bust my butt. Nothing comes cheap. I'm always going to be hustling, doing something."
"Rock of Ages," July 5-10, $25-$65. Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St., N.E., Atlanta 404-881-2100, www.foxtheatre.org and www.ticketmaster.com
June 27th, 2011
11:11 am
Good for Constantine. Glad he is busy and has options for the future as well.
June 27th, 2011
11:20 am
He always made me feel like I needed a shower after he performed on Idol. Still does. But like all Idol alum, congrats to him on making an impact on Broadway.
June 27th, 2011
11:25 am
[...] RSSMix.com Mix ID 1660970 [...]
June 27th, 2011
11:44 am
Really proud of Constantine…Shows what you can do if you set your mind to it. I'm sure we haven't heard the last of him.
June 27th, 2011
11:57 am
Thnaks for nice interview RoHo – Constantine comes off as a serious, hardworking Idol the show can be proud of.
June 27th, 2011
12:06 pm
Interesting headline from ajc.com: Ohio deputies: Woman sprayed us with breast milk
Talk about needing a shower!
June 27th, 2011
12:28 pm
Good afternoon!
June 27th, 2011
12:44 pm
hi all. my, branch, the most "interesting" things do seem to catch your eye.
June 27th, 2011
1:01 pm
Hey Everyone!!!
Good report on Constantine, Rodney. Glad to see that he is doing good in his career.
A special hello to Linnie!!!!! Girl, it is so good to have you back here with us….. Yiou were surely missed.
June 27th, 2011
1:45 pm
Great write up about a very deserving guy. I've seen Rock of Ages when he played it on Broadway and he is fabulous! What a voice! Can't wait to see him in Atlanta. I'm so glad he's coming to my state so more Georgians can experience him in this show.
June 27th, 2011
1:54 pm
No air conditioning in my bldg all of a sudden. Sitting with a small desktop fan. But, I still love summer! I am remembering February and not feeling too bad about it.
Rodney, thanks for the Constantine story. I wish him the very best.
June 27th, 2011
2:41 pm
Haley's EP reaches #1 on Walmart MP3 dowloads, #2 in total music sales. Yeah, baby!!
June 27th, 2011
4:56 pm
Happy for Haley, Neg. Bye everyone. Time to run.
June 28th, 2011
7:20 am
Following last week's uproar over the unsatisfying cliffhanger ending of "The Killing", AMC chief Charlie Collier offers a lame excuse in Entertainment Weekly: "We underestimated the passion viewers have for closure within a season".
June 28th, 2011
7:54 am
Finally saw Water For Elephants yesterday. It was good and seeing the vampire boy looking like he might have a tan was pleasant although I still question his acting ability.
Don't remember if I mentioned seeing Super 8 last week. It was delightful! And scary. And heartwarming. And funny. And adventurous. Yes, I liked it.
June 28th, 2011
8:17 am
I loved Constantine during season 4. My 3 favorite contestants that year were Bo, Carrie and Constantine. He was my first serious elimination shocker.
June 28th, 2011
8:32 am
Deirdre: I loved "Super 8″ too – and how 'bout that Kyle! A real Honey for us older gals! And, "Water…" was the first time I even remotely liked Rob P.
At first I hated Constantine – thought he was a bit creepy. Then he did a song about 3 weeks in (can't remember what), and I changed my mind and really liked him after that. It was a total shocker when he left – I think I shed a tear along with Paula! But it wasn't as hard to stomach as Michael Johns' departure!
June 28th, 2011
9:06 am
Morning! New thread up.


text:
Enjoy A Day in the Salt Marsh, one of the most dynamic habitats on earth. Fun-to-read, rhyming verse introduces readers to hourly changes in the marsh as the tide comes and goes. Watch the animals that have adapted to this ever-changing environment as they hunt for food or play in the sun, and learn how the marsh grass survives even though it is covered by salt water twice a day. An activity on adaptations is included in the For Creative Minds section.
How Full Is Your Bucket?
Through the story of a little boy named Felix, this charming book explains to children how being kind not only helps others, it helps them, too. As he goes about his day, Felix interacts with different people — his sister Anna, his grandfather, other family and friends. Some people are happy, but others are grumpy or sad. Using the metaphor of a bucket and dipper, Felix' grandfather explains why the happy people make Felix feel good, while the others leave him feeling bad — and how Felix himself is affecting …
Substitute Groundhog
It's almost Groundhog Day! Everyone knows that Groundhog has an important job to do every February 2, but this year he's not feeling well. Dr. Owl diagnoses him with the flu and orders two days of bed rest. But how will people know the weather forecast if Groundhog is down in his hole in bed?
Then Groundhog has in idea — he can hire a substitute! Maybe Squirrel can be the substitute, or Eagle, or Bear. But at the subtitute auditions, Groundhog realizes that none of his friends is quite right …
The Girls Book of Glamour: A Guide to Being a Goddess
Transform yourself from drab to fab with this nifty guide to all things glamorous! Whether you want to have the shiniest hair or convince people you're a celebrity, this book will show you how! Being a glamour goddess has never been so easy.
Inside this handy guide you'll find instructions on how to host a spa party, create your own style, exit a limo gracefully, make your own body glitter, persuade your best friend to lend you her clothes, put on a fashion show, make your own jewelry box, and much, …
Mackenzie Blue
Meet Mackenzie Blue, aka Zee. She has it all—smarts, talent, humor, and style.. Is it enough to survive middle school? Countdown to a 7th Grade Meltdown 1. Your BFF moves away, 2. Someone steals your diary and reveals your deepest secrets—to the entire class, 3. You have one chance to become a rock star and one chance to totally blow it. Guess what!? All three happened to me! School's a disaster already. Don't get me wrong—I love Brookdale Academy and I have a fabulous crew of friends. (At least, I …
The Goodbye Time
AS LONG AS she can remember, Anna has lived in the same Upper West Side apartment with her parents and brother, Tom; she's attended the same private school and had the same best friend, Katie. Katie has always loved hanging out with Anna's family and escaping the tension in her own small apartment, where her single mom struggles to raise her severely mentally challenged brother.
But then something changes. Katie's brother gets violent with her mother and now he's going to live in a home. Suddenly Katie is angry with Anna, …
Amy's Travels
Come join Amy as she travels to all seven continents. Amy's Travels, based on a true story, teaches the geography, culture, and diversity of the world through the eyes of a young child.
Fancy Nancy: Splendiferous Christmas
Presents with elegant wrapping paper, festive decorations, Christmas cookies with sprinkles — and who could forget the tree? After all, there is no such thing as too much tinsel. Ooh la la! This year, Nancy is especially excited about decorating the Christmas tree. She bought a brand-new sparkly tree topper with her own money and has been waiting for Christmas to come. But when things don't turn out the way Nancy planned, will Christmas still be splendiferous? In this merriest of stories from bestselling duo Jane O'Connor and Robin Preiss …
The Christmas Magic
A new Santa with one reindeer and a cat. He wears a blue suit with a golden star at the end of his pointed hat and bunny slippers .
The Maze of Bones (The 39 Clues Series #1)
Instead of 39 steps, billionaire Grace Cahill left her heirs 39 clues scattered around the world. At the end of this circuitous trail are the answers to a great family mystery, but Amy and Dan must decide whether any prize can be more important than the rescue of their missing parents. The beginning of an enthralling ten-book arc.
Minutes before she died Grace Cahill changed her will, leaving her descendants an impossible decision: "You have a choice – one million dollars or a clue."
Grace is the last matriarch of the …


text:
By Silla Brush and J. Taylor Rushing - 03/26/10 06:02 PM EDT
Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) said Friday he aimed for the full Senate to debate financial overhaul legislation in the second week of April.
Democrats have made financial legislation their new top legislative priority, following the passage of healthcare legislation this week, and they are looking to move aggressively to pass the overhaul. President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats vowed to enact financial regulations this year.
"It is my hope that shortly after our return on the second week of April that we will come to the floor of the United States Senate to debate, hopefully a full throated debate, about how we reform the financial services sector of our nation," Dodd said on the Senate floor.
The bill aims to end taxpayer-funded bailouts, bolster consumer protections and impose new regulations on the multitrillion-dollar financial derivatives market, among other changes.
IMF staff float 'Green Fund' to help poor countries tackle climate change
Obama pressed to convene nuclear power summit (and invite Bill Gates)


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Le Fresne-Camilly is situated in the Calvados (Normandy region) in the north of France at 12 km from Caen, the department capital. (General information: Le Fresne-Camilly is 211 km from Paris).
Popular places to visit nearby include Caen at 12 km and Arromanches at 13 km. For more places to visit and local tourist attractions see the map and listings below.
Some places that we or our contributors have visited and reviewed and can recommend close to Le Fresne-Camilly. Note that all distances shown are 'direct' and real driving distances will be greater.
... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Calvados
Hover your mouse over photos for navigation buttons
Local markets
Below we show places with official tourist classifications and other places of interest to visit nearby that should provide inspiration if you are visiting Le Fresne-Camilly and wondering what to do next! Positions of each of these attractions is shown on the map below.
Most beautiful villages in France (see also beautiful French villages) Beuvron (33km)
Churches or other religious monuments Prieuré de Saint Gabriel Brécy (Saint-Gabriel-Brecy) (6km); Prieuré (Saint-Gabriel-Brecy) (7km); Eglise de Saint Pierre (Rucqueville) (7km); Abbaye de Caen (Caen) (13km); Cathédrale Notre Dame (Bayeux) (16km); Abbaye de Cerisy-la-Forêt (Cerisy-la-Foret) (33km)
Remarkable gardens Jardins du château de Brécy (6km); Plantbessin (23km); Jardins du château de Vendeuvre (43km)
Protected historical centre (fr: secteur sauvegardé) (see also historical French towns) Bayeux (16km)
Sites of natural beauty Jardin des plantes de Caen (12km); Prairie (Caen) (13km); Pegasus Bridge (16km); Forêt de Cerisy (30km); Rochers des Parcs (39km); Roches de Ham (48km)
Towns of Art and history Le Havre (49km)
Listed as villages d'etape - (recommended place to break a long journey) Villers-Bocage (23km); Torigni-sur-Vire (44km)
Villages in bloom 4* (fr: ville fleurie) Cabourg (27km); Touques (44km); Domjean (50km)
Zoo and/or wildlife park Parc zoologique de Jurques (35km)
Commune: Le Fresne-Camilly
Canton: Creully
Arrondissement: Caen
Department: Calvados
Region: Normandy
Postcode: 14480
from Caen (prefecture): 12 km
from Paris: 211 km
from Calais: 251 km
from Nice: 856 km
from Bordeaux: 492 km
from Strasbourg: 606 km
Le Fresne-Camilly is in the north of France. Most visitors arrive by car typically by ferry into Cherbourg or Caen on the Normandy coast For driving distances to Le Fresne-Camilly from anywhere in France see driving distances and route planner.
We have 28 other places listed nearby (within 6 kilometres of Le Fresne-Camilly): Amblie, Anguerny, Banville, Basly, Beny-sur-Mer, Brouay, Cairon, Colombiers-sur-Seulles, Colomby-sur-Thaon, Coulombs, Creully, Cully, Fontaine-Henry, Lantheuil, Lasson, Putot-en-Bessin, Reviers, Rosel, Rots, Saint-Contest, Saint-Gabriel-Brecy, Sainte-Croix-Grand-Tonne, Sainte-Croix-sur-Mer, Secqueville-en-Bessin, Thaon, Tierceville, Villiers-le-Sec and Villons-les-Buissons.
This page in French: Visitez Le Fresne-Camilly
Not yet a member!? Make more of your visit with your own personal trip planner.
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text:
Blueberry Banana Bread Recipe
- 1/2 cup shortening
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 medium ripe bananas, mashed
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
- In a large bowl, cream the shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add creamed mixture, beating just until combined. Stir in bananas. Fold in blueberries.
- Pour into three greased 5-3/4-in. x 3-in. x 2-in. loaf pans. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. Yield: 3 mini loaves.
Reviews for Blueberry Banana Bread
Sort By :
Miam ! really good and easy, I will do it with my students !
So very yummy! I do wish I'd added some cinnamon, but they are tender and moist..... Doubled the recipe and it made 12 muffins and 2 medium sized loaves.
This bread is really good! I didn't have shortening so I used unsalted butter instead. I also cut sugar down to 2/3 cup and added a little cinnamon. I will definitely be making this again!!
This is now my favorite banana bread. Blueberries make everything better. It is very moist. I don't know what the negative reviews are talking about. There is no yogurt in this recipe.. I made mine in mini loaf and it came out great.
Excellent taste! Very moist and freezes well. I love to make mini loaves to give away to those who would not bake for themselves.


text: Comments on: A bluesy 'Streetcar Named Desire' at George Mason University Center for the Arts Back to the article » Emily Cary • | February 25, 2013 | 12:00 am Virginia Opera's production of Andre Previn's "A Streetcar Named Desire" arrives at George Mason University's Center for the Arts this week. This third installment in the company's American opera cycle is based on Tennessee Williams' Pulitzer Prize-winning play set in New Orleans during the 1940s. Baritone David Adam Moore makes his Virginia Opera debut in the role of Stanley Kowalski, opposite... Web URL: http://washingtonexaminer.com/article/2522512 Share this article on Facebook or Twitter Print this article


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Three aspiring stylists got full access to the Lucky Brand showroom to put their spin on the spring collection. Vote for your favorite for the chance to win a $1,000 Lucky Brand shopping spree.
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Category Archives:Drunk Driving
Woodward Dream Cruise Criminal Charges?
Woodward Dream Cruise Criminal Charges?
The rumble of engines can be heard on Woodward Avenue as car collectors are gearing up for the Annual Woodward Dream Cruise. The official event will be held on Saturday, August 16th, 2014 but hundreds are warming up their engines already.
The Dream Cruise first started in 1995 and has since become a Detroit tradition. The event attracts 1.5 million people and 40,000 classic cars from across the U.S. and beyond. The tradition is for caravans of cars to parade up and down the iconic Detroit Avenue, giving car lovers an amazing opportunity to "camp-out" on the street and spot some amazing models. Additionally, there will be other entertainment set up along the route including musical performances and a play zone for children.
The nature of the event lends itself to certain concerns and police will be out in full force implementing the law. They will be keeping an eye out not only for traffic violations such as Reckless Driving and Drag Racing but also general violations such as Open Container/Intoxicants and Urinating in Public. If you are charged with any of these offenses or others while you are enjoying the events over the next week, contact the attorneys at Garmo & Kiste, PLC. We are experienced criminal defense attorneys and have represented hundreds of cases in Metro Detroit including the 44th District Court in Royal Oak and and 43rd District Court Ferndale. For more information, contact the attorneys at Garmo & Kiste, PLC at (248) 398-7100 for a free consultation or send us a private message.
Michigan Implied Consent Law
Michigan Implied Consent Law: The Risk of Refusing Tests
If you are a Michigan resident, you should be aware that the act of operating a vehicle enters you into an implicit agreement to submit to alcohol testing. MCL 257.625c dictates that any individual who operates a motor vehicle on a public highway or other place open to the general public or generally accessible to motor vehicles within the state is considered to have given consent to chemical tests of his or her blood, breath, or urine to determine if he or she has been using alcohol or another controlled substance in certain circumstances. These circumstances include if you are being arrested for operating while intoxicated or while visibly impaired.
Violations occur when an individual is arrested under one of the provisions cited in MCL 257.625c including operating while intoxicated and the driver has refused to submit to a breath test. Though it is not mandatory that you submit to a breath test, you should know that refusal is de facto an implied consent violation. Some individuals refuse under the assumption that it may help them avoid the primary charge including operating while intoxicated. However, the officer will almost always proceed to obtain a warrant to do the testing and the implied consent violation has already occurred.
An individual seeking to challenge the refusal violation must request a hearing within 14 days of the date of notice. Time is of the essence in these cases. The ramification of violating the implied consent provision is a one-year suspension of your operator's license. Note that this applies only to the first refusal. If you refuse a second time within seven years of the first refusal, your operator's license may be suspended for a period of two years. There may also be special ramifications if you have a commercial operator's license.
There is an exception to the implied consent rule under MCL 257.625(c)(2) for individuals that suffer from hemophilia, diabetes or other conditions requiring the use of an anticoagulant which may justify the refusal to submit to a blood test. This defense should be raised by your attorney because an officer may neglect to include this information in his report thus subjecting you to punishment.
Losing your operator's license has a severe impact on your life economically and socially. If you were arrested for operating while intoxicated or any of the other offenses cited in MCL 257.625c and refused to submit to alcohol testing, contact the attorneys at Garmo & Kiste, PLC. We have extensive experience handling cases in the Metro Detroit area, giving is the expertise necessary to handle these intricate cases. Contact Garmo & Kiste, PLC at (248) 398-7100 now for a free consultation or contact us with a private message.
Tigers Opening Day Criminal Charges?
Opening Day 2014, Tigers take on Kansas City Royals
Opening day is here and with it spring temperatures. While we all remember past opening days when it was chilling and people were anxious to head home early, this year it's actually nice enough to be outside and even hit the bars after the game. However, police are active and in the area during opening day and are often writing an inordinate number of citations.
Have you been charged with urinating in public at the Tiger's opening day? If so, you may be charged under the city ordinance, or state law. Detroit's code Sec 28-9-2.0- Indecent exposure states that "No personal shall make any indecent exposure of his or her person in any public place." MCL 750.335a states: A person shall not knowingly make any open or indecent exposure of his or her person or of the person of another. Violation of the section is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 1 year, or a fine of not more than $1,000.00, or both. While both of these sound fairly ambiguous and like they are not a big deal, they actually have pretty serious consequences. You can end up on the sex offender registry unless these charges are successfully negotiated and reduced by an experienced attorney.
Have you been charged with a drinking and driving/DUI offense on opening day? Michigan law provides strict penalties for operating while impaired (OWI), operating while visibly impaired (OWVI), and OWI High BAC (HBAC Law), where your blood alcohol content is .17 or above. These are difficult charges to handle with an attorney, let alone on your own especially if it is not your first offense. You are looking at licensing ramifications, as well as potential jail time, court costs and fines. An experienced attorney can work to mitigate these penalties and protect your rights.
Finally, each year around this time we hear from people who have been charged with a Minor in Possession (MIP), open intoxication/public intoxication (public intox or open intox), or drunk and disorderly conduct. These are all misdemeanor offenses which can be negotiated with the city attorney or prosecutor to minimize the effect on your life. However, without an experienced attorney you risk jail time, a permanent criminal record, and high costs and fines. Our offices work with local prosecutors and city attorney's every day and can work to get you the best deal available so you can go on to enjoy the rest of the season in peace. Contact Garmo & Kiste, PLC at (248) 398-7100 for a free consultation or contact us with a private message.
Michigan Drinking and Driving BAC limit stays at .08
Michigan Drinking and Driving BAC limit stays at .08:
In 2003 there were 340 deaths related to drinking and driving. The legislature acted to lower the BAC threshold for drinking and driving from .10 to .08. By 2011, drinking and driving related deaths had dropped to 253. The law lowering the limit was originally temporary. It would have reverted back to .10 on October 1st. The Senate unanimously voted to retain the .08 threshold. This was not entirely unexpected based on the relatively recent passage of the "Superdrunk" law. It seems the Michigan legislature aims to take a hard line with respect to drinking and driving offenses across the board. If you or someone you know is charged with a drinking and driving offense, it could have serious repercussions with respect to driving privileges and your criminal record. An experienced attorney can minimize this effect.
To retain Garmo &Kiste, PLC call us at (248) 398-7100 for a free consultation or contact us with a private message.
See also, http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013304240087
Can you get a dui for driving a lawn mower? Bloomfield Township Man's Arrested for Drinking and Driving a Lawnmower
Can you get a dui for driving a lawn mower?
Late last month, a 47 year old man who had been drinking decided he had some pressing errands that couldn't wait for him to sober up. Whether a lawnmower is Mr. Walton's vehicle of choice, or he was trying to avoid drinking and driving is unknown, but he fired up his lawnmower to head to the store. Police spotted the lawn mower parked at a local store, observed him exiting and begin to drive it. Upon determining Mr. Walton was intoxicated the police pulled him over and he was promptly arrested for felony drinking and driving. As the original article notes "Michigan law doesn't care whether it's a lawn mower or a Lamborghini, if you drive a motor vehicle while intoxicated" you are subject to arrest for drinking and driving. Pursuant to Michigan law, any vehicle with a motor is covered. If you or someone you know has been charged with a drinking and driving offense of ANY kind contact Garmo & Kiste, PLC, for assistance in these matters call us at (248) 398-7100 for a free consultation or contact us with a private message. We are experienced Michigan attorneys with offices in Troy, MI.
HGN (Horizontal Nystagmus Gaze) Testing
HGN (Horizontal Nystagmus Gaze) Testing
If you have ever been pulled over and suspected of drinking and driving, you might know there are a series of tests officers administer prior to the BAC known as field sobriety testing. This can include walking heel to toe, saying the alphabet backwards, and or following an object with your eyes and not your head tests (HGN). While in the past I had thought this was only to see if you were able to directions, it turns out there is a biological reason behind the last test. If you have not been drinking (absent some major neurological disorders), your eyeball will pan across a landscape following object at a consistent pace. If you have been drinking though, it will jump from frame to frame across your field of vision. Think of it like the difference between a continuously variable transmission and stick gear shifting. As such, it is impossible to mask this biological reaction. On the other hand, the interpretation of this result is entirely up to the officer so there is very little way to independently confirm the officer's findings. If you have gotten this far in the process though, there is probably other evidence that is sufficient to uphold your DUI absent extenuating circumstances. Very, very few DUI/OWI/OWVI/DWI offenses get overturned entirely. At this point, it is best for you to focus on minimizing the consequences through strong representation. An experienced attorney knows the ins and outs of metro Detroit courts, various judge's proclivities, and can work to negotiate a lenient plea agreement and sentence for you.
To retain Garmo &Kiste, PLC call us at (248) 398-7100 for a free consultation or contact us with a private message.
What is Michigan's BAC Limit? Federal Government follows Michigan Trend, Supports Lower BAC Limits
What is Michigan's BAC Limit? Recently the Michigan Legislature acted to prevent state BAC limits from reverting back to .10, keeping the limit at .08. To allow otherwise would have rendered Michigan ineligible for significant federal highway funding which is tied to the lower BAC limit. The National Transportation Safety Board issues safety regulations, many of which have become law. Their victories include lowering the limit to .08 in the first place, and raising the drinking age from 18 to 21. They have decided to make their next fight lowering the BAC limit again, this time to .05. Citing Australia and Ireland who have lowered their rates to .05, the NTSB states that the US is practically alone in having such a high BAC limit. They allege that Australia saw 8%-18% reduction in drunken driving deaths. That seems like a fairly large margin of error.
For your reference here is a map of BAC limits around the world.
It seems if this were really such a problem, we would be hearing a lot of anecdotal evidence of people being pulled over, breathalyzed, and blowing between .05 and .08. In our experience, this is pretty rare. Most clients who have been arrested for Drinking and Driving offenses blow at least a .10, plausibly because until that point of inebriation driving impairment is not often visible.
To retain Garmo &Kiste, PLC call us at (248) 398-7100 for a free consultation or contact us with a private message.
Understanding Alcohol Related Crime: The Role of Addiction in a Criminal Trial of Licensing Action
Understanding Alcohol Related Crime:
If there is one thing that makes Judges scared, it is the idea of having to explain to voter's why they are perceived as being soft on drunk driving. The result is basically a competition to see who can be the toughest on drinking offenses. A secondary effect, is that in the legal world the social drinker seems to be becoming extinct. If you find yourself charged with an alcohol related crime, or dealing with an alcohol related driver's license restriction the court is basically going to presume you have at least an alcohol problem, and more likely that you are a full-blown alcoholic. One problem that we see when people represent themselves is their initial and natural response is to try to disprove this presumption. When we represent someone we see this as an opportunity. The court is anxious to see you rehabilitated, and if we can work with this presumption, we can show the court through counseling, AA, and periods of sobriety that you are committed to staying sober and following the court's instructions.
Navigating the legal world can be challenging if you are inexperienced, but an able lawyer can put their experience to work for you. Need help Understanding Alcohol Related Crime? call us at (248) 398-7100 for a free consultation or contact us with a private message.
How can i get a Get a DUI/OWI/OWVI/OUI Dismissed?
While everyone who has received a drinking and driving ticket wants to get it dismissed, it is actually an extremely rare occurrence. Especially in Oakland County, the police and prosecutors have convictions down to a science and are unlikely to drop a case unless it is extremely weak.
Our office has been successful in defeating charges and has identified a few common factors. First, if the police stop was not legal you stand a much better chance of the charge being dismissed. Second, if you were not read your rights any information that came in after it would have been reasonable expected you would be read your rights is out. Thirdly, if you were not actually seen by the police driving your car it can be difficult for the prosecutor to prove beyond a reasonable doubt you were drinking AND driving. Finally, in some cases if your breath tests were performed in violation of the police's own policies we may be able to argue they are invalid in rare circumstances.
If this does not describe your case though, don't despair, we will still work to get you a good result. At this point our efforts will shift to sentencing, and plea negotiations. We can try to avoid you being subjected to extensive terms of probation, court costs and fines, and alcohol education and/or counseling sessions. So how can i get a get a DUI/OWI/OWVI/OUI Dismissed? call us at (248) 398-7100 for a free consultation or contact us with a private message.
Biomarkers and Alcohol Testing
Biomarkers are a blood protein that can be indicative of the not only the presence of alcohol, but also usage patterns, alcohol dependency, and relapse in the case of alcoholics. They can be identified rapidly and with a high level of certainty by a simple blood test. The only confounding factor yet identified is the presence of alcohol in household and personal hygiene items such as mouthwash or hand sanitizer. Previously labs could identify indirect residue of alcohol consumption based on effects primarily to the liver and other measures of body chemistry. These tests are direct as they test for analytes of alcohol consumption. They are therefore more reliable.
What does this mean for you? If you are on bond or probation, subject to alcohol testing, or required to be abstinent as a condition of your driving privileges the level of supervision you face may be about to go up. On the other hand, as the tests become more specific and fine-tuned, there is less of a chance of a false positive and could be used to your advantage. Currently probation officers and roadside tests use PBT testing, or at the very best the datamaster. PCT is notoriously unreliable and the datamaster may give rise to many implied consent violations for those who are unable to perform the test. An experienced attorney can work to get you off of probation faster, or to get a type on non-reporting probation so that you don't have to submit to the uncertainty of drug testing, regardless of the procedure used.
Biomarkers and Alcohol Testing: To retain Garmo & Kiste, PLC call us at (248) 398-7100 for a free consultation or contact us with a private message.


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Welcome to PLMA's Online Show Registration. If you are a manufacturer, supplier, distributor, broker or sale representative and wish to attend this year's Private Label Trade Show, you can download the appropriate registration form, complete it and return it to PLMA by fax to (212) 983-1382 or mail to PLMA Visitor Registration, 630 Third Avenue, New York, N.Y.10017. Please read carefully appropriate registration fees and conditions. If you have questions, you may contact PLMA Visitor Registration at (212) 972-3131.
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Because a liquid can be absorbed quicker by the body, Kidney Complete as a liquid, can reduce or eliminate pain naturally and safely. With all natural ingredients, pain can be reduced or eliminated from a safe and healthy non-narcotic source and then begin to work on dissolving the kidney stones. (See Liquids vs. Pills)
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FUKUOKA, Japan -- Cuba clobbered China 12-0 on Monday to improve to 2-0 in Group A of the World Baseball Classic.
Infielder Jose Abreu drove in five runs, including a grand slam in the sixth inning, when his team scored its last six runs at Fukuoka Dome. The game was called under the tournament's mercy rule after the seventh inning.
Throughout the game, Cuba displayed the type of firepower that makes it one of the title contenders.
Alexei Bell hit a towering two-run homer to left to make it 4-0 in the fourth and Alfredo Despaigne put the result beyond doubt in the same inning when he doubled on a sharp ground ball to left, scoring Jose Fernandez and Frederich Cepeda to make it 6-0.
Fernandez singled in two more runs in the fifth before Abreu's grand slam.


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Nobody Likes Onions
Patrick Melton
Los Angeles, CA
Description: It's like taking a cold shower in sarcasm! Real, hilarious, uncesored talk about life, current events, pop culture and pet peeves. Nationally known comedians tell it like it is - or at least how it should be.
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JOSH DENNY is in the studio today for a real anger-fueled show. There's a lot of yelling in this one. Patrick and Josh scream at each other for an uncomfortably long time over a semantic issue, which spirals into them personally attacking each other. Josh talks about his racist set at Flappers, and a certain girl from the show who bombed the same night. Patrick talks about going to a big important Hollywood party, and then name drops for ten minutes. Josh talks about not realizing the Microsoft Surface is shit, and how he really misses MySpace. Everybody eventually reunites in their mutual disdain for a guy who tweeted about quitting the Overdose.
Released January 03, 2013 Original Post » Comments »
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Contracts for Groovy
Tutorial - GContracts: A Design by Contract extension for Groovy - Part 2
Contract Element Part 1: Preconditions with @Requires
@Requires is supposed to be used for precondition specifications. It can only be applied on instance method, static method and interface method declarations. Listing 5 shows how our Rocket class looks like after manually transforming all assertion statements to preconditions.
import org.gcontracts.annotations.* class Rocket { int speed private boolean started @Requires() def start() { started = true } boolean isStarted() { started } @Requires({ started }) def accelerate() { speed = speed + 5 } @Requires({ started }) def brake() { speed = speed - 5 } }
As can be seen with respect to the refactored Rocket class, the introduction of @Requires for preconditions leads to much cleaner code, as all assertion code is moved to closure annotation parameters.
Code inside the closure annotation can access method parameters, publicly accessible instance variables and methods. If accelerate would come with a parameter dx indicating the speed delta, @Requires could be used to check for its validity, too.
Listing 6
@Requires({ started && dx > 0 }) def accelerate(int dx) { speed = speed + dx }
The contract author is free to use arbitrary Groovy language construct within the precondition, as long as the resulting code is a Boolean expression. Otherwise, GContracts will detect non-boolean expressions and will throw a compile-time error.
As already noted, another major benefit of using GContracts is its integration with inheritance and polymorphism. If we would enhance the AnotherRocket subclass by overwriting Rocket#accelerate() with a custom implementation, we wouldn't need to define the precondition again. It would simply be inherited as AnotherRocket is a Rocket descendant.
Listing 7
class AnotherRocket extends Rocket { def accelerate() { // @Requires will be inherited from Rocket speed = speed + 1 } } def rocket = new AnotherRocket() rocket.accelerate()
A call to AnotherRocket#accelerate() without a prior call to AnotherRocket#start() would fail with a slightly modified Groovy power assertion message:
org.gcontracts.PreconditionViolation: <org.gcontracts.annotations.Requires> Rocket.java.lang.Object accelerate() started | false
The power assertion message shows the part of the contract that has been violated, shows the results of sub-expressions and points to the part of the Boolean expression being "false". This works even better with complex Boolean expressions:
org.gcontracts.PreconditionViolation: <org.gcontracts.annotations.Requires> Rocket.java.lang.Object accelerate() ((1 + 1) * 3) == 7 | | | 2 6 false
In addition, GContracts supports redefining base class preconditions. A precondition redefinition can be achieved by providing an additional @Requires annotation to AnotherRocket#accelerate() (see Listing 8).
Listing 8
class AnotherRocket extends Rocket { @Requires({ !started }) def accelerate() { speed = speed + 1 } }
During compilation, GContracts will join both preconditions to a single precondition. In order to still support inheritance and polymorphism, preconditions can only be weakened by subclasses, thus the precondition above would be equal to @Requires({ started || !started }) – an assertion always being "true".
Contract Element Part 2: Postconditions with @Ensures
So far, we did not talk about the general concept of postconditions. As noted in the previous sections, preconditions are a way to set certain boundaries for clients using the class – postconditions invert that principle. A postcondition states what in turn is guaranteed by the class author as long as the precondition is satisfied.
GContracts provides @Ensures for defining postconditions. The annotation can be applied on instance method, static method and interface method declarations. Back to the Rocket class example. Postconditions could be added to Rocket#brake() and Rocket#accelerate(), to state that both methods change the rockets speed in either way.
Listing 9
import org.gcontracts.annotations.* class Rocket { int speed private boolean started @Requires() def start() { started = true } boolean isStarted() { started } @Requires({ started }) @Ensures({ speed - old.speed == 5 }) def accelerate() { speed = speed + 5 } @Requires({ started }) @Ensures({ old.speed - speed == 5 }) def brake() { speed = speed - 5 } }
The postcondition code in Listing 9 shows another DbC-specific feature available solely for postconditions: the old variable.
Inside @Ensures, a special variable named old is available. It holds the values of all typed instance variables of the current object. In our case, it holds the speed instance variable, which is used to exactly determine whether the speed has changed by 5.
There is a second variable available in closure annotation code being used to refer to the actual method's result – assuming the method's return type is not void – it is called result. If accelerate would return the current speed, we could refer the return value in @Ensures (see Listing 10).
Listing 10
@Requires({ started }) @Ensures({ result - old.speed == 5 }) def accelerate() { speed = speed + 5 return speed
As it is the case with @Requires, all postconditions are populated down the inheritance hierarchy and multiple postconditions on a single method will automatically be merged during the compilation process. In contrast to preconditions, the merging rule for postconditions is such that postconditions down the class hierarchy can only strengthen the base class postcondition, never weaken it.
Contract Element Part 3: Class Invariants with @Invariant
So far for our Rocket class ... but wait. What happens if we call Rocket#brake() multiple times without ever calling Rocket#accelerate()? Right, the speed would turn smaller than zero. But as it turns out, speed must never be smaller than zero, being a formative property of Rocket objects.
A property that has to be fulfilled throughout the entire object life-time is called the class invariant. Class invariants can be specified with @Invariant. Again, the annotation uses a single closure annotation parameter and again the contract element is inherited to all direct and indirect subclasses.
Listing 11
@Invariant({ speed >= 0 && speed <= Integer.MAX_VALUE - 5 }) class Rocket { ... } def rocket = new Rocket() rocket.start() rocket.accelerate() rocket.brake() rocket.brake() // fails with ClassInvariantViolation messsage
As you might have noticed, the speed instance variable isn't a real instance variable, it is a plain-old Groovy object property. GContracts automatically adds class invariant checks for all property accessor methods, so calling rocket.speed = -1 would again result in a class invariant violation.
Contracts, contracts, everywhere ...
GContracts becomes truly powerful when using its annotations in library or framework base classes. As it supports contract annotations on Groovy interfaces and abstract classes, this is can be done straight-forward.
Let us introduce a RocketAPI embedding the general contract directly in the interface definition.
Listing 12
import org.gcontracts.annotations.* interface RocketAPI { def start() boolean isStarted() int getSpeed() @Requires({ started }) @Ensures({ result - old.speed == 5 }) def accelerate() @Requires({ started }) @Ensures({ old.speed - speed == 5 }) def brake() } @Invariant({ speed >= 0 && speed <= Integer.MAX_VALUE - 5 }) class Rocket implements RocketAPI { int speed private boolean started def start() { started = true } boolean isStarted() { started } def accelerate() { speed = speed + 5 return speed } def brake() { speed = speed - 5 } } def rocket = new Rocket() rocket.accelerate()
As a result, all classes implementing the RocketAPI interface must adhere to the specified contract. As said earlier, preconditions can only be weakened, postconditions can only be strengthened by implementation classes.
A call to Rocket#accelerate() without a preceding call to Rocket#start() would now fail with the following violation message:
org.gcontracts.PreconditionViolation: <org.gcontracts.annotations.Requires> RocketAPI.java.lang.Object accelerate() started | false
Notice that the error message's originator has changed to RocketAPI#accelerate(). As the contract elements will be embedded in the resulting bytecode, we could put the RocketAPI into a jar and every project including the jar and GContracts would automatically be forced to comply with the specified contract.
This article only showed a selection of the most important core features of GContracts, with focus on the core contract annotations: @Requires, @Ensures and @Invariant.
More information on advanced features like the custom Groovydoc Ant task for embedding contracts into GroovyDoc generated class documentation, custom micro contract annotations for reusing small but reoccurring contract elements and disabling contracts on package- and class-level can be found at GContracts project wiki.
To start playing with contracts, download the most recent version (as of March 2012, 1.2.5) available on the project homepage or Maven central repository, add it to the applications classpath, import org.gcontracts.annotations – and your favourite programming language will magically support Design by Contract.
Design by Contract™ is a registered trademark of Interactive Software Engineering Inc.
Author Bio:
Andre Steingress works as Groovy & Grails developer in Linz, Austria. He regularly blogs at http://blog.andresteingress.com, holds workshops and trainings focusing on Groovy, Grails and Spring, enjoys contributing to the Groovy programming language and is the creator of GContracts, a Design by Contract library for Groovy.
This article originally appeared in Java Tech Journal - The Groovy Universe. Check out the rest of that issue here
- Introducing GContracts
- Elements of GContracts & Conclusions


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Woman killed in crash Thursday near Clara City
CLARA CITY - A Marshall woman was killed last night near Clara City in a head-on crash with a semi that had jack-knifed on state Highway 23.
According to the State Patrol Debra Griebel, 60, was killed in the crash, which was reported shortly before 9 p.m. Thursday on Highway 23, just north of state Highway 7.
Griebel was going south on Highway 23 and a semi driven by YaYa Zongo, 39, of Dallas, Texas was going north on Highway 23.
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