James Joyce famously captured a day in the life of Dublin in Ulysses each detail so well drawn you could create an exact replica of the city if it were to disappear. Visitors on Bloomsday (named for Leopold Bloom, the main character), June 16, are invited to pick a chapter and walk in the footsteps of the characters: a way of helping people get to know the place.

Toronto doesnt have a single book mapping it out, but there are spots throughout the city that inspired writers enough for them to capture. Here are 10 admittedly selective titles: pick one up, read and walk the city in the steps of these quintessentially Toronto characters.

1. In The Skin of a Lion by Michael Ondaatje famously invokes the building of this city around the turn of the century and specifically the Bloor Viaduct .

The bridge goes up in a dream. It will ink the east end with the centre of the city. It will carry traffic, water, and electricity across the Don Valley. It will carry trains that have not even been invented yet.

Night and day. Fall light. Snow light. They are always working horses and wagons and men arriving for work on the Danforth side at the far end of the valley . . . and on October 18, 1918 it is completed. Lounging in mid-air.

The bridge. The bridge. Christened Prince Edward. The Bloor Street Viaduct.

2. The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood takes place in and around Toronto: the Toxique is widely known to be The Rivoli on Queen St. W .

The Toxique is one of their favourite places: not too expensive, and with a buzz; though its a little arch, a little grubby . . . Posters of out-of-date alternative-theatre events are glued to the walls, and people with pallid skin and chains hanging from their somber, metal-studded clothing slough through to the off-limits back rooms or confer together on the splintering stairs that lead down to the toilets.

They dont go there at night, of course, when the rock groups and the high decibels take over. But its good for lunch. It cheers them up. It makes them feel younger, and more daring, than they are.

3. Consolation by Michael Redhill cantilevers between past and present, boosted by Redhills incredible research of a Toronto long disappeared. Go down to the Harbourfront or over to the Toronto Islands ; your imagination will be piqued.

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Toronto by book: 10 reads by authors who capture the city

Originally published September 19, 2014 at 12:30 PM | Page modified September 19, 2014 at 3:14 PM

Every few minutes, while Paul Mackay was back in the pantry of Seattles old Aero Club putting together Caesar salad trays and shrimp cocktails, the swinging door to the dining room would fly open and it would all hit.

The tinkling piano and the oozing saxophone. The skeins of laughter and the clinking glasses. Corks popping. Cutlery clattering. Waitresses in gold lam whooshing past.

It was all out there, Mackay recalled the other day. All the excitement was out in the dining room.

That was 1957, when he was just a 16. Mackay would go on to work at pancake houses, fish for king crab in Alaska and even teach flying but he could never forget what he remembered as the romance of fine dining.

Forty years later, The Silver Fox who has seen the Seattle dining scene explode and change and at least at his beloved El Gaucho steak house stay the very same, is grabbing his last pack of toothpicks and retiring.

I used to come in at 10 a.m. and stay through dinner, he said in a private dining room at the place he calls The Gaucho. He didnt mind. He loved it, in fact. The feel of the place, the people.

But then, My hearing started getting bad and my sight was not good, he said. I didnt feel comfortable in a dark restaurant, working.

Its a wonder that he lasted this long. At 73, Mackay is a bit of an ironman. Not only has he worked in the restaurant business his whole life, but he has opened and managed El Gaucho, 13 Coins, Lafittes, Elliotts Oyster House, The Metropolitan Grill and Yarrow Bay Grill & Beach Cafe. In 1995, he partnered with Chef Christine Keff to open Flying Fish.

Along the way, he collected tips, paychecks and a philosophy of how to do things.

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After 50 years in dining biz, El Gaucho honcho calls for the check

CONWAY, SC (WMBF) - Just before noon Wednesday, Coastal Carolina University officials say a student driving a red truck turned through a crosswalk near campus, striking and injuring another student. A report from the incident calls the collision an accident, but around campus, many students see it as another reason to be more careful around campus roads.

While Wednesday wasn't deadly, other accidents there in the past have been.

"They don't watch for pedestrians, they drive way too fast for where they're driving, and frankly, a lot of the time they don't even pay attention to stop lights," said senior Landon Sluyter.

Sluyter says while he is always as careful as can be, he sometimes worries about becoming another speed bump for some unsafe drivers. Just a few days ago, he had a close call of his own.

"I was going for a crosswalk and this person blew through it and waved at me as they went by. So it's not like they didn't see me, they just didn't care," Sluyter said.

"We're taking a lot of steps and spending some money to make things as safe as we can," explained Executive Vice President of CCU Eddie Dyer.

While the problem continues off campus, on campus, officials are trying to fix it.

As a part of its master plan, the University is spending more than $500,000 to make campus more pedestrian-friendly.

"You can't put a price tag on a human life or human safety," Dyer said.

By next spring, University Boulevard will have a new stoplight that stops in all four directions to keep walkers safe. CCU will also install a traffic table at one crosswalk, along with putting in a whole new crosswalk by Brooks Stadium.

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CCU student hit by car; school making changes to walkways

Durham, NC - Today, Duke released its annual crime statistics for 2013, which reflected an increase in robberies following several incidents in the Sarah P. Duke Gardens that resulted in the arrest of two suspects and increased security enhancements that remain in effect today.

The release of Annual Clery Security Report is mandated by the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and details policies, procedures and support resources regarding safety at Duke, in addition to the crime statistics for the previous three years.

While most crime categories remained consistent with recent years, the increase in robberies reflected an unusual spike last summer. Three of the nine robberies reported were credited to incidents in Sarah P. Duke Gardens that resulted in the arrest of Denshawn S. Thompson and Tamisha Thompson, who were charged with four counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon and other crimes. Both were convicted and remain incarcerated.

While the numbers tend to fluctuate from year to year, overall the data indicates that Duke is a safe campus, said Kyle Cavanaugh, vice president of administration and Dukes emergency coordinator. We are not immune from serious events, but they typically serve as the exception to the rule.

As a result of the robberies in the Gardens last year, Duke took several steps to enhance safety on Central and East campuses.

We replaced and updated the locks on all the residences across Central Campus, installed improved lighting across campus, installed additional fencing, increased patrols and cut back hedges along walkways, Cavanaugh said.

The annual report provides statistics for reported criminal offenses, hate crimes, and arrests and referrals for disciplinary action for Dukes main campus, including the hospital and research areas.

This year, Duke is also required to report several crimes under new laws from the Violence Against Women Act. Duke Police received reports of four counts of stalking, which includes cyberstalking, four counts of domestic violence and one incident of dating violence.

John Dailey, chief of Duke Police, said campus safety is a collective effort that not only requires the work of his department, but the help of students, faculty and staff. Dailey said Duke community members should always stay vigilant in creating a culture of safety, which includes avoiding traveling alone, especially late at night, and contacting Duke Police in the case of any suspicious activity. The department recently launched its own text messaging interface and can be reached by phone at (919) 684-2444. Both services are monitored 24-hours-a-day, seven days-a-week.

Duke Police officers cant be everywhere all the time, but we can serve our community most efficiently when we all work together, Dailey said. Safety is a shared responsibility for all of us on campus, which is why were always a phone call or text away.

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Duke Releases Annual Security Report for 2013

Jade Mountain, St Lucia. There is nothing understated about this Caribbean retreat, from the maze of walkways to the high-impact views of the volcanic Piton peaks.

Qualia. The Windward Pavilions have private plunge pools and glittering sea views.

Likuliku, Fiji.

Leadwood Lodge, Sabi Sands, South Africa. With just four suites, each with an outdoor shower, a fireplace and the ultimate luxury, a private pool, its a fabulous place to hole up.

The Pavilions, Phuket. Each of the private villas covers around 300 square metres and comes with its own infinity pool; some even face west over the ocean, perfect for watching the sun setting over the water.

Perivolas, Santorini. If all caves were this comfortable, we might never have moved out of the Stone Age.

Perivolas, Santorini. If all caves were this comfortable, we might never have moved out of the Stone Age.

Here are some things that make for a relaxing holiday: private villas, lazy late breakfasts, afternoons on the beach with a soundtrack of lapping waves and rustling palm fronds.

Here are some things that don't: children shrieking gleefully as they chase each other, tantrums over toast, and chants of "But he started it!"

Adults-only resort are growing in popularity, and it's not just DINKS (Double Income No Kids) who are checking in. Plenty of parents occasionally choose to go on holiday without their kids, expressly to enjoy the kind of grown-up activities that children interfere with reading books, for instance. The last thing they want is to be distracted by someone else's children while they're racing through the last pages of the latest Lee Child.

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Top 6 adults-only resorts

Not Paris. (Dan Peleschuk/GlobalPost)

MOSCOW, Russia Scan the headlines these days, and it might seemlikeRussias doing everything it can banning food imports, demonizing liberal values to distance itself from the West.

The funny thing is, its capital is actually starting to look a lot more European.

Young families stroll through freshly laid pedestrian zones. Hip urbanites enjoy summertime tapas at sidewalk cafes. Fixed-gear bicycles are no longer a totally strange sight.

Amidpunishingsanctions and the threat of a new Cold War, Moscow is taking pages from Europesurban designplaybook and undergoing a major facelift aimed at improving quality of life even if it doesnt quite gel with the geopolitics.

Observers say this sprawling post-communist metropolis of around 12 million,with its smattering of freshly manicured parks and pedestrian walkways,is beginning to embrace the value of public space.

For now, Moscow is advancing very quickly, said Alexey Krasheninnikov, a professor at the Moscow Architectural Institute.

By most standards, Russias capital has drastically shape-shifted during the past century or so.

From a Tsarist hub dotted with charming imperial architecture and golden-domed churches, Moscow transformed throughout the Soviet era into a concrete megalopolis where hulking buildings anchored wide boulevards.

Moscow is still chock-full of Soviet-style apartment blocs. (Dan Peleschuk/GlobalPost)

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Oddly enough, Moscow is becoming European

A new framework for downtown Auckland has been launched today, setting out 12 major programmes of work that will help create a world-class area that is able to compete globally to attract investment, tourism and jobs.

The Downtown Framework sets out how the programmes of work fit together, and provides the context for future engagement and decisions on downtown projects.

The framework was approved by the Auckland Development Committee. Committee chair, Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse, says: "These are really exciting times for Aucklands city centre. Better transport and great quality public spaces will help it to become globally competitive, attracting businesses, talented people and creating new jobs. This is critical for the future success of all of Auckland.

"We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity here to create a well-functioning, efficient and vibrant downtown. This framework is a major step forward. It sets out principles to guide some of the difficult discussions ahead, including Aucklands central wharves and how to improve the amount and quality of public space in the city."

The framework, which is led by Auckland Councils City Centre Integration team, builds on the momentum of improvements happening across the city centre - including the three new cycleways launched last weekend and the quality walkways being opened this week and next.

Councillors also approved the sale of Queen Elizabeth Square (west of lower Queen Street), to enable other better-quality public spaces to be developed downtown.

The decision follows analysis that the existing square is shaded, windy and not well used; a larger, better-quality civic square could be created by pedestrianising part of lower Queen Street and the sale could fund new, high-quality public space at the waterfront. The three options are at the foot of Albert St, in front of the ferry building and at Admiralty Steps.

City Centre Integration General Manager Rick Walden said: "There has been extensive analysis of the existing space at Queen Elizabeth Square and it falls well short of what downtown Auckland needs. In effect, we are looking at shifting the square into the sun, to create a much better space outside the Britomart station. This would also generate funding for new, better-quality spaces at the waters edge. Great cities are defined by the quality of their public realm."

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New framework for downtown Auckland launched

Media release

11 September 2014

New framework sets outline for a world-class downtown Auckland

A new framework for downtown Auckland has been launched today, setting out 12 major programmes of work that will help create a world-class area that is able to compete globally to attract investment, tourism and jobs.

The Downtown Framework sets out how the programmes of work fit together, and provides the context for future engagement and decisions on downtown projects.

The framework was approved by the Auckland Development Committee. Committee chair, Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse, says: These are really exciting times for Aucklands city centre. Better transport and great quality public spaces will help it to become globally competitive, attracting businesses, talented people and creating new jobs. This is critical for the future success of all of Auckland.

We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity here to create a well-functioning, efficient and vibrant downtown. This framework is a major step forward. It sets out principles to guide some of the difficult discussions ahead, including Aucklands central wharves and how to improve the amount and quality of public space in the city.

The framework, which is led by Auckland Councils City Centre Integration team, builds on the momentum of improvements happening across the city centre including the three new cycleways launched last weekend and the quality walkways being opened this week and next.

Councillors also approved the sale of Queen Elizabeth Square (west of lower Queen Street), to enable other better-quality public spaces to be developed downtown.

The decision follows analysis that the existing square is shaded, windy and not well used; a larger, better-quality civic square could be created by pedestrianising part of lower Queen Street and the sale could fund new, high-quality public space at the waterfront. The three options are at the foot of Albert St, in front of the ferry building and at Admiralty Steps.

See more here:
New framework outline for a world-class downtown Auckland

ORLANDO --

X marks the spot.

The former "Fun 'n Wheels" family entertainment center off International Drive in Orange County is now home to cracked pavement and weeds, along with painted directional arrows still on the ground to aid exiting riders.

Yet, among new survey markers and dried drilling slurry left behind from core samples, awaits an old address ready to become vibrant once again.

"The land wants to be an attraction," says Joshua Wallack with a grin.

The intersection of International Drive and Sand Lake Road in Orange County is getting a facelift from Wallack.

"It's downtown Orange County, he proclaims.

In his leather dress shoes and suit pants, the Chief Operating Officer of Wallack Holdings runs through the construction site of Mango's Tropical Cafe' Orlando, grabbing a hard hat as he enters.

Almost immediately upon entering, a construction foreman jumps at the opportunity to grab Wallack's attention, since the real estate developer doesn't slow down often.

"I never thought we would ever be involved in anything of this magnitude," Wallack says of the four projects he has envisioned for one of Orange County's busiest corners.

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Orlando's International Drive's changing face

Leesburg Concrete Company, Incorporated (LCCI) produces high quality precast concrete floor to floor stairs and landings. In addition to many other stair projects, interior and exterior precast stairs have been produced and delivered to multiple Adult Living Facilities in The Villages, Florida. This large active retirement community is making sure the members of the community will have facilities which will continue to meet their needs as they mature resulting in stair orders for Leesburg Concrete.

Leesburg Concrete Company began producing precast stairs four years ago and has precast and delivered floor to floor stairs throughout the Southeastern United States for high profile General Contractors, Central Florida theme parks, State Universities and The United States Coast Guard. "We produce precast concrete stairways with or without landings to satisfy individual configurations and requirements. If you need high end, custom architectural stairs or special finishes, we do that too" said Kirk Rouse. "And we can fabricate your stair rails, handrails and guardrails in out metal shop. Our stair finishes are the highest quality. We meet and exceed our customer's expectations."

Leesburg Concrete Company's quality custom stairs are produced in their award winning NPCA Certified Plant (National Precast Concrete Association) and can be delivered anywhere in the USA.

Leesburg Concrete Company, Incorporated

Family owned and operated since 1983, Leesburg Concrete Company, Incorporated is a leading manufacturer of precast concrete steps decks, walkways, landings, and ADA compliant modular precast concrete wheelchair ramps, with steel guard rails, and handrails. They also manufacture Easi-Set Buildings, Easi-Span field assembled large and ultra-large buildings and Easi-Set restrooms, feature a patented post-tensioning system in the roof and floor, exterior architectural precast wall panels and precast concrete stairs. In addition LCCI offers a wide array of custom precast product options. "We take pride in exceeding our customer's expectations" stated Kirk Rouse, Vice President of LCCI. This American, family-owned company demonstrates a philosophy of quality and innovation.

Leesburg Concrete Company, Incorporated is a NPCA Certified Plant, focused on meeting the needs of commercial building construction and renovation projects. Their experienced staff provides turnkey service. It takes only one call to find the solution to your building needs (352) 882-4177. For more information, please visit their website at http://www.leesburgconcrete.com, or e-mail Kirk KRouse@leesburgconcrete.com.

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Leesburg Concrete Company, Incorporated Delivers More Floor to Floor Stairs In The Villages, ...