Around a dozen GTA couples have had their wedding plans compromised by event decorators, Affairs with Flair, according to an investigation in the Star. Using the "didn't you get my email" trick when informing the couples of their impending bankruptcy, most were left scrambling at the last minute and now find an already expensive event even more so. I know couples can be over-the-top about wedding preparations, but this is pretty shitty.

Residential real estate in the GTA is booming again (did it ever take a real break?), with news that home sales rose 28% compared to last years numbers. The spike is attributed to low inventory, with 36% less homes available on the market during the same period.

As had to be expected, Real Madrid stomped Toronto FC in their friendly last night. The 5-1 tally sounds more like a hockey score. Despite the home side's loss, the crowd of over 22000 at BMO field certainly got their money's worth, with mega-star Ronaldo delivering the goods in the form of a pretty goal.

Sticking with sports, in commemoration of the Blue Jays championship winning teams in 1992 and 93, Globe writer Brad Wheeler sings his praises of the Dome (er, Rogers Center). Never having been much of a fan of the monolithic structure, I remain unconvinced. But he does rightly point out that it's not as bad as some make it out to be.

Two cycling-related accidents have has disastrous consequences. A 56 year old woman is dead after a collision with a cyclist riding on the sidewalk. And police are seeking tips after a cyclist was hit near Yorkdale mall. Also riding on the sidewalk, the collision occurred when the rider and the driver both attempted to turn at the same time. It was just the other day that commenters noted the dangerousness of riding bikes on the sidewalk regarding my post on Toronto's worst roads for cycling.

In other potentially bad news, two young (11 and 15) Chinese exchange students are missing as of Wednesday, when they were last seen by their host families. Having been in Canada for only a week, police are justifiably concerned. I sincerely hope that they're just staying with friends or family rather than the other alternatives.

Photo by louise@toronto, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.