Thursday, May 30, 2013

Happy Birthday, Hemingway's!

In my experience, when bars host an anniversary party, it's generally a really good time and comes with lots of freebies, so even if the details are really scarce, I usually carve out some time to check it out. This was the case with the 33rd anniversary celebration at Hemingway's in Yorkville. All I knew was that there was a patio party in the works starting at 6pm and the word "BBQ" made an appearance. My friend and I stopped by on our way to another party and we were not disappointed.

The start was a little shaky, as the staff on the patio seemed a little confused. We got there right at 6pm and it was packed with the after-work crowd (many of whom didn't seem to know anything about the party). There were balloons everywhere but the staff didn't seem to be advertising it. When we said we were there for the celebration, the hostess asked us if we had a reservation and it was our turn to be confused. After some milling around, they gave us a table and when a server came over, we asked her what the deal was with the anniversary party. It was all uphill from there.

There was a bbq set up and grilling was in full swing. After we ordered some sangria (which isn't on the menu but is delicious) and loaded up on free oysters, we moseyed on over for some free burgers and sausages. They also had rice and curry and there were free Molson Wheat beer samples.  Other than our sangria, we didn't pay for a thing and ended up with free dinner. The only thing missing was some music (the band was downstairs) but we didn't even notice this until the very end. The patio itself is pretty awesome and definitely worth checking out even outside of special celebrations.

Happy Birthday, Hemmingway's! We'll definitely be back next year.

WHAT: 33rd Anniversary Patio Party

WHERE: Hemingway's

WHEN: May 29 - 6 pm

COST: Free

INSIDER TIPS: Things were already hopping when we got there at 6pm, so it doesn't look like we needed to wait to come over. Next year, we're going right after work and getting started earlier. 

Top Shuck 2013

Of all the things I like, oysters, patio parties, and sampling food and drinks are pretty high up there. When I came across the poster for Top Shuck at Pure Spirits Oyster House & Grill, I was duly excited. Unfortunately, the event itself didn't quite live up to my expectations. Granted, the weather did not cooperate in the least and the whole patio thing went straight out the window, but even with the location changes (it was moved across the lane to the second floor of Boiler House on account of heavy rain), there were a lot of things that could have benefited from better coordination.

My friend and I got there a little after six and there wasn't really anyone up there yet. The servers  nodded a hello at us but didn't say anything beyond that. Slightly confused as to what the arrangements were for the night, we walked over to the back of the room where a couple of girls were manning the promised "wine, beer + liquor sampling" bar. They filled us in on the broad details for the night. The sampling itself consisted of one Polish beer (which I liked), one white wine, and one vodka brand. Other than that, it was a regular drink menu at the bar (not sample sized, so you really had to commit and have your wallet handy) and two menu items (kabobs for $8 and a burger for $12). When we asked about the oysters, the server had to get back to us on that and finally came back with the news that yes, we could order oysters (which were good but didn't come with any condiments). We had our oysters and a couple of drinks and were thinking of heading out to get some wings at Mill Street Brewery down the street when they finally made an announcement that the shucking competition will be starting in 20 mins (which was more like an hour). Tired of waiting, we decided to leave but it took us a long time to actually flag down our server so we could get the bill. Just as we were paying up, I happened to run into a guy I see at a tea shop I frequent and we got chatting, which resulted in us staying a lot longer than we planned to at that point (and also made the night a lot more enjoyable).

When the competition finally got underway, it was pretty neat. This was definitely more of an industry event and there were a lot of people who knew each other and came to cheer on their favourite shucker. People kind of congregated in the front and it was a pretty communal atmosphere. There was a judging table set up in the back of the bar and a couple of guys were hard at work there going through the finished plates to see if any points needed to be taken off for transgressions like damaged oyster meat, etc. (yes, there was a whole set of rules that came with this!). And the music was pretty solid, so that part was fun. We left after a couple of rounds of the competition and finally got our wings, which was a good time and much more satisfying than our Top Shuck experience.

Overall, I found the idea interesting but was rather underwhelmed by the execution. It's hard for me to judge how much of an effect the weather and venue change had on the event. I am willing to make some concessions but there were still a lot of things that should have been done better, especially when I compare it to many of the other events I have gone to recently at bars and restaurants.

WHAT: Top Shuck - Oyster shucking competition and patio party

WHERE: Pure Spirits Oyster House & Grill

WHEN: May 28 - 6pm

COST: Free (plus the cost of food and drink)

INSIDER TIPS: If you are seafood restaurant business, you're likely to have a good time and network with your peers. However, for a regular curious bystander, there are better events to attend.

Monday, May 27, 2013

B-I-N-G-O!

Every so often (fine, more like all the time) my calendar looks like a jigsaw puzzle with overlapping and back-to-back bookings. Any normal person would exercise control but I hate missing out on things, so as long as I can still put one foot in front of the other without falling over, I'm pretty determined to keep adding check marks to my to-do list. Thus it came to be that after a full day of exploring the city with Doors Open Toronto, I headed over to 2nd Floor for Boozy Bingo. This event has been on my radar a couple of times now and I wasn't about to miss it now that I had company in the form of my old bowling league buddies.

Well, in true Olena fashion, I showed up just as a new game was starting and the first number called meant free shots for anyone who had N34 on their fresh BINGO cards. Guess who had three of those. This girl. Shots at the bar it was. And the winning didn't stop there. I ended that game with a BINGO at the exact same time someone else got it, which resulted in a foot race, an attempt to force a dance-off to break the tie (after a full day of traipsing all over the city, I wasn't having any of that), and finally a rock-paper-scissors competition, which I won. A bit dramatic, if you ask me. The funny part was when somebody walked up to me during the intermission and said I had that win at the foot race. People were really invested in the whole thing!

The next couple of hours resulted in two more wins for me (plus one texting challenge win for a free number), which made me the most hated person in that room and had people begging my table not to give me any more BINGO cards. That was particularly funny, since the first thing they then did was give me a bunch of their cards to push the lucky streak a bit further. Collectively, we made out with a gift certificate to Firkin Pubs, a gift certificate to The Fifth, a collection of DVDs, an Amy Winehouse sweater, and two bottles of wine. Cheers to that! And it was a super fun evening as well with an entertaining host (minus the repeated attempts to stage a dance-off every time I kept winning lol) and great tunes. I think this happens every month, so I'm definitely keeping an eye on this in the future though this winning streak will likely be difficult to repeat.

This pile only got bigger. And we weren't the only ones!
WHAT: Boozy Bingo

WHERE: 2nd Floor, 461 King St. West

WHEN: Sunday, May 26 - 3-7 pm

COST: $5 for the first 5 cards + $2 for the BINGO marker (optional)

INSIDER TIPS: Keep an eye on your gambling addictions. There were a lot of prizes available and a manageable crowd. It was very tempting to keep buying extra cards to keep playing, especially when people started leaving towards the end, increasing our chances of winning. Also, check out some of their other events - the place is great and service was excellent.




This just got confusing...long story!

Doors Open Toronto 2013 - The Walking Tour

Convocation Hall and #9
This is the final installment in my Doors Open Toronto 2013 saga. On day two of the festival, I carved out a couple of hours to take part in the Campus and Cosmos: Astronomy in Toronto walking tour presented by a UofT professor John Percy in partnership with Heritage Toronto. The tour lasted just over 90 minutes and focused on 15 stops on and around the St. George campus:

1. Meteorological Office (skipped on this particular tour)
2. Royal Ontario Museum
3. McLaughlin Planetarium
4. Victoria College
5. The Stewart Observatory
6. University College (UC)
7. Site of the Magnetic Observatory (1840)
8. The Toronto Meridian
9. The "Official" Position of Toronto
10. The Sandford Fleming Building
11. The Grlbraith Building
12. McLellan Physical Laboratories
13. The Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics
14. David Dunlap Observatory (not an actual stop, as it's located in Richmond Hill, but mentioned)
15. Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics

Convocation Hall
First, the housekeeping. Walking tours are both very popular and very limited in number as far as this festival goes. Check the dates and times carefully and be sure to arrive about half an hour in advance to secure a seat. I was handed a wristband and was told I could wander off until the tour start time if I wanted to, which I did because I was starving by this point. When I came back a mere 20 mins later, there was a large crowd gathered around the meeting point and an equally large crowd stretched out in a single file half a block up the street in hopes of getting on this tour. The tour was capped at 120 participants and those with wristbands as well as the first 40 people in line were able to get in. To be perfectly honest (and this won't work if everyone did it, so be courteous), any diehards could really have waited around a little and tacked themselves onto the edges of the crowd when we started moving even if they didn't get an official spot on the tour (there were a few random passerby at some of the stops who saw a crowd and stopped to listen). The tour leader - John Percy - was fantastic (and hilarious!), delivering the presentation in a charismatic, informative, and entertaining manner (including a few jokes aimed at the Engineering students we kept bumping into). He was also very accommodating, taking questions in between stops and making sure the sound system was at a perfect volume so that everyone could hear. There were also a couple of volunteers (including one with a giant marker flag that could be seen at all times) making sure we didn't lose anyone that did not wish to be lost. Finally, I should note that the tour does not go inside the buildings (there simply isn't enough time) but we were always advised when the buildings are open to the public in case we were interested in visiting later. I found the pace not too fast and not too slow, and the information easily accessible and brief enough to still be entertaining. Well done, on all counts.

#6 - University College
Now, as to the content of the tour, it did an excellent job showcasing Toronto as an international centre for astronomical research, education, and public outreach. There were quite a few eye-opening moments (too detailed to list here) and I walked away feeling that our astronomical standing, so to speak, is quite impressive (minus the sad and unnecessary demise of the McLaughlin Planetarium). This walk has been offered several times before and will likely be offered again, so you might want to keep an eye either on John Percy (try the UofT directory for contact information; he will also be presenting this talk at Brentwood Library in the near future) or Heritage Toronto. Finally, even if you have no interest in astronomy, the walk itself if visually stunning and I would highly recommend it (either as part of a tour or on your own).

Toronto Time near #7
A few takeaways from the presentation in terms of future events:
WHAT: Campus and Cosmos: Astronomy in Toronto Walking Tour (part of Doors Open Toronto)

WHERE: St. George Campus, University of Toronto

WHEN: May 25 & 26 - 1:30 pm

COST: Free

INSIDER TIPS: Dress for the weather, wear comfortable walking shoes, and don't forget to wear sunblock (as well as bring a snack/lunch and some water). A notepad and a pen can also come in handy, as you might want to look up a number of things touched upon during the talk (including future events). 

#4 - Victoria College
Not a stop on the tour - just passing by
Hart House - not a stop on the tour
Back of #5 - The Stewart Observatory
#5 - The Stewart Observatory
#6 - University College
#5 - The Stewart Observatory
Students with impeccable timing
Add caption

Hart House
Convocation Hall
Convocation Hall and #10
#7 - Site of the Magnetic Observatory
#7 and #8

Doors Open Toronto 2013 - Day 2

Sunday morning, everyone had their doors open except the TTC, it seems. With so many venues to check out (and construction and traffic to contend with), driving isn't really a viable option. But good luck getting into a subway station (including their bus platforms) before 9 am: doors were firmly locked as if they were trying to fend off a zombie attack. Very disappointing that our public transit system would not do its part to help people explore Toronto's architectural and cultural heritage once a year. And this isn't even counting the fact that the first train was late and there was a major service disruption a mere 15 mins later, with all the accompanying confusion and lack of information and coordination on their part. But that's a different story (don't get me started on it!). In the end, after spending 2 hours (!!) getting downtown (a drive I can normally make in 20 mins at this time of day), I had to reshuffle my itinerary (missing out on a couple of planned stops) and finally got started. In addition to a walking tour (to be covered in a separate post), my stops for the day were largely concentrated along the waterfront and included: Toronto Marine Fire Station 334, Toronto Police Marine Unit, three ships (Pathfinder, Mariposa, and the Trillium steamer), and the Native Child and Family Services building. There were, of course, many more venues that I would have loved to see but between the commuting frustrations and the time required to actually partake in Doors Open, there simply weren't enough hours in the day (and it was a 17.5 hour day for me by the time I was finished).


The Fire Hall was one of my favourite stops and I dawdled around for close to an hour but then I have a particular weakness for Toronto's finest and it was hard to walk away. The bay doors were wide open and visitors could wander around the first floor of the hall (their kitchen smelled like bacon and the memorabilia was pretty interesting), explore the trucks and the fire boat (those things are insane when you're done opening all the compartments and gawking at all the gauges, levers, and nozzles), help them hose down their cars (should've packed a bikini!), learn about the building (it was built to look like a boat), and ask the friendly fire-fighting faces at the hall a million and one questions about their work (try breaking ice every morning at 5:30 am in the winter, for example, so the island residents can get to the mainland). Forget the kids - the moms were having just as much fun! This stop was new for this year and definitely a lot of fun to explore. Double thumbs up.

The Toronto Police Marine unit was nearby and I moseyed on over for a tour, which they were running every 20 mins or so. I got the longest-service officer in that station (with 35 yrs on the force!) and he had all kinds of stories and could ramble off all kinds of specifications about their boat fleet. Not exactly the most exciting speaker for the kids, but many of the details about the equipment are kind of mindblowing and I found the whole thing quite interesting. The only part of the station we toured was the boat dock, so if you've got young kids who are dreaming about guns and jail cells, I would recommend a different location for a visit (I believe the 11 Division was open to the public as well).

Being on the waterfront (and it being such a nice day), I ambled along the docks toward the Trillium steamer and stumbled upon a few ships you could clamber aboard on the way (these weren't on the Toronto Star list and I haven't cross referenced the website again to see if they were there). Pathfinder was a tall ship, so if you've ever dreamed of being a pirate, this one's for you. It's part of the Toronto Brigantine Inc., which does tall ship sailing adventures for youth in Ontario. It doesn't look that big on the surface but I was rather shocked by how deep the hull is, so that more than explain the whole living arrangements aspect. Mariposa also had several of their ships open to the public. I climbed aboard the largest one for a tour and a chat with the captain (apparently men in uniform was the theme of the day, not that I'm complaining). Nothing quite like hearing someone compare docking a ship the size of some condo buildings to parallel parking. But my favourite ship was the Trillium steamer. Loved it, from top to bottom. And I'm very excited to report that it will be sailing from the ferry docks to the island on weekends this summer. Definitely can't wait to go for a ride (and that captain is a funny one!).

After spending the morning at the waterfront, I didn't have much time before the walking tour I wanted to catch (plus I was starving), so I headed over to the meeting location and got my wristband before picking up some takeout and spending the next couple of hours walking around the UofT campus and hearing all about our history with astronomy (more on this in a separate post). It was after 3 pm when we finished and I didn't have much time left. In the end, I only had time for one more stop because I needed to wait for a guided tour and didn't have enough time to leave and come back. However, the Native Child and Family Services tour was worth it. The staff were wonderful and the building is simply gorgeous (if you go for open spaces, natural elements, and meaningful artwork - which I totally do!). The space reflects exactly what the organization stands for and I can't wait to explore that culture further during one of their community nights (every Monday at 6 pm and everyone is welcome).

Overall, Doors Open Toronto is one of my favourite festivals and I would suggest blocking off the whole weekend to take advantage of it (and to go every year since there is so much to explore). Personally, I like self-guided tours best because it allows me to get in and out faster, which means I can explore more venues. On the other hand, the guided tours are very informative, so they definitely have added value. My only beef is that most tours are quite long and run only once an hour (if that), so that seriously cuts into the already short time you have to get into those open doors. Patience may well be a virtue but it's usually not one of mine and I like to pack my sightseeing pretty tightly (ask my mom who talked me into taking her backpacking with me in Spain one summer!). But either way you do it, I highly recommend some quality exploration time.

WHAT: Doors Open Toronto 2013

WHERE: 150+ locations across the city

WHEN: May 25 & 26

COST: Free (with very few exceptions when TTC or ferry access is required)

INSIDER TIPS: Normally, I would say take public transit since parking in several different spots downtown gets costly (and driving, parking, and backtracking to the car can get frustrating and time consuming) but considering my TTC misadventures, that's something I'm now on the fence about. Sunday in particular, I would perhaps consider driving to the starting point and taking transit from there, only returning to the car at the end of the day. Also, while you don't need to do any serious planning to enjoy the event, things will move faster and smoother if you have a vague idea of what you want to see, which days/times those venues are open, and whether you need to be part of a tour to gain admission (and how often these run). Make a rough plan but be prepared to change it as the day progresses.
Toronto Marine Fire Station 334
Toronto Marine Fire Station 334
Toronto Marine Fire Station 334
Toronto Marine Fire Station 334
Toronto Marine Fire Station 334
Toronto Marine Fire Station 334
Toronto Police Marine Unit
Toronto Police Marine Unit
Toronto Police Marine Unit
Toronto Police Marine Unit
Toronto Police Marine Unit
Toronto Police Marine Unit
Pathfinder Tall Ship
Pathfinder Tall Ship
Pathfinder Tall Ship
Mariposa Cruiseship
Mariposa Cruiseship
Mariposa Cruiseship (Toronto Harbour navigational chart)
Mariposa Cruiseship
Mariposa Cruiseship
Trillium Steamboat
Trillium Steamboat
Trillium Steamboat
Trillium Steamboat
Trillium Steamboat
Trillium Steamboat
Trillium Steamboat
Native Child and Family Services
Native Child and Family Services
Native Child and Family Services
Native Child and Family Services
Native Child and Family Services
Native Child and Family Services
Native Child and Family Services
Native Child and Family Services
Native Child and Family Services
Native Child and Family Services
Native Child and Family Services
Native Child and Family Services
Native Child and Family Services
Native Child and Family Services
Native Child and Family Services
Native Child and Family Services (sweat lodge)