tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42553131864367841872024-03-14T03:57:50.089-04:00CheapThrillsT.O.Out and about in the Greater Toronto Area without breaking the bankOlenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581728027839451855noreply@blogger.comBlogger88125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4255313186436784187.post-80840548867370499272013-07-05T14:22:00.002-04:002013-07-05T14:22:35.969-04:00Big Changes Are Here!Change is inevitable and I personally embrace it despite the fact that it can sometimes be prickly. Having outgrown Blogger, I am moving this blog to its own site. CheapThrillsT.O. has a new home, a new look, and a new name. Please visit <a href="http://www.project416.com/">Project416</a> to check it out and subscribe. All new posts now live there. <br />
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I hope to see you on my new site and think you'll enjoy the many improvements I've been able to put it :)<br />
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~OlenaOlenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581728027839451855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4255313186436784187.post-40301263037108652582013-06-28T12:43:00.003-04:002013-06-28T12:43:59.400-04:00Redpath Waterfront Festival<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sNTsaFkRTms/Uc28e8BeCFI/AAAAAAAAB0s/Mnp169NF24k/s640/Waterfront1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sNTsaFkRTms/Uc28e8BeCFI/AAAAAAAAB0s/Mnp169NF24k/s400/Waterfront1.jpg" width="400" /></a>Tall ships were back in Toronto last weekend for the <a href="http://towaterfrontfest.com/2013-programming/" target="_blank">Redpath Waterfront Festival</a> in commemoration of the bicentennial of the War of 1812. The full fleet was stretched out along the waterfront from the HTO Park all the way to the Sherbourne Common. The festival itself was free but those looking for an extra kick could purchase tickets for deck tours of these majestic vessels. I stopped by on the Friday in between two other events and had a great time. There was food, music, sightseeing, giveaways, and a whole host of activities for both adults and kids. Definitely worth checking out.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sJLvyC6KLWc/Uc28gAEf5MI/AAAAAAAAB1Q/v-tOCNmQIjM/s640/Waterfront2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sJLvyC6KLWc/Uc28gAEf5MI/AAAAAAAAB1Q/v-tOCNmQIjM/s320/Waterfront2.jpg" width="320" /></a>In addition to providing a lot of visual stimulation, this festival is quite informative, with information boards posted throughout and cultural reenactments of life in the 1800s. If you made the trek further east to Sugar Beach (a bit of a walk and not quite a pleasant stroll with all the construction), you could also catch some quality live music at the beach with the EMERGE Artists Showcase. I spent a great hour there enjoying some free PEI fries and mussels while listening to some great tunes and enjoying a live Flyboard demonstration (that stuff is <i>way</i> cool!).<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FsPbMlfH9Nw/Uc28g4WILOI/AAAAAAAAB1Y/F_e2ShOOBik/s853/Waterfront4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FsPbMlfH9Nw/Uc28g4WILOI/AAAAAAAAB1Y/F_e2ShOOBik/s320/Waterfront4.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
WHAT: <a href="http://towaterfrontfest.com/2013-programming/" target="_blank">Redpath Waterfront Festival</a><br />
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WHERE: Harbourfront<br />
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WHEN: June 20-23, 2013<br />
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COST: Free (excludes deck tours)<br />
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INSIDER TIPS: There is a lot of construction in that part of the city due to the ongoing revitalization project. If you are driving, pack your patience and give yourself a lot of extra time. The Harbourfront is also easily accessible by TTC and the easiest thing to do is to walk down from Union Station. Also, be sure to check out the entire stretch - different stops along the waterfront had different food, activities, tall ships, and giveaways. All were worth the trouble. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PY3SlovVoYE/Uc28hs2kFFI/AAAAAAAAB1o/iqmZ2cIpAu4/s640/Waterfront6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PY3SlovVoYE/Uc28hs2kFFI/AAAAAAAAB1o/iqmZ2cIpAu4/s400/Waterfront6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T8PFR6wAxqw/Uc28ioiNfQI/AAAAAAAAB2I/EL_eC8XxYso/s857/Waterfront9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T8PFR6wAxqw/Uc28ioiNfQI/AAAAAAAAB2I/EL_eC8XxYso/s640/Waterfront9.jpg" width="475" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tM_--6bEbOI/Uc28e72dlHI/AAAAAAAAB0o/2rUzKe-Z4ek/s640/Waterfront10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tM_--6bEbOI/Uc28e72dlHI/AAAAAAAAB0o/2rUzKe-Z4ek/s320/Waterfront10.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These were free with a contest entry</td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jg8KyamJj3A/Uc28fuKWgTI/AAAAAAAAB08/3ypVAhP-vMI/s640/Waterfront11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jg8KyamJj3A/Uc28fuKWgTI/AAAAAAAAB08/3ypVAhP-vMI/s400/Waterfront11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rELDHqqPnCs/Uc28ffm_hEI/AAAAAAAAB00/L9TgWnNVqJ0/s640/Waterfront12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rELDHqqPnCs/Uc28ffm_hEI/AAAAAAAAB00/L9TgWnNVqJ0/s400/Waterfront12.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Free PEI grub</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mpyD8ojLgZQ/Uc28foizI5I/AAAAAAAAB1E/aW1I5xUYAqA/s640/Waterfront13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mpyD8ojLgZQ/Uc28foizI5I/AAAAAAAAB1E/aW1I5xUYAqA/s400/Waterfront13.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flyboard show - definitely impressive!</td></tr>
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Olenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581728027839451855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4255313186436784187.post-11260384205864533682013-06-24T23:31:00.000-04:002013-06-24T23:31:20.043-04:00TO Food Fest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zdstevYKd_E/UckOFuRWzZI/AAAAAAAABzo/DEd5Y2D1zIg/s1600/FoodFest3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zdstevYKd_E/UckOFuRWzZI/AAAAAAAABzo/DEd5Y2D1zIg/s640/FoodFest3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MTl0Q8h0Ap0/UckOFUkmgRI/AAAAAAAABzU/3D5rR87Tt_Q/s1600/FoodFest2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MTl0Q8h0Ap0/UckOFUkmgRI/AAAAAAAABzU/3D5rR87Tt_Q/s200/FoodFest2.jpg" width="200" /></a>If you've been on this blog before, you probably noticed that I'm quite partial to food events. Anything that involves delectable edibles in a sampling-friendly format makes me very, very happy. Unfortunately, many local food festivals have either always been or have now made the transition to being overpriced and are simply not worth the price of admission. That's why I always get excited when a new one appears on the scene and why I made the trek to Scarborough despite being quite literally wiped out after the Colour Me RAD event (I actually got a kick when I got recognized by my RAD tattoos that I didn't have the energy to scrub off).<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BcZYK8J9irQ/UckOG5o4e6I/AAAAAAAAB0Q/uhqMN0kBtpk/s1600/FoodFest9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BcZYK8J9irQ/UckOG5o4e6I/AAAAAAAAB0Q/uhqMN0kBtpk/s320/FoodFest9.jpg" width="320" /></a>It was worth the drive. With free admission, free parking, and no sampling tickets to contend with (you could simply hand over cash to the vendors, eliminating the need to somehow use up those pesky leftover tickets), this was a very low-risk event to begin with and the great food on site pushed it into the winning territory. Prices were very reasonable, dishes were varied and delicious, and the crowds manageable. Some of the vendors sold out (this was towards the end of the event) and there were a few line-ups for the popular items, but these were totally manageable and moved quickly, and there was plenty of other deliciousness to compensate for the items we didn't get to try. My friend and I had a great time and would both go again next year if the event returns.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rccFdsNlZF0/UckOGVVCI1I/AAAAAAAAB0M/G0eCkf4VJ98/s1600/FoodFest7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rccFdsNlZF0/UckOGVVCI1I/AAAAAAAAB0M/G0eCkf4VJ98/s320/FoodFest7.jpg" width="320" /></a>I was actually quite surprised to discover that this event was organized by <a href="http://tofoodfest.com/index.php/about-us-2/" target="_blank">Youth in Business</a>, as I've been to larger professionally-run events that left a lot to be desired. These guys knocked it out of the park. Well-run, good social media presence, and fabulous exposure for small-scale food entrepreneurs. I hope they meet their goal of making this an annual event and growing it further. Best of luck to them! <br />
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WHAT: <a href="http://tofoodfest.com/index.php/event-info/" target="_blank">TO Food Fest</a><br />
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WHERE: Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto<br />
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WHEN: June 23, 2013<br />
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COST: Free<br />
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INSIDER TIPS: Go! And bring some cash (and possible a blanket to roll around on the grass in between sampling). It's a very unpretentious, relaxed community atmosphere and an enjoyable way to spend the day. Or you can be in and out in about an hour if you're in a rush. Either way, delicious.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liquid nitrogen ice cream in the making</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loading up on free San Pellegrino</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't care how long the line is when there is pulled pork involved</td></tr>
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Olenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581728027839451855noreply@blogger.com05183 Sheppard Avenue East, Toronto, ON M1B 5Z5, Canada43.7945459 -79.23410690000002918.272511400000003 -120.54270090000003 69.3165804 -37.92551290000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4255313186436784187.post-40590789809412008482013-06-24T23:02:00.001-04:002013-06-24T23:32:25.980-04:00Colour Me RAD - The Volunteer Edition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_4FNGJMzVS8/UckGPhnJVGI/AAAAAAAABxM/iIZPoxr91bg/s1600/Rad1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_4FNGJMzVS8/UckGPhnJVGI/AAAAAAAABxM/iIZPoxr91bg/s200/Rad1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S50can4JbsE/UckGSvuWJpI/AAAAAAAAByk/PCiTNygzTus/s1600/Rad7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S50can4JbsE/UckGSvuWJpI/AAAAAAAAByk/PCiTNygzTus/s320/Rad7.jpg" width="320" /></a>I do a <i>lot</i> of volunteering, to the point where I finally had to start saying no just so I would actually have some free time left over. I learned to be much more selective about the people and causes I donate my time to, and expect certain things in return (e.g. not having my time wasted standing around doing nothing, for one). I also tend to focus on events-based volunteering to test drive an organization before donating to them or committing any more of my time - it's a great way to not only have some fun and check out swanky events for free, but also gives you a great inside look at the organization in how on the ball the staff are and how well they treat their volunteers and guests. <br />
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<a href="http://www.colormerad.com/about.html" target="_blank">Colour Me RAD</a> was a bit of a mixed bag for me. A portion of the proceeds from the Toronto event went to <a href="http://www.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca/en/home/default.aspx" target="_blank">Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS)</a> and I signed up after a friend passed on the volunteer information. Or, rather, I <i>tried</i> to. The first time I filled out the volunteer form (through the event website), nothing happened. I never heard back from the event organizers. However, about a week before the event, I got the BBBS newsletter with a call for volunteers and thought I might as well give it another try. That produced two volunteer shifts (I thought it was an either/or when I signed up, but oh well!). As I found out later, both the organizer and the charity had their own volunteer teams, though how exactly that worked is still a mystery to me. All I know is that my experience wasn't the same on the two teams.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xKlaApxYluw/UckGSv4IQEI/AAAAAAAAByw/ktHdIekJIuI/s1600/Rad3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xKlaApxYluw/UckGSv4IQEI/AAAAAAAAByw/ktHdIekJIuI/s320/Rad3.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pre-colour bombing</td></tr>
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My first volunteer shift was on one of the two race kit pick-up days and I thought I was supposed to be on registration. When I got there at the start of my shift, I was handed a volunteer t-shirt and got walked over to the merch table instead (even though a couple of girls who came an hour later got spots on registration). There wasn't much of an orientation provided (it basically consisted of one of the other volunteers telling me in 2 secs what we were doing) and none of the staff introduced themselves. Two of the other merch volunteers were there the day before and they seemed to know the staff but the rest of us barely got a sidelong glance. And there wasn't very much for the new people to do until we went off and found our own work. The staff person at the merch table also didn't bother telling us when lunch arrived and we could go eat - we found that out from the other volunteers as well. Not impressed.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5fNPjxli3Sg/UckGRXl1cvI/AAAAAAAAByE/JwKRelyX8o0/s1600/Rad2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5fNPjxli3Sg/UckGRXl1cvI/AAAAAAAAByE/JwKRelyX8o0/s200/Rad2.jpg" width="150" /></a>After that experience, I wasn't looking forward to wasting another day, but I made a commitment and it wasn't awful enough for me to back out last minute. My second shift was on the second race day and this time around the BBBS volunteer coordinator kept me with her all day and the experience was vastly different. Not only was I introduced to everyone at my station, but she kept an eye out for me all day to make sure I was enjoying myself. Night and day as far as my experience with the event was concerned. Most of our BBBS tent team ended up on the colour bombing squad pelting runners with coloured powder when it turned out that not enough Colour Me RAD volunteers had shown up. While this was a lot of fun, it was also exhausting and a greater commitment than you think when you factor in the clean-up requirements (yourself included!...plus the associated car, laundry, and home cleaning). <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BjP7ZQIbKXU/UckGPvKw4EI/AAAAAAAABxI/zwKAj1VLw5I/s1600/Rad10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BjP7ZQIbKXU/UckGPvKw4EI/AAAAAAAABxI/zwKAj1VLw5I/s320/Rad10.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These didn't keep out very much</td></tr>
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The race was staggered but for us it meant the runners were spread out and coming through non-stop for two hours straight. Think pitching baseballs continuously for two hours and you'll get the idea (I have the limited range of motion today to prove it!). The main event organizers were on site working hard and did come around to give us a proper briefing on how to do it right, as well as jumped in to help out halfway through and were super helpful. Those guys earn their keep! The main downside was that we were covered in pink dust and often the cloud was so thick we couldn't even see the runners. Despite the masks and glasses, that stuff was in out eyes, ears, noses, and eyes (in addition to covering us completely!) and at times it was hard to breathe. On the other hand, the full-on powder coating kept us from getting sunburned. When it was finally over and we sat down to some well-earned pizza, I was dead on my feet, which I didn't realize until then. And the shift ended up being longer than I signed up for. Scheduled to be there until noon, I finally bailed at 1:30pm because I had somewhere else to be and was quickly running out of time.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MRy5OlNlgJg/UckGQLk_fqI/AAAAAAAABxk/Tb5E-annD-k/s1600/Rad12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MRy5OlNlgJg/UckGQLk_fqI/AAAAAAAABxk/Tb5E-annD-k/s320/Rad12.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were seriously coated in this stuff</td></tr>
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The tricky part came when I thought about getting back in my car to drive home. BBBS ran out of volunteer t-shirts early on (the extras were handed out to drenched volunteers the day before because the BBBS volunteer coordinator cares about her crew). We got a pile of event shirts from the merch table but these were also gone and when I walked over to the merch table to ask if there was one I could put on so I had something clean to drive home in, the same girl from my first volunteer shift told me I could buy one if I wanted to. Having given up two days of my personal time to help with an event they made bank on, I wasn't particularly thrilled by the idea of having to shell out $20 just so I wouldn't have to spend an hour cleaning my car after <i>they</i> put me on a job I wasn't even supposed to be on. Definitely a sour note to end the day on and one that would probably make me think twice about volunteering for their event again.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JP5igTA5-84/UckGP7pZ_-I/AAAAAAAABxQ/XH8d_-Yrb6c/s1600/Rad11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JP5igTA5-84/UckGP7pZ_-I/AAAAAAAABxQ/XH8d_-Yrb6c/s320/Rad11.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check out the teeth!</td></tr>
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As for personal clean-up, I'm still not quite finished two days later. Whatever that powder was (a mix of corn starch and food-grade colour), it was much harder to get out than the liquid Crayola paint I got covered with at the <a href="http://bit.ly/11aPtiK" target="_blank">Corona Paint Party</a>. After a good 30-min scrub in the shower (no joke!) I still have spots of pink colour on me and they're all in places that were actually covered by clothes. This is the first time I remember feeling exhausted after a shower. The colour also didn't entirely come out in the wash, so if you do the race, don't wear anything you're particularly attached to.<br />
<br />
WHAT: Colour Me RAD Toronto<br />
<br />
WHERE: Downsview Park<br />
<br />
WHEN: June 22+23, 2013<br />
<br />
COST: $50-60 for runners; free to volunteer<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AaM28kfCrfw/UckGSDBKPLI/AAAAAAAAByY/73ZfcdjqkCg/s1600/Rad4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AaM28kfCrfw/UckGSDBKPLI/AAAAAAAAByY/73ZfcdjqkCg/s200/Rad4.jpg" width="200" /></a>INSIDER TIPS: Those who volunteers on one of the pick-up days had the option of running in the race for free. If you do run, be sure you bring something to protect your face when you run because you will be running through clouds of coloured corn starch. As far as volunteering in general is concerned, try testing out a few organizations by volunteering for one of their events before making a greater commitment. It's a great way to test them out and see if their corporate culture is a good fit for you. If it's not, the time commitment is limited and it's very easy to walk away after the event is done without having to "break up" with them.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pink colour-bombing squad, including our awesome BBBS volunteer coordinator</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AFTER the first clean-up stage. Not a sunburn.</td></tr>
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Olenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581728027839451855noreply@blogger.com0Downsview Park, 35 Carl Hall Road, Toronto, ON M3K 2B6, Canada43.7468404 -79.47921919999998943.723897400000006 -79.519559699999988 43.7697834 -79.438878699999989tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4255313186436784187.post-18674146093217008852013-06-23T21:25:00.000-04:002013-06-23T21:25:00.397-04:00NXNE Light<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-woWtQFFSZjQ/UcefMcM6TMI/AAAAAAAABws/3mXygzx3nfY/s1600/IMG-20130614-01817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-woWtQFFSZjQ/UcefMcM6TMI/AAAAAAAABws/3mXygzx3nfY/s320/IMG-20130614-01817.jpg" width="240" /></a>NXNE takes over the city for a week each June and is jam packed with sights and sounds for every taste. This is the one festival where you get a chance to check out both the yet undiscovered home-grown talent (and be among he first to see some of the future stars before they make it big!) and some of the biggest international superstars. Venues are spread out all over the city and the extensive local media coverage makes it easy to find a show you'll like even for those who consider themselves music scene neophytes. NOW Magazine and BlogTO are two of the outlets that always publish guides to the festival, along with their recommendations, and SOCAN provided a nifty pocket-sized (well, kinda) guide this year that made it easy to see what was happening when and where. For the die-hard music lovers, there is always the option of taking a few days off work (and many do!) and taking advantage of the very reasonably priced festival wristbands that get you into all the shows (and/or movie screenings). The only challenge is trying to be at a multitude of locations at the same time! Because the line-up is pretty stellar and it is always tempting to try and see it all.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DteAySeeEXY/UcefM-TYGrI/AAAAAAAABw4/Pt4_UXXhbd0/s1600/IMG-20130619-01830.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DteAySeeEXY/UcefM-TYGrI/AAAAAAAABw4/Pt4_UXXhbd0/s320/IMG-20130619-01830.jpg" width="240" /></a>For those not sure about their commitment to live music, there are quite a few free shows that are either part of the official festival or one of several spin-off events throughout the city. For example, free shows at Yonge-Dundas Square this year included such headliners as The National, Ludacris, and Billy Talent. You can rest assured the crowds were out in full force for these. I didn't have time this year to check out much of the festival but I did carve out some time in my calendar to check out The National (and catch the tail end of Hayden) at the square.<br />
<br />
Once again, I was quite impressed with the quality of sound at such a busy intersection in the heart of the city. I stayed on the edge of the crowd this time, across the main stage (and TV screens) by the mall entrance. This actually worked out really well (and offered a better view than from among the throng of the massive crowd, as well as an improvised seat!) until everyone around me started smoking. Oh well. You win some, you lose some. Still, the show was great and not as claustrophobia-inducing from the outskirts, so this is definitely one option for those concerned about the crush of people. The city didn't close down the street for the show but the crowd eventually took care of that itself, so the police had no choice but to patrol the edges and redirect cars because there was no stopping people from spilling into the street (though it <i>was</i> fascinating trying to watch a big rig trying to navigate the shrinking road space right before this happened). The National didn't play my favourite song but Hayden did, so that was a nice treat before heading home. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UgGwAeFkRLU/UcefLkqZaSI/AAAAAAAABwQ/nbgJhSnY8xg/s1600/IMG-20130614-01807.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UgGwAeFkRLU/UcefLkqZaSI/AAAAAAAABwQ/nbgJhSnY8xg/s320/IMG-20130614-01807.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This guy was playing along with Hayden</td></tr>
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WHAT: NXNE 2013<br />
<br />
WHERE: Venues throughout Toronto<br />
<br />
WHEN: June 10-16, 2013<br />
<br />
COST: Ranges from free shows to $60 for full-access wristbands to $399 for an interactive pass<br />
<br />
INSIDER TIPS: Many shows go late (with some of the best acts going on after 1am), so make sure you check out the calendar before you commit to a full-access wristband. There are also one-day passes and film-festival-only passes available, so there are plenty of options. If you are making a go at it, consider taking some time off work to take full advantage of the festival, as you will be bleary eyed and quite worn out if you don't. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PPjQ26w63PI/UcefLlmukQI/AAAAAAAABwM/td1QvqFkwAM/s1600/IMG-20130614-01810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PPjQ26w63PI/UcefLlmukQI/AAAAAAAABwM/td1QvqFkwAM/s400/IMG-20130614-01810.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sample program description to help festival goers decide what to see</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XoIttoXc9TY/UcefLefoYHI/AAAAAAAABwI/SrIVdCrUAFQ/s1600/IMG-20130614-01814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XoIttoXc9TY/UcefLefoYHI/AAAAAAAABwI/SrIVdCrUAFQ/s400/IMG-20130614-01814.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Creative seating arrangements at Yonge-Dundas Square</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Gst-3UcHms/UcefL33DSCI/AAAAAAAABwY/UTAnBAn0I0E/s1600/IMG-20130614-01816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Gst-3UcHms/UcefL33DSCI/AAAAAAAABwY/UTAnBAn0I0E/s400/IMG-20130614-01816.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's Yonge St. in there somewhere. Underneath all those people.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cPeOqwJHhCY/UcefMQ8tS3I/AAAAAAAABwo/HpUS5pCPfvE/s1600/IMG-20130614-01822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cPeOqwJHhCY/UcefMQ8tS3I/AAAAAAAABwo/HpUS5pCPfvE/s400/IMG-20130614-01822.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Olenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581728027839451855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4255313186436784187.post-11045153916909562702013-06-09T15:40:00.000-04:002013-06-09T17:59:57.073-04:00Dazed and Amazed - Modern Home Tour Toronto<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zz75hxoMGWw/UbTRdh8waBI/AAAAAAAABpA/7x3scuDkamM/s1600/Stop1.9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zz75hxoMGWw/UbTRdh8waBI/AAAAAAAABpA/7x3scuDkamM/s320/Stop1.9.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">38 Hugo Ave.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This was one of those things I had no idea existed until a friend offered me tickets, but then loved from the first moment I heard about it. <a href="http://modernhometours.com/" target="_blank">Modern Home Tours</a> highlights modern architecture and design in dozens of cities across the U.S. and Canada. The Toronto tour featured six homes, with proceeds benefiting the <a href="https://www.reddoorshelter.ca/" target="_blank">Red Door Family Shelter</a>. Information about the featured homes was available on the website, as well as a map with driving directions for this self-driving tour (these were also available at check-in at the three will-call locations that also doubled as stops on the tour). Even though you could read up a bit on the homes ahead of time and check out some of the pictures, nothing could prepare you for the actual experience. The homes were stunning and, in most cases, architects were on site to tell you more about the projects and answer questions. They were very generous when it came to sharing information about contractors, city bylaws, and design recommendations, so if you were in the business or were thinking about renovating (or just had a curious mind!), this was a highly recommended experience.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MOKFG8by5UQ/UbTRb1AuEuI/AAAAAAAABoA/5O7zl-VHxx8/s1600/Stop1.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MOKFG8by5UQ/UbTRb1AuEuI/AAAAAAAABoA/5O7zl-VHxx8/s320/Stop1.1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Model of 38 Hugo Ave.</td></tr>
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While it is technically possible to do just about anything in the city using public transit, you kind of really needed a car for this one. You <i>could</i> technically do it without a car but it would take you twice as long and would be rather frustrating and tiring. So, for once, I would recommend driving (and to be ready to practice those parallel parking skills...a lot!). Free street parking was available at most stops on the tour (I only had to feed the parking meter once) but the tour was very popular and you ended up following the same group of people around, so sometimes it could be a bit of a challenge to snag a parking spot nearby, since everyone was moving at the same speed and was vying for the same parking spaces. But it wasn't too much of a hassle and I didn't witness any incidents of road rage among the tour crowd. You needed to go to one of the three will-call locations first to get your wristband, but these were strategically spaced out across the city and made it easy to start the tour from there. Signage for the homes was clear and visible and the driving directions excellent, so all the stops were easy to find. There were also slip-on booties available for people who didn't want to take their shoes off inside. Overall, very well planned and I don't have a single criticism to offer the organizers. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-598oCsGGd0A/UbTRpqEkKtI/AAAAAAAABuo/Cvs-xLSgOQY/s1600/Stop6.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-598oCsGGd0A/UbTRpqEkKtI/AAAAAAAABuo/Cvs-xLSgOQY/s400/Stop6.14.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">510 King St. East</td></tr>
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As for the homes themselves, these were the stars of the show. For those who think all modern homes look the same (i.e. sterile and uninspiring), this would definitely be a major eye-opener. Not only were all the homes on the tour very different from each other, they were also warm, welcoming, visually stunning, and utterly livable. Most of the homes were currently occupied, so you got a real feel of how design functions in real day-to-day life for the homeowners. And there were a few stunning surprises along the way, like the giant 2,500 sq. ft condo in the heart of downtown that I fell in love with (and would buy in a blink of an eye if I had $2,150,000 to spare...which, sadly, I don't, nor would they let me slip my number to prospective buyers *sigh*), or the two 100+ year-old houses on the tour that looked deceiving from the curb but featured stunning additions once you got inside and around the back. Definitely lots of room for inspiration and awe, and it was a pleasant afternoon well spent. While all the hosts were incredibly gracious and welcoming, Jonathan (stop #6) got my personal vote for best hospitality and it was a great note on which to end the tour. If you get a chance, I cannot recommend this whole experience highly enough. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-skBpe0KNFMM/UbTRrQT0h-I/AAAAAAAABv4/V3_-jT16Oc8/s1600/Stop6.9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-skBpe0KNFMM/UbTRrQT0h-I/AAAAAAAABv4/V3_-jT16Oc8/s320/Stop6.9.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">510 King St. East</td></tr>
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WHAT: <a href="http://toronto.modernhometours.com/homes/" target="_blank">Modern Home Tour Toronto</a><br />
<br />
WHERE: Six locations across the city<br />
<br />
WHEN: June 8, 11am-5pm<br />
<br />
COST: $30 in advance, $40 at the door<br />
<br />
INSIDER TIPS: First of all, get yourself on the mailing list to hear about the next tour. Then, budget lots of time for it. The tour ran from 11am-5pm and you really did need most of that time to go through all the stops and take your time exploring. I got to the first stop just after noon and I was at it until the bitter end. You could technically do the whole tour in less time (and not everyone went to all the stops, either), but if you try to rush through everything, you will miss out on some of the experiences. I was surprised by what I found more than once and it always came from the least likely source.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2tsiROye6ds/UbTRca6EHkI/AAAAAAAABoM/Aw117GpLp04/s1600/Stop1.2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2tsiROye6ds/UbTRca6EHkI/AAAAAAAABoM/Aw117GpLp04/s400/Stop1.2.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">38 Hugo Ave.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l_EgNTc6Ko4/UbTRcNJvHSI/AAAAAAAABoE/_NXXbvAj4iM/s1600/Stop1.3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l_EgNTc6Ko4/UbTRcNJvHSI/AAAAAAAABoE/_NXXbvAj4iM/s400/Stop1.3.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">38 Hugo Ave.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sJxGeUzjvE4/UbTRcsP0rRI/AAAAAAAABoY/asyFd-uJJyw/s1600/Stop1.4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sJxGeUzjvE4/UbTRcsP0rRI/AAAAAAAABoY/asyFd-uJJyw/s400/Stop1.4.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">38 Hugo Ave.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jTp-rV3qhCQ/UbTRc6YSZYI/AAAAAAAABoc/4fjQOfsb-B4/s1600/Stop1.5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jTp-rV3qhCQ/UbTRc6YSZYI/AAAAAAAABoc/4fjQOfsb-B4/s400/Stop1.5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">38 Hugo Ave.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7zJiBGPkIXk/UbTRc5yWSEI/AAAAAAAABoo/vfysgaCvYZk/s1600/Stop1.6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7zJiBGPkIXk/UbTRc5yWSEI/AAAAAAAABoo/vfysgaCvYZk/s400/Stop1.6.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">38 Hugo Ave.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wJvcHkfuUTg/UbTRdK2oiOI/AAAAAAAABos/KMl6Q3qJEzs/s1600/Stop1.7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wJvcHkfuUTg/UbTRdK2oiOI/AAAAAAAABos/KMl6Q3qJEzs/s400/Stop1.7.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">38 Hugo Ave.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a8ad5c_tepM/UbTRdUYw0WI/AAAAAAAABow/5VLeFFavpOQ/s1600/Stop1.8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a8ad5c_tepM/UbTRdUYw0WI/AAAAAAAABow/5VLeFFavpOQ/s400/Stop1.8.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">38 Hugo Ave.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6aVMlvB7KFA/UbTRd5r3YcI/AAAAAAAABpE/8BLweJTY65o/s1600/Stop2.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6aVMlvB7KFA/UbTRd5r3YcI/AAAAAAAABpE/8BLweJTY65o/s400/Stop2.1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">199 Albany Ave. - That's actually a window. Both the glass and the screen disappear. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nayzw9fagAg/UbTReslIL2I/AAAAAAAABpU/GU4tK5H6odQ/s1600/Stop2.2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nayzw9fagAg/UbTReslIL2I/AAAAAAAABpU/GU4tK5H6odQ/s400/Stop2.2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">199 Albany Ave. - The garden here looks like a tamed jungle. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oAbZtReaBbk/UbTReqtkJ9I/AAAAAAAABpQ/CMyfudF2Mho/s1600/Stop2.3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oAbZtReaBbk/UbTReqtkJ9I/AAAAAAAABpQ/CMyfudF2Mho/s400/Stop2.3.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">199 Albany Ave. - What the front looks like. Definitely defies expectations. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NYwmt6i6_CA/UbTRgmNMrcI/AAAAAAAABqE/tlxcaYhegFc/s1600/Stop3.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NYwmt6i6_CA/UbTRgmNMrcI/AAAAAAAABqE/tlxcaYhegFc/s400/Stop3.1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">133 Walmer Rd. - The new addition in the back.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GW0AXeMV1YM/UbTRfE1OLcI/AAAAAAAABpg/Dzur410ctLg/s1600/Stop3.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GW0AXeMV1YM/UbTRfE1OLcI/AAAAAAAABpg/Dzur410ctLg/s400/Stop3.10.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">133 Walmer Rd. from the back patio. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_U-dOHc16os/UbTRfVFbfBI/AAAAAAAABpo/3xxf-Fi5_a8/s1600/Stop3.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_U-dOHc16os/UbTRfVFbfBI/AAAAAAAABpo/3xxf-Fi5_a8/s400/Stop3.11.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">133 Walmer Rd. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pUhSwSoJSjM/UbTRfvH81eI/AAAAAAAABpw/Z5L_fUjfwZE/s1600/Stop3.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pUhSwSoJSjM/UbTRfvH81eI/AAAAAAAABpw/Z5L_fUjfwZE/s400/Stop3.12.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">133 Walmer Rd. - The original part.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xj2uH0LrL6c/UbTRgVe1XqI/AAAAAAAABqA/KRPRWYL-hoY/s1600/Stop3.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xj2uH0LrL6c/UbTRgVe1XqI/AAAAAAAABqA/KRPRWYL-hoY/s400/Stop3.14.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">133 Walmer Rd. - The original part.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LI8cKu4IZ8Q/UbTRfzT4MKI/AAAAAAAABp0/r1QV64HDuzo/s1600/Stop3.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LI8cKu4IZ8Q/UbTRfzT4MKI/AAAAAAAABp0/r1QV64HDuzo/s400/Stop3.13.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">133 Walmer Rd. - Prior to the transformation.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TZyfewPstLI/UbTRg2KwSqI/AAAAAAAABqM/x4Eftw54AS8/s1600/Stop3.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TZyfewPstLI/UbTRg2KwSqI/AAAAAAAABqM/x4Eftw54AS8/s400/Stop3.15.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">133 Walmer Rd. - From the front.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JyHa9g5L96Y/UbTRg2r-0AI/AAAAAAAABqY/tnigt79RP9Q/s1600/Stop3.2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JyHa9g5L96Y/UbTRg2r-0AI/AAAAAAAABqY/tnigt79RP9Q/s400/Stop3.2.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">133 Walmer Rd. - Inside. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EaAKBfAEG8Q/UbTRiG-QhtI/AAAAAAAABq4/zyCKRtpTQCQ/s1600/Stop3.6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EaAKBfAEG8Q/UbTRiG-QhtI/AAAAAAAABq4/zyCKRtpTQCQ/s400/Stop3.6.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">133 Walmer Rd. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jRjZIGTaUR0/UbTRhkBUXrI/AAAAAAAABqs/xCcckBxFTH8/s1600/Stop3.5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jRjZIGTaUR0/UbTRhkBUXrI/AAAAAAAABqs/xCcckBxFTH8/s400/Stop3.5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">133 Walmer Rd. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cze-M_g-TJ0/UbTRhrh8M5I/AAAAAAAABqk/IyA9-i4P7bU/s1600/Stop3.4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cze-M_g-TJ0/UbTRhrh8M5I/AAAAAAAABqk/IyA9-i4P7bU/s400/Stop3.4.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">133 Walmer Rd. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rPrxBnuQX6Q/UbTRixXzJVI/AAAAAAAABrE/WVoXyV-8kmY/s1600/Stop3.7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rPrxBnuQX6Q/UbTRixXzJVI/AAAAAAAABrE/WVoXyV-8kmY/s400/Stop3.7.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">133 Walmer Rd. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z8OWlWm3LEk/UbTRi6uTXYI/AAAAAAAABrI/wbmDnNVAsyA/s1600/Stop3.8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z8OWlWm3LEk/UbTRi6uTXYI/AAAAAAAABrI/wbmDnNVAsyA/s400/Stop3.8.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">133 Walmer Rd. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AN0bV8LMNZE/UbTRitbHhxI/AAAAAAAABq8/CfaIpZyKxws/s1600/Stop3.9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AN0bV8LMNZE/UbTRitbHhxI/AAAAAAAABq8/CfaIpZyKxws/s400/Stop3.9.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">133 Walmer Rd. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jB2rdWOQIww/UbTRjYgYFcI/AAAAAAAABrc/a2JV_Djt__U/s1600/Stop4.2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jB2rdWOQIww/UbTRjYgYFcI/AAAAAAAABrc/a2JV_Djt__U/s400/Stop4.2.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">250 Manning Ave.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lsushDLBDFQ/UbTRjP-bqLI/AAAAAAAABrQ/IF9kaU2j0k4/s1600/Stop4.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lsushDLBDFQ/UbTRjP-bqLI/AAAAAAAABrQ/IF9kaU2j0k4/s400/Stop4.1.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">250 Manning Ave. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1PmPsnVWPPI/UbTRjlG0BzI/AAAAAAAABro/eIxbhl2we4I/s1600/Stop4.3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1PmPsnVWPPI/UbTRjlG0BzI/AAAAAAAABro/eIxbhl2we4I/s400/Stop4.3.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">250 Manning Ave.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YdO28cdWS_c/UbTRjuHrSQI/AAAAAAAABrs/1rtjhKRGDpE/s1600/Stop4.4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YdO28cdWS_c/UbTRjuHrSQI/AAAAAAAABrs/1rtjhKRGDpE/s400/Stop4.4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">250 Manning Ave.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qAxOC3AVI1U/UbTRj4pBW1I/AAAAAAAABrw/rFTTlWYD8LU/s1600/Stop5.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qAxOC3AVI1U/UbTRj4pBW1I/AAAAAAAABrw/rFTTlWYD8LU/s400/Stop5.1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">20 Niagara St. - a.k.a. The place that stole my heart.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7I-U1A4dXpw/UbTRmj5YAGI/AAAAAAAABtA/-tEmCiDEli0/s1600/Stop5.2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7I-U1A4dXpw/UbTRmj5YAGI/AAAAAAAABtA/-tEmCiDEli0/s400/Stop5.2.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">20 Niagara St. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bjBHzrk244c/UbTRmys_FXI/AAAAAAAABtE/BhUU76pBiLc/s1600/Stop5.3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bjBHzrk244c/UbTRmys_FXI/AAAAAAAABtE/BhUU76pBiLc/s400/Stop5.3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">20 Niagara St. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hbrsZ_c6XO0/UbTRlpWKwwI/AAAAAAAABsg/-wZ3iqRpROU/s1600/Stop5.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hbrsZ_c6XO0/UbTRlpWKwwI/AAAAAAAABsg/-wZ3iqRpROU/s400/Stop5.15.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">20 Niagara St. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Jk3gipZ-4Q/UbTRmYF9LgI/AAAAAAAABs0/gJIDnzFfwPo/s1600/Stop5.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Jk3gipZ-4Q/UbTRmYF9LgI/AAAAAAAABs0/gJIDnzFfwPo/s400/Stop5.18.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">20 Niagara St. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BSDVYszOZaY/UbTRnJXHqWI/AAAAAAAABtQ/cBFqSvbgWdY/s1600/Stop5.4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BSDVYszOZaY/UbTRnJXHqWI/AAAAAAAABtQ/cBFqSvbgWdY/s400/Stop5.4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">20 Niagara St. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7yO-7xT1Tls/UbTRnWrsKDI/AAAAAAAABtU/Jl7dr8wvbPI/s1600/Stop5.5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7yO-7xT1Tls/UbTRnWrsKDI/AAAAAAAABtU/Jl7dr8wvbPI/s400/Stop5.5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">20 Niagara St. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-laeImQAQQ_4/UbTRoalReUI/AAAAAAAABt8/ufMT4gpQJQw/s1600/Stop5.8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-laeImQAQQ_4/UbTRoalReUI/AAAAAAAABt8/ufMT4gpQJQw/s400/Stop5.8.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">20 Niagara St. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vCm-TXcav48/UbTRnw7yk1I/AAAAAAAABts/VgA2gryaEXM/s1600/Stop5.7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vCm-TXcav48/UbTRnw7yk1I/AAAAAAAABts/VgA2gryaEXM/s400/Stop5.7.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">20 Niagara St. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EmTY3bARHQU/UbTRnaYwSuI/AAAAAAAABtc/_8y4KR-9hgk/s1600/Stop5.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EmTY3bARHQU/UbTRnaYwSuI/AAAAAAAABtc/_8y4KR-9hgk/s400/Stop5.11.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">20 Niagara St. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mnpCTvgKnfg/UbTRkZlIGQI/AAAAAAAABsA/sTpaSAaJoRw/s1600/Stop5.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mnpCTvgKnfg/UbTRkZlIGQI/AAAAAAAABsA/sTpaSAaJoRw/s400/Stop5.10.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">20 Niagara St.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GujSALF8Q2o/UbTRoWcGvbI/AAAAAAAABt4/kSVa6gK6kAY/s1600/Stop5.9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GujSALF8Q2o/UbTRoWcGvbI/AAAAAAAABt4/kSVa6gK6kAY/s400/Stop5.9.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">20 Niagara St. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jcn_NSR9fCA/UbTRkpw1BxI/AAAAAAAABsE/A45DP92Rpu0/s1600/Stop5.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jcn_NSR9fCA/UbTRkpw1BxI/AAAAAAAABsE/A45DP92Rpu0/s400/Stop5.12.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">20 Niagara St. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IFXtqsydo1c/UbTRk9UpBeI/AAAAAAAABsM/J0r_qxhKbtw/s1600/Stop5.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IFXtqsydo1c/UbTRk9UpBeI/AAAAAAAABsM/J0r_qxhKbtw/s400/Stop5.13.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">20 Niagara St. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AeO3c1u1l5c/UbTRniJnR3I/AAAAAAAABtk/Sv-1Cj1r4X0/s1600/Stop5.6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AeO3c1u1l5c/UbTRniJnR3I/AAAAAAAABtk/Sv-1Cj1r4X0/s400/Stop5.6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">20 Niagara St. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_N_cwV4CZps/UbTRlE_cFPI/AAAAAAAABsU/jJRDZ1vdxqw/s1600/Stop5.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_N_cwV4CZps/UbTRlE_cFPI/AAAAAAAABsU/jJRDZ1vdxqw/s400/Stop5.14.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">20 Niagara St. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GcFLMo379e0/UbTRluHIbNI/AAAAAAAABsk/kvfKuqNht1A/s1600/Stop5.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GcFLMo379e0/UbTRluHIbNI/AAAAAAAABsk/kvfKuqNht1A/s400/Stop5.16.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">20 Niagara St. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FVov-QIgKtI/UbTRmPQSyRI/AAAAAAAABsw/F-XIcl_E0H4/s1600/Stop5.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FVov-QIgKtI/UbTRmPQSyRI/AAAAAAAABsw/F-XIcl_E0H4/s400/Stop5.17.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">20 Niagara St. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tQzuL5_ms0Y/UbTRokLsN5I/AAAAAAAABuE/0WCfC0HLrkE/s1600/Stop6.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tQzuL5_ms0Y/UbTRokLsN5I/AAAAAAAABuE/0WCfC0HLrkE/s400/Stop6.1.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">510 King St. East</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F5mYdB0m8Gg/UbTRp13ANbI/AAAAAAAABu8/q_mXwxTQXqA/s1600/Stop6.2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F5mYdB0m8Gg/UbTRp13ANbI/AAAAAAAABu8/q_mXwxTQXqA/s400/Stop6.2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">510 King St. East</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j8T0m61v4yM/UbTRqOhGUwI/AAAAAAAABvA/f4Mv_ESF4I8/s1600/Stop6.3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j8T0m61v4yM/UbTRqOhGUwI/AAAAAAAABvA/f4Mv_ESF4I8/s400/Stop6.3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">510 King St. East</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eeIl1HF6EiA/UbTRqWLw65I/AAAAAAAABvQ/pd0emI6QbQc/s1600/Stop6.4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eeIl1HF6EiA/UbTRqWLw65I/AAAAAAAABvQ/pd0emI6QbQc/s400/Stop6.4.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">510 King St. East</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bpj4__U40og/UbTRo1Wu5NI/AAAAAAAABuQ/0dArksa6sag/s1600/Stop6.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bpj4__U40og/UbTRo1Wu5NI/AAAAAAAABuQ/0dArksa6sag/s400/Stop6.10.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">510 King St. East</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T4pjjTK0ISg/UbTRpTZL13I/AAAAAAAABuk/82bM8_REUS8/s1600/Stop6.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T4pjjTK0ISg/UbTRpTZL13I/AAAAAAAABuk/82bM8_REUS8/s400/Stop6.13.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">510 King St. East</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-34qVaXCU2FA/UbTRpdOPwjI/AAAAAAAABuc/_bJ3qjpQ5TQ/s1600/Stop6.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-34qVaXCU2FA/UbTRpdOPwjI/AAAAAAAABuc/_bJ3qjpQ5TQ/s320/Stop6.12.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">510 King St. East</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NFl1JjF3ZCg/UbTRpClSpHI/AAAAAAAABuU/sOluPUpAyZg/s1600/Stop6.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NFl1JjF3ZCg/UbTRpClSpHI/AAAAAAAABuU/sOluPUpAyZg/s400/Stop6.11.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">510 King St. East</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TJF6-nZZj3Y/UbTRp-tyIEI/AAAAAAAABu0/LfPj2Mmfy80/s1600/Stop6.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TJF6-nZZj3Y/UbTRp-tyIEI/AAAAAAAABu0/LfPj2Mmfy80/s400/Stop6.15.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">510 King St. East</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dI8YCXgf1W4/UbTRqhRiIBI/AAAAAAAABvU/cvpBmIid5XY/s1600/Stop6.5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dI8YCXgf1W4/UbTRqhRiIBI/AAAAAAAABvU/cvpBmIid5XY/s400/Stop6.5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">510 King St. East</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sEESJXOxxEw/UbTRqzj3cQI/AAAAAAAABvk/TB5oqI_Vgv4/s1600/Stop6.7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sEESJXOxxEw/UbTRqzj3cQI/AAAAAAAABvk/TB5oqI_Vgv4/s400/Stop6.7.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">510 King St. East</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D_SncLReMqg/UbTRqkjQizI/AAAAAAAABvc/Vz7hdeMfdmM/s1600/Stop6.6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D_SncLReMqg/UbTRqkjQizI/AAAAAAAABvc/Vz7hdeMfdmM/s320/Stop6.6.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">510 King St. East</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lnfb3uTugUs/UbTRrfkZrMI/AAAAAAAABvs/4PszK0_X-lk/s1600/Stop6.8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lnfb3uTugUs/UbTRrfkZrMI/AAAAAAAABvs/4PszK0_X-lk/s400/Stop6.8.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">510 King St. East</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Olenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581728027839451855noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4255313186436784187.post-23494731023358729352013-06-06T10:22:00.001-04:002013-06-06T10:22:56.183-04:00Burger Day at Wychwood Barns<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SnZqDpS6mbc/UbCYkKPFjdI/AAAAAAAABlE/AeohzRP86Bg/s1600/IMG-20130602-01690.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SnZqDpS6mbc/UbCYkKPFjdI/AAAAAAAABlE/AeohzRP86Bg/s320/IMG-20130602-01690.jpg" width="300" /></a>For some strange reason, I find food in miniature absolutely impossible to resist. Enter <a href="http://www.thegriddoes.com/food-booze/burger-week/day/" target="_blank">Burger Day</a>. When it comes to burgers, the only thing better than a really good burger is a really good burger that's bite-sized. <a href="http://www.thegriddoes.com/food-booze/burger-week/week/" target="_blank">Burger Week</a> was back in Toronto for its second year last week and culminated with <a href="http://www.thegriddoes.com/food-booze/burger-week/day/" target="_blank">Burger Day</a> at Wychwood Barns, where all the participating restaurants from Burger Week (that'd be almost 70 of them, folks!) set up shop and tantalized attendees with all-you-can-eat sliders. I thought I'd died and went to burger heaven. Yes, please!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qiN3sIb0p24/UbCYkJQ05TI/AAAAAAAABk8/iz4WlNgcVjg/s1600/IMG-20130602-01689.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qiN3sIb0p24/UbCYkJQ05TI/AAAAAAAABk8/iz4WlNgcVjg/s400/IMG-20130602-01689.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
For $30, you got a wristband that earned you a right to walk up to the bbq of your choice and sink your teeth into something juicy and delicious. Tents were set up on 3 sides of the Barns itself and it was sliders as far as the eyes could see. The weather had kept many people away but the place was still packed (which resulted in a lot of muddy messes from all the foot traffic, so you really needed proper shoes to get around in comfort). You didn't need a wristband to walk around the site but you couldn't get any food without it, so it was an all-or-nothing scenario. The event ran from 11:00 am to 5:30 pm. However, shortly I got there around 1:30 pm, some places started to sell out. By about 4:00 pm, only a handful remained that were still serving. If you wanted <i>all</i> you could eat, you needed to be there early!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KmKTl-HWads/UbCYnRpZZEI/AAAAAAAABm8/77IDdKrQRvU/s1600/IMG-20130602-01701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KmKTl-HWads/UbCYnRpZZEI/AAAAAAAABm8/77IDdKrQRvU/s320/IMG-20130602-01701.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now that's what I mean by a good system!</td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g-Jk71sGIA4/UbCYm7n-k_I/AAAAAAAABmY/3NyXwIog9g8/s1600/IMG-20130602-01704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g-Jk71sGIA4/UbCYm7n-k_I/AAAAAAAABmY/3NyXwIog9g8/s200/IMG-20130602-01704.jpg" width="200" /></a>With respect to the sliders themselves, they were delicious. But you're kidding yourself if you think you can eat your $30's worth of food. I barely made it through seven stops and even my friend's boyfriend - who has a rather impressive appetite - barely cracked a dozen (maybe...it was hard to keep count). Some places were serving up full-size burgers instead of sliders, and a few were offering discounts to people who came by with their wristbands in the following week. My friend and I figured out a way to split a wristband, so it's doable - you'll just need to spend more time in line, which wasn't a bad thing because it lets you eat more on account of having more time to digest in between. The lines were pretty long but moved quickly and if you got into a rhythm, you could be grabbing a slider, eating it while you were in the next line-up, and loading up on a new one by the time you were done. Some places limited you to one per person (although you could line up again and have more), while others let you take as many as you liked. Between the three of us, we got into a really good rhythm and moved from stop to stop quickly. All three of us ended up in a food coma by the end and spent quite a long time in the beer garden trying to recover.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5HPf4vzK1pc/UbCYs18wsKI/AAAAAAAABnY/cyX0cMzEEv8/s1600/IMG-20130602-01714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5HPf4vzK1pc/UbCYs18wsKI/AAAAAAAABnY/cyX0cMzEEv8/s400/IMG-20130602-01714.jpg" width="400" /></a>For those with kids, the layout was great. There is a giant playground at the Barns, so parents could split up and take turns watching the kids run around having all kinds of fun while the other one loaded up on food. The organizers also brought in a few bouncy castles, though these had to be moved because of the mini flooding that happened in the original location. And there were plenty of simple, unpretentious burgers on offer to appeal to even the pickiest eaters. The tent set-up allowed the sizable crowd to move around easily (not an easy feat, considering all the individual line-ups that were happening and the amount of people that turned up!) and signage was great. <br />
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Cost-wise, I had fun and would go again next year in a heartbeat. But I do wish they had a ticketed option (e.g. buy 5 or 10 tasting tickets) in addition to the wristband option, since you really can't eat that much. But even at $30, it was still worth it and great fun. You just feel like a failure because you barely made a dent in the tastings considering the number of restaurants that were there.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cGLeCwsOZJ8/UbCYpTzNzMI/AAAAAAAABm0/FgJbfi2UGjc/s1600/IMG-20130602-01709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cGLeCwsOZJ8/UbCYpTzNzMI/AAAAAAAABm0/FgJbfi2UGjc/s320/IMG-20130602-01709.jpg" width="320" /></a>WHAT: <a href="http://www.thegriddoes.com/food-booze/burger-week/day/" target="_blank">Burger Day</a><br />
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WHEN: June 2, 11:00am-5:30pm<br />
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WHERE: Artscape Wychwood Barns<br />
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COST: $30 for all-you-can-eat sliders (drink tickets extra)<br />
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INSIDER TIPS: First of all, go early because many places will sell out. Second, trying to find parking will make your hair go grey, so you might want to take the TTC (it's a short walk from St. Clair West subway station or you can take a streetcar). If it's raining, you'll need rain boots because the crowds will turn much of the lawn into a muddy mess. And don't let the rain stop you from attending - we barely noticed it. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one was my favourite. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one was my second favourite. </td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ri0x0zxNpXI/UbCYls1jtCI/AAAAAAAABl0/f-nlaUeh7M4/s1600/IMG-20130602-01699.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ri0x0zxNpXI/UbCYls1jtCI/AAAAAAAABl0/f-nlaUeh7M4/s400/IMG-20130602-01699.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4hn3OV3azCo/UbCYmL1vIBI/AAAAAAAABmI/n_7fap5AwdU/s1600/IMG-20130602-01702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4hn3OV3azCo/UbCYmL1vIBI/AAAAAAAABmI/n_7fap5AwdU/s400/IMG-20130602-01702.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes. That's THREE kinds of meat in there. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You know you're at an all-you-can-eat event when...</td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NQroOCRVb8g/UbCYnpb261I/AAAAAAAABmk/E4GGyv6xk2M/s1600/IMG-20130602-01706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NQroOCRVb8g/UbCYnpb261I/AAAAAAAABmk/E4GGyv6xk2M/s400/IMG-20130602-01706.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rain, sun...you name it! The weather couldn't make up its mind. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xlcR2ETGhdA/UbCYta63uXI/AAAAAAAABno/LT_EPDpAogw/s1600/IMG-20130602-01717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xlcR2ETGhdA/UbCYta63uXI/AAAAAAAABno/LT_EPDpAogw/s400/IMG-20130602-01717.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No more burgers = no more line-ups. </td></tr>
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Olenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581728027839451855noreply@blogger.com0601 Christie Street, Toronto, ON M6G 4C6, Canada43.679749 -79.424110618.1577145 -120.7327046 69.2017835 -38.115516600000007tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4255313186436784187.post-61644070305226862342013-06-02T11:41:00.002-04:002013-06-02T11:41:45.906-04:00A Fairly Standard Saturday - In My Life, Anyway! <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2YY_jTV1XqQ/UatmPgBidnI/AAAAAAAABis/Bt0SPyQw5xs/s1600/IMG-20130601-01659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2YY_jTV1XqQ/UatmPgBidnI/AAAAAAAABis/Bt0SPyQw5xs/s320/IMG-20130601-01659.jpg" width="240" /></a>A street festival, patio drinks, cult film festival, and burger week - oh my! That's what I call a good Saturday. Summer is a busy time (even though we haven't hit June 21 yet, I say it's summer!) and my calendar is usually full with events and happenings that are literally written in one on top of the other. Every so often though, stars align and I'm able to make it out to most of these. This was just such a Saturday.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0mQSs1i9IOI/UatmRDdvgEI/AAAAAAAABjg/1tQUCMV4DtU/s1600/IMG-20130601-01676.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0mQSs1i9IOI/UatmRDdvgEI/AAAAAAAABjg/1tQUCMV4DtU/s200/IMG-20130601-01676.jpg" width="200" /></a>The first stop of the day was <a href="http://www.riverside-to.com/events/eats-beats-in-riverside/" target="_blank">Eats & Beats in Riverside</a>, a street festival on a small stretch of Queen St. East. A couple of friends and a friend's dog in tow, we spent about an hour exploring a neighbourhood we don't get out to much, sampling some treats along the way. The festival was small and not a particular draw for people looking for a jam-packed afternoon, but great if you live in the area. The weather was perfect and we had a lovely time. The highlights for me were an outdoor spinning class in a closed-off street and a dog-friendly wine store that opened my eyes to the fact that you can make sangria with cider instead of sparking water (!!). Overall, cute. Not necessarily worth a separate trip if that's the only thing on your menu but if it's on the way, it was worth stopping by. And for those that live in the area, a number of local businesses were offering a 10% discount for the entire month to those who completed six stops on a passport that you could pick up at any participating location.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S9ac5ocrKaU/UatmSbxQBlI/AAAAAAAABkE/X7KVgL6MCrk/s1600/IMG-20130601-01683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S9ac5ocrKaU/UatmSbxQBlI/AAAAAAAABkE/X7KVgL6MCrk/s320/IMG-20130601-01683.jpg" width="320" /></a>After our walk-around, we were looking for a patio to enjoy but the one thing about that stretch of Queen St. is that it doesn't really have any. Lots of places had their front windows wide open, creating more of an inside patio, but this didn't really work for us since there wasn't anywhere to park the dog. Being so close to the Distillery, however, this problem was easily rectified and once again I found myself at the <a href="http://toronto.millstreetbrewpub.ca/content/beer-hall" target="_blank">Mill Street Brew Pub</a>. This time, however, we got to check out the massive new addition around the back. The Beer Hall just opened this week and is amazing! One giant stretch of it is fully covered by plexiglass and the overhang was enough to even protect the dog from the rain that made a brief appearance. The weather looked rather threatening for a while but after a brief rain period, it went back to being quite lovely and we had a great time tasting some craft beers (the flights are great fun and very affordable). The staff were very friendly and even doted on the dog and gave her treats. In between being showered with attention, the said dog managed to cause quite a stir when she vaulted over the railing in a rather spectacular nosedive practically right onto the table. Hilarious.<br />
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The next stop on my calendar was a cult film festival but we were having such a great time that I ended up lingering with my friends longer than expected. I snuck into the theatre late but it was still long enough to discover that <a href="http://lostepisodefest.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">The Lost Episodes Film Festival</a> is pretty hilarious and I'm looking forward to day 2 screenings today. Even if you don't think you're a big enough nerd to get all the puns, it's still a great time and is very accessible to a wide range of viewers. The balcony is closed for these screenings, so if that's your favourite spot to hang out at the Bloor Cinema, save yourself a trip up the stairs and head straight to the main floor seats. <br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LROzuK9NcxE/UatmSz1XjGI/AAAAAAAABkg/OFKtgqX0Dvo/s1600/IMG-20130601-01688.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LROzuK9NcxE/UatmSz1XjGI/AAAAAAAABkg/OFKtgqX0Dvo/s320/IMG-20130601-01688.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
For dinner, my patio buddies from earlier in the day were headed to <a href="http://rocklobsterfood.com/index.html" target="_blank">Rock Lobster</a> for their <a href="http://www.thegriddoes.com/food-booze/locations/?set=burgerweek" target="_blank">Burger Week</a> offering. When I checked in after the screening ended for the day, I discovered that I still had time to make it. With a few other additions, there were six of us in total and we were all excited to try the drool-inducing "ground chuck, Old Bay seasoning, Nova Scotia lobster, lettuce, and garlic-and-lemon mayo on an egg-washed bun". My Twitter feed has been full of stellar reviews of the food at Rock Lobster, so I was looking forward to getting a taste. I am sorry to report that this was a major disappointment for all six of us. The burger was dry and uninspiring, with the patty half the size of the bun and a tiny bit of lobster meat thrown on top. It looked like absolutely no effort went into it and we were all shocked that a restaurant would choose to participate in Burger Week with such a terrible attitude. After this experience, none of us plan to go back. Disappointing to say the least.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xR7rWvQvwCE/UatmShcuTNI/AAAAAAAABkU/2QPIUsywT0U/s1600/IMG-20130601-01684.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xR7rWvQvwCE/UatmShcuTNI/AAAAAAAABkU/2QPIUsywT0U/s320/IMG-20130601-01684.jpg" width="320" /></a>WHAT: This and that<br />
<br />
WHERE: From the east end to the west<br />
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WHEN: June 1, 2013<br />
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COST: Mostly free, with a cost for food and drink<br />
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INSIDER DETAILS: Keep on top of what your friends are doing because you never know when your own plans might change. If your friends are active on social media, it's a great way to keep tabs on their whereabouts and join them for things that are more fun to do together. None of us planned to spend the day together but it kind of happened and a great time was had by all (well, minus that burger thing).<br />
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Olenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581728027839451855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4255313186436784187.post-35541985856297776112013-06-02T08:41:00.001-04:002013-06-02T08:41:46.026-04:00Down and Dirty with Corona - The Paint Party Edition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5fhfY7jgHic/Uas7Zi4DCOI/AAAAAAAABgk/AwnvCs3os_Q/s1600/Corona13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5fhfY7jgHic/Uas7Zi4DCOI/AAAAAAAABgk/AwnvCs3os_Q/s640/Corona13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DnkdTO7UEjs/Uas7W-u5jQI/AAAAAAAABfo/BlR6Zg65K2M/s1600/Corona1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DnkdTO7UEjs/Uas7W-u5jQI/AAAAAAAABfo/BlR6Zg65K2M/s200/Corona1.jpg" width="200" /></a>Who doesn't like getting 100% head-to-toe dirty, on purpose? There's nothing quite like walking through a crowded mall (did that) or getting on the subway (did that, too) completely covered in paint. But I'm getting ahead of myself. The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/103457896525411/?fref=ts" target="_blank">Corona Paint Party</a> was just that: an opportunity to run around in public with thousands of like-minded people, flinging paint at each other. And who am I to resist such temptation! This was a sealed deal the minute I heard about the party. Even if it did take me 20 mins of scrubbing and 2 hair shampoos to get myself back to a single skin colour and clean hair.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8BI35ylnT24/Uas7acIEkkI/AAAAAAAABhE/k3Vv4kuHOHY/s1600/Corona2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8BI35ylnT24/Uas7acIEkkI/AAAAAAAABhE/k3Vv4kuHOHY/s320/Corona2.jpg" width="320" /></a>The event page invited participants to come as a blank canvass and leave as a work of art. Registration was set to start at 4pm, with the paint party starting at 5pm and the beer garden opening at 6pm. I was there at 3:30pm and the line-up already had a few hundred people in it. By 4pm, there was no sign of movement and the line grew to the point where it looped around several times. Thousands of people turned out in their best ugly white clothes (you know, the stuff you never actually wear but seem to have in your closet) to get their painting on. Finally, they started letting people in verrrrryyyyy slowly and, not too long after, we all watched as people on the inside started grabbing the full jugs of paint and flinging it at each other in giant globs, wasting it by the gallons. The organizers eventually caught on and went around the perimeter collecting these and rationing paint distribution from then on, as well as starting to water it down. Yes, they had officially started to run out of paint not 20 mins after they opened the gate.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Eq8hyhke1z8/Uas7bZNTRnI/AAAAAAAABhk/iii2phYL-eU/s1600/Corona3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Eq8hyhke1z8/Uas7bZNTRnI/AAAAAAAABhk/iii2phYL-eU/s320/Corona3.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
The other thing that happened was that the people on the inside started running up to the barricade and sharing some of their messiness with those still in line. While the sentiment was sweet, never discount the power of human stupidity: those in line still had their purses, phones, etc. out in the open (which quickly got hit by the splatter) and it didn't help that the spray from the bottles of paint seemed to be aimed straight at our faces. Considering the amount of time we all spent waiting around in line and how few people they were letting in (it seemed like there was hardly anyone inside the paint zone most of the time), the organizers had more than enough time to set some ground rules for those nearing the gate. Instead, all that happened was that the people who got up to the entrance signed their name on a piece of paper that didn't even have any information on what the waiver included and we had our IDs checked. That is all. And don't even get me started on the line jumpers! This was happening a <i>lot.</i> Oh well.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hFLq17J42XI/Uas7W9-nLKI/AAAAAAAABfw/4GhvNcfTkA0/s1600/Corona11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hFLq17J42XI/Uas7W9-nLKI/AAAAAAAABfw/4GhvNcfTkA0/s320/Corona11.jpg" width="320" /></a>After 2.5 hours of waiting in line, I was finally able to get inside. By this point, they were pretty much out of paint and small portions of watered down concoctions caused a frenzy by the main paint stand. People were determined to have fun after spending so long in line waiting to get in. It was a sight to behold. For those not wishing to get their clothes dirty, coveralls were provided, but they did little to protect you from the mess. Because the paint was mostly water a this point, it went straight through the flimsy material, which several people discovered very quickly. And instead of being bright and colourful, it all blended in into the same dirty-pastel coloured mess. The "art" concept behind this event quickly went out the window. If you were coming to paint, you really had to be ready to get dirty. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VLt6XGClK-A/Uas7cISvxeI/AAAAAAAABh8/Inri6_OeQvQ/s1600/Corona7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VLt6XGClK-A/Uas7cISvxeI/AAAAAAAABh8/Inri6_OeQvQ/s400/Corona7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r3SwY40v1tA/Uas7ZgbtvQI/AAAAAAAABgo/p7PytyOwgKw/s1600/Corona18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r3SwY40v1tA/Uas7ZgbtvQI/AAAAAAAABgo/p7PytyOwgKw/s200/Corona18.jpg" width="200" /></a>The painting itself was a lot of fun and I got good and covered in all kinds of messy goo. But with all the (dis)organizational mishaps, I doubt I would do this again. As much fun as it was, it just wasn't worth 4 hrs of my life, the bulk of which was spent waiting in line while a small handful of people took all the time int he world using up all the paint as thousands of wistful people watched on. Most people - who all spent hours in line - never got anywhere near the entrance. The paint zone was shut down shortly after it started to rain and the official story was that it was for safety reasons on account of the weather. However, as they didn't have any paint left by then, I'm not sure what the actual reason was. My friend and I were waiting in "line" (more like a giant huddle of people, with everyone doing whatever they wanted) to get into the beer garden where they had some food and Corona towels to give away (which would have been awesome), but once again, the line wasn't moving and we never got a chance to get inside (which was not so awesome). The girls from Hard Rock Cafe across the street did keep coming out with trays of free sliders but the crowd would engulf them momentarily and these were snatched up in seconds. After about half an hour in the intermittent rain, we gave up and went home (via a Burger Week stop, which was much more satisfying than this whole experience).<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dkbeIkFL5PE/Uas7cdnjmNI/AAAAAAAABiE/I8BS1bU4tWI/s1600/Corona8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dkbeIkFL5PE/Uas7cdnjmNI/AAAAAAAABiE/I8BS1bU4tWI/s400/Corona8.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
Overall, a ridiculously fun concept but very poorly organized, which I found surprising considering how many huge public events Corona is involved with. They were not prepared to handle the capacity and both the paint zone and the beer tent were <u>tiny</u> considering the size of the crowd. This needed to either be a ticketed event so that people didn't have to spend hours waiting in line for nothing, or the time allotted inside each zone needed to be restricted and time limits enforced. Epic fail on both counts.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4WKF6uid4nk/Uas7aFhDpoI/AAAAAAAABg4/tiVatqhEeLo/s1600/Corona19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4WKF6uid4nk/Uas7aFhDpoI/AAAAAAAABg4/tiVatqhEeLo/s320/Corona19.jpg" width="240" /></a>WHAT: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/103457896525411/?fref=ts" target="_blank">Corona Paint Party</a><br />
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WHERE: Yonge Dundas Square<br />
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WHEN: May 31 - 4pm<br />
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COST: Free<br />
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INSIDER TIPS: You either need to be there ridiculously early (try a couple of hours before the official registration start), or head straight for the beer garden before the first batch of painted people starts leaving the paint zone. Either way, be prepared to spend hours in line. Even considering the uniqueness of the event, it's not really worth it. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zgK8S9egKT0/Uas7b-x4guI/AAAAAAAABh4/xQ7nc2oynGE/s1600/Corona6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zgK8S9egKT0/Uas7b-x4guI/AAAAAAAABh4/xQ7nc2oynGE/s400/Corona6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UgC3NA-6FAM/Uas7Y9vEe-I/AAAAAAAABgU/mFixda65w-o/s1600/Corona14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UgC3NA-6FAM/Uas7Y9vEe-I/AAAAAAAABgU/mFixda65w-o/s400/Corona14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e8NrtcsH9YI/Uas7YA9IemI/AAAAAAAABgI/QgfVqRkJzz8/s1600/Corona15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e8NrtcsH9YI/Uas7YA9IemI/AAAAAAAABgI/QgfVqRkJzz8/s400/Corona15.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IMCGhByybgs/Uas7Zf_Aq9I/AAAAAAAABgg/1DtV0NcMRO8/s1600/Corona17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IMCGhByybgs/Uas7Zf_Aq9I/AAAAAAAABgg/1DtV0NcMRO8/s400/Corona17.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ROSh2_vNQzo/Uas7bVWPuwI/AAAAAAAABhg/lZB8Y_Y5P_Y/s1600/Corona4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ROSh2_vNQzo/Uas7bVWPuwI/AAAAAAAABhg/lZB8Y_Y5P_Y/s400/Corona4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was as close as we ever got to the beer garden - a picture from a distance before it all even started.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mjPrl1_thOY/Uas7blx7exI/AAAAAAAABhs/ADwURz9TNRI/s1600/Corona5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mjPrl1_thOY/Uas7blx7exI/AAAAAAAABhs/ADwURz9TNRI/s400/Corona5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That beer garden sure did look nice though! What a tease. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nuQNTjf0IgY/Uas7aV7Bk5I/AAAAAAAABhA/8j6GFCVgndI/s1600/Corona20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nuQNTjf0IgY/Uas7aV7Bk5I/AAAAAAAABhA/8j6GFCVgndI/s400/Corona20.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the reality - waiting in the rain to never actually get inside. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7mCg49ZCkBQ/Uas7amgJRRI/AAAAAAAABhI/Dkkab7Fgozs/s1600/Corona21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7mCg49ZCkBQ/Uas7amgJRRI/AAAAAAAABhI/Dkkab7Fgozs/s400/Corona21.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't ask me where someone found actual paint to dump all over my hair. Sure beats me!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-62DOq0JlVmE/Uas7a9Z5QTI/AAAAAAAABhY/25e10L3eS_A/s1600/Corona22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-62DOq0JlVmE/Uas7a9Z5QTI/AAAAAAAABhY/25e10L3eS_A/s400/Corona22.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just about the best part of the night - their Burger Week offering was goooooood!</td></tr>
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Olenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581728027839451855noreply@blogger.com4Dundas Square, Toronto, ON M5B, Canada43.6559868 -79.37944279999999343.6545508 -79.381964299999993 43.6574228 -79.376921299999992tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4255313186436784187.post-58208856266810968742013-06-01T09:35:00.001-04:002013-06-01T09:35:47.519-04:00Travel Bloggers Unite - The PREBEX Party<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JpHA55eCZSo/Uan3ZnOmU4I/AAAAAAAABes/hY5eY9zOMiM/s1600/Prebex1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JpHA55eCZSo/Uan3ZnOmU4I/AAAAAAAABes/hY5eY9zOMiM/s400/Prebex1.jpg" width="400" /></a>This was stop number two on the same evening and once again, my friend and I were not disappointed. <a href="http://tbexcon.com/canada/" target="_blank">TBEX</a> (Travel Blog Exchange) conference is in town this weekend and before the official kick-off, <a href="http://www.gadventures.com/" target="_blank">G Adventures</a> hosted a party for those who were in town early. The tickets for the <a href="http://gprebex.eventbrite.com/" target="_blank">PREBEX</a> party were free but you needed one to get in (and they sold out pretty quickly). My friend and I scored a pair and headed over there after we stopped by Hemingway's to celebrate their 33rd anniversary. This turned out to be a great way to finish off our night!<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-szp6dSsjdXc/Uan3Z-vVCjI/AAAAAAAABe8/9yGVx5zB9ZU/s1600/Prebex4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-szp6dSsjdXc/Uan3Z-vVCjI/AAAAAAAABe8/9yGVx5zB9ZU/s320/Prebex4.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
Upon arrival, we were given 2 drink tickets and 1 food ticket (the Gourmet Gringos food truck was there with delicious tacos). The patio was open and the weather was pretty darn perfect, so everybody was outside and the dance floor inside didn't fill up until much later in the evening (we didn't stay that late but I heard there was dancing). We made some new friends and I also knew a few bloggers who were coming by, so it was great to hang out and catch up. I can't make it to the conference itself this year (and didn't even know it even existed until I came across the party invite!) but the line-up looks pretty stellar and this was a great way to still get in on some of the action and hear all kinds of interesting stories. From all my discussions (and several Twitter feeds), it looks like the conference attendees are getting spoiled rotten and I would definitely love to attend one day. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6MQebClZ3II/Uan3Zr9PmbI/AAAAAAAABew/ffmJWwsAwDo/s1600/Prebex3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6MQebClZ3II/Uan3Zr9PmbI/AAAAAAAABew/ffmJWwsAwDo/s320/Prebex3.jpg" width="320" /></a>WHAT: <a href="http://gprebex.eventbrite.com/" target="_blank">PREBEX Party</a><br />
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WHERE: Tryst Nighclub, 82 Peter St.<br />
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WHEN: May 29, 7pm<br />
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COST: Free<br />
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INSIDER TIPS: The TBEX site says this party is open to any conference attendees that are in town early but the actual event page from G Adventures (which is how I learned about it) advertised the event to TBEX attendees but didn't make it sound like it was restricted, so you could still go even if you were not attending the conference. However, in consideration of others, you should at least have an interest in travel and blogging, as this is a bit of an industry event. <br />
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Olenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581728027839451855noreply@blogger.com082 Peter Street, Toronto, ON M5V 1P8, Canada43.6469104 -79.392798118.124875900000003 -120.70139209999999 69.1689449 -38.084204099999994tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4255313186436784187.post-46185229952506654512013-05-30T15:39:00.000-04:002013-05-30T15:39:29.675-04:00Happy Birthday, Hemingway's! <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cqGc6zmjoUc/Uaeqp6pr5nI/AAAAAAAABeA/gk_ccXb8VVs/s1600/Hem3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cqGc6zmjoUc/Uaeqp6pr5nI/AAAAAAAABeA/gk_ccXb8VVs/s320/Hem3.jpg" width="240" /></a>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.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2zxpOQ6aSuc/UaeqqlMnWII/AAAAAAAABeY/hsCbWK5xL6M/s1600/Hem4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2zxpOQ6aSuc/UaeqqlMnWII/AAAAAAAABeY/hsCbWK5xL6M/s200/Hem4.jpg" width="200" /></a>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.<br />
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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.<br />
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Happy Birthday, Hemmingway's! We'll definitely be back next year.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qJa4t1XmmsE/UaeqqFfmDQI/AAAAAAAABeE/oGgnQw4bO8A/s1600/Hem1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qJa4t1XmmsE/UaeqqFfmDQI/AAAAAAAABeE/oGgnQw4bO8A/s320/Hem1.jpg" width="320" /></a>WHAT: 33rd Anniversary Patio Party<br />
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WHERE: Hemingway's<br />
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WHEN: May 29 - 6 pm<br />
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COST: Free<br />
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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. Olenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581728027839451855noreply@blogger.com0142 Cumberland Street, Toronto, ON M5R 1A2, Canada43.6699807 -79.39276359999996743.6470112 -79.433104099999966 43.692950200000006 -79.352423099999967tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4255313186436784187.post-16221568998201121322013-05-30T15:23:00.000-04:002013-05-30T15:23:06.742-04:00Top Shuck 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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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.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tOf-gequrfM/UaemUVoRQ-I/AAAAAAAABdo/l34NeyKaDFs/s1600/TopShuck9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tOf-gequrfM/UaemUVoRQ-I/AAAAAAAABdo/l34NeyKaDFs/s320/TopShuck9.jpg" width="240" /></a>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).<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Oo-Cx2e_ygo/UaemTzkojCI/AAAAAAAABdc/oh6_grjwf9Y/s1600/TopShuck7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Oo-Cx2e_ygo/UaemTzkojCI/AAAAAAAABdc/oh6_grjwf9Y/s320/TopShuck7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-asM0a5scoKE/UaemTcHRILI/AAAAAAAABdM/Jmk3J7uKUaw/s1600/TopShuck5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-asM0a5scoKE/UaemTcHRILI/AAAAAAAABdM/Jmk3J7uKUaw/s200/TopShuck5.jpg" width="150" /></a>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.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8Wz17pxt5Y0/UaemRlw63RI/AAAAAAAABcw/RiiqETo8HL4/s1600/TopShuck1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8Wz17pxt5Y0/UaemRlw63RI/AAAAAAAABcw/RiiqETo8HL4/s200/TopShuck1.jpg" width="200" /></a>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.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DcnI5MET_T8/UaemSmEuC4I/AAAAAAAABc8/ucPUpJBMAgM/s1600/TopShuck4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DcnI5MET_T8/UaemSmEuC4I/AAAAAAAABc8/ucPUpJBMAgM/s320/TopShuck4.jpg" width="320" /></a>WHAT: Top Shuck - Oyster shucking competition and patio party<br />
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WHERE: Pure Spirits Oyster House & Grill<br />
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WHEN: May 28 - 6pm<br />
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COST: Free (plus the cost of food and drink)<br />
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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. <br />
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Olenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581728027839451855noreply@blogger.com017 Tank House Lane, Toronto, ON M5A 3C4, Canada43.6507047 -79.3576702000000343.6506597 -79.357749200000029 43.6507497 -79.35759120000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4255313186436784187.post-28742386189771744792013-05-27T19:27:00.000-04:002013-05-27T19:27:11.041-04:00B-I-N-G-O!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zluGoeJyNLc/UaPrKTYc0MI/AAAAAAAABbg/m1k157a_Sxs/s1600/IMG-20130526-01563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zluGoeJyNLc/UaPrKTYc0MI/AAAAAAAABbg/m1k157a_Sxs/s200/IMG-20130526-01563.jpg" width="150" /></a>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 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/2ndfloorevents" target="_blank">2nd Floor</a> for <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/455238164564387/" target="_blank">Boozy Bingo</a>. 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.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zfHYJeH9Q9w/UaPrNOi87xI/AAAAAAAABcY/P5IdZENuSGU/s1600/Toronto-20130526-01566.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zfHYJeH9Q9w/UaPrNOi87xI/AAAAAAAABcY/P5IdZENuSGU/s320/Toronto-20130526-01566.jpg" width="320" /></a>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! <br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V7nLetKJV9k/UaPrKuUTNHI/AAAAAAAABbk/uGWmdx5lfXQ/s1600/IMG-20130526-01565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V7nLetKJV9k/UaPrKuUTNHI/AAAAAAAABbk/uGWmdx5lfXQ/s320/IMG-20130526-01565.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This pile only got bigger. And we weren't the only ones!</td></tr>
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WHAT: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/455238164564387/" target="_blank">Boozy Bingo</a><br />
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WHERE: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/2ndfloorevents" target="_blank">2nd Floor</a>, 461 King St. West<br />
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WHEN: Sunday, May 26 - 3-7 pm<br />
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COST: $5 for the first 5 cards + $2 for the BINGO marker (optional)<br />
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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. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This just got confusing...long story! </td></tr>
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Olenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581728027839451855noreply@blogger.com0461 King Street West, Toronto, ON M5V 1K4, Canada43.6450766 -79.396375143.643640100000006 -79.3988966 43.6465131 -79.3938536tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4255313186436784187.post-85204044115412095892013-05-27T17:33:00.000-04:002013-05-27T17:33:09.760-04:00Doors Open Toronto 2013 - The Walking Tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Convocation Hall and #9</td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HO-QRpFq3yI/UaPNH_7kulI/AAAAAAAABYo/KDsokPUhj_k/s1600/IMG-20130526-01501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HO-QRpFq3yI/UaPNH_7kulI/AAAAAAAABYo/KDsokPUhj_k/s200/IMG-20130526-01501.jpg" width="200" /></a>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 <a href="http://www.toronto.ca/doorsopen/2013/tours.htm#4" target="_blank"><i>Campus and Cosmos: Astronomy in Toronto</i></a> walking tour presented by a UofT professor John Percy in partnership with <a href="http://heritagetoronto.org/" target="_blank">Heritage Toronto</a>. The tour lasted just over 90 minutes and focused on 15 stops on and around the St. George campus:<br />
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1. Meteorological Office (skipped on this particular tour)<br />
2. Royal Ontario Museum<br />
3. McLaughlin Planetarium<br />
4. Victoria College<br />
5. The Stewart Observatory<br />
6. University College (UC)<br />
7. Site of the Magnetic Observatory (1840)<br />
8. The Toronto Meridian<br />
9. The "Official" Position of Toronto<br />
10. The Sandford Fleming Building<br />
11. The Grlbraith Building<br />
12. McLellan Physical Laboratories<br />
13. The Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics<br />
14. David Dunlap Observatory (not an actual stop, as it's located in Richmond Hill, but mentioned)<br />
15. Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Convocation Hall</td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a3GEnZRo-Bs/UaPNIPLNY2I/AAAAAAAABYw/1sNJ5ltbDV4/s1600/IMG-20130526-01502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a3GEnZRo-Bs/UaPNIPLNY2I/AAAAAAAABYw/1sNJ5ltbDV4/s320/IMG-20130526-01502.jpg" width="320" /></a>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 <i>inside</i> 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. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bclnQczvobI/UaPNJj2IxUI/AAAAAAAABZI/RWuBFAyDMx8/s1600/IMG-20130526-01507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bclnQczvobI/UaPNJj2IxUI/AAAAAAAABZI/RWuBFAyDMx8/s320/IMG-20130526-01507.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#6 - University College</td></tr>
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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). <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zjgZrbBJeT0/UaPNPZMT4NI/AAAAAAAABaw/lehq5MKnGS0/s1600/IMG-20130526-01523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zjgZrbBJeT0/UaPNPZMT4NI/AAAAAAAABaw/lehq5MKnGS0/s400/IMG-20130526-01523.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toronto Time near #7</td></tr>
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A few takeaways from the presentation in terms of future events:<br />
<ul>
<li>the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOi0gY20aEg" target="_blank">UofT observatory</a> is open to the public on the first Thursday of every month</li>
<li>the <a href="http://www.royalcanadianinstitute.org/" target="_blank">Royal Canadian Institute</a> hosts free lectures each fall in the Medical Sciences Building</li>
<li>the <a href="http://www.theddo.ca/" target="_blank">Dunlap Observatory</a> in Richmond Hill hosts public tours on Saturdays in the summer</li>
<li>the <a href="http://www.rasc.ca/" target="_blank">Royal Astronomical Society of Canada</a> is a great source of information</li>
</ul>
WHAT: <i><a href="http://www.toronto.ca/doorsopen/2013/tours.htm#4" target="_blank">Campus and Cosmos: Astronomy in Toronto</a></i> Walking Tour (part of Doors Open Toronto)<br />
<br />
WHERE: St. George Campus, University of Toronto<br />
<br />
WHEN: May 25 & 26 - 1:30 pm<br />
<br />
COST: Free<br />
<br />
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). <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-itIOTr_bwWA/UaPNITbkL7I/AAAAAAAABY4/WT5cRrB4GQE/s1600/IMG-20130526-01503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-itIOTr_bwWA/UaPNITbkL7I/AAAAAAAABY4/WT5cRrB4GQE/s400/IMG-20130526-01503.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#4 - Victoria College</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RjdkxVyieHA/UaPNI0QVwqI/AAAAAAAABZA/u5-ofndtD3c/s1600/IMG-20130526-01504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RjdkxVyieHA/UaPNI0QVwqI/AAAAAAAABZA/u5-ofndtD3c/s400/IMG-20130526-01504.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not a stop on the tour - just passing by</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lkvYzJQKFtU/UaPNLKJo4KI/AAAAAAAABZo/vksAx4b5NAA/s1600/IMG-20130526-01511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lkvYzJQKFtU/UaPNLKJo4KI/AAAAAAAABZo/vksAx4b5NAA/s400/IMG-20130526-01511.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hart House - not a stop on the tour</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HQjvnz-fTpM/UaPNKIml_qI/AAAAAAAABZQ/8DZR6jAHE7g/s1600/IMG-20130526-01506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HQjvnz-fTpM/UaPNKIml_qI/AAAAAAAABZQ/8DZR6jAHE7g/s400/IMG-20130526-01506.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back of #5 - The Stewart Observatory</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uu_0AJt3PLs/UaPNKI48UzI/AAAAAAAABZU/Q-31s44eJ4I/s1600/IMG-20130526-01508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uu_0AJt3PLs/UaPNKI48UzI/AAAAAAAABZU/Q-31s44eJ4I/s400/IMG-20130526-01508.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#5 - The Stewart Observatory</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZvMB7cHVnFU/UaPNKkkyzpI/AAAAAAAABZg/yLNfngBIZyQ/s1600/IMG-20130526-01509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZvMB7cHVnFU/UaPNKkkyzpI/AAAAAAAABZg/yLNfngBIZyQ/s400/IMG-20130526-01509.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#6 - University College</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SzZ5z_WMm0g/UaPNLPunULI/AAAAAAAABZs/OW9vb0Wc8JI/s1600/IMG-20130526-01510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SzZ5z_WMm0g/UaPNLPunULI/AAAAAAAABZs/OW9vb0Wc8JI/s400/IMG-20130526-01510.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#5 - The Stewart Observatory</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FpN4UK8yQdU/UaPNLgTxuGI/AAAAAAAABZ4/dYtAuHHwAzs/s1600/IMG-20130526-01514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FpN4UK8yQdU/UaPNLgTxuGI/AAAAAAAABZ4/dYtAuHHwAzs/s400/IMG-20130526-01514.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Students with impeccable timing</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aOdrbRdfxnk/UaPNNAIaATI/AAAAAAAABaQ/hW0BB_8n26s/s1600/IMG-20130526-01515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aOdrbRdfxnk/UaPNNAIaATI/AAAAAAAABaQ/hW0BB_8n26s/s400/IMG-20130526-01515.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add caption</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IkPydmmeLy8/UaPNMem2cOI/AAAAAAAABaA/_GLQgeVQ-qI/s1600/IMG-20130526-01516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IkPydmmeLy8/UaPNMem2cOI/AAAAAAAABaA/_GLQgeVQ-qI/s400/IMG-20130526-01516.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rNFQ4UciAyc/UaPNM2Q2g0I/AAAAAAAABaI/QHddGZAUpyE/s1600/IMG-20130526-01518.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rNFQ4UciAyc/UaPNM2Q2g0I/AAAAAAAABaI/QHddGZAUpyE/s400/IMG-20130526-01518.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CQ-T4Msf9s0/UaPNNTE4F_I/AAAAAAAABaU/6T0EGmKtKLA/s1600/IMG-20130526-01519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CQ-T4Msf9s0/UaPNNTE4F_I/AAAAAAAABaU/6T0EGmKtKLA/s400/IMG-20130526-01519.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hart House</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UymEqqJYyL0/UaPNN8VSJQI/AAAAAAAABag/7xGXHF5FJNA/s1600/IMG-20130526-01521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UymEqqJYyL0/UaPNN8VSJQI/AAAAAAAABag/7xGXHF5FJNA/s400/IMG-20130526-01521.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Convocation Hall</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-afvZqSWZNKI/UaPNOy74LHI/AAAAAAAABao/hiLUnvAzbJk/s1600/IMG-20130526-01524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-afvZqSWZNKI/UaPNOy74LHI/AAAAAAAABao/hiLUnvAzbJk/s400/IMG-20130526-01524.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Convocation Hall and #10</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DSkCyegJ2jc/UaPNQB4FmJI/AAAAAAAABbA/Dz--q0Dk6vM/s1600/IMG-20130526-01526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DSkCyegJ2jc/UaPNQB4FmJI/AAAAAAAABbA/Dz--q0Dk6vM/s400/IMG-20130526-01526.jpg" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#7 - Site of the Magnetic Observatory</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EmcDT5UDjsc/UaPNQo1VvtI/AAAAAAAABbM/99M0T04kI7M/s1600/IMG-20130526-01528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EmcDT5UDjsc/UaPNQo1VvtI/AAAAAAAABbM/99M0T04kI7M/s400/IMG-20130526-01528.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#7 and #8</td></tr>
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Olenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581728027839451855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4255313186436784187.post-43140927134933497882013-05-27T13:54:00.000-04:002013-05-27T13:54:37.536-04:00Doors Open Toronto 2013 - Day 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6s9Ig3lI7kQ/UaOWcn_ZCLI/AAAAAAAABSU/SyJZEeMp7O4/s1600/Fire+Hall+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6s9Ig3lI7kQ/UaOWcn_ZCLI/AAAAAAAABSU/SyJZEeMp7O4/s320/Fire+Hall+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4jdyrl3n2BA/UaOWo2swF0I/AAAAAAAABXU/eXFlP2i-4L4/s1600/Police+Station+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4jdyrl3n2BA/UaOWo2swF0I/AAAAAAAABXU/eXFlP2i-4L4/s200/Police+Station+7.jpg" width="200" /></a>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 <a href="http://www.nativechild.org/" target="_blank">Native Child and Family Services</a> 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).<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lXWgjg00_8A/UaOWeHRcd8I/AAAAAAAABS8/x93WSecXIvc/s1600/Fire+Hall+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lXWgjg00_8A/UaOWeHRcd8I/AAAAAAAABS8/x93WSecXIvc/s200/Fire+Hall+8.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qlZp6dCXGm4/UaOWcsOyanI/AAAAAAAABSQ/5zvajkBNBr0/s1600/Fire+Hall+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qlZp6dCXGm4/UaOWcsOyanI/AAAAAAAABSQ/5zvajkBNBr0/s320/Fire+Hall+1.jpg" width="320" /></a>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.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1EKYQ0rImV8/UaOWnhxq81I/AAAAAAAABWo/Lzk_dGnZnPM/s1600/Police+Station+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1EKYQ0rImV8/UaOWnhxq81I/AAAAAAAABWo/Lzk_dGnZnPM/s200/Police+Station+2.jpg" width="200" /></a>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).<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CzUHtVXcHqA/UaOWmJ4qxGI/AAAAAAAABWE/q1KdJxoOXEU/s1600/Pathfinder+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CzUHtVXcHqA/UaOWmJ4qxGI/AAAAAAAABWE/q1KdJxoOXEU/s320/Pathfinder+1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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 <a href="http://www.torontobrigantine.org/" target="_blank">Toronto Brigantine Inc.,</a> 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!).<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oXFmieLTMdQ/UaOWkxIZSdI/AAAAAAAABVs/C2X2TorGYsg/s1600/NCFS+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oXFmieLTMdQ/UaOWkxIZSdI/AAAAAAAABVs/C2X2TorGYsg/s320/NCFS+7.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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 <a href="http://www.nativechild.org/" target="_blank">Native Child and Family Services</a> 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).<br />
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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 <u>highly</u> recommend some quality exploration time. <br />
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WHAT: <a href="http://www.toronto.ca/doorsopen/2013/" target="_blank">Doors Open Toronto 2013</a><br />
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WHERE: <a href="http://wx.toronto.ca/inter/culture/doorsopen.nsf/BuildingsAll?OpenView&count=999" target="_blank">150+ locations across the city</a><br />
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WHEN: May 25 & 26<br />
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COST: Free (with very few exceptions when TTC or ferry access is required)<br />
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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.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BmsjSUef5yI/UaOWdMI_HqI/AAAAAAAABSg/aVBKtheDBh0/s1600/Fire+Hall+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BmsjSUef5yI/UaOWdMI_HqI/AAAAAAAABSg/aVBKtheDBh0/s400/Fire+Hall+3.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toronto Marine Fire Station 334</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s2zOW6bKxkQ/UaOWdXONPjI/AAAAAAAABSo/au9wAwIZZ3w/s1600/Fire+Hall+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s2zOW6bKxkQ/UaOWdXONPjI/AAAAAAAABSo/au9wAwIZZ3w/s400/Fire+Hall+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toronto Marine Fire Station 334</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OdGP6ennVzE/UaOWdedq_DI/AAAAAAAABSk/YJOLLq2qQjk/s1600/Fire+Hall+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OdGP6ennVzE/UaOWdedq_DI/AAAAAAAABSk/YJOLLq2qQjk/s400/Fire+Hall+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toronto Marine Fire Station 334</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mtHUTzEzE0I/UaOWdwOFrcI/AAAAAAAABS4/kWTUHTjKsNc/s1600/Fire+Hall+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mtHUTzEzE0I/UaOWdwOFrcI/AAAAAAAABS4/kWTUHTjKsNc/s400/Fire+Hall+6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toronto Marine Fire Station 334</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dSkYc8BgWuA/UaOWeDWIAPI/AAAAAAAABTA/2QfiVwJAKGg/s1600/Fire+Hall+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dSkYc8BgWuA/UaOWeDWIAPI/AAAAAAAABTA/2QfiVwJAKGg/s400/Fire+Hall+7.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toronto Marine Fire Station 334</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j8pfi-E7WGs/UaOWeQfojlI/AAAAAAAABTI/SnG3G1rsnqU/s1600/Fire+Hall+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j8pfi-E7WGs/UaOWeQfojlI/AAAAAAAABTI/SnG3G1rsnqU/s400/Fire+Hall+9.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toronto Marine Fire Station 334</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S-pZVpxzOPg/UaOWnNTk7kI/AAAAAAAABWc/2XFA3gXPIuc/s1600/Police+Station+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S-pZVpxzOPg/UaOWnNTk7kI/AAAAAAAABWc/2XFA3gXPIuc/s400/Police+Station+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toronto Police Marine Unit</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R1LNINurNCI/UaOWnxRd9EI/AAAAAAAABW4/5BPb2hfKv60/s1600/Police+Station+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R1LNINurNCI/UaOWnxRd9EI/AAAAAAAABW4/5BPb2hfKv60/s400/Police+Station+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toronto Police Marine Unit</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BNLrB_V4IUA/UaOWoEbQzOI/AAAAAAAABW8/iXuOmew0fOI/s1600/Police+Station+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BNLrB_V4IUA/UaOWoEbQzOI/AAAAAAAABW8/iXuOmew0fOI/s400/Police+Station+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toronto Police Marine Unit</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4HEgIUqubXs/UaOWoTDRBKI/AAAAAAAABXA/SHt97K9zrW4/s1600/Police+Station+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4HEgIUqubXs/UaOWoTDRBKI/AAAAAAAABXA/SHt97K9zrW4/s400/Police+Station+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toronto Police Marine Unit</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lHzwTQuht0I/UaOWosHPIUI/AAAAAAAABXM/yNULvVl1mNE/s1600/Police+Station+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lHzwTQuht0I/UaOWosHPIUI/AAAAAAAABXM/yNULvVl1mNE/s400/Police+Station+6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toronto Police Marine Unit</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6wD1ciRLwuM/UaOWpJ3JPfI/AAAAAAAABXg/Vp4BCggYpqE/s1600/Police+Station+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6wD1ciRLwuM/UaOWpJ3JPfI/AAAAAAAABXg/Vp4BCggYpqE/s400/Police+Station+8.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toronto Police Marine Unit</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3E-XrYV57LM/UaOWmpdOa-I/AAAAAAAABWQ/m-Pk0wrquv8/s1600/Pathfinder+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3E-XrYV57LM/UaOWmpdOa-I/AAAAAAAABWQ/m-Pk0wrquv8/s400/Pathfinder+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pathfinder Tall Ship</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gZF1ksdeafc/UaOWnve3jYI/AAAAAAAABWs/2SUi4lyhjMQ/s1600/Pathfinder+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gZF1ksdeafc/UaOWnve3jYI/AAAAAAAABWs/2SUi4lyhjMQ/s400/Pathfinder+4.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pathfinder Tall Ship</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ej72cBnSM4k/UaOWmS2xO0I/AAAAAAAABWI/y-o3hx6IJKU/s1600/Pathfinder+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ej72cBnSM4k/UaOWmS2xO0I/AAAAAAAABWI/y-o3hx6IJKU/s400/Pathfinder+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pathfinder Tall Ship</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rXsr2gWmZx8/UaOWe9D_2HI/AAAAAAAABTY/LAZna7lLMPU/s1600/Mariposa+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rXsr2gWmZx8/UaOWe9D_2HI/AAAAAAAABTY/LAZna7lLMPU/s400/Mariposa+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mariposa Cruiseship</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v959nGP49ko/UaOWep9NAPI/AAAAAAAABTU/TlD2yrnjm9Q/s1600/Mariposa+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v959nGP49ko/UaOWep9NAPI/AAAAAAAABTU/TlD2yrnjm9Q/s400/Mariposa+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mariposa Cruiseship</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zGEMsl-gZMc/UaOWe-VsaxI/AAAAAAAABTc/qZe8mZ4WM7k/s1600/Mariposa+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zGEMsl-gZMc/UaOWe-VsaxI/AAAAAAAABTc/qZe8mZ4WM7k/s400/Mariposa+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mariposa Cruiseship (Toronto Harbour navigational chart)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PdjICpeaV3I/UaOWfAoFgTI/AAAAAAAABTo/cDRQFw4kFM8/s1600/Mariposa+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PdjICpeaV3I/UaOWfAoFgTI/AAAAAAAABTo/cDRQFw4kFM8/s400/Mariposa+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mariposa Cruiseship</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8aQlMSz9njY/UaOWfjy20dI/AAAAAAAABT4/_quNxTsKSdU/s1600/Mariposa+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8aQlMSz9njY/UaOWfjy20dI/AAAAAAAABT4/_quNxTsKSdU/s400/Mariposa+5.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mariposa Cruiseship</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0TW44KrCyCg/UaOWpVZwnJI/AAAAAAAABXo/o9Hj3k_qJwU/s1600/Trillium+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0TW44KrCyCg/UaOWpVZwnJI/AAAAAAAABXo/o9Hj3k_qJwU/s400/Trillium+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trillium Steamboat</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GTRXUYns72w/UaOWpijNYZI/AAAAAAAABXw/b-f1baarY7w/s1600/Trillium+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GTRXUYns72w/UaOWpijNYZI/AAAAAAAABXw/b-f1baarY7w/s400/Trillium+2.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trillium Steamboat</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VnNsCvJBRFM/UaOWqjXgzwI/AAAAAAAABYA/ESf2YQ-XTMQ/s1600/Trillium+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VnNsCvJBRFM/UaOWqjXgzwI/AAAAAAAABYA/ESf2YQ-XTMQ/s400/Trillium+3.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trillium Steamboat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SMriC70oXco/UaOWqbIxlYI/AAAAAAAABX4/WZOs2LHdyrQ/s1600/Trillium+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SMriC70oXco/UaOWqbIxlYI/AAAAAAAABX4/WZOs2LHdyrQ/s400/Trillium+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trillium Steamboat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dDYYK9DdM_M/UaOWqz7OEhI/AAAAAAAABYE/vncYlNAe7sk/s1600/Trillium+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dDYYK9DdM_M/UaOWqz7OEhI/AAAAAAAABYE/vncYlNAe7sk/s400/Trillium+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trillium Steamboat</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ip45AF9FjOU/UaOWq3_MxiI/AAAAAAAABYI/Ad7w-eD2o04/s1600/Trillium+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ip45AF9FjOU/UaOWq3_MxiI/AAAAAAAABYI/Ad7w-eD2o04/s400/Trillium+6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trillium Steamboat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-03PWj4luexU/UaOWrQm8T1I/AAAAAAAABYQ/ZAQfxKlTPZA/s1600/Trillium+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-03PWj4luexU/UaOWrQm8T1I/AAAAAAAABYQ/ZAQfxKlTPZA/s400/Trillium+7.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trillium Steamboat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dOzGmL69bQY/UaOWifI5GTI/AAAAAAAABVE/hXUZceck8aE/s1600/NCFS+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dOzGmL69bQY/UaOWifI5GTI/AAAAAAAABVE/hXUZceck8aE/s400/NCFS+2.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Native Child and Family Services</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-20K9FWzJ7EA/UaOWfg3jYEI/AAAAAAAABT0/ZN0_1NHxFoo/s1600/NCFS+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-20K9FWzJ7EA/UaOWfg3jYEI/AAAAAAAABT0/ZN0_1NHxFoo/s400/NCFS+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Native Child and Family Services</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K2jtc25pHew/UaOWipByLoI/AAAAAAAABVI/w4nZPxlHdEM/s1600/NCFS+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K2jtc25pHew/UaOWipByLoI/AAAAAAAABVI/w4nZPxlHdEM/s400/NCFS+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Native Child and Family Services</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WQD2FHxGzqU/UaOWjVnRffI/AAAAAAAABVU/Uv_iEE3xaAY/s1600/NCFS+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WQD2FHxGzqU/UaOWjVnRffI/AAAAAAAABVU/Uv_iEE3xaAY/s400/NCFS+4.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Native Child and Family Services</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-09dfbMcw0tI/UaOWglMmSQI/AAAAAAAABUY/isokHZTa5ww/s1600/NCFS+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-09dfbMcw0tI/UaOWglMmSQI/AAAAAAAABUY/isokHZTa5ww/s400/NCFS+14.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Native Child and Family Services</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZEgS6CJzF_g/UaOWgdf1FBI/AAAAAAAABUU/oe2mqQFP4Cw/s1600/NCFS+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZEgS6CJzF_g/UaOWgdf1FBI/AAAAAAAABUU/oe2mqQFP4Cw/s400/NCFS+12.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Native Child and Family Services</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jc4tF3jAjII/UaOWiB2xqXI/AAAAAAAABU4/uQFDpH5fQhc/s1600/NCFS+17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jc4tF3jAjII/UaOWiB2xqXI/AAAAAAAABU4/uQFDpH5fQhc/s400/NCFS+17.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Native Child and Family Services</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Thp7a0W5TBw/UaOWgjGesOI/AAAAAAAABUQ/mFGcVjBCGEU/s1600/NCFS+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Thp7a0W5TBw/UaOWgjGesOI/AAAAAAAABUQ/mFGcVjBCGEU/s400/NCFS+13.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Native Child and Family Services</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2BReL3epXVs/UaOWgzXnjWI/AAAAAAAABUc/3Mb7KQgQDjU/s1600/NCFS+15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2BReL3epXVs/UaOWgzXnjWI/AAAAAAAABUc/3Mb7KQgQDjU/s400/NCFS+15.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Native Child and Family Services</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-trHqgr-JmxQ/UaOWiHJWtYI/AAAAAAAABU0/JWS-K0NAHuE/s1600/NCFS+16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-trHqgr-JmxQ/UaOWiHJWtYI/AAAAAAAABU0/JWS-K0NAHuE/s400/NCFS+16.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Native Child and Family Services</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4Yj6hgg0ZYM/UaOWlCpb5aI/AAAAAAAABVw/jfB-VbqXJX4/s1600/NCFS+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4Yj6hgg0ZYM/UaOWlCpb5aI/AAAAAAAABVw/jfB-VbqXJX4/s400/NCFS+8.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Native Child and Family Services</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7aZs79c0Hsk/UaOWkFhNZ1I/AAAAAAAABVc/CSmdD0Rr5Zk/s1600/NCFS+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7aZs79c0Hsk/UaOWkFhNZ1I/AAAAAAAABVc/CSmdD0Rr5Zk/s400/NCFS+5.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Native Child and Family Services</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tpi7g86vGeg/UaOWk4knHtI/AAAAAAAABVo/Ux4Scz6jbAk/s1600/NCFS+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tpi7g86vGeg/UaOWk4knHtI/AAAAAAAABVo/Ux4Scz6jbAk/s400/NCFS+6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Native Child and Family Services</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-roqUGZvU1Jg/UaOWgNrkxAI/AAAAAAAABUI/7xHomSgGyZg/s1600/NCFS+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-roqUGZvU1Jg/UaOWgNrkxAI/AAAAAAAABUI/7xHomSgGyZg/s400/NCFS+11.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Native Child and Family Services</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OFqS_y9hjhk/UaOWltvKPKI/AAAAAAAABV4/SfaYWJG_DrU/s1600/NCFS+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OFqS_y9hjhk/UaOWltvKPKI/AAAAAAAABV4/SfaYWJG_DrU/s400/NCFS+9.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Native Child and Family Services</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Pu1kP6WUzU/UaOWf2IzSKI/AAAAAAAABUA/92uejCkYuA8/s1600/NCFS+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Pu1kP6WUzU/UaOWf2IzSKI/AAAAAAAABUA/92uejCkYuA8/s400/NCFS+10.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Native Child and Family Services (sweat lodge)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Olenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581728027839451855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4255313186436784187.post-58178747588758763312013-05-26T00:41:00.000-04:002013-05-26T00:41:16.765-04:00Doors Open Toronto 2013 - Day 1<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j8rifKorq1w/UaGOPfegSaI/AAAAAAAABPo/4_dwlMZOzL8/s1600/TTC3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j8rifKorq1w/UaGOPfegSaI/AAAAAAAABPo/4_dwlMZOzL8/s320/TTC3.jpg" width="233" /></a>Many people think of Toronto as a fairly new city that's pleasantly green but lacks any serious personality when it comes to culture and architecture (especially when compared to Europe or even some of the architecturally rich cities in the States). This is not exactly the case, though it's easy to fall into that mind trap when confronted with endless cookie-cutter condo developments that seem to be multiplying faster than rabbits. <a href="http://www.toronto.ca/doorsopen/2013/" target="_blank">Doors Open Toronto</a> is a fantastic initiative that helps correct that thought trajectory. For one weekend each May (now in its 14th year), a wonderful range of architecturally, historically, culturally and socially significant buildings open their doors free of charge to the public. Some of these places are not generally open to visitors, so it's an extra treat to sneak into one of these. This year, more than 150 locations are on offer, as well as several guided walking tours of multiple landmarks. And it's a lot of fun to explore!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SBj36zd5k1w/UaGO82fDqfI/AAAAAAAABRI/K0oY7E3BOOE/s1600/Temple5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SBj36zd5k1w/UaGO82fDqfI/AAAAAAAABRI/K0oY7E3BOOE/s200/Temple5.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
I didn't have much time to plan my tour this year (my "planning" consisted of a quick glance through the list of venues while trying to recover from a rough night of being up and miserable at the crack of dawn), but this isn't something I wanted to miss and decided to explore a little further afield and hit up a couple of spots that were only open for one day, saving the bulk of my exploring for tomorrow. And since I started out late in the day, I only made three stops before dropping by a charity yard sale and calling it a day: the <a href="http://wx.toronto.ca/inter/culture/doorsopen.nsf/7810A7D0D6C0033D8525799C004D29F5/EAFFA39E66D2EE3885257B21005637CE?opendocument" target="_blank">"secret" subway platform</a>, the <a href="http://wx.toronto.ca/inter/culture/doorsopen.nsf/7810A7D0D6C0033D8525799C004D29F5/0ECA69E3148D5FC585257AE2004E42D4?opendocument" target="_blank">West Toronto Masonic Temple</a>, and the Foundery building.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HHGGicCj25w/UaGOMpUXJRI/AAAAAAAABPg/EIadOvPkPJw/s1600/TTC2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HHGGicCj25w/UaGOMpUXJRI/AAAAAAAABPg/EIadOvPkPJw/s320/TTC2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qDBllAN68DQ/UaGOq4YwyzI/AAAAAAAABQQ/jYl7Vk_qyjQ/s1600/TTC8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qDBllAN68DQ/UaGOq4YwyzI/AAAAAAAABQQ/jYl7Vk_qyjQ/s200/TTC8.jpg" width="200" /></a>The "secret" subway platform is the somewhat abandoned <a href="http://wx.toronto.ca/inter/culture/doorsopen.nsf/7810A7D0D6C0033D8525799C004D29F5/EAFFA39E66D2EE3885257B21005637CE?opendocument" target="_blank">station</a> below the Bay subway station. I say <i>somewhat </i>because it's used fairly often to film movie scenes but as a subway station, it is not a functioning one. Once upon a time, there was a plan to route certain trains through it so customers would not have to transfer between the Bloor and Yonge subway lines. However, after a six-month testing period, the idea was rejected and the station never opened to the public. In fact, most people don't even know it's there and I myself had only heard rumours of its existence but could never quite picture where exactly it is located. Well, today the magic door (that I had walked by hundreds of times and never gave a second thought to) was flung wide open and visitors could descend to the lower level. It was a bit of a surreal experience since it looked the same but different from what I'm used to on the TTC during my regular commute. Certain details seemed "off" and it was fun trying to spot all the differences. There were also both versions of the subway trains parked there for the day and kids (as well as many adults) had a grand time pretending to drive the train and getting to push all the buttons. In addition, there were posters and screenings of films that were shot on the platform, which was pretty neat. I almost didn't want to leave. Alas, time was short, so onwards and upwards.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aUnHVXJT-pA/UaGO8JNjyiI/AAAAAAAABQ8/9Qr1FsoMCgU/s1600/Temple6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aUnHVXJT-pA/UaGO8JNjyiI/AAAAAAAABQ8/9Qr1FsoMCgU/s200/Temple6.jpg" width="147" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RGVBmaJl35U/UaGPaeG828I/AAAAAAAABSA/HXBoEd1Mayc/s1600/temple8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RGVBmaJl35U/UaGPaeG828I/AAAAAAAABSA/HXBoEd1Mayc/s320/temple8.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mw-xyhsN0WY/UaGOvX8ezQI/AAAAAAAABQY/GJUNx8HXoNk/s1600/Temple1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mw-xyhsN0WY/UaGOvX8ezQI/AAAAAAAABQY/GJUNx8HXoNk/s200/Temple1.jpg" width="148" /></a>My second stop was perhaps the most unnerving experience of the day in the sense that it felt slightly illicit being in a place where I would not normally be admitted for more than one reason. I also didn't know anything substantial about Freemasonry and the general rumours most people have come across don't count. It's a bit ironic, since I actually do have a friend who is a member but this isn't something we've ever talked about. Well, no time like the present and no better way to learn than from the horse's mouth. Down the rabbit hole I went. While I never quite got over the feeling that I shouldn't technically be there, I dutifully read all the information I was handed and had a pretty cool chat with one of the current members of the lodge. He even told me I could go sit in the fancy chair if I wanted to. I learned quite a bit and while I will likely always remain distrustful (centuries of secrecy shrouding the fraternity - as well as the fact that it is a fraternity - are hard to wash away), nothing I heard sounded too far out there (except maybe the part about the swords that are still in play today when guarding the door to the meetings). And hey, if anyone wants to take a crack at producing decent men, more power to them. God knows I've dated my fair share of the other kind and they could do with a little reforming if you ask me.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HT1uizI0wNI/UaGOB5FDLaI/AAAAAAAABPI/Vri8UBGNQ3E/s1600/Foundery2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HT1uizI0wNI/UaGOB5FDLaI/AAAAAAAABPI/Vri8UBGNQ3E/s200/Foundery2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6XxuZu_BQGM/UaGN9fSrM6I/AAAAAAAABPA/CYn-CY7hQqE/s1600/Foundery1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6XxuZu_BQGM/UaGN9fSrM6I/AAAAAAAABPA/CYn-CY7hQqE/s320/Foundery1.jpg" width="320" /></a>My final stop on today's Doors Open tour was the <a href="http://foundery.is/" target="_blank">Foundery,</a> which is a coworking space that caters to a wider demographic than I am used to. Coincidentally, this is also where the iconic Balloon King used to be and the building has been gutted and made 100% accessible to suit the new purpose of the space. Personally, I have a huge soft spot for CSI and will likely never waiver in my devotion, but it was pretty neat to discover that there are as many as 16 different coworking spaces in Toronto that cater to slightly different demographics and that they fall under a collective that allows them to share best practices and collaborate in the new creative economy. You can visit <a href="http://www.coworkingtoronto.ca/" target="_blank">CoworkingToronto</a> to find a space near you.<br />
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To polish off my day - and since I was already in the area - I dropped by the Trinity Bellwoods park on my way home to check out the Yard Sale for the Cure that was taking place there today in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. They weren't kidding when they said yard sale! We're talking furniture (and lots of it, too!), random sports and exercise equipment, books, clothes, toys - just about everything you can think of. And the park was teeming with people now that sun has decided to show its face once again and the temperature inched ever so slightly towards the spring scale. I was pretty tuckered out after not getting much sleep and traipsing around the city for the better part of the day, so I contended myself with taking in the sights and giving myself a pep talk to pick up groceries on the way home. But even if you're not looking for anything (though many people got great deals on great pieces), it's always nice to see an entire community out to play and supporting a cause.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-29QnScJtmhE/UaGPKZKJhUI/AAAAAAAABRg/pf784-T-Vmo/s1600/Yard1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-29QnScJtmhE/UaGPKZKJhUI/AAAAAAAABRg/pf784-T-Vmo/s200/Yard1.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
WHAT: <a href="http://www.toronto.ca/doorsopen/2013/" target="_blank">Doors Open Toronto 2013</a><br />
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WHERE: <a href="http://wx.toronto.ca/inter/culture/doorsopen.nsf/BuildingsAll?OpenView&count=999" target="_blank">150+ locations across the city</a><br />
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WHEN: May 25 & 26<br />
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COST: Free (with very few exceptions when TTC or ferry access is required)<br />
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INSIDER TIPS: This is a very popular event and some of the most popular locations <i>will</i> have massive lineups. You can either plan your day to get to these early (and have your lunch while you're waiting in line), or avoid the lines entirely by checking out the most "obscure" attractions that will have smaller crowds. Every single location on the list is worth a visit and will take you many years to get through. Also, pay attention to the opening times - some venues are not open both days of the festival, so plan your visit accordingly to avoid disappointment. And if all else fails, try again next year.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4s4F2k_vTCE/UaGOjiXxKJI/AAAAAAAABP4/eeoyYD5vMIo/s1600/TTC5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4s4F2k_vTCE/UaGOjiXxKJI/AAAAAAAABP4/eeoyYD5vMIo/s320/TTC5.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dM-vOhob-kc/UaGOe7TFVfI/AAAAAAAABPw/jz56zSEUBCg/s1600/TTC4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dM-vOhob-kc/UaGOe7TFVfI/AAAAAAAABPw/jz56zSEUBCg/s320/TTC4.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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Olenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581728027839451855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4255313186436784187.post-55683809450994006362013-05-21T23:32:00.003-04:002013-05-21T23:32:46.843-04:00Victoria Day with Lady Antebellum<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DJ19hB3RZYA/UZw5ul7RsDI/AAAAAAAABOg/NdwtAoZMPPE/s1600/LadyA4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DJ19hB3RZYA/UZw5ul7RsDI/AAAAAAAABOg/NdwtAoZMPPE/s320/LadyA4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
My concert-going budget these days isn't what it used to be and my indie music days are largely behind me as well (along with the accompanying dive bars, lost hearing, drunk misfits trying to take me home, and random road trips to see bands I like). Which is why I was really excited to hear that Lady Antebellum were in town playing a free show in the Yonge-Dundas Square courtesy of 98.1 CHFI. I had a ton of work to do at home before heading out to a movie screening later in the evening, so I wasn't sure I would be able to make it but, in the end, I couldn't resist and found a way to squeeze it in.<br />
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I'm definitely glad I did! Lady A were fantastic live, despite the fact that the show was outdoors and in the middle of traffic. They played an hour-long set and the crowd had great energy, with everyone singing along a few times throughout the show. Hillary's baby is due pretty soon, so they won't be touring much for a while, which made this an extra special treat. Almost as good as witnessing with my own eyes that pictures and videos of Charles do not do him justice. Definitely some good genes in that band! But back to the music. It's easy to see why country music is gaining popularity with bands like this around. Easy listening, catchy (I've had one particular song stuck in my head for two days now), and soulful. A winning combination and testament to why they have such a loyal fan base (and awards to boot!). <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bBGc7fRCp3c/UZw5t8j75lI/AAAAAAAABOY/qGg4btFikiY/s1600/LadyA3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="196" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bBGc7fRCp3c/UZw5t8j75lI/AAAAAAAABOY/qGg4btFikiY/s320/LadyA3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Too funny. It was a sea of cell phones and cameras out there! </td></tr>
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WHAT: Lady Antebellum concert<br />
<br />
WHERE: Yonge-Dundas Square<br />
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WHEN: May 20 - 4-5 pm<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qRDzwa4TxiY/UZw5gEqw14I/AAAAAAAABOI/dZcIJLWZIpw/s1600/LadyA1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qRDzwa4TxiY/UZw5gEqw14I/AAAAAAAABOI/dZcIJLWZIpw/s320/LadyA1.jpg" width="320" /></a>COST: Free<br />
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INSIDER TIPS: Concerts at Yonge-Dundas Square are not for the faint of heart but the couple that I have been to have been fantastic, so it's definitely worth the effort as long as you know what you're getting into. First of all, be ready for the crowd, which will be massive. Getting annoyed and frustrated will not do you any good, plus you don't have any more of a right to be there than anyone else. So go with the flow and you'll have a much better time at the show. If you want a good spot, you'll need to be there waaaaay early and make sure you meet up with all your friends before trying to infiltrate the mob of people because finding each other after the fact will be impossible. Keep in mind that the stage is recessed a little in between the giant speakers, so your view will be blocked from the sidelines. I find that the southeast corner is the easiest to navigate and gets you closer to the stage faster. If you don't much care about being able to see, there are a few patios in the area that will save you from the crush of the crowd and allow you to hear everything while enjoying a cold one. Or you can mosh it with everyone else as long as you wear sunscreen and comfortable (and for your own safety, closed toed) footwear. Think of the crush of people as part of the experience and enjoy the show! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rR1S3RvP7IQ/UZw506Li_6I/AAAAAAAABOw/RqthycWlzN8/s1600/LadyA6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rR1S3RvP7IQ/UZw506Li_6I/AAAAAAAABOw/RqthycWlzN8/s400/LadyA6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mob of people around their cars. Kind of scary. I was just doubling back so I wouldn't have to wade through the crowd of people when I saw a whole swarm of camera-wielding fans surrounding the band's cars and blocking the road. Intense! </td></tr>
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Olenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581728027839451855noreply@blogger.com0Yonge-Dundas Square, Ryerson University, 1 Dundas Street East, Toronto, ON M5B 2R8, Canada43.656025 -79.38025670000001843.655307 -79.381517200000019 43.656743 -79.378996200000017tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4255313186436784187.post-8130095851622392792013-05-17T16:38:00.002-04:002013-05-17T16:38:41.089-04:00Hurry Up, Summer! - Summer Launch Patio Party<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kcfsOckCfCc/UZaSCzoihII/AAAAAAAABM4/Itt4DcHEQ5c/s1600/IMG-20130516-01343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kcfsOckCfCc/UZaSCzoihII/AAAAAAAABM4/Itt4DcHEQ5c/s200/IMG-20130516-01343.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gm5i0bI2mg8/UZaSe8t2b3I/AAAAAAAABNI/ry9tELj8Qks/s1600/IMG-20130516-01346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gm5i0bI2mg8/UZaSe8t2b3I/AAAAAAAABNI/ry9tELj8Qks/s320/IMG-20130516-01346.jpg" width="320" /></a>The weather still can't seem to make up its mind but summer lovers will not be kept at bay any longer. It's officially patio season in Toronto and many bars and restaurants and dusting off their patio furniture and throwing open those glass doors. The Ballroom is no exception and while their street level patio is something I've passed many times, I had no idea they had a beautiful gem hidden away on their rooftop until a server slipped a Summer Launch Patio Party invite into our bill during last week's bowling game. Coincidentally, it's also kind of on my way to class, so it would have been a sin not to pop in for a couple of drinks. And a sinner I am not! ;)<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TjOpdJ8mImE/UZaTVPxSd-I/AAAAAAAABNo/cuKewRiezqs/s1600/IMG-20130516-01350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TjOpdJ8mImE/UZaTVPxSd-I/AAAAAAAABNo/cuKewRiezqs/s400/IMG-20130516-01350.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1jiRf2YUEHI/UZaTvIicwwI/AAAAAAAABN4/k6gmcWOGfcw/s1600/IMG-20130516-01353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1jiRf2YUEHI/UZaTvIicwwI/AAAAAAAABN4/k6gmcWOGfcw/s200/IMG-20130516-01353.jpg" width="200" /></a>I only had time for a couple of drinks, but it was a couple of drinks thoroughly enjoyed. Most of my friends were still at work at that time and I had to leave by the time they would've been able to get there, but luckily I am not the least bit uncomfortable going to a bar by myself (my parents would be so proud!). It was a very windy day and quite chilly in the shade but The Ballroom's rooftop patio not only had wonderful sunshine all around, but is also perfectly sheltered from the wind! It's beautiful and cozy and I would definitely come back again and again, especially considering the fact that they're affordable, have great staff, and offer a wide array of daily specials. Definitely a keeper!<br />
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The Patio Party was generously sponsored by Corona (which were $4 all night, tax included!) and the tables were littered with all kinds of free Corona merchandize. I thought these would get snatched up very quickly (and they did once the space started filling up with people getting off work), but on my way out I passed a couple of servers carrying boxes of more Corona merch up the stairs, so I'm pretty sure the giveaways lasted all night. And to sweeten the deal, they had perfect live music playing (at perfect volume, too), so leaving the party to head to class was extra painful. It's a good thing I like what I'm leaning! <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2-aN5Y1S5mk/UZaThRHuIoI/AAAAAAAABNw/2hTfKqu2Ksg/s1600/IMG-20130516-01352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2-aN5Y1S5mk/UZaThRHuIoI/AAAAAAAABNw/2hTfKqu2Ksg/s320/IMG-20130516-01352.jpg" width="240" /></a>WHAT: Summer Launch Patio Party at The Ballroom<br />
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WHERE: The Ballroom, corner of Richmond and John<br />
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WHEN: May 16, 4pm<br />
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COST: Free<br />
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INSIDER TIPS: When a server slips a flyer into your bill, read it carefully. In this particular case, bringing the flyer to the party with you got you one free drink. Also, if you plan on going with a group of friends but most people don't get off work until after the party starts, it helps if you know someone who can go ahead and snag a table for everyone. There were a few people on the patio saving seats for their gainfully employed friends and it was a good thing, too, because any empty spaces got snatched up double quick once the offices let out. <br />
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Olenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581728027839451855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4255313186436784187.post-37807363447181547842013-05-17T10:26:00.001-04:002013-05-17T10:26:38.614-04:00Back at The Catalysts - An Intimate Evening with Jason Collett<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N2qy-rwuxMc/UZY2yu9KBuI/AAAAAAAABLw/HrIYj9uAWpk/s1600/JC1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N2qy-rwuxMc/UZY2yu9KBuI/AAAAAAAABLw/HrIYj9uAWpk/s320/JC1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Globe and Mail's <i><a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/the-catalysts/nominate-a-creative-canadian-to-be-a-catalyst/article8403566/" target="_blank">The Catalysts</a></i> event series was back this week with another Toronto event and you can bet it was circled in my calendar as one not to miss. This time, the guest of honour was Jason Collett and we were treated to an intimate music performance. All things considered, the event as a whole wasn't quite as fabulous as our evening out with Curtis Stone last month, but it <i>was</i> a great night and, really, that bar was set so high last time that I would be surprised if anything else compared. This isn't to take anything away from Jason - it's only to give due to the incredible energy and excitement that Curtis brings. <br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w4I1TH7wibY/UZY3NGAUwcI/AAAAAAAABL4/6kuWVs1iOzM/s1600/JC2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w4I1TH7wibY/UZY3NGAUwcI/AAAAAAAABL4/6kuWVs1iOzM/s400/JC2.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7upFK-UKzBg/UZY7Kw_vewI/AAAAAAAABMg/VtbyO9OVkg4/s1600/JC6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7upFK-UKzBg/UZY7Kw_vewI/AAAAAAAABMg/VtbyO9OVkg4/s200/JC6.jpg" width="200" /></a>Back to Jason. The evening had a slightly different format this time - there was no private VIP portion and the main presentation was more of a sit-down interview peppered with performances than a solid music set. The crowd was significantly smaller this time, which made for a much more intimate event. People were also more spread out because Liberty Grand's beautiful patio was open for business this time around and we were almost sad to go back inside for the main presentation, as it was a beautiful day and we were basking in the sun. Once back inside, we scored a seat at the end of the room and were able to enjoy the show in comfort. However, the sound wasn't quite loud/clear enough during the interview parts, so I personally had to strain a little bit to catch what was being said. The parts that I did make out were enough to assure me that Jason is pretty funny and very candid (yes, there was talk about girls back in high school). <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iKRqsNWAByg/UZY6tgtu11I/AAAAAAAABMQ/CFOSFTHs0OE/s1600/JC4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iKRqsNWAByg/UZY6tgtu11I/AAAAAAAABMQ/CFOSFTHs0OE/s200/JC4.jpg" width="200" /></a>Other than a few little tweaks, the rest of the event had all the same fantastic elements we enjoyed so much last time - fantastic catering, open bar, and generous gift bags. The winner is being announced shortly, I believe, so I am not sure if there will be any more of these coming. But if there are, we will gladly attend again. These events are great! And it's a great way to discover something new. Prior to this event, I had no idea what a big deal Jason is and now I've come across diehard fans who have started to open my eyes. And I really do enjoy his music - the take-home CDs from our gift bags will definitely be on rotation this weekend as I'm painting my parents' deck.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OEbom2F2Tq0/UZY5daR7nII/AAAAAAAABME/vfsTcI_00n0/s1600/JC3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OEbom2F2Tq0/UZY5daR7nII/AAAAAAAABME/vfsTcI_00n0/s320/JC3.jpg" width="320" /></a>WHAT: <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/the-catalysts/nominate-a-creative-canadian-to-be-a-catalyst/article8403566/" target="_blank">The Catalysts</a> Event Series - An Intimate Evening with Jason Collett <br />
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WHERE: Liberty Grand, 25 British Columbia Rd (Exhibition Place)<br />
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WHEN: May 15 - 6-9 pm<br />
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COST: Free (through invite list; I believe you could also buy tickets for $30)<br />
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INSIDER TIPS: The only tip I didn't mention last time is proper footwear. Many people dress up for these events and standing around in sky-high heels can get a little tiring. Now that the patio is open, there are many more places to sit down, but most people will still be standing for a good half of the event while the presentation/performance takes place. Plan accordingly! <br />
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Olenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581728027839451855noreply@blogger.com025 British Columbia Road, Toronto, ON M6K 3C3, Canada43.6315739 -79.4259038999999818.1095394 -120.73449789999998 69.1536084 -38.117309899999981tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4255313186436784187.post-85665793750049355522013-05-15T10:32:00.000-04:002013-05-15T10:32:21.058-04:00Move Over, Santa - A Note About Reward Cards<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You don't always have to wait until Christmas to get a reward for "good" behaviour. Sometimes, it's being "bad" (also known as being human) that can result in a pleasant windfall. Yes, the time has come to talk about rewards cards. There is a myriad of these available through credit card providers and retailers. The trick is to pick your battles. Instead of signing up for everything on the planet and not actually getting enough of anything to redeem for a reward, look at your spending habits and focus on a few key cards that will allow you to maximize the way you shop. If you set things up right, there is very little maintenance required on your part and the rewards can be quite substantial.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VSyjFwdWg5g/UZOb-94BtpI/AAAAAAAABLg/riVN7Jlrxv4/s1600/AirMiles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VSyjFwdWg5g/UZOb-94BtpI/AAAAAAAABLg/riVN7Jlrxv4/s200/AirMiles.jpg" width="200" /></a>Personally, I have used the following cards with the greatest rates of success: Air Miles, Aerogold VISA, Plum Rewards (Indigo), Shoppers Optimum, and PC Points (via my MasterCard). With the exception of my VISA card (I justify the fee by using it for other things besides reward points, but that's a different topic), all these cards are free. Over the past decade or so, I have collected a couple of air plane tickets, several home electronics and small appliances, and around $200 in discounts off purchases. I'd say that's not a bad deal for something that I would normally be doing anyway. And I don't have to worry about those pesky naughty or nice lists.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FvcyYZPsVyg/UZOYc9mhrEI/AAAAAAAABLI/wqDmz4d9q80/s1600/Kitchenaid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FvcyYZPsVyg/UZOYc9mhrEI/AAAAAAAABLI/wqDmz4d9q80/s400/Kitchenaid.jpg" width="300" /></a>Of all the cards I use - and discounting the two credit cards - Air Miles is the one that adds up the fastest and has the lowest reward threshholds. I've had a card since my teens and have gotten quite a few rewards out of it. Back in university, I redeemed my points for two free plane tickets to the East Coast. Then, a few years ago, I got a home phone set, a stereo, and a great Henkels cutlery set. Finally, just this week I redeemed more miles for a Kitchenaid food processor that I've had my eye on for a while. And all of this without altering my shopping habits. I used to have the rewards card tied to my bank account at BMO but I stopped collecting these when I switched banks, and I don't really do a lot of shopping at qualifying stores anymore either. However, I gave a supplementary card to my parents (who don't have their own account) and they happily collect miles for me by simply filling up on gas and frequenting the LCBO, for example (again, things they already do). And when I saw that my reward level was getting close to being enough to redeem for something I wanted, I searched the net and found several online promotions to get more miles fast (e.g. signing up for a newsletter or completing a survey). With many people switching to fee-based rewards credit cards (and these can be <i>great</i>), Air Miles doesn't enjoy the same popularity it once did, so many people forget about it. However, the two don't have to be mutually exclusive and it can really be worth your while.<br />
<br />
WHAT: Loyalty and rewards cards<br />
<br />
WHERE: Retailers and credit card providers<br />
<br />
WHEN: Every time you shop!<br />
<br />
COST: Varies but many are free<br />
<br />
INSIDER TIPS: Think of loyalty and rewards cards as <i>supplementary</i> to your daily routine, not something you chase for their own sake. First, look around at what's out there and how quickly your would be able to achieve a reward level that qualifies for redemption. Then pick a card (or cards) that line(s) up with your existing shopping habits (e.g. qualifying stores, products, etc.) and watch the free points add up. Buddy up with a loved one to collect into the same account, and most importantly, don't spread yourself too thin or go out of your way to buy something you don't need or shop at stores you don't like just to get some points. This is a trap retailers want you to fall into but resist the temptation. Instead, find a way to reward yourself for doing things you already do by using a card that gives you a reward for shopping at places you already shop at for things you already buy. A little planning can really make a difference here. Olenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581728027839451855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4255313186436784187.post-28527701918293745962013-05-13T10:47:00.002-04:002013-05-13T10:47:30.685-04:00Taking (Beer) Flight at Amsterdam Brewery (a.k.a. Free Beer Friday)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PVE0_keBLBw/UZD7gW2Z4dI/AAAAAAAABKg/g9EpjhxbQ8M/s1600/Amsterdam3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PVE0_keBLBw/UZD7gW2Z4dI/AAAAAAAABKg/g9EpjhxbQ8M/s640/Amsterdam3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c6pIprAAWMg/UZD7tdFXaGI/AAAAAAAABKo/TI5I4jdPWlo/s1600/Amsterdam4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c6pIprAAWMg/UZD7tdFXaGI/AAAAAAAABKo/TI5I4jdPWlo/s320/Amsterdam4.jpg" width="320" /></a>I never thought of myself as a beer person until I happened across an old brewery in Czech Republic and discovered that beer doesn't have to taste like that stuff every guy's guy stocks up on before a long weekend trip to the cottage. Coincidentally, not too long after that the craft beer craze took hold of Toronto and refused to let go. Over the past few years, small local breweries have been experimenting with flavours and doing us all a huge favour by crafting delicious, interesting brews. With the local movement alive and well in Toronto, you can find many of these in small bars and restaurants across the city and I can now honestly say that yes, I do indeed enjoy beer. The right kind of beer, that is.<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Amsterdambeer?fref=ts" target="_blank"><br /></a>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SOPCRIByMgc/UZD73OX4-eI/AAAAAAAABKw/LnbPVQ-g9vM/s1600/Amsterdam7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SOPCRIByMgc/UZD73OX4-eI/AAAAAAAABKw/LnbPVQ-g9vM/s400/Amsterdam7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Amsterdambeer?fref=ts" target="_blank">Amsterdam Brewery</a> is one of the local guys. Every Saturday, they offer free tours and tastings at their new Leaside location. However, my Saturdays have been quite busy of late and I have not yet had a chance to take advantage of this opportunity. Lucky for me, they hosted a Free Flight Friday last week and I was thrilled to make it over for a tasting. Thinking they meant one flight, I was trying to decide what to get when they made the decision incredibly easy: everything! Instead of having to pick, we were treated to the entire tasting menu (three flights = nine delicious brews). There were a couple of other couples at the tasting bar with us, so it was nice and cozy. I'm not sure if it was the rain or the relatively remote location that kept the crowds away, but it certainly was not the beer! Both my friend and I agreed on our favourites: Amsterdam Blonde, Nut Brown, Raspberry Wheat, and the secret mix of Nut Brown and Raspberry Wheat (who knew you could mix beer!?).<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XTo9xzMCd7g/UZD5SXvna-I/AAAAAAAABKE/cZ1821zlvbs/s1600/Amsterdam10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XTo9xzMCd7g/UZD5SXvna-I/AAAAAAAABKE/cZ1821zlvbs/s400/Amsterdam10.jpg" width="400" /></a>To round off the night, we also learned about the new waterfront Brew Pub they are opening this summer (can't wait!) and picked up a couple of specialty brews to take home which were not available on tap for a tasting (but sounds sooooo good and, really, we liked everything else, so the chances of striking out were low to none). If you are thinking of hosting a party, their kegs and growlers are a great deal, so I would definitely recommend checking them out. And if you have a free Saturday afternoon, may I suggest a free tour and tasting? It's definitely on my list and I can't wait to go back!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i9cAVEREVyY/UZD7Dq1y7dI/AAAAAAAABKQ/K8Xg9ODJgRM/s1600/Amsterdam11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i9cAVEREVyY/UZD7Dq1y7dI/AAAAAAAABKQ/K8Xg9ODJgRM/s320/Amsterdam11.jpg" width="320" /></a>WHAT: Amsterdam Brewery Free Flight Friday<br />
<br />
WHERE: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Amsterdambeer?fref=ts" target="_blank">Amsterdam Brewer</a>y, 45 Esandar Dr. <br />
<br />
WHEN: Friday, May 10 - 4-7 pm<br />
<br />
COST: Free<br />
<br />
INSIDER DETAILS: The place wasn't busy, so there was absolutely zero frustration associated with this experience. It was the ideal alternative pub night if you weren't hungry and looking to catch up with your beer buddy (i.e. no loud music but also no food on premises). There are a number of restaurants just down the street, so if you do get the munchies, that's easily fixed. The beer is great and the free Saturday tours and tastings are a great (and free!) treat. Definitely stop by for one of these if you can. <br />
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Olenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581728027839451855noreply@blogger.com045 Esandar Drive, Toronto, ON M4G 4C5, Canada43.7070332 -79.357319218.184998699999998 -120.6659132 69.2290677 -38.048725200000007tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4255313186436784187.post-6739745984382659402013-05-09T11:08:00.000-04:002013-05-09T11:08:03.720-04:00All the Furry Critters - THS Open House and Garage Sale <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qd0NWdiT3FY/UYu57GQ83DI/AAAAAAAABJc/OrN--5t0p8A/s1600/THS7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qd0NWdiT3FY/UYu57GQ83DI/AAAAAAAABJc/OrN--5t0p8A/s320/THS7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Just about everyone in the city has heard about the Toronto Humane Society but, like many of those people, I have never actually been to the facility. I know perfectly well where it is and have passed it many times while out and about but, not being in a position to adopt, I never quite wandered in for fear of being guilt tripped into feeling like an awful person for not saving one of those furry faces. Curiousity, however, is not something I can easily ignore, so when I heard about their Open House, I thought it was a perfect chance to see what THS is all about without being singled out.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EVEfylGowlI/UYu5TiygLSI/AAAAAAAABJE/hJHXTPdt51M/s1600/THS3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EVEfylGowlI/UYu5TiygLSI/AAAAAAAABJE/hJHXTPdt51M/s320/THS3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's a dishwasher! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/325130114276295/" target="_blank">THS Open House</a> allowed the visitors to wander around freely and check out all the various critters available for adoption. There were several community groups in the lobby providing information on feral cat colonies and spay/neuter services, an artist creating glitter tattoos, a raffle, a toy making station for shelter animals, and hourly tours of the facility, which offered a sneak peek behind the scenes. I personally find it hard to resist being able to walk through the doors labeled as "staff only", so I went on one of the tours. Most of the people accompanying me on this tour were old ladies, which, while really sweet, also made our progress very slow. But it was neat to see some of the behind-the-scenes operations, including the biggest dishwasher I have ever seen and the brand-new spay and neuter clinic. <br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8VUoH2kGbH0/UYu5gxwJc-I/AAAAAAAABJM/bWlkCFiai0M/s1600/THS5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8VUoH2kGbH0/UYu5gxwJc-I/AAAAAAAABJM/bWlkCFiai0M/s200/THS5.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MDZxYGVSGHI/UYu5sq79DoI/AAAAAAAABJU/pL1fKj5wpcE/s1600/THS6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MDZxYGVSGHI/UYu5sq79DoI/AAAAAAAABJU/pL1fKj5wpcE/s320/THS6.jpg" width="320" /></a>As for the facility itself, it wasn't nearly as depressing as I thought it would be. The dogs were the hardest - their "cells" evoked a bit of a prison feel and their eager faces were hard to walk by. They get walked by volunteers up to 3 times a day, so most of them are quite used to having someone come get them and a couple of them were practically dancing behind the bars at the sight of someone new approaching. I felt awful not being able to set them free. The cats and the special species rooms were much easier, however. After the big scandal that shut down the facility a couple of years ago, THS has made many changes and the rooms are quite bright and easy on the animals. The bunny enclosures are built so that volunteers can actually get inside and hang out with the animals, and the cats have dual cages that separate sleeping and eating areas from each other. The second floor in particular is quite sunny and has many neat spaces for the animals to get some space and privacy (or, on the contrary, be socialized). That was pretty great to see. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Yy8x7mA5ZWk/UYu6KQhy1YI/AAAAAAAABJk/8dDQLv2FvR4/s1600/THS8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Yy8x7mA5ZWk/UYu6KQhy1YI/AAAAAAAABJk/8dDQLv2FvR4/s200/THS8.jpg" width="200" /></a>Finally, there was a two-day garage and bake sale in the back of the building. When I stopped by, there wasn't really much happening at the bake sale (not sure if they were sold out or it never quite took off in the first place), but the garage sale was quite large and you could easily pick up something you needed, especially if you were looking for pet supplies, which were all a great deal. There was also a fantastic book sale that was not only incredibly reasonable, but also offered an excellent book selection, many of which were brand new.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0VNSeiFulIM/UYu46YRKU5I/AAAAAAAABI0/rAtaX47W9dU/s1600/THS1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0VNSeiFulIM/UYu46YRKU5I/AAAAAAAABI0/rAtaX47W9dU/s320/THS1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These two were my favourite! </td></tr>
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<br />
*A special note needs to be made about the animals here: far
from being dirty and scared, the animals available for adoption at THS
are clean, well cared for, and for the most part quite social. There is a
fantastic network of staff and over 700 volunteers that make sure the
animals are in the best possible shape (both mentally and physically)
and there is full disclosure about any behavioural issues. If you are
thinking of getting a pet, please consider adopting. There are plenty of
choices and you will be thrilled with the result. These animals have
a lot of love to give and most of them are already fully trained, saving
you a lot of growing pains. Plus many of them are simply adorable! <br /><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_8Shtye_klA/UYu5CfdDrRI/AAAAAAAABI8/_IZX_GNfxgM/s1600/THS2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_8Shtye_klA/UYu5CfdDrRI/AAAAAAAABI8/_IZX_GNfxgM/s320/THS2.jpg" width="320" /></a>WHAT: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/325130114276295/" target="_blank">Toronto Human Society Open House and Bake/Garage Sale</a><br />
<br />
WHEN: May 4 - 12-5pm (open house)<br />
May 4 - 10am-5pm (garage sale)<br />
May 5 - 10am-2pm (garage sale)<br />
<br />
WHERE: Toronto Human Society, 11 River St.<br />
<br />
COST: Free<br />
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INSIDER DETAILS: If you are going to the garage sale, I would suggest going well before closing. While extra deals were offered at the end of the day, they started packing up well before the designated end time. I had a heavy bag with me on the first day of the sale and plans after my visit to THS, so I was not in a position to do any shopping. I did, however, make a separate trip to the book sale on the second day and they were already packing up at 1:30 pm when I got there. So go early. Olenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581728027839451855noreply@blogger.com011 River Street, Toronto, ON M5A 4C2, Canada43.6573662 -79.35648170000001843.6573212 -79.356560700000017 43.6574112 -79.356402700000018tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4255313186436784187.post-16389267421740094832013-05-05T10:36:00.000-04:002013-05-05T10:36:03.397-04:00Oooh, Pretty! - Cherry Blossoms in High Park<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KqlA5-d3Ym0/UYZtra58IEI/AAAAAAAABHk/sGBxphn232E/s1600/Cherry7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KqlA5-d3Ym0/UYZtra58IEI/AAAAAAAABHk/sGBxphn232E/s320/Cherry7.jpg" width="240" /></a>Every year, there is a cherry blossom watch and a countdown to their peak blooming season in High Park. I've been wanting to go for years but somehow always seem to miss it. This year, I decided enough is enough and did everything in my power to finally make the trip.<br />
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The first thing that struck me was the flow of people armed with cameras (and quite oblivious to whose walking trajectory they kept stumbling into) stretching all the way back to the subway. There was literally a stream of people surging into the park. I think that's what a pilgrimage might look like, minus the frilly clothes and high-tech camera equipment. And forget about trying to drive through or, god forbid, find parking! The car traffic was crawling (when not fully stopped) and there wasn't a single parking spot in sight. <br />
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The next surprise was the number of cherry trees High Park actually has! I always thought it was just a small cluster of cherry trees near the Grenadier Pond, but there are a <i>lot </i>more than that and they stretch all the way up the hill. You truly are walking on an avenue lined with cherry trees in full bloom. Had it not been for the massive swarm of people buzzing beneath the trees, it would have been quite magical. But it's a very popular event, so good luck catching the space without the crowds. Still it's quite lovely and definitely worth checking out. Just pack your patience and don't expect to get anywhere fast (or expect to get pictures without a bright background of other people).<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cC-Kexayk7Q/UYZtJ5xcGyI/AAAAAAAABHU/38yGH1-5Mfc/s1600/Cherry3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cC-Kexayk7Q/UYZtJ5xcGyI/AAAAAAAABHU/38yGH1-5Mfc/s640/Cherry3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The funniest part for me was observing the multitude of (largely) Asian people in their Sunday best trying to climb the trees and posing for brooding and romantic shots in from of the blossoms. They take this very seriously. There was lighting equipment and everything! I did not see that coming. If you make it out to High Park and manage to find a spot to park yourself under a tree somewhere, the people watching is just as good as the blossom watching. Give it a try.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RDA31dh13LU/UYZtZzGgGoI/AAAAAAAABHc/4Ih-kRUCdxU/s1600/Cherry4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RDA31dh13LU/UYZtZzGgGoI/AAAAAAAABHc/4Ih-kRUCdxU/s400/Cherry4.jpg" width="400" /></a>WHAT: Cherry Blossoms in High Park<br />
<br />
WHERE: High Park, west side near Grenadier Pond<br />
<br />
WHEN: Early May - at their prime this week<br />
<br />
COST: Free<br />
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INSIDER TIPS: The trees closest to the Bloor entrance to the park are the busiest (and there is hardly any grass left under them). If you are looking to find a picnic spot that it's too overcrowded, check the smaller cluster of trees by the pond closest to the Lakeshore entrance. There'll still be tons of people there, to be sure, but they won't be sitting on top of your heard and it's easier to find a spot to spread your blanket. Also be sure you bring a blanket! Olenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581728027839451855noreply@blogger.com0High Park, 1873 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON M6R 2Z3, Canada43.651669899999987 -79.46529149999997843.628689899999991 -79.505631999999977 43.674649899999984 -79.424950999999979tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4255313186436784187.post-16309901560008863632013-05-04T10:42:00.003-04:002013-05-04T10:42:56.807-04:00Ontario Brewing Awards 2013 (a.k.a. Delicious and Fun!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cLTIR5BZNuM/UYUbIbrKycI/AAAAAAAABGY/2komNZiLoL0/s1600/Beer4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cLTIR5BZNuM/UYUbIbrKycI/AAAAAAAABGY/2komNZiLoL0/s640/Beer4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OszubqRkAQ0/UYUa7QWfYoI/AAAAAAAABGQ/Y-z0AFLe1SY/s1600/Beer3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OszubqRkAQ0/UYUa7QWfYoI/AAAAAAAABGQ/Y-z0AFLe1SY/s200/Beer3.jpg" width="147" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iKnt1dnEd2g/UYUbVNjEPaI/AAAAAAAABGg/00hBdhquoOk/s1600/Beer5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iKnt1dnEd2g/UYUbVNjEPaI/AAAAAAAABGg/00hBdhquoOk/s200/Beer5.jpg" width="150" /></a>For the past three years, I have associated the initials OBA with the Ontario Bar Association. Now I have a much more exciting replacement: <a href="http://www.ontariobrewingawards.com/" target="_blank">Ontario Brewing Awards</a>. The 2013 ceremony took place at the Gladstone Hotel this past Tuesday and this is definitely an event that's going straight to my Annual Favourites list.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a_5VMJNpRlo/UYUWruSW6PI/AAAAAAAABFc/ZilDaoz-DKA/s1600/Beer1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a_5VMJNpRlo/UYUWruSW6PI/AAAAAAAABFc/ZilDaoz-DKA/s320/Beer1.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GZYajzp-JuE/UYUb5JbAivI/AAAAAAAABG4/dRhIFqmXQ_c/s1600/Beer8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GZYajzp-JuE/UYUb5JbAivI/AAAAAAAABG4/dRhIFqmXQ_c/s200/Beer8.jpg" width="117" /></a>OBA13 featured an award ceremony and a beer sampling portion of some of the local craft breweries. Tickets were a mere $10 online (not sure if there were any left for door sales, as I got mine months in advance and didn't keep track of whether these were selling out, though I would imagine that to be the case). The cafe and the main presentation space were closed off for the reception, with a live band providing entertainment. With windows open to allow fresh air into the room, it was a perfect spring evening and a beautiful set-up. I was there early (and there was already a line of eager beer affectionados to get in), and managed to snag one of the few tables in the cafe portion (I figured a long night of tasting might leave us wishing we could do it in comfort). <br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5b4N-Fl0UH8/UYUbv9DlUtI/AAAAAAAABGw/JmYmfMvPQ7E/s1600/Beer7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5b4N-Fl0UH8/UYUbv9DlUtI/AAAAAAAABGw/JmYmfMvPQ7E/s320/Beer7.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5b4N-Fl0UH8/UYUbv9DlUtI/AAAAAAAABGw/JmYmfMvPQ7E/s1600/Beer7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a_5VMJNpRlo/UYUWruSW6PI/AAAAAAAABFc/ZilDaoz-DKA/s1600/Beer1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>There were four bar stations throughout the space, each sampling about six local brews as well as hosting trays of tasty nibbles. The bar stations seemed to be themed. One had dark porters, one was quite hoppy, one had lighter fruitier brews, and I didn't quite make it through all the brews at the fourth bar but it seemed to be a bit of a mix. One thing is certain though: all of these were fun! How often do you get to sample more than two dozen delicious local craft beers in one place and still be able to walk in a (semi-) straight line when all is said and done? I was definitely a big fan. And this even would be perfect for someone who doesn't think they like beer. Most of the flavours were much more creative than the standard 2-4 finds at your local beer store that seem to show up at backyard parties. Give some local breweries a shot and you just might discover your inner beer fan.<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wh2ZMaljM04/UYUcDKN8anI/AAAAAAAABHA/43K2Wm0FwdQ/s1600/Beer9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wh2ZMaljM04/UYUcDKN8anI/AAAAAAAABHA/43K2Wm0FwdQ/s320/Beer9.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
If you already like beer, definitely add this event to your radar. Many of the brewery representatives were actually on site to accept their awards, so you could easily chat them up if you could tear yourself away from making your way through the sampling list. If you are coming straight from work (which most people were, as the event started at 5pm), I would suggest eating something before you head out. While appetizers were delicious and frequently refilled, if you are serious about your beer tasting, you might want a bit more substance in your belly. Otherwise, you'll be making frequent trips to the various bar stations to load up on snacks (which we certainly did!).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pp5p51hYFiU/UYUYi5So84I/AAAAAAAABFo/_BJKwhBkPsg/s1600/Beer10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pp5p51hYFiU/UYUYi5So84I/AAAAAAAABFo/_BJKwhBkPsg/s320/Beer10.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After the 10th trip to the bar, we just took the whole plate</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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WHAT: <a href="http://www.ontariobrewingawards.com/" target="_blank">Ontario Brewing Awards 2013 </a><br />
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WHERE: Gladstone Hotel<br />
<br />
WHEN: April 30 - 5-8 pm<br />
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COST: $10 (+processing fee)<br />
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INSIDER DETAILS: Get there early if you want to snag a seat! Otherwise, just show up, enjoy, and give something new a try. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ze0yRHnG1Go/UYUbjOt7CaI/AAAAAAAABGo/JNOmSy-s6kw/s1600/Beer6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ze0yRHnG1Go/UYUbjOt7CaI/AAAAAAAABGo/JNOmSy-s6kw/s320/Beer6.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k9srcOIsM64/UYUaYOj9sYI/AAAAAAAABGA/OMGdlnetLN4/s1600/Beer12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k9srcOIsM64/UYUaYOj9sYI/AAAAAAAABGA/OMGdlnetLN4/s320/Beer12.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Olenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581728027839451855noreply@blogger.com01214 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON M6J 1J6, Canada43.642559899999988 -79.42711729999996418.120525399999988 -120.73571129999996 69.164594399999984 -38.118523299999964tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4255313186436784187.post-89329152920805658472013-05-01T11:36:00.000-04:002013-05-01T11:36:12.274-04:00Are You Feeling Crafty? - CreativFestival Spring 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Eha3jO-gdy0/UYEzuL93KQI/AAAAAAAABEc/S3MlfG_Y8_Q/s1600/craft14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Eha3jO-gdy0/UYEzuL93KQI/AAAAAAAABEc/S3MlfG_Y8_Q/s640/craft14.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1jIPAi0hQto/UYEw3VWjn2I/AAAAAAAABDs/qkUTQ-afReU/s1600/Craft1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="169" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1jIPAi0hQto/UYEw3VWjn2I/AAAAAAAABDs/qkUTQ-afReU/s200/Craft1.jpg" width="200" /></a>I'm no expert when it comes to handiwork but I do like to dabble from time to time, as I find the process of making something enjoyable and satisfying (unless it turns out really ugly, in which case it's a bit of a downer, but what can you do). When I saw a poster for the <a href="http://www.csnf.com/s13_eventinfo.html" target="_blank">CreativFestival</a>, I was intrigued and since my student card could get me in for only $5 and I happened to have a car last weekend, I found the temptation much too hard to resist.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CRGzbEssQBw/UYE0VWWypPI/AAAAAAAABE0/bbMXNY74Klo/s1600/craft5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CRGzbEssQBw/UYE0VWWypPI/AAAAAAAABE0/bbMXNY74Klo/s320/craft5.jpg" width="269" /></a>The <a href="http://www.csnf.com/s13_eventinfo.html" target="_blank">CreativFestival</a> was a 2-day (Friday and Saturday as opposed to the standard Saturday and Sunday) trade show out at the International Centre near the airport where you could shop, explore, attend workshops, and make some crafts to take home. All the seminars were free (a small materials fee applied to some hands-on ones) and many exhibitors were happy to share trade secrets in their own booths as well.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-urVuTDR92tQ/UYExKrKL6xI/AAAAAAAABD0/hXNEqwNHQ-I/s1600/Craft2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-urVuTDR92tQ/UYExKrKL6xI/AAAAAAAABD0/hXNEqwNHQ-I/s200/Craft2.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6mqrF4iek-U/UYEz76u_N8I/AAAAAAAABEk/G78Tp6Ufvd0/s1600/craft3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6mqrF4iek-U/UYEz76u_N8I/AAAAAAAABEk/G78Tp6Ufvd0/s320/craft3.jpg" width="320" /></a>The first thing that struck me about the show was that it was HUGE. And busy! I knew crafts were popular but I didn't realize quite <i>how</i> popular. What's more, in addition to the expected (and still predominant) demographic of older ladies in funny-looking homemade clothes, there were also a lot of young women and teenagers there, as well as families with young kids. Sewing, knitting, and beading dominated the show floor, but once you started exploring and looking more closely, there were a lot of other really neat things there. For starters, some of the quilts on display were absolutely stunning and not the traditional mishmash of patchwork fabric leftovers most people have in mind. This kind of made me want to take up quilting, especially I saw the array of beautiful colour combinations of fabric squares you could pick up at the show. The other booth that blew me away was an artist who created beautiful art pieces from felt. Once again, I felt the urge to buy some felt and get crafting. There was also a lady there who was making glass beads right at the show (that was a popular attraction!), and another who was drawing zendoodles (somethings I've never heard of before but was absolutely fascinated by). Even if you aren't into crafts, you could easily find something at the show to interest you.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LDGFGgroaFQ/UYEzArZ3C_I/AAAAAAAABEA/j6-INtCjSMU/s1600/craft10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LDGFGgroaFQ/UYEzArZ3C_I/AAAAAAAABEA/j6-INtCjSMU/s200/craft10.jpg" width="187" /></a></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z1K2Q3ycUMc/UYE0iCoJlRI/AAAAAAAABE8/v7_LfmmAyzU/s1600/craft7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z1K2Q3ycUMc/UYE0iCoJlRI/AAAAAAAABE8/v7_LfmmAyzU/s320/craft7.jpg" width="240" /></a>As far as the shopping part went, there was definitely a lot of it available. However, I wouldn't say there were any amazing deals to be had. Craft supplies are <i>expensive</i>! And the array of tools to go with them is simply mind boggling (and equally expensive!). I saw people drop hundreds of dollars and walk away with rather small parcels. The shopping was really more for people who had a particular project in mind and knew exactly what they were looking for (and needed access to quality materials or more variety than their local craft store). Otherwise, you could blow a lot of money and not even end up with everything you needed to finish a project. Definitely strategic shopping rather than impulse buys.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xaX3t2I8xkA/UYEzgSoA-aI/AAAAAAAABEU/s1ydqBvunKA/s1600/craft12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xaX3t2I8xkA/UYEzgSoA-aI/AAAAAAAABEU/s1ydqBvunKA/s320/craft12.jpg" width="320" /></a>WHAT: <a href="http://www.csnf.com/s13_eventinfo.html" target="_blank">CreativFestival Spring 2013</a><br />
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WHERE: International Centre, 6900 Airport Rd.<br />
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WHEN: April 26 & 27<br />
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COST: $4-$15<br />
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INSIDER TIPS: If you are a crafter and looking to shop, figure out what you need before you get to the show so you don't overspend on things you don't need. Also check out the workshop/seminar schedule to time your visit to coincide with something you're interested in. The parking lot was rammed, so if it's rainy out, you're going to want to bring an umbrella and proper footwear because it's a bit of a hike to the show entrance once you manage to find a parking spot (unless you get really lucky), so you will get wet. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iorKoJDyCYA/UYEzaWkA8rI/AAAAAAAABEM/DBYsNbi_N-8/s1600/craft11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iorKoJDyCYA/UYEzaWkA8rI/AAAAAAAABEM/DBYsNbi_N-8/s320/craft11.jpg" width="239" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OJEXzIo6lq8/UYE0s6unP3I/AAAAAAAABFE/BmUV4bVFDTA/s1600/craft8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OJEXzIo6lq8/UYE0s6unP3I/AAAAAAAABFE/BmUV4bVFDTA/s320/craft8.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
Olenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581728027839451855noreply@blogger.com06900 Airport Road, Mississauga, ON L5P, Canada43.7014197 -79.63861580000002518.179385200000002 -120.94720980000002 69.2234542 -38.330021800000026