SATURDAY
We spent the morning as we usually do, breakfasts, coffees, reading, watching hockey, before heading out to lunch and the theatre. We took the 66 bus to the subway over to Yonge and Bloor, 15 on the bus to Old Mill Station and then 30 minutes to Bloor and Yonge.
We had spotted an Asian place the other day that we thought we would try.
John's pork dumplings were delicious.
I had the rainbow dumplings and enjoyed all the colours.
These lamb skewers were very good, we agreed that they were better than the ones we had in Phuket in December.
We took a stroll over to BMT, (now called Manulife Centre, but it was BMT when we worked there in the early 90s).
Yeah, it was a miserable day to be out.
WOW WOW WOW This was actually a docu-concert. An all Canadian show,
Mike Ross and an incredible band of Island musicians are making headlines in Toronto and around the world with their docu-concert, Inside American Pie, which started at Harmony House in beautiful Hunter River, PEI. This show creatively unpacks the stories from Don McLean’s hit song and takes audiences on a musical journey from the 50s through the 60s.
VIDEO here is just a taste, I plan on doing an in-depth post.
Coming home we walked down Yonge to Richmond (for the Queen St. streetcar, due to the ongoing Metrolinx construction) home. Obviously there was a delay on the 501 streetcar. We walked to the Sheraton for a bathroom stop and it was packed! They were obviously a registration stop for tomorrow's marathon as well.
As we stepped an Out of Service streetcar went by and then a very full one arrived that we boarded.
I forgot to mention that I HAD to buy these, the other day, at Winner's. When we used to travel in the States we loved picking up Goo Goo Clusters (2024)! 2025 MENTION.
SUNDAY
DAY OF LEISURE PLAY DATE DOWN TIME SUNDAY FUNDAY COUCH POTATO VIBES
We slept in until 8:30, not like us. I made French toast for lunch. I prepared our pot roast in the slow cooker for dinner. Then I spent a lot of time writing a Inside American Pie post, link below.
MONDAY
Monday Mural - Billy Bishop Airport
Tom reminded me of Monahans TX, where we stayed last year, in his Monday Mural.
Debra, She Who Seeks, posted Leonard Cohen mural in Montreal.
Foto Tunes - Inside American Pie
I fed John a good breakfast as he was headed out to his annual golf game at Wooden Sticks with a friend, this includes dinner. This was also his first golf game this season as he was rained out last week. It was the best day of the week for gorgeous weather, it went down hill from there.
I was on a mission, first stop passport pictures. I have 11 months on my passport so I needed two paper photos as I must apply in person. I don't want to get to the fall and decide we're going somewhere and have less than 6 months left.
Then I took a shirt and the pants I bought in Vietnam for hemming, it cost me more than the pants did!!
I posted in June 2025 about that yellow building being incorporated into a condo. In that post I included photos of the building in 2011 and 2018!
This is part of the new metrolinx transit line, under construction. I thought, what a weird way and place to build a station!! So I looked it up!
This large white structure located at Victoria Street and Queen Street in Toronto is a temporary acoustic shelter designed to dampen noise and dust during construction.
It is part of the Ontario Line subway project, specifically constructed to protect nearby operations at St. Michael's Hospital from excavation noise.
Inside this shelter, massive industrial elevators are used to lower tunneling equipment and machinery underground.
Even the cows were enjoying this gorgeous day!
When I got home, I started going through "stuff" in my trunk, mainly photos and these. The videos and tapes went into the garbage as did other bits and pieces that nobody would be interested in.
I got rid of any duplicates as well.
I found this stamp on a letter from a couple we had met, years ago. The letter went into the garbage.
I found a note from 1968, from my mother, telling me to put my dishes away!!
TUESDAY
Tuesday Treasures - Billy Bishop Airport
I worked on some blog posts.
Then we decided to get off our butts, and go out for lunch, even though it was not a great looking day.
Yonge and Wellington.
First stop was for covid shots, however, after a chat with the pharmacist, we decided to wait until September when a vaccine for the new variant will be available. Although there is a booster available at the moment, if we took that we would not be eligible in four months' time for the new one.
So, that out of the way, we picked up a few items for dinner as it is Cinco de Mayo!
Then we took the subway from St. Andrew's to St. George and then walked onto the campus at U of T.
Outside St. George station. It was only later, as I read Tom's (Tom The Backroads Traveller) post that I realized I had taken a photo of the construction of the Wood Tower. I had no idea what was building built in the background and hadn't heard about the Wood Tower!
Various buildings on the campus. I have done many posts on the University of Toronto, click on University of Toronto, in the labels/tags below this post.
We've seen the cherry blossoms many times around Toronto, but we always love seeing them at Robarts Library.
They weren't at their best, it has been very windy.
The glass extension was under construction the last time we were here.
There are 1,200 individual and group study spaces located in the Robarts Common. Many seating configurations are available, all with power outlets close at hand.
Connections from the main Robarts Library building to the Common are:
2nd floor: Food Court, by the south end of Starbucks
3rd floor: Through the Media Commons
4th floor: Through the Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation
5th floor: Through the Map & Data Library (temporarily closed due to construction)
We wanted lunch, and on the spur of the moment I led us into here. Local, non-chain, in the middle of the U of T campus, on Harbord.
I wanted to try a Japanese hot dog, and ordered the first combo I could see.
Thanks, John!
I had no idea what this was, a part of the combo, but I'm always game.
Tteokbokki is one of the most popular Korean street foods in Korea. Among other things, today’s recipe is made with Korean rice cakes, Korean fish cakes, Korean soup stock / dashi stock and gochujang (Korean chili paste)!
Sorry, no fans here!
John had a Japanese chicken katsu curry, which was delicious.
U of T Graduate building
John made cappuccinos when we got home.
Picked up at the bakery, I threw out the expired jam we had in the fridge! This blueberry pastry was two breakfasts for me, it was gigantic.
I completed The 2026 Canadian census is the next scheduled detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Scheduled to occur on May 4, 2026, it follows the 2021 Canadian census, which recorded a population of 36,991,981.
WEDNESDAY
We spent the morning at home and headed out at 11:20 for lunch and theatre.
We didn't know what we wanted for lunch, Indian curry buffet or hamburgers at the new place on KIng? Figured we'd wing it. It was cold out so we went underground and ended up in the Simcoe Place food court. After looking at Greek, Asian, Jamaican, Burger King, Subway, we settled on Indian.
Neither of us thought it was great, other than being hot (spicy) there wasn't much flavour in the sauces. John had chicken vindaloo and I had lamb.
Time to kill, so we strolled through the CBC (Canadian Broadcast Corporation) looking at their exhibits.
They were setting up for The 2026 Canada Media Fund Kids' Choice Award May 6, 2026, as part of the Canadian Screen Awards programming.
Schitt's Creek!
Our destination! Not my photo.
A Beautiful Noise is a jukebox musical highlighting Neil Diamond's life and career, featuring hits like "Sweet Caroline" and "Forever in Blue Jeans" that was developed in collaboration with Neil Diamond.
It was so good, so good, so good!
The musical focuses on a doctor (psychiatrist) helping an older Neil Diamond reflect on his life and music, charting his rise from a Brooklyn kid to a global superstar.
These sessions trigger a series of memories, with Neil–Now (Robert Westernberg) and the Doctor seated in leather armchairs, watching a younger version of Neil, (“Neil–Then,” Nick Fradiani) live out these flashbacks.
Fradiani is especially effective as Neil–Then, bringing an energetic, vibrant presence as a near-spot-on impression of Neil.
No photos allowed, so I garnered these online.
It is the US national tour, the primary roles are led by American touring actors,
Mary Page Nance plays the role of Marcia Murphey (New York) has an incredible voice.
The Stadium Rally
THURSDAY
My Christmas cactus flowered!
We stayed in and did some chores before we headed out at 4 PM.
I had just read about the "Great Beaver Quest" will see 48 painted beaver sculptures, representing FIFA World Cup countries, installed in Toronto's Old Town from May 1 – September 30, 2026, to celebrate the tournament. The public art project, in partnership with STEPS Public Art, celebrates the area's history and culture.
Well, guess what I found, hanging out in the King Edward, no less.
JAPAN
THE NETHERLANDS
We had been invited by our financial advisor for drinks and light bites at the King Edward Hotel.
Some photos from the King Edward Hotel.
Opened in 1903, the hotel was initially planned to be named after Queen Victoria, but it was named in honor of her son, King Edward VII, upon his ascension to the throne.
He was the King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, reigning from 1901 to 1910.
Known as "The King Eddy," it was Toronto's first luxury hotel, designed by E.J. Lennox.
The lobby features four giant, ornamental chess pieces in its lobby, which act as a key design element reflecting the hotel’s theme of "royalty, chess, and grandeur". These oversized art pieces define the lounge seating area.
We managed to get the 7:45 bus.
FRIDAY
I met my BFF at 11 and we took the subway to Yorkville, it was cold but sunny.
Going through Union.
We were going to see Les Fleurs de Ville, a free floral trail throughout the Bloor-Yorkville neighbourhood and discover more than 30 spectacular installations, including our signature fresh floral mannequins. New this year, local floral designers take centre stage as they transform flowers into original couture creations that embody the spirit of spring.
We saw 27/31 and had lunch. We put in 10,000 steps.
One Bloor West 85 stories.
Speaking of which, Dior's window was fabulous.
HMMM, two Irish writers featured in Dior?
Inside the Royal Hyatt on Avenue Rd.
John returned the robot window cleaner, we never even tried it, just decided we didn't need it.
I did buy a new shower head. Ours is almost 12 years old and has an annoying dripping habit.
AROUND TOWN
Headlines are blaring:
Toronto’s transit system to face unprecedented tests when World Cup kicks off next month.
On the same note - the building sent this out.
Don Valley Parkway closed this weekend - Friday 11p-Monday 5a
110,000 cars on a usual DVP weekend. Down to zero.
Events this weekend:
40K X 3 - Blue Jays
45K - TFC v Inter Miami
8K - Tempo tonight
20K - Sporting Life 10K
193,000 people need to get to where they’re going.
NONE of these events are happening next weekend. No Jays, no TFC, no Tempo.
Fans queued up hours early outside Rogers Centre in Toronto for the Toronto Blue Jays' giveaway of Trey Yesavage Angry Bird replica jerseys ahead of their home series against the Angels. Long lines formed at gates like Gate 2 starting around noon.
The famous US chain Eggslut opened and based on the reviews I won't be rushing there. But then again, I do believe breakfast joints are way over priced! Eggs are cheap, people!
COOKING
I used up last summer's frozen strawberries for French toast sauce.
Like a good wife, I made sure John had a good breakfast before he headed out on Monday LOL, sausages and French toast (I had some leftover mix).
MENU
Saturday - Theatre salmon parmesan roasted potatoes lemon sauce and broccolini. Salmon skin wasn't crisp enough and we need smaller portions, 7 oz each is too much.
Sunday - pot roast with carrots onions potatoes celery and homemade stock
Monday - pot roast leftovers JOHN WOODEN STICKS GOLF steak frites and creme Brulé
Tuesday - Cinco de Mayo shrimp tacos
Wednesday - Hurry Curry popcorn
Thursday - King Edward buffet
Friday - steak, mushrooms, parmesan onions (like the potatoes)
WATCHING
I now have 11 downloaded episodes of MasterChef Australia for binge watching.
We continued with Undercover.
READING
I finished Jemima J, a sappy, dreadful read. Just check out the Goodreads reviews.
I started The Woman at 72 Derry Lane, and I am enjoying it!
Cookbooks
Sami mentioned loving Poppy's latest book, so I borrowed this one, only to realize she was talking about her latest, slow cooker.
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