Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Signs

Wordless Wednesday Wordless Be There 2day

November 2024 - Toronto ON

We are in the middle of Taylor Swift's six shows over two weekends.


Designed as a tribute to Swift's discography across her 17-year career, the Eras Tour covers all styles of music from her 10 studio albums, ranging from country and pop to folk and alternative rock genres. Some media outlets dubbed the Eras Tour the "greatest hits" tour of an artist still in her commercial prime.

 Taylor Swift is bringing the record-breaking tour to the city for six sold-out shows between November 14 and 23. And we are…ready for it? Toronto is preparing to welcome an influx of Swifties from around the world, from dubbing a two-kilometre strip of Queen West and John Street (the route from Nathan Phillips Square to the Rogers Centre) Taylor Swift Way to upping TTC service for the month of November.


With a $700-million economic boom projected for the city, the #swiftonomics may be working in our favour, but it’s not exactly a financial boon for fans. Many are agonizing over the sky-high ticket and accommodation costs—a single seat is going for as much as $121,000, and one night at the Toronto Marriott City Centre Hotel during a concert weekend costs $2,000.

City of Toronto traffic map with closures, drop off/pick up areas.




RBC Royal Bank of Canada is cashing in.














On our bus.


McDonald's Canada giving away bracelets.


Cute!


Google phone ad.









Saturday, November 16, 2024

Sam James Coffee Bar

 Linking up with Marg at The Intrepid Reader

November 2024 - Toronto ON

Adelaide St. Toronto

We had our usual at home (hygge) weekend at home. 



I caught up to date on My Kitchen Rules Australia and now have to wait and watch in almost real time!
I baked on Sunday, easy gluten free apple cake (I didn't have enough cream cheese to make my usual, apples needed to be used) and gluten free lemon curd cookies (I didn't have to make the  curd, I had a jar in the fridge).
Apple cake is not a keeper, a little too dry. Cookies were good, quite shortbready but not going into my recipe box.

Monday Mural taken last week on Queen St. W.


Monday was Remembrance Day as we headed downtown.
A large crowd was entering the Legion on Lake Shore.



We had planned to go to the Hockey Hall of Fame but when we entered Brookfield Place they were setting up for the annual HHOF induction ceremonies, and I remembered that the Hall only closed on Christmas Day, New Year's Day and INDUCTION Day!!! 



But I could hear bagpipes, looked at the time and it was just gone 11 on Remembrance Day so we caught the ceremony in Brookfield Place. There was a large crowd in attendance.



We went for lunch in the Commerce Court food hall. I had lobster roll from Buster's, a great deal for $21. She gave me extra fries since I only wanted 1 side. I realized afterwards that they now have a caprese salad, so I would add that the next time. John went to Zteca, Mexican and it was as good a value. He had three tacos (chicken, shrimp and chorizo) for the same price. He also didn't like the chicken at all. John managed to knock the water bottle over my lap!



Tuesday John did a Costco run.
 I went down to the Rogers Centre, as it was very windy, I went inside.


Taylor Swift is everywhere!


Outside the aquarium.





Work in progress.


Taylor Swift music is playing from the stadium as people lined up to buy concert merchandise.



Part of the indoor PATH I took. I took another path back along Bremner as I was going to Longo's.


Not sure where he was going with his camera crew.


Wednesday we attempted Hockey Hall of Fame 2.0 and were successful.










The Original Six were the only teams in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1942 to 1967. In 1967, six new franchises were added to the NHL.
Vintage Hockey Hub houses the largest jewel in the HHOF collection — the first Zamboni Ice Resurfacer used in the NHL in 1954, as well as other artifacts from the famous original six arenas.









With 90 iconic goalie masks on display, The Mask presented by Mustang Pucks is an unparalleled tribute to puck stoppers past and present and offers a historical retrospect into the evolution of facial protection from safety to self‐expression.





The highlight of any visit to the Hockey Hall of Fame is the Esso Great Hall, the cathedral to the icons of hockey. Inside, double glass walls hold portraits and biographical sketches of each Honoured Member. On the north wall, plaques listing the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award and Foster Hewitt Memorial Award winners, selected by the Professional Hockey Writers' and NHL Broadcasters' Association respectively, are displayed.Originally built in 1885, this historic building also serves as home to the greatest collection of silverware in the world of sports, featuring all major NHL trophies, including the most famous and coveted of them all, the Stanley Cup.









The Stanley Cup!


John with the Cup many years ago!





John tried butter chicken dosa from Charcoal Biryani which he enjoyed.
Dosa are basically crispy or soft crepes made with ground and fermented lentil and rice batter, therefore gluten free.
I had dumplings from China Wok, they were lukewarm.


Rogers Centre from the bus.


Thursday I went for a hair cut and Swiftie-watched waiting for the bus.






When I got home I found out that she had driven by!
Taylor Swift flew into Toronto this afternoon for night 1 of 6 concerts. A police escort was provided  and Highway 427 and the Gardner Expressway were closed to traffic for her mini-motorcade and there were hundreds of motorcycle cops surrounding Roger’s Centre stadium capacity 68,237. 
Taylor Swift looks to have had a more impressive motorcade protecting her concert venue than any world leader who visited Toronto in recent memory. Image captured from Book of Faces.


The first concert was Thursday night. I loved this photo I snagged from social media.


Friday John golfed and I prepped food for lunch/dinner tomorrow. Then I went downtown to get a few things for our guests to enjoy. I also made dessert later.
I came home and then decided to scout out the Rogers Centre.



Handing out samples.












Taylor Swift's highly anticipated six-show run at Toronto's Rogers Centre, starting tonight, requires an impressive logistical effort. Her production team reveals that two fully independent stages and stage crews are employed, each supported by 90 semi-tractor trailers. This setup allows for simultaneous operations in different locations, ensuring a seamless experience for fans. In total, 180 semi-tractor trailers are dedicated to this production.

In case you are worried about the carbon footprint, the production buys carbon offsets to mitigate the large carbon footprint a show of this size creates.



COOKING
I am continuing to reduce our freezer/fridge inventories. John did make a Costco run as we were having company on the weekend.

Saturday Chinese curry chicken
Sunday hamburger stew
Monday leftover stew and broccolini
Tuesday rotisserie chicken and mushroom Alfredo
Wednesday hot chicken sandwiches and frozen French (finished) fries in duck fat
Thursday lamb chops, roast potatoes and Brussel sprouts
Friday steak ( 16 oz rib eye market) frites. I also made a chili jam to use up the frozen peppers.


WATCHING
Finished The Diplomat. We watched the latest Yellowstone.
I was disappointed in the movie Wicked Little Letters. Wicked Little Letters is a 2023 British black comedy mystery film starring Olivia Colman. Based on the real-life Littlehampton libels, it follows an investigation into the anonymous author of numerous crudely insulting letters sent to the residents of the seaside town of Littlehampton.
I started watching Cheaters BBC Series- A chance meeting after a cancelled flight leads to an unlikely hookup between late-twenties strangers Fola and Josh, both already in other relationships. Karl Alberg moves to a quiet coastal town to soothe a psyche that has been battered by big-city police work, but finds himself needing to call upon all his skills to solve the murders that continue to wash up on his shore.


WEEKLY THROWBACK



READING

I stuck with The Couple on Maple Drive because I was curious about the outcome, but found myself skimming over many parts as she waffled about.