Linking up with Marg at The Intrepid Reader
5 June 2026
SATURDAY
We're on the 3rd (top) floor.
After a good night's sleep we were at breakfast about 9. I finally settled on berry fruit yogurt granola bowl and John selected blueberry pancakes.
I will say this resort has great menus, not huge, but excellent choices.
We also decided we wouldn't bother going into Charlottetown tomorrow as planned. It's not worth the time and cost to go for a meal, especially since we are enjoying the food here. It is also only 6-7 C, and I only brought a lighter jacket, it's no fun if you are cold.
John asked for an earlier tee time and got 2:40, an improvement over 3:50.
We sat in the lobby while our room was being cleaned.
The sun came out!
I spent the day doing something I never do, I read all afternoon!! It was nice enough that I opened the balcony (we have a big private one) and the sun streamed in.
It was still cold out, as evidenced by John's selfie.
He messaged he was on his way and a drink was ready for him.
We sat the the bar for dinner. I had hoped I could get a lobster roll, but it's not on the menu, here, only at the clubhouse. John had mussels, again, but we asked if the chef could spice it up. I knew the chef was Indian, so he asked "like butter chicken", yes!! And it was delicious.
I ordered the LAKESIDE SAMPLER GF
Seared scallops, aged cheddar-filled Island potato & lobster fritter, chili aioli, pomegranate molasses, and citrus-dusted nori rice cracker.
SUNDAY
We were at breakfast by 8:15 as John was golfing early. John had the classic bacon and eggs. I had the Eggs benedict with mushrooms, tomatoes and spinach.
John played with 7 guys from North Carolina (he suspects MAGA). I caught him at the 5th hole.
We both had mussels for dinner!
MONDAY
Monday Mural
Foto Tunes
Well, after me raving about food and service, breakfast was awful. Something had obviously gone very wrong in the kitchen, there were two servers, but they were missing in action for the most part. It took 30 minutes to get our cold food. We had to ask for coffee refills, the used tables were not cleaned around us.
Just as we thought this was the worst of our day, it got worse!!
Our flight was at 12:30. The cabs come from Charlottetown, at least 30 minutes away. This is PEI there is only one 2-lane highway to the airport.
Our cab was supposed to arrive by 10, 10:15 and I'm worried. The desk called the company and the despatcher said she would check and then disconnected. They called back to say the car broke down and they would send another. It finally arrived at 10:35.
We were slowed down by two farm equipment vehicles, then a plastic bag attached to the side mirror so the driver had to pull over. Then we got stuck in a huge lineup because "they were updating the traffic lights"!! At 11:15 the driver did a U-turn and we arrived at 11:30.
You have to imagine Charlottetown airport, it is tiny!! We were checked in, baggage dropped and through security within 10 minutes. Then the flight was delayed!
Compared to the plane to Charlottetown, this was a much more cramped, full flight home.
After all that, we grabbed a limo home.
This was a very different trip for us. We don't normally do "resorts", but we really enjoyed this. We agreed that 4 days was more than enough for us. This worked well as the food was excellent, with enough variety to please both of us.
Another item to add to a trip checklist- sign out of streaming platforms on hotel TV.
TUESDAY
John spent his morning organizing his golf stuff. He found another backpack in our locker, with wheels, that we could use.
On my way to meet a friend, on Front St.
You can see he has a good view. That is part of the Toronto Convention Centre across the street with the tip of the CN Tower reflected in the glass.
I decided to take the subway from St. Andrew to College Park to pick up a couple of items at Farm Boy and the $ store.
I liked this mural in the PATH to the subway, however, AI tells me it is in Milan?!?
I happened upon a beaver in Union Station. I had captured a couple a few weeks ago (Japan and Netherlands).
The Quest: Find 51 beaver statues throughout our neighbourhood, each representing the nations competing on the global soccer stage, and one special beaver representing all of the nations. Each has been uniquely hand-painted by a local artist.
Created by Barrie, Ont. artist Monica Loney - was chosen to create the main welcome sculpture in a major public art initiative that will be on display in Toronto’s Old Town during the FIFA World Cup.
The beaver is covered in flags from different countries along with black lines interwoven all around that she says was inspired by Woodland style art, an Indigenous art form started by Ojibwe artist Norval Morrisseau. Loney says the lines are like pathways meant to symbolize the interconnectedness of land, water and people.
There is also dot work throughout the sculpture, which Loney says is inspired by Métis floral beadwork traditions, a symbol of family, resilience and a strong connection to the land. She explains each dot represents a person and while small by itself, it becomes greater than itself when part of a whole.
I will be on the hunt for more!!
WEDNESDAY
I went for a haircut then strolled up to the Eaton Centre for a quick lunch.
Brookfield Place
I stepped into the lobby of the Victoria Hotel on Yonge St.
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 walk would also take you by the newest Homeless Jesus.
This is a temporary display for the 2026 Luminato Festival.
The Installation: French artist Cyril Lancelin's Pyramid Fields—a maze-like, towering grid-inspired geometric sculpture.
The back entrance to Old City Hall, we had toured it last November.
City Hall is all set for FIFA.
The FIFA World Cup is here, and our condo community is turning up the energy. Skip the crowded sports bars and head up to our Club to cheer on Canada on the big screen! We will be showing ALL Canada's games and the Finals!!!
Let’s bring the noise, wear our red and white, and rally behind the team together.
The Game Plan
When: June 12, 18, 24 (Group Play games), Finals July 19th.
June 12: Doors open at 2:30 pm Kickoff at 3:00pm
Where: The Club
Who: All residents only event
What’s the Score on Snacks?
We will provide Pizza, popcorn, chips, sodas etc
Whether you're a die-hard football fan or just here for the goals and the vibes, everyone is welcome!
I picked up some items for dinner at Longo's and cut through the Royal York, which now has it's June Pride display.
I got home and paid the final installments of our2026 property taxes.
I was pleased to receive a $44 cheque from Rakuten and we are not even very good about making sure we apply it to purchases! It's a shame that Amazon no longer participates!
Rakuten (formerly Ebates) pays you a percentage of your purchases back. Stores give Rakuten a commission for sending them traffic, and Rakuten shares that commission with you
I deposited online, which meant I had to upload latest banking app!
I sorted out a shelf in dining room, there were 3 blank notebooks which were put with the rest of the stationery. I threw out some saved envelopes and a used notebook. I cleaned up some USBs and threw one out. Cleared out some more clothing from trunk and found another video cassette for the garbage. I moved some serving dished into the coffee table storage.
I checked with John that it was okay to throw this out!
I tracked down the Chrome book I had bought and only used a couple of times on vacation, I hated it. I will reformat it to factory settings and then sell it.
THURSDAY
We grabbed the streetcar to Spadina and then took one up Spadina to Dundas.
A couple of boxes along Lake Shore have been painted.
Funny sign in June!
A monk, there were two of them. Yes, that is a chair over his head!
We went to Chinatown for dumplings, as a few weeks ago we said we would try The Dumpling House.
It turns out we had eaten here back in 2014!! The prices have increased 143%!! We got a box for the leftovers.
We had pork and chive and pork and shrimp.
Getting home was an adventure (not). We were entertained at Spadina.
We made a stop at the Japanese store for some curry. Then walked a while before waiting for the streetcar, and waited and waited. We saw one coming east bound and decided we could take that back to the Royal York and catch our shuttle. And of course, the west bound one was arriving!
$14 in chinatown.
FRIDAY
I put a pot of frozen veg leftovers on for soup, pea soup as there is ham in it.
Taken from the bus.
BMO Field, where FIFA games will be held. There are lots of soccer fans already in town. There are also many American tourists visiting Toronto.
Then we went out on a Beaver Quest WIP. I had spotted one (above) at Union this week.
We had found the first ones in early May at the Royal Edward.
This is Canada, click on the Beaver Quest WIP link to see the other 17 we found today!
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Other sights along our way.
Front St. Union Station, Beaver Quest clue, there are two in the station!
Yonge St. looking north from Front.
We'd never been inside this building.
This diner closed in May after nearly 60 years.
I had mentioned the building below in a post about this neighbourhood I wrote in 2017.
The historic base of the building was originally a branch of the Imperial Bank of Canada, constructed in 1908. The grand stone facades and heavy masonry were intentionally designed to project a sense of stability, safety, and wealth to the local community.
In 1961, the Imperial Bank of Canada merged with the Canadian Bank of Commerce to form the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC). The building continued operating actively as a CIBC bank branch for nearly a century until the bank finally vacated the property in 1997.
The bank's landmark rounded corner rotunda now serves as the primary entrance to the residential lobby. If you walk inside, the condominium's lobby floor still retains the original historic mosaic tile flooring featuring the bank's historic pre-merger initials, "IBC".
We haven't walked around this neighbourhood in a couple of years, my, how the condos have sprung up! That's not a bad thing, the integration of modern residences has dramatically revitalized the surrounding St. Lawrence and Old Town area by transforming it from a stagnant commercial district into a vibrant, 24/7 community.
We haven't walked around this neighbourhood in a couple of years, my, how the condos have sprung up! That's not a bad thing, the integration of modern residences has dramatically revitalized the surrounding St. Lawrence and Old Town area by transforming it from a stagnant commercial district into a vibrant, 24/7 community.
This is named The Whitfield to preserve and honor the site's rich historical legacy, specifically the heritage Whitfield Building that occupied the corner of Front Street East and Sherbourne Street.
The historic site preserved at the base of the condo tower actually consists of multiple combined heritage structures that reflect Toronto's industrial and manufacturing past.
The original two-story red brick wall (1918)visible at the base of the tower is the preserved historic facade of the Whitfield Building and contains a Tim Horton's. Developers used structural steel scaffolding during construction to hold the heritage wall in place until the new concrete structure could permanently support it. This specific structure historically operated as an industrial manufacturing and office space. It was a key piece of the neighborhood's early 20th-century commercial boom.
The primary historical business and structural components also include:
The primary historical business and structural components also include:
The Pearlman & Goldberg Building (176-178 Front Street East): Directly adjacent and integrated into the same heritage podium base, this building was constructed in 1918. It originally operated as a processing and factory facility for the Pearlman & Goldman Company, which traded in hides, wools, and furs.
Automotive Textiles: Following the fur trade, the complex was taken over by the Samuel Harris Company to manufacture and store fabrics for the automobile industry.
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We ran into the market for some vegetables.
We haven't been on The Esplanade in ages!!!
PSSST there is a beaver just behind that woman in black.
We saw this new-to-us Indian that smelled absolutely divine!! Our dining out list just keeps growing.
I wrote about Berczy Park when it first opened, and many times since. We often just call it the dog park.
We happen upon another Luminato!
We scored 4 of these Wiser 7% Canadian Whisky with ginger ale! Samples on the corner of Front and York.
From the bus. Fort York is being transformed into "Experience the beautiful game with fellow fans at FIFA Fan Festival™ Toronto, where communities unite and passions are shared. Enjoy live entertainment, match broadcasts, interactive experiences and more than 30 food vendors serving flavours from around the world."
I booked our tickets and hotel for Montreal next weekend. And based on this I think we will go downtown very early for the train at 11:30!! BMO Field will have 45,000 fans and Fort York expects 20,000!!
COOKING
MENU
Saturday PEI
Sunday PEI
Monday - hamburger patties, mashed potatoes and beans
Tuesday - creamy chicken mushrooms bacon Alfredo
Wednesday - lahmacun ✅ (Turkish pizza) - I've been wanting to recreate this for ever and wow this turned out great, close to the original. John suggested using passata instead of tomato paste, a great idea. I used tortillas and the blender. I would add more onion and garlic.
Thursday - hot dogs
Friday - steak asparagus garlic toast
ADDED TO RECIPE BOX
I'm working through season one of Traitors Australia. Format is slightly different. Some characters just don't seem to be featured, that is, are not players.
Definitely giving a much more reality show vibe, with beautiful people, lots of boobs, fake tears and hugs, marketing with matching challenge uniforms and silly clothing.
We finished season 1 of The Boroughs that people had been raving about. It is an American science fiction.
"In a seemingly picturesque retirement community, a group of unlikely heroes must band together to stop an otherworldly threat from stealing the one thing they don't have… time."
Unchosen is a British psychological thriller television series released on Netflix on 21 April 2026. The six-part series stars Molly Windsor as Rosie, a woman living within a strict, isolated religious sect whose life is disrupted by a chance encounter with an escaped convict, played by Fra Fee.
Dutton Ranch is an American television series. The series serves as both a spin-off and sequel to Yellowstone (2018–2024) and is the fifth television series in the Yellowstone franchise. It stars Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser reprising their roles from Yellowstone.
So nice to have Beth and Rip back!!
Rip Wheeler and Beth Dutton gamble everything on a new life in South Texas, but the promise of building a future far from the ghosts of Yellowstone quickly collides with brutal new realities and a rival ranch that will stop at nothing to protect its empire.
READING
I read About Us, by Irish author, Sinead Moriarty. I loved reading about the trials and tribulations of couples at varying stages of life. I found the kids, typical of today's, very annoying and rude, passing as cute. I'm not sure why the author chose the therapist to be an American. She really did come across as a little pushy.
It was a great book to while away an afternoon while at a resort.
I started Shadows, another Paul Finch and enjoying it. I read them out of order, 1,3,2.
This was a great read, great stories and recipes.
Lessons learned, MSG is not a bad thing.
Always have mushroom water on had for many recipes. I had learned this years ago in Sichuan cooking classes but had forgotten about it.
