AROUND TORONTO
Toronto enters Stage 3 on July 31.
OUT AND ABOUT SAFELY
July 2020 - London Born Winery Beamsville ON
In preparation for our blinds installation John removed some of the old shutter frames.
The scrap is now on the balcony until we finish and get it taken away. This window is looking so big without the shutters.
Then we headed down to the locker to see what we can get rid of. My theory - if it's in the locker you likely don't need it.
That led to a trip to the charity shop with three boxes.
I bought these dishes last year but they are just too big. Lately we have been eating dinner off the side dishes. So I swapped them out for our old "good" dishes, although they are not "colour-coordinated"!
John took a walk around the neighbourhood.
The local fountain is now re-opened.
Local restaurant with social distancing protocols.
Wednesday I headed to Yorkville, Bay and Bloor, a very trendy neighbourhood.
Due to Covid restrictions the city is loosening its rules on patios and we are starting to look like a European city with patios popping up everywhere.
More 2020 brains!
You can just see the edge of some murals in the middle of the photo. Click here to see the murals in that alcove and here.
The first building we both worked in when we moved to Toronto in 1991.
The building has undergone extensive renovations over the last couple of years. Known to the public as the Manulife Centre it will always be BMT to us. Bank of Montreal Tower.
It was so strange to not be in a crush of people inside Eataly. It has multiple restaurants/cafes inside but since we are still in Stage 2 (until Friday) they were all closed. It was bliss to walk around and shop without crowds. I keep saying I love all this social distancing!
I decided to walk to Front St. and catch the 4:15 shuttle home. This is about a 5 KM walk.
Gotta try this!
Built Tudor style: 1929 - as TFD 3
Location: 32 Grosvenor Street near Yonge Street
Mural by Victor Fraser.
Right net door to the fire station is a YMCA building which is the largest in Canada. A time capsule is located at the wall outside at 20 Grosvenor St in Toronto.
"THIS CORNERSTONE AND TIME CAPSULE WERE
ORIGINALLY PLACED BY THE PRIME MINISTER
OF CANADA, THE RIGHT HONOURABLE ROBERT
L.BORDEN, ON TUESDAY MAY 14, 1912 IN
THE CENTRAL YMCA BUILDING., WHICH WAS
LOCATED AT 36/40 COLLEGE STREET, TORONTO.
ON JANUARY 21, 1986, THE PREMIER OF
ONTARIO, THE HONOURABLE DAVID PETERSON,
PLACED THE ORIGINAL CORNERSTONE AND
TIME CAPSULE WITH ITS NEW CONTENTS, IN
THE NEW METRO-CENTRAL YMCA BUILDING."
ORIGINALLY PLACED BY THE PRIME MINISTER
OF CANADA, THE RIGHT HONOURABLE ROBERT
L.BORDEN, ON TUESDAY MAY 14, 1912 IN
THE CENTRAL YMCA BUILDING., WHICH WAS
LOCATED AT 36/40 COLLEGE STREET, TORONTO.
ON JANUARY 21, 1986, THE PREMIER OF
ONTARIO, THE HONOURABLE DAVID PETERSON,
PLACED THE ORIGINAL CORNERSTONE AND
TIME CAPSULE WITH ITS NEW CONTENTS, IN
THE NEW METRO-CENTRAL YMCA BUILDING."
What a difference!
My purchases from Eataly.
This is Betty.
Thursday we headed back to Niagara wine country.
We're drinking the Jordan Jubilee.
We both had mussels $16 each, which were very good.
A shared order of polenta fries, way overpriced at $14 were not good. They needed to be cut narrower and more crispy. Dipping sauce was bland.
Our purchases from the Upper Canada Cheese Company.
When I posted a picture of Dineen's last week, it had all kinds of construction stuff in front of it.
Patio birthday lunch at O and B, one of many owned by chef Michael Bonacini, a real favourite of mine. We've eaten at many of his restaurants and always love them.
Michael is also a judge on MasterChef Canada, always a gentleman, encouraging the contestants.
Crispy cauliflower.
Steak frites.
A ghost town.
Waiting for our condo shuttle.
Back home and we walk over to get ice cream.
I went to meet a condo friend and saw this at our loading dock. It seems these guys were destined for the garbage so they were rescued by the dock managers.
COOKING
July 2020 - Bay St. Toronto
Yes, that's me in the reflection.
I received a notification from the library movie application about a movie called A Year in Burgundy that I plan to watch this weekend.
This looks interesting - cook online with Canadian chefs
Saturday pasta carbonara
Sunday rack of lamb roasted new potatoes, Brussels sprouts and mushrooms
Monday pork belly and Greek salad
Tuesday roast chicken, roasted potatoes and carrots
Wednesday homemade pizza
Thursday lunch mussels and polenta fries at winery
Dinner shrimp and salad
Friday lunch crispy cauliflower, steak frites at O and B
Dinner cheeses and pate
ICE CREAM SCOOPS - 2020
Click here for 2019 Scoops!
Monk's Grimsby
Pink grapefruit and raspberry lemonade
Last year we tried carrot and cream and sweet potato as samples at his food truck so it was top of my list for 2020.
Indian chai and espresso liqueur
Mojiito (V) chocolate raspberry (V) ricotta strawberry
We're really behind on our ice cream quest this summer! We're limiting our outings.
But this week I walked to a small corner grocery store and was reminded we had a local gelato place right in our neighbourhood!
I bought sassy sea turtle and chocolate peanut butter crunch.
Well, those two disappeared so we had to make another trip. Another sassy sea turtle and raspberry sorbet.
READING/WATCHING
I came across this series that is compared to Downton Abbey The Restaurant.
I am watching Scandal.
And finishing The Nanny.
You are wonderful to share your city! I have only been to Toronto a few times, but wish I could come back. It's rare for someone who lives in a place to see the more touristy parts of town and enjoy what is available to travelers.
ReplyDeletebe well... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
From earlier days, 'spectacles, testicles, wallet and watch'.
ReplyDeleteWhat is it with turning fountains off because of COVID?
A great sculpture sitting on the bench.
Passports? Can we get an extension as we cannot use them.
Sad photo comparing 2019 to 2020.
That's funny, hadn't heard that before.
DeleteThat fountain is the only one I have seen running these days. You're right, Andrew, they are all shut off downtown.
Passports, extension, good idea!
I love that CCM figurine and the ones like it! Thanks again for the tour of your city.
ReplyDeleteWho cares about color coordination, I love your dishes. I think I will steal that first sign you posted about what you leave the house these days. Hilarious and sad all at once.
ReplyDeleteLove the polenta fries and I think I want to try that soon.
Oh, I preordered the lastest Tana French book so it will be deliveed to my Kindle in October. It's bound to better than The Witch Elm.
Definitely steal it, Tina. Yes, hope it's better than Witch Elm.
DeleteP.S. see Andrew's comment above!
DeleteJackie,
ReplyDeleteYou really do take beautiful photos and I enjoyed seeing all the scenes around Toronto. Love your birthday flowers and the view from your balcony. Have a good safe week.
Thank you, Judee!
DeleteHappy birthday! Beautiful flowers.
ReplyDeleteIt's almost like you have the city to yourself. Well, of course, you have taken us along, but virtually. It must be lovely to be able to move around so freely.
I hope things don't heat up there after August 31. Hopefully your people will be more sensible than my crazy Texans.
I like the new European look. I hope it takes off here, too.
And, wow, the ice cream. I think I'm buying myself some ice cream this week.
Thank you! Yes, parts of the city feel like a ghost town while others are bustling. Masks are everywhere, a real fashion statement!
DeleteI'm loving seeing all the sidewalk tables.
Summer and ice cream! Going for cones twice so far has been our first baby step to outdoor dining, which we haven’t tried yet.
ReplyDeleteFor her 40th birthday, my daughter and I were meeting her sisters at a place in Yorkville, chocolate something or other (it's caput now apparently). it was a 30 degree day and the main Pride weekend, but we decided to WALK from Union all the way up. We were so tired by the time we arrived we could hardly eat. Yorkville is always so different every time we visit there. Now back in MY day, 1960s, it was a whole different place@!!! I love those little characters.
ReplyDeleteYes, Karen, it is a good walk, about 4 km! But not fun when it is 30 degrees!
DeleteI would love to hear some of your stories from the 60s!