Linking up with Marg at The Intrepid Reader
June 2023 - Toronto ON
MAY 2023 - YONGE ST. TORONTO
We did complete our mail-in ballots for the mayor of Toronto. For once, we voted differently.
Why are we having an election? Well, John Tory (mayor) announced his intention to imminently resign as mayor on February 10, 2023, after admitting to having an affair with a staffer during the COVID-19 pandemic.
John did a run to the liquor store to pick up some canned beverages for his golfing buddies.
We had ordered some racks for the wine drawer, to stop them rolling around and making noise!
Monday Mural was from my visit to Stackt a couple of weeks ago.
This one took most of the day to clear, we could see it from the window.
We decided on a movie popcorn afternoon.
Tuesday Treasures took us to St. Lawrence Market and the history of the North building.
I met my BFF at Union Station and then we went for lobster rolls.
While I waited for the bus, new chairs were being set up around the condo grounds.
Union Station
Wednesday morning we went for breakfast before John went golfing.
John had an omelet and I had a poached egg on avocado toast. The potatoes were delicious and hot. I would have preferred a sourdough to a regular white slice for the toast.
These will need to be planted at some point.
We have been searching for a photo for our kitchen, but then we moved one we already had!
I went to College Park to find another Luminato exhibit, cutting through Union.
Exploring the ancient relics of North American mega-fauna and using Bennett’s signature graphic style evocative of porcupine quill work found in Mi’kmaq visual culture, this whimsical antler imagines a playful remnant from a distant past, and will remind us that what we now call Toronto was uncolonized and teeming with life stewarded by Indigenous nations of the territory.
Royal York Hotel decked out for pride.
Just hanging outside the hotel.
Plants waiting patiently to be potted.
Thursday I had to be up at 6 so I did not sleep well. I caught the 7AM (gasp) bus downtown for jury duty. I had to be there for 8:30 so I left early in case of traffic. I ended up getting downtown at 7:30, then walked to the subway with a fellow passenger, took the subway to St. Patrick and walked down to the courthouse and arrived at 7:50. It was a beautiful morning so I wandered taking photos.
University Avenue is a majestic row of buildings on a wide boulevard. There are embassies and it is also known as Hospital Row.
I have written about it often.
The bottom of this building was the Royal Canadian Military Institute (RCMI) built in 1907. While updates to the century-old building were made throughout the years, there were concerns about its declining state. In 2010, the Royal Canadian Military Institute (RCMI) closed its doors for redevelopment that would become Residences at the RCMI, a 42-storey condominium tower.
In 2014 The Royal Canadian Military Institute moved back into its rebuilt space, along with residents of the 315 condominium units located in the tower above.
Canada Life Building.
361 University Ave. (1967) Superior Court of Justice is a superior court of criminal jurisdiction that has the power to try any indictable offence under the Criminal Code of Canada.
There were approximately 150 people who were summoned that day from all walks of life.
We were shown this video, Jury Duty and You, which gave you good information and provided charts of the courtroom.
I did some random chores, contacted the blinds guy (he will come by on Tuesday) and reminded the contractor I wanted to get a quote from the electrician.
At 10 we were taken to a courtroom and I was selected at random and ended up as a juror. On Thursday we were given our instructions and required to report on Friday at 9:30.
Lunch was a hot dog at City Hall, pardon my finger!
I was exhausted when I got home but we were going to dinner with John's son who was in Toronto on business.
Photos taken walking to the restaurant.
We chose CKTL as it was on our bucket list to try. Stock market-themed bars are popular around the world, but CKTL & Co. is the first of its kind in downtown Toronto.
Committed to the theme, everything from the bar's name CKTL (referring to the ticker symbol for the word "cocktail") to fluctuating drink prices based on supply and demand is an ode to the stock exchange.
The drinks experience is fun. The food was very good, reasonable and substantial. Our only complaint would be the noise level. I'm not sure if it would be better at lunchtime, especially if you were having a business lunch.
We Uber'd home and Joel walked back to the Sheraton.
Friday I took the 8AM bus for jury duty at 9:30, the case convenes at 10AM. I walked up slowly and took some photos.
We were provided a snack and drink on the 11:30 break, I had a bagel and cream cheese which was my lunch. We also get a drink in the afternoon.
COOKING
Saturday hamburger stew
Sunday chicken wings and fries
Monday pork chops mashed potatoes and corn
Tuesday rotisserie chicken nachos
Wednesday leftover rotisserie chicken sandwiches with gravy and peas
Thursday out for dinner
Friday steak asparagus and baked potatoes.
WATCHING
We finished Top Chef World All Stars and were happy that Buddha won, although I would have been happy with any of them winning.
We continue with Red Rock.
READING
I didn't manage much reading, I continued with Terrible Virtue about Margaret Sanger, the mother of birth control.
Your poached egg on avocado toast looks very nice.
ReplyDeleteRoyal York seems to put an effort into so many public celebrations.
I remember the Canada Life building. Very impressive.
I want one of those Black Manhattans.
Is the trial over? Did you find the person guilty?
It was good, Andrew, but I would have preferred a better bread. I'd love to share a Manhattan with you!
DeleteNo, the trial is expected to last at least 7 days. Day 1 was Thursday jury selection, Day 2 Friday was the first day of the trial..
CKTL & Co. looks like a fun experience. That smoking treasure box!
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking photos when you got a little extra time. Your city is alive with color and ideas.
Good luck with the trial.
What a full week! No wonder your patient plants sat there so long ;-) I, too, have a few transplant that need my attention... thanks for the poke :-) Hope you're enjoying a restful weekend!
ReplyDeleteI would vastly prefer to avoid jury duty.
ReplyDeleteYour food pictures as always starve me. I wander around Toronto with you and I was reminded of my own jury experience in the exact same court house where I brought my knitting and was joined the following day by other knitters, scrabble boarders and jig saw puzzle aficionados. Honestly, it was one of the best weeks of my life as we all lunched in Chinatown together. Only two of us were called to serve during the week.
ReplyDeleteLove the new art and the honouring of First Nations' heritage.
XO
WWW
That was my experience when previously summoned. However, the courts are so backlogged that we were almost immediately taken to a courtroom and as I was selected I never joined the remainder that went back to waiting. There were plenty of cases taking place so perhaps more were selected.
DeleteAs per your great story of Pinned in the "Peg, I had a lunch encounter with a fellow juror at lunch on Friday. I am thinking how to avoid her on Monday! On Friday I did the lag behind everyone and still couldn't dump her!!
So many fun things for t in this post Jackie. It’s raining here now-Again- so I enjoyed seeing all those outdoor photos. Have a great T day- Erik
ReplyDeleteWow what a great post. There is so much to do and see there. Thank you for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteLoved your longer post! Such great pictures of art (even the one in your kitchen). I so want to go to that bar. I would get the Black Market immediately (as long as it was not too high in price). I love that concept and need to find the closest bar themed like this and go. Wow. The food looks good too. You are very lucky to live around so much beauty - even in buildings. Happy t-day and hugz
ReplyDeleteSorry I am late visiting. Lightening took out the electricity last night in my neighborhood. The cats and I spent the night in sweltering heat with only the electricity from my portable OTT light.
ReplyDeleteLovely murals, great color, fun food, and a plethora of great drinks you shared with us for T this week, dear Jackie.
I had a great time when I was on jury duty. If you want to get rid of the lady who is hanging on you, bring your audible and ear buds and maybe she will get the hint when you are more interested in your book than in listening to her.
Poached egg with avocado is one of my favorite breakfast foods. Great choice. That was quite an accident you could see from your window. You must live very high up. I have been on jury duty three times in my 77 years. The last times were a year apart! We were a hung jury the first year and the next we voted guilty. I always liked being on a jury, met people, and we were free to go to any restaurant we wanted that we could get back in time. I usually paired up with another lady and went to a different place each day; I think we were there the whole week. Very interesting experiences. Happy T day.
ReplyDeleteWow, you get snacks and a drink on jury duty? In Massachusetts, we have to bring our own food/beverage or buy from a trolley that comes around. Most times my number has never come up to be a juror, but a few years ago, my number was selected at the alternate juror in a domestic squabble case. The CKTL restaurant looks very swank and fun. I think I'd like to try that if I'm ever in Toronto. Happy T Day
ReplyDeleteYes, we get snacks in the morning and drinks morning and afternoon. Once we are sequestered, all meals are provided. I have been summoned before, but never selected.
DeleteMmm lobster rolls!
ReplyDeleteI love the chairs on the grounds of the condo.
I love the painting you moved to the kitchen.
Love the pride flowers at Royal York.
Drooling over all the food and drinks as usual.