20 Street Coffee Blend

 Linking up with Marg at The Intrepid Reader

Weekend Coffee Share
Sunday Salon

June 2025 - Toronto ON

Belem Lisbon Portugail

We were up at 6 so that John could avoid Thursday's parking fiasco at the RBC Canadian Open. He messaged at 8:20 that they were on the shuttle bus!! However, coming home, they waited over 90 minutes for a shuttle bus.

Marshalls

John's video at The Rink when Canadian Conners arrives.

I did this and that before I headed out and took the streetcar to Queen and Ossington and then walked up to Dundas.

I took the 501 streetcar and was looking at the fare machines, besides the Presto tap on at the doors. Effective June 1 tickets, tokens and day passes are no longer accepted, however, the machines are not updated/removed. At the least there should be a sign.

UPDATE someone tweeted to the TTC that they were able to insert a token and get a transfer after June 1 deadline.

Do West Fest is Toronto’s start to the summer, in the heart of Little Portugal (Little Portugal Toronto BIA). 

Thia parkette showcases artwork by Indigenous artist and young elder Philip Cote, which acknowledges Toronto as 'the meeting place.' His visuals draw on the narrative of the thunderbird and the first man and woman, serving as a reminder to honor the ancestral gifts and talents passed down through generations.

I shared the story of the Barcelos Rooster in a recent post from our recent trip to Portugal.

Madri (Spanish) beer sample.

Typical Portuguese blue tile.

A new urban park commemorates the history and contributions of Azorean immigrants to Canada.

We ate here in 2021, I had ceviche then also.

Hen party, their tiaras said "Team Bride".

It seems on Friday the smoke was so bad. Air Quality is usually measured on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the worst. This afternoon Windsor hit 10.2, making it the Worst Air Quality in the world, even worse than India. 

When I got home I made a small batch of mini cheesecakes. I used gluten free grahahm cracker crumbs. Her recipe said it would make 8-10 but I only got 7, however she doesn't mention what size muffin pan she used. I also think I didn't put as thick a base as she did.

I would definitely make this again, it is so much easier than trying to slice a pie. I would double and triple the recipe. 

55 cheesecake ideas

Or even make mini mini ones. How about mango-lime? Chocolate, Oreo cookie, 

Sunday was a lazy day. We reviewed and finalized our Iceland plans. Itinerary here.

John watched the recording of yesterday's golf and we caught sight of him and friend, they're the two with beige hat and blue hat.

John in beige hat taking a photo.

Monday's Mural(s) were found on Saturday when I was in Little Portugal.

Monday

Thank you!

It was cooler than I expected and drizzling. On my way to get a haircut, this is part of Luminato 2025.

Having just made chowder the other day I think this is a little pricey, but then everything in Mark McEwan's (Canadian celebrity chef) store is expensive.

John did a couple of errands, car wash, kitchen lightbulb replacement from Rona (Canadian).

Tuesday Signs were from Saturday's Do West Fest.

Tuesday I had grandiose plans to go out but then I got busy cleaning the kitchen and sorting the fridge, froze soup stock, froze some of the rosemary that was getting out of hand, wrote a postcard, got my passport stuff together etc.

I also sent a note to our friends in San Diego to ask if they were okay and if it is as crazy as the news is showing. She says she doesn't believe what the news is reporting either. But did say "The number of police, State Guards, and now active duty Marines being sent to LA is real.  The ICE raids are real and terrifying for all of us.  The agents refuse to identify themselves and just snatch people - how do you know if you are being kidnapped by a psycho or being taken prisoner by a psycho president?  I don't know which is worse".

I did a rant on the LA situation.

John took the car to the dealer as the horn wasn't working!! It was under warranty so no charge.

I had mentioned last week that I had sent a note to Longo's pointing out their mislabelling of American (boycott) strawberries. I didn't expect a response, but got one, although it is a bit of a form letter.

We whiled the afternoon away catching up on Season 17 MasterChef Australia, so we are up to date.

🏳️‍🌈The Prime Minister of Canada raised the rainbow flag on Parliament Hill for Pride Month, because "We are Canadian" and everyone deserves respect. 🌈🏳️‍🌈🌈

Can you please keep Trump from attending the summit?

1. He's a 34x convicted felon

2. He continues his threats to annex Canada.

3. He can't be trusted 

I bet I speak for most Canadians when I say we don't want that trash in our country. He can use Zoom.

Wednesday I spent the morning finalizing dinner reservations for Reykjavik. 

Then I headed out (9000 steps). 

More Luminato, in First Canadian Place.

Bay Adelaide Centre

Ah the joys of the city. Construction at King and Church.

The park beside St. James Anglican Church.

However, the construction meant no traffic and I was finally able to get a photo of St. Lawrence Hall. 

It was created to be Toronto's public meeting hall home to public gatherings, concerts, and exhibitions. Its main feature was a thousand-seat amphitheatre. For decades the hall was the centre of Toronto's social life before larger venues took over much of this business. Today the hall continues as a venue for events including weddings, conferences, and art shows.

The location was previously part of the Market Square area and had been the site of the first permanent market buildings as well as site of Joseph Bloor's Farmer's Arms Inn from 1824 to 1831. 

The Great Fire of Toronto in 1849 caused the northern portions of this building to be pulled down, leading to the building of the current St. Lawrence Market in 1850 a block south at what was then Palace Street, and today is known as Front Street. 

I stopped at the Market to get a couple of steaks. New bench in the market.

Our regular fruit and veg stand. The fruit section is to the right.

Then I went to Henry's Camera to see what is the problem with my lens. Long story short, something is broken inside, repair or buy a new one???

I almost didn't know where I was on Queen St. This used to be a parking lot.

This corner in 2011 and 2018!

The vibrant yellow facade at 60 Queen St E once housed Thrifty’s Sport Shop and later accommodated various businesses such as Public Optical, Gino’s Pizza, and Shawarma’s King.

Plans are underway to integrate the building’s historic facade and those of neighbouring structures into a new 57-storey tower known as 60 Queen St East Condos. According to the linked article the building will be restored to its Toronto Heritage Register appearance.

The existing three-storey red-brick building (currently over clad with metal siding on the upper storeys) was completed in 1901 with a Mansard roof on the Church Street (west) elevation and distinctive corner turret including a conical roof. The latter feature is rare in the city, in general, and a landmark within the local neighbourhood, in particular. Located across the street from the open space flanking the Metropolitan United Church (1872), the building is a visible, familiar site as viewed from the high traffic Queen Street streetcar. While both the red brick cladding and several windows on the second floor of the south elevation are currently covered up with metal siding, this treatment is reversible and does not diminish the integrity of the building and its design features.   

Jackie Shane was an American soul and rhythm and blues singer, who was most prominent in the jazz music scene of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in the 1960s. Considered to be a pioneer transgender performer, she was a contributor to the Toronto Sound and is best known for the single "Any Other Way", which was a regional Top 10 hit in Toronto in 1963 and a modest national chart hit across Canada in 1967, reaching number 68.

There is a movie about her life, Any Other Way. Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story is streaming on Crave (Canadian).

Friday I went to Best Buy, prepared to buy a new lens (70-325mm), but a telephoto as the current lens is fine as long as you don't try to zoom it (18-250mm).

The sales clerk ticked me off to start with. When he finally found the lens, I wanted to make sure it would fit my older camera and determine the weight and feel of it, and was told they couldn't open the box. I said okay I can return if it doesn't fit. I was told there would be a 15% restocking fee if returned. Needless to say, I didn't buy it.

I wrote to Best Buy and they basically said that's their policy. 

Anyway, I saved the money as I decided I didn't need it.

June 14 is going to be a busy day in downtown Toronto. Police are expecting tRump protesters in support of 50501. There are street festivals everywhere including this one at Sankofa Square.

The annual Taste of Little Italy is back and College Street will be closed between Bathurst and Shaw streets from 3 p.m. Friday to 3 a.m. Monday. The event attracts an estimated 250,000 people each year and will run from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday.

Lake Shore W Blvd  will be closed from Windermere Avenue to Bathurst Street on Saturday from 4 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. for the Under Armour Toronto 10K Run.

It’s expected there will be more than 8,000 registered runners, with an additional 250 children participating in an 800m kids race, Toronto police say.

In a news release issued Thursday, the TTC says there will be “no subway service on the portion of Line 2 Bloor-Danforth between Jane and Keele stations to accommodate planned signal upgrades” on Saturday.

In addtion, Runnymede and High Park stations will also be closed. GOOD THING we're taking the streetcar on Saturday!

Lake Shore Boulevard East will be closed between Cherry Street to Carlaw Avenue starting at 2 a.m. Saturday, until 3 a.m. Monday.

DESIFEST Now in its 19th year, DESIFEST is more than a music festival — it’s a celebration of culture, identity, and sound that brings together communities from across the South Asian diaspora. From Bollywood tributes to Tamil beats, Punjabi bangers to underground fusion, and everything in between — we proudly spotlight the diverse voices and sounds that shape the South Asian experience in Canada.

Toronto joins NO TYRANTS Worldwide Demonstrations, appropriately they will be meeting after the rally for Post Protest Pints and Politics at 2:30 at the Village Idiot Pub!!!

A few notes: We've changed the "No Kings" theme of other events around the world to "No Tyrants," so as not to mix messages in a country with a monarchy. We're also swapping out "No Crowns!" in favor of "No Clowns!"

It is also U2 Day in Toronto.

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Friday the 13th is a big day in Port Dover ON.

Police estimate more than 100,000 people converged on Port Dover for Friday the 13th.

I worked on our 6 month recap (why, why, why don't I do this monthly?????)

I just went to Longo's to get some items for the weekend.

I asked the tour company if they could adjust the day of our hop on bus tour.

I had ordered cases with lanyards for our phones, but I ordered the wrist holders by mistake so I rectified that. We have cases now, but these are for Iceland so we can't drop them accidently into the water!

COOKING

I'm happy to report that the frozen donuts and Danish (gluten) are finished.

Saturday ham, Brussel sprouts and mashed potatoes.

Sunday ham and colcannon

Monday chicken wings and fries

Tuesday hamburger stew to use up some dodgy vegetables

Wednesday potato chip haddock (NEW) and salad. I did the haddock in a pan and it was nice and crispy. I usually do it in the oven.

Thursday chips, beans and eggs (John's request)

Friday steak, shrimp w/ dipping sauce, sauteed bean sprouts, peppers, mushrooms, onions

WATCHING

The Report (styled as The Torture Report) is a 2019 American historical political drama film that stars Adam Driver, Annette Bening, Jon Hamm, Ted Levine, Michael C. Hall, Tim Blake Nelson, Corey Stoll, and Maura Tierney. It depicts the efforts of staffer Daniel Jones as he led the Senate Intelligence Committee's investigation of the Central Intelligence Agency's use of torture following the September 11th attacks, covering more than a decade's worth of real-life political intrigue related to the contents, creation, and release of the 6,700-page Senate Intelligence Committee report on CIA torture.

Contagion Contagion is a 2011 American medical thriller film directed by Steven Soderbergh. Its ensemble cast includes Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Jude Law, Marion Cotillard, Kate Winslet, and Gwyneth Paltrow. The plot concerns the spread of a highly contagious virus transmitted through respiratory droplets and fomites, attempts by medical researchers and public health officials to identify and contain the disease, the loss of social order as the virus turns into a worldwide pandemic, and the introduction of a vaccine to halt its spread. 

Code of a Killer  s a three-part British police drama television series which tells the true story of Alec Jeffreys' discovery of DNA fingerprinting and its introductory use by Detective David Baker in catching the double murderer Colin Pitchfork.

READING

I tried reading The Woman They Could Not Silence but I just couldn't get into it.

I read Jar City, it was on my TBR list and it is set in Reykjavik Iceland. Arnaldur Indriðason has the rare distinction of having won the Nordic Crime Novel Prize two years running. He is also the winner of the highly respected and world famous CWA Gold Dagger Award for the top crime novel of the year in the English language, Silence of the Grave.

This book is an interesting study of old crimes that generate new crimes through genealogy.