Linking up with Marg at The Intrepid Reader
Danforth Ave. Toronto ON
RECAP
It was a rainy week for a change. We went to Chinatown on Saturday and got fruits and vegetables. I made great scones. John's golf got cancelled on Monday due to rain.
I went to lunch and an exhibit with my BFF
401 Richmond Street West is a restored, heritage-designated, industrial building turned arts-and-culture hub in downtown Toronto. It is home to over 140 artists, cultural producers, social innovators, micro-enterprises, galleries, festivals, and shops.
Lunch at Mary Brown's Chicken, with a stop in Chinatown and at Michael's, the craft store. I had to go back to Michael's on Thursday to get a couple of Caterinas that were calling to me.
Tuesday John and I took the streetcar to the Beach neighbourhood, a very long ride across the city but very entertaining. Wednesday was John's weekly golf and I decided to check out the new Simon's store at the Eaton Centre. Thursday, it was absolutely pouring as I went to meet a good friend, my sista from another mista, for coffee and a good long chinwag. No worries about the rain, she works across the street from my bus stop!! John took the car in for its scheduled maintenance. Friday I only went out for our weekend groceries.
SATURDAY
I had grandiose plans but then decided just to go to Chinatown on the streetcar. John and I swear it must have been a full moon (it wasn't) as the crazies were out in full force.
We had a quick bite at Mary Brown's Chicken, John wasn't impressed.
This was our haul from Chinatown $17. We needed black pepper. A LARGE bag of ginger, I freeze it, an Asian friend told me to do that and just grate as you need. 5 bunches of scallions for $1. Strawberries $1.
I made raisin lemon scones using my mother's old recipe, simply flour and buttermilk.
SUNDAY
After my weekly chat with my 85 yo friend we decided not to go out.
I spent time in the kitchen, I made John chicken soup for tomorrow. I cleaned out the vegetable bin and created a freezer baggie labelled "for cream of vegetable soup". I made a strawberry orange granita.
MONDAY
It was a rainy morning and John's golf got cancelled. I headed out anyway at 10:30 to meet my BFF. The rain was supposed to let up around 11 as we took the Spadina streetcar. Our plan was to see the 52 Women display at 401 Richmond.
Much of what goes on at 401 Richmond reflects the ideas of renowned urban visionary the late Jane Jacobs. In her book, Death and Life of Great American Cities (1961), Jacobs says: “Old ideas can sometimes use new buildings; new ideas must use old buildings.” Jacobs also speaks of the need for diversity within a community and at 401 Richmond the vibrant mix of tenants has come to know each other and collaborate on projects.
We wandered around and came across this very interesting exhibit. I definitely believe this is the way it should be. People need spots to socialize. Local strip mall coffee shops are disappearing so the local retired folks have nowhere to gather for a natter in the mornings.
Places like The Well attract people because there are clusters of seating areas, the is always a new piece of art to attract visitors, and there are pop-ups that draw in shoppers.
plazaPOPS: Paradise in a Parking Lot invites visitors to celebrate the significant role that strip malls play in the social, cultural, and economic life of Toronto’s inner suburbs and the public health of local communities.
The exhibit also shares the work and future potential of plazaPOPS, a community-based not-for-profit public space organization that turns parking spaces into people places along Toronto’s strip mall main streets through partnership, co-creation, research, and advocacy.
Having completed 12 pop-up installations between 2019 and 2024, the exhibit reflects on lessons learned, shares the organization’s motivations and beliefs, presents its collaborative, multi-disciplinary and cross-sector model, and reports key social, economic and public health related research findings.
We wandered some more.This caught our eye.
Love this!!
We finally found our way to the 52 Women exhibit and it wasn't open until Wednesday! I had even checked the opening hours before we went!!
We went to Mary Brown's for lunch, it is a cheap, quick lunch for us.
From there we walked back up to the grocery store in Chinatown as I needed potatoes and couldn't pass up $1 raspberries!
We then meandered our way back to Union. We stepped into these two interesting buildings that she hadn't seen.
We stopped into Michael's and loved the Halloween displays.
It was tough but this pair did NOT come home with me, buy one get one free...
I thought we should take the streetcar to the Beach area, it used to be called The Beaches. We had never taken the streetcar that far and I had forgotten for long a ride it would be. Google reminded me that we should have remembered as we had down an historic day tour in 2016 and this was the map I posted.
This "temporary change" is still in effect, as it runs from Humber Loop (our stop) and we got off at Woodbine, practically the end of the line. It is about 15 miles.
This Irish pub is hanging on by a thread, as buildings around it are demolished for condos.
We've never been in it, and said we should before it is gone!
The Ashbridge Estate. It is also mentioned in the linked post above. We did visit it back in 2016.
Wolfe Tone Irish Pub and Spanish Inmigrante Bar, side by side.
We made a stop into the library, I will post that on Tuesday Treasures.
Back home, I heard the sirens, and noticed that the Lake Shore ramp was bumper to bumper (closed). Andrew had mentioned entourages this week. This was an entourage, in a sense, not for a famous person, but a bike ride. It had the same elements, road closures and police escorts.
I'm not sure how, but this pair have a new home!!
MAGAZINES
The Ashbridge Estate. It is also mentioned in the linked post above. We did visit it back in 2016.
Toronto Fire Station #227.
This beautiful fire station is still operational, despite being built over a century ago. Originally named Toronto Fire Department 17, this fire station was built in 1905 and is known to locals as Kew Beach Fire Hall. The three-storey structure and 80-foot clock tower were built in the Queen Anne style popular at the time, but were also influenced by the Dutch Colonial Revival architectural style, which is prominent in the signature stepped-gable roof of Fire Station 226, nearby on Main Street. Clock towers were common for fire stations at the time because the height made an ideal spot for hanging fire hoses.
Typical home.
Wolfe Tone Irish Pub and Spanish Inmigrante Bar, side by side.
This 6.5-hectare park stretches from Queen Street East to Lakeshore. At its south end, this park meets up with the boardwalk and beach that run along the Lake Ontario shoreline. This area features a fenced dogs off-leash area as well as the heritage-designated Leuty boat house.
A cenotaph honouring service in the First World War, Second World War and Korean War is located on the park's Queen Street side. The Gardener's Cottage, a historic building, is found at the foot of Lee Avenue. It is also known as Kew Williams House. Other historical elements include the Italian Renaissance-style Doctor William D. Young Memorial.
The new vital public spaces are shaded by preserved and new trees, and framed by a large water jet-cut floral screen bearing Kew founder Joseph Williams’s description of the park: “A place of innocent amusement.”
We made a stop into the library, I will post that on Tuesday Treasures.
WEDNESDAY
John had his regular golf game. I decided to check out the new Simon's store in the Eaton Centre.
Union Station had a new art exhibit.
An Indigenous spotlight featuring the work of artist Dee Barsy. Known for her signature style of gestural, calligraphy-like lines and bold, vibrant colours, Dee creates dreamlike spaces that carry both movement and meaning. Her canvases, often alive with abstract birds set against teal backdrops, speak to freedom, memory, and identity. Through these striking visual relationships, Dee reflects on her journey as a foster person adopted into a non-Indigenous family, reimagining emotions and memories with raw honesty and poetic depth.
La Maison Simons (colloquially Simons) is a Canadian department store chain founded in 1840 by John Hamilton Simons. The business was first established as a dry goods store.
While historic Canadian department stores such as Eaton’s, Sears, and Hudson’s Bay have closed or downsized, La Maison Simons and Holt Renfrew continue to operate and expand. They both represent the last large-format department-style clothes retailers in the country.
And it is so nice to have a department store again!
I was sitting on the bus waiting for the 4 PM departure, when I noticed a female parking supervisor, on a bike, stop in front of the bus, start taking pictures. The driver said "am I getting a ticket?", I said, "it looks like it". Just then, another passenger (Precious is my nickname for him) is boarding the bus and says "are we getting a ticket, she's just an idiot", out of the blue! Why would you say she's an idiot?? She is doing her job.
In fact, a couple of months ago, we had to move our spot, because the city was doing a parking blitz. Precious sits down, and continues "she's an idiot. Minimum wages, minimum brains"!!!"
First of all, you don't call someone an idiot like that. It is not a minimum wage job, and even if it doesn't mean you are are not bright. I'm sure she knows the rules.
This was an approved bus stop for the Hop On, Hop Off Bus, but there is now a sign stating they no longer stop here. It was about 3:55, the sign says no stopping between 3:30 and 6 PM.
Back home, I heard the sirens, and noticed that the Lake Shore ramp was bumper to bumper (closed). Andrew had mentioned entourages this week. This was an entourage, in a sense, not for a famous person, but a bike ride. It had the same elements, road closures and police escorts.
THURSDAY
I met up with a good friend for coffee and a catch up. After she went back to the office I headed back to Michael's, as those Caterinas were calling my name. It was a dreary rainy day.
Interesting, I came across this POPS (see above) privately owned public access spaces.
FRIDAY other than I went out for vegetables for the weekend, we stayed home.
The hydrangeas are looking gorgeous!
We don't typically use margarine, but it can be handy. However it has been a ridiculous price lately. I'm am not buying it when it is more expensive that butter!
I did find a plant based one on sale at $3 regular $5.49. I must go back and get some more!
I see our regular bacon is up 0.50¢!
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John watched the Ryder Cup. I puttered around the kitchen for a while. I did a load of washing and watered the plants.
And again, Canada Post workers on strike and here's what you need to know. This is because of the government's announcement this week that to cut costs, Canada Post will be transitioning to community mailboxes by converting four million addresses, reducing the frequency of door-to-door delivery, and closing rural post offices. Canada Post will also be able to adjust its delivery standards and raise stamp rates more frequently.
COOKING
Menu is subject to change based on requests and whether the chef feels like something else!
This week was productive in the kitchen, you can tell the colder weather and shorter days are coming. I made a pot of chicken rice soup (stock had been frozen over the summer, rice was frozen from last week, vegetables fresh, including some of the salad kit). strawberry orange granita (strawberries $1, orange juice lingering in fridge). Simple scones with only buttermilk, flour and baking powder, (added raisins and lemon peel). Stuffing for flank steak (frozen leftover bread).
Lunches - We had tuna sandwiches, leftover hamburger stew, and I reinvented the pork meatballs into a spicy Asian soup using the same frozen stock also used below.
I made raspberry granita on Friday as they were a little mushy for breakfast, instead we had the mandarins.
I made raspberry granita on Friday as they were a little mushy for breakfast, instead we had the mandarins.
I also made a creamy chicken soup, that cleaned out some frozen stock along with frozen leftover vegetables.
Saturday ribs potato salad kale salad sweet potato fries
Sunday stuffed flank steak, roast potatoes and carrots cauliflower
Monday flank steak leftovers, fresh roast potatoes and honey glazed roasted carrots
Tuesday Thai pork meatballs in creamy coconut red curry with rice.
Wednesday hamburger stew
Thursday pork schnitzel mashed white and sweet potatoes, kale salad, ham. I thought I had pork chops in freezer, was ground pork
Friday STEAK frites and salad. Raspberry lemon granita. So nice to let John take care of dinner!
WATCHING
I watched the latest two Hotel Inspector episodes, British 2025 series, a guilty pleasure of mine!
While in the kitchen I watched a Canadian documentary about The Swindler of Yorkville. Toronto conman Albert Rosenberg is a life-long scam artist and an audacious entrepreneur. For decades, he convinced banks, art galleries, investors and his family that he was a sophisticated, successful tycoon. How did he do it? And how did he get away with it for so long? Very good!
Black Rabbit When the owner of a New York City hotspot allows his turbulent brother back in his life, he opens the door to escalating dangers that threaten to bring down everything he's built.
The Girlfriend is a psychological thriller television miniseries (UK/US).
Laura's idyllic life is shattered when her son's new girlfriend seems suspicious. Determined to protect him, Laura's actions spiral out of control, raising the question: Is she justifiably cautious or consumed by paranoia?
The London Mob couldn't watch, awful.
Official Secrets The true story of a British whistleblower who leaked information to the press about an illegal NSA spy operation designed to push the UN Security Council into sanctioning the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
House of Guinness Follows the aftermath of the death of brewery mogul, Sir Benjamin Guinness, and the great impact of his will on the fate of his four adult children: Arthur, Edward, Anne, Ben, and other Dubliners affected by the expanding Guinness empire.
READING
I'm still reading The Edge of Eternity.
I'm looking for a pattern.
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