Toronto Delights

The next step in showing off Ontario, was a stop in Toronto. 

We found a comfortable BnB, Downtown Home Inn, 

right in the heart of the city.

We were able to walk to a charming Italian restaurant,

 Famelia for a fabulous dinner.

 After a good night's sleep, we headed into town to visit 

The CN Tower

It is very impressive from below.....

...and the views from the top are spectacular!

There is a glass floor that allows you to look all the way down....David was more brave than me and stood on it for a moment, as my heart leapt out of my chest!

Even taking the elevator down was quite fun (and fast)

Check out the video!

One of the things that I miss most about not living in Toronto
 anymore, is the St Lawrence Market

I used to shop there every week, so took advantage of being there to stock up on my favourite cheeses!

Our last stop before heading home, was a visit to 

The Distillery District

It is an area of 47 buildings that used to be
 the Gooderham & Worts Distillery.

A sample of what they used to make

 It is now full of shops, galleries and restaurants

We stopped for a bite of lunch at

Mill Street Brewery

The beer was delicious....

....and so was the smoked meat poutine!

 

My eye caught artwork that reminded me

 of all the locks on the Pont Neuf in Paris

 ......and LOVE was all around....

It was a fabulous couple of days.

Time to head home to start exploring the '1,000 islands' region!

Dining in Toronto

Having left Toronto over 20 years ago, it is always with mixed emotions that I go back for a visit.  I love my laid back life in the country, but miss my friends and some aspects of the life a big city can offer.

Although my new home town has many fine restaurants, the dining experience in Toronto is not to be missed.  Thanks to my friend Nancy T, I took an express elevator to the 54th floor of the TD Tower to spend a few hours feasting on an extraordinary lunch at Canoe Restaurant

One of the added bonuses is the breathtaking view.  Alas, the weather gods were not with us that day and these views from the ground showed the pea soup outside our 'supposedly' fabulous vista.

 The view did not stop us from enjoying our superb lunch!

We both started with the 'northern woods mushroom soup'.

Nancy opted for the 'West coast halibut, with summer squash, Swiss chard, fresh wasabi mayo + crispy brandade fritters'

Although I am trying very hard to cut back on meat, my European background yearns for dishes I grew up with.  One of those was satisfied with 'steak tartare, applewood smoked bacon, foraged flavours + pretzel toast'

 Again, my upbringing moved me to have cheese instead of a sweet desert and I was not disappointed with a choice of '14 arpents' which is a pasteurized cow’s milk, washed with salt water twice daily for 90 days, from Fromagerie Médard, Saguenay Lac-Saint-Jean, Québec

 Not one to be beaten by weather, the following day, during the lull between lunch and dinner, I rode the elevator back up to the 54th floor, strode into Canoe and asked the M'aitre D if I could take a few pictures of the view I was denied the day before....

 

 This was after meeting my oldest friend who I have known since we were both 6 years old for a catch up lunch at Bannock Restaurant,

that specializes in 'comfort food'.  As we are both originally 'Quebecers', we couldn't pass up the 'poutine pizza with curds, fries, caramelized onions and duck confit'

  Walking back through the downtown, even the concrete jungle tries to bring a little 'country to the city'

 Visits are great....but heading home, enjoying the turn of the season, always warms my heart.

 Thank you Nancy T. and and Wanda L. for wonderful visit.

The Lucas Push

When you live in the Great White North, you are constantly looking for diversions from the never ending snow and cold.  When you wake up in the morning and find this.....

In 'Waldo' fashion; Can you find the car???

.....you jump at the chance for a road trip!

The night before heading to Toronto, 

a sushi dinner out with my honey was in order.

In case you are wondering, The Joseph Lucas Memorial Push is organized by the 'Canadian Vintage Motorcycle Group'.  To quote them: " why not have a social event and poke some fun at Joseph Lucas? Lucas was the owner of Lucas Electrical, the company which supplied parts for the somewhat troublesome electrical systems of British motorcycles and became known jokingly as

 “The Prince of Darkness”.

My traveling companion was none other than V-Star Lady,

an enthusiastic motorcyclist and blogger.

The event revolves around a 'pub crawl', where a 'hurting motorcyle' is 'pushed' from venue to venue.  The first pub was The Madison, so it made sense for us to stay at their adjoining Madison Manor Boutique Hotel.  It is a charming vintage house turned into quaint rooms.  It has a old fashioned rooming house feel to it and although not luxurious, was comfortable.

The hotel is to the the right, with the pub being the 2 adjoining buildings to the left

 Toronto was in the midst of an early spring, making it a perfect opportunity for a walk along Bloor Street.  Honest Ed's is a landmark 'everything you could possibly want store', covering a full city block renowned for its 'serve yourself policy'.

Bloor Street boasts everything from expensive designer shops to graffitti covered music venues

Once the sun set, first point of order was dinner, and what better to have in a pub, than wings...

....shared with artist and ex road racer Ron Peter 

 This story would not be complete without letting you know what was "pushed' from pub to pub.  I would like all my motorcycle friends to post a comment if you know what this is, including the year.

 All good things must come to end, so home we went.  

I suppose the snow and cold is not so bad afterall......

Victoria Day Weekend

Prior to enjoying the long Victoria Day Weekend, I spent a few days in Toronto attending a business conference.  It was an opportunity to meet up with colleagues and friends.

The Sheraton Centre downtown is an old hotel but is different in that it offers a bit of serenity amidst all the concrete.

 Prior to starting the conference, I was delighted to have the opportunity to meet the newest member of the family!

Before getting down to business, a sushi dinner out with friends kicked off the event.

After 2 full days of improving my skills, I made it back to town in time to have a cold beer and burger with the 'kids', who came into town for the long weekend.

As it was our son's birthday, his choice of outing for the day

 was a trip to 'the county'.

We started at Vickis Veggies to get our heirloom tomato seedlings.

There were many vendors with lots of local fare.

Once the seedlings were secured in the trunk, we headed off to our favourite lunch spot: the patio at

Lake on the Mountain

We enjoyed tomato basil soup, grilled cheese and pesto mussels!

The birthday boy all smiles with his charming wife!

The day ended with a wonderful vintage Medoc!  Delicious!

A great way to end the holiday weekend!