mere rhetoric

Things I learned from my contractor: On painting

2011-11-04T14:16:00.000-04:00

Paint the ceilings first, then walls, then trim. Be careful, and you don't need to bother with tape.
For the cutting-in brush, don't cheap out. Get one that is 3" wide and at least $12-$14.
Sand the walls entirely to smooth imperfections and to help the new paint adhere better. He uses sandpaper fixed to a handle (similar to a Swiffer, but sturdier) and scrubs the walls completely.
High gloss paint is not recommended because it shows all imperfections. Use semi-gloss for trim.
Test coats of paint on previously-painted walls to see if you need primer or not. If you need two coats of paint anyways, you might be able to skip the primer.
If you're painting new drywall, you need to use primer first.
If you have a stucco ceiling, it is easy to remove with just warm water and a cloth - provided the ceiling was not painted before. Once it's painted, the stucco is sealed on quite well.

Saving without skimping - the Wedding Edition

2011-05-11T21:10:00.000-04:00

Image source: http://www.bdweddingphotography.co.uk

When we started planning our wedding, I also drastically cut back on my spending. Wedding vendors often demand a 50% deposit on signing, even if it's six months to a year ahead of the big date. The biggest purchases usually need to be booked/ordered well in advance. If your venue also requires a minimum catering charge, the estimate keeps rising.

According to WeddingBells.ca's annual survey, the average Canadian wedding will cost just over $23K. Unless you are very creative or have a small wedding party, this will not get you very far in a city like Toronto. Without going into masses of details, what we did to help manage our budget was decide at the outset what our priorities were, so we would know where we would be willing to splurge and where we would cut back if required. I also created spreadsheets detailing estimates and actual costs so we would know throughout the process where we stood, how much we owed, to whom and when.

Our priorities were: Photographer, Venue, and Food

To offset our big ticket priorities, we saved on the following:

Decor (very simple with some DIY projects, since we already picked a beautiful venue)
Dress (my dream dress was 3x more than the one I chose, although I ended up wearing three dresses, two pairs of Louboutins and a pair of Havaianas...)
DJ/musicians (generous gifts from talented friends)
Transportation (no limo -- I went to my wedding in a minivan!)
Invitations/programs (designed and printed our own)
Minimized guestlist (rule of thumb for minimum criteria: have to have visited each other's homes and have called each other in past year)

We also had tons of help and support from family and friends. We managed to fit in lots of "extras" like a fun photobooth ($$$), custom cake toppers ($), a lion dance, a late-night poutine buffet, and our favourite desserts from nearby (Mom's kitchen), local (Dufflet's) and afar (Germany via USA).

Looking back on our wedding day, we are pretty happy with our decisions. Everything that we splurged on was totally worth it, and everything that we saved on did not make any sort of negative impact on our day. Some of the "free" things turned out to be the highlights! I think an important lesson is to ask friends and family for help when you need it -- they are often eager and willing to pitch in, and enjoy being a part of the festivities.

Here are some of our (aka my) DIY projects:

Silk flower pomanders, to hang on shepherd hooks down the aisle.

Painted wooden dowels, to be affixed with streaming silk ribbons. For a celebratory wave from guests.

Placecards with dried flowers for colour and dimension.

During this process, some of the things I cut out of my regular expenses (which are now ongoing savings) included:

Coffee ($2) - drinking office coffee/tea/water, saving $45 monthly
Lunch ($8) - brown-bagging, saving $180 monthly
Books and reading materials ($10+) - regular patron of the Toronto Public Library, saving $20-$30 monthly
Shopping at malls, shops and online stores, saving oooOoOooodles ($500+) monthly

The good thing out of this behaviour-changing exercise (aka saving bunches), besides comfortably paying off our wedding costs as each bill came in, was my realization of how much stuff I was buying and wasting money on. I still struggle sometimes with my willpower, but my willpower usually wins. (However, sometimes when it loses, it loses big-time.)

We wanted a big party to celebrate our union and this new stage of life with our friends and family, but we were cognizant of not going into debt or hurting our future to achieve what we wanted. As I look forward to some of my short- and long-term goals and desires, I want to make sure that my money works for me and does not hold me back from accomplishing what I want out of life.

Photo essay: Fall 2010 travels - Train Travels

2011-05-05T23:32:00.008-04:00

This is part four in a series of posts on my fall travels in 2010 to several cities in Europe. The first part was my iPhone cache of photos and the second part was my arrival in Florence. Part three showed our first full stop, in beautiful Cinque Terre. Here I present some of our train travels between La Spezia and Nice.

Train travel can be easy and enjoyable or cumbersome for the uninitiated. Sometimes it can be a cheap option, but other times a flight with a much reduced travel time may cost the same. Do your homework if you have a preference!

At Genova P. Principe. Choo-choo! Bye-bye Cinque Terre. Hello Nice!

Some train travel tips:

Read your train ticket carefully to understand which platform you need to be at, and what the departure time is. In the cities that we have train-traveled through and within, the schedules have been fairly accurate. Check if you can or need to reserve a seat. Make sure you have your ticket ready for validation.
Don't pack too much. There are many stairs and possibly running in the hallways beneath the tracks to reach different platforms for transfer.
Don't bring large suitcases. There is often limited space, and you may need to leave your luggage in the hallway or ends of car units.
Bring a snack or two. Depending on the train and service level, you may have many hours before you'll have a chance to eat.
Enjoy the scenery! Notice the differences as you travel to your destination. If you come from a flat and bland landscape as I do, you'll appreciate the rolling hills and changing architectural styles of towns that you pass through.

Train transfer in Ventimiglia. We had a bit of time and relaxed outside of the station with a snack from a nearby cafe.

If you like Chinese food, you're in luck! It can be found all over Europe. This signage is just outside of Ventimiglia train station.

Cute little mini-truck outside of Ventimiglia train station.

Arrival! Bonjour Nice!

Photo essay: Fall 2010 travels - Cinque Terre

2011-04-17T10:00:00.002-04:00

This is the third part of a series of posts on my fall travels in 2010 to several cities in Europe. The first part was my iPhone cache of photos and the second part was my arrival in Florence. Here we have arrived in La Spezia (where we hotel'd) and Cinque Terre (where we train'd into every day).

Beautiful. Delicious (best food of the trip). Introduction to a love of anchovies (done right). Gelato (done daily).

Arrival in La Spezia. Choo choo!

Although we stayed in La Spezia, our main interest was visiting the "Five Lands", Cinque Terre. These villages run along the Italian Riviera, and are connected by a foot path right along the coast, and also by local train and ferry. The villages are called Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. Monterosso, Vernazza and Riomaggiore are the largest villages (with populations between 1,000-1,600), while Corniglia and Manarola may accurately be called "fractions".

My first view of Cinque Terre is the steep streets of Riomaggiore. Pedestrian-only! Very quaint and picturesque. And it just keeps getting better...

You can't see it, but I just passed a bunch of gelato eateries. About €1 per scoop!

Apparently there is a village decree that all shutters must be painted green. One building missed the message, but still so pretty! What you do not see are the very narrow inclined streets between each "street", climbing up the hills.

Of course, we must have our outdoor cafe cappuccino and people-watching morning activites!

Via dell'Amore is a highly-accessible walk between Riomaggiore and Manarola.

As we stroll along Via dell'Amore, which runs along the very edge of the Italian Riviera, we notice some locks...

and numerous murals...

A few locks turn into many! Via dell'Amore is known as a haven for young lovers who wish to "lock" their love forever. The locks are inscribed with the lovers' names.


Personally, I would not consider Cinque Terre for a beach vacation. Here in Monterosso we have sand, umbrellas and lounge chairs, but most of the other villages just have large slippery and jagged rocks and cold water that hardy Speedo-donned Europeans do not mind frolicking in.

Ristorante Miky (Monterosso): This was the beginning of a love affair with anchovies. Here is a plate of anchovies done four ways. Although all were delicious, my favourite was the simple way with a sprinkling of lemon juice.

Italian food at its best. Simple flavours brought out with olive oil, a touch of herbs.

Trattoria dal Billy (Manarola): My absolute favourite meal of the trip. This is one of our delicious dishes, a squid ink pasta with seafood. The restaurant overlooks the gentle hills just beyond Manarola. We enjoyed a romantic sunset, but we did not enjoy the aggressive mosquitos (which left lasting impressions for the rest of our trip).

Adventures in YYZ: Live with Bon Jovi

2011-03-11T13:01:00.004-05:00

Bon Jovi performing Livin' On a Prayer in Toronto.

Links to more videos at the end of the post.

Bon Jovi Live 2011: Toronto, Ontario on February 15, 2011

I picked up cheap seats for Bon Jovi's second Toronto concert back in February, and looked forward to an entertaining show. Asked why I would want to go to a Bon Jovi concert, my answer: I have his cassette tape! And who didn't sing along to Always or Livin' on a Prayer on Rock Band? (Do people still play this?)

There were a lot of 80s hairdos in the crowd. Yes, I'm referring to feathered mullets.


My nosebleed seats: "side view" may more accurately be described as "back view"

Overall, I have to admit that I was disappointed with the energy of the concert. Bon Jovi sang a lot of songs that I was less familiar with, even though I "studied up" by listening to his songs all week leading up to the big night. He didn't sing my favourite song, Always, so that was a b-i-i-i-g disappointment.

The crowd was quiet for big portions at a time, or maybe just around my cheap seats, where the audio was less than optimal. I suspect that if I got front viewing seats, that my experience would have been better. I was really happy he ended it with Livin' On a Prayer (video at top).

Jon Bon Jovi croons closely to the lucky pit members.

Video: Bon Jovi chatting up crowd about music trends

Richie Sambora and his double neck guitar

Bon Jovi says "Hi" and waves to me. "Hi!" back!

I picked up an Ed Hardy-esque concert tee to commemorate the event.

Links to more of my videos from the concert:

Wow, I wish Rihanna did a surprise cameo with Bon Jovi in Toronto. Here they are in Madrid last November:

Enchanted with Guy

2011-03-09T08:36:00.004-05:00

A most awesome infographic featured on the mint.com blog contains kernels of wisdom from Guy Kawasaki's new book Enchantment. My favourites ones:

HOW TO PREPARE

Do something great
Conduct a "premortem"
Make it short, simple and swallowable
Remove the fences

HOW TO RESIST ENCHANTMENT

Avoid tempting situations
Look far into the future
Create a checklist
Let yourself be enchanted in small ways

Image from mint.com/blog

To read the full article, go here.
Read an illuminating Social Media Examiner interview with Guy Kawasaki here.

Adventures in YYZ: Busking for CHANGE with Raine Maida

2011-03-08T20:00:00.003-05:00

On September 21, 2010, Raine Maida was joined by dozens of musicians on the streets of Toronto. This was the third annual Busking for CHANGE event, held on International Peace Day. They set up shop on busy corners, concentrating on the well-monied financial centre, and used their voices and musical skills to drum up support and awareness for War Child Canada. Passersby were also encouraged to donate their change (and higher denominations) to the campaign.

Here's a video I took of Raine Maida, performing Innocent:

He's an amazing live performer.

More pictures I took:

Photo essay: Fall 2010 travels - A transfer in Florence

2011-03-06T15:25:00.005-05:00

This is the second part of a series of posts on my fall travels in 2010 to several cities in Europe. The first part was my iPhone cache of photos. Here we leave YYZ and arrive in FLR, after a bit of an adventure in BRU. (Will we make our transfer, or won't we?)

Bye-bye Pearson!

Transfer at Brussels airport - do not recommend! Although it is a very luxe airport, the transfer protocol is ridiculous. Numerous passengers were seen racing through the lounge to catch their flight after a ridiculously tedious 1+ hour transfer point. The BRU slogan is "European, efficient and welcoming." I agree with the European part, but that's about it.

To add insult to injury, Brussels did not transfer luggage for numerous passengers. At the minuscule FLR airport: No luggage for both of us! And Brussels Airlines only compensated one of us for two days, despite our three days without luggage and numerous attempts for appropriate compensation. 2+ months later. Never again, Brussels Airline.

I really wanted to go into Luisa via Roma in Florence after months of ogling their website, but since we had no luggage to carry any purchases for who-knows-how-long, I couldn't buy anything except essentials. (Which meant no Luisa via Roma. sigh.)

I believe this is the San Lorenzo market for leather goods in Florence. Great for photography, so much colour crammed into small spaces!

Venetian masks in the San Lorenzo market

The fake statue of David in Piazza della Signoria. The real one is smaller and found in the Accademia Gallery.

Juxtaposition of mural and graffiti in a Florence alleyway. (I was looking for a public paid washroom. Recommend - they are relatively clean since you have to pay to use them.)

Pretty typical laneway view in Florence.

Another common sight in Florence. Rows of motorbikes and scooters.

Map of Florence

Not the Pusateri's I know! This one sells boots. (As opposed to the fine foodstuff in Toronto.)

Santa Maria Novella train station in Florence. We are leaving after half a day of hoping to get our luggage "on the next flight". Our only solace is that we get to see more of Florence, a city that I adore!

iPhone cache: Fall 2010 travels

2011-03-06T13:38:00.003-05:00

We visited Cinque Terre in Italy, Nice in France (side trip to Monaco), Barcelona in Spain (side trip to Tortosa parador - recommend!).

I just activated my phone the day I left for this trip. I didn't know how to use it or have any apps, etc. I mostly used it to take pictures of maps and schedules so we could use them as pocket maps. If you're interested in maps and public transportation systems around the world, here are a few pictures:

Map of Manarola in Cinque Terre, Italy to find Trattoria Dal Billy. (BEST meal of trip of amazing meals.)

Train schedule along Mediterranean coast of Italy (Read: 12.55 = Train departure time from this station; TI 144 = Train number; Ventimiglia 15.07 = Final destination and its arrival time; All stops and times enroute to final destination; 17 = Platform number to get on this train) I believe this was taken in the La Spezia station.

The super-opulent Le Metropole in Monaco. I noted a Ladurée boutique here, and had to visit!

Bus schedule in Nice, heading to the Musée National Message Biblique Marc Chagall

Where our cash goes (Canadian version, eh!)

2011-02-26T10:00:00.004-05:00

I saw an interesting infographic on the average US spending (commented on by yesiamcheap.com, and heard via @brokeinthecity), and just happened to be looking at the same data for Canadians. It's not as pretty, but here it is:

Considering that the average household income was $74,600 in 2008 (no 2009 data released yet), there has been little wiggle room. In fact, total household expenditure dropped in 2009 - the first time a decline was reported since the survey was launched in 1997:

Here's a full breakdown on trends of where our money is going:

From 2008 to 2009, the top 3 categories that dropped the most in absolute (average) dollars were: Recreation (-$223), Personal Taxes (-$200) and Food (-$173).

By percent change, the top 3 declining categories were: Reading Materials (-8.3%), Recreation (-5.5%) and Household Furnishings and Equipment (-3.6%) - all pretty much discretionary.

From 2000 to 2009, total household expenditures rose 29%. The top 3 categories for increased allocation were: Personal Care (64%), Health Care (51%) and Education (50%). The top 3 categories for smallest change were: Reading Materials (-14%), Games of Chance (2% - need to check what this is) and, surprisingly, Food (19%).

We Canadians are not the same across the country. Total household expenditures in 2009 by province/territory:

British Columbia - $73,571
Alberta - $84,976
Saskatchewan - $69,377
Manitoba - $66,608
Ontario - $76,577
Quebec - $60,125
New Brunswick - $61,212
Nova Scotia - $60,867
Prince Edward Island - $56,896
Newfoundland - $57,605
Yukon - $69,856
Northwest Territories - $82,966
Nunavut - $84,439

And here in Toronto? $83,847.
Ouch.

For a full summary, visit Statistics Canada for the most recent release of the Survey of Household Spending.

N.B.
I didn't look at the median amounts, although maybe those figures would have provided a more useful picture. Who is an "average Canadian" anyways?

Just call me Master

2011-02-26T01:32:00.010-05:00

I found this old (2006) post that I changed to draft for some reason:

Apparently I am iNTj, which stands for Introverted, iNtuitive, Thinking, Judging. According to Carl Jung, I am a moderately introverted, intuitive thinker, with a distinctly judging personality. Reading further to find out what D Keirsley thinks about this rare subset of the population (less than 1%!), it appears that I am what is called a "Mastermind". ^_^ The whole "NT" group is called the Rationals, which include the Engineer, the Mastermind, the Inventor and the Field Marshal (the first two being introverts and last two being extroverts).

If the Mastermind category fits me best, I am quite self-confident and very judicious, and therefore can be quite decisive (e will laugh/scoff at this...). I can formulate coherent and comprehensive contingency plans. Although not eager to take a leadership role, once in this position, I am highly pragmatic. MM Heiss says that I know what I know, and I know what I don't know. I am both a perfectionist, and realistic. I tend to be even-handed (could this be the Libra factor playing out??) in recognizing the contributions of others, but also recognize and go for opportunities for myself as they are presented. (cool.) Unfortunately (for e), romantic relationships are my Achilles heel, since I have little patience for small talk or flirtation, as well am extremely private in nature.

So four and a half years later, I get the same result of INTJ:

Introverted	Intuitive	Thinking	Judging

89	62	12	67

I really need to work on my extroversion.

It's all very interesting. To read more about iNTjs, you can click here or here. To take the test yourself, click here.

Refresh!

2011-02-20T09:30:00.011-05:00

Once again, it's been a while since I've posted anything here, and an even longer time since I've posted anything with real content.
I want to get back into the writing groove, so maybe a resurrection of this weblog will help me to shape my words and phrasing better IRL.

I plan to try to stay apolitical -- goodness knows there's enough politicking heads without my personal opinions thrown into the fray. [Of note: There is a very similarly-named blog with highly-charged content in the political realm. I have zero affiliation with that blog.]

I might cover the interesting sights and sounds of Toronto, cities I have visited, places I have eaten at, cool stuff that I have found online in the form of food, fashion and entertainment, and anything that is of general interest to me: the non-profit sector, the state of Canadian healthcare, social and new media, reading up on personal finance, books I'm reading and whatnot.

Here goes!
.
.
.

Happy Canada Day!

2009-07-01T11:57:00.000-04:00

Oldie but goodie. Happy 142nd b-day, Canada!

I ♥ NKOTB

2009-06-22T14:01:00.024-04:00

New Kids on the Block put on an awesome show at the Molson Amphitheatre in Toronto on Sunday night! The opening acts were the Jabbawockees and Jesse McCartney, followed by about two hours of NKOTB 90s-to-current hits + love-in of screaming Toronto fans.

I was reduced to my 12-year-old self from back in the early 90s.

** For more concert videos, click here.

If you want to see a zillion more pictures and videos,

Jabbawockees do their thang

Jesse McCartney's super-cheese/sorta creepy line: "I know what you're thinking. I'm 22....and it's OK"
Cougars in the crowd go "grrr" while P questions if he is old enough to drive. Very young-looking!

And then the main ATTRACTION:

Full-Service Tour

My man, Jordan Knight

Another popular boy-o, Joey McIntyre

I couldn't hear either, Donnie Wahlberg! The crowd was too loud!

Jabbawockees make another appearance

My camera battery died half-way through the show, or else I'd have a bajillion more pictures to choose from. =( I need a better camera. Better zoom required too often.

All in all a fantastic and entertaining show, and the boys came out with tons of energy! Even my non-fan friend (who is the best for keeping me company) enjoyed the concert and recognized some old and recent songs. Def worth the ticket price. Oh, nostalgia!

New Kids on the Block: Full-Service Tour
Molson Amphitheatre, Toronto Ontario
June 21, 2009

Sweet Weekend Eating

2009-06-15T08:51:00.011-04:00

All intentions to go to Luminato's 1000 Tastes of Toronto flew out the window, because my Sunday after-lunch nap ended up stretching to 5pm, but I managed to get in some gooood eating this weekend at The Pie Shack and Beaches Bake Shop & Cafe!

The Pie Shack
2305 Queen StE

Peach and Blueberry pie, $4.50 per slice or $25 for the whole pie
$2 coffee + free top-ups and friendly service!

Very nice light, fluffy and buttery crust, filling is interspersed with walnuts?, fruit may originate from cans? but still very tasty pieces of Pie!

Beaches Bake Shop & Cafe
900 Kingston Rd

Chocolate mini-cupcakes, $2.75 each
Chocolate-chip brownie, $2.75

Delightful mini-cupcakes made by SweetThingsTO, and a chocolate-chip confection (more like a piece of giant cookie) to top off my weekend!

Oldie but Goodie: Thermodynamics

2009-06-10T19:12:00.004-04:00

I found this in an old e-mail folder. It amused me then and amused me again today. I first received it in March of 2001, but who knows how long it's been floating around, and who the original author was.

THERMODYNAMICS OF HELL
The following is an actual question given on a University of Washington chemistry mid term. The answer by one student was so "profound" that the professor shared it with colleagues, via the Internet, which is, of course, why we now have the pleasure of enjoying it as well.

Bonus Question:

Is Hell exothermic (gives off heat) or endothermic (absorbs heat)?

Below the jump for the kicker:

Most of the students wrote proofs of their beliefs using Boyle's Law, (gas cools off when it expands and heats up when it is compressed) or some variant. One student, however, wrote the following:

First, we need to know how the mass of Hell is changing in time. So we need to know the rate that souls are moving into Hell and the rate they are leaving. I think that we can safely assume that once a soul gets to Hell, it will not leave. Therefore, no souls are leaving.

As for how many souls are entering Hell, lets look at the different religions that exist in the world today. Some of these religions state that if you are not a member of their religion, you will go to Hell. Since there are more than one of these religions and since people do not belong to more than one religion, we can project that all souls go to Hell.

With birth and death rates as they are, we can expect the number of souls in Hell to increase exponentially.

Now, we look at the rate of change of the volume in Hell because Boyle's Law states that in order for the temperature and pressure in Hell to stay the same, the volume of Hell has to expand proportionately as souls are added.

This gives two possibilities:
#1. If Hell is expanding at a slower rate than the rate at which souls enter Hell, then the temperature and pressure in Hell will increase until all Hell breaks loose.

#2. Of course, if Hell is expanding at a rate faster than the increase of souls in Hell, then the temperature and pressure will drop until Hell freezes over.

So which is it?

If we accept the postulate given to me by Teresa during my Freshman year, "...that it will be a cold day in Hell before I sleep with you," and take into account the fact that I still have not succeeded in having sexual relations with her, then, #2 cannot be true, and thus I am sure that Hell is exothermic and will not freeze.

The student received the only "A" given for the paper.

YUMMYLIST: Vera Wang

2009-06-04T12:08:00.006-04:00

Another Gilt sale. Here are selected items from the Vera Wang Collection (the epitome of femininity):

Crystal & Tulle Necklace, $148 (reg. $395)
Floral Silk Jacquard Belted Riding Coat, $998 (reg. $3,350)

Sale ends tomorrow at 11:59PM EST.

Adventures in YYZ: Drake Hotel

2009-05-28T09:42:00.004-04:00

The 10th annual Doors Open Toronto ran this past weekend, but I was only able to go out on Sunday. I missed the TTC-related sites, but was able to visit the Carlu, the Flatiron and the Drake Hotel.

The Drake Hotel

This was a great place to visit for Doors Open because the Drake has a rich history. Back in 1890 the area was close to Sunnyside Beach, which played host to the wealthy during the summer. The hotel was known as Small's Hotel, but exchanged ownership numerous times until Michael Lundy took hold in 1949 and named it The Drake.

It grew quite seedy with the neighbourhood, but more recently independent art galleries have sprouted up all along the corridor of West Queen West. The Drake was bought and renovated by Jeff Stober to reflect the eclectic new feel of the neighbourhood, and today it's a popular venue for anything from poetry readings to intimate concerts in the Underground, Sunday brunch in the Dining Room, a year-round rooftop patio called the Sky Yard (including a fire and roasted marshmellows in the winter), and the best scones in the city at the corner Cafe.

The hotel lobby and sitting area has a random assortment of vintage items from an old photo booth to (strangely) a gymnastics pummel horse.

In the sitting area, look to your right at the engineering contraption. It's actually a functional piece of art that acts as a noise barometer for the main rooms of the hotel. Want a quiet evening? Pick a room with a low reading. Want to find where the party's happening? Go where the needle is bumping and pulsing!

Actually, there is art everywhere you look in the Drake, from murals and photographs to installations on walls, to even the ceiling with the custom-made lights. Every room has design eye candy and conversation starters.

Although the Cafe is known for its scones, we took advantage of the Artist's $10 deal. A drink (Beer, sparkling or other wines, or Drink of the Day) and a choice of the Drake Burger, a Poutine, Spicy Tuna Roll and a couple other options.

Obviously I chose the Poutine, but little did I know how decadent this would be. Smoked brisket (includes a lot of pork belly), old cheddar sauce and fried onions. The fried onions added some crunch (and more grease), but the body and soul of this poutine was from the brisket. I could only eat half before my arteries asked for a break. Tasty!

I think the Drake was my top pick for the places we visited during this year's Doors Open. There was much to see, and we only had a cursory guided tour. I definitely want to return this summer, if only to enjoy the patio on the corner or the rooftop.

The Drake Hotel
1150 Queen Street West, Toronto
416-531-5042
www.thedrakehotel.ca

Spotted: Vespas and pirates and dogs, oh my!

2009-05-26T11:14:00.000-04:00

On any day, a walk along the Harbourfront provides a lot for you to see.

I spied with my little eye on Queens Quay:

Ship angled towards land

Pirate flag

Cute! Colourful scooters

Store greeters at Cosmopawlitan

Next time I want to check out HTO Park, Toronto's "urban" beach - complete with sand! Look for the yellow beach umbrellas.

Adventures in YYZ: The Flatiron

2009-05-26T09:31:00.004-04:00

The 10th annual Doors Open Toronto ran this past weekend, but I was only able to go out on Sunday. I missed the TTC-related sites, but was able to visit the Carlu, the Flatiron and the Drake Hotel.

The Gooderham Flatiron Building

While we waited outside in line to view the interior of the Flatiron building, we were treated with a spiel by a Doors Open volunteer who provided some pretty interesting information.

George Gooderham was president of the Bank of Toronto (later known as TD Bank) and owner of Gooderham & Worts Distillery. He was the king of an empire that produced over 1/3 of all proof spirits for Canada to drink. He had money to burn - literally! It was rumoured that he would have incoming money inspected and any bills with creases, marks or other such deficiencies were burned rather than be deposited into the bank.

In 1891, Mr. Gooderham commissioned the Flatiron Building to be built as his office. It was to oversee a very busy section of town, facing the North Market (which in perpetuity has designation to be used only as a farmers market) and the city's first permanent city hall, which is now St. Lawrence Market. There, Mr. Gooderham would be able to stand at the 'helm' of the triangular building and see a city that his philanthropic family had a huge hand in building, both in business and in community.

The reason that I love to look at this building and the reason that it has its name is because it is a building built out of two walls.

Some interesting facts about the Flatiron:
- It is officially called the Gooderham Building, but known locally as the Flatiron because it is in the shape of an old-fashioned iron.
- It is the first "flatiron" shaped building to be built in a major city - it was completed 10 years before the famed Fuller Building in NYC was completed in 1902.
- The two walls are privately owned, but the west wall is owned by the City of Toronto. The original structure was created by building two walls to an existing building!
- The entire construction costs were $18,000 - a huge sum of money at the time
- The exterior is composed of pressed brick. Take a close look - the round columns are actually made from stacked brick in the shape of the letter "i" (round + rectangle)
- All of the window ledges and facade over the main entrance are hand-carved
- The building is well-preserved, with original flooring and glass (see the glass-a highly viscous liquid- flow towards the bottom of the panes)

The Gooderham Building
49 Wellington Street East, Toronto

Adventures in YYZ: The Carlu

2009-05-25T16:12:00.009-04:00

The 10th annual Doors Open Toronto ran this past weekend, but I was only able to go out on Sunday. I missed the TTC-related sites, but was able to visit the Carlu, the Flatiron and the Drake Hotel.

The Carlu

The Carlu has fascinated me since I watched a piece on its architectural restoration a few years back.

Enter College Park and watch the backlit elevator hands move toward the ground floor. As you step out of the elevator onto the famed 7th floor, take in the clean and cool feel of the lounge and sitting area.

Step into the Rounded Room and appreciate the ledged ceiling, glass-block windows and Lalique fountain.

The Auditorium is known for its acoustics and is themed with horizontal lines and curves.

Historically, the Timothy Eaton family opened a store at Yonge and College in 1930. This project was to span a city block, but the remainder was canceled with the pinch of the Great Depression and WWII. French architect Jacques Carlu was commissioned by Lady Eaton to design the 7th floor, and he brought grandeur in Art Moderne style to the Auditorium, Round Room, lounges and private rooms.

For the next three decades, Eaton's 7th Floor entertained Toronto's finest at concerts, operas, ballet, galas and balls. After the flagship Eaton store was moved one block south to Toronto Eaton Centre, the building was renamed College Park. The doors of the 7th Floor closed as the new owners petitioned for and were prohibited from demolition to make way for office space. The 7th Floor was protected by the Ontario Heritage Act and left to deteriorate as subsequent owners were uninterested in embarking on restoration plans.

In 2001, Jeffry Roick and Mark Robert worked with the College Park owners to restore the 7th Floor into its original purpose as an event venue, while recapturing its stylized grandeur in every possible detail. The 7th Floor was renamed The Carlu in honour of its creator and the doors reopened in 2003. Today the Carlu is considered Toronto's best example of Art Moderne architecture.

The Carlu @ College Park
444 Yonge Street, Toronto
416-597-1931
http://www.thecarlu.com/

Spotted: Batman on the streets of Toronto

2009-05-24T21:32:00.000-04:00

You have to appreciate the guy's entrepreneurial spirit. Plus it was a pretty hot day on Sunday to be wearing a mask and cape - impregnable black rubber or not!

REVIEW: Mildred Resurrected

2009-05-19T18:49:00.017-04:00

I really enjoyed eating at Mildred Pierce and was sad when they closed down. It was not for want of fans. So, of course I happy to see this new take on feeding the masses.

The old location was in the middle of nowhere on Sudbury St, but once you stepped in, you were in a Euro cafe. I last ate there in early July of 2007, and they closed their doors on July 31st, 2007.

A year and a half later (Nov 2008), Mildred's Temple Kitchen was opened in the Liberty Village. This is an entirely new concept, with an open kitchen, soaring ceilings, IKEA-like chairs and very cool down-to-earth (possibly found-this-in-the-forest) furniture in the lounge area. E now wants a tree stump to use as a coffee table, thanks to Mildred.

We were received with smooth service on a quiet Saturday afternoon, but slightly disappointed to learn that their Famous brunch is only available on Sundays.

My companions had the potted lamb pie and burger, while I went with a light meal of grilled eggplant:

BRAISED LAMB & ROOT VEGETABLE POTTED PIE with endive & frisée salad, Banyuls dressing ($18)

CLASSIC MILDRED BURGER with Irish cloth cheddar, onion relish & fries ($15)

GRILLED ITALIAN EGGPLANT with stewed tomatoes, parsley couscous & Parmigiano Reggiano ($18)

The verdict was that Mildred's Temple Kitchen is a restaurant that we'll return to in the near future. The lunch menu was a bit pricey for a random meandering trip, but the food was quite good, and there are great shops to check out in the immediate vicinity. The burger was better than any fast food joint, the potted pie was tender and hearty on a cool day, and my eggplant dish hit the right notes.

I requested a suggestion for something light, and I was filled without feeling weighed down. The dish components worked really well together, and I enjoyed the distinct flavouring of the stewed tomatoes. They had a nice kick!

And because I couldn't resist, this very cute miniature bottle of Ketchup:

I must return to experience their Sunday Brunch. I looooooooooove brunch foods, and have only a handful of go-to places that I'd be willing to recommend.

Mildred's Temple Kitchen
85 Hanna Avenue, Toronto (in the same building as Starbucks and Goodlife Fitness)
Website: http://www.templekitchen.com

For posterity, here are some pictures of Mildred Pierce in July 2007:

Eating Through YVR: Japa Dog

2009-05-13T08:20:00.006-04:00

Why is Japa Dog so famous? What makes locals and tourists alike seek out one of the two specialty hot dog stands found on the streets of Vancouver, BC? Is it really worth the relatively high price tag for street meat? I mean, you could get two regular hot dogs for the price of one Japa Dog...

E thinks that I equate price to quality, but I'm very open-minded about food. I don't have to eat at high-end restaurants to be impressed (although I like to visit those as well). In fact, one of my guilty pleasures is the street hot dog. If I could eat one every other day without concern over my health, I would. On the other day I'd eat poutine.

During a recent visit to Vancouver, one of my missions was to find a Japa Dog stand and eat my way through it.

Well, I did it.

Japa Dog is widely-known for its Japanese hot dogs. What makes them "Japanese" are the toppings: dried bonito flakes, seaweed, teriyaki sauce, Japanese mayo, wasabi mayo, soy sauce, radish, green onionIf you're asking, "ORLY? On a hot dog? Doesn't sound so appetizing..." (gag) then you're missing out. Let me introduce them:

The MISOMAYO

miso sesami sauce, Japanese mayo, radish sprouts, Turkey smokie
I ranked this one #2 out of four. I've become a big fan of Japanese mayo after this stint, and must find it in Toronto! Supposedly, it is a yellow tube with a cute cartoon character and does not have English labeling. It's more "eggy" than the Hellmans that I am used to.

The OKONOMI

special Okonomi sauce, Japanese mayo, fried cabbage, dried bonito flakes, Kurobuta pork
This one is more expensive than the other options because of the Kurobuta pork. It's from a special "Japanese black hog" that has very sweet and well-marbled meat, and is the "Kobe/Wagyu beef" of pork. Because I drove back to UBC campus before devouring everything, the bonito flakes were soggy. It was not my favourite because nothing really differentiated it from the others aside from being very sweet. Not a bad dog, but a bit too sweet for my tastes. I ranked this #3 out of four.

The OROSHI

special soy sauce, grated radish, green onion, bratwurst
I actually like certain dishes with radishes, but I guess I don't like it in the grated form. Nothing special about this dog. I ranked this one #4 out of four. I would be willing to try this again "fresh" since it was pretty soggy by the time I got to it.

The TERIMAYO

teriyaki sauce, Japanese mayo, fried onions, seaweed, all beef
This one was the clear winner! There is a reason that the TeriMayo is the most popular Japa Dog. In fact, there are many reasons which all culminate into the single fact that it just tastes SO good.
There's a little sweet (teriyaki sauce), a little salty (the beef sausage), smooth (mayo), aromatic (fried onions, which I love) and seaweed strips for a little more texture and salt.

Yum yum yum! Japa Dog, please expand to Toronto!

Japa Dog
http://www.japadog.com/en/
Locations: Burrard/Smithe and Burrard/Pender
Vancouver, British Columbia
Twitter: japadog

Trial #1 - Orange

2009-05-05T02:39:00.007-04:00

After seeing Alex Noriega's amazing photoshop artwork, I wanted to see if I could try to mimic his drawing using his video as instructions.

But I couldn't.

I did, however, find a tutorial on drawing citrus slices. I just drew an orange slice, but after this a lemon or lime wouldn't be too hard. The tricky part is figuring out how to implement the details. Being solidly familiar with the different filters and their settings would be key to creating original artwork with Photoshop.

My drawing:

The original:

It took me couple hours because I couldn't figure out certain functions and tools. I still can't figure out how to give the slice an Outer Glow, because I can't seem to access the Layer Style Settings. *shrug*

That's all for now. It was fun!

Click here for more Photoshop drawing tutorials.

Photoshop Mastery

2009-05-04T20:51:00.001-04:00

Clearly I am under-utilizing Photoshop.

Artwork by Alex Noriega:

I Got Soul, But I'm Not a Soldier

2009-05-02T10:44:00.005-04:00

This was a great concert - despite the lackluster opening act (Wild Light?) and getting violated by fellow concert-goers, watching Brandon Flowers perform is a lot of fun!
- The Killers @ Thunderbird Arena, Vancouver BC (April 24, 2009)

The last song of their encore set:

Setlist:
1. Human
2. This Is Your Life Play Video
3. Somebody Told Me Play Video
4. For Reasons Unknown Play Video
5. I Can't Stay Play Video
6. Joy Ride Play Video
7. Bling (Confession of a King) Play Video
8. Shadowplay (Joy Division cover) Play Video
9. Smile Like You Mean It Play Video
10. Spaceman Play Video
11. Losing Touch Play Video
12. A Dustland Fairytale Play Video
13. Sam's Town Play Video
14. Read My Mind Play Video
15. Mr Brightside Play Video
16. All These Things That I've Done Play Video
Encore:
17. Bones Play Video
18. Jenny Was a Friend of Mine Play Video
19. When You Were Young

2009-04-17T08:48:00.003-04:00

I like this:

http://inukshukadventure.blogspot.com

Photos all around the town.

Spotted: Google Street View Car in Toronto

2009-04-16T15:50:00.003-04:00

Spotted on the fringes of Toronto, this Google Street View car is turning east from Birchmount onto Steeles Avenue. At least, I think it's the Google car.

Sorry for the crap-tastic photo, but I don't believe in keeping up to date with cellphone technology. It's not a choice so much as laziness and consequently being a late adopter in everything.

Barbapapa & Family

2009-04-09T11:11:00.001-04:00

This video shows how the Barbapapa family came into being.

Lol at how Barbamama goes home with Barbapapa right after meeting him and the next day they have Barbababies... Not so PG.

YUMMYLIST: Christian Louboutin

2009-04-08T12:55:00.005-04:00

There's a Gilt sale going on, although I'm not interested in most of the styles. phew.
Here's a sampling, although the site has more.

My picks:

Wedding shoes:

There is something about the red CL sole that makes you wanting. I'll wait for my Simples in Nude, although the Decoltissimos are pretty classic. And I wouldn't say no to Very Prives (not on sale).

*I posted this at the request of E, who I suspect gave it a Thumbs Down. Thanks.

More JOE

2009-04-08T08:50:00.002-04:00

To further my love-in with Joe Fresh, I visited Loblaws on Queens Quay over the weekend to pick up some fruit for Clue Night. Knowing that we would be heading over after eating at one of the Indian restos on Queen St, and the fact that I ate at The Host for a buffet lunch the day before, I nixed any thoughts of chips and greasies for fresh!fresh! fruit!

This Loblaws is big. Well, most SuperStores are big, but this one has a dedicated shop for Joe Fresh, which I like very much. It has a feel that is close to what Club Monaco used to be, before they started carrying $400 monochromatic alpaca wool and cashmere sweaters. Very clean and basic fashions on white walls and tables. I picked up three items before E looked at me and said, 'you already have shirts in those colours.' Ummm, no, not quite this yellow, and no I don't really need this cocoon sweater, but fine. *sigh* One was only $10! My only complaint is that they didn't have enough items in XS. And I really wanted a pair of wellies for $24, but I didn't see any of those.

If I compare other inexpensive options like Forever XXI and H&M, I think that for value (price:quality), Joe Fresh does quite well. H&M is a bit hit or miss, but has a much bigger selection, and Forever XXI would only be for single-wear-and-throw-away. (I said this to a friend, who became very defensive of Forever XXI. But I stand by what I say for the most part.) I don't usually shop in Zellers (been 2x in the last...15 years? to buy a Care Bear for a niece and Marshmellow Peeps), but maybe I'll deign to visit and see the Alfred Sung collection for comparison's sake.

I have visited the SuperStores in Scarborough and Markham, which don't have separate Joe Fresh shops, although their selections are not bad either.

Pet Central: Alpha Cat and New Puppy

2009-03-25T09:24:00.001-04:00

If you're trying to introduce a new pet into your home, be patient!
Sometimes all they need is time...

It doesn't look too promising for puppy:

But one week later...

Heinous and Trashy, a How-To guide

2009-03-24T11:25:00.001-04:00

This is one of the "funnest" and funniest blogs I have come across in a while.

I've included a snapshot, but check out the page when you have time!

This link and this link are both NSFW.

Cute Overload - Puppy Love-in

2009-03-23T09:08:00.000-04:00

Sometimes dogs don't know how to walk in booties:

Cutest Welsh Corgi:

And saving the best for last, Puppies vs Cat (looks to be Golden Retriever pups, based on mom):

Twitter = Shouting into the Darkness?

2009-03-22T19:01:00.002-04:00

Very cute/funny animation on Twitter.

(Thanks to SweetThingsTO for tweeting it in the first place! Check out her blog on all things sweet and yummy-looking.)

Get Fresh with Joe

2009-03-21T11:19:00.000-04:00

If you haven't wandered around in a Loblaws Superstore, I recommend doing it this weekend.

Good for whiling the hours away, but hard to leave empty-handed! There's an extensive houseware section and bins and bins of cheap B-rated movies for cheesy stay-in Saturday night dates, but I also like to check out the Joe Fresh line.

Joe Fresh is the child of Joseph Mimran, who has been described as Toronto's fashion guru. He helped bring Alfred Sung, Club Monaco and Caban into becoming successful brands in Canada, and has turned to delivering clean fashion at low prices with Joe Fresh.
Most of the items are not exceptional in style or quality of fabric, but Joe Fresh provides a chance for people to touch up their wardrobes with trendy colours and basic pieces in an affordable manner.

A Joe Fresh beauty line was just released earlier this year, and offers lip glosses for $6 and eye shadows for $4. Check out their website or go in-store to find out the rest of the great deals!

Right now if you enter their 17 again contest, you will get a coupon for $17 off a purchase of $60 or more. That's a maximum of almost 30% off!

I like this shirtdress, but I know I would hate to iron it:

I am also having a weird crush on wellington boots:

beerbistro Bail Out

2009-03-18T00:51:00.005-04:00

Mmm. beerbistro has a tasty menu, so this only helps! I still need to try their steak frites. I swear, I don't really eat that much red meat.

"Governments are bailing out banks and car-makers, but in Toronto's financial district, chef Brian Morin is bailing out customers.

Once a day, staff at Beerbistro on King St. E. hold a lottery for a free lunch, and notify the winners by bringing a plastic pink piggy bank stuffed with sparklers to their table when it's time to pay."

Complete article from the Toronto Star

They have an extensive list of beers, if you're into that. I like their fruity beers.

beerbistro
18 King Street East (at Yonge)
Toronto, Ontario
416-861-9872
Website

Toronto Steak Lovers, Read Below

2009-03-17T17:02:00.021-04:00

If you can't read the fine print, it says this deal for Morton's in Toronto expires on March 31, 2009. The deal is not advertised on the menu, so you must inquire about it with your server.

My recap
We arrived for our reservation (booked via OpenTable.com), had our coats checked and were seated promptly. No need to wait 10+ minutes before drink orders were taken (I'm looking at you, Nota Bene). The room was darkened as any reputable steakhouse should be and was a bit noisy, but it was a Saturday night. I liked the little pig lamp we had at our table.

Our server presented us with the menu. And when I say menu, I really mean visual presentation of all the seafood choices and cuts of meat on giant trays. The porterhouse for two is definitely bigger than my head. Maybe one day we can try it.

We both had the Morton's Salad, which if memory serves me correctly, is a romaine salad topped with chopped egg, anchovies and a rich blue cheese dressing. Even if you aren't normally a fan of anchovies, try a bite of everything together. The crisp greens, anchovy saltiness and creamy egg and dressing are well-balanced without feeling too heavy for a salad.

Next came the entrees. We both had the single filet and broiled sea scallops wrapped in bacon. The scallops came with a citrusy sauce, good for mopping up the last bit. I found the scallops cooked past the point that I think is perfection, but was by no means "overcooked".
The filet was good (medium-rare for me), and came with a Béarnaise sauce. Ketchup is not automatic, for you ketchup-fiends. This is a classy joint! But I'm sure they would bring some out for you if you asked. If I were to compare it to Ruth's Chris and Barberians, I would say that the steak was on par with Barberians, but not quite at the level of Ruth's Chris. At Ruth's Chris, I can "taste the cow". Considering that I normally order a filet at steakhouses, I think it's a fair comparison.

We also ordered two sides: Grilled jumbo asparagus and French fries.
I only had the asparagus, so I cannot comment on their potato endeavours. Despite a truly jumbo size, the asparagus spears were nice and crisp. A good light side dish choice, unless you want to get even healthier with their steamed jumbo asparagus. Nothing spectacular, but done well.

At this point we were beyond stuffed, and asked for our server to pack our desserts. Yes, they were Morton's Legendary Hot Chocolate Cakes. I don't care if they aren't made in-house, are shipped frozen and dinged in the microwave (not sure if this is the case or if indeed, they are made in-house), this is a good cake and deserves to have its reserved space in your stomach.
[Edited to add: Catherine Merritt, Morton's PR Coordinator, tells me that they are made in-house. I'm inclined to believe this info!
Now that I think of it, I do recall our server saying that desserts need to be ordered at the start of the meal since they take time to prepare.]

All-in-all, good food, good service and good company for a meal that would normally cost closer to $250+taxes+tip, for a total around $330. Taking advantage of this deal, a meal for two including two glasses of wine came to $150 plus taxes and tip - for a total of $200.

ETA2: E says that Harbour Sixty has the best steak in town, but he had a porterhouse, which is a completely different experience. I may need to test this out at all of the local steakhouses. The sheer size is daunting though.
As fantastic as the value of this Morton's Surf 'n Turf deal is, I think it was just too much for me. I wish the steakhouses offered "small appetite portions", because I always have to gear myself up for the massive quantities of food.

Morton's The Steakhouse
Park Hyatt Hotel
4 Avenue Road
Toronto, Canada
Website
(deal link)

Hayden-Harnett: One size fits all

2009-03-17T15:45:00.004-04:00

By Hayden-Harnett:

By a fan for their video contest:

That's a lot of HH!
I love the video title. It's the whole reason I wanted to highlight it. =D

2009 Wishlist

2009-03-16T22:40:00.008-04:00

If I were to pick three items to piggybank for, they would be the following:

2009 Wishlist - by MereRhetoric on Polyvore.com

Milla in Black, Simples in Nude, Giant City (First shown) in Autumn, Officer or Charcoal Grey

Maybe I should do some piggybanking, instead of spending willy-nilly at the sight of a sale. I know some people would agree. It's hard with all of the never-been-seen-before sales though. Everyone is unloading their inventory because they carried too much.

YUMMYLIST: Herve Leger

2009-03-10T11:31:00.009-04:00

I love the Fall '08 Off the shoulder Ash Ombre number. I know that Ombre is a passing fancy, but it is so pretty, isn't it?

* image from Net-a-Porter

Today Hautelook is having a massive sale on Herve Leger bandage knit dresses for a fraction of their retail value.
At 65% off, you cannot get better than this. Check it out:

My favourites:

KNIT in Gunmetal, $332.50 ~~$950~~
- I love the bow imagery on the back of the dress

KNIT in Burnt Sienna, $556.50 ~~$1590~~
- This back is very va-va-va-voom
- Also, I really like the cherry red accented with aqua. Lots of pop, nice for the spring

KNIT in Dark Teal, $673.75 ~~$1925~~
- A more understated elegance

* images from Hautelook.com

YUMMYLIST: Melissa Clemente Designs

2009-03-01T23:44:00.008-05:00

Last December I attended a holiday shopping event at the Steam Whistle Brewing, and briefly met Melissa Clemente. I immediately fell in love with her large pieces of jewelry. The designer herself was very nice too!

If you're interested in unique, Canadian-made pieces, check out her website to view her latest collections and "stockists" to look at the items in-store.

Here are a few of my favourites:

NECKLACE, Anihan Collection, Spring/Summer 08
- sterling silver plated leaf and bamboo on platinum plated and surgical steel chains

NECKLACE, Graphic Couture Collection, Spring/Summer 09
- vintage findings, leather pink semiprecious stones, shell, pearls, brass, etched sterling silver, plastic and glass on surgical steel chain
$185

NECKLACE, Tomorrow Vision Collection, Spring/Summer 09
- Chinese crystal, white turquoise and agate with brass and surgical steel charms on a variety of gold plated chains
$185

NECKLACE, Tomorrow Vision Collection, Spring/Summer 09
- black pearls and glass beads with brass maple leaf charms on gold plated chain
$210, or $147 online

Her website also advertises a special service for weddings. Make your wedding day extra special with custom-designed jewellery! I think it's a fantastic idea.

"MCD wedding packages are designed to fit your style and budget. Materials range from pearls, semi-precious stones and gems, to more organic materials such as abalone, sea bamboo and coral. A large variety of chain is offered, including vintage, platinum, copper and rose gold."

Melissa Clemente Designs website
Melissa Clemente Designs on Etsy and Special Promotions

Well well well...

2009-02-24T14:33:00.005-05:00

This is quite an impressive story about an entrepreneur. Ali Asaria started out with $10k, built an e-retailing health and beauty website called Well.ca with a 2008 launch and has already realized $2M-$5M in revenue.

The features that would draw me to this site are:
- free shipping via Canada Post Expedited (1-3 days) on ALL orders
- free returns
- instant messaging with customer care
- wide spectrum of brands
- ability to read and submit product reviews
- based in Canada
- I also like the feel-good "Give Well" option of donating care packages to their local women's shelter

My favourite online fashion retailer is RevolveClothing.com, which has most of the positive features of Well.ca, except they are based in the US, so no free returns.
The main reasons I return again and again to Revolve are (i) their exceptional customer service (reach by chat, toll-free phone number or email - with a response in as short as 15 minutes) and (ii) their frequent sales and coupon code mailings to their existing customer base. There are always frenzies but they manage to keep their site running quite well through big sales, unlike most other sites I have visited.

I had not heard of Well.ca before reading this article. I browsed through the site and found it pretty easy to navigate. This is often the first barrier that I come across with poorly-designed sites. The inability to find the info I want immediately can be a turn-off. Some sites are just too cluttered. I want to know what the shipping costs are before even bothering to look at products because I want it to be hassle-free. Many US e-retailers gouge international buyers with shipping costs or don't offer viable options (I want USPS instead of UPS/FedEx/other evil courier services!).

It would be nice if they carried more higher-end brands as well. Right now most of the things I might buy I would want to run out and have in my hands immediately. However, with the current economy and the "lipstick effect", their business model is probably a good one to start out on since it reaches a wider audience.

One negative: Their prices are not stellar, considering they are an online retailer. I usually expect to see lower prices than what I have to pay in brick-and-mortar stores since I have to wait between paying to have my purchases in my hand.

All in all, I'm happy to see a successful Canadian business venture but I probably won't buy from Well.ca until they offer better pricing. I still see online shopping as an activity to buy "special" items rather than everyday ones, so I would also suggest higher-end brands as well.

Gmail feature to pre-filter your inbox

2009-02-24T08:07:00.000-05:00

and to use the same address for "new account" online specials if you are particularly wily...

2 hidden ways to get more from your Gmail address
Wednesday, March 05, 2008 8:10 AM

Posted by Robby Stein, Associate Product Marketing Manager

I recently discovered some little-known ways to use your Gmail address that can give you greater control over your inbox and save you some time and headache. When you choose a Gmail address, you actually get more than just "yourusername@gmail.com." Here are two different ways you can modify your Gmail address and still get your mail:

IN REVIEW: Celestin

2009-02-23T15:01:00.004-05:00

We wined and dined at Celestin for Valentine's Day, and it was quite nice. I would say that my favourite dish was the lobster entree, with the foie gras pot de creme and artichoke veloute as a close second-place tie.

The pacing of the dishes (~15min wait between clearing of the previous course to arrival of the next course) was a bit too slow for me, although I appreciate that Celestin was not rushing us either.

Overall it was a nice, quiet evening, and a restaurant I would return to.

Celestin
623 Mount Pleasant Rd., Toronto, ON M4S 2M9 | 416-544-9035

Out of Service & Twitterings

2009-02-18T16:04:00.006-05:00

Very cute out-of-service announcement.

I don't know if I'm just more aware, but there seems to be a growing number of media references to Twitter in the past week.

Here's just a sprinkling of some of the stories:

Congressman's twittering raises security concerns (Globe & Mail, February 11, 2009)
Twitter is what you make it (Globe & Mail, February 12, 2009)
Bosh, NBA all a-Twitter over latest blogging fad (Toronto Star, February 17, 2009)
Six ways to make Twitter useful (PCMag.com, February 17, 2009)
Why Tweeters Like Twitter (Toronto Star, February 18, 2009)
Twitpics, retworts, hash tags and twicks (Toronto Star, February 18, 2009)
Financing woes? Not if you're Twitter (MSNBC, February 18, 2009)
Lily Allen and Perez Hilton in Twitter catfight (Telegraph.co.uk, February 18, 2009)

YUMMYLIST: Hunter

2009-02-12T15:51:00.004-05:00

I've been seeing a lot of these Hunter Wellies in the last year. You'll probably see more and more of them on the streets as the snow and slush turns to rain!

FESTIVAL TALL Wellington Boots in Black, Chocolate or Olive, ~~$145~~ $58

To purchase, sign up with the exclusive Gilt Group.
The Hunter sale ends February 13th at 2PM EST. You'll also gain access daily designer fashions at sample sale prices.

Tweeted: Toronto Budget 2009

2009-02-09T21:32:00.008-05:00

Toronto Mayor Miller's recent Tweet of the evening: "Budget tomorrow:build Toronto during a downturn:preserving and enhancing city services, protecting the most vulnerable, without a deficit."

How do you provide and increase services without a deficit?
In general the answers are to (1) cut back on other programs and/or (2) increase taxes.
I guess today's announcements on all of the new programs are in preparation to justify tomorrow's announcement of #2.

I believe that social services are necessary and important, especially in a large city where there is a diverse population to serve. But! I wonder if all of these proposed programs are actually filling a demand.
re. Establishing an employment resource centre at Metro Hall. There are many many many employment and job training agencies in and around the city. Some are well-run and others - not so much. Why pour money into creating a new entity when there are already many local ones with the same mission?
Ideally the agencies that fund these programs can perform regular and comprehensive evaluations to ensure that the best models continue to receive adequate funding, and the ones that are poorly run either shape up or peter out. When tax dollars - whether federal, provincial or municipal - are used, there definitely needs to be accountability to ensure that waste is minimized.

Maybe the city's role is not to provide the services, but to ensure that the NPOs running them are up to par.

How can this be done without turning every department into a bureaucratic ball of red tape? That's the $8 Billion Dollar Question.

I want City Hall to be smart about tax dollars. Put money into programs that have a specific demand that is not being met, and have a defined metric system to evaluate if funded programs deserve to continue receiving funding. With an anticipated increase on demand of social services, let's make smart investments in our city.

More info on the 2009 Budget

YUMMYLIST: Diane von Furstenberg

2009-02-06T08:05:00.004-05:00

JULIAN Wrap Dress in Flower Crossing - Here's an updated print on a classic DvF silhouette. (to purchase)

CARAN Sweetheart Dress in Key Print - Welcome in spring with this sweet flouncy dress! Pairing it with CL Simples definitely only adds to the look. (to purchase)

I will just be admiring, not purchasing.

HOW TO: Curl Your Hair with a Straightening Iron

2009-02-05T14:43:00.007-05:00

Confused? I was too, until I saw a bunch of videos similar to this one:

For your own quality straightening iron, I suggest heading over to Folica.com.
You just missed their 15% off sale and their prices are in USD, but you can still enjoy significant savings over Canadian retail prices. Sad but true.
They have excellent CSR, and if you order a Sedu there is a limited time offer to receive a free Sedu Shortier Styler (Seen in this post - sort of. It's in the zebra bag and it's very travel-friendly!)

IN THE BAG: Hayden-Harnett

2009-02-04T15:28:00.018-05:00

Another crazy crazy sale is going on at Hayden-Harnett:

* Images from HaydenHarnett.com
OLGA Bowler in Navy, ~~$330~~ $82.50
LORCA Turnlock in Bronze Anaconda, ~~$335~~ $83.75

They are constantly adding new items - and their Sale page doesn't show all of the items on sale, so search around their site!

-----

The Hayden-Harnett Havana hobo measures: 20"L x 14-1/2"H x 4-3/4"D

Q: How much can a Havana hobo hold?

A: A lot.

Outdoor apparel: hat, "cougar" (haha) scarf, gloves
Wallet-y things: wallet, cardholder, keys
Entertainment: Three Cups of Tea book, Nintendo DS, Sansa Clip mp3 player, 2 USB keys
Face+hair stuff: 2 Clinique lipstains, 1 MAC minigloss, 1 chapstick, bottle of Advil, eye drops, hair tie, Sedu Shortier Styler in zebra bag, cosmetic bag holding two large bareMineral jars, bareVitamins Skin Rev-er Upper, a bunch of brushes and more, box of gifted Stila lipglosses, Kleenex pack, sunglass case, a large Bath & Bodyworks tube of lotion
Eats: clementine that I was missing (looks wonky, will still eat), Aero chocolate bar, box of Jelly Bellies
Clothing: set of workout clothes (zip up, tank, capris), change of clothes (tank, jeans)
I forgot to empty out the inside pockets, so my cell phone, case of Altoids, pack of gum, granola bar, and about 5 pens are missing from the pictures.

Usually I don't carry the cosmetic bag, flat iron or change of clothes, but do carry the power cord for my laptop and my P&S camera, so it closes with plenty of room to spare.

YUMMYLIST: Alexander McQueen

2009-02-03T12:52:00.004-05:00

BALLERINA Dress in Embroidered Tulle, ~~$12,020~~ $2,098

So pretty. A great deal, if you have a few Gs lying around!

To purchase, sign up with the exclusive Gilt Group. You'll also gain access daily designer fashions at sample sale prices.

Irony

2009-02-01T14:12:00.004-05:00

Received this today.
I found it a bit ironic that Saks Fifth Avenue's February "Celebration of Color" promo material has an all-white cast.

I guess all colours = white if we want to get scientific.

À Votre Santé

2009-01-16T08:22:00.000-05:00

Coca Cola sued over VitaminWater

Coca Cola is being sued over their deceptive claims that their VitaminWater line is healthy.

Defense? Rescue? Energy? Endurance?

How about water, cane sugar and fructose? These are the first three ingredients listed, and if you didn't know, ingredients are listed in descending order of predominance by weight. That means that VitaminWater is mainly composed of water, cane sugar and fructose (another form of sugar).

Newsflash, VitaminWater is not good for you.

Really, all you have to do is look at the nutritional info and price to know that it's a big waste of money.

Sugar-wise, one bottle = 2 bottles of Coke
Price-wise, one bottle = $2.50

The lesson is: if you want to drink water, don't spend $2.50 to drink something that is worse than drinking tap water.
If you do drink tap water, let it run cold for a minute or two first to flush the system, especially if you live in an old Toronto home.

Santé! Cheers! Prost!

Polyvore Label Whore

2009-01-12T12:20:00.006-05:00

I came across this website called Polyvore a while ago. You can peruse chapters and chapters of "stuff" and create collages, magazine-style.
Here are my first sets, which contain some of my favourite labels (Soia&Kyo, Mike&Chris, Matt&Nat, TR):

Day in the City by MereRhetoric

Night in the City by MereRhetoric

Off to High Tea by MereRhetoric

I have loved and coveted that DvF dress since I first saw it last year.

I seem to like unpopular items

2009-01-12T09:21:00.002-05:00

Carnival Skittles - Limited Edition, DISCONTINUED

Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Squares - DISCONTINUED

Marks & Spencer Shrimp Cocktail Chips - Intermittently available

----------
Now there are rumours that a new favourite chip brand may be biting the dust:

PC's Smokin' Stampede Chips

Poor Choice of a Title

2009-01-10T16:54:00.001-05:00

Night Table: Three Cups of Tea

2009-01-08T19:38:00.003-05:00

Three Cups of Tea (G&M and NYT Best Seller)
by Greg Mortenson

Here is a heroic tale of a man who turns a harrowing failed K2 climb into a mission of hope.
Mortenson became lost and near death on his 1993 climb of K2 and was brought back to health by Pakistani villagers. In gratitude for their help, he promised to build a school in their village. This grew into a project to establish schools throughout the hostile environs of Pakistan and Afghanistan, despite numerous challenges and lack of external support.

Available at Chapters from $8.25 to $70.82
Available at Amazon from $8.25 to $56.69

Save Data, Look Cute

2009-01-07T08:33:00.000-05:00

Domo X Mimobot - $25 for 1GB, $30 for 2GB, $40 for 4GB, $60 for 8GB

Psy Mimobot - $25 for 1GB, $30 for 2GB, $40 for 4GB, $60 for 8GB

Star Wars Mimobot - $30 for 1GB, $35 for 2GB, $45 for 4GB, $65 for 8GB

Store Locations
If you order directly from their site, they only ship UPS (boo!) and USPS Express ($30) to Canada, so I would suggest shipping to a US address or to look elsewhere.
Revolve Clothing carries this brand, but the selection is limited and the prices are inflated.

MBA for only $428.46 + tax

2009-01-05T14:36:00.005-05:00

Chapters is offering a list of 21 business books for you to read and then discuss online.
This is otherwise known as a book club.

Indigo MBA

Cost Comparison
$428.46 +tax purchased online, with iRewards
$451.00 +tax purchased online, no iRewards
$608.12 +tax at list price
$70,000 for a typical Canadian MBA

The hidden message here is that you should buy your books online to save 30%, unless you can't wait for it to be delivered.

A Review: TFSA

2009-01-03T09:44:00.001-05:00

In preparation for my resolution #3, here's a primer on Tax-Free Savings Accounts.

Auld Lang Syne

2009-01-01T18:29:00.002-05:00

Auld lang syne is a Scottish phrase that can be translated to "days gone by".
Syne is pronounced "sign".

Because no one seems to know the actual words to the song as we inebriatedly sing/hum it to celebrate the ushering in of the new year, here is a version thanks to wikipedia:

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old times since ?

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup !
And surely I’ll buy mine !
And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine ;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine† ;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand my trusty friend !
And give us a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

Being Resolute

2008-12-31T10:39:00.002-05:00

1. Be kind to myself and take care of myself properly, including working out regularly again.
2. Be brave. Face fears and stop procrastinating.
3. Be less spendthrift. Less shopping and more saving.

Happy New Year! May 2009 bring good tidings.
Be safe, and don't drink and drive!

Homage to Julie Andrews, before I go see the Sound of Music musical!

YUMMYLIST: Baker's Edge

2008-12-27T12:29:00.002-05:00

I want this:

Baker's Edge Pan, for at least two chewy edges in every serving!

Where Did You Get That?

2008-12-27T09:58:00.001-05:00

Great Canadian brands that will get you stopped in the street with the question: Where did you get that?

Vegan leather and recycled materials are used to create fashion-forward bags and accessories

Sleek and sexy silhouettes for women's outerwear

This little sister to Mackage presents women's outerwear with tons of detailing, from contrast piping to asymmetrical collars and over-sized buttons

Where in Toronto?

2008-12-22T15:19:00.001-05:00

e-Filing Medical Records

2008-12-16T09:53:00.001-05:00

Going digital to save health care millions of dollars

1. Duh, we have been waiting for this for a long time already. What is the hold up?
2. How will the system maintain patient confidentiality and information security?

The R-Word, and the Upside

2008-12-15T16:31:00.007-05:00

Although these recessionary times are hitting a lot of businesses hard, some have actually picked up as people turn to cheaper alternatives of spend-spend-spend.

Repair shops, thrift stores, job-counseling and related services (like resume-writing), bookkeeping services, temp and collection agencies are all considered recession-proof. The health-care sector is usually considered resilient, although it was also hit by the downturn in the 80s.

I guess the general theme is that these businesses market themselves as meeting a need, rather than a luxury. Businesses that do not sell their products and services as essential will probably take a hit.

The Harvard Business School offered these eight factors to consider:
1. Research the customer
2. Focus on family values
3. Maintain marketing spending
4. Adjust product portfolios
5. Support distributors
6. Adjust pricing tactics
7. Stress market share
8. Emphasize core values

Marketing Your Way Through A Recession

Another Reason to Smile

2008-12-05T18:03:00.003-05:00

Happiness is contagious.

Well it makes sense to me! When I interact with grumpy people, I find myself more easily irritated. So why not the opposite effect with happy people? This study goes a bit further by saying that you can affect the mood of people who are far away as three degrees of separation from you through the social networks that have propagated in our wired and wireless society.

Hmm, food for thought.

Strangers May Cheer You Up

Shopping Tips

2008-12-04T08:26:00.001-05:00

Don't forget to make your online purchases through airmilesshops.ca to earn extra Air Miles!
Also, check VisaPerks.ca and RetailMeNot.com for coupon codes. You can often get a significant discount, or at least free shipping!

Something not that well-known is that if you do a bit of legwork, you can often get online retailers to price-match sale items as long as they are in-stock. Do your research and you may end up with big savings.

Vocab Lesson

2008-12-03T10:13:00.000-05:00

Capon - castrated male chicken
Chevre - goat
Parmentier - any dish involving potatoes
Verdure - green foliage

Olivia at 53

LOL! Aviva

2008-12-03T08:16:00.001-05:00

Every time I see this commercial I can't help but laugh.

Holiday Gifting and Giving

2008-11-26T12:23:00.014-05:00

I know that many of my recent blog entries are on shopping sales and deals, and (somewhat...hehe) frivolous things like handbags and premium denim. But as the holiday season approaches, don't forget the warm fuzzies you get from giving.

A lot of non-profits are quite concerned this season as reports are coming in of decreased donations. During a time of economic slowdown, more and more people will come to rely on the services they provide, so it seems like a potentially explosive situation of collapsing social programs. More need but less support.
In the 90s when the federal government cut transfers, the Ontario government implemented a Common Sense Revolution that decimated the education system, the health care system, the welfare system and beyond. Basically everything received funding cuts as a way to trim the fat. And if you don't have a short memory, you will remember the consequences of these short-sighted actions. Things need not be quite so dire.

What can you do?

Donate! If you can't afford to donate money, donate your time, in-kind goods and expertise.
Especially if you have expertise and the time. A lot of these organizations have people with the passion, but not necessarily the right knowledge to make sure that they are reaching the most people in their target market, and using their resources as efficiently as possible.

If you do have the means and not the time, take care into researching where your donation dollars go. Some of the top charitable organizations are very effective in reaching their mandate.
United Way is one such organization. They have a rigorous process in place to ensure that the NGOs they provide funding for are established organizations with solid business plans, and really just need the money to run their campaigns.
Another organization I support is the Daily Bread Food Bank. Yes, their services are very much band-aid solutions, but they really do provide one of the key necessities in life for those who cannot afford it. Food. For the food bank, I also believe giving cash is the best thing you can do, because they have much stronger purchasing power than you do as an individual.

So this holiday season as you get together with your loved ones, make a day of it and volunteer at a local charity. Or incorporate donations into your gift giving.
My friends have switched from $50 Secret Santa gifts to $30 gift/$20 donation, where one person "wins" the donations to be applied to a charity of their choice under their name. This is a double-win since they also get the charitable donation tax receipt. :)

Happy gifting...

LOL! Dirty Dancing

2008-11-24T20:33:00.003-05:00

This is one of the weirdest music videos I have seen in a while. Please be sure to watch the last 10s especially, but there are some gems in the middle. So strange!

Too-cute Puppy Cam

2008-11-24T12:03:00.000-05:00

Shiba Inu Pups

Twilight

2008-11-22T09:16:00.002-05:00

I thought it was a teeny-bopper series, but the trailer for the upcoming movie (just released in theatres) actually looks really good. This is a young adult vampire romance series, for those uninitiated.

I may need to read it. There's this huge phenomenon around it and it seems to have grown out of nothing. The first time I heard about Twilight was back in July, but I dismissed it then. Better late than never!

Side note: I was watching the interview with the stars in Toronto on Much and it was good to see the stars wearing earplugs. Too much screaming will end up damaging their hearing if they aren't too careful!

LOL! Turn it Down

2008-11-19T15:27:00.005-05:00

With the huge proliferation of personal listening devices (who doesn't own an ipod? - oops, except me, I have a cute little Sansa clip) and people seeking to block out the noise around them by blasting music into their ears, they are actually setting themselves up for irreparable damage and early hearing loss. Like in their 30s and 40s, which is soooo old, except when you think about it, that's (hopefully) not even half of your lifetime.

How's your hearing? Test it here.

What can you do about it?
- Turn it down. Every 3dB lower lets you listen to music 2x longer before causing the same damage.
- Put some distance between you and the noise.
- Listen less. Give your ears a break every 15 minutes or so.
- Protect your ears with ear plugs. Ringing in the ears because you stood beside a speaker at a concert is not cool. It means you just killed some brain cells.

C5

2008-11-15T12:09:00.002-05:00

100 Queen's Park | Royal Ontario Museum | 416-586-7928

Entree and dessert pictures after the jump:

Late review for Winterlicious 2008. Not really a review, just pictures. Nice and sleek decor, good service, small servings of yummy foods, would return. Was not supposed to have free access to the museum, oops!

Where in Toronto?

2008-11-15T09:00:00.000-05:00

In the News: Bad Headlines

2008-11-12T22:09:00.004-05:00

Layoffs spread into new sectors - The Globe & Mail
Canada prepares to fight for trade rights - Financial Post
Loonie suffers worst day ever - Toronto Star

Bad headlines, bad news.

.
.
.

To numb it a bit:

FYI

2008-11-10T08:18:00.003-05:00

The three best graphics in history - The Economist
Women are more efficient than men - Times Online
Imagine a day without your Google account - Wired
If you like Star Trek, you might like this... - Fast Company

In the News: Prop 8 Propped Up

2008-11-08T08:47:00.006-05:00

Along with the presidential election this past week, voters also weighed in on a series of propositions. Californians faced a decision called Proposition 8, which eliminates the right of same-sex couples to marry. In May of this year the California Supreme Court recognized same-sex marriage as a fundamental right, and about 18,000 same-sex couples in California had wed since the ruling.

I had fully expected the motion to fail, so I was surprised to see that California's Prop 8 passed. I have always believed California to be one of the most liberal states in the US, but this past week they revoked same-sex marriage. It is not often that Americans vote to take civil liberties away from individuals after they have been granted.
The tally to date is 52.4% for and 47.6% against defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman, a difference of about 0.5M votes.

Reuters link

In the Bag: Bare Escentuals

2008-11-07T08:28:00.002-05:00

BAREMINERALS Get Started Kit in Light
Contains: two 0.06 oz shades of bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation in Light and Golden Medium, a 0.06 size of All Over Face Color in Warmth, and a paraben-free 0.06 oz Mineral Veil. Also included is a Full Flawless Face Brush, a Flawless Application Brush, a Maximum Coverage Concealer Brush, a How-to DVD, and a bonus 0.05 oz Prime Time Foundation Primer

That's the Sephora-exclusive kit. I bought mine back in February , and my Light kit has Fairly Light Foundation instead of Golden Medium, a Kabuki brush instead of the Flawless Application Brush, and bareVitamins Skin Rev-er Upper instead of the Foundation Primer.

I don't think I wear a lot of make-up, but I really like bareMinerals.
I used to use a liquid foundation by Clinique, but got an oily-looking forehead by the end of the day. It felt a bit heavy, especially in comparison to mineral make-up, which feels like nothing.

I like:
- the lightweight feel
- the good coverage and long-lasting effects
- the ease of application, especially with the Kabuki brush
- the ability to take on a carry-on in an airplane, since there are no liquids
- the small amount that I need to use - I only recently had to replace the 0.06oz trial jar with the regular 0.3oz jar; very good value!
- the Mineral Veil. it is like magic. a little sweep, a lot of set.

I don't like:
- the mess of the loose powder

I have normal/combination skin, and do not have any difficulty using the product. I have seen some people with dry skin put a lot on and have it look creased, but have heard from others that it is actually very good for their dry skin and helps make it less dry.
Personally I have recommended Bare Escentuals bareMinerals to friends, and recommend it to you too!

* image from sephora.com

In the Bag: Frye

2008-11-06T07:28:00.003-05:00

PAIGE BUCKLES in Dark Brown

High quality leather, more of a casual look, surprisingly comfortable despite the flat sole. Wide shaft accommodates larger calves and even bootcuts being stuffed in. Quite true to size, I wouldn't size down.
I feel like I need to get more straight/skinny jeans so I can wear these more often.
I love these even more because I got a great deal on them!

* image from revolveclothing.com

YUMMYLIST: Foley + Corinna

2008-11-05T07:48:00.001-05:00

CLASSIC CITY in Soft Slate
ADRIENNE'S TRAVELLER CONVERTIBLE in Glossy Eggplant

* images from revolveclothing.com

In the News: Yes We Can

2008-11-05T07:06:00.003-05:00

I'm not American, but I found this speech very inspirational!

Barack Obama is known to be a very charismatic orator, and demonstrated his skill again last night after winning the seat in the Oval Office:

Expectations are high, but I am curious what he will actually be able to accomplish in terms of the current issues being faced by America. I don't mean to be cynical, but there is only so much that a person can do!

John McCain's concession speech was also very gracious, and we should remember his ability to reach across party lines to work toward the greater good of the country. It needs reminding that McCain is not GWB. I think Americans were fortunate to have a choice between two excellent presidential candidates.

High Tea: Girls' Day Out!

2008-11-04T09:03:00.008-05:00

There is nothing more decadent than a day out with your girlfriends being served aromatic tea and scrumptious bite-sized desserts.

This past summer I visited two tea rooms in the Toronto (Canada) area: EPIC at the Fairmount Royal York and The Old Mill.

EPIC | Fairmount Royal York | 416-860-6949 | website

BERRY COCKTAIL with Crumpet (not shown)
QUARTET of Finger Sandwiches (Cucumber/Roquefort/Walnuts, Egg/White Truffle Aiolo, Smoked Salmon/Dill Cream Cheese, Crab Salad/Asparagus)
THREE TIERS of Scones, Cakelets and Tarts

A small selection of teas were available, and the atmosphere was quite intimate despite being in a hotel restaurant. A tour of the rooftop gardens was offered at the end of the tea hour, but we declined so we could have more time to chat and enjoy our desserts.

Of note: We had to alter our reservations to add one person, and called the day prior to our booking. We were rudely told that *sigh* it was so difficult because they are fully booked, but would make an exception. However, when we arrived, we were seated in a near-empty section and the surrounding tables were never filled. Near the end of the tea hour, the servers hovered over us and started folding napkins and clanging glassware. Not the most inviting ambiance.
Aside from these negatives, the company was excellent and the food was delicious and over-abundant. If you don't mind inconsistent service, High Tea at EPIC is quite a deal at $25 per person.

The Old Mill | 416-236-2641 | website

WELCOME to the Old Mill

TEA Time! I choose Dragonmoon Old Mill House Blend "Full bodied with point and flavour combined with a hint of muscatel from First Flush Darjeeling tea."
SCONES with Imported Devonshire Cream and Butter, Scottish Preserves and Marmalade
SANDWICHES (Smoked Salmon/Cream Cheese, Watercress/Tomato, Cucumber/Dill/Sour Cream)
FRUIT TART with Shortbread Cookie (not shown)

The service was unobtrusive, so we really focused on enjoying ourselves at The Old Mill. The Tea Room is a bit dim and a bit stodgy-feeling, but the exterior is very quaint as you can see. I would rank the Old Mill below EPIC food-wise.
For $20 per person, there was substantially less quantity, and the scones and sandwiches were a bit dry. The venue definitely has an older and slightly run-down feel.

The grounds are quite nice, and I walked along the waterside afterwards to enjoy the rest of the warm summer afternoon.

On my Tea To-Do list:
- Windsor Arms
- King Edward (has the reputation for the "best" High Tea in Toronto)

YUMMYLIST: Lululemon

2008-11-03T10:34:00.001-05:00

In honour of the New York Marathon yesterday, I included a pair of running shorts that have a pocket to carry your keys (why is this so hard to find?), but what I really love are Lululemon's behind-flattering pants!

Left to right:
ULTRA RUN Short II
BOOGIE Crop
GROOVE Pant

* images from lululemon.com

YUMMYLIST: Balenciaga

2008-11-03T08:55:00.004-05:00

FIRST in Navy

* image from balenciaga.com

YUMMYLIST: Seven For All Mankind

2008-11-02T13:17:00.006-05:00

SHORT A POCKET in Caribbean
30" inseam

* images from revolveclothing.com

YUMMYLIST: Hayden-Harnett

2008-11-01T13:58:00.004-04:00

THARPE Hobo in Cordovan
MERCER Clutch in Tango Red

* images from haydenharnett.com

YUMMYLIST: Mike & Chris

2008-11-01T09:22:00.015-04:00

MELFORDE Double Breasted Fleece Trench
ALASTAIR Italian Lambskin Convertible Jacket with Zip-Out Sleeves

* images from luxelabel.com and revolveclothing.com

LOL!

2008-11-01T09:14:00.000-04:00

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T08:36:00.003-04:00

When I was young, my creative older siblings would make a haunted house in our creepy unfinished basement.

In my memory, the basement ceilings soared up high and the cement floor felt cold and clammy to my bare feet. I always imagined monsters grabbing my ankles between the slats of the basement stairs as I walked down. Lone, bare light bulbs were strewn here and there to casting ominous shadows.
It was the perfect setting for a haunted house.

An obstacle course was laid out: climbing over mountainous boxes (Dad's old stuff that he liked to hoard), under blanket tents (to create an illusion of mystere), beyond crevices which hid hands that grabbed your shoulder as you hurried past. All of this done in near-pitch darkness to a soundtrack of moans, groans, whistling wind and the occasional shriek (on cassette tape).

I wonder if kids do this anymore?

What are you doing for Halloween this year?

Hiatus Over

2008-10-29T19:18:00.003-04:00

It's been a while but I'm back.
What do you want to hear about?

Scientists ≠ Morals?

2006-12-23T13:16:00.001-05:00

(link)
Well, it looks like those rumblings of government interference in stem cell research have materialized in the form of this conservative-biased body, the AHRC agency.

Will we soon be teaching Creationism as a viable alternative to Evolution in elementary schools? Should the government be able to make moral decisions for academic and medical research? (Should it?? Where do we draw the line?) Stem cell research is going to happen, whether they like it or not, and Canada currently has an extensive body of collaborating scientists who are world-reknown for their work.

I definitely believe that regulations and restrictions need to be applied to stem cell research -- no human-something else chimeras, or factories for manufacturing embryos to obtain the stem cells, etc. but I hope this body does not suppress the progression of scientific knowledge.

Back in the 1970s when plasmid DNA and new molecular biology technologies were first being combined to genetically modify lower organisms, the entire scientific body briefly underwent a self-imposed moratorium on the use of bacteria in genetic research until they could hammer out rules that everyone would agree to follow to ensure the safety of the public and prevent malicious misuse. At the Asilomar Conference on Recombinant DNA Molecules in 1975, an outline was created by the scientists, and the guidelines were adopted and expanded by the NIH. These guidelines were then adopted by many countries and continue to be adapted to reflect the current issues of the day.

So back to the issue of stem cell research in Canada. Some people commenting on the article seem to think that scientists have no moral boundaries (although most are calling out for separation of religion and government, and for Steve-O to say sayonara). We already have a comprehensive bill (C-13), which is considered conservative in comparison to many other countries. What is going to happen to the future of stem cell research in Canada? We will have to wait and see....

BUT perhaps the presence of outspoken critics against abortion and stem cell research, and the lack of a stem cell expert on this advisory board is indicative of what kind of voice they will provide.... *ominous music*

Wanted: Cookie Monster

2006-12-23T02:02:00.006-05:00

Baking is fun when it's not too complicated. You plan, you prepare, you do the work and you get to enjoy the results immediately! So unlike research.

Here are the cookies that I made this week:

The Quintessential Sugar Cookie

We have the snowflakes, the Joys and the Christmas trees (or "Holiday Trees", if you want to be PC).

Very simply dusted with sugar.

The Snickerdoodle

Maybe I made it wrong, but it doesn't really taste like much, although there are hints of sugar and cinnamon (which the balls of dough are rolled in just prior to baking). It's probably easy to eat a lot of these since they have a very light texture and are not overly sweet.

The Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookie with Mocha Cream Filling

This is the one that I have been wanting to make for a couple weeks, but I only went and got all of the ingredients today. It's a cocoa-espresso cookie with bittersweet chocolate chips, sandwiching a cream filling made with bittersweet chocolate, espresso and whipping cream. (Yes, I know, sounds extremely healthy...)
=)

May your holidays be safe and fun (and relaxing), and spent with loved ones!

I hope it snows at least a little bit for Christmas....it's really dark at night (ie. after 4pm) without the presence of snow to reflect lights.

REVIEW: The Strip House, Bymark and Corner House

2006-03-21T23:07:00.004-05:00

I forgot to put in the reviews for this past Winterlicious! I only went to three places in January: The Strip House, Bymark and Corner House

I hope I can remember everything! But if I don't remember, then take it as a sign. ^_^

The Strip House (11 Duncan Street, 416-598-3638) is at the top of a skinny building, off of Duncan Street. It kind of feels like an alley. You have to walk up three flights of stairs, past Filet of Sole (seafood restaurant) and the Whistling Oyster (oyster and raw bar) on the lower levels. It's advertised as a steakhouse, but it amounts to a fairly small room with interesting decor. I went with HL, and we ordered everything un-steak related. I was surprised by HL's pasta choice, since she is such a major meat lover. Unpretentious staff, not shamed by not ordering a glass of wine with our meal, the $20 lunch was about right for my experience. The food was O-K.
I ordered the house salad, crab cakes and a chocolate mousse with whipped cream for dessert. The house salad was the kind with the bitter greens that I don't like, and there was just a lot of greens and cabbage. The crab cakes were quite good initially, but I found them to be overly greasy and heavy as a result. The chocolate mousse was the redeeming point! But it doesn't really take much for me to be satisfied when it comes to chocolate. It might have been nicer in the evening, in terms of the decor, because the streaming afternoon sunlight diminished the heavy draperies throughout the room and the translucent wall covered with pinpoint lights.
Overall, 7 out of 10.

Bymark (66 Wellington Street West, 416-777-1144) is on the concourse level of the TD Tower. I ate here with MN, and it was quite difficult to get a reservation. We had a choice between a 5:30PM or 9:30PM dinner on a Monday evening. After I was even able to get past the "busy signal" when placing my many calls. But oh! It was worth it.
Being in the yuppie section of the downtown core, I expect to see a lot of "suits". Surprisingly, there were lots of women. Tables of friends, girlfriends eating together. A few tables had one or two men, but it looked like it was mainly the fairer sex was out to enjoy some good food and company.
Immediately upon entering, our coats were taken and a coat check ticket was issued. We were guided to our table on the side of the restaurant. It's quite narrow, but the high, high ceilings give the impression of space.
MN and I decided fairly quickly on our orders, but our orders were only taken after waiting for quite a while. I would guess at least 15 minutes were spent trying to catch the waiter's eye. After that initial blip, it was smooth sailing.
MN started with some sort of cheese ravoili, followed by roasted chicken and truffle risotto, with a glass of chardonnay, and chocolate paradise cake. My decadent meal began with surprisingly large pieces of seared tuna. A fan of sashimi, I don't shy away from the barely not-raw. (Unlike E!) The details of the experience are gone, but I remember being very happy. My entree of beef tenderloin, on a paper-thin ravioli containing shredded beef (?) and onion, was divine. Divine divine divine oh so fine! I don't usually use the word divine (EVER), but the tenderloin literally melted in my mouth. I tried to eat it with agonizing slowness in an attempt to enjoy it as long as possible. They gave me what was basically a butter knife to cut it and the knife just slipped through it as though it was melted butter. It was that good. I enjoyed that with a glass of something red. Perhaps a merlot. I'm not much of a wine connoisseur, so I just requested suggestions for a red that is not very dry. Like MN, I had the Chocolate Cake with tahitian vanilla sauce. It was quite nice. Not too rich or heavy, so a suitable ending to a wonderful meal with good company!
Beyond the initial waiting to order, the service was good, attentive without being hovering. And I really like their washroom. You know those thick towels that you can use to dry your car? They have something like that to dry your hands. They take good care of you.
Bymark! The best 'Licious experience so far! (of my approx. 15-20 visits thusfar)
Overall, 10 out of 10.

Last but not least, The Corner House (501 Davenport Road, 416-923-2604), has been ratest the Most Romantic Restaurant. So I embarked on this experience with E. The Corner House is actually a house, on the corner of Davenport Road and Madison Avenue. As you step in, you are practically in the kitchen. It has the feel of a small country house. Quaint. Walking through requires hugging walls to let people get by. We had a small table on the ground floor. Very small table, knees knocking, etc. But it could have been quite intimate. Aside from the larger party in the same room. And the kitchen being about 7 feet away.
E ordered the crab cakes which come with avocado (yum) and a chipotle aioli, New York striploin with potato mash and chocolate raspberry cake. I started with a baked pear filled with goat cheese (slightly tangy) and pine nuts. Next up was the seared scallops with couscous and citrus fruit, completed with a maple creme brulee. I enjoyed my baked pear very much, the scallops and citruc fruits less so. Too much sourness with the surprise pieces of grapefruit. Not a lot of scallop. However, the meal was rescued by the creme brulee, because I like cracking the surface. I liked my dessert more than E's.
I guess it could be viewed as a "romantic" restaurant, the way that the whole place is laid out. I think I am more impressed by yuppie places with extravagant decor. If the food wowed me over, that would have had a greater impact. The service was fine, except when they dropped a glass that shattered close to our feet. And when they "discreetly" placed the bill on our table while we were still enjoying our desserts. No one likes being rushed through a meal. I know that we were paying "discounted" prices because of the Winterlicious event, but this was their chance to entice new customers, allow them to experience restaurants that they may normally avoid due to high costs. Win them over to think of the restaurant the next time they want a special evening.
So because the food was good but not great, the service was lacking and I didn't get to appreciate the quaintness of the restaurant due to multiple extenuating factors, I would give this place a 7 out of 10.
I was disappointed, because my foodie friend highly recommended The Corner House! Usually I am quite pleased with her recommendations, but perhaps she received better service during her visits.

Season For Giving

2005-12-04T14:55:00.001-05:00

Today while procrastinating, I was reading one of my favourite blogs, Waiter Rant (http://www.waiterrant.net/). He directed us readers to another blog he came across that has really stuck in my mind. This blog (http://thehomelessguy.blogspot.com/) publishes the words of a previously-homeless guy in Nashville, TN.

Working in the area of the city that I do, I come across the homeless on a daily basis. Sometimes I give change when they ask without aggression, if I happen to have change in my pocket. Sometimes when I am in the Tim Horton's buying my $1.20 coffee, I will hold onto the change so I can drop it into the cup of the guy holding the door for people. But more often than not, I shamefully look past them. And then I will feel guilt, especially if they are polite and wish me a good day.

Now it is getting colder and I wonder how many of the homeless would wish to have their own home and the responsibilities that come with it, and how many actually prefer the streets. It's awful how we as a society often make presumptions that there is always a choice being homeless and un-homeless. There are, of course, those who still see the homeless as individual people who have stories and reasons for being in their situation, and they are active in providing hope through help and compassion. But when is the last time you got to learn the name of the guy pan-handling on the corner?

I need to change my perception, and be more conscious in how I treat the homeless. Maybe carry Tim Horton's gift certificates readily-available in my pocket. It's not an altogether altruistic goal. It would make me feel better about myself, but at least it would be a step in the right direction.

I noticed that it is often the children who can look at the homeless without fear. One great example is Hannah Taylor, who started the Ladybug Foundation (http://www.ladybugfoundation.ca) to help the homeless. I believe she was only 5 when she noticed the plight of the homeless and set about to do something about it. One day while waiting for a traffic light to change, I saw one child, maybe about 4 or 5, asked his father for change to drop into the stranger's cup. I saw another mother physically shield her daughter from the homeless guy. People are afraid of, dismissive with or regard with contempt the things that they are unfamiliar with. I guess it is because children are less jaded that they can show more compassion without having first to wrestle with their conscience.

It takes a village to raise a child (this could be a lead-in to a discussion on the recent spate of violent gun-related crimes in the city...), and likewise, I think it takes a "village" to help the less fortunate back on their feet. When people are down on their luck or depressed, they need support from others to get through it. You never know if you could find yourself in a position where you feel so helpless or hopeless. Only those with hope for a better future can lift themselves out of the hole, but when you are already down in that hole, the climb may seem long, dark, lonely and near impossible. In the past year, people have been very generous and poured in aid for the tsunami, eartquake and hurricane victims abroad, but we also need to look in our own backyard.

Give a little hope this holiday season.