Adventures in YYZ: Live with Bon Jovi

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.

I ♥ NKOTB

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,

Sweet Weekend Eating

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

Adventures in YYZ: Drake Hotel

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.

Adventures in YYZ: The Flatiron

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.

Adventures in YYZ: The Carlu

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.

REVIEW: Mildred Resurrected

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.

Eating Through YVR: Japa Dog

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.

More JOE

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.

Toronto Steak Lovers, Read Below

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.

YUMMYLIST: Melissa Clemente Designs

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

IN REVIEW: Celestin

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

HOW TO: Curl Your Hair with a Straightening Iron

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

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.

Night Table: Three Cups of Tea

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

A Review: TFSA

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

C5

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


Entree and dessert pictures after the jump:

In the Bag: Bare Escentuals

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

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

High Tea: Girls' Day Out!

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)