Toronto

West Side Beef Co Pickup

West Side Beef Co Pickup

Today I picked up my first order from West Side Beef Co. The meat looks amazing and there is a great variety in the order that I can’t wait to start cooking with! For a set $150, our order contained: ribeyes filet skirt steak stew beef sausages hamburger inside round roast short ribs top sirloin shank stock and tallow. It was fun talking to Kurt about each cut in the order and how they can be used too. I’ll be back, likely sooner rather than later! West Side Beef Co. also provides locally sourced pork and chicken orders designed for…

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OFL and Teachers Rally in Allan Gardens

OFL and Teachers Rally in Allan Gardens

And so begins the protests in Allan Gardens. Today during the Ontario Liberal Leadership, a protest/rally was held in Allan Gardens after which the protesters walked over the leadership convention at Maple Leaf Gardens.  It is being referred to by hashtag #J26Rally as the Ontario Federation of Labour and Ontario Teachers protest Bill 115 Teachers, unions, media. Lots of folks protesting, banjos playing, sign carrying, drum beating in Allan Gardens right now! Many, many, teachers from all across Ontario bused in just for the rally. I was impressed by how polite and courteous everyone in the park was.  A quiet “excuse…

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I Spy With My Little Eye

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Here are few of the small remarkable things I saw today when I ventured out of my home onto the streets of Toronto.

I saw shoes on sale, with taxes, for less than $5! Shoes that fit my size 10 feet and are if not exactly what I was looking for close enough. Woo hoo!

I saw piles of people wandering aimlessly through the Eaton Centre bumping into each other (and me). Perfect opportunity for an industrious pickpocket.

I saw bouncers at the doors of a clothing store. Yes, bouncers! And yes, more than one! Yeesh!

I saw a guy on a first date (I presume) “flirting” with his date by saying her friend was hot. Then asking to see more pictures of her friend, and referring to this other girl as “my future wife”… I don’t understand why this works, but she’s still talking to him.

I saw a pond hockey game on the pond at Ryerson. Bunch of guys, a couple of boots as goals, and cute couples and families skating around them. And then a man arrived carrying goal posts, 3 sets of hockey skates, and a little girl and a little boy in tow.
I love Canada!

Even in downtown Toronto a community hockey game for all ages can break out! Woo hoo!

It renewed my faith in remarkable things.

Beadery – shopping with mom for her ingredients.

Beadery – shopping with mom for her ingredients.

The Beadery in Queen West shopping with mom for her ingredients. It’s only fair since I made her shop with me for mine. Besides she makes such beautiful jewelery with these beads and gives much of it to me!

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Blissdom Ultimate Foodie Excursion – Wander Through Kensington w/ Lex

Blissdom Ultimate Foodie Excursion – Wander Through Kensington w/ Lex

As part of the Blissdom Toronto 2012 Ultimate Foodie Excursion, I led a tour through Kensington Market Sunday Morning. We did the tour after a great breakfast at Caplansky's & before heading down to Longo's MLS for the the Cuisinart Soup Challenge. What an honour to be invited to do this.Thank you Emma, it was great fun!

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Intracity Transpo aka Getting Around Toronto

Intracity Transpo aka Getting Around Toronto

When reviewing my week last week I realized that I had used almost every single one of my go-to transpo solutions for getting from here to there in Toronto.  Not such a big accomplishment if you own a car (which I don’t), or never leave home (which I do), and last week was very busy. Seemed like the perfect time to do a round up!  (and why not share some promo codes too?)

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Hiding An Evil Lair

Hiding An Evil Lair

Hiding An Evil Lair — Originally uploaded by LexnGer This collage/photo is of one of the 5 new murals around the great big hole in Allan Gardens which will be around for a couple of years! In early January, a big chunk of Allan Gardens (the part just north west of Gerrard and Sherbourne), was boarded up and the city started moving in large earth moving equipment and cranes. It was depressing since I'm used to getting a great view of trees and park as I head to work each morning and now I'm looking at great blank pieces of…

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Take Pride

Take Pride

One of the main reasons I enjoy Pride in Toronto is that we all have to freedom to go and be whoever we are however we are. We can be thin, fat, young, old, gay, straight, white, brown or even purple. Anything we want.  And people will accept us as we are. But it does take a lot of courage to step out on that street the first time with all of the pieces of yourself hanging out for people to see. Those piece of yourself which you’ve hidden away or apologised for or compromised into oblivion or were told…

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Even The Pigeons Thinks It’s Hot!

Even The Pigeons Thinks It’s Hot!

Even The Pigeons Thinks It’s Hot! — Originally uploaded by LexnGer Holy holy holy,it’s hot out there. And even with A/C, in here.

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It’s Mulberry Season

It’s Mulberry Season

It’s Mulberry Season — Originally uploaded by LexnGer That time of year when the ground is stained with mulberry juice. If you are lucky, smart and quick so are your lips. Trees ripe with dark, rich fruit are dropping it to the concrete for every passer-by to add to the frantic patterns emerging below. I’ve never seen a mulberry tree outside a city, but perhaps without the stain on the sidewlk I’ve just passed them by oblivous to the treats overhead.

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White Violet & An Adventurous Spirit

White Violet & An Adventurous Spirit

White Violet & An Adventurous Spirit — Originally uploaded by LexnGer After almost 20 years, maybe more, of life in Toronto including many photowalks and urban foraging adventures I was surprised and delighted to see myfirst white violet in Toronto!These are a flower of my youth, f drippy spring days spent wanderingthrough forests, sitting for hours leaning against moss-covered rocksinspecting the minutia of the detritus, duff and micro-greens, creatingstories, adventures and legends out of mushroom caps, pine cones andlichen.Violets are my herald of spring. Blue and white, with their vibrant broaddeep-green leaves.But never before have I seen a white violet…

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Take The Blue Line

Take The Blue Line

Take The Blue Line — Originally uploaded by LexnGer A little photo play out in the cold with the TTC and the Olympus filters. Ishould, of course, be a little more focused on crossing the street safely!

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