We were invited to have dinner with my old friend from elementary/high school days, Jane and her husband Greg. We called for an uber taxi for the 15 minute ride. We were immediately captivated by their house when we pulled up in front. Lights were shining and we could see figures beyond the beautiful old door with a glass oval. Jane and Greg enveloped us both in hugs hello! So nice! Their son Carl was also there to meet us and visit a bit before he had to depart. Ainsley and I felt right at home. We sat and chatted over wine and delicious appies. We were both in love with their old (100 yr old) house, so utterly charming and warmly decorated. Jane had made a delicious dinner with scallops and a wonderful spicy sauce, rice and a beet and carrot salad. Yum! Dessert was a hazelnut cake with hazelnut Sicilian ice cream with blueberries and strawberries. We were full! By 10:30 we reluctantly called another uber to take us home. Jane generously took Ainsley's phone number for possible future meetings. It was a really special night.
My Last Day!
This morning we awoke to snow blowing sideways❄️☃ I guess the weather report of a big storm was correct.....-8 with the wind chill -16.
Ainsley said turn left out of the building and after about 50 steps I would get a cab.....sure enough I did. I asked the cabby to take me to the A.G.O, he did not know what I meant and I of course did not have the address. It's the biggest art gallery in Toronto, doesn't everyone know where it is? ,,,,I said to the cabby. Whew.
It didn't take long to get there and soon I was inside. I spent about 4 hours there including a short break for lunch. The Group of Seven, a y Jackson, Emily Carr, Lawren Harris, a European section, amazing. My favourite area was the drawing exhibit, many rooms with drawings from every artist you can think of, Degas being my favourite. There were very few people in the gallery which meant I could get quite close and stay there😀. There were artist easels set up and encouraging signs to sit down and draw. One young fellow was copying one of the exhibited drawings. I was surprised that picture taking was allowed.....and I took lots. One exhibit that I nearly missed was quite interesting. It was on the contemporary art floor, and by this time I was near the end of my visit. I decided I would spent a few minutes on the 5th floor. This exhibit was digital and took 14 minutes to view. There was an empty room with a large outline of a rectangle on the floor and a projector high up in one corner. The " show " started with graphics in black sand soon tumbling down the length of the rectangle you could see human figures, chairs , more human figures. It was depicting the falling of the twin towers........dark and shocking, lest we forget, the image changed to tree branches with leaves fluttering in wind, then the colours started changing...pink, purple, red, yellow moving in soft waves, quite extraordinary, and soothing at the end.
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Toronto Visit February 2016
It was pretty exciting to visit Toronto and Ainsley in her new environment. I should have blogged about it each day instead here I am on my last day of 8!
My arrival was on time and I took the train into Union station......a $44. Return trip. The train reminded me of the London trains as we went by little pockets of housing areas along the way. The station itself is similar to Grand Central in NYC.....I walked to the big clock over the info booth, texted Ainsley and waited. Eventually I went outside to wait for her and was hit by a blast of freezing wind! In my not warm enough Vancouver coat! There were people everywhere who seemed to be going somewhere in a hurry, a sea of black coats and briefcases. It was 5 o'Clock rush hour to the trains!
Ainsley arrived and we grabbed a cab to her apartment. She seems to know her way around!
I was anxious and excited to see her place. It is tiny and beautifully decorated, she has used every bit of space efficiently. The bedroom walls and all ceilings are grey unfinished cement which is very modern and edgey. Living room/kitchen is white. We settled in, had a glass of vino and then walked out to Gustos for a bite. Her location at 12 Charlotte Street is in the heart of downtown close to transit of all kinds, streetcar, and easy access to cabs, uber and car to go!
And that was my first day. Ainsley has the next three days as holidays plus the weekend.
Day two we took the subway to Yorkton mall for a little retail therapy. Lots of window shopping and a few purchases. We decided on sushi for lunch......not very appetizing......I think Vancouver wins as the sushi capital.
We met her friend Aaron for dinner at Lees, a popular Toronto spot within walking distance. Ainsley and Aaron had gone there for her birthday dinner last week and loved it, they were very happy to be going back ....special treat. If you are ever in Toronto you must try their salad called Singapore Slaw, it has 19 different ingredients and really is 'to die for'. Aaron was taking an uber home so dropped us off on the way.
The next few days were girly days, walking about the different areas, I was amazed at how well Ainsley seems to know her way around after being here such a short time. I can get lost very easily!
We rented a car to go and drove to the area known as "the beaches ", the beach is Lake Ontario . It wasn't too cold or windy and we walked along the front stopping at the art exhibits built around lifeguard posts. There were a lot of dogs on sectioned off parts of the beach.....last hurrah for them as March 1st is no dogs on beaches for the season. We walked out on a breakwater, the water splashing all around. We wandered and walked a few streets looking at the architecture and did some people watching, so many out and about in the good weather. Soon we were looking for another car to go to take us to the Distillery District. This is an old area with lots of shops and restaurants in preserved buildings...lots of brick roads and buildings. After a bite to eat, we made our way back to the apartment.
The weather the last few days has been a mixed bag, cold, snow, rain, sun, windy, we've had it all. Most of the dogs wear snow booties, we even saw one large shaggy dog wearing full pants and boots on a snowy day.....we guessed his coat would have been the type to be covered in icy snow balls. The snow booties protect the paws from the salt on the sidewalks. Quite a sweet sight to see .
We visited the St Lawerence Market which is like an indoor Granville Island, or more like the famous market in Barcelona! Lots of fabulous cheese, meat, fruit samples....and purchases were made.
We haven't cooked in very much but plan to now we bought fresh pasta and sauce.
I'll sign off and hopefully refresh my memory on the rest of my visit on my next post. xo
My arrival was on time and I took the train into Union station......a $44. Return trip. The train reminded me of the London trains as we went by little pockets of housing areas along the way. The station itself is similar to Grand Central in NYC.....I walked to the big clock over the info booth, texted Ainsley and waited. Eventually I went outside to wait for her and was hit by a blast of freezing wind! In my not warm enough Vancouver coat! There were people everywhere who seemed to be going somewhere in a hurry, a sea of black coats and briefcases. It was 5 o'Clock rush hour to the trains!
Ainsley arrived and we grabbed a cab to her apartment. She seems to know her way around!
I was anxious and excited to see her place. It is tiny and beautifully decorated, she has used every bit of space efficiently. The bedroom walls and all ceilings are grey unfinished cement which is very modern and edgey. Living room/kitchen is white. We settled in, had a glass of vino and then walked out to Gustos for a bite. Her location at 12 Charlotte Street is in the heart of downtown close to transit of all kinds, streetcar, and easy access to cabs, uber and car to go!
And that was my first day. Ainsley has the next three days as holidays plus the weekend.
Day two we took the subway to Yorkton mall for a little retail therapy. Lots of window shopping and a few purchases. We decided on sushi for lunch......not very appetizing......I think Vancouver wins as the sushi capital.
We met her friend Aaron for dinner at Lees, a popular Toronto spot within walking distance. Ainsley and Aaron had gone there for her birthday dinner last week and loved it, they were very happy to be going back ....special treat. If you are ever in Toronto you must try their salad called Singapore Slaw, it has 19 different ingredients and really is 'to die for'. Aaron was taking an uber home so dropped us off on the way.
The next few days were girly days, walking about the different areas, I was amazed at how well Ainsley seems to know her way around after being here such a short time. I can get lost very easily!
We rented a car to go and drove to the area known as "the beaches ", the beach is Lake Ontario . It wasn't too cold or windy and we walked along the front stopping at the art exhibits built around lifeguard posts. There were a lot of dogs on sectioned off parts of the beach.....last hurrah for them as March 1st is no dogs on beaches for the season. We walked out on a breakwater, the water splashing all around. We wandered and walked a few streets looking at the architecture and did some people watching, so many out and about in the good weather. Soon we were looking for another car to go to take us to the Distillery District. This is an old area with lots of shops and restaurants in preserved buildings...lots of brick roads and buildings. After a bite to eat, we made our way back to the apartment.
The weather the last few days has been a mixed bag, cold, snow, rain, sun, windy, we've had it all. Most of the dogs wear snow booties, we even saw one large shaggy dog wearing full pants and boots on a snowy day.....we guessed his coat would have been the type to be covered in icy snow balls. The snow booties protect the paws from the salt on the sidewalks. Quite a sweet sight to see .
We visited the St Lawerence Market which is like an indoor Granville Island, or more like the famous market in Barcelona! Lots of fabulous cheese, meat, fruit samples....and purchases were made.
We haven't cooked in very much but plan to now we bought fresh pasta and sauce.
I'll sign off and hopefully refresh my memory on the rest of my visit on my next post. xo
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