Can a Da bound?

[muckefuck]

If the weather weren't bad enough, I'm also suffering from the Facebook Effect: there was a Fabulous Bear Party last night that Everyone I Know But Me was invited to, even though it was right here in the neighbourhood. I was kind of unsure where I stood with one of the hosts. Well, that's cleared that up nicely. I wouldn't've been free to go anyway since I was already pledged to a housewarming party in Oak Park. But my getting there was pretty much contingent on making it to the Met simulcast of Walküre yesterday afternoon, so when I bagged on that my day was pretty much decided.

At least know I feel much more prepared for our trip to Toronto next week. I still haven't managed to get in touch with my old college buddies there, but paulintoronto came through with some fantastic tips on where to go. monshu and I spent a chunk of time plotting them using the MyMaps function of Google Maps (not as intuitive as you would think!) in order to get an idea of how they clustered. AGO, Chinatown, and Mocca all in the same day? Or maybe Queen St West merits a dedicated afternoon. So many lovely choices!

At least the most important single event has been scheduled: Our photo session with bitterlawngnome. If nothing else goes right--if they lose our luggage, cancel our hotel reservation, confiscate our booze at customs, mug us leaving Cawthra Square--and yet this still comes off, the entire trip will be a success in my mind. Conversely, if it doesn't work out for some reason, I don't want that to ruin the whole trip, so I'm trying not to get too hung up on it. But still--OHBOYOHBOYOHBOYOHBOYOHBOY!

I'm not sure how we're going to communicate with anyone once we get there. My cell phone offers roaming in Mexico but not Canada and as much as I want to drop my provider, I'm not sure I can bring myself to pick a new one before we leave on Saturday. According to the website, the b&b monshu found in Moss Park offers "free local calls", but I'm not sure if there will be anyone there to take messages while we're out. So I guess we're putting our faith in wifi for a bit.

Comments

[nitouche.livejournal.com]

We can try skyping tonight, if you're around -- I should be in the hotel room after 8 or so, mountain time, but will have to get Simon to bed etc -- maybe after 9?

[gasterea.livejournal.com]

You are very welcome! Don't forget Caplansky's - the Jewish fatty smoked meat on rye and our new jewel - Porchetta! The best dam' pork in town look for porchettaco website with delicious fat and crackling and very near the real Italian standard (and their soups are amazing too). And just across the street (incidentally the same street AGO is on only a bit further west) some of the very best pastel de nata custard tarts Toronto has to offer at the Portuguese bakery - Caldense (Dundas/Palmerston) - the other stuff's not so great though. Very good unusual falafel at the Kensington market Akram's shoppe - and lamb shawarma too. And the pho at Saigon Palace on Spadina and the cheapest and very family Chinese hole in the wall hangout in Kom Jug Yen almost across the street with great bbq duck. Authentic Polish dining experience cafe Polonez on Roncesvalles but that's too far west. And an authentic but sooo kitchy Georgian hangout Aragvi but way way far north you don't want to spend 3 hours getting there and back even for the delights of the really amazing Georgian cuisine. High end French dining - but really continental French two guys from the Loire Valley run it - Loire restaurant. And anyway if you can spare a moment only for one of these places I would say Porchetta - that's something that you probably cannot have at home but definitely should as a pork lover (cash only mind and better take stuff out and have a picnic as there is practically no space inside). Oy, and I've forgotten Krepesz on Augusta Kensington market - gorgeous Hungarian hangout with pancakes hungarian style savoury (try paprika chicken stew, it's Hortobady actually) and sweet (ricotta and lemon juice!) and simply gorgeous cappuccinos and espressos!

I live in 10 minutes walk from Caplansky's and Krepesz and would have loved to meet you there if you had a moment but I imagine that your meeting timetable is full to bursting point and anyway I am not sure that you enjoy baby company since I will probably have to bring my baby daughter along. Still I do hope you like it in Toronto so maybe next time when you come for a longer holiday? Have a great time!
ps Don't spend your energy on Casa Loma (our wannabe Neuschwannstein, totally stripped of anything valuable and empty inside) and the ROM though (too provincial for words) - AGO beats'em all.

[fogbear.livejournal.com]

Hooray for a photoshoot with bitterlawngnome!

[bitterlawngnome.livejournal.com]

oh hai performance anxiety!!

anyway call me when you get in, if you're doing that kind of clustered walking tour thing I can help.