Girlfriends 1, husbands 0

The real reason why my walking guides are titled 
Toronto Urban Strolls... for girlfriends.

I rest my case.  ;~)

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Here's another quote from Nietzsche... about walking

Works for me!

I don't know if truly great thoughts were conceived out of my walks but I know that going out for a walk to clear my head has prevented not so great thoughts from being born!

Friendship quote: Friedrich Nietzsche

My house is a mess... but you're invited anyway

I like the idea that my friends choose to overlook my downfalls (dust bunnies and all) to focus on the good things I make happen in my house: dinner invitation, good food, interesting wine, great conversation.

Gotta go. Got to work a bit before I get to making mushroom risotto for 10 people tonight. (I might even be able to squeeze in 15 minutes to tidy up the rooms. But the dust bunnies will have to wait. Again.)

Toronto by night around Canoe Landing

In the land of the giants!
The perfect urban summer night walk

A few weeks ago, I had two teen visitors over for five days. I let them do the first things that come to mind to teen girls: the Eaton Centre, the Beach, all the gelato shops within a 30-minute walk, etc. Then, on the last night, I took them on my Land of the Giants Stroll included in Toronto Urban Strolls 1. 

I cracked the code!

I think I cracked the code on the best way to enjoy a night walk around Canoe Landing and Concord Place. It's a fun stroll to admire lighting effects on the public art but an impossible place to find street parking. 

The way to go is to take advantage of Sobeys' indoor parking lot (evening max from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next day is $8, unless there's a special event, then the price is cranked up). We arrived around 9 p.m., enjoyed our walk for two hours, then shopped a bit inside the grocery store, open until midnight. 

I spent over $10 (scored on discounted items I needed anyway!), which allowed me to get a $3.50 refund on my parking ticket (when you get your ticket from a machine in the parking lot, you place part of it on your dash and show the other part at the cashier as a proof of payment to get the refund). 

A fun circuit

I first led them to the other side of Spadina and to the gorgeous sculpture Barca Volante, over a reflecting pool (off Bremner Boulevard on the east side of Spadina, turn right on Navy Wharf Court).  

We walked back to the Sobeys and turned right on Telegram Mews towards the train tracks to reach the new pedestrian bridge, quite sculptural under the lights.

 

Then we went southbound to the big park of Canoe Landing. After a little peep at the giant canoe, we reached the staircase on the west side of the park and walked down Bathurst to the lovely public art under the overpass.

A bit further down is T.O. Tuck Shop, a convenience store (also open until midnight) serving good coffee, hot sandwiches and all kinds of items appreciated by the condo dwellers. 

We ended the stroll by going up the path on the south side of Canoe Landing, facing the CN Tower. The three girls agreed it was a pretty cool walk!

For another cool stroll to enjoy Toronto by night, read:
Toronto by night around Yonge and Dundas Square

Outdoor theatre and a stroll! At the Guild Inn Gardens

Outdoor theatre in the special decor of the Guild Inn

If you've already been to Shakespeare in High Park this summer and loved the experience, you'll be happy to know there's another option for a great outdoor theatre experience... with a stroll, organized by the Guild Festival Theatre.

Last fall I wrote a blog describing a stroll we did at the Guild Inn. Have a look to see some of the art around the site. You could have a lovely walk prior to the play.

The Guild Festival Theatre is presenting Molière's Misanthrope from July 18 to August 11, daily at 7:30 p.m. (also at 2 .m. on July 21, Aug. 04 and Aug. 11).  Tickets are sold at $25 (+$3 fee) and you can buy them on their website through PayPal. (It will be possible to reschedule your booking in the event of a cancelled sow due to bad weather.)

About Shakespeare in the Park
Every year, the Canadian Stage treats us with a Shakespeare play in High Park. 

This year, they perform two different plays on alternate nights: Macbeth and The Taming of the Shrew. Both are presented at 8 p.m. (Macbeth Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays until September 1st; The Taming of the Shrew Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays until August 31st).

New this year! Their premium zone! Normally, you need to arrive early to get a spot (first come first serve). Now, you can reserve a $25 spot with cushion online. It's still first come first serve within the premium zone but you know you'll have a place.

TOP-10 Toronto urban patios

Perfect spots for a staycation

To me, each patio is a little enclave where inhabitants are on a perpetual holiday. When I sit on a patio (either alone with a burning latte and a good book or with friends and a cold mojito filled with sparkling ice cubes) time stops.  

It's hard for me to point out my favourite patios in Toronto. But if someone really twisted my arm, I'd choose the following (in no order of preference) as my TOP-10 patios along the strolls in the walking guide Toronto Urban Strolls 1:

Oasis @Wayne Gretzky’s

(99 Blue Jays Way, gretzkys.com) 

The only patio that I know of with roof-top water falls. You'd think you're in Fort Lauderdale. 

Stroll 3, LAKE SHORE Land of the Giant Stroll, in Toronto Urban Strolls 1

Against the Grain Urban Tavern

(25 Dockside Drive, atgurbantavern.ca) 

With view to the promenade and the lake, minus all the tourists and noisy boats of Harbourfront Centre. Good food as a bonus. 

Stroll 5, QUEENS QUAY East Bayfront Stroll, in Toronto Urban Strolls 1 

Sunnyside Pavilion Café

(1755 Lake Shore Boulevard West, sunnysidepavilion.com) 

Looks like an ocean view! With boardwalk, sandy beach and white swans. 

Stroll 14, SUNNYSIDE Endless Stroll, in Toronto Urban Strolls 1

Waterfalls Indian Tapas 

(303 Augusta Avenue, waterfallsrestaurant.ca)

If you want to do people watching in the heart of the Kensington Market while sipping a great cocktail and sharing very good Indian food.

Stroll 16, KENSINGTON Truly Eclectic Stroll, in Toronto Urban Strolls 1

Te Aro

(983 Queen Street East, pilotcoffeeroasters.com)

The genuine urban patio, by a garage door, in the middle of cool Leslieville. Excellent coffee! 

Stroll 19, LESLIEVILLE Hipster Stroll, in Toronto Urban Strolls 1

Mildred’s temple Kitchen

(85 Hanna Avenue, Suite 104, templekitchen.com) 

Pretty patio overlooking a manicured French garden. Love the food and the attention to details (read the comments in their menu!).

Stroll 20, LIBERTY VILLAGE Factory Stroll, in Toronto Urban Strolls 1

Allen’s

(143 Danforth Avenue, allens.to) 

Very few patios can be found under mature trees in Toronto. This is one of them. The weeping willows are spectacular, and even more dramatic at night.

Stroll 22, RIVERDALE Sunset Stroll in Toronto Urban Strolls 1 

Drake’s Corner Café

(1150 Queen Street West, thedrakehotel.ca) 

On a trendy corner of Queen West, with a cool menu, facing the  whimsical facade of an art supplier.  

Stroll 26, TRINITY-BELLWOODS Artsy Stroll, in Toronto Urban Strolls 1

Rectory Café

(Ward’s Island, therectorycafe.com)

Following a long walk along Ward's Island's boardwalk and a swim at nearby Ward's Beach, nothing beats a cold glass of white wine (or a ginger cocktail) under the trees of the Rectory Café's patio. 

Stroll 27, WARD’S ISLAND Dreamy Stroll, in Toronto Urban Strolls 1

Carens Wine and Cheese

(158 Cumberland Street, carenswineandcheese.com) 

So pretty with elegant lanterns and colourful cushions! It looks like it's straight from a glossy magazine (without being uptight).

Stroll 28, YORKVILLE VIP Stroll, in Toronto Urban Strolls 1

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Update: Missing fish along Queens Quay!

Will be missed!

Yesterday, I discovered that the whimsical school of bronze fish which used to lie on the sidewalk by the Second Cup near Queens Quay Terminal are gone!

In their place, ugly patches of dark asphalt which look like scars. Anyone know where they are?