Canoe Landing at minus 10?

Bring it on!

This week, I had a good reason to take my friends to Canoe Landing Park on a little night stroll, in the cold. A production team from Montreal and Ottawa needed night shots of the cityscape to enliven a potential new series called J’habite ici, where my friends and I were to talk about what it feels like to live in Toronto as francophones. Spoiler alert: It feels good!  

But baby, it’s cold out there

When you know you’re going to be in front of the camera, you make vanity-based decisions: no big chunky winter boots, no hat, no shapeless coat. It took the team over an hour to film all the takes they wanted around Canoe Landing's very cool public art by Douglas Coupland: giant fishing bobbers, beaver dam and a big red canoe overlooking the traffic jam on the Gardiner. 

By that time, my friends were frozen, but they are good sports (I had bribed them with the promise of some wine). I convinced them that it would warm us up to walk to the Puente de la Luz, the pedestrian bridge running over the train tracks, just north of Fort York Avenue. It offers a great design enhanced by dramatic lighting. And looking up as we walked, we could see that the tops of surrounding condos are adorned with coloured lights. Then, there’s the unavoidable CN Tower with its own set of changing lights.  

On our way, I had noticed a new restaurant which wasn’t there last time I visited in the summer (it opened last September): Hunters Landing, at the corner of Fort York and Capreol Ct. We decided to check it out, attracted by the burning fire on the outdoor patio.

Inside, we went for delectable sweet potato fries (not on the menu but we asked for them and they obliged) and warm mulled wine (a mix of spiced whiskey, red wine, clove, cinnamon and ginger), which succeeded in thawing our little gang. It was the perfect ending to our outing and a bonus in the neighbourhood.

This summer, the large outdoor patio will definitely add to the fun of this stroll (the walk #3 which I call LAKE SHORE Land of the Giants Stroll in Toronto Urban Strolls 1).

 

Sobeys to the rescue

There’s basically no street parking in the area but your way around it is to park in the underground parking lot of Sobeys (off Telegram Mews, follow the red P sign). Once inside, there’s a section for visitors on your right. The parking was $8 after 6 p.m. on a Friday night, and Sobeys reimbursed $3 off our parking ticket because we spent at least $10 at the supermarket. (Take half the parking stub with you after you've parked.)

Glen Stewart Ravine: The "Fifty Shades of Grey" Stroll

Winter walk

Flexible hours are golden. This morning with a friend, I treated myself with a scrumptious salty muffin from Remarkable Beans (2242 Queen East in The Beach). 

Then, we drove north of Pine Avenue on Balsam Avenue and parked near the entrance to Glen Stewart Ravine (between two residential houses facing the school) to access the staircase leading to the ravine.

The city noise was muffled by the fresh snow. All we could hear was the sound of the wind passing through the branches and the singing stream running along the trail. Blissful urban winter.

Take it outside, especially in the winter

Another of the 15 easy to follow resolutions suggested by experts in the Globe, yesterday: Go for a noontime walk outside, especially in the winter.

"Why? You get at least five times as much light as the brightest office (even on dark, stormy days). You get exercise (well, at least some activity). And you avoid the big lunches (or at least have less time to eat). All of which helps your mood, memory and weight.", says Raymond Lam, professor of psychiatry at the University of British Columbia and director of the Mood Disorders Centre, UBC Hospital. (One of the experts also talk about a revolutionary "new" treatment I quote in this other post...)

My TOP-3 walks for winter days in Toronto Urban Strolls 1

Stroll 10   BELTLINE Backyards Stroll 
No distractions! No slushy sidewalks.

Stroll 15   CABBAGETOWN Nooks & Crannies Stroll
The small historic houses with great landscaping look great under a canopy of snow.

Stroll 27   WARD'S ISLAND Dreamy Stroll
The Rectory Café is a great reward after a (quite solitary) winter walk in the residential area of Toronto Islands, left alone to hibernate.

My TOP-3 walks for winter days in Toronto Urban Strolls 2

Stroll 1   BLOOR WEST Cool Stroll 

Fun murals, cool second-hand stores to explore thoroughly plus the play-all-day games at café Snakes and Lattes

Stroll 3   PATH Underground Stroll

Ok, this is actually an indoor walk but I make you peek at the surface from times to times admire the public art.

Stroll 12   THE BEACH Soothing Stroll

For the blue and grey hues of the beach under the winter sun (especially early in the morning)... and the honey balls at Athens Pastries Café, the new café by the formerly Boardwalk Pub (entirely revamped into the chic Boardwalk Place). 

TOP-10 favourite things at Toronto Christmas Market 2013

The Toronto Christmas Market 2013 goes on until December 15. It is utterly charming with the tall Christmas tree, Santa in high spirit and teasing everyone, music all around, and lamp posts and little lights throwing a yellow glow over it all. (Update: In 2015, the Christmas Market goes on from Nov. 20 to Dec. 20)

Here are my TOP-10 favourite things about the market this year (in no particular order). If you intend to visit with kids, read this post on Santa at the Toronto Christmas Market. 

1) Peeping through the windows
Toronto Christmas Market is a great excuse to visit the Distillery. The Victorian vibe of this historic district perfectly suits the event. When it gets dark, the brightly lit indoors contrast beautifully with the austere brick walls of the buildings.

Looking inside Balzac's Coffee from the main plaza.

2) Glass Christmas ornaments

There are plenty of vendors selling food but several booths really put Christmas in the Christmas Market. At the Christmas on the Beach booth (on Trinity Street) you'll find a vast assortment of glass ornaments. I didn't know these colourful ornaments were made out of glass until I watched a video in this booth. No wonder they're so fragile! 

3) Wooden Christmas ornaments
In addition to lovely tree ornaments at Euro Living booth (across from the Brick Street Bakery), I saw small 3-D cut-outs and nativity scenes, a piggy bank cut in a log, an apple with a secret drawer, beautiful wooden hearts, tiny scenes in a match box and more.

4) Original Christmas treat... for dogs
"Dogs are people too!" said the lady in the middle booth on Trinity Street. She'll carrying edible Christmas cards for dogs!

5) A new take on the Twelve Days of Christmas

In the middle of Santa's Lane (Gristmill Lane), discover the quirky series of books by Troy Townsin. His most popular title is A Moose in a Maple Tree (also available in French). Sing "and a moose in a maple tree" to the tune of the Twelve days of Christmas to get the idea. There's also the Night Before a Canadian Christmas and Canadian Jingle Bells, in books and CDs and T-shirts.

Related posts about things at The Distillery: 

TOP-10 Christmas stocking fillers at Bergo

TOP-10 hostess gifts at Soma

6) Maple Syrup candles

You'll find another truly Canadian gift idea in Santa's Lane. Look for the booth with trademark maple syrup tins. Look closer. They are maple scented travel candles with a wooden wick (which means the candle crackles like a little fire when you light it!). This booth belongs to gallery/shop Len (located at 698 Coxwell Avenue, just north of Danforth).

7) Candles in a vintage Mason jar

The first booth in Case Goods Lane offers candles in genuine vintage Mason jars. (The thick wick ensures they burn to the bottom of the jar.) 

8) Outdoor patios with heaters and fires

I've check and the heaters in the outdoor Beer Gardens section truly warm up the place. Also check the large fireplace in the outdoor patio of über cool Mexican restaurant El Catrin in Tank House Lane. 

9) Old fashioned brass band

The Salvation Army's brass band walks around the site to spread the joyful sound of Christmas.

The Scat'r Bugs on the main stage

10) Christmas shows a cappella on the main stage

On the Market's main stage, near Balzac's Coffee, we get to hear top quality a capella singers throughout the event. 

I strongly suggest you attend the amazing performances of the four a cappella signers of Cadence. They will perform Sunday December 8 at 12 noon and at 1:30 p.m. Check this video to get a taste of what Cadence has in store for you.