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.

Will be missed: Victor's Letters of Love around the Red Rocket on Danforth

Street art is short-lived. This week, as I was walking to the Red Rocket café (1364 Danforth E.), I was sadden to see that most of Victor's letters (painted two summers ago) have faded away. (See The ABC of strolling to read more about this cool street art project of "love letters" along Danforth east.)

On a happier note, inside the Red Rocket, I saw a tongue-in-cheek screen playing the video of a fire in the fireplace by comfortable leather sofas! And I had one of their flaky egg empanadas. Yum!

It feels warmer! 

The Last Hunt: The future of books?

My next project as an author will certainly be an eBook! In the Globe, Simon Houpt told us about this new form of interactive production by the NFB: The Last Hunt. It made we wonder if this it the future of books?

Not long to watch and a perfect activity for a short coffee break, The Last Hunt takes more after books than films, presented as a gorgeous animated photo album, with music in the background. You're not told the story, you have to read it. As you scroll down, some images in the text get animated. (The photos are by photographer Montreal-based Alexi Hobbs accompanying his grandfather to his cabin.)

I don't know how much it costs to produce such an "eBook" but I could see it changing the way we read books in the very near future.

Fun fact: When you google "the last hunt", the first website that pops up has nothing poetic about it! It is a bargain website, featuring a polar bear's head with the tag line "Hurry up before they disappear!".

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). 

Go ahead, pick one (resolution)

This morning in the Globe, they asked 15 health and fitness experts the following question: "What is one thing Canadians can do to be healthier this year?" One of them talked about a "new" treatment.

"There is a superexpensive new drug coming out. It reduces heart disease by 60%, cancer by 27%, Alzheimer by 50% and arthritis by 47%. It is now our best treatment for fatigue and low back pain. It cures a third of erectile dysfunction, and cuts anxiety and depression by 48%. People even lose weight on that stuff... OK, it's not new or expensive or even a pill. It's walking. If I had to pick one, I'd say movement is the best medicine.", says Mike Evans (staff physician at St. Michael's Hospital, associate professor of family medicine and public health at the University of Toronto).

Who knew! 
(Full article here)
Read this post about my favourite walks for winter days in my two walking guides
Toronto Urban Strolls 1 & 2.

My suggestion for your New Year's resolution in 2014!

Just an idea...
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Kendall & Co: from Christmas ornaments to big ticket items

I was looking for Christmas stocking stuffers and ornaments when I entered Kendall & Co. I found a fantastic collective gift idea!

Kendall & Co is an interior design company with a shop which always carries a small selection of great home decor gifts. This year, their Christmas window was filled with lovely glass ornaments (collection items sold around $20) so I entered to see what they had in store (227 Carlton, west of Parliament on the south side).

Further into the boutique, I found more cute ornaments: an evergreen in a miniature Mason jar ($12), tiny lumberjacks cutting down an evergreen in a glass ball ($22), little glass birds to use as salt shakers ($10).

On my way, I saw an amazing centrepiece, the perfect idea for a collective gift in the price range of an iPad: a gorgeous porcelain Italian palace which turns out to be a biscotti jar with six tea or coffee cups, cream and sugar bowl and a serving tray, all in one! It retails for $550. Apparently, it took them months to receive this order. (It's the kind of gift idea for people who got together last year to give an iPad to their mom!)

There's also the $200 Italian palace which turns into 6 large plates/bowls (perfect to serve pasta) and a serving bowl. 

I also noticed a wine cooler made out of glass, good for four bottles ($99), and surreal Falcon candlestick holders ($45). A real conversation piece. Made out of cast aluminum in aged-zinc matte grey finish, Kevin from Kendall & Co. told me it may be spray painted to personalize it to your liking.

Also read:

TOP-10 Christmas stuffers from Labour of Love (across the street from Kendall & Co.)