Week 26: 1-Day Elementary Teachers Strike

If you are an Ontarian and you keep yourself up to date with current events then you are aware of the labour disputes we've been having with the provincial government regarding educational workers.  Everyone knows that the economy has been suffering for some time now and it's affecting everyone in one way or another.  I get it.  I also get that everyone needs to do their part to help repair and recover from this economic slump we've been in.    However, and I cannot stress this enough, it does not give anyone the right to take away a person's democratic rights.  Without democracy we are certainly not Canadian.  That's why I chose to take part in the 1-day elementary teachers strike on Tuesday.  Since I'm on a leave this year and officially off I wasn't expected to participate.  But how could I not?  First, it's a very important issue that I feel strongly about.  Second, I wanted to support my friends and colleagues.  And third, I've never been on strike before.  I was interested in the whole picketing experience and curious as to how the public would respond to us.

I arrived at 11:30am and stayed for almost 2 hours.  There were about 10 of us picketing on the street outside the school along the sidewalk; no one stopped traffic or anything like that.  I have to say that I thought the entire experience was quite positive.  We wore signs, waved to honking supporters who passed by, and even sang a few Christmas carols.  One colleague's parents even showed up to walk with us in support.  Apparently there were a few middle fingers given by passers-by but I never witnessed anything negative from anyone.  Overall, I think it was a success.  Let's hope it worked on the big scale of things.  No one wants to be on strike.  We just want a fair shake.

Solidarity forever!  

Week 25: My "Interesting" Stay at the Toronto Westin Harbour Castle Hotel & An Afternoon at the Distillery District

Westin Harbour Castle

This past Thursday I celebrated an anniversary.  Every year I usually book a nice room or suite in Niagara Falls because it's a special city with the beauty of the falls and all the touristy things to see and do.  However, this year I thought it might be nice to stay here in the city and play tourist.  So,  I searched on line to find the perfect hotel for the occasion.  I've stayed in Toronto once before at the Harbourfront Radisson and loved it; but of course for this time around I wanted something different to try.  I think the prettiest view of this city is from Lake Ontario.  The only other nice hotel by the lake is the Toronto Westin Harbour Castle so I went with it as my choice.  I booked a non-refundable corner lake view room on hotels.com for $151.54 including tax.  On Thursday I showed up at the hotel to check in at around 3:50 pm.  I was issued a room on the 12th floor of the north tower.  Upon entering the room all appeared to be fine and well.  The room was in fact a corner lake view room.  However, as I began to inspect the room I quickly discovered how unacceptably unclean and disgusting it was.  Now, I'm aware that I'm very particular and anal with certain things, but this room was beyond sucking it up for the night.  The bed's white duvet cover had a long black stain down the side.  The toilet had a yellow sticky dusty droplet that I had to wash off myself before using it.  The bathtub had about four black hairs in it.  And finally, the bathroom floor against the wall had a hairy dust pile accumulating.  Of course I did two things:  video record it all and complain to the hotel staff.  I'll show you the videos of this room before sharing what happened next.

First I called Express Service to complain about the room's condition and waited for about 15 min. for someone to arrive so that I could show them exactly what needed to be cleaned.  I got impatient and decided to return to the check-in counter to see what they could do for me; I expected to get a better room.  I was assisted by a gentleman named Juan who was very nice, understanding, and apologetic.  He offered me a new room with an upgrade.  This second room was on the 22nd floor in the south tower which had a better view.  So, off I went to try out my new room.  Once again all seemed fine and dandy upon entering and at first glance.  Actually, I did like this room better.  It was another corner lake view room with a prettier view.  But then I went into the bathroom where it all fell apart once more.  Almost as if someone had planted it there in some sick joke on me, sat a short black curly hair on the toilet seat.  For a second I thought that I was being punk'd or something.  Here are the videos as proof.

I had some time to kill so I decided to return to the front desk again to show them the pretty (*sarcasm) black hair I had sitting on my toilet.  The woman actually wanted to see the photo I had of the hair (perhaps she needed evidence to combat her theory that I secretly plant foreign black hairs in my hotel room for free upgrades).  The service manager came out and offered her sincere apologies.  Apparently they'll be having a meeting and re-training on properly servicing the rooms.  Anyway, in lieu of all my issues she gave me free valet parking (valued at $40) and free buffet breakfast for two (valued at $26 per person).  I was pretty happy with that since I had no intentions on changing rooms again.  I had totally lost faith in the cleanliness of them at this point.

To sum up my experience at the Toronto Westin Harbour Castle Hotel, I would have to say that the staff are very nice and accommodating, the location is good, but the rooms are not up to my standards of decent acceptable cleanliness.  Moreover, I would not return to this hotel unless it was free.  What can I say?  I'm cheap!


Distillery District

I often catch myself saying this about Toronto:  just when you think you've seen all it has to offer something new pops up as if it had been hidden from you all this time.  To be perfectly honest, I thought the distillery district was the location where Steam Whistle and a few other micro breweries were located.  I now know that that is completely incorrect.  The distillery district is actually located at Parliament St. and Mill St. (just south of Front St.).  Wikipedia defines it as:  "The Distillery District is a historic and entertainment precinct located east of Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It contains numerous cafés, restaurants, and shops housed within heritage buildings of the former Gooderham and Worts Distillery. The 13-acre (52,000 sq. m) district comprises more than 40 heritage buildings and 10 streets, and is the largest collection of Victorian-era industrial architecture in North America.

The district was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1988."

I found the area to be very quaint and nicely decorated for Christmas.  It appears to be small when you enter but as you investigate each street and building you realize that it's quite a large space to cover.  The brick buildings are beautiful, especially inside.  You have to enter each building because there's so much to see.  Some buildings house various cafes, eateries, and various shops.  Other buildings are workshops for artisans who create and sell their work.  The most interesting art piece that caught my eye was the most amazing pictures created out of Rubik's Cubes.  I also enjoyed the assorted treats sold on site such as salted caramel marshmallows, mini marshmallow chocolate shortbread, and my ultimate favourite fresh roasted Bavarian sugared pecans.  They were warm and to die for!  The salted caramel marshmallows were also good, but the mini marshmallow chocolate shortbread was a big bust.  I ate half of one and gave the bag away.  There was in fact a micro brewery on site called Mill St. Brewery.  They have beer tasting if you're interested.  I'm from NB so of course I was.  I tried samples of each of the four beers on tap.  It's free!  My favourite was the coffee porter.  You could actually taste the coffee.  I hate Steam Whistle beer and won't even accept it if free; that's how much I dislike it.  Mill St. beer, on the other hand, has several beers I would even pay for.

Here are the pictures I took at the distillery district.

These pictures below have been created using many Rubik's Cubes.  Cool eh?

Here's the food I bought and sampled.  

These pecans were pure heaven!

All in all, I would totally encourage others to check out the distillery district.  I plan on returning in the summer when I'm sure it'll be a completely different yet equally quaint and lovely experience.  It's one of the few things that's actually free and worth paying for.

Week 24: My First Vegetarian Restaurant & A Visit to Reptilia (Reptile Zoo)

Giving Vegetarianism A Try

I can only speak for myself, but I've always felt that a meal should include some form of meat.  When someone would mention the option of vegetarian I'd react with a solemn, "Ugh, no thanks!"  It was as if they had told some rude joke or something.  I love meat and feel that it's a fundamental part of a person's healthy diet.  But, times are changing and being healthy can in fact include a meatless diet.  So, on Friday I ventured out to a local vegetarian restaurant called "Green Earth - Vegetarian Cuisine."  I first discovered it on line and noticed that it had received great reviews, and even the menu looked quite promising with a wide variety of choices.  I chose the good earth burger and fries.  The fake meat is a grilled soy protein that resembles a chicken breast.  The bun was whole wheat and the fries were like any other fries, really.  This is what it looked like.

My first bite into the burger was kinda shocking (the texture was unappealing) and I thought I had made a grave mistake, but it actually got better and better once I got used to it.  To be perfectly honest, I enjoyed my veggie burger more than "The Works" burger from last week.  Everything just tasted fresh and healthy, minus the fries of course.  The fries were like any fries, yummy and evil.  The entire dinner for 2 was very cheap and I'd totally go there again.  Next time I think I'll even try something different.  Overall, I'm certainly no convert to vegetarianism, but I'll definitely include it in my restaurant Rolodex for the future.

Reptilia - Reptile Zoo, Anyone?

I once read somewhere that you should never trust a person who hates animals.  Just some food for thought.  I've always loved animals.  I mean I get excited when I see a squirrel or a fish in the wild.  I've been to almost every kind of zoo around here except for Reptilia.  In fact, I wasn't even aware of its existence until somewhat recently.  So, away I went on Saturday to Reptilia in Vaughan (a short drive north of Toronto).  When I first walked in I thought I had made a mistake because all I saw were small children.  I'm thinking is this some kind of reptile Chuck E. Cheese or something?  It turned out to be just fine because there are actually quite a bit of interactive things to see and do for just about any age, if you're not afraid of the animals.  In the two hours I was there I saw two feedings and two shows.  The shows consist of a zoo keeper who brings out three different animals to show and describe, and the audience has an opportunity to touch each as well.  The shows included a tarantula, asian water monitor, other lizards, and a couple of snakes.  Of course I touched each one of them.  It was really neat.  These shows take place throughout the day as well as feedings for some of the animals.  I got to witness two rattle snakes and the asian water monitor feed on rats.  Aside from the shows and feedings, you can simply walk around and check out the various spiders, snakes, lizards, birds, etc.  Some are small and some are huge!  They had an anaconda that was about as long as a bus.  They also had Nile crocodiles, alligators, pythons, poisonous frogs, and many more.  I made several videos and took photos to help showcase the experience I had.

Asian Water Monitor on the Zoo Keeper's back During a Show

I'm petting a tarantula's leg.

Here I'm petting the asian water monitor's tail.

Asian Water Monitor Show

 Alligators

Snakes 

Really big snakes 

Rattle Snake Feeding Time!

Asian Water Monitor Dances and Plays Around for his Dinner.

Two Tortoises In Love

If at the end of your visit you haven't quite gotten your fill of reptilian animals and other creatures, you can simply purchase them at the pet store conveniently located at the exit.  Can you imagine exiting the Toronto Zoo and picking up a monkey, lion, or kangaroo on the way to your car?  They have thought of everything, haven't they?

Week 23: My Take on a Modern Burger Joint

I think that everyone enjoys a good burger once in a while.  I grew up in small town Miramichi and I can remember when we first got a McDonald's.  It was very exciting!  In fact, other than the McDonald's in our one Walmart, it's still the only McDonald's on the Miramichi.  That's probably a good thing because the sea gulls are like a wild gang of criminals who own the parking lot, and anyone who has ever tried to sit in their car and eat their McDonald's with the windows down know what I'm talking about.  I've always loved McDonald's.  My favourite is the quarter pounder with cheese and large fries.  It's always delicious and never lets me down.

Nowadays, once simple foods like grilled cheese sandwiches and burgers have become gourmet, or the haute couture of cooking.  McDonald's has kinda become a place for children or those with simplistic  palates, like mine.  Well, I'm always open and ready to give something new a try and see if a modern burger will better fulfill my burger cravings.  One such place is called "The Works - Gourmet Burger Bistro."  They're basically a burger joint but you can get a variety of sides, shakes, etc., to supplement your burger.  The process of ordering your burger is broken down into 3 steps.  First, choose your patty:  ground beef, lean ground turkey, gourmet veggie, whole chicken breast, portobello mushroom cap, or lean domestic elk for a few extra dollars.  Second, choose your toppings.  There's over 70 different choices for toppings!  Our waitress had to come back 3 times before we were ready to order.  Third, choose your bun:  white, whole wheat, or gluten free for a bit extra.  This is what we got:
1) turkey patty; The Rick Campanelli - pesto glaze, chopped sundried tomatoes, black olives & brie cheese; whole wheat bun; sweet potato strings $12.88.    2) elk patty; The Grid - chipotle ketchup, havarti cheese, 4 double smoked bacon slices & caramelized onions; white bun; lumpy mashed potatoes $13.96.    This restaurant likes to upsize the portions as our more commonly overweight populace has become accustomed to.  The drinks come in 500 ml measuring cups and your food is plated on metal cake/cooking pans.  The burgers might be gourmet but the restaurant is still just another burger joint.  Here's what the sign says for the ladies restroom:  "Ladies Waste Removal."  Now that's classy, eh?  Here are the pics.

How did it taste?  The turkey burger was too dry for my liking and although the elk burger was quite good, tasted just like beef, it didn't really satisfy my deepest burger craving.  All in all, you can dress up the burger all you want but it still won't be a McQuarter pounder with cheese.  

Week 22: Black Friday and Breakfast Television

I absolutely love to shop.  It's kinda an addiction of mine.  However, I'm also pretty tight with my money so when I shop I do it with purpose and a sense of frugality.  Every year I hear about the Black Friday shopping madness down in the U.S., and this year we had our very own Black Friday here in Toronto.  Many local malls were opening extra early at 7am and the Eaton Centre was opening at 6.  I chose the Eaton Centre because it's easily accessible via subway, closest to my home, and the largest mall in downtown Toronto.  So, I woke up at 5am and was on the subway by 6 when it begins running for the morning rush hour.  I've never been on the subway so early and I was surprised how many people travel at such an ungodly hour.  Anyway, I reached the Eaton Centre at 6:30 and had no idea what to expect.  We've all probably seen the TV news footage showing brawls, stampedes, and even babies left in cars unattended.  I admit I really didn't expect any of the aforementioned, but I was quite intrigued.  I walked around the mall to get a feel for things taking various pics to show you.  I was quite surprised at pretty much everything I saw there.  First, many stores weren't even open like Apple, Coach, Lulu Lemon, and Birks to name a few.  Second, I only saw two line ups to get into stores and that was Michael Kors and Forever 21.  Third, the varied sales from one store to the next was strange.  Some stores had great deals like Aeropostale and the Gap with 60% of everything.  American Eagle and Eddie Bauer offered 40% off everything.  I tried on a great white leather jacket at Danier that was on sale from $499 to $199.  That's a great deal.  And then there were stores with, in my opinion, crappy deals like Abercrombie & Fitch and Roots both offering 25% off, and my favourite crappy deal of the day goes to Bench who offered an additional 40% off already reduced items (which means the old ugly stuff nobody wants).  My highlight of this entire experience was running into Breakfast Television's Live Eye in the centre of the mall.  They, like other TV newscasters I saw, were there to capture the whole hoopla of Canada's first Black Friday, advertise, and give away prizes.  I'm a big fan of BT and would watch it every morning as I got ready for work.  I've never had the opportunity to actually be a part of it.  About every 20min. they would draw names and give away prizes.  You know what I realized about some of the people who get up early to attend these BT Live Eye locations?  They smell funky.  I get it.  It's early and your goal is to get there as quickly as possible, worry about showering later.  Anyway, I didn't win anything and I didn't buy anything either.  But, what I did get was my picture taken with 2 local celebrities, Frank Ferragine and Melanie Ng.  They were the Citytv BT Live Eye personalities at the raffle.  Overall, I think the Black Friday sales at the Eaton Centre were OK, but nothing out of this world.  I would never drive all the way to the U.S. to shop there for one day either.  I'm glad I experienced the entire thing but next time I'll just sleep in.

Check out the pics and videos below.  They help give a better feel for my newest adventure.

Week 21: More Food Exploration & Toronto's Cavalcade of Lights

Food:  A Grilled Cheese Sandwich and a Chinese Rice Dessert

This weekend I set out to try some new food and check out an annual downtown event.  For lunch on Saturday, I decided to try something that caught my eye on the Food Network's TV show "You Gotta Eat Here" called The Grilled Cheese.  The Grilled Cheese is located in Toronto's Kensington Market.  Just so you get a fair picture of what Kensington Market is like, it's kinda like the place where all the flower children of the 60's hang out.  I don't mean people in their 60's, but people who like to live the way it was in the 60's.  Anyway, the restaurant is pretty small with a few tables outside to sit at and a few more inside.  At first we had to share a picnic style table with a family of 4, but we were fortunate enough to get our own table shortly thereafter.  Because it was so busy and only 3 people were working, we had to clean our own table.  The pictures below will show the outside facade of the restaurant, their menu, and the sandwich I ordered (The Beast).  I'll admit that it was a busy Saturday afternoon and they did warn you before ordering that it was a 25 minute wait.  However, that 25 minutes turned into what felt like 45 minutes, and in my opinion no sandwich is worth waiting that long.  My coffee was cold by the time the food arrived and I was very annoyed.  Also, at one point a worker left to get supplies which left the woman on cash (who handles the money) to sometimes plate and serve the food.  Do you want the person handling money touching your food???  How was the sandwich?  It was fine; I'd rather have Quiznos.  Needless to say, I definitely will not be eating there again.  I should create a show called "You Gotta Avoid Eating Here". 

This is the sandwich I shared:  The Beast.

Later in the day, I walked over to Spadina (Chinatown) and decided to try a Chinese dessert called peanut sticky rice.  I just love the name of the bakery, "Ding Dong Pastries".  The dessert looks like a small snowball made of white rice with tiny coconut sprinkles on top.  Inside the rice ball is chopped up peanuts, sugar, and more coconut.  It was quite yummy.  The rice part has a very subtle taste, but the sugary peanuts and coconut flavour inside the centre is the best part. 

Cavalcade of Lights:  Live Entertainment & Christmas Lights

After killing some time at the Eaton Centre it was finally time for the Cavalcade of Lights at Nathan Phillips Square. 

"The 46th annual Cavalcade of Lights presented by Great Gulf kicks off the holiday season at Nathan Phillips Square on Saturday, November 17 at 7 pm. The public are invite to enjoy the first lighting of the Cavalcade of Lights display, live musical performances, spectacular fireworks, an outdoor DJ dance party presented by Timothy's World Coffee and a chance to get a photo taken with the Grey Cup."  www.toronto.ca/special_events/pdf/col12_backgrounder_oct23.pdf

The artists lined up to entertain the public included:  Dragonette, Suzie McNeil, Alyssa Reid, Sean Jones, Justin Abedin, and Circus Orange.  I admit I only stayed for about a half an hour, but that was more than enough for me because I was bored out of my mind.  In that 30 minutes I saw Justin Abedin, Sean Jones, Alyssa Reid, and the lighting of the cavalcade of lights display which was a disappointing lighting of a Christmas tree.  You can see what I saw by watching my videos and picture.  This was a free event so I guess I got my money's worth.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a Scrooge.  I just have high expectations, I guess.  Anyway, I believe that that was my first and last Cavalcade of Lights.  Bah, humbug!