We’ve been back in Toronto since July, and having a blast. Though we’ve been pretty tied up with work and back-to-school prep (for me), and fostering with the Annex Cat Rescue, we’ve also found time to explore the city.
Typically we spend our weekends on long walks, punctuated by food and wine.
Below are the photos we’ve taken on our adventures around Toronto, including some of our favourite places to go and eat. They’re pretty random, so I’ve added comments to each photo to explain what’s going on. We took way more photos than this, but I’ve only included photos of our favourite or most common activities & places to go.
Of everything listed below, the most bizarro thing we did was go to the Swansea neighbourhood to see their popular Halloween decorations. While we were there we ended up meeting the guy who’s been fighting with the city over his treehouse. We actually went into his backyard and saw the infamous treehouse!
Photos & comments on other adventures are all below:
Parkdale Market at Northern Contemporary, just west of Queen & Dufferin
Nearly impossible to walk through downtown without stopping for a photo here. Cheesy for sure, but the sign photographs so well!
Summer desserts at Sicilian Cafe on College St
My birthday dinner at Japango, near Bay & Dundas. Best sushi restaurant we’ve ever been to, but seating is *very* limited, so best to go at off-peak hours.
Japango!
Japango!
Standing on Strachan, getting a photo of the downtown while exploring a different area of town
Kensington Market on a summer weekend
Kengsington Market again, just after eating a beef patty
Heading home from the CNE
Funnel cakes at the CNE
The view of the CNE & skyline from BMO field
Hanging out with the Captains at the CNE’s Star Trek exhibit
We tried out the latest food craze, poke bowls, which are basically sushi salads, and thus delicious.
Living in West Queen West, we’re a stone’s throw away from the culinary varieties of Parkdale. One of our all time favourite things to pick up are Momos from Loga’s Corner.
Walked past a film set in front of the Lakeview Diner at Queen & Ossington
Saw Chihuly at the ROM, which was the most incredible thing of all time.
Chihuly!
Chihuly!
Chihuly!
The view when we run along the waterfront.
Picking up signs at Honest Ed’s in advance of their closing 😦
So. Many. Signs.
Ghostbusters!
Brunch at El Almacen, an excellent South American cafe on Queen St
Motel. Our go-to bar in Parkdale, which Kevin found when my hardcore feminist bookclub took over our condo one night.
Checking out the Halloween Decor in Toronto’s Swansea neighbourhood.
Attending a U of T Astronomy event at the Great Hall… I got on stage to participate in some space trivia
And promptly lost
We went to the craziest Toronto FC game of the year. These people are serious about winning.
Same sign, worse weather. Christmas shopping downtown!
Having the world’s bougiest dessert at La Banane.
The gorgeous handmade Ziggy Stardust Egg with Champagne.
Dinner at Chantecler, our new favourite guilty pleasure
Buck a shuck oysters at Chantecler quickly escalated.
Trekking through Trinity Bellwoods Park after our latest snow fall
Quick note off the top: Dream, Girl will be on a quick tour through Ottawa, Waterloo, and Toronto during the first week of November! Today I’m writing about my trip to see the film in New York, but I already have my ticket to see it again in Toronto, and you can get yours here!
As alluded to in previous posts (ages ago, I know), I went to New York City to see the official world premiere of Dream, Girl – the incredible documentary about female entrepreneurs.
The film’s co-producer, Komal Minhas has been one of my best friends for nearly 10 years, so of course I bought my ticket to see Dream, Girl in New York as soon as possible. I wasn’t even sure I’d be able to go, but supporting this film felt important. Fortunately, it worked out that I was actually able to make it to New York City to see the premiere!
It was a quick 24 hours in NYC, and totally worth it.
Kevin dropped me off at the airport, and I landed in La Guardia much sooner than expected. So much sooner that I’d forgotten to read my necessary-travel-prep articles in WikiTravel. I’d never been to New York, so I got off the plane with no real clue where I was or how to get where I was going. Fortunately, New Yorkers are super nice and helpful. In the first hour I easily asked 5 different people for help or directions.
Finally, I made it to Central Park and met up with Julie, another best friend from my days at Carleton. We were crashing in an AirBnB with another friend, and after a bit of sun in the park we headed back to the apartment to get ready for our night on the town.
Clothes. Makeup. Hair. Before long we were ready to go. I also made a dicey shoe choice that my feet regretted for the rest of the night, but we felt and looked great.
Which was good, because we were just a brief subway trip away from the Dream, Girl red carpet. Naturally, I forgot my camera, but luckily Getty Images was there to cover for me:
I’d already seen the film in Washington, DC, and was excited to see it again. After seeing the film with Kevin and my parents at the White House, we’d had some really great conversations about the film and about women in business. Those conversations had me excited to see it again.
I’ve already said it, but after seeing this film twice, it really is great. The most easily comparable film is Miss Representation, which I’ve seen at least 5 times. To those who’d make the comparison, I’d say the concept is similar, but the execution and end product are totally different. By focusing on the stories of individual women, each re-watch draws you in with something new. I couldn’t watch Miss Representation a 6th time, but I can’t wait to watch Dream, Girl a 3rd, 4th, etc.
The range of women in the film brings something for everything, and you’ll be sitting at the end of the film wondering which entrepreneur is most like you. When you friend turns to you and says “you’re totally a [insert name here]”, your heart will swell with joy.
Once the film was over, we headed to the after party. Which means a group of 20+ women – all friends and supporters of Komal – trekked onto the subway to the Hotel on Rivington for a rooftop party. As subway rides go, that one was pretty surreal. Consider that 7 hours previous, I was in Toronto. And now I was standing in the New York subway system trying to figure out how to get to the after party for my friend’s first ever film premiere.
Travelling hours and hours to see your friend in her glory is pretty amazing. But as a side effect, I got to spend my evening with some of the most impressive women I know. Women who are honest about their struggles, who are hilarious, and who are unapologetically ambitious and excited for the future.
I headed back to Toronto the very next day, already looking forward to the next screening & gathering of lady powerhouses.
And now, Dream, Girl is screening in Ottawa, Waterloo, and Toronto during the first week of November. I strongly encourage you to book your tickets and watch this film with your own best friends. I have a feeling it’ll make you excited for the future.
Here are more photos from the premiere, courtesy of Komal’s fiancee Mitch (who has been graciously photographing our antics for years):
the stories that I'm telling. 