Author: avery

I gots an iPad

And no, it’s not an iPad2.

I usually think it’s a good idea to not buy first generation Apple products, as the second generations tend to have better features (and are usually cheaper). So I held off on getting an iPad for a year, just patiently waiting for the iPad2.

I was pretty disappointed with last week’s iPad2 launch, but I was pleased to see the prices of the original iPad drop dramatically. So I picked up a 32 gig first generation iPad for about $200 less than it was selling for previously.

I’m just starting to set it up now, and load it with apps. There are so many that are different or better than my iPhone apps… I’m having fun looking and discovering new stuff.

If you have an iPad, what are some of your favourite apps?

AirBnB Collections

The weather this past weekend in Toronto was downright weird.  Wind, rain, snow, sun, with temperatures above and below freezing, all in 48 hours.

When it’s nasty outside, the only thing I want to do is escape to somewhere else… so I often end up trolling the internet, looking for home exchanges, deals on holiday packages, or cool vacation rentals.  One of my favourite places to browse is the “collections” section of AirBnB.

They’ve taken a wide selection of some of the vacation rental properties available on their website and broken them down into 56 thematic collections, ranging from Life’s a Beach to I’m On A Boat, Ye Own Castle to The Modernism Collection. There are also city collections, including New York, San Francisco, Madrid, Sydney, Budapest, and Barcelona (and more).

There really is something for everyone… check out all the AirBnB Collections here.

Tiny Chairs at the German Consulate

Now here’s an exhibit I have to see.  Dimensions of Design – 100 Classic Seats is on at the German Consulate in Toronto.  How fun is this?  Iconic designs, tiny things, and German flair… yes please.

I’ll explain.  The chair is the ultimate design object – a perfect pairing of form and function.  A retrospective of chair design is nothing new – museums do it all the time.  So what makes this exhibit different?  It’s an exhibit of iconic chair designs, but instead of displaying the actual chairs, it’s miniatures that are on display.

The Vitra Design Museum in Germany has been making miniature reproductions of chairs since 1992, and they have quite a cult following.  The Dimensions of Design – 100 Classic Seats exhibit features the tiny chairs, displayed at eye level so you can check out all their intricate details.

The exhibit is only on until March 9, so there’s not much time left.  And if you see a miniature that you love and just have to own, you can buy them online.  I’ll warn you – they’re not cheap.  But they really are tiny works of art.

[via Arren William’s Design Lab]

Skip*Hop Baby Stuff

Up until last week, I was pretty convinced that we didn’t need a specialty diaper bag for the tadpole.  We have a few different messenger bags, so we thought we could just stash our gear in one of those.

That was, until we saw a diaper bag made by Skip*Hop when we were in Mortimer Snodgrass in Montreal on Saturday.  This diaper bag was so cool – it straps right onto your stroller handles (and also has a detachable shoulder strap if you’d prefer to carry it), it has a million compartments that actually look useful, and the geometric pattern we chose looks good (important, of course).  The price-point is decent at $65.  I’ve seen diaper bags in shops for twice that much.  So of course, we bought it, and also picked up the matching Pronto Changing Station kit.

I’m now checking out the Skip*Hop website, and will have to definitely restrain myself from going nuts buying more of their products.  The NY-based company makes award-winning, well-designed, safe, and attractive gear for babies and tots, and they donate a portion of all proceeds to charity.

I’m sure there’s a shop (or two, or three) in Toronto that carries Skip*Hop, or you can order online through Mortimer Snodgrass.

Mortimer Snodgrass

I first read about Montreal-based retail shop Mortimer Snodgrass in a magazine a few years ago (the store is named after the owners’ dog).  Since then, I’ve ordered items off their website a few times (since they’re not far away, shipping is easy and cheap).  I purchased the Lug travel wallets for my bridesmaids as a giftie, and I’ve ordered stocking stuffers from their wide selection of goofy Fred products.

Even though I’ve been ordering online from them for years, I’ve never actually been to the store.  I was thrilled to find that Mortimer Snodgrass was right around the corner from our hotel in old Montreal this past weekend.  I wasn’t really surprised by any of their merchandise, as it’s all available on their website, but I was happy to visit the store in person and chat with the friendly sales staff.

Next time you need a prezzie and you’re in Montreal, visit the shop.  Or be like me and order online!

Montreal Weekend

Our little weekend trip to Montreal turned out to be just what we needed: a fancy getaway amongst all the stress of pregnancy, the kitchen renovation, and work.  We traveled with our pals Hilary and Tristan, and stayed at the swanky Place D’Armes Hotel.

On Friday night we hit up Au Pied de Cochon, which did not disappoint.  I’ve wanted to eat there ever since seeing the episode of No Reservations where chef Martin Picard tries to kill Anthony Bourdain with dish after dish of rich meat (watch the clip on YouTube here).  That’s a photo of our foie gras poutine above.

On Saturday, we slept in, had breakfast in bed (don’t you just love room service?) and then drove around the city.  I’ve been to Montreal many times, but have never driven downtown.  I found it an easy place to navigate, so we headed uptown to get some fresh Montreal bagels at St. Viateur for my brother-in-law, and then drove around Mont Royal park.  The park was full of families out enjoying the sunny day – cross-country skiing and tobogganing through the fresh snow. Gorgeous.

Then we met up with Hilary and Tristan for some Montreal smoked meat at Schwartz’s Deli.  After a nap back at the hotel (so much food, must sleep), the four of us headed to the Bell Centre for the Montreal Canadiens hockey game.  They won the game, which made super-fans Ian and Tristan very happy.  Hilary and I couldn’t really care less, but we had fun.

I would have loved to have another day in the city, but it was back in the car on Sunday morning for the drive back to Toronto.  That’s what’s so great about Montreal… it’s only 5.5-6 hours by car, so it really is an easy weekend trip.

[pictured above: Place D’Armes Hotel, Tristan and Hilary in line outside Schwartz’s, foie gras poutine at Au Pied de Cochon, St Viateur Bagels, me at the lookout point in Mont Royal Park, Ian in Old Montreal, Schwartz’s Deli]

Blogs I Like: Hither and Thither

I found the blog Hither and Thither through Cup of Jo, and immediately added it to my Google Reader (where I keep track of the blogs I follow via RSS feed).

Hither and Thither is the blog of Ashley and Aron, a young professional married couple in Manhattan.  They’re expecting a baby, they like cool design, and they love to travel.  Sounds kind of like Ian and me, non?  I think of them as a cooler version of us.

One of my favourite parts of their blog is their travelogue section, where they write long, journal-like entries about trips they’ve taken.  And they have taken a LOT of trips (India, Croatia, Ireland, Costa Rica, Italy, and all over the States).  I love to read their travelogues for inspiration.  Just last week I read their Montreal travelogue for last-minute ideas for our trip this past weekend (photos to come soon, I promise).

Au Revoir

Au revoir, mes amis!  Ian and I are heading to Montreal today, along with pals Hilary and Tristan.  The boys are big Montreal Canadiens fans, so we’re going to a hockey game on Saturday night.  But that’s not what I’m looking forward to the most… that would be a tie between our Friday night dinner plans (at Martin Picard’s restaurant Au Pied de Cochon), and relaxing at our swank hotel (Place D’Armes).

It’s snowing a bit today, so I’m bringing my fancy camera to get some shots of Old Montreal in the snow.  Fingers crossed for a great weekend.

[photo of “Duck in a Can” at Au Pied de Cochon by Flickr user sflaw]

In the ‘Hood: Florabunda

Like most people, I love having fresh flowers around the house.  Makes everything seem brighter and prettier – which is essential on these grey February days.

So I like to treat myself to a walk down Queen Street to Florabunda every once and a while – they have great flowers at amazing prices.  Seriously amazing prices.  Like 5 bucks for a small bouquet.  The owner is almost always behind the till, and he is really friendly and helpful.

I’m gonna head over in the next few days to see if he has some tulips – they’re my favourite flower.  Simple, elegant, and wildly colourful.  Perfect.

[reminder – everything on Stuff Avery Likes is completely unsolicited and editorially neutral.  That means I write about what I want, and I don’t get paid for it.  Even though this blog post reads like an endorsement, it’s not really.  I honestly just really like this flower shop.]