unsolicited opinions on random things
Moo, my favourite online printing company, now offers stickers in different shapes and sizes. And like all Moo products, you can have something different on each one – they don’t have to be identical. Wonder what you would do with stickers? Check out the inspiration shots above. I’m gonna make return address labels.
Get 15% off sticker orders from now until July 14.
I have a little vegetable and herb garden on my back patio. This year I’m growing tomatoes, green beans, chives, parsley, and lavender. Ian uses the herbs in his cooking all the time, and I can’t wait for those tomatoes to ripen.
I’ve never grown beans before, so it’s a bit of an experiment. They started climbing the wooden railings, so I just let them do what they want. So far, so good, I think! I’d love to have a larger garden, but this is manageable for now.
There was a great piece today at the tail end of Metro Morning on CBC Radio, where host Matt Galloway asked a few interesting people where they would take guests visiting Toronto. Not the usual suspects like the CN Tower and the ROM – where are the hidden spots that you’d want to share?
The owner of the Cookbook Store on Yonge Street said she’d like to take visitors to the newly opened green roof at City Hall and the Rectory Cafe on Ward’s Island. The Mayor’s new Arts and Culture Advisor said he’d take visitors to the 401 Richmond Building. Excellent suggestions.
My cousin visited from Texas last summer, and I took her to Harbourfront and the Toronto Islands, the AGO, and shopping around Leslieville. Then she went over to my sister’s place in the Annex where they poked along Bloor Street and went to Kensington Market.
On a delightfully hot summer day like today, I’d take guests to Sugar Beach to chill by the lake, and then check out the indoor slide at the Corus Quay Building, and finish it off with a drink at the new lakeside bar Against The Grain.
Where would you take visitors to Toronto? Or, if you’re playing tourist in your own city, where would you go?
Did you know that there are honeybee hives on the roof of the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts (aka the Opera House for the Canadian Opera Company)? Check out this short video of a 24-hour timelapse of the hives.
And there are also honeybee hives on the roof of the Royal York Hotel, and the roof of the Opera Bastille in Paris! Crazy, huh?
I met Jenny in the first week of University, when we “discovered” each other in an Intro to Philosophy class. We realized we were both in the Theatre program, and we both quite liked movies with Ralph Fiennes (The English Patient was quite popular at the time). That’s all it took to form a fast friendship that has lasted over 10 years.
Jenny has a crazy wonderful sense of style, and can make any outfit look fantastic. She’s equally comfortable sipping champagne at the Waldorf Astoria in a sequin dress, or having a beer on the couch, watching the football game. Jenny has a huge heart and is very giving and kind. I’ve yet to meet a person who doesn’t love her immediately.
Tomorrow is Jenny’s birthday, so she’s in Montreal celebrating. I’ll be at the cottage, but I’ll be sure to have a glass of wine while swinging in the hammock, in Jenny’s honour (she loves that hammock).
Happy Birthday Jenny, and Happy Canada Day everyone! Hope you all have a great long weekend.
[Photo of Jenny and I at the Blind Tiger in the West Village. We’re badass.]
I just discovered this website: Modern Toronto. It features contemporary art, design and architecture in the city. I love looking at the modern homes… I had no idea there were so many cool dwellings in Toronto.
My favourite is the one on Ward’s Island – it’s spectacular, and only 1500 square feet (more than enough space, if you ask me, but much smaller than some of the other homes featured). Wouldn’t it be amazing to live in this house?
Desmond and Beatrice just opened their shop near Queen and Broadview. Cupcakes, cookies, whoopie pies, scones, cinnamon buns… they all look amazing. Apparently they used to only be a supplier (sending their goods to Te Aro and others), but now you can get the yummies right from the source.
I’ll be sure to pop by next time Little C and I go for a walk in that direction.
In the meantime, I’ll be getting my favourite carrot-cake cupcakes from Sweet Bliss, conveniently located right at the end of my street!
[photos via blogTO]
Like most new mothers, I spend a fair amount of time on the couch, watching TV while I feed Little C. We recently cancelled our package of silly cable channels, and ordered the Movie Network, HBO, and AMC instead. Same price, but much better content! So now, instead of watching episodes of Extreme Couponing, I’ve been catching up on some great movies that I (somehow) missed.
I recently watched Away We Go and Up in the Air. Both were fantastic.
Have you seen any good movies lately? Any recommendations?
I just heard about a sidewalk sale that will be happening in the ‘hood tomorrow. Along Queen Street, between Carlaw and Greenwood, many retailers will be having sidewalk sales or “garage sale type events” (as the gal from Damzels told me). Some of the retailers involved are:
To name a few. Sounds great, huh? I also heard that there’s a big street sale happening on Austin Avenue that will feature some baby stuff, so I’ll probably check that out too. I love Leslieville.
[photo by Flickr user SeanHoward]
If you don’t know who Susan Kare is, I’m sure you know her work. Remember these old-school software icons from Macintosh? She designed them. Telegramme is now carrying a bunch of prints of her classic icons. I’d love to get the “smiling computer” one (above) for my office.
