"Far-Flung Peoples", The Theatre Centre, Toronto, ON

 I volunteered this afternoon at Far-Flung Peoples at The Theatre Centre (Queen W/Lisgar). It was the preview performance and runs until next Sunday.

The phone is ringing.
The roof is banging.
French downstairs.
English upstairs.

Caught in the middle: five people, one couch and a landlord calling it an open-concept bedroom.

Welcome to ‘Far-Flung Peoples’, an award-winning, fast-paced, multilingual dark comedy set inside a crooked house in downtown Toronto, where its residents are squeezed into a living arrangement that would raise questions at City Hall, if City Hall were paying attention.

Beertown Public House, Toronto, ON

I had a late lunch with Darlene at Beertown Public House (Wellington Street/University Avenue). 

Darlene had her usual Plant-based Loaded Nachos (house-fried corn tortilla chips, diced tomatoes, peppers, pickled banana peppers, marble sheeze, Kalamata olives, scallions, sour kreem, cilantro, salsa roja and guacamole). 

I had Chicken & Waffles (golden fried & buttermilk brined chicken breast, crisp Belgian waffle, crumbled bacon, toasted almonds, Wiser’s whiskey syrup), which was delicious and I’d get again. 

Ren was our server. She was friendly and took good care of us. It’s been a while since Darlene and I have gotten together and Ren gave us space to chat and catch up.

Cat Shelter Building Workshop, Toronto Street Cats, Toronto, ON

I spent this morning volunteering with Toronto Street Cats building cat shelters, which are sold to the public. The workshops are held throughout the fall and winter season in the parking lot at the Toronto Humane Society. I started volunteering with them in 2018 but missed the last 2 years. It's so nice to be back helping the kitties in Toronto keep warm and dry during the cold winter.

In addition to selling the shelters for $15 or $10 for a refurbished one, Toronto Street Cats also provides free straw to replenish existing shelters.

Thom and Darlene cut the tubing for the entrance ways, cut the Styrofoam for insulated walls and drilled holes into the bins after the insulated walls had been taped inside. 

We taped the insulated walls together in the bins and then taped the tubing entrances. 

Pippa Scarf

I knitted scarf to donate using Snufflebean Yarn’s “Pippa” baby blanket pattern I converted into a scarf.

I used Red Heart Comfort yarn and 6.5mm needles and cast on 23 stitches.

Knit 15 rows as follows: K until final stitch, slip one purlwise with yarn in front (sl1pwyf).

Main Pattern Repeat

• Row 1 (RS): k9, pm, k until 9 stitches remain, pm, k8, sl1pwyif. 
• Row 2 (WS): k9, sm, p until 9 stitches remain, sm, k8, sl1pwyif. 
• Row 3: k9, sm, k until 9 stitches remain, sm, k8, sl1pwyif. 
• Row 4: k9, sm, p until 9 stitches remain, sm, k8, sl1pwyif. 
• Row 5: k9, sm, k until 9 stitches remain, sm, k8, sl1pwyif. 
• Row 6: k9, sm, p until 9 stitches remain, sm, k8, sl1pwyif. 
• Row 7: k9, sm, k until 9 stitches remain, sm, k8, sl1pwyif. 
• Row 8: k9, sm, p until 9 stitches remain, sm, k8, sl1pwyif. 
• Row 9-13: k9, sm, k until 9 stitches remain, sm, k8, sl1pwyif. 
• Row 14: k9, sm, p1, *k1, p1*, repeat from *to* until 2nd marker, sm, k8, sl1pwyif. 
• Row 15: k9, sm, p1, *k1, p1*, repeat from *to* until 2nd marker, sm, k8, sl1pwyif. 
• Row 16: k9, sm, p1, *k1, p1*, repeat from *to* until 2nd marker, sm, k8, sl1pwyif. 
• Row 17: k9, sm, p1, *k1, p1*, repeat from *to* until 2nd marker, sm, k8, sl1pwyif. 
• Row 18: k9, sm, p1, *k1, p1*, repeat from *to* until 2nd marker, sm, k8, sl1pwyif. 
• Row 19: k9, sm, p1, *k1, p1*, repeat from *to* until 2nd marker, sm, k8, sl1pwyif. 
• Row 20: k9, sm, p1, *k1, p1*, repeat from *to* until 2nd marker, sm, k8, sl1pwyif. 
• Row 21-24: k9, sm, k until 9 stitches remain, sm, k8, sl1pwyif.
• Repeat rows 1-24 9 times before moving onto top garter stitch edging.

Top Edge

• Knit 15 rows as follows: K until final stitch, sl1pwyf.
• Final row (Row 16): Cast off knit wise with right side facing.

The Swan: A Firkin Pub, Toronto, ON

Gord and I had a late lunch at The Swan on Bloor Street W at High Park Avenue. 

Gord had a Birria Melt (slow-braised beef, melted cheddar & Jack cheese, buttered sourdough, warm birria consommé for dipping). He liked it.

I had the Thursday Chicken Curry (classic chicken curry served with rice and naan). The curry had a bit of a bite and was good. The chicken was tender. I took half home for lunch tomorrow.

Akele was friendly and took good care of us.

High Park, Toronto, ON

Gord and I took a walk through High Park this afternoon.

High Park is a municipal park in Toronto, Ontario. It spans 161 hectares (400 acres) and is a mixed recreational and natural park, with sporting facilities, cultural facilities, educational facilities, gardens, playgrounds and a zoo. One third of the park remains in a natural state, with a rare oak savannah ecology. 

High Park was opened to the public in 1876 and is based on a bequest of land from John George Howard to the City of Toronto. It is the largest park entirely within the city.

We took the Queen street and got off at the Queensway/Colborne Lodge Drive entrance. We headed north towards Grenadier Pond.

The fall colours were gorgeous!

Gord and I

Austin Scarf

I knitted scarf to donate using Snufflebean Yarn’s “Austin” baby blanket pattern I converted into a scarf.

I used Red Heart Comfort yarn and 6.5mm needles and cast on 24 stitches.

Knit 15 rows as follows: K until final stitch, slip one purlwise with yarn in front (sl1pwyf).

Main Pattern Repeat

• Row 1 (RS): k9, pm, k across until 9 stitches remain, pm, k8, sl1pwyf. 
• Row 2 (WS): k9, sm, p across until second marker, sm, k8, sl1pwyf. 
• Row 3: k9, sm, k across until second marker, sm, k8, sl1pwyf. 
• Row 4: k9, sm, p across until second marker, sm, k8, sl1pwyf. 
• Row 5-9: k9, sm, k across until second marker, sm, k8, sl1pwyf. 
• Row 10: k9, sm, p across until second marker, sm, k8, sl1pwyf. 
• Row 11: k9, sm, k across until second marker, sm, k8, sl1pwyf. 
• Row 12: k9, sm, p across until second marker, sm, k8, sl1pwyf. 
• Row 13-20: k9, sm, k across until second marker, sm, k8, sl1pwyf.
• Work Rows 1-20 a total of 13 times. 
• Repeat rows 1-13 once more before moving onto top garter stitch edging.

Top Edge

• Knit 15 rows as follows: K until final stitch, sl1pwyf.
• Final row (Row 16): Cast off knit wise with right side facing.

Free samples at SampleSource.com - October 2026

A couple weeks ago, I had answered an emailed survey from SampleSource and a box of free goodies and coupons just arrived. This is the 15th box of samples I've gotten from them since November  2013. 

There was a bag of caramel flavoured McDonalds coffee (for Gord as I don’t drink coffee). There is a sample of TheraBreath Fresh Breathe oral rinse (plus a $5 coupon). Crumpet and Muffin were happy there was a package of Whiskas pouch (plus a coupon for 2 more free and a coupon for 2 free when I buy a bag of dry food) … they gobbled it up! There is a coupon for a free can of Pringles Chips or Dippers.

Trattoria Mercatto, Toronto, ON

I had supper this evening with Franca and Ann at Trattoria Mercatto in the Eaton Centre.

We shared an order of Arancini (Saffron Risotto & Mozzarella, Tomato Filetto). 

Franca had a Diavola pizza (Spicy Soppressata, Tomato, Fior di Latte, Basil).

Ann had a Beets & Ricotta salad (Green Kale, Garlic pangrattato) and Ricotta Gnocchi (Tomato, Whipped Ricotta, Grana Padano).

“Hell’s Kitchen”, Ed Mirvish Theatre, Toronto, ON

This afternoon I saw Hell’s Kitchen with Franca and Ann at the Ed Mirvish Theatre.

Welcome to HELL’S KITCHEN, the hit musical from 17-time Grammy Award winning Alicia Keys - inspired by her life, her music, and her community.

Your journey begins with Ali, a 17-year-old girl full of fire, searching for freedom, passion, and her place in the world. Along the way, you’ll meet the musical mentor who changes her life, her dynamic family, and the neighbourhood that helps her grow. Relatable, raw, and refreshingly fun, HELL’S KITCHEN is a celebration of finding yourself, your purpose, and the people who lift you up.

More than watching a performance, this experience pulls you out of your seat and has you buzzing when you leave, wondering who to tell about it first. The music—a mix of Keys’ greatest hits and new songs written exclusively for the show - is brought to life through exhilarating choreography. It’s a soundtrack of rebellion, life, and love that speaks to you no matter where you’re from, where you’ve been, or where you’re going.

It was loud and lively. The singers had excellent voices. I'm not overly familiar with Alicia Keys' songs, though I did recognize a few.