Sunset Grill Restaurant, Toronto, ON (Danforth/Coxwell)

I had lunch today at the Sunset Grill Restaurant on Danforth Avenue (at Coxwell).

I felt like having breakfast for lunch so ordered 3 eggs (over easy) with ham, white toast and a glass of milk ... and it was good.

The servers weren't overly warm and fuzzy but they were efficient.

Book ~ "You Raised Us - Now Work with Us: Millennials, Career Success, and Building Strong Workplace Teams" (2016) Lauren Stiller Rikleen

From Goodreads ~ Millennials are often stereotyped, they are "entitled," seek promotions prematurely and require constant praise. They see themselves, however, buried in historically high student debt and thwarted by an outdated workplace structure. 

This ground-breaking book is an indispensable resource to help Millennials, Gen Xers and Baby Boomers create a more effective work environment. 

The book separates myths from reality, and provides practical advice, based on detailed research, to strengthen intergenerational teams and develop the next generation of talented leadership.

There are three generations comprising today's workforce:

1. Boomers - born between 1946 and 1964
2. Gen X - born between 1964 and 1978
3. Millennials (or Gen Y) - born between 1978 to 2000

This book had four goals:

1. Analyze and build upon research about the Millennials and provide new insights on how Millennials view work as they begin their careers in the midst of an economic crisis
2. Help Boomers and Gen X better meet the opportunities and challenges that Millennials bring to the workforce by providing practical recommendations for strengthening intergenerational teamwork and relationships
3. Help Millennials navigate their way through the complexities of today's work environment
4. Highlight the opportunity available to all generations to make needed changes in the workplace that will benefit everyone

There are three parts of this book:

1. The key behaviors attributed to Millennials as well as Millennials' reactions to what other generations say about them
2. The impacts of the behaviors in the workplace, including the ways in which disinterested leadership styles, inflexible work practices and ineffective management can play into Millennials' reputation at work
3. The adaptations that are needed in the workplace to adjust to changing demographics while offering advice to Millennials as they learn to navigate their career

It was interesting to read about how different the Millennials are from the Boomers (like me) who raised them and why they are the way they are.

Millennials rely on social networking and text messages as their preferred form of communication.  When they get to work, it's a different story and they must feel like they are stepping back in time where primary communication is face-to-face, by phone or email.  In some workplaces, the use of social media is forbidden and/or blocked.  So even though they know/think that their communication styles are more efficient, they must adapt to the way it's always been, the way that most Boomers and Gen X are more comfortable with and in a lot of cases, don't realize there is indeed a better way.

Millennials grew up having their parents manage everything for them.  They watched their parents work hard to get ahead in their careers and be able to provide their children with everything.  The Millennials don't want this lifestyle for themselves and are willing to give up higher salaries and working longer hours for more time for themselves and with their families,

It will be interesting to see what things will be like as more and more Boomers and eventually the Gen Xers retire and the Millennials take over as our business leaders.  Will there be much of a change?  Will the Millennials be able to handle being leaders?

2016 Toronto Winter Brewfest, Toronto, ON

The inaugural edition of the Toronto Winter Brewfest was last night and tonight ... Gord and I went tonight.  Apparently they organize them in Ottawa.

Today we read reviews about last night's session ... mostly bad (the crowds, expensive drink tickets, etc.).  Friends we were going with decided to not go and sold their tickets.  Gord and I went ahead with our plans.  The doors opened at 5pm and we got there shortly after 6pm to avoid a line-up.  We were in line for about ten minutes.

We'd bought our tickets last month ... they were $20 and included a sample mug (there were two styles).

Mine

Gord's

Drink tickets were $1 each ... drinks were two tickets and up for four ounces.

Apparently tonight they increased the venue size by 25%, had more staff, dropped the ticket price of over 15 beers to two tickets per sample and there was free bottled water.

There were DJs playing tunes all night.

Besides beer, you could also get samples of cider. hard liquor and wine.

Book ~ "Weird Sh!t: True Stories to Shock, Stun, Astound and Amaze" (2016) Mark Leigh

From Goodreads ~ Did you know? Salvador Dali sometimes wore a perfume of fish glue and cow dung to attract his then girlfriend, Gala. Have you heard, seen, or read about something so bizarre and incredible that it leaves you bamboozled for the rest of the day? 

No? Then you haven't read "Weird Sh!t". 

This eclectic and eccentric mix of news stories, events, concepts and conceits reveals a world removed from reality as you know it. Prepare to depart from this seemingly conventional life and arrive at a destination full of downright weird and wonderful shit.

This book has bite-sized bits of information about animals, crime and punishment, the law, religion, weird leaders, entertainment, the rich and famous, and more.

Though an entertaining read, there are no sources for the information so it's hard to know if the info is true or not.  In the book, the author said that Charles Manson had auditioned for the Monkees.  I found this hard to believe so went online to confirm ... and it's not true.  So it this isn't true, it makes me wonder what else isn't?

Toronto Rock 14, Buffalo Bandits 12

Gord and I are season ticket holders for the Toronto Rock lacrosse team games ... the Rock is a professional lacrosse franchise in the National Lacrosse League (NLL).  This is our fourth year going to the games and our third year having seasons tickets.

They were playing the Buffalo Bandits tonight.

Iggy, the Rock mascot, worked the crowd before the game.

Hi, Iggy!

Going into tonight's game, the Rock was 0 - 6 and had the worst record in the league.

The Toronto Rock Cheerleaders welcomed the Rock players onto the field.

The Strath Pub, Toronto, ON

Gord and I had supper before the Toronto Rock game this evening at The Strath Pub (in the basement of the Strathacona Hotel at York/King W).  It's been about a year since I was there last.

The Beaver, Toronto, ON

Gord and I had supper tonight at The Beaver (Queen Street W/Gladstone Avenue).

It's been in our 'hood for ten years but we've never had supper there.

Gord ordered Baked Mac & Cheese.  He said it was delicious and he would get it again.

I ordered the Beaver Club (minus the greens).  The sandwich was delicious.  It was filling so I didn't eat much of the salad.  I'd get it again.

Third Thursday Cinq à Sept, The Theatre Centre, Toronto, ON

Every third Thursday of the month, from 5pm to 7pm, the Theatre Centre (Queen Street W/Dovercourt Road) opens up their café/bar to the performance community as a place to have a drink and spend time with one another for Third Thursday Cinq à Sept.

It's in our 'hood so Gord and I checked it out this evening.

There were board games scattered around.  Othello caught my eye.  I had a flash of a memory of playing it when I was kid.  After we read the rules, Gord and I played three games.

The special celebrity bartender this evening was Philip Akin, director of Obsidian Theatre's Venus’ Daughter.  He was making a rum-based drink called The Belly-AKIN.  It was tasty and the price was right at $6.

Snooty Fox, Hamilton, ON

I had to conduct a seminar in Hamilton this afternoon.

I had lunch beforehand at the Snooty Fox (on King Street W).

I ordered a pound of wings and a Diet Coke.  There were quite a few wings and they were a good size.  I ordered them with Lemon Pepper and was expecting a spice/rub.  But it was lemon juice with pepper which was overpowering at times.  Plus it made the crispy wings a bit soggy in places.  I'd order wings there again but not Lemon Pepper.

beautybox five - February 2016

My February 2016 beautybox five arrived today.

Beauty Box 5 is a subscription-based, beauty sampling service that delivers 5 deluxe samples and full-sized products right to your door every month.

Subscriptions are $12US a month or $99US for a year.  Shipping is free.

Here's what was in it ...

TKO's The Sports Pub, Toronto, ON

I had a seminar to conduct in east Toronto this afternoon.

I headed over a bit early and had lunch at TKO's The Sports Pub (on the Danforth, just east of Coxwell).

I got there right at noon

I ordered a Breaded Chicken Parmigiana Sandwich.  It was a big sandwich and I'm glad I didn't get a side order of fries, soup or salad (about an extra $2.50).  The bun was warm and soft and toasted a bit on the inside.  The chicken was real chicken breast (not processed chicken).  It was a delicious messy sandwich and I'd get it again.

The lunch price was about $8

 Leslie was my server.  She was friendly and chatty.