Mill Street Brew Pub, Toronto, ON

Gord and I had supper at Mill Street Brew Pub in the Distillery District.

Gord had two Chili Shrimp Tacos (pineapple salsa, jalapeño, lime crema).

Old Flame Brewing Company, Toronto, ON

After Gord and I saw Kim's Convenience, we crossed the lane to Old Flame Brewing Company in the Distrillery District.

It's dog-friendly 💕

Gotta love $5 beer!

"Kim's Convenience", Young Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto, ON

Gord and I saw Kim’s Convenience this afternoon at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts in the Distillery District.

The play that started it all – Kim’s Convenience returns to the stage where it all began and reunites celebrated playwright Ins Choi with its original director, Weyni Mengesha. The most successful Canadian play of the last decade, Kim’s Convenience immediately resonated with Torontonians, becoming the most popular show in Soulpepper’s history. After leaving the Soulpepper stage Kim’s Convenience went on to become an internationally successful TV show on CBC and Netflix, and now makes its triumphant return home. 

Mr. Kim is a first-generation Korean immigrant, a father of two, and the proud proprietor of Kim’s Convenience for the past 30 years. After building his empire from nothing, the stubborn Mr. Kim grapples with his changing Toronto neighbourhood, and the growing chasm between him and his second-generation children. In this heartwarming and hilarious story, audiences follow the Kim family as they tackle their challenging past and look to face an unknown future. Playwright Ins Choi, who will also star in the production as the title character, calls the play his ‘love letter to his parents and to all first-generation immigrants who call Canada their home’.

Gord and I

It was really good. All five actors did a fabulous job. The characters of Appa and Janet are the larger parts and the actors playing them (Ins Choi and Kelly Seo) were excellent. The play premiered at the Fringe Festival (I'm a volunteer) in 2011 and was made into a TV show (which I never watched but Gord did).

Book ~ "Unravelled" (2007) Robyn Harding

From Goodreads ~ Beth wasn’t sure that joining a knitting circle was going to fill the void created when she left her sweet but commitment-phobic boyfriend, Colin, and moved in with her frumpy and judgmental roommate but it was worth a try. 

Armed with a bottle of Merlot and a positive attitude, she attended the first meeting of the stitch ’n bitch club. In attendance were Sophie, a young mom grappling with a toddler and a passion-deficit marriage; Nicola, an eerily sweet and demure bride-to-be; and Martin, a charming magazine editor who just had to be gay - or was he?

Beth is in her early/mid thirties and had been living with Colin for four years. She assumed they'd be married and have their first child by the time she was 35. When she discovered Colin liked the way things were, she moved out.

Angie, her friend, starts a stitch 'n bitch club and invites Beth. Also in the group are Sophie, Nicola and Martin. Beth is a freelance writer who occasionally works for Martin, who they assume is gay. In the meantime, Beth starts dating Jim, an engineer she had interviewed. Because he is older, he seems to be everything Colin isn't and Beth starts to see a future with him.

I was looking for something light and this seemed to fit the bill. Plus I'm a knitter. It started off fairly light but then things started getting went off in a few unbelievable directions. This story is written in first person perspective in Beth's voice. I didn't find anyone all that likeable. Beth and her friends were supposed to be in their thirties but acted like they were in their teens or early twenties, so immature. I figured there was a twist coming up. And there were a couple ... I saw one coming and the other one was farfetched. As a head's up, there is swearing and adult activity.

Honeycomb (aka Newfie) knitted mittens

I just finished knitting a pair of Honeycomb (aka Newfie) mittens to donate.

I used 4 ply yarn and 5mm double pointed needles. The colours are black and reef.

Wrist

1. With A, cast on 42 sts
2. Knit 1, purl 1 for 18 rows
3. Purl
4. Purl, increasing 2 stitches on each needle for a total of 48 stitches

Pattern

1.  *Knit 4 with B, slip 2 purlwise with A*, repeat to the end of row
2. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
3. Purl 2 rows with A
4. Knit 1 with B, * slip 2 purlwise with A, knit 4 with B*, repeat to the last three stitches, knit 3 with B
5. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
6. Purl 2 rows with A
7.  *Knit 4 with B, slip 2 purlwise with A*, repeat to the end of row
8. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
9. Purl 2 rows with A
10. Knit 1 with B, * slip 2 purlwise with A, knit 4 with B*, repeat to the last three stitches, knit 3 with B
11. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
12. Purl 2 rows with A

Thumb

1. In step 12 above, purl 2, put 7 stitches on a stitch holder for the thumb and cast on 7 stitches, purl to the end.  Purl 1 row.

Mitten

1. Knit the pattern until long enough (I did 6)
2. Knit 1 row
3. *Knit 4, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
4. Knit 2 rows
5. *Knit 3, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
6. Knit 2 rows
7. *Knit 2, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
8. Knit 2 rows
9. *Knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
10. Thread the yarn through remaining the loops and pull tight
11. Weave end inside

Thumb

1. With A, pick up the 7 stitches from the holder
2. Pick up 7 stitches around the thumb hole for a total of 14 stitches
3. Knit to fit length of thumb
4. Knit 2 together all around
5. Thread the yarn through the remaining loops and pull tight
6. Weave end inside

Book ~ "The Mother-in-Law" (2019) Sally Hepworth

From Goodreads ~ From the moment Lucy met her husband's mother, Diana, she was kept at arm's length. Diana was exquisitely polite and properly friendly but Lucy knew that she was not what Diana envisioned. But who could fault Diana? She was a pillar of the community, an advocate for social justice who helped female refugees assimilate to their new country. Diana was happily married to Tom and lived in wedded bliss for decades. Lucy wanted so much to please her new mother-in-law.

That was five years ago.

Now Diana has been found dead, a suicide note near her body. Diana claims that she no longer wanted to live because of a battle with cancer.

But the autopsy finds no cancer.

The autopsy does find traces of poison and suffocation.

Who could possibly want Diana dead?

Why was her will changed at the eleventh hour to disinherit both of her adult children and their spouses?

Lucy's mother had passed away when she was young so when she started dating Ollie, she was looking forward to forming a bond with Diana, his mother. Tom, Ollie's dad, was friendly and welcoming but Diana was cold. Even after Lucy and Ollie got married and started having children, Diana never warmed up to Lucy (or anyone else except for Tom).

When Diana is found of an apparent suicide, everyone is shocked. The police have to investigate and as they do, they discover Diana's death was suspicious. Though a suicide poison was found near her body, she had none in her system. She had told her children she had cancer when it's discovered during the autopsy that she didn't. Her two children assumed they would inherit her vast wealth when she passed away but she had changed her will shortly before she passed away.

I liked this story and the writing style. It's written in first person perspective in Lucy and Diana's voices (the chapters are labeled). The timeline jumps back and forth from the past (from when Diana was a teenager) to present day (the chapters are labeled). If it was murder, there were lots of possibilities of who could have dunnit. As a head's up, there is some swearing.

Book ~ "Under the Influence" (2016) Joyce Maynard

From Goodreads ~ Drinking cost Helen custody of her seven-year-old son, Ollie. Once an aspiring art photographer, she now makes ends meet taking portraits of school children and working for a caterer. Recovering from her addiction, she spends lonely evenings checking out profiles on an online dating site. Weekend visits with her son are awkward. He’s drifting away from her, fast.

When she meets Ava and Swift Havilland, the vulnerable Helen is instantly enchanted. Wealthy, connected philanthropists, they have their own charity devoted to rescuing dogs. Their home is filled with fabulous friends, edgy art and dazzling parties.

Then Helen meets Elliott, a kind quiet accountant who offers loyalty and love with none of her newfound friends’ fireworks. To Swift and Ava, he’s boring. But even worse than that, he’s unimpressed by them.

As Helen increasingly falls under the Havillands’ influence - running errands, doing random chores, questioning her relationship with Elliott - Ava and Swift hold out the most seductive gift: their influence and help to regain custody of her son. But the debt Helen owes them is about to come due.

Ollie witnesses an accident involving Swift, his grown son and the daughter of the Havillands’ housekeeper. With her young son’s future in the balance, Helen must choose between the truth and the friends who have given her everything.

Helen was in her late 30s and divorced. She made a bad decision one night while drunk and lost custody of Ollie, her young son. Over the next few years, she does all she can to get him back. In the meantime, she is working as a photographer taking pictures of families. Occasionally she works with her friend, Alice, doing catering gigs. At one of these gigs, Helen meets Ava and Swift. They are rich and Ava befriends her. Suddenly Helen is spending all her time with them, hanging out and doing odd jobs for them. In the meantime, Helen meets Elliott and they start dating. But Ava and Swift don't approve of Elliott and the feeling is mutual so Helen is juggling relationships.

This is the first book I've read by this author and it will probably be the last. I found it really dull and kept waiting for something to happen ... which finally happened about 80% into the story and by then I didn't really care. It's written in first person perspective in Helen's voice. I didn't find any of the characters likeable. Helen was drab and immature. I found it hard to believe that Elliott would fall in love with Helen about ten seconds after he met her, especially considering she treated him so badly. Ava and Swift were way over the top. As a head's up, there is swearing.

Firehouse Subs, Etobicoke, ON

I had lunch today at Firehouse Subs on North Queen Street on Etobicoke.

I ordered a medium Club on a Sub (smoked turkey breast, honey ham, crispy bacon, and melted provolone, served with tomato, mayo, and deli mustard) with a dill pickle spear served on the side. It was a tasty sub and the pickle was fun.

Honeycomb (aka Newfie) knitted mittens

I just finished knitting a pair of Honeycomb (aka Newfie) mittens.

I used 4 ply yarn and 5mm double pointed needles. The colours are black and raspberry. Rather than donating them, I'm going to keep them as they match my jacket.

Wrist

1. With A, cast on 42 sts
2. Knit 1, purl 1 for 18 rows
3. Purl
4. Purl, increasing 2 stitches on each needle for a total of 48 stitches

Pattern

1.  *Knit 4 with B, slip 2 purlwise with A*, repeat to the end of row
2. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
3. Purl 2 rows with A
4. Knit 1 with B, * slip 2 purlwise with A, knit 4 with B*, repeat to the last three stitches, knit 3 with B
5. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
6. Purl 2 rows with A
7.  *Knit 4 with B, slip 2 purlwise with A*, repeat to the end of row
8. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
9. Purl 2 rows with A
10. Knit 1 with B, * slip 2 purlwise with A, knit 4 with B*, repeat to the last three stitches, knit 3 with B
11. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
12. Purl 2 rows with A

Thumb

1. In step 12 above, purl 2, put 7 stitches on a stitch holder for the thumb and cast on 7 stitches, purl to the end.  Purl 1 row.

Mitten

1. Knit the pattern until long enough (I did 6)
2. Knit 1 row
3. *Knit 4, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
4. Knit 2 rows
5. *Knit 3, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
6. Knit 2 rows
7. *Knit 2, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
8. Knit 2 rows
9. *Knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
10. Thread the yarn through remaining the loops and pull tight
11. Weave end inside

Thumb

1. With A, pick up the 7 stitches from the holder
2. Pick up 7 stitches around the thumb hole for a total of 14 stitches
3. Knit to fit length of thumb
4. Knit 2 together all around
5. Thread the yarn through the remaining loops and pull tight
6. Weave end inside

Island Foods, Toronto, ON (Gladstone Avenue)

I had lunch today at Island Foods at Gladstone Avenue/Queen Street W.

I ordered what I always order at Island Foods ... a boneless chicken roti. As usual, it was delicious!

Mandarin, Toronto, ON

I had a fun time at the "Let's Celebrate Chinese New Year" event (my first event) at the Mandarin (2200 Yonge Street) with the with Toronto Social Seniors and Retirees and met some nice people!

Book ~ "The Things We Keep" (2016) Sally Hepworth

From Goodreads ~ Anna Forster, in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease at only thirty-eight years old, knows that her family is doing what they believe to be best when they take her to Rosalind House, an assisted living facility. She also knows there's just one other resident her age, Luke. What she does not expect is the love that blossoms between her and Luke even as she resists her new life at Rosalind House. As her disease steals more and more of her memory, Anna fights to hold on to what she knows, including her relationship with Luke. 

When Eve Bennett is suddenly thrust into the role of single mother she finds herself putting her culinary training to use at Rosalind house. When she meets Anna and Luke she is moved by the bond the pair has forged. But when a tragic incident leads Anna's and Luke's families to separate them, Eve finds herself questioning what she is willing to risk to help them.

Anna was a paramedic and in her late 30s when she started having symptoms of early stages of Alzheimer's. Their mother had had Alzheimer's so she knows what's to come. She puts her affairs in her twin brother, Jack's hands and chooses to move into Rosalind House, a seniors assisted living facility. Because it's a seniors facility, everyone is elderly except Anna and Luke, a fella Anna's age with similar symptoms to hers. Anna and Luke are drawn to each other, even while their memories deteriorate.

Eve is a single mother with a young daughter named Clementine whose husband left them with a scandal. They have lost everything and have to start over so Eve gets a job as a cook at Rosalind House. She and Anna become sort of friends (though she has to reintroduce herself to Anna all the time). Jack doesn't approve of Anna's and Luke's friendship/relationship and does what he can to keep them apart. Since Anna and Luke probably don't have a lot of time left mentally and physically, Eve, because she has lost so much, feels they should be able to enjoy what they have while they can and does what she can to ensure they do.

Despite the subject matter, I enjoyed this story. It's written in first person perspective in Anna, Eve and Clementine's voices (the chapters are labeled). I've never known anyone with Alzheimer's so it was interesting to read what it is like both from the mindset of Anna suffering from it (when it was in her voice) and those around her. The timeline jumps around from about a year and a half ago when Anna is first admitted to Rosalind House to present day as the disease has progressed (the chapters are labeled). As a head's up, there is some swearing.

Honeycomb (aka Newfie) knitted mittens

I just finished knitting a pair of Honeycomb (aka Newfie) mittens to donate.

I used 4 ply yarn and 5mm double pointed needles. The colours are black and mustard.

Wrist

1. With A, cast on 42 sts
2. Knit 1, purl 1 for 18 rows
3. Purl
4. Purl, increasing 2 stitches on each needle for a total of 48 stitches

Pattern

1.  *Knit 4 with B, slip 2 purlwise with A*, repeat to the end of row
2. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
3. Purl 2 rows with A
4. Knit 1 with B, * slip 2 purlwise with A, knit 4 with B*, repeat to the last three stitches, knit 3 with B
5. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
6. Purl 2 rows with A
7.  *Knit 4 with B, slip 2 purlwise with A*, repeat to the end of row
8. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
9. Purl 2 rows with A
10. Knit 1 with B, * slip 2 purlwise with A, knit 4 with B*, repeat to the last three stitches, knit 3 with B
11. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
12. Purl 2 rows with A

Thumb

1. In step 12 above, purl 2, put 7 stitches on a stitch holder for the thumb and cast on 7 stitches, purl to the end.  Purl 1 row.

Mitten

1. Knit the pattern until long enough (I did 6)
2. Knit 1 row
3. *Knit 4, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
4. Knit 2 rows
5. *Knit 3, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
6. Knit 2 rows
7. *Knit 2, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
8. Knit 2 rows
9. *Knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
10. Thread the yarn through remaining the loops and pull tight
11. Weave end inside

Thumb

1. With A, pick up the 7 stitches from the holder
2. Pick up 7 stitches around the thumb hole for a total of 14 stitches
3. Knit to fit length of thumb
4. Knit 2 together all around
5. Thread the yarn through the remaining loops and pull tight
6. Weave end inside

Book ~ "The Arrangement" (2019) Robyn Harding

From Goodreads ~ Natalie, a young art student in New York City, is struggling to pay her bills when a friend makes a suggestion: Why not go online and find a sugar daddy - a wealthy older man who will pay her for dates and even give her a monthly allowance? Lots of girls do it, Nat learns. All that’s required is to look pretty and hang on his every word. Sexual favours are optional.

Though more than thirty years her senior, Gabe, a handsome corporate finance attorney, seems like the perfect candidate, and within a month, they are madly in love. At least, Nat is ... Gabe already has a family, whom he has no intention of leaving.

So when he abruptly ends things, Nat can’t let go. She begins drinking heavily and stalking him: watching him at work, spying on his wife, even befriending his daughter, who is not much younger than she is. But Gabe’s not about to let his sugar baby destroy his perfect life. What was supposed to be a mutually beneficial arrangement devolves into a nightmare of deception, obsession, and, when a body is found near Gabe’s posh Upper East Side apartment, murder.

Nat is an arts university student in NYC barely making it financially. She was recently fired from her part-time job and her roommates keep threatening to kick her out because she can't pay her share of the bills. When a fellow student tells her about a website where she can look for a sugar daddy, in desperation Nat signs up. Right away she connects with Gabe, a 55-year-old divorced attorney and he sets up her up financially and they fall in love. Though Gabe does care for her, what she doesn't know is that is Gabe actually has a wife and daughter and plans on keeping his secret life secret. Then the time comes for Gabe to make a choice ... Nat or his family. He chooses his family and Nat doesn't take it well at all.

I liked this story (such an intriguing premise) and the writing style. I kind of knew things weren't going to end happily ever after for Nat so it was interesting to see what happened. The ending had a bit of a surprising twist and I was buying it. This story is written in third person perspective. As a head's up, there is swearing, adult activity and violence.

Kellys Landing Bar Grill Hub, Toronto, ON

Gord and I had supper this evening at Kellys Landing Bar Grill Hub (York Street/Front Street). 

Gord had Scallops & Bacon Risotto (two seared jumbo scallops, smoked bacon, spinach, grape tomatoes, Parmesan, fennel honey and gremolata). It was his first time having risotto and he said it was really good.  

I had Maple Cider Chicken (maple marinated roasted half chicken, herb-buttered fingerling potatoes and onion gravy) and it was good. 

"Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?", Bluma Appel Theatre, Toronto, ON

Gord and I saw Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf this afternoon at the Bluma Appel Theatre.

It was intense and the acting was excellent, especially Paul Gross and Martha Burns who had huge rambling speeches. It’s almost 3.5 hours but didn’t seem long. 

Mac Fyfe was supposed to play Nick but because of a medical issue, he was replaced at the last minute by Rylan Wilkie. We were warned ahead of the performance that Wilkie wasn't quite up to speed so would be carrying his script for when/if he needed it. I was expecting it to be distracting and disjointed but it wasn't. He pulled it off well.

A timeless and twisted portrayal of married life. Late one night, after a university faculty soirée, George and Martha welcome a younger couple into their home. As the alcohol flows and dawn approaches, the young couple are drawn into George and Martha’s toxic games until the evening reaches its climax in a moment of devastating truth-telling.