Scaddabush Italian Kitchen & Bar, Toronto, ON (Front Street)

Gord, Judy, Doug and I had supper this evening at Scaddabush, on Front Street W (at Simcoe Street).

It was a busy spot so we ended up sitting on the patio with a big heater overhead.

Doug and I had an Americano pizza (Ezzo Pepperoni, San Marzano tomato sauce, Pecorino, wild Italian oregano, SCADDA spice).

Gord and Judy had The Butcher pizza (Double-smoked bacon, fennel sausage, Ezzo Pepperoni, San Marzano tomato sauce, Pecorino, roasted garlic, caramelized onions).

Yum! Leftovers came home with us. 

TJ took good care of us.

Steam Whistle Brewing Tap Room, Toronto, ON

After Gord, Judy, Doug and I left the aquarium, we crossed the street and enjoyed a few beer at the Steam Whistle Brewing Tap Room. It was a cute spot and the tunes were good when they were turned on at 4pm.

Cheers!

Judy and Doug

Moi!

Gord

Ripley's Aquarium of Canada, Toronto, ON

Gord, Judy, Doug and and I went to Ripley's Aquarium of Canada this afternoon.  There's so much to see and it's a fun and interesting spot to spend a couple hours.

More than 13,500 underwater creatures from around the globe are on display. Exhibits include Tropical Reefs, Atlantic and Pacific Ocean Habitats, Jellyfish, Seahorses, Stingrays, and Great Lakes exhibits and much more. The aquarium holds 5.7 million litres (1.5 million gallons) of water.

From the majestic Kelp forests of Canada’s Pacific Northwest to the spectacular colour and abundant life of a Tropical Indo-Pacific reef, to the frigid Baffin Sea to the flooding waters of the Amazon, the aquarium covers all waters of the world.

Because it's March Break, it was a popular spot.

Hooters, Toronto, ON

After we saw Come From Away, Gord, Judy, Doug and I had an early supper this evening at Hooters at Adelaide Street W/John Street.

Here we are!

Judy, me, Gord and Doug

Gord had fish and tater tots.

Doug had boneless wings (with medium sauce) and tater tots.

"Come From Away", Royal Alexandra Theatre, Toronto, ON

Gord and I saw Come From Away this afternoon with his sister, Judy, and Doug, Judy's husband. 

On September 11, 2001, 38 planes with 6,579 passengers were stranded in a remote town in Newfoundland. The locals opened their hearts and homes, and hosted this international community of strangers for a week - spurring unexpected camaraderie in extraordinary circumstances. When the world stopped, their stories moved us all.

Gord and I have seen it a few times over the years when it's come to town and even with a different cast, it's still as good as ever! And it's such a nice story. It is at the Royal Alexandra Theatre on King Street W until  May 4. 

Judy and Doug

Judy, Doug, me and Gord

The stage before the show started

The cast and musicians take a bow

The musicians played a lively song at the end

Book ~ "Maybe in a Different Life" (2015) Taylor Jenkins Reid

From Goodreads ~ At the age of twenty-nine, Hannah Martin still has no idea what she wants to do with her life. She has lived in six different cities and held countless meaningless jobs since graduating college. On the heels of leaving yet another city, Hannah moves back to her hometown of Los Angeles and takes up residence in her best friend Gabby’s guestroom. Shortly after getting back to town, Hannah goes out to a bar one night with Gabby and meets up with her high school boyfriend, Ethan.

Just after midnight, Gabby asks Hannah if she’s ready to go. A moment later, Ethan offers to give her a ride later if she wants to stay. Hannah hesitates. What happens if she leaves with Gabby? What happens if she leaves with Ethan?

In concurrent storylines, Hannah lives out the effects of each decision. Quickly, these parallel universes develop into radically different stories with large-scale consequences for Hannah, as well as the people around her. As the two alternate realities run their course, "Maybe in Another Life" raises questions about fate and true love: Is anything meant to be? How much in our life is determined by chance? And perhaps, most compellingly: Is there such a thing as a soul mate?

Hannah believes there is. And, in both worlds, she believes she’s found him.

Hannah is nearly thirty and doesn't have much direction in her life. She's moved around a lot and finally decides to settle down in her hometown of Los Angeles. She moves in with Gabby, her best friend, and Mark, Gabby's husband. She's always wondered "what if" about Ethan, her high school boyfriend, who was the love of her life. She goes out to a bar with Gabby and Mark and Ethan is there. When Gabby and Mark are ready to go home, Gabby asks Hannah if she is ready to go too. Ethan asks her to stay.

And then the story begins ... what would happen if Hannah went home with Gabby and Mark? What would happen if she stays with Ethan? What follows are two parallel stories of what happened when she went home with Gabby and Mark and what happened when she went home with Ethan. It was an interesting concept (similar to the movie Sliding Doors, which I enjoy).

I liked this story and it was interesting to see what would have happened given the paths Hannah had before her and the choices she made. Despite the different paths, there were still some things that happened in her lives that crossed over (for example, what was happening with Gabby, her husband and parents). It's written in first person perspective in Hannah's voice. The chapters alternate ... what happened if she'd gone home with Gabby and Mark and what happened if she went home with Ethan. As a head's up, there is swearing.

The Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival, Theatre Centre, Toronto, ON

The Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival is back for their 20th year at the Theatre Centre, which was in my ‘hood. I attended shows Wednesday evening, Thursday evening, last evening and this evening (it's my second year attending shows).

The Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival (TOsketchfest) is Toronto’s longest running comedy festival. Born in West Queen West, it was created to celebrate Toronto’s storied and continued excellence in the theatrical tradition of sketch comedy. TOsketchfest truly is Toronto’s comedy festival – of Toronto, by Toronto and for Toronto.

The “main event” is the annual Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival each March which features over 10 hilarious days of the best live, scripted comedy in North America and beyond. Founded in 2005 by a group of Toronto comedians the festival has since grown by leaps and bounds, and is a highlight in the Toronto comedy calendar.

Wednesday evening Gord and I saw Erica Gellert and Summer Dad. Different styles of humour but both funny. Erica did a handful of different characters and Summer Dad did random sketches, sometimes risqué.

Thursday evening Gord and I saw the Incredible Shrinking Matt & Jacquie and Anesti Danelis. Matt & Jacquie did different sketches with different characters and Anesti showcased his heritage and sexuality. Both were funny (I’ve seen Anesti a few times over the last couple of years). The Suburban Sister Wives were the hosts and they were a hoot!

College Falafel, Toronto, ON

My move-aversary to Toronto from Nova Scotia 38 years ago was last week while I was in Cuba. I celebrated today by getting an east coast donair from College Falafel (at Ossington Avenue and College Street), my go-to place for donairs. The owners, Oljana and Bard, are always so nice and friendly and, though I don’t stop in as often as I’d like, they treat me very well. And they make good donairs! 

Traditionally a donair has meat, tomatoes, onions and donair sauce.  The donair is served in a pita pocket.  The meat was good and tender and the sauce was tasty.  I got mine with tomatoes (I'm not a fan of onions).

Book ~ "What Makes a Family" (2017) Colleen Faulkner

From Goodreads ~ Nestled in the Chesapeake Bay, Brodie Island is charming, remote and slow to change. For three hundred years, Abby Brodie's farming family has prospered there. Now, years after leaving to make her way on her own terms, Abby is coming home to see her ailing grandmother, with her teenage daughter and a wealth of memories in tow. Yet as family members gather at the old farmhouse, Abby realizes this visit offers more than a chance to say goodbye.

After decades of feeling she was a disappointment as a daughter, Abby is beginning to see that her mother, too, has struggled to feel a sense of belonging within the Brodie family. Celeste, Abby's self-centered sister, is far from the successful actress she pretends to be, and needs help that only Abby and their half-brother, Joseph, can give. But most surprising of all is the secret that Grandmother Brodie has been carrying - one that will make each woman question her identity and the sacrifices she's willing to make to gain acceptance.

Sarah Agnes, the family matriarch, is on her deathbed at the home she shares with Joe, her son, and Birdie, his wife (and also Sarah Agnes' adopted daughter). Abby and Celeste, Joe and Birdie's daughters, along with Sarah, Abby's daughter, and Joseph, Joe's illegitimate son, have gathered to say their good-byes. Abby is in a happy marriage with Drum and Celeste is a has-been actress looking to mooch off whoever she can. Birdie is a cold mother who does what she has to do in taking care of her family.

 

I wasn't crazy about this book. It's really drawn out and draggy so by the end, I really didn't care. The story is told in first person perspective in Abby, Sarah Agnes, Birdie and Celeste's voices (the chapters are labelled). I found Abby boring, Birdie was cold (it would have been nice to know why she was the way she was) and Celeste was too unrealistically self-centred. I was more into Sarah Agnes' story of when she was younger and it was interesting as Sarah, her great granddaughter, dug and learned more about her.

Blaze Pizza, Toronto, ON (Dundas E)

Gord, Trish and I had supper at Blaze Pizza (at Yonge Street/Dundas Street E) ... it's been a while since I've been there.

You can order one of their signature pizzas or build your own ... I built my own.  There are lots of ingredients to choose from. That's my pizza ... with regular sauce, extra mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, ham, bacon and tomatoes.  It was good!

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 orange.

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

Iberostar Selection Holguin, Holguin, Cuba

When Sunwing cancelled our vacation to Punta Cana the day we arrived at the airport, Anne, Franca and I scampered to rebook another vacation ASAP. Franca and Anne work so didn't have the flexibility to not take the planned week off. After three hours of going online and calling other providers, the best we could do was the 4 star Sol Turquesa Beach in Holguin (via Air Transat) leaving on Sunday. When we arrived at there late Sunday night, where was everyone?! There are over 500 rooms but apparently only 80 guests. Because of that, a lot of things are closed down and not happening ... no entertainment, no activities, nothing. 

Monday afternoon we spoke with Pablo, the Air Transat rep on site, and asked him to move us. For another $458 each, he moved us the next day to the 5 star Iberostar Selection. We had to pay for the cab to get us there ($25US).

Adele and his '41 Chevy

A much better resort and worth the move! Though it wasn't at capacity, there were lots of guests so there was energy and people to talk with. At night, the animation team put on shows. 

We had a fun time here. My only complaint about the resort is that their WIFI sucked. It was free throughout the resort, including the rooms. When we arrived, we were given a temporary login and then picked up our permanent login info later that day. I wasn't able to get access on my phone at all so used roaming from my provider at home (I'm not looking forward to seeing that charge!). My iPad and laptop were hit and miss ... sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't, sometimes it was speedy. Once we inputted our login info that should have been it for the week but I found I was often asked to input it on a daily basis. That was annoying.

These carts drove around often and you could hop on
and head to the main building, the snack bar, the beach,
back to your room, etc.

My room was a five minute walk to the main building and the pool (in the other direction). It had a mini fridge, giant fan above the bed, a/c, etc.

Book ~ "Beverlee Beaz meets Lowree Louise, the Blue Burmese" (2025) Regan W. H. Macaulay and Wei Lu

From Mirror World Publishing ~ Beverlee Beaz, the brown Burmese, longs to share her creative adventures with someone special. When she meets her new sister, Lowree Louise, the blue Burmese, she knows she has found a true friend with whom to play imagination games ... if only she can teach the little kitty how. 

Join Beverlee in her latest tale as she mentors her sister in the ways of imagination.

Beverlee Beaz is a brown Burmese cat with a very active imagination.  Her world is perfect except she realizes that something is missing in her life. Her human parents coincidentally surprise her with a new sister named Lowree Louise, a blue Burmese cat. Beverlee is really excited because now she has someone she can play with and mentor. And so begins the adventures of Beverlee Beaz teaching Lowree Louise the best game in the world, which is using their imaginations.

This is a story for young children and not only is it cute but it also encourages children to use their own imagination. So instead of just seeing a red cardinal, imagine that it's a fire breathing dragon! The illustrations are gorgeous and colourful. At the end of the book, there are a couple activities ... colouring a picture of Lance the white stallion as a pegasus and a word scramble.