NODO Liberty, Toronto, ON

I had lunch today with friends at NODO Liberty in Liberty Village. It's been around for a couple years and it's the first time I've been there.

SummerWorks, Toronto, ON

I have attended many SummerWorks performances over the years and volunteered last year for the first time. I volunteered this year again and did two shifts.

SummerWorks is a leader, collaborator and community builder at the forefront of contemporary performance – asking crucial questions; nurturing artistic innovation; and presenting new works that reflect the complexity and diversity of our society.

BACK TO THE FUTURE | FORWARD TO THE PAST

Entering our 35th year, we’re back with a landmark season of bold performance, intimate creative experiences and daring artistic interventions exploring time - personal and collective, real and imagined. From August 7–17, 2025, join us as we gather in theatres, in public parks, in galleries, at transit hubs, and in the spaces between.

This year’s Festival theme, Back to the Future | Forward to the Past invites reflection, imagination and disruption with bold creative expressions that dive deep into temporality, exploring and questioning the past, present, and future, with a gentle curiosity and a critical ferocity. Inspired by the words of Dr. Elder Duke Redbird and curated by Artistic Director Michael Caldwell, the 2025 edition features works that dive into our memories, our legacies, our bodies, and our relationship to time.

With 40+ projects and over 200 artists, SummerWorks 2025 is a space to gather in curiosity, conversation and complexity - to mark the past, anchor in the present, and move collectively into imagined futures.

Uncover your next magical experience at the 2025 SummerWorks Performance Festival!

I attended the volunteer orientation training that was on Friday, August 1.

Sunday I was at the Citadel (on Parliament and Dundas E).

Book ~ "It's Always the Husband" (2017) Michele Campbell

From Goodreads ~ Kate, Aubrey and Jenny. They first met as college roommates and soon became inseparable, even though they are as different as three women can be. Twenty years later, one of them is standing at the edge of a bridge ... and someone else is urging her to jump.

How did things come to this?

As the novel cuts back and forth between their college years and their adult years, you see the exact reasons why these women love and hate each other - but can feelings that strong lead to murder? Or will everyone assume, as is often the case, that it’s always the husband?

Kate, Jenny and Aubrey met in their freshman year at an elite college as roommates. They couldn’t be more different ... Kate was rich and wild, Jenny was ambitious straitlace townie and Aubrey was poor, desperate to fit in and obsessed with Kate (it seemed that everyone was obsessed with Kate). There was lots of partying, questionable decisions and eventually a tragic incident. Fast forward twenty years and the three are back in their old college town, each with their own lives but still friends (but were they?). When one of them died, the police investigated and secrets were revealed. 

I thought this story was okay, not great. It tended to be a bit draggy at times and the writing could have been tighter. It's written in third person perspective. The timeline jumps around from the past (when the women met and were friends/roommates in college) to present day. I didn't find any of the women (or any of the characters) likeable. As the ending drew near, there were suddenly lots of possibilities as to who could have dunnit and I found who actually dunnit a bit of a letdown. As a head's up, there is swearing.

Toronto Blue Jays 2 ~ Chicago Cubs 1, Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON

Every summer Dawn, our pal and neighbour, organizes her staff (and their friends and family) for an afternoon Toronto Blue Jays ~ Chicago Cubs game at the Rogers Centre. Knowing we’re fans, she invites us. And that’s what we did today! 

It was a fun game! The Jays beat the Chicago Cubs 2 - 1. Whoohoo!  Thanks, Dawn!

Gord and I ... and Dawn photobombing behind us

Honeycomb (aka Newfie) knitted mittens

I just finished knitting a pair of Honeycomb (aka Newfie) mittens to donate ... the colours are reef and black.

I used 4 ply yarn and 5mm double pointed needles.

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

Martin Goodman Trail, Toronto, ON

It's a hot sunny day and I had the urge to head to the beach ... so I drove to the Lakeshore parked near Sunnyside Beach and went for a long walk along the Martin Goodman Trail.

There were a few people at Sunnyside Beach and a couple in the water.

I headed west along the Martin Goodman Trail.

Gaga Chromatica Ball: Viewing Party & Singalong!, The Theatre Centre, Toronto, ON

The staff at The Theatre Centre (at Queen Street W/Dovercourt Road) took over their café the last couple weeks and tonight it was Angelo’s turn. He hosted the Gaga Chromatica Ball: Viewing Party & Singalong!. 

Celebrate the 3 year anniversary of Lady Gaga’s Chromatica Ball in Toronto! Bring friends, dance, sing, drink Gaga’s favourite cocktail in true Little Monster fashion. 

Just as we would have at the concert, Gaga-themed outfits, t-shirts and scream-singing along are encouraged! Angelo will bring a few rare merch items for you to see IRL before the film and there will be time to share your best LG stories to share with fellow LMs!

Angelo had lots of memorabilia and is an obvious fan. It was lots of fun ... check out my Instagram for the singing and dancing! Thanks, Angelo!

Book ~ "John Candy: A Life in Comedy" (2025) Paul Myers

From Goodreads ~ From his humble beginnings in sketch comedy with the Toronto branch of Second City, to his rise to fame in "SCTV" and Hollywood film classics like "Planes, Trains and Automobiles", "The Great Outdoors" and "Uncle Buck", John Candy captivated audiences with his self-deprecating humour, emotional warmth and gift for improvisation. Now for the first time since Candy’s tragic death, biographer Paul Myers tells the full story of the man behind the laughs.

Drawing on extensive research and exclusive interviews with many of Candy’s closest friends and colleagues including Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, Tom Hanks, Ron Howard, Steve Martin, Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short and many more, "John Candy: A Life in Comedy" celebrates the comedian’s unparalleled talent, infectious charm and generosity of spirit. Through ups and downs, successes and failures, and struggles with anxiety and self-doubt, Candy faced the world with a big smile and a warm demeanour that earned him the love and adoration of fans around the world.

This book is a behind-the-scenes look at the life and career of John Candy (1950 - 1994). It dives into Candy’s rise from local sketch comedy in Toronto to Hollywood fame, while also showing the kind, generous and sometimes troubled man behind all the laughs.

Candy grew up in Toronto and got his comedy start at Second City. Thanks to Dan Aykroyd, he landed a spot on SCTV and became a breakout star with his big heart and even bigger characters. From Stripes to The Blues Brothers to Uncle Buck, Planes, Trains and Automobiles to Cool Runnings, Candy built a career on playing lovable funny underdogs. This book takes you through those roles and others (there are whole chapters on most of his movies).

The author spoke with a lot of Candy’s friends and co-stars (including Steve Martin, Catherine O’Hara, Tom Hanks, Martin Short and Dan Aykroyd) to show the deep affection and admiration so many had for him. Off-camera Candy was generous and thoughtful ... for example, buying Thanksgiving dinner for entire film crews, comforting homesick extras and always making time for people. The book also looks at Candy’s struggles with anxiety, his weight and the pressure of being “the funny guy.”

I was (and still am) a fan of John Candy. He passed away just over 30 years ago and I'm surprised it's taken this long for someone to write such a book about him. I enjoyed it and it was interesting to learn more about Candy. It's obvious that it's well-researched and honest ... though he knew better (his father had passed away young of a heart attack), Candy liked his smokes, rum & Cokes and food. It would have been nice, though, to have some photographs included as it's just all text.

Happy Simcoe Day!

It’s Simcoe Day here in Ontario ... a civic holiday that honours Colonel John Graves Simcoe. 

Simcoe was a notable figure in history: 

• A hero of the American Revolutionary War 
• Commander of the Queen’s York Rangers 
• Founder of what would become Toronto 
• The first Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada 
• Visionary behind the building of Yonge Street 
• He passed legislation that began the process of abolishing slavery in what’s now Ontario, 30 years before the rest of the British Empire and 60 years before Abraham Lincoln did the same in the U.S.

Honeycomb (aka Newfie) knitted mittens

I just finished knitting a pair of Honeycomb (aka Newfie) mittens to donate ... the colours are raspberry and black.

I used 4 ply yarn and 5mm double pointed needles.

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

Chamberlains Pony Bar, Toronto, ON

Gord and I stopped in Chamberlain's Pony Bar (at King Street W/Portland Street) … they opened almost a year ago in a former hair salon. 

They were showing Olympic equestrian events from the 1980s on the TVs.

Gusto 101, Toronto, ON

Gord and I had supper at Gusto 101 on Portland Street (just north of King Street W). It’s a former auto garage. Our friend and neighbour, Dawn, had given us a gift certificate for Christmas and we finally used it this evening.

We ate on the street level patio. It was a busy spot with lots to see!

Inside on the main level ...

Duke's Refresher and Bar, Toronto, ON (Queen Street E),

I had supper at Duke’s Refresher and Bar on Queen Street E/Broadview on the rooftop patio this evening.

$5 happy hour beer ... right on!