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

Gord and I had supper this evening at Duke's Refresher and Bar on Front Street.

Gord loves pinball!

We both ordered Fried Chicken.  Gord got his with a Caesar Salad and no spice on his chicken and I got mine with fries and lemon pepper on my chicken.  We both enjoyed our meals.  I'd get mine with no spice next time because I found they way overspiced mine.

Happy Boxing Day!

Boxing Day is traditionally the day following Christmas Day, when servants and tradesmen would receive gifts, known as a "Christmas box", from their bosses or employers.

Today, Boxing Day is the statutory holiday. It is observed in the United Kingdom, Canada, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago and some other Commonwealth nations.

In Canada, Boxing Day is primarily known as a shopping holiday, much like Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) in the U.S. It is a time where shops have sales, often with dramatic price reductions.  Many retailers open very early and offer doorbuster deals and loss leaders to draw people to their stores. It is not uncommon for long lines to form early in the morning, hours before the opening of shops holding the big sales, especially at big-box consumer electronics retailers.

Knitted dish cloth

I finished a dishcloth this evening ... it is a quick and easy pattern.

 I used cotton yarn.

Cast on 40 stitches.

Row 1: *Knit 4, purl 4*, repeat pattern to end of row.
Row 2: Repeat row 1.
Row 3: *Purl 4, knit 4*, repeat pattern to end of row.
Row 4: Repeat row 3.

Repeat rows 1 - 4 until cloth is the desired size.

Bind off all stitches reasonably loosely to allow for stretch.

Sew in ends.

Merry Christmas!

Book ~ "The Missing Millionaire: The True Story of Ambrose Small and the City Obsessed With Finding Him" (2019) Katie Daubs

From Goodreads ~ In December 1919, Ambrose Small, the mercurial owner of the Grand Opera House in Toronto, closed a deal to sell his network of Ontario theatres, deposited a million-dollar cheque in his bank account, and was never seen again. As weeks turned to years, the disappearance became the most "extraordinary unsolved mystery" of its time. Everything about the sensational case would be called into question in the decades to come, including the motivations of his inner circle, his enemies, and the police who followed the trail across the continent, looking for answers in asylums, theatres and the Pacific Northwest. 

In "The Missing Millionaire", Katie Daubs tells the story of the Small mystery, weaving together a gripping narrative with the social and cultural history of a city undergoing immense change. Daubs examines the characters who were connected to the case as the century carried on: Ambrose's religious wife, Theresa; his long-time secretary, Jack Doughty; his two unmarried sisters, Florence and Gertrude; Patrick Sullivan, a lawless ex-policeman; and Austin Mitchell, an overwhelmed detective. A series of trials exposed Small’s tumultuous business and personal relationships, while allegations and confessions swirled. But as the main players in the Small mystery died, they took their secrets to the grave, and Ambrose Small would be forever missing. 

Drawing on extensive research, newly discovered archival material, and her own interviews with the descendants of key figures, Katie Daubs offers a rich portrait of life in an evolving city in the early twentieth century. Delving into a crime story about the power of the elite, she vividly recounts the page-turning tale of a cold case that is truly stranger than fiction. 

At age 53, Ambrose Small was a self-made millionaire who lived in Toronto and owned several Ontario-based theatres including the Grand Opera House in Toronto (where the Scotia Plaza now is).  On December 1, 1919, he sold his theatre holdings for $1.7 million and deposited a million dollar cheque in the bank.  The next day he met with his lawyer in his office at the Grand Opera House.  His lawyer left at 5:30 p.m. and was the last person to see Small ... no one has seen him or heard from him since.  Because he would take off, Theresa, his wife, wasn't overly concerned when he didn't arrive home for supper and didn't report him missing until a few weeks later.

This book is about the disappearance of Small and the investigation.  No one knows what happened to him.  Was he murdered?  If so, there were many suspects.  Theresa, who was very religious, might have gotten tired of his womanizing.  Jack, his assistant, wasn't a fan of Small's because he felt Small didn't treat him well.  Maybe Small took off to start a new life ... but it's weird that he didn't take any of the money with him.  Maybe he had amnesia ... but he was easily recognizable, especially with all the posters advertising a reward for his return.

It's an interesting story and the author did a thorough job in researching, even speaking with descendants of the Small and Jack.  The editing could have been a bit tighter, though, as there were some typos.

Create Your Own Custom Silver Ring Workshop, Toronto, ON

This evening Gord and I attended a workshop from 5pm to 9pm in which we each made a silver ring from scratch.  It was hosted by Danielle Crampsie of Soundwave Jewellery at her studio, which is in our 'hood.

Using real sterling silver, tiny saws, hammers, and fire, you'll create your very own ring. I'll teach you how to measure, cut, solder, bend, file, and polish your custom creation. You can also texturize or letter stamp it to make it truly one of a kind. You'll leave wearing your new ring with a sense of great accomplishment and the perfect souvenir.

The first step was to choose our width and style.  Mine is 4mm and flat and Gord's is 6mm and bevelled.

Mine is on the left and Gord's is on the right

Then we measured and cut the length ... surprisingly it's not just measuring but a mathematical equation.

MT = metal thickness
ID - inside diametre

Book ~ "The Last Affair" (2019) Margot Hunt

From Goodreads ~ Nora Holliday is not that kind of woman. Not the kind who has an illicit affair with a married man. But Josh Landon is everything Nora’s alcoholic husband isn’t. And now she and Josh are so infatuated, they can’t stay away from one another.

Abby Landon, Josh’s daughter, is home from college nursing a broken heart. She’s seeking solace, not more scandal, so when she catches her dad kissing Nora, she vows to take the homewrecker down.

And as for Abby’s mother and Josh’s wife, Gwen? To anyone on the outside looking in, the mother of two appears to be living the ideal suburban life.

Until she winds up dead.

The serene seaside town of Shoreham has always been the perfect place to raise a family - not somewhere housewives are brutally murdered. So who killed Gwen Landon and how many twisted secrets will be exposed as the vindictive plot comes undone? 

We know right away that Gwen gets murdered.  Gwen is not a nice person so there could any number of people who kill her.

Nora and Josh are from the same town and happen to run into each other at a hotel where their conferences are being held.  They have dinner together and there is an attraction.  And so begins their affair, which continues after they get back home.

Nora is the mother of three children.  Carter, her husband, is an alcoholic and there's no longer any love between them.  Josh is married to Gwen and they  have two children.  Josh realized many years ago that despite her outward appearances, Gwen is all about Gwen and there's no love between them.  No wonder Nora and Josh get together.  Josh also had to deal with the return of his daughter, Abby.  She was at university and abruptly quit and came home with her heart broken.  Once Abby catches her Josh kissing Nora, she becomes obsessed with finding out who she is.

This is the third book I've read by this author and I liked it.  It is written in third person perspective in Nora, Gwen, Josh and Abby's voice.  It could have been many who murdered Gwen and I was okay with whodunnit.  As a head's up, there is swearing and some violence.

Despite their cheating, I liked Nora and Josh and it seemed like there was real affection between them.  The author did a good job in making Gwen hateful.  I wasn't a fan of Abby ... I found she was a bit extreme.  She left university because of her boyfriend and then was a big baby while she was living back home.  I found her a bit unbelievable given her age.

Delta Hotel, Waterloo, ON

I spent last night at the Delta Hotel in Waterloo.  I've stayed here a couple times over the years.

Here was my room ...

The Duke of Wellington, Waterloo, ON

I had supper this evening at The Duke of Wellington (Erb Street W/Caroline Street S).

Book ~ "Three Days Missing" (2018) Kimberly Belle

From Goodreads ~ It’s every parent’s worst nightmare: the call that comes in the middle of the night.

When Kat Jenkins awakens to the police on her doorstep, her greatest fear is realized. Her eight-year-old son, Ethan, is missing - vanished from the cabin where he’d been on an overnight field trip with his class. Shocked and distraught, Kat rushes to the campground where he was last seen. But she’s too late; the authorities have returned from their search empty-handed after losing Ethan’s trail in the mountain forest.

Another mother from the school, Stef Huntington, seems like she has it all: money, prominence in the community, a popular son and a loving husband. She hardly knows Kat, except for the vicious gossip that swirls around Kat’s traumatic past. But as the police investigation unfolds, Ethan’s disappearance will have earth-shattering consequences in Stef’s own life - and the paths of these two mothers are about to cross in ways no one could have anticipated.

Racing against the clock, their desperate search for answers begins - one where the greatest danger could lie behind the everyday smiles of those they trust the most.

Kat has recently separated from her abusive husband, Andrew, and he is fighting her over everything.  She is very protective of their eight-year-old son, Ethan, who has an above average IQ and is bullied at school.  Kat is hesitant to let him go on an overnight chaperoned camping trip with his class but he really want to go.  Then she discovers he has disappeared during the night and rushes to the campsite, wanting to help the police find him.  She suspects Andrew has taken him as revenge against her.

Stef is the wife of Sam, Atlanta's mayor, and mother to their son, Sammy.  Sammy is in Ethan's class and on the same overnight camping trip as Ethan.  She gets a call the next morning who claims they have kidnapped her son and she rushes to the campsite to validate whether it's true or not.

This is the third book I've read by this author and I thought it was okay.  It is written in first person perspective in Kat and Stef's voices ... the chapters alternate and are marked so you know whose voice it is.  This worked for me because I liked getting to know what was going on in their heads.  I thought the whodunnit was obvious and figured it out pretty quickly.  I found Ethan and Sammy rather unlikable and seemed to act older than their age.  As a head's up, there is swearing and violence.

Topbox - December 2019

My December Topbox arrived today.

Get 4 hand-picked deluxe samples delivered to your door for $15 per month. It's the best way to discover the products you'll love.

Here's what I received ...

• skinfix Barrier+ Foaming Oil Cleanser - $38 value
• Clinique Take The Day Off Makeup Remover For Lids, Lashes & Lips - $6 value
• Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment - $85 value
• Laritzy Copper Liquid Beam - $28.97 value

Total value = $157.97

Signal Hill, Grace O'Malley's, Toronto, ON

Signal Hill, a band from St. John's, NL, and based out of Halifax, NS, was playing at Grace O'Malley's this weekend.  Gord and I got there tonight just after 10pm and stayed 'til the end.

The pub was jammed when we got there so we grabbed a spot by the stage and stayed there.  I've seen Signal Hill before and they are very entertaining.  They played some "down-east" tunes like Barrett's Privateers and also covered tunes by Bon Jovi, Neil Diamond, Carly Simon, Doobie Brothers, Queen, Elton John and more.

Trattoria Mercatto, Toronto, ON

Gord and I had supper this evening at Trattoria Mercatto in the Eaton Centre.

I ordered a Diavola pizza.  It was a thin crust pizza and tasty.  The sopressata had a bit of a bite but wasn't too spicy.  The tomatoes in the sauce had a lot of flavour.  I'd get it again.

Ipsy Glam Bag - December 2019

My December Ipsy Glam Bag arrived today.

• $12 a Glam Bag ($223CN for a year)
• 5 beauty products worth $50+ (the average Glam Bag value in 2019)
• Glam Bags are available in the U.S., U.S. Territories, & Canada. U.S. shipping is free. Taxes will apply to all bag orders shipped within the U.S. Canadian shipping is $2.95.

Here's what I received ...

Jessy's Pizza, Toronto, ON

I had supper this evening at Jessy's Pizza (on Dundas Street W/Roncesvalles Avenue).  Sunday was National Donair Day and today is the first chance I've had to celebrate.

Jessy's Pizza is the largest locally owned pizza franchise operating in Nova Scotia (the first location opened in 1992, a few years after I moved away).  They opened this first location outside of the Maritimes just over a year ago here in Toronto (this location). 

Nova Scotia flag

I ordered a large donair with just the meat, tomatoes and donair sauce.  I liked that the meat was thickly cut.  It was a tasty messy donair and I went through about 100 napkins!