Saturday, July 28, 2007

Trip to Toronto: Portugal Village

We just got back from Toronto, where we went because I had never been there and we both have friends there. Plus, I like the way it sounds (Toronto!) -- the same reason I ended up picking paleoanthropology as a major in college.

I don't think we needed to spend a whole week there, but it did give us time to really explore the city. We walked from neighborhood to neighborhood: Leslieville, the Danforth, Dundas Street West, Parkdale, Portugal Village, Queen Street West, Yorkville, Chinatown, Kensington Market, the financial district, St. Lawrence.

We started in Portugal Village, where we met up with some friends and went out to dinner last Sunday.

Their backyard.

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Their neighbor's backyard.

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And some front yards around the neighborhood, where lots of Portugese people still live.

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Down at Queen Street West.

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We go to Coca, a little tapas bar that has horse on the menu. But it's not one of the prix fixe items, so I save that treat for a later date.

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Our film-biz friends. She's working on the new Hulk movie, and he's working on a dramatization of the life of the man who invented the intermittent windshield wiper.

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Malivoire is a Niagara wine produced by a special-effects guy that our friends used to work with. It's lovely.

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On the walk home, I notice a kitty about to attempt a long jump.

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I approach the cat and yell "Kitty!"

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Our friends can see the tallest freestanding structure in the world from their porch. I'm impressed!

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8 comments:

chuck b. said...

I love the Portugese gardens. How nice that you found gardens without even trying.

I can't say that I would be delighted to try horse. A restaurant in San Francisco sells (sold?) it. A place called Cafe Macaroni. I know several years ago they drew protesters and they probably succeeded in passing a law. Whatever. Apparently, it's common enough in Italy slaughter old horses for food.

Who's directing the new Hulk movie? The first one was so unexpected.

JvA said...

A guy I hdn't heard of -- Louis Leterrier (The Transporter) -- is directing, and it will star Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, William Hurt, and Tim Blake Nelson.

Chuck, did you once mention DeGrassi High in your blog? We saw the guy who played Snake on DeGrassi High when we were in a wine shop on King Street. I've never seen the show.

I had horse last night. It was good! I tried to order caribou, but they were out.

chuck b. said...

I've never mentioned DeGrassi High on my blog, but I have mentioned getting high on grass once or twice.

JvA said...

Hmm. I don't know why I thought you had some weird Canadiana fetish. Have you written about poutine?

chuck b. said...

I don't know wtf you're talking about. Are you even talking to me? I'm sending you drunk tm's.

JvA said...

Next time you drunk TM me, tell me what music you're listening to.

chuck b. said...

That's funny--I totally thought about doing that. Was I supposed to? Is that a rule? I'm listening to the Scissor Sisters. I bought this album several months ago and never listened to it until today. I really like it.

JvA said...

It helps me imagine your situation better. Bloody Marys with garden tomatoes and the Scissor Sisters on a July evening in San Francisco. That's a nice scene.