Smells like gas

#28 RIVERSIDE

DATE: Saturday, May 14, 2011

TIME: 2:33 - 4:00 pm 

Also called Riverdale, this vibrant area offers bohemian shops unique to Toronto, eclectic eateries and great people-watching opportunities.

So, not the greatest day for a walk. It's threatening to rain, but we refuse to let it crush our spirits. On the streetcar over to the starting point, we take a glance at the walk and note it doesn't sound particularly interesting.  And we've already walked a portion of this walk when we did the Leslieville walk earlier this year. I feel silly for not realizing that this walk pretty much takes off where that one left off. We could have tried for a 2 for 1 that day.
No biggie. What number is Leslieville?! If it's #27... it's still okay! The Leslieville walk was enough for the day anyway, since Sean was on a tight schedule. He had a french quiz or something to go to?! Even though... we were looking for some sort of caffeinated beverage after getting off the streetcar.
Yeah, taking the streetcar over... we kinda saw the walk in reverse. Hard not to look away... oh well...  
As for the title of the walk, when we got off the streetcard and fumbled to get set and take our starting pic, we were beside an independent gas station. And, it smelt like gas.

Where are we? Riverside? Riverdale? Leslieville?

Our traditional starting point picture. In the bacground you can see our first venue. I wasn't thrilled with this picture because I look so much bigger so we do it again.

...and I manage to cut us both off in take 2. Ah, well. I tried.
Tee hee! You did try!
Reliable Fish and Chips is more important! It'd be funny if there was a driver in that car between us.

1. Reliable Fish and Chips (954 Queen St. E.)

As many a local foodie can attest, you'll want to start your tour of the area with a meal here, which has been serving a devoted crowd for more than 80 years.

Is it just my imagination or do the card makers really like their fish and chips? How many fish and chip places have they mentioned thus far? And we haven't eaten at any of them. I think we should the next time one comes up. What do you say Alma?
Here, here to fish and chips. I actually can only think of 1 other fish and chips stop on the cards... one other place just sold fresh fish. no?! But I do like fish and chips! So yes, yes!

Head past the attractive and nostalgic R.J. Black's Toronto Veternary Hospital.

Not an official part of the walk, but they do mention it. And I do remember last time we were in the area thinking it was a nice building. Like the signage.

2. Mercury Organic (915 Queen St. E.)

Coffee-obsessed locals rave about it.

Do those two look like they're raving about it?!
Hm.. it looks like a nice place to hang out. I'm not a crazy coffee drinker though. 
Tea is... my cup of tea. oy!

3. Fred J. Baron Handmade Cabinets (934 Queen St. E.)

...and watch a dying art form through the window.

Tiny little shop. Felt like we were intruding.

Well this new - an awkward pic of Monica.

We stood out here for a bit while Alma tried to get a good pic. And the guy inside eventually came around as asked if we were admiring the flowers. I said yes, and asked what type there were even though I knew they were hydrageas. For some reason I'm always a little embaressed to tell people about our walks when we're on them.
I'm the same way... it was extremely awkward putting the camera away... as we slowing walked off... and then look at other signage... just in case the guy was watching us. I know mon has mentioned this before, but i am curious if storeowners know they're on toronto's 50 walks.. mon, be the brave one next time and tell them!

Last time we were in area, we wanted to visit the loose leaf tea place but kind of forgot to check it out after we ate. The place is called Magesteas - clever and cheesy. So glad we went in this time. Nice little place. They had samples of Summer Peach - which was delicious and refreshing. I ended up buying a bag. And they gave me a stamp card for their loyaltea program.  They're all about the puns here.

http://www.majesteas.ca/
Nice place! They've been open for year now... Mon had difficulty opening up the not so tiny canisters to smell the tea... but with her purchase of summer peach (which I wish I bought... but also, hope mon invites me over for), we got free posters! What a nice gift! Thankfully, Mon didn't charge me holding for carrying it in her purse... 

The same one we visisted the last time we were here in Leslieville, cause yes, we're still in Leslieville. If you recall, Alma got her awesome shoes and Sean his belts.

Sean didn't get belts... he got ties! He did try on a couple of belts but opted out cause one looked amish?! cause of a fish? It was a cute belt though.

I always like perusing the books at Value Village, hoping to come across an amazing find. Actually, the night before, at a work social, a couple of my colleagues told me that the best bookstore in their neighborhood is the Good Will and they keep coming across some amazing stuff. Someone in the neighborhood has good taste in books. Found some interesting nonfiction titles, here, but didn't get anything. Perhaps I was a little turned off by seeing a couple of Harry Potter books. It could be a sign of good reading taste, however, I take it as an insult. Harry Potter books are to be treasured and read and reread, not discarded. (I'm guessing this will be Mon's only Harry Potter reference... she did show me the book... so it's not forced. Hey Mon, maybe you should start a rescue for all the Harry Potter books you come across!) I also came across in the game section the game Pyramid - still in its shrink wrap. Was holding it for awhile and considered getting it, then changed my mind. What a useless story.

When Alma was buying her belt, the cashier remembered her and said "Long time no see". How many times have you been here Alma? You seem to have become a regular.
Funny cause it's only my second time being there... the first was obviously on the Leslieville walk. I guess I was smiling a lot when I approached the register... which made it appear that I knew her. But she did serve me last time and she gave me an extra stamp on a card for sean's purchase. I never got enough stamps to reach the 15% discount... 

Owen's brother loves pinecones. He would have been excited.

Tee hee... Wait... who's Owen?! Never heard of this kid...

And this is where we ate last time.

We also visited the cheese market across the street. As a lover of cheese, can't resist. That, and I'm trying to find my Australian Kraft cheese - but even before we enter, I know they won't have it.

Finally, we're in Riverside. The signs change from Leslieville to Riverside half way through the walk (across from Jimmie Simpson Park). So I have a couple of theories. 1) Leslieville and Riverside were originally supposed to be one long walk. But then the card makers needed to break them up so they could have 50 walks. 2) They were always 2 separate walks and since the Riverside portion - starting from here - seemed so short, they decided to chop up the Leslieville walk and give some of the venues to Riverside.
If #2 were true... why couldn't they find other things to add to that walk? I'm pretty sure there is a fish and chips place down the block or a cafe to sip imported coffee...

Walk past Jimmie Simpson Park, then pass under the train bridge...

3 dimensional geometric shapes! Math! Tres Cool! Perhaps this is foreshawdowing to the Mr. Calculus Man discussions that would spark up later in the evening... (and continue as I write these very words)

I wonder if these were made through stencils.... 

4. Bonjour Brioche (812 Queen St. E.)

Its perhaps Toronto's most authentic Parisian patisserie.
Sounds yummy.

Looking at us?!
He should be looking inside the cafe and all its delicious goodness. 

A library! You know we love these. Nice building. It is on our to do list to eventually visit all the Toronto Public Libraries (at least on my list, not quite sure if I've convinced Alma yet). We do still have the UofT libraries to finish though.

5. Pa Zo (781 Queen St. E.)

Shop for retro-chic lightning, furniture, an home accessories.

So I think this is the place they are refering to. A slightly different name as you can see from the picture below, but they do sell furniture here. However, the address is wrong. This location was at 729 Queen Street E.  I googled the address listed on the cards, and it belongs to a clothing designer. So, yet another mistake.
They did have some interesting lounge chairs... that came in a multitude of colours. The owner was displaying them all in a row for a customer. I didn't dare take a picture...   

Continue westward past the beautiful former post office.
We  missed seeing this cause of the rain and because of the cards. In actuality, we'd already passed the post office before Studio Pazo.

I have a $50 gift certificate for this bakery that I won at a silent auction at my school. I thought they'd have a bigger selection available for drop in customers - cause they're lots of different stuff displayed on their website. I think I'd be better off spending the money with a special order cake or desserts.

6. Stephan Caras Design (744 Queen St. E.)

The neoclassical building on the corner of Queen and Grant St. was once a bank, but now is home to Stephan Cars Design, a perfect place to pick up a locally designed couture piece.

Ooo! Couture! umm...i can't even think of stepping foot into a place like this. It's yorkville all over again! I guess this shop is a bit misplaced.. huh?! It does seem like a shop that would be on the edge of yorkville. 

7. The Real Jerk (709 Queen St. E.)

In case you've developed an appetite again. It serves excellent roti piled high with a choice of tasty fillings.

This isn't a long walk. How on earth do they expect us to eat again - if we had eaten at the other places to begin with. There's an awesome roti place in Rexdale. I wonder how this compares. Wasn't in the mood for Jamacian food though.

Instead we ended up at a burger place.... what was it called Alma?

I still had the receipt and on the top it just says "Burger Shoppe"... really thought it was called something else. oh well... 

After one glance at the menu, knew I had to have the Hawaiian burger. It had a grilled pineapple....but couldn't really taste it in the burger. But the burger itself was good.

 My coke, Alma's gingerale. Care to rant Alma? 
Yes!
I ordered exactly the same thing as monica... but my meal was 25 cents more expensive. Why?! Because of the ginger ale! Crazy! I understand when people charge more for Nestea... but Ginger ale?! crazy! Nestea and Ginger ale are the same price at this burger joint!
Ginger ale drinkers beware!

We're drenched from the walk. My hair is so flat.

I know the picture is blurry, but I wanted to prove that we don't always have weird faces.

MONICA RATING: Hmmm... kind of uneventful. The actual venues on this walk weren't that noteworthy - though we didn't go into any of them so maybe I'm being a bit harsh. Definately think they should have put Leslieville and Riverside together as one larger walk and then maybe it would have left a better taste in my mouth. Maybe if it wasn't raining we could have done more people-watching (one of our favourite past times) (You kinda watched the couple that sat across from us at the burger joint...) like the card suggests. I gave Leslieville a 2.25, think I'm going to give this one the same. 2.25 rainclouds out of 5.

 

Alma Rating: Mon made some valid points... I guess the stores/restaurants seem kinda random on this walk... as a whole, Riverside (Much like Leslieville) doesn't seem to have much of an identity compared to other neighbourhoods in Toronto.
I'll give this walk a 2 out of 5... The most memorable thing was Mon's Calculus Man being number 1!

Memory Lane



#32 CHRISTIE PITS AND KOREATOWN

Karaoke bars, markets, and exotic delicacies will transport you to Seoul on this facinating walk, which includes a dash of Toronto's darkest history.

DATE: Saturday, April 2, 2011.

TIME: 3:03pm - 4:13pm

A beatutiful day! Not as cold as I thought it would be. We're in spring jackets!
So even though I've walked this stretch of Bloor plenty of times, I haven't paid much attention to the venues, so the walk should be enlightening!


Like Mon, I've been here so many times! The girls and I often come here for some cheap (and when I say cheap, I mean cheap!) Korean food, followed by some XO karaoke (who doesn't like singing out of tune to 80s, 90s pop songs?! I sure do!).  Let's see what the cards have in store for us! 

Take 1 of the traditional Alma-Monica starting photo. I had to include this picture for pay back for some unflattering Monica pictures.
Thanks, Mon! I'm smiling nonetheless!

Take 2: Much better.
Look at those smiles! :)

1. Christie Pits Park

....where, following a 1933 baseball tournament , Nazi sympathizers descended on a team of Jewish players, provoking a riot that lasted many hours and involved more than 10,000 people. Now, as in pre-riot days, families flock to the park to picnic and make use of its extensive sporting facilities, which include an outdoor ice skating rink, splash pad and pool, and toboggan runs in winter.

Hey, did you know that the Toronto Maple Leafs play here?... the baseball team that it.
Oh Monica...



Amid my research I discovered there used to be sand pits here till the early 1900's. They were known as the Christie Sand Pits. Named after the street. And the street is named after Mr. Christie of course, (you know, the cookie guy).

He makes good cookies! (as the slogan claims).

So the park is quite nice. Bigger than I originally thought. Looks like a fun place that would definately be busy in the summer. We explore and are quite impressed. Though couldn't figure out where the skaking rink would be.

Here's the pool. It's big. And it has a slide! We get closer to investigate.

Looks crazy! (maybe it's the graffiti that adds to it!)

 I hate slides that are covered... makes me a bit claustrophobic.

Coolness!

Mon comments of the overgrowth/bulge the tree has...

Maybe there was a forced Harry Potter reference thrown in too... who knows?!
No, didn't try to make a reference. Just thought it was interesting.

Didn't we later that day in Book City see a book that was basically an audobon of clouds? Can't remember if it was factual and about the different types or if it was a joke about different cloud shapes.

Yes! I want that book! 

When we first walked by this I thought it was just a splash pad. However, upon further inspection, we realize it's a labyrinth. When we exited Christie Station, on the little island on the road outside the station there was a little labyrinth and some teenagers tracing their way through. This one is much bigger. Anyhoo, seems like our type of thing (we are corn maze vetrans) we're going to have to solve it!

I wonder if we would still have done it, if we hadn't seen those teenagers do it...

just a thought. 

As it turns out, there wasn't much to solve. It's a winding path. No wrong turns or choices to make. So is this what makes a labyrinth different from a maze?

(I did check, and yes, that is the modern meaning. A maze has multiple  branches off the main path, where as a labyrinth is a single non-branching path leading to the centre.

As we walked our way around, a lady and her dog and her son on a tricycle came by and were standing on the labyrinth. I think she may have not realized what we were doing and just thought we were nuts.

Yeah, what was up with that?!  Oh well... look at Mon go! 

We make it. The victory picture!

Two thumbs up!

A glimpse of the playground. They had some really cool swings in there that was basically a wide circular surface. Alma says you're supposed to stand on them. And by the way, that's a phone book up there on the roof of the pavilion. How did it get up there? It would have to be a really strong bird. Or superman..... or dare I say a wizard or witch breaking the Statue of Secrecy and performing magic in a crowded park where Muggles hang out?!

Forced!



2. PAT Central Market (675 Bloor Street West.) 

...for a crash course in Korean cultural immersion. The giant supermarket is accustomed to curious browsers looking to explore basics like fiery -garlicky kimchee or sample prepared foods.


Hmmm... a little odd for a walk right?

A little... but the cards are right... right when you enter this market, there's a row of  stoves cooking up enkoi mushrooms... and there's freshly cut apples... thrown in for fun! yum!

Beside the market you can see the "alternative" movie theatre.
Those fellas are going in the market...fyi

As we peruse I look for my favourtie cheese. Australian Kraft cheese. My mom says you can get the canned version at some Asian food stores so I thought I'd check if they have it. They don't.

Mon looks slightly amused or confused at all the korean marked packages. Doesn't she?!

Every kid's favourite aisle...

or adult...

or just me...

yum!

yum! 

This is a side shot of the building. Koreatown and Christie Pits sure has a lot of pretty street art.

3. Korea House (666 Bloor St. West)

Grandfather of Toron's Seoul-food scene, where large portions of dumplings and spicy short ribs draw a knowing crowd.

I'm not one for short ribs... but dumplings are a girl's best friend.

okay, maybe they're not. But I do enjoy freshly made dumplings.

Wait... are they freshly made?!

This street is not on the walk...

What's this doing here... 

MONICA?!

The view down Manning Street. Not that important.... someone interesting may have lived down this street. Let's just call him Mr. Calculus Man.

Uhh... Alma did you have a story to do with this one?
In fact I don't. This isn't on the walk, but it's one of the best places to get walnut cookies! So yummy! Get a assorted box, you'll thank me later.

4. Gorisu Herbs (646 Bloor Street West)

If you're feeling ill of merely adventurous... A Korean apothecary that promises to heal what ails you using traditional remedies.

Upon reading this description, I commented that this is very Harry Potter. Come on, an apothecary! Alma thought I was stretching to create a reference. I think she's delusional and insist we get a closer look.

Even before we get there, we can see they've changed names. Clearly an attempt to further associate themselves with the world of Harry Potter, they've renamed the business to actually include the word "magic". Care to rebuttal alma?

Bah Humbug!

We did go up to the window and look in. It isn't anything like the Diagon Alley apothecary. Just a regular ol' vitamin supplement store.

Happy Easter! 

Happy Reading!

These monkeys are so cute... they nod, while on the toilet. so cute.

5. Morning Glory Toronto Plaza

...for an astonishing range of stationary, much of it based on the latest youthful trends.

 Closed! D'oh!

Crazy that it's closed!

In high school, one of my swimming buddies had recommended going to Morning Glory for some cool pencils/stationary. Her only description to find this shop was that it was outside Christie Station. 

One day after Stef's (Mon's best friend) orthodontic appointment, we tried finding this shop. I think we ended up walking the wrong way or something, so we chose to eat at some random diner. I think Stef had grilled cheese and I, a BLT. I recall it being burnt... and was disappointed.

I've passed by this stationary store a couple of times... but I guess it was never meant to be that I actually step foot in it.

big sigh...

Maybe we should lease it. What should we do with the premises?

Some more of that street art I mentioned. All the planters on the side of the road are painted with different images. This is just one.

6. Ka Chi (612 Bloor Street West)

...for a steaming bowl of siganture "pork bone soup" at the perennially crowded
restaurant.

We should try it someday.

We came across this cute little boutique and went inside. Alma ened up buying that dress on the most right.

It's cute, right?! Haven't worn it yet... 

Was so close to buying a dress with cats all over it.

7. Joons (605 Bloor Street West)

...where guests use personal hot plates to barbecue spiced meats, tofu, and vegetables to succulent perfection.

Ooo!!! Sean told us about this place and we are totally excited about going here sometime. It's a cafe that's open late and everyone comes and plays...wait for it - BOARD GAMES! Totally our thing. This needs to be on the walk!

It should! It's new, so I don't blame the cards.

Sigh.... this used to be one of my favourite restaurants: Rocco's Plum Tomato. It's a chain, so it's not like I can't get the food anywhere else, but I loved this location. Sean and I have eaten here quite a few times and have always had good experiences. I guess, that's Toronto. Venues always changes and turning into something else.

Well, that's the walk but we're not done yet. We knew it would be a short one so we planned ahead to do the annex next since it continues where this one leaves off.

MONICA RATING: I had a lot of fun on this walk, but there really wasn't anything super exciting (that was actually apart of the walk). Just a great day and always fun hanging out with Alma. Plus, the sentimental value. My favourite part of the walk was the park. Definately would like to revisit sometime. So...a 3? Is that too low? I'm writing this weeks after the walk, I can't remember. But I really did have fun.

  3 out of 5 steaming bowls of Korean food (enough though we didn't have any).

Alma rating: Aww, Mon... always have a great time hanging out with you too! I'll give this walk around a 3 too. It'd be cool to hang out at the park... though I know that it'd be crazy crowded during the summer months, but the other things listed on the walk are not really that interesting... like the apothecary shop. I like how they once again recommended places to eat (cause I sure like eating), but there's so much more to Korean town than dumplings... like the cute little dress shop we went to, or the baked goods shop, karaoke places (they never recommended a place) or even just the small shops that carry sanrio characters in it... but yeah, I guess there's just so much that you can put on the cards. So.... 3 out of 5!