Toronto Metblogs » tor_gabriel

I got sunshine…. and traffic

tor_gabriel — Tue, 22 Mar 2005 18:02:30 +0000

ok… maybe it’s not the month of May. But it’s pretty nice weather out there compared to some other March days I can remember in T.O.
Speaking of our fair city… I’ve got a gripe today… traffic.
I live just north of the city and cannot believe the pace at which condos and housing units continue to get built north (and east and west for that matter) of this city without considering transportation gridlock.
The city and its surrounding burbs refuse to cooperate on extending the TTC subway lines… streets don’t get widened… highways don’t get built… something’s gotta give.
Try heading North on dufferin between finch and steeles between 4:30mp and 6:30pm. Fuggedaboutit.
The 404, the 401, the DVP – ha!
Can I get a “hell ya!”?

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

tor_gabriel — Tue, 01 Mar 2005 15:21:06 +0000

OK – after griping about the weather here yesterday, I have to give some love back to T.O. When you get a nice overnight snowfall, and it isn’t -30C the next day, there isn’t another city in the world I’d rather be in than T.O.
- the slosh, slosh, slosh sound of people’s boots at King station
- the wheels of the streetcar as it cuts through the slush
- the homeless guy taking in triple earning from passers-by who feel the love
- the delivery guys on bikes, too stubborn to go it by foot, with water all the way up their backs
- the way a crowd of people can move in unison, like a school of fish, as a truck is about to send a spray of water their way from the street
- the old guy shuffling along who is suddenly transformed into an olympic athlete, long-jumping his way from the curb, over the puddle in his path, as he crosses the street
- the fact that the strictly regulated parking at Finch station is a complete free-for-all once snow blankets those crisp yellow lines

beware the ides of march

tor_gabriel — Mon, 28 Feb 2005 13:42:21 +0000

Forget that… I think the ides of March had better beware this schizo weather we’ve been having. Sunny as you’d wish on Monday; pouring like we’re in a rainforest Tuesday. Leave your jacket it’s a warm winter’s Wednesday; don’t get caught outside without your parka Thursday. Shovel your way through the weekend…
Enough. I’m ready to move.

Who doesn’t like a party?

tor_gabriel — Mon, 13 Dec 2004 16:47:35 +0000

Every year I make the religious trek south to Buffalo to take in a Bills game. In fact, that’s an understatement. I’ve been to Cleveland, Green Bay, Atlanta, Detroit, and New York for games too. Last night, I was in DC and headed over to the Redskins game. I don’t go because I love football. I don’t go because I love the teams. I go because I love a party. So what gives, Canada?

We embrace nearly every facet of the American culture. Their films, their music, their sports, etc. Yet, when it comes to football games in Canada (or at least in T.O.) we stick to the age old: We came (usually 5 mins after kickoff), we saw (and sat politely without disturbing our fellow patrons), we conquered (sometimes).

If you’ve never been to an NFL game – you are missing out. Fans show up HOURS before game time. They set up in the parking lot with chairs and music and beer and TVs and footballs and BBQs and hackey-sacks… and they party. It’s a day long celebration honouring the football gods. Some of them don’t even go in to the game – they hang out in the parking lot and watch on giant TVs they’ve hauled along in rental vans! It is really one of the most remarkable events America puts on. Every week. Across the country. That means 16 parties every week with 100,000 of your closest pals.

So, why is it that we can’t do the same? Is it that the skydome does not have the close, lot upon lot parking that the NFL stadiums have? Perhaps. But what about Exhibition place? That had plenty of said space. Is it because we as Canadians are too reserved to let our hair down and have a good time? I think not.

So what gives? Anyone?

Here’s hoping that with the Argos move to York University the ownership will grasp this opportunity to embrace the ‘gate. It would be a great way to get some Torontonians interested in going to Argos games again. Forget the product on the field. Show us a party – and we’ll come!

T.O. 2004 Awards

tor_gabriel — Mon, 06 Dec 2004 13:39:05 +0000

Most Pathetic: the lady who sits in her car for “as long as it takes” at Finch station to get a spot close to the entrance. By the looks of it, she could use some exercise. She should be lining up for the LAST spot in the lot…
Most Delicious: Sushi from Umami @ Eglinton & Avenue
Most Annoying: The St Lawrence Market for being closed Mondays
Most Loved: The St Lawrence Market – for being open the rest of the time
Most Puzzling: Green box program. I see lots of ads.. but have no clue what it’s for or who it’s for.
Most Disappointing: Vince “the Prince” Carter – a close second to the NHL/NHLPA
Most Odd: All the darn condos going up in this city. Everywhere. Where the heck are all these people coming from??? And once they’re here – how the heck are we all gonna get around? Oh, right – the DVP…

more to come…

In love with the Lula

tor_gabriel — Tue, 30 Nov 2004 17:27:58 +0000

If you want to check out a hot little spot in T.O. you have to try the Lula Lounge (Dufferin & Dundas). This great little club/restaurant transports you into the heart of Cuba.
Grab a spicy bite to eat to start your evening off; followed by an hour Salsa lesson; and to top it all off a live Salsa band.
The food is phenomenal. The atmosphere is fantastic. The crowd all get into the spirit of it.

Try it out.
Have a blast.

http://lula.ca

Our Neighbours Just South of the Border

tor_gabriel — Mon, 01 Nov 2004 13:17:11 +0000

I made my way south of the border yesterday for my annual trip to a Buffalo Bills game. Lord have mercy, why do I go?
I’ve endured rain, wind, ice storms, snow, -40 degree cold, hail and sleet.
What is it about Buffalo that attracts every bad weather system in the hemisphere?
Ya know those days that start out dark and cloudy but then by mid-day the sun is shining brightly? Do you know where those clouds go? To Buffalo. It’s no joke. Yesterday in Toronto was cloudy but the rain held off. In Buffalo it was so windy that I couldn’t put a full beer bottle down without it getting blown over. On top of that, as the game began, so did the rain. Sideways.
It felt a bit like being in that toronado in the Wizard of Oz – things flying past – people, bikes, food… you name it.
Poor Buffalo – wasn’t four failed Superbowl attempts enough punishment? Go easy on them Lord…

YYZ

tor_gabriel — Tue, 19 Oct 2004 13:40:13 +0000

I had the pleasure of travelling through Pearson airport 4 times in the past week. Ugh!
OK. Granted, those little Air Canada check-in kiosks are great. No lineup. No wait. But from there on in it’s a nightmare…
Line up to get you bag tags – 15 mins.
Line up for US immigration – 40 mins!
Line up for security screening – 5 mins
On the way back wait outside for the Park ‘n Fly bus – 40 mins!

Holy cow – I hate travelling. Especially at Pearson…

When I buy a book…

tor_gabriel — Mon, 27 Sep 2004 18:07:05 +0000

“When I buy a new book, I read the last page first. That way, in case I die before I finish, I know how it ends. That, my friend, is a dark side.” – When Harry Met Sally

My wife dragged my kids and me down to the “Word on the Street” festival at Queen’s Park yesterday. I shouldn’t really say “dragged” down as we went rather willingly. But it was most definitely her choice. She is after all the author in the family.

I didn’t know what to expect as I had never been before. I was quite surprised at the number of people there. Who knew Toronto had so many literates??
Anyway, I enjoyed it a lot – the weather was great, there was lots for the kids to see and do, books were super cheap etc.

My only real gripe would be the lack of any maps or signage to let you know what the heck was where. There was row upon row of tents set up the whole way around Queen’s Park. Most of the tents had 4 accessible sides with a separate vendor at each. Thus, you’d really have to circle EVERY tent to see what was where. This would be a difficult task for a solo, able bodied person, trying to weave their way in and out of all the people – but try it with a double stroller. Around the fat lady eating corn, down the curb, over some wires, past the ice cream cart (“Daddy I want ice cream!”), only to find out that the vendor on the far side of the tent was selling “Rarnaby Budge” by Charles Dikkens. That’s Dikkens with two Ks, the well-known Dutch author. Right! Back past the ice cream cart (“Mommy! I want ice cream PLEEEASE!”, over the wires, up the curb, past the fat lady with corn (n.b. now on her 2nd piece) and on to the next tent.

As you can see, we spent much of our time trying to get to places we weren’t sure we wanted to get to. Even finding the large children’s section wasn’t without its challenges. For next year….Some signage people – please! Otherwise we had a blast…

Nasal Abuse

tor_gabriel — Thu, 23 Sep 2004 14:27:41 +0000

OK. This is my first year being part of the “subway” culture (i.e. taking the TTC to & from work). Before this I had jobs north of the city, went to York University etc. – so this is really my first go at it.
For years I listened to my friends and family who were subway go-ers complain about how bad some people smell on the subway. Come on, how bad can it be?
Well, up until now I always assumed these comments were directed at B.O.
Now, maybe it’s been the irregularly cool summer we’ve had, or maybe my senses just aren’t up to snuff, but I really haven’t noticed much of an issue.. until this morning…
Today I sat down on the subway and opened up my National Post as usual. Just before the subway doors closed a lady in her 50s boarded and plopped down in the seat next to me. She looked harmless enough – black dress with blue flowers, grasping her copy of Health & Health Canada to read on her way downtown. And then it hit. This woman absolutely reeked of the most vial perfume I had ever smelled. Not only had she decided to apply this brutal fragrance this a.m. – she had evidently decided to bathe in it too.
I got up and moved down the car thinking this may alleviate the pungent odour. No such luck. This seemingly innocent woman had “balm”ed the subway.
UGH! I can still smell it on my clothes! Aroma Terrorism! The Stench Queen lives…