9 Hours on Roncesvalles
As each weekend passes, Sheena finds herself more and more confused about this whole "hate Toronto" zeitgeist that allegedly has swept the land. The only explanation I can think of is that people who hate Toronto have never been here, or else maybe just got stuck in Mississauga or North York or Scarborough or some other cookie-cutter subdivision.
Yesterday was the "Not All That Polish" Festival. Saw more gyros and samosas than perogies, but satisfied the skipped breakfast pangs with a big garlicky sausage on a soft white bun. Thank you Warmia Deli. Wandered past the B-list kiddie rides and carnie games. Both the Italian and Ukrainian fest kicked its ass in the ride department. They both had the Berry-Go-Round.
Wandered past long time fave the Fat Cat Wine Bar. For $10 they were offering 3 Malpeques and a glass of wonderful Canadian bubbly Trius Brut. SOLD. Squeeze of lemon and slurped 'em back quick because the wasps were out. Even though it was a Polish Fest. Go figure.
Moseyed up to a regular haunt of El Chaperone. Since it opened in December 2004, The Local has become a favourite hangout. Good selection of local brews, incredibly nice owners and staff, an interesting mix of regulars. Very supportive of the local artists of both the visual and musical persuasions. Out on the beer garden, watching the people mill about. Kicking back with a few Amsterdam Good Beers. Got tipped off to NorthRonces.com the local community blog.
We lucked out and had a streetside view of the parade. Kids all dolled up in Polish folk dress. A guy with an accordion in a stinky golf cart. Tuxedoed and velvet sashed Knights of Columbus. And the highlight.... newly elected MPP Cheri DiNovo working the crowd. Big smiles, sexy coif, and very red suit. Peggy Nash there too, in a lovely conservative navy outfit. Funny watching their designated gopher boy run around after them, with Purell attached to his hip pocket with the importance of a Blackberry. Guess Parkdale hands can get a little grimey....
Returned back to Fat Cat for a bite to eat. Lovely food, as per usual. Dill cured salmon with greens, bread with dips, charcuterie plate that included duck and pancetta.. Had the hard-to-find-and-much-appreciated Henry of Phelgm Rosé Brut, and El Chaperone had the Trius Red.
Unfortunately, our meal at Fat Cat ended badly. First disappointment there ever. We were asked to move because our bar-side seat was reserved and we were still contemplating a cheese plate and port. We cheerfully and cooperatively let them move us to the patio at the back (glad they did.. had never been out there and it was lovely). Too bad nobody informed a server we were back there. We fell through the cracks and never got served. Had to flag someone down to get our bill. Disappointed and a little pissed off. Expressed our sentiments with a note on the bill. Hope they read it.
Back to the Local where Sheena wanted to order wine but couldn't because all they had was shitty Yellow Tail. Wondered why an establishment that so successfully cultivates pride in local arts and microbrews leaves its wine list to the dregs of the industrial wine trade. Filled our pockets with Rockets and Tootsie Rolls and ran up to Dundas to cab it home. 9 Hours on Roncesvalles. Not too bad of a day.
posted by Sheena @ 3:06 PM
14 comments
14 Comments:
Love to all.....
that sounds fun, wish I had known about it.
They have the best cabbage rolls at a place on the south end of the street, I can't remember the name of the place but it's next to a laundry mat and the most amazing printing shop called Printing Press.
what's not to love about Toronto?
we even have great cabbage rolls for gods sake.
the 'hate toronto' thing has been around forever and a day. i've never been to the city, i'm sure theres many a cool spot.
it's the attitude that many torontonians carry with them when they move west or east that bites people's arses. i'm not saying all torontonians aare like this, but TOO many walk around putting down their new surroundings saying, 'well, in toronto, we had this, that , and the other thing'.
europe and the states start trends....it hits vancouver and montreal about five years later, then the far west and far east in another five years. so we get called 'backwards' and new ways get imposed on us that we never really asked for.
there's a faster pace, more 'professional' disposition to torontonians then the layed back west. it's tough dealing with someone who is wired all the time and wants instant answers and things done yesterday. no fault of the torontonian, it's just like l.a. dealing with new yorkers.....comes with the territory.
so that's a part of why there's alot of dis towards toronto. please remember this is social commentary and not a put down of people.
politics are behind the scenes too.....with it's large population toronto gets more 'favoured' to win votes and the east and west and prairie provinces are neglected because of vote buying. it's actually why the former alliance/reform party started up (ew, yuck, i know, but it's a harsh reality). the 'good old rich boys' of the west started the reform party (barf bag please).
it's just common courtesy when travelling or moving somewhere to adapt to your new surroundings and 'do as the romans do'. however that is not the case with the average torontonian, so, it's been hard knocks for them and the people left behind because of this. kinda like the american traveller. too bad as reading your blog and k-dough's it makes me want to visit the city. i had the opportunity about 26 years ago but turned it down as was living in calgary at at time when half of canada moved there and the tude coming from torontoites was too much to bare.
does any of this make sense? my apologies if i offend anyone, that is not my intention, but i know it's a touchy subject....i only want to bring out the truth in the hopes it can help.
dead on
Thanks Scout. In full disclosure, I'm a 'Pegger through and through, having just spent a few years in Ottawa and just moving to Toronto this spring. I hate it when people make me feel guilty for loving it as much as I do. Kinda wish I'd camped out here sooner.
i like baldwin street. and college west is cool. i always lived downtown when i lived in toronto. it's the only way to do it - be a part of it. no car, rent, walk or subway to work.
ah, formely blown off portage and main! oh well, you're in t.o. now so LAP IT UP!!!! (sounds like you are anyways).
Roncesvalles belongs to the long list of streets on which the extraordinary vitality of Toronto comes out-- a vitality sadly lost on the various "urban designers" and architectural critics anxious to brand Toronto as "second rate" for its lack of mega-projects on the waterfront. Toronto has a lot to love.
Unfortunately, the "official" face of this city, the commercial, literary, and even academic face of this city projects an insufferable arrogance. When the Mayor tells the rest of the country that this one city can determine the success or failure of their hopes and dreams, his constituents may cheer, but the rest of the country begs to differ.
I doubt you could find a single city in Ontario which does not have bitter memories of decisions made in Toronto which led to economic dislocation, environmental devastation, or the loss of history and heritage. If we want to make this city popular, we'd better learn humility.
I'd have to agree John Spragge. The most delightful thing about my first few months here have been exploring the very distinctive and surprisingly friendly neighbourhoods. Hasn't taken very to start recognizing familiar faces in little local pubs delis and shops.
Okay -
I have no clue what Roncesvalles has to do with Toronto. I would love to know.
Toronto itself is a lovely city. But here's the kind of thing that rankles. When Ontario had the big power outage, Erik Sorensen is doing the reporting for CBC. He's standing at some elevated point above a wide boulevard in downtown TO. Its pitch black. And he closes with, "If there is one city that never sleeps in Canada, its Toronto. And to see it like this has Canadians amazed."
get a grip, Erik! visit something outside the 905 belt, would ya?
I like the YellowTail Shiraz for table grog Sheena. If I'm just eating with the Mrs. and it's not an occasion... I find it palatable... and cheap.
We were cleaning up the basement of Mrs. Joes father's house a while back, and discovered that Mrs. Joe's dad had a fine sense for the grape. Including two case's of 1924 Mouton d'Armailhacq Bordeaux, and a 64 Perignon… yummy yummy.
We smacked down 3 of the d'Armailhacq before I told her that they price out around $300 a piece... shame on me. Mrs Joe is a trooper though... she just laughed and uncorked a fourth.
If you're going for cheap and rancid, Joe Calgary, at least do the decent thing and buy Canadian.
Ah... humbled and chastised by the tigeress.
Sheen, do they have "Cat Pee On A Mulberry Bush?" (kiwi)
As an outer lesbonian, I object to the favouritism displayed over Ñorth Roncesvalles. I have to admit, though there's not much here except street cars and the occasional poop on the footbridge. (why do they insist on doing that?)
vi
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