Besides the Toronto Islands, which I wrote about last week, another great spot to explore some green space within the city’s concrete jungle is the Toronto Music Garden. Fronting on the inner harbour area, the park’s layout is based on Bach’s First Suite for Unaccompanied Cello. Each dance movement within the suite corresponds to a [...]
I just ordered a plate of aburi sushi and a salmon hand roll from our local sushi joint, inspiring me to write up this post on my favourite Japanese restaurants in Toronto. As you know, Japanese cuisine is one of my absolute favourites. A couple years ago, I had the chance to eat up a [...]
The Toronto Islands are my favourite outdoor spot in the city, so I am really happy about them now being open to visitors again. This green oasis punctuating the concrete jungle comprises a small chain of 15 islands on Lake Ontario south of mainland Toronto, making up the only islands on the western part of [...]
I rarely take trips during the summer, mainly due to the cost of travelling during high season, and also because there is plenty to do right here at home in Toronto. When the city isn't shut down due to a P-word, summer in the city is lively and filled with opportunities to do one of [...]
The province of Ontario has just announced stage 2 of reopening and it looks like dine-in service at restaurants will soon be allowed to resume, although on outdoor patios only. Unfortunately for Torontonians, we are stuck in a holding pattern at stage 1 so eating out and getting my mop of hair cut will have [...]
My last photo essay was a bit gloomy, so here's an update to brighten up these dark times. Parks are reopening. The trees are budding. Flowers are blooming. Blooming. The streets are popping. The nights are still quiet. The full moon is glowing. I’m looking forward to the rainbow after the storm.
This is a follow up to the recent post on my favourite foods and drinks in Vietnam. Since we won't be able to travel back there for quite a long time, I'm on a quest to continue discovering Vietnamese cuisine here at home. Mainstream Vietnamese communities began arriving in Canada in the mid-1970s and early [...]
Latest news reports suggest that Toronto is likely to remain in lockdown through at least the first half of May, so Mr. Chuckles is going to keep barbecuing away while I contribute to our sustenance via the Goodfood meal kit subscription. However, sometimes a break from cooking is nice, so we have been filling in [...]
Being that I am grounded with no immediate travel plans in the foreseeable future, I've decided that it's time to redirect this blog to perhaps focus in a little more the concept of a staycation, and explore sights and activities within my home city. I recently achieved a milestone of 100 posts on I've Bean [...]
A few photos to reflect daily life during these extraordinary times. Riding eerily empty subways to work at the hospital. Social distancing at Tim Horton's. Walking past shuttered playgrounds and parks. Spending quiet nights in. Venturing out for the occasional takeout pickup. Starting barbeque season early. Taking creepy photos. Working on my travel scrapbook and [...]
