Cheap Eats!

I'm going to look for cheap eats in Toronto. Remember, the healthier the better! I am a runner after all!



Field greens, tomato, sweet red pepper,
Bocacini cheese, Prosciutto. Olive oil and Vinaigre.

My Top Five Coffee Shops

In the last few years, like many other cities, Toronto has taken back the coffee market for the independent coffee shops. The margins created by "TimHo" and "Sevenbucks" has been erased and the better coffee is actually thriving. I love coffee, therefor, I have been to every neighbourhood in Toronto to experience their claim as the "best coffee place in town". Here are my top ten and my top five are in there somewhere. There are some criteria that some meet that others don't. The variables to judging this, as I found are too many, let me know what you think.

10. iDeal Coffee - on Ossington Ave. The coffee is that same as the other iDeal locations, Ithink there is five. I like the area. I like the idea of mismatched furnishings.

9. Jet Fuel - on Parliament The haunt for many a bike courier, me included, back in the late '80s - early '90s. The coffee packs a punch. Literally and figuratively! It's good, it will wake you up but it will give you a case of gut rot like you would not believe. I just have fond memories, so I still go back there. I do believe it gave birth to other cool places like the old "Tripple X".

8. Mercury Espresso Bar - Queen St. E. Good Espresso, I always feel rushed when I'm there.

7. Meh... You decide!

6. Cherry Bomb - on Roncesvalles Ave. The coffee is good, I always feel too "Tree Huggie" ... and I don't even own Birkenstocks!

5. Manic - on College I use to rave about Manic then .... meh! The coffee is still good, not great. The claim that they had the best brewed coffee in town fell short with me and their beloved "Clover" always seems not to be working. The staff has gotten a little too much "Baristatude"! Yes, I know they've won 'Barista Competitions'. Some days the sweat on the front window gives the place that disgusting Turkish bath feel without the bath! It's a good place to run into people I know.





4. iDeal Coffee - on Agusta Ave
Their lattes are great. They let me take the glass across the street to KOS to enjoy with my b-fast! They actually get the right grind for my home espresso machine. The new owner is great. The additional seating is great.

3. Dark Horse - on Spadina Ave.
Great coffee, good location, communal table is awesome! I wish they had a window seat. It's great place to go people watch.

2. Dark Horse - on Queen St. E.
Great coffee, good location, communal table is awesome! One can actually get work done there.

1. Ezra's Pound - on Dundas St. W. This coffee joint got my top marks. I love the coffee. The atmosphere is great, specially in the summer, when you can see all the Toronto fashionistas ride by on their bikes. The baking is fantastic, they could also win for the best Croissant in Toronto! Also the best "Ecuadorian Chocolate" chip cookies ever! Their window seats are great. The staff is great, the owner Ezra cleans his own windows!

There are always more places to try and list. Maybe Ezra's Pound on Dupont Ave.... well they need better seating. Anyway, give me suggestions on what to try next! Or tell me if you agree or dis...!

Runner's of Toronto "UNITE!"... like red fireflies.

It's evident that that I have a high affinity for the blog. I'm still trying to figure out what to do with it. I am just going to keep posting things I'm interested in while I learn what it does. As I mentioned on my last blog, I'm interested in running.

Yes, running. I have always been athletic, either as a part of a team or in individual efforts. As I became an "adult", like most, I found myself with a lot less time and a lot more fat! One day my very toned gay next door neighbour started calling me "Patty love handles". I took up running soon after that comment. I mean gay men are the best judges no?

That was approximately ten years ago. A few races, bruised ligaments, sore ...everything, pairs of shoes and missed engagements later, I'm still addicted to it. Although, winter has got to be the toughest time to get motivated, I still see a ton of people out there. The best thing to do, just like any other outdoor activity is get dressed properly. Watch this video, it's a good start. The key is layering.

Needless to say, comfort is always good. Visibility is also good. specially at night.
By the way... that is way too much for Toronto running.

My layers for today, Jan 30/10 (-9 degrees)are:
- Wicking Under long sleeve shirt
- Wicking Poly cotton blend long sleeve heavy cotton t-shirt
- Running shell with vent
- Light scarf
- Running tights with outer shell
- Ear flop touque to keep my earbuds in
- Long to the knee shorts over my tights... for sensitive areas
- Light pair of gloves
- Running socks and running shoes

If this is not enough... just run faster!

I wear all black gear, so I run with a light. One of the best sights I have ever seen is, on one of my first visits, running through Manhattan at night. Being a little exhilarated by the grandeur of the city and forgetting everything else... including my whereabouts. Panicking just a little at the realization that I was nowhere recognizable. I didn't want to stop running so... I kept running trying to find a landmark. Nothing. I turned a corner still nothing up ahead. I turned another corner, I thought I might have to actually stop running. Suddenly, there was something. Then another. At first I couldn't really tell what they were. They moved like fireflies. Red fireflies? With that drunken to and fro that butterflies have. As I got closer they multiplied, eventually to what seemed to be hundreds of lights. I had come to Central Park, a large number of night time runner had united. They were running through the park. It was an amazing sight. Not to mentioned they got me back to a place that actually recognized, but not before I had run my legs just past a half marathon. The next day I could barely walk.

Since that great night, I run with a light and some money in case I have to take a cab back home. I run with Nikeplus System (nikeplus.com)on my iTouch. It keeps track of my distance and where I am. Also adding to my winter motivation is great music! Besides, the iPad(Apple.ca) will probably be too large to carry. I now run in Nike Pegasus shoes, although, if Asics was to make the old Nimbus II like they used to, I'd switch back. I've started a couple running groups in the past. The latest in my own apartment building, it's a great way to meet people.

Anyway, bed time. I'll update this soon. Next I'll post something about coffee shops, Buenos Aires, Architecture. Who knows. Maybe all will be one!

My First "Real" Blog.

The date is...? Well, it doesn't really matter. All that matters at this moment is that, I am sitting in one of my favourite coffee joints in in the city. My eye balls are a little sore from reading. I have taken back the "hackintosh" I gave my mom and I have decided to finally put out my own little "Blog".

Now, the title for this article is .. My First "Real" Blog. This obviously insinuates that there might have been a previous attempt at "Blogging". That is correct.

Some time ago, as I was reading the book "What Would Google Do?", when I suffered a "customer service retail injustice" at the hands of employees of a mid-sized boot company. This sparked a bout self righteous.. "Oh yeah! Well this is what Google would do!" attitude that had me write a letter of complaint to the company's head office and I was going to post my injustice on a blog to rally the digital masses until my demands were met. As it turns out, my demands were met the next morning, so the call to arms blog was shelved. This brings me to today.

I finally bought an iPhone. I work freelance. This means, I have flexible hours and free time! One of my favourite things to do, is to sit at good coffee shops, having a nice latte, philosophise about life and what it could be and well ... people watch. This voyeuristic event happens pretty much everywhere I go.


I even people watch you on Twitter, Facebook, or just about anywhere on-line. As I am sitting here, reading the day after Tweets about how happy/unhappy you are with the iPad (not the State of the Union Address, coincidentally, just as hard to find online) announcement, well I felt like writing my own blog. That is it!

That is the beauty of the forum. One can publish, discuss and show just about anything. I doubt there is nothing we can't show. It may be taken down within moments but some how it has a life. Just like a Shad Fly!

That's my first real blog. Now, off to run. Yet another thing I love. You'll get a lot of these to come. Maybe running will be my next post. Or maybe I'll tell you about my favourite coffee shop in the city. Or.. you get the pic. TTYL!