Toronto 2010, Part 3

The most popular of the Toronto Islands is Centre Island.  My cousins took me here in 2004, and I don't remember it being that crowded because we had brought roller blades and I didn't have to worry about falling into people (I'm embarrassing to look at on things that require balance...).  However, on this trip the island was super packed, as expansive as it is.

We brought the fruit and banh mi sandwiches from Chinatown and had a mini picnic.

There's a lot to see and do- hikes, beaches, pools, fountains, rides, gardens, etc.

There's definitely something for everyone!

These are pics from the ferry ride back.  It costs around $6 RT and takes about 20 minutes or so.  Our ferry ride there was extra crowded.  We didn't know why until we got back and saw folks trying to scalp Arcade Fire tix.  Then I read Perez Hilton later and found out that Michelle Williams was also on Centre Island the same day we were.  I wonder why! :P

I highly recommend a trip to Centre Island.  It's nice to get away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Toronto.  My cousin told me that her college friends would organize birthdays and other celebrations there, how fun!   I guess we have Griffith Park...but it's so undeveloped! 

Part 1 & part 2. 

J&J Wedding: First Official Sneak Peek

We ate, sipped, and were married!

I'm really happy with the images we received and am excited to sort and organize through them all.  This one immediately jumped out to me and begged to be blogged about. 

FYI, we were SO thirsty but held it just long enough for a photo op. :)

Listening To: Sara Bareilles- Uncharted

I have been playing Uncharted by Sara B non stop for weeks now.  I've been a fan of hers since my UCLA days- Gravity was on heavy rotation back then too.  I'm really happy that she's found mainstream success since she released Love Song.

In other news, our pro pics are in and now we have the daunting task of narrowing down over a thousand pics down to our favorites, a tall order...yikes!

Toronto 2010, Part 2

Yorkville is a cute and rich part of town.  Think Rodeo Drive meets 4th Street in Berkeley.

We had some treats from a really cool market.  I prefer dim sum egg tarts to these portuguese ones, the peameal bacon sammie was super salty, and Jerry, the king of french fries, could not make a dent in the poutine.  Food fail.  I would have tried more items from the market, but I was saving my tummy for later good eats.  But it is fun to try everything once!

Kensington Market is really random.  And colorful.  And took 5 minutes to walk through.

Weeeee Chinatown.  I got to stock up on my beloved fruits.  The best places are next door to each other- Lily and K&K.  I had the best sugarcane drink of my life inside Lily Fruits Market.  Fruit stand in front, bubble drinks in the back.  See how fresh the sugarcane is?? Mmm!!  Ooh they also have Banh Mi Che Cali...notice the typo?  You know a place is totally legit and authentic when they don't employ a proof reader!

I really love my fruit.  So cheap and fresh!!!

The ticket folks at CN tower tried to rip us off by telling us that the line to the get to the 2nd observation deck (there's 3- the glass floor, the look out and the sky pod) was like 2 hours long.  So they said if we bought the most expensive package (which include all 3 levels + IMAX movie + motion movie ride) we could skip all the lines.  They also said that if we didn't get to watch the IMAX movie we could come back with our tix stubs and get a DVD instead.  So since we were running low on time, we decided to just go for it.  So even though we got to "skip" the main line...we had to stand in another line that were full of "skippees" in order to do the chemical body scan and bag checks.  So once we cleared that line, we had to wait in another line to go up the elevator.  Soooo, 15 min later we make our way up, and we find out there's ANOTHER line that's like 1.5 hours long to just go on the skypod.  So not worth it right??  I end up overhearing a tower employee tell another visitor that if they show guest services their sky pod tix stub, that they could get a full refund.  So we decided to do the same.  Being on the look out deck and the glass floor were enough for us.  So we go to guest services and show them our unused tix (ride/movie/sky pod) and they refunded us the difference.  Score!  So we basically put down a down payment to skip the main line haha.  So shhh...there's the secret way to skip lines on a busy day!

The view is really lovely!  It is also fun seeing peoples' reactions when they walk on the glass floor.  Fun times :)

Stay tuned for part 3!  Here's part 1.

Toronto 2010, Part 1

I have a special spot for Toronto- I have family there and have visited quite often, 5 times to be exact!  For my 6th visit, I was really excited to have Jerry accompany me for various reasons.  One- to meet my "Torontonian" relatives, two- to introduce him to yummy eats.  I was even able to accomplish three- explore new places.  Here's a bunch of collages from our trip!

I jumped on a BOGO Virgin America promo.  Only $500RT for 2 people, sweet!

My cousins B+M always have a dog or 5 around.  Since there's 2 kids in the house now, they gave one puppy away to a cousin and the other stays at the parent's house.  Baby is the momma of all those puppies!

This is my cousins' fave joint for no frills family meals.  It reminds of Rice Things in Redondo Beach, our personal fave go-to for Japanese fast food.

Many strange things for sale...only in Canada!

My first time at this lake-front park.  It was so cute!

I love swings!

Jerry's first time at Niagara Falls.  I've been to both sides, and the Canada side > the US side.

Every time it really catches my breath away.  A must-see!

A totally cliche thing to do, but we had to do it!  Funny story- the candy bar Jerry is holding in the top right corner is courtesy of the Maid of the Mist "emergency" team.  See, on our way to the dock, we got stuck in the elevator for 20 minutes!  It wouldn't have been so bad if we weren't packed in like sardines, and if we didn't have my 70ish year old relative with us!  Although she was pretty tough though for her age.  She didn't even freak out or show any signs of stress.  But we did tell the person on the phone that we had a grandma in the elevator, so they really hauled ass to get us out of there, AND when we got out, we were greeted on the other side with candy, chips, and water.  Yay for Canadian hospitality aka yay for suing abatement haha.  Speaking of hospitality Jerry was really amazed at how nice Canadians were in general.  Even when he bumped into someone in Chinatown of all places, that person said sorry anyway!

We were able to get these pictures because our Nikon is waterproof-ish.  Meaning, you shouldn't really dunk it in water, but if it gets sprayed by I don't know, a HUGE waterfall or two, then it should be okay.  :)  We personally did not fare so well.  Despite my efforts to tighten the plastic hoodie over my head, my hair still got pretty wet.  And our shoes got soaked!  I remembered from my last time on Maid of the Mist that my feet got wet.  So this time, I packed our sandals.  Except I forgot them in the car.  So for anyone planning to go on MM, put away your shoes/socks and wear sandals! 

We went to a totally pimped out buffet for dinner.  I almost felt like I was in Vegas!  The food was just okay.  I was impressed by the many ice cream flavors though.  I HAD to try each one, except now I don't even remember which were good.

To be continued!

The Forever Home: Front Doors

Check out this link of front doors featured on Design*Sponge (isn't that fuchsia color gorgeous??).  Makes me excited for the day when we move into our "forever home" and I can customize our living space to my heart's content!  (If we live in a cool neighborhood- I know of some cities where they are pretty strict with their code enforcement- some cities even have a do-not-paint-with-these-colors list!)

Here's some fun, interesting, and maybe not so practical entrances.  I wouldn't necessarily incorporate these exact ones, but they give me good inspiration!

All images via google images.  I'm too lazy to type them all out!

I Lust After Letterpress: ilee Papergoods

I am LOVING the goodies from ilee Papergoods.  Check out their etsy shop here.

Image via Owl Letterpress Notecard Set

I look forward to going to local craft fairs throughout the year so I can stock up on letterpressed goodies!  I might splurge on a 2011 pretty calendar if I can find the right images.

Dress Up: La Via 18 Printed Silk Dress

I would love to add this dress to my closet!

La Via 18 Printed Silk Dress

The back is so pretty as well!  AND it has pockets. 

Listening To: Linkin Park- Waiting For The End

Jerry and I don't have the same exact tastes in music, but there are some bands that we both like, one of them being Linkin Park.  LP has a special place in our relationship: on our first? or second? date Jerry picked me up from my apartment.  However, being the practical person I am, I saw that he had scored the prime parking spot in front of my place.  And since it was street cleaning or something or another the next day and I was parked in a crappy space, I decided to take his spot.  I know, utterly romantic.  Anyways, the song playing inside my car while I moved it was "In Between" from Minutes to Midnight (I had been playing that CD non stop for months!).  So I finish parking and I hop into the Tacoma.  And the EXACT same song was playing in his truck!  Was that a match made in heaven or what? :P

Fast forward a few months, I took him to see Linkin Park at Staples for his Christmas present. 

Fast forward a few years, Linkin Park released A Thousand Suns, and I'm really digging track #8- "Waiting For The End." 

 Link to image

 
What are you listening to?

Pomodoro Trattoria

I can't believe I lived down the street from this restaurant for how many years and I never ate here?

<3 bread

The bread is phenomenal.  In fact, the best restaurant bread I've ever had.  It came piping hot and freshly baked to our table.  (But I've yet to go to Italy...so someday I'll have to compare!)

We both ordered linguine and clams.  Portions were okay.  Pretty much an afterthought to the bread.  I asked for bread refills 3 times!

They cut the bread into quarters when served table side, so I took 2 of the quarters to go, but they gave me a huge brown paper bag.  So...I read a quick foursquare tip that you can ask for more bread to go!  So the owner gave me THREE whole loaves.  OMG  I was in heaven.

I toasted the 2 quarters and spread nutella on them for breakfast the next morning.  Then I took one half of a loaf and made myself this awesome egg sandwich.  The other half I made Jerry a sandwich, and the 2 leftover loaves I froze for a future treat. 

I cannot wait to go back to this restaurant and eat more freshly baked bread!

Pomodoro Trattoria

1393 Westwood Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Neighborhood: Westwood

(310) 445-9998

www.pomodorowestwood.com