Weekly Photo Challenge: Against the Odds

Ai Wei Wei Grapes

Ai Wei Wei Grapes, AGO. August 2013

A little more than three years ago, when the Ai Wei Wei exhibit was being shown at the Art Gallery of Ontario, my friends and I went there to view it.  One of the art pieces at the exhibit included this nearly impossible and ‘against the odds’ piece called Grapes.  He used Qing Dynasty furniture which was made without nails using traditional woodworking techniques to create this piece.   Continue reading

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Macarons at Butter Avenue [Defunct]

Butter Avenue macarons

Butter Avenue located at 477 Queen Street West in Toronto

Thanks to @cfooodie and Butter Avenue who were hosting a contest during the winter holidays, I was able to win myself a box of macarons from Butter Avenue!  Yay! 😀  I had known about and seen this pastisserie that sold macarons and other delicate baked goods many times but and wanted to try them out so this turned out to be the perfect chance to do so!  Thank you again for the lovely gift. ^_^   Continue reading

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Winterlicious 2017 Restaurant #2: Batch

 Batch Toronto

Batch located at 75 Victoria St in Toronto

Holly, Joyce, and I made reservations to enjoy a Winterlicious dinner at Batch on a Tuesday evening.  This was the evening where Toronto had freezing rain warnings and lots of falling ice later in the evening due to the warmer temperatures but we all still made it safely into the Batch restaurant which featured a brewery and was a “microbrewery” restaurant.   Continue reading

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Shadow

 Shadows in Luxembourg

Luxembourg, Luxembourg. April 2016

Why didn’t anyone give me a heads up that the Weekly Photo Challenges are now going to be posted on Wednesdays?! XD  No more Friday WPCs after this post.  I quite liked the challenges to be scheduled on Fridays — they were like a end-of-the week celebration post and usually the days when I work from home and thus could be ready to post right at noon when the challenge goes up.  But alas, things change.   Continue reading

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Hotel Review: Comfort Inn & Suites Collingwood

I’ve gotten into the habit of reviewing the hotels that I stay at recently so here is the review for my stay at Comfort Inn & Suites Collingwood!  The address is 4 Balsam St, Collingwood.   Continue reading

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Congee Queen (Hwy 7 & Leslie)

Congee Queen (Hwy 7 & Leslie)

Congee Queen located at 230 Commerce Valley Dr E, Unit #1 in Markham

Upon coming back from our Blue Mountain trip, we both were in need some of comfort food and veggies, so we went to Congee Queen at Highway 7 and Leslie (皇后名粥) in Markham for some reliable Chinese comfort food.

It was my first time to this location of the congee/rice/noodle franchise chain and I really liked the interior design of this shop!   Continue reading

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Brunch at TheSmoke BBQ Restaurant

TheSmoke BBQ Restaurant pancakes

TheSmoke BBQ Restaurant located at 498 First St in Collingwood

On our last day in Collingwood, we went to TheSmoke for brunch!  It was a Sunday brunch and there was a dedicated menu where I chose the Pulled Pork Pancakes with Jack Daniels Maple Syrup and Ken chose the Eggs Benny.

We were one of the first ones here for brunch on a Sunday morning but the restaurant quickly filled up.  I liked the layout of TheSmoke.   Continue reading

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Northwinds Brewhouse & Kitchen (Collingwood)

Northwinds Brewhouse food

Northwinds Brewhouse & Kitchen located at 499 First Street in Collingwood

For dinner of our weekend getaway trip to Collingwood, we went to Northwinds Brewhouse & Kitchen.  (It was a busy Saturday night and we actually took waiting lists on two other restaurants in the vicinity to see which restaurant would have room for us first.  Northwinds was the first (and only) one to text us back with an availability in about 30 minutes’ wait time).  I was really glad that we were able to try this microbrewery restaurant out!   Continue reading

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Wild Wing (Blue Mountain)

Wild Wing Butter Chicken Flatbread

Wild Wing located at 178 Jozo Weider Blvd in Blue Mountains

After our quick and fun trip on the Ridge Runner in the Blue Mountain Village, we were looking for a restaurant to eat lunch at.  I wanted some sort of pizza or burger food — mostly pizza — so we ended up at Wild Wing for their comfort food and no-line-up; since it was noon, another restaurant had a 30-minute wait!  We weren’t going to wait for that.   Continue reading

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Hokkaido, Japan 2016 Day 2: Exploring Otaru & Sapporo

Otaru Music Box Museum

Day 2 of travels in Hokkaido included the Otaru Music Box Museum

October 3, 2016 ~ Day 2 in Hokkadio, Japan.

Breakfast was at 7 a.m. on the 3rd floor where the reception area was.  I woke up at 6 a.m. to get ready.  I was impressed with the continental breakfast.

I’ve had Japanese continental breakfasts before and this one sure didn’t disappoint.  There were typical Western choices like eggs, toast, and cereal, and also some Japanese style congee, vegetables, meats, and more.   Continue reading

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