Swimming into Fall
Surprising as it may seem, right now is some of the best swimming of the year in Toronto. The lake is a large body of water – it cools slowly long into the fall, just as we know it takes forever to warm up in the summer. Swimming on sunny warm October days is bonus summer.
– Schuster Gindin
En Route: where am I?
Taking the world’s shortest ferry ride to Toronto’s island airport is a unique experience for travelers. The new tunnel that’s supposed to get you there more efficiently just makes the transit feel like every other generic airport drudge. For now, we still have the two options. Let’s keep the one that makes trips to and from Toronto memorable.
– Schuster Gindin
Flying Blind
Jason Fayre has been totally blind since birth. He recently took his second flight in a glider. Here’s his amazing experience on video.
– Jason Fayre
Island Hopping
In Toronto, taking the ferry over to Centre Island can be something of a clichéJason Fayre has been totally blind since birth. He recently took his second flight in a glider. Here’s his amazing experience on videonce it’s been a thing for city-folks for so many years. It’s often one of the first outings that recently arrived immigrants do when they get to the city – that and Niagara Falls.
– Miria Ioannou
Tonga
Living
Intrepid Toronto dog lover and cake baker Mary Li, with her husband Douglas, is living temporarily in Nuku’alofa, capital of the Kingdom of Tonga. Here’s a glimpse into her life there.
Little Kingdoms
.Tonga calls itself the land where time begins. Situated immediately left of the International Date Line, Tonga is the first place on earth to greet each new day. That’s where Mary Li will spend the next year But she’ll miss so many things about Toronto.
– Mary Li
Killarney: An Iconic Wilderness Preserved by Artists
Killarney Provincial Park is the only park in the world founded by artists. Only four-and-a-half hours from Toronto, its- Mary Li pristine state is awe-inspiring.
– Schuster Gindin
“Out of Character” – A Chinese Calligraphy Exhibition
A recent Chinese calligraphy exhibit at the Met in New York demonstrates the physical and spiritual connection of this ancient art.
– Miria Ioannou
If You Go to Costa Rica..
Start by visiting a volcano and you can end up in intriguing conversation with local poets and artists about literature, culture, politics, everything.
– Elizabeth Cinello
The Joy of Hags Singing
Kensington Market welcomes thousands every year on December 21 to parade through the neighbourhood at the Winter Solstice Festival of Lights. The singing Befanas are the highlight.
– Mary Li
Why are we such weather wimps?
I was recently in Austria and as I walked around Vienna and Graz, the two largest cities, I saw many lovely outdoor cafés. The weather was colder, but still they enjoy their coffee in the sunshine…
– Schuster Gindin
Truth and Responsible Journalism Benefit
Raising funds for the legal battle of author Laura Robinson.
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Rome: No Cranes but a Big HOG Convention and Bicycle Love
While Hogtown is full of cranes there are none in Rome’s historical centre. On the other hand, in early June, the eternal city was overrun by a big HOG convention. While Toronto’s civic leaders battle over bicycles and LRTs, the eternal city has expanded its LRT system and its political and spiritual leaders have embraced bikes.
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– Elizabeth Cinello
Road Trip
A step back in time in Kansas.
Robyn Mitchell and her mom Kathryn are bone fide Torontonians living in the eastern U.S. When Robyn landed a job in Seattle they decided to hit the road for a cross-country road trip! In early July they set out to drive 3000 miles across the western part of the U.S. It took them seven days, starting in Kansas City, with stops in Colorado (Denver, Boulder), Wyoming (Jackson, Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone), Montana (Ennis) and Washington (Spokane, Seattle). Robyn chronicled in photos their western adventures…
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14 hours in Picton
Heading out to Prince Edward County from Toronto on a Friday afternoon in late spring is a little harrowing. But our little book group was determined, so we piled in the car to visit a good friend at her farmhouse, have dinner, discuss a book and spend the night. Of course the two-hour drive turned into three but with the threat of rain receding and the early evening light of the peninsula greeting us, our mood was…
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– Miria Ioannou
Doors Open Toronto
Doors Open is the annual weekend when we are welcome at 165 places and spaces where public access is not the norm. We went to the Munk School of Global Affairs, a meticulously restored and redesigned historic building on the U of T campus. Prof. Janice Stein gave the tour. “Since it’s inception this building has always been involved in global affairs. It was built by the British in 1909 as a meteorological station, and assisted the Franklin Expedition.” We all know how well that turned out.
– Schuster Gindin
China
The national bird of China is the crane.
We are in China and everywhere you look there is a crane, Shanghai, Beijing, Xi’an and even smaller cities (with only 8 million) also covered in cranes. Toronto is underdeveloped… !
Actually only place without cranes was the Great Wall.
– Ricki Wortzman
Uptown Farmers’ Market
One of the numerous farmers’ markets sprouting up across Toronto is a weekly set-up just north of Yonge and Eglinton on the green space in front of a Canada Post building. Fruit, vegetables and baked goods are available for sale from the mostly young growers, bakers and entrepreneurs. I chatted with Riley, the energetic coordinator of this market and another one at Yonge and Davisville, as she was busy helping the vendors set up. “This is a great location,” she said, “but parking for the vendors is a challenge.” Then I notice the “Development Proposal” sign…
– Miria Ioannou
Where have you been lately? Tell us about it.
LIVING TORONTO 