There was a great piece today at the tail end of Metro Morning on CBC Radio, where host Matt Galloway asked a few interesting people where they would take guests visiting Toronto.  Not the usual suspects like the CN Tower and the ROM – where are the hidden spots that you’d want to share?

The owner of the Cookbook Store on Yonge Street said she’d like to take visitors to the newly opened green roof at City Hall and the Rectory Cafe on Ward’s Island.  The Mayor’s new Arts and Culture Advisor said he’d take visitors to the 401 Richmond Building.  Excellent suggestions.

My cousin visited from Texas last summer, and I took her to Harbourfront and the Toronto Islands, the AGO, and shopping around Leslieville.  Then she went over to my sister’s place in the Annex where they poked along Bloor Street and went to Kensington Market.

On a delightfully hot summer day like today, I’d take guests to Sugar Beach to chill by the lake, and then check out the indoor slide at the Corus Quay Building, and finish it off with a drink at the new lakeside bar Against The Grain.

Where would you take visitors to Toronto?  Or, if you’re playing tourist in your own city, where would you go?

I just heard about a sidewalk sale that will be happening in the ‘hood tomorrow.  Along Queen Street, between Carlaw and Greenwood, many retailers will be having sidewalk sales or “garage sale type events” (as the gal from Damzels told me). Some of the retailers involved are:

• Doll Factory by Damzels
• Nathalie Roze & Co
• Realosophy
• Atomic Toy Bot
• Studio Fresh
• Pentimento Gallery
• Flik by Design
• Love The Design
• Lil Bean and Green
• Telegramme Prints
• Max’s Studio

To name a few.  Sounds great, huh?  I also heard that there’s a big street sale happening on Austin Avenue that will feature some baby stuff, so I’ll probably check that out too.  I love Leslieville.

[photo by Flickr user SeanHoward]

Sunday is Father’s Day, so of course, you should be celebrating Dad.  But you don’t have to stay home with Pops… take Dad with you to one of these cool events happening in town:

Leslieville Farmers’ Market: It’s getting bigger and better every week.  Stop by for some fresh local goodness in the morning, and then take it home for an afternoon BBQ with Dad.

The MP3 Experiment: NY-based hipster collective Improv Everywhere is in town for Luminato, and they’re staging one of their MP3 Experiments on Sunday afternoon.  Of course, Improv Everywhere’s “missions” (as they call them) depend on lots of public participation, so get out there and play along.  Full information and instructions are on the Luminato event page.

Deli-Duel 2 at the Wychwood Barns: I went to this last year, and it was amazing.  All Dads like smoked meat and beer, right?  Especially when it’s for a good cause. Sounds like a perfect plan for lunch.

Have a great weekend!

I had a great time this past weekend.  Nothing super special happened – I just enjoyed being at home and in my neighbourhood.

On Saturday I ran errands in the ‘hood, including picking up some exterior paint at Pro Glow.  Then I popped into The Purple Purl to get supplies for my next knitting project.  Co-owner Jenn spent lots of time with me, helping me choose just the right yarn, and then some of the lovely gals hanging out there helped me to wind the wool.  Every time I go to the Purple Purl, it feels like I’m catching up with friends, even though I technically don’t really know them.

On Sunday morning, Ian, Little C, our friend Hilary and I walked over to the inaugural Leslieville Farmers Market.  We popped in to Red Rocket on the way for coffees, and we weren’t the only ones with that idea.  The place was hopping with Leslievillers picking up some java on their way to the market.  That afternoon I painted the front stairs of my house with the paint I picked up on Saturday.  While outside, I caught up with my neighbours two doors down.  I love knowing who I share the street with.  So many friendly faces.

On Sunday evening we had a BBQ on the back deck with friends and finished the evening off with an apple cinnamon pie from the Canadian Pie Company that I picked up at the Farmers Market that morning.  It was amazing.  I wish I had purchased an extra pie – now I know for next time.

That was it… just a typical weekend in Leslieville.  Like I said, nothing special.  But it’s a perfect example of why I love living here.  I can get just about anything I need within walking distance, I know most of the local shop owners by name, and I get along with the people on my street.  I know it’s corny, but I feel such a great sense of community in this neighbourhood, and I’m really happy to be here.

[photo of Leslieville Farmers Market taken with the Hipstamatic app on my iPhone]

The new Leslieville Farmers’ Market starts this Sunday in Jonathan Ashbridge Park.  Vendors include Hooked, Sausage Partners, Merchants of Green Coffee, Beretta Organic Farms, LPK’s Culinary Groove, Bee’s Universe, Chocosol, The Canadian Pie Company, Wild Foods, Le Papillon on the Park restaurant, Monforte Cheese, and a bunch of organic/sustainable farmers.

Sounds amazing, huh?  I’ll be there on Sunday for sure.  Visit the website for more information.

This Saturday, May 28, is “Yard Sale for the Cure” day.  Which means there will probably be a few yard sales happening near you, with proceeds going to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.  Some yard sales have registered their location on the CBCF website, so you can check to see what’s in your ‘hood.

I’ll be out in Leslieville on Saturday morning, looking for some good deals.  And it’s not too late to plan your own yard sale for Saturday – just sign up online.

Public libraries are such a good idea. I know that sounds simplistic and kind of obvious, but think about it. If libraries (and the infrastructure for them) didn’t already exist, it would be nearly impossible to start up today, don’t you think?

Anyway, on to the point of the post. We have some really good public library branches in Toronto (S. Walter Stewart is my personal fave), and some that are just so-so. I used to think the Jones library (my local branch) wasn’t anything special, since it’s so small.

At first I would just go there to pick up my holds, and then leave. But then I noticed the magazine section at the Jones library. It’s as well stocked as a Chapters store. You can get the current issue of many titles, and you can actually check them out. I currently have the latest issue of Style At Home, and Ian has the latest Popular Mechanics. You can get House and Home, Toronto Life, Oprah, Real Simple, National Geographic, the New Yorker, the Atlantic, GQ… The list goes on and on.

The Jones library has become my personal magazine stand. I know I’m spoiling the secret by sharing it. So go have a look, but don’t take out too many issues, or I’ll have to fight you for them.

When the weather was so lovely last week, I put Clara in her stroller and took lots of walks around the ‘hood.  On Thursday we strolled to Little Peeps, a kids’ store on Queen (between Broadview and Logan).  Little Peeps carries Skip*Hop products, which I love, so I wanted to see if they had a Skip*Hop playmat.  While in the shop, I struck up a great conversation with owner Alyssa Dahl about design.  She used to be an industrial designer and has great taste, which is evident by the well-curated merchandise she’s chosen to stock her shop with.

Knowing there’s a kids’ shop in the neighbourhood with cool products is great.  But what really makes it amazing is the service – Alyssa is so friendly and helpful. Little Peeps is now my go-to place for baby gear.

You regular readers will know how much I love my neighbourhood.  So recently I decided to share the love, and post some of my Leslieville-related blog posts from Stuff Avery Likes on the community forum/website “The Leslieviller”.  Any time I write about the ‘hood on this blog, it will also appear over there.

The Leslieviller is great – it’s where I find all the latest news about what’s going on around me.  I particularly enjoy the insider scoop on the Queen Street East retail developments.  Check out this thread detailing all the new businesses opening soon (go all the way to the end for the latest news).

And while you’re on the site, also read this post about a new Farmer’s Market coming to Jonathan Ashbridge Park every Sunday this summer.  Sounds awesome, huh?

I just renewed our summer share for the CSA program from Kawartha Ecological Growers.  What’s a summer share and a CSA, you ask?

“Community-supported agriculture (CSA) is a socio-economic model of agriculture and food distribution; a system that connects people craving farm fresh local produce directly to the farmers growing their food.  A CSA consists of a community of folks who commit to supporting a farm before the growing season begins, in return for a regular dose of seasonal produce throughout.  In this way, the farm becomes the community’s farm and the consumers become co-producers of the food, with the growers and eaters supporting one another while sharing in all the risks and benefits of food production. It’s the ultimate model in local eating!”

Great idea, huh?  We get our share from Kawartha Ecological Growers – a group of about 20 small farms West of the Kawartha Lakes.  They have different pickup locations around the city, and we get ours every Tuesday at the Ceili Cottage (conveniently located at the end of our street). Fresh produce directly from the farm, all summer long = bliss.

Want to know more, or sign yourself up?  Check out Kawartha Ecological Growers’ website.  And yes, full disclosure, I designed the site.  But that’s not why I endorse them – I honestly really love this organization, and the CSA model.