Craigslist is much better than competitor Kijiji. Craigslist.org CEO Jim Buckmaster, left, and founder Craig Newmark
Shopping for used items instead of paying for the same new item can save you a lot of money. Two popular online resources here in Toronto, Ontario, Canada are Craigslist and Kijiji. Though I peruse specific sections of both I prefer Craigslist. Both Craigslist and Kijiji allow sellers to advertise goods and for buyers to contact sellers. I have bought goods from both sites. I find that Craigslist is so much more aligned with social media, and Kijiji is more traditional seller pushed want ads. The difference might be subtle but enough to add its own flavour.
Steam engine train rides with the Richmond Hill Live Steamers. The smell of coal, steam, oil, the whistle!
Two weekends a year the Richmond Hill Live Steamers, Toronto, Canada, has an open house, where they show off their scale model steam trains. It is a fascinating world of the mechanical and hand built. There are train rides for the kids and adults, while the old timers work and test their engines. The feeling of the club is very relaxed, leaving their work to speak for itself. We had a great time and was glad we went early. Donations to the club are welcome.
For the life of me I could not find the definitions for the various grades of frozen orange juice for Canada. Personal experience has shown me that Canada Grade A frozen orange juice tastes better than Canada Grade C. I searched Google and came up empty. I then got onto the Canada Food Inspection Agency website and sent them a question. Here is their answer as a followup to yesterday’s blog, thanks to Jean-Claude Jura, Ontario Region Manufactured Food, Food Labelling Line: Processed Products Regulations, Schedule I, Table II, Section 27.2.
The inevitable demise of a Mary's Good Eats apple pie. Delicious.
Quirky and a little remote, the pies from Mary’s Good Eats, Toronto (Scarborough), Canada, are certainly great. The place is on the Pickering Town Line, north of Old Finch Avenue, and south of Steeles Avenue East. They have cherry, blueberry, apple, and I bought a blueberry peach yesterday. $8 per pie. If you need change you go up to the house and knock on the door.
I found this place from a chance conversation with Dale Reesor, owner of the Sweet Ridge Farms, who sells delicious corn. Thanks again, Dale!
The skies erupted in Toronto and tornadoes appeared just north of the city.
I am proudly Canadian. Canadians really like to talk about the weather, and I am no exception, In fact, many Canadians are quite knowledgeable about weather in general and can read weather maps with aplomb. While we usually respect weather forecasters, I am finding that this year’s summer weather here in Toronto is really not very accurate. More pointedly displayed by today’s freak tornado warning, they are getting really off base. Get a grip, you weather people, forecast better.
Coors Canada pulls beer ad that mocked ‘cold’ Toronto
I‘ve lived in Toronto most of my life. Toronto is my home and I really like the city. Each city I’ve visited or lived has advantages and disadvantages. The recent British Columbia Coors Canada ad pokes fun at Toronto’s expense. There were complaints to Coors Canada, who decided to remove the ads. Ironically I interpret this as conclusive proof that Torontonians need to stop being so arrogant and laugh a little at themselves.
Just east of Reesor Road and Steeles Avenue, Toronto, Canada, Go north on Reesor Road for the entrance. Enter and the road will fork. Take the right road. Pass a house on the left. On the left, look for a tall narrow, rectangular statue of Mary, called “Our Lady of Peace”. Dad is at the base of this statue. Section 8, plot L1030. Born May 27, 1940
H1N1 flu is a highly contagious strain, but not in China
I will declare that I am a Canadian who has spent a couple of years studying Chinese in China. An article in the local Toronto Star titled Canadians Quarantined in China reports that 22 Canadian students will be quarantined for 7 days in a hotel in Chongqing, China. None have fever or flu-like symptoms. I agree with the Chinese position to quarantine these students but the blame cannot be laid on the 22 unfortunate students themselves, but on the Canadian government’s laggard position on the H1N1 flu strain (formerly called swine flu) and the tendency of democratic countries for freedom of movement, irregardless of the consequences.
This mystery shopping test was done on Friday April 3, 2009, accompanied by my son. It was raining heavily and mad dashes from the car to the store entrance made us soaked. Still, it was +10C, and is expected for spring. Trip review: Price Chopper A, Nofrlls C.
General Notes
Toronto has a varying climate with 4 distinct seasons and significant precipitation. In the winter we can get a snowfall of 20cm in one day. Copious amounts of rain can fall, as is the case today. It has been raining hard today. Toronto is expecting 10-20mm of rain, so much so that you still get very wet running from the car to the store.
This is not Chung Hing, but has the same feel. Photo by Don Qua
While it might seem unfair to compare a local Chinese grocer to the large big box chains, our shopping experience spans both, so I feel I should review both. Chung Hing, or in Mandarin, Zhong Xing, is our local Chinese grocer. While it is an average sized Chinese grocer, it seems to serve our needs well. Trip Review: Chung Hing: A.
