Lunch at a New Place : Gusto 101 Restaurant

A week ago Sunday, Nick and I set out for a walk in the afternoon. We had no destination in mind before leaving the house and literally flipped a coin when we got to the first major corner, to decide if we would go left or right. The random walk took us up through Trinity Bellwoods Park which was packed with people out enjoying the beautiful weather.

Bits and Pieces : May 2014

Hi! These are some pictures I took during May, that didn't find a home in any other story. I hope you like them.

(01) Heart-hands sticker on a street post.

A Look at a Brand New Place : Portland Variety

Update : Portland Variety has permanently closed.

There's a building in our neighbourhood (located at 587 King Street W. at Portland Street) that reminds me of good things that have happened in my life, or rather 'good people' who have entered my life, whenever I pass it by :First, this is the building which held the restaurant to which Nick and I took the mutual friend who set us up on our first blind date, as a thank you for making the introduction. It was a month after we met and had already figured out that we had found someone very special, so we wanted to show her our gratitude and celebrate.Second, it was the place where I first started hanging out with someone who has become one of our best friends. This person is Issy (who you recently heard about in this post); she had recently begun working at the same place that I'd been working, and our company held their summer party in this corner building. Although we'd met and seen each other in the hall we hadn't had the chance to bond in any way, working in different departments of a large business as we did, but at that party she and I spent time talking and dancing. We've been buddies ever since. In fact, we were just over at her place on Friday night.So that spot has been on my radar for a long time, and I noticed immediately when some paper was hung covering the windows recently, indicating that a new business was going in there, called 'Portland Variety'.Meghan had received a notice saying that they were having a little Pre-Opening Party at the venue a week ago Saturday, so we went over to take a look and sample some goodies.

Getting the Goods for our Herb Garden

In yesterday's post, discussing how going out for lunch cheered up what would otherwise have been a lacklustre errand doing afternoon, I left you just before we embarked upon the second thing we had to do that day.

We turned back into Kensington Market and went to buy some plants for our herb garden. We went to the shop at the corner of St. Andrew Street and Kensington Avenue.

When Running Errands Became a Fun Date

Last Wednesday evening we noticed something strange going on with our computer router (the little box that allows for wireless connections throughout our home) in that it had suddenly developed a mind of its own. It was time for a new part and Nick said he'd head to the part of town that is Toronto's destination for all things computer related : College Street just west of Spadina.

The next morning he bypassed the problem piece and plugged my system in with a wire so I could still work and began getting ready to run the errand. We've been to those computer stores many times in the past and while they are great for what they are, that is one shopping trip that isn't really all that interesting. Even so, I had the urge to go along for the walk and asked him if he'd like to go out for lunch on the way. He thought it was a good idea.

Now that might not sound all that special but for us it's a pretty big deal because going out for lunch together is not something we do very often. In fact, thanks to the record keeping function provided by having a blog, I can tell you that we've done it three times in the last year.

He suggested we go to a spot called Amadeu's in Kensington Market, that is on the way up to College Street.

I can't really put my finger on the single detail of this old Portuguese restaurant that makes me feel like I'm suddenly away and on holiday somewhere, but every time I've been I've noticed that sensation. It doesn't transport me to Portugal, as I've never been there so can't say (although it's high on my wish-list of places to go), but sitting down at one of their outdoor tables immediately makes me feel like I'm somewhere else, at a beach town in the sun far away.