Joining a Studio Audience : CityLine

c="http://www.loulou.to/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/on-set-of-cityline-toronto.jpg" alt="on-set-of-cityline-toronto" width="640" height="480" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-32402 blk-brdr">Julie got us some tickets to join the studio audience for the filming of the television lifestyle program CityLine, hosted by Tracy Moore. They let small children come on Wednesdays, so James came too.

A Tiny Springtime Visitor : Ruby Crowned Kinglet

ass="aligncenter size-full wp-image-32383 blk-brdr" src="http://www.loulou.to/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/bird-rudy-crowned-kinglet-migrating-through-toronto.jpg" alt="bird-rudy-crowned-kinglet-migrating-through-toronto" width="640" height="480">There's one particular window in our home, that all the other windows must be jealous of. It undoubtedly gets a lion's share of our time.High above the ground on the second floor, it looks out directly on the treetops of the maples lined up beyond it. Past the trees is a small patch of grass frequented by dog walkers, and along that runs a sidewalk that gets quite a bit of foot traffic.There is always something interesting to see out that window, and we both stand at it often, looking out. Oftentimes we stand side-by-side, our shoulders glued together as we can barely fit, and talk while watching the world go by.Being up a story means not many people ever think to look back at us. Well, at least, I always assumed it was, until the one day my neighbour waved up at me there, while she rode by on her bicycle. So, I guess some people are aware of our secret window, but most are oblivious to it.In the fall, the leaves of those maples turn the most incredible colours and then drop, suddenly leaving us with a clear view of the snow-falls that follow. We see people trudging by, bundled up in hats and scarves, with steam blowing from their faces with every breath.At this time of the year, the springtime, the leaves of these deciduous trees are just coming in, amid the puffs of flowers that maples have.In a month or so, we'll barely be able to see the sidewalk, and our window perch will offer a view of nature in all its glory. We'll see the bush-trees flower -- these are the forsythia, lilac and hibiscus bushes that were allowed to grow wild long before we moved here, un-pruned until they reached heights uncommon in their species (they're discussed here). Bumblebees and butterflies, and the common birds that live here year round will great us in the afternoon, buzzing and chirping so loudly that we'll hear them through the screen that blocks their entry inside. I often take the screen off and nearly stand amoung them -- Nick has to remind me to put it back up, if we don't want all that nature, aka insects, inside the house.Squirrels will chase one another through the branches, snatching the maple keys that they so enjoy, cracking them open and eating the soft inner seed, right in front of our eyes.There is so much to see out this square of glass. But, with all there is, the spring and autumn visits of the migrating birds, that come to and from the southern United States and Mexico, flying through Toronto on their way to their summer and winter homes, are my favourite sights. They are fleeting, stopping by for a day or two, before they continue their journey.It is during these periods that I leave my camera, loaded with the telephoto lens, ready for action, on the table near the window. I must be very quick to catch these special guests.Most of the time, I have no idea what kind of bird I'm seeing until I research it later. This was the case with the ones pictured today.

Out for a Friend’s Birthday

It was recently my friend Nyla's birthday and we went out to celebrate, along with our mutual friend Julie.

We had a reservation for dinner at 8 o'clock, at Carmen on Queen Street West. Nyla and I had been to this Spanish restaurant, specializing in tapas and paella, during the winter and had really liked it. (There's a post about it here.)

The plan was to meet on the corner near the restaurant, and then pick a place around there for a drink before dinner. That choice was made easy when Nyla's cab driver told her about a bar he thought she would like. He said that he had dropped many people off there in recent months.

It was a good thing he'd told her about it, because there was no way we would have found it ourselves behind this unassuming green door.

High Times at the Home of Friends

We spent a recent Sunday afternoon in very fine company, at the home of our dear friends, Chops and Leslie.

I'd say that these two have one of the best apartments around, up high in the sky above Broadview and Danforth, facing west and overlooking the whole city.

The view takes your breath away -- as does the sense of vertigo and any fear of heights you might have! It took a few minutes before Nick and I got the nerve to step up to the railing of their balcony.

Coffee Date Confusion : I’ll take a Manicure with that Cuppuccino

My friend Nyla lives north of the Queen Street West neighbourhood in which I do. However, whenever we get together, we seem to do it down here rather than near her place. So to keep things fair, when we planned to get together for a coffee and a chat a week ago Saturday, I told her to pick the place and this time I'd travel to her.

And then, with no coercion on my part, she chose a place down by me! I guess the fact that she likes to come here is a testament to an area with a whole bunch of new and interesting places to check out, a result of the quick and dramatic changes brought about by the building boom in this part of the city.

Of course, I don't mind at all as it's pretty great being able to walk to meet her.

Our destination was a place that she'd seen from the outside but had not been too, called Her Majesty's Pleasure located at 556 King Street West. I hadn't been there either, and after she told me the address, for the life of me I couldn't visualize where she meant. I'd been along that strip about a million times, but just couldn't think of a cafe corresponding to that address, aside from a Starbucks on the other side of the street.

It turns out that was because this "cafe", (which certainly looks like a cafe from the outside), is actually a spa. So, our coffee date morphed into a manicure for Nyla and an eyebrow tint for me.

I was first to arrive for our 1:30 meeting time, directly behind a large group of women, one of who was wearing a "Bride" sash and tiara. The party atmosphere of the place was apparent right off, as the ladies were handed a glass of bubbly and lead to a table bearing sandwiches and colourful macarons.

Her Majesty's Pleasure is certainly not like any spa I've ever been to. Here, herbal teas and the soothing sounds of meandering brooks and chimes that usually accompany these types of places, were replaced by loud music and full-on cocktails, mixed by a resident bartender, all housed within a very pretty setting.

You enter through the cafe/bar area ...