One of the loveliest things about Toronto is that it sits on the beautiful Lake Ontario. You get lovely fresh gusts of wind (far from lovely in the winter) from the lake and the view is just great. But what is better than all of that is viewing Toronto from the other side, via boat, or via the Toronto Islands, of via plane – day or night – it is just magnificent!

Toronto Harbourfront reminds me of the Melbourne Docklands by 100x times better. It is more developed with more things to do. Let’s not forget that it is also better planned out (the planning of Melbourne Docklands was atrocious). But perhaps in a couple of years to come, the Melbourne Docklands will be bursting of life and energy just like the Harbourfront.

Toronto’s Harbourbront, like Melbourne’s Dockland did not get much attention when in its first developments. See that ugly square beige/grey building pictured above? Those are the first condominiums to be built at Toronto Harbourfront and they were going for $50,000 with free parking! In comparison to the value of the condominiums these days – $50,000 can just buy you parking!!!

But seriously – The Toronto Harbourfront in it’s first development was a pretty ugly site. It’s definitely gone a long way from what it used to be. This entire area used to be an industrial playground – full of dirty factories and grime. Toronto has cleaned itself up a lot since then and turned its city into one of the world’s most iconic cityscapes – home to the Rogers Centre and the CN Tower and many festivals (there’s one every weekend during the summer!)

One sunny arvo, we took a Toronto Harbour Tour which takes you around the lake and all the way to the Toronto Centre Islands too where you can also spend your day there. I got a one hour tour ride for just $8 off Groupon (normally $25)! So good! Here are some photos from the ride.

Above: Left is the CN tower and to the right is Sirius Centre where a lot of free concerts are played.

Above is the Rogers Centre (formally known as Skydome) and is home to the Toronto BlueJays (baseball). Last night the New York Yankees and the BlueJays played here. Also in this photo are boats, kayaks and canoes for rent.

 Here’s me on the boat tour.  HEHE!

This is where I live.

Isn’t it pretty?

I took this photo one late summer night while walking back home from the Toronto City Centre Airport as I returned from my trip in Montreal.

Last Friday evening, Kaori and I went to Le Sélect Bistro for some delicious French cuisine for dinner. I’ve been here once before and I absolutely loved it. It’s hard to find French restaurants at decent prices but I must say that this place is the exception! The service is superb too – so friendly and quick.

We started off with French Onion Soup and Pâté for appetizers, then had salmon and scallops for our mains. Finished it off with creme brulee! Too good!

But not only was the food good, the atmosphere is so lovely. Tucked away on Wellington St and Spadina, it’s a quiet area for a beautiful patio. Kaori said that she felt she was in a Foreign country.

I didn’t take any photos of the patio, but I sure took photos of the food!

Soupe À Loignon Gratinée

Pâté De Capagne

Noix de St-Jacques Aux Poireaux

Saumon Rôti, Salade De Quinoa

Crème brûlée

Misty's Diner Restaurant Review
Food
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Awesome French food at decent prices. Total experience was very enjoyable!

One of the best things about summer in Toronto is Canada’s Wonderland – where you can go to feel like a kid again! Not a care in the world, just funnnnnn……..!

…. And sure it was! The weather was just gorgeous too which helped. Canada’s Wonderland has a range of rides to fit your comfort (or risk-taking, if you dare) and even water rides for those hot summer days! I really enjoyed The Mighty Canadian Minebuster (Canada’s Longest Wooden Coaster), Time Warp (Canada’s Only Flying Coaster), Behemoth (Canada’s biggest, fastest & tallest coaster ever), Sky Rider, Shockwave, The Bat, and Vortex… SO MUCH FUN.

I didn’t even get to go on all the Thrill rides in that one day, let alone go on the water rides! Sniff! I have to go back! :) :) There’s no wonder so many people have Season Passes, where you can go as many times as you want in a year!

Here’s me in front of the waterfalls where they do diving shows!

Here’s “The Bat” in motion

Here’s another view of “The Bat”

Here’s Behemoth! Hugeeeee.

This is “Drop Zone”

This is Canada’s Wonderland trying to be like Disneyland.

Now what’s an Amusement Park if they didn’t have Funnel Cakes? :) YUM.

On March 22, 2010, Fuze hosted a smashing fashion party to kick off the Spring Fashion Week in Toronto. I was lucky enough to be one of the Fuze twitter girls at the event and was very honoured to have be invited to this party let alone have this role!

Us Fuze girls had to make sure we came looking our hottest, here’s me (below) getting ready for the party with pink lips. Hehe!

Here are the Fuze girls before the event!

Our FUZE dresses!

 Here’s Tanya (my fellow Fuze Twitter-er) and I

FUZE! Love this flavour!

Above is the fashion runway with the seats reserved for the V.I.Ps!

Here are the dresses marked up and ready to go for the show! LOVE that green floral dress!

Here are the models backstage getting ready for the show.

Accessory showcases getting ready for the party.

Above are some of the models at the accessory showcase. Hot!

Here’s the bar, serving the special Fuze-tinis (Fuze martinis, so cute!) 

Fuze-tini! Love it!

Another accessories showcase. Amazing jewellery!

Upclose! Beautiful!

In all, I really enjoyed attending this event. There were so many fashionable guests and the fashion show was fabulous. The accessory showcases were just fantastic, with a wide range of items available to purchase. I also have to say that the music was banging! But best of all the Fuze was tasty and I am not paid to say that at all!

Well done to the organizers of this event – Shannae (http://whatwomenwant.com/) and Yvonne (http://heydoyou.com/), two very well known and respectable fashion bloggers in Toronto. You girls are awesome!

Ever since moving to Toronto, I’ve been missing Malaysian food. I miss the home cooked meals by my mother, and the availability of Malaysian restaurants closeby! I must say, I never really appreciated how easy it was to get Malaysian food in Melbourne and the food is pretty good too.

Was recommended to go to Matahari Bar & Grill Restaurant, which is located not far off Chinatown and features a blend Malay, Chinese, Peranakan (nyonya) and Indian cooking. Chinatown is very close to where I live at Harbourfront so it’s very convenient for me if I ever get the desire for Malaysian food!

We decided to try the most classic Malaysian dishes: Char Kuay Teow and Curry Laksa. Then we had a Pandan Crepe for dessert. Photos below. Yum!

Matahari Bar & Grill Restaurant Review
Food
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Value

Overall
The Char Kuay Teow was good and authentic but the Curry Laksa was too sweet and wasn't spicy. The Pandan Crepe was delicious! The menu is a bit on the pricey scale, so might not be back too soon but will consider it when I get a huge craving for Malaysian food!

Location
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The Museum of Inuit Art is located within the historic Queens Quay Terminal at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre. This museum is dedicated to the art and culture of Canada’s indigenous people (known as Inuit) and features sculptures carved from stone, antler, ivory and bone to ceramics, prints and wall hangings.

It was officially launched in June 2007 and aims to showcase the artistic history of Canada’s Inuit by showcasing their cultural and thematic foundations of their art and highlighting the regional diversity of their artistic expression.

I very much enjoyed visiting this museum. The sculptures, paintings and ceramics were undeniably beautiful. There were a range of miniature to large sculptures and I wondered how they sculpted these so long ago and so precisely. I very much enjoyed the sculptures of themselves, and their way of life. It was interesting to see their perspective of life and what mattered to them, and how they viewed themselves.

The museum also showcases videos where you can sit and watch to learn more about the Inuit history and culture which was very interesting as well. We spent about 2 hours at this museum, marvelling at each and every piece. I highly recommend viewing this museum!

See more pictures at my
Museum of Modern Art Flickr set.

Last Friday, Kaori and I made our way up to High Park to see the Cherry Blossoms for Spring 2010! These Cherry Blossoms (Sakura trees) are such a wonderful celebration to see and experience in Toronto as they mark the end of winter! It is an old Japanese tradition of Sakura Hanami which is roughly translated as “cherry blossom flower viewing” and typically occurs in late April – early May. Toronto’s winter is just too harsh and cold, even for these most cold tolerant flowering cherry tree species! I’ve been told that these flowers don’t last very long as they fall very quickly and if you want to catch a glimpse of these photos, you only have about a 1-2 week window to go! Sakura blossoms are seen as a metaphor for life itself, luminous and beautiful, yet fleeting and ephemeral.

History of High Park’s Sakura Trees

In 1959, the Japanese ambassador to Canada, Toru-Hagiwara, presented 2000 Japanese Somei-Yoshino Sakura trees to the citizens of Toronto on behalf of the citizens of Tokyo. The trees were planted in appreciation of Toronto accepting re-located Japanese-Canadians following the Second World War. Many of these trees were planted on the hillside overlooking Grenadier Pond (immediately southwest of the Grenadier Café) and around the west shore of the pond.

In 1984, a grove of Japanese cherry trees were planted along a pathway west of the Children’s Adventure Playground in High Park. The trees were donated by Yoriki and Midori Iwasaki as a special gift to the people of Toronto and “a joyful symbol of life”.

Through the Consulate General of Japan in Toronto’s “Sakura Project”, 34 Yoshino ‘Akebono’ and Kwanzan ‘Fugenzo’ Sakura trees were donated toHigh Park in 2001 on the west shore of Grenadier Pond near the Maple Leaf garden.  In 2006, 16 additional Yoshino Sakura trees were planted near the original 1959 planting site.

Plaques commemorating each of the plantings can be found under the cherry trees in High Park.

Source: High Park’s Cherry Blossom Website

Image Source: High Park’s Cherry Blossom Website

There are two walks that you can take at High Park to see these trees. Walk 1 involves a 30-45 minute walk along the paved trails which can also be quite steep in some places. This walk is definitely worth it as you’ll see the most beautiful views of High Park’s Sakura trees as well as Grenadier Pond and Hillside Gardens. Also watch for Baltimore Orioles that have just migrated back to the park feeding on nectar from the Sakura blossoms! I didn’t manage to see any while I was there though..

I didn’t do Walk 2 but this walk features the grove of Sakura trees donated by the Iwasaki family in 1984 as well as the Children’s Adventure Playground and the Lower Duck Pond. While there are fewer Sakura trees on this 20 minute walk, this walk will be good for your little ones :)

Below are photos I took while I was on Walk 1. You will get a little viewing of some of these truly beautiful flowers! It of course is not the same to viewing them up close with your own eyes.

High Park becomes a photographer’s heaven at this time of year. From amateur to professional photographers, this is where they gather to capture this beautiful moment in Toronto. I didn’t see one group of people without a camera!

As mentioned a little bit earlier, there are some beautiful wildlife that come to stay at High Park.

These birds aren’t the only birds who come to enjoy High Park, but so do “Love Birds”.

And so do families and friends..

High Park also has other beautiful flowers such as this pretty pink one below.

Location & How To Get There

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The most convenient and easy way I find is to take the TTC to High Park station (on the Bloor line) and just as you cross Bloor Street, you’ll see High Park. It’s too big to miss!

If you prefer to drive, there’s free parking available at the Grenadier Restaurant (enter the park from the intersection of Bloor Street and High Park Avenue and follow the one-way loop to the Grenadier Restaurant in the centre of the park) and the lot immediately east of the Zoo (enter the park from the intersection of High Park Blvd and Parkside Drive).

Have you got your ticket yet? Come party with us for LG Fashion Week! I’ll be there and so should you!

I got hired to be the ‘social media’ at the following fashion event for LG Fashion Week in Toronto. It’s hosted by the Coca Cola juice drink FUZE. I’ll be there from 7 to midnight tweeting on via the account http://www.twitter.com/fuzemuze/. Please follow @fuzemuze or @littleladylove for up to date news! I will be tweeting which celebrities turn up, who’s wearing what, and more! I’m very excited about this!

Below are details of the event:

THE EVENT

FUZE Presents A Canadian Designer Accessory Showcase culminating with a Fashion show by The Red Carpet Room, Canada’s exclusive style showroom. The Accessary Showcase will consist of some of Canada’s newest and most impressive designers from the West to the East and the Runway Show will reveal the hottest spring trends from it’s impressive roster of designers. The Show, appealing to both womenswear and menswear fans, will feature mini capsule collections from eleven vastly different clothing and accessory designers. From floral-inspired looks to eco-chic, brush up on the latest trends in Canadian design during this ultra-glam evening of cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, celebs and of course, FASHION!

RUNWAY SHOW DESIGNERS

Jessica Biffi, Mulcair, Brazen Hussy, Coccolily, Paris Li, Lizares, Hillberg & Berk, Psalms 91:1, MICALLA, Blair Nadeau, Miss Niya

ACCESSORY SHOWCASE

Jenny Grecco Jewelry, Oh Dina Hair Fascinations, Ola Finesse Jewelry, MEYA’TEYES AUTHENTIKS, John James, Roxx Jewels, Damn Heels and much more…

THE RED CARPET ROOM

The Red Carpet Room is Canada’s most comprehensive and unique style showroom. Founder Amanda Brugel allows Actors, Musicians, TV Hosts and High-Profile Personalities access to a mind-blowing selection of entirely Womenswear, Menswear and accessories, within a spacious showroom located at the Toronto Fashion Incubator. Featuring designer garments from Vancouver to Montreal, the showroom invites guests to borrow items ideal for any public appearance, luxe event or editorial shoot. Roll out the red carpet! A cost-efficient, styling service has finally arrived!

www.theredcarpetroom.com

FUZE – “Love Your Shape”

http://www.drinkfuze.ca/

RAFFLE, VENDOR AND TICKET PROCEEDS TO BE DONATED TO LOOK GOOD FEEL BETTER:

Look Good Feel Better – “Helping Women With Cancer”

https://www.lgfb.ca/

Ticket Purchase:

In order to get yourself into the event, you need to purchase your tickets online at http://trendreport.eventbrite.com/

See you guys at the event! :D

In the winter, I absolutley crave desserts. There’s nothing better than devouring sweets on a cold winter night, especially cheesecake. I’m such a sucker for cheesecake.

One night we decided to hit up Pickle Barrel at Yonge/Dundas for their Decadent Cheesecake Sampler and it tasted as good as it looks! My favourite was the berry cheesecake. THE MOST DELICIOUS. 

I love that you can watch the NFL games at Pickle Barrel and I recall watching Philly in their shiny shorts that make their asses look so damnnnnnnn good. I was like OH MY and I had my eyes glued to the screen the whole time. Hahahaha.

Pickle Barrel also has decent atmosphere. Apart from the fact that we waited about 20-30 minutes just to get desserts, I was pretty pleased with the place.

Pickle Barrel Restaurant Review
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I can say for sure that I will be back for more!