Toronto Getaway2024
Every year we like to make a little pilgrimage down to Seattle to catch the series between the Mariners and our favourite team, the Toronto Blue Jays. This year we had a conflict as the Rolling Stones were in town on the same weekend, so we decided to fly to Toronto and catch a Blue Jays series there instead.
When booking a place through a website like booking.com, there is always a number of factors to consider, the price, the location, the facilities, and the ability to do a late check-in. You can have some of these options, but you can't have them all. Our flight landed at 12:40am, so was it not only too late to take the UP Express train into the city, it also meant they had to leave us a key for the apartment. It took a little bit, but we found the lock box chained to a bench across the street and made our way up to the 40th floor of a very modern high rise, nestled between the CN Tower/Skydome and the Scotiabank Arena. We woke up to amazing views.
The apartment wasn't large, but it seemed clean, had all the necessities, until you spent a little time inside. Let me introduce to you the worlds lumpiest couch, a washing machine that the door doesn't open on, and a bedroom lamp that doesn't have an on/off switch. With the amazing location, I guess you have to give up on certain things.
We spent a chunk of the afternoon, just wandering around the waterfront area, and gathering some groceries for the duration of our stay. There is definitely some unique things to see when wandering this city.
Only a block from our place is the new The Second City comedy Theatre and school. We booked tickets and enjoyed a very funny night of Improv. Pictures and signs are all over reminding us of the comedy legends that developed their craft at Second City.
Maybe it was because we were so tired when arriving the night before, but this bed is just terrible, might be more comfortable sleeping on the floor. Have to remember... location, location, location.
The Social
After a lousy night of sleep we encountered the first of what would be many long waits for the elevator, and being on the 40th floor, stairs weren't really an option.Finally on the ground we walked over to the CTV Studios where Norine had booked us in for a live viewing of the daytime talk show The Social (Canada's version of The View).
The discussion was about Janet Jackson referring to Kamala Harris as 'not black', giving a crocheted bookmark to your husband when he already told you what he really wanted, is gentle parenting an issue, and whether a cat tour was something of interest. They had two guests, Karine Vanasse, host of The Traitors and star of the TV series Cardinal, as well as indigenous author Tanya Talega with her new book 'The Knowing'.
The coordinator for the show was hilarious, he gave us the overview of the day, chose who sat where, and got the crowd going while the show was rolling. As we were the only out-of-province attendees, we got placed front and center in the crowd. He also hilariously played up that he didn't know how to use my phone to take a picture, and left me with these 2 beauty shots.
Throughout the rest of the day we were getting messages and pictures from our friends telling us how famous we were, and asking for autographs.
After the taping was over, we collected our free book, and walked up to the Old Town area of Toronto known as Kensington Market
After a nice lunch in a little place called T.O. Dickens restaurant, we left this colourful area and headed back to our place.
Blue Jays - Game 1
We had tickets for the 3 games vs the Red Sox, two teams that were not having great seasons. At least the crowd got to cheer on the return of longtime Blue Jay Danny Jansen after he was traded away earlier this season.
All dressed up in Norine's custom blue Jays wear.
We had good seats between home and 3rd base, but the best part of today's game was seeing Anthony Mackie throw out the first pitch.
A 2 minute walk back after a 4-1 Loss, then a 10 minute wait in a lineup for an elevator.
Sometimes convenience of location means you get some less than great elements too. We were woken up by alarm testing, and the hot and cold water were shut off between 9-6 for repairs. To top it all off, with the alarm testing the elevators were shut down periodically, so the lineups and waits were even longer.
Hockey Hall of Fame
Since Norine chose the Blue Jays games and the Social, I got to choose today's event... of course I chose The Hockey Hall of Fame, since it was only a 15 minute walk away.
Most of the time would be spent looking for Canuck's names on trophies.
The Stanley Cup Rings keep getting bigger and gaudier every year.
Such a special honour to see that so much of my work is on display at the HHOF!
Probably the biggest change on display at the HHOF is the evolution of the goalie masks.
Blue Jays - Game 2
Before the game we took a tour around the upper area of the arena where so many upgrades had been done, bars and social areas, as well as a chance to see the live broadcast of the pre-game show.
Tonight we had seats closer to first base, I almost caught a foul ball, but at least my deflection made sure a little kid got the ball. He was very excited, and as the game progressed the story of how he got the ball kept getting better.
A much closer and more exciting game, a 6-5 loss in extra innings. The biggest deal of the night was the Loonie dogs, only $1 for a hot dog. People were buying trays of them at a time, the Blue Jays lost, but they sold a lot of hot dogs
It was a little damp walking the block and a half back to our place, and the lineup was a little longer as one of the working elevators was stuck on the 41st floor (again). Apparently the work that was being done earlier in the day also tripped the circuit that controls all the lights, at least I could fix this problem.
This morning we decided to walk down to the recommended Distillery District.
Berczy Park with its awesome Dog and Cat fountain is well worth a stop.
Toronto's Distillery District was designated as a national historic site because the "complex is an outstanding example of Victorian industrial design in terms of integrity, historical association and aesthetic qualities." Founded in 1832, Gooderham & Worts began as a windmill in the wilderness and grew to become the largest distillery in the world and the largest corporate taxpayer in Canada.
Nearly 20 years ago a small group of visionary developers had a dream for Toronto. They looked at a derelict collection of Victorian Industrial buildings that had been pronounced a national historic site and imagined transforming it. So they began plans to restore the 47 buildings known as the Gooderham & Worts Distillery. The result is an internationally acclaimed village of one-of-a-kind stores, shops, galleries, studios, restaurants, cafes, theatres and more. The Distillery Historic District opened in 2003.
We had lunch at a cool little Mexican restaurant called Alcatrin Destileria, and picked up some cat toys for Oreo.
After filling up on tacos and a few drinks we walked back to our place to rest up before heading to the game.
Blue Jays - Game 3
The last game of the season, and the roof was open, a beautiful night for a ball game.
We had great seats right down in row 2 just past the Red Sox bench and first base. Would have been great for pictures if it wasn't for the protective mesh, but we got to watch a rather decisive win for a change.
Our last walk back to our place and it was the night of the hellevators, there was an even longer line because along with one broken elevator, a second elevator was locked out for someone moving in. There was almost a riot after someone jumped the line and one guy lost it, yelling and swearing at the guy as the elevator lifted away without us. Security showed up, and they eventually turned the locked out elevator back on. Living in a high-rise is definitely an acquired taste.
Thursday morning we packed up our stuff, cleaned up the apartment, then waited a while for an elevator (for the last time) before we walked 2 blocks to Union Station and the UP Express for our quick ride back to the airport.
We had a non-memorable lunch while waiting for our flight, because you know the airlines won't have anything on the flight, then 5 hours later we arrived home to a cooler and wetter Vancouver.